one of them hath her family and dwelling place by her selfe And sometime the Tartar eateth drinketh and lieth with one and sometime with another One is accompted chiefe among the rest with whom hee is oftener conuersant then with the other And notwithstanding as it hath bin said they are many yet do they seldome fal out among themselues Of their superstitious traditions Chap. 7. BUt by reason of certain traditions which either they or their predecessors haue deuised they accompt some things indifferent to be faults One is to thrust a knife into the fire or any way to touch the fire with a knife or with their knife to take flesh out of the cauldroÌ„ or to hewe with an hatchet neare vnto the fire For they think by that means to take away the head or force from the fire Another is to leane vpon the whip wherewith they beate their horses for they ride not with spurs Also to touch arrowes with a whip to take or kill yong birds to strike an horse with y e raine of their bridle and to breake one bone against another Also to powre out milke meate or any kinde of drinke vpon the ground or to make water within their tabernacle which whosoeuer doth willingly he is slaine but otherwise he must pay a great summe of money to the inchanter to be purified Who likewise must cause the tabernacle with all things therein to passe betweene two fiers Before it be on this wise purified no man dare once enter into it nor conueigh any thing thereout Besides if any man hath a morsell giuen him which he is not able to swallow and for that cause casteth it out of his mouth there is an hole made vnder his tabernacle by which hee is drawen forth and slaine without all compassion Likewise whosoeuer â—reads vpon the threshold of any of their dukes tabernacles he is put to death Many other things there be like vnto these which they take for heinous offences But to slay men to inuade the dominions of other people and to rifle theiâ— goods to transgresse the commaundements and prohibitions of God are with them no offences at all They know nothing concerning eternall life and euerlasting damnation and yet they thinke that after death they shall liue in another world that they shall multiply their cattell that they shal eate and drinke and doe other things which liuing men performe here vpon earth At a new moone or a full moone they begin all enterprises that they take in hand and they call the moone the Great Emperour and worship it vpon their knees All men that abide in their tabernacles must be purified with fire Which purification is on this wise They kindle two fires and pitch two Iauelines into the ground neere vnto the said fires binding a corde to the tops of the Iauelines And about the corde they tye certaine iagges of buckram vnder which corde and betweene which fires men beastes and tabernacles do passe There stand two women also one on the right side and another on the left casting water and repeating certaine charmes If any man be slaine by lightning all that dwell in the same tabernacle with him must passe by fire in maner aforesaid For their tabernacles beds and cartes their feltes and garments and whatsoeuer such things they haue are touched by no man yea and are abandoned by all men as things vncleane And to bee short they thinke that all things are to be purged by fire Therefore when any ambassadours princes or other personages whatsoeuer come vnto them they and their giftes must passe betweene two fires to be purified lest peraduenture they haue practised some witchcraft or haue brought some poyson or other mischiefe with them Of the beginning of their empire or gouernment Chap. 7. THe East countrie whereof wee haue entreated which is called Mongal is repâ—rted to haue had of olde time foure sortes of people One of their companions was called Yeka Mongal that is the great Mongals The second company was called Sumongal that is the Water-Mongals who called themselues Tartars of a certaine riuer running through their countrey named Tartar The third was called Merkat and the fourth Metrit All these people has one and the same person attire of body and language albeit they were diuided by princes and prouinces In the prouince of Yeka Mongal there was a certaine man called Chingis This man became a mighty hunter For he learned to steale men to take them for a pray He ranged into other countries taking as many captiues as he could and ioining them vnto himselfe Also hee allured the men of his owne countrey vnto him who followed him as their captaine and ringleader to doe mischiefe Then began he to make warre vpon the Sumongals or Tartars and slewe their captaine and after many conflicts subdued them vnto himselfe and brought them all into bondage Afterward he vsed their helpe to fight against the Merkats dwelling by the Tartars whom also hee vanquished in battell Proceeding from thence he fought against the Metrites and conquered them also The Naimani hearing that Chingis was thus exalted greatly disdeined thereat For they had a mighty puissant Emperour vnto whom all the foresaid nations payed tribute Whose sonnes when he was dead succeeded him in his Empire Howbeit being young and foolish they knew not howe to gouerne the people but were diuided and fell at variance among themselues Now Chingis is being exalted as is aforesaid they neuerthelesse inuaded