die sabbathi 23 ianuarii 1646 whereas the severall plantations in virginia, bermudas, barbados and other places of america have been much beneficiall to this kingdome by the increase of navigation ... england and wales. parliament. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a83626 of text r27342 in the english short title catalog (thomason 669.f.9[76]). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 4 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a83626 wing e2496 thomason 669.f.9[76] estc r27342 99872159 99872159 161174 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a83626) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 161174) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 245:669f9[76]) die sabbathi 23 ianuarii 1646 whereas the severall plantations in virginia, bermudas, barbados and other places of america have been much beneficiall to this kingdome by the increase of navigation ... england and wales. parliament. 1 sheet ([1] p.) printed for john wright at the kings head in the old baley, london : 1646. [i.e. 1647] title from heading and first lines of text. signed: joh. brown cler. parliamentorum. reproductions of the originals in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery (early english books), and the british library (thomason tracts). eng great britain -colonies -america -economic policy -early works to 1800. america -history -17th century -early works to 1800. a83626 r27342 (thomason 669.f.9[76]). civilwar no die sabbathi 23 ianuarii 1646. whereas the severall plantations in virginia, bermudas, barbados and other places of america have been much b england and wales. parliament. 1646 703 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a this text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. 2007-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-11 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-12 elspeth healey sampled and proofread 2007-12 elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion die sabbathi 23 ianuarii 1646. whereas the severall plantations in virginia , bermudas , barbados , and other places of america have been much beneficiall to this kingdome by the increase of navigation , and the customs arising from the commodities of the growth of those plantations imported into this kingdome have been , and are beneficiall , that all such as have traded there ( for their better encouragement ) have used to transport from hence thither merchandizes , goods , and necessaries for the better carrying on of the said plantations , without paying any custom for any goods so exported from hence thither : the lords and commons assembled in parliament , for the better advancement of the said plantations , and encouragement of the adventurers to the same , have ordained , and be it ordained by the said lords and commons , that all merchandize , goods , and necessaries , which shall be for the supportation , use , and expence of the said severall plantations , shall , or may be exported thither from this kingdome by any of the subjects thereof , without paying or yeelding any custom , subsidie , taxation , imposition , or other duty for the same ; the duty of excize excepted during the space of three yeares next ensuing , except unto the plantation in new-found lands ; provided , that from time to time , as any such merchandize and goods be endeavoured to be exported for the use aforesaid , security be first given to the commissioners and officers of the customs where such goods shall be laden , that the said merchandizes and goods so to be exported by vertue of this ordinance shall be really transported to the said forraigne plantations , and to no other places , and there to be imployed for the only use of the plantations ; and that certificate shall be returned from thence within one yeare after the lading thereof of the ships arrivall , and discharge in the said forraigne plantations . and for that there is great want of servants in the said plantations , as well for the raising of commodities apt to be produced there , as for defence of themselves from being made a prey to the natives , or forraigne enemies . be it further ordained by the said lords and commons , that it shall be lawfull for any person or persons , subjects of this kingdome , to entertaine , and transport from hence into the said severall plantations , such persons being fit to serve , or advance the trade there , as shall be willing to serve , or to be employed in the said severall forraigne plantations ; provided , that the names of all such persons so to be transported to serve in the said plantations , be first registred in the custom-house , and that neither force be used to take up any such servants , nor any apprentises entised to desert their masters , nor any children under age admitted without expresse consent of their parents . and provided also , that certificate within one yeare be returned from the governour , or other chiefe officer of such plantation , where such persons shall be put on shore , of the arrivall of the said persons there , that no fraud be used to carry any such persons to any other place ; provided alwaies , that none of the said plantations doe suffer or permit any ship , bark , or vessell to take in any goods of the growth of the said plantations from any of their ports , and carry them to any forraigne parts and places , except in english bottomes ; and in case any of the said plantations shall offend herein , then the plantation so offending shall be excluded from the benefit of this ordinance , and shall pay custome as other merchants doe to france , spaine , holland , and other forraigne parts . joh. brown cler. parliamentorum . london printed for john wright at the kings head in the old baley . 1646. a poem dedicated to the memory of the reverend and excellent mr. urian oakes, the late pastor to christ's flock and præsident of harvard colledge in cambridge ... mather, cotton, 1663-1728. 1682 approx. 30 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 11 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-07 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a50154 wing m1142 estc r31243 11796594 ocm 11796594 49323 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a50154) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 49323) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1487:42) a poem dedicated to the memory of the reverend and excellent mr. urian oakes, the late pastor to christ's flock and præsident of harvard colledge in cambridge ... mather, cotton, 1663-1728. [4], 16 p. printed for john ratcliff, boston in new-england : 1682. "mather's first published work" cf. nuc pre-1956 imprints. imperfect: cropped with some loss of print. reproduction of original in the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng oakes, urian, 1631-1681. american poetry-colonial period, ca. 1660-1775. 2003-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-04 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2003-04 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a poem dedicated to the memory of the reverend and excellent mr. vrian oakes the late pastor to christ's flock , and praesident of harvard-colledge , in cambridge ▪ who was gathered to his people on 25 d 5 mo 16●● in the fifty'th year of his age. 1 sam. 25. 1. and samuel dyed , an● the israelites were gathered together , and lame●●●● him . scindentur vestes , gemmae frangentur , et aurum carmina quam tribuunt fama perennis erit . o 〈…〉 magna dabit qui magna potest ; mihi parva potent● parvaque poscenti , parva dedisse sat est . 〈…〉 boston in new-england , printed for iohn ratcliff . 1682. to the reader worthies to praise is a praise-worthy thing christ did it ; and will do it ! and to sing ▪ the elogyes of saints departed in the rhythm of elegyes , has alwayes been esteemed reason ! david bids me go my christian reader ! and like him do so . cotton embalms great hooker ; norton him ▪ and norton's herse do's poet-wilson trim with verses : mitchel writes a poem on the death of wilson ; and when mitchel's gone ▪ shepard with fun'ral lamentations gives honour to him : and at his death receives the like from the [ like-maro ] lofty strain of admirable oakes ! i should be vain to thrust into that gallant chorus : pride ne'er made mee such an icharus : i cry'd of good exemples [ ahimaaz his thought ] how if i should run after them ? and brought these as a pattern , and a plea for what i do ; that my cross reader blame me not . but why so late ? my naenia's some will deem both out of time , and tune ! to some i seem grief's resurrection to essay ; and bee iust like the trojans who came late to see and sorrow with tiberius ! — only this shall be reply'd ! the fond bookseller is now guilty of this paper 's ravishment when long supprest : give him thy discontent ! since oakes ( as homer ) has all places claim ▪ let boston too forget its anagram ! memoirs of the life and worth ▪ lamentations for the death , and loss of the every way admirable mr. vrian oakes . weep with me , reader ! never poet had his quill employ'd upon a theme so sa● as what just providence ( grief grumble not ) do's with black warrant press mee to ! o what ? this ! oakes is dead ! one of the bittrest pil● ( compounded of three monosyllables ) that could have been dispensed ! absalom sure felt not more distress , death , danger , come with the three darts of ioab ! — blest shade ! an vniversal tax of sorrow thy country ows thee ! ah! we need not borrow the praefica's : say , oakes is dead ! and there ! there is enough to squeese a briny tear from the most flinty flint : once at the blow of moses , from a rock a stream did flow ; but look ! th' almightye's rod now smites us home oh! what man won't a mourner now become ? dear saint ! i cannot but thy herse bedew with dropping of some fun'ral tears ! i rue thy death ! i must , my father ! father ! say , our chariots and our horsemen where are they ? i the dumb son of craesus 'fore mine eyes have sett , and will cry when my father dyes . oh! but a verse to wait upon thy grave , a verse our custome , and thy friends will have : and must i brue my tears ? ah ! shall i fetter my grief , by studying for to mourn in metre ? must too my cloudy sorrows rain in tune , distilling like the softly showrs of iune ? alas ! my ephialtes takes me ! see 't ! i strive to run , but then i want my feet . what shall i do ? shall i go invocate the muses to mine aid ? no ▪ that i hate ! the sweet new-england-poet rightly said , it is a most vnchristian vse and trade of some that christians would be thought . if i call'd help , the muses mother memory would be enough : he that remembers well the vse and loss of oakes , will grieve his fill . ih'd rather pray , that hee , in whose just eyes the death of his dear saints most preciose is , and hee who helped david to bewail his ion'than , would not my endeavours fail . a sprightly effort of poetick fire would e'en transport mee to a mad desire : how could i wish , oh! that the nimble sun of thy short life before thy day was done might backward ten degrees have moved ! or oh! that thy corps might but have chanced for to have been buried near elisha's bones ! oh! that the hand which rais'd the widows sons would give thee to thy friends again ! but , fy ! that passion 's vain ! to sob , why didst thou dy ? is but an irish note : death won't restore his stolen goods till time shall be no more . shall i take what a prologue homer hath lett mee relate the heavenly powers wrath ? or shall i rather join with ieremie , and o're our great and good iosiah sigh , o that my head were waters , and mine eyes a fountain were , that hadadrimmon's cryes might bubble from mee ! o that day and night for the slain of my people weep i might ! ah! why delay i ? reader , step with mee , and what is for thee on grief's table see memoria praeteritorum is the dish i call thee to : come taste of this . oakes vvas ! ah! miserable word ! but what hee vvas , let never , never be forgot . beleeve mee once , it were a worthy thing of 's life and worth a large account to bring to publick vievv , for general benefit . i would essay ( with leave , good reader ) it , so far as feet will carry mee ▪ but know it from first to last , grief never made good poet. hee that lasht with a rod could versify , attain'd , and could pretend far more than i ! short was thy life ! sweet saint ! & quickly run thy race ! thy work was , oh ! how quickly done ! thy dayes were ( david's measure ) but a span ; five tens of years roll'd since thy life began . thus i remember a greek poet rhimes , they whom god loves are wont to dy betimes . thus whit●ker , perkins , preston , men of note , ay! many such , never to fifty got . and thus ( rachel new-england ! ) many seers have left us in the akme of their years . good soul ! thy iesus who did for thee dy , in heaven longed for thy company . and let thy life be measur'd by thy deeds , not by thy years ; thy age strait nothing needs . divert , my pen ! run through the zodiac of oakes his life : and cause i knowledge lack of most occurrents , let mee now and then snatch at a passage worthy of a pen. our mother england , ev'n a village there ( fuller , insert it ! ) did this worthy bear . over the ocean in his infancy his friends with him into new-england fly : here , while a lad , almost a miracle ( as i have heard his aged father tell ) sav'd him from drowning in a river : hee would ( guess ) a miracle and moses bee . now did sweet nature in him so appear a gentlewoman once cry'd out , if ere good nature could bring unto heaven , then those wings would thither carry vrian . prompt parts , and early pitty now made men say of him , what once observers said of great iohn baptist , and of ambrose too , to what an one will this strange infant grow ? her light and cup did happy harvard give unto him ; and from her he did receive his two degrees : ( a double honour to thee ( harvard ! own it ! ) did by this accrue ! ) so being furnisht with due burnisht tools the armour and the treasure of the schools , to temple-work he goes : i need not tell how he an hiram , or bezaleel did there approve himself ; i 'le only add roxbury his first-fruits ( first sermon ) had ▪ some things invite : hee back to england goes ; with god and man hee there in favour growes ; but whilst he lives in that land , tichfield cryes come over , sir , and help us ! he complyes : the starr moves thither ! there the orator continu'd charming sinful mortals for to close with a sweet jesus : oh! he woo'd , he thundred : oh! for their eternal good how did he bring the promises , and how did he discharge flashes of ebal ? now hee held love's golden scepter out before the humble soul ; now made the trumpet roar fire , death , and hell against impenitent desp'rates , untill hee made their hearts relent . there did hee merit sibs's motto , i iust like a lamp , with lighting others dy . ah! like a silk-worm , his own bowels went to serve his hearers , while he soundly spent his spirits in his labours . o but there he must not dy ( except death civil ) here ( why mayn't we sigh it ! here dark bartholmew this gallant and heroic witness slew . silenc't he was ! not buried out of sight ! a worthy gentleman do's him invite unto him ; and like obadiah , hide him , dear to them with whom he did reside , finding his prayers and presence to produce an obed-edom's blessing on the house . a spirit of great life from god do's enter within a while into him : hee do's venture to stand upon his feet : hee prophesy's ; and to a congregation preacher is , join'd with a loving collegue ; who will not be buried , till symmons be forgot . but our new-england cambridge wants him , and sighs , " of my sons none takes me by the hand , " now mitchel's gone ! oh! where 's his parallel ? " call my child vrian ! friendly strangers tell " an oake of my own breed in england is , " that will support mee pillar-like ; and this " must be resolv'd ; i 'le pray and send ! agreed ! messengers go ! and calling council , speed ! the good stork over the atlantic came to nourish and cherish his aged dam. welcome ! great prophet ! to new-england shore ! thy feet are beautiful ! a number more of men like thee with us would make us say , the moral of more 's fam'd vtopia is in new-england ! yea , ( far greater ! ) wee should think wee twisse's guess accomplisht see , when new ierusalem comes down , the seat of it , the wast america will bee 't . cambridge ! thy neighbours must congratulate thy fate ! oh! where can thy triumvirate meet with its mate ? a shepard ! mitchel ! then an oakes ! these chrysostoms , these golden men , have made thy golden age ! that fate is thine ( to bee blest with the sun 's perpetual shine ) what sylvius sais of rhodes . sure thou mayst call thy name capernaum ! but oh ! the fall of that enlightened place wee 'l humbly pray dear lord ! keep cambridge from it ! — but quill ! where fly'st thou ? let the reader know cambridge some years could this brite iewel show , yet here a quartane ague does arrest the churches comfort , & the countryes rest. but this ( praise mercy ) found some ague-frighter , hee mends , and his infirmity grows lighter , ev'n that his dear orestes smil'd , so small your illness , you 'd as good have none at all . well! the poor colledge faints ! harvard almost ( an amnesty cryes ' st ! ) gives up the ghost ! the branches dwindle ! but an oak so near may cherish them ! 't was done ! the gloomy fear of a lost colledge was dispell'd ! the place , the learning , the discretion , and the grace of that great charles , who long since slept & dy'd lov'd , and lamented , worthy oakes supply'd . his nurse he suckles ; and the ocean now refunds what th' earth in rivers did bestow . pro tempore ( a sad prolepsiis ) was for a long time his title ; but just as wee had obtain'd a long'd for alteration , and fixt him in the praesident's firm station , the wrath of the eternal wields a blow at which my pen is gastred ! — but up ! — lord ! wee 're undone ! — nay ! up ! and try ! heart ! vent thy grief ! ease sorrow with a sigh ! lett 's hear the matter ! write de tristibus ! alas ! enough ! — death hath bereaved us ! the earth was parch't with horrid heat : we fea'rd the blasts of a vast comet 's flaming beard . the dreadful fire of heaven inflames the blood of our elijah carrying him to god. innumerable sudden deaths abound ! our oakes a sudden blow laid on the ground , and gives him blessed capel's wish , which the letany prayes'gainst , to dy suddenlie . the saints hope to have the lord's table spread ; but with astonishment they find him dead that us'd to break the bread of life : o wee deprived of our ministers often bee at such a season . lord , thy manna low in our blind eyes we fear is wont to go ! the man of god at the first touch do's feel [ with a praesage ] his call to heavens weal ; hee sits himself for his last conflict ; saw the ghastly king of terrors icy claw ; ready to grapple with him ; then he gives a look to him who dy'd and ever lives ; the great redeemer do's disarm the snake ; and by the hand his faithful servant take , leading him thorow death's black valley , till hee brings him in his arms to zion's hill. fall'n pillar of the church ! this thy translation has turn'd our joyes into this lamentation ! sweet soul ! disdaining any more to trade with fleshly organs , that a prison made , thou' rt flown into the world of souls , and wee poor , stupid mortals lose thy companie . thou join'st in consort with the happy gone , who ( happ'er than servants of solomon ) are standing round the lamb's illustrious throne conversing with great isr'el's-holy-one . now could i with good old grynaeus * say " oh! that will be a bright and gloriose day , " when i to that assembly come ; and am " gone from a world of guilt , filth , sorrow , shame ! i read how swan-like cotton joy'd in thought , that unto dod , and such he should be brought . how bullinger deaths grim looks could not fright because t would bring him to the patriarchs sight . ( well might it be so ! heathen socrates in hopes of homer , death undaunted sees . ) who knows but the third heaven may sweeter be thou citizen of it ! ( dear oakes ! ) for thee ? sure what of calvin beza said ; and what of thy forerunner mitchel , mather wrote , i 'le truly add , now oakes is dead , to mee life will less sweet , and death less bitter bee . lord ! lett us follow ! — nay ! then , good reader ! thou and i must try to tread his steps ! hee walk't exemplar'ly ! plato would have none to be prais'd , but those whose praises profitable wee suppose : oh! that i had a ready writer's pen , ( if not briareus hundred hands ! ) and then i might limn forth a pattern . ah! his own fine tongue can his own worth describe alone that 's it i want ; and poor i ! shan't i show like the man , whom an hero hired to forbear his verses on him ! yet a lame mephibosheth will scape a david's blame . well! reader ! wipe thine eyes ! & see the man ( almost too small a word ! ) which cambridge can say , i have lost ! in name a drusius , and nature too ! yea a compendious both magazine of worth , and follower of all that ever great and famose were . a great soul in a little body . ( add ! in a small nutshell graces iliad . ) how many angels on a needle 's point can stand , is thought , perhaps , a needless point ▪ oakes vertues too i 'me at a loss to tell : in short , hee was new-england's samuel ; and had as many gallant propertyes as ere an oak had leaves ; or argus eyes . a better christian would a miracle be thought ! from most he bore away the bell ! grace and good nature were so purely mett in him , wee saw in gold a iewel sett . his very name spake heavenly ; and hee vir sui nominis would alwayes bee . for a converse with god ; and holy frame , a noah , and an enoch hee became . vrian and george are names aequivalent ; wee had saint george , though other places han't . should i say more , like him that would extol huge hercules , my reader'l on me fall with such a check ; who does dispraise him ? i shall say enough , if his humility might be described . witty austin meant this the first , second , and third ornament , of a right soul , should be esteem'd . and so our second moses , * humble dod , cry'd , know , iust as humility mens grace will bee , and so much grace so much humilitie . ah! graciose oakes , wee saw thee stoop ; wee saw in thee the moral of good nature's law , that the full ears of corn should bend , and grow down to the ground : worth would sit alwayes low . and for a gospel minister , wee had in him a pattern for our tyro's ; sad ! their head is gone : who ever knew a greater student and scholar ? or beheld a better preacher and praesident ? wee look't on him as ierom in our ( hungry ) bethlechem ; a perfect critic in philology ; and in theology a canaan's spy. his gen'ral learning had no fewer parts than the encyclopaedia of arts : the old say , hee that something is in all , nothing 's in any ; now goes to the wall . but when the pulpit had him ! there hee spent himself as in his onely element : and there hee was an orpheus : hee 'd e'en draw the stones , and trees : austin cryes , if i saw paul in the pulpit , of my three desires none of the least ( to which my soul aspires ) would gratify'd and granted bee . hee might have come and seen 't , when oakes gave cambridge light. oakes an vncomfortable preacher was i must confess ! hee made us cry , alass ! in sad despair ! of what ? of ever seeing a better preacher while wee have a beeing . hee ! oh ! hee was , in doctrine , life , and all angelical , and evangelical . a benedict and boniface to boot , commending of the tree by noble fruit. all said , our oakes the double power has of boanerges , and of barnabas : hee is a christian nestor ! oh! that wee might him among us for three ages see ! but ah ! hee 's gone to sinus abrahae . what shall i say ? never did any spitt gall at this gall-less , guile-less dove ; nor yet did any envy with a cankred breath blast him : it was i 'me sure the gen'ral faith , lett oakes bee , say , or do what e're he wou'd , if it were oakes , it must be wise , true , good except the sect'ryes hammer might a blow or two , receive from anabaptists , who never lov'd any man , that wrote a line their naught , church-rending cause to undermine . yett after my encomiastick ink is all run out , i must conclude ( i think ) with a dicebam , not a dixi ! yea , such a course will exceeding proper bee : the iews , whene're they build an house , do leave some part imperfect , as a call to grieve for their destroy'd ierus'lem ! i 'le do so ! i do 't ! — and now let sable cambridge broach her tears ! ( they forfeit their own eyes that don't ; for here 's occasion sad enough ! ) your sons pray call all ichabod ; and daughters , marah ! fall dovvn into sack-cloth , dust , and ashes ! ( to bee senseless now , friends , now ! will be to show a crime & badg of sin and folly ! ) try your fruitfulness under the ministry of that kind pelican , vvho spent his blood the feed you ! dear saints ! have ye got the good you might ? and let a verse too find the men who fly'd a sermon ! oh! remember vvhen sirs ! your ezekiel was like unto a lovely song of ( been't deaf adders you ) one with a pleasant voice ! and that could play well on an instrument ! and i'n't the day , ●he gloriose day , to dawn ( ah ! yet ! ) wherein you are drawn from the egypt-graves of sin compelled to come in ? for shame come in ! nay ! join you all ! strive with a noble strife , to publish both in print ( as vvell as life ) your preciose pastor's works ! bring them to view that vvee may honey tast , as vvell as you . but , lord ! what has thy vineyard done , that thou command'st the clouds to rain no more ? o shevv thy favour to thy candlestick ! thy rod hath almost broke it : lett a gift of god , or a sincerely heaven-touch't israelite become a teacher in thy peoples sight at last i vvith license poetical ( reader ! and thy good leave ) address to all the children of thy people ! oh! the name of vrian oakes , nevv-england ! does proclame svre i an oak was to thee ! feel thy loss ! cry , ( why forsaken , lord ! ) under the cross ! learn for to prize survivers ! kings destroy the people that embassadors annoy . the counsil of god's herald , and thy friend , [ bee wise ! consider well thy latter end ! ] o lay to heart ! pray to the heavenly lord of th' harvest , that ( according to his word ) hee vvould thrust forth his labourers : for vvhy should all thy glory go , and beauty dy through thy default ? — — lord ! from thy lofty throne look dovvn upon thy heritage ! lett none of all our breaches bee unhealed ! lett this dear , poor land be our immanuel's yett ! lett 's bee a goshen still ! restrain the boar that makes incursions ! give us daily more of thy all-curing spirit from on high ! lett all thy churches flourish ! and supply the almost twenty ones , that thy just ire has left without help that their needs require ! lett not the colledge droop , and dy ! o lett the fountain run ! a doctor give to it ! moses's are to th' upper canaan gone ! lett ioshua's succeed them ! goes vvhen one room ! elijah , raise elisha's ! pauls become dissolv'd ! vvith christ ! send tim'thees in their avert the omen , that vvhen teeth apace fall out , no new ones should supply their place ! lord ! lett us peace on this our israel see ! and still both hephsibah , and beulah bee ! then vvill thy people grace ! and glory ! sing , and every wood vvith hallelujah's ring . n. r. vixêre fortes ante agamemnona multi ; sed illachrymabiles vrgentur ignotique longà nocte ; carent quia vate sacro . hor. non ego cuncta meis amplecti versibus opto . virg. — ingens laudato poema : ● legito ! — call. ●ui legis ista , tuam reprehendo , si mea laudes omnia , stultitiam : si nihil , invidiam . owen . non possunt , lector , multae emendare liturae versus hos nostros : vna litura potest . martial . advertisement . there is to be sold by iohn browning , at the corner of the prison-lane next the tovvn-house , a sermon of the late reverend mr. vrian oakes , preached from eccl. 9. 11. shevving that fortune and chance are infallibly determined by god : by vvhich alone , it might appear that the elogyes of him are not a vain hyperbole ; but as it were , the eccho of those words which his works speak concerning him. notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a50154-e990 t 〈…〉 a briefe and true relation of the discouerie of the north part of virginia being a most pleasant, fruitfull and commodious soile: made this present yeere 1602, by captaine bartholomew gosnold, captaine bartholowmew [sic] gilbert, and diuers other gentlemen their associats, by the permission of the honourable knight, sir walter ralegh, &c. written by m. iohn brereton one of the voyage. whereunto is annexed a treatise, of m. edward hayes, conteining important inducements for the planting in those parts, and finding a passage that way to the south sea, and china. brereton, john, 1572-ca. 1619. 1602 approx. 99 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 25 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a16711 stc 3611 estc s122400 99857551 99857551 23305 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a16711) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 23305) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1196:3) a briefe and true relation of the discouerie of the north part of virginia being a most pleasant, fruitfull and commodious soile: made this present yeere 1602, by captaine bartholomew gosnold, captaine bartholowmew [sic] gilbert, and diuers other gentlemen their associats, by the permission of the honourable knight, sir walter ralegh, &c. written by m. iohn brereton one of the voyage. whereunto is annexed a treatise, of m. edward hayes, conteining important inducements for the planting in those parts, and finding a passage that way to the south sea, and china. brereton, john, 1572-ca. 1619. hayes, edward, fl. 1602. with diuers instructions of speciall moment newly added in this second impression. 48 p. [printed at eliot's court press] impensis geor. bishop, londini : 1602. identification of printer from stc. reproduction of the original in: university of michigan. library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng gosnold, bartholomew, d. 1607. gilbert, bartholomew. virginia -description and travel -early works to 1800. america -discovery and exploration -english -early works to 1800. 2003-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-09 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-10 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2006-10 aptara rekeyed and resubmitted 2006-12 pip willcox sampled and proofread 2006-12 pip willcox text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a briefe and true relation of the discouerie of the north part of virginia ; being a most pleasant , fruitfull and commodious soile : made this present yeere 1602 , by captaine bartholomew gosnold , captaine bartholowmew gilbert , and diuers other gentlemen their associats , by the permission of the honourable knight , sir walter ralegh , &c. written by m. iohn brereton one of the voyage . whereunto is annexed a treatise , of m. edward hayes , conteining important inducements for the planting in those parts , and finding a passage that way to the south sea , and china . with diuers instructions of speciall moment newly added in this second impression . londini , impensis geor. bishop . 1602. to the honourable , sir walter ralegh , knight , captaine of her maiesties guards , lord warden of the stanneries , lieutenant of cornwall , and gouernour of the isle of iersey . honourable sir , being earnestly requested by a déere friend , to put downe in writing , some true relation of our late performed voyage to the north parts of virginia ; at length i resolued to satisfie his request , who also emboldened me to direct the same to your honourable consideration ; to whom indéed of duetie it perteineth . may it please your lordship therefore to vnderstand , that vpon the sixe and twentieth of march 1602 , being friday , we went from falmouth , being in all , two & thirtie persons , in a small barke of dartmouth , called the concord , holding a course for the north part of virginia : and although by chance the winde fauoured vs not at first as we wished , but inforced vs so farre to the southward , as we fell with s. marie , one of the islands of the açores ( which was not much out of our way ) but holding our course directly from thence , we made our iourney shorter ( than hitherto accustomed ) by the better part of a thousand leagues , yet were wée longer in our passage than we expected ; which happened , for that our barke being weake , we were loth to presse her with much saile ; also , our sailers being few , and they none of the best , we bare ( except in faire weather ) but low saile ; besides , our going vpon an vnknowen coast , made vs not ouer-bolde to stand in with the shore , but in open weather ; which caused vs to be certeine daies in sounding , before we discouered the coast , the weather being by chance , somewhat foggie . but on friday the fourtéenth of may , early in the morning , wée made the land , being full of faire trées , the land somewhat low , certeine hummocks or hilles lying into the land , the shore full of white sand , but very stony or rocky . and standing faire alongst by the shore , about twelue of the clocke the same day , we came to an anker , where eight indians , in a baskeshallop with mast and saile , an iron grapple , and a kettle of copper , came boldly aboord vs , one of them apparelled with a wastcoat and breeches of blacke serdge , made after our sea-fashion , hose and shoes on his féet ; all the rest ( sauing one that had a paire of breeches of blue cloth ) were naked . these people are of tall stature , broad and grim visage , of a blacke swart complexion , their eie-browes painted white ; their weapons are bowes and arrowes . it seemed by some words and signes they made , that some basks or of s , iohn de luz , haue fished or traded in this place , being in the latitude of 43. degrées . but riding heere , in no very good harbour , and withall , doubting the weather , about thrée of the clocke the same day in the afternoone we weighed , & standing southerly off into sea the rest of that day and the night following , with a fresh gale of winde , in the morning we found our selues embaied with a mightie headland ; but comming to an anker about nine of the clocke the same day , within a league of the shore , we hoised out the one halfe of our shallop , and captaine bartholmew gosnold , my selfe , and thrée others , went ashore , being a white sandie and very bolde shore ; and marching all that afternoone with our muskets on our necks , on the highest hilles which we saw ( the weather very hot ) at length we perceiued this headland to be parcell of the maine , and sundrie islands lying almost round about it : so returning ( towards euening ) to our shallop ( for by that time , the other part was brought ashore and set together ) we espied an indian , a yoong man , of proper stature , and of a pleasing countenance ; and after some familiaritie with him , we left him at the sea side , and returned to our ship ; where , in fiue or sixe houres absence , we had pestered our ship so with cod fish , that we threw numbers of them ouer-boord againe : and surely , i am persuaded that in the moneths of march , april , and may , there is vpon this coast , better fishing , and in as great plentie , as in newfound-land : for the sculles of mackerell , herrings , cod , and other fish , that we daily saw as we went and came from the shore , were woonderfull ; and besides , the places where we tooke these cods ( and might in a few daies haue laden our ship ) were but in seuen fadome water , and within lesse than a league of the shore : where , in newfound-land they fish in fortie or fiftie fadome water , and farre off . from this place , we sailed round about this headland , almost all the points of the compasse , the shore very bolde : but as no coast is frée from dangers , so i am persuaded , this is as frée as any . the land somwhat lowe , full of goodly woods , but in some places plaine . at length we were come amongst many faire islands , which we had partly discerned at our first landing ; all lying within a league or two one of another , and the outermost not aboue sixe or seuen leagues from the maine : but cōming to an anker vnder one of them , which was about thrée or foure leagues from the maine , captaine gosnold , my selfe , and some others , went ashore , and going round about it , we found it to be foure english miles in compasse , without house or inhabitant , sauing a little old house made of boughes , couered with barke , an olde piece of a weare of the indians , to catch fish , and one or two places , where they had made fires . the chiefest trées of this island , are béeches and cedars ; the outward parts all ouergrowen with lowe bushie trées , thrée or foure foot in height , which beare some kinde of fruits , as appeared by their blossomes ; strawberries , red and white , as sweet and much bigger than ours in england : rasberies , gooseberies , hurtleberies , and such an incredible store of uines , aswell in the wooddie part of the island , where they run vpon euery trée , as on the outward parts , that we could not goe for treading vpon them : also , many springs of excellent swéet water , and a great standing lake of fresh water , néere the sea side , an english mile in compasse , which is mainteined with the springs running excéeding pleasantly thorow the wooddie grounds which are very rockie . here are also in this island , great store of déere , which we saw , and other beasts , as appeared by their tracks ; as also diuers fowles , as cranes , hernshawes , bitters , géese , mallards , teales and other fowles , in great plenty ; also , great store of pease , which grow in certeine plots all the island ouer . on the north side of this island we found many huge bones and ribbes of whales . this island , as also all the rest of these islands , are full of all sorts of stones fit for building ; the sea sides all couered with stones , many of them glistring and shining like minerall stones , and verie rockie : also , the rest of these islands are replenished with these commodities , and vpon some of them , inhabitants ; as vpon as island to the northward , and within two leagues of this ; yet wée found no townes , nor many of their houses , although we saw manie indians , which are tall big boned men , all naked , sauing they couer their priuy parts with a blacke tewed skin , much like a black smiths apron , tied about their middle and betwéene their legs behinde : they gaue vs of their fish readie boiled , ( which they carried in a basket made of twigges , not vnlike our osier ) whereof we did eat , and iudged them to be fresh water fish : they gaue vs also of their tabacco , which they drinke gréene , but dried into powder , very strong and pleasant , and much better than any i haue tasted in england : the necks of their pipes are made of clay hard dried , ( whereof in that island is great store both red and white ) the other part is a piece of hollow copper , very finely closed and semented together . wée gaue vnto them certeine trifles , as kniues , points , and such like , which they much estéemed . from hence we went to another island , to the northwest of this , and within a league or two of the maine , which we found to bee greater than before we imagined , being 16. english miles at the least in compasse ; for it conteineth many pieces or necks of land , which differ nothing frō seuerall islands , sauing that certeine banks of small bredth , do like bridges , ioine them to this island . on the outsides of this island are many plaine places of grasse , abundance of strawberies & other berries before mentioned . in mid may we did sowe in this island ( for a triall ) in sundry places , wheat , barley , oats , and pease , which in fourtéene daies were sprung vp nine inches and more . the soile is fat and lustie , the vpper crust of gray colour ; but a foot or lesse in depth , of the colour of our hempe-lands in england ; and being thus apt for these and the like graines ; the sowing or setting ( after the ground is clensed ) is no greater labour , than if you should set or sow in one of our best prepared gardens in england . this island is full of high timbred oakes , their leaues thrise so broad as ours ; ceders , straight and tall ; béech , elme , hollie , walnut trees in aboundance , the fruit as bigge as ours , as appeared by those we found vnder the trees , which had lien all the yéere vngathered ; haslenut trées , cherry trées , the leafe , barke and bignesse not differing from ours in england , but the stalke beareth the blossoms or fruit at the end thereof , like a cluster of grapes , forty or fifty in a bunch ; sassafras trées great plentie all the island ouer , a trée of high price and profit ; also diuers other fruit trées , some of them with strange barkes , of an orange colour , in feeling soft and smoothe like ueluet : in the thickest parts of these woods , you may sée a furlong or more round about . on the northwest side of this island , néere to the sea side , is a standing lake of fresh water , almost thrée english miles in compasse , in the middest whereof stands a plot of woody ground , an acre in quantitie or not aboue : this lake is full of small tortoises , and excéedingly frequented with all sorts of fowles before rehearsed , which breed , some low on the banks , and others on low trees about this lake in great aboundance , whose yong ones of all sorts we tooke and eat at our pleasure : but all these fowles are much bigger than ours in england . also , in euery island , and almost in euery part of euery island , are great store of ground nuts , fortie together on a string , some of them as bigge as hennes egges ; they grow not two inches vnder ground : the which nuts we found to be as good as potatoes . also , diuers sorts of shell-fish , as scalops , muscles , cockles , lobsters , crabs , oisters , and wilks , exéeding good and very great . but not to cloy you with particular rehearsall of such things as god & nature hath bestowed on these places , in comparison whereof , the most fertil part of al england is ( of it selfe ) but barren ; we went in our light-horsman from this island to the maine , right against this island some two leagues off , where comming ashore , we stood a while like men rauished at the beautie and delicacie of this swéet soile ; for besides diuers cléere lakes of fresh water ( whereof we saw no end ) modowes very large and full of gréene grasse ; euen the most woody places ( i speake onely of such as i saw ) doe grow so distinct and apart , one trée from another , vpon gréene grassie ground , somewhat higher than the plaines , as if nature would shew her selfe aboue her power , artificiall . hard by , we espied seuen indians , and cumming vp to them , at first they expressed some feare ; but being emboldned by our curteous vsage , and some trifles which we gaue them , they followed vs to a necke of land , which we imagined had beene seuered from the maine ; but finding it otherwise , we perceiued a broad harbour or riuers mouth , which ranne vp into the maine : and because the day was farre spent , we were forced to returne to the island from whence we came , leauing the discouery of this harbour , for a time of better leasure . of the goodnesse of which harbour , as also of many others thereabouts , there is small doubt , considering that all the islands , as also the maine ( where we were ) is all rockie grounds and broken lands . now the next day , we determined to fortifie our selues in a little plot of ground in the midst of the lake aboue mentioned , where we built an house , and couered it with sedge , which grew about this lake in great aboundance ; in building whereof , we spent thrée wéeks and more : but the second day after our comming from the maine , we espied 11 canowes or boats , with fiftie indians in them , comming toward vs from this part of the maine , where we , two daies before landed ; and being loth they should discouer our fortification , we went out on the sea side to méete them ; and comming somewhat néere them , they all sat downe vpon the stones , calling aloud to vs ( as we rightly ghessed ) to doe the like , a little distance from them : hauing sat a while in this order , captaine gosnold willed me to goe vnto them , to sée what countenance they would make ; but as soone as i came vp vnto them , one of them , to whom i had giuen a knife two daies before in the maine , knew me , ( whom i also very wel remembred ) and smiling vpon me , spake somewhat vnto their lord or captaine , which sat in the midst of them , who presently rose vp and tooke a large beauer skin from one that stood about him , and gaue it vnto me , which i requited for that time the best i could : but i , pointing towards captaine gosnold , made signes vnto him , that he was our captaine , and desirous to be his friend , and enter league with him , which ( as i perceiued ) he vnderstood , and made signes of ioy : whereuppon captaine gosnold with the rest of his companie , being twenty in all , came vp vnto them ; and after many signes of gratulations ( captaine gosnold presenting their lord with certaine trifles which they wondred at , and highly estéemed ) we became very great friends , and sent for meat aboord our shallop , and gaue them such meats as we had then readie dressed , whereof they misliked nothing but our mustard , whereat they made many a sowre face . while we were thus mery , one of them had conueied a target of ours into one of their canowes , which we suffered , onely to trie whether they were in subiection to this lord to whom we made signes ( by shewing him another of the same likenesse , and pointing to the canow ) what one of his companie had done : who suddenly expressed some feare , and speaking angerly to one about him ( as we perceiued by his countenance ) caused it presently to be brought backe againe . so the rest of the day we spent in trading with them for furres , which are beauers , luzernes , marterns , otters , wild-cat skinnes , very large and déepe furre , blacke foxes , conie skinnes , of the colour of our hares , but somewhat lesse , déere skinnes , very large , seale skinnes , and other beasts skinnes , to vs vnknowen . they haue also great store of copper , some very redde ; and some of a paler colour ; none of them but haue chaines , earings or collars of this mettall : they head some of their arrows herewith much like our broad arrow heads , very workmanly made . their chaines are many hollow pieces semented together , ech piece of the bignesse of one of our réeds , a finger in length , ten or twelue of them together on a string , which they weare about their necks : their collars they weare about their bodies like bandelieres a handfull broad , all hollow pieces , like the other , but somewhat shorter , four hundred pieces in a collar , very fine and euenly set together . besides these , they haue large drinking cups made like sculles , and other thinne plates of copper , made much like our boare-speare blades , all which they so little estéeme , as they offered their fairest collars or chaines , for a knife or such like trifle , but we séemed little to regard it ; yet i was desirous to vnderstand where they had such store of this mettall , and made signes to one of them ( with whom i was very familiar ) who taking a piece of copper in his hand , made a hole with his finger in the ground , and withall pointed to the maine from whence they came . they strike fire in this manner ; euery one carrieth about him in a purse of tewd leather , a minerall stone ( which i take to be their copper ) and with a flat emerie stone ( wherewith glasiers cut glasse , and cutlers glase blades ) tied fast to the end of a little sticke , gently he striketh vpon the minerall stone , and within a stroke or two , a sparke falleth vpon a piece of touchwood ( much like our spunge in england ) and with the least sparke he maketh a fire presently . we had also of their flaxe , wherewith they make many strings and cords , but it is not so bright of colour as ours in england : i am perswaded they haue great store growing vpon the maine , as also mines and many other rich commodities , which we , wanting both time and meanes , could not possibly discouer . thus they continued with vs thrée daies , euery night retiring them selues to the furthermost part of our island two or three miles from our fort : but the fourth day they returned to the maine , pointing fiue or six times to the sun , and once to the maine , which we vnderstood , that within fiue or six daies they would come from the maine to vs againe : but being in their canowes a little from the shore , they made huge cries & shouts of ioy vnto vs ; and we with our trumpet and cornet , and casting vp our cappes into the aire , made them the best farewell we could : yet six or seuen of them remained with vs behinde , bearing vs company euery day into the woods , and helpt vs to cut and carie our sassafras , and some of them lay aboord our ship . these people , as they are excéeding courteous , gentle of disposition , and well conditioned , excelling all others that we haue séene ; so for shape of bodie and louely fauour , i thinke they excell all the people of america ; of stature much higher than we ; of complexion or colour , much like a darke oliue ; their eie-browes and haire blacke , which they weare long , tied vp behinde in knots , whereon they pricke feathers of fowles , in fashion of a crownet : some of them are blacke thin bearded ; they make beards of the haire of beasts : and one of them offered a beard of their making to one of our sailers , for his that grew on his face , which because it was of a red colour , they iudged to be none of his owne . they are quicke eied , and stedfast in their looks , fearelesse of others harmes , as intending none themselues ; some of the meaner sort giuen to filching , which the very name of saluages ( not weighing their ignorance in good or euill ) may easily excuse : their garments are of déere skins , and some of them weare furres round and close about their necks . they pronounce our language with great facilitie ; for one of them one day sitting by mee , vpon occasion i spake smiling to him these words : how now ( sirrha ) are you so saucie with my tabacco ? which words ( without any further repetition ) he suddenly spake so plaine and distinctly , as if he had béene a long scholar in the language . many other such trials we had , which are héere néedlesse to repeat . their women ( such as we saw ) which were but thrée in all , were but lowe of stature , their eie-browes , haire , apparell , and maner of wearing , like to the men , fat , and very well fauoured , and much delighted in our company ; the men are very dutifull towards them . and truely , the holsomnesse and temperature of this climat , doth not onely argue this people to be answerable to this description , but also of a perfect constitution of body , actiue , strong , healthfull , and very wittie , as the sundry toies of theirs cunningly wrought , may easily witnes . for the agréeing of this climat with vs ( i speake of my selfe , & so i may iustly do for the rest of our company ) that we found our health & strength all the while we remained there , so to renew and increase , as notwithstanding our diet and lodging was none of the best , yet not one of our company ( god be thanked ) felt the least grudging or inclination to any disease or sicknesse , but were much fatter and in better health than when we went out of england . but after our barke had taken in so much sassafras , cedar , furres , skinnes , and other commodities , as were thought conuenient ; some of our company that had promised captaine gosnold to stay , hauing nothing but a sauing voyage in their minds , made our company of inhabitants ( which was small enough before ) much smaller ; so as captaine gosnold séeing his whole strength to consist but of twelue men , and they but meanly prouided , determined to returne for england , leauing this island ( which he called elizabeths island ) which as many true sorrowfull eies , as were before desirous to sée it . so the 18. of iune , being friday , we weighed , and with indifferent faire winde and weather came to anker the 23 of iuly , being also friday ( in all , bare fiue wéeks ) before exmouth . your lordships to command , ihon brereton . a briefe note of such commodities as we saw in the countrey , notwithstanding our small time of stay . trees . sassafras trees , the roots wherof at 3. s. the pound are 336. l. the tunne . cedars tall and straight , in great abundance . cypres trees . oakes . walnut trees great store . elmes . beech. hollie . haslenut trees . cherry trees . cotten trees . other fruit trees to vs vnknowen . the finder of our sassafras in these parts , was one master robert meriton . fowles . eagles . hernshawes . cranes . bitters . mallards . teales . geese . pengwins . ospreis and hawks . crowes . rauens . mewes . doues . sea-pies . blacke-birds with carnation wings . beasts . deere in great store , very great and large . beares . luzernes . blacke foxes . beauers . otters . wilde-cats , verie large and great . dogs like foxes , blacke and sharpe nosed . conies . fruits , plants , and herbs . tabacco , excellent sweet and strong . vines in more plenty than in france . ground-nuts , good meat , & also medicinable . strawberries . raspeberries . gooseberries . hurtleberries . pease growing naturally . flaxe . iris florentina , whereof apothecaries make sweet balles . sorrell , and many other herbs wherewith they made sallets . fishes . vvhales . tortoises , both on land and sea . seales . cods . mackerell . breames . herrings . thornbacke . hakes . rockefish . doggefish . lobstars . crabbes . muscles . wilks . cockles . scallops . oisters . snakes foure foot in length , and sixe inches about , which the indians eat for daintie meat , the skinnes whereof they vse for girdles . colours to die with , red , white , and blacke . mettals and stones . copper in great abundance . emerie stones for glasiers & cutlers . alabaster very white . stones glistering and shining like minerall stones . stones of a blue mettalline colour , which we take to be steele oare . stones of all sorts for buildings . clay , red & white , which may proue good terra sigillata . a briefe note of the sending another barke this present yeere 1602. by the honorable knight , sir walte ralegh , for the searching out of his colonie in virginia . samuel mace of weimouth , a very sufficent mariner , an honest sober man , who had béene at virginia twise before , was imploied thither by sir walter ralegh , to finde those people which were left there in the yeere 1587. to whose succour he hath sent fiue seuerall times at his owne charges . the parties by him set foorth , performed nothing ; some of them following their owne profit elsewhere ; others returning with friuolous allegations . at this last time , to auoid all excuse , he bought a barke , and hired all the company for wages by the moneth : who departing from weimouth in march last 1062 , fell fortie leagues to the southwestward of hatarask , in thirtie foure degrées or thereabout ; and hauing there spent a moneth ; when they came along the coast to séeke the people , they did it not , pretending that the extremitie of weather and losse of some principall ground-tackle , forced and feared them from searching the port of hatarask , to which they were sent . from that place where they abode , they brought sassafras , radix chinae or the china root , beniamin , cassia , lignea , & a rinde of a trée more strong than any spice as yet knowen , with diuers other commodities , which hereafter in a larger discourse may come to light . a treatise , conteining important inducements for the planting in these parts , and finding a passage that way to the south sea and china . the voiage which we intend , is to plant christian people and religion vpon the northwest countries of america , in places temperat and well agréeing with our constitution , which though the same doe lie betwéene 40. and 44. degrees of latitude , vnder the paralels of italy and france , yet are not they so hot ; by reason that the suns heat is qualified in his course ouer the ocean , before he arriueth vpon the coasts of america , attracting much vapour from the sea : which mitigation of his heat , we take for a benefit to vs that intend to inhabit there ; because vnder the climat of 40 degrees , the same would be too vehement els for our bodies to endure . these lands were neuer yet actually possessed by any christian prince or people , yet often intended to be by the french nation , which long sithence had inhabited there , if domesticall warres had not withheld them : notwithstanding the same are the rightfull inheritance of her maiestie , being first discouered by our nation in the time of king henrie the seuenth , vnder the conduct of iohn cabot and his sonnes : by which title of first discouery , the kings of portugall and spaine doe holde and enioy their ample and rich kingdomes in their indies east and west ; and also lately planted in part by the colonies sent thither by the honourable knight , sir walter ralegh . the course vnto these countreys , is thorow the ocean , altogether frée from all restraint by forren princes to be made ; whereunto other our accustomed trades are subiect ; apt for most winds that can blow , to be performed commonly in 30 or 35 daies . the coast faire , with safe roads and harbors for ships : many riuers . these lands be faire and pleasant , resembling france , intermedled with mountaines , valleys , medowes , woodlands , and champians . the soile is excéeding strong , by reason it was neuer manured ; and will be therefore most fit to beare at first , rape-séeds , hempe , flax , and whatsoeuer els requireth such strong soile . rape-oiles , and all sorts of oiles , will be very commodious for england , which spendeth oiles aboundantly about clothing and leather-dressing . in like sort , hempe and flax are profitable , whether the same be sent into england , or wrought there by our people ; oad also will grow there aswell or better then in terçera . the saluages weare faire colours in some of their atire , whereby we hope to finde rich dies and colours for painting . the trées are for the most part , cedars , pines , spruse , firre and oaks to the northward . of these trées will be drawen tarre and pitch , rosen , turpentine , and soape-ashes : they will make masts for the greatest shippes of the world : excellent timbers of cedar , and boords for curious building . the cliffes vpon the coasts and mountaines euery where shew great likelihood of minerals . a very rich mine of copper is found , whereof i haue séene proofe ; and the place described . not farre from which there is great hope also of a siluer mine . there be faire quarries of stone , of beautifull colours , for buildings . the ground bringeth forth , without industrie , pease , roses , grapes , hempe , besides other plants , fruits , herbs and flowers , whose pleasant view and delectable smelles , doe demonstrate sufficiently the fertility and swéetnesse of that soile and aire . beasts of many kindes ; some of the bignesse of an oxe , whose hides make good buffe : déere , both red and of other sorts in aboundance : luzerns , marterns , sables , beauers , beares , otters , wolues , foxes , and squirrels , which to the northward are blacke , and accounted very rich furres . fowles both of the water and land , infinit store and varietie ; hawks both short and long winged , partriges in abundance , which are verie great , and easily taken . birds great and small , some like vnto our blacke-birds , others like canarie-birds : and many ( as well birds as other creatures ) strange and differing from ours of europe . fish , namely , cods , which as we encline more vnto the south , are more large and vendible for england and france , then the newland fish . whales and seales in great abundances . oiles of them are rich commodities for england , whereof we now make soape , besides many other vses . item , tunneys , anchoues , bonits , salmons , lobsters , oisters hauing pearle , and infinit other sorts of fish , which are more plentifull vpon those northwest coasts of america , than in any parts of the knowen world . salt is reported to be found there , which els may be made there , to serue sufficiently for all fishing . so as the commodities there to be raised both of the sea and land ( after that we haue planted our people skilfull and industrious ) will be , fish , whale and seale oiles , soape ashes and soape , tarre and pitch , rosen and turpentine , masts , timber and boords of cedars , firres , and pines , hempe , flaxe , cables and ropes , saile-clothes , grapes , and raisens and wines , corne , rape-séeds & oiles , hides , skinnes , furres , dies and colours for painting , pearle , mettals , and other minerals . these commodities before rehearsed , albeit for the most part they be grosse , yet are the same profitable for the state of england specially , aswell in regard of the vse of such commodities , as for the imploiment also of our people and ships ; the want whereof , doth decay our townes and ports of england , and causeth the realme to swarme full with poore and idle people . these commodities in like sort , are of great vse and estimation in all the south and westerne countreys of europe ; namely , italie , france and spaine : for the which all nations that haue béene accustomed to repaire vnto the newfound-land for the commoditie of fish and oiles alone , will henceforward forsake the newfound-land , and trade with vs , when once we haue planted people in those parts : by whose industrie shall be prouided for all commers , both fish and oiles , and many commodities besides , of good importance & value . then will the spaniards and portugals bring vnto vs in exchange of such commodites before mentioned , wines , swéet oiles , fruits , spices , sugars , silks , gold and siluer , or whatsoeuer that europe yéeldeth , to supply our necessities , and to increase our delights . for which spanish commodities and other sorts likewise , our merchants of england will bring vnto vs againe , cloth , cattell , for our store and bréed , and euery thing els that we shall néed , or that england shall haply exchange for such commodities . by this intercourse , our habitations will be made a staple of all vendible commodities of the world , and a meanes to vent a very great quantitie of our english cloth into all the cold regions of america extended very farre . this intercourse also will be soone drawen together by this reason : that néere adioining vpon the same coasts of new-found-land , is the greatest fishing of the world ; whether doe yéerely repaire about 400 sailes of ships , for no other commoditie than fish and whale-oiles . then forasmuch as merchants ar diligent inquisitours after gaines , they will soone remooue their trade from newfound-land vnto vs néere at hand , for so great increase of gaine as they shall make by trading with vs. for whereas the voyage vnto the newfound-land is into a more cold and intemperate place , not to be traded nor frequented at all times , nor fortified for securitie of the ships and goods ; oft spoiled by pirats or men of warre ; the charges great for salt ; double manning and double victualling their ships , in regard that the labor is great and the time long , before their lading can be made readie : they cary outwards no commodities for fraight ; and after sixe moneths voyage , their returne is made but of fish and oiles . contrariwise , by trading with vs at our intended place , the course shal be in a maner as short ; into a more temperate and healthfull climat ; at all times of the yéere to be traded ; harbors fortified to secure ships and goods ; charges abridged of salt , victualling and manning ships double : because lading shall be prouided vnto their hands at a more easie rate than themselues could make it . they shall carry fraight also outward , to make exchange with vs ; and so get profit both waies : and then euery foure moneths they may make a voyage and returne , of both fish and oiles , and many other commodities of good worth . these reasons aduisedly waighed , shall make our enterprise appeare easie , and the most profitable of the world , for our nation to vndertake . the reasons we chiefly relie vpon are these , namely . 1 those lands which we intend to inhabit , shall minister vnto our people , the subiect and matter of many notable commodities . 2 england shall affoord vs people both men , women and children aboue 10000 , which may very happily be spared from hence to worke those commodities there . 3 newfound-land shall minister shipping to carrie away all our commodities , and to bring others vnto vs againe for our supplie . now two of these reasons are already effected vnto our hands : that is to say : the place where we shall finde rich commodities , and ships to vent them . it remaineth onely for our parts , to carrie and transport people with their prouisions from england , where the miserie and necessitie of manie crie out for such helpe and reliefe . this considered , no nation of christendom is so fit for this action as england , by reason of our superfluous people ( as i may tearme them ) and of our long domesticall peace . and after that we be once 200 men strong , victualled and fortified , we can not be remooued by as many thousands . for besides that , we haue séene both in france and the low-countreys , where 200 men well fortified and victualled , haue kept out the forces both of the french & spanish kings , euen within their owne kingdomes : it shall be also a matter of great difficulty , to transport an army ouer the ocean with victuals and munition , and afterwards to abide long siege abroad , against vs fortified within , where the very elements and famine shall fight for vs , though we should lie still and defend onely . the saluages neither in this attempt shall hurt vs , they being simple , naked and vnarmed , destitute of edge-tooles or weapons ; whereby they are vnable either to defend thēselues or to offend vs : neither is it our intent to prouoke , but to cherrish and win them vnto christianitie by faire meanes ; yet not to trust them too far , but to prouide against all accidents . then to conclude , as we of all other nations are most fit for a discouery and planting in remote places ; euen so , vnder the heauens there is no place to be found so conuenient for such a purpose ; by reason of the temperature , commodities , apt site for trade , & repaire thither already of so many ships , which in any other frequented countrey , can not be procured in a mans age , nor with expense of halfe a million . so as the onely difficultie now , is in our first preparation to transport some few people at the beginning ; the charges whereof shall be defraied by our first returne , of fish and some commodities of sassafras , hides , skinnes and furres , which we shall also haue by trading with the saluages . the proofe of which commodities shall incourage our merchants to venter largely in the next . the supplie shall easily and continually be sent by ships , which yéerely goe from hence vnto the newfound-land and vs ; and the intercourse & exchange we shall haue with all nations repairing thither , shall store vs with aboundance of all things for our necessities and delightes . which reasons if they had béene foreséene of them that planted in the south part of virginia ( which is a place destitute of good harbours , and farre from all trade ) no doubt but if they had settled neerer vnto this frequented trade in the newfound-land , they had by this time béene a flourishing state , and plentifull in all things ; who also might then haue made way into the bowels of that large continent , where assuredly we shall discouer very goodly and rich kingdomes and cities . it may also séeme a matter of great consequence for the good and securitie of england ; that out of these northerly regions we shall be able to furnish this realme of all maner of prouisions for our nauies ; namely , pitch , rosen , cables , ropes , masts , and such like ; which shall be made within those her maiesties owne dominions , by her owne subiects , and brought hither thorow the ocean , frée from restraint of any other prince ; whereby the customes and charges bestowed by our merchants ( to the inriching of forren estates ) shall be lessened , and turned to the benefit of her highnesse and her deputies in those parts : which also shall deliuer our merchants from many troubles & molestations which they now vnwillingly indure in our east trades ; and shall make vs the lesse to doubt the malice of those states whom now we may not offend , lest we should be intercepted of the same prouisions , to the weakening of our nauie , the most roiall defence of this noble realme . of a conuenient passage and trade into the south sea , vnder temperate regions part by riuers , and some part ouer land , in the continent of america . neither vpon the discoueries of iaques noel , who hauing passed beyond the thrée saults , where iaques carrier left to discouer , finding the riuer of s. laurence passable on the other side or branch ; and afterwards , vnderstood of the inhabitants , that the same riuer did lead into a mighty lake , which at the entrance was fresh , but beyond , was bitter or salt ; the end whereof was vnknowen . omitting therefore these hopes , i will ground my opinion vpon reason and nature , which will not faile . for this we know alreadie , that great riuers haue béene discouered a thousand english miles into that continent of america ; namely , that of s. laurence or canada . but not regarding miles more or lesse , most assuredly , that and other knowen riuers there doe descend from the highest parts or mountaines , or middle of that continent , into our north sea . and like as those mountains doe cast from them , streames into our north seas ; euen so the like they doe into the south sea , which is on the backe of that continent . for all mountaines haue their descents toward the seas about them , which are the lowest places and proper mansions of water : and waters ( which are contained in the mountaines , as it were in cisternes ) descending naturally , doe alwaies resort vnto the seas inuironing those lands : for example ; from the alps confining germanie , france , and italie , the mighty riuer danubie doth take his course east , and dischargeth into the pontique sea : the rhine , north , and falleth into the germane sea : the rhosne , west , and goeth into the mediterran sea : the po , south , is emptied into the adriatick or gulfe of venice . other instances may be produced to like effect in africk ; yea , at home amongst the mountaines in england . seeing then in nature this can not be denied , and by experience elsewhere is found to be so , i will shew how a trade may be disposed more commodiously into the south sea thorow these temperate and habitable regions , than by the frozen zones in the supposed passages of northwest or northeast : where , if the very moment be omitted of the time to passe , then are we like to be frozen in the seas , or forced to winter in extreame cold and darkenesse like vnto hell : or in the midst of summer , we shal be in perill to haue our ships ouerwhelmed or crusht in pieces by hideous and fearefull mountaines of yce floting vpon those seas . therefore foure staple-places must be erected , when the most short and passable way is found : that is to say , two vpon the north side , at the head and fall of the riuer ; and two others on the south side , at the head and fall also of that other riuer . prouided , that ships may passe vp those riuers vnto the staples , so farre as the same be nauigable into the land ; and afterwards , that boats with flat bottomes may also passe so high and néere the heads of the riuers vnto the staples , as possibly they can , euen with lesse than two foot water , which can not then be far from the heads ; as in the riuer of chagre . that necke or space of land betwéene the two heads of the said riuers , if it be 100 leagues ( which is not like ) the commodities from the north and from the south sea brought thither , may wel be carried ouer the same vpon horses , mules or beasts of that countrey apt to labour ( as the elke or buffel ) or by the aid of many saluages accustomed to burdens ; who shall stead vs greatly in these affaires . it is moreouer to be considered , that all these countreys do yéeld ( so farre as is knowen ) cedars , pines , firre trées and oaks , to build , mast , and yeard ships ; wherefore we may not doubt , but that ships may be builded on the south sea . then as ships on the south side may goe and returne to and from cathay , china , and other most rich regions of the east world in fiue moneths or thereabouts ; euen so the goods being carried ouer vnto the north side , ships may come thither from england to fetch the same goods , and returne by a voyage of foure or fiue moneths vsually . so as in euery foure moneths may be returned into england the greatest riches of cathay , china , iapan , and the rest which will be spices , drugges , muske , pearle , stones , gold , siluer , silks , clothes of gold , & all maner of precious things , which shall recompense the time and labour of their transportation and carriage , if it were as farre and dangerous as the moores trade is from fess and marocco ( ouer the burning and moueable sands , in which they perish many times , and suffer commonly great distresses ) vnto the riuer called niger in africa , and from thence , vp the said riuer manie hundred miles ; afterwards ouer-land againe , vnto the riuer nilus ; and so vnto cairo in egypt , from whence they returne the way they came . or if it were a voyage so farre as our merchants haue made into persia , euen to ormus , by the way of the north , through russia into the caspian sea , and so foorth , with paiment of many tolles . but this passage ouer and thorow the continent of america , as the same shall be alwaies vnder temperate and habitable climats , and a pleasant passage after it hath béene a little frequented : euen so it must fall out much shorter than it séemeth , by false description of that continent , which doth not extend so farre into the west , as by later nauigations is found and described in more exquisit charts . besides that , the sea extends it selfe into the land very farre in many places on the south side ; whereby our accesse vnto the south ocean , shall be by so much the shorter . finis . inducements to the liking of the voyage intended towards virginia in 40. and 42. degrees of latitude , written 1585. by m. richard hakluyt the elder , sometime student of the middle temple . the glory of god by planting of religion among those infidels . 2 the increase of the force of the christians . 3 the possibilitie of the inlarging of the dominions of the quéenes most excellent maiestie , and consequently of her honour , reuenues , and of her power by this enterprise . 4 an ample vent in time to come of the woollen clothes of england , especially those of the coursest sorts , to the maintenance of our poore , that els sterue or become burdensome to the realme : and vent also of sundry our commodities vpon the tract of that firme land , and possibly in other regions from the northerne side of that maine . 5 a great possibilitie of further discoueries of other regions from the north part of the same land by sea , and of vnspeakable honor and benefit that may rise vpon the same , by the trades to ensue in iapan , china , and cathay , &c. 6 by returne thence , this realme shall receiue ( by reason of the situation of the climate , and by reason of the excellent soile ) oade , oile , wines , hops , salt , and most or all the commodities that we receiue from the best parts of europe , and we shall receiue the same better cheape , than now we receiue them , as we may vse the matter . 7 receiuing the same thence , the nauie , the humane strength of this realme , our merchants and their goods shal not be subiect to arrest of ancient enemies & doubtfull friends , as of late yéeres they haue béene . 8 if our nation do not make any conquest there , but only vse trafficke and change of commodities , yet by meane the countrey is not very mightie , but diuided into pety kingdoms , they shall not dare to offer vs any great annoy , but such as we may easily reuenge with sufficient chastisement to the vnarmed people there . 9 whatsoeuer commodities we receiue by the stéelyard merchants , or by our owne merchants from eastland , be it flaxe , hempe , pitch , tarre , masts , clap-boord , wainscot , or such like ; the like good may we receiue from the north and northeast part of that countrey néere vnto cape briton , in returne for our course woollen clothes , flanels and rugges fit for those colder regions . 10 the passage to and fro , is thorow the maine ocean sea , so as we are not in danger of any enemies coast . 11 in the voyage , we are not to crosse the burnt zone , nor to passe thorow frozen seas encombred with ice and fogs , but in temperate climate at all times of the yéere : and it requireth not , as the east indie voiage doth , the taking in of water in diuers places , by reason that it is to be sailed in fiue or six wéeks : and by the shortnesse , the merchant may yéerely make two returnes ( a factory once being erected there ) a matter in trade of great moment . 12 in this trade by the way in our passe to and fro , we haue in tempests and other haps , all the ports of ireland to our aid , and no néere coast or any enemy . 13 by this ordinary trade we may annoy the enemies to ireland , and succour the quéenes maiesties friends there , and in time we may from virginia yéeld them whatsoeuer commoditie they now receiue from the spaniard ; and so the spaniards shall want the ordinary victual that heertofore they receiued yéerely from thence , and so they shall not continue trade , nor fall so aptly in practise against this gouernment , as now by their trade thither they may . 14 we shall , as it is thought , enioy in this voyage , either some small islands to settle on , or some one place or other on the firme land to fortifie for the saftie of our ships , our men , and our goods , the like whereof we haue not in any forren place of our trafficke , in which respect we may be in degrée of more safetie , and more quiet . 15 the great plentie of buffe hides , and of many other sundry kinds of hides there now presently to be had , the trade of whale and seale fishing , and of diuers other fishings in the great riuers , great bayes , and seas there , shall presently defray the charge in good part or in all of the first enterprise , and so we shall be in better case than our men were in russia , where many yéeres were spent , and great summes of money consumed , before gaine was sound . 16 the great broad riuers of that maine that we are to enter into so many leagues nauigable or portable into the maine land , lying so long a tract with so excellent and so fertile a soile on both sides , doe séeme to promise all things that the life of man doth require , and whatsoeuer men may wish , that are to plant vpon the same , or to trafficke in the same . 17 and whatsoeuer notable commoditie the soile within or without doth yéeld in so long a tract that is to be carried out from thence to england , the same riuers so great and déepe , do yéeld no small benefit for the sure , safe , easie and cheape cariage of the same to shipboord , be it of great bulke or of great weight . 18 and in like sort whatsoeuer commoditie of england the inland people there shall néed , the same riuers doe worke the like effect in benefit for the incariage of the same , aptly , easily , and cheaply . 19 if we finde the countrey populous , and desirous to expel vs , and iniuriously to offend vs , that séeke but iust and lawfull trafficke , then by reason that we are lords of nauigation , and they not so , we are the better able to defend our selues by reason of those great riuers , & to annoy them in many places . 20 where there be many petie kings or lords planted on the riuers sides , and by all likelihood mainteine the frontiers of their seuerall territories by warres , we may by the aide of this riuer ioine with this king héere , or with that king there , at our pleasure , and may so with a few men be reuenged of any wrong offered by any of them ; or may , if we will procéed with extremitie , conquer , fortifie , and plant in soiles most swéet , most pleasant , most strong , and most fertile , and in the end bring them all in subiection and to ciuilitie . 21 the knowen abundance of fresh fish in the riuers , and the knowen plentie of fish on the sea coast there , may assure vs of sufficient victuall in spight of the people , if we will vse salt and industrie . 22 the knowen plentie and varietie of flesh , of diuers kinds of beasts at land there , may séeme to say to vs , that we may cheaply victuall our nauies to england for our returnes , which benefit euery where is not found of merchants . 23 the practise of the people of the east indies , when the portugals came thither first , was to cut from the portugals their lading of spice : and heereby they thought to ouerthrow their purposed trade . if these people shall practise the like , by not suffering vs to haue any commoditie of theirs without conquest , ( which requireth some time ) yet may we mainteine our first voyage thither , till our purpose come to effect , by the sea-fishing on the coasts there , and by dragging for pearles , which are said to be on those parts ; and by returne of those commodities , the charges in part shall be defraied : which is a matter of consideration in enterprises of charge . 24 if this realme shall abound too too much with youth , in the mines there of golde , ( as that of chisca and saguenay ) of siluer , copper , yron , &c. may be an imployment to the benefit of this realme ; in tilling of the rich soile there for graine , and in planting of uines there for wine ; or dressing of those uines which grow there naturally in great abundance , oliues for oile ; orenge trées , limons , figs and almonds for fruit ; oad , saffron , and madder for diers ; hoppes for brewers ; hempe , flaxe ; and in many such other things , by imploiment of the soile , our people void of sufficient trades , may be honestly imploied , that els may become hurtfull at home . 25 the nauigating of the seas in the voyage , and of the great riuers there , will bréed many mariners for seruice , and mainteine much nauigation . 26 the number of raw hides there of diuers kindes of beasts , if we shall possesse some island there , or settle on the firme , may presently imploy many of our idle people in diuers seuerall dressings of the same , and so we may returne them to the people that can not dresse them so well ; or into this realm , where the same are good merchandize ; or to flanders , &c. which present gaine at the first , raiseth great incouragement presently to the enterprise . 27 since great waste woods be there , of oake , cedar , pine , wall-nuts , and sundry other sorts , many of our waste people may be imployed in making of ships , hoies , busses and boats ; and to making of rozen , pitch and tarre , the trées naturall for the same , being certeinly knowen to be néere cape briton and the bay of menan , and in many other places there about . 28 if mines of white or gray marble , iet , or other rich stone be found there , our idle people may be imployed in the mines of the same , and in preparing the same to shape , and so shaped , they may be caried into this realm as good balast for our ships , and after serue for noble buildings . 29 sugar-canes may be planted aswell as they are now in the south of spaine , and besides the imploiment of our idle people , we may receiue the commodity cheaper , and not inrich infidels or our doubtful friends , of whom now we receiue that commoditie . 30 the daily great increase of woolles in spaine , and the like in the west indies , and the great imploiment of the same into cloth in both places , may mooue vs to endeuour , for vent of our cloth , new discoueries of peopled regions , where hope of sale may arise ; otherwise in short time many inconueniences may possibly ensue . 31 this land that we purpose to direct our course to , lying in part in the 40 degree of latitude , being in like heat as lisbone in portugall doth , and in the more southerly part as the most southerly coast of spaine doth , may by our diligence yeeld vnto vs besides wines and oiles and sugars , orenges , limons , figs , resings , almonds , pomegranates , rice , raw-silks such as come from granada , and diuers commodities for diers , as anile and cochenillio , and sundry other colours and materials . moreouer , we shall not onely receiue many precious commodities besides from thence , but also shal in time finde ample vent of the labour of our poore people at home , by sale of hats , bonets , kniues , fish-hooks , copper kettles , beads , looking-glasses , bugles , & a thousand kinds of other wrought wares , that in short time may be brought in vse among the people of that countrey , to the great reliefe of the multitude of our poore people , and to the woonderfull enriching of this realme . and in time , such league & entercourse may arise betwéene our stapling seats there , and other ports of our northern america , and of the islands of the same , that incredible things , and by few as yet dreamed of , may spéedily follow , tending to the impeachment of our mightie enemies , and to the common good of this noble gouernment . the ends of this voyage are these : 1. to plant christian religion . 2. to trafficke . 3. to conquer . or , to doe all thrée . to plant christian religion without conquest , will bée hard . trafficke easily followeth conquest : conquest is not easie . trafficke without conquest séemeth possible , and not vneasie . what is to be done , is the question . if the people be content to liue naked , and to content themselues with few things of méere necessity , then trafficke is not . so then in vaine séemeth our voyage , vnlesse this nature may be altered , as by conquest and other good meanes it may be , but not on a sudden . the like whereof appeared in the east indies , vpon the portugals seating there . if the people in the inland be clothed , and desire to liue in the abundance of all such things as europe doth , and haue at home all the same in plentie , yet we can not haue trafficke with them , by meane they want not any thing that we can yéeld them . admit that they haue desire to your commodities , and as yet haue neither golde , siluer , copper , iron , nor sufficient quantitie of other present commoditie to mainteine the yéerely trade : what is then to be done ? the soile and climate first is to be considered , and you are with argus eies to sée what commoditie by industrie of man you are able to make it to yéeld , that england doth want or doth desire : as for the purpose , if you can make it to yéeld good wine , or good oile , as it is like you may by the climat , ( where wilde uines of sundry sorts doe naturally grow already in great abundance ) then your trade may be mainteined . but admit the soile were in our disposition ( as yet it is not ) in what time may this be brought about ? for wine this is to be affirmed , that first the soile lying in 36 or 37 degrées in the temperature of south spaine , in setting your uine-plants this yéere , you may haue wine within thrée yéeres . and it may be that the wilde uines growing there already , by orderly pruning and dressing at your first arriuall , may come to profit in shorter time . and planting your oliue trées this yéere , you may haue oile within thrée yéeres . and if the sea shores be flat , and fit for receipt of salt water , and for salt making , without any annoy of néere freshes , then the trade of salt onely may mainteine a yéerely nauigation ( as our men now trade to the isle of maio , and the hollanders to terra firma néere the west end of the isle of margarita . ) but how the naturall people of the countrey may be made skilfull to plant uines , and to know the vse , or to set oliue trées , and to know the making of oile , and withall to vse both the trades , that is a matter of small consideration : but to conquer a countrey or prouince in climate & soile of italie , spaine , or the islands from whence we receiue our wines & oiles , and to man it , to plant it , and to kéepe it , and to continue the making of wines and oiles able to serue england , were a matter of great importance both in respect of the sauing at home of our great treasure now yéerely going away , and in respect of the annoyance thereby growing to our enemies . the like consideration would be had , touching a place for the making of salt , of temperature like those of france , not too too colde , as the salts of the northern regions be ; nor too too firy , as those be that be made more southerly than france . in regard whereof , many circumstances are to be considered ; and principally , by what meane the people of those parties may be drawen by all courtesie into loue with our nation ; that we become not hatefull vnto them , as the spaniard is in italie and in the west indies , and elswhere , by their maner of vsage : for a gentle course without crueltie and tyrannie best answereth the profession of a christian , best planteth christian religion ; maketh our seating most void of blood , most profitable in trade of merchandise , most firme and stable , and least subiect to remooue by practise of enemies . but that we may in seating there , not be subiect wholly to the malice of enemies , and may be more able to preserue our bodies , ships , and goods in more safetie , and to be knowen to be more able to scourge the people there , ciuill or sauage , than willing to offer any violence . and for the more quiet exercise of our manurance of the soiles where we shall seat , and of our manuall occupations , it is to be wished that some ancient captaines of milde disposition and great iudgement be sent thither with men most skilfull in the arte of fortification ; and that direction be taken that the mouthes of great riuers , and the islands in the same ( as things of great moment ) be taken , manned , and fortified ; and that hauens be cut out for safetie of the nauie , that we may be lords of the gates and entries , to goe out and come in at pleasure , and to lie in safetie , and be able to command and to controle all within , and to force all forren nauigation to lie out in open rode subiect to all weathers , to be dispersed by tempests and flawes , if the force within be not able to giue them the encounter abroad . the red muscadell grape , that bishop grindall procured out of germanie ; the great white muscadell ; the yellow grape : the cuts of these were woont yéerely to be set at fulham ; and after one yeeres rooting to be giuen by the bishop , and to be sold by his gardener . these presently prouided , and placed in earth , and many of these so rooted , with store of cuts vnrooted besides , placed in tubbes of earth shipped at the next voyage , to be planted in virginia , may begin uineyards , and bring wines out of hand . 2 prouision great of wilde oliue trées may be made out of this citie so then to be caried , to encrease great store of stocks to graffe the best oliue on : and virginia standing in the same degrée that the shroffe the oliue place doth in spaine , we may win that merchandise , grassing the wilde . 3 sugar-canes , if you can not procure them from the spanish islands , yet may you by our barberie merchants procure them . 4 there is an herbe in persia , whereof anile is made , and it is also in barbarie : to procure that by séed or root , were of importance for a trade of merchandise for our clothing countrey . 5 oad by the séeds you may haue ; for you may haue hundreds of bushels in england , as it is multiplied : and hauing soile and labor in virginia cheape , and the oad in great value , lying in small roome , it will be a trade of great gaine to this clothing realme : and the thing can not be destroyed by saluages . the roots of this you may haue in plenty and number comming in the trade : so this may grow in trade within a yéere ready for the merchant . 6 figge trées of many good kinds may be had hence in barrell , if now presently they be prouided ; and they in that climat will yéeld noble fruit , and feed your people presently , and will be brought in frailes home as merchandise , or in barrell , as resings also may be . 7 sawed boords of sassafras and cedar , to be turned into small boxes for ladies and gentlewomen , would become a present trade . 8 to the infinite naturall increase of hogs , to adde a deuice how the same may be fed by roots , acornes , &c. without spoiling your corne , would be of great effect to féed the multitude continually imployed in labour : and the same cheaply bred and salted , and barrelled there and brought home , will be well solde for a good merchandise ; and the barrels after , will serue for our home herring-fishing ; and so you sell you woods and the labour of your cooper . 9 receiuing the saluage women and their children of both sexes by courtesie into your protection , and imploying the english women and the others in making of linnen , you shal raise a woonderfull trade of benefit , both to carie into england and also into the islands , and into the maine of the west indies , victuall and labour being so cheape there . 10 the trade of making cables and cordage there , will be of great importance , in respect of a cheape maintenance of the nauie that shall passe to and fro ; and in respect of such nauie as may in those parties be vsed for the venting of the commodities of england to be brought thither . and powldauies , &c. made for sailes of the poore saluages , yeeld to the nauie a great helpe , and a great gaine in the trafficke . but if séeking reuenge on euery iniurie of the saluages we séeke blood & raise war , our uines , our oliues , our figge trées , our sugar-canes , our orenges and limons , corne , cattell , &c. will be destroyed , and trade of merchandise in all things ouerthrowen ; and so the english nation there planted and to be planted , shal be rooted out with sword and hunger . sorts of men which are to be passed in this voyage . 1 men skilfull in all minerall causes . 2 men skilfull in all kinde of drugges . 3 fishermen , to consider of the sea fishings there on the coasts , to be reduced to trade hereafter : and others for the fresh water fishings . 4 salt-makers , to view the coast , and to make triall how rich the sea-water there is , to aduise for the trade . 5 husbandmen , to view the soile , to resolue for tillage in all sorts . 6 uineyard-men bred , to sée how the soile may serue for the planting of uines . 7 men bred in the shroffe in south spaine , for discerning how oliue trées may be planted there . 8 others , for planting of orenge trées , figge trées , limon trées , and almond trées ; for iudging how the soile may serue for the same . 9 gardeners , to prooue the seuerall soiles of the islands , and of our setling places , to sée how the same may serue for all herbs and roots for our victualling ; since by rough seas sometimes we may want fish , and since we may want flesh to victuall vs , by the malice of the naturall people there : and gardeners for planting of our common trées of fruit , as peares , apples , plumines , peaches , medlers , apricoes , quinces for conserues , &c. 10 lime-makers , to make lime for buildings . 11 masons , carpenters , &c. for buildings there . 12 bricke-makers and tile-makers . 13 men cunning in the art of fortification , that may chuse out places strong by nature to be fortified , and that can plot out and direct workemen . 14 choise spade-men , to trench cunningly , and to raise bulwarks and rampiers of earth for defence and offence . 15 spade-makers , that may , out of the woods there , make spades like those of deuonshire , and of other sorts , and shouels from time to time for common vse . 16 smithes , to forge the yrons of the shouels and spades , and to make blacke billes and other weapons , and to mend many things . 17 men that vse to breake ash trées for pike-staues , to be imploied in the woods there . 18 others , that finish vp the same so rough hewd , such as in london are to be had . 19 coopers , to make caske of all sorts . 20 forgers of pikes heads and of arrow heads , with forges , with spanish yron , and with all maner of tooles to be caried with them . 21 fletchers , to renew arrowes , since archerie preuaileth much against vnarmed people : and gunpowder may soone perish , by setting on fire . 22 bowyers also , to make bowes there for néed . 23 makers of oares , since for seruice vpon those riuers it is to great purpose , for the boats and barges they are to passe and enter with . 24 shipwrights , to make barges and boats , and bigger vessels , if néed be , to run along the coast , and to pierce the great bayes and inlets . 25 turners , to turne targets of elme and tough wood , for vse against the darts and arrowes of saluages . 26 such also as haue knowledge to make targets of horne . 27 such also as can make armor of hides vpon moulds , such as were woont to be made in this realme about an hundred yéeres since , and were called scotish iacks : such armor is light and defensiue enough against the force of saluages . 28 tanners , to tanne hides of buffes , oxen , &c. in the isles where you shall plant . 29 white tawyers of all other skinnes there . 30 men skilfull in burning of sope ashes , and in making of pitch , and tarre , and rozen , to be fetched out of prussia and poland , which are thence to be had for small wages , being there in maner of slaues . the seuerall sorts of trées , as pines , firres , spruses , birch and others , are to be boared with great augers a foot or halfe a yard aboue the ground , as they vse in vesely towards languedock and néere bayona in gascoigne : and so you shall easily and quickly sée what gummes , rozen , turpentine , tarre , or liquor is in them , which will quickly distill out cléerely without any filthie mixture , and will shew what commoditie may be made of them : their goodnesse and greatnesse for masts is also to be considered . 31 a skilfull painter is also to be caried with you , which the spaniards vsed commonly in all their discoueries to bring the descriptions of all beasts , birds , fishes , trées , townes , &c. a briefe note of the corne , fowles , fruits and beasts of the inland of florida on the backeside of virginia , taken out of the 44 chapter of the discouery of the said countrey , begun by fernando de soto gouernour of cuba , in the yeere of our lord 1539. the bread which they eat in all the land of florida , is of maiz , which is like to course millet . and in all the islands and west indies from the antiles forward there is this maiz. likewise in florida there be many wallnuts , plummes , mulberies , & grapes . they sowe their maiz , and gather it , euery man his owne croppe . the fruits are common to all men , because they grow abundantly in the fields without planting or dressing . in the mountaines there grow chestnuts ; they are somewhat smaller than the chestnuts of spaine , which are called collarínnas . from rio grande toward the west , the walnuts are differing from the other ; for they are softer and round like bullets . and from rio grande toward puerto del spirito santo eastward , for the most part they are harder . and the trées and nuts are like in fashion vnto those of spaine . there is in all the countrey a fruit which groweth vpon an herbe or plant like to the herbe called dogs-tongue , which the indians doe sowe . the fruit is like vnto the peres rial : it is of a very good rellish , and of a pleasant taste . another herbe groweth in the fields , which beareth a fruit néere the ground like to a strawberie , very pleasant in taste . the plummes are of two sorts , red and gray , in fashion and bignesse of walnuts , and haue thrée or foure stones in them . these are better than any in spaine , and they make better prunes of them . the want of dressing is perceiued only in the grapes : which although they be great , yet they haue a great kernell . all the rest of the fruits are very perfect , and lesse hurtfull than those of spaine . there are in florida many beares , lions , stags , roe-bucks , wild-cats , and conies . there be many wild-hennes as bigge as peacocks , small partridges like those of africa , cranes , ducks , rolas , black-birds , and sparrowes . there be certeine blacke birds bigger than sparrowes and lesser than stares . there be sore-hauks , faulcons , gosse-hauks , and all fowles of pray that are in spaine . the indians are well proportioned . those of the plaine countreys are taller of stature , and better proportioned than those of the mountaines . those of the inland are better furnished with corne and wealth of the countrey , than those of the sea coast . the countrey on the sea coast toward the gulfe of mexico is barren and poore , and the people more warrelike . the coast beareth from puerto del spirito santo vnto apalache , and from apalache to rio de palmas almost from east to west ; from rio de palmas vnto noua hispania it runneth from north to south . it is a gentle coast , but it hath many sholds and banks or shelues of sand . a note of such commodities as are found in florida next adioining vnto the south part of virginia , taken out of the description of the said countrey , written by mounsieur rene laudonniere , who inhabited there two sommers and one winter . the countrey of florida is flat , and diuided with diuers riuers , and therefore moist , and is sandy towards the sea-shore . there groweth in those parts great quantitie of pyne trées , which haue no kernels in the apples that they beare . their woods are full of oakes , walnut trées , blacke cherrie trées , mulberie trées , lentiskes which yéeld masticke , and chestnut trées , which are more wilde than those of france . there is great store of cedars , cypresses , baies , palme trées , grapes : there is there a kinde of medlars , the fruit whereof is better then that of france , and bigger . there are also plumme trées , which beare very faire fruit , but such as is not very good . there are raspesses , and a little bery which we call among vs blues , which are very good to eat . there grow in that countrey a kinde of rootes , which they call in their language hazes , whereof in necessitie they make bread . there is also the trée called esquine , ( which i take to be the sassafras ) which is very good against the pocks and other contagious diseases . the beasts best knowen in this countrey are stagges , roes , deere , goates , leopards , ownces , lucernes , diuers sorts of woolues , wilde dogges , hares , connies , and a certeine kinde of beast that differeth little from the lion of africke . the fowles are turkie cocks , partridges , perrots , pigeons , ringdoues , turtles , blacke birds , crowes , tarcels , faulcons , leonards , herons , cranes , storkes , wilde géese , mallards , cormorants , herneshawes , white , red , blacke , and gray , and an infinit sort of all wildfoule . there is such aboundance of crocodiles , that oftentimes in swimming , men are assailed by them : of serpents there are many sorts . there is found among the sauages good quantitie of gold and siluer , which is gotten out of the ships that are lost vpon the coast : neuerthelesse they say ; that in the mountains of apalatcy , there are mines of copper , which i thinke to be gold. there is also in this countrey , great store of graines and herbes , whereof might be made excellent good dies and paintings of all kinde of colours . they sowe their maiz or corne twice a yéere , to wit , in march and in iune : and all in one and the same soile : the said maiz from the time that it is sowed , vnto the time that it is gathered , is but thrée moneths in the ground . they haue also faire pumpions and very good beanes : they haue certeine kinds of oile , wherewith they vse to annoint themselues . a briefe extract of the merchantable commodities found in the south part of virginia , ann . 1585. and 1586. gathered out of the learned worke of master thomas herriot , which was there remaining the space of eleuen moneths . silke of grasse , or grasse-silke , the like whereof groweth in persia , whereof i haue séene good grograine made . worme-silke . flaxe and hempe . aslom . wapeih a kinde of earth so called by the naturall inhabitants , very like to terra sigillata , and by some of our physitions found more effectuall . pitch , tarre , rozen , and turpentine : there are those kinds of trées that yéeld them aboundantly and in great store . sassafras , called by the inhabitants wynauk : of whose soueraigne and manifold vertues , reade monardes the phisician of siuile , in his booke entituled in english : the ioyfull newes from the west indies . cedar . uines of two sorts . oile : there are two sorts of wall-nuts , both holding oile . furthermore , there are thrée seuerall kindes of berries , in the forme of oake acornes , which also by the experience and vse of the inhabitants , we finde to yéeld very good and swéete oile . there are also beares , which are commonly very fat , and in some places there are many , their fatnesse because it is so liquid , may well be termed oyle , and hath many speciall vses . furres . ottars , marternes , and lucernes . déere skinnes . ciuet cattes . iron . copper . the foresaid copper , we also found by triall to hold siluer . pearle . one of our company , a man of skill in such matters , had gathered together from the sauages , aboue fiue thousand . swéet gummes of diuers kinds , and many other apothecary drugs . dies of diuers kinds . there is shoemake , well knowen and vsed in england for blacke ; the séed of an herbe called wasebur , little small rootes called chappacor , and the barke of a trée called by the inhabitants , tangomockonomindge , which dies are for diuers sorts of red . commodities in virgina , knowen to yeeld victuals . pagatowr or mays , which is their principall corne . okindgier , called by vs beanes . wickonzour , called by vs pease . macocquer , called by vs , pompions , mellons , & gourds . an herbe which in dutch is called melden , being a kinde of orage , &c. an herbe in forme of a marigold , sixe foot in height , taken to be planta solis . vppowoc , or tabacco , of great estimation among the sauages . rootes . openauck , a kinde of rootes of round forme , as bigge as wall-nuts , some farre greater . monardes calleth them beades , or pater nostri of sancta helena , and master brereton ground nuts . okeepenank , are rootes of round shape found in dry grounds , the inhabitants vse to boile and eat many of them . tsinaw , a kinde of roote much like vnto that which in england is called the china roote , brought from the east indies . coscushaw , a roote taken to be that which the spaniards in the west indies , doe call cassauy . habascon , a roote of hot taste , almost of the forme and bignesse of a parsney . léekes differing little from ours in england . fruites . chestnuts there are in diuers places great store , vsed diuers waies for food . walnuts there are two kinds , and of them infinit store in many places , where are very great woods for many miles together , the third part of the trées are walnut trées , they vse them for meate , and make a milke of them of verie pleasant taste , and holesome . medlers , a kinde of very good fruit , they are as red as cherries , and very lushous swéet . mutaquesunnauk , a kinde of pleasant fruit , almost of the shape and bignesse of english peares , but they are of a perfect red colour , as well within as without , they grow on a plant whose leaues are very thicke and full of prickles , as sharpe as néedles : some , which haue béene in noua hispania , where they haue séene that kinde of red die of excéeding great price , which is called cochenile , to grow , do describe his plant right like vnto this of mutaquesunnauk : howbeit the cochenile is not the fruit , but a graine found on the leaues of the plant , and stricken off vpon sheetes , and dried in the sunne . grapes there are of two sorts , which i mentioned in the merchantable commodities . strawberies there are , as good and as great as in any english garden . such as we haue in england . mulberies , apple-crabbes , hurts , or hurtleberies , sacquenummener a kinde of berries almost like vnto capers but somewhat greater , which grow together in clusters vpon a plant or hearbe that is found in shollow waters , being boiled eight or nine houres according to their kinde , are very good meat and holsome , otherwise if they be eaten , they will make a man for the time franticke or extremely sicke . a réed which beareth a séed almost like vnto our rie or wheat and being boiled is good meat . in our trauells in some places , we found wilde pease like vnto ours in england , but that they were lesse , which are also good meat . a kind of berry like vnto an acorne , of fiue sorts , growing on seuerall kindes of trées : the one sort is called sagatemener , the second , osamener , the third pummuckoner . the inhabitants vse to dry them vpon hurdles like malt in england . when they vse them , they first water them till they be soft , and then being sod , they make loues of bread of them . of these thrée kindes also the inhabitants doe vse to make swéet oile . the fourth sort is called sapummener , which being boiled or perched be like vnto rosted chesnuts ; of this sort they make bread also . the fift sort is called mangummenauk , the very acorne of their kind of oake ; being dried as the rest , and after watered , they boile them , and their seruants , and somtimes the chiefe themselues eate them with their fish and flesh . beasts . deere , vp into the countrey very great , and in some places , great store . conies , of a gray colour like vnto hares : they make mantles of the furre or flue of their skinnes . saquenuckot and maquowoc , two kindes of small beasts greater then conies , which are very good meat . squirels , which are of a gray colour , we haue taken and eaten . beares , which are of blacke colour . they are good meat . and being hunted they climbe vp into trées and are killed by the saluages with their arrowes , and sometimes by vs with our caliuers . the lion is sometimes killed by the saluages and eaten . woolues or wooluish dogges . i haue the names of eight and twenty sorts of beasts dispersed in the maine , of which their are onely twelue kindes by vs as yet discouered . fowle turkie cocks and turkie hennes , stock-doues , and partriges , cranes , hernes , and in winter great store of swannes , and géese . there are also parrots , falcons , and marlin haukes . of all sorts of foules i haue the names in the countrey language of fowrescore and sixe . fish. sturgions , herrings , porpoises , troutes , rayes , old-wiues , mullets , plaice , and very many other sorts of very excellent fish . seacrabs , oisters , great , small , round , long : muscles , scalops , periwincles , and creuises . seekanauk , a kinde of crustie shell-fish , which is good meate , about a foot in bredth , hauing a crusty taile , many legges like a crabbe , and her eyes in her backe . they are found in shallowes of water , and sometimes on the shore . tortoises both of land and sea kinde ; they are very good meats and their egges also : certaine briefe testimonies touching sundry rich mines of gold , siluer , and copper , in part found and in part constantly heard of , in north florida , and the inland of the maine of virginia , and other countreys there vnto on the north part neere adioining , gathered out of the works , all ( one excepted ) extant in print , of such as were personall trauellers in those countries in the second relation of iaques cartier the 12 chapter he reporteth that he vnderstood by donnacona the king of the countrey , and others , that to the southwest of canada there are people clad with cloth , as the french were , very honest , and many inhabited townes , and that they haue great store of gold and red copper , &c. in the discouery of the inland of florida farre to the north begun by fernando de soto , gouernour of cuba in the yéere 1539. ( and to be séene in print in the hands of master richard hackluyt ) the indians in many places farre distant the one from the other gaue them often and certaine aduertisement , that beyond the mountaines northward there were mines of gold at a place called by them chisca , and some shewed the maner which the indians vsed in refining the same . this place in mine opinion cannot be farre from the great riuer that falleth into the southwest part of the bay of chesepioc . the indians enformed mounsieur rene laudonniere in florida , that there were mines of red mettall , which they call in their language sieroa pira , in the muuntaines of apalatcy , which vpon triall made thereof by the french was found perfect gold , as appeareth pagina 352. in the third volume of the english voiages , and in the same relation there is very often mention of siluer and excellent perfect and faire perles found by the french in those parts . in the late discouerie of new mexico made by antonio de espeio on the backe side of virginia extant in spanish and english in the third volume of the english voyages paginis 303. &c. there is mention of rich siluer mines ( and sometimes of gold in aboundance ) eleuen or twelue times found as they trauelled northward , by men very skilfull in minerall matters , which went in the voyage for that purpose . the large description and chart of which voyage containing great numbers of townes and diuers great riuers discouered in that action made in mexico by francisco xamuscado 1585 being intercepted afterward by the english at sea , we haue in london to be shewed to such as shall haue occasion to make vse of the same . the constant report of many of the saluages to the worshipfull master ralfe lane then gouernour of the english colonie in virginia of the rich mine of wassador or gold at a place by them named channis temoatam , twentie daies iourney ouerland from the mangoaks , set downe by himselfe at large in the first part of his relation of the said countrey of virginia , extant in the third volume of the english voyages pagina 258. is much to be regarded and considered by these that intend to prosecute this new enterprise of planting nere vnto those parts . i could giue large information of the rich copper mine in the east side of the bay of menan within 30 or 40. leagues to the southwest of cape breton , whereof i my selfe haue séene aboue an hundred pieces of the copper , and haue shewed some part thereof to diuers knightes of qualitie , as also of salt as good as that of buruage in france , found néere that bay , and could make proofe of the testimonie of the saluages touching a siluer mine in another bay within two or thrée leagues to the west of the aforesaid bay of menan : but i reserue a further relation héereof to a more conuenient time and place . yf it please any man to read the summarie of gonsaluo de ouiedo extant in part in the english decads , of the voyage of sebastian cabote along this coast of virginia and norumbega : and the short relation of iohn de verarsana , which ranged the said coast long after him in the yéere 1524. which is also to be séene in the third volume of the english voyages pagine 298. he shall finde often mention of rich minerals and store of excellent copper , which so long agoe they saw among the saluages , they being the first knowen christians that euer saw those coasts . so that it were more then wilful madnesse to doubt of rich mines to be in the aforesaid countreys . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a16711-e120 they fel with s. marie , one of the açores . they discouered land the 14. of may. eight indians come aboord of them . the description of them . their first landing . another indian . anexcellent codfishing . a great headland . many faire islands . the first island called marthaes vineyard . beeches . cedars . uines in abundance . springs . a lake . deere . other beasts . cranes . hernshawes . bitters . geese . mallards . teales . tabacco . elizabeths island . wheat , barley , and oats sowed , came vp nine inches in fourteene daies . oakes . cedars . beech. elme . hollie . walnut trees . cherry trees . sassafras trees . diuers other trees . a lake three miles about . small tortoises . abundance of fowles , much bigger than ours in england . ground nuts . shell fish . the exceeding beautie of the maine land . great lakes . large medowes . seuen indians . a broad riuer . a good harbour . the english house . eleuen canows with fiftie indians in them . their captaine . seuerall sorts of furres . red copper in abundance . chaines . collars . drinking cuppes of copper . mines of copper . minerall stones . emerie stones . flaxe . indians apt for seruice . sassafras . a goodly people , & of good conditions . their apparell . their women . the goodnesse or the climat . their return . notes for div a16711-e2260 temperate climats . her maiesties title . a commodious and safe course . riuers . fertile lands . rape oiles . dies . minerals . copper . grapes . beasts . fowles . commodities in generall . imploiment of our people , and repairing decaied ports . the trade to newfound-land shal be remoued to vs. spanish commodities . english commodities . uent of our cloth. intercourse will soone be had with other nacions . in commodities in the newland trade . commodities by hauing trade with vs. note . an easie enterprise , and great reward . the english nation most fit for discoueries . the saluages vnable to defend or offend . this action but set on foot , will goe forward of it selfe . ouersight in choise of a new habitation . a matter of importance for england . a large course of a riuer thorow a mightie continent , produceth a portable riuer . notes for div a16711-e3830 meanes to breed a speedie trade . a gentle course best to be held . notes for div a16711-e5420 their fruits . these may be the tunas . the beasts of florida . notes for div a16711-e5820 the trees of florida . good grapes the beasts of florida . the fowles of florida . gold and siluer . store of dies and colours . oile in florida , notes for div a16711-e6140 these plants are called tunas also , whereof there be three sorts : that which beareth no fruit bringeth foorth the cochenile . notes for div a16711-e7430 i take these to be the people toward cibola , clad in mantels of cotten . the mapp and description of nevv-england together with a discourse of plantation, and collonies: also, a relation of the nature of the climate, and how it agrees with our owne country england. how neere it lyes to new-found-land, virginia, noua francia, canada, and other parts of the west-indies. written by sr. william alexander, knight. encouragement to colonies stirling, william alexander, earl of, 1567 or 8-1640. 1630 approx. 98 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 26 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a16507 stc 342 estc s104374 99840112 99840112 4583 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a16507) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 4583) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 609:05) the mapp and description of nevv-england together with a discourse of plantation, and collonies: also, a relation of the nature of the climate, and how it agrees with our owne country england. how neere it lyes to new-found-land, virginia, noua francia, canada, and other parts of the west-indies. written by sr. william alexander, knight. encouragement to colonies stirling, william alexander, earl of, 1567 or 8-1640. [4], 47, [1] p., folded plate : map printed [by w. stansby] for nathaniel butter, london : an. dom. 1630. the first leaf is blank. a reissue, with quire a cancelled and cancel title page, of: an encourgement to colonies: london : printed by william stansby, 1624. running title reads: an encouragement to colonies. reproduction of the original in cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng great britain -colonies -america -early works to 1800. canada -history -to 1763 (new france) -early works to 1800. america -discovery and exploration -english -early works to 1800. 2002-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-10 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-11 jennifer kietzman sampled and proofread 2002-11 jennifer kietzman text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-12 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the mapp and , description of new-england ; together with a discourse of plantation , and collonies : also , a relation of the nature of the climate , and how it agrees with our owne country england . how neere it lyes to new-found-land , uirginia , noua francia , canada , and other parts of the west-indies . written by sr. william alexander , knight . london , printed for nathaniel bvtter . an. dom. 1630. this scale conteineth 150 english leagues an encovragement to colonies . the sending forth of colonies ( seeming a nouelty ) is esteemed now to bee a strange thing , as not onely being aboue the courage of common men , but altogether alienated from their knowledge , which is no wonder , since that course though both ancient , and vsuall , hath beene by the intermission of so many ages discontinued , yea was impossible to be practised so long as there was no vast ground , howsoeuer men had beene willing , whereupon plantations might haue beene made , yet there is none who will doubt but that the world in her infancy , and innocency , was first peopled after this manner . the next generations succeeding shem planted in asia , chams in africke , and laphets , in europe : abraham and lot were captaines of colonies , the land then being as free as the seas are now , since they parted them in euery part where they passed , not taking notice of natiues without impediment . that memorable troope of iewes which moses led from aegypt to cana●● was a kind of colonie though miraculously conducted by god , who intended thereby to aduance his church and to destroy the rejected ethnikes . salmanezer king of ash●r was remarked for the first who did violate the naturall ingenuitie of this commendable kind of policy by too politike an intention ; for hauing transported the ten tribes of israel , to the end that transplanting and dispersing them , hee might either weaken their strength , or abolish their memorie by incorporating of them with his other subjects ; he to preuent the dangers incident amongst remote vassals did send a colonie to inhabite samaria of a purpose thereby to secure his late and questionable conquest . who can imagine by this industrious course of plantations , what an vnexpected progresse from a despised beginning hath beene suddenly made to the height of greatnesse ! the phoenicians quickly founded sidon , and tirus , so much renowned both by sacred , and humane writers , and a few tirians builded carthage , which had first no more ground allowed her than could be compassed by the extended dimensions of a bulls hide , which for acquiring of the more ground they diuided in as many sundrie parts as was possible , yet in end that town became the mistresse of afr●ke , and the riuall of rome : and rome it selfe that great ladie of the world , and terrour to all nations , ambitiously clayming for her first founders a few scandalized fugitiues that fled from the ruines of troy , did rise from small appearances to that exorbitancy of power , which at this day is remembred with admiration ; though the walls of it at that time were very lowe when the one brother did kill the other for jumping ouer them , either jealousie already preuayling aboue naturall affection , or else vnaduised anger constructing that which might haue been casually or carelesly done , in a sinistrous sense to the hatefull behauiour of insolency or scorne ; their number then was not only very small , but they wanted women , without which they could not encrease , nor subsist , till they rauished the daughters of the sabins , by a violent match at first , portending their future rapins , and what a furious off-spring they were likely to ingender . and when that haughty citie beganne to suffer the miseries which she had so long beene accustomed to inflict vpon others , the venerable citie of venice ( keeping for so many ages a spotlesse reputation ) was first begunne by a few discouraged persons , who fleeing from the furie of the barbarous nations that then encroached vpon italie , were distracted with feare and ( seeking for their safety ) did stumble vpon a commodious dwelling . the graecians were the first , at least of all the gentiles , ( who joyning learning with armes ) did both doe , and write that which was worthie to be remembred ; and that small parcel of ground whose greatnesse was then only valued by the vertue of the inhabitants , did plant trapizonde in the east , and many other cities in asia the lesse , the protecting of whose liberties was the first cause of warre between them and the persian monarchs ; then besides all the adjacent iles they planted siracusa in sicile , most part of italie , which made it to bee called graecia maior , and marseills in france . o what a strange alteration ! that this part , which did flourish thus , whilest it was possessed by vigorous spirits , who were capable of great enterprises , did so many braue things should now ( the seate of base seruile people ) become the most abject and contemptible part of all the territories belonging to the barbarous ottomans , whose insolent ianissaries ( as the pretorian guards did with their emperours , and mamalukes of egypt with their soldans ) presume at this time to dispose of the regall power , vpbrayding the miserable follie of christians , who dangerously embarqued in intestine warres , though inuited by an encountring occasion , neglect so great , so glorious , and so easie a conquest . the romanos comming to command a well peopled world , had no vse of colonies , but onely thereby to reward such old deseruing souldiers as ( age and merit pleading an immunitie from any further constrained trauell ) had brauely exceeded the ordinary course of time appointed for military seruice , which custome was vsed in germanie , france , spaine , and brittaine , and likewise that the townes erected in this sort might serue for citadels imposed vpon euery conquered prouince , whereof some doe flourish at this day , and of others nothing doth remaine but the very name onely , their ruines being so ruined , that wee can hardly condiscend vpon what solitary part to bestowe the fame of their former being . i am loth by disputable opinions to dig vp the tombes of them that more extenuated then the dust are buried in obliuion & will leaue these disregarded relicts of greatnesse to continue as they are , the scorne of pride , witnessing the power of time . neither will i after the common custome of the world , ouerualuing things past disualue the present , but considering seriously of that which is lately done in ireland , doe finde a plantation there inferiour to none that hath beene heretofore . the babylonians hauing conquered the israelites did transplant them as exposed to ruine in a remote countrey , sending others of their owne nation ( that they might be vtterly extirpated ) to inhabite samvria in their places . and our king hath only diuided the most seditious families of the irish by dispersing them in sundry parts within the countrey , not to extinguish , but to dissipate their power , who now neither haue , nor giue cause of feare . the romanes did build some townes which they did plant with their owne people by all rigour to curbe the natiues next adjacent thereunto , and our king hath incorporated some of his best brittaines with the irish , planted in sundry places without power to oppresse , but onely to ciuilize them by their example . thus ireland which heretofore was scarcely discouered , and only irritated by others , prouing to the english as the lowe-countries did to spaine , a meanes whereby to waste their men , and their money , is now really conquered , becomming a strength to the state , and a glorie to his majesties gouernment , who hath in the setling thereof excelled all that was commended in any ancient colonie . as all first were encouraged to plantations by the largenesse of the conquests that were proposed vnto them , fearing onely want of people , and not of land , so in after ages when all knowne parts became peopled , they were quickly entangled with the other extremitie , grudging to be bounded within their prospect , and jarring with their neighbours for small parcels of ground , a strife for limits limiting the liues of many who entring first in controuersie vpon a point of profit though with the losse of ten times more , valuing their honour by the opinion of others behooued to proceed as engaged for the safety of their reputation . then richesse being acquired by industrie , and glorie by employments , these two did beget auarice , and ambition , which lodging in some subtile heads vpon a politike consideration to vnite intestine diuisions did transferre their splene to forraine parts , not seeking to rectifie the affections , but to busie them abroad where least harme was feared , and most benefit expected , so that where they had first in a peaceable sort sought for lands onely wherewith to furnish their necessity , which conueniency , or sufficiency , did easily accommodate , now ayming at greatnesse the desires of men growne infinite , made them strangers to contentment , and enemies to rest . some nations seeking to exchange for better seates , others to command their neighbours , there was for many ages no speach but of wrongs and reuenges , conquests and reuolts , razings and ruining of states , a continuall reuolution determining the periods of time by the miseries of mankind , and in regard of the populousnesse of these ages during the monarchies of the assirians , persians , graecians , and romanes , the world could not haue subsisted if it had not beene purged of turbulent humours by letting out the bloud of many thousands , so that warre was the vniuersall chirurgeon of these distempered times : and thereafter o what monstrous multitudes of people were slaine by huge deluges of barbarous armies that ouerflowed italie , france and spaine ! and the christians haue long beene subject to the like calamities wanting a commoditie how they might ( not wronging others ) in a christian manner employ the people that were more chargeable then necessary at home , which was the cause of much mischiefe among themselues , till at that time when spaine was striuing with france how to part italie , as italie had formerly done with carthage how to part spaine . then it pleased god hauing pitie of the christians who for purposes of small importance did prodigally prostitute the liues of them whom hee had purchased with so pretious a ransome , as it were for diuerting that violent kind of vanitie , to discouer a new world , which it would seeme in all reason should haue transported them with designes of more moment , whereby glory and profit with a guiltlesse labour was to bee attayned with lesse danger whereunto they are as it were inuited , and prouoked with so many eminent aduantages palpably exposed to any cleare judgement that i thinke ( this obuious facilitie vilifying that which a further difficulty might the more endeare ) the easinesse of the prey hath blunted the appetite . when christopher columbus had in vaine propounded this enterprise to diuers christian princes , isabella of castile against the opinion of her husband ( though so much renowned for wit yet not reaching this mysterie ) did first furnish him for a voyage , as if it were fatall that that nation should owe the greatest part of their greatnesse to the female sexe , and if the spaniards would sincerely , and gratefully haue bestowed the benefits whereby god did allure them to possesse this land for the planting of it with christians enclined to ciuilitie , and religion , it had at this day considering the excellency of the soyle , for all the perfections that nature could affoord ; beene the most singularly accomplished place of the world , but it hath infortunatly fallen out farre otherwise , that the treasures that are drawne from thence ( mynes to blowe vp mindes and rockes to ruine faith ) doe proue the seed of dissention , the sinewes of the warre , and nurcerie of all the troubles amongst christians . the spaniards that were so happie as to chance first vpon this new world , were of all others ( hauing but a vast mountainous countrey ) in regard of their scarcity of people , most vnfit for planting thereof , and could not but soone haue abandoned the same , if they had not so quickly encountred with the rich mynes of mexico , new spaine and peru , which were once likely to haue beene lost for lacke of wood , till the way was inuented of refining siluer by quicksiluer , which may bee easily done out of any oare that is free from lead , and ( all the spaniards disdayning worke as a seruile thing belowe their abilities ) their greatest trouble is the want of workmen : for the natiues that are extant , suruiuing many vexations , if they become ciuile out of an indulgency to libertie , and ease , whereunto all the americans ( liking better of a penurious life thus then to haue plenty with taking paines ) are naturally enclined , that they may haue a secure ease warranted by an order , doe betake themselues to cloisters , so that they haue no meanes to prosecute these workes but by drawing yeerly a great number of negroes from angola , and other parts , which being but an vnnaturall merchandise , are bought at a deare rate , and maintayned with danger , for they once of late , as i haue heard from one that was there at that time designed to murther their masters , by a plot which should haue beene put in execution vpon a good-friday , when all being exercised at their deuotion were least apt to apprehend such a wicked course , and it is alwaies feared that to reuenge what of necessitie they must suffer , and to procure their libertie hating most what they feele for the present , and hoping for better by a change , they will joyne with any strong enemy that landing there dare attempt the conquest of that countrey . i will not here insist in setting downe the manner how the spaniards made themselues masters of so many rich and pleasant countries , but doe leaue that to their owne histories , though i confesse ( like wisemen ) they are very sparing to report the estate of these parts , and doe barre all strangers from hauing accesse thereunto , wishing to enjoy that which they loue in priuate , and not inconsiderately vanting by the vanitie of praises to procure vnto themselues the vexation that they might suffer by the earnest pursuit of emulating riuals , but as they did brauely begin , and resolutely prosecute their discoueries in america , so hath it justly recompenced their courage , prouing the ground of all that greatnesse which at this time ( not without cause ) doth make them ( as able , or willing , to conquer others if not both ) so much suspected by euery jealous state. and henry the seuenth the salomon of england had his judgement onely condemned for neglecting that good occasion which was first offered vnto him by columbus , yet did he presently seeke to repaire his errour by sending forth sebastian chabot a venetian who did discouer the i le of newfound-land , and this part of the continent of america now intended to bee planted by his majesties subjects vnder the name of new england , and new scotland , so that the fruits of his happie raigne still growing to a greater perfection and now ripe to bee gathered by this age , as he made way by the marriage of his eldest daughter for vniting these two nations at home , so did hee the same likewise by this discouerie abroad , but the accomplishment of both was reserued for his majestie now raigning , and no prince in the world may more easily effectuate such a purpose since his dominions affoord abundance of braue men singularly valued for able bodies and actiue spirits whereof the english haue already giuen good proofe of their sufficiency in forraine plantations ; but before i proceed further in that which doth concerne them i must obserue what the french haue done in this kind . all such aduentrous designes out of ignorance , or enuie ( either contemned , or doubtfully cēsured ) are neuer approued , nor imitated , til they be justified by the successe , & then many who had first been too distrustfull falling in the other extremitie of an implicite confidence , to redeeme their former neglects , doe precipitate themselues in needlesse dangers . after that the spaniards were knowne to prosper , and that it was conceiued by the voyage of chabot what a large vastnesse this new continent was likely to proue , francis the first did furnish forth iohn verrizzon a florentine , who did discouer that part of america which was first ( and most justly ) called new france , and now terra florida . and vpon his returne he affirming it to be ( as it is indeed for all the excellencies of nature ) one of the most pleasant parts of the world , this was the cause that after a long delay ( during the space of two princes whole raignes ) some new discoueries reuiuing the memory of this , in the yeere of god 1562. charles the ninth ( hauing a haughty mind , and being so rauished with a desire of glorie , that he was sometimes tempted by sinistrous suggestions in seeking after it to goe vpon wrong grounds ) was quickly enamoured with the eminency of such a singular designe , wherein hee did employ iohn riba●t , who comming to florida , was kindly receiued by the natiues there , and hauing made choice of a place where to build a fort , after hee had stayed a time giuing direction for such things as were necessarie to be done , he left forty men therein when hee came away with one captaine albert to command them , who after that hee had with difficulty beene freed from the danger of famine , and of fire ( vnseasonably affecting the disused austeritie of the ancients ) did for a small offence hang one of his companie with his owne hands , so losing both the dignitie of his place , and the hearts of his people at one time , which hee should haue beene extremely studious to preserue , esteeming them as fellowes of his sufferings , and coheires of his hopes , at least the qualitie of the offence and necessitie of his death should haue beene made so cleare , that as importing a common good , all ( if not vrging it ) should at least haue condiscended thereunto , but this errour of his was acquited in as rude a manner : for his companie putting him to death did make choice of another captaine , and despairing of a new supplie though wanting skilfull workmen for such a purpose ( necessitie sharpning their wits ) they builded a little barque which they calfatted and made fit for the seas with the gummes of trees which they found there in stead of pitch , and in place of sayles they furnished her with such linnens as they had vpon their beds , and being thus set forth ( couragiously ouercomming a number of admirable difficulties ) did returne to france after a desperate manner . the dangerlesse returne , and plausible hopes of ribaut , assisted by the serious perswasions of the admirall , ( the receiued opinion of whose not questioned wisedome was enough to warrant any thing that had his approbation ) did moue the french king to send out a great number of men with a competent prouision of all things requisite vnder the charge of monsieur laudonier , who had a prosperous voyage , and a congratulated arriuall at the french fort by the sauages in florida , but immediatly thereafter hee was extremely perplexed with the vnexpected , mutinies and factious offers of some whom he had carried with him , who had not gone thither intending what they pretended , out of a cleare resolution to inhabite that bounds , but did onely flee from some inconueniences that had vexed them at home , such men as hating labour they could not industriously serue by their endeauours in a mechanike trade , so were they not capable of generous inspirations that prouoke magnanimitie , but habitually bred to vice were naturally enemies to vertue , which made thirtie of them taking away a barke that belonged to the plantation betake themselues to the seas in hope ( continuing as they had beene accustomed in naughty courses ) to seize vpon a prize whereby they might incontinent bee made rich ; and their designe in some measure had the projected issue , but in place of raising their fortunes ( the lord neuer blessing them that abandon such a worthie worke , much lesse with a minde to doe mischiefe ) it proued in end away to worke their confusion , and laudoniere being happie to haue his companie purged of such pestiferous fellowes did carrie himselfe brauely as became a commander , aduisedly enquiring concerning the sauages , what their force was , what relation they had one to another , where they were friends or foes , how their pleasures were placed , and by what accounts they reckoned their gaines or losses , so that hee was alwaies ready as might stand best with the good of his affaires to assist , or oppose , to diuide , or agree any partie , thus by shewing power purchasing authoritie , til he drew the ballance of all businesse to bee swayed where hee would as being master of the countrey . hereupon ( the vmbragious aspersions of enuie so darkening reason that it could not discerne merite at least out of a depraued opinion with a derogatory censure cancelling all naturall ingenuitie , could not or would not acknowledge what was due thereunto ) a report was spread in france by some that laudoniere liued like a prince disdayning the condition of a subject , and the french out of a preposterous policie fearing what they should haue wished that one of their owne nation could be too great abroad , they sent backe ribaut with a new commission to succeed him in his charge , ( shaking thereby the first foundation of a growing greatnesse ) who seeking to steale priuately vpon him to preuent aduertisements that hee might take him at vnawares did hardly escape to haue beene sunke at his first entrie . immediatly after that ribaut was admitted gouernour ( laudoniere hauing shewed himselfe as dutifull to obey as he had beene skilfull in commanding ) intelligence was giuen them that sixe spanish ships were riding at an anchor not farre from thence , and he ambitiously aspiring to grace his beginning with some great matter against the aduice of all the rest with an obstinate resolution would needs goe and pursue them taking the best of the companie with him , and so left the fort weakely guarded , which made it to proue an easie prey for the spaniards of whom the most part leauing their ships ( a minde transported with hope not thinking of paine ) did march thorow the woods whence no perill was expected , and in a maruellous stormy night , as if the very heauens ( accessarily culpable ) had conspired with the malice of men for the working of mischief . when the frenchmen ( too much affecting their owne ease ) had neglected their watch , surprizing their fort did put them all to the sword , which extreme crueltie of theirs was brauely reuenged by one captaine gorgues a gentleman of burdeaux , who out of a generous disposition being sensible of this publike injurie whereby all his nation was interested , as if it had only in particular imported the ruine of his owne fortunes , went of purpose to this part , and secretly before his comming was knowne contracting a great friendship with the sauages who did hate the austere countenance , and rigorous gouernment of the spaniards , when it came to be compared with the insinuating formes of the french , he found the meanes by a stratagem that he vsed to entrap the spaniards , by the death of them all expiating that which they had made his countreymen formerly to suffer , yet after the manner of many being more apt to acquire then to preserue ( acting greater things when carried with the impetuositie of a present fury then hee could confirme with the constant progresse of a well setled resolution ) he made no more vse of his victorie , but returned back to france , flattering himself with the hope of a triumphall welcome , in place whereof by some meanes made court he was proclaimed a rebell , as a sacrifice appointed to appease spaine . this was the last thing that the french did in florida . the next forraine aduenture was likewise procured by the admirall , a worthie man , who would gladly haue diuer ed the vindictiue dispositions of his countrymen from the bloudy ciuile warres wherewith they were then entangled , to prosecute some braue enterprise abroad whereby they might not be made guilty , and yet haue glorie , the man that did offer himselfe for conductor of the voyage was one villegagnon a knight of malta who then pretēded to be of the reformed religion ( as all doe who affect to appeare what they are not indeed ) making shew of extraordinary remorse , and zeale , and that hee had a desire to retire himselfe from the vanitie , corruption , and vexation of their parts to some remote place in america , where professing himselfe such as he was , he might ( free from all kind of impediments ) begin a new life , and where he hoped to found such a colony as should serue for a retreat to all those of the reformed religion who ( weary of the persecutiōs at home ) would goe where they might liue with safety , and enjoy the libertie of their conscience , by this meanes hee got a great number to accōpany him , amongst whom was iohn de lerie their minister , a learned man who wrote a discourse of all that passed in this voyage , and there were sundry others that came from the towne of geneua , so that hauing a reasonable number and well prouided , hee embarqued and sayled towards brasile , making choice of a place fit for a plantation , where they found ( the soile excellent , the natiues well inclined towards them , and a supplie comming in due time ) all things so concurring for their contentment that they might haue begunne a great worke happie and hopefull for their posteritie , if uillagagnon had beene the man that he made them beleeue he was , but he apparantly neuer louing them of the religion in his heart had counterfeited to doe so for a time , onely ( angling their affections ) by this meanes to draw a supply from them ; for as soone as hee was setled in his gouernment , that hee found himselfe strong enough by catholikes , and others of his friends that he had with him to doe ( as hee thought ) what he would , straight , remouing the maske that hypocrisie had put vpon him , he discharged all exercise of the reformed religion which no man with more feruency had professed then himselfe , commanding all to conforme themselues to the orders that he had set downe , but ( in place of feare which he purposed to giue , receiuing but contempt ) this base kind of carriage did quite ouerthrowe his authoritie , and they making a partie amongst themselues did remoue with their minister iohn de lerie , which diuision of their colonie in two was the cause that neither could subsist , so that villagagnon abandoning that countrey , all after many seuerall designes returned vnto france , hauing found no impediment to so good a purpose but the peruersenesse of such mindes as they had carried with them . monsieur de lara●erdier a very worthie gentleman did of late enterprise the like course in the same bounds , and was crossed in the same manner by the difference of religion ( disputations quickning them to contrauert who will not be conuerted ) that distracted his companie with seuerall opinions , yet at this time a long continuance making that lesse strange amongst the french then it was wont to be , the gentleman did command with such judgement , and discretion , that what euer priuate dislike was , it neuer bursted forth in any open insurrection . and for the space of foure or fiue yeeres being befriended by the natiues , though continually opposed both by the spaniards , and by the portugals , yet he alwaies preuayled , liuing ( as himselfe told me ) with more contentment then euer he had done in his time either before or since ; hee could neuer discerne any winter there by the effects , seeing no stormy weather at all , and finding a continuall greennesse to beautifie the fields , which did affoord such abundance , and variety of all things necessary for the maintaynance , that they were neuer in any danger of famine , but in end finding no more people comming from france , and fearing that time should weare away them that were with him ; then being flattered with the loue of his natiue soyle , longing to see his friends , and tempted by the hope of a present gaine , which as he imagined might the better enable him for some such purpose in an other part , he capitulated with the spaniards to surrēder the place hauing assurace giuen him for a great summe of money which should haue beene deliuered in spaine , but comming to receiue the same ( it being more easie to pay debt by reuenging a pretended injurie then with money which some would rather keepe then their faith ) he was cast in prison , where hee remayned long , till at last he was deliuered by the mediation of our kings ambassadour , and came here where i spake with him of purpose to giue his majestie thankes . i heare that for the present he is now at rochell ( with a hope to repaire his error ) ready to embarque for some such like enterprise . this is all that the frenchmen haue done in the south parts of america , and now i will make mention of their proceedings in these parts that are next vnto vs. francis the first of france a braue prince , and naturally giuen to great things , after the voyage made by iohn verrizan ( chabot hauing discouered the continent for henry the seuenth ) did send forth iames quartier one of saint malo , who by two seuerall voyages did discouer the riuer of cannada , and by his relation doth commend it exceedingly as being fertile in variety of fishes , and bordered with many pleasant meadowes , and stately woods , hauing in sundry parts abundance of vines growing wilde , chiefly in one ile which he hath called by the name of the i le of orleans . this man neuer made any plantation at all , but onely discouered and traffiqued with the sauages , neither was there any further done by roberwall , who did liue one winter at cape breton . the marquesse de la roche by a commission from henry the fourth , intending a voyage for cannada , happened by the way vpon the i le of sablon ( which is now comprehended within the patent of new scotland ) and there ( trusting to the strength of the place where there are no sauages at all ) landed some of his men till hee should haue found a conuenient place within the maine land fit for habitation , promising then to returne for them ; but it was his fortune by reason of contrary winds neuer to finde the maine land , being blowne backe to france without seeing of them , where he was in the time of the ciuile warres ( such is the vncertainty of worldly things producing vnexpected effects ) taken prisoner by the duke of mercoeur , and shortly after died , so that his people whom hee had left at sablon furnished but for a short time had quickly spent their prouisions , and tooke for their maintaynance onely such things as the place it selfe did without labour freely affoord , which hath a race of kowes ( as is thought ) first transported thither by the portugals that haue long continued there , and sundry roots fit to be eaten , with abundance of fishes , fowle and venison . and ( hauing no meanes to liue but by sport ) as for their apparell they clothed themselues with the skinnes of such creatures as they could kill by land , or sea , so that liuing there for the space of twelue yeeres when they were presented to henry the fourth who had hired a fisherman to bring them home , as i haue heard from them that did see them at first before the king , they were in very good health , and looked as well , as if they had liued all that time in france : but hauing beene abused by the fisherman who ( cunningly concealing that he had beene directed by the king ) did bargaine with them to haue all their skinnes for transporting them home , which were of great value , some of them being of blacke foxes , which were sold at fiftie pounds sterling a piece , and aboue , for the recouerie thereof they intended a processe against him before the court of parliament at paris , wherein by the equitie of their cause or by the compassion of the iudges , they preuayled , gayning by that meanes a stocke wherewith to traffique in these parts againe . monsieur de montes procuring a patent from henry the fourth of cannada from the 40. degree eastward comprehending all the bounds that is now both within new england and new scotland ( after that queene elizabeth had formerly giuen one thereof as belonging to this crowne by chabots discouerie ) did set forth with a hundred persons fitted for a plantation , carried in two ships of small burthen , which parting from france on seuerall dayes did appoint their meeting at the port of campseau , but the ship wherein monsieur de montes had placed himselfe going first , and fearing the huge mountaines of ice that dissoluing from the farre northerne parts come alongst the coast of newfound-land during the spring time , did take her course more to the south , and arriued at port de muton a bay now in the fore-land of new scotland , from whence one of the natiues of the countrey ( either out of courtesie , or to gayne a reward ) leauing his wife and children ( as a pledge , or else to bee nourished with them ) went to campseau , and within a weeke brought them newes from their other ship that had arriued there , which comming to them , and monsieur champlein who had gone in a shallop to discouer the coast being returned , they sayled together westwards to cape sable , and from thence northwards to bay saint maries , where towards the south side thereof they found good meadowes and arable ground fit to be planted vpon , and towards the north a mountainous and minerall bounds , hauing discouered one veine of metall that did hold siluer , and two of iron stone : after this , hauing seene port royall , they went to the riuer called by them sante croix , but more fit now to bee called tweed , because it doth diuide new england and new scotland , bounding the one of them vpon the east , and the other vpon the westside thereof , here they made choice of an i le that is within the middle of the same where to winter , building houses sufficient to lodge their number ; there , besides other sorts of wood , they had store of cedar trees , and found the ground very fertile as it did proue afterwards , bringing forth that which they did sow with an extraordinary encrease , yet during the winter time when they could not conueniently goe to the maine land , they found it a very incommodious dwelling , specially for want of fresh springs ; and the soyle being of it selfe humid , and obnoxious to waters , they had not beene so industrious as to cast a ditch wherewith to drie the ground whereupon their houses stood , and in end finding that a little ile was but a kind of large prison , they resolued to returne vnto port royall , whereof i will giue a particular description , because it was the place of their residence , as i intend it to be for the chiefe colonie of the scottish nation , grounding that which i am to deliuer vpon such discourses as the frenchmen haue written , and vpon that which i haue heard reported by sundry others who haue seene the same . the entry in port royall is from the south side of a great bay , which doth make the south part of new scotland almost an i le , and hath the passage at first so narrow , with a current so violent , that ships can hardly enter if they take not the tide right , and may easily be commanded by any ordnance that is planted on either side , where there are parts fit for that purpose ; as soone as they are within the bay , it doth enlarge itself to the bredth of seuen or eight miles , and doth continue so as if it were square for the like bounds in length ; there are within the same two iles euery one of them extending itselfe about three miles in circuit , and both are well garnished with trees , and grasse ; diuers riuers and brookes doe fall within this large bosome on euery side , of which the chiefe is one that doth come from the south , being discouered to be aboue fortie miles portatiue , and it hath all alongst on euery side for the bounds of a mile , or halfe a mile at least , very faire meadowes which are subject to bee ouerflowed at high tides , and there is land fit to be laboured lying betweene them and the woods , which doe compasse all about with very faire trees of sundry sorts , as oakes , ash , playnes , maple , beech , birch , cypresse , pinc and firre ; the great riuer doth abound exceedingly in salmon and smelts during their season , and euery little brooke in trouts . one lake within this bay hath yeerely a great quantitie of herrings , which by reason of a strict way which they passe are easie to be taken , and all the yeere ouer they neuer want shell-fish , such as lobsters , crabs , cockles and mussels . the chiefe beasts that inhabite the woods there , are ellans , hart , hind , and fallow deere , with store of other wilde beasts , such as wolues , beares , foxes , and otters , but the most vsefull of all is the beauer , both for his flesh that is esteemed to be very delicate for eating , and for the skinne that is of good value ; as for wild foule , there is great varietie and store , of partridges , plouers , woodcockes , larkes , wild geese , wild duckes , heron and crane , with many other sorts peculiar to that part of the world , and not knowne here . vpon the east side of this port the french did entrench themselues , building such houses as might serue to accommodate their number , and a little from thence monsieur champlein did cut a walke through the woods , where they delighted to repaire in summer to shroud themselues from the heate , and the rather that they had a sweet melodie which was made by the varietie of voyces , of singing birds which without any affectation did affoord them naturall musicke . some sixe miles further vp that side of the riuer they built a barne , and laboured ground for wheat ; ouer against which they made a water-mill vpon a riuer , that doth fall in on the west side , the damme of it beeing there where the herrings haunt most , and they did likewise try some ground neere by for wheate , whereas their owne writers make mention , they reaped aboue fortie for one , but what they did was rather trying the nature of the soile to satisfie their curiositie then to haue a qantitie fit for their maintenance , which they trusted to bee sent vnto them by two merchants from the rochell , and were that way well furnished so long as they keeped their skinnes to giue them in exchange ( but the merchants either by some priuate conueyances ) or by the comming in of some flemmings to traffique , being disappointed by the planters as soone as they missed their present commoditie did likewise frustrate them of the prouisions that they expected . whereupon monsieur de montes betaking himselfe to trade for furres . monsieur poutrincourt resolued to prosecute the plantation at that place , and sent for his son biencourt to france , to bargaine with some that would send them a supply , such as was requisite for establishing of that colony . the first that embraced his propositions were the iesuites who as they haue ordinarly good wits which made them the rather capable of so aduantagious a proiect , so they were the more animated thereunto ( by vpbrayding the lazinesse of our clergie ) to shew with what feruencie they trauell to propagate the gospell in doing whereof ( whither it be ambition or deuotion that prouokes them sparing no paines ) they haue trauelled both to the east and west indies , and to that admired kingdome of china ; their societie in france preuayling with all that had any inclination either to religion , or to vertue did easily gather a voluntary contribution for the furthering of so commendable a purpose , thereafter they sent away two fathers of their company with a new supply of all things necessarie to the plantation at port royall , but shortly after their arriuall ( their predominant disposition hardly yeelding to any superiour , specially if it be a secular power ) they be-beganne to contradict poutrincourt , in the execution of these decrees which had beene giuen forth by him as ciuil magistrate of that place . whereupon the gentleman extreamely discontented , and wearie of contesting with them , hauing said that it was his part to rule them vpon earth , and theirs onely to guide him the way to heauen , he returned backe to france , leauing his sonne biencourt in his place , who being a youth at that time of more courage then circumspectnesse , disdayning to be controlled by them whom he had inuited thither , and scorning their insupportable presumption , and imperious kinde of carriage , vsing spirituall armes for temporall ends , whose spleene had excommunicated and branded him with a spirituall censure , hee threatned them by his temporall power with a more palpable punishment , so that after much controuersie , resoluing to separate themselues , the two iesuites taking a part of the company with them , went from thence to a place in new england , called by them mount desert , where they seated themselues , and hauing a supply from the queene mother , did plant sundry fruit trees of the most delicate kinds in france , such as apricockes and peaches neuer intending to remoue from thence . at this time sir samuell argall , who hath beene gouernour of virginia , coasting alongst new england , to traffique , discouer , or to acquire things necessary for the southerne colonie in these parts , where the lands are reputed to be more fertile , and the seas more frequented , did conceiue by a description made vnto him by the sauages , that there were some come from this part of the world to inhabit there , and being iealous of any thing that might derogate from the honour , or prooue preiudiciall to the benefit of his nation , whereof their interest in this was easie to be apprehended , hee went whereas hee was informed that they were , and his vnexpected arriuall , as it would seeme , not onely amazing the mindes of the french , but likewise preuenting their preparation , and resolution , he approched so neere to a ship that lay before their fort , that hee beate them all that were within , with musket shot , from making any vse of their ordnance , and killed one of the two iesuites , who was giuing fire to a peece ; hauing taken the ship he landed and went before the fort , summoning them that were within to yeeld themselues , who at the first made some difficultie , asking a time to aduise , but that being refused , they priuately abandoned the fort , stealing out by some back way into the woods , where they stayed one night , and the next day comming backe rendred themselues , giuing vp the patent they had from the french king to bee cancelled , hee vsed them courteously , as their owne writers doe make mention , suffering such as had a minde to goe for france , to seeke out fishers ships wherein they might bee transported , the rest that were willing to goe for virginia , went thither alongst with him , no man hauing lost his life , but onely that one iesuite who was killed whilest they made resistance during the time of the conflict , thereafter father biard the other of the iesuites comming backe from uirginia , with sir samuell argall , out of the indigestable malice that he had conceiued against biencourt , did informe him where he had planted himselfe offering ( as hee did ) to conduct him thither . as soone as they were entred within the port , neere the vppermost of the ilands , sir samuell directing the ship to ride at a reasonable distance to attend occasions before the fort , did land himselfe with fortie of the best of his men vpon a medow , where immediatly they heard a peece of ordnance from the fort , and he conceiuing since it was shot whilst it could do no harme that it was done either but to giue terrour to them , or to warne some that might happen to bee abroad , did make the greater haste towardes the fort , where hee presently entred , finding it abandoned without any men at all , left for the defence thereof , hee went vp the riuer side fiue or sixe miles , where hee saw their barnes and the ground where a great quantitie of wheate had growne , which he carried with him to serue for seed in virginia , he saw likewise their corne mill very conueniently placed , which together with the barnes hee left standing vntouched . as for the fort it selfe he destroyed it downe to the ground , razing the french armes , and leauing no monument remayning , that might witnesse their being there . after this biencourt who had beene some where abroad trauelling through the countrey , comming home desired to conferre with sir samuell argall , who did meete with him apart from the company vpon a medow , and after they had expostulated a space for what had past controuerting concerning the french and english title to these bounds , at last biencourt offered ( if hee might haue a protection ) to depend vpon our king , and to draw the whole furres of that countrey to one port , where he would diuide them with him , as likewise he would shew him good metalls , whereof hee gaue him pieces , but the other refused to ioyne in any societie with him , protesting that his commission was onely to displant him , and that if hee found him there , after that time hee would vse him as an enemy . biencourt labouring earnestly to haue had the iesuit ( as he confessed ) with a purpose to hang him . whilst they were discoursing together , one of the sauages came suddenly forth from the woods , and licentiated to come neere , did after his manner earnestly mediate a peace , wondring why they that seemed to bee of one countrey should vse others with such hostilitie , and that with such a forme of habit and gesture as made them both to laugh . after this biencourt remoouing from thence to some other part , monsieur champlein who had liued long here , did carrie a company with him from france , of some fortie persons or thereabouts vp the riuer of canada , whom hee planted on the north side thereof , with a purpose to serue for a factorie , drawing all the trade of that farre running riuer ( which a plantation would haue dispersed in many parts ) within the hands of a few whom he doth command otherwise if his desires had beene bended that way , hee might haue planted many people there ere now , the place is called k●beck , where the french doe prosper well , hauing corne by their owne labour , which may furnish themselues for food , and likewise for a stocke to traffique with the sauages , with sundry fruits , roots , vine , grapes and turkie wheate . champlein hath discouered the riuer of canada , from the gulfe vpwards aboue twelue hundred miles , finding in it sometimes such falles , as to scape the same , he must carrie his boate a little way by land , and then hee did many times come to great lakes at the end whereof hee did alwayes find a riuer againe , and the last lake where hee came was a very huge one , iudged to bee three hundred miles in length , by the report of some sauages , who did affirme vnto him , that at the further end thereof they did find salt-water , and that they had seene great vessels which made champlein beleeue that a passage might be there to the bay of california , or to some part of the south sea , which would prooue an inestimable benefit for the inhabitants of those parts , opening a neere way to china , which hath beene so many sundry wayes with so great charges so long sought-for , howsoeuer in regard of the season , and for want of necessary prouisions , champlein did returne backe at that time with a purpose to goe againe another yeere , which if he hath done is not yet knowne , but this is most certaine , that the riuer of canada hath a long course and through many goodly countreyes , some of these great lakes by sending forth , or by receiuing great riuers , do affoord meanes of commerce as farre as to some parts of terra florida , as may bee gathered by champleins discouerie . and now hauing giuen a breuiarie of all that is done by the french in america , i will next report of that which hath beene done by some others . i will not here make mention of the many and braue voyages that at the sea haue happily beene performed by the english , which fame by eternall records hath recommended to be applauded by the best judgements of euery age , but i will only shortly touch that which they haue attempted by way of plantation , beginning with the new-found land which was first discouered , and doth lie neerest to this countrey . sir humfrey gilbert hauing a commission from queene elizabeth did take possession of it in her name at saint iohns harbour , and thereafter purposed to haue seene canada , but encountring with some vnexpected crosses as hee was returning from thence , seeking to condemne an opinion ( malice or enuie ordinarily taxing all aspiring spirits whose vertue by way of reflection doth vpbraide the basenesse of others ) that had beene conceiued of him as wanting courage , he precipitated himselfe vpon an other extremitie , not to seeme fearefull , prouing desperate ; for in the tune of a storme , out of a needlesse brauerie , to shew a contempt of danger , being in a little small pinnace , and refusing to come to his best shippe that was of a large burden , hee was suddenly swallowed vp by the waues neere to the i le of sablon , and his death did ouerthrowe great hopes of a plantation that by the generousnesse of his minde might justly haue beene expected from him , but long before his time and euer since the english had vsed to fish vpon the banke , and within the bayes of newfound land , and the sweetnesse of the benefit ar●ising from thence , did perswade a companie composed of lond●●ers and west-country men to joyne together for sending some to inhabite there , where before howsoeuer the summer was large as hote as here , the winter was thought vnsufferable . the first houses for a habitation were built in cupids coue within the bay of conception , where people did dwell for sundry yeeres together , and some well satisfied both for pleasure , and profit , are dwelling there still , finding small difference betweene the seasons of the yeere in that climate , and here . there is another plantation begunne at harbour a grace within the same bay by the citie of bristoll , called bristols hope , whereas by the sowing and rea●ing of some cornes of sundry sorts doth appeare what further may possibly be expected , and within these three yeeres master secretary caluert hath planted a companie at ferriland , who both for building and making triall of the ground haue done more then euer was performed before by any in so short a time , hauing already there a brood of horses , kowes , and other beastial , and by the industry of his people he is beginning to draw back yeerly some benefit from thence already : which course howsoeuer at first it proue good , or bad for his particular , is by example beneficiall for the publike . last , i heare that my lord vicount falkland now lord deputie of ireland , hath this last yeere sent a companie to inhabite at reno●e a place lying south-west from ferriland , where the soyle is esteemed to be the best whereupon any hath setled there as yet , and hee hath the shortest way , and best opportunitie of any within his majesties dominions for transporting of people and cattell to that part from ireland , which if his course bee rightly directed , as all haue reason to wish , may promise him a good successe . the first patentees for newfound-land haue giuen mee a grant of that part thereof which doth lie north-west from the bay of placentia to the great gulfe of canada ouer-against new scotland , where i had made a plantation ere now , if i had not beene diuerted by my designes for new scotland , but i purpose to doe it as soone as conueniently i may . the most part of the bounds whereupon any hath planted as yet in newfound land is found to be rockie and not fit to be manured : it may be these that made choice thereof ( neglecting the land ) had onely a regard to dwell commodiously for making vse of the sea , the present profits whereof doth recompence the losse of that which might be expected by the other , but there can be no hope of any constant dwelling where the people that inhabite doe not take a course to maintaine themselues by their owne cornes , and pasture , as all there might doe , if they would respect their posteritie more then the present time . before i come to the continent i must remember the iles of the bermudas , whose discouerie and plantation was procured by so strange a meanes , for a ship happening to perish vpon their coast , her passingers seeking the next land for a refuge , they were compelled to doe that out of necessitie whereunto in good reason , both for honour and profit , they might more warrantably haue beene inuited ; thus doth benefit flowe from losse , safety from ruine , and the plantation of a land from the desolation of a shippe : they found at the first store of hogs , which in all appearance had their beginning from some such an accident as theirs was , and the fowles were there in abundance so easie to be taken that they could scarcely be frighted away , these first people by repairing of their ship which was cast away vpon the land , or by building some other vessell out of her ruines , comming backe to england , and reporting what was past , some joyned together in a companie after they had taken a patent thereof from the king , and did send people of purpose to inhabite there , who trusting too much to the goodnesse of the soyle , and neglecting their owne industrie , or not gouerning that well which was carried with them , were reduced to a great distresse for want of victuals , so that , if they had not beene confined within an iland ( more sensible of a present suffering then capable of future hopes ) they would willingly haue retired from thence , but a great quantitie of ambergreece hauing been found by one by chance , and sent backe in a ship that was going for london , their merchants finding it to bee of a great value , were so encouraged by such a substantiall argument , that they presently dispatched away a new supply of persons and all prouisions necessary , who arriuing there , and hauing considered what a gulfe of famine was likely to haue swallowed their fellowes , they improuing their judgement by the others experience , by betaking themselues to labour in time did preuent the like inconuenience ; there is no land where men can liue without labour , nor none so barren whence industrie cannot draw some benefit , all adams posteritie were appointed to worke for their food , and none must dreame of an absolute ease , which can no where subsist positiuely , but onely comparatiuely , according to the occasions more or lesse . this plantation of the bermudas , a place not knowne when the king came to england , hath prospered so in a shore time , that at this present , besides their ordinary ( and too extraordinarily valued ) commoditie of tobacco , they haue growing there oranges , figs , and all kind of fruits that they please to plant , and doe now intend to haue a sugar worke . these iles being about twentie miles in bredth can onely be entred into but by one passage , which is fortified and easily commanded by ordnance , so that , hauing no sauages within , and fearing no forces without , it is esteemed to be impregnable ; and the number of the inhabitants there , being neere three thousand persons , are sufficient for the ground that they possesse , this part may proue exceedingly steadable to this state , if euer it happen to haue ( as it hath heretofore had ) any designes for seruice in these seas . the first plantation that euer the english intended abroad was in uirginia , which was first discouered and named so by sir walter raleigh , who in the time of queene elizabeth did place some persons to inhabite there , who not being supplied in time , or out of ignorance , or lazinesse , not vsing the ordinary means ( the vsual fault of all beginners ) were brought by famine to a great extremity . and sir francis drakes comming by chance that way did transport them backe with him to england , whilest at the same time there was another companie furnished forth by sir walter raleigh , who missing them whom they expected to haue found there , did remaine still themselues ; but what did become of them , if they did remoue to some other part , perish , disperse , or incorporate with the sauages ( no monument of them remayning ) is altogether vnknowne ; this noble worke hauing so hard a beginning after a long discontinuance was reuiued againe in the kings time by a companie composed of noblemen , gentlemen , and merchants , who ( joyning priuate purses with publike supplies ) did send thither a sufficient colonie , well furnished with all things necessary , who after their first comming had a continuall warre with the natiues , till it was reconciled by a marriage of their kings sister with one of the colonie , who hauing come to england , as shee was returning backe , died , and was buried at grauesend . thus euen amongst these sauages ( libertie being valued aboue life ) as they were induced to contest in time , before that power which they suspected , could come to such a height , that it might haue a possibilitie of depressing them , so was their malice with their feares , quickly calmed by the meanes of a marriage ; lawfull allyances thus by admitting equalitie remoue contempt , and giue a promiscuous off-spring extinguishing the distinction of persons , which if that people become christians , were in some sort tolerable , for it is the onely course that vniting minds , free from jealousies , can first make strangers confide in a new friendship , which by communicating their bloud with mutuall assurance is left hereditary to their posteritie . this longed for peace , though it bred a great contentment for the time , was attended by wrapping them that apprehended no further danger ( too common an inconuenient ) vp in the lazie remissenesse of improuident securitie . for a number leauing the seate of the mayne colonie , did disperse themselues to liue apart , as if they had bin into a well inhabited countrey , which ( as perchance ) it had emboldened the sauages to imbrace the first occasion of a quarrell , so did it giue them an easie way for executing the mischiefe that they intended , by killing two or three hundred persons before they could aduertize one another , farre lesse , ioyne to oppose them in a company together , which course might not onely then haue made them able to resist , but preuenting the others resolution had kept them from being pursued : yet i heare of late , that they haue reuenged this iniury ( though ( as some report ) not after a commendable manner ) by killing their king , with a great number of the chiefe of them whom they suspected most . this plantation of uirginia , if it had not beene crossed by the incursion of the sauages abroad , and by the diuision of their owners at home , had attayned to a great perfection ere now , hauing had inhabitants from hence to the number of neere three thousand persons , and if some of them who are there , being lords of reasonable proportions of ground , and hauing people of their owne , owing nothing but due obedience to a superiour power , and the leading of a life conforme to the lawes , had no care but ( making their lands to maintayne themselues ) how to build , plant , and plenish in such sort as might best establish a fortune for their posteritie , they might quickly make vp a new nation , but it is a great discouragement vnto them who dwell there , that they must labour like the seruants of a family , purchasing their food and rayment from england , in exchange of tobacco , as they are directed by their masters , many whereof are strangers to the estate of that bounds , and intending to settle none of their race there , haue no care but how the best benefit may presently bee drawne backe from thence , the number of voyces at their assemblies preuayling more then the soundnesse of iudgement , otherwise that countrey before this time for wine , oyle , wheate , and other things necessary for the life of man might haue equalled for the like quantitie any bounds within europe , to which the soile of it selfe lacking nothing but the like industry is no way inferiour . and it is to be exceedingly wished by all his maiesties subiects that the plantation of virginia may prosper well , which lying neerest to the part from whence danger might come , may proue a bulwarke for the safetie of all the rest . that which is now called new england was first comprehended within the patent of virginia , being the northeast part thereof , it was vndertaken in a patent by a company of gentlemen in the west of england , one of whom was sir iohn popha● then lord chiefe iustice , who sent the first company that went of purpose to inhabit there neer to segadahoek , but those that went thither , being pressed to that enterprize , as endangered by the law , or by their owne necessities ( no enforced thing prouing pleasant , discontented persons suffering , while as they act can seldome haue good successe , and neuer satisfaction ) they after a winter stay dreaming to themselues of new hopes at home returned backe with the first occasion , and to iustifie the suddennesse of their returne , they did coyne many excuses , burdening the bounds where they had beene with all the aspersions that possibly they could deuise , seeking by that meanes to discourage all others , whose prouident forwardnes importuning a good successe , might make their base sluggishnesse for abandoning the beginning of a good worke , to be the more condemned . about a foure yeeres since , a shippe going for virginia , comming by chance to harbour in the south-west part of new england , neere cape cod , the company whom shee carried for plantation , being weary of the sea , and enamored with the beautie of the bounds that first offered it selfe vnto them gorgeously garnished with all wherewith pregnant nature rauishing the sight with variety ) can grace a fertile field , did resolue to stay , and seated themselues in that place which is now called new plimmouth , where they haue builded good houses , and by their owne industry haue prouided themselues in such sort as they are likely to subsist , keeping a good correspondencie with the captaines of the sauages , who haue done nothing hitherto that might offend them ( and after this ) though they would dare attempt nothing to their preiudice , who are now aboue two hundred persons , and doe increase their number yeerely . they find both the land and the seas there abounding in all things needfull for the vse of man , and doe gouerne themselues after a very ciuill and prouident manner . sir ferdinando gorge hath beene a chiefe man for the furtherance of all things that might tend to the aduancement of new england , hauing beene at great charges these many yeeres past for the discouerie thereof , in doing which ( a good intention bent for other ends , casually bringing forth this effect ) the fishing there ( not sought for ) was found , which doth prooue now so profitable , as fortie or fiftie sayle are imployed there from england yeerely , and all that haue gone thither , haue made aduantagious voyages . this last yeere , hee sent his sonne captaine robert gorge with a colonie to be planted in messasuats bonds , and as i heare out of a generous desire by his example to encourage others for the aduancement of so braue an enterprize he is resolued shortly to goe him selfe in person , and to carrie with him a great number well fitted for such a purpose , and many noblemen in england , ( whose names and proportions as they were marshalled by lot , may appeare vpon the map ) hauing interressed themselues in that bounds , are to send seuerall colonies , who may quickly make this to exceed all the other plantations . hauing sundry times exactly weighed that which i haue alreadie deliuered , and beeing so exceedingly enflamed to doe some good in that kinde , that i would rather bewray the weaknesse of my power , then conceale the greatnesse of my desire , being much 〈…〉 aged hereunto by sir ferdinando gorge , and some others of the vndertakers for new england , i ●hew th●m that my countrimen would neuer aduenture in such an enterprize , vnlesse it were as there was a new france , a new spaine , and a new england , that they might likewise haue a new scotland , and that for that effect they might haue bounds with a correspondencie in proportion ( as others had ) with the countrey whereof it should beare the name , which they might hold of their owne crowne , and where they might bee gouerned by their owne lawes ; they wisely considering that either uirginia , or new england , hath more bounds then all his maiesties subiects are able to plant , and that this purpose of mine , by breeding a vertuous emulation amongst vs , would tend much to the aduancement of so braue a worke , did yeeld to my desire , de●●●●ing the bounds for mee in that part , which had beene questioned by the french , and leauing the limits thereof to bee appointed by his maiesties pleasure , which are expressed in the patēt granted vnto me , vnder his great seale of his kingdom of scotland , matching vpon the west towardes the riuer of saint croix now tweed ( where the frenchmen did designe their first habitation ) with new england , and on all other parts it is compassed by the great ocean , and the great riuer of canada , so that though sundry other preceding patentes are imaginarily limited by the degrees of the heauen , i thinke that mine be the first national patent that euer was cleerly bounded within america by particular limits vpon the earth . as soone as my patent was passed , resoluing to take possession of the lands , that were granted vnto me , i prouided my selfe of a ship at london , in the moneth of march , in anno 1622. but that the businesse might beginne from that kingdome , which it doth concerne , whereby some of my countrimen might be perswaded to goe , and others by conceiuing a good opinion thereof , to depend by expectation vpon the reports of such of their acquaintance , as were to aduenture in that voyage , i directedher to go about by s. georges channell , to kirkenbright , where she arriued in the end of may ; some gentlemen of that country , vpon whose friendship i reposed most , happening at that time to bee out of the kingdome , i encountred with sundry vnexpected difficulties : the prizes of victuals beeing within the space of three monethes , since i had parted before from scotland , suddenly tripled , and yet so scarce as i could hardly in haste bee well furnished , yet since i was so far aduanced , lest i should loose that which was done , if i did not the rest , i vsed the best diligence i could to prouide the shippe with all things necessary . then the very people specially artizens , of whom i stood in need , were at first loth to imbarke for so remote a part , as they imagined this to bee , some scarce beleeuing that there could bee any such bounds at all , and no wonder , since neuer any in that part had euer trauelled thither , and all nouelties beeing distrusted , or disualued , few of good sort would goe , and ordinarie persons were not capeable of such a purpose . at last , in the end of iune , they parted from thence to the i le of man , and after some stay there , in the beginning of august , leauing the sight of his maiesties dominions , did betake themselues to the sea. though by reason of the latenesse of their setting forth , they had the windes very contrary about the middest of september , they discouered saint peters ilands , and were neere to cape bretton , but yet were beaten backe againe by a great storme to new-found-land . and as they passed by the bay of placentia , neglecting the occasion to place themselues in some part of my bounds , there as they might haue done , they went into saint iohns harbour , where they concluded to stay that winter , and sent the ship home for a new supply of such things as were needfull . though it might haue discouraged mee much , that they had retired to new-found-land , foreseeing that what they had with them might be wasted , and that it would bee as chargeable and difficult to furnish them forth from thence , as if they were to goe of new from scotland , yet rather then they should bee in danger for want of prouision , making me any way guiltie of their losse , that had aduentured their liues , trusting to my care , i fraughted a shippe of purpose furnished with such things as were required in a note , which they sent home with their messenger . this shippe was dispatched by mee from london in the end of march 1623. but shee happened to stay so long at plimmouth , first , vpon some necessary occasions , and last by contrary winds , it being the eight and twentieth of april , before shee parted from thence , hauing no good windes at all , that they arriued not at saint iohns harbour , till the fift of iune . at their comming they found the company not fit for a plantion which had first by an vnexpected cause been deuided in two during the winter , and in may some doubting of a supply , had engaged themselues to serue fishermen , by which meanes they gained their maintenance , and some meanes beside , so that they could hardly be gathered together againe , and their minister and smith ( both for spirituall and temporall respects , the two most necessary members ) were both dead , so that seeing no hope to plant themselues in any good fashion that yeere , ten of the principall persons concluded to go alongst with the ship to new scotland , to discouer the countrey , and to make choice of a fit place for a habitation against the next yeere , considering very well , that they could not doe so much good by staying there with so few a number , as they might doe at their returne , by reporting the truth to their friends , of that which they had seene , whereby a new colonie might be encouraged to set forth well furnished , and instructed according to that which might bee learned by their experience . the three and twentieth of iune , they loosed from saint iohns harbour , and sayled towards new scotland , where for the space of fourteene dayes , they were by fogges and contrary winds kept backe from spying land till the eight of iuly , that they saw the west part of cape bretton , and till the thirteenth day , they sayled alongst the coast , till they ranne the length of port de mutton , where they discouered three very pleasant harbours , and went ashore in one of them , which after the shippes name , they called lukes bay , where they found a great way vp a very pleasant riuer , being three fathom deep at a low water at the entry thereof , & on euery side of the same they did see very delicate medowes , hauing roses white and red , growing thereon with a kind of wilde lilly , which had a daintie smel , the next day they resolued ( coasting alongst the land ) to discouer the next harbour , which was but two leagues distant from the other , where they found a more pleasant riuer then the first , being foure fathome deepe at a low water with medowes on both sides thereof , hauing roses and lillies growing thereon as the other had , they found within this riuer , a very fit place for a plantation , both in regard that it was naturally apt to be fortified , and that all the ground betweene the two riuers , was without wood , and very good fat earth , hauing seuerall sorts of beries growing thereon , as goose-beries , straw-beries , hind-beries , rasberies , and a kind of red wine berie , as also some sorts of graine , as pease , some eares of wheate , barly and rie growing there wilde ; the pease grow in abundance alongst the coast , very bigge and good to eate , but did taste of the fitch , this riuer is called port iolly , from whence they coasted alongst to port negro , beeing twelue leagues distant , where all the way as they sayled alongst , they spied a very pleasant countrey , hauing growing euery where such things as were obserued in the two harbours where they had beene before . they found likewise in euery riuer abundance of lobsters , cockles , and other shel-fishes , and also not onely in the riuers , but all the coast alongst , numbers of seuerall sorts of wild-foule , as wild-goose , blacke ducke , woodcocke , crane , heron , pidgeon , and many other sorts of fowle which they knew not . they did kill as they sayled alongst the coast great store of cod , with seuerall other sorts of great fishes . the countrie is full of woods not very thicke , and the most part oake , the rest are firre , spruce , birch , with some sicamores , and ashes , and many other sorts of wood which they had not seene before . hauing discouered this part of the countrie , in regard of the voyage their ship was to make to the straits with fishes , they resolued to coast alongst from lukes bay to port de mutton , beeing foure leagues to the east thereof , where they encountred with a frenchman , that in a very short time had made a great voyage , for though he had furnished one ship away with a great number of fishes , there were neere so many readie as to load himselfe & others . after they had taken a view of this port , which to their iudgement they found no waies inferiour to the rest they had seene before , they resolued to retire backe to new-found-land , where their ship was to receiue her loading of fishes . the 20. of iuly they loosed from thence , and the seuen and twentieth thereof they arriued at saint iohns harbour , and from thence sailed alongst to the bay of conception , where they left the ship , and dispatched themselues home in seuerall ships that belonged to the west part of england . this is no wonder , that the french beeing so slieghtly planted , did take no deeper roote in america , for they as onely desirous to know the nature and qualitie of the soile , and of things that were likely to grow there , did neuer seeke to haue them in such quantitie as was requisite for their maintenance , affecting more by making a needlesse ostentation , that the world should know they had beene there , then that they did contiuue still to inhabit there , like them , that were more in loue with glorie then with vertue , then being alwaies subiect to diuisions amongst themselues , it was impossible that they could subsist , which proceeded sometime from emulation or enuie , and at other times from the lazinesse of the disposition of some , who ( lothing labor ) could bee commanded by none , who would impose more vpon them then was agreeable with the indifferencie of their affections and superficiall endeuours . the english were free from these mutinies , and wanted not industry enough , but either out of a custome they haue to trauell more for the benefit that doth flow from grasse , then by manuring of the ground for corne , or otherwise if they were forced so to doe by their owners at london , who enforcing a speedie returne by their labour , would needs be trusted with furnishing of them victuals , they applying themselues to tobacco , and such things as might import a present commoditie , neglecting the time that might haue beene imployed for building , planting and husbandrie , did liue but like hired seruants , labouring for their masters , and not like fathers prouiding for their family and posteritie , which can neuer bee auoided till the ground be inhabited by them , that being owners thereof , will trust it with their maintenance , and doe content themselues with the delight of that which may giue glorie to them , and profit to their heires . the plantations in america doe approch neerest to the puritie of these that ( by an industrious diligence ) in the infancie of the first age did extend the mutiplying generations of mankind , to people the then desert earth , for here they may possesse themselues without dispossessing of others , the land either wanting inhabitants , or hauing none that doe appropriate to themselues any peculiar ground , but ( in a straggling company ) runne like beasts after beasts , seeking no soile , but onely after their prey . and where of old the danes , gaules , gothes , hunnes , uandals , longobards , and thereafter sarazens , turkes , and tartarians , did ( with an inundation of people ) encroach vpon these places of europe , which were most ciuill , and where the gospel was best planted , out of an ambitious enuie to draw vnto themselues the glory that any nation had formerly gained , or out of an exorbitant auarice to swallow vp their substance , and to vsurpe ( if they had power challenging right ) any lands that were better then their own , as the most part did in greece , hungar● , spaine , italy and france . wee here goe to cause preach the gospel where it was neuer heard , and not to subdue but to ciuillize the sauages , for their ruine could giue to vs neither glory nor benefit , since in place of fame it would breed infamie , and would defraud vs of many able bodies , that hereafter ( besides the christian dutie in sauing their soules ) by themselues or by their posteritic may serue to many good vses , when by our meanes they shall learne lawfull trades , and industries , the authors whereof ( though preuenting the like superstition ) may acquire no lesse reuerence from them , nor in like case of old saturne , bacchu● , ceres and pallas , by teaching to plant corne , wine , and oyle , did get from the credulous ignorance of them with whom they communicated their knowledge . when i doe consider with myselfe what things are necessarie fot a plantation , i cannot but be confident that my owne countreymen are as fit for such a purpose as any men in the world , hauing daring mindes that vpon any probable appearances doe despise danger , and bodies able to indure as much as the height of their minds can vndertake , naturally louing to make vse of their owne ground , and not trusting to traffique . then scotland by reason of her populousnesse being constrained to disburden her selfe ( like the painfull bees ) did euery yeere send forth swarmes whereof great numbers did haunt pole with the most extreme kinde of drudgerie ( if not dying vnder the burden ) scraping a few crummes together , till now of late that they were compelled , abandoning their ordinary calling , to betake themselues to the warres against the russians , turks , or swedens , as the polonians were pleased to employ thē , others of the better sort being bred in france , in regard of the ancient league , did finde the meanes to force out some small fortunes there , till of late that the french though not altogether violating , yet not valuing ( as heretofore ) that friendship which was so religiously obserued by their predecessours , and with so much danger and losse deserued by ours , haue altered the estate of the guards , and doe derogate frō our former liberties , which this king now raigning , we hope , will restore to the first integritie . the necessities of ireland are neere supplied , and that great current which did transport so many of our people is worne drie . the lowe countries haue spent many of our men , but haue enriched few , and ( though raising their flight with such borrowed feathers , till they were checked by a present danger ) did too much vilipend these fauourable springs by which their weaknesse was chiefly refreshed : but howsoeuer some particular men might prosper vnder a forraine prince , all that aduenture so , doe either perish by the way , or if they attaine vnto any fortune , doe lose the same by some colour that strict lawes vrged against a stranger can easily affoord , or else naturalizing themselues where they are , they must disclaime their king and countrey , to which by time ( the obiect of their affections altered ) being bound to haue a care of that part where there posteritie must liue , they turne euery way strangers , which necessitie imposed vpon them to take this course , and inconueniences following thereupon , may be preuented by this new plantation . and where the scottish merchants before had no trade but by transporting commodities that might haue beene imployed at home , and oftentimes monie , to bring backe wine from france , and pitch , tarre , and timber from the easter seas . now only by exporting of men , corne , and cattle , they may within a little time be able to furnish back in exchange these things before named . as likewise a great benefit of fishes , furres , timber and metals , drawing forth our people to forreine traffique , where with they neuer haue bin accustomed before , and that to the great increase of the customes , helping hereby to enrich that ancient kingdome , which of all the rest hath onely lost by his maiesties greatnesse , being hereby not onely defrauded of his owne presence , and of the comfort that his countenance did continually affoord , but likewise of many commodities arising to any countrie where a court is resident , as the vniuersallpouertie thereof ( hauing few rich vnlesse it bee some iudges and their clerkes ) by a common complaint doth too sensibly testifie . i haue neuer remembred any thing with more admiration then america , considering how it hath pleased the lord to locke it vp so long amidst the depths , concealing it from the curiositie of the ancients , that it might be discouered in a fit time for their posteritie , they were so farre of old from apprehending it by any reach of reason , that the most learned men ( as they thought ) by infallible grounds , in regard of the degrees of the heauen , did hold that these zones could not be inhabited , which now are knowne to include the most pleasant parts in the word . this neuer came to the knowledge of any hebrew , greeke , or roman , who had the most able mindes to haue found out such a mystery : and howsoeuer some would glose vpon that fable of platoes atlantick iland , i haue neuer obserued any thing amongst the ancient writers tending to such a purpose , if it be not these lines of seneca the tragedian , whereby hee might ( if not with a prophetick , yet with a poetick rapture ) deliuer that which he had a mind to make the posteritie expect , and was in possibilitie to happen . uenientannis — secula seris , quibus ocean●● vincula rerum laxet , & ingens pateat tellus , tophisque nonos detegat orbes ; nec sit terris ultima thule . and it is a thing not yet comprehended by the course of naturall reason , how these parts of the world came first to be peopled : we must grant ( according to the grounds of diuinitie ) their people to be descended from noah , and it is not long since that ( the loadstone being found out ) the best saylers ( scorning as in fomer times to be only coasters ) haue brought the art of nauigation to that perfection , that they durst resolutely aduenture to search the most remote parts in the ocean , and if any had gone thither of purpose to inhabite , they would haue carried with them the most vsefull kindes of tame cattle , such as horses , cowes , and sheeps , whereof neuer any was found in these parts , till they were transported thither of late yeeres ; but onely such wild beasts as of themselues might haue wandred any where through vast forrests , and deserts : so that i doe thinke there must bee some narrow passage vpon the east , towards terra australis incognita , not yet discouered , from whence people by time might haue come ( crossing the straits of magelane ) to inhabite brasile , chile , and peru , or rather i should thinke that there were some continent , or narrow sea towardes the north , about the straits of anien , from whence the first inhabitants in america might haue come ; because the wild beasts that are there are creatures most peculiar to the north , such as elkes , beares , and beauers , which are knowne to bee ordinary with the russians , and tartarians ; and i am the more confirmed in this opinion , when i remember of the mountains of ice that come floting euery spring alongst the coast of new-found-land , which ( as it is likely ) may dissolue from some sea that hath beene frozen during the winter time , ouer which people , and wild beasts might haue commoditie to passe ; but this is a matter that can hardly bee determined by demonstration or reason , therefore ( all men forming that which they know not , according to the square of their owne conceits . ) wee must leaue this to the vnlimited libertie of the imagination of man. but the thing most wonderfull of all is this , though now it bee cleerely discouered , that so few are willing to make vse therof ; this doth chiefly proceed from want of knowledge , few being willing to aduenture vpon that wherewith they are not acquainted by their owne experience , and yet those who haue not made triall themselues , if they will trust others , may bee abundantly satisfied by the reports of a number , who to plant and traffique doe yeerely haunt these parts . if the true estate of that which might bee done at this time by the ioyning of some reasonable company together were rightly vnderstood , then so many would not liue at home as they do , losing their time , where they can make no benefit , and burdenable to them to whom they are not vsefull , rather admitted , then welcommed , the one thinking that their seruice should deserue a reward , and the other that their maintenance is an vnnecessary charge , neither gaining , and both discontented : then would not so many aduenture their liues for the defence of strangers , whereby they scarce can acquire that which doth defray their owne charges , and howsoeuer the hope of honour may flatter a generous spirit , there is no great appearance by this meanes to prouide for a family , or for a posteritie . and if we rightly consider the benefit that may arise by this enterprise abroad , it is not onely able to afford a sufficient meanes for their maintenance , who cannot conueniently liue at home , by disburdening the countrey of them , but it is able to enable them to deserue of their countrey , by bringing vnto it both honour and profit . where was euer ambition baited with greater hopes then here , or where euer had vertue so large a field to reape the fruites of glory , since any man , who doth goe thither of good qualitie , able at first to transport a hundred persons with him furnished with things necessary , shall haue as much bounds as may serue for a great man , wherevpon hee may build a towne of his owne , giuing it what forme or name hee will , and being the first founder of a new estate , which a pleasing industry may quickly bring to a perfection , may leaue a faire inheritance to his posteritie , who shall claime vnto him as the author of their nobilitie there , rather then to any of his ancestours that had preceded him , though neuer so nobly borne elswhere , and if the vastenesse of their hopes cannot bee bounded within their first limits , as soone as they haue strengthned themselues for such a designe , either by sea or by land , ( in regard of the large countries next adiacent hereunto ) there doth alwaies rest a faire possibilitie of a further encrease , either for them , or for their successours ; and so euery one of inferiour sort may expect proportionably according to his aduenture : the merchans that are giuen to trade , where can they haue a fairer ground for gaine then here ; and that besides that which may bee expected from so fertile a land by industry or husbandry hereafter , in present commodities , such as cod fishes and herring in the seas , salmonds in the riuers , furres , pype-staues , pot-ashes , and all that may arise from the plentie of good wood , mineralls , and other things though not knowne to strangers that onely coast alongst the lands , that may bee discouered hereafter by them that are to inhabite the bounds . here those that are so disposed , without making a monasticall retreate ( free from a multitude of troubles ) may inioy the pleasures of contemplation , being solitary when they will , and yet accompanied when they please , and that not with such company as ( pressed by importunitie ) they must discontentedly admit , but onely by them of whom they haue made choice , and whom they haue carried with them , with whom ( as partners of their trauells ) by mutuall discourses they may remember their former dangers , and communicate their present ioyes : heere are all sorts of obiects to satisfie the varietie of desires . i might speake of the sport that may bee had by hunting , hawking , fishing , and fowling , where all these creatures haue had so long a time for increase , without being destroyed or frighted , as likewise of the great contentment that must come by daily discoueries of new fieldes and riuers , with the diuersitie of things not seene before that may happen to bee found in them : but i would rather haue all at first to thinke of the paines they must indure , in bringing of so notable a worke to perfection , since no good thing can be had with ease , and all the sonnes of men are borne to labour . but leauing these worldly respects , the greatest incouragement of all for any true christian is this , that heere is a large way for aduancing the gospel of iesus christ , to whom churches may bee builded in places where his name was neuer knowne ; and if the saints of heauen reioyce at the conuersion of a sinner , what exceeding ioy would it bee to them to see many thousands of sauage people ( who doe now liue like brute beasts ) conuerted vnto god , and i wish ( leauing these dreames of honour and profit , which doe intoxicate the braines , and impoyson the minde with transitory pleasures ) that this might bee our chiefe end to begin a new life , seruing god more sincerely then before , to whom we may draw more neere , by retyring our selues further from hence . as i would haue no man that hath a mind for this course , to abuse his iudgement , by trusting too much to the fertilitie of the bounds where he is to goe , and too little to his owne prouidence , and industrie , whereby he may be made to neglect the preparing himmselfe for this voyage after such a manner as is requisite , so i altogether dislike them that possessed with the preposterous apprehensions of feare ( like the lazie man of whome salomon speaketh , that pretending difficulties to preuent trauell , would say there was a lion in the way ) will needs imagine the worst that is in possibilitie to happen : for such a man ( too ingeniously subtill in coniecturing danger ) doth both by preiudicated opinions disable himselfe , and discourage them , who not being duely informed , are confirmed by the confidence of other vndertakers , that professe to haue knowledge , there is no man at home where he was borne , so free from the accidents of fortune who may not quickly by a publike , or by a priuate calamitie be brought in some measure to suffer , and much rather should wee arme our selues with a high resolution against all inconueniences that can occurre in such a forraine enterprise ( being circumspectly prouident , but not cōfounded with a deiecting feare ) where the greatnesse of so well grounded hopes for vs and for our posteritie should make vs ( hoping for pleasure ) to disgest any present paine , with a courage greater then can bee braued by any apprehended trouble . and because the lord in such eminent exploits doth commonly glorifie himselfe by a few number , i wish that all such whose hearts doe misgiue them portending any disaster ( like them of gideons troupes that bowed downe like beasts to the water ) should retire in time , ere the contagiousnesse of their infirmitie come to infect them that are more soundly disposed . there is no iust cause for a reasonable man to feare any worldly thing , but onely disgrace and want of necessary mayntenance : a man can hardly fall in the first here , since an honourable intention what euer the successe prooue must acquire prayse , and the other by ordinary meanes , is easie to be auoyded , but i am so farre from painting out a supposed facilitie to snare weake minds , that i would haue none ( with whom it is not fit to communicate more then they be capeable of ) to imbarke in this busines , but only such as do resolue against the worst , for i professe as cato did , when he was to enter the deserts of arabia . — neque enim mihi fallere quenquam est animus , tect●que metu perducere vulgus . himihi sint comites , quos ipsa pericula ducent , qui me teste , pati , vel quae tristissima , pulchrum , romanumque putant ; at qui sponsore salutis mileseget , capiturque animae dulcedine , vadat ad dominum meliore via . — and last should not these memorable exploits of late performed in the east and west indies by the flemmings , enflame vs with a generous ardour to equall , or rather to exceede them , whose penuritie of people ( euen at home ) must bee supplyed by the superfluitie of ours : they haue not onely in the east indies by seuerall habitations appropriated large territories to themselues , but likewise to the great preiudice of their neighbours , improouing their owne profit , haue engrossed the generall commerce by consequence depending thereupon . and if they seate themselues ( as it is likely they will doe ) in brasill , prouidently prosecuting the good beginning that they haue gotten by sparing people of their owne , or by interesting strangers whom they dare trust for founding of a sufficient colonie , that being strong enough to defend and command the inhabitants . ( securely exacting a due obedience ) may enable them for greater matters ; then confining with the very springs whence the streames flow that entertayne the power of their enemies ( exhausting their substance both by sea and land ) they haue a maruellous faire occasion offered to aduance then selues by depressing of the opposed partie whose prosperous and desired successe ( whilest the adding to one doth derogate from another ) if not emulated in time , will bee enuied hereafter . i know that many of my nation if they had beene as willing as they are able had beene more fit then i am for this purpose , but yet it hath oftentimes pleased god to doe the greatest matters by the meanest instruments . and as no one man could accomplish such a worke by his owne priuate fortunes , so if it shall please his maiestie ( as he hath euer beene disposed for the furthering of all good works more for the benefit of his subiects , then for his owne particular ) to giue his helpe accustomed for matters of lesse moment hereunto , making it appeare to be a worke of his own , that others of his subiects may be induced to cōcurre in such a common cause , no man could haue had my charge that with more affection and sinceritie should haue vsed his endeuours for discharging of the same , but i must trust to be supplyed by some publike helps , such as hath beene had in other parts , for the like cause whereunto , as i doubt not , but many will be willing out of the noblenesse of their disposition , for the aduancing of so worthy a worke , so i hope will some others , the rather out of their priuate respect to me , who shall continue as i haue heretofore done , both to doe and write in so farre , as so meane an abilitie as mine may reach , what ( i conceiue ) may proue for the credit or benefit of my nation , to whom i wish all happinesse . finis . a description of the new world. or, america islands and continent: and by what people those regions are now inhabited. and what places are there desolate and without inhabitants. and the bays, rivers, capes, forts, cities and their latitudes, the seas on their coasts: the trade, winds, the north-west passage, and the commerce of the english nation, as they were all in the year 1649. faithfully described for information of such of his countrey as desire intelligence of these perticulars. by george gardyner of peckham, in the country of surrey esq. gardyner, george. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a85806 of text r7600 in the english short title catalog (thomason e1298_2). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 169 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 102 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a85806 wing g252aa thomason e1298_2 estc r7600 99858775 99858775 110834 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a85806) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 110834) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 174:e1298[2]) a description of the new world. or, america islands and continent: and by what people those regions are now inhabited. and what places are there desolate and without inhabitants. and the bays, rivers, capes, forts, cities and their latitudes, the seas on their coasts: the trade, winds, the north-west passage, and the commerce of the english nation, as they were all in the year 1649. faithfully described for information of such of his countrey as desire intelligence of these perticulars. by george gardyner of peckham, in the country of surrey esq. gardyner, george. [16], 187, [3] p. printed for robert leybourn, and are to be sold by thomas pirrepoint, at the sun in s. pauls churchyard, london : 1651. last leaf has imprimatur of nathanael brent. annotation on thomason copy: "jan: 6 1650"; 1 in imprint date crossed through. reproductions of the originals in the harvard university library (early english books) and in the british library (thomason tracts). eng indians of north america -early works to 1800. indians of south america -early works to 1800. america -discovery and exploration -early works to 1800. america -description and travel -early works to 1800. a85806 r7600 (thomason e1298_2). civilwar no a description of the new world.: or, america islands and continent: and by what people those regions are now inhabited. and what places are gardyner, george. 1651 29101 12 0 0 0 0 0 4 b the rate of 4 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2007-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-05 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-06 jason colman sampled and proofread 2007-06 jason colman text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a description of the new world . or , america islands and continent : and by what people those regions are now inhabited . and what places are there desolate and without inhabitants . and the bays , rivers , capes , forts , cities and their latitudes , the seas on their coasts : the trade , winds , the north-west passage , and the commerce of the english nation , as they were all in the year 1649. faithfully described for information of such of his countrey as desire intelligence of these perticulars . by george gardyner of peckham , in the county of surrey esq. london printed for robert leybourn , and are to be sold by thomas pirrepoint , at the sun in s. pauls churchyard , 1651. to the right honorable sir henry vane , junior . sir , since god hath made you eminent in doing great services to your countrey , and appointed you of that councill which the parliament hath lately established , to contrive the weal of our nation , upon their excellent instructions . this discourse having relation to divers of them , i crave leave to direct it to you. and if it be too low for your thoughts , you have goodnesse enough to afford mee a favourable construction . sir , the greatest princes in the east , receive no request without a present i have no other to you , but to desire you would favourably receive this , and reckon me among the number of your devoted servants , george gardyner , errata . page 5. line 6. for scotia read socatra p. 26. l. 2 power . r. rove●ibid . l. 6. for cameron r. come on p. 32. l. 4. r. continent for cotinents p. 39. l. 3. put in 〈◊〉 washed at flouds p. 35. l. 13. r. bold for cold p. 61. l. 13. r. tortuga for tortaga p. 62. l. 9. r. its for it is p. 87. l 5. r. clear for clean p. 101. l. 14. r. far for furze p. 116. l. 9. r. wels for willow trees . p. 118. l. 5. r. nicaragua for nicurayna p. 123 , l. 2. r. verauga for carauga p. 133. l. 8. r. caco for coco , and so where ever you come p. 143. l. 17. r. limets for climato ibid. l. ult. read painters for planters p. 145. l. 14. r. principall for principals p. 146. l. 2. r. darian p. 148 l. 〈…〉 phillip for chilip . to the english nation . in this unquiet age , i conceive , there is nothing so pertinent to a mans felicity , next to the enjoying of happy places , as to know where they are . and to think our neighbouring regions of europe receive a greater share of prosperity than we in england , is ( without doubt ) a great mistake . neither doth any part of the old world make such promises to all sorts of men as doth the new world , commonly called america . for he that shall desire to advance himself by his labour , will finde many places where he may do it with much quietnesse . he that shall desire to enjoy much land , and live in a civil government under others , may finde places enough for him to pitch upon . he that shall desire to command a countrey himself , and get into possession of it , without difficulty , wil finde many islands fit for his turn , that are fruitfull and desolate , wanting inhabitants , which at small charge may be transported thither . he that shall desire to be possest of great rich mines of gold and silver , and precious stones , and large dominions , and withall hath but fortitude , courage , and a reasonable english gentlemans estate , may by an ordinary providence over him , attain to these great matters . and that man that shall have store of commodities lie by him , which he cannot vent , although they are necessary for mans accomodation , will finde here places , that he may exchange them at , to his great advantage . but if the decipherers of this orbe had been as cautious in setting down truths , as they have been prolixious in impertinencies , our nation would certainly ere this have made greater advantages upon those regions . for , my part , as i am an english man , so i desire that name and people may grow great and famous and extend their authority and name beyond either roman , grecian , assyrian or persian nations . and if from this discourse they may draw any thing that may prove for their honour or profit , i have my aim . and i shall assure them , i have related nothing but what my own knowledg or good intelligence perswades me is certainly true , which my future actions with gods leave shall declare . i have been plain in discourse of the forreign commerce of our nation . all which i intended in a larger volumn , but the flemmings and irish taking me in my comming from those remote parts of america , took from me that greater relation , which i intended instead of this epitomie from thence , which i present with a resolution to submit to that common censure all book-makers must undergo , but with confidence i have in this subscribed my self reader , thy humble servant , george gardyner the contents of the book . chap. 1. of the commerce of the english nation pag. 1 the generall description of america , or the new world chap. 2 p. 31 of gold , silver , quick-silver , emraulds , and pearl chap. 3 p. 39 of the island of new found land chap. 4 p. 45 martins vineyard chap. 5 p. 47 long island chap. 6 p. 48 the bermudas , or somers islands chap. 7 p. 50 of the islands of lucaos , or bahama chap. 8 p. 52 of hispaniola chap. 9 p. 57 of the island of cuba chap. 10 p. 62 jamico island chap. 11 p. 66 the island of saint john de portrico chap. 12 p. 67 sancta crux , the virgins , virgin gorda , blances , anagada , sombrito chap. 13. p. 69 angula chap. 14 p. 71 saint martins chap. 15 ibid. eustas chap. 16 p. 72 saint bartholomew chap. 17 ibid. saint christophers chap. 18 p. 73 nivis , or the snowes barbada and redouda chap. 19 p. 74 monserat chap. 20 p. 75 antego , margelante , dominica , matinina , santalusa , gardelupa , dodos sanctos deseada chap. 21 ibid. the burbudos chap. 22 p. 77 trinidado chap. 23 p. 79 margreata , tortuga , gardiner , caracute , cubava and tamasca chap. 24 p. 80 of the north-west passage , and the lands called nova britania , or nova framuncia chap. 25 p. 83 new england chap. 26 p. 90 new holland chap. 27 p. 93 the swedes plantation chap. 28 p. 94 virginia chap. 29 p. 95 maryland chap. 30 p. 102 old virginia chap. 31 p. 104 florida chap. 32 p. 105 of new spain chap. 33 p. 107 the councill of new galisia chap. 34 p. 109 gutamalia kingdome chap. 35 p. 110 of panuco chap. 36 p. 111 the province of talascalia , or angels chap. 37 p. 113 youcatan province chap. 38 p. 116 the province of honduras chap. 39 p. 118 of the province of nicaragua chap. 40 p. 120 the province of castorica chap. 41 p. 123 the province of varagua chap. 42 p. 124 of the province of ciblioa chap. 43 p. 126 nevv biskay chap. 44 p. 127 chiamerla chap. 45 p. 128 culiacan chap. 46 p. 129 sacetas chap. 47 p 130 xalisco chap. 48 p. 131 guadalaiara chap. 49 ibid. mechocan chap. 50 p. 133 of the province of mexico chap. 51 p. 135 guaxcaca chap. 52 p. 137 soconusco chap. 53 p. 139 gutamalia chap. 54. p. 140 chiapa chap. 54 p. 143 verapas chap. 55 p. 144 of panama chap. 56 p. 145 carthegna province chap. 57 p. 149 the kingdome of granado chap. 58 p. 151 the province of sancta martha chap. 59 p. 154 venesiula chap. 60 p. 156 guana chap. 61 p. 158 the land of brazil chap. 62 p. 160 of the provinces of the river plate chap. 63 p. 164 of the coast between the river of plate and the straight of magellan chap. 64 p. 167 the straight of magellan chap. 65 p. 168 chillia chap. 66 p. 171 the councill of charcas chap. 67 p. 173 the kingdome of peru chap. 68 p. 176 quito kingdome chap. 69 p. 182 popyan chap. 70 p. 185 a description of the new world . chap. i. of the commerce of the english nation . the navigation and commerce of the english nation , is so proportioned , that upon the division of the world , it may properly be said , that it is traded by four severall parts . the greatest of which is america , the next in account is asia , the third africa , and the least europe , in which is our native countrey , it being a westwardly part of this division . from whence there arises to mee these questions . the first , whether the trade be equally divided according to the quality of the places traded with . the second , whether the losse to some of these places be not greater then the gains . the third , whether the trade of the common-wealth may not be increased . the fourth , how it hath been hindred , and what is the let in the grants of it . the fifth , whether there may not be a course taken to quicken the trade and encourage adventurers . to answer the first . we finde that in asia , there are six most potent emperours , which are the emperour of tartaria , of japan , of china , of turkey , of persia , and of the moguls or mogores . the tartar , hath few or no ports , the persian not many , all the rest have store of ports , and rich cities , on them , fit for commerce and trade . and it hath been affirmed by the natives of those parts , that were well acquainted with the east indies , that in india major , which is from mallabar to chesmacoram , there are 13 kingdomes , 12700 islands , desolate and un-inhabited . and in india minor , which is from siambi , to murfili , there are eight kingdomes beside many islands . and the commodities of these parts are of the best sort , and probably by the great quantities that have been yearly carried thither from europe , there is more silver then in all the other parts of the world . and although there is this greatnesse yet we send yearly , but a few ships which belong to the east india , and turkish company . the trade of america is much greater , although it be but with our own nation , which are seated in new-england , virginia , barbados , christophers , antego , santey , crus , meaguis , monferat , and barmoudas , what else of that orbe is in the hands of spaniards portugals , and dutch in any considerable place , cannot be traded with by the english , africa almost an iland joyning to asia by that narrow isthmus , part of arabia deserta neer cut asunder by the red and mediterranean seas , hath for its coasts on the mediterranean sea , egypt , barbary , and a part of mauritania , on the north sea the kingdom of morocco , fesse , tombuto , the large regions of giney , conge , and empire of monomotapa , and from the cape of bona speranza , unto the iland of scotia , the kingdom of armeto , mosambique , quilioa , melinde , magadoxo , badivis , ethiopia , and part of egypt , and from thence alongst the red sea , seila , adel , and the empire of prester john . and all these countries have many rivers and ports , and great store of people living on them . and we trade onely to alexandria , in egypt , morocco , fesse and giney , and there but little neither , all the other places being left , as terra incognita . the trade of europe , doth justly challenge a greater commerce then any of the other parts have , although it be the least . on this consideration , the ports are neer adjacent , the people more ingenious in procuring merchandize , and and their comodities more in use with us , and ours more wanting with them , as our broad cloth , &c. and from these considerations , i conclude , that unlesse in europe , there is no equality in the trade of our nation with the other parts of the world . the second question . whether the losse be not greater then the gaines to some of these places . as the end of all trade and mens carnall thoughts are commonly for silver and gold , so that countrey that hath most of it is accounted the richest . and indeed it is almost all things , for he that hath enough of that , cannot lack any worldly thing that can be had . upon which , i conceive , that the principall ayme of all forreign trade should be to bring much of it in , and carry little of it out of our countrey , and that commerce that doth not is managed to the disadvantage of our nation , and ought to be rejected . and upon examination it will be found , that the greatest trade which we drive in asia , which is to the east indies , either by the way of bagdet , caro , and the red seas , or cape of bona speranza , is with ready money . i can with confidence say , it may be managed so to the advantage of our nation , that we may have their commodity for ours , and their ports better traded . and whereas it hath been the practise of our people to carry much money thither , we may now fetch it home again . and the trade of america is prejudiciall , very dishonest , and highly dishonourable to our nation . it is prejudiciall , in that it carrieth away daily such men as might serve their country , either in fighting to defend it at home , or else abroad . 