Lord. And thus for curiosities sake and by the intreaty of some speciall friends I have furnished the Presse with a language which never yet was printed or known in England A Merchant Mariner or Captaine at Sea may chance by fortune to be driven â—…n some Coast where he may meet with some Pecoman Indian and it may bee of great use to him to have some light of this Poconchi tongue Whereunto I shall be willing hereafter to add something more for the good of my Countrey and for the present I leave thee Reader to study what hitherto hath briefely been delivered by mee FINIS A Table of the Chapters of this Booke with the Contents of the most Remarkeable things in them CHAP. I. HOw Rome doth yeerely visit the American and Asian Kingdomes page 1. Contents The Popes Policy in maintaining constantly some poore Pensionary Bishops in Rome page 1. Without great Sums of Mony and new Purple Clothing given to the Cardinals Suits are not Canonized at Rome pag. 2. Monies sent out of England to Rome for Indulgencies to bee granted to private Altars in Papists private chambers page 2. More power granted to the Kings of Spain over the Clergy in the West-India's then to other Princes in Europe upon condition that they maintain there the Popes Authority and Preists to preach page 2. 3. The Iesuites challenge from Francis Xavierius the Preaching of the Gospel as due onely to them page 3. Missions of Preists Fryers or Iesuites are yeerely sent at the King of Spaine his charge to the India's page 3. CHAP. II. Shewing that the Indians wealth under a pretence of their Conversion hath corrupted the hearts of poore begging Fryers with strife hatred and ambition page 3. Contents Hatred grounded upon difference in Religion is most bitter Page 3. 4. Iesuites and Fryers but especially Dominicans deadly enemies Page 4. A Iesuiticall trick well acted at Venice page 4. Doctor Smith Bishop of Chalcedon sent by the Pope into England as private Head over all the Romish Clergy chiefly by the cunning subtilty of Iesuites was banished page 4. A Colledge privately intended to bee built in England by Iesuites at Winifreds Well as also the Sope houses at Lambeth with the Sope Patentee belonging to them page 5. More 〈◊〉 prankes discovered page 5. Why Iesuites and Dominicans are dead enemies page 5. 6. Valentia the Iesuite his death most shamefull for causing a false Print upon Augustins workes page 5. 6. Iesuites excellent Musicians Fencers Dancers Vaulters Painters Bribers and Merchants p. 6. CHAP. III. Shewing the manner of the Missions of Fryers and Iesuites to the India's pag. 7. Contents Distinction of severall Provinces amongst the Fryers and Iesuites under head at Rome named Generall page 7. West-India Fryers rich prizes to the Hollanders page 7. Popes indulgence granted to such Fryers as goe to the India's and his excommunication to such as oppose them page 8. Liberty draws most of the Fryers to the India's page 8. The death of an unchast wife murthered by her owne husband caused by the too much liberty of a wanton Fryer in Guatemala Anno 1635. p. 9. CHAP. IV. Shewing to what Provinces of the East and West-India's belonging to the Crowne of Castilia are sent Missions of Fryers and Iesuites And especially of the Missions sent in the yeer 1625. page 9. Contents Two sorts of Spaniards in the India's deadly enemies to one another viz. the Natives borne there and such as goe from Spain thither page 9. 10. What Religious Orders are the chief Preachers in the Province of Guatemala page 10. The Spaniards chief trading from Spain to Philippinas is first by their ships to St. John de Ulhua upon the North Sea and secondly from Acapulco upon the South Sea to Manila page 11. A vaine and worldly discourse of a Fryer of the India's page 11. 12. The chief cause of the Authors resolution to goe to East and West-India's page 12. 13. Foure poore Mendicant Fryers as Apostles entertained by Don Frederique de Toledo and the Gallies in Puerto de Santa Maria. page 14. CHAP. V. Of the Indian Fleet that departed from Cales Anno Dom. 1625. And of some remarkable passages in that voiage page 14. Contents The love of Nuns too powerfull over Fryers page 14. The Author hid in an empty barrell on shipboard in the Bay of Cales page 15. The pleasure of the Indian Navigation 1625. untill the first land was discovered page 16. CHAP. VI. Of our discovery of some Islands and what trouble befell ut in one of them p. 16. Contents The Islands called Desseada Marigalante Dominica Guadalupe are the first discovered in America in the Spanish Navigation page 17. A Christian Mulatto having lived twelve yeeres among Heathens with an Infidell wife and Children found in Guadalupe page 18. A suddaine uproare and mutiny of the Indians of Guadalupe who slow and wounded many of the Spanish Fleet 1625. page 25. CHAP. VII Of our further sailing to St. John de Ulhua alià s Vera Crux of our landing there page 19. Contents A Fryer wounded at Guadalupe died and was solemnly cast to the Sea pag. 20. A Spaniard swimming in the sound of Mexico cruelly slain and partly devoured by a Sea Monster page 21. The Virgin Mary called upon more then God in a suddain apprehensiou of a storme page 21. CHAP. VIII Of our landing at Vera Crux otherwise St. John de Ulhua and of our entertainment there page 22. Contents The vanity and worldlinesse of a Religious Dominicnn Superiour in St. John de Ulhua page 23. The houses and Churches of St. John de Ulhua builded with boards and timber and therefore easily and often fired page 23. 24. A further relation of the towne of St. John de Ulhua with the rich trading of it from most parts of the West-India's as also from the East-India's page 24. CHAP. IX Of our journey from St. John de Ulhua to Mexico and of the most remarkable Townes and Villages in the way page 25. Contents Our Fryers first entertainment by the Indians of the old Vera Crux page 25. A Franciscan Fryers vow and profession contrary to the vanity carding dicing and swearing practised by them of Xalappa in the India's page 26. Abundance of Gnats in the Rinconada taketh away the comfort of the great abundance of provision that is there page 27. From whence the Towne called Segura de la Frontera had its beginning page 27. 28. CHAP. X. Wherein is set downe the Estate and Condition of the great Towne of Tlaxcallan when the first Spaniards entered into the Empire of Mexico Cortez his first encounter with the Tlaxcalteca's their League with him with a description of the Towne and of the state and condition of it now page 29. Contents A wall of stone without Lime or Morter of a fadome and a halfe high and twenty foot brâ—…d built by the Indian for a defence in time of Warres before the comming of the Spaniards page 29. Fourescore thousand
Judgment and harden those tender bowels which ought to bee in him of a father and shepheard to his flock and children Wee may yet from this Viceroyes practice and example against a chiefe head of the Romish Church discover that errour of the Preists and Jesuites of England who perswade the people here that no temporall Magistrate hath power over them and that to lay hands on them in wrath and anger being as they say Consecrated to God and his Altar is ipso facto a deep excommunication whereas wee see the contrary in this Viceroy a member of the Church of Rome and yet exercising his temporall power against an Arch-Bishop and by Tiroll taking him from the Church and as his prisoner sending him with just wrath and anger to a forraine and remote place of banishment But lastly it is my desire that the High and Honorable Court of Parliament which now is sitting for the good of this Kingdome and for the good of it hath already pulled downe the Hierarchy of such Prelates and Archprelates would looke upon the trouble and uproare which the keys of the Church in the hand of an undiscreet Preist brought upon that City of Mexico Certainly as the strength of the Church well setled and governed with subordination to the Magistrate is likewise the strength of the Common-wealth so on the other side the power of the Keyes in the Clergies hand to cast out what incestuous Corinthian they please without the rest of the Corinthians consent 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. may prove dangerous and troublesome to the Common-weale and good For if the Clergy may use by itselfe without the overseeing