the forenamed countries put the inhabitants to the sword and carried away their goods for a pray Which Chingis hauing intelligence of gathered all his subiects together The Naimani also and the people called Karakitay assembled and banded themselues at a certaine straight valley where after a battell foughten they were vanquished by the Mongals And being thus vanquished they were the greater part of them slaine and others which could not escape were carried into captiuitie In the land of the foresayd Karakytayans Occoday Cham the sonne of Chingis Cham after he was created Emperour built a certaine citie which he called Chanyl Neare vnto which citie on the South side there is an huge desert wherein wilde men are certainely reported to inhabite which cannot speake at all and are destitute of ioynts in their legges so that if they fall they cannot rise alone by themselues Howbeit they are of discretion to make feltes of Camels haire wherewith they clothe themselues and which they holde against the winde And if at any time the Tartars pursuing them chance to wound them with their arrowes they put herbes into their wounds and flye strongly before them Of the mutuall victories betweene them and the people of Kythay Chap. 9. BUt the Mongals returning home into their owne countrey prepared themselues to battell against the Kythayans Which their Emperour hearing set forward against them with his armie and they fought a cruell battell wherein the Mongals were
much to be marueiled at and with the like fury it returned backe againe with the ebbe during which time wee found 11. fadome water and the flood and ebbe continued from sire to sire houres The day following the Captâ—ine and Pilote went vp to the shippes top and sawe all the lande full of sand in a great round compasse and ioyning it selfe with the other shore and it was so low that whereas wee were a league from the same wee could not well discerne it and it seemed that there was an iâ—let of the mouthes of certaine lakes whereby the Sea went in and out There were diuers opinions amongst vs and some thought that that current entered into those lakes and also that some great Riuer there might be the cause thereof And when we could perceiue no passage through nor could discerue the countrey to be inhabited the Captaine accompanied with certaine of vs went to take possession thereof The same day with the ebbe of the Sea wee fâ—ll downe from the other coast from the side of Nueua Espanna though alwayes we had in sight the firme land on the one side of vs end the other Islands on our left hande on the side of the port of Santa Cruz situatâ— on the Westerne shore for on that side there are so many Islands and lands so farre as we could descry that it was greatly to be wondered at for from the said hauen of Santa Cruz and from the coast of Culiacan we had alwayes in a maner land on both sides of vs and that so great a countrey that I suppose if it should so continue further inwarde there is countrey ynough for many yeeres to conquer This day wee had the winde contrary and cast ancker vntil the flood increased which was in the afteâ—noone and then wee set saile likewise with contrary winde vntill midnight and then cast ancker The next day we dâ—pâ—rted shapâ—ng our course along the coast Southwest vntill midnight with littlâ— winde and wee sawe wiâ—hin the land high mountaines with some openings and wee made way sâ—me three leagues and all the next night wee were be calmed and the next day we continued our course but a lâ—ttle while for we sailed not aboue fiue leagues and all the night were becalmed and sawe the lande full of bare and high mountaines and on our left hande wee descried a plaine countrey and saw in the night certaine fires Chap. 4. They land vpon an Island to discouer the same and there they see many fires which issue out of certaine mountaines and many Seale-fishes Here they take an Indian and can not vnderstand his language Running along they discouer another Island and take possession therof for the Emperours Maiestie and a great hauen in the firme land which they call Ancon de Sant Andres or The hauen of S. Andrew THe next day following our course we saw a great hauen with an Iland in the sea within a crosse-bow shoote of the firme land and in this Island and on the firme land were seâ—ne many smokes by the iudgement of all the company wherefore the captaine thought good that wee should goe on land to know the certainty of these smokes and fires himselfe taking ten or twelue of vs with a boate in his company and going on shore in the Island we found that the smokes proceeded out of certaine mountaines and breaches of burned earth whereout ascended into the aire certaine cinders and ashes which mounted vp to the middle region of the aire in such great quantitie that we could not esteeme lesse then twenty lodes of wood to bee burned for the causing of euery of those smokes whereat wee were all not a little amazed In this Island were such abundance of Seales as it was wonderful Here we stayed that day and killed a great number of these Seals with whom we had some trouble for they were so many and ayded one another so well that it was strange to behold for it fell out that while we were occupied in killing some of them with staues they assembled twentie or thirty together and