't is dishonourable , in that we are upbraided by all other nations that know that trade for selling our own countreymen for the commodities of those places . and , i affirm , that i have been told by the dutch and others , that we english were worse than the turks , for that they sold strangers onely , and we sold our own countreymen . and it is well known , that people in authority , and some that professe much to christianity of those parts , will hang a man for selling or taking away an indian that worshipeth the devill , when at the same time they allow others , and will themselves buy of their own nation , which have most barbarously been stolne out of their countrey . and 't is dishonest , if murther be so , for when they have by spirits or lying tales , forced them aboard the ships , in their transportation onely , there is yearly many starved to death , those that remain are sold to those that wil give most for them ; some for fourteen years , others for ten , and lesse , but the least four : and it were better for them to serve fourteen years with the turks , then four in the plantations with most of the masters in those places , especially in virginia , for besides , their being back-beaten and belly-beaten , it is three to one if they live out their servitude , by reason of the unwholsomenesse of the countreys . in which disasters that happen to our nation , i cannot but condole their misfortunes , as if we of all europe were of the seed of cham , when the spaniard at the same time managed their businesse so well , that scarcely will one of them serve in the indies , except it be the viceroy , or some great personage , and i know that nation in nothing exceeds us , but in their keeping together as one people . the third question . is whether the trade of england may not be increased . it is not hard to imagine , when we see the greatnesse of asia , and africa , and the little commerce that we have with them , that it may well be increased . and although the trade of europe be much greater the rest , yet doth it want much of that exactnesse which we may have in it . for where as we gain in some parts , and lose in others , it is possible to assure the land , to gain in all and lose in none . the fourth question . is , how it hath been hindred , and what is the let in the growth of it ? the people generally suppose 't is the danger of the seas , and the little security in the parts abroad , for the merchants goods and ships . in answer , i affirm , the trade of the hollanders never flourished so as in time of war , and their enemies were more strong at sea then ours , upon which we may conclude , it is not that that is the true cause . wherefore , i finde these other causes to be the obstruction in the trade . the first is , the companies of our nation , which sort of people i account a benefit or a losse , according as they are established and managed , in which the companies of england have been defective , which appeareth in the generall damages which themselves and adventurers have had with them , and few publick memorials they have erected at home or abroad that hath appeared a publick good , but divers acts have seemed the contrary . and on particulars we finde , there are five companies that are well in years amongst us , the other which was of later establishment , which really was the best ( the giney company ) is dissolved . and to omit the general damage that all the inland companies do to our nation , which is from my purpose now to treat of , the five companies of exportation are : first , the cloth company that trade into holland , hamborough , the baltick seas , and elsewhere , with all the white clothes exported the kingdome . the second is the east india company , the third the turkey , the fourrh the muscovia , the fifth the company of greenland , alias grinland . of which , i conceive , the cloth company to be the greatest monopoly , for this cause . besides the ingrossing of the commodity of white cloth to themselves , which is a great barre to the priviledge of the nation . the carrying of them out of the laud , is a pernicious thing to five sorts of men , merchants , seamen , cloth-dressers , sheare-men and diers , which last people receive the greatest damage , although they were accounted anciently the staple-manufacture of our nation . the prejudice to the cloth-dressers and diers , appears in the carrying away from them forty clothes white more then are worked at home , by which it appears , that where there is one imploy'd now in that course , there might be forty , if it were managed at home . and all that ever i heard that the company could say for themselvs is , that the trade of making white cloth would be spoiled , for the dutch and poles if they could not have it white would forbear buying of it . but i am sure the merchants buy it beyond the seas for their profit , and not to set their country-men at worke , or else they differ much from them of the company . and if they want it to trade with , they will have it as well drest by us ; as their own nation ; but if they be obstinate and will not buy it , we shall gaine and not lose , for our sea-men and merchants that make short voyages with small profit will then vent it to those parts which now have it at the second hand from them , that buy it white from us , and so the merchants will make two profits in stead of one ; and the sea-men longer voyages . the east-india company come home to this question in that it hath lost many advantagious places there , and impoverished many that adventured with them , giving them after fifteen or sixteen yeares forbearance of their money instead of 70li . yearly , which the dutch give most yeares to their adventurers 70li . for their principall . and the dutch , lately to renew their lease , which not long since was neer expired , being but for 21 yeares at the first , compounded with the states generall to have it renewed for so much longer for the summe of eight hundred thousand pound paid to them , and five hundred thousand to the west-india company , which the states owed the said west-india company . and whereas the dutch company hath whole countries , divers islands , cities , castles , forts , &c. and all taken in by the sword , to the contrary , our men hath lost money , lost time , which was considerable in those actions , and divers countries which they never got but were delivered by the natives , such was pulway , pullerroon , lantor , rosingen , wayer , timor , tiadore , ternat , and the castle of amboyna , where the dutch committed the greatest murther that of late yeares hath been heard of upon our nation , by racking , torturing by fire , and water , throwing in dungeons , and their easing themselves on them untill their bodies became blistered , then drawing them forth , and beheading some , sawing a-sunder others , at other times their cruelty hath been after the same manner , and this accompanied with revilling of our nation ; which things are in perticular related by them that escaped from those miseries , recording before the tribunall of the late king , their sufferings , and his dishonour which he heard with as much patience , as the losse of the english at the isle of ree . i know not the hearts of other men , but my minde is , that all men that acknowledge a government , and subscribe to maintaine it , ought to be protected as well abroad as at home . there is difference between the bloud of peace and war , as david saith , and this was not as the rest , of rochell , and the isle of ree , but by the snare that joab smote amasa . and upon discourse , it will be found , that act is justified by that people to this day . the cause of the dutches flourishing , our companies say , was there stock exceeding the english ; but it will appear , upon examination , that the english company had sixteene hundred thousand pounds under writ for , when the dutch had but eight . the turkey company is little before it in goodnesse , although men have not so eminently suffered , yet some have been inslaved by the turks of barbary . but the great prejudice ( as the case now standeth ) without alteration in all the companies , is the ingrossing the trade of his dominions to themselves , which might serve themselves , and divers others . for the ports of the grand seignour are many ; the chief being constantinople , there are on the coasts of the seas in his territories , the provinces of arcadia , accea , peliponesus , epirus , part of dalmatia , the island of the archipelagus and cyprus , in the mediterranean sea on the coast of the begler-begship of cairo , the provinces of troas , the fair scituated town of symrna , then aleppo , the ports of jewry , and aegypt , the trade of the great city of grand cairo , where there might be more commerce onely , then we have now in all the turkish empire . the muscovia company is alike prejudiciall , in monopolizing the trade of that large empire , which trade is not valuable in relation to the ports , for that of saint michael the archangel is the principall , and almost onely port in his dominions , but when you are within the land , there are most large territories to trade with , as the commerce of the black seas , which may conveniently be entred by the river volga , and so traded , which the grand seignour prohibits by way of constantinople , and the peace which the muscovite hath for the most part with the tartar , and many tartars stil resident in musco , by whom , were it a generall trade , divers men likely would for their profit get commerce with that nation , which would make way for a farther trade , even to the cathaians , and china's . the greenland company hath as great a share in oppression as the rest , although it is not so eminent in fame , and in this it exceedeth , that whereas the other companies are a hindrance to such merchants as might trade ( were it not for their patent ) into those countries of their divisions , this i say , is not onely a barre to those that would trade to greenland , but hath so much power , as to hinder other merchants from importing into the land the commodities they have from greenland . so that those that buy that usefull commodity , must give their rates for it . and although it be in others a fault to bring it from neerer places to hinder the trade to greenland , yet 't is reported , they are not bound by this law , being forced for want of sufficient from greenland to supply the english at second hand . now , as it is clear by this i have said , that these companies are a great hinderance to the commerce of our nation . there is also another , which the merchants complain of , and that is the dutch nation , that daily so insinuate into the trade of all places where ever they are admitted , to the putting by of the english . and were it not that we sell our countreymen for the commodity of the english plantations , i am fully perswaded , within a few years , we should be forced to have what comes from thence at a second hand from the dutch : which in reason seems strange , considering they export nothing but what they import , and we export much which we need not import , & how those that have it at a second hand , should sell a thing cheaper then him that hath it at the first , seems irrationall , yet they will do it , which is done by our irregularity in trade , and the merchants that are the great complaynants , are the chief causers of their own hinderance . but upon examination , it will be found , that the principall commerce of the whole world is in hands of the english , and the united provinces . and what we lose they get . and as it is their great care , by all means , to increase their own commerce , though with the ruine of ours , so , i conceive , it is honest and honourable , to endeavour our own good , although by their hurt . the fifth question is , whether there may not be a course taken to quicken the trade and commerce of the english nation ? as i apprehend the companies to be a great cause of hinderance in our trade , with the ill managing of the generall trade of our nation , so i think these things i have offered , doe in part demonstrate it . wherefore , i conceive , that if they were taken away , with some irregularity in trade , our nation would not be found wanting , either in inclination to trade , or abilities for trade to advance our commerce to what height we please . and because there may arise an objection against the overthrow of companies , in regard we see the hollanders have a very flourishing trade in the world , although it be managed by more companies then we have . i shall to that and the second hinderance which is the trade of the netherlands , affirme , the first constitution of companies were , or ought to have been established to keep up a trade subject to alteration , without fortification , and strength of shipping , for to those places that give us an equall engagement by oath of princes , bassadours and agents constantly leger to see right , and performance of articles , there is no need of companies , or else , why are they not in europe ? and where there is this ful assurance 't is contrary to all sence , that there should be a monopoly of the trade , and where it is not assured this way , or by forts , we lie at the mercy of those princes we trade with , that permit us but for their profit , and no longer , i conceive , it is madnesse without assurance of fortification , to assure merchants goods and ships to have any commerce with such men or countreys . and it was for this reason , that the companies of england , were first erected . for it was proposed that private men making a voyage , and according to the losse or gain of that continue or forsake the trade , and although it were profitable , yet want of ability or will would hinder them from gaining that assurance for the future , which a joynt stock well managed would do . and although the hollanders come far short of that perfection in trade which they might have , yet are they in this very circumspect . for the companies of holland , do not only fortifie in most places , where they come , but gain whole regions and provinces , which is still managed to the advantage and honour of their common-wealth . but our companies have so much swerved from this intention of their first constituting , that whereas the dutch keep the east india provinces in awe , we are miserable slaves to them . for if a prince of india , loseth on the seas by piracy of english or any other people of europe , what they have in their countrey of the english merchants wil surely , make good their lesse . or in case an english power , or french , &c. saying , he were english , should come into the red seas , and take ships bound for any turkish port , or cameron land , and desire trade , & be surprized , and getting free , revenge themselves on the goods and persons of the arabs or turkes , the english merchants in turkey under the command of the grand seignour , would surely pay for it in their persons and goods . the greenland company was first established to bring in the whole commerce of the whale-fishing into england , and with much honesty might they have barred others from comming thither , in regard , the english were the first discoverers of it , but instead of going before others , we come behinde them , and far-short of the dutch , which appoint us their leavings , instead of taking ours . the dutch which is a second hinderance to us in our commerce , overtop us very strangely , if wee seriously consider the people , and their country , which is comprehended within the title of the united provinces . in which lyeth only zealand , holland ; frisland , utrick , and these provinces they have entirely , the biggest of them no greater then kent . they have a little part of east flanders , brabant , and a good part of gelderland , which places doth not afford them common necessaries , for they have most of their flesh from emden , holsten and westphalia , their corn from the countreys on the baltick seas , for their housing and shipping , their timber and iron from norway , germany , and lukeland , their hemp , pitch , and tar , as we from muscovia , or the baltick seas . and for commodities of exportation to maintain the great trade , they have at sea , their land is as barren and deficient , so that their trade consists meerly in what they get from one nation , and sell to another . and upon a ttue examination it wil be found , what they have gotten from us in the east indies , and in or about our country , is the foundation of all their staple manufacture . and to come to some perticulars , we find that the spices of the east indies , the herrings they have on our coasts , and our white cloth which they dresse and die , is the very ground of all their commerce , all which comes to them for little , or at least , no visible payment . for we get nothing for our . herrings nor for the spices , they have from those places , which formerly were ours , and though they speak of their paying for them to some of our nation , yet it is not visible to us . and the white cloth , they have at the third part they make of it . and although with these , and the other commodities of our countrey , as stockings , course cloth , stuffs , &c. they make the most of their trades , yet for those they buy from us , they have without any just exception . although it were necessary , we did make the best use of our native commodities , which we misse as much of , as if we had never known the way of adventuring from our own countrey . and now i have said this , it is likely , that there are many will affirm , that they knew as much before , as i relate , but the remedy is not amply proposed . but i to excuse my self , say , that i have been often in discourse of this subject , and have not heard as much as i here shew to you . and the great physicians say , it is harder to finde out the disease , then to prescribe a remedy . and since i have done that , i conceive , i ought to be silent , yet with an intent to shew my self as forward in prescribing a remedy , as i have been in informing of this subtle disease : and in order to that , if it shal be required by those , who sit at the helme of our affairs , i shall undoubtedly bring to their knowledg a man that will shew himself most expert in serving his country this way . and when the trade of our nation shall be regulated to such exactnesse , as may procure a generall profit and honour to our nation , it will peradventure appear as small and ordinary a matter as the navigation of america , which is now a thing of little difficulty , but was formerly accompted an impossibility to the disparagement of former ages , and amazement of the present . chap. 2. the generall description of america , or the new world . this great part of the globe was unknown unto the europeans untill the year of our redemption 1492. at which time it was discovered by christopher columbus , a genowes , in the behalf of ferdinand king of castel , and leon in spain , that to this day , enjoys the greatest and richest part of it . and especially those golden and fruitfull regions , that are between the tropicks , which is commonly called the west indies . and what there is unpossest of him and the natives , and in the hands of english , dutch or french is not considerable to the rest . this title of america , comprehends as well islands , as continents , the islands for the most part lieth in the seas on this side the continent . the other of the west side are few and small , the seas that compasse this continent on the east side , are commonly called the north seas ; on the west side the south seas , which lieth between it and asia , and on the north end it hideth it selfe under the pole ; and to the south of the straight of magellan , the north and south seas meet together , and divide it from the south pole . the continent of america in seven degrees of north latitude , is very narrow from sea to sea , that is to say , from porto bello to panama eight leagues , a rough & rocky passage , from whence both north and south , the land groweth exceeding broad to the north beyond knowledg , and to the south , one thousand leagues , as 't is guest . it containeth divers regions and provinces , in which are comprehended some good and wholsome places , other bad and unwholsome , and as there is indifferents , so there is extreams . and as the best places are within the tropicks , so the more north or south you goe , the more barren and cold you finde the climates , even to unsufferable extremities . the passage and course of sayling to the most parts of america , is by the wind that bloweth a gentle gale , constantly between the tropicks east , or east south east , not much wavering unlesse by a tornado or hericano . the natives of america , at this day are of three sorts ; the first , that live the most civilly , are them that live within the government of the spaniards , after the same manner that they do , in apparell , building , trades and religion . the second sort , are those that live under the contribution of the english , portugals , dutch , french , &c. and these keep still their ancient customes , religions , and manners : and these i say are divided under severall governours , or kings , and live in towns , some of which are paled round , conteining houses covered with mats , their frames of arbour works , the best are made more substantiall of great poles and mats , covered with the bark of trees , their food is what the woods , seas and rivers affords naturally , and their bread of that grain we call virginia wheat , and of this their wives plant about their towns , whom they accustome also to do their other household work , the men spending their time in hunting and fishing , being attended by the boys , whom they breed up to this kind of life with themselves . and this way of living runs throughout all america , north and south , for this sort of people . the third kind of indians which are on the land , they call in the spanish dominions ( where there is the most of them ) chickameckians , and in the islands canables . in which sort of people , the craibey islands do so abound , that they prove bad neighbours to the english and french , that are there seated , as those in the land are to the spaniards . and these indians live upon what they get from the strangers that are neer them , & the other more civil indians : and some of them are so inhumane , that they will eat mans flesh . their common food is what they get by hunting and fishing . and such of them that have islands , and provinces to themselves , live in such kind of habitation ( as i have said , the second sort of indians do . ) the religion of all of them , that are not made spanish christians , is to worship stones , beasts , or fowls , and serpents , but generally the devill , whom they much fear , and therefore worship . their priests are conjurers and witches and in those arts can do very strange things . the statures of the natives differ as with us in europe , but their complexions generally are tawny and swar●hy , as also their skins . although in divers places , i suppose , they would be otherwise , did they not anoint their flesh with oiles and grease , and bask themselves in the sun and winde , against which they have little or no defence , going almost all naked , excepting amongst those civill indians with the spaniards . their naturall weapons , are generally batoo●s , bowes and arrows . their bows are made of some bending wood , their arrows of canes and reeds , headed with fishes bones , and flints , with which they are excellent marksmen . the heads of divers they poyson to do the more mischief . there are naturall to these parts which are wild in the woods , divers kinds of beasts and fowles , many of which are not elsewhere in the world to be found , as also many fruits not known amongst us . amongst the plantations , there is not any thing wanting that is to be had in europe ; and much more , which is naturall to those parts , but the substance of flesh , fisn , and fruits is not so substantiall as that of europe , and not any thing comparable with that in england : which is the cause that they are much easier of digestion , and causeth a more constant appetite then we have with us . the treasures that are yearly drawn from the bowels of the spanish regions , are infinitely great . and in the subjection of any other prince or people of europe , there is neither mine of gold , silver , quick-silver , emraulds , or beads of pearl , all which are in great plenty in the spanish dominions . and in regard i shall in my relations , speak of many countreys , that are plentifull of these riches , i shall here describe how they are obtained . chap. 3. of gold , silver , quick-silver , emraulds , and pearl . the gold is engendred in the mountains , from whence by rains and flouds into the plains , and rivers , where for the most part they find it . that of the plains , is in veines of hard earth that conteineth part pure grains of gold like pompeon-seeds , which is the best , but the most that is got in the indies , is in the rivers , where it is found mixed with the sand in pouder , even as the sand it self . they separate it from the earth , and sand , by washing in a bowle of the fashion of a barbers bason . where they finde it in hard veines , they break them with the hammers , and make them fit to wash : first , putting the earth or sand into the bason , and receiving water into one side of it , turn it out at the other , untill they have washed out the earth from the gold , which as the heavier substance remains behind at the bottome of the bowle . the silver mine is found in the earth in veines or branches , much like the tinne or cole in england , and is worked almost in the same manner under the ground . the way of separating the silver from the drosse , is first to take the oare , and break it in hammer-mils , and grind it to powder , then sift it through a copper searse , and put it into a furnace , under which they maken fire by degrees , mixing with every fifty quarts of pouder five of salt , and stiring it , together with quick-silver , which they squeeze through a piece of holland upon the said pouder and salt , and when they finde the quick-silver , sufficiently incorporate with the silver , then they put it altogether in a cauldron , in which there is water , and a wheel , that going round , turneth out the earth and drosse with the water , the quick-silver , and silver , as the more heavy substance remains behind , which they take from the cauldron , and wash it after the manner of gold , till they finde it clean from all drosse , and filth , and then putting it into a cloth , they strain forcibly from it some quick-silver , the remainder being as a leafe of silver . and to separate the silver from the quick-silver , they put it into a violent fire , and cover it with an earthen pot of the fashion of a sugar loaf , which is also covered with coals , and kept very hot , and from a hole in the said pot , to which is fashioned a pipe , like the pipe of a limbeck , they receive the quick-silver , which evacuates by the same pipe , leaving the silver of the same form it was put in , but wanting much of the bignesse and waight . the quick-silver and vermillion , is found together in rocks , or very hard earth . that part that is found to contein the quick-silver , they break to pieces , and putting it into earthen fire-pots well luted , they set it on a violent fire ( made in the indies of straw , which they find to be excellent for that work ) what of it evacuateth out of the pot , goeth up , till meeting nothing to receive it , it falleth down cold , in the same manner we have it . the remainner in the pot , being sufficiently separated from the drosse and earth , the fire is taken away , and when it is throughly cold , they open the pot , and poure out the quick-silver into leather baggs , which keepeth it best , conveighing it where they please in them . those that open these pots , and stirreth the silver and it together , in refining the silver , swallow a pellet of gold , that lying in the stomack , draweth the quick-silver , which in time getteth into their bodies , from whence it goeth out with the said pellet in excrement . and if the pot be not throughly cold , when 't is open ; it is two to one , if they lose not their teeth or hair , dis-figure their noses and faces , and many times utterly spoile themselves . wherefore , they are very cautious in this action . the emraulds are in great abundance in divers parts of the spanish countreys , they get them in veines of stone , that is almost like chrystal , some as big as a hazel nut , and of severall colours , as whitish , green and white , and the most perfect absolute green . the pearls are found in greatest plenty in the north seas , and they are roundest and most orient , although there are great store at the island of pearls in the south seas , which is some 25 miles from panama . in the north seas , where i say are the best ; the principall fishing for them is at the river of haca , which runneth between the province of sancta , martha and carthagena , and also at the islands of margreata , and cumana . they are found in oyster-shels of the colour of heaven , fastned to gravell or rocks , six , nine , and twelve fathome under water , and brought from thence by negro slaves , which are so expert in diving , that some of them will continue half an hour under water . chap. 4. of the island of new found land . in order to a perticular description of this new world , i shall first speak of the islands , of which the most seprentrionall , is new-found land , which stretcheth north and south , from 46 degrees and a half , to 50 and a half of latitude . the natives of this place are few , and savage , neither is there any thing in this countrey to invite a plantation , it is so rockie , and barren . but for the commoditie of fish , which are taken on the coast in great plenty , there are some men that do endure the heat of summer , and cold in winter , both which come in extreams , some are french , but the most english , in whose hand lieth the supream power , the plenty of fish ( wch sort is wel known in england , by the name of new-found land fish ) inviteth many ships thither , whose lading is procured sometimes by themselves , but for the most part by the dwellers in the place . this island lyeth at the mouth of the river canida , distant from the continent at the north end neer half a league , and the south west point is about a league from cape briton , and by the one of these ways , you passe to the river canida . chap. 5. martins vineyard . the next island that is seated is martins vineyard . it is a small island on the coast of new england , and the governour is appointed by the councill of boston , the chief government , in new england ; it is 20 miles long , and 10 broad : and upon it are forty english families , with divers peaceable indians , that live by hunting and fishing . the soil is rocky , but affordeth some english grain , and virginia corn . they have no commerce , but with the indians of the mayn , for skins of bever , &c. and some little corn they send to boston . there is great plenty of fish on the coast , which they procure the indians to catch them at an easie rate . chap. 6. long island south west of martins vineyard , lieth long island . it is in length sixty english mlles , and fifteen in breadth . the north east end is seated by some english , which have been thrust from new england for their judgement . the most of them holding the christian tenent of confession before baptisme . at the south west end , there are some few dutch and english . this island is a fruitfull soil for english grain and milet , and of a good air . the seas about it are well stored with fish , and the woods , with deer and turkeys , and it hath many quiet indians , that live by hunting and fishing . the dutch plantation layeth claim to this island , so doth the south government of new england , but at present , the inhabitants live without duty to either . there are divers other islands on this coast , but not any seated , or considerable to a plantation . the principall on the coast of new england , are in the naraganset , and masytusis ▪ bayes , and neer the swedes plantation . some few in delaware bay . and smiths island at the north cape of virginia ; and from the cape charls , which is the south cape of the chesapeack bay in virginia , till you come to cape hatrask , are no islands . this cape is a point of an iland in 36 degrees , and from thence till you come to the point of st. helena , which is in 32 degrees , all the coast along are broken islands uninhabited , the best is within cape hatrask in the same height . it is called roanock , and is of 18 miles compasse to the south-ward of the mouth of the river occam in old virginia . it is bad coming to it by reason of the shelves of cape hatrask , which lyeth far out at sea , by which cape , he that will go to the said island must passe . chap. 7. the bermudas , or somers islands . this island lyeth distant from the main 200 leagues , in 33 degrees , and 20 minutes . it is 20 miles long , and something more then two miles in breadth . and temperate in relation to heat and cold , but violent in the blustring winds , which often haunteth their coasts , but a most wholsome place to live in , and wel replenished with our nation , that live there without want , for there is store of milet or virginia corn , and potatoes , divers sorts of fruits , as muskmelons , water-melons , figs , plants , papans , limons , oranges & limes : plenty of flesh , as turkeys , hens , pork and beef , and on the coast much fish . the commodity they yearly export , is some tobacco of the worst sort , beef , and pork . the spanish wracks that often happens on their coast , furnisheth them with pieces of eight . and the best sort have their negro slaves to work for them . this iland is almost surrounded with rocks and shelves , but on the south-side is an open road , and toward the east end a good harbour , but hard to hit , without an islander for pilot. when you first marke the island , it appears as a rock in the sea , going almost right up a a great way from the water , and it hath a delightfull aspect , but 't is little better then a rock , there being but two foot of mould on the greatest part of it , under which , there is a kind of hard substance , much like pumistone . ch●p . 8. of the islands of lucaos , or bahama . these islands are south-west from the barmuda's , and to the north of portorico , hispaniola and cuba , the most eminent is lucayoneque in 27 degrees . it hath almost to the west the island of bahama . from whence the channell of bahama between florida , and the sholdes de los mimbres taketh name . the current of this channell , seateth so hard to the north , that although winds be prosperous , the ships cannot enter it , and if it be crosse , they will go with the current . next to bahama , is a small isle surrounded with the shelves of bimny . there is like wise the island of abacoa , of 12 leagues long , another called yuma , of 20 leagues , and eight in breadth , in 24 degrees and a halfe . yuemeata is in 23 degrees and a half , 15 leagues in length , and north , from hispaniola , lieth samana , 7 leagues each way . and between yuemeata and guanema lieth yabaque of 10 leagues in 22 degrees and a half . the miara parvos are three smal islands that by triangle , and are compassed with shelves . south from yuemeata , is magaguana , of 20 leagues in length , and the halfe in breadth in 23 degrees , quaqua of 10 leagues in 20 degrees and a half . north from quaqua are the cacos , of five leagues , in 21 degrees . the island of mackre stands in 20 degrees , and is compassed with shelues . and in 20 degrees lieth the shelves of abreo , of 15 leagues long , but east from mackre . on these islands are no inhabitants , those that did live there were a harmless simple people , and therefore the easier taken and carried away by the spaniards that have made them so desolate , many of them seem of a good mould , and the latitude promiseth much fertility . the arie is certainly good and wholsome , and not so extream hot , as other parts of that height . there is scarcely any beast on them save a cony , that hath a taile like a rat , but pigeons and brids in great numbers ; most of them of greenish colour . there is the gumme benjamin of the best and worst sort , guacom , and sasaprila , and sasafras , and on some of them red wood and amber-greece . the english sea-men are little acquainted with these islands although they saile round them yearely . and since i petitioned for them , which was six years ago , and my absence hindred my prosecution : captain ▪ sail and others have obtained a patent , making thither on the coast of an island , which he called illutheria ; his ship was wrackt , but the people of the ship all saved , but recovered the shoare with few necessaries , i saw him after his escape from thence in a small boat of 3 tuns recovering virginia , where he procured a pinnace of near 25 tuns , with which he carried relief to those he left in the island . but i understand by a master of a bark , that went from new england , that on a division was among them , they were leaving the island . in my discourse with the said sail , i understod that none of his company knew the place they intended , or were ever there , when they undertook the voyage . the coasts of most of them are dangerous , and bad to make , and that ship that shall be neer , or amongst them must keep the lead always going , but with a wary pilot , and care in giving the islands a fair birth , they are easily recovered . the spaniards know this place well , and have a yearly trade thither for the aforesaid commodities , and amongst the islands are wracks of divers of their ships . chap. 9. of hispaniola . south of the lucayos lyeth the islands of barlevento , which are not onely the best of america , but almost beyond compare , were they as well furnished with people , as they are with necessaries to maintain them . they be in the hand of the spaniard , almost without people . for hispaniola , that is the chief , and in 18 , 19 , 20 degrees , and 150 leagues east and west , hath but one city , no town nor village , but what is inhabited by negro's , that are servants to the spaniards . here is a perpetuall summer , the winter being but the rain that falleth . this land is exceeding pleasant , and hath divers vallies , one being so great , as to reach from the one side of the island to other , that hath many golden rivers issuing into it , which vallies are always stocked with multitudes of wilde kine , goats , hogs , shag-hair'd sheep and horses , amongst which , as their deadly enemy , are many wild dogs , that are bred of such as have been lost a hunting , and run away from the spaniards : the woods have abundance of oranges , limons , limes , cotton-wool and plantens , and many green birds . the commodities the spaniards yearly export from thence is ginger , sugar , cotton-wool , cassia , fistula , sasaprila , and lignum vitae ; with tallow , and a hundred thousand hides , which are yearly gotten of those wild cattell , which are the largest of the world . there are divers rivers that afford gold , and some mines which are not now worked , great plenty of copper and other minerall . the city where the spaniards dwel , is called santo domingo , it standeth on the south side of the island neer the east end , on the west-side , the river osama in 19 degrees and a half , fairly built with stone , and walled about with a castle on the said river , between the town and the sea . here are resident the supream council of the islands , the officers of the goods and royall treasure , a mint-house , and the cathedrall , that hath for sufferance the bishoprick , of cuba portrico , fenescula , and the abbotship of jamecca . here are also monasteries of franciscans , dominicans , and mercenaries ; and two nunneries , a grammar-school , and an hospitall . the people in this city , live in great pleasure , enjoying , beside the foresaid plenty of flesh , many excellent fruits all the year long , as bonanoes , pine-apples ; custard-apples , plantens , papans , musk-melons , water-melons , and many other fruits and hearbs , store of turkeys , and poultrey . and their bread they make of the root yuca , called cascaby , but they have plenty of milet and potatoes . on the coasts , are first the point of nisao , ten leagues to the west of santo domingo ▪ and eighteen leagues , further is the port ocoa , which is a bay , where the fleets of nova hispania take refreshing , when they do not anchor in the nooke of sepesepin , which is neer unto it , or in another called the fair haven , two leagues before you come to ocoa . and 20 leagues beyond ocoa is the port of asua . and 30 leagues more westwardly there is a large point right against the island of bola , which lieth five leagues from the coast . the most westerly point , is called cape tibron . it hath an island three leagues from it west called caprio , and sailing along the coast you will see an island called camito , and further in the nooke of yaguana there is an island called guanabo , of eight leagues long . of the north side of the island the most westwardly cape and port is saint nicol , as from whence north-east and by east , lyeth the island of tortaga , neer the coast of hispaniola , it is of five leagues length , and governed by a frenchman . and further along the coast is montey cristey , the west cape of the port of nativedad , to the east of which there is a great bay called port real . this island is so full of harbours , as he that will coast it , cannot well misse of one where he pleaseth , most of which afford refreshing of fresh meat and good water . in many parts of this island , especially on the north side are english men always lying to kil cattle , for their hides onely , they live in tents , ten , and twenty in a company , and have shallops to attend them , to conveigh them away when they please , most commonly to turtagues ▪ which is their head quarter , for it is neer lying . chap. 10. of the island of cuba . this island lyeth west from hispaniola , and is 200 leagues long east and west , the broadest part not 45. what hispaniola affordeth is here in good plenty , but the land neither so pleasant nor wholsome . the gold of this island is not so good in his allay , as that of hispaniola , but copper is here in greater quantity . it hath two remarkable things , the one is a valley of 20 leagues , that within the earth hath stones as round as a bullet , and from hence the spaniards may furnish themselves with shot of all sizes . the other is a fountain of a kind of pitch which runneth continually . all the natives here , as well as at hispaniolia , are destroyed by the spaniards , but in both places they have store of negro servants : their delicatest fare in this island is patridges , which are in great abundance . over all the island , the spaniards breed them up tame , and esteem them the sweetest eatable flesh in the world . it hath two fair towns , the best , which is of greatest resort , is the town of havana , that lyeth on the north-coast in 22 degrees : it hath neer 900 housholds , there is resident in it the governour of cuba , a cathedrall with monasteries of dominicans , franciscans , and one of nuns . in this haven all the spanish ships of the indies , meet together , and return to spain : the town is rich but unfortified to the land , but the harbour is strongly secured by two castles , that lye a little within the mouth of it . this harbour is counted an exceeding good one for security of ships , but on the south-east part of the island , there is the harbour or port of saint james , which for greatnesse and goodnesse , is esteemed one of the best in the world . it lyeth 40 leagues from cape tibron , in hispaniola , in 20 degrees . it hath the city of saint . james standing on the side of it , two miles from the sea . this city is of 300 houses , but of small commerce . it hath a monastery of franciscan friars , and nothing else remarkable . to the west of it 25 leagues , lyeth the port of spirito sancto , and further west lyeth the queens gardens , which is a shelf of sholds and islands , and 20 leagues further the port of trinitie , in 21 degrees and 30 leagues still westwardly the cape of the crosse , and 10 further the gulfe of xaqua , between which and cape anthony , which is the westerliest point of cuba , there are many small islands and sholds along the coast . the north coast is a cold coast , and hath many good harbours , besides that of the havana , the next in account to it is saint jaquis , which is 8 leagues east from the said haven , and not farre distant from the island , called the kings gardens from this city of saint jaques , the bishop hath his title . chap. 11. jamico island . this island lyeth twenty leagues from cuba full south in 17 degrees and a half of latitude east and west it is fifty leagues , north and south , in the broadest place 20. it hath the fruits and cattle of hispaniola , but no mines of gold or copper . it is very plentifull of milet and swine , but more subject to turnados and hericanos then any of the other islands . here the inhabitants live in a plentifull manner , and have on the north side of the island , the city of sivil , fairly built , it hath a governour and an abbot , a monastery of franciscan friars , who have their cloyster nuns . the westwardliest cape of the island is called morauta , and from thence along the north coast 10 leagues distant lyeth the port of jauca . and ten leagues forward the port of melila , and ten leagues further standeth the port of sivil , from whence the coast windeth to cabo dilfalcon . west from jameco are the islands of curymanos . and of the south coast five leagues lyeth the hermingo's which are dangerous shelves . chap 12. the island of saint john de portrico . this island lyeth from the hispaniola 15 leagues . it is 45 leagues east and west , and north and south 23. it aboundeth in all hispaniola hath , and it is the first place the spaniards have in the indies . and the city of portrico , which standeth on the north east part of the island , is strongly fortified , and naturally well scituated for defence in 18 degrees of latitude : it hath a governour , a bishop , and his cathedrall , and officers of the kings treasures , with two monasteries of friars . and 30 leagues to the west of this town standeth the village of asricebo . and 33 leagues south-west from portrico , standeth the town of saint jerman , t is on the west-end of the island . the north coast is foul and shelvie , but east from portrico is the river of luysa and canoba . and the furthest west on the south coast is caprio , and west from it at sea 5 leagues lyeth the island of mona , a small island , and as far north to other little islands . and the natives here and at jameca , have been totally destroyed by the spaniards , so that at this day there is not one to be found . chap. 13. sancta crux , the virgins , virgin gorda , blances , anagada , sombrito . fast from portrico , lye the caribeys , which by the spaniards are called the wether islands : the natives are men-eaters , and a very warlike couragious people . the most westerly is sancta crux , it lyeth in 16 degrees and a half , and is sixteen leagues in length : it is in the hand of the english , but few live there . the plague that hath been so hot in these ilands , begun at this , as men report , although the other hath been since as sickly , i suppose it is the cause , it is no better seated , for undoubtedly this is the best iland , and the largest the english possesse in the indies , and neerest adjoyning to the spaniard , which might be made ( if it were well managed ) a great advantage : it is capable of the same fruits , roots and seeds hispaniola hath , and sugar-canes , and lyeth neer adjoyning to the virgins , which are a little iland compassed with shelves neer eight or ten more the greatest of ten leagues , with virgin , gorda , and the blancos , or white ilands . and west from virgin gorda , lieth anagada , which is seven leagues long in 18 degrees and a half , and compassed with shelves . and neer to it lyeth sombrito , another small ile . these are all inhabited with canibles , except sancta crux , whether sometimes they come a roving also . chap. 14. angula . angula is the next which hath ten leagues of length , and is in 18 degrees . it hath some few english on it with excellent salt-pits , and a good road for ships . chap. 15. saint martins . saint martins lyeth in 17 degrees , and a half , of fifteen leagues long , now possest by the dutch , being lately forsaken by the spaniards , that had a castle in it , garison'd by souldiers . it is compass'd with smal ilets , and hath good plenty of salt . chap. 16. eustas . it is commonly call'd stasies , and seated by flushingers of zealand , as the principal owners : it hath 10 leagues in length , and maketh good west india tobacco . chap. 17. saint bartholomew . this island is full of caniballs , and hath 10 leagues of length . chap. 18. saint christophers . saint christophers is of ten leagues in length , and seated by english and french , each having a governour of their own nation . there is a kind of equality in their strengths , for what the english want of the french number , they make good by their english spirits , which doe not degenerate with the climate . this island is so populous , that ground can hardly be obteined . the french and english are intermixed so together , that with much difficulty could either hinder a secret designe though there is constant gaurds upon each others borders . they make some sugar in this island , some indico , and cotton-wooll , but most tobacco . chap 19. nivis , or the snowes barbada and redouda . the english that seat it call it neavis . it is of five leagues in length , lying within a league of st. christophers . here is the best sugar of the caribey islands , some indico , but little cotton or tobacco . it is an aguish country and unwholsome , but by the good government that hath been amongst them , the people live the happiest of all the caribey islands . and in 17 degrees lyeth the barbada and redouda , each of five leagues , and in the hands of the canibals . chap. 20. monserat . monserat is seated by irish , of five leagues neere the redouda . the inhabitants plant most tobacco and some indico . chap. 21. antego , margelante , dominica , matinina santalusa , gardelupa , dodos sanctos , deseada . antego lyeth between 14 and 15 degrees . it hath a good air , and is planted by the english with tobacco , indico , cotton-wool , and sugar . it lyeth ueer unto gardelupia , and dodos sanctos on which there lives some french with the canibals , which are in great numbers on these two ilands . the deseada is six leagues to the gardelupia in 14 degrees and a half , seated by the canibals margalante , is five leagues from dominique , and seated by the canibals , with french amongst them . dominica lyeth in 13 degrees , and is 12 leagues in length . it hath good roads , and watring places , but in danger of the canibals , that are the lords of this iland , with whom the french live in peaceable manner . and neer dominica , is matinina and sancta lusia , which is 14 degres 20 minutes , and both possest by canibals . chap. 22. the burbudos . this iland is commonly called the barbados , but the ancient name is the burbudos to the seacors of the indies or carer a de las indies . it is a lee island as those of barbevento , & the caribes are to weather of the starbord bow . it lyeth in 13 degrees 30 minutes , and thoroughly inhabited with english , and negroes their servants . this iland flourisheth so much , that it hath more people and commerce then all the ilands of the indies : their principall commodity is sugar of the worst sort , indico and some cotton-wool and little tobacco . here are pieces of eight in greatest plenty of any english plantation in america . in so much that of late they buy and sell most small matters for ready money : it is strong in men , but no fortification yet perfected , and not easily brought under by a common way of war . there are store of oxen and kine in this plantation , as also swine which they keep up in pends , & horses , but by reason of the great number of inhabitants and occasion for beasts of draught and burthen , cattell is a good commodity , so is all kind of provision , and it yeildeth the best return . it hath divers fruits and poultrey : and as there is a greater trade here then in the rest of the islands , yet in regard the sellers are well matched by the buyers , i conceive it the worst plantation to goe to either to live or make a voyage and returne . for what is here , is as well in the rest of the islands , and much more conveniency to plant , for here they have too many people , and in them there is too few , and in most of them ground enough . chap. 23. trinidado . and more southwardly are the rest of these lee ilands , of which the greatest is the trinidado , in eight degrees of north latitude : it hath fifty leagues east and west , and almost 30 in breadth : the air is here very pestiferous , which makes that this is the unwholsomest iland in the whole indies , but many indians that being bred to it , live there without much sicknesse : it hath a colony of spaniards seated in a town called saint joseph , where is resident a governour , and about 200 spaniards with the help of the indians make much of that tobacco , which is sold in spain , for spanish tobacco , to the english , and others . the most orientall part of it is the point de la jaleria , from whence du north lyeth the small iland of tobago , compassed with ilets : in the south-side is the round point andrada , and on the west-side the gulf of paria , which lyeth between it and the firm land : to the north are saint vincents and granado , two little ilands . chap. 24. margreata , tortuga , gardiner , caracute , cubava , & tamasca . twenty leagues west from trinidado lieth margreata : it is 16 leagues east and west , and the half in breadth : it hath but little water , yet plentifull of pasture , and many cattle , with two spanish towns , which standeth neer the sea : it hath a fortresse to defend it , and a good harbour , which is before the town : in this fortresse , resides the governour , and treasure for the king of spains customes , of pearl , which is worth at the least fifty thousand pounds yearly . and two leagues from this town within the land is the other , whose inhabitants are most planters , but that on the sea is possest by merchants , & divers for pearls , which are in good plenty on this coast . and the ile cabagua , a league off at sea from whence every saturday at night , the pearl fishers return to margareta . to the east of cubagua , are losfralos , which is four little ilands close aboard the shore . and to the east are the witnesses , and west lyeth tortuga , and farther west lyeth the ile of gardiner : it is ten leagues long , and by it curaco : in which the dutch have a fort and some souldiers : neer unto which is another iland called curacute of 14 leagues in length . and north from curacute is the iland of aruba : in which two last mentioned , there are some peaceable indians , that speak spanish . from the trinidado along the coast , there are few ilands , save those that are at the mouth of the river amisons and oroinoque , which are low and flat , and on the violent risings of the rivers commonly overflown , which makes the inhabitants provide them lodgings in the trees , which are there very great : these indians have their ganoes to attend them , by which they passe not only to their neighbours , but fish , and go to the land at pleasure . furthermore on the land of brazil , there are some small ilands , the most remarkable is the tamerica : it is inhabited by the portugals , it hath a fair town on the south-side ; and a harbour , with store of red wood . chap. 25. of the north-west passage , and the lands called nova britania , or nova framuncia . that which is most remarkable in this north part of america , is the straight of the north-west passage , which is generally talked of , and indeed is nothing but a narrow difficult passage to buttons bay , the entrance being properly called hudsons straight , in regard of his first finding it : the mouth of this straight lyeth in 62 degrees , and because of the impossibility of this mathematicall story , i shall say , there is certainly no such straight , as this which they call anian , or the north-west passage : it hath been so thorowly searched into by our nation that can give no incouragemēt to a farther trial , save that story men tel of a manuscript in portugall , shewed to one of our merchants of the passage that way , of a portugall ship of the phillipinas droven from thence by foule weather , through this straight to portugall , but to men that know the distance between that streight , and those ilands , it would seem the most ridiculous story in the world , beside the falsity of the informers : the greeks relation being a far better story , for he saith in regard he was taken by squire candis in the south-sea , and lost all he had , to procure some relief in his old age , he would advise the english a speedier way to the east-indies then they now took . and this intelligence he giveth after he is retired to his native country , to repose from his troublesome way of adventuring to sea . from whence we may easily guesse , for the bad turn our nation did him , he would not wish us a good one , but the scope of his intelligence being but to have a bill of exchange to receive money , as he pretended to come into england . but how likely it was , that he would leave those rich parts of america , which he lived in with the spaniards to retire to his own nation , and from thence to undertake a voyage for us to the worst place in the world , a rationall man cannot apprehend . but were there such a passage , it would much more concern the portugals , and the spaniards , then it doth the english , for their trade is to the north part of the east indies , and ours to the south : theirs to the moluccos , philipinaes , japan , and china , whereas we seldome passe beyond bantam in java , but were there a passage that way , yet it were not to be chosen before the other , for could a man sail in a strait line : first , from england to the straight , and then from the straight to the east indies , it would prove a farther way than the other by the cape of bonaspei . but those that know any thing of those seas , know that the sea course to any part of north america is as low as 23 , 24 , 25 , or 30 the highest . for the wind which bloweth in the south sea east and west , as well as in the north , that is to say , for the most part west without the tropicks , and almost constantly . east within them . wherefore you must go out of your way aswell from the north part of america , to the east-indies , as from england to this supposed straight : and there is as much difference in relation to pleasantnesse in voyages , as between summer and winter . for when you are clean of the bay of biscai in all the voyage , by the cape you find no cold weather till you return to the same place again , but to the contrary , is so cold & icy about the straight in the middle of summer , that there is no making way without much difficulty and trouble . and in the south sea , where the sun keeps the same course as in the north in june , sir francis drake in compassing the world found so much cold in thirty eight degrees north latitude , that he was forced into a southerly course . and this makes a strong probability that there is no sea to the north of america , but that the land of this new world reacheth by the north parts ; even to the northwardly provinces of the empire of japan , or tartaria . for i finde that the winds that blow west and north-west in england being sea-winds are not so cold , as those that come east and north-east , which are land-winds . which i apprehend the onely cause of difference in the temperature of the air with us , and the north parts of america . for new england that lyeth in 41 & 42 is much colder in the winter then the most northwardly parts of england , which are in 56. and those parts of america , that are in that height are cold , almost the whole year through , as the undertakers in the north passage plainly prove , and this is caused certainly by the land-wind , which that heigh for the most part bloweth west , and northwardly , which is so much more colder , in regard it cometh from those vast regions that are far thicker and untill'd , & uninhabited with wood swamps , and such moist crudities , as are not in europe . on the land of the north-side hudsons straight , there hath been seen some of the wild natives , but how they live is a kind of miracle . and from the south of this strait , till you come to new england is but one plantation , which is at the fort of kebeck , on the north-west side the river canada , 100 leagues from the island antecostey , that lieth at the mouth of the said river . the french drive a great trade with the natives for bever-skins in exchange of hatchets , knives , penny looking-glasses , bels , beads , and such toys . there are good store of the natives in these parts all alongst the coast , and are willing to exchange such commodities as they have , for such truck as the french bring them , although it is to be done with much care to prevent their treachery . chap. 26. new england . the plantations of the north government of new england , beginneth about 44 degrees , and the coast is indifferently seated with english , almost as southwardly as 41. this countrey at first was laid out in severall proportions to divers noblemen and gentlemen of england , each having within his circuit ▪ a severall power . but at this day , it hath but three divisions onely , that is to say : the north and his bounds , the middle and the south ; the north government is the worst , and hath fewest people : the middle government is that of boston , which is the best , and hath most inhabitants . the south is the government of new plimouth , in which is the best ground : the north government hath scarce a town worthy the name of a village ; but the middle hath many towns and villages . the principall is boston fairly built , the great street is neer half a mile long , full of wel-furnished shops of merchandize of all sorts . here is resident a councill , and the governour , which is yearly chosen from amongst them : this town hath a good port , called the bay of bòston , with many ships , which is secured with a castle , guarded with souldiers and ordnance . neer boston lyeth charles town , and five miles into the countrey is the town of cambridge , that hath a university with many students . the south government is that of new plimouth , that hath the name from the town , which is an indifferent market town . the land of all this region is generally barren and rocky , but the care of the inhabitants supplyeth the naturall defects of the country , from the proceed of the commodities it affordeth , which is pipe sraves , clabbord , fish , english grain , and fruits , with the building of ships , which they often sell to other parts , and iron works ; with these they drive a trade to most parts of europe , especially to spain ; the canary and caribey islands : it is a wholsome air , and the english people are well-colour'd , and have many children which thrive well in that countrey . they punish sin as severely as the jeivs did in old time , but not with so good a warrant . and they have brought the indians into great awe , but not to any gospell knowledge . chap. 27. new holland . to the southwest of new england , lyeth the dutch plantation . it hath good ground , and good ayr , but few of that nation inhabiting there , which maketh that there is few plantations in the land , and but one village , whose inhabitants are part english , and part dutch . here is resident the the governour appointed by the west india company . this village lyeth on hudsons river in 40 and a half , three miles within the mouth of the river , and almost joyning to a fort that hath guns , but they are unmounted . there is the fort of orange , 30 miles up the said river , and there is a mill to saw boards for the colony : they have here indifferent plenty of english and indian corn , but the best profit is the trade with the natives for bever , and other skins . those that trade here pay 16 in the hundred custome to the west-india company of holland . these dutch are mischievous neighbours , for with their indian trade they supply the natives with guns and ammunition , which in time may prove their own confusion , and doth already prejudice their neighbours . chap. 28. the swedes plantation . the swedes are seated between the dutch and virginia , in a village by a fort which lyeth eight miles within delaware river . on the north side the said river , they are few in number , and their principall businesse is their commerce with the indians , for they have little or no cattle . they furnish the indians with guns and weapons as the dutch do , and once in a year have commonly a supply and relief from swethland , by a ship that fetcheth their skins and other truck . chap. 29. virginia . virginia is to the southward of the swedes , and the north cape of the great bay that leadeth to virginia , and maryland lyeth distant from the swedes fort neer 130 english miles : this bay is 240 miles up navigable for the biggest ships , it lyeth almost north and south , and it receiveth divers rivers , which issueth into it from the west and east ; those on the west-side are both the biggest and most : those on the east-side are not many nor great . this coast is also a flat coast as is new holland , and the swedes . the english are seated on the east-side the bay , from the said point called cape charles , and by the creeks and bay-side 30 miles up the bay . without the said cape are certain islands called smith's islands , which are broken low grounds , unfit for habitation . on the west-side the bay , within cape henry 8 miles lieth the water , call'd lin-haven , which issueth there into the bay : it hath divers branches , on which there are plantations even to the head of most of them . and between the said haven , and james river , which is distant 12 miles is two small creeks that are indifferently seated , but on the side of the great bay , there is no plantation between the cape and james river , which is distant from it 20 miles : this river floweth more then 120 miles , and almost so far navigable for good ships . it is shelvie and dangerous without a good pilot : it receiveth divers rivers and creeks on the east-side : the most eminent is the elizabeth river , which issueth into the great river within eight miles of the sandy point , that is the first point of the south-side the great river , and over against point comfort island , by which you must keep close aboard , by reason the river is there onely to be entred , four miles higher then elizabeth river , is nawcimond river , which two are the principall ; and on the west-side the most eminent , and best is chickhomoney , whose mouth is 10 miles beyond james town : this main river , as also the rivers and creeks that run into it , are seated by the water-side , onely by reason of the conveniency of carriage . and between point comfort , and york , there is a small river , called the pecoson river , which is seated , and then a little further york river , which is a fair river , and navigable 20 miles for ships . this river is seated neer fifty miles up , but on the east-side better than on the west . and the other rivers which run into the bay between this and maryland , are payankatank and to pahanoc , and the great river of patowmek are unseated with any but the natives . here is good plenty of millet , but not much english grain . for which this region is not so naturall as new england or new holland , for the crops within a year or two will degenerate . their onely commodity is tobacco , which i think to be more naturall to the countrey then any other thing . the best sort is the sweet sented , which is not inferiour to the spanish : cattle are of the same price here as in england and new england , and by reason there are no markets , and little money to buy them , fresh meat is very scarcely eaten . the virginia proverb is , that hogs and women thrive well amongst them . but the later ( i think ) are indifferently subject to the fate of those men that go there which is much sicknesse or death . for the air is exceeding unwholsome , insomuch as one of three scarcely liveth the first year at this time ; though formerly they report , the mortality hath stretcht to the taking away of eleven of twelve . the reason of this is not the latitude , for that is 37 degrees , and a half . in which lyeth many excellent wholsome countreys , but i conceive it to be the changeablenesse of the weather , which is mighty extream in heat and cold , and as various as the wind both winter and summer . the next cause is the swamps , standing-waters and marishes , and mighty store of rivers , and low lying of the land . there is two other pernicious companions that haunt the english inhabitants , the one is the disease , called the country duties , which they originally caught of the indians , and the cure is the same they use in england for the french pox , it being almost alike . the other is the rattle-snake , so called , for the rattle in her taile , whose bitings are present death . and this vermine in the summer is so stirring that they are in the fields , woods , and commonly in their houses , to their great anoyance , yet this mortality doth rather harden the peoples hearts , then bring them to god , for i think they are the farthest from conscience and morall honesty , of any such number together in the world . and for want of administration of justice , there are many have left the place , and are gone to maryland , which lyeth up the bay . the virginia bread is commonly of millet , called poane . and if the servants have enough of that , their complaint wil procure no remedy . the rivers and creeks afford much fish in summer , and furze in the woods , good store of deer and turkeys in winter , and fowl by the water-side in divers places , and yet is provision so scarce that they are all the year furnished with fish and pease , and bisket from new england . the great resort of shipping is in winter , for then is the tobacco struck into cask , and fit for sale . this countrey is for the most part plain , with few hils , and were it not so woody , probably not altogether so unwholsome . it is without any minerall , save iron , stone , which is in great plenty . in divers parts of the countrey , the natives are under contribution of the governour , and pay him great tributes of skins , and he them with good priviledges over the english , which in time may prove a third massacre . chap. 30. maryland . this province is divided from virginia by the great river patomuk . it lying on the north-side the said river , and west-side of the great virginia bay . it is more wholsome then the parts of virginia now seated , and better for english grain . the english inhabitants are few , and those of different religions ; for some amongst them are papists , but most protestants . there hath always been toleration in religion , and is at this present . the natives of this place have never been treacherous to the english , but doth them good service in their grounds , cattle , and hogs . many of their children being bred up amongst them : they live here in greater plenty than at virginia , as having more range of the woods , and fewer neighbours with indian woodsmen to kill them meat . those that are come from virginia , are seated on the river bolus , the next to the river patomuk up the bay , and by such as are drawing thither from new england , and daily go from virginia , it is likely to be a flourishing countrey . chap. 31. old virginia . south frō this uirginia , lieth the province , known by the name of old uirginia , it is remarkable for cape hatrask , that lyeth in neer 36 degrees . from which cape far out at sea is flat shelvy ground . the cape is a point of a broken island , and hath between it and the main roanock island to the south of the river ockam , which there issueth into the sea . this river is deep within and broad , but so shallow at the mouth , that a pinnace can hardly enter it at high water , otherwise it were convenient for a plantation . for it is farre beyond uirginia in all respects , or any land we possesse in the main . the indians of this river pay contribution to the governour of uirginia . and along this coast till you come to florida , is no plantation , nor inhabitants but the natives . chap. 32. florida . this province begins in 34 degrees , and hath on the eastcoast before you come to the cape of florida , two forts , in which are spanish garrisons . the first and most northerly is the fort of saint mark , within the point of saint helena , in 32 degrees and a half distant from the havena incuba 100 leagues . the other is called saint augustine , which is the principall , because the haven is good , and neer the channell of bahama , in 29 degrees 40 minutes . the point of canes in 28 which hath to the south the river ages , and at the cape of florida , are many little islands called the martors , and these islands reach from the said cape within a league , and a half of cuba . the head of the martors to the east hath an island of 14 leagues but very narrow . the out-most eastern point lyeth in 24 degrees and a half , and from the cape of florida to the government of pancuco along the coast of the sea , is 300 leagues , which seas are called the gulf of new spain . in all this coast there is no town nor plantation , and few indians , by reason the spaniards have taken them away to other parts . there hath not been worked mines either of gold or silver in this florida . neither have the spaniard any commodity from them save indians . this gulf of new spain , or mexico hath two entrances ; the one is between youcatan and cuba , where the stream commeth fiercely in , the other is between cuba , and the cape of florida , where it runneth more violently out . chap 33. of new spain . besides this province of florida , the king of spain in this northern america , hath three great kingdomes . the first and principall is the kingdom of new spain , the second is the kingdome of galisia , the third the kingdom of gutemalia , and the province of varagua , that adjoyneth to the straight of dearian , and is properly of the councill of panama . the kingdom of spain hath in it a viceroy and councill , intituled the viceroy of mexico . and within his government the province and bishoprick of mexico , that of tlascala , guaxaca , mechoan , chiapa , yucatan , and panuco . the indirns of this kingdome are of two sorts ; the chickamecans , which are a sort of rogues , that live much after the manner of toreges , or ancient irish , by robbing and spoiling passengers on the way : towns and villages . and the other live even as decently as the spaniard , and are of all trades and vocations , as they are , of sharp wits , and of great agility of body , as appeareth by their extraordinary feats of activity on the rope , and tumblings . this kingdome is a high countrey , for the most part of it , and for riches , pleasantnesse , and wholsomnesse , accounted one of the best in the world , as lacking nothing naturally that is to be had , excepting wine and oil , which they might also have , but that it is forbidden , to plant vineyards , or olive yards by the king of spain , and it hath divers things not elswhere to be had both of trees , herbs and drugs . chap 34. the councill of new galisia . this kingdome of new galisia , hath no viceroy , but is governed by a councill , whose bounds is parted from new spain at the port of nativity on the south sea , to the north , north-west , and north-east . it hath no bounds , but may inlarge their territories , as they see occasion on the indians . it hath already these provinces . the first guadalaiaca , xalisco , sacaticas , chiamerla , culiacan , new biscai , and sivaloa . and this kingdome is not much inferiour to new spain , and it hath the same sorts of indians . chap. 35. gutamalia kingdome . this kingdome of gutamalia is governed as the other by a council , without a viceroy , and is the southwardliest region of this north america , and hath within its bounds the provinces of gutamalia , from whence the kingdome taketh name . soconusco , chiapa , suchitepeque , verapas , honduaras , and cacos . saint saviour , and saint michael , nievaraqua , chuluteca , taquesgalpa , and costarica , or the rich coast . the indians in these provinces are more warlike than the rest , and have more unwillingly submitted to the spanish yoake , and therefore they have had almost continuall wars , the most of the indians living till very lately after the manner of the chickamecians ; though many of them are docible as the indians of mexico . this is a rich wholsome kingdome , not inferiour to galisia , but rather exceeds it . but when i come to each perticular province , i shall name them as they adjoyn on the coast of the sea . chap. 36. of panuco . this province is neer adjoyning to florida , and parted from it by the river of palms , which lyeth in 28 degrees of north latitude . that part of it that lyeth next to mexico , is the best , and hath the greatest plenty of victuals , with som gold : the other side , which is next florida , is poor and barren . this province hath three spanish towns : panuco , in something more then 23 degrees . it is distant from mexico 65 leagues , neere a river , whose entrance is a haven : it is governed by a chief justice , provided by the viceroy of new spain . the village of saint james , of the valea , 20 leagnes to the west of panuco . the village of saint lucas , 8 leagues from panuco , to the north-east , neer to the sea . there is no river nor haven in this coast but panuco , and palmes which are not very good , and not many indians . chap. 37. the province of talascalia , or angels . the next to panuco , on the coast of the north sea lyeth this province of talascalia or losanels ; with in its government are four spanish cities . the best is losangels , seated by a river that runneth into the south sea . it standeth off the side of a long plain east from mexico 22 leagues , and containeth neer 3000 housholds , in four streets , governed by a chief justice , and in it are resident the cathedrall , with monasteries of dominick , augustine , franciscan , lamersed , and carmelite friars , with one of nuns , and a colledge of more than five hundred indian children to be instructed in the spanish religion and language . and north of the angels is the city of talascalia , in more than 20 degrees of height with two thousand five hundred houses , in which is a fair cloyster of franciscan friars . in the province of losangles , the city of guaxaca , is the third , in which are three monasteries of friars , and two of nuns all very rich . this town is pleasant and of a wholsome aire , and not far from the river of alurado , the city of vera crux is an english mile from the sea , five leagues from the port of saint john delua ▪ of four hundred spanish housholds , besides indians . in it resides the kings treasurer for the customes . this province hath abundance of flax , wheat , sugar and ginger , diversity of hearbs , and fruits , abundance of cattle , hogs and horses , many silver mines , 200 chief indian towns , and at least 40 monasteries of friars . the harbours and ports are on the north sea , the best of which is saint john de lua , which is made by a small island , whose bank is kept up by a wall , in which are iron and brasse rings , where by cables they more fast their ships . this island hath on it a castle , which commandeth the harbour , that is entred by two channels ; the one to the north is the slat , the other is called the galisian channell . here the ships bound for nova hispania , and mexico unlade , and to the north of this port on the coast of this province is the river sempoalia , and upward the river of casons , and neer the government of panuco , fuspea , and tamagua , and to the south of the said saint john delva , is first the river of almerica , and further south , the river of alvarado . chap. 38. youcatan province . the north part of this province adjoyneth to the south of talascalia . it is a pen-insula , and in compasse 150 leagues . the temperature is hot and moist , it hath no river , but is full of good willows . it is a woody country , nor will it bear english grain , neither hath it gold or other minerall . but it hath many inhabitants , that are of the civillest sort of indians , in new spain , and great plenty of millet , swine , all sorts of cattle , horses , and much poultrey , much cotton , bombast , and ashurs . the inhabitants are healthy , and live to great age . there are four spanish towns , the city of meridia , in the midst of the province in 20 degrees . in it are resident the governour , the officers of the revenue , and royall treasure , and cathedral suffragan to mexico , with one monastery of franciscan friars . the village of valiodalid is 31 leagues from meridia to the south ; and neer the coast of the hondur as is salimanca , a fair town . and on the north coast the village of saint franciscus of campeach , in 20 degrees , fifty leagues from meridia . it is a reasonable good haven , but of little depth , on the coast of this province are many rocks , flats and isles , that there is scarcely any sayling within foure leagues of the shore , on which there is the greatest flouds and ebs of any part of new spain . chap. 39. the province of honduras . this province of the honduras adjoyneth unto the south part of yucatan , his coast stretcheth along the north sea as far as nicurayna , which is neer 150 leagues . it is a hilly countrey , plentifull of all sorts of cattle , and store of wheat , and mines of gold and silver : it hath six spanish towns and many peaceable indians . the city of valiodalid , standeth in 16 degrees , 40 leagues from the north sea . here is resident the governour , a cathedrall and a monastery of lamersed . the city of adios , is 30 leagues from valiodalid , to the west the village of saint petro , is 11 leagues from the port of cavalos , where the officers royall are resident , because the port of cavalos is sickly , to which the ships come . this port of cavalos , is in 15 degrees on the north sea , there are few in it besides blackamores , and some factors , by reason of the unwholsomnesse of the place . the city of truxcillio , is 64 leagues from the cavalos , to the north-east a league from the north sea . the village of saint george is populous of indians , and rich in gold . the septentrionall point of this coast is the cape of eburus , in 16 degrees east , off which 20 leagues lyeth the river of pitch , and a little further riobaxco , and beyond it the river of balahama , and in 14 degrees and a half lyeth the river salt , and after that the cape of the three points , and from north the island of utilia , and to the north-east hellen and lyvanai , and in 14 degrees the cape of thanks be to god . and north from thence the three islands called , take away sleep . chap. 40. of the province of nicaragua . nicaragua lyeth next to the south-side of honduras : it is aplentifull countrey of coco , cotton-wool , millet , cattle , and much gold . it hath five spanish towns , & abundance of peaceable indians , which are most expert in the spanish tongue . the first and principall town is saint james , 12 leagues from the south sea , at the head of the lake , nicaragua , where the governour is resident , the royall officers and cathedrall , with five monasteries of lamersed , and many peaceable indians . the city of granado , standeth on the borders of this great lake , neer which is a famous volcan , that burns perpetually ; casting forth fire and smoak . a friar imagined there was much gold in it , because it never consumed the land about it , wherefore he caused a caldron to be fastned to a huge chain , and let it into the furnace . but the violence of the fire soon consumed it , and with all the friars hopes . this great lake of nicaragua , is full of islands , and by a kind of river hath an issue into the north sea , which river or passage it navigable for great vessels . and the head of this lake is within five leagues of the south sea , and good ground to be cut , by which it were easie ( if the spaniard so pleased ) to have passage from the south seas to the north sea . at the head of the said lake , the village of nalio , standeth in 11 degrees and a half on the south coast , and is the best port on that coast . on the north seas ( for this province reacheth from the north to the south seas ) is first the river of gare , that divideth nicvaragua , from honduras , south of it the river wipre , next the port of saint john , which is the voiding river , that comes from the great lake , that hath a great island lying in the mouth of it . in the south sea it hath the nalio , the port of saint james , and the port of paria , and nicoya , and on the coast the island of chroa , saint mary , and saint mark . chap. 41. the province of castorica . this province lyeth between nickuragua , and caragua , between which it hath 90 leagues in length . it is a good land and very fruitfull in millet , wheat , flax , and sugar , plenty of mines both of gold and silver , and it hath two spanish towns : the first and best is curtago , the other mendoco . it hath two ports , one on the south sea , the other on the north . chap. 42. the province of varagua . this province lyeth between costarica , and panama , adjoyning on the south part to the strait of dariana . the northerliest is in 11 degrees , it hath east and west 50 leagues , and in breadth 25 , and is washed as costarica , with the north and south seas . it is a mountainous countrey full of bushes , without pasture or cattle , wheat or barley , but it hath some miller , but full of rich mines of gold . the indians are few , and they be in continuall wars with the spaniards . it hath the city of conception 40 leagues from nombred ' dios , where the governour and officers are resident . the village of trinity , six leagues to the east of the conception , neer the river of bethelem , and three leagues from the north sea , the city of santey fei , standeth 12 leagues from the conception , to the south . in it are melting-houses , and deputy officers . the city of charles neer the coast of the south sea , 50 leagues from santey fei . at the end of this varagua beginneth the southern america . and therefore i shall return back to the other parts of this north america , which is not yet discovered . chap. 43. of the province of ciblioa . this province of ciblioa is the most northerly province that the spaniards possesse in america . it hath but one spanish town , but many well built cities of indians . the spanish town is called saint john of ciblioa . it hath a strong garrison of spaniards and mexican indians . the fairest indian town is quibra , that hath also a spanish garrison . this town is in 40 degrees , and distant from cibiloa 200 leagues , from whence it lieth due north . this region is apt for english grain , and produceth all sorts of our hearbs and fruits . here are store of all sorts of our cattle , and the oxe of the countrey , which hath a bunch of flesh on his back of the bignesse of a mans head , and his hair is shaggy and long , his horns smaller than our kines horns , but his body much bigger : this is an inland province , and lyeth from the sea many leagues . chap. 44. new biskay . this province lyeth on the south-west of cibola : it hath store of provision and cattle , and divers mines of silver . it hath two fair spanish towns , that is to say , sancta barbola , and the baro of saint john , with divers peaceable indians . it is an inland province , but of much commerce , by reason of the silver-mines . chap. 45. chiamerla . this province lyeth in more then two and twenty degrees of height . it is ten leagues broad , and something more in length : it lyeth along the south sea , but hath no ports of name . it hath a town of spaniards , call'd saint sebastian . it hath many rich silver mines , and sufficient of cattle , and all sorts of grain and fruits . chap. 46. culiacan . this province is the most northerly province the spaniards possesse on the coast of the south sea . it is west of chiametla : there are much cattle , seeds and fruits of england ; it hath two spanish towns : one is called the virgins , by which there are some silver mines ; the other the village of saint michael ; this is a small province , and hath no eminent port on the sea . chap. 47. sacetas . sacetas lyeth south-east from biscai . it is very wholsome in some parts of it , and as sickly and unwholsome in other parts , which causes that in some places there is much want , and in other places as much plenty . but to amend all defects , there are in most places rich silver mines . it hath three spanish towns , the best is erena , the second nombre d' dios , and the worst durangi : the chickmeacan indians do much annoy these parts , but there are great numbers of civill indians that live in peaceable manner . chap. 48. xalisco . this province hath the city of compostella , neer the south sea in 21 degrees , nineteen minutes : there is the village of the purification south-west from gudeleria , 30 leagues : this land is hot and sickly , but hath mines of gold and silver , good store of provisions , and excellent horses , that are well bred for any service . chap. 49. guadalaiara . guadalaiara is the best of all the provinces of the kingdome of new galisia , and the most southerly : it hath all sorts of grain , hearbs and fruits of new spain , and plenty of kine , horses , and swine ; it is a wholsome good air , and hath many silver mines : the chief city and head of the kingdome is guadalaira in 20 degrees . heere resideth the councell , the officers of the goods and royall treasure , a cathedrall , two monasteries of friars , and one of nuns . and 30 leagues from guadalaira , is the village of saint mary , and another called the holy ghost : this province is much troubled with the chickemecan indians , but hath many well governed civill indians that live orderly , and very richly . chap. 50. mechocan . this province lyeth between the province of mexico , and the kingdome of the new galisia , it hath in breadth by the coast of the south sea 80 leagues , and 60 within land . here are many good mines , and it is a fruitfull land , and hath much wheat , millet , coco , all sorts of spanish fruits , cotton-wool , the rich drug of cocheneel , store of cattle and fish , and the indians are industrious , and given to labour : the chief city is mechoacan : it stands in 18 degrees 15 minutes and 47 leagues from mexico . the city of pascurio , standeth seven leagues to the east of mechoacan : it hath the cathedrall , and two monasteries of augustine and franciscan friars . and 35 leagues from pascurio north-east is the village of saint michael , in a rough country . the next is the village of salya , then the village of saint phillip . the village of sackatula , is 40 leagues south west from mechoacan , neer the south sea in 18 degrees , 90 leagues from mexico . and the village of colina in 18 degrees 20 minutes . on the coast of the south sea neer the confines of galisia the port of natividad , is in 19 degrees , and from this port they make their navigation to the philipin ' as in east-india . besides these towns rehearsed , which are possest by spaniards , there are 94 head-towns for indians , with schools of doctrine for indian children , and 130 ordinary towns . chap. 51. of the province of mexico . this province falleth between mechoacan and talascalia , it hath in length north and south 130 leaugues , and in breadth 18. the chief city and head of new spain is seated in this province called mexico . it is an inland city lying in 19 degrees and a half , in the midst of two great lakes , that compasse it about , the one is salt , the other fresh : the fresh voydeth into the salt , each of five leagues in breadth , and eight in length , and both are in compasse 33 leagues . there are three causways by which they go into the city , the shortest of half a league long , the longest a league and half , the other a league : it hath neer 70 thousand houses , the most of spaniards built with brick fair and high . and here resideth the viceroy of new spain and councill , the inquisition office and judges , the officers of the revenues , and royall treasure , a founding house and a mint house , with the archiepiscopall , metropolitan , and monasteries of franciscan , dominican , and austin friars , the company of jesus el carmen lamersed , the bare foot and trinity friars , 10 monasteries of nuns , one colledg of indian children , and the retired from the world , and repenting whores , a university , and divers hospitals . in this province are reckoned to be six ▪ hundred thousand tributary indians , one hundred and fifty monasteries , with multitude of schools to teach indians children , and many gold and silver mines , infinite plenty of all sorts of cattle , and sheep , grain , hearbs and fruits , and what else is necessary for the delight of man in an abundant manner , with the rich cocheneel . the coast of this province reacheth to the south sea , on which there is an excellent port called aquepulco , in 17 degrees , six leagues from the river lopes , and eight leagues more west is the sitalia , and four leagues further the river metla . chap. 52. guaxcaca . guaxcaca province , commeth to the coast of the south sea , and it lyeth between mexico and gutamalia province along the coast of the south sea one hundred leagues : it hath 5 spanish towns , the chief of which is antiquera ; in it are resident the governour of the province , a cathedrall , many monasteries of friars . it is distant from mexico eight leagues , from whence it lyeth south west . the next to it is sapolecai , the third saint jago de nexapa , the fourth the village of the holy ghost : this province hath store of gold , and silver mines , and one of chrystal , boreal , much coco , cotton-wool , wheat , and millet , and cocheneel , plenty of all sorts of cattle and swine , and not one river in the countrey but yieldeth gold . there are 350 head-towns of indians , and 120 monasteries of friars , and many of nuns , and schools of indian children to be instructed in the spanish language , and popery , and three hundred thousand tributary indians . in this province is the valley from whence ferdinando cortez the first conqueror had his title of marquesse of the valley . the ports on the south sea are the haven of guatulaco , in 15 degrees and a half : it is great , good , and much frequented . the port of tecoantepequa , neer the other , which is but reasonable good , but it hath a great town , standing on it , from whence they make great fishings , especially for shrimps , with which they trade the inland countreys . chap. 53. soconusco . this is the westerliest province of the kingdom of gutamalia , it joyneth to the province of guaxcaca , from whence it lyeth on the south sea east , south east 34 leagues and far into the land . it is plentiful of wheat , coco , millet , and cattle . it hath but one spanish town , which is called guearettan , where the governour is resident . and in her coast are the rivers coatan , in her west border , east of which is gapernacalte , and east south-east colata . chap. 54. gutamalia . the province of guattamall , is the head of the kingdome of gutamalia , it joyneth to the province of soconusco , and on the south sea , it stretcheth 70 leagues , the countrey is of a good temperature , and plentifull of cotton-wool , wheat , millet and cattell , and other seeds and fruits , the winds and rains in october are very furious . it hath five spanish towns besides many iudian towns and villages . the head city is saint james of gutamalia , in which the councill is resident . it lyeth in 24 degrees and a half , and of above a thousand spanish housholds , and here are the kings officers of the goods and royall treasure , a melting house and a cathedrall , which is suffragan unto mexco , a monastery of dominicans , franciscans , mercenarians , augustines , jesuits , and two of nuns , with an hospitall or colledg . this city is furnished with all sorts of provisions , and dainties , and standeth exceeding pleasantly on the side of a large plain , neer a burning mountain . and 40 leagues from saint james is the city of saint saviour the village of trinity , sixty and four leagues from the port of axavatla . it is a chief commissioner-ship , with the title of his majestie in a plentifull soil . it is a place of great traffick . and the port atouch , for the ships of peru and new spain . and 62 leagues from saint james is the village of saint michael , the haven of this town is called the bay sonseca , which is distant from the town two leagues . this province hath abundance of gold , some silver , store of balm , and liquid amber , copal , suchicopal excellent liquours , and the gumme animi , with beasts that breed the bezar stone . but the volcans here are very noysome to those that lie neer them , for they often burst forth casting out fire-stones and ashes . and here are more of those volcans or fire-pits than in all india besides . chap 54. chiapa . this province is an inland province , it is mediterranean to soconusco , mexico , tabasco , and verapas , and in length 40 leagues , and something lesse in breadth . it hath store of wheat , millet , and other grain and seeds , much cattle , but few sheep . it hath but one town of spaniards , which is called the city royall , 70 leagues from saint james of gutermalia , to the north east , which is governed by an ordinary justice , and in it is resident , the cathedrall : two monasteries of dominicke friars , and one of nuns . there are many indian towns in her climates , and the natives are excellent planters , and musitians . this city royall is in 18 degrees and a half , built round and of a marvellous scituation , sixty leagues from the north sea , and as far from the south . chap. 55. verapas . this also is an in-land province of gutemalia , and is mediterranean to chiapa , youcatan , honduras , and gutamalia of 30 leagues over , it is a moist countrey , and hath plenty of millet and wheat , cotton-wool , coco , and much of that sort of fowls , whose feathers make the rare coloured indian pictures , and this is a great merchandize amongst them . the spaniards have onely one small town , with a monastery of friars , and one school to instruct the indian children . the governour is a chief justice : between this province and the south america , is the provinces of costarica , honduras , varagua , and mearagua , which joyneth to gutemalia , on the coast of the south-sea . and thus have you the northern america . here a map . chap. 56 , of panama . panama hath a council that hath for jurisdiction , no more than the province of panama , & the election of the governour of varagua , in regard they are appointed principals of the navigation for the dispatch of peru , & ordering the king of spains treasure , which is yearly transported to porto belio , over the strait of darion , and from thence to spain . it adjoyneth on carthagena , and popian , to the south east and south-west . the chief city is panama , seated on the south sea in 9 degrees north latitude , consisting of 700 housholds : the most part of the inhabitants are merchants . here is also resident the councill , and officers of the royall treasure , monasteries of dominican , franciscan , and lamersed , and augustine friars ; with two of nuns , and a cathedrall . the haven is indifferent good , but the ships come not within a league of the town , the biggest ships not further than perua , three leagues of the town , at which place they lie dry at low water . the air at panama is extream unwholsome , and the place very sickly , but it is mended and made durable , for the profit is brought in by the vast summes yearly brought there to carry to spain , of which the inhabitants get part . the village of nata , lyeth on the south sea west from panama , 30 leagues , it hath a reasonable port . on the north sea , there is the town of nombred ' dios , it hath a good port , but the place is so unwholsome , that the trade of merchandize is removed from thence to the city of saint philip , the harbour is called the port obelo , in which the spanish ships , do unlade those merchandizes , that are to be trasported to panama & so to peru , and receiveth in such goods as are return'd , to be transported to spian . to secure the entrance into this harbour , are two strong castles , between the city and the sea , and a third neer the town . and on this coast are reckoned , first the bay of carabaco , neer the confines of varaqua , to the east of it , the river of trinity , the conception and bethelem , an island , and the river of caugre , up which river from saint chilip , they transport theeir merchandize bound for peru , unto the house of the croses , which is at the head of the said river , and from thence to panama , which is distant from the said house five leagues . and 12 leagues to the west from nombre d'dios , is the port of longgote , and in 9 degrees the port of hians , the port of the aventure in six , porto belio in five , and against it the island of the lookings , and the bastemontos . and two leagues from nombre d'dios , the river of sardinilia , and the isle of sardinia , and the river of millet , and the river of snakes , and in the gulf of curaba the town of saint mary . on the south coast the cape of saint mary , and point of war . and towards panama , the gulf of paris , where stands nata , the point of chiami , the river of chepo , and the balsa , in the inward part of the gulf of saint michael , north from the island of pearl . chap. 57 , carthegna province . this countrey lyeth on the north sea , and is parted from the province of panama , by the river of darian , from whence unto the river magdalen , is 80 leagues . the land is mountainous and hilly , full of high trees ; this region is fruitfull in some places , and in other some as barren . the seed of england will grow but in few parts of this countrey , but here are many cattle , horses and swine . the temperature of this countrey is hot and very rainy , neither is there mines worked either of gold or silver , but much rozen and liquors , which they have from trees , and sanguis dragonis . the city of cartagena , standeth neer the sea two leagues west from point canta , in ten degrees of height . it hath more then six hundred housholds , and in it is resident the governour , the king of spains officers of the royall treasure , and the cathedrall suffragan to the archbishop of granado , with monasteries of deminick , and franciscan , friars . the scituation is plain , and almost an island , on the north side compasseth it , and to the land an arm of the sea , which reacheth to the lake of canapote . at the entrance of the haven , there is an island without inhabitants . the village of saint james of tolu , is two leagues from cartagena south-west the village of saint margito , and 30 leagues from cartagena , to the south the village of sancta crux , is 70 leagues from cartagena by the sea and great river of magdalen , and twenty from sancta martha , six from the sea , where the marchandizes that are bound to the kingdome of granado are delivered out of the ships , and from thence are transported up the river in canowes . chap 58. the kingdome of granado . this kingdome lyeth from the sea , adjoyning on the south part of cartagena . it is a very rich countey in mines of emraulds , gold , steel , and copper , store of pastures , with all sorts of cattle , wheat , millet , fruits , and hearbs . the indians are great traders , and able men of body , ingenious in the sciences of the spaniards . the merchandize commeth up the the river magdalen , on which this land lyeth . their chief city is sancta fee , scated on the bottome of a hill , in four degrees to the north of the equinoctiall line of more than six hundred housholds . in which is resident in behalf of the king of spain , a councill for managing of the affaires of the kingdome , the officers of the royall treasure , a melting house , and a cathedrall metropolitan , two monasteries of friars , and in her borders more than fifty thousand tributary indians . the city of tocampa standeth on the river cati , which runneth into magdalen . this city hath also many indians tributary , so hath all the other spanish towns , which are first saint michael , then the city of trinity , 20 leagues from sancta fee north-west , the town of palms , fifteen leagues from sancta fee west north-west . and the city of tunis north-east from sancta fee 22 leagues : it stands upon a hill of an extraordinary scituation . here is a great garrison of souldiers , and the best market in all the realm . here is also the city of meridia , the city of victorey , the village of saint christopher , the city beles , and the city of marequeata , all spanish cities , with many hundred large towns and villages of indians . through this region they passe from cartagena by land to peru , commonly by post , but not otherwise , by reason that it is fifteen hundred leagues from cartagena to cosco . this region cannot be entred by land from cartagena , by reason of the great waters and mountains that are in the way , wherefore they passe up the river magdalen , with merchandize from the custome-house of malamba , on the said river , from whence to the first landing in the kingdome of granada is one hundred and fifty miles . chap. 59. the province of sancta martha . this province of martha , lyeth between cartagena , and the river hacha , on the north sea . it is a plentifull countrey of millet , potatoes , much gold , emraulds , and other rich stones , and copper , and hath five spanish towns , the city of sanct a martha , in ten degrees of north latitude , where is resident the spanish governour , the king of spains officers of his treasure , and a cathedral suffragan to that of granado . the city of tenerif standeth on the river magdalen , which parteth this province from cartagena . the village of palms , is two leagues from this river , twenty to the south of tenerif , the city of losreas is 30 leagues from the river hacha . on the coast of this government is the river biaba , piaras , aguamur , and sancta martha . the indians of this province are commonly in war , which is a hinderance to the spaniards quiet enjoying the riches . it exceedeth in stones of such value and quantity , as is not elswhere to be found in india . chap. 60. venesiula . the province of venesiula , lyeth on the north sea , parted from sancta martha , by the river of hacha , on the east is the province of suava , or new andelosia , as the spaniards call it . the coast of the sea is neer 130 leagues of length . in this land are veins of gold , of more than two and twenty carracts and a half . it is plentifull of wheat and other seeds , for there are two harvests in a year . it hath abundance of all kind of cattle , great and small , cotton and sasaprila . the city of coro standeth in ii degrees in a good air , the governour for the king of spain resideth here . it hath also a melting-house , and cathedrall with monasteries . the city of the lady of carvalteda , on the sea coast 8 leagues from coro , with a bad haven . saint james is within the land three leagues to the south of carvelteda . the new valentia is sixty leagues from coro , and seven from the port of brubufa xeres 15 leagues south from valentia . the new sigonia is 20 leagues to the south of xeres . the city of tacuio , standeth ten leagues from segavia , south-west truxcillio , eight leagues from coro south and by east . on this coast , the principall river is the river hacha , which parts this province from sancta martha , neer the mouth is a rich town and beads of pearl of the best in india . chap. 61. guana . this region comprehendeth all the land that lyeth between the province of venesula and brazil , which beginneth at twodegrees of south latitude ; this land is more famous for report , than for any certain knowledge of the riches thereof , for at this day , there is no more than one spanish town called codoa , which lyeth on the sea coast from trinidado . the spaniards are neer it , and have better opportunities to know the riches of it than any other . but the indians which are in great part fled from the spanish countreys , are so much their enemies , as not to permit them to come amongst them without wars , which is a great hinderance to the spaniards undertakings . but although this countrey promiseth much , in truth to this day there are no mines found and worked either of gold or silver , although it is very probable by the latitude , that it doth abound in both . the rivers are many and great , that issue into the sea frō this coast , of which the most famous are the rivers orinoque , or orileania , which entreth into the sea with sixteen mouths . the best enterance is by the branch du west from trinidado the river of amasions is more southerly , and issueth into the sea under the line . the mouth or entrance of this river is more shallow then orinoque , neither is it so well known , although the english and dutch have traded up them both with the indians for these commodities naturall to the countrey , bees wax ; cotton-wool , cassia fistula , bolearmoniack , teralemna , and divers other drugs , and wood fit for dyers , and some balsomes . the people love our nation above any other , and would be glad to assist us on any design . the air in this countrey is in some places extream hot and moist , in other places constantly hot and dry , and in other some very temperate all the year long . chap. 62. the land of brazil . this province beginneth where guana endeth , at two degrees of south latitude , where there is a point called the cape of snakes , from whence it lyeth along the coast of the north sea to 25 degrees , and on the back side west , lyeth the provinces of the river of plate . the air is the whole year through very hot , the winter which is our summer , distinguished only with the rain that falleth at that season . here are many venemous worms and great serpents , t is plentifull of pastures , cattle and horses , little millet and no english grain , wherefore their bread is casabi or potatoes , which are in good plenty . there are great shews of silver and gold , but none gotten , nor mines certainly known . the chief commodity is sugar , cotton-wool , bombast , and brazil-wood . it hath neer the sea coast about 20 portugall towns , many ingeniowes , or sugar works : the first town of the countrey is called tamerico , and 5 leagues to the south of that farnambuck or rescif , then all saints 100 leagues from farnambuck in 14 degrees 40 minutes . the town of the sure haven in 16 degrees and a half : the holy ghost in 20. there is another town on the river generio , in 23 degrees neer which they cut much brasel-wood . there are on the coast eight or ten ports , more principall than the rest , which are the river saint dominick north-east off farnambuck , by the cape of saint augustine , which standeth in 9 degres . the island of tamerico before rehearsed , the river of saint francis in 10 degrees and a half . it is very great . the bay of all saints is 3 leagues and 13 up into the land . the river of trinidado , and the river of canamon in 13 degreees and a half . the river of beads in 14 degrees and a half , and the river of the virgins in 16 , and portesceurae in 17. the river of parague , in 20 : neer the town of sanctus spiritus , and in 23 degrees cold cape beyond saint vincent . this province hath been in difference between the portugeses , and west india company of holland , and as the dutch got great footing there without right , so the portugals , since their falling from spain have surprized them again , and recovered them by the same slight they got the east indies from us , but not with such vile murthers , as they committed on the english . they have now the town of resif , onely which not long since was neer lost . chap. 63. of the provinces of the river plate . the provinces of plate , take name from the river on which they lye , the passage to them is up the said river , but they are almost on the back of brazil . they are large and far wholsomer then brazil , plenty of sugar , ginger , wine , wheat , millet , all sorts of english fruits , store of cattle , swine , and horses , but no mines that are worked . they are subjected by the spaniards , and united to the councill of peru , on the south sea for neernesse of lying to that kingdome , there is a common passage from these provinces thither by land over the mountains , the most of the land is indifferently inhabited . this province hath three spanish cities , the best is the city of ascension . it lyeth in 23 degrees and a half of south latitude west from brazil , and east from peru , 300 leagues up the river of plate on the north-side . in it is resident the spanish governour , the officers royall , and a cathedrall , suffragan to the archbishop of lima , in peru. the next is the city royall , distant from the ascension eighty leagues north-east . the city of bucnos ayres standeth on the river plate , one hundred leagues from the mouth of the same . these provinces are full of indians , and mistisos which are spaniards children begotten on indian women . on this coast between the brazil and the mouth of the river plate , is the port of saint vincent in 33 degrees against becena burgo a small island , and six leagues to the south the river ubay the port and island dela canana in 35 degrees , and forward the river de la barca . and 20 leagues from thence the port of roderico , and in 29 degrees the island of catalina and five leagues to the south close haven . and fifteen leagues further another river called traquean . and in 32 degrees the bay of saint george . and in 35 degrees the cape of saint mary at the entring into the river plate . the south cape is called cape blanke , and the mouth of this river of plate , is thirty over and a great way up it , ten leagues in breadth with many islands , and divers great rivers issuing into it . chap. 64. of the coast between the river of plate and the strait of magelan . from the mouth of this river , the strait lyeth southwest , and is distant thence 400 leagues . it hath on the said coast : first the point of saint helena in 37 degrees , the point of francis in 38 : the river of canobi in 45. and to the south the isle of ducks . and in 47 the river of seriani , and in 49 the port of saint julian , the river of sancta crux in 50. and 12 leagues before you come to the strait of ilefonsus . but the land possest with no other but the natives , which are a gyantly people . chap. 65. the straight of magellan . this straight is famous for the troublesome passage of drake , candish , and haukins , three english men generals , each in a severall fleet : drake and candish being the first that sailed along the coast of peru , and so to the east indies , and came home by the cape of bona sperantia , circum-navigating the globe . the last being much over-matched was taken by the spaniards on the coast of peru , and convayed from thence prisoner to spain . from whence with much difficulty he obtained his freedome , although solemn engagements passed from the generall his taker for his freedome . the entrance into this strait is in 52 degrees , and the comming out into the south sea the same height . it is an extream difficult passage by reason of the meeting of the north and south seas in the channell , driving each other back , prevailing as they are favoured by the wind , which commonly bloweth there exceeding boysterously and cold . there are divers caves and bays in it , but no incouragement for a sea-man to adventure that way . the inhabitants on this strait are few , and extream savage , neither is this passage any more in use : for those that will go by the south of america to the east indies , or into the south sea to any part of the west coast of america , have a more convenient passage south of this strait in an open sea . the entrance into it is called lamear , but the sea was discovered by sir francis drake , and sir richard haukins both which were driven back by foul weather into those seas after they had passed the strait . on the coast of the south sea , which lyeth between the strait and chilli , there are no inhabitants save the wild natives , but it hath the bay of horses in 52 degrees , and the bay of saint john in 50. the cape of saint francis in 51. and 18 leagues before you come to port hearnan the bay of galago in 48 degrees 40 minutes , and north of it the bay of kings , and the isle of catilina , then the cape of saint andrew in 42 degrees where chilla beginneth . chap. 66. chillia . this coast reacheth to 28 degrees of south latitude . this region is wholsome above all other in the indies , being of an excellent temperature , as neither too hot nor too cold . it is abundantly rich in gold and silver mines , and all sorts of cattle & grain , fruits & excellent pleasant wine . the countrey men are strong and valiant beyond compare , which the spaniards know to their great cost , for they could never totally subdue this nation . the spaniards had formerly 12 spanish towns in this province , the most south was the city of chillon in an island of fifty leagues long , that almost joyneth to the firm land , which beareth the name of this whole countrey , this town had in it a monastery of friars ; and to the north of this town 41 leagues , the city of osornio seven leagues from the sea , with two monasteries of friars , and one of nuns . the city of valdiva two leagues within the mouth of the river valdiva in 40 degrees . it had thtee monasteries of friars , and one of nuns . the city imperiall in 39 degrees of height 3 leagues from the sea : in it was resident the cathedrall , and two monasteries of friars . the city of conception lyeth in 37 degrees neer the sea . and there did reside the governour of the countrey . the harbour is good , and made by an island which lyeth before a nook in the land . the port of quoquimbo , is a good harbour , and standeth in 32 degrees . the town of laserana , is next to peru. it lyeth pleasamly by the valley of quoquimbo . in this place it rains but thrice a year : this countrey is neer 300 leagues by the sea , but not above twenty into the land , where lye the andes , which are mighty great mountains , that run through the southern america , even from the strait of magellan to sancta martha of the spanish towns in chilla , there is recovered by the natives , and by them quite destroyed the city of conception , chillon , osornio , valdivia , and imperiall . chap. 67. the councill of charcas . the bounds of this councill stretcheth from chilia to peru , it hath abundance of cattle of all kinds , great shag-haired sheep bigger then goats that carry great burthens on their backs , store of corn of all sorts , fruits and wine , much gold , and the greatest mines of silver in the world . there are few spanish towns , and but one port , in regard the spaniards get neer the hill of potosi , to the city imperiall , which lyeth in 19 degrees of latitude far from the sea , and delivereth that which is exported , and receiveth the marchandize imported at the city of arica . the city of imperiall , is exceeding populous of spaniards and indians , and it standeth neer the hill of potosi , which is much to be admired for the great quantities of silver is drawn from thence , and exceeding deep caves in the earth , from whence they fetch it , that are so intricate and far in the earth , that those that go in take the popish sacraments , the danger of death is so great . this mountain is as it were pointed at by a black cloud that perpetually hangeth over it . the land about it is most extream barren , yet the great quantity of silver that is there causeth that all sorts of variety is there in great plenty , although at a dear rate . and towards the port of arica , are the mines of porco , which are more ancient and very great , but harder to work . the indians live in the best places for cattle , corn , wine , and fruits being tributary to the spaniards , that in behalf of the king of spain are lords of these great riches . chap. 68. the kingdom of peru. this kingdome is governed by a councill and viceroy . it hath to the north the councill of quipo , on the south charcas , and to the west the south sea , and to the east without limits . this kingdome is well peopled with civill orderly indians , that are in great subjection to the spaniards . peru doth abound in all sorts of fruits , seed , cattle , horses , sheep , swine , rich mines of gold , silver , quick-silver , plentifull of wine , oil , and sugar . the andes run through this province within ten leagues of the sea . in all which coasts it never raineth , but on the said hils it raineth continually , and beyond as in other regions . the plains between the sea , and the said hils , have few or no rivers , but the industrie of the inhabitants draw in trenches , ( which are artificially made ) the water either from those few rivers , or from the side of the said andes , which maketh that the said plain is mightily populous , fruitfull and pleasant even as a garden . the city of lema is neer the south sea in 12 degrees of south lalatitude , on the side of a rich and pleasant valley . it consisteth of 4000 houses . on the east-side of it runneth a fair river , by which the citizens have gardens with most excellent fruits . and this is the sole place in the world that is without thunder and lightning , which never happen here , neither is there plague or pestilence , but the inhabitants enjoy perpetually a clear and fair sky . it is the seat of the viceroy and councill , and assembly of chief justices , the officers of the king of spains revenue , the chief seat of the inquisition , a university with schools of divers indians , languages , five monasteries of friars , and one of jesuits , calao which is the port of this city is two leagues from it . it is great and good . the village of arneado is in the valley of chianeai ten leagues from lima , neer a good haven in 9 degrees . the city of truxcilo , stands in seven degrees and a half neer the sea , with monasteries of dominican , franciscan , and mercenaries , and officers royall for these bounds . the port is two leagues of the city in a bay not very good for ships . the city of saint john is seated in a most plentifull place , and the indian inhabitants are the fairest and most wel-favoured people in the indies . the city guanang is to the south of lema . it hath monasteries of dominican , franciscan , and mercenaries , and one of nuns , and the best houses of any city in peru of brick and stone . it standeth in a temperate place , and is very healthy . the city of cosco , is the head city of peru , by a title that it hath from the kings of spain . it lyeth in 13 degrees and a half south of the equinoctiall . it is a very great city , and hath four great streets that go to the four parts of the world . it hath many monasteries and nunneries , with a cathedrall , and divers schools of indian children . the city of ariquipa is in 16 degrees on the sea side . it is a rich and flourishing place , and in a wholesome climate : the other cities of spaniards are inland , but these rehearsed are the most eminent . the inconveniency of this countrey is the great earthquakes that often happen especially about jema . there are three wonderfull springs of water in this countrey , a water that turneth so soon as it is stopt to stone . if a man or beast drink of it , it turneth to a stone in his body , and killeth him : with this they make stones of what fashion they please , and make their houses : there is another water that springeth far within land , that being setled turneth to pure white salt : the other is two spouts of water , by each other , the one hot , the other cold . the remarkablest ports , ilands and points on this coast are the ilands of lobos in 7 degrees : the one is four leagues from the coast , the other more ; and forward to the south west the i le of saint rock , and further the port of abrago ten leagues to the north of truxcilio in 7 degrees and a half : the port of santa in nine degrees , and five leagues more south port farwell , and six from it casama , and eight leagues further the port of gurmay , and twenty leagues to the south the baranca and potquaria , where there is a great salt pit . and a little more south the i le of lema , at the entry of the port of cala , and twenty leagues more south the point of guareo . and in 15 degrees the point chuca , and forward the point of saint laurence , neer the river ariquipa . and then the river of nonsbred ' dios , where peru endeth , and the councill of charchas beginneth . chap. 69. quito kingdome . this kingdome is governed by a councill , whole bounds lyeth between peru and panama . it hath two mighty countreys or provinces within his circuit , that is to say , first quito , and then popyan . quito lyeth between peru and popyan on the south sea , and far into the land under the equinoctiall line : and contrary to the opinion of the ancients , it is a most wholesome temperate countrey , and rather cold than hot in most parts of it . in those places where the snowes continue all the year , it raineth from october to march , which they call winter : this province is rich in mines of emraulds , and gold , silver and quick-silver , plentifull of english grain and cattle , horse and swine . this region is happy in the temperature of the air , there being neither extream cold nor heat , as lying equinoctiall to these extreams , and which is most delightfull to mans nature always , a cleer skie . the spanish towns are the city of saint francis , 60 leagues from the south sea , and half a league to the north of the equinoctiall : in it are resident the councill , the officers of the spanish kings revenues , and a cathedrall with three monasteries . the town of bamba lyeth south-west from quito , on a river of that name . it is possest by spaniards and indians , which are extream rich in sheep above any town of india . the city of loxein standeth in the way from quito to cosco : there are many other spanish inland towns which are great & good , of which i have no certain knowledg , but of most consequence to a navigator , is the port towns : the best of which is poyta in five degrees . it is a good and great harbour . the city of saint james of aquil standeth not far from the sea . it hath a good port on a river that runneth fair by the city fit for vessels of great burthen . the city of porto vivegio standeth on the sea neer the borders of peru , the indians of this place have red warts that sometimes grow on their noses and foreheads , cheeks and chins , which eateth as a ring-worm with us , but far more to the dis-figuring the face , and in extremity of pain . the river and port of tombes is in 4 degrees , and south of it the i le of pana , the port of calaio in two degrees height south latitude , by which standeth the ile of plata , and one degree to the south of the equinoctiall , the bay of this province hath formerly had great gyants living there , as appeareth by the great bones often found , and pieces of teeth , which have weighed fourteen ounces . neer the said point of helena , there are veins of tar , which runneth out of the earth , with which they commonly cank their ships . chap. 70 popyan . this province lyeth between quito and panama , the greatest part of it is in-land , yet doth it for a good way lye on the south sea . the eastern part bordereth on the kingdome of granado and cartagena . the temperature of ayr is very different in this place , for here are some places indifferent temperate and cool , other places are violent hot and sickly . this province hath some indians peaceable , other some extraordinary savage , insomuch that about the village of arma , and canarna , they eat not onely those that they take in war , cutting off slivers eating one part , while the other liveth , but sell their children , and the sons their fathers and mothers to the butchers that keep shambles of mans flesh . this countrey is exceeding rich in gold mines , which maketh that the spaniards endure the other inconveniences of the countrey with great patience . the principall spanish city in this goverment is popyan , which lyeth far from the sea , two degrees to the north of the equinoctiall . it hath the leivtenant governour resident in it , a cathedrall with monasteries of friars : the city of cali standeth in 4 degrees 20 leagues from the sea : the governour is resident in it , and the officers of the king of spains treasure , a melting house and two monasteries . the port of bonaventure lyeth in 3 degrees and ahalf north of the line : this is a place of good resort of merchants , and hath a good port and a fair custome-house . the village of sancta fee , on the river of cavaca . the village of arma , borders on granada , neer which lyeth the village of canarman . on the sea coast is the cape of corientes in 5 degrees to the north of the line . the river solines in four degrees , and south ten leagues , the river of saint john in two degrees : and little more south the river of saint lucas , and further south the port of the crosse , finis . november 18. 1650. imprimatur nathanael brent . a description of the new world, or, america, islands and continent and by what people those regions are now inhabited, and what places are there desolate and without inhabitants, and the bays, rivers, capes, forts, cities and their latitudes, the seas by george gardyner ... gardyner, george. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a42314 of text r7600 in the english short title catalog (wing g221). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 170 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 105 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a42314 wing g221 estc r7600 12251644 ocm 12251644 57131 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a42314) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 57131) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 145:3) a description of the new world, or, america, islands and continent and by what people those regions are now inhabited, and what places are there desolate and without inhabitants, and the bays, rivers, capes, forts, cities and their latitudes, the seas by george gardyner ... gardyner, george. [14], 187, [1] p. printed for robert leybourn and are to be sold by thomas pirrepoint ..., london : 1651. errata: p. [6]. reproduction of original in harvard university libraries. eng america -description and travel. a42314 r7600 (wing g221). civilwar no a description of the new world. or, america islands and continent: and by what people those regions are now inhabited. and what places are t gardyner, george 1651 29055 404 0 0 0 0 0 139 f the rate of 139 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the f category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2007-01 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-01 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-03 john latta sampled and proofread 2007-03 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a description of the new world . or , america islands and continent : and by what people those regions are now inhabited . and what places are there desolate and without inhabitants . and the bays , rivers , capes , forts , cities and their latitudes , the seas on their coasts : the trade , winds , the north-west passage , and the commerce of the english nation , as they were all in the year 1649. faithfully described for information of such of his countrey as desire intelligence of these perticulars . by george gardyner of peckham , in the county of surrey esq. london . printed for robert leybourn , and are to be sold by thomas pirrepoint , at the sun in s. pauls churchyard , 1651. to the right honorable sir henry vane , junior . sir , since god hath made you eminent in doing great services to your countrey , and appointed you of that councill which the parliament hath lately established , to contrive the weal of our nation , upon their excellent instructions . this discourse having relation to divers of them , i crave leave to direct it to you. and if it be too low for your thoughts , you have goodnesse enough to afford mee a favourable construction . sir , the greatest princes in the east , receive no request without a present . i have no other to you , but to desire you would favourably receive this , and reckon me among the number of your devoted servants , george gardyner , errata . page 5. line 6. for scotia read socatra p. 26. l. 2. power . r. rover ibid. l. 6. for cameron r. come on p. 32. l. 4. r. continent for cō . tinems p. 39. l. 3. put in ●is washed at flouds p. 35. l. 13. r. bold for cold p. 61. l. 13. r. tortuga for tortaga p. 62. l. 9. r. its for it is p. 87. l. 5. r. clear for clean p. 101. l. 14. r. far-forfurze p. 116. l. 9. r. wels for willow trees . p. 118. l. 5. r. nicaragua for nicurayna p. 123 , l. 2. ● . verauga for carauga p. 133. l. 8. r. c●co for coco , and so where ever you come p. 143. l. ●● . r. limets for climats ibid. l. ult. read painters for planters p. 145. l. 14. r. principall for principals p. 146. l. 2. r. darian for darion p. 148. l. 3. r. phillip for ●hilip . to the english nation . in this unquiet age , i conceive , there is nothing so pertinent to a mans felicity , next to the enjoying of happy places , as to know where they are . and to think our neighbouring regions of europe receive a greater share of prosperity than we in england , is ( without doubt ) a great mistake . neither doth any part of the old world make such promises to all sorts of men as doth the new world , commonly called america . for he that shall desire to advance himself by his labour , will finde many places where he may do it with much quietnesse . he that shall desire to enjoy much land , and live in a civil government under others , may finde places enough for him to pitch upon . he that shall desire to command a countrey himself , and get into possession of it , without difficulty , wil finde many islands fit for his turn , that are fruitfull and desolate , wanting inhabitants , which at small charge may be transported thither . he that shall desire to be possest of great rich mines of gold and silver , and precious stones , and large dominions , and withall hath but fortitude , courage , and a reasonable english gentlemans estate , may by an ordinary providence over him , attain to these great matters . and that man that shall have store of commodities lie by him , which he cannot vent , although they are necessary for mans accomodation , will finde here places , that he may exchange them at , to his great advantage . but if the decipherers of this orbe had been as cautious in setting down truths , as they have been prolixious in impertinencies , our nation would certainly ere this have made greater advantages upon those regions . for , my part , as i am an english man , so i desire that name and people may grow great and famous and extend their authority and name beyond either roman , grecian , assyrian or persian nations . and if from this discourse they may draw any thing that may prove for their honour or profit , i have my aim . and i shall assure them , i have related nothing but what my own knowledg or good intelligence perswades me is certainly true , which my future actions with gods leave shall declare . i have been plain in discourse of the forreign commerce of our nation . all which i intended in a larger volumn , but the flemmings and irish taking me in my comming from those remote parts of america , took from me that greater relation , which i intended instead of this epitomie from thence , which i present with a resolution to submit to that common censure all book-makers must undergo , but with confidence i have in this subscribed my self reader , thy humble servant , george gardyner the contents of the book . chap. 1. of the commerce of the english nation pag. 1 the generall description of america , or the new world chap. 2 p. 31 of gold , silver , quick-silver , emraulds , and pearl chap. 3 p. 39 of the island of new found land chap. 4 p. 45 martins vineyard chap. 5 p. 47 long island chap. 6 p. 48 the bermudas , or somers islands chap. 7 p. 50 of the islands of lucaos , or bahama chap. 8 p. 52 of hispaniola chap. 9 p. 57 of the island of cuba chap. 10 p. 62 jamico island chap. 11 p. 66 the island of saint john de portrico chap. 12 p. 67 sancta crux , the virgins , virgin gorda , blances , anagada , sombrito chap. 13. p. 69 angula chap. 14 p. 71 saint martins chap. 15 ibid. eustas chap. 16 p. 72 saint bartholomew chap. 17 ibid. saint christophers chap. 18 p. 73 nivis , or the snowes barbada and redouda chap. 19 p. 74 monserat chap. 20 p. 75 antego , margelante , dominica , matinina , santalusa , gardelupa , dodos sanctos deseada chap. 21 ibid. the burbudos chap. 22 p. 77 trinidado chap. 23 p. 79 margreata , tortuga , gardiner , caracute , cubava and tamasca chap. 24 p. 80 of the north-west passage , and the lands called nova britania , or nova framuncia chap. 25 p. 83 new england chap. 26 p. 90 new hollaud chap. 27 p. 93 the swedes plantation chap. 28 p. 94 virginia chap. 29 p. 95 maryland chap. 30 p. 102 ▪ old virginia chap. 31 p. 104 florida chap. 32 p. 105 of new spain chap. 33 p. 107 the councill of new galisia chap. 34 p. 109 gutamalia kingdome chap. 35 p. 110 of panuco chap. 36 p. 111 the province of talascalia , or angels chap. 37 p. 113 youcatan province chap. 38 p. 116 the province of honduras chap. 39 p. 118 of the province of nicaragua chap. 40 p. 120 the province of castorica chap. 41 p. 123 the province of varagua chap. 42 p. 124 of the province of ciblioa chap. 43 p. 126 nevv biskay chap. 44 p. 127 chiamerla chap. 45 p. 128 culiacan chap. 46 p. 129 sacetas chap. 47 p. 130 xalisco chap. 48 p. 131 guadalaiara chap. 49 ibid. mechocan chap. 50 p. 133 of the province of mexico chap. 51 p. 135 guaxcaca chap. 52 p. 137 soconusco chap. 53 p. 139 gutamalia chap. 54. p. 140 chiapa chap. 54 p. 143 verapas chap. 55 p. 144 of panama chap. 56 p. 145 carthegna province chap. 57 p 149 the kingdome of granado chap. 58 p. 151 the province of sancta martha chap. 59 p. 154 venesiula chap. 60 p. 156 guana chap. 61 p. 158 the land of brazil chap. 62 p. 160 of the provinces of the river plate chap. 63 p. 164 of the coast between the river of plate and the straight of magellan chap. 64 p. 167 the straight of magellan chap. 65 p. 168 chillia chap. 66 p. 171 the councill of charcas chap. 67 p. 173 the kingdome of peru chap. 68 p. 176 quito kingdome chap. 69 p. 182 popyan chap. 70 p. 185 a description of the new world . chap. i. of the commerce of the english nation . the navigation and commerce of the english nation , is so proportioned , that upon the division of the world , it may properly be said , that it is traded by four severall parts . the greatest of which is america , the next in account is asia , the third africa ▪ and the least europe , in which is out native countrey , it being a westwardly part of this division . from whence there arises to mee these questions . the first , whether the trade be equally divided according to the quality of the places traded with . the second , whether the losse to some of these places be not greater then the gains . the third , whether the trade of the common-wealth may not be increased . the fourth , how it hath been hindred , and what is the let in the grants of it . the fifth , whether there may not be a course taken to quicken the trade and encourage adventurers . to answer the first . we finde that in asia , there are six most patent emperours , which a●● the emperour of tartaria , of japan , of china , of turkey , of persia , and of the m●gals or mogores . the tartar , hath few or no ports , the persian not many , all the ●est have store of ports , and rich cities , on them , fit for commerce and prade . and it hath been affirmed by the natives of those part● , that were well acquainted with the east indies , that in india major , which is from mallabar to ches●●coram , there are 13 kingdomes , 1●700 islands , desolate and un-inhabited . and in india minor , which is from siambi , to murfili , there are eight kingdomes beside many islands . and the commodities of these parts are of the best sort , and probably by the great quantities that have been yearly carried thither from europe , there is more silver then in all the other parts of the world . and although there is this greatnesse yet we send yearly , but a few ships which belong to the east india , and turkish company . the trade of america is much greater , although it be but with our own nation , which are seated in new-england , virginia , barbados , christophers , antego , santey , crus , meaguis , m●●ferat , and barmoudas , what else of that orbe is in the hands of spaniards portugals , and dutch in any considerable place , cannot be traded with by the english , africa almost an iland joyning to asia by that narrow isthmus , part of arabia deserta neer cut asunder by the red and mediterranean seas , hath for its coasts on the mediterranean sea ▪ egypt , barbary , and a part of mauritania , on the north sea the kingdom of morocco , fesse , tombuto , the large regions of giney , conge , and empire of monomotapa , and from the cape of bona speranza , unto the iland of scotia , the kingdom of armeto , mosambique , quilioa , melinde , magadoxo , badivis , ethiopia , and part of egypt , and from thence alongst the red sea , seila , adel , and the empire of prester john . and all these countries have many rivers and ports , and great store of people living on them . and we trade onely to alexandria , in egypt , morocco , fesse and giney , and there but little neither , all the other places being left , as terraincognita . the trade of europe , doth justly challenge a greater commerce then any of the other parts have , although it be the least . on this consideration , the ports are neer adjacent , the people more ingenious in procuring merchandize , and and their comodities more in use with us , and ours more wanting with them , as our broad cloth , &c. and from these considerations , i conclude , that unlesse in europe , there is no equality in the trade of our nation with the other parts of the world . the second question . whether the losse be not greater then the gaines ●o some of these places . as the end of all trade and mens carnall thoughts are commonly for silver and gold , so that countrey that hath most of it is accounted the richest . and indeed it is almost all things , for he that hath enough of that , cannot lack any worldly thing that can be had . upon which , i conceive , that the principall ayme of all forreign trade should be to bring much of it in , and carry little of it out of our countrey , and that commerce that doth not is managed to the disadvantage of our nation , and ought to be rejected . and upon examination it will be found , that the greatest trade which we drive in asia , which is to the east indies , either by the way of bagdet , caro , and the red seas , or cape of bona speranza , is with ready money . i can with confidence say , it may be managed so to the advantage of our nation , that we may have their commodity for ours , and their ports better traded . and whereas it hath been the practise of our people to carry much money thither , we may now fetch it home again . and the trade of america is prejudiciall , very dishonest , and highly dishonourable to our nation . it is prejudiciall , in that it carrieth away daily such men as might serve their country , either in fighting to defend it at home , or else abroad . 't is dishonourable , in that we are upbraided by all other nations that know that trade for selling our own countreymen for the commodities of those places . and , i affirm , that i have been told by the dutch and others , that we english were worse than the turks , for that they sold strangers onely , and we sold our own countreymen . and it is well known , that people in authority , and some that professe much to christianity of those parts , will hang a man for selling or taking away an indian that worshipeth the devill , when at the same time they allow others , and will themselves buy of their own nation , which have most barbarously been stolne out of their countrey . and 't is dishonest , if murther be so , for when they have by spirits or lying tales , forced them aboard the ships , in their transportation onely , there is yearly many starved to death , those that remain are sold to those that wil give most for them ; some for fourteen years , others for ten , and lesse , but the least four : and it were better for them to serve fourteen years with the turks , then four in the plantations with most of the masters in those places , especially in virginia , for besides , their being back-beaten and belly-beaten , it is three to one if they live out their servitude , by reason of the unwholsomenesse of the countreys . in which disasters that happen to our nation , i cannot but condole their misfortunes , as if we of all europe were of the seed of cham , when the spaniard at the same time managed their businesse so well , that scarcely will one of them serve in the indies , except it be the viceroy , or some great personage , and i know that nation in nothing exceeds us , but in their keeping together as one people . the third question . is whether the trade of england may not be increased . it is not hard to imagine , when we see the greatnesse of asia , and africa , and the little commerce that we have with them , that it may well be increased . and although the trade of europe be much greater the rest , yet doth it want much of that exactnesse which we may have in it . for where ●● we gain in some parts , and lose in others , it is possible to assure the land , to gain in all and lose in none . the fourth question . is , how it hath been hindred , and what is the let in the growth of it ? the people generally suppose 't is the danger of the seas , and the little security in the parts abroad , for the merchants goods and ships . in answer , i affirm , the trade of the hollanders never flourished so as in time of war , and their enemies were more strong at sea then ours , upon which we may conclude , it is not that that is the true cause . wherefore , i finde these other causes to be the obstruction in the trade . the first is , the companies of our nation , which fort of people i account a benefit of a losse , according as they are established and managed , in which the companies of england have been defective , which appeareth in the generall damages which themselves and adventurers have had with them , and few publick memorials they have erected at home or abroad that hath appeared a publick good , but divers acts have seemed the contrary . and on particulars we finde , there are five companies that are well in years amongst us , the other which was of later establishment , which really was the best ( the giney company ) is dissolved . and to omit the general damage that all the inland companies do to our nation , which is from my purpose now to treat of , the five companies of exportation are : first , the cloth company that trade into holland , hamborough , the baltick seas , and elsewhere , with all the white clothes exported the kingdome . the second is the east india company , the third the turkey , the fourth the muscovia , the fifth the company of greenland , alias grinland . of which , i conceive , the cloth company to be the greatest monopoly , for this cause . besides the ingrossing of the commodity of white cloth to themselves , which is a great barre to the priviledge of the nation . the carrying of them out of the laud , is a pernicious thing to five sorts of men , merchants , seamen , cloth-dressers , sheare-men and diers , which last people receive the greatest damage , although they were accounted anciently the staple-manufacture of our nation . the prejudice to the cloth-dressers and diers , appears in the carrying away from them forty clothes white more then are worked at home , by which it appears , that where there is one imploy'd now in that course , there might be forty , if it were managed at home . and all that ever i heard that the company could say for themselvs is ▪ that the trade of making white cloth would be spoiled , for the dutch and poles if they could not have it white would forbear buying of it . but i am sure the merchants buy it beyond the se●s for their profit ▪ and not to ▪ se● their country-men at worke , or else they differ much from them of the company . and if they want it to ▪ trade with ▪ they will have it as well drest by us ▪ as their ow● nation ; but if they be obstinate and will not buy it , we shall gaine and not lose , for our sea-men and merchants that make short voyages with small profit will the● vent it to those parts which now have it at the second hand from them , that buy it white from us ▪ and so the merchants will make two profits in stead of one ; and the sea-men longer voyages . the east-india company come home to this question in that it hath lost many advantagious places there , and impoverished many that adventured with them , giving them after fifteen or sixteen yeares forbearance of their money instead of 70li ▪ yearly , which the dutch give most yeares to their adventurers ▪ 70li ▪ for their principall● ▪ and the dutch , lately to renew their lease , which not long since was neer expired , being but for 21 yeares at the first , compounded with the states generall to have it renewed for so much longer for the summe of eight hundred thousand pound paid to them ▪ and five hundred thousand to the west-india ▪ company , which the states owed the said west-india company . and whereas the dutch company hath whole countries , divers islands ▪ cities , castles , forts , &c. and all taken in by the sword , to the contrary , our men hath lost money , lost time , which was considerable in those actions , and divers countries which they never got but were delivered by the natives , such was pulway , pullerroon , lantor , rosingen , wayer , timor , tiadore , ternat , and the castle of amboyna , where the dutch committed the greatest murther that of late yeares hath been heard of upon our nation , by racking , torturing by fire , and water , throwing in dungeons , and their easing themselves on them untill their bodies became blistered , then drawing them forth , and beheading some , sawing a-sunder others , at other times their cruelty hath been after the same manner ▪ and this accompanied with revilling of our nation ; which things are in perticular related by them that escaped from those miseries , recording before the tribunall of the late king , their sufferings , and his dishonour which he heard with as much parience , as the losse of the english at the isle of ree . i know not the hearts of other men , but my minde is , that all men that acknowledge a government , and subscribe to maintaine it , ought to be protected as well abroad as at home . there is difference between the bloud of peace and war , as david saith , and this was not as the rest , of rochell , and the isle of ree , but by the snare that joab smote amasa . and upon discourse , it will be found , that act is justified by that people to this day . the cause of the dutches flourishing , our companies say , was there stock exceeding the english ▪ but it will appear , upon examination , that the english company had sixteene hundred thousand pounds ▪ under writ for , when the dutch had but eight . the turkey company is little before it in goodnesse , although men have not so eminently suffered , yet some have been inslaved by the turks of barbary . but the great prejudice ( as the case now standeth ) without alteration in all the companies , is the ingrossing the trade of his dominions to themselves , which might serve themselves , and divers others . for the ports of the grand seignour are many ; the chief being constantinople , there are on the coasts of the seas in his territories , the provinces of arcadia , accea , poliponesus , epirus , part of dalmatis , the island of the archipelagus and cyprus , in the mediterranean sea on the coast of the begler-begship of cairo , the provinces of troas , the fair scituated town of symrna , then aleppo , the ports of jewry , and aegypt , the trade of the great city of grand cairo , where there might be more commerce onely , then we have now in all the turkish empire . the muscovia company is alike prejudiciall , in monopolizing the trade of that large empire , which trade is not valuable in relation to the ports , for that of saint michael the archangel is the principall , and almost onely port in his dominions , but when you are within the land , there are most large territories to trade with , as the commerce of the black . seas , which may conveniently be entred by the river volga , and so traded , which the grand seignour prohibits by way of constantinople , and the peace which the muscovite hath for the most part with the tartar , and many tartars stil resident in musco , by whom , were it a generall trade , divers men likely would for their profit get commerce with that nation , which would make way for a farther trade , even to the cathaians , and china's . the greenland company hath as great a share in oppression as the rest , although it is not so eminent in fame , and in this it exceedeth , that whereas the other companies are a hindrance to such merchants as might trade ( were it not for their patent ) into those countries of their divisions , this i say , is not onely a barre to those that would trade to greenland , but hath so much power , as to hinder other merchants from importing into the land the commodities they have from greenland . so that those that buy that usefull commodity , must give their rates for it . and although it be in others a fault to bring it from neerer places to hinder the trade to greenland , yet 't is reported , they are not bound by this law , being forced for want of sufficient from greenland to supply the english at second hand . now , as it is clear by this i have said , that these companies are a great hinderance to the commerce of our nation . there is also another , which the merchants complain of , and that is the dutch nation , that daily so insinuate into the trade of all places where ever they are admitted , to the putting by of the english . and were it not that we sell our conntreymen for the commodity of the english plantations , i am fully perswaded , within a few years , we should be forced to have what comes from thence at a second hand from the dutch : which in reason seems strange , considering they export nothing but what they import , and we export much which we need not import , & how those that have it at a second hand , should sell a thing cheaper then him that hath it at the first , seems irrationall , yet they will do it , which is done by our irregularity in trade , and the merchants that are the great complaynants , are the chief causers of their own hinderance . but upon examination , it will be found , that the principall commerce of the whole world is in hands of the english , and the united provinces . and what we lose they get . and as it is their great care , by all means , to increase their own commerce , though with the ruine of ours , so , i conceive , it is honest and honourable , to endeavour our own good , although by their hurt . the fifth question is , whether there may not be a course taken to quicken the trade and commerce of the english nation ? as i apprehend the companies to be a great cause of hinderance in our trade , with the ill managing of the generall trade of our nation , so i think these things i have offered , doe in part demonstrate it . wherefore , i conceive , that if they were taken away , with some irregularity in trade , our nation would not be found wanting , either in inclination to trade , or abilities for trade to advance our commerce to what height we please . and because there may arise an objection against the overthrow of companies , in regard we see the hollanders have a very flourishing trade in the world , although it be managed by more companies then we have . i shall to that and the second hinderance which is the trade of the netherlands , affirme , the first constitution of companies were , or ought to have been established to keep up a trade subject to alteration , without fortification , and strength of shipping , for to those places that give us an equall engagement by oath of princes , embassadours and agents constantly leger to see right , and performance of articles , there is no need of companies , or else , why are they not in europe ? and where there is this ful assurance 't is contrary to all sence , that there should be a monopoly of the trade , and where it is not assured this way , or by forts , we lie at the mercy of those princes we trade with , that permit us but for their profit , and no longer , i conceive , it is madnesse without assurance of fortification , to assure merchants goods and ships to have any commerce with such men or countreys . and it was for this reason , that the companies of england , were first erected . for it was proposed that private men making a voyage , and according to the losse or gain of that continue or forsake the trade , and although it were profitable ; yet want of ability or will would hinder them from gaining that assurance for the future ; which a joynt stock well managed would do . and although the hollanders come far short of that perfection in trade which they might have , yet are they in this very circumspect . for the companies of holland , do not only fortifie in most places , where they come ; but gain whole regions and provinces , which is still managed to the advantage and honour of their common-wealth ▪ but our companies have so much swerved from this intention of their first constituting , that whereas the dutch keep the east india provinces in awe , we are miserable slaves to them . for if a prince of india , loseth on the seas by piracy of english or any other people of europe , what they have in their countrey of the english merchants wil surely , make good their losse . or in case an english power , or french , &c ▪ saying , he were english , should come into the red seas , and take ships bound for any turkish port , or cameron land , and desire trade , & be surprized , and getting free , revenge themselves on the goods and persons of the arabs or turkes , the english merchants in turkey under the command of the grand seignour , would surely pay for it in their persons and goods . the greenland company was first established to bring in the whole commerce of the whale-fishing into england , and with much honesty might they have barred others from comming thither , in regard , the english were the first discoverers of it , but instead of going before others , we come behinde them , and far-short of the dutch , which appoint us their leavings , instead of taking ours . the dutch which is a second hinderance to us in our commerce , overtop us very strangely , if wee seriously consider the people , and their country , which is comprehended within the title of the united provinces . in which lyeth only zealand , holland , frisland , utrick , and these provinces they have entirely , the biggest of them no greater then kent . they have a little part of east flanders , brabant , and a good part of gelderland , which places doth not afford them common necessaries , for they have most of their flesh from emden , holsten and westphalia , their corn from the countreys on the baltick seas , for their housing and shipping , their timber and iron from norway , germany , and lukeland , their hemp , pitch , and tar , as we from muscovia , or the baltick seas . and for commodities of exportation to maintain the great trade , they have at sea , their land is as barren and deficient , so that their trade consists meerly in what they get from one nation , and sell to another . and upon a true examination it wil be found , what they have gotten from us in the east indies , and in or about our country , is the foundation of all their staple manufacture . and to come to some perticulars , we find that the spices of the east indies , the herrings they have on our coasts , and our white cloth which they dresse and die , is the very ground of all their commerce , all which comes to them for little , or at least , no visible payment . for we get nothing for our herrings nor for the spices , they have from those places , which formerly were ours , and though they speak of their paying for them to some of our nation , yet it is not visible to us . and the white cloth , they have at the third part they make of it . and although with these , and the other commodities of our countrey , as stockings , course cloth , stuffs , &c. they make the most of their trades , yet for those they buy from us , they have without any just exception . although it were necessary , we did make the best use of our native commodities , which we misse as much of , as if we had never known the way of adventuring from our own countrey . and now i have said this , it is likely , that there are many will affirm , that they knew as much before , as i relate , but the remedy is not amply proposed . but i to excuse my self , say , that i have been often in discourse of this subject , and have not heard as much as i here shew to you . and the great physicians say , it is harder to finde out the disease , then to prescribe a remedy . and since i have done that , i conceive , i ought to be silent , yet with an intent to shew my self as forward in prescribing a remedy , as i have been in informing of this subtle disease : and in order to that , if it shal be required by those , who sit at the helme of our affairs , i shall undoubtedly bring to their knowledg a man that will shew himself most expert in serving his country this way . and when the trade of our nation shall be regulated to such exactnesse , as may procure a generall profit and honour to our nation ; it will peradventure appear as small and ordinary a matter as the navigation of america , which is now a thing of little difficulty , but was formerly accompted an impossibility to the disparagement of former ages , and amazement of the present . chap. 2. the generall description of america , or the new world . this great part of the globe was unknown unto the europeans untill the year of our redemption 1492. at which time it was discovered by christopher columbus , a genowes , in the behalf of ferdinand king of castel , and leon in spain , that to this day , enjoys the greatest and richest part of it . and especially those golden and fruitfull regions , that are between the tropicks , which is commonly called the west indies . and what there is unpossest of him and the natives , and in the hands of english , dutch or french is not considerable to the rest . this title of america , comprehends as well islands , as continents , the islands for the most part lieth in the seas on this side the continent . the other of the west side are few and small , the seas that compasse this continent on the east side , are commonly called the north seas ; on the west side the south seas , which lieth between it and asia , and on the north end it hideth it selfe under the pole ; and to the south of the straight of magellan , the north and south seas meet together , and divide it from the south pole . the continent of america in seven degrees of north latitude , is very narrow from sea to sea , that is to say , from porto bello to panama eight leagues , a rough & rocky passage , from whence both north and south , the land groweth exceeding broad to the north beyond knowledg , and to the south , one thousand leagues , as 't is guest . it containeth divers regions and provinces , in which are comprehended some good and wholsome places , other bad and unwholsome , and as there is indifferents , so there is extreams . and as the best places are within the tropicks , so the more north or south you goe , the more barren and cold you finde the climates , even to unsufferable extremities . the passage and course of sayling to the most parts of america , is by the wind that bloweth a gentle gale , constantly between the tropicks east , or east south-east , not much wavering unlesse by a tornado or hericano . the natives of america , at this day are of three sorts ; the first , that live the most civilly , are them that live within the government of the spaniards , after the same manner that they do , in apparell , building , trades and religion . the second sort , are those that live under the contribution of the english , portugals , dutch , french , &c. and these keep still their ancient customes , religions , and manners : and these i say are divided under severall governours , or kings , and live in towns , some of which are paled round , conteining houses covered with mats , their frames of arbour works , the best are made more substantiall of great poles and mats , covered with the bark of trees , their food is what the woods , seas and rivers affords naturally , and their bread of that grain we call virginia wheat , and of this their wives plant about their towns , whom they accustome also to do their other household work , the men spending their time in hunting and fishing , being attended by the boys , whom they breed up to this kind of life with themselves . and this way of living runs throughout all america , north and south , for this sort of people . the third kind of indians which are on the land , they call in the spanish dominions ( where there is the most of them ) chickameckians , and in the islands canables . in which sort of people , the craibey islands do so abound , that they prove bad neighbours to the english and french , that are there seated , as those in the land are to the spaniards . and these indians live upon what they get from the strangers that are neer them , & the other more civil indians : and some of them are so inhumane , that they will eat mans flesh . their common food is what they get by hunting and fishing . and such of them that have islands , and provinces to themselves , live in such kind o● habitation ( as i have said , the second sort of indians do . ) the religion of all of them , that are no● made spanish christians , is to worship stones , beasts , or fowls , an● serpents , but generally the devill● whom they much fear , and therefore worship . their priests are conjurers an● witches and in those arts can do very strange things . the statures of the natives differ as with us in europe , but thei● complexions generally are tawn● and swarthy , as also their skins although in divers places , i suppose , they would be otherwise , did they not anoint their flesh with oiles and grease , and bask themselves in the sun and winde , against which they have little or no defence , going almost all naked , excepting amongst those civill indians with the spaniards . their naturall weapons , are generally batoo●s , bowes and arrows . their bows are made of some bending wood , their arrows of canes and reeds , headed with fishes bones , and flints , with which they are excellent marksmen . the heads of divers they poyson to do the more mischief . there are naturall to these parts which are wild in the woods , divers kinds of beasts and fowles , many of which are not elsewhere in the world to be found , as also many fruits not known amongst us . amongst the plantations , there is not any thing wanting that is to be had in europe ; and much more , which is naturall to those parts , but the substance of flesh , fish , and fruits is not so substantiall as that of europe , and not any thing comparable with that in england : which is the cause that they are much easier of digestion , and causeth a more constant appetite then we have with us . the treasures that are yearly drawn from the bowels of the spanish regions , are infinitely great . and in the subjection of any other prince or people of europe , there is neither mine of gold , silver , quick-silver , emraulds , or beads of pearl , all which are in great plenty in the spanish dominions . and in regard i shall in my relations , speak of many countreys , that are plentifull of these riches , i shall here describe how they are obtained . chap. 3. of gold , silver , quick-silver , emraulds , and pearl . the gold is engendred in the mountains , from whence by rains and flouds into the plains , and rivers , where for the most part they find it . that of the plains , is in veines of hard earth that conteineth part pure grains of gold like pompeon-seeds , which is the best , but the most that is got in the indies , is in the rivers , where it is found mixed with the sand in pouder , even as the sand it self . they separate it from the earth , and sand , by washing in a bowle of the fashion of a barbers bason . where they finde it in hard veines , they break them with the hammers , and make them fit to wash : first , putting the earth or sand into the bason , and receiving water into one side of it , turn it out at the other , untill they have washed out the earth from the gold , which as the heavier substance remains behind at the bottome of the bowle . the silver mine is found in the earth in veines or branches , much like the tinne or cole in england , and is worked almost in the same manner under the ground . the way of separating the silver from the drosse , is first to take the oare , and break it in hammer-mils , and grind it to powder , then sift it through a copper searse , and put it into a furnace , under which they make a fire by degrees , mixing with every fifty quarts of pouder five of salt , and stirring it , together with quick-silver , which they squeeze through a piece of holland upon the said pouder and salt , and when they finde the quick-silver , sufficiently incorporate with the silver , then they put it altogether in a cauldron , in which there is water , and a wheel , that going round , turneth out the earth and drosse with the water , the quick-silver , and silver , as the more heavy substance remains behind , which they take from the cauldron , and wash it after the manner of gold , till they finde it clean from all drosse , and filth , and then putting it into a cloth , they strain forcibly from it some quick-silver , the remainder being as a leafe of silver . and to separate the silver from the quick-silver , they put it into a violent fire , and cover it with an earthen pot of the fashion of a sugar loa● , which is also covered with coals , and kept very hot , and from a hole in the said pot , to which is fashioned a pipe , like the pipe of a limbeck , they receive the quick-silver , which evacuates by the same pipe , leaving the silver of the same form it was put in , but wanting much of the bignesse and waight . the quick-silver and vermillion , is found together in rocks , or very hard earth . that part that is found to contein the quick-silver , they break to pieces , and putting it into earthen fire-pots well luted , they set it on a violent fire ( made in the indies of straw , which they find to be excellent for that work ) whatof it evacuateth out of the pot , goeth up , till meeting nothing to receive it , it falleth down cold , in the same manner we have it . the remainner in the pot , being sufficiently separated from the drosse and earth , the fire is taken away , and when it is throughly cold , they open the pot , and poure out the quick-silver . into leather baggs , which keepeth it best , conveighing it where they please in them . those that open these pots , and stirreth the silver and it together , in refining the silver , swallow a pellet of gold , that lying in the stomack , draweth the quick-silver , which in time getteth into their bodies , from whence it goeth out with the said pellet in excrement . and if the pot be not throughly cold , when 't is open ; it is two to one , if they lose not their teeth or hair , dis-figure their noses and faces , and many times utterly spoile themselves . wherefore , they are very cautious in this action . the emraulds are in great abundance in divers parts of the spanish countreys , they get them in veines of stone , that is almost like chrystal , some as big as a hazel nut , and of severall colours , as whitish , green and white , and the most perfect absolute green . the pearls are found in greatest plenty in the north seas , and they are roundest and most orient , although there are great store at the island of pearls in the south seas , which is some 25 miles from panama . in the north seas , where i say are the best ; the principall fishing for them is at the river of haca , which runneth between the province of sancta , martha and carthagena , and also at the islands of margreata , and cumana . they are found in oyster-shels of the colour of heaven , fastned to gravell or rocks , six , nine , and twelve fathome under water , and brought from thence by negro slaves , which are so expert in diving , that some of them will continue half an hour under water . chap. 4. of the island of new found land . in order to a perticular description of this new world , i shall first speak of the islands , of which the most septentrionall , is new-found land , which stretcheth north and south , from 46 degrees and a half , to 50 and a half of latitude . the natives of this place are few , and savage , neither is there any thing in this countrey to invite a plantation , it is so rockie , and barren . but for the commoditie of fish , which are taken on the coast in great plenty , there are some men that do endure the heat of summer , and cold in winter , both which come in extreams , some are french , but the most english , in whose hand lieth the supream power , the plenty of fish ( wch sort is wel known in england , by the name of new-found land fish ) inviteth many ships thither , whose lading is procured sometimes by themselves , but for the most part by the dwellers in the place . this island lyeth at the mouth of the river canida , distant from the continent at the north end neer half a league , and the south west point is about a league from cape briton , and by the one of these ways , you passe to the river canida . chap. 5. martins vineyard . the next island that is seated is martins vineyard . it is a small island on the coast of new england , and the governour is appointed by the councill of boston , the chief government , in new england ; it is 20 miles long , and 10 broad : and upon it are forty english families , with divers peaceable indians , that live by hunting and fishing . the soil is rocky , but affordeth some english grain , and virginia corn . they have no commerce , but with the indians of the mayn , for skins of bever , &c. and some little corn they send to boston . there is great plenty of fish on the coast , which they procure the indians to catch them at an easie rate . chap. 6. long island south west of martins vineyard , lieth long island . it is in length sixty english miles , and fifteen in breadth . the north east end is seated by some english , which have been thrust from new england for their judgement . the most of them holding the christian tenent of confession before baptisme . at the south west end , there are some few dutch and english . this island is a fruitfull soil for english grain and milet , and of a good air . the seas about it are well stored with fish , and the woods , with deer and turkeys , and it hath many quiet indians , that live by hunting and fishing . the dutch plantation layeth claim to this island , so doth the south government of new england , but at present , the inhabitants live without duty to either . there are divers other islands on this coast , but not any seated , or considerable to a plantation . the principall on the coast of new england , are in the naraganset , and masy●●sis bayes , and neer the swedes plantation . some few in delaware bay . and smiths island at the north cape of virginia ; and from the cape charls , which is the south cape of the chesapea●k bay in virginia , till you come to cape hatrask , are no islands . this cape is a point of an iland in 36 degrees , and from thence till you come to the point of st. helena , which is in 32 degrees , all the coast along are broken islands uninhabited , the best is within cape hatrask in the same height . it is called roanock , and is of 18 miles compasse to the south-ward of the mouth of the river occam in old virginia . it is bad coming to it by reason of the shelves of cape hatrask , which lyeth far out at sea , by which cape , he that will go to the said island must passe . chap. 7. the bermudas , or somers islands . this island lyeth distant from the main 200 leagues , in 33 degrees , and 20 minutes . it is 20 miles long , and something more then two miles in breadth . and temperate in relation to heat and cold , but violent in the blustring winds , which often haunteth their coasts , but a most wholsome place to live in , and wel replenished with our nation , that live there without want , for there is store of milet or virginia corn , and potatoes , divers sorts of fruits , as muskmelons , water-melons , figs , plants , papans , limons , oranges & limes : plenty of flesh , as turkeys , hens , pork and beef , and on the coast much fish . the commodity they yearly export , is some tobacco of the worst sort , beef , and pork . the spanish wracks that often happens on their coast , furnisheth them with pieces of eight . and the best sort have their negro slaves to work for them . this iland is almost surrounded with rocks and shelves , but on the south-side is an open road , and toward the east end a good harbour , hard to hit , without an islande ▪ for pilot. when you first mark● the island , it appears as a rock in the sea , going almost right up a● a great way from the water , and i● hath a delightfull aspect , but ' ti● little better then a rock , there being but two foot of mould on the greatest part of it , under which , there is a kind of hard substance , much like pumistone . chap. 8. of the islands of lucaos , or bahama . these islands are south-west from the barmuda's , and to the north of portorico , hispaniola and cuba , the most eminent is lucayoneque in 27 degrees . it hath almost to the west the island of bahama . from whence the channell of bahama between florida , and the sholdes de los mimbres taketh name . the current of this channell , seateth so hard to the north , that although winds be prosperous , the ships cannot enter it , and if it be crosse , they will go with the current . next to bahama , is a small isle surrounded with the shelves of bimny . there is like wise the island of abacoa , of 12 leagues long , another called yuma , of 20 leagues , and eight in breadth , in 24 degrees and a halfe . yuemeata is in 23 degrees and a half , 15 leagues in length , and north , from hispaniola , lieth samana , 7 leagues each way . and between yuemeata and guanema lieth yabaque of 10 leagues in 22 degrees and a half . the miara parvos are three smal islands that by triangle , and are compassed with shelves . south from yuemeata , is magaguana , of 20 leagues in length , and the halfe in breadth in 23 degrees , quaqua of 10 leagues in 20 degrees and a half . north from quaqua are the cacos , of five leagues , in 21 degrees . the island of mackre stands in 20 degrees , and is compassed with shelues . and in 20 degrees lieth the shelves of abreo , of 15 leagues long , but east from mackre . on these islands are no inhabitants , those that did live there were a harmless simple people , and therefore the easier taken and carried away by the spaniards that have made them so desolate , many of them seem of a good mould , and the latitude promiseth much fertility . the arie is certainly good and wholsome , and not so extream hot , as other parts of that height . there is scarcely any beast on them save a cony , that hath a taile like a rat , but pigeons and brids in great numbers ; most of them of greenish colour . there is the gumme benjamin of the best and worst sort , guacom , and sasaprila , and sasafras , and on some of them red wood and amber-greece . the english sea-men are little acquainted with these islands although they saile round them yearely . and since i petitioned for them , which was six years ago , and my absence hindred my prosecution : captain sail and others have obtained a patent , making thither on the coast of an island , which he called illutheria ; his ship was wrackt , but the people of the ship all saved , but recovered the shoare with few necessaries , i saw him after his escape from thence in a small boat of 3 tuns recovering virginia , where he procured a pinnace of near 25 tuns , with which he carried relief to those he left in the island . but i understand by a master of a bark , that went from new england , that on a division was among them , they were leaving the island . in my discourse with the said sail , i understod that none of his company knew the place they intended , or were ever there , when they undertook the voyage . the coasts of most of them are dangerous , and bad to make , and that ship that shall be neer , or amongst them must keep the lead always going , but with a wary pilot , and care in giving the islands a fair birth , they are easily recovered . the spaniards know this place well , and have a yearly trade thither for the aforesaid commodities , and amongst the islands are wracks of divers of their ships . chap. 9. of hispaniola . south of the lucayos lyeth the islands of barlevento , which are not onely the best of america , but almost beyond compare , were they as well furnished with people , as they are with necessaries to maintain them . they be in the hand of the spaniard , almost without people . for hispaniola , that is the chief , and in 18 , 19 , 20 degrees , and 150 leagues east and west , hath but one city , no town nor village , but what is inhabited by negro's , that are servants to the spaniards . here is a perpetuall summer , the winter being but the rain that falleth . this land is exceeding pleasant , and hath divers vallies , one being so great , as to reach from the one side of the island to other , that hath many golden rivers issuing into it , which vallies are always stocked with multitudes of wilde kine , goats , hogs , shag-hair'd sheep and horses , amongst which , as their deadly enemy , are many wild dogs , that are bred of such as have been lost a hunting , and run away from the spaniards : the woods have abundance of oranges , limons , limes , cotton-wool and plantens , and many green birds . the commodities the spaniards yearly export from thence is ginger , sugar , cotton-wool , cassia , fistula , sasaprila , and lignum vitae ; with tallow , and a hundred thousand hides , which are yearly gotten of those wild cattell , which are the largest of the world . there are divers rivers that afford gold , and some mines which are not now worked , great plenty of copper and other minerall . the city where the spaniards dwel , is called santo domingo , it standeth on the south side of the island neer the east end , on the west-side , the river osama in 19 degrees and a half , fairly built with stone , and walled about with a castle on the said river , between the town and the sea . here are resident the supream council of the islands , the officers of the goods and royall treasure , a mint-house , and the cathedrall , that hath for sufferance the bishoprick , of cuba portrico , fenescula , and the abbotship of jamecca . here are also monasteries of franciscans , dominicans , and mercenaries ; and two nunneries , a grammar-school , and an hospitall . the people in this city , live in great pleasure , enjoying , beside the foresaid plenty of flesh , many excellent fruits all the year long , as bonanoes , pine-apples , custard-apples , plantens , papans , musk-melons , water-melons , and many other fruits and hearbs , store of turkeys , and poultrey . and their bread they make of the ●oot yuca , called cascaby , but they have plenty of milet and potatoes . on the coasts , are first the point of nisao , ten leagues to the west of santo domingo , and eighteen leagues , further is the port ocoa , which is a bay , where the fleets of nova hispani● take refreshing , when they do not anchor in the nooke of sepesepin , which is neer unto it , or in another called the fair haven , two leagues before you come to ocoa . and 20 leagues beyond ocoa is the port of asua . and 30 leagues more westwardly there is a large point right against the island of bola , which lieth five leagues from the coast . the most westerly point , is called cape tibron . it hath an island three leagues from it west called caprio , and sailing along the coast you will see an island called camito , and further in the nooke of yaguana there is an island called guanabo , of eight leagues long . of the north side of the island the most westwardly cape and port is saint nicol , as from whence north-east and by east , lyeth the island of tortaga , neer the coast of hispaniola , it is of five leagues length , and governed by a frenchman . and further along the coast is montey cristey , the west cape of the port of nativedad , to the east of which there is a great bay called port real . this island is so full of harbours , as he that will coast it , cannot well misse of one where he pleaseth , most of which afford refreshing of fresh meat and good water . in many parts of this island , especially on the north side are english men always lying to kil cattle , for their hides onely , they live in tents , ten , and twenty in a company , and have shallops to attend them , to conveigh them away when they please , most commonly to turtagues which is their head quarter , for it is neer lying . chap. 10. of the island of cuba . this island lyeth west from hispaniola , and is 200 leagues long east and west , the broadest part not 45. what hispaniola affordeth is here in good plenty , but the land neither so pleasant nor wholsome . the gold of this island is not so good in his allay , as that of hispaniola , but copper is here in greater quantity . it hath two remarkable things , the one is a valley of 20 leagues , that within the earth hath stones as round as a bullet , and from hence the spaniards may furnish themselves with shot of all sizes . the other is a fountain of a kind of pitch which runneth continually . all the natives here , as well as at hispaniolia , are destroyed by the spaniards , but in both places they have store of negro servants : their delicatest fare in this island is patridges , which are in great abundance . over all the island , the spaniards breed them up tame , and esteem them the sweetest eatable flesh in the world . it hath two fair towns , the best , which is of greatest resort , is the town of havana , that lyeth on the north-coast in 22 degrees : it hath neer 900 housholds , there is resident in it the governour of cuba , a cathedrall with monasteries of dominicans , franciscans , and one of nuns . in this haven all the spanish ships of the indies , meet together , and return to spain : the town is rich but unfortified to the land , but the harbour is strongly secured by two castles , that lye a little within the mouth of it . this harbour is counted an exceeding good one for security of ships , but on the south-east part of the island , there is the harbour or port of saint james , which for greatnesse and goodnesse , is esteened one of the best in the world . it lyeth 40 leagues from cape tibron , in hispaniola , in 20 degrees . it hath the city of saint james standing on the side of it , two miles from the sea . this city is of 300 houses , but of small commerce . it hath a monastery of franciscan friars , and nothing else remarkable . to the west of it 25 leagues , lyeth the port of spirito sancto , and further west lyeth the queens gardens , which is a shelf of sholds and islands , and 20 leagues further the port of trinitie , in 21 degrees and 30 leagues still westwardly the cape of the crosse , and 10 further the gulfe of xaqua , between which and cape anthony , which is the westerliest point of cuba , there are many small islands and sholds along the coast . the north coast is a cold coast , and hath many good harbours , besides that of the havana , the next in account to it is saint jaquis , which is 8 leagues east from the said haven , and not farre distant from the island , called the kings gardens from this city of saint jaques , the bishop hath his title . chap. 11. jamico island . this , island lyeth twenty leagues from cuba full south in 17 degrees and a half of latitude east and west it is fifty leagues , north and south , in the broadest place 20. it hath the fruits and cattle of hispaniola , but no mines of gold or copper . it is very plentifull of milet and swine , but more subject to turnados and hericanos then any of the other islands . here the inhabitants live in a plentifull manner ; and have on the north side of the island , the city of sivil , fairly built , it hath a governour and an abbot , a monastery of franciscan friars , who have their cloyster nuns . the westwardliest cape of the island is called morauta , and from thence along the north coast 10 leagues distant lyeth the port of jauca . and ten leagues forward the port of melila , and ten leagues further standeth the port of sivil , from whence the coast windeth to cabo dilfalcon . west from jameco are the islands of curymanos . and of the south coast five leagues lyeth the hermingo's which are dangerous shelves . chap 12. the island of saint john de portrico . this island lyeth from the hispaniola 15 leagues . it is 45 leagues east and west , and north and south 23. it aboundeth in all hispaniola hath , and it is the first place the spaniards have in the indies . and the city of portrico , which standeth on the north east part of the island , is strongly fortified , and naturally well scituated for defence in 18 degrees of latitude : it hath a governour , a bishop , and his cathedrall , and officers of the kings treasures , with two monasteries of friars . and 30 leagues to the west of this town standeth the village of asricebo . and 33 leagues south-west from portrico , standeth the town of saint jerman , t is on the west-end of the island . the north coast is foul and shelvie , but east from portrico is the river of luysa and canoba . and the furthest west on the south coast is caprio , and west from it at sea 5 leagues lyeth the island of mona , a small island , and as far north to other little islands . and the natives here and at jameca , have been totally destroyed by the spaniards , so that at this day there is not one to be found . chap. 13. sancta crux , the virgins , virgin gorda , blances , anagada , sombrito . east from portrico , lye the caribeys , which by the spaniards are called the wether islands : the natives are men-eaters , and a very warlike couragious people . the most westerly is sancta crux , it ●yeth in 16 degrees and a half , and ● sixteen leagues in length : it is in the hand of the english , but few live there . the plague that hath been so hot in these ilands , begun at this , as men report , although the other hath been since as sickly , i suppose it is the cause , it is no better seated , for undoubtedly this is the best iland , and the largest the english possesse in the indies , and neerest adjoyning to the spaniard , which might be made ( if it were well managed ) a great advantage : it is capable of the same fruits , roots and seeds hispaniola hath , and sugar-canes , and lyeth neer adjoyning to the virgins , which are a little iland compassed with shelves neer eight or ten more the greatest of ten leagues , with virgin , gorda , and the blancos , or white ilands . and west from virgin gorda , lieth anagada , which is seven leagues long in 18 degrees and a half , and compassed with shelves . and neer to it lyeth sombrito , another small ile . these are all inhabited with canibles , except sancta crux , whether sometimes they come a roving also . chap. 14. angula . angula is the next which hath ten leagues of length , and is in 18 degrees . it hath some few english on it with excellent salt-pits , and a good road for ships . chap. 15. saint martins . saint martins lyeth in 17 degrees , and a half , of fifteen leagues long , now possest by the dutch , being lately forsaken by the spaniards , that had a castle in it , garison'd by souldiers . it is compass'd with smal ilets , and hath good plenty of salt . chap. 16. eustas . it is commonly call'd stasies , and seated by flushingers of zealand , as the principal owners : it hath 10 leagues in length , and maketh good west india tobacco . chap. 17. saint bartholomew . this island is full of caniballs , and hath 10 leagues of length . chap. 18. saint christophers . saint christophers is of ten leagues in length , and seated by english and french , each having a governour of their own nation . there is a kind of equality in their strengths , for what the english want of the french number , they make good by their english spirits , which doe not degenerate with the climate . this island is so populous , that ground can hardly be obteined . the french and english are intermixed so together , that with much difficulty could either hinder a secret designe though there is constant gaurds upon each others borders . they make some sugar in this island , some indico , and cotton-wooll , but most tobacco . chap 19. nivis , or the snowes barbada and redouda . the english that seat it call it neavis . it is of five leagues in length , lying within a league of st. christophers . here is the best sugar of the caribey islands , some indico , bnt little cotton or tobacco . it is an aguish country and unwholsome , but by the good government that hath been amongst them , the people live the happiest of all the caribey islands . and in 17 degrees lyeth the barbada and redouda , each of five leagues , and in the hands of the canibals . chap. 20. monserat . monserat is seated by irish , of five leagues neere the redouda . the inhabitants plant most tobacco and some indico . chap. 21. antego , margelante , dominica , matinina santalusa , gardelupa , dodos sanctos , deseada . antego lyeth between 14 and 15 degrees . it hath a good air , and is planted by the english with tobacco , indico , cotton-wool , and sugar . it lyeth ueer unto gardelupia , and dodos sanctos on which there lives some french with the canibals , which are in great numbers on these two ilands . the deseada is six leagues to the gardelupia in 14 degrees and a half , seated by the canibals margalante , is five leagues from dominique , and seated by the canibals , with french amongst them . dominica lyeth in 13 degrees , and is 12 leagues in length . it hath good roads , and watting places , but in danger of the canibals , that are the lords of this iland , with whom the french live in peaceable manner . and neer dominica , is matinina and sancta lusia , which is 14 degres 20 minutes , and both possest by canibals . chap. 22. the burbudos . this iland is commonly called the barbados , but the ancient name is the burbudos to the seacors of the indies or carera de las indies . it is a lee island as those of barlevento , & the caribes are to weather of the starbord bow . it lyeth in 13 degrees 30 minutes , and thoroughly inhabited with english , and negroes their servants . this iland flourisheth so much , that it hath more people and commerce then all the ilands of the indies : their principall commodity is sugar of the worst sort , indico and some cotton-wool and little tobacco . here are pieces of eight in greatest plenty of any english plantation in america . in so much that of late they buy and sell most small matters for ready money : it is strong in men , but no fortification yet perfected , and not easily brought under by a common way of war . there are store of oxen and kine in this plantation , as also swine which they keep up in pends , & horses , but by reason of the great number of inhabitants and occasion for beasts of draught and burthen , cattell is a good commodity , so is all kind of provision , and it yeildeth the best return . it hath divers fruits and poultrey : and as there is a greater trade here then in the rest of the islands , yet in regard the sellers are , well matched by the buyers , i conceive it the worst plantation to goe to either to live or make a voyage and returne . for what is here , is as well in the rest of the islands , and much more conveniency to plant , for here they have too many people , and in them there is too few , and in most of them ground enough . chap. 23. trinidado . and more southwardly are the rest of these lee ilands , of which the greatest is the trinidado , in eight degrees of north latitude : it hath fifty leagues east and west , and almost 30 in breadth : the air is here very pestiferous , which makes that this is the unwholsomest iland in the whole indies , but many indians that being bred to it , live there without much sicknesse : it hath a colony of spaniards seated in a town called saint joseph , where is resident a governour , and about 200 spaniards with the help of the indians make much of that tobacco , which is sold in spain , for spanish tobacco , to the english , and others . the most orientall part of it is the point de la jaleria , from whence du north lyeth the small iland of tobago , compassed with ilets : in the south-side is the round point andrada , and on the west-side the gulf of paria , which lyeth between it and the firm land : to the north are saint vincents and granado , two little ilands . chap. 24. margreata , tortuga , gardiner , caracute , cubava , & tamasca . twenty leagues west from trinidado lieth margreata : it is 16 leagues east and west , and the half in breadth : it hath but little water , yet plentifull of pasture , and many cattle , with two spanish towns , which standeth neer the sea : it hath a fortresse to defend it , and a good harbour , which is before the town : in this fortresse , resides the governour , and treasure for the king of spains customes , of pearl , which is worth at the least fifty thousand pounds yearly . and two leagues from this town within the land is the other , whose inhabitants are most planters , but that on the sea is possest by merchants , & divers for pearls , which are in good plenty on this coast . and the ile cabagua , a league off at sea from whence every saturday at night , the pearl fishers return to margareta . to the east of cubagua , are losfralos , which is four little ilands close aboard the shore . and to the east are the witnesses , and west lyeth tortuga , and farther west lyeth the ile of gardiner : it is ten leagues long , and by it curaco : in which the dutch have a fort and some souldiers : neer unto which is another iland called curacute of 14 leagues in length . and north from curacute is the iland of aruba : in which two last mentioned , there are some peaceable indians , that speak spanish . from the trinidado along the coast , there are few ilands , save those that are at the mouth of the river amisons and oroinoque , which are low and flat , and on the violent risings of the rivers commonly overflown , which makes the inhabitants provide them lodgings in the trees , which are there very great : these indians have their canoes to attend them , by which they passe not only to their neighbours , but fish , and go to the land at pleasure . furthermore on the land of brazil , there are some small ilands , the most remarkable is the tamerica : it is inhabited by the portugals , it hath a fair town on the south-side ; and a harbour , with store of red wood . chap. 25. of the north-west passage , and the lands called nova britania , or nova framuncia . that which is most remarkable in this north part of america , is the straight of the north west passage , which is generally talked of , and indeed is nothing but a narrow difficult passage to buttons bay , the entrance being properly called hudsons straight , in regard of his first finding it : the mouth of this straight lyeth in 62 degrees , and because of the impossibility of this mathematicall story , i shall say , there is certainly no such straight , as this which they call anian , or the north-west passage : it hath been so thorowly searched into by our nation that can give no incouragemēt to a farther trial , save that story men tel of a manuscript in portugall , shewed to one of our merchants of the passage that way , of a portugall ship of the phi●●ipinus droven from thence by foule weather , through this straight to portugall , but to men that know the distance between that streight , and those ilands , it would seem the most ridiculous story in the world , beside the falsity of the informers : the greeks relation being a far better story , for he saith in regard he was taken by squire candis in the south-sea , and lost all he had , to procure some relief in his old age , he would advise the english a speedier way to the east-indies then they now took . and this intelligence he giveth after he is retired to his native country , to repose from his troublesome way of adventuring to sea . from whence we may easily guesse , for the bad turn our nation did him , he would not wish us a good one , but the scope of his intelligence being but to have a bill of exchange to receive money , as he pretended to come into england . but how likely it was , that he would leave those rich parts of america , which he lived in with the spaniards to retire to his own nation , and from thence to undertake a voyage for us to the worst place in the world , a rationall man cannot apprehend . but were there such a passage , it would much more concern the portugals , and the spaniards , then it doth the english , for their trade is to the north part of the east indies , and ours to the south : theirs to the moluccos , philipinaes , japan , and china , whereas we seldome passe beyond bantam in java , but were there a passage that way , yet it were not to be chosen before the other , for could a man sail in a strait line : first , from england to the straight , and then from the straight to the east indies , it would prove a farther way than the other by the cape of bonaspei . but those that know any thing of those seas , know that the sea course to any part of north america is as low as 23 , 24 , 25 , or 30 the highest . for the wind which bloweth in the south sea east and west , as well as in the north , that is to say , for the most part west without the tropicks , and almost constantly east within them . wherefore you must go out of your way aswell from the north part of america , to the east-indies , as from england to this supposed straight : and there is as much difference in relation to pleasantnesse in voyages , as between summer and winter . for when you are clean of the bay of biscai in all the voyage , by the cape you find no cold weather till you return to the same place again , but to the contrary , is so cold & icy about the straight in the middle of summer , that there is no making way without much difficulty and trouble . and in the south sea , where the sun keeps the same course as in the north in june , sir francis drake in compassing the world found so much cold in thirty eight degrees north latitude , that he was forced into a southerly course . and this makes a strong probability that there is no sea to the north of america , but that the land of this new world reacheth by the north parts ; even to the northwardly provinces of the empire of japan , or tartaria . for i finde that the winds that blow west and north-west in england being sea winds are not so cold , as those that come east and north-east , which are land-winds . which i apprehend the onely cause of difference in the temperature of the air with us , and the north parts of america . for new england that lyeth in 41 & 42 is much colder in the winter then the most northwardly parts of england , which are in 56. and those parts of america , that are in that height are cold , almost the whole year through , as the undertakers in the north passage plainly prove , and this is caused certainly by the land-wind , which that height for the most part bloweth west , and northwardly , which is so much more colder , in regard it cometh from those vast regions that are far thicker and untill'd & uninhabited with wood swamps , and such moist crudities , as are not in europe . on the land of the north-side hudsons straight , there hath been seen some of the wild natives , but how they live is a kind of miracle . and from the south of this strait , till you come to new england is but one plantation , which is at the fort of kebeck , on the north-west side the river canada , 100 leagues from the island antecostey , that lieth at the mouth of the said river . the french drive a great trade with the natives for bever-skins in exchange of hatchets , knives , penny looking-glasses , bels , beads , and such toys . there are good store of the natives in these parts all alongst the coast , and are willing to exchange such commodities as they have , for such truck as the french bring them , although it is to be done with much care to prevent their treachery . chap. 26. new england . the plantations of the north government of new england , beginneth about 44 degrees , and the coast is indifferently seated with english , almost as southwardly as 41. this countrey at first was laid out in severall proportions to divers noblemen and gentlemen of england , each having within his circuit a severall power . but at this day , it hath but three divisions onely , that is to say : the north and his bounds , the middle and the south ; the north government is the worst , and hath fewest people : the middle government is that of boston , which is the best , and hath most inhabitants . the south is the government of new plimouth , in which is the best ground : the north government hath scarce a town worthy the name of a village ; but the middle hath many towns and villages . the principall is boston fairly built , the great street is neer half a mile long , full of wel-furnished shops of merchandize of all sorts . here is ●esident a councill , and the governour , which is yearly chosen from amongst them : this town hath a good port , called the bay of boston , with many ships , which ●s secured with a castle , guarded with souldiers and ordnance . neer boston lyeth charles town , and five miles into the countrey ●s the town of cambridge , that hath university with many students . the south government is that of new plimouth , that hath the name from the town , which is a indifferent market town . the land of all this region generally barren and rocky , but the care of the inhabitants supplyet● the naturall defects of the country , from the proceed of the commodities it affordeth , which is pi●staves , clabbord , fish , englis● grain , and fruits , with the buildin● of ships , which they often sell ● other parts , and iron works ; wi● these they drive a trade to mo● parts of europe , especially to spai● the canary and caribey island● it is a wholsome air , and the english people are well-colour'd , an● have many children which thri● well in that countrey . they punish sin as severely as the jews d● in old time , but not with so good warrant . and they have broug● the indians into great awe , but n● to any gospell knowledge . chap. 27. new holland . to the southwest of new england , lyeth the dutch planta●ion . it hath good ground , and good ayr , but few of that nation ●nhabiting there , which maketh ●hat there is few plantations in the and , and but one village , whose ●nhabitants are part english , and ●art dutch . here is resident the the governour appointed by the ●est india company . this vil●age lyeth on hudsons river in 40 ●nd a half , three miles within the ●outh of the river , and almost ●yning to a fort that hath guns , ●ut they are unmounted . there is ●●e fort of orange , 30 miles up the ●●d river , and there is a mill to saw boards for the colony : the● have here indifferent plenty o● english and indian corn , but the best profit is the trade with the natives for bever , and other skins● those that trade here pay 16 i● the hundred custome to the west● india company of holland . thes● dutch are mischievous neighbours● for with their indian trade they● supply the natives with guns and ammunition , which in time may prove their own confusion , and doth already prejudice their neighbours . chap. 28. the swedes plantation . the swedes are seated between● the dutch and virginia , in a village by a fort which lyeth eight miles within delaware river . on the north side the said river , they are few in number , and their principall businesse is their commerce with the indians , for they have little or no cattle . they furnish the indians with guns and weapons as the dutch do , and once in a year have commonly a supply and relief from swethland , by a ship that fetcheth their skins and other truck . chap. 29. virginia . virginia is to the southward of the swedes , and the north cape of the great bay that leadeth to virginia , and maryland lyeth distant from the swedes fort neer 130 english miles : this bay is 240 miles up navigable for the biggest ships , it lyeth almost north and south , and it receiveth divers rivers , which issueth into it from the west and east ; those on the west-side are both the biggest and most : those on the east-side are not many nor great . this coast is also a flat coast as is new holland , and the swedes . the english are seated on the east-side the bay , from the said point called cape charles , and by the creeks and bay-side 30 miles up the bay . without the said cape are certain islands called smith's islands , which are broken low grounds , unfit for habitation . on the west-side the bay , within cape henry 8 miles lieth the water , call'd lin-haven , which issueth there into the bay : it hath divers branches , on which there are plantations even to the head of most of them . and between the said haven , and james river , which is distant 12 miles is two small creeks that are indifferently seated , but on the side of the great bay , there is no plantation between the cape and james river , which is distant from ●● 20 miles : this river floweth more then 120 miles , and almost so far navigable for good ships . it ●● shelvie and dangerous without ● good pilot : it receiveth divers rivers and creeks on the east-side : the most eminent is the elizabeth river , which issueth into the great river within eight miles of the ●ndy point , that is the first point of the south-side the great river , and over against point comfort ●●and , by which you must keep ●ose aboard , by ●reason the river ● there onely to be entred , four ●iles higher then elizabeth river , ●nawcimond river , which two are ●e principall ; and on the west-side ●e most eminent , and best is chick●money , whose mouth is 10 miles beyond james town : this ma● river , as also the rivers and cree● that run into it , are seated by t● water-side , onely by reason of t● conveniency of carriage . and between point comfort and york , there is a small river , ca●led the pecoson river , which is se●ted , and then a little further y● river , which is a fair river , a● navigable 20 miles for ships . t● river is seated neer fifty miles ● but on the east-side better than ● the west . and the other riv●● which run into the bay betw● this and maryland , are payankat● and to pahanoc , and the great ri● of patowmek are unseated with a● but the natives . here is go● plenty of millet , but not mu● english grain . for which this r●gion is not so naturall as new england or new holland , for the cr● within a year or two will dege●rate . their onely commodity tobacco , which i think to be more ●aturall to the countrey then any other thing . the best sort is the ●weet sented , which is not inferiour ●● the spanish : cattle are of the ●me price here as in england and ●ew england , and by reason there ●e no markets , and little money ● buy them , fresh meat is very ●arcely eaten . the virginia pro●rb is , that hogs and women thrive ●ell amongst them . but the later ( i ●ink ) are indifferently subject to ●● fa●e of those men that go there which is much sicknesse or death . ●or the air is exceeding unwhol●me , insomuch as one of three ●●rcely liveth the first year at this ●e ; though formerly they re●rt , the mortality hath stretcht ● the taking away of eleven of ●elve . the reason of this is not ●e latitude , for that is 37 degrees , ●d a half . in which lyeth many ●cellent wholsome countreys , but i conceive it to be the chang●blenesse of the weather , which ● mighty extream in heat and co● and as various as the wind bo● winter and summer . the ne● cause is the swamps , standing-●ters and marishes , and mighty sto● of rivers , and low lying of t● land . there is two other pernicio● companions that haunt the engl● inhabitants , the one is the disea● called the country duties , whi● they originally caught of the in●ans , and the cure is the same the use in england for the french po● it being almost alike . the other ● the rattle-snake , so called , for t● rattle in her taile , whose bitin● are present death . and this v● mine in the summer is so stirri● that they are in the fields , woo● and commonly in their houses , ● their great anoyance , yet this mo●tality do●h rather harden the pe●ples hearts , then bring them ● god , for i think they are the far●est from conscience and morall ●onesty , of any such number together in the world . and for want ●f administration of justice , there ●e many have left the place , and ●e gone to maryland , which lyeth ● the bay . the virginia bread ● commonly of millet , called ●oane . and if the servants have ●ough of that , their complaint ●il procure no remedy . the rivers ●d creeks afford much fish in ●ummer , and furze in the woods , ●ood store of deer and turkeys ● winter , and fowl by the water●de in divers places , and yet is pro●sion so scarce that they are all ●e year furnished with fish and ●ase , and bisket from new eng●nd . the great resort of shipping ● in winter , for then is the tobac● struck into cask , and fit for ●le . this countrey is for the most part plain , with few hils , and we● it not so woody , probably not altogether so unwholsome . it is without any minerall , sa● iron , stone , which is in great ple●ty . in divers parts of the cou●trey , the natives are under contr●bution of the governour , and pa● him great tributes of skins , and ● them with good priviledges ov● the english , which in time ma● prove a third massacre . chap. 30. maryland . this province is divided fro●virginia by the great riv●patomuk . it lying on the nort●side the said river , and west-si● of the great virginia bay . it ● more wholsome then the parts ● vrginia now seated , and better ●r english grain . the english in●bitants are few , and those of ●fferent religions ; for some a●ongst them are papists , but most ●otestants . there hath always ●en toleration in religion , and is ● this present . the natives of this place have ●ver been treacherous to the eng● , but doth them good service in ●eir grounds , cattle , and hogs . ●any of their children being bred ● amongst them : they live here in ●●ater plenty than at virginia , as ●ving more range of the woods , ●d fewer neighbours with indian ●oodsmen to kill them meat . those that are come from virginia , are seated on the river bolus , ● next to the river patomuk up ● bay , and by such as are draw●g thither from new england , and ●ily go from virginia , it is likely ● be a flourishing countrey . chap. 31. old virginia . south frō this uirginia , lieth ● province , known by the na● of old uirginia , it is remarka● for cape hatrask , that lyeth neer 36 degrees . from which ca● far out at sea is flat shelvy groun● the cape is a point of a brok● island , and hath between it a● the main roanock island to t● south of the river ockam , whi● there issueth into the sea . t● river is deep within and broa● but so shallow at the mouth , that pinnace can hardly enter it at hi● water , otherwise it were conve●ent for a plantation . for it is fa● beyond uirginia in all respects , any land we possesse in the ma● the indians of this river pay contribution to the governour of uirginia . and along this coast till you come to florida , is no plantation , nor inhabitants but the natives . chap. 32. florida . this province begins in 34 degrees , and hath on the eastcoast before you come to the cape of florida , two forts , in which are spanish garrisons . the first and most northerly is the fort of saint mark , within the point of saint helena , in 32 degrees and a half distant from the havena incuba 100 leagues . the other is called saint augustine , which is the principall , because the haven is good , and neer the channell of bahama , in 29 degrees 40 minutes . the point of canes in 28 which hath to the south the river ages , and at the cape of florida , are many little islands called the martors , and these islands reach from the said cape within a league , and a half of cuba . the head of the martors to the east hath an island of 14 leagues but very narrow . the out-most eastern point lyeth in 24 degrees and a half , and from the cape of florida to the goverment of pancuco along the coast of the sea , is 300 leagues , which seas are called the gulf of new spain . in all this coast there is no town nor plantation , and few indians , by reason the spaniards have taken them away to other parts . there hath not been worked mines either of gold or silver in this florida . neither have the spaniard any commodity from them save indians . this gulf of new spain , or mexico hath two entrances ; the one is between youcatan and cuba , where the stream commeth fiercely in , the other is between cuba , and the cape of florida , where it runneth more violently out . chap 33. of new spain . besides this province of florida , the king of spain in this northern america , hath three great kingdomes . the first and principall is the kingdom of new spain , the second is the kingdome of galisia , the third the kingdom of gutemalia , and the province of varagua , that adjoyneth to the straight of dearian , and is properly of the councill of panama . the kingdom of spain hath in it a viceroy and councill , intituled the viceroy of mexico . and within his government the province and bishoprick of mexico , that of tlascala , guaxaca , mechoan , chiapa , yucatan , and panuco . the indirns of this kingdome are of two sorts ; the chickamecans , which are a sort of rogues , that live much after the manner of toreges , or ancient irish , by robbing and spoiling passengers on the way : towns and villages . and the other live even as decently as the spaniard , and are of all trades and vocations , as they are , of sharp wits , and of great agility of body , as appeareth by their extraordinary feats of activity on the rope , and tumblings . this kingdome is a high countrey , for the most part of it , and for riches , pleasantnesse , and wholsomnesse , accounted one of the best in the world , as lacking nothing naturally that is to be had , excepting wine and oil , which they might also have , but that it is forbidden , to plant vineyards , or olive yards by the king of spain , and it hath divers things not elswhere to be had both of trees , herbs and drugs . chap 34. the councill of new galisia . this kingdome of new galisia , hath no viceroy , but is governed by a councill , whose bounds is parted from new spain at the port of nativity on the south sea , to the north , north-west , and north-east . it hath no bounds , but may inlarge their territories , as they see occasion on the indians . it hath already these provinces . the first guadalaiaca , xalisco , sacaticas , chiamerla , culiacan , new biscai , and sivaloa . and this kingdome is not much inferiour to new spain , and it hath the same sorts of indians . chap. 35. gutamalia kingdome . this kingdome of gutamalia is governed as the other by a council , without a viceroy , and is the southwardliest region of this north america , and hath within its bounds the provinces of gutamalia , from whence the kingdome taketh name . soconusco , chiapa , suchitepeque , verapas , honduaras , and cacos . saint saviour , and saint michael , nievaraqua , chuluteca , taquesgalpa , and costarica , or the rich coast . the indians in these provinces are more warlike than the rest , and have more unwillingly submitted to the spanish yoake , and therefore they have had almost continuall wars , the most of the indians living till very lately after the manner of the chickamecians ; though many of them are docible as the indians of mexico . this is a rich wholsome kingdome , not inferiour to galisia , but rather exceeds it . but when i come to each perticular province , i shall name them as they adjoyn on the coast of the sea . chap. 36. of panuco . this province is neer adjoyning to florida , and parted from it by the river of palms , which lyeth in 28 degrees of north latitude . that part of it that lyeth next to mexico , is the best , and hath the greatest plenty of victuals , with som● gold : the other side , which is next florida , is poor and barren . this province hath three spanish towns : panuco , in something more then 23 degrees . it is distant from mexico 65 leagues , neere a river , whose entrance is a haven : it is governed by a chief justice , provided by the viceroy of new spain . the village of saint james , of the valea , 20 leagnes to the west of panuco . the village of saint lucas , 8 leagues from panuco , to the north-east , neer to the sea . there is no river nor haven in this coast but panuco , and palmes which are not very good , and not many indians . chap. 37 . the province of talascalia , or angels . the next to panuco , on the ● coast of the north sea lyeth ●s province of talascalia or lo●els ; with in its government are ●r spanish cities . the best is ●sangels , seated by a river that ●neth into the south sea . it ●deth off the side of a long plain ●● from mexico 22 leagues , and ●taineth neer 3000 housholds , in ●● streets , governed by a chief ●tice , and in it are resident the ●hedrall , with monasteries of ●minick , augustine , franciscan , ●mersed , and carmelite friars , ●h one of nuns , and a colledge of more than five hundred indi● children to be instructed in t● spanish religion and languag● and north of the angels is the c●ty of talascalia , in more than ● degrees of height with two tho● sand five hundred houses ▪ in whi● is a fair cloyster of francisc● friars . in the province of losangles , t● city of guaxaca , is the third , which are three monasteries friars , and two of nuns all ve● rich . this town is pleasant and o● wholsome aire , and not far fro● the river of alurado , the city of vera crux is ● english mile from the sea , ●i● leagues from the port of sai●john delua ▪ of four hundred spanish housholds , besides indians . ● it resides the kings treasurer for t● customes . this province hath abundan● of flax , wheat , sugar and ging● diversity of hearbs , and fruits , abundance of cattle , hogs and horses , many silver mines , 200 chief indian towns , and at least 40 monasteries of friars . the harbours and ports are on the north sea , the best of which is saint john de lua , which is made by a small island , whose bank is kept up by a wall , in which are iron and brasse rings , whereby cables they more fast their ships . this island hath on it a castle , which commandeth the harbour , that is entred by two channels ; the one to the north is the slat , the other is called the galisian channell . here the ships bound for nova hispania , and mexico unlade , and to the north of this port on the coast of this province is the river sempoalia , and upward the river of casons , and neer the government of panuco , fuspea , and tamagua , and to the south of the said saint john delva , is first the river of almerica , and further south , the river of alvarado . chap. 38. youcatan province . the north part of this province adjoyneth to the south of talascalia . it is a pen-insula , and in compasse 150 leagues . the temperature is hot and moist , it hath no river , but is full of good willows . it is a woody country , nor will it bear english grain , neither hath it gold or other minerall . but it hath many inhabitants , that are of the civillest sort of indians , in new spain , and great plenty of millet , swine , all sorts of cattle , horses , and much poultrey , much cotton , bombast , and ashurs . the inhabitants are healthy , and live to great age . there are four spanish towns , the city of meridia , is in the midst of the province in 20 degrees . in it are resident the governour , the officers of the revenue , and royall treasure , and cathedral suffragan to mexico , with one monastery of franciscan friars . the village of valiodalid is 31 leagues from meridia to the south ; and neer the coast of the honduras is salimanca , a fair town . and on the north coast the village of saint franciscus of campeach , in 20 degrees , fifty leagues from meridia . it is a reasonable good haven , but of little depth , on the coast of this province are many rocks , flats and isles , that there is scarcely any sayling within foure leagues of the shore , on which there is the greatest flouds and ebs of any part of new spain . chap. 39. the province of honduras . this province of the honduras adjoyneth unto the south part of yucatan , his coast stretcheth along the north sea as far as nicurayna , which is neer 150 leagues . it is a hilly countrey , plentifull of all sorts of cattle , and store of wheat , and mines of gold and silver : it hath six spanish towns and many peaceable indians . the city of valiodalid , standeth in 16 degrees , 40 leagues from the north sea . here is resident the governour , a cathedrall and a monastery of lamersed . the city of adios , is 30 leagues from valiodalid , to the west the village of saint petro , is 11 leagues from the port of cavalos , where the officers ●oyall are resident , because the port of cavalos is sickly , to which the ships come . this port of cavalos , is in 15 degrees on the north sea , there are few in it besides blackamores , and some factors , by ●eason of the unwholsomnesse of the place . the city of truxcillio , is 64 leagues from the cavalos , to the north-east a league from the north sea . the village of saint george is populous of indians , and rich in gold . the septentrionall point of this coast is the cape of eburus , in 16 degrees east , off which 20 leagues lyeth the river of pitch , and a little further riobaxco , and beyond it the river of balahama , and in 14 degrees and a half lyeth the river salt , and after that the cape of the three points , and from north the island of utilia , and to the north-east hellen and lyvanai ▪ and in 14 degrees the cape o●thanks be to god . and north from thence the three islands called , take away sleep . chap. 40. of the province of nicaragua . nicaragua lyeth next to the south-side of honduras : it is a plentifull countrey of coco , cotton-wool , millet , cattle , and much gold . it hath five spanish towns , & abundance of peaceable indians , which are most expert in the spanish tongue . the first and principall town is saint james , 12 leagues from the south sea , at the head of the lake , nicaragua , where the governour is resident , the royall officers and cathedrall , with five monasteries of lamersed , and many peaceable indians . the city of granado , standeth on the borders of this great lake , neer which is a famous volcan , that burns perpetually ; casting forth fire and smoak . a friar imagined there was much gold in it , because it never consumed the land about it , wherefore he caused a caldron to be fastned to a huge chain , and let it into the furnace . but the violence of the fire soon consumed it , and with all the friars hopes . this great lake of nicaragua , is full of islands , and by a kind of river hath an issue into the north sea , which river or passage it navigable for great vessels . and the head of this lake is within five leagues of the south sea , and good ground to be cut , by which it were easie ( if the spaniard so pleased ) to have passage from the south seas to the north sea . at the head of the said lake , the village of nalio , standeth in 11 degrees and a half on the south coast , and is the best port on that coast . on the north seas ( for this province reacheth from the north to the south seas ) is first the river of gare , that divideth nicvaragua , from honduras , south of it the river wipre , next the port of saint john , which is the voiding river , that comes from the great lake , that hath a great island lying in the mouth of it . in the south sea it hath the nalio , the port of saint james , and the port of paria , and nicoya , and on the coast the island of chora , saint mary , and saint mark . chap. 41. the province of castorica . this province lyeth between nickuragua , and caragua , between which it hath 90 leagues in length . it is a good land and very fruitfull in millet , wheat , flax , and sugar , plenty of mines both of gold and silver , and it hath two spanish towns : the first and best is curtago , the other mendoco . it hath two ports , one on the south sea , the other on the north . chap. 42. the province of varagua . this province lyeth between costarica , and panama , adjoyning on the south part to the strait of dariana . the northerliest is in 11 degrees , it hath east and west 50 leagues , and in breadth 25 , and is washed as costarica , with the north and south seas . it is a mountainous countrey full of bushes , without pasture or cattle , wheat or barley , but it hath some miller , but full of rich mines of gold . the indians are few , and they be in continuall wars with the spaniards . it hath the city of conception 40 leagues from nombre dd'ios , where the governour and officers are resident . the village of trinity , six leagues to the east of the conception , neer the river of bethelem , and three leagues from the north sea , the city of santey fei , standeth 12 leagues from the conception , to the south . in it are melting-houses , and deputy officers . the city of charles neer the coast of the south sea , 50 leagues from santey fei . at the end of this varagua beginneth the southern america . and therefore i shall return back to the other parts of this north america , which is not yet discovered . chap. 43. of the province of ciblioa . this province of ciblioa is the most northerly province that the spaniards possesse in america . it hath but one spanish town , but many well built cities of indians . the spanish town is called saint john of ciblioa . it hath a strong garrison of spaniards and mexican indians . the fairest indian town is quibra , that hath also a spanish garrison . this town is in 40 degrees , and distant from cibiloa 200 leagues , from whence it lieth due north . this region is apt for english grain , and produceth all sorts of our hearbs and fruits . here are store of all sorts of our cattle , and the oxe of the countrey , which hath a bunch of flesh on his back of the bignesse of a mans head , and his hair is shaggy and long , his horns smaller than our kines horns , but his body much bigger : this is an inland province , and lyeth from the sea many leagues . chap. 44. new biskay . this province lyeth on the south-west of cibola : it hath store of provision and cattle , and divers mines of silver . it hath two fair spanish towns , that is to say , sancta barbola , and the baro of saint john , with divers peaceable indians . it is an inland province , but of much commerce , by reason of the silver-mines . chap. 45. chiamerla . this province lyeth in more then two and twenty degrees of height . it is ten leagues broad , and something more in length : it lyeth along the south sea , but hath no ports of name . it hath a town of spaniards , call'd saint sebastian . it hath many rich silver mines , and sufficient of cattle , and all sorts of grain and fruits . chap. 46. culiacan . this province is the most northerly province the spaniards possesse on the coast of the south sea . it is west of chiametla : there are much cattle , seeds and fruits of england ; it hath two spanish towns : one is called the virgins , by which there are some silver mines ; the other the village of saint michael ; this is a small province , and hath no eminent port on the sea . chap. 47. sacetas . sacetas lyeth south-east from biscai . it is very wholsome in some parts of it , and as sickly and unwholsome in other parts , which causes that in some places there is much want , and in other places as much plenty . but to amend all defects , there are in most places rich silver mines . it hath three spanish towns , the best is erena , the second nombre d'dios ▪ and the worst durangi : the chickmeacan indians do much annoy these parts , but there are great numbers of civill indians that live in peaceable manner . chap. 48. xalisco . this province hath the city ● of compostella , neer the south in 21 degrees , nineteen minutes : ●re is the village of the purifica●● south-west from gud●leria , 30 ●gues : this land is hot and sickly , ●hath mines of gold and silver , ●d store of provisions , and ex●ent horses , that are well bred ●any service . chap. 49. guadalaiara . ●uadalaiara is the best of all the provinces of the kingdome of new galisia , and the most s●therly : it hath all sorts of gra● hearbs and fruits of new sp● and plenty of kine , horses , ● swine ; it is a wholsome good ● and hath many silver mines : ● chief city and head of the ki●●dome is guadalaira in 20 degr● heere resideth the councell , ● officers of the goods and ro● treasure , a cathedrall , two ●nasteri●s of friars , and one nuns . and 30 leagues from guadal● is the village of saint mary , and nother called the holy ghost : ● province is much troubled ● the chickemecan indians , but ● many well governed civill ind● that live orderly , and very richl● chap. 50. mechocan . this province lyeth between the province of mexico , and ●e kingdome of the new galisia , ●hath in breadth by the coast of ●e south sea 80 leagues , and 60 ●ithin land . here are many good ●ines , and it is a fruitfull land , and ●ath much wheat , millet , coco , ●l sorts of spanish fruits , cotton-wool , the rich drug of cocheneel , ●ore of cattle and fish , and the indians are industrious , and given to ●abour : the chief city is mechoa●n : it stands in 18 degrees 15 minutes and 47 leagues from mexico . the city of pascurio , standeth seven leagues to the east of mecho●can : it hath the cathedrall , and two monasteries of augustine and franciscan friars . and 35 leagu● from pascurio north-east is the village of saint michael , in a roug● country . the next is the village of salya , then the village o● saint phillip . the village of sackatula , is 4● leagues south west from mechoacan● neer the south sea in 18 degrees , 9● leagues from mexico . and the village of colina in 1● degrees 20 minutes . on the coas● of the south sea neer the confine● of galisia the port of natividad ▪ is in 19 degrees , and from this por● they make their navigation to the philipin'as in east-india . besides these towns rehearsed , which are possest by spaniards , there are 94 head-towns for indians , with schools of doctrine for indian children , and 130 ordinary towns . chap. 51. of the province of mexico . this province falleth between mechoacan and talascalia , it hath in length north and south 130 leaugues , and in breadth 18. the chief city and head of ●ew spain is seated in this pro●ince called mexico . it is an inland ●ity lying in 19 degrees and a half , ● the midst of two great lakes , ●at compasse it about , the one is ●lt , the other fresh : the fresh voy●eth into the salt , each of five leagues in breadth , and eight in ●ength , and both are in compasse ●3 leagues . there are three causways by which they go into the city , the shortest of half a league long , the longest a league and half , the other a league : it hath neer 70 thousand houses , the most of spaniards built with brick fair and high . and here resideth the viceroy of new spain and councill , the inquisition office and judges , the officers of the revenues , and royall treasure , a founding house and a mint house , with the archiepiscopall , metropolitan , and monasteries of franciscan , dominican , and austin friars , the company of jesus el carmen lamersed , the bare foot and trinity friars , 10 monasteries of nuns , one colledg of indian children , and the retired from the world , and repenting whores , a university , and divers hospitals . in this province are reckoned to be six hundred thousand tributary indians , one hundred and fifty monasteries , with multitude of schools to teach indians children , and many gold and silver mines , infinite plenty of all sorts of cattle , and sheep , grain , hearbs and fruits , and what else is necessary for the delight of man in an abundant manner , with the rich cocheneel . the coast of this province reacheth to the south sea , on which there is an excellent port called aquepulco , in 17 degrees , six leagues from the river lopes , and eight leagues more west is the sitalia , and four leagues further the river metla . chap. 52. guaxcaca . guaxcaca province , commeth to the coast of the south sea , and it lyeth between mexico and gutamalia province along the coast of the south sea one hundred leagues : it hath 5 spanish towns , the chief of which is antiquera ; in it are resident the governour of the province , a cathedrall , many monasteries of friars . it is distant from mexico eight leagues , from whence it lyeth south west . the next to it is sapolecai , the third saint jago de nexapa , the fourth the village of the holy ghost : this province hath store of gold , and silver mines , and one of chrystal , boreal , much coco , cotton-wool , wheat , and millet , and cocheneel , plenty of all sorts of cattle and swine , and not one river in the countrey but yieldeth gold . there are 350 head-towns of indians , and 120 monasteries of friars , and many of nuns , and schools of indian children to be instructed in the spanish language , and popery , and three hundred thousand tributary indians . in this province is the valley from whence ferdinando cortez the first conqueror had his title of marquesse of the valley . the ports on the south sea are the haven of guatulaco , in 15 degrees and a half : it is great , good , and much frequented . the port of tecoantepequa , neer the other , which is but reasonable good , but it hath a great town , standing on it , from whence they make great fishings , especially for shrimps , with which they trade the inland countreys . chap. 53. soconusco . this is the westerliest province of the kingdom of gutamalia , joyneth to the province of guaxcaca , from whence it lyeth on the south sea east , south-east 34 leagues and far into the land . it is plentiful of wheat , coco , millet , and cattle . it hath but one spanish town , which is called guearettan , where the governour is resident . and in her coast are the rivers coatan , in her west border , east of which is gapernacalte , and east south-east colata . chap. 54. gutamalia . the province of guattamall , is the head of the kingdome of gutamalia , it joyneth to the province of soconusco , and on the south sea , it stretcheth 70 leagues , the countrey is of a good temperature , and plentifull of cotton-wool , wheat , millet and cattell , and other seeds and fruits , the winds and rains in october are very furious . it hath five spanish towns besides many iudian towns and villages . the head city is saint james of gutamalia , in which the councill is resident . it lyeth in 24 degrees and a half , and of above a thousand spanish housholds , and here are the kings officers of the goods and royall treasure , a melting house and a cathedrall , which is suffragan unto mexco , a monastery of dominicans , franciscans , mercenarians , augustines , jesuits , and two of nuns , with an hospitall or colledg . this city is furnished with all sorts of provisions , and dai●ties , and standeth exceeding pleasantly on the side of a large plain , neer a burning mountain . and 40 leagues from saint james is the city of saint saviour the village of trinity , sixty and four leagues from the port of axavatla . it is a chief commissioner-ship , with the title of his majestie in a plentifull soil . it is a place of great traffick . and the port atouch , for the ships of peru and new spain . and 62 leagues from saint james is the village of saint michael , the haven of this town is called the bay sonseca , which is distant from the town two leagues . this province hath abundance of gold , some silver , store of balm , and liquid amber , copal , suchicopal excellent liquours , and the gumme animi , with beasts that breed the bezar stone . but the volcans here are very noysome to those that lie neer them , for they often burst forth casting out fire-stones and ashes . and here are more of those volcans or fire-pits than in all india besides . chap 54. chiapa . this province is an inland province , it is mediterranean to soconusco , mexico , tabasco , and verapas , and in length 40 leagues , and something lesse in breadth . it hath store of wheat , millet , and other grain and seeds , much cattle , but few sheep . it hath but one town of spaniards , which is called the city royall , 70 leagues from saint james of gutermalia , to the north east , which is governed by an ordinary justice , and in it is resident , the cathedrall : two monasteries of dominicke friars , and one of nuns . there are many indian towns in her climates , and the natives are excellent planters , and musitians . this city royall is in 18 degrees and a half , built round and of a marvellous scituation , sixty leagues from the north sea , and as far from the south . chap. 55. verapas . this also is an in-land province of gutemalia , and is mediterranean to chiapa , youcatan , honduras , and gutamalia of 30 leagues over , it is a moist countrey , and hath plenty of millet and wheat , cotton-wool , coco , and much of that sort of fowls , whose feathers make the rare coloured indian pictures , and this is a great merchandize amongst them . the spaniards have onely one small town , with a monastery of friars , and one school to instruct the indian children . the governour is a chief justice : between this province and the south america , is the provinces of costarica , honduras , varagua , and mearagua , which joyneth to gutemalia , on the coast of the south-sea . and thus have you the northern america . here a map . chap. 56 , of panama . panama hath a council that hath for jurisdiction , no more than the province of panama , & the election of the governour of varagua , ●n regard they are appointed principals of the navigation for the dispatch of peru , & ordering the king of spains treasure , which is yearly transported to porto belio , over the strait of darion , and from thence to spain . it adjoyneth on carthagena , and popian , to the south ▪ east and south-west . the chief city is panama , seated on the south sea in 9 degrees north latitude , consisting of 700 housholds : the most part of the inhabitants are merchants . here is also resident the councill , and officers of the royall treasure , monasteries of dominican , franciscan , and lamersed , and augustine friars ; with two of nuns , and a cathedrall . the haven is indifferent good , but the ships come not within a league of the town , the biggest ships not further than perua , three leagues of the town , at which place they lie dry at low water . the air at panama is extream unwholsome , and the place very sickly , but it is mended and made durable , for the profit is brought in by the vast summes yearly brought there to carry to spain , of which the inhabitants get part . the village of nata , lyeth on the south sea west from panama , 30 leagues , it hath a reasonable port . on the north sea , there is the ●own of nombred ' dios , it hath a good port , but the place is so unwholsome , that the trade of mer●handize is removed from thence ●o the city of saint ●hilip , the ●arbour is called the port obelo , in which the spanish ships , do unlade ●hose merchandizes , that are to be ●●āsported to panama & so to peru , ●nd receiveth in such goods as are return'd , to be transported to spian . to secure the entrance into this ●arbour , are two strong castles , between the city and the sea , and third neer the town . and on this coast are reckoned , first the bay of ●arabaco , neer the confines of va●qua , to the east of it , the river of trinity , the conception and bethelem , an island , and the rive● of caugre , up which river fro● saint chilip , they transport the●● merchandize bound for peru , unto the house of the croses , which is at the head of the said river and from thence to panama , which i● distant from the said house five leagues . and 12 leagues to the west from nombre d'dios , is the port of long● gote , and in 9 degrees the port ●hians , the port of the aventure i● six , porto belio in five , and again● it the island of the lookings , an● the bastemontos . and two leagu● from nombre d'dios , the river ●sardinilia , and the isle of sardini● and the river of millet , and the rive● of snakes , and in the gulf of cura● the town of saint mary . on the south coast the cape of saint mar● and point of war . and towar●panama , the gulf of paris , when stands nata , the point of chiam● the river of chepo , and the balsa , ● the inward part of the gulf of saint michael , north from the ●s●and of pearl . chap. 57 , carthegna province . this countrey lyeth on the north sea , and is parted from the province of panama , by the river of darian , from whence unto the river magdalen , is 80 leagues . the land is mountainous and hilly , full of high trees ; this region is fruitfull in some places , and in other some as barren . the seed of england will grow but in few parts of this countrey , but here are many cattle ▪ horses and swine . the temperature of this countrey is hot and very rainy , neither is there mines worked either of gold or silver , but much rozen and liquors , which they have from trees , and sanguis drag●nis . the city of cartagena , standeth neer the sea two leagues west from point canta , in ten degrees of height . it hath more then six hundred housholds , and in it is resident the governour , the king of spains officers of the royall treasure , and the cathedrall suffragan to the archbishop of granado , with monasteries of dominick , and franciscan , friars . the scituation is plain , and almost an island , on the north side compasseth it , and to the land an arm of the sea , which reacheth to the lake of canapote . at the entrance of the haven , there is an island without inhabitants . the village of saint james of tolu , is two leagues from cartagena south-west the village of saint margito , and 30 leagues from cartagena , to the south the village of sancta crux , is 70 leagues from cartagena by the sea and great river of magdalen , and twenty from sancta martha , six from the sea , where the marchandizes that are bound to the kingdome of granado are delivered out of the ships , and from thence are transported up the river in canowes . chap ▪ 58. the kingdome of granado . this kingdome lyeth from the sea , adjoyning on the south part of cartagena . it is a very rich countey in mines of emraulds , gold , steel , and copper , store of pastures , with all sorts of cattle , wheat , millet , fruits , and hearbs . the indians are great traders , and able men of body , ingenious in the sciences of the spaniards . the merchandize commeth up the the river magdalen , on which this land lyeth . their chief city is sancta fee , seated on the bottome of a hill , in four degrees to the north of the equinoctiall line of more than six hundred housholds . in which is resident in behalf of the king of spain , a councill for managing of the affaires of the kingdome , the officers of the royall treasure , a melting house , and a cathedrall metropolitan , two monasteries of friars , and in her borders more than fifty thousand tributary indians . the city of tocampa standeth on the river cati , which runneth into magdalen . this city hath also many indians tributary , so hath all the other spanish towns , which are first saint michael , then the city of trinity , 20 leagues from sancta fee north-west , the town of palms , fifteen leagues from sancta fee west north-west . and the city of tunis north-east from sancta fee 22 leagues : it stands upon a hill of an extraordinary scituation . here is a great garrison of souldiers , and the best market in all the realm . here is also the city of meridia , the city of victorey , the village of saint christopher , the city bales , and the city of marequeata , all spanish cities , with many hundred large towns and villages of indians . through this region they passe from cartagena by land to peru , commonly by post , but not otherwise , by reason that it is fifteen hundred leagues from cartagena to cosco . this region cannot be entred by land from cartagena , by reason of the great waters and mountains that are in the way , wherefore they passe up the river magdalen , with merchandize from the custome-house of malamba , on the said river , from whence to the first landing in the kingdome of granada is one hundred and fifty miles . chap. 59. the province of sancta martha . this province of martha , lyeth between cartagena , and the river hacha , on the north sea . it is a plentifull countrey of millet , potatoes , much gold , emraulds , and other rich stones , and copper , and hath five spanish towns , the city of sancta martha , in ten degrees of north latitude , where is resident the spanish governour , the king of spains officers of his treasure , and a cathedral suffragan to that of granado . the city of tenerif standeth on the river magdalen , which parteth this province from cartagena . the village of palms , is two leagues from this river , twenty to the south of tenerif , the city of losreas is 30 leagues from the river hacha . on the coast of this government is the river biaba , piaras , aguamur , and sancta martha . the indians of this province are commonly in war , which is a hinderance to the spaniards quiet enjoying the riches . it exceedeth in stones of such value and quantity , as is not elswhere to be found in india . chap. 60. venesiula . the province of venesiula , lyeth on the north sea , parted from sancta martha , by the river of hacha , on the east is the province of suava , or new andelosia , as the spaniards call it . the coast of the sea is neer 130 leagues of length . in this land are veins of gold , of more than two and twenty carracts and a half . it is plentifull of wheat and other seeds , for there are two harvests in a year . it hath abundance of all kind of cattle , great and small , cotton and sasaprila . the city of coro standeth in 11 degrees in a good air , the governour for the king of spain resideth here . it hath also a melting-house , and cathedrall with monasteries . the city of the lady of carvalteda , on the sea coast 8 leagues from coro , with a bad haven . saint james is within the land three leagues to the south of carvelteda . the new valentia is sixty leagues from coro , and seven from the port of brubufa xeres 15 leagues south from valentia . the new sigonia is 20 leagues to the south of xeres . the city of tacuio , standeth ten leagues from segavia , south-west truxcillio , eight leagues from coro south and by east . on this coast , the principall river is the river hacha , which parts this province from sancta martha , neer the mouth is a rich town and beads of pearl of the best in india . chap. 61. guana . this region comprehendeth all the land that lyeth between the province of venesula and brazil , which beginneth at twodegrees of south latitude ; this land is more famous for report , than for any certain knowledge of the riches thereof , for at this day , there is no more than one spanish town called codoa , which lyeth on the sea coast from trinidado . the spaniards are neer it , and have better opportunities to know the riches of it than any other . but the indians which are in great part fled from the spanish countreys , are so much their enemies , as not to permit them to come amongst them without wars , which is a great hinderance to the spaniards undertakings . but although this countrey promiseth much , in truth to this day there are no mines found and worked either of gold or silver , although it is very probable by the latitude , that it doth abound in both . the rivers are many and great , that issue into the sea frō this coast , of which the most famous are the rivers orinoque , or orileania , which entreth into the sea with sixteen mouths . the best enterance is by the branch du west from trinidado the river of amasions is more southerly , and issueth into the sea under the line . the mouth or entrance of this river is more shallow then orinoque , neither is it so well known , although the english and dutch have traded up them both with the indians for these commodities naturall to the countrey , bees wax ; cotton-wool , cassia fistula , bolearmoniack , teralemna , and divers other drugs , and wood fit for dyers , and some balsomes . the people love our nation above any other , and would be glad to assist us on any design . the air in this countrey is in some places extream hot and moist , in other places constantly hot and dry , and in other some very temperate all the year long . chap. 62. the land of brazil . this province beginneth where guana endeth , at two degrees of south latitude , where there is a point called the cape of snakes , from whence it lyeth along the coast of the north sea to 25 degrees , and on the back side west , lyeth the provinces of the river of plate . the air is the whole year through very hot , the winter which is our summer , distinguished only with the rain that falleth at that season . here are many venemous worms and great serpents , t is plentifull of pastures , cattle and horses , little millet and no english grain , wherefore their bread is casabi or potatoes , which are in good plenty . there are great shews of silver and gold , but none gotten , nor mines certainly known . the chief commodity is sugar , cotton-wool , bombast , and brazil-wood . it hath neer the sea coast about 20 portugall towns , many ingeniowes , or sugar works : the first town of the countrey is called tamerico , and 5 leagues to the south of that farnambuck or rescif , then all saints 100 leagues from farnambuck in 14 degrees 40 minutes . the town of the sure haven in 16 degrees and a half : the holy ghost in 20 ▪ there is another town on the rive●generio , in 23 degrees neer which they cut much brasel-wood . there are on the coast eight or ten ports , more principall than the rest , which are the river saint dominick north-east off farnambuck , by the cap● of saint augustine , which standeth in 9 degres . the island of tameric● before rehearsed , the river of saint francis in 10 degrees and a half . it is very great . the bay of all saints is 3 leagues and 13 up into the land . the river of trinidado , and the river of canamon in 13 degreees and a half . the river of beads in 14 degrees and a half , and the river of the virgins in 16 , and portesceurae in 17. the river of parague , in 20 : neer the town of sanctus spiritus , and in 23 degrees cold cape beyond saint vincent . this province hath been in difference between the portugeses , and west india company of holland , and as the dutch got great footing there without right , so the portugals , since their falling from spain have surprized them again , and recovered them by the same slight they got the east indies from us , but not with such vile murthers , as they committed on the english . they have now the town of resif , onely which not long since was neer lost . chap. 63. of the provinces of the river plate . the provinces of plate , take name from the river on which they lye , the passage to them is up the said river , but they are almost on the back of brazil . they are large and far wholsomer then brazil , plenty of sugar , ginger , wine , wheat , millet , all sorts of english fruits , store of cattle , swine , and horses , but no mines that are worked . they are subjected by the spaniards , and united to the councill of peru , on the south sea for neernesse of lying to that kingdome , there is a common passage from these provinces thither by land over the mountains , the most of the land is indifferently inhabited . this province hath three spanish cities , the best is the city of ascension . it lyeth in 23 degrees and a half of south latitude west from brazil , and east from peru , 300 leagues up the river of plate on the north-side . in it is resident the spanish governour , the officers royall , and a cathedrall , suffragan to the archbishop of lima , in peru. the next is the city royall , distant from the ascension eighty leagues north-east . the city of bucnos ayres standeth on the river plate , one hundred leagues from the mouth of the same . these provinces are full of indians , and mistisos which are spaniards children begotten on indian women . on this coast between the brazil and the mouth of the river plate , is the port of saint vincent in 33 degrees against becena burgo a small island , and six leagues to the south the river ubay the port and island dela canana in 35 degrees , and forward the river de la barca . and 20 leagues from thence the port of roderico , and in 29 degrees the island of catalina and five leagues to the south close haven . and fifteen leagues further another river called traquean . and in 32 degrees the bay of saint george . and in 35 degrees the cape of saint mary at the entring into the river plate . the south cape is called cape blanke , and the mouth of this river of plate , is thirty over and a great way up it , ten leagues in breadth with many islands , and divers great rivers issuing into it . chap. 64. of the coast between the river of plate and the strait of magelan . from the mouth of this river , the strait lyeth southwest , and is distant thence 400 leagues . it hath on the said coast : first the point of saint helena in 37 degrees , the point of francis in 38 : the river of canobi in 45. and to the south the isle of ducks . and in 47 the river of seriani , and in 49 the port of saint julian , the river of sancta crux in 50. and 12 leagues before you come to the strait of ilefonsus . but the land possest with no other but the natives , which are a gyantly people . chap. 65. the straight of magellan . this straight is famous for the trouble some passage of drake , candish , and haukins , three english men generals , each in a severall fleet : drake and candish being the first that sailed along the coast of peru , and so to the east indies , and came home by the cape of bona sperantia , circum-navigating the globe . the last being much over-matched was taken by the spaniards on the coast of peru , and convayed from thence prisoner to spain . from whence with much difficulty he obtained his freedome , although solemn engagements passed from the generall his taker for his freedome . the entrance into this strait is in 52 degrees , and the comming out into the south sea the same height . it is an extream difficult passage by reason of the meeting of the north and south seas in the channell , driving each other back ▪ prevailing as they are favoured by the wind , which commonly bloweth there exceeding boysterously and cold . there are divers caves and bays in it , but no incouragement for a sea-man to adventure that way . the inhabitants on this strait are few , and extream savage , neither is this passage any more in use : for those that will go by the south of america to the east indies , or into the south sea to any part of the west coast of america , have a more convenient passage south of this strait in an open sea . the entrance into it is called lamear , but the sea was discovered by sir francis drake , and sir richard haukins both which were driven back by foul weather into those seas after they had passed the strait . on the coast of the south sea , which lyeth between the strait and chilli , there are no inhabitants save the wild natives , but it hath the bay of horses in 52 degrees , and the bay of saint john in 50. the cape of saint francis in 51. and 18 leagues before you come to port hearnan the bay of galago in 48 degrees 40 minutes , and north of it the bay of kings , and the isle of catilina , then the cape of saint andrew in 42 degrees where chilla beginneth . chap. 66. chillia . this coast reacheth to 28 degrees of south latitude . this region is wholsome above all other in the indies , being of an excellent temperature , as neither too hot nor too cold . it is abundantly rich in gold and silver mines , and all sorts of cattle & grain , fruits & excellent pleasant wine . the countrey men are strong and valiant beyond compare , which the spaniards know to their great cost , for they could never totally subdue this nation . the spaniards had formerly 12 spanish towns in this province , the most south was the city of chillon in an island of fifty leagues long , that almost joyneth to the firm land , which beareth the name of this whole countrey , this town had in it a monastery of friars ; and to the north of this town 41 leagues , the city of osornio seven leagues from the sea , with two monasteries of friars , and one of nuns . the city of valdiva two leagues within the mouth of the river valdiva in 40 degrees . it had three monasteries of friars , and one of nuns . the city imperiall in 39 degrees of height 3 leagues from the sea : in it was resident the cathedrall , and two monasteries of friars . the city of conception lyeth in 37 degrees neer the sea . and there did reside the governour of the countrey . the harbour is good , and made by an island which lyeth before a nook in the land . the port of quoquimbo , is a good harbour , and standeth in 32 degrees . the town of laserana , is next to peru. it lyeth pleasantly by the valley of quoquimbo . in this place it rains but thrice a year : this countrey is neer 300 leagues by the sea , but not above twenty into the land , where lye the andes , which are mighty great mountains , that run through the southern america , even from the strait of magellan to sancta martha of the spanish towns in chilla , there is recovered by the natives , and by them quite destroyed the city of conception , chillon , osornio , valdivia , and imperiall . chap. 67. the councill of charcas . the bounds of this councill stretcheth from chilia to peru , it hath abundance of cattle of all kinds , great shag-haired sheep bigger then goats that carry great burthens on their backs , store of corn of all sorts , fruits and wine , much gold , and the greatest mines of silver in the world . there are few spanish towns ; and but one port , in regard the spaniards get neer the hill of potosi , to the city imperiall , which lyeth in 19 degrees of latitude far from the sea , and delivereth that which is exported , and receiveth the marchandize imported at the city of arica . the city of imperiall , is exceeding populous of spaniards and indians , and it standeth neer the hill of potosi , which is much to be admired for the great quantities of silver is drawn from thence , and exceeding deep caves in the earth , from whence they fetch it , that are so intricate and far in the earth , that those that go in take the popish sacraments , the danger of death is so great . this mountain is as it were pointed at by a black cloud that perpetually hangeth over it . the land about it is most extream barren , yet the great quantity of silver that is there causeth that all sorts of variety is there in great plenty , although at a dear rate . and towards the port of arica , are the mines of porco , which are more ancient and very great , but harder to work . the indians live in the best places for cattle , corn , wine , and fruits being tributary to the spaniards , that in behalf of the king of spain are lords of these great riches . chap. 68. the kingdom of peru. this kingdome is governed by a councill and viceroy . it hath to the north the councill of quipo , on the south charcas , and to the west the south sea , and to the east without limits . this kingdome is well peopled with civill orderly indians , that are in great subjection to the spaniards . peru doth abound in all sorts of fruits , seed , cattle , horses , sheep , swine , rich mines of gold , silver , quick-silver , plentifull of wine , oil , and sugar . the andes run through this province within ten leagues of the sea . in all which coasts it never raineth , but on the said hils it raineth continually , and beyond as in other regions . the plains between the sea , and the said hils , have few or no rivers , but the industrie of the inhabitants draw in trenches , ( which are artificially made ) the water either from those few rivers , or from the side of the said andes , which maketh that the said plain is mightily populous , fruitfull and pleasant even as a garden . the city of lema is neer the south sea in 12 degrees of south lalatitude , on the side of a rich and pleasant valley . it consisteth of 4000 houses . on the east-side of it runneth a fair river , by which the citizens have gardens with most excellent fruits . and this is the sole place in the world that is without thunder and lightning , which never happen here , neither is there plague or pestilence , but the inhabitants enjoy perpetually a clear and fair sky . it is the seat of the viceroy and councill , and assembly of chief justices , the officers of the king of spains revenue , the chief seat of the inquisition , a university with schools of divers indians , languages , five monasteries of friars , and one of jesuits , ●…ao which is the port of this city is two leagues from it . it is great and good . the village of arneado is in the valley of chianeai ten leagues from lima , neer a good haven in 9 degrees . the city of truxcilo , stands in seven degrees and a half neer the sea , with monasteries of dominican , franciscan , and mercenaries , and officers royall for these bounds . the port is two leagues of the city in a bay not very good for ships . the city of saint john is seated in a most plentifull place , and the indian inhabitants are the fairest and most wel-favoured people in the indies . the city guanang is to the south lema . it hath monasteries of dominican , franciscan , and mercenaries , and one of nuns , and the best houses of any city in peru of brick and stone . it standeth in a temperate place , and is very healthy . the city of cosco , is the head city of peru , by a title that it hath from the kings of spain . it lyeth in 13 degrees and a half south of the equinoctiall . it is a very great city , and hath four great streets that go to the four parts of the world . it hath many monasteries and nunneries , with a cathedrall , and divers schools of indian children . the city of ariquipa is in 16 degrees on the sea side . it is a rich ●nd flourishing place , and in a wholesome climate : the other cities of spaniards are inland , but ●hese rehearsed are the most emi●ent . the inconveniency of this countrey is the great earthquakes , that often happen especially about j●ma . there are three wonderfull springs of water in this countrey , a water that turneth so soon as it is stopt to stone . if a man or beast drink of it , it turneth to a stone in his body , and killeth him : with this they make stones of what fashion they please , and make their houses : there is another water that springeth far within land , that being setled turneth to pure white salt : the other is two spouts of water , by each other , the one hot , the other cold . the remarkablest ports , ilands and points on this coast are the ilands of lobos in 7 degrees : the one is four leagues from the coast , the other more ; and forward to the south west the i le of saint rock , and further the port of abrago ten leagues to the north of truxcili● in 7 degrees and a half : the port o●santa in nine degrees , and five leagues more south port farwell , and six from it casama , and eight leagues further the port of gurmay , and twenty leagues to the south the baranca and potquaria , where there is a great salt pit . and a little more south the i le of lema , at the entry of the port of cala , and twenty leagues more south the point of guareo . and in 15 degrees the point chuca , and forward the point of saint laurence , neer the river ariquipa . and then the river of nombre d'dios , where peru endeth , and the councill of charchas beginneth . chap. 69. quito kingdome . this kingdome is governed by a councill , whole bounds lyeth between peru and panama . it hath two mighty countreys or provinces within his circuit , that is to say , first quito , and then popyan . quito lyeth between peru and popyan on the south sea , and far into the land under the equinoctiall line : and contrary to the opinion of the ancients , it is a most wholesome temperate countrey , and rather cold than hot in most parts of it . in those places where the snowes continue all the year , it raineth from october to march , which they call winter : this province is rich in mines of emraulds , and gold , silver and quick-silver , plentifull of english grain and cattle , horse and swine . this region is happy in the temperature of the air , there being neither extream cold nor heat , as lying equinoctiall to these extreams , and which is most delightfull to mans nature always , a cleer skie . the spanish towns are the city of saint francis , 60 leagues from the south sea , and half a league to the north of the equinoctiall : in it are resident the councill , the officers of the spanish kings revenues , and a cathedrall with three monasteries . the town of bamba lyeth south-west from quito , on a river of that name . it is possest by spaniards and indians , which are extream rich in sheep above any town of india . the city of loxein standeth in the way from quito to cosco : there are many other spanish inland towns which are great & good , of which i have no certain knowledg , but of most consequence to a navigator , is the port towns : the best of which is poyta in five degrees . it is a good and great harbour . the city of saint james of aquil standeth not far from the sea . it hath a good port on a river that runneth fair by the city fit for vessels of great burthen . the city of porto vivegio standeth on the sea neer the borders of peru , the indians of this place have red warts that sometimes grow on their noses and foreheads , cheeks and chins , which eateth as a ring-worm with us , but far more to the dis-figuring the face , and in extremity of pain . the river and port of tombes is in 4 degrees , and south of it the i le of pana , the port of calaio in two degrees height south latitude , by which standeth the ile of plata , and one degree to the south of the equinoctiall , the bay of this province hath formerly had great gyants living there , as appeareth by the great bones often found , and pieces of teeth , which have weighed fourteen ounces . neer the said point of helena , there are veins of tar , which runneth out of the earth , with which they commonly cank their ships . chap. 70 popyan . this province lyeth between quito and panama , the greatest part of it is in-land , yet doth it for a good way lye on the south sea . the eastern part bordereth on the kingdome of granado and cartagena . the temperature of ayr is very different in this place , for here are some places indifferent temperate and cool , other places are violent hot and sickly . this province hath some indians peaceable , other some extraordinary savage , insomuch that about the village of arma , and canarna , they eat not onely those that they take in war , cutting off slivers eating one part , while the other liveth , but sell their children , and the sons their fathers and mothers to the butchers that keep shambles of mans flesh . this countrey is exceeding rich in gold mines , which maketh that the spaniards endure the other inconveniences of the countrey with great patience . the principall spanish city in this goverment is popyan , which lyeth far from the sea , two degrees to the north of the equinoctiall . it hath the leivtenant governour resident in it , a cathedrall with monasteries of friars : the city of cali standeth in 4 degrees 20 leagues from the sea : the governour is resident in it , and the officers of the king of spains treasure , a melting house and two monasteries . the port of bonaventure lyeth in 3 degrees and a half north of the line : this is a place of good resort of merchants , and hath a good port and a fair custome-house . the village of sancta fee , on the river of cavaca . the village of arma , borders on granada , neer which lyeth the village of canarman . on the sea coast is the cape of corientes in 5 degrees to the north of the line . the river solines in four degrees , and south ten leagues , the river of saint john in two degrees : and little more south the river of saint lucas , and further south the port of the crosse , finis . november 18. 