hundred Houses on fire yet they Could discern no likely issue thereof but judg'd it best to make their escape by Night over the nearest Bridge Cortez therefore dividing his gotten Treasures which amounted to above seven hundred thousand Duckets amongst his Soldiers carried Montezuma's Son and two Daughters Prisoners with him though not without infinite danger and loss for the Tenustitans assail'd him on both sides and falling in also upon his Rear spar'd not to kill Montezuma's own Children In this last Fight the Service was so hot Spaniards beaten aftersh that Cortez lost forty two Horse a hundred and fifty Spaniards and two thousand Auxiliaries and although gotten over the Lake they were still pursu'd by the Mexicans who would then undoubtedly have made a general Slaughter had not Cortez amused the Enemies by leaving in the Night great Fires in several Places his suppos'd Camps whilst he silently stole away Yet the Tenustitans would have pursu'd the Spaniards had they not wanted Provisions But Cortez sending his Treasure before him through the Countrey Colva to Vera Crux with a Convoy of five Horse and forty four Foot were all cut off by the Colvaans and feasted upon in a Thanksgiving Sacrifice The same misfortune befel twelve Spaniards in Tepeacu which great City surrendred it self up to Cortez Remarkable Exploits of Cortez being assisted by a mighty Army of Tlaxcallans and others But after all these Losses he took Guaccachiulla and Izzuca both fortified with strong Walls and Gates in which last he burnt above a hundred Temples built for Humane Sacrifices All the Countrey through which he thus ransack'd he call'd New-Spain From the City Tazuco which he had newly taken intending to besiege Tenustitan he digg'd through the Lakes a broad Trench of above three Leagues in length to bring up thirteen new Ships to Tenustitan and the neighboring People envying that that City should not be conquer'd as well as theirs rais'd an Army of above a hundred and fifty thousand Men making Cortez their General Himself incamped on one corner of the City appointing the other two sides to be invested by Gonsales Sandovalo and Pedro Alvarado but the Besieg'd resolutely broke out and made a fierce Sally with five thousand Boats setting upon the thirteen Ships but the great Guns made such execution and havock amongst them that they retreated with great damage Whoever were taken Prisoners in this Fight by the Spaniards the Tlaxcallans being Commission'd by Cortez feasted upon Tenustitan or Mexico taken On the seventh day the City was taken but not without great Slaughter and the new King imprison'd After this mighty Conquest Cortez resolv'd to discover those Territories that lay Southward and whilst he was making all things ready for the Voyage he sent two Ships with an invaluable Treasure to Spain who fearing to be taken by the French Pyrats ran in at Tercera Sad accident occasion'd by a Tyger where a miserable Accident hapned to the Seamen of the biggest Ship wherein were carried two Tygers which though taken young and bred up amongst men yet had not so quite forgotten their natural ferocity but that one breaking loose in the Night tore seven of them in pieces hurting a far greater number of which some had the Brawns of their Arms the Calves of their Legs and fleshy parts of their Thighs bit out Several Places in America breed Tygers that far exceed Lyons in fierceness so that where any considerable number of them frequents though the Soil be never so fruitful yet it is left desolate and forsaken But the Baboons that frequent the Woods are more pleasant Strange Battel with Baboons and less dangerous Peter Arias relates That his whole Army incountred with these Beasts which climb'd from one Tree to the other shrieking and making very strange Gesticulations to those that were gone before and gathering their Mouths and Hands full of Stones which they threw as exact and strongly as a Man When one of these Baboons shot by a Musquet fell to the Ground the rest gave such a horrible shriek that the Woods resounding with the noise strook a terror into the Spaniards Amongst several things that hapned in this Counter-scuffle take this one A Spaniard taking aim with his Musquet at an old Baboon which sate pearch'd up in a Tree and being now just ready to give Fire the Baboon Soldier at the very instant to break the Shot taking a Stone out of his Mouth threw it exactly into the Mans Mouth with such force as beat out some of his Teeth with which sudden blow surpris'd he lost his Mark and the proud Foe shewing signs of Triumph went his way But whilst Cortez staid in the Countrey of Tenustitan now call'd Mexico Franciscus Garajus sail'd out of the Haven of Jamaica with eleven Ships to the River Panucus there according to the Command of the Emperor Charles to plant a Colony Whereupon he went ashore ordering his Fleet to sail along in sight of Land So wading through the River Montaltus which glides between high Mountains he came to a Morassy Ground in which he and they often sunk almost up to the Middle and lost his way in a Thicket of young Trees yet at last being come to the River Panucus he found several high Walls Great destruction being the Ruines of Fortresses Temples and Towers destroy'd by Cortez so that the City lay quite desolate Twenty Leagues further upon the Banks of the same River Cortez had in like manner sack'd and destroy'd Chiglia a Town which before its burning reckon'd above twenty thousand Houses besides many fair Palaces Walls Towers and Temples Which Cruelties and Spoil had bred so great an Odium in the Inhabitants against the Spaniards that they immediately sent an Army against Garajus The unfortunate Expedition of Garajus who had only a few half-starv'd Men with him yet he receiv'd the Enemy twice in his Retreat to the new Colony St. Steven rais'd out of Chiglia's Ruines but finding no Provisions where-ever he came he judg'd it fittest to send his Horse into the Countrey to Forage which Cortez meeting took Prisoners under pretence that Garajus came to take Possession where he had neither Authority nor Right Cortez also made himself Master of Garajus Ship and Fleet commanding him withal to appear in Tenustitan which not knowing how to avoid he obey'd His People mean time ranging up and down without a Head or Commander either died by Famine or were murther'd and eaten by the Natives for at one time the Americans made a general Feast with two hundred and fifty rosted Spaniards Spaniards tosted But their days of Triumph lasted not long for Sandovalus one of Cortez his Prime Officers set with so much fury upon those Cannibals that he kill'd several thousands of them and burnt sixty Persons of Prime Quality all Commanders in the sight of their Friends and Relations But Garajus whose Son was married to Cortez his Daughter liv'd not long after the
Enemy by Water whilst himself falling upon them by Land put the Lord of Tlatellulco with his whole Army to flight which was so closely pursu'd that they forc'd their way into the City with them put the Governor to Death and laid the Town in Ashes those which went by Water having had no less success Autzol succeeds him Axayaca after eleven years Reign Deceasing bequeath'd his Crown to Autzol who sought to promote his Election by ingaging with the mighty Province Quaxutatlan whose Inhabitants though but a little before they had been so bold as to demand Tribute of the Mexicans yet terrifi'd at the approach of Autzol's Army fled over an Arm of the Sea where they had been secure had not Autzol invented a floating Isle of Planks by which he got over his whole Army upon which the amaz'd Quaxututlans immediately submitted themselves to the Mexicans who pursuing their Victory extended their Dominions to Guatimala over a Tract of three hundred Leagues Autzol's Generosity and Mrgnificence The new King having now subdu'd all his Enemies and made himself glorious by his Victories was also ambitious to be as much extoll'd for his Generosity and Magnificence to which purpose he distributed all the Wealth which was brought unto him from the neighboring Countreys amongst the Poor and the Nobility to the first he gave Clothes and Provisions to the last Plumes of Feathers and Arms. Moreover he caus'd all mean Houses to be pull'd down and new ones to be built in their places Lastly he consulted how to bring fresh Water into Mexico which was plac'd in a brackish Soil Upon this Design he was so bent that when one of his Sages disswaded him from it alledging That the Water would drown the City he in stead of following his Advice banish'd him his Presence and upon his flying to Cuyaocun caus'd him to be fetch'd from thence and Executed Then prosecuting his Design he cut the Ditch before Cuyaocun by which means great store of fresh Water came flowing into the Lake Laguna which the Priests welcom'd with strange Ceremonies for some perfum'd the Water others Offer'd Quails Blood whilst others play'd on several Musical Instruments with many other Ceremonies which are at large describ'd in the ancient Mexican Chronicles kept in the Vatican Library at Rome But the Prophecy of the Executed Sorcerer was in a manner fulfill'd for the Water overwhelm'd a great part of Mexico and divided the City into Isles But to prevent farther Mischief Autzoll caus'd Banks to be rais'd and Channels digg'd and not long after in the eleventh Year of his Reign he deceas'd After which the Mexican Kingdom tended towards its period as the ensuing Story will declare Amongst the Mexican Nobility Mutexuma a melancholy Man yet very prudent who resided in a stately Apartment near the great Temple Cu that there he might the better converse with Viztlipuztli was elected King which he no sooner heard but fled from hence but being found out he was against his will led to the Grand Assembly and from thence to the holy Hearth where for an Offering he drew Blood out of his Cheeks Ears and Legs and according to an ancient Custom the Council of State boring a Hole in his Nose hung an Emerauld in the same after which the Lord of Tescuco saluted him with a Speech which since it is mention'd by Joseph d' Acosta together with several other Speeches of Congratulation to their Kings which were taught to Schollars to make them expert in their Language it will not be amiss to be annexed here that of many this one may serve for a pattern of the Mexicans Eloquence which is as followeth The Lord of Tescuco his Speech to Muteczuma THe great happiness most noble Muteczuma which is befall'n this Realm by your Election may easily be conjectur'd from the general joy none besides your self being able to undergo an Office in the management whereof so much Prudence is requir'd It is a most certain testimony that God loves Mexico that he hath given its Inhabitants understanding to make such a Choice Who can doubt but that you who have expatiated through the Heavens and convers'd with Viztlipuztli may easily Govern us Mortals on Earth Who can despair but that the Vertue inclos'd within your Breast will extend to the Widows and Orphans Therefore rejoyce O Mexico the Heavens have granted us a Prince without Vice Merciful and not a Violator of the Laws Affable not despising common Conversation And you O King let not this great Preferment occasion any alteration in your so long known Vertues The Crown breeds care for the publick good the troubles thereof must extend over the whole Realm and every one in the Realm Preparationâ— for the Coronation of Muteczuma Muteczuma having heard out the Speech would willingly have answer'd the same but could not utter a word for Tears which gush'd from his Eyes Before he went out to fetch Prisoners for Offerings at his Coronation he first setled his Houshold Affairs And whereas till this time the Kings had been serv'd in their Palaces by ordinary Citizens he took Knights and the chiefest of the Nobility intending thereby to make a distinction between the Nobility and the common People and add more Majesty to the Royal Dignity This done Muteczuma marching against a certain rebellious Province fetch'd a considerable number of People to be Offer'd to Viztupuztli At his Return the Coronation Day was appointed against which thousands of People came to Mexico even their very Enemies of Tlascala Mechoacan and Tepeaca which were never conquer'd by the Mexicans flock'd thither in great numbers All those Countreys which were under Tribute bringing unvaluable Treasures came in vast Multitudes which so throng'd the City that the very tops of the Houses were fill'd with Spectators no King in Mexico ever going to the Throne in such splendor His Grandeur nor was ever any King so much fear'd by his Subjects none of the common People daring to look in his Face neither did he ever set Foot on the Ground but was always carried in a Chair on the Shoulders of his prime Nobility he never wore a Suit of Clothes but once nor ever us'd a Cup or Dish after it was once foul'd he strictly maintain'd the Laws which he had made and often went himself in a Disguise to make a strict enquiry after all Affairs whatsoever by which means the Mexican Power was now arriv'd to the highest top but as other Realms grown top-heavy with good Fortune turn at last topsie-turvy just such a Misfortune befell Mexico but not without several fore-running signs of its destruction The ruine of the Mexican Empire prognosticated for in the City Cholola their God Quezalcoalt inform'd them that a strange People were coming to take possession of the Mexican Dominions and their Soothsayers prognosticated the same for which Muteczuma committed them all to Prison and doubtless had put them all to death had not they escap'd with
now make their Apparel of the same and upon the account of Barter drive a great Trade in it They Dye their Cotton with the boyl'd Roots and Leaves of a little Tree Eastward beyond Santa Cruiz lies the Countrey Paicanos eminent for the great Calabashes which grow there exceeding good to keep both wet and dry Meats in The Countrey receives a vicissitude of excessive Cold and intolerable Heat the hard Winters taking beginning in May and continuing till the beginning of August In the middle of our Summer a South-wind blows seven Weeks together here to the great prejudice of all Plants which are during that time often wash'd away by continual Rains About Christmas they Sowe and gather in their Harvest in March. During the rainy Season the Ways cannot be travell'd being all overflow'd by the Rivers neither doth the Palm-Wood which is four days Journey in length permit any access to the said City Santa Cruiz because the conflux of Waters makes it a Moor all over besides which the Tygers Bears and Serpents make the Ways dangerous especially at that time Through this Countrey the Spanish Captain Nusco de Chavas travell'd when he discover'd the Taguamacis a numerous People which dwell along the great River De la Plata The Countrey about Santa Cruiz produces all manner of Fruit but few Trees because of the want of Rain but Corn Maiz Wine Granadillas Luiumas and Tucumay as also the Plant Hachalindi in the Latine Tongue call'd Mirabile Peruanum grow here in great abundance which 〈◊〉 shoots up to the bigness of a pretty large Body full of Juice and of a yellowish colour out of which shoot knotty Boughs and about each Knot two Leaves resembling the Herb Nightshade the Flowers which hang at the ends of the Boughs are long and pleasant to the Eye by reason of their mixture of Purple White and Yellow and also of a sweet smell It is a strange Secret in Nature that this Flower opens at Midnight if any Light come near the same The Root also is accounted an effectual Medicine against the Dropsie SECT VII Collao Situation and Description of Collao COllao lieth Southward of those Countries which go under the general Name of the Province of Cusco having on the West Lima on the South Charcas but Eastward and to the North-East it is shut up by a Ridge of Mountains running in one Body or continu'd Tract from the Confines of Collao as far as the City of Cusco where they divide The Countrey is generally plain commodiously water'd in all Parts with fresh Rivers and consequently affording rich Pasturage and good Herds of Cattel Chief Towns and Places of note The Chief Towns and Places of note are 1. Chuquinga a great Town and held to be naturally almost impregnable as being environ'd round about either with deep unfordable Waters or with Mountains unpassable and having one onely Cawsey leading to it reported to be for two or three Leagues together no broader than to permit one single Person to march conveniently upon it 2. The City Pucara which was formerly well inhabited but at present nothing remains of it except the ruin'd Walls of great Houses and large Images of Stone 3. Ayavire by the Spaniards call'd Las Sepulturas being a Place especially enobled by the stately Monuments of the Peruvian Nobility which were found there 4. Hatuncolla the Metropolis or chief Town of this Province seated upon the Banks of the River Caravaya whose Streams are very much fam'd for Gold CALLAO de LIMA The River Caravaya which glides from the Andes Eastward to the City Juan del Oro produces much fine Gold but not without the loss of many People which are kill'd by the unwholsom Air and Damps that arise here The Lake Titicaca The Lake Titicaca which washes the Countrey Collao on the North the Province of Omasuy on the East Chaquito on the West and Chuquiabo on the South is one of the greatest Lakes of America being eighty Leagues in circumference and in several places as many Fathom deep wherefore it is exceeding rough in windy Weather Into this Lake ten great Rivers discharge their Waters which run away again through a narrow but very deep Channel in which the Stream runs so strong that no Boats are able to abide in it 5. Chinquita a Colony of Spaniards upon the Banks of Titiaca having many small Islands in it of a good and fruitful Soil abounding in Fish and variety of Sea-Fowl it is suppos'd to be fourscore Leagues distant likewise from the South Sea haying onely one Estuary or Mouth which is something strait but of such a deep Water and violent Stream that as Acosta testifieth of it it is not possible to build a Bridge of Stone or Timber over it but the Natives in stead thereof have laid a Bridge of Straw upon it which serves as well viz. so many great Bundles of Straw Sedge or such like matter well and surely made up and fastned together as will reach from one side or Bank of the Estuary to another at which likewise having made them sure they cast some good quantity of more Straw and Sedge upon them and have a Bridge very convenient upon which they both securely pass themselves and also drive Cattel and do other necessary Business The Water is neither bitter nor brackish yet is not drinkable because of its muddiness Several Islands that lie in the Lake serv'd formerly for Store-houses of the chiefest Goods which the People thereabouts living near the High-way would not trust in their Villages The Plant Totara Here grows a certain Broom-Plant call'd Totara good for many uses and is also wholsom Food both for Man and Beast moreover they cover their Houses with the same burn it on their Hearths and make Boats The Uros a salvage People made Floats of Totara which they ty'd together and built Villages on the same which drove to and again according as the Wind blew The Lake also breeds abundance of Fish and especially two sorts viz. Suches which are very pleasing to the Palate but unwholsom and the Bogas which though less and full of Bones are a much better Food There likewise breed plenty of Fowls about the same especially wild Geese and Ducks When the Peruvians intend to Entertain any Person they go to catching of Fowls by them call'd Chaco after this manner They make a Circle with the Floats nam'd Balsas and Rowing close to one another take up the inclos'd Fowl with their Hands Moreover the fore-mention'd Channel through which the Lake Titicaca discharges its Water ends in a little Lake call'd Aulagas likewise full of desolate Isles but hath no visible place into which to empty its Water therefore it must needs according to the course of Nature fall under Ground where it commixes with a Stream whose original is unknown though it be seen to fall into the South Sea The Town is a Place of extraordinary Wealth and Trading and so considerable that
Court that were brought over thither by Columbus Moreover Hoieda was inform'd here That this Gold-River took its Original in the Province belonging to Cacicus Caunaboa signifying The King of the Golden Palace Columbus builds a City Mean time Columbus selected a piece of Ground on a rising Hill on the North part of the Isle where he intended to build a City because close by the Hill on one side rises a Mountain pregnant with Stone and Chalk on the other a Plain so exceeding fruitful and pleasant that the Sun scarce shines upon a more delightful and fertile Soil which they found afterwards by experience Here Melons are set and ripe in thirty six days Corn in two Months Strange fruitfulness there twice a Year the Trees and Plants bring forth their several Products the Vines come to maturity and are loaden with Clusters of Grapes in two Years and Sugar-Canes grow as thick as a Mans Arm in fifteen days On this pleasant Soil accommodated with a convenient Haven Columbus afterwards built the City Isabella fortified with Walls and Trenches against all Invasions over which he made his Brother Bartholomew Columbus first Governor Mean while the Admiral Columbus himself march'd up into the Countrey with three hundred Men in quest of the Gold Mines Seventy two Leagues the Valley Cibava lies distant from Isabella to which Columbus pass'd over swift Currents and high Mountains where he built a Fort which he call'd St. Thomas and exchang'd with the Inhabitants Toys and Trifles for Pieces and Ingots of Gold which the Inhabitants as before-mention'd found in the Sand of their Rivers And besides they inform'd him That about half a days Journey further greater Quantities of Gold were to be found in a browner colour'd Soil Whereupon Luxanus one of his Officers was sent with a sufficient Party thither who march'd through a delightful way cool with shady Boughs and pleasant with the prospect of spacious Meadows where they mow'd Grass for their Horses which in four days time grew up again higher than our tallest Wheat Goes to Sea to discover new Countreys Mean time Columbus being return'd with great Riches to his new City Isabella went soon after by Sea with three Vessels to discover new Countreys more remote which his Design fell out also successfully for he fell first upon Jamaica where he found more stout Opposition than elsewhere by the Natives at his Landing but finding themselves over-power'd they came to Agreement and accepting an amicable Composure presently struck up a Peace From thence putting to Sea he next discover'd Cuba which sailing round about he found also to be an Island where Landing in a convenient Harbor on each fenc'd with a high and jutting Rock he espied two little Hovels wherein was abundance of Fish besides two great Snakes or Serpents each having eight Feet spitted and ready to be laid to the Fire to be roasted but neither Man Woman nor Child to be seen they being gone with part of the Fish they had dress'd into the adjacent Woods whither the Spaniards following saw hanging by small Strings on the Branches of Trees abundance of Snakes some of which had their Mouths tied together others their Tongue and Teeth pull'd out Hence marching on a little beyond they saw a Company of the Natives which they judg'd to be about seventy Men covering the top or summit of a Hill to whom the Spaniards made Signs and to entice them near shew'd several of their gawdy Trifles but in vain till at last one adventur'd descending from the Hill to whom one of the Natives who in the first Voyage that the Admiral made was taken from the Island Guanahaini near Cuba carried to Spain and there Christned call'd aloud telling him they need not fear they should have no harm done them which said they came down all together and inform'd them That they were sent by their King to catch Fish for another King which was with him at Dinner and if they had not eaten the Serpents they gave them many thanks for they were provided for the second Course and very scarce to be got being a greater Dainty than any Fish Discovers not without great Accidents several New Countreys Columbus From hence proceeding on further Westward discover'd a fruitful Coast verging the Mouth of a River whose Water runs boyling hot into the Sea Somewhat further he saw very strange Fishes especially the Guaican not unlike an Eel but with an extraordinary great Head over which hangs a Skin like a Bag. This Fish is the Natives Fisher for having a Line or handsom Cord fastned about him so soon as a Turtel or any other of his Prey comes above Water they give him Line whereupon the Guaican like an Arrow out of a Bowe shoots towards the other Fish and then gathering the Mouth of the Bag on his Head like a Purse-net holds them so fast that he lets not loose till hal'd up out of the Water Here the Spaniards having Din'd on delicate Fish went on still Westward and came to an uninhabited Isle but well stor'd with Geese Pelicans and ugly Dogs that could not bark Here they came amongst so many Shoals that the Keels of their Ships raked upon the Ground almost forty Leagues together the Water thick and white like Milk Lastly they came again into deep Water and Landed at the Foot of a high Mountain on the Island Cuba where they found two Springs of very sweet Water A Musqueteer going into the Woods whilst the rest fill'd their Vessels with Water and cut Wood he spied a tall Man in a Coat like a white Fryer's Frock behind whom came two more and soon after thirty more follow'd all alike Habited the Musqueteer running away they beckned him to stay but he march'd off arid informing Columbus of his Adventure he sent a Party well Arm'd to see farther into the Countrey but they neither saw nor heard any Men onely found on the other side of the Wood a great Plain but so overgrown with deep Grass that it was impossible to get through The next day he sent out twenty five more which found nothing else than the Prints of the Steps of great Beasts and Lyons and also abundance of large Grapes which hung on the Branches of Vines clasping about the Bodies of the great Trees Hence Columbus again putting to Sea and Sailing Westerly found a Shore overflow'd with Water and abounding with Pearl-Mussles and after that the whole Countrey full of Mountains whose tops smoaked By this time the Fleet was much damnified by the Shole-water where as we mention'd before they often struck and their Keels rak'd upon the Ground so that having sprung several Leaks and their Provisions growing mouldy with the Damp they were forc'd to return and Tacking about they ran against Turtles which lay as thick in the Sea as if they had been sow'n Columbus now on his return home and Landing once more on Cuba found an antient Man stark naked who speaking to him
into a Stone Trough set for that purpose underneath then the Figure of a Man Carv'd in Alabaster bowing forward as if looking into the Trough upon the Blood Those which were sacrificed were Prisoners taken on the neighboring Coasts whom bringing before their Idols they ripping open make no farther inspection but onely to whip out the Heart with which having smear'd the Lips of their Idols they throw it into the Fire the Heads and Corps they let lie unburi'd whose fleshy parts especially their Cheeks they feast upon The next Island is inhabited by Women Maiden-Island to which Annually their Neighbors go pretending merry kindness but upon amorous inclinations and Plough and Till their Ground and Weed their Gardens Pontenchianum a City The chief City of Tabasco is Pontenchianum and contains above fifteen hundred Houses all built of Stone hardned with baking after their manner which in some Places besides their Turrets and Temples yield a pleasant Prospect at a great distance Fourteen eminent Towns more did the Spaniards also see in Tabasco FERDINAND MAGELLANUS Strange making of Obligations When in conversing with them they observ'd their strange manner of Sealing their Bargains and Contracts one with another they were amaz'd for not using Wax they usually Seal'd their Compacts with their own Blood commonly drawn with a Stone Knife either from their Tongue Hand or Arms. Their. Priests live single and if found to be Unchast are punisht with Death An Adulteress is sold for a Slave Unmarry'd People may not frequently converse with Marry'd Thirty five days in the year makes their Lent in which they abstain not onely from Flesh but Fish also feeding onely upon Roots and Herbs In this place the Spaniards were receiv'd in great state Canopy'd with green Palm-Tree-Branches and in like manner conducted aboard again not without many Presents viz the Effigies of a Man curiously wrought in Gold wherewith they return'd to Cuba SECT IX The Expedition of Ferdinand Magaglian commonly call'd Magellane Bishop Casis sad effect concerning the Pearl catching THe Bishop Bartholomew de Casis living a considerable time in Hispaniola in the City Dominico being inform'd of the abundance of Pearls which were caught before Cubagua and the unsupportable cruelty of the Spaniards there under Ocampus us'd against the Inhabitants went to Spain with a design to obtain of the Emperor Charles the Fifth the Government over Cumana and Cubagua under pretence to draw the ignorant Natives from their Idolatry to Christianity which his request was especially promoted by William of Nassaw the Emperors prime Favorite so that having his Letters Patents granted to that purpose he took Ship and arriv'd with three hundred Spanish Gentlemen of Quality in Cumana And that they might have the greater respect shown to them there they had each a Red Cross given them such as the Knights of Calatrava generally wear Yet little did Ocampus the old Governor of Cumana regard either them or their Authority for in stead of receiving and submitting he kept the Bishop de Casis out by force of Arms who then made complaint to the Vice-Roy of the West-Indies in Hispaniola and in the mean time put his Cargo into a hew Store-house But whilst he made his Addresses Ocampus having sufficiently inrich'd himself departed which incourag'd the Cumaners who already were incens'd and weary of their former sufferings to venture on a design whereby they might revenge themselves of the Spaniards which their undertaking prov'd so successful that very few escap'd the Massacre Of which de Casis being inform'd and much discontented thereat betook himself to a Dominican Cloyster in Hispaniola Cruelty of Castellio in Cumana Yet not long after the Cumaners paid dear for that slaughter for one Castellio though not without several Engagements with various success lasting forty days together having at last utterly vanquish'd them put to an ignominious Death Hanging up seventy of their Princes and to them of meaner quality shewing as little mercy As little success had Lodowick Lampagnano sent out by some Spanish Merchants with Letters Patents from the Emperor to Fish for Pearl before the same Cubagua to which purpose he carry'd peculiar Nets and other necessaries with him But the Cubaguan Spaniards unanimously withstood him Lampaguano discontented so that not being able to effect his design over-power'd with a Melancholly Distemper that broke his Heart he dy'd Magellanus Expedition how it happen'd In the interim while these scarce considerable Voyages turn'd to so small account Ferdinand Magaglianus for so Peter Martyr calls him and not Magellanus which herein deserves to be credited because they were intimately acquainted and great friendship between them undertook to Sail round about the World the occasion of which we will here relate at large This Magaglianus or Magellanus a Gentleman of Portugal having perform'd things of great importance for his King in Africa although with no less trouble than Charge desir'd an addition of half a Ducket a Moneth added to his Annual Pension an inconsiderable Sum to make a Request for yet though so little was as niggardly deny'd Whereupon highly incensed he study'd no little revenge to which effect soon after an opportunity was presented by means of Franciscus Serranus who writ from Ternata to him that he should speedily come thither which he soon after did upon this account Pope Alexander the Sixth having fixt Terminaries between the Kings of Castile and Portugal both busie at that time in discovering new Countreys Order'd That Castile should possess all the Coasts lying to the West of the chief Meridian and Portugal to the East By vertue of this partition the rich Spicy Molucca Islands fell absolutely to the Portuguese Now Magellanus perswaded Charles the Fifth that they might be Sail'd to with a Westerly Course and therefore belong'd to Castile Which advice Charles the Fifth considering and approving Rigg'd out five Ships with which Magellanus set Sail from Sevil the tenth of August Anno 1519. five Moneths he ply'd up and down the Coast inhabited by the Patagones Strange Giant where he found none but one single Person or rather a Monster a Giant ten Foot high who coming Aboard his Ship devour'd a great Hamper full of Biskets and at one Draught drunk up nine Pottels of Water He also saw several Trees which had been Hew'n with Axes and Crosses made on the tops of them Whilst he lay in that Harbor which was call'd St. Julian he Cashier'd his Vice-Admiral John Carthagena with his Father Confessor and sparing their lives set them ashore and there left them to seek their Fortunes though they had Conspir'd to Murther him Streights of Magellan how found Magellanus from thence Sailing afterwards Southerly along America to forty two Degrees Southern Latitude was engag'd with the eddyings of a very strong Current which driving one of the Ships into a Bay split against a blind Rock but the Men being sav'd in their Boat were driven farther and farther
into a Channel between high and Snowy Mountains whereupon he immediately judg'd as the famous Negromancer Roderick Talerus had often told him that there was the Passage through which the Northern Ocean flow'd into the Southern wherefore he resolutely adventur'd to Sail into those Sraights which in some places narrow and in others broad is an hundred and twenty Leagues long and full of small Isles and dangerous Rocks Whilst he still Sail'd on the Ship call'd Antonio Tacking about return'd to Cadiz But Magellanus enter'd the great South-Sea with three Sail on the 25. of October where the Sea-men suffer'd extremely by excessive Heat Drought and Famine three Moneths and twenty Days without sight of Land And now their Shooes and the Leather which cover'd their Shields began also to grow scarce which before had been counted a Dainty when they discover'd two Islands lying two hundred Leagues distance one from another yet both Desolate and Barren wherefore they were call'd the Unfortunate Isles After that they came amongst a great number of Islands whose Inhabitants were much inclin'd to Thievery for which cause they Denominated them Ladrones the chiefest Island call'd Borneo hath two hundred fifty four Leagues in Circumference whereon a Tree grows whose Leaves when faln off seem to be alive and creep like Worms The King of this Island entertain'd the Spaniards very courteously two Elephants bringing his Presents to them on the Shore out of a City consisting of twenty thousand Houses Near Borneo are two lesser Islands call'd Zubo and Matan The King of Zubo freely submitted himself to the Spaniards Magellanus slain and Magellanus leaving his Fleet at Anchor in the Haven went with his own and other Indian Boats and attended with some of the Zubensers to Matan where setting a Village on Fire he carry'd great Riches from thence This not satisfying he resolv'd within eight days to set upon the Royal head-Head-City but the King in his own Defence Encountering with Magellanus slew him and seven Spaniards more besides twenty two dangerously wounded those which escap'd by flight got to Zubo Spaniards murdered where being invited to Dinner by the King they were all of them in stead of a second Course Murther'd at Table The occasion of this was out of Revenge because the Spaniards had fall'n too foul upon their Women and Maids Devirginating and forcing them to their Pleasure than which rudeness nothing was among them more Detestable The Sea-men weakned by these Misfortunes were necessitated to burn their third Ship call'd St. Jago but Sailing to the Molucco Islands with the other two they Freighted them both with Cloves with which the Ship Trinitas Sail'd to New-Spain through the South-Sea and the Victoria An end of the Voyage about the world Commanded by John Sebastian de Lano went the same way which the Portuguese us'd and so to St. Lucar de Barrameda near Sivile where he came to Anchor with his Ship and eighteen Men. SECT X. Ferdinando Cortez his Voyage ALthough several Expeditions of the Spaniards to America prov'd very unsuccessful at the first yet they still undertook them afresh and with renewing Courage Ferdinando Sottus Sottus cruelty though he Landed five hundred Men in Florida yet brought no Treasure from thence onely he cut off the Hands of fifteen Princes because they would not discover their Mines of Gold Miserable end of Narvaez Yet far worse success had Pamphilus Narvaez who lost both his Fleet and Men saving onely ten out of six hundred in the River Palma and they also afterwards dy'd there or eat one another to satisfie their raging Hunger Cortez his Voyage But much better was the fortune of Ferdinando Cortez Sailing from Spain to America in the Year 1519. who having the Command given him over ten stout Ships and three Frigats with five hundred Foot and an additional Force of sixteen Horse rais'd by the new Spanish Inhabitants on Cuba with which Forces Landing on the Island Cozumella he prohibited Humane Sacrifice to their Idols and Erected a Cross with the Image of the Virgin Mary in one of their Temples and releas'd Hieronimus Aquilaris after a seven years Slavery Remarkable delivery having suffer'd Shipwrack with Valdivia at which time some that sav'd themselves in the Boat were by the Current in thirty days driven to Jucatan in which time seven dy'd of Hunger the rest going ashore were no sooner Landed but Sacrific'd by the Natives to their Gods or Zemes. Among the six that remain'd yet left alive and to be offer'd after the same manner the next day was this Aquilaris who with his Companions breaking Prison in the following night fled to a Neighboring Prince their Enemy and one that maintain'd a continual War against these Cannibals Strange Battel Here Cortez sent Articles of Peace to Taxmarus the King of the Countrey but he sleighting his proffer came down upon him into the Field with forty thousand Men drawn from the City Potanchanum which contain'd above twenty thousand Houses all built of Stone And indeed the Spaniards had here seen their last day had not Cortez drawn by a seeming advantage the Enemies under his Canon and sent his small Party of Horse to attend the motion of the Rear when so soon as they had fir'd their Canon making great Execution the Front routed and the Rear terrifi'd with the noise and smoke of the Guns they also broke being at the same instant Charg'd with the Horse which were so terrible to them that never saw Horses nor such Service on Horseback before that in a short time the whole Body of so great an Army was utterly dissipated and the triumphing Conquerors took possession of the empty City Potanchanum Potanchanum a City where Solacing they staid a whole Moneth Then from hence they Sail'd to Colvaca where upon the request of the Natives they settled a Colony Amongst the Presents which were there given to the Spaniards were some of their own Volumes Colvacana Books of what fasahion as also their Temples Books whose Leaves were made of the innermost Rind of a Tree and a kind of Paste made of their Meal glew'd together the Characters stood at some distance one after another rang'd like our Christ-Cross Row or A B C. Here Cortez was amaz'd to behold their stately Temples the Floors whereof were cover'd with Embroyder'd Tapestry beset with Precious Stones to which great multitudes flock'd being very zealous to perform their Devotions When their Seed is put into the Ground or come to its full growth they offer young Children to their Zemez richly Cloth'd having been fatten'd some Weeks before When they want Children they kill their Slaves and in default of them they pacifie them with Dogs Strange Sacrifices The Victims that go to be Sacrific'd they Worship with all Adoration Bowing and Congying before them Strange Idol-Worship Their Zeal in this their Idol-Worship may appear from a strange Custom observ'd by them when
they enter their Temple viz. they either draw Blood out of their Tongues Lips Ears Breast Knees or Palm of their Hands which they throw into the Air supposing thereby to be pardon'd by their indulgent Gods Zempoal a City In the City Zempoal Cortez found five Slaves who being kept close Prisoners were to be Sacrific'd the next day but he releasing them did upon the importunate request of the Quines or Priests and promises of great ransoms and their telling of him that the Zemez would spoil all their Seed and Plants that year if they did not go on with these Offerings restor'd the Prisoners again who though the enjoyments of all happinesses in the other World were promis'd them by their Priest and great assurance given thereof yet they were not forward but return'd unwilling to suffer though by so gainful a Sacrifice Zemez wonderful Idols At the Zemez Feet hung abundance of Mens Bones bundled up together and under them were Written the Names of their Enemies whose Flesh had been either Sacrific'd or eaten Twelve Leagues beyond Zempoal Cortez built a new City near the River Grisalva and call'd it Vera Crux which Diego Velasques resented so ill it being done without his knowledge that he petition'd the Council of Cuba to give Sentence of Death against the Founder But whilst Cortez expected an answer from the Embassadors which were sent to the Spanish Court to give account of the necessity of building a City there he travell'd eighty Leagues Westerly The Zempoalensers accompanied him in great Troops hoping by that means to shake off the yoke of the mighty King Montezuma against whom they were then design'd Cortez coming into the Territory of Sincuchimalar Cortez his Exploits was in the Name of Montezuma by one of his Princes courteously entertain'd in a great Village scituate on a steep Mountain without any Path or Way leading to it but by two high Ladders Sincuchimalar lies surrounded with Hills whose tops seem to touch the Clouds Coming down from the Village they travell'd through a barren and cold Valley where they suffer'd such great Inconveniences by want of Provisions and Water and exceeding coldness of the Weather that many of them perish'd After that they ascended a pleasant Hill on whose summit stood a Chappel with a handsom Steeple and hedg'd about with great heaps of Wood brought thither by the Inhabitants for the use of their Sacrifices At the foot of this Mountain was a fruitful Valley water'd by a pleasant River on whose Banks a certain Prince nam'd Cacataminus had a Palace built of Stone and containing many Rooms and convenient Lodgings Somewhat higher to the Land appear'd more of the like Structures which were all under Montezuma's Jurisdiction but the neighboring Countrey Tlaxcalla whose Inhabitants were famous for their Valor would never receive any Laws from Montezuma Remarkable War in Tlaxcalla Cortez no sooner set footing in this Countrey but he was set upon by a thousand of the Inhabitants who at the first Assault kill'd two of the Spanish Horse yet after this bold Charge the Assailants fled and on the next day desir'd Peace whereupon the Spaniards march'd quietly into the Countrey when a confus'd Company or Forlorn-Hope making a horrible Noise set upon them but after a slight Skirmish they fled to their Main Body which immediately drawing up being at least a hundred thousand hemm'd in the handful of Spaniards and so were ready to swallow them leaving them no Angle to escape at Thus invironed they were assailed on every side fighting till Sun-set and had undoubtedly been utterly destroy'd had not Cortez ply'd his six Pieces of Cannon discharging continually Volley after Volley upon them and though the Execution was very much yet the Sound and report of their Ordinance was more terrible to them that were out of the reach of the Bullet and made more to the gaining so great a Victory Fear conquering more than Slaughter so that by the Evening despairing either of their Safety or better Fortune the whole Army disbanding fled But the pursuing Conquerors firing five of their Villages remain'd Masters of the Field yet they though thus totally routed taking fresh Courage a wonderful thing reinforc'd them and set upon the Spanish Camp with no less than 150000 Fighting Men Yet notwithstanding so vast an Army Cortez so well order'd his small parcel of Men and so valiantly led on upon all Advantages that he in like manner defeated this as they thought Invincible Preparation Thus flesh'd with so much Blood of the Natives he raged every where giving no Quarter where-ever he went Mean while Quesitangal a neighboring Prince having also raised an Army with which he design'd being assisted by darkness craftily to fall into the Spanish Quarters by Night subtilly dissembling sent Embassadors the day before with several Presents and Overtures of Peace which indeed were onely Spies to take notice where they might best break in upon them which Cortez mistrusting and soon being inform'd of the whole Design he cut off the Spies Hands so sending them back to Quesitangal with Defiance Hereupon the Indians immediately setting forward took advantage of the ensuing Night and with great fury fell upon the Spaniards who preacquainted with the Design were in so good a posture to receive them that not able to endure such hot Service they quickly retreated and utterly gave over the Enterprize But Cortez as much encourag'd by these Victories pursu'd them and the same Night Storm'd Tlaxcalla a City containing above twenty thousand Houses which in few Hours he carried This City was curiously built of bak'd Stones and a place of great Trade insomuch that the Market-places swarm'd with Buyers and Sellers bartering one with another all manner of Provisions as Fish Flesh and Bread also Plumes of Feathers Pearls imbroyder'd Tapestry Chalk Stones Timber and Herbs Twenty days Cortez staid here to refresh his Army and then march'd to the neighboring City Chiurutical with the Auxiliary Forces of the Tlaxcallans to the number of above a hundred thousand they told him That the People of Chiurutical had barricado'd up their Streets laid upon the tops of their Houses great heaps of Stones that their upper Rooms were cramm'd with Archers and all things made ready both for Offence and Defence which Advertisement he not much hearkned to because he was conducted into the City with all their State-Formalities of Singing and Tabering upon their Tamboes and every where courteously entertain'd A Plot strangely discover'd Mean while Montezuma had rais'd a great Army which were in their advance not onely to the defence of his Border but to surprize them them while they staid in that City the Townsmen having invited him thither to their rescue and his own defence had not the Plot been accidentally discover'd by a Chirutecan Woman who giving advice to one of her Friends that follow'd Cortez that he should immediately make his escape because that all the Strangers would be destroy'd within few Hours