lifting themselues vp assayled vs with their feete in a squadron and ouerthrew two or three of our company on the ground whereupon letting goe those which they had in their hands they and the others escaped vs and went into the seaâ— howbeit wee killed good store of them which were so fatte as it was wonderfull and when we opened some of them to haue their liuers we found certaine small blacke stones in their bodies whereat wee much marueiled The next day wee rode at anker here for lacke of good weather to sayle withall whereupon the Captaine determined to goe on shore with nine or ten in his company to see whether there were any people there or any signe of people that had bene there and they found on the maine land seuen or eight Indians like to Chichimecas which wâ—re gone a fishing and had a raft of canes who so soone as they espied vs ranne away and betooke themselues to flight but being pursued by vs in the end we tooke one of them whose language was so strange that wee could by no meanes vnderstand him his clothing was nothing at all for he was starke naked These people caried their water in bottels made of beasts skins they fished with hookes of bone and wee found good store of their fishes whereof we tooke three or foure dozen The Indian which we had taken seeing himselfe in our hands did nothing but weepe but the Captaine called him and made much of him giuing him certaine beades with a hat and certaine hookes of ours and then let him goe And it seemed that after hee was returned to his companions he declared vnto them how we had done him no harme at all shewing them the things which we had giuen him whereupon they also determined to come vnto vs to our boate but because it was now night and that our shippes were farre from vs we forced not to stay for them especially because it was a bad place and a dangerous This countrey hath on the sea-coast high and bare mountaines with certaine grasse in some places like vnto our broomes or like vnto woods of rosemary The next day wee sayled neere to the coast on the same side with very scarce winde and in a manner calme and ranne not aboue fiue leagues and all the night following we lay becalmed and we saw on the shore fiue of sixe fires The land is high with very high mountaines without grasse hauing certaine caues in them the next day also and part of the night following we were becalmed and the morow after we followed our course along the sayd coast and passed betweene a great Island full of exceeding high mountaines and the maine land where we saw a very great hauen in the firme land in which wee ankered to see what it was and being come to an anker the Captaine and some of vs went on land
and the maine After that we came to an ancre we tooke the latitude which was 68. degrees 1. minute after noone the winde at North with plentie of snowe At a West sunne there came aboord vs certaine Lappians in a boate to the number of sixeteene persons and amongst them there were two wenches and some of them could speake the Russe tongue I asked them where their abiding was and they tolde mee that there was a companie or heard of them to the number of 100. men besides women and children but a litle from vs in the riuer Iekonga They tolde me that they had bene to seeke meate among the rockes saying If wee get no meate wee eate none I sawe them eate rocke weedes as hungerly as a cowe doeth grasse when shee is hungrie I sawe them also eate foules egges rawe and the yong birdes also that were in the egges I obserued certaine wordes of their language which I thought good to set downe for their vse that hereafter shall haue occasion to continue this voyage COwghtie coteat what call you this Poddythecke come hither Auanchythocke get the hence Anna farewell Teyrue good morrowe Iomme â—emaufes I thanke you Passeuellie a friend Olmuelke a man Captella a woman Alke a sonne Neit a daughter or yong wench Oyuie a head Cyelme an eye Nenna a nose Nealma a mouth Pannea teeth Neughtema a tongue Seaman a beard Peallee an eare Teappat the necke Voapt the haire Keat a hand Soarme fingers Iowlkie a legge Peelkie the thombe or great toe Sarke wollen cloth Lein linnen cloth Payte a shirt Tol fire Keatse water Murr wood Vannace a boate Ariea an oare Nurr a roape Peyue a day Hyr a night Peyuezea the Sunne Manna the Moone Laste starres Cozam volka whither goe you Ottapp sleepe Tallye that Keiedde pieue a weeke Isckie a yeere Kesse Sommer Talue Winter Iowksam colde Parox warme Abrye raine Youghang yce Keaâ—ykye a stone Sellowpe siluer Solda golde Tennae tinnne Veskue copper Rowadt yron Neybx a knife Axshe a hatchet Leabee bread Ieauegoat meale Pencka the winde Iowte A platter Kemnie a kettle Keestes gloues Sapege shoes Conde a wilde Deare Poatsa the labouring Deare Their wordes of number are these as followeth OFte 1. Noumpte 2. Colme 3. Nellye 4. Vitte 5. Cowte 6. Keydeem 7. Kaffts 8. Owghchte 9. Locke 10. Ostretumbelocke 11. Cowghtnumbelocke 12. Colmenonbelocke 13. Nellynombelocke 14. Vittie nombelocke 15. Cowtenombelocke 16. Keydemnombelocke 17. Kafts nombelocke 18. Owght nombelocke 19. Coffreylocke 20. Colmelocke 30. Nellylocke 40. Vitte locke 50. Cowtelocke 60. Keydemlocke 70. Kaffstelocke 80. Oughcheteloke 90. Tewer 100. 