1650. imprimatur nathanael brent . an historical & geographical description of the great country & river of the amazones in america. drawn out of divers authors, and reduced into a better forme; with a mapp of the river, and of its provinces, being that place which sr walter rawleigh intended to conquer and plant, when he made his voyage to guiana. / written in french by the count of pagan, and dedicated to cardinall mazarine, in order to a conquest by the cardinals motion to be undertaken. and now translated into english by william hamilton, and humbly offered to his majesty, as worthy his consideration. pagan, blaise françois de, comte de merveilles, 1604-1665. 1660 approx. 236 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 98 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a90519 wing p162 thomason e1805_2 estc r209931 99868777 99868777 170395 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a90519) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 170395) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 225:e1805[2]) an historical & geographical description of the great country & river of the amazones in america. drawn out of divers authors, and reduced into a better forme; with a mapp of the river, and of its provinces, being that place which sr walter rawleigh intended to conquer and plant, when he made his voyage to guiana. / written in french by the count of pagan, and dedicated to cardinall mazarine, in order to a conquest by the cardinals motion to be undertaken. and now translated into english by william hamilton, and humbly offered to his majesty, as worthy his consideration. pagan, blaise françois de, comte de merveilles, 1604-1665. hamilton, william, gent. [32], 153, [7] p. : map. printed for john starkey at the miter in fleet-street near temple-barre, london, : 1661. [i.e. 1660] annotation on thomason copy: "nouemb:"; the 0 in the imprint date has been altered in ms. to a "1". reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng america -discovery and exploration -early works to 1800. america -discovery and exploration -maps -early works to 1800. 2008-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-11 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-11 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an historical & geographical description of the great country & river of the amazones in america . drawn out of divers authors , and reduced into a better forme ; with a mapp of the river , and of its provinces , being that place which sr walter rawleigh intended to conquer and plant , when he made his voyage to guianu . written in french by the count of pagan , and dedicated to cardinall mazarine , in order to a conquest by the cardinals motion to be undertaken . and now translated into english by william hamilton , and humbly offered to his majesty , as worthy his consideration . london , printed for john starkey at the miter in fleet-street near temple-barre , 1660. to the imperial majesty of charles ii of great-brittain , france , and ireland ; defender of the faith of protestants , and of protestants themselves by his title of signal providence ; happiness , victories , triumphs . gracious sir , not only freewill-offerings and gifts were acceptable to god , though they had a member , or members superfluous , or were deficient in some , and so had much imperfection , so it were not of the nature of unsincerity , in which respect they behoved to be without blemish ; ( levit. 22.23 . ) but in trespass-offerings also , which were commanded and not left free , if the party was poor , not only a single turtle , or young pigeon was accepted ( for the other was for an holocaust ) but a single meat-offering , a very little flower or meal , and a little salt to it , were accepted for both holocaust and trespass-offering under one : ( lev. 5.7 . ) which being doubtlesly in use from noahs time , or adams rather , as elsewhere i hope to make it appear , gave as undoubtedly the beginning to that practice and proverb among the heathens ( heathenism being but an inveterate corruption of heresie and schism from the religion delivered by god to adam , and noah , as shall also god willing be made appea● ) molâ salsâ litant , qui non habent thura ; such may acceptably sacrifice to god with meal and salt , who have not frankincense . the like debonnairety to accept of mean gifts from good mindes , hath also been annumerated to the heroick indowments of the greatest kings . thus artaxerxes disdained not a pitcher of water from a paisant . and plutarch in his apophthegms shows by one of them , the property of a royall disposition to have been esteemed this ; non minus est regium parvula accipere , quam largiri magna , it is no less kingly to accept of little things , than freely to bestow great matters . and this , royall sir , is my humble request to your saered majesty at this time ; that you will graciously accept a mean gift from a mean giver , and by your royall return of justice and bountie to enable me to serve god , and your majesty with better ; god himself inviting you thereto by his example , who allowed even of poor freewill-offerings , made to him of purpose , to obtain his bountifull returns of some eminent benefits or favours . and yet a mean gift , sir , i call this of mine , not that the work it self should be so accounted , but my work about it ; which is but a translation . for the book though in bulke but small , in its concernments is very rich ; and , as highly commendable in it self , so not much less in the author . in its natural language it made its first address to cardinal mazarine , in order to have set his majesty of france on conquest of the great kingdome of the amazone to himself . but having these five years at least , that now it hath been abroad , not made use of it that way , it comes now by me to beg your majesties favourable acceptance , in hope of that large retribution to your self , when your majesty shall think fit to apply your thoughts to it , for which it was intended to another . it was by an old servant of your majesties royall fathers , and gandfathers , i. l. d. brought over , and communicate to one of your majesties most expert seamen , c. w. who from his youth up , and often times since , hath been in , and knowes perfectly all the coasts of the southern america . both these are very confident , at least wish heartily , and my self with the like affection do now humbly present it also , that your majesty would so consider of that great empire , as if it were already your own ; as it may be with much ease , if your applications be seasonable , and suitable to its worth . for it is possest by the barbarous natives only , except in two skirts ; brasile on the east , where the portuguaise pitched ; and peru upon the west , where the spaniard is divided from the inland by the tract of the andes , or cordeliere hills : but in the peninsular great continent your majesty may dresse an empire of near nine thousand miles in circuit , of the pleasantest , fertilest , and richest continent in the world , whether for air , waters , or soil ; to which no prince can pretend , much less lay a claim . for the discoveries of that river by the portugaise , and spaniards , were more to satisfie their curiosity , than that they could then hope for a conquest . and the natives not only in their forlorn condition , but by singular junctures of providence , call for the christian religion from us , while others cease from that duty , as the man of macedon did paul to help them while he was hindred to go into bithynia , act. 16.7 , 9 , 10. and others have been hindred hitherto to go to them for such end ; but they may also easily be made to receive your majesties government with friendship , if wisely dealt with . for while neither portugall , nor spain , nor france pursued the design here offered , god in in his providence amidst , your majesties and your good subjects troubles , seems not obscurely to have been designing this for you , and your brittain ; as may be hoped from ancient prediction , not liable to exception from the solidest and soberest wits ( as at another occasion i may fullier clear , if your majesty command it ) and so much the more , as his providence hath prevented your projecting , having already made way and brought to pass for your majesties interest an opportune and considerable colonie , by that noble lord willoughbee of parham , to his great travels , hazards , and vast expenses ; both seeming to concurre with the foresaid prediction , and to point out your majesty for the layer of such a foundation both to christ , and your self . the author of this work is a french earl of a most ancient nobility and descent from those famous and honourable commanders in the holy warres , who for their wise conduct and rare valour were imployed in places of great trust , and transmitted them with the coat of arms and name of pagan , ( which was the badge of their great exploits in mating and killing the pagans , or infidels ) to their suecessors of the same name and family , as the author himself showes at large in the dedication of his rare book of fortifications , to another noble branch of the same family : of whose rare accomplishments for gentile and manly learning , and souldiery , lest i should here presume too much upon your majesties patience , i shall leave further account of him to my epistle to the reader , and only present your majesty with the summe of what he sayes to the cardinal about the conquest ; and that is ; that it will neither be hard nor expensive , as neither needing great armies , to give battels ; nor great provision of artillery , for carrying on of sieges . there is need only of preparations fitting for planting of five colonies at the first aboard . the first whereof is to be in the isle of the sun , for guarding the best entrie into the great rivers mouth . the second on the famous bosphore or strait thereof , to defend , or keep this rivers passage . the third on the renowned point of the comanares , for the best seat of that whole empire . the fourth near to the mountain of swana , whereby to be master of the gold-mine there . and the fifth and last on the mouth of the river of maragnon , to watch over the frontier of that side of the andes . and in favours of such a first establishment , there might easily be added the alliances of the illustrious and renowned nations of the homagues , of the generous and noble yorimans , of the valiant and redoubted topinambes ; and order given for a fleet-volant of about twelve men of warre , continually to be visiting , and going between these colonies : because the distance by sailing , of the farthest of them from the others , will be at the least a thousand spanish leagues and alwayes upon the channell of the great amazone it self . thus he . i call my gift also , a mean gift from a mean giver ; not that i was , or am so mean in my self , as made so by the late troubles , and troublers of the times . for , royall sir , my father sir robert hamilton of goswick , was gentleman of the privy-chamber both to your royall father and grandfather ; and my mother was by king james himself preferred to his queen , for one of her maids of honour , and afterwards also by himself bestowed in marriage upon sir hadrian dammane , lord bisterveldt and fair-hill ; after whose decease my father married her . my father , and any estate i should have had by him , i lost through the troubles of the times ; and have wanted them now these seventeen years ; for reparation whereof , and coming hither to wait for it , i left one place of considerable value in scotland , and spent here in three years attendance for reparation , what i could then bring with me ; and then embracing another place here in england , not much worse than the former , was not only again put from it , before i had enjoyed it full two years to an end , for keeping my fidelity to your majesty in refusing to subscribe an engagement , or allegiance ( for so it was indeed , whatever they called it ) to another soveraignty ; but suffered also four or five years banishment , to the almost irreparable detriment of my health and estate both ; yea , and refused all preferments from the usurpers , and the least compliances with them , both before my banishment , and now for seven years after , though i was wooed thereto , and might have got considerable advancement with ease , could i have embraced it with complyance ; but would never so much as commence suit under them ; though but for recovering some debts , or defending my self from others unjust pursuits . and that these losses , sir , wherein consisted all my estate , and that a considerable one too , when your majesty shall know the particulars , should make me poor , is little wonder ; and that poverty through its disadvantages , and my former disparity of life , should ruine my health , is as little wonder ; and that all the disadvantages , that a ruined health , and poverty can bring a man to , should disable me to do such thing as otherwise i could , and would have done , to present your majesty with , is yet as little strange , as the former : but that i should yet be alive , poor as i am , to offer this poor gift unto your majesty , that is the wonder . and indeed it is gods good hand towards me , whom i hope he hath reserved for doing himself , and your majesty some greater service , before i be called hence . for , royall sir , god hath not made me so poor in gifts of minde , ( of which as i may not brag , but by glorying in him , and in my infirmities or sufferings for him ; so may i not ungratefully conceal , lessen , or undervalue to his dishonour , what they are , but with modesty confess , when just occasion flagitates and extorts it from me ) through his blessing , if your majesty will but patronize me ( i shall not say mecaenas like ; for that is too little for you , though it was truely said of him , mecaenas atavis edite regibus ! but angustus like rather , beyond whom himself your majesty is in this also , that you can number more kings of your progenitors , than were in all the roman race of kings , and emperors both , either before , or after augustus to this day ) i hope to honour your majesty with such gifts of mine own store , as never a king in christendome for these sixteen hundred years , ever had subject , that did the like , though many have attempted , absint & jactantia , & invidia verbo : but your majesty must midwife them , and my self both into the world again , and then by gods assistance shall i renew my strength and youth , as the eagle , & sublimi feriam sidera vertice . if here it be wondred , that thus i implore your majesties justice and favour , and made not rather a privater address , for repairing of my losses ; i shall humbly and truely profess , that i have not left privater wayes unattempted ; but finde all so obstructed with difficulties , and non-considerancies , or cold layings to heart of my case , that neither the health of my body , nor the strength of my purse would suffer me to hope for much good otherwayes , and from courtiers , than thus by ushering in my petition ; and then i hope more seasonably , and succesfully to reap the fruits of a privater application . i thought often of that course , that the poor widow took with philip of macedon , the father of alexander the great : who when she had attempted by courtiers , and favourites to get justice done her , but could not prevail with them to preferre her business to the king ; resolved to attaque him her self , the best she could , come of it what would ; though of him at worst , she hoped much better , than of any of his courtiers , as i also do of your majesty now . casting her self therefore in his way , when she knew , he was to ride out , with high vociferations she cryed after him , help my lord , o king ; help o king ! he commanding to stand , and see what ailed her ; she desired him to read and answer her petition with justice . he answering that it was unfit then , and that he had not leasure for it ; she replyed upon him boldly , that then he should not be at leasure to be king , if he could not have leasure to right his meanest subjects , when all their patience and endeavours were otherwayes frustrate and wearied out . upon which he was so far from being dissatisfied with her , that rather admiring her resolution , he most generously and heroickly gave her a present hearing , and full right of her wrong . sir , my way is not so course , as hers was , but by a gift ( which both with god , and all noblest spirits among men , finds acceptance ) though but a poor onee , to have the softer access to your majesties favour , and a cordialler consideration of my case , when it comes to your majesty in a more particular way ; and an easier grant of privacy for immediate imparting your majesty with some things , which is more for your majesties good , than for my particular . thus wise abigail not only pacified david towards an unthankefull and churlish nabal , but made way for her self for such a surplussage of favour , as she little dreamed of , to become a kings wife , and royal bedfellow , and her issue preferred in the entail of the crowr , before all other of davids children , except bathshebaes . it is re ported of alexander severus , baelius lampridius in his life , that be quarrelledy with every vertuous person , that be knew , who either asked nothing of him , or but little . quid est ( inquit ) quod nihil petis ? an me vis tibi fieri debitorem ? why ask you nothing of me ? would you have me to die in your debt ? sir , lest i presume too much upon your majesties great affairs , in exceeding the bounds of an epistle to so great a prince , for the length whereof already i humbly beg pardon , my hopes and desires are that you shall not come short of any of those worthies , or of the most heroick princes , but surmount them all , in all royall endowments , to your becoming the crown and rejoycing of all the reformed , in prosecuting their interest , which is gods , and becoming their uniter and head , that you may be carolo magno major , as undoubtedly you will , if thus you do : and which that you may do , long may your majesty live in all piety , plenty , and peace ; or else just and happy triumphs here ; and hereafter in the joyes and triumphs of heaven , where there is nothing but glory , triumphs , and joy without end . so prayeth your majesties most humble , loyall , and faithfull subject and servant , william hamilton . to the courteous and candid reader . courteous reader , i must give thee some more account of the author of this booke , and of its worth , and of my self , his translatour , and so bid thee farewell . about the author , i shall not repeat , what hath been said of him before , in my dedication to his majesty for his just commendation , and of this book of his in particular , but referre thee thither , if thou art desirous to know it . i shall here only adde , that he was in great employment and favour with the late king of france , lewis the thirteenth , for his great parts of conduct and valour in his service ; wherein unfortunately he received a shot of a pistoll in the left eye , whereby it was quite lost , and the conjugation of the optick nerves so crushed , that he hath lost the use of both now above these twenty yeares : yet , which is wonderfull , is still penning new books , and in mathematicks especially , which indeed needs least the outward sense ; amongst which is that master-piece , the ten books of geometricall theorems , wherein he compleated and demonstrated so many diverse , and distinct parts of mathematicall sciences . his book of the theory of planets is geometrically demonstrated , without any mixture of physicall equations , by which reignoldus and kepler laboured so much to perfect the geometricall , wherein their deferents , and epicicles could not serve their turn . but this gentleman hath found out both the center of the planets , and demonstrated their motions to be ellipticall , which no man afore him could attain to . and in consequence to his theory , he published astronomicall tables two yeares ago , wherein with great facility and exactness , the motions of all the planets may be supputate , the eclipses of the two great luminaries , and the celestiall configurations : and in consequence to them , a facile method of finding out the true longitudes , both by sea , and land . his more than ordinary skill in geography , may be seen by his two advertisements to geographers , at the end of this booke , and by the book it self : wherein with great judgement and brevity he hath given an excellent , and the clearcst description of a great part of america , that any where is to be had : he having collected this out of all the best relations , and discoveries , that were extant ; and corrected their errors , adding a mapp of his own . all which his pieces here mentioned , and in my dedication to his majesty shall be by me made english denizens , if this be well accepted , and the other required . the books are not here to be had for money , but from such , as himself gifted them to ; amongst whom is an old servant of his majesties , my l. d. from whom this book came , and who still keeps a correspondence with him , and is gifted with every piece , that be publisheth . the author is still a privy counsellour to his now majesty of france ; and as his naturals appear to have been great , so also they have been much adorned , and elevated by his gentlemanny learning , which he hath industriously followed ; and consists in these dayes ( the greater the fault of pedants , that make any learning ungentile ; as indeed none is where it hath a gentile client ) chiefly in politicks , and history , and mathematicks with their appendants , as conducible to a gentleman , and a souldier : and after he was disabled from field-action , by the loss of his sight , some theoreticaller mathematicks also . this is not rare in france , that grandees there are well versed in such studies , as by duke de rohanes interest of princes , and perfect capitaine , and many other french gentlemens pieces of a like nature , may appear . and it were to be wished . that elsewhere also , grandees and gentry were both as well trained up , and had as good opportunity of such peculiar academies , where all gentile , and souldierly exercises , and requisites for conduct and command , are taught , as the french have ; and the prince of orange , to his immortall praise ( himself having been bred in the academy of benjamin in paris , where i my self saw him at his exercises ) to the weal of his countrey , and from his own estate , was going to enrich the confederate provinces ; that as they were before a school of warre , for experience and practice , especially about sieges , and taking in of towns ; so they might be for breeding also to field-services , and all warlike atchievements . yet the french are so far from envying others , that attain to any perfection in these things , otherwayes , or elsewhere , that there is no where readier preferment for their merits , or more honour done to such , as i could instance of late memory ; which is truly noble . for there is a money-nobility , or gentry , that is now crepe into the world , through abuse , and pesters it with many inconveniences , having nothing of the thing , but the name only , and empty titles ; nor of that connexion of virtues , and with virtue , without which true gentry , or nobility cannot be , nor subsist , had it never so much riches , antiquity of descent , or windy titles from prince or state. for true gentry is virtus generis , vertue running in a blood , and either increasing , or descending in a race , or breed . it 's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. generosity , or an excellency of a kindred , or family , but sustained , or encreased still with vertue suitable to its beginning , or first advancement . nobilitas sola est , atq : unica virtus . all mankind was made of one blood , and all nations of men , that dwell upon all the face of the earth , act. 17.26 . ( there were no praeadamites , as brainsick pierrier dreamed ) to whom god determined the times before appointed , and the bounds of their habitations ; so as none , either men , or nations , can claim truly any prerogative of nobleness , but by their virtue , as the bereans are witnessed to have been more noble , than the jews of thessalonica , for their unprejudicateness and candour , by gods own unerring spirit , because they unpartially examined , what was proposed to them , and held not the truth of god , with acception of persons , act. 17.11 . all were certainly noble at first , and had ever continued so , had it not been for sin , because all were the ofspring of god , act. 27.28 , 29. and god begot , or made no ignoble children , as the greeks and french use to phrase it . sin only brought in ignobleness then , and degeneracy , as virtue only makes and maintains the contrary : what for virtue naturall ( let not sciolists here mistake me ; for virtue naturall rightly expounded , is no wayes contrary to sound divinity ) what for acquired ; what for intellectuall ; what for morall ; what for hereditary and transmitted by descent ( which is all one with naturall ; there being igniculi ; & semina virtutum in nature , which are called naturall or hereditary vertues , as well as there is in sicknesses , and soundness of health ) it is only vertue still , that makes true gentry , or generosity , and keeps it afoot . est in equis patrum virtus , nec imbelles & degeneres procreant aquilam columbae . the ground of generosity , whence other gentry regularly proceeds , i mean that of preheminence in offices , or power , whether oeconomick , or civil ; where unto i must not now enlarge my self , to speak in particular ) jacob in his testament to his sons , doth both philosophically and divinely set down , to wit , the impregnation of nature , and elevating of the phancy and spirits , to the highest and noblest thoughts , and inclinations , that ones condition , and way of breeding can suffer them to mount up to ; which god himself also teaches in another place , when he says , that he would rejoyce over israel , as a bridegroom rejoyceth over his bride . for then is that special time of loves , ezek. 16.8 . ( not romantick only , much sinfully such , as most romances are wicked , and have death in the pot , but common and natural , especially to common men ; though wise men , that under stand nature , and can govern her , may both inhance that without sin , and make other times equall , if not go beyond it ) and love is the seminary of all nobleness , and productive of all vertue , and vertuous emulation to vertuous actions , and growth therein ; as hatred and envy are of the contrary ; witness that example act. 17 5 , 6 , 7 , 11 , 12. and it must needs be so , seeing conjugall love was the first measure , and fountain of all neighbourly love , and neighbourly love is the fulfilling of the law ; as the first summe of the second table , or thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self ; and do to others as thou would be done to ; was virtually included in that divinely inspired sentence of adams ; this is now bone of my bone , and flesh of my flesh : according to that pronounced of all poor , though never so great strangers ; hide not thy self from thy own flesh . primogeniture then and nobleness were divinely and naturally both supposed to be conjunct , and consequent one to the other , because there the might of the parents , and beginning or flowr of their strength , both as to body and mind were put forth in point of affection , and affections are the seats of virtues : and therefore also to primogeniture was given the excellency of dignity , and the excellency of power , i.e. the preeminence and precedency before others , both of merit , and of office ; or of nobility and high places of trust , whether in church , or state-relation , and much more in oeconomick : yet so , as it was alwayes forfeitable by vice , and devolvable to others more vertuous , as by cain , ishmael , esau , reuben and many more , is manifest . but want of breeding to noble thoughts , and ends ; and instruction to inure to chast and continent love , and not to deflore so much as their fancies , before the due and lawfull time ; abuse also of marriage to base ends and by-respects , especially of money ; and imprudent choices in sundry other respects , grown common with prodigality , luxury , and many other vices , have in these countreys and times flatted and unspirited all natural nobleness and generosity either into a soft effeminacy , or sowr vineger of pride , and vanity , imbittered with the gall of many other vices , instead of the generous wine , they came of . and where natural gentry , or generosity is not , seldome is the other of morall and acquired to be found ; and so we are left to empty names of civill tities entailed upon riches and descent , by creation , or patent . certainly there is a wisdome , if we studied it as well , as some do the other , of having a noble breed of men and women , as well as there is of horses , cocks , and cattle . none will think dunghill-cockrell , fit for game ; nor a jadish race for the services of a gallant jennet : and yet we think any thing fit enough for our progenie's , that hath but money enough . high birth and fortunes , are in themselves , both of them , the good blessings of god , and are in honour with all persons of honour , where ever they are , or have been in any , that have suitable vertues , but have parted with fortunes for vertues sake . but for a gentleman whose fortunes are become unsuitable to his ranke , whether by his own fault , or others , or by neither , but by wrong , or misfortune , for reparation of an estate , so far to forget himself , as to make money his leading motive in a choice , is ignoble enough , and ungenerous , and can hardly expect better fruits of his way . we know , he was a wise man , that said , blessed art thou , o land , when thy king is the son of nobles ! eccles . 10.7 . and he that said , nam genus , & proavos , & quae non fecimus ipsi , vix ea nostra voco , in opposition to too much standing on , or vaunting of descent without competent vertue and wisdome to correspond with it ; said also , et mi genus ab jove summo , to show his esteem of descent ; and with virtue answerable ; especially of such a descent , as claimed to the best , that could be reckoned to . he that would be ashamed to claim so honourable a priviledge , if he can do it truely , and hath just occasion and circumstances to extort it from him , would show but himself too modest at best , and almost unworthy of it , especially if he had a better jupiter in place to make both his address and claim to , than the other had . for as low as my fortunes are , i can claim to the best blood in england , and that by england , and neither very far off , nor in an illegitimate way . neither need i to be ashamed of my fortunes ( though hitherto , which was my weakness , i have been ashamed of them , whereas i ought not to have been ashamed , but of sin ) seeing i parted from them willingly , for retaining to vertue , and a good conscience . solomon hath told me , that all things come alike to all ; and that the race is not to the swift , nor the battell to the strong , nor bread to the wise , nor riches to men of understanding , nor favour to men of skill ; but time and chance happeneth to them all , eccles . 9.2 , 11 , &c. i was never lower yet , than that great and noble generall , of that great emperour justinian , was unjustly brought , to his masters no little dispraise , belisarius of immortall renown . and why should i be ashamed to lay open my case to so royall a physician , as i have done ; or be diffident of the cure , since the fountain of civil honour ( which he is ) will do nothing contrary to true honour ; and gods great steward of fortunes and preferments , that are in his own gift , in his own dominions , will neither deal niggardly , ungenerously , or unjustly , where nothing but justice and right is sought ? far be any thing of this , from being taken as contrary to the first founders of a noble race ; who , though they cannot claim descent , yet are beyond most of those , that can : since it is more to give , or make a noble descent , than to receive it , and most cadets , prove oftner cadents , than culminants , and seldome equall their founders , but unspirit themselves , and evaporate to a vappidness of money — or prediall-gentility . i mean not so much that , which is bought with momy ( for that may be so , where it deserved to have been given ) as that which hath nothing but riches to sustain it . cicero answered salustius his objection of an upstart , well , ( if we suppose the invectives to be theirs ) ego meis majoribus virtute praeluxi ; tu tuis turpiter offudisti tenebras . and as for occupations , and offices , though some be justly accounted more fordid , and illiberall ; others more honourable and gentile ; yet all that are lawfull , coming from god , and from his spirit , as well as these mentioned , and implyed , exod. 31.3 . &c. none joyned with virtue , can justly ignobilitate any . yea , i know none of the basest and meanest of them , but in conjunction with virtue , and piety , but especially when they come to put on something of the nature of piety it self , or immediate service to god , as some of them did under the old testament , god hath left place for them to be pareille to , or in conjunction with the highest . thus david wished rather to be a doorkeeper in the house of his god ( a porter of the temple ) than to be a king in the tents of wickedness . and to moses his posterity , though king in jeshurun , yea more than a king , a king , priest and prophet , which is more than ever we read of any other ( except christ , of whom be was therein a singular type ; ever a typicall mediatour , for be consecrated aaron to his priesthood , which without being priest , he could not have dine ) yet there was no more allotted to them , but to be chief porters in the house of god. what calling meaner than a butcher ? yet the high-priest , the second person in the kingdome , and sometimes , and in some respects , the first , was by his calling a sacred butcher ; and if i be not mistaken , as i hope in my scripturall researches i may show , that i am not , the king himself in some cases , was such a sacred butcher in some sort , in that he killed his own sacrifices ; and it was an high , and an eminent honour to him too ; and ever bad been accounted , as the priviledge of the first-born , where the excellency of dignity , and of power was by divine institution , before the jewes policy was erected . a preacher of this city , that now bears his head high , when a gentleman showed him , ( as i have heard from the party ) a tract by him done into latine , and subscribed in the title-page , per a. b. nobilem , &c. he very smatterer-like , and pedantickly bewryed his ignorance , that nobilis in roman and purest latine phrase , that we could have , signified a gentleman ; but he would not understand it otherwayes , but according to the anglism that he was acquainted with , whereby nobleman is appropriate to barons , vicounts , earls , &c. another person of quality in this city ( as i have heard the story ) rising from a mean degree to great fortunes , had a distressed gentleman ( without the gentleman 's own knowledge ) recommended to his company and table : and thereupon the citizen himself inviting him too , he well accepted of it , and was as well taken with ; and upon further converse , so well , that he justly apprehended some more than ordinary favours towards him , if he would lay hold on them . to lay hold he was most willing , and did ; but resolved to proceed cantiously and slowly , for many reasons , which if they had known , or had the patience , till discreetly they might have been opened to them , they would have allowed of . but they construing this slowness for neglect , were offended , and that so far , that at length ( the gentleman not finding it best to alter his procedure ) the citizen discharged him his house , though upon a contrary pretence . he took this as an high affront , as indeed it was . and they coming to know their mistake , invited him again , but so unsufficiently , the master of the house being excepted from being the inviter , though he had been the discharger , that the gentleman would not thereupon come so soon , as it seems , they expected him ; but he did cast himself to meet with them , where he might either have a fuller invitation from them that had the right , or opportunity to tell them , what an one their deputy had given him . but he found them in a new discontent and mistake upon refusall of that invitation , which increased to such distance , that it could not be removed , through their too high carriage ; which he disdained the more , the higher it was ; untill at length going about to beget a right understanding again , be received such another signall affront , as he vowed never to enter their house , untill be knew he had a full and free invitation that came from him that discharged him . matters standing thus now , the gentleman , to whom i could not deny such a courtesie , for many reasons ; requested me , that thus in a cloud to others , i would find a way as soon as i could , to uncloud his business briefly to the parties concerned , that they might make such use thereof , as they saw good . and i have chosen this way of examples subjoyned to the discourse of generosity , by way of apology for my self , and first opening my condition from that obscurity it lay under , to prevent , or repulse the currish snarls of clownish pedants , and schiolists . my intent in this translation , is ( beside what i have exprest to his majesty ) the propagation of religion , and the good of england . but if religion be not better intended , and attended , and prosecuted by undertakers , than it hath been at home , it may justly frustrate all , and cast us in as great confusions abroad , as it did at home . but because this would require more length , than this epistle is now fit to be drawn unto , and i may have another occasion for it perhaps , ere long ; i heartily recommend all to gods blessing , and thy good acceptance , and bid thee farewell . blackefriers this 22 of october 1660. w. h. advertisement . these books are newly printed for , and sold by john starkey at the miter in fleet-street near to temple-barre . the world surveyed ; or the famous voyages and travels of vincent le blanc of marseilles , who from the age of fourteen years to threescore and eighteen , travelled through most parts of the world , viz. the east and west indies , persia , pegn , the kingdomes of fez and morocco , guinny , and through all africa , from the cape of good hope into alexandria , by the territories of monomotapa , of prester john , and egypt , into the mediterranean isles , and through the principall provinces of europe . containing amore exact description of severall parts of the world , than hath hitherto been done by any other author , the whole work enriched with many authentick histories , originally written in french , and faithfully rendred into english by f. b. in folio . aminta , the famous pastorall , written in italian by the admired poet signor ' torquato tasso , and translated into english verse by john dancer , being the exact imitation of pastor fido , with other ingenious poems in 80. the shepheards paradise , a comedy privately acted before king charles the first , by the queens majesty , and her ladies of honour , written by the honourable walter mountague esquite in 80. to my lord , the most eminent cardinall mazarine . my lord , what can be offered greater , in a little work , than the great river of the amazones ? it now offers it self , with all its grandures , to your eminency , after that it hath hidden them so long time . it desires baptisme from you , for all its peoples ; it desires laws from you , for all its nations ; and a valiant king , for all its provinces , that he may unite them to his crown . if the conquest thereof be easie , neither will the expense thereof be excessive . for there will need no great armies here , to give battels ; nor no great provision of artillery , for carrying on of sieges . there is need only of preparations fitting for planting of five colonies at the first aboard ; the first whereof is to be in the isle of the sun , for guarding the best entry into this great rivers mouth . the second on the famous bosphore or strait thereof , to desend and keep this rivers passage . the third on that renowned point of the comanares , for the best seat of that whole empire . the fourth near to the mountain of swana , whereby to be master of the gold-mine there . and the fifth and last on the mouth of the river of maragnon , to watch over the frontier of that side of the andes . and in favours of this first establishment , your eminence might easily adde the alliances of the illustrious and renowned nations of the homagues , of the generous and noble yorimans , of the valiant topinambes : and give order for a fleet-volant of about twelve men of warre , continually to be visiting , and going between these colonies ; because the distance by sailing , of the farthest of these from the other , will be at the least a thousand spanish leagues , and this alwayes upon the channell of the great river of the amazones it self . but this is enough for an epistle : and the book it self will speak the matter more at length : and in so noble a design your counsels will not be wanting to france : as i shall never be wanting , my lord , to give you all sort of honour , submissions , and respects ; being as i am of your eminence the most humble , most obedient , and most obliged servant blaise francis de pagan . from paris the 12th of march 1655. map of the amazon magni amazoni fluvii in america meridionali noua delineatio an historical and geographical description of the great river of the amazones in america . chap. i. of the greatness of the river of the amazones . what the danow is to europe , ganges to asia , and nilus to afrique ; the same is the great amazone to america . and as america is the greatest part of the world , so is the river of the amazones the greatest river in the universe . his length is of greater extent , than that of the nile , and negro in afrique ; his breadth larger , than that of ganges and kiam in asia ; his navigation and portableness is better , than that of the danow and rhine in eurupe ; his mouth , or entrance into the sea , is more open , than that of plata , and saint lawrence in america ; and his depth is like unto that of the oceane , and of the mediterrane-sea . his inundations or overflowings are yearly , and fruitfull ; his aspect is every where and every way pleasant : all his branches and rivers running out of him , are inhabited ; his fields are all fertile , and all his adjoyning plaines or valleys cultivated . chase , fishing , and venison are there every where great store ; woods , fruits , and corn-fields for harvest , cover the grounds and little hills there ; and the sweetness of his air is through all alike equally temperate : and both gold and silver are found in the rivers and mountains there . its peoples are innumerable ; its iles great and infinite in number , yet inhabited ; all its peoples are spritely and nimble , and the riches of the climate furnisheth them abundantly with all things . this river's course is almost alwayes under the equinoctiall line ; and every where his nights and days are of alike length ; and the other rivers , that pay their tribute to him , are all under the torride zone . marvellous effects of the divine providence , which having distanced so many nations from the sea-coasts and its commodities , hath given them so great rivers and waters in so great abundance , that this famous river of the amazones may reasonably enough be called an ocean-sea of sweet waters . but all its prerogatives , which by an universall consent , have made the title of the greatest river of the world be given unto it , shall more amply be seen , and with more particular deduction of circumstances , in the following chapters of this book . chap. ii. of the great realm of the amazone . in the peninsule or almost-ile of the southerly america , and almost in the midst of so great a continent or main-land , there is a great extent of land , covered with so many nations , and watered with so many rivers , that of it might be formed a kingdome , or empire of three thousand leagues in compass , for one that would make the conquest of it . it s rich and opulent countries ( which all of them together i call the great kingdome or realm of the amazone , seeing all their waters and rivers render themselves into this great and renowned river of the amazones ) have for their boundaries , brasile towards the east ; the kingdome of new-granado , and the coast of guiana towards the north ; and towards the west , peru , and the great cordelier ; and southward tucuman , and paraguais : all provinces under the crown of castile , except brasile , subject to the portugallians , that inhabit it . i said , of three thousand leagues in compass , not precisely , but near to that dimension ; because the diversity of mapps , and of their opinions and reports , that have compassed it , not only cross one another , but also thwart themselves in their relations , that they give of it ; as by name father christopher d'acogna a spanish jesuit , and a principall author , and eye-witness of these things . but of these doubtfull and diverse mensurations we shall speak elsewhere ; let us here draw towards an end of this chapter , in telling you , that all this great realm of amazone is inhabited only as yet of indians and americans , and not at all of spaniards , whether castilians , or portuguais . these have indeed discovered it , and run its length first of any , with their armed navies ; but only passed thorow , and never stayed any where to build fortresses , or plant colonies , as they have done in so great number , and with so great state and magnificence in other countries of the same america . but if spain happily situated for commanding over this new world , had turned her thoughts towards the conquest of this empire of the great amazone , instead of consuming unprofitably so many armies , and so great treasures in her warres of europe , as she hath done now for an hundred years ; she might have enjoyed by this time the glory and advantages of so great an empire : from the conquest of which now she is further off than ever , as well for the reason of her present weakness , as her intestine division . chap. iii. of the nations of this great realm . the innumerable nations and provinces of this great empire of the amazone are not all yet distinctly known by their severall names and languages , because the spaniards , who last navigated this famous river , have not marked them all , but only one hundred and fifty of them . the provinces are all so mightily , peopled , and their habitations so thick , that from the last village of one town , one may hear the noise of such as travail from the first village of anopher . and yet so near a neighbour hood not being able to keep them in peace , they are in continuall warres one nation against another . yet neither ambition of command , nor greediness of acquiring riches , not a desire to eat men , as canibals of the same america have , are any of the grounds of so many cruell and bloody battels ; ( without which were it not , for all this , so many people could never be contained in these countries ) but the cause of all these fights , wherein are often slain an infinitie of persons , is only for glory and renown , and to have slaves of a strange , or other nation than their own : and that because at home amongit themselves , the innocence of their manners , and riches of the climate , not being , apt to bring men to a necessity of serving others of their own accord , none is found there obliged to such a condition , but by force of arms. and yet this invincible courage , that they exercise thus against one another , hath not yet appeared against the spaniards , ( who navigate and run the river of amazones in arms ) foras much as hither to either a light fleeing , if at any time they opposed them ; or a mutuall amity embraced and consented to by them , have been the only arms , which to this present they have employed against these dominators of the new world , the spaniards . but all america being barren of iron , we must not think it strange , if the inhabitants of this great realm have been surprized with fear , ( as all other indians were , and are ) of the sword , the musquiet , and of artillery . char. iv. of their arms , and commerce . seing neither steel nor iron are found at all in the west indies , we must not marvell , if the americans of this great kingdom have no other arms , but arrows and javelots ; about which notwithstanding they are marvellously expert , not only for making them of hard wood , and sharp pointed , but also for shooting and casting them with so great force , that therewith they pierce through and through the body of their enemies , which they hit . the same necessity makes them also use stones well brought to an edge , and tortoise shells , for axes , and hatchets , and their instruments of travelling : the one for great wood , and the other for less , and houshold utensils . but they use the horn of certain little beasts , fastned to little hefts , for their finer works , which they make upon wood with marvellous skill . as for the commerce of all these peoples on this great river of the amazones , and on other rivers that run into it , they perform it in boats , which they call canoès , that are made all of cedar , and all of one piece , as in other places of the indies ; but with more ease , and better , than elsewhere ; because this great river during its overflowings , brings down so great a number of great trees , that these peoples have no more to do to come by them , but every one to lay hold on , and stay as many as he desires , at his house , there to cut and hollow them , as he thinks meet . as for cloathes , such as use any , have them all almost of cotton : and for such as go naked ( which are the greatest part ) neither excessive heat , nor rigour of cold forces them to cover themselves in that sort . chap. v. of their customes and religion . there were never any written laws amongst those peoples ; and all their customes are almost much alike . some of them live at liberty ; and some of them under cacyques , or lords , as the rest of america . they have idols of wood made by mans hand , which they adore as their gods , attributing to some of them the power over waters , and giving them a fish for their mark : to others the power over fruits , and seeds of the earth . they have also such as they take for gods of armies and battels ; and they openly avouch that these deities came down from heaven to live with them , to do them good , and procure their profit . they have neither temples nor ceremonies , wherewith they adore them , but leave them carelesly in some corner of their house , untill they have occasion to use them . but when they take water to go to warre , they place on the poup of their vessels , their god of armies ; and so they use the others in like sort . they have also wisemen , or wizards among them , of great esteem ; who serve them for counsellors as well for religion and physick , as for law and policy ; and in the year 1639 , the portuguais found an indian in these countries , that called himself the son of the sun ; who coming to a peaceable and loving conference with them , was not satisfied with the grounds of our belief , but going away without renouncing his own imposture , said , that every night he went by the spirit to consult the sun for the government of the following day . finally , all these peoples are of a good nature , nimble and quick of body , and of colour not so tawny and sun-burnt as those of brasile . they are of quick apprehension and understanding , and are very expert in their hands for all sort of works . they are naturally sweet and meek , officious and tractable ; and they converse familiarly with strangers without any fear . they are every way so docile and teachable , and so little possest with malice , that from hence the easiness to subdue them , as well to laws and policy , as to christian religion , may be guessed at . chap. vi. of the great cordeliere . in the southern america , to the east of the kingdom of peru , and as it were from the north to the south , runs and rangeth along a garland of great mountains more than six hundred leagues in length , under the name of the great cordeliere , and by a wonderfull work of nature , all the waters , which from thence arise in abundance , on that side of the great mountains , that look towards the east , do all render themselves into the north-sea by one only mouth and confluent . but these well-heads , and springs being so many , cannot be yet all discovered : it sufficeth us in this book to remark the chief ones , and such of them as are famous , by the origine and source of the great river of the amamazones , and of others the most famous , that he receiveth into his channell , to convey them together with himself into the ocean-sea . and amongst the longest and greatest of all these rivers , the great caketa , the putumaye , and the aguarike , are on the north-side ; and the madera , the amarumaya , the maragnon , and the curaray , are on the southside of the river of the amazones . which being the only , and the principall object of our discourse , we will here begin to describe its source , in this chapter , telling you that it is the most westward of all the sources , that are to the east of the great cordeliere ; that which is furthest off from the ocean , or atlantique-sea , and the nearest of any to the town of kyto , one of the greatest and fairest cities , not only of the kingdom of peru , but also of any in all america ; the seat of a soveraign court , and capitall of a great province , of three hundred degrees , and ten minutes of longitude , ( counting from the first and fixt meridian of the i le of saint michell , of the azores ) and sixteen minutes only of latitude meridionale . but for better clearing of this matter yet , we must adde , that between the town of kyto , & the source of the great river of the amazons , these tops , or risings of the great cordeliere , that are after mentioned , are interjected . chap. vii . of the sources of the great river of the amazones . pulcan and guanama are two mountains of the great and high cordeliere , distant one from the other little less than two spanish leagues , of three hundred degrees , thirty six minutes of longitude , on the terrestriall globe ; and twenty minutes only of meridionale or southern latitude . they are in the great province of kyto , of the rich empire of peru , about six leagues to the southside of the equinoctiall line ; and eight leagues to the east of the town of kyto , the capitall of that province : and two lakes , that are at the two foots of these two mountains , are the renowned sources of the great and famous amazone . that of pulcan is the largest , openest , and best discovered ; and that of guanama is the deepest and profoundest , and as it were almost covered by a great rock overturned upon it by an earthquake . but these two spring-heads , the most wonderfull of all the world , since they give the beginning to the most memorable river of the universall world , run quickly into one , and pass along together the terrible rocks of the cordeliere , rolling their roaring waters over its precipices and fals : from whence this great river coming forth and running alwayes strong , swift , and straight towards the east , receives presently upon his leaving the cordeliere , a marvellous great increase from the coca , the payamine , and the napo , ( three considerable rivers , whereof we shall speak else where ) and in short while makes his navigableness like unto that of the great ocean-sea , as well for the depth of his channell , as for the less rapidness of his currant of water . but this remarkable place , where the river of napo enters into that of the amazones ( which the spaniards call the junto of the rivers , and we the conjunction or joyning of the rivers , to the same very sense verbatim ) is about sixty leagues from the town of kyto , and under the equinoctiall line . and it was in this place that the adventurous francis d'areillane that spanish knight , made build a vessell , in the which he first navigated , and happily discovered all this great river of the amazones . chap. viii . of the length and course of this river . after that the great amazone hath made his channell like unto that of the greatest rivers of the world , by the conflux of the foresaid three rivers , he goes on his way through the vast and fertile fields of america , alwayes towards the east , and without longer straying from under the line , than five or six degrees at the most , on the southside , or that of the antarctick pole. yet drawing his now-slow waters after him , by infinite turnings and windings in plains and fields of so large and great extent , he casts out his arms on every side to receive the more easily the rivers which from all parts come unto him , and that with such admirable agreement , that the least of his armes receive alway the least rivers and rivulets ; and the greater the greater : and if rivers come to him , that are bigge and made great by a course of more hundreths of leagues together , he there shuts up all his waters into one channell , to receive those greater worthily , and as it were with a greater state and magnificence . as for his length from his source to his mouth at the atlantique-sea , following the course of his wide channell , it is diversly reported . the fore-mentioned areillane makes it of eighteen hundred , and father d' acogna of one thousand two hundred seventy six spanish leagues , according to the justest measures that we could gather from the relations of this author , who contradicts himself often through forgetfulness , and not taking heed . now the sparingest reckoning of father d' acogna , being modester than that of areillane , seems to me to have more appearances of the truth in it ; because the distance of the mountains of pulcan , and guanama ( where the sources of this great river are ) in a streight line unto zaparara , which is the easterliest cape , at which he ends his course , is but of six hundred fourty leagues of the same sort , according to my geographick tables or mappes , and the methods of the eighth book of my geometricall theorems . but because this distance in a streight line , appears to me to be yet too farre different from the foresaid length of one thousand two hundred seventy six leagues ; i could easily perswade my self , that either the southern longitude of america were greater ; or that the leagues of this spanish father jesuit should be no other but celtiberian-spanish leagues , or biscay leagues , like unto our french-sea-leagues , the which amounting but to twenty , for every degree of a great circle , would give us seven hundred thirty two leagues in a right or streight line , for the same distance between the sources of the great river of the amazones , and the extremity of his mouth , or upshutting . chap. ix . of the longitudes , latitudes , and measures observed in this great river . in the design we have to set down in this place , and all along , the distances , and their latitudes , which the spaniards have observed an . one thousand six hundred thirty nine , alongst the river of the amazones , reported by d' acogna aforesaid , delegated by king philip the fourth to this charge : we have also resolved to adde the longitudes , which we have adjusted as much as is possible from confusion and uncertainty ; and this as well for the curiosity of such as love geography ; as for the help of these authours , that would make new cartes of these places . but going back to the end of the 7th chapter , we shall continue the course of this great river in this manner . from the mouth of napo , which is on the south of the great amazone , to anete , are fourty seven leagues . this place of anete is yet under the line , and on the south-side of the great river . from anete to the agarico , are eighteen leagues . the mouth of this river , is on the north-side of the amazone , and under the line also . from the agarico to chevela , twenty leagues . the mouth of this river is also on the north of amazone , and begins to decline a little from the line towards the south . from the chevelu to the curaray , fourty leagues . the mouth of this river is on the south of the amazone , and under the second degree of southern latitude . from the curaray to the maragnon , eighty leagues . the mouth of this river is on the south of the amazone , having four degrees of southern latitude , and three hundred seven degrees and fifty minutes of longitude . from the maragnon to the beginning of the province of homague , sixty leagues . all this province consists in great ilands . from the foresaid beginning of homague , to a certain great habitation of the same , one hundred and nineteen leagues . this place is in an i le , on the south-side of the body of amazone , having three degrees of southern latitude , and three hundred twelve degrees , and fifty five minutes of longitude . from this habitation to the putumaya , seventeen leagues . the mouth of this river is on the north-side of the great amazone . from the putumaya to lyetau , fifty leagues . the mouth of this river is on the south-side of amazone , and hath three degrees thirty minutes of southern latitude . from lyetau to the end of the province of homague , fourteen leagues . in this place there is a great and puissant habitation in an i le . from the end of homague to the amarumaya , twenty five leagues . the mouth of this river is on the south-side of amazone having five degrees of southern latitude , and three hundred fifteen degrees , and fifty minutes of longitude . from the amarumaya to the village of the gold , twenty eight leagues . this place is on the south-bank of the channell of the great amazone . from the village of the gold to the yopura , fourteen leagues . the mouth of this river is on the north-side of amazone , and hath three degrees of southern latitude . from the yopura to tapy , four leagues . the mouth of this river is on the south-side of amazone . from the tapy to the catua , twenty five leagues . the mouth of this river is on the south side of amazone , and towards the green lake , formed into that condition by the great amazone . from the catua and the green lake to the first mouth of the araganatuba , six leagues . this is on the north-side of the amazone . from the fist mouth to the second of the araganatuba , sixteen leagues ; on the north-side of amazone also . from the second mouth of the araganatuba to the end of the province of corosirare , twenty two leagues . all this province is on the south of the great river . from the end of corosirare to the beginning of the province of yoriman , two leagues . on the south-side of amazone . from the beginning of yoriman to a great and very long habitation , twenty three leagues , on the south of the river to four degrees of that latitude , and three hundred nineteen degrees , and thirty minutes of longitude . from this long habitation to the i le yoriman , thirty two leagues , on the south-bank side of the amazone . from this i le to the end of the province of yoriman , ten leagues . on the south-side of the amazone . from the end of yoriman to the cusiguare , two leagues . the mouth of this river is also on the south of the amazone . from the cusiguare to the basurure , thirty two leagues . the mouth of this river is on the north-side of the amazone , and hath four degrees , thirty minutes , of southern latitude . from the basurure to the rio-negro , or black river , thirty leagues . the mouth of this river is also on the north-side of the amazone , having four degrees of southern latitude , and three hundred twenty two degrees , and twenty minutes of longitude . and thus the course of the great river of the amazones into rio-negro , or the black river , is of seven hundred eighty eight leagues , according to the preceding measures . chap. x. the rest of the longitudes , latitudes , and measures observed unto the atlantique sea. following the same design of the chapter preceding , wherein we made stay , till we came to the mouth of rio-negro , where he enters into the great river of the amazones , we shall in this chapter make an end thereof , pursuing the amazones course into the great ocean its self . from rio-negro then unto the madera are four leagues ; the mouth of this river being on the south of the amazone . from the madera to the beginning of the i le of topinamba , twenty eight leagues . this great i le is in the river of the amazones , towards the south-side . from the beginning to the end of this i le , sixty two leagues . in this place is a great and puissant habitation of the topinambians , having three degrees of southern latitude , and three hundred twenty seven degrees , thirty minutes of longitude . from the end of topinamba to the coruris , thirty leagues ; the mouth of which river is to the north of the amazone . from the coruris to the bosphore of the amazone , twenty four leagues . this strange narrownesse hath two degrees and fourty minutes of southern latitude ; and three hundred twenty eight degrees , and fifty minutes in longitude . from the bosphore to the tapayse , fourty leagues ; the mouth of which river is on the south of the great amazone . from the tapayse to the coropatube , fourty leagues ; the mouth of which river is on the north-side of the great amazone . from the coropatube to the fort of the destierro , fifty four leagues ; which forteresse is also on the north-side of the great river . from the foresaid fort to the ginipape , six leagues ; the mouth of which river is on the north-side also , having two degrees of southern latitude , and three hundred thirty one degrees and fifty minutes of longitude . and about two leagues under this ginipape towards the sea , the great river of the amazones begins to open himself by little and little towards his great mouth , or place of discharge into the sea. from the ginipape to the paranaybe , ten leagues , the mouth of which river is on the south side of the amazone . from the paranaybe to the pacache , fourty leagues , the mouth of which is also on the south of the amazone . from the pacache to commuta , fourty leagues . this place is also on the south-side of the amazone . from commuta to para , thirty leagues . this town is also on the south-banke of the great mouth of the amazone , having one degree and thirty minutes of south latitude . from para to the i le of the sun , fourteen leagues . this i le is also near to the same south-banke . and from para to zaparara , fourty leagues ; which is a cape on the extremity of the south-banke of the great river , having thirty five minutes of south latitude , and three hundred thirty seven degrees and ten minutes of longitude . and so the course of the great river of the amazones is from rio-negro to zaparara , of four hundred eighty eight leagues ; and his whole length is one thousand two hundred seventy six leagues , as have been set down in the preceeding chapters . yet to describe his north-banke of his great mouth also somewhat more , we shall thus set it down . from the ginipape to corupa , thirty leagues ; this place being on the north-side of the river . from corupa to the cape of the north , the distance is not well known : and this cape is on the extremity of the north-banke of the great river , having fourty five minutes of north latitude , and three hundred thirty three degrees and fifty minutes of longitude . chap. xi . of the bredth , and of the iles of this great river . if the great amazone is wonderfull for its length , it is no lesse admirable for its bredth , and its ilands . the one is alwaies of two , three , or four leagues broad , but never so little as of one only : the others are innumerable , and so great , that their compasse is of five , or of ten , and sometimes of twenty ; yea , and more than of an hundred leagues sometimes , as is that of the topinambes . there is a great number also of very little ones , in which the natives make their burial-places , having their dwellings in the others , that are greater . but the greater part of these iles , and sometimes the greatest of them , are in part at least drowned and overflowed every year by the inundations of that river , but so fatned thereafter with the mud , that he scatters over them behind him , that they are thereby exceeding fertile , yielding every year without any intermissions of rest , their ordinary crops , which are of maze , yoca , and mandioca ; which yeeld the common food for all america , where it is in great abundance all along the great river of the amazone . but to help the inconveniences of overflowing , they make under-ground cellers , granaries , or caves well cover'd , where they keep their maze , ( which is their wheat ) without impairement ; and the yoca ( which is a root ) whereof they make their casabe , which is the ordinary , and lesse finish bread of all brasile , and of all that new-world . returning then to the wonders of the large channell of this great river of the amazones , we shall end this chapter , in telling you , that he keeps alwaies about the same bredth , that we have before set down , untill by an enlarging him-self , and opening into eighty four spanish leagues of bredth , he comes to lose his name and waters in the great atlantique ocean , between the two capes of the north , and of zaparara ; this being in brasile , and the other in guiana , provinces of america . chap. xii . of its depth , and navigation . seeing the great and wonderfull channell of the renowned river of the amazones , as a certain long and vast sea of sweet waters , receives so many great , broad , and deep rivers , we must not think it strange , if the depth of his bed equall oftentimes the abysses of the ocean its self . this is for the most part , from his beginning unto rio-negro , of eight , twelve , and of twenty fathomes ; and from rio-negro downwards to the ocean , of thirty , fourty , and sometimes without ground , and unfathomable , according to the relations of all that have observed it . but this marvellous advantage his depth hath beyond others singular , that for the most part they are alike , along the bankes and sides , as they are in the midst of this large channell of the great amazone : whence it follows , that his navigablenesse , and the fitnesse for commerce of this great river , is open and sufficient enough for the greatest navies , of the greatest number , of the greatest burthen ; which may not only sail up all along him to his first rise in order of battell , and ready for fight ; but also put to land easily , and apply to the shore , without any fear of rocks , or sands . and providence having purposed every way to render all these wonders yet more considerable , hath led the waters of this famous river alwaies from west to east , and near unto the aequator , to the end , that as navale armies might easily come down from his very source to his mouth , carryed by the sweet force and strength of his current , and streame ; so they might also as easily go up from his mouth and first entrance unto his very source , against the stream of his deep waters , by a favourable and continual winde , which blows there in a good gale perpetually , and without ceasing , from east to west , either all the day long , or at lest three or four hours of it together , because of the diurnall motion either of the earth , or of the first moveable heaven , or orbe : so that on the north-sea , from the canary ilands , to those of the canibal's ; and on the south-sea , from new-spain , unto the philippine iles ; as also all along the coast of paria and guiana , as one goes from the north-cape , to the cape of sailes , the same east-wind is alwaies found to be on wing , and in his reign , without ceasing . but as in those other parts above-named , it is impossible for ships to take the same waies back again , for returning to the places from whence they came , that they held in coming from them , so long as their sailes must be fill'd with those east-windes ; so this great river of the amazones hath this particular advantage beyond them , that whole armadoes can go from east to west , and from west to east , alwaies under the line , and the same way both of going and coming , and as the same time . chap. xiii . of the bosphore of the amazone . the thracian and cimmerian bosphores , or ox-swim-bredths were never so famous in ages past , as the amazonian bosphore will be renowned in times to come , in all apperance . this one strange strait of this river ( richer in one day , than are at present both the straits of hellespont , and of elsenore ) shuts up in one channell scarcely a thousand paces broad , or an italian mile , the whole great river of the amazones , proud of the spoiles of so many , and great , and long rivers ; and highly puft up for his course of more than nine hundred sixty leagues , through plaines and valleys the fertilest in the whole world ; and triumphing in all the waters , that rise from the east of the great cordeliere , from the town of popayan to that of plata , which is the space of five hundred leagues . this wonderfull bosphore , or ox-passe , which providence hath reserved to be one day the key of the richest trade in the world , and of the greatest kingdom that is in one only continent , hath three hundred twenty eight degrees , and fifty minutes of longitude , and two degrees and fourty minutes of north-latitude , and is three hundred leagues from the north sea , following the course of turning and windings of this great river unto zaparara ; however father d' acogna ( often enough variable in his measures ) carry sometimes this distance of the bosphore from the sea , unto the length of three hundred sixty leagues . but untill the longitude of this great part of america be better observed , i intend alwaies to follow the least measures of distances . now this one only and famous strait of the great river of the amazones , is yet further considerable for this , that the flowing of the great seas is here easily perceived , offering a marvellous advantage to the commerce of this rivers navigation , by the ebbing , and flowing of the ocean . whence it follows , that the advantages of the first nation , that shall possesse its self by colonies and forts of both sides of this amazonian bosphore , cannot be exprest in a few words . for can any doubt , but that the riches of so many mines discovered , and not wrought , by the miserable depopulations of the rich western regions of this peninsulare america , will be one day snatched up by the greed of those will follow us , and the multitude of men that will be born hereafter in these happy countries ; and will in end be carried on the currents of so many famous rivers , as render themselves unto the bosphore of the amazone , to be afterwards brought into europe , by the easie navigation of the atlantique sea , in comparison of the troublesome mountains of panama , the corsaires ; and the shipwracks of the gulph of mexico ; and the notable dangers of the channell of bahame ? chap. xiv . of the first three rivers , that enter into that of the amazones . after that we have thus summarily described the course of the great river of the amazones , we will return to his beginning , to handle anew the things that are without , and adjacent to it . but i could wish that father acogna , the authour and eye-witnesse of a part of these relations , were more cleanly and understandable in them . for not having been able to find either cartes , or books to help my cares that i have to unfold these ambiguities , i my self therefore rest not satisfied in this behalf with mine own work . without staying therefore to censure a person of his noblenesse and merit , by reasons which i might , and the curious may themselves perceive in his writings , i shall take me to my subject , and tell you , that from the town of cofana in the province of kixo , to the east of the andes of peru , and to the north of the line , comes forth the coca , a navigable river , which quickly renders himself on the north-side into the beginnings of the great river of the amazones ; which as yet in these parts having his stream too rapid and violent , hath not therefore at this place so convenient a navigation himself , as other rivers , that enter into his large bed on the side of the antarctique or south pole. the first whereof passing on as it were about three daies journeys from the city of avila of the same province of the kixos , renders himself in short while , and under the name of payamino , into the great river , on the south-side thereof , and below the entrance of the coca , though the distance is not known , nor set down . but about eighteen leagues from the town of kito , beyond the andes of the great cordelier , is the mount antezame on the south-side of the line ; from the foot of which the river of napo coming forth , and running amongst the rocks without being navigable untill he come to a port , or haven of the same name well nigh unto archidona , he becomes yet more easie to be navigated four leagues beneath that , as well for the greatnesse of his channell , as for the lesse rapidnesse and violence of his stream : and pursuing in this condition his way to great river , he enters thereinto about thirty leagues only from archidona . but concerning the mouth of this river , you may look the seventh chapter of this book ; unto which i will here adde , that the foresaid port of napo , where the indians have an habitation , is the best embarquing place , for all those that from the province of kito , would sail or go into the great amazone . and as to this pleasant fair , and great enough river of napo , it hath this prerogative beyond others , to rolle alongst with him a-amongst the sands of his current , good store of gold , which the natives of this countrey gathering , do therewith without much pains or trouble pay their tribute , which yearly they owe to the spaniards of that same province ; a province also that abounds every where else in all sorts of fruites , necessary for intertaining of the life ; the like whereunto may be said of it both for fishing , and hunting , or chace . chap. xv. of the agarique and the putomaya . having begun to shew you before , the divers havens or embarquing places , by which the great and rich province of kyto may enter into the commerce of the great river of amazone ; we will now follow the like way , be the other rivers that come from the north-side , and give the like advantages to the rich regions of the popayan , and of the kingdom of new granado : whereof the first are the aguarique , and the putomaya , taking their beginnings in the putomaya , taking their beginnings in the great mountaines of the cordelier , both of them well nigh to the town of pasto of the government of popayan , having three hundred and one degrees , and thirty minutes of longitude , and one degree only of north latitude . but though both these rivers have their course from west to east ; yet that of the aguarique , which is the southerliest , comes first to the great river of the amazones in the province of the chevelues , or long-hair'd people ; and that after a course of more than an hundred leagues ( all along navigable ) through happy , fertile , and well-inhabited regions , as all the rest of the realm of the great amazone is . now the mouth of this considerable river , ( the name whereof is , the river of gold , because he draws much of it along his bank-sides ) is on the north-side of the great river of the amazones , and about an hundred seventeen leagues from his own sources and spring-heads , and likewise under the line . but the river of putomaya taking a course much more stragling and wandring , and watering a good many more nations than the other , makes also hereby his navigation more considerable , and of greater portation by a course of farre greater extent , and a greater number of rivers , that on all sides arrive unto him also . and after he hath fertilized so many great champain countries by the fresh vapours of his waters , and by his ordinary overflowings , as all rivers of america do ; he opens and enlarges himself near unto a leagues bredth at his entry into the great river of the amazones , and about four hundred fifty three leagues from his own sources , or well-heads . now the mouth of this river of putomaya , which carryes along with him gold also , as most others do ; is on the north-side of the great river , and hath two degrees and thirty minutes of southern latitude , having runne under the line a great deal more than the half of his course , and under the same measured ( in his bankes and windings at least ) the space and length of more than three hundred fifty leagues . thus the commerce of the great river of the amazones will in time coming receive no lesse enlargement by the happy navigations of the aguarique , and of the putomaya , than by other great and famous rivers ( which promise him the same encrease ) as well for the richesse and fertile countries of the town of pasto , as for the situation of the same , which is too farre distant from the conveniencies of the port of carthagena . chap. xvi . of the great caketa , a considerable river . the third and last river , which from the north , and from the mountains of the cordelier , comes into the great river of the amazones , goes under the name of the great caketa ; and is acknowledged and celebrated for the greatest of all the rivers in america , next to the great amazone . the kingdom of new granado glories in its birth , and the valley of nicao of the province of popayan , is the famous place of his source , which hath two degrees and thirty minutes of north-latitude , and three hundred and three degrees , and fourty minutes of longitude , on the terrestrial globe . this great river so much renown'd , and yet so little known to this day by geographers , receives presently a marvellous increase of waters , which descend in great abundance from the great mountains of st faith of bogota ; and taking his way from west to east , almost every where parallell to the great amazone , he insensibly draws near to runne under the line , continuing thus his course untill about at one degree of north-latitude , and three hundred eighteen degrees of longitude , he divides his large and magnificent channell into rio-negro , and rio-grand ; i. e. into the black river and the great river . but the great caketa is so wonderfull at this place , that this division hinders him not to render himself on the one side into the great amazone , by the first of his branches , and by an entry of more than one league and an half broad ; nor to keep for a long time the colour of his own pleasant and deep waters , untill that the great river of the amazones , all gathered up into one great bed , for receiving of him , deface this appearance of the caketaes waters , but not untill after a combate between them , for the space of twelve leagues length . as for his other branch ( which i take to be the great river of the orenoc , contrary to the opinions of father d' acogna , because i see no other river from the cape of the sailes to the cape of the north , that can be attributed to him ) it turns its course towards the north , and renders himself into the north-sea by a mouth worthy of his greatness and magnificence . but because the orenos ( as other rivers of guyana have ) hath leaps and fals that are high and steep , amongst the rocks , that he passeth through ; ( following here the relations of diego d' ordas , of alphonso de herrera , and of anthony de berreo , who were amongst the first of such as navigated it ) neither the commerce of the great caketa , nor that of the great amazone , can ever be hindred on this behalf , as father d'acogna apprehends , grounding himself on the passage of lopez d'aguirre , which he held from the river of the amazones to the north sea by this track or way : but not knowing , that lopez had not light boats , that can pass over all , and shoot such fals , ( as oares do london-bridge at a low water ) or that he made draw them alongst with him by land ( as other spaniards also did before him ) from the beginning of the leap or fall of the river orenoc , to the end of it , which is at least an hundred leagues distant from his mouth , whereby he enters into the great ocean . returning therefore to the great caketa , we shall have done with him , and this chapter , if we tell you , that he receives an infinitie of other rivers ; that he waters sundry rich provinces , and many very warlike nations ; that his overflowings makes on all sides many great lakes , as is usuall in all other rivers of america ; that now and then he sends some arms or branches into the great amazone , which are equall to some good rivers in other places : that his mouth of the orenoc hath nine degrees of north-latitude , and three hundred twenty one degrees and twenty minutes of longitude : and that his mouth of rio-negro ( so called from the depth of his pure-clear waters , whereby they seem black ) hath four degrees of south-latitude , and three hundred twenty two degrees , and twenty minutes of longitude , on the north-side of the great river of the amazones , about some seven hundred eighty eight leagues from his first sources , the same distance , that the amazone hath from this place to his head ; as is before said towards the end of chapter the ninth . chap. xvii . of the river of maragnon . one of the principall and most famous rivers , that the andes of the cordeliere send forth towards the south of the great amazone , is without all doubt the maragnon , as well for the rich and noble province , whence he takes his beginning , as for the renown of his name , whereby he is so celebrious in the histories of this new-world : forasmuch as joseph acosta , and antony of herrera , give this name often both to the great river of the amazones it self , and to the river of the orenoc ; and the portuguaise of brasile give the same name also to another considerable enough river , which looseth himself in a great bay , or gulph , which they call the bay of maragnon , in the north-most government of the kingdome of maragnon , called for this same cause by that title also . but to the end that the diversity of so many rivers , and places called by this name , may not beget confusion in my geography ; i shall for ever leave it to this one alone , and famous river , that i now speak of , the name of maragnon ; a river well known from all antiquity in the great empire of peru , by this name . he hath this singular in the way of his course , that whereas he takes his beginnings to the west of the great mountains of the cordeliere , and not from its self , yet he ceases not to pass through them , and to draw all his deep waters towards the east of america . his famous sources honour the lake of boubon with the prerogative of his rise . this lake is in the countries of guanuco , a colony of the spaniards ; and in the province of lima , the richest and first of all the empire of peru , the most rich place of all the world . it s longitude is of three-hundred and two degrees , and thirty minutes , on the terrestriall globe ; and his latitude of ten degrees , and four minutes , antarctick or meridionall ; and his distance from the royall town of lima , forty leagues . so this famous river of maragnon coming forth of this foresaid lake , waters the long and fertile valley of saussa , and cutting or crossing the kings high way beween the towns of guanuco , and guamangue , under bridges made of cords and wood with a marvellous artifice , he passes through the whole andes of the cordeliere ; from whence coming out again at last much more mighty than he was , by the continuall confluence of rivers , that on all sides arrive unto him , he passes along the province of mayn to the east of the cordeliere ; and after his having saluted as it were , the town of st. james of the mountains , still made broader , deeper , and very swift and rapid in currant , he afterwards spreads himself abroad at pleasure and with more liberty in diverse fair provinces , and amongst nations puissant and warlike . in end following his course , still growing bigger , and more impetuous and rapide , than one would think that he could be navigable , he powres out all his waters into the great river of the amazones , at the southside thereof , having four degrees of southern latitude at that place ; and three hundred and seven degrees , and fifty minutes of longitude ; and about two hundred fifty seven leagues from the sources of the great river of the amazones . his own length is about three hundred leagues , reckoning by his banks ; and as for his navigation which i take , ought not to be reckoned further , than after that he hath passed the andes , it will not fail one day to bring the greatest riches of all peru , to the great river of the amazones , for the same reasons , that we have heretofore mentioned , and in the chapter of the bosphore , by name . chap. xviii . of the amarumaya , and of the madera . in the same province of lima of the great and rich kingdome of peru , to the east of the great mountains of the cordeliere , about twenty spanish leagues from the royall town of cusco ; about thirteen degrees and thirty minutes of south-latitude ; and three hundred eight degrees , twenty six minutes of longitude ; are the sundry and abundant sources , which presently cast themselves into one channell of the great river of amarumaya , which in the language of the indians , signifieth serpents . the river ( according to the testimonies of infant garcilassa , come of the kings of peru , and afterwards turned ctaholick ) saith he , takes his course towards the east ; he wades great provinces , and renders himself at last , into the north-sea ; without saying any more . but this long and deep river , being the same that father d'acogna acknowledges under the name of cusco , but knows it not by the name of amarumaya ; after having received an infinitie of other rivers into his bed , and after that he hath run according to the measure of his crooked banks , the length of four hundred leagues , he looseth his name with his waters in the great river of the amazones , to the south-side of it , having five degrees of southern latitude , and five hundred forty two leagues from the sources of the great river , and three hundred fifteen degrees , and fifty minutes of longitude . but the madera without contradiction , is the last river , that comes from the southside , and from the andes of the great cordeliere , to pay his tribute to the great amazone . and as he is remotest in his sources , so he is the longest , having a course of about seven hundred leagues . he wades inestimable fields , and infinite nations , and as it were jealous of the glory of his ending , he seems as it were upon design to shun rencountring with the lake of xaraya , the originall of the great river of plata , leaving it upon his eastside only fifty leagues distant from him ; that he might with more honour loose his name and waters in the great , and more renowned river of the amazones , and that by an entry , that is worthy of his own greatness , at three degrees and forty minutes of south-latitude ; and three hundred twenty four degrees of longitude ; and eight hundred thirty two leagues from the sources of the great amazone . as to the birth of the madera , whereof we shall speak , ( and to which the spaniards gave this name , because of the trees , that he brought down into his mouth at that time when they discovered him ) according to the best opinion , it is in the most rich and opulent province of plata in the kingdome of peru , to the east of the mountains of the andes , under the twenty first degree of south-latitude , and three hundred and thirteenth of longitude . the topinambians vaunt , that they have come down all the length of it , as we shall declare hereafter ; and they tell wonders of its greatness , as also of other rivers , that on every side augment it . and finally his navigation being once fully discovered , the ages to come will doubtless proclaim the great riches , that he will bring to the great amazone , drawn out of the mountain of potosie , thirty leagues distant only from his source . chap. xix . of the other rivers , and of the province of the kixes . the other great and long rivers , not less considerable than the preceding , which come forth also from the mountains of the andes , to render themselves into the great river of the amazones at his south-side , ( to follow the order of the ninth chapter of this book ) are first : the curaray , between the rivers of napo , and of maragnon . his origine is in the country of macas , of the province of kixo . the second is the yetau , ( called lyetau in the ninth chapter ) as much renowned for his greatness , as for the riches of his peoples ( who wear ear-pendants and bracelets of fine gold ) which hath his course between the maragnon and the amarumaya . and finally , the tapy , the catua , the cusiguare , between the amarumaya and the madera , to be thought the greater and the longer , by how much their entries into the amazone are wider and broader ; by means of all which , and others , that will be hereafter discovered ( whether they enter into the great river themselves immediately , or mediately only into others , that come at last to him , and pay their tribute ) the commerce will alwayes be greater , and the navigation happy through the whole kingdom of the amazones . but to give a beginning to the relation , not only of the provinces , and of the nations , that dwell on the length and breadth of this admirable river of the amazones , ; but also of other curiosities , the knowledge whereof will beget him no less advantages ; we will come back to the province of kixo , the first of them all , and the most renowned , by the glory of the amazones rise , and of the place wherein his navigation becomes like unto that of the ocean-sea , as also hath been declared in the seventh chapter . it is fertie in gold and all other things , being of the kingdome of peru , and a government of the province of kyto . it was discovered by the spaniards , that passed over the andes on the westside , anno 1640 , which was seven years after the pizarres and the almagres from the panama first approached to the side of peru , and in fine conquered so great a kingdom . in this government of kixo are the towns of baessa the capitall of avila , and of archidona , little colonies of the spaniards ; and sundry other places , coffane , payamino , and anete , sometimes the abode of captain joh●e de falaci●s ; who pushing further in than others , out of an ambition to make further conquest , and from his zeal for religion , seated himself and his souldiers in this remore habitation , on the great river of the amazones ; but in the end was killed by the savages his enemies . and so this place of a●●●e was left by the spaniards , as too far off from their colonies , and too much exposed to the dangers of so many warlike nations , that neighbour it . and this is enough of this province , having also discoursed of it chapter the seventh , and the fourteenth , and of ane●e in the ninth . chap. xx. of the province of the long-haired , and of that of the homagues . amongst the principall provinces , which in going down the great river of the amazones , present themselves ; that of the long-haired people is not the least considerable , as well for its greatness , as for the valour of its peoples . it is on the north-side , and begins from the river of the aguarick , and being of a good breadth , extends it self in length more than one hundred eighty leagues alway upon the side of the amazone . it s rivers roll gold , its fields are all fertile , and the yearly inundations make lakes in it in great abundance . this nation is one of the valiantest in all america ; it hath alwayes resisted all sallyes of the spaniards , and by the death of johne de palacios , it put a sudden stop to their boldness . as well the men as the women wear their hair long even unto their girdingplace ; whence they were presently called the chevelues , or long-haired people , great and fair ; as also a river was called , that runs through the midst of this province , and loseth himself in the great amazone ; on the mouth of which forty portuguais and three hundred brasilians encamped for eleven moneths the year 1638 , as we shall declare afterwards . but the greatest and the best of all the provinces , that lie costing on the river amazone , is that of the homagues : whose length is two hundred leagues , and his habitations so frequent , that scarcely one is out of sight , when another appears . but its breadth appears not to be great , because it exceeds not the extent of such arms as the amazone casts out that way . all the towns and villages are in great ilands , and in great number : and the beginning of this long province on the west side is about three hundred seventeen leagues from the sources of the great amazone . almost in the midst of it is the greatest and best habitation of the homagues , whereof we have spoken in the ninth chapter ; as also of another mighty habitation , consisting of an infinitie of houses after their fashion , seated in an advantageous place ; filled with the valiantest men and best warriors , and furnished with all sorts of arms and munition of warre ; and that because , this , place , being the last of all the province on the east side , it is frontier to many warlike peoples , against whom the homagues fight often , and almost without ceasing . this nation is the most reasonable , and the best governed of all others of this discovery ; and that by the benefit of such amongst them , as have frequented the kixes of peru , from whence they were chased through sear of the spaniards , that used them as slaves . they are all honestly clothed as well men as women ; who make not only clothing for themselves of cotton , which they have there in abundance ; but also to traffique with in other countries , where their workmanships are sought after for their fineness and delicacy . these stuffs are very pleasant , woven of diverse colours , or else painted with great skill . they are so subject and obedient to their caciques , or lords , that they presently do any thing upon a word speaking . they have all their heads flat out of a contrivance and are they use for it when they are born . they have continuall warres on both sides of the river with the savages , who on the south side are the curines , so numerous , that they not only defend themselves from the homagues , but also from other nations , that are further from them , yet fight with them daily . and on the north side are the tecunes , no less valiant and numerous than the curines , seeing as they , they make also warres upon other nations , that are further off from them , than the homagues . chap. xxi . of the condition of slaves ; and of neighbouring nations . all the indians of the great realm of the amazone ( as we have said elsewhere ) are served only with slaves : and the only penalty of the vanquished prisoner , is all brought to this sad debt towards the victorious enemy , that took him in warre . but the homagues are so generous towards such as have been overcome , more by an evil fortune , or over-ruling power from heaven , than by any feebleness that was in themselves , that they use them very gently , make them sometimes eat with themselves , and never suffer them to be sold to who will give most . this were highly to offend them , but to demand such things of them ; as the portuguais often had experience , who coming down the great river anno 1639 , arrived one day amongst others at an habitation of these homagues : who received them in peace , and with great joy , and very liberally presented them with any thing they stood in need of . they sold them stuffes , also canoes or boats , that were very light : but never any slaves , not enduring so much as to hear of it . whence it follows , that these people 's replenished with so much sweetness and modesty , would easily enough receive the rule of a moderate prince , and the knowledge of the true religion . but that we may lightly pass over the nations that are on the one side , and the other of the province of homague ; we shall only say , that to the north of the great river of the amazones , the yorunes , and the paryanes , and then the atoyes , and the cunes ; and finally the homaguazietes ( that is , the true homagues , the valiantest of these nations , and as it were the superiours to the others ) dwell alongst the vast fields of both the banks of putumaya , all along up towards its source , so for the south side of the province of homague , the tipunes , and the guanares , and then the ozoanes , and the nahones ; and after them the canomanes and the marianes , possesse the large regions between the maragnon and the amarumaya , from the mouth of the yet as to the source of the same . but all these nations are so valourous , especially those that are furthest off , and that are at the beginning of the river putumaya , that oftentimes the spaniards of the province of kyto , and of popayan , have been repulsed by them through force of armes . chap. xxii . of the province of corosirare , and of the neighbouring nations . between the end of the province of homague , and the beginning of that of corosirare , the two bankes of the great river of the amazones are possessed for fifty three leagues space by the cacygares and tucuries on the south-side , and in part on the amarumaya ; and on the north-side , by the curis , and the guayrabes . the habitations of all which peoples are remote from the sides of the river , for fear of the homagues . but the nation corosirare , that dwell to the south of the great amazone , begins at the village of gold , and ends not till after eighty leagues in length down the great river . its grounds and fields are higher than ordinary ; and the habitations of this province are so frequent , that oftentimes for four leagues together , and sometimes for six , one can see nothing else . this people , though savage , yet wants neither policy , not good conduct of their affairs ; all their houses are well ordered , and replenished with all sorts of vivers , and commodities . they have many kills or furnaces , and make all fort of earthen vessels , which they sell and traffique by with other nations ; but all by way of exchange , as all other indians do . as to that habitation of this countrey , which the portuguau , while they went up the great river , an . one thousand six hundred thirty eight , called the village of gold , ( whereof we spake also in the ninth chapter ) it was by occasion of a pair of ear-pendants of fine gold , which they took there from a woman : which were so fine , that the gold was found of one and twenty caracts in the town of kyto , after their arrivall there . but so soon as these natives of this village perceived the greedinesse of the souldiers after ornaments of gold , they presently thereafter hid all that they had , and no more was seen after that ; no not at the return of the same portuguais in an one thousand six hundred thirty nine , who could never obtaine but one pair of these ear-pendants by exchange with the indians , which father d'acogna himself bought , to let them be seen in spain . but the great nation of the suanes , which extends it self to the great caketa , fills all the fields that are on the other banke of the north of the great amazone : but with this remarke , that their plaines are a great deal lower , than the opposite grounds and fields of the corosirares ; in whose province are the mouthes of the great and fair rivers of tapy and catua , this last forming and fashioning lago-verde , with the great amazone . and alongst these two rivers , as one goes up them , dwels the great nation of the pacuanes . chap. xxiii . of the gold-mine of the suanes , and of the neighbouring nations . the great province of suane heretofore mentioned , hath this singular glory amongst all the others , that are honoured by the great river of the amazones , to carry gold within her bowels . the famous mountain that nourisheth in his bosome so great a treasure , hath about two degrees of south latitude , and three hundred seventeen degrees of longitude . it is two hundred leagues only distant from the town of st thomas , a colony of the spaniards in orenoc , and fourty leagues from the atlantique sea. and the precious river of gold ( for so the natives of the countrey call it ) which waters its foot , draws abundance of this rich mettall with him , in form of graines of corn , and little bigger billetts . it presently disburdens its self into the yopura , another considerable river , which likewise looseth himself into the great river of the amazones , on the north-side , at three degrees of south latitude , and five hundred eighty four leagues , from the sources of the great river . whence it follows that the commerce so advantageous of the great amazone with this famous mountain of suane , is made the more commodious by the navigation of this river of yopura , by going up him into the river of gold ; and that the ages to come will one day make famous these places with rich towns and magnifique inhabitants . for the present , among all the peoples of these countries , the managues are those , that traffique with this gold , the weight whereof , and its finenesse makes it so perfect , that it is the most excellent of all america . the indians that buy of it , by exchange of other things for it , make of it little long plates , which they hang at their noses , and ears : and this rich ornament is ordinary and frequent in all these provinces , according to the report of the savages . but the nations ( besides the suanes ) that are nearest to the treasures of this rich mountain , are the aguaynes , the mocunes , the chief of all such as dwell to the east of the suanes , and cultivate the fertile fields , that are watered by both the channells of the araganatube . now all the plaines of these fertile regions , as well on the north as on the south-side of the great river of the amazone , where the province of corosirare is ; are the best and manyest , and best disposed to receive all sort of culture , of all america . but returning to the gold-mine of the mount of suane , i wonder that neither the spaniards of hordas , and of berreo , nor the english of kemnits , and of ralech have never met with it , that have searched with so much ruine and calamity to the natives , alongst the great river of orenoc , the imaginary treasures of the fabulous rather than famous lagad rado . chap. xxiv . of the province of yoriman . next after the province of corosirare , as you go down the great amazone on the south-side , is the province of yoriman , being but of sixty leagues long , but of such repute amongst the indians of all these countries , by reason of the strength and valour of its inhabitants , than the navy of the portuguais themselves passing along did perceive it . they are of a good stature , of a fair body , and well formed . they are expert in all things they take themselves to , especially in armes ; and go all naked , as well men , as women . they are also so numerous for multitude , that never any saw at one time so many barbarians together . it was an infallible token of their great courage , that they went and came ( as they did ) amidst the armed vessels and ships of warre of the portuguais , to traffique with them , with extreme assurance of minde . for whilest the portuguais going up the great amazone , sail'd along by this province , every day there came to them above two hundred canoes , full of women and children , with fruits , fishes , meales , and other such like provision , which they changed with the portuguais for axes and knives , whereof they have great esteem , as all others indians of the new world . the yorimans inhabite not only the main land of this province , but fill also the great iles that the great amazone makes by sundry of his armes stretched forth . the first village of this warlike nation , is on the mouth of a christalline river , which must be strong , and come very farre considering the force , wherewith he pusheth the deep waters of the great amazone . but the notablest of their habitations , is the greatest of any that lie on the great amazone , containing more a good deal on the banke of that river , than a good league : and in every of its houses , four or five familes , and sometimes more ; whereby easily may be gathered the great number of the inhabitants of this long town , whereof we spake also in the ninth chapter of this book . it was in this place , so abounding with all things , that the fleet of the portuguais stay'd five or six daies at its return , after it had gone up the river of the amazones before with good successe , as shall be afterwards related . not one of so numerous a people fled from his house for fear of their arrivall ; but the whole fleet got freely from them , all that they stood in need of ; and because the navy was near an end of all its provisions , it got from their bounty five hundred sacks of the meale of mandioqua , which sufficed it for the whole rest of its voyage . the other habitations also of this happy province of yoriman , are not much inferiour to the former , they are all along very frequent on the firm land ; but yet both mightier and more numerous in a great iland about thirty leagues lower ; where it seemes the principall forces are of this generous nation ; generous i say , both for its valour , liberality , and numerousnesse of men , that inhabite it . chap. xxv . of the province of surina , and the neighbouring nations . but to go from the province of yoriman , to that of surina , we must in our passage visit the nation of the cusiguares , that labour the fertile plaines situated on the south-banke of the amazone ; which in this place receives the plentifull waters of that great river , that gives its own name to this pleasant province . this renowned river of cusiguare , both for the easinesse of its navigation ( though somewhat hindered now and then by rocks appearing in it here and there ) and for the happinesse of its fishing , no lesse abounding here , than elsewhere , will be no lesse considerable for the high stature and the great courage of his nation of the motuanes , that cover the first plaine , that he waters , who by testimony of the indians , that report it , use also long plates of fine gold , for eare and nose-pendants ; whence it would seem , that they are not farre from the rich province of the plata , and of potosy , because even to travell up to their countrey , it takes full two moneths time . but upon the same river , and between the aforesaid two nations , the curians , and the catoses , enjoy likewise the happy fruitfulnesse of so many good grounds , and so many pleasant rivers , that on all sides enter into their principall river . now , as the province of homague is celebrated amongst all those of the great amazone , for its fine works of stufles and cloathes of cotton of so great variety ; and the province of corosirare for their excellent pottery of vessels of earth so artificially painted , and fashioned : so the province of surina is no lesse commendable for a delicate houshold-stuffe , or utensiles of a marvellous fine artifice . it is on the south of the great river , and to the east of the cusiguares : its peoples being the surines , and the coripunes , nations that are the most curious and expert of working in wood , of any in all america . they make seates and formes in the fashion of animals , yet so fine and commodious for the ease of the body , that nothing can be added to their industry . they make also javelots and arrows , with so much gentilenesse and elegancy , that all other nations seek after them . and the like images , that they make to the life are so perfectly done in all points , that our best ingravers and carvers , could find no other occasion but to learn from them : so that by exchange of so many singular workmanships of so sundry sorts , they daily make their lives more happy by all necessary commodities , which on all sides come unto them from this rich traffique . chap. xxvi . of the province of caribane . for as much as the distances of all these rivers and provinces , are just enough set down in the ninth chapter of this book ; we shall say only of this province of caribane , that it lies between the rio-negro and the great amazone in extent of more than an hundred leagues on the banks of either of them . its fields and plaines are higher than that they are subject to the overflowings of these rivers , or of an equall height unto them ; yet fertile and abundant in all things . the river of bazurura , which enters into that of the amazones on the north-side , makes here lakes and ilands very pleasant : and the divers nations of this great province , are no lesse considerable for the plenteousnesse and fertility of their countrey , than for the happy condition of their life . of these , the araguananes , and the mariguanes , are the most westerly , and lye against the bankes of the yoriman , already mentioned . the pogoanes , and the caraganes are on the basurura . the comanares possesse that point which the two rivers for me at their meeting . the tuynamanes , and the comarurianes are on the side of rio-negro ; and the others lesse renown'd possesse the lands that are furthest off from the amazone . all these peoples are valiant , and use-skilfully the bow and arrow . they had from the year one thousand six hundred thirty eight , knives , and axes , and other instruments of iron , after the fashion of europe ; which they gave out to have bought from indians their neighbours , that were nearer than they to the sea ; and these again from certain persons , that were white of countenance , and cloathed like the portuguais , and armed with sword and musket , that dwelt upon the atlantique sea : which have been without doubt , either hollanders , or english , who have both sailed into the orenoc , and dwelt for some time in the coasts of guyana ; but were at length hostilely chased from thence , by the savages ; as also all the french were an . one thousand six hundred fifty four , from the i le of cayene in the main land , and on the same side of the sea of the north ; which is not above two hundred leagues at the most from rio-negro , but reckoning in a streight line , and by the shortest distance . but because nature hath not offered in all the realm of the great amazone , a more favourable situation , than on the point of the comanares , for setling of a colony of the most considerable ones of any in the world , and which cannot fail one day to be the seat of an empire most flourishing , and of great richesse in trade ; we shall therewith finish this chapter , in telling you , that the land of it is right upon the bankes of these two great rivers ; that it is also mounted above the height of ordinary inundations ; that the surface of it is plain , sweet , and not shrubby : that the neighbouring fields abound in graines for necessary provisions , and in good pasturage for nourishing of cattle : that quarries of an excellent stone for building , and easie to be cut and hewn , are as near it as woods , and trees of a marvellous greatnesse and height , for the conveniency of buildings and houses : that the distance of the great amazone from the rio-negro , is not so great , but the fortifications may conveniently and regularly be drawn along on the land-side , and that the foussies of these fortifications , and this wall being well ordered , may easily be made deep enough , and themselves fill'd by the debordments of the one , or of the other river , at pleasure . chap. xxvii . of rio-negro , and of the province of camsuara . following the north-side of the great river of the amazones , rio-negro incontinent presents its self next after the province of caribane . his bredth and depth give him the prerogative to be thought the fairest and mightiest river of all that enter into the great amazone ; whose mouth being wide a great league and an half , hath four degrees of south latitude , and three hundred twenty two degrees , and twenty minutes of longitude , and seven hundred eighty eight leagues of distance from the sources of the great amazone . the amazones course is here towards the north-east ; and that of rio-negro right east , where he enters into the other with such grandure and majesty , that he keeps his waters distinct and separate from the others , and keeps half of the whole channell to himself for the space of twelve leagues , before the great river ( though here all united into one great bed , to receive him ) can overcome the distinctnesse of his waters , with all the force that he hath . the spaniards first , and after them the portugall's , call'd it rio-negro , because at his mouth , as often also in his channell , his waters appear very black , because indeed they are very clear , and without any colour , but very deep . the natives also name it for the same reason coriguacure , that is , the black river . but as rio-negro is the great caketa of the sixteenth chaper of our book ; we shall say no more of it here , nor stay again upon the obscurities of father d' acogna , which we have there briefly unfolded ; but passe on to the recitall of the nations that inhabite its bankes , and tell you , that the province of camsuare is the first that presents its self , having on its south rio-negro , on its east the great amazone ; and on its north , the great province of guyane . all the plaines of these countries are mounted like those of caribana , and not subject to the ordinary overflowings , covered with infinite peoples , and aboundant in all things , especially of trees of a prodigious height and thicknesse . but amongst the rich nations of this fertile province of camsuare , those of the aguares , of the agaypes , of the jamnes , and of the carupatabes , are not the least considerable , without relating the guaranacasanes , which make a province on the beginning of the river of orenoc , as he comes out of the great caketa . see the sixteenth chapter to make the knowledge of these things lesse confused and imperfect , than they are in historians and geographers , who treat of them either too diffusedly in great books , or too lightly in little tractates , seeing also it becomes daily more certain by new and reiterated experiences . chap. xxviii . of the province of cayane , and of the nations neighbouring . but going now to the south-side of the great river of the amazones again , we shall find to the east , and following that of surina , the province of cayane , through which the great and long river of the madera passeth , and renders it self into the great amazone . and because this river of the madera ( which was so called by the spaniards , because of the great number of trees , which it drew alongst with it into its mouth ) is one of the principall rivers of america , you shall find the distances and measures , and other circumstances that concern it , in the tenth and eighteenth chapters of this book . now , the nations , that province great enough , contains within its extent , whether lying alongst the great amazone , or in going up the great river of the madera , which the natives call also cayane ; are no lesse happy for the fertility of their fair fields , and pleasant rivulets , than other peoples of all these fertile countries are . they are of no lesse courage for warre , not lesse expert in fights and handling of armes ; they have also the like industry in their handy-works , that serve to make their happinesse of life the more accomplished , by the exchange of them with such commodities as they stand in need of , and they keep likewise in their conduct and government of affairs , laws and customes like unto those , that all other provinces of the realm of the amazone do . but of all these infinite peoples , that cover so many considerable plaines and fields , the cayanes , and the anamares are the most renown'd ; and next to these , the curares , and the goarinumes ; and after them , the abacares , and the oragunagues ; and lastly the sabucares , and the urubingues in going down the great amazone , which yet are the most esteem'd for their curious finenesse of working and making house utensiles . but the remotest of all in going down the great amazone , and amongst these the best known are the maraques , and the oregates , and towards the south , the guaranaques , and others without number , which undoubtedly border upon the great lake of xaraya , out of which all geographers , that give us the cartes of america , make a considerable river to come forth , which they bring to that of the great amazones , whereof they ought to abstain to speak too hardily , untill by certain experience the truth of their first thoughts be better assured . chap. xxix . of the i le of the topinambes . seeing the i le of topinambes is in this place of the river of the amazones ; and that it is the greatest of all its iles , the most renowned province of any that it waters ; we shall say first , that it is of more than sixty leagues of length ; and that it is so situated in the great amazone , that it comes nearer to his south-side , than to his north , and that all the distances and measures , that concern it , are in the tenth chapter of this book . secondly , we shall say that it is admirable in fertility of its grounds , in the beauty of its bankes , in the multitude of its habitations , whereof the most mighty is in the eastmost point of it , and hath three degrees of south latitude . finally , we shall say , that once it was inhabited by its natives , and originall indians , but that the topinambes coming upon them , chased them from it after sundry battells , and possest themselves of it with so much glory and reputation for themselves , that the terrour of their names did reach to the neighbouring nations . now these topinambes before had inhabited the south coasts of brasile , where not being able to endure the hard entreaty of the portugalls towards them , after that they had come upon them ; they renounced their dear countrey , and voluntarily abandoned with great resolution more than eighty of their great bourgades . so they marched in infinite multitudes of men , women , and children , streight towards the west , and under the same parallell . they crossed by swimming the great rivers of parane , and of the plata , and leaving on their left hand the province of tucuman , they in end took up their lodgings on the beginnings of the great river madera . but it befalling one of these topinambes some while after to kill a cow of a spaniard on the frontier of peru , for which he was rudely chastised ; the same fear that carried them too lightly to leave their ancient abode , made them all to dislodge presently from this new one . and to the end to put themselves farre enough from all the provinces of any neighbourhood with peru possest by the spaniards ; and and to make their voyage or removall with lesse inconvenience , and the more diligence and circumspection , they embarqued themselves in canoes , which they had ready in great number , and so suffered themselves to go at adventure down the stream of madera ; and after sundry moneths navigation , found themselves arrived in the great amazone , and so lastly on the bankes of this i le of topinambe , which they possest by armes , as hath been said . now this warlike and valiant nation entertain'd very courteously the portugalls at their passing them , and received very pleasantly their proposalls that they made , of a mutuall covenant and alliance . which alone might suffice for the conquest of the whole realm of the amazone , seeing all ply to the only name of the topinambes . chap. xxx . of the bosphore of the amazone , and of the neighbouring nations to it . following the course of the great amazone , you shall find about fifty four leagues from the topinambes , the bosphore of the amazone , whereby a marvellous effect of the naturall disposition of the ground of these countries , all the waters of the great river of the amazones , and of all the others , that we have described , reduce themselves by a sweet violence to the necessity of passing in one only channell so strait , that it is no more than one good quarter of a league . but of this famous bosphore , and all that concerns it , see the tenth and thirteenth chapters of this book ; that we may passe without hinderance , to the province of mataya , which lies on the south-side of the great river , from the province of cayane before-mentioned , unto the bosphore of the great amazone . the inhabitants whereof being often beaten by the topinambes , have at last submitted to their yoake , and are now their tributaries ; being bound yearly to furnish them with stone-axes , to fell their woods , and great trees ; and with other usefull instruments of the same matter for labouring and manuring of the ground ; wherein the topinambes are marvellous expert and diligent , as appears in all their plaines and champain grounds . but on the other north-banke of the great amazone , the province of apanta presents it self , happy enough in all things . it hath for its confines on the west the province of camsuare ; on the east it passeth the bosphore ; and on the north its frontiers on the famous region of the amazones ; which i pass over as well as other doubtfull reports , which the spaniards and portugalls have heard of it , as they passed along the great river . the inhabitants of this province , next neighbours to the topinambes , trade in salt with them , and other nations , that are farther from them ; and salt is not found but in this place , all alongst the whole course of the great amazone . as to the apantes , and conures , they labour their fair fields , that are watered by the coruris , which enters presently into the great river , according to the tenth chapter of this book ; as also the orixamine , a river no lesse considerable , of the same north-side and near to the bosphore . they have this singular amongst all the peoples of that countrey , that their language is the common language of all brasile , though they be distant from it three hundred leagues . but it may be that the topinambes , in keeping their own , ( which was this ) have also communicated it to this neighbourhood . finally , the best counsell that one can give on this behalf to a prince , or republique in the progresse of this conquest , is to keep the bosphore in his possession , and the topinambes in amity and confederacy with him . chap. xxxi . of the province and river of tapayse . presently after that the amazone is come forth of the famous bosphore , he betakes himself to his accustomed broadnesse again , and begins to mingle the boilings of his waters , with the floods of the high-sea . the first province that he visits on his south-side , takes its name from the great and broad river of the tapayfe● , and is no lesse considerable for the abundance of his fruites and crops , than for the couragious nation , that inhabits it : the which is so much the more redoubted to its neighbours , as that it addes to its valour an art of empoysoning their arrows . but the source of this fair and fertile river is unknown to us as yet ; and yet its greatnesse makes it appear , and perswades us , that is it very remote on the south-side , between the coast of brasile , and the great lake of xaraya . about the year one thousand six hundred thirty , the english went up his broad channell with one ship , and coming down his bankes again , stayed there some time to sow , and gather tobacco ; but being chased from thence with some losse by the indians , they went away without returning . amongst the habitations of this province , the portugalls found one in it , at their return down the great river , of more than one thousand five hundred families ; wherein they were so favourably received by this nation , however otherwise both hardy and barbarous , as hath already been said , that all the day long they ceased not to go and sell them meale , poullets , fish , fruites , and other necessaries : and all with such confidence , that the very women and children never scar'd at their navy . and yet not content with these good offices ( as it is the nature of valiant people , to be alivaies generous too ) they offered moreover to all the portugalls there , if they would but leave their own countrey , and come and live with them , to serve them in peace , and with a good will , and nourish them all their life time . as to the measures and distances of the deep and broad mouth of the river of tapayse , you may find them in the tenth chapter of this book : and its length cannot well be thought lesse , than from three towards four hundred leagues ; whence will follow , that he must receive many others into his bed , to become so great and broad as he is : and that the provinces and nations neighbouring upon him , must be very many , abundant , and fertile . chap. xxxii . of the rich and great province of coropa . but following of the river of the amazones , and on the north-side , you finde after the province of apanta , that of coropa , which extends its limits to the river of genipapa , the mouth of which is an hundred fourty leagues from the bosphore , according to the tenth chapter of this book , which sets down all the rest of its measure also . this province hath the name from the river of coropatube ; because the name of tube in america language , signifies nothing else but a river . the province is almost in the midst of the rivers length ; and a village of the same name is upon its entry into the great amazone ; which is in peace , and under the obeisance of the portugalls of the kingdom of brasile . but this river is not so abundant in its waters , as in its richesse , if the natives abuse not themselves in assuring us of four marvellous mountaines , that make it considerable , by the nearnesse of the precious mines , that they contain in themselves . the first is yaguare , that containeth gold ; the second , picore , that offereth silver , the third presents sulphure ; the fourth is paragache , which so shines by sunne and moon-light , that it seemes to be wrought as with enammell , with sundry sorts of precious stones . all these rich mountains are under the line , and about an hundred leagues only from cayene , where the french have had colonies . but the commerce of them will be more opened , and more commodious , by the navigation of the river of coropa , because about six daies journeys from the same village , that carryes its name , coropa receives another little river coming from the mount yaguare , that brings with it abundance of gold , in forme of graines and billetts . and as for assurances of the mine of silver of the mountain of picora , they may be found from the consequence of the relations of the same savages ; who give out with one voice , that they have often drawn out white mettall of that mountain , whereof they once made axes , and knives ; but that because of its softnesse , they left it off , as unprofitable , and of no use . but in the same province of coropa , on the north-bank of the great river , and six leagues before you come to that of genipape , is the fort of the destierro , where thirty portugalls are ordinarily in garrison , under a captain , that commands and governs all those neighbouring countries , without any s ; et bounds to their extent . chap. xxxiii . of the great mouth of the great river of the amazones . the great river of the amazones , the relations whereof cannot equall the marvells of its magnificence , is no lesse admirable in the greatnesse of his mouth , than in all other things , that lift it up to so much glory . he begins to open himself below the river of genipape , and becoming alwaies broader , he incompasseth ilands without number , infinite nations , and peoples that speak sundry languages ; though the common language of brasile extend it self also to all these . but the most remarkeable amongst others are the tapuya , the aanxaiase , the mayanase , the angaybe , and that of the valiant pacaches , which inhabite also the bankes of river of the same name , which comes from the south-side into that of the amazones . all these iles , are wonderfull in the festility of their fields , in the fruitfull plenty of their fishes ; in the beauty of their bankes , which are crowned with a continuall greenesse . but the river of pacach , considerable enough for its broadnesse , but yet of an originall or source unknown , to us , bounds to the east the province of paranayba , which comes after that of tapayse hereafter mentioned . the great and fair river of paranayba gives it its name ; whose sources are farre removed towards the south , and the nations that it waters in passing so many fields , are not as yet well known . his mouth is two leagues wide , and the habitations of this neighbourhood obey the portugalls , who govern them . and as to the distance and measures of all those remarkeable places , you shall finde them in the tenth chapter of this book ; as also the greatest bredth of this wondrous mouth of the amazone , to wit , eighty four leagues lying from the cape of the north , to the province of zaparara ; which notwithstanding , because it is in an oblique line , is not the just measure of the true entry of the great amazone . but to get a truer knowledge of it , follow the streight line from the foresaid cape of the north , to the town of para on the coast of brasile , you will yet finde it so of more than sixty leagues of breadth , not to stay on the mis-reckoning of the seventeenth book of john laet , a late flenmish authour , who teacheth how to finde this distance , from the east point of the mouth of this great river , to the west-side of the same ; drawing yet a more oblique line , than that of the cape of the north , to the point of the zaparara , was . but seeing we cite here the tenth chapter of this book , you must not fail to put there the distance of the genipapa from corupa , of thirty leagues , to mend the fault of the printers , because of the importance of all these measures . chap. xxxiv . of the great prevince of guyana . seeing the province of guyana ends the great river of the amazomes on his north-side ; and geographers have gained no great knowledge of it as yet ; we shall speak of it in manner following . on the east it hath for its limit the great mouth of the amazone , from the river of genipapa to cap-north ; on the north , it is washed with the great atlantique-sea , for the space of three hundred leagues , from cap-north , to the i le of the trinity : and on the west , the great river of the orenu serves for its coufines : but on the south it is kept in by a ridge of mountains parallel to the sea-coast , which separate it from the provinces of camsnare , of apanta , and of corepa , already mentioned . now , these mountains ( though not yet known ) are not imaginary , but reall and effective according to the naturall disposition of all these countries , seeing the rivers of viapoco , of cayene , of maruyne , of sequebe , and other considerable ones of guyana , which run all from the south to the north , and enter into the ocean-sea ; and those other of genipapa , of coropatube , of orixamine , and of coruris , which run all from north to south by a contrary course to the others , and enter into the great amazone ; have necessarily their sources in those mountains deep and fertile valleys . but returning to that east part of guyana , which buts on the mouth of our famous river ; we will first tell you , that it begins from that of genipapa , considerable enough both for the greatness of his bed , and for the fine gold , that he draws along with him in his waters : whence it follows by infallible conjecture , that the mountains of his fource , and the plains of his neighbourhood , are no less rich , happy , and fertile , than in all the rest of america . now the coast or this province from genipapa to the cap-nord ( which forms the great mouth of the amazon ) is very uneven in its bank , and very dangerous in its navigation , because of heights and lowes , that are here sometimes found . but these difficulties are not in coming down the great river , untill after you have passed , and necessarily taken notice of the place of corupa , one of the governments of the portugalls on these banks , about twenty eight leagues from the place , where the great river begins to open his mouth . but because cap-nord ends the north side of this great river , we shall tell you again , that it hath one degree and forty five minutes of north latitude , according to the tenth chapter of this book ; likewise that the grounds about are very low , and covered with woods ; the sea very rageing , and not very deep ; the sands moveable , and often covered with sea-ware , or weeds . and as to the rest of this coast , as you go from cap-nord to corupa , see the relations of the hollanders , reported by johne laet in his america , where you may finde the knowledge of it little either necessary , or delectable . chap. xxxv . of the province of maragnon , and of the town of para. as the province of guyana ends the north-bank and brink of the great amazone ; so the kingdome of brasile ( under the crown of portugall ) ends it on the south side , by the province of maragnon , the northerliest of all its countries . it took its name from a river and a bay of the same name on the coast of the atlantique-sea , where the town of st. lewis , the residence of the governour , and of justice , is in a very pleasant i le . but that side of this government of maragnon is far longer on the great mouth of the great river , than on that side , that accosts the great ocean ; seeing at contains all the bank of the amazone for the space of an hundred leagues from the river of pacashe , to the point of zaparara . yet in all this length of lands so fertile , and abundant in all things , there is but the one only town of para , that is considerable . from the year 1615 , the portugalls established the colonie there , and built the fortress of it , which is a square of mason-work on the land-side ; and of earth or turfe on the sea-side . it is commanded by a captain-major , who answers to the governour-generall of the province and under this captain-major of the town of para , are other three captains of infantry , dispersed in diverse places of that countrey . it is forty leagues from the north-sea , and from the point of zaparara , and thirty leagues from the great village of commuta , once very flourishing , but now ruinous , on the mouth of the great river of the tocantines , a nation very fertile , and rich . it hath also one degree and thirty minutes of south latitude , and is about sixty five leagues from cap-nord , in a right line , and geometricall measure , making twenty leagues for every degree of a great circle , as we have done in the rest of this work . and as to other distances on this south side of the great amazone , you shall find them at the end of the tenth chapter of this book ; as also those of the i le of the sun , which is by the waterbank of the province of maragnon , having more than ten leagues in circuit , one very safe haven , fish abundance , crabs without number , very good fresh or sweet waters , of lesser prey or game as much as they will , and a very pleasant air . finally a place much more convenient than that of para , to set up a colonie and forts in , whereby to command the best and safest entry of all those , which lead from the sea into the true channell of the great river of the amazones . chap. xxxvi . of the entrice into the river of the amazones . such as are exercised in the navigations of the great ocean , know nothing more dangerous , nor more difficult , than the entries of ports , of bayes , and of rivers . but in this , as in other points , the great river of the amazones is no less admirable , than singular . for being framed as it were to receive in times coming the greatest and richest commerce of all the world , how could it hinder , that its great mouth should not be defamed by robbers or pirates , as well as the gulph of mexico ? now the same providence that hath heaped upon it more than upon all the rivers of the earth , so many marvellous advantages and prerogatives ; would not in this either make it less perfect ; having by a certain and naturall disposall and ordering of its iles , sides , and lowes , or flats , reduced its navigation into one only channell , and rendred the other passages as it were unprofitable ; and by his impetuous currants ( which carry his waters thirty leagues into the sea ) forbidden all strange ships , and hostile enemies to rest in these places , that they might there surprize any navy at their going in , or coming out . but the difficulties hitherto have been great to find out the true tract , that vessels ought to hold in going into the great amazone . and after having considered the diverse observations reported by their authors , spaniards , english , and flemish , some of them too short , and others too confused and obscure ; and most or all of them , uncertain , we shall tell you in few words , that first of all , one must shun the currants in coming down , going aside of them unto two degrees of south latitude ; then go up again , by the coast of brasile , at half a degree latitude of the same side of the line , then double the point of zaparara , and make sail , or launch to the southwest , after that , follow the coast of the province of maragnon , and pass the channell of the i le of the sun at one degree and a quarter of south-latitude , and twenty six leagnes from the full sea : finally make sail to the west , leave the side of para , and keep the same latitude , to gain the bankside of corupa in the province of guyana : and for conclusion , follow still the same side , and enter at last into the true channell of the great river of the amazones , at two degrees of south-latitude , and thirty leagues beyond corupa , which is but one degree and a half of the same side of the line . chap. xxxvii . of the first discovery of this river . forasmuch as historicall relations are easilier understood , if they follow geographicall ones , we have changed the order of authors , that went before us , & begun at the latter . after that gonsales pizarro governour of the province of kito , had first of all the spaniards ( pushed on by the same ambition to find gold and silver in the vast countries of the great amazone ) passed the high and dangerous mountains of the cordeliere , and discovered the province of kixo , his lieutenant generall francis of areillana finding himself well far engaged ( and that in challops only ) on so many unknown and great rivers ; and not knowing any sure way of going up again , and returning to his generall , who with them that were with him , suffered an extream great want of victuals ; he would stay at the famous place , where the river of napo loseth himself in that great one of the amazones ; where causing his men to build another bark , greater , and more convenient than his others , for a long navigation , he resolved by an ambitious desire to purchase glory , to commit his life and fortune to the uncertain currants and waters of that great river . this admirable voyage and singular for so many circumstances , was begun on the eighth of the moneth of january in the year 1541 , and continued with so much good luck and happiness , that this great and marvellous river was wholly navigated , and first discovered by this ventorious knight , from whom also the river had the name of areillane . in passing over the provinces of the cassique or lord aparia , this prince received him very courteously , and advertised him to take heed in his way of travell , of certain amazones and warlike women , the renown of whom , though they were very far from him , yet ceased not to give him knowledge of them . finally in his course he had diverse successes , sometimes good , sometimes bad , according to the fear or fearless confidence of the nations , that saw him with astonishment pass along upon the great river . and after having known not without admiration , the rio-negro , he saw in the moneth of june , indians in great number upon the banks thereof ; and at the head of them armed women , which seemed to command and lead them to warre : whereupon the spaniards of francis of areillana , and himself , were so perswaded of the truth of these amazones , that they published the report of it with such confidence , that from thence the name did remain to this great and memorable river . lastly , after sundry fortunes , and much wearinesse , on the 26. of the moneth of august of the same year 1541. he went out at the great mouth of this great river , and making sail towards the west along the coasts of guyana and paria , provinces of the same america , on the eleventh of the moneth of september he happily attain'd the isle of cubagua , near to that of marguarite , both of them inhabited by spaniards , and then rich in the fishing of pearls . chap. xxxviii . of the second expedition of areillana in the same river . after that areillana was return'd to europe , had fill'd all spain with the admiration of his adventures , and the court of the emperour charles the v. with the hopes of the great river of the amazones ; had got also from this prince , ( whose arms and ambition troubled no lesse the old , than the new-found world ) the charge of making conquest of it in the name of the crown of castile ; and that he had at his own leisure made ready three ships , and man'd them with horsemen , and provisions necessary , he made sail the xi . day of the moneth of may in the year 1549. from the haven of st luke of barrameda in andalusia , for the tenariff in the canaries , where the ships stayed three moneths , as also two moneths more under cape-verd on the continent of africk , loosing by those stayes an 150. souldiers by sicknesse . passing from thence to the coast of america , the tempest drown'd one ship to him , which had xi . horse , and 70. men aboard : and coming to half a degree of south-latitude , he drew up sweet water in the full sea , and by that conjectur'd , that infallibly he was in the river of the amazones , being not then above twelve leagues from the point of zaparara . but having gone in an hundred leagues , into the great mouth of this great river , an 107. of his folks being yet wanting to him , and he perceiving that the rest would not be sufficient to furnish out these two ships ; he caused of the one of them a barke to be made , which was not compleated in three moneths ; and making sail again , scarcely had he gone up twenty leagues in the same river , but he broke his other ship , of the planks whereof he was constrain'd to make another bark , which thirty men made an end of only in two months and an half , and that with much toile and wearinesse . areillana in this mean while set himselfe twice with the other bark to seek the true channel of the amazone ; and never having been able to find it amongst so many arms and isles of that river , and so confused , he finished his life with his adventures , being surcharged with travail , grief and sadnesse : so that the two barks retired themselves severally from the great amazone , and following the coasts of the firm land of america , betook themselves to the isles of cubagua , and the marguarite ; where the spaniards , that were but few now surviving this so ruinous an expedition , made an end of all the rest of their lives , dying there of sicknesse . chap. xxxix . of pedro d'orsua , and of the tyrant lope d'aguirre . as all the authours , that have imployed their watchings to describe largely unto us the things of america , were neither good enough geographers , nor good enough geometricians , to disintangle the difficulties , that grows ordinarily in such matters ; so they have but too often fallen into contrarieties , that make their histories confused ; and into obscurities , that robs their readers of possibilities to understand them . such as would take advantage at depressing them , will somewhat strange at my censure of them : but i seeking nothing but truth , and not after vain-glory in my works ; will passe on to my subject of this famous river ; the discovery whereof was no more essayed from spain its self , after the disgraces of francis of areillana ; but by the spaniards of the kingdom of peru it was under the conduct of pedro d'orsua in the year 1560. by the orders of the viceroy there , who gave him a little army in a fleet well enough equipped . the embarkment for this expedition , was on the river of maragnon , the neerest to the town of lima ; the chief of that province . but a few moneths after their departure , the souldiers mutinied against their general , and put him to death ; and lope d'aguirre , the boldest of them all , took the title of king upon him , and made himself to be obey'd of some , by threats ; and of others , by promises . following out the navigation of maragnon therefore , and alwayes going down that river , he entred into the great amazone , and suffering himself to be carried down by the currant of his ample channel , he stayed chiefly at the mouth of rio-negro : where coming to consider of the greatnesse of his crime , and the danger he had to fall into the hands of the spaniards of the north-sea , if he went once out of the great river ; he so addressed his whole fleet in rio-negro , as having no other designe than to rove up and down so many rivers , and passe through so many countreys , only to sustain his tyranny . but fortune lesse blind than his prudence , thrust him in his course of sailing into the river of orenoc , which coming to end in the atlantick-sea over against the isle of the trinity ( subject to the crown of castile ) he was presently there made to stay , partly by his own souldiers , partly by the catholick kings officers , and led to the punishment , which his felony deserved ; his houses also in peru , by the same sentence were razed , and so continue and show themselves yet in our dayes . but a voyage so surprizing for geographers , and so ill understood by authors that have gone before me , because not able to take up the strange order of all these rivers , could not be better hitherto cleered , than by the preceding chapters of this book , especially the 16 , and 17. and the onely difficulty which presents it self now , is onely in the leap or fall of orenoc , discovered 1531. by diego de ordas ; as also 1536. by alphonse de herrera , coming from tinity-isle . herrera made draw his barks by land , till he was above that leap of this river ; the like possibly having been done by the mutineers of lope d' aguirre the tyrant : or that the descent of the same leap being uneasier to challops , than to ascend it , because of the force of apanta , ( which is the name of a river as well as of a province ) it is possible also , that those of aguirra have passed down the leap without disenbarking any ; and that so much yet the more easily , if it was in the time of the inundation ( which is ordinary in all those rivers ) which raiseth the boylings of their waters above the rocks of their fall . chap. xl. of the unfortunate expedition of maldonado . mean while the designes of this renowned discovery , was no lesse vigorously embraced by the ambition and covetousnesse of the spaniards of the town of cusco . the great and deep river of amarumaya gave them the occasions of it ; because the province of moxa , of their neighbourhood , furnisheth the abundant sources of it . and the first amongst them , that had a thought of it , ( after the inca's , that had attempted it in vain ) was gomez de tordoya , having got the priviledge from the count of niebla the viceroy of peru . he failed not presently to make the necessary expences for it , and by considerable advances to order all its preparations . but his power expiring by the removall of the count of niebla ; and his successor ( that was of the house of castro ) conferring it upon gaspar de sotelle , confounded all things by this change . this last to authorize his own credit , had associated himself with the inca topacamare , of the race of the ancient kings , that dwelt at bileobambe . and if the too great number of souldiers , that voluntarily offered to follow them , had not cast some suspicion into the head of the viceroy , and the spirits of the supream counsell , who manage this conquest with an extream great jealousie ; gaspars enterprise had not been broken , and the same priviledge granted to johne alvarez of maldonado . who having finally an. 1566. passed the mountains of the andes , and entered into the famous province of moxa , gave beginning to that unfortunate rather than famous expedition , in going aboard his rafts , or float-boates , with two hundred and fifty souldiers well armed , and an hundred horse in good equippage ; to follow the tossed waves of the amarumaya , and by suffering himself to be carried by his fierce stream , to go down into the vast fields of the great amazone . but fortune being envious at the glory that he promised himself from this famous discovery , failed not presently to overturn the successe . gomez de tordoya ( as we have said ) could not suffer with patience , neither the outrage of calling him back , nor the losse of his expences : his ressentment of these , followed with courage , disposeth him to sedition , seeing all his complaints were alwaies rejected ; he therefore now carryes himself upon his own authority , to put the same enterprise in expedition , and that against the discharging of him by the viceroy . by his own boldnesse he passeth the mountains and the forrests of those unknown places , and being followed by sixty spanish souldiers , he prevents his competitor by a precipitated march . when he had attain'd the river of amarumaya , and known that the fleet was not yet passed , he resolved to wait on it in that place , and to fight it , as he did , soon as it arrived . the medly was sharp , and endured three daies ; the valour in the two parties was equall ; and the number of the slain and hurt was so great in this unfortunate rencountre , that the chonques , ( a neighbouring people ) casting themselves in armes upon the rest , put all to death , with tordoya , none escaping in this miserable conflict , but the generall maldonado , father diego martin , a portugall ; and simon lope , that was excellent in artillery : who , after having stayed two years amongst these barbarians , returned by i know not what way of accommodation , to the province of moxa , of the dependance of cusco , whither they went afterwards . chap. xli . of other designes for the discovery of this river . the sad events of the fleet of d'orsua , and de maldonado did no more slacken the courage , than slaked the greed of the spaniards in research of immense , or rather imaginary treasures of the great amazone . they were long enough time both in spain , and america , quiet , and moved not for this conquest . only in the year 1621 , the king don philip the fourth , sent powers to the royal audience of kyto , to treat of fitting conditions , for the discovery of this river , with those of his nobility , that were employed in places and charges of that province . but by that time all these orders ( in order to propositions , that the serjeant major vincent de villalobos , governour of the province of kixo , had made for any that took that charge ; and during the making whereof , for the longsomenesse of the goings , and comings of posts , and of consultations ordinarily to be used in such rencontres , the time of his government coming to expire ) were come to that point , that for any might take that charge , the good intentions of the catholique king in this , were for that time made unprofitable , not only by the change of the governour , but also by the death of his successor alonzo de miranda , who carried himself with the same zeal , towards the same discovery . now the rumour of these goodly and noble propositions of the castilians of peru passing presently into brasile , the emulation of the portugalls made them presently make the like about the same , in the court of the catholique king there , who was yet in possession of their kingdom . so that upon the warmth and zeal that benito maciel governour of the province of maragnon witnessed that he had for the discovery of the great river of the amazones , by that side of its mouth that bounded his government ; the patents were sent him 1626 , in the ordinary conditions . but his generous designes were yet hindered by the warres of the hollanders against the portugalls in the province of pernambouk , of the same kingdom of brasile , and frontier to that of maragnon , who feared not a little the disasters of it . mean while the orders of this conquest are redoubled by the cares of the king don philip. they are alwaies sent to the governour of maragnon ; and francis coeille of carvaille , who had then the government of it , received them 1633 , and 34 : who notwithstanding coming to consider , that in parting his forces , for to send some of them , or conduct them himself , for discovery of the great river of the amazones ; that the rest that stayed in the province , would not be able to guard it against the assaults of the hollanders , who from the year 1630 , had taken the famous town of olynda , of the province of pernambouk , and possessed the neigbouring coasts ; the expedition for the discovery was by him wisely delayed . thus a necessity to defend themselves , hindered yet the portugalls for this time , to aspire to the glory of an enterprise so much desired , and so often before checked . chap. xlii . of the religious of st francis , that came down all the great river . it was in the beginning of the year 1635 , that captain johne de palacies ( of whom we have spoken before ) accompanied with thirty spanish souldiers , and six religious of the convent of st francis of the town of kyto , descended from the mountains of the cordelier into the plaines of kixo , to settle his abode ( as he did without hindrance as to the savages ) at the village of anete upon the great river of the amazones . in this post ( the furthest advanced of all those that the spaniards held in the east countries of the andes ) the valour of johne de palacios , and of his , seem'd no lesse admirable , than the zeal of the religious of st francis , shew'd it self ardent for advancing the christian religion . both the one and the other exercised themselves in these places , either to make the neighbouring nations obedient to the crown of castille , or to gain souls to god from amongst so many peoples , no lesse fierce than savage . but neither their perseverance in their travalls , nor their courage in their fights , nor finally their holy and zealous exhortations , could ever prevail any thing , especially in the province of the long-hair'd people , where captain johne de palacios 1636 , was put to death by the barbarians . whereby all his souldiers were so discomforted , and the religious themselves were so far put back , that abandoning all of them presently their abode at anete , they retired all to their ancient houses ; under the reserve or disposall of father andrew of toledo , father dominique de brieve , and six souldiers only that were resting ; not to stay any longer in those unfortunate places ; but to go all into a little barke , and to expose themselves to the rapid current of the vast amazone , and try better adventures in his waters , than on the firm land , that butted on his banks . so destiny hath reserved the names of those two religious to be inserted in histories , that their marvellous hardinesse to have enterprised a voyage so extraordinary for so many circumstances , might never be wiped out of memory of ages to come . for if amerique and drake have been no lesse glorious , for having been but the seconds , the one for touching on the firm land of america ; and the other for rounding the world ; these other feeble and new argonantes shall also be no lesse renown'd , for having but made the second navigation of all the great river of the amazones . in end after much wearisomenesse endured , many dangers escaped , and alwaies upheld by providence , these two fathers of st francis , the six spanish souldiers , and their little barke , the companion of their glory , arrived happily at para a town of brasile , where they presently fill'd the eyes and ears of all the people with admiration : but above all the noble courage of pedro texeira captain major , who commanded in that great and rich capitanrie of the province of maragnon ; the governour generall whereof , ( then james raymund of norogna ) resided at st lewis , whether the two religious went to him in like manner , to give him as much content by the pleasant relations of their singulare adventures ; as emulation to this conquest by the famous examples of their memorable voyage . chap. xliii . of the departure of pedro texeira for this discovery . in end fortune being wearied , so long to crosse a design , that spain had travelled with , with so much care ; cast her favourable eyes on the person of pedro texeira captain major of para in brasile , that his courage and prudence coming to second the choice that she had made of him , and preferred him to so many subjects of merit , he might arrive at the glory to have been the first , to make the whole great river of the amazones feel the heavy and victorious fleets of the catholique king. now the necessity of the portugalls self-defence , who had the expence and diversion of a continuall warre in the midst of brasile to maintain , could not allow to this noble expedition , forces more considerable , than those that parted from the town of para the twenty eight of the moneth of october in the year 1637 , under the conduct of captain major pedro texeira ( of the same nation ) followed by fourty seven barkes , both great , and well armed ; by seventy portugall souldiers , and one thousand two hundred indians fitted to the warre ; by eight hundred women and vallets ; and furnished with provisions meet and necessary for so long , and doubtfull an enterprise . the dexterity of the marriners and rowers , and the favourable help of the windes , broke the first difficulties , that the fleet could have had , to gain without losse and danger the true channell of the great amazone . but in departing from the coasts of the province of maragnon , and of the countries that are subject to it , the portugalls could no longer know neither the bank-sides , nor the right wayes and courses of the great river , because of so many crooked armes of his , that he castes out , and thereby frames his many islands . so that the navigation becoming longer , by following waies uncertain , and not before known ; and the troubles and toyles inseparable from a sea-army , that must often disembark , to camp on the firm land , began to weary the indians , and to distaste them from further pursuing of the voyage . already many of them stole away , to regain ( as well as they could ) the land of their nativity ; and those that stayed peaceably behind in the barkes , or in the camp , ceased not to make their mindes known by their murmurings : in so far that the fear of a greater deserting of him , giving this generall occasion of just unquietnesse , he set himself to find out more sure waies to prevent this disorder , since punishment and severity kept out hardly to their duty the rest of the indians , and vallets of his army . he was but yet half way come in his voyage ; but feign'd that he was near enough the place , where the fleet should arrive . and the better to perswade them to this , he ordered eight barkes well furnisht and well armed , to go before , and as it were to make the encampments for the body of the army to follow , in places where it was to land. but in truth , his intent was in this , only to find out and discover the best waies , that were to be held in the great river , and by these ambiguities to keep all his men in breath . chap. xliv . of the arrivall of the fleet at peru. mean while the fleet goes on , her sails being fill'd with an east-wind , alwaies favourable , and triumphs over the rapid current of the proud amazone . already six moneths were past , and six hundred leagues had been measured , which they had runne ; the half of the way was done , and sundry nations had been discovered . the wildest amongst them fled to the mountains , or lesser hills ; the lesse fearfull stood unmoved upon the bankes ; the more confident came and traffiqued with the camp : but the valientest , no more than the others , never armed themselves against the fleet , nor against her avantcourriers or vantguard : which already very far advanced , because of its lightnesse , was tracing and following on the channells of the great river , the waies that were streightest , and least oblique , and marked forth the addresses , or directions , on the bankes , by trophees set up , or by ensignes set together . the vantguard was commanded by bennet rodrigue d'olivera , a portugall , who having been born in brasile , and brought up as it were amidst the americans , he dived presently into the secret of their thoughts , and by the least of their actions , he could guesse what they had in their minds : whence he was as well feared , as respected by all the indians of these countries : so that by his good qualities , he had also this prerogative , to contribute much to the happy finishing of so noble an enterprise . so pursuing the voyage with his vantguard of eight barkes armed , he attained with as much diligence , as good luck , the port of payamine in the province of the kixes , the 24th of june in the year 1638 , while the captain major with all the rest of the fleet followed the traces advices , and addresses , that olivera left at the places , where he had rested with his vantguard : whence the souldiers of his army , receiving every day comfort , they thought alway , that the morrow was to be the last of the voyage . thus entertain'd with this hope , they arrived at the river of the long-hair'd people , on the mouth of which , pedro texcira made fourty portugalls , and three hundred indians of his troopes , to encamp , and gave orders to pedro d'acosta savela ( who was appointed to the command of them ) to stay in this place , and not to depart thence , till he heard from him ; leaving there moreover pedra bayon a captain also of infantrie . and himself continuing his navigation with some few persons , he came likewise to the haven of payamine towards the end of september , having passed one thousand two hundred leagues in a continuall going up the river of the amazones , since the 28th of october of the year before . after that , from thence taking his way by land , and crosse the mountains of the andes , he came no lesse happily , than gloriously to the town of kito , where he was received with such acclamations and triumphs , as the greatnesse and successe of his enterprise did deserve . chap. xlv . of the orders of the viceroy for the return of the portugalls . after that the royal audience of the town of kito , had received from the portugalls all the informations that were needfull on a businesse of such importance , which look't towards the discovery , or conquest of the great river of the amazones ; it would not for all that deliberate upon it , nor proceed to things so weighty , without giving advertisement thereof to the count of chinchon viceroy of peru. who with the other officers of the king of spaine , having considered all the circumstances of a successe so advantagious , sent the audience his orders from the town of lima , the chief of the whole kingdom , dated the 20th of november in the year 1638 , to send back with all diligence the portugalls , by the way that they came to the town of para , giving them and furnishing them with all things necessary and fit , for fear that brasile suffered not inconvenience by the hollanders , through so great and farre an absence of so many worthy persons of service : and to perswade them to receive into their company two faithfull persons , that were dependants on the crown of castile , to give an account to his catholique majesty , of all that was discovered , and should be discovered along the great amazone in the return of a like voyage . presently after the orders of the viceroy were published through the town of kito , sundry spaniards , especially religious , presented themselves for the choice , to go on that voyage . but as don johne vasquez d'acogna , lieutenant generall of the province of the same name , and knight of the order of calatrave , was making offers much more advantagious for the crown of castile , proposing to make levies , pay the souldiers , buy provisions , and bear all other charges in favour of this conquest , the count of chinchon broke presently the design , judging it no waies convenient to the service of the catholique king , that that personage should then leave his charge . and father christopher d'acogna , his brother , a spanish jesuite , who hath merited to live as long in the memories of men , as the great amazone shall runne in the fields of america , had the good hap of this nomination : wherein he behaved himself with so much zeal towards god , so much fidelity towards his prince , so much affection towards the souldiers , and so much care to remarke , and put in writ all the circumstances of the great river , that his glory is beyond all praise . chap. xlvi . of the camp of the portugalls in the province of the long-hair'd nation . vvhile all this is in preparing by the diligence of alonzo perez de salazar , president of the royal audience of kito , for the return of the portugalls ; and the rendesvows of the fleet , and the troops , is put upon the 20th of feburary 1639 , in the town of archidona , and at the haven of napo , a great deal more convenient in all things , than that of payamino : let us go visit the camp of the portugalls on the river of the chevelu's or long-hair'd people , untill the army come to it again in its coming down . it was left in this place by the prudence of the captain major texeira , as well to content the provinces of the crown of custile , as to give the lesse jealousie to the spaniards of peru , in keeping far enough off from the limits of that kingdom . at the first , the camp had good correspondence with the savages of that countrey ; it had victuals and provisions enough for buying . but this peaceable commerce could not last long , because of the late death of captain john de palacies , who was defait by the savages of this countrey and province . some of the camp desired to revenge it , and chastise their boldnesse ; but others feared to get hard measure and rough handling from them . thus the least occasion coming to sow the discord , and three indians of the portugalls having been put to death by the natives ; these fierce people put themselves in arms , to defend their own lives , and their countries . in so great a danger , the portugalls lost not their courage ; and as having been used to this long before , not to suffer such a licentiousnesse amongst the native indians where they were ; they set themselves presently to punish them for this . and after they had killed some of them , and taken alive more than seventy , they kept them as slaves , untill they all either died , or escaped by flight . but after this the portugalls could have no provision but by the point of their sword , and by continuall excursions of their men , sent from their camp ; both giving and receiving also a great deal of hurt , above all in their vessels , whereof some were saccaged , or spoil'd , and the lesse strong of them quite undone by these barbarians . but in the snares and ambushes , as many portugalls as were taken alive , their throats were cruelly cut , which amounted to some considerable losse to them ; though that of the enemies was far greater . thus the prudence and valour of pedro d'acosta , the courage and fidelity of pedro bayon , and as well the discipline , as obedience of the souldiers , can never receive their just enough praises , for having maintain'd their camp thus in the province of the long-hair'd people , for eleven whole moneths , and without any other news from their own , than the return of the fleet , upon which they went all aboard again . chap. xlvii . of the return of the fleet of the portugalls . all things being ready , and the embarking at an end towards the end of february 1639 , the fleet of the portugalls began their return from the haven of napo on the river of the same name : and after having sailed thirty leagues on the current of this river strong and swift enough , it entered into the great river of the amazones , at the junto of the rivers , a much celebrated and famous place , whereat the adventurous areillana gave the first beginnings to the whole discovery . in going down , the course of the great amazone served them for sailes , and the marriners or rowers lesse troubled with work rested them often , and sleeped sweetly by reason of the murmuring noise the billows made , that pusht forward their ships . all the peoples also and nations upon the bankes , are pretty favourable to it : commerce of victuals and of merchandise , being opened to it on all sides . the civility of the homagues appeared to it very pleasant ; and the generosity of the yorimans , seemed yet more obliging . but arriving at rio-negro the twelfth of october 1639 , the undiscreet greediness of the portugalls stays the course and happiness of these civilities , and of their own good voyage . the portugalls could get no riches in brasile , but by the number of their slaves ; and the souldiers being angry for having gained nothing in all this long expedition , force the captain-major to leave the great river of the amazone , and to enter into that of rio-negro , to take from them there by force of arms their slaves , which are in great multitudes among the nations that inhabit on that river . the sails were already spread , and the east wind blew on their poup , and the fear of an unbridled licence made many fear a greater change ; when father christopher d'acogna a spanish jesuite , pushed on by an ardent zeal to see the accomplishment of so long and hazardous an enterprize , presents himself to the generall pedro texeira , and gives him a protestation written and sealed with his own hand , as on the behalf , and for the interest of the catholick king : and exhorts him , to remove the souldiers from their resolution by his authority , or to command absolutely to strike sail , for returning to the course of the great amazone . this action so vigorously undertaken , and worthy of praise , deserved to see no worse success , than presently it did : the sails struck , the souldiers in silence , the mariners obedient , the ships carried along again by the currant of the great river . chap. xlviii . of the arrivall of the fleet at brasile . after the portugalls of the fleet of the great amazone , had lost the sight of the higher lands of the point of the comanares on the great and famous mouth of rio-negro , which seemed to themselves to run back from them ; visited also in their passage the warlike and valiant nation of the topinambes , in the fashions that we have before described ; and heard in these places ( as before the spaniards of areillana had done ) the rare and pleasant tales or fables of the amazones ( which we reserve to the chapter following , to give you an account of them ) the deep bosphore , ( into which the waters of the great river , and of all the others that augment it , shut up themselves into one strait channell of about a good quarter of a league ) gives them for the second time a free and sure passage ; that so following out their navigation with the like felicity , but yet receiving from the t●payses the testimony of a mutuall good will , they might finally arrive at the town of para in brasile , the twelfth of december 1639 , as they did : but with so much glory and reputation not only to the captain-major pedro texeira , but also the portugall officers and souldiers of this famous expedition , that their memories ingraven on tables of brass , shall no less endure in ages to come , than the great amazone shall in america . and forasmuch as father christopher d'acogna , and father andrew of artieda , both spaniards and jesuits , were deputed by the royall audience of kito to assist in the name of the catholick king , and of the crown of castill , to this important discovery , and no less renowned navigation ; as also thereafter to go into spain , to give an account of all to the counsell of the indies : these two religious fathers heap'd with honour and praise , failed not to go there 1640 , where after they had laid out in the presence of the king himself don philip the fourth , the greatnesses and marvells of the river of the amazones ; as also the glory and importance of such a conquest ; father d'acogna presently published all the circumstances , and remarks that he had made , in a very short work ; from which we drew the better part of this our book . chap. xlix . of the amazones of america . that asia may not vaunt her self of her reports of amazones , whether true , or fabulous , america yeelds nothing to her in this point . let not the fields of themiscyra triumph any more in the renown of her famous women ; the province of apanta is no less famous for her heroick dames . neither let the river of thermodoon be puft up any more with the glory of its conqueresses ; seeing the river of coruris is as famous for her fair she-warriors . his famous sources are honoured with their rich habitations . the mountains of guyana , fertile in mines of gold and silver are their confines on the north-side ; and the mount yacamabe , proud above all the rest , is in the midst of their fair and fertile valleys . the first notice that the spaniards had of them , came to them from the generous prince aparia 1541 , who told the first wonders of them to the adventurous francis of areillana : and the consent of all the nations of the great river of the amazones , in favours of this report , as true , hath from them given the name for ever to this admirable river . for all this , the guesses at this matter are not very certain ; but the famous actions of the goodly ladyes of america , during the warrs of all these conquests , do not a little confirm the appearances thereof . for these have often appeared in arms at the head of battalioes , as is to be seen in the histories of acosta , and of herrera : and in fighting with their own hands , they have sustained the assaults of the enemies , and oblieged the indians at the same time to imitate the effects of their great courage . the valour of that noble lass which 1536 , in the province of bogota , slew five spaniards with arrows shot from her own hands , before she fell dead at their feet , will for ever be renowned . and those goodly and great women , which presented themselves armed on the head of the americans , upon the bank of the great amazone , near to coruris ( as we have related before ) gave much credit to the first opinion of these amazones of the new-world . this is not yet enough for us to perswade our selves of the truth of these valiant and warlick ladies : the royall audience also of kito , hath sometimes received considerable informations of it . that audience a long time applyed its cares to have sound out the knowledge of these amazones ; and the depositions that to them were made thereof at sundry times , agree all in this point : that in the vast fields of this america , there was one region peopled with warrioresse women , which living and maintaining themselves without men , had no communication with them , but on some certain dayes of the year , to have by them children , or daughters like unto themselves . and in the town of pasto subject to the same audience , an indian woman gave assurance , that she her self had been in their countrey ; and by her other relations agreed with the precedent circumstances . but the most singular testimonies of it , that have been given to the spaniards , or portugalls , was 1639 in descending the great river , and in the great habitation of the topinambes , and east-point of their famous isle . this nation as generous as valiant , was never wearied with reciting the wonders of these amazones . they spoke of their policy , and of their valour , much like what the grecians and latines have sung of the policy and valour of the amazones of asia . and not to stay longer on this discourse , be it true , or be it fabulous , i will conclude it with this renowned name of the comapoyares , under which the amazones of america are every where known only . chap. l. of the qualities of the air and grounds of the great amazone . but can one thus put an end to this work , without doing incomparable wrong to the river of the amazones ? can one pass with silence , and without reproach the rest of so many wonderfull advantages , and prerogatives ; or without injustice the admirable effects , wherewith prodigall nature honours and glorifies it ? no certainly ; and contrary to my first purpose , i consent to pass lightly over again these matters , howsoever pleasant and provoking to stay more upon them ; referring to the weak curiosity of an ability limited and given to such things , the vain research of animals , fruits , and plants , of this unmeasurable countrey . in which neither doth the heat ever choak ; nor the cold ever seaze it ; the air is alwayes alike , because its winter ( as in the rest of america ) proceeds of no other occasion , but from inundations , which hinder the productions of the earth , or retard them for some moneths : and not from any recesse or withdrawing of the sun , which every day there riseth , and setteth at the same hour . what marvels should not one be perswaded of , from an heaven so benign and favourable ? let none after this wonder , to know that the consecrated hosties of the father jesuites for their mass , are kept fresh and sound during so long a voyage , on the waters ( which comes not so to pass elsewhere ) and let none refuse any longer to believe , that flies and other such troublesome beasts , are not met with in these places , as in others under the torride zone , where they are so ordinary , and every where so many , that the abode in those places would be much happier , were it not for the inconveniences that these very beasts infest them with . but what ought the land and grounds then of so noble a climate to be ? doth not this also agree to all the other prerogatives of this admirable river ? and as the base and foundation of the happinesses of all these provinces , must not this also be equally goodly and rich in all its parts ? all its banks are enriched and crowned with fair trees alwayes green , and of incomparable greatness . the field and champany grounds are large , and all covered with flowers diverse and variable . every where its valleys are enameled with green , and alwayes moist . its hills and mountains are all loaded with woods and forrests pleasant to behold . plants and simples are every where in great abundance ; also honey of bees , that serves both for nourishment and for medicine : and which is yet more marvellous , a sort of oyl so excellent , that it no wayes gives place to the balm , and that the most precious of the ancient world , for all sorts of hurts . chap. li. of the fertility of the earth , and of the waters , for food to men . as to the most ordinary aliments , that serve for nourishing innumerable nations , and infinite peoples , that labour the unmeasurable fields of the realm of the great amazone ; the first in order of nature are diverse and various fruits , which the happy and rich grounds of those countries bring forth ; like indeed for kind to those of all the rest of america ; but more excellent , ingreater plenty , and of better substance . after them , follow fish , in so great abundance and multitude , not only in the great river , and others less , but also in an infinite of lakes , which the ordinary debordments and overflowings of their rivers , make in the neighbouring plains ; that one needs never fail to take them with their hands only ; and yet more easily , when by retreat of the rivers , the lakes are dried up by the heat of the sun. in the great diversity of so many fishes , as in the rest of the new world , the sea-veal , or seal , and the tortoise , are not the least considerable , whether for greatness , substance , or delicacy . and the fishing of them is wonderfull , and prodigious , as also the way to keep them both , long time alive . lastly comes the hunting of venison , as of all other lesser prey , or game , whether with hair , or feather , in the same abundance , and with the same ease , that in all other parts of america . but the partridges , and the hens of it , came from peru , whither the spaniards had at first carried them . and for a witness infallible of all these admirable circumstances , we need but to alledge the example of the camp of the portugalls : which lodging every day on land , during so long a voyage , as well in going up , as coming down the great amazon , never failed to send presently the half of their men , some of them to hunt with dogs ; some of them to fish with arrows ( the other half remaining to set up their hutts , and draw their trenches ) whence they returned in a few hours so loaded with fish , and lesser beasts of prey of all sorts , that all the camp had sufficient , and in abundance . but as we have spoken enough of the bread , and of the meal made in those parts , of the yoka , of mays , and of the mandioka , as in the rest of america ; we shall adde only here , that their drinks are likewise made of them , which serve them as well ordinarily , as in the common rejoycings of all those peoples . chap. lii . of the richness of trade for strangers . finally to shut up and make an end of this work , by recitall of the great riches , which will one day make the commerce of the great amazone considerable to all europe ; we shall begin ( without speaking more of gold and silver , or of its rivers and mountains to the same purpose ) from the abundance , and quality of its woods , and trees , the most excellent in all the world , and the best to build whole fleets with , and ships as great , as any have been in the ocean ; because all the banks , as well of the great , as of other lesser rivers , are all covered with cedars so fair , and great , that they surprize the sight of such as consider them ; father d'acogna having measured himself one of the greatest of them , of more than six ells in circumference . next to them we shall mention ebeny , and the wood of brasile , both so precious , and so much sought after ; which are so perfect there , and in so great multitude in all these fields , that they can never be spent . in the third place , we shall mention the cocos tree , so thick along all those banks , that the very hutts of the camp of the portugalls , were made of no other than of the fair branches of these . they bear the best fruit of any in all the indies ; and with a little travail they can yeeld each of them , seven or eight crowns every year . after these comes tobacco , which would be better , and more abundant in all those provinces , than in all the rest of the world , if it were followed here with a happy culture . after this canes the sugar , whereof more excellent comes , and more abundant than elsewhere , would never fail , nor dry up , because of the inundations , which keep the fields alwayes fresh , by the number of lakes , which are there made thereby ; and whereby milles and other engines to that purpose , might easily be made , by the conveniency of the woods , and of the running waters of so many rivers ; whence it would come to pass , that the work about it would be less expensive , and the revenue by it would be greater than ordinary . finally comes the cotton to be spoken of , which is here every where in extreme great abundance . then the orock , which dyes scarlet of a prefect good colour . lastly the pyte , whereof thread or yarn most excellent is made , exceeding fine and delicate , yet very common in all the provinces of the great amazone . and for conclusion , here are the fistulecane , the salsaparilla , the oyls like to the most precious baumes ; the gums , and odoriferous rozins , and other like riches , which will be discovered in time coming , in these happy countries , to make this renowned commerce alwayes greater , and more considerable . finis . a first advertisement to geographers , upon the longitudes of america . forasmuch as the knowledge of the longitudes of the globe of the earth , is as important , as necessary , in the theory , and practice of geography , of the sphere , of astronomy , of navigation , of astrology ; it must not be thought strange , if so many excellent persons , and knowing men have ever bended themselves to establish these the most perfectly ; or , to say better , the least imperfectly , that was possible to them . but as the difficulties of it have never been well overcome , at least to the use and application ; so i cannot now consent to the last cart , and recentest topography of south america , touching this longitude : in which cart there is but fifty eight degrees , and twenty minutes of difference between port vieux ( or old ) and cape st. augustine , where south america is broadest , and longest . for as before , the spaniards made its breadth but of fifty one degrees , and the portugalls , of fifty five , ( both the one , and the other being moved thereto by reasons of state and policy , because of the debate about the moluccoes ) and after them , the moderner observers of this difference of longitudes , extend it to fifty eight , as we have said : so this change could not have been made , but by observation of eclipses made under divers meridians . whence it follows also , that this new longitude of the west-coasts of america , is not yet exact enough , because of the differences , that are ordinarily found in such astronomicall observations ; whether through the fault and littleness of the instruments , or the negligence of the observers , who seek the hours and minutes of them , by astrolabes , and not by the way of sphericall triangles : to say nothing of the difficulties about parallaxes in the eclipses of the sun , and of the phenombres in the eclipse of the moon , which hinder the taking exactly of the time of her immersion , and emersion , under and out of the shadow of the earth . but to let it be seen , that i am not the only man , that take to my self this licence , to suspect and give little trust to the exactness of these observations , so as thereby definitively to regulate longitudes , with neglect of itinerary distances , which ( being well managed ) often supply in some sort the others too great incertitude : i shall here set down the examples , which john kepler ; that famous astronomer , thought good himself to set down at the end of the catalogue of the towns , of the rodolphine tables , that he might show the varieties of the difference of longitudes , found out by diverse observations of the same eclipses , between the meridians of rome , and norimberg , as followeth . regiomontanus makes it of thirty six minutes of an hour , or of nine degrees of the equator ; and with him , many more . stafler , and verner of eighteen minutes of an hour , or of font degrees , and an half . shoner , mercator , and hondius , regulate it to twelve minutes of an hour , or to three degrees . and leaving others , kepler himself hath reduced it to four minutes of an hour , or to one degree only . so that the varieties of the difference of these two meridians , in so little a distance , as they stand in , coming to eight whole degrees ; with how much more reason may we doubt of the true longitude of the west-coasts of the south and north america ? now these diversities are no less frequent every where else , as may be verified by the difference of the meridians of the same rome , and of toledo in spain , set down in authors of astronomy , and geography . for kepler the last and painfullest of all , reduces it to sixteen degrees ; and according to others , it amounts often to thirty . which notwithstanding we have made an essay to remedy ( as much as the matter doth permit ) in our geographicall tables , by more exact cares and researches , than those of this curious author kepler himself ; which being not yet printed , yet monsieur morin the kings professor of the mathematicks , hath not thought ill to draw out of them , that which he hath set at the beginning of his abridgement of the rodolphine tables , as preferable to any other catalogue of towns , that he could then meet with to serve his purpose . after these reasons brought , i would now willingly consent , that the longitude of the west-coast of america were made shorter by ten degrees at least , that the difference of the longitudes of the town of kito , and of the point of zaparara were made of fourty seven degrees , and so the distance from the one to the other , in a straight line , of nine hundred fourty geometricall leagues . and this would agree better , and not be so far different from the total number of measures observed in the navigation of the great river of the amazones , as is to be seen in the eighth chapter of this book ; through all which ( that we might change nothing , out of our own opinion ) we have set down the longitudes , according to the ordinary and recentest carts of south america . but surely it ought to be made broader by geographers , that shall go over it again , to find place there for all that we faithfully relate unto them in this work , that so the great amazone , and so many other rivers , that run unto him , and provinces , that are discovered upon them , may commodiously be lodged , and in their own naturall extent . in which case the east-coast of this same america to the turn of the cape of st. augustine , should be kept in the same degrees and minutes of its longitude ; and all the rest from thence towards the west , augmented unto ten degrees , and compassed in the just and fitting geometricall proportions , as well in regard to meridians , as to the longitudes . and the same ampliation being made over north america , you will find his east-coast drawn back by four or five degrees , conformably to the assurances that the first english gave , that sail'd to virginia ; and to the report of john laet in his third book of america . whereunto i offer my self willingly to contribute my cares and studies , in favours of such , as will undertake it ; making use , and serving my self , in all these geographicall procedures , with the precepts of the true , and new doctrine of the eighth book of my geometricall theorems , printed 1654 , as well for the longitudes , as itenerary distances : which i there shew , that they ought alwayes to be in great circles , and not in parallells , reduced to certain proportions . which last is a rule altogether contrary to the truths of geometry , however mathematicians , and geographers , that preceeded the impression of that book , have generally taught the maxime of it , without adverting , or considering so notable an errour ; that the shortest distance from one point to another , on the globe of the earth , is alwayes described , or led by a great circle , &c. see the eighth book of my foresaid theorems . a second advertisement to geographers about the restitution of longitudes . but to get a perfecter knowledge as well of the longitudes , that fit america , as those that concern the east indies ; we have resolved to set down here a method to find them easily by the motion of the moon , upon firm land , in this manner . 1. draw on a right horizontall plain , that is very smooth and white , a very exact meridian line : and with the same exactness observe the height of the pole , by a quadrant that can mark minutes , and if possible , half minutes ; as it is easie now to get such an one , by the new inventions of dividing the alhidades of it . 2. on the night of the full moon , take the horizontall height of a fixt star , untill the shadow of a plummet hung , made by the moon , shall be just upon the meridian ; but with this caution , that the height of the star observed , be at least of thirty degrees , to avoid refractions ; and that the same stars distance from the meridian be reasonable enough for a greater exactness . 3. seek the true distance of the foresaid star from the meridian of your hemisphere by this rule . as the rectangle contained in the sinuses of the complement of the elevation of the pole , and of the complement of the declination of the star , is to the quadrat-side of the whole sinuse ; so the rectangle contained in the sinuses of the summe or totall , and of the difference of the half of the complement of the observed height of the star ; and of the half of the difference of the complement of the declination of the star , and of the complement of the elevation of the pole , is unto the quadrat-side of the sinuse of the half of the true distance of the star from the meridian . but if the declination and right ascension of the star , which you make use of for this astronomicall observation , be not set down to your hand , in the same table of its longitudes and latitudes ; you shall find it by the rules of my sixth book of geometricall theorems aforesaid , whither i refer you . 4. double the foregoing half of the distance found , and substract that from the right ascension of the star observed , if it be in the eastern part of the heavens ; but adde it to its right ascension , if the star be in the west part of the heavens : and the summe of the addition , or the residue after the substraction , will be the true right ascension of the meridian of the moon , in degrees , minutes , and seconds of the equator . 5. in the ephemerids , or in the astronomicall tables , take the node of the moon ascendant , or descendant , in signs , degrees , minutes , and seconds of the ecliptick according to the hour of your observation after your best esteem : to wit , that which is nearest to that right ascension of the moon , or of the midst of heaven , which is all one . but in the rule of the precedent article , if the pole be north , the declination also of the fixed star must be northern ; and contrarily . 6. with the same right ascension of the moon and of the meridian , take also in the same tables , ( or by the sixth book of my theorems ) the midst of heaven , in signs , degrees , minutes , and seconds in the ecliptick ; and the angle of the meridian and of the ecliptick only in degrees , minutes , and seconds ; which we shall alwayes hereafter call the midst of heaven , to shun a longer title , or repetition . 7. substract from the midst of heaven , the node of the moon ; or from the node of the moon , the midst of heaven , that you may finde alwayes lesse residue than ninety degrees : and this distance of the node of the moon from the midst of heaven , will be the base of a sphericall triangle-obliquangle , whereof the lesser angle will alwayes be of five degrees , and no minutes ; and the greater angle alwayes the angle of the meridian , and of the ecliptick of the foregoing article , according to the seventh book of my theorems . 8. seek the arch of the meridian contained between the orbite of the moon and the ecliptick circle , by this rule . as the totall sinuse , or sine , is to the sine of the distance of the node of the moon in the midst of heaven ; so is the sine of the angle of five degrees , to the sine of the perpendicular . and as the totall sine , is to the sine of the complement of the preceding distance ; so is the tangent of the angle of five degrees , to the tangent of the complement of the angle sought for . 9. take the difference of this angle sought for , and of the angle of the midst of heaven , and you shall have the second angle sought for , in degrees , minutes , and seconds . then as the total sine is to the sine of the complement of the second angle required ; so the tangent of the complement of the precedent perpendicular , is to the tangent of the complement of the arch of the meridian , contained between the midst of heaven , and the center of the moon . 10. finally , as the sine of the angle of five degrees , is to the sine of the precedent arch of the meridian ; so the sine of the angle of the midst of heaven , is to the sine of the argument of the latitude of the moon : which argument , you must substract or adde to the node of the moon , according to the disposall of the probleme , for getting in signs , degrees , minutes , and seconds , the place of the moon in her orbite , 11. with the precedent argument of the latitude of the moon , take in the astronomick tables its reduction to the ecliptick in minutes and seconds , that you may either substract , or adde the same ( according to the title of the same tables ) to the place of the moon in her orbite ; and you shall have the true longitude , or the true place of the moon in the ecliptick , in signs , degrees , minutes , and seconds . as also in the same tables , her true latitude , ( if you desire it ) with the same argument ; seeing in all these observations , the moon is alwayes near her copulations . 12. compare the two longitudes of the moon , found out in this manner , on the same night , but in diverse meridians , and take the difference of them : as also her hourly motion , at the time of both the observations , because the hours , minutes , and seconds of hours , that shall agree to the degrees , minutes and seconds of the ecliptick of that difference , being turned into degrees and minutes of the equator , will give the true difference of the longitudes contained between the two towns , where the two observations have been made . now all the secret of this easie and new method , consists in this , that the center of the body of the moon is necessarily in the circle of the meridian , when she is full , or very near her opposition , the shadow of the plummet-line , coming just upon the true meridian-line of the place , where the observation is made : and in this ; that nothing more being required to be added , but the plain heighth of one fixt star , and without parallax , the operation may be made in any moneth of the year , without staying for a tedious restitution of astronomy , and without being put to the charges of great instruments horizontall and verticall , which are otherwise necessary to the practice of this science of finding out longitudes , which nonius , horoncius , frisius , kepler , and morinus the perfectlyest of them all , have painfully travelled in . but this is enough for the geographers , and mathematicians , that are dispersed over the world , and ought to labour in the restitution of geography : to whom notwithstanding i could wish an exacter knowledge of astronomy , and of trigonometry , that they might the more easily arrive at the glory of perfecting this goodly science , no less pleasant , than necessary . and for conclusion , we shall in favours of an astronomer , that will make this observation of the moon in his own particular , that he may compare it , with that of the rodolphine tables ; tell him , that the longitude of the town of rome on the globe of the earth , is fourty degrees ; and that its meridian is the same , that it hath in the rodolphine tables , which are the best of all other astronomick ones , if you correct but the equations of the center , and the intervalls of the planets , by the fifth book of our geometricall theorems . as also for the choice of the equation of the time , if you use that equation , which proceeds from the difference of the two right ascensions , to wit , of the middle place , and of the true place of the sun , in the ecliptick ; because that amongst so many divers and various equations of the time , that the most excellent authors have yet given , or established , that alone seems to me geometricall and exact ; as we have said elsewhere ; and that the errours of other wayes will amount sometimes to four of five degrees , in longitudes upon the earth . but as the foundation of that doctrine depends on the equall motion of the sun in the ecliptick , and not at all in the equator , the opinion that we have of it , is more from the appearances of truth , than from any design we have to contradict . finis . a table of the chapters . chap. i. of the greatness of the river of the amazones . page 1 chap. ii. of the great kingdome of this amazone , if reduced to one by conquest . 3 chap. iii. of the nations of this great kingdome . 6 chap. iv. of their arms , and of their commerce . 8 chap. v. of their customes and religion . 9 chap. vi. of the great cordeliere . 11 chap. vii . of the sources of the great river of the amazones . 13 chap. viii . of the length , and of the course of this river . 15 chap. ix . of the longitudes , latitudes , and measures of leagues and distances observed in this great river . 18 chap. x. of the same , continued upon the same river , unto the atlantique-sea . 23 chap. xi . of the breadth , and of the islands of this river . 26 chap. xii . of its depth , and of its portableness or navigation . 28 chap. xiii . of the bosphore or strait of the amazone . 31 chap. xiiii . of the three first rivers that enter into that of the amazones . 33 chap. xv. of the agarick , and of the putomaya . 36 chap. xvi . of the great caketa , a considerable river . 39 chap. xvii . of the river of maragnon . 43 chap. xviii . of the amarumaya , and of the madera . 46 chap. xix . of the other rivers ; and of the ' province of the kixes . 49 chap. xx. of the province of the long-hairs , and of that of the homagues . 52 chap. xxi . of the condition of slaves , and of the neighbour-nrtions . 55 chap. xxii . of the province of corosirara , and other neighbour-nations . 57 chap. xxiii . of the gold-mine of the swanes , and of the neighbouring-nations . 60 chap. xxiv . of the province of yoriman . 62 chap. xxv . of the province of surina , and of the neighbouring-nations . 65 chap. xxvi . of the province of caribane . 68 chap. xxvii . of rio-negro , and of the province of camsware . 71 chap. xxviii . of the province of cayana , and of the neighbouring-nations . 73 chap. xxix . of the isle of the topinambes . 76 chap. xxx . of the bosphore of the amazone , and of the neighbouring-nations . 79 chap. xxxi . of the province and river of tapayse . 81 chap. xxxii . of the rich and great province of coropa . 84 chap. xxxiii . of the great mouth of the river of the amazones . 86 chap. xxxiv . of the great province of guyana . 89 chap. xxxv . of the province of maragnon , and of the town of para. 91 chap. xxxvi . of the entries into the river of the amazones . 94 chap. xxxvii . of the first discovery of this river . 96 chap. xxxviii . of the second expedition of areillana on the same river . 99 chap. xxxix . of pedro d'orsua , and of the tyrant lope de aguirre . 101 chap. xl. of the unfortunate expedition of maldonado . 104 chap. xli . of other designs for discovery of this river . 108 chap. xlii . of the friers of st. francis , that went down all this river . 111 chap. xliii . of the departure of peter texeira for the discovery of it . 114 chap. xliv . of the aarivall of the fleet at peru. 117 chap. xlv . of the orders of the viceroy for the return of the portugall fleet. 120 chap. xlvi . of the camp of the portugalls in the province of the long-haired , or chevelues . 122 chap. xlvii . of the return of the portugall fleet. 125 chap. xlviii . of the arrivall of the fleet at brasile . 127 chap xlix . of the amazones of america . 129 chap. l of the qualities of the aire , and of the land of the great amazone . 132 chap. li. of the fertileness of the land and the waters for nourishment of men . 135 chap. lii . of the riches of commerce for strangers . 137. 1. advertisement to geographers on the longitudes of america . 140 2. advertisement to geographers on the restitution of longitudes . 146 finis . a short discoverie of the coasts and continent of america, from the equinoctiall northward, and the adjacent isles by william castell ... ; whereunto is prefixed the authors petition to this present parliament for the propagation of the gospell in america, attested by many eminent english and scottish divines ... ; together with sir benjamin rudyers speech in parliament, 21 jan. concerning america. castell, william, d. 1645. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a31221 of text r20571 in the english short title catalog (wing c1231). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 248 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 56 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a31221 wing c1231 estc r20571 12259228 ocm 12259228 57768 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a31221) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 57768) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 176:12) a short discoverie of the coasts and continent of america, from the equinoctiall northward, and the adjacent isles by william castell ... ; whereunto is prefixed the authors petition to this present parliament for the propagation of the gospell in america, attested by many eminent english and scottish divines ... ; together with sir benjamin rudyers speech in parliament, 21 jan. concerning america. castell, william, d. 1645. rudyerd, benjamin, sir, 1572-1658. [4], 8, [8], 9-48 [i.e. 44], 54 p. [s.n.], london : 1644. reproduction of original in huntington library. eng missions -american. america -description and travel. a31221 r20571 (wing c1231). civilwar no a short discoverie of the coasts and continent of america, from the equinoctiall northward, and of the adjacent isles. by william castell, m castell, william 1644 43510 391 0 0 0 0 0 90 d the rate of 90 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the d category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2002-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-06 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-07 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2002-08 aptara rekeyed and resubmitted 2002-09 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2002-09 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a short discoverie of the coasts and continent of america , from the equinoctiall northward , and of the adjacent isles . by william castell , minister of the gospell at courtenhall in northamptonshire . whereunto is prefixed the authors petition to this present parliament , for the propagation of the gospell in america ; attested by many eminent english and scottish divines . and a late ordinance of parliament for that purpose , and for the better government of the english plantations there . together with sir benjamin rudyers speech in parliament , 21. ian. concerning america . london , printed in the yeer 1644. ornatissimis viris . olivero st. john ( sollicitatori regis generali ) & joanni wild servienti ad legem ; verae religionis , iuris municipalis , patriae debitae libertatis assertoribus integerimis gvlielmvs castell , debitae observantiae , & gratitudinis ergo , sed praecipue , ob eximium utriusque desiderium , pro●pagandi evangelium , apud americo● ▪ ho● suum qualecunque opusculum humiliter , d. d. d. ad lectorem . non opus exegi , tamen haec quae scripta videbis , romanam cathedram , hispanos , ereb●mque movebunt . scilicet americam , sibi soli poscit habendam rex cantabrorum ( quod non si●it iste libellus , multorum effigies , & fida medulla laborum . ) nec minu● infensos papam , papaeque pa●entem , hic liber inveniet ; papam retegendo suorum impuros coitus , fraudes , perjuri● , clades indorum immeritas , saeve , & sine fine p●ractas . nec quicquam dubito ( slygia dep●omta pharetra ) in me missurum saevissima daemona tela , lumen evangelij audentem suadere britannis laete festinare armata milite classe gentibus ignotis ; in quas bis mille per annos vindicat imperium plus quam regale retentum ; iamque suas ( tam sponte suas ) vel posse reposci et fremit , & frendit , velut atrox cerberus olim a●t ego quid fremitus , quid inania tela m●rarer ? si mode vel quicquam , nostro quocunque labore , americis prosim , misere jam lumine cassis ; vt tandem in se discendant , laqueisque soluti tartareis , christitutissima castra sequantur . agnoscantque deum terrae caelique supremum artificem , & regem , vereque petentibus illum depositum credant verum solamen in illo : praesentis perdulce levamen , spemque beatae vitae venturae , periturae tempore nullo . hoc mihi si dederit , pater optimus undique ven● divite tellurem , gemmis , auroque , refertam non f●occi facio ; tanto dignatus honore . to the most high and honovrable court of parliament , now assembled . the humble petition of william castell , parson of courtenhall in northamptonshire , for the propogating of the gospell in america . in all humble manner , sheweth unto your approved wisdomes , the great and generall neglect of this kingdome , in not propagating the glorious gospell in america , a maine part of the world : indeed the undertaking of the work is ( in the generall ) acknowledged pious and charitable ; but the small prosecution that hath hitherto been made of it , either by us or others , having ( as yet ) never been generally undertaken in pitty to mens soules , but in hope to possesse the land of those infidels , or of gaine by commerce , may well make this and all other christian kingdomes confesse , they have been exceeding remisse , in performing this so religious , so great , so necessary a worke . may it therefore please your wisdomes , to give your petitioner leave to propose briefly , ( as the nature of a petition requireth ) the more then ordinary piety and charity of the worke ; the evident necessity , and benefit of undertaking , together with the easinesse of effecting . a greater expression of piety ( your petitioner conceiveth ) there cannot be , then to make god knowne where he was never spoken nor thought of , to advance the scepter of christs kingdome . and now againe to reduce those , who ( at first ) were created after the image of god from the manifest worship of devils , to acknowledge and adore the blessed trinity in unity . to do this , is to be happy instruments of effecting those often repeated promises of god , in making all nations blessed by the comming of christ , and by sending his word to all lands : it is to inlarge greatly the pale of the church . and to make those ( who were the most detestable synagogues of sathan ) delightfull temples of the holy ghost . it was a high point of piety in the queen of the south , to come from the utmost parts of the world to heare the wisdome of salomon . and so it was in abraham , to leave his native countrey for the better , and more free service of his god . and certainly it will be esteemed no lesse in those , who ( either in their persons or purses ) shall religiously endeavour to make millions of those silly seduced americans , to heare , understand , and practise , the mysterie of godlinesse . and as is the piety , such is the charity of the work , exceeding great , to no lesse then the immortall soules of innumerable men , who still sit in darknesse , and in the shadow of death , continually assaulted and devoured by the dragon , whose greatest delight is to bring others with himselfe into the same irrecoverable gulfe of perdition . what those blinde and spirituall distressed americans are , we were , and so had continued , had not apostolicall men afforded greater charity unto us , divisis orbe britannis , by long journeying ; and not without great hazzard of their lives , then ( as yet ) hath been shewed by us unto them . we are not indeed indued with such eminent extraordinary gifts , as were the primitive christians ; but yet ( if it be duly considered ) how fully and how purely god hath imparted his gospell unto this island ; how miraculously he hath lately protected us from spannish invasions , and popish conspiracies ; how ( at this time ) we abound in shipping , and all manner of provision for sea : it will be found , that we ( of all nations ) are most for the work , and most ingaged to do it in due thankfulnesse to god . nor is the arms of the lord shortned , or his wonted bounty so restrained ; but that undertaking the voyage principally for gods glory , and in compassion to mens soules , we may expect a more then an ordinary blessing from him , whose usuall custome is to honour those that honour him , and most abundantly even in this life , to recompence such religious undertakings . the spaniard boasteth much of what he hath already done in this kinde ; but their own authors report their unchristian behaviour ; especially their monstrous cruelties to be such , as they caused the infidels to detest the name of christ . your wisdomes may judge of the lion by his claw . in one of their islands called hispaniola of 2000000 of men , as benzo ( in his italian history ) affirmeth , they had not left 150 soules . and lipsius justly complaineth , that wheresoever they came , they cut downe men as they did corn without any compassion . and as for those that survived , they bought their lives at deare rates : for they put them to beare their carriages from place to place ; and if they failed by the way , they either miserably dismembred , or killed them out-right . they lodged them like bruit beasts under the planks of their ships , till their flesh rotted from their backs : and if any failed in the full performance of his daily task , he was sure to be whipped till his body distilled with goar blood , and then poured they in either molten pitch or scalding oyle to supple him . a very strange and unlikely way to work infidels unto the faith , neither yet could they ( if they would ) impart unto others the gospell in the truth and purity thereof , who have it not themselves , but very corruptly , accompanied with many idle , absurd , idolatrous inventions of their owne , which are but as so many superstructures wickedly oppressing , if not utterly subverting the very foundations of christianity . and although some of the reformed religion , english , scotch , french , and dutch , have already taken up their habitations in those parts , yet hath their going thither ( as yet ) beene to small purpose , for the converting of those nations , either for that they have placed themselves but in the skirts of america , where there are but few natives ( as those of new england , or else for want of able and conscionable ministers ( as in virginia ) they themselves are become exceeding rude , more likely to turn hethen , then to turn others to the christian faith . besides , there is little or no hope our plantations there , should be of any long continuance , since here in england for some years last past , they have been rather diversly hindered then any wayes furthered , how and by whom , your wisdomes either have , or will shortly find out : but this is evident , that the proud superstitious spaniard ( who hateth their religion , and feareth their neighborhood , will spare them no longer then ( to his over-swelling greatnesse ) shall seeme good : and in the judgement of most judicious travellers that way , they may ( if they will ) easily enough suppresse and destroy all other our plantations , as they did of late that of saint christophers , when they were no way provoked by us , as they will now pretend they are by a latter taking of trinidado , and the losse of more then 150 of their men there . at least they will be sure to be desperately assaulted , as was the isle of providence , but the year last past . whence your petitioner offereth unto your honourable considerations a third argument ( drawn from meer necessity ) that as you tender the happy proceeding of those ( as yet ) but weakly setled plantations : the liberties , livelyhood , and lives , of many thousands our deare brethren and countrey men : and which is yet more the prosperous progresse of the gospell , you would be pleased to consult of such an able and speedy supply , as may secure them against the now expected cruelty of the spaniard . to which needfull supply , the better and sooner to induce your wisdomes , your petitioner desireth your yet a little further patience untill he hath shewed some temporall benefits that are thereby like to accrew unto this kingdome , together with the easinesse of effecting . when a kingdome beginneth to be overburthened with a multitude of people ( as england & scotland now do ) to have a convenient place where to send forth colonies is no small benefit : and such are the north-east and north-west parts of america , between the degrees of 25 and 45 of the north latitude , which at this time do even offer themselves unto us , to be protected by us , against the known cruelty of the over near approaching spaniard . a very large tract of ground containing spacious , healthfull , pleasant , and fruitfull countries , not only apt , but already provided of all things necessary for mans sustentation , corne , grasse , and wholesome cattell in good competency : but fish , fowle , fruits , and herbs in abuddant variety . if we should look no further then the south of virginia , ( which is our owne ) wee shall finde there all manner of provision for life : besides merchantable commodities , silke , vines , cotton , tobacco , deere-skinnes , goat-skinnes , rich furre , and beavers good store , timber , brasse , iron , pitch , tarre , rosin , and almost all things necessary for shipping , which if they shall be employed that way ; they who are sent away may ( with gods blessing ) within short time in due recompence of their setting forth , returne this kingdome store of silver and gold , pearls , and precious stones ; for undoubtedly ( if there be not a generall mistake in all authors , who have written of these places ) such treasure is to be had ; if not there , yet in places not farre remote , where ( as yet the spaniard hath nothing to do . ) and in case the spaniard will be troublesome to our plantations , or shall ( as it is generally conceived ) be found an enemy to this kingdome , there is no way more likely to secure england , then by having a strong navie there ; hereby we may come to share , if not utterly to defeat him of that vaste indian treasure , wherewith he setteth on fire so great a part of the christian world , corrupteth many councellors of state , supporteth the papacy and generally perplexeth all reformed churches . nor need any scrupulous quere be made , whether we may not assault an enemy in any place , or not esteeme them such as shall assault us in those places , where we have as much to do as they . the spaniard claimeth indeed an interest , little l●sse than hereditary in almost all america , and the west indies , but it is but by vertue of the popes grant , which is nothing worth , as was long since determined by queene elizabeth , and her councell ; so as for the spaniard to debarre us in the liberty of our plantations , or freedome of commerce in those spacious countries , were over proudly to take upon him ; and for us to permit it were overmuch to yeeld of our own right . especially , when we may , as now we may , so easily help our selves : for your petitioner conceiveth there is no great difficulty in the preparation here , or tediousnesse in the passage thither , or hazard when wee come there . the preparation of men and shipping , in respect of the daily happy expected accord between us and the scots , is ( upon the matter ) already made . and as for money it is in the power of this honourable house to give sufficient , without any grievance , or dislike of the common-wealth , who ( undoubtedly ) in the generall will think nothing grievous , which shall be concluded by your wisdomes , expedient to such a pious and charitable worke . and as for the passage , how can it be thought either tedious or dangerous , it being ordinarily but six weeks saile , in a sea much more secure from pirats , and much more free from shipwrack , and enemies coasts , than our ten or twelve moneths voyage into the east-indies . and as for our good successe there , we need not feare it . the natives being now every where more than ever , out of an inveterate hatred to the spaniard , ready and glad to entertaine us . our best friends the netherlanders being with eigth and twenty ships gone before to assist and further us . and which is much more , our going with a generall consent in gods cause , for the promoting of the gospell , and inlarging of his church , may assure us of a more than ordinary protection and direction . that hitherto we have been lesse successefull in our voyages that way , we way justly impute it to this , that as yet they have not been undertaken with such a generall consent , and with such a full reference to gods glory as was requisite . and so your petitioner having delivered his apprehension herein more briefely , than so weighty a matter might well require , he submits all the premises to your more full deliberation and conclusion , which he humbly prayeth , may be with all convenient speed ; the only best way under god to make it the better successefull . wee whose names are here under-written , having been upon occasion acquainted with a motion intended to be made by master william castell , parson of courtenhall in the county of northampton , to the high and honourable court of parliament now assembled , concerning the propagation of the glorious gospell of christ in america . as we do well approve of the motion ; so we do humbly desire his reasons may be duly considered : and so good a work furthered their wiser judgements may resolve upon , to which we humbly submit the same . iohn moseley , d. d. ra● brownricke , d. d. thomas bambrig , d. d. robert sanderson , d. d. richard alleyne , d. d. daniel featly , d. d. matthius styles , d. d. edmond stanton , d. d. stephen denison , d. d. edw. williamot , d. d. ionathan brown , d. d. iasper fisher , d. d. hanniball potter , d. d. anthony clapton , d. d. thomas drayton , d. d. iohn grant . d. d. ministers of london . george walker . iames palmer . edward malbury . ioseph caryll . edmond calamy . adoniram byfield . william price . richard maden . iames batty . matth. griffeth . ephr●im paget . robert pory . william ianeway . nathaniel barry . ministers of severall other counties . iohn white , dorsetshire . william ford , iohn pyns , somersetshire . zachery caudry , leistershire . henry paynter , devonshire . stephen marsholl , samuel ioyner , essex . iohn ward , suffolke . ier. buroughes , northfolke ▪ iohn rawlinson , darby . moses capell , william rhet , kent . francis charliot , richard gifford , buck. william englesby , hertford . other worthy ministers of the diocesse of peterburrough , where the petitioner liveth . daniel caudery . ieremy whittaker . iohn barry . iames cranford . samuel craddock . david ensme . edmond castell . samuel male . daniel rogers . benjamin tomkins . richard cook . richard trueman . iohn guderick . william spencer . edmond iames . iohn baynard . george iay . francis presse . miles berket . francis atturbury . ieremy stephens . iohn ward . peter fawtract . william malkinson . the motion made by master william castell ▪ minister of the gospell , for propagating of the blessed evangell of christ our lord and saviour , in america , we conceive in the generall to be most pious , christian and charitable . and therefore worthy to be seriously considered of all that love the glorious name of christ , and are zealous of the salvation of soules , which are without christ , and without god in the world , wishing the opportunity and fit season , the instruments and meanes ; and all things necessary for the prosecution of so pious a worke , to be considered by the wisdomes of churches and civill powers , whom god hath called , and enablad with piety , prudence , and policy , for matters of publick concernment , and of so great importance . and beseeching the lord to blesse all their consultations , and proceedings for the advancing , and establishing the kingdome of jesus christ . alexander henderson . robert blare . r. bailly . m. gallaspie . n. smyth . m. borthrick . an ordinance of the lords and commons assembled in parliament . whereby robert earle of warwicke is made governour in chiefe , and lord high admirall of all those i●ands and other plantations , in●abited , planted , or belonging , to any his majesties the king of englands subjects , within the bounds , and upon the coasts of america . and a committee appointed to be assisting unto him , for the better governing , strengthning , and preservation of the said plantations ; but chiefly for the advancement of the true protestant religion , and farther spreading of the gospell of christ among those that yet remaine there in great and miserable blindenesse and ignorance . whereas many thousands of the natives and good subjects of this kingdome of england , though the oppression of the prelates , and other ill affected ministers and officers of state , have of late yeares , to their griefe and miserable hardship , been inforced to transplant themselves and their families into severall ilands , and other remote and desolate parts of the west indies : and having there through exceeding great labour and industry ( with the blessing of god ) obtained for themselves and their families , some competent and convenient meanes of maintenance and subsistance , so that they are now in a reasonable well setled and peaceable condition . but fearing least the outragious malice of papists and other ill-affected persons , should reach unto them in their poor & low , ( but as yet peaceable condition ) and having beene informed , that there hath beene lately procured from his majesty severall grants under the great seale for erecting some new governours and commanders amongst the said planters in their afore-mentioned plantations : whereupon the said planters , adventurers , and owners of land in the said forreign plantations , have preferred their petition unto this present parliament , that for the better securing of them and their present estates there obtained , through so much extreame labour and difficulty , they might have some such governours and government as should be approved of and confirmed by the authority of both houses of parliament . which petition of theirs the lords and commons having taken into consideration , and finding it of great importance both to the safety and preservation of the aforesaid natives and subjects of this kingdome , as well from all forraigne invasions and oppressions , as from their owne intestine distractions and disturbances , as also much tending to the honour and advantage of his majesties dominions , have thought fit , and do hereby constitute and ordain robert earle of warwick governour in chiefe , and lord high admirall of all those ilands , and other plantations , inhabited , planted , or belonging to any his majesties the king of englands subjects , or which hereafter may be inhabited , planted , or belonging to them , within the bounds , and upon the coasts of america . and for the more effectuall , speedier , and easier transaction of this so weighty and important a businesse , which concernes the well-being and preservation of so many of the distressed natives of this and other his majesties dominions , the lords and commons have thought fit that philip earle of pembrooke , edward earle of manchester , william viscount say and seale , philip lord wharton , iohn lord roberds , members of the house of peeres , sir gilbert gerard knight and baronet , sir arthure haselrig , baronet , sir henry vane junior , knight , sir benjamin rudyer knight , iohn pym , oliver cromwell , dennis bond , miles corbet , cornelius holland , samuel vassall , iohn rolles , and william spurstow , esquiers , members of the house of commons , shall be commissioners to joyn in aide and assistance with the said earle of warwick chiefe governour and admirall of the said plantations : which chiefe governour , together with the said commissioners or any four of them , shall hereby have power and authority to provide for , order and dispose all things which they shall from time to time finde most fit and advantagious to the well-governing , securing , strenghning , and preserving , of the said plantations ; and chiefly to the preservation and advancement of the true protestant religion amongst the said planters , inhabitants ; and the further inlargement and spreading of the gospell of christ amongst those that yet remaine there in great and miserable blindnesse and ignorance . and for the better advancement of this so great a work , it is hereby further ordained by the said lords and commons , that the aforesaid governour & commissioners shall hereby have power and authority upon all weighty and important occasions which may concerne the good and safety of the aforesaid planters , to call unto their advice and assistance therein any other of the aforesaid planters , owners of land , or inhabitants of the said ilands and plantations , which shall then be within twenty miles of the place where the said commissioners shall then be ; and shall have power and authority to send for , view , and make use of all such records , books and papers , which do or may concerne any of the said plantations . and because the well-setling and establishing of such officers & governours as shall be laborious and faithfull in the right governing of all such persons as be resident in or upon the said plantations , and due ordering and disposing of all such affaires as concerne the safety and welfare of the same , is of very great advantage to the publick good of all such remote and new plantations . it is thereby further ordained and decreed , that the said robert earle of warwick , governour in chiefe , and admirall of the said plantations , together with the aforesaid commissioners , philip earle of pembrooke , edward earle of manchester , william viscount say and seale , philip lord wharton , iohn lord roberts , sir gibbert gerard knight and baronet , sir arthure ha●elrig , baronet , sir henry vane , junior , knight , sir benjamin rudyer knight , iohn pym , oliver cromwell , dennis bond , miles corbet , cornelius holland , samuel vassall , iohn iohn ●olls , and william purstowe , esquires , or the greater member of them , shall have power and authority from time to time to nominate , appoint , and constitute all such subordinate governours , councellors , commanders , officers and agents , as they shall judge to be best affected , and most fit and serviceable for the said ilands , and plantations : and shall hereby have power and authority upon the death or other avoidance of the aforesaid chiefe governour and admirall , or any the other commissioners before named , from time to time to nominate and appoint such other chiefe governour & admirall , or commissioners , in the place or room of such as shall so become voide . and shall also hereby have power and authority to remove any of the said subordinate governours , councellors , commanders , officers , or agents , which are , or shall be appointed to governe , counsell , or negotiate the publick affaires of the said plantation , and in their place and room to appoint such other officers as they shall judge fit . and it is hereby ordained , that no subordinate governours , councellors , commanders , officers , agents , planters , or inhabitants whatsoever , that are now resident in or upon the same ilands or plantations , shall admit or receive any other new governours , councellors , commanders , officers or agents whatsoever , but such as shall be allowed and approved of , under the hands and seales of the afore mentioned commissioners , or any six of them , or under the hands and seales of such as shall authorize thereunto . and whereas for the better governement and security of the said plantations and ilands , and the owners and inhabitants , thereof , there may be just and fit occasion to assigne over some part of the power and authority ( granted in this ordinance to the chiefe governour and commissioners afore named ) unto the said owners , inhabitants , or others ; it is hereby ordained , that the said chiefe governors and commissioners before mentioned , or the greater number of them , shall hereby be authorized to assigne , ratifie , and confirme so much of their aforementioned authority and power , and in such manner , and to such persons as they shall judge to be fit for the better governing and preserving of the said plantations and ilands from open violence and private disturbance and distractions . and lastly , that whosoever shall doe , execute , or yeeld obedience to any thing contained in this ordinance , shall by vertue hereof be saved harmelesse and indempnified . sir benjamin rudyers speech , concerning a west indie association , at a committee of the whole house in the parliament 21 jacobi . sir dudley digs , i doe professe , that as my affection , my reason , and my iudgement , go strongly with the scope and drift of this proposition ; so shall a good part of my poor fortune when it comes to execution . for to my understanding , there was never propoundin parliament , a design more proper for this kingdome , nor of more pregnant advantage to it , whether we consider the nature of our situation , or the quality of our enemies forces . as we are an iland , it concernes our being to have store of ships to defend us , and also our well-being by their trade to inrich us . this association for the west indies , when it shall be regulated and established by act of parliament , and thereby secured from the violence and injury of any intruding hand , it will certainly give many men encouragement and confidence , voluntarily to bring in large and liberall contributions , towards so notable , so profitable an enterprise . so that in short time we shall see many new ships built , many brave men imployed , and inabled for the service of their country , none of this money shall be carryed out of the kingdtme , but laid out for shippeng , which is the defence of it , and bestowed upon our own men , who must be ●ed and maintained , though they stay at home . for this , we shall reape the fruit of whatsoever benefit , plantation , traffick , or purchase can procure us , besides honour and security . now , let us a little consider the enemy we are to encounter , the king of spain . they are not his great territories which make him so powerfull , and so troublesome to all christendome . for it is very well known , that spain it selfe is but weak in men , and barren of naturall commodities . as for his other territories , they lye divided and asunder , which is a weaknesse in its selfe ; besides , they are held by force , and maintained at an extraordinary charge . insomuch , as although he be a great king , yet is he like the great g●ant , who was said to have 100 hands , but he had 50 bellies to feed , so that ra●ably , he had no more hands then another man . no sir , they are his mines in the west indies , which minister fuell to feed his vast ambitious desire of universall monarchy : it is the money he hath from thence , which makes him able to levie and pay souldiers in all places ; and to keepe an army continually on foot , ready to invade and indanger his neighbours . so that we have no other way , but to endeavour to cut him up at root , and seek to impeach , or to supplant him in the west indies . by part of which course , that 〈◊〉 queen of most gracious memory , had heretofore almost brought him on his knees . and this our undertaking ( if it please god to blesse it ) must needs effect it sooner and quicker : the whole body of the kingdome being united and concurring in a perpetuall supply to this action , so that he will have no free time given him to rest . moreover , this will be a meanes not only to save , but to fill his majesties coffers , enabling the people to give him liberally , and often ; the kings ships will have little to doe , but to guard the coasts , for the sea-warre will chiefly be made at the charge of the subject . thus , ( sir dudley digs ) i doubt not but that in short time , both king and people shall be safe at home , and feared abroad . to conclude , i shall be very glad to heare any man make objections against this designe , so that he doe it with an intention to refine and perfect the work ; but if any man shall speake against it with a minde to hinder and destroy it , i must intreat him to pardon me , if i doe scarce think him to be a good englishman . an introdvction to the worke . the west-indies as usually knowne by the name of america , were first found out by christopher columbus , in the yeare 1493. at the expence of ferdinand king of castile ; much furthered by isabella his queen , who pawned all her jewels to advance the christian ●aith , and to augment the revenu● of that crowne . a worthy princely act , as highly to be commended as the late pawning of the j●wels of the english crowne , is justly to be condemned for the suppressing of the gospell in the purity of it , and the exceeding weakning , if not utter ruining both of king and kingdome . but though this new world ( for so it may be justly styled , as being of a vast extent , much larger than asia , and never heard of before ) was first thought of , and in three voyages ( not without divine inspiration and assistance ) discovered by that worthy columbus ; yet one americus , who after made a more full discovery , hath been honour●d with the name of it . this goodly countrey was first proffered to one of our kings , henry the seventh , a very wise prince , who yet unhappily refused to be at any charge in the discovery ; supposing the learned columbus to build castles in the ayre : but the motion being afterwards entertained by the said king ferdinand ; castile , ( the least of the three kingdomes of spain ) became commander of them all , and by re●son of the incredible treasure yearely brought from thence , his successors are now become formidable to all christiane nations , ye● are designed by the jesuits ( the popes grand enginiers ) to be the sole absolute monarckes of all christendom , a plot yet to bee prevented , by our king and state , if timely thought upon , in sending forth a considerable navy , whereby we may best suppresse the spaniards overswelling greatnesse , and the most subtill designes of jesuits , who have bewitched no inconsiderable number of seeming protestants here to beleeve , that the king and grandees of spaine , intend good to this kingdom , it being most apparent , that that indian treasure by them disposed ; first raised , and still foments these never sufficiently to be deplored combustions in ireland and england . i shall say nothing of the causes , that moved columbus to undertake this strange voyage , nor yet how it came to be first inhabited , as being by many , esp●cially by acosta so fully related . thus much in generall is nec●ssarily to be observed , that in respect of latitude , it is extended well nigh from the south to the north-pole . it hath to the east europe and africa , from which it is divided by the wide german and atlanticke sea , sometimes by more , sometimes by lesse distance of leagues , nearer to africa than europa . to the west it hath asia , and those southerne parts of the world , as yet remaining to be discovered , how large the sea is that divides america from asia , is as little knowne , some are of opinion that it is but a narrow sea , but it is more probable to prove very wide . the forme of this spacious country is irregular in respect of its many turnings and windings , putting out and taking in againe both by sea and land , the north part of it hath a mediterranean sea , wherein lye those great islands , portu-rico , hispaniola , iamaica and cuba , every way comparable to england , were it not for the more constant temperature of this our incomparable climate . there are likewise at least a thousand lesser islands , all lying within this mediterranean sea , which make many parts of the continent of this northe●ne america to be farre distant one from another , in regard either of longitude or latitude , new-found-land , the most north-east part as ye● discovered , is distant from the most north-west parts of calfornia ( which are likewise the farthest ) as yet discovered , full 90 degrees amounting to 1800 league , either of them by little and little drawing nearer the one to the other , untill they come within a degree and an halfe of the tropick of cancer : and then from the most southerne part of florida to cullacan bordering upon the south-west seas of nova hispania , ( which differ not much in latitude ) the longitude both by sea and land doth not exceed above thirty degrees . and afterwards in some places more , in others lesse ; this north america in a great disproportion falleth to the equinoctiall , where from the most e●sterne part of guiana to the most western of popaian , the longitude is computated at 35 d●grees , as for the latitude , that also differeth very much . the northerne corner reacheth to the 53 degree ; the nore-west , so farre as it is yet discovered , but to 48 , the maine body of it falling between those corners ( which by some are fitly compared to hornes ) riseth no farther then the 24 degree . the forme of the south part of america beyond the equinoctiall is no lesse irregular , the generall description whereof i here forbeare , as intending in this booke to write onely of the northerne part . now for the method which i have proposed to my selfe in the particular description hereof , it is thus . i shall begin with the most northerne part thereof , which is new-found-land ; from whence keeping the sea-coast , ( the course i intend to observe constantly through-out this discovery : ) i shall forthwith fall upon our chiefe english plantations , and so taking view of florida lying upon the sea-coast for many hundred leagues , between virginia and nova-histania , so farre as the mediterranian sea will permit , i shall ( god assisting ) retu●ne againe and surveigh the islands great and small , comming in betweene the two parts of the continent , which ( as i said before ) in some places being farre more , in others farre lesse , are divided the one from the other . having done with the islands , i am againe to bend westward , and according to the sea-coast , to proceed with all the p●rts of that part of this north america , falling downe to the equinoctiall , adjoyning to the south america , much la●ger and much richer then are the islands , or the northerne side of the continent : though therefore new-found-land , many other isl●nds , and the next adjacent regions of the nor-east continent ( with which i am to begin ) afford but very little that may invite us thither ; yet i hope those who begin to reade this compendium , will either reade it over , or at least passing over these countries of much lesser worth , wil fall carefully to peruse what here by mee faithfully is related out of many approved authors , concerning the pleasant habitations , exceeding fertility of the earth , abundant provisions in all kinds , and incredible treasure of many other kingdomes and provinces , lying southward and south-west down to the equinoctiall : yea , and if it should be granted ( as it cannot be granted without condemning of folly and falshood , more than 50 authors who have written more or lesse of this part of the new-world , & many hundred witnesses , who in severall islands and parts of this wide continent have seene and injoyed more then i have expressed thereof ) yet with true christians ( who in some good measure understand what it is to live or dye for ever ) the preservation of many thousands of soules out of those millions of men who now fit in darknesse and perish eternally for want of the light of the gospell , ought to be of so high esteem , and so prerious in their eyes , as that though the most , or all of the fore-named invitations should be wanting , yet they should be content , i say not , to part with all , but with some considerable portion of their estates , whereby a strong navy might withall conveniency be s●nt into such places of this north america , as the wisdome of parliament shall judge meetest for the propagating of the gospell . now to proceed in a particular description according to the former proposed methed . new-found-land . when it was first found out by the english , it was thought to have been the most eastern part of the north-continent , but afterwards it was disco●ered to be an island , one of the greatest in the world , a 110 leagues long , and in most places neare as many broad . to the south and east it hath the great ocean beating upon it . to the north it is separated by a narrow sea from the most north unknowne continent of america . to the west from nova francia by the sea called st. laurence gulfe . concerning the goodnesse of the soyle , and the fitnesse for a constant habitation ( though m. whitburne in a book written of new-found-land doth in both the foresaid respects , and some other over highly commend it : yet upon better inquiry of those who have formerly written of it as al●o from those who usually resort thither , i find it to be a convenient habitation for sommer , but not for winter by reason of the exceeding coldnesse , and the deep overcovering of the land with snow , the waters with hug● shelves of ice , wherby they are debarred of necessary provisions , such ( as in somm●r time ) the island affordeth i● great abundance and variety , namely , land-fowle and water-fowle , fresh fish and salt fish , upon the matter , all the sustentation that the island affordeth . and yet the yearly rich commodity of sea-fish , almost of all kinds , which are there usually in great quantities taken and transported into europe , cause not only us , but all other neighbouring nations yearly to resort thither : and because the constant return of that fi●h commodity is worth 200000l . at the least yearely ; there hath been diverse contentions betweene us english and other nations , who ( whether we would or no ) have taken full liberty of fishing there , and of late it hath been agreed ( and in some sort well observed ) that every nation should peaceably enjoy those ports and fishing plac●s , of which they should first be possessed . this great island afford●th many conveni●nt and safe harboroughs for ships . towards the north , the first north●rne port n●arest to the south , which is cape raz is rennosa lying a little above the 46 degree , then aqua-forte two leagu●s more to the north ; then punta de farilham as many more . much higher neare upon the 28 degree are thorne bay , then the b●y conception half● a degr●e higher to the north . then bay blanche and bay orge lying between the degrees of 50 and 51. from cape de raz on the south-side toward the west , are as many ports of far greater note , and much more advantageous for taking greater store of fish , namely , abram trepessa 2 leagues distant from the said cape : then chincheca 2 more . st. marys haven 6 leagues more , much more to the west within 15 scruples of 47 degrees of latitude is presenea : after which follow five small islands , knowne by the name of saint peter , then port basques , then claire bay , all safe and convenient harbours , remote the one from the other about forty miles . the most westerne cape of new-found-land are de raye and anguille , from whence the land turneth againe to the north-east , from the degree of 48 to 52 , in all which space i reade of no haven but that of st. george 12 leagues distant from anguille promontory ; neither yet is that of any great repute , because not safe to come unto . it is to be observed before we passe to the next adjoyning part of the continent , which is new france : that this island is on all sides ( as yet any thing compleatly discovered ) found to have many other islands great and small thereunto belonging , on the north-east side , besides many very small , rather rockes than islands ; there are two of a pretty extent of good use and note , to wit , bacalaos upon the 49 degree , and aves somewhat above the 50. to the south many leagues distant lye foure great islands , viz. grand banek , vert banck , banquereaux and sable , between the degrees of 43 and 46 ( which to have named may suffice ) as being of little worth , save only for fishing , wherein they are reputed not inferiour to new-found-land . between which likewise and nova francia to the west and north-west , in a kind of mediterranian sea ( knowne by the name of saint laurence gulfe ) lye the isles of britton , tangeaux , brion , ramees , and natiscotec , not so big , but as profitable and more pleasant and apt for habitation than any of the former . these differ much in regard of their several distances towards the west from new-found-land ; but they differ more in respect of latitude , some part of isle britton falling to the 46 degree , whereas the most northerne part of natiscotec ariseth to the 50 , between which two islands lye the other three , environed with seas very narrow and shelvy , rockie , and therefore to be carefully observed by those who trade among them . nova francia . now to proceed with the continent . the most easterly as yet discovered , part of it go●th by the name of new france ( not that it was first discovered by the french , for that was done long before , anno 1497. by iohn and his son sebastian cabot , imployed by henry the seventh , king of england , to that purpose ) but because a more full discovery hath since been made by two worthy french-men , quarteri and champl●ri , from whose much approved relations , i shall here briefely impart unto you what i conceive requisite for us to know . these two worthy french-men tell us that all the discovery they mad● of this part of america ( more than ever , as yet hath been made ) was by the great river canada , falling from the west about an hundred leagues into the north part of st. laurence gulfe , and by the southerne ocean westward . i shall therefore in this my bri●fe relation , trace them in their long voyages this way , beginning with that part of new france that bordereth on both sides canada , where they made their first enterance : only let me take notice of some promontories , lying be●ween the south ocean and canada river , not much frequented , for that the comming in unto them hath often proved dangerous , the seas being in most places very narrow , by reason of the foresaid great islands , and many more which formerly did , and now doth cause them who trade thither to steere a more safe course ( above the said islands ) more to the north-east , between them and new-found-land . they are knowne by these names , cape de esperance , and bay de chaleux , somewhat above the 48 , port gachepe upon the 49 , cape de bontoneriers , and cape evesque between the degrees of 50 and 49. from which last cape beginneth the fall of canada , best known , and most usually used by the west-side of natiscot●● , whereunto answereth on the north-side the river of cheschedec more than thirty leagues distant ( for such is the widenesse of that river there affirmed to be . ) the next cape on the south-side whereunto the river magaret on the north answereth is de chate remote from the former neare thirty leagues . above these somewhat neare opposite : but 20 leagues remote from the former , lye the rivers lesquemin to the north , and montonne to the south . the farthest navigable parts of this great river are on the north : tadousac a good haven at the falling of the heady river sagu●nay from the north-west as yet but very little discovered , and the river may on the south-side . the other part of canada not navigable with any great vessell ( was yet att●mpted by quartery to good purpose ) and after upon a further search champlany is affirmed to reach yet 300 l●agues to the south-west . the principall places by them observed , are orleance and sault , thirty leagues from tadousac , then follow quebec 20 , mary river 60 , lake pierto 100 leagues more . now concerning the goodnesse of this soyle and climate , the condition of the natives , and what hath been here performed by the french . it may suffice to know that the land o● the north side of canada from the fall of it to the river saguenay ( as far as is yet discovered , ) is found to be mountenous , wooddy and barren ; besides , the comming up the river on that side is found much more dangerous than that ●o the south , which also in many places requireth carefull circumspection , but then the land is much more fruitfull and convenient to trade for bevours and rich furres ( the grand commodity here to be expected ) by reason there are more store of natives to trade withall : in the generall , all this part of the countrey is judged to be over cold in winter , to be well inhabited , though yet it be constantly affirmed that the natives might live very plentifully there , were they not carelesse in sowing , planting , and making timely provisions ; and so prodigall in spending in two or three moneths , what might serve them the whole year . sure it is that the french have taken a great opinion of it , for besides many voyages formerly made , they have from the yeare 1608. to the year 1616. made six voyages under the conduct of the fore-named champlany , and it is no lesse certaine that the french have continuall trading thither as finding good returne , especially for bevours skins . the other part of new france adjacent to the south ocean , beginning where we came up in saint laurence gulfe , on the west-side of ile britton , are port camseau , and port de savelette somewhat above the 45 degree of latitude , then halfe a degree more to the south follow bay de toutes , and port elaine ; the first ful thirty , the second neare fifty leagues from savelette ; then bay senne , margurite river , and cape heve , all these follow one after another for a degree farther : yet more to the south-west follow port de rosignall , cape de sable , port courante , and cape forcu , one after another for the space of 35 leagues . from cape forcu beginneth a great inlet sea called bay francoyse , of 15 leagues wide at the first enterance , but after a while it is narrowed more and more as it runneth backward towards the north-east , full 30 leagues into the continent . and into this bosome of sea are many good havens , but that the comming up unto them is not so good : they are knowne by these names , marys bay , port royall , and port aux mines about five leagues distant the one from the other . and here it is to be observed , that the turning in of the foresaid bosome of the sea neare as far to the north-east as the gulf● of saint laurence , environeth that part of new france , as the french call cade . on the south-west side of bay francoyse , are cape range , saint iohns river , port coquilles , and the river croix . now the temprature of this part of this country is better then the other , as not being so excessive cold , but the goodnesse of the soyle is in the generall not so good as is that part which is called canada , lying on the south-side of the river canoda . yet the french have taken so good liking thereof , that the lord de monts , and the lord de poutrincourt have made some voyages thither in person , and spent great part of their estates in setling plantations there , whereof there was great hope of good successe , untill the yeare 1611. and 1613. the then queene regent of france ( who hath since proved the fire-brand of christendome , after the murder of her husband henry the fourth by jesuits ) sent some of that hellish fraternity thither in favour of her holy father the pope , and the king of spain , to disturbe the plantations ( as no doubt her deare daughter , our now dreadfull queene ) hath , doth , and will unhappily endevour to do , ●y the counsell of her greatest favourites spanish pentions , especially if we shall presume to plant or trade in those much richer southerne countries , which the spaniard proudly challengeth as his inheritance . touching the native inhabitants here , i will say no more , but that they are much of the same condition with those who border about canada ; men of no religion , living without god in the world , deluded and captivated by satan and their priests ( which they call autonoins . the country in sommer affordeth them sufficient food , but for want of due provision for winter , they then are often exceedingly pinched , and sometimes dye miserably for lacke of sustenance . it is here to be noted , that all this south part of the continent knowne by the name of new france . from cape britton to cape crux , was in the yeare 1621. granted by king iames to sir william alexander , a scotch-man , who sent forth one since to discover it , and gave it a new name of new scotland , but we heare of nothing of worth performed by him , or those who were employed by him . new england . the next part of the continent adjoyning to new france , ( formerly accounted a parcell thereof , is new england ) lying between the degrees of 41 and 45. the most no●th-east part of it , ( as yet least discovered by our english , ) beginneth at the river penobscot , which the french call pentegovet , near to the river haute . the next are the rivers kinibequi over against ile bacchus 13 leagues , then willims bay 15 more , and tragabigsana ▪ alias , cape anna five more . but the most safe , and most convenient commings in , as lying nearest to the english plantations are hender bay , accomack , and milford haven , near cape cod , all within 34 leagues of cape anna , opposite to the bristow plantation . the natives bordering neare these ports have divers names , and have many little villages , whereof sagadehoc , mascosqueck , penobscot , and the mattahunts inhabiting two plesant islands are chiefe . the greatest part of the countrey ( as our country-man captaine iohn smith reporteth ) aboundeth with variety , and store of wholsome cattell , fowles , fish , fruits , rich furres , and timber for service ; whereunto having added the excellent fertillity of the soyle for all manner of culture , and the sweet and wholsome temperatue of the climate ; he doubteth not to compare new england with the most approved countries of europe . and i find his commendation seconded , if not exceeded by the company of adventurers for the plantation there . for the goodnesse of the soyle they compare it to devonshire . for the temperature of the ayre to france ; but yet upon farther enquiry from divers of our english who have been there , and have taken a more exact view lately of this countrey : i am certainly informed that in regard of fertility it commeth far short of old england . and now will i very briefly impart unto you ( as far as is requisite ) what hath beene performed by our nation in those parts . in the yeare 1606. king iames did under the great seale licence a plantation there , which was undertaken by some noble men , and some m●rchants , conditionally that neither should plant within an hundred miles the one of the other . the first colony consisting of an hundred husbandmen , sent at the charge , for the most , of the lord chiefe justice popham , under the government of george popham , in the yeare 1609. entered the great river saga de hoc , and by the bankes of the said river setled themselves , where they continued for the space of one yeare , and then returned into england , for that they were not able to provide for themselves , by reason of the death of both the pophams , by whose care and charge they were chiefly governed and sustained . but their unexpected returne , was so displeasing to many other adventurers here , as that for a good while after , they cast off all care of any further plantation there . hereupon the french fell upon those parts , but they were easily , and suddenly beaten out by captaine argall . after this , with far greater preparation was captaine hobson sent forth out of england , with two of those natives , who were intended for interpreters , ( as having gotten some little knowledge of our english tongue ) in the time of more than two yeares abode here . but the voyage was frustrated , by reason that the natives then were very much incensed with our english men , because one hunt an english-man , had not long before most perfidiously allured twenty of them into his shippe , under pretence of commerce , and so perfidiously carried them away , and sold them for slaves unto the spaniard . a third and fourth voyage was performed in the yeare 1614 , and 1615 , by captain iohn smith , but those neither with any good successe , for in the former , he neither discovered any golden or silver mines , nor yet found any such usefull whales as he expected . and in the other voyage , he was taken by the french pirates , and by them for a while detained . a fifth voyage accompanied with a colony of 19. families , set forth from plimmouth in the beginning of september , in the yeare 1620. and on the nineteenth of november following , they entered a nooke of the sea ten miles from cape cod , and there they stayed untill the sixteenth of december . but not liking the place , they removed to another more fertill and more commodious , over against milford haven , where having built them a towne , called plimmoth , they have continued for more than twenty yeares . and since within these twelve yeares last past , many hundreths of families have resorted either to new plimmouth , or they have made other plantations , as those of bristall neare cape anna , and connock neare hinders bay , where they have continued a good while , every yeare better and better accommodated with necessary provision for life , and not without some indifferent intercourse and correspondency with the natives , upon whom they have thus far wrought , toward the bringing them to god , as that they usually acknowledge the god of the english , to be good , but their god ( which they call tanto ) to be nought . and yet for feare of the devill by whom they are expresly prohibited , they dare not frequent our plantatione , nor confer with our men about christian religion , so often as they would . neither indeed is it likely our men should be able to doe any good upon those ( in respect of a happy conversion to christ ) so extreamely seduced and hardened infidels , unlesse they were better able to give them law , and by a holy violence compell them as it were to come in , which may be done without any colour of injustice , or cru●lty , as tending both to their temporall and eternall felicity ; especially unlesse they had a greater power and meanes to take away their young children , whereby they might become ours , and so be brought to the knowledge of christianity , which they might successefully impart unto their miserable seduced parents , at least they would be sure to sticks fast to th●t most blessed and saving doctrine they learned in their youth . and this rule ought generally to be observed in all other our plantations in america , either made , or to be made . i might adde many other generall and particular observations concerning new england , but it would not agree with my former proposall , which was not to write all of any place , but somewhat of every place . wherefore ( leaving those who are desirous of farther information to many english authors , who have more fully writ of that countrey ) i proceed to the dutch plantation . new netherland . as the bounds of new england west-ward , and by the south endeth with the promontory malebare : so the dutch plantation beginneth there , and extendeth it selfe more westward , and more southward toward virginia . yet was first found out in the yeare 1609. by master henry hudson an english-man , imployed by the states of the low-countries for a discovery in those parts : after which discovery returning to amsterdam , he was next yeare by the merchants thereof sent forth againe with a ship furnished with such commodities as were fittest to truck with the natives , for number far exceeding those of new england . the continent upon the sea-coast from the foresaid maleb●r bending a good space to the south-west . and then a little to the north-west hath adjoyning foure islands , petakonocke , kotget , christian , and block ; whereof the third christian , is of good note for store of timber , aboundant fowle and fish . within the continent lyeth the great river nassaw , whose first enterance is two miles wide , and for eight miles it cotinneth very navigable , but after becommeth shallow . the country adjoyning on either side is very pleasant and fruitfull , inhabited by the wapavockes and nalucantos . then followeth the river siccanamos , the country whereunto adjoyning is possessed by the pequets , professed enemies to the english . then the river virresche , on the west-side whereof bending to the north , lye the sequini , and novasis . between these nations , and the matawaces , who live by fishing ▪ there lieth an archipellagus , wherein are many islands : on the north-side of the dutch plantation springeth the river machicham , called the great north river , which running thorow one of the widest parts of that part of the continent , as yet discovered , affordeth convenient habitation for the aquamachites , and the manahots on the east-side . for the sanachans and tappans on the west-side . neare of this great river , the dutch have built a castle of great use to them , not only for the keeping under of the natives adjoyning , but likewise for their more free trading with many of florida , who usually come down the river canida , and so by land to them . a plaine proofe , canida is not far remote . there is yet another river , not fully discovered , bigger then the former , called the south river ; it lyeth westerly by south toward virginia ; the enterance into it is very wide , having cape may to the east , and cape hinlopen to the west , lying about the degrees of 41 , and from thence the sea-coast inclineth by little and little somewhat more then two degree to the south . a point necessarily to be observed by those who saile into those seas for avoiding of shelves and sands . the chiefe inhabitance lying on the east-side of this river to the east are the sicones , and the naraticons : on the west are the minquaans , the senenquaans , and many more . and now concerning new netherlands convenient temperature , the goodnesse of the soile , or commodities which either sea or land afford . i need say no more , but that in all these respects it differeth not much from new england , only i must in these foure things give it the precedency , that the land in generall is richer , the fields more fragrant with flowers , the timber longer , and therefore more fit for building and shipping , the woods fuller of bevors , and the waters of salmon and sturgeon . virginia . virginia is next adjoyning westerly to new netherland , it extendeth it selfe with relation to the sea-coast , from north to south , from the degree of 39 to 33. and it is divided into two parts , the northerne and the southerne ; the southerne was first found out by sir walter raleigh , in the yeare 1586. and by him in honour of our most gratiou● queen elizabeth called virginia ; from whence the other part also is denominated , what successe his discovery had or hath , i shal impart unto you in its due place , so soone as i have done with the northerne part , which in the yeare 1606 , from the degree 37 to 39. began to be inhabited by our english , and hath ever since continued , sometime in better , sometime in worser estate , but for some yeares last past , for many temporall respects beyond immagination prosperous . the sommer is here as hot as in spain , especially in iune , iuly and august , but it is for the most part greatly mitigated by a brisk easternely wind , and other winds coming ordinarily from the sea-coast ; from december to march it freezeth sharply , but is not usually of any long continuance , some yeares more , and some years lesse , ( as in other regions ) and though here sometime drought , sometime raine do exceed , ( yet do they not so exc●ed , ) but that the inhabitants affording a due care and endevour , may and do reape the fruits of the land in great variety . there is but one only comming up unto this norther part of virginia , which is by a wide arme of the sea called chesapea●ke , bounded on the north , and on the south with two great promontories , whereof the northerne taketh denomination from king charles , the southerne from prince henry . it extendeth it selfe from south to north ( accompanied well neare for two hundred miles with the ebbing and flowing of the sea ) so as it is navigable more than fifty miles ; there falleth into it , as it passeth from the north-west , five principall rivers , fed and maintained by many other rivers , which i purposely omit , these being sufficient , ( lying as they do , some 25. miles asunder ) to fructifie and replenish with store of corne , grasse , and other fruits , almost all the knowne parts of north virginia , which our english either now do , or shall undoubtedly by gods assistance shortly enjoy . the first river is pawhatan , which springing out of the mountaines of monocham , and afterwards encreased by divers other rivers , becommeth so wide and so deep , as it is navigable about an hundred miles from its fall , into the grand streame chesapeacke , not far from cape henry : either side of this river is inhabited by diversity of natives , whereof on the north-side are the chicahemans , the wenankes , and the paspaheyens , whereof the first are able to bring neare two hundred men to the war , the second an hundred , the third forty . and here forty miles from cape henry lyeth iames towne , our best hold : on the south-side , the chiefe are the nansamunds , consisting of about forty men of war , the chesapeackes an hundred , the apamatucks sixty , and either of these and others lesse considerable , by reason of their far smaller numbers , have their severall petty kings , which they call weroances . the second river distant from pawhatan to the north , is pamaunke , at first small , but after greatly increased by the accesse of other rivers ; all the natives on either side this river , cannot bring above 150 men to the war . the third is toppahanocke , navigable about 150 miles , the natives lying on both sides of it , whereof the toppanahochs are not much more than 300 serviceable men . the fourth is patowomeke , a very wide and deepe river , navigable 140. miles , by reason that divers other rivers fall into it , and it is on either side , in regard of the commodiousnesse , and pleasantnesse of the soyle much inhabited , and is able out of three villages only , adigcomoco , onawmament , noyowane , to send 350 , and as many more out of others . the last and least river is called pawtunxt , the inhabitants whereof on either side cannot bring into the field above two hundred men . there are yet other rivers , on the other side eastward , all which fall likewise into the great river chesapeacke , but they are of no great note , because not navigabl● , but the natives inhabiting about them , for proportion of ground , are as many as on the other side ; the number of their fighting men are about foure hundred , so as the whole number of their men of war in the north part of virginia , do not exceed three thousand , who being no better armed than with bowes and arrowes , and not daring to approach our great ordnance , no nor our muskets neither , if there be any store of them , lesse than three hundred of our men may easily beat away , and keepe them under . and now i shall acqu●int you with such things as the earth bringeth forth of her owne accord , as also what grain and other fruits carefull husbandry may produce . store of grasse in many places there is not , not because the soile is unfit to yeeld it , but that it is hindered by the over-shadowing of trees , which almost in every place groweth into great abundance , a thing easily to be amended , bycutting downe good store of them , as appeareth plainly in some of our plantations , where this course being carefully performed : they have besides store of grasse , store of english and indian graine ; yea , i have been credibly informed by divers persons of good worth , that they have many fields belonging to a plantation , where the ground yeeldeth greater increase upon bare tillage than ours here in england doth , with the most chargeable , and most painfull husbandry . among the fruitfull trees of the wood , the prime are the oak , walnut , mulberry , prune damson trees , of the fruit whereof stamped together , the natives make of the dryer part that which serveth them as well as bread ; and with the liquid part that which contenteth them as well as beere : they have also store of cherries , and grap●s greater than ours , though nothing so sweet , which undoubtedly may be justly imputed to the want of due husbandry , in setting , grafting , and pruning them . it hath besides diverse other trees , which though they beare no fruit , yet are they no lesse profitable for building and other uses , as namely the cedar , the cyprus , and the sa●affras . it sends forth also of its owne accord great variety of herbs and roots , very usefull both for food and physicke . the grain which the natives set , in the place where great trees ●●ood , a yeare or two before they had first burnt them down , and then rooted them up , are chiefly west-indian wheat , and peaze , which being set in april , ( foure wheat and two peaze graines , in several holes distant foure foot each from other ; ) in august they receive a wonderfull increase , every stalke bearing usually two or three eares , and every eare two hundred , some five hundred graines , which are as big , and as sweet , as our rounsevals ; but our country-men ( besides the indian graine ) doe now sow in great quantity our wheat , barley , peaze and oats , and receive usually as you have heard , a greater increase than our english land affordeth . the beasts which the north part of virginia , of it self offordeth , whose flesh yeeld wholesome nourishment , are upon the matter only deere , of severall kinds , castors , hares , and squirrels as big as our conneys , and with either of these it aboundeth . but besides these , our plantations doe at this present so abound with neat and swine , as that they feed more plentifully on them than they need ; and as i have been credibly informed by divers worthy inhabitants , that they can , upon occasion spare sufficent , beefe , porke , turkies , hens , and salt-fish , with such store of graine as may sufficiently victuall any navy of ours which shall be imployed that may . the flying fowle there , such as are for prey , are eagles and divers hawkes ; for food there rre partriges , pigeons turkies , black-birds , thrushes , and in the winter ( though but little in the summer ) they do abound with water-fowles of all sorts , swans , cranes , geese , ducks , and many more , whom we of europe never knew . for fish , there are sea-calves , salman , trout , e●les , soles , herrings , mullets , pearch ; and of all kind of shell-fish , far greater and better than are ours . now as concerning the condition of the natives , it may suffice to know that some few of them , as the sasquesahanoxs , who lye most northerly about two miles from the grand river chesepeacke , are giants in comparison of us ; that other , as the wickocomacks are dwarfs , though for the most part they are of a competent stature , borne white , but turning tawny by continuall painting of themselves ; they are strong and nimble of body , and well inured to indured winter and sommer ; in winter they lye in the woods by a great fire , clothed with the hairy skins of deere and castors , in sommer with smooth skins . in the year 1606. at the charge of some nobles and citizens , under the government of master neoport , a colony of about an hundred men , was sent into this north part of virginia ▪ the first part where they began to build and plant , was at cape henry , where at the first they were kindly rece●ved by the natives , but it continued not long , for within a while they refused to supply them with any provision of victuals , and in the end they set upon them both by treachery and force , to subdue them , which they very hardly withstood , being almost fa●●ished , and had undoubtedly all forthwith perished , had not there then a new supply of an hundred and twenty more men , and of proportionable provision happily arrived out of england , under the conduct of the foresaid master neoport , in whose absence captain smith was governour ; but this was but a short refreshing , by reason that a great part of their provision was consumed by casualty of fire , neither was there any good agreement between the chiefe officers there , or such a continued supply hence as was requisite , so as they fell again into a very hard condition , being extreamely pinched with famine , and daily assaulted by the natives , in so much as they were all resolved to have retured into england , had it not been for the lord de laware , by whose comming with store of all provision , they were comforted and supported : and so they continued in a much bettering estate , under the command of captain●smith , master dale , and master gates : captain smith affirmeth that at his departure , he left there neare five hundred well provided with victuall , and all manner of amunition ; which by the comming of master dale and master gates was made as good again . and in this flourishing increasing condition , they continued from the year 1610 , unto 1621 , in which yeare they lost by an unexpected treacherous surprisall of tae natives , three hundred and forty , and had been utterly destroyed , had not iames towe escaped by a virginian , who had got some little knowledge in christianity , but since they have abundantly recovered that losse , being now more than a thousand , and commanding the natives as they please : many other remarkable passages touching this part of virginia , are to be found in captaine smiths discourse thereof . the greater and more fertill part of virginia is the southerne , found out ( as i said ) by sir walter raleigh , and since amply described by our country-man master harcourt , who affirmeth that there are great store of deere , conneys , and big squirrils , which afford very sweet and wholesome nourishment , and no lesse abundance of fowle , as peacocks , partridges , stock-doves , cranes , hernes , swans , geese ; as also of fish , as sturgeon , herring , rayes , mullets , plaice , soles , trouts , eeles , and many more , beside infinite store of all kind of shell-fish , and all of these very usefull for mans sustentation : there are likewise in this southerne part , many merchantable commodities , besides ample provision of almost all things necessary for shipping , which with a competent supply of men and ammunition from england , might within a short time , by gods blessed assistance , command the northerne parts of america , where would be found silver and gold sufficient , though they never went over the line , to abate the over-swelling greatnesse of the spaniard , by whom the papacy is only supported , and all protestant churches at this present so extreamely perplexed . there was in the yeare 1546 , a small colony sent into this part of virginia , at the charge of sir walter raleigh , but finding themselves not able long to resist the natives , they returned into england . a second expedition was undertaken in the yeare 1585 , by sir richard grinvill , who continued not long there , but left a colony of an hundred and seven under the command of sir raphael lane , who being greatly distressed by the natives , were next yeare brought back again by sir francis drake . the last voyage we reade of , was undertaken at the charge of the said sir walter raleigh , by master with , 1587 , who finding the former colony gone , and himselfe not able to make good the plantation , returned . florida . the next adjacent countrey unto virginia , to the west and southwest is florida , containing a very large tract of gronnd , not yet fully discovered , it hath the island cuba to the south , and runneth south-west to the river de palmas , about forty miles distant from panuco , a province of nova hispania . the temperature of the aire differeth not much from that of castile in spain , it is for the most part very fertill , but it seemeth not to have in it any rich mines , either of gold or silver , or not to have been regarded by the natives , who not long since would not take the pains to take up any of the great store of gold and silver , which was usually cast upon that coast , by reason of many shipwracks which the spaniard suffered in bringing such treasure thorow the dangerous straits of bahema from nova hispania , and the south of america ; the soile is as fertil , if not more fertill than any part of virginia , and aboundeth with greater store and varie●y of flesh , fish , fowle and fruit , than that doth . great store of gold and silver is found there , which they who have written of florida , impute rather to frequent shipwracke , than to any mines growing there , because they have farre the greater store neare the sea-coast , though yet there be a constant report of many golden mines in the apalaci mountaines , which divides florida , from the south part of virginia , but it is certaine that many of the sea-shores afford store of amber grise . the inhabitants are of a tawny colour , of great stature , and well compacted bodies , very expert archers , exceeding active , fierce and manly in their manner of assault . their religion is the same , or not much differing from that of their neighbours , a meere worship of devils , wherein they are greatly deluded by their priests , who are great magicians . they hate the spaniard extreamly , more willingly they entertaine and joyn their forces with the french , and other christian nations against them . they consist of many petty governments , which usually infeft and weaken one another , in that respect easie to be subdued , though they were better provided for war than they are . the spaniard , as also the french , have made many voyages into florida . the first spanish expedition was undertaken in the year 1512. from the isle of portorico , by portius , from whom it received the name , for that the face of the country hath a resemblance of a continuall spring , but this expedition proved to be of none effect . a second voyage was undertaken in the yeare 1520 , by vasques , from hispaniola , who performed nothing memorable there , save only this infamous act of inviting many of the natives into his ships , where once ab●ord , he hoysed sayle , and carried them into miserable bondage . a third voyage was made to as little purpose , by narvesius , anno 1526 , who stayed so long in the search of the south-west part of florida , which is the most barren part , as they were faine to eat one another . the most remarkable was undertaken by ferdinando à soto , from the yeare 1536 , unto 1541 , in which time he with his armie of nine hundred foot , and five hundred horse , were the greater part consumed , having not found out ( what they chiefly sought after ) any golden or silver mines ; the remainder of his souldidiers , which were not a fourth part of those he brought from cuba , were after his death under the conduct of ludovicus moscosus , brought into nova hispania , not without great difficulty , being often fiercely set upon , and prosecuted by the natives . after which very chargeable and unprosperous voyage of hernandus the spaniard for many yeares did intermit any further search of florida , which indeed was never throughly by them , as having searched no further than that part of the countrey , which lyeth opposite to the gulfe of nova hispania , and not within and beyond the straits of bohema , lying towards virginia , which is by many degrees the more fertill soyle , and most abounding with treasure , and rich merchantable commodities . after this the french with two of the kings ships , every way wel provided , by the procurement of colinus ( that most worthy admirall of france , ) under the conduct of ribaldus , set forth to florida , in the yeare 1542 , where they arrived within two moneths at the river of dolphines , lying about the 30 degree , and from thence following the sea-coast towards the north , they came to a very safe port , which they named port riall , neare unto which they built charles fort , about the degree of 32 , neare adjoyning to the sea-coast of virginia , but by reason of great civill war that as then happened very fierce in france , a long expected supply being not sent from thence , a mutiny arose among his souldiers , so as ribaldus , though ha was well entertained , and supplyed by the natives , was inforced to returne into france , after some discovery made of the north-east part of florida , not without the losse of some men , though of more money ; and in his returne ( for want of victuals ) they killed one of their owne men , and had hardly ever againe recovered france , but that they were unexpectedly furnished with some victuals by an english ship . after this the civill war ceasing in france , and colinus the admirall returning againe into grace with the king , laudonerius the twentieth of may 1544 , set forth with three ships well furnished for florida , where he arrived the twentieth of june , and was friendly received by the natives , but could not find any gold or silver mines , though he spent much travell and time in search after them , so long as his provision was all spent ; and the natives growing both unable , and unwilling to supply him any longer , he was resolved to have returned into france , if the foresaid ribaldus had not againe arrived there with thre● small ships out of france ; whose expected comming as it was very joyfull to the french , so the natives seemed to be highly pleased therewith , as foure of their petty kings , the kings of homoloa seravatri , almacam , malica and castri , came forth to congratulate ribaldus arrivall , and promised to conduct the french unto the mountaines of apalactri , where store of red mettall was to be had , which they supposed to be gold : but this great hope of the french soone vanished , by reason of the spaniards comming suddenly upon them with great ships every way well prepared , upon whose approach the french stole away to sea , but were forthwith pursued by the spaniard , whom though they as then escaped , yet were they by a violent tempest , after shipwrack and losse of some of their men , againe cast upon the coast of florida , about six and twenty miles higher to the north-east towards virginia , where they were forth with set upon by the spaniard , beaten out of their forts , and almost all cruelly slaine , to the number of six hundred , among which ribaldus the governour was one , though he yeelded himself among other conditions , to have his life spared ; laudonerius 〈◊〉 ●●me few of the french escaped hardly to their ships 〈…〉 returned into france , having cast off all future hopes of 〈◊〉 ▪ which was now 〈…〉 dispose of the cruell spaniard ; neither 〈◊〉 the french 〈◊〉 ( for that he greatly disliked , if not hated 〈◊〉 , and such were these that were ●laine in 〈…〉 slaughter of his people , as ever af●●●●o much as attempt the least revenge of their bloud , which yet two yeares after one monsier gurgius , a private man , at his owne charge with 280 men transported in three ships , w● most v●liantly undertaken , and no lesse happily effected , by the help of the natives , who upon his first arrivall , out of an inveterate hatred to the spaniard , their insolent outragious opposers , joyned with him to the slaughter , and utter extirpating of them out of florida ; and yet for all this compleat victory , the valiant gurgius , though earnestly invited by the natives , would not venture with so small a force , to stay long in florida , as knowing very well that the bloudy revengefull spaniard might in a short time from cuba , hispaniola , or other there neare adjoyning plantations , invade him with far greater forces , and therefore within a while returned , where he found his worthy service to be so displeasing to the king and his popish lords , as he was faine a good while to hide himselfe , and to fly for his life , and after this we doe not heare that the french did ever venture into florida any more . neither yet hath the spaniard obtained any strong footing there , for as yet they have no towne of any note toward the sea of mexico , and but two which lye towards the northerne sea , the one ( which is chiefest ) called saint augustines , the other saint matthewes , of great difficulty to be taken by a small navy , but of great import , in regard of their great wealth to them that shall take them . and now will i only describe the sea coasts of florida from the confines of virginia unto nova hispania , far better known then the inland countries to the north of florida . the nearest river of florida to virginia of any note falling into the ocean , is the river iordaine , which lyeth 32 degrees from the equinoctiall ; from whence , about 20 leagues downeward to the south , towards the west lyeth the promonntory of s. hellen , neare port royall , which the french chose for the best and surest place to begin their plantations ; between which , oristanum , ostanum , and cayagna , whereof the first is distant from s. hellen six leagues , the second from the first four leaguesthe third from the second , eight leagues : but how far cayagua is from the river iordaine , is not yet determined . from s. hellen to dos baxos haven is five leagues , from thence to the bay de asapo three leagues , thence to cafonusum three , to capula five , to saron nine , to s. alcany fourteen , to s. peter twenty leagues . all bayes and rivers westward falling down to the south from peter bay , which lyeth about the 31 degree to the south , to s. matthews town , is five leagues , and from thence ten more to s. austines , directly southward , the land so falling in upon the sea , from the degree of 30 and a half to 25 , where the comming up of thestrait of bahama beginneth , having to the west side those dangerous rocks called marteries , to the east those called roques . betweene s. austines towne and the bay de mosquito , is fifteen leagues . from thence to the point ca●evarall , is 16 leagues ; from thence to the river ayz is full 20 leagues and from thence to martyres neer as many more ; so as from cape francis ( neer s. matthewes towne where the land beginneth to turne directly southward ) to martires ( comming up from the gulph of mexico to the northeast parts of florida ) is neere six degrees downeward to the line . not far from martires westward , lie tortugas dangerous ilands , where the continent of florida turneth againe almost directly north for near 5 degrees : betweene which and tacobago which lyeth neer to the top of that great reach , lye the bayes of carlos , tampa , muspa , s. ioseph ; muspa is distant from carlos thirteen leagues , to tampa from carlos as many more , from thence to s. ioseph are fifteen leagues , and from s. ioseph to tacobago eighteene : betweene which at s. ioseph beginneth a great inlet of the sea for more then twenty leagues to the north latitude , and more then forty foure to the westerne longitude ; in the middle of which lyeth ante , a safe haven , and of great import for those who intend a more full discovery of florida , which as yet is bu slenderly discovered towards the west ; for betweene it and the most northwest parts of nova hispania , which are distant the one from the other four hundred leagues , we reade but of one safe bay , called the bay of the holy ghost neer cape de crus , and some few rivers for succour and supply of navigators . the first river from ante one hundred leagues is nieves , from whence the river flores is twenty , from the haven of the holy ghost ( which is of all the surest ) to the river flores is seventy leagues , from which to the river piscadores is as many more : where the gulph of mexico beginneth to turne from the west directly south , from the degrees of 29 to 25. i might here proceed with the description of nova hispania , ( a countrey of highest esteem with the spaniard , for riches and fruitfulnesse ; ) but having passed as far as the northwest seas of america will permit , i take it to be our best course to returne back againe to view the ilands , and the more southeast parts of the continent , lying far nearer , and every way of as good consequence for the propagating of the gospell , and the setling of some weake plantations which we have there already , for the continuall sending forth more colonies , and for the obtaining store of treasure , and many rich merchantable commodities . cuba . the first great iland in our returne lying most to the west , is cuba , having hispaniola easternly to usward , distant from the first easterne part thereof which is cape mayzi , twelve leagues , to the west it is divided from nova hispania by a long and large interposition of sea , called mexico ; to the north it hath the lucayicke islands , the neerest parts to the south is the island iamaica . from the east promontory of mazi to cape anthony full west it extendeth it self no lesse then 230 leagues but in breadth where it is largest it exceedeth not forty leagues , where narroest not fifteene , a very large island and fruitfull soyle able abundantly to sustaine many thousand men , for the natives are well nigh utterly destroyed by the spaniard , and the few spanish inhabitants at this time there remaining are not able to make use of the fifth part thereof . the climate is somewhat hot , but yet healthfull and reasonable temperate , it is so over stored with kine as they kill them meerely for their hides , and so with hogges as they know not what to doe with them . it hath in it a cathedrall , and a monestery . to the east thirty leagues distant ; and within ten leagues of the northern sea lieth a towne called baracoa neer to which runneth the river mares . to the north west likewise thirty leagues lieth baiamo , which though it be an inland towne yet it is well furnished with usefull commodities , by meanes of the great river cante which falleth into the sea on the south-side of the island , a fourth towne whereunto belongeth a good haven porto del principe lying to the northside neer forty leagues from saint iages ; on the southfide more then fiftie leagues from iages lieth the town spiritus sanctus , and betweene these lie the great mountaines tarquino , cape de crus , and a great inlet of the sea , the land bending to the north , and to the north-east no lesse then a degree , but the coming up unto them ( by reason of the many rockes and shelves ) is somewhat dangerous . from hence being more then halfe the length of the island unto cape anthony ( the most westerne promontory of great note with mariners . ) on the south-side also lieth the town seas , port xagua , and cape corrientes opportune places to harbour , and take in water , and wood . the west end of cuba from cape anthony bendeth northward where lie the organes observed by saylors to be dangerous touching upon in regard of many sands rockes , and shallowes , but after the land falling into the east not above nine miles from habana there are two very convenient ports port puercos and port marien , but of all the ports of cuba , habana , on the northside neer the west end of the iland is farre the largest , the safest , and most renowned . it is strongly fortified both by nature and by arte , by a narrow coming up unto it by sea , and with strong castles , as it is thought to be invincible , and therefore hither as to a most secure harbour from all parts of america the spanish fleet meeteth yeerly , and so being gathered together returne about the beginning of september , with there farre greater treasure collected , then considerable forces to conduct it safely into spaine . neither indeed is habana so impregnable , but that ( a navy royall landing some of their forces at port marien , or port puercos aforesaid may take both town & treasure before the spanish navy can put from thence , ) if they could in a seasonable time somewhat about september , light upon the spanish fleet . and if the grandes of spaine , have ( by reason of the large pension of 3. or 4000. pounds yeerly paid to many pensioners here ) such intelligence of an intendment that way , yet though we should misse of the fleet for one yeer , we might be sure to seize upon the towne , and so greatly straighten them in their yeerly returnes , and in few yeers become commanders of those narrow seas , through which their vast treasure is yearly conveighed . hispaniola . hispaniola lyeth between the degree of eighteen and twenty one of the north latitude . the most east end of it at cape enganno , is very narrow : the most west end , between saint nicholas , to the north and cape dona maria , to the southside , is broader then any other part of the island . the length from east to west 120. leagues , the breadth as it is related by spanish authors is 60. leagues where it is widest , where narrowest thirty . the temperature of the aire till noone is somewhat over hot , but after continually temperate . the commodities of suger , and cow-hides are more abundaut here , then in any of these islands . acosta reporteth that from hence in the yeer 1587. were brought into spaine 9000. chests of suger , & they though kill their beasts most for their hides , yet they multiply to fast upon them , and such is the increase of horse , and hogges , which sufficiently proveth the exceeding fertillity of their soyle , there having been neither neat , horse nor hogges , in the whole ile , before it was stored by the spanish , not above 150 yeers since . now to begin the particular description , of the i le , of the townes , rivers , and ports according to the severall provinces , as they lie from east to west , betweene north and south . the most easterne province called hygvey is a rough , and mountainous place , yet well furnished , with variety of fruitfull trees . to the south , lie two small islands catilina and zybo well provided with good nature and store of cattell , as also the island saona of a larger extent , which though it be not now inhabited , yet it is very commodious for ships to furnish themselves with severall sorts of provision , it abounding with great store of fruits and wholsome cattell . the next province is iagvagua upon the south coast , wherein standeth san domingo , the onely chiefe city of the island built by bartholomeus collumbus anno 1494. on the east-side of the river osama , but afterwards removed by nicolas obando to the westside . it is neatly built and stately with stones , and environed with a strong wall . it is the seat of an archbishop , and the place where the governour of the island , and all the kings officers do reside , and but that it is not conveniently supplied with water , it might wel passe for one of the best cities in all america . it flourished exceedingly in the preceeding age , but since the finding out of peru , it hath lost much of its spendour , as being lesse frequented by merchants . the inhabitants hereof according to the spaniards own relation , doth not exceed 600. families of spaniards , the moores and mungrels ( which are begot of spanish and moores ) amounting to as many more . it was taken in the yeer 1586 by sir francis drake with 1200. men , but the spoil came far short of expectation , there being found great store of brasse coyne but little gold . to the north of this prime city , in the same province is the city de la conception , wherein is a cathedrall and a monastry as also the towne gotuy . not farre from san domingo , the province of cayagua beginneth , and extendeth it selfe on the south coast near 160 miles , and in this province is azna commonly called compostella very rich in sugers , and five convenient havens nizao , formoso . ocoa , caligna , and ( yagnion , it selfe , ) all greatly frequented especially nizao , and ocoa by the dutch , for the abundance of suger and hides , untill of latter yeers , trading there hath beene utterly prohibited , by the king of spaine , upon this coast are three little islands ( little better then rocks ) beta , alta , vela , frayles , wherein though there be nothing worth observation , yet are they carefully to be observed for the preventions of shipwracke , the next province to the west , and more to the north is baoca very mountaines , and so hard of accesse as it cost the spaniard very dear before he could gaine it . the most southwest province is hanigvagia very plaine , pleasant , and fruitfull , wherein standeth savana just opposite to baqua , a small but very considerable island to furnish navigatours hath also in it , cape tuburo , and the promontory dona , and many safe harbours for ships . from the last of these , the land turning to the east many leagues , admitteth of a great inlet of sea , upon which bordereth zagua , a province no lesse fruitfull , and pleasant then the former , in which standeth the towne called iaguana , well provided with store of excellent salt . and neer unto the north , is the island guanabo . the most northwest is cape saint nicholas , where beginneth the first northside province of the island marien , where christophorus columbus built navidad , hereunto belong two islands mosquites and port palma the one to the east the other to the west . the next province is lawega reall , extending it selfe 70 leagues in length twenty in breadth admirable rich in medowes and pastures . between this northerne province and yaquimo to the south lie to other , cibao sometime abounding with golden mines , and maguana with in comparable meadowes , as being almost incompassed with two wide rivers niba , and yaquen . there are belonging to this spacious province two townes of good note saint iago and port de plata , besides four convenient havens cape francis , port riall , mons christi , and port isabell . the most northeast is samana unto which belongeth one onely haven of note bearing the same name . lucaick ilands . to the north of hispaniola and cuba , between them and the continent of florida , lye the many small lucaick ilands , so neer one another , as they make those seas very rough , heady and dangerous : besides this , there is nothing worth noting in them . i shall therefore herein returne the readers whom it may concerne ( i meane those who are to passe those seas ) to advise with that map , which the most judicious author mr. de laet hath made and placed in that his great and exact collection of all america , almost out of all authors , latine , english , spanish , dutch , or french , who have written in this kinde : from him ( by whom i have been most assisted in this my short compendium ) they shall finde their severall names , and be sufficiently informed , how they fall betweene the forefaid ilands and the continent , which for me here to ins●rt , would be both needlesse and troublesome , they are so many , and of so little worth . porto-rico . portorico lying to the north , short of the 19 degree of the north latitude , is to the east of hispaniola neare sixteene leagues . to the west of virgo , gorda , and anagado , the most west of the carib ilands seventeen leagues , from cogui bocoa , a promontory of vnezuella , in the continent of america , to the northeast it is distant one hundred thirty leagues . the climate is very pleasant , only sometimes in the moneths of december and january , it is infefted with too much raine ; in june , july and august , with somewhat immoderate heat , and terrible tempests , which they call huracanes . the land for the most part riseth and falleth with convenient small fruitfull hils and vallies , though the fruitfulnesse thereof is much hindred with the over-great store of guiabo trees . the townes and ports of this iland are but few : about the middle of the north side lyeth porto-rico , the only towne of note , built after the spanish fashion , and divided into fair streets : it hath in it a safe haven for ships , a stately cathedrall , and a monastery : and though it hath no wals it is well fortified by land and sea : yet not so , but that it was taken by our countrey man the earle of cumberland , who found there a rich booty , and at least seventy great peeces of ordnance , which he brought away anno 1597. it hath since in the yeare 1625 beene assaulted by henricides the dutch generall , who though he demeaned himself very valiantly in the attempt , could not obtaine it . the other ports on the north side of the iland , as visa , canaba , and cabeca , to the east of portorico , are not safe , as being exposed to the northern tempests and shelves , and sands which lye before them . in the northwest corner lyeth agada , a very oportune haven to water in , between which and portorico the rivers cami and cabuco fall into the sea . directly to the west side of the iland , somewhat about the middle , lyeth the river guiabo , by which they passe to saint germin four leagues remote from the westerne sea , the towne is but small , and hath been often taken by the french . between the harbour belonging to it , which is the mouth of guiabo and aguada , directly to the west side of the iland lyeth the rock zacheo , inconvenient and dangerous . there are other small villages in the island but none other of great worth or note . on the southside most to the west lieth cape roxo , neer which our english have found some salt pits very usefull for those who travaile those parts . from cape roxo lie the havens of guaima , xaria ; guadianilla , and guaiama distant five or six leagues the one from the other . on the southeast-side lie the small islands bieque , on the east coast , then are onely these two ports saint iames and yabucoa . the prime commodities of this island are great store of sugars , ginger cassia , and neats hides . it did abound with silver and gold , but those mines are either exhausted , or neglected for want of worke men . burmudos . there is another island called burmudos ( which because it falleth much in the same longitude with porto rico , though many degrees distant to the north in regard of latitude ) i must either here insert or leave out . it lyeth within a degree and a halfe of south virginia , not so easie to be come unto ( in regard it hath but one and that none of the best ports to land in . besides it is ( as much if not more then any other place infested with most tempestuous fearfull winds called huracans . the soyle and temperature is farre inferiour to any part of virginia , and yet is it inhabited no lesse then with a thousand english : who no doubt when the wisedome of the kingdome shall thinke convenient to send a strong navy into america ) will be forward to remove and improve their pla●●●●ion into a more convenient and richer soyle . caribb islands . to the the east of porto-rico begin the carib or caniball islands ; so called , for that the natives are men-eaters : for the most part , they fall one within another , sometimes in a double , sometimes in a threefold squadron , from the degree of eighteen and a halfe , to somewhat more then the sixteenth degree of latitude . i will onely mention them as they lye in their severall ranks from east to west . anegado and virgines , angotllo and virgin , granda , saint martin , saba and crus , saint bartoline and saint estasio , barbada , nieves and saint christopher , antigua and monserata , desseada and gnadalupe , mary glande , sanco and a●stin . from whence the carib islands dominica , martimno , saint lucia , saint vincent , beria and granada , fall downe to the twelfth degree of latitude by a proportionable bending much like a bow towards the west from anegado to gr●●ada . onely barbados lyeth to the east more then twenty leagues out of the foresaid bow-bending figure . of these barbados , saint christopher and nieves ( now in possession of our countrymen ) are most spatious , and in all respects fitter for plantation ) except dominica , matinino and granada ) which though they be not inhabited by spaniards , yet beside the sustaining of 1000. savages ; either of them affordeth the spanish navy in its yeerly voyage to the south continent of america , good stone of provision at very small rates , foure porkets and six hens for one hatchet . i say no more of these islands but this , though they be thought scarce worth looking after by the spaniards , yet would they sustaine 20000 men . i might here passe westward againe , with the islands of margarita , cobana , coetz and many more which lye upon the matter directly westward , not farre remote from gran●da , andalusia and veneuella , the neerest part of the continent southward ; by coasting whereof to martha , nicuragua and so to nova hispania , i might more perspicuously and conveniently have concluded this my present discovery of the north america , but then i must leave out two great islands of good note , and which is of twenty times more concernment the most spatious guiana by our judicious countryman sir walter raleigh and others , most admired and applauded for health , wealth and pleasure . though therefore it be somewhat out of my way , and doe a little obscure my proposed method , by the mediterranian sea of america ; yet i may not by any meanes leave them out as falling many degrees on the north side of the equinoctiall , unlesse it be one part of guiana , which to the south-east goeth over the line somewhat more then a degree , taken up onely with severall branches of the great river amazon , and many small islands dispersed in them of no great worth . the islands between granada and guiana to the south-west are tabago and trinidado : i shall quickly have done with them and from thence begin in a second booke my discovery of guiana , and the rest of the continent ; taking it according to the severall regions thereof , as i shall find them neerest agreeing to the sea-coasts so farre as the mediterranian will permit us , that is as farre as nava hispania . tabago now in possession of the dutch , lyeth to the south-east full thirty leagues from granada , and upon eight miles to the east of trinidado : it hath many good harbours but the comming in unto them , especially toward the west is dangerous by reason the seas there are very boystrous and not free from sands and shelves . it is constantly reported by the dutch ( who should best know it ) as having many yeeres possest it to afford many rare fruits and hearbs , variety of fowles and fish , and not to be utterly destitute of foure-footed beasts , wholesome for nourishment , as having good store of indian hogs and armadillos , both which afford good food . trinidado , now possessed ( as is credibly reported ) by the forces of the present most illustrious admirall of england , the earle of warwicke ; lyeth according to the severall farre distant parts and corners thereof betweene the eighth and tenth degree of latitudge . for though sir walter raleigh ( a judicious traveller ) place point curiapan , which the spaniards call punco de gallo , the most northerne part , but in the eighth degree , yet the dutch ( according to oviedus , upon more exact calculation ) found it to come neere to the tenth degree . besides this , about fifteene miles to the south there is another convenient haven , called point blanco ; after which , directly to the south , betweene the island and the falling of foure or more branches of the great river oronoque from guiana , there is a very shallow narrow sea not above three miles over , and not above 11 or 12 foot deepe ; howbeit by reason of foure or five islands which come between them , that sea is heady and rough . this island is according to herea his observation two hundred leagues from hispaniola , sixty from granada ; in length , ( according to oviedus ) it is twenty five ; in breadth twenty leagues . concerning the fertility of the soyle authors agree not ; herea reporteth it to be barren in the generall , but sir walter raleigh acknowledgeth it to be so onely in that part which is next adjoyning to curiapan ; but the rest of the island to be sufficiently fruitfull , especially of indian graine , and such roots as the americans usually make their bread and beere of ; besides great store of deere and hogges , and other wilde beasts , of which the inhabitants may feed plentifully . good probability there is , that some golden mine● may be found there , but as yet what hath beene digged there , is acknowledged by the said sir walter raleigh , and by another of our countrymen sir robert dudley , to be but marca●ite , which though it shine like gold , yet it it of no value . the onely great towne in all trinidad is saint ioseph , the merchantable commodity there is tobacco . the second booke . gviana . and now being to proceed with guiana . i know no better course , than to follow those , who have gone before me : who by ascending and descending the grand rivers ; i meane oronoque to the north ; amazon to the south , as also many others which fall betweene them , into the east ocean ; have made the onely discovery which have as yet beene made thereof : and no marvaile , for those great rivers doe on every side inviron guiana with the countryes thereunto belonging , so as by helpe of their great labour and cost upon some further search ; as compleat a discovery in short time may be had of this large goodly couutry , as of any other in america , ( to the future incredible benefit of our nation , ) who might long since have injoyed the inestimable riches thereof , ( had the true relation of incomparable raleigh , in his book intituled guiana , found that credit , or his most powerfull motives had so timely prevailed with this kingdome , as was but requisite when the spaniard had got but little knowledge , and lesse ●●re-footing in those parts . ) this i write not as conceiving england now too weake to remove the spaniard thence : no , i know very well that the power and wisdome of this kingdome now met in parliament , might & i hope would before this have sent forth such a power and well prepared navy , as might have driven him out of his strongest holds in any part of the north america ; ( unto which any reasonable neare accesse may be made by water ) had not spanish factours , jesuits from abroad and grand pensioners at home , raised these present most cruel & most unnaturall , i should rather say infernall commotions in this kingdome , and that in ireland , purposely to divert their wisedome from taking such a designe into any deepe consideration , being distracted and perplexed on all sides . but to the matter ; great and long inquiry hath been made by the spanish , english and dutch , to find out manoa , otherwise called el dorado , the chiefe city of guiana , and the golden mountaines adjacent , by those great rivers that empty themselves into the east ocean , especially by those the two greatest , oronoque and amazon , both upward and downeward ; i meane downeward neare from whence they arise , upward from their wide mouthes where they fall into the sea . of spaniards , the first of note who attemp●ed the search of guiana , by the river oronoque , were diego ordace , a knight of the order of saint iago ; and pedro harnandez de serpa : but we find nothing of worth , or certainty , to have beene performed by either of them in that search . onely sir walter raleigh affirmeth , that he did see a great anchor of ordaces ship , lying in a port called m●requito , 300 miles within the land , upon the river oronoque , a strong proofe he was there . as for pedro harnandez , it is said by some ; that taking his journey from cumana in the west-indies , by land , toward oronoque , which may be about 120 leagues ; he was set upon , and quite overthrowne , by a nation of the indians called w●kery , before he came to the borders of the said river . others affirme that he was defeated in the very entrance of guiana , at the first civill towne of the empire , called magureguary ; but of this there is but little certainty . one martines and berea a spanish gentleman , and a commander of great note and quality , after them proved farre more succesfull ( if we may rely upon bereas own report , as it was taken by sir walter raleigh , from his own mouth ) marianes discovery briefly hapened thus ( i may well say happened , for though never so true , yet was it but a meere chance . ) the foresaid voyage of ordace being utterly lost , by reason his provision of gunpowder was at once blowne up , through the negligence of this martines ; his finall judgement was , that he should be set into a canoa alone , without any victuall , onely with his armes , and so turned loose into the great river . but it pleased god , that the canoa was carried downe the stream and that certaine guianians met it the same evening ; ( and having never seene any christian , or man before of that colour ) they carried him into the country to be wondred at ; and so from towne to towne untill he came to the great city manoah , the place of inga , the emperours abode : who upon the first sight of him , knew him to be a christian , as having seene many in peru , where he formerly lived , before his brother atabalipa emperour thereof , was vanquished by the spaniard : at what time he and many thousands more fled to guiana ; where within halfe an age , by reason of the exceeding riches and fertility of that large country , having subdued many nations , he became as potent as ever his magnificent ancestors were in peru. the entertainment of this martines by inga , is by himselfe acknowledged to have been very free and bountifull ; for though he was brought blindfold thither , and during the time of his abode in manoa ( which was seven moneths ) he was not suffered to wander anywhere into the country ; yet inga caused him to be lodged in his owne palace , and to be every way well provided for . at the end of which time , when he had somewhat learned the language , he obtained favour of the emperour to depart , with whom he sent divers guianians to conduct him to the river of orinoque , all loaden with as much gold as they could beare , given to martines at his departure : of all which as he arived neare the river side , the oronoque poni ( enemies to inga ) robbed him , save onely of two great bottles of gords , which were filled with beads of gold curiously wrought : with these the oronoque-poni , ( who thought the bottles onley to have contained some food ) permitted him to passe dowre oronoque in canoas : from whence he got to trinidado , and from thence to margarita , and so to saint ivan de puerto-rico ; where at the time of his death receiving the sacrament , he affirmed the truth of this relation , and gave his gold beads to the church . you have heard the unexpected successe of martines wandring ; heare now briefly the long and difficult travailes of berea which were purposely undertaken , as they are recorded by the same author from hsi owne mouth . gundizalvus zimenes hauing without any good successe spent much in the search of guiana , by those rivers of nuevo reygno , that fall into oronoque , left at his death a very great 〈◊〉 to berea , who had married his daughter conditionally , he with his best endeavour should prosequte his designe of guiana , which he faithfully performed ; for not long after he fell with great strength and provisions downe the river cassanar rising in nuevo reygno , out of the mountaines neare the city of tunia , and falling into meta another river springing out of a mountaine neare pampalone , in the same nuevo reygno de granado , where it loseth its name as likewise doth meta , when a little above the fifth degree of north latitude , it emptieth it selfe into bariquan otherwise called bariqui c●meto , a river of venezuella , which after a hundred leagues turning and winding , meeteth and joyneth with the river huriaparia which is oronoque . where it is to be observed , that though berea had from his first setting forth from the river casanar , fallen neare two degrees to the south , yet he according to geographicall description in the best mappes , fell short a degree in latitude , and at least seventy leagues in longitude of macurewarai , the nearest towne of all guiana , properly so called , and somewhat more then three from manoa the cheife city : so as keeping his course , as he ( acknowledgeth he did ) downe orinoque , running directly north-east from thence , there was then no hope of finding what he so eagerly sought for , but instead thereof received both in his forces and provisions much losse , many of them perishing by water , his small vessels being split upon rockes , or overwhelmed and swallowed with the violence of the streame , and many of them killed by the natives . the first place of note he arrived at , was the province of amapaia , which he affirmed to be rich in gold , and though for the greatest time of his abode there ( which was six moneths ) he was feircely infefted by the inhabitants ▪ yet at length , after the concluding of a peace betweene them , he obtained eight images of gold ( as curiously made as any in europe ) which he sent to the king of spaine . the river of oronoque running on the east side of amapaia is said to be twelve miles broad , and about seven or eight hundreth miles from its fall into the ocean . from hence getting over to the south-east side of orinoque , he sought very diligently to have found an entrance into guiana , but could finde none , all places being stopped up with high unpassable mountaines . and although he met with divers rivers both on the one and on the other side of orinoque , yet he professed he could not learne the name of them , but onely of the river caroly : neither could he ( as he pretended ) for want of the use of geography , expresse of what degrees they were , so as he utterly despaired of obtaining any good successe in this voyage , untill he came to emeria , where he found store of provision , and the inhabitants of a more peaceable and civell disposition . the petty king thereof was called carapana , a man of a hundred yeeres of age , who in his youth had beene often at the islands of trinidado and marga●ita , where he traded with the ▪ christians there , and learned much from them how to governe his people . berea having staid here some good space of time , and having as he conceived gained sufficient knowledge of guiana betaketh himself ( without staying anywhere ) downe the river oronoque directly to trinidado ; from thence not long after he sent backe againe to carapana , who directed them to morequito lord of aramaia , as having better knowledge of guiana , living foure or five dayes journey from magureguaira . this morequito had some few yeeres before , brought much gold to gumana ; and withall had so highly extolled the great riches of guiana ▪ as that vedes the governour of margarita sought to have obtained a patent thereof from the king of spaine , but was prevented by berea ; which so troubled more●uito for ( his acquaintance vedes sake , with whom he had much ingratiated himselfe ) as that though he feared openly to deny bereas request , in sending guides with his men , to trucke with the guianians for gold : yet privily upon their returne ( which is reported to have beene with much store of gold ) he caused them to be mutthered neare the bankes of oronoque , one onely escaping to informe berea of this 〈◊〉 act , which he conceiving to have beene plotted by morequito , sent a good part of the men he had at trinidado , to take him and to spoyle his covntry : before whose coming morequi●o hearing of it , fled to vides for succour ; but being within a while demanded in the king of spaines name , he was delivered and executed ; whose execution so displeased the borderers of oronoque as he thought it not safe ever after to venture with a few men , to trafficke that way , neither was his strength now sufficient to make his way ; wherefore expecting sufficient forces from other parts of the spaniards dominions neerest adjoyning , he staid so long at trinidado , untill he was surprized by sir walter raleigh in the yeere 1596. here then bereas discovery of guiana being interrupted , it is meet i forbeare any further relation thereof , untill i have shewed you what was performed by our worthy . countryman the said sir walter raleigh , in his first expedition thither ; after which ( as being after it in time ) the conclusion of bereas discovery ; as also of captaine kemish , and others who were imployed by learned and expert raleigh , that way will more seasonably follow . after six weekes and two dayes departure from england , sir walter raleigh , though he staid seven dayes at tenerife , one of the canary islands in expectation of captaine preston , arived at trinidado , and tooke it within foure dayes ; where loosing no time in the prosecution of his intended designe for guiana ; after diligent search , the narrow sea betweene trinidado and the fall of oronoque being so shallow and shelvie , more especially those branches of the said river ; all that was then discovered , ( being sound by his sea-men not above nine foot deepe at high water ) he was enforced to leave his ships , and with a hundred men thronged together in two barges and three whirreys to crosse that narrow sea , and to venture up the river by those branches ; wherein when they had rowed foure dayes , his owne barge came a ground , so as they were in some feare , whether they should ever have got her off againe ; such was the shallownesse of the river when the flowing of sea had left them . after this for many dayes more , they wandred here and there for want of a good pilot , not knowing which streame to take , ( the streams multiplying so exceedingly upon them ) by reason of the many great and small islands that lye in this wide bottome of oronoque computated by the most judicious geographers , neare a hundred miles wide from south-east to north-west . after they fell upon those islands commonly called trivitivans , the inhabitants whereof commonly goe by the name ●awani and warawe●k● , who in regard they are commonly overflowne from may to september , they live in houses upon trees very artificially built , their food being indian bread , f●●h and venisons , prepared before hand . here they happened on a pilot , more expert then the former , who yet within few dayes was out of his knowledge where againe it was their good hap to meet with a 〈◊〉 , much more expert , one martin an arwacan , whom 〈◊〉 ●ooke in a canoa , with some others going down amana , one 〈◊〉 the greatest armes of oronoque to margarita with store of bread ; both the pilot and the bread were of singular use to sir walter raleigh , and his almost fainting company ▪ without which they had undoubtedly beene much straightned for going any further . but by direction , they quickly attained unto arowacy on the south side of oronoque , whereof toparimaca being lord , entertained them kindly , and furnished them with provisions ▪ as also with another pilot , yet more experienced in the crosse perplexed streames of o●onique as they grew higher to gu●●na . from arowacy bending their course almost directly westward , they pasted by a great isle called arrow●pana , twenty miles in length , and six in breadth , and at nigh● cast ancour at ocawyta not one third part so bigge . the next night they stayed under putayma island , from whence they could plainly discerne the continent to the north-west , to be a large pleasant plaine betweene two edges of moun●aines consisting of arable and medow knowne ( as their last pilot affirmed ) by the name of the great valley of sayma , running in length almost to cumana neare upon 120. leagues . the third , fourth , and fifth day they passed the isle manoriparum ▪ and a great part of arromaia . on the sixth day they came and staied at the port of morequito , where he was kindly entertained , and informed concerning the state of those parts from topiowary , lord of arromaia and unckle to the aforesaid morequito . the information he received from him was , that all the regions thereabout even to emeria , were called guiana : though yet the inhabitants were called oronoque-poni as farre as the mountaines of wacarima , which they might from thence behold afarre off in the continent , beyond which he told them , the large valley of amariocapana did lye , whose inhabitants were called guianians . and that into the provinces which lye beyond these more to the south , there came some yeares since multitudes of people called oriones and epuremei , who possessed themselves thereof , having driven the natives out of their ancient inheritances ; ( the cassiapagots , eparagots , and arawagots onely excepted ) who were then great enemies to the spaniard and possesse magureguaran , a city strongly and stately built , and withall amply furnished with gold . from hence in two dayes they rowed up neere to the river caroli , where the heady violence of that , and the other rivers , ( as is usuall at that time of the yeere ) permitted them not then by water to make any higher search into guiana . here therefore staying three or foure dayes , their small company was dispersed by direction of the commander , to view the severall quarters about and above the said river ; which upon their returne , they reported in generall to be very fruitfull , in well growne medowes and pastures ; exceeding commodious for hunting , hawking , fishing , fowling ; as having many plaines , cleere rivers , abundance of pheasants , partriges , quailes , railes , cranes , herons , and most other fowles ; deere of all sorts , camas or antas , as big , and affording as good nourishment , and as pleasant , as our english beefe , porkets , hares , lyons , tygers , leopards , and divers other sorts of beasts , either for chase or food . but that which most contented them , was ( as being the thing they chiefly aimed at ) the great store of gold and precious stones , the greater and lesser hils promised them , the very stones glistering like gold ; a more then probable argument , in the judgement of the best mineralists , that the earth lying a fathome or two deepe , under strong spars or quarries of such stone usually called marcasite hideth much treasure . upon due consideration of the relations made of those that sir walter had sent to review the inland ( agreeing so well with what he himselfe had then seene , neere the banke of caroli , which he with some few musqueteers undertooke to survey ) he confidently affirmeth guiana , in no respect to be inferiour to any part of the world . his owne lively expressions ( being a gentleman of as great learning this way , as any one our age hath afforded ) is worthy to be read and seriously considered . i never saw ( saith he ) a more beautifull country , nor more lively prospects , hils so raised here and there over the valleys , the river winding into divers branches , the plaines adjoyning without bush or stubble , all faire greene grasse , the ground of hard sand to march on either for horse or foote , the deere crossing in every path , the birds towards the evening singing on every tree with a hundred severall tunes , cranes and herons of white , crimson , carnation , pearching on the river side , the ayre fresh with a gentle easterly wind ; and every stone we stooped to take up , promised either gold or silver by his complexion . your lordship ( saith he ) writing to the lord admirall ( that then was ) shall see of many sorts , and i hope some of them cannot be bettered under the sunne ; and yet we had no meanes but with our daggers and fingers to teare them out here and there , the rockes being most hard of a minerall sparre , as hard or harder then a flint : besides , the veines lye a fathome or two deepe in the rockes , and we wanted necessary instruments to have digged the treasure out . which last clause well considered together with what he in his booke of guiana alleageth for himselfe ( namely the violence of the waters hourely increasing , unseasonablenesse of the yeere , the smalnesse of his company , the inforced leaving off his ships more then 400 miles for a whole moneth , and his unwillingnesse to let the natives now perceive that the intent of his comming was the same vvith the spaniards , chiefly for gold ) may in my judgement sufficiently answer those , vvho have and doe still question the truth of sir walters high expressions of guiana's riches , and the most fruitfull and pleasant habitation it affordeth , for that he made no longer stay there , and brought no more store of treasure home vvith him . the issue of this vvorthy travelour's first voyage vvas this , not being able by reason of the great downfall and over-bearing streame of caroli , to ascend any further , ( vvithout seeing the rivers baraquan , beta , daune and obarro , all falling from the west into oronoque : and being distant each from other about a degree more and more to the south ; ) though yet in regard of longitude from east to west they are much alike , either from macurewarai or the great city manoa : he returned in few dayes to the port of morequito , where he concluded with topiawa●i ; hostages being given on either side , to returne with great forces the next yeere , and that in the time he should work with the oronoque poni , to joyne with them in an expedition against their enemies the epuremei , who possessed the regions that most abound with silver and precious stones . but here was the unhappinesse of the man ▪ ( i might rather say of the kingdome ; ) that upon his speedy retur●e into england , not above eight moneths from his setting forth , he could not ( though he were very gratious at court ) procure a navy to be sent within a yeere to topiawari , as was promised : whence it came to passe , that the foresaid berea , neglecting no time , did by the assistance of carrapana lord of emeria , againe get up the river of oronoque with 300 spanish souldiers as farre as caroli , where he built a little towne called saint thomas , consisting of thirty houses of great consequence , to bring under and keepe in the fearfull ; unarmed borderers of oronoque , and also for opposing any other nation , who should attempt guiana that way . but sir walter ( not understanding of the spaniards building and strong fortifying saint thomas , ) sent forth captaine keymish with a ship and a pinnace ( all he was able to doe at his owne charge ) the 26 of ianuary in the yeere 1596 , ( which being foure moneths later then he promised and intended , ) caused topiawari and the rest of the borderers of oronoque , for feare of bevea and his spanish forces , to withdraw themselves ; when keymish ( who first discovered the genuine and best navigable streame of the great river oronoque , within eight dayes saile and entrance thereunto , came up to the port of morequito , where finding his hopes of assistance from the natives frustrated and himselfe not able to encounter the spaniards , he forthwith for feare of surprizall , taketh downe the river againe , and so in the fifth moneth after his setting forth out of england , returnned thither safe againe , though without any good successe at all . after this i find no further attempt to have beene made by the english upon guiana , but that of sir walter himselfe , anno 1617. when he had beene fourteene yeeres prisoner to the great retarding of his intended prosecution of guiana . the successe of this voyage was little answerable to the great preparation thereof : for though he went forth at his owne and friends charge , with seven good ships well manned and provided , yet he brought no treasure home . and no mervaile ( for as he no lesse truly then boldly writeth to sir ralph winwood from christophers island ) his whole designe , what ships , what men , what ammunition he would take with him , as also what time he would set forth hence , and what branch of oronoque he intended to goe up to guiana ; were all made knowne to the spaniard before he could get out of the thames by king iames , to whom he was enforced by oath ( before he could get liberty to goe ) to discover the foresaid particulars . upon which notice speedy directions were sent from the court of spaine , to draw up forces , three times as many as ours were , from porto-rico ▪ nuequo-reygno , and other neerest adjoyning parts , to surprize them unexpectedly . yet such was the courage and resolution of our men , that they went up to saint thomas , and tooke it , and in it some store of rich tobacco ; but the spanish forces purposely abandoned the towne , for the better defence of the mines , so that ours could not take them , which by reason of woods lying on every side neare unto them , with 200 musqueteers they easily defended . a more then probable argument , that the spaniard was then possessed of those golden mines ( then sought by the english ; ) else , would they not have left their towne and betooke themselves to the defence of them ? and sir walter raleigh in his foresaid letter maketh good proofe of it , in naming the men in whose possession they then were ; and he further confidently affirmeth , that he was sufficiently able to make good what he writ , by the king of spa●nes severall grants to severall persons ; as also by the spanish register books , wherein appeare the abundance of treasure the mines as then discovered afforded , by the great summes thence arising yeerly from the kings fifth part . and certainly had the spanish king not feared , learned and experienced raleighs future and greater discovery and prosecution of guiana , he would never so eagerly have pursued him unto death as he did ; which yet he had not soone effected , had it not beene for his pensioners ; here , some noble ignoble english men overpowerfull with king iames , ( the reputed solomon of his time ) as now they are much more with his successour , much inferiour to his father in wisdome . from that time to this ( the english hopes being chrushed in losse of so worthy a commander ) there hath beene either none or little venturing from england to guiana . but the netherlands since that , have made so many yearely voyages up the river oronoque as farre as saint thomas ( encouraged by the great returne made from thence , not of gold but of rich tobacco ) as that some of their skilfull pilots , were as well able to direct the best and safest way thither , as our water-men are able to describe the passage from dover to london ; the very cause as is generally conceived , why ( being growne so expert in that river ) they were some yeers since so severely prohibited by the king of spaine to trade any more there . you have heard of guiana as it bordereth westerly on both sides oronoque , as much as can be conveniently expressed in so short an epitome . you shall now heare more briefly how it lyeth to the east ocean , accord●ng to the pincipall rivers as they fall betweene oronoque and amazon ▪ the first great river of any note from winkebery , the most southerne and best navigable arme or streame of oronoque is essequebe , very broad , but withall very shallow in the mouth of it where it falleth into the ocean : it is affirmed by the natives bordering upon both sides of it , to arise within one dayes journey of golden manoa the prime city of guiana ; but both our english and the dutch , who have diligently endeavoured to make entrance into the continent by this river , have found it in two or three dayes not passable , by reason of many great vvaterfals , three times as high and more heady then is the fall of london-bridge . the inhabitants about this river , neerest to sea are called arwaci , as barbarous but not so inhumane & cruell as are the caribs , who possesse the more inland cou●try . they are continually at vvarre betweene themselves , yet both great enemies to the spaniard , and not to be trusted by us or any other christian nation when they are able to doe mischiefe . the soyle especially about 20 miles from sea is exceeding fertill : the commodities are christall , and a kind of wood very usefull , and much desired for dying the best colours . the next river of note is berbice , lying somewhat above the sixth degree , the land adjoyning is as the former possessed by the arwaci , but is farre inferiour in regard of fertility , and the forenamed merchantable commodities . the next two rivers , or rather two in one is sarname upon the sixth degree , and i●otera , that falleth into sarname , three miles before it emptieth it selfe into the ocean . the inhabitants hereof ( being men-eaters , and very false in performing their promises ) are of all others least to be trusted ; neither indeed are the commodities thereabout of that worth ( being upon the matter onely brasil-wood ) as might invite men to venture farre into the country . twelve miles more to the south is marawyny , a river of a wide and deepe mouth , affording above twenty leagues convenient passage for vessels of burthen , though yet the comming up from sea into it is very difficult : the inhumanity and infidelity of the borderers is as great as the other , and the commodities the land affordeth of as little worth , and therefore seldome frequented either by us or the netherlands . from hence more and more to the south , five other rivers of greater note have their fall into the east ocean . the first is cajana , inhabited by the caribs , whose fall is computated to be twenty leagues from marawiny , the head of it to be more then fifty from the south-west . the second and third cauwo and wio , much upon the middle betweene the fourth and fifth degree ( inhabited by the yayi and shebaij ) have their rising to the south-west further into the continent . the most southern of the five great rivers is wiapoco ( inhabited also by the yayi ) lying betweene the fourth and fifth degree of latitude , into whose channell many little rivers fall . the regions in generall belonging to the five foresaid rivers , are very fruitfull , temperate and pleasant ; i say in the generall ( for they are not in all places alike . ) the sea coasts ( to omit further particulars ) are more hot , but yet withall moarish , and therefore lesse fruitfull or pleasant . the inland being mountainous is colder , but yet more profitable , the ground that lyeth between them ( both being in some places of greater , in others of lesse extent ) doth farre exceed them both in temperature , pleasure and profit : they abound with all manner of provision for life , with cassavi root● , wherewith the natives 〈◊〉 a kind of bread a●d beare , which they prefer before those made with ours or ind●an grain ; of both which the soyle in generall promiseth great increase . they have also store of beasts , both for food and chase ; namely , deare of all sorts , bores , hares , conneys , tygers , leopards and lyons ; but those that are of greatest use for food , are their maypowri , and baremo , the flesh of the one like our beefe the other like our mutton . as for fowle , fish , fruits , they afford according to our countryman master harcourt's relation , not m●ch lesse store or variety , then is before confidently reported to be found in the countryes bordering about caroly , and the other higher streames of oronoque and though as yet there hath not beene any discovery made by us , of any golden or silver mines in these parts , yet both english and dutch travailers that way , affirme , they have seene two sorts of precious stones , jaspers and porpheryes ; of both which the natives infor●e them there are great store to be found in divers hils . but this is very certaine , that few places in the world afford more variety of rich materials for dying , or more sweet and soveraign balsomes . the third most southerne river in comp●ssing guiana , is that of amazon , so called ( not as some have conjectured , for that the women have killed , or expelled the males , not admitting any society with t●em , but onely for one moneth , in the yeare , for the continuance of procreation , but because both male and female , usually go in long hair hanging downe below their 〈◊〉 . ) this great river is observed to vent it selfe , by so many armes or streames , farre distant the one from the other no lesse then six degrees , viz. from the river arowary , lying above cape de noordneere , upon the third degree of the north latit●de , unto the river ta●ieuru , as many to the south beyond the equinoctial . yet because the discovery as yet made , ( or at least made knowne to us ) of the severall f●lls of this great river are small and confusedly delivered . i shall reserve the deseription of them , and the regions adjacent , with the condition of the natives , to my next booke , as having so neare intercourse and respect to so●th america . i h●ve done with 〈◊〉 , my d●scription must now proceed with the co●tinent and islands adjoyning where i 〈…〉 t●ey lye westward from the island granada , by the america m●d●terranean sea . margarita , coetz , cobana . the neerest parts of the continent to granada , the most southerne of all the charib islands is by herr●● , stiled nova a●dalusia , but now better 〈◊〉 by the names of cumana and venesuella , a spacious country , but not the fifth part of what formerly hath beene reckoned , to belong to nova audalusia . in the passage from granada to araya , the first part of note belonging to cumana , about 17 leagues distant from granada to the south-west , lye testigos eight rockes rather then islands . as also , the isle of margarita , coets and cobana , not long since very famous for exceeding store of rich pearle : i shall briefly dispatch them , and so proceede with cumana , which is yet more to the south-west . the greatest and chiefest of these three islands is margarita , just about the eleventh degree to the north of cumana , six or seven leagues betweene which lye the two other cobana and coetz . according to herrea it is distant from hispalinola 170 leagues ; the length of it is sayd to be sixteen leagues ; the fertility of the soyle is sayd to be very good , but this the late netherland navigatours deny : in former times the great abundance of pearle obtained by continual taking of oysters , made this island of greatest fame and report , insomuch as the kings of spaine , for the better securing the pinaces imployed in the oyster fi●hing , b●ilt two strong forts , the one to the east , the other to the south . but now the pearly oysters , by reaso● of the spanish insatiable and unseasonable taking of them , doe upon the matter utterly faile , the island is of small note , and lesse resort : the chief fort of it was taken and demolished 1626 by heredices the dutch admirall , who carried from thence eleven peeces of ordnance . the other two islands cobana and coetz , which fall between margarita and cubana , are but small ones , and at this time of as little regard , though formerly of great esteeme with the spaniard for the great store of pearle they afforded : it is ●redibly reported that for many yeeres , the kings fifth part , which was imposed upon the traders , came in cobana onely to no lesse then 15000 ducats yeerly . cubana and venezuella . and now to the continent : the first place of note in cubana , is the promontory of araya , in the same paralell of longitude to the west end of margarita , but distant in regard of latitude to the south six or seven leagues : upon the winding in of this promontory , betweene it and the gulfe cariaco , which for many leagues is extended into the continent , are found large pits of excellent and durable salt ; of which the dutch made great use , untill many of their men were there unhappily surp●●ed and crue●ly cut off by the spaniard : since which time , the better to debarre them and other nations from supplying themselves from thence with that most necessary commodity , he hath built a very strong fort . on the west side of the gulfe two miles distant from sea ▪ is cumana , a pretty large towne ; from whence the land beginning to t●rne againe to the north , hath besides others these foure safe and convenient havens , bordones , saint fayths , commonagot , and oychyre . from which last and most westerne part oychyre unto cape salinas , the most eastward , neare bocco del draco where cumana beginneth , are at least seventy leagues : the bredth of it according to spanish authors , in most places is fourty leagues unto the south : in former ages it was well stored with natives , of which the tenth part are not now to be found ; the spaniard having severall occasions to transport them elswhere , and to make unmercifull execution of them . it should seeme by the long stay and large preambulations ▪ that ortelius and sedenus two spanish comanders made in this country , that but small store of gold and silver is to be found here ; neither is there any great provision of sustentation for life ▪ except it be of fish , fowl and honey , with which it aboundeth . over against the west end of cumana , a degree remote to the north lyeth tortugas and blancas , distant five leagues one from the other , which for that they afford little el●e but hogges and goats hard to be taken , being overrunne with exceeding sharp briers and thornes are seldome gone unto . the next part of the continent bending to the northwest is venezuella , a ●ar greater and r●cher country ; it consisteth of many provinces ▪ and hath in it many spanish townes and commodicus havens . the soyle in generall is so fertill , as it affordeth two crop● yeerly ; the pastures and meddowes thereof are so many and ●o rich as they plentifully sustaine gre●t store of wholsome cattell as well neat as other : the great s●ore of cow and oxe hides usually brought from thence sufficiently prove the same : it is also generally reported to afford in divers provinces good store of treasure , especially gold of the best sort . before the comming of the g●rmanes into this country ( to whom the emperour charles gave it , in regard of their great service against the protestants ) the country was full of inhabitants ; but by reason of the covetousnesse and cruelty of those germanes , whose intent was not to plant , but to make spoyle of the natives , they were well nigh utterly rooted out , and are not now much increased by a latter possession of the spanish , but tygers and other wild beasts have overrunne it . spanish authors make mention of severall provinces belonging to venezuella , but they doe not so cleerly prescribe their severall limits , as is requisite . therefore proceeding in my discourse , according to my usuall method , in following the sea-coast , i shall briefly acquaint you with such spanish towns as are neare adjacent to the sea-coast , or neer upon the same degree of longitude , though farre distant in regard of latitude from north to south , which is the breadth of the country . the most easterne promontory of venezuella is cordeliera , within five miles of porte de guaira ; whence within fifteene miles is the strong tower called cara●as ▪ and from thence within two miles is blanco , all convenient harbours for ships : then follow tur●ane and burburate two other commodious and safe havens , the former whereof affordeth good water , and is distant from blanco thirteene miles ; the other store of salt , and is remote from the said blanco fifteene miles : within the land a●ove two leagues from the sea-coast lyeth carvaleda , a spanish towne of some note , and from thence about foure leagues is saint iago a greater town , where the governour of those parts doth usually reside . from porte burbarata about seven leagues within the continent directly to the south , the spanish of latter time , hath built nova valentia ; from whence fifteene leagues more to the south is nova zerez of a later standing both well accommodated with wholsome provision in a competent measure : from zerez to nova segovia , another spanish towne directly to the south is twenty leagues ; it joyneth upon the river bariquicemet● , which falleth after a great circuit of ground into the river oronoque : the country hereabouts is very barren but the mountaines with which it is surrounded are conceived by the germanes ( who built that towne ) to be well stored with gold , & this opinion of theirs is upon good grounds strongly confirmed by others of better judgement who have written of those parts . tucunio that is exceedingly commended for the sweetnesse of the ayre , the temperature of the climate , the super-abundant variety of victuall , and store of gold it yeeldeth , is yet eleven leagues more to the southwest , distant from the neerest place of the north seacoast fifty , from nova granado 150 leagues ; in which long passage two parts are very pleasant and fruitfull , the third very rough and ill provided . now to returne to the sea coast and so with relation to the longitude of venesuella ; to survey the middle of this country as it extendeth it selfe to the south . not farre from burburata lyeth a little gulfe called triste , from which porte etsave is a league distant , whence the land beginning to wind upon the north sea continueth ( for the space of 55 leagues ) so to doe by somewhat proportionable gaining on the sea : onely a little above coro ( the onely city here ) the land turning two leagues to the south , and then againe twelve to the north-west , admitteth a great inlet of the sea ; which falling somewhat neare to the gulfe of venezuella , laying on the other side , maketh a kind of peninsula called paragoana containing in the circumferance about 25 leagues : the cape whereof to the north is san-roman , a promontory of great note ; and betweene the south-west end thereof and the foresaid gulfe , lyeth the great lake of maracaybo , extended into the continent in length 35. 〈◊〉 bredth ten leag●es over ; the mouth of it being a mile and a halfe wide , joyned with the gulfe of venequell ; whence though the sea daily flow into it , yet doth it empty it selfe by a constant ebbing . the islands over against this part of the continent some leagues remote in respect of latitude ; are first bonary , neare a degree distant to the north , it is of eight miles circumferance , well provided with store of hogs and horse ; as also with one safe haven on the northwest end thereof , from hence 39 leagues farther to the west , and fourteene to the north from coro , the onely city of venezuella is curaca , farre lesse but more fertill . it hath a haven on the north , but not very safe , especially for great ships . the last is araba , nine miles remote from quarac●o to the west , and eight from cape san roman to the north . let us now consider the spanish townes adjacent to this sea-coast , and more remote into the land ; coro which is built in the foresaid peninsula , having a bishop seat in it , goeth by the name of a city , and is indeed the onley place of note neare adjoying to sea and chiefe towne of venezuella ; it hath belonging to it two havens to the west and north ; that to the west though not very good , is farre better then that of the north . the country round about is well stored with fish , flesh , fowle and sugar canes : one thing it hath peculiar , such store of wholsome and medicinable herbs , as it is said to need no physitian ▪ from coro directly to the south , betweene the north sea-coast the lake maracabo and neare valent●a , lyeth portilla de carora in the fertile vale of carora ; a large space of ground neare two leagues from the pleasant and fruitfull fields of coro , to the no lesse pleasant and fruitfull vale of carora is mountainous and unfruitfull , inhabited onely by savages , called xizatiaras and axaguas . in the bottome of maracabo is lagana a spanish towne , surrounded between two rivers with well levelled grounds , which might serve to good use being abundantly stored with deere , coneys , and great variety of fowle , but that it is overrunne with wild beasts , especially with tygers : beyond which eightteene leagues more to the south is the province of xuruara , and beyond that ten leagues more somewhat neare to the south-east is the port of guiacas ; of both which we read of nothing much worth noting ; but onely betwixt these and the rich provinc● of tucuio 25 leagues distant , a short passage may be had into the great kingdome of granado : the south side of the lake maricabo is inhabited by the pocabuyes and the alcohalads , two nations of a milder temper and more tra●table disposition then are most other natives ; both are confidently reported to possesse great riches , and a ●oyle every way well furnished for a comfortable sustentation of life . terra firma . and now having finished venezuella , we are to proceed with the next adjacent part , called terra firma , as being first ●ound after the islands ; it is thought by cieca who hath wrote of it , that it extendeth it selfe from about martha , which is in the eleventh degree of the north latitude , within a degree of the equinoctiall , for the space of 400 leagues . the bredth of it ( as it is taken according to the sea-coast , from cape vela t●panima directly west ) where it is widest doth not exceed three hundred leagues : betweene which not many leagues distant from sea , though farre remote the one from the other , arise foure high mountaines running the length of this region , and all peru and chyly are usually knowne by the name of the andion mountaines , where they are narrowest ; they are two leagues over , in most ten , in some more then twenty ; but ●he● betweene these mountaines lye many large well levelled plaines , which being continually watered from the many small brookes and wide rivers issuing from them , make many exceeding fruitfull provinces , except it be some places where over great abundance of waters tu●neth them into mores and fens . the climate in generall is very wholsome ; but in regard of heat and cold little can be said of it in generall ( the mountaines and the plaines differing so much ) these being for the greatest part of the yeere somewhat over hot , those over cold ; yet so , as having recourse to both according to the severall seasons of the y●ere they prove very convenient for habitation , and are for the most part as well stored with gold and precious stones , as any part of a●erica whatsoever . when i have set forth so much of this sea-coast as shall be requisite at once , i shall then by an orderly falling downe with the continent , within a degree or two of the equinoctiall , particularly acquaint you with the places where the foresaid treasure , and many other usefull commodities are to be had . cape vela the most easterne province of ter●a firma is distant from ●oro in venezuella sixty leagues ; from whence to rio de la hacha are eighteene , thence to martha thirty , thence to cartagena five and thirty more . these three are the onely haven townes of note belonging to the east part of this country , though yet there be many other ports and rivers which may and doe affor● safe harbour for shipping : short of de●la hacha to the east is river ranceria ; beyond it to the west foure leagues is port ramada ; then follow the mouth of the five great rivers buhio , pera , palamino , don diego and anchon de quag●c●icho , remote the one from the other a league or two : betweene these and martha port doe intervene concha and los anchones two convenient havens ( though nothing comparable to that of mart●a ) which in the yeere 1587 was certified to the king of spaine by baptista antonella his owne geographer to be mo●e safe and convenient for the spanish fleets yeerly passage into those parts then cathagena if any considerable cost were bestowed upon it ▪ and that meerly for want thereof , it hath beene twice taken by the english with small forces . betweene martha towne and the falling of the great river martha , which is neare about the mid-way cape agnia , and the navigable rivers of gayra and ciennagoy places of note , doo intervene : so on the other side betweene it and the port of carthagena , the sandy island of zamba and other shelvy places ( by avoyding the coast and striking to sea ) are carefully to be avoyded , untill ships ma● more safely put in from sea to canoa ▪ but two leagues from carthagena . as for the port of carthagena it self ( were it as well provided as the foresaid baptista adviseth his majesty of spaine to have it done , it might upon better ground be esteemed impregnable . but for ought i can read or heare , a strong navy which can spare to land , but 2000 or 3000 men ( where they shall find opportunity ) may take the towne and all the rich treasure in it , as well as it hath beene formerly taken by our countrymen with farre lesse strength when it was less● fortified : but of this strong port more hereafter . from cartagena where the sea beginneth to decline from the north to the south-west , for the space of 35 leagues untill we come to the gulfe of uraba , into which falleth the great river darion ; we read only of some small islands as ( caramari , bara & tortaga ) to be observed to avoyd for the dangerous accesse unto them , rather then for any good to be gain'd from them ; yet there are two safe and convenient haven● betweene them . hitherto of the sea coast of terra firma to the said gulfe , where on the west si●e the islands of panima , a narrow neck of the land continueth and yet seperateth it from nova hispania , where the north continent beginneth to arise some degrees to the north . let us now pierce into the continent of terra firma , and view it according to its severall governments , with as neere a relation as we may to the foresaid ports , whether more neere adjoyning or further remote . the f●●st government taketh its name from rio de hacha , ( the first port towne to us-ward ) it is but of small extent , for it reacheth not above eight leagues into the continent ; but stored with spanish fruits , golden mines and precious stones of divers sorts ; and were it not withall over-stored with wild beasts in the field and crocodils in the rivers it might well be reckoned one of the best habitations of terra firma : besides , rancheria and ramada , which as haven townes i mentioned before , we read of one spanish towne called tappia , well furnished with cattell . this province is seperated by the mountaines of buritaca from the government of martha , of farre greater extent somewhat more then 110 leagues in length from east to west , and not few lesse in bredth from north to south : the particular provinces belonging to this spacious government doe much differ in divers respe●ts . the valley of tayrona seven leagues distant to the east of martha , and the province of buritaca ●ight mo●e , are fertill and very rich in gold and precious stones , neither are they ●●oubled with over-much heat or cold : but the valley of upar wherein standeth cuidad , at the head of the river pomp●tao , remote from martha fifty leagues , seperated from burita●a though it be somewhat fertill yet is it over cold . the land for three leagues compasse , adjoyning to the towne of martha ( from which the whole government taketh denomination ) is very healthfull and pleasant but withall very ill provided with victuall ( unlesse oranges and lemons and such like spanish fruits , or that the native fruits which the pine and guiavah trees there plentifully affo●d ) may suffice . the provinces to the west of martha toward carthagena , namely bonda and poziguica are much of the same condition , healthfull but not fruitfull . the rest of this government downe to the south is invironed with two great rivers ( with martha to the west , and pompatao to the south-east ) which being remote the one from the other more then forty leagues , for the space of two degrees of latitude north and south , untill the river ●ompatao turning directly to the west , at length falleth into the greater river madalena ( for so it is here stiled ) though it selfe also be but an arme of martha . now for that in so large a tract of ground ( which the long continued distance of the foresaid rivers sufficiently prove ) no mention is made of any other spanish towne but onely of tenerifae , which is within forty leagues of martha where madalena falleth into it and tamalameque fifteene leagues belowe more to the south , bordering neere thereunto , it may and is probably conjectured that here may be found ●ood habitation . a third government adjoyning to the sea-coast is cartag●na , so called from the chiefe port towne of all terra firma . this government is more spacious and populous then either of the former , but withall it is in the generall lesse healthfull and lesse profitable , as being for the most part either taken up with waste unusefull mountaines , or being pestered with many fennes and bogges , by reason of the continuall overflowing of martha and and other smaller rivers of their valleys , that otherwise might be much more beneficiall for the grazing of cattell ; from the falling of that great river into the sea where this government beginneth to the east , no mention is made of any spanish towne toward the sea-coast untill we come to ●artagena it selfe , which city is inferiour to very few or none in all america . it is reported not onely by spanish authors herea , bap●ista and others , but also by the dutch , who have lately more exactly viewed the scituation of it to be very strong ; it standeth in a kind of peninsula two miles from the maine sea which upon that coast ( unlesse in some ●ew chanels 〈◊〉 ) dangerous by reason of many shallowes , sands and shelves ; the comming up to it ( though no farther remote ) is likewise difficult both by water and land . the water passages are three , all narrow and shallow , serving onely for small vessels , and withall strongly fortified . the land passages that are as many are very narrow made caw●y-wise so as but few can goe a brest to force their way , being opposed by severall strong forts , and ●o make their way on either side the cawceys is impossible , being all of them so compassed with deep ditches and unpassable bogges : and yet for want of fresh water , they continually fetch from galeera where the great ships ride , a great navy may easily keepe them from thence , and so inforce them in a short time to yeeld for want of water . nor is it impossible but that this city may be taken by the water passages , if good store of small vessels well manned and otherwise provided shall be imployed therein . the next towne distant from cartagena to the south-west is toku , where great store of precious balsome ( either by distilling of it selfe , or by incission of certaine trees ) is yeerly gathered and conveyed into europe . it is confident●y reported by monardes to be no way inferiour , but rather more soveraigne , for the curing of many diseases , then was the balsome of aegypt and the east countryes , in all authors so highly commended . the climate is much more healthfull , the soyle more fertill and usefull to feed cattell , as being six leagues from sea , not mountainous , and yet not taken up with flagges and bulrushes , and other such like increase of marish grounds , as are carthagena and the more neere confines thereof . now to looke yet further into the continent , just opposite to the government of martha directly to the south , from the eighth degree of the north latitude , beginneth the kingdome of new granada , which extendeth it selfe unto the second degree upon both sides of madalena , more especially from the rising of the said river to the mid-way before it commeth into martha , it is said to be 130 leagues ●ong , and betweene thirty and twenty broad . the land is not onely pleasant and healthfu●l but generaly very rich , abounding with much treasure and ample provision for livelyhood . the most unusefull parts of this great kingdome , is the next adjoyning to the government of martha that is taken up with the waste opion mountaines , that permit not ( without great difficulty and many dayes travail ) entrance to merida , pamplona , saint ●hristo●hers and other the nort●erne parts thereof no lesse wealthy then pleasant . but then this difficult passage may be avoyded ▪ by making use of the constant flowing of sea into the wide mouth of martha , which conveniently conveyeth ships of great bulke for forty leagu●s unto tenerif● , where magdalena falleth into martha , and then in small vessels of fifty or sixty foot long and foure or five foot broad , they may with ample provision of men , victuall and ammunition , passe up the river magdalena untill they come to the rich inhabited places of granada : of which the provinces of mus●● and ●olyma on the east side , the province of arbi on the west side of magdalena are neerest to the opi●n mountaines . the provinces to the easterfide , in which stand foure spanish townes , placentta , trinidad , tudela and palma ▪ are somewhat too hot , by reason that the sun-beams doe very strongly reflect upon them by a continuation of exceeding high mountaines yet more to the east . and yet withall they are over moysty , the water falling for six moneths in the yeer ●oo fiercely from those mountaines and the river magdalena to which they border being so subject to overflowing : the soyle neverthelesse doth aff●r● two plettifull crops and feedeth much cattell . neither are the mountaines adioyning to these provinces thought to be utterly desti●ute of treasure ; but certaine it is , they abound with emme●ald and berril stones . in the province of arbi on the west side of magdalena , over against ●lacentia , in the sixth degree of latitude lyeth senora , constantly reported to be richly furnished with golden mines as is maraquita with silver mines , standing in the fifth degree over against trinidad . neere upon the same d●gree of latitude fifteene leagues to the east of trinidad is tunia , a healthy , wealthy , and well provided province for all kind of sustentation , necessary ●ot onely for life , but even for the abundance of many delights ; in which respect it is so well inhabited by the spanish , as that it is able to bring 200 horse into the field . and in no respect is the province of bogota inferiour , in which saint fayth the metropolis of all granad● is scituated 22 leagues directly to the south , inhabited with 600 spanish families being the usuall residing place of the deputy , bishop , and all their officers . beyond this city to the south-east , i find mention onely of one more called saint iohns , remote neere fifty leagues ; for nothing much commended but for the store of gold it affordeth . to the north-east fifteene leagues from saint fayth lyeth the towne tocaymai , neere adjoyning upon the river paty , where it falleth into magdalena equall to the foresaid provinces tunia & bogota in regard of all provision necessary and delighfull , but much to be preferred in respect of the wholesome , wel-pleasing temperature of the climate , beside some bathes which by long experience have beene proved right good , for the curing of many dangerous diseases . having thus briefly discovered granada , i conceive it most convenient , for the more cleere discription of the next adjacent government , which is popaian ; to begin with it as it lyeth on the south-west of tocayma and saint fe , and as it bordereth neere upon the rising of the river magdalena and so falleth for two degrees directly south to the equi●octiall , where it is devid●d from peru , and then returneth backe to the west rising of the great river martha , distant from that of magdalena full forty leagues . hereby having continuall referrence to the chiefe city 〈◊〉 it selfe , seated not farre from the head of the said west 〈◊〉 , we shall the better understand and the scituation of the whole government . the first towne of popaian neerest ●djoyning to granada is saint sebactian , standing within three leauges from onda the highest inland port belonging to magdalena , much frequented by the merchants of cartagena and martha , in respect of the exceeding profitable importation of the necessary commodities of europe into these parts , and the transporting of abundant treasure from hence . this towne standeth from saint fe of bogota in granada thirty leagues , from the city popaian 35 ; the fields about it are fruitfull , and have many silver mines in them . above the rising of magdalena in the valley of ney●● , the natives are so numerous , as that they hitherto have stoutly defended themselves against the spanish , and inforced them to retire from some townes they had built there : timana in the most south-west part of the said valley of neyva ( forty leagues from popaian ) the spanish as yet with much adoe hold ; but thrive very well , by reason of the richnesse of the soyle to fe●d cattell , and the abundance of sugar and honey which it affordeth . to the north-west of timana , and as many short of popaian , upon the rising of the west arme of martha here called cauca standeth almager , in a hilly country , yet fertill and very rich in golden mines . hence the government of pop●●an extendeth it selfe either directly to the west or to the north . it is convenient i first finish the western part , as being in this book to fall no farther to the south , which will bring us by the confines of ●eru to the south sea of america , the knowledge whereof may much further us in the better understanding , not onely of the scituation of its governments , but also of the other parts of the north america , that yet remaine to be described . to the west of almager about twelve leagues , beginneth the valley of mastel , whereunto bending somewhat to the south are the valleys of abades and madrigal adjoyning . of which this onely can be certainly affirmed , that they are of great extent , full of many little villages , and those well peopled with the natives , a good signe , they are not unfruitfull . beyond these valleys standeth pasto in the ri●h vale of atris remote from popaian fifty leagues . the rest of the province of pasto reaching yet fifty leagues more to the west ▪ even to the south sea of america is very mountainous , in which there be many rich mines , but it is well knowne to be very barren either for graine or cattell . the promontaries rivers and havens of this large province of pasto , upon which the south sea beateth are saint mathews bay , cape fr●ncis and los quiximires nearer bordering to peru. higher to the north where the sea gaineth greatly upon the land eastward , are port manglares , the river nicardo and saint iohn . to returne where we left to the the rising of the river ca●ca , fifty leagues before it commeth to the north sea ▪ where it is called martha , upon both sides whereof lye the better part of popaian . from almaguer where this great river first springeth on the east side thereof lyeth the province of g●anaca , on the west the valley of 〈◊〉 , both rich in treasure and exceeding fit for the feeding of cattell . betweene these , with the falling of the river for the space of ten leagues before we come to the city of popaian . on either side doe intervene two other va●●eys cocomici to the east and barauca to the west , much of the same condition with the two former . the metropolis of popaian it selfe , standeth from the equino●tiall two degrees and a half to the north ▪ from the meridian of toledo in s●aine towards the west seventy degrees and thirty scruples ; it standeth in a very healthfull climate and fruitfull soyle it hath two winters and sommers , and both so t●mperate as it injoyeth a kind of perpetuall spring and ev●ry yeer affordeth two plentifull crops ; the fields on both sides the river cauca are very large , affording ample maintainance for innumerable cattell , and incredible variety and store of most delicate fruits , besides the first risings of the andion mountaines to the east , and the tamban mountaines to the west , yeeld abundance of cour●e gold . abo●t 22 leagues from popaian do●ne the said river cauca one leag●e on the west side of the river l●eth cak● ▪ a spanish towne of great trade , in a large fruitfull valley in some places twelve leagues wide , knowne by the same name , whether great store of treasure and other ●ich commod●ies are continually brought from rich peru and c●y●y , out of the south sea especially by the bay of bonaventure , remote 28 leagues , which great distance of place is a great part of it taken up with the wide rough and little inhabited mountaines of timba , and by many boggy places , caused by a frequent fall of many waters , which make the passage very difficult with horse ; but this defect the spanish supplieth by the helpe of poore indians , whom they cruelly enforce for five dayes hard travaile to beare upon their shoulders through thicke and thin , through shar●e cutting stones and piercing thornes neere upon a hundred weight , and yet affordeth those miserable creatures not necessary sustentation . betweene the te●i●ories of cali and the south sea mountaine , more to the north-●est mountaines is the province conchi , inhabited by a giant-like people in regard of stature , but otherwise as little to be fe●red as the rest whom the spaniard hath driven higher into the mountaines on both sides the river cauca or hath brought into miserable slavery . twelve leagues on the west of cauca from cali lyeth carapa a hilly province , but every way convenient for habitation . as many more downe the said river on the east side beginneth a farre greater province , fifteene leagues in length and ten in bredth , in which stand●th cartago ▪ betweene two very pleasant rivers w●erein are found many small peeces of gold continually washed from the mountain●s adjo●ning . those parts of this pr●vince neere bordering upon the lo●est banks of cauca are very fenny ▪ o●ergrowne with reeds and bulrushes ; and yet cartago seven leagues remote from that river and many other places , are constantly reported to be exceeding rich and healthfull ▪ though yet for the greater part of the yeere they are usually subject to extraordinary raine and thundering . betweene carthago and ancerma twenty leagues , distant almost 〈◊〉 north upon cauca ▪ beginning here to be better knowne by the name of the great river martha , doe intervene three other provinces on the west copia , in which sta●deth acerma of greatest note next to popaian , distant to the north 50 leagues . this province in generall is mountainous ( except the valley of ancerma pleasant and fruitfull ) and the adjoyning rivers falling f●om the mountaines afford much gold in little grains mingled with the sand thereof : picera , pozo and pancura , provinces on the east of martha , are of lesse extent , but more levell and more inhabited , and no lesse pleasant or profitable . to these provinces yet more north , towards the city of a●tioch ( the most noble part of all popaian and neerest to us-ward , towards the mouth of martha ) on either side the river doe intervene to the west cartamma , and the spa●ious valley of nore , wherein standeth the city antiochia , invironed with high hils , but withall sweetly watered , with many little rivers falling f●om them : to the east are arma and cartamma , of which foure last recited provinces , it may suffice briefly to know that they on either side the river are of at least thirty leagues in length , and in most places ten in bredth , no way inferiour if not exceeding the forenamed provinces of popaian , either for their temperature of ayre , or fertility of soyle , or the store of treasure that their m●untaines and rivers afford . panima . thus have we passed over all terra firma both by sea and land except panima the most westerne part , which is very narrow ▪ in every place , and serveth as a necke to continue the continent of america betweene the north and south sea ; i shall briefly finish it having but few places or things of any great consideration to write of it . the length of this last government of panima , may be taken either according to the north sea-coast , from the aforementioned gulfe of uraba to the closing of it with the river viragua , ( from which the most easterne province of nova hispania taketh denomination ) or else southward , as it is extended from the river dari●n , that falleth into the said gulfe and the south sea : the length in either respect is upon due computation found not to exceed ninety leagues ; the bredth where it is widest doth not exceed thirty , where narrowest , as from port bel● to panima ( would mou●taines and rivers and overgrowne woods permit the shortest cut ) it would be found fully 8. leagues from sea to sea . my greatest care in perusing this government is to take speciall notice of the sea-coasts , for besides the famous ports , rivers , islands , promontories both on the north and south side of this necke of ground , nothing is much worth the noting ; for three parts of it lying betweene the river darien and the south-sea , are taken up with exceeding high mountaines and those unfruitfull and unfit for habitation ( being overrunne with wild beasts ) besides the plains and valleys adjoyning to either , though they be more fruitfull yet very unhealthfull , insomuch as though formerly they were well inhabited by spaniards , yet now they are for the most part deserted . on the north from the gulfe of uraba ( where i left my description of that sea-coast ) unto the river chagre , the most westerne belonging to panima government ( not above forty leagues distant the one from the other ) there are found many safe and convenient ports , beside other places worthy consideration . within the narrow uraban sea , five leagues to the south-west of it standeth darien , a towne after it was first raised in the yeere 1510. well inhabited , but it continued not so above ten yeers ; for the inhabitants in regard of the unhealthfulnesse thereof , betooke themselves to panima , the chiefe towne of all the government upon the mouth of the gulfe . where the sea beginneth to turne againe to the north lyeth port my ; and then ten leagues further port acla , both convenient havens within , but somewhat dangerous to put into , by reason of the small islands gorde de pinas , and others neere adjoyning . from acla to nombre de dios , sometime a famous port towne ( still a safe haven ) are reckoned twelve leagues ; betweene which fall the ports of comagra and cativa , the rivers sanquo , mays , sardina and sardinula . but of all the ports port belo ( which is by the procurement baptista antonellus , was raised out of the ruins and dispeopling of nombre de dios , five leagues distant from thence ) is the greatest , safest and every way most convenient for the mutuall trading of the north and south sea , by the river chagre , many rich and necessary commodities of europe being from hence continually transported to panima whence the gold and silver of peru and chily are returned hither twice every yeere . it was taken by sir francis drake before the towne and fortifications thereunto belonging were one quarter finished : and since in the yeere 1601 when it was fully finished , it was surprised with two ships and a pinnace by captaine parker ( who found there in respect of the place ) but a very small booty not above 10000 dollers ; for that within a few dayes before 120000 were from thence conveyed to carthagena . the passage from this port towne to panima upon the south sea is not above eighteene leagues ( and in summer time not hindred by creekes of sea ) not eight , so that as there is no great difficulty with a considerable navy to take porto belo , and to secure the navy there : so would it prove no long march nor any hard enterprise to take panima ( consisting but of 600 families , little experienced in martiall affaires and with it if the attempt be seasonably made ) five or six millions of money , if we may give credit to the foresaid antonellus , the spanish kings geographer , or to our owne countryman master harcourt . this city ( for so it is usually stiled ) being the seat of a bishop and the common residing place of the governour and his chiefe officers , standeth in a very unhealthfull ayre , and no lesse barren soyle ▪ being almost destitute of corne grasse , and other provisions necessary for life , unlesse it be with oranges and lemans and divers other wholsome and well pleasing indian fruit . and yet for all this it wanteth not store of all kind of victuall , continually supplyed from other places , by reason it so aboundeth with treasure , in hope whereof the spanish merchants make that the chiefe place of trading by the river chagre out of the north ▪ and by the river chepo out of the south sea : both which though they come short of the city , yet are they of very great use , to bring the merchants commodities so neere which are afterwards much more easily conveyed thither by land . conce●ning the land passage from one sea to the other ▪ a most remarkable attempt of captaine oxenhaw ( a countryman of ours ) anno 1573. must not be forgotten ▪ for though in the conclusion it proved not succesfull , yet it may be a great encouragement of singular concernment to those who with greater strength shall make the like enterprize . it was briefly thus ; captaine oxenham ( induced by the fame of the vast treasure , which fortunate drake obtained in those parts ) provided a ship of a 120 tun ; in which having with him neere a hundred men , ( the winds favouring him , he came sooner then he could well expect on the north sea-coast of panima ) where getting as neere as he could conveniently , for the shortest cut over to the north sea ; he landed his men , drew up his ship into a cranny , where he left her and his great ordnance , covered all over with bowes . then he and his men taking sufficient victuall , with two field pieces , and other necessary armes , after twelve leagues march , they came to a river which falleth into the south sea , where he built a barge 45 foot long ; in which he conveyed his men into an island called the isle of pearles ( close by the side whereof , they who come our of the south sea to panima , must needs passe . ) here they closely concealed themselves for ten dayes ; at the end whereof they seized upon two pinnaces comming from peru , wherein was little lesse then 200000 .li. of gold and silver , besides great store of rich pearles they took from the islanders ; both which they might certainly have conveyed to their ship ( and so into england ) had not both captain & souldiers in their comming back in three particulars dealt very foolishly . first , in too sudden discharging the two pinnaces they had taken by whom the governour of panima being much sooner informed of the exploit then , otherwise he could have been , made the more quick pursuit after them , with twice as many forces as they had , secondly , in casting the feathers of hens they had pillaged over board , whereby they gave perfect notice to the pursuers . of the particular river they returned by , of which before they were very much to seek . but most of all did they forget themselves in an unseasonable contention concerning the dividing of the prize ; the souldiers refusing to beare it upon their shoulders over the land , unlesse the might know how much should come to every mans particular share ; which demand of theirs being as undiscreetly denied , the convention lasted so long ▪ as the forces from panima came upon them ▪ recovered the treasure ▪ and cut them all off , or took them prisoners , whom they forthwith brought to panima and there cruelly executed , some few escaped , whom by reason of their youth they spared . beyond panima to the south-sea , are some but not many ports and rivers . to the south-east is the river chiepo , the river de labalsa , saint miguels gulf , port de pinas , and the river balsas ; neer about which , groweth great store of timber fit for shipping , whereof singular use may be made in the south sea . on the south-west are two ports , perico and nata , whereof the first is not far remote , the other twelve leagues distant from panima ; from whence as being the most westerne parts of all panima governments : i am now to proceed with the province of veragua , as neerest adjoyning to the west , formerly belonging to the government of nova hispania , but now in the jurisdiction of the governour of guatemala ; since , that province and many more thereunto belonging , are upon the matter , exempted from the viceroy of nova hispania . i might here ( following h●rea and others ) fall upon the generall description of the government , in respect of the climate , soyle and of the severall commodities , and discommodities of the same , but to what purpose , seeing it is evident , and all authors agree , that in particular they differ extreamly ; i shall therefore in my particular descriptions of them , taking them according to my constant method as they lye by the north sea-coast , passe through them fro● sea to sea ▪ where it can be done conveniently and as i proceed ▪ i shall endeavou● in all respects to give you such account of their severall qualities and conditions as is requisite . to begin therefore with veragua , as it hath panima government to the east , so costo rica to the west , fi●ty leagues in length ▪ and where it is narrowest 25 in bredth , from the north sea to the south ▪ which on both sides it is bounded . the soyl● for the most part is barren , as being mountainous and full of briers , unfit for graine and pastoring , yet very rich in all kind of mettals , especially with gold . the inhabitants are many , very stout men , and great opposers of the the spaniard , the first who found out veragua was christopher columbus , who at his first ariva●l found some opposition by the nati●es , but he soon pacified them with toyes ; ( and as her●a reporteth ) for 36 brasse bels he gained 80. li. whereby we may easily guesse ●hat an a●ple returne he there made for things of very small worth . the north sea-coast belonging to this province affordeth but few good harbours ; the neerest from the coast of panima is the river ●elen , distant from port b●lo 2● leagues ; neere which it built the towne la conception , where the governour resideth . a second is a little within the river veragua ; from which the province is denominated . the last a pretty large gulfe called caravaro . between which and belen lieth an island ten mile● from the continent called escudo , an island carefully to be observed , in regard of the many rocks and shelves that are about it . the spanish inland towns , to omit all the poor hamblets , possessed by the natives are onely trinidad and saint fayth , the one three , the other twelve leagues remote . from la conception close to the south sea is carlos , another spanish towne five leag●es from saint fayth ; over against which and to the east and west of it are 20 small islands , or rather rocks , which goe by the name of zebaco ; so as in the south sea of veragua we read of no good haven , but onely port g●era neere cape maria , in the south-east corner thereof . the next adjoyning province lying as veragua , between both seas 40 leagues in bredth , and ( if herea reckon right ) 90 leagues to the west in length , up to the continent of nicaragua is costarica , much of the same condition of the former , mountainous and barren , but full of rich mines . to the north sea it hath only saint hieromes port , to the south it hath foure convenient havens , borica , saint lazaro , para , nicora . the inland spanish townes of this province are carthago , standing much about the middle of it , ●0 leagues from either sea . arames i● within five leagues eastward to the south sea , and nicora one of the aforesaid havens . a third province belonging to guatimala is nicuragua , this as the two former taketh its bredth from sea to sea , but in a double p●oportion ▪ in some places eighty leagues over , though in length westward to gua●●mala province it exceedeth not fifty . the climate in summer is ●ver hot , in winter over cold ▪ the soyle is levell , fit to feed catte●l but not to beare corn , hogs , fish , cotten , salt , and goodly timber it yeelds great store . herea maketh mention here of a kind of trees called zeybis , so mighty big about , that five men joyning hand in hand can hardly fathome one of them . the inhabitants of this province are much civilized by the spaniard , can speak their language , have learned their trades , and are very subject unto them , the contalles onely accepted , who keep themselves in woods and mountaines . the most observable thing here is the lake nicuragua , whence the province taketh name , both in regard of its large circumference , being ( as it is reported ) no lesse then 130 miles , it hath a constant ebbing and flowing , and though the head of it be not above foure leagues from the south sea , yet in hath intercourse onely with the north sea , that is in distance fifteen times further , the falling of this great lake in no small streames , is in the midst between the eleventh and twelfth degree of the north latitude , where the continent againe beginneth to extend it selfe for five degrees at least more to the north , not without some turnings and returnings from east to west , from whence taking in againe with as many windings and turnings for 120 leagues to the north-west , the sea breakes in againe between the province of honduras and yucatan ; another part of the continent , which inlet of sea is called the gulfe of honduras . now then ( keeping my selfe to my proposed method ) i am first to piscover the ports , rivers and islands of this north sea-coast , before i come to speak of this or any other of the provinces contained in the circumference of the many long and large reaches thereof . the first sea port to the north of nicuragua is called s. iohns port , the middle streame where the said lake venteth it selfe . a second is called yaropo , betweene which and saint iohns p●r● ▪ being somewhat more then 20. leagues distant , many little islands doe intervene ; in which distance there is no safe putting in to land . upon the 13. degree of latitude falleth the river yare , affording a convenient haven ; and a little above that latitude , though many leagues short of it in respect of longitude , is saint catalina , better knowne to us by the name of the isle of providence , appearing in the mappe no more then a small spot ▪ not above two miles broad nor five long ; yet so fertill and so well accommodated with all provision ▪ as for these many yeeres last ●ast , it liberally sustained more then 1000. english men , untill the spaniard fearing their over neer approaching to these parts , where the usuall passage and constant receipts of all their treasure was ( i meane cartagena , panima , and porto belo in terrafirma , and havana in cuba ) after many assaults displanted them ; which seemeth to me , ( all things considered ) a great wonder , they did not long before put their full strength upon it ; and it is no lesse to be wondred at , that they should offer , and performe such reasonable quarter , not onely as is constantly reported , of permitting them , but also in supplying them with shipping , to transport them into virginia , new england , and other english plantations they neither feare , nor regard as being farre remote . above y are halfe a degree is the gulfe of ni●uesa , a good harbour for shipping ▪ and ten leagues further , somewhat about the 14. degree is the promontary of gracias a dios bending to the east , from whence the continent winding in againe to the west for neer 50. leagves , many pernicious isl●nds , very remarkeable for the shipwracke of many , doe intervene the islands called viciosas lying upon the 15 , the isle of baxos upon the 16 , and millan upon the 17 degree of the north latitude ; and that which maketh the passages to these parts more dangerous , is that to the east and north-east , they are beset with roncador , serrana , seranilla , sancanilla and some other rocks , besides many shallowes and sands that require expert pi●ots to avoid them ▪ yet by gods providence and their care they may be safely passed . betweene the islands viciosas and baxos are two bayes ▪ honda and cartago , to both which the comming up is sandy and shallow . neere adjoyning to boxos is cape camoron , then 20. leagues further to the west is cape honduras , betweene which ( the land bending like a bow to south and then to north againe ) falleth the goodly river guiapa , whose streames by the small peeces of gold they bring with them , evidently declare the mountaines adjoyning to have store of such treasure . to the north of honduras , where that gulfe beginneth , begin many islands knowne by the name of the first and chiefe 〈…〉 harbours , and worse coming in unto them , they are in most places ten leagues from the continent , and follow one upon another for at lest 30. leagues to the south-west . in the middle space whereof xagua a good haven falleth into the sea from the continent : from whence for full 30. leagues unto port cavallos , on the west of the pleasant river de sal is found no safe harbour , b●t cavallos is an exceeding convenient and safe harbour against wind and tempest , yet not so well fortified , but that it was twice taken easily by our countriman master newport anno 1591. and by sir anthony sherley 1616. this gulfe de honduras or guanios , ( for it is knowne by both names ) doth yet run for forty leagues further , though still narrowed more and more , by reason that yucatan another part of the continent being a very long and large peninsula , falleth in and joyneth with the province of honduras ; in the narrowing whereof lye the river vlva , cape de puntas , and port de higueras ; just in the breaking off another smaller gulfe called dulce . i shall now from the discovery of the sea-coast fall to describe so much of the continent as lyeth between sea and sea . upon the north sea for 150. leagues doth the provice of honduras extend it self , in bredth here and there more or lesse then 80. leagues , in the generall a very rich and goodly country ; for the valleyes thereof afford three crops of their indian graine , and two of our wheat , besides a continuall supply of grasse , so as it is ever green , flourishing , and affordeth great store of provision for man and beast . the spanish townes belonging to this province , taking them as i proceed in my description from east to west ; are first trugillo , a league remote from sea , standing between two rivers , whereunto belongeth a port strongly fortified by nature and art ; which though it was taken by our english anno 1576. yet was it in vaine attempted by them , under the command of sir anthony sherley , in the yeere 1596. the region about is temperate both in winter and summer , the soyle exceeding fertill , maintaining great store of cattell , graine and great variety of excellent fruit : the vines here in great abundance bring forth grapes in wonderfull plenty twice a yeere . the towne lyeth to the north-east of port cavallos forty , of validolid the chiefe city fifty leagues . a second town thirty leagues to the south of trugillo is saint george , in the rich valley of olancho , whereunto the hils adjoyning are lately found so full of gold mines as that the governour of honduras and nicuragua have often drawne their forces into the field and fought for it , untill the king of spaine was pleased to decide it , by adjudging it a parcell of this province . the chiefe city forty leagues to the south within the land is valadolid , where the governour and his officers , a bishop and his cathedrall men reside , very amply provided for with all kind of provision that the goodly valleyes neere adjoyning afford , and greatly enriched by the gold and silver mines there lately discovered . upon the north sea in the valley de naco , every way comparable with valadolid but for unhealthfulnesse ; foure leagues severed lyeth the haven towne de cavallos in the fifteenth degree of latitude , and between them somewhat more to the west are two other spanish townes that yeeld many mules and great horses , as doth also the country about cavallos ( whence the name is taken . ) the government of guatimala and two other small provinces ▪ saint salvator and gulpho dolce , lye one after another to the south of honduras towards the south sea , in few places lesse then thirty leagues in bredth , in respect of fertility , ●●ore of cattell and graine , they come not farre short of it ▪ but much in regard of healthfulnesse and the temperature of aire and season ; they being in some moneths over hot , in most infested with too much raine , and which is the usuall consequence thereof with incredible multitudes of pestilent flyes , bees , horners , scorpions , and other though small yet deadly venemous serpents . besides these provinces , especially guatimala so properly called , is extraordinary subject to continuall earthquakes , horrible thundering and lightning and which is much worse , to usuall breaking out of flames of fire , from the sulpherous mountaines ▪ which sometime cast them downe in huge lumps to the overwhelming of the townes and villages adjoyning ; but never are these strange breakings out of fire , but to the great annoyance of man and beast , by the loathsome smoak and vapours that necessarily issue upon them , not without much spoyle of corne and fruits , by reason of many thousand quarters of ashes which at those times are thickly dispersed round about . the chiefe city in these parts is saint iago de guatimala , fourteen degrees in la●●tude , 93 in longitude : from the meridian of toledo in spaine , to east whereof stand trinidad and saint salvador two other spa●i●h towns ; the first 36. the second forty leagues remote , both very convenient for trading out of the south-sea . from nova hispania and peru , by the port acaxulta in a very safe channell , and not above five or six leagues from sea , the two most easterne townes of guatimala are saint miguel , 22. leagues from saint salvador , within two leagues of fonseca bay . then xeres eighteen leagues farther , neere to the lake of nicoagua ; which having a short recourse to the sea , affordeth a good haven called port poss●ssion ; between which and port guatimala , that goeth up to saint iago for the space of eighty one leagues ; there are no other considerable havens then have been mentioned . the havens and rivers about guatimala to the west , that we may here make an end with the south sea coast belonging to this government , are ●oatlam , govetlan , colate haziaclan , belonging to soconusco , a province extended upon the south-sea , westward thirty leagues in length , and as many in bredth towards verapaz and chiapa , two midland provinces to the north : the inhabitants thereof not being very many , and having few spaniards among them ; live plentifully ▪ by reason of the great store of cacao , a fruit like almonds , which the merchants of nova hispania fetch from thence at good rates ▪ as being of great use and high esteem as well with the spaniards as natives inhabiting those parts , both to eat and drinke , but especially to drink , it yeelding a liquor exceeding wholsome and pleasant , with some composition t●ey use maketh it no way inferiour to high-country white-wine or shery-sack . out of this cacao commodity in this little province ▪ the king of spain hath for tribute every yeere at least 400 frayles of them , every frayle being worth thirty silver royals . the next province to the north of soconusco , and the south of yucatan , having chiapa province , to the west is verapaz , so called , for that the natives came freely in upon the preaching of the gospell , but having so little profited therein ▪ under such covetous corrupt tutors , as they know scarce any thing aright of christrianity , and would be very glad they could be freed from such tyrannicall lords . the middle part of it is somewhat temperate , the residue is extreame hot and extreamly perplexed with mosquitos ▪ usually swarming in other parts of the indies which are hot and over moist as these are . neither doth the soyle ( by reason of eight moneths raine , which most an end happeneth continually ) yeeld any store of indian wheat , but little or none of ours ; and yet it bringeth forth abundance of medicinall herbs , beautifull flowers ▪ and trees most usefull and profitable both for nourishment and building ▪ but withall it harbours many wild beasts ; as lyons , tygers , beares , but very few for the use of man . nor yet ( so farre as i heare ) have gold or silver mines been here discovered by the spaniard . the most westerne province of all guatimala , bordering upon the east of nova hispania is chiapa , full forty leagues long , and almost as broad every place from south to north , in regard of over great heat and moysture ▪ of great store of wild beasts and dangerous serpents much like verapaz ; as also in respect of the innumerable profitable trees there , the fruit whereof affordeth toothsome and wholsome nourishment , the bodies speciall timber , the gumme ( which in great quantities come from them ) precious balsome and sweet odours , the bark , gumme and fruit very rich materials to dye colours of the best esteeme with us . but herein it farre exceedeth all the provinces of guatimala , in that being competently provided with graine , it doth breed and maintaine great store of excellent horses , kine , sheep and swine , besides incredible variety of the best fish and fowle , onely for mines it must give place to honduras province . thus i have passed through the government of guatimala ; i am now come to make entry upon those provinces that appertaine to the royalty of nova hispania : for the right surveighing whereof , i must of necessity againe fall to discribe the sea-coast ▪ so by surrounding in yucatan , a long and wide peninsula , save onely in the necke of it where the gulss of honduras and mexico come neerest together ( of no lesse then 25. leagues compasse ) the sayling on either side of it is dangerous , by reason of many scattering islands , rocks shelves , and sands . from the comming up againe of honduras gulfe on the south-east of yucatan to the north-east , these are very carefully to be avoyded , as most pernitious , elbob , lamanary , zaratan , pantoia , quitazuwenho , which last signifieth as much as , now take heed ; it lyeth in the eighteenth degree of latiude , a full degree more to the north then guanima isle , just opposite to cape honduras , but much of the same longitude with them ; so as though the gulfe on either side towards yucatan , or honduras be not safe to saile in ; yet by the channell thereof more then twenty leagues broad in most places is safe and navigable . from quitazuwenho to cape conche , the most northeast of this peninsula , and neerest to the island cuba are neer seventy leagues , between which comes the island coznmel and many petty islands called mucheres . the north and north-west sea-coast of yucatan are no lesse dangerous then the north-east ; as being also full of sands shallowes and rocky islands , known by the name of alcranes and negrillos : which though they be far remote from land , yet they make the passage dangerous to come into the best ports of comill on the river ligartes on that side , being themselus not very good . from hence to the west , the continent falling down again more and more to the south for three degrees , viz. from above 21. to 28. all this coast ( as the other ) by reason of the isle of sands desconsidla and triangulo and some others no lesse sandy , but much more rocky , is hazardous and make cical and telichaque ( the best havens hereabouts ) to be lesse frequented . neither yet is the sea channell here adjoyning so deepe and free from sands , as is safe for ships of any great burden to faile in . the land within this long and wide peninsula , is for the most part neither temperate nor healthfull , save onely in the mountainous places , nor so much inhabited but onely to the north end of it , where standeth merida the chief town about twelve leagues from sea , the governour & bishops abode , accompanied with 100 spanish families . another is vallidolid , 31. leagues to the east of merida , where a great monastry of franciscans standeth , and where the natives of the region adjoyning are said farre to exceed all others , being at least 50000. a third towne fifty leagues to the west of merida is campeche , where captaine parker our country-man , anno 1596. with some hazard but greater honour seized ( in sight of all the inhabitants ) upon a ship laden with gold & silver and other rich commodities , and brought her away , though they made all the resistance possibly they could . a fourth towne is salamanea , in the neck of this peninsula , not much differing in respect of longitude , though neerer a degree in latitude from port real ; it belongeth to the province of tabasco , of which i will say no more , but that it is very slenderly inhabited though yet it be of large extent , no lesse then forty leagues , bordering upon the north-sea called the gulfe of mexico , as many in breth toward the south adjoyning to the province verapaz and chiapa . the reasons whereof given by authors are , that this country is as intemperate and unwholsome as any other thereabouts , and affordeth but slender sustentation , and but few merchantable commodities . the onely spanish towne in this province is called senora victoria , in remembrance of the great victory here obtained by cortesius , the over prosperious , because the over cruell subduer of this and all the country hereabout . the next province to the south is chiapa , much upon the same bredth and length ; whereof also little is to be said , but that it is a more pleasant and healthfull , more abounding with the rare , though usuall fruit of nova hispania ; and which is neat , sheep and swine the horses are of such an excellent breed as they are sent for as farre as mexico , the metropolis of nova hispania , no lesse then 200. leagues distant . here are likewise many eagles and other fowles of prey , that now live upon such wholsome and toothsome fowle as may be better imployed for mans sustentation , and by their meanes more easily taken . ximenes maketh mention of one monstrous bird , having one foot like a goose , and the other like a faulcon , that liveth by prey taken both in the water and ayer . there are in chiapa many natives distinguished by the names of zeques , zeltales , quelcnes and secaulands , and among either of these there are many villages well inhabited . the onely spanish towne of note is cuidad reall , seventy leagues to the north-east of guatimala , and as many from senora in tabasco . from chiapa westward followeth the bishoprick of guaxaca whereunto the provinces misceca , tucepeque , zapoteca and guazacoalco are annexed , which take up all the continent between both seas . from the great river guazacoalco unto the river alvarde on the north side , distant the one from the other fifty leagues . as much more from tecoantepeque a small port , to tequanapa a safe haven in the wide and deepe river onatepec , betweene which lyeth the famous port of agutulco , taken with much treasure by sir francis drake , anno 1578. and by captains candish 1586. this bishoprick with the provinces annexed are in the generall ( though mountainous ) very fertill and healthfull , but the valley of guaxaca ( that crotesius the conquerer of this country and the regions thereabout chose for his inheritance ) doth exceed imagination in regard of fertility both of grasse and cattell , corne and pleasant fruits , fish and fowle . besides that it containeth in it many gold and silver mines , much chochaneel & silk , strong incitements to make it so fully inhabited as it is , both with spaniards and natives ; the natives being reported to exceed 150000. and though mistica and the other annexed provinces , be not every way so beneficially accommodated , yet are they so well provided with necessaries , streames abounding with golden oare , small peeces of gold washed from the mountaines , and other merchantable commodities , that they also are well stored with inhabitants ; of whom this is very remarkable , that they use the jewish ceremonies in particular , circumsicion , which they ▪ affirme to have received from their ancestors . the chiefe spanish towne there is auteguera standing in the heart of the aforesaid incompararable valley zapoteca ▪ ( and nixapa two other towns , fall short of it full twenty leagues , the one to the north-east the other south-east : ) agaculco a great haven towne upon the south sea standeth directly to the south somewhat more then thirty leagues . the bishoprick of tlascula is next to guaxaca more to the north-west , though extended also through the whole continent from sea to sea , no lesse then 100. leagues in length ▪ in bredth to the south-sea but 18. where we read of no haven of note but to the north-sea , here called the gulfe of mexico , being full 80 leagues ; there fall many rivers convenient for ships to harbour , lade and unlade ; as namely , the rivers de banderas and zempoal , almeria , saint peters , saint pauls and de los cazon . the first banderas , being within five leagues of the famous river alucrado in guanaca : the last not above three leagues from the river panuco in the province of panuco ; which two differ full soure degrees in latitude ; but the onely ports of note & now of use with the spaniard are vera cruz and saint iuan-uullua , both very convenient and strongly defended , but the latter as being somewhat more healthfull , and comming up to the towne with sufficient water to bear ships of greatest burden , is at this prefect of greatest imployment ; and therefore every day more and more fortified by the spaniard . sir iohn hawkins in the yeere 1568. came into this haven , where he found 22. spanish ships richly laden , which though he might have certainly seized upon , yet he condiscendered to meane conditions , whereof the chiefe was the victualling of his ships ; yet neither that nor any of the other were performed , but they with a new navy from spaine falling upon him unexpectedly after agreement made , put him so to it , as he had much adoe unvictualled , with two ships onely to escape , and for want of provision was inforced to set 100 of his men on land who all perished , either by the inhumanity of the savages who killed and eat them , or through the cruelty of the spaniard , who to revenge themselves under the prentence of religion put them to death . this large bishoprick of 〈◊〉 with the provinces annexed doe ( as others ) differ much in respect of temperature and fertility , the temperature and fertility arising not so much from the farther or neerer approach to the zod●acke as from the mountaines and valleyes , the mountainous parts in many places , eight leagues over being temperately cold and lesse fertill ; the valleyes ( whereof here are many ) achisco and saint pauls being chiefe , exceedingly fruitfull but over hot : i make no question but that here also are some rich mines , though as yet few have been discovered . but of this i am well assured , that the native inhabitants are here more then usually to be found in any place , whose conversion to the true knowledge of christ , ought in the first place to be considered by us . the spanish townes of note here ( take them as we passe from east to west ) are sigura , and the two haven townes ( of which i spake before ) all three strongly and statety built , as also well provided with pleasant and profitable fields round about them . in the bishoprick it selfe standeth rubla los angelos , the valley of altisco , inhabited with 1500. spanish families now the chiefe city where the bishop resideth . 22. leagues from the metropolis of nova hispana , and within a little of the twentieth degree of north latitude ; between which mexico more to the north-west intervene guaxacing and old clascala , from whence all the government hath its name . and now we are to come unto the heart of nova hispania , even to the great city mexico , the center of the arch-bishoprick ( from whence it is denominated ) and upon which government ( under the command of the victory ) all the rest depend . as it lyeth to the west of tlascula , so it hath to the north the wide province of panuco , to the west and north-west mecoacan , of as large extent ; the length of this archgovernment is taken from the inland confines of panuco to the south-sea , where it is in bredth but eighteen leagues , though yet to the north it be reckoned at sixty : in which large tract of ground there are many petty provinces , now knowne rather by their names then dominions : it may therefore suffice onely to name them with some small touch of what they have in peculiar . to the north of it are lateotalpa , wherein lyeth the rich silver mine of puchuca , fourteen leagues from mexico . then meslitlan , a country abounding with allum and iron : then tula , whereunto belongeth another silver mine called guaxana●o , sixty leagues remote ; all three well provided of all necessary provisions for life , and affording many merchantable commodities . to the north-east the provinces of panpautlat and tup●dx , are neither healthfull , by reason of the excessive heat , nor much inhabited in regard that lying so levell with the sea , the many creeks which come from thence maketh the country adjoyning barren and unusefull , fit onely to breed innumerable swa●●es of musquitos , a kind of pestilent flyes , which as they are rise in many other places of the west indies , so are they here exceeding troublesome to the inhabitants . the lake of mexico in the surrounding bosome whereof the city standeth to the north , being more then eight leagues in length , and in most places five in bredth , is on every side well planted and well inhabited : culuala as is reported consisting of 20000. families ▪ yztacapalpa of 10000. some others 4 or 5000. a strong argument to beleeve the regions round about to be exceeding fertill . eight leagues to the south of mexico beyond the lake is zalateco , where is a plantifull silver mine . as are also tasco 22 , and zumpango 40. leagues to the south . beyond which yet more to the south , eighty leagues , from the metropolis somewhat above seventeen degrees of north latitude lyeth acapulco , the most famous port belonging to the south-sea . of all america concerning the city mexico it self , it may suffice to know that it is the greatest and richest of all this new world , standing as was formerly noted , upon the north side of the lake , about the twentieth degree of latitude , and according to herrea 130. in longitude from the miridian of toledo , no lesse then 1740. leagues distant the one from the other , it consisteth ( according to the relation of cortesius ) who first conquered it ) of three streets , whereof the least to the west is a mile and halfe ; a second to the north is three ; the greatest to the south is full two leagues in length , it is credibly reported to be now inhabited with 4000. spaniards , and 3000. natives , a small proportion in respect of what was formerly related . but then it is now farre better built and beautified , with a stately cathedrall , many churches , monasteries and schooles for learning . the temperature of this city differeth little from the regions adjacent , in the moyst moneths annoyed with too much rain , in the dry ( which are november , december , january , february and march ) much more infested with dust , that being raised by sudden whirlwinds , getteth up into their nostrils and produceth many diseases , especially fevers . there are yet two other things here very observable : first , that this great city , either through the negligence or avararice of the viceroy and his officers ; in not dispending what was yeerly allowed for repairing the mounds of the lake , was in the yeer 1629. miserably overflown , to the drowning of many thousand inhabitants , and to the losse of the greatest and best part of their houshold-stuffe and other goods , which were either driven away or corrupted by the waters . a second thing here to be noted , is that this ▪ last yeere ( as it was constantly reported in london ) the viceroy of mexico and with him all nova hispania were revolted , and in open rebellion against the king of spaine ; which if it shall ( as yet it is verily beleeved ) prove true , it will be of high concernment to this nation or any other , into whose hearts it shall please god to put an effectuall desire of dispossesing the spaniard of his usurped stewardship . so unfaithfully imployed ( in respect of the fincere promoting of the gospell in the purity thereof ) and so tyrannically exercised , in regard of incredible oppressions , rapines and murthers there ( as their owne authors confesse ) inhumanely committed by them . now for the two other greater provinces under the command of mexico government : panaco to the north , the mechoacan to the south-west : i will briefly set downe so much as is of any concernment to be knowne . that part of panuco which is said to be both in length and bredth fifty leagues ; toward the arch-bishoprick of mexico is very habitable and fertill , and in times past of great note , for silver mines ( that are now thought to be neere exhausted . ) but the other part which bendeth to the north-east for fifty leagues to florida , so farre as it is yet discovered , is found overgrowne with woods , and barren . the spanish townes here not greatly inhabited beside panuco it selfe ( by them called saint steven ) are saint iago , 25. leagues to the west , and lewis de tampice , eight to the north , not farre from the gulfe of mexico . the most westerne province belonging to the mexico government is mecoachan , lying between mexico and the provinces of galaecia , bending into the continent towards the north sixty , and being bounded to the south , by the south-sea full 80. leagues : whereunto belong the port towne called zacatulca , thirty leagues from acapulco , then saint iago and malaccan 50. more from thence to the north-west . there are belonging to this large province two other little ones taximaroa within 30. leagues of mexico , and colima to the south-west , upon the confines of galaecia , 50. leagues from valad●lid the chiefe city of mecoachan . this colima is constantly reported to be very healthfull , apt for graine and cattell , but abounding with the choisest fish and fruit , and not without some gold mines , though it hath more brasse ( which is there so common ) that since the spaniards comming thither , they make all those instruments of brasse that we usually make of iron . and though this south-west part be the best of all , yet is there none ( unlesse high to the north not yet so fully discovered ) but is as rich , and every way as convenient to be inhabited . besides valadolid ( which the natives call guagangareo , standing upon a great lake as big as that of mexico ) there are many other spanish townes of note . first , leon very famous for the golden mines that have been found about it . then salaya , st. miguell and saint philippo , up to the north both of mexico and valadolid , though between them bending still westward ( all built by the viceroyet , many league distant the one from the other ) of great use to secure the vast treasute which is constantly conveyed from the most plentifull silver mines of elerema and many other ( of which hereafter ) against the pocacars , the most barbarous of all savages , who live as wild men in woods , and cannot as yet be brought under by the spaniard , though yet in hath beene long endeavoured , not without great losse on either side . galaecia . i am now come to nova galaecia to the west of mecoacha● bounded to the west with the sea of california ; but to the north and north-west , though large and spatious countryes are discovered , yet it is concluded by the learned in this kind , that there resteth much more to be discovered . this government hath annexed unto it divers other provinces , guaidala●ara , xal●sco , zacatecas , chiametla , biscaia ; as also california , c●bola , quivira and nova mexico ; of which when i have briefly spoken , you have all that i thought fit in so short a compendium to communicate touching the northerne america . guadalaira the principall and most southerne province of galaecia , is bounded to the east , with some parts of the provinces of mexico and mecoachan , to the west with xalisco ; to the north with zacatecas , where the most plentifull silver mines are thought to begin ; but of late it is found that about guadaliarae the chiefe , and indeed the onely towne here , there are more plentifull silver mines , ●ere they as the other so well searched , which for want of men they have not as yet been discovered . and it is further to be observed that this inland province is for temperature and fruitfulnesse in most respects second to none . xalisco is to the west of guadaliara , upon that sea-cost called mare pacificum , that is , the still sea . the onely thing of observation here is an herbe , which the native call curcas , highly extolled by monardes the great herbalist , to be of singular use against most diseases . cametla likewise lyeth upon the same sea-coast , but a degree or two higher to the north : the great store of inhabitants which herrea mentioneth to have been there , shew it to be ferti●● . and ybara , who in the yeere 1554. built saint sebastian the onely spanish towne there , found many silver mines and of late more have been discovered . culacan a degree more to the north , bending to the west and coasting upon the foresaid sea , was found out by nonnius gusmanus , who anno 1531. did build a towne there called del espar●u sancto . this province ( as the former ) is very fruitfull and rich in silver mines ; the women here are reported to be very comely and beautifull , and to goe modestly attired , a thing not usuall in these countryes . cinoloa yet four degrees further to the north , in the full extent of it towards the west was discovered by the same gusmanus ; but i doe not read of any thing ( which after his long travails and search ) was worth his labour : the maritimate places belonging to these provinces in north latitude , of no lesse extent then from the 19. to the 27. degrees , are cape de corientes at the turning of the continent , then port de singuiquipaque upon the 22. degree , then saint sebastian in chametla , saint miguel in culica , the rivers de pascua , and petatlan in cinaloa , still higher to the north . calfornia , though it be esteemed to be of very large extent , yet hath it not been as yet discovered . sir francis drake in his admirably happy voyage , compassing the world , fell upon it ( and was from such savages as there inhabiting more kindly entertained then he expected ) he took possession thereof in the name of the queen of england : a good presage , that the most remote parts being seized upon , the rest shall be possessed by us , in his good time who is the onely disposer of the earth . the inland provinces zacatacas , topia and nova biscaya , lying between the calfornian sea and the upper part of the gulf of mexico : between cullacan and panuco , of the same latitude upon the tropicke of cancer , and between cinaloa and the river escondido , foure degrees higher to the north , neere the 28. degree of the north latitude , containe much ground , more rich then any , in regard of the many silver mines ; but yet poorer then any , in regard of the small sustentation they afford for the life of man . ybara imployed by velascus , anno 1554. discovered in the province of zacatecas , five exceeding rich silver mines ; one that is known by the name of the province , forty leagues from gua●dalaira ; then those of ellerena , saint martin , avinno and dios , which last being neere to the rising of the river panuco , at least 100. leauges from the north-sea is somewhat fertill . the abundant store of treasure taken forth of these rich mines may be guessed at by the 600. spaniards , who are here continually imployed in digging , and by the tax of the fifth part , amounting to 50000l . yeerly . the other mines belonging to topia and biscaia , e●dehe , barbara and iuan , afford as much treasure and better provision for life . cibola , quivira and nova mexico , three other provinces , are yet much more to the north by many degrees . from the most southerne parts of cibola to the most northern of nova mexico not lesse then fifteen , so as they must needs be of a very large extent ( the longitude being considered with the latitude . ) but the relations of these most westerne north parts of america are so variously reported and so contradicted , as little can here be set downe for certaine . a fryar marke de niza , ( in a relation to the viceroy ) telleth wonders concerning the riches , the stately buildings , the most pleasant inviting habitations in cabola : but vasquius de cornado , who thereupon was presently sent away to make a further discovery with 150. horse and 200. foot , finding nothing worth his great travaile and cost , certified so much to the viceroy , with an ample expression of his , and his souldiers detestation of the fryars fained relation . quivira ( which gomara and herrea likewise place in the 40. degree of the north latitue , is by both said to be barren , and not much inhabited . the greatest riches here that serve to feed , and cloth , and carry them , are infinit number of beasts , resembling in regard of their greatnesse , our greatest horse and oxen , and their pels ( are said ) to afford wool not inferiour to some of ours . nova mexico is ( as i said ) placed yet many degrees more to the north-west ; of which ( unlesse i would endeavour to delude the reader ) to write little or nothing , is to write best . gonsalez de mendoca in a little narrative ( printed at madrill , anno 1589. ) maketh a strange relation of what had bin lately performed by one augustinus ruyz ( one of his owne more hollow , then holy fraternity ) how by his powerfull preaching to savages ( not much inferious to his founder saint francis , who is said to preach to wilde beasts ) converted instantly two great provinces of nova mexico , concht , and tiguria . but withall he confesseth that for the killing of a zealous ( it might more truely he said of a foolish over-venturous fryar amongst men , who in regard of the knowledge of christ are but beasts ) one anthonius de espiro , ( i cannot thinke him to be inspired with any better spirit then that of the antichrist of rome ) made flaughter of more then forty thousand poore , silly , ignorant indians , who had never learned to distinguish what their hollow fathers were better then other cruell , mercilesse , spaniards . he telleth us of many thousands converted to the christian faith by the preaching of fryars ( no better inspired then was the foresaid anthonius . ) a strange thing that a few ignorant fryars should doe more in a few dayes , then all their spanish clergy did in one hundred and seventy yeeres in places farre neerer . he telleth us also , as doth his brother de benavides ( in a more late narrative ) of the conquering of peri , tebe , queres , tompires , and many more sained provinces of nova mexico , and of the exceeding progresse of the faith in those parts . all which ▪ and many more , their incredible expressions are fit to be cast off , being in all probability but the subtile fictions of spanish & popish factors , who ( like travellers ) take liberty to lye ; and ( like lap-wings ) to devert and carry us from those knowne places as are every way convenient for habitation and yeeld such increible yeerely revenue to the spanish king , monarch ( who would be of christendom ) that all the reformed churches of christendom , for the present extreamlybleed for it ; ( witnes england and ireland ) which are now set on fire & ready to perish ( unlesse the great god of heaven and earth be pleased to put in and redeem both , from the most detestable imaginations and most bloody contrivements of spanish pentioners ( the popes grand engeneers ) who have ca●tivated our king , and seek to undoe the whole kingdome , that they may have their yeerly 3 or 4000 livre. pensions continued . but he that dwelleth on high seeth and laugheth their wicked councels to scorne . and i doubt not but the wisedome of this present parliament ( inspired and assisted from above , will finde out these wicked men ( the prime troublers of our church and kingdome ) and bring them here to condigne punishment . which i have good cause confidently to beleeve , because they are so forward and zealous ( as appeareth by a late ordinance ) to propagate the gospell in america , the onely best way to continve it here in the purity and power of it ; which is and shall be my constant prayer to god for these so extreamly distressed churches and kingdomes . the southerne description of america ( god permitting ) shall shortly be set forth in another booke . finis . the discoueries of the world from their first originall vnto the yeere of our lord 1555. briefly written in the portugall tongue by antonie galuano, gouernour of ternate, the chiefe island of the malucos: corrected, quoted, and now published in english by richard hakluyt, sometimes student of christ church in oxford tratato. que compôs o nobre & notavel capitão antonio galvão, dos diversos & desvayrados caminhos, por onde nos tempos passados a pimenta & especearia veyo da india ás nossas partes. english galvão, antónio, d. 1557. 1601 approx. 315 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 55 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a01426 stc 11543 estc s105675 99841401 99841401 5982 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a01426) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 5982) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 887:19) the discoueries of the world from their first originall vnto the yeere of our lord 1555. briefly written in the portugall tongue by antonie galuano, gouernour of ternate, the chiefe island of the malucos: corrected, quoted, and now published in english by richard hakluyt, sometimes student of christ church in oxford tratato. que compôs o nobre & notavel capitão antonio galvão, dos diversos & desvayrados caminhos, por onde nos tempos passados a pimenta & especearia veyo da india ás nossas partes. english galvão, antónio, d. 1557. hakluyt, richard, 1552?-1616. [12], 97, [3] p. [printed at eliot's court press] impensis g. bishop, londini : 1601. a translation of: tratato. que compôs o nobre & notavel capitão antonio galvão, dos diversos & desvayrados caminhos, por onde nos tempos passados a pimenta & especearia veyo da india ás nossas partes. printer identified by stc. the last leaf is blank. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng discoveries in geography -early works to 1800. america -early accounts to 1600. america -discovery and exploration, spanish -early works to 1800. 2007-01 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-01 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-06 elspeth healey sampled and proofread 2007-06 elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the discoveries of the world from their first originall vnto the yeere of our lord 1555. briefly written in the portugall tongue by antonie galvano , gouernour of ternate , the chiefe island of the malucos : corrected , quoted , and now published in english by richard hakluyt , sometimes student of christchurch in oxford . londini , impensis g. bishop . 1601. to the right honorable , sir robert cecill knight , principall secretarie to her maiestie , master of the court of vvards and liueries , the woorthy chancellour of the vniuersitie of cambridge , and one of her maiesties most honorable priuie counsell . right honorable , while i went about to publish our english voyages and discoueries , i was aduised by master walter cope , a gentleman of rare and excellent parts , to draw them into a short sum , adding that in his opinion that course woulde prooue most acceptable to the world , especially to men of great action and employment . although in that worke then vnder the presse i could not conueniently alter my course , yet holding his aduise , as in many things else , so in this for sound and very good , i heere present vnto your honour a briefe treatie most agreeable to the same . the authour whereof was one antonie galuano , a portugall gentleman : of whose pietie towards god , equitie towards men , fidelity to his prince , loue to his countrey , skill in sea causes , experience in histories , liberalitie towards his nation , vigilance , valour , wisedome and diligence in restoring & setling the decaied state of the isles of maluco , ( where he remained sixe or seuen yeeres gouernour , ) if it please your honour to read fernando lopez de castagneda , or ioannes maffeius in their histories of the east indies , you shall finde more written in his singular commendation , then a large epistle can well comprehend . the worke though s●all in bulke containeth so much rare and profitable matter , as i know not where to seeke the like , within so narrow and streite a compasse . for heerein is orderly declared , who were the first discouerours of the world since the time of the flood : by what waies from age to age the spicerie , drugs , and riches of the east were conueied into the west : what were the causes of the alterations of those courses , as namely the changes of empires and gouernments : the ceasing of all trafficke for many yeeres by the gothes inuasion of the romane empire : the rising vp of the mahumetane sect ; with their ouerrunning of afrike and spaine : the renewing againe , after many yeeres disturbance , of the trafficke and entercourse of the east indies ; first by the califas of the aforesaid sect : and eftsoones by the venetians , ienowais and florentines . then followeth the taking of ceuta in barbarie by iohn the first king of portugall of that name in the yeere of our lord 1415. whose third sonne don henry ( which he had by the vertuous ladie philippa , daughter of iohn of gante , 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 yeeres euen to his dying day . by whose encouragement the kings of portugall found out with much patience and constancie the last way of the bringing the spicerie into europe by the cape of buona sperança ; and for these hundred yeeres past haue become the chiefe lords of the riches of the orient by emulation of which their good endeuours , the antiles and the west indies began to be discouered by the kings of spaine . the infancies of both which most important enterprises , the progresse of the same from time to time , the discoueries of islands , riuers , baies and harbours , of many rich prouinces , kingdomes , and countries ; the erecting of castles in sundry conuenient islands and places , with the drawing of trafficke vnto the same , where , when , by whom , and by whose authority is heere succinctly and faithfully recorded . so that if it please your honour at your conuenient leisure to take a sea card or a mappe of the world , and carie your eie vpon the coast of africa from cape de non , lying on the mayne in 29. degrees of northerly latitude , and follow the shore about the cape of buona sperança till you come to the mouth of the redde sea , and passing thence along by the countrey of arabia crosse ouer to india , and doubling cape comory compasse the gulfe of bengala , & shooting by the citie of malacca through the streite of cincapura , coast al the south of asia to the northeast part of china , and comprehend in this view all the islands from the açores and madera in the west , to the malucoes , the philippinas , and iapan in the east : you shall heere finde by order , who were the first discouerours , conquerours and planters in euery place : as also the natures and commodities of the soyles , togither with the forces , qualities , and conditions of the inhabitants . and that which i mention of the orient , is likewise to be vnderstood of the occident . now touching the translation , it may please you sir , to be aduertised that it was first done into our language by some honest and well affected marchant of our nation , whose name by no meanes i could attaine vnto , and that as it seemeth many yeeres ago . for it hath lien by me aboue these twelue yeeres . in all which space though i haue made much inquirie , and sent to lisbon , where it seemeth it was printed , yet to this day i could neuer obtaine the originall copie ; whereby i might reforme the manifold errours of the translator . for whereas a good translator ought to be well acquainted with the proprietie of the tongue out of which , and of that into which he translateth , and thirdly with the subiect or matter it selfe : i found this translator very defectiue in all three ; especially in the last . for the supplying of whose defects i had none other remedie , but to haue recourse vnto the originall histories , ( which as it appeereth are very many , and many of them exceeding rare and hard to come by ) out of which the authour himselfe drew the greatest part of this discourse . and in very deede it cost me more trauaile to search out the grounds thereof , and to annexe the marginall quotations vnto the worke , then the translation of many such bookes would haue put me vnto . of which quotations there is yet a farther vse ; to wit , that such as haue leasure sufficient , and are desirous to reade these things more at large , ( for breuitie oftentimes breedeth obscuritie ) may fully satisfie their desires by hauing recourse by the helpe therof to the pure fountaines , out of which those waters which are drawne are for the most part most sweete and holsome . now if any man shall maruel , that in these discoueries of the world for the ●pace almost of fower thousand yeeres here set downe , our nation is scarce fower times mentioned : hee is to vnderstand , that when this authour ended this discourse , ( which was about the yeere of grace 1555. ) there was little extant of our mens trauailes . and for ought i can see , there had no great matter yet come to light , if my selfe had not vndertaken that heauie burden , being neuer therein entertained to any purpose , vntill i had recourse vnto your selfe , by whose speciall fauour and bountifull patronage i 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 into briefe epitomes , by my selfe or some other endued with an honest zeale of the honour of our countrey . in the meane season nothing doubting of your fauourable acceptation of this my labour , i humbly beseech the authour of all goodnes to replenish and enrich you with his best blessings , long to protect and preserue your honour to the profitable seruice of her maiestie , and to the common benefit and good of the realme . from london this 29. of october 1061. your honors chaplein , in all dutie most readie to be commanded , richard haklvyt . francis de sousa tauares vnto the high and mightie prince don iohn duke of aueiro . antonie galuano vpon his death bed left vnto me in his testament among his papers this booke . and because i am certaine he ordained it to bee presented vnto your grace , i haue thought good herein to fulfill his wil & testament , though in other things i haue done nothing , the fault remaining not in me . and by all reason this treatie ought to be set foorth by a portugall , seeing it intreateth of the variable waies from whence the pepper and spices came in times past into our partes , and also of all the nauigations and discoueries in the old time : in both of which things the portugals haue most trauailed . in this treatie and in nine or ten bookes of things touching maluco and india ( which the cardinall willed me to giue to damian de goes , saying that he should content me , for otherwise i could not deliuer them ) this true portugall occupied himselfe against the vnfortunate and sorrow●ull times which he had been in ( which were all ended before all our daies and times : ) for when he receiued the captainship and fortresses of maluco , all the kings and gouernours of all the ilands about being agreed to make war against the portugals , vntill such time as they might driue them all out of the countrey , he fought against them all ▪ with onely 130. portugals , when they were all together , and strong in tidore ; and he gaue them the ouerthrow and killed their king , and one ●ernate , the principal author of that war , and he tooke from them their fortresse : so vpon this victorie they submitted themselues , and came vnder the obeisance and seruice of our king of portugall . 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 euer at variance among themselues : the second , that the captaine of maluco with onely his ordinarie soldiers should haue the victorie against so many being all together . for sometimes it happeneth that some of the captaines of maluco with many extraordinarie 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 losse . so there may be reckoned three notable things done in india , i say of qualitie : ( but of more quantitie and importance there haue been others : ) which were the taking of muar by emmanuel falcon , and the winning of bitam by peter mascarenas , and this , whereof we presently treate . for all these three deedes seemed to be impossible to be atchieued , considering the small quantitie of soldiers which the captaines had in giuing the enterprise against so many ; with the order and maner 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 meane and order not thought of at the first by the portugals , nor yet euer suspected by their enimies . and , besides this , his father and fower 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 crusadoes , 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 , employing all his power and strength that all the cloues might come vnto the hands of the kings highnes : which with maluco yeelded vnto him euery yeere fiue hundred thousand crusadoes ; being all to his great preiudice , let , and hinderance . for if he had gathered cloues for himselfe , 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 simplicitie of the best natures ) to be rewarded for his good seruice , and to be more fauoured and honored , then if he had brought home with him an hundred thousand crusadoes , he was greatly deceiued . for he found neither fauour , nor yet honor , but onely among the poore and miserable , to wit , in an hospitall : where he was kept seuenteene yeeres vntill the hower of his death ; and there he had allowed vnto him his winding sheete to burie him in : and the brotherhood of the couent prepared for his buriall as for a poore courtier cast off by all men , leauing himselfe indebted in two thousand 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 seuenteene yeeres he had not of his highnes for to helpe himselfe with so much as one riall of plate , nor yet i of the bookes which i deliuered receiued any thing to discharge his will with . yet for all this , euen as vpon the prosperitie of his victories he neuer made any boast , so likewise in his aduersities 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 neuer vnto the hower of his death left off to raise and to augment the yeerely rent vnto a counto : which some made strange and would not giue eare 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 , which 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 ouercomming of kings by the arte of warfare , readines in resoluing , prudence in conseruing , and great loialtie and patience with many seruices vnto his king and master . in which of all these he had most contentation it cannot easily be determined . wherefore your noble grace may see , that this treatie and the others were made with sighes and afflictions which his inferiour will might haue raised vp in him against his superiour reason . neither was he willing to take for his remedie that which that great turke zelim sonne to the great mahumet did , ( for he tooke constantinople and died in rome ) who vsed to make himselfe drunke , because he would not remember the great estate which he lost : nor yet woulde he giue eare vnto those things which many of his friends would tell him , wishing he would settle his mind out of the kingdome : ( for otherwise he should neuer be able to liue : ) whereunto he answered , that in this point he would rather be compared vnto the great timocles the athenian , then to be like the excellent romane coriolanus . which is a goodly example of a true and faithfull portugall . ( though it were not so as i doe say , yet i doe heare , that the hospitals be full of the most faithfull subiects to their prince and countrey . ) wherefore by all reason this treatie ought to be of your grace fauoured , setting apart all ouersights , if there be any , in this worke , of the author : i being not able to attaine vnto the vnderstanding of the contrary . god prosper your grace with long life and increase of honour . an excellent treatise of antonie galvano portugall , containing the most ancient and moderne discoueries of the world especially by nauigation , according to the course of times from the flood vntill the yeere of grace 1555. while i had a desire to gather together some olde and some new discoueries , which haue béene made by sea and by land , with their iust times and situations ; they séemed to be two things of so great difficultie , that being cōfused in the authors of them , i determined once to desist frō any such purpose . for touching the course of time the herbre●es declare , that from the beginning of the world to the flood were 1656. yéeres . the seuentie interpreters make mention of 2242. and s. augustine reckoneth 2262. in the situations likewise there be many differences . for there neuer sailed together in one fleete at sea from ten pilots to the number of 100. but that some of them found themselues by reckoning in one longitude and other some in another . but considering better with my selfe , that the difficulties are open●o , and the differences amended by others of more exact iudgement and vnderstanding therein , i purposed notwithstanding to procéede in this worke of discoueries . some there be that say , that the world hath fully béene discouered : and they alleage this reason , that as it hath b●ene peopled and inhabited , so it might be frequented , and nauigable , 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 béene so once , yet the same would haue beene lost againe 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 discouerers since the time of the flood . some affirme that they were the gréekes , others say , the phoenicians , others also the egyptians . the people of india agrée 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 the lords of the indiaes euen vnto the cape of bona sperança , & the island of s. laurence , which is inhabited by them ▪ and al along the sea ; as also the iauaes , timores , celebes , maca●ares , malucos , borneos , mindanaos , luçones , lequeos , iapones , 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 adioining vnto them , as appéereth 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 ilands and countreies are called by the names of b●tochina , bocho-china , which is as much to say , as the countreies of china . further it appeereth by histories , that the arke of noe rested vpon the north parts of the mountaines of armenia , which stands in 40. degrées and vpwards : and that immediately thereupon scythia was first peopled , for that it is an high land , and appéered first after the flood . and séeing the prouince and countrey of the taben●os is one of the chiefest of all tartarie , as they report , it is to be thought that they were of the most ancient inhabitants , and men of the most ancient nauigations , the seas being as calme as the riuers be in those parts lying betwéene the tropicks , where the daies and nights do not much differ , as well in the howers , as in the temperature : where there blow no outragious windes , to cause the waters to rise or to be troubled . and by late experience it is sound , that the small barks wherein they saile haue onely a great high bough in the middest of the barke , standing in steed both of mast and saile , and the master holdeth onely an ●are in his hand to stirre withall : and so they saile swiftly along the coast ; and the rest of the passengers sit onely vpon certaine poles , which are fastened in the barke , which they call catamarones , and so they passe without rowing . it is further said , that the people of china were somtimes lords of the most part of scythia , and sailed ordinarily along that coast , which séemeth to reach vnto 70. degrées toward 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 sue●ia sent vnto him certaine indians , which came thither in a ship from this countrey , comming by the north and by the flats of germanie . 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 intemperature of such northerly regions . as for cambaia there is shipping also in it , and the people by report haue vsed the seas many yéeres : but it seemeth not that they were any of them which came into france : for that they trafficke onely to cairo , and are men in déed of little trafficke 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. yéeres 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 contention 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 first sea trauaile . but omitting all iars and differences thereabouts , i will apply my selfe to my purposed discourse , and speake of that which histories haue left in record . there be some wel séene in antiquities , which say that in the 143. yéere after the flood , tubal came by sea into spaine , whereby it séemeth that in those times nauigations were vsed into our parts out of ethiopia . and they also say farther , that not long after this , the quéene semyramis went against the indians in that riuer wherof they tooke their name , and therein gaue battaile vnto the king stabrobates , wherin he lost a thousand ships . which being credible by the ancient historie , prooueth manifestly that in those parts , in those times were many ships , and the seas frequented in good numbers . in the 650. yéere 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 , whereof he was prince : and gonsaluo fernandes of ouiedo the chronicler of antiquities affirmeth , that in his time the islands of the west indies were discouered , and called somewhat after his name he●perides : and he alleageth many reasons to prooue it , reporting particularly that in 40. daies 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 an●iles : and they doe not differ far from reason : seeing in those times and many yeeres after they did vse to saile onely along the coast , not passing through the maine ocean sea : for they had neither altitude nor compasse then in vse , nor any mariners so expert . it cannot be denied , but that there were many countries , islands , capes is●hmos and 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 w●sted and consumed them , and separated one countrey from another , both in europe , asia , af●ica , new spaine , peru , and other places . plato saith in his dialogue of timaeus , that there were in ancient times in the ocean sea atlanticke certaine great islands and countries named atlantides greater then afrike and 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 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 aphrodisias , but only a bare mention of it in ancient authors . the said island of cadiz is further said to haue béen so large and big , that it did ioine with the firme land of spaine . the islands of the açores were sometimes a point of the mountaines of estrella , which ioine vnto the sea ouer the towne of syntra : and also from sierra verde or the gréene 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 from the firme land , though they be neuer so farre from the continent : for otherwise they could not stand firme . there are other histories which say , that from spaine vnto ceuta in barbarie men sometimes trauailed on foote vpon drie land , and that the islands of sardinia and corsica did ioine the one with the other , as also did sicilia with italie , and negroponto with graecia . we reade also that there were found hulles of ships , ankers of iron , and other memorials of shipping vpon the mountaines of sussa farre within the land : where as it seemeth now 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 frō thence there stands now a little island , which few yéeres past was part of the firme land that is ouer against it . furthermore it is to be séene , how ptolemey in his tables dot● set the land of malacca to the south of the line in thrée or fower degrées of latitude , whereas now it is at the point thereof , being called ●entana , in one degrée on the north side , as appéereth in the straight of cincapura , where daily they doe passe through vnto the coast of sian and china , where the island 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. degrées 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 ●entana , with the islands of bi●tan , banca , & salitres being many that waies , & the land might be all slime & oaze ; and so the point of china , might ioine with the islands of the luçones , borneos , lequeos , mindanaos , & others which stand in this parallele : they also as yet hauing in opinion that the island of samatra did ioine with iaua by the chanell of sunda , and the islands of bali , aujaue , çambaua , solor , hogaleao , maulua , vintara , rosalaguin , and others that be in this parallele and altitude did all ioine with iaua ; and so they séeme outwardly to those that descrie them . for at this day the islands stand so néere the one to the other , that they séeme all but one firme land ; and whosoeuer passeth betwéene some of them , may touch with their hand the boughs of the trées on the one and on the other side also . and to come néerer to the matter , it is not long since , that in the east the islands of banda were diuers of them ouerflowen and drowned by the sea : and so likewise in china about nine score miles of firme ground is now become a lake , as it is reported . 