in the new Plantations for a contracted Sum of Money After this they receiv'd all sorts of Arms and Ammunition with several Brass Guns of the then King Lewis the XIII and other gifts Collected and gather'd out of their several Societies for two new Accadian Apostles Gilbert du Thet a subtile man of the same Order transported their Necessaries At this time all things going favorably with the Jesuits they made themselves Masters of Port Royal and began to raise a Fort on the River Pemtagovet but there their happy Proceedings were stop'd for Captain Argal before-mention'd Sailing thither in vindication of the English was encounter'd by du Thet who firing the first Gun on Argal was by him taken off with Chain-shot and taking Biard and Masse carry'd them Prisoners to Virginia and dismantled the Fort built at Port Royal after which it was by King James given by Patent to Sir William Alexander as hath been already related together with what of most remarkable hath happen'd since SECT VI. Norumbegua NOrumbegua Whence denominated lying between Nova Scotia Northward and New England Southward is so utterly not taken notice of by many as a distinct Province that it might seem to be swallow'd up and lost in the two Countreys between which it lies or at least to be thought a part of Virginia or New England for Virginia largely taken is said to contain New England Novum Belgium and Virginia especially so call'd and that so much the rather because the Bessabees accounted by Sanson d' Abbeville an ancient People of New England are written to have liv'd near the River Penobscot which is reckon'd to be the same with Pemtegovet or as some will have it Norumbegua from which or from a certain great City of that Name the Country for fancy's sake must needs be denominated but since most commonly we find it nam'd and treated of apart it will not be improper to follow that method carrying the Bounds of New England no farther Northward than the River Quinnebequi or Sagadahoc and so determining the main part of this Countrey to that space between the aforesaid River and Pemtegovet excepting a small Southerly portion upon the Banks of the River Chovacovet so that it appears chiefly situate under the forty third Degree of Northern Latitude Towns and Cities not certainly known As for the Towns or Cities of this Province there is but a very uncertain account to be given forasmuch as the pretended great City Norumbegua from whence the Province should take its Appellation is not acknowledg'd by any of the most authentick modern Writers nor in any late Voyage or Discovery any mention made either of that or any other considerable Town or City Dr. Heylin supposeth it to be no other than Agguncia a poor little Village that seems compos'd of a company of Hutts or Sheaves cover'd with the Skins of Beasts or the Barks of Trees But the most favourable conjecture is that it might haply be the Ruines of an ancient Town which the Natives call'd Arambeck and had probably deserted it long before the arrival of the Europeans in those parts however it is not very probable that the Name of the Countrey should be deriv'd from this City if ever there were any such or from the River which appears to have been term'd Norumbegua on purpose to make way for this derivation whereas Pomtegovet is the ancient Appellation that properly belongs to it nor hath any modern one been apply'd to it but that of Rio Grande by Buno in his Comment upon Philip Cluverius upon what ground is hard to tell since it is observ'd by Heylin and others to be neither large nor otherwise much to be commended being Navigable not above twenty or thirty Miles in respect of its many great Cataracts and Falls of Water an Inconvenience with which many other Rivers of America are prejudic'd and rendred impassable Before and about the Mouth of this River which is judg'd to be about eight or nine Miles broad lie many small Islands or rather Hills inviron'd with Water the chiefest of which is by the French call'd La Haute Isle from the high and Mountainous appearance of it to those that see it from afar off at Sea The aforemention'd Buno though he names as belonging to Norumbega these several places viz. Porto del Refugio Porto Reale Paradiso Flora and Angolema from some obscure French testimonies without particularising any Author yet he afterwards confesses that the Names given by the French and those apply'd by the Spaniards are so various and disagreeing and breed such a confusion that no Charts or Descriptions had concluded upon either As for those who will have Norumbega deriv'd from Norwegia in respect of a Colony brought thither from Norwey if the Etymologie be not a little too much forc'd the Invention may pass well enough till a better be found out The temperature and nature of its Soil In this Countrey the temperature of the Air is not bad nor the Soil unfruitful if it were well cultivated chiefly towards the Rivers and where it is not either overgrown with Woods or craggy with Hills and mountainous Rocks neither are the Woods unprofitable for they afford good Timber and all kind of necessary and useful Wood especially Beeches Fir-trees Wallnut-trees and other Nuts The Plains are very pleasant and yield good Pasturage onely the Maritime Coasts are so shallow and full of Sands that the Sailing near them is accounted somewhat dangerous and this may be imagin'd to be the reason that no Authors have yet met with any Ports or Havens belonging to this Countrey which they have thought worthy their notice CHAP. II. New England AS Canada is by some accounted a general Province containing New France L' Accadie Norumbega and other places so under Virginia largely taken are comprehended New England New Netherlands and Virginia properly so call'd however since that part which vulgarly goes under the Name of Virginia and New England were possess'd if not discover'd at several times and their Plantations promoted and propagated upon several occasions and by distinct Interests and since New England hath been look'd upon as a place considerable enough for Persons of very eminent quality to concern themselves in it we rather are induc'd to consider this Countrey as a principal part than as any way depending on or being any Branch or Portion of Virginia Situation of New England It lies between Norumbega which it hath Northward and New Netherlands Southward from forty one to forty five Degrees of Northern Latitude in the midst of the temperate Zone and paralell to France and some part of Italy in the Western Hemisphere so that one would think it should enjoy the same temperature of Air but the contrary is found for that part which borders upon the Sea is colder partly by reason that the Sea-waves break the reflexion of the Sun-beams partly by reason of the abundance of Vapors which mounting upward abate the ardor of them
had in a few years of his Reign before the Spaniards came thither subdu'd the better part of a hundred Cities and great Towns to his Dominion and held in actual submission to his Government and Tributary to him no less than thirty several Casiques or petty Princes every one of which paid him Tribute and were able upon occasion to bring into the Field an hundred thousand Men He is said to have been for his Person a wise and good Prince just affable and tender of his Subjects good but by reason of some heavy exactions which his own power and the Practise of his Ancestors before him gave him the confidence to Impose upon the Conquer'd People a great part of his Subjects liv'd but unwillingly under his Obedience and rather by constraint than otherwise being also further exasperated against him by one barbarous Custom which the Mexicans frequently us'd viz. the Sacrificing of Men. Their manner was whensoever they had any solemn occasion of doing Honor to their Devil-god Vitzilopuchtli as they call him to send out an Army of Men from Mexico into some of the subdu'd Provinces in case they had no Enemies nearer Hand and to fetch in as many Men as they thought good to be Sacrific'd whose flesh likewise afterwards they did eat in a solemn Banquet This being a business of their Satanical Religion and Motezuma a Prince extremely Superstitious and Devoted to the Service of his gods it is said that he Sacrific'd commonly one year with another twenty thousand Men and some years upon extraordinary occasions not less than fifty thousand So great and grievous a Tyranny by the just Judgement and Permission of Almighty God for their great and unnatural sins did the Enemy of Mankind exercise upon them He was likewise much given to Women but it was onely to such as were counted his Wives of which he is said to have had no less than a hundred and fifty with Child by him at one time The bounds of the Mexican Kingdom The Bounds of this Kingdom at present are thus on the East it hath a large Arm of the Sea which they call The Bay of New-Spain or The Gulf of Mexico On the West it hath some parts of New-Gallicia and Mare del Zur on the North the rest of New-Gallicia and part of Florida and on the South Mare del Zur again and part of Guatimala It extendeth it self in length from Jucatan South-East to the Borders of New Gallicia Northward above eight hundred Italian Miles and in breadth from Panuco to the South Sea about half so much It lieth wholly under the Torrid Zone nor is it a Countrey generally so mountainous or high seated as some others of America are but for the most part level or low yet is it so fann'd for three parts at least of four by the cooling Blasts of the Sea and the Heats otherwise so moderated with frequent Rains which it hath constantly three Moneths in the Year viz. June July and August that the Air is rendred thereby exceeding temperate and the Climate not unhealthful especially to temperate Bodies and such as are never so little us'd to it Riches of Mexico A goodly Countrey it is of inexhaustible Wealth and Riches whether we regard the Mynes of Gold Silver Brass Iron c. of all which it hath many and very good or the Fruits of the Earth abundance of Cattel plenty of Corn and Grain of which they have two Harvests or any other Commodities and Endowments of Nature which serve for the enriching of the World Amongst other things it affords Cassia the Fruit whereof is a thing well known and much commended by the Apothecaries for its use in Physick especially in Purgations and removing of all Obstructions of Phlegm Choler c. Such store of Balm Amber all sorts of Gums and precious Liquors as no Countrey in the World is better furnish'd with excellent Perfumes and Physick than the Kingdom of New Spain Among the many other sorts of Trees which this Countrey produces the most remarkable is their Tunas Tunas Treâ— of which there being five kinds one is call'd Cumbeba from whence proceeds that admirable Tincture commonly known by the Name of Cochinele which is thus made On the top of this Tree is found a Worm which hath the bigness and shape of a great Louse which so increases that in one years time a hundred Trees shall be stock'd from the seed of one of these Animals The Worm it self being white after the Skin is carefully pull'd off put in cold Water or Ashes and so dry'd becomes Cochinele The best sort of it is to be had in Tlascala and that in so great a quantity that no less than five or six hundred Arrobes of Spanish Measure each Arrobe is as much as five English Bushels is yearly Transported thence The other sort which grows on the Mountains and that which is not so carefully gather'd call'd Chichimecas Dyes not so well as the right Cochinele The Tunas also bears a Fruit long and whitish with a smooth Shell and full of little Seeds like Figs The red which are inferior in taste to the white colours the Urine red Pine-Apples The Pine-Apples which grow here differ from the Spanish for the Pulp is not inclos'd in a Shell They have a pleasant smell and a Pulp which if eaten much of causes an Appetite it being of a tartish taste they keep good a long time when Salted The Spaniards to make Chocolate mix Maiz by the Mexicans call'd Tlaolli either whole or Ground or boyl'd before with Chalk Moreover they put the red Kernels also in the Drink which grow in the Fruit of the Achiote-Tree Of the Kernels which are dry and cooling boyl'd in Water and stirr'd till it comes to a Pap they make Cakes which mix'd with the Chocolate gives it a cleansing power and takes away all tastes that cause vomiting The Pepper Mecaxochite which grows creeping along the Earth with long and fragrant Leaves round Stalks hairy Roots and three long Cods which shoot upwards This Pepper tempers the over-cooling property of the Chocolate Lastly it consists also of Xochinacatlis Tlilxochitle and the Rozenish Gum Holli The Xocinacatli is a Tree with small Leaves and great Flowers hanging on long Stalks that bend downwards within of a purple and without of a dark-green colour of a sweet smell and resembling an Ear and this Flower also gives a pleasant taste and wholsom operation to the Chocolate The Tlilxochitle runs up to the tops of Trees like Ivy the Flowers of a darkish brown colour cleanse the Nerves strengthen the Brain and take away the rawness of the Stomach The Holli drops out of the Holquabuytle a smooth barky Tree full of Moisture which at first appearance is white then yellowish and lastly black which kneaded into round Balls and Roasted is a remedy against a Loosness and soreness of the Bowels Nature of the People The Natives of the Countrey are very
after a miserable manner evacuated their Seed that so they might curb all fleshly Desires and met every Night in a spacious place where sitting down they wounded themselves with Lances in their Legs and Arms so long till the Blood gush'd out of the same which gathering in a Cup they anointed their Temples therewith and dipt the Lances in the same and then hung them up before the Temple in Bundles of Straw Of these were a great number and the more because they never us'd their Lances but once But on these Days which were Consecrated to the Idol Tezcatlipuca every one besides the Priests wore a new Rope made of the Hemp Mangey of a Fathom long and a thick Knot at the end with which they beat themselves so miserably on their Backs as if they intended to have broken them After which the Priests stay'd five days in the Temple in which they us'd the like cruelty eating scarce once in twenty four hours Their Prisoners they us'd after a most horrid manner viz. in their Temples stood a round Stage of Stone to the top of which they ascended by a Square Scaffold supported by twenty eight Pillars behind which appear'd thousands of Mens Heads and amongst them the Prisoners that were to be Offer'd sat stark naked and guarded by several Armed Men three Foot from the Steps which led up to the top of the Scaffold stood a pyramidical Stone by the Indians call'd Quauxi-calli and behind it two round Chappels cover'd on the top like Mitres each had four Holes in a large Gate in which sat a horrid Representation worshipp'd by six Priests call'd Chackalmua whereof one call'd Papas or Topilzin whose Office was to pluck out the Hearts of the Prisoners being in greatest esteem wore a red Mantle about his Body not unlike a long Coat with broad Fringe which trail'd after him upon the Ground and also a Crown of green and yellow Plumes on his Head his Ears and under Lip were likewise adorn'd with Precious Stones The other five appear'd in like manner with their Hands and Faces painted red but having Leathern Fascia's about their Heads and white Coats stitch'd with Black on their Bodies they might easily be distinguish'd from the Topilzin who on a sudden ran down the Stairs to the Prisoners and shew'd each of them an Image saying This is your God made of Bledo Paste Maiz and Honey green Beads for Eyes and Grains of Maiz for Teeth whereupon the Prisoners were led up and laid with their Backs on the sharp Stone Quauxicalli then the five Priests took hold of their Leggs Arms and Head put woodden Collars about the Sufferer's Necks whilst the Topilzin shew'd Reverence to the Idol which done with a sharp Stone he cut open the Breasts of the Prisoners who in a deplorable condition lay on the pyramidical Stone and pulling their Hearts out of their Bodies shew'd the same reeking to the Sun and at last threw them toward the Idol and the dead Bodies down the Stairs where some appointed for that purpose carried the same away but every one taking his own Prisoner and roasting and boyling him serv'd him up to his Friends as a great Dainty This kind of Murdering was not onely us'd amongst the Mexicans but also by all the other neighboring Indians and especially in the City Chulula which as we have said before signifies The Sanctity of all the Gods for in this Town six thousand Children were yearly Offer'd The Citizens hereof us'd to drive a great Trade especially in Cochinele Their Habits were several for Persons of Note wore Cotton Coats about the Edges of which hung Feathers and pieces of Cony-skins the meaner sort went in Nequons or a sort of Linnen Coats made of the hairy Leaves of the Tree Maguey 3. The City Tezuco full of handsom Streets and fair Houses is built near the salt Mexican Lake yet hath no want of fresh Water with which it is supply'd by Gutters from the Mountains under Ground according to Anthony Herrera it twice exceedeth in bigness the famous City Sivill in Spain 4. Quitlavaca by the Spaniards call'd Venezuela because it is like Venice surrounded with Water and divided into several Isles boasted formerly above two thousand Families From the Town a Cawsey of twenty Foot broad and half a League long leads through the Lake to the Main Continent 5. Yztacpalapa a very populous Place and lying part of it in the salt Lake and partly on the Main Land where several fresh-water Pools afford store of Fish two Leagues distant from Mexico to which leads a broad Way in the middle of which stands a Fountain surrounded with high Trees which produces excellent Water 6. Mexicaltzingo situate upon the Lake Laguna a Town consisting of four thousand stately Houses 7. Cayocan in a fruitful Plain containing six thousand being but a League and a half from Yztacpalapa to which the neighboring Village Houcilopucho was not much inferior These three Places before they were subdu'd by the Spaniards boasted many brave Temples and high Towers whose lustre appear'd at a great distance but now being turn'd into Cloysters they are inhabited by Monks and Nuns The Salt made here of Earth though not white and onely fit to make Pickle of is Transported to many Places Towns and pleasant Villages about Mexico About Mexico there are also several Villages the chiefest of which are 1. Mastitlan a Town pleasantly seated upon the top of an huge Mountain in the midst of most delicate Groves and shady Woods and reckon'd to contain no less than thirty thousand Inhabitants in all dwelling either in the City or upon the sides of the Mountain 2. Antepecque this is a Town belonging to the Marquess de Valle who is of the Posterity of Cortez and said to be seated in the most delicious place of all New Spain 3. Acapulco a Town seated upon the South-Sea or Mare del Zur yet belonging to this Province It is a haven-Town and one of the most frequented upon the South-Sea situate upon a large and capacious Bay of about a League broad at the Entrance and affording many convenient Stations and Docks for Shipping At the bottom of the Bay Westward lieth the Town with a strong Castle very opportunely built both for the command and security of the Port well wall'd and fortifi'd with Bulwarks and having a constant Garrison of four hundred Soldiers in it or thereabouts The reason whereof I supposâ— may be chiefly this viz. that from this Port there is the greatest Traffick and Entercourse held betwixt the East and West-Indies together with the Philippine Islands Silver Mynes The Countrey hath many rich Mynes of Silver in it and some of Gold the chief of which are by Herera reported to be these viz. 1. Those of Puchuca fourteen Leagues distant from Mexico 2. Of Tasco 3. Talpuiana 4. Cultepeque 5. Zacualpa 6. Zupanguo and divers others The rest of the Villages are Guatitlan Tenyauca Escapusalco Tacuba and Suchimilco Strange
worship them because as they say the Devil often appears to them in that shape Besides the Tygers Squerrils the Inhabitants of Mechaocan are exceedingly molested with Squerrils which not only carry much Fruit into their Holes but also under-mine the Houses so that they often sink or fall on one side the mischief being the worse because they increase daily Most of them bear four young at a time which on the third day run about for Prey and can scarce be taken because of their exceeding swiftness leaping a great distance from one Tree to another their Tails serve them on divers occasions for leaping they use it like a Wing and at their crossing over a River for a Sail in tempestuous Weather they stop their holes therewith to keep out the Wind. Several kinds of them There are six several sorts of these Squerrils the first call'd Tlilic cover themselves with their Tails the second Quapatchli is as big again and can never be made tame the third Techallotl with a bald Tail and great Eyes the fourth Talmototly hath a thick Head and a Tail full of black and white streaks the fifth Quimitchpatlan hath a little Head and long Legs and leaping from one Tree to another seems to flie the last sort call'd Yztactechalotl is whitish The Foxes do also great mischief here their Urine smells so horribly Foxes that forty days after none are able to abide near the place where they have urin'd and on whatsoever Stuff or Cloth a drop thereof chanceth to light the stink can never be wash'd away The Bird Auras Here breeds also a sort of Birds call'd Auras which are not unlike Moore-Hens they flie exceeding high in the Air feed on nought but stinking Carrion which they scent at a great distance they have a hairy Head and Neck and ugly Face Some of the Fowls of this Countrey stay here all the year long others go away and return at certain times Ingenuity of the Natives The Natives since the Spaniards coming thither have gotten their Habits and Language learn'd all sorts of Trades their Tables Chests and Cupboards made of Brasile-Wood are no way inferior to the best that are made in Europe Painting is also in great esteem amongst them They make handsom Clothes Shooes and strange Copper Locks They have a peculiar Art in Tilling their Ground They teach the Spanish Dogs several tricks but not feeding them well they cause them to run from them and turn wilde whence they are call'd Cimarrones because they do much hurt to the Cattel The Inhabitants when a Feaver or Ague is upon them at the highest leap into cold Water against other Sicknesses they use Herbs whose soveraign Power Experience hath long since taught them Since the Spaniards made Mechoacan a Bishoprick they have built ninety four Schools fifty Churches several Hospitals and Cloysters inhabited by Franciscan and Augustin Monks There are said to be in this Bishoprick a hundred and fifty Towns or Burroughs besides many scatter'd Villages most of which have Free-Schools erected in them for the Training up of Youth in the Christian Religion good Literature and Arts and few of them without an Hospital for the Sick of which Towns the principal are as followeth Principal Towns 1. Zinzoutza the Seat of the ancient Kings of Mechoacan 2. Pascuar a City forty seven Leagues distant from Mexico once a Bishop's See 3. Valladolid the Metropolis or chief City of the Province since the Episcopal Chair was remov'd from Pascuar thither It lieth upon a great Lake equal amost for bigness to that of Mexico and is about seven Leagues distant from Pascuar towards the East 4. St. Michaels a good Town forty Leagues Westward of Mexico and in the Way to the Zacatecas but lying in a Road that is somewhat dangerous being not a little infested with Salvages on both sides of it 5. St. Philips 6. La Conception de Salaya seventeen Leagues distant from Valladolid and a convenient Stage for Travellers being indeed with the two last mention'd built chiefly for the defence and securing of the Countrey against the Salvages 7. Guaxanata a Town on the Borders of Panuco where there are very rich Mynes of Silver 8. Leon another Town likewise of very rich Mynes twenty four Leagues distant from Valladolid and threescore from Mexico 9. Zamorra 10. Villa de los Lagos and others Towards the Sea there is 1. Acatlan but two Miles distant from the Sea-Coast and a small Town yet by reason of a safe and very good Harbor which it hath for Shipping a Place of no little Trading 2. Natividad another well known and convenient Haven upon Mare del Zur pertaining to this Province and from whence they usually set Sail for the Philippine Islands 3. St. Jago de buena Speranza so call'd by the Spaniards perhaps from the abundance of good Pearls they found upon this Coast 4. Colyma 5. Zacatula and some others This Province as we said was at first a distinct Kingdom of it self yet subordinate and Tributary to that of Mexico the King whereof nam'd Tamgaiva or Bimbicha as Laet reporteth at the first coming of the Spaniards thither after the Conquest of Mexico voluntarily submitted himself to them and was Baptiz'd Nevertheless afterwards upon a pretence of I know not what Treason intended by him against them and which the Spanish Writers themselves professedly think to have been feigned by command of Nunnez de Gusman President of the Chancery of Mexico he was most inhumanely burnt alive and his Kingdom seiz'd upon by the Spaniards SECT III. Tlascalla Situation and Descriptian of Tlascalla THe Bishoprick of Tlascalla formerly call'd Tlascalteca Tlaxcala and Tlascalan is a Province of New Spain which extendeth it self entirely from one Sea to another from the Atlantick to Mare del Zur with which it is bounded on the East and West Parts lying otherwise and for the most part betwixt the Provinces of Mexicana last spoken of and that of Guaxata which followeth containing in length from one Sea to the other not much less than an hundred Leagues and in some places fourscore in breadth but towards the South Sea growing much narrower It is a Countrey exceedingly plentiful both in Corn and Cattel full of rich Pasturage and so plentifully stor'd with Maiz Wheat and other Grain that it is accounted as it were the Granary of America besides Deer all manner of Venison and great store of Fowl There is likewise Copperess Allom Silver-Mynes Manna Anime and Liquid Amber with a sweet smelling Gum which drops out of a Tree The Rivers feed no Fish because they fall with exceeding force from the Mountains onely near Topoyanco is a deep Lake of fresh Water inhabited round about by Indians enjoying the pleasure and profit of the many Cumbeba-Trees which yield Cochinele producing yearly above two hundred thousand Dupkets worth of that Commodity In this Lake swim black Hedge-hogs whose Flesh is good and wholsom to eat The
Leaves are of a Purple colour The third sort Jetiope being white hath a very good rellish and cures the Ague The Pepper which is here call'd Axi grows in the warmest Valleys and the more by being often water'd there are of it divers kinds differing in colour smell and taste one from the other for one sort is green yellow or red another sort yields a strong musky scent and one sort is sharper another milder the Veins and Kernels thereof are eaten with Salt The Herb Cevadilla cures all manner of Sores This Countrey also breeds an innumerable company of Deer Hogs Goats Beasts Sheep Oxen and Horses and of hurtful Creatures Pismires which do great mischief to the Plants and Locusts which fall in huge swarms on the Corn and cannot be frighted from the same by any means whatsoever The want of Water is also no small prejudice to the Fields The biggest River call'd Guadalajara with many windings runs North-westward into the Southern Ocean and four Leagues from the City of the same falling down from a steep Rock it makes such a horrible noise that it deafens those which approach the same The Lake Mechoacan opens here also with a wide Mouth Two sorts of Hedge-hogs The River before mention'd produces all manner of Fish in great abundance and also a sort of Hedge-hogs call'd Iguana which live both in the Water and on the Land and are of two sorts The first call'd Senembi is four Foot long of a deep green colour with black and white Spots hath a scaly Skin white Spots on each side of the Head a row of sharp Prickles from the Head to the Tail wide Nostrils great black Eyes and little Teeth The second sort call'd Tejaguacu differs from the first in having white Spots on a brown Skin a longer Tail and a red Tongue which is slit Both sorts are reported to fast eight Moneths together and though often terribly wounded and dead to all imagination yet live a great while after and though they swim up and down in Rivers yet they Lay their Eggs in the Sand their Flesh boyl'd is both wholsom and of a good relish The manner of the Spaniards living The Spaniards which inhabit New Gallicia drive a considerable Trade in Merchandizing Husbandry breeding of Cattel and working in the Mines They use Wayns and Carrs drawn by Oxen Mules and Horses to carry their Loads as also Spanish Weights and Measures They are little troubled with any other Mischiefs but what may happen from the treacherous Natives who take all opportunities to run into the Woods that there they may exercise their Pagan Religion in freedom in which having spent some time they gather a considerable number together and oftentimes fall unawares on the Spaniards who use Leather Shields and Helmets and furr'd Cotton Clothes to secure them from the Arrows which the Indians lying in Ambuscades shoot at them out of the Bushes The Nature Habits and Customs of the Natives The Natives though subtile are lazy and will not work unless for great Rewards They wear Cotton Shirts square Cloaks of the same Stuff made fast with two Buttons on their Breasts Drawers and soal'd Shoes Flag-Matts serve them for Beds on which they lie under Cotton Clothes About their Necks Arms and Legs they wear green Stones and Snale Shells for an Ornament Their greatest Recreation is Dancing their Musick being nothing else but the noise or sound of a piece of hollow Wood. Horse-flesh and Bread made of Maiz is by them accounted a great Dainty The Drink Cacao is also highly esteem'd amongst them but much more the Wine that they make of Maquey which is the wonderful Tree that affords many necessary things viz. Syrrup Honey Oyl Vinegar Yarn Needles Water and Wine every Man making it his Business to plant and preserve the same with great care near his House notwithstanding they grow in several places of the Fields they have broad thick Leaves with sharp ends out of which is drawn a Thorn which serves them for a Needle or Pin. These Leaves have a hairy Filament about them which serves in stead of Thred the young Sprout being cut produces a sweet Juice which boyl'd makes good Wine when grown sowre serves for Vinegar but being twice boyl'd becomes a Syrrup and being hung over the Fire a third time a perfect Honey Also the Wood being spungie keeps Fire as well as Match Moreover the Inhabitants when they travel carry Leather Bags with them full of Cacao Maiz and Pepper mix'd together Over each Village in this Countrey the Spaniards have plac'd an Indian Casique Alcalde and Alguazil where all sorts of Provisions are sold at a Set-price The Casiques are succeeded by their Heirs who resent nothing worse than Affronts and take pride in nothing more than their Valour The Moors or Negro's which are brought hither from Guinee do all manner of hard Labour The Guachichiles and Guamares are a valiant People and have each their peculiar Language utterly different from the Mexican Division of Nova Gallicia This Countrey comprehends these inferior Provinces 1. Guadalajara 2. Xalisco 3. Chiametta 4. Couliacan 5. Cino-loa all of them on the Western Shore 6. Zacatecas to which some add Nova Biscaia and Nova Mexico though others treat of them as distinct Countreys apart from the rest SECT II. Guadalajara Bounds of Guadalajara GUadalajara is bounded on the West with Xalisco on the South and South-West with New Spain and on the North with Zacatecas It is a Countrey exceeding pleasant and rich in all kind of Commodities but especially in its Mines of Silver It is well water'd with the River Barania which runneth through the midst of it and with divers other Streams yielding abundantly both Wheat Maiz and some other Grain In a word there is nothing said of the properties of New Gallicia in general either for Soil Climate or People but is peculiarly verifi'd of this Province Towns and Cities The chief Towns are 1. Guadalajara which gives Name to the whole Province It is seated on the Banks of the River Barania in a most delectable and sweet Air and a rich Soil by advantage whereof it is become the Metropolis of New Gallicia honour'd with an Episcopal See which was translated thither from Compostella in the Year 1570. with the Courts of Judicature and the Residence of the King's Treasurers for that Province This City was built on the Plain Molino by Nunnez de Guzman in the Year 1531. The neighboring Mountains afford store of Timber All manner of Spanish Plants grow here likewise in great plenty In the City is a Cathedral several Cloysters inhabited by Augustine and Franciscan Monks The Bishop of this City belongs to the Arch-bishop of Mexico The Air very temperate neither molesting the Inhabitants with too great Cold nor excess of Heat 2. St. Maria de los Lagos a Town thirty Leagues Eastward of Guadalajara being a Fronteer Place and built on purpose to secure the
bold Exploit we shall give a particular Account of it from a late Writer who hath set forth the Life of that brave English Heroe In the Year of our Lord 1580. about the end of February setting Sail from St. Christophers for Hispaniola by the Way they met with a small Frigat bound for San Domingo and the Men of her being Examin'd one assur'd them that the Haven of it was a barr'd Haven and the Shore well fortifi'd so that there was no convenient Landing within ten English Miles of the City whither this Man undertook to conduct them January the first they Landed ten Miles from the City and marching thither under the Command of the Lieutenant General arriv'd about one a Clock in the Afternoon when they came near about a hundred and fifty Gentlemen well Mounted presented themselves against them but the small Shot playing upon them they departed and the English proceeded towards the two Gates of the City that lay towards the Sea both which the Spaniards had Mann'd and planted their Ordnance without the Gates and some small Shot in an Ambush by the Way-side The English being about twelve hundred Men divided themselves the Lieutenant-General leading the one half to one Gate and Captain Powel the other half to the other Gate vowing that with God's assistance they would not rest till they met in the Market-place No sooner had the Spaniards discharg'd their Ordnance doing some little Execution but the Lieutenant-General hasted or rather ran upon them to prevent their Charging again and notwithstanding their Ambush entred Pell Mell with them into the Gate not staying till he came into the Market-place unto whom shortly after came Captain Powel with his Companies This Place they strengthned with Barricado's the City being too large to be guarded by so small and weary an Army And after Mid-night they in the Castle hearing some of the English busie about the Gate quitted it some being taken Prisoners and others escaping by Boats The next day the English enlarg'd their Quarters and fortifi'd themselves and held the Town for a Moneths space During this time the General sent a Negro Boy with a Flag of Truce to the Spaniards who by the Way was met by some Officers of the Galley which the English had taken together with the City who furiously thrust the poor Boy through the Body who returning to the General and having declar'd how barbarously they had us'd him fell down and died in his Presence The General being much mov'd herewith commanded the Provost-Martial to take two Fryers and to carry them to the same place with a sufficient Guard and there to hang them and withal he sent one of the Prisoners to inform the Spaniards why he did it and to tell them that till the Party who had thus murder'd his Messenger were deliver'd to him there should no day pass wherein he would not hang two Prisoners till all were consum'd Hereupon the day following the Murtherer was brought and an Offer made to deliver him to the General who yet thought it more honorable to make them perform the Execution themselves in the sight of the English which was done accordingly During their abode here Commissioners oft pass'd between the Spaniards and them about the Ransom of the City but not agreeing the English spent every Morning till the heat of the Day in firing and destroying the Houses in the outward part of the City two hundred Mariners being employ'd therein for divers days yet were the Houses built so magnificently and strongly of Stone that they could not consume one third part of the Town all that time whereupon the General was contented to accept of twenty five thousand Ducats of 5 s. 6 d. apiece to spare the rest Here his Soldiers met with good Pillage especially of rich Apparel but Treasure they found none for the Spaniards by their Cruelties had so destroy'd the Natives who us'd to work in the Mines of Gold and Silver that they were wholly given over and in that Island they were forc'd to use Copper Money yet they found store of Wine Oyl Vinegar Wheat Woollen and Linnen Cloth some Silks c. which much reliev'd them there was but little Plate found but good store of Porcelane or China Dishes yet some they found and very costly Houshold-stuff PORTO RICO Hispaniola is surrounded with several other Isles as 1. Eastward appears Saona full of pleasant Woods and Pastures with Cattel feeding on them in former times it produc'd much Cazabi for the City Domingo but since the Spaniards murder'd all the Inhabitants Anno 1502. it hath never been inhabited 2. The Rocky Shelf St. Catalina 3. Abaque 4. Navaza 5. Guanabo 6. Tortuga abounding in Hogs and 7. Beata famous for the excellent speckled Wood which grows there and a swift River which oftentimes detains the Ships there whole Moneths CHAP. XIV Porto Rico and Monico Bounds and Extent of Porto Rico. ANother of those call'd The Isles of Barlovento is Boriquen anciently so nam'd but now more generally Porto Rico from St. Juan de Porto Rico its chief Town is an Island fifteen Leagues distant from Santa Crux to the North-West and about as many from Hispaniola to the South-East but from the Continent or main Land of Paria which seems to be the nearest a hundred and thirty or a hundred thirty six as some reckon It lieth almost in a quadrangular Form being suppos'd to contain about thirty Leagues in length and not less than twenty in breadth in eighteen and nineteen Degrees of Northern Latitude The Island on the North which is less fruitful than the South part produces Gold and is generally water'd with many Rivers There is also Silver Tin Lead Quicksilver and Azure us'd by Painters The Rain generally falls there between May and August A little before or in the beginning of Harvest the Hurricanes breaking forth from the Clouds rage in such a manner that it is impossible for any Ships to endure the Sea and a Northern Blast generally doth great damage to the Plants here Twenty three Rivers discharge their Waters also into the Ocean Rivers amongst which the chiefest is Cairabon particularly noted for ten Sugar-Mills which are erected upon its Banks The Hills Trees Plains and Valleys are invested with variety of Trees peculiar to this place as Tabunuco which affords a medicinal Gum good against Lameness and green Wounds it is also of great use to preserve a Ship 's Keel from the Worms Another Tree call'd Maga is everlasting Wood and bears a great Flower like a Rose The Leaves of the Higillo Pintado-Tree cures all manner of Bruises The same power is also in the little Tree Sancta Maria as likewise in another by the Spaniards call'd Balsamo The Body of the Tree Zoyla is so thick that fifteen Men holding Hands together cannot encompass the same The speckled Wood and Cassia Fistula grow also here in great abundance The poisonous Apple-Tree Here is likewise