eye of the Magistrates Commissioners the power of the keyes who shall bee free from their censures that any way will oppose them The poor and ignorant will not onely bee the object of their censures but the rich and wise and noble Ruler and Magistrate will also come under their censures wherein I finde a Minister may then as a Pope encroach upon the highest Crowne of an Emperour Nay certainly in England the thoughts of some such aspiring Ministers have been higher then the thoughts of this Arch-Bishop of Mexico over a Viceroy the conceipt of their power with the Keyes have hoised them above their Prince for I have heard one of them say he knew not but that by the power of the keyes hee might as well excommunicate the King as any other private person This conceit hath made the Pope of Rome feare no earthly Prince Emperour Ruler or Magistrate nay this hath made him to bee feared and respected and honoured by Kings and Princes And why may not the same power in the hands of a Protestant Clergy make the meanest and the highest to feare and dread them But some will say the Word of God being the Touchstone wherewith they are to try what points may be the subjects of their censures by such a light and guidance they are not like to erre But they then being themselves the Judges of the sense and meaning of the Word who shall oppose their judgment and their ensuing censures What if to their triall and judgment they shall bring any Law enacted by a High Court of Parliament and shall judge it not according to the Word of God and so presse it to the peoples consciences threatning with their censures such as shall obey it in such a case how may the power of the keyes unlock and open a doore to the people of rebellion against their lawfull Magistrates Oh what dangers may befall a Common-wealth when thus the Clergy shall stand over poor and rich Subject and Magistrate as Peters statue at Rome with Crosse-keyes in his hand What a rebellion did the Archbishop of Mexico cause by excommunicating Don Pedro Mexia first and then the Viceroy and how did the people fear his keyes more then their Viceroys temporall power and authority siding with him against such as hee had excommunicated What troubles did that Doctor Smith Bishop of Chalcedon bring among the Papists small and great ones not long agoe here in England laying upon them by the power of the Keyes a censure of Excommunication if they confessed to or did entertaine and heare the Masse of any that had not derived their authority from him Then were they in open rebellion one against another the secular Preists against the Monkes Fryers and Jesuites and the Laity all troubled some siding with one and some with another untill Doctor Smith having thus kindled the fire was faine to leave it burning and to betake himself to Paris and from thence to foment the dissention which with power of the Keyes hee had caused here Oh surely the Church so far is a good Mother as it allowes a Magistrate to be a Father And great comfort have those that live within the pale of the Church to know that they have the Magistrate a Father to flye unto in their pressures and discomforts I must ingenuously confesse that one maine point that brought me from the Church of Rome was the too too great power of the Keyes in the Popes Bishops and Preists hands who studying more selfe Policy then common Policy looke upon the people and with their power deale with them more as their subjects then as politicall Members in a Common-wealth rending and tearing them daily by their censures from that common and Politicall body to which they belong without any hopes of care to bee had of them by their Magistrate and Politicall head and Governour And I hope I shall not have fled from Antichrist who exalteth himself as head of the Church and from that power hath his influence over all State and Politicall Heads and Rulers to find in a Protestant Church any of his spirit making a distinction of a spirituall and temporall head forgetting the onely head Christ Jesus which were it once granted as the spirit is more noble then the body so would the inference soon bee made that they that are over the spirit are higher in power then they that are over the body which conclusion would soon bring Mexicâ—…s troubles among Protestants Experience in all my travails by sea and land in most parts of Europe and of America hath ever taught mee that where the Clergy hath been too much exalted and enjoyed power over the people there the Common-wealth hath soon fallen into heavy pressures and troubles And let not this my observation seem strange as coming from a Minister for I have learned from Christ Matth. 20. 25 26 27. That the Princes of the Gentiles exercise Dominion and they that are great exercise authority But it shall not bee so among you but whosoever will bee great among you let him bee your Minister and whosoever will bee chiefe among you let him be your Servant I hope the High Court of Parliament will so settle the Church and State here that this shall not feare any further troubles from that and that wee who have our portion from the one
once is opened then Adversaries begin to swarme and rage so in all points of false and fained Religion where the entrance to it is laid open hatred and enmity will act their parts But much more if with such pretended Religion Wealth and Ambition as counterfeit Mates thrust hard to enter at the opened doore what strife hatred and envy doe they kindle even in the hearts of such who have vowed poverty and the contempt of worldly wealth I may adde to what hath beene observed above that no hatred is comparable to that which is betweene a Jesuite and a Fryer or any other of Romes Religious Orders And above all yet betweene a Jesuite and a Dominican The ambition and pride of Jesuites is inconsistent in a Kingdome or Common-wealth with any such as may bee equall to them in Preaching Counsell or Learning Therefore strive they so much for the education of Gentlemens Children in their Colledges that by teaching the sonnes the love of the fathers and mothers may bee more easily gained and their love and good will thus gained they may withall gaine to themselves whatsoever praise honour glory may bee fit to bee bestowed upon any other Ecclesiasticall Person Which Policy and Ambition in them being so patent and knowne to all the World hath stirred up in all other Religions a hatred to them uncapable ever of Reconciliation This hath made them all to conspire against them and to discover their unsatisfied covetousnesse in beguiling the rich widowes of what meanes â—…ath beene left them by their deceased husbands to erect and build those stately Colledges beyond the Seas the sight whereof both outward and inward doth draw the ignorant people to resort more to their Churches and preaching then to any other Thus whilest in Venice they got the favour of one of the chief Senatours of that Common-wealth they politickly drew him to make his will according to their will and pleasure leaving to his son and heire no more then what they should think fit to afford him But they appropriating to themselves the chiefest part of the young heires meanes and with so proud a legacy thinking to overpower all other Orders were by them opposed so that the Will was called for by the whole State and Senatours of Venice fully examined and they commanded to restore to the heire the whole Estate as enjoyed by his Father Well did that wise Senate conceive that as one Noble man had been cheated by them of his fortunes so might they one by one and so at length the riches of Venice might become a treasure onely for Jesuites to maintaine the pride and pompe of their glorious fabricks And though those vowed servants to the Pope obtained his Excommunication against the whole Estate of Venice upon non-complying with the foresaid Will and Testament yet such was the preaching of all other Preists and Orders against them that they caused the State to slight the Excommunication and in lieu of making them heires of the deceased Senatours Estate they shamefully banished them out of Venice Thus also have the Preists and Fryers of Bisâ—…ya in Spain prevailed against the admitting of Jesuits into San-Sâ—…an though by the favour of some they have in severall occasions obtained an house and erected a Bell to ring and summon in the People to their