25 Friday in the morning we departed from Saint Iohns Island to the Westwards thereof a mile from the shoare we sounded and had 36. fadoms and oazie sand Iuana Creos is from Cape gallant Westnorthwest and halfe a point to the Northwards and betweene them is 7. leagues The point of the Island which is Cape comfort lyeth from Iuana Creos Northwest and by North and almost the 3. part of a point to the Westwards and betweene them are 3. leagues The Eastermost of S. Georges Islands or the 7. Islands lyeth from Iuana Creos Northwest halfe a point to the Northwards and betweene them are 14. leagues a halfe The vttermost of the 7. Islands Cape comfort lieth Northwest by North Southeast and by South Under the Southermost Island you shall finde good roade for all Northerly windes from the Northwest to the Northeast From the Southeast part of the 7. Islands vnto the Northwest part of them are 3. leagues and a halfe From the Northwest part of the Islands aforesaid vnto S. Peters Islands are 11. leagues Northwest 26 S. Peters Islands rise an indifferent low point not seeming to be an Island and as if it had a castle vpon it S. Pauls Islands lie from S. Peters Islands Northwest and to the Westwards and betweene them are 6. leagues Within these Islands there is a faire sandy bay and there may be found a good roade for Northerly windes Cape Sower beere lyeth from S. Pauls Islands Northwest and by West and betweene them are 5. leagues Cape comfort which is the Island of Kildina lieth from Cape Sower beere 6. leagues West Northwest and it is altogether a bay betweene them seeming many Islands in it From Cape Bonauenture to Chebe Nauoloche are 10. leagues Northwest and a litle to the Westwards Chebe Nauoloche is a faire point wheron standeth a certaine blacke like an emptie buâ—te standing a head From Chebe Nauoloch to Kegor is 9. leagues and a halfe Northwest and halfe a poynt to the Westwards Kegor riseth as you come from the Eastwards like 2. round homocks standing together and a faire saddle betweene them 27 It floweth where we road this Sunday to the Eastwards of Kegor at a Southeast and by East moone a full sea we roade in 15. fadome water within halfe a mile of the shoare at a Northwest Sunne the mist came downe so thicke that we were faine to come to an ancre within lesse then a mile of the point that turneth to Doms haff where we had 33. fadome and the sounding like to the skurfe of a skalde head 28 Munday at afternoone wee came into the Sound of Wardhouse although it were very mistie Then I sent a man a shoare to know some newes and to see whether they could heare any thing of our ships 29 Tuesday I went on shoare and dined with the Captaines deputie who made mee great cheere the Captaine himselfe was not as yet come from Bergen they looked for him euery houre and they said that he would bring newes with him At a Northwest and by North sunne we departed from Wardhouse toward Colmogro 30 Wednesday we came to Kegor where we met with the winde at East Southeast so that we were faine to go in to a bay to the Westwards of the point Kegor where a man may moare 2. or 3. small ships that shall not draw past 11. or 12. foote water for all windes an East Northeast winde is the worst It is a ledge of rocks that defendeth the Northerly winds froÌ„ the place where they moare When we came into the bay we saw there a barke which was of Dronton three or foure Norway ye aghes belonging to Northberne so when I came a shoare I met first with the Dutchmen amongst whom was the Borrow-masters sonne of Dronton who tolde me that the Philip and Mary wintered at Dronton and withall he shewed me that the Confidence was lost and that he had bought her sailes for his ship Then the Dutch-men caried me to their Boothe and made me good cheere where I sawe the Lappians chepen of the said Dutchmen both siluer platters and dishes spoones gilt rings ornaments for girdles of siluer gilt and certaine things made to hang about the necke with siluer chaines belonging to them The Dutchmen bring
know if they do not maliciously feigne theÌ„selues to be ignorant And secondly that that conference of the dead with the liuing in y e gulfe of Hecla is not grounded vpon any certainty but only vpon fables coined by some idle persons being more vaine then any bubble which the brutish coÌ„mon sort haue vsed to confirme their opinion of the tormenting of soules And is there any man so fantasticall that wil be induced to beleeue these gulfes meÌ„tioned by writers to be any where extant although they be neuer so ful of dead mens miracles yea doubtlesse For froÌ„ hence also they say y â— reproches are iustly vsed against our nation namely y t there is nothing in all the world more base worthlesse then it which conteineth hell within the bounds therof This verely is the good that we haue gotten by those historiographers who haue bin so greedy to publish nouelties But this opinion bred by the sottishnes of the coÌ„mon people hath hitherto as I hope bene sufficiently ouerthrowen as a thing foolish vaine and as being deuised for the vpbrayding of our nation Wherefore proceede friendly Reader and be farther instructed in this philosophy of infernall secrets The ninth section But round about the Iland for the space of 7. or 8. moneths in a yere there floateth I se making a miserable kind of mone and not vnlike to mans voice by reason of the clashing together The inhabitants are of opinion that in