Inconveniences which he suffer'd for want of Provisions and trouble of travelling over the high Mountains had necessitated him to return had he not been resolutely bent to discover the Countrey to which purpose marching on leisurely he came into the heart of Popayan where his wearied People sufficiently resting themselves amidst a fruitful Countrey where they found pleasant Fruit-Trees Houses full of Provisions and fresh Rivers which glided from the Mountain Andes and some of the Rivulets also affording Gold were encourag'd to build several Villages in which nevertheless they made no Settlement either because they could not get Gold enough or else being driven from thence by the valiant Natives Cities and Towns of chief note The Places of chief note in it are 1. Popayan situate on the Banks of a fair River but not nam'd and in the midst of a Plain in a place of great Wealth and enjoying a good Air. The original of the Name Popayan is from the Casique who Govern'd there at the time of the Spaniards first Arrival It is a Bishop's See and the ordinary Residence of the Governor of the Province The chief Buildings are the Cathedral and a Monastery of the Fryers De la Merced The Savanna Grounds towards the North feed many fat Cattel The Fields produce the best American Maiz. Some of the adjacent Mountains either vomit Smoak Flames great Stones or scalding Water leaving a Salt behind it Beyond the City Popayan the great River Magdalena takes its original in the Valley Cali where several Brooks gliding from the Mountain Andes inhabited by the Cocunocos unite their Waters 2. Antiochia otherwise call'd St. Fides de Antiochia on the Borders of New Andaluzia and about a hundred Leagues from Popayan In the midst of a small Territory to which it gives Name in the Valley Nore between the River Magdalena and Daria wash'd by Rivulets whose Sands are Golden and whose Banks are shaded with all sorts of Fruit-Trees The Inhabitants white and very rational sleep in the Night under the open Skye Their Houses are built a good distance from the High-ways near which the Pastures feed abundance of Sheep The Pools breed plenty of Fish and the Mines store of Gold especially in the Mountain Buritica 3. Caramanta seated likewise on the Banks of the River St. Martha within a little Province also of the same Name the Inhabitants whereof being valiant and strong go naked and dwell in little Huts make white Salt out of a Fountain and a little Lake they generally go to Antiochia in six hours which is forty five Leagues so swift runs the Stream 4. St. Anne in the Cantred or Hundred of Anzerma a Town neatly situate upon the side of an Hill betwixt two Rivers and in the midst of Plain no less pleasant than fertile It was so call'd by Bevalcazar because the Indians of this Place name the Salt Anzer it is surrounded with Villages and Woods on a high Plain between two Rivers The Air being exceeding hot lightens generally every day 5. The Village Pueblo Llana which is inhabited by little People who Trade in Salt and have also Golden Rivulets Near this Place is the Valley Aburra consisting of many fruitful Plains moistned by several Rivers the Inhabitants whereof at the Spaniards first coming thither hang'd themselves with their Wives and Children 6. St. Jago de Arma built in a Wood of Palm-Trees so nam'd from the Territory in which it standeth rich and famous for its Mines of Gold which it is said to have many and very good The Ground round about being Mountainous hath several Rivers the chiefest whereof call'd Di Arma is dangerous to cross especially in Winter The unwholsom Air hereabouts occasions many Sicknesses Amongst other Fruits that grow in this County is the Pytahaya which whoe're eats voids Urine as red as Blood Adjacent to it are the little Provinces Paucuran Pozo and Picara which possess Golden Mines also the Territory Carrapa which hath high and rugged Land and many Rivulets likewise the County Quimbaya which abounds with thick and long Canes wherewith the Natives build their Houses in the hollow Bodies of these Canes the wild Bees gather store of Honey and amongst them breed also exceeding great Lyons the four-footed Beast Chuca which carries its Young in a Bag Stags Rabbets and Guadaquinajes which being bigger than Hares are exceeding good Meat The Mountain Nevada wonderful high and smoaking continually produces the golden Rivers Tacurumbi De la Cequo Twenty Leagues or more distant from St. Jago is 7. Carthago the chief City of Quimbayaes and by which the aforesaid Rivers run The temperate Climate here gives Health and long Life to the Inhabitants who have several Fountains of salt Water and the Fruit Caymito not unlike a Peach black within having little Kernels and a Juice which Dyes so deep that it can scarce be wash'd off Horses and Cows they have likewise very plentiful Carthago it self stands in a pleasant Plain between two Rivulets the Ways that lead to the same are very dirty because of the continual Rain which falls there with Lightning and Thunder A League beyond the City flows the Stream Consota near which lies a Lake out of which Salt is made 8. The City Cali the Residence for the Governor and Collector lying under a hot Climate in a plain Valley at a River which falling from the Mountain glides to the Stream Magdalena Round about the same dwelt antiently several People viz. the Gorrones so call'd because they nam'd a Fish Gorron the Chancos Giants with long Faces and broad Foreheads the Aarbacoas Agnales and Los Timbas inhabiting among barren Mountains but most of them were slain by the Spaniards or destroy'd by one another few onely escaping to the tops of the Mountains The Countrey also swarms with wild Beasts which have also devour'd many of the Inhabitants both Indians and Spaniards 9. The Haven Bonaventure situate in a deep Inlet about which live some Families which send the Commodities that come from New Spain to Popayan Cali and other Places and though there be a Way along by the River Dagua convenient for Mules and Horses to travel yet it is seldom us'd because the Cattel are so wearied out with the long Journey that they cannot go through with their Loads wherefore they employ the Indians to carry their heavy Burthens over the Mountains which they do for a small Reward 10. St. Juan de Pasto giving Denomination to the Countrey about it and being built on the pleasant Plains of the Valley Atris is situate in a wholsom Climate and is moistned by several Fountains and the River Angasmayo the Boundary of Peru. The Spaniards have several Houses here and breed store of Cattel and especially Hogs They have likewise Sugar-Mills with which they make abundance of Sugar The antient Inhabitants were salvage deform'd and of little Reason 11. Timana giving Denomination to the Countrey about is plac'd under a hot Climate yet the Inhabitants live
3. La Parilla otherwise call'd Santa fourteen Leagues beyond Truxillo Southward wash'd by the Southern Ocean and one side by a fresh-water Stream which being inclos'd between stony Cliffs makes a secure Harbor 4. Arnedo seated ten Leagues Northward from Lima amongst the Vineyards of the Valley Chancas otherwise having no great matter in it remarkable but a fair Dominican Cloyster 5. Lima by the Spaniards commonly call'd La Cividad de los Reyes or The City of Kings so nam'd because Pizarro who built it laid the first Stone on Twelfth-day Anno 1553. which they call The Feast of the Kings It is seated in the Valley of Lima from whence the City is also so denominated one of the fruitfullest Parts of all Peru and so neatly built that all the chief Streets of the City open upon a fair Market-place or Piazza of such a large Square that upon the sides thereof are built in a stately and convenient manner the Cathedral the Palace of the Archbishop the Vice-Roy's Palace and Courts of Justice with the Exchequer or Publick Treasury the Town-house or place where the City Magistrates meet and hold their Courts the Publick Armory or Magazine and a Free-School wherein are taught by the Jesuits all Arts and Sciences and also the Indian Language and divers other fair Buildings of the Nobility and better sort of Citizens No Countrey under the Heavens affords a more fruitful or pleasanter Place than this the temperate Climate neither troubling the Inhabitants with excessive Heats or great Colds nor terrifying them with Thunder or Lightning but having almost perpetual Sun-shine and fair Weather onely the three Winter Moneths wherein there falls a sweet-smelling Dew which cures the Head-ache and there die but very few of pestilential Distempers The Countrey about the City is pleasant without exception The Pigeons which are kept here in curious Houses built on purpose flie a thousand in a Flight The Fields abound also with Cattel The Orchards and Gardens flourish with all sorts of Trees and Plants whereof those that are brought hither from Spain grow better than in their natural Countrey The West side of the City is wash'd by a pure clear Stream which stores the Market with great plenty of good Fish it being distant but a Musquet shot especially when the Water rises This River is of great consequence for it not onely waters the whole Valley of Lima with its several Branches but also runs under every House in the City being built on Stone Arches they are onely one Story high because there is no Wood to be had in the Valley of Lima but what in three years becomes all Woorm-eaten nevertheless the Houses are very beautiful both within and without the Walls being very thick and strong have curious Arbors of green Boughs on the top in which the Owners shade themselves from the Sun Most of the Houses built in the high Streets have pleasant Turrets which face the Market-place where all sorts of Provisions are brought to Sale as Oxen Sheep Venison Sugar Oranges Cittrons Grapes and Wheat which is ground in Water-Mills built near the River This City is inhabited by many able Merchants which often load Ships to Panama that are valu'd at above two hundred thousand Ducats To the Arch-bishop's See of this Place belongs the Bishopricks of Chili Charcas Quito Cusco Truxillo Guanuco Popaian San Francisco Panama Nicaragua and Rio de la Plata The City is also adorn'd with two fair Churches besides the Cathedral and also other lesser Churches four stately Cloysters two Nunneries and the Jesuits Palace which is very magnificent The Haven two Leagues distant from it and call'd Callao de Lima is large and secure for Ships Anno 1579. Sir Francis Drake took twelve Ships from hence Prizes taken here by Sir Fran. Drake one whereof was laden with Linnen and Silk besides a great Chest full of Silver Which Inconvenience to prevent for the future the Spaniards have built two strong Forts and fortifi'd them with Brass Guns Thirty years after Sir Francis Drake's Exploit Joris Spilbergen coming to Anchor here found the Place all inhabited Spilbergen attempts the Place in vain a Fort well stor'd with Guns and a strong Castle before the Mouth of the Harbor from whence they shot Bullets of thirty six Pound weight at the Hollanders and so shatter'd their Frigat call'd The Hunter that she could scarce-keep above Water Fourteen Spanish Merchant-men lying near the Shore receiv'd little damage Spilbergen not being able for Shelves to get to them neither did he judge it convenient to Land the Vice-Roy having at that time above four thousand Men in Arms besides several Troops of Horse wherefore after having fir'd several Guns on the Fort and against the Church he set Sail to Guarmey 6. Cannete otherwise call'd Guarco from the Valley wherein it is situate It was built by the Spaniards out of the Treasure which they found in the Castle afore spoken of in the same Valley 7. Valverde situate in a Valley of the same Name where excellent Fruit may be had for a small Price it is a well Traded and rich Town about sixteen Leagues distant from the Sea 8. Pachacama situate in a Territory of the same Name four Leagues Southward of Lima memorable chiefly for Pizarro's good fortune here who is reported to have found in one onely old Temple of the Natives the quantity of nine hundred thousand Ducats of Gold and Silver besides what his Soldiers are suppos'd to have seiz'd on and convey'd away before he came 9. Castro Verreina threescore Leagues distant from Lima to the South-East It lieth in the Valley of Chocolocha and is a rich Place by reason of the good Mines of Silver which are about it and abundance of the best sort of Tobacco 10. Miguel de la Ribera in the Valley of Camana The Inhabitants whereof drive a great Trade in Wine Figs and Raisins 11. The City Arequipa which extends up towards the Mountains is built in the Dale Quilca which runs eleven Leagues from the Sea under a healthful Climate but in the Year 1582. it was wholly ruin'd by an Earthquake the reason whereof is ascrib'd to the wet sulphurous Mountains which burns continually and sometimes vomits out Flames and Ashes The Marquess Pizarro built this City forty six years before the fore-mention'd Earthquake since which being re-built again soon attain'd to three hundred Houses besides a Church and Cloyster and though it be but a small Town yet it is of a great resort because the Gold and Silver is brought hither from the Mines Chancos Porco and Potosi and from thence sent down the River Quilca which washing the City Walls runs into the South Sea to Los Reyos and from thence to Panama Nombre de Dios and New Spain The Jurisdiction of this City Arequipa extends it self a vast way viz. over the spacious Valleys between Hacari and Tampaca and up in the Countrey beyond the County Condesuyo full of Hamlets and
mention'd which part at the East end of the City are pass'd over with divers Bridges The narrow Streets are full of Stone Houses built in good Order In several places are Vaulted Cellars under Ground in some of which are buried great Treasures they had been formerly the Habitations for Necromancers and Soothsayers for this sort of People were once in great esteem amongst the Inhabitants who coming from Chili Pasto Bocamores Topona Bombon Charcas Collao Chiachiapoias Conchucos and other Peruvian Countreys receive great benefit from the fresh Water and from the Corn-Mills built on the Streets through the City The ancient Places and other stately Structures in Cusco The stately Palaces which the Peruvian Nobility have at several times built in Oren-Cusco being one part of the City are very wonderful the Owners whereof were forc'd by the Ingas to appear at Court at Set-times that so he might prevent all Insurrections Also he caus'd the Children of the prime Lords to be brought up in Cusco under pretence that they might learn the Cuscoan Tongue perfectly in which the Ingas would always be spoken to whenas their Design was to keep them as Hostages in their own Jurisdictions that their Fathers might not rebel by which means it hapned that in most places of Peru which amongst the several Tribes and Principalities had several Languages the Cuscoan Tongue was understood and spoken But the Spaniards who are the present Possessors thereof have alter'd and repair'd most of the ordinary Houses which are now neatly built of Stone Above all the old Structures the Palace of the Ingas and the Temple of the Sun are the most magnificent the Palace lies inclos'd within a square quadruple Wall each corner whereof is adorn'd and strengthned with a Tower The Palace it self is built round and with Arches but that which chiefly amazes the Beholder is to see how the Stones which are so big that forty Horses are notable to stir one of them out of its place were brought thither by the Labor of the Builders from the neighboring Mountains for the Peruvians never made use of any laboring Beast except their Sheep Pacos not knowing the use of Horses Camels Oxen Elephants or the like before the Spaniards coming thither The Halls within the Palace were Wainscoted with Golden Plates yet the Inga's Apparel was not answerable to the rest of his Pomp for in stead of a Crown they bound their Heads about with a red woollen Sash with which they almost cover'd their Eyes at the end of the Sash hung certain Ribbands which they gave the Governor as occasion offer'd that by this Sign as by a Commission they might exercise their Offices the sight of which String caus'd such Obedience that if the Inga had commanded the Inhabitants of a Town or Countrey to murder themselves none durst deny The Inga was generally carried by a hundred of his Noble-men of whom if any one had accidentally chanc'd to stumble he was immediately put to death No man durst presume to look him in the Face or speak to him without a Present The Temple Curicanche The Temple Curicanche Dedicated to the Sun was certainly the most rich and sumptuous that ever the World boasted it being Govern'd by the Chief Priest Villanoa The Inga Guainacava spent an invaluable Treasure in the building of this Structure for he cover'd the Roof and Walls with thick Plates of massie Gold and Silver At his return home from the Conquest of the Province of Quito from whence the Inhabitants according to an antient Custom of the Ingas were carried to one of the remotest Countreys in Peru. But Guainacava enamor'd of a Quitoan Maid staid a considerable time in the City Quito and kept a splendid Wedding at the Marriage of his Bride who bare unto him the famous Attabaliba whom he lov'd beyond all his other Children and a little before his death made him King of Quito But Huascar after Guainacava's Decease would not suffer his Brother to live in the late conquer'd Kingdom of Quito A cruel Battel between two Brothers but gave him Battel in the Plain of Tomebamba which lasted three days and three Nights and after much Blood-shed Attabaliba being defeated was taken Prisoner and not long after making his Escape by the help of an antient Woman whilest Huascar's Commanders and Soldiers rejoyc'd with Cups full of Chica for their gotten Victory he made his Subjects in Quito believe that he being transform'd into a Serpent crept through a little Hole out of the Prison and that he had a Promise from Heaven to obtain Conquest over Huascar which being believ'd stirr'd up all his Subjects to take up Arms and valiantly to go and meet the Enemy whom they not onely defeated but took Huascar Prisoner Huscar being destroy'd by Attabaliba and Attabaliba by Pizarro Mango Inga their youngest Brother took the Government upon him made continual Sallies upon the Spaniards from inaccessible Mountains and at his Decease left the remaining part of Peru to his Son Zaires Topa Zaires the Son of Mango Inga submitâ— to the Spaniards who seeing no good to be done by force of Arms submitted himself freely to the King of Spain's Jurisdiction in the Year 1557. since which the Spaniards have been sole Masters There are at this day four great Churches in Cusco Also the Dominicans Franciscans Augustines and the Monks De la Merced have each of them stately Cloysters here but the Jesuits Structure exceeds all the other Above forty thousand Peruvians pay annual Tribute to this City In the Valley about the City feed abundance of Cattel also Wheat and all manner of Herbs grow here in great plenty The Gold and Silver-Mines have not that resort which they had formerly most of the Workmen being remov'd to Potosi Concerning the Service which they perform'd in the fore-mention'd Temple of the Sun and their superstitious Opinions about their Idol Con they are much of the same ridiculous nature with what hath been already Discours'd of in other places Five Leagues Southwardly from Cusco lies the Valley Yucay between high snowy Mountains under a temperate Climate and pleasant Soil Not far from hence the Ingas built a most invincible Castle on a Rock which was surrounded with many cliffy Walls one above another these Walls were also Carv'd with Images of Lyons Tygers and other wild Beasts which held Lances in their Paws the â—op of the Rock was crown'd with a Royal Structure built of Stone through which ran Golden Veins joyn'd together with a certain Gum by some call'd Jews-Lime To the Province of Condesuyo belong the valiant People Chumbibalcas and Ubinas In the County Pomatambo they make Carpets of fine Wooll curiously Painted 8. The City Francisco de Vittoria which lies in the rough Valley Vilcabamba and is inclos'd by the Mountains Andes belonging to the Jurisdiction of the Province Andesuyo 9. The Village Juan del Oro which is the chief Place of the Countrey Caravaya and so call'd by the Spaniards
time four hundred Hollanders Sallying out made a furious Onset upon the two Regiments who had possession of the Cloyster Bento where the Spaniards sustain'd considerable damage for besides the wounding of three Captains and the loss of a great number of Soldiers there were slain the Commanders Emanuel Aquitara Alonso de Gana Pedro San Stevan Diego Espinosa and Colonel Pedro Osorio But Toledo no whit dismay'd hereat but taking fresh courage brought twenty nine Demi-Culverins ashore which fir'd so vehemently out of the Carmelites and Bento's Cloysters on the seventeen Dutch Ships that lay near the Shore that several of them were sunk and others shatter'd beyond hopes of ever being repair'd After this the Spanish Army was divided into three several Parties which continually fir'd on the City from three new rais'd Works the chiefest Party which was in the Carmelites Minster had twenty three Brass Guns the secon'd plac'd on the great Wall of the Cloyster Bento fir'd Night and Day with eight Demy-Cannons on the City in which all things were in a confusion whilest the Governor William Schouten went unconcern'd from one Tavern to another railing at the Soldiers who thereupon mutinying and deposing him chose Serjeant Hans Ernst Kyf in his room who as he was calling a Council of War receiv'd a Summons from Toledo to deliver up the City at which Kyf being much surpris'd sent a Drummer with a Letter to Toledo desiring him to grant the Besieged three Weeks time to repair and make fit their batter'd Vessels to carry them back for Holland and also that they might according to Martial Custom march out with lighted Matches flying Colours Bullets in their Mouths and with Bag and Baggage To which Toledo return'd Answer That he was now in his own Countrey and had gotten possession of four Fortifications about St. Salvador on which he had planted thirty seven Cannons and therefore saw no such necessity to grant the Besieged who could not possibly expect any fresh Supplies such advantageous and bold Demands and onely promis'd them their Lives should be at his discretion Yet at last William Stoop Hugh Antoniszoon St. Salvador re-taken by the Spaniards from the Hollanders and Francis du Chesne being sent to the Carmelites Cloyster agreed with Toledo on these Conditions That the Hollanders should surrender St. Salvador in the Condition it was then in march out unarm'd but with Baggage and have a free Pussage with Provisions and all things necessary allow'd them for their Trasportation for Holland Whereupon on the first of May the City was deliver'd up to the Spaniards in such disorder that some of them had taken possession of the Gate Bento before those on the other side of the City knew of any Agreement that was made between Toledo and Colonel Kyf And thus the Place which had a whole year been under the Jurisdiction of the Netherlanders fell again under the possession of the Spanish Crown onely through the indiscreet management of the Commanders for otherwise it was sufficiently strong and well stor'd with Ammunition and Men being able to make out two thousand Moreover the Ketch De Haes was set out before from the Holland Fleet and brought news of the Forces that were sent from the Netherland Havens to their assistance But the Ships under Admiral Lam as also those under Boudewyn Henriczoon were stay'd a considerable time in their Harbors by contrary Winds and at last reaching the Line were becalm'd and through the excessive heat of the Climate many Men lost by raging and mortal Distempers insomuch that they reach'd not the Bay Todos los Sanctos before the twenty sixth of May on which they saw the Spanish Flag streaming from the Walls of St. Salvador and fifty great Ships riding at an Anchor near the Shore The Netherland Fleet divided into four Squadrons consisted of thirty four Sail amongst which Lam carry'd the Flag on the Main-top the Vice-Admiral Adrian Cheszoon on the Fore-top the Rere-Admiral Adries Veron on the Main-mast and the Commander of the fourth Squadron on the Mizne-top All of them seeing the Spaniards absolute Masters judg'd it most convenient to put to Sea but standing a pretty while to the South they found that the strong Current drove them to the Shelves on the West-side of the Inlet wherefore Tacking about they made towards the Enemy who at first seem'd to meet them with twenty eight great Ships but returning towards the City the Hollanders also stood to Sea again Steering Southerly though without making much advantage in their Way the Sea going very hollow and the strong Current setting them towards the Shore by which means they were in no small danger before the River Francisco where many of the Men dy'd for want of fresh Provisions and the number of the Sick increas'd daily insomuch that some of the Ships were like to perish for want of Men to guide them It was also judg'd dangerous to lie longer with such a great Fleet near a Lea-Shore herefore they put into the Inlet Trayciaon which lies a League to the Northward of he River Monguapigape from whence a ridge of Rocks extends to Tayciaon and being overflow'd at High-water hath three Openings or Entrances two for great Ships and one the most Northern for small Vessels to pass through The Sea also breaking against this Cliff never molests the Ships whatever Winds blow The Countrey is overgrown with Brambles and hath a Lake two Leagues long and a quarter broad on the opposite Shore of which stood a Village inhabited by Portugueses and Brasilians but the Portugueses flying from thence left the Brasilians in absolute possession The Hollanders going thither found thirty Chests of Sugar in one Hut after which the Admiral Lam caus'd his sick Men to be brought ashore whilest the Captains Boshuisen Swart Dyke Stapels and Uzeel march'd up into the Countrey where they got plenty of Oranges and Cattel In the mean time the Ketch Vosken Mann'd with thirty six Seamen Cruising along the Sea-Coast of Brasile took three Ships one out of the Inlet Todos los Sanctos laden with Sugar and Tobacco another with the same Merchandise from Pernambuco and the third laden with Wines from Madera On the first of August the Fleet set Sail again to the great sorrow of the Brasilians who out of hopes of being protected by them against the Portuguese had joyn'd their Forces with theirs but now being forsaken they expected nothing but utter Ruine which to escape many of them desir'd to be admitted to go along with the Fleet which had been granted them had not the Hollanders wanted Provisions for themselves The Fleet getting off at Sea the Admiral Veron ran with twelve Sail to the Coast of Africa and Boudewyn Henrickszoon kept eighteen Ships under his Command the rest returning home with Admiral Lam and thus the Fleet left the unfortunate Haven Trayciaon where above seven hundred Dutch Seamen were bury'd Boudewyn Henrickszoon refreshing at Cape St. Vincent steer'd Westerly when
a Storm which in twenty four hours blew from all Points of the Compass surprising him broke his Main-mast separated the whole Fleet and sunk the Flushing Frigat at last getting beyond the Isle Virgin Gorda the Fleet meeting again got to Juan de Porto Rico about the latter end of September into whose Haven Henrickszoon Sail'd with great courage The City Porto Rico surpriz'd by Henrickszoon notwithstanding the narrow Mouth thereof was guarded by a strong Fort full of Brass Guns which fir'd very fiercely upon him who on the other side was not idle in discharging his Guns on the Fort and had not the shallow Water before the City prevented his Landing that day he had gotten a far greater Booty than afterwards he met with for the Inhabitants had during the Low-water remov'd all their best Goods but the next Morning before Sun-rising the Admiral Landed with eight hundred Men march'd into the City without any resistance pitch'd the States Flag on the Governor's House guarded all Avenues unhoop'd all the Wine-Casks which he found there for fear his Men should make themselves Drunk therewith and so neglect their Duty fir'd from the Land-side towards the Castle with three Brass Guns gain''d the Redoubt built for the security of the Bridge which unites the small Isle on which Porto Rico is built with the great rais'd a Platform from whence he fir'd Day and Night with six Cannons guarded by Captain Thyene whilest the Commander Uzeel kept Watch near the Fort but his Men being most of them sick he could not do any great Exploits especially since the Spaniards Sallying out as they did daily kill'd many of the Hollanders Capt Vzeel slain and amongst them Captain Uzeel after he had shot down two Turrets from the Castle which damage the Enemy repair'd by taking several of the Hollanders Boats by which means they could not prevent fresh Supplies from going to the Castle the Besiegers in the mean time beginning daily to be in greater want for Ammunition and Provisions whereupon Henrickszoon judg'd it convenient to sound a Retreat after he had set the Ships belonging to the City Porto Rico on fire in four places In which Retreat he receiv'd so many farewel Shots from the Fort that they were forc'd to go to the Leeward to stop their Leaks and leave one of their Ships to the Enemy in lieu whereof the West-Capel Frigat took a Barque with four Brass Guns in the little Haven Sierra Gorda from whence the Fleet ran into the Western Bay of the Island Porto Rico where whilest they repair'd and took in fresh Provisions Henrickszoon sent the Ships Hester and Jonas richly laden for Holland the remaining part of the Fleet meeting with strong contrary Tydes at Porto Rico were necessitated to put into the Inlet Francisco where they made several Marches up into the Countrey to the loss of many of their Men which were kill'd by the Spaniards lying in Ambuscade amongst the Brambles that grew along by the Ways The Forâ— of Margarita taken by Henrickszoon In the middle of January Anno 1626. Henrickszoon Sailing about the North of Porto Rico steer'd to Dominico and from thence along the Isles Martinigo Luzia and the Promontory De tres Puntas towards the Island Margarita where Landing and Storming the Castle on the Land-side with fifteen Men he gain'd the first Breast-works but the Spaniards stopping up the Way along which they were to return they had without doubt been all slain had not the Captains Stapel and Estienne come to their assistance for the Spaniards seeing them climbing up the Bulwarks betook them to their Heels after they had kill'd nine of the fore-mention'd fifteen amongst whom were the Captains Urk and Molkman of those that leap'd over into the Ditch most part escap'd those few that were taken inform'd the Hollanders That the Way towards the Village inhabited by Spaniards was every where stopt up with Barricado's through which none were able to pass Hendrickszoon thus become Master of the Fort sent the Booty which he had gotten there together with three Brass and five Iron Guns aboard of his Ship blew up the Fort burnt all the Houses and ran into the Haven Muchina to which he gave the Denomination of Port Maurice where besides a great number of dry'd Fish he took forty Tun of Salt out of one Salt-pit After this he taking in fresh Provisions at St. Fe discover'd Aves a low Isle full of high Trees took above two hundred Sheep and abundance of red Wood on Bonaire and before the Coast a Spanish Frigat richly laden made Inspections into the Havens of Hispaniola and Jamaica from whence he fell back on the Coast of Porto Rico about the Island Mona where discovering four Spanish Ships he took three of them and burnt the fourth he also got abundance of Tortoises and Crocodiles on the great Caiman and took a new Ship between the little sandy Isles Caios as also before Cuba a Barque which inform'd him That the Fleet from the Honduras as also that from New Spain was daily expected at Havana Thence Sailing into the Haven Cabannas he took a new Vessel of a hundred Tun and abundance of Timber and Carpenters Tools one the Shore he Landed also with seven hundred Men on the East-side of the Haven from whence he march'd along a narrow Path a League up into the Countrey where he found a running Stream Pastures full of Cattel and a Village the Inhabitants whereof being warn'd by the Barking of their Dogs fled and left all manner of fresh Provisions to the Hollanders viz. above two thousand Oranges abundance of Lemmons Bananas Hogs Calves and Bacon all which having sent aboard they burnt the Village After this they took a Spanish Barque before Havana as also a Ship laden with Timber another Barque with Poultry Cochenile Money and Haberdashery Ware one Vessel with live Tortoises and another full of Salt dry'd Fish and some Merchandise While the Fleet was thus Cruising up and down before Havana the Admiral Henrickszoon dy'd a Man of most approv'd Valor and of great Conduct Herickszoon dying is succeeded by Adrian Cheszoon After which Adrian Cheszoon carry'd the Flag but the Men mutinying about the dividing of the Provisions which began to grow very scarce all things fell into great disorder the Seamen rebell'd against their Commanders saying That they had been out long enough and that they would not stay waiting any longer for the Fleet from New Spain or Honduras Wherefore steering Home they all arriv'd safe at the Texel and other places in Holland In our foregoing Relation we have given you an Account of the Fleet which came to assist the City of St. Salvador divided into two Squadrons eighteen Sail Boudewyn Henrickszoon kept under his Command and twelve Sail remain'd in the Admiral Veron's Squadron who Sail'd to the Inlet Serre Leona where he found the Admiral John Dirkszoon Lam with three Ships which had lay'n there above two Moneths by
Sugar-Canes and other Fruits on Shore From hence Tasman Sail'd Northerly between many Isles and a Channel that separates New Guinee from Gilolo by Cerani Manipe Bolao and Burro to a narrow Opening where Pangesane being on his Larboard rose with exceeding high Rocks as Botton on the Starboard These Rocks are most of them overgrown with Trees and Brambles In the middle of this Channel also lies a Rock for its shape call'd A Galley by which Tasman Sailing bent his Course homeward and at last on the fifteenth of June Anno 1643. cast Anchor before Batavia CHAP. V. Terra Borealis or The Artick Region HAving spoken something of the Terra Australis Incognita or Unkown South-Land there remains something to be said of the opposite part namely the Terra Borealis or the Artick Region which is call'd Incognita in like manner as the Terra Australis in regard though very much as well of the one as of the other hath been search'd into and in part discover'd by several Voyagers yet doubtless there is a very vast Tract of Land in the Artick Region especially if it be not rather Sea which is altogether unknown and those parts which have been discover'd as Groenland Iseland Nova Zembla Spilbergen Hudson's Straights and Bay c. so imperfectly known that they may well deserve the Title of Unknown The several parts of this Artick Region are 1. Terra Subpolaris Incognita or that part which lies directly under the Pole and is otherwise call'd Orbis Arcticus 2. Groenland 3. Spilbergen or Nieuland 5. Iseland 6. Nova Zembla A Description of Terra Subpolaris The Terra Subpolaris is describ'd by a certain Seaman of Bosleduc to be a great black Rock about thirty five Leagues in compass and of an extraordinary heighth through the Land adjoyning to which the Sea violently breaking makes four great and violent Euripi or Whirlpools whose Waters driving Northward with so forcible a Stream that no Ship though carry'd by nexer so strong a Gale is able to stem the Current are at last swallow'd up in the Earth It is also reported that between two of these Euripi namely that made by the Scythick Ocean and that on the back side of Groenland there lieth an Island Northward of Lappia and Biarmia inhabited by Pygmies Much more to this purpose is related of the Subpolar Region but since it is very improbable that any one could come so near as to make any discovery thereof to say more of this Matter would be but to insist upon things savoring more of Fables than Reality Bounds and Situation of Groenland Groenland is that part of Terra Septentrionalis which winds about from South to East and decline Northward from Cape Faruel in the Deucaledonian Sea however Groenland hath been generally taken for an Island yet many late Navigators think it joyns with the Continent of Tartary and others leave it in doubt whether it be Island or Continent It is bounded towards the East with the Deucaledonian Ocean towards the West with Hudson's Straights and Bay which separate it from America towards the North its Bounds are altogether unknown and is not without reason suppos'd to be the utmost part of the World towards the North Pole There are who believe it to be one Continent with America and that upon this ground because several who have attempted to pass through the Straight commonly call'd The Straight of Davis into the East-Indies affirm that they found it to be a Gulph but one Captain John Monk who was also a great Undertaker in the North-West Passage through this Straight or Gulf of Davis alledges great Probabilities of this Lands being divided by Sea from the Continent of America The Topography of Groenland from the Danish and Iseland Chronicles This Countrey hath anciently been divided into two Regions East-Groenland and West-Groenland answerable to which Division Errick surnam'd The Ruddy the Son of Torvalde is reported by the Danish Chronicle to have built two Forts or Lodges Ostrebug and Westrebug in the Eastern part The first Planters of Christianity built the City Garde which became as the said Chronicle mentions a City of great Repute and Traffick and not long after the Town Albe and towards the Sea-Coast a Monastery dedicated to St. Thomas The City Garde was a Bishop's See to which belong'd a Cathedral Church by the Title of St. Nicholas built in the same City though a certain Iseland Chronicle makes mention of the Church of Strosnes as the chief Metropolitan and Bishop's See of Groenland The Bishop assisted oftentimes in the Assembly of the Estates of Denmark and held of the Bishop of Nidrosia or Drunthen in Norway as the Temporal Estates of Groenland held of the Crown of Norway the Norwegians being the onely known Planters of this Countrey deriving their Original from the aforesaid Errick according to the testimony of Mr. Vormius and also of Angrimus Jonas in his Specimen Islandicum and the Vice-Roy of Norway the Nomophylax as the said Angrimus calls him or Sovereign Judge of the Countrey The Inhabitants of Westreburg or the Western Coast of Groenland are by some call'd Skreglinguers According to the Iseland Chronicle the Towns and Places of chief note are Skageford in the most Eastern part a little farther West the Port of Funchebuder so call'd from a Page of St. Olaus King of Norway who together with several others were cast away upon that place a little higher the Roansen full of white Bears and other wild Beasts In the Western Coast Kindelfiord an Arm of the Sea on the right Shore whereof stands Korsekirk i. e. a Church built cross-ways also the Town Vandalebug and not far off a Monastery dedicated to St. Olaus and St. Augustine the next Place is Rumpesinfiord where there is a religious Convent and divers little Islands in which are Springs of Water warm in the Winter and temperate in the Summer which are accounted Medicinal and of great Vertue in the curing of divers Maladies upon the same Coast lies Etsnatsfiord between which and Rupesinfiord is the Palace Fos and a great Church dedicated to St. Nicholas near the Promontory Clining is another great House call'd Daller and beyond Eynatsfiord a great Island denominated Reynatsen from the abundance of Rein-Deer which breed there In the same Island is a Quarry of the Stone Talguestin not consumable by Fire and yet soft enough to be cut into any form insomuch that Vessels have been made of it containing twelve Tun. More Westerly lies the Island Langen and another Royal House call'd Hellestad then Erricksfford another Arm of the Sea and at the Entrance thereof the Island Herrieven part whereof belongs to the Dome or Cathedral and the other part to the Church of Dunes the principal Church of Groenland next to the Cathedral North-West from Erricksfiord is Midfiord and farther Northward Bondeford near which are several little Isles and Ports Between Ostrebug and Westrebug is a large Desart altogether uninhabited This
AMERICA AMERICA BEING THE LATEST AND MOST ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE NEVV VVORLD CONTAINING The Original of the Inhabitants and the Remarkable Voyages thither THE CONQUEST OF THE VAST EMPIRES OF Mexico and Peru AND OTHER LARGE PROVINCES and TERRITORIES WITH THE SEVERAL EUROPEAN PLANTATIONS IN THOSE PARTS ALSO Their Cities Fortresses Towns Temples Mountains and Rivers Their Habits Customs Manners and Religions Their Plants Beasts Birds and Serpents WITH An APPENDIX containing besides several other considerable Additions a brief Survey of what hath been discover'd of the Vnknown South-Land and the Arctick Region Collected from most Authentick Authors Augmented with later Observations and Adorn'd with Maps and Sculptures by JOHN OGILBY Esq His Majesty's Cosmographer Geographick Printer and Master of the Revels in the Kingdom of IRELAND LONDON Printed by the Author and are to be had at his House in White Fryers M.DC.LXXI A Catalogue of the Authors which are either mention'd or made use of in this Volume of America ABraham Mellinus Abraham Mylius Adriaen vander Donk Aelian Albertus Magnus Aldrete Aelius Lampridius Alexander Aphrodiensis Alexander ab Alexandro Alexander Guaginus Alonso Garcia Alonso de Ouagli Andraeas Caesariensis Angrin Jonas Antonio de Herrera Apuleius Aristonicus Grammaticus Aristotle Athanasius Kircher Augustinus Augustin de Tarcate Augustus Thuanus Ayton of Armenia Balthazar de Amizquita Barnaba Cabo Bartholomaeo de las Casas Benjamin Tudalensis Caspar Barlaeus Castaldus Charles Rochfort Christopher Arcisseuski Cicero Claude de Abbeville Clemens Alexandrinus Conradus Gesner Cornelius Nepos Cornelius Witfleet Ctesias Curtius Cyrianus David Ingran David Powel Diodorus Siculus Dionysius Halicarnassaeus Dirk Ruiters Dithmar Blefken Duarte Mendez Seraon Egydius Fletcher Emanuel de Moraez Erasmus Stella Erick Roothaer Everhard Reid Eusebius Euthymius Zibagenus Festus Avienus Francisc Burmannus Francisc Delapuente Francisc de Gomara Francisc Lopes de Gomesa Francisc Raphelingius Francisc Soarez Francisc Tirolmonte Francisc Xaverius Fullerus Galenus Garcilasso de la Vega Genebrardus Gerardus Joannes Vossius Guido de Brez Guilielm Piso Guilielm Postellus Harmannus Moded Henrick Haelbos Henrick Hawks Hernando de Leon Herodotus Hesychius Hieronim Benzo Hieronim Cardanus Homer Hugo Grotius Hugo Linschot Jacob Bontius Jacob Planensis Jacob Rabbi Inca Garcilasso Joannes Ardenois Joannes Bertius Joannes Chilton Joannes Gysius Joannes Johnstonus Jean de Laet Joannes de Ledesma Joannes Leonclavius Joannes Lery Joannes Mariana Joannes Nieuwhof Joan. van de Sande Joseph Acosta Joseph Anchieta Joseph Scaliger Isaacus Pontanus Isaac du Verne Isidorus Mendes Sequera Julius Caesar Julius Caesar Scaliger Lactantius Lauren. Ananias Lauren. Bikker Lauren. Guascus Gerascius Lauren. Keymis Levinus Lemmius Lieven Aizma Lopez Vaz Lucan Lucretius Lodowick Leo Lysander Manethon Persa Marcus Zeno Martin del Barco Martin Perez Matthaeus van den Broeke Matthiolus Melchior Soiterus Mich. Lithower Michovius Miles Philips Moses Nicolaus Zeno Olympiodorus Paulus Venetus Pedro de Ancieta Pedro Pizarro Pedro Fernandez de Quir Pedro Maria Peter Martyr Pedro Ordonnes de Cevallos Peter van Gendt Philo Judaeus Philippus Cluverius Philippus Mornaeus Phylarchus Piere Moreau Pinedas Plato Pliny Plutarch Pomponius Mela Proclus Procopius Quarterius Rabbi Simeon Robertus Comtaeus Sam. Purchas Sebastiaen Schroten Simplicius Salust Sigismond Baro Strabo Theodosio Theopompus Thevet Tertullian Trigaut Vegetius Virgil THE CONTENTS of the several CHAPTERS and SECTIONS The first Book AMerica unknown to the Ancients Fol. 1 Of the Original of the Americans whence they came when how and from what People Planted Fol. 11 First Discoverers of America with Christopher Colonus his Expedition Fol. 43 Pedro Alphonso Nigno his Voyage Fol. 56 The Voyage of Vincent Agnes Pinzon Fol. 58 The Expedition of Americus Vesputius Fol. 60 The Expedition of Alphonso Fogeda Diego Nicuesa Ancisus and Roderick Col. menares Fol. 65 Peter Arias his Expedition and the remarkable Passages of Vascus Nunnez Fol. 69 The Expedition of Francisco Fernandez Lupo Caizedo Christophero Morantes Bernardo Igniguez and Juan Grisalva Fol. 76 The Expedition of Ferdinand Magaglian commonly call'd Magellan Fol. 79 Ferdinando Cortez his Voyage Fol. 81 Diego Gottierez his Expedition Fol. 92 The Expedition of Pedro Alvarado Francisco and Gonzalvo Pizarro and Diego de Almagro Fol. 95 The Expeditions of John Stade and Nicholas Durando Villegagnon Fol. 103 The Expedition of John Ribald Renatus Laudonier and Gurgie Fol. 105 Four English Expeditions under the Command of our famous Sea-Captains Martin Forbisher Sir Francis Drake Thomas Candish and John Smith Fol. 108 A Netherland Expedition by Jaques Mahu and Simon de Cordes Fol. 110 The Expedition of Oliver van Noord Fol. 113 The Expedition of George van Spilbergen Fol. 115 The Expedition of Corneliszoon Schouten and Jacob Le Maire Fol. 117 The Voyage of the Nassavian Fleet under the Command of Jaques le Heremite and Hugo Schapenham Fol. 120 Henry Brewer his Voyage Fol. 122 The Second Book OF the Bounds of America and of the Division of the Mexican or Northern part thereof Fol. 125 Estotiland Fol. 126 Terra Laboratoris Fol. 128 Canada or New France Fol. 129 Accadia or Nova Scotia Fol. 133 Norumbegua Fol. 138 New England Fol. 139 New Netherland now call'd New York Fol. 168 A new Description of Mary-Land Fol. 183 Virginia Fol. 192 The Relation of Captain Smith 's being taken Prisoner by Powhatan and his deliverance by his Daughter Pocahonta Fol. 202 Carolina Fol. 205 Florida Fol. 213 Jucatan Fol. 222 Guatimala Fol. 224 Vera Paz Fol. 227 Honduras Fol. 229 Nicaragua Fol. 232 Costarica Fol. 235 Veragua ibid. Guatimala properly so call'd ibid. The Kingdom of Mexico or New Spain Fol. 238 Mechoacan Fol. 261 Tlascalla Fol. 264 Guaxata Fol. 268 Panuco Fol. 270 Tabasco Fol. 273 New Gallicia Fol. 281 Guadalajara Fol. 284 Xalisco Fol. 285 Chiametla ibid. Couliacan Fol. 286 Cinoloa Fol. 288 Zacatecas Fol. 289 New Biscay Fol. 290 New Mexico Fol. 291 Cibola Tontonteac and Nova Granada Fol. 298 Quivira Fol. 301 Terra Nova or New-found Land with the Island of Assumption Fol. 304 The Bermudas or Summer-Islands Fol. 311 Hispaniola Fol. 314 Porto Rico and Monico Fol. 327 Cuba Fol. 331 Jamaica Fol. 337 The Islands call'd The Lucaies Fol. 344 The Caribbee-Islands Fol. 345 Anegada and Sombrero Fol. 362 Las Virgines Fol. 363 Anguilla ibid. Saba Fol. 364 St. Crux ibid. St. Martin Fol. 365 St. Bartholomew Fol. 367 Barboude Fol. 368 Rotonda ibid. Nevis ibid. Eustathius Fol. 369 Antego Fol. 370 Montserrat ibid. Guadalupe Fol. 371 Deseado Fol. 372 Marigalante ibid. Todos Sanctos Fol. 373 De Aves ibid. Dominico Fol. 375 Martinico Fol. 376 St. Lucia Fol. 377 Barbados ibid. St. Vincent Fol. 380 Bekia Fol. 381 Granada ibid. Tabago Fol. 382 St. Christophers Fol. 383 California Fol. 389 The Third Book CAstella Aurea otherwise call'd Terra Firma Fol. 394 Panama Fol. 395 Darien Fol. 399 New Andaluzia Fol. 400 St. Martha Fol. 403 Rio de la Hacha Fol. 405 New Granada Fol. 406 Granada Fol. 408 Popayana Fol. 409 Peru Fol. 412 Quito Fol. 441 Los Quixos Fol. 446 Lima