pretended Church and Colledge Nay the very house wherein their Patron Ignatius Loiola lived have they often seriously offered to buy for a Colledge yet such hath been the opposition of the Preists and Fryers of that Countrey that they have dashed to nought their often iâ—…rated endeavours to purchase that which they esteem their chiefest Relique But to come neerer to our owne Countrey what a combustion did this strife betweene Jesuites and other Preists of England cause among our Papists ten yeares agoe when the Pope sending into England Doctor Smith pretended Bishop of Chalcedon to bee the Metropolitan head over all the Clergy and other Orders how then was â—…t to see the pride of the Jesuites as inconsistent with any one that might oversway them or gain more credit then themselves who never left persecuting the Bishop till by the Popes Letters they had banished him out of England Which curtesie the secular Preists gaining yet a head over them with title of Archdeacon Doctor Champney have ever since sought to repay home by endeavouring alwayes to cast them out of England as pernicious to the State of this Kingdome more then Fryers or any other sort of Preists Which they have sufficiently made known by discovering their covetousnesse in encroaching upon many Houses and Farmes enriching themselves as namely at Winifreds Well so tearmed by them where they had bought an Inne and speedily fell to building there that they might make it a Colledge for Jesuites to entertaine there all Papists comers and goers to that Well and so might win to themselves the hearts of most of the Papists of the Land who doe yearly resort thither to bee washed and healed upon any light occasion either of Head-ach Stomack-ach Ague want of children where they blindly phansie a speedy remedy for all maladies or wants of this World Thus have the Preists discovered further our English Jesuites covetousnesse in the building of the Sope-houses at Lambeth under the name of Mr. George Gage their purse-bearer and since projecting the Monopoly of Sope under Sir Richard Wâ—…on Sir Basil Brooke and many others names who were but Agents and Traders with the Jesuites rich and mighty Stocke Thus came out the discovery of the Levelling of Hils and Mountaines cutting of rocks at Leige in the Low Countryes at the Colledge of the English Jesuites a worke for Gardens and Orchards for their Novices recreation and pastime which as I have heard from their owne mouthes cost them thirty thousand pound which gift they squeezed out of one onely Countesse of this Land Like to this may prove their Colledge at Gaunt for which they have obtained already a faire beginning of eight thousand pounds from the Old Countesse of Shrewsberry and from the greatest part of the Estate of Mr. Sackefield whom whilst they had him in their Colledges they cherished with their best dainties and with hopes that one day hee should bee a Canonized Saint of their Religious Order All these knaveries doe even those Preists of the same Popish Religion discover of them and thereby endeavor to make them odious And though of all the Jesuites be the most covetous yet may I not excuse the Secular Preists Benedictine Monks and the Fryers from this damnanable sinne who also strive for wealth and meanes for their Doway Paris and Liâ—…ve Colledges and lose no opportunities at the death of their Popish favourites for the obtaining a Legacy of one or two hundred Pounds assuring them their soules shall bee the better for their Masses Thus doe those miserable wretches in the very heat of their zeale of soules seeke to suppâ—…sse one another and having vowed Poverty yet make they the
had received out of England from mine own father signifying unto me the displeasure of most of my friends and kindred and his own grievous indignation against me for that having spent so much money in training me up to learning I had not only utrerly refused to be of the Jesuites Order which was his only hopes but had proved in my affections a deadly foe and enemy unto them And that he would have thought his money better spent if I had been a Scâ—…llion in a Colledge of Jesuites then if I should prove a Generall of the Oâ—…er of Dominicans that I should never think to be welcome to my Brothers nor kindred in England nor to him that I should not expect ever more to heare from him nor dare to see him if ever I returned to England but expect that he would set upon mee even Jesuites whom I had deserted and opposed to chace mee out of my Country that Hailing house though hee had lost it with much more meanes for his Religion during his life yet with the consent of my Eldest Brother now Governour of Oxford and Masse-founder in that our Famous University hee would sell it away that neither from the Estate or money made of it I might injoy a childs part due unto mee These reasons stole that nights rest from my body and sleep from my eyes teares keeping them unclosed and open lest Cynthia's black and mourning Mantle should offer to cover close and shut them To this Letters consideration was joyned a strong opposition which serious Studies ripenesse of Learning with a carefull discussion of some Schoole-points and Controversies had bred in mee against some chief of the Popish Tenents Well could I have wished to have come to England there to satisfie and ease my troubled Conscience well considered I that if I stayed in Spain when my Studies were compleatly finished the Dominicans with a Popes Mandamus would send me home for a Missionary to my Country But then well considered I the sight of a wrathfull Father the power of a furious Brother a Colonell who as now landed in England to search me out and do me mischief then when Zephryus with a pleasant gale seconded his Popish zeale might violently assault mee Well considered I the increased rout and rable of both their great friends the Jesuites who what with Court friends power what with subtile plots and Policies would soone and easily hunt me out of England Lastly well considered I my Melendez his last inducing Argument of the increase of knowledge naturall by the insight of rich America and flourishing Asia and of knowledge spirituall by a long contemplation of that new planted Church and of those Church Planters lives and Conversations Wherefore after a whole nights strife and inward debate as the glorious Planet began to banish nights dismall horror rising with a bright and cheerefull countenance rose in my minde a firme and setled resolution to visit America and there to abide till such time as Death should surprise my angry Father Ignatius Loiola his devoted Mecaenas and till I might there gain out of Potosi or Sacatecas treasure that might Counterpoise that Childs part which for detesting the foure Cornered Cap and black Coat of Jesuites my Father had deprived mee of So in recompence of the Supper which my friend Anthony had bestowed upon mee I gave him a most pleasing breakfast by discovering unto him my purpose and resolution to acompany him in his long and Navall journey And at noon I feasted him with a dinner of one dish more thâ—…n his breakfast to wit the company also of my Irish friend Thomas Deleon After dinner wee both were presented to Calvo the bald pate Superiour who immediately imbraced us promised to us many curtefies in the way read unto us a Memorandum of what dainties he had provided for us what varieties of fish and flesh how many Sheep how many Gammons of Bacon how many fat Hens how many Hogs how many barrels of white Bisket how many Jars of wine of Casalla what store of Rice Figs Olives Capars Raysins Lemmons sweet and sowre Oranges Pomegranates Comfits Preserves Conserves and all sorts of Portingall sweet meates hee flattered us that hee would make us Masters of Arts and of Divinity in Manila then opened hee his purse and freely gave us to spend that day in Xerez and to buy what most we had a mind to and to carry us to Cales Lastly hee opened his hands to bestow upon us the holy Fathers Benediction that no mischiefe might befall us in our way I expected some Relique or naile of his great toe or one of his velvet Pantofles to kisse But peradventure with frequent kissing through Italy and all Castilia it was even worn thredbare Much were wee frowned at by the Dominicans our chiefest friends of Xerez but the liberty which with Melendez we injoyed that day about the