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 . after the flood 800. yéeres we reade that the citie of troy was builded by the dardans ; and that before that time they brought out of the indies into europe by the red sea , spices , 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 , séeing 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. degrées 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. degrées of latitude , yeelding vnto euery degrée 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 sticke in the ground as they went. but after that , because this course and iourney had many inconueniences , they changed and altered the same twise , to finde out the most commodious way . 900. yéeres 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 rūneth 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 italie . 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 , africa had then béen made as an island all compassed with water , being no more ground betweene sea and sea , then the space of 20. leagues or 60. miles . about this time the graecians gathered together an army or fléete , which now is called argonautica , whereof iason 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 iason thereupon returned backe into greece . alceus reported that he was driuen with a tempest to the lake maeotis , where he was forsaken of al his company , and they which escaped with great trauaile , passed through by land vnto the ocean sea of almaine , where they tooke shipping , passing the coasts of saxonie , frisland , holland , flanders , france , spaine , italie , and so returned vnto peloponesus and greece , discouering the most part of the coast of europe . strabo , alleaging aristonicus the grammarian , sheweth that after the destruction of troy 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 sperança , 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 aegaean , 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 coast of africa . in the yéere 1300. after the flood solomon caused a nauie to be prepared on the red sea , 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 thrée yéeres on this voyage , and then returned , and brought with them gold , siluer , cypres , &c. whereby it séemeth that those places , and islands were those , which now be called the luçones , 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 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 sée 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 , sofala , till they came to the cape of bona esperança , 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 . notwithstanding 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 yéeres . and these are thought to be the first , that compassed by sea all the coast of afrike , and sailed round about it . in the yéere 590. before the incarnation of christ there went out of spaine a fléete of carthaginian marchants vpon their owne proper costs and charges , which sailed toward the west through the high seas to sée 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 quiedo saith were then discouered , although christopher columbus afterwards by his trauaile got more exact knowledge of them , and hath left vs an euident notice where they be . but all these historians , which wrote of these antiles before , as of doubtfull and vncertaine things , and of places vndiscouered , doe now plainly confesse the same to be the countrey of noua spagna . in the yéere 520. before the incarnation , and after the setting out of the aforesaid army , cambyses king of persia tooke egypt , after whom succéeded darius the sonne of histaspis , and he determined to make an end of the enterprise which king sesostris had 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 béen 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 : whereupon 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 some things incident to this discourse . the egyptians say that they had in their countrey certaine vermine like vnto rats , whereof many be halfe like earth and the other halfe like a vermine . one kinde of them kéepe the water , and another kinde the land . for my part i thinke that these be they , which breake the serpents egges , whereof there are many in the riuer nilus , which also be called crocodiles : which in times past by report were so inchanted , that thereby they could not hurt any person . but when they were deliuered from their inchantment made by the egyptians arte , and letters , then they endeuoured to kill people , wilde beasts and cattell , doing very much harme , specially those which liue in the water , which oftentimes come to the land , and liuing altogether on 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 betwéene his téeth , 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 prouided the bird a sharpe pricke as it were , growing out of his head , wherewith he pricketh the crocodile 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 vermine , which eate the egges of the crocodiles , are greatly estéemed of the egyptians . but now to returne to my matter , and to procéede in the discoueries ; in the yéere 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 promontorie of africa , which now we call the cape of bona sperança , standing southward betwixt 34. and 35. degrées in latitude , and being weary of so great a nauigation turned from thence backe againe , as bartholomew diaz did in our daies . before the comming of christ 443. yéeres himilco and hanno his brother carthaginian captaines gouerning that part of spaine , which is now called andaluzia , departed from thence each one with his nauie . himilco sailing towards the north discouered the coasts of spaine , france , england , flanders and germanie . and some write farther , that he sailed vnto gotland , & came to the island of thule , or island , standing vnder the circle arcticke in 24. degrées from the north pole , and continued in his nauigation two yéeres , til he came vnto this island , where the day hath in iune 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 discouered the fortunate islands , which we call the canaries , and besides these he discouered others , as the dorcades , hesperides , & 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 sperança , 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. degrées toward the north ; and he came to the coast of arabia standing in 16. and 17. degrées ; and was fiue yéeres 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 afterwards discouered as far as the line . but it séemeth 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 sperança are great witches , and inchanters of certaine snakes , which they bring to such seruice , and commandement , that they kéepe their churches and churchyards , gardens , orchards , barnes , and cattel as well from wilde beasts , as from théeues . 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 théeues be many , or the wilde beastes of so much strength , that they dare not meddle 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 certaine italian called aloisius cadamusta writeth , that he being in the discouerie of guiney in the kingdome of budimol 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 he came againe , cadamusta demanded of him , where he had béen ; and he answered that he had béen with his cobras or snakes which called him . in the indias there be many of these kinde of snakes , and some full of poison , which notwithstanding 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 commandement . there was a portugall that somtime told me , that beyond the cape of bona sperança towards sofala , quiloa , and melinde , where he had béen , there were certaine birds , which would come to the black moores at their call , and according as the moores did remooue , so the birds would doe , from one trée to another : and they vsed to follow them till they did light vpon some trée , from whence they could not remooue . and as the negros went vp the trée they should finde waxe and honie thereupon , not knowing whether it grewe there 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 and natures of women , which the fishermen of those places were acquainted with . in the yéere 355. before christ it is said that the spanyards sailed through the maine sea till they came vnto the flats of india , arabia , and those coasts adioyning , whereunto they caried diuers marchandises , which trade they vsed in great ships . and sailing to the northwest they came vnto certaine flats , which with the flowing of the sea were couered , and with the ebbe were discouered , finding there many tunnies of great bignes , where they commonly vsed to fish them to their great profit , because they were the first vntill that time that they had séene , and were greatly esteemed . the time of alexander magnus , as appiereth by the ages of the world , was before the comming of christ 324. yéeres : we all know that he was borne in europe : but he trauailed into asia & africa , and passed through armenia , assyria , persia , & bactria , standing northerly in 44. degrées 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 fléete , 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 béen bastard sonne vnto philip father of the foresaid alexander the great . this ptolemey imitating the forenamed kings sesostris aud darius , made a trench or ditch of an hundred foote broad and of thirty foote déepe , and ten or twelue leagues in length till he came to the bitter welles , pretending to haue his worke run into the sea from a mouth of the riuer nilus , called pelusium , passing now by the citie damiata . but this thing tooke none effect : for that the red sea was thought to be higher by thrée cubits then the land of egypt , which would haue ouerflowed all the countrey , to the ruine and losse thereof . in the yéere 277. before the incarnation succéeded in the gouernment of the kingdome one philadelphus , who brought to passe that the marchandises should come out of europe to the citie of alexandria vpwards by the riuer nilus vnto a city named coptus , and from thence to be conueyed by land to a hauen standing vpon the red sea called myos-hormos ; which way was trauailed in the night , the pilots directing themselues by the stars , which were expert in that practise . and because water was scant that way , they vsed to carrie it with them for all the companie , till at the last to auoide that trouble they digged very déepe wels , and made large cisterns for the receipt of raine water , by which the way furnished with that commoditie , which at the first it wanted grewe in continuance of time to be the more frequented . but whereas the straight way was dangerons by reason of flats and islands , the aforesaid king philadelphus with his armies went on the side of troglodytica , and in an hauen called berenice caused the ships to arriue which came out of india , being a place of more suretie and lesse perill ; from whence they might easily carrie the wares to the citie of coptus , and so to alexandria . and by this meane alexandria grew so famous and rich , that in those daies there was no citie of the world comparable to it . and to speake briefly and particularly 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 yéelded in customes vnto him yéerly seuen millions and an halfe of gold , although the trafficke was not then scant twenty yéeres 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 néerer in couetousnes , so they enhansed the customes : so that within a little time the citie yéelded double the foresaide summe . for the traffike grew so excéeding great , that they sent euery yéere into india 120. ships laden with wares , which began to set saile from myos-hormos about the middle of iuly , and returned backe againe within one yéere . the marchandise which they did carrie amounted vnto one million two hundred thousand crownes , and there was made in returne of euery crowne 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 ptolemaeus 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 sperança till he came vnto the island of cadiz : 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 appiereth the more manifest by this , that caius caesar the sonne of augustus going into arabia did finde in the red sea certaine péeces 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 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 200. yéere 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 gibraltar , and running to the northwest , found right ouer against the cape finisterre ten islands , wherein was much tinne : and they may be those which were called the cassiterides , & being come to 50. degrées of latitude they found a * straight ; and passing through it towards 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 séeme 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. yéere 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 of zyzara , and passing the straight of persia entred into the ocean sea and sailed towards india all along the coast till he came to that place where alexander had béen , and there he tooke certaine ships which came from bengala , of whom he learned the state of that countrey . but because he was then in yéeres and wearie with his trauaile , but especially 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 came the gothes , moores , and other barbarous nations , and destroied all . for in the yéere 412. after the incarnation of christ , they tooke the citie of rome : and the vandales came out of spaine and conquered africa . and in the yeere 450. the king called atila destroied many cities in italie : at which time the citie of venice began . and in this age the frankes and vandals entred into france . in the yéere 474. the empire of rome was lost , and fell from the romanes to the gothes . and after this came the lombards into italie , namely in the yéere 560. also about this time the sect of the arrians preuailed greatly : and at this time one merline of england was famous for his prophecies . to be short , in the yéere 611. sproong vp the mahumetane sect and morisco regiment , which by force inuaded both africa and spaine . by all this it may appéere , that in that age all the world was in an hurly burly , and all places very tumultuous . in so much that trafficke and marchandise ceased : for no nation durst trade one with another neither by sea nor land : nothing as then remained stedfast neither in monarchies nor kingdomes , signiories , religions , lawes , artes , sciences , nor nauigations . nor so much as the records and writings of such things did remaine , but were all burnt and consumed by the barbarous crueltie and vnbrideled power of the gothes : who became so couetous and ambitious , that they purposed of themselues to begin a new world , and to roote out the memorie , and blot out the knowledge of all other nations besides . but they that succéeded 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 riuer indus , and there vnladed it , carrying it by land through the countrey of paropanisus by carauans vnto the prouince of bactria , and then shipped it in barks on the riuer oxus , which falleth into the caspian sea , and so sailed ouer that sea vnto an hauen of the riuer rha named citracan or astracan , and so vpwards in the said riuer which now is called volga ; and as it appéereth 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. degrées of latitude : & therehence 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 maeotis , and to the citie of caffa , 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 , that the trade this way endured vntill the raigne of commodita emperour 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 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 degrées of northerly latitude . and to that place came shipping for the marchandises out of europe and africa . it is further left recorded concerning this way of trafficke , that nicanor determined or had already begun to open aboue 120. miles of land , which lieth betwéene the caspian sea and pontus euxinus , that they might come and goe by water with their spices , drugs , and other commodities , there vsed . but in the meane time this mischiefe happened , that ptolemey ceraunos killed him , and by his death this woorthy and famous enterprise ceased without effect . but the other way being also at last lost by reason of the wars of the turks , it pleased god to open another way to these marchandises from the isle of samatra , the citie of malacca , and the island of iaua vnto bengala , and so carrying them vp the riuer ganges vnto the citie of agra ; from whence they trauailed ouer land vnto another citie standing néere the riuer indus named boghar , where they discharged , bicause the citie of * cabor standeth too farre within the land , being the principall citie of the mogores . from thence they went forward to the great citie of samarcand standing in the countrey of bactria : and there the marchants of india , persia , and turkie met , bringing thither their seuerall commodities , as cloth of gold , veluets , chamolets , scarlet , and woollen clothes , which were carried to cathay and the great kingdome of china : wherehence they brought againe gold , siluer , precious stones , pearles , silke , muske , and many other things of great value , and much rubarbe . after this these marchandise , drugs , and spiceries were carried in ships vpon the indian sea vnto the streight of ormus , and to the riuers euphrates and tigris ; and were vnladen in the citie of balsara standing in 31. degrées towards the north , and from thence they were caried ouer land vnto the cities of aleppo , damascus , and barutti standing on the same side in 35. degrées : and there the venetian gallies or galliasses , which transported pilgrims into the holy land , came and receiued of those goods . in the yéere 1153. in the time of fredericke barbarossa it is written that there came to lubec a citie of germanie one canoa with certaine indians , like vnto a long barge : which seemed to haue come from the coast of baccalaos , which standeth in the same latitude that germanie doth : the germaines greatly woondered to sée such a barge , and such people , not knowing from whence they came , nor vnderstanding their spéech , especially because there was then no knowledge of that countrey , 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 sée in these our daies , that the almadie which is but a small boate commeth notwithstanding from quiloa , mosambique , and sofala to the island of s. helena , being a small spot of land standing in the maine ocean off the coast of bona sperança so farre separated . in the yéere 1300. after the comming of christ the great soldan of cayro commanded that the spiceries and drugs , and marchandises of india should be carried through the red sea , as it was vsed before : at which time they vnladed on the arabian side , at the hauen of iuda , 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 profite of his countrey . and these soldans had speciall regarde to cayro , from whence the wares were carried vnto the countreyes of egypt , lybia , africa , the kingdomes of tunez , tremessen , fez , marocco , suz : and some of it was carried beyond the mountaines of atlas vnto the citie of tombuto , and the kingdome of the ialophos ; vntill afterwards that the portugals did bring it about the cape of bona sperança vnto the citie of lisbone , as in place conuenient we purpose to shew more at large . in the yéere 1344. king peter the fourth of that name reigning in arragon , the chronicles of his time report , that one don luis of cerda , sonne vnto the sonne of don iohn of cerda , craued aide of him to goe and to conquers the isles of the canaries , standing in 28. degrées of latitude to the north , because they were giuen vnto him by pope clement the sixt , which was a french man. whereby in those daies 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 certaintie . about this time also the island of madera was discouered by an english man called macham : who sailing out of england into spaine , with a woman of his , was driuen out of his direct course by a tempest , and arriued in that island , and cast his anker in that hauen , which now is called machico after the name of macham . and bicause his louer was then sea-sicke , he there went on land with some of his companie , and in the meane time his ship weyed and put to sea , leauing 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 , calling it by the name of iesus chappell : and wrote or graued vpon the stone of her tombe his name and hers , and the occasion whereupon they arriued there . after this he made himselfe a boate all of a trée , the trées being there of a great compasse 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 moores among whom he came tooke it for a miracle , and presented 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 yéere 1395. king henrie the third of that name reigning in castile , the information which macham gaue of this island , and also the ship wherein he went thither , mooued many 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 guepus●oes , 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 discouered the canaries and landed in them : where also they tooke 150 of the islanders prisoners . concerning the time of this discouerie , there is some difference among the writers : for some affirme 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 iohn the first of that name king of portugall , departed from the citie of lisbon with the prince don duarte or edward , and don peter , and don henry his sonnes , with other lords , and nobles of his realme , and sailed into africa , where he tooke the great citie of ceuta , standing on the north side thereof betwéene 35. and 36. degrees in latitude : which was one of the principall causes of the enlarging of the dominions of portugall . when they were come from thence , henry the kings third sonne , desirous to enlarge the kingdome & to discouer strange & vnknowne countreyes , being then in algarbe , gaue direction for the discouery of the coast of mauritania . for in those daies none of the portugals had euer passed the cape de non , standing in 29. degrées of latitude . and for the better accomplishing of this discouerie , the aforesaid don henry prepared a fléete , & gaue commandement to the chiefe captaines to procéede in discouerie from the aforesaide cape forward : which they did . but when they came to another cape named bojador , there was not one of them , that durst goe farther or beyond it : at which fearefull and cowardly faintnes of theirs the prince was excéedingly displeased . in the yéere 1417. king iohn the second reigning in castile , and his mother ladie katharine then vsing the gouernment , one monsieur ruben of bracamonte which was then admirall of france craued the conquest of the islands of the canaries , with the title to be king of them , for a kinsman of his called monsieur iohn betancourt : which being granted him by the quéene , and farther also partly furnished out , he departed from siuill with a good armie : 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 they sent into spaine many slaues , honie , waxe , camfora , or camfire , hides , orchall , figs , 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 lancerota , where they built in it a castle of stone for their better defence and securitie . in the yéere 1418. one iohn gonzales zarco , and tristam vaz teixera , housholde gentlemen vnto don henry the kings third sonne , perceiuing the desire that their master had to discouer new countreyes , and willing in that course to doe him some seruice , craued of him a barke , and licence to vndertake the action : which they obtained , and sailed to the coast of africa : where they were ouertaken with a terrible tempest ; but they were succoured by falling with the land , and entring into an hauen called santo , where they landed , and remained two yéeres . in the yéere 1420. they discouered the island of madera , where they founde the chappell and the stone and tombe , whereupon the foresaide macham had grauen his name . there are others that write that a certaine castillian perceiuing the desire and fauour to nauigation which don henry had , told him that they had found the island of porto santo ; which being but a small thing they made no reckoning of it . don henry sent bartholomew perestrello , iohn conzales zarco , tristam vaz teixera , and by the signes and likelyhoods that they had receiued , they went to porto santo , and there remained two yéeres : and after that , namely in the yéere 1420. they sailed also to the island of madera , where they found the memoriall 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 canaries vnto one peter barba of siuill . there are other which speake otherwise , and say that monsieur iohn 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 vncle , and sawe that he could not maintaine the warres any longer , he solde the canaries to don henry the king of portugals third sonne , for a certaine thing that he gaue him in the island of madera . in the yéere 1424. they write that the saide don henry prepared a nauie and armie to conquer these islands , wherein there went as captaine generall , one don fernando de 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 successe , he gaue ouer the action , and returned backe againe . after this don henry resigned ouer these islandes to the crowne of castile , in consideration of the aides which betancou●t had receiued . but the castillians agrée not vnto this report . for they say , that neither the kings of portugall , nor don henry would render the islands , 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 yéere 1431. whereupon this contention ceased touching the title of the canaries betwéen● the kings of portugall and of castile . these islands being in number seuen , were called by the name of fortunatae , standing in 28. degrées to the north : where the longest day is but 13. howers , and the longest night as much , lying distant from spaine 200. leagues , and from the coast of africa 18. 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 raised the ground with oxe hornes , and goats hornes . euery island did speake a seuerall language . they tooke many wiues , 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 other water , but that which procéedeth in the night from a trée , 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 yéere 1428. it is written that don peter the king of portugals eldest sonne was a great traueller . he went into england , france , almaine , and from thence into the holy land , and to other places ; and came home by italie , taking rome & venice in his way : from whence he brought a map of the world , which had all the parts of the world and earth described . the streight of magelan was called in it the dragons taile : the cape of bona sperança , the forefront of afrike , and so foorth of other places : by which map don henry the kings third sonne was much helped and furthered in his discoueries . it was tolde me by francis de sosa tauares , that in the yéere 1528. don fernando the kings sonne and heire did shew him a map , which was found in the studie of alcobaza , which had béene made 120. yéeres before , which map did set foorth all the nauigation of the east indies , with the cape of bona sperança , according as our later maps haue described it . whereby it appéereth , that in ancient time there was as much or more discouered , then now there is . notwithstanding all the trauaile , paines and expences in this action of don henry , yet he was neuer wearie of his purposed discoueries . at length there was a seruant of his called gilianes that first passed the cape bojador , a place before terrible to all men : and he brought word that it was not so dangerous , as it was reported : for on the other side of it he went on land , and in maner of taking possession , set in the ground a crosse of wood , to be as a marke and token afterwards of his discouery so farre . in the yéere 1433. in the moneth of august don iohn died , and his sonne don duarte or edward succéeded him in the kingdome . in the yéere 1434. don henry set out one alfonso gonsales baldaia , and gilianes aforesaid , and they went to another cape , which was beyond the former , and going on land perceiued 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 forward , till they came to a certaine point of land , from whence they turned backe againe . in the yéere 1438. king edward , whom the portugals call don duarte died , and don alphonso the prince being yoong , don peter his vncle gouerned the kingdome . in the yéere 1441. don henry sent out two ships , and the captaines were in the one tristan , and antonie gonsales in the other being put to sea they tooke a prise vpon the coast , and sailed on to cape blanco , that is the white cape , standing in 20. degrées , and informed don henry of the state of that coūtrey by the moores which they brought from thence . whereupon he sent one fernan 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 euerlasting pardon , and all other things demanded of him , vnto those which should die in this enterprise . after this , in the yéere 1443. don henry commanded antonie gonsales to carrie backe the slaues which he had brought , and to ransome them in their countrey : which he did , and the moores gaue them in trucke for them againe blacke moores with curled haire , and some gold ; so that now that place is called rio de oro , that is , the golden riuer ; whereby the desire of the discouerie might be the more increased . not long after he sent out another named nunnez tristan , who came vnto the islands of arguin , where he tooke more slaues , and brought them to portugall in the yéere 1444. hereupon also one lansarote , 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 garze , where they tooke two hundred slaues : which were the first that were brought from thence to portugall . in the yéere 1445. there went as captaine of a barke one gonsalo de syntra , an esquire belonging to don henry into those parts ; and he went on land , where he was taken with sixe or seuen more of his company , which place was therefore called after his name , angra de gonsaluo de syntra . this was the first losse , which the portugals receiued in their discoueries . in the yéere following don henry sent out thrée carauels , wherein went as captaines antonie gonsales , diego aloizio , and gomes perez , who had their direction , not to enter into rio de oro , nor to beare themselues disorderly , but to trauaile in peace , and to conuert as many infidels as they could to christianitie . but none of these things were performed by them ; for they returned without doing any memorable act . in the same yéere 1446. another esquire belonging to the king of portugall called denis fernandes of the citie of lisbon , entred into these discoueries , more to winne fame then to reape commoditie by them . and he being in his voiage came to the riuer of sanaga , standing betwéene 15. and 16. degrées of latitude towards the north , where he tooke certaine negroes ; and not contented therewith , he went forward and discouered cape verde , standing 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 yéere 1447. one nunnez tristan went foorth to discouer in a carauell , and he passed the aforesaid cape verde , and rio grande , and went past it vnto another standing beyond it in 12. degrées , where he was also taken with 18. portugals more : but the ship came home againe in safetie , conducted by fower or fiue which escaped the hands of the negroes . in this yéere 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 receiued 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 goldsmith 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 iustice . there be some that thinke , that those islands whereunto the portugals were thus driuen , were the antiles , or newe spaine , alleaging good reasons for their opinion , which here i omit , because they serue not to my purpose . but all their reasons séeme to agrée , that they should be that countrey , which is called noua spagna . in the yéere 1449. the king don alfonso gaue licence vnto his vncle don henry to inhabit the islands of the açores , which were long before discouered . and in the yéere 1458. this king went into africa , and there he tooke the towne called alcaçer . and in the yéere 1461. he commanded signior mendez a gentleman of his house to build the castle of arguin , whereof he gaue vnto him the gouernment , as to his lieutenant . in the yéere 1462. there came into the realme of portugall thrée genowais of good parentage , the chiefe of whom was called antonie de noli , and of the other two , the one was his brother , the other was his nep●ew , and each of these had his seuerall ship , crauing libertie of don henry to discouer the islands of cape verde , which was granted them . others say , that the places which they discouered , were those which antiquitie called the gorgades , hesperides , and dorcades : but they named them mayo , sainct iago , and sainct philip , because they discouered them on those saints daies : but they are also called by some the islands of antonio . in the yéere following 1463. this good noble man don henry died , leaning from cape de non discouered vnto the mountaine called sierra leona , standing on this side the line in 8. degrées of latitude , where no man had béene before that time . in the yéere 1469. the king of portugall did let out for yéerely rent the trade of guiney vnto one called fernan gomez , which countrey afterwards was called the mine . he let it out for fiue yéeres , for two hundred thousand reyes by the yéere ( which is of our english money 138. l. 17. ● . 9. d. ob . ) and added vnto his lease this condition , that euery yéere he should discouer an hundred leagues . in the yéere following , which was 1470. this king went into africa with his sonne prince iohn , where they tooke the towne of arzila , and the people of the citie of tanger fled out for feare , and that he tooke also . it séemeth that good fortune followeth a couragious attempt . in the yéere 1471. fernan gomes gaue commandement that the coast should be discouered as it lay . which was vndertaken by iohn de s. aren , and iohn de scouar ; and they went and found the mine in 5. degrées of latitude . and the next yéere , which was 1472. one fernando da poo discouered the island now called after his name . also about this time the islands of sainct thomas , and del principe were discouered , standing vnder the line , with the firme land also , wherein is the kingdome of benin , reaching to the cape de santa catarina , standing on the south side of the line in 3. degrées . the man that made this discouerie was a seruant of the kings , and his name was sequeira . many suppose , that than also there were those places , countreyes and islands discouered , which before were neuer knowne to vs since the flood . in the yéere 1480. the valiant king don alphonso died , and left many things woorthy of memorie behinde him ; and his sonne don iohn the second succéeded him . who in the yéere 1481. gaue direction for the building of the castle de mina to one diego d'azambuxa ; who did so , and was made captaine of it . in the yéere 1484. the foresaid king iohn 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. degrées 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 receiued from the king , with the time and day of his being there . from thence he went vnto a riuer néere the tropicke of capricorne , setting still vp pillars of stone where he thought it conuenient , and so came backe againe vnto congo , and to the king of that countrey : who thereupon sent an ambassadour and men of credite into portugall . in the next yéere or the second following , one iohn alonso d'aueiro came from the kingdome of benin , and brought home pepper with a taile : which was the first of that kinde séene in portugall . in the yéere 1487. king iohn sent to discouer india ouer land . in which iourney went one pedro de couillan a seruant of the kings , and alfonso de payua , because they could speake the arabian toong . they went out in the moneth of may , and the same yeere they tooke shipping at naples , and arriued in the isle of rhodes , and lodged in the house that was prouided for the portugall knights of that order : from thence they went to alexandria , and so 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 the citie of aden , and there they separated themselues : for alfonso de payua went towards aethiopia , and pedro de couillan into india . who came vnto the cities of cananor and calicut , and came backe vnto goa : where he tooke shipping vnto sofala , being on the coast of africa in the southerne latitude of 20. degrées , to sée the mines that were of so great name . from sofala he turned backe to mosambique , and vnto the cities of quiloa , mombaza , and melinde , till he came backe againe vnto the citie of aden : where he and alfonso de payua deuided themselues : and thence he sailed againe through the red sea vnto the citie of cayro , where he thought to haue met with his companion : but there he heard that he was dead by the letters that he receiued from king iohn his master ; in which letters he was farther commanded to trauaile into the countrey and dominions of presbyter iohn . vpon this commandement he prouided for his farther iourney , and from cairo went backe againe to the hauen of toro , and from thence to aden , where he had béen twise before : and there hearing of the fame of the citie of ormuz , he determined to goe thither ; and therefore went along the coast of arabia vnto the cape razalgate standing vnder the tropicke of cancer , and from thence he went to ormuz , standing in 27. degrées on that side . there he learned and vnderstood of the streigth of persia , and of that countrey : and entred there into the red sea , and passed ouer to the realme of the abassini , which commonly is called presbyter iohns countrey or aethiopia : and there he was detained till the yéere 1520. when there came thither the ambassadour don roderigo de lima : this pedro de couillan was the first portugall that euer knew and saw the indias and those seas , and other places adioyning thereunto . in the yéere 1490. the king sent vnto congo one gonzalo de sosa a gentleman with thrée ships , and in them sent home the 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 companie . 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 yéelded himselfe , and the greater part of his realme to be baptized : whereof the portugals had good cause to reioice , séeing 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 yéere 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 noua spagna : who first had offered his seruice for a westerne discouerie vnto king iohn 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 affirme 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 wéeds they were amazed , and with great feare arriued at the antiles the tenth day of october , and the first island that they descried was called guanahany : where they went on land , and tooke possession of it , and named it san saluador . this island standeth in 25. degrées of northerly latitude . and after that they found many islands , which they called the princes because they were the first that they had discouered . the sauages of those parts call these islands by the name of lucaios , hauing in déede seuerall names for them . and they doe stand on the north side almost vnder the tropicke of cancer . as for the island of s. iames or iamaica , it standeth betwéene 16. and 17. degrées . 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. degrées : from whence the indians conducted them vnto another island , which they call hayti , and the spanyards called it isabella , in the memorie of the quéene of castile , which was so called , and they named it also hispaniola . in that island the admirall ship of columbus was cast away : of the timber and planks whereof they made a forte , wherein they left 38 men , and a captaine called roderigo de arana , to learne the language and customes of the countrey . they brought from thence musters and shewes of gold , pearles , and other things , which that countrey yéelded ; 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 leape into the sea to swim , if it had béen possible , into those new found parts . the aforesaid company of columbus at their comming home tooke in their way the isles of the açores , and the 4. day of march in the yéere 1493. they entred into the bar of lisbon : which discouerie pleased not the king of portugall . whereupon rose a contention betwéene those two kings . 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 the quéene isabella his wife sent streight word thereof vnto pope alexander the 6. whereat he and the italians were in great admiration , maruailing that there was any more land besides that which was vnder the romanes . but the end of this matter was this : alexander the pope gaue these countreies by his iudgement 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 answere , was glad of it , and sent christopher columbus againe on the former voiage , hauing made him admirall , and giuen him other honors , with particular armes , and a posie written about his armes to this effect . for castile and for leon a new world found out colon. in the yéere 1493. the 25. of the moneth of october christopher columbus went backe vnto the antiles , and frō 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 ornaments , 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. daies they sailed vnto the antiles ; & the first island that they saw standeth in 14. degrées 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 wished island , for the great desire which the companie had to come to sight of land . after that they discouered many more which they named the virgines , which the naturals of the countrey call the caribas , for that the men of that countrey are good warriers , and shoote 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. iohn , and thence to hispaniola or isabella , where they found all the men dead which there they had left . here the admirall 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 iamaica . all these islands stand from 16. vnto 20. degrées of northerly latitude . in the meane time that the admiral● 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 quéene of his aduentures . in the yéere 1494. and in the moneth of ianuarie there was an agréement made of the differences which were betwéene the two kings of spaine and portugall . for the which agréement there were sent out of portugall ruy de so●a , and don iohn his sonne , and the doctor ayres de almada : and for the king of spaine there were don henry henriques , don iohn de cardenas , and the doctor maldonado . all these met in the towne of tordesillas , and they deuided the world frō the north to the south by a meridian which standeth west from the islands of cape verde 300. leagues : so that the one halfe which lay vnto the east should belong vnto portugall , and that which lay to the west to the king of spaine , whereby notwithstanding libertie to trauell was left equall vnto both . in the yéere following 1495. iohn king of portugall died , and emmanuel his cosen began to reigne . in the yéere 1496. there was a venetian in england called iohn cabota , who hauing knowledge of such a new discouerie as this was , and perceiuing by the globe , that the islands before spoken of stood almost in the same latitude with his countrey , and much néerer to england 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 thrée hundred men : which departed and set saile in the spring of the yéere , and they sailed westward til they came in sight of land in 45. degrées of latitude towards the north , and then went straight northwards till they came into 60. degrées of latitude , where the day is 18. howers long , and the night is very cléere and bright . there they found the aire cold , and great islands of ice , but no ground in an hundred fathoms sounding : and so from thence finding the land to turne eastwards they trended along by it discouering all the bay and riuer named deseado , to see if it passed on the other side : then they sailed backe againe till they came to 38. degrées towards the equinoctiall line , and from thence returned into england . there he others which say , that he went as far as the cape of florida , which standeth in 25. degrées . in the yéere 1497. the king of spaine don fernando sent out christopher columbus with sixe ships , and he himselfe prouided two ships at his owne cost , and sending his brother before , he made saile from the bay of cadiz , carrying with him his sonne don diego colon ▪ it was then reported that he went to take the island of madera , because he mistrusted the french men , and therefore sent thither thrée ships : others say it was to the canaries . but howsoeuer it was , this is true , that he and thrée more went vnto the islands of cape verde , and ran along by the line finding great calmes and raine , and the first land which they came vnto of the antiles was an island standing in 9. degrées of latitude towards the north ioining fast vnto the maine 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 dragone , or the dragons mouth : and they tooke their course hard by the coast , where they found thrée small islands , which they named los testigos , that is to say , the witnesses , beyond which standeth the island of cubagua , where is great fishing of muscle pearles : where also , as they say , there springeth a well of aile : and beyond that island they came to the isles of frailes , roques , aruba , and curaçao , with other small ones all along the bay : and they came to the point of cabo de vela , and discouered along the coast almost 200. leagues , from whence they crossed ouer to hispaniola , hauing had also sight of the island called beata . in this same yéere 1497. on the 20. day of the moneth of iune one vasques de gama sailed from lisbon by the king emmanuels commandement to india with 3. ships , wherein 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. daies they came vnto cape verde , vnto the island of saint iago , where they refreshed themselues , and from thence they went along the coast beyond the cape of bona sperança , whereupon they erected certaine pillers of stone , and so came vnto mosambique standing in 15. degrées to the south of the line , where they staied not long , but went from thence to mombaza , 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 yéere 1498. in the moneth of may they came to an anker before the citie of calicut , 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. degrées of latitude , where they came to an anker in the beginning of october , and so they departed from angediua in februarie in the yéere 1499. and came in sight of the coast of africa about melinde towards the north 3. or 4. degrées , & from thence they sailed vnto the said citie , and so vnto mosambique againe , and to the cape of bona sperança , sailing along by the coast , and then they came to the islands of cape verde , and last of al to the citie of lisbon in the moneth of september , hauing béene in the voiage 26. monethes . in the yéere 1499 on the 13. day of the moneth of nouember there departed frō palos one vincent yannez pinson and his nephew aries pinson with fower ships well appointed at their owne coast and charges , to discouer the new world vnder the licence of the king of castile , and with commandement not to touch there , where the admirall columbus had béene . 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. degrées of latitude , and there they wrote on the rindes of pine trées the names of the king and of the quéene , also the yéere 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 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 tierra de los humos , the riuers of marannon , and of the amazones , and rio dolce , or the swéete riuer , and other places along the coast : and they came to ten degrées of latitude on the north side , where they lost two ships and their companie , and remained in that voiage of discouery ten moneths , and 15. daies . in the yéere 1500. and in the moneth of march one pedro aluarez cabral sailed out of lisbon with 13. ships , with commandement not to come néere the coast of africa to shorten his way ; and he losing the sight of one of his ships , went to séeke her , and in séeking of her lost his course , and sailed till he came within sight of the land . the generall was so long in séeking his ship , that the companie were wearie of it , and entreated him to leaue his enterprise . the next day they fell in sight of the coast of brasil : whereupon the generall commanded a barke to goe to land and séeke 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 , standing on the south side in 17. degrées of latitude . from thence they sailed towardes the cape of bona sperança , and melinde , and crossed ouer to the riuer of cochin , which before was not knowne , where they laded themselues with pepper , and at their returne sancho de thouar discouered the citie of sofala vpon the coast of africa . in this same yéere 1500. it is reported that gaspar cortereal craued a generall licence of the king emmanuel to discouer the new found land . he went from the island terçera with two ships well appointed at his owne cost , and he sailed vnto that climate which standeth vnder the north in 50. degrées 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 brother michael cortereal went to séeke him with thrée ships well appointed at his owne cost ; and when they came vnto that coast , and found so many entrances of riuers , and hauens , euery ship went into her seuerall riuer , with this rule and order , that they all thrée should meete againe the 20. day of august . the two other ships did so , and they séeing that michael 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 cortereall vnto this day . in the yéere 1501. in the moneth of march iohn de noua departed from the citie of lisbon with fower ships , and passed the line on the south side into 8. degrees of latitude , and he discouered an island , which he called the isle de ascension : and he went vnto mosambique , 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 thereof . in this same yéere 1501. and in the moneth of may there departed out of lisbon thrée ships vpon the commandement of emmanuel the king to discouer the coast of brasil : and they sailed in the sight of the canaries , and from thence to cape verde , where they refreshed themselues in the towne of bezequiche , and passed from thence beyond the line southward and fell with the land of brasill in fiue degrées of latitude , and so went forward till they came in 32. degrées 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 tempestuous . they were in that voiage fifteene monethes , and came to lisbon againe in the beginning of september 1502. in the y●ere 1502. one alfonso hoieda went to discouer terra firma , and followed his course till he came to his prouince of vraba . the next yéere following also one roderigo bastidas 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 is , the gréene island , standing fast by the island of guadalupe , towards the land : and from thence they tooke their course towards the west to santa martha , and cape de la vela , and to rio grande , or the great riuer , and they discouered the hauen of zamba , the coradas , carthagena , and the islands of s. barnard , of baru , and islas de arenas , and went forward 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 riuer of darien , and from cape de la vela vnto this place are two hundred leagues : and it standeth in 9. degrées and two parts of latitude . from thence they crossed ouer vnto the island of iamaica , where they refreshed themselues . in hispaniola they graued their ships because of the holes which certaine wormes of the water had eaten in the planks . in that countrey they got fower hundred markes of golde , although the people there be more warlike then in noua spania : for they poison their arrowes which they shoote . in this same yéere 1502. christopher columbus entred the fourth time into his discouerie with fower ships at the commandement of don fernando to séeke the streight , which as they said did diuide the land from the other side , and he carried with him ferdinando his sonne . they went first to the island of hispaniola , to iamaica , 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 called rio de chagres , which hath his springs néere the south sea , within fower leagues of panama , and runneth into the north sea : and so he went vnto the island which he called isla de bastimentos , that is the isle of victuailes , and then to puerto bello , that is the faire hauen , and so vnto nombre de dios , and to rio francisco , and so to the hauen of retrete , and then to the gulfe of cabesa cattiua , and to the islands of caperosa , and lastly to the 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 iamaica , where he grounded his ships being much spoiled and eaten with wormes . in this yéere 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 februarie , 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 another in 4. degrées 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 kéepe the coast of india with fiue ships . these were the first portugals , that with an armie did run along the coast of arabia foelix . it is there so barren , that their cattell and camels are onely 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 saldanta 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 yéere 1504. roderigo de bastidas obtained licence of king ferdinando , and by the meanes of iohn de lodesma and others of siuill armed and furnished out two ships , hauing for his pilot one iohn de cosa of saint marie port , and he went to discouer that part of tierra firma where now standeth carthagena , being in ten degrées and a halfe of northerly latitude . 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 sauages : 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 citie of santo domingo laden with slaues without victuailes , because they of the countrey would not bargaine with them , which grew to their great trouble and griefe . in the later end of this yéere died ladie isabella quéene of castile : which quéene while she liued would not suffer any man of arragon , catalunia , valencia , nor any borne in 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 yéere 1505. vpon our lady day in march francisco de almeida viceroy of india tooke his course with 22. sailes towards india as now is accustomed . he came vnto the citie of quiloa , where he built a fort , appointing one peter fereira to be captaine thereof : and beyond melinde he trauersed to the island of angediua , where he placed as captaine one emmanuell passauia . in cananor also he built another fort , giuing the captainship of it to laurence de brito . in cochin he did the like , where don alfonso de noronia was made captaine . this yéere one peter de anhaya did build the fortresse of sofala , whereof also himselfe was made captaine . in the later end of this yéere the viceroy commanded his sonne , whose name was don laurenço to make some entrie vpon the islands of maldiua , 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 heauens , and the indians haue it in great reuerence . in the yéere 1506. after the death of the quéene of spaine , king philip and quéene ioan his wife came into spaine to take possession thereof , and king don fernando went into arragon being his owne patrimonie . in this same yeere the said king philip died , and then fernando came againe to gouerne spaine , and he gaue licence vnto all spanyards to goe vnto the new land , and to the a●tiles , but not to the portugals . in this yéere and in the moneth of may christopher columbus died , and his sonne don diego columbus succeeded in his roome . in the yéere 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 came to the cape of bona sperança in 37. degrées they found certaine islands , which now are named the isles of tristan de acunna , where they had such a tempest that therewithall the fléete was dispersed . tristan de acun̄a and alfonso de albuquerque went vnto mosambique , and aluaro telez ran so far that he came to the island of samatra , and so backe againe vnto the cape of guardatu ; hauing discouered many islands , sea , and land neuer séene before 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 mosambique , and there met with tristan de acun̄a , who was the first captaine that wintred there ; and by them it was told , that in this island was much ginger , cloues , and siluer : whereupon he went and discouered much of it within the land ; but finding nothing he came backe againe vnto mosambique ; from whence he sailed vnto melinde , and ran along that coast and entred into braua , and from thence they crost ouer to the island of socotora , where they built a fortresse , and made one don antonio de noronia captaine thereof . in the yéere 1507. in the moneth of august tristan de acun̄a tooke shipping for india , and alfonso de albuquerque remained there with fiue or sixe ships to kéepe the coast and entrie of the streight ; but being not therewith satisfied he tooke his course ouer vnto arabia , and running along that coast he doubled the cape of rosalgate standing vnder the tropicke of cancer . in the yeere 1509. one diego lopez de sequeira went out of lisbon with fower sailes vnto the island of saint laurence , and continued in his voiage almost a yéere , and in the moneth of may the same yéere he arriued in cochin , where the viceroy gaue him one ship more : and in the beginning of the moneth of september he tooke his course vnto malacca passing betwéene the islands of nicubar , and many others : he went also to the land of samatra to the cities of pedir and pacem , and all along by all that coast vnto the island of a poluoreira , and the flats of capacia : and from thence he went ouer vnto malacca standing in 2. degrées of latitude towards the north : but in that citie the people killed and tooke as prisoners some of his men : and thereupon he turned backe againe into india , hauing discouered in this voiage fiue 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 bacas , who vse to gilde their téeth . they hold opinion that the flesh of the blacke people is swéeter then the flesh of the white . the buffes , kine , and hennes which are in that countrey 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 shéepe ; and some of their welles yéeld oile . the king of pedir is reported to haue a riuer in his land running with oile : which is a thing not to be maruelled at , séeing it is found written , that in bactria there is also a well of oile : it is farther said that there groweth here a trée , the iuice whereof 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 soueraigne remedie against poison , so seruing both for life and death . here also they doe coine péeces of gold , which they call drachmas , brought into the land as they say by the romanes : which séemeth 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 yéere 1508. one alfonso de hoieda with the fauour of don fernando purposed to goe vnto tierra firma to conquer the prouince of darien . he went foorth 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 hoieda went first from the island of hispaniola and the citie of san domingo with fower ships and thrée hundred soldiers , leauing behinde him the bachiler anciso , who afterwards compiled a booke of these discoueries . 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 weake . in this yéere 1508. one drego de niquesa prepared seuen ships in the port of beata to goe vnto veragua , and carried in them almost 800. men . when he came to carthagena he found there alfonso de hoieda sore spoiled with his former losse : but then they both ioined together , and went on land and auenged themselues of the people . and in this voiage diego de niquesa went and discouered the coast called nombre 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 returne 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 they left for their captaine and lieutenant one francis pisarro , who was there much troubled . they builded other towns also , whose names i here omit . but these captaines had not that good successe which they hoped for . in the yéere 1509. the second admirall don diego columbus went into the island of hispaniola with his wife and houshold : and she being a gentlewoman carried with her many other women of good families , which were there married , and so the spanyards and castillians began to people the countrey : for don fernando the king had giuen them licence to discouer and people the townes of hispaniola ; so that the same place 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 velasques , who went with his father in the second voiage . in the yéere 1511. in the moneth of aprill alfonso de albuquerque went from the citie of cochin vnto malaeca . in which yéere and moneth the chineans went from malaeca into their owne countrey , and alfonso sent with them for master a portugall called duarte fernandes , with letters also and order vnto the king of the mantias , which now is called sian standing in the south . they passed through the streight of cincapura , and sailed towards the north , went along the coast of patane vnto the citie of cuy , and from thence to odia which is the chiefe citie of the kingdome , standing in 14. degrées of northerly latitude . the king greatly honoured and welcomed duarte fernandes , being the first portugall that he had séene , and with him he sent backe ambassadours to albuquerque . they passed ouer land towards the west vnto the citie of tanaçerim standing vpon the sea on the other side in 12. degrées , where they imbarked themselues in two ships , and sailed along the coast vnto the citie of malacca , leauing it all discouered . 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 bels within the skin of their priuie members : which is forbidden to the king and the religious people . it is said that of all other people of those parts they be most vertuous and honest . they commend themselues much for their chastitie and pouertie . they bring no heunes nor doues vp in their houses . this kingdome hath in length 250. leagues , and in bredth 80. of this only kingdome the king may bring foorth into the field thirtie thousand elephants , when he goeth to warre , besides those which remaine in the cities for the garde of them . the king much estéemeth a white elephant , and a red one also , that hath eies like vnto flaming 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 toke●a , and are much like vnto a mandrake . and they affirme that he which hath one of them about him cannot die with the stroke of any iron . they haue also wilde kine in this countrey , in the heads of whome they finde stones , which are of vertue to bring good hap and fortune to marchants . after that duarte fernandes had béen 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 iunco of the countrey in sight of the cape rachado , and from thence went vnto the citie of pera which standeth fast by the riuer salano , and many other villages standing all along this riuer , where duarte fernandes had béene before , vnto the cities of tanaçerim and of martauan , standing in 15. degrées 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 the people , which vse to were bels in their priuities euen as the mantales doe . in the end of this yeere 1511. alfonso de albuquerque sent thrée ships to the islands of banda , and maluco . and there went as generall of them one antonio de breu , and with him also went one francis serrano : and in these ships there were 120. persons . they 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 to the islands of palinibam and la suparam ; from whence they sailed by the noble island of iaua , and they ran their course east , sailing betweene it and the island of madura . the people of this island are very warlike and strong , and doe little regard their liues . the 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 iaua they sailed along by another called bali : and then came also vnto others called aujaue , çambaba , solor , * galao , mallua , vitara , rosalangum , & * arus , 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. degrées of latitude . and they be so nere the one to the other , that they séeme at the first to be one entire and maine land . the course by these islands is aboue fiue hundred leagues . the ancient cosmographers call all these islands by the name iauos : but late experience hath found their names to be very diuers , as you see . beyonde these there are other islands toward the north , which are inhabited with whiter people going arraied in shirts , doublets and slops like vnto the portugals , hauing also money of siluer . the gouernours among them doe carrie in their hands red staues , whereby they séeme to haue some affinitie with the people of china . there are other islands and people about this place , which are redde ; and it is reported that they are of the people of china . antonie de breu and those that went with him tooke their course toward the north , where is a smal island called gumnape or ternate , from the highest place whereof there fall continually into the sea flakes or streames 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 guliguli , where they went on land and tooke a village standing by the riuer , where they 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 and rotten . they went to a place on the other side standing in 8. degrées toward the south , where they laded cloues , nutmegs , and mace in a iunco or barke which francis serrano bought here . they say that not farre from the islands of banda there is an island , where there bréedeth nothing else but snakes , and the most are in one caue in the middest of the land . this is a thing not much to be woondred at ; for as much as in the leuant sea hard by the isles of maiorca and minorca there is another island of old named ophi●sa , and now formentera , wherein there is great abundance of these vermine : and in the rest of the islands lying by it there are none . in the yéere 1512. they departed from banda toward malacea , and on the baxos or flats of luçapinho francis serrano perished in his iunke or barke , from whence escaped vnto the isle of mindanao nine or ten portugals which were with him , and the kings of maluco sent for them . these were the first portugals that came to the islands of cloues , which stand from the equinoctiall line towardes the north in one degrée , where they liued seuen or eight yeeres . the island of gumnape now called ternate is much to be admired , for that it casteth out fire . there were some princes of the moores and couragious portugals which determined to goe néere to the firie place to sée what it was ; but they could neuer come néere it . but antonie galuano hearing of it , vndertooke to goe vp to it , and did so , and found a riuer so extreme cold , that he could not suffer his hand in it , nor yet put any of the water in his mouth : and yet this place standeth vnder the line , where the sunne continually burneth . in these islands of maluco there is a kinde of men that haue spurres on their ankles like vnto 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 betwéen their cods , out of the which there came milke . there are smal hennes also which lay their egges vnder the ground aboue a fathome and an halfe , and the egges are bigger then ducks egges , and many of these hennes are blacke in their flesh . there are hogs also with hornes , and parats which prattle much , which they call noris . there is also a riuer of water so hot , that whatsoeuer liuing creature cōmeth into it , their skins will come off , and yet fish bréede in it . there are crabs which be very swéete , and so strong in their clawes , that they will breake the iron of a pik●axe . there be others also in the sea little and hairie , but whosoeuer eateth of them dieth immediately . there be likewise certaine oisters , which they doe call bras , the shels whereof haue so 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 trée , which beareth 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 mooueth . there is further a kinde of herbe there growing , which followeth the sunne , and remooueth after it , which is a very strange and maruailous thing . in the yéere 1512. in the moneth of ianuarie alfonsus de albuquerque went backe from malaca vnto goa , and the ship wherein he went was lost , and the rest went from his companie . simon de andrada , and a few portugals were driuen vnto the islands of maldiua being many & full of palme trées : and they stand lowe by the water : which staied there till they knew what was become of their gouernour . these were the first portugals that had séene those islands , wherein there growe cocos , which are very good against all kinde of poison . in this yéere 1512. there went out of castile one iohn de solis borne in lisbon , and chiefe pilot vnto don fernando . and he hauing licence went to discouer the coast of brasill . he tooke the like course that the pinsons had done : he went also to the cape of s. augustine , and went forwards to the south , coasting the shore and land , and he came vnto the port de lagoa : and in 35. degrées of southerly latitude he found a riuer which they of brasill call parana-guaçu , that is , the great water . he sawe there signes of siluer , and therefore called it rio de plata , that is , the riuer of siluer . and it is said that at that time he went 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 gouernment thereof , which the king granted him . whereupon he prouided thrée ships and with them in the yéere 1515. he went againe into that kingdome ; but he was there slaine . these solisses were great discouerers in those partes , and spent therein their liues and goods . in the same yéere 1512. iohn ponce of leon , which had béene goueruour of the isle of s. iohn armed two ships and went to séeke the isle of boyuca , where the naturals of the countrey reported to be a wel , which maketh old men yoong . whereupon he laboured to finde it out , and was in searching of it the space of sixe monethes , but could finde no such thing . he entred into the isle of bimini ; and discouered a point of the firme land standing in 25. degrées towards the north vpon easter day , and therefore he named it florida . and because the land séemed to yeeld gold and siluer and great riches , he begged it of the king don fernando , but he died in the discouerie of it , as many more haue done . in the yéere 1513. vasco nunnes de valboa hearing spéech and newes of the south sea , determined to goe thither , although his companie dissuaded him from that action . but being a man of good valure with those soldiers that he had , being 290. he resolued 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 the said moneth , and on saint michaels day 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 béene vpon those seas , went forwards , and came backe againe to land in safetie , and with great contentment , bringing with him good store of gold , siluer , and pearles , which there they tooke . for which good seruice of his don ferdinando the king greatly fauoured and honoured him . this yéere 1513. in the moneth of februarie alfonsus de albuquerque went frō the citie of goa towards the streight of mecha with twenty ships . they arriued at the citie of aden and battered it , and passed forward and entred into the streight . they say that they saw a crosse in the element and worshipped it . they wintered in the island of camaran ▪ this was the first portugall captaine that gaue information of those seas , and of that of persia , being things in the world of great account . in the yéere 1514. and in the moneth of may there went out of saint lu●ar one pedro arias de auila at the commandement of don ferdinando . he was the fourth gouernour of 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 . in the beginning of the yéere 1515. the gouernour pedro arias de auila sent one gaspar morales with 150. men vnto the gulfe of s. michael to discouer the islands of tararequi , chiapes , and tumaccus . there was a casique valboas friend which gaue him many canoas or boates made of one trée to rowe in , wherein they passed vnto the island of pearles : the lord whereof resisted them at their comming on land . but chiapes and tumaccus did pacifie him in such order , that the captaine of the isle had them home vnto his house , and made much of them , and receiued baptisme at their hands , naming him pedro arias after the gouernours name , and he gaue vnto them for this a basket full of pearles waying 110. pounds , whereof some were as big as hasell nuts of 20. 25. 26. or 31. carats : & euery carat is fower graines . there was giuen for one of them 1200. ducats . this island of tararequi standeth in 5. degrées of latitude towards the north . in this yéere 1515. in the moneth of march the gouernour sent one gonsaluo de badaios with 80. soldiers to discouer new lands , and they went from dariene to nombre de 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 tooke with them indians to be their guides , and going along the coast they found slaues marked with irons as the portugals doe vse ; and hauing marched a good way through the countreyes with great trauaile they gathered together much golde and fortie slaues to doe them seruice : 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 yéere 1515. sent foorth his sonne iohn arias de auila to be reuenged and to discouer also by sea and by land : they went westward to cape de guerra standing in little more then sixe degrées towards the north , and from thence vnto punta de borica , and to cape blanco or the white cape standing in 8. degrées and an halfe : they discouered 250. leagues as they affirme , and peopled the citie of panama . in this very yéere 1515. in the moneth of may alfonsus de albuquerque gouernour of india sent from the citie of ormuz one fernando gomes de lemos as ambassadour vnto xec or shaugh ismael king of persia : and it is declared that they trauailed in it 300. leagues , and that it is a pleasant countrey like vnto france . this xe● or shaugh ismael went on 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 yéere this woorthy viceroy alfonsus de albuquerque died . in the yéere 1416. and one hundred yéeres after the taking of ceuta in barba●ie , 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 receiued pepper , being the principal marchandise to be sold in all china of any value : and he was farther commanded by the king don emmanuel to goe also to bengala with his letter and dispatch to a knight called iohn coelo . this was the first portugall as farre as i know , which drunke of the water of the riuer ganges . this yéere 1516. died don fernando king of spaine . in the yéere 1517. this fernando perez went vnto the citie of malacha , and in the moneth of iune he departed from thence towards china with eight sailes fower portugals and the 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 twentie degrées of latitude towards the north , and it endeth almost in 50. degrées . which must be 500. leagues in length : and they say that it containeth 300. leagues in bredth . fernando perez was 14. moneths in the isle da veniaga , learning as much as he could of the countrey , according as the king his master had commanded him . and although one raphael perestrello had beene there in a iunke or barke 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 with thomas perez by land , and george mascarenhas by sea , and for coasting vnto the citie of foquiem standing in 24. degrees of latitude . in this same yéere 1517. charles , which afterward was emperour , came into spaine , and tooke possession thereof . and in the same yéere francis fernandes de cordoua , christopher morantes , and lopez ochoa armed thrée ships at their owne proper charges from the island of cuba . they had also with them a barke of diego velasques , who then was gouernour : they came on land in iucatan standing in 20. degrées of latitude at a point which they called punta de las duennas , that is to say , the point of ladies , which was the first place wherein they had séen temples and buildings of lime and stone . the people here goe better apparelled then in any other place . they haue crosses which they worship , setting them vpon their tombes when they be buried . wherby it séemeth that in times past they had in that place the faith of christ among them . and some say that thereabouts were the seuen cities . they went round about it towards the north which is on the right hand : from whence they turned 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 yéere 1518. lopez suares commanded don iohn de silueira to goe to the islands of maldiua : and he made peace with them : and from thence he went to the citie of chatigam situated on the mouth of the riuer ganges vnder the tropicke of cancer . for this riuer , and the riuer indus , which standeth an hundred leagues beyond the citie of diu , and that of canton in china doe all fall in t the sea vnder one parallele or latitude . and although before that time fernan perez had béen commanded to goe to bengala , yet notwithstanding iohn 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 yéere 1518. the first day of may diego velasques gouernour of the island of cuba sent his nephew iohn de grisalua with fower ships & two hundred soldiers to discouer the land of iucatan . and they founde in their way the island of * cosumel standing towards the north in 19. degrées , and named it santa cruz , because they came to it the third of may. 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 it standing in 16. degrées of latitude : from whence they came backe because they could finde no place to goe out at : and from hence they went round about it to another riuer , which they called the riuer of grisalua standing in 17. degrées 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 same yéere 1518. one francis garay armed thrée ships in the isle of iamaica at his owne charges , and went towards the point of florida standing in 25. degrées towards the north , séeming to them to be an island most pleasant , thinking it better to people islands then the firme land , because they could best conquere them and kéepe them . they went there on land , but the people of florida killed many of them , so that they durst not inhabite it . so they sailed along the coast , and came vnto the riuer of panuco , standing 500. leagues 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 skinnes in their temples in memoriall of their valiantnes . notwithstanding all thi● francis de garay went thither the next yéere and begged the gouernment of that countrey of the emperour , because he sawe in it some shew of gold and siluer . in the yeere 1519. in the moneth of februarie fernando cortes went from the island of cuba to the land which is called noua 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 . from this island they went and arriued on the firme land of iucatan , at the point de las duen●as , or the point of ladies , and went thence to the riuer of tauasco , and set vpon a citie fast by called potoncian inuironed with wood , and the houses were built with lime and stone , and couered with tile : they fought there egarly ; and there appeered vnto them s. iames 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 hence they went discouering the coast till they came vnto a place named s. iohn de vllhua , distant as they said from mexico where the king muteçuma was , 60. or 70. leagues : and there was a seruant of his that gouerned that prouince , named tendilli , which gaue them good entertainment , although they vnderstood not one another . but cortes had 20. women , whereof one was called marine borne in tha● countrey : they were the first that were baptized in new spaine . and from that time forward marine and aguilar serued as interpreters . tendilli presently gaue knowledge of this vnto muteçuma , that a kinde of bearded people were arriued in his countrey : for so they called the castillians . but he was troubled vpon that newes : for his gods , ( which are 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 thereof . and therefore he sent gifts vnto cortes , in value 20. thousand ducats , but would not come to him . because s. iohn de vllhua was then no place for a nauie to ride in , cortes sent francis de mont●io , and the pilot antonie alaminos in two brigandines to discouer that coast ; who came to a place where they might ride without danger . they came to panuco standing in 23. degrées northward : from whence they came backe vpon an agreement to goe vnto culuacan 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 chiauitztlan : with the lord of which towne as with all the countrey besides he made league to be against muteçuma . 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 determined to goe to mexico , and to visite muteçuma : and besought the emperour to giue him the gouernment of that countrey . and because his people should not rise in mutinie , as they began , he destroied all his ships . cortes presently went from villa rica de la vera cruz , leauing there 150. spanish horsemen , and many indians to serue them ; and the villages round about became his friends . he went vnto the citie of zempoallan : there he heard newes that francis garay was on the coast with fower ships to come on land : and by subtiltie he got nine of his men ; of whom he vnderstood , that garay had béene in florida , and came vnto the riuer panuco , where he got some golde , determining to stay there in a towne which is now called almeria . cortos ouerthrew the idols in zempoallan , & the tombes of their kings , whome they worshipped as gods , and tolde them that they were to worship the true god. from thence he went toward mexico the 16. day of august 1519. and trauailed thrée daies iourney , and came to the citie of zalapan , and to another beyond it named sicuchimatl , where they were well receiued , and offered to be conducted to mexico , because muteçuma had giuen such commandement . beyond this place he passed with his companie a certaine hill of thrée leagues high , wherein there were vines . in another place they found aboue 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 mountaine he rested in a towne called te●hixuacan , 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 zaclotan : and so from towne to towne they were well receiued and feasted till they came into another realme named tlaxcallan , which waged warre against muteçuma , and being valiant they skirmished with cortes ; but in the end they agréed and entred into league with him against the mexicans ; and so they went from countrey to countrey till they came within fight of mexico . the king muteçuma fearing them , gaue them good entertainment with lodging and all things necessarie : and they were with this for a time contented : but mistrusting that he and his should be slaine , he tooke muteçuma prisoner and brought him to 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 muteçuma 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 countreyes , namely into zuçolla , malinaltepec , tenich , & tututepec . they which went vnto zuçolla went 80. leagues : for so much it was from mexico thither : they which went to mahnaltepec , went 70. leagues , séeing goodly countries , and brought examples of gold , which the naturals of the countrey tooke out of great riuers : and all this prouince belonged vnto muteçuma . the countrey of tenich and vp the riuer were not subiect to muteçuma , but had warre with him , and would not suffe● the mexicans to enter into their territorie . they sent ambassadors vnto cortes with presents , offering him their estate , and amitie ; whereof muteçuma was nothing glad . they which went to tututepec standing néere 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 créekes were set foorth . but this thing then could not be prosecuted by reason of the comming of pamphilus de naruaez into the countrey , who set all the kingdome of mexico in an vprore . in this yéere 1519. the tenth day of august one fernande de magallanes departed from siuill with fiue 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 therefore he began his discouerie , and came vnto an hauen which he called the porte of saint iulian standing in 49. degrées , and there he entred 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 liue by fruits and hunting . they called them patagones , but the brasilians doe call them morcas . in the yéere 1520. in the beginning of the moneth of september growing then somewhat temperate they went out of the port and riuer of saint iulian , hauing lost in it one of their ships , and with the other f●wer he came vnto the streights named after the name of mag●llanes standing in 52. degrées 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 thrée went forward , entring into a mightie sea called pacificum , without séeing any inhabited land till they came in 13. degrées towards the north of the equinoctiall : in which latitude they came vnto islands which they called los iardines ; and from thence they sailed to the archipelagus of s. lazarus , and in one of the islands called matan magallanes was slaine , and his ship was burnt , and the other two went vnto borneo , and so from place to place they went backe vntill they came to the islands of mal●cos , leauing many others discouered , which i rehearse not , because i finde not this voiage exactly written . about this time pope leo the tenth sent one paulus centurio as ambassadour to the greot duke of moscouie to wish him to send into india an armie along the coast of tartarie . and by the reasons of this ambassadour the said duke was almost persuaded vnto that action , if other inconueniences had not letted him . in this same yéere 1520. in februarie diego lopes de sequeira gouernour of india went towards the streight of mecha and carried with him the ambassadour of presbyter iohn , and roderigo de lima who also went as ambassadour to him . they came vnto the island of maçua standing in the red sea on the side of africa in 17. degrées towards the north : where he set the ambassadours on land , with the portugals that should goe with them . peter de couillan had béene there before , being sent thither by king iohn the second of portugall : but yet francis aluarez gaue principall light and knowledge of that countrey . in the yeere 1520. the licenciate lucas vasques de aillon and other inhabitants of s. domingo furnished two ships , and sent them to the isles of lucayos to get slaues , and finding none they passed along by the firme land beyond florida vnto certaine countreyes called chicora and gualdapé , vnto the riuer iordan and the cape of saint helena standing in 32. degrées toward the north . they of the countrey came downe to the sea side to see the ships , as hauing neuer before séene 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 saile and brought them away for slaues : but in the way one of their ships sunke , and the other was also in great hazard . by this newes the licentiate aillon knowing the wealth of the countrey , begged the gouernment 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 begged the gouernment of new spaine , which he held to be his , he furnished out thither against cortes 18. ships with 1000. men and 80. horses , whereof he sent as generall 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 eies . 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 iohn vasquez de leon with other two hundred vnto cosaalco , 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 thousand 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 was greatly pleased , and muteçuma 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 muteçuma 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 then 504. footemen , and fortie horsemen . the spanyards with 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 yéere 1521. cortes obtaining still more and more victories defermined to sée further within the countrey : and for this purpose in the yéere 1521. and in october he sent out one gonsalo de sandoual with 200. footemen and 35 ▪ horsemen , and cortaine indians his friends vnto tochtepec and coazacoalco , which had rebelled , but at length yéelded . 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 fewer leagues from the sea vpon a riuer ; and these two townes kept the whole countrey in obedience . this yéere 1521. in december emmanuell king of portugall died , and after him his sonne king iohn the 3. reigned . in the yéere 1521. there went from maluco one of magellans ships laden with cl●ues : they victualed themselues in the island of burro , and from thence went to timor which standeth in 11. degrées of southerly latitude . beyond this island one hundred leagues they discouered 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 sperança , 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 yéere 1522. in ianuarie one gilgonzales armed fower ships in the island of tararequi standing in the south sea with intent to discouer the coast of nicarag●a , and especially a streight 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 backe againe to s. vincent : where he found his pilot andrew nigno , who was as far as tecoantepec in 16. degrées to the north , and had sailed thrée hundred leagues : from whence they returned to panama , and so ouer land to hispaniola . in the same yéere 1522. in the moneth of aprill the other ship of magallanes called the trinitie went from the island of tidoré , wherein was captaine gonzalo gomez de espinosa , shaping their course toward noua spania : and because winde was scant they stirred toward the northeast into 16. degrées , where they found two islands , and named them the isles of saint iohn , and in that course they came to another island in 20. degrées , which they named la griega , where the simple people came into their ships , of whom they kept some to shew them in noua spania : they were in this course fower monethes , vntill they came into 42. degrées of northerly latitude , where they did sée sea fishes called seales and tunies . and the climate séemed vnto them comming newly out of the heat , to be so cold and vntemperate , 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 béene in so high a latitude toward the north . and there they found one antonie de bri●to building a fortresse , which tooke from them their goods , and sent 48. of them prisoners to malaca . in this yéere 1522. cortes desirous to haue some hauens on the south sea , and to discouer the coast of ●oua spania on that side , whereof he had knowledge in muteçuma his time , ( bicause he thought by that way to bring the drugs from maluco and banda , and the spiceris from iaua , with lesse trauaile and danger ) he sent fewer spaniards with their guides to tecoantepec , qua●utemallan , 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 found no hauen . one casique or lord called cuchataquir vsed them well , & sent with them 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 against his neighbours which did warre against him . in the yéere 1523. cortes sent vnto him for his aide peter de aluarado , with two hundred soldiers footemen , and fortie horsemen , and the caciques of tecoantepec ▪ and quahutemallan asked them for the monsters of the sea which came thither the yéere past , meaning the ships of gil gonsales de auila , 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 mightie carake with sixe masts , and sailes and shroudes , and men armed on horsebacke . this aluarado went through the countrey and builded there the city of sant iago or saint iames , and a towne which he called segura leauing certaine of his people in it . in the same yeere 1523. in the moneth of may antonie de britto being captaine of the isles of maluco sent his cosen simon de breu to learne the way by the isle of borneo to malaca : they came in sight of the islands of manada and panguensara : they went through the straight of treminao and taguy : and to the islands of saint michael standing in 7. degrées , and from thence discouered the islands of borneo , and had sight of pedra branca or the white stone , and passed through the straight of cincapura , & so to the citie of malaca . in this same yéere 1523. cortes went with 300. footemen and 150. horsemen and 40000. mexicans 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 resisted 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 , leauing in it 100. footemen , and thirtie horsemen and one peter de vall●io for lieutenant . this iourney cost him 76. thousand castillians , besides the spanyards , horses , and maxicans which died there . in this yéere 1523. francis de garay made nine ships and two brigandines to goe to panuco and to rio de las palmas to be there as gouernour : for that the emperour had granted vnto him from the coast of florida vnto panuco , in regard of the charges , which he had béene at in that discouerie . he carried with him 850. soldiers , and 140. horses , and some men out of the island of iamaica , where he furnished his fléet with munition for the warre : and he went vnto xagua an hauen 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 pamphilus de naruaez , he determined to take another companion with him , and desired the doctor zuazo to goe to mexico and procure some agréement betwéene cortes and him . and they departed from xagua each one about his busines . zuazo came in great ieoperdie , and garay went not cléere without . garay arriued in rio de las palmas on s. iames his day , and then he sent vp the riuer 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 iohn de grijalua to search the coast , and he himselfe marched by land towards panuco , and passed a riuer which he named rio montalco ; he entred into a great towne where they found many hennes , wherewith they refreshed themselues , 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 gonçalo de ocampo to sant isteuan del puerto 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 vsurpe the gouernment of another : and besides this misfortune he lost fower of his ships : whereupon he left off to procéede 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 the gouernment of nueua spagna and all the countrey which cortes had conquered to cortes , and namely panuco . whereupon he staied his iourney . but he sent diego de ocampo with the said letters patents , and pedro de aluarado with store of footemen and horsemen . garay knowing this thought it best to yéeld himselfe vnto cortes his hands , and to go to mexico ; which thing he did hauing discouered a great tract of land . in this yéere 1523. gil gonçales de auila made a discouerie , and peopled a towne called san gil de buena vista standing in 14. degrées toward the north , and almost in the bottome of the bay called the ascension or the honduras . he began to conquere it because he best knew the secrets thereof , and that it was a very rich countrey . in this yéere 1523. the sixt day of december peter de aluarado went from the citie of mexico by cortes his commandement to discouer & conquere quahutemallan , vtlatlan , chiapa , xochnuxco , and other townes toward the south sea . he had with him thrée hundred soldiers , 170. horsemen , foure field péeces , and some noble men of mexico , with people of the countrey to aide him as well in the warre , as by the way being long . he went by tecoantepec to xochnuxco , and other places aboue said with great trauaile and losse 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 spanyards 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 iago de quahutemallan . peter de aluarado begged the gouernment of this countrey , and the report is that it was giuen him . in the yeere 1523. the 8. day of december cortes sent diego de godoy with 100. footemen and 30. horsemen , two field péeces , and many of his friends indians vnto the towne del espiritu santo : he ioined himselfe with the captaine of that towne , and they went to chamolla the head citie of that prouince , and that being taken all the countrey grew quiet . in the yéere 1524. in februarie cortes sent one roderigo rangel with 150. spaniards and many of the tlaxcallans and mexicans against the zapoteeas and nixticas and vnto other prouinces 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 yéere 1524. one roderigo de bastidas was sent to discouer , people , and gouerne the countrey of santa martha : where he lost his life because he would not suffer the soldiers 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 themselues like couetous tyrants ; whereof grew much trouble . in this same yéere also 1524. after that the licenciate lucas vasques de aillon had obtained of the emperour the gouernment of chicora , he armed for that purpose certaine ships from the 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 béene 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 yéere 1524. cortes sent one christopher de olid with a fléete to the island of cuba to receiue the vitailes and munition which alonso de contreras had prepared and to discouer and people the countrey about cape de higueras and the honduras ; and to send diego hurtado de mendoça by sea , to search the coast from thence euen to darien to finde out the streight 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. degrées 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 enimie to cortes , who had spent in that expedition thirty thousand castellans of gold to doe him pleasure withall . cortes vnderstanding hereof the same yéere 1524. and in the moneth of october he went out of the citie of mexico to seeke christopher de olid to be reuenged of him , and also to discouer , carrying with him thrée hundred spanish footemen and horsemen , and quahutimoc 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 wooll , wherein was painted the situation of the whole countrey from xicalanco vnto naco , and nito , and euen as farre as nicaragua , with their mountaines , hils , fields , meadowes , vallies , riuers , cities and townes . and cortes in the meane time sent for thrée 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 quahutimoc and the mexicans that were in his companie were conspired against him and the spanyards : for the which he hanged the king and two others of the chiefe : and so came to the citie of mazaclan , and after that to tiaca the head citie of a prouince so called standing 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 zuzullin , and at length came to the towne of nito : from nito cortes with his owne companie and all the spanyards that he found there departed to the shore or strand called la ba●a de sant andres , and finding there a good hauen he builded a towne in that place and called it natividad de nuestra sen̄ora . from hence cortes went to the towne of truxillo standing in the hauen of the honduras , where the spanyards dwelling there did entertaine him well : and while he was there , there arriued a ship which brought newes of the stirre in mexico in cortes his absence : whereupon he sent word to gonsalo de sandoual to march with his companie from naco to mexico by land toward the south sea vnto quahutemallan , because that is the vsuall plaine and safest way , and he left as captaine in truxillo fernando de saavedra his cosen : and he himselfe went by sea along the coast of iucatan to chalchicoeca now called sant iuan de vllhua , and so to medellin , and from thence to mexico , where he was well receiued , hauing béene from thence 18. monethes , and had gone fiue hundred leagues trauailing often out of his way , and enduring much hardnes . in the yéere 1525. francis pizarro and diego de almagro went from panama to discouer peru standing beyond the line towarde the south , which they called nueua castillia . the gouernour pedro arias would not entermeddle with this expedition , because of the euill newes which his captaine francis vezerra had brought . francis pizarro went first in a ship hauing with him 124. soldiers , and almagro went after him in another ship with 70. men . he came to rio de san iuan standing in thrée degrées where he got two thousand pesoes of gold ; and not finding pizarro , he went to séeke him , repenting his doings by reason of a mishap that he had . but he went first to an island called isla del gorgona , and afterward to another called isla del gallo , and to the riuer called rio del peru standing in two degrées northward , whereof so many famous countreyes take their 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 degrée to the south of the line : from whence they sailed to the riuers of chinapanpa , tumbez , and payta standing in 4. or . 5. degrées , where they had knowledge of king atabalipa and of the exceeding wealth and riches of his palace . which newes mooued pizarro spéedily to returne home againe to panama , and so into spaine , and to request the gouernment of that countrey of the emperour : which he also obtained . he had spent aboue thrée yéeres before in this discouerie not without enduring great trauaile and perils . in the same yéere 1525. there was sent out of spaine a fléete of seuen ships , whereof was captaine generall 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 degrées , and named it . s. matthew : and it seemed to be inhabited , because they found in it orenge trées , hogs , and hennes in caues , and vpon the rindes of most of the trées there were grauen portugall letters , shewing that the portugals had béene there 17. yéeres before that time . a patache or pinnesse of theirs passed the streight of magellane hauing in her one iohn de resaga , and ran all along the coast of peru and noua 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 fléete the admirall onely came thither , wherein was captaine one martine mingues de car●houa : for loaisa and the other captaines died by the way . all the moores of maluco were found well affectioned to the spaniards . in the same yéere 1525. the pilot stephen gomes went from the port of the groine toward the north to discouer the streight vnto the malucos by the north , to whom they would giue no charge in the fléete of frier garsia de loaisa . but yet the earle don fernando de andrada , 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. degrées 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 yéere 1525. don george de meneses captaine of maluco , and with him don garcia henriques sent a foyst to discouer land towards the north , wherein went as captaine one diego de rocha , and gomes de sequeira for pilot . in 9. or 10. degrées they found certaine islands standing close together , and they called them the islands of gomes de sequeira , he being the first pilot that discouered them . and they came backe againe by the island of batochina . in the yéere 1526. there went out of siuill one sebastian cabota a venetian by his father , but borne at bristol in england , being chiefe pilote to the emperour , with fower ships toward maluco . they came to pernambuco , and staied there thrée monethes for a winde 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 riuer 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. leagues , they made a fortresse and staied there aboue a yéere : and then rowed further till they came to the mouth of another riuer called paragioa , and perceiuing that the countrey yéelded 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 yéere 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 kingdome of peru , running through the vallies of xauxa , and méeteth with the riuers parso , 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 those which procéede from a spring . in the yéere 1517. one pamphilus de naruaez went out of s. lucar de barameda to be generall of the coast and land of florida as farre as rio de las palmas , and had with him fiue ships , 600. soldiers , 100. horses , 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 néere to florida with thrée hundred of his companie , some horses , and some victuailes , 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 one another , and the people also of the countrey did the like . naruaez and those which 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 gold , and in searching came to the said towne , where they found no gold nor siluer : they saw many bay trées , and almost all other kinde of trées 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 déere at their pleasure , and will not grow wearie though they run a whole day . from apalachen they went to a towne called aute ; and from thence to xamo a poore countrey with small sustinance . these people bring vp their children very tenderly , and make great lamentation when any of them dieth ; they neither wéepe 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 vsed praier , and it pleased god that they did indéede 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 customes . and because they plaied the physitions , they were as they passed greatly estéemed 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 heards with their cattel as the arabians doe . they be poore , and eate snakes , lisards , spiders , ants , and al kinde of vermine , and herewith they liue so well contented that commonly they sing and dance . they buie the women of their enimies , and kill their daughters , because they would not haue 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 yéeres of age ; and where certaine men being hermaphrodites doe marrie one another . these spaniards trauailed aboue 800. 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. degrées and vpward toward the north . this yéere 1527. when cortes vnderstood by the pinnesse aforesaide that don garcia de loaisa was passed by the streight of magelan toward the islands of cloues , he prouided thrée ships to goe séeke 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. christopher standing in 20. degrées 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 de sequeira had discouered , & not knowing thereof , they named thē 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 spanyards for 70. ducats , which had béene of the companie of frier loaisa , who was lost thereabout . in the yéere 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 tempests : and he tooke the distance from thence to noua spagna to be 2050. leagues . at this time martin yn̄iguez de carquiçano died , and fernando de la torre was chosen their generall , 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 iune he returned towards new spaine , hauing with him one simon de brito patalin and other portugals , and hauing béene certaine monethes at sea , he was forced backe vnto tidore , where patalin was beheaded and quartered , and his companions hanged . in this yéere 1528. cortes sent two hundred footemen and 60. horsemen , and many mexicans 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 iane de zuniga daughter vnto the earle de aguilar , and then the emperour sent him backe againe to be generall of new spaine . in the yéere 1529. in may saavedra returned back againe towards new spaine , and he had sight of a land toward the south in two degrées , and he ran east along by it aboue fiue hundred 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. degrées to the south of the line , returned vnto it , and passed 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 séeing that the spanyards would not obey them , they began to skirmish with slinging of stones , but saavedra would suffer 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. degrées they found many small low islands full of palme trées and grasse , which they called los iardines , and they came to an anker in the middest of them , where they taried certaine daies . the people séemed to descend from them of china , but by reason of their long continuance there they are become so brutish , that they haue neither law , nor yet giue themselues to any honest labour . they were white clothing which they make of grasse . they stand in maruailous feare of fire , because they neuer saw any . they eate cocos in stéede of bread , breaking them before they be ripe , and putting them vnder the sand , and then after certaine daies they take them out and lay them in the sunne , and then they will open . they eate fish which they take in a kinde of boate called a parao , which they make of pine wood , which is driuen thither at certaine times of the yéere , they know not how , nor from whence , and the tooles wherewith they make their boates are of shels . saavedra perceiuing that the time and weather was then somewhat better for his purpose , made saile 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 dios , 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 sperança . for from maluco vnto panama they saile continually betwéene the tropickes and the line : but they neuer found winde to serue that course , and therefore they came backe againe to maluco very sad , because saavedra died by the way : who if he had liued meant to haue opened the land of gastillia del oro and new spaine from sea to sea . which might haue béene done in fower places : namely from the gulfe of s. michael to vraba , which is 25. leagues , or from panama to nombre de dios being 17. leagues distance : or through xaquator a riuer of nicaragua , which springeth out of a lake thrée or fower leagues from the south sea , and falleth into the north sea ; whereupon doe saile great barks and crayers . the other place is from tecoantepee 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 sperança , or by the streight of magelan , or by the northwest . and yet if there might be found a streight there to saile into the sea of china , as it hath béene sought , it would doe much good . in this yéere 1529 , one damian de goes a portugal being in flanders , after that he had trauailed ouer all spaine , was yet desirous to sée more countreyes , and fashions , and diuersities 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 zealand , 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 , champaine , burgundie , the dukedome of borbon , gascoigne , languedoc , daulphinie , the dukedome 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 morania , 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 saxonie , the countreyes of denmarke , gotland , and norway , trauailing so farre , that he found himselfe in 70. degrées of latitude towards the north. he did sée , speake and was conuersant with all the kings , princes , nobles and chiefe cities of all christendome in the space of 22. yéeres : so that by reason of the greatnes of his trauell , i thought him a man woorthie to be here remembred . in the yéere 1529. or 1530. one melchior de sofa tauarez went from the citie of ormuz vnto balfera and the islands of gissara with certaine ships of warre , and passed vp as farre as the place , where the riuers tygris and euphrates méete one with the other . and although other portugals had discouered and sailed through that streight , yet neuer any of them sailed so 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 portugals knew not . not long after this one ferdinando coutinho a portugall came vnto ormuz , and being desirous to sée the world , he determined to goe into portugall from thence ouer land to sée 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 béene séene by the portugals : he was taken prisoner in damasco , and afterward crost ouer the prouince of syria , and came vnto the citie of alepo . he had béene at the holy sepulchre in ierusalem , and in the citie of cayro , and at constantinople with the great turke ; and hauing séene his court he passed ouer vnto venice , and from thence into italie , france , spaine , and so came againe to lisbon . so that he and damian de goes were in our time the most noble portugals , that had discouered and séene most countreyes and realmes of their owne affections . in the same yéere 1530. little more or lesse , one francis pisarro , which had béene in spaine to obtaine the gouernment of peru , turned backe againe to the citie of panama with all things that he desired : he brought with him fower brethren , ferdinand , iohn , 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 eies , and spent much : yet in the end they agreed , and diegro de almagro gaue vnto pisarro 700. pezoes of golde , victuailes and munition , wherewith he prepared himselfe the better for his iourney . not long after this agréement 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 , because there were many b●gs and riuers in their way , wherein some of his men were drowned : they came to the towne of coaché , where they rested , where they found much gold and emeraulds , of which they brake some to sée if they were perfect . from thence pisarro sent to diego de almagro twentie 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 sebastian de benalcazar , with all such things as had sent for , which pleased and pleasured him very much . in the yéere 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 kill 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 hundred men prisoners belonging 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 thrée spaniards to tombez to treate for peace , whome they tooke and slew and sacrificed , and their priestes wept not for pitie but of custome . 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 riches , 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 excellent harbour . in this same yéere 1531. there went one diego de ordas to be gouernour in the riuer of maragnon , with thrée ships , sixe hundred soldiers , and 35. horses . he died by the way , so that the intention came to none effect . after that in the yéere 1534. there was sent thither one hierome artal with 130. soldiers , yet he came not to the riuer , but peopled saint michael de neueri , and other places in paria . also there went vnto this riuer maragnon a portugall 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 iohn de barros . this riuer standeth in thrée degrées toward the south , hauing at the entrance of it 15. leagues of breadth and many islands inhabited , wherein grow trées that beare incence of a greater bignes then in arabia , gold , rich stones , and one emeraud was found there as big as the palme of a mans hand . the people of the countrey make their drinke of a kinde of dates , which are as big as quinces . in the yéere 1531. one nunnez de gusman went from the citie of mexico towards the northwest to discouer and conquer the countreies of xalisco , ceintiliquipac , ciametlan , toualla , cnixco , ciamolla , culhuacan , and other places . and to doe this he caried with him 250. horses , and fiue 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 countreyes , called that of xalisco nueua galicia , because it is a ragged countrey , and the people strong . he builded a citie which he called compostella , and another named guadalajara , because he was borne in the citie of guadalajara in spaine . he likewise builded the townes de santo espirito , de la conception , and de san miguel standing in 24. degrées of northerly latitude . in the yéere 1532. ferdinando cortes sent one diego hurtado de mendoça vnto acapulco 70. leagues from mexico , where he had prepared a small fléete to discouer the coast of the 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 yéere 1533. francis pisarro went from the citie of tumbes to caxamalca , where he tooke the king attabalipa , who promised for his ransome much gold and siluer : and to accomplish it there went to the citie of cusco standing in 17. degrées 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 monstrous . 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 chi●●● , as it is said . ferdinando pisarro with some horsemen went vnto paciacama 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 that his captaine ruminaguy rose vp in armes with the citie of quito . after this attabalipa was by the commandement of pisarro strangled . in the yéere 1534. francis pisarro séeing that the two kings were goue , began to enlarge himselfe in his signiories , and to build cities , forts , and townes to haue them more in subiection . likewise he sent sebastian de banalcazar the captaine of s. michael of tangarara against ruminaguy vnto quito . he had with him two hundred footemen and 80. horsemen : 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 , and so cold , that 70. of his men were frosen to death . when he came vnto quito , he began to inhabite it , and named it s. francis. in this countrey there is plentie of wheate , barlie , cattell and plants of spaine , which is very strange . pisarro went straight to the citie of cusco , and found by the way the captaine quisquiz risen in armes , whome shortly he defeated . about this time there came vnto him a brother of attabalipa named mango , whom he made ynga or king of the countrey . thus marching forward on his iourney after certaine skirmishes he tooke that excéeding rich and wealthie citie of culco . in this same yéere 1534. a briton called iaques cartier with thrée ships went to the land of corterealis , and the bay of sain● laurence , otherwise called golfo quadrato , and fell in 48. degrées and an halfe towards the north ; and so he sailed till he came vnto 51. degrees hoping to haue passed that way to china , and to bring thence drugs and other marchandise into france . the next yéere after he made another voiage into those partes , and found the countrey abounding with victuailes , houses and good habitations , with many and great riuers . he sailed in one riuer toward the southwest 300. leagues , and named the countrey thereabout noua francia : at length finding the water fresh he perceiued he could not passe through to the south sea , and hauing wintered in those parts , the next yéere following he returned into france . in the yéere 1535. or in the beginning of the yéere 1536. don antonie de mendoça came vnto the citie of mexico as viceroy of new spaine . in the meane while cortes was gone for more men to continue his discouerie , which immediately he set in hand sending foorth two ships from tecoantepec which he had made readie . there went as captaines in them fernando de grijalua , and diego bezerra de mendoça , and for pilots there went a portugal named acosta , and the other fortunio ximenez a biscaine . the first night they deuided themselues . fortunio ximenez killed his captaine bezerra and hurt many of his confederacie : 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 nunnes de gusman that they had found tokens of pearles : he went into the ship , and so went to séeke the pearles , he discouered along the coast aboue 150. leagues . they said that ferdinando de grijalua sailed thrée hundred leagues from tecoantepec without seeing any land , but onely one island which he named the isle of saint thomas , because he came vnto it on that saints day : it standeth in 20. degrées of latitude . in this yéere 1535. pisarro builded the citie de los reyes vpon the riuer of lima. the inhabitants of xauxa went to dwell there , because it was a better countrey , standing in 12. degrées of southerly latitude . in this same yéere of 1535. he caused the citie of truxillo to be builded on a riuers side vpon a fruitfull soile , standing in 8. degrées on that side . he built also the citie of saint iago in porto viejo : besides many others along the sea coast and within the land : where there bréede many horses , asses , mules , kine , hogs , goates , shéepe , and other beasts ; also trées 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 yéere 1535. one diego de almagro went from the citie of culco to the prouinces of arequipa and chili , reaching beyond cusco towards the south vnto 30. degrées . this voiage was long , and he discouered much land , suffering great hunger , cold , and other extremities , by reason of the abundance of ice , which stoppeth the running of the riuers ; so that men and horses die in those parts of the colde . about this time ferdinando pilarro 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 gouernment of 100. leagues ouer and besides that which was discouered , and named it the new kingdome of toledo . ferdinando pilarro went straight to the citie of cusco : and one iohn 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 , séeing it did appertaine vnto him . which was the cause of a ciuill warre . they were mightily oppressed with want of victuailes and other things in this their returne , and were enforced to eate the horses , which had died fower moneths and a halfe before , when they passed that way . in this same yéere 1535. nunnez dacun̄a being gouernour of india , while he was making a fortresse at the citie of diu , he sent a fleete to the riuer of indus , being frō thence 90. or 100. leagues towards the north vnder the tropicke of cancer . the captaines name was vasques perez de san paio : also he sent another armie against badu the king of cambaia , the captaine whereof was cosesofar a renegado . they came to the barre of that mighty riuer in the moneth of december , of the water whereof they found such trial as quintus curtius writeth of it , when alexander came thither . in this yeere 1535. one simon de alcazaua went from siuill with two ships and 240. spaniards in them . some say they went to new spaine , others that they went to maluco , but others also say to china ; where they had béene with ferdinando perez de andrada . howsoeuer it was , they went first vnto the canaries , and from thence to the streight of magelan , without touching at the land of brasill or any part at all of that coast . they entred into the streight in the moneth of december with contrarie windes and cold weather . the soldiers would ha●● had him turne backe againe , but he would not . he went into an hauen on the south side in 53. degrées : there the captaine simon of alcazaua commanded roderigo de isla with 60. spanyards to goe and discouer land : but they rose vp against him and killed him , and appointed such captaines and officers 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 sauages . the other ship went to saint iago in hispaniola , and from thence to siuill in spaine . in this same yéere 1535. don pedro de mendoça went from cadiz towards the riuer of plate with twelue ships , and had with him two thousand men : which was the greatest number of ships and men , that euer any captaine carried into the indies . he died by the way returning 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 discouered and conquered the countrey till they came to the mines of potossi and to the towne la plata , which is 500. leagues distant from them . in the yéere 1536. cortes vnderstanding that his ship wherein fortunio ximenez was pilote was seased on by nunnez de guzman , he sent foorth thrée ships to the place where guzman was , and he himselfe went by land well accompanied , and found the ship which he sought all spoiled and rifled . when his thrée other ships were come about , he went aboord himselfe with the most part of his men and horses , leauing for captaine of those which remained on land one andrew de 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 iago . within three daies after he came into the bay where the pilot fortunio ximenez was killed , which he called la plaia de santa cruz , where he went on land , and commanded andrew de tapia to discouer , cortes tooke shipping againe and came to the riuer now called rio de san pedro y san paulo , where by a tempest the ships were separated , one was driuen to the bay de santa cruz , another to the riuer of guajaual , and the third was driuen on shore hard by 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 & entred into the gulfe now called mar de cortes , mar vermejo , or the gulfe of california , and shot himselfe 50. leagues within it : where he espied a ship at anker & sailing towards her he had béene lost , if that ship had not succored him . but hauing graued his ship , he departed with both the ships from thence . hée bought victuals at a déere rate at saint michael of culhuacan ; and from thence he went to the hauen of santa cruz , where hée heard that don antonio de mendoça was come out of spaine to be viceroy . he therefore left to be captaine of his men 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 mendoça the viceroy , to certifie him of his arriuall : and also he sent him the coppie of a letter , wherein francis pisarro wrote , that mango ynga was risen against him , and was come to the citie of cusco with an hundred thousand fighting men , and that they had killed his brother iohn pisarro , and aboue 400. spaniards and 200. horses , and he himselfe was in danger , so that he demanded succour and aide . cortes being informed of the state of pisarro , and of the arriuall of don antonio de mendoça , because he would not as yet be at obediēce ; first he determined to sende to maluco to discouer that way a long vnder the equinoctial line , because the islands of cloues stand vnder that paralele : and for that purpose he prepared 2. ships with prouision , victuals & men , besides all other things necessarie . he gaue the charge of one of these ships to ferdinando de grijalua , and of the other vnto one aluarado a gentleman . they went first to saint michael de tangarara in peru to succour francis pisarro , and from thence to maluco all along néere the line as they were commanded . and it is declared that they sailed aboue a thousand leagues without fight of land , on she one side nor yet on the other of the equinoctiall . and in two degrées toward the north they discouered one island named asea , which séemeth to be one of the islands of cloues : 500. leagues little more or lesse 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 then they came to the fight of seri : turning towards the north one degrée , they came to anker at another island named coroa , and from thence they came to another vnder the liue 〈…〉 and from thence vnto bufu standing in the same course . the people of all these islands are blacke , and haue their haire frisled , whom the people of maluco do call papuas . the most of them eate mans flesh , and are witches , so giuen to diuilishnes , that the diuels walk among them as cōpanions . if these wicked spirits do finde one alone , they kill him with cruell blowes or smoother him . therefore they vse not to goe , but when two or thrée may be in a companie . there is héere a bird as bigge as a crane : he flieth not , nor hath any wings wherewith to flée , he runneth on the ground like a déere : 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 guelles standing one degree towards the north , east , and west from the isle terenate , wherein the portugals haue a fortresse : these men are haired like the people of the malucoes . these islands stande 124. leagues from the island named moro ; and from terenate betwéene 40. and 50. from whence they went to the isle of moro , & the islāds of cloues , going from the one vnto the other . but the people of the countrey would not suffer them to come on lande , saying vnto them : go vnto the fortresse where the captain antonie galuano is , and we will receiue 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 countrey were so affectioned to the portugals , that they would venter for them their liues , wiues , children and goods . in the yéere 1537. the licenciate iohn de vadillo gouernour of cartagena , went out with a good armie from a porte of vraba called saint sebastian de buena vista , being in the gulfe of vraba , and from thence to rio verde , & from thence by land without knowing any way , nor yet hauing any carriages , they went to the end of the countrey of peru , and to the towne la plata , by the space of 1200. leagues : a thing woorthie of memorie . for from this riuer to the mountaines of abibe the countrey is full of hils , thicke forests of trées , and many riuers : and for lacke of a beaten way , they had pierced sides . the mountaines of abibe as it is recorded haue 20. leagues in bredth . they must be passed ouer in ianuarie , februarie , march , and aprill . and from that time forward it raineth much , and the riuers will be so greatly encreased , that you cannot passe for them . there are in those mountaines many heards of swine , many dantes , lyons , tygers , beares , ounses , and great cats , and monkeis , and mightie snakes and other such vermine . also there be in these mountaines abundance of partridges , quailes , turtle doues , pigeons , and other birdes and foules of sundrie sorts . likewise in the riuers is such plentie of fish , that they did kill of them with their staues : 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 , kingdomes , and prouinces 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 sea there unto adioyning . this was the greatest discouerie that hath béene heard of by land , and in so short a time . and if it had not béene done in our daies , the credite thereof would haue béene doubtfull . in the yéere 1538. there went out of mexico certaine friers of the order of saint francis towards the north to preach to the indians the catholicke faith . he that went farthest was one frier marke de nizza , who passed through cul●acan , and came to the prouince of sibola , where he found seuen cities : and the farther he went , the richer he found the countrie of gold , siluer , precious stones , and shéepe bearing very fine wool . vpon the fame of this welth the viceroy don antonio de mendoça , and cortes , determined to send a power thither . but when they could not agrée thereupon cortes went ouer into spaine in the yéere 1540. where afterward he died . in this yéere 1538. began the ciuil warre betweene pisarro and alonagro , wherein at the last alinagro was taken and beheaded . in the same yéere 1538. antonie galuano being chiefe captaine in the isles of maluco sent a ship towards the north , whereof one francis de castro was captaine , hauing commandement to conuert as many as he could to the faith . he himselfe christened many , as the lords of the celebes , macasares , amboynos , moros , moratax , and diuers other places , when francis de gastro arriued at the island of mindanao , sixe kings receiued the water of baptisme , with their wiues , children and subiects : and the most of them antonie galuano gaue commandement to be called by the name of iohn , in remembrance that king iohn the third raigned then in portugall . the portugals and spaniards which haue béene in these islands affirme , that there be certaine hogs in them , which besides the téeth which they haue in their mouthes , haue other two growing out of their snouts , and as many behinde their eares of a large span and an halfe in length . likewise they say there is a tree , the one halfe whereof , which standeth towards the east is a good medicine against all poyson , & the other side of the trée 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 trée , the fruite whereof whosoeuer doth eate , shall be twelue houres besides himselfe , and when he commeth 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 eate shall be a certaine space 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 téeth . in the yéere 1539. cortes sent thrée ships with francis vlloa to discouer the coast of coludean northward . they vient from acapulco , and touched at s. iago de buqna sperança , and entred into the gulfe that cortes had discouered , and sailed till they came in 32. degrées , which is almost the farthest end of that gulfe , which place they named ancon de sane andres , because they came thither on that saints daie : then they came out a long the coast on the other side , and doubled the point of california and entred in betwéene certaine islands and the point , and so sailed along by it , till they came to 32. degrées , from whence they returned to newe spaine , enforced thereunto by contrarie windes and want of victuals ; hauing béene out about a yéere . cortes according to his account , spent 200000. ducates in these discoueries . from cabo del enganno to another cape called cabo de liampo in china there are 1000. or 1200. leagues sayling . cortes and his captaines discouered new spaine , from 12. degrées to 32. from south to the north , being 700. leagues , finding it more warme then cold , although snow do lie vpon certaine mountaines most part of the yéere . in new spaine there be many trées , flowers and fruits of diuers sorts and profitable for many things . the principall trée 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 serue 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 trées haue certaine 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 féeth it , it will become honie ; if you purifie it it will be sugar . also you may make wine and vineger thereof . 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 trée knowne to growe in those parts . also there be there certaine small birds named vicmalim . their bill is small and long . they liue of the dewe , and the iuice of flowers and roses . their feathers be verie small and of diuers colours . they be greatly estéemed to worke golde with . they die or sléepe euerie yéere in the moneth of october fitting 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 therefore they call them the reuiued birds . likewise there be snakes in these parts , which sound as though they had bels when they créepe . there be other which engender at the mouth , euen as they report of the viper . there be hogges which haue a nauell on the ridge of their backs , which assoone 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 yéere 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 companie of men to discouer and conquere 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. degrées 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 beyond them were the amazones , whose quéene was called guanomilla , that is to say , the goldeu heauen . but as yet there are none of these things discouered . about this time gomez de aluarado went to conquer the prouince of guanuco : and francis de chauez went to subdue the conchincos , which troubled the towne of truxillo , and the countreyes adioyning . peter de vergara went to the bracamores , a people dwelling toward the north from quito . iohn perez de vergara went against the ciaciapoians : alfonsus de mercadiglio went vnto mulubamba . ferdinando and gonzaluo pisarros went to subdue collao , a countrey very rich in gold . peter de candia went to the lower part of collao . peranzures also went to conquer the said countrey . and thus the spanyards dispersed themselues , and conquered 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 néerest is from the cape of saint augustine vnto the hauen of truxillo : for they stand both almost in one parallele 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 which countrey passe certaine mountaines named the andes , which diuide brasill from the empire of the ingas . after this maner the mountaines of taurus and imaus diuide asia into two parts : which mountaines begin in 36. and 37. degrées of northerly latitude at the end of the mediterran 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 me●es about the desert of barca , and running along vnder the tropicke of cancer vnto the atlanticke ocean . the mountains of the andes be high , ragged , and in some places barren without trées or grasse , 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 turffes , as they do in flanders . in some places of these mountaines and countries the earth is of diuers colours , as blacke , white , red , gréene , blew , yellow , and violet , wherewith they die colours without any other mixture . from the bottomes of these mountaines spring many small and great riuers , principally from the east side , as appéereth by the riuers of the amazones , of s. francis , of plata , and many others which runne through the countrey of brasil , 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 , dante 's , ounces , hogs and déere : 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 destroied 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 westward toward the sea , and containing 15. or 20. leagues in bredth is all of very hot sand , yet fresh , bringing foorth many good trées and fruites because it is well watered : where there growe abundance of flags , rushes , herbes , and trées so slender and loose , that laying your hands vpon them the leaues will fall off . and among these herbes and fresh flowers the men and women liue 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 diuers languages . those which liue on the tops of these mountains of andes betwéene the cold and the heate for the most part be blinde of one eie , and some altogether blinde , and scarce you shall finde two men of them together , but one of them 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 india they vse another herbe named betele ) which also ( they say ) satisfieth both hunger and thirst . also there are other kindes of graines and rootes whereon they féede . moreouer there is plentie of wheate , barly , millet , vines , and fruitful trées , 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 , gréene , yellow , orange tawnie , and of diuers other colours . likewise they affirme , that from tumbez southward it doth neither raine , thunder , nor lighten , for the space of fiue 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 ; géese , herous , pigeons , partriges , quailes , and many other kindes of birdes . there are also a certaine kinde of fowle like vnto a ducke which hath no wings to flie withall , but it hath fine thinne feathers which 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 sée to get to the water againe , and then they doe kill them . they say it is a pleasant sight to behold the fight betwéene the said bitters and seales . with the beards of these seales men make cleane their téeth , because they be wholesome for the toothach . there are certaine beastes which those of the countrey call xacos , and the spanyards shéepe because they beare wooll like vnto a shéepe , but are made much like vnto a déere , hauing a a saddle backe like vnto a camell . they will carrie the burteen of 100. weight . the spanyards ride vpon them , and when they be wearie they will turne their heads backward , and void out of their mouthes a woonderful stinking water . from the riuer of plata and lima southward there bréede no crocodiles nor lizards , no snakes , nor any kinde of vene mous vermine , but great store of good fishes bréede 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 truxillo 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 peru , of whose statures they found in porto viejo , and in the hauen of truxillo , bones and iawes with téeth , which were thrée and fower fingers long . in the yeere 1540. the captaine ferdinando alorchon went by the commandement of the viceroy don antonio de mendoça with two ships to discouer the bottome of the gulfe of california , and diuers other countries . in this yeere 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 thrée hundred indians to carrie burthens . he went forward til he came to guixos , 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 snowie hils , where they found many indians frozen to death , maruelling much of the great snowe that they found vnder the equinoctiall line . from hence they went to a prouince called cumaco , where they tarried two monethes because it rained continually . and beyond they sawe the cinamome-trées , which be very great , the leaues thereof resembling bay leeues , both leaues , branches , rootes , and all tasting of cinamome . the rootes haue the whole taste of cinamome . but the best are certaine knops like vnto alcornoques or acornes , which are good marchandise . it appéereth to be wilde cinamome , and there is much of it in the east indies , and in the islands of iaoa or iaua . from hence they went to the prouince and citie of coca , where they rested fifty daies . from that place forwards they trauailed along by a riuers side being 60. leagues long , without finding of any bridge , nor yet any foorde to passe ouer to the other side . they found one place of this riuer , where it had a fall of 200. fathoms déepe , where the water made such a noise , that it would make a man almost deafe to stand by it . and not far beneath this fall , they say they found a chanell of stone very smooth , of two hundred foote 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 herbes . from that place forward they found a people of some reason , wearing certaine clothing made of cotton wooll , where they made a brigandine , & 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 boates , and they trauailed in this order two hundred leagues as it appeereth . 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 thought himselfe out of all hope , because he was in a strange countrey without victuales , clothing , or any thing else : wherefore they were faine to eate their horses , yea and dogs also , because the countrey was poore and barren , and the iourney long , to goe to quito . yet notwithstanding taking a good hart to 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 sée sunne nor any thing else whereby they might be comforted , wherefore of two hundred men which went foorth 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 fiue hundred or sixe hundred leagues downe the riuer , séeing diuers countreyes and people on both sides thereof , among whom he affirmed some to be amazones . he came into castile , excusing himselfe , that the water and streames draue him downe perforce . this riuer is named the riuer of orellana , & other name it the riuer of the amazones , because there be women there which liue like vnto them . in the yéere 1540. cortes went with his wife into spaine where he died of a disease seuen yéeres after . in the yéere 1541. it is recorded that don stephan de gama gouernour of india sailed toward the streit of mecca . he came with al his fléete vnto an anker in the island of maçua , and 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. degrées towardes the north , and from thence to the hauen of cos●ir , standing in 27. degrées , and so he crossed ouer to the citie of toro standing on the shore of arabia , and along by it he went vnto suez , which is the farthest ende of the streit , and so he turned backe the same way , leauing that countrey and coast discouered so far as neuer any other portugall captaine had done , although lopez suarez gouernour of india went to the hauen of iuda , and the hauen of mecca standing on the coast of arabia in 23. degrées of latitude , and 150. leagues from the mouth of the streit . don stephan de gama crossing ouer from cos●ir 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 doe bréede , which increase nature : wherefore they be greatly esteemed of such as are vnchaste . also they say that there are in this streit many roses which open when women are in their labour . iohn leo writeth in the very end of his geographie 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 shée shall léese her virginitie . in the same yéere 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 yéere 1540. the viceroy don antony de mendoza sent one francis vasquez de coronado by land vnto the prouince of sibola with an armie of spaniards and indians . they went out of mexico , and came to culuacan , and from thence to sibola , which standeth in 30. degrées 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 assalted 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 béene 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 very rich , that did worship a crosse of golde , and the picture of the quéene of heauen . they indured many extremities in this iourney , and the indians fled away from them , and in one morning they found thirtie of their horses dead . from cicuie they went to quiuira , which was two hundred leagues off , according to their account , passing all through a plaine countrey , and making 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 . they saw neither any crosse , nor any image of the quéene of heauen , nor any other token of christian religion . it is written of this countrey that it is but smally inhabited , principally in the plaine and champion places , because the men and women goe in herds with their cattell , whereof they haue great plentie , euen as the arabians do in barbarie , and they remooue from place to place , euen as the season serueth , and the pastures to féede their cattle . in these parts are certaine beasts almost as bigge as horses , they haue very great hornes , and they beare wooll like vnto shéepe , and so the spaniards call them . they haue abundance of oxen verie monstrous , being camel-backed , and hauing long beards , and on their necke long manes like vnto horses . they liue 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 they do eate is rawe , or euill rosted , for they lacke pots to séeth it in . they cut their meat with certaine kniues made of flint stone . their fruite are damsons , hasel-nuts , walnuts , melons , grapes , pines , and mulberies . there be dogges so bigge , that one of them alone will hold a bull , though he be neuer so wilde . when they remooue , these dogs do carrie their children , wiues , and stuffe vpon their backes , 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 yéere 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 thrée portugals in a iunco ( 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 degrées of latitude . there fell vpon their sterne such a storme , that it set them off the land , and in fewe daies they sawe an island towards the east standing in 32. degrées , which they do name iapan , which seemeth to be the isle of zipangri , whereof paulus venetus maketh mention , and of the riches thereof . and this island of iapan hath gold , siluer , and other riches . in this yéere 1542. don antonio de mendoça viceroy of nueua spagna , sent his captaines and pilots to discouer the coast of cape del enganno , where a fléete of cortez had been before . they sailed till they came to a place called sierras neuadas , or the snowie mountaines , standing in 40. degrées toward the north , where they saw ships with merchandises , which carried on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the images of certaine birdes called alcatra●zi , and had the yards of their sailes gilded , and their prowesse laid ouer with siluer . they séemed to be of the isles of iapan , or of china ; for they said that it was not aboue thirtie daies sailing vnto their countrey . in the same yéere 1542. don antony de mendoça sent vnto the islands of mindanao a fléete of sixe ships with fower hundred soldiers , and as many indians of the countrey , the generall whereof was one rui lopez de villa lobos , being his brother in law and a man in great estimation . they set saile from the hauen of natiuidad standing in 20. degrées towards the north , vpon all saints éeue , 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. degrées they had sight of another island which they named la nublada , that is , the cloudie island . from thence they went to another island named roca partida , that is , the clouen rocke . the 3. of december they found certaine baxos or states of sixe or seuen fathoms déepe . the 15. of the same moneth they had sight of the islands , which diego de roca , and gomez de sequeira , and aluaro de saauedra had discouered , and named them los reyes , because they came vnto them on twelfe day . and beyond them they found other islands in 10. degrées all standing round , and in the midst of them they came to an anker , where they tooke fresh water and wood . in the same yéere 1542. don diego de almagro was slaine in peru by the hands of one don vaca de castro . in the yéere 1543. in ianuarie they departed from the foresaid islands with all the fléete , 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 toong saying , buenas dias , matelotes , that is to say , good morrow , companions ; whereat the spaniards much marueiled , being then so farre out of spaine , to sée the men of that countrey with crosses , and to be saluted by them in the spanish toong , and they séemed in their behauiour to incline somewhat to our catholique faith . the spaniards not knowing , that many thereabout had béene christened by francis de castro , at the commandement of antony galuano , some of them named these islands , islas de las cruzes , and others named them islas de los matelotes . in the same yéere 1543. the first of february rui lopez had sight of that noble island mindanao standing in 9. degrées : they could not double it nor yet come to an ancre as they 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 fiue or sixe kings that had receiued baptisme , 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. degrées he found a small island which they of the countrey call sarangam , which they tooke perforce , and in memory of the vizeroy who had sent them thither they named it antonia , where they remained a whole yéere , 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 medle with the discoueries onely . in the same yéere 1543. and in the moneth of august the generall rui lopez sent ane bartholmew de la torre in a smal ship into new spaine , to acquaint the vizeroy don antonio de mendoça with all things . they went to the islands of siria , gaonata , bisaia , and many others , standing in 11. and 12. degrées towards the north , where magellan had béene , and francis de castro also , who there baptized many , and the spaniards called thē the philippinas in memory of the prince of spaine . here they tooke victuals and wood , and hoised sailes , they sailed for certaine daies with a fore-winde , till it came upon 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 hermanas , that is the two sisters . and beyond them also they saw 4. islands more , which they called los volcanes . the second of october they had sight of farsana , beyond which there standeth an high pointed rock , which casteth out fire at 5. places . so sayling in 16. degrées 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 , but they ankered not at them . they found also an archipelagus of islands well inhabited with people , lying in 15. or 16. degrées : the people be white , and the weomen well proportioned , and more beautifull and better arraied then in any other place of those parts , hauing many iewels of gold , which was a token , that there was some of that metal in the same countrie . here were also barkes of 43. cubits in length , and 2. fathomes and a halfe in bredth , and the plankes 5. inches thicke , which barkes were rowed with ●ares . 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 thence . there came vnto them also certaine barkes or boates handsomely decked , wherein the master and principall men sate on high , and vnderneath were very blacke moores with frizled 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 naturally borne in that climate , but that they be in certaine places scattered ouer the whole circuite of the world . for euen so they be in the islands of nicobar and andeman , 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 neuer any other found either in noua spagna , or in castilia del oro , or in peru. in the yéere 1544. don gutierre de vargas bishop of placenza sent a fléet from the city of siuil vnto the streits of magellan : which is reported to haue béene done by the counsel of the vizeroy don antonie de mendoça his cousin . some suspe●ed 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 fléete by reason of contrary windes could not passeth● 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 appéereth , that from the streit to the equinoctial line on both sides is wholy discouered . in the yéere 1545. & in the moneth of ianuarie 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 , as appéered by those things which passed betwéene him and the portugals , and the great expences whereunto he put the fortresse . in the same yéere 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 iaspar rico. they sailed to the coast of os papuas , and ranged all along the same , and because they knew not that saauedra had béene there before , they chalenged the honor and same 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 illustrated by writing . in this yéere 1545. and in the moneth of iune , there went a iunk from the citie of borneo , wherein went a portugall called peter fidalgo , and by contrary windes he was driuen towards the north ; where he founde an island standing in 9. or 10. degrées , that stretched it selfe to 22. degrées of latitude , which is called the isle of the luçones , 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 betwéene 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 one of siluer : and yet it standeth not farre from the countrey of china . in the yéere 1553. there went out of england certaine shipping , and as it appéered they sailed northward along the coast of norway and finmark , and from thence east , till they came betwéene 70. and 80. degrées vnto moscouie , for so far one of the ships went : but i know not what became of the rest : & this was the last discouery made vntil this time . from this lande of moscouie eastward you faile vnto tartary , and at the farther end of it standeth the countrey and prouince of china . it is said that betwéene china and tartary there is a wall aboue 200. leagues in length , standing néere vnto 50. degrées of latitude . now i gather by all the precedent discoueries , that the whole earth is in circuite 360. degrées according to the geometrie thereof : and to euery degrée the ancient writers allow 17. leagues & a halfe , which amount vnto 6300. leagues yet i take it that euerie degrée 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 then 77. or 78. degrées , which come to 1326. leagues : and towards the south pole there is discouered from the equinoctiall to 52. or 53. degrées , that is , to the streit which magellan passed through , which amounteth 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 . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a01426-e270 antonie galuano captaine of maluco . variance vsually amon● the kings of maluco . good seruice full ill rewarded . a counto is 50000. crusadoes . or rather themistocles . notes for div a01426-e480 augustine de c●●●t . dei , lib. 15. cap. ●0 . contrarie opinions touching the discouerie of the world . who were the first discouerers since the flood . * the people of china say they were the first sailers by sea . the inhabitants of the west indies descended from china . the seas betweene the tropicks very calm . an high bough in steed of mast and saile . pomponius mela lib. 3. plinius lib. 2. cap 67. ioseph . antiouit . iudai● lib. 1. ca. 5. iustinus lib. 1. bero●us . the first nauigation after the flood 143. diodorus siculus lib. 2. cap. 5. berosus . gonsaluo fernandes de ouiedo lib. 2. cap 3. generalis h●st . plinius lib. 6. cap. 3● . the ancient nauigation was along the coast , and not far into the maine ocean . length of time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of waters have much altered the situation of 〈◊〉 places . plato in timaeo . plinius lib. 4. cap. 22. the islands of the açores somtimes ioined to the firme land . all islands haue their rootes running from the maine land . eratosthenes apud strabonem lib. 1. pag. 26. huls of ships and ankers ●ound on mountaines f●rre within land . at this isle of bali the holla●ders were 1596. and haue largely described it . nine score miles of firme ground lately drowned in china . 800. yeeres after the flood was trade of spices by the red sea . arsinoe , now called suez . plinius lib. 6. cap. 29. strabo lib. 17. pag. 560. 900. yeeres after the flood . strabo lib. 17. plinius lib. 6. cap. 29. diodorus siculus lib. 4. cap. 4. the lake maeotis . shipping of great antiquitie in the germaine sea . strabo lib. 1. pag 26. 1. of kings . 9. 2. chron. 8. herodotus lib. 4. aristoteles lib. de mirandis in natura auditis . gonzalo fernandes de quiedo lib. 2 cap. 3. of his generall historie . diodorus siculus lib. 1. cap. 3. a digression . plinius lib. 9. cap. 58. de mu●ibus nili . ioannes leo africanus lib. 9. cap. de nilo . plinius lib. 8. cap. 25. ioannes leo africanus lib. 9. hippopotami . ibis . plinius lib. 2. cap. 67. plinius lib. 6. cap. 31. the nauigation of hanno in greeke herevnto agreeth . enchanted snakes . odericus writeth the like of one that brought multitudes of patridges to trapezunda . mermaides . aristotel . de mirand●● in natura auditis . strabo lib. 2. pag. 68. de gad●tanorum longi●●●a nauiga●●●● ingentibus na●●bus . plinius lib. 6. cap. 29. strabo lib 17. pag. 560 & 561. coptus . myos-hormos now 〈◊〉 on the red sea . the cause of the greatnes of alexandria . strabo lib. 17. pag. 549. strabo lib. 17. pag. 549. plinius lib 6. cap. 23. plinius lib. 12. cap. 18. plinius lib. 2. cap. 67. paulus venetus commended . cassiterides . * the northwest passage , though the latitude be somewhat mistaken . what histories may these be ? xiphil●nus in vita traiani . rome taken by the gothes 412. the originall of venice 450. the sect of mahumet began anno 611. trafficke and nauigation cease . ramusius 1. vol. fol 372. pag. 2. ramusius 1. vol. fol. 373. a way by the riuer oxus , the caspian sea , volga , and ouer land to caffa . strabo lib. 11. the marte of spices at trapezunda . ramusius ibidem . strabo lib. 11. plinius lib. 6. cap. 11. another way to boghar , and so by carauans into persia by the riuer ganges . * or laor . samarcande . woollen cloth good marchandise for cathay . the way by ormus and balsara and so to aleppo and barutti . ioannes leo africanus . ramusius 1. vol. fol. 373. tombuto . the canarie islands . the island of madera discouered by macham an english man. the first discouerie of the canaries by the christians 1405. the first conquest of the portugals in barbarie 1415. this victorie was gotten by the helpe of the english as walsingham writeth . iohn de barros asiae decad . 1. lib 1. cap. 2. cape de non. cape bojador . the canarie islands conquered . porto santo . iohn de barros decad . 1. lib. 1. cap. 2. ba●●os decad . 1. lib. 1. cap. 3. the chappell built by macham found in madera . porto santo . the canarie islands sold ouer to a spanyard . barros decad . 1. lib. 1. cap. 12. the canaries came to the crowne of spaine in the yeere 1431 the ancient maners of the canarians . the commodities of the canaries . a tree yeelding abundance of water in ferro . a most rare and excellent map of the world . a great helpe to don henry in his discoueries . as much discouered in ancient time as now is . barros decad . 1. lib. 1. cap. 4. cape bojador first passed . anno 1132. the death of don iohn the first of portugall . barros decad . 1. lib. 1. cap. 5. the death of don duarte king of portugall . barros decad . 1. lib. 1. cap. 6. cape blanco . i●dulgences ●●anted to encourage to this enterprise . barros decad . 1. lib. 1. cap. 7. rio de oro , why so called . the islands of arguin . the islands of garze . barros decad . 1. lib. 1. cap. 9. angra de gonsaluo de syntra . barros decad . 1. lib. 1. cap. 9. & cap. 13. the riuer of sanaga . cape verde . barros decad . 1. lib. 1. cap. 14. rio grande . the island of seuen cities . don alfonso king of portugall come to age . barros decad . 1. lib. 2. cap 1. the açores first inhabited . alcaçer taken . the castle of arguin builded . ibidem . barros decad . 1. lib. 2. cap. 1. the isles of cape verde disc●uered by three genowais . the death of don henry 1463. sierra leona . barros decad . 1. lib. 2 cap. 2. the countrey of guiney let out to farme . ibidem . arzila taken . tanger taken . ibidem . la mina . ibidem . the isle de fernan de poo . sainct thome . rha del principe . benin . cape de santa catarina . don iohn the second . barros decad . 1. lib. 3 cap. 2. castell de mina . built . barros decad . 1. lib. 3. cap. 3. rio de congo . discouerie neere vnto the tropick of capricorne . an ambassadour from the king of congo . pepper of benin . barros decad . 1. lib. 3. cap. 5. pedro de couillan and alfonso de pavua sent to discouer india . alexandria . cairo . toro . aden . cananor . calicut . goa . sofala . mosambique . quiloa . mombaza . melinde . the voiage of pedro de couillan vnto the countrey of prete ianni . cape razalgate . ormuz . abassini . pedro de couillan the first portugall that came into the east india and aethiopia by the red sea . barros decad . 1. lib. 3. cap 9. a great part of the kingdome of congo baptized . the first that in sailing are thought to haue obserued latitud●s . the isle of guanahany first discouered . lucaios islands . cuba . hispaniola . contention betweene the kings of spaine and portugall . the bull of donation . gomara historiae general . lib. 1. cap. 17. columbus second voiage . deseada discouered . caribas . boriquen of s. iohn de porto riceo . iamaica . the first line of partition . the death of don iohn the second . the great discouerie of iohn cabota and the english . this is to the south of the chese●ian bay. columbus third voiage . gomara historiae general . lib. 2. cap. 21. trinidada . testigos . cubagua . frailes , roques , aruba , caraçao , &c. cabo de vela . beata . barros decad . 1. lib 4 cap. 2. and to the end of the 11. chapter . the cape of bona sperança . mosambique . mombaza . melinde . los baxos de padua . calicut . gomara historiae general lib. the cape of s. augustine . rio de maria tambal . angla de san lucas . the riuers of marannon , amazones and rio dolce . barros decad . 1. lib. 5 cap. 2. puerto seguro in brasil . sofala . terra corterealis . many entrances of riuers in the northwest . barros decad . 1. lib. 5. cap. 10. i●●ha de ascension . the isle of santa helena . bezequiche . brasil discouered to 32. degrees . gomara historiae general . lib. 2. vraba . the fourth voiage of columbus . gomara historiae general . l●b . 1. cap. 24. cabo de higueras . cabo de hunduras . cabo gracias a dios. veragua . rio de chagres . isla de bastimentos . puerto bello . nombre de dios. the cape of marble . barros decad . 1. lib. 6. cap. 2. the island of mosambique . cattell and camels led with dried fish . socotora . cape de guardafu . carthagena . codego . the death of queene isabella 150● . barros decad . 1. lib. 8. cap. 3. a fort built in quiloa . angediua possessed . forts builded in cananor and in cochin . a fort builded in sofala . ceilan . the death of philip the first king of spaine 1506. the death of christopher columbus . barros decad . 2. lib. 1. cap. 1. bezequiche is by cape verde . the isles of tristan de acunna in 37. degrees . samatra discouered . the inland of s. laurence discouered . braua . a fortresse builded in soc●tora . barros decad . 2. lib. 2. cap. 1. the cape of rosalgate . barros decad . 2. lib. 1. cap. 3. the isle of s. laurence . the islands of nicubar . samatra . the isle of a poluoreira . the flats of capacia . malacca . rarities in samatra . in samatra buffes , kine , and hennes haue flesh as blacke as inke . people hauing tailes like sheepe . gold coined in samatra . gomara historiae general . lib. 3. cap. 7. castilia del oro . the booke of the bachiler anciso of these discoueries . beata is a prouince in the west part of h●●paniola . gomara gen . hist . lib. 3. cap. 6. nuestra sennora de la antigua builded . many gentlewomen went to dwell in hispaniola . cuba peopled . barros decad . 2. lib. 5 cap 10. & lib. 6. cap. 2. barros decad . 2. lib. 6. cap. 5. the streight of cincapura . odia the chiefe citie of sian . tanaçerim . m. ralph fitch which had beene in this countrey brought diuers of these bels into england . the liuer of a little beast good against any wo●d of iron . pegu. pera. master ralph fitch saw this in pegu also . barros decad 2. lib 6. cap. 7. the isles of banda and maluco . the salites . iaua . madura . bali . * or guliam . * or aru. the people of the isles of maluco weare such apparell . gouernours carrying red staues like those of china . ternate . burro . amboino . guliguli . cloues , nutmegs , and mace in 8. degrees toward the south . mindanao . maluco . monstrous men . batochina . the flowers of xistus and arbor 〈◊〉 are such . barros decad 2. lib. 7. cap. 1. the isles of maldiua . iohn de solis . rio de plata . pet. martyr . decad . 3 cap. 10. pet. martyr . decad . 2 cap 10. gomara historiae general . lib. 2. cap. 10. bimini islands . florida . martyr . decad . 3. cap. 10. pet mart●r . de●ad . 3. cap. 1. the south sea dis●o●ered . barro● decad . 2. lib. 7 cap. 7. the streight of mecha or of the red sea discouered . the isle of camaran . pet. martyr . decad . 3. cap. 5. the island of tararequi or of pearles in the south sea . martyr . decad . 3. cap. 10. gomara historia● general . lib. ● . cap. 2. pet. martyr . decad . 3. cap. 1● . cape de guerra . punta de borica . cape blanco . panama peopled . barros decad . 2. lib. 10. cap. 5. osorius lib. 10. pag 277. an ambassage to● ismael king of persia . pepper a principall ma●chandise in china . the death of fernando king of spaine . osorius lib. 11. fol. 312. china discouered . canton . * or pakin . 〈◊〉 da veniaga or tama according to osorius . foquiem . the comming of charles the fift into spaine . gomar . hist . gen . lib. 3. cap. 2. iucatan . the seuen cities . castagneda lib. 4. cap. 36. and 37. osorius lib. 11. fol. 315. pag. 2. chatigam in bengala . pet. martyr . decad . 4. cap. 3. gomar . hist . gen . lib. 2 ▪ cap. 14. & cap. 17. * or acuzamil . the isle of ascension . the bay of hunduras . ●io de grisalua . gomar . hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 12. & 61 panuco . pet. martyr . decad . 4. cap. 6. gomar . hist . gen lib. 2. cap. 18. &c. tauasco . potoncian now called victoria . s. iohn de vllhua gomara historiae general . lib. 2. cap. 21. 22. 23 ▪ 24. zempoallan . chiauitztlan . villa rica de la vera cruz. gomara historiae general . lib. 2. cap. 61. gomar . hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 25. zalapan . sicuchimatl . zaclotan . tlaxcallan . muteçuma prisoner . zuçolla . malinaltepec . zenich . tututepec . gomara hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 48. pamphilus de narua●z . gomara hist . gen . lib. ● ▪ cap. 2. the discouerie of magallanes from the riuer of plate forward . patagones . los iardines . gomara hist gen . lib. 4 cap. 3. pet. martyr . decad 5. cap. 7. gomar . lib. 4. cap. 17. ramusius 1. vol. fol. 374. maçua . ramusius 1. vol. fol. 190. gomara hist gen . lib 2. cap. 7. chicora . gualdapé . gomara hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 48. the reuolt of the mexicans in absence of cortes . muteçuma slaine . gomar . hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 50. gomar . hist . gen . lib. 2. cap 60. tochtepec . coazacoalco . emmanuels death . osorius lib. 12. fol. 366. gomara historiae general . lib. 4. cap. 8. burro . timor . eude . gomara hist . gen . lib. 6. cap. 4. tecoantepec . gomara histori● general . lib. 6. cap. 12. castagneda historia delle indie orientali lib. 6. cap. 41. gomar . hist . gen . lib. 4. cap. 8. & 12. two islands in 16. degrees of northerly latitude . 42. degrees of northerly latitude . gomar . hist . gen . lib. 6. cap. 12. the south sea first searched by cortes ●is pilots . tecoentepec . gomara hist gen . lib. 6. cap. 12. a wittie stratageme . sant iago built . castagneda hist . delle indie orientali lib. 6. c 42. manada . panguensara . the islands of s. michael . borneo . pedra branca . gomara hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 61. santo stephano del puerto . gomara hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 61. & en la conquista de mexico . rio de las palmas . rio montalco . chila . gomar . en la conquesta de mexico fol. 226. gomara en la conquista de mex●co fol 242. san gil de buena vista in the bay of honduras . gomara en la conquista de mexico fol. 229. & in sequentibus . oile distilling out of hils . ibidem fol. 230. sant iago de quahutemallan . gomara en la conquista de mexico fol. 233. villa del espiritu santo . chamolla . gomara en la conquista de mexico fol. 234. gomar . hist . gen . lib. 3. cap. 21. gomara hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 7. gomar . hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 65. & en la conquista de mexico fol. 243. gomar . hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 66. & en la conqu●sta de mexico fol. 246. & 251. an excellent large map of cotton wooll . gomara hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 67. & 68 & en la conquista●ie mexico fol. 257. mazatlan . tiaca . zuzullin . gomar . in the conquest of mexico fol. 268. natiuidad de nuestra sennora . truxillo . honduras . gomara in the conquest of mexico fol. 170. & 273. gomara hist . gen . lib. 5. cap. 1. & 2. peru. isla del gorgona . isla del gallo . rio del peru. cabo de passaos . puerto vejo . tumbez . payta . pet. martyr . decad . 8. cap. 9. gomar . hist . gen . lib. 4. cap. ●2 . the isle of s. mathew . gomara in the conquest of mexico pag. 28● . pet. martyr . decad 8 pag 601. gomara historiae general . lib. 1. cap. 5. the isle of batochina by gilolo . gomara historiae general . lib. 3. cap. 39. 〈◊〉 parana . rio paragioa . the fountaine of the riuer of plata . the biggest riuers proceede from lakes . ramusius 3. vol. fol. 310. the isle of xamo or malhada . apalachen . aute . xamo . gomar . hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 72. and in the conquest of mexico fol. 28● . islas de los reyes . candiga . gomara hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 73. gomara hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 72. noua guinea . os papuas are blacke people with frisled haire . isla de los pintados . los iardines . 〈◊〉 wood . fower narrow passages from sea to sea in the west indies . gomara hist . gen . lib. 4. cap. 14. the northwest passage very beneficiall . gomara hist . gen . lib. 5. cap. 3. much gold and emeraulds . gomara hist . gen . lib. 5. cap. 4. the isle of puna . gomara hist . gen . lib. 5. cap. 5. s. michael of tangarara . payta an excellent harbour in 5. degrees to the south of the line . gomara historiae general . lib. 3. cap. 17. the famous riuer maragnon . iohn de barros factor of the house of india . gomara hist . gen . lib. 6. cap. 16. nueua galicia . compostella . guadalaira . santo espirito . de la conception . san miguel . gomara hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 74. gomara hist . gen . lib. 5. cap. 6. 7. 8. 9. guascar slaine . gomar . hist . gen . lib 5 cap. 11. attabalipa strangied . gomara historiae general . lib. 5. cap. ●8 . cruell snowe vnder the line . gomara historiae general . lib. 5. cap. 19. gomara hist . gen . lib. 5. cap. 16. casco taken . the bay of s. laurence discouered . gomar . hist . gen . lib. 2. cap. 74. & lib. 2. cap. 98. plaia de santa cruz. the isle of s. thomas . lima builded . gomar . hist . gen . lib. 4. cap. 23. lib. 5. cap. 22. truxillo . s. iago de porto v●ejo . go●ara hist . gen . lib. 5. cap. 24. chili . lib. 5. cap. 25. lib. 5. cap. 27. the fortresse of diu. badu king of cambaia . gomara hist . gen . lib. 4. cap. 13. gomara historiae general . lib. 3. cap. 39. the riuer of plata runneth vp to potossi . gomara hist gen . lib. 2. cap 74 & 98 saint iago isle . la plaia de santa cruz. rio de s. pedro y san paulo . guajaual rio. mar vermejo or the gulfe of california . gomara in the conquest of mexico folio 290. 291. 292. asea island . isla de los pescadores . hayme island . apia island . seri . coroa . 〈◊〉 bufu . os papuas . these seeme to be like ostriches . guelles islands . terenate . moro. moluccae . antonie galuano , the author of this booke . the case now is much altered . pedro de cieça parte primera de la cl●●onica del peru cap 9. & cap. 107. la pla●a . the mountaines of abibe villa de la plata . ramusius 3. vol. fol. 356. frier marke de nizza . sibola . gomara hist . gen . lib. 5. cap. 34. antonie galuano chiefe captaine of maluco author of this worke . gomara hist gen . lib. 2. cap. 74. & . ramusius 3. vol. fol. 339. the bottome of the gulfe of california discouered . california doubled . cabo del enganno . the distance betweene america and china in 32. degrees is 1000 leagues gomar . hist . gen . lib. 6. cap. 17. metl an excellent tree . the reuiued birds . snorting fishes . gomara hist . gen . lib. 5. cap. 35. chili . this might be the temple in the lake of titicaca . cieça cap. 103. the mountaines of andes . earth of diuers colours good to dy withall . an herbe named coca which satisfieth hunger and thirst . xacos a kinde of great sheepe that men ride vpon . ramusius 3 vol. fol. 303. gomara hist . gen . lib. 5. cap. 〈◊〉 . cumaco . cinamom trees wild. cinamom in the islands of iaua . coca . el pongo . a mighty fall of a riuer . guema . rio de orellana . maçua . suachen . cossir . toro . suez . an island of brimstone in the red sea . gomara hist . gen . lib. 6. cap. 17. sibola . acuco . circuie . quiuira . gomara hist . gen . lib. 6. cap. 18. & 19. sheepe as big as horses . dogs carying 50. pound waight on their backs . iapan discouered by chance . gomara hist . gen . lib. 6. cap. 18. gomara hist . gen . lib. 4. cap. 13. ramusius 1. vol. fol. 375. pag. 1. saint thomas . la nublada . roca partida . baxo● . los reyes . ●he isles of matelates . mindanao . sarangam . the relation of iohn ga●etan in the first vol. of ramusu●● fol. 376. the philippinas . malabrigos . las dos hermanas . los volcanes . la farsana . sixe or 〈◊〉 islands more . an archipelagus of islands . pilots for china . gomara hist . gen . lib. 4. cap. 14. the isle of moro. antonie galua●o gon out of ●he malucas . os papuas . nueua guinea . the isle of lu●ones . 〈…〉 gold . moscouie discouered by sea , by the english . a true and faithful account of the four chiefest plantations of the english in america to wit, of virginia, new-england, bermudus, barbados : with the temperature of the air, the nature of the soil, the rivers, mountains, beasts, fowls, birds, fishes, trees, plants, fruits, &c. : as also, of the natives of virginia, and new-england, their religion, customs, fishing, hunting, &c. / collected by samuel clarke ... clarke, samuel, 1599-1682. 1670 approx. 374 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 64 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-12 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a33345 wing c4558 estc r17743 11935895 ocm 11935895 51178 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a33345) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 51178) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 864:24) a true and faithful account of the four chiefest plantations of the english in america to wit, of virginia, new-england, bermudus, barbados : with the temperature of the air, the nature of the soil, the rivers, mountains, beasts, fowls, birds, fishes, trees, plants, fruits, &c. : as also, of the natives of virginia, and new-england, their religion, customs, fishing, hunting, &c. / collected by samuel clarke ... clarke, samuel, 1599-1682. 85 [i.e.91], [1], 35 p. printed for robert clavel, thomas passenger, william cadman, william whitwood, thomas sawbridge, and william birch, london : 1670. reproduction of original in william l. clements library. "examples of the wonderful works of god in the creatures": 35 p. at end. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng america -description and travel. virginia -description and travel. bermuda islands -description and travel. new england -description and travel. barbados -description and travel. 2005-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-03 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-04 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2005-04 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a true , and faithful account of the four chiefest plantations of the english in america . to wit , of virginia . new-england . bermvdvs . barbados . with the temperature of the air : the nature of the soil : the rivers , mountains , beasts , fowls , birds , fishes , trees , plants , fruits , &c. as also , of the natives of virginia , and new-england , their religion , customs , fishing , huntings , &c. collected by samuel clarke , sometimes pastor in saint bennet-fink , london . london , printed for robert clavel , thomas passenger , william cadman , william whitwood , thomas sawbridge , and william birch . 1670. the description of virginia , and the plantation of the english . the temperature of the air ; the nature of the soile , the rivers , mountains , beasts , fowls , birds , fishes , trees , plants , fruits , &c. as also of the natives , their religion , customs , fishings , huntings , treachery , &c. anno christi , 1584. sr. walter rawleigh obtained of queen elizabeth of glorious memory , a patent for discovering , and peopling of unknown countries , not actually possessed by any christian prince , dated march 25. and in the 26th . year of her reign : in prosecution whereof april 27th . he set forth two barks under the command of mr. philip amadas , and mr. arther barlow , which arrived on that part of america , which that virgin queen named virginia : and thereof in her majesties name there took possession july 13. and having taken a view of , and liking the country ; and having had conference , and some trading with the savages , observing about fourteen sorts of sweet smelling timber trees , and many other commodities ; bringing with them two of the savages , they returned home in september following . anno christi , 1585. sr. richard greenvile was sent by sr. walter rawleigh with a fleet of seven sail , which landed in the isle of st. john de porto rico. may 12. and there fortified themselves , and built a pinace . the spaniards promised to furnish them with victuals , but did not : whereupon , they took two spanish frigots . in hispaniola they had friendly greetings , and some trade with the spaniards ; from whence they came to an anchor at wokocon , whereby the unskilfullness of the master , their admiral strook on ground and sunk : july 25. they returned for england , and by the way they took a spanish ship of three hundred tun , richly laden . in virginia they left a colony under the goverment of mr. ralph lane and others , besides an hundred men . the governour wrote from his new fort in virginia , that if they had kine , and horses in a reasonable proportion , no country in christendom was to be compared to it . they discovered from roanoack to the chesipians above one hundred and thirty miles , and to chawanock north-west , as far . in the beginning of june 1586. the natives conspired against the english , for which , the chiefest of them lost his head : and sr. francis drake coming thither after he had sacked diverse of the spanish towns , took the colony with 〈◊〉 his victorious fleet , and brought them into england . the same year sr. walter rawleigh 〈◊〉 sent a ship of an hundred tun with provisions for the colony , which arrived at hatorask presently after they were come away wherefore having sought them in vain , she returned with her provisions 〈◊〉 england : about a fortnight after her departure , sr. kichard greenvile , general of virginia , with three ships arrived there , and neither hearing of the ship , nor the colony which he had left there the year before ; after long search in vain , he left fifteen men to keep possession of the country in the isle of roanoack , furnished for two years , and so returned , by the way spoiling some towns of the azores , and taking diverse spaniards . anno christi , 1587. sr. walter rawleigh ( notwithstanding former discouragements ) sent another colony of one hundred and fifty persons under the government of mr. john white , with twelve assistants , to which he gave a charter , and incorporated them by the name of governors and assistance of the city of rawleigh in virginia . these arrived july 22. at hatorask , where they went ashore to seek the fifteen men left there the year before , intending to plant at chesopiok : but they were informed by a native called manteo , that the savages had secretly slain some of them , and the other were fled they knew not whither . this manteo was afterwards baptized , and by sr. walter rawleigh was made lieutenant of roanock . here also mrs. dare the governours daughter was delivered of a daughter , that was baptized by the name of virginia . aug. the 27. they departed and returned into england . the commodities that are in virginia . oak of an excellent grain ; straight , tall , and long , elme , beech , birch , very tall and great , of whose bark the natives make their canows ; nut-hasil , hasil , alder , cherry-tree , maple , eive , spruce , aspe , fir in great abundance and many other fruits , trees which the english knew not . from the firrs issues much turpentine , and tar , and pitch . eagles , hearn , shaws , cranes , large ducks and mallard , geese , swans , wigeon , sharks , crows , ravens , kites , sea-mews , pidgeons , turtle-doves , turkies , and many other fowles and birds unknown ; hawks of diverse kinds . deer red and follow , bears , wolves , beavers , otters , hares , conies , martens , sables , hogs , porcupins , polecats , cats wild and great , dogs , whereof some like foxes , elks , and some lyons , squirrils of three sorts , some flying squirils , hares , &c. whales , porpoises , seales , cod very large , haddocks , herring , plaise , thornback , rack-fish , lobsters , crabs , mussels , wilks , cony-fish , lump-fish , whitings , salmonds in great plenty . tobacco , vines , strawberries , rasberries , goosberries , hartleberries , corants , roses , pease , angellica , ground-nuts . the wood that is most common is oak , and walnut , many of their oak are so tall and strait , that they will bear thirty inches square of good timber for twenty yards long : there are two or three several kinds of them : there are , also two or three kinds of walnuts , there are cyprus trees , some of which are neer three fathom about the root , very strait and fifty , sixty , yea eighty foot without a branch . there are also some mulberry trees , and chesnut trees , whose fruit equalizeth the best in france , or italy ; they have plums of three sorts , cherries , vines , gassafras trees . virginia lies in the latitude of 43. degrees and 20. minutes , north. anno christ , 1606. king james ( of happy memory ) granted a pattent to sundry persons to plant along the coast of virginia , where they pleased between 34. degrees and 45. of northerly latitude , in the main land , and the islands thereunto adjoyning within a hundred miles of the coast thereof . in pursuance whereof , there were some ships sent the same year to begin a plantation in the more southerly part of virginia . virginia is a country in america that lies between the degrees of 34. and 44. of north latitude . on the east it s bounded with the grear ocean . on the south with florida . on the north with nova francia . but for the west the limits are unknown . the plantation which was begun in the year 1606. was under the degree of 37. 38. and 39. where the tempreture of the air , after they were well seasoned , agreed well with the constitutions of the english. they sound the summer as hot as in spain : the winter as cold as in france or england : the heat of summer is in june , july , and august , but commonly a cool briefs asswages the vehemency of the heat : the chiefest winter is in half december , january , february , and half march. the winds are variable , which yet purifie the air , as doth the thunder and lightning , which sometimes is very terrible . sometimes there are great droughts , and othersometimes great raines , yet the european fruits planted there prospered well . there is but one entrance by sea into the country , and that is at the mouth of a very goodly bay , which is about eighteen or twenty miles wide . the cape of the south side is called cape henry : the land there is white sand , and along the shore are great plenty of pines , and firrs the north cape is called cape-charles : the isles before it are called smiths isles . the country is full of large and pleasant navigable rivers . in it are mountains , hills , plains , valleys , rivers , and brooks ; this bay lieth north and south , in which the water flowes near two hundred miles , and hath a channel for one hundred and forty miles , of depth between seven and fifteen fathom : the breadth makes ten or fourteen miles . northward from the bay the land is mountanous , from which fall some brooks , which after make five navigable rivers : the entrance of these rivers into the bay being within twenty or fifteen miles one of another . the mountains are of divers natures , some of stone for millstones , some of marble , &c. and many pieces of chrystal are brought down from them by the raines . the soil generally is lusty and rich , being generally of a black sandy mould : in some places a fat slimy clay : in other places gravel . the countrey generally hath such pleasant plain hills , and fertile valleys , one prettily crossing another , and watered so conveniently with sweet brooks , and chrystal streams as if artists had devised them . by the rivers are many marshes , some of 20 , 30 , 100. yea 200 acres , some more , some less . on the west side of the bay , and neerest to its mouth , is the river called powhatan , according to the name of a principal countrey that lies upon it : the mouth of it is near three miles in breadth : it s navigable one hundred and fifty miles as the channel goes : in the farthest place which the english discovered , are falls , rocks , and shoales which hinder any farther navigation . in a peninsula on the north side of this river , the english first planted , in a place which they called james town . as our men passed up one of their rivers , there came to them some called sasquesahanocks with skins , bows , arrows , targets , beads , swords , and tobacco-pipes for presents . they were great and well proportioned men , so to the english they seemed like giants ; with much ado they were restrained from adoring their discoverers . their language well seeming their proportion , sounding from them as it were a great voice in a vault : their attire was the skins of bears , and wolves . one had a wolves-head hanging in a chain for a jewel : his tobacco-pipe was three quarters of a yard long , prettily carved with a bird , a bear , a dear , being at the great end sufficient to beat out a mans brains : their bows , arrows , and clubs are suitable to their proportions . one of the biggest of them had the calf of his legg measured , which was three quarters of a yard about , and all the rest of his limbs answerable thereto . his arrows were five quarters long , headed with flints , formed like a heart , an inch broad , and an inch and an half long , which he wore in a wolves skin at his back : in one hand a bow , and in the other a club. the natives of virgina have generally black hair , but few of them have beards . the men have half their heads shaven , the hair of the other half long : the women are their barbers , who with two shells grate away the hair of what fashion they please . the womens hair is cut in many fashions according to their eyes , but ever some part of it is long . they are very strong , of able bodies and nimble : they can lie in the woods under a tree by the fire in the coldest weather , and amongst the grass and weeds in summer : they are inconstant , crafty , timerous , quick of apprehension , and very ingenious . they are very covetous of copper , beads , and such trash . they are soon angry , and so malicious , that they seldom forget an injury . they seldom steal one from another , lest their connivers should reveal it . their women are careful to avoid suspition of dishonesty without the leave of their husbands . each house-keeper knows his own lands , and gardens , and most live of their own labour . they are sometimes covered with the skins of wild beasts , which in winter are dressed with the hair inward , but in summer without . the better sort use large mantles of dear-skins , some embroidered with white beads , some with copper , and others are painted . but the common sort have scarce wherewith to cover their nakedness , but with grass or leaves . some have mantles made of turkey feathers , so handsomly wrought , and woven with thred , that nothing could be discerned but feathers . these were exceeding neat and warm . the women are covered about their middles with a skin , and much ashamed to be seen bare . they adorn themselves with copper and painting ; they have , their leggs , hands , breasts , and faces cunningly wrought with divers works , as beasts , serpents , &c. artificially wrought in their flesh with spots . in each ear commonly they have three holes , whereat they hang chains , bracelets , or copper . some of their men wear in those holes a small green , and yellow coloured snake , near half a yard long , which crawling and wrapping her self about his neck , oftentimes familiarly kisses his lips : others wear a dead rat tied by the tail . some on their heads wear the wing of a bird , or some large feathers with the tail of a rattle-snake . many have the skin of a hawk , or some strange fowl , stuffed with the wings stretched abroad . others a piece of copper ; and some the hand of an enemy dried . their heads and shoulders are painted red , with a certain powder mixed with oyl , which they hold in summer to preserve them from heat , and in winter from cold . he is most gallant that is most monstrous to behold . their habitations are mostly by the rivers , or not far from some fresh spring . their houses are built like our arbours , of small sprigs bowed and tied together , and so close covered with mats , or the bark of trees , that notwithstanding wind , rain , or weather , they are as warm as stoves , but smoky , though they leave a hole on the top right over the fire . their lodging is by the fire side on little hurdles made of reeds , and covered with a mat. on these round about the house they lie , heads and points , one by another , covered with mats or skins , and some stark naked : of these they are from six to twenty in an house . their houses are in the mid'd of their fields or gardens , which are plots of ground : from twenty to one hundred , or two hundred of these houses stand something near together . men , women , and children have their several names according to the phansie of their parents . their women are easily delivered of child , yet they love their children very dearly ; and to make them hardy , in the coldest mornings they wash them in the rivers , and by painting and ointments they so tan their skins , that after a year or two no weather will hurt them . the men spend their time in fishing , hunting , wars , and such manly exercises , scorning to be seen about any womanly exercise , which makes the women very painful , and the men oft very idle ; the women and children do all the work ; they make mats , baskets , pots , morters ; they pound their corn , make their bread , prepare their victuals , plant and gather their corn , bear all kinds of burdens , &c. their fire they kindle by chafing a dry pointed stick in a hole of little square piece of wood , which taking fire , will kindle moss , leaves , and such dry things . in march and april is their fishing time , wherein they live on fish , turkies , and squerrils . in may and june they plant their fields , and then they live most upon acrons , walnuts and fish : some upon crabs , oisters , land tortoises , strawberries , mulberries , &c. in june , july , and august , they feed upon the roots of tocknough , berries , fish , and green wheat ; and their bodies alter with their diet , as those of deer , and wild beasts do : and accordingly they are fat or lean , strong or weak . they use much their bows and arrows in fishing , hunting , and the wars . they bring their bows to the form of ours , by scraping them with a shell : their arrows are made of strait young sprigs , which they head with bone , two or three inches long : with these they shoot at squirils . other arrows they have made of reeds , pieced with wood , and headed with christals or flint , &c. for knives they have the splinters of a reed , wherewith they cut the feathers of their arrows into form : with these knives they will joynt a deer , or any other beast , shape their shooes , buskings , mantles , &c. to make the notch of their arrows , they have the tooth of a bever set in a stick , with which they grate it by degrees . their arrow heads they quickly make with a little bone , which they ever wear at their bracer , of a splint of stone or glass , in form of a heart which they glew to their arrows ; their glew they make of the sinews of deer , and the tops of deer horns which will not dissolve in cold water . in their wars they use round targets made of the bark of trees , and swords of wood , or the horn of a deer put through a piece of wood , in the form of a pickax . their fishing is much in boats , which they make of one tree , by burning , and scraping with stones and shels till they have made it in the form of a trough . some of them are a ell deep , and fourty and fifty foot long , and will bear from ten to fourty men , according to their bigness : for oars they use paddles and sticks , with which they will row faster than our barges . the women use to spin the bark of trees , deer sinews , or a kind of grass called pemmenaud , of which they make a very good thred , which serves for many uses about their houses , apparel , fishing-nets , lines for angles : their hooks are either a bone grated in the form of a hooked pin , or of the splinter of a bone tied to the cleft of a little stick , and with the end of the line they tie on the bait . they also use long arrows tied to a line , with which they shoot at fishes in the river , or darts which they throw at them . they take extream pains in their huntings and fishings , whereunto they are enured from their child-hood : and by their continual rangings about , they know all the places and advantages most frequented with deer , beasts , fishes , fowls , rooks , bemes . at their huntings they leave their habitations , and in several companies go to the most desert places with their families towards the mountains , or heads of rivers where there is plenty of game . it 's a marvel how they can pass these deserts of three or four dayes journey over , without missing their way . the women bear their hunting houses after them with corn , acrons , mortars , and bagg and baggage which they use . when they come to the place of exercise , every man endeavours to shew his best dexterity ; for hereby they get their wives . they will shoot level about fourty yards , near the mark , and one hundred and twenty is their best at random . when they have found the deer , they environ them with fires , and betwixt the fires they place themselves ; and some take their stand in the mid'st . the deer being frighted with the fires , and their voices they chase them so long within that circle , that oftimes they kill six , eight , ten , or fifteen at a hunting . sometimes also when they find them in a point of land , they force them into a river , where with their boats they kill them . when they have shot a dear by land , they follow him like blood-hounds , by the blood and stain , and oftimes so take him . hares , partridges , turkies , or eggs , fat or lean , young or old , they devour all they can come by . when they intend wars , the werowances corks , consult with their priests and connivers , and ancient alleys , and friend : they have captains over every nation , which are lusty young men . they rarely make wars for lands or goods , but for women and children , before the battel they paint and disguise themselves in the fiercest manner they can devise : either army hath his general , they take their stands a musquet shot one from another : rank themselves fifteen a breast , and so place themselves , that the rear can shoot as well as the front. then from either part a messenger is sent with these conditions , that whosoever is vanquished , upon their submission within two dayes after , shall live ; but their wives and children shall be prize for the conquerors ; upon the return of the messengers , they approach in their order . on each flank is a serjeant , and in the reer a lieutenant , all duly keeping their places ; yet leaping and singing as they go . upon the first flight of their arrows they give an horrible shout ; and when their arrows are spent , they joyn together , charging and retiring , each rank seconding the former : as they get advantage , they catch their enemy by the hair of his head , and then down he goes , and with his wooden sword he beats out his brains , &c. their musick is a thick cane on which they pipe as on a recorder . for their wars they have a great deep platter of wood , which they cover with a skin , upon which they beat as upon a drum ; of these they have base , tenor , countertenor , mean , and trebble . if any great person come to the habitation of a werowanee , they spread a mat for him to sit upon , setting themselves just opposite to him ; then all the company with a tunable voice of shouting , bid him welcome . then some of the chiefest make an oration to him , which they do with such vehemency that they sweat till they drop again . such victuals as they have they spend freely upon him ; and where his lodging is prepared , they set a woman finely painted with red to be his bedfellow . their trading with the english is for copper , beads , &c. for which they give skins , fowl , fish , flesh , mais , &c. they have a religion amongst them : all things that were able to hurt them beyond their prevention , they adore with divine worship : as fire , water , thunder , lightning ; the great guns of the english , muskets , horses , &c. but their chief god is the devil whom they call oke , and serve him more for fear than love . in their temples they have his image in an ilfavoured shape , and adorned with chains , copper , and beads , and covered with a skin . by him is commonly the sepulchres of their kings : their bodies are first bowelled , then dried upon hurdles ; about their neck , and most of their joynts they hang bracelets , chains of copper , pearl , and then they wrap them up in white skins , and roule them in mats for their winding-sheets , laying them orderly in their tombs , which are arches made of mats : the rest of their wealth they set at their feet in baskets . for their ordinary burials they dig a deep hole in the earth , and the corps being wrapped in skins , and mats , with their jewels , they lay them upon sticks in the ground ; and then covet them with earth . the burial being ended , the women having their faces painted with black , sit twenty four hours in their houses mourning and lamenting by turns , with such yellings and howlings as may express their great sorrow . in the woods they have some great houses filled with the images of their kings and devils , and tombs of their predecessors , which they count so holy , that none but their priests , and kings dare come into them . they have a chief priest , differenced from the inferiour by the ornaments of his head , which are twelve , sixteen , or more snake-skins stuffed with moss , the skins of weesels and other vermin ; all which they tye by the tails , so as the tails meet on the top of their head like a tassel , about which a crown of feathers ; the skins hang down about him , and almost cover his face . the priests faces are painted as ugly as they can devise , and they carry rattles in their hands . their devotion is most in songs , which the chief priests begins , and the rest follow . their solemn meetings are upon great distress of want , fear of enemies , times of triumph , and of gathering their fruits ; at which time all both men , women and children meet together . the people are very barbarous , yet have they government amongst them , and their governours are well obeyed by their subjects . the form of their government is monarchical . one of their chief rulers is called powhatan from the place of his habitation : some part of the countrey came to him by inheritance , the rest by conquest . in several parts of his dominion he hath houses built like arbors , some thirty or fourty yards long ; and in each house provision for his entertainment according to the times . about the kings person is ordinarily attending a guard of fourty or fifty of his tallest men : every night upon the four quarters of his house stand four sentinels , and every half hour , one from the corps dugard doth hollow , unto which each of the sentinels doth answer ; if any fail , he is extreamly beaten . one house he hath wherein he keepeth his treasure of skins , copper , pearl , and beads , which he stores up against his burial ; none comes to this house but the priest. at the four corners stand as sentinels four images of a dragon , a bear , a leopard , and giant-like man , all ilfavouredly made according to their best workmanship . their king hath as many women as he will , whereof , when he lies on his bed , one sitteth at his head , and another at his feet : but when he sits , one sits on his right hand , another on his left. when he is weary of any of them he bestows them upon those that deserves best at his hands . when he dines or sups , one of his women , before and after meat , brings him water in a wooden platter to wash his hands . another waits with a bunch of feathers to wipe upon instead of a towel , and the feathers were dried again . his kingdom descends not to his sons , but first to his brethren , and after their decease to his sisters , and to the heirs of his eldest sister . they have no letters whereby to write or read ; the only law whereby he rules is custome ; or else his will is his law which must be obeyed . his inferiour kings whom they call werowances , are tied to rule by customes , yet have they power of life and death : they all know their several lands , and habitations , and limit , to fish , fowl , and hunt in : but they hold all of their great king , to whom they pay tribute of skins , beads , copper , pearl , deer , turkies , wild beasts , and corn ; with great fear and adoration they all obey him . at his feet they present whatsoever he commands ; at his frown their greatest spirit will tremble : offenders he causeth to be broyled to death ; or their brains to be beaten out ; their ordinary correction is to beat them with cudgels , for which yet they will never cry nor complain . anno christi 1611. the l. de la ware upon his return from virginia , gave this account of it . that the number of men which he left there was above two hundred , the most in health , and provided of ten moneths victuals in the store house , besides other quantities of corn , and shew much friendship . for the securing of the colony he built three fronts : two of them being seated near point comfort , had adjoyning to them a large circuit of ground , open , and fit for corn. the third fort was at the falls , upon an island environed with corn ground . the country is wonderful fertile and rich : the english cattel were much encreased , and did thrive excellent well . the kine in a hard winter when the ground was covered with snow , lived ( with one anothers help ) upon the grass which they found , and prospered well ; the swine encreased much . that year captain argoll went with his ship up pembroke river , where he met with the king of pastancy , and procured of him and his subjects eleven hundred bushes of corn , besides three hundred for his own company , with which he returned to james's town , and delivered it into the store . then did he return and discover pembroke river to the head of it , which was about sixty five leagues within land , and navigable for any ship : then marching into the country , he found great store of beasts as big as kine , of which , they killed two , and found them to be good and wholesom meat , and yet easie to be killed being but heavy , and slow creatures . he found also a mine and a strange kind of earth , which the indian used for physick , and it cures the pain of the belly : he found also a water issuing out of the earth which tasted like allom water ; it was good and wholsom : he found an earth like a gum , white and clear ; and another red , like terra sigillata : an other white , and so light , that being cast into water , it swims . their dear have usually three or four fawns at a time , none under two : and our english goates in virginia oft times bring forth three ; and mostly two young ones , so fruitful is the country : they have beavers , otters , foxes , racoons , ( as good meat as a lamb ) hares , wild catts with rich furrs ; musk-rats , &c. wild pidgeons in winter numberless , the flocks of them will be three or four hours together flying over , so thick that they obscure the very light ; turkies far bigger than ours that will run as fast as a gray-hound , buzzards , snites , partridges , owles , swans , geese , brants , droeis , shell-drakes , teal , widgeon , curlews , puits , black-birds , hedg-sparrows , oxeies , wood-peckers , and in winter flocks of parakitoes . their rivers are plentifully stored with fish : as sturgeon , porpass , base , carp , shad , herring , eele , cat-fish , pearch , trout , flat-fish , sheeps-head , drummers , jarsishes , craifishes , crabs , oisters , &c. at one hale they have caught as much sturgeon , base , and other great fish as hath loaded a frigot . they have without art , grapes , mulberries , maricocks like a lemmon , whose blossome may admit comparison with our most pleasant and beautiful flowers , and the fruit is exceeding delightful to the tast . many goodly groves of chincomen-trees , that have husks like a chesnut , and are good meat either raw or boiled . chesnuts great store , and walnuts plenty of three sorts ; filberts , crabs smaller but sowrer than ours . anno christi , 1613. mr. alex. whitaker , who was minister to the colony , writing to a friend in london , gives this account of the natives . they acknowledg ( saith he ) that there is a great good god , but know him not , having the eyes of their understandings yet blinded ; wherefore they serve the devil for fear , after a most base manner , sacrificing somtime their own children to him : his image they paint upon one side of a toad-stool , much like to a deformed monster : their priests are no other , but such as our english witches are . they live naked in body , as if the shame of their sin deserved no covering : they esteem it a virtue to lie , deceive , and steal , as their master the devil teacheth them . the natives are not so simple as some have conceited : for they are of body strong , lusty , and very nimble ; they are a very understanding generation , quick of apprehension , sudden in their dispatches , subtile in their dealings , exquisite in their inventions , and industrious in their labour . the world hath no better marks-men with their bows , and arrows than they be : they will kill birds flying , fishes swimming , and beasts running : they shoot with marvellous strength , for they shot one of our english , being unarmed , quite through the body , and nailed both his armes to his body with one arrow . their service to their god is answerable to their lives , being performed with great fear and attention , and many strange dumb shews are used in it , stretching forth their limbs , and straining their bodies exceedingly . they stand in great awe of their priests which are a generation of vipers , even of satans own brood . the manner of their life is much like that of the popish hermites : for they live alone in the woods , in houses sequestred from the common course of men ; neither is any man suffered to come into their house for to speak with them but when the priest calls them . he takes no care for his victuals , for all necessaries of bread , water , &c. are brought to a place near to his house , and are there left which he fetches at his pleasure . if they would have rain , or have lost any thing , they have recourse to him , who conjures for them , and many times he prevaileth . if they be sick , he is their physitian : if they be wounded , he sucks them . at his command they make war and peace neither do they any thing of moment without him . they have an evil government amongst them , a rude kind of common-wealth , and rough government , wherein they both honour , and obey their kings , parents , and governours : they observe the limits of their own possessions . murther is rarely heard off : adultery , and other gross offences are severely punished . the whole continent of virginia situated within the degrees of 34. and 47. is a place beautified by god with all the ornaments of nature , and enriched with his earthly treasures . that part of it which the english chiefly possess , begins at the bay of chesapheac , and stretching it self in northerly latitude to the degrees of 39. 40. and is interlined with seven most goodly rivers , the least wherof is equal to our thames : and all these rivers are so nearly joyned , as that there is not very much distance of ground between either of them , and those several pieces of land betwixt them are every where watered with many veins , and creeks , which sundry wayes do cross the land , and make it almost navigable from one river to another , the commodity whereof is very great to the planters , in respect of the speedy and easie transportation of goods from one river to another . the river powhatan ebbs and flowes one hundred and forty miles into the main ; at the mouth whereof are the two forts of henry and charles . forty two miles upward is the first and mother town of the english seated , called james town : and seventy miles beyond that upward , is the town of henerico built . ten mile beyond this is a place called the falls , because the river hath there a great descent , falling down between many mineral rocks which be there . twelve miles beyond these falls is a chrystal rock with which the indians use to head most of their arrows . the higher ground in virginia is much like to the mould of france , being clay and sand mixed together at the top , but digging any depth , its red clay full of glistering spangles . as for iron , steel , antimony , and terra sigillata , they are very frequent . the air of the country , especially about henerico , and upwards , is very temperate , and agrees well with our english bodies . the extremity of summer is not hot as in spain , nor the cold in winter so sharp as ours in england . the spring and harvest are the two longest seasons , and very pleasant . the summer and winter are both but short . the winter for the most part is dry and fair ; but the summer ofttimes watered with great and sudden showers of rain , whereby the cold of winter is warmed , and the heat of summer is cooled . amongst the beasts in virginia , there are two kinds most strange . one of them is the female possowne , which hath a bag under her belly , out of which she will let forth her young ones , and take them in again at her pleasure . the other is the flying squerril , which , by the help of certain broad flaps of skin , growing on each side of her fore-legs , will fly from one tree to another at twenty or thirty paces distance , and more if she have the benefit of a little puff of wind. the english kine , goats , hoggs , &c. prosper very well . they have hawkes of several sorts , and amongst them auspreis , fishing hawkes , and cormorants . in the winter they have great store of cranes , herons , pidgeons , patridges , and black-birds . the rivers and creeks are over-spread with swans , geese , brants , divers , and those other named before . the woods have many kinds of rare and delightful birds . the rivers abound with fish , both small and great , as pike , carp , eele , perches of six several sorts , &c. the sea-fish come into their rivers in march , and continue till the end of september . frst come in great skuls of herrings : then big shads , and rock-fish follow them . then trouts , base , flounders , and other dainty fishes come in before the other be gone . then come in multitudes of great sturgeons , and divers others . some five miles about henerico by land , but by water fourteen miles . sr. tho. dale , anno christi 1611. began to build a city , called the new bermoodas , situated very commodiously , whereunto he laid out , and annexed to be belonging to that corporation for ever : many miles of wood-lands , and champion , which he divided into several hundreds . as the upper and the nether hundreds roch-dale hundreds , wests-sherley hundred , and diggs his hundred . anno christi 1614. pacahuntas , the beloved daughter of the great king powhatan , having been carefully instructed in the christian religion , by the care of sr. tho. dale , and having made some good progress therein , renounced publickly her countrey idolatry , and openly confessed her christian faith , and desiring it , was baptized by the name of rebecca , and was afterwards married to one mr. rolph an english gentleman of good repute , her father and friends giving their approbation to it , and her vncle gave her to him in the church . anno christi 1616. sr. tho. dale returning into england , there came over with him mr. rolfe , with rebecca , his convert and consort , and tomocomo , one of powhatans counsellors ; mr. rolfs wife rebecca , though she carried her self very civilly and lovingly to her husband , yet did she behave her self as the daughter of a king , and was accordingly respected by divers persons of honour here in england , in their hopeful zeal by her means to advance christianity in these countries . as she was with her husband returning into virginia , at gravesend she fell sick , and came to her end and grave , having given great demonstration of her christian faith and hope . the english in virginia anno christi 1620. were divided into several burroughs , each man having his share of land duly set out for him , to hold and enjoy to him and his heirs for ever . the publick lands also for the company were set out by themselves ; the governours share by it self ; the colledges by it self , and for each particular burrough ; the ministers gleab also was set out and bounded , their being 200. l. per annum allowed to each minister for each town . they are all governed according to the laudable form of justice used in england . the governour is so restrained by a counsel joyned with him , that he cannot wrong any man , who may not have any speedy remedy . in the years 1619. and 1620. there were 9. or ten ships sent to virginia , wherein were 1261. persons ; most of them being for publick uses , as to plant the governours land , 80. persons ; tenants for the companies land 130. tenants for the colledge land , 100. tenants for the ministers gleab-lands 50. young maids to make wives for so many of the planters 90. boyes for apprentices 100. servants for the publick , 50. some were imployed to bring up thirty of the infidels children in true religion and civility . the commodities which the planters were directed to apply themselves to , were iron ; for the making whereof , 130 men were sent over to set up iron work ; proof having been made of the excellency of that iron . cordage : for which ( beside hemp ) order was given for the planting of silk-grass ( naturally growing in those parts ) in great abundance , which makes the best cordage , and linnen in the world. of this every housholder was bound to set 100. plants ; and the governour himself set five thousand . pot-ashes , and soap-ashes ; pitch and tar. for the making whereof , divers polanders were sent over . timber of all sorts , with masts , planks , and boords for provision of shipping , &c. there being not so good timber for all uses in any countrey whatsoever ; and for the help in these works , provision was sent of men and materials for the setting up of sundry saw-mills . silk : for which the countrey is exceeding proper , having an innumerable of the best mulberry-trees , and some silk-worms naturally found upon them , producing excellent silk , and to further this work , many seeds of the best silk-worms were sent over . vines ; whereof the countrey naturally yields great store , and of sundry sorts ▪ which by good culture might be brought to excellent perfection : for effecting whereof divers skilful vegneroons were sent , with store also from hence of vine plants of the best sort . salt : which work were ordered to be set up in great plenty , not only to serve the colony , but to promote the great fishings upon those coasts . divers persons of publick spirits gave much to the furtherance of this plantation . two unknown persons gave plate and other necessaries for the furnishing of two communion tables . mis. mary robinson gave 200. l. towards the building of a church in virginia . an unknown person sent the treasurer 550. l. in gold for the bringing up of some of the infidels children in the knowledge of god , and true religion , and in fit trades whereby they might live honestly in the world. mr. nicholas ferrar by will gave 300. l. to the colledge in virginia , to be paid when there should be ten of the infidels children placed in it . and in the mean time 24. l. per annum to be distributed unto three discreet and godly men in the colony , which should bring up three of the infidels children in the christian religion , and in some good course to live by . an other unknown person gave 10. l. to advance the plantation . anno christi 1620. the right honourable henry e. of southampton was made treasurer ; from which time to the year 1624. there were 24. ships sent to virginia : and there were divers persons set for the making of beads , wherewith to trade with the natives , and for making of glass of all sorts : and 55. young maids were sent to make wives for the planters . also a magazine of all necessaries was sent for the colony , to the value of 2000. l. besides goods , sent by private persons great store . twenty five persons were sent to build boats , pinnaces , and ships for the use of the colony in the fishing trade , and for further discovery . the plants of cotten wool trees prosper well , and so did indigo seeds , oranges , lemons , sugar canes , cassary , pines , plantanes , potatoes , and sundry other indian fruits . some of the english east-india company gave seventy pound , eight shillings sixpence , towards the building of a free schoole in virginia , to be called the east-india school . another unknown person added to it the sum of thirty pound . and another sent in gold twenty five pound . another unknown person gave thirty pound ; for which there was to be allowed fourty shillings a year for ever , for a sermon preached before the virginia company . another gave a rich bible , and a great church bible , and other books to be sent to virginia , and an exact map of america . the books were valued at ten pound . mr. tho. bargrave , a minister in virginia , when he died , left for the use of the colledge his library worth one hundred marks . 