the Prince of Latin Poets Aeneid lib. 6. had known the New-World in these Verses Aeneid lib. 6. There there 's the Prince oft promis'd us before Divine Augustus Caesar who once more Shall Golden Days bring to th' Ausonian Land Kingdoms that once old Saturn did command And shall His power to India extend Beyond the Annual Circle and beyond The Sun 's long Progress where great Atlas bears Laden with Golden Stars the glittering Sphears Hic vir hic est tibi quem promitti saepius audis Augustus Caesar divûm genus aurea condet Saecula qui rursus Latio regnata per arva Saturno quondam super Garamantas Indos Proferet imperium Jacet extra sidera tellus Extra anni Solisque vias ubi coelifer Atlas Axem humero torquet stellis ardentibus aptum America was not known to the Ancients But what of all this Who finds in any of these Writings any Marks of America or the least Description thereof Though we cannot deny that the Antient Sages and Wise Philosophers of former times might easily make out and no question did that the Earth and Sea made the perfect Figure of a Globe first from the round Shadow of the Earth that Ecclipses the Moon the different Risings and Settings of the Celestial Luminaries and the still Variation of the Pole so that the Earth and Sea making one Ball they might easily conjecture that the South-side of the Equinoctial might be Inhabited as well as the North But all this was more grounded upon Natural Reason and Right Judgement than any Experience of theirs or the least certain knowledge thereof which since these later times had the first happiness to obtain so laying these Conjectures aside there have been none more grosly erroneous and so utterly mistaken in this Point than some of the Ancients and especially the Fathers of the Church Lactantius Firmianus Lactant. l. 3. c. 24. and St. Austin who strangely jear'd at as ridiculous and not thinking fit for a Serious Answer the Foolish Opinion of Antipodes or another Habitable World beyond the Equator At which Lactantius Drolling says What Forsooth here is a fine Opinion broach'd indeed an Antipodes heigh-heigh-day People whose Feet tread with ours and walk Foot to Foot with us their Heads downwards and yet drop not into the Sky There yes very likely the Trees loaden with Fruit grow downwards and it Rains Hails and Snows upwards the Roofs and Spires of Cities tops of Mountains point at the Sky beneath them and the Rivers revers'd topsi-turvy ready to flow into the Air out of their Channels Lactant. error concerning our Antipodes But these seeming witty Observations of Lactantius though they may serve for a Jest yet are not grounded on any serious Reasons for the Earth and Sea being Globular making one Universal Ball all Materials whatsoever that belong to this great Body sink by a natural Propensity towards its Center so that where-ever we Travel our Feet are downwards and our Heads upwards the Sky above and the Earth beneath neither need they fear that any where the Earth should Moulder and drop into the Clouds As also St. Austin de Civit Del l. 16. c. 9. But St. Austin Reasons better admitting that the Earth and Sea make a Universal Globe yet it no way follows that inhabited Countreys should lye opposite to our Northern nay altogether impossible seeing that side which is our Antipodes is all nothing but Sea and should we allow that there were Land and Water mixt as ours is who could prove that they were Peopled or how could any get thither over such Vast and Immense Seas or possibly pass the extream heat of the Torrid Zone not to be endur'd by any living Creature And what then becomes of Sacred Scripture which says positively That all Men were deriv'd from Adam and after the Floud from Noah and his three Sons Therefore the Nations of the Antipodes must be of another Abstract there being no possibility as they suppos'd of passing from this World to that But since the Discovery of the East and West-Indies Experience the best Mistress hath taught that in the South are mighty Lands and vast Territories and that as far as they have been Penetrated are found to be full of People extending their Dominions from East to West And though St. Austin deny'd this now well-known Truth yet long before his time Cicero Pliny and others amongst the Greeks and Romans divided the Earth under five Zones which Virgil describes thus Five Zones the heav'ns infold hot Sun-beams beat Always on one and burns with raging heat The two Extreams to this on each hand lies Muffled with Storms fetter'd with cruel Ice 'Twixt Cold and Heat two more there are th'aboads Assign'd poor Mortals by th' Immortal Gods Quinque tenent caelum zonae quarum una corusco Semper Sole rubens torrida semper ab igni Quam circum extremae dextra laevaque trahuntur Caerulea glacie concretae atque imbribus atris Has inter mediamque duae mortalibus aegris Munere concessae divum via secta per ambas Obliquus qua se signorum verteret ordo Marcob in Somnio Scipionis l. 2. c. 5. Vide Carpent Geograph With Virgil Pliny and the Prince of Latin Orators agree who saith You see that those that inhabit the Earth dwell in Countreys so separated one from another that it is impossible they should have any Commerce some of them are our Antipodes walking with their Heads downwards some their Feet against our sides others as we with their Heads upright You see how the same Earth seems to be Swath'd about with Rolls of which two separated by the other three are at utmost distance one from the other lying equi-distant under the Vertick Points of Heaven always cover'd with Snow and Ice but the middlemost and greatest is scorch'd by the violent heats of the Sun Two Tracts are Habitable one to the South our Antipodes the other North which we Inhabit And Pliny also affirms Pliny lib. 2. though against the Vulgar Opinion this truth That the Earth is round about inhabited and that people walk Foot to Foot in most parts thereof though every one be ready to ask why our Antipodes drop not into the Sky which question our Antipodes may also ask concerning us But although the Ancients upon these and the like Demonstrations well understood that there was a Habitable World towards the South under our Horizon yet they could not make out or believe that there was any possibility to pass thither And according as St. Austin conceiv'd That the Earth produc'd nothing under either Pole by reason of excessive cold and that the Equinoxs or Middle-Zone was not to be penetrated because of the insufferable heat Macrob. in Somno Scip. lib. 2. And Macrobius saith That the Equinoctial Circle the Artick and Antartick Lines bind the two Habitable Zones and make Temperate by the excessive Neighboring Heats and Colds and
And also the Mexicans of their Original giving the Spaniards a far better Account when first they came thither wherein we must a little deviate viz. How they were remov'd from some other place as Robert Comtaeus relates who with many Learned and seemingly true Arguments affirms That the Original of the Americans must be sought for either among the Phenicians Sydonians Tyrians or Carthaginians Lib. 1. cap. 7. being indeed all one People Herodotus saith thus of the Phenicians They liv'd formerly according to their own Relation along the Shore of the Red-Sea from whence removing they planted the Sea-Coast of the Syrians Festus Avienus the Latin Poet agrees with this Opinion where he saith On the Phenicians Coasts the Ocean beats Who through the Red-Sea Sailing chang'd their Seats They were the first that ventur'd through the Seas And freighted Ships with richer Merchandise Fair or foul Weather They without controule Sought Foreign Trade directed by the Pole Original and Habitations of the Phenicians of whom according to serval Learned the Americans are extracted Aristotle from a Greek Word calls them Phenicians from their being red or bloody with the Slaughter of all Strangers that Landed on their Coast but rather and so indeed they are call'd Phenicians or Erythreans from Esau or Edom from whom they are deriv'd for these two Words or Denominations signifie in Greek Red the two last the like in Hebrew Phenix himself first planted all the Countrey lying between the River Eleutherus and the Egyptian City Pelusium and afterwards Damiata wash'd by the Mediterrane But since these Boundaries are alter'd on the North by Judea Westward by the Mediterrane Southerly by Egypt and towards the East by the Desart Arabia The chiefest Cities are Ptolemais otherwise call'd Acon Sidon Arad Great Cana Sarepta Biblis Bothrit Berithus and their Princess Tyre formerly scituate in an Isle but since joyn'd to the Main-Land by Alexander the Great None can disown but that the Phenicians have every where been Admirals of the Sea so that they were formidable to the greatest Princes When the Persian King Cambyses came with a vast Army against the Carthaginians Heredot lib. 1. he was forc'd to give over his Design because the Phenicians refus'd to help him with their Fleet being allied to and the City founded by them But they not only built Carthage Salust in Igurtha which strove with Rome to be the Empress of the World but also the famous Cities Leptis Utica Hippo and Adrumetum in Africa with Cadâ—z and Tartessus in Spain nay they sent Plantations of People into the Heart of Iberia and Lybia It will not be amiss to add Q. Curtius his Relation who tells us Where-ever the Phenicians came with their Fleets Wonderful Power of the Phenicians Landing their Men they subdu'd whole Countreys and by that means spread their Colonies over the known World Carthage in Africa Thebes in Boetia and Cadiz near the Western Ocean Aristotle relates That they made such rich Returns of their Merchandize and chiefly of their Oyl in Spain that their Anchors Pins and all Iron Materials belonging to a Ship in stead of that Metal were Silver But to return to our Discourse and disprove the former Testimony That the Phenicians found America The formention'd Comtaeus saith thus None can justly doubt Testimonies that the Americans are deriv'd from the Phenicians but that since the Phenicians took the Command of the Sea from the Rhodians they more and more increas'd their Fleets and growing experter in Navigation passing the Gibraltar Northward became Masters of Cadiz and still prepar'd new Fleets which searching beyond Atlas Southward discover'd the Coasts of Africa and the adjacent Isles driving a great Trade to the Canaries and to those which lay scatter'd along Cape de Verd formerly call'd the Gorgades This way of Trade also was not unknown to the Greeks Iberians and other People but after the Phenicians assum'd it wholly to themselves without any respect or difference of Countreys they sunk all whomsoever they could catch Curtius further adds saying First Testimony I believe that the Phenicians sailing into the Main Ocean have discover'd unknown Countreys And which are those Not the Gorgades or Canary Isles for those were sufficiently known before but a Main Land far beyond Is contradicted But though the Phenicians were most expert yet not skilful enough to make out such Discoveries They indeed were the first that before any other sail'd out of the Mid-land Sea nay they ventur'd a good way into the main Ocean beyond the Straights of Gibraltar or the Herculean Pillars But how far Not to the Gorgades above half way betwixt Spain and America but to the Cassiterides or Flemish Islands which to the number of nine lie in sight of Spain Strabo affirms this Truth Lib. 3. Geogr. saying The Cassiterides are ten lying in order close by one another Flemmish Islands One remains uninhabited on the rest live a swarthy People This way the Phenicians sail'd first when they were in quest for Trade from Cadiz And though he reckons ten there are indeed but nine viz. St. Michael St. Mary St. George Tercera de Pico or Tenariff so call'd from the Mountain which vomits Fire Fayal Las Flores Del Cuervo and Gratiosa Moreover the same Strabo relates Lib. 17. That the Carthaginians did not throw over-board the Traders on the remote Gorgades but those especially that came from Sardinia or Cadiz Salt-Islands how long known Joan. Mariana de Reb. Hispan lib. 1. cap. 20. Mean while we cannot deny but that the Gorgades that lye before Cape de Verd were frequented by the Carthaginians long before the Birth of our Savior but with so much admiration that Hanno their Captain in that Expedition was listed amongst the number of their Heroes hapning thus The Carthaginians sailing for Cadiz to assist the Phenicians against the Spaniards made that the Seat of War which soon drew on a greater Design for Hamilco and Hanno being impowr'd by the Senate at Carthage manag'd the War in Spain Both of them were ambitious to discover new Countreys Hamilco sail'd along the Coast of Spain and Gaule reaching to Batavia Hanno steer'd Southerly Very remarkable Voyage of Hanno the Carthaginian along the Coast of Africa to the Salt-Islands carrying thirty thousand Men of all Trades in his Fleet purposing to build a new City in some place or other and got beyond the Promontory Ampelusium now call'd Cabo Spatil the River Ziloa which washeth the City Arzilla and the Stream Lix now Lusso where the Poets place the Gardens of the Hesperides in the custody of a waking Dragon From thence proceeding on his Voyage he came to an Anchor in the Mouth of the River Subur at this day call'd Subu and afterwards before the City Sala now call'd Salle at that time made very dangerous by the voracious Beasts in the neighboring Woods At last the Fleet reach'd the Foot of the
since found by credible Navigators and therefore we cannot depend on Zeno's Discovery The Ameriecan Tongue is nothing like the Norwegian John de Laet accounts it a great mistake in Grotius that as a testimony of the Americans original out of Norway he compares their Languages He reckons up some Places to be Northward of Panama which end their words with the syllable Lan in stead of Land because the Spaniards have left out the Letter D at the end thereof It is certain that in the Northern America lie Cimatlan Coatlan Guescolan Artlan Quaxutatlan Icatlan Tapatlan Cinacatlan Tenuchitlan Comitlan Metzitlan Guatitlan Necotitlan Curcatatlan Besides that most of these Names are not of Countreys but of Towns and Villages and therefore no ways fitting to have the termination of Land and it is well known that many ny American words end with Lan which signifie nothing less than Land for the Mexicans say Puertatitlan which signifies At the Gate below Ochachitlantzitlan Yet lower Tenoxtitlan this City is also call'd from her Founder Mexis Mexico that is Rests on a Rock Moreover it may not without reason seem strange to any that the Northern Americans have remembred but three Cities out of all the Teutonick Tongue viz. Lan in stead Land Groenland when discovered Concerning Groenland through which the Norwegians are thought to have travell'd to America Lysander witnesseth Serm. 3. Antiq. Daâ—â—â— That it was accidentally discover'd by one Eric Rauder Anno 987. and planted thirteen years after Olaus King of Norway plac'd two Bishops over the new Inhabitants as Substitutes to the Archbishop of Dronthen For four Ages they Sail'd frequently to Groenland but since their King was impoverish'd by War they left off that Trade We find not in any Author that the Norwegians which liv'd along the Sea-shore ever went to seek a Way over the inaccessible Snowy Mountains of Groenland to this our New World Besides Grotius stands for the Norwegians as Planters upon testimony of the Mexicans themselves who told the Spaniards That their Ancestors which planted there came from the North first setling themselves on Estotiland where to this day there are not improbable proofs by several remarks that they were a Norwegian Colony The opinion conceâ—â—â—â— the City Norumbega 〈◊〉 America In the American City Norumbega live a People that speak the same Language and observe the same Customs with the Mexicans In this by-Corner are found also some Alavards or Longobards or Lombards as they say Now the Spaniards call that New Mexico because last discover'd though indeed the old cramm'd with People eight hundred years since for the Mexicans of New Mexico do not lie so far Northerly as to the North-west for this Mexico lies in sight of California which is believ'd to border on Tartary or at least separated from it by a narrow Channel But Norumbega if ever such a Place was must according to the West-Indian Records have been situate where a part of New France lies now planted by the English between which and New Mexico lies an almost unmeasurable vast Tract of Land Mean while here is not the least sign of this City Norumbega to be found neither do the Inhabitants dwell in Cities but live in Tents or moveable Villages which change their Names as oft as their Governors Moreover the Norwegians could not get to this Norumbega by Land through Ysland and Groenland to Estotiland because of the vast Bays and great Midland-Sea discover'd by the English in their North-western Discoveries so that leaving Estotiland it was altogether impossible for them to come to Norumbega Hereto may be added what the Mexicans say of themselves who acknowledge That travelling from the North they did not find an un-inhabited Countrey before them but were forc'd to make their Way by a long and bloody War with the Chichimecen a salvage People Chichimecen that knew neither Laws or Religion The People also dwelling opposite to California differ from the Customs of the Mexicans being divided into several People of contrary Constitutions and as different Languages They are so much inclin'd to Gaming that they venture their Liberty at it Every one is satisfi'd with one Wife except some of the Nobility which oftentimes have more They throw up high Banks in several places to damm out the Sea believe the Immortality of the Soul every one eats at a peculiar Table most of them go naked onely caver their Pudenda with a Cloth some Sacrifice and eat Mans-flesh all which according to Tacitus Pliny Lucan and other Roman Writers was observ'd by the antient Germans from whom those that inhabit between the Norwegian Mountains were extracted These Allegations to make the Norwegians to be the Parents of the Northern Americans John de Laet thus contradicts It no ways follows that one People take original from the other because here and there are several words found that have the same signification and sound in divers Countreys much less when they must either add change or diminish several Letters Moreover there is no small mistake in the compar'd words for Pagod is not us'd all over America the East-Indians about the River Indus call their Idol-Temples Pagod or Pagode the word Guaira is no where us'd in America but by the Peruvians and with them not signifying a Fan but a little Oven neither is Ilama a Lamb for before the coming of the Spaniards thither neither Sheep nor Lambs were ever seen in Peru but a Wool-bearing Beast thus describ'd by Joseph de Acosta A description of the strange Beast Ilama in Peru. Ilama says he a four-footed Creature furnishes its Master with Meat and Clothing and supplies the office of a Beast for Burthens and at no charge for Hay nor Provender well satisfi'd with what he finds in the Ways or Mountains But the Ilama's are of two sorts either woolly or short-hair'd the first go by the Name Pacos the other Moromoro being not much less than a Calf with a long Neck like a Camel but of several colours for some are white some black and others speckled having an odd Look especially when they are ty'd and stand still without any motion staring with goggle-eyes on their Owners Sometimes in a moody humor upon a sudden taking a freak they run up to the top of almost inaccessible Mountains where both the frantick Beast and his Burthen are loft The Pacos sometimes likewise takes sudden Pets and fustian Fits often doing the forward Supersalt tumbling over and over with their Goods and will not be rais'd their moodiness continuing with beating nay though they cut them to pieces but the best way is to sit down by them and wait some hours till their humor being spent they rise again of their own accords These Beasts are much inclin'd to a Disease call'd Carashe or the Mange of which they generally die and because the Disease is very catching they straight bury the infected alive so the better to preserve the rest Grotius also mistakes when
able to carry all the Gold themselves the meanest Soldier having above three thousand Pounds Sterling for his share Destruction of the Spaniards They were now got to Panza's Kingdom not without leaving sad remarks of their avarice and cruelties When Pariza surrounding this Party thus loaden with Gold Charged so fiercely that at the first Assault seventy of them were slain those few that escap'd brought the tidings of their sad misfortune to Peter Arias Amongst those that escaping return'd was Franciscus Delapuente whose observations concerning catching Parrots and wild Fowl we will briefly relate the digression being but short A strange way to catch Parrots The Indian where the Parrots are most frequent climbs into a Tree and chattering like them with his Voice imitating their Notes allures his fellow-prater to draw near and suffer him to take them in his Hands But more belongs to the taking of wild Fowl as Geese Ducks Swans and the like From the bottom of their standing Pools and Lakes in that Countrey grow Weeds which spreading upon the Water ripen and rotting breed Water-Flies Spiders and Frogs upon which the Fowls feed Near these Pools in the Gardens grow Cabbages as high as Trees which often dropping into the Water serve the Birds both for Nests and Food but the skilful Fowler finds it his best way to take one of these Cabbages and making it hollow in the middle claps it on his Head like a Helmet then going into the Water up to his Chin and passing softly along in such manner that nothing is seen but the floating Cabbage and coming near the Birds he takes them one after another by the Legs and puts them into a Bag ty'd about his middle for that purpose Strange Bird Toucan But what is more worthy observation is the American Bird Toucan Xochitenachate having a fleshy Bill like a Mouth full of Teeth which continually opens and shuts to draw Breath having no Nostrils the Back Neck and Wings are black the Breast yellow like Gold the Belly and end of the Tail of a Vermillion colour Evacuated Pepper This Bird Toucan feeds for the most part on Pepper which tarries not long with them but muted almost as soon as swallowed which Pepper thus evacuated the Natives value above their common because the unpleasing sharp acidity or biting quality is thereby much mitigated But to return Whilst the Expeditions under the Command of Peter Arias had such bad success Arias himself and Vaschus Nunnez hapned to clash Nunnez who since his discovery of the South Sea was held in some repute at the Spanish Court had built four Ships on the Shore of the same Ocean to make farther inspections along the Coasts thereof but being commanded to come to Arias the Governor he was committed to Prison and accused of high Treason as if he had intentions to settle himself in Peru and absolutely to have left Daria all which though he disown'd and utterly deni'd with great protestations when brought to a Trial and no witness to affirm the contrary yet was by Arias's special Order Beheaded Not long after which Lupus Sosa Governor of the Canary Islands was sent to succeed Arias in New Andalusia SECT IX The Expeditions of Francisco Fernandez Lupus Caizedus Christophero Morantes Bernardo Igniguez and Juan Grisalva FErnandez Caizedus and Morantes antient Planters in Cuba obtain'd a Licence from the Governor Diego Velasques to Rig out three Ships with a hundred and ten Men to discover new Lands Velasques thought fit to add one more to their number upon the Kings account which Trust he committed to Igniguez all of them consulted with the experienc'd Navigator Antonio Alamines Six days the Fleet had been at Sea when they discover'd Land which by a mistake was call'd Jucatan Original of the Name Jucatan because the Inhabitants being ask'd what was the Name of the Coast answer'd Jucatan which as the Spaniards were afterwards inform'd signifi'd We understand you not Stately City Upon the Shore they found a City whose Stone Buildings with stately Fronts and high Turrets shew'd most magnificently Fernandez call'd this City for its wonderful bigness Cairo from the Egyptian Metropolis famous through the World Making no long stay here they return'd to their Ship and weighing Anchor Sail'd fifty Leagues more Westerly the Fleet got sight of Moscobo Moscobo a City in the Territory Aguanil whose King assaulted the Spaniards with so much fury that two and twenty of them were slain Spaniards slain and scarce one escap'd which was not wounded wherefore they return'd with bad success to Cuba Yet Velasques no ways discourag'd thereat not long after fitted out four Vessels Manning them with three hundred Men under the Command of Juan Grisalva and Alamines who having Sail'd seventy Leagues discover'd the fruitful Island Cosumella Mighty Island Cosumella along whose Shore stood fair Stone Edifices intermix'd wich Temples whose Steeples appear'd above the Houses Grisalva being led up into one of these Steeples by a Priest saw at a distance off at Sea the Territory Jucatan and in the Place where they were there were spacious Halls full of Marble and Stone Images of deformed Men and Beasts which with a murmuring noise and burning of incense they religiously worship The Spaniards call'd this Island Sancta Cruz. Sailing from hence they directed their Course to Campechium where the year before they had been so civilly treated where arriving and without any fear coming ashore they found the Campechiums quite of another humor than they were the former year telling them They would not suffer any Strangers to be amongst them and placing a burning Torch between theirs and the Spanish Forces threatned That if they did not depart in quiet they would force them which accordingly they endeavor'd Spaniards fight with the Campechians making a fierce Onset upon the Spaniards who being now come under their Battlements when they saw their advantage pour'd what they had kept as a reserve whole Volleys of small Shot amongst them which struck so much terror that they all ran away shifting for themselves and crowding into the City Strange passages on Tabesco This River flowing out of the Province Tabasco was call'd Grisalva upon whose Banks stood above six thousand Americans and in the Water appear'd a hundred Boats with Armed Men which Row'd aboard the Spanish Ships The Interpreters of Cuba whose Language agrees for the most part with the Tabascers prevail'd so much that the King himself came to the chief Commander Grisalva and bartering with him gave him as much Gold as his Iron Helmet Breastplate and other Armor weighed Sacrifice-Island Soon after they Landed on the Island of Sacrifice so call'd from the horrid Sacrifices which the Inhabitants made daily Exceeding horrible Sacrifices Amongst other strange Images there stood a great Lyon of Marble seeming almost decollated with a great gash into which Wound they pour'd humane Blood warm which was receiv'd
the Indians to withstand stop'd not Pizarro from his intended course for first having the success to master Tampez thence he made nothing to march his Forces over the River Ambato there burning a Temple Dedicated to the Sun The Portico stood towards the East the rising of their God Peruvian Temple before which hung a Curtain of their fine Cotton Stuff within stood the presentations of two Golden Rams shaded with Black and as many Dragons before which the Fire never went out continually supply'd with Offerings of burnt Incense on the Pillars hung several Men flead their Flesh kept firm and free from all Putrifaction with the infusion of a sharp Juyce Here Almagro coming to Pizarro with fresh Forces they made no little penetration into Peru satisfying every where their thirst of Gold and slaughtering the Toothless Tombezes a people who having offended their King had by his order the upper Teeth of the whole Nation beaten out Alvarado's Exploits Peter Alvarado inform'd concerning the Riches of Peru and well knowing how to insinuate with the Emperor in his fawning Letters at last by his Friends so prevail'd that he also got leave to go thither in pursuance of which Anno 1534. he Weigh'd Anchor with seven Ships from Guatimala a City built by him between two Mountains But Landing at Puerto Viejo and Marching Easterly over Snowy Mountains he was met by Almagro between whom a bloody incounter was like to have happen'd but after some time a Treaty being set a Foot they came to a Composition on these Articles That Alvarado upon the receipt of a hundred thousand Duckets should leave his Men with Almagro and depart from Peru with which sum being inrich'd he soon after fitted out fourteen Sail to discover new Countreys to the West but being busie in his preparations was sent for to Mexico by Don Antonio Mendoza the Vice-Roy to undertake a Voyage with him to the new-discover'd Countrey of Sibolla abounding in Gold and Saffron according to the report of four Dominican Monks and having already rais'd seven hundred Men news came to Mexico that Peter Zunica had receiv'd an overthrow by the Indians of Salisco to whose assistance Alvarado March'd with all speed and found the Indians incamp'd on a high Mountain fortifi'd with conjoyn'd Trees and great Stones ty'd together with Rushes behind which they were secure from Shot The Spaniards climbing up the Mountain approach'd their Works when on a sudden the Defendants giving a great Shout cut the Cords which held their Fortification together Notable Stratagem of the Peruvians whereupon the Stones and Trees tumbled down with such force that they kill'd both Men and Horse few escaping alive In this conflict Alvarado himself was lost Wickedness of a Woman His Wife Beatrix Cuova made a stately Funeral for her Husband and caus'd her House to be Painted black refusing either to Eat or Drink for a set time yet notwithstanding all her pretence of sorrow she so minded her business that she took the Government of Guatimala into her own hands but her Dominion lasted not long for on the eighteenth of September Anno 1541. happen'd a hideous Tempest of Wind and Rain mixt with continual Lightning and horrible claps of Thunder and what was more terrible Guatimala destroy'd by a stood was answer'd with roars and horrid bellowings from the caverns of the Mountain at whose foot Guatimala stood About midnight the Mountain was deliver'd whose Birth was the irruption of an Inundating River a precipitate torrent tumbling down full of Rocks and Stones which carry'd all before it so that in few minutes Guatimala was utterly swept away not the least mark remaining nor any left alive except Alvarado's Bastard Daughter by an Indian and in the adjacent Fields some few and they maim'd with broken Arms or Legs after this utter destruction they re-built another Guatimala three Leagues more Easterly But though Alvarado was lost in this Enterprize yet the Voyage to Sibolla was not laid aside for Francisco Velasques March'd thither with eight hundred Men Velasque's Journey of which most were Horse but found nought else but Snowy Mountains and barren Plains insomuch that his Men and Horses were starv'd for want of Provision wherefore he return'd without success to Mexico having onely burnt some Villages and had several Rencounters with the Natives ATHABALIBA ultimus Rex Peruanorum But Attabaliba a Peruan Prince inform'd of Pizarro and Almagro's coming commanded them both to depart out of his Kingdom but they not regarding it march'd directly to Caxamalca where Attabaliba kept his Court who again sent other Messengers to them with command to leave his Dominions Attabalâ—ba's message to Pizarro Pizarro made answer that he could not obey any Commands but those of his Master the Emperor who had order'd him to speak with the King himself at his own Palace Attabaliba hearing that Pizarro resolv'd to come forward sent him a pair of Painted Shooes and Armlets that he might put them on when he appear'd before his Throne Captain Ferdinand Sotto march'd before with twenty Horse passing close on the Flank of Attabaliba's Army The Indians amaz'd at the prauncing of their Horses retreated into their Fortifications but were for their cowardize immediately slain by the King's Order Sotto sent a Message to Attabaliba That the Spaniards desir'd peaceably to Treat with him to which he receiv'd answer That no Peace could be made unless they restor'd the Gold and Silver to the Owners which they had Plunder'd from them and forsook his Territories which so doing they should have Audienâ—â— the next day His discourse with a Spanish Bishop and his apparel Hereupon the Bishop Vincent de Villa Viridi was conducted into the Royal Palace in the City of Caxamalca and brought before Attabaliba who came thither in great State with a Guard of twenty five thousand Men he was carry'd on the Shoulders of his prime Nobles in a Sedan about which hung Garlands of Gold and divers colour'd Feathers himself was cloth'd in a white loose Vest without Sleeves his Temples were bound with a red Ribbon with a long Tassel on his left Cheek on his Fore-head stuck three curious Feathers before him March'd three hundred of his Life-Guard all in one Livery who clear'd the way through which the King was to pass The before-mention'd Bishop carry'd in one Hand a Cross in the other a Book discoursing with the King to this effect That God is the Trinity Adam the first Man Christ Born of a Virgin dy'd on the Cross the Pope God's Vice-Gerent who according to the Power he had from Heaven had given Peru to the Emperor Charles as also all other Countreys in America and if he should prove obstinate and resist he must expect nothing less than utter ruine Attabaliba reply'd That he serv'd Pachamaca being the Creator of all things and next to him the Sun and Moon How glorious do they appear said he in comparison of a Crucifi'd God
while Almagro receiv'd Letters Patent from the Emperor in which he was nominated Marshal of Peru encourag'd by that honor he took a great design in hand for the Peruvians had reported that the Golden Chili lay to the South and Almagro being encourag'd and assisted by Pizarro March'd inquest thereof with two Troops of Horse and five hundred Foot But mean while there happen'd so great Rains and such foul Weather that the Ways were almost unpassable so that the Expedition grew very troublesome yet however he went on in which hard March he lost both Horse and Men. Whilst Almagro was upon this undertaking Francisco Pizarro receiv'd Letters Patent from the Emperor in which he was Intitul'd Duke of Peru but with a Salvo for the honor before given to Almagro yet these balanc'd honors bred great dissention between the Duke and Marshal which Mango Inga another of Attabaliba's Brothers observing laid hold of the opportunity and setting upon the Spanish Garrison in Cusco Mango Inga takes Cusco took the City Whereupon Pizarro immediately sent his Horse thither under the Command of Alphonso Alvarado and Gomes de Todoya against whom the Indians fought very valiantly insomuch that the Battel was a long time doubtful yet at last the Spaniards got a bloody Victory and regain'd Cusco hither after some time Almagro returning with ill success having effected nothing was kept out by Ferdinand Pizarro under pretence that he could not open the Gate without Order from his Brother the Duke Contest between Almagro and Pizarro Almagro much offended thereat yet saying little was so privately let into the City that he surpriz'd the Governor Ferdinand Pizarro and his Brother Gonsalvo with Alphonso Alvarado Prisoners swearing that he would not rest before he had rooted all the Pizarro's out of Peru. But whilst he was passing the intended Sentence of Death upon them Gonsalvo and Alvarado broke Prison and got away to the Duke who troubled for his Brother Ferdinand there in custody and in danger of his life came to Composition whereupon Ferdinand was also releas'd But this was no sooner done and he had got his Brother safe there but the Duke regarding nothing less than the keeping of the new-made Peace sent to Almagro that the Emperor having given him the prime Command over Peru he requir'd him to leave Cusco or else he would force him Almagro sent answer That if he could see the Emperor's Hand he would immediately obey otherwise not whereupon both Parties prepar'd for War wherein they had many sharp bickerings in a short time Almagro strangled But Almagro being too weak fell into the Dukes hands who order'd him to be strangled in the Gaol and his body afterwards to be drawn to the Market-place and there publickly Beheaded Ferdinand Pizarro being not long after sent to Spain with the fifths of the gotten Treasure for the Emperor was Imprison'd in the Castle Motto for Almagro's Death But what further happen'd to him there or became of him hath never been Recorded by any Pen. Ferdinand Pizzarro never obtains his liberty But young Almagro instigated by his Guardian John Rada resolving to be reveng'd for his Fathers Death to that purpose he went to Los Reyes where by the help of some hir'd Male-contents Young Almagro stabs the Duke he design'd to Murder the Duke upon St. John's day in the Church at high Service But this business was not so closely carry'd but the Duke had some inkling thereof who therefore stay'd at home and went not to Mass that day The Conspirators doubting the event hearing that their Plot was discover'd though defeated in their purpose yet not fail'd in their Courage ran at noon day to the Palace crying Kill the Tyrant kill the Traytor But Pizarro being so much forewarn'd had lock'd up the Gates and arm'd himself which when they could not enter yet they went back through the City and waving a bloody Sword cry'd Pizarro is slain this being believ'd above two hundred private Friends to Almagro appear'd who all ran to the Palace crouding about the Gates And Francisco de Chares coming out at a private Door hoping to pacifie the Mutineers was immediately Stab'd but they rushing in the way he came found some stout opposition for seven Halberdiers of his Guard fought till they were all kill'd in the Dukes presence but Pizarro was taken alive and being brought before Almagro he Savagely Butcher'd him with his own hands which done they ran crying along the Streets Long live the Emperor and Didacus Almagro Great slaughter in Los Reys But after all this Pizarro's Party joyning together valiantly withstood the Conspirators so that a considerable number were slain on both sides yet Almagro at last getting the better confiscated the Goods of all those that were against him and now every one shew'd him the respect of Chief Governor till the Emperor should either settle him or send another From hence Marching to Cusco he had like to have paid for all but prevented by private intelligence thereof which happen'd thus Garcias Alvarado and Christopher Sotello were Joynt-Governors of Cusco but quarrelling and coming to Blows in like manner Sotello was slain This Almagro took very hainously Strange Transactions between Alvarado Sotello and Almagro as being his intimate Friend giving forth threatning Speeches of Revenge which Alvarado inform'd of and intending some way or other to prevent all Dangers and save himself he invited Almagro to a Feast but privately resolving to make it a Bloody Banquet by his Death at the Table Of this he being inform'd as we mention'd before staid at home and privately sent for some Soldiers that had belong'd to Sotello sending word that he was indispos'd Alvarado under a shew of Kindness goes to Almagro hoping to perswade him to come to his prepar'd Treat but so soon as he was enter'd the Hall they clapp'd to the â—aâ—e and the Soldiers falling upon Alvarado slew him But soon after Almagro was call'd in question and not long enjoy'd this his usurp'd Authority for the Emperor Charles sending the Learned Vacca de Castro with full Authority to Peru to settle that disturb'd Kingdom Almagro now us'd to Govern had no Ears to become a Subject therefore he march'd with an Army to meet Castro by whom after a bloody Fight Fight between Castro and Almagro being beaten and put to flight having four thousand Men he fell into the Victors Hands near Cusco where he was treated very severely for shortly after he was condemn'd to be Beheaded Castro's Cruelty others were strangled and some torn in pieces with Horses Not long after this great Execution Blasco Nunnez Vela came to Peru and being appointed Vice-Roy Vela Vice-Roy of Peru. had four Councellors assign'd him with whom he was to consult in all Affairs and especially to set the Indians at liberty which till then had suffer'd much misery under the Spanish Tyranny To perform which the Emperor had given an Order under his Great