City of Xerez tooke from us all sad thoughts which so suddaine a departure from our friends might have caused in us And Calvo much fearing that the love of some Nuns too powerfull with Spanish Fryers might yet keep us back from pursuing our purposed journey with cunning policy perswaded us to depart from Xerez the next morning Which willingly wee performed in company of Melendez and another Spanish Fryer of that City leaving our Chests and Bookes to Calvo to send after us and that day wee travailed like Spanish Dons upon our little Boricoes or Asses towards Puerto dâ—… Santa Maria taking in our way that stately Convent of Cariusians and the River of Guadalethe the former Poets River of oblivion tasting of the fruits of those Elysian fields and Gardens and drinking of Guadalethes Crystall Streams that so perpetuall oblivion might blind and cover all those Abstractive Species which the intuitive knowledge of Spains and Xerezes pleasant objects had deeply stamped in our thoughts and hearts At evening wee came to that Puerto so famous for harbouring Spains chief Gallies and at that time Don Frederique de Toledo who hearing of the arrivall of foure Indian Apostles would not loose that occasion of some Soule-Sanctification which he thought might bee his purchase by entertaining us that night at Supper The Town thought their Streets blessed with our walking in them and wished they might injoy some Reliques from us whom they beheld as appointed to Martyrdome for Christ and Antichrists sake together the Galley slaves strived who should sound their Waits and Trumpets most joyfully Don Frederique spared no cost in Fish and Flesh that night doubting not but that receiving foure Prophets hee should receive a fourefold reward hereafter Supper being ended wee were by Don Frederique his Gentlemen conveyed to the Cloister of the Minims appointed by Don Frederique to lodge us that night who to shew their brotherly love washed our feet and so recommended us to quiet and peaceable rest The next morning after a stately breakfast bestowed upon us by those poor Mendicant Fryers a boat was
this City received England the losse of that little Island named Providence by us and by the Spaniards Sta. Catalina which though but little might have been of a great nay greater advantage to our Kingdom than any other of our plantations in America which the Spaniards wel understood when they set al their strength of Carthagena against it but I hope the Lord hath his time appointed when we shall advantage our selves by it again To this City of Carthagena cometh every yeer also in small Frigots most of the Indigo Cochinil Sugar which is made in the country of Guatemala the Spaniards thinking it safer to ship these their goods in little Frigots upon the lake of Granada in Nicaragua from thence to send them to Carthagena to be shipped with the Galeons that come from Portabel with the treasure of Peru than to send them by the ships of Honduras which have often been a prey unto the Hollanders These frigots were thought by the Spaniards to come too neer the reach of Providence and therefore it hath been their care and providence to remove us from this reach of their Frigots The second great Towne of this Countrey of Carthagena is Abuida The third Sta. Martha which is a rich government of Spaniards and doth much fear our English and Holland ships it is seated on the river de Abuida otherwise called St. Iohn and Rio di Grand There is also Venezâ—…ela and New-Caliz great rich and strong Townes And these three last regions Andaluzia Nova Nova Granada and Carthagena are by the Spaniards called Tierra firme or firme land for that they are the strength of Peru from the North and the basis of this reversed Pyramis Thus have I brought thee Gentle Reader round about America and shewed thee the Continent of that biggest part of the world from the which thou mayst observe the power and greatnesse of the King of Spain who hath got under his Scepter and Dominion so many thousand miles which were they reckoned up would be found to be more then are about all Europe But not only is America great and spatious by land but also by sea glorying in more and some greater Islands then any other part of the world It would but cause tediousnesse and seem prolixity to number them all up which is a worke hard and difficult for that many as yet are not knowne nor inhabited and whose goodnesse and greatnesse is not discovered for the Islands called Lucâ—…idas are thought to be foure hundred at least Therefore I will omit to be over tedious and prolixe and will but briefly speake of the best and chiefe of them taking them in order from that part of the Continent Carthagena where even now I left thee But in the first place calls upon my pen the Jewel Island called Margarita which is situated in the sea nigh unto Castella aurea and not farre distant from two other Islands named Cubagâ—…a and Trinidadâ—… True it is this Island of Margarita is by some much slighted for want of corne grasse trees and water in so much that it hath been knowne sometime that an inhabitant of that Island hath willingly changed for a Tun of water a Tunne of wine But the great abundance of pretious stones in it maketh amends for the former wants and defects for from them is the name of Margarita imposed on that Island But especially it yeeldeth store of pearles those gemmes which the Latine writers call Uniones because nulli duo reperiuntur indiscreti they alwaies are found to grow in couples In this Island there are many rich Merchants who have thirty fourty fifty Black-more slaves only to fish out of the sea about the rockes these pearles These Black-mores are much made of by their Masters who must needs trust them with a treasure hidden in the waters and in whose will it is to passe by of those they find none few or many They are let downe in baskets into the Sea and so long continue under the water untill by pulling the rope by which they are let downe they make their sign to be taken up I have heard some say that have thus dealt in pearles that the chief meat they feed their Black-mores with is roast-meat which maketh them their wind breath longer in the water From Margarita are all the pearles sent to be refined and bored to Carthagena where is a faire and goodly street of no other shops then of these Pearledressers Commonly in the moneth of Iidy there is a ship or two at most ready in that Island to carry the Kings revenue and the Merchants pearles to Carthagena One of these ships are valued commonly at threescore thousand or fourscore thousand duckats and sometimes more and therefore are reasonable well manned for that the Spaniards much feare our English and the Holland ships The yeare that I was in Carthagena which was 1637. a ship of these laden with pearles was chased by one of our ships from the Island of Providence by some it was thought to be our ship called the Neptune which after a little fighting had almost brought the poore Spaniard to yeeld his pearies and had certainly carried away that great treasure as I was informed in Carthagena foure daies after the fight by a Spaniard who was in the ship of Margarita had not two other ships of Holland come between to challenge from our English man that prize alleadging their priviledge from the mighty States united for all prizes upon those seas and coast And whilst our English and Hollander did thus strive for the Pearles the Spanish ship ran on shore upon a little Island and speedily unladed and hid in the woods part of the treasures and perceiving the Hollander coming eagerly in pursuit of it the Spaniard set on fire the ship and neither Spaniard English nor Hollander enjoyed what might have been a great and rich prize to England From Carthagena was sent presently a man of Warre to bring home the pearles hid in the wood which were not the third part of what was in the ship Iamaica is another Island under the power of the Spaniards which is in length 280. miles and 70. in breadth which though it exceed Margarita in sweet and pleasant streames and fountaines of water yet is far inferiour to it in riches Some Hides some Sugar and some Tobacco are the chiefe commodities from thence There are only two Townes of note in it Oristana and Sevilli here are built ships which have proved as well at sea as those that are made in Spaine This Island was once very poulous but now is almost destitute of Indians for the Spaniards have sâ—…ain in it more then 60000 in so much that women as well here as on the Continent did kill their children before they had given them life that the issues of their bodies might not serve so cruell a nation But farre beyond the two former is the Island of Cuba which is three hundred miles long and seventy broad