〈◊〉 anno christi 1621. the treacherous natives , notwithstanding all the courtesies and kind usage by the english to them , most perfidiously , and treacherously murthered above three hundred of them , and would have done the like to all the rest , but that god ( through his infinite goodness and mercy ) moved the heart of one of them , who was converted to christianity , to discover the same a few hours before it was put in execution , the like massacres have been since . a description of the bermudas , or sommers islands : the first discovery , and plantation of it by the english . the temperature of the aier ; the nature of the soil , trees , plants , fruits , hearbs , fishes , fowls , and other commodities thereof . these islands were first discovered by one bermudas , from whence they received that name ; and afterwards from sr. george sommers an english-man , they were called sommers islands . they lie in the western ocean , and in that part of the world commonly called america , and vulgarly the west-indies . their latitude , or elevation is 32. degrees , 25. minutes , which is almost the same with the madaeraes . they are environed round about with rocks , which north-ward , and westward , and southward extend far , by reason whereof they are very strong , there being only three places whereby ships can come into them , which places also are well fortified . but within there is room to entertain a great fleet : in most places the rocks appear at a low water , and are not much covered at an high water , for it ebbs and flows there not above five foot. the shoar for the most part is a rock , so hardned by the sun , wind , and sea , that it s not apt to be worn by the waves , whose violence also is broken by the rocks before they come at the shoar . the mould is of diverse colours , neither clay nor sand but betwixt both : the red which resembleth clay is worst : the white resembing sand , and blackish is good : the brown betwixt them both is best . under the mould two or three foot deep , is a kind of white substance which they call rock : the trees usually fasten their roots in it , and draw their nourishment from it ; neither indeed is it rock or stone , nor so hard , though for the most part harder than chalk ; not so white , but like a pumice , and spongy , easily receiving and retaining much water ; and in some places clay is found under it : the hardest kind of it ( which is commonly under the red ground ) is not so spongy , nor retains much water , but lies in the ground like quarries , as it were thick slates , one upon another . most of their fresh water ( whereof they have good store ) comes out of the sea , drayning through the sand , or thorow the aforesaid substance which they call the rock , and leaving its saltness behind it , in the passage becometh fresh . somtimes they dig wells of fresh water within four or five paces of the sea-side : and usually they ebb and flow as the sea doth . the air is most commonly clear , very temperate , moist , with a moderate heat , very healthful , and apt for the generation , and nourishing of all things : so that there is scarce any thing that is transported from england thither , but it yields a far greater encrease : and if it be any living thing , it becomes fatter and better liking then in england : by which means the countrey was so replenished with hens and turkeys , within the space of three or four years not being looked after , many of them forsook the houses , and became wild and so encreased abundantly . the like encrease there was of hogs and other cattle according to their kinds . there seems to be a continual spring , which is the cause that some few things come not to that maturity and perfection as were requisite . and though the trees do shed their leaves , yet are they always full of green . their corn is the same which is used in most parts of the west-indies : to wit , maiz which , to such as are used to it , is more hearty and nourishing than our english wheat , and yields a far greater encrease , as sometimes a pound of one or two graines : of this corn , and divers other things without either plowing or diging the ground , they have two harvests every year : for they set about march which they gather in july : and again in august which is ripe in december . and little slips of fig-trees , and vines do usually bear fruit within a year after they are planted , sometimes in half a year : the like fertility they have in other things . there is scarce at any time to be perceived either frost or snow , nor any extream heat , for there is alwayes some wind stirring which clears and cools the air : their summers and winters observe the same times with ours , but their longest dayes and nights are shorter than ours in england by almost two hours and an half : as also their shortest dayes and nights are as much longer then ours : for their longest dayes are about fourteen hours , and their shortest ten . when its noon with us , its morning with them , and when it s about five a clock in the evening with us , its noon with them ; so that while the sun declines with us it rises with them , as also it doth in virginia , its apt to thunder and lighten all the year long , and oft times more terrible than in england , yet never any are hurt by it . there is no venemous creature in this country : the yellow spider which is there making her webb as it were of silk , and bringing forth her young of eggs , like little drops of quick-silver , neither is it perceived to be venemous , yet there is a plant that climbs trees like our ivy , the leafe like that of a vine , that is somewhat venomous , but of no great force . there is great store and variety of fish , and so good as these parts of the world afford not the like , which being mostly unknown to the english , they gave them such names as best liked them : as rock-fish , groops , porgie-fish , hog-fish , angle-fish , cavallies , yellow-tailes , spanish-makerels , mullets , bream , cony-fish , morrayes , sting-rays , flying-fish , &c. the like they did by the fowl , as cohoos , sandbirds , hearns , duck , teal , pemblicoes , castle-boobies , hawks , &c. at the first plantation of this country by the english it was all over grown with woods , and plants of several kinds ; and to such as were unknown to them they gave such names as best pleased themselves : such as were known retained their old names ; as cedars , palmitoes , black-wood , white-wood , yellow-wood , mulberry-trees , stopper , trees , lawrel , olive-trees , mangrowes , pepper-trees , yellow-berry-weed , red-weed , &c. these and many others they found of natures planting : but since they have inhabited it , there have been brought , as well from the indies as from other parts of the world , sundry other plants , as vines of several kinds , sugar-canes , fig-trees , apple-trees , oranges , lemons , pomgranates , plantanes , pines , parsnips , raddishes , artichocks , pottatoes , cassavie , indico , &c. in so much that it s now become like a spacious garden , or orchyard of many pleasant , and profitable things . there are many tortoises , which they call turtles : they are in the shape of their bodies like crab-fishes , and have four fins , they are as big as three or four men can carry , the upper part of them in covered with a great shell , weighing about half a hundred weight , the flesh that cleaves to the inside of it being roasted against the fire , is almost like the marrow of beef , excellent good ; but the shell of it self harder than horn : she hath also a shell on her belly , but not so hard as the other , for when it s boiled it becomes soft like the gristles of beef , and is good meat : these live in the sea , spending the spring , and summer time about these islands , but where they spend the rest of the year is not known ; they are like to fowl in respect of the smallness and shape of their heads , and necks , which are wrinkled like a turkey , but white , and not so sharp bil'd ; they breed their young of eggs which they lay , in their flesh they resemble beasts , for it eats like veal , but more hard and sollid : they alwayes feed upon grass growing at the bottom of the water , neither can they abide any longer under the water then they hold their breath , which the old ones will do long , but the young ones being chased to and fro cannot continue two minutes without coming up to breath . shortly after their coming to those islands the male and female couple , which they call cooting , this they continue about three dayes together , during which time they will scarce separate though a boat come to them , nor hardly when , they are smitten . not long after , the she turtle comes up by night upon some sandy bay , and further up than the water uses to flow , where she digs a hole with her fin upon the sand about two foot deep , and coming up several nights there layes her eggs , about half a bushel ( which are about the bigness of a hens egge , but as round as a ball ) and each time covers them with sand very curiously , so that a man can hardly find the place : these eggs in time are hatched by the heat of the sun , and so creep out of the earth , the dam coming no more at them . they are no bigger than a mans hand at first , which some fish will devour : they grow slowly and seem to live long ; they will sleep on the top of the water , and used to sleep on the land till the countrey was inhabited . they will live also out of the water about three weeks , and that without meat , but then they mourn , and pine away . being turned upon their backs when they are on the land , they cannot without help , or some disadvantage recover themselves ; by which means , when they come a shore to lay their eggs , they are easily taken ; as also they are when they are cooting . otherwise they are taken mostly by night , by making a great light in a boat to which they will resort , so that a man standing ready , with a staff in his hand wherein is a sharp iron , four square with a line fastned to it , this iron he strikes into the upper shell of the turtle where it sticks fast , and after she hath tired her self a while with swimming about , she is easily taken : the head being cut off they will live twenty four hours , so that if you cut the flesh with a knife , or touch it , it will tremble , and shrink away ; there is no meat that will keep longer , either fresh or salt . there is a fruit called a prickled pear , growing in such places as are scarce fit for any thing else , namely , upon rocks and cliffs , and commonly by the sea-side , as if the salt water did something help to the generating and nourishing of them : the tree grows certain years before it bears fruit , and then it continues bearing very many years , having almost all the year long fruit upon it . though it be called a tree it hath scarce any body or branches , but consisteth in a manner wholly of leaves and fruit soft and brittle ; many of these pears grow upon and about a leaf without any stalk at all , and having some prickles about the top ; being opened the juyce is of a crimson colour , and they are full of seeds within . there are gray and white hearns , gray and green plovers , wild ducks and mallards , coots , redshanks , sea-widgeons , gray-bitterns , cormorants ; many smal birds like sparrows and robbins , wood-peckers , crows , falcons , jerfalcons , hobbies , &c. the cohow , is so called from his voice , a night bird , being all day hid in the rocks . the egge-bird which comes constantly in the beginning of may , when they begin to lay eggs almost as big as hens , and continue laying till midsummer , and are very tame , their young are excellent meat , their eggs are white , and the cohows , speckled like a turkeys egg , as big as hens . the tropick bird hath his name from the place where he is most seen . the pemblico is seldom seen by day , and by her crying foretells tempests . for plants . the poison weed , in shape like our ivy , with the touch of it causeth redness , and itching , but after a while pass away of themselves , without farther hurt . the red weed is a tall plant , whose stalk is covered with red rind . the root steeped , or a little of the juice drank alone , is a strong vomit , and effectual against distempers of the stomach . there is a kind of woodbind near the sea , that runs up about trees likk a vine : the fruit is somewhat like a bean , but flatter , which eaten , purges strongly , yet without harm : there is another small tree that causeth costiveness . there is also a plant like a bramble , that bears a long yellow fruit with a hard snell , and within is a hard berry which purges gently . red pepper is a fruit like our barberries , which bruised with the teeth sets all the mouth on a heat , for the time violent , but swallowed whole have the same operation with pepper . the sea-feather is a plant growing on the rock in the bottom of the sea , in form of a vine-leaf , but far larger , with veines of a palish red , interlaced , and weaved each into the other . there are also store of indian pompeons , the water melon , and the musk-mellon , the most delicate pineapple , papawes , &c. ambergriece is many times found upon the shoar . the most troublesome things in these islands are the winds , especially in the spring and autumn . the hurricanes have sometimes done much hurt : muskito's are very troublesome : there is a certain bugg which creeping into chests , by their illsented dung defile all , besides their eating . there are pismires or ants in the summer times so troublesome that they are forced to dry their figgs upon high frames , anointing their feet with tar which stops their passage . worms in the earth are destructive to their corn , and tobacco , causing them much labour every morning to destroy them , which else would derstoy all . there have bee● large lizards which are now destroyed by cats . spiders are large by of beautiful colours , as if adorned with silver , gold , and pearl . their webs in summer woven from tree to tree are perfect raw silk , both in substance and colour , and so strong , that birds bigger than blackbirds are snared in their nets . of these bermudus islands there are many , some say five hundred , if we call all them islands that lye by themselves compassed with the sea , of which some are larger and others less , they lye all in the figure of a crescent , within the circuit of six or seven leagues at most ; the greatest of them is about sixteen miles in length from the east north-east , to the west south-west , standing in thirty two degrees and twenty minutes . about these islands are seen many whales , attended with the sword-fish and the thresher . the sword-fish with his sharp and needle-like fin pricking him into the belly when he would dive and sink into the sea , and when he starts up from his wounds , the thresher with his club fins beats him down again . here is also a kind of web-footed fowl , of the bigness of our green plovers , which all summer are not seen , but in the darkest nights of november and december ( for in the night only they feed ) would come abroad , making a strange hollow and harsh howling ; their colour is inclining to russet , with white bellies , and the long feathers of their wings are russet and white , they breed in those of the islands that are farthest in the sea , and there in the ground they have their burrows , like conies . of these , the english at their first coming , with a lighted bough have taken three hundred in an hour . afterwards they found out this devise to take them , by standing on the rocks or sand by the sea-side , they would hollow , laugh , and make the strangest noise that possibly they could , with which noise these birds would come flocking to the place , and settle upon the very armes and head of him that so cryed , still creeping nearer and answering that noise themselves , by which means our men would weigh them in their hands , and those that weighed heaviest and were best they took , the other they let go , and thus they have taken twenty dozen of the best of them in two hours space ; they are fat and plump like a partridge , and very well relished . in january they gat great store of their eggs which are as big and as well relished as our hen eggs ; these they call sea-owles , because of their hooting , they have crooked bills and will bite shrewdly . not long after the english had planted in this island , which was about the year 1620. it pleased god to send a great plague upon them by reason of a few rats that came in a meal ship , which though at first few in number , yet within the space of two years they multiplyed so exceedingly , that they did not only fill those places where they first landed , but swimming from place to place they spread themselves all over the country , insomuch , as there was no island though severed by the sea from all others , and many miles distant from the place where they first began , but was pestred with them ; they had their nests almost in every tree , and in all places had their burrows in the ground , like conies to harbour in : they spared not the fruits of either plants or trees , nay , nor the plants themselves , but eat all up . when the planters had set their corn , they would come by troops the night following , or as soon as it spict , dig it up again and eat it . if by diligent watching any of it escaped till it came to easing , it would very hardly scape them : yea , it was a difficult matter when they had it in their houses to save it from them , for they became noysom even to the persons of men. they used all diligence for the destroying of them , nourishing many catts , wild and tame ; they used ratsbane , and many set the woods on fire , so that the fire ran half a mile or more before it was extinguished . every man in the country was enjoyned to set twelve traps , and some voluntarily set neer an hundred , which they visited twice or thrice in a night . yea , they trained up their dogs to hunt them , wherein they grew so expert , that a good dog in two or three hours space would kill ●●rty or fifty rats . other means they also used , yet nothing would prevail , finding them still to encrease upon them . this was a cause of great distress to the planters ; for by this means they were kept destitute of bread for a year or two , so as when they had it afterwards again , they were so weaned from it , that they would easily forget or neglect to eat it with their meat . by this means they were so destitute of food that many died , and the rest became very feeble and weak , whereof some being so , would not , and others could not stir abroad to seek relief , but dyed in their houses . and such as did go abroad were subject through weakness to be suddenly surprized with a disease called the feages , wherein they had neither pain , nor sensible sickness , but as it were the highest degree of weakness , depriving them of power and ability to execute any bodily exercise , as working , walking , &c. being thus taken , if any body was present that could minister to them any relief , they would strait wayes recover , otherwise they died there . about this time there came to these islands a company of ravens which continued with them all the time of this mortality and then departed from them . never any being seen there before or since : but it pleased god at length , that the extremity of their distress began to abate , partly by supplies sent them out of england , and partly by some rest and ease that they got thereby . yet the rats continued for some time after , notwithstanding all the devises and industry that they used to destroy them . but suddenly it pleased god , ( by what means was not known ) so to take them away , that the wild catts and dogs that lived upon them were famished , and many of them leaving the woods came down to the houses , and to such places where they used to garbish their fish , and so became tame . here are many wild palm-trees growing , in fashion , leaves and branches resembling the true palme : the tree is high and strait , sappy , and spungious , having no branches but in the uppermost part of it , and in the top grow leaves about the head of it : ( the most inmost part whereof they call the palmeto , and it is the heart and pith of the tree , so white and thin as that it will pill off pleats , as smooth and delicate as white sattin , into twenty folds in which a man may write , as in paper ) where they spread and fall downwards about the tree like an over-blown rose : the leaves are as broad as an italian vmbrello , under one of which a man may well shelter his whole body from rain , for being stiff and smooth , the rain easily slides off . the palmito , or soft top roasted , tastes like a fried melon , and being sod , it eates like a cabbage , but is far less offensive to the stomach . from under the broken rocks they take forth cray-fishes oft times greater than any of our english lobsters . they have also aboundance of crabs , oisters , and wilks ; at one draught they have taken small and great about a thousand fishes , as pilchards , breams , mullets , rock-fish , &c. every cave and creek being furnished with aboundance of them , which lie there sucking in the water which falls from the high hills mingled with the juyce of the palms and cedars , and such other sweet woods , whereby they become both fat and wholsome . there are sparrows fat and plenty ; robbins of diverse colours green and yellow , &c. many of the turtles before mentioned , be of a mighty bigness , insomuch as one of them will suffice seventy , or eighty men at a meal , especially , if she be a she turtle , which will have five hundred eggs in her , being as many as fifty or sixty men can eat at a meal , they are very good and wholesome meat . there are mulberry trees , olive trees , cedars of colour red , and very sweet , which bear a kind of berry that is very pleasant to eat . the top of the palmito tree is in season , and good all the year , if you take but an hatchet and cut it , or an augur and bore it , it yields a very pleasant liquor , much like to our sweet wines : it bears likewise a berry in the bigness of a prune , and in taste much like it . anno christi 1609. sr. thomas gates , and sr. george sommers , as they were going to virginia suffered shipwrack at these islands , where they continued till may , 1610. in which time they built there a ship and a pinace of cedar , in which they departed to virginia , leaving only two men behind them : and shortly after some of them came back to the sommer islands , where sr. george sommers dying , his men ( contrary to his last charge given unto them ) went for england , leaving behind them three men who stayed voluntarily , who shortly after found in sommerset island a very great treasure of ambergreece valued at nine or ten thousand pounds sterling . the discovery of these islands being made known in england to the virginia company by these men that returned , they sold it to one hundred and twenty persons of the same company , who obtained a charter from his majesty : and in april 1612. sent thither a ship called the plough , with about eighty men and women in it , who arrived there in safety in july , where they found the three men that had voluntarily stayed there before as you heard . these men had planted corn , great store of wheat , beans , tobacco , and melons , with many other good things for the use of man : besides they had wrought upon timber , in squaring and sawing cedar trees &c. they were no sooner come within a league of the land but a company of fish met them , and never left them till they came to an anchor within the haven , of which with hooks and lines they took more than their whole company was able to eat . two dayes after they went out with their net and boat , and if they would have loaded two boates they might have done it , which also they might have daily , there was such plenty of them . the day after they went to the bird islands , where with their hands they took up as many birds as they pleased , they were so tame . they took up three for every boy and girl , and four for every man. then sent they out some for wild hogs , who brought home some , that did eat as well as our english mutton . anno christi , 1612. mr. r. moor was sent over thither governour for three years , who spent the greatest part of his time in fortifying the country , and training the people to martial exercises . he built nine or ten forts , and planted ordnances upon them . to him succeeded captain tucker , anno christi 1616. who spent his three years in husbanding the country , planting , and nourishing all such things as were fit either for trade , or for the sustentation , and use of the inhabitants . he also added to the fortifications , and made some inclosures . the the country also was then divided , wherein every adventurer had his share allotted to him , whereupon the planters built them substantial houses , cleared their ground , and planted all things necessary , so that in a short time the country began to approach near unto that happiness wherein it now floweth . nevv-england described , and the plantation thereof by the english of the beasts , fowles , birds , fishes , trees , plants , fruits , &c. of the natives , of their religion , customs , fishings , huntings , &c. the place whereon the english have setled their colonies is judged either to be an island surrounded on the north with the great river canada , and on the south with hudsons river , or a peninsula , these two rivers over lapping one another , having their rise from two great lakes which are not far distant each from other . massechusets bay lyeth under the degree of 42. and 43. bearing south-west from the lands-end of old england ; at the bottom of which bay are scituated most of the english plantations . the bay is both safe , spacious , and deep ; free from such cockling seas as run upon the coasts of ireland , and in the channels of england : without stiff running currents , rocks , shelves , bars , or quicksands . when you have sailed two or three leagues towards the bottom , you may see the two capes bidding you welcome . these capes thrust themselves out into the sea in form of a crescent , or half moon , the surrounding shoar being high , and shewing many white cliffs , with diverse intermixtures of low-sand , out of which , diverse rivers empty themselves into the sea , with many openings , wherein is good harbouring for ships of any burthen : the harbours are new-plimouth , cape anu , salem , and marvil-head , all which afford good ground for anchorage , being land-lockt from wind , and seas . the chief and usual harbour is the still bay of massechusets , which is also aboard the plantations : it s a safe and pleasant harbour within , having but one secure entrance , and that no broader than for three ships to enter abreast , but within there is anchorage for five hundred ships . this harbour is made by many islands , whose high clifts shoulder out the boisterous seas , yet may easily deceive the unskilful pilot , presenting many fair openings , and broad sownds , whose waters are too shallow for ships , though navigable for boats , and small pinnases . the entrance into the great haven is called nant●scot , which is two leagues from boston . from hence they may sail to the river of wessaguscus , naponset , charles river , and mistick river , on all which are seated many towns . here also they may have fresh supplies of wood and water from the adjacent islands , with good timber to repair their weather-beaten ships : as also masts , or yards , there being store of such trees as are useful for the purpose . the places which are inhabited by the english , are the best ground , and sweetest climate in all those parts , bearing the name of new england , the air agreeing well with our english bodies , being high land and a sharp air , and though they border upon the sea-coast , yet are they seldom obscured with mists , or unwholesome foggs , or cold weather from the sea , which lies east , and south from the land. and in the extremity of winter , the north-east , and south-winds comming from the sea , produce warm weather , and bringing in the seas , loosen the frozen bayes , carrying away the ice with their tides : melting the snow , and thawing the ground : only the north-west winds coming over the land , cause extream cold weather , accompanied with deep snows , and bitter frosts , so that in two or three dayes the rivers will bear man or horse . but these winds seldom blow above three dayes together , after which the weather is more tollerable . and though the cold be sometimes great , yet is there good store of wood for housing and fires , which makes the winter less tedious : and this very cold weather lasts but eight or ten weeks , beginning with december , and ending about the tenth of february . neither doth the piercing colds of winter produce so many ill effects , as the raw winters here with us in england . but these hard winters are commonly the forerunners of a pleasant spring , and fertile summer , being judged also to make much for the health of our english bodies . the summers are hotter than here with us , because of their more southerly latitude , yet are they tollerable , being oft cooled with fresh winds . the summers are commonly hot and dry , there being seldom any rain , yet are the harvests good , the indian corn requiring more heat than wet to ripen it : and for the english corn , the nightly dews refresh it , till it grows up to shade its roots with its own substance from the parching sun. the times of most rain are in april , and about michaelmas . the early spring and long summers make the autumns and winters to be but short . in the springs when the grass begins to put forth , it grows apace , so that , whereas it was black by reason of winters blasts , in a fortnights space there will be grass a foot high . new england being nearer the aequinoctial than old england ; the days and nights be more equally divided . in summer the dayes be two hours shorter , and in winter two hours longer than with us . virginia having no winter to speak of , but extream hot summers , hath dried up much english blood ; and by the pestiferous diseases , hath swept away many lusty persons , changing their complexions , not into swarthiness , but into paleness ; which comes not from any want of food , the soil being fertile , and pleasant , and they having plenty of corn , and cattel , but rather from the climate , which indeed is found to be too hot for our english constitutions , which new england is not . in new england men and women keep their natural complexions , in so much as seamen wonder when they arive in those parts , to see their countrey men look so fresh and ruddy ; neither are they much troubled with inflammations , or such diseases as are increased by too much heat . the two chief messengers of death , are feavours , and callentures ; but they are easily cured if taken in time , and as easily prevented , if men take care of their bodies . as for our common diseases they be strangers in new england . few ever have the small pox , measels , green-sickness , headach , stone , consumption , &c. yea many that have carried coughs and consumptions thither , have been perfectly cured of them . there are as sweet , lusty children born there , as in any other nation , and more double births than with us here : the women likewise recover more speedily , and gather strength after child-birth sooner than in old england . the soil for the general is a warm kind of earth , there being little cold spewing land , no moorish fens , nor quagmires : the lowest grounds be the marshes , which are ovrflown by the spring-tides : they are rich ground , and yield plenty of hay , which feeds their cattel as well as the best upland hay with us : and yet they have plenty of upland hay also , which grows commonly between the marshes and the woods : and in many places where the trees grow thin , they get good hay also . and near the plantations there are many meddows never overflowed , and free from all wood , where they have as much grass as can be turned over with a sithe , and as high as a mans middle , and some higher , so that a good workman will mow three loads in a day . indeed this grass is courser than with us , yet is it not sower , but the cattel eat , and thrive very well with it : and are generally larger , and give more milk than with us , and bring forth young as well , and are freer from diseases than the cattel here . there is so much hay ground in the country , that none need fear want , though their cattel should encrease to thousands , there being some thousands of acres that were yet never medled with ; and the more their grass is mowed , the thicker it grows ; and where cattel use to graze , in the woods , the ground is much improved , growing more grassy , and less full of weeds ; and there is such plenty of grass in the woods , that the beasts need not fodder till december ; at which time men begin to house their milch beasts and calves . in the upland grounds the soil varies , in some places clay , in others gravel , and some are of a red sand , all which are covered with a black mould , usually a foot or little less deep . the english manure their ground with fish , whereof they have such plenty , that they know not how otherwise to dispose of them , yet the indians being too lazy to catch fish , plant corn eight or ten years in one place , without any such help , where they have yet a good crop. such is the rankness of the ground , that it must be planted the first year with indian corn , before it will be fit for english seed . the ground in some places is of a soft mould , in others so tough and hard , that five yoke of oxen can scarce plow it , but after the first breaking up , it is so easie , that one yoak of oxen and an horse may plow it . our english corn prospers well , especially rye , oats , and barly . the ground affords very good kitchin gardens , for turnips , parsnips , carrots , radishes , pumpions , muskmellons , squashes , cucumbers , onions , and all other english roots and hearbs prospers as well there as with us , and usually are larger and fairer . there are store of herbs both for meat and medicine , not only in gardens , but in woods , as sweet marjoram , purslane , sorrel , penniroyal , saxifrage , bayes , &c. also strawberries in abundance , very large , some being two inches about . there be also goosberries , bilberries , rasberries , treackleberries , hurtleberries , currants , which being dried in the sun , are not much inferiour to those we have from zant. there is also hemp and flax , some that grows naturally , and some that is planted by the english , and rape-seed . there is iron , stone , and plenty of other stones both rough and smooth , plenty of slate to cover houses , and clay whereof they make tiles and bricks , and probably other minerals . the country is excellently watered , and there are store of springs which yield sweet water that is fatter than ours , and of a more jetty colour and they that drink it , are as healthy , and lusty as those that drink beer . none hitherto have been constrained to digg deep for this water , or to fetch it far , or to fetch it from several places ; the same water serving for washing , brewing , and all other uses . there be also several spacious ponds in many places , out of which run many pleasant and sweet streams both winter and summer , at which the cattel quench their thirst , and upon which may be built water-mills for necessary uses . there is also great store of wood , not only for fewel , but for the building of ships , houses , and mills . the timber grows strait and tall , some trees being twenty , and others thirty foot high before they spread forth their branches . they are not very thick , yet many of them are are sufficient to make mill-posts ; some being three foot and a half in the diameter . neither do they grow so close , but that in many places a man man may ride a hunting amongst them . there is no underwood but in swamps , and wet low grounds , in which are osiers , hazels , and such like . of these swamps , some are ten , some twenty , some thirty miles . for the indians use to burn the under-wood in other places in november , when the grass and leaves are withered and dry , which otherwise would marr their beloved sport of hunting : but where the indians died of the plague , not many years ago , there is much underwood between wessaguscus , and plimouth , because it hath not thus been burned . the several sorts of timber are thus expressed . trees both on hills and plains in plenty be , the long-liv ' oake , and mournful cypress tree , sky-towring pines , and chesnuts coated rough , the lasting cedar , with the walnut tough ; the rosin-dropping fir for masts in use , the boatmen seek for oars , light , neat grown spruse ; the brittle ash , the ever trembling aspes , the broad spread elme , whose concave harbours wasps ; the watry spungy alder good for nought , small elder by th' indian fletchers sought , the knotty maple , pallid birch , haw thorns , the horn-bound tree that to be cloven scorns ; which from the tender vine oft takes his spouse , who twines imbracing arms abut his boughs ; within this indian orchard fruitr be some , the ruddy cherry and the jetty plumb , snake murthering hasel with sweet saxafrage , whose spouts in beer allayes hot feavers rage , the diars shumack , with more trees there be , that are both good for use , and and rare to see . the chief and common timber for ordinary use is oake , and walnut . of oakes there be three kinds , red , white , and black , whereof one kind is fittest for clap-board , others for sawn-board , others for shipping , and others for houses . they yield also much mast for hoggs , especially every third year , the acron being bigger than our english : the walnut-trees are tougher than ours , and last time out of mind : the hut is smaller than ours , but not inferiour in sweetness and goodness , having no bitter pill . in some places there is a tree that bears a nut as bigg as a small pear . the cedars are not very big , not being above eighteen inches in diameter , neither is it very high , and its fitter for ornament than substance , being of colour white and red like yew , & smells like juniper , they use it commonly for sieling of houses , for making of chests , boxes , and staves . the fir , and pine-trees grow in many places , shooting up exceeding high , especially the pine : they afford good masts , boards , rozin , and turpentine , they grow in some places for ten miles together , close by the rivers sides , where by ships they may easily be transported to any desired ports . their ash is blittle , and therefore good for little , so that the walnut is used for it . the horn-bound tree is exceeding tough , which makes it very difficult to be cleft , yet it s very good for bowls and dishes , not being subject to crack : it grows with broad-spread arms , the vines winding their curling branches about them , which afford great store of grapes , very bigg , both grapes and clusters , sweet and good . they are of two sorts , red and white : there is also a smaller grape growing in the islands , which is sooner ripe , and more delicious ; doubtless as good wine might be made of them as at burdeaux in france , it lying under the same degree : the cherry trees yield great store of cherries , which grow on clusters like grapes ; they are smaller than ours and not so good , if not very ripe : the plumbs are somewhat better , being black and yellow , as big as damasens , and indifferently well tasted . the white thorn yields hawes as big as our cherries , which are pleasant to the tast , better than their cherries . the beasts be as followeth . the kingly lion , and the strong-arm'd bear , the large-limb'd moosis , with the tripping ●ear ; quil-darting porcupines , and rackcames be , castled in the hollow of an aged tree : the skipping squirrel , cony , purblind hare , immured in the self same castle are , lest red-eyed ferrets , wildly foxes should them undermine , if rampir'd but with mould , the grim-fac't ounce , and ravenous howling woolf , whose meager pauch , sucks like a swallowing gulph , black-grittering otters , and rich coated bever , the civet-sented muscat smelling ever . lions there be some , but seen very rarely . bears are common , which be most fierce in strawberry time , when they have young ones ; they will go upright iike a man , climb trees , and swim to the islands : at which time if an indian see him , he will swim after him , and overtaking him , they go to water-cuffs for bloody noses , and scratched sides ; at last the man prevails , gets on his back , and so rides him on those watry plains , till the bear can bear him no longer . in the winter they retire to cliffs of rocks , and thick swamps to shelter them from the cold , where they live by sleeping and sucking their paws , and with that will be as fat as they are in sommer : yet the woolves will devour them : a kennel of them setting upon a single bear , will tear him in pieces . they are good meat , and seldom prey upon the english cattel , or offer to assault any man , except they be vexed with a shot . the moose is somewhat like our red deer as big as an ox , slow of foot , headed like a buck , some being two yards wide in the head ; his flesh is as good as beef , his hide is good for clothing ; they bring forth three young ones at a time ; fourty miles to the north-east of massechusets bay , there be great store of them ; they are oft devoured by the woolves . the fallow dear are much bigger than ours , of a brighter colour , more inclining to red , with spotted bellies ; they keep near to the sea , that that they may swim to the islands when they are chased by the woolves they have commonly three young ones at a time , which they hide a mile from each other , giving them suck by turns , and this they do , that if the woolf should find one , they may save the other ; their horns grow strait , over-hanging their heads , so that they cannot feed on things that grow low , till they have mused their heads . the porcupine is small , not much unlike to an hedghog , only somewhat bigger : he stands upon his guard against man or beast , darting his quills into their leggs or hides , if they approach too near him . the rackoon is a deep furred beast , not much unlike a badger , having a tail like a fox , and is as good meat as a lamb. in the day time they sleep in hollow trees , in the light nights they feed on clams by the sea side , where they are taken with doggs . the squirrels be of three sorts , the great gray squirrel , almost as big as our conies . another almost like our english squirrels ; the third is a flying squirrel , which is not very big , with a great deal of loose skin , which she spreads square when she flies , which with the help of the wind , wafts her batlike body from place to place . the conies are much like ours in england . the hares are some of them white , and a yard long ; both these creatures harbour themselves from the foxes in hollow trees , having a hole at the entrance no bigger than they can creep into . the hurtful creatures are squncks , ferrets , foxes , whereof some be black , and their furrs of great esteem . the ounce , or wild cat is as big as a mungrel . it s by nature fierce and dangerous , fearing neither dogg nor man : he kills deer , which he effects thus : knowing the deers tracts , he lies lurking in long weeds , and the deer passing by , he suddenly leaps upon his back , from thence he gets to his neck , and scratches out his throat . he kills geese also ; for being much of the same colour , he places himself close by the water , holding up his bob tail , which is like a gooses neck , which the geese approaching nigh to visit , with a sudden jerk he apprehends his desired prey . the english kill many of them , and account them good meat . their skins have a deep fur , spotted white and black on the belly . the woolves differ something from those in other countries ; they never yet set upon any man or woman , neither do they hurt horses or cows ; but swine , goats , and red calves ( which they take for deer ) are oft killed by them . in autumn and the spring they most frequent our english plantations , following the deer which at those times come down to those parts : they are made like a mongrel , big-boned , thin paunched , deep breasted , having a thick neck and head , prick ears , and a long snout , with dangerous teeth , long stairing hair , and a great bush tail . many good mastiffs have been spoiled by them . once a fair grayhound , ran at them , and was torn in pieces before he could be rescued ; they have no joynts from the head to the tail. some of them are black , and one of their skins is worth five or six pound . of beasts living in the water . their otters are most of them black , and their skins are almost as good as bevers ; their oyl is of rare use for many things . martins also have a good fur for their bigness . musquashes are almost like beavers , but not so big , the males stones smells as sweet as musk , and being killed in winter or the spring they never loose their sweetness : they are no bigger than cony-skins , and yet are sold for five shillings a piece . one good skin will perfume a whole house full of clothes . the bevers wisdom and understanding makes him come nigh to a reasonable creature . his body is thick and short , with short leggs , feet like a mole before , and behind like a goose , a broad tail like a shoo-sole , very tough and strong : his head is something like an otters , saving that his fore-teeth be like conies , two above and two beneath , sharp and broad , with which he cuts down trees as big as a mans thigh , or bigger , which afterwards he divides into lengths according to the uses they are appointed for . if one beaver be too weak to carry the log , than another helps him : if two be too weak , three or four will assist , being placed three to three , which set their teeth in one anothers tough tails , and laying the load on the hindermost , they draw the logg to the desired place , they tow it in the water , the youngest getting under it , bearing it up that it may swim the lighter . they build their houses of wood and clay , close by a ponds side , and knowing their seasons , they build their houses answerably , three stories high , that when the land floods come they may shift higher , and when the waters fall , they remove lower . these houses are so strong that no creature , save an industrious man with his penetrating tools can pierce them , their ingress and egress being under water . they make very good ponds ; for knowing where a stream runs from between two rising hills , they will pitch down piles of wood placing smaller rubbish before it , with clay and sods , not leaving till by their art and industry they have made a firm and curious dam-head , which may cause admiration in wise men . they keep themselves to their own families , never parting so long as they are able to keep house together . their wisdom secures them from the english , who seldom kill any of them , wanting time and patience to lay a long siege , or to be often deceived by their cunning evasions . so that all our beavers come from the indians , whose time and experience fits them for that imployment . of the birds , and fowls both of land and water . they are expressed in these verses . the princely eagle , and the soaring hawks , within their unknown wayes ther 's none can chawk : the hum-bird for some queens rich cage more fit than in the vacant wilderness to sit . the swift-wing'd swallow sweeping to and fro , as swift as arrow from tartarian bow . when as aurora's infant day new springs , there th' morning mounting lark her sweet layes sings . the harmonious thrush , swift pigeon , turtle dove who to her mate doth ever constant prove . the turkey , pheasant , heathcock , partridge rare , the carrion-tearing crow , and hurtful stare ; the long-liv'd raven , th' ominous screach-owl , who tell ( as old wives say ) disasters foul . the drowsie madge that leaves her day-lov'd nest to fly abroad when day-birds are at rest : the eele murthering hern , and greedy cormorant , that neer the creeks in moorish marshes haunt . the bellowing bittern , with the long legg'd crane . presaging winters hard , and dearth of graine . the silver-swan that tunes her mournful breath to sing the dirg of her approaching death : the tatling oldwives , and the cackling geese , the fearful gull that shuns the murdering piece : the strong wing'd mallard , with the nimble teal , and ill-shap't loon , who his harsh notes doth sweal ; there widgins , shildrakes , and humilitee , snites , dropps , sea-larks in whole millions flee . the eagles be of two sorts , one like ours in england , the other somewhat bigger , with a great white head , and white tail , commonly called gripes , they prey upon ducks , and geese , and such fish as are cast upon the sea-shore ; yet is there a certain black hawk that will beat this eagle , so that he is constrained to soar so high , that his enemy cannot reach him : the hawk is much prized by the indians , who account him a sagamores ransom . there are diverse kinds of hens , partridges , heathcocks , and ducks . the hum-bird is no bigger than an hornet , having spider-like legs , small claws , a very small bill ; in colour she represents the glorious rainbow : as she flies she makes a noise like a humble-bee . the pidgeons are more like turtles than ours , and of the same colour , and have long tailes like a mag pie , their feathers are fewer , but their bodies as big as our house-doves , they come into the country to go home-ward in the beginning of their spring : at which time ( saith my author ) i have seen innumerable ; so that i could neither discern beginning nor ending , the length nor breadth of these millions of millions : neither could the shouting of people , the report of guns , nor the pelting of hail-shot turn them out of their course , but thus they have continued for four or five hours together : and at michaelmas they return southward : yet some there are all the year long , which are often killed . they build some thirty miles northward ; from the english plantation in pine-trees , joyning nest to nest , and tree to tree by their nests , so that the sun never sees the ground in that place , from whence the indians fetch whole loads of them . the turkey is a long fowl , of a black colour , yet is his flesh white , he is much bigger than our english turkey ; he hath long leggs wherewith he can run as fast as a dog , and can fly as fast as a goose : of these are forty , fifty , sixty , and sometimes an hundred in a flock : they feed on acorns , haws , and berries , and some will frequent the english corn. when the ground is covered with snow , they go to the sea-side and feed on shrimps , and fishes : if you watch them where they pearch at night , about ten or eleven a clock at night you may shoot as oft as you will , for they stir not except they be wounded : they continue all the year long , and weigh forty pounds and more apeice . pheasants are rare ; but heath-cocks , and partridges are common , whereof our english kill many . ravens and crows , are much like those in other countries . there are no magpies , jayes , cockcooes , jackdaws , sparrows , &c. the stares are bigger than ours , and are as black as crows , which do much hurt among the young corn , and they are so bold that they fear not guns . owles are of two sorts , the one is small speckled like a partridg with eares : the other is almost as big as an eagle and is very good meat . cormorants are as common as other fowles , they devour much fish. a tame cormorant , and two or three good dogs in the water make excellent sport : cranes are as tall as a man , their bodies not much unlike the turkies , they are rarely fat . also many swans frequent the rivers and ponds , which are very good meat . there be three sorts of geese ; the brant goose like one of our wild geese . a white goose about the bigness of ours : of these there will be sometimes two or three thousand in a flock . the third is a grey goose with a black neck , and a black and white head much bigger than our english : they are killed both flying and sitting . the ducks are very large , and in great abundance ; and so is their teale . their old-wives never leave tatling day nor night , they are somewhat bigger than a duck. the loon is ill-shaped like a cormorant , but he can neither go nor fly ; he makes a noise somestime like a sowgelders horn. the humilites , or simplicites rather , be of two sorts ; the one as big as green plover , the other is less ; they are so simple that one may drive them on heaps , and then shoot at them , and the living will settle themselves on the same place again where the dead are , while you shoot again , so that sometimes above twelve score have been killed at two shoots . of fish . there are great store , and much variety of fishes thus enumerated . the king of the waters , the sea-shouldering whale ; the snuffing grampus , with the oylie seal , the storm-presaging porpus , herring-hogg , line-shearing shark , the cat-fish and the sea-dogg ; the scale-fenc'd sturgeon , wry-mouth'd hollibut ; the flouncing salmon , codfish , greedigut ; cole , haddock , haike , the thornback and scate , whose slimy outside makes him seld in date ; the stately bass , old neptunes fleeting post , that tides it out and in from sea to coast ; consorting herrings , and the bony shad. big-bellied alewives , macrils richly clad with rain-bow colours , the frost-fish and the smelt , as good as ever lady gustus felt . the spotted lamprons , eeles , the lamperies , that seek fresh water-brooks with argu's-eyes . these watry villages , with thousands more do pass and repass neer the verdant shore . shell-fish of all sorts . the luscious lobster with the crabfish raw , the brittish oyster , muscle , periwig and the tortoise sought by the indian squaw ; which to the flats dance many a winters jigg : to dive for cockles , and to dig for clams , whereby her lazy husbands guts she crams . the seal , called also the sea-calf , whose skin is good for divers uses , and his body between fish and flesh , neither delectable to the pallat , nor well agreeing with the stomack . his oyl is used in lamps . the shark is as big as a man , some as big as a horse , with three rows of teeth in his mouth , with which he snaps in two the fishers lines ; he will bite off a mans armor legg at a bit , they are oft taken , and serve for nothing but to manure the ground . there are many sturgious , but the most are caught at cape cod , and in the river of meramack , whence they are brought to england , they are twelve , fourteen , and some eighteen foot long . the salmon is as good as ours , and in great plenty in some places : the hollibut is like our plaice or turbut , some being two yards long , and one broad , and a food thick . thornback and scate is given to the doggs , being so common in many places . the bass is one of the best fishes , being a delicate and fat fish : he hath a bone in his head that contain a saucerful of marrow sweet and good , pleasant and wholesome ; they are three or four foot long , they take them with a hook and line , and in three hours a man may catch a dozen or twenty of them . the herrings are much like ours . alewives are much like herrings , which in the end of april come into the fresh rivers to spawn , in such multitudes as is incredible , pressing up in such shallow waters where they can scarce swim , and they are so eager , that no beating with poles can keep them back till they have spawned . their shads are far bigger than ours : the makarels be of two sorts ; in the beginning of the year the great ones are upon the coast , some 18. inches long : in sommer come the smaller kind , they are taken with hooks and lines baited with a piece of red cloth. there be many eels in the salt water , especially where grass grows , they are caught in weels baited with pieces of lobsters : sometimes a man thus takes a busnel in a night , they are wholesome and pleasant meat . lamprons and lampries are little esteemed . lobsters are in plenty in most places , very large , and some being twenty pound weight , they are taken at low water amongst the rocks ; the smaller are the better ; but because of their plenty they are little esteemed . the oysters be great , in form of a shoo-horn , some of a foot long , they breed in certain banks , which are bare after every spring-tide ; each makes two good mouthfuls . the periwig lies in the oase like a head of hair , which being touched , draws back it self leaving nothing to be seen but a small round hole , muscles are in such plenty that they give them their hoggs . clams are not much unlike to cockles , lying under the sand , every six or seven of them having a round hole at which they take in air and water , they are in great plenty , and help much to feed their swine both winter and sommer ; for the swine being used to them , will constantly repair every ebb to the places , where they root them up and eat them . some are as big as a penny loaf , which the indians count great dainties . a description of the plantations in new-england as they were anno christi , 1633. the outmost plantation to the southward , which by the indians is called wichaguscusset , is but a small village , yet pleasant and healthful , having good ground , store of good timber , and of meddow ground ; there is a spacious harbor for shipping before the town ; they have store of fish of all sorts , and of swine , which they feed with acrons and clams , and an alewife river . three miles to the north is mount wolleston , a fertile soil , very convenient for farmers houses , there being great store of plain ground without trees . near this place are maschusets fields , where the greatest sagamore in the country lived before the plague cleared all : their greatest inconvenience is that there are not so many springs as in other places ; nor can boats come in at low water , nor ships ride near the shore . six miles further to the north lieth dorchester , the greatest town in new-england , well wooded and watered with good arrable and hay ground , fair comfortable fields and pleasant gardens : here are many cattel , as kine , goats , and swine . it hath a good harbor for ships ; there is begun the fishing in the bay , which proved so profitable , that many since have followed them there . a mile from thence lies roxberry , a fair and handsome country town ; the inhabitants are rich : it lies in the mains , and yet is well wooded and watered , having a clear brook running through the town , where are great store of smelts , whence it s called smelt-river . a quarter of a mile on the north of it is another river , called stony river , upon which is built a water mill. here is good store of corn and meddow ground . westward from the town it s somewhat rocky , whence it s called roxberry ; the inhabitants have fair houses , , store of cattel , come-fields paled in , and fruitful gardens . their goods are brought in boats from boston , which is the nearest harbor . boston is two miles north-east from roxberry . it s situation is very pleasant , being a peninsula hemmed on the south with the bay of roxberry . on the north with charles river , the marshes on the back side being not half a quarter of a mile over , so that a little fencing secures their cattel from the wolves . their greatest want is of wood and meddow ground , which they supply from the adjacent islands , both for timber , fire-wood , and hay ; they are not troubled with wolves , rattlesnakes nor musketoes , being bare of wood to shelter them . it s the chief place for shipping and merchandize . this neck of land is about four miles in compass , almost square : having on the south at one corner a great broad hill , whereon is built a fort , which commands all ships in any harbour in the hill bay. on the north side is another hill of the same bigness , whereon stands a windmil . to the north-west is an high mountain , with three little hills on the top , whence it is called tremount . from hence you may see all the islands that lie before the bay , and such ships as are upon the sea coast. here are rich corn fields , and fruitful gardens : the inhabitants grow rich ; they have sweet and pleasant springs ; and for their enlargement , they have taken to themselves farm-houses in a place called muddy river , two miles off , where is good timber , ground , marsh-land , and meddows , and there they keep their swine or other cattel in the summer , and bring them to boston in the winter . on the north side of charles river is charles town , which is another neck of land , on whose northern side runs mistick river . this town may well be paralled with boston , being upon a bare neck , and therefore forced to borrow conveniencies from the main , and to get farmes in the country . here is a ferry-boat to carry passengers over charles river , which is a deep channel , and a quarter of a mile over . here may ride fourty ships at a time . up higher is a broad bay that is two miles over , into which run stony river , and muddy river . in the middle of this bay is an oyster bank . medfod village is scituated towards the north-west of this bay , in a creek : a very fertile and pleasant place : it s a mile and a half from charles town . at the bottom of this bay the river is very narrow . by the side of this river stands new-town , three miles from charles town . it s a neat and well compacted town , having many fair buildings , and at first was intended for a city ; the inhabitants are mostly rich , and have many cattel of all sorts , and many hundred acres of ground paled in . on the other side of the river lies their meddow and marsh ground for hay half a mile thence is water town , nothing inferiour for land , wood , meddows and water : within half a mile of it is a great pond , which is divided between those two towns ; and a mile and a half from this town is a fall of fresh waters , which through charles river fall into the ocean : a little below this fall they have made weires , where they catch great store of shads , and alewives , an hundred thousand of them in two tides . mastick is three miles from charles town ; seated pleasantly by the waters side . at the head of this river are very spacious ponds to which the alewives press to cast their spawn , where multitudes are taken . on the west side of this river the governour hath a farm where he keeps most of his cattel . on the east side is mr. craddocks plantation , who impailed in a park for deer , and some ships have been built there . winnisimet is a very pleasant place for situation , and stands commodiously . it s but a mile from charles town , the river only parting them . it s the lasts town in the bay. the chief islands that secure the harbor from winds and waves , are first deere island , within a flight shot from bullin point . it s so called , because the deer often swim thither to escape the woolves , where sixteen of them have been killed in a day . the next is long island , so called from its length . other islands are nodless isle , round isle ; the governours garden , having in it an orchard , garden , and other conveniencies : also slate island , glass island , bird island , &c. they all abound with wood , water , and meddows : in these they put their cattel for safety , whil'st their corn is on the ground . the towns without the bay are nearer the main , and reap a greater benefit from the sea , in regard of the plenty of fish and fowl , and so live more plentifully than those that are more remoat from the sea in the island plantations . six miles north-east from winnisimet is sagus , is pleasant for situation , seated at the bottom of a bay , which is made on the one side with a surrounding shore , and on the other side with a long sandy beach : it s in the circumference six miles , well woodded with oakes , pines , and cedars ; it s also well watered with fresh springs , and a great pond in the middle , before which is a spacious marsh. one black william an indian duke , out of his generosity , gave this place to the plantation of sagus , so that none else can claim it ; when a storm hath been , or is like to be , there will be a roaring like thunder which may be heard six miles off . on the north side of this bay are two great marshes , divided by a pleasant river that runs between them . the marsh is crossed with divers creeks where are store of geese and ducks , and convenient ponds wherein to make decoys . there are also fruitful meddows , and four great ponds like little lakes wherein is store of fresh fish ; out of which , within a mile of the town runs a curious fresh brook which is rarely frozen by reason of its warmness : and upon it is built a water mill. for wood there is store , as oake , walnut , cedar , elme , and aspe : here was sown much english corn. here the bass continues from the midst of april till michaelmas , and not above half that time in the bay. there is also much rock-cod , and macharil , so that shoals of bass have driven shoals of macharil to the end of the sandy bank , which the inhabitants have gathered up in wheel barrows . here are many muscle banks , and clam-banks , and lobsters amongst the rocks , and grassy holes . four miles from saugus stands salem , on the middle of a neck of land very pleasantly , between two rivers on the north and south . the place is but barren sandy land , yet for seven years together it brought forth excellent corn , being manured with fish every third year : yet there is good ground , and good timber by the sea side , and divers fresh springs . beyond the river is a very good soil , where they have farms . here also they have store of fish , as basses , eels , lobsters , clams , &c. they cross the river in canows made of whole pine trees , two foot and an half wide , and twenty foot long , in which also they go a fowling , sometimes two leagues into the sea. it hath two good harbours , which lie within derbins fort. marvil head lies four miles south from salem , a very good place for a plantation , especially for such as will set up a trade of fishing : there are good harbours for boats , and good riding for ships . agowomen is nine miles to the north from salem near the sea , and another good place for a plantation . it abounds with fish and flesh , of fowls , and beasts , hath great meddows and marshes , and arable grounds , many good rivers and harbours , and no rattle snakes . merrimack lies eight miles beyond that , where is a river navigable for twenty miles , and all along the side of it fresh marshes , in some places three miles broad . in the river is sturgion , salmon , bass , and divers other kinds of fish. three miles beyond this river is the out side of massecusets patent ; wherein these are the towns that were begun in the year , 1633. of the evils , and hurtful things in the plantation . those that bring the greatest prejudice to the planters , are the ravenous woolves , which destroy the weaker cattel , of which we heard before . then the rattle snake which is usually a yard and a half long , as thick in the middle as the small of a mans legg , with a yellow belly : her back is spotted with black , russet , and green , placed like scales . at her taile is a rattle with which she makes a noise when she is molested , or when any come near to her : her neck seems no bigger than a mans thumb , yet can she swallow a squirrel , having a wide mouth with teeth as sharp as needles , wherein her poyson lies , for she hath no sting : when a man is bitten by her , the poyson spreads so suddenly through the veins to the heart that in an hour it causes death , unless he hath the antidote to expel the poyson , which is a root called snake-weed , which must be champed , the spittle swallowed , and the root applyed to the sore ; this is a certain cure . this weed is rank poyson if it be taken by any man that is not bitten , unless it be phisically compounded with other things . he that is bitten by these snakes , his fresh becomes as spotted as a lepers , till he be perfectly cured . she is naturally the most sleepy and unnimble creature that is , never offering to leap at , or bite any man , if he tread not upon her : in hot weather they desire to lie in paths in the sun , where they sleep soundly ; a small switch will easily kill them . if a beast be bitten , they cut his flesh in divers places , and thrust in this weed , which is a sure cure. in many places of the country there be none of them ; as at plimouth , new-town , &c. in some places they live on one side the river , and if they swim over , as soon as they come into the woods , they turn up their yellow bellies and die . other snakes there be , which yet never hurt eitheir man or beast . there be also store of froggs , which in the spring time chirp , and whistle like birds , and in the end of sommer croake like other frogs . there are also toads that will creep to the top of trees , and sit croaking there to the wonderment of strangers . there be also pismires , and spiders , but neither fleshworms , nor moles . there be wild bees or wasps that guard the grapes , making her cobweb nest amongst the leaves : also a great fly , like to our horse flies , which bite and fetch blood from man or beast , and are most troublesome where most cattel be . there is also a gurnipper , which is a fly as small as a flea , and where it bites it causes much itching , and scratching . also the muskito like to our gnats : such as are bitten by them fall a scratching , which makes their hands and faces swell ; but this is only the first year , for they never swell the second year . here also are flies called cantharides , so much used by chirurgions ; and divers sorts of butterflies . of the natives inhabiting those parts of new-england . the country is divided ( as it were ) into shires , every several shire under a several king. on the east , and north-east are the churchers , and tarenteens . in the southern parts are the pequants , and naragansets . on the west are the connectacuts , and mowhacks . those on the north of them are called aberginians , who before the sweeping plague scorned the confrontments of such as now count themselves but the scum of the country , and that would soon root them out , were it not for the english. the churchers are a cruel bloody people , which were wont to come down upon their poor neighbours , bruitishly spoyling their corn , burning their houses , slaying their men , ravishing the women , yea sometimes eating a man , one part after another before his face whil'st he was alive : but they say , they dare not meddle with a white faced man , accompanied with his hotmouthed weapon . they are tall of stature , have long grim visages , slender wasted , and exceeding great arms and thighs , wherein their strength lies ; with a fillip of their finger they will kill a dogg : they live upon fruits , herbs , and roots , but that which they most desire is mans flesh . if they catch a stranger they keep him in as good plight as they can , giving him their best fare , and daily pipe to him , paint him , and dance about him , till at last they begin to eat him piece-meal : they are desperate in wars , securing their bodies with sea-horse skins , and barks of trees made impenitrable , wearing head-pieces of the same : their weapons are tamahauks , which are staves of two foot and a half long , and a knob at the end as big as a foot-ball ; these they carry in their right hand , and in their left a javelin , or short spear headed with a sharp sea-horse tooth ; they are both deadly weapons . the tarenteens are little less savage , only they eat not mans flesh : they are enemies to the indians amongst the english , and kill as many of them as they can meet with . they are the more insolent because they have guns , which they trade for with the french , who will sell his eyes , they say , for beaver . so soon as a boat comes to an anchor , they enquire for sack and strong liquors , which they much affect ever since the english traded it with them , so that they will scarce exchange their beaver for any thing else . these are wise , high spirited , constant in friendship one to another , true in their promises , and more industrious than most others . the pequants are a stately warlike people , just in their dealings ; requiters of courtesies , and affable to the english. the narragansetz are the most numerous people in those parts , the richest and most industrious : they are also the most curious minters of their wampamprag and mowhacks , which they make of the most inmost wreaths of perriwinckles shells ; the northern , eastern , and western indies fetch all their coin from them : as also they make curious pendants and blacelets , and stone pipes which hold a quarter of an ounce of tobacco ; these they make with steel drills , and other instruments , and so ingenuous they are , that they will imitate the english mold so exactly that were it not for matter and colour you , could not distinguish them ; they make these pipes of green or black stone ; they made also pots , wherein they dressed their victuals before they knew the use of our brass : they seek rather to grow rich by industry , than famous by deeds of chivalry . the aberginians are mostly between five and six foot high , straight bodied , strong lim'd , smooth skin'd , merry countenanced , of complexion something more swarthy than a spaniard ; black haired , high foreheaded , black eyed , out-nosed , having broad shoulders , brawny arms , long and slender hands , out-breasts , small wasts , lank bellies , handsome legs , thighs , flat knees , and small feet . it s beyond belief to conceive how such lusty bodies should be supported by such slender foot : their houses are mean , their lodging as homely , their commons scant , their drink water , and nature their best cloathing : you shall never see any monstrous person amongst them , or one whom sickness hath deformed , or casualty made decrepit ; most are fifty years old before a wrinkled brow , or gray hairs bewrayes their age : their smooth skins proceeds from the oft anointing their bodies with oyl of fishes , and fat of eagles , and rackoones , which secures them also against muskitoes : their black hair is natural , but made more jetty by oyling , dying , and daily dressing : sometimes they wear long hair like women , sometimes they tie it up short like a horse tail : their boyes must not wear their hair long , till they be sixteen year old , and then also but by degrees , some leave a foretop , others a long lock on the crown , or one on each side the head , as best pleases their fancy : they will not endure any hair on their chins , but scrub it up by the roots : and if they see one with the appearance of a beard , they say he is an english mans bastard . their cloathing is a piece of cloth of a yard and a half long put between their groyns tied with snake-skins about their middle , with a flap before , and hanging like a tail behind . the more aged in the winter wear leather drawers like irish trowzes ; their shooes are of their own making , cut out of a mooses hide ; have and some skins which they cast about them like irish mantles , being either bear , mooses , or beaver-skins sewed together , &c. and in the winter deep fur'd catskins , which they wear upon that arm that is most exposed to the weather . when they are disposed to trade , they choose a good course blanket , or piece of broad cloth , which they make a coat of by day , and a covering by night : they love not to be imprisoned in cloaths after our mode . though they be poor , yet are they proud , which discovers it self by their affecting ornaments , as pendants in their ears , forms of birds , beasts , and fishes carved out of bones , shels , and stones , with long bracelets of their curiously wrought wampompeag , and mowhacks , which they wear about their loins . many of their better sort bear upon their cheeks the pourtaictures of beasts , and fowls , which they make by rasing of their skin with a small sharp instrument , under which they convey a kind of black unchageable ink which makes them apparent and permanent : others have impressions down the out side of their arms and breasts like stars , which they imprint by searing irons . a sagamore with a hum-bird in his ear for a pendant , a black hawke on his head for a plume , mawhack instead of a gold chain , store of wampompeag about his loins , his bow in his hand , his quiver at his back , and six naked indians for his guard , thinks himself nothing inferiour to the great cham , and will say that he is all one with king charles . of their diet , cookery , meal-times and hospitality . in the winter time they have all sorts of fowls , beasts , and pond-fish , with some roots , indian beans , and clams . in the sommer they have all manner of sea fish , with all sorts of berries . these they roast or boil in great kettles , which they gat by trading with the french , and now of the english : before , they had good earthen pots of their own making ; their spits are cloven sticks sharpned at one end and thrust into the ground , a dozen of them with flesh and fish about a fire , turning them as they see occasion . this they present to their guests , dishing it in a rude manner , and set on the ground , without linnen , trenchers , or knives ; to this they presently fall aboard without bread , salt , or beer , lolling after the turkish fashion , not ceasing till their full bellies leave empty platters . their indian corn they seeth whole , like beans , eating three or four corns with a mouthful of fish or flesh , filling up thinks with their broth. in sommer when their corn is spent isquoterquashes is their best bread , like our young pumpions . when our english invite them to meat , they eat very moderately , though at home without measure . they all meet friends at a kettle , save their wives , who attend at their backs for their bony fragments . they keep no set meals , but when their store is spent , they bite on the bit , till they meet with fresh supplies , their wives trudging to the clam-banks when other provision fails . it s the greatest discourtesie you can shew them , not to eat of their delicates , of which they are as free as emperors , and not to sup of their broth made thick with fish , fowl and beasts , all boiled together . of their dispositions , good qualities , as friendship , constancy , truth , and affability . these indians are of an affable , courteous , and well-disposed nature , ready to communicate the best of their wealth to the mutual good one of another , and the less abundance they have , the more conspicuous is their love , in that they are as willing to part with their mite in poverty , as their treasure in plenty . he that kills a deer sends for his friends and eats it merrily . he that receives but a piece of bread from an english hand , gives part of it to his comrades , and they eat it together lovingly . yea , a friend can command a friends house , and whatsoever is his ( saving his wife ) and have it freely : and nothing sooner disjoyns them than ingratitude , accounting an ungrateful person , a double robber , not only of a mans curtesie , but of his thanks , which he might have from another for the same profered and received kindness . they so love each other , that they cannot endure to see one of their countrymen wronged , but will defend them stiffly , plead for them strongly , and justifie their integrity in any warrantableaction . they are true , and faithful to the english , and have been the disclosers of all such treacheries as have been designed by other indians against them . if any roaving ship be upon the coast , and chance to harbour in any unusual port , they will give the english notice of it , which hath been no small advantage . when the english have travelled far into the couutry , they readily entertain them into their houses , quarter them in their rooms , and provide for them the best victuals they can , and give them kind entertainment , if it be for two or three weeks together . they are also ready to guide them through the unbeaten wildernesses , and if any loose their way , they will not leave them till they have brought them to their desired place . they are very careful to keep good correspondence with our english magistrates , being ready to execute any service which they require of them . if any malefactor withdraw himself from condigne punishment , they will hunt him out , and not rest till they have delivered him up to justice . they are kind and affable , very wary with whom they enter into friendship ; nothing is more hateful to them than a churlish disposition , or dissimulation : they speak seldom , and then utter not many words , and those they do , they deliver very gravely . they never fall out amongst themselves , nor abuse each other in language . yea , though in gaming they lose all their little all , yet is the loser as merry as the winner , and they part good friends . of their hardness . their hardness is to be admired , no ordinary pains causing them so much to alter their countenance : beat them , whip them , pinch them , punch them , if they resolve otherwise , they will not winch for it : and though naturally they fear death , yet the unexpected approach of a mortal wound by sword , bullet , &c. strike no more terrour , causes no more exclamation , no more complaint , than if it were a shot into the trunk of a tree . some have been shot in at the mouth , and out under the ear , others into the breast ; others run through the flanks with darts , others received desperate wounds , and yet , either by their rare skill in simples , or by charms have been cured in a short time . in the night they dare not stir out of their houses , for fear of their abamaco [ the devil ] they will rather lie by an english fire all night , than go a quarter of mile in the dark to their own houses . of their wondering at their first sight of any new invention . they being strangers to arts , are ravished at the first view of any new invention : they took the first ship they saw for a mourning island , the masts to be trees , the sails , white clouds , and the discharging of great guns , to be thunder and lightning : but this moving island being stopped by its anchor , they manned out their canows to go and pick strabones in it ; but by the way , being saluted with a broad side , they cryed out , with much hoggery , so big walk , and so big speak , and by and by kill ; this made them to turn back , and approach no more till they were sent for . they wondred much at the first wind mill which the english erected , for its strange whirking motion , and the sharp teeth , biting the corn so small , and its long arms , neither durst they stay in so tottering a tabernacle . the first plowman they saw was accounted a jugler , the plow tearing up more ground in a day , then their clamshels could scrape up in a moneth . yet are they so ingenious , and dexterous in using the ax or hatchet , that probably they would soon learn any trade , were they not so much wedded to idleness ; so that they had rather starve than work . in brief , they be wise in their carriage , subtile in their trading , true in their promise , just in paying their debts : though their poverty may make them slow , yet are they sure : some having died in the english debt , have by will left beaver for their satisfaction : they be constant in friendship , merrily conceited in discourse , not luxurious , in youth , nor froward in old age. of their kings government , and subjects obedience . their kings inherit , the son alwayes succeeding his father . if there be no son , the queen rules , if no queen , the next of the blood royal ; if any other intrude , he is counted a usurper ; and if his fair carriage win not their love , they will soon unking him . the kings have not many laws to rule by , nor have they any yearly revenews , yet are they so feared , or beloved , that half their subjects estates are at their service , and their persons at his command . though he hath no kingly rules to make him glorious , no guard to secure him , no courtlike attendance , nor sumptuous pallaces , yet they account him their soveraign , and yield chearful subjection to him , going and coming at his beck without questioning a reason , though the matter thwart their wills . such as commit treason , or lay violent hands on their lawful soveraign , die without mercy . once a year he takes his progress , attended with a dozen of his best subjects , to view his countrey , to recreate himself , and to establish good order . when he comes into any house , without any other complements , they desire him to sit down on the ground ( having neither stools nor cushions ) and after a while all that are present sit down by him , one of his seniors making an oration gratulatory to his majesty for his love , and the many good things they enjoy under his government . a king of large dominions hath his vice-royes under him to mannage his state affairs , and to keep his subjects in good decorum . for their laws , as their evil manners come short of other nations , so they need not so many laws , yet some they have , which they inflict upon notorious malefactors , as traytors , murtherers , &c. he that deserves death , being apprehended , is brought before the king ; and some of his wisest men , and if upon trial he be found guilty , the executioner comes in , blindfolds him , and sets him in the publick , and brains him with a club ; they have no other punishment save admonitions , or reproofs for smaller offences . of their marriages . the kings and great pawwoos , or connirers may have two or three wives , yet seldom use it ; others have but one . when a man desires to marry , he first gets the good will of the maid or widdow , then the consent of her friends , then , if the king like , the match is made , her dowry of wamponpeag paid , and so the king joyns their hands never to part till death , unless she prove a whore , for which they may put them away . of their worship , invocations , and conjurations . as its natural to all mortals to worship something , so do these . they acknowledge specially two , ketar , who is their god , to whom they sacrifice when they have a good crop. him they invocate for fair weather , for rain , for recovery of their sick , &c. but if they prevail not , their powwows betake themselves to their conjurations , and charmes , by which they effect very strange things , and many times work great cures . but since the english came amongst them , they are much reformed , and most of them have left these diabolical practices . of their wars . for places of retreat in times of danger they make forts of fourty or fifty foot square , of young timber trees ten or twelve foot high rammed into the ground , the earth being cast up within for their shelter , and with loop holes through which they shoot their arrows . in war their only weapons are bows and arrows , only their captains have long spears , on which , if they return conquerors , they carry the chiefest of their enemies heads ; for they use to cut off their heads , hands , and feet to carry home to their wives and children as trophies of their renowned victories : they also at such times paint their faces with diversities of colours to make them the more terrible to their foes ; they put on also their rich jewels , pendants , wampompeag , &c. to mind them that they fight , not only for their lives , wives and children , but for their goods , lands , and liberties ; they fight without all order , and when they have spent their arrows , they run away . they are trained up to their bows from their childhood , and are excellent marks-men : they run swiftly , and swim almost naturally . of their huntings . they have neither beagles , hounds , nor grayhounds , but supply all themselves : in the season of the year they have hunting houses in the places to which the deer resort , in which they keep their rendesvouze , with their snares , and all the accoutrements for that imployment . when they see a deer moose , or bear , they labour to get the wind of him , and coming neer they shoot him quite through , if the bones hinder not . they hunt also wolves , wild cats , rackoones , otters , beavers , and musquashes , trading both their skins and flesh to the english : they have also other devises wherewith to kill their game . of their fishings . they are very expert in fishing , knowing all kinds of baits fit for each several sorts of fish , and for all seasons of the year . they know also when to fish in the rivers , when at the rocks , when in the bayes , and when at the seas : before the english furnished them with hooks and lines , they made lines of their own hemp , curiously wrought , stronger than ours , and used bone-hooks ; they make also strong nets , wherewith they , catch sturgion ; and in the night they go forth in their canooes with a blazing torch , which they wave up and down , with which the sturgion being delighted , playes about it , turning up her white belly , into which they thrust a bearded dart , her back being impenetrable , and so hale her to the shoar . they look out also for sleeping seals , whose oyl they much esteem , using it for divers things . of their arts and manufactures . they dress all manner of skins , by scraping and rubbing , and curiously paint them with unchangable colours , and sometimes take off the hair , especially if they be not in season . they make handsome bows , which they string with mooses sinews : their arrows they make of young eldern , which they feather with eagles feathers , and head them with brass in shape of a triangle . their cordage is so even , smooth , and soft , that its liker silk than hemp. their canows are either made of pine-trees , which , before they had english tools , they burned hollow scraping them smooth with the shels of clams , and oysters , cutting their out-sides with hatchets of stone : others they make of birch rinds , which are so light that a man may carry one of them on his back . in these tottering boats they will go to sea , scudding over the waves , rowing with a paddle : if a wave turn her over , by swimming they turn her up , and get into her again . of their death , burials , and mournings . though these indians have lusty and healthful bodies , not knowing many diseases incident to others countries , as feavers , plurisies , callentures , agues , obstructions , consumptions , convulsions , apoplexies , dropsies , gout , stone , toothach , pox , meazles , &c. so that some of them live to sixty , seventy , eighty , yea , one hundred years before death summons them hence ; yet when death approaches , and all hope of recovery is past , then to see and hear their heavy sobbs , and deep fetched sighs , their grieved hearts , and brinish tears , and doleful cryes , would fetch tears from an heart of stone . their grief being asswaged , they commit the bodies of their friends to the earth , over whose grave for a long time they weep , groan , and howl , continuing annual mournings , with a stiff black paint on their faces : they mourn without hope , and yet hold the immortality of the soul , that it shall pass to the south-west elysium , a kind of paradise , wherein they shall for ever abide , solacing themselves in odoriferous gardens , fruitful corn-fields , green meddows , bathing in cool streams of pleasant rivers , and shelter themselves from heat and cold in state-pallaces framed by dame nature ; at the portal of this elisium they say there lies a great dogg , whose currish snarlings excludes unworthy intruders : wherefore they bury them with bows and arrows , and store of wampompeag , and mouhak● , either to affright the affronting cerberus , or to purchase greater prerogatives in that in paradise . but evil livers they go to the infernal dwellings of abamacho , there to be tormented . of their women , their dispositions , imployments , vsage by their husbands , their apparel , and modesty . these indians scorn the tutorings of their wives , or to admit them as their equals , though their qualities , and industry may justly claim the preheminence , and command better usage , and more conjugal esteem , their persons and features being every way correspondent , their qualifications more excellent , being more loving , pitiful , and modest , mild , provident , and laborious than their lazy husbands . their imployments are many , for they build their houses in fashion like our garden arbors , but rounder , very strong and handsome , covered with close wrought mats of their own weaving , which deny entrance to a drop of rain , though it be fierce and long , neither can the north winds find a crany whereat to enter ; they be warmer then ours : at the top is a square hole for the smoake to pass out , which is close covered in rainy weather : yet when they have a good fire , they are so smoky , that they are fain to lie down under the smoake . their sommer houses when families are dispersed upon divers occasions , are less : their winter houses are fifty or sixty foot long ; fourty or fifty men lodging in one of them ; and when their husbands require it , the wives are fain to carry their houses on their backs to fishing and hunting places ; or to a planting place , where it abides the longest . the wives also plant their corn , which they keep so clear from weeds , with their clam-shell hooes , as if it were a garden rather than a corn-field ; neither suffering weeds nor worms to hurt it . their corn being ripe , they dry it in the sun , and convey it into their barns , which be great holes digged in the ground like brass pots , lining them with rinds of trees , into which they put their corn , covering it from their gurmundizing husbands , who else would eat up all their allowed portion , and reserved seed if they knew where to find it . but our english hoggs having found a way to open their barn-doors , and to rob their garners ; they are fain to make use of their husbands help to rowl the bodies of trees over them , to secure them against these swine , whose thievery they hate as much as they do to eat their flesh . another of their imployments is , in their sommer processions to get lobsters for their husbands , wherewith they bait their hooks when they go a fishing for bass & codfish . this is their every days walk be the weather cold or hot , the waters rough or calm , they must dive sometimes over head and ears for a lobster , which often shakes them by the hands , with a churlish nip , and so bids them adieu . the tide being spent they trudg home two or three miles with an hundred weight of lobsters on their backs , but if they meet with none , they have a hundred scouls from their churlish hsbands , and an hungry belly for two dayes after . when their husbands have caught any fish they bring it in their canows as far as they can by water , and there they leave it , sending their wives to fetch it home , or they must fast , which done , they must dress it , cook it , dish it , and present it , and see it eaten before their faces , and their loggerships having filled their paunches , their poor wives must scramble for their scraps . in the sommer when lobsters be in their plenty and prime , these indian women dry them to keep for winter , erecting scaffolds in the hot sun , and making fires underneath them , by the smoake whereof the flies are driven away , till the fish remain hard & dry : thus also they dry bass , and other fishes without salt , cutting them very thin that they may dry the sooner before the flies spoil them , or the rain wet them , having a great care to hang them in their smoaky houses in the night , and dankish weather . in sommer also they gather flags , of which they make mats for houses ; also hemp and rushes with dying stuff , of which they make curious baskets with intermingled colours , and pourtraictures of antique imagery . these baskets are of all sizes , from a quart to a quarter , in which they carry their luggage . in winter they are their husbands caterers , trugging to the clam-banks for their belly-timber : they are also their porters to lug home their venison , which their laziness exposeth to the wolves , till their wives impose it upon their shoulders . they also sew thir husbands shooes , and weave turkey feathers for them , besides all their housholds drudgery which daily goes through their hands , and a big belly hinders no business , nor doth their childbirth hinder much time , but the young child being greased and sooted , wrapped up in a beavers skin , bound to his good behaviour , with his feet up to his bum , upon a board two foot long , and one foot broad , his face being exposed to the most nipping weather , this little pappouse travels about with his barefooted mother , to paddle in the icy clamb-banks , being not above three or four dayes old . the womens carriage is very civil , smiles being the greatest grace of their mirth . their musick is lullabies to quiet their children , who yet are generally as quiet as if they had neither spleen nor lungs . to hear one of these indian women unseen , a good ear might easily mistake their untaught voice for the warbling of a well tuned instrument . their modesty suggest them to wear more cloathes than their husbands , having alwayes a short coat of cloth , or skin wrapped like a blanket about their loins reaching to their hams , which they never put off in company . if a husband sels his wives beaver petticote , as sometimes he doth , she will not put it off , till she hath another to put on . their mild carriage and obedience to their husbands is very commendable ; notwithstanding all their churlishness , and salvage inhumanity towards them , yet will they not frown , nor offer to word it with their lords , nor presume to proclaim their superiority to the usurping of the least tittle of their husbands charter , but are contentedly quiet with their helpless condition , esteeming it to be the womans portion . since the arrival of the english comparison hath made their yoake more miserable : for seeing the kind usage of the english men towards their wives , they cannot but as much condemn their own husbands unkindness , as they commend the english mens love . but in the mean time , their husbands commend themselves for their wit in keeping their wives in subjection , and to labour as much as they condemn the english husbands for their indulgence and folly in spoiling such good working creatures . these indian women do oft resort to the houses of the english wherewith those of their own sex , they do somewhat ease their misery by complaining of their thraldom , and seldom part without some relief ; and if their husbands come to seek for their spaws ( for so they call all women ) and do begin to bluster for their idleness , the english woman betakes her to her arms , which are the warlike ladle , and the scalding liquor , threatning blistering to the naked runaway , who is soon driven back by such hot comminations . in a word , the love of these women to the english , deserves no small esteem , whom they are ever presenting with something that is rare or desired , as strawberries , hurtleberries , rasberries , gooseberries , cherries , plums , fish , and such other gifts as their poor treasury affords . new englands prospect . of their religion . the natives of new-england conceive of many divine powers : but one whom they call keihtan ( they say ) is the principal , and maker of all the rest , and himself is made by none . he created the heavens , earth , sea , and all creatures contained therein . he also made one man and one woman , of whom oll mankind came . but how they came to be so far dispersed , they know not . at first ( they say ) there was no sachem or king , but keihtan , who dwells above the heavens , whither all good men go when they die to see their friends , and have their fill of all thins . thither bad men go also , and knock at his door , but he bids them walk abroad , for there is no piace for such , so that they wander in restless want , and penury . never man saw this kiehtan ; only old men tell them of him , and bid them tell their children ; yea , to charge them to tell it to their posterities , and to lay the like charge upon them . this power they acknowledge to be good ; and when they would obtain any great matter , they meet together , and cry unto him ; and when they have plenty and victory , &c. they sing , dance , give thanks , and hang up garlands in memory thereof . another power they worship called hobbamock , which is the devil ; him they call upon to cure their wounds , and diseases . and when they are curable , he perswades them that he sends the same for some conceived anger against them ; but upon their calling upon him , he can , and doth help them . but when they are mortal and incurable , he tells them that kiehtan is angry , and sends them , whom none can cure , which makes them doubt whether he be simply good , and therefore in sickness they never call upon him . this hobbamock appears in sundry forms unto them ; as in the shape of a man , a deer , a fawn , an eagle , &c. but most ordinarily like a snake . he appears not to all , but to the chiefest , and most judicious amongst them , though all of them strive to attain that hellish honor . he chiefly appears to three sorts of persons : of the first rank they are few , and they are highly esteemed of , and they think that no weapon can kill them : the second sort are called powahs : and the third priests . the powahs chief office is to call upon the devil , and to cure the sick and wounded . the common people joyn with him in his invocations , by saying amen to what he saith . the powah is eager and free in speech , fierce in countenance , and joyneth many antick and laborious gestures with the same over the party diseased . if the party be wounded , they suck his wounds ; but if they be curable , the snake or eagle sits on his shoulders and licks the same . him none sees but the powah . if the party be otherwise diseased , its sufficient if in any shape he but comes into the house , and it is an undoubted sign of recovery . the powahs in their speech promise to sacrifice many skins of beasts , kettles , hatchets , beads , knives , and the best things they have to the fiend , if he help the diseased party . when women are in desperate and extraordinary hard travel in in child-birth , they send for the powahs to help them . many sacrifices they use , and sometimes kill their children . the nanohiggansets exceed in their blind devotion , and have great spacious houses , into which their priests only come . thither at certain times most of the people resort and sacrifice almost all their riches to their gods , as kettles , skins , hatchets , beads , knives , &c. all which the priest casts into a great fire made in the midst of that house , where they are consumed . to this offering every man brings freely , and he that brings most , is best esteemed . the priests are men of great courage and wisdom , and to these the devil also appears more familiarly than to others , and covenants with them to preserve them from death by wounds of arrows , knives , hatchets , &c. one of these will chase almost an hundred of their enemies : they are highly esteemed of all , and are of the sachems councel , without whom he will neither make war , nor undertake any great matter . in war the sachems for their more safety , go in the midst of them . they are usually men of the greatest stature and strength , and such as will endure most hardness , and yet are discreet , and courteous in their carriages , scorning theft , lying , and base dealing , and stand as much upon their reputation as any men . and to encrease the number of these , they train up the likeliest boyes from their childhood unto great hardness , and cause them to abstain from dainty meat , and to observe divers other rules , to the end that the devil may appear to them when they are of age . they also cause them to drink the juice of centuary , and other bitter herbs , till they vomit it into a platter , which they must drink again , till at length , through extraordinary pressing of nature , it looke like blood : and this the boyes will do at first eagerly , and so continue , till by reason of faintness they can scarce stand on their leggs , and then they must go forth into the cold . also they beat their shins with sticks , and cause them to run through bushes , stumps , and brambles to make them hardy and acceptable to the devil , that so in time he may appear unto them . their sachems are not all kings , but only some few of them , to whom the rest resort for protection , and pay them homage : neither may they make war without their knowledge and approbation . every sachim takes care for the widdows , fatherless , aged , or maimed , if their friends be dead , or not able to provide for them . a sachim will not marry any but such as are equal in birth to him , lest his seed prove ignoble ; and though they have many other wives , yet are they but concubines , or servants , and yield obedience to the queen , who orders the family , and them in it . the other subjects do the same , and will adhere to the first during their lives , but put away the other at their pleasure . their government is successive , not elective . if the sachims child be young when his father dies , he is committed to the protection , and tuition of some one amongst them , who rules for him till he be of age . every sachem knows the bounds and limits of his kingdom , out of which , if any of his men desire land wherein to set their corn , he gives them as much as they can use . in these limits , he that hunts and kills any venison , gives the sachim his fee ; if it be killed on the land , he hath part of the flesh ; if in the water , then the skin only : the great sachems or kings know not their bounds so well . all travellers or strangers usually lie at the sachims house , and when they come , they tell them how long they will stay , and whither they are going ; during which time they are entertained according to their quality . once a year the priests provoke the people to bestow much corn on the sachim , and accordingly at a certain time and place , the people bring many baskets of corn , and make a great stack thereof near to the sachems house . there the priests stands ready to return them thanks in the name of the sachim , who fetches the same , and is no less thankful , bestowing many gifts upon them . when any are visited with sickness , their friends resort to them to comfort them , and oft continue with them till death or recovery ; if they dye they stay to mourn for them , which they perform night and morning for many dayes after their burial : but if they recover , because their sickness was chargeable , they send them corn and other gifts , whereupon they feast , and dance . when they bury their dead , they sew the corps up in a mat , and so bury it . if a sachim dyes , they cover him with many curious mats , and bury all his riches with him , and inclose the grave with a pale . if it be a child , the father will put all his own special jewels , and ornaments into the grave with it : yea , he will cut his hair , and disfigure himself , in token of his great sorrow . if it be the master or dame of the family , they will pull down the mats , and leave the frame of the house standing , and bury them in , or near the same , and either remove their dwelling , or give over house-keeping . the younger sort reverence the elder , and do all mean offices for them when they are together , though they be strangers . boyes and girls may not wear their hair like men and women , but are distinguished thereby . one is not accounted a man , till he doth some notable act , and shews his courage and resolution answerable to his place : the men take much tobacco , but it s counted very odious in a boy so to do . all their names are significant and variable . for when they come to be men and women , they alter them according to their deeds , or dispositions . when a maid is given in marriage , she first cuts her hair , and then wears a covering on her head till her hair is grown again . of their women some are so modest , that they will scarce talk together whilst men are by , and are very chast : others are light , lascivious , and wanton . if a woman hath a bad husband , or affect him not ; if there be war between that and any other people , she will run away from him to the contrary party , where she never wants welcome ; for where there be most women , there is most plenty . when a woman hath her courses , she retires her self from all other company , and lives in a house apart ; after which she washes her self , and all that she hath touched or used , after which she is received into her husbands bed or family . the husband will beat his wife , or put her away for adultery . yet some common strumpets there are , but they are such as either were never married , or are widdows , or that have been put away for adultery : for no man will take such an one to wife . in matters of injustice or dishonest dealing , the sachim examines and punisheth the same . in cases of theft ; for the first offence he is disgracefully rebuked : for the second , he is beaten by the sachim with a cudgle on the naked back : for the third , he is beaten with many stripes , and hath his nose slit , that all men may both know and shun him . if one kill another , he certainly dies for it . the sachim not only sentenceth the malefactor , but executeth the same with his own hands , if the party be present , otherwise he sends his own knife , if he be sentenced to dye by the hands of another that executes the same . but if the offender be to receive any other punishment , he will not receive it but from the sachim himself , before whom being naked , he kneels , and will not offer to run away , though he beat him never so much , it being a greater disparagement for a man to cry when he is corrected , than was his offence and punishment . they are a very witty and ingenious people : they keep account of the time by the moon , or by sommers or winters ; they know divers of the stars by name : they have also many names for the winds : they will guess shrewdly at the wind and weather before hand , by observations in the heavens . their language is very copious and large , and hard to be learned ; and though in an hundred miles distance their languages differ , yet not so much , but they can understand each other . instead of records and chonicles , where any remarkable act is done , in memory of it , either in the very place , or by some path neer adjoyning , they make a round hole in the ground a foot deep , and as much over , which , when others passing by , behold , they enquire the cause and occasion of it , which being once known , they carefully acquaint others with it . and lest such holes should be filled , as men pass by , they will oft renew them . so that if a man travels , and can understand his guide , his journey will be less tedious , by the many historical discourses that will be related to him . you have heard before of the state of new-england in the year 1633. when she was but in her childhood , but being now grown up to more maturity ; take this account of it , which was written by a reverend minister , in january 1668 / 9 , who had lived there 40. years , and therefore hath great reason , and good opportunities to be acquainted with the condition of it . when we came first to new-england in the year 169. there was then but one town in the country , viz. that of new-plimmouth , which had stood alone for nine years . from that time to this year now beginning 1669. is just fourty years ; in which time there has been an increase of fourty churches in this colony ( but many more in the rest . ) and towns in all new-england , 120. which for the most part lie along the sea coast for somewhat more than two hundred miles ; only upon connecticut river , there are thirteen towns lying neer together ; and about the massacusets bay , here are above thirty towns within two , three , four , or five miles asunder . and from the sea , which hath rendred boston a very considerable place , and the metropolis of new-england , all the other towns on the sea coast , and those in the country depending upon it . i have lately heard some merchants that knew old boston , say that this is far bigger , and hath ten times more trade than that , having many ships and catches , and they say no less than an hundred catches went from the country this winter to trade in virginia ; besides many others to the west indies , and to several parts of europe . it was doubted for some years , whether there would be a staple commodity in new-england ; but god and time have shewed many , as furs , fish , masts , pipestaves , and deal-board , and such plenty of corn and cattel , that abundance of provision has been yearly transported for the supply of english plantations , the west-indies , and other parts ; in so much as though many gentlemen of great estates in the first year spent their estates , and some of them that were very brave men of publick spirits , were brought very low , both they and theirs : yet in the latter years , many that have risen out of the dust , by a way of trading and merchandising , have grown unto great estates ; some to ten , others to twenty , yea thirty or fourty thousand pound estate . in the year 1643. began the combination of the united colonies of new-england , which have much encrersed since then ; every one of them having their distinct pattents , except new-haven , which for want of a pattent , was since the coming in of our king , taken into the colony of connecticut ; and though very many of the first commers are now dead and gone , yet there is grown up such a numerous posterity here , that it 's thought there are twenty times more english people now in the country , then ever came into it . and it 's believed by many observing men , that there are many above ten hundred thousand souls . most of the first magistrates are dead , and not above two left in the massacusets ; but one in plymouth , one at connecticut , and not one at new-haven . there came over from england at several times , chiefly before the year 1640. ninety fore ministers , of which twenty seven returned to england again , and there are now dead in the country thirty six ; and as yet living in the country thirty one . the ministers bred up in new-england , are one hundred thirty two , of which two are dead in the country , fourty one have removed to england , most of them from our colledges , besides other schollars that have in england turned to other professions , and eighty one that are now living in the country , employed in the ministery in several places . there have been several synods in new-england ; the first at cambridge , in the year 1637. wherein the antinomian ▪ and familistical errors were confuted and condemned by the word of god. the second at cambridge in the year 1646. wherein the magistrates power and duty in matters of religion , and the nature and power of synods was cleared . the third , in the year 1648. where it was declared , that in point of doctrine , these churches consented to the confession of faith , put forth by the assembly at westminster ; and in point of discipline , the platform of the discipline of these churches , was then published . the fourth was at boston in the year 1662. concerning the subject of baptism , and consociation of churches . it hath pleased the lord to give such a blessing to the gospel among the indians , that in divers places there are not only many civilized , but divers that are truly godly , and shame the english , and are much hated by others of their own country men , though that work has met with many obstructions and remoraes ; chiefly by the death of some of the choicest instruments , and many of the best of the indians ; yet it may be well believed , that there is such a seed of the gospel scattered among them , which will grow unto a further harvest in god's time . the description of the island of barbados : with an account of the trees , plants , herbs , roots , fowls , birds , beasts , fishes , insects , &c. as also of their sugar-canes , ingenio's and manner of making their sugars . the first discovery made of this island was by a ship of sir william curte'us , which returning from pernambock in brasile , being driven by foul weather upon this coast , chanced to fall upon this island , which is not far out of the way , being one of the most windwardly islands of all the carribies ; and anchoring before it , they stayed some time to inform themselves of the nature of of the place , which by tryals in several places , they found to be so over grown with wood , as that there could be no champion ground discovered wheron to plant ; nor found they any beasts , or cattel there , save hoggs , whereof there were abundance . the portugals having long before put some on shore for breed , in case they should at any time by foul weather be driven to , or cast upon on this island , that so they might there find fresh meat to serve them upon such an exigence . and the fruits and roots that grew there , afforeded them so great plenty of food , that now they were multiplied abundantly . in so much as the indians of the leeward islands that were within sight , coming thither in their canoos , and finding such game to hunt as these hoggs were , whose flesh was so sweet , and excellent in tast , they came often thither a hunting , staying sometimes a moneth together before they returned home , leaving behind them certain tokens of their being there , which were pots of several sizes made of clay , so finely tempered , and turned with such art , as the like to them for fineness of mettle , and curiosity of turning , are not made in england , in which they boiled their meat . this discovery being made , and advice thereof sent to their friends in england ; other ships were sent with men , provisions , and working tools , to cut down the woods , and clear the ground wherein to plant provisions for their sustentation , till then , finding food but straglingly in the woods . but when they had cleared some quantity of land , they planted potato's , plantines , and maies , or indian wheat , with some other fruits , which together with the hoggs , which they found there , served only to keep life and soul together . and their supplies from england coming so slow , and so uncertainly , they were oft driven to great extremities : and the tobacco that grew there , was so earthy and worthless , as that it gave them little or no return from england , or other places ; so that for a while they lingered in a doubtful condition . for the woods were so thick , and most of the trees so large and massy , as that they were not to be faln by so few hands : and when they were laid along , the boughs were so thick and and unweldy , as required more help of strong and active men to lop , and remove them off the ground ; which continued so for many years , in somuch as they planted potato's , maies , and bonavists between the boughs as the trees lay on the ground . yet not long after they planted indigo , and ordered it so well , as that it sold in london at very good rates : and their cotten woll , and fustick wood , proved very good and staple commodities : so that having these four sorts of commodities , to traffique with all ; some ships were invited in hope of gain by that trade , to come and visit them , bringing for exchange , such commodities as they wanted , to wit , working-tools , iron , steel , clothes , shirts , drawers , hose and shooes , hats , and more hands . so that beginning to find good by this trade , they set themselves hard to work , and lived in much better condition . but when their sugar-canes had been planted three or four years , they found that to be the principal plant whereby to raise the value of the whole island ; and therefore bent all their endeavours to improve their knowledge and skill in planting them , and making sugar . which knowledg , though they studied hard , was long in learning . this island which we call barbado's lies in thirteen degrees and about thirty minutes of northern latitude : the usual bay into which ships put , is carlile bay , which without exception is the best in the island , and is somewhat more than a league over , and from the points of the land to the bottom of the bay , is twice as much . upon the innermost part of this bay stands a town called the bridge ; for that a long bridge was at first made over a little nook of the sea , which yet indeed is rather a bogg than a sea. this town is ill scituated ; the planters looking more after conveniencie than health . but one house being erected , another was set up by it for neighbourhood , and than a third , and a fourth , till at last it became a town : divers storehouses were also built there wherein , to stow their goods , being so neer and convenient for the harbour . but their great oversight was to build a town in so unhealthfull a place . for the ground being somewhat lower within the land than the sea banks are , the spring-tides flow over , and so remain there , making much of that flat a kind of bog , or marish , which sends out so loathsome a savour , as cannot but breed ill blood , and probably is the occasion of much sickness to those that live there . the ground on either side this bay ( but chiefly that to the eastward ) is much firmer , and lies higher , and therefore with some charge , may be made as convenient as the bridge , and much more healthfnl . three more bayes there be of note in this island . one to the eastward of this , which they call austins bay : the other are to the west of carlile-bay . the first whereof is called mackfields bay ; the other spikes bay ; but neither of these three are environed with land , as carlile bay is ; but being to the leeward of the island , and of good anchorage , they seldome are in danger , unless in the time of the turnado , when the winds turn about to the south ; and then if they be not well moved , the ships are subject to fall foul one upon another , and sometimes are driven a ground . for the leeward part of the island , being rather shelvy than rocky , they are seldom or never cast away . the leng the hot island is twenty eight miles , and the breadth in some places seventeen miles , in others twelve ; so that they make about three hundred nitety two square miles in the whole island . it rises highest in the middle , so that when you come within sight of this happy island , the nearer you come , the more beautiful it appears to the eye . for being in it self exceeding beautiful , it 's best discerned , and best judged of when your eyes become full mistris of the object . there you may see the high , large , and lofty trees with their spreading branches , and flourishing tops , which seem to be beholding to the earth and roots that gave them such plenty of sap for their nourishment , which makes them grow to that perfection of beauty and largeness : whil'st they by way of gratitude return their cool shade to secure and shelter the earth from the suns heat , which otherwise would scorch and dry it up . so that bounty and goodness in the one , and gratefulness in the other , serve to make up this beauty , which alwayes would lie empty and waste . by the commodity of the scituation of this island , which is highest in the midst , the inhabitants within have these advantages . first , a free prospect into the sea ; then a reception of a opure and refreshing air , and breezes that come from thence : the plantations overlooking one another , so as the more in most parts are not debarred , nor restrained of their liberties of the view to the sea by those that dwell between them and it . whil'st the sun is in the aequinoctial , or within ten degrees of either side , there is little change in the length of the dayes , for at six and six the sun rises and sets : but when it s nearer the tropick of capricorn , and in thirty seven degrees from them , then the dayes are something shorter , and this shortning begins about the end of october . eight moneths in the year the weather is very hot , yet not scalding , but that servants , both christians and slaves labour and travel ten hours in a day . for as the sun rises , there rises with it a cool brees of wind ; and the higher , and hotter the sun rises , the stronger and cooler the breeses are , and blow alwaeis from the north-east and by east , except in the time of the turnado : for then it sometimes chops about into the south for an hour or two , and so returns about again to the point where it was . the other four moneths it is not so hot , but is near the temper of the air in england in the midst of may. and though in the hot season the planters sweat much , yet do they not find that faintness which we find in england in the end of july , or in the beginning of august . but with this heat , there is such a moisture as must of necessity cause the air to be unwholsome . the planters there are s●eldom thirsty , unless they over heat their bodies with extraordinary labour , or with drinking strong drink , as our english spririts , or french brandy , or the drink of the island , which is made of the scummings of the coppers that boil the sugar , which they call kill-devil . for though some of these be needful in such hot countries when they are used temperately , yet the immoderate use of them over-heats the bodie , which causeth costiveness , and gripings in the bowels ; which is a disease that is very frequent there , and hardly cured , and of which many die . their blood also is thinner and paler than ours in england : nor is their meat so well relished as it is with us , but flat and insipid ; the hogs-flesh only excepted , which is as good as any in the world. their horses and cattel seldom drink , and when they do , it s but in a little quantity , except they be over heated with working . the moisture of the air causes all their knives , tweeses , keys , needles , swords , &c. to rust , and that in an instant . for if you grind your rusty knife upon a grind-stone , wipe it dry , and put it into your sheath , and pocket , in a little time after draw it again , and you shall find it beginning to rust all over ; which in longer time will eat into the steel and spoil the blade . locks also which are not often used , will rust in the wards and become useless . and clocks and watches will seldom or never go true , and all this is occasioned by the moistness of the air. this great heat and moisture together is certainly the cause that trees and plants , grow to such a vast height , and largeness as they do there . there is nothing so much wanting in this island as springs and rivers of waters ; there being but very few , and those small and inconsiderable . there is but one river , which may yet be termed rather a lake than a river . the springs that run into it are never able to fill it : and out-let to the sea it hath none ; but at spring-tides the sea comes in and fills it , and at neep-tide it cannot run out again , the sea-banks being higher than it . yet some of it issues out through the sand , and leaves a mixture of fresh and salt water behind it . sometimes these spring-tides bring some fishes into it , which will remain there , being more willing to live in this mixt water , then in the salt . sometimes there have been taken in it fishes as big as salmons , which have been over-grown with fat and very sweet and firm . but fish is not often taken in this place , by reason that the whole lake is filled with trees and roots , so that no net can be drawn , nor hook laid , without danger of breaking and losing . the river or lake reaches not within land above twelve score yards , and there is no part of it so broad , but that you may cast a coit over it . the spring-tides about this island seldom rise above four or five foot upright . into these rivolets there come from the sea little lobsters , but wanting the great claws before , they are the sweetest , and fullest of fish that can be eaten . but the water which the people in this island most relie upon , is rain-water , which they keep in ponds , and have descents to them , so that what falls upon other grounds about , may run into them ; the bottom of these ponds are clay . for if the water find any leak to the rocky part , it gets into the clifts and sinks in an instant . about the end of december these ponds are filled , and with the help they have by weekly showers , they mostly continue so , yet sometimes they find a want . this water they use upon all occasions , and to all purposes , as to boil their meat , to make their drink , to wash their linnen , &c. in these ponds are neither fish nor fry , nor any living or moving things , except some flies that fall into them ; but the water is clear and well tasted ; here their cattel drink also . they also save rain water from the houses , by gutters at the eves which carries it down into cisterns . if any tumult or disturbance be in the island , the next neighbour to it discharges a musquet , which gives an allarum to the whole island . for upon the report of that , the next shoots , and so the next , and the next , ill it go through all , and upon hearing of this all make ready . of their bread. bread which is the staff and stay of mans life , is not so good here as in england ; yet do they account it both nourishing and strengthening . it 's made of the root of a small tree or shrub , which is called cussary . this root is large and round , like the body of a small still , and as they gather it , they cut sticks or blanches that grow neerest to it of the same tree , which they put into the ground , and they grow : so that as they gather one , they plant another . this root when its first gathered is an absolute poison , and yet by good ordering it becomes wholesome and nourishing . first , they wash it clean , and lean it against a wheel , whose sole is about a foot broad , covered with latine made rough like a greater . this wheel is turned about with the foot , as cutlers use to turn theirs , and as it grates the root , it falls down into a large trough which is appointed to receive it . this they put into a strong piece of double canvas , or sack-cloth , and press it so hard , that all the juice is squeezed out , and then drying it in the sun , its fit to make bread , which they do after this manner . they have a plate of iron round , about twenty inches in the diameter , a little hollowed in the mid'st , with three feet like a pot , above six inches high , that they may keep fire under . they heat this pone ( as they call it ) so hot as that it may bake but not burn . then the indians ( who are best acquainted with the making of it ) cast the meal upon the pone the whole breadth of it , and put it down with their hands , and it will presently stick together , and when they think that that side is enough , they turn it with a thing like a battle-dore ; and so turn and re-turn it till it be enough , which is presently done . then laying it upon a flat boord , they make others , till they have made enough for the whole family . they make it as thin as a wafer , and yet purely white and crisp . salt they never use in it , though probably it would give it a better relish . they can hardly make py-crust of it ; for as they knead , or roul it , it will crack or chop , so that it will not hold any liquor , neither with , nor without butter or eggs. there is another sort of bread which is mixed , being made of the flower of maise , and cussary : for the maise of its self will make no bread , it is so extream heavy : but these two being mixed , they make it into large cakes two inches thick , which tastes most like to our english bread. yet the negroes use the maise another way . for they tost the ears of it at the fire , and so eat it warm off the fire . the christian servants are fed with this maise , who pound it in a large morter , and boil it in water to the thickness of frumentry , and then put it into a tray and so eat it ; they give it them cold , and scarce afford them salt to it ; this they call lob-lolly . the third sort of bread which they use , is only potatoes , which are the dryest , and largest which they can choose , and this is the most common sort of bread used at the planters tables . of their drink . their drink is of sundry sorts . the first , and that which is most used in the island is mobby ; a drink made of potatoes ; thus , they put the potatoes into a tub of water , and with a broom wash them clean ; then taking them out , they put them into a large brass or iron pot , and put to them so much water as will only cover a third part of them , then covering the pot close with a thick double cloth , that no steam can get out , they stew them over a gentle fire , and when they are enough , take them out , and with their hands squeeze and break them very small in fair water , letting them stand till the water hath drawn all the spirits out of the roots , which will be done in an hour or two . then they put the liquor and roots into a large linnen bag , and let it run through that into a jar , and within two hours it will begin to work : and the next day it's fit to be drunk ; and as they will have it stronger or weaker , they put in a greater or a less quantity of roots . this drink being temperately made , doth not at all fly up into the head , but is sprightly , thirst-cooling drink . if it be put up into runlets , it will last four or five dayes , and drink the quicker . it is much like renish wine on the must. there are two several layers wherein these roots grow ; the one makes the skins of the potatoes white , the other red , and the red roots make the drink red like claret wine , the other white . this is the most general drink used in the island , but it breeds hydropick humours . another drink they have which is much wholsomer , though not altogether so pleasant , which they call perino , much used by the indians , which is made of the cussavy root . this they cause their old toothless women to chaw in their mouthes , and so spit into water , which in three or four hours will work and purge it self of the poisonous quality . this drink will keep a moneth or two , and drink somewhat like our english beer . grippo is a third sort of drink , but few make it well , and it 's rarely used . punch is a fourth sort , which is made of water and sugar mixt together , which in ten dayes standing will be very strong , and fit for labourers . a fifth is made of wild plumbs which they have in great abundance upon very large trees . these they press and strain , and they have a very sharp and fine flavour : but this being troublesome in making is seldom used . but the drink made of the plantane is far beyond all these . these they gather when they are full ripe , and in the heighth of their sweetness , and peeling off the skin , they wash them in water well boiled ; and after they have stood a night , they strain it , and bottle it up , and at a weeks end drink it . it s a very strong and pleasant drink , as strong as sack , and will fly up into the head , and therefore must be used moderately . the seventh sort of drink they make of the skimmings of their sugar , which is exceeding strong , but not very pleasant : this is commonly , and indeed too much used , many being made drunk by it . this they call kill-devil . the eighth sort of drink they call beveridge , made of spring-water , white-sugar , and juice of oringes . and this is not only pleasant , but wholesome . the last and best sort of drink which the world affords , is the incomparable wine of pines . and this is made of the pure juice of the fruit it self without mixture of water , or any thing else , having in it self a natural compound of all the most excellent tasts that the world can yield . i'ts too pure to keep long . it will be fine within three or four dayes . they make it by pressing the fruit , and straining the liquor , and keep it in bottles . three sorts of meat . they have several sorts of meat there , whereof the hoggs-flesh is the most general , and indeed the best which the island affords . for the swine feeding daily upon fruit , the nuts of locust , pompianes , the bodies of the plantanes , bonanas , sugar-canes , and maise , make their flesh to be exceeding sweet . at the first coming of the english thither , they found hoggs of four hundred pound weight , the intrals taken out , and their heads cut off . beef they seldome have any that feeds upon that island , except it die of it self : only such a planter as was sir james drax ( who lived there like a prince ) may now and then kill one . turkies they have large , fat and full of gravy . also our english pullen , and muscovy ducks , which being larded with the fat of their pork , and seasoned with pepper and salt , is an excellent bak'd meat . turtle doves they have of two sorts , and very good meat . there are also pidgeons which come from the lee-ward islands in september , and stay till christmas to feed upon fruits . many of these they kill upon the trees , and they are exceeding fat , and tast excellently . tame rabbets they have , but they tast faintly , more like chickens then rabbets . they have also divers sorts of birds , but none that they use for food . of their fish. now for fish , the island want not plenty about it , yet the planters look so much after their profit on the land , that they will not spare time to catch it , nor to send to the bridge to buy that which is caught to their hands . but when any have a mind to feast themselves with fish , they go to the taverns at the bridge where they have plenty , and well drest . butter they seldom have that will beat thick ; but instead thereof they use vineger , spice , and fry much of their fish in oyl , and eat it hot ; yet some they pickle , and eat it cold . yet collonel humphrey walrond having his plantation near the sea , hath a saine to catch fish withall , which his own servants and slaves put to sea twice or thrice a week , and bring home store of small and great fishes , as snappers red and gray , cavallos , macarel , mullets , cony-fish , and divers other sorts of firm and sweet fish ; and some bigger then salmons , of the rarest colours that can be imagined , being from the back fin which is the middle of the fish , to the end of the tail , of a most pure grass green , as shining as satin : the fins and tail dappled with a most rare hair-colour ; and from the back fin to the head , a pure hair-colour dappled with green . the scales as big as an half crown piece . it is an exccent sweet fish ; only there is one kind of fish here wanting , which are very rife in the adjacent islands , which is the green turtle , which the best meat that the sea affords . in other places they take an infinite number of them by turning them upon their backs with staves , where they lie till they are fetcht away . a large turtle will have in her body half a bushel of eggs. when they are to kill one of them , they lay it on his back upon a table , and when he sees them come with a knife to kill him , he vapours out the most grievous sighs that ever you heard creature make , and sheds as large tears as a stag. he hath a joynt or crevis about an inch within the utmost edge of his shell , into which they put the knife and rip up his belly , which they call his calipee , and take out his bowels , and heart , which had three distinct points , and this being laid in a dish will stir and pant ten hours after the fish is dead : it 's of a delicate taste and very nourishing . of the quelquechoses . the quelquechoses with which they furnish out their tables at a feast are , eggs potcht , and laid upon sippets soaked in butter , and juice of limes and sugar , with plumpt currans strewed upon them , and cloves , mace , cinamon strewed upon that , with a little salt. eggs boiled , rosted , and fried with collops . buttered eggs , and amulet of eggs , with the juice of limes and sugar , a fraize , and a tansie , custards and cheese cakes , puffs , cream boiled to a heighth with yolks of eggs , and seasoned with sugar and spice , jelly which they make of a young pig , caves-feet , and a cock ; cream alone , and some several wayes with the help of limes , lemmons , and oranges ; and into some they put plantanes , gnavers , and bonanoes stew'd , or preserved with sugar , and the same fruit also preserved without cream , and to draw down a cup of wine , they have dried neats tongues , westfalia-bacon , caviare , pickled-herring , botargo , all which are brought to them . from old and new england , virginia , and holland they have beef , and pork ; as al ling , haberdine , cod , poor john , makarels , and herrings pickled , and sturgeon . pickled turtles they have from the lee-ward islands . of these things they have had in these latter years such store , that the negroes are allowed for each man two makarels a week , and every woman one , which are given them saturday-nights , after which they have their allowance of plantanes , which is every one a large bunch or two two little ones to serve them for a weeks provision . and if any cattel die by chance , or by any disease , the christian servants eat the bodies , and the negroes the skins , head , and intrals , which is divided to them by the overseers . if a horse dies , the negroes have the whole bodies , and this they think a high feast , with which poor souls were never better contented : and the drink which the servants have to this diet , is nothing but mobby , and sometimes a little beveridge ; but the negroes have nothing but water . when the chief planters make a feast for their friends , it s either made by such as live within land , or neer the sea side . for this inland plantation , my author instanceth in sir james draxe , at whose table he hath seen these several sorts of meat well dressed : and this feast was alwayes made when he killed a beef , which he fed very fat , by allowing it a dozen acres of bonavist to feed in . first , he mentions beef as the greatest rarity in that island of which he had these dishes ; a rump boiled , a chine rosted , a large piece of the breast rosted , a cheek baked , the tongue and part of the tripes in minced-pies , feasoned with sweet herbs finely minced , suet , spice and corrans . the leggs , pallats , and other ingredients for an oleo podigro , and maribones . the guests having eaten well hereof , the dishes were taken away , and then came in a potato-pudding , a dish of scotch collips , of a legg of pork , fricacy of the same , a dish of boiled chickens , a shoulder of a young goat ; a kid with a pudding in his belly , a young pigg exceeding fat and sweet ; a shoulder of mutton which is there a rare dish : a pastry made of the side of a young goat , and a side of a young porket upon it , well seasoned with pepper , salt , and some nutmegs : a loin of veal , to which they have plenty of oringes , lemons , and limes ; three young turkies in a dish , two capons very large and fat , two hens with eggs in a dish ; four ducklings , eight turtle doves , and three rabbets ; and for cold baked meats , two muscovy ducks larded and seasoned with pepper and salt : and when these are taken from the table , another course is set on , of westphalia bacon , dried neats tongues , botargo , pickled oysters , caviare , anchoves , olives , and mixt amongst these , custards , cream , some alone , some with preserved plantanes , bonanoes , gnavers , and these fruits preserved by themselves ; cheesecakes , puffs , sometimes tansies , fraises , or amulets : and for raw fruit , plantaxes , bonanoes . gnavers , milions , prickled pears , anchove pears , prickled apples , custard apples , water milions , and pines , better then all the rest . and to this they had for drink , mobby , beveridge , brandy , kill-devil , drink of the plantanes , claret , white , and rhenish wine , sherry , canary , red sack , wine of fiall , besides several sorts of spirits that come from england . now for a plantation neer the sea , he instances in collonel walronds , who though he wants sheep , goats , and beef , yet he makes a plentiful supply in sundry sorts of fish , which the other wants . for all other sorts of meat which were at sir james draxe his table , he found at collonel walronds , as also mullets , maquerels , parrat-fish , snappers , red and grey , carallos , terbums , crabs , lobsters , long fish , with divers others for which they have no names . besides he dwelling so neer the haven , hath of all the rarities that are brought into the island from other parts ; as wine of all kinds , oyl , olives , capers , sturgeon , neats-tongues , anchoves , caviare , botago , with all sorts of salt meats , both flesh and fish ; as beef , pork , pease , ling , habberdine , cod , poor john , &c. above one hundred sail of ships come yearly to this island that bring servants and slaves , men and women , horses , beasts , asinegoes , and cammels ; utensils for boiling of sugar ; and all manner of tools for tradesmen , iron , steel , lead , brass , pewter : cloth of all sorts both linen and woollen , stuffs , hats , stockings , shooes , gloves , swords , knives , locks , &c. and many other things . and they carry back indigo , cotten-wool , tobacco , sugar , ginger , and fustick wood . of their several sorts of timber . timber for building they have great choice and plenty : as the locust trees which are so long and big as may serve for beams in a very large room , their bodies are strait , above fifty foot long , the diameter of the body about three foot and a half : the timber hereof is hard , heavy , and firm , not apt to bend , and lasting . the mastick trees not altogether so large as the former , but tougher . the bully tree is somewhat less , but in other qualities goes beyond the former . it 's strong , lasting , yet not heavy , nor so hard for the tools to work upon . the red wood , and yellow prickled wood are good timber , and higher then the locusts . the cedar is the best of all , it works smooth , and looks beautifully ; of it they make wainscot , tables , and stools . they have iron wood , and another sort that will endure wet and dry : of these they make shingles , wherewith they cover their houses , because it will neither warp nor crack . of their stone . they have two sorts of stone for building : the one lies in quarries ; but these are small rough , and somewhat porous : being burnt they make excellent lime , white , and firm , by the help whereof they bind their stones and make them to endure the weather . the other sort of stone they find in rocks , and massy pieces in the ground which are soft , and therefore they saw them to what dimensions they please , and the longer it lies above ground the harder it grows . hangings they use not in their houses , because they would be spoiled by the ants , eaten by the cockroaches , and rats . of their servants and slaves . in the island are three sorts of men , master , servants , and slaves . the slaves and their posterity being subject to their masters for ever , they take more care of them then of their servants , which are theirs but for five years by the law of the island . so that for the time the servants have the worser lives : for they are put to hard labour , ill lodging , and slighted diet . formerly the servants had no bone-meat at all , except a beast died , and then they were feasted as long as that lasted . till they had planted good store of plantans the negroes were fed with bonavisto , and lob-lolly , and some ears of maise tosted ; but now they are well pleased with their plantans , wherein they much delight , and thus they dress it . it 's gathered for them before it's full ripe , by the keeper off the plantan groves , who is an able negro , and laid upon heaps till they fetch them away , which they do every saturday night about five a clock ; for then they give over work sooner then ordinary , partly for this work , and partly because the fire in the furnace is to be put out , and the ingenio to be made clear ; besides they are to wash , shave , and trim themselves against the sabbath . it is a fine sight to see an hundred of these negroes , men and women , every one with a grass-green bunch of plantans on their heads , every bunch twice so big as their heads , all marchin gone after another . having brought it home , they pill off the skin of so much as they will use , and boil it , making it into balls , and so eat it . one bunch a week is a negroes allowance , which they have no bread , nor drink but water , their lodging at night is a boord , with nothing under , nor any thing above upon them . the usage of the christian servants is much as the master is , whether merciful , or cruel . such as are merciful , use their servants well , both in meat , drink , and lodging . but the lives of such servants as have cruel masters , is most miserable . when any ships bring servants thither , the planters buy such of them as they like , and with a guide send them to their plantations , where they must presently build them a cabin , or else lie upon the ground . these cabins are made with sticks , wit hs , and plantane leaves , under some little shade that may keep off the rain . the food is a few potatoes for meat , and water or mobby for drink . at six of the clock in the morning they are rung out to work with a bell , with a rigid overseer to command them , till the bell ring again at eleven of the clock , and then they go to dinner , either with a mess of lob-lolly bonavist , or potatoes . at one of the clock they are rung out again , where they work till six , and then home to a supper of the same . but now their lives are much better ; for most servants lie in hamocks , in warm rooms , and when they come home wet from work , they have shifts of shirts and drawers , which is all the clothes they wear , and are fed with bone-meat twice or thrice in a week . of their great fires . sometimes through carelesness of servants , whole fields of sugar canes , and houses have been burnt down : for if the canes take fire , there is no quenching of them , they burn so furiously , and make a terrible noise ; for each knot of every cane , gives as great a report as a pistol . there is no way to stop it but by cutting down , and removing all the canes before it for the breadth of twenty or thirty foot down the wind ; and there the negroes stand and beat it out as it creeps along ; and some of them are so earnest to stop it , as with their naked feet to tread , and to roll their naked bodies upon it , so little do they regard their own smart in regard of their masters benefit . when negroes are brought to be sold , the planters go to the ship to buy them , where they find them stark naked , and therefore cannot be deceived in any outward infirmity . the strongest , youngest , and most beautiful yield the best prizes ; thirty pound is the price for the best , and about twenty five pound for a woman negro ; children are much cheaper . they are very chast people . for when at sometimes they are altogether naked , they will not so much as cast their eyes upon those parts which ought to be covered . jealous they are of their wives , and , and take it hainously if any make the least courtship to them . and if any woman hath two children at a birth , her husband provides a cord to hang her , concluding that she hath been false to his bed : and if by the authority of his master , he be overawed , yet he never loves her after . the planters allow some of them two or three wives , but no women above one husband . when a wife is brought to bed , the husband removes into another room , leaving his wife upon a boord on which she lies , and calls a neighbour to her , who makes her a little fire near her feet , and that serves for possets , broths , and candles . in a fortnight she is at her work again with her pickaninny ( so they call their children ) at her back , as merry as any other . they have times of suckling their children , and refreshing themselves in the fields ; and good reason , for they carry a burden on their backs , and work too . some of them when their children are three years old , as they stoop in their weeding-work , will set their pickaninnies a stride on their backs , where he will spur his mother with his heels , and crow on her back , clapping his hands as if he meant to fly , which the mother is so well pleased with , that she will continue her painful stooping work longer then she would do , rather then discompose her jovial pickaninny , so glad she is to see him merry . the sabbath dayes they have wholly to their pleasures : in the afternoons they have kettle-drums to make them musick , and they all go to dancing , the men by themselves , and the women by themselves , and sometimes the men wrestle amongst themselves . when any of them die , they make a grave , and bury him in the evening , clapping their hands , and making a doleful sound with their voices . they are cowardly , and therefore bloody , when they have advantages . if you threaten before you punish them , they will hang themselves to avoid the punishment . if they have bruises or strains , they anoint themselves with a kind of oyl that comes out of barbary that cures them . when they are sick , or inwardly distempered , a little kill-devil revives , and comforts them . the young maids have usually large breasts that stand strutting out , hard and firm , but when they are old , and have had children , their breasts hang down below their navels . they are excellent swimmers and divers , both men and women . some indians they have from the neighbouring islands , or from the continent , whose women are better versed in ordering the cussavy , and making bread then the negroes ; as also for making mobby . the men they use for foot-men , and killing of fish. one of them will go out with his bows and arrows , and in a dayes time will kill more fish then will serve a family of a dozen persons whil'st it is good . they are very active and learn any thing sooner then the negroes : their women have small breasts , long black hair : clothes they scorn to wear , especially if they be well shaped , only they wear something before their privities . one of these women being got with child by a christian servant , when the time of her travel came , being loth to be delivered amongst the men , went alone to a wood , where was a pond of water , by which she was delivered , and washing her child in the water , within three hours came home again with her child in her arms , which was a lusty boy . some of the planters feed daily two hundred mouthes , and keep them in such good order , as there is no mutinies amongst them , though they be of several nations . their first work is weeding , which if it be neglected but a little time , all is in danger of being spoiled . after weeding comes planting , especially in may , and november : but canes may be planted at all times , that so one field may be ready after another . commonly one field contains about twelve acres . of their beasts and cattel . some camels they have which are brought to them , and they are very useful for carrying down sugar to the bridge , or bringing from thence hogsheads of wine , beer , or vineger , which horses cannot do , neither can carts pass , the wayes are so rocky and uneven . one of these will carry one thousand six hundred pound weight , and therefore the surest of any beast . some horses they have which are brought from several countries , and they use them either for the ingenio , or for the saddle . some bulls and cows they have from the isle of may , and bonavista . the bulls and oxen they use for labour in the ingenio's , and the cows for the pail . a calf here will bring a calf in fourteen moneths . asinegoes they have which are of excellent use for carrying sugar to the bridge : for they will go where horses cannot , by reason of the gullies , and deep wayes : one of them will carry one hundred and fifty pound weight , and some two hundred . hogs they have in abundance which they keep ininclosures ; and they use to sell them alive for 4 d. a pound , and sometime for 6 d. if they be dear . sheep they have but few , neither do they thrive in that pasture . yet the ews have constantly two lambs , but their flesh doth not eat well . some sheep they have from guinny , and binny , that have hair instead of wooll , and their flesh is more like to mutton then the other . goats they have in great plenty , and they prosper well , and tast like our goats : they live in the woods , and are always inclosed . of their birds and fowls . birds they have , but two sorts worth the mentioning . the biggest is a buzzard , somewhat less then ours , and swifter of wing ; the only good they do , is , that they sometimes kill rats . the other is the larger turtle dove , of which there is great store . it 's handsomer both in shape and colour then ours in england , and is very good meat . there is also a lesser turtle , a far finer bird then she . it 's of the shape of a partridge , her colour grey , and a red brown under the wings . there is also a bird like a thrush , of a melancholly look , and her feathers stand alwayes ruffling ; she hath loud and very sweet notes . another there is much like a ren , but as big as a trush , she alwayes looks very merry and jolly . there are great flocks of blackbirds with white eyes , they have a harsh note like our jayes in england : they are great devourers of corn , and blossoms of trees . they have a kind of stares which walk , but hop not as other birds do . they have other like feldefares with big heads , and therefore they call them councellers , they have a strange tune , consisting of quarter notes , composed of five tones , and every one a quarter note higher then the other . they have sparrows , haysocks , finches , yellow-hammers , titoies , and divers others , for which they have no names : and the humming bird , not much bigger then a humble bee , wheerof i have one . sometimes teals come to their ponds , which they kill with their guns . the like they do with fowls called oxen and kine . there is another that they call a man of war , much bigger then a heron , and flies out to sea to see what ships are coming , and when he returns , they know that ships are neer . there are bats that come abroad in the evening and feed on flies . of snakes and insects . there are some snakes of a yard long ; the harm they do is in dove-houses , into which if they can get , they devour the young ones ; and they will skim the milk-pans when they can get to them . there is no venomous beast in the island . there are scorpions some as big as rats , smooth , and coloured like a snake , their bellies inclining to yellow , very nimble and quick , they hurt none ; the snakes and they will fight long , and in the end the snake prevails , and devours the other . frogs and toads they have none . there would be lizzards but that the cats kill them ; they love much to be where men are , and will gaze in their faces , and hearken to their discourse ; their bodies are about four inches long , and their tails neer as much , headed like a snake in their colour , when they please , a pure grass-green on the back , blewish towards the sides , and yellowish towards the belly , and four nimble legs , and as cold as froggs . they have cock-roaches of the bigness and shape of a beetle , of a pure hair-colour ; they appear in the evening , and they will fly to your bed , and if you be sleeping , he will bite till he fetches blood , and presently begon , that you seldom find them . the muskitoes bites and string worse then gnats . next to these are merriwings , and of so evial a substance , that you can hardly discern them but by the noise of their wings ; when they sting , there arises a little knob which will continue so a whole day . caterpillers sometimes they have in great abundance , which do much harm , devouring the potato-plants to the very roots . flies they have of so many kinds , from two inches long with great horns to the least atome , so that it 's too tedious to speak of them all . they have ants and pismires of a small size , but of a great industry ; they are every where , in hollow ground amongst the root of trees , upon the bodie , branches , leaves , and fruit of all trees ; without houses , within their houses , upon their sides , walls , windows , roofs , tables , cupboords , stools , beds , floors , all within and without are covered with them . when they find a dead cockroch , though he be bigger then a hundred of them , yet they will take hold of him and lift him up , and away they carry him , some going by to assist those that are weary ; some ( like officers ) lead the way to shew the hole into which he must pass , and if his body do lie a cross that it cannot go into the hole , they give notice to the carriers , that presently turn his body endwise before it come to the hole , and that without any stop , and they never pull contrary wayes . the planters which are so curious to prevent their coming upon their tables , cupboards , and beds , have little troughs filled with water for the feet of these to stand in ; yet all will not prevail , for they will get in the scieling , and so fall down upon them . to keep them from the shelves on which their meat stands , they are forced to hang them to the roof with ropes , and to tar those ropes and the roofs over them . when a carpet upon a table is covered over with them , if you kill many , and let them alone but a while , they will carry away all the dead ones . if you set sugar upon a table which you have first freed from them , some in the room will presently smell it , and make towards it as fast as they can , and having found it , return again without medling with it , and gives notice of this booty , and then they come in thousands and ten thousands , and in an instant fetch it all away ; so that there is no place safe from these over-busie creatures . another sort of ants there are far larger , that make their nests as big as bee-hives , of clay against a wall or tree , and sometimes within houses , they make them of several little cels . these the cockrocha , and lizards make their prey upon ; wherefore for their own security , they make several galleries , some of five or six yards long of clay also , through which they pass undiscovered : their avenues go out amongst laaves or moss , that they may not be perceived : by often breaking down their nests , they are now most of them driven into the woods . spiders they have , most beautiful and large , and very curious in their webs , and not venomous . another harmful creature they call chegoes , in shape not much unlike a lowse , no bigger then a mite that breeds in cheese , their colour is blewish ; they get through your stockings into a place of you skin , most commonly under the nailes of your toes , and they lay their off-spring as big as a small tare , which will make you go very lamely , and put you to much smarting pain . the indian women will put in a small needle at the hole , and winding the point about the bag , loosen him from the flesh , and so take him out , but the place will fester and rankle a fortnight after they are gone . some little animals there are in the woods no bigger then crickets , that lie all day in holes , but after sun setting they begin their tunes , having exceeding shrill voices like a pack of small beagles . this musick hath no intermission till morning , and then all is hush't . there are many small crabs that live upon the land , of a reddish colour , they are coming from the sea all the year long ( excepting march ) and hide themselves in holes , and hollow trees , and come into their houses and gardens , where they eat herbs . the negroes will eat them , and count them good meat . in march they come all out of their holes and march to the sea in such multitudes as that they cover the earth : no hedge , wall , or house can stop them , but they will over all . now for trees . amongst the trees , there is none of more use then the physick nut , and yet hath it poison secretly lodged in it , but that poison makes good physick : this tree grows to be eighteen foot high ; there are none like it for beauty , and use in the island . it hath many sprigs upon it of four , five , and six foot long , which they lop off one after another , and of them make stakes of above four long , and stick them in the ground an inch deep , close to one another , and keep them even with a rail on either side , and in a moneths space they will take root , and send forth leaves ; and in another moneth will be rooted so fast , that they take away the the railes . these leaves are large , smooth , and beautifully shaped , of a full green , looking like green sattin hang'd on a line , so even they hang naturally . their stems grow apace , rather in bigness then in heighth , and within a while imbody themselves one into another , and then they become a very strong fence , and so close that a rat cannot pass through them , neither will cattel or vermin willingly come near them . and as it 's a beautiful and useful fence for gardens and orchards , and to keep in conies , turkies , muscovy-ducks , so it excellently fences in their pastures which they would inclose . their fruit also is phisical : five of its kernels eaten in a morning fasting , causes both vomits and stools . this nut is like to a white pear-plumb , and of a yellowish colour , and of yellowish colour , having on it as great a peelp as a plumb , which being taken off , you come to the stone of a blackish colour , and within that is a kernel that will part in the middle , where you shall find a thin film of a faint carnetion colour . take off that film , and you may eat the kernel safely without any operation at all , and it 's as sweet as a jordans almond . the leaves are sharp some like a vine leaf , but thrice as big , and much thicker . the poison tree is very beautiful , almost as large as the locust : her leaves as large and beautiful as the lawrel leaves , and very like them . as they cut down these trees they have cipers over their faces : for if any of their sap flies into their eyes , it makes them blind for a moneth after . of this timber they make most of the vessels wherein they cure their sugar . there is a mantionel tree whose fruit is poison . the fruit is like an apple john , and ( they say ) that the indians invenom their arrows with it . the cussavy is rather a shrub then a tree , the sprigs as big as a broom-staff , crooked and ill shaped ; the leaves grow so thick as to cover them , and they grow in bunches , each of them an inch broad , and six or seven inches long , of a dark green. the growth of the roots , and the use of them is set down before . coloquintida is a very beautiful fruit , as big as an ostrages egg , of an ill taste , the rind smooth , with various greens interlaced with murries , yellows , and faint carnations . cassia fistula is a tree which grows exceeding fast . a seed of it being set will in one year grow to be eight foot high , and as thick as a walking staff . the leaf is like that of an ash , but much longer , and of a darker colour . the fruit when it 's ripe is of shape like a black puddling , sometimes sixteen inches long , the pulp of it is progatine , and a great cooler of the reins . there is a plant very like a sugar cane : if it be chewed in the mouth , it causes the tongue and throat so to swell , that the party cannot speak for two dayes . there are tammerine trees , and palm trees planted which were brought from the east-india . the palm yields excellent wine , which is thus gathered : they cut off the bark in such a part of the tree , where a bottle may be fitly placed , and the liquor that runs into it , is excellent good for a day , and no longer . it 's a very delicious liquor . the fig-trees are very large , but bear a small and contemptible fruit , neither are the leaves like ours , nor so long by a fifth part . the bodies of the trees are as long as our elms. the cherry tree is not altogether so large , the fruit is useless and insiped ; the colour some resembling our cherries , and the shape not unlike . the citron is a small tree , though she bears a great fruit , which weighs it down to the ground , the stalk of a dark colour , the leaf shaped like that of limon , but of a dark green . the orange trees do not prosper so well , neither is their fruit so kindly as those of bermudas : large they are , and full of juice , but not delicious ; besides ther full of seeds , and their rinds thin and pale . these trees do not last in their prime above seven years . the limon tree is much handsomer and larger ; their fruits is large and full of juice , and of a fragrant smell . the lime tree is like a thick holly-bush in england , and as full of prickles . when they make a hedge of them about their houses , it 's an excellent fence both against the negroes , and cattel . it 's commonly of seven or eight foot high , extreamly thick of leaves , and fruit , and prickles . the leaves and fruit like those of the limon-tree , yet in the tast of rind , and juice it differs exceedingly . it 's very fit for sauce , but eats not well alone . the prickled apple-tree grows on a tree with very thick leaves , large and of a deep green , shaped like our walnut leaves . the fruit is in fashion in heart of an oke , and of that bigness ; green on the outside with many prickles on it . the tast is very like that of a musty limon . the pilchard pear is much purer in tast , and better of shape , not much unlike a greenfield pear , of a faint green , inter mixed with some yellow near the stalk : the body of a mixt red , partly crimson , partly stammel , with prickles of yellow near the top , the end being larger then the middle . the pomgranate is a beautiful tree , the leaves small and green , mixed with an olive colour ; the blossoms large , well shaped , and of a pure scarlet colour . the young trees being set in rows , and kept in with cutting , make a very fine hedge . the fruit is well known amongst us . the papa is but a small tree ; the bark of a faint willow colour , the leaves large , and of colour like the bark ; the branches grow out four , or five of one heighth , and spread almost level from the place where they sprang out ; about two foot higher are such other branches spreading in the same manner . the top is handsomly formed , the fruit as big turnips , growing close to the body of the tree where the branches grow , and of somewhat a fainter willow colour . the tree is soft , with a knife a man may cut down one that is as thick as a mans legg . they boil the the fruit , and eat it for sauce with pork like turnips . the gnaver-tree is bodied and shaped like a cherry-tree , the leaves somewhat larger and stiffer ; the fruit of the bigness of a small limon , and near of the colour , only the upper end is somewhat blunter : it 's soft and of a delicate tast , within is a pulpy substance full of small seeds , like a figg , some are white , and some of a stammel colour . these when they have passed through the body of man or beast , wheresover they are emptied , they grow , and do much hurt in the pastures where cattel go that eat of them : for they over run all , and are hardly rooted out . the fruit differs in tast , some rank , some sweet . the rind preserved is delicate meat . some cocos there are , they are seldom above eighty or ninety foot high . their branches come out in several parts of the trees , leaving spaces between the several heights : the nuts grow where the lower bows break out : the nuts are of several sizes , mostly as big as a foot-ball , having a green skin without ▪ and between that and the shell a pulpy substance , of which when it 's dry they make ropes , being like hemp hurds . the shell is full of a clear and well-tasted liquor , very delicious ; it 's lined within with a substance as thick as itself , of a white colour that tasts better then a walnut : the leaves of this tree in colour are like the olive leaves . the custard apple grows on a tree full of branches , and large leaves : the fruit when ripe , is as big as the largest pomwater , and of the colour of a warden ; they cut a hole in the lesser end , and so eat out the meat with a spoon : it tasts exceeding like to a custard . it hath many smooth seeds in it . the macow-tree is one of the strangest trees in the island , the body and branches being stuck all over with prickles , as black as jet , from one to seven inches long , sharp at point , and taperwise all the way , and waved as some swords are ; they are hard and excellent for tooth-pikes . the tree is of the size of a willow-tree , the leaves of that colour and shape , but very stiff and hard . at the top is a large tuft of fruit , but not to be eaten , being for shape like that which the ciprus-tree bears : the body is straight , the branches comely , and the top round . date-trees are in colour like these , but the leaves longer . the mangrave , though she be not tall , yet is she of large extent . for there drops from her limbs a kind of gum which hangs together till it touch the ground , and then it takes root : so that this tree so multiplies , that a troop of horse may well hide themselves in it . of the bark they make very strong ropes : and the indians spin it into a fine thred as flax make . of it they make hamocks , and divers things which they wear . the calibash-tree bears leaves , of a full and rich green , and in great plenty ; her fruit is as big as that of a coco , but not to be eaten : round as a ball , and green , smooth , and shining : they grow close to the body of the tree , or boughs , without stalks . of this round fruit they make dishes , bowls , and cups , and other utensils . they look very beautiful on the tree . there are bay-trees whose leaves are so aromatick , as three or four of them will amply supply the place of cloves , mace , and cinamon in dressing any dish of meat . it 's in shape and colour like ours in england . the cedar is the most useful timber in the island . it 's strong , lasting , and not very heavy , and therefore good for building . it works smoothly , and hath a fair grain , and therefore is much used for wainscot , chairs , stools , and other utensils ; the leaves are like those of the ash-trees in england , but somewhat bigger . the mastick-tree is very tall , but the body is slender , and therefore to support her , she hath spurs above seven foot from the ground , fixt into the body , and reach from the tree to the roots : so broad that they make round tables of them , above three foot and an half in the diameter . this tree hath commonly a double top , one side being somewhat higher then the other . the fruit is of a stammel colour , and hath neither skin nor stone , and is unwholsome . the leaves of it grow of such an heighth , that the form cannot be discerned till they fall down . some of these trees are about sixty foot high . the bully-tree is somewhat less , but excellent wood to work on : it bears a fruit like our bullies . her body is strait , and well shap't , her branches proportionable ; the timber very lasting . red-wood is an handsome tree of a midling size , the body about two foot and and an half in the diameter : the timber works so well that workmen commend it above all other . prickled yellow wood is as good as the red-wood , strong and lasting : good for building , and all work without doors . iron-wood is so extream hard , that it breaks the axes that fall it . it is so heavy that it is seldom used in buildings . it is good for any use without doors . for neither sun nor rain can soften it . it 's much used for coggs to the rollers . signum vitae , they use for the same purpose . they send much of it to england : where it 's used for bowls , cabinets , drinking cups , &c. the loust-tree is like a tuscane pillar , plain and massie : for the burden it bears being great and ponderous , ought to have a body proportionable thereunto . some of them are four foot in the diameter near the root , and 30. foot high growing taper-wise . the head is neither too heavy , nor too light , the branches large ; the springs , leaves , and nuts so thick , that one may lie upon them . the nuts are 3. inches and a half long , and two inches broad , and an inch thick : the shell somewhat thick , of an hair colour : the leaves bigger then those of our ashes . in every nut are three or four kernels . in times of famine poor people eat them for their sustenance . there is also a bastard locust-tree that looks fair , but will not last . the palmeto hath a body of fourty five or fifty foot high , the diameter , seldom above sixteen inches : the rind , of a poor ash color full of wrinkles ; the leaves about two foot and a half long , in bunches as if twenty long flag-leaves were tied together by the broad ends : with bundles of these they thatch houses very neatly , which is dry , warm , and lasting . the palmeto royal is the stateliest tree that grows on earth , for beauty and largeness not to be parallel'd . when she is about ten or twelve years old , she is about seventeen foot high ; that part which touches the ground is round like 〈◊〉 inkhorn , above which the body of the tree is less , like that part which holds the pen. the body is tawny , and purple , with rings of white and green mixed , that go round about , and stand at six inches distance . about six foot and an half high , grow the bottom of the stalks , thin as parchment , enwrapping one another so close , as to make a continued stem of the same bigness for two foot and an half above the others , every one of those skins bearing a stalk which lessens insensibly from the skin to the point . these branches are of several lengths , the most inward are the highest ; and each stalk is adorned with leaves , and each of these leaves sharp at either end ; the stem is of a pure grass green shining like velom , and all the branches with the leaves of a full grass green , and speading every way , and the highest of them eight foot above the stem . the branches sprout from the middle of tree , one at once , and as it opens it spreads the leaves abroad , at which time the eldest branch withers , and hangs down till the wind blows it off . then comes forth another , and another , and still there is a pike , and a dead leaf , a pike and a dead leaf as the tree growes higher and higher , which is till she be one hundred years old . about thirty or fourty yeas old she begins to bear her fruit , which is of the bigness of large grapes , some green , some yellow , some purple , and then they are ripe when they come to be purple , and fall down ; and then the green turns yellow , and the yellow purple , and so take their turns till the tree gives over bearing . these trees grow till some of them be two hundred , yea three hundred foot high . the top of this tree is of a vast extent , for from the point of the branches on the one side , to the point of the stalk on the other side is seventy eight foot , yet are none of the roots of this tree bigger then a swans quil ; but there are many of them , and they fasten themselves in the rock which makes the tree , though so high , and big , able to stand against all wind and weather . the wood of this tree is so hard and tough , that it breakes the axes of those those that fell it . there are many other sorts of trees , some exceeding large aud beautiful , for which they have no names . of plants . the ginger is a root that brings forth blades like the blades of wheat , but broader , and thicker : they are of a popinary colour , and the blossome of a pure scarlet . when the ginger is ripe , they dig it up , being the root , and scrape off the outward skin to kill the spirits of it , for else it would grow perpetually . others scald it to kill the spirits , and that will be black and hard as wood , whereas the scraped ginger is white , and soft , and hath a cleaner , and quicker tast . red pepper . there are two sorts of red pepper ; the one like coral , of a crimson and scarlet colour mixt : the fruit about three inches long , and shines more then the best polished coral . the other is of the same colour , and glisters as much , but is shaped like a large button of a cloake ; they have both the same quality ; so violently strong , that when they break but the skin , it causes them to cough for a quarter of an hour after the fruit is removed ; but whil'st they are grabling of it , they never give over . it grows on a little shrub no bigger then a goosbberry-bush . they have excellent good cucumbers from the beginning of november , to the end of february , they eat them cold with oyle , vineger , and pepper . but boiled or fried they use them for sauce with mutton , pork , turkies , and muscovy ducks . millions they have likewise for those four moneths : for the most part larger then ours in england , and eat moister . some of them are sixteen inches long . the water million is one of the goodliest fruits that grows : some as big as cloak-bags ; purely green , engravened with straw-colour . no inch of the rind is alike , and they are as smooth as polished glass ; within , they are like an apple for colour , but in tast waterish and wallowish . it 's rarely cooling and excellent against the stone . the seeds are of a pure purple ; they are full of these seeds . grapes they have which are indifferently well tasted , but they are never ripe together : there are alwayes some green , some ripe , and some rotten grapes in a bunch , and therefore they cannot make wine of them . the fruit of the plantane is of great use , and beauty too . in planting them they put a root into the ground six inches deep , and in a very short time there will come out three or four sprouts , whereof one hath the precedence . as this sprout grows , it springs from the intrinsick part of the stem , and the out leaves hang down and rot ; but still new ones come within , and rise up as the palmeto does , like a pike which opens with the sun , and becomes a leaf , and when it 's eight or ten foot high , the pikes and leaves will be of their full bigness , and so continue till the last sprout comes forth , which is the soul of the plant , and will never be a leaf : but is the stem upon which the fruit must grow . when the leaves come to their full bigness , they rot no more , but continue in their first beauty , a rich green with stripes of yellow . these leaves are most of them above six foot long , and two foot broad ; smooth , shining , and stiff as a lawrel leaf , falling from the middle to the end like a feather : and when it comes to the full heighth , the leaves will be fifteen or sixteen foot high , the stem upon which the fruit grows being a foot higher , with a green branch on the top , which branch is very heavy , and then the leaves open and shew the blossome , which is of a pure purple , and like a heart with the point downwards , being of a pound weight ; when this is fallen , the fruit grows . in six moneths space this plant will be grown , and the fruit ripe , which is pleasant , wholesome , and nourishing , yellow when it 's ripe : but the negroes desire it green , for they eat it boiled , and it 's the only food they live upon . when it 's gathered they cut down the plant , and give it to the hoggs , for it will grow no more . in three moneths another sprout will come to bear , and so another , and another for ever . groves they make of these plants of twenty acres of ground so planting them in every room that they can walk dry under the leaves , and be shaded from the sun. the wild plantane grows much as the other doth , but the leaves not so broad , and more upright : the fruit of a scarlet colour , and almost three square , but good for nothing . the bonano differs nothing from the plantane in the body and leaves , but only that the leaves are somewhat less , and the body hath here and there some blackish spots , the blossome no bigger then a large rose bud , of a faint purple and ash colour mixt , the stalk that bears it , is adorned with small blossomes , of several colours : the fruit stands upright like a bunch of puddings , each of them between four and five inches long . the fruit is sweeter then that of the plantane , and therefore the negroes will not meddle with it . it 's near as beautiful a trees as the ●antane . the pine is excellent in the superlative degree , both for beauty and tast . it s a full year before it bring forth ripe fruit , but when it comes to be eaten , nothing of rare tast that can be thought on that is not there . a slip taken from the body of this plant , and set in the ground , will not presently take root , but the crown that grows upon the fruit itself will sooner come to perfection . in a quarter of a year it will be a foot high , and the leaves about seven or eight inches long , appearing like a semicircle : the colour mostly frost upon green , intermixt with cornation , and the edges of the leaves have teeth like sawes . the leaves fall one over another , the points of the lowest touching the ground . in a quarter of a year more , the blossome appears on the top of the stem , as large as a great cornation , the colours , cornation , crimson , and scarlet , in streaks intermixt with yellow , blew , and peach colour-leaves , intermixed again with purple , sky-colour , orange-tauny , gridaline , and gingeline , white , and philamot : so that the flower represents the variety to the sight , which the fruit doth to the tast . when the flowers are fallen , there appears a little bunch of the bigness of a walnut , which hath in it all these colours mixt , which were disper'st in the leaves , and so it grows bigger for two moneths more ; when it 's perfect , it is of an oval form , and at the upper end grows out a crown of leaves much like the former in colour , but more beautiful . some of them six inches long ; the out leaves shorter by degrees . this fruit is inclosed with a rind , which begins with a skrew at the stalk , and so goes round to the top , or crown , gently rising , which screw is about a quarter of an inch broad , and the figures that are imbroidered upon it , near of the like dimension , and divisions between ; which divisions are never one over another in the screw , but are always under the middle of the figures above , which so vary in their colours , as that if you see one hundred pines , they are not like one another ; and every of those figures hath a little tuft , some green , some yellow , some ash-colour , and some carnation . there are two sorts of pines , the king and the queen-pine . the queen is far more delicate , and hath her colours of all greens , which shadows intermixt with faint cornations , but most of all , frost upon green , and sea-greens . the king-pine hath mostly all sorts of yellows shadowed with grass-greens . some of them are fourteen inches long , and six in the diameter : most of them having heavy bodies , and slender stalks , bowed down till they are on the ground . some of them have a dozen little ones round about the prime fruit , which are ripe by turns , and all very good . when it 's ripe it hath an admirable smell , when they come to eat them , they first cut off the crown , and send that to be planted : then they pare off the most beautiful rind , and cut the fruit into slices in a dish , and there issues out a liquor as clear as spring-water about six spoonful , which in tast is in a high degree delicious , and in eating the fruit , the delicate variety of tasts will change and flow so fast upon your pallat , as your fancy can hardly keep way with them , to distinguish the one from other . how they plant their sugar-canes . they dig a small trench of six inches broad , and as deep , in a straight line , the whole length of the ground where they plant them , then they lay two canes one by another along the bottom of the trench , and so continue them the whole lengh of the trenches , then they cover them with earth ; and at two foot distance they do the like , till they have planted all the field . but they plant not too much together , but so that it may ripen successively , that their work may come in in order , that they be not idle : for if they be not cut and used when they are ripe , they will rot . from these canes thus buried , comes forth a sprout at every knot . they begin to appear a moneth after their setting , and in a moneth more they are two foot high at the least , and in the mean time they weed them , and supply where there are any defects . these canes with their tops are about eight foot high , the bodies about an inch in the diameter ; the knots five or six inches distant one from the another . when they are ripe they cut them with little hand bills , six inches above the ground , and divide the tops from the canes ; and then holding the cane by the upper end , they strip off all the blades , which with the tops they give to their horses ; the canes they bind in faggots , and send them home upon asinegoes , each of them carrying three faggots ; two upon crooked sticks on the sides , and one in the middle . and these creatures being used to it , will of themselves go and come without a guide . the place where they unload them , is a little plat of ground near to the mill-house which they call a barbica . being laid in the barbica , they w●●k them out clean , not suffering them to grow stale ; for in two dayes the juice will turn sower , and spoil all ; and in the next place , they grind them with horses under three rollers , whose centers being of brass , steel , turn very easily : but when the canes are between the rollers , it 's a good draught for five oxen or two horses . in a little time then all the juice is pressed out , and then two negro girls take out the canes , and corry them away , laying them on a heap at a distance . under the rollers there is a reciever into which the liquor falls , and from thence by a pipe of lead , is carried into a cistern , which is near the stairs that goes down from the mill to the boyling-house . from thence it passes through a gutter to the clarifying copper : and as it clarifies in the first copper , and the scum rises , it 's conveyed to a second copper , where it 's again scummed , both which scums being very drossy , are thrown away ; but the skimming of the other three coppers are conveyed to the stilling-house , where it stands in cisterns till it be a little sowre . thus the liquor is refined from one copper to another , and the more coppers it passes through , the finer and purer it is . when it comes to the tach it must have much keeling and stirring , and as it boiles , they throw into the four last coppers a liquor made of water and wit hs , which they call temp , without which the sugar would be clammy and never kern . when it 's boiled enough , they poure two spoonfulls of sallet-oyl into the tach , and then it gives over to bubble , then after much keeling they take it out of the tach with ladles , and remove it into the cooling cistern . this work continues from monday morning till saturday night , without any intermission , day and night , with fresh supplies of men , horses , and cattel . the liquor being so cool as that it 's fit to put into pots ; first stopping the sharp end of the pots with plantane leaves , they fill them , and let it stand till it be cold , which will be in two dayes and two nights ; then they remove them into the trying-house , and pulling out the stopples ; the molosses runs out into a gutter that carries it into cisterns again , and that they call peneles , which is a sugar somewhat inferiour to muscovados , which will sweeten pretty well , and is of a reasonable good colour . when it 's well cured , they remove the pots from the curing room into the knocking room , and turning them upside down , they knock them till the sugar falls out , in which there are three sorts . the first is brown , frothy , and light ; the bottom is of a darker colour , gross and heavy , and full of molosses , both which they cut away and boil them again with molosses for peneles . the midle , which is more then two thirds of the whole , is a white colour , dry , and sweet , which they send to their storehouses at the bridge , there to be put in casks and chests to be shipt away . though the muscovado sugars require but a moneths time in making , after it is boiled , yet white sugar requires four moneths , and it s made thus . they take clay and temper it with water to the thickness of frumentry , and pour it on the top of the muscovado-sugar as it stands in the potts , and there let it remain four moneths , and when it comes to be knock't out of the pots , the top and bottom will be like muscovadoes , but the middle perfect white , and excellent lump sugar . the skimmings before spoken of , when they have stood till they are a little soure , they still it ; and the first spirit that comes , is a small liquor , which they call low-wines , which they still over again , and then comes off a very strong spirit , which is very soveraign when they are ill with colds , which the negroes are oft subject to , having nothing to lye upon but aboard , and nothing to cover them . and though the dayes be hot , the nights be cold , and they coming hot , and sweating from their dayes labour , are subject to catch cold ; and when they feel themselves amiss , one dram of these spirits cures them . and the christian servants , when their spirits are exhausted by their hard labour and sweating in the sun ten hours every day , and their stomacks weakened , a dram or two of these spirits is a great comfort and refreshing to them . they make much money also of them by selling them at the bridge , so that they make weekly so long as they work , 30. l. sterling , besides what is drunk by their servants and slaves . wit hs . there is another plant which they call a with , which is exceeding harmful ; for it pulls down all it can reach to , canes and all other plants . if it comes into a garden , it will wind about all hearbs , and plants that have stalks , and pull them down and destroy them . if into an orchard , it will climb up by the bodies of the trees into the branches , and draws them as it were into a purse ( for out of the main stock hundred of sprigs will grow ) and if any other tree be near it will find the way to it , and pull the tops of them together , and hinder the growth of the fruit ; and cut the main stock at bottom in hope to kill it ; the moisture in the branches above will cast down a new root into the ground ; yea , it will reach the highest timber , and so enwrap their branches as to hinder their growth ; and oftentimes it fastens one tree to another , so that one shall hinder the growth of another . if you clear a passage of ten foot broad between a wood where it grows , and your canes over night , and come the next morning , and you shall find the way crossed all over with wit hs , and got near to the canes , and if they once get amongst them , you cannot destroy the one without the other ; for wheresoever they touch ground , they get new roots , and so creep into every place , and as they go pull all down . yet have they some good virtues ; for they serve for all uses where ropes or cords are required ; as for binding their wood and canes into faggots , &c. and without them they were in an ill condition , having no other wood fit for hoops for their hogsheads , barrels , and tubs ; and they can have them of what length and bigness they please ; and for such uses they are very good . there are several kinds of these wit hs , some that bear fruit somewhat bigger then the cod of a bean , which being divided long-wise with a knife you shall perceive the most various and beatiful colours that can be , and so well matched , as to make up a very great beauty . many canes there be in the island , some large enough to hide five hundred men ; the runaway negroes oft shelter themselves in for a long time , and in the nights range abroad , and steal pigs , plantanes , potatoes , and pullen , and feast all day upon what they stole in the night : and the nights being dark , and their bodies black , escape undiscovered . another sort of wit hs they have that are made of the gum of trees , which falls from the boughs drop after drop , one hanging by another till they touch the ground , from whence they receive nourishment and grow larger : and if three or four of them come down so near as to touch one another , and the wind twists them together , they appear like ropes . aloes they have growing there very good , and its a beautiful plant , and the leaves four inches broad , and three quarters of an inch thick , and a foot and half long , with prickles on each side , and the last sprout which rises in the middle , bears yellow flowers , one above another , which are two foot higher then the leaves . these thick leaves they take and cut them through , and out of them issues the aloes , which they set in the sun that rarifies it , and makes it fit to keep : they save the first running , for if it run too long it will be much worse . this plant in england we call semper vivens . of this is there to be be made an admirable medicine for a burn or scald . an ointment foor a burn or scald , thus , take semper vivens , plantane leaves , and the green rind of elder , of each a like quantity , and boil them in sallet oyl , till all the tincture be drawn in boyling . then strain out the oyl well , and put it on the fire again , and put to it a small quantity of the spirits of wine , and so much yellow wax as will bring it to the consistence of a linement to keep it for use . there also the sensible plant , which closes the leaves upon any touch with your hand , or that end of the staff by which you hold , and in a little time will open again . there are few flowers in the island , and none of them sweet . the white lilly , and red lilly are much fairer then ours , and very beautiful , but neither of them sweet . the saint jago flower is very beautiful , but of an unpleasing smell . another flower they have that opens not till sun setting , and is closed all day , and therefore they call it the flower of the moon . it grows in great tufts , the leaves like a heart , the point turning back : the flower is of a most pure purple . after the flower appears the seed , black with an eye of purple , of the shape of a small button , so finely wrought , and tough with all , as it may well trim a suit of apparel . there is purceane so plentifully every where , as makes it disesteemed . herbs , and roots . there are brought from england , rosemary , time , winter-savory , sweet-marjerom , pot-marjerom , parsly , penny-royal , camomil , sage , tansie , lavender , cotton , garlick , onions , coleworts , cabbage , turnips , redishes , marigold , lettice , taragon , southern-wood , &c. all which prosper well . there is a root which was brought thither by the negroes , large , dry and well tasted . it 's good boyled to eat with pork , mixt with butter , vineger , and pepper ; it 's as big as three of our largest turnips . the strength of the island . this island is strong by scituation ; for there cannot be any safe landing , but where the harbours , and bayes are , which lie to the south-west , and those places are so defencible by nature , as with small cost they are strongly fortified . in the year one thousand six hundred and fifty they were able to muster ten thousand foot , as good , and resolute men as any in the world , and a thousand good horse , and since then , they are much increased . their laws and government . their laws are like ours in england , and they are governed by a governour , and ten of his council ; four courts of justice in civil laws which divide the countrey into four circuits . justices of peace , constables , churchwardens , and tithingmen . five sessions in a year were held for trial of criminal causes , and appeals from inferiour courts . when the governour pleases to call an assembly for the last appeals , and making new laws , or abolishing the old ; it consists of the governour , his councel , and two burgesses chosen by every parish . there are in the island eleven parishes : no tithe paid to the minister , but a yearly allowance of a pound of tobacco upon an acre of every mans land , besides church-duties for marriages , baptizings , and burials . their weather . four moneths in the year the weather is colder then in the other eight , and those are november , december , january , and february ; yet are they hotter then with us in may. there is no general fall of the leaf , every tree having a particular time for it self , as if two locust-trees stand but at a stones cast distance , one lets fall her leaves in january , another in march , another in july , another in september . the leaves when fallen under the tree , being most of them large and stiff , when they were growing , and full of veins from the middle stalk to the upper end , when the thin part of the leaf is consumed , those veins appear like skelletons , with the strangest works and beautifullest forms that can be imagined . negroes heads . they also find in the sands things that they call negroes-heads , about two inches long , with a forehead , eyes , nose , mouth , chin , and part of the neck : they are alwayes found loose in the sands , without any root . it is black as jet , but whence it comes they know not . tar . they have no mines , not so much as of coles in the islands . there flows out of the rock an unctious substance , somewhat like tar : it is excellent good to stop a flux being drunk : and for all aches , and bruises , being anointed with it . it is so subtile that being put into the hand and rubbed there , it works through the back of it . pitch , and movntiack . there is another gumming substance that is black and hard as pitch , and is used as pitch ; they call call it mountiack . an excellent remedy against the stone . my author relates this story concerning himself , that during his abode in the barbadoes , he was taken with such a fit of the stone , that for fourteen dayes together he made not one drop of water ; but when he despaired of life ; god sent him such a remedy as the world cannot afford a better . for within ten hours after this taking of it , he found himself not only eased , but cured : it brought away all the stones and gravel that stopped the passage , and his water came as freely from him as ever before , and caried before it such quantities of broken stones , and gravel that the like hath hardly been seen . and afterwards being in the like torment , he used the same remedy , and found the same ease . the medicine was this , take the pizle of a green turtle that lives in the sea , dry it with a moderate heat , pound it in a morter , and take as much of this powder as will lie upon a shilling , in beer , ale , or whitewine , and in a short time it will work the cure . these turtles are frequent in the chariby , and lucayick islands near to the barbadoes , to which many of them are brought . three sorts of turtles . there are 3. sorts of turtles : the loggerhead-turtle , the hawks-bill-turtle , and the green turtle , which is of a less magnitude , but far excelling the other two in wholesomness , and rareness of tast . that part of the island which is the most remote from the bridge , ( the onely place of trading ) by reason of deep and steep gullies interposing the passage , is almost stopt . besides , the land there is not so rich and fit to bear canes as the other : yet it 's very useful for planting , provisions of corn , bonavist , cassavy , potatoes , &c. as also of fruit , as oranges , limons , lymes , plantanes , bonanoes : likewise for breeding of hoggs , sheep , goats , cattel , and poultry to furnish either parts of the island which wants those commodities . the sugar canes are fifteen moneths from the time of their planting , before they come to be fully ripe . from the island of bonavista they have horses brought to them , whose hooves are so hard and tough , that they ride them at the barbadoes down sharp and steep rocks , without shooes : and no goat goes surer on the sides of rocks , or hills then they . finis . ( here place the examples of minerals and stones . ) examples of the wonderful works of god in the creatures . chap. i. of strange stones , earth , and minerals . 1. in cornwal , near unto a place called pensans , is that famous stone called main-amber : which is a great rock advanced upon some other of meaner size , with so equal a counterpoize , that a man may stir it with the push of his finger , but to remove it quite out of his place , a great number of men are not able . camb. brit. p. 188. the like is in the country of stratherne in scotland . 2. in summerset-shire , near unto cainsham are found in stone-quarries , stones resembling serpents , winding round in manner of a wreath , the head bearing up in the circumference , and the end of the tail , taking up the centre within : but most of them are headless . camb. brit. p. 236. 3. in gloucestershire upon the hills near alderly are found certain stones , resembling cockles , periwinckles , and oisters , which seem to be the gaimsome works of nature , or such shells turned into stone . camb. brit. p. 363. 4. in yorkshire , about whitby are found certain stones fashioned like serpents , foulded and wraped round , as in a wreath , so that a man would verily think that they had been somtimes serpents turned into stone . camb. brit. p. 718. 5. also in the same country at huntly nabb , there lye scattering here and there amongst the rocks , stones of divers bigness , so artificially by nature shaped round in manner of a globe , that one would take them to be big bullets made by the turners hand , for shot to be discharged out of great ordnance ; in which , if you break them , are found stony serpents , enwrapped round like a wreath : but most of them are headlesse . camb. brit. p. 721. 6. in the county of cornwal near unto st. neots , there are a number of good great rocks heaped up together , and under them one stone of lesser size , fashioned naturally in the form of a cheese lying in presse , whereupon it s named wring-cheese . camb. brit. p. 192. 7. in richmondshire amongst the ragged rocks , are found stones like unto periwinckles , cockles , and other shell fish . camb. brit. p. 727. 8. in the county of hereford , a hill which they call marcley-hill , in the year 1571. ( as though it had wakened on a sudden out of a deep sleep ) roused it self up , and for the space of three dayes together moving and shewing it self ( as mighty , and huge an heape as it was ) with roaring noise in a fearful sort , and overturning all things that stood in the way , advanced it self forward , to the wondrous astonishment of the beholders . camb. brit. p. 630. 9. in glamorganshire in a rock or cliffe , by the sea side , there appeareth a very little chink , unto which , if you lay your ear , you shall hear a noise as if it were of smiths at work , one while the blowing of the bellows , another while the striking of the sledge , and hammer ; sometimes the sound of the grindstone , and iron tools rubbing against it , the hissing sparks also of steel-gads within holes as they are beaten , and the puffing noise of the fire burning in the furnace . camb. brit. page 643. this is called merlins cave . 10. at aspley gowick in bedfordshire , near unto woburn , there is a kind of earth that turns wood into stone : for proof whereof there was a wooden ladder in the monastry of woburn , that having lien a good while covered in that earth , was digged forth again all stone . camb. brit. p. 401. i have a peece of wood turned into stone by that earth . 11. in kile in scotland , there is a rock about twelve foot high , and as much in breadth , called the deaf-craig : for though a man call never so loud , or shoot off a gun on the one side , yet his fellow on the other side cannot hear the noise . description of scotland . 12. in argile there is a stone found in diverse places , which being laid under straw , or stubble , doth set it on fire , by reason of the great heat that it gathereth there . idem . 13. it is most strange , yet true , that the armes of the duke of rohan in france , which are fusils , or lozenges , are to be seen in the wood , and stones , through all his country : so that if you break a stone in the middest , or lopp a bough of a tree , you shall behold the the grain thereof ( by some secret cause in nature ) diamonded , or streaked in the fashion of a lozeng . camb. brit. 14. in warwick-shire , the armes of the shugburies , which are starres , are found in the stones in their own manner of shugbury ; so that break the stone where you will , and there is the exact fashion of a star in the end of it . idem , i have some of these stones . 15. in the kingdom of fesse in affrica there is a mountain called beniguazeval , in the top whereof there is a cave that casteth out fire perpetually . pur. pil. v. 2. p. 807. 16. in prussia there is great store of amber , which groweth like coral in a mountain of the north-sea , which is clean covered with water : by the violence of the waves beating against this rock , the amber is oft broken off , and cast up by the sea into their havens . 17. about bever castle in lincoln-shire , are found the stones called astroites , which resemble little stars joyned one with another , wherein are to be seen at every corner , five beams , or rayes , & in the middest of every ray is to be seen a small hollownesse . camb. brit. 18. we have corral , amber , emralds , calcedony , pearl , onix , sardonix , sardis , bezar , hemathist , and the turquoise from arabia , indostan , and persia. pearls , berils , saphires , and adamants , from zeilan . jasper , cornelion , agate , heliotrope , jacinth , and chrysolite , from malabar , narsinga , and cochin-china . diamonds from borneo , and gulkunda . gold , silver , rubies , saphires , granats , topaz , emeralds , smaradg , espinels , cats-eyes , and porcellane , from pegu , siam , bengala , sumatra , japan , and china . chap. ii. examples of the rare works of god in the creatures . of trees , hearbs , plants , and gums . 1. of date-trees some are males , and other females : the male brings forth flowers onely ; the female fruit , but the flowers of the female will not open unlesse the boughs , and flowers of the male be joyned unto them : and if they be not thus coupled , the dates will prove stark naught , and have great stones in them , pur. pil. v. 2. p. 823. 2. neer unto the grand-cairo in egypt , is a garden environed with a strong wall ; in the garden is a large fountain , and in the middest of it groweth the only balm-tree bearing true balm , that is in the world : it hath a short stock or body , and beareth leaves like unto vine-leaves , but not altogether so long . pur. pil. v. 2. p. 838. 3. in the country of indostan they have a pleasant clear liquor which they call taddy , issuing from a spongy tree that grows straight , and tall , without boughs to the top , and there spreads out into branches , somwhat like to an english colewort , where they make incisions , under which they hang earthen pots to preserve the influence : that which distils forth in the night , is as pleasing to the taste , as any white wine , if drunk betimes in the morning ; and of a peircing , and medicinable quallity , excellent against the stone . but in the heat of the day the sun alters it , so that it becomes heady , ill-relished , and unwholesome . p. pil. v. 2. p. 1469. 4. for cotton wooll , they plant seeds , which grow up into shrubs like unto our rose-bushes : it blows first into a yellow blossome , which falling off , there remains a cod about the bignesse of a mans thumb , in which the substance is moist , and yellow , but as it ripens , it swells bigger , till it break the cod , and in short time becomes as white as snow , and then they gather it . p. pil. v. 2. p. 1470. 5. the cynamon tree is a small tree , and low , having leaves like to our bay-tree : in the month of march , or april , when the sap goeth up to the top of the tree , they cut the bark off the tree round about in length ; from knot to knot , or from joynt to joynt , above , and below , and then easily with their hands they take it away , laying it in the sun to dry , and yet for all this the tree dyes not , but against the next year it will have a new bark , and that which is gathered every year is the best cynamon : that which grows longer is great , and not so good . p. pil. v. 2. p. 1709. 6. in india is a tree called arbore de ray's or the tree of roots , it groweth first up like other trees , and spreadeth the branches , out of which there come strings , which seem a far off to be cords of hemp , which growing longer till they reach the ground , there take root again : so that in the end one tree will cover a great peece of ground , one root crossing within another like a maze , each of these young trees will in time grow so big , that it cannot be discerned which is the principal trunk , or body of the tree . 6. there is also a tree called arbore-triste , or the sorrowful-tree , so called , because it never beareth blossoms but in the night-time , and so it doth , and continueth all the year long : so soon as the sun sets , there is not one blossom seen upon the tree , but presently within half an hour after , there are as many blossoms as the tree can bear , pleasant to behold , and smelling very sweet ; and as soon as the day comes , and the sun is rising , they all presently fall off , and not one is to be seen on the tree , which seems as though it were dead , till evening comes again , and then it begins to blossom as it did before : it s as big as a plumb-tree : it groweth up quickly , and if you break but a branch of the tree , and set it into the earth , it presently takes root , and grows , and within a few days after it beareth blossoms , which are like orange-tree-blossoms , the flower white , and in the bottom somewhat yellow , and redish . p. pil. v. 2. p. 1780. 8. there is also an herb in india , called by the portugals , herba sentida , or feeling herb , which if a man touch , or throw sand , or any other thing upon it , presently it becomes as though it were withered , closing the leaves together , and it comes not to it self a gain , as long as the man standeth by it , but presently after he is gone , it openeth the leaves again , which become stiffe , and fair , as though they were newly grown : and touching it again , it shuts , and becomes withered as before , so that its a pleasure to behold the strange nature of it p. pil. v. 2. p. 1781. 9. pepper is planted at the root of some other tree , and runs up it like ivie : the leaves are like the orange-leaves , but somewhat smaller , green , and sharpe at ends : the pepper groweth in bunches like grapes , but lesse , and thinner ; they are always green till they begin to drye , and ripen , which is in december , and january , at which time it turns black , and is gathered . pur. pil. v. 2. p. 1782. 10. the best ginger grows in malabar ; it groweth like thin , and young netherland reeds , two or three spans high , the root whereof is the ginger , which is gathered in december , and january . p. pil. v. 2. p. 1782. 11. the clove-trees are like bay-trees , the blossoms at the first white , then green , and at last red , and hard , which are the cloves ; these cloves grow very thick together , and in great numbers : in the place where these trees grow , there is neither grass , nor green herbs , but is wholly drye , for that those trees draw all the moisture unto them . p. pil. v. 2. p. 1783. 12. the nutmeg-tree is like a pear-tree , but that its lesse , and with round leaves , the fruit is like great round peaches , the inward part whereof is the nutmeg ; this hath about it an hard shell like wood , and the shell is covered over with nutmeg-flowers , which is the mace , and over it is the fruit , which without , is like the fruit of a peach . p. pil. v. 2. p. 1783. 13. gumme-lac comes most from pegu : where are certain very great pismires with wings , which fly up the trees like plumb-trees , out of which trees comes a certain gumme which the pismires suck up , and then they make the lac round about the branches of the trees , as bees make wax ; and when it is full , the owners come , and breaking off the branches , lay them to dry ; and being dry , the branches shrink out , and the lac remains . p. pil. v. 2. p. 1783. 14. amber-greese , is usually cast upon the sea-shore , which as some suppose , is the dung of the whale ; or as others , the sperme , or seed of the whale consolidated by lying in the sea. p. pil. v. 2. p. 772. 15 the herb addad is bitter , and the root of it so venemous , that one drop of the juice will kill a man within the space of one hour . p. pil. v. 2. p. 850. 16 of palm-trees , which they keep with watering , and cutting every year , they make velvets , satins , taffaties , damasks , sarcenets , and such like , all which are spun out of the leaves cleansed , and drawn into long threads . p. pil. v. 2. p. 985. 17. frankincense grows in arabia , and is the gumme that issueth out of trees . idem . p. 1781. 18. in mozambique , manna is procreated of the dew of heaven , falling on a certain tree , on which it hardens like sugar , sticking to the wood like rozen , whence it s gathered , and put into jars , and is used much for purging in india . idem . p. 1554. 19. mastick-trees grow only in the island of sio : the trees are low shrubs , with little crooked boughs , and leaves : in the end of august they begin their mastick-harvest , men cutting the bark of the tree with iron instruments ; out of which the gum distills uncessantly for almost three months together . idem . p. 1812. 20. spunges are gathered from the sides of rocks , fifteen fathom under water , about the bottom of the streights of gibralter , the people that get them , being trained up in diving from their child-hood , so that they can indure to stay very long under water , as if it were their habitable element . 21. in manica , is a tree called the resurrection-tree , which for the greatest part of the year is without leaf , or greenness : but if one cut off a bough , and put it into the water , in the space of ten houres , it springs , and flourisheth with green leaves ; but draw it out of the water , as soon as it is dry , it remaineth as it was before . pur. pil. v. 2. p. 1537. 22. there is in the island of teneriff ( which is one of the canaries ) a tree as big as an oke of a middle size , the bark white like hornbeam , six , or seven yards high , with ragged boughs , the leaf like the bay-leaf . it beareth neither fruit , nor flower ; it stands on the side of an hill , in the day its withered , and drops all night ( a cloud hanging thereon ) so that it yeelds water sufficient for the whole island , wherein are eight thousand souls , and about an hundred thousand cammels , mules , goats , &c. the water falls from it into a pond made of brick , paved with stone ; from whence it s conveyed into several ponds , thorough the whole island . they also water therewith their corn-ground , for they have no other water in the island , except rain-water . the pond holds twenty thousand tun of water , and is filled in one night . many of our english that have been there have attested the truth hereof . idem . p. 1369. concerning which tree , sylvester the poet made these verses : in th' i le of iron ( one of those same seven whereto our elders happy name have given ) the savage people never drink the streams of wells , and rivers , as in other realms . their drink is in the air ! their gushing spring , a weeping tree out of it self doth wring . a tree , whose tender-bearded-root being spread in dryest sand , his sweating-leaf doth shed a most sweet liquor ; and ( like as the vine untimely cut , weeps ( at her wound ) the wine in pearled tears ) incessantly distils a royal stream , which all their cisterns fills throughout the island : for all hither hie , and all their vessels cannot draw it drye ! 23. aloes growes in the island of socotera , which is nothing but semper vivum , it is so full of a rosin-like juice , that the leaves are ready to break with it : which leaves they cut in small peeces , and cast them into a clean pit made in the ground , and paved : there it lies to ferment in the heat of the sun , whereby the juice floweth forth , which they put in skins , and hang them up in the wind to drye , whereby it hardens . p. pil. v. 1. p. 419. 24. indico groweth in the moguls country , having a small leaf like that of sena : the branches are of a wooddy substance like broom : it grows not above a yard high , the stalk about the bignesse of a mans thumb : the seed is included in a small round cod of an inch long . this once sowed lasteth three years : that of the first year makes a weighty reddish indico , that sinks in water , being not yet come to its perfection : that of the second year is rich , very light , and of a perfect violet-colour , swiming on the water : that of the third year is weighty , blackish , and the worst of the three . this herb , when it s cut , is put into a cistern , and pressed down with stones , then covered over with water , where it remains till the substance of the herb is gone into the water : then it s drawn forth into another cistern , and laboured with staves till it be like batter , then they let it seeth , and so scum off the water two or three times , till nothing but a thick substance remains , which taking forth , they spread on a cloath , dry it in the sun , then make it into balls , dry it on the sand , which causes the sandy foot : that is best , which is of a pure grain ; violet-colour , is glossie , dry , and light . idem . p. 430. 25. sir james lancaster in his east-indy voyage , in the isle of sombrero found on the sea-sands , a young twig growing up to a tree , and offering to pluck up the same , it shrank down into the ground , and when it was by strength pulled up , a great worm was the root of it , and as the tree groweth in greatnesse , the worm diminisheth : this tree plucked up , the leaves and pill stripped off , by that time its dryed , is turned into a hard stone ; so that this worm was twice transformed into different natures , after a wondrous manner : of these he brought home many . p. pil. v. 1. p. 152. 26. about saffron walden in essex , there grows great store of saffron , which was first brought into england , in the reign of king edward the third . this in the month of july every third year , being plucked up , and after twenty dayes , having the root split , and set again in the earth , about the end of september it putteth forth a whitish-blew flower ; out of the midst where of there come three chives , which are gathered in the morning before sun-rising , and being plucked out of the flower , are dried by a soft fire ; and so great is the increase that commeth thereof , that out of every acre of ground , there are made fourscore , or an hundred pound weight of saffron , whilst it is moist , which being dryed , yeeld some twenty pound weight . and the ground which three years together hath brought saffron , is so enriched thereby , that it will bear very good barley , many yeares together without dung , or manuring . camb. brit. p. 453. 27. all along the shores of the red-sea are abundance of palm-trees of a very strange nature : they grow in couples , male and female : both thrust forth cods full of seed : but the female is only fruitful , and that not except growing by the male , and having her seed mixed with his . the pith of these trees is an excellent sallet , better than an artechoke : of the branches are made bedsteads , lattices , &c. of the leaves , baskets , mats , fans , &c. of the outward husk of the cod , cordage ; of the inward , brushes . the fruit it beareth is like a fig , and finally it is said to yeild whatsoever is necessary for the life of man. it is the nature of this tree , that if never so great a weight be laid upon it , it will lift & raise up it self the more ; for which it was given to conquerors in token of victory . herb. trav. 28. in italy there grows an herb called balilisco , which hath this innate property ; that if it be laid under a stone in some moist place , in two days space it produceth a scorpion : raimunds mercu. ital. 29. the assa-faetida tree is like our bryer in height , the leaves resemble fig-leaves , the root is like our radish : though the smell be so bace , yet the taste is so pleasing , that no meat , no sauce , on vessel is pleasing to the gusarat● pallats where it grows , except it rellish of it . herb. trav. 30 benjamin is either pure , cleer , and white , or yellow , and streaked : this gum issues from an high tree , small , and furnished with fruitlesse branches ; the leaves are not unlike to those of the olive : pegu and siam yeild the best . 31. the coco tree is very rife in the east-indies . in the whole world there is not a tree more profitable than this is , neither do men reap more benefit of any other tree than of this . the heart of the tree makes good timber , planks , and masts for ships : with the leaves thereof they make sails , with the rind of it they make cordage : a gum that grows out of it caulks the ship : the fruit of it is a kind of nut , which being full of kernel , and a sweet liquor , serves for meat and drink : much wine also it yeilds , & of the wine they make sugar , and placetto . the wine they gather in the spring of the year out of the middle of the tree , from whence there runs continually a white thin liquor , at which time they put a vessel under it , and take it away full every morning , and evening , and then distilling it , they make a very strong liquor of it . of the nuts also they make great store of oil : out of the tree they make bows , bedsteads : of the leaves also they make very fine mats , which whilest green , are full of an excellent sweet liquor , with which if a man be thirsty , he may satisfie himself : with the bark they make spoons , dishes , and platters for meat . the first rind of the nut they stamp , and make thereof perfect ockam : and the store of these nuts serve for merchandise . so that out of this one tree , they build and rig ships , furnish them with meat , drink , utensils , and merchandise , without the least help of any other whatsoever . pur. pil. v. 2. p. 1466. and 1704. 32. mr. herbert in his travels thus describes it . the tree that bears the coco , is strait , & lofty , without any branches , save at the very top , where it spreads its beautiful plumes , and nuts like pearles , or pendants adorning them . it is good timber for canoes , masts , anchors : the leaves for tents or thatching : the rind for sailes , matteresses , cables , and linnen : the shels for furniture : the meat for victualling . the nut is covered with a thick rind equal in bignesse to a cabbage . the shell is like the skull of a man , or rather a deaths-head , the eyes , nose , and mouth , being easily discerned : within it is contained a quart of sweet and excellent liquor , like new white-wine , but far more aromatick tasted : the meat or kernel , is better relished than our phelberds , and is enough to satisfy the appetite of two reasonable men . — the indian nut alone is cloathing , meat , and trencher , drink , and can. boat , cable , sail , mast , needle , all in one . herb. and sylvester hath set them forth to the life in these verses . the indian isles most admirable be , in those rare fruits call'd coquos commonly ; the which alone far richer wonder yeilds , then all our groves , meads , gardens , orchards , fields . what wouldst thou drink ? the wounded leaves drop wine . lackst thou fine linnen ? dresse the tender rine . dresse it like flax , spin it , then weave it well , it shall thy camrick , and thy lawn excell . longst thou for butter , bite the poulpous part , for never better came to any mart . do'st need good oyle ? then boult it to , and fro , and passing oyl it soon becometh so . or vinegar ? to whet thine appetite ; why , sun it well ; and it will sharply bite . or want's thou sugar ? steep the same a stownd , and sweeter sugar is not to be found . 't is what you will ; or will be what you would : should midas touch it , sure it would be gold . and god , all-good , to crown our life with bayes , the earth with plenty , and his name with praise , had done enough , if he had made no more but this one plant , so full of choicest store ; save that the world ( where , one thing breeds satiety ) could not be fair , without so great variety . 32. the plantan tree is of a reasonable height ; the body about the bigness of a mans thigh , compacted of many leaves , wrapped one upon another , adorned with leaves in stead of boughs from the very ground , which are for the most part about two ells long , and an ell broad , having a large rib in the middle thereof . the fruit is a bunch of ten , or twelve plantans , each a span long , and as big almost as a mans wrist ; the rind being stripped off , the fruit is yellowish , and of a pleasant taste . pur. pil. p. 416. 33. the cedars of mount libanus grow higher than pines , and so big , that four or five men with their armes can but fathom them ; the boughs rise not upward , but stretch out a cross , largely spread , and thickly enfolded one in another , as if done by art , so that men may sit , and lie along upon the boughs : the leaves are thick , narrow , hard , prickly , and alwayes green ; the wood is hard , incorruptible , and sweet smelling ; the fruit like the cones of cypress , gummy , and marvellous fragrant . pur. pil. v. 2. p. 1500. 34. in africa are many palmeta trees , whence they draw a sweet , and wholsome wine , by cutting , or boring holes into the body of the tree , into which a cane is put that receives the sap , and conveys it into gourds : it tastes like white wine , but it will not last above four and twenty hours . idem . 35. in new-spain there are many trees which they call manguey : it hath great , and large leaves , at the end whereof is a strong , and sharp point , which they use for pins , and needles , and out of the leaf they draw a kind of thred which they use much to few with . the body of the tree is big , which when it is tender , they cut , and out of the hole proceeds a liquor which they drink like water , being fresh , and sweet . this liquor being sodden , becomes wine , which being kept till it be sower , makes good vinegar : boil it it a litle more than for wine , and it makes a fine syrup ; and boil it till it be thick , and it makes hony. idem . v. 3. p. 957. 36. there is a certain tree in new-spain called tunalls , in whose leaves breed certain small worms , which are covered with a fine web , compassing them in daintily . this in the season they gather , and let it drye , and this is that cochenille , so famous , and dear , wherewith they dye in grain . idem . 37. the jack , or giack is an high tree , and uneasy to be ascended ; the jack for shew and bigness resembles a pumpeon : without , it is of a gold yellow , mixt with veins ; within , its soft , and tender , full of golden coloured cloves , each full of kernels , not unlike a great french bean , but more round , each of them hath an hard stone within it , the fruit is somewhat unpleasant at the first taste ; t is glutinous , and clammy in the mouth , but very restorative , and good for the back . 38. the ananas is not inferiour to the jack in bulk , and roundnesse : it ariseth from no seed , or sowing , but from a root like an artichok : when they are ripe they shew themselves , and are not above two foot high : without , it is covered with a drie rind , hard , and skaley ; within , its wholesome and pleasant , and though a little of it seems to satiate the appetite , yet the stomach likes it well , and its easie of digestion . 39. the duroyen is somewhat like the jack , in shape round , the inward vertue , is far greater than the outward beauty : at first opening it hath an unpleasant smell : the meat is whitish , and divided into a dozen cells , or partitions , filled with stones as big as chesnuts , white and cordial . it s a fruit nutritive , and dainty , and may well be called an epitome of all the best , and rarest fruits in the the orient . 40. the arec-tree is almost as high as a cedar , but more like the palmeto : i'ts of a fuzzie , hollow substance , adorned at every top with plumes , wherein the fruit hangs in clusters ; it s in shape and bigness like a wallnut ; white and hard within ; hath neither taste , nor smell : they never eat it alone , but wrap it in a leaf of bettle , and are frequently chawing of it : some adde to it a kinde of lime made of oister-shels , it cures the chollick , removes melancholly , kills worms , provokes lust , purges the maw , and prevents hunger . it s much used in the east-indies . 41. the palmeto-tree is long , strait , round , and soft , without leaf , bough , or branch , save at the top , and those are few , green , and sedgie : under which branches there appear certain codded seeds : both the male , and female bear blossoms , but the female only beares fruit , and yet not that , unlesse a flowring branch of the male tree be yearly inoculated : the leaves serve for many uses . at the top of this tree there is a soft pith , in which consists the life of it : for that being cut out , the tree dyes . this pith is in bignesse like small cabbage , in taste like a nut kernel , and being boiled it eats like a colly-flower . but of more value is the palmeta wine , which is sweet , pleasant , and nourishing in colour , and taste not unlike muskadine : it purges , cures obstructions , and kills the worms . if it stand two dayes in the sun it makes good vinegar . the wine is thus gotten . they cut a small hole in two or three trees that grow together , which in a short time are filled with the sap that issues in them , which with a cane , or quill , they draw forth . pur. pil. 42. in summersetshire , near unto glastenbury , in wiral park was that famous hawthorn tree , which used upon christmas day to sprout forth as fresh as in may ; but now it s cut down . camb. brit. p. 227. 43. in the marishes of egypt grow those sedgie reeds , called papyri , whereof formerly they made paper , and from whence ours that is made of rags assumed that name . they divide it into thin flakes , whereinto it naturally parteth : then laying them on a table , and moistening them with the glutinous water of nilus , they press them together , dry them in the sun , and then they are fitted for use . pur. pil. v. 2 p. 898. chap. iii. the wonderful works of god in the creatures . of strange fountains , rivers , and waters . 1. in the bishoprick of durham in derlington field , there are 3 pits of a wonderful depth , called by the vulgar hell-kettles , in which the water by an antiperistasis , or reverberation of the cold air , striking thereupon , waxeth hot ; which pits have passage under ground , into the river teese , as archbishop guthbert tonstal observed , by finding that goose in the river which he had marked , and let down into these pits . camb. brit. p. 737. 2. in yorkshire , neer unto knasburow castle is a well , in which the waters spring not up out of the veins of the earth , but distil , and trickle down , dropping from the rocks hanging over it , whence it s called dropping-well : into which , what wood soever is put , it will in a short space be turned into stone . camb. brit. p. 700. 3. in caermardenshire , neer unto careg castle , there is a fountain that twice in four and twenty hours ebbeth , and twice floweth , resembling the unstable motions of the main sea. camb. brit. p. 650. 4. in westmerland , hard by shape , there is a well , or fountain , which after the manner of euripus ebbeth , and floweth many times in a day . camb. brit. p. 762. 5. in ireland is a fountain , whose water killeth all those beasts that drink thereof , but hurteth not the people , though they usually drink of it . ortelius . 6. near unto lutterworth in leicester-shire , there is a spring of water so cold , that in a short time it turneth straws , and sticks , into stone . camb. brit. p. 518. 7. in derbyshire in the peak-forrest not far from buxtone , is a well which in a wonderful manner doth ordinarily ebb , and flow , four times in the space of one hour , or thereabouts , keeping his just tides . camb. brit. p. 558. 8. also in the same country at the spring head of wie there rise , and walm up , nine fountains of hot waters , commonly called buxton wells , very sovereign for the stomach , sinews , and whole body . camb. brit. p. 557. 9. in scotland on the bank of ratra neer unto stang's castle , there is a cave , wherein the water distilling naturally by drops from the head of the vault , is presently turned into pyramidal stones ; and were not the said hole or cave , otherwiles rid , and cleansed , the whole space as far as up to the vault , would in a short time be filled therewith . camb. brit. scotl. p. 48. 10 in scotland in the countrey of murray , there is a river called naes , the water whereof is almost always warm , and at no time so cold that it freezeth , yea , in the most cold time of winter , broken ice falling into it , is dissolved with the heat thereof . defcrip . of scotl. 11. also in galloway , the loch called loch-merton , is of such a strang nature , that the one half of it doth never freeze in the coldest winter . descrip. of scotl. 12. in lenox is a great loch or meer , called loch-lowmond , in length twenty four miles , and eight in breadth , wherein are three strang things : first , excellent good fish without any sins : secondly , a floating island whereon many kine feed : and thirdly , tempestuous waves rageing without winds , yea , in the greatest calms . desc. of scotl. 13. there is a certain island called lounda in the kingdom of congo , wherein is no fresh water ( being a very sandy ground ) but if you dig but the depth of two or three hand breadths , you shall find sweet water , the best in all those countryes : and ( which is most strang ) when the ocean ebbeth , this water grows brackish , but when it flows to the top , it is most sweet . p. pil. v. 2. p. 989. 14. not far from casbine , the regal city in persia is a fountain of a strang , and wonderful nature , out of which there continually springeth , and issueth a marvellous quantity of black oil , which serveth in all parts of persia to burn in their houses , and is usually carried all over the countrey upon kine , and asses , whereof you may often meet three or four hundred in company . p. pil. v. 2. p. 1431. 15. about three days journey from old balylon , is a town called ait , and neer unto that is a valley of pitch very marvellous to behold , wherein are many springs , throwing out abundantly a kind of black substance , like unto tar , and pitch , which serveth all the country thereabout to staunch their barques and boats with : every one of which springs makes a noise like to a smith's forge in puffing and blowing out the matter , which never ceaseth day nor night , and the noise is hard a mile off : the moors call it hell-mouth . p. pil. v. p. 1437. 16. clitumnus is a river in italy , which makes all the oxen that drink of it , white . fulk . meteor . lib. 4. 17. the river melas in boeotia makes all the sheep that drink of it , black . plin. 18. the fountain of jupiter hammon , is cold in the day time , and hot at midnight . 19. the fountain of the sun hath its water extream cold , and sweet at noon ; and boiling hot , and bitter at midnight . plin. lib. 2. c. 103. augustine . 20. there is a river in palestine called the sabbatical river , which runs with a violent and swift stream all the week ; but every sabbath it remains dry , joseph . de bel. jud. l. 7. c. 24. some question the truth of this . 21. in idumae● is a fountain called the fountain of job , which for one quarter of the year is troubled and muddy ; the next quarter bloody , the third green , and the fourth clear . isiod . 22. the river astaces in the isle of pontus uses sometimes to overflow the fields , after which whatsoever sheep , or milch-cattle feed thereon give black milk . plin. l. 2. c. 103. 23. furius camillus being censor in rome , the lake albanus being environed with mountains on every side , in the time of autumn when other lakes and rivers were almost dry , the waters of this lake after a wondrous manner began to swell , and rise upwards , till at last they were equall with the tops of the mountains , and after a while they brake thorow one of those mountains , overflowing and bearing all down before them till they emptied themselves into the sea. plut. 24. the river d ee in merionneth-shire in wales , though it run through pimble-meer , yet it remaineth intire , and mingles not its streams with the waters of the lake . cam. brit. 25. ana a river in spain , burieth it self in the earth , and runneth under ground fifteen miles together , whereupon the spaniards brag that they have a bridg whereon ten thousand catle feed dayly . 26. pliny tells us of a fountain called dodon , which always decreaseth from midnight till noon , and encreaseth from noon till midnight . 27. he also tells us of certain fountains in an island neer italy , which always increase and decrease according to the ebbing , and flowing of the sea. 28. aristotle writeth of a well in sicilie , whose water is so sharp , that the inhabitants use it instead of vinegar . 29. in bohemia neer to the city of bilen is a well of such excellent water , that the inhabitants use to drink of it in a morning instead of burnt wine . dr. fulk . 30. in paphlagonia is a well , which hath the taste of wine , and it makes men drunk which drink of it ; whence du-bartas , salonian fountain , and thou andrian spring , out of what cellars do you daily bring the oyl , and wine that you abound with so ? o earth , do these within thine entrals grow ? &c. 31. aelian mentioneth a fountain in boeotia neer to thebes , which makes horses run mad if they drink of it . 32. pliny mentioneth a water in sclavonia which is extream cold , and yet if a man throw his cloath cloak upon it , it is presently set on fire . 33. other waters there are which discolour the fleeces of the sheep which drink of them : whence du-bartas , cerona , xanth , and cephisus do make , the thirsty flocks that of their waters take , black , red , and white : and neer the crimson deep , th' arabian fountain maketh crimson sheep . 34. and again . what should i of th' illyrian fountain tell ? what shall i say of the dodonean well ? whereof the first sets any cloathes on fire ; th' other doth quench ( who but will this admire ) a burning torch : and when the same is quenched , lights it again , if it again be drenched . 35. in the province of dara in lybia , there is a certain river , which sometimes so overfloweth the banks that it is like a sea , yet in the summer it is so shallow , that any one may passe over it on foot . if it overflow about the beginning of aprill , it brings great plenty to the whole region ; if not , there follows great scarcity of corn. pur. pil. v. 2. p. 823. 36. in the kingdom of tunis neer unto the city el-hamma , is a hot river , which by diverse channels is carried through the city , the water of it being so hot that few can endure to go into it , yet having set it to cool a whole day , the people drink of it . idem . p. 821. 37. in africa , there is a river called margania , and by it a salt spring which turns all the wood is thrown into it , into hard stone . idem . p. 1547. 38. the river meander is famous for its six hundred windings , and turnings , in and out : whence that of the poet , quique recurvatis ludit maeander in undis . maeander plays his watry pranks , within his crooked winding banks . 39. groenland in the hyperborean sea , was discovered anno christi 1380. it hath in it the monastery of st. thomas situate in the north-east part thereof at the foot of a mountain , where there is a river so hot , that they use to boil their meat in it , and it serves for other such purposes as fire doth with us , isac . chron. p , 275. 40 the river hypanis in scythia every day brings forth little bladders , out of which come certain flies which are thus , bred in the morning , are fledge at noon , and dye at night . fit emblems of the vain , and short life of man. 41 the famous river of nilus in egypt useth once in the year to overflow her banks , whereby the whole country is watered . it usually beginneth to overflow upon the seventeenth of june , and increaseth daily , sometimes two , sometimes three fingers , and sometimes half a cubit high on a day . the increase of it is known by a pillar erected in a cistern , whereinto the water is conveyed by a sluce ; which pillar is divided into eighteen parts , each a cubit higher than the other . if the water reach no higher than to the fifteenth cubit , they expect a fruitful year : if it stay between the twelfth , and fifteenth cubit , the increase of that year will be but mean. if it reach not to the twelfth , it s a sign of scarcity . if it rise to the eighteenth , the scarcity will be greater , in regard of too much moisture . this river continueth forty dayes increasing , and forty dayes decreasing . pur. pil. v. 2. p. 838. 42. another thing is wonderful , which is this : in the grand cairo ( which is the metropolis of egypt ) the plague useth many times to be very violent , till the river begins to overflow its banks , at which time it doth instantly cease . so that whereas five hundred a day dyed the day before , not one doth die the day following . idem . p. 897. 43. in the county of devon , not far from the town of lidford , at a bridg , the river lid is gathered into a strait , and pent in between rocks , whereon it runneth down a main , and the ground daily waxing deeper , and deeper under it , his water is not seen , only a roaring noise is heard , to the great wonder of those that pass by . camb. brit. p. 199. 44. in warwickshire , at nevenham regis , three fountains arise out of the ground , strained through an allom mine : the water whereof carrieth the colour , and tast of milk , which cureth ulcers in the bladder , or kidneys caused by the stone , and provoketh urine abundantly ; green wounds it cleanseth , closeth up , and quickly healeth ; being drunk with salt it looseth , and with sugar it bindeth the belly . about fifty years ago these wells were famous , and in great request , many resorting to them , and the water by others was sent for far and near . idem . p. 562. 45. in herefordshire , a little beneath richards castle , nature , who never disports her self more in shewing wonders , than in waters , hath brought forth a pretty well , which is alwayes full of little fish bones , although they be drawn out from time , to time , whence it s commonly called bone-well . idem . p. 619. 46. in yorkshire , upon the sea-shore by sken-grave , when the winds are laid , and the weather is most calm upon the sea : the water lying level and plain without any noise : there is heard here many times on a sudden , a great way off , as it were , an horrible , and fearful groaning , which affrights the fishermen at those times , so that they dare not launce forth into the sea. idem . p. 720. 47. pliny tells us of the fountain chymaera , that is set on fire with water , and put out with earth , or hey . plin. nat . hist. lib. 2. c. 106 , 107. 48. the same author also tells us , that in the hot deserts of india grows a certain kind of flax that lives in the fire , and consumes not : we have seen ( saith he ) table-cloathes made of it , burning in fires at feasts , by which they have been cleansed from their stains , and spots , and made whiter by the fire than they could be by water . 49. at belgrad in hungary , where danubius , and sava ( two great rivers ) meet , their waters mingle no more than water and oil : not that either flote above other , but joyn unmixed ; so that near the middle of the river i have gone in a boat ( saith sir henry blunt in his voyage into the levant ) and tasted of the danow , as clear , and pure as a well ; then putting mine hand an inch further , i have taken of the sava , as troubled as a street-channel , tasting the gravel in my teeth . thus they ran sixty miles together , and for a dayes journey i have been an eye-witness of it . chap. iv. the wonderful works of god in the creatures . of strange fishes . 1 anno christi 1204. at oreford in suffolk , a fish was taken by the fishermen at sea , in shape resembling a wild man , and by them was presented to sir bartholomew de glanvil , keeper of oreford castle . in all his limbs and members he resembled a man , had hair in all the usual parts of his body , only his head was bald . the knight caused meat to be set before him , which he greedily devoured , and did eat fish raw , or sod : that which was raw he pressed with his hand , till he had squeezed out all the moisture : he uttered not any speech , though to try him , they hung him up by the heels , and grievously tormented him . he would get him to his couch at the setting of the sun , and rise again at the sun-rising . one day they brought him to the haven , and let him go into the sea , but to prevent his escape , they set three rows of very strong nets before him to catch him again at their pleasure : but he , straitwayes diving to the bottom , crept under all their nets , and shewed himself again to them , and so often diving , he still came up , and looked upon them that stood on the shore , as it were mocking of them . at length after he had sported himself a great while in the water , and there was no hope of his return , he came back to them of his own accord , and remained with them two months after . but finally , when he was negligently looked to , he went to the sea , and was never after seen , or heard of . fabians chron. 2. anno christi 1404. some women of edam in the low-countries , as they were going in their barks to their cattel in purmer-meer , they often saw at the ebbing of the water , a sea-women playing up and down , whereat at the first they were afraid , but after a while , incouraging one another , they made with their boats towards her , and the water by this time being not deep enough for her to dive in , they took her by force , and drew her into the boat , and so carried her to edam , where in time she grew familiar , and fed of ordinary meats : and being sent from thence to herlem , she lived about fifteen years , but never spake , seeking often to get away into the water . belg. common-wealth . p. 102. 3. in the seas , near unto sofala are many women-fishes ; which from the belly to the neck are very like a woman ▪ the females have breasts like womens , with which also they nourish their young . from the belly downward they have thick , and long tails , with fins like a dolphin : the skin on the belly is white ; on the back rougher , than a dolphins . they have arms , which from the elbows end in fins , and so have no hands : the face is plain , round , and bigger than a mans , deformed , and without humane semblance : they have wide mouths , thick hanging lips like a hound ; four teeth hanging out almost a span long like the tusk of a boar : and their nostrils are like a calves . pur. pil. v. 2. p. 1546. 4. upon the coasts of brasile are often found meer-men , which are like unto men of a good stature , but that their eyes are very hollow . 5. captain richard whitburn in his description of newfound-land , writes that anno christi 1610. early in a morning as he was standing by the water side , in the harbour of st johns , he espied a strong creature swimming very swiftly towards him like a women , looking chearfully upon him : her face , eyes , nose , mouth , chin , ears , neck , and forehead were like a womans . it was very beautiful , and in those parts well proportioned , having hair hanging down round about the head : he seeing it come within a pikes length of him , stepped back , whereupon it dived under water , swimming to another place , whereby he beheld the shoulders , and back down to the middle , which was as square , white , and smooth as the back of a man ; from the middle to the hinder part it pointed in proportion like a broad-hooked arrow : afterwards it came to a boat wherein some of his men were , attempting to come in to them , till one of them struck it a full blow upon the head : others of them saw it afterwards also . 6. about brasile are many meer-men , and meer-women , that have long hair , and are very beautiful . they often catch the indians as they are swimming , imbracing them , and kissing them ; and clasp them so hard , that they crush them to death , and when they perceive that they are dead , they give some sighs , as if they were sorry pur. pil. v. 4. p. 1315. 7. there are also another sort of them , that resemble children , and are no bigger , that are no ways hurtful . idem . 8. the torpedo is a strange kind of fish , which a man holding in his hand , if it stir not , it produceth no effect ; but if it move it self never so little , it so torments the body of him that holds it , that his arteries , joints , sinews , & all his members feel exceeding great pain , with a certain numness , and as soon as he layeth it out of his hand , all that pain , and numness , is gone also . p. pil. v. 2. p. 1183. see more of it afterwards . 9. in sofala are many river-horses , as big as two of our horses , with thick , and short hinder legs , having five clawes on each fore-foot , and four on the hinder ; the mouth is wide , and full of teeth , four of which are above two spans long a peece ; the two lower stand upright ; the two upper are turned like a boars tush ; they live in the water , but feed on the land upon grass : they have teats wherewith they nourish their young ones : their hides are thicker than an oxes ; they are all of an ash-colour gray , with white strakes on their faces , or white stars in their foreheads . idem . p. 1544. 10. in the mouth of the river of goa , there was taken a fish of the bigness of a cur-dog , with a snout like an hog , small eyes , no ears , but two holes in-stead thereof : it had four feet like an elephant : the tail was flat , but at the end round , and somewhat sharp : it snorted like a hog ; the body , head , tail , and legs , were covered with broad scals as hard as iron , so that no weapon could peirce them : when he was beaten , he would rowle himself round like an urchin , and could by no strength be opened , till he opened of his own accord . idem . p. 1774. 11. there are also toad-fishes of about a span long , painted , having fair eyes : when they are taken out of the water , they snort , and swell much : their poison lies only in the skin , and that being flaid off , the indians eat them . idem . p. 1314. 12. the cuttle-fish hath a hood alwayes full of black water , like ink , which when she is pursued by other fishes that would devour her , she casts it forth , which so darkens and foileth the water , that she thereby escapeth . idem . 13. there are a sort of fishes , whose wonderful making magnifieth their creator , who for their safety hath given them fins , which serve in-stead of wings : they are of such a delicate skin interlaced with fine bones as may cause admiration in the beholder : these fishes are like to pilcherds , only a little rounder , and bigger : they flye best with a side wind , but longer than their wings are wet , they cannot flye ; so that their longest flight is about a quarter of a mile . the dolphins , and bonitos do continually hunt after them , to prey upon them : whereupon for safety they take the air : but then there is a fowle called an alcatrace , much like a hern , which hovers in the air to seize upon them . incidit in scyllam qui vult vitare caribdim . out of the frying pan into the fire , as our proverb hath it . 14. there is often a strang fight in the sea between the whale and his enemies , viz. the swordfish , and the thresher . the swordfish is not great , but strongly made , and between his neck and shoulders he hath a bone like a sword , of about five inches broad , and above three foot long , full of prickles on either side . the thresher is a bigger fish , whose tail is broad , and thick , and very weighty . the fight is in this manner ; the swordfish placeth himself under the belly of the whale , and the thresher above with his tail thresheth upon the head of the whale , till he forceth him to give way , which the swordfish perceiving , wounds him in the belly with the sword , and so forceth him to rise up again . in this manner they torment him , that the fight is sometimes heard above three leagues off , the whales roaring being heard much further , his onely remedy in this case is to get to the shore , which he laboureth to do as soon as he sees his enemies : for then there can fight but one with him , and for either of them hand to hand he is too good . pur. pil. v. 4. p. 1377. 15. mr. herbert in his east-indy voyage , relates of a shark taken by one of their men , that was nine foot and an half in length , and they found in her paunch fifty and five young ones , each of them a foot in length , all which go out and in at their pleasures : she is armed with a double row of venemous teeth : and is guided to her prey by a little musculus , or pilot-fish that scuds to and fro to bring intelligence , the shark for his kindnesse suffering it to suck when it pleaseth . 16. the sea tortoise is not much differing from those at land , only her shell is flatter : by overturning them they are easily taken , being hereby dis-enabled either to sink , or help themselves : they taste waterish , and cause fluxes : they superabound in eggs , one of them having in her neer two thousand , which eggs are pale , and round , and will never be made hard with boiling . herberts travels . p. 26. 17. in the indian sea is an eagle-fish , whose eyes are five quarters asunder , from the end of one fin to the end of the other are above four yards : its mouth and teeth resemble a portcullis : it hath a long small tail , and it is rather to be wondered at then to be eaten . 18. in le-maires voyage about the world , a certain fish , or sea monster , with an horn , struck against the ship with such violence , that shook it , whereupon the master looking overboard , saw the sea all bloody , but knew not what should be the cause , till coming into port-desire , where they cleansed and trimmed their ship , they found seven foot under water , a horn sticking in the ship , for bignesse , and fashion like an elephants tooth : yet not hollow , but all solid of hard bone , which had pierced through three double planks , and was entred into a rib of the ship , it stuck about half a foot deep in the ship , and by great force was broken off , which caused that great monster to bleed so much as discoloured the water . pur. pil. v. 1. p. 90. 19. the mannaty is a strange fish resembling a cow : her face is like a buffalo's , her eyes small and round , having hard gums instead of teeth : they feed much on the shore , which makes them taste like flesh of veal : their intrails differ little from a cows : their bodies are commonly three yards long , and one broad , they swim slowly wanting fins , in the place whereof they have two things like paps , which are their stilts when they creep on the shore to graze , where they sleep long , sucking in the cool aire : they cannot keep under water above half an hour . the stone generated in their head is most esteemed , being soveraign against choller adust , the stone collick ; and dissenteryes , if beaten small infused in wine , and drunk fasting . herb. trav. p. 26. see more afterwards . 20. the carvel comes of the foam of the sea , every where floating upon the surface of the ocean , of a round form , throwing abroad her strings like so many lines , which she can spread at pleasure , therewith angling for small fishes , which she catches at leasure : you may call her a sea-spider : for when she sees her web too weak , she can blow an infectious breath foaming death , or such a sting as if she had borrowed it from a scorpion . idem . 21. in the east-indies is a trade wind , which they call a briese , or monson , which blows west all april , may , june , july , august , and part of september , and east the rest of the year : only on the east of sumatra , it blows five months east , and five months west , and the other two variable . this is well known to our east-indy merchants . 22. the torpedo is a fish like a bream , but somwhat thicker : some marriners having one of them in a net , went to take it forth , but one of them presently cryed out that he had lost the use of his hands , and armes : another that was bare-legged putting his foot to it , lost the sence of his leg : but after a while their feeling returned again : whereupon calling their cook , they bade him to take and dresse it , who laying both his hands thereon , made grievous moan that he felt not his hands : but when its dead it produceth no such effect , but is good meat . pur. pil. p. 1568. 23. about jamica in the west-indies , is a fish called a manati which is of a strange shape , and nature : it brings forth her young ones alive , and nourisheth them with milk from her teats , feeding upon grass in the fields , but lives for the most part in the water : the hinder-parts of it are like unto a cow , and it eats like veal . idem . v. 3. p. 930. 