but at last Articled with the Portuguese that they might undisturb'd supply themselves with Fresh Water yet they as if they minded no Agreements whilst the Dutch were filling their Casks came down upon them with two hundred Horse each having a Foot-Soldier behind him but the Hollanders made so stout resistance that they put them all to flight The City of St. Jago which gives Denomination to the whole Island is built long-wise having a convenient Haven like a Crescent Through the City glides a River on both sides of which beyond the Town arise several high Mountains That part which faces the Sea hath Fortifications defended with strong Bulwarks The Portuguese had brought all their Guns to bear towards the Sea to sink the Holland Ships which they invited thither under pretence of kindness but a great Storm hindred the Fleet that they could not Anchor at the appointed place onely two of the Ships sail'd pretty near but not within Shot From hence fleering to the Desolate Island Brava they saw nothing but five ruin'd Houses the Door of one stopp'd up with great Stones which being taken away was found full of Turkish Wheat which prov'd a great kindness to the Sea-men Mean while the Admiral Mahu died Mahu dies and his Body put into a Chest fill'd up with Stones was thrown over-board Cordes his Voyage so that Simon des Cordes carrying the Flag steer'd his Course to Guinee there to refresh himself for most of his Men were so weakned by the Scurvey that they were scarce able to hand the Sails Arriving at their intended Port the Sick were carried ashore and the Vice-Admiral Beuningen being conducted by a French Guide went to the Vice-Roy of that Countrey who sat on a low Bench Strange King in Guinee with a Sheeps-skin under his Feet in a Violet-colour'd Cloth Suit without any Linnen Shirt Shoes or Stockins on his Head a Cap made of yellow red and blue Eastern Cloth his Face whitened with Ashes shew'd in several places its natural blackness appearing through the Colours about his Neck a Collar or Chain of Glass Beads Behind him sat his Nobles with Cocks Feathers on their Heads and their Skins painted Red. Beuningen plac'd by the King on a Mat complain'd to him That the Guineans fled from him where-ever he came though in Friendship to barter European Commodities with them against Fruits Poultrey Sheep and other Provisions Whereupon the King promis'd to furnish him therewith and invited Beuningen to Dinner After some stay the Kings Wives entred the Palace a very mean and ill-favour'd Building more like a great Barn than a Kings House and plac'd a kind of nasty Trough on the Ground in which lay nothing but some wild Herbs and a piece of a smoak'd Sea-Calf and though he was a Person of the largest size and corpulent yet he eat sparingly Beuningen though exceeding hungry found little rellish in such kind of Meats wherefore spreading a Napkin his Attendants brought him some Bisket and Spanish Wine whereof after the King had tasted he lik'd so well the rellish that it rock'd him asleep whilst Beuningen walk'd to the Sea-side to refresh himself but the Guineans coming about him he was forc'd to return to the King who waking at the noise appear'd highly incens'd at his People and took Beuningen into his House However the Subjects notwithstanding the Kings Commands when Beuningen was sent into a neighboring Hut kept Watch about it all Night The next Morning early an old Woman entred muttering to her self and went out and in to Beuningen three times one after another knocking on a Box not unlike a Pair of Bellows out of which flew abundance of Dust about Beuningen which caus'd a great Laughter amongst the Guineans The King also coming to him presented him with two Goats and four Hens and so conducted him back to the Ships Beuningen seeing that there was no good to be done set sail from thence and coming before the River La Plata in America Bloody Sea very strange it appear'd Blood-red Out of the Water which was taken up in Buckets started a sort of Insects like Fleas which caus'd a strange and sad Distemper amongst the Sea-men that when any Meat was offer'd to them so soon as ever they put it to their Mouths they would fall down backwards in a swoon foaming and frothing at the Mouth and turning up the White of their Eyes die distracted Suffering under this Disaster they hasted from thence with all speed and sailing into the Straights of Magellan they kill'd above fourteen hundred Penguyins which is a Bird that preys on Fish and lives in Holes under Ground they somewhat resemble a Goose onely they stand more upright and are double-crested with two plumy Combs Coming to an Anchor in the Green-Bay there arose a great Storm which continued several days so that they were forc'd to moor their Vessels with four Anchors extremely afflicted both with Hunger and Cold preserving themselves alive by eating young Grout at that time not above a span high from the Ground but this course Food bred an incurable Dropsie that posted them on to a sudden death Afterwards when the Weather grew more pleasant Salvages in the Straights of Magellan the Inhabitants being Gyants most of them eleven Foot high grew more troublesom oftentimes assailing them and throwing Darts pointed like Harping-Irons at which they were very expert Their Salvage Natures may appear by their Dealings with the dead Hollanders cutting off their Heads and bruising them to pieces sticking Darts through their Hearts and cutting off their Privities At last the Fleet getting into the South Sea were by stress of Weather separated one from another Two Ships being the Faith and the Good Tydings were driven back into the Straights of Magellan where they suffer'd the uttermost extremity of Hunger A wild Woman Here they took a wild Woman and two Children who being of a sallow Complexion had a great hanging Belly a wide Mouth crooked Legs long Heels and Breasts like Cows Udders about her Neck a String of Snail-shells and upon her Back a Beasts Skin fastned about her Neck with the Sinews of it her Food nought else but live Fowls The same Diet the Children fed upon The youngest being but six Months old had his Mouth full of Teeth and ran without any help The eldest they carried to Amsterdam but having kept the Woman aboard two Nights they gave her several Trifles and set her ashore Here they found old Ice in the middle of Summer four Foot thick Beuningen lingred in the Straights of Magellan and being tired out with Hunger Cold and Storms return'd home and had they not by accident taken abundance of Coneys they had all perish'd Above two Years had this unhappy Voyage lasted when they arriv'd at their Native Countrey with six and thirty Men being all that remain'd alive of a hundred and five SECT XVI The Expedition of Oliver van Noord TWo Months after Mahu Oliver
which daily lies upon them insomuch that a great Belly hinders no business nor doth a Child-birth take much time but the young Infant being greas'd and sooted wrapp'd in a Beavers Skin bound with his Feet up to his Bum upon a Board two Foot long and one Foot broad and his Face expos'd to all nipping Weather this little Pappouse travels about with his bare-footed Mother to paddle in the Icy Clam-banks after three or four days of Age have confirm'd her recovery For their Carriage it is very civil Smiles being the greatest grace of their Mirth Their Musick is Lullabies in Rocking their Children who generally are as quiet as if they had neither Spleen or Lungs Their Voices are generally both sweet and well order'd so far as pure Nature teacheth them Their Modesty drives them to wear more Clothes than the Men having always a Coat of Cloth or Skins wrapp'd like a Blanket about their Loyns reaching down to their Hams which they never put off in Company Towns buile by the English in New England There are to be reckon'd up forty five chief Towns besides what others there may be of less note built or made habitable by the English since their first arrival in New England till about the Year 1650. First St. Georges Fort where the first Plantation was setled St. Georges Fort. at the Mouth of the River Sagadebock in a kind of Peninsula or half Island The second New Plymouth seated no less commodiously upon a large Bay New Plymouth call'd by the Natives Pautuxed where they first setled that went over out of dissatisfaction to the Church-Government of England The third Salem call'd by the Indians Mahumbeak Salem which stands on the middle of a Neck of Land very pleasantly having a South River on the one side and a North River on the other side This Town seems to have been built in the Year 1628. by a part of that Company who being sent over by the Merchant-Adventurers setled themselves in this Cape The fourth Mashawmut or Charles-town Charles-town situate on a Neck of Land on the North-side of the River Charles The form of this Town in the Frontispiece of it resembleth the Head Neck and Shoulders of a Man through the right Shoulder whereof runs the Navigable River Mistick which by its near approach to Charles River in one place makes the chief part of the Town a Peninsula It consists of a hundred and fifty Dwelling-houses many of them beautifi'd with pleasant Gardens and Orchards Near the Water-side is a large Market-place forth of which issue two fair Streets and in it stands a large and well built Church The fifth Matapan or Dorchester a Fronteer Town Dorchester standing over against the Island near the Sea-side It is water'd with two small Rivers and is built in the form of a Serpent turning its Head Northward it hath Orchards and Gardens full of Fruit-trees The sixth is Boston anciently Accomonticus the Center and Metropolis of the rest Boston built in the form of a Heart and fortifi'd with two Hills on the Front-part thereof the one having great store of Artillery mounted thereon the other having a strong Battery built of whole Timber and fill'd with Earth At the Descent of the Hill lies a large Cave or Bay on which the chief part of this Town is built over-topp'd with a third Hill all three like over-topping Towers keeping a constant Watch to foresee the approach of foreign Dangers The chiefest part of this City-like Town is crowded upon the Sea Banks and wharf'd out with great Industry and Cost the Edifices large and beautiful whose continual enlargement presageth some sumptuous City The seventh Roxbury Roxbury situated between Boston and Dorchester water'd with cool and pleasant Springs issuing from the Rocky Hills and with small Freshets watering the Valleys of this fertile Town The form of it resembleth a Wedge double pointed entring between the two above-mention'd Towns and in the room of those Swamps or tearing Bushes which were there before they have now goodly Fruit-trees fruitful Fields and Gardens The eighth is Lynne Lynne or according to the Indian Name Saugus situated between Salem and Charles-town near a River whose strong Freshet at the end of Winter fills all her Banks and with a violent Torrent vents it self into the Sea This Town is almost square consisting many years ago of above a hundred Dwelling-houses having also an Iron Mill in constant use The Church being on a level Land undefended from the North-West Wind is made with Steps descending into the Earth The ninth is call'd Water-town Water-town anciently Pigsgusset situated upon one of the Branches of Charles-River water'd with many pleasant Springs and small Rivulets running like Veins throughout her Body This Town began by occasion of Sir Richard Saltingstall who arriving with store of Cattel and Servants Winter'd in these Parts In the Year 1633. there was erected between Charles-town and Water-town New-town a Place call'd New-town and by the Indians Amongcangen since nam'd Cambridge being the tenth in order It is in form like a List of Broad-cloth reaching to the most Southerly part of Merrimeck River it hath comely and well order'd Streets and two fair Colledges Harverd Colledge the first call'd Harverd Colledge from Mr. John Harverd who at his Death gave a thousand Pounds to it to the other Mr. John Harnes was the chief Benefactor This Town was appointed to be the Seat of the Government but it continu'd not long The eleventh call'd Ipswich Ipswich or Sawacatuc by the Indians is situated on a fair and delightful River issuing forth from a very pleasant Pond and afterwards breaking its Course through a hideous Swamp of large extent it lies in the Sagamoreship or Earldom of Aggawan now by the English call'd Essex Twelve Miles from Ipswich Newbury near upon the Streams of Merrimeck River is situated the twelfth call'd Newbury The People of New-town Hartford or Cambridge upon their removal of the Plantation of Canectico passing up the River built a Town which they call'd Hartford the thirteenth in number divers others coming in the room of those that departed from Cambridge The fourteenth Concord seated upon a fair fresh River whose Rivulets are fill'd with fresh Marsh and her Streams with Fish it being a Branch of that large River of Merrimeck Allwives is built in the Inland Countrey and call'd Concord It consisted at first of above fifty Families Their Buildings are for the most part conveniently plac'd on one streight Stream under a Sunny Bank in a low Level The People that first set forth to build this Town sustain'd great hardship and misery by reason of the uncouth Ways and extremity of the Weather it being the first Inland Town that was built South-East of Charles-River upon the Sea-Coast Hingham is situated the fifteenth Town Hingham the form whereof is somewhat intricate to describe by reason of
Battel in revenge of some former Injuries done by the Troquois to the Algovinquins who had the Victory for which cause the French have been so hated ever since by the Nation of the Troquois that none of them durst ever appear in any part of that Lake But their Trade said to be sixteen thousand Beavers yearly is partly sold to the Dutch who Trade with the West-end of the said Lake over Land by Horses from their Plantation upon Hudson's River and another part is conceiv'd to be purchas'd by the Hiroons who being Newters are Friends both to the one and the other and these Hiroons bring down the greatest part of all by the River of Canada The Way over Land to this great Lake from the Plantation of Pascataway hath been attempted by Captain Walter Neale once Governor at the Charges of Sir Ferdinando Gorges Captain Mason and some Merchants of London and the Discovery wanted but one days Journey of finishing because their Victuals was spent which for want of Horses they were enforc'd to carry with their Arms and their Clothes upon their Backs They intended to have made a settlement for Trade by Pinnaces upon the said Lake which they reckon to be about ninety or a hundred Miles from the Plantation over Land The People of the Countrey are given to Hunting of wild Beasts which is their chiefest Food Their Arms are Bowes and Arrows Their Armor is made partly of Wood and partly of a kind of twisted Stuff like Cotton-Wool Their Meat is Flour of Indian Corn of that Countreys growth sodden to Pap which they preserve for times of Necessity when they cannot Hunt This Province of Laconia however known by a distinct Name is included within the Province of Main which offers it self next to our consideration Of the Province of Main All that part of the Continent of New England which was allotted by Patent to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and to his Heirs he thought fit to call by the Name of The Province of Main It takes it beginning at the entrance of Pascatoway Harbor and so passeth up the same into the River of Newichwavoch and through the same unto the farthest Head thereof and from thence North-Westwards for the space of a hundred and twenty Miles and from the Mouth of Pascatoway Harbor aforesaid North-Eastward along the Sea-Coast to Sagadehock and up the River thereof to Kinibequy River even as far as the Head thereof and into the Land North-Westwards for the space of a hundred and twenty Miles To these Territories are also adjoyn'd the North half of the Isles of Sholes together with the Isles of Capawick and Nautican as also all the little Islands lying within five Leagues of the Main all along the Sea-Coast between the aforesaid Rivers of Pascatoway and Sagadehock He no sooner had this Province setled upon him but he gave publick notice That if any one would undertake by himself and his Associates to Transport a competent number of Inhabitants to Plant in any part of his Limits he would assign unto him or them such a proportion of Land as should in reason satisfie them reserving onely to himself some small High-Rent as 2 s. or 2 s. 6 d. for a hundred Acres per Annum and if they went about to build any Town or City he would Endow them with such Liberties and Immunities as should make them capable to Govern themselves within their own Limits according to the Liberties granted to any Town or Corporation within this Realm of England And as for others of the meaner sort who went as Tenants that they should have such quantities of Land assign'd them as they were able to manage at the Rate of 4 d. or 6 d. an Acre according to the nature or situation of the Place they settle in And for the Division of the Province and the Form of Government which he intended to Establish he first divided the Province into several Parts and those again he subdivided into distinct Regiments as East West North and South those again into several Hundreds Parishes and Tythings and these to have their several Officers to Govern according to such Laws as should be agreed upon by publick Assent of the Free-holders with the approbation of himself or Deputy and the principal Officers of the publick State The setled Government for the general State to whom all Appeals were to be made and from whom all Instructions for the welfare of the Publick were to issue were to consist of himself or his Deputy who was to be chosen every three year by himself with the advice of his Council Next a Chancellor for the determination of all Causes A Treasurer to whom the care of the publick Revenue was to be committed A Marshal whose Office was to oversee the Regiments and to provide Men for publick Service An Admiral to take care of all Maritime Affairs to whom a Judge of the Admiralty was to be joyn'd to determine all Maritime Causes A Master of the Ordnance to look to the publick Arms and Ammunition A Secretary to receive Intelligence and to acquaint himself or Deputy therewith To these belong all their several Officers and Ministers for the Execution of all Matters proper to their several Places The chief Town of this Province is call'd Gorgiana which is Govern'd by a Mayor the rest are onely inconsiderable Villages or scatter'd Houses but through Encouragement given to Adventurers and Planters it may prove in time a very flourishing Place and be replenish'd with many fair Towns and Cities it being a Province both fruitful and pleasant SECT II. New Netherland now call'd New York THat Tract of Land formerly call'd The New Netherland doth contain all that Land which lieth in the North parts of America betwixt New England and Mary-Land the length of which Northward into the Countrey as it hath not been fully discover'd so it is not certainly known The breadth of it is about two hundred Miles The principal Rivers within this Tract are Hudson's-River Raritan-River Delaware-Bay-River The chief Islands are the Manhatans-Island Long-Island and Staten-Island The first which discover'd this Countrey was Henry Hudson who being hir'd by the East-India Company to seek a Passage in the Northern America to China set Sail Anno 1609. in the Half-Moon Frigat coming before Terre-neuff he stood about towards the South-West where Sailing up a great River he found two Men Clad in in Ruffelo's Skins and from thence arriv'd safe at Amsterdam New Netherland thus discover'd invited many Merchants to settle a firm Plantation there to which purpose they obtain'd Letters Patents in 1614. granted them by the States in the Hague That they might onely Traffick to New Netherland whereupon they earnestly prosecuting the Design sent out Adrian Block and Godyn who discover'd several Coasts Isles Havens and Rivers NOVI BELâ—â— Quod nune NOVI JORCK vocatur NOVAE que ANGLIAE Partis Virginiae Accuratissima et Novissima Delineatio After His Majesties Restauration His Majesty being truly
so made are in Force there till His Majesty thinks fit to alter them The Chief Court of Judicature is call'd The Quarter-Court because it is held every quarter of a Year where all Causes Criminal and Civil are heard and determin'd and the Judges of this Court are the Governor and Council The present Governor in this Year 1671. is Sir William Berkley who was made Governor by King Charles the First of Great Brittain c. in the Year 1640. And those of the Council are Sir Henry Chichesly who is one of the greatest and most considerable Planters there and Mr. Edward Diggs before-mention'd Mr. Thomas Ludwel Secretary Major-General Robert Smith and divers other worthy Gentlemen That part of the Countrey where the English are Planted is divided into nineteen Counties viz. Northampton-County in Acomack on the Eastern shore and on the Western shore Corotuck Lower-Norfolk Nansemund Isle of Wight Surry Warwick Henerico James Charles York New-Kent Gloucester Middlesex Lancaster Northumberland Westmoreland Rappahanock and Harford-Counties In every one of these Counties there are inferior County-Courts kept every Moneth these take no Cognizance of Causes relating to Life or Member or exceeding a certain limited Value such being refer'd to the Quarter-Courts only to which likewise there lie Appeals from their Inferior Courts There are Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and other Officers in every respective County appointed by the Governor for the Administration of Justice who sit there according to his Order and whereof these County-Courts are chiefly compos'd There are few Towns as yet erected in this Colony the Principal Seat of the English there is at a place call'd James-City in Honor of King James of Great Brittain c. This is situated in a Peninsula on the North side of James-River and has in it many fair Brick and other good Houses In this place are held the Quarter-Courts General Assemblies the Secretary's Office and all other Affairs and greatest Concerns of the Colony are here dispatch'd On the same side nearer the Mouth of this River stands elizabeth-Elizabeth-City containing also several good Houses of Brick and Timber Sir William Berkley the present Governor resides at a place somewhat distant from james-James-City call'd Green-Spring a fair Brick House which he himself caus'd to be built The other Towns of Note belonging to the English only Henricopolis or Henry's-Town so nam'd from Prince Henry then living built in a very convenient place more within Land about eighty Miles distant from James-City and Dale's-Gift so nam'd and Planted at the Charges of Sir Thomas Dale Deputy-Governor of the Countrey about the Year 1610. Of the Indians of Virginia The Indians of Virginia in Stature Complexion and Disposition differ very little from those of Mary-land Their Laws and Customs their way of Living and Apparel their Religion Money and manner of Burial are the same in both places all which are more particularly express'd in the precedent Description of that Province to which we refer the Reader Yet these Indians far exceed those of Mary-land in Treachery and Cruelty to the English there as will appear by this following Relation of their Proceedings towards them since the first Seating of that Colony wherein nevertheless the Civility of some particular Persons at their first Landing is not to be omitted Transactions between the English and the Natives Upon the first arrival of Captain Amidas and Captain Barlow in Wingandacoa now Virginia they were accosted by Granganimeo the King's Brother of that Countrey who attended with a Train of forty or fifty Men came in a very civil manner to Treat about a Commerce of Trade and Traffick which immediately began between them and several Barters were made Granganimeo who was very just of his Word and always kept his promis'd Day of meeting fancying most a Pewter Dish gave twenty Deer-skins for it and boring a Hole therein hung it about his Neck for a Breast-plate afterwards he with his whole Company and his Wife and Children frequently and familiarly did eat and drink aboard the English Ships the King himself call'd Wingina lying sick at his chief Town six days Journey off of a dangerous Wound which he had receiv'd from a neighboring King his mortal Enemy Some of the English going to Land upon the Isle of Roanoack were met by Granganimeo's Wife who her Husband being absent commanded her Servants some to draw their Boat ashore some to carry them on their Backs to Land others to carry in their Oars into the House for fear of stealing and having caus'd a great Fire to be made to warm them and to dry those that had been wet in their Voyage she afterwards Entertain'd them with a very plentiful Feast or Banquet after that Countrey fashion and when they took alarm at the coming of two or three of her Men with Bowes and Arrows she caus'd the Bowes to be broken and the Men to be beaten out of the House besides several other demonstrations of extraordinary civility and when notwithstanding all this they could not be perswaded to Lodge any where but in their Boat she us'd all means imaginable to make them quit their jealousie and accept of a Lodging in the House In the Year 1585. a Company that went over with Sir Richard Greenvill burnt the Town of Aquascogoc by reason of a Silver Cup that was stoln by some of the Indians took Prisoner Menatonon King of Chawonoc who gave a large Relation of another King about three days Journey off who possess'd an Island wonderfully rich in Pearl which was taken in great abundance in a deep Water that inviron'd it Going towards the Countrey of the Mangoacks among whom in the Province of Chaunis Temoatan they heard of a Mine of strange Copper call'd Wassador with Skiko the King of Chowonock's Son and Manteo a faithful Salvage for their Guide they were treacherously dealt with by Wingina alias Pemissapan for so his Brother Granganimeo being lately dead he had alter'd his Name who endeavor'd to stir up a Confederacy of the Chawonocks Moratocks and Mangoacks against them yet by the urgent perswasions of Ensenore his Father the truest Friend the English had after the death of Granganimeo and seeing them safe return'd from their Journey wherein he thought they had all perish'd and especially upon Menatonon's sending Messengers to them with Pearl and Okisco King of Weopomeock to yield himself Vassal to the Queen of England his Hatred was somewhat cool'd but Ensenore deceasing soon after he return'd to his old treacherous Practises again and in the end while he was contriving mischief against the Planters he himself was shot taken Prisoner and beheaded After the Company left upon Virginia by Sir Richard Greenwill for he himself was return'd tir'd out with hunger hardship and the many extremities they were at last reduc'd to had deserted the Place and obtain'd Passage for England through the civility of Sir Francis Drake pitying their distress fifty Men more were Landed upon Roanoack-Isle by the
compress'd between the cloven Barks of wild Vines some also they buried alive and leaving onely their Heads to appear above Ground bowl'd Iron Bullets at them and forc'd them to eat one another besides infinite other hellish Cruelties too horrid and dreadful to be recounted Commodities of the Countres This Countrey produces much Maiz Wheat Honey and great Calabashes from whence the first Discoverers call'd that Sea Golfo de las Ybueras because they met with abundance of Calabashes floating on the Water which at Santo Domingo bear the Name of Ybueras This Countrey is water'd by three Rivers the first Chamalucom which glides by the City San Pedro the second Ulva inhabited on both Shores the third Haguaro the Grounds adjacent to which would prove very fruitful were the Inhabitants not too lazy In stead of a Plough they use a long Pole with two crooked Staves at the end one bent downwards and the othes upwards with which they cut and turn the Earth The Natives feed on several Roots Flesh and Vermine At their Feast they make themselves Drunk with a Drink made of Honey Noble-men heretofore onely drinking the Liquor of Cacao but of late it is common and made by all People though never so mean They speak several Languages the chiefest whereof is that of the Chontales a salvage People They divide their Year call'd Joalar that is Passing into eighteen Moneths and each Moneth into twenty Days They formerly measur'd the Year by the Nights and began the Year forty days sooner than the Europeans New Valladolid The Towns in this Province are 1. New Vallodolid by the Indians nam'd Comayagua lying in a pleasant Valley under a temperate Climate The Cattel brought hither from Spain increase exceedingly The Silver-Mynes are also so well stor'd that they keep the Melting-house in the Town always employ'd The Governor of this Place hath his Residence next to the Treasury-Chamber Anno 1588. the Bishop's See was translated hither from Truxillo Nineteen years before which Francisco de Monteio sent his Lieutenant Alphonso de Cacenes thither to build a Village half way between the Southern and Northern Ocean who accordingly erected the Town Santa Maria de Camoyagua near a River Navigable for Canoos which disembogues in Puerto de Cavallos The remaining part of the Way to the Haven Fonseca being passable for Carrs which was a means to prevent many Inconveniences which us'd to happen to Travellers on the Way between Panama and Nombre de Dios the Spanish King was so much concern'd at the first proposal hereof that he sent the famous Surveyor Baptista Antonello thither and the rather because he received information that the new Way along which they carried the Merchandise from Peru Mexico and other Countreys along the South Sea lay very pleasantly by reason of the brave Vineyards Corn-Fields Fruit-Trees Pastures Streams abounding with Fish Herds of Deer and Cony-Warrens yet Antonello meeting with many troubles would not undertake the Business New Valladolid is adorn'd with a great Church a Cloyster belonging to the Monks De la Merced and handsom Streets Gratias a Dios. 2. Thirty Leagues West ward from this City lies another call'd Gratias a Dios begun by Captain Gabriel de Royas Anno 1530 that so he might be near the Gold-Mines But because the Natives kept the new Inhabitants in continual alarm and daily Storm'd the unfinish'd Fortifications Royas was necessitated to leave off building any farther the rather because none came to his assistance from the neighboring Garrison Six years after Gonzales de Alvarado undertook this Work and built the City on a Rocky Mountain which though otherwise barren produc'd lusty Horses and strong Mules 3. San Pedro St. Pedro. though lying under a hot and unwholsom Climate us'd formerly to be a brave City of Trade but it is gone much to decay since Golfo Dolce hath been discover'd because from that Bay the Commodities are carried in Barques up into the Countrey Juan de Puerto de Cavallos 4. The Village Juan de Puerto de Cavallos inhabited by Factors and Moors It receiv'd that Denomination because not far from it several Horses were forc'd to be thrown over-board in a Storm Though it be but ill fortifi'd yet it hath an exceeding large Haven Captain Christopher Newport arriving here Anno 1591. found two hundred Houses and in them a considerable Booty left notwithstanding four Ships richly laden had lately set Sail from thence Six years after Newport Capt. Ant. Sherly re-took the Place and leaving the Haven open for Pyrats Alphonsus Coriado judg'd it convenient to remove the Trading Place to Amatique he built the Village Thomas de Castilla and fortifi'd the same against all manner of Assaults TRUâ—â—LLO Behind Cavallos lies the Valley Naco which is exceeding fruitful being situate between high Mountains where formerly was found plenty of Silver 5. Eastward from Cavallos appears the famous City Truxillo near a large Bay Truxillo secur'd from all Storms by two Cliffs full of Trees the Mouth of the Haven call'd Joan Gil is above two Leagues broad and receives two Rivers one from each side of the City The Stream Quaimarotte flows Eastward and the River Antonio Westward both abounding in Fish The Countrey round about produces abundance of all sorts of Provisions and chiefly abounds in Grapes which are gather'd twice a year Eight days after August they cut their Vines which afford them ripe Grapes again in October they have two Harvests of Corn also Lemons and Oranges are very plentiful The Cattel brought hither from Spain are exceedingly increas'd to an incredible number Truxillo it self lying on a steep Mountain is defended on that side which respects the Sea with a thick Wall of six Foot high between which and the Haven are many brambly Bushes which prevent the access to the Wall onely a narrow and steep way leading up to the City which hath a strong Gate guarded with two Brass Guns and sufficiently Fortifi'd to oppose an Enemy The Eastern Cliff which bends before the Haven is call'd Punta la Rye on which stands a House with a high Beacon Beyond the Wall Eastward near the Haven is a Ship-yard before which stands a large Woodden Cross The Castle in which the City Store is kept joyns to the Wall near unto which within the Town appears St. Francis Church but the Cathedral call'd Eglesia Major is seen above all other Buildings The Houses cover'd with Palmito-Leaves have Walls of Pleited Bushes Plaister'd over within and without Behind the City where it lies open are exceeding high Mountains Attempts upon this place by the English and Dutch Anno 1576. the English falling on this strong Place carry'd a rich Booty from thence after which Capt. Anth. Sherly and Capt. Will. Parker ventur'd once more on the same but being discover'd by the Centinel were forc'd to Retreat not without a considerable loss When not long after Captain John Van Hoorn a Hollander attempting the same had
much better success for he Weighing Anchor for Pernambuc with four Frigats three Ketches and a Sloop set Sail to Truxillo where arriving lay close before the City with his four Frigats which fired very fiercely on the Town the Inhabitants of which not being idle kill'd three Men in one Ship forc'd her to fall farther off from the Castle Whilst the Ketches and Sloop went about a Gun shot Westward beyond the City towards the River Antonio where they Landed two hundred and fifty Soldiers which march'd with all speed up the Hill where the Castle lay which they Scal'd at Noon-day the Besieged being provided with seven Guns shot and threw Stones continually amongst them yet were forc'd to Retreat from the Dutch Hand-granado's During the storm the Admiral himself Landed but before he came out of the Boat the foremention'd Soldiers had made themselves Masters of the Fort with the loss of onely eight Men and were busie Pillaging all places they came at and carrying their gotten Booty to a Watch-house near the Castle on the Shore when on a sudden a Fire happen'd in the East part of Truxillo which increas'd in such a manner that in few hours two third parts of the City lay in Ashes every one then had enough to do to save themselves yet for all the haste they made several Hollanders were kill'd at the blowing up of the Magazine and most of the Booty lost by the Fire insomuch that they carry'd but two hundred thirty nine Skins six Bales of Indigo eight hundred and twenty Pounds of Sarsaparilla seven Brass and three Iron Guns four Clocks and some few trifles with them having before made an agreement for twenty Pound of Silver with the Governor Joan de Miranda who inform'd them that they had not the least knowledge of the Hollanders Fleet till the Evening when the Beacon on Punta La Rye was fir'd Moreover that the City was inhabited by two hundred Spaniards and as many more Mulatoes and Moors and that the Trade thereof was much gone to decay because there had been no Gallies there in two years before Twenty seven Leagues from this City lies the Village Jorgo de Olancho where four thousand Spaniards force Tribute from sixteen thousand Indians who possess much Gold SECT IV. Nicaragua Situation and bounds NIcaragua is a County of this Province border'd Northward with Honduras on the East with the Atlantick Ocean and part of Veragua on the South with Mare del Zur and on the West with Guatimala being call'd by Diego Lopez de Salzado The New Kingdom of Leon and comprizing several little Territories as Nicoya Nequecheri Mabyth Deria Masaya Mandigua Cacoloaque Cepeoco Los Micos Madira and the Contales It hath few Rivers in it the want whereof is supply'd by the benefit of a great Lake in the midst of the Countrey call'd by the Spaniards Laguna de Nicaragua containing as is suppos'd above one hundred Leagues in compass It empties it self by the Port of St. Juan into the Atlantick or North-Sea but reacheth as far as the South or Mare del Zur at least within a very few Leagues and from whence some Spanish Captains are said to have made a passage though with much difficulty into the Lake and from thence to the North-Sea It is abundantly well stor'd with good Fish but withal much haunted with Crocodiles and the Countrey about it so plentiful in all things especially Cattel Cotten-Wool Sugars and all kind of Fruits Amongst which the chiefest is the Zeiba which is of so great a thickness that fifteen Men holding Hand in Hand can scarce encompass the same The Callabashes ripen here in fourteen days time The Sea along the Coast breeds Whales and other Sea-Monsters which are often seen above Water Nature of the Inhabitants The Inhabitants of this Countrey except the Chontales which live on the Mountains and maintain their old Salvage Customs have for the most part learnt the Spanish Tongue and Manners and exercise themselves in all sorts of Arts and Siences especially in Working of Silver making of Clothes Wax-Work and the like From the Mountains they gather Balsom Liquid-Amber Turpentine They also drive a great Trade in Cotton Skins and several sorts of Provisions to Panama and Nombre de Dios. The Lake Laguna de Nicaragua which hath a hundred and seventeen Leagues in Circumference and round about inhabited is by three Leagues of Land separated from the South-Sea and discharges its Waters into the River Desaguadero which falls into the Northern Ocean Alphonsus Calera and Diego Machuca de Zuaso were the first that Sail'd out of the foremention'd Lake into the Sea not without many dangers by reason of the great Water-falls call'd Rondales which fall into the River Desaguadero and forc'd them often times to draw their Barques over the Land The chief City is Cities 1. Leon which is surrounded with Woods and lies close by the Lake hath a great Church five Cloysters belonging to the Monks de la Mercede several Houses for the King's Officers and a hundred and twenty thousand Families of Indians which pay Tribute Three Leagues beyond Leon appears a high spiry Mountain from whose top both Morning and Evening rises a mighty smoke and sometimes casts out great sulphurous Stones over the neighboring Fields and on a sudden mighty Flames A Dominican Monk in hopes to get some melted Gold out of its burning Mouth went up the same with four of his Fraternity and carry'd an Iron Chain and a Kettle which were no sooner let down into the hole but they were immediately melted yet not so discourag'd they resolv'd to venture a second time with stronger Materials which nevertheless had the same or rather worse event for the Fire flew out in such a manner that the Dominicans sadly scorch'd had enough to do to escape with Life since which none durst presume to approach the same But besides the Episcopal City Leon Erected by Franciscus Fernandez 2. Granada acknowledges the same Builder and lying also on the shore of Laguna de Nicaragua is adorn'd with a Castle Church and several Sugar-Mills Not far from it lie the small Lakes Masaya and Lindiri the first which is inclos'd between exceeding high Mountains covers the Foot of the burning Mountain Masaya the other falls into Laguna de Nicaragua near which is the smoky Mountain Munbacho surrounded with Fruit-Trees 3. 4. The Towns Jean and Neuva Segovia which are not far from thence are of little consequence 5. Realeio this is as it were the Chattam of America being a place on the South-Sea where the King of Spain hath all his Ships built that are made of American Timber and inhabited by few or none but Shipwrights Mariners and Men of that kind of Profession 6. 7. Nicoya Avarines 8. Cartage forty Leagues distant from Nicoya and lying almost in the midst of the Isthmus or Streight of Darien equally distant both from the North and South Sea on both which it is
thousand The second Market call'd St. John's is in Mexico and swarms continually with People The third is call'd Hipolito from the Guardian-Saint of the City whither every Wednesday and Thursday comes such a multitude of People that this spacious Market is too little for them for the sale of every Commodity a peculiar corner is allotted but great Packs are left to be dispos'd of in Boats which lie near the shore At the four corners of the City at present call'd St. John St. Maria la Rotonda St. Pablo and St. Sebastian are above four thousand Spanish Families and thirty thousand Indians besides what inhabit Tatelulco now St. Jago The Temperature of the Air. The Air in this place is very strange in the day time the Sky is generally Serene the North Wind against the Evening brings Rain of which the Mountain Tepeaquilla lying a little League beyond the City gives certain Testimonies for when a black Cloud appears on the top thereof it is certain to be blown from thence over Mexico with Rain After a moist Evening follows a Star-light Night and a pleasant Morning From September till May it is generally dry Weather here but if it chances to Rain the Rain is attended with a Storm which occasions a sulphurous Fogg very unwholsom and so dark that one Man cannot discern another and causes a pain through all the Limbs nay sometimes Death it self wherefore when soe're it approaches every one keeps close in his House or goes into the Countrey Moreover it is worthy of observation how strangely this City is alter'd since its being Conquer'd by the Spaniards and especially when Anno 1629. it was overflow'd by a mighty Deluge which alteration by Barnabe Cabo in a Letter to the Jesuite Hernande Leon is thus set forth Baruabe Cabo his Description of Mexico Mexico says he lying in a Valley between high Mountains hath seventy Leagues in circumference The Valley being Oval is for the most part interspers'd with Lakes which the Indians and after them the Spaniards have digg'd only the Lake which washes Mexico is natural and to stop the Water-falls there are Banks and Sluces every where The Flood before Mexicalcingo flows a Fathom and a half higher than before Mexico The four other Lakes to the Northward have much more Water than the Mexicalcingo of which some have scarce four others but three Leagues in circumference when as Mexicalcingo's Lake reckons fifteen and Mexico's sixteen On the breaking of the Banks Mexico hath often suffer'd great damage wherefore the Vice-Roy de Valesco took special care to make a vent for the Water through the lowest Mountains whereupon the Countrey being Survey'd the Northern Coast near the Village Gueguenoca was found to be the most convenient But about the manner of letting the Water out the Surveyors could no ways agree most of them were of opinion to dig Channels into which the Lakes might discharge their Waters others thought best to make a Gutter under Ground which last Velasca put in hand with unhappy success because the Laborers who under-min'd the Ground were choak'd with the falling in of the Sand or stifled with the sulphurous Vapors rising out of the Earth Nevertheless they gave not over the Work though they began it quite another way for a French-Man call'd Henry Martin advis'd to deepen the River Quaiotitlan which falls into the Laguna and by that means make it a Bay into which the Laguna might pour her over-charg'd Waters Which design though contradicted by the Jesuit John Sanchez was put in practice by which means the Water fell in a short time so much that they could walk dry to the Cliff El Ponnel lying a League from the City wherefore they continually labour'd on this Work till such time as Conde de Getues came over for Vice-Roy who judg'd the Charge to be unnecessary nay Commanded the Ditches to be broken down which stopt the Water along the Silver Mines of Pachuca that he might see exactly how much it would over-flow Mexico Mexico overflow'd After which the Flood rose yearly higher and higher till at last Anno 1629. a mighty Rain falling swole the Laguna in such a manner that it over-whelm'd all Mexico wash'd down the Houses all Merchandizes which could not endure the Water were spoil'd and had not they had innumerable Boats to help them thousands of People might have perish'd in this Deluge But at last Henry Martin restor'd again the fore-mention'd Channel to its former Perfection and brought the Flood which fell down out of the Mountains within the Banks of the River Quantitlan digg'd also a Channel of eight thousand Fathom long and made an Arch'd Sewer under Ground of the same length which Sewer hath at every two hundred Fathoms distance Vent-holes and a hole of sixty Fathom deep and by this means diverting abundance of Water they dry'd Mexico in a short time When the Banks and Streets began no sooner to appear but they fell to work to raise the Ground and to lay Bridges and also to build more Boats The Citizens likewise found it convenient to make another deep Sewer for the carrying away of more Water notwithstanding it requir'd twenty years labor The River which in a manner runs through the middle of the City is curb'd by a Wall a crooked Bridge with many Arches and of a long extent leads to the City Stately Palaces in which stand many brave Palaces with pleasant Walks of Trees about them the Cloysters of several Orders of Fryers appear with high Spires and Turrets above all other Buildings And Monasteries The Franciscans have here four very sumptuous Buildings The first Consecrated to St. Francis stands in the uppermost part of Mexico within a large square Court and on each a pleasant Walk of Trees The Cloyster it self is very high and trebble Wall'd with Towers and Galleries about it In the middle of the City stands another Tower'd-Cloyster call'd St. Jago The third lies a little distance from it which being built long hath a stately Turret and is call'd Maria de Rodonda The fourth not far from the first but much smaller is nam'd San Diego these belong to the Franciscans The Augustin Monks are also no way inferior to the Franciscans for magnificent Structures with spacious Halls high Towers and rich Balconies The first is denominated from St. Augustine just behind which appears San Pabla less stately than the rest St. Sebastian near the Laguna is built in manner like a Church whose Tower ends like a Pyramid The Cloyster San Cruz belonging also to the Augustines built square stands near the Market in the middle of which stands a stately Fountain The Court within inviron'd with thick Walls amazes the beholders by the pleasantness of its situation Moreover the Dominicans inhabit two brave Cloysters the chiefest Dedicated to St. Dominic is eight square to which is adjoyning a pretty large Church with a Steeple The second which stands on one side of St. Jago