man and so after two dayes I tooke post in company of some Spaniards and an Irish Colonel for Canterbury and so forward to Gravesend When I came to London I was much troubled within my selfe for want of my Mother tongue for I could onely speak some few broken words which made mee fearefull I should not bee accknowledged to bee an English man born Yet I thought my kinred who knew I had beene many yeers lost would some way or other acknowledge mee and take notice of mee if at the first I addressed my selfe unto some of them untill I could better expresse my selfe in English The first therefore of my name whom I had notice of was my Lady Penelope Gage widow of Sir Iohn Gage then living in St. Iones to whom the next morning after my arrivall to London I addressed my selfe for the better discovery of some of my kinred whom though I knew to bee Papists and therefore ought not to be acquainted with my inward purpose and resolution yet for feare of some want in the mean time and that I might by their means practice my selfe in the use of my forgotten native tongue and that I might enquire what Childs part had been left me by my father that I might learn some fashions and â—…astly that in the meane time I might search into the Religion of England and find how farre my conscience could agree with it and bee satisfied in those scruples which had troubled mee in America for all these reasons I thought it not amisse to looke and inquire after them When therefore I came unto my Lady Gage shee beleeved mee to bee her kinsman but laughed at mee telling mee that I spake like an Indian or Welch man and not like an English man yet shee welcomed mee home and sent mee with a servant to a Brothers lodging in Long Aker who being in the Country of Surrey and hearing of mee sent horse and man for mee to come to keepe Christmas with an Uncle of mine living at Gatton by whom as a lost and forgotten Nephew and now after foure and twenty yeeres returned home againe I was very kindly entertained and from thence sent for to Cheam to one Mr. Fromand another kinsman with whom I continued till after twelfth day and so returned againe to London to my brother Thus my good Reader thou seeâ—…t an American through many dangers by Sea and Land now safely arrived in England and thou maiest well with mee observe the great and infinite goodnesse and mercy of God towards mee a wicked and wretched sinner How I have answered to this Gods gracious calling mee from so farre and remote a Country to doe him service here I will shew thee in the Chapter following and so conclude this my long and tedious History CHAP. XXII Shewing how and for what causes after I had arrived in England I tooke yet another Iourney to Rome and other parts of Italy and returned againe to settle my selfe in this my Country NOw Reader as the stone that is falling the neerer it cometh to its Center more haste it maketh So I the neerer I am coming to the conclusion of this my History more haste I desire to make in this last Chapter for the compleating and finishing of it With brevity therefore I will relate some of my travels in Europe in which I will yeeld to many of my Nation but for America and my travels and experience there I dare boldly challenge all travellers of my Country After my return to London from Surrey I began to expostulate with my younger Brother knowing hee had been present at my Fathers death and had a chief hand in the ordering and executing his last Will and Testament concerning what childs part was left unto mee To which hee made mee answer that my father had indeed left him and my Brother the Colonell and two other sons by a second wife and my owne sister every one somewhat but to mee nothing nay that at his death he did not so much as remember mee which I could not but take to heart and called to minde the angry and threatning letter which I had received from him in Spain because I would not bee a Jesuite Though for the present I said nothing yet afterwards in many occasions I told my Brother I would have the Will produced and would by course of law demand a childs part but hee put me off assuring me I should never want amongst other my friends and kindred with whom hee knew I should bee well accommodated as long as I continued in England After few dayes that I had been in London my kinsman at Cheam desired me to come to live with him where I continued not long for my Uncle at Gatton invited mee to his house offering mee there meat drink lodging horse and man with twenty pound a yeare which hee promised in other waies to make as good as thirty Here I continued a twelve moneth refining my self in my native tongue and though altogether unknown to my Uncle and kindred searching into the Doctrine and truth of the Gospel professed in England for which cause I made many journeys to London and then privately I resorted to some churches and especially to Paulâ—… Church to see the service performed and to heare the Word of God Preached but so that I might not be seen known or discovered by any Papist When in Pauls Church I heard the Organs and the Musick and the Prayers and Collects and saw the Ceremonies at the Altar I remembred Rome againe and perceived little difference between the two Churches I searched further into the Common-Prayer and carryed with me a Bible into the Country on purpose to compare the Prayers Epistles and Gospels with a Masse Book which there I had at command and I found no difference but onely English and Latin which made mee wonder and to acknowledge that much remained still of Rome in the Church of England and that I feared my calling was not right In these my scruples coming often to London and conversing with one Dâ—…de Popham and Crâ—… Connel and Brown English and Irish Dominican Fryers I found their wayes and conversations base lewd light and wanton like the Spanish and Indian Fryers which made me againe reflect upon the Popish Church upheld by such Pillars I came yet to the acquaintaince of one Price Superiour to the Benedictine Monkes whom I found to be a meer States-man and a great Politician and very familiar private and secret with the Archbishop of Canterbury William Land in conversation with my Brother who belonged then unto one Signior Coâ—… the Popes Agent and was in such favour at the Court that hee was sent over by the Queen with a rich present to a Popish Idol named our â—…ady of Sichem in the Low Countries I heard him sometimes say that hee doubted not but to bee shortly Curate and Parish Preist of Coven Garden sometimes that he hoped to bee made Bishop in England and that then I
should want for nothing and should live with him till hee got mee another Bishoprick by which discourse of his and by his and other Preists favour at Court and with the Archbishop I perceived things went not well Spanish Popery was much rooted Protestant Religion much corrupted and the time not seasonable for me to discover my secret intents and purpose of heart At this time comming once from Surrey to London I chanced to bee discovered and knowne to one of the State Officers a Pursevant who had a large Commission for the apprehending of Seminary Preists and Jesuites named Iohn Gray who meeting mee one day in Long Aker followed and dogged me as far as Lincolns Inne wall where he clapped mee on the shoulders and told me that he had a Commission against mee to apprehend mee and carry me to the Councell Table or to one of His Majesties Secretaries To whom I spoke in Spanish thinking thereby to free my selfe out of his hands for a Spaniard but this would not doe for he replyed hee knew mee to bee an English man born and by the name of Gage and Brother to Colonell Gage and Mr. George Gage and that before he left mee I must speake in English to him he carryed mee to a Tavern and there searched my Pockets for Letters and mony which in discourse he told me was too little for him not being above twelve shilling and that I must goe with him to answer before one of His Majesties