mount Hecla and in the I se there are places wherein the soules of their countreymen are tormented NO doubt a worthy augmentation of the history concerning the hel of Island shut vp within the botome of one mountaine that no great one yea at some times by fits and seasons changing places namely wheÌ„ it is weary oâ— lurking at home by the fires side within y e mountaine it delighteth to be ranging abroad to venter to sea but without a ship to gather it selfe round into morsels of yce Come forth giue eare all ye y t wonder at this secret Lo I will afford these historiographers another addition of history very notable Let them write therfore that y e Islanders haue not only hel within their iurisdiction but also y t they enter into it willingly wittingly come forth againe vntouched y e very same day How can that be Why it is an ancient custome of the Island that they which inhabite neare the sea shoare do vsually go betimes in a morning to catch Seales euen vpon the very same I se which the historiographers make to be hel in the euening returne home safe and sound Set downe also if ye please that the prison of the damned is kept in store by the Islanders in coffers and vessels as we shall anon heare out of Frisius But you had need wisely to foresee lest y â— Islanders beguile all your countries of the coÌ„mendation of courage constaÌ„cy namely as they for so it pleaseth your writers to report who both can will endure the torments of hell who are able to breake through escape them without any farther hurt which thing is necessarily to be collected out of that that hath bin before mentioned And I am able to reckon vp a great many of our countrimen who in y e very act of hunting wandring somewhat farre from the shoare the ice being dispersed by westerne winds for the space of many leagues resting vpon the ice being chased with the violence of the tempest some whole daies nights being tossed vp downe in the waues of y e raging sea so for it followeth by good consequence out of this probleme of the historiographers haue had experience of the torments paines of this hell of ice Who at the last the weather being changed the winds blowing at the North being transported again to the shoare in this their ship of ice haue returned home in safety some of which number are aliue at this day Wherefore let such as be desirous of newes snatch vp this if they please let them frame a whole volume hereof adde it to their history Neither do these vaine phantasies deserue otherwise to be handled coÌ„futed then with such like merimeÌ„ts sportings But to lay aside all iesting let vs returne to the matter from whence we are digressed First of all therfore it is euident enough out of the second section y â— ice floateth not about this Iland neither 8. nor 7. moneths in a yere then that this ice although at some times by shuffling together it maketh monstrous soundings cracklings againe at some times with the beating of the water it sendeth forth an hoarse kind of murmuring doth any thing at all resound or lament like vnto mans voice we may in no case confesse But wheras they say that both in the Isle and in mount Hecla we appoint certaine places wherin the soules of our countrimen are tormented we vtterly stand to the deniall of that and we thanke God our Lord Iesus Christ from the botome of our hearts who hath deliuered vs from death hell opened vnto vs the gate of the kingdome of heauen because he hath instrucâ—ed vs more truely concerning the place whether the soules of our deceased countrimen depart then thesâ— historiographers doe tell vs. We know and maintain that the soules of y e godly are transported immediatly out of their bodily prisons not into the Papists purgatory nor into the Elysian fields but into Abrahams bosome into the hand of God into the heauenly paradise We know maintaine concerning the soules of the wicked that they wander not into the fires ashes of mountaines or into visible ice but immediatly are carried away into vtter darkenesse where is weeping gnashing of teeth where there is colde also fire not coÌ„mon but far beyond our knowledge curious disputation Where not onely bodies but soules also y t is spirituall substances are tormented And we do also hold y t the Islanders are no whit nearer vnto this extreame darke prison in regard of the situation of place then the Germans Danes Frenchmen Italians or any other nation whatsoeuer Neither is it any thing to the purpose at all to dispute of the place or situation of this dungeon It is sufficient for vs that by the grace and assistance of our Lord Iesus Christ with whose precious blood we are redeemed we shall neuer see that vtter darknesse nor feele the rest of the torments that be there Now let vs here shut vp the disputation concerning the hell of Island The tenth section If any man shall take a great quantity of this ice shall keepe it neuer so warily enclosed in a coffer or vessel it wil at that time when the ice thaweth about the Iland vtterly vanish away so that not the least part thereof no nor a drop of water is to be found SUrely this was