and consists of three several Structures is call'd Collegio de Porta Coeli Opposite to St. Jago near the great Market the Jesuits have a stately Colledge or High-School where many are brought up in the Latin and Greek Tongues whence it is call'd Casa Professa Les Estudios There is also another Habitation of Religious Men call'd Illefonse Sanna Noviciad which for State may vie with any Royal Palace Cloysters beâ—â—ing to the Monkt of La Merced The Monks of La Merced dwell in two Cloysters both Consecrated to the Virgin Mary yet Sirnam'd Montseratte and Carmel The first lying not far from the River is a mean Structure in comparison to the last the uppermost Tower of whose Temple appears above all other Buildings in the upper part of Mexico near the Cloyster of St. Francis Womens Cloysters The Women have also fourteen Cloysters here the chiefest whereof is Dedicated to Catharine of Siena but much more splendid is that of Santa Teresa built like an Imperial Palace famous for its stately Gardens and round Fountain which continually spouts Water The rest which we shall onely name are La Encarnacio Santa Ines Jesus-Maria Laurenso Las Des-calcas Santa Clara Juan de la Penitentia Regina Coeli Santa Monica las Rocogidas Jeronymo and Conceptione besides the Almshouses Real de los Indios and Nostra Senora del Amor There are likewise eight Hospitals viz. de Dios del Spiritu Santo Juan de Doys de la Misericordia de san Hippolito and de san Lazaro The three chief Churches bear the Name of Catharine Martin and Vera Cruz and the Clergy-men thereto belonging enjoy many stately Palaces amongst which are Juan de Lateran de Christo and las Nivas The Vice-Roy's Palace and Arch-bishop's Seat The Residence of the Vice-Roy which lies near the Dominican Cloyster Porto Coeli is so sumptuous a Structure that it may stand in competition with any of those Edifices which were so much cry'd up by the Ancients nevertheless it is not to be compar'd to the Arch-bishop's Seat built round like a Theatre whose Luster expresses the Quality of him that inhabits the same he being Governor of the Bishopricks of Fascala Guaxaca Mechaocan New Galicia Chiapa Yucatan Guatimala Verapaz and the Philippinas This marvellous Structure was begun by Ferdinand Cortesius but was finish'd by Sebastian Ramires de Fuenleal and not much inferior thereunto is the Casa de Cabildo Alameda The gallantry of Mexico at this day At present Mexico is thought to be one of the richest Cities of the World abounding if reports be true in all kind of voluptuous gallantry and bravery even to excess It is suppos'd to contain about six or seven Miles in compass and to consist of above an hundred thousand Houses or Families whereof not the tenth part Spaniards but those that are all Gentlemen at least as to their garb and manner of living for they live most splendidly in all respects both for Diet and Apparel For the first we have spoken so much already of the general plenty of all things in the Kingdom of New-Spain that pertain to this part of pleasure that it is not to be doubted And for the second this may be some instance viz. that it is no extraordinary matter to see an Hat-band or Role all of Diamonds in some ordinary Gentlemans Hat and of Pearl among the common Citizens and Tradesmen The Coaches which most Gentlemen keep almost cover'd with Gold and Silver richly beset with Precious Stones and within ordinarily lin'd with Cloth of Gold or the best China Silk that can be gotten of which Coaches in time of year at the Alameda as they call it which is as it were The Hide-Park of Mexico and a place made of purpose for recreation and delight a Man shall observe not seldom above a thousand or two thousand Coaches full of Ladies and Gallants coming thither onely to take the Air and their Pleasure both the one and the other attended with a numerous Train of Servants and Mulattoes of both Sexes In la Plateria which is but onely one Street in Mexico nigh to the Vice-Roy's Palace in less than half an hours space with the turn of an Eye you may see Millions of Wealth in Gold Silver and Precious Stones in the Goldsmiths and Jewellers Shops thereabouts In a word there is nothing hinders Mexico from being the most absolute City in the World for delight and bravery but onely two Inconveniences to which it is subject The one is the danger of the Lake with the Infalls whereof it may seem to be almost continually threatned and in the Year 1629. did actually suffer a very great calamity the Waters breaking through the Banks and drowning a great part of the City with the destruction of much People and the loss of all their Goods intirely through the avarice as is suppos'd of the Vice-Roy that then was and some other of the King's Officers who diverted the Money that should have been employ'd for the fortifying and repairing of the Banks to their own proper uses The other is from the nature of the Soil and Ground it self on which it standeth which is found to have a tincture of Sal Nitre in it somewhat strong and the Winds partly from the Lake it self and partly from the Hills about it raising the Dust of this Earth constantly every Evening for many Moneths of the Year together so violently that the Air is even darkned therewith for some time The Inhabitants are much annoy'd by it and made subject to divers Hypocondriacal Pains and Infirmities and sometimes kill'd with it especially such as either cannot or care not much to avoid it The City lieth about sixty Leagues or a hundred and fifty Miles distant from the Atlantick or North Sea from whence by the Port of St. John d' Ullua or Vera Crux which are the usual Landing-places there is a fair and easie March to Mexico by the Cities of Xalabar Perotta Puebla de los Angelos and Tlascalla all of them open and unfortifi'd Places as likewise Mexico it self arid the Countrey round about very rich and well accommodated with all things City Chulula The next City of note in ancient times was Chulula which being built in a fruitful Plain had above twenty thousand Dwelling-houses and as many more Banquetting-houses The number of the Temples and Turrets were equal with that of the days in the Year The Government thereof belong'd to a Mayor and six Aldermen and one chief Priest for they never went upon the least Design before they had been at their Devotion in which the Priest's Office was onely to perfume the Idols four times in twenty four hours viz. in the Morning at Noon after Sun-set and at Midnight at which times none durst be absent but they us'd also a cruel Exercise on themselves and one much more cruel on others for on usual Feast-days they abstain'd from Meat Drink and Sleep scourg'd their Bodies with knotted Cords
ancient State of the Tlascallans The People of this Countrey when the Spaniards came first amongst them liv'd in the form of a Common-wealth or Free-State refusing to be subject to the King of Mexico with whom they had almost continual War and upon that account as hath been said assisted Cortesius in the Conquest of the Kingdom without whose help 't is most certain he had never been able to do any thing They enjoy therefore many special Priviledges and Immunities more than other Americans do They pay no Tribute but onely a handful of Wheat yearly for every Person by way of acknowledgment otherwise living under the Protection of the Spaniards wholly in the Form of their ancient Government In former times they were great Man-eaters and not onely eat the Flesh of their Enemies but also of one anotther insomuch that Man's-flesh hung in publick to be sold River Zahuatl The River Zahuatl which rushes out of the Mountain Xicoleucalt oftentimes overflows all the Countrey near it and washes away divers Houses Zahuatl signifies Scabby Water because all those especially Children that wash in the same are sure to be Scabby On its Banks the Spaniards have built many Houses the fashion whereof is now also imitated by the Indians of this Province who formerly built quite after another manner for they made low Houses of Earth Wood and Stone with large and strange Chambers some a Stones-cast one from another others close together had narrow crooked Streets that ran betwixt them Tlascallans Language In this Province are two sorts of Languages spoken viz. the Mexican and that of the Ottomons who formerly deserting Mexico chose the Tlascallans for their Protectors They are a toilsom and painful People To the Northward of Tlascalla are Mountains which all the year long except three Moneths are cover'd with Mist and the Woods on the tops of them are a great shelter to Lyons Tygers Wolves and wild Dogs call'd Adives and other wild Beasts which do much hurt to the small Cattel Here are also many Serpents and Adders The whole Province is said to contain two hundred good Towns and Burroughs and more than one thousand Villages all of them exceedingly populous and suppos'd to contain in the whole above a Million and half of Natives besides Spaniards who have some few Colonies in the Countrey for securing of it Towns and Villages The chief Towns of the Province are 1. Tlascalla it self which denominates the whole Countrey as the Metropolis and where the Bishop's See was at first till in the Year 1550. it was remov'd to Puebla de los Angelos It is a fair Town and commodiously seated in the midst of a large and fertile Champain of threescore Miles in compass It consisteth of four large and beautiful Streets or Quarters and in the midst of them where they all meet hath a Piazza or Market-place equal to that of Mexico and able to receive twenty or thirty thousand Persons conveniently to Buy and Sell in it and whose Shambles seldom shew less than fifteen thousand Sheep four thousand Oxen and two thousand Hogs 2. Puebla de los Angelos or The City of Angels a Town built by Sebastian Ramirez a Church-man and he that was the first President or chief Governor of Mexico under the Crown of Castile It was built in the Year 1531. almost in the Road-way from Vera Crux to Mexico and seated in a very delicate and fertile Countrey and of a good Air. It is a Bishop's See and valu'd at twenty thousand Ducats of yearly Rent the City it self suppos'd to contain about fifteen hundred Families where there is abundance of excellent Cloth made and for fineness not yielding to the best of Spain It s chief Edifices are the Cathedral and four stately Cloysters belonging to the Dominicans Franciscans Augustines and Capuchins as also a Free-School for five hundred Indian Children endow'd by Ramirez with a yearly Revenue 3. Zempoallan seated upon a River of the same Name 4. Napalaca in the Valley Ocumba ows its original to an Indian call'd Juan who at first had onely one House and a Herd of Hogs there till upon his invitation all the neighboring People came from the tops of the Hills insomuch that in a short time the place was Peopled by thousands of Families 5. Guaxacingo all hitherto great and ancient Towns of the Natives 6. Segura de la Frontera a Spanish Town built by Cortez presently upon the Conquest of Mexico for the securing of the Confines as the Name importeth 7. Vera Crux a Town built by Cortez and his Companions at their first Landing and where afterwards by a Stratagem and out of a resolution either to Conquer or Die in the Countrey he caus'd all his Ships to be burnt that his Soldiers might not so much as think of returning back from whence they came The Town was at first built five or six Leagues up within Land but the place being found not to be so healthful the Inhabitants in a short time deserted it and seated themselves upon a Bay of the Sea right over against St. John D' Ullua 8. Medellin another Spanish Town built likewise by Cortez in memory of his own Birth-place which was Medellin a small Town of Estramadura a Province of Spain but was afterwards destroy'd by some Spanish Commanders out of malice to Cortez Lastly St. John D' Ullua a noted and the most usual Port to all this Province and likewise to the City of Mexico it self from the North Sea but of difficult entrance especially to such as are not well acquainted with the Passage or want Guides by reason of certain Rocks and Quicksands wherewith the Mouth of the Haven is said to be bar'd but within the station is more safe It hath likewise two strong Bulwarks or Forts rais'd on either side of the Entrance one to defend the Passage besides a strong Castle built since Captain John Hawkins surpris'd twelve Ships richly Laden within the Haven and thirteen others that arriv'd with a new Vice-Roy from Spain valu'd at near sixty Tun of Gold of which he might easily have made Prize had he not trusted to the Vice-Roys Promise to give him all satisfaction he should require by which being deceiv'd he lost all his Fleet but two Ships Between Tlascala and Los Angelos are the Fountains out of which the River hath its Original which gliding by Machaocan and Zacatula falls into the South Sea This River is so exceeding full of Crocodiles Great increase of Grocodiles that they have made several places which formerly were Inhabited on its Banks utterly desolate for the Females laying generally Eggs as big as those of a Goose increase prodigiously and were it not that the Indian Mice call'd Ichneumones destroy'd them they would grow still to greater numbers But this Animal creeping in at the Crocodiles Mouth eats his way out of the Belly again Water-Serpents Hawks Buffeloes and especially Tygers are also their mortal Enemies for they throwing the
insatiable cruelty Conquest of it difficult Before Ferdinand Cortesius Francis de Garay attempted to Conquer this Province but after much pains to no purpose he return'd with but a small remnant of those he carried with him and though Cortesius subdu'd the Countreys Ayotetextetlatan and Chila yet it was not without many considerable Losses for the Inhabitants being valiant and cruel not fearing the Spanish Bullets ran in amongst them and made great slaughter and according to an old Custom in New Spain drank their Blood Strange usage of Prisoners They also dealt strangely with Persons that were yearly to be Offer'd to their Idols for after having wash'd them they put on them the Clothes of the Idol and gave them the same Name every one honouring them as a God were permitted to walk up and down but guarded by twelve Men that they might not escape for then the chiefest of the Guard was to supply the others place Moreover they resided in the chiefest Apartments of the Temple eat of the best were serv'd like Princes and attended through the Towns by Persons of the greatest Quality who led them through the Streets where they no sooner play'd on a little Pipe but all People came running to them fell at their Feet and worship'd them In the Night they lock'd them up in a Cage secur'd with Iron Bars and at the appointed time flay'd them alive Towns and Villages The chief Towns now remaining and inhabited by the Spaniards are 1. St. Lewis de Tampice a Colony of Spaniards situate on the Northern Bank of the River Panuco at the very Mouth of it where it hath a very large Haven but so barr'd with Sands that no Ship of any great Burden can enter or abide in it with safety and yet the River otherwise so deep that Vessels of five hundred Tun might Sail up threescore Leagues at least within Land and thereby visit the rich Mynes of Zatatecas on the one side of it and of New Biscay on the other at pleasure and without fear of much opposition 2. St. Stevan del Puerto on the South side of the same River eight Leagues distant from the Sea or Gulf of Mexico at present the Metropolis or chief Town of the Province built by Cortesius in the place where stood old Panuco which was likewise the Metropolis or Head Town of the Natives before the Spaniards burnt and destroy'd it 3. St. Jago de las Valles which is a Fronteer Place and enjoyeth certain special Immunities and some fair Possessions also for defence of the Countrey against the Salvages It is twenty five Leagues distant from St. Stevan del Puerto lying in an open or Champain Countrey and is fenc'd about with a Wall of Earth Miles Philips his Voyage Miles Philips an Englishman put ashore by Captain John Hawkins in the Bay of New Spain Anno 1568. suffer'd great hardship before he came to Panuco from whence returning he made mention of a City lying along a River of the same denomination which is there not above two Bowe shoots-broad in a pleasant Countrey containing two hundred Spanish Families beside the antient Inhabitants and Negro's which all drive a great Trade in Salt which is made in Pans Westward from the River Philips travelling from Panuco to Mexico saw by the way the Villages Nohete by the Spaniards call'd Santa Maria and a Cloyster of white Monks Next he view'd Mestitlan where some grey Monks had a House and the Town Puchuen Chilton's Journal Another account of this Province is taken from a Journal kept by John Chilton four years after Philips's Voyage he having a Spaniard for his Convoy left Mexico to find out Panuco in three days time they reach'd the City Mestitlan where he observ'd that twelve Spanish Families liv'd amongst thirty thousand Indians The City built on a high Mountain full of Woods is surrounded with Villages through which run many brave Springs and the Air about them is no less wholsom than the Ground fruitful the High-ways are shaded with all sorts of Fruit-Trees The Village Clanchinoltepec four times more Populous than Mestitlan belongs to a Spanish Nobleman who built a Cloyster there for nine Augustin Monks of which Order there also reside twelve in the City Guaxutla Moreover they travel'd over the plain Countrey Guastecan to the Village Tancuylabo inhabited by a tall People with blue Painted Bodies and Pleited Hair hanging down to their Knees going stark naked but never without a Bowe and Arrow They esteem nothing more than Salt as being the onely Cure against certain Worms that grow between their Lips From hence they travel'd to Tampice in which Journey they spent nine days and coming thither were inform'd that of forty Christians which dwelt in the same the Indians had slain twelve whilst they were gathering of Salt From hence they came to Panuco then in a manner deserted because of the Indians oppressing the Spaniards of which at that time there were but ten and one Priest Chilton falling sick here resolv'd nevertheless to change that unwholsom Air and barren place for a better to which purpose getting a Horse he took an Indian behind him for his Guide but loosing his way in a thick Wood happen'd amongst a Company of wild People which dwelt in Straw Huts twenty of them immediately surrounding him brought him some clear sweet Water to drink out of a Gilt Venice Glass which having drunk two naked Men led him into the high-way which ended at the Gate of the Wall'd City Santo Jago de las Valles inhabited by twenty five Spanish Families who inform'd Chilton of the great danger which he had been in for the People which gave him the Water were Man-eaters who not long since had burnt an Augustine Cloyster built on a Mountain had taken away and eat the People of which they had in all likelyhood gotten the Venice Glass and had they not observ'd Chilton to be sickly he had without doubt been eaten by them and his Skin with some of his Hair that being a great Ornament amongst them been hung about their middle During Chilton's stay in St. Jago Frans de Page came thither with forty Soldiers from the Vice-Roy Henry Manriques and took five hundred Indians good Bowe Men out of the Neighboring Villages Tanehipa and Tameclipa with which he design'd to go to the Silver Mines at Zacatecas Chilton joyning with this Company came to the great Rives De las Palmas which separates New Spain from Florida where they spent three days in vain seeking to find a passage over wherefore they at last took pieces of Timber which joyning together and standing upon they were Tow'd over by Swimming Indians being gotten on the other side they March'd over steep Mountains and thick Wildernesses and came at last to Zacatecas on whose Silver Mines the richest in all America work'd above three hundred Spaniards daily SECT VI. Tabasco Bounds and Description of Tabasco THe last Countrey belonging to New Spain
Countrey against the Chichemecae which are a barbarous and unreduc'd People of the North-East parts of this Countrey who harbouring themselves in Caves under Ground in the thickest of huge Woods and Forrests do oftentimes issue out and make foul spoil in the Countrey where they come having first intoxicated themselves with a Liquor made of certain Roots and would do much more harm if it were not for this Garrison 3. Del Spiritu Santo built by the Founder of the other two viz. Nunnez de Gusman aforesaid in a part of the Countrey which they call Tepecque SECT III. Xalisco Bounds and Description of Xalisco Xalisco or Galesco as some call it is bounded on the North with Couliacan on the South with some parts of New Spain on the East with the Province of Guadalajara and on the West with the Gulf or Bay of California The Countrey is chiefly fertile in Maiz and Mines of Silver not altogether so apt for Herbage and Pasture as some other Countreys about it The People were Cannibals before the Spaniards came amongst them eating Man's-flesh were much given to quarrelling and Contentions amongst themselves but by this time 't is suppos'd they are reasonably well reclaim'd both from the one and the other Towns of chief note In this Countrey besides many other goodly Streams is the great and famous River Barania on the Banks whereof are seated most of their principal Towns as 1. Xalisco which gives Name to the whole Province and to a large Promontory or Foreland on the Western Coasts which shoots it self out into the Bay of California right over against certain Islands which the Spaniards call The Three Maries This was an ancient City or Town of the Natives but sack'd and taken by Nunnez de Gusman in the Year 1530. 2. Compostella built by the aforesaid Gusman and so nam'd from the City in Spain so famous for the Grave of James the Apostle who according to the Roman Writers was buried there lies near the South Sea on a barren Soil within the Torrid Zone yet the Ground breeds many sorts of Vermine besides other noxious Creatures amongst which the Capybara roots up whole Trees and other Plants in the Night This Beast resembling an indifferent large Hog hath short Legs and Claws thick Head with a Beard wide Ears and on each Jaw-bone twenty four Teeth besides two Tusks but no Tail it goes slow but swims exceeding fast and dives under Water for aconsiderable time together they often feed together in great Herds and make a terrible noise 3. La Purification a small Town on the Sea side towards the Confines of New Spain SECT IV. Chiametla Situation of Chiametla AGainst Xalisco juts Chiametla along the South Sea where the Inhabitants wear short Cloaks and Deer-skin Shoes and in the Wars use Shields made of strong Twigs twisted together The Women which are indifferent handsom are clad down to their Feet Towns of principal note The chief Town of this Province is Sant Sebastian so call'd from the River upon which it stands it was built by Captain Franciscus de Yvarra Anno 1554. who discovering many Silver Mines hath made several Melting-houses in which the Silver being melted swims upon the Lead SECT V. Couliacan Bounds of Couliacan NExt to Chiametla Westward and Southward of Cinoloa lies Couliacan Coasting all along the Bay of California which it hath on the West on the East it hath New Biscay and on the South Xalisco The Countrey is not defective in any kind of necessary Provision but more especially it aboundeth with Fruits of all sorts But the Spaniards look onely at the Mines of which they have some few in this Countrey The People were generally Cloth'd with Cotton-Wooll when the Spaniards came first amongst them but yet never a whit the more modest being exceedingly given to Venery and that in a more shameless and beastly manner than many other Americans who went naked The Spanish Towns are these Towns 1. Hiustula seated on the Banks of a fair River distant about a days Journey from the Sea 2. Quinola 3. Quatrobarrios an old Town of the Natives but new nam'd by the Spaniards 4. El Leon an old Burrough 5. Couliacan the chief Town of the Province 6. St. Michael in the Valley of Arroba two Leagues distant from the Sea in a rich and plentiful Countrey both for Corn and Fruit whither it was remov'd from the Banks of the River Orala where it first stood it was built by Nunnez de Gusman in the Year 1531. after he had burnt the Towns and destroy'd a great number of the Natives Inhabitants of the Countrey Nunnez de Gusman first Discoverer 〈◊〉 of this Countrey This Countrey was first discover'd by the aforesaid Nunnez de Gusman after he had built Guadalajara after this manner Marching from Chiametla to Piatzala he ruin'd this Province with Fire and Sword he likewise conquer'd the Countreys of Zapuatun and Piaztla the first being a Plain lay inclos'd within high Mountains where the Spaniards met none but Women till they came to a great River call'd De la Sall whose Banks on each side were well inhabited the second juts against the Ocean and is water'd by a River of the same Denomination Here within the Houses which are built after a strange manner lay thousands of Serpents mingled together with their Heads sticking out on the top and at the sides and hissing with open Mouth at those which approached them The Inhabitants shew'd great Revence to these Serpents because as they said the Devil often appear'd to them in that form And this seems to be a Custome amongst them from the Tradition of Eves being tempted by the Devil in the shape of a Serpent Serpents worshipp'd by the Natives Nor was this Superstition peculiar onely to these Indians forasmuch as divers Nations of the ancient Heathens of other parts of the World worshipp'd the Likeness of a Serpent And even amongst the Greeks according to Plutarch Hesychius Clemens Alexandrinus and others it was no unusual thing in their religious Worship to call on Eva and at the same time to shew a Serpent Plutarchus and Aelianus say That the Egyptians honour'd a Serpent for their God The same saith Erasmus Stella of the old Prussians Sigismund Baro of the Liflanders and Alexander Guaginus of the Sarmatians and Samogethes Moreover some write that in the Province of Calecut are Serpents with exceeding great Heads and weighing as much as a great Hog to which the King shews great Reverence so that it seems the Devil takes delight to be worship'd in that shape wherein he work'd the Fall of Man-kind The Fish Guarapucu The Flood which comes out of the Sea up to the City St. Michael through the River Cignatlan abounds with Fish and especially the Guarapucu which is seven Foot long when it comes to its full growth it hath no Scales but a smooth Skin of a Silver colour mix'd with Green from the
Vice-Roy of New Spain nam'd Lodowick de Velasco order'd a certain number of Soldiers Slaves Horses and Mules for every Mine to defend the Workmen from the Assaults of the Natives which oftentimes Sallied out upon them Moreover Velasco sent Priests through all the Countrey to Preach the Gospel But Yvarra having the care of the Priests guarded them with a company of Soldiers and in his Way discover'd the Valley San Juan and the River De las Nacos where he conquer'd the rebelling Natives Near the Silver Mine Sant Martins the Monks built a Cloyster after which Yvarra gave free leave to all that would to dig in the Mine at Avinno which he had bought on condition they should pay the real fifth part of what they got to the Spanish King which Priviledge stirr'd up many insomuch that Avinno in a short time grew very populous Yvarra though having brought his Business to this pass could not rest but sent Antonius Pacheco to a Valley in Guadiana to build the foremention'd City Durango where several Rivers make a convenient and delightful place for Habitation whither Yvarra follow'd three Moneths after and finish'd the new Town But the chiefest Silver Mines which borrow their Denominations from the Province Zacatecas are continually guarded by five hundred Spaniards and as many Slaves CHAP. VII New Biscay Bovnds of New Biscay NEw Biscay by some accounted a Province of New Gallicia hath on the South Zacatecas on the West the Countrey of Cinoloa Northward it is bounded with New Mexico the Eastern Borders of it looking towards Florida not yet well discover'd so call'd by the Spaniards onely from its neighborthood to New Gallicia It is as the other Provinces exceeding rich in Silver Mines and hath some also of Lead which serve principally as some say for the refining or purging of the other Metal The People generally are of a stout and resolute Disposition and with much difficulty submitting to the Yoke yea the Spaniards themselves confess that there remain yet to this day four great Towns unreduc'd though they lie as it were in the mid-way betwixt the Zacatecas aforesaid and the Mines and Town of St. Barbara of this Province The Spaniards call them Las Quatro Ceinegas or The Four Quagmires as lying perhaps in the Marshes or in some Fenny and lower parts of the Countrey Towns and Cities The Towns which themselves hold are 1. St. Barbara famous for the rich Mines about it 2. St. Johns equal to the other and not above three or four Leagues distant from it 3. Ende the most Northerly Town which the Spaniards have in this Countrey distant about twenty Leagues from the other These be all Colonies of the Spaniards and built on purpose for securing the Mines which when they were first discover'd by Yvarra he order'd Roderigo del Rio to guard the same and took up his Winter Quarters at St. Juan in a strong House stor'd with all manner of Provisions and erected there by him as a place of defence against the Chichimecae who though the Spaniards kept the place with strong Guards kill'd above four hundred of their Horses and Mules which loss no way daunted him so as to change his Resolution of going Topia whither travelling he found many snowy Mountains and suffer'd extream Cold which kill'd most of their Horses being seen fifteen days after to stand so stiffly frozen as if still alive at last getting within the Borders of Topia after he had suffer'd many inconveniences he was oppos'd by the Inhabitants till he pacifi'd them with Presents SECT II. Convenient Havens of New Gallicia THis Countrey hath many convenient Havens viz. San Jago Navidad Malacca Chacalla below the Promontory Corientes the Bay Xalisco the Road Massatlan and Chiametla so call'd from a Town about eleven Leagues from the Ocean Here and in several places of New Gallicia grow Lillies Roses Violets Jessamins and many other Flowers amongst which the Floripondium deserves peculiar observation because it flourishes the whole Year and its white Blossoms which are bigger than Lillies opening in the Morning yield an exceeding sweet smell The Flower Granadilla In no less esteem is the Murucuia by the Spaniards call'd Granadilla which will not grow it bereav'd of any of its Leaves it bears a Flower from the resemblance of our Saviour's Suffering call'd The Passion-Flower which exceeds the biggest Rose in circumference the uppermost Leaves green those underneath of a purple colour on the top hangs a round Bush of a thousand interwoven threds of divers colours distinguish'd by white and red Specks the pale Stalk which sticks in the middle of the Flower is divided into five others that bend downwards with a yellow Button-like Knob on the middlemost Stalk stands a pale yellow Flower which appear three hours after Sun-rising and closes again a little before Sun-set the Fruit which is very round smooth and a pale Green hath white Specks a thick Rind Saffron-colour'd Pulp which is wholsom of a good rellish and hath abundance of black Seeds inclos'd in little Husks CHAP. VIII New Mexico Bounds of New Mexico NEw Mexico as 't is call'd for distinction's sake is bounded on the South-West with New Biscay more directly Westward with some parts of Quivira the Countreys Northward of it not yet discover'd Eastward it extends it self as far as Florida This Province doubtless for largeness may compare with New Gallicia having been search'd and discover'd by the Spaniards above a hundred some say two hundred Leagues directly Eastward and to the North-East and they report Wonders of it if we may believe them at least in respect of what was generally found in these Northern parts of America at their first Discovery as namely That they have Towns fairly and well built of Lime and Stone Houses of four Stories high and most of them provided with Stoves for the Winter Season as well as any in Europe the Streets fair and broad and the People as curious and expert in divers Arts and Manufactures as any of theirs More particularly they tell us of a Town call'd Chia of the Province of Cuames so big that it is said to contain eight several Market-places Another call'd Acoma a great Town but seated on the top of an high Rock without any ordinary way of access to it but by a pair of Stairs hewn out of the hard Stone or else by certain Ladders which the Inhabitants let down and take up as they please And likewise of a third which they call Conibas containing as they say no less than seven Leagues in length and about half so much in breadth seated upon a Lake but scatteringly built and much of the space taken up with Mountains and many fair Gardens in the midst of which the Town standeth of all which more hereafter This certain that the Countrey to which they give the Name of New Mexico is of a vast extent reaching from the Mines of St. Barbara in New Biscay Eastward and to the North-East
Cape and Port is St. Nicholas from whence North-East and by East lieth the Island of Tortuga near the Coast of Hispaniola It is of five Leagues length Farther along the Coast is Monte Christo the West Cape of Natividad to the East of which there is a great Bay call'd Port Real This Island is so full of Harbours that he that will Coast it cannot well miss of one where he pleaseth most of which afford fresh Meat and good Water Moreover Hispaniola hath many brave Rivers the chiefest of which are Hayna Nizao along whose Shore the first Sugar-Canes were planted Neyba a great River Yaquimo Yaqui which Columbus call'd Rio de Oro because the Ground thereof glitter'd like Gold and lastly the Rivers Nicayagua amongst whose Sands is Gold Nigua which borrows its Denomination from the fore-mention'd leaping Insect the swift Stream Juno whose Banks are crown'd with handsom Houses and Jaquin which hath many Salt-pans The Rivers Itabo Ocoa Cepi Bia Cazui Sanate de Plata and Chiabon have some one others more Sugar-Mills upon them But the chiefest River is Ozama broad and so deep that the biggest Vessel may lie close by the Shore and also washes St. Domingo Description of the City of St. Domingo This City the Metropolis of all the Isles round about was built by Bartholomeus Columbus and was peopled Anno 1494. after which it flourish'd eight years when a terrible Storm blowing the same down to the Ground Nicholas Olanda remov'd it to the Western Shore of Ozama that the Spaniards who had for the most part setled towards the West might not be necessitated to Ferry over but the first place stood much more conveniently being not onely provided of a Fountain of sweet Water but also freed of those unwholsom Vapours which daily rise with the Sun at this new-built City To prevent the inconvenience of crossing to the foremention'd Fountain of which the Inhabitants found themselves oftentimes in great want Olanda went about to lead the neighboring River Hayna into the Ozama but the Design not being prosecuted bereav'd Domingo of the onely thing which would have made it able to stand in competition with any City in the World for it lies on a Plain the South side whereof is wash'd by the Sea the East side by the River on the North and West are many delightful Fields The City which in a manner is built square is divided into long straight Streets full of fair Houses after the Spanish manner in the middle thereof is a square Market-place with a handsom Church the Yard whereof is encompass'd with a high Wall which upon occasion would serve for a place of great Defence The Collectors of the King of Spain's Revenue dwell in stately Palaces and the Dominicans Franciscans and Monks De la Merced have brave Cloysters besides two more for the Nuâ—s The Latine School and Hospital belonging to the City are Endow'd with great yearly Revenues The Arch-bishop of St. Domingo hath Command over the Bishoprick of Conception La Vega Cuba Venezuela and Porto Rico. The City is surrounded with a Stone Wall and fortifi'd with a Castle which with two Bulwarks reaches to the River Ozama and within them two Half-Moons On the utmost Shore stands a round Tower near the Southern Bulwark Before the new discover'd Countreys entic'd away many People from St. Domingo and the Silver Fleet put into Havana the Inhabitants drove a great Trade in Hides Tallow Sugar Cassia Horses and Hogs Anno 1586. Sir Francis Drake Landed here with twelve hundred English-men took the City by Storm staid a whole Moneth in the same and upon Composition with the Spaniard left it undestroy'd Other chief Towns of Hispaniola Other chief Towns in Hispaniola are 1. Salvaleon twenty eight Leagues distant from St. Domingo towards the East 2. Zeybo 3. Cotny formerly inhabited by those that work'd in the Gold-Mines the last especially was once a rich Town and much frequented but now in a manner deserted 4. Azua or New Compostella eight Leagues distant from St. Domingo famous for the Sugar-Mills not far from it and one of the Ports before-mention'd 5. Yaguana for its brave Harbour also call'd Maria del Puerto in the more Western parts of the Island a small Town not above a League distant from the Sea It was burnt by Captain Christopher Newport URBS DOMINGO IN HISPANIOLA 6. Conception de la Vega adorn'd with a Cathedral and Cloysters of Fryers and lying twenty or thirty Leagues Northward of St. Domingo It was built by Columbus and from thence he had his Title of Duke de la Vega. 7. Sant Jago de los Cavalleros a very pleasant Place ten Leagues Northward of St. Domingo 8. Puerto de Plata or The Silver Haven four Leagues distant from St. Domingo towards the North It hath been counted the second Place of Trading and Wealth in the whole Island being commodiously seated on an Arm of the Sea and fortifi'd with a Castle 9. Monte Christo one of the Ports also above-mention'd It lies fourteen Leagues Westward of Plata and extends it self along the Northern Coast it is wash'd by the River Yagui on whose Banks are many Salt-pans The Island dispeopled by the cruelty of the Spaniards All those Cities are much decay'd and thinly inhabited the Spaniards being most of them drawn by the temptation of new discover'd Gold and Silver Mines in other places and the first Inhabitants having been miserably destroy'd The Bishop De las Casas an Eye-witness relates That the King Gauccanarillo secur'd the Goods of a stranded Ship of which Columbus was Commander and receiv'd the Spaniards very courteously but not being able to continue supplying them with that quantity of Gold they requir'd wanting Men to gather so much out of the Streams and Mines and seeing no way to rid himself from the Spaniards Oppressions fled to the Province of Ciguayos the Casique of which was his Deputy whereat the Spaniards were so enrag'd that they burnt all that they could meet with neither sparing young nor old and at length taking Guaccanarillo put him in Irons Their barbarous usage of Guaccanarillo and others and thought to have carried him to Madrid but the Ship in which he went suffering Shipwrack he with many others was cast away being before almost dead with grief for his Consort who had been Ravish'd by a Spanish Commander Likewise Anacoana Sister to the Casique or Governor of the Province Xarana and Partner with him in the Government seeing three hundred of her Councellors burning in a great House set on fire by the Spaniards and her Subjects torn by Dogs or cut in pieces hung her self out of despair The same Death died Higuanama Queen of Huguey Others say that Anacoana was put to death together with her Brother in a most barbarous and cruel manner by Nicholas de Olanda who succeeded Diego de Arana in the Government of this Island Many Women and Children were kept alive onely to Manure the
Division of Regions and Territories must give place to the Modern The Nature and Customs of the antient Inhabitants The antient Inhabitants of these Parts were a very warlike People the Women always accompanying their Husbands in the Wars They us'd to hang on the tops of their Standards the Bones of their greatest Heroes thereby to animate their Soldiers Their Arms consisted of poysonous Arrows Stone Swords and Pikes made of the Palm-Trees They also carried with them the Idol Chiapa to whom they Offer'd living Children at the beginning of their Wars and afterwards making Merry with the Flesh anointed the Image with the Blood Moreover if they return'd home Conquerors they spent several days in all manner of Debaucheries as Drinking Singing Dancing Cutting their Prisoners Throats with their Blood also anointing their Image But if they were conquer'd then they invented new Offerings to reconcile themselves with their Idol Towns and Places of chief note The chief Towns and Places which the Spaniards inhabit here are 1. Panama the chief City of the Province being also a Bishop's See which is Suffragan to the Arch-bishop of Lima and the ordinary Residence of the Governor and Courts of Justice for these Parts It is seated likewise upon the South Sea and so near that at High-water the Ships are said to Ride even under the Walls Through this Town the Wealth both of Peru and Spain passeth once every Year from Spain by Nombre de Dios and Porto Bello from whence whatsoever Merchandise or other Commodities come from Spain are Transported to Panama by Land and from thence by Sea to all the Parts of Peru and by Panama whatsoever comes from Peru is sent into Spain It hath commonly a strong Garrison of Soldiers in it and is doubtless a Place otherwise well fortifi'd being of so great importance From the Haven Pericos three Ways lead to Panama the first along a Bridge over a River whose Banks are great Fortifications to the City the rather because the River is deep and next it a Pool over-grown with Weeds The Way from Nombre de Dios plain and without Woods is wash'd by the Brook Levendero The third runs along over a Stone Bridge and Champain Grounds that extend from the Haven Pericos to the City Eastward from Panama appear seven Royal Houses on a Rock wherein the Courts of Judicature are kept Five hundred Rods into the Sea lies an Island resembling a Half-Moon and the Haven wherein the Ships when they unlade cast Anchor there being else not Water enough for laden Barques and all lie dry the Tide being out At the Mouth thereof stands a woodden Sconce The Places Venta de Cruze Chagre Quebrada and Ballano are also fortifi'd against any Invasion where else an Enemy might easily Land But the strictest Watch is kept at the River Chagre which Westward below Nombre de Dios falling into the Northern Ocean brings the Ships up to Venta de Cruze from whence a Way scarce five Leagues long leads to Panama The Spanish Commodities consisting most in Meal Oyl Biskets Cloth and Silk are all brought from Nombre de Dios along the same Way or else in Winter when they cannot stem the Current of the River Chagre then they bring their Goods by Land not without great danger of being taken by the run-away Negro's who set upon them out of the Woods with poyson'd Darts and Arrows and as many Spaniards as they take so many several ways they put them to death because they formerly in the time of their Servitude were us'd with all imaginable Cruelties The Provisions sold here at a reasonable Rate are Maiz Peruan-Meal Poultrey Honey Cattel Swine Oranges Lemmons Cabbage and all manner of Garden Herbs or Plants Round about the fore-mention'd Royal Houses lie Bulwarks with a strong Castle on one side A fair Cathedral denotes the Place to be a Bishop's See And the Franciscans Dominicans and Monks of the Order De la Merced inhabit several fair Cloysters here Two Leagues Westward is the Haven Pericos which being secur'd from all Winds by three high Isles that lie before it is the chief Harbor in which the Peruan Plate-Fleet consisting most in small Barques comes to an Anchor before they touch at Panama The Countrey is for the most part Mountainous and in many places sends forth stinking Damps out of muddy Pools yet in some places are Savanna Grounds for Cattel to Graze in The Air would also be more unhealthful if it were not clear'd by the Winds which blow from the Sea From July to October there fall continual Rains mix'd with terrible claps of Thunder The Inhabitants often recreate themselves in Hunting wild Hogs with Nets made of the Brambles call'd Nequen or Henachen and that after a strange manner for they set on fire the Bushes all about the place where they suppose the Game to lie which to shun the Fire runs into their Nets so that the same Bushes are both their shelter and destruction as affording Material to make the Nets wherein they are taken Besides other Birds the Woods also abound with Pheasants and Turtle-Doves and amongst Beasts those that carry their Young about them in a Bag as also wild Cats The Sea abounds with Fish and produces Crocodiles of a large size by the Spaniards call'd Lagartos The Trees are seldom without Leaves but bear little or no Fruit. 2. Nombre de Dios which hath broad Streets high woodden Houses and a fair Church It extends from East to West along the Northern Ocean in the middle of a great Wood on Moorish Ground having a great Fen on the West being situate under an unwholsom Climate it hath occasion'd the death of many People The Merchants which dwelt here had also Habitations in Panama the rest of the Houses being most of them Inns for Strangers from whence as soon as they had gotten an Estate they went to Spain The Countrey round about lies under Water in many places The Oranges Cassada-Roots and the like which grow here occasion many Distempers to those that eat of them In the Harbor which hath on each side a Ridge of Rocks on which lies decay'd Forts the Sea is often-times so turbulent that the Ships are forc'd to Ride at six Anchors apiece Eastward from the City a fresh-Water River falls into the Haven on whose Banks stand several Garden-Houses and Orchards Anno 1595. Sir Francis Drake arriving here found a Mill beyond the City not far from which on a Hill stood a Watch-house of which having made himself Master he set fire on the Town Nombre de Dios as also on all the Vessels that were in the Harbor The original of the Name Nombre de Dios was on this occasion viz. Diego Niquesa setting Sail with three Ships out of the Haven Carthagena to the Golden Countrey Veragua was surpris'd by a violent Storm in which two Ketches Commanded by Lupus de Olano and Peter Umbria were driven out of sight whilest he suffer'd shipwrack and getting