Secretaries I told him that I would willingly goe before the Archbishop of Canterbury or before Sir Francis Windebanke at which he smiled saying I knew well whom to make choice of to favour and protect mee but hee would carry mee to none of them but to Secretary Cooke I fearing the businesse might goe hard with me and knowing him to be greedy of money told him that I would give him any thing that might content him and so offered him twelve shillings then about mee and my word to meet him in any place the next day with a better and fuller purse Hee accepted of my money for the present and further offer for the day following and appointed the Angel Taverne in Long Aker knowing that I lodged thereabout to bee the place of our meeting and so dismissed mee I being free from him went immediately to my Brother and told him what had happened unto mee what money I had already given unto him and what I had promised the next day following My Brother hearing me began to chaâ—…e and vex and to fall into furious words against Iohn Gray calling him knave and rogue and that he could not answer what he had done and that hee would have his Commission taken from him chiding mee for that I had given him any money and calling me young novice and unexperienced in the affairs of England This seemed strange to me that my Brother should not onely not fear a Pursevant but should threaten to take away the Commission from him who was appointed to search for and finde out Preists and Jesuites Yet I told him I would according to my word and promise meet him the next day and satisfie him for his faire carriage towards mee to which my Brother would by no means yeeld but said hee wou'd meet him which hee accordingly performed and although for my sake and promise he gave him some money yet he brought him before Signor Con and there himselfe and the Popes Agent with him spake most bitter words unto him and threatned him very much if ever again he durst meddle with mee After this my Brother carryed mee to one Sir William Howard a Papist Knight living at Arundel gate over Clements Church who was very familiar with Sir Francis Windebanke telling him what had happened unto me and desiring him to carry me with him in his Coach to Sir Francis and to get his protection for mee Secretary Windebanke understanding who I was told mee I should feare no Pursevant of them all and that if I lived quietly in England no body should trouble me and that Iohn Gray was a knave and wished me if ever he medled with me agâ—…n to come unto him Though for the present this was good and commodious for me to have such favour and protection yet I perceived this my Brothers power and this conniving at Preists and Jesuites could not bee usefull for meâ—… if I should publish my mind and and purpose to alter my Religion I was therefore much troubled in mind and conscience which I found was curbed with the great power of the Papists I resolved therefore to goe againe out of England and to travell in some other Countries amongst both Papists and Protestants and to try what better satisfaction I could find for my conscience at Rome in that Religion or in France and Germany amongst the Protestants I wrâ—… therefore to the Generall of the Dominicans at Rome without whose License I could not goe thither that hee would bee pleased to send mee his Letters Patents to goe to consâ—…re some points with him which hee willingly granted unto mee I wanted not money from my Uncle who commended unto mee some businesse to bee dispatched for him at Rome for so long a journey other friends also helped mee but my chief trust was upon my Brother Colonell Gage then in the Low 〈◊〉 whom I knew not nor had seen him from a child I had no other passe to take shipping at Dover but onely the letter of a Papist in London by meanes of one Popham a Dominican Fryer to Sir Iohn Manwood his Lady who was then Governour of Dover Castle and with the foresaid letter suffered mee not to bee troubled examined or searched but gave order that I should freely and quietly passe over in the Packet boat to Dunkerke wherewith in foure houres with a good wind I arrived and from thence by Newport and Bridges went to Gant not farre from whence my Brother with his Regimeut lay in field against the Hollander Hee was glad to see mee and knowing what journey I was minded to take furnished mee with more money and for my Uncles businesse recommended mee to the Marques De Seralvo then at Brussels and to other great men desiring them to give mee their letters to their friends at Rome from them I got a letter to Don Francisco Barbarini the Popes Nephew and one of the chief Cardinals then in Rome likewise to Cardinal Cucua and Cardinal Albornos both Spaniards With these letters I thought I should have occasion of some conversation with these pillars of the Church of Rome and in discourse might pry into the hearts and wayes of them and see whether in them were more Policy then Religion By reason of the Warres between France and the Low Countries I durst not make my journey the neerest and shortest way through France but though there were Wars also in Germany I thought that would bee my safest way and I desired much to looke into the Protestant and
All this said Father Fitzherbert I was witnesse of who was then sent for by the Cardinals as in all like occasions and affaires concerning England to give theâ—… opinion concerning the said Common Prayer Booke and the temper of the Scots But the good Archbishop quoth hee hearing the censure of the Cardinals concerning his intention and Form of Prayer to ingratiate himself the more into their favour corrected some things in it and made it more harsh and unreasonable for that Nation which wee already heare they have stomacked at and will not suffer it in many parts to be read and wee justly fear that this his Common Prayer Book his great compliance with this Court will at last bring strife and division between the two Kingdomes of Scotland and England And this most true Relation of William Laud late Archbishop of Canterbury though I have often spoken of it in private discourse â—…and publiquely preached it at the Lecture of Wingham in Kent I could not in my conscience omit it here both to vindicate the just censure of death which the now sitting Parliament have formerly given against him for such like practises and compliance with 〈◊〉 and secondly to reprove the ungrounded opinion and errour of some ignorant and Maâ—…ant spirits who to my knowledge have since his death highly exalted him and â—…yed him up for a Martyr At the same time whilst I was at Rome I understood of another great bufâ—…sse concerning England then in agitation amongst the Cardinals and much prosecuted by this Fitzherbert and one father Courtney a Jesuite son to one Sir Thomas Leeds which was to create one of the English Nation Cardinall that so the Conversion of England what by the Assistance of William Laud what by the power of a higher person and what by the authority of the said Cardinall might be more fully and earnestly plotted and indeavoured This businesse was much agitated in England by Signior Con at whose house in Long Aker were many meetings of the chief Gentry of the Papists In Rome Sir William Hamilton then Agent for the Queene vied much for the said Cardinals Cap and got a great number of friends to further this his ambitious design But hee was too yong and some scandall of a Gentlewoman who stuck too close to him made the red Cap unfit for his head and secondly because a greater then hee to wit Sir Keâ—…lham Digby was appointed by the Queen to bee her Agent there who sent before him his Chaplain a great Politician and active Priest named Fitton to take up his lodging and make way and friends for his ambitious preferment who in his daily discourse cryed up his Master Digby for Cardinall and told mee absolutely that hee doubted not but hee would carry it But though hee had great favour from the Queen and was her Agent yet hee had strong Antagonists in Fitzherbert Courtney and the rest of the crew of the Jesuites who looked upon that honour and red Cap as better becomming one of their profession and fitter for a head which had formerly worne a four Cornered black Cap to wit Sir Toby Matby But in case the said Cap should fall from Sir Toby his head then they would helpe and further a third whose birth and Nobility should