coine of Siluer and brasse to be stamped which on the one side contained the armes of Zeland with this inscription GLORY TO GOD ONELY and on the other side the pictures of certeine great ships with these words THE SPANISH FLEET and in the circumference about the ships IT CAME WENT AND WAS. Anno 1588. That is to say the Spanish fleet came went and was vanquished this yere for which glory be giuen to God onely Likewise they coined another kinde of money vpon the one side whereof was represented a ship fleeing and a ship sincking on the other side foure men making prayers and giuing thanks vnto God vpon their knees with this sentence Man purposeth God disposeth 1588. Also for the lasting memory of the same matter they haue stamped in Holland diuers such like coines according to the custome of the ancient Romans While this woonderfull and puissant Nauie was sayling along the English coastes and all men did now plainely see and heare that which before they would not be perswaded of all people thorowout England prostrated themselues with humble prayers and supplications vnto God but especially the outlandish Churches who had greatest cause to feare and against whom by name the Spaniards had threatened most grieuous torments enioyned to their people continuall fastings and supplications that they might turne away Gods wrath and fury now imminent vpon them for their sinnes knowing right well that prayer was the onely refuge against all enemies calamities and necessities and that it was the onely solace and reliefe for mankinde being visited with affliction and misery Likewise such solemne dayes of supplication were obserued thorowout the vnited Prouinces Also a while after the Spanish Fleet was departed there was in England by the commandement of her Maiestie and in the vnited Prouinces by the direction of the States a solemne festiuall day publikely appointed wherein all persons were enioyned to resort vnto the Church and there to render thanks and praises vnto God and the Preachers were commanded to exhort the people thereunto The foresayd solemnity was obserued vpon the 29 of Nouember which day was wholly spent in fasting prayer and giuing of thanks Likewise the Queenes Maiestie herselfe imitating the ancient Romans rode into London in triumph in regard of her owne and her subiects glorious deliuerance For being attended vpon very soleâ—â—ely by all the principall estates and officers of her Realme she was carried thorow her sayd City of London in a tryumphant chariot and in robes of triumph from her Palace vnto the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul out of the which the ensignes and colours of the vanquished Spaniards hung displayed And all the Citizens of London in their Liâ—eries stood on either side the street by their seuerall Companies with their ensignes and banners and the streets were hanged on both sides with Blew cloth which together with the foresayd banners yeelded a very stately and gallant prospect Her Maiestie being entered into the Church together with her Clergie and Nobles gaue thanks vnto God and caused a publike Sermon to be preached before her at Pauls crosse wherein none other argument was handled but that praise honour and glory might be rendered vnto God and that Gods name might be extolled by thanksgiuing And with her owne princely voice she most Christianly exhorted the people to doe the same whereupon the people with a loud acclamation wished her a most long and happy life to the confusion of her foes Thus the magnificent huge and mighty fleet of the Spaniards which themselues termed in all places inuincible such as sayled not vpon the Ocean sea many hundreth yeeres before in the yeere 1588 vanished into smoake to the great confusion and discouragement of the authours thereof In regard of which her Maiesties happy successe all her neighbours and friends congratulated with her and many verses were penned to the honour of her Maiesty by learned men whereof some which came to our hands we will here annexe AD SERENISSIMAM ELIZABETHAM ANGLIAE REGINAM THEODOR BEZA STrauerat innumeris Hispanus nauibus aequor Regnis iuncturus sceptra Britanna suis. Tanti huius rogitas quae motus causa superbos Impulit Ambitio vexit Auaritia Quà m bene te ambitio mersit vanissima ventus Et tumidos tumidae vos superastis a quae Quà m bene totius raptores orbis auaros Hausit in exhausti iusta vorago maris At tu cui venti cui totum militat aequor Regina ô munditotius vna decus Sic regnare Deo perge ambitione remota Prodiga sic opibus perge iuuare pios Vt te Angli longùm longùm Anglis ipsa fruaris Quà m dilecta bonis tam metuenda malis The same in English THe Spanish Fleet did flote in narrow Seas And bend her ships against the English shore With so great rage as nothing could appease And with such strength as neuer seene before And all to ioyne the kingdome of that land Unto the kingdomes that he had in hand Now if you aske what set this king on fire To practise warre when he of peace did treat It was his Pride and neuer quencht desire To spoile that Islands wealth by peace made great His Pride which farre aboue the heauens did swell And his desire as vnsuffic'd as hell But well haue windes his proud blasts ouerblowen And swelling waues alayd his swelling heart Well hath the Sea with greedie gulfs vnknowen Deuoured the deuourer to his smart And made his ships a pray vnto the sand That meant to pray vpon anothers land And now O Queene aboue all others bless For whom both windes and waues are prest to fight So rule your owne so succour friends opprest As farre