Gasca who had also gain'd to his Party Peter Alphonso Alnoiosa who Commanded Pizarro's Fleet Aldana likewise inform'd him of all Pizarro's private Councels whereupon Gasca sent privately for Aid to Mexico Guatimala Nicaragua and St. Domingo and dispatch'd four Ships with three hundred Men Commanded by Aldana from the Haven Panama with Order to Land about Midnight against the City Los Reyos and so fall unawares on Pizarro Aldana accordingly falling into the Bay of Malabrige was reliev'd and supply'd with Provisions by Diego Mora Governor of Truxillo On the other side the Field-Marshal Carvayales being sent for by Pizarro made a pompous Entrance with the firing of Guns and Bonfires into Los Reyos where all Persons that seem'd to have the least inclination for Gasca were either stabb'd or poyson'd In the room of Mora Pizarro sent the Lawyer Garcias Leon to be Governor of Truxillo but he being taken by Aldana's Fleet joyn'd with Gasca and thus all things began to conspire the ruine of Pizarro yet he despair'd not but being inform'd of the approach of the Ships caus'd the Drums to be beaten in Los Reyos forc'd every one that was able to bear Arms on pain of death to serve him made several experienc'd Soldiers Commanders over his Horse and Foot to whom he gave as much Money as they requir'd to maintain those whom they had rais'd and who were to be rais'd by which means he got a thousand Men in Arms to which number according to an Order sent to Cusco Plata Arequipa Lima Guanuco and other neighboring Places new Forces were expected to joyn but Savedra Governor of Guanuco deserting the City left Pizarro and joyn'd with Mora who secur'd the Province of Caxamalca for Gasca Thus Pizarro began to be daily more and more forsaken Since the destruction of the Vice-Roy Vela Captain Diego Centeni had hid himself out of fear of Pizarro a whole year in a Cave under Ground but now inform'd of Gasca's Arrival came forth and getting forty Men and some Horses together which also belong'd formerly to the Vice-Roy resolv'd though meanly Arm'd to go upon a bold Design viz. to take the City Cusco of which Antonio de Robles a Man hated and despis'd for his mean Extract and little Wit had the chief Command there being therein a Garrison of five hundred Soldiers besides the Citizens who were likewise in Arms Being inform'd of Centeno's approach he sent out Francisco Aguierre as a Spye to discover the Enemy but he joyning with Centeno advis'd him to march along a By-way and towards Night to draw up about Cusco which accordingly he did and forcing open the Gates rush'd in with his Horse against the Enemy who were drawn up in the Market-place and breaking through their Ranks trampled whole Companies under foot Cusco taken by Centeno after which he fell in upon Robles who having forgotten to give his Men the Word caus'd a great distraction for the Men blinded by the darkness of the Night knew not Friend from Foe insomuch that Robles's Party did one another more mischief than Centeno did who being thus become Master of the City caus'd Robles to be Beheaded the next day and distributed a hundred thousand Ducats amongst his Soldiers and then march'd with a hundred Men to the City Plata to bring Mendoza Governor of the same under the Emperor's subjection in which his Design he likewise prov'd successful being supply'd with a hundred and thirty Foot which Lucas Martin had fetch'd from Arequipa for the Service of Pizarro whom since he had deserted and joyn'd with Gasca's Party Mean while the Fleet under the Command of Aldana arriv'd in the Haven before Los Reyos to the great terror and amazement of the whole City from whence Pizarro marching Encamp'd himself with five hundred and fifty Men so to prevent their Landing swearing that he would spare none whoe're fell into his Hands and sent Order to Peter Martin whom he had left in the City immediately to Hang up those which would not follow the Army or who return'd from thence home to which purpose Martin went from place to place with an Executioner and thinking him not quick enough in his Work stabb'd many Citizens himself And strict Order was given by Pizarro that all Run-aways should be punish'd with Death notwithstanding all which many of his nearest Friends daily forsook him taking advantage of the darkness of the Night nay the Soldiers themselves would at Noon-day ride away from him crying aloud Long live the Emperor and let the Tyrant Pizarro die Wherefore he judg'd it most convenient to remove to the Countrey Nasca During his Journey thither whole Troops left him insomuch that he scarce kept a hundred and fifty Men and those he fear'd every Minute would fall upon him and Murder him Los Reyos declares for the Emperor With Pizarro's departure the whole Scene of Affairs was chang'd in Los Reyos for there the Imperial Standard was erected the City Cryer read the Letters of Pardon which Gasca had brought with him from Spain in the corner of every Street Juan Palimino Landing with fifty Men receiv'd all those that had deserted Pizarro whilest Gasca set Sail from Panama with five hundred Men with whom Landing at Truxillo he Encamp'd himself in the Valley Xauxa whither great multitudes flock'd from all places out of malice to Pizarro who in a short time had destroy'd above five hundred Gentlemen But Pizarro having quitted Los Reyos he possess'd the City Arequipa which he found quite desolate but meeting afterwards with the Forces Commanded by Juan Acosta of which one half were also run away joyn'd with them and march'd against Centeno who lay along the Lake Titicaca with whom he Engag'd in the Plain Guarina Ludovico Ribera Landing Centeno's Party fir'd their Guns before the Pizarrians were within shot of him of which Carvayales making speedy use drew up his Pieces close before the Enemy and made an exceeding slaughter amongst them killing above a hundred and fifty Men in the first Onset the Horse amaz'd at the sudden destruction of the Foot fled leaving the remaining Foot-Soldiers open to the Enemy who was gotten behind them with his Musquetteers and with his Horse before whilest six Peruvians carried away Centeno out of the Fight he lying sick on a Chair Pizarro thus become Victor kill'd all he met with of which Gasca being inform'd resolving upon a private and sudden Revenge caus'd all Necessaries for War to be made ready and march'd with a thousand and nine hundred Men out of the Valley of Xauxa to Cusco where by the Way he was supply'd with the Forces which the experienc'd Colonel Peter Valdivia had brought from Chili with which coming to Andagua he took up his Quarters there for some time because the mild Winter had with continual Rains made the Ways so dirty that there was no travelling and had rotted their Tents and Maiz and also occasion'd the Bloody-flux amongst the Soldiers In March Gasca broke up
Villages the Inhabitants whereof heretofore worshipp'd the Sun By the Way from Arequipa to Collao lie two great Lakes but of one of which the River Aparima takes its original 12. Caxamalca rather a Fort than a Town in a Territory of the same Denomination built at the Foot of a Mountain wash'd with two Rivulets over which lead several Bridges near which also were formerly a stately Temple Consecrated to the Sun wonderful Palaces and Baths for the Ingas besides other magnificent Structures of Noble-men which were the more famous for Attabaliba's Imprisonment and Death The Soil round about may compare with any part of the World for fertility The Inhabitants are a peaceable ingenious People and make curious woollen Hangings 13. St. Juan de la Frontera built by the Spaniards North-East and by East from Caxamalca in the County Chiachinpoyas full of Gold-Mines and Cattel to which belongs not onely Chiachinpoyas but also the Countreys Guiancas and Cascainga out of which above twenty thousand Peruvians pay Tribute to the Spanish King These People especially the Women are very comely and beautiful for which reason the Ingas fetch'd their Wives and Concubines from thence Eastward from Frontera rise the high Mountains Andes behind which flows the great River Mayobamba by several poor Villages inhabited by a sottish kind of People 14. San Jago de las Valles built in an ill place amongst the Shrubs and overflowing Rivers In this Countrey grows a Tree which bears a juicy Fruit not unlike an Almond in prickly Rinds but resembling those which cover a Chesnut concerning which Physicians have deliver'd their Opinions That there is not a wholsomer Fruit in the whole World 15. Leon de Guanuco which receiv'd that Denomination from its Builder Vacca de Castro who call'd it Leon because he was born in the Spanish City Leon and Guanuco from the stately Palace of the Ingas which was built here The Houses are built of Free-stone and cover'd with Thatch The Citizens of Los Reyos were much against the building of this Town because several Lands belonging to them were taken away and given to Guanuco where the temperate Air grants long Life and Health to the Inhabitants The High-way in which stand several Store-houses formerly full of Ammunition runs through the middle of this Countrey where in the time of the Ingas dwelt Astronomers who by looking on the Stars pretended to tell future Events Here the Women also us'd to be burnt alive with their Husbands SECT V. Cusco CUSCO The several Valleys and other Territories belonging to Collao In this Province also there are some lesser Divisions of Countreys necessary to be describ'd viz. the cold and barren Countrey Bambon jutting against Guanuco inhabited antiently by a valiant People especially near the Lake Chincacocha which is ten Leagues in circumference in the middle of it are several Cliffs and little Isles And out of this Lake also the famous River De la Plata hath its original and runs through the Valley Xauxa receiving by the way the Streams Parcos Bilcas Abancay Apurima Yucay and others The next Countreys in order towards the South are Tarana abounding with Wheat and the eminent Valley Xauxa surrounded with snowy Mountains The Inhabitants by a general Name call'd Guancas were antiently divided into three sorts viz. the Maracabilca Laxapalanga and Xauxa Here were also several stately Houses built by the Ingas Upon this Valley borders the Village Acos near a Moorish place full of Canes but before you approach the Village you come near a high Plain where the Ruines of an antient Structure appear and somewhat farther the Palace Pico from whence the High-way directs to the Bridge Angoyaca which leads cross the River Xauxa near which the Ingas had several magnificent Structures and Baths of warm Springs Not far from hence is the Village Picoy between which and Angoyaca the Arm of the River Xauxa is cut with a Bridge because in the Winter it glides so swift that they cannot Ferry over it From Picoy you go to the Wild in whole Center stands the antient Castle Pucara which in the Peruvian Tongue signifies Invincible Fort where the Ingas receiv'd their Tribute from the neighboring People that live amongst the snowy Mountains The Banks of the great River Vinaque are crown'd with the Ruines of antient Structures which as the Natives relate were built by foreign People which Assertion of theirs seems to be confirm'd by the form and manner of Building differing from the Ingas Structures which us'd to be long and narrow Moreover several sweet Streams abounding with Fish especially Crabs glide through the Plain-Countrey out of the Mountains Andes Not far from hence appears the Plain Chapas and the Palaces Pilcas of which now nothing remains but a heap of Rubbish which lies in the Center of Peru. A fresh-water River which gives the fore-mention'd Palaces their Denomination glides out of Soras and washes the High-way and stately Temple of the Sun The Countrey Soras exceeding fertile and stock'd with Gold and Silver Mines is inhabited by a People which go Cloth'd in woollen Cloth and for their Valor formerly much esteem'd by the Ingas Those that inhabit the Countrey Uramar are call'd Chancas whose Neighbors possess a long Tract of Land abounding with Cattel and Fruit but of late are most of them destroy'd by the Spaniards The River Abanca which takes its original in the Mountainous County Parinacocha washes several Royal Buildings and at last discharges its Waters into the River Xauxa On each side of the great River Apurima are erected two wonderful Stone Pillars over which lies a most artificial Bridge built by the Ingas from whence the High-way being cut through hard Rocks leads up into the Countrey where the stately Buildings of Limatambo shew themselves and beyond the Mountain Bilcaconga the Valley Xaquixaguana inclos'd between high Rocks comes in view where the Ingas us'd to recreate themselves in their Banquetting-houses from whence the High-way which is Wall'd in on both sides runs directly through deep Moorish Grounds to Cusco Eastward from Cusco behind the Andes are many large Countreys which to discover the Spaniards spar'd neither trouble danger nor charge between both they found vast Wildernesses inaccessible Mountains and overgrown Countreys yet at last they opened four ways thither the first whereof runs through the Valley Paquil to Tono a Village in the middle of the Mountains from thence to the River Opotazi along which it is very troublesom travelling because of the thick Woods and steep Rocks lastly to the hot and fruitful Valley Abisca and so to vast Wildernesses overgrown with Brambles and Bushes which prevented any farther Discovery The second Way runs thirty Leagues farther to the Southward through the Countreys Sandia Camata and Caravaya to Zama Through this Way Anno 1538. Peter Anzurez travell'd Peter Anzurez his Journey setting out from Zama he found many desolate Mountains barren Wilds and close Woods through which he entred into the County Tacana
and from thence to the River Omapalchas inhabited on both sides by the Cheriabones and Marquires who oppos'd him in his crossing over the River but meeting with nothing but barren Commons he travell'd up along the River and view'd the Countreys Moios Cochabamba and Chuguiabo from whence he return'd to Collao having lost most of his People by Hunger and Hardship But not long after others went over the Andes to the Countreys which extend themselves East and West some whereof travell'd through Camata and others through Cochabamba Towns and Places of note The principal Towns and Places of Trade in it are 1. Bombon situate upon the Lake Chinchacocha said to be ten Leagues in compass begirt round about almost with Hills and having neighborhood with many other lesser but pleasant Villages 2. Parcos once a Palace Royal of the Ingas seated on the top of a little Hill encompass'd with other Rocky and higher Mountains on all sides 3. San Juan de Vittoria which the Marquess Pizarro built Anno 1539. to secure the Way between Lima and Cusco from the Assaults of the Peruvians before he absolutely conquer'd this Kingdom the Walls are wash'd by a sweet Stream to the great convenience of the Citizens 4. Guamanga a City lying in a pleasant Plain under a healthful Climate built with Stone-houses cover'd with Tyles the Owners whereof have great store of Land which they Sowe with Wheat and also breed plenty of Cattel To this City which is adorn'd with three Churches five Cloysters and a large Alms-house above thirty thousand Peruvians bring annual Tribute The Mines produce Gold Silver Copper Iron Lead Sulphur and Load-stones near which grows the poysonous Herb Mio which kills the Cattel that chance to eat thereof In the Woods also hereabouts feeds a Beast whose Piss stinks at a Miles distance This City is by some deliver'd to be the same with San Juan de la Vittoria above mention'd 5. Bilcas another Palace of the Ingas now a good Town of the Natives and situate as is suppos'd in the very midst of the Countrey of Peru. 6. Guancavelica a new Town rais'd from the condition of a very poor Village to a Place of very great Importance and Traffick onely by the Mines of Quicksilver which were first discover'd there in the Year 1566. by Amador Cabrera through the assistance of a Peruvian nam'd Mavincopa This Cabrera selling his Interest for a hundred and fifty thousand Ducats Su'd the Buyer upon pretence that he had sold it above one half under the value whilest this was depending Peter Ferdinando de Valasco came from Mexico to Guamanga to make trial of the cleansing of Silver by Quicksilver and finding it to succeed according to his expectation he sent great quantities of it to Arica and from thence by Land to Potosi The King of Spain is said to receive from this Mine of Guancavelica all his Charges defray'd above a thousand Pound per Annum for his usual fifth part But the antient Natives regarded not these Mines so much for the Quicksilver as for the Vermilion which is found mix'd with it wherewith they delighted very much to paint their Bodies There is great Art now us'd in the separating of the Quicksilver from the Vermilion This Town was long since inhabited by two thousand Spaniards at least and twice as many Natives 7. Cusco which is the Metropolis of the Kingdom of Peru built on a hard Ground surrounded with Mountains under a cold yet wholsom Climate and wash'd by two Rivers which on the East side of Cusco parting one runs direct West and the other Southward The original of the City Cusco One part of the City antiently bore the Denomination of Haran-Cusco and the second Oren-Cusco where the chief Nobility and most antient Families dwelt Concerning the original of this Place the Peruvians say That several Ages past there appear'd three Men call'd Ayrache Aranca and Ajarmango and with them three Women nam'd Mamacola Mamacona and Mamaragua all of them very richly Cloth'd that Ayrache had a Precious Stone at the end of a Truncheon which by holding up he rais'd the Mountains to the Skies and when he let it fall levell'd them with the lowest Valleys Aranca and Ajarmango concluded to build a stately City and sent for People from remote Countries to inhabit it with which Design the Natives thereabouts seem'd to be well pleas'd but before they went to work they judg'd it convenient to destroy Ayrache whose great Power they envy'd This being resolv'd upon they invited him to a deep narrow-mouth'd Cave that there they might worship the Sun his Father for so Descended he took upon him to be he was no sooner entred but the rest shut the Mouth of the Cave with great Stones hoping so to starve him to death which Ayrache observing stood amaz'd a while till at last he threw off all the Stones and flew with great and divers colour'd Wings up into the Air crying aloud Fear not Aranca and Ajarmango though you have design'nd to take away my Life but build a City in this place and call it Cusco for in it shall stand the Seat of the Ingas under whose Jurisdiction on extending far and near many great Nations shall bow The Temple which the Gods have there design'd shall not onely exceed all other Structures in the World in Art and Costliness but be famous for strange Offerings to the Sun If the Citizens build Altars for me burn Myrrh and make Offerings to me they may certainly expect to vanquish all their Enemies and increase their Power According to my Example bore Holes through your Ears as a sign of Obedience All which Aranca Ajarmango and the fore-mention'd Women promis'd to perform Whereupon Ayrache gave them a rich Diadem with a Tassel which was to be the Head-Ornament of the succeeding Ingas which they had no sooner receiv'd but Ayrache and Aranca were turn'd into Stones yet retaining their former shape which Ajarmango observing fell straight together with the three Women upon building the City Cusco After the Deluge breaking out of the Hole Tambo he chang'd his Name of Ajarmango for Mangocapa that is Mighty Lord and made himself as they say the first Peruvian King The City Cusco was divided into four Wards the East call'd Andosayo the South Callasayo the North Chinchasuyo and the West Condesayo every one one so call'd from the Countreys to which the Gates of the four Wards are oppos'd If any one coming out of another Countrey setled himself in Cusco as it hapned daily he was permitted to dwell no where but in that Ward which fronted his native Countrey The four high Streets which through these Wards one way fall into the Market-place being in the middle of the City are the other way answerable to the four principal High-ways viz. that which leads to Quito and Pasto through Chinchasuyo to Arehuipa through Condesuyo to the Mountains Andes through Andesuyo and to Chili through Collasuyo The two Rivers before
being of excellent Mettle and Service if they could be tam'd It affordeth likewise great store of wild Deer and Stags some Lyons Tygers c. nor is it without good Mines some both of Gold and Silver but chiefly as to what is yet discover'd of Brass and Iron and the People altogether salvage The River De la Plata The River De la Plata which as we said before divides this Countrey is one of the largest of the whole World rising as 't is suppos'd out of the Lake call'd De los Xarayes three hundred Leagues or more within Land and falling into the Atlantick Ocean or North Sea in thirty four Degrees of Southern Latitude with an Estuary or Mouth of thirty or two and thirty Leagues over The whole Countrey is usually subdivided into three inferior Provinces which 1. Rio de la Plata properly so call'd 2. Tucuman 3. La Crux de Sierra SECT II. Rio de la Plata properly so call'd Situation of Rio de la Plata properly so call'd RIo de la Plata properly so call'd is that part of the Countrey which extendeth it self on both sides the River in length many Leagues together but not answerable in breadth Towns and Places of note The chiefest Towns of note in this Province are 1. Buenos Ayres by some call'd La Trinidad on the Southern Banks of the River De la Plata sixty four Leagues as they say from the Mouth of it It is seated commodiously at the foot of a little Mountain and fortifi'd with a Mud-Wall a little Castle and some Pieces of Ordnance 2. San Fe in English St. Faiths fifty Leagues above Buenos Ayres upon the same River and a richer Place chiefly by reason of their Cloth of which there is here one of the greatest Manufactures of all these parts of Peru. 3. Nuestra Sennora de la Assumption commonly call'd Assumption onely lying yet higher up the River almost a hundred Leagues a well built and well frequented Town long since inhabited by two hundred Families at least of natural Spaniards besides Mestizos as they call them which are the Breed of Spaniards by the American People Men or Women and Mulattos which are likewise their Race but begotten upon Negro's of both which there are reckon'd to be here some thousands 4. La Cividad Real or more commonly call'd Ontiveros fourscore Leagues Northward from Assumption seated on the Banks of the River Parana in a fruitful Soil as the Countrey generally is about all these Places but the Air hereabouts is not so healthful 5. St. Anne upon the same River and 6. St. Salvador SECT III. Tucuman Situation of Tucuman VVEstward of La Plata lieth the Countrey of Tucuman extending it self as far as the Borders of Chile a Countrey not yet well discover'd either to the North or the South That part of it which lieth towards Chile is well Manur'd and Husbanded and likewise very fruitful but that towards Magellanica neither the one nor the other remaining altogether untill'd and barren The chief Towns and Places of note are 1. St. Jago de Esteco the principal Town of the Province and a Bishop's See seated upon the River Esteco a hundred and fourscore Leagues distant from Buenos Ayres Towns and Places of note 2. St. Michael de Tucuman seated at the foot of a huge rocky Mountain but otherwise in a Soil the fruitfullest and best both for Corn and Pasturage in all this Countrey twenty eight Leagues distant from St. Jago 3. Talavera or Neustra Sennora de Talavera as the Spaniards call it situate upon the Banks of Salado in a good Soil and inhabited by an industrious People grown exceeding rich and wealthy chiefly by their Manufactures of Cotton-Wooll whereof they have great plenty and by which they drive a Trade as far as the Mines at Potosi and other parts of Peru. BRASILIA 5. Chocinoca 6. Sococha 7. Calebinda 8. Morata and others but belonging for the most part to the reduced Natives SECT IV. La Crux de Sierra Situation of La Crux de Sierra LA Crux de Sierra is a little Territory at least in comparison to some others lying towards Peru and reckon'd by some for one of the Provinces of Peru It lieth betwixt the two great Rivers Paraguay and Guapay a hundred Leagues distant as 't is said from Charcas to which yet in some Causes it is subordinate The Soil of this Countrey is abundantly fertile in all sorts of American Fruits besides good plenty both of Wheat and Maiz and scarsity of nothing useful for Man's Life unless it be fresh Water in some places Chief Towns of this Province The chief Towns of this Province are 1. San Crux situate at the foot of a great Mountain or Hill but opeing upon a large Plain whose thirsty driness is well refresh'd by a certain Brook or Torrent which issueth out of a neighboring Mountain and a few Leagues distant from the Town maketh a pretty Lake which supplieth the Countrey thereabouts both with fresh Water and Fish in good plenty 2. Barranea a Town suppos'd to be not above threescore Leagues distant from Potosi 3. Nova Rioia once a Colony of Spaniards buâ—â—sack'd and spoil'd by the Salvages of these Parts about the Year 1548. and the first Discoveror of the Countrey namely Nunno de Chaves treacherously murder'd by a Native since which time 't is said to have been deserted CHAP. VII Brasile Anno 1549. King John the Third fitted out a great Fleet which set Sail from Lisbon under the Command of Thomas de Sosa Jesuits â—â—â—t to Brasiâ—â— by Pope Paulus the Third and Ignatius Also the Jesuits Aspilcueta Antonio Pireo Leonardo Nonno Didaco Jacobo Vincent Roderico and Emanuel Robrega were sent thither by Pope Paulus the Third and Ignatius Loyola whose Fleet came to an Anchor in the Bay afterwards call'd Bahia de Todos Sanctos where Sosa built the City Salvador since which the Portuguese have spread themselves farther and farther over Brasile The United Netherlands also sent Colonies thither with good success for they took several vast Countreys from the Portuguese by force of Arms and built new Forts and Towns in several places But we will first give you a general Description of it Temperature of Climate that so we may the better render a Relation in particular of every Province thereof it being a considerable part of the New World and both pleasant and fruitful and the Sea-Coasts refresh'd by Easterly Winds which begin before Day-break when the North Sea ebbs or flows for then the Wind rises with the Sun and continues till Mid-night Towards the West where the Mountains divide Brasile from Peru it is made temperate by Westerly Winds which though judg'd unwholsom because they seem to arise out of the Moorish Grounds yet they hurt not the Inhabitants along that Coast because they either break against the high Mountains or are driven by the strong Wind which blows from
are several other Isles on which breed good Oysters with little Pearls which stick so fast to great Stones that they can scarce be pluckt off The River Janeiro abounds with Fish Towns and Places of chief note The French once possess'd this Island but were dispossess'd by Emanuel de Sa Governor of Brasile for the Portuguese The City Sebastian which contains three hundred Houses is built on the Southern Point of Janeiro opposite to which on the Northern Point lies the Fort a large Church the Jesuits Cloyster and two Sugar-Mills give no small lustre to the City where the chief Trade consists in Brasile Wood and Cotton The French Storm'd this Town Anno 1581. but march'd off without any success Dirk Ruiters an Eye-witness gives us this Description of Sebastian The Town says he lies two Leagues up the River Janeiro in a Bay about which it is built like a Semi-Circle in a sandy Soil along the Water and is about a Mile long at each end rise steep Mountains besides which it hath neither Walls nor Gates but its strength consists of four Forts the chiefest whereof stands towards the East on a Rock in the Mouth of the River the second towards the West an Isle which on the South-East rises with a Mountain resembling a Sugar-Loaf the third crowns a Rock South-East from the Town and the fourth in the North-West a high Mountain The Natives call'd Tououpinambauti are very serviceable to the Portuguese Besides the fore-mention'd Towns Coligni and St. Sebastian some make mention of another in this Praefecture call'd Angra de los Reyes twelve Leagues distant from St. Sebastian Westward The Burroughs of the Natives are populous but neither strong by Nature nor fortifi'd and so not by any one thought worthy the naming SECT IV. De Spirito Sancto Description of the Lordship De Spirito Santo NExt to Rio Janeiro lies the Lordship or County De Spirito Sancto exceeding fruitful having divers Woods abounding with Venison The Rivers Parayva Manangea Itapemeri Iritibi and Guarapari Several strange sorts of Fish are stor'd with all sorts of Fish and amongst others the Fish Piratiapua which in the Winter Moneths lives in the Rivers and against the Summer returns to the Rocks wash'd by the Ocean This Fish hath a wide Mouth full of Teeth a reddish Tongue little Fins except those on their Backs divers colour'd Scales yet most of a dark Red and generally weighs fifty Pound Here is also the Fish Paru full of yellow Scales like Half-Moons over a black Skin it hath long Fins near the Tail and a little Head No less remarkable is the Guebucu which hath a long Body a sharp bonie Snout the upper Jaw reaching over the other no Teeth a Tail divided in the middle sharp Fins on the Back and a Skin full of Silver-colour'd Prickles This Monster not onely devours great Fishes but also Men when it is hungry it often runs its Snout through the side of a Ship But there is no Fish more deform'd than the Abacatuaja which being oval and flat hath two long Fins underneath and one on the top a divided Tail green Fins a smooth Skin and fiery Eyes as soon as it is taken it cries like a Hog In this County stands a Town of the same Denomination which contains two hundred Houses a Sugar-Mill and a Cloyster of Jesuits and drives a great Trade in Cotton and Brasile Wood. Before the City lies an Inlet full of Isles the Mouth of which is guarded by a Castle The Natives call'd Maigaias are in League with the Portuguese but the Tapuyans and Apiapetangas do them all the mischief they can possibly so that the Portuguese travel in great danger of their lives when any Business calls them through the Countrey of these salvage People But besides these People the Way is pester'd with strange wild Beasts especially on the Mountain Mestre Alvaro which is seen at a great distance off at Sea on which amongst other Creatures breeds the terrible Serpent Boiguacu The Serpent Boiguacu whose length is generally twenty four Foot it is of an Ash colour with great and small black Spots with a little white Speck in the middle when hungry it leaps out of the Hedges or from the tops of Trees raises it self upright on its Tail and winding about either Man Beast or whate're it be squeezes it to death or puts its Tail which ends in a sharp Point or Sting in at the Fundament in such a manner that it kills the Creature on which it seizeth in a moment and then swallows it up This Serpent hath strong Ribs inwardly and more than seventy bonie Joynts wherefore it turns it self with great ease the Joynt-bones near the Head are the biggest and grow smaller and smaller towards the Tail It also feeds on Pismires The Bird Jabicu-guacu This County also breeds the Bird Jabicu-guacu which exceeds the Crane in bigness and hath a long thick Bill but no Tongue on his Head appears a white grifly Crest or Mitre the Wings and Tail are short and the Feathers most of them white except the Pinions which shine like Rubies their Flesh is of a good rellish but somewhat dry Near the River which washes the City Spirito Sancto the Paraibes dwell in Huts not unlike Ovens SECT V. Porto Seguro Description of Porto Seguro NExt to the fore-mention'd County borders Porto Seguro discover'd by Pedro Alvares Capralis who gave this Countrey the Name of Terra de Santa Cruiz but afterwards chang'd it to Porto Seguro because he found a secure Harbor there The Town built on the top of a white Rock gives its Denomination to the whole Countrey and harbor'd long since two hundred and twenty Families and hath five Sugar-Mills The Land on the North side of the Rock rises high but South wardly a smooth Coast runs along the Ocean from which two Leagues off at Sea lie several Cliffs against which the Waves break with a great force The Towns Santa Cruiz and Amaro are left desolate because the Portuguese were continually Invaded by the salvage Aymures whom they were not able by any means to repress Southward from Porto Seguro appear the Shoals Abrolhos twenty six Leagues from the Coast they are of one breadth but one is longer than the other Opposite to the Abrolhos on the Main Coast a plain Countrey extends it self thirty Leagues in length inhabited by the Ouetacates a cruel People who continually either destroy one another or else make sad slaughters amongst their Neighbors The County Porto Seguro belongs to the Spanish Duke of Avero but is very much decay'd The Beast Capybara The Rivers Moucuripe Caruvelas and Lucura breed abundance of Water-Hogs call'd Capybara which have short Feet Bristles and Ears a thick Body and Head with a bearded Snout besides two Tusks and twenty four lesser Teeth in each Jaw but no Tail they feed on Grass and Bushes in whole Herds on the Shore and make a terrible
noise and though they cannot run fast yet they dive and swim extraordinary quick The Tapiirete The Tapiirete also resembles a Hog especially in its Head and Feet but is as big as a Heifer of six Moneths old hath a Snout hanging over its under Lip a Mouth full of Teeth and on its Skin short and dark colour'd Hair This Beast is very libidinous and in the Nights spoils the Fruit-Trees especially the Sugar-Canes but in the Day-time it sleeps in Thickets The Flesh of a young Tapiierete tastes like Beef Lastly the Inhabitants of Porto Seguro are plentifully supply'd with Rabbets and the more because there being divers sorts of them some say five they are taken in great abundance either in Traps Snairs or Gins or by discovering their Holes for the Hunters stopping the entrance of them dig a Hole directly over the place where the Coneys lodge and so kill them with long Pike-staves in the Ground Five sorts of Rabbets in Brasile Of these five sorts of Rabbets in Brasile the chiefest call'd Paca hath a thick Head little Ears their fore-Feet bigger than their hind-Feet short hard and brown Hair speckled grey on the Sides but no Tail The Flesh of this sort of Rabbets is very delicate The second sort is the Tupesi which being like a Hare amongst us may as well be accounted of that kind The Aguti resembles our Rabbets onely it hath harsh brown Hair round Ears bald Feet gruntles like a Hog hath two Toes more on their hind-Legs than on the foremost The Cavia Cobaya though less than the European Rabbets excell them in soft and divers-colour'd Hair distinguish'd by white red and black Spots their Head and Teeth resemble those of a Rat but it hath no Tail No Rabbets can be made tamer than these and if carry'd to any remote Countrey breed as well there as in Brasile The last of all is the Aparea which differs little in running from a Hare as also in respect of the Head and Beard harbors more in rent Cliffs than in sandy Ground The Tree Tucum The Soil of Porto Seguro bears two sorts of Palm-Trees viz. the Tucum and Airi the Tucum hath small Boughs full of prickly Leaves and a fruit not unlike the Damask Prune hanging in Clusters of three or four hundred together and being excellent Food to fatten Hogs and Apes also when press'd yielding a clear Oyl which is highly esteem'd the Fruit when ripe grows black without and within hath a white Kernel of the Leaves the Brasilians spin fine and strong Thred The Airi grows much higher than the Tucum and hath also longer Leaves a Body full of sharp Thorns and a round Fruit full of white and oylie Pulp but not eatable the Wood hard heavy and black sinks in the Water and the Brafilians make their Clubs of the same The Bird Cocoi Along the Rivers flie the Birds Cocoi resembling Herons though in beauty they far exceed them they have but little Flesh long sharp Bills of a yellowish green colour and curious Crests of Feathers on their Heads which fall back over their Necks their Flesh when young is delicate SECT VI. Los Isleos Situation and Description of Los Isleos NExt Porto Seguro borders the Countrey Los Isleos so call'd from its chief Town which consists of a hundred and fifty Houses or perhaps by this time many more eight Sugar-Mills a Cloyster for the Jesuits and a Church The Inhabitants live by Tillage and Transporting of Provisions in little Barks to Pernambuco Seven Leagues farther in the Countrey beyond the Town of Isleos lies a nameless Lake three Leagues long as many broad and above ten Fathom deep and full of the Fish Manati which are very large and well tasted besides abundance of Crocodiles and in windy Weather the Water is as rough as if it were in the Ocean Out of this Lake flows a River by a Passage so narrow that a Boat can scarce pass through the same Round about this River live the Guaymures the most salvage People of all America they are of a Gigantick size have white Skins carry exceeding great Bowes and Arrows live without Houses like Beasts devour Mans-flesh like Tygers never Fight in Companies or Armies but watch to surprize a single Man or Beast they also eat their own Children and possess'd formerly all the Land from the River St. Francisco to the Promontory Frio but beaten from thence by the Tupinambas and Tupinachias they went to the County Los Isleos which they Invaded in such a manner that the Portuguese were not onely forc'd to leave several Sugar-Mills but also the whole Countrey SECT VII Bahia de Todos los Sanctos When Sosa Landed on the fore-mention'd Shore the Portuguese had but little footing on America for their Plantations at Isleos St. Vincent Pernambuco Villa Veja Itamaraca and Porto Seguro discover'd by Pedro Alvares Capralis Anno 1500. were run all to ruine Beside the City St. Salvador and the decay'd Town Villa Veja the City Paripe lies three Leagues farther into the Countrey consisting of three thousand Families and eighteen Sugar-Mills The Countrey about the same produces plenty of Cotton The Island Taperica which is pretty large hath a fertile Soil for the production of Tobacco and Grass to fatten Cattel The Inhabitants boyl much Train-Oyl of the Whales which come ashore there in considerable numbers Twelve Leagues Southward from St. Salvador appears the Village Cacocheira formerly belonging to a rich Portuguese who took great pains in reforming the salvage People Guaymures to a civil Life but seeing he profited but little he caus'd great Companies of them to be remov'd to Taperica that they might do less mischief where the unusual and unwholsom Air kill'd them all in a short time The Lordship Bahia hath abundance of Sugar-Mills which are either turn'd by the Water or drawn by Oxen. OLINDA DE PHERNAMBUCO A. Narale B. Nonasterium in Insula Antonic vace C. Hospitium domini Presiotuâ— H. C. Lonck D. Ecclesia Pagi Povo E. Promptuaria Sacâ—aro Aâ— Hispanen ique delecâ—â— F. Vallum ferrestre cum nonnuâ—â—is fortulitus G. Monasterium Sancti Benedicti dictum Bento H. Sancti Antoni I. S â—i Francisci K. Ecclesia Magaâ— L. Ecclesia Jesuitarum N. Promontorium ex virgultis â—â—â—stium SECT VIII Pernambuco Description of Pernambuco NOrthward from Bahia de Todos los Sanctos lies Pernambuco which extends along the Coast above seventy Leagues between the River St. Francisco and the Countrey of Hamaraca Pernambuco which signifies Hells-Mouth is on the East wash'd by the Northern Ocean in which grows a Weed much like an Oaken Leaf and so thick that unless it be cut to make their Way impedes the Sailing of Ships Several sorts of Fish The Sea is also very full of Fish which in calm Weather are visible sixty Fathom deep and are taken in greater abundance than they are able to spend for they no sooner let down a Bait cover'd with Feathers