advance him before Sir Kenelham Digby to wit Walter Mountague the old Earle of Manchester his sonne at that time And thus it was a generall and credible report in Rome that either a Digby a Mathy or a Mountâ—…gue should that yeere bee made Cardinall Whereby I perceived that England was comming neere to Rome and that my design of professing and following the truth in England was blasted and that in vain I had come from America for satisfaction of my conscience in England I was more troubled now then ever and desired to try all wayes if I could bee better satisfied concerning the Popish Religion in Rome Naples or Venice whither I went then I had been in America and among the Spaniards But I found such exorbitances and scandalls in the lives of some Cardinals of Rome whilst I was there especially in Don Antonio Barbarini and Cardinal Burgest who at midnight was taken by the Corchetes or Officers of justice in uncivill wayes and came off from them with money that I perceived the Religion was but as I had found it in America a wide and open doore to loosnesse and policy and the like in Naples and Venice which made mee even hate what before I had professed for Religion and resolve that if I could not live in England and there injoy my Conscience that I would live in France for a while untill I had well learned that tongue and then associate my selfe unto the best reformed Protestant Church Whereupon I obtained from the General of the Dominicans this ensuing order to live in the Cloister of Orleans intending from thence at my best opportunity to goe to Paris Lyons or some other place and shake off my Magpy habit and to live and dye in France in the true Protestant and refoâ—…med Religion as professed there In Dei filio sibi Dilecto Reverendo Patri fratri Thomae Gageo Provinciae Anglicanae Ordinis Praedicatorum Frater Nicolaus Rodulfius totius ejusdem Ordinis Magister Generalis ac servus in Domino salutem Conventui nostro Aurelia nensi Provinciae nostrae Franciae de probo optimo Patre Sacerdote providere cupientes Tenore praesentium nostri authoritate officii supra nominatum Reverendum Patrem Fratrem Thomam Gageum revocamus te a quovis alio Conventu Assignamus in dicto Conventu nostro Aurelianensi Assignatumque declaramus in Nomine Patris Filii Spiritus Sancti Amen Mandantes Rdo. admodum Patri Magistro Priori illius ut te benigne recipiat cum omni charitate tractet In quorm fidem his officii hostri sigillo munitis propria manu subscripsimus Datum Suriani die nono Aprilis 1640. Frater Nicolaus Magister Ordinis Frater Ignatius Ciantes Magister Provincialis Angliae Socius The Forme whereof as also the manner of sending Fryers from one Cloister to live in another commonly called by them an Assignation is in English as followeth To our Beloved in the Son of God the Reverend Father Fryer Thomas Gage of the English Province of the Order of Preachers Fryer Nicholas Rodulfius of the same whole Order Master Generall and Servant in the Lord health and greeting WEE being willing and desirous to provide for our Convent of Orleans of our Province of France of an honest and very good Father and Priest by Tenour of these present and by the authority of our Office doe recall you the above named Reverend Fryer Thomas Gage from any other Convent and doe Assigne you in our said Convent of Orleans and declare you to bee assigned in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen Commanding the very Reverend Father Master Prior thereof that hee
receive you curteously and entertaine you with all love and charity In witnesse whereof with our owne hand wee have subscribed these being sealed with the seale of our Office Dated at Soriano the ninth day of April 1640. Fryer Nicholas Master of the Order Fryer Ignatius Ciantes Master Provinciall of England and Companion Yet after I had got this Order I bethought my selfe further that I would try one way which was to see if I could find out a Miracle which might give mee better satisfaction of the Romish Religion then had the former experience of my life and the lives of the Priests Cardinals and all such with whom I had lived in Spain and America I had heard much of a Picture of our Lady of Loretto and read in a Booke of Miracles or lies concerning the same that whosoever prayed before that picture in the state of mortall sinne the picture would discover the sinne in the soule by blushing and by sweating Now I framed this argument to my selfe that it was a great sin the sin of unbeliefe or to waver and stagger in points of Faith but in mee according to the Tenents of Rome was this sin for I could not believe the point of Transubstantiation and many other therefore if the Miracles which were printed of the foresaid Lady of Loretto were true and not lies certainly shee would blush and sweat when such an unbeliever as I prayed before her To make this triall I went purposely to Loretto and kneeling downe before God not with any faith I had in the picture I prayed earnestly to the true Searcher of all hearts that in his Son Jesus Christ he would mercifully looke upon me a wretched sinner and inspire and enlighten mee with his Spirit of truth for the good and salvation of my soule In my prayer I had a fixed and setled eye upon the Ladies picture but could not perceive that shee did either sweat or blush wherewith I arose up from my knees much comforted and incouraged in my resolution to renounce and abandon Popery and saying within my selfe as I went out of the Church surely if my Lady neither sweat nor blush all is well with mee and I am in a good way for salvation and the miracles written of her are but lies With this I resolved to follow the truth in some Protestant Church in France and to relinquish errour and superstition Upon which good purpose of mine I presently perceived the God of truth did smile with what I heard hee was ordering in England by an Army of Scotland raised for Reformation and by a new Parliament called to Westminster at which I saw the Papists and Jesuites there began to tremble and to say that it would blast all their designes and all their hopes of setling Popery William Laud his policy was now condemned and cursed Con was dead at Rome the Cardinalâ—… Cap for one of the three forenamed was no more spoken of Fitton was daunted Fit zherbert and Courtney quite disheartned Sir Kenelham Digby his Agency and comming to Rome put off and suspended and with all this good newes I was much heartned and incouraged to leave off my journey to France and to return to England where I feared not my Brother nor any kindred nor the power of the Papists but began to trust in the protection of the Parliament which I was informed would reform Religion and make such laws as should tend to the undermining of all the Jesuits plots and to the confusion and subversion of the Romish errours and Religion I was too weak of body to make my journey by land by reason of my long Ague which had but newly left mee and so resolved to goe to Ligorne to find out shipping there where I found foure or five ships of English and Hollanders ready to set out but were bound to touch at Lisboe in their way I bargained with one Captaine Scot for my passage first to Lisboe intending there to make a second bargain We had no sooner sailed on as farre as to the Coast of France joyning to the Dutchy of Savoy but presently from Canes came out part of a Fleet lying there under the command of the Bishop of Burdeaux to discover us and take us for a lawfull prize I might say much here of the valour of the good old Captaine Scot who seeing all the other ships had yeelded to the French men of Warre would upon no termes yeeld to be their prize which they challenged because wee were bound for Lisboe then their enemies Country but would fight with them all and at last rather blow up his ship then to deliver the goods which had been intrusted to him by the Merchants of Ligorne We were in a posture to fight our guns ready and Mariners willing to dye that day which was heavy news to me After much treaty between the French and our valorous Captain who still held out and would not yeeld there came up to us two ships to give us the last warning that if wee yeelded not they would immediately set our ship on fire With this all the passengers and many more in the ship desired the Captaine to yeeld upon some faire Articles for the securing