24. in brasile are oxe-fishes , which are very good meat : for head , hair , skin , cheeks , and tongue , they are like oxen : their eyes small with lids to open and shut ; which no other fish hath : it breatheth , and therefore cannot be long under water : instead of fore-feet , it hath two arms of a cubit long , with two round hands , and on them five fingers close together , with nails like a mans ; under these arms the female hath paps wherewith she nourisheth her young , she brings forth but one at once . it hath no fins but the tail , which is also round and close : their bones are all maffie , and white like ivory : of this fish they make great store of sweet oil : they feed most upon the land . idem . v. 4. p. 1313. 25. in sir fran. drakes voyage about the world , when they came to the island of celebes , which is wholly overgrown with wood : amongst the trees night by night , they saw infinite swarms of fiery worms flying in the air , their bodies no bigger than of our english flyes , which made such a shew , and gave such a light , as if every twig or tree had been a burning candle . in which place also were great store of bats , as big as large hens . pur. pil. v. 1. p. 56. 26. in captain saris his voyage to bantam , about mid-night , they fell into the strangest , and fearfullest water that ever any of them had seen , the water giving such a glaring light about the ship , that they they could discern letters in a book thereby , whereas a little before it was so dark , that they could discern nothing . this made them fear that it had been the breach of sunken ground : but finding that they had failed half an hour in it , and saw no alteration , they perceived at length , that it was a multitude of cuttle-fish that made this fearful shew . pur. pil. p. 352. chap. v. the wonderful works of god in the creatures . of strange fowls , and birds . 1. in one of the scottish islands there is a rare kind of fowl unknown to other countrys , called colca , little lesse than a goose : they come thither every year in the spring , hatch , and nourish their young ones : about which time they cast all their feathers , and become stark naked all their bodies over , and then they get themselves to the sea , and are no more seen till the next spring : their feathers have no quill , as other feathers have , but are all like unto down , wherein is no hardnesse . descr. of scot. 2. in the north seas of scotland are great loggs of timber found , in which are ingendred after a marvellous manner , a sort of geese , called claik-geese : and they do hang by the beak till they are grown to perfection , and then they receive life and fall off : they are many times found , & kept in admiration for their rare manner of generation : they are very fat , and delicious to be eaten . idem . some question the truth hereof . 3. storks are so careful of their parents ? that when they grow old , and so are unable to help themselves , the young ones feed them : and when in passing the sea their wings fail them , the young ones will take them on their backs , and carry them over . and this is remarkable about them . 4. the town of delph in the low-countries is so seated for the breeding , and feeding of those birds , that it is hard to see an house wherein they do not build . in this town upon the third of may , anno christi 1536. a great fire happened when the young storks were grown pretty big : the old ones perceiving the fire to approach to their nests , attempted to carry away their young ones , but could not , they were so weighty , which they perceiving , never ceased with their spread wings to cover them , till they all perished in the flames together . belg. common wealth . p. 63. 5. in america there are certain small birds called viemalim , with small and long bills , that live upon the dew , and of the juice of flowers , and roses , like bees : their feathers are of very curious colours : they dye , or sleep every year in october , sitting upon the bough of a tree in a warm place , and in aprill following , when the flowers are sprung , they awake again . i have one of them . 6. in the arabian deserts there are great store of ostriches , that go in flocks , and often affright passengers that are strangers , with their fearful schr●eches , appearing a farr off like a troop of horsmen . their bodies are too heavy to be born up by their wings , which , though uselesse for flight , yet serve them to run with greater speed , so that a swift horse can scarce overtake them : whatsoever they finde , be it stones or iron , they greedily swallow it down , and concoct it : when they have laid their eggs , ( which are as big as a culverin bullet ) they forget where they left them , and so return no more to them : but they are hatched by the heat of the sun in the warm sands : hence those expressions , lam. 4. 3. the daughter of my people is become cruel , like the ostriches in the wildernesse : whereupon she is made the embleme of folly , job 39. 14. &c. she leaveth her eggs in the earth , and warmeth them in the dust , and forgets that the foot may crush them , &c. 7. in brasile there is a little bird , which they call the risen , or awaken bird , because it sleeps six months , and awakes the other six . it hath a cap on its head of no one colour , but on what side soever you look , it sheweth red , green , black , and other colours , all very fine , and shining : the breast also shews great variety of colours , especially yellow , more fine then gold ; the body is grey , and it hath a very long small bill , and yet the tongue is twice as long as the bill : it flyes very swiftly , and makes a humming like a bee. it always feeds flying . pur. pil. 8. in socotera there are bats , whose bodies are almost as big as a conies , their heads are like foxes with an hairy furr upon them : in other things they are like our bats . one of them being killed by some english , his wings when they were extended , were an ell in length . their cry is shril and loud . idem . 9. in italy are the flies cantharides , which by day are of a green shining colour , but in the night they shine in the air , like flying glow-worms , with fire in their tailes . raimunds mercu. ital. 10. in china there is a fowl of a prodigious shape , and bignesse : it is three foot high : the body being exceeding great , more than a man can fathom : their feathers are all white like a swans , their feet broad like fowls that swim : their neck half a fathom long , and their beak half an ell , the upper part of it being crooked . from the nether part of the beak there hangs a very great and capable bag of a yellow golden colour , resembling parchment . with these fowls the natives use to fish , as we do in england with cormorants . they will catch fish with great dexterity , and when they have filled their great bag , which will hold divers fishes of two foot long a peece , they will bring them to their masters . pur. pil. v. 2. 1643. 11. in the african desarts is a certain fowle called a nesir , some call it a vultur . it s bigger than a crane . in flying it mounts very high , yet at the sight of a dead carkass , it descends immediatly . she lives long , and in extream old age looseth her feathers , and then returning to her nest , is there fed by the young ones of the same kind . idem . 12. near unto the streights of magellane , there is an island called penguin island , wherein are abundance of fowls called penguins that go upright , their wings , in stead of feathers , are only covered with down , which hang down like sleeves faced with white . they flye not , but walk in paths of their own making , and keep their divisions and quarters orderly . they are a strange fowle , or rather , a miscellaneous creature , of beast , bird , and fish : but most of bird. pur. pil. v. 1. p. 536. 13. in the isle of man , there is a sort of sea-fowles called puffins , they are of a very unctious constitution , and breed in cony-holes ( the conies leaving their burrows for that time ) they are never seen with their young , but very early in the morning , and late in the evening : they nourish their young ( as it is conceived ) with oil drawn from their own bodyes , and dropped into their mouths ; for that being opened , there is found in their crops no other sustenance , save a single sorrel-leaf , which the old give their young ( as is conjectured ) for digestions-sake ; the flesh of them , whilst raw , not savoury , but powdered , it may be ranked with anchoves , and caviare ; profitable they are in their feathers , and oil , which they use much about their wooll . 14. the isle of mauritius is a fowle called a dodo ; her body is round , and extream fat , which makes her pace slow : few of them weigh less than fifty pound : her wings are so small , that they cannot lift her above the ground : her head is variously dressed , the one half-hooded with downy black feathers ; the other wholly naked , of a whitish colour , as if a transparent lawn had covered it : her bill is very hooked , bending downwards , the breathing place being in the midst of it , from which part to the end , the colour is light green , mixt with a pale yellow : her eyes are round , and small , and bright as diamonds : her cloathing is of the finest down ; her train is of three or four short-feathers , her legs thick , and black ; her tallons sharp ; her stomach so hot , that she digests stones , or iron , as doth the ostrich . 15. in lincolnshire there is a bird called a dotterel , so named of his doltish foolishness : it s a bird of an apish kinde , ready to imitate what it sees done : they are caught by candle-light by the fowlers gestures ; for if he put forth and arm , they stretch forth a wing : if he sets forward a leg , or hold up his head , they likewise do the same : in brief , whatsoever the fowler doth , the same also doth this foolish bird , until it be caught within the net . camb. brit. p. 543. 16. there is an island called bas , bordering upon lathaien in scotland , unto which there resort a multitude of sea fowls , especially of soland geese , which bring with them such abundance of fish , that , as it is reported , an hundred souldiers that lay there in garrison for defence of the place , fed upon no other meat , but the fish that was thus brought to them : and the said fowls also bring such a number of sticks , and twigs , wherewith to build their nests , that thereby the inhabitants are also abundantly provided of fewel for the fire : and such a mighty gain is made of their feathers , and oil , that no man would scarcely beleeve it , but he that hath seen it . camb. brit. of scotland . p. 12 , 13. 17. in magallanes voyage about the world , the king of the island of bacchian sent the king of spain two dead birds of a strange shape : they were as big as turtle-doves , with little heads , and long bills , long small legs , and no wings , but in-stead thereof certain long feathers of divers colours , and tails like turtle-doves : all their other feathers were of a tawny colour ; they flye not , but when the wind blows ; and they call them birds of god. pur. pil v. 1. p. 44. 18. in sofala in the east-indies is a kinde of bird called minga , green , and yellow , very fair , about the bigness of a pigeon , which never treads on the ground , their feet being so short , that they can scarce be discerned : they settle on trees , of the fruit whereof they live : when they drink , they flye on the tops of the water ; and if they fall on the ground , they cannot rise again ; their flesh is fat and savoury . idem . p. 1546. chap. vi. the wonderful works of god in the creatures . of strange beasts , and serpents . 1. whilst sir thomas row , our english ambassador , was at the great moguls court , he saw many stately elephants brought before the emperour : some of which being lord-elephants ( as they called them ) had their chain bells , and furniture of gold , and silver , each of them having eight , or ten other elephants waiting on him : they were some twelve companies in all , and as they passed by , they all bowed down before the king very handsomely . pur. pil. v. 1. p. 550. 2. though these elephants be the largest of all beasts , yet are they very tractable , unless at such times when they are mad through lust : some of them are thirteen , and some fifteen foot high ; their colour is usually black , their skins thick , and smooth without hair ; they delight much to bathe themselves in water , and are excellent swimmers , their pace is about three miles an hour ; of all beasts they are most sure of foot , so that they never stumble , or fall to indanger their rider : they lye down , and rise again at pleasure , as other beasts do ; they are most docible creatures , doing almost whatsoever their keeper commands them . if he bid one of them affright a man , he will make towards him , as he would tread him in pieces ; and yet when he comes at him , do him no hurt : if he bid him abuse , or disgrace a man , he will take dirt , or kennel-water in his trunk , and dash it in his face , &c. their trunks are long , grissely snouts hanging down betwixt their teeth , which ( as a hand ) they make use of upon all occasions . some elephants the great mogul keeps for execution of malefactors ; who being brought to suffer death by that mighty beast , if the keeper bid him dispatch the offender presently , he will immediately with his foot pash him in peeces : if he bid him torture him slowly , he will break his joynts by degrees one after another , as men are broken upon the wheel . 2. an english merchant of good credit being at adsmeer ( a city where the great mogul then was ) saw a great elephant daily brought through the market-place , where an hearb-woman used to give him an handful of hearbs as he passed by . this elephant afterwards being mad ; brake his chains , and took his way through the market-place ; the people being affrighted , hasted to secure themselves , amongst whom was this hearb-woman , who through fear , and haste , forgat her little childe . the elephant comming to the place where she usually sate , stopt , and seeing a child lye about her hearbs , took it up gently with his trunk , and without harm , laid it upon a stall hard by , and then proceeded in his furious course . idem . p. 1472. the males testicles lie about his forehead : the females teates are betwixt her fore-legs ; they carry their young two years in their wombs : conceive but once in seven years : they are thirty years before they come to their full growth , and fulfil the accustomed age of a man before they die . 3. as pyrrus king of epyrus was assaulting the city of argos , one of his elephants called nicon . i. e. conquering , being entred the city , perceiving that his governour was stricken down to the ground from his back with terrible blows ; ran upon them that came back upon him , overthrowing friends , and foes , one in anothers neck , till at length , having found the body of his slain master , he lift him up from the ground with his trunk , and carrying him upon his two tushes ; returned back with great fury , treading all under feet whom he found in his way . plut. in vita pyrri . 4. the lion hath the jackall for his usher , which is a litle black , shag-haired beast , of the bigness of a spaniel , which when the evening comes , hunts for his prey , and comming on the foot , follows the scent with open crye : to which the lion as chief hunt gives diligent ear , following for his advantage : if the jackall set up his chase before the lion comes in , he howles out mainly , and then the lion seizeth on it , making a grumbling noise , whilst his servant stands by barking , and when the lyon hath done , the jackal feeds on the relicks idem . p. 1575. see more afterwards , example seventeen . 5. the panther hath a very sweet smell , so that other beasts are much taken therewith , but they are terrified with the ugly deformity of his face ; and therefore as he goes he hides that part between his legs , and will not look towards them till he hath gotten them within his compasse , which when he hath done , he devours them without mercy : so deals the devil with wicked men , strewing their way to hell with variety of worldly delights , and profits ( the thorns of affliction must not touch their flesh , nor hells terrors come within their thoughts ) till he hath made them past feeling , then he devours them . plin. nat . hist. l. 8 c. 17. 6. the rhynoceros is so called because of the horn in his nose : he is a large beast , as big as our fairest oxe in england : his skin lyeth plated , and as it were in wrinkles upon his back : their horn , teeth , claws , yea flesh , and blood , are good against poyson , which , as is conceived , proceeds from the herbs which they feed on in bengala , where are most store of them . 7. the camelopardalus is the highest of beasts , so that a man on horseback may ride upright under his belly , his neck is long , so that he usually feedeth upon the leaves of trees : his colour is white and speckled , his hinder legs are shorter than his former , so that he cannot graze but with difficulty . p. pil. p. 1381. he is also called a jaraff . 8. in india is a certain beast called a buffelo , which is very large , hath a thick and smooth skin , but without hair : she gives good milk , and her flesh is like beefe . idem . p. 1469. 9. in the same country also are certain wild goats , whose horns are good against poison , pur. pil. p. 472. 10. in the country of indostan in the east-indies , are large white apes , as big as our grey-hounds , which will eat young birds , whereupon nature hath taught their dams this subtilty : they build their nests on the utmost bowes at the end of slender twigs : where they hang them like purse-nets to which the apes cannot possibly come : yet many times with their hands they will shake those boughs till the nests break , and fall down , and then they will devour them . pur. pilgrimage p. 1475. 11. the camelion is of the shape , and bigness of a lizzard , it is a deformed lean , and crooked creature , having a long and slender tail , like a mouse , and is of a slow pace . it lives only upon flys . it changeth colours according to the variety of places where it comes . it is a great enemy to venemous serpents ; for when it sees any lie sleeping under a tree , it gets upon a bough just over the serpents head , & voideth out of its mouth , as it were a long thred of spittle , with around drop hanging at the end , which falling on the serpents head , immediately kills him p. pil. p. 848. 12. there was lately found in catalunia , in the mountains of cerdania , a certain monster , that had humane shape as far as the waste , and downwards it was like a satyre : he had many heads , arms , & eyes , and a mouth of extraordinary bigness , wherewith he made a noise like a bull : his picture was sent by don john of austria ( now governour of the low countrys ) to the king of spain , and afterwards many coppies thereof were drawn , and sent abroad by ambassadors , and other persons to several princes , and states in europe . hist. of this iron age . 13. in brasile is a certain beast called a tamandua or ant-bear of the bignesse of a great dog , more round than long , and the tail above twice so long as the body , and so full of hair that under it he shelters himself from rain , heat , cold , and wind . his head is small ; and hath a thin snout : his mouth round , with a tongue three quarters of a yard long : he is diligent in seeking ant-hills , which he teareth with his claws , and then thrusts in his long tongue , upon which the ants run , and when it is full , he licks them in ; and this is all his food . pur. pil. v. 4. p. 1301. 14. the armadillo is of the bignesse of a pig , and of a white colour : it hath a long snout , and the body is covered with shels like plates , wherewith they are armed : for they are so hard that no arrow will pierce them except in the flanks , where they are softer : their flesh is good to eat , they dig holes in the ground with their snouts , in which they lye . idem . 15. the porcupine hath bristles , or quils , white and black , of a span and an half long , which they can cast : and they have this quality , that where one of these bristles enters into the flesh , if it be not pulled out presently , it will work it selfe quite through ; they are of a good flesh , and taste . 16. the civet-cat exceeds the castor for bignesse , her head is little , her eyes clear ; hath a long muzzle ; sharp , and offensive teeth . her hair is parti-coloured , harsh , and bristley , yellow above , and whiter downwards ; the pocket wherein the civet is bred is neer the genitory , which is taken forth with a spoon or stick ; but when she is wild , she casts it forth of her own accord , and by the scent it is found by the passengers . 17. the lyons in affrick , are more fierce than in colder countryes ; here was one of their skins brought into england , which from the snout to the top of the tail , contained one and twenty foot in length . they engender backwards as do camels , elephants , rhinoceroses , ounces , and tygers . they spare such men as prostrate themselves to them , and prey rather upon men than women , and not at all on infants , except compelled by hunger . his tail is his scepter , by which he expresses his passion . he shrinks not at danger , except some covert of woods hides him from witnesses , and then he will take the benefit of flight , which otherwise he seems to disdain . 18. the hyaena hath no joints in her neck , and therefore stirs not her neck , but with the bending of her whole body . she hath one continued tooth through her whole mouth . 19. in africk are many wild asses , whereof one male hath many females , and he is so jealous , that he bites off the stones of the young males , if the suspicious female prevent him not by bringing forth in a close place . 20. the dabuh is a simple creature , like to a wolf , but that his legs and feet are like to a mans , they which know his haunt , with a taber , & singing , will bring him out of his den , and captivate his ears with their musick , whilst another captivateth his legs with a rope . 21. the zebra is a very beautiful creature , resembling a curiously shaped horse , but not all out so swift , all over-laid with party coloured laces , and guards , from head to tail . 22. in sofala there is a certain creature called inhazaras as big as a hog , & somewhat like , with thin black hair , having on his hinder feet five fingers like unto a mans , and four on his forefeet ; they live meerly upon ants , by thursting their tongues which are two spans and an half long into an ant-hil , whereon the ants running , they pull them into their mouths , and so eat them : some call them ant-bears . pur. pil. 23. there is in affrica a certain monster called pongo , in the whole proportion like unto a man , but that it is bigger . it hath a mans face , hollow eyes , long hair upon the brows , his face and ears being without hair : but his body is all hairy of a dunish colour , &c. he differs from a man only in his legs , which have no calves : he goes alwayes upright upon his legs , and he carries his hands clasped in the nape of his neck , when he walkes upon the ground : they use to sleep in trees , and live upon fruits and nuts . idem . v. 2. p. 982. 24. in congo there is a strange creature as big as a ram , that hath wings like a dragon , a long tail , and great chaps , with diverse rows of teeth : they feed upon raw flesh . idem . p. 1003. 25. in affrica there is a beast called a dabuk , in bignesse and shape , resembling a wolf , saving that his legs & feet are like a mans . he useth to take dead men out of their graves , and eat them . idem . p. 847. 26. in the kingom of mexico there are kine , with bunches on their backs , about the bigness of our bulls , having little horns , and more hair on their foreparts than behind , which is like wooll : on the back-bone they have maines like horses , and long hair from their knees downward , with much long hair on their throats : they are meat , drink , shooes , houses , fire , vessels , and their masters whole substance . 27. other creatures there are as big as horses , which the spaniards for their fine wooll call sheep : one of their horns usually weigheth fifty pounds . p. pil. v. 4. p. 1561. 28. in virginia is a beast called a possown , the female whereof hath a bag under her belly , from whence she letteth forth her young ones , and taketh them in again at her pleasure . idem . p. 1772. 29. in socotera are sheep , whose tails weigh twenty eight pounds a peece , which therefore are usually cut off from the ewes , least they should hinder their breeding . 30. in the great mogols countrey there are asses with horns , whereof they make diverse sorts of drinking cups , of excellent vertue . some judging them to be the right unicorns horn . idem . p. 436. 31. most certain it is , that the irish cows will not give down their milk , unless their own calves be set by their sides , either alive , or else the skin of the dead calf must be stuffed with straw , and set by them . camb. brit. of ireland . p. 1145. 32. in the island of orknay the ewes are of such fecundity , that they bring forth constantly two , and many times three lambs a peece ; there be neither ravenous nor venemous creatures there ; nor if transported thither , will they live in that island . description of scotl. 33. there are three sorts of camels : the first sort are gross , and tall of stature : these will usually carry one thousand pound weight a peece ; when they are to be loaden , being beaten on the knees , and neck with a cudgel , they will kneel down ; and when they feel their load sufficient , they will rise up again of themselves . the second sort of them have two bunches on their backs , and are fit either for burthen , or to ride on . the third sort are of a slender , and low stature , called dromedaries , unfit for burthens , but they excel in swiftness , so that in the space of one day they will travel one hundred miles , and will so continue for eight , or ten dayes together , with very little provender ; and they will abstain from drink , eight , ten , and sometimes fifteen dayes together , without any inconvenience , as they travel through the deserts . 34. musk is taken from a little reddish beast , that they beat with many blows in one place , that so the blood may gather into it : and when the skin is by this means swoln , and full of blood , they bind it strait , that the blood may not issue forth , and being put into one , or more bladders , its dryed on the beasts back , till the bladder fall off of it self ; and so that blood after a month becomes excellent musk . pur. pil. v. 2. p. 1500. 35. amongst the blackmoors , there is a strange beast called a carbuncle , which is seen only by night , having a stone in his forehead that shineth incredibly , and giving him light whereby to feed : but when he hears the lest noise , he presently lets fall over it a skin , which he hath as a natural covering , least his splendor should betray him . pur. pil. v. 1. p. 416. 36. in abassia are kine with horns like unto harts-horns : others there be that have but one horn in the midst of their foreheads of about a span and an half long , turning upward . pur. pil. v. 2. p. 1495. 37. there is in the country of mexico a kinde of sheep , which all things considered , is a beast of the greatest profit , and least charge that is : for from them they draw meat and cloathing : they use them also to carry all their burthens , having need neither of shooes nor saddles , nor yet of oats , so that they serve their masters for nought , feeding only on grass which they find in the fields : there are two kinds of these creatures , the one bearing wooll , the other are bare , which are the better for burthen ; they are bigger than great sheep , and less than calves ; they have long necks like a cammel . they are of divers colours , some white , some black , and others grey , or spotted ; their flesh is good meat , but that of their lambs is best : of their wooll the indians make cloath some courser , other finer like half-silk ; they also make carpets , and coverings , and other exquisite works of it , which last long , and have a very good gloss ; they die it into sundry colours : upon these the spaniards carry their bars of silver ; one of these sheep carrying about an hundred and fifty pound weight . 37. in the stomach , or belly of this beast , is found the bezar's stone ; sometimes one alone , sometimes two , three , or foure : they are different in form , greatness , and colour ; some like filbeards , others like walnuts : some as big as pigeons eggs , some as big as hens eggs : in form some are round , some oval , and of other formes . for their colour , some are black , some white , some grey , dark green , and some as if they had been gilded : they are all made of divers filmes , and skins one upon another . p. pil. v. 3. p. 969. 38. there is in italy the tarantula ( a kind of serpent ) the venome whereof hath such an operation , that whosoever is stung with it , falleth a dancing , and capering , and nothing can allay it but musick . raimunds mercu. ital. examples of dogs love to their masters . 39. when the athenians quit their city , and betook themselves to sea , upon xerxes his invasion of greece , xantippus the father of pericles had a dog , which for sorrow that his master had left him behind him , cast himself after him into the sea , swimming still by the gallies side wherein his master was , till he came to the isle of salamina , where so soon as the poor cur landed , his breath failed him , and he dyed presently . plut in vita themist . chap. vii . admirable works done by the art of man. 1. protogenes the rhodian , an exquisite painter , bestowed seven years in drawing a most curious picture , which when apelles beheld , he stood amazed at the excellency of the workmanship , so that for a while he could not speak , but afterwards he said , this is an admirable work , and of huge labour , yet he wants an orator to extol his workmanship to the skies . when king demetrius besiedged the city of rhodes , he took the suburbs , and in them this picture , whereupon the citizens sent to him , requesting him not to deface it ; to whom he answered , that he would sooner burn the picture of his father , than hurt a peece of such admirable workmanship . diod. sic. plut. glasses malleable . 2. anno christi 1610. amongst other rare presents sent from the sophy of persia , to the king of spain , were six drinking glasses so exquisitely tempered , that they could not be broken . turk . hist. p. 1273. stone-henge described . 3. about six miles from salisbury , upon the plains , is to be seen a huge , and monstrous peece of work , such as cicero calleth insanam substructionem . for within the circuit of a ditch , there are erected in the manner of a crown , in three ranks , or courses , one whithin another , certain mighty , and unwrought stones , whereof some are twenty eight foot high , and seven broad ; upon the heads of which , others like overtwhart peeces do bear , and rest cross-wise with tenents , and mortesses , so as the whole frame seemeth to hang , whereof it s commonly called stone-henge . camb. brit. 4. in westmerland hard by shape , there be hung stones in form of pyramids , some of them nine foot high , and fourteen foot thick , ranged directly as it were in a row for a mile in length , with equal distance almost between them . camb. brit. p. 762. mausolus his tombe described . 5. artimesia queen of halicarnassus , when her husband mausolus dyed , built him a stately tomb , accounted for the rare workmanship , and costly magnificence one of the worlds wonders . it was five and twenty cubits high , and supported with six and thirty curious pillars , of which martial thus writeth : are nam vacuo pendentia mausolaea , laudibus immodicis cares ad astra ferunt . the mausolaea hanging in the skie , the men of caria's praises deifie . 6. when sir thomas row was ambassador there , the great mogul built a stately monument for his father : it was about twenty years in building , and three thousand men working daily at it : it was built square , three quarters of a mile in compass : it was made with seven heights one above another , and each narrower than other , till you come to the top where the herse is : at the outward gate is a most stately palace , and gardens walled about , at least three miles in compass ; all built at a vast charge . pur. pil. p. 226. 7. mr. herbert , who saw it afterwards , thus describes it . it consists ( saith he ) of four large squares , each about three hundred paces long , the matter is freestone polished , having at each angle , a small tower of party coloured marble . ten foot higher is another tarras , on each side beautified with three such towers . the third gallery hath two towers , on each side . the fourth , one . the fifth , half , and a small square gallery mounting to a royal pyree , within which is the mummy of ecbar ; bedded in a coffin of pure gold. the whole structure is built in the midst of a spacious and curious garden , surrounded with a wall of red stone , and planted with beautiful and odoriferous flowers . porsennah's tomb described . porsenna king of hetruria● , not far from the city of clusium , built for himself a monument of square stone , each side of it was three hundred foot broad , and fifty foot high ; within which square basis , there was an inextricable labyrinth , into which whosoever adventured without a clue , could find no passage out . upon this square he erected five pyramids , four in the corners , and one in the midst ; in the bottom they were seventy five foot broad , and each of them one hundred and fifty foot high , on the top was one brass circle , and covering for them all , from which there hung bells fastened with chains , which being moved with the winde , gave a sound a far off : upon this brazen circle stood other four pyramids , each of them one hundred foot high ; and upon them ( being covered with another plain ) were again erected five other pyramids , the height whereof my author was ashamed to name : so foolishly did he waste the wealth of his kingdom , that in the end the commendation of the artificer should be the greatest . pliny out of varro ; and greaves out of him . 8. in the great moguls country , from agra to lahar ( which are the two chief cities in this empire ) is about four hundred english miles : the country in all that distant , being even without mountains or hills : and the high-way betwixt them , is planted on both sides with trees , like unto a delicate walk . p. pil. v. 2. p. 1468. the trees are mulberry-trees . and in all this way , ever and anon , are inns built by several kings , and great men , for the entertainment of strangers : in which you may have a chamber for your self , room for your hourse , and horse-meat , but little for your servant : when a man hath taken up his lodging , no other may dispossess him . in the morning about break a day , all make ready to depart , at which time the gates are opened , and none suffered to depart sooner for fear of theeves . p. 520. the first invention of printing . 9. laurence jans , a rich citizen of harlem in the low-countries , walking forth one day into the neighbouring woods for recreation , began to cut in pieces of wood the letters of his name , printing them on the back of his hand ; which pleasing him well , he cut three or four lines which he beat with ink , and printed them upon paper , wherewith he much joyed , and determined to find out another kind of ink more fastening , and holding , and so with his kinsman thomas peterse , found out another way to print whole sheets , but of one side only , which are yet to be seen in the said town : afterwards he changed his letters of wood into lead , and after that into tin , and so by degrees this famous art of printing grew to perfection . belg. common-wealth . p. 57. 11. some say that john guttenburg of strasburg , was the first inventer of it , anno christi 1440. in which city he first practised it , and removing from thence to mentz , there perfected it . they say that tullies offices was the first book that ever was printed . p. ramus schol. math. l. 2. 12. it doth with wonderful celerity convey learning from one country , and age , to another . imprimit ille die , quantum vix scribitur anno . the most famous printers were . 13. aldus manutius , and after him paulus his son in venice . in france , crispinus , henry stevens , father to charles ; and charles to robert ; robert to henry , and henry to paul , all printers . 14. christopher plantine of antwerp , was a most famous and learned printer . 15. frobenius , that was erasmus his faithful printer . 16. daniel bombergus , an excellent printer of the hebrew bible , and many other hebrew books , &c. the first invention of guns . 17. a german fryer of the order of st. francis , called bertholdus swart , being very studious of chymistry , as he was one evening ( for the finding out of some experiment ) very busie in tempering brimstone , sulphureous powder of dryed earth , and certain other ingredients in a morter , which he covered with a stone : when it grew dark , he took his tinder-box to light him a candle , a sparke whereof by chance flying into the mortar , caught hold of the brimstone , and salt-peter , and firing , with a sudden flash blew up the stone . the cunning chymist gues●ng what it was which wrought this effect , never left till he found out the certainty , and then taking an iron pipe , he crammed it full of the same ingredient , together with some stones , and so putting fire to it , he saw that with great fury , and noise it discharged it self : soon after which , he communicated this his invention to the venetians , who , having been often vanquished by the genowayes , did by the help of these bombards , or guns , give them a notable discomfiture . anno christi 1380. bucholtz . 18. at middleburg in zealand , in the steeple of the abby-church , there is a bell of eighteen thousand weight to strike the hours on , and twenty four small ones which serve for the chymes . belg. common-wealth . p. 162. a description of the situation of utrecht in the low-countries . utrecht in the low-countries , is so situated , that one may go to what town he please of fifty , that lye round about it in one day . and in a summers day , if one go early from utrecht , he may dine at any one of twenty six towns , where he pleaseth , and return to his own house to supper . idem . p. 200. trajan built a bridge over the river ister , or danow , containing twenty arches , each arch being one hundred and fifty foot high , sixty thick , and one hundred and seventy foot distant one from another : so that the whole length of it was four thousand seven hundred and seventy foot , which was almost a mile long . the river was very deep , and swift , and the bottom not firm ground , neither could the stream be diverted any other way ; all which made the work far more difficult , and admirable . ancus martius , the fourth king of rome , built a wooden bridge over the river tybur , yet without nails , or pins , so that in times of war it might be taken down : afterwards aemilius the consul built it of stone : and lastly antoninus pius the emperour built it of marble . finis . soli deo gloria . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a33345-e190 trees , fowles beasts fishes plants , fruits , and herbs , virginia's situation . their summers and winters . the natives described . their apparel . habitations and houses . their lodging and beds . their child-birth and children . women laborious and men idle . their several diets . their bows and arrows . their weapons in war. the fishing boats , and furniture . their huntings . their wars . their musick . their trading . their religion . their sepulchers , and burials . their mournings : the priests attire . their civil government . the kings women and attendants . their goverment by customs . of the plantation of the english. elks fruitfulness of the deer . their beasts and fowles ▪ their fish. their fruits . the qualities of the natives . their priests . their government . the countrey described . strange beasts . their hawks and other fowl. birds and fish. bermudas city . powhatans daughter converted baptized and married . she comes into england . her death . vrginia divided . how governed : persons sent over . commodities , their iron , pot , and sope ashes pitch and tar. timber . silk . vines . salt. gifts to the plantation . persons sent over . gifts to promote the plantation . notes for div a33345-e4680 the nature of its soil . the temperature of the air . it s fertility . their summers , and winters . no venomous creature there . fish fowl trees and plants . tortoises or turtles described . the prickl pear . fowls and birds . plants . things offensive . their number & bigness . whale-fight . strange birds . rat-plague palm trees . shel-fish . other fish birds . more planters sent over . of governours . notes for div a33345-e6130 the good god , how they increase the priests . their government . they maintain their kings . their charity . their burials , and mournings their behaviour . their names of their marriages , their women . their modesty . their justice punishments . their integrity . their language . their chonicles . notes for div a33345-e13150 barbadoes first discovered . hoggs found there . hunted by the indians . fine pots . the first painters . indico planted . cotton , and fustick . sugar canes planted . the scituation of the island . the chief towns unhealthful . the baies . the bigness of the island . ils beauty the length of the days the temperature . diseases , the moistness of the air . a want of water . the only river or lake . excellent lobsters . their ponds . speedy warning of dangers bread of c●ssury . how it s made . bread of maise , and cussary together . lob-lolly potatoes used for bread. their drink mobby , how made . perino how made . grippo . punch . plantane drink . kill-devil . beveridge pine-drink the best of all . hogs flesh . beef . turkies . pullin , and muscovy ducks . turtle doves . pidgeons . rabbets . several sorts of fish . the green turtle . quasquechoses . flesh and fish. the negroes alowance . an inland feast . a feast near the sea. merchandize imported and exported . timber trees . locusts . mastick trees . bully trees . red wood yellow wood . cedars iron-wood . stone for buildings . of their servants and slaves . how their servants are used . dreadful fire . how quenched . of the negroes . their chastiy . their jealousie . of their easie travel dancing . the funerals , and physick . negro . maids and wives . indians . camels . horses . bulls and cows . asinegoes . hoggs . sheep . goats . birds and fowls . buzzards . turtle doves . thrush . blackbirds stares . counsellers . the humming bird. teals , oxen , kine : a man of wyr . snakes . scorpious lizzards . cochoaches . the muskitoes . merriwings . caterpillars . other flies . ants and pismires . ants. spiders . negroes . crickets . crabs . the physick nut. the poison tree . a mantionel tree . cussavy . coloquintida . cassia fistula . a strange tamarine trees . palm-trees figg trees . cherry-trees . citron trees . orange trees . limon trees . lime-trees prickled apple trees . prickled pear-trees . pomgranate trees papa-trees gnaver trees . coco-trees custard-apple trees mucow trees . date trees , mungrave trees . calibash trees . bay-trees . cedar mastick trees . bully trees , red-wood trees . prickled yellow wood . iron wood. lignum vitae . locust trees , bastard locust trees . palmeto trees . palms to royal trees . plantanes . wild plantanes . tanes . bonanoes . sugar . canes . old wit hs . aloes . the observations of sir richard havvkins knight, in his voiage into the south sea. anno domini 1593 hawkins, richard, sir, 1562?-1622. 1622 approx. 466 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 91 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-05 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a02826 stc 12962 estc s119816 99855022 99855022 20492 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a02826) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 20492) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 321:16) the observations of sir richard havvkins knight, in his voiage into the south sea. anno domini 1593 hawkins, richard, sir, 1562?-1622. [6], 169, [7] p. printed by i[ohn] d[awson] for iohn iaggard, and are to be sold at his shop at the hand and starre in fleete-streete, neere the temple gate, london : 1622. printer's name from stc. running title reads: sir r: hawkins his observations. includes index. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng america -discovery and exploration -english -early works to 1800. south america -description and travel -early works to 1800. 2004-01 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-02 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-03 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2004-03 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the observations of s ir richard havvkins knight , in his voiage into the south sea. anno domini 1593. per varios casus , artem experientia fecit , exemplo monstrante viam . — manil. li. 1. princeps svbditorum incolvmitatem procvrans . id printer's or publisher's device london printed by i.d. for iohn iaggard , and are to be sold at his shop at the hand and starre in fleete-streete , neere the temple gate . 1622. to the most illvstriovs and most excellent prince charles , prince of wales , dvke of cornewall , earle of chester , &c. amongst other neglects preiudiciall to this state , i haue observed , that many the worthy and heroyque acts of our nation , haue beene buried and forgotten : the actors themselues being desirous to shunne emulation in publishing them , and those which ouerlived them , fearefull to adde , or to dimnish from the actors worth , iudgement , and valour ; haue forborne to write them : by which , succeeding ages haue beene deprived of the fruits , which might haue beene gathered out of their experience , had they beene committed to record . to avoyd this neglect , and for the good of my country , i haue thought it my duty to publish the observations of my south-sea-voyage ; and for that vnto your highnesse , you heires , and successors , it is most likely to be advantagious , ( hauing brought on me nothing but losse and misery ) i am bold to vse your name , a protection vnto it , and to offer it with all humblenes and duty to your highnesse approbation , which if it purchase , i haue attained my desire , which shall ever ayme to performe dutie . your highnesse humble and devoted servant , richard havvkins ❧ to the reader . had that worthie knight the authour lived to haue seene this his treatise published : he would perhaps himselfe haue giuen the account thereof : for by his owne directions it was put to the presse , though it pleased god to take him to his mercy during the time of the impression . his purpose was to haue recommended both it and himselfe vnto our most excellent prince charles , and himselfe wrote the dedication , which being imparted vnto me , i conceited that it stood not with my dutie to suppresse it . touching the discourse it selfe , as it is out of my element to iudge , so it is out of my purpose to say much of it . this onely i may boldly promise , that you shall heere find an expert sea man , in his owne dialect deliver a true relation of an vnfortunat voyage : which howsoever it proved lamentable and fatall to the actors , may yet proue pleasing to the readers : it being an itch in our natures to delight in newnes and varietie , be the subiect never so grievous . this ( if there were no more ) were yet worthy your perusall : and is as much as others haue with good acceptance , afforded in relations of this nature . howbeit besides the bare series and context of the storie , you shall heere finde interweaved , sundry exact descriptions of countries , townes , capes , promontories , rivers , creekes , harbors , and the like , not vnprofitable for navigators : besides many notable observations , the fruites of a long experience , that may giue light touching marine accidents , even to the best captaines and commaunders : who if they desire to learne by precepts shall here finde store : but if examples prevaile more with them , here are also aliena pericula , if you believe mee not , reade and iudge . farewell . the observations of s ir richard hawkins , knight , in his voyage into the south sea. anno domini . 1593. sect . i. with the covnsels consent , and helpe of my father , sir iohn hawkins , knight , i resolved a voyage to be made for the ilands of iapan , of the phillippinas , and molueas , the kingdomes of china , and east indies , by the way of the straites of magelan , and the south sea. the principall end of our designements , was , to make a perfect discovery of all those parts , where i should arriue , as well knowne as vnknowne , with their longitudes and latitudes ; the lying of their coasts ; their head-lands ; their pons , and bayes ; their citties , townes , and peoplings ; their manner of government ; with the commodities which the countries yeelded , and of which they haue want , and are in necessitie . for this purpose in the end of anno 1588. returning from the iourney against the spanish armado , i caused a ship to be builded in the river of thames , betwixt three and foure hundred tunnes , which was finished in that perfection as could be required for shee was pleasing to the eye , profitable for stowage , good of sayle , and well conditioned . the day of her lanching being appoynted , the lady hawkins ( my mother in law ) craued the naming of the ship , which was easily granted her : who knowing what voyage was pretended to be vndertaken , named her the repentance : what her thoughts were , was kept secret to her selfe ; and although many times i expostulated with her , to declare the reason for giving her that vncouth name , i could never haue any other satisfaction , then that repentance was the safest ship we could sayle in , to purchase the haven of heaven . well , i know , shee was no prophetesse , though a religious and most vertuous lady , and of a very good vnderstanding . yet too propheticall it fell out by gods secret iudgementes , which in his wisedome was pleased to reveale vnto vs by so vnknowne a way , and was sufficient for the present , to cause me to desist from the enterprise , and to leaue the ship to my father , who willingly tooke her , and paid the entire charge of the building and furnishing of her , which i had concorted or paid . and this i did not for any superstition i haue in names , or for that i thinke them able to further or hinder any thing ; for that all immediately dependeth vpon the providence of almightie god , and is disposed by him alone . yet advise i all persons ever ( as neere as they can ) by all meanes , and in all occasions , to presage vnto themselues the good they can , and in giving names to terrestriall workes ( especially to ships ) not to giue such as meerly represent the celestiall character ; for , few haue i knowne , or seene , come to a good end , which haue had such attributes . as was plainely seene in the revenge , which was ever the vnfortunatest ship , the late queenes maiestie had during her raigne ; for comming out of ireland , with sir iohn parrot , shee was like to be cast away vpon the kentish coast. after in the voyage of sir iohn hawkins my father , anno 1586. shee strucke aground comming into plimouth , before her going to sea : vpon the coast of spaine , shee left her fleete , readie to sinke with a great leake : at her returne into the harbour of plimouth , shee beate vpon winter stone ; and after in the same voyage , going out of portsmouth haven , shee ranne twice a-ground ; and in the latter of them , lay twentie two houres beating vpon the shore , and at length with eight foote of water in hold , shee was forced off , and presently ranne vpon the oose : and was cause , that shee remained there ( with other three ships of her maiesties ) six moneths , till the spring of the yeare ; when comming about to bee decked , entring the river of thames , her old leake breaking vpon her , had like to haue drowned all those which were in her . in anno 1591. with a storme of wind and weather , riding at her moorings in the river of rochester , nothing but her bare ma●ts over head , shee was turned topse-turvie , her kele vppermost : and the cost and losse shee wrought , i haue too good cause to remember ; in her last voyage , in which shee was lost , when shee gaue england and spaine iust cause to remember her . for the spaniards themselues confesse , that three of their ships sunke by her side , and was the death of aboue 1500. of their men , with the losse of a great part of their fleete , by a storme which suddainly tooke them the next day . what english died in her , many liuing , are witnesses : amongst which was sir richard greenfeild , a noble and valiant gentleman , vice-admirall in her of her maiesties fleete . so that well considered , shee was even a ship loaden , and full fraught with ill successe . the like wee might behold in the thunderbolt of london , who in one voyage ( as i remember ) had her mast cleft with a thunderbolt , vpon the coast of ●arbary . after in dartmouth , going for admirall of the whaftage , and guard of the fleete for the river of bourdieux , had also all her poope blowne vp with fire sodainly , and vntill this day , never could be knowne the cause , or manner how : and lastly , shee was burned with her whole companie in the river of bourdieux , and master edward wilson , generall in her , slaine by his enemies , having escaped the fire . the successe of the iesus of lubecke , in saint iohn de vlua , in the nona spania , infamous to the spaniardes ; with my repentance in the south sea , taken by force , hath vtterly impoverished , and overthrowne our house . the iourney of spaine pretended for england , anno 1587. called the iourney of revenge , left the principall of their men and ships on the rockes of cape finister , and the rest made a lamentable end , for the most part in the groyne . no more for this poynt , but to our purpose . sect . ii. the repentance being put in perfection , and riding at detford , the queenes maiestie passing by her , to her pallace of greenwych , commanded her bargemen to row round about her , and viewing her from post to stemme , disliked nothing but her name , and said , that shee would christen her a new , and that thenceforth shee should be called the daintie ; which name shee brooked as well for her proportion and grace , as for the many happie voyages shee made in her maiesties services ; having taken ( for her maiestie ) a great bysten , of fiue hundred tunnes , loaden with iron , and other commodities , vnder the conduct of sir martin furbusher ; a caracke bound for the east in●ies , vnder my fathers charge , and the principall cause of taking the great caracke , brought to dartmouth by sir iohn borrow , and the earle of cumberlands shippes , anno 1592. with others of moment in her other voyages . to vs , shee never brought but cost , trouble , and care . therefore my father resolved to sell her , though with some losse , which he imparted with me : and for that i had ever a particular loue vnto her , and a desire shee should continue ours , i offered to case him of the charge and care of her , and to take her , with all her furniture at the price he had before taken her of me ; with resolution , to put in execution the voyage , for which shee was first builded ; although it lay six moneths and more in suspence , partly , vpon the pretended voyage for nombrededios and panama , which then was fresh a foote ; and partly , vpon the caracke at dartmouth , in which i was imployed as a commi●sioner : but this businesse being ended , and the other pretence waxing colde , the fift of march i resolved , and beganne to goe forward with the iourney , so often talked of , and so much desired . and having made an estimate of the charge of victualls , munition , imprests , sea-store , and necessaries for the sayd ship ; consorting another of an hundred tunnes , which i waited for daily from the straites of giberalter , with a pynace of sixtie tunnes , all mine owne : and for a competent number of men for them ; as also of all sorts of marchandises for trade and traffique in all places where wee should come ; i began to wage men , to buy all manner of victualls and provisions , and to lade her with them , and with all sorts of commodities ( which i could call to minde ) fitting ; and dispatched order to my servant in plimouth , to put in a readinesse my pynace ; as also to take vp certaine provisions , which are better cheape in those parts then in london , as beefe , porke , bisket , and sider . and with the diligence i vsed , and my fathers furtherance , at the end of one moneth , i was readie to set sayle for plimouth , to ioyne with the rest of my shippes and provisions . but the expecting of the comming of the lord high admirall , sir robert cecill , principall secretary to her maiestie , and sir walter rawley , with others , to honour my shippe and me , with their presence and farewell , detayned me some dayes ; and the rayne and vntemperate weather deprived me of the favour , which i was in hope to haue received at their hands ; wherevpon , being loath to loose more time , and the winde serving according to my wish , the eight of aprill 1593. i caused the pilot to set sayle from blackwall , and to vayle downe to graues-end , whether that night i purposed to come . having taken my vnhappy last leaue of my father sir iohn hawkins , i tooke my barge , and rowed downe the river , and comming to barking , wee might see my ship at an anchor , in the midst of the channell , where ships are not wont to more themselues : this bred in me some alteration . and comming aboord her , one and other began to recant the perill they had past of losse of ship and goods , which was not little ; for the winde being at east north-east , when they set sayle , and vered out southerly ; it forced them for the doubling of a point to bring their tacke aboard , and looffing vp ; the winde freshing , sodenly the shipp began to make a little hele ; and for that shee was very deepe loaden , and her ports open , the water began to enter in at them ; which no bodie having regard vnto , thinking themselues safe in the river , it augmented in such maner , as the waight of the water began to presse downe the side , more then the winde : at length when it was seene and the shete flowne , shee could hardly be brought vpright . but god was pleased , that with the diligence and travell of the company , shee was freed of that danger : which may be a gentle warning to all such as take charge of shipping , even before they set sayle , eyther in river or harbour , or other part , to haue an eye to their ports , and to see those shut and callked , which may cause danger ; for avoyding the many mishaps , which dayly chance for the neglect thereof , and haue beene most lamentable spectacles and examples vnto vs : experiments in the great harry , admirall of england , which was over-set and suncke at ports-mouth with her captaine , carew , and the most part of his company drowned in a goodly summers day , with a little flawe of winde ; for that her ports were all open , and making a small hele , by them entred their destruction ; where if they had beene shut , no wind could haue hurt her , especially in that place . in the river of thames , master thomas candish had a small ship over-set through the same negligence . and one of the fleete of syr francis drake , in santo domingo harbour , turned her keele vpward likewise , vpon the same occasion ; with many others , which wee never haue knowledge of . and when this commeth to passe , many times negligence is cloaked with the fury of the winde : which is a double fault ; for the truth being knowne , others would bee warned to shun the like neglects ; for it is a very bad ship , whose masts crackt not asunder , whose sayles and tackling flie not in peeces , before shee over-set ; especially if shee be english built . and that which over-setteth the ship is the waight of the water , that presseth downe the side , which as it entreth more and more , increaseth the waight , and the impossibilitie of the remedie : for the water not entring , with casing of the sheate , or striking the sayles , or putting the ship before the winde or sea , or other diligences , as occasion is offered ( and all expert mariners know ) remedie is easily found . with this mischaunce the mariners were so daunted , that they would not proceede with the ship any further , except shee were lighted , which indeede was needelesse , for many reasons which i gaue : but mariners are like to a stiffe necked horse , which taking the bridle betwixt his teeth , forceth his rider to what him list ma●ger his will : so they hauing once concluded , and resolved , are with great difficultie brought to yeelde to the raynes of reason : and to colour their negligence , they added cost , trouble , and delay . in fine , seeing no other remedie , i dispatched that night a servant of mine to giue account to my father of that which had past , and to bring mee presently some barke of london to goe along with mee to plymouth ; which not finding , he brought me a hoye , in which i loaded some sixe or eight tunns , to giue content to the company ; and so set sayle the 13. of aprill , and the next day wee put in at harwich , for that the winde was contrary , and from thence departed the 18. of the sayd moneth in the morning . when wee were cleere of the sands , the winde vered to the south-west , and so we were forced to put into margat roade , whether came presently after vs a fleete of hollanders of aboue an hundreth sayle , bound for rochell to loade salt : and in their companie a dozen ships of warre ; their wasters very good ships and well appointed in all respects . all which came alongst by our ship , and ●●●ured vs , as is the custome of the sea , some with three , others with fiue , others with more peeces of ordinance . the next morning the winde vering easterly , i set sayle , and the hollanders with me , and they with the flood in hand , went out at the north-sands-head ; and i through the gulls to shorten my way , and to set my pilates shore . comming neere the south-sore-land , the winde began to vere to the south-east and by south , so as we could not double the point of the land , and being close abourd the shore , and putting our ship to slay , what with the chapping sea , and what with the tide vpon the bowe , shee mist staying , and put vs in some daunger , before wee could flact about ; therefore for doubling the point of any land better is ever a short bourd , then to put all in perill . being tacked about wee thought to anchor in the downes , but the sayles set , we made a small bourd , and after casting about againe , doubled the foreland , and ran alongst the coast till we came to the i le of wight : where being becalmed wee sent a shore master thomson of harwich our pilot , not being able before to set him on shore for the perversnes of the winde . being cleere of the wight , the winde vered southerly , and before wee came to port-land , to the west , south-west , but with the helpe of the ebbe wee recovered port-land ronde , where we anchored all that night ; and the next morning with the ebbe , wee set sayle againe , the winde at west south-west ; purposing to beare it vp , all the ebbe , and to stop the flood being vnder sayle . sect . iii. the fleete of flemings which had beene in our company before , came towring into the road , which certainly was a thing worth the noti●g , to behold the good order the masters observed in guard of their fleete . the admirall headmost the r●st of the men of warre , spread alongst to wind-ward , all saving the vice-admirall and her consort , which were lee-most and stern-most of all , and except the admirall , which was the first , that came to an anchor ; none of the other men of warre anchored , before all the fleete was in safetie ; and then they placed themselues round about the fleete ; the vice-admirall seamost and leemost ; which we haue taught vnto most nations , and they obserue it now a dayes better then we , to our shame , that being the authors and reformers of the best discipline and lawes in sea causes , are become those which doe now worst execute them . and i cannot gather whence this contempt hath growne , except of the neglect of discipline , or rather in giuing commands for favour to those , which want experience of what is committed to their charge ▪ or that there hath beene little curiositie in our countrey , in writing of the discipline of the sea ; which is not lesse necessary for vs , then that of the law ; and i am of opinion , that the want of experience is much more tollerable in a generall by land , then in a gouernour by sea. for in the field the lieutenant generall , the sergeant maior , and the coronels supply what is wanting in the generall , for that they all command ; and ever there is place for counsell , which in the sea by many accidents is denied : and the head is he that manageth all , in whom alone if there be defect , all is badly governed ; for , by ignorance how can errors be iudged , or reformed ? and therefore i wish all to take vpon them that , which they vnderstand , and refuse the contrary . as sir henry palmer , a wise and valiant gentleman , a great commander , and of much experience in sea causes , being appoynted by the queenes maiesties counsell , to goe for generall of a fleete for the coast of spaine , anno 1583. submitting himselfe to their lordships pleasure , excused the charge , saying , that his trayning vp had beene in the narrow seas ; and that of the other , he had little experience . and therefore was in dutie bound to intreate their honours , to make choice of some other person , that was better acquainted , and experimented in those seas ; that her maiestie , and their lordships might be the better served . his modestie and discretion is doubtlesse to be had in remembrance , and great estimation ; for the ambition of many which covet the command of fleetes , and places of government ( not knowing their compasse , nor how , nor what to command ) doe purchase to themselues shame ; and losse to those that employ them : being required in a commander at sea , a sharpe wit , a good vnderstanding , experience in shipping , practise in mannagement of sea busines , knowledge in navigation , and in command : i hold it much better to deserue it , and not to haue it , then to haue it not deserving it . sect . iv. the fruits and inconveniences of the latter we daily partake of , to our losse and dishonor . as in the fleete that went for burdieux , anno 1592. which had six gallant ships for wasters . at their going out of plimouth , the vice-admirall that should haue beene starnmost of all , was the headmost , and the admirall the light , and he that did execute the office of the vice-admirall , lanching off into the sea , drew after him the greater part of the fleete , and night comming on , and both bearing lights , caused a separation : so that the head had a quarter of the bodie , and the fleete three quarters , and he that should goe before , came behinde . whereof ensued , that the three parts meeting with a few spanish men of warre , wanting their head , were a prey vnto them . for the vice-admirall , and other wasters , that should be the shepheards to guard and keepe their flocke , and to carry them in safetie before them , were headmost , and they the men who made most hast to flie from the wolfe . whereas if they had done as they ought , in place of losse and infamie , they had gained honor and reward . this i haue beene enformed of by the spanish and english , which were present in the occasion . and a ship of mine , being one of the starnmost , freed her selfe , for that shee was in warlike manner , with her false netting , many pendents and streamers , and at least 16. or 18. peeces of artillery ; the enemie thinking her to be a waster , or ship of warre , not one of them durst lay her aboord : and this the master and company vaunted of at their returne . in the same voyage , in the river of burdieux ( as is credibly reported ) if the six wasters had kept together , they had not onely not received domage , but gotten much honour and reputation . for the admirall of the spanish armado , was a flemish shippe , of not aboue 130. tunnes , and the rest flie-boates and small shipping , for the most part . and although they were 22. sayle in all , what manner of ships they were , and how furnished and appoynted , is well knowne , with the difference . in the fleete of her maiestie , vnder the charge of my father sir iohn hawkins , anno 1590. vpon the coast of spaine , the vice-admirall being a head one morning , where his place was to be a sterne , lost vs the taking of eight men of warre , loaden with munition , victuals , and provisions , for the supplie of the souldiers in britaine : and although they were seaven or eight leagues from the shore , when our vice-admirall began to fight with them , yet for that the rest of our fleete were some foure , some fiue leagues , and some more distant from them , when we beganne to giue chase : the spaniards recovered into the harbour of monge , before our admirall could come vp to giue direction , yet well beaten , with losse of aboue two hundreth men , as they themselues con●essed to me after . and doubtlesse , if the winde had not over-blowne , and that to follow them , i was forced to shut all my lower ports , the ship i vndertooke , doubtles had never endured to come to the port ; but being doubble fli-boates , and all good of sayle , they bare for their liues , and we what we could to follow and fetch them vp . in this poynt , at the i le of flores , sir richard greenfield got eternall honour and reputation of great valour , and of an experimented souldier , chusing rather to sacrifice his life , and to passe all danger whatsoeuer , then to sayle in his obligation , by gathering together those which had remained a shore in that place , though with the hazard of his ship and companie ; and rather we ought to imbrace an honourable death , then to liue with infamie and dishonour , by fayling in dutie ; and i account that he , and his country , got much honor in that occasion : for one ship , and of the second sort of her maiesties , sustained the force of all the fleete of spaine , and gaue them to vnderstand , that they be impregnible , for having bought deerely the boording of her , divers and sundry times , and with many ioyntly , and with a continuall fight of 14. or 16. houres , at length leaving her without any mast standing , and like a logge in the seas , shee made notwithstanding , a most honourable composition of life and libertie , for aboue two hundreth and sixtie men , as by the pay-booke appeareth : which her maiestie of her free grace commanded in recompence of their service , to be given to every one his six moneths wages . all which may worthily be written in our chronicles in letters of gold , in memory for all posterities , some to beware , and others by their example in the like occasions , to imitate the true valour of our nation in these ages . in point of providence , which captaine vavisor in the foresight gaue also good proofe of his valour , in casting about vpon the whole fleete , notwithstanding the greatnesse and multitude of the spanish armad● , to yeeld that succour which he was able , although some doe say , and i consent with them , that the bes● valour is to obey , and to follow the head , seeme that good or bad which is commanded . for god himselfe telleth vs , that obedience is better then sacrifice . yet in some occasions , where there is difficultie , or impossibilitie to know what is commanded ; many times it is great discretion and obligation , iudiciously to take hold of the occasion , to yeeld succour to his associats , without putting himselfe in manifest dang●r● : but to our voyage . sect . v. being cleare of the race of portland , the wind began to suffle with fogge and misling rayne , and forced vs to a short sayle , which continued with vs three dayes ; the wind never vering one poynt , nor the fogge suffering vs to see the coast. the third day in the fogge , we met with a barke of dartmouth , which came from rochell , and demanding of them , if they had made any land , answered , that they had onely seene the edie stone that morning , which lyeth thwart of the sound of plimouth , and that dartmouth ( as they thought ) bare off vs north north-east : which seemed strange vnto vs ; for we made account that wee were thwart of exmouth : within two houres after , the weather beganne to cleare vp , and we found our selues thwart of the berry , and might see the small barke bearing into torbay , having over-shot her port : which error often happeneth to those that make the land in foggie weather , and vse not good diligence by sound , by lying off the land , and other circumstances , to search the truth ; and is cause of the losse of many a ship , and the sweete liues of multitudes of men . that evening , we anchored in the range of dartmouth , till the floud was spent ; and the ebbe come , wee ●et sayle againe . and the next morning early , being the 26. of aprill , wee harboured our selues in plimouth . my ship at an anchor , and i ashore , i presently dispatched a messenger to london , to advise my father , sir iohn hawkins , what had past : which , not onely to him , but to all others , that vnderstood what it was , seemed strange ; that the wind contrary , and the weather such as it had beene , wee could be able to gaine plimouth ; but doubtlesse , the daintie was a very good sea ship , and excellent by the winde ; which with the neap streames , and our diligence to benefit our selues of all advantages , made sezible that , which almost was not to be beleeved . and in this occasion , i found by experience , that one of the principall parts required in a mariner , that frequenteth our coastes of england , is to cast his tydes , and to know how they set from poynt to poynt , with the difference of those in the channell from those of the shore . sect . vi. now presently i began to prepare for my dispatch , and to hasten my departure ; and finding that my ship which i expected from the straites , came not ; and that shee was to goe to london to discharge ; and vncertaine how long shee might stay ; i resolved to take another of mine owne in her place , though lesser , called the hawke , onely for a victualler ; purposing in the coast of brasill , or in the straites , to take out her men , and victualls , and to cast her off . sect . vii . with my continuall travell , the helpe of my good friends , and excessiue charge ( which none can easily beleeue , but those which haue prooved it ) towardes the end of may , i was readie to set sayle with my three ships , drawne out into the sound , and began to gather my company aboord . the 28. of may ( as i remember ) began a storme of winde westerly ; the two lesser shippes presently harboured themselues , and i gaue order to the master of the daintie ( called hugh cornish ) one of the most sufficientest men of his coate , to bring her also into catt-water , which he laboured to doe , but being neere the mouth of the harbour , and doubting least the anchor being weighed , the ship might cast the contrary way , and so run on some perill , entertained himselfe a while in laying out a warpe , and in the meane time , the wind freshing , and the ship riding by one anchor , brake the flooke of it , and so forced them to let fall another : by which , and by the warpe they had layd out , they rydd . the storme was such , as being within hearing of those vpon the shore , we were not able by any meanes to send them succour , and the second day of the storme , desiring much to goe aboord , there ioyned with me captaine william anthony , captaine iohn ellis , and master henry courton , in a light-horsman which i had : all men exercised in charge , and of valour and sufficiencie , and from their youth bred vp in businesse of the sea : which notwithstanding , and that wee laboured what we could , for the space of two houres against waues and wind , we could finde no possibilitie to accomplish our desire ; which seene ; we went aboord the other shippes , and put them in the best securitie wee could ; thus busied , we might see come driving by vs the mayne mast of the daintie : which made me to feare the worst , and so hasted a-shore , to satisfie my longing . and comming vpon catt-downe , wee might see the ship heaue and sett , which manifestly shewed , the losse of the mast onely , which was well imployed ; for , it saved the ship , men , and goods . for had shee driven a ships length more , shee had ( no doubt ) beene cast away ; and the men in that place could not chuse but run into danger . comming to my house to shift me ( for that we were all wett to the skinne ) i had not well changed my clothes , when a servant of mine , who was in the pynace at my comming ashore , enters almost out of breath , with newes , that shee was beating vpon the rockes , which though i knew to be remedilesse , i put my selfe in place where i might see her , and in a little time after shee sunke downe right : these losses and mischances troubled and grieved , but nothing daunted me ; for common experience taught me , that all honourable enterprises , are accompanied with difficulties and daungers ; si fortuna me tormenta ; esperanca me contenta ▪ of hard beginnings , many times come prosperous and happie events . and although , a well-willing friend , wisely foretold me them to be presages of future bad successe , and so disswaded me what lay in him , with effectuall reasons , from my pretence , yet the hazard of my credite , and danger of disreputation , to take in hand that which i should not prosecute by all meanes possible , was more powerfull to cause me to goe forwardes , then his graue good counsell , to make me desist . and so the storme ceasing , i beganne to get in the daintie , to mast her a-new , and to recover the fancy , my pynace which with the helpe and furtherance of my wines father , who supplyed all my wants , together with my credit ( which i thanke god was vnspotted ) in ten dayes put all in his former estate , or better . and so once againe , in gods name , i brought my shippes out into the found , the wind being easterly , and beganne to take my l●aue of my friends , and of my dearest friend , my second ●elfe , whose vnfeyned teares had wrought me vnto irresolution , and sent some other in my roome , had i not considered , that he that is in the daunce , must needs daunce on , though he doe but hopp , except he will be a laughing stocke to all the lookers on : so , remembring that many had their eyes set vpon me , with diverse affections , as als● the hope of good successe , ( my intention being honest and good ) i shut the doore to all impediments , and mine eare to all contrary counsell , and gaue place to voluntary banishment from all that i loued and esteemed in this life , with hope thereby better to serue my god , my prince and countrie , then to encrease my tallent any way . and so began to gather my companie aboord , which occupied my good friends , and the iustices of the towne two dayes , and forced vs to search all lodgings , tavernes , and ale-houses . ( for some would ever be taking their leaue and never depart : ) some drinke themselues so drunke , that except they were carried aboord , they of themselues were not able to goe one steppe : others knowing the necessitie of the time , fayned themselues sicke ; others , to be indebted to their hostes , and forced me to ransome them ; one his chest ; another , his sword ; another , his shirts ; another , his carde and instruments for sea : and others , to benefit themselues of the imprest given them , absented themselues ; making a lewd liuing in deceiving all , whose money they could lay hold of : which is a scandall too ri●e amongst our sea-men ; by it they committing three great offences : 1. robbery of the goods of another person ; 2. breach of their faith and promise ; 3. and hinderance ( with losse of time ) vnto the voyage ; all being a common iniury to the owners , victuallers , and company ; which many times hath beene an vtter overthrow , and vndoing to all in generall . an abuse in our common-wealth necessarily to be reformed ; and , as a person that hath both seene , and felt by experience these inconveniences , i wish it to be remedied ; for , i can but wonder , that the late lord high admirall of england ; the late earle of cumberland ▪ and the lord thomas howard , now earle of suffolke , being of so great authoritie , having to their costs and losse so often made experience of the inconveniences of these lewd proceedings , haue not vnited their goodnesses and wisedomes , to redresse this dis-loyall and base absurditie of the vulgar . master thomas candish in his last voyage , in the sound of plimmouth , being readie to set sayle , complained vnto me , that persons which had absented themselues in imprests , had cost him aboue a thousand and fiue hundred pounds : these varlets within a few dayes after his departure , i saw walking the streetes of plimouth , whom the iustice had before sought for with great diligence , and without punishment . and therefore it is no wonder that others presume to doe the like . impunit as peccandi illecebra . the like complaint made master george reymond ; and in what sort they dealt with me , is notorious , and was such , that if i had not beene provident , to haue had a third part more of men , then i had need of , i had beene forced to goe to the sea vnmanned ; or to giue over my voyage . and many of my company , at sea vaunted , how they had cosoned the earle of cumberland , master candish , master reymond , and others , some of fiue poundes , some of ten , some of more , and some of lesse . and truely , i thinke , my voyage prospered the worse , for theirs and other lewd persons company , which were in my ship : which , i thinke , might be redressed by some extraordinary , severe , and present iustice to be executed on the offenders by the iustice in that place , where they should be found . and for finding them , it were good that all captaines , and masters of shippes , at their departure out of the port , should giue vnto the head iustice , the names and signes of all their runnawayes , and they presently to dispatch to the ●igher ports the advise agreeable , where meeting with them , without further delay or processe , to vse martiall law vpon them . without doubt , seeing the law once put in execution , they and all others would be terrified from such villanies . it might be remedied also by vtter taking away of all imprests , which is a thing lately crept into our common-wealth , and in my opinion of much more hurt then good vnto all ; and although my opinion seeme harsh , it being a deed of charitie to helpe the needy , ( which i wish ever to be exercised , and by no meanes will contradict ) yet for that such as goe to the sea ( for the most part ) consume that money lewdly before they depart , ( as common experience teacheth vs : ) and when they come from sea , many times come more beggerly home , then when they went forth , having received and spent their portion , before they imbarked themselues , and having neither rent nor maintenance more then their travell , to sustaine themselues , are forced to theeue , to cosen , or to runne away in debt . besides , many times it is an occasion to some to lye vpon a voyage a long time ; whereas , if they had not that imprest , they might perhaps haue gayned more in another imployment , and haue beene at home againe , to serue that which they wait● for . for these , and many more weightie reasons , i am still bold , to maintaine my former assertions . those onely vsed in his maiesties shippes i comprehend not in this my opinion : neither the imprests made to married men , which would be given to their wiues monethly in their absence , for their reliefe . for that is well knowne , that all which goe to the sea now a-dayes , are provided of foode , and house-roome , and all things necessary , during the time of their voyage ; and in all long voyages , of apparell also : so that nothing is to be spent during the voyage . that money which is wont to be cast away in imprestes , might be imployed in apparell , and necessaries at the sea , and given to those that haue need , at the price it was bought , to be deducted out of their shares or wages at their returne , which is reasonable and charitable . this course taken , if any would runne away , in gods name fare him well . some haue a more colourable kinde of cunning to abuse men , and to sustaine themselues . such will goe to sea with all men , and goe never from the shore . for as long as boord-wages last , they are of the company , but those taking end , or the ship in readinesse , they haue one excuse or other , and thinke themselues no longer bound , but whilst they receiue money , and then plucke their heads out of the coller . an abuse also worthie to be reformed . sect . viii . the greater part of my companie gathered aboord , i set sayle the 12. of iune 1593. about three of the clocke in the afternoone , and made a bourd or two off and in , wayting the returne of my boat , which i had sent a-shore , for dispatch of some businesse : which being come aboord , and all put in order , i looft neere the shore , to giue my farewell to all the inhabitants of the towne , whereof the most part were gathered together vpon the howe , to shew their gratefull correspondency , to the loue and zeale which i , my father , and predecessors , haue ever borne to that place , as to our naturall and mother towne . and first with my noyse of trumpets , after with my waytes , and then with my other musicke , and lastly , with the artillery of my shippes , i made the best signification i could , of a kinde farewell . this they answered with the waytes of the towne , and the ordinance on the shore , and with shouting of voyces ; which with the fayre evening and silence of the night , were heard a great distance off . all which taking end , i sent instructions and directions to my other ships . which is a poynt of speciall importance ; for that i haue seene commanders of great name and reputation , by neglect and omission of such solemnities , to haue runne into many inconveniences , and thereby haue learnt the necessitie of it . whereby i cannot but advise all such , as shall haue charge committed vnto them , ever before they depart out of the port , to giue vnto their whole fleete , not onely directions for civill government , but also where , when , and how to meete , if they should chance to loose company , and the signes how to know one another a-far off , with other poynts and circumstances , as the occasions shall minister matter different , at the discretion of the wise commander . but some one may say vnto me , that in all occasions it is not convenient to giue directions : for that , if the enemy happen vpon any of the fleete , or that there be any treacherous person in the company , their designements may be discovered , and so prevented . to this i answere , that the prudent governour , by good consideration may avoyde this , by publication of that which is good and necessarie for the guide of his fleete and people ; by all secret instructions , to giue them sealed , and not to be opened , but comming to a place appoynted , ( after the manner of the turkish direction to the bashawes , who are their generalls ; ) and in any eminent perill to cast them by the boord , or otherwise to make away with them . for he that setteth sayle , not giving directions in writing to his fleete , knoweth not if the night or day following , he may be separated from his company , which happeneth sometimes : and then , if a place of meeting be not knowne , he runneth in danger not to ioyne them together againe . and for places of meeting , when seperation happeneth , i am of opinion , to appoynt the place of meeting in such a height , twentie , or thirtie , or fortie leagues off the land , or iland . east , or west , is not so fitting , if the place affoord it , as some sound betwixt ilands , or some iland , or harbour . it may be alledged in contradiction , and with probable reason , that it is not fit for a fleete to stay in a harbour for one ship , nor at an anchor at an iland , for being discovered , or for hinderance of their voyage . yet it is the best ; for when the want is but for one or two ships , a pynace or ship may wayte the time appoynted , and remaine with direction for them . but commonly one ship , though but a bad sayler , maketh more hast then a whole fleete , and is at the meeting place first , if the accident be not very important . the place of meeting , if it might be , would be able to giue , at the least , refreshing of water and wood . sect . ix . lanching out into the channell , the wind being at east and by south , and east south east , which blowing hard , and a flood in hand , caused a chapping sea , and my vice-admirall bearing a good sayle made some water , and shooting off a peece of ordinance , i edged towardes her , to know the cause ; who answered me , that they had sprung a great leake , and that of force they must returne into the sound , which seeing to be necessary , i cast about , where anchoring , and going aboord , presently found , that betwixt wind and water , the calkers had left a seame vncalked , which being filled vp with pitch onely , the sea labouring that out , had beene sufficient to haue sunke her in short space , if it had not beene discovered in time . and truely there is little care vsed now adaies amongst our countrimen in this profession , in respect of that which was vsed in times past , and is accustomed in france , in spaine , and in other parts . which necessitie will cause to be reformed in time , by assigning the portion that every workeman is to calke ; that if there bee dammage through his default , he may be forced to contribute towards the losse , occasioned through his negligence . and for more securitie i hold it for a good custome vsed in some parts , in making an end of calking and pitching the ship , the next tide to fill her with water , which will vndoubtedly discover the defect , for no pitcht place without calking , can suffer the force and peaze of the water . in neglect whereof , i haue seene great damage and danger to ensue . the arke royall of his maiesties , may serue for an example : which put all in daunger at her first going to the sea , by a trivuell-hole left-open in the post , and covered onely with pitch . in this point no man can be too circumspect , for it is the security of ship , men , and goods . sect . x. this being remedied , i set sayle in the morning and ran south-west , till we were cleere of vsshent ; and then south south-west , till we were some hundred leagues off , where wee met with a great hulke , of some fiue or sixe hundred tunnes , well appointed , the which my company , ( as is naturall to all mariners ) presently would make a prize , and loaden with spaniards goods , and without speaking to her , wished that the gunner might shoote at her , to cause her to amaine . which is a bad custome received and vsed of many ignorant persons , presently to gun at all whatsoever they discover , before they speake with them ; being contrary to all discipline , and many times is cause of dissention betwixt friends , and the breach of amitie betwixt princes ; the death of many , and sometimes losse of shippes and all , making many obstinate , if not desperate : whereas in vsing common courtesie , they would better bethinke themselues , and so with ordinarie proceeding ( iustified by reason , and the custome of all well disciplined people ) might perhaps many times breede an increase of amitie , a succour to necessity , and excuse divers inconveniencies and sutes , which haue impoverished many : for it hath chanced by this errour , that two english ships , neither carrying flag for their perticular respects , to change each with other a dozen payre of shott , with hurt to both , being after too late to repent their follie . yea a person of credit hath told mee , that two english men of warre in the night , haue layd each other aboord willingly , with losse of many men , and dammage to both , onely for the fault , of not speaking one to the other ; which might seeme to carrie with it some excuse , if they had beene neere the shore , or that the one had beene a hull , and the other vnder sayle , in feare shee should haue escaped , not knowing what shee was ( though in the night it is no wisedome to bourd with any ship ) but in the maine sea , and both desiring to ioyne , was a sufficient declaration , that both were seekers : and therefore by day or night , he that can speake with the ship hee seeth , is bound , vpon payne to bee reputed voyd of good governement , to hayle her before hee shoote at her . some man may say , that in the meane time , shee might gaine the winde : in such causes and many others , necessity giveth exception to all lawes ; and experience teacheth what is fit to bee done . master thomas hampton once generall of a fleete of wasters , sent to rochell , anno 1585. with secret instructions , considering ( and as a man of experience ) wisely vnderstanding his place and affaires , in like case shut his eare to the instigations and provocations of the common sort , preferring the publique good of both kingdomes before his owne reputation with the vulgar people : and as another fabius maximus , cunctando restituit rem , non ponendo rumores ante salutem . the french kings fleete comming where he was , and to winde-ward of him , all his company were in an vproare ; for that , hee would not shoote presently at them , before they saw their intention : wherein had beene committed three great faults : the first and principall , the breach of amitie , betwix● the princes and kingdomes : the second , the neglect of common curtesie , in shooting before hee had spoken with them : and the third , in shooting first , being to lee-wards of the other . besides there was no losse of reputation , because the french kings fleete was in his owne sea ; and therfore for it to come to winde-ward , or the other to goe to lee-ward , was but that , which in reason was required , the kingdomes being in peace and amitie : for every prince is to bee acknowledged and respected in his iurisdiction , and where hee pretendeth it to be his . the french generall , likewise seemed well to vnderstand what hee had in hand , for though he were farre superiour in forces , yet vsed hee the termes which were required ; and comming within speech hayled them , and asked if there were peace or warre betwixt england and france : whereunto answere being made , that they knew of no other but peace ; they saluted each other after the maner of the sea , and then came to an anchor all together ; as and friends visited each other in their ships . one thing the french suffered ( vpon what occasion or ground i know not ) that the english alwayes carried their flag displayed ; which in all other partes and kingdomes is not permitted ; at least in our seas , if a stranger fleete meete with any of his maiesties ships , the forraigners are bound to take in their flags , or his maiesties ships to force them to it , though thereof follow the breach of peace or whatsoever discommodity . and whosoever should not be iealous in this point , hee is not worthy to haue the commaund of a cock-boat committed vnto him : yea no stranger ought to open his flag in any port of england , where there is any shipp , or fort of his maiesties ; vpon penaltie to loose his flagg , and to pay for the powder and shott spend vpon him . yea , such is the respect to his maiesties shippes in all places of his dominions , that no english ship displayeth the flagge in their presence , but runneth the like daunger , except they be in his maiesties service ; and then they are in predicament of the kings ships . which good discipline in other kingdomes is not in that regard as it ought , but sometime● through ignorance , sometimes of malice , neglect is made of that dutie and acknowledgement which is required , to the cost and shame of the ignorant and malicious . in queene maries raigne , king philip of spaine comming to marry with the queene , and meeting with the royall navie of england , the lord william haward ; high admirall of england , would not consent , that the king in the narrow seas should carrie his flagge displayed , vntill he came into the harbour of plimouth . i being of tender yeares , there came a fleete of spaniards of aboue fiftie sayle of shippes , bound for flaunders , to fetch the queene , dona anna de austria , last wife to philip the ●econd of spaine , which entred betwixt the iland and the maine , without vayling their top-sayles , or taking in of their flags : which my father , sir iohn hawkins , ( admirall of a fleete of her maiesties shippes , then ryding in catt-water ) perceiving , commanded his gunner to shoot at the flagge of the admirall , that they might thereby see their error : which notwithstanding , they persevered arrogantly to keepe displayed ; wherevpon the gunner at the next shott , lact the admirall through and through , whereby the spaniards finding that the matter beganne to grow to earnest , tooke in their flags and top-sayles , and so ranne to an anchor . the generall presently sent his boat , with a principall personage to expostulate the cause and reason of that proceeding ; but my father would not permit him to come into his ship , nor to heare his message : but by another gentleman commanded him to returne , and to tell his generall , that in as much as in the queenes port and chamber , he had neglected to doe the acknowledgment and reverence , which all owe vnto her maiestie , ( especially her ships being present ) and comming with so great a navie , he could not but giue suspition by such proceeding of malicious intention , and therefore required him , that within twelue houres he should depart the port : vpon paine to be held as a common enemy , and to proceed against him with force . which answere the generall vnderstanding , presently imbarked himselfe in the same boat , and came to the iesus of lubecke , and craved licence to speake with my father : which at the first was denyed him , but vpon the second intreatie was admitted to enter the ship , and to parley . the spanish generall began to demand , if there were warres betwixt england and spaine ; who was answered , that his arrogant manner of proceeding , vsurping the queene his mistresses right , as much as in him lay , had given sufficient cause for breach of the peace ; and that he purposed presently , to giue notice thereof to the queene , and her counsell ; and in the meane time , that he might depart . wherevnto the spanish generall replyed , that he knew not any offence he had committed , and that he would be glad to know , wherein he had mis-behaved himselfe . my father seeing he pretended to escape by ignorance , beganne to put him in mind of the custome of spaine and fraunce , and many other parts , and that he could by no meanes be ignorant of that , which was common right to all princes in their kingdomes ; demanding , if a fleete of england should come into any port of spaine ( the kings maiesties ships being present ) if the english should carry their flags in the toppe , whether the spanish would not shoot them downe ; and if they persevered , if they would not beate them out of their port. the spanish generall confessed his fault , pleaded ignorance , not malice , and submitted himselfe to the penaltie my father would impose : but intreated , that their princes ( through them ) might not come to haue any jarre . my father a while ( as though offended ) made himselfe hard to be intreated , but in the end , all was shut vp , by his acknowledgement , and the auncient amitie renewed , by feasting each other aboord and ashore . the selfe same fleete at their returne from flaunders , meeting with her maiesties shippes in the channell , though sent to accompany the aforesaid queene , was constrained during the time that they were with the english , to vayle their flagges , and to acknowledge that which all must doe that passe through the english seas . but to our voyage . sect . xi . comming within the hayling of the hulke , wee demanded whence shee was ? whether shee was bound ? and what her loading ? shee answered , that shee was of denmarke comming from spaine , loaden with salt : we willed her to strike her top-sayles , which shee did , and shewed vs her charter-parties , and dilles of loading , and then saluted vs , as is the manner of the sea , and so departed . sect . xii . the next day the wind became southerly , and somewhat too much , and my shipps being all deepe loaden , began to feele the tempest , so that wee not able to lye by it , neither a hull , nor a try , and so with an easie sayle bare vp before the wind , with intent to put into falmouth ; but god was pleased that comming within tenne leagues of sylly , the wind vered to the north-east , and so we went on in our voyage . thwart of the flees of bayon , wee met with a small ship of master waltre of london , called the elizabeth , which came out of plimouth some eyght dayes after vs : of whom wee enformed our selues of some particularities , and wrote certaine letters to our friends , making relation of what had past till that day , and so tooke our farewell each of the other . the like we did with a small carvell of plimouth , which wee meet in the height of the rocke in portingall . from thence wee directed our course to the ilands of madera , and about the end of iune , in the sight of the ilands , we descryed a sayle some three leagues to the east-wards , and a league to wind-ward of vs , which by her manner of working , and making , gaue vs to vnderstand , that shee was one of the kings frigarts . for shee was long and snugg , and spread a large clewe , and standing to the west-wards , and we● to the east-wards to recover her wake , when we east about , shee beganne to ●eco shete , and to goe away lasking , and within two glasses , i● was plainely seene , that shee went from vs , and so we followed on our course , and shee seeing that , presently stroke her topsayles , which our pynace perceiving , and being within shot continued the chase , till i shot off a peece and called her away ; which fault many runne into , thinking to get thereby , and sometimes loose themselues by being too bold to venture from their fleete ; for it was impossible for vs , being to leeward , to take her , or to succour our owne , shee being a ship of about two hundreth tunnes . and pynaces to meddle with ships , is to buy repentance at too deare a rate . for their office is , to wayte vpon their fleete , in calmes ( with their oares ) to follow a chase , and in occasions to anchor neere the shore , when the greater ships cannot , without perill ; aboue all , to be readie and obedient at every call . yet will i not , that any wrest my meaning ; neither say i , that a pynace , or small ship armed , may not take a great ship vnarmed ; for daily experience teacheth vs the contrary . the madera ilands are two : the greater , called la madera , and the other porto santo ; of great fertilitie , and rich in sugar , conserves , wine , and sweet wood , whereof they take their name . other commodities they yeeld , but these are the principall . the chiefe towne and port is on the souther side of the madera , well fortified ; they are subiect to the kingdome of portingall ; the inhabitants and garrison all portingalles . the third of iuly , we past along the ilands of canaria , which haue the name of a kingdome , and containe these seaven ilands , grand canaria , tenerifa , palma , gomera , lancerota , forteventura , and fierro . these ilands haue abundance of wine , sugar , conserues , orcall pitch , iron , and other commodities , and store of cattell and corne , but that a certaine worme , called gorgosh● breedeth in it , which eateth out the substance , leaving the huske in manner whole . the head iland , where the iustice , which they call audiencia , is resident , and whither all sutes haue their appealation , and finall sentence , is the grand canaria , although the tenerifa is held for the better , and richer iland , and to haue the best sugar : and the wine of the palma is reputed for the best . the pitch of these ilands melteth not with the sunne , and therefore is proper for the higher workes of shipping . betwixt forteventura and lancerota is a goodly found , fit for a meeting place for any fleete . where is good anchoring , and aboundance of many sorts of fish. there is water to be had in most of these ilands , but with great vigilance . for the naturalls of them are venturous and hardie , and many times clime vp and downe the steepe rockes and broken hills , which seeme impossible , which i would hardly haue beleeved , had i not seene it , and that with the greatest art and agilitie that may be : their armes for the most part , are launces of nine or ten foote , with a head of a foote and halfe long , like vnto boare-speares , saue that the head is somewhat more broad . two things are famous in these ilands , the pike of tenerifa , which is the highest land in my iudgement that i haue seene , and men of credit haue told they haue seene it more then fortie leagues off . it is like vnto a sugar loafe , and continually covered with snow , and placed in the middest of a goodly vallie , most fertile , and temperate round about it . out of which , going vp the pike , the colde is so great , that it is insufferable , and going downe to the townes of the iland , the heate seemeth most extreame , till they approach neere the coast . the other is a tree in the iland fierro , which some write and affirme , with the dropping of his leaues , to giue water for the su●tenance of the whole iland , which i haue not seene , although i haue beene on shoare on the iland : but those which haue seene it , haue recounted this misterie differently to that which is written , in this maner ; that this tree is placed in the bottome of a valley , ever florishing with broad leaues , and that round about it are a multitude of goodly high pynes , which over-top it , and as it seemeth were planted by the divine providence , to preserue it from sunne and wind. out of this valley ordinarily rise every day , great vapours and exhalations , which by reason that the sunne is hindered to worke his operation , with the height of the mountaines towards the south-east , convert themselues into moysture , and so bedewe all the trees of the valley , and from those which over-top this tree , drops downe the dewe vpon his leaues , and so from his leaues into a round well of stone , which the naturals of the land haue made to receiue the water ; of which the people and cattle haue great releife : but sometimes it raineth and then the inhabitants doe reserue water for many dayes to come in their cisterns and tynaxes , which is that they drinke of , and wherewith they principally sustaine themselues . the citty of the grand canaria , and chiefe port is on the west side of the iland ; the head towne and port of tenerifa , is towards the south part , and the port and towne of the palma and gomera , on the east side . in gomera , some three leagues south-ward from the towne , is a great river of water , but all these ilands are perilous to land in , for the seege caused by the ocean sea , which alwayes is forcible , and requireth great circumspection ; whosoever hath not vrgent cause , is either to goe to the east-wards , or to the west-wards of all these ilands , as well to avoyd the calmes , which hinder sometimes eight or ten dayes sayling , as the contagion which their distemperature is wont to cause , and with it to breede calenturas , which wee call burning fevers . these ilands are sayd to be first discovered by a french-man , called iohn de betancourt , about the yeare 1405. they are now a kingdome subiect to spaine . sect . xiii . being cleare of the ilands , wee directed our course for cape blauce , and two howres before sunne set , we had sight of a carvell some league in the winde of vs , which seemed to come from gynea , or the ilands of cape de verde , and for that hee , which had the sery-watch , neglected to look out , being too lee-ward of the ilands , and so out of hope of sight of any shipp , for the little trade and contrariety of the winde , that though a man will , from few places hee can recover the ilands : comming from the south-wards , wee had the winde of her , and perhaps the possession also , whereof men of warre are to haue particular care : for in an houre and place vnlookt for , many times chance accidents contrary to the ordinary course and custome , and to haue younkers in the top continually , is most convenient and necessary , not onely for descrying of sayles and land , but also for any sudden gust or occasion that may be offered . seeing my selfe past hope of returning backe , without some extraordinary accident , i began to set order in my companie and victuals . and for tha● , to the south-wards of the canaries , is for the most part an idle navigation , i devised to keepe my people occupied , as well to continue them in health ( for that too much case in hott countries is neither profitable nor healthfull ) as also to divert them from remembrance of their home ; and from play , which breedeth many inconveniences , and other bad thoughts and workes which idlenes is cause of ; and so shifting my company , as the custome is , into starboord and larboord men , the halfe to watch and worke whilest the others slept , and take rest ; i limited the three dayes of the weeke , which appertayned to each to be imployed in this manner : the one for the vse and clensing of their armes , the other for roomeging , making of sayles , nettings , decking , and defences for our shippes ; and the third , for clensing their bodies , mending and making their apparell , and necessaries , which though it came to be practised but once in seaven dayes , for that the sabboth is ever to be reserved for god alone , with the ordinary obligation which each person had besides , was many times of force to be omitted ; and thus wee entertained our time with a fayre wind , and in few dayes had sight of the land of barbary , some dozen leagues to the northwards of cape blacke . before we came to the cape , wee tooke in our sayles , and made preparation of hookes and lines to fish. for in all that coast is great abundance of sundry kinds of fish , but especially , of porgus , which wee call breames ; many portingalls and spaniards goe yearely thither to fish , as our country-men to the new-found-land , and within cape blacke haue good harbour for reasonable shipping , where they dry their fish , paying a certaine easie tribute to the kings collector . in two houres wee tooke store of fish for that day , and the next : but longer it would not keepe good ; and with this refreshing set sayle againe , and directed our course betwixt the ilands of cape de verd and the maine . these ilands are held to be scituate in one of the most vnhealthiest climates of the world , and therefore it is wisedome to shunne the sight of them , how much more to make abode in them . in two times that i haue beene in them , either cost vs the one halfe of our people , with fevers and fluxes of sundry kinds ; some shaking , some burning , some partaking of both ; some possest with frensie , others with sloath , and in one of them it cost me six moneths sicknesse , with no small hazard of life : which i attribute to the distemperature of the ayre , for being within foureteene degrees of the equinoctiall lyne , the sunne hath great force all the yeare , and the more for that often they passe , two , three , and foure yeares without rayne ; and many times the earth burneth in that manner as a man well shodd , cannot endure to goe where the sunne shineth . with which extreame heate the bodie fatigated , greedily desireth refreshing , and longeth the comming of the breze , which is the north-east winde , that seldome fayleth in the after-noone at foure of the clocke , or sooner : which comming cold and fresh , and finding the poores of the body open , and ( for the most part ) naked , penetrateth the very bones , and so causeth sudden distemperature , and sundry manners of sicknesse , as the subiects are divers wherevpon they worke . departing out of the calmes of the ilands , and comming into the fresh brese , it causeth the like , and i haue seene within two dayes , after that we haue partaked of the fresh ayre , of two thousand men , aboue a hundreth and fiftie haue beene crazed in their health . the inhabitants of these ilands vse a remedie for this , which at my first being amongst them , seemed vnto me ridiculous , but since , time and experience hath taught to be grounded vpon reason . and is , that vpon their heads they weare a night-capp , vpon it a moutero , and a hat over that , and on their bodies a sute of thicke cloth , and vpon it a gowne , furr'd or lyned with cotton , or bayes , to defend them from the heate in that manner , as the inhabitants o● cold countries , to guard themselues from the extreamitie of the colde . which doubtlesse , is the best diligence that any man can vse , and whosoever prooveth it , shall find himselfe lesse annoyed with the heate , then if he were thinly cloathed , for that where the cold ayre commeth , it peirceth not so subtilly . the m●one also in this climate , as in the coast of guyne , and in all hott countries , hath forcible operation in the body of man ; and therefore , as the plannet , most preiudiciall to his health , is to be shunned ; as also not to sleepe in the open ayre , or with any scuttle or window open , whereby the one , or the other , may enter to hurt . for a person of credit told me , that one night in a river of guyne , leaving his window open in the side of his cabin , the moone shining vpon his shoulder , left him with such an extraordinary paine , and furious burning in it , as in aboue twentie houres , he was like to runne madde , but in fine , with force of medicines and cures , after long torment , he was eased . some i haue heard say , and others write , that there is a starre which never seperateth it selfe from the moone , but a small distance ; which is of all starres the most beneficiall to man. for where this starre entreth with the moone , it maketh voyde her hurtfull enfluence , and where not it is most perilous . which if it be so , is a notable secret of the divine providence , and a speciall cause amongst infinite others , to moue vs to continuall thankesgiving ; for that he hath so extraordinarily compassed and fenced vs from infinite miseries , his most vnworthie and vngratefull creatures . of these ilands are two pyles : the one of them lyeth out of the way of trade , more westerly , and so little frequented ; the other lyeth some fourescore leagues from the mayne , and containeth six in number , to wit ; saint iago , fuego , mayo , bonavisto , sal , and bravo . they are belonging to the kingdome of portingall , and inhabited by people of that nation , and are of great trade , by reason of the neighbour-hood they haue with guyne and bynne ; but the principall is , the buying and selling of negros . they haue store of sugar , salt , rice , cotton-wooll , and cotton-cloth , amber-greece , cyvit , oliphants teeth , brimstone , pummy stone , spunge , and some gold , but little , and that from the mayne . saint iago is the head iland , and hath one citie and two townes , with their ports . the cittie called saint iago , whereof the iland hath his name , hath a garrison , and two fortes , scituated in the bottome of a pleasant valley , with a running streame of water passing through the middest of it , whether the rest of the ilands come for iustice , being the seat of the auaiencia , with his bishop . the other townes are playa , some three leagues to the eastwards of saint iago , placed on high , with a goodly bay , whereof it hath his name : and saint domingo , a small towne within the land. they are on the souther part of the iland , and haue beene sacked sundry times in anno 1582. by manuel serades , a portingall , with a fleete of french-men ; in anno 1585. they were both burnt to the ground by the english , sir francis drake being generall ; and in anno 1596. saint iago was taken , and sacked by the english , sir anthony shyrley being generall . the second iland is fuego , so called , for that day and night there burneth in it a vulcan ; whose flames in the night are seene twentie leagues off in the sea. it is by nature fortified in that sort , as but by one way is any accesse , or entrance into it , and there cannot goe vp aboue two men a brest . the bread which they spend in these ilands , is brought from portingall and spaine , saving that which they make of rice , or of mayes , which wee call guynne-wheate . the best watering is in the i le of bravo , on the west part of the iland , where is a great river , but foule anchoring , as is in all these ilands , for the most part . the fruits are few , but substantiall , as palmitos , plantanos , patatos , and coco nutts . the palmito is like to the date tree , and as i thinke a kinde of it , but wilde . in all parts of afrique and america they are found , and in some parts of europe , and in divers parts different . in afrique , and in the west indies they are small , that a man may cut them with a knife , and the lesser the better : but in brasill they are so great , that with difficultie a man can fell them with an axe , and the greater the better ; one foote within the top is profitable , the rest is of no value ; and that which is to be eaten is the pith , which in some is better , in some worse . the plantane is a tree found in most parts of afrique and america , of which two leaues are sufficient to cover a man from top to toe ; it beareth fruit but once , and then dryeth away , and out of his roote sprouteth vp others new . in the top of the tree is his fruit , which groweth in a great bunch , in the forme and fashion of puddings , in some more , in some lesse . i haue seene in one bunch aboue foure hundred plantanes , which haue weighed aboue fourescore pound waight . they are of divers proportions , some great , some lesser , some round , some square , some triangle , most ordinarily of a spanne long , with a thicke skinne , that peeleth easily from the meate ; which is either white or yellow , and very tender like butter ; but no conserue is better , nor of a more pleasing taste . for i never haue seene any man , to whom they haue bred mis-like , or done hurt with eating much of them , as of other fruites . the best are those which ripen naturally on the tree , but in most partes they cut them off in braunches , and hange them vp in their houses , and eate them as they ripe . for the birds and vermine presently in ripning on the tree , are feeding on them . the best that i haue seene are in brasill , in an iland called placentia , which are small , and round , and greene when they are ripe ▪ whereas the others in ripning become yellow . those of the west indies and guynne are great , and one of them sufficient to satisfie a man ; the onely fault they haue is , that they are windie . in some places they eate them in stead of bread , as in panama , and other parts of tierra firme . they grow and prosper best when their rootes are ever covered with water ; they are excellent in conserue , and good sodden in different manners , and dried on the tree , not inferior to suckett . the coco nutt is a fruit of the fashion of a hassell nutt , but that it is as bigge as an ordinary bowle , and some are greater . it hath two shells , the vttermost framed ( as it were ) of a multitude of threeds , one layd vpon another , with a greene skinne over-lapping them , which is soft and thicke ; the innermost is like to the shell of a hazell nutt in all proportion , saving that it is greater and thicker , and some , more blacker . in the toppe of it is the forme of a munkies face , with two eyes , his nose and a mouth . it containeth in it both meate and drinke ; the meate white as milke , and like to that of the kernell of a nutt , and as good as almonds blancht , and of great quantitie : the water is cleare , as of the fountaine , and pleasing in taste , and somewhat answereth that of the water distilled of milke . some say it hath a singular propertie in nature , for conserving the smoothnesse of the skinne ; and therefore in spaine and portingall , the curious dames doe ordinarily wash their faces and neckes with it . if the holes of the shell be kept close , they keepe foure or six moneths good , and more ; but if it be opened , and the water kept in the shell , in few dayes it turneth to vineger . they grow vpon high trees , which haue no boughes ; onely in the top they haue a great cap of leaues , and vnder them groweth the fruite vpon certaine twigs ; and some affirme that they beare not fruite , before they be aboue fortie yeares old , they are in all things like to the palme trees , and grow in many partes of asia , afrique , and america . the shels of these nuts are much esteemed for drinking cups , and much cost and labour is bestowed vpon them in carving , graving and garnishing them , with silver , gold and precious stones . in the kingdome of chile and in brosill , is another kinde of these , which they call coquillos , as wee may interpret ( little cocos ) and are as big as wal-nuts ; but round and smooth , and grow in great clusters : the trees in forme are all one , and the meate in the nut better , but they haue no water . another kinde of great cocos groweth in the andes of peru , which haue not the delicate meate nor drinke , which the others haue , but within are full of almonds , which are placed as the graines in the pomegrannet , being three times bigger then those of europe , and are much like them in tast . in these ilands are cyvet-cats , which are also found in parts of asia , and afrique ; esteemed for the civet they yeelde , and carry about them in a cod in their hinder parts , which is taken from them by force . in them also are store of monkies , and the best proportioned that i haue seene ; and parrots , but of colour different to those of the west indies ; for they are of a russet or gray colour and great speakers . sect . xiiii . with a faire and large winde we continued our course , till we came within fiue degrees of the equinoctiall lyne , where the winde tooke vs contrary by the southwest , about the twentie of iulie , but a fayre gale of wind and a smooth sea , ; so that wee might beare all a taunt : and to advantage our selues what wee might , wee stoode to the east-wards , being able to lye south-east and by south ; the next day about nine of the clocke , my companie being gathered together to serue god , which wee accustomed to doe every morning and evening , it seemed vnto me that the coulour of the sea was different to that of the daies past , and which is ordinarily where is deepe water ; and so calling the captaine , and master of my ship , i told them that to my seeming the water was become very whitish , and that it made shewe of sholde water . wherevnto they made answere , that all the lynes in our shippes could not fetch ground : for wee could not be lesse then threescore and tenne leagues off the coast , which all that kept reckoning in the ship agreed vpon , and my selfe was of the same opinion . and so wee applyed our selues to serue god , but all the time that the service endured , my heart could not be at rest , and still me thought the water began to waxe whiter and whiter . our prayers ended , i commanded a lead and a lyne to be brought , and having the lead in foureteene fathoms wee had ground , which put vs all into a maze , and sending men into the toppe , presently discovered the land of guynne , some fiue leagues from vs , very low land. i commanded a peece to be shott , and lay by the lee , till my other shippes came vp . which hayling vs , wee demanded of them , how farre they found themselues off the land ; who answered , some threescore and tenne , or fourescore leagues : when wee told them wee had sounded , and found but foureteene fathomes , and that we were in sight of land , they began to wonder ; but having consulted what was best to be done , i caused my shalop to be manned , which i towed at the sterne of my ship continually , and sent her and my pynace a head to sound , and followed them with an easie sayle , till we came in seaven and six fathome water , and some two leagues from the shore anchored , in hope by the sea , or by the land to find some refreshing . the sea we found to be barren of fish , and my boates could not discover any landing place , though a whole day they had rowed alongst the coast , with great desire to set foote on shore , for that the sedge was exceeding great and dangerous . which experienced , wee set sayle , notwithstanding the contrarietie of the winde , sometimes standing to the west-wards , sometime to the east-wards , according to the shifting of the wind . sect . xv. here is to be noted , that the error which we fell into in our accompts , was such as all men fall into where are currants that set east or west , and are not knowne , for that there is no certaine rule yet practised for triall of the longitude , as there is of the latitude , though some curious and experimented of our nation , with whom i haue had conference about this poynt , haue shewed me two or three manner of wayes how to know it . this , some yeares before was the losse of the edward cotton , bound for the coast of brasill , which taken with the winde contrary neere the lyne , standing to the east-wards , and making accompt to be fiftie or sixtie leagues off the coast , with all her sayles standing , came suddenly a ground vpon the sholes of madrebombat ; and so was cast away , though the most part of their company saved themselues vpon raffes ; but with the contagion of the countrie , and bad entreatie which the negros gaue them , they died ; so that there returned not to their country aboue three or ●oure of them . but god almightie dealt more mercifully with vs in shewing vs our error in the day , and in time , that wee might remedie it ; to him be evermore glory for all . this currant from the line equinoctiall , to twentie degrees northerly , hath gr●at force , and setteth next of any thing east , directly vpon the shore ; which we found by this meanes : standing to the westwards , the wind southerly , when we lay with our ships head west , and by south , we gayned in our heith more then if wee had made our way good west south-west ; for that , the currant tooke vs vnder the bow : but lying west , or west and by north , we lost more in twelue houres then the other way we could get in foure and twentie . by which plainly we saw , that the currant did set east next of any thing . whether this currant runneth ever one way , or doth alter , and how , we could by no meanes vnderstand , but tract of time and observation will discover this , as it hath done of many others in sundry seas . the currant that setteth betwixt new-found-land and spaine , runneth also east and west , and long time deceived many , and made some to count the way longer , and others shorter , according as the passage was speedie or slowe ; not knowing that the furtherance or hinderance of the currant , was cause of the speeding or slowing of the way . and in sea cardes i haue seene difference of aboue thirtie leagues betwixt the iland tercera , and the mayne . and others haue recounted vnto me , that comming from the india's , and looking out for the ilands of azores , they haue had sight of spaine . and some haue looked out for spaine , and haue discovered the ilands . the selfe same currant is in the levant sea , but runneth trade betwixt the maynes , and changeable sometimes to the east-wards , sometimes to the west-wards . in brasill and the south sea , the currant likewise is changeable , but it runneth ever alongst the coast , accompanying the winde : and it is an infallible rule , that twelue or twentie foure houres ( before the wind alters ) the currant begins to change . in the west indies onely the currant runneth continually one way , and setteth alongst the coast from the equinoctiall lyne towards the north. no man hath yet found that these courrants keepe any certaine time , or run so many dayes , or moneths , one way as another , as doth the course of ebbing and flowing , well knowne in all seas : onely neere the shore they haue small force ; partly , because of the reflux which the coast causeth , and partly for the ebbing and slowing , which more or lesse is generall in most seas . when the currant runneth north or south , it is easily discovered by augmenting or diminishing the height , but how to know the setting of the currant from east to west in the mayne sea , is difficult , and as yet , i haue not knowne any man , or read any authour , that hath prescribed any certaine meane or way to discover it . but experience teacheth that in the mayne sea , for the most part it is variable ; and therefore the best and safest rule to prevent the danger , ( which the vncertainty and ignorance heereof may cause ) is carefull and continuall watch by day and night , and vpon the east and west course ever to bee before the shipp , and to vse the meanes possible to know the errour , by the rules which newe authours may teach : beating off and on , sometimes to the west-wards , sometimes to the east-wards , with a fayre gale of winde . sect . xvi . being betwixt three or foure degrees of the equinoctiall line , my company within a fewe dayes began to fall sicke , of a disease which sea-men are wont to call the scurvey : and seemeth to bee a kinde of dropsie , and raigneth most in this climate of any that i haue heard or read of in the world ; though in all seas it is wont to helpe and increase the miserie of man ; it possesseth all those of which it taketh hold , with a loathsome sloathfulnesse , even to eate : they would be content to change their sleepe and rest , which is the most pernicious enemie in this sicknesse , that is knowne . it bringeth with it a great desire to drinke , and causeth a generall swelling of all parts of the body , especially , of the legs and gums , and many times the teeth fall out of the iawes without paine . the signes to know this disease in the beginning are divers , by the swelling of the gummes , by denting of the flesh of the leggs with a mans finger , the pit remayning without filling vp in a good space : others , show it with their lasinesse , others , complaine of the cricke of the backe , &c. all which , are for the most part , certaine tokens of infection . the cause of this sicknes , some attribute to sloath ; some to conceite ; and divers men speake diversly : that which i haue observed is , that our nation is more subiect vnto it , then any other ; because being bred in a temperate clymate , where the naturall heate restrayned , giveth strength to the stomacke , sustayning it with meates of good nourishment , and that in an wholsome ayre , whereas comming into the hot countries , ( where that naturall heate is dispersed through the whole body , which was wont to be proper to the stomacke ; and the meates for the most part , preserved with salt , and its substance thereby diminished , and many times corrupted ) greater force for digestion is now required , then in times past ; but the stomacke ●inding lesse vertue to doe his office , in reparting to each member his due proportion in perfection , which either giveth it rawe , or remayneth with it indigested by his hardnes or cruditie ; infeebleth the body , and maketh it vnlusty and vnfit for any thing , for the stomacke being strong , ( though all parts els be weake ) there is ever a desire to feede , and aptnes to performe whatsoever can bee required of a man ; but though all other members be strong and sound , if the stomacke be opprest , or squemish , all the body is vnlustie , and vnfit for any thing , and yeeldeth to nothing so readily , as to sloathfulnes , which is confirmed by the common answere to all questions : as , will you eate ? will you sleepe ? will you walke ? will you play ? the answere is , i haue no stomacke : which is as much , as to say , no not willingly , thereby confirming that without a sound and whole stomacke , nothing can bee well accomplished , nor any sustenance well digested . the seething of the meate in salt water , helpeth to cause this in●irmitie , which in long voyages can hardly be avoyded : but if it may be , it is to be shunned ; for , the water of the sea to mans body is very vnwholsome . the corruption of the victuals , and especially of the bread , is very pernicious ; the vapours and ayre of the sea also is nothing profitable , especially , in these hot countries , where are many calmes . and were it not for the moving of the sea by the force of windes , tydes , and currants , it would corrupt all the world . the experience i saw in anno 1590. lying with a fleete of her maiesties ships about the ilands of the azores almost six moneths ; the greatest part of the time we were becalmed : with which all the sea became so replenished with severall sorts of gellyes , and formes of serpents , adders , and snakes , as seemed wonderfull : some greene , some blacke , some yellow , some white , some of divers coulours ; and many of them had life , and some there were a yard and halfe , and two yards long ; which had i not seene , i could hardly haue beleeved . and hereof are witnesses all the companies of the ships which were then present ; so that hardly a man could draw a buckett of water cleere of some corruption . in which voyage , towards the end thereof , many of every ship , ( saving of the nonpereli , which was vnder my charge , and had onely one man sicke in all the voyage ) fell sicke of this disease , and began to die apace , but that the speedie passage into our country was remedie to the crazed , and a preservatiue for those that were not touched . the best prevention for this disease ( in my iudgement ) is to keepe cleane the shippe , to be sprinkle her ordinarily with vineger , or to burne tarre , and some sweet savours , to feed vpon as few salt meats in the hot country as may be , and especially to shunne all kindes of salt fish , and to reserue them for the cold climates , and not to dresse any meat with salt water , nor to suffer the companie to wash their shirts nor cloathes in it , nor to sleepe in their cloaths when they are wett . for this cause it is necessarily required , that provision be made of apparell for the company , that they may haue wherewith to shift themselues . being a common calamitie amongst the ordinary sort of mariners , to spend their thrift on the shore , and to bring to sea no more cloaths then they haue backes ; for the bodie of man is not refreshed with any thing more , then with shifting cleane cloaths ; a great preservatiue of health in hott countries . the second antidote is , to keepe the companie occupied in some bodily exercise of worke , of agilitie , of pastimes , of dauncing , of vse of armes ; these helpeth much to banish this infirmitie . thirdly , in the morning at discharge of the watch , to giue every man a bit of bread , and a draught of drinke , either beere , or wine mingled with water ( at the least , the one halfe ) or a quantitie mingled with beere , that the pores of the bodie may be full , when the vapours of the sea ascend vp . the morning draught should be ever of the best , and choysest of that in the ship . pure wine i hold to be more hurtfull , then the other is profitable . in this , others will be of a contrary opinion , but i thinke partiall . if not , then leaue i the remedies thereof to those physitions and surgeons who haue experience . and i wish that some learned man would write of it , for it is the plague of the sea , and the spoyle of mariners ; doubtlesse , it would be a meritorious worke with god and man , and most beneficiall for our countrie , for in twentie yeares , since that i haue vsed the sea , i dare take vpon me , to giue accompt of ten thousand men consumed with this disease . that which i haue seene most fruitfull for this sicknesse , is sower oranges and lemmons , and a water which amongst others ( for my particular provision ) i carryed to the sea , called doctor stevens his water , of which , for that his vertue was not then well knowne vnto me , i carryed but little , and it tooke end quickly , but gaue health to those that vsed it . the oyle of vitry is beneficiall for this disease ; taking two drops of it , and mingled in a draught of water , with a little sugar . it taketh away the thirst , and helpeth to clense and comfort the stomacke : but the principall of all , is the ayre of the land ; for , the sea is naturall for fishes , and the land for men . and the oftner a man can haue his people to land , ( not hindering his voyage ) the better it is , and the profitablest course that he can take to refresh them . sect . xvii . having stood to the westwards some hundreth leagues and more , the wind continuing with vs contrarie , and the sicknesse so fervent , that every day there dyed more or lesse : my companie in generall began to dismay , and to desire to returne homewards which i laboured to hinder by good reasons , and perswasions : as , that to the west indies , we had not aboue eight hundreth leagues , to the ilands of azores little lesse , and before we come to the ilands of cape de verde , that we should meete with the breze ; for every night we might see the reach goe contrary to the winde which wee sayled by ; verifying the old proverbe amongst mariners ; that he hath need of a long mast , that will sayle by the reach ; and that the neerest land and speediest refreshing wee could looke for , was the coast of brasill ; and that standing towards it with the winde we had , we shortned our way for the indies ; and that to put all the sicke men together in one shippe , and to send her home , was to make her their graue . for we could spare but few sound men , who were also subiect to fall sicke , and the misery , notwithstanding , remedilesse ; with which they were convinced , and remained satisfied . so leaving all to their choyse , with the consideration of what i perswaded , they resolved with me , to continue our course , till that god was pleased to looke vpon vs , with his fatherly eyes of mercie . as we approached neerer and neerer the coast of brasill , the wind began to vere to the east-wardes , and about the middle of october , to be large and good for vs ; and about the 18. of october , we were thwart of cape saint augustine ; which lyeth in sixe degrees to the southwards of the lyne : and the 21. in the height of farnambuca , but some fourescore leagues from the coast ; the twentie foure , in the height of bayea de todos santos ; neere the end of october , betwixt 17. and 18. degrees , we were in 16. fathomes , sounding of the great sholes , which lye alongst the coast , betwixt the bay of todos santos , and the port of santos alias ura senora de vitoria ; which are very perilous . but the divine providence hath ordayned great flockes of small birds ( like snytes ) to liue vpon the rockes , and broken lands of these sholes , and are met with ordinarily twentie leagues before a man come in danger of them . it shall not be amisse here to recount the accidents which befell vs during this contrary winde , and the curiosities to be observed in all this time . day and night we had continually a fayre gale of winde , and a smooth sea , without any alteration ; one day , the carpenters having calked the decke of our shippe , which the sunne with his extreame heate had opened , craved licence to heate a little pitch in the cook-roome : which i would not consent vnto by any meanes ; for that my cook-roomes were vnder the decke , knowing the danger ; vntill the master vndertooke , that no danger should come thereof . but he recommended the charge to another , who had a better name , then experience . he suffered the pitch to rise , and to runne into the fire , which caused so furious a flame , as amazed him , and forced all to flie his heate ; one of my company , with a double payre of gloues tooke off the pitch-pot , but the fire forced him to let slip his hold-fast , before he could set it on the hearth , and so overturned it , and as the pitch began to runne , so the fire to enlarge it selfe , that in a moment a great part of the shippe was on a light fire . i being in my cabin , presently imagined what the matter was , and for all the hast i could make , before i came , the fire was aboue the decke : for remedie whereof , i commanded all my companie , to cast their ruggegownes into the sea , with ropes fastened vnto them . these i had provided for my people to watch in ; for in many hott countries the nights are fresh and colde ; and devided one gowne to two men , a starboord and a larboord man ; so that he which watched had ever the gowne : for they which watched not , were either in their cabins , or vnder the decke , and so needed them not . the gownes being well soked , every man that could , tooke one , and assaulted the fire ; and although some were singed , others scalded , and many burned , god was pleased that the fire was quenched , which i thought impossible ; and doubtlesse , i never saw my selfe in greater perill in all the dayes of my life . let all men take example by vs , not to suffer ( in any case ) pitch to be heate in the ship , except it be with a shott heate in the fire , which cannot breed daunger : nor to permit fire to be kindled , but vpon meere necessitie ; for the inconvenience thereof ( is for the most part ) remedilesse . with drinking of tobacco it is said , that the roebucke was burned in the range of dartmouth . the primrose of london was fired with a candle at tilbery-hope , and nothing saved but her kele . and another ship bound for barbary , at wapping . the iesus of lubecke had her gunner-roome set on fire with a match , and had beene burnt without redemption , if that my father , sir iohn hawkins knight , then generall in her , had not commaunded her sloppers to be stopt , and the men to come to the pumpes , whereof shee had two , which went with chaynes , and plying them , in a moment there was three or foure inches of water vpon the decke , which with scoopes , swabbles , and platters , they threw vpon the fire , and so quenched it , and delivered both ship and men out of no small danger . great care is to be had also in cleaving of wood , in hooping or scutling of caske , and in any businesse where violence is to be vsed with instruments of iron , steele , or stone ; and especially , in opening of powder , these are not to be vsed , but mallets of wood ; for many mischances happen beyond all expectation . i haue beene credibly enformed by divers persons , that comming out of the indies , with scutling a butt of water , the water hath taken fire , and flamed vp , and put all in hazard : and a servant of mine , thomas gray told me , that in the shippe wherein he came out of the indies , anno 1600. there happened the like ; and that if with mantles they had not smoothered the fire , they had bin all burned with a pipe of water , which in scutling tooke fire . master iohn hazlelocke reported , that in the arsenall of venice happened the like , he being present . for mine owne part , i am of opinion , that some waters haue this propertie , and especially such as haue their passage by mines of brimstone , or other mineralls , which ( as all men know ) giue extraordinary properties vnto the waters by which they runne : or it may be that the water being in wine caske , and kept close , may retayne an extraordinary propertie of the wine . yea , i haue drunke fountaine , and river waters many times , which haue had a savour as that of brimstone . three leagues from bayon in france , i haue proved of a fountaine that hath this savour , and is medicinable for many diseases . in the south sea , in a river some fiue leagues from cape saint francisco , in one degree and a halfe to the northwardes of the lyne , in the bay of atacames , is a river of fresh water , which hath the like savour . of this i shall haue occasion to speake in another place , treating of the divers properties of fountaines and rivers ; and therefore to our purpose . sect . xviii . wee had no small cause to giue god thankes and prayse for our deliverance , and so all our ships once come together , wee magnified his gloririous name for his mercie towards vs , and tooke an occasion hereby , to banish swearing out of our shippes , which amongst the common sort of mariners , and sea-faring men , is too ordinarily abused . so with a generall consent of all our companie , it was ordayned that in every ship there should be a palmer or ferula , which should be in the keeping of him , who was taken with an oath , and that he who had the palmer should giue to every other that he tooke swearing in the palme of the hand a palmada with it , and the ferula . and whosoever at the time of evening , or morning prayer , was found to haue the palmer , should haue three blowes given him by the captaine , or master , and that he should be still bound to free himselfe by taking another , or else to runne in daunger of continuing the penaltie ; which executed , few dayes reformed the vice ; so that in three dayes together , was not one oath heard to be sworne . this brought both ferula's , and swearing out of vse . and certainly , in vices , custome is the principall sustenance ; and for their reformation , it little availeth to giue good counsell , or to make good lawes and ordenances , except they be executed . sect . xix . in this time of contrary wind , those of my company which were in health , recreated themselues with fishing , and beholding the hunting and hawking of the sea , and the battell betwixt the whale and his enemies , which truely are of no small pleasure . and therefore for the curious , i will spend some time in declaration of them . ordinarily such ships as navigate betweene the tropiques , are accompanied with three sorts of fish ; the dolphin , which the spaniards call dozado : the bonito , or spanish makerell : and the sharke , alias tiberune . the dolphin i hold to be one of the swiftest fishes in the sea : he is like vnto a breame , but that he is longer and thinner , and his scales very small . he is of the coulour of the rayn-bow , and his head different to other fishes ; for , from his mouth halfe a spanne it goeth straight vpright , as the head of a wherry , or the cut-water of a ship. he is very good meate if he be in season , but the best part of him , is his head , which is great . they are some bigger , some lesser ; the greatest that i haue seene , might be some foure foote long . i hold it not without some ground , that the auncient philosophers write , that they be enamoured of a man : for in meeting with shipping , they accompany them till they approach to colde climates ; this i haue noted divers times . for disembarking out of the west indies , anno 1583. within three or foure dayes after , we mett a scole of them , which left vs not till we came to the ilands of azores , nere a thousand leagues . at other times i haue noted the like . but some may say , that in the sea are many scoles of this kinde of fish , and how can a man know if they were the same ? who may be thus satisfied , that every day in the morning , which is the time that they approach neerest the ship , we should see foure , fiue , and more , which had ( as it were ) our ●are-marke , one hurt vpon the backe ; another neere the tayle ; another about the fynnes , which is sufficient proofe that they were the same . for if those which had received so bad entertainment of vs would not forsake vs , much lesse those which we had not hurt ; yet that which makes them most in loue with ships and men , are the scrappes and refreshing they gather from them . the bonito , or spanish makerell , is altogether like vnto a makerell , but that it is somewhat more growne ; he is reasonable foode , but dryer then a makerell . of them there are two sorts ; the one is this which i haue described ; the other , so great , as hardly one man can lift him ; at such times as wee haue taken of these , one sufficed for a meale for all my company . these , from the fynne of the tayle forwards haue vpon the chyne seven small yellow hillockes , close one to another . the dolphins and bonito's are taken with certaine instruments of iron , which we call vysgeis , in forme of an e●le-speare , but that the blades are round , and the poynts like vnto the head of a broad arrow ; these are fastned to long staues of ten or twelue foote long , with lynes tyed vnto them , and so shott to the fish , from the beake-head , the poope , or other parts of the shippe , as occasion is ministred . they are also caught with hookes and lynes , the hooke being bayted with a redd cloth , or with a white cloth , made into the forme of a fish , and sowed vpon the hooke . the sharke or tiberune , is a fish like vnto those which wee call dogge-fishes , but that he is farre greater . i haue seene of them eight or nine foote long ; his head is flatt and broad , and his mouth in the middle , vnderneath , as that of the seate ; and he cannot byte of the bayte before him , but by making a halfe turne ; and then he helpeth himselfe with his tayle , which serveth him in stead of a rudder . his skinne is rough ( like to the fish which we call , a rough hound ) and russet , with reddish spottes , saving that vnder the belly he is all white : he is much hated of sea-faring men , who haue a certaine foolish superstition with them , and say , that the ship hath seldome good successe , that is much accompanied with them . it is the most ravenous fish knowne in the sea ; for he swalloweth all that he findeth . in the puch of them hath beene sound hatts , cappes , shooes , shirts , leggs and armes of men , ends of ropes , and many other things ; whatsoever is hanged by the shippes side ▪ hee sheereth it , as though it were with a razor ; for he hath three rowes of teeth on either side , as sharpe as nailes ; some say , they are good for pick-tooths . it hath chanced that a yonker casting himsel●e into the sea to swimme , hath had his legge bitten off aboue the knee by one of them . and i haue beene enformed , that in the tyger , when sir richard greenfild went to people virginia , a sharke cut off the legge of one of the companie , sitting in the chaines , and washing himselfe . they spawne not , as the greatest part of fishes doe , but whelpe , as the dogge or wolfe ; and for many dayes after that shee hath whelped every night , and towards any storme , or any danger which may threaten them hurt , the damme receiveth her whelpes in at her mouth , and preserveth them , till they be able to shift for themselues . i haue seene them goe in and out , being more then a foote and halfe long ; and after , taking the damme , we haue found her young ones in her belly . every day my company tooke more or lesse of them , not for that they did eate of them ( for they are not held wholesome ; although the spaniards , as i haue seene , doe eate them ) but to recreate themselues , and in revenge of the iniuries received by them ; for they liue long , and suffer much after they bee taken , before they dye . at the tayl● of one they tyed a great logge of wood , at another , an emptie batizia well stopped ; one they yoaked like a hogge ; from another , they plucked out his ey●s , and so threw them into the sea. in catching two together , they bound them tayle to tayle , and so set them a swimming ; another , with his belly slit , and his bowels hanging out , which his fellowes would haue every one a snatch at ; with other infinite inventions to entertayne the time , and to avenge themselues ; for that they deprived them of swimming , and fed on their flesh being dead : they are taken with harping irons , and with great hookes made of purpose , with swyvels and chaines ; for no lyne , nor small rope can hold them , which they share not asunder . there doth accompany this fish , divers little fishes , which are callet pilats fishes , and are ever vpon his fynnes , his head , or his backe , and feede of the scraps and superfluities of his prayes . they are in forme of a trought , and streked like a makerell , but that the strekes are white and blacke , and the blacke greater then the white . the manner of hunting and hawking representeth that which wee reasonable creatures vse , saving onely in the disposing of the game . for by our industry and abilitie the hound and hawke is brought to that obedience , that whatsoever they seize , is for their master ; but here it is otherwise . for the game is for him that seizeth it . the dolphins and bonitoes are the hounds , and the alcatraces the hawkes , and the flying fishes the game : whose wonderfull making magnifieth the creator , who for their safetie , and helpe , hath given them extraordinary manner of fynnes , which serue in stead of wings , like those of the batt or rere-mous● ; of such a delicate skinne , interlaced with small bones so curiously , as may well cause admiration in the beholders . they are like vnto pilchards in colour , and making ; saving that they are somewhat rounder , and ( for the most part ) bigger . they flie best with a side wind , but longer then their wings be wett , they cannot sustaine the waight of their bodies ; and so the greatest flight that i haue seene them make , hath not beene aboue a quarter of a myle . they commonly goe in scoles , and serue for food for the greater fishes , or for the foules . the dolphins and bonitoes doe continually hunt after them , and the alcatraces lye soaring in the ayre , to see when they spring , or take their flight ; and ordinarily , he that escapeth the mouth of the dolphin , or bonito , helping himselfe by his wings , falleth prisoner into the hands of the alcatrace , and helpeth to fill his gorge . the alcatrace is a sea-fowle , different to all that i haue seene , either on the land , or in the sea. his head like vnto the head of a gull , but his bill like vnto a snytes bill , somewhat shorter , and in all places alike . he is almost like to a heronshaw , his leggs a good spanne long , his wings very long , and sharpe towards the poynts , with a long tayle like to a pheasant , but with three or foure feathers onely , and these narrower . he is all blacke , of the colour of a crow , and of little flesh ; for he is almost all skinne and bones . he soareth the highest of any fowle that i haue seene , and i haue not heard of any , that haue seene them rest in the sea. now of the fight betwixt the whale and his contraries ; which are the sword fish and the thresher . the whale is of the greatest fishes in the sea ; and to count but the truth , vnlesse dayly experience did witnesse the relation , it might seeme incredible , hee is a huge vnwildlie fish , and to those which haue not seene of them , it might seeme strange , that other fishes should master him ; but certaine it is , that many times the thresher , and sword fish , meeting him ioyntly , doe make an end of him . the sword fish is not great , but strongly made , and in the top of his chine ( as a man may say ) betwixt the necke and shoulders , he hath a maner of sword in substance , like vnto a bone of foure or fiue ynches broad , and aboue three foote long , full of prickles of either side , it is but thin , for the greatest that i haue seene , hath not beene aboue a finger thicke . the thresher is a greater fish , whos● tayle is very broad & thick , and very waightie . they fight in this maner ; the sword fish placeth himselfe vnder the belly of the whale , and the thresher vpon the ryme of the water , and with his tayle thresheth vpon the head of the whale , till hee force him to giue way , which the sword fish perceiving , receiveth him vpon his sword , and wounding him in the belly forceth him to mount vp againe : ( besides that , he cannot abide long vnder water , but must of force rise vpp to breath ) and when in such maner they torment him , that the sight is sometimes heard aboue three leagues distance , and i dare affirme , that i haue heard the blowes of the thresher two leagues off , as the report of a peece of ordinance , the whales roaring being heard much farther . it also happeneth sundry times , that a great part of the water of the sea round about them , with the blood of the whale changeth his colour . the best remedy the whale hath in this extremitie to helpe himselfe , is to get him to land , which hee procureth as soone as hee discoverth his adversaries , and getting the shore , there can fight but one with him , and for either of them hand to hand , he is too good . the whale is a fish not good to be eaten , hee is almost all fat , but esteemed for his trayne : and many goe to the new-found-land ; greene-land , and other parts onely to fish for them , which is in this maner ; when they which seeke the whale discover him , they compasse him round about with pynaces or shalops . in the head of every boat is placed a man , with a harping iron , and a long lyne , the one end of it fastned to the harping iron , and the other end to the head of the boat ; in which it lyeth finely coyled ; and for that he cannot keepe long vnder water , he sheweth which way he goeth , when rising neere any of the boats , within reach , he that is neerest , darteth his harping iron at him . the whale finding himselfe to be wounded , swimmeth to the bottome , and draweth the pynace after him ; which the fisher men presently forsake , casting themselues into the sea ; for that many times he draweth the boat vnder water : those that are next , procure to take them vp . for this cause all such as goe for that kinde of fishing , are experimented in swimming . when one harping iron is fastned in the whale , it is easily discerned which way he directeth his course ; and so ere long they fasten another , and another in him . when he hath three or foure boats dragging after him ; with their waight , his bleeding , and fury , he becommeth so over-mastred , that the rest of the pynaces with their presence and terror , driue him to the place where they would haue him , nature instigating him to covet the shore . being once hurt , there is little need to force him to land . once on the shore , they presently cut great peeces of him , and in great cauldrons seeth them . the vppermost in the cauldrons is the fatt , which they skimme off , and put it into hogsheads and pipes . this is that they call whales oyle , or traine oyle , accompted the best sort of traine oyle . it is hard to be beleeved , what quantitie is gathered of one whale ; of the tongue , i haue beene enformed , haue many pipes beene filled . the fynnes are also esteemed for many and sundry vses ; as is his spawne for divers purposes : this wee corruptly call parmacittie ; of the latine word , sperma ceti . and the precious amber-greece ( some thinke also ) to be found in his bowells , or voyded by him ; but not in all seas ; yea , they maintaine for certaine , that the same is ingendred by eating an hearbe which groweth in the sea. this hearbe is not in all seas , say they , and therefore , where it wanteth , the whales giue not this fruit ! in the coast of the east indies in many partes is great quantitie . in the coastes of guyne , of barbary , of the florida , in the ilands of cape de verde , and the canaries , amber-greece hath beene many times found , and sometimes on the coast of spaine and england . wherevpon it is presumed , that all th●se seas haue not the hearbe growing in them . the cause why the whale should eate this hearbe , i haue not heard , nor read . it may be surmised , that it is as that of the becunia , and other beasts , which breed the beazer stone ; who feeding in the valleyes and mountaines , where are many venemous serpents , and hearbes ; when they find themselues touched with any poyson , forthwith they runne for remedie to an hearbe , which the spaniards call , contra yerva , that is to say , contrary to poyson ; which having eaten , they are presently cured : but the substance of the hearbe converteth it selfe into a medicinable stone ; so it may be , that the whale feeding of many sorts of fishes , and some of them ( as is knowne ) venemous , when he findeth himselfe touched , with this hearbe he cureth himselfe ; and not being able to digest it , nature converteth it into this substance , provoketh it out , or dyeth with it in his belly ; and being light , the sea bringeth it to the coast. all these are imaginations , yet instruments to mooue vs to the glorifying of the great and vniversall creatour of all , whose secret wisedome , and wonderfull workes , are incomprehensible . but the more approved generation of the amber greece , and which carrieth likliest probabilitie is , that it is a liquor which issueth out of certaine fountaines , in sundry seas , and being of a light and thicke substance , participating of the ayre , suddenly becommeth hard , as the yellow amber , of which they make beads ; which is also a liquor of a fountaine in the germayne sea : in the bottome it is soft and white , and partaking of the ayre becommeth hard and stonie : also the corrall in the sea is soft , but comming into the ayre , becommeth a stone . those who are of this former opinion , thinke the reason ( why the amber greece is sometimes found in the whale ) to be for that he swalloweth it , as other things , which he findeth swimming vpon the water ; and not able digest it , it remaineth with him till his death . another manner of fishing , and catching the whale i cannot omit , vsed by the indians in florida ; worthy to be considered , in as much as the barbarous people haue found out so great a secret , by the industry and diligence of one man , to kill so great and huge a monster ; it is in this manner . the indian discovering a whale , procureth two round billets of wood , sharpneth both at one end , and so binding them together with a cord , casteth himselfe with them into the sea , and swimmeth towards the whale ; if he come to him , the whale escapeth not ; for he placeth himselfe vpon his necke , and although the whale goeth to the bottome , he must of ●orce rise presently to breath , ( for which nature hath given him two great holes in the toppe of his head , by which every time that he breatheth , he spouteth out a great quantitie of water ) the indian forsaketh not his holde , but riseth with him , and thrusteth in a logg into one of his spowters , and with the other knocketh it in so fast , that by no meanes the whale can get it out : that fastned , at another opportunitie , he thrusteth in the second logg into the other spowter , and with all the force he can , keepeth it in . the whale not being able to breath , swimmeth presently ashore , and the indian a cock-horse vpon him , which his fellowes discovering , approach to helpe him , and to make an end of him : it serveth them for their foode many dayes after . since the spaniards haue taught them the estimation of amber greece , they seeke curiously for it , sell it to them , and others , for such things as they best fancie , and most esteeme ; which are ( as i haue beene enformed ) all sortes of edge-tooles , copper , glasses , glasse-beads , red caps , shirts , and pedlery ware . vpon this subiect , divers spaniards haue discoursed vnto mee , who haue beene eye witnesses thereof , declaring them to be valorous , ventrous , and industrious : otherwise they durst not vndertake an enterprise so difficult and full of danger . sect . xx. from the tropike of cancer to three or foure degrees of the equinoctiall , the breze which is the north-east winde , doth raigne in our ocean sea the most part of the yeare , except it be neere the shore , and then the winde is variable . in three or foure degrees of eyther side the line , the winde hangeth southerly , in the moneths of iuly , august , september and october : all the rest of the yeare from the cape bona esperança to the ilands of azores , the breze raygneth continually ; and some yeares in the other moneths also , or calmes , but he that purposeth to crosse the lyne from the north-wards to the south-wards , the best and surest passage is , in the moneths of ianuary , february , and march. in the moneths of september , october and november is also good passage , but not to sure as in the former . sect . xxi . betwixt nineteene and twenty degrees to the south-wards of the lyne , the winde tooke vs contrary , which together with the sicknes of my people made mee to seeke the shore , and about the end of october , we had sight of the land , which presenlty by our height and the making of it , discovered it selfe to be the port of santos , alias nostra senora de victoria , and is easie to be knowne , for it hath a great high hill over the port , which ( howsoever a man commeth with the land ) riseth like a bell , and comming neere the shore presently is discovered a white tower or fort , which standeth vpon the top of a hill over the harbour , and vpon the seamost land : it is the first land a man must compasse , before he enter the port ; comming within two leagues of the shore we anchored , and the captaynes and masters of my other ships , being come aboord , it was thought convenient ( the weakenes of our men considered , for wee had not in our three ships twenty foure men sound ) and the winde vncertaine when it might change , we thought with pollicie to procure that , which wee could not by force ; and so to offer traffique to the people of the shore , by that meanes to proue , if wee could attayne some refreshing for our sicke company . in execution whereof , i wrote a letter to the governour in latine , and sent him with it a peece of crymson velvet , a bolt of fine holland , with divers other things , as a present ; and with it , the captaine of my ship , who spake a little broken spanish , giving the governour to vnderstand , that i was bound to the east indies , to traffique in those parts , and that contrary windes had forced me vpon that coast : if that hee were pleased to like of it , for the commodities the countrie yeelded in aboundance , i would exchange that , which they wanted . with these instructions my captaine departed about nine of the clocke in the morning , carrying a flagge of truce in the head of the boate , and sixteene men well armed , and provided ; guided by one of my company which two yeares before had beene captaine in that place , and so was a reasonable pilot. entring the port , within a quarter of a myle is a small village , and three leagues higher vp , is the chiefe towne : where they haue two forts , one on eyther side of the harbour , and within them ride the ships which come thither to discharge , or loade . in the small village is ever a garrison of a hundreth souldiers , whereof part assist there continually , and in the white tower vpon the top of the hill , which commaundeth it . heere my captaine had good entertainement , and those of the shore received his message and letter , dispatching it presently to the governour , who was some three leagues off in another place : at least , they beare vs so in hand . in the time that they expected the post , my captaine with one other entertained himselfe with the souldiers a shore , who after the common custome of their profession ( except when they be hesonios ) sought to pleasure him , and finding that he craved but oranges , lemmons , and matters of smal moment for refreshing for his generall , they suffered the women and children to bring him what hee would , which hee gratified with double pistolets , that i had given him for that purpose . so got hee vs two or three hundreth oranges and lemmons , and some fewe hennes . all that day and night , and the next day , till nine of the clocke , wee waited the returne of our boate ; which not appearing , bred in me some suspition , and for my satisfaction i man'd a light horseman which i had , and the fancie , the best i could ; shewing strength , where was weakenesse and infirmity , and so set sayle towardes the port ; our gunner taking vpon him to bee pilote , for that hee had beene there some yeares before . thus , with them we entred the harbour , my captaine having notice of our being within the barre , came aboord with the boat , which was no small ioy to me ; and more , to see him bring vs store of oranges and lemmons , which was that we principally sought for , as the remedie of our diseased company . he made relation of that had past , and how they expected present answere from the governour . we anchored right against the village , and within two houres , by a flagge of truce , which they on the shore shewed ●s , wee vnderstood that the messenger was come : our boat went for the answere of the governour , who said , he was sorry that he could not accomplish our desire , being so reasonable and good ; for that in consideration of the warre betwixt spaine and england , he had expresse order from his king , not to suffer any english to trade within his iurisdiction , no , nor to land , or to take any refreshing vpon the shore . and therefore craved pardon , and that wee should take this for a resolute answere : and further , required vs to depart the port within three dayes , which he said he gaue vs , for our courteous manner of proceeding ; if any of my people from that time forwards , should approach to the shore , that he would doe his best to hinder and annoy them . with this answere wee resolved to depart ; and before it came , with the first faire wind , we determined to be packing : but the wind suffered vs not all that night , nor the next day . in which time , i lived in a great perplexitie , for that i knew our owne weaknesse , and what they might doe vnto vs , if that they had knowne so much . for any man that putteth himselfe into the enemies port , had need of argus eyes , and the wind in a bagge , especially , where the enemie is strong , and the tydes of any force . for , with either ebbe or flood , those who are on the shore , may thrust vpon him inventions of fire ; and with swimming , or other devises may cut his cables . a common practise in all hott countries . the like may be effected with raffes , cannoas , boates or pynaces , to annoy and assault him ; and if this had beene practised against vs , or taken effect , our shippes must of force haue yeelded themselues ; for they had no other people in them but sicke men ; but many times opinion and feare preserveth the shippes , and not the people in them . wherefore it is the part of a provident governour , to consider well the daungers that may befall him , before he put himselfe into such places ; so shall he ever be provided for prevention . in saint iohn de vlua , in the new-spaine , when the spanyards dishonoured their nation with that foule act of periury , and breach of faith , given to my father , sir iohn hawkins ( notorious to the whole world ) the spanyards fired two great shippes , with intention to burne my fathers admirall , which he prevented by towing them with his boates another way . the great armado of spaine , sent to conquer england , anno 1588. was with that selfe same industry overthrowne ; for the setting on ●ire of six or seaven shippes ( whereof two were mine ) and letting them drive with the flood , forced them to cut their cables , and to put to sea , to seeke a new way to spaine . in which the greatest part of their best shippes and men were lost and perished . for that my people should not b● dismayed , i dispatched presently my light-horsman ; with onely foure men , and part of the refreshing , advising them that with the first calme , or slent of wind , they should come off . the next night , the wind comming off the shore wee set sayle , and with our boates and barkes founded as we went. it flowed vpon the barre not aboue foure foote water , and once in foure and twentie houres ( as in some parts of the west indies ) at full sea there is not vpon the barre aboue 17. or 18. foote water . the harbour runneth to the south-westwards . he that will come into it , is to open the harbours mouth a good quarter of a league before he beare with it , and be bolder of the wester side ; for of the easterland lyeth a great ledge of rockes , for the most part , vnder water , which sometimes breake not , but with small shipping , a man may goe betwixt them and the poynt . comming aboord of our shippes , there was great ioy amongst my company , and many with the sight of the oranges and lemmons , seemed to recover heart ; this is a wonderfull secret of the power and wisedome of god , that hath hidde● so great and vnknowne vertue in this fruit , to be a certaine remedie for this infirmitie ; i presently caused them all to be reparted amongst our sicke men , which were so many , that there came not aboue three or foure to a share ; but god was pleased to send vs a prosperous winde the next day , so much to our comfort , that not any one dyed before we came to the ilands , where we pretended to refresh our selues ; and although our fresh water had fayled vs many dayes , ( before we saw the shore ) by reason of our long navigation , without touching any land , and the excessiue drinking of the ●icke and diseased , ( which could not be excused ) yet with an invention i had in my shippe , i easily drew out of the water of the sea , sufficient quantitie of fresh water to sustaine my people , with little expence of fewell ; for with foure billets i stilled a hogshead of water , and therewith dressed the meat for the sicke and whole . the water so distilled , we found to be wholesome and nourishing . sect . xxii . the coast from santos , to cape frio lyeth west and by south southerly . so we directed our course west south-west . the night comming on , and directions given to our other shippes , we sett the watch , having a fayre fresh gale of wind and large . my selfe , with the master of our ship , having watched the night past , thought now to giue nature that which shee had beene deprived of , and so recommended the care of steeridge to one of his mates ; who with the like travell past being drowsie , or with the confidence which he had of him at the helme , had not that watchfull care which was required ; he at the helme steered west , and west and by south , and brought vs in a little time close vpon the shore ; doubtlesse , he had cast vs all away , had not god extraordinarily delivered vs ; for the master being in his dead sleepe , was suddenly awaked , and with such a fright , that he could not be in quiet : wherevpon , waking his youth , which ordinarily slept in his cabin by him , asked him how the watch went on ; who answered , that it could not be aboue an houre since he layd himselfe to rest . he replyed , that his heart was so vnquiet , that he could not by any meanes sleepe , and so taking his gowne , came forth vpon the decke , and presently discovered the land hard by vs. and for that it was sandie and low , those who had their eyes continually fixed on it , were dazeled with the reflection of the starres , being a fayre night , and so were hindered from the true discovery thereof . but he comming out of the darke , had his sight more forcible , to discerne the difference of the sea , and the shore . so that forthwith he commaunded him at the helme , to put it close a starbourd , and tacking our ship , wee edged off ; and sounding , found scant three fathome water , whereby we saw evidently , the miraculous mercie of our god ; that if he had not watched over vs , as hee doth continually over his , doubtlesse , we had perished without remedie ; to whom be all glory , and prayse everlastingly , world without end . immediatly we shot off a peece , to giue warning to our other shippes ; who having kept their direct course , and far to wind-wards and sea-wards , because we carried no light , for that we were within sight of the shore , could not heare the report ; and the next morning were out of sight . sect . xxiii . in this poynt of steeridge , the spaniards and portingalls doe exceede all that i haue seene , i meane for their care , which is chiefest in navigation . and i wish in this , and in all their workes of discipline and reformation , we should follow their examples ; as also those of any other nation . in every ship of moment , vpon the halfe decke , or quarter decke , they haue a chayre , or seat ; out of which whilst they navigate , the pilot , or his adiutants ( which are the same officers which in our shippes we terme , the master and his mates ) never depart , day nor night , from the sight of the compasse ; and haue another before them ; whereby they see what they doe , and are ever witnesses of the good or bad steeridge of all men that take the helme . this i haue seene neglected in our best shippes , yet nothing more necessary to be reformed . for a good helme-man may be overcome with an imagination , and so mis-take one poynt for another ; or the compasse may erre , which by another is discerned . the inconveniences which hereof may ensue , all experimented sea-men may easily conceiue ; and by vs take warning to avoyd the like . sect . xxiiii . the next day about tenne of the clocke , wee were thwart of cape blanco , which is low sandie land , and perilous ; for foure leagues into the sea ( thwart it ) lye banks of sand , which haue little water on them ; on a sudden we found our selues amongst them , in lesse then three fathome water ; but with our boat and shalope we went sounding , and so got cleare of them . the next day following , we discovered the ilands , where wee purposed to refresh our selues : they are two , and some call them saint iames his ilands , and others , saint annes . they lie in two and twentie degrees and a halfe to the south-wards of the lyne ; and towards the evening ( being the fifth of november ) we anchored betwixt them and the mayne , in six fathome water , where wee found our other shippes . all which being well moored , we presently began to set vp tents and booths for our sicke men , to carry them a shore , and to vse our best diligence to cure them . for which intent our three surgeans , with their servants and adherents , had two boates to wayte continually vpon them , to fetch whatsoever was needfull from the shippes , to procure refreshing , and to fish , either with netts , or hookes , and lynes . of these implements wee had in aboundance , and it yeelded vs some refreshing . for the first dayes , the most of those which had health , occupied themselues in romeging our ship , in bringing a shore of emptie caske , in filling of them , and in felling and cutting of wood : which being many workes , and few hands , went slowly forwards . neere these ilands , are two great rockes , or small ilands adioyning . in them we found great store of young gannetts in their nests , which we reserved for the sicke , and being boyled with pickled porke well watered , and mingled with oatmeale , made reasonable pottage , and was good refreshing and sustenance for them . this provision fayled vs not , till our departure from them . vpon one of these rocks also , we found great store of the hearbe purslane , which boyled and made into sallets , with oyle and vineger , refreshed the sicke stomackes , and gaue appetite . with the ayre of the shore , and good cherishing , many recovered speedily ▪ some died away quickly , and others continued at a stand . we found here some store of fruits ; a kind of cherry , that groweth vpon a tree like a plum-tree , red of colour , with a stone in it , but different in making to ours , for it is not altogether round , and dented about : they haue a pleasing taste . in one of the ilands , we found palmito trees , great and high , and in the toppe a certaine fruit like cocos , but no bigger then a wallnut . we found also a fruit growing vpon trees in codds , like beanes , both in the codd , and the fruit . some of my company proved of them , and they caused vomits and purging , as any medicine taken out of the apothecaries shop , according to the quantitie received . they haue hudds , as our beanes , which shaled off , the kernell parteth it selfe in two , and in the middle is a thin skinne ( like that of an onion ) said to be hurtfull , and to cause exceeding vomits , and therefore to be cast away . monardus writing of the nature and propertie of this fruit , as of others of the indies , for that it is found in other parts , also calleth them havas purgativas , and sayth , that they are to be prepared , by peeling them first , and then taking away the skinne in the middle , and after beaten into powder , to take the quantitie of fiue or sixe , either with wine or sugar . thus they are good against fevers , and to purge grosse humors ; against the collicke , and payne of the ioynts , in taking them a man may not sleepe , but is to vse the dyet vsuall , as in a day of purging . one other fruit we found , very pleasant in taste , in fashion of an artechoque , but lesse ; on the outside , of colour redd ; within white , and compassed about with prickles ; our people called them prick-peares ; no conserue is better . they grow vpon the leaues of a certaine roote , that is like vnto that which we call semper viva ; and many are wont to hang them vp in their houses : but their leaues are longer and narrower , and full of prickes on either side . the fruit groweth vpon the side of the leafe , and is one of the best fruites that i haue eaten in the indies . in ripening , presently the birds or vermine are feeding on them ; a generall rule to know , what fruit is wholsome and good in the indies , and other parts . finding them to be eaten of the beasts or fowles , a man may boldly eate of them . the water of these ilands is not good ; the one , for being a standing water , and full of venemous wormes and serpents , which is neare a butt-shot from the sea shore , where we found a great tree fallen , and in the roote of it the names of sundry portingalls , frenchmen , and others , and amongst them , abraham cockes ; with the time of their being in this island . the other , though a running water , yet passing by the rootes of certaine trees , which haue a smell as that of garlique , taketh a certaine contagious sent of them ; here two of our men dyed with swelling of their bellies : the accident we could not attribute to any other cause , then to this suspitious water . it is little , and falleth into the sand , and soketh through it into the sea ; and therefore we made a well of a pipe , and placed it vnder the rocke from which it falleth , and out of it filled our caske : but we could not fill aboue two tunnes in a night and a day . sect . xxv . so after our people began to gather their strength , wee manned our boates , and went over to the mayne , where presently we found a great ryver of fresh and sweete water , and a mightie marish countrie ; which in the winter seemeth to be continually over-flowne with this river , and others , which fall from the mountaynous country adiacent . we rowed some leagues vp the ryver , and found that the further vp we went , the deeper was the river , but no fruit , more then she sweate of our bodies for the labour of our handes . at our returne wee loaded our boate with water , and afterwardes from hence wee made our store . sect . xxvi . the sicknesse having wasted more then the one halfe of my people , we determined to take out the victualls of the hawke , and to burne her ; which wee put in execution . and being occupied in this worke , we saw a shippe turning to windwards , to succour her selfe of the ilands ; but having discryed vs , put off to sea-wards . two dayes after , the wind changing , we saw her againe running alongst the coast , and the daintie not being in case to goe after her , for many reasons , we manned the fancie , and sent her after her ; who about the setting of the sunne ●etched her vp , and spake with her ; when finding her to be a great fly-boat , of ( at least ) three or foure hundreth tunnes , with 18. peeces of artillery , would haue returned , but the wind freshing in , put her to leewards ; and standing in to succour her selfe of the land , had sight of another small barke , which after a short chase shee tooke , but had nothing of moment in her , for that she had bin vpon the great sholes of abreoios in 18. degrees , and there throwne all they had by the board , to saue their liues . this and the other chase were the cause that the fancie could not beat it vp in many dayes : but before we had put all in a readinesse , the wind changing , shee came vnto vs , and made relation of that which had past ; and how they had given the small barke to the portingalls , and brought with them onely her pilot , and a marchant called pedro de escalante of potosi . sect . xxvii . in this coast the portingalls by industrie of the indians , haue wrought many feats . at cape frio they tooke a great french ship in the night , the most of her company being on the shore , with cannoas , which they haue in this coast so great , that they carry seventie and eightie men in one of them . and in isla grand , i saw one that was aboue threescore foote long , of one tree , as are all that i haue seene in brasill , with provisions in them for twentie or thirtie dayes . at the iland of san-sebastian , neere saint vincent , the indians killed about eightie of master candish his men , and tooke his boat , which was the overthrow of his voyage . there commeth not any ship vpon this coast , whereof these cannoas giue not notice presently to every place . and wee were certified in isla grand , that they had sent an indian from the river of ienero , through all the mountaines and marishes , to take a view of vs , and accordingly made a relation of our shippes , boates , and the number of men , which we might haue . but to prevent the like danger that might come vpon vs being carelesse and negligent , i determined one night , in the darkest and quietest of it , to see what watch our company kept on the shore ; man'd our light-horsman , and boat , armed them with bowes and targetts , and got a shore some good distance from the places where were our boothes , and sought to come vpon them vndiscovered : wee vsed all our best endevours to take them at vnawares , yet comming within fortie paces we were discovered ; the whole and the sicke came forth to oppose themselues against vs. which wee seeing , gaue them the hubbub , after the manner of the indians , and assaulted them , and they vs ; but being a close darke night , they could not discerne vs presently vpon the hubbub . from our shippe the gunner shott a peece of ordinance over our heads , according to the order given him , and thereof we tooke occasion to retyre vnto our boates , and within a little space came to the boothes and landing places , as though wee came from our shippes to ayde them . they began to recount vnto vs , how that at the wester poynt of the iland , out of certaine cannoas , had landed a multitude of indians , which with a great out-cry came vpon th●m , and ●ssaulted them fiercely , but finding better resistance then they looked for , and seeing themselues discovered by the shippes , tooke themselues to their heeles , and returned to their cannoas , in which they imbarked themselues , and departed . one affirmed , he saw the cannoas ; another , their long hayre ; a third , their bowes ; a fourth , that it could not be , but that some of them had their payments . and it was worth the sight , to behold those which had not moved out of their beds in many moneths , ( vnlesse by the helpe of others ) gotten , some a bow-shoot off into the woods ▪ others into the toppes of trees , and those which had any strength , ioyned together to fight for their liues . in fine , the booths and tents were left desolate . to colour our businesse the better , after we had spent some houre in seeking out , and ioyning the companie together , in comforting , animating , and commending them ; i left them an extraordinary guard for that night , and so departed to our shippes , with such an opinion of the assault , given by the indians , that many so possessed ( through all the voyage ) would not be perswaded to the contrary . which impression wrought such effect in most of my companie , that in all places where the indians might annoy vs , they were after most carefull and vigilant , as was convenient . in these ilands it heigheth and falleth some fiue or six foot water , and but once in two and twentie houres ; as in all this coast , and in many parts of the west indies ; as also in the coast of perew and chely ( saving where are great bayes or indraughts ) and there the tydes keepe their ordinary course of twice in foure and twentie houres . in the lesser of these ilands , is a caue for a small ship to ride in , land-lockt , and shee may moore her selfe to the trees of either side : this we called palmito iland , for the aboundance it hath of the greater sort of palmito trees , the other hath none at all . a man may goe betwixt the ilands with his ship , but the better course is out at one end . in these ilands are many scorpions , snakes , and adders , with other venemous vermine . they haue parotts , and a certaine kinde of fowle like vnto phesants , somewhat bigger , and seeme to be of their nature . here we spent aboue a moneth in curing of our sicke men , supplying our wants of wood and water , and in other necessary workes . and the tenth of december ( all things put in order ) we set sayle for cape frio , having onely six men sicke , with purpose there to set ashore our two prisoners before named ; and anchoring vnder the cape , we sent our boat a shore , but they could not finde any convenient place to land them in , and so returned : the wind being southerly , and not good to goe on our voyage , we succoured our selues within isla grand , which lyeth some dozen or foureteene leagues from the cape , betwixt the west , and by south and west south-west ; the rather to set our prisoners a shore . in the mid way betwixt the cape and this iland , lyeth the river ienero , a very good harbour , fortified with a garrison , and a place well peopled . the isla grand , is some eight or ten leagues long , and causeth a goodly harbour for shipping ; it is full of great sandie bayes and in the most of them is store of good water ; within this iland are many other smaller ilands , which cause divers sounds and creekes ; and amongst these little ilands , one , for the pleasant scituation and fertilitie thereof , called placentia . this is peopled , all the rest desert : on this iland our prisoners desired to be put ashore , and promised to send vs some refreshing . whereto we condescended , and sent them a shore , with two boates well man'd and armed , who sound few inhabitants in the iland ; for our people saw not aboue foure or fiue houses , notwithstanding our boats returned loaden with plantynes , pinias , potatoes , sugar-canes , and some hennes . amongst which they brought a kind of little plantyne , greene , and round , which were the best of any that i haue seene . with our people came a portingall , who said , that the iland was his ; he seemed to be a mistecho , who are those that are of a spanish and an indian brood , poorely apparelled and miserable ; we feasted him , and gaue him some trisles , and he according to his abilitie answered our courtesie with such as he had . the wind continuing contrary , we emptied all the water wee could come by , which we had silled in saint iames his iland , and filled our caske with the water of this isla grand . it is a wildernesse covered with trees and shrubbes so thicke , as it hath no passage through , except a man make it by force . and it was strange to heare the howling and cryes of wilde beastes in these woods day and night , which we could not come at to see by any meanes ; some like lyons , others like beares , others like hoggs , and of such and so many diversities , as was admirable . heere our nets profited vs much ; for in the sandy bayes they tooke vs store of fish . vpon the shore at full sea-marke , we found in many places certaine shels , like those of mother of pearles , which are brought out of the east indies , to make standing cups , called caracoles ; of so great curiositie as might moue all the beholders to magnifie the maker of them ; and were it not for the brittlenes of them , by reason of their exceeding thinnes , doubtles they were to bee esteemed farre aboue the others ; for , more excellent workemanship i haue not seene in shels . the 18. of december , wee set sayle the wind at north-east , and directed our course for the straites of magalianes . the twenty two of this moneth , at the going too of the sunne , we descryed a portingall ship , and gaue her chase , and comming within hayling of her , shee rendred her selfe , without any resistance , shee was of an hundred tuns bound for angola to load negroes , to be carried and sold in the river of plate ; it is a trade of great profit , & much vsed , for that the negroes are carried from the head of the river of plate , to patosi , to labour in the mynes . it is a bad negro , who is not worth there fiue or six hundreth peeces , every peece of tenne ryals , which they receiue in ryals of plate , for there is no other marchandize in those partes . some haue told me , that of late they haue found out the trade , and benefit of cochanillia , but the river suffereth not vessels of burthen ; for if they drawe aboue eight or seaven foote water , they cannot goe further ; then the mouth of the river , and the first habitation is aboue a hundred and twenty leagues vp , whereunto many barkes trade yearely , and carry all kinde of marchandize serving for patosi and paraquay ; the money which is thence returned , is distributed in all the coast of brasill . the loading of this ship was meale of cassavi , which the portingals call furina de paw . it served for marchandize in angola , for the portingals foode in the ship , and to nourish the negroes , which they should carry to the river of plate ; this meale is made of a certaine roote which the indians call yuca , much like vnto potatoes . of it are two kindes ; the one sweete and good to be eaten ( either rosted or sodden ) as potatoes , and the other of which they make their bread , called cassavi , deadly poyson , if the liquor or iuyce bee not throughly pressed out . so prepared it is the bread of brasill , and many parts of the indies , which they make in this maner : first they pare the roote , and then vpon a rough stone they grate it as small us they can , and after that it is grated small , they put it into a bag or poke , and betwixt two stones with great waight , they presse out the iuyce , or poyson , and after keepe it in some bag , till it haue no iuyce nor moysture left . of this they make two sorts of bread , the one finer , and the other courser , but bake them after one maner . they place a great broad smooth stone vpon other foure , which serue in steede of a trevet , and make a quicke fire vnder it , and so strawe the flower or meale a foote long , and halfe a foot broad . to make it to incorporate , they sprinkle now and then a little water , and then another rowe of meale , and another sprinkling , till it be to their minde ; that which is to be spent presently , they make a finger thicke , and sometimes more thicke ; but that which they make for store , is not aboue halfe a finger thicke , but so hard , that if it fall on the ground it will not breake easily : being newly baked , it is reasonable good , but after fewe dayes it is not to be eaten , except it be soaked in water . in some partes they suffer the meale to become fen●ed , before they make it into bread ; and hold it for the best ; saying , that it giveth a better tast , but i am not of that opinion ; in other parts they mingle it with a fruite called agnanepes , which are round , and being ripe are gray , and as big as an hazell n●t , and grow in a cod like pease , but that it is all curiously wrought , first they parch them vpon a stone , and after beate them into powder , and then mingle them with the fine flower of cassavi , and bake them into bread , these are their spice-cakes , which they call xanxaw . the agnanapes are pleasant , giue the bread a yellowish colour , and an aromaticall savour in taste . the finer of this bread , being well baked , keepeth long time , three or foure yeares . in brasill , since the portingalls taught the indians the vse of sugar , they eate this meale mingled with remels of sugar , or malasses ; and in this manner the portingalls themselues feed of it . but we found a better manner of dressing this farina , in making pancakes , and frying them with butter , or oyle ; and sometimes with mant●ca de puerco ; when , strewing a little sugar vpon them , it was meate that our company desired aboue any that was in the shippe . the indians also accustome to make their drinke of this meale , and in three severall manners . first , is chewing it in their mouths , and after mingling it with water , after a loathsome manner , yet the commonest drinke that they haue ; and that held best which is chewed by an old woman . the second manner of their drinke , is baking it till it be halfe burned , then they beate it into powder ; and when they will drinke , they mingle a small quantitie of it with water , which giueth a reasonable good taste . the third , and best , is baking it ( as aforesaid ) and when it is beaten into powder , to seeth it in water ; after that it is well boyled , they let it stand some three or foure dayes , and then drinke it . so , it is much like the ale which is vsed in england , and of that colour and taste . the indians are very curious in planting and manuring of this yuca ; it is a little shrubb , and carryeth branches like hazell wands ; being growne as bigge as a mans finger , they breake them off in the middest , and so pricke them into the ground ; it needeth no other art , or husbandry , for out of each branch grow two , three , or foure rootes , some bigger , some lesser : but first they burne and manure the ground , the which labour , and whatsoever els is requisite , the men doe not so much as helpe with a finger , but all lyeth vpon their poore women , who are worse then slaues ; for , they labour the ground , they plant , they digge and delue , they bake , they brew , and dresse their meate , fetch their water , and doe all drudgerie whatsoever ; yea , though they nurse a childe , they are not exempted from any labour ; their childe they carry in a wallet about their necke , ordinarily vnder one arme , because it may sucke when it will. the men haue care for nothing but for their cannoas , to passe from place to place , and of their bowes and arrowes to hunt , and their armes for the warre , which is a sword of heavie blacke wood , some foure fingers broad , an inch thicke , and an ell long , something broader towards the roppe then at the handle . they call it macana , and it is carved and wrought with inlayd works very curiously , but his edges are blunt . if any kill any game in hunting , he bringeth it not with him , but from the next tree to the game , he breaketh a bough ( for the trees in the indies haue leaues for the most part all the yeare ) and all the way as he goeth streweth little peeces of it , here and there , and comming home giueth a peece to his woman , and so sends her for it . if they goe to the warre , or in any iourney , where it is necessary to carry provision , or marchandize , the women serue to carry all , and the men never succour , nor ease them ; wherein they shew greater barbarisme then in any thing ( in my opinion ) that i haue noted amongst them , except in eating one another . in brasill , and in the west indies , the indian may haue as many wiues as he can get , either bought or given by her friends : the men and women ( for the most part ) goe naked , and those which haue come to know their shame , cover onely their privie parts with a peece of cloth , the rest of their body is naked . their houses resemble great barnes , covered over , or thatched with plantyne leaues , which reach to the ground , and at either end is the doore . in one house are sometimes ten or twentie housholds : they haue little houshold stuffe , besides their beds , which they call hamacas , and are made of cotton , and stayned with divers colours and workes . some i haue seene white , of great curiositie . they are as a sheete laced at both ends , and at either of them long strappes , with which they fasten them to two posts , as high as a mans middle , and so sit rocking themselues in them . sometimes they vse them for seates , and sometimes to sleepe in at their pleasures . in one of them i haue seene sleepe the man , his wife , and a childe . sect . xxviii . wee tooke out of this prize , for our provision , some good quantitie of this meale , and the sugar shee had , being not aboue three or foure chests , after three dayes we gaue the ship to the portingalls , and to them libertie . in her was a portingall knight , which went for governour of angola , of the habit of christ , with fiftie souldiers , and armes for a hundreth and fiftie , with his wife and daughter . he was old , and complained , that after many yeares service for his king , with sundry mishapps , he was brought to that poore estate , as for the reliefe of his wife , his daughter , and himselfe , he had no other substance , but that he had in the ship. it moved compassion , so as nothing of his was diminished , which though to vs was of no great moment , in angola it was worth good crownes . onely we disarmed them all , and let them depart , saying , that they would returne to saint vincents . we continued our course for the straites , my people much animated with this vnlookt for refreshing , and praised god for his bountie , providence , and grace extended towards vs. here it will not be out of the way to speake a word of the particularities of the countrie . sect . xxix . brasill is accounted to be that part of america , which lyeth towards our north sea , betwixt the river of the amazons , neere the lyne to the norwards , vntill a man come to the river of plate in 36. degrees to the south-wards of the lyne . this coast generally lyeth next of any thing south and by west ; it is a temperate countrie , though in some parts it exceedeth in heate ; it is full of good succours for shipping , and plentifull for rivers and fresh waters ; the principall habitations , are farnambuca , the bay de todos los santos , nostra senora de victoria , alias santos , the river ienero , saint vincents , and placentia ; every of them provided of a good port. the winds are variable , but for the most part trade alongst the coast. the commodities this country yeeldeth , are the wood called brasill , whereof the best is that of farnambuc ; ( so also called , being vsed in most rich colours ) good cotton-wooll , great store of sugar , balsamom , and liquid amber . they haue want of all manner of cloth , lynnen , and woollen , of iron , and edge-tooles , of copper , and principally in some places , of wax , of wine , of oyle , and meale , ( for the country beareth no corne ) and of all manner of haberdashery-wares , for the indians . the beasts that naturally breed in this country , are tygers , lyons , hoggs , dogges , deere , monkeyes , mycos , and conies , like vnto ratts , but bigger , and of a tawney colour , armadilloes , alagartoes , and store of venemous wormes and serpents , as scorpions , adders , which they call vinoras ; and of them , one kind , which the divine providence hath created with a bell vpon his head , that wheresoever he goeth , the sound of it might be heard , and so the serpent shunned ; for his stinging is without remedie . this they call the vynora with the bell ; of them there are many , and great store of snakes , some of that greatnesse , as to write the truth , might seeme fabulous . another worme there is in this country , which killed many of the first inhabitants , before god was pleased to discover a remedie for it , vnto a religious person ; it is like a magot , but more slender , and longer , and of a greene colour , with a red head ; this worme creepeth in at the hinder parts , where is the evacuation of our superstuities , and there ( as it were ) gleweth himselfe to the gutt , there feedeth of the bloud and humors , and becommeth so great , that stopping the naturall passage , he forceth the principall wheele of the clocke of our bodie to stand still , and with it the accompt of the houres of life to take end , with most cruell torment and paine , which is such , that he who hath beene throughly punished with the collique can quickly decipher or demonstrate . the antidote for this pernicious worme is garlique ; and this was discovered by a physitian to a religious person . sect . xxx . betwixt 26. and 27. degrees neere the coast lieth an iland ; the portingalls call it santa catalina , which is a reasonable harbour , and hath good refreshing of wood , water , and fruit . it is desolate and serveth for those , who trade from brasill to the river of plate , or from the river to brasill , as an inne , or bayting place . in our navigation towards the straites , by our observation wee found , that our compasse varyed a poynt and better to the eastwards . and for that divers haue written curiously and largely of the variation thereof , i referre them that desire the vnderstanding of it , to the discourse of master william aborrawh , and others ; for it is a secret , whose causes well vnderstood are of greatest moment in all navigations . in the height of the river of plate , we being some fiftie leagues off the coast , a storme tooke vs southerly , which endured fortie eight houres ; in the first day about the going downe of the sunne , robert tharlton , master of the fancie , bare vp before the wind , without giuing vs any token or signe , that shee was in distresse . we seeing her to continue her course , bare vp after her , and the night comming on , we carryed our light ; but shee never answered vs ; for they kept their course directly for england , which was the overthrow of the voyage , as well for that we had no pynace to goe before vs , to discover any danger , to seeke out roades and anchoring , to helpe our watering and refreshing ; as also for the victuals , necessaries , and men which , they carryed away with them : which though they were not many , yet with their helpe in our fight , we had taken the vice-admirall , the first time shee bourded with vs , as shall be hereafter manifested . for once we cleered her decke , and had we beene able to haue spared but a dozen men , doubtlesse , we had done with her what we would ; for shee had no close fights . moreover , if shee had beene with me , i had not beene discovered vpon the coast of perew . but i was worthy to be deceived , that trusted my ship in the hands of an hypocrite , and a man which had left his generall before in the like occasion , and in the selfe same place ; for being with master thomas candish , master of a small ship in the voyage wherein he dyed , this captaine being aboord the admirall , in the night time forsooke his fleet , his generall and captaine , and returned home . this bad custome is too too much vsed amongst sea-men , and worthy to be severely punished ; for doubtlesse the not punishing of those offenders , hath beene the prime cause of many lamentable events , losses , and overthrowes , to the dishonour of our nation , and frustrating of many good and hono●rable enterprises . in this poynt of discipline , the spaniards doe farre surpasse vs ; for whosoever forsaketh his fleete , or commander , is not onely severely punished , but deprived also of all charge or government for ever after . this in our countrie is many times neglected ; for that there is none to follow the cause , the principalls being either dead with griefe , or drowned in the gulfe of povertie , and so not able to wade through with the burthen of that suite , which in spaine is prosecuted by the kings atturney , or fiscall ; or at least , a iudge appoynted for determining that cause purposely . yea , i cannot attribute the good successe the spaniard hath had in his voyages and peoplings , to any extraordinary vertue more in him then in any other man , were not discipline , patience , and justice far superior . for in valour , experience , and travell , he surpasseth vs not ; in shipping , preparation , and plentie of victualls , hee commeth not neer● vs ; in paying and rewarding our people , no nation did goe beyond vs ; but god , who is a iust and bountifull rewarder , regarding obedience farre aboue sacrifice , doubtlesse , in recompence of their indurance , resolution , and subiection to commandement , bestoweth vpon them the blessing due vnto it . and this , not for that the spaniard is of a more tractable disposition , or more docible nature then wee , but that justice halteth with vs , and so the old proverbe is verified , pittie marreth the whole cittie . thus come we to be deprived of the sweet fruit , which the rod of discipline bringeth with it , represented vnto vs in auncient verses , which as a relique of experience i haue heard in my youth recorded by a wise man , and a great captaine ; thus ; the rod by power divine , and earthly regall law , makes good men liue in peace , and bad to stand in awe : for with a severe stroke the bad corrected be , which makes the good to ioy such iustice for to see ; the rod of discipline breeds feare in every part , reward by due desert doth ioy and glad the heart . these absentings and escapes are made most times onely to pilfer and steale , as well by taking of some prise when they are alone , and without commaund , to hinder or order their bad proceedings , as to appropriate that which is in their intrusted ship ; casting the fault , if they be called to account , vpon some poore and vnknowne mariners , whom they suffer with a little pillage , to absent themselues , the cunninglier to colour their greatest disorders , and robberies . for doubtlesse , if he would , hee might haue come vnto vs with great facilitie ; because within sixteene houres , the storme ceased , and the winde came fayre , which brought vs to the straites , and dured many dayes after with vs at north-east . this was good for them , though naught for vs : if he had perished any mast or yard , sprung any leake , wanted victuals , or instruments for finding vs , or had had any other impediment of importance , hee might haue had some colour to cloake his lewdnes : but his mastes and yards being sound , his shippe staunch and loaden with victuales for two yeares at the least , and having order from place to place , where to finde vs , his intention is easily seene to bee bad , and his fault such , as worthily deserved to bee made exemplary vnto others . which he manifested at his returne , by his manner of proceeding , making a spoyle of the prise hee tooke in the way homewards , as also of that which was in the ship , putting it into a port fit for his purpose , where he might haue time and commodity to doe what hee would . wee made account that they had beene swallowed vp of the sea , for we never suspected that any thing could make them forsake vs , so , we much lamented them . the storme ceasing , and being out of all hope , we set sayle and went on our course . during this storme , certaine great fowles , as big as swannes , soared aboue vs , and the winde calming , setled themselues in the sea , and fed vpon the sweepings of our ship ; which i perceiving , and desirous to see of them , because they seemed farre greater then in truth they were , i caused a hooke and lyne to be brought me ; and with a peece of a pilchard i bayted the hook , & a foot from it , tyed a peece of corke , that it might not sinke deepe , and threw it into the sea , which , our ship driving with the sea , in a little time was a good space from vs , and one of the fowles being hungry , presently seized vpon it , and the hooke in his vpper beake . it is like to a faulcons bill , but that the poynt is more crooked , in that maner , as by no meanes he could cleare himselfe , except that the lyne brake , or the hooke righted : plucking him towards the ship , with the waving of his wings he eased the waight of his body ; and being brought to the sterne of our ship , two of our company went downe by the ladder of the poope , and seized on his necke and wings ; but such were the blowes he gaue them with his pinnions , as both left their hand-fast , being beaten blacke and blew ; we cast a snare about his necke , and so tryced him into the ship. by the same manner of fishing , we caught so many of them , as refreshed and recreated all my people for that day . their bodies were great , but of little flesh and tender ; in taste answerable to the food whereon they feed . they were of two colours , some white , some gray ; they had three ioynts in each wing ; and from the poynt of one wing , to the poynt of the other , both stretched out , was aboue two fathomes . the wind continued good with vs , till we came to 49. degrees and 30. minuts , where it tooke vs westerly , being ( as we made our accompt ) some fiftie leagues from the shore . betwixt 49. and 48. degrees , is port saint iulian , a good harbour , and in which a man may graue his ship , though shee draw fifteene or sixteene foote water : but care is to be had of the people called pentagones . they are treacherous , and of great stature , so the most giue them the name of gyants . the second of february , about nine of the clocke in the morning , we discryed land , which bare south-west of vs , which wee looked not for so timely ; and comming neerer and neerer vnto it , by the lying , wee could not coniecture what land it should be ; for we were next of any thing in 48. degrees , and no platt nor sea-card which we had , made mention of any land , which lay in that manner , neere about that height ▪ in fine , wee brought our lar-bord tacke aboord , and stood to the north-east-wardes all that day and night , and the winde continuing westerly and a fayre gale , wee continued our course alongst the coast the day and night following . in which time wee made accompt we discovered well neere three-score leagues off the coast . it is bold , and made small shew of dangers . the land is a goodly champion country , and peopled ; we saw many fires , but could not come to speake with the people ; for the time of the yeare was farre spent to shoot the straites , and the want of our pynace disabled vs for finding a port or roade ; not being discretion with a ship of charge , and in an vnknowne coast , to come neere the shore before it was sounded ; which were causes , together with the change of the winde , ( good for vs to passe the straite ) that hindered the further discovery of this land , with its secrets : this i haue sorrowed for many times since , for that it had likelihood to be an excellent countrie . it hath great rivers of fresh waters ; for the out-shoot of them colours the sea in many places , as we ran alongst it . it is not mountaynous , but much of the disposition of england , and as temperate . the things we noted principally on the coast , are these following ; the westermost poynt of the land , with which we first fell , is the end of the land to the west-wardes , as we found afterwards . if a man bring this poynt south-west , it riseth in three mounts , or round hillockes : bringing it more westerly , they shoot themselues all into one ; and bringing it easterly , it riseth in two hillocks . this we called poyn● tremountaine . some twelue or foureteene leagues from this poynt to the east-wardes , fayre by the shore , lyeth a low flat iland of some two leagues long ; we named it fayre iland ; ●or it was all over as greene and smooth , as any meddow in the spring of the yeare . some three or foure leagues easterly from this iland , is a goodly opening , as of a great river , or an arme of the sea , with a goodly low countrie adiacent . and eight or tenne leagues from this opening , some three leagues from the shore , lyeth a bigge rocke , which at the first wee had thought to be a shippe vnder all her sayles ; but after , as we came neere , it discovered it selfe to be a rocke , which we called condite-head ; for that howsoever a man commeth with it , it is like to the condite heads about the cittie of london . all this coast so farre as wee discovered , lyeth next of any thing east and by north , and west and by south . the land , for that it was discovered in the raigne of queene elizabeth , my soveraigne lady and mistris , and a maiden queene , and at my cost and adventure , in a perpetuall memory of her chastitie , and remembrance of my endevours , i gaue it the name of havvkins maiden-land . before a man fall with this land , some twentie or thirtie leagues , he shall meete with bedds of oreweed , driving to and fro in that sea , with white flowers growing vpon them , and sometimes farther off ; which is a good show and signe the land is neere , whereof the westermost part lyeth some threescore leagues from the neerest land of america . with our fayre and large winde , we shaped our course for the straites , and the tenth of february , we had sight of land , and it was the head land of the straites to the north-wards , which agreed with our height , wherein we found our selues to be , which was in thirtie two degrees and fortie minutes . within a few houres we had the mouth of the straites open ; which lyeth in 52. degrees , and 50. minuts . it riseth like the north foreland in kent , and is much like the land of margates . it is not good to borrow neere the shore , but to giue it a fayre birth ; within a few houres we entred the mouth of the straites , which is some six leagues broad , and lyeth in 52. degrees , and 50. minutes ; doubling the poynt on the star-board , which is also flat , of a good birth , we opened a fayre bay , in which we might discry the hull of a ship beaten vpon the beach . it was of the spanish fleete , that went to inhabite there , in anno 1582. vnder the charge of pedro sarmiento , who at his returne was taken prisoner , and brought into england . in this bay the spaniards made their principall habitation , and called it the cittie of saint philip , and left it peopled ; but the cold barrennes of the countrie , and the malice of the indians , wi●h whom they badly agreed , made speedie end of them , as also of those , whom they left in the middle of the straites , three leagues from cape froward to the east-wards , in another habitation . we continued our course alongst this reach ( for all the straites is as a river altering his course , sometimes vpon one poynt , sometimes vpon another ) which is some eight leagues long , and lyeth west north-west . from this we entred into a goodly bay , which runneth vp into the land northerly many leagues ; and at first entrance , a man may see no other thing , but as it were , a maine sea. from the end of this first reach , you must direct your course west south-west , and some foureteene or fifteene leagues lyeth one of the narrowest places of all the straites ; this leadeth vnto another reach , that lyeth west and by north some six leagues . here in the middle of the reach , the wind tooke vs by the north-west , and so we were forced to anchor some two or three dayes . in which time , we went a shore with our boates , and found neere the middle of this reach , on the star-boord side , a reasonable good place to ground and trimme a small ship ; where it higheth some nine or ten foote water . here we saw certaine hogges , but they were so farre from vs , that wee could not discerne , if they were of those of the countrie , or brought by the spaniards ; these were all the beasts which we saw in all the time we were in the straites . in two tydes we turned through this reach , and so recovered the ilands of pengwins ; they lye from this reach foure leagues south-west and by west . till you come to this place , care is to be taken of not comming too neere to any poynt of the land ; for being ( for the most part ) sandie , they haue sholding off them , and are somewhat what dangerous . these ilands haue beene set forth by some to be three ; we could discover but two ; and they are no more , except that part of the mayne , which lyeth over against them , be an iland ; which carrieth little likelihood , and i cannot determine it . a man may sayle betwixt the two ilands , or betwixt them and the land on the la●boord side ; from which land to the bigger iland is as it were a bridge or ledge , on which is foure or fiue fathome water ; and to him that commeth neere it , not knowing thereof , may iustly cause feare : for it sheweth to be shold water with his rypling , like vnto a race . betwixt the former reach , and these ilands , runneth vp a goodly bay into the country to the north-wards . it causeth a great indraught , and aboue these ilands runneth a great tide from the mouth of the straites to these ilands , the land on the larboord-side is low land and sandy , ( for the most part , and without doubt , ilands ) for it hath many openings into the sea , and forcible indraughts by them , and that on the starboord side , is all high mountaynous land , from end to end ; but no wood on eyther side . before wee passed these ilands , vnder the lee of the bigger iland we anchored , the wind being at north-east , with intent to refresh our selues with the fowles of these ilands . they are of divers sorts , and in great plentie , as pengwins , wilde ducks , gulles and gannets ; of the principall we purposed to make provision , and those were the pengwins ; which in welsh ( as i haue beene enformed ) signifieth a white head . from which derivation , and many other welsh denominations given by the indians ( or their predecessors ) some doe inferre , that america was first peopled with welsh-men : and motezanna king ( or rather emperour ) of mexico , did recount vnto the spaniards ( at their first comming ) that his auncestors came from a farre countrie , and were white people . which conferred which an auncient cronicle , that i haue read many yeares since , may bee coniectured to bee a prince of wales , who many hundreth yeares since , with certaine shippes , sayled to the westwards , with intent to make new discoveries . hee was never after heard of . the pengwin , is in all proportion like vnto a goose , and hath no feathers , but a certaine doune vpon all parts of his body : and therefore cannot flie , but avayleth himselfe in all occasions with his feete , running as fast as most men . he liveth in the sea , and on the land ; feedeth on fish in the sea , and as a goose on the shore vpon grasse . they harbour themselues vnder the ground in burrowes , as the connies ; and in them hatch their young . all parts of the iland where they haunted were vndermined , saue onely one valley which ( it seemeth ) they reserved for their foode ; for it was as green as any medowe in the moneth of aprill , with a most fine short grasse . the flesh of these pengwins is much of the savour of a certaine fowle taken in the ilands of lundey and silley , which wee call puffins ; by the tast it is easily discerned that they feede on fish . they are very fatt , and in dressing must be flead as the byter ; they are reasonable meate , rosted , baked , or sodden ; but best rosted . we salt●d some dozen or 16. hogsheads , which served vs ( whilest they lasted ) in steede of powdred beefe . the hunting of them ( as we may well terme it ) was a great recreation to my company and worth the sight , for in determining to catch them , necessarily was required good store of people , every one with a cudgell in his hand , to compasse them round about , to bring them , as it were , into a ring ; if they chanced to breake out , then was the sport , for the ground being vndermined , at vnawares it fayled , and as they ran after them , one fell here , another there ; another offering to strike at one , lifting vp his hand , sunke vpp to the arme pits in the earth , another leaping to avoyd one hole , fell into another . and after the first slaughter , in seeing vs on the shore , they shunned vs , and procured to recover the sea ; yea many times seeing themselues persecuted they would tumble downe from such high rocks & mountaines , as it seemed impossible to escape with life . yet as soone as they came to the beach , presently wee should see them runne into the sea , as though they had no hurt . where one goeth , the other followeth like sheepe after the bel-wether ; but in getting them once within the ring close together , few escaped , saue such as by chance hid themselues in the borrowes , and ordinarily there was no droue which yeelded vs not a thousand , and more : the maner of killing them which the hunters vsed , being in a cluster together , was with their cudgels to kn●cke them on the head ; for though a man gaue them many blowes on the body , they di●d not : besides the flesh brused is not good to keepe . the massaker ended , presently they cut off their heads , that they might bleede well : such as we determined to keepe for store , wee saved in this maner . first , we split them , and then washed them well in sea water , then salted them , having layne some sixe howres in salt , wee put them in presse eight howres , and the blood being soaked out , we salted them againe in our other caske , as is the custome to salt beefe , after this maner they continued good , some two moneths , and served vs in stead of beefe . the gulls and gannets , were not in so great quantitie , yet we wanted not young gulles to eate all the time of our stay about these ilands . it was one of the delicatest foodes , that i haue eaten in all my life . the ducks are different to ours , and nothing so good meate ; yet they may serue for necessitie : they were many , and had a part of the iland to themselues severall , which was the highest hill , and more then a musket shott over . in all the dayes of my life , i haue not seene greater art and curiositie in creatures voyd of reason , then in the placing and making of their nestes ; all the hill being so full of them , that the greatest mathematician of the world , could not devise how to place one more then there was vpon the hill , leaving onely one path-way for a fowle to passe betwixt . the hill was all levell , as if it had beene smoothed by art ; the ne●tes made onely of earth , and seeming to be of the selfe same mould ; for the nests and the soyle is all one , which , with water that they bring in their beakes , they make into clay , or a certaine dawbe , and after fashion them round , as with a compasse . in the bottome they containe the measure of a foote ; in the height about eight inches ; and in the toppe , the same quantitie over ; there , they are hollowed in , somewhat deepe , wherein they lay their eggs , without other prevention . and i am of opinion , that the sunne helpeth them to hatch their young : their nests are for many yeares , and of one proportion , not one exceeding another in bignesse , in height , nor circumference ; and in proportionable distance one from another . in all this hill , nor in any of their nestes , was to be found a blade of grasse , a straw , a sticke , a feather , a moate , no , nor the filing o● any ●owle , but all the nestes and passages betwixt them , were so smooth and cleane , as if they had beene newly swept and washed . all which are motiues to prayse and magnifie the vniversall creator , who so wonderfully manifesteth his wisedome , bountie , and providence in all his creatures , and especially for his particular loue to ingratefull mankinde , for whose contemplation and service , he hath made them all . sect . xxxi . one day having ended our hunting of pengwins , one of our mariners walking about the iland , discovered a great company of seales , or sea-wolues ( so called for that they are in the sea , as the wolues on the land ) advising vs , that he left them sleeping , with their bellies rosting against the sunne ; wee provided our selues with staues , and other weapons , and sought to steale vpon them at vnawares , to surprise some of them , and comming downe the side of a hill , wee were not discovered , till we were close vpon them , notwithstanding , their sentinell ( before we could approach ) with a great howle waked them : wee got betwixt the sea and some of them , but they shunned vs not ; for they came directly vpon vs ; and though we dealt here and there a blow , yet not a man that withstood them , escaped the overthrow . they reckon not of a musket shott , a sword peirceth not their skinne , and to giue a blow with a staffe , is as to smite vpon a stone : onely in giving the blow vpon his snowt , presently he falleth downe dead . after they had recovered the water , they did , as it were , scorne vs , defie vs , and daunced before vs , vntill we had shot some musket shott through them , and so they appeared no more . this fish is like vnto a calfe , with foure leggs , but not aboue a spanne long : his skinne is hayrie like a calfe ; but these were different to all that ever i haue seene , yet i haue seene of them in many parts ; for these were greater , and in their former parts like vnto lyons , with shagge hayre , and mostaches . they liue in the sea , and come to sleepe on the land , and they ever haue one that watcheth , who adviseth them of any accident . they are beneficiall to man in their skinnes for many purposes ; in their mostaches for pick-tooths , and in their fatt to make traine-oyle . this may suffice for the seale , for that he is well knowne . sect . xxxii . one day , our boates being loaden with pengwins , and comming aboord , a sudden storme tooke them , which together with the fury of the tyde , put them in such great danger , that although they threw all their loading into the sea , yet were they forced to goe before the wind and sea , to saue their liues . which we seeing , and considering that our welfare depended vpon their safetie , being impossible to weigh our anchor , fastned an emptie barrell well pitched to the end of our cable , in stead of a boy , and letting it slip , set sayle to succour our boates , which in short space w●e recovered , and after returned to the place where we ryd before . the storme ceasing , we vsed our diligence by all meanes to seeke our cable and anchor , but the tyde being forcible , and the weeds ( as in many partes of the straites ) so long , that riding in foureteene fathome water , many times they streamed three and foure fathomes vpon the ryme of the water ; these did so inrole our cable , that we could never set eye of our boy ; and to sweepe for him was but lost labour , because of the weeds , which put vs out of hope to recover it . and so our forcible businesse being ended , leaving instructions for the fancie our pynace , ( according to appointment ) where to finde vs , we inroled them in many folds of paper , put them into a barrell of an old musket , and stopped it in such manner as no wett could enter ; then placing it an end vpon one of the highest hills , and the most frequented of all the iland , wee imbarked our selues , and set sayle with the wind at north-west , which could serue vs but to the end of that reach , some dozen leagues long , and some three or foure leagues broad . it lyeth next of any thing , till you come to cape agreda , south-west ; from this cape to cape froward , the coast lyeth west south-west . some foure leagues betwixt them , was the second peopling of the spaniards : and this cape lyeth in fiftie fiue degrees and better . thwart cape froward , the wind larged with vs , and we continued our course towards the iland of elizabeth ; which lyeth from cape froward some foureteene leagues west and by south . this reach is foure or fiue leagues broad , and in it are many channells or openings into the sea ; for all the land on the souther part of the straites are ilands and broken land ; and from the beginning of this reach to the end of the straites , high mountaynous land on both sides , in most parts covered with snow all the yeare long . betwixt the iland elizabeth , and the mayne , is the narrowest passage of all the straites , it may be some two musket shott from side to side . from this straite to elizabeth bay , is some foure leagues , and the course lyeth north-west and by west . this bay is all sandie , and cleane ground on the easter part ; but before you come at it , there lyeth a poynt of the shore a good byrth off , which is dangerous . and in this reach , as in many parts of the straites , runneth a quicke and forcible tyde . in the bay it higheth eight or nine foote water . the norther part of the bay hath foule ground , and rocks vnder water : and therefore it is not wholsome borrowing of the mayne . one of master thomas candish his pynaces ( as i haue beene enformed ) came a-ground vpon one of them , and he was in hazard to haue left her there . from elizabeth bay to the river of ieronimo is some fiue leagues . the course lyeth west and by north , and west . here the wind scanted , and forced vs to seeke a place to anchor in . our boates going alongst the shore , found a reasonable harbour , which is right against that which they call , river ieronimo : but it is another channell , by which a man may disemboake the straite , as by the other which is accustomed ; for with a storme , which tooke vs one night , suddenly we were forced into that opening vnwittingly ; but in the morning , seeing our error , and the wind larging , with two or three bourds wee turned out into the old channell , not daring for want of our pynace to attempt any new discoverie . this harbour we called blanches bay ; for that it was found by william blanch , one of our masters mates . here having moored our shippe , we began to make our provision of wood and water , whereof was plentie in this bay , and in all other places from pengwin ilands , till within a dozen leagues of the mouth of the straites . now finding our deckes open , with the long lying vnder the lyne , and on the coast of brasill , the sunne having beene in our zenith many times , we calked our ship , within bourd and without , aboue the decks . and such was the diligence we vsed , that at foure dayes end , we had aboue threescore pipes of water , and twentie boats of wood stowed in our ship : no man was idle , nor otherwise busied but in necessary workes : some in felling and cleaving of wood ; some in carrying of water ; some in romaging ; some in washing , others in baking ; one in heating of pitch , another in gathering of mussells ; no man was exempted , but knew at evening , wherevnto he was to betake himselfe the morning following . some man might aske me , how we came to haue so many emptie caske in lesse then two moneths ; for it seeemeth much that so few men in such short time , and in so long a voyage should waste so much ? whereto i answere , that it came not of excessiue expence ; for in health we never exceeded our ordinary ; but of a mischance which befell vs vnknowne in the iland of saint iames , or saint anne , in the coast of brasill ; where we refreshed our selues , and according to the custome layd our caske a shore , to trimme it , and after to fill it , the place being commodious for vs. but with the water a certaine worme , called broma by the spaniard , and by vs arters , entred also , which eat it so full of holes , that all the water soaked out , and made much of our caske of small vse . this we remedied the best wee could , and discovered it long before we came to this place . hereof let others take warning , in no place to haue caske on the shore , where it may be avoyded ; for it is one of the provisions , which are with greatest care to be preserved in long voyages , and hardest to be supplyed . these arters , or broma , in all hot countries enter into the plankes of shippes , and especially where are rivers of fresh water ; ( for the common opinion is , that they are bred in fresh water , and with the current of the rivers are brought into the sea ) but experience teacheth , that they breed in the great seas in all hott clymates , especially neere the equinoctiall lyne ; for lying so long vnder and neere the lyne , and towing a shalop at our sterne , cōming to clense her in brasil , we found her all vnder water covered with these wormes , as bigge as the little finger of a man , on the outside of the planke , not fully covered , but halfe the thicknes of their bodie , like to a gelly wrought into the planke as with a gowdge . and naturall reason ( in my iudgement ) confirmeth this ; for creatures bread and nourished in the sea , comming into fresh water die ; as those actually bred in ponds , or fresh rivers die presently , if they come into salt water . but some man may say ; this fayleth in some fishes and beasts . which i must confesse to be true ; but these eyther are part terrestryall , and part aquatile , as the mare-maide , sea-horse , and other of that kind , or haue their breeding in the fresh , and growth or continuall nourishment in the salt water , as the salmond , and others of that kinde . in little time , if the shippe be not sheathed , they put all in hazzard ; for they enter in no bigger then a small spanish needle , and by little and little their holes become ordinarily greater then a mans finger . the thicker the planke is , the greater he groweth ; yea , i haue seene many shippes so eaten , that the most of their plankes vnder water haue beene like honey combes , and especially those betwixt wind and water . if they had not beene sheathed , it had bin impossible that they could haue swomme . the entring of them is hardly to be discerned , the most of them being small as the head of a pinne . which , all such , as purpose long voyages , are to prevent by sheathing their shippes . and for that i haue seene divers manners of sheathing , for the ignorant i will set them downe which by experience i haue found best . in spaine , and portingall , some sheath their shippes with lead ; which , besides the cost and waight , although they vse the thinnest sheet-lead that i haue seene in any place , yet it is nothing durable , but subiect to many casualties . another manner is vsed with double plankes , as thicke without as within , after the manner of furring ; which is little better then that with lead ; for , besides his waight , it dureth little , because the worme in small time passeth through the one and the other . a third manner of sheathing hath beene vsed amongst some with fine canvas ; which is of small continuance , and so not to be regarded . the fourth prevention , which now is most accompted of , is to burne the vtter planke till it come to be in every place like a cole , and after to pitch it ; this is not bad . in china ( as i haue beene enformed ) they vse a certaine betane or varnish , in manner of an artificiall pitch , wherewith they trim the outside of their shippes . it is said to be durable , and of that vertue , as neither worme , nor water peirceth it ; neither hath the sunne power against it . some haue devised a certaine pitch , mingled with glasse , and other ingredients , beaten into powder , with which if the shippe be pitched , it is said , the worme that toucheth it , dyeth ; but i haue not heard , that it hath beene vsefull . but the most approved of all is the manner of sheathing vsed now adayes in england , with thin bourds , halfe inch thicke ; the thinner the better ; and elme better then oake ; for it ryveth not , it indureth better vnder water , and yeeldeth better to the shippes side . the invention of the materialles incorporated betwixt the planke and the sheathing , is that indeed which avayleth ; for without it many plankes were not sufficient to hinder the entrance of this worme ; this manner is thus : before the sheathing board is nayled on , vpon the inner side of it they smere it over with tarre halfe a finger thicke , and vpon the tarre , another halfe finger thicke of hayre , such as the whitelymers vse , and so nayle it on , the nayles not aboue a spanne distance one from another ; the thicker they are driven , the better . some hold opinion , that the tarre killeth the worme ; others , that the worme passing the sheathing , and seeking a way through , the hayre and the tarre so involue him , that he is choked therewith ; which me thinkes is most probable ; this manner of sheathing was invented by my father ; and experience hath taught it to be the best , and of least cost . sect . xxxiii . svch was the diligence we vsed for our dispatch to shoot the straites , that at foure dayes end , wee had our water and wood stowed in our shippe , all our copper-worke finished , and our shippe calked ●rom post to stemme ; the first day in the morning ( the wind being fayre ) we brought our selues into the channell , and sayled towards the mouth of the straites , praising god ; and beginning our course with little winde , we descryed a fire vpon the shore , made by the indians for a signe to call vs ; which seene , i caused a boat to be man'de , and we rowed ashore , to see what their meaning was , and approaching neere the shore , wee saw a cannoa made fast vnder a rocke with a wyth , most artificially made with the rindes of trees , and sowed together with the synnes of whales ; at both ends sharpe , and turning vp , with a greene bough in ●ither end , and ribbes for strengthening it . after a little while , we might discerne on the fall of the mountaine ( which was ●ull of trees and shrubbes ) two or three indians naked , which came out of certaine caues , or coates . they spake vnto vs , and made divers signes ; now poynting to the harbour , out of which we were come ; and then to the mouth of the straites : but wee vnderstood nothing of their meaning . yet left they vs with many imaginations , suspecting , it might be to advise vs of our pynace , or some other thing of moment ; but for that they were vnder covert , and might worke vs some treacherie ( for all the people of the straites , and the land nere them , vse all the villany they can towards white people , taking them for spaniards , in revenge of the deceit that nation hath vsed towards them vpon sundry occasions : ) as also for that by our stay we could reape nothing but hinderance of our navigation , wee hasted to our shippe , and sayled on our course . from blanches bay to long reach , which is some foure leagues , the course lyeth west south-west entring into the long reach ; which is the last of the straits , and longest . for it is some thirty two leagues , and the course lyeth next of any thing north-west . before the setting of the sunne , wee had the mouth of the straits open , and were in great hope the next day to be in the south sea ; but about seaven of the clocke that night , wee saw a great cloud rise out of the north-east , which began to cast forth great flashes of lightnings , and sodainely sayling with a fresh gale of wind at north-east , another more forcible tooke vs astayes ; which put vs in danger : for , all our sayles being a tant , it had like to haue overset our ship , before we could take in our sayles . and therefore in all such semblances it is great wisedome to carry a short sayle , or to take in all sayles . heere we found what the indians forwarned vs of ; for they haue great insight in the change of weather , and besides haue secret dealing with the prince of darkenesse , who many times declareth vnto them things to come ; by this meanes and other witch-crafts , which he teacheth them , hee possesseth them , and causeth them to doe what pleaseth him . within halfe an houre it began to thunder and raine , with so much winde as wee were forced to lye a hull , and so darke , that we saw nothing , but when the lightning came . this being one of the narrowest reache● of all the straits , wee were forced , every glasse , to open a little of our fore-sayle , to cast about our ships head : any man may conceiue if the night seemed long vnto vs , what desire we had to see the day . in fine , phoebus with his beautifull face lightned our hemisphere , and reioyced our hearts ( hauing driven aboue twenty foure leagues in twelue houres lying a hull : whereby , is to be imagined the force of the winde and current . ) we set our fore-sayle , and returned to our former harbour ; from whence , within three or foure dayes , we set sayle againe with a faire winde , which continued with vs till we came within a league of the mouth of the straite , here the ●inde tooke vs againe contrary , and forced vs to returne againe to our former port ; where being ready to anchor , the winde scanted with vs in such maner , as wee were forced to make a bourd . in which time , the winde and tide put vs so farr to lee-wards , that we could by no meanes seize it : so we determined to goe to elizabeth bay , but before we came at it , the night overtooke vs : and this reach being dangerous and narrow , we durst neither hull , nor trye , or turne to and againe with a short sayle , and therefore bare alongst in the middest of the channell , till we were come into the broad reach , then lay a hull till the morning . when we set sayle and ran alongst the coast , seeking with our boate some place to anchor in ; some foure leagues to the west-wards of cape froward , we found a goodly bay ; which wee named english bay : where anchored , we presently went a shore , and found a goodly river of fresh water , and an old cannoa broken to peeces , and some two or three of the houses of the indians , with peeces of seale stinking ripe . these houses are made in fa●hion of an oven seven or eight foote broad , with boughes of trees , and covered with other boughes , as our summer houses ; and doubtles do serve them but for the summer time , when they come to fish , and profit themselues of the sea. for they retyre themselues in the winter into the country , where it is more temperate , and yeeldeth better sustenance : for on the mayne of the straits , wee neyther saw beast , nor fowle , sea fowle excepted , and a kind of blacke-bird , and two hoggs towards the beginning of the straites . here our ship being well moored , we began to supply our wood and water , that we had spent . which being a dayes worke , and the winde during many dayes contrary , i endevoured to keepe my people occupied , to divert them from the imagination which some had conceived ; that it behooved , we should returne to brasill and winter there , and so shoot the straites in the spring of the yeare . so one day , we rowed vp the river , with our boat and light horseman , to discover it , and the in-land : where having spent a good part of the day , and finding shold water , and many trees fallen thwart it , and little fruite of our labour , nor any thing worth the noting , we returned . another day , we trayned our people a-shore , being a goodly sandie bay : another , we had a hurling of batchelers against married men ; this day we were busied in wrestling , the other in shooting ; so we were never idle , neyther thought we the time long . sect . xxxiiii . after we had past here some seven or eight dayes , one evening with a flawe from the shore , our ship droue off into the channell , and before we could get vp our anchor , and set our sayles , we were driven so farre to lee-wards , that we could not recover into the bay ; and night comming on , with a short sayle , wee beate off and on till the morning . at the breake of the day conferring with the captaine and master of my ship , what was best to be done , we resolved to seeke out tobias coue , which lyeth over against cape fryo , on the southerne part of the straites , because in all the reaches of the straites ( for the most part ) the winde bloweth trade , and therfore little profit to be made by turning to winde-wards . and from the ilands of the pengwins to the ende of the straites towards the south sea , there is no anchoring in the channell ; and if we should be put to lee-wards of this coue , we had no succour till we came to the ilands of pengwins ; and some of our company which had bin with master thomas candish in the voyage in which he died , and in the same coue many weekes , vndertooke to be our pilots thither . wherevpon we bare vp , being some two leagues thither , having so much winde as we could scarce lye by it with our course and bonnet of each ; but bearing vp before the winde , wee put out our topsayles and spritsayle , and within a little while the winde began to fayle vs , and immediately our shippe gaue a mightie blow vpon a rocke , and stucke fast vpon it . and had wee had but the fourth part of the wind , which we had in all the night past , but a moment before we strucke the rocke , our shippe , doubtlesse , with the blow had broken her selfe all to peeces . but our provident and most gracious god which commaundeth wind and sea , watched over vs , and delivered vs with his powerfull hand from the vnknowne danger and hidden destruction , that so we might prayse him for his fatherly bountie and protection , and with the prophet david say , except the lord keepe the cittie , the watch-men watch in vaine ; for if our god had not kept our shippe , we had bin all swallowed vp aliue without helpe or redemption , and therefore he for his mercies sake grant that the memoriall of his benefits , doe never depart from before our eyes , and that we may evermore prayse him for our wonderfull deliverance , and his continuall providence by day and by night . my company with this accident were much amazed , and not without iust cause . immediately we vsed our endevour to free our selues , and with our boates ●ounded round about our shippe ; in the meane time assaying our pumpe , to know if our shippe made more water then her ordinary , we found nothing increased , and round about our shippe deepe water , saving vnder the mid-shippe , for shee was a floa●e a bead and a ●terne ▪ and bearing some fathome before the mayne must , and in●o other part , was like to be our destruction ; for being ●bbing water , the waight in the head and sterne by fayling of the water began to open her plankes in the middest ; and vpon the vpper decke they were gone one from another some two fingers , some more ; which we sought to ease and remedie by lightning of her burden ▪ and throwing into the sea all that came to hand ; and laying out an anchor , we sought to wend her off : and such was the wa● and force we put to the capsten and tackles fastned vpon the 〈◊〉 , that we plucked the ring of the anchor out of the eye , but after recovered it , though not serviceable . all our labour was fruitlesse , till god was pleased that the flood came , and then we had her off with great ioy and comfort , when finding the current favo●●able with vs , we stood over to english bay ▪ and serching it , ●●e a●chored there , having beene some three houres vpon the rocke ▪ and wi●h the blow , as after we saw when our ship was brought a ground in peric● ( which is the port of panama ) a great part of her sheathing was beaten off on both sides in her bulges , and some foure foote long and a foote square of her false stemme , ioyning to the keele , wrested a crosse , like vnto a hogges yoake , which hindered her sayling very much . here we gaue god prayse for our deliverance , and afterward procured to supply our wood and water , which we had throwne overbourd to case our shippe , which was not much : that supplyed , it pleased god ( who is not ever angry ) to looke vpon vs with comfort , and to send vs a fayre and large wind , and so we set sayle once againe , in hope to disemboke the straite , but some dozen leagues before we came to the mouth of it , the wind changed , and forced vs to seeke out some cove or bay , with our boates to ride in neere at hand , that we might not be forced to returne farre backe into the straites . they sounded a cove some sixteene leagues from the mouth of the straite , which after we called crabby cove . it brooked his name well for two causes ; the one for that all the water was full of a small kinde of redd crabbes , the other , for the crabbed mountaines which over-topped it ; a third , we might adde , for the crabbed entertainement it gaue vs. in this cove we anchored , but the wind freshing in , and three or foure hilles over-topping ( like sugar-loaues ) altered and straightned the passage of the wind in such manner , as forced it downe with such violence in flawes and furious blusterings , as was like to over-set our shippe at an anchor , and caused her to driue , and vs to weigh ; but before we could weigh it , shee was so'nere the rockes , and the puffes and gusts of wind so sodaine and vncertaine , sometimes scant , sometimes large , that it forced vs to cut our cable , and yet dangerous if our shippe did not cast the right way . here necessitie , not being subiect to any law , forced vs to put our selues into the hands of him that was able to deliver vs. we cut our cable and sayle all in one instant ; and god to shew his power and gratious bountie towardes vs , was pleased that our shippe cast the contrary way towards the shore , seeming that he with his owne hand did wend her about ; for in lesse then her length , shee flatted , and in all the voyage but at that instant , shee flatted with difficultie , for that shee was long , the worst propertie shee had . on either side we might see the rockes vnder vs , and were not halfe a shippes length from the shore , and if she had once touched , it had beene impossible to haue escaped . magnified ever be our lord god , which delivered ionas out of the whales belly ; and his apostle peter from being overwhelmed in the waues ; and vs from so certaine perishing . sect . xxxv . from hence we returned to blanches bay , and there anchored , expecting gods good will and pleasure . here beganne the bitternesse of the time to increase with blustering and sharpe winds , accompani●d with rayne and sleeting snow , and my people to be dismayde againe , in manifesting a desire to returne to brasill , which i would never consent vnto , no , no● so much as to heare of . and all men are to take care , that they goe not one foote backe , more then is of mere force ; for i haue not seene , that any who haue yeelded therevnto , but presently they haue returned home . as in the voyage of master edward fontom , which the earle of cumberland set forth , to his great charge . as also in that of master thomas candish , in which he dyed . both which pretended to shoote the straites of magelan , and by perswasion of some ignorant persons , being in good possibilitie , were brought to consent to returne to brasill , to winter , and after in the spring to attempt the passing of the strait againe . none of them made any abode in brasill ; for presently as soone as they looked homeward , one , with a little blustering wind taketh occasion to loose company ; another complaineth that he wanteth victuals ; another , that his shippe is leake ; another , that his mastes , sayles , or cordidge fayleth him . so the willing never want probable reasons to further their pretences . as i saw once ( being but young , and more bold then experimented ) in anno 1582. in a voyage , vnder the charge of my vnkle william hawkins of plimouth , esquire , in the indies , at the wester end of the iland of san ivan de portorico . one of the shippes ( called the barke bonner ) being somewhat leake , the captaine complained that she was not able to endure to england ; wherevpon a counsell was called , and his reasons heard , and allowed . so it was concluded , that the victuall , munition , and what was serviceable , should be taken out of her , and her men devided amongst our other shippes ; the hull remaining to be sunke , or burned . to which , i never spake word till i saw it resolved ; being my part rather to learne , then to advise . but seeing the fatall sentence given , and suspecting that the captaine made the matter worse then it was , rather vpon pollicy to come into another ship , which was better of sayle , then for any danger they might runne into . with as much reason as my capacitie could reach vnto , i disswaded my vnkle privately ; and vrged , that seeing wee had profited the adventurers nothing , wee should endevour to preserue our principall ; especially , having men and victualls . but seeing i prevayle● not , i went further , and offered to finde out in the same shippe , and others , so many men , as with me would be content to carry her home , giving vs the third part of the value of the ship , as shee should be valued at , at her returne , by foure indifferent persons ; and to leaue the vice-admirall , which i had vnder my charge , and to make her vice-admirall . whereupon , it was condescended , that we should all goe aboard the shippe , and that the●e it should be determined . the captaine thought himselfe somewhat touched in reputation , and so would not that further triall should be made of the matter ; saying , that if another man was able to carry the shippe into england , he would in no case leaue her ; neither would he forsake her till shee sunke vnder him . the generall commended him for his resolution , and thanked me for my offer , tending to the generall good ; my intention being to force those who for gaine could vnder-take to carry her home , should also doe it , gratis , according to their obligation . thus , this leake-ship went well into england ; where , after shee made many a good voyage in nine yeares , wherein shee was imployed to and fro ; and no doubt , would haue served many more , had shee not beene laid vp , and not vsed , falling into the hands of those which knew not the vse of shipping . it were large to recount the voyages , and worthy enterprises , overthrowne by this pollicie , with the shippes which haue thereby gone to wracke . sect . xxxvi . by this and the like experiences , remembring and knowing , that , if once i consented to turne but one foote backe , i should overthrow my voyage , and loose my reputation , i resolved rather to loose my life , then to giue eare to such preiudiciall counsell ; and so as the weather gaue leaue , we intertained our selues the first dayes in necessary workes , and after in making of coale , ( for wood was plentifull , and no man would commence an action of wast against vs ) with intent ( the wind continuing long contrary ) to see , if wee could remedie any of our broken anchors ; a forge i had in my shippe , and of fiue anchors which we brought out of england , there remained but one that was serviceable . in the ilands of pengwins , we lost one ; in crabbie cove , another ; of a third , vpon another occasion , we broke an arme ; & the fourth , on the rocke had the eye of his ring broken . this ( one day devising with my selfe ) i made to serue , without working him a new . which when i tooke first in hand , all men thought it ridiculous : but in fine , we made it in that manner so serviceable , as till our ship came to callaw , which is the port of lyma , shee scarce vsed any other anchor ; and when i came from lyma to panama , which was three yeares after , i saw it serue the admirall in which i came , ( a ship of aboue fiue hundreth tunnes ) without other art or addition , then what my owne invention contrived . and for that in the like necessiti● , or occasion , others may profit themselues of the industrie , i will recount the manner of the forging our eye without fire , or iron . it was in this sort . from the eye of the shanke , about the head of the crosse , we gaue two turnes with a new strong halser , betwixt three and foure inches , giving a reasonable allowance for that , which should be the eye , and served in stead of the ring ; then we fastned the two ends of the halser , so as in that part it was as strong , as in any other , and with our capsten stretched the two byghtes , that every part might beare proportionably ; then armed we all the halser round about , with six yarne synnets , and likewise the shanke of the anchor , and the head with a smooth matt made of the same synnet : this done , with an inch rope , wee woolled the two byghtes to the shanke , from the crosse to the eye , and that also which was to serue for the ring , and fitted the stocke accordingly . this done , those who before derided the invention , were of opinion , that it would serue for a need ; onely they put one difficultie , that with the fall or pitch of the anchor in hard ground , with his waight he would ●ut the halser in sunder on the head ; for prevention whereof , we placed a panch ( as the marriners terme it ) vpon the head of the anchor , with whose softnesse this danger was prevented , and the anchor past for serviceable . some of our idle time we spent in gathering the barke and fruit of a certaine tree , which we found in all places of the straites , where we sound trees . this tree carrieth his fruit in clusters like a hawthorne , but that it is greene , each berry of the bignesse of a pepper corne , and every of them containing within foure or fiue graynes , twise as bigge as a musterd-seed , which broken , are white within , as the good pepper , and bite much like it , but hotter . the barke of this tree , hath the savour of all kinde of spices together , most comfortable to the stomacke , and held to be better then any spice whatsoever ; and for that a learned country-man of ours doctor turner , hath written of it , by the name of winters barke , what i haue said may suffice . the leafe of this tree is of a whitish greene , and is not vnlike to the aspen leafe . other whiles we entertained our selues in gathering of pearles out of mussels , whereof there are aboundance in all places , from cape froward , to the end of the straites . the pearles are but of a bad colour , and small , but it may be that in the great mussels in deeper water , the pearles are bigger , and of greater value ; of the small seed pearle , there was great quantitie , and the mussels were a great refreshing vnto vs ; for they were exceeding good , and in great plentie . and here let me craue pardon if i erre , seeing i disclaime from being a naturalist , by delivering my opinion touching the breeding of these pearles , which i thinke to be of a farre different nature and qualitie to those found in the east and west indies , which are found in oysters ▪ growing in the shell , vnder the ruff of the oyster , some say of the dewe , which i hold to be some old philosophers conceit , for that it cannot bee made probable , how the dew should come into the oyster ; and if this were true , then , questionlesse , wee should haue them in our oysters , as in those of the east and west india's ; but those oysters , were , by the creator , made to bring foorth this rare fruite , all their shels , being ( to looke to ) pearle it selfe . and the other pearles found in our oysters and mussels , in divers partes , are ingendred out of the fatnesse of the fish , in the very substance of the fish , so that in some mussels , haue beene found twenty , and thirty , in severall partes of the fish , and these not perfect in colour , nor clearenes , as those found in the pearle-oysters , which are ever perfect in colour and clearenes , like the sunne in his rising ; and therefore called orientall , and not ( as is supposed ) because out of the east , for they are as well found in the west , and no way inferior to those of the east indies . other fish , be●ides seales , and crabbes , like shrimpes , and one whale with two or three porpusses , wee saw not in all the straites ; heere we made also a survay of our victuals ; and opening certaine barrels of oaten meale , wee found a great part of some of them , as also of our pipes and fatts of bread , eaten and consumed by the ratts ; doub●lesse , a fift part of my company , did not eate so much , as these devoured , as wee found dayly in comming to spend any of our provisions . when i came to the sea , it was not supected , that i had a ratt in my shippe ; but with the bread in caske , which we transported our of the hawke , and the going to and againe of our boates vnto our prise , ( though wee had divers catts and vsed other preventions ) in a small time they multiplyed in such a maner , as is incredible ; it is one of the generall calamities of all long voyages ; and would bee carefully prevented , as much as may bee . for besides that which they consume of the best victuals , they eate the sayles ; and neither packe , nor chest , is free from their surprises . i haue knowne them to make a hole in a pipe of water ; and saying the pumpe , haue put all in feare , doubting least some leake had beene sprung vpon the ship . moreover , i haue heard credible persons report , that shippes haue beene put in danger by them to be sunke , by a hole made in the bulge . all which is easily remedied at the first , but if once they be somewhat increased , with difficulty they are to be destroyed . and although i propounded a reward for every ratt which was taken , and sought meanes by poyson , and other inventions to consume them , yet their increase being so ordinary and many ; wee were not able to cleare our selues from them . sect . xxxvii . at the ende of fourteene dayes , one evening being calme , and a goodly cleare in the easter-boord , i willed our anchor to be weyed , and determined to goe into the channell , whereof ensued a murmuring amongst my company , who were desirous to see the winde setled before we put out of the harbour : and in part they had reason , considering how wee had beene canvased from place to place ; yet on the other side , if wee went not out before night , wee should loose the whole nights sayling , and all the time which we should spend in warping out ; which would be , doubtles , a great part of the fore-noone . and although the master signified vnto mee , the disposition of my people , and master henry courton ( a discreete and vertuous gentleman , and my good friend , who in all the voyage was ever an especial furtherer of all that ever i ordained or proposed ) in this occasion sought to divert me , that all but my selfe , were contrarily inclined to that , which i thought fit : and though the common saying be , that it is better to erre with many , then all contradicting , alone to hit the right way , yet truth told mee , this proverbe to bee falsely founded ; for that it was not to bee vnderstood , that for erring it is better , but because it is supposed that by hitting a man shall get emulation of the contradictors , i encoun●ered it with another , that sayth , better to be envied then pittied , and well considering , that ( being out of the harbour , if the winde tooke vs contrary ) to goe to elizabeth bay was better then to bee in the port , ( for a man must of force warpe in and out of it ) and in the time that the shippe could be brought foorth into the channell ( the winde being good ) a man might come from elizabeth bay to the port , and that there we should haue the wind first , being more to the east-wardes , and in an open bay , and moreover might set sayle in the night , if the wind should rise in the evening , or in the night ; whereas , in the port , of force , we must waite the light of the day . i made my selfe deafe to all murmurings , and caused my commaund to be put in execution , and , doubtlesse , it was gods gracious inspiration , as by the event was seene ; for being gotten into the channell , within an houre , the winde came good , and we sayled merrily on our voyage ; and by the breake of the day , wee had the mouth o● the straites open , and about foure of the clocke in the afternoone , wee were thwart of cape desire ; which is the westermost part of the land on the souther side of the straites . sect . xxxviii . here such as haue command may behold the many miseries that befall them , not onely by vnexpected accidents and mischances , but also by contradictions and murmurs of their owne people , of all calamities the greatest which can befall a man of discretion and valour , and as difficult to be overcome ; for , to require reason of the common sort , is , as the philosopher sayth , to seeke counsell of a madd man. herein , as i sayd before , they resemble a stiffe necked horse , who taking the bridle in his teeth , carrieth the rider whether he pleaseth ; so once possessed with any imagination , no reason is able to convince them . the best remedie i can propound , is to wish our nation in this poynt to be well advised , and in especiall , all those that follow the sea , ever having before their eyes the auncient discipline of our predecessors ; who in conformiti● and obedience to their chiefes and commanders , haue beene a mirror to all other nations , with patience , silence , and suffering , putting in execution what they haue beene commanded , and thereby gained the blessings due to such vertues , and leaving to posteritie , perpetuall memories of their glorious victories . a iust recompence for all such as conquer themselues , and subiect their most specious willes , to the will of their superiors . sect . xxxix . in apprehension whereof at land , i cannot forbeare the discipline thereof , as at this day , and in the dayes of late memory , it hath beene practised in the states of flaunders , fraunce , and brittayne , wher● as the spaniards , wallons , switzers , and other nations , are daily full of murmurings and mutenies , vpon every sleight occasion . the like i also wish should be imitated by those , who follow the sea , that is , that those who are subiect to command , presume no further then to that which belongeth vnto them ; qui nescit parere , nescit imperare , i speake this , for that i haue sometimes seene vnexpert and ignorant persons , yea , vnable to iudge of any poynt appertaining to government , or the guide of a shippe , or company of men , presuming vpon their fine witts , and enamored of their owne conc●its , contradict and dispute against gra●e , wise , and experimented governours : many forward fellowes , thinking themselues better worthie to command , then to be commanded . such persons i advise not to goe , but where they may command ; or els looking before they leapt , to consider well , vnder whom they place themselues , seeing ( for the most part ) it is in their choyce , to choose a governour from whom they may expect satisfaction ; but choyce being once made , to resolue with the patient wife in history ; that , that day wherein shee married her selfe to an husband , that very day shee had no longer any will , more then the will of her husband . and so he that by sea or land placeth himselfe to serue in any action , must make reckoning that the time the iourney endureth ▪ he hath no other will , nor dispose of himselfe , then that of his commander for in the governors hand is all power , to recompence and reward , to punish or forgiue . likewise those who haue charge and command , must sometimes with patience or sufferance , overcome their fury and misconceits , according to occasions ; for it is a great poynt of wisedome , especially in a generall murmuring , where the cause is iust , or that ( as often times it happeneth ) any probable accident may divert the minds of the discontented , and giue hope of remedie , or future event may produce repentance , to turne ( as they say ) the deafe eare , and to winke at that a man seeth . as it is sa●d of charles the fifth emperour of germany , and king of spaine ; who rounding his campe , one night , disguised , heard some souldiers rayle , and speake evill of him ; those which accompanied him were of opinion , that he should vse some exemplary punishment vpon them ; not so , sayth he , for these now vexed with the miseries they suffer , ease their hearts with their tongues ; but if occasion present it selfe , they will not sticke to sacrifice their liues for my safetie . a resolution worthy so prudent a commander , and so magnanimous a prince . the like is written of fabius maximus , the famous romayne , who endured the attribute of coward , with many other infamies , rather then he would hazard the safetie of his countrie by rash and incertaine provocations . no lesse worthy of perpetuall memory was the prudent pollicie and government of our english navie , in anno 1588. by the worthy earle of nottingham , lord high admirall of england ; who , in like case , with mature and experimented knowledge , patiently withstood the instigations of many couragious and noble captaines , who would haue perswaded him to haue laid them aboord ; but well he foresaw that the enemy had an armie aboord ; he none ; that they exceeded him in number of shipping , and those greater in bulke , stronger built , and higher molded , so that they who with such advantage fought from aboue , might easily distresse all opposition below ; the slaughter peradventure prooving more fatall , then the victory profitable ; by being overthrowne he might haue hazzarded the kingdome , whereas by the conquest ( at most ) he could haue boasted of nothing but glorie , and an enemie defeated . but by sufferance , he alwayes advantaged himselfe of winde and tide , which was the freedome of our countrey , and securitie of our navie , with the destruction of theirs , which in the eye of the ignorant , ( who iudge all things by the externall appearance ) seemed invincible ; but truely considered , was much inferior to ours , in all things of substance , as the event prooved ; for we sunke , spoyled , and tooke of them many , and they diminished of ours but one small pynace , nor any man of name , saue onely captaine cocke , who dyed with honour amidst his company . the greatest dammage , that ( as i remember ) they caused to any of our shippes , was to the swallow of her maiestie , which i had in that action vnder my charge , with an arrow of fire shott into her beake-head , which we saw not , because of the sayle , till it had burned a hole in the rose as bigge as a mans head : the arrow falling out , and driving alongst by the shippes side , made vs doubt of it , which after we discovered . sect . xl. in many occasions , notwithstanding , it is most preiudiciall to dissemble the reprehension and punishment of murmurings and mutterings , when they carry a likelihood to grow to a mutenie , seeme to leane to a faction , or that a person of regard or merite favoureth the intention , or contradicteth the iustice , &c. and others of like qualitie ; the prudent governour is to cut off this hydra's head in the beginning , and by prevention to provide remedie with expedition ; and this sometimes with absolute authoritie , although the best be ever to proceed by counsell , if necessitie and occasion require not the contrary ; for passion many times over-ruleth , but that which is sentenced and executed by consent , is iustified , although sometimes erronious . march. 