from pride as ready to do right That England you you England long enioy No lesse your friends delight then foes annoy THE SECOND VOLVME OF THE PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS VOYAGES TRAFfiques and Discoueries of the English Nation made by Sea or ouer-land to the South and South-east parts of the World at any time within the compasse of these 1600. yeres Diuided into two seuerall parts Whereof the first containeth the personall trauels c. of the English through and within the Streight of Gibraltar to Alger Tunis and Tripolis in Barbary to Alexandria and Cairo in AEgypt to the Isles of Sicilia Zante Candia Rhodus Cyprus and Chio to the Citie of Constantinople to diuers parts of Asia minor to Syria and Armenia to Ierusalem and other places in Indaea As also to Arabia downe the Riuer of Euphrates to Babylon and Balsara and so through the Persian gulph to Ormuz Chaul Goa and to many Islands adioyning vpon the South parts of Asia And likewise from Goa to Cambaia and to all the dominions of Zelabdim Echebar the great Mogor to the mighty Riuer of Ganges to Bengala Aracan Bacola and Chonderi to Pegu to Iamahai in the kingdome of Siam and almost to the very frontiers of China The second comprehendeth the Voyages Trafficks c. of
honorable presents And a litle afterward Upon the hearing of these newes the emperor departed with great ioy out of England whom the king honoured with many precious gifts The Voiage of the bishop of VVinchester to Ierusalem in the sixe yeere of the reigne of Henry the fift which was the yeere of our Lord 1417. Thomas Walsing VLtimo die mensis Octobris episcopus Wintoniensis accessit ad concilium Constanciense peregrinaturus Hierosolymam post electioneÌ„ summi pontificis celebratam vbi tantum valuit elus facunda persuasio vâ— excitaret dominos Cardinales ad concordiam ad electionem summi pontificis se ocyâ—s praepararent The same in English THe last day of October the bishop of Winchester came to the Councell of Constance which after the chusing of the Pope determined to take his iourney to Ierusalem where his eloquent perswasion so much preuailed that he both perswaded my lords the Cardinals to vnity and concord and also moued them to proceed more speedily to the election of the Pope A preparation of a voyage of King Henrie the fourth to the Holy land against the infidels in the yere 1413 being the last yere of his reigne wherein he was preuented by death written by Walsingham Fabian Polydore Virgile and Holenshed IN this foureteenth and last yere of king Henries reigne a councell was holden in the White friets in London at the which among other things order was taken for ships and gallies to be builded and made ready and all other things necessary to be prouided for a voyage which he meant to make into the Holy land there to recouer the city of Ierusalem from the infidels for it grieued him to consider the great malice of Christian princes that were bent vpon a mischieuous purpose to destroy one another to the perill of their owne soules rather then to make warre against the enemies of the Christian faith as in conscience it seemed to him they were bound We finde sayeth Fabian in his Chronicle that he was taken with his last sickenesse while he was making his prayers at Saint Edwards shrine there as it were to take his leaue and so to proceede foorth on his iourney He was so suddenly and grieuously taken that such as were about him feared least he would haue died presently wherefore to relieâ—e him if it were possible they bare him into a chamber that was next at hand belonging to the Abbot of Westminster where they layd him on a pallet before the fire and vsed all remedies to reuiue him At length he recouered his speech and perceiuing himselfe in a strange place which he knew not he willed to knowe if the chamber had any particular name whereunto answere was made that it was called Ierusalem Then sayde the king Laâ—des be giuen to the father of heauen for now I knowe that I shall die here in this chamber according to the prophesie of mee declared that I should depart this life in Ierusalem Of this intended voyage Polydore Virgile writeth in manner following POst haec Henricus Rex memor nihil homini debere esse entiquius quà m ad officium iustiâ—iae quae ad hominum vellitatem perâ—inet omne suum studium conferre protinùs omisso ciuili bello quo pudebat videre Christianos omni tempore turpitèr occupari de republica Anglica benè gubernanda de bello in hostes communes sumendo de Hierosolymis tandem aliquando recipiendis plura destinabat classemque iam parabat cum ei talia agenti atque meditanti casus mortem attulit subito enim morbo tentatus nulla medicina subleuari potuit Mortuus est apud Westmonasterium annum agens quadragesimum sextum qui fuit annus salutis humanae 1413. The same in English AFterward King Henry calling to minde that nothing ought to be more highly esteemed by any man then to doe the vtmost of his indâ—uour for the performance of iustice which â—endeth to the good and benefite of mankinde altogether abandoning ciuill warre wherewith he was ashamed to see how Christians at all times were dishonourably busied cutered into a more derye consideration of well gouerning his Realme of England of waging warre against the common enemie and of recouering in processe of time the citie