of what goods he had for England and should appeare were not any way for the strengthening of any enemies to the State and Kingdome of France With much adoe our Captaine was perswaded and we were carried with the rest into Canes for a lawfull prize I seeing that the ships were like to bee stayed there long obtained the Bishop of Burdeaux his passe to goe to Marcells and from thence by land through France Which being granted I went by water to Tolon and from thence to Marcells and so in company of Carriers to Lions and from thence to Paris Roane and Deepe where in the first packet boat to Rye I passed over to Enggland where I landed upon Michaelmas day the same yeere that this present Parliament began to â—…it the November following My Brothers Spirit I found was not much daunted with the new Parliament nor some of the proudest Papists who hoped for a suddain dissolving of it But when I saw their hopes frustrated by His Majesties consent to the continuing of it I thought the acceptable time was come for mee wherein I ought not to dissemble any further with God the world and my friends and so resolved to bid adieu to flesh and blood and to prize Christ above all my kindred to own and professe him publiquely maugre all opposition of hell and kindred to the contrary I made my self first knowne to Doctor Brunnick Bishop of Exeter and to Mr. Shuâ—…e of Lumbard street from whom I had very comfortable and strong incouragements The Bishop of Exeter carried me to the Bishop of London then at Fullom from whom I received order to Preach my Recantation Sermon at Pauls which done I thought I must yet doe more to satisfie the world of my sincerity knowing that Converts are hardly believed
by the common sort of people unlesse they see in them such actions which may further disclaime Rome for ever for the future Whereupon I resolved to enter into the state of Marriage to which God hath already given his blessing which the Church of Rome disavowes to all her Preists What I have beene able to discover for the good of this State I have done and not spared when called upon to give in true evidence upon my Oath against Jesuites Preists and Fryers for the which after a faire invitation from my Brother Colonel Gage to come over again to Flanders offering mee a thousand pound ready money I have been once assaulted in Aldersgate street and another time like to be killed in Shooe lane by a Captain of my Brothers Regiment named Vincent Burton who as I was after informed came from Flanders on purpose to make me away or convey mee over and with such a malicious designe followed mee to my lodging lifting up the latch and opening the doore as hee had seene mee done and attempting to goe up the staires to my chamber without any inquiry for mee or knocking at the doore from whom God graciously delivered me by the weak meanes of a woman my Land-lady who stopped him from going any further and being demanded his name and answering by the name of Steward and my Land-lady telling him from mee that I knew him not he went away chasing and saying that I should know him before he had done with mee But hee that knoweth God well shall know no enemy to his hurt neither have I ever since seene or knowen this man I might here also write down the contents of a threatning letter from mine own Brother when hee was Colonell for the King of England and Governour of Oxford which I forbear with some tender consideration of flesh and blood At the beginning of the warres I confesse I was at a stand as a Neophyt and new plant of the Church of England concerning the lawfulnesse of the warre and so continued above a yeere in London spending my owne meanes till at last I was fully satisfied and much troubled to see that the Papists and most of my kindred were entertained at Oxford and in other places of the Kings Dominions whereupon I resolved upon a choice for the Parliament cause which now in their lowest estate and condition I am not ashamed to acknowledge From their hands and by their order I received a Benefice in the which I have continued almost foure yeers preaching constantly for a through and godly Reformation intended by them which I am ready to witnesse with the best drops of blood in my veins though true it is I have been envied jealousied and suspected by many to whom I desire this my History may be a better witnesse of my sincerity and that by it I may perform what our Saviour Christ spoke to Peter saying And thou being converted strengthen thy Brethren I shall think my time and pen happily imployed if by what here I have written I may strengthen the perusers of this small volume against Popish superstition whether in England other parts of Europe Asia or America for the which I shall offer up my dayly prayers unto him who as I may well say miraculously brought me from America to England and hath made use of mee as a Ioseph to discover the treasures of Egypt or as the spies to search into the land of Canaan even the God of all Nations to whom be ascribed by mee and all true and faithfull Beleevers Glory Power Majesty and mercy for evermore Amen FINIS Some brief and short Rules for the better learning of the Indian tongue called Poconchi or Pocoman commonly used about Guatemala and some other parts of Honduras ALthough it bee true that by the daily conversation which in most places the Indians have with the Spaniards they for the most part understand the Spanish tongue in common and ordinary words so that a Spaniard may travell amongst them and bee understood in what hee calleth for by some or other of the Officers who are appointed to attend upon all such as travell and passe through their townes Yet because the perfect knowledge of the Spanish tongue is not so common to all Indians both men and women nor so generally spoken by them as their owne therefore the Preists and Fryers have taken paines to learn the native tongues of severall places and countries and have studied to bring them to a Form and method of Rules that so the use of them may bee continued to such as shall succeed after them Neither is there any one language generall to all places but so many severall and different one from another that from Chiapa and Zoques to Guatemala and San Salvador and all about Honduras there are at least eighteen severall languages and in this district some Fryers who have perfectly learned six or seven of them Neither in any place are the Indians taught or preached unto but in their native and mother tongue which because the Preist onely can speake therefore are they so much loved and respected by the Natives And although for the time I lived there I learned and could speake in two severall tongues the one called â—…acchiquel the other Poconchi or Pocoman which have some connexion one with another yet the Poconchi being the easiest and most elegant and that wherein I did constantly preach and teach I thought fit to set down some rules of it with the Lords Prayer and brief declaration of every word in it to witnesse and testifie to posterity the truth of my being in those parts and the manner how those barbarous tongues have are and may be learned There is not in the Poconchi tongue nor in any other the deversity of declensions which is in the Latin tongue yet there is a double way of declining all Nownes and conjugating all Verbes and that is with divers particles according to the words beginning with a vowell or a consonant neither is there any difference of cases but onely such as the said Particles or some Prepositions may distinguish The Particles for the words or Nownes beginning with a Consonant are as followeth Sing Nu A Pa plural Ca. Ata Qui tacque As for example Tat signifieth a house and Tat signifieth father which are thus declined Sing Nupat my house Apat thy house Râ—…pat his house Plural Câ—…pat our house Apaâ—…ta your honse Zuipat tacque their house Sing Nutat my Father Atat thy Father Rutat his Father Plural Catat our Father Atatta your Father Quita tacque their Father Thus are declined Nownes beginning with a Consonant As Queh a horse Nuqueh Aqueh Ruqueh c. Huh booke or paper Nuhuh Ahuh Ruhuh Moloh Egge Numoloh Amoloh Rumoloh Holom Head Nuholom Aholom Ruholom Chi Mouth Nuchi Achi Ruchi Cam hand Nucam Acam Rucam Chac flesh Nuchac Achac Ruchac Car fish Nucar Acar Rucar Cacar Acarta Qui cartacque Chacquil body or flesh of man Nuchacquil Achacquil