whilest Fouke Honx Storm'd the Battlements towards the South but Stein Callenfels and Eltz being already Masters of Olinda the Defendants surrendred all Mean while the Colonel 's Skiff brought five hundred Men more ashore with which he march'd without any hinderance into the City where the Conquerors faint with excessive Heat and want of Water found but little Booty because the Inhabitants having notice of the Hollanders coming had convey'd all their Goods and Wealth to Reciffa which the Governor Matthias Albuquerque Brother to the Lord Duarte Albuquerque to whom Pernambuco properly belong'd burnt with all the Store-houses partly out of revenge to the Inhabitants who fled contrary to his Commands and partly because he would not enrich the Hollanders The Portuguese Captain Correa de Castel Blanco in his Letter to the King of Spain values the loss at twenty hundred thousand Ducats But still the Portuguese had possession of several Forts about the Countrey whereof the most considerable was St. George whither Stein Callenfels march'd in the Night with six hundred Men but his Ladders being too short and the Hand-Granado's not easily taking fire he was for'd to Retreat whereupon judging it most convenient to besiege the Castle he digg'd Trenches about the same nor was it long ere the Besieged desir'd Quarter The Fort St. George taken which being granted they march'd from thence with ninety Men. The Water Castle surrendring in like manner they found fifteen Brass Guns therein and in that of St. George four thousand pound of Gun-powder and twenty four Iron Guns When the Netherland Forces Landed on Pernambuco the Portuguese inhabited eleven Towns the chiefest whereof being Olinda was generally Garrison'd by four Companies of Armed Citizens each containing a hundred Men and three Companies of Soldiers Amongst the Citizens were two hundred Merchants some of whom were judg'd to be worth fifty thousand Crusados Southward from Olinda between the River Biberibe and the Ocean was a narrow Cawsey at the end of which lay the populous Village Reciffa where the Ships lade and unlade About the middle of the Cliff being a League long is the Anchoring place for great Ships call'd Pozo At the end of the fore-mention'd Cawsey against Pozo appear'd a round Tower of Fre-stone The memorable Exploits of the English under Captain James Lancaster The Journal kept by the English Fleet that came hither under the Command of Captain James Lancaster Anno 1595. makes mention of a Fort which lay at the Mouth of the Haven before Reciffa which the English valiantly Storm'd notwithstanding six hundred Men and seven Brass Guns might easily have made it invincible But they conquering the same march'd up to Olinda took the Suburb consisting of a hundred Houses without any resistance as also a great Booty and the greater because the Goods of a rich Carak which had some few days before suffer'd Shipwrack were kept there they also took fifteen laden Ships and for thirty days kept the whole Countrey about Olinda restless with continual Alarms Since this Invasion the Portuguese built a third Fort on Reciffa so that the Ships must pass in in between two Forts where the Channel is also full of Rocks and consequently the more dangerous From Reciffa the Goods are sent in Barques or Lighters to Olinda between which and St. Salvador run the two great Rivers Francisco and Real the first whereof retains its freshness twenty Leagues into the Ocean Along the River Popitinga stand many Sugar-Mills and five Leagues farther Northward beyond Olinda the Portuguese inhabit these Villages viz. Garasu Reciffa Moribeca Antonio de Cabo Miguel de Poyuca Gonsalvo de Una Povacon de Porto Calvo Alagoa del Nort and Alagoa del Zur besides other Brasilian Hamlets and above seventy Sugar-Mills The nature of the Soil in Pernambuco The County of Pernambuco hath for the most part a good Soil several Plains low Hills and fruitful Valleys abounding with fair Canes which also grow on the Mountains Masurepe Zebaatan Poyuca and Moribeque The Wilds of El Gran Matto afford the best Wood with which they drive the greatest Trade in the Village Laurenzo Whilest Matthias Albuquerque Intrench'd himself a League and a half Westward from Olinda by the Sugar-Mills belonging to Francisco Montero with a hundred Portuguese and three times as many Armed Brasilians Loncque finding that he could not long keep the City Olinda against the Enemy caus'd the same to be pull'd down and burnt Sergippo del Rey. Between the Rivers Francisco and Real lies the Town Sergippo del Rey up in the Countrey near a small Rivulet which at Spring-Tydes hath fourteen Foot Water The Woods round about feed wild Cattel and the Mountains contain Mines of Gold and Silver The first Plantation in Brasile was in the Island Itamaraca three Leagues long and two broad but extends its Jurisdiction along the Main Coast from which it is separated by a narrow River which runs betwixt both thirty five Leagues The Countrey is eminent for twenty Sugar-Mills and abundance of Brasile Wood. Villa de Conception The chief Town of this Island is call'd Villa de Conception near the Sea which round about the Island is full of Rocks The French settling themselves here at first were driven from thence by the Portuguese The Town it self built on a Rock hath a strong Castle on the one side erected near a shrubby Moor to the Northward of which Stein Callenfels found a little Isle scarce a Musquet-shot long which at High-water is overflown and being full of small Trees makes a Receptacle for Sea-Fowl which flock thither about six a Clock in the Evening to Roost on the Boughs from which when once setled to take their repose they will not stir till six of the Clock the next Morning though you discharge Guns at them all Night but since Stein Callenfels cut down the Wood to make Pallisado's for the new Fort against the Town Conception they were never seen afterwards SECT IX Parayba Description of Parayba NOrthward from Itamaraca borders the County of Parayba whence the French Ships carry'd yearly several Ladings of Brasile Wood till Anno 1585. the Portuguese General Martin Leytam drove them from all places since when they never recover'd any part thereof OSTISâ—â—â—NES The Silver-Mine Copaoba The French under the Command of Captain Dourmigas discover'd ninety years ago the Silver-Mine Copaoba and for a considerable time carry'd Silver and Brasile Wood from hence till the Portuguese made themselves absolute Masters Moreover on the North-side of Parayba the Salvages call'd Petiguars inhabit sixteen Villages Strange Birds Amongst the Birds of prey which breed here are the Ouyaourassou twice as big as a Crane with curious Feathers and so bold and strong that it devours not onely Sheep but Deer and Men. The Bird Mayton is no way inferior in beauty to the Peacock his whole Body being cover'd with white and black Feathers on his Head grows a Tuft the Flesh is also very pleasant
midst of it upon which in a convenient place and upon rais'd Ground the Portuguese have built a very strong Castle well Wall'd on all sides save onely towards the River where it is planted with Ordnance It is built in a quadrangular form and hath at least three hundred Persons of the Portuguese Nation besides the Garrison Soldiers belonging to it who have all Employment enough about the Cotton-Wool Sugar-Canes and Tobacco which the Countrey is said to afford in great plenty A Relation of the Proceedings of the Netherland West-India Company in Brasile to the Year 1658. THe chief Disturbers of the Portuguese in the possession of the Countrey of Brasile were the United Netherlanders for they having had good success with their first Fleet under the Command of John Molenaer John Dignumszoon John Schelinger Simon Mau and the Merchants Cornelis Woddman Gerard Beveningen and Heinier van Heb Anno 1595. in the East-Indies where they got such footing that they took whole Kingdoms to the great enriching of the Eastern World where they spread their Trade over the whole Country were thereupon emboldned to venture also to the West that thereby they might cut off the Sinews of the King of Spain's Wars he being continually supply'd with Treasures from America Urbs SALVADOR A. Coenobium de Carmo B. Portude Carmo C. Collegium Jesuitarum D. Coenobium S. Francisci E. Basilica F. Carcer G. Aula Marctionis et Vice-regis Brasiliae H. Porta S. Benti I. Suburbium K. Coenobium S. Benti L. Repositorium M. Castellum maritimâ—m N. Aguae mediterranca O. Castellum S. Alberti This Victory was scarce obtain'd when Colonel Dorth who had lost the Fleet at Point Vincent arriv'd here after all was done and caus'd Edicts to be publish'd in which the fled Citizens were promis'd greater Priviledges under the Netherlanders Protection than ever they had under the King of Spain Whereupon a few Portuguese return'd to the City but the greatest part of them and those the most considerable were partly kept back by Command of the Bishop Teixera who laid the fault concerning the loss of the City on the Governor Furtado and partly because they judg'd the Netherlanders unable to defend them against the Spanish Power About the same time several rich laden Vessels arriv'd there from Lisbon Janeiro Spirito Santo Angola and other Places all ignorant of the Conquest of St. Salvador Whilest Dorth and Willekens were ordering all things within the City the out-staying Portuguese at last taking courage Storm'd the City from Midnight till the next day in the Afternoon but fearing they should be set upon behind unawares Retreated after which Dorth thinking he had been free from all fear of Enemies and with a small Guard riding out of the City to take a view of the adjacent Countrey was scarce got a Bowe-shot from the Walls Col. Dorth kill'd by an Ambuscade when a great Body of Brasilians rush'd forth unexpectedly from an Ambuscade and wounded him so mortally that he fell dead from his Horse and had his Head suddenly chopt off and his Body mangled very terribly Allart Schouten being chosen Governor in Dorth's stead took no care to fortifie the City and after his Decease his Brother William Schouten succeeding him regarded it less so that all things went to ruine every one striving onely to enrich themselves Amongst other Booties they took the rich laden Vessel which Francisco de Sarmiento Governor of Chili brought to St. Salvador with fifty eight thousand Guilders and a much greater sum of Gold and Pearls all which was imbezled away Description of St. Salvador This City St. Salvador built by Thomas de Sosa along the Sea-side runs up broad at the Suburb Carmo hath four Market-places into the biggest whereof being of a long square run nine Streets the chief of which being very broad hath many stately Houses The second Market-place is of like form onely it winds a little towards the Right and at the Entrance stands a strong Prison The Cloyster St. Francis inhabited by Jesuits stands in a Park near the Wall by which the Moat runs Towards the Sea-side they have a second Structure much statelier than the Franciscan Cloyster Near the Prison stands the Armory and somewhat farther the great Church which Anno 1624. was not quite finish'd The Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary appears with a high Spire near the Gate Bento without which the great Cloyster Bento is built but the chief Church is St. Salvador On the utmost Point towards the South-West of the City lies the Fort Antonio between which and the City stands a very neat Pleasure-house belonging to the Bishop Besides Antonio there are four other considerable Forts viz. Diego St. Maria De Gracia and Vittoria About half way between Vittoria and the Cloyster Bento stands the Castle with four Bulwarks but on the North-side the City is guarded by the Forts St. Peter Philippo and Tapecipe A great Fleet set out by the King of Spain for the recovery the recovery of St. Salvador The Spanish King seeming exceedingly concern'd at the loss of so eminent a Place fitted out a great Fleet for the recovery of what had been taken from him but the Netherland West-India Company having notice of it put themselves into a posture of Defence and in a short time made ready eighteen Men of War and seven Ketches Mann'd with a thousand six hundred and ninety Seamen and a thousand three hundred and fifty Land-Soldiers John Dirkszoon Lam being Admiral But news coming day after day of the extraordinary Preparations in Spain it was judg'd convenient to strengthen the Fleet with fourteen Ships and two Ketches more carrying a thousand four hundred and thirty Seamen and five hundred eighty Soldiers under the Command of General Boudewyn Henrickszoon and Admiral Andries Veron Moreover the West-India Company fitted out a third Fleet consisting of four Frigats and three Ketches Commanded by Henry Kat with Orders to Cruise along the Spanish Coast In the beginning of the Year 1625. Frederick de Toledo weighed Anchor from Cales with one and thirty Gallions four Pinnaces three Tartans and a Carvel all carrying seventy five hundred Men. The Soldiers were divided into three Regiments Commanded by the Colonels Pedro Osorio Juan Orellana and the Marquess De Torreclusa Near St. Jago at the African Cape Verde Toledo joyn'd with the Portuguese Fleet consisting of twenty one Gallions and fourteen Carvels and Barques Mann'd with four thousand Seamen two Regiments of Soldiers Commanded by Antonio Nunnez Barreio and Francisco de Almeida but the chief Commander of this Fleet was Emanuel Meneses Which great Fleet being arriv'd at St. Salvador Toledo himself Landed at the Fort Antonio leaving the Command of the Fleet to Juan Fajardo The first thing he did was to set upon the Cloyster Bento which having gain'd he left Serjeant Troppani with two Regiments in the same whilest he went and Storm'd the Carmelites Minster and at last took it but in the mean
suddenly surpris'd after a strange manner he had ninety Musquetteers for his Guard whose Matches were all put out and their Arms all wet by a great shower of Rain which they perceiving from their Ambuscades immediately got cross the River and kill'd thirty of the Netherlanders the rest running away left Ita to defend himself which he did for some time with his Sword but had absolutely been slain had he not receiv'd Aid from Olinda Because the Portuguese made several Attempts upon the Netherlanders not without damage on both sides the West-India Company often sent Ships to their assistance and likewise many Brasilians deserting the Portuguese joyn'd with the Netherlanders who built a five-corner'd Fort with Bulwarks about the Cloyster on Antonio Vaes which to prevent the Portuguese ventur'd many a Sally though not without considerable loss on their part They also reported that Frederick de Toledo was making thither with a great Fleet to drive the Netherlanders out of Brasile at which they taking the Alarm put themselves all into a posture of Defence rais'd new Works about the Castle on Reciffa whilest the Ships which Cruis'd on that Coast brought in several Prizes John Walbeek being chosen General by the West-India Company over Brasile had a Design on the Promontory St. Augustine but it came to no effect because the Sea beat so vehemently against the Shore Great Supplies sent to Brasile by the Netherland West-India Company The Report of the great preparation of a Fleet which was making ready in Spain mov'd the West-India Company to raise mo're Men and to send out Admiral Paters with seventeen Ships which all arriv'd safe except the Black Lyon Frigat which carrying the Lieutenant-Colonel Eltz and Captain Uitgeest was never heard of Joost Bankart was also sent out in March with eight Ships to St. Helena to Cruise there for the rich Carraks which us'd to Water there but though he stay'd till August before this fruitful Island yet saw not one Ship at Sea nor a Man on the Island but great numbers of Sea-pies which are so tame that they suffer themselves to be taken up with the Hand or knock'd on the Head with Sticks Near this Isle Ita took a Ketch Prize and rallying his whole Fleet together Steer'd for the Caimans the most Eastern Isle whereof being about three Leagues long is full of Rocks with a high Point on the East the other part thereof is plain Then dividing his Fleet into seven Squadrons he made them all ready for an Engagement when he was inform'd by an English-man before Corientes that Frederick de Toledo had set Sail with eighty Ships from Havana to Spain of which he had sent back eight Gallions to Carthagena Hereupon bending his Course near Havana he put the whole Countrey to an Alarm burnt a rich laden Vessel and another that carry'd a Flag on the Fore-top and a third laden with Ballast Joachim Guysen being made Commander of the Dolphin Frigat and sent to joyn with Admiral Pater's Squadron was driven below Jamaica and at last strook against the great Caiman where his Vessel was all shatter'd to pieces but all his Men and Goods being sav'd he spent sixteen Weeks in making a Ketch of the pieces of the Dolphin and brought a hundred and twenty Men four Brass and two Iron Guns to the Fleet having buried the rest on Caiman Five Leagues beyond Havana a Spanish Ship laden with Campeche Wood and Sarsaparilla being chased against the Shore was set on fire by her own Men which the Hollanders attempted twice in vain to put out After this Ita's Fleet lay long upon the Coast Cuba but finding no Spanish Vessels and their Provisions growing scarce return'd back to the Texel where they arriv'd without doing any farther Exploits In the mean while Pater lying before Punta del Gallo intending to Invade the City built on the Shore of the Island Trinidad but the Fort built at the Mouth of the River and contrary Current preventing his Design he ran through the middlemost Hole of Boccas to Blanca where he caught two thousand Goats and a Bonaire set several Towns on fire whilest the Spaniards made a Smother of dry Stubble all along the Fields through which the Hollanders were to return that so they might be choak'd with the Smoak which their Invention had prov'd successful had not the Hollanders forc'd a Way through a Wood. At last the Fleet leaving Hispaniola Steer'd for St. Martha a Town built on the Main Coast between Carthagena and the River La Hacha being instigated thereto by a Letter taken by the Hollanders in a Prize writ by the Governor Hieronymo de Quero to the Spanish King which Letter set forth the present Condition of St. Martha St. Martha taken by the Dutch whereby they conceiv'd great hopes of a possibility of taking it and of the Advantages that would accrue thereby nor did it happen contrary to their expectation for the Admiral Landing his Men took the City without the least resistance and though the great Fort fir'd some Guns yet it soon surrendred on promise of Quarter the City also was sav'd from being burn'd by paying fifty five hundred Pieces of Eight after they had plunder'd the same and carry'd away whatsoe're they thought good Mean while the Provisions growing scarce in the Fleet Pater judg'd it convenient to return home where he arriv'd safely with all his Prizes The valiant Exploit of John Lichthart Notable Exploits were perform'd by John Lichthart one of which amongst others ought not to be omitted viz. he setting Sail homewards from Reciffa about the beginning of October Anno 1630. chanc'd to fall with his Ship the Over-yzel amongst five Biscayan Pyrats Cruising between the French and English Coast which thought to clap him aboard on a sudden but they seeing him bear up to them were afraid to venture and Tack'd about after which he was set upon about three Leagues to the Northward of the Lizard by three Frigats belonging to Dunkirk the biggest whereof carry'd thirty six Guns the second twenty eight and the last twelve with which three he maintain'd a Fight eight hours in which he had fourteen Men kill'd and thirty two wounded his Ship resembled a Wreck the Main-mast being shot overboard the Rudder hung by pieces at the Stern and the Tackling all shatter'd and torn besides seven Shot under Water and not less than four hundred through the sides above but not without sufficient marks of retribution on the Dunkirkers side but Lichthart getting into Plymouth mended his Ship and from thence Sail'd to Amsterdam where he was Presented with a Gold Chain in recompence of his Valor The Expedition of the Brown-Fish Frigat The Expedition of the Brown-Fish Frigat is also remarkable which Sailing beyond Cape deVerd Steer'd by Cape Roxo along the Shore to the River Catchieu at whose Mouth lie two Shelves and between them ran a Channel through which the Ships pass'd The Brown-Fish Sailing about a League up
Vallezilla on one side and the Utrecht Frigat on the other which after half an hours Engagement lost her Main-mast and after a sharp Fight of four hours the Fire took hold of her Sails which the Netherlanders not being able to quench leap'd desperately over into the Spanish Vice-Admiral but he having two hundred and sixty Men aboard beat them off forcing them to leap into the Water or sell their Lives at a dear rate But Captain Thyszoon had better success for he not onely sunk the Vice-Admiral but took the Bonaventura Gallion and likewise gave the Gallion John Baptista so many shot under Water that she sunk likewise The Night approaching ended this bloody Engagement and the Netherlanders Fleet much damnifi'd stood Northwards with intention to return to Reciffa The next Morning Oquendo had lost sight of them but descry'd them again on the fifteenth of September and kept in view of them the six following days five Leagues from him to the East or East South-East Martin Thyszoon coming to an Anchor before Reciffa on the twenty second of September About the same time the Amsterdam Frigat set Sail from thence for St. Salvador with intention to joyn with Pater's Fleet there but not finding the Admiral return'd and near Cape St. Augustine discover'd the Spanish Fleet wherefore running close behind them she receiv'd four Guns from Oquendo which she answer'd and kept at a distance from them the whole Night in hopes to meet with one single Vessel or other belonging to the Fleet but the Spanish Vice-Admiral bearing little Sail guarded the Rere and fir'd continually at the Amsterdam Frigat who fearing an unlucky Bullet made all the Sail she could possible and brought news of the approach of the Spanish Fleet to Reciffa Soon after which the Elephant came from the Dutch Fleet thither with a full Account of the fore-mention'd Engagement viz. That besides the Admiral Pater there were slain Captain Thomas Sickes Cormillion and Lieutenant Steenbergen also that two Ships the Prince William and the Povince of Utrecht were sunk In lieu of which they had taken the Gallion call'd The Bonaventura with twenty six Brass Guns weighing above sixty four thousand Pound two hundred and forty Castilians and a great parcel of Sugar and Tobacco Amongst the Prisoners was one call'd Francisco de Fuentes who being Examin'd gave this Information viz. That the Fleet carry'd two Regiments of Spaniards and one of Italians in which three Regiments were four thousand Men under the Command of Conde del Bangniola and that upon the setting out of Ferdinand the King's Brother to the Netherlands all the chiefest Gallions and Dunkirk Ships were sent for and English Vessels hir'd to convey him safe to the Flemmish Coast which made Oquenda set Sail with so much the lesser number to St. Salvador that the sunk Gallion call'd Antonio de Padua had fourteen Brass Guns in her Hold besides twenty six that were mounted Two Tapuyan Kings offer their Service to the Hollanders Soon after a Brasilian that had pass'd by Albuquerque's Army to Olinda brought Information That he was sent by Jandui and Oquenou two Kings belonging to the Tapuyans to enquire if the Topatingas for so they call'd the Netherlanders that belong'd to the West-India Company did yet reside in Pernambuco with Proffers to assist them with their Forces Moreover he inform'd them That since his departure from Boudewyn Henrickszoon a great many of the Tapuyans Petivares were kill'd by the Portuguese near the River Grande and Inlet Trajiciaon because they had assisted Henrickszoon who had left them helpless at his departure He added also That if the West-India Company would give the other Brasilians any assurance to assist the Tapuyans it would be necessary to Consult about it near the River Grande This Proposal was found to be of so weighty a Concern that Ellert Smient being sent with the Ship call'd The New Netherland and a great Sloop to Siara to make farther enquiry into the Business was accompanied by a Renegado Portuguese call'd Samuel Cochin and several Brasilians whom Henrickszoon upon their Request carry'd with him from the Inlet Trajiciaon to Holland who went under pretence of visiting their Relations at the River Grande and Siara to invite their Countrey-men to joyn with the Netherlanders Olinda deserted and demolish'd by the Hollanders During Smient's absence many Consultations were held about the demolishing or defending of the City Olinda about which there had formerly been many Contests but at last the Voices carry'd it which were for the demolishing thereof in regard it was of little Consequence and could not be kept without many Men and great Charges because of its bad Situation whenas their Men might do greater Service in other places Wherefore they began to carry all things necessary from Olinda to Reciffa and on the twenty fourth of November the City was set on fire with Barrels of Pitch and Tar being in a light flame at every corner whilest Stein Callenfels drew off the Garrison in good order to Reciffa and immediately sixteen hundred Men under his Command were put aboard of sixteen Vessels with intention to go to Parayba but the Enemy having a fortnight before had notice of this Design had fortifi'd himself all along the River Callenfels approaching espy'd twelve Portuguese Standards and the Men ready on the Breast-works to prevent his Landing yet nevertheless he not regarding their Bullets press'd in amongst them and forc'd the Enemy from his Works Near the Water stood a Stone Castle and on one side of it a large Store-house on the Mountain near the City appear'd the Franciscan Cloyster the Fort rais'd of Earth had four Bulwarks and twenty six Guns according to the Information of the Eye-witnesses Drevis and Berster who were sent thither as Spies Callenfels attempts to take the City but without success Callenfels Landed not so carefully but that he lost forty Men either kill'd from behind the Breastworks or out of a neighboring Wood. Being inform'd by a Portuguese Prisoner of the ill Condition of the Town and how slenderly it was provided he immediately rais'd a Sconce two Watch-houses and a Pallisado from which he fir'd with two Guns on the Castle and made several Trenches but the Besieged were stronger in People and Guns than the Besiegers who being scarce able by reason of their small number to keep Guards in all places were also tir'd out under a hot Climate and fainted for want of Provisions insomuch that in two days there dy'd and fell sick above two hundred wherefore Callenfels judg'd it best to draw off in time which that they might do securely they made a Redoubt and the six Companies Commanded by the Captains Redinchoven Meppelen Cloppenburg Schenk Byma and Cook resolv'd upon a desperate Attempt as followeth Marching privately through a Wood behind the Enemy's Works they fell in at one side upon the Portuguese Trenches from whence they drove them after a small resistance and forc'd them to flie
Admiral Vice-Admiral Gallion Teresia and several other Gallions sunk with at least two thousand Men a great number of Persons of Quality and amongst the rest the Marquess Salinas who was most treacherously slain by thirty Persons The Marquess Salinas murther'd for his Jewels who made themselves Masters of a Sloop into which he went for fafety out of the sinking Admiral Juseppe That which instigated them to this horrid Act was the sight of a small Trunk of Jewels which he carry'd into the Sloop Not long after falling out amongst themselves about dividing the Spoil several of them were discover'd apprehended and put to death This Fleet weighed Anchor the day after their Admiral Miguel de Echacareta was buried who dy'd so suddenly that he could make no Will. A few days after the departure of the Fleet a hundred and seventy Houses were burnt at Juan de Lua It appears that the Spaniards out of fear of the Netherlanders set Sail on the tenth of October notwithstanding it was at an inconvenient time because about that Season the Hurricanes rage most terribly in the Bay of Vera Crux By a Letter from the Treasurer Franciscus Suarez it appears that the two Regiments in the City St. Salvador the one Commanded by Christopher Mexia Bocanegra consisting of nine Companies each of sixty Men and the other Commanded by Vasco de Mascarennas consisting of thirteen Companies cost the King of Spain yearly 21515 l. to maintain them Walbeck's Exploits The Netherland Council at Reciffa no way discourag'd by their successless Attempts made the last Year on Rio Grande sent thirteen Companies of Soldiers aboard of seventeen Vessels to build a Fort at the River Formosa where the Portuguese being too weak to resist them set fire on a Store-house with three hundred Chests of Sugar and fled Walbeck was Commander in Chief in this Design who Landing on Formosa found no fit place to build a Fort in because the Shore not being above a Musquet-shot broad was inclos'd with Woods behind which lay high Mountains that Commanded the Shore therefore marching to Serinhain he burnt several Houses and a new Sugar-Mill near which in a Store-house he took twelve hundred Chests of Sugar which for want of Carts he could not carry to his Ships Also before Porto Calvo he burnt a Carvel and took a great number of Cattel on Camarigibi and return'd without any farther Exploits to Reciffa where the Cruisers had brought in several Prizes during his absence The Council resolving not to sit idle set out another Fleet of eighteen Ships under the Command of Martin Thyszoon with a Regiment of fourteen Companies under Stein Callenfels The Expedition of Martin Thyszoon and Stein Callenfels This Fleet approaching Cape Augustin they found a ridge of Rocks along the Shore against which the Sea beat with great vehemency at length they came before a small Inlet at whose Mouth lay a small Fort from which the Enemy fir'd upon the Mann'd Boats which Row'd by the same at some distance they discern'd two Breastworks one rais'd above the other near the Shore on which when the Hollanders thought to Land three hundred Portuguses fir'd at once upon them and on a Hill not far from thence appear'd more Men which amaz'd the Council of War for the Inlet was so narrow that not above six Boats could Land at once and it was evident that though the Enemy should chance to be beaten from behind his Breastworks yet the Hollanders would lie expos'd to the Enemy's Guns from the Fort Nazareth built on the Mountain besides Nazareth if gain'd could scarce be defended unless the whole Mountain were Intrench'd round which would not onely be very chargeable but also impossible because of the red Earth altogether unfit for Fortifications and the barren Mountain afforded neither Wood nor any thing else besides the Storming of it would be very dangerous The Entrance into the Haven was difficult because a stonie Bank before the same suffer'd no Passage but betwixt small Openings the chiefest whereof was guarded by a Water-Castle and farther within by the Fort Puntael Along the Sea-shore their Landing was prevented by the violent beating of the Waves and a great square Tower on the Way up to the Fort Nazareth whose Church is seen at a great distance off at Sea All which consider'd they judg'd it best to draw off their Men again and so they return'd without having effected any thing to the purpose onely Captain Schuppe took two Carvels with five hundred Chests of Sugar in the River Formosa Soon after Martin Thyszoon being sent out with twenty two Sail sent four Ships for Holland with the Lieutenant-Colonel Stein Callenfels and the Councellor Serooskerken yet thirteen Sail remain'd still before the Coast of Brasile under the Command of Captain John Mast who whilest he stood to and again from the Shore and Cruising up and down the Governor of Reciffa and Colonel Rembach march'd with five hundred Men and forty Negro's from Reciffa about six a Clock at Night by Olinda along the Shore Whereupon the Portuguese Horse-watch ran instantly to Real two Leagues from Olinda to give notice thereof to Albuquerque but they surmounted all the Difficulties they met with by the Way which were the greater in regard of the abundance of Rain that had lately fall'n and on the first of May 1632. came to the City Garasu about Noon The City of Garasu surpris'd by the Hollanders where whilest Rembach stood still in good order with three Companies the Governor of Reciffa fell upon the Town with three Companies The Inhabitants had not the least thoughts of being molested by the Netherlanders there because they judg'd the Ways which led thither could not be pass'd in that rainy Season In the first Onset a hundred Portugueses most of them great Merchants were slain they being come thither with their Goods from Olinda and amongst the Prisoners which they took were six Franciscans This Victory the Hollanders obtain'd with the loss but of eight Men and twenty five wounded besides Captain Rembach who was also wounded The Governor of Reciffa entering the City stav'd two hundred Pipes of Wine to keep his Soldiers from over-drinking and because there were many fair Women there he caus'd them all to be lock'd up in the Church of St. Cosmo to preserve them from the Soldiers outrages Description of Garasu The Priest Duarte Mendez Serraon a Letter of whose John de Laet quotes values the Booty carry'd away by the Hollanders from Garasu at 9000 l. Sterl besides the damage which the Place suffer'd being almost ruin'd He relates farther That the City call'd Villa de Santo Cosmo de Garasu lay five Leagues to the Northward from Olinda and that in it were three Churches viz. Cosmus Misericordia and Heremitage de Santa Crux as also two Cloysters viz. Invocation de Antonio inhabited by Capuchins and another dedicated to Franciscus inhabited by Persons of his Order That the chief Church
and Guinee are so cruelly us'd that they oftentimes through despair destroy themselves The whole Countrey of Guiana is by several modern Writers methodically divided into these inferior or lesser Provinces 1. Rio de las Amazones 2. Wiapoco or Guiana properly so call'd 3. Orenoque and 4. The Islands of Guiana Rio de las Amazones Rio de las Amazones or the Countrey of the Amazones contains all that part of Guiana which lieth on both sides of the River Orellano of a rich and good Soil generally abounding with all sorts of Fruits and especially with those which the Americans call Totok and love it extreamly out of an opinion they say that it excites them to Venery whereunto they are of themselves but too much inclin'd and another which they call Pita of a taste far more delicious and pleasing and not so hurtful as the other The Countrey was first discover'd by the fore-mention'd Francisco Orellana a Spaniard from Quito but it was onely by the River Orellana and though he be credibly reported to have Sail'd no less than eighteen hundred Leagues down the Stream and to have discover'd a rich and fair Countrey on both sides the River well peopled with Natives and giving in divers places no small Arguments of greater Wealth and Riches more within Land yet such was the bad success of his second Endeavors and likewise of those that follow'd him as is evident from what hath been before related that as yet there seems no farther Report to be given at least not of any thing special concerning that part of the Countrey Wiapoco or Guiana properly so call'd Wiapoco or Guiana properly so call'd taketh up the middle part of this Province being divided as the other almost into two equal parts by the River Wiapoco which runs through the midst of it The Countrey on both sides of the River is very rich and fertile and so naturally apt both for Sugar-Canes Cotton-Wooll and Tobacco that they are said to grow here all of them very good without Planting or any art of Husbandry In this Countrey likewise should be the famous Dorada as the Spaniards call it or City of Gold if it could be found with the reports and hopes whereof some of our own Nation seem to have been not a little possess'd as well as the Spaniards nor can we much blame them for if the Stories of it had prov'd true it must have been one of the goodliest and fairest Cities in the World not to speak of the Wealth Diego de Ordas the Spaniard of whom we have lately had occasion to make frequent mention of being reported by some to have travell'd one whole day and half another in it before he could arrive at the King's Palace which yet must be suppos'd to have stood but in the midst of the City Places of less Magnificence but more Certainty are 1. Caripo which was once a Colony of English setled there by Captain Robert Harcourt Anno 1608. upon the Banks of Wiapoco and not far from the Mouth of it being a place by the advantage of a Rock which it hath on the one side of it of great strength and very difficult access the Air about it sound and said to be very agreeable to English Bodies 2. Gomaribo Colony formerly of the Dutch on the North-West side of the Bay of Wiapoco but since deserted by them 3. Woyemon 4. Crewinay both of them Towns of the Natives not far distant from the other Orinoque Orinoque or the third Division of this Province comprehendeth the most Northerly parts of Guiana lying upon or towards the Banks of this famous River a Countrey likewise reported to be very rich and comparable to Peru it self for hidden Treasure which they say is not yet discover'd onely for want of diligent and industrious searching The Places in it already known are onely 1. Coniolaba as they call it which seems to be some Town of the Natives lying a few Leagues distant from the Orinoque towards the South 2. Morequito a known Port or Haven-Town upon a Branch of the Orinoque much frequented and of great use to the English when they discover'd these Coasts 3. Wenicapora and 4. St. Thomas the onely Town which the Spaniards hold upon this part of the Continent situate upon the principal Channel of the Orinoque and consisting of two hundred Families or thereabouts It is now a fortifi'd Place and was taken by Sir Walter Raleigh in that unfortunate Action of 1617. above related more at large Islands belonging to Guiana The Islands that belong to and are commonly reckon'd as parts of Guiana are either such as lie scatter'd about the Shore of the Province or such as are found at the Mouth and sometime far within the Channel of those great Rivers which empty themselves at several parts of this Countrey into the Sea viz. Orinoque Wiapoco Rio de las Amazones c. There are many of them but of any great name or esteem onely two viz. Trinidado and Tabago the Description whereof we shall here omit as having already taken notice of them amongst the Sotaventi and Caribbee Islands CHAP. IX Paria or New Andalusia Situation and Description of Nova Andalusia VVEstward of Guiana lieth the Countrey of Paria so call'd from its chief River It hath also the Denomination of New Andalusia but for what resemblance with Andalusia of Old Spain they do not tell us This Countrey lying as it doth brings us back again by the Eastern Coast to the Isthmus or Strait which as we have often said joyns the two parts of the Continent of America together at least to those Countreys that lie next upon it to the South viz. the Kingdom of Granada c. It hath on the East Guiana and those Islands which lie about the Mouth of Orinoque on the West the Gulf or Bay of Venezuela with some part of the new Kingdom abovesaid on the North it is wash'd with the Atlantick Ocean and on the South hath some Countreys yet undiscover'd toward the Andes The whole consisteth partly of Continent and partly of Islands near adjoyning to it and is commonly divided into five several Precincts or Parts which are 1. Cumana 2 Venezuela being upon the Continent 3. Margareta 4. Cubagua two Islands above-mention'd famous for Pearl-fishing and lastly some lesser Islands SECT II. Cumana Bounds and Description of Cumana CUmana is bounded Eastward with the Gulf of Paria and the River Orinoque on the West with Venezuela Northward it hath the Atlantick and on the South those undiscover'd Countreys above mention'd extending along the Northern Ocean over against Margareta two hundred Leagues or more as some say in length and not much less than a hundred in breadth The Coast of this Countrey as well as of the Islands Margareta and Cabagua hath formerly been much fam'd for the rich Trade of Pearls and Pearl-fishing which failing its principal esteem now is for an excellent Vein of Salt which they dig
divers Rivers as far as the Lake Xarays lying three hundred Leagues up in the Countrey from the Mouth of La Plata Also into the foremention'd Lake fall several Streams which spring out of the Peruvian Mountains Andes The first that Sail'd into this great River Anno 1515. to an Island lying in the middle of it was John Dias de Solis who rashly going ashore was kill'd and eaten together with several Portugueses Sebastian Gabottus his Expedition Eleven years after this Accident Sebastian Gabottus set Sail from Spain to go to the Spicy Islands through the Straights of Magellan but was forc'd for want of Provisions and the unwillingness of his Seamen to put into the River La Plata in which being advanc'd thirty Leagues he Anchor'd near an Island which he call'd St. Gabriel from whence going seven farther he discover'd a Stream which fell into La Plata This River he call'd St. Salvador and cast up a Fort at the Mouth of it where an Inlet afforded a convenient Harbor for Shipping he found the River La Plata to be generally ten Leagues broad and full of Isles and to the Westward of it the River Zaracaranna inhabited on the South side by a subtil People call'd Diagnitas At the place where Zaracaranna disembogues into La Plata he built a Castle and calling the same Castello di Santo Spirito went up farther leaving on the West side the People Tenbues Mequaretas Mepenes and Aigais to the Eastward the Quiloacas and Santana and struck up out of the River La Plata North-East into the Stream Parana in which he had gone two hundred Leagues and pass'd by many Isles when he went out of the same into the Stream Paraguay where being set upon by the Countrey People who were busie in Tilling the Ground he lost so many of his Men that he was forc'd without any farther Exploit to return with the Portuguese Pilot Diego Garcia who Sailing up the same River had met with Gabottus in Paria and because both had gotten some Silver they call'd the River from that Metal De la Plata The farther Discovery whereof lay neglected nine years after when Peter Mendoza Sailing with eleven Ships carrying eight hundred Men to the Island Gabriel built the Fort Buenos Ayres on the South side of it where many People dying of Hunger little was done Alvares Cabeca not long after following Mendoza's footsteps discover'd and peopled the Province Rio de la Plata The Mouth of the River La Plata Laurence Bikker describes thus Laurence Bikker 's Description of Rio de la Plata Beyond the Cape Santa Maria saith he lies the flat Island Castilhos having scarce a Tree upon it but on the North side a Rock not unlike a decay'd Castle to the Southward of which appear two other Cliffs directly before the Mouth lies the stonie Island De Lobos on which nothing is to be found but Sea-Wolves towards the East a stonie Bank runs a good way into the River known by the breaking of the Water upon the same The Promontory Maria is low and barren but within the same the Land rises high before the Isles Flores and Maldonado which last hath a good sandy Shore Harbor and fresh Water between the Rocks but Flores rising with two Hills produces nothing but Brambles The Stream Soliâ— also discharges its Waters in La Plata near the Place where the Mountain Seredo lies The left Shore of La Plata begins at the Promontory Antonio and is cut through by the Rivers Ortis and Los Sanctos where the Town Buenos Ayres is built on a smooth Shore Martin del Barco's Description of the same Martin del Barco proceeding in the Description of La Plata saith that it is dangerous by reason of the many Shelves that are in the same The Isles in the River are as followeth those that bear the Name of St. Gabriel are five in number Garcia Isle is full of Trees and for its fertility was peopled by Peter de Mendoza and afterwards by Juan Ortiz Carate But less fruitful are the Isles De Lazaro where the River Vrayg unites with La Plata being before fill'd with the Waters of Salvador which receives the black Stream Negro which gliding slowly from Morasses is very full of Fish Moreover La Plata hath eleven Arms each very deep and full of Isles inhabited by the Guaranins About a hundred Leagues farther the Cherandies have setled themselves on pleasant Isles lying not far from the City St. Fe built on the Point which makes the River Bermeio where it falls into La Plata Farther up lies the Province Ana partly well inhabited for its fertility and partly overflow'd Next appears the Rock Pennapobre and not far from the Town Guayra La Plata falls very high from the Rocks The several People of this Countrey But as concerning the Natives of this Countrey it is inhabited by divers sorts of People differing from one another both in Customs and Language On the South side of the fore-mention'd River from the Promontory Antonio to Buenos Ayres dwell the Quirandies a stout but cruel People who with the Flesh of many a Spaniard oftentimes keep a merry Feast Farther into the Countrey run the Juries and Diagnitas Along La Plata lie also scatter'd the Tenbues a civil People who live by Fishing Near the River Paraguay the Ameguaes observe the same manner of Life But the Carioes keep Cattel and Till their Lands A hundred Leagues farther dwell the Payaguaes and yet farther into the Countrey the Chames and Carcares possess much Gold and Silver with which Juan d' Ayola having enrich'd himself here was destroy'd with all his Men by the Chames Anno 1541. Nunnez Cabeca his Journey Alvarez Nunnez Cabeca came from Spain to be Governor here but was not able by reason or contrary Winds and Tydes to reach La Plata wherefore Landing at the River Itabucu and spending nine days in cutting a Way through thick Brambles he came to the Jurisdiction of Armiriri and a days Journey farther to Cipoyay and not long after to Tocanguazu where the Guaranies who are the Natives have two Harvests every year of Maiz and Cassavi and breed and keep Geese Hens and Parrots in their Houses They are Man-eaters and very revengeful Cabeca having given this Countrey the Name of Vera he proceeded on his Journey over the Rivers Ignazu Tibagi and Taquari on whose Shore appears the Village Abangobi and somewhat farther Tocanguzir The Countrey hereabouts is very fruitful and hath many delightful Plains pleasant Rivers and Woods but beyond appear Hills Mountains deep Morasses dangerous Cane-Fields Receptacles for wild Beasts and great Wildernesses Cabeca having pass'd through them all came into the fruitful Countrey of the Guaranies who are a wild People and possess many large Fields of Maiz and Potato's also several Silver Mines From hence travelling Westwardly over the River Piqueri he spent eighteen days before he came to the Stream