29. 1594. sect . xli . from cape desire , some foure leagues north-west , lye foure ilands , which are very small , and the middlemost of them is o● the fashion of a sugar-loafe . we were no sooner cleare of cape desire , and his ledge of rockes ( which lie a great way off into the sea ) but the wind tooke vs contrary by the north-west ; and so we stood off into the sea two dayes and two nights to the westwards . in all the straites it ebbeth and floweth more or lesse , and in many places it higheth very little water , but in some bayes , where are great indraughts , it higheth eight or ten foote , and doubtlesse , further in , more . if a man be furnished with wood and water , and the winde good , he may keepe the mayne sea , and goe round about the straites to the southwards , and it is the shorter way ; for besides the experience which we made , that all the south part of the straites is but ilands , many times having the sea open , i remember , that sir francis drake told me , that having short the straites , a storme tooke him first at north-west , and after vered about to the south-west , which continued with him many dayes , with that extremitie , that he could not open any sayle , and that at the end of the storme , he found himselfe in fiftie degrees , which was sufficient testimony and proofe , that he was beaten round about the straites , for the least height of the straites is in fiftie two degrees and fiftie minutes ; in which stand the two entrances or mouths . and moreover , he sayd , that standing about , when the winde changed , he was not well able to double the southermost iland , and so anchored vnder the lee of it ; and going a-shore , carried a compasse with him , and seeking out the southermost part of the iland , cast himselfe downe vpon the vttermost poynt groveling , and so reached out his bodie over it . presently he imbarked , and then recounted vnto his people , that he had beene vpon the southermost knowne land in the world , and more ●urther to the southwards vpon it , then any of them , yea , or any man as yet knowne . these testimonies may suffice for this truth vnto all , but such as are incredulous , & will beleeue nothing but what they see ; for my part , i am of opinion , that the straite is navigable all the yeare long , although the best time be in november , december , and ianuary , and then the winds more favourable , which other times are variable , as ●n all narrow seas . being some fiftie leagues a sea-boord the straites , the winde vering to the west-wards , we cast about to the north-wards ; and lying the coast along , shaped our course for the iland mocha . about the fifteenth of aprill , we were thwart of baldivia , which was then in the hands of the spaniards , but since the indians , in anno 1599. dispossessed them of it , and the conception ; which are two of the most principall places they had in that kingdome , and both ports . baldivia , had its name of a spanish captaine so called , whom afterwards the indians tooke prisoner , and it is said , they required of him the reason why he came to molest them , and to take their country from them , having no title nor right therevnto ; he answered , to get gold ; which the barbarous vnderstanding , caused gold to be molten , and powred downe his throat ; saying , gold was thy desire , glut thee with it . it standeth in fortie degrees , hath a pleasant river and navigable ; for a ship of good burden may goe as high vp as the cittie , and is a goodly wood country . here our beefe beganne to take end , and was then as good , as the day wee departed from england ; it was preserved in pickell , which , though it be more chargeable , yet the profit payeth the charge , in that it is made durable , contrary to the opinion of many , which hold it impossible , that beefe should be kept good passing the equinoctiall lyne . and of our porke i eate in the house of don beltran de castro , in lyma , neere foure yeares old , very good , preserved after the same manner , notwithstanding , it had lost his pickle long before . some degrees before a man come to baldivia to the south-wards , as spaniards haue told me , lyeth the iland chule , not easily to be discerned from the mayne ; for he that passeth by it , cannot but thinke it to be the mayne . it is said to be inhabited by the spaniards , but badly , yet rich of gold . the 19. of aprill , being easter-euen , we anchored vnder the iland mocha . it lyeth in 39. degrees , it may be some foure leagues over , and is a high mountainous hill , but round about the foote thereof , some halfe league from the sea-shore , it is champion ground , well inhabited , and manured . from the straites to this iland , we found , that either the coast is set out more westerly then it is , or that , we had a great current , which put vs to the west-wards ; for we had not sight of land in three dayes after . our reckoning was to see it , but for that we coasted not the land , i cannot determine , whether it was caused by the current , or lying of the land . but spaniards which haue sayled alongst it , haue told me , that it is a bold and safe coast , and reasonable sounding of it . in this iland of mocha we had communication and contratation with the inhabitants , but with great vigilancie and care ; for they and all the people of chily , are mortall enemies to the spaniards , and held vs to be of them ; and so esteemed sir francis drake , when he was in this iland , which was the first land also that he touched on this coast . they vsed him with so fine a trechery , that they possessed themselues of all the oares in his boate , saving two , and in striving to get them also , they slew , and hurt all his men ; himselfe who had fewest wounds , had three , and two of them in the head . two of his company which lived long after , had , the one seaventeene ; his name was iohn bruer , who afterward was pilot with master candish ; and the other , aboue twentie , a negro-servant to sir francis drake . and with me they vsed a pollicie , which amongst barbarous people was not to be imagined , although i wrought sure ; for i suffered none to treate with me , nor with my people with armes . we were armed , and met vpon a rocke compassed with water , whether they came to parley and negotiate . being in communication with the casiques , and others , many of the indians came to the heads of our boats , and some went into them . certaine of my people standing to defend the boates with their oares , for that there went a bad sege , were forced to lay downe their musketts ; which the indians perceiving , endevoured to fill the barrells with water , taking it out of the sea in the hollow of their hands . by chance casting mine eye aside , i discovered their slynesse ; and with a truncheon , which i had in mine hand , gaue the indians three or foure good lamskinnes ; the casiques seeing it , began to giue me satisfaction , by vsing rigor towardes those which had beene in the boates ; but i having gotten the refreshing i desired , and all i could hope from them , would haue no further conversation with them . at our first comming , two of their casiques ( who are their lords or kings ) came aboord our shippe ( we leaving one of our companie ashore as a pledge ) whom we feasted in good manner ; they eat well of all that was set before them , and dranke better of our wine : one of them became a little giddie headed , and marvayled much at our artillery : i caused a peece to be primed , and after to be ●hott off , whereat the one started , but the other made no shew of alteration ; after putting them ashore , loaden with toyes and trifles , which to them seemed great riches ; from all ports of the iland , the people came vnto vs , bringing all such things as they had , to wit , sheepe , cockes , &c. ( from hennes they would not part ) and divers sorts of fruits , and rootes , which they exchanged with vs for kniues , glasses , combes , belles , beades , counters , pinnes , and other trifles . we saw little demonstration of gold or silver amongst them , though some they had ; and for that we saw they made estimation of it , we would not make reckoning of it : but they gaue vs to vnderstand , that they had it from the mayne . the sheepe of this iland are great , good , and fatt ; i haue not tasted better mutton any where . they were as ours , and doubtlesse of the breed of those , which the spaniards brought into the country . of the sheepe of the country , we could by no meanes procure any one , although we saw of them , and vsed meanes to haue had of them ; for they esteeme them much , as reason willeth , serving them for many vses ; as in another place , god willing , i shall declare more at large . they haue small store of fish . this iland is scituate in the province of arawca , and is held to be peopled with the most valiant nation in all chily , though generally the inhabitants of that kingdome are very couragious . they are clothed after the manner of antiquitie , all of woollen ; their cassockes made like a sacke , square , with two holes for the two armes , and one for the head ; all open below , without lining or other art : but of them , some are most curiously wooven , and in colours , and on both sidesalike . their houses are made round , in fashion like vnto our pigeon houses , with a laver in the toppe , to evacuate the smoake when they make fire . they brought vs a strange kinde of tobacco , made into little cakes , like pitch , of a bad smell , with holes through the middle , and so laced many vpon a string . they presented vs also with two spanish letters , thinking vs to be spaniards , which were written by a captaine of a frigate , that some dayes before had received courtesie at their hands , and signified the same to the governour ; wishi●g that the people of the iland would become good subiects to the king , and that therefore he would receiue them into his favour and protection , and send them some person as governour ; but none of them spake spanish , and so we dealt with them by signes . the people of this iland , as of all chily , are of good stature , and well made , and of better countenance then those indians which i haue seene in many parts . they are of good vnderstanding , and agilitie , and of great strength ; their weapons are bowes , and arrowes and macanas , their bowes short and strong , and their arrowes of a small reade , or cane , three quarters of a yard long , with two feathers , and headed with a flint stone , which is loose , and hurting , the head remaineth in the wound , some are headed with bone , and some with hard wood , halfe burnt in the fire . wee came betwixt the iland and the mayne ; on the south-west part of the iland lyeth a great ledge of rockes , which are dangerous ; and it is good to bee carefull how to come too neere the iland on all parts . immediately when they discovered vs , both vpon the iland , and the maine , wee might see them make sundry great fires , which were to giue advise to the rest of the people to be in a readinesse : for they haue continuall and mortall warre with the spaniards , and the shippes they see , they beleeue to be their enemies . the citie imperiall lyeth over against this iland , but eight or tenne leagues into the countrey : for all the sea coast from baldivia , till 36. degrees , the indians haue now ( in a manner ) in their hands free from any spaniards . sect . xlii . having refreshed our selues well in this iland , for that little time wee stayed , which was some 3. dayes wee set sayle with great ioy , and with a fayre winde sayled alongst the coast , and some eyght leagues to the north-wards , we anchored againe in a goodly bay , and sent our boates ashore , with desire to speake with some of the indians of arawca , and to see , if they would bee content to entertaine amitie , or to chop and change with vs. but all that night and the next morning appeared not one person , and so wee set sayle againe ; and towardes the evening the winde began to change , and to blow contrary , and that so much , and the sea to rise so sodainely , that we could not take in our boates , without spoyling of them . this storme continued with vs ten dayes beyond expectation , for that wee thought our selues out of the climate of fowle weather , but truely it was one of the sharpest stormes that ever i felt to endure so long . in this storme , one night haling , vp our boates to free the water out of them , one of our younkers that went into them for that purpose , had not that regard ( which reason required ) vnto our light horseman : for with haling her vp , to step into her , out of the boate , he split her asunder , and so wee were forced to cut her off ; which was no small heartes griefe vnto me , ●or that i knew , and all my company felt ▪ and many times lamented the losse of her . the storme tooke end , and wee shaped our course for the iland of saint maries , which lyeth in thirtie seaven degrees and forty minuts , and before you come vnto the iland some two leagues , in the trade way lyeth a rocke , which a farre off , seemeth to be a shippe vnder sayle . this iland is little and low , but fertill and well peopled , with indians and some fewe spaniards in it . some ten leagues to the north-wards of this iland , lyeth the citty conception , with a good port ; from this wee coasted alongst till wee came in thirty three degrees , and forty minutes . in which height lay the ilands of ivan fernandes , betwixt threescore and fourescore leagues from the shore , plentifull of fish , and good for refreshing i purposed for many reasons not to discover my selfe vpon this coast , till wee were past lyma , ( otherwise called cividad de los reyes , for that it was entered by the spaniard the day of the three kings ; ) but my company vrged me so farre , that except i should seeme in all things to over-beare them , in not condiscending to that which in the opinion of all ( but my selfe ) seemed profitable and best , i could not but yeelde vnto , though it carried a false colour , as the ende prooued , for it was our perdition . this all my company knoweth to be true , whereof some are yet living , and can giue testimonie . but the mariner is ordinarily so carried away with the desire of pillage , as sometimes for very appearances of small moment , hee looseth his voyage , and many times himselfe . and so the greedines of spoyle , onely hoped for in shippes of trade , which goe too and fro in this coast , blinded them from forecasting the perill , whereinto wee exposed our voyage , in discovering our selues before wee past the coast of calla● , which is the port of lyma ; to be short , wee haled the coast aboord , and that evening we discovered the port of balparizo , which serveth the citty of saint iago , standing some twenty leagues into the countrey ; when presently we descried foure shippes at an anchor : wherevpon wee manned , and armed our boate , which rowed towards the shippes : they seeing vs turning in , and fearing that which was , ran a shore with that little they could saue , and leaft vs the rest ; whereof , we were masters in a moment , and had the rifling of all the stor●houses on the shoare . this night , i set a good guard in all the shippes , longing to see the light of the next morning , to put all things in order ; which appearing , i began to survay them , and found nothing of moment , saue fiue hundreth botozios of wine , two or three thousand of hennes , and some refreshing of bread , bacon , dried beefe , waxe , candles , and other necessaries . the rest of their lading was plankes , spares , and tymber , for lyma , and the valleyes , which is a rich trade ; for it hath no tymber , but that which is brought to it from other places . they had also many packes of indian mantles , ( but of no value vnto vs ) with much tallow , and manteca de puerco , and aboundance of great new chests , in which wee had thought to be some great masse of wealth , but opening them , found nothing but apples therein ; all which was good marchandize in lyma , but to vs of small accompt . the marchandize on shore , in their store-houses was the like , and therefore in the same predicament . the owners of the shippes gaue vs to vnderstand , that at a reasonable price they would redeeme their shippes and loading , which i harkened vnto ; and so admitted certaine persons which might treat of the matter , and concluded with them for a small price , rather then to burne them , saving for the greatest , which i carryed with me , more to giue satisfaction to my people , then for any other respect ; because they would not be perswaded , but that there was much gold hidden in her ; otherwise shee would haue yeelded vs more then the other three . being in this treatie , one morning , at the breake of day , came another shippe touring into the harbour , and standing into the shore , but was becalmed . against her we manned a couple of boates , and tooke her before many houres . in this shippe , we had some good quantitie of gold , which shee had gathered in baldivia , and the conception , from whence shee came . of this shippe was pilot , and part owner , alonso perezbueno , whom we kept for our pilot on this coast ; till moved with compassion ( for that he was a man charged with wife and children ) we set him a shore betwixt santa and truxillo . out of this shippe we had also store of good bacon , and some provision of bread , hennes , and other victuall . and for that shee had brought vs so good a portion , and her owner continued with vs , the better to animate him to play the honest man ( though we trusted him no further then we saw him , for we presently discovered him to be a cunning fellow ) and for that his other partner had lost the greatest part of gold , and seemed to be an honest man , as after he prooved by his thankefulnesse , in lyma ; we gaue them the ship , and the greatest part of her loading freely . here we supplied our want of anchors , though not according to that which was requisite , in regard of the burden of our shippe ; for , in the south sea , the greatest anchor for a shippe of sixe or eight hundreth tunnes , is not a thousand waight ; partly , because it is little subiect to stormes , and partly , because those they had till our comming , were all brought out of the north sea by land ; for they make no anchors in those countries . and the first artillerie they had , was also brought over land ; which was small ; the carriage and passage ●●om nombre de bios , or porto velo to panama being most difficult and steepe , vp hill and downe hill , they are all carried vpon negroes backes . but some yeares be●ore my imprisonment , they fell to making of artillery , and since they forge anchors also . wee furnished our shippe also with a shift of sayles of cotton cloth , which are farre better in that sea , then any of our double sayles , for that in all the navigation of that sea , they haue little rayne and few stormes , but where rayne and stormes are ordinary , they are not good ; for with the wett they grow so stiffe , that they cannot be handled . sect . xliii . i concluded the ransome of the shippes with an auncient captaine , and of noble blood , who had his daughter there , ready to be imbarked to goe to lyma , to serue donia teruza de castro , the vice-royes wife , and sister to don beliran de castro . her apparell and his , with divers other things which they had imbarked in the greatest shippe , we restored , for the good office he did vs , and the confidence he had of vs , comming and going onely vpon my word ; for which he was ever after thankefull , and deserved much more . another that treated with me was captaine ivan contreres , owner of one of the shippes , and of the iland santa maria , in thirtie seaven degrees and fortie minutes . in treating of the ransomes , and transporting and lading the provisions we made choyce of , wee spent some sixe or eight dayes ; at the end whereof , with reputation amongst our enemies , and a good portion towards our charges , and our shippe as well stored and victualled , as the day we departed from england , we set sayle . the time wee were in this port , i tooke small rest , and so did the master of our shippe , hugh cornish , a most carefull , orderly , and sufficient man , because we knew our owne weaknesse ; for entring into the harbour , we had but seaventie fiue men and boyes , fiue shippes to guard , and every one moored by himselfe ; which ( no doubt ) if our enemies had knowne , they would haue wrought some stratagem vpon vs ; for the governour of chily was there on shore in view of vs , an auncient flanders souldier , and of experience , wisedome , and valour , called don alonso de soto mayor , of the habit of saint iago , who was after captaine generall in terra firme , and wrought all the inventions vpon the river of chagree , and on the shore , when sir francis drake purposed to goe to panama , in the voyage wherein he died ; as also at my comming into spaine , he was president in panama , and there , and in lyma , vsed me with great courtesie , like a noble souldier , and liberall gentleman ; he confessed to me after , that he lay in ambush , with three hundreth horse and foote , to see if at any time wee had landed , or neglected our watch , with balsas , which is a certaine raffe made of mastes or trees fastened together , to haue attempted something against vs. but the enemy i feared not so much as the wine ; which , notwithstanding all the diligence and prevention i could vse day and night , overthrew many of my people . a foule fault , because too common amongst sea-men , and deserveth some rigorous punishment , with severitie to be executed ; for it hath beene and is daily the destruction of many good enterprises , amidst their best hopes . and besides the ordinary fruites it bringeth forth , of beggery , ●hame , and sicknesse , it is a most deadly sinne . a drunkard is vnfit for any government , and if i might be hired with many thousands , i would not carry with me a man knowne to put his felicitie in that vice , instiling it with the name of good fellowship ; which in most well governed common-wealths , hath beene a sufficient blemish to depriue a man of office , of honour , and estimation . it wasteth our kingdome more then is well vnderstood , as well by the infirmities it causeth , as by the consumption of wealth , to the impoverishing of vs , and the enriching of other kingdomes . and though i am not old , in comparison of other auncient men , i can remember spanish wine rarely to be found in this kingdome . then hot burning feavers were not knowne in england , and men lived many moe yeares . but since the spanish sacks haue beene common in our tavernes , which ( for conservation ) is mingled with lyme in its making , our nation complaineth of calenturas , of the stone , the dropsie , and infinite other diseases , not heard of before this wine came in frequent vse , or but very seldome . to confirme which my beliefe , i haue heard one of our learnedst physitians affirme , that he thought there died more persons in england of drinking wine , and vsing hot spices in their meats and drinkes , then of all other diseases . besides , there is no yeare , in which it wasteth not two millions of crownes of our substance by convayance into forraine countries , which in so well a governed common-wealth , as ours is acknowledged to be , through the whole world , in all other constitutions , in this onely remaineth to be looked into , and remedied . doubtlesse , whosoever should be the author of this reformation , would gaine with god an everlasting reward , and of his country a statua of gold , for a perpetuall memory of so meritorious a worke. sect . xliiii . a league or better before a man discover this bay to the south-wards , lyeth a great rocke , or small iland , neere the shore ; vnder which , for a need , a man may ride with his shippe . it is a good marke , and sure signe of the port , and discovering the bay a man must giue a good birth to the poynt of the harbour ; for it hath perilous rockes lying a good distance off . it neither ebbeth nor floweth in this port , nor from this , till a man come to guayaquill , which is three degrees from the equinoctiall lyne to the south-wards ; let this be considered . it is a good harbour for all windes , that partake not of the north ; for it runneth vp south and by west , and south south-west , but it hath much fowle ground . in one of these shippes wee found a new devise for the stopping of a sodaine leake in a shippe vnder water , without board , when a man cannot come to it within board ; which eased vs of one , that we had from the day we departed from detford , caused by the touching a-ground of our shippe at low water , being loaden , and in the neape streames , comming a-ground in the sterne , the force of the tyde caused to cast thwart , wrested her slegg , and that in such sort , as it made a continuall leake , though not much . and for that others may profit themselues of the like , i thinke it good to set downe the manner of it ; which was , taking a round wicker basket , and to fill it with peeces of a iunke or rope , chopped very small , and of an inch long , and after tozed all as oacombe ; then the basket is to be covered with a nett , the meshes of it being at the least two inches square , and after to be tied to a long pike or pole , which is to goe a crosse the baskets mouth ▪ and putting it vnder water , care is to be had to keepe the baskets mouth towardes the shippes side ; if the leake be any thing great , the oacombe may be somewhat longer , and it carrieth likelihood to doe good , & seemeth to be better then the stitching of a bonnet , or any other diligence , which as yet i haue seene . another thing i noted of these shippes , which would be also vsed by vs ; that every shippe carrieth with her a spare rudder , and they haue them to hange and vnhange with great facilitie : and besides , in some part of the shippe , they haue the length , breadth , and proportion of the rudder marked out , for any mischance that may befall them ; which is a very good prevention . tenne leagues to the north-wards of this harbour , is the bay of quintera , where is good anchoring , but an open bay ; where master thomas candish ( for the good he had done to a spaniard , in bringing him out of the straits of magellan , where , otherwise , he had perished with his company ) was by him betrayed , and a dozen of his men taken and slaine : but the iudgement of god left not his ingratitude vnpunished ; for , in the fight with vs , in the vice-admirall , he was wounded and maymed in that manner , as three yeares after , i saw him begge with crutches , and in that miserable estate , as he had beene better dead , then aliue . from balparizo , wee sayled directly to coquinbo , which is in thirtie degrees , and comming thwart the place , wee were becalmed , and had sight of a shippe : but for that shee was farre off , and night at hand , shee got from vs , and wee having winde entered the port , thinking to haue had some shipping in it ; but wee lost our labour : and for that the towne was halfe a league vpp in the countrey , and wee not manned for any matter of attempt , worthy prosecution , wee made no abode on the shore ; but presently set sayle for the peru. this is the best harbour that i haue seene in the south sea , it is land-locked for all winds , and capeable of many shippes ; but the ordinary place where the shippes lade , and vnlade , and accommodate themselues , is betwixt a rocke , and the mayne on the wester-side ; some halfe a league vp within the entrance of the port , which lyeth south and south , and by east and north , and by west . in the in-country , directly ouer the port , is a round piked hill , like a sugar loafe , and before the entrance on the southern poynt of the port comming in , out of the sea , it is a great rocke , a good birth from the shore ; and these are the markes of the port as i remember . being cleere of this port , wee shaped our course for arica , and leaft the kingdomes of chily , one of the best countries that the sunne shineth on : for it is of a temperate clymate , and abounding in all things necessary , for the vse of man , with infinite rich mines of gold , copper , and sundry other mettals . the poorest houses in it , by report of their inhabitants , haue of their owne store , bread , wine , flesh , and fruite ; which is ●o plentifull , that of their superfluitie they supply other partes ; sundry kindes of cattell : as horses , goates , and oxen brought thither by the spaniards , are found in heardes of thousands , wilde , and without owner ; besides those of the countrey , which are common to most partes of america : in some of which are found the bezar stones , and those very good and great . amongst others they haue little beastes , like vnto a squirrell , but that hee is gray , his skinne is the most delicate soft , and curious furre that i haue seene , and of much estimation , ( as is reason ) in the peru ; few of them come into spaine , because difficult to be come by , for that the princes and nobles laie waite for them , they call this beast chinchilla , and of them they haue great abundance . all fruites of spaine , they haue in great plentie , saving stone fruite , and almonds : ●or in no part of the indies , haue i knowne , that plumbes , cherries , or almondes haue borne fruit : but they haue certaine little round cocos , as those of brasill , of the bignesse of a wall-nut , which is as good as an almond : besides , it hath most of the fruites naturall to america , of which in another place i shall ( god wi●ling ) speake particularly . the gold they gather , is in two manners ; the one is washing the earth in great trayes of wood in many waters ; as the earth wasteth away , the gold in the bottome remaineth . the other is , by force of art , to draw it out of the mynes , in which they finde it . in most partes of the countrie , the earth is mingled with gold ; for the butizias ( in which the wine was ) which wee found in balpharizo , had many sparkes of gold shining in them . of it the gold-smiths i carryed with me ( for like purposes ) made experience . when baldivia and arawca were peaceable , they yeelded greatest plentie , and the best : but now , their greatest mynes are in coquinbo ; as also the mines of copper , which they carry to the peru , and sell it better cheape , then it is ordinarily sold in spaine . the indians knowing the end of the spaniards molestation , to be principally the desire of their riches , haue enacted , that no man , vpon paine of death , doe gather any gold. in coquinbo it rayneth seldome , but every showre of rayne , is a showre of gold vnto them ; for with the violence of the water falling from the mountaines , it bringeth from them the gold ; and besides , giues them water to wash it out , as also for their ingenious to worke ; so that ordinarily every weeke they haue processions for rayne . in this kingdome they make much linnen and wool●en cloth , and great store of indian mantles , with which they furnish other partes , but all is course stuffe . it hath no silke , nor iron , except in mynes , and those as yet not discovered . pewter is well esteemed , and so are finne linnen , woollen cloth , haberdashers wares , edge-tooles , and armes , or munition . it hath his governour , and audiencia , with two bishoppes : the one of saint iago , the other of the imperiall ; all vnder the vice-roy , audiencia , and primate of lyma . saint iago is the metropolitan and head of the kingdome , and the seate of iustice , which hath his appellation to lyma . the people are industrious and ingenious , of great strength , and invincible courage ; as in the warres , which they haue susteyned aboue fortie yeares continually against the spaniards , hath beene experienced . for confirmation whereof , i will alledge onely two proofes of many ; the one was of an indian captaine , taken prisoner by the spaniards ; and for that , he was of name and knowne to haue done his devoire against them , they cut off his hands , thereby intending to disenable him to fight any more against them ; but he returning home , desirous to revenge this iniury , to maintaine his libertie , with the reputation of his nation , and to helpe to banish the spaniard , with his tongue intreated and incited them to persevere in their accustomed valour and reputation ; abasing the enemy , and advancing his nation ; condemning their contraries of cowardlinesse , and confirming it by the crueltie vsed with him , and others his companions in their mishaps ; shewing them his armes without hands , and naming his brethren , whose halfe feete they had cut off , because they might be vnable to sit on horsebacke with force , arguing , that if they feared them not , they would not haue vsed so great inhumanitie ; for feare produceth crueltie , the companion of cowardize . thus incouraged he them to fight for their liues , limbes , and libertie , choosing rather to die an honourable death fighting , then to liue in servitude , as fruitlesse members in their common-wealth . thus , vsing the office of a sergeant maior , and having loaden his two stumpes with bundles of arrowes , succoured those , who in the succeeding battaile had their store wasted , and changing himselfe from place to place , animated and encouraged his countri-men , with such comfortable perswasions , as it is reported , and credibly beleeved , that he did much more good with his words , and presence , without striking a stroake , then a great part of the armie did with fighting to the vtmost . the other proofe is , that such of them as fight on horsebacke , are but slightly armed , for that their armour is a beasts hide , fitted to their bodie , greene , and after worne till it be dry and hard . he that it is best armed , hath him double ; yet any one of them with these armes , and with his launce , will fight hand to hand with any spaniar● armed from head to foote . and it is credibly reported , that an indian being wounded through the body by a spaniards launce , with his owne hands hath crept on vpon the launce , and come to grapple with his adversary , and both fallen to the ground together . by which is seene their resolution and invincible courage , and the desire they haue to maintaine their reputation and libertie . sect . xlv . leaving the coast of chily , and running towards that of peru , my company required the third of the gold we had gotten , which of right belonged vnto them ; wherein i desired to giue them satisfaction of my iust intention , but not to devide it till wee came home , and so perswaded them with the best reasons i could ; alledging the difficultie to devide the barres , and being parted , how easie it was to be robbed of them , and that many would play away their portions , and come home as beggerly as they came out ; and that the shares could not be well made before our returne to england , because every mans merites could not be discerned nor rewarded till the end of the voyage . in conclusion , it was resolved , and agreed , that the things of price , as gold and silver , should be put into chests with three keyes , whereof i should haue the one , the master another , and the third some other person , whom they should name . this they yeelded vnto with great difficultie , and not without reason ; for the bad correspondence vsed by many captaines and owners with their companies vpon their returne , defrauding them , or diminishing their rights , hath hatched many iealousies , and produced many disorders , with the overthrow of all good discipline and government , as experience teacheth ; for where the souldier and marriner is vnpaide , or defrauded , what service or obedience can be required at his hands ? the covetous captaine , or commander , looseth the loue of those vnder his charge ; yea , though he haue all the parts besides required in a perfect commander , yet if he preferre his private profite before justice , hardly will any man follow such a leader , especially , in our kingdome , where more absolute authoritie and trust is committed to those who haue charge , then in many other countries . and therefore in election of chieftaines , care would be had in examination of this poynt . the shamefull fruites whereof ( found by experience of many yeares , wherein i haue wandred the world ) i leaue to touch in particular ; because i will not diminish the reputation of any . but this let me manifest , that there haue bin and are certaine persons , who , before they goe to sea , either robbe part of the provisions , or in the buying , make penurious , vnholsome , and avaritious penny-worths ; and the last i hold to be the lea●t ; for they robbe onely the victuallers and owners , but the others steale from owners , victuallers , and companie , and are many times the onely overthrowers of the voyage ; for the company thinking themselues to be stored with foure or sixe moneths victualls , vpon survay , they find their bread , beefe , or drinke short , yea , perhappes all , and so are forced to seeke home in time of best hopes , and imployment . this mischiefe is most ordinary in great actions . lastly , some are so cunning , that they not onely make their voyage by robbing before they goe to sea , but o● that also which commeth home . such gamsters , a wise man of our nation resembled to the mill on the river of thames , for grinding both with flood and ebbe ; so , these at their going out , and comming home , will be sure to robbe all others of their shares : although this be a great abuse amongst vs , and but of late dayes practised , and by me spoken vnto by way of animadversion , either in hope of redresse , or for infliction of punishment ; yet i would haue the world know , that in other countries , the fault is farre more insufferable . and the principall cause which i can finde for it , is that our country imployeth her nobles , of men of credite in all actions of moment , who rather chuse to spend wealth , and gaine honor , then to gaine riches without reputation ; whereas in spaine , and other partes , the advancement of poore men and meane persons by favour and interest produceth no other end , but private and particular respects , to enrich themselues , yet the nobilitie themselues ( for the most part ) in all occasions pretend rewards for any small service whatsoever , which with vs as yet is not in vse . but the greatest and most principall robbery of all , in my opinion , is the defrauding , or detaining of the companies thirdes or wages , accursed by the iust god , who forbiddeth the hyre of the labourer to sleepe with vs. to such i speake as either abuse themselues in detayning it ; or else to such as force the poore man to sell it at vile and low prices ; and lastly to such as vpon fained cavils and sutes , doe deterre the simple and ignorant sort from their due prosecutions ; which being too much in vse amongst vs , hath bred in those that follow the sea a iealousie in all imployments , and many times causeth mutenies and infinite inconveniences . a poynt deserving consideration and reformation , and which with great facilitie may be remedied , if vpright justice would put it selfe as stickler betwixt the owners and company . no lesse worthie of reformation are the generall abuses of marriners and souldiers , who robbe all they can , vnder the colour of pillage , and after make ordinance , cables , sayles , anchors , and all aboue deckes , to belong vnto them of right , whether they goe by thirdes or wages ; this proceedeth from those pilfering warres , wherein every gallant that can arme out a shippe , taketh vpon him the name and office of a captaine , not knowing what to command , nor what to execute . such commanders for the most part consort and ioyne vnto themselues disorderly persons , pyrates , and ruffians , vnder the title of men of valour and experience : they meeting with any prise , make all vpon the deckes theirs of dutie ; viz. the best peece of ordinance for the captaine ; the second , for the gunner ; the third , for his mate ; the best cable and anchor for the master ; the maine topsayle , for the botesman , the bonnetts , for the quarter masters ; and the rest of the sayles for the company : the cardes and instruments of the master , for the master ; the surgeans instruments and chest , for the surgean ; the carpenters tooles and chest for the carpenter ; and so consequently of each officer , that answereth the other in the two shippes . if one happen vpon a bag of gold , silver , pearle , or precious stones , it is held well gotten ; provided it be cleanly stolne , though the shippe , and all her loading besides be not worth so much , little considering the common iniury , in defrauding the owners , victuallers , and whole companie : and forgetting , that if himselfe were a jury-man vpon another in like case , he would adiudge him to the gallows . but i would advise such novices to know , that our true and auncient discipline of warre is farre different , and being vnderstood , is much more better for the generall . besides , it is grounded on gods law ( from whence all lawes should be derived ) and true justice , which distributeth to every one that which to him belongeth of right , and that in due season . in the time of warre in our countrey , as also in others , by the lawes of oleron ( which to our auncient sea-men were fundamentall ) nothing is allowed for pillage but apparell , armes , instruments , and other necessaries belonging to the persons , in that shippe which is taken ; and these too , when the shippe is gained by dint of sword ; with a proviso , that if any perticular pillage , exceede the valew of sixe crownes , it may bee redeemed for that valew , by the generall stocke , and sould for the common benefit . if the prise render it selfe without forcible entry , all in generall ought to be preserved and sould in masse , and so equally devided : yea though the shippe bee wonne by force and entry , yet whatsoever belongeth to her of tackling , sayles , or ordinance , is to bee preserved for the generalitie : saving a peece of artillery for the captaine ; another for the gunner , and a cable and anchor for the master , which are the rights due vnto them ; and these to be delivered , when the shippe is in safety , and in harbour , eyther vnloaden or sould : which law or custome well considered , will rise to be more beneficiall for the owners , victuallars , and company ; then the disorders newly crept in and before remembred . for the sayles , cables , anchors , and hull , being sould ( every one a part ) yeelde not the one halfe , which they would doe , if they were sould altogether , besides the excusing of charges , and robberies in the vnloading and parting . in the warres of fraunce , in the time of queene mary , and in other warres ( as i haue heard of many auncient captaines ) the companie had but the fourth part , and every man bound to bring with him the armes , with which hee would fight : which in our time , i haue knowne also vsed in fraunce ; and if the company victualed themselues , they had then the one halfe , and the owners the other halfe for the shippe , powder , shott , and munition . if any prise were taken , it was sould by the tunne , shippe and goods , so as the loading permitted it ; that the marchant having bought the goods , hee might presently tran●port them whethersoever he would ; by this manner of proceeding , all rested contented , all being truely payd ; for this was iust dealing ; if any deserved reward , he was recompensed out of the generall stocke ; if any one had filched or stolne , or committed offence● hee had likewise his desert : and who once was knowne , to be a disordered person , or a theefe , no man would receiue him into his shippe , whereas now a dayes many vaunt themselues of their theftes and disorders ; yea i haue seene the common sort of mariners , vnder the name of pillage , maintaine and iustifie their robberies most insolently , before the queenes maiesties commissioners , with arrogant and vnseemely termes , for that they would not condiscend to their vnreasonable challenges : the demaunds being better worth then fiue hundreth poundes , which some one pretended to be his ; and that of the choysest marchandize , and most of it robbed out of that part of the shippe , which they themselues , and all the world cannot but confesse to be marchandize . my opinion is , that such malaperts , deserue most iustly to haue their spoyle taken from them , or some worse consideration , and afterwards to be severely punished , in prevention of greater preiudices , then can by paper be well declared . but i must tell you withall ( such hath beene the partiallitie of some commissioners in former times ) that vpon information , in lieu of punishment , opinion hath held them for tall fellowes , when , in truth , they never proue the best men in difficult occasions . for their mindes are all set on spoyle , and can bee well contented to suffer their associates to beare the brunt , whillest they are prolling after pillage , the better to gaine and mainetaine the aforesayd attributes , in tavernes , and disorderly places . for the orderly and quiet men , i haue ever found in all occasions to bee of best vse , most valiant , and of greatest sufficiency . yet i condemne none : but those who will bee reputed valiant , and are not , examine the accusation . all what soever is found vpon the decke , going for marchandize , is exempted out of the censure of pillage ; silkes , linnen , or woollen cloth in whole peeces , apparell , that goeth to be sold , or other goods what soever ( though they be in remnants , ) manifestly knowne to be carryed for that end ; or being comprehended in the register , or bils of lading , are not to bee contayned vnder the name of pillage . but as i haue sayd of the consort , so can i not but complaine of many captaines and governours , who overcome with like greedie desire of gaine , condiscend to the smoothering and suppressing of this auncient discipline , the cle●lier to smother their owne disloyalties , in suffering these breake-bulks to escape , and absent themselues , till the heate be past , and partition made . some of these cause the bils of lading to bee cast into the sea , or so to bee hidden , that they never appeare . others send away their prisoners , who sometimes are more worth then the shippe and her lading , because they should not discover their secret stolne treasure ; for many times , that which is leaft out of the register or bils of lading , ( with purpose to defraud the prince of his customes , ( in their conceits , held to be excessiue ) is of much more value , then that which the shippe and lading is worth . yea i haue knowne shippes worth two hundreth thousand pounds , and better , cleane swept of their principall riches , nothing but the bare bulke being leaft vnsacked . the like may be spoken , of that which the disorderly marriner , and the souldier termeth pillage ; yet all winked at , and vnpunished , although such prizes haue beene rendred without stroake stricken . this doubtlesse , cannot but be an hearts greife and discouragement to all those who vertuously , and truely desire to obserue the auncient discipline of our nation , their owne honours , and the service of their soveraigne . but to prevent these vnknowne mischiefes , ( and for his better discharge ) i remember , that my father sir iohn hawkins in his instructions , in actions vnder his charge , had this particular article ; that whosoever rendred , or tooke any shippe , should be bound to exhibite the bils of lading ; to keepe the captaine , master , marchants , and persons of account , and to bring them to him to be examined , or into england ; if they should bee by any accident seperated from him , what soever was found wanting ( the prisoners being examined ) was to bee made good by the captaine , and company , which tooke the shippe , and this vpon great punishments . i am witnes , and avow , that this course did redownd much to the benefitt of the generall stocke ; to the satisfaction of her maiestie , and counsell ; the iustification of his governement , and the content of his followers . thus much haue i set downe concerning these abuses , and the reformation thereof , for that , i haue neither seene them divulged by any , with whom i haue gone to sea , neither yet recorded in writing , by any mans pen ; let consideration , present them to the eares of the powerfull ; but now to our voyage . sect . xlvi . rvnning alongst the coast , till wee came within few leagues of arica , nothing happened vnto vs of extraordinary noveltie , or moment , for we had the brese favourable , which seldome happeneth in this climate , finding our selues in nineteene degrees , wee haled the shore close abourd , purposing to see , if there were any shipping in the road of arica . it standeth in a great large bay , in eighteene degrees : and before you come to it , a league to the southwards of the roade and towne , is a great round hill , higher then the rest of the land of the bay , neere about the towne : which wee having discovered , had sight presently of a small barke , close abourd the shore becalmed ; manning our boate , wee tooke her , being loaden with fish from moormereno ; which is a goodly head-land , very high , and lyeth betwixt twenty foure , and twenty fiue degrees , and whether ordinarily some barkes vse to goe a fishing every yeare . in her was a spaniard and sixe indians ; the spaniard , for that hee was neere the shore , swam vnto the rockes , and though wee offered to returne him his barke , and fish , ( as was our meaning ) yet hee refused to accept it , and made vs answere , that hee durst not , for feare least the iustice should punish him . in so great subiection are the poore vnto those , who haue the administration of iustice in those partes , and in most partes of the kingdomes and countries subiect to spaine . insomuch , that to heare the iustice to enter in at their doores , is to them destruction and desolation : for this cause wee carried her alongst with vs. in this meane while , wee had sight of another tall shippe , comming out of the sea , which wee gaue chase vnto , but could not fetch vpp , beeing too good of sayle ●or vs. our small prize and boate standing off vnto vs , descryed another shippe , which they chased and tooke also , loaden with fish , comming from the ilands of iuan fernandes . after we opened the bay and port of arica , but seeing it cleane without shipping , wee haled the coast alongst , and going aboord to vi●it the bigger prize , my company ●aluted mee with a volley of small shot . amongst them , one musket brake , and carryed away the hand of him that shot it , through his owne default , which for that i haue seene to happen many times , i thinke it necessary to note in this place , that others may take warning by his harme . the cause of the muskets breaking , was the charging with two bullets , the powder being ordayned to carry but the waight of one , and the musket not to suffer two charges of powder or shott . by this over-sight , the fire is restrayned with the overplus of the waight of shott , and not being able to force both of them out , breaketh all to peeces , so to find a way to its owne center . and i am of opinion , that it is a great errour , to proue great ordinance , or small shot , with double charges of powder , or shot , my reason is , for that ordinarily the mettall is proportioned to the waight of the shot , which the peece is to beare , and the powder correspondent to the waight of the bullet : and this being graunted , i see no reason why any man should require to proue his peece with more , then is belonging to it of right : for i haue seene many goodly peeces broken with such tryals , being cleane without hony combes , cracke , flawe , or other perceavable blemish , which no doubt , with their ordinary allowance would haue served many yeares . yea i haue beene certified by men of credit , that some gunners haue taken a glory , for breaking many peeces in the tryall : which is easie to be done by sundry slights and meanes not fitt to bee published , much lesse to bee exercised , being preiudiciall to the seller , and chargeable to the conscience of the practiser , therefore it were good , this excessiue tryall by double charges were cleane abolished . if i shoulde make choyce for my selfe , i would not willingly , that any peece should come into fort , or shippe , ( vnder my charge ) which had borne at any time more then his ordinary allowance , misdoubting , least , through the violence of the double charge , the peece may bee crased within , or so forced , as at another occasion , with his ordinary allowance he might breake in peeces : how many men so many mindes : for to others , this may ●eeme harsh , for that the contrary custome hath so long time beene received , and therefore i submit to better experience , and contradict not but that in a demy culvering , a man may put two saker or minion shots , or many of smaller waight : and so in a muskett , two calever shott , or many smaller , so they exceede not the ordinary waight , prescribed by proportion , arte ; and experience . these experiments , i hold convenient vpon many occasions , yea and most necessary ; but the vaine custome of double charges , to cause their peeces thereby to giue a better report , i affirme can produce no other effect , but danger , losse and harme . sect . xlvii . having visited our prises , and finding in them nothing but fish , we tooke a small portion for our victualing , and gaue the bigger shippe to the spaniards againe , and the lesser wee kept , with purpose to make her our pinnas . the indians ( which wee tooke in her ) would by no meanes depart from vs , but desired to goe with vs for england ; saying that the indian and english were brothers , and in all places where wee came , they shewed themselues much affectionated vnto vs , these were natiues of moremoreno , and the most brutish of all that ever i had seene ; and except it were in forme of men and speech , they seemed altogether voyde of that which appertained to reasonable men . they were expert swimmers ; but after the manner of spaniels , they diue and abide vnder water a long time , and swallow the water of the sea , as if it were of a fresh river , except a man see them , he would hardly beleeue how they continue in the sea , as if they were mermaides , and the water their naturall element . their countrey is most barren , and poore of foode ; if they take a fish aliue out of the sea , or meete with a peece of salted fish , they will devoure it without any dressing , as savourely as if it had beene most curiously sodden or dressed , all which makes me beleeue , that they sustaine themselues of that , which they catch in the sea. the spaniards profit themselues , of their labour and trauell , and recompence them badly , they are in worse condition then their slaues , for to those they giue sustenance , house-roome , and clothing , and teach them the knowledge of god ; but the other they vse as beastes , to doe their labour without wages , or care of their bodies , or soules . sect . xlviii . thwart of ariquipa , the shippe we brought with vs from balparizo , being very leake , and my companie satisfied , that their hope to find any thing of worth in her , was vaine , having searched her from post to stemme , condiscended to fire her , and the rather , to keepe our company together ; which could not well suffer any devision , more then of meere necessity : so by generall accord we eased our selues of her , and continued our course alongst the coast , till we came thwart , of the bay of pisco ; which lyeth within 15. degrees and 15. minuts . presently after wee were cleare of cape sangalean , and his ilands , wee ranged this bay with our boate and pinnace . it hath 2. small ilands in it , but without fruite , and being becalmed , we anchored two dayes thwart of chilec . by sea and by land , those of clyly had given advise to don garcia hurtado de mend●ca , marquis of cavete , vice-roy of peru , resident in lima , of our being on the coast. hee presently with all possible diligence , put out sixe shippes in warlike order , with well neere two thousand men , and dispatched them to seeke vs , and to fight with vs , vnder the conduct of don beltrian de castro y delaluca , his wiues brother ; who departing out of the port of callao , turned to wind-ward , in sight over the shore , from whence they had dayly intelligence , where wee had beene discovered . and the next day after our departure out of chilca , about the middle of may , at breake of day , wee had sight each of other , thwart of cavete , wee being to wind-wards of the spanish armado , some two leagues , and all with little , or no winde . our pinnace or prise being furnished with oares came vnto vs , out of which we thought to haue taken our men , and so to leaue her ; but being able to come vnto vs at all times , it was held for better , to keepe her till necessity forced vs to leaue her : and so it was determined ; that if we came to likelihood of boording , shee should lay our boate aboord , and enter all her men , and from thence to enter our shippe , and so to forsake her ▪ although by the event in that occasion , this proved good , notwithstanding i hold it to bee reproved , where the enemie is farre superior in multitude and force , and able to come and bourd , if hee list : and that the surest course , is to fortifie the principall , the best that may bee , and to cut-of all impediments , where a man is forced to defence ; for that no man is assured to haue time answerable to his purpose and will , and vpon doubt whether the others in hope to saue themselues , will not leaue him in greatest extremitie . sect . xlix . wee presently put our selues in the best order wee could , to fight , and to defend our selues : our prayers we made vnto the lord god of battails , for his helpe and our deliverance , putting our selues wholy into his hands . about nine of the clocke , the brese began to blow , and wee to stand off into the sea , the spaniards cheeke by iole with vs , ever getting to the wind-wards vpon vs ; for that the shipping of the south-sea , is euer moulded sharpe vnder water , and long ; all their voyages depending vppon turning to wind-wardes , and the brese blowing ever southerly . as the sunne began to mount aloft , the wind began to fresh : which together with the rowling sea , that ever beateth vpon this coast , comming out of the westerne-bourd , caused a chapping sea , wherewith the admirall of the spaniards snapt his maine mast asunder , and so began to lagge a sterne , and with him , other two shippes . the vice-admirall split her maine-sayle , being come within shott of vs , vpon our broad side , but to le-wards : the reare-admirall cracked her maine-yard asunder in the middest , being a head of vs. one of the armado , which had gotten vpon the broad side of vs , to wind-wards , durst not assault vs. with these disgraces vpon them , and the hand of god helping and d●livering vs , night comming , we began to consult what course was best to be taken , to free our selues ; wherein were divers opinions ; some sayd it was best to stand off to the sea close by , all the night ; others to lye it a hull ; others to cast about to the shoare-wards two glasses , and after all the night to stand off to sea close by . the admirall of the spaniards , with the other two , were a sterne of vs , some foure leagues ▪ the vice-admirall a mile right to le-wards of vs ; the reare-admirall in a manner right a head , some culvering shott ; and one vpon our loose , within shott also , the moone was to rise within two houres . after much debating , it was concluded , that wee should beare vp before the winde , and seeke to escape betwixt the amirall , and the vice-admirall , which wee put in execution , not knowing of any other disgrace befallen them , but that of the reare-admirall : till after our surrender , when they recounted vnto vs all that had past . in the morning at breake of day , wee were cleere of all our enemies , and so shaped our course alongst the coast , for the bay of atacumes , where we purposed to trim our pinnace , and to renue our wood and water , and so to depart vpon our voyage , with all possible speede . the spanish armado , returned presently to callao , which is the port of lyma , or of the citty of the kings . it was first named lyma , and retayneth also that name of the river , which passeth by the citty called lyma , the spanish armado being entred the port , the people began to goe ashore , where they were so mocked , and scorned by the women , as scarce any one , by day would shew his face , they reviled them with the name of cowards and golnias , and craved licence of the vice-roy , to bee admitted in their roomes , and to vndertake the surrendry of the english shippe . i haue beene certified for truth , that some of them affronted their souldiers with daggers and pistols by their sides . this wrought such effects in the hearts of the disgraced , as they vowed eyther to recover their reputation lost , or to follow vs into england , and so with expedition , the vice-roy commaunded two shippes and a pinnace , to bee put in order , and in them placed the chiefe souldiers and marriners of the rest , and furnished them with victuals and munition . the foresayd generall is once againe dispatched to seeke vs ; who ranged the coastes and ports , enforming himselfe what hee could ; some fiftie leagues to the north-wards of lyma , in sight of mongon , wee tooke a shippe halfe loaden with wheate , sugar , miell de canas , and cordovan skins : which for that shee was leake , and sayled badly , and tackled in such maner ( as the marriners would not willingly put themselues into her ) wee tooke what was necessary for our provision and fired her . thwart of truxille , wee set the companie of her a shoare , with the pilot which wee had taken in balparizo , reserving the pilot of the burnt shippe , and a greeke , who chose rather to continue with vs , then to hazard their liues in going a shore ▪ for that they had departed out of the port of santa , ( which is in eight degrees ) being required by the iustice , not to weigh anchor , before the coast was knowne to be 〈◊〉 . it is a thing worthy to be noted , and almost incredible , with how few men they vse to sayle a shippe in the south sea , for in this prise , which was aboue an hundred tuns , were but eight persons : and in a shippe of three hundreth tuns , they vse not to put aboue foureteene or fifteene persons : yea i haue beene credibly enformed , that with foureteene persons , a shippe of fiue hundreth tuns hath beene carried from guayaquil to lyma , deepe loaden : ( which is aboue two hundreth leagues ) and are forced ever to gaine their voyage by turning to wind-wards , which is the greatest toyle and labour that t●e marriners haue ; and slow sometimes in this voyage foure or fiue moneths , which is generall in all the navigations of this coast : but the security from stormes , and certainty of the brese , ( with the desire to make their gaine the greater ) is the cause that every man forceth himselfe to the vttermost , to doe the labour of two men . sect . l. in the height of this port of santa , some seaven hundreth and fiftie leagues to the west-wards , lie the ilands of salomon , of late yeares discovered . at my being in lyma , a fleete of foure sayle was sent from thence to people them ; which through the emulation , and discord that arose amongst them , being landed and setled in the countrey , was vtterly overthrowne , onely one shippe , with some few of the people , after much misery , got to the philippines . this i came to the knowledge of , by a large relation written from a person of credit , and sent from the philippines to panama : i saw it , at my being there , in my voyage towards spaine . having edged neere the coast , to put the spaniards on shore , a thicke fogge tooke vs , so that wee could not see the land : but recovering our pinnace and boate , wee sayled on our course , till we came thwart of the port called malabrigo , it lieth in seaven degrees . in all this coast the currant runneth with great force , but never keepeth any certaine course ; saving that it runneth alongst the coast , sometimes to the south-wards , sometimes to the north-wards ; which now running to the north-wards , forced vs so farre into the bay ( which a point of the land causeth , that they call punta de augussa ) as thinking to cleere our selues by roving north-west , wee could not double this point , making our way , north north-west . therefore speciall care is ever to bee had of the current : and doubtlesse , if the providence of almighty god had not freede vs , wee had runne ashore vpon the land , without seeing or suspecting any such danger ; his name bee ever exalted and magnified , for delivering vs from the vnknowne daunger , by calming the winde all night : the sunnes rising manifested vnto vs our errour and peril , by discovering vnto vs the land , within 2 leagues , right a head . the current had caried vs without any wind , at the least 4. leagues ; which seene , and the winde beginning to blow , wee brought our tackes abourd , and in short time cleared our selues . thwart of this point of augussa , lie two desert ilandes ; they call them illas de lobos , for the the multitude of seales , which accustome to haunt the shore . in the bigger is very good harbour , and secure : they lie in sixe degrees and thirtie minutes . the next day after , wee lost sight of those ilands , being thwar● of payta , which lyeth in fiue degrees and having manned our pinnace and boate to search the port , wee had sight of a tall shippe , which having knowledge of our being on the coast , and thinking her selfe to be more safe at sea , then in the harbour , put her selfe then vnder sayle : to her wee gaue chase all that night , and the next day , but in fine being better of sayle then wee , shee freed her selfe . thus being too lee-ward of the harbour , and discovered , we continued our course alongst the shore . that evening , wee were thwart of the river of guayaquill , which hath in the mouth of it two ilands : the souther-most and biggest , called puma , in three degrees , and the other , to the north-wards , santa clara . p●ma is inhabited , and is the place where they build their principall shipping ; from-his river , lima and all the valleys are furnished with timber , for they haue none but that which is brought from hence , or from the kingdome of chile . by this river passeth the principall trade of the kingdome of quito , it is navigable some leagues into the land , and hath great abundance of timber . those of the peru , vse to ground and trim their shippes in puma , or in panama , and in all other partes they are forced to carene their shippes . in puma , it higheth and falleth , fifteene or sixteene foote water , and from this iland , till a man come to panama , in all the coast it ebbeth and floweth more or lesse ; keeping the ordinarie course , which the tides doe in all seas . the water of this river , by experience , is medicinable , for all aches of the bones , for the stone , and strangurie ; the reason which is given is , because all the bankes , and low land adioyning to this river , are replenished with salsaperillia : which lying for the most part soaking in the water , it participateth of this vertue , and giveth it this force . in this river , and all the rivers of this coast , are great abundance of alagartoes ; and it is sayd that this exceedeth the rest , for persons of credit haue certified mee , that as small fishes in other rivers abound in scoales , so the alagartoes in this , they doe much hurt to the indians and spaniards , and are dreadfull to all whom they catch within their clutches . sect . li. some fiue or sixe leagues to the north-wards of puma , is la punta de santa elena ; vnder which is good anchoring , cleane ground , and reasonable succour . being thwart of this point , wee had sight of a shippe , which we chased , but being of better saile then we , and the night comming on , we lost sight of her ; and so anchored vnder the isla de plata ; to recover our pinnace and boate , which had gone about the other point of the iland , which lyeth in two degrees , and fortie minutes . the next day we past in sight of puerto viejo , in two degrees ten minutes ; which lying without shipping , wee directed our course for cape passaos . it lyeth directly vnder the equinoctiall line ; some fourescore leagues to the west-wards of this cape , lyeth a heape of ilands , the spaniards call illas de los galapagos ; they are desert and beare no fruite : from cape passaos , wee directed our course to cape saint francisco , which lyeth in one degree to the north-wardes of the lyne ; and being thwart of it , wee descried a small shippe , which wee chased all that day and night ; and the next morning our pinnace came to bourd her ; but being a shippe of advise , and full of passengers , and our shippe not able to fetch her vp , they entreated our people badly , and freed themselues , though the feare they conceived , caused them to cast all the dispatches of the king , as also of particulars into the sea , with a great part of their loading , to bee lighter , and better of sayle , for the shippes of the south sea loade themselues like lighters , or sand barges , presuming vpon the securitie from stormes . sect . lii . being out of hope to fetch vp this shippe , wee stoode in with the cape , where the land beginneth to trend about to the east-wards . the cape is high land , and all covered over with trees , and so is the land over the cape , and all the coast ( from this cape to panama ) is full of wood , from the staites of magelan , to this cape of san francisco . in all the coast from head-land to head-land , the courses lye betwixt the north and north and by west , and sometimes more westerly , and that but seldome : it is a bolde coast , and subiect to little foule weather , or alteration of windes , for the brese , which is the sowtherly wind , bloweth continually from balparizo to cape san francisco , except it be a great chance . trending about the cape , wee haled in east north-east , to fetch the bay of atacames , which lyeth some seaven leagues from the cape . in the mid way ( some three leagues from the shore ) ly●th a banke of sand , whereof a man must haue a care ; for in some parts of it , there is but little water . the tenth of iune , wee came to an anchor in the bay of atacames , which on the wester part hath a round hammock . it seemeth an iland , and in high springes , i iudge , that the sea goeth round about it . to the east-wards it hath a high sandie cliffe , and in the middest of the bay , a faire birth , from the shore lyeth a bigge black rocke aboue water : from this rocke , to the sandie cliffe , is a drowned marsh ground , caused by his lownesse ; and a great river , which is broad , but of no depth . manning our boate , and running to the shore , we found presently in the westerne bight of the bay , a deepe river , whose indraught was so great , that we could not benefit our selues of it , being brackish , except at a low water ; which hindred our dispatch , yet in fiue dayes , wee filled all our emptie caske , supplied our want of wood , and grounded and put in order our pinnace . here , for that our indians served vs to no other vse , but to consume our victuals , we eased our selues of them ; gaue them hookes and lines which they craved , and some bread for a few dayes , and replanted them in a farre better countrey , then their owne , which fell out luckely for the spaniards of the shippe which wee chased thwart of cape san francisco ; for victuals growing short with her , having many mouthes , shee was forced to put a shore fiftie of her passengers , neere the cape ; wherof more then the one halfe dyed with famine , and continual wading through rivers and waters : the rest ( by chance ) meeting with the indians , which wee had put ashore , with their fishing , guide , and industry were refreshed , susteyned , and brought to habitation . sect . liii . ovr necessary busines being ended , wee purposed the fifteenth day of may , in the morning , to set sayle , but the foureteenth in the evening , we had sight of a shippe , some three leagues to sea wards ; and through the importunitie of my captaine and companie , i condiscended that our pinnas should giue her chase ▪ which i should not haue done , for it was our destruction ; i gaue them precise order , that if they stood not in againe at night , they should seeke mee at cape san francisco , for the next morning i purposed to set sayle without delay , and so seeing that our pinnas slowed her comming , at nine of the clocke in the morning , wee weyed our anchors , and stoode for the cape ; where wee beate off and on two dayes ; and our pinnas not appearing , wee stood againe into the bay , where wee descried her , turning in without a maine mast , which standing off to the sea , close by , with much winde , and a chapping sea , bearing a taunt-sayle , where a little was too much ( being to small purpose ) sodainely they bare it by the bourd ; and standing in with the shore , the winde , or rather god blinding them , for our punishment , they knewe not the land ; and making themselues to bee to wind-wards of the bay , bare vp and were put into the bay of san mathew ; it is a goodly harbour , and hath a great fresh river , which higheth fifteene or sixteene foote water , and is a good countrey , and well peopled with indidians , they haue store of gold and emeralds , heere the spaniards from guayaquill , made an habitation , whilst i was prisoner in lyma , by the indians consent ; but after not able to suffer the insolencies of their guests , and being a people of sto●acke and presumption , they suffered themselues to bee perswaded , and led by a molato . this leader many yeares before had fled vnto them from the spaniards , him they had , long time , held in reputation of their captaine generall , and was admitted also vnto a chiefe office by the spaniardes , to gaine him vnto them . but now the indians vniting themselues together , presuming that by the helpe of this molato , they should force the spaniards out of the countrey , put their resolution in execution , droue their enemies into the woods , and s●ue as many as they could lay hands on , some they killed , few escaped with life ; and those who had that good happe , suffered extreame misery , before they came to quito ; the place of neerest habitation of spaniards . to this bay , assoone as our people in the pynnas saw their errour , they brought their tackes abourd , and turned and tyded it vp , as they could . assoone as we came to anchor , i procured to remedie that was amisse ; in two daies we dispatched all we had to doe , and the next morning we resolued to set sayle and to leaue the coast of peru and quito . the day appearing , we began to weigh our anchors , and being a pike ready to cut sayle , one , out of the toppe , descryed the spanish armado , comming about the cape : which by the course it kept , presently gaue vs to vnderstand , who they were : though my company ( as is the custome of sea men , ) made them to be the fleete bound for panama , loden with treasure , and importuned , that in all hast , we should cut sayle & stand with them , which i contradicted , for that , i was assured , that no shipping would stirre vppon the coast , till they had securitie of our departure ( except some armado , that might be sent to seeke vs , ) and that it was not the time of the yeare to carry the treasure to panama . and besides in riding still at an anchor , they euer came neerer vnto vs ; for they stood directly with vs , and we kept the weather gage ; where if we had put our selues vnder sayle ( the ebbe in hand ) we should haue giuen them the aduantage , which we had in our power , by reason of the point of the bay. and being the armado ( as it was ) we gained time to fit our selues , the better to fight . and truly ( as before , to a stiffe-necked horse , ) so now againe , i cannot but resemble the condition of the marriner to any thing better , then to the current of a furious riuer , repressed by force or art , which neuerthelesse ceaseth not to seeke a way to ouerthrow both fence and banke : euen so the common sort of sea-men , apprehending a conceite in their imaginations , neither experiment , knowledge , examples , reasons nor authority can alter or remoove them from their conceited opinions . in this extremitie , with reason i laboured to conuince them , and to contradict their pretences ; but they altogether without reason , or against reason , breake out , some into vaunting and bragging , some into reproaches of want of courage , others into wishings , that they had neuer come out of their countrey , if we should refuse to fight with two shippes whatsoeuer . and to mend the matter , the gunner ( for his part ) assured me that with the first tire of shott : he would lay the one of them in the sods : and our pynace , that she would take the other to taske . one promised , that he would cut downe the mayne yard , another that he ●ould take their flagge ; and all in generall shewed a great desire to come to tryall with the enemy . to some i turned the deafe eare , with others i dissembled , and armed my selfe with patience ( hauing no other defence nor remedie for that occasion ) soothing and animating them to the execution of what they promised , and perswaded them to haue a little sufferance , seeing they gained time , and aduantage by it . and to giue them better satisfaction i condiscended , that our captaine with a competent number of men , should with our pinnace goe to discouer them ; with order , that they should not engage themselues in that manner , as they might not be able to come vnto vs , or we to succour them . in all these divisions and opinions , our master hugh dormish ( who was a most sufficient man for gouernment and valour , and well saw the errors of the multitude ) vsed his office , a● became him ; and so did all those of best vnderstanding . in short space , our pinnace discouered what they were , and casting about to returne vnto vs , the vice-admirall ( being next her ) began with her chace to salute her with three or foure peeces of artilery , and so continued chasing her , and gunning at her . my company seeing this , now began to change humour ; and i , then , to encourage , and perswade them to performe the execution of their promises and vaunts of valour , which they had but euen now protested , and giuen assurance of , by their proferres and forwardnesse . and that we might haue sea-roome to fight , we presently weighed anchor , and stood off to sea with all our sayles , in hope to get the weather gage of our contraries . but the winde scanting with vs , and larging with them , we were forced to leeward . and the admirall weathering vs , came rome vpon vs : which being within musket shott , we hayled first with our noise of trumpets , then with our waytes , and after with our artilery : which they answered with artilery ; two for one . for they had double the ordinance we had , and almost tenne men for one . immediately they came shoring abourd of vs , vpon our lee quarter , contrary to our expectation , and the custome of men of warre . and doubtlesse , had our gunner beene the man he was reputed to be , and as the world sould him to me , shee had receiued great hurt by that manner of bourding : but contrary to all expectation , our stearne peeces were vnprimed , and so were all those , which we had to leward ( saue halfe one in the quarter ) which discharged wrought that effect in our contraries as that they had fiue or sixe foot water in hold , before they suspected it . hereby all men are to take warning by me , not to trust any man in such extremities , when he himselfe may see it done : and comming to fight , let the chiefetaine himselfe be sure to haue all his artilery in a readinesse , vpon all occasions . this was my ouersight , this my ouerthrow . for i , and all my company , had that satisfaction of the sufficiencie , and care of our gunner , as not any one of vs euer imagined there would be any defect found in him . for my part , i , with the rest of our officers , occupied our selues in cleering our deckes , laceing our nettings , making of bulwarkes , arming our toppes , fitting our wast-cloathes , tallowing our pikes , slinging our yards , doubling our sheetes , and tackes , placing and ordering our people , and procuring that they should be well fitted and prouided of all things ; leauing the artilery , and other instruments of fire , to the gunners dispose and order , with the rest of his mates and adherents : which ( as i said ) was part of our perdition . for bearing me euer in hand , that he had fiue hundred cartreges in a readinesse , within one houres fight , we were forced to occupie three persons , only in making and filling cartreges , and of five hundreth elles of canvas and other cloth giuen him for that purpose , at sundry times , not one yard was to be found . for this we have no excuse , and therefore could not avoyde the danger , to charge and discharge with the ladell , especially in so hotte a fight . and comming now to put in execution the sinking of the shippe , as he promised , he seemed a man without life or soule . so the admirall comming close vnto vs , i my selfe , and the master of our shippe , were forced to play the gunners . those instruments of fire , wherein he made me to spend excessiuely ( before our going to sea ) now appeared not ; neither the brasse balles of artificiall fire , to be shott with slurbowes ( whereof i had six bowes , & two hundreth bals , and which are of great account & seruice , either by sea or land ) he had stowed them in such manner , ( though in double barrels ) as the salt water had spoyled thē all ; so that comming to vse them , not one was serviceable . some of our company had him in suspition , to be more friend to the spaniards , then to vs ; for that he had served some yeares in the tercera , as gunner , and that he did all this of purpose . few of our peeces were cleere , when we came to vse them , and some had the shott first put in , and after the powder . besides , after our surrendry ; it was laid to his charge , that he should say ; he had a brother that served the king in the peru , and that he thought he was in the armado ; and how he would not for all the world , he should be slaine . whether this were true or no , i know not , but i am sure all in generall gave him an ill report , and that he , in whose hands the chiefe execution of the whole fight consisted , executed nothing as was promised and expected . the griefe and remembrance of which oversights once againe inforceth me to admonish all captaines and commanders hereby to take aduice , now and then to survey their officers and storeroomes ; the oftener , the better ; that so their defects and wants may be supplied in time ; neuer relying too much vpon the vulgar report , nor giuing too much credite to smooth tongues and boasting companions . but to performe this taske , it is requisite that all captaines , and commanders were such , and so experimented in all offices , that they might be able as well to controule as to examine all manner of errors in officers . for the government at sea hardly suffereth a head without exquisite experience . the deficiency whereof hath occasioned some ancient sea-men , to straighten the attribute of marriner in such sort , as that it ought not to be giuen , but to the man , who is able to build his shippe , to fit and prouide her of all things necessary , and after to carry her about the world : the residue , to be but saylers . hereby giuing vs to vnderstand , that though it is not expedient , that he should be an axe-carpenter , to hewe , cut , frame , and mould each timber piece , yet that he should know the parts and peeces of the shippe , the value of the timber , planke and yron-worke , so to be able aswell to build in proportion , as to procure all materials at a iust price . and againe though it be not expected , that he should sowe the sayles , arme the shrowds , and put the tackling over head , yet is it requisite that should know how to cut his sayles , what length is competent to every roape , and to be of sufficiency to reprehend and reforme those who erre , and doe amisse . in providing his shippe with victualls , munition and necessaries , of force it must be expected : that he be able to make his estimate , and ( that once provided , and perfected ) in season , and with expedition to see it loden and stowed commodiously , with care and proportion . after that , he is to order the spending thereof , that in nothing he be defrauded at home , and at sea , euer to know , how much is spent , and what remaineth vnspent . in the art of nauigation , he is bound also to know , so much , as to be able to giue directions to the pilote and master ; and consequently to all the rest of inferiour officers . sect . liiii . my meaning is not that the captaine ( or gouernour ) should be tyed to the actuall toyle , or to intermeddle with all offices , ( for that were to binde him to impossibilities , to diminish and abase his authoritie , and to depriue the other officers of their esteemes and of that that belongeth vnto them , which were a great absurditie . ) but my opinion is , that he should be more then superficially instructed and practised in the imployments . yea i am verily perswaded , that the more absolute authoritie any commander giveth to hi● vnder officers , being worthy of it , the sweeter is the command , and the more respected and beloued the commander . for in matter of guide and disposing of the saylers , with the tackling of the shippe , and the workes which belong thereunto , within bourd and without , all is to be committed to the masters charge . the pilote is to looke carefully to the sterridge of the shippe , to be watchfull in taking the heights of sunne and starre ; to note the way of his shippe , with the augmenting and lessening of the winde , &c. the boateswayne is to see his shippe kept cleane ; his mastes , yards and tacklings well coated , matted and armed ; his shroudes and stayes well set ; his sayles repayred , and sufficiently prevented with martnets , blayles , and caskettes ; his boate fitted with sayle , oares , thougts , tholes danyd , windles and rother ; his anchors well boyed , safely stopped and secured , with the rest to him appertaining . the steward is to see the preservation of vittayles and necessaries , committed vnto his charge ; and by measure and weight , to deliuer the portions appointed , and with discretion and good tearmes , to giue satisfaction to all . the carpenter is to veiw the mastes and yards , the sides of the shippe , her deckes and cabines ; her pumpes and boate ; and moreouer to occupie himselfe in the most forceible workes , except he be otherwise commanded . the gunner is to care for the britching and tackling of his artilery ; the fitting of his shott , tampkins , coynes , crones and linstockes , &c. to be provident in working his fire workes , in making and filling his cartreges ; in accommodating his ladles , sponges and other necessaries ; in sifting and drying his powder ; in cleaning the armes , munition , and such like workes , intrusted vnto him . in this manner every officer , in his office , ought to be an absolute commander , yet readie in obedience and loue , to sacrifice his will to his superiours command : this cannot but cause vnitie ; and vnitie cannot but purchase a happie issue to dutifull trauelles . lastly , except it be in vrgent and precise cases , the head should neuer direct his command to any , but the officers , and these secretly , except the occasion require publication ; or that , it touch all in generall . such orders would be ( for the most part ) in writing , that all might know what in generall is commanded and required . sect . lv. and as the wise husband-man , in walking from ground to ground , beholdeth one plowing ; another harrowing ; another sowing ; and lopping ; another pruning ; one hedging ; another threshing ; and divers occupied in severall labours : some he commendeth , others he reproacheth ; others he adviseth ; and to another he saith nothing , ( for that he seeth him in the right way : and all this ; for that he knoweth and vnderstandeth what they all doe , better then they themselues , though busied in their ordinary workes : ) euen so , a worthy commander at sea , ought to haue the eyes , not only of his body , but also of his vnderstanding , continually , set ( with watchfull care ) vpon all men , and all their workes vnder his charge ; imitating the wise husband-man ; first to know , and then to command ; and lastly , to will their obedience voluntary , and without contradiction . for who knoweth not that ignorance many times commandeth that , which it vnderstandeth not ; which the artist perceiving , first disdaineth , afterwards disesteemeth , and finally in these great actions , which admit no temporizing , either he wayueth the respect of dutie , or faintly performeth the behest of his superiour , vpon euery slight occasion , either in publike opposing , or in private murmuring : the smallest of which , is most pernicious , thus much ( not amisse ) for instruction . sect . lvi . the reason why the admirall came to leewardes , ( as after i vnderstood ) was for that her artillery being very long , and the wind fresh , bearing a taunt sayle , to fetch vs vp , and to keepe vs company , they could not vse their ordinance to the weather of vs , but lay shaking in the wind : and doubtlesse , it is most proper for shippes , to haue short ordinance , except in the sterne or chase . the reasons are many : viz. easier charging , ease of the shippes side , better traversing , and mounting , yea , greater security of the artillery , and consequently of the ship . for the longer the peece is , the greater is the retention of the fire , and so the torment and danger of the peece the greater . but here will be contradiction by many , that dare avouch that longer peeces are to be preferred ; for that they burne their powder better , and carrie the shott further , and so necessarily of better execution ; whereas the short artillery many times spends much of their powder without burning , and workes thereby the slenderer effect . to which i answere , that for land service , fortes , or castles , the long peeces are to bee preferred ; but for shipping , the shorter are much more serviceable . and the powder in them , being such as it ought , will be all fiered long before the shott can come forth ; and to reach farre in fights at sea , is to little effect : for hee that purposeth to annoy his enemie , must not shoote at randome , nor at point blanke , if hee purpose to accomplish with his devoire , nether must he spend his shott , nor powd●r , but where a pot-gun may reach his contrary ; how much the neerer , so much the better : and this duely executed , the short artillery will worke its effect , as well as the long ; otherwise , neither short , nor long are of much importance : but here , my meaning is no● , to approue the overshort peeces , devised by some persons , which at every shott they make , daunce out of their cariages , but those of indifferent length , and which keepe the meane , betwixt seaven and eight foote . sect . xlvii . the entertainement wee gaue vnto our contraries , being otherwise then was expected , they fell off , & ranged a head , having broken in peeces all our gallerie : and presently they cast about vpon vs , and being able to keepe vs company , with their fighting sayles lay a weather of vs , ordinarily within musket shott ; playing continually with them and their great artillerie ; which we endured , and answered as we could . our pinnace engaged her selfe so farre , as that before shee could come vnto vs , the vice-admirall had like to cut her off , and comming to lay vs aboord , and to enter her men , the vice-admirall boorded with her : so that some of our company entred our ship over her bow-sprit , as they themselues reported . we were not a little comforted with the fight of our people in safetie , within our shippe , for in all , wee were but threescore and fifteene , men , and boyes , when we began to fight , and our enemies thirteene hundred men and boyes ; little more or lesse , and those of the choise of peru. sect . lviii . heere it shall not be out of the way , to discourse a little of the spanish discipline , and manner of their governement in generall ; which is in many things different to ours . in this expedition came two generals , the one don beltran de castro , who had the absolute authoritie and commaund : the other michael angell filipon , a man well in yeares , and came to this preferment by his long and painefull service , who though he had the title of generall by sea , i thinke it was rather of courtesie then by pattent ; and for that hee had beene many yeares generall of the south sea , for the carriage and wa●tage of the silver from lyma to panama ; hee seemed to bee an assistant , to supply that with his counsell , advice , and experience , whereof don beltran had never made tryall ( for hee commanded not absolutely , but with the confirmation of don beltran ) for the spaniards neuer giue absolute authoritie to more then one . a custome that hath beene , and is approoued in all empires , kingdomes , common-wealthes , and armies , rightly disciplined : the mixture hath been seldome seene to prosper , as will manifestly appeare , if we consider the issue of all actions and iourneys committed to the government of two , or more generally . the famous victory of hanniball against the romane consuls paulus emillius and terrentius varro , was attributed to their equality of government . the vnhappie ouerthrow , giuen by the turke amurate to the christian princes , in the iourney of nicapolis , is held to haue proceeded from the difference betwixt the heads ; euery one leaning to his owne opinion . the ouerthrow in recouerie of the holy land , vndertaken by king richard of england , and king philip of france , sprang from the like differences and dissentions . the victory of the emperour charles the fifth , against the protestant princes of germanie , is imputed to their distractures arising from parity in command . if we looke into our owne actions , committed to the charge of two generals , th● effects and fruits which they haue brought forth , ( for the most part , ) will be found to be little better : yea , most of them through emulation , envie and pride , overthrowne , and brought to nought ; though to couer their confusions , there haue neuer beene wanting cloakes and colours . the most approoved writers reprooue , and call it a monster with two heads , and not without reason . for if the monarchy be generally approoued , for strongest , soundest , and most perfect , and most sufficient to sustaine it selfe ; and the democracie and aristocracie , vtterly reprooued , as weake , feeble and subiect to innovations and infirmities ; it cannot be but errour , confusion , and imperfection to differ or dissent from it . for where the supreame government is divided betwixt two or more , the authoritie is diminished , and so looseth his true force , as a fagget of stickes , whose bond being broken , the entire strength is easily dissolued : but all vnder correction . the spaniards in their armadoes by sea , imitate the discipline , order and officers , which are in an army by land , and divide themselues into three bodies ; to wit souldiers , marriners and gunners . their souldiers , ward and watch , and their officers in every shippe round , as if they were on the shoare ; this is the only taske they vndergoe , except cleaning their armes , wherein they are not , ouer curious . the gunners are exempted from all labour and care , except about the artillery . and these are either almaynes , flemmings , or strangers ; for the spaniards are but indifferently practised in this art. the marriners are but as slaues to the re●t , to moyle and to toyle , day and night , and those but few and bad , and not suffered to sleepe , or harbour themselues , vnder the deckes . for in faire or fowle weather , in stormes , sunne or raine , they must passe voyde of couert or succour . there is ordinarily in every shippe of warre , a captaine ; whose charge is , as that of our masters with vs , and al●o a captaine of the souldiers , who commandeth the captaine of the shippe , the souldiers , gunners and marriners in her ; yea , though there be diuers captaines , with their companies in one shippe , ( which is vsuall amongst them , ) yet one hath the supreme authoritie , and the residue are at his ordering and disposing . they haue their mastros de campo , seargeant , master , generall ( or captaine ) of the artillery , with their assere maior , and all other officers , as in a campe. if they come to fight with another armado , they order themselues as in a bat●ell by land ; in a vanguard , rereward , maine battell , and wings , &c. in every particular shippe the souldiers are set all vpon the deckes ; their forecastle they account their head front , or vangard of their company ; that abast the ma●t , the rereward ; and the wa●te , the mayne battell ; wherein they place their principall force , and on which they principally relye ; which they call their placa de armas or place of armes : which taken , their hope is lost . the gunners fight not , but with their great artillery : the marriners attend only to the tackling of the shippe , and handling of the sayles ; and are vnarmed , and subiect to all misfortunes ; not permitted to shelter themselues , but to be still alof● , whether it be necessary or needlesse . so ordinarily , those which first fayle , are the marriners and saylers ; of which they haue greatest neede . they vse few close fights or fireworkes ; and all this proceedeth ( as i iudge ) of errour in placing land captaines , for governours and commanders by sea ; where they seldome vnderstand what is to be done or commanded . some that haue beene our prisoners , haue perfited themselues of that , they haue seene amongst vs : and others disguised , vnder colour of treaties , for ransoming of prisoners , for bringing of presents , and other imbassages , haue noted our forme of shipping , our manner of defences , and discipline : sithence which espiall , in such actions as they haue beene imployed in , they seeke to imitate our gouerment , and reformed discipline at sea : which doubtlesse is the best , and most proper , that is at this day knowne , or practised in the whole world , if the execution be answerable to that which is knowne and receiued for true and good amongst vs. in the captaine ( for so the spaniards call their admirall ) was an english gunner , who to gaine grace with those vnder whom hee serued , preferred himselfe , and offered to sinke our shippe with the first shott he made : who , by the spaniards relation , being travesing of a peece in the bowe , to make his shott , had his head carryed away with the first , or second shott , made out of our shippe . it slew also two or three of those which stood next him . which may be a good and gentle warning for all those , who mooued either with couetousnesse , or with desire of reuenge , or in hope of worldly promotion , or other respect whatsoeuer ; doe willingly and voluntarily serue the enemie , against their owne nation : nulla causa insta videri potest , adversus patriam arma capiendi . and if we consider the end of those , who haue thus erred , wee shall finde them for the most part lamentable , and most miserable . at the least , those whom i haue knowne , haue liued to be pointed at , with detestation , and ended their liues in beggery , voyde of reputation . sect . lix . the fight continued so hott on both sides , that the artillery and muskets neuer ceased playing . our contraries , towards the euening , determined the third time to lay vs abourd , with resolution to take vs , or to hazard all . the order they set downe for the execution hereof , was , that the captaine ( or admirall ) should bring himselfe vppon our weather bowe , and so fall abourd of vs , vpon our broade side : and that the viceadmirall , should lay his admirall abourd vppon his weather quarter , and so enter his men into her ; that from her , they might enter vs , or doe as occasion should minister . the captaine of the viceadmirall , being more hardy then considerate , and presuming with his shippe and company to get the price , and chiefe honour ; wayted not the time to put in execution the direction giuen , but presently came abourd to wind wards vppon our broad side . which doubtlesse was the great and especiall providence of almightie god , for the discouraging of our enemies , and animating of vs. for although shee was as long , or rather longer then our shippe , being rarely built , and vtterly without fights or defence ; what with our muskets , and what with our fire-works we cleered her deckes in a moment ; so that scarce any person appeared . and doubtlesse if we had entred but a dozen men , we might haue enforced them to haue rendred vnto vs , or taken her , but our company being few , and the principall of them slaine , or hurt , we durst not , neither was it wisedome , to aduenture the separation of those , which remained : and so held that for the best and soundest resolution , to keepe our forces together in defence of our owne . the viceadmirall seeing himselfe in great distresse , called to his admirall for succour : who presently laid him abourd , and entred a hundreth of his men , and so cleered themselues of vs. in this bourding the viceadmirall had at the least thirtie and sixe men hurt , and slaine ; and amongst them his pilote shot through the body , so as he dyed presently . and the admirall also receiued some losse ; which wrought in them a new resolution ; only with their artillery to batter vs ; and so with time to force vs to surrender , or to sinke vs ; which they put in execution ; and placing themselues within a musket shott of our weather quarter , and sometimes on our broad side , lay continually beating vpon vs without intermission ; which was doubtlesse the best and securest determination they could take , for they being rare shippes , and without any manner of close fights , in bourding with vs , their men were all open vnto vs , and we vnder couert and shelter . for on all parts our shippe was musket free , and the great artillery of force must cease on either side ( the shippes bei●g once grapled together ) except we resolued to sacrifice our selues together in fire . for it is impossible , if the great ordinance play ( the shippes being bourded ) but that they must set fire on the shippe they shoote at ; and then no surety can be had to free himselfe , as experience daily confirmeth . for a peece of artillery most properly resembleth a thunderclap , which breaking vpwards , or on the side , hurteth not ; for that the fire hath scope to dispence it selfe without finding resistance , till the violence which forceth it taketh end , and so it mounts to its center : but breaking downe right or stooping downwards , and finding resistance or impediment ( before the violence that forceth it take end , being so subtill and penetrable a substance ) passeth and pierceth so wonderfully , as it leaueth the effect of his execution in all points answerable to his leuell and nighnesse . for if the clouds be nigh the earth ( as some are higher , some lower ) and breake down-wards , the violence wherewith the fire breaketh out is such , and of so strange an execution , that men haue beene found dead , without any outward signe in their flesh , and yet all their bones burnt to dust . so the blade of the sword hath beene found broken all to peeces in the scabard , and the scabard whole without blemish : and a cristall glasse all shiuered in peeces , his couer and case remaining sound , which commeth to passe , for that in the flesh , in the scabard , and in the case , the fire being so subtile of nature , findeth easie passage without resistance , but the bones , the blade , the cristall , being of substance more solide , maketh greater resistance , and so the fire with the more fury worketh the more his execution in its obiects . as was seene in the spanish admirall ( or captaine ) after my imprisonment , crossing from panama to cape san francisco , a rayo ( for so the spaniards call a thund●rclappe ) brake ouer our shippe , killed one in the fore-toppe , astoni●hed either two or three in the shroudes , and split the mast in strange manner ; where it entred , it could hardly be descerned , but where it came forth , it draue out a great splinter before it ; and the man slaine , was cleane in a manner without signe or token of hurt , although all his bones turned to powder , and those who liued , and recouered , had all their bodies blacke , as burnt with fire , which plainly declareth and confirmeth that aboue said , and may serue to iudge in such occasions of persons hurt with thunder : for if they complaine of their bones , and haue little signe of the fire , their hazard of death is the greater , then when the fire hath left greater impressions outward . the fire out of a cloude worketh like effect only , where it leveleth directly , as experience daily teacheth ; killing those who are opposite , hurting those who are neere , and only terrifying those who are further distant . in like manner the peece of ordinance hurteth not those which stand aside , nor those which stand a slope from his mouth , but those alone which stand directly against the true point of his levell : though sometimes the winde of the shott ouerthroweth one , and the splin●ers ( being accidents ) mayne and hurt others . but principally where the peece doth resemble the thunderclappe , as when the shippes are bourded . for then , although the artillery be discharged without shott , the fury of the fire , and his piercing nature is such , as it entreth by the seames , and all parts of the ships sides , and meeting with so fit matter as pitch , tarre , ocombe , and sometimes with powder , presently conuerteth all into flames . for auoyding whereof , as also the danger and damage which may come by pikes and other inventions of fire , and if any shippe be oppressed with many shippes at once , and subiect by them to be bourded ; i hold it a good course to strike his fire and mayne yards close to his decke , and to fight with sprit-saile , and myson , and top-sayles loose : so shall he be able to hinder them from oppressing him . some haue thought it a good pollicy to launce out some ends of mastes or yards by the ports or other parts : but this is to be vsed in the greater shippes , for in the lesser , though they be neuer so strong , the waight of the bigger will beate out the opposite sides , and doe hurt , and make great spoyle in the lesser . and in bourding , ordinarily the lesser shippe hath all the harme , which the one shippe can doe vnto the other . here is offered to speake of a point much canvassed amongst carpenters , and sea captaines , diversly maintained , but yet vndetermined : that is , whether the race or loftie built shippe , bee best for the merchant , and those which imploy themselues in trading : i am of opinion , that the race shippe is most conuenient ; yet so , as that every perfect shippe ought to haue two deckes , for the better strengthening of her ; the better succouring of her people ; the better preseruing of her merchandize and victuall , and for her greater safetie from sea and stormes . but for the princes shippes , and such as are imployed continually in the warres , to be built loftie i hold very necessary for many reasons . first for maiestie and terrour of the enemy ; secondly , for harbouring of many men ; thirdly for accommodating more men to fight ; fourthly , for placing and vsing more artillery ; fiftly , for better strengthening and securing of the shippe , sixtly for ouertopping and subiecting the enemy ; seuenthly , for greater safegard and defence of the ship and company . for it is plaine , that the ship with three deckes , or with two and a halfe , shewes more pomp then another of her burthen with a decke and halfe , or two deckes , and breedeth greater terror to the enemy , discouering her selfe to be a more powerfull ship as she is , then the other ; which being indeed a ship of force , seemeth to be but a barke , and with her low building hideth her burthen . and who doubteth , that a decke and a halfe cannot harbour that proportion of men , that two deckes , and two deckes and a halfe can accommodate to fight ; nor carry the artillery so plentifully , nor so commodiously . neither can the ship be so strong with a decke and a halfe , as with two deckes , nor with two , as with three ; nor carry her mastes so taunt ; nor spread so great a clue ; nor contriue so many fightes , to answer one another , for defence and offence . and the aduantage the one hath of the other , experience daily teacheth . in the great expedition of eightie eight , did not the elizabeth ionas , the triumph , and the beare , shew greater maiestie then the arke royall and the victorie , being of equall burthens ? did they not cause greater regard in the enemy ? did they not harbour and accommodate more then men ? and much better ? did they not beare more artillery ? and if they had come to boord with the spanish high-charged ships , it is not to be doubted but they would haue mustred themselues better , then those which could not with their prowesse nor props , haue reached to their wastes . the strength of the one cannot be compared with the strength of the other : but in bourding , it goeth not so much in the strength , as in weight and greatnesse . for the greater ship that bourdeth with the lesser ; with her mastes , her yards , her tacklings , her anchors , her ordinance , and with her sides bruseth and beateth the lesser to peeces , although the lesser be farre stronger according to proportion . the fore-sight of his maiesties , and the daintie , were shippes in their proportions farre more stronger , then the carake which was taken by them , and their consorts , anno 92. ( for she had in a manner no strong building nor binding , and the others were strengthened and bound , as art was able to affoord ; ) and yet both bourding with her , were so brused , broken , and badly hand●ed , as they had like to haue sunke by her side , though bourding with aduantage to weather-wards of her . but what would haue become of them , if she should haue had the wind of them , and haue come aboord to windward of them ? in small time no doubt , she would haue beaten them vnder water . an. 90. in the fleet vnder the charge of sr iohn hawkins my father , cōming from the south-wards , the hope of his maiesties gaue chase to a french ship , thinking her to be a spaniard . she thought to haue freed her selfe by her sailing , and so would not auaile , but endured the shooting of many peeces , and forced the hope to lay her abourd ; of which issued that mischiefe which before i spake off . for in a moment the french ship had all her mastes , yards , and sailes in the sea ; and with great difficultie the hope could free her selfe from sinking her . in the selfe same voyage , neere the ilands of flores and corvo , the raine-bow and the fore-sight came foule one of another , the rain-bow ( being the greater shippe ) left the fore-sight much torne ; and if god had not beene pleased to seperate them , the lesser ( doubtlesse ) had sunke in the sea : bu● in these incounters , they received little or no hurt . the boord●ng of the raine-bow and fore-sight , ( as i was enformed ) proceeded of the obstinacie and selfe will of the captaine or master of the fore-sight , who would not set sayle in time , to giue sea-roome to the other , comming driuing vpon her , for that shee was more flotie . this pride i haue seene many times to be the cause of great hurt , and is worthy of seuere punishment : for being all of one company , and bound euery one to helpe and further the good of the other , as members of one bodie , their ought to be no strayning of courtesie , but all are bound to suppresse emulation and particular respect , in seeking the generall good of all , yea of euery particular more ingeniously , then that of his owne . but in equitie and reason , the le-ward shippe ought euer to giue way to the weather most , in hulling , or trying , without any exception . first , for that shee aduantageth the other in hulling or trying : which is manifest , for that shee to wind-wards driues vpon her to le-wards . secondly , for that the windermost shippe , by opening her sayle , may be vpon the other before shee be looked for , either for want of steeridge , not being vnder way , or by the rowling of the sea , some one sea casting the shippe more to le-wards then ten others . and thirdly , for that the windermost shippe being neere , and setting sayle , is in possibilitie to take away the winde from her to le-wards comming within danger . and this by way of argument , for a hull and vnder-sayle in stormes and fayre weather , in harbour , or at sea. humanitie and courtesie are euer commendable and beneficiall to all , whereas arrogancie and ambition are euer accompanied with shame , losse and repentance . and though in many examples ( touching this point ) i haue beene an eye witnesse , yet i will record but one , which i saw in the riuer of civill , at my comming out of the indies amongst the galleons loaden with siluer . for their wafting , the king sent to the tercera , eight new galleons , vnder the charge of villa viciosa : who entring the barre of saint luar ioyntly , the shippes loaden with siluer anchored in the middest of the riuer in the deeper water , and the wafters on either side , neere the shoare . the admirall of the wafters rode close by the galleon , in which i was , and had mored her selfe in that manner , as her streame , cable , and anchor overlayed our land-most . and winding vp with the first of the flood , shee her selfe in one of her cables ; which together with the great currant of the ebbe , and force of the winde which blew fresh , caused her to driue , and to dragge home her anchors ; and with that which over-lay ours , to cause vs to doe the like . whereupon on both sides , was crying out , to veere cable : we for our part had lost all our cables in the terceras , sauing those which were a ground , and those very short , and vered to the better end . the admirall strained courte●ie , thinking the other ( though loaden with siluer ) bound to let slippe one , so to giue him way ; and the generall standing in his gallery , saw the danger which both shippes ranne into , being in a manner bourd and bourd , and driuing vpon the point of the shoare : yet he commanded to hold fast , and not to vere cable , till he was required and commanded in the kings name , by the captaine of our shippe ; protesting , the damage ( which should ensue thereof , to the king and merchants ) to runne vpon the admirals accompt ; and that in his shippe he had no other cable , but those which were aground ; and that they had vered as-much as they could : which the generall knowing , and at last better considering , willed to vere his cable end for end , and so with some difficultie and dispute , the punto was remedied , which if he had done at first , he had preuented all other danger , inconuenience , and dispute , by only weighing of his cable and anchor ; after the gust was past , and letting it ●all in a place more commodious : whereas his vaine-glory , stoutnesse , and selfe-will , had put in great perill two of the kings shippes , and in them aboue two millions of treasure . and it may be , if he had beene one of the ignorant generals , ( such as are sometimes imployed ) whereas he was one of best experience , i doubt not , but they would haue stood so much vpon their puntos , as rather then they would haue consented to vere theyr cables , ( for that it seemed a diminution of authoritie , ) they would rather haue suffered all to goe to wracke , without discerning the danger and damage . but to returne to my former point of aduantage , which the greater shippe hath of the lesser ; i would haue it to be vnder●tood according to occasion , and to be vnderstood of ships of warre , with shippes of warre : it being no part of my meaning to maintaine , that a small man of warre , should not bourd with a great shippe , which goeth in trade . for i know , that the war-like shippe , that seeketh , is not only bound to bourd with a greater , but were shee sure to hazzard her selfe , shee ought to bourd where any possibility of surprising may be hoped for . witnesse the biscaine shippes of fiue hundreth tunnes , taken by shippes of lesse then a hundreth ; such were those which were taken by captaine george reymond . and captaine greenfield halse ; both wonne by bourding and force of armes . and did not markes berry with a shippe of fourescore tunnes , by bourding and ●ent of sword , take a shippe , which came from the noua hispania of neere ●oure hundreth tunnes ? to recount all such as haue beene in this sort taken by our countreymen , as also those of great worth which they haue lost , for not hazarding the bourding , were neuer to make an end . yet discretion is euer to be vsed : for a man that in a small barke goeth to warre-fare is not bound to bourd with a carake , nor with a shippe , which he seeth prouided with artillery and other preuentions farre aboue his possibilitie . the spaniards confesse vs to aduantage them in our shipping , and attribute all our victories ●o that which is but a masse of dead wood , were it not managed and ordered by art and experience , affirming ; that if we came to handle strokes and bourding , they should goe farre beyond vs , which to any person of reasonable vnderstanding , cannot but seeme most vaine-glorious ; for we leaue not to bourd with them vpon occasion , when otherwise we cannot force them to surrender , but i conclude it to be great errour , and want of discretion in any man , to put himselfe , his shippe , and company in perill , being able otherwise to vanquish his enemy . this imagination so vaine , and voyde of ground , hath growne from the ignorance of some of our common sort of marriners , and vulgar people , which haue beene prisoners in spaine : who being examined and asked , why her maiesties shippes in occasions bourd not ? haue answered , and enformed ; that it is the expresse order of her maiestie and counsell ; in no case to hazard her shippes by bourding : yea i haue knowne some captaines of our owne , ( to colour their faint proceedings ) haue auerred as much , which is nothing so . for in the houre , that her maiestie , or counsell committeth the charge of any her shippes to any person , it is left to his discretion to bourd , or not to bourd , as the reason of seruice requireth . and therefore let no man hereafter pretend ignorance , nor for this vanitie leaue to doe his duty , or that which is most probable to redound to the honour and seruice of his prince and countrey , and to the damage of his enemy . for in case , he excuse himselfe with this allegation , it cannot but redound to his condemnation and disreputation ; and i assure all men , that in any reasonable equalitie of shipping , we cannot desire greater aduantage , then we haue of the spaniards , by bourding . the reasons why , i hold it not conuenient to discourse in perticular , but experience and tract of time , with that which i haue seene amongst them , hath taught me this knowledge ; and those who haue seene their discipline , and ours , cannot but testifie the same . sect . lx. againe , all that which hath beene spoken of the danger of the artillery in bourding , is not to be wrested , nor interpreted , to cut of vtterly the vse of all artillery , after bourdin● , but rather i hold nothing more conuenient in shippes of warre , then fowlers and great bases in the cage workes , and murderers in the cobridge heads ; for that their execution and speedie charging and discharging , is of great moment . many i know haue left the vse of them , and of sundry other preuentions , as of sherehookes , stones in their toppes , and arming them ; pikebolts in their wales and diuers other engines of antiquitie . but vpon what inducement , i cannot relate , vnlesse it be because they neuer knew their effects and benefit ; and may no doubt be vsed without the inconueniences before mentioned in great ordinance . as also such may be the occasion , that without danger some of the great artillery may be vsed , and that with great effect , which is in the discretion of the commanders and their gunners , as hath beene formerly seene and daily is experimented in the reuenge of her maiesties , good exper●ence was made ; who sunke two of the spanish armado lying abourd her . sect . lxi . in these bourdings , and skirmishes , diuers of our men were slaine , and many hurt , and my selfe amongst them receiued sixe wounds ; one of them in the necke very perillous ; another through the arme perishing the bone , and cutting the sinewes close by the arme-pit ; the rest not so dangerous . the master of our shippe had one of his eyes , his nose , and halfe his face shott away . master henry courton was slaine ; on these two , i principally relyed for the prosecution of our voyage , if god by sickenesse , or otherwise , should take me away . the spaniards with their great ordinance lay continually playing vpon vs , and now and then parled and inuited vs to surrender our selues a buena querra . the captaine of our shippe , in whose direction and guide , our liues , our honour , and welfare now remained ; seeing many of our people wounded and slaine , and that few were left to sustaine , and maintaine the fight , or to resist the entry of the enemy ( if he should againe board with vs ) and that our contraries offered vs good pertido : came vnto me accompanied with some others , and began to relate the state of our shippe , and how that many were hurt , and slaine , and scarce any men appeared to trauerse the artillery , or to oppose themselues for defence , if the enemy should bourd with vs againe : and how that the admirall offered vs life and liberty , and to receiue vs a buena querra , and to send vs into our owne countrey . saying , that if i thought it so meete , he and the rest were of opinion that we should put out a flagge of truce , and make some good composition . the great losse of blood had weakned me much . the torment of my wounds newly receiued , made me faint , and i laboured for life , within short space expecting i should giue vp the ghost . but this parly pearced through my heart , and wounded my soule ; words failed me wherewith to expresse it , and none can conceiue it , but he which findeth himselfe in the like agonie : yet griefe and rage ministred force , and caused me to breake forth into this reprehension and execution following . great is the crosse , which almightie god hath suffered to come vpon me ; that assaulted by our professed enemies , and by them wounded ( as you see ) in body , lying gasping for breath , ) those whom i reputed for my friends to fight with me , those which i relyed on as my brethren to defend me in all occasions ; those whom i haue nourished , cherished , fostered and loued as my children , to succour me , helpe me , and to sustaine my reputation in all extremities , are they who first draw their swords against me ; are they which wound my heart , in giuing me vp into mine enemies hands , whence proceedeth this ingratitude ? whence this faintnesse of heart ? whence this madnesse ? is the cause you fight for , vniust ? is the honour and loue of your prince and countrey buried in the dust ? your sweete liues , are they become loathsome vnto you ? will you exchange your liberty for thraldome , will you consent , to see that , which you haue sweat for , and procured with so great labour and aduenture , at the dispose of your enemies ? can you content your selues to suffer my blood spilt before your eyes ? and my life bereft me in your presence ? with the blood and liues of your deere brethren to be vnreuenged ? is not an honourable death to be preferred before a miserable and slauish life ? the one susteining the honour of our nation , of our predecessours , and of our societie ; the other ignominious to our selues , and reproachfull to our nation . can you be perswaded that the enemy will performe his promise with you , that neuer leaueth to breake it with others , when he thinketh it advantagious ? and know you not , that with him , all is conuenient that is profitable ? hold they not this for a maxime ; that , nulla fides est seruanda cum hereticis . in which number they accompt vs to be . haue you forgotten their faith violated with my father , in st. iohn de vlua , the conditions and capitulations being firmed by the viceroy , and twelue hostages , all principall personages giuen for the more securitie of either party to other ? haue you forgotten their promise broken with iohn vibao , and his company in florida , hauing conditioned to giue them shipping and victuals , to carry them into their countrey ? immediately after they had deliuered their weapons and armes , had they not their throates cut ? haue you forgotten how they dealt with iohn oxtiam , and his company , in this sea , yeeldeth vpon composition ? and how after a long imprisonment , and many miseries ( being carryed from panama to lyma ) and there hanged with all his company , as pyrates , by the iustice ? and can you forget how dayly they abuse our noble natures , which being voyde of malice , measure all by sinceritie , but to our losse ? for that when we come to demand performance , they stoppe our mouthes ; either with laying the inquisition vpon vs ; or with deliuering vs into the hands of the ordinary iustice ; or of the kings ministers . and then vrged with their promises , they shrinke vp to the shoulders ; and say , that they haue now no further power ouer vs ; they sorrow in their hearts , to see their promise is not accomplished ; but now they cannot doe vs any good office , but to pray to god for vs , and to entreat the ministers in our behalfe . came we into the south-sea to put out flagges of truce ? and left we our pleasant england , with all her contentments , with intention or purpose to avayle our selues of white ragges ? and by banners of peace to deliuer our selues for slaues into our enemies hands ? or to range the world with the english , to take the law from them , whom by our swords , prowesse , and valour , we haue alwaies heretofore bin accustomed to purchase honour , riches and reputation ? if these motiues be not sufficient to perswade you , then i present before your eyes , your wiues and children , your parents and friends , your noble and sweete countrey , your gracious soueraigne : of all which accompt your selues for euer depriued , if this proposition should be put in execution ; but for all these , and for the loue and respect you owe me , and for al besides that you esteeme and hold deare in this world , and for him , that made vs and all the world , banish out of your imagination , such vaine and base thoughts ; and according to your woonted resolution , prosecute the defence of your shippe , your liues , and libertie , with the liues and libertie of your companions ; who by their wounds and hurts are disabled and depriued of all other defence and helpe , saue that which lyeth in your discretions and prowesse . and you captaine , of whom i made choise amongst many , to be my principall assistant , and the person to accomplish my dutie , if extraordinary casualtie should disable me , to performe and prosecute our voyage . tender your obligation , and now in the occasion giue testimony , and make proofe of your constancie and valour , according to the opinion and confidence , i haue euer h●ld of you . whereunto he made answere ; my good generall , i hope you haue made experience of my resolution , which shall be euer to put in execution , what you shall be pleased to command me ; and my actions shall giue testimonie of the obligation wherein i stand bound vnto you . what i haue done , hath not proceeded from faintnesse of heart , nor from a will to see imaginations put in execution ( for besides the losse of our reputation , liberty , and what good else we can hope for . ) i know the spaniard too too well , and the manner of his proceedings , in discharge of promises , but only to giue satisfaction to the rest of the company , which importuned me to mooue this point . i condiscended to that , which now i am ashamed of , and grieue at , because i see it disliking to you . and here i vowe to fight it out , till life or lymmes fayle me . bee you pleased to recommend vs to almightie god , and to take comfort in him , whom i hope will giue vs victory , and restore you to health and strength , for all our comforts , and the happy accomplishing and finishing of our voyage , to his glory . i replyed : this is that which beseemeth you ; this sorteth to the opinion i euer held of you ; and this will gaine you ( with god and man ) a iust reward . and you the rest ( my deere companions and friends ) who euer haue made a demonstration of desire to accomplish your duties , remember , that when we first discryed our enemy , you shewed to haue a longing to prooue your valours against him : now that the occasion is offered , lay hold of the fore-locke . for if once shee turne her backe , make sure accompt neuer after to see her face againe ; and as true english men , and followers of the steppes of our forefathers , in vertue and valour , sell your bloods and liues deerely , that spaine may euer record it with sadnesse and griefe . and those which surviue , reioyce in the purchase of so noble a victory with so small meanes against so powerfull an enemy . hereunto they made answer ; that as hitherto they had beene conformable to all the vndertakings , which i had commanded or counselled , so they would continue in the selfe same dutie and obedience to the last breath : vowing either to remaine conquerours and free-men , or else to sell their liues at that price , which their enemies should not willingly consent to buy them at . and with this resolution , both captaine and company tooke their leaue of me , euery one particularly , and the greater part with teares , and and imbracings , though we were forthwith to depart the world , and neuer see one the other againe , but in heauen ; promising to cast all forepassed imaginations into oblivion , and never more to speake of surrendry . in accomplishment of this promise and determination , they persevered in sustaining the fight , all this night , with the day and night following , and the third day after . in which time the enemie never left vs , day nor night , beating continually vpon vs , with his great and small shott . saving that every morning an hower before breake of day , hee edged a little from vs , to breath , and to remedie such defects as were amisse ; as also to consult , what they should doe the day and night following . this time of interdiction , we imployed , in repayring our sayles , and tacklings , in stopping our leakes , in fishing and wolling our mastes and yards , in mending our pumpes , and in fitting and providing our selues for the day to come : though this was but little space for so many workes , yet gaue it great reliefe and comfort vnto vs , and made vs better able to endure the defence : for otherwise , our shippe must of force haue suncke before our surrendry , having many shot vnder water , and our pumpes shot to peeces every day : in all this space , not any man of either part tooke rest or sleepe , and little sustenance ; besides bread and wine . in the second dayes fight , the vice-admirall comming vpon our quarter , william blanch , one of our masters mates , with a luckie hand , made a shot vnto her , with one of our sterne peeces ; it caried away his maine mast close by the decke : wherewith the admirall beare vp to her , to see what harme shee had received , and to giue her such succour , as shee was able to spare : which we seeing , were in good hope , that they would haue now left to molest vs any longer , having wherewithall to entertaine themselues in redressing their owne harmes . and so we stood away from them , close by as we could : which wee should not haue done , but prosecuted the occasion , and brought our selues close vpon her weather gage , and with our great and small shot hindered them from repairing their harmes : if we had thus done , they had beene forced to cut all by the bourd ; and it may bee ( lying a hull , or to le-wards of vs ) with a few shot , wee might haue suncke her . at the least , it would haue declared to our enemies , that wee had them in little estimation , when able to goe from them , we would not : and perhaps bin a cause to haue made them to leaue vs. but this occasion was let slip , as also , that other to fight with them , sayling quarter winds , or before the winde : for having stood off to sea , a day and a night , we had scope to fight at our pleasure , and no man having sea roome , is bound to fight as his enemie will , with disadvantage , being able otherwise to deale with equalitie : contrariwise , every man ought to seeke the meanes hee can , for his defence , and greatest advantage , to the annoyance of his contrarie . now wee might with our fore-saile , low set , haue borne vpp before the winde , and the enemie of force must haue done the like ▪ if hee would fight with vs , or keepe vs company : and then should wee haue had the advantage of them . for although their artillery were longer , waightier , and many more then ours , and in truth did pierce with greater violence ; yet ours being of greater bore , and carrying a waightier and greater shot , was of more importance and of better effect for sinking and spoyling : for the smaller shot passeth through , and maketh but his whole , and harmeth that which lyeth in his way ; but the greater shaketh and shivereth all it meeteth , and with the splinters , or that which it encountreth , many times doth more hurt , then with his proper circumference : as is plainely seene in the battery by land , when the saker , the demy-colverin , the colverin , and demi-canon , ( being peeces that reach much further point blanke then the cannon ) are nothing of like importance for making the breach , as is the cannon ; for that this shot being ponderous pierceth with difficultie , yea worketh better effects , tormenting , shaking and overthrowing all ; whereas the others , with their violence , pierce better , and make onely their hole , and so hide themselues in the wooll or rampire . besides ( our ship being yare and good of fleeridge ) no doubt but we should haue played better with our ordinance , and with more effect , then did our enemies ; which was a great errour , being able to fight with lesse disadvantage , and yet to fight with the most that could be imagined , which i knew not off , neither was able to direct , though i had knowne it ; being in a manner senselesse , what with my woonds , and what with the agony of the surrendry propounded , for that i had seldome knowne it spoken of , but that it came afterwards to be put in execution . the generall not being able to succour his vice-admirall , except he should vtterly leaue vs , gaue them order , to shift as well as they could ●or the present , and to beare with the next port , and there to repayre their harmes . himselfe presently followed the chase , and in short space fetched vs vp , and beganne a fresh to batter vs with his great and small shott . the vice-admirall ( hauing saued what they could ) cutt the rest by the bourd , and with fore-sayle and my son came after vs also , and before the setting of the sunne , were come vpon our broad side , wee bearing all our sayles , and after kept vs company , lying vpon our weather quarter , and annoying vs what shee could . here i hold it necessary , to make mention of two things , which were most preiudiciall vnto vs , and the principall causes of our perdition , the errours and faults of late dayes , crept in amongst those who follow the sea , and learned from the flemings and easterlings . i wish that by our misfortunes others would take warning , and procure to redresse them , as occasions shall be offered . the one , is to fight vnarmed , where they may fight armed . the other , is in comming to fight , to drinke themselues drunke . yea , some are so madd , that they mingle powder with wine , to giue it the greater force , imagining that it giueth spirit , strength , and courage , and taketh away all feare and doubt . the latter is for the most part true , but the former is false and beastly , and altogether against reason . for though the nature of wine , with moderation , is to comfort and reviue the heart , and to fortifie and strengthen the spirit ; yet the immoderate vse thereof worketh quite contrary effects . in fights , all receipts which adde courage and spirit , are of great regard , to be allowed , and vsed ; and so is a draught of wine , to be giuen to euery man before he come to action , but more then enough is pernicious ; for , exceeding the meane , it offendeth , and infeebleth the sences , converting the strength ( which should resist the force of the enemy ) into weakenesse : it dulleth and blindeth the vnderstanding , and consequently depraueth any man of true valour . for that he is disenabled to iudge and apprehend the occasion , which may be offered , to assault , and retyre in time convenient ; the raynes of reason being put into the hands of passion and disorder . for after i was wounded , this nimium bred great disorder and inconvenience in our shippe ; the pott continually walking , infused desperate and foolish hardinesse in many , w●o blinded with the fume of the liquor , considered not of any danger , but thus and thus would stand at hazard ; some in vaine glory , vaunting themselues ; some other rayling vpon the spaniards ; another inviting his companion to come and stand by him ; and not to budge a foote from him ; which indiscreetly they put in execution , and cost the liues of many a good man , slaine by our enemies muskettiers , who suffered not a man to shew himselfe , but they presently overthrew him with speed and watchfullnesse ; for prevention of the second errour , although i had great preparation of armours , as well of proofe , as of light co●●eletts , yet not a man would vse them ; but esteemed a pott of wine , a better defence then an armour of proofe . which truely was great madnesse , and a lamentable fault , worthy to be banished from amongst all reasonable people , and well to be weighed by all commanders . for if the spaniard surpasseth vs in any thing , it is in his temperance , and suffering : and , where he hath had the better hand of vs , it hath beene ( for the most part ) through our owne folly , for that we will fight vnarmed with him being armed . and although i haue heard many men maintaine , that in shipping , armour is of little profit ; all men of good vnderstanding , will condemne such desperate ignorance . for besides , that the sleightest armour secureth the parts of a mans body ( which it covereth ) from pike , sword , and all hand weapons : it likewise giueth boldnesse and courage ; a man armed , giueth a greater and a waightier blow , then a man vnarmed ; he standeth faster , and with greater difficultie is to be overthrowne . and i neuer read , but that the glistering of the armour hath beene by authors obserued , for that ( as i imagine ) his show breedeth terror in his contraries , and despayre to himselfe if he be vnarmed . and therefore in time of warre , such as devote themselues to follow the profession of armes ( by sea or by land ) ought to covet nothing more , then to be well armed ; for as much as it is the second meanes , next gods protection , for preseruing , and prolonging many mens liues . wherein the spanish nation deserveth commendation aboue others , euery one from the highest to the lowest , putting their greatest care in providing faire and good armes . he which cannot come to the price of a corslet , will haue a coate of mayle , a iackett , at least , a buffe-jerkin , or a privie coate . and hardly will they be found without it , albeit , they liue ; and serue ( for the most part ) in extreame hott countries . whereas i haue knowne many bred in cold countries , in a moment complaine of the waight of their armes , that they smoother them , and then cast them off , chusing rather to be shott through with a bullet , or lanched through with a pike , or thrust through with a sword , then to endure a little travaile and suffering . but let me giue these lazie ones this lesson , that he that will goe a warrefare , must resolue himselfe to fight ; and he that putteth on this resolution , must be contented to endure both heate and waight , first , for the safegard of his life , and next for subduing of his enemie ; both which are hazarded , and put into great danger , if he fight vnarmed with an enemy armed . now for mine owne opinion , i am resolved that armour is more necessary by sea , then by land , yea , rather to be excused on the shore , then in the shippe . my reason is , for that on the shore the bullet onely hurteth , but in the shippe , i haue seene the ●plinters kill and hurt many at once , and yet the shor● to haue passed without touching any person . as in the galeon , in which i came out of the indies , in anno 1597. in the rode of tercera , when the queenes maiesties shippes , vnder the charge of the earle of essex ▪ chased vs into the rode , with the splinters of one shott , were slaine , maymed , and sore hurt , at the least a dozen persons , the most part whereof had beene excused , if they had beene armed . and doubtlesse , if these errours had beene foreseene , and remedied by vs , many of those who were slaine and hurt , had beene on foote , and we inabled to haue sustained and maintained the fight much better and longer ; and perhaps at last had freed our selues . for if our enemy had come to bourd with vs , our close fights were such , as we were secure , and they open vnto vs. and what with our cubridge heads , one answering the other , our hatches vpon bolts , our brackes in our deckes , and gunner roome , it was impossible to take vs as long as any competent number of men had remained , twentie persons would haue sufficed for defence ; and for this , such shippes are called impregnable , and are not to be taken , but by surrender , not to be overcome , but with bourding or sinking , as in vs by experience was verified : and not in vs alone , but in the revenge of the queenes maiestie , which being compassed round about with all the armado of spaine , and bourded sundry times by many at once , is said , to haue sunke three of the armado by her side . and in this conflict , having lost all her mastes , and being no other then a logge in the sea , could not bee taken with all their force and pollicie , till shee surrendred her selfe by an honourable composition . by these presidents , let governours by sea take speciall care aboue all , to preserue their people , in imitation of the french ; who carrie many souldiers in their shippes of warre , and secure them in their holdes , till they come to entring , and to proue their forces by the dint of sword. but here the discreete commaunders are to put difference , betwixt those which defend , and those which are to offend , and betwixt those which assault , and those which are assaulted . for ( as i haue sayd ) no governement whatsoever , better requireth a perfect and experimented commaunder , then that of the sea. and so no greater errour can bee committed , then to commend such charges to men vnexperimented in this profession . a third and last cause , of the losse of sundry of our men , most worthy of note for all captaines , owners , and carpenters : was the race building of our shippe ; the onely fault shee had ; and now a dayes , held for a principall grace in any shippe : but by the experience which i haue had , it seemeth for sundry reasons verie preiudiciall for shippes of warre , for in such , those which tackle the sayles , of force must bee vpon the deckes , and are open without shelter , or any defence : yet here it will be obiected ; that for this inconvenience , wast clothes are provided , and for want of them , it is vsuall to lace a bonnet , or some such shadow for the men ; worthily may it bee called a shadow , and one of the most pernitious customes , that can be vsed , for this shadow , or defence , being but of linnen or wollen cloth , emboldeneth many ; who without it would retire to better securitie , whereas now thinking themselues vnseene , they become more bould , then otherwise they would , and thereby shot through , when they least thinke of it ; some captaines observing this errour , haue sought to remedie it , in some of his maiesties shippes : not by altering the building , but by devising a certaine defence , made of foure or fiue inch planckes of fiue foote high , and sixe foote broad , running vpon wheeles , and placed in such partes of the shippe , as are most open . these they name blenders , and made of elme for the most part ; for that it shivers not with a shot , as oake and other timber will doe , which are now in vse and service , but best it is , when the whole side hath one blender , and one armour of proofe , for defence of those , which of force must labour , and be a lost . this race building , first came in , by overmuch homing in of our shippes ; and received for good , vnder colour of making our ships thereby the better sea-shippes , and of better advantage to hull and trye : but in my iudgement , it breedeth many inconveniences , and is farre from working the effect they pretend , by disinabling them for bearing their cage worke correspondent , to the proportion and mould of the shippe , making them tender sided , and vnable to carry sayle in any fresh gaile of winde , and diminishing the play of their artillery , and the place for accommodating their people to fight , labor , or rest . and i am none of those , who hold opinion , that the over-much homing in , the more the better , is commodious and easier for the shippe ; and this out of the experience , that i haue learned ; which with forcible reasons , i could proue to be much rather discomodious and worthy to be reformed . but withall i hold it not necessary to discourse here of that particulari●ie , but leaue the consequence to men of vnderstanding , and so surcease . sect . lxii . all this second day , and the third day and night , our captaine and company susteined the fight , notwithstanding the disadvantage where with they fought ; the enemie being ever to wind-ward , and wee to lee-ward , their shott much damnifying vs , and ours little annoying them , for whensoever a man encountreth with his enemie at sea , in gayning the weather gage , hee is in possibilie to sinke his contrary ; but his enemie cannot not sinke him ; and therefore hee which is forced to fight with this disadvantage , is to procure by all meanes possible to shoote downe his contraries masts or yards , and to teare or spoylr his tackling and sayles ; for which purpose , billets of some heavie wood fitted to the great ordinance are of great importance . and so are arrowes of fire , to bee shot out of slur-bowes , and cases of small shot ioyned two and two together , with peeces of wyer of fiue or six ynches long , which also shot out of muskets are of good effect , for tearing the sayles , or cutting the tackling . some are of opinion , that crosse barres and chaine-shot , are of moment for the spoyling of masts and yards , but experience dayly teacheth , them not to be of great importance , though neere at hand , i confesse , they worke great execution : but the round shott , is the onely principall and powerfull meane , to breake mast or yard . and in this our fight , the admirall of the spaniards , had his fore-mast shot through with two round shott , some three yardes beneath the head ; had either of them entred but foure ynches further into the heart of the mast , without all doubt , it had freed vs , and perhaps put them into our hands . the third day in the after-noone which was the 22. of iune 1594. according to our computation , and which i follow in this my discourse , our sayles being torne , our mastes all perished , our pumpes rent , and shot to peeces , and our shippe with foureteene short vnder water , and seven or eight foote of water in hold ; many of our men being slaine , and the most part of them ( which remayned ) sore hurt , and in a manner altogether fruiteles , and the enemie offering still to receaue vs a buena querra , and to giue vs life and libertie , and imbarkation for our countrey ; our captaine , and those which remayned of our company , were all of opinion that our best course was to surrender our selues , before our ●hippe suncke . and so by common consent agreed the second time , to send a servant of mine thomas sanders , to signifie vnto mee the estate of our shippe and company ; and that it was impossible by any other way to expect for hope of deliverance , or life , but by the miraculous hand of god , in vsing his almighty power ; or by an honourable surrender : which in every mans opinion was thought most convenient . so was i desired by him , to giue also my consent , that the captaine might capitulate with the spanish generall , and to compound the best partido he could by surrendring our selues into his hands : vpon condition of life and libertie . this hee declared vnto me , being in a manner voyd of sence , and out of hope to liue or recover , which considered , and the circumstances of his relation , i answered as i could , that hee might iudge of my state , readie every moment to giue vp the ghost , and vnable to discerne in this cause what was convenient , except i might see the present state of the shippe . and that the honour or dishonour , the wel-fare or misery , was for ●hem , which should be partakers of life ; at last , for that i had satisfaction of his valour and true dealing , in all the time , hee had served me , and in correspondence of it , had given him ( as was notorious ) charge and credit in many occasions , i bound him , by the loue and regard , hee ought me , and by the faith and duty to almighty god , to tell me truely , if all were as he had declared . whereunto hee made answere , that hee had manifested vnto mee the plaine and naked truth , and that hee tooke god to witnesse of the same truth ; with which receiving satisfaction , i forced my selfe what i could , to perswade him to annimate his companions , and in my name to intreate the captaine , and the rest to persevere in defence of their libertie , liues , and reputation , remitting all to his discretion : not doubting , but he would be tender of his dutie , and zealous of my reputation , in preferring his liberty , and the liberty of the company aboue all respects whatsoever . as for the welfare hoped by a surrender , i was altogether vnlikely to be partaker thereof , death threatning to depriue me of the benefit , which the enemie offered ; but if god would bee pleased to free vs , the ioy and comfort i should receiue , might perhaps giue me force and strength to recover health . which answere being delivered to the captaine , hee presently caused a slagge of truce , to be put in place of our ensigne , and began to parley of our surrendry , with a spaniard , which don beltran appointed for that purpose , from the poope of the admirall , to offer in his name , the conditions before specified ; with his faithfull promise and oath , as the king generall to take vs a buena querra , and to send vs all into our owne countrey . the promise hee accepted , and sayd , that vnder the same , hee yeelded , and surrendred himselfe , shippe , and company . immediately , there came vnto me another servant of mine , and told me , that our captaine had surrendred himselfe , and our shippe ; which vnderstood , i called vnto one i●an gomes de pineda , a spanish pilote , which was our prisoner , and in all the fight we had kept close in hold , and willed him to goe to the generall don beltran de castro from mee , to tell him , that if he would giue vs his word , and oath , as the generall of the king , and some pledge for confirmation , to receiue vs a buena querra , and to giue vs our liues and libertie , and present passage into our owne countrey , that we would surrender our selues , and shippe into his handes ; otherwise , that hee should never enioy of vs , nor ours , any thing , but a resolution every man to dye fighting . with this message i dispatched him , and called vnto me all my company , and encouraged them to sacrifice their liues fighting , and killing the enemie , if he gaue but a fillip to any of our companions . the spaniards willed vs to hoise out our boate , which was shott all to pe●●es ; and so was theirs . seing that hee called to vs to amaine our sayles , which wee could not well doe , for that they were slung , and wee had not men inough to hand them . in this parley , the vice-admirall comming vpon our quarter , and not knowing of what had past , discharged her two chase peeces at vs , and hurt our captaine very sore in the thigh , and maimed one of our masters mates , called hugh maires , in one of his armes , but after knowing vs to be rendred , hee secured vs : and we satisfying them that wee could not hoise out our boate , nor strike our sayles the admirall layd vs abourd , bu● before any man entred , iohn gomes went vnto the generall , who receiued him with great curtesie , and asked him what we required ; whereunto he made answere that my demaund was that in the kings name , he should giue vs his faith and promise , to giue vs our liues , to keepe the lawes of fayre warres and quarter , and to send vs presently into our countrey ; and in confirmation hereof , that i required some pledge , whereunto the generall made answere ; that in the king● maiesties name his master , hee received vs a buena querra , and swore by god almightie , and by the habit of a cautara , ( whereof he had received knighthood , and in token whereof , hee wore in his breast a greene crosse , which is the ensigne of that order ) that he would giue vs our liues with good entreatie , and send vs as speedily as he could , into our owne countrey . in confirmation whereof , he tooke of his gloue , and sent it to mee , as a pledge . with this message iohn g●mes returned , and the spaniards entred , and tooke possession of our shippe , every one crying buena querra , buena querra , oy p●r in maniana porti : with which our company began to secure themselues . the generall , was a principall gentleman , of the ancient nobilitie of spaine , and brother to the conde de lemos , whose intention no doubt was according to his promise ; and therefore considering that some bad intreaty , and insolency , might be offered vnto me in my shippe , by the common souldiers , who seldome haue respect to any person in such occasions , esp●cially in the case i was , whereof hee had en●ormed himselfe ; for prevention , hee sent a principal captaine , brought vp long time in flaunders , called pedro alueres de pulgar , to take care of me , and whilest the shippes were one abourd the other , to bring me into his ship : which hee accomplished with great humanitie and courtesi● ; d●spising the barres of gold which were shared before his face ; which hee might alone haue enioyed , if hee would ; and truely hee was , as after i found by tryall , a true captaine ; a man worthy of any charge , and of the noblest condition , that i haue knowne any spaniard . the generall received me with great courtesie and compassion even with teares in his eyes , and words of great consolation , and commaunded mee to bee accommodated in his owne cabbine , where hee sought to cure and comfort mee the best he could ; the like hee vsed with all our hurt men , sixe and thirtie at least . and doubtlesse as true courage , valour , and resolution , is requisit in a generall , in the time of battle . so humanitie , mildnes , and courtesie , after victorie . sect . lxiii . whilst the shippes were together , the maine-mast of the daintie●ell ●ell by the bourd , and the people being occupied in ransacking and seeking for spoile and pillage , neglected the principall ; whereof ensued , that within a short space the dain●ie grew so deepe with water , which increased for want of prevention , that all who were in her , desired to forsake her , and weaved and cryed for succour to bee saved ; being out of hope of her recoverie . whereupon , the generall calling together the best experimented men hee had , and consulting with them what was best to bee done : it was resolued , that generall michaell angell should goe abourd the daintie , and with him threescore marriners , as many souldiers ; and with them , the english men who were able to labour to free her from water , and to put her in order , if it were possible : and then to recover perico , the port of panama , for th●t , of those to wind wards , it was impossible to turne vp to any of them and neerer then to le-ward was not any , that could supply our necessities and wants ; which lay from vs , east north east , aboue two hundreth leagues . michaell angell , being a man of experience and care , accomplished that he tooke in hand , although in clearing and bayling the water , in placing a pumpe , and in fitting , and mending her fore-saile , he spent aboue sixe and thirtie howers . during which time , the shippes lay all a hull ; but this worke ended , they set sayle , & directed their cours● for the iles of pearles ; and for that the daintie sayled badly , what for want of her maine-sayle , and with the advantage , which all the south-sea shippes haue of all those built in our-north sea : the admirall gaue her a t●we ; which notwithstanding , ( the wind calming with vs , as we approached neerer to the land ) twelue dayes were spent , before we could fetch sight of the ilands ; which lye alongst the coast , beginning some eight leagues , west south-west from panama , and run to the south-wards neere thirtie leagues . they are many , and the most vnhabited , and those which haue people , haue some negroes , slaues vnto the spaniards , which occupie themselues in labour of the land , or in fishing for pearles , in times past , many inriched themselues with that trade , but now it is growne to decay . the maner of fishing for pearles is , with certaine long pinaces or small barkes , in which , there goe foure , fiue , sixe , or eight negroes , expert swimmers , and great deevers , whom the spaniards call busos ; with tract of time , vse , and continuall practise , having learned to hold their breath long vnder water , for the better atchieving their worke . these throwing themselues into the sea , with certaine instruments of their art , goe to the bottome , and seeke the bankes of the oysters , in which the pearles are ingendered ; and with their force and art , remoue them from their foundation , in which they spend more or lesse time , according to the resistance the firmenes of the ground affordeth . once loosed , they put them into a bagge vnder their armes , and after bring them vp into their boates ; having loaden it , they goe to the shoare : there they open them , and take out the pearles : they lie vnder the vttermost part of the circuite of the oyster , in rankes and proportions , vnder a certaine part , which is of many pleights and folds , called the ruffe , for the similitude , it hath vnto a ruffe . the pearles increase in bignes , as they be neerer the end or ioynt of the oyster : the meate of those , which haue these pearles , is milkie , and not very wholesome to be eaten . in anno , 1583. in the iland of margarita , i was at the dregging of pearle oysters , after the maner we dregge oysters in england ; and with mine owne hands i opened many , & tooke out the pearles of them ; some greater , some lesse , and in good quantitie . how the pearle is ingendred in the oyster , or mussell ( for they are found in both ) divers and sundry are the opinions ; but some ridiculous ; whereof , because many famous and learned men haue written largely , i will speake no more , then hath beene formerly spoken , but referre their curious desires to pliny , with other ancient , and moderne authors . they are found in divers partes of the world , as in the west indies , in the south sea , in the east indian sea , in the straites of magellane , and in the scottish sea. those found neere the pooles , are not perfect , but are of a thick colour ; whereas such as are found neere the line , are most orient & transparent : the curious call it their water : and the best is a cleare white shining , with fierie flames . and those of the east india haue the best reputation , though as good are found in the west india , the the choice ones , are of great valew and estimation , but the greatest , that i haue read or heard of , was found in these ilands of pearles ; the which king phillip the second of spaine , gaue to his daughter elizabeth , wife to albertus , arch-duke of austria , and governour of the states of flaunders : in whose possession it remaineth , and is called , la peregrina , for the rarenes of it ; being as bigge , as the pomell of a poniard . sect . lxiiii. in this navigation , after our surrender , the generall tooke especial care for the good intreaty of vs , and especially of those who were hurt . and god so blessed the hands of our surgians ( besides that they were expert in their art ) that of all our wounded men not one died , that was aliue the day after our surrendry : the number whereof was neere fortie ; and many of them with eight , ten , or twelue wounds , and some with more . the thing that ought to moue vs to giue god almighty especiall thankes and prayses ; was , that they were cured in a manner without instruments or salues : for the chests were all broken to peeces ; and many of their simples and compounds throwne into the sea ; those which remained , were such , as were throwne about the shippe in broken pots and baggs , and such as by the divine providence were reserved , at the end of three dayes , by order from the generall , were commaunded to be sought and gathered together . these with some instruments of small moment , bought and procured from those , who had reserved them to a different end , did not onely serue for our cures , but also for the curing of the spaniards , being many more , then those of our company . for the spanish surgians were altogether ignorant in their profession , and had little or nothing wherewith to cure . and i haue noted , that the spaniards in generall are nothing so curious , in accommodating themselues , with good and carefull surgeans , nor to fitt them with that which belongeth to their profession , as other nations are , though they haue greater neede then any , that i doe know . at the time of our surrender , i had not the spanish tongue , and so was forced to vse an interpreter , or the latine , or french ; which holpe m● much for the vnderstanding of those , which spake vnto me in spanish ; together with a little smattering i had of the portugall . through the noble proceeding of don beltran with vs , and his particuler care towards me , in curing and comforting me , i began to gather heart , and hope of life , and health ; my servants which were on foote , advised me ordinarily of that which past . but some of our enemies , badly inclined , repined at the proceedings of the generall ; and sayd , he did ill to vse vs so well ; that wee were lutherans ; and for that cause , the saith which was given vs , was not to be kept nor performed : others , that we had fought as good souldiers , and therefore d●served good quarter . others , nicknamed vs with the name of corsarios , or pirats ; not discerning thereby that they included themselues within the same imputation . some were of opinion , that from panama , the generall would send vs into spaine ; others sayd , that he durst not dispose of vs , but by order from the vice-roy of peru , who had given him his authority . this hit the nayle on the head . to all i gaue the hearing , and laid vp in the store-house of my memory , that which i thought to be of substance , and in the store-house of my consideration , endevoured to frame a proportionable resolution to all occurrants , conformable to gods most holy will. withall i profitted my selfe of the meanes , which should bee offered , and beare greatest probabilitie to worke our comfort , help , and remedie . and so , as time ministred oportunitie , i began , and endevoured to satisfie the generall , and the better sort in the points i durst intermeddle . and especially to perswade ( by the best reasons i could ) that wee might be sent presently from panama : alleaging the promise given vs , the cost and charges ensuing , which doubtles would be such as deserued consideration and excuse : besides that , now whilest he was in place , and power and authority in his hands , to performe with vs , that hee would looke into his honour , and profit himselfe of the occasion , and not put vs into the hands of a third person ; who perhaps bring more powerfull then himselfe , he might be forced to pray and intreate the performance of his promise ; whereunto hee gaue vs the hearing , and bare vs in hand , that hee would doe , what hee could . the generall , and all in generall , not onely in the peru , but in all spaine , and the kingdomes thereof ( before our surrendry ) held all english men of warre , to be corsarlos , or pirats ; which i la●oured to reforme , both in the peru , and also in the counsels of spaine , and amongst the chieftaines , souldiers , and better sort , with whom i came to haue conversation ; alleadging that a pirate or corsario , is he , which in time of peace , or truce spoyleth , or ●●b●eth those , which haue peace or truce with them : but the eng●ish haue neyther peace nor truce with spaine , but warre ; and ●herefore not to be accounted pirats . besides , spaine broke the peace with england , and not england with spaine ; and that by ymbargo , which of all kinds of defiances , is most reproved , and of least reputation ; the ransoming of prysoners , and that by the cannon , being more honorable , but aboue all , the most honorable , is with trumpet and herald , to proclaime and denounce the warre by publicke defiance . and so if they should condemne the english for pirats , of force , they must first condemne themselues . moreover , pirats are those , who range the seas without licence of their prince ; who when they are met with , are punished more severely by their owne lords , then when they fall into the hands of strangers ; which is notorious to be more severely prosecuted in england ( in time of peace ) then in any the kingdomes of christendome . but the english haue all licence , either immediately from their prince , or from others therevnto authorized , and so cannot in any sence be comprehended vnder the name of pirats ▪ for any hostility vndertaken against spaine , or the dependancies thereof . and so the state standing as now it doth ; if in spaine a pa●ti●uler man should arme a shippe , and goe in warre-fare with it against the english , and happened to be taken by them : i make no question , but the company should bee intreated according to that manner , which they haue ever vsed since the beginning of the warre : without making further inquisition . then if hee were rich or poore , to see if hee were able to giue a ransome , in this also they are not very curious . but if this spanish shippe should fall a thwart his kings armado , or gallies , i make no doubt but they would hang the captaine and his companie for pirates . my reason is , for that by a speciall law , it is enacted : that no man , in the kingdomes of spaine , may arme any shippe , and goe in warre-fare , without the kings speciall licence and commission ; vpon paine to be reputed a pirate , and to bee chastised with the punishment due to corsarios . in england the case is different , for the warre once proclaimed , every man may arme that will , and hath wherewith ; which maketh for our greater exemption , from being comprehended within the number of pirates . wi●h these , and other like arguments to this purpose , ( to avoid tediousnes ) i omitt ; i convinced all those whom i heard to harpe vpon this string ; which was of no small importance for our good entreatie , and motiues for many , to further and favour the accomplishment of the promise lately made vnto vs. sect . lxv . one day after dinner , ( as was the ordinary custome ) the generall , his captaines , and the better sort of his followers , being assembled in the cabbin of the poope in conference , an eager contention arose amongst them , touching the capitulation of buena querra and the purport thereof . some sayd , that onely life and good entreatie of ●he prisoners , was to be comprehended therein ; others enlarged , and restrained it , according to their humors and experience . in 〈◊〉 opinion was required , and what i had seene , and knowne , touching that point : wherein i pawsed a little , and suspecting the wo●st , feared that it might bee a baite layd to catch me withall , and so excused my selfe ; saying , that where so many experimented souldiers were ioyned together , my young iudgement was little to be respected ; whereunto the generall replyed : that knowledge was not alwayes incident to yeares , ( though reason requireth , that the aged should bee the wisest ) but an art , acquired by action , and management of affaires . and therefore they would be but certified , what i had seene , and what my iudgement was in this point , vnto which , seeing i could not well excuse my selfe , i condiscended ; and calling my wits together , holding it better , to shoote out my boult , by yeelding vnto reason , ( although i might erre ) then to stand obstinate , my will being at warre with my consent , and fearing my deniall might be taken for discourtesie , which peradventure might also purchase me mislike with those , who seemed to wish me comfort and restitution . i submitted to better iudgement , the reformation of the present assembly ; saying , syr , vnder the capitulation of buena querra , ( or fayre warres ) i haue ever vnderstood , and so it hath beene observed in these , as also in former times , that preservation of life , and good entreatie of the prisoner , haue beene comprehended : and further by no meanes to be vrged to any thing contrary to his conscience , as touching his religion ; nor to be seduced , or menaced from the allegeance due to his prince and countrey : but rather to ransome him for his moneths pay . and this is that which i haue knowne practised in our times , in gene●all amongst all civill and noble nations . but the english , haue enlarged it one point more towards the spaniards rendred a buena querra , in these warres ; haue ever delivered them , which haue beene taken vpon such compositions , without ransome : but the covetousnes of our age hath brought in many abuses , and excluded the principall officers from partaking of the benefit of this priviledge , in leaving them to the discretion of the victor , beeing many times poorer , then the common souldiers , their qualities considered , whereby they are commonly put to more , then the ordinary ransome , and not being able of themselues to accomplish it , are forgotten of their princes , and sometimes suffer long imprysonment , which they should not . with this , don beltran sayd , this ambiguitie you haue well resolved ; and like a worthie gentleman ( with great courtesie and liberalitie ) added ; let not the last point trouble you : but bee of good comfort , for i heere giue you my word anew , that your ransome ( if any shall bee thought due ) shall be but a cople of grey-ho●●d● for mee ; and other two for my brother , the conde de lemes , an● this i sweare to you by the habit of alcantera . provided alwayes , that the king my master leave you to my dispose , as of right you belong vnto me . for amongst the spaniards in their armadoes , if there bee an absolute generall , the tenth of all is due to him , and he is to take choise of the best : where in other countries , it is by lot , that the generalls tenth is given ; and if they be but two shippes , he doth the like , and being but one , shee is of right the generalls . this i hardly believed , vntill i saw a letter , in which the king willed his vice-roy , to giue don beltran thankes for our shippe and artillerie , which he had given to his maiestie . i yeelded to the generall , most heartie thankes for his great favour , wherewith hee bound mee ever to seeke how to serue him , and deserue it . sect . lxvi . in this discourse generall michaell angell demanded , for what purpose served the little short arrowes , which wee had in our shippe , and those in so great quantitie : i satisfied them , that they were for our muskets . they are not as yet in vse amongst the spaniards , yet of singular effect and execution as our enemies confessed : for the vpper worke of their shippes being muskets proofe , in all places they passed through both sides with facilitie , and wrought extraordinary disasters , which caused admiration , to see themselues wounded with small short , where they thought themselues secure ; and by no meanes could find where they entred , nor come to the sight of any of the shott . hereof they proved to profit themselues after , but for that they wanted the t●●p●ings , which are first to be driven home , before the arrow be put in , & as then vnderstood not the secret , they reiected them , as vncertaine , and therefore not to be vsed , but of all the shot vsed now a dayes , for the annoying of an enemie in ●ight by sea , few are of greater moment for many respects : which i hold not convenient to treate of in publique . sect . lxvii . a little to the south-wards of the iland of pearle , betwixt seven and eight degrees , is the great river of saint buena ventura . it falleth into the south sea with three mouthes , the head of which , is but a little distant from the north sea. in anno 1575. or 1576. one iohn oxman of plymouth , going into the west indies , ioyned with the symarons . these are fugitiue negroes , and for the bad intreatie which their masters had given them , were then retyred into the mountaines , and lived vpon the spoyle of such spaniards , as they could master , and could never be brought into obedience , till by composition they had a place limmitted them for their freedome , where they should liue quietly by themselues . at this day they haue a great habitation neere panama , called saint iago de los negros , well peopled , with all their officers and commaunders of their owne , saue onely a spanish governour . by the assistance of these symarons , hee brought to the head of this river , by peecemeale , and in many iourneyes a small pinnace , hee fitted it by time in warlike manner , and with the choice of his company , put himselfe into the south sea , where his good ha● , was to meete with a cople of shippes of trade , and in the one of them a great quantitie of gold . and amongst other things two peeces of speciall estimation , the one a table of massie gold , with emralds , sent for a present to the king ; the other a lady of singular beautie , married , and a mother of children . the latter grewe to be his perdition : for hee had capitulated with these symarons , that their part of the bootie , should be onely the prisoners , to the ende to execute their malice vpon them , ( such was the rancor they had conceived against them , for that they had beene the tyrants of their libertie . ) but the spaniards not contented to haue them their slaues ; who lately had beene their lords , added to their servitude , cruell intreaties . and they againe to feede their insatiable revenges , accustomed to rost and eate the hearts of all those spaniards , whom at any time they could lay hand vpon . iohn oxman ( i say ) was taken with the loue of this lady , and to winne her good will , what through her teares and perswasions , and what through feare and detestation of their barbarous inclinations ; breaking promise with the symarons , yeelded to her request , which was , to giue the prysoners liberty with their ships ; for that they were not vsefull for him : notwithstanding oxman kept the lady , who had in one of the restored shippes , eyther a sonne , or a nephew . this nephew with the rest of the spaniards , made all the hast they could to pa●am● , and they vsed such diligence , as within fewe howers , some were dispatched to seeke those , who little thought so quickly to bee overtaken . the pursuers approaching the river , were doubtfull by which of the afore-remembred three mouths , they should take their way . in this wavering , one of the souldiers espied certaine feathers , of henns , and some boughes of trees , ( which they had cut off to make their way ) swmming downe one of the outlets . this was light sufficient , to guide them in their course , they entred the river , and followed the tracke , as farre as their frigats had water sufficient ; and then with part of their souldiers in their boates , and the rest on the bankes on eyther side , they marched day and night in pursuite of their enemies ; and in fine came vppon them vnexpected at the head of the river , making good cheare in their tents , and devided in two partialities about the partition , and sharing of their gold . thus were they surprised , and not one escaped . some say that iohn oxman , fled to the symarons , but they vtterly denyed to receiue , or succour him , for that he had broken his promise ; the onely obiection they cast in his teeth , was , that if he had held his word with them , hee never had fallen into this extremitie . in fine hee was taken ; and after , his shippe also was possessed by the spaniards ; which he had hid in a certaine coue , and covered with boughes of trees , in the guard and custodie of some foure or fiue of his followers . all his company , were conveyed to panama , and there were ymbarked for lyma ; where a processe was made against them , by the iustice , and all condemned and hanged as pirates . this may be a good example to others in like occasions : first , to shunne such notorious sinnes , which cannot escape punishment in this life , nor in the life to come : for the breach of faith is reputed amongst the greatest faults , which a man can commit . secondly , not to abuse another mans wife , much lesse to force her , both being odious to god and man. thirdly to beware of mutenies , which seldome or never are seene to come to better ends ; for where such trees flourish , the fruite of force , must eyther bee bitter , sweete , or very sower . and therefore , seeing wee vaunt our selues to bee christians and make profession of his law , who forbiddeth all such vanities ; let vs faithfully shunne them , that wee may partake the end of that hope which our profession teacheth and promiseth . sect . lxviii . comming in sight of the ilands of pearles , the winde began to fresh in with vs , and wee profited out selues of it : but comming thwart of a small iland , which they call la pacheta , that lyeth within the pearle ilands , close abourd the mayne , and some eight or ten leagues south and by west from panama , the wind calmed againe . this iland belongeth to a private man , it is a round humock , conteyning not a league of ground , but most fertile . insomuch that by the owners industrie , and the labour of some fewe slaues , who occupie themselues in manuring it ; and two barkes , which hee imployeth in bringing the fruit it giveth , to panama ; it is sayd to bee worth him every weeke , one with another , a barre of silver ; valued betwixt two hundreth and fiftie , or three hundreth pezos : which in english money , may amount to fiftie or threescore pounds and for that , which i saw at my being in panama , touching this , i hold to be true . in our course to fetch the port of panama , we p●● our selues betwixt the ilands and the maine : which is a goodly chan●ell , of three , foure , and fiue leagues broad , and without danger ; except a man come too neare the shoare on any side ; and that is thought the better course , then to goe a sea-boord of the ilands , be●ause of the swift running of the tydes , and the advantage to stop the ebbe : as also for succour , if a man should happen to bee becalmed at any time beyond expectation ; which happeneth sometimes . the seaventh of iuly wee had sight of perico ; they are two little ilands , which cause the port of panama , where all the shippes vse to ride ; it is some two leagues west north-west of the cittie , which hath also a pere in it selfe for small barkes , at full sea , it may haue hauē some sixe or seaven foote water , but at low water it is drie . the ninth of iuly we anokored vnder perico , and the generall presently advised the audiencia , of that which had succeeded in his journey : which vnderstood by them , caused bonfires to be made , and every man to put luminaries in their houses ; the fashion is much vsed amongst the spaniards in their feastes of ioy , or for glad tidings ; placing many lights in their churches , in their windowes , and galleries , and corners of their houses ; which being in the beginning of the night , and the cittie close by the sea shore , showed to vs ( being farre off ) as though the cittie had beene on a light fire . about eight of the clocke all the artillerie of the citty was shott off which wee might discerne by the flashes of fire , but could not heare the report : yet the armando being advised thereof , and in a readinesse , answered them likewise with all their artillery : which taking ende ( as all the vanities of this earth doe ) the generall se●led himselfe to dispatch advise for the king● for the vice-roy of peru , and for the vice-roy of the nova spana , for hee also had beene certified of our being in that sea , and had fitted an armado to seeke vs , and to guard his coast . but now for a farewell , ( and note it ) let me relate vnto you this secret. how don beltran shewed mee a letter from the king his master , directed to the vice-roy , wherein he gaue him particular relation of my pretended voyage ; of the shippes ; their burden ; their munition ; th●ir number of men , which i had in them , as perfectly as it he had seene all with his owne eyes ; saying vnto me : heereby , may you discerne , whether the king my master haue friends in england , and good and speedie advice of all that passeth . whereu●to i replyed ; it was no wonder , for that he had plentie of gold and silver , which worketh this and more strange effects : for my iourney was publique and notorious to all the kingdome , whereunto hee replyed , that if i thought it so convenient , leaue should be given me to write into england to the queenes maiestie my mistresse , to my father , and to other personages , as i thought good ; and leaving the letters open ; that hee would send some of them , in the kings packet , others to his vncle don rodrigo de castro , cardinall and archbishoppe of sevill , and to other friendes of his : not making any doubt but that they would be speedily in england . for which i thanked him , and accepted his courtesie , and although i was my selfe vnable to write , yet by the hands of a servant of mine , i wrote three or foure coppies of one letter to my father , sir iohn hawkins . in which i briefly made relation of all that had succeeded in our voyage . the dispatches of spaine and new spaine , went by ordinary course in ships of advise ; but that for the peru was sent by a kinseman of the generalls , called don francisco de la cuena . which being dispatched , don beltran hasted all that ever hee could , to put his shippes in order , to returne to lyma . hee caus●d the daintie to be grounded , and trimmed , for in those ilands , it higheth and falleth some fifteene or sixteene foote water . and the generall with his captaines , and some religious men being aboord her , and new naming her , named her the visitation ; for that shee was rendred on the day , on which they celebrate the visitation of the blessed virgin mary . in that place the ground being plaine and without vantage , ( whereby to helpe the tender sided and sharpe shippes ) they are forced to shore them on either side . in the midest of their solemnity , her props and shores of one side fayled and so shee fell over vpon that side suddenly , intreating many of them ( which were in her ) very badly , and doubtles had shee bin like the shippes of the south sea , shee had broken out her bulge : but being without mastes and empty , ( for in the south sea , when they bring a ground a shippe , they leaue neither mast , balast , nor any other thing abourd , besides the bare hull ) her strength was such , as it made no great show to haue received any domage , but the feare shee put them all into was not little , and caused them to runne out of her ●aster then a good pace . in these ilands is no succour , nor refreshing ; onely in the one of them , is one house of strawe , and a little spring of small moment . for the water , which the shippes vse for their provision ; they fetch from another iland two leagues west north-west of these ; which they call tabaga , having in it some fruite and refreshing , and some fewe indians to inhabite it . what succeeded to mee , and to the rest during our imprisoment , with the rarities and particularities of the peru , and tierra firme , my voyage to spaine , and the successe , with the time i spent in pryson in the peru , in the tercera , in sevill , and in madrid , with the accidents which befell me in them ; i leaue for a second part of this discourse , if god giue life , and convenient place and rest , necessary for so tedious and troublesome a worke : desiring god , that is almightie , to giue his blessing to this and the rest of my intentions : that it and they may bee fruitefull , to his glory , and the good of all : then shall my desires be accomplished , and i account my selfe most happie . to whom be all glory , and thankes from all eternitie finis . errata sic corrige . folio 5. for recant , read recount . fol. 7. and 9. for wasters , read wa●ters . fol. 9. line 7. for light , read last . fol. 15. for serue read saue . fol. 23. for we not , read we were not . for the river of ieromino , read ienero . for rose , read nose . the litteralls are commended to favour . the table of the principall observations conteined in this booke . a advantage of obedience . folio . 91 advise by land and sea. folio . 117 advertisements for commanders . folio . 91 for servitors . folio . 92 agnanapes . folio . 62 noblenes of alonso de soto . folio . 103 alcatrices . folio . 44 amber-grice . folio . 46.47 amitie of the indians . folio . 116 mending of vnserviceable anchors . folio . 87 light anchors fit for the south sea. folio . 102 arica . folio . 114 valour of the arawcans . folio . 107 much commended for all sorts of fruit and gold . folio . 106 spanish armado . folio . 125 arrogancy of the spanish generall . folio . 140 overcharging of artillery . folio . 115 courses for artillery after bourding . folio . 145 donna austria in the narrow seas . folio . 21 b backwardnesse of companies . folio . 90 evill consequences thereof . ibid baldivia . folio . 96 english bay. folio . 82 the bezar stone . folio . 47 beefe pickled . 69. held good beyond the equinoctiall . ibid blanches bay. folio . 77 pollicies to avoid bourding . folio . 138 the bonito . folio . 42 brasil knowne , &c. folio . 38 bravo . folio . 29 description of brasil . folio . 64 its hauens . folio . 64 commodities and wants . folio . 65 bestial and discommodities . ibid losse of the burdeaux fleete . folio . 9 c false calking . folio . 18 prevention thereof . ibid thomas candish . 85. surprised folio . 58 canary ilands . folio . 24 grand canary . folio . 25 cap● blanco . folio . 54 ignobl● captaines . folio . 68 disloyalties of captaines . folio . 112 beverage of cassavy . folio . 62 cas●avi meale . folio . 61 preparing thereof . ibid s. catelena . folio . 66 parts requisite in a chieftain . folio . 130 two chieftain● dangerous . folio . 133 cherries . folio . 55 people of chile . folio . 98 their weapons . folio . 99 and hate to the spaniards . ●●id civil catts . folio . 31 cittie of conception . folio . 100 vnwillingnesse to follow couetous commanders . folio . 109 a commander not to trust his officers . folio . 127 admonitions to commanders . folio . 128. cocos , and their kinds . folio . 30.31 complaints of master thomas candish . folio . 14 of master george raymond . ibid company sicke . 38. dismayed . folio . 84 losse of the edward cotton . folio . 33. clothes made in coquimbo . folio . 107 crabby cove . folio . 84 care of currants . folio . 33 d departure from lyma . folio . 103 devises in sudden accidents . folio . 76. directions to be secret . folio . 130 discipline of the spanish . folio . 67 cause of their prosperities . ibid discipline neglected by the english . folio . 8 pried into by the spaniards folio . 134 and by them imitated . ibid vse of discoueries . folio . 1 discouery on the coast to be avoyded . folio . 100 the dolphin . folio . 42 sir francis drake vpon the sothermost part of the world . folio . 9● providence of the dutch. ●7 ducks . folio . 74 e elizabeths bay.   disvse of engines of antiquitie . folio . 143 the english carry vp their flag folio . 20 english authours of sea dis●ipline . folio . 8 carelesnesse of the english. folio . 127 exchange of trifles . folio . 98 of sheepe . ibid exercise alwayes necessary . folio . 26 f ed ▪ fenton . folio . 85 iuan fernandes . folio . 100 danger of fier . 39. by heating of pitch . ibid. by taking tobacco . ibid. by candle light . ibid. by hooping and scutling . folio . 40 by nature of waters . ibid strange tree in fiero . folio . 25 beginning of the spanish fight . 126. their intertainment . folio . 122 the english. 75. the spanish 130 ibid. pay deere for their rashnes . 135. take a new resolution . folio . 1●6 flying fishes . folio . 44 french and english salute . folio . 20 french surprised . folio . 57 to know wholsome fruits . folio . 55 fuego . folio . 29 end of fugitiues . folio . 135 g gannetts . folio . 54 god propitions . folio . 84 therefore praised . ibid one shippe and some gold taken . folio . 101 euery shower , a shower of gold. ibid. s : r : greenfild at flores . folio . 10 guls. folio . 73 deceit of the gunner . folio . 127 h master thomas hampton . folio . 20 annoyances in harbours . folio . 51 vse of havas purgativas . folio . 55 master wil : hawkins . folio . 86 hawkins mayden-●and . folio . 70 helm-man . folio . 54 i saint iago 29. sacked . ibid s. iames ilands . folio . 54 the iesus of lubeck . folio . 3 ienero . folio . 77.59 vnwholsome ilands . 27 their heat . ibid. the breze . ibid. the best remedie . folio . 28 inconvenience of imprests . folio . 15 their true vse . folio . 16 indians howsing 63. and manner of sleeping . ibid indians apparrell . folio . 98 indians poligamy folio . 63 indians trechery . folio . 97 indians foresight . folio . 81 indians industry . 57. dismissed 123. led by a mulato . folio . 124 consequence of instructions . folio . 17 isla graund . folio . 60 planting of iuca . folio . 62 by women . ibid l vnknowne land. folio . 69 care of approch . ibid new devise for stopping leakes without bourd . folio . 104 best time to pa●se the lyne . folio . 48 m madera ▪ folio . 24 who to be accounted a mariner . folio . 128 his knowledge . ibid. and materials . ibid. for navigation . ibid the mariners revenge . folio . 43 wilfulnesse of mariners . folio . 100 s. maries . folio . 100 care of the master . folio . 53 vnskilfulnesse of the masters mate . folio . 52 fittest places of meeting . folio . 17 mocha . folio . 96 monkies , parrots . folio . 31 influence of the moone . folio . 28 mutinies how to be winked at folio . 94 vnadvisednesse of the multitude . folio . 126 o obiections resolved . folio . 141 office of a master . folio . 129 of a pilot. ibid of the boteswaine . ibid of the steward . ibid of the carpenter . ibid of the gunner . folio . 130 lawes of oloron . folio . 111 vertue of oranges . folio . 52 beds of oreweed . folio . 70 p modestie of sir hen : palmer . folio . 8 patience of the earle of nottingham . folio . 93 parts requisite in a com●●nder at sea. folio . 8 the palmito . folio . 29.55 palmito iland . folio . 59 pearles . folio . 88 iland of pengwins . folio . 72 described ibid hunting of pengwins . folio . 73 kept for store . ibid care of the pentagones . folio . 63 king philips comming into england . folio . 21 pilats fishes . folio . 44 challenging of pillage . folio . 110 prevention of vndue pillage . folio . 113 what to be reputed pillage . folio . 112 placentia . folio . 30 the plaintai● . folio . 30 dutie of pynaces . folio . 24 pynace lost . folio . 13 porke good foure yeare old . folio . 96 danger of open ports . folio . 5 providence of god. folio . 53 corrupt ; or scantie provisiōs . folio . 109 provisions , better provided at pli●●●outh . folio . 5 puerto viejo . folio . 122 puma . folio . 121 purgatiues . folio . 5● purflain . folio . 55 q. bay of quintera . folio . 105 r. prevention of ratts . folio . 89 calamities they bring . ibid long reach . folio . 81 the repentance . folio . 3 reasons of returne dangerous . folio . 87 the revenge . folio . 2 spare r●dders . folio . 105 runnawayes . folio . 68 s sabboth reserved for holy exercises . folio . 27 sailes of cotton cloth . folio . 102 ilands of salomon . folio . 1●0 arrivall at santos . folio . 49 forbidden to trade . folio . 50 pedro sarmiento . folio . 71 the scurvy . 35. the signes . ibid the causes . ibid seething meat in salt water . folio . 36 corruption of victuall . ibid vapours of the sea. ibid the remedies , by dyet . ibid by shift . ibid by labour . ibid by early eating and drinking ibid. by sower oranges and lemmons . ibid by doctor stevens water ibid by oyle of ●itry : ibid by ayre of the land. ibid abuses of sea-faring men . folio . 14 seales . folio . 75 setting the ship vpon a rocke . 83. diligence to free it . ibid shething of ships . folio . 78 in spaine and portingall . folio . 79 with double plankes . ibid. with canvas , ibidem with burnt planks . ibid with varnish in chi●● . ibid in england . folio . 80 best manner of shething . folio . 80 the sharke . folio . 43 what requisit in shipping . folio . 2 the honour of his maiesties ships . folio . 20 ships of trade . folio . 138 the prince his ships . ibid all ships of warre are not to be low built . folio . 139 foure ships taken . folio . 10● dutie of a small ship against a greater . folio . 141 shooting at sea 19. mischances therevpon ensuing . ibid sloth cause of fancies . folio . 82 care of sounding . folio . 32 spanish discipline . folio . 132.133.134 spanish officers . folio . 134 spanish admirall commeth to leeward . folio . 131 spaniards parley . folio . 134 inexperience of the spaniards . folio . 126. weaknesse of the spaniards . folio . 9 vain-glory of the spaniards . folio . 142 severitie of spaine . folio . 144 care of steerage . folio . 53 exquisite in the spaniards and portingals . ibid the straights . folio . 70 second peopling of the straights folio . 76. south part of the straights ilands . folio . 95 effects of courage in stormes . folio . 10 a cruell storme . folio . 99 birds like swans . 68. how caught , good refreshment . folio . 69 swearing remedied . folio . 41 t description of tenerif . folio . 25 the thunderbolt of london . folio . 3. tobias cove . folio . 83 concealement hindereth trading . folio . 113 point tremontame . folio . 70 entertainment of time. folio . 88 v captaine vavisor . folio . 10 importance of a small vessell . folio . 100. place of vice-admirall . folio . 9 considerations for voyages . folio . 4 voyages overthrowne by pretences . folio . 95 overthrow of the voyage . folio . 66 the cause . ibid infidelitie . ibid w order of the flemish wafters . folio . 8. deteyning of wages . folio . 110 warehouses sacked . folio . 101 obiection of wast . folio . 78 answered . ibid wast of men . folio . 57 distilling of salt water . folio . 52 contagious waters . folio . 56 care of watches . folio . 34 fruits of good watch. folio . 58 concealement of weakenes . folio . 103 wilfulnesse of mariners . folio . 6 wine more dangerous , then the enemy . folio . 103 spanish wines and fevers vnknowne in england . folio . 103 wine consumeth treasure . folio . 104 fight of the whale . folio . 45 with the sword fish . ibid with the thresher . ibid taking of the whale . folio . 46 by the indians . folio . 47 warning against wormes . folio . 78 y yonkers ever necessary in the top . folio . 26 finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a02826-e430 the necessary vse of discoveries . of travaile . o● shipping . improper names for shipping . the revenge . see m●ster hac●u●ts relations . the thunderbolt o● london . the iesus of lubeck . the repentance . the iourney of spaine . considerations for pretended voyages . provisions better provided at plimmouth , then at london . note . note . the providence o● the dutch. the english , authors of sea discipline . by them againe n●glected . the modesty of sir henry palmer . parts required in a commander at sea. the losse of the burdieux fleete , anno ●592 . the caus● . the weaknes of the enemy . the voyage of sir iohn hawkins , anno 1590. sir richard greenfield at flores . captaine vavisor . parts requisite in a good mariner . a cruell storme . and therein the effects of courage and advise . the losse of the pynace . abuses of some sea-faring men . master thomas candish . master george reymon● . the inconvenience of imprests . the true vse of imprests . the consequence of instructions at departure . obiections against meeting in harbours . answered , false calking . for prevention thereof . example . advise for shooting at sea. sundry mischan●es for neglect thereof obiect . answer . master thomas hampto's . the french and english fleete salute one another . the english carry vp their flagg in the french seas . the honour of his maiesties ships . practised at the comming in of k●ng philip into england . and in the passage of dona anna de austria . as also in her repas●age . the dutie of pynaces . the madera ilands . canaria ilands . gorgosh● . the description of tenerif . of a tree in fierro . the first discoverers of these ilands . note . exercises vpon the southwards of the canaries . cape de verd. the vnwholsomnesse thereof . the heatt . the brezes . the remedie . the influence of the moone in hot countries . saint iago . sacked by manuel serades , st. francis drake , and sir anthony shyrley . fuego . bravo . the palmito . the plantane . platentia . the cocos , and ●heir kindes . cyvet-catts . munkeyes . parrots . note . the losse of the edward cotton . the scurvey . the signes . the cause . seething of meat in salt water . corruption of victuall . vapours of the sea. azores . the remedies ; by dyet . by shift . by labour . by early eating and drinking . by sower oranges and lemmons . by doctor stevens water . by oyle of vitry. by the ayre of the land . the company sicke , and dismayed . brasill . cape s. augustine . farnambuca . todos santos . de vitoria . dangers of fire . by heating of pitch . by taking tobacco . by hooping and scutling of caske . by natures of waters . by swearing . the dolphin . the bonito . the sharke . flying fishes . alcatrace . the fight of the whale , with the sword-fish , and thresher . the taking of the whale . amber-greece . the beazar stone . amber greece . by the indians . b●st times to passe the lyne , from the north-wards to the south-ward . for prevention of annoyances , &c. in harbours . the vertue of oranges . distilling of salt water . vnskilfulnesse of the masters mate . providence of god , and the care of the master . care of steeridge , exquisit in the spanyards and portingalls . cape blanco . saint iames ilands , alias saint annes . gannets . purslane . cherries . palmitos . purgatiues . the vse of havas purgativas . artechoques , or prick-peares . a good note to take , or refuse vnknowne fruits . contagious water . wast and losse of men . industry of the indians ; they surprise the french , san-sebastian . kill the english , and discover vs. the events of good watch . palmito iland . ienero . little iland . isl● grand . shells of mother of pearle . price of ne●roes . cassavi meale . the preparing thereof for ●ood . agnanapes . and for bevera●e . the manner of planting iuca , with the labour of the women . polygamy of the indians ▪ their attire ▪ their manne● of housing . and sleeping . the description of brasill . it s havens . its commodities . its wants . the bestiall thereof . the discommodities . santa catalina . variation of the compasse . the overthrow of the voyage . the cause , infidelitie . discipl●ne of the spanish , the only cause of their prosperities . the cunning of runnawayes . and ignoble captaines , verified at their returnes . birds like swans caught with lin● and hooke proue good refreshment . care of the pentagones . a description of the vnknovvne land . a caveat for comming suddenly too nere an vnknowne land . poynt tremountaine . payre iland . condite head . hawkins-maid●n-land . bedds of oreweed , with white flowers . our comming to the straites . pedro sarmi●nto bu●ld●th san-philip . note . the ilands of pengwins . good provision in the straites . the description of the pengwin . hunting the pengwin . the keeping for store . the gulls , ducks . of seales , or sea-wolues . devises in sudden accidents . the second peopling of the spaniards . elizabeths bay. the river of ieronimo . blanches bay. obiection of wast . answere . warning against wormes . sheathing of shippes . in spaine and portugall , with double plankes . with canvas . with burnt plankes . in china with varnish . in england ▪ best manner of sheathing . long reach . note . english bay. sloth cause of imagination . tobias cove . setting of the ship vpon a rocke . the company dismayed . diligence to 〈◊〉 it . to the laborious god propitious , and there●ore praysed . crabby cove . voyages ●verthroune by pretences . edward f●nton and master thomas cand●sh . master william hawkins . danger to hearken vnto reasons of return● . the mending of an vnserviceable anchor . entertainement o● time , to avoyd idlenesse , in gathering of winter● barke . of pearles . prevention of ra●s . the calamities they bring to a ship . backwardnes in the companie , and the consequences thereof . advertisements ●or c●mmanders . the advantage of obedience . advertis●ments ●or yong servi●ors . the patience of the earle of nottingham . mutenies not alwayes to be winked at . south part of the straites ilands . sir francis drake imbraceth the southermost poin● of the world . m●cha . baldiv●a . trechery of the indians . ex●hanges o● t●ifles . o● sheepe . their apparell , and housing . people 〈◊〉 chily . their weapons . their hate to the sp●niards . a cruel storme the important losse of a small vessell . saint maries . citty of conc●ption . ivan fernandes good to avo●d discovery wilfulnesse of mariners . they seize ●pon 4. ships . and the warehouses . they seize vpon another shippe , and some gold . light anchors brou●ht from the north s●a , and the first artillerie . sayles of cotton c●oth . they dep●rt from lyma , and conc●ale their weaknes . the no●le●es of alonso ●e soto . the enemy lesse dangerous then the wine . spanish wines and burning feavers vnknowne in england . and consumeth treasure . description of the bay. a new devise for stopping a leake without board . spare rudders . bay of quintera . nota verum hispanum . coquinbo . arica in chily , much commended . for all sorts of fru●tes . and plenty of gold. the indians forbid the search of gold . every showre , a showre of gold . linnen and woollen cloth made in coquinbo . the valour of the arawcans . most men vnwillin● to follow cove●ous commande●s . the mischiefs of corrupt , or scant●e provisions . of detayning and def●auding of wages . of marriners by challenge of pillage . the lawes of oleron , con●erning pillage . what ought to be reputed pillage . against the disloyalties of captaines . conc●●●emē● ; o● much more value , th●n the trad●ng . the prevention of vndue pillagin●s . arica . the severity of spaine . overcha●●ing o● artileries . the amity of the indians . advise ●●ven ●y sea and land. the ilands of salomon . punta de augus●a . puma . puerto viejo . they dismisse their indians . the indians led by a molato spanis● armado . the vnadvised courage of the multitude . the beginning of the ●ight . the inex●erience of the spa●iards . and carelesnesse of the english. how farre a commander is to trust his officers . deceit of the gann●r , and his extreme carelesnesse , and suspitious disloyalty . admonitions , for commanders . who to be accounted a true marriner . his knowledge for materialls . for provisions . for navigation . offic● of the master . office of the pilot. the boteswaine . the steward the carpenter . the gunner . directions in secret . parts requ●site in a good husbandman . the like in a good chie●etaine . why the spanish admirall ca●e to leewa●ds . intertainment of spaniards . the english , 75. the spaniards , 1300. the spanish discipline . two clac●etaines ioyned in commi●●ion dang●rous . the souldier . the gunner . the marriner . officers i● a shipp . of war. captaine of the so●ldiers . captaine of t●e shippe . mr. del campo , &c. prving of the sp●niards into o●r di●cipl●ne . their imitation o● o●t ●iscipline . the ends of fugitiues . the spaniards pay deerely for their rashnesse . and take a new resolution pollicies to avoyde bourdings . dispute concerning ships of trade . concerning the prince his shippes . al ships of warre are not to below bu●lt perticular respects must giue place to the generall . arrogancy of a spanish g●nerall . doubts and obiections resolued . and the duty of a small ship against a greater . vain-glory of the spanish . courses for artiller● after bourding . disuse of engines of antiquitie . the spaniards parley . they resolue to fight it out . the enemie breatheth , the english repaire their defects . advant●ges omitted . the difference of shot . their effects . errors in fight , learned from the flemings and easterlings . 1. to fight vnarmed . 2. to drinke to excesse . the spaniard surpasseth vs onely in temperance . the vse and profit of arming , exactly obs●rved by the spanish . armes more necessary by sea , then at land. a difference for commanders . race-ships of warre disliked wast-clothes not so vsefull , as other devises . the disadvantage o● ships to lee-wa●d . and the b●st remedie . the spaniards●ore-mast ●ore-mast thrice shot through . th● english sur●ender . t●e mildnes of a generall after victorie the daintie in danger of perishing . m●●haell archangell , ●e●o●ereth th● sh●p . fishing for pearles . the places where pearle are found . the generall continueth his honourable vsage , towards the sicke and wounded . what a pirate is . 3. sorts of defiances . the custome of spaine ●or of warre . the custome of england . a disputation concerning buena querra . the resolution &c. the noble vsage of the eng●ish , but abused in these dayes . don beltran satisfied and answereth . short arrowes for muskets . iohn oxmans voyage to the south sea. what the symarons are . their habitation . their assistance . iohn oxman capitulateth with them , his folly , and breach of promise . his pursuite . and evill fortune . he flyeth to the symarons breach of faith never vnpunished . la pacheta the generall certefieth the audiencia of his successe . the great ioy of the spaniards . note