of Ierusalem yea and was prouiding a nauie for the same purpose whenas in the very midst of this his heroâ—call action and enterprise he was surprised with death for falling into a sudden disease he could not be cured by any kinde of phisicke He deceased at Westminster in the 46 yeare of his age which was in the yeere of our Lord 1413. A briefe relation of the siege and taking of the Citie of Rhodes by Sultan Soliman the great Turke translated out of French into English at the motion of the Reuerend Lord Thomas Dockwray great Prior of the order of Ierusalem in England in the yeere 1524. WIlling faithfully to write and reduce in veritie Historiall the great siege cruel oppugnation and piteous taking of the noble and renowmed citie of Rhodes the key of Christendome the hope of many poore Christian men withholden in Turkie to saue and keepe them in their faith the rest and yeerely solace of noble pilgrimes of the holy supulchre of Iesu Christ and other holy places the refuge and refreshing of all Christian people hauing course of marchandise in the parties of Leuant I promise to all estates that shall see this present booke that I haue left nothing for feare of any person nor preferred it for fauour And first I shall shewe the occasions that mooued this cruell bloodshedder enemie of our holy Christian faith Sultan Soliman now being great Turke to come with a great hoste by sea and by lande to besiege and assayle the space of sixe moneths night and day the noble and mightie citie of Rhodes The yere of the incarnation of our Lord Iesu Christ 1522. The occasions why the great Turke came to besiege the Citie of Rhodes THe first and principall cause was that he did consider and sawe by experience that there was none other Towne nor place in Leuant that warred against him nor kept him in doubt but this poore rocke of Rhodes And hearing the continuall complaintes of his subiectes aswell of Syria as of Turkie for the domages and prises dayly done of their bodies and goods by Christian men of warre receiued into Rhodes And also of the shippes and gallies of the religion he tooke conclusion in himselfe that if he might put the sayde Towne in his power and subiection that then he should be peaceable lord of all the parties of Leuant and that his subiects should complaine no more to him The second that he might followe the doings of his noble predecessouâ—s and shewe himselfe very heire of the mightie and victorious lord Sultan Selim his father willing to put in execution the enterprise by him left the yeere one thousand fiue hundred twentie and one The which Selim the great Turke put in all
ditch with their harquebussie stopped our former course of carying or going that way any more without certaine and expresse danger But M. Giouanni Marmori a fortifier had deuised a certaine kinde of ioyned boords the which being caried of the souldiers defended them from the shot of the Harquebuzers so that some other quantity of earth but no great store was caried also away in the which place this foresayd fortifier was slaine who had done especiall good seruice in all our necessary affaires And our enemies hauing cast so much earth into the ditch as filled it vp againe and made it a firme way to the wall of the counterscharfe and casting before them the earth by little and little they made one trauerse euen vnto the wall on two sides in all their batteries the which they made thicke and strong with woolpacks and other fagots to assure themselues the better of our flanckers When they had once possessed the ditch that they could not be hurt of vs but by chance they began foorthwith to cast and digge out vndermines to vndermine the Brey the Turret of Santa Nappa the Commander of Andruzzi the Keepe of Campo Santo the Cortaine and the Turrion of the Arsenall so that being able no longer to serue our turne and inioy those fewe flanckers we threw downe wilde-fire into our enemies campe the which annoyed them very sore because it fired their woolpacks also their fagots And for the better encouragement of the souldiers the right honorable Bragadino gaue to euery souldier one duckat y e which could gaine or recouer any of the former woolpackes making countermines in all places To the which charge Maggio the fortifier knight was appointed who in all our businesse serued with such diligence and courage as he was able or was requisite But the countermines met not sauing those of the Commander of S. Nappa of Andruzzi and that of Campo Santo because they were open and our men sallied out often both by day and night into the ditch to perceiue better the way of the mines and to fire the fagots and wooll Nor we ceassed at any time through the vnspeakable trauell of the Lord Baglione who had the ouersight of all these matters to trouble our enemies intents by all maner of wit and policie diuiding the companies for the batteries ioyning and planting in all places a garrison of the Albanois souldiours who aswell on foot as on horsebacke shewed alwayes notable courage and manhood The first assault THe one and twentieth day of Iune they put fire to the mine of the Turret of the Arsenall where as Giambelat Bey tooke charge who with great ruine rent in sunder a most great and thicke wall and so opened the same that he threw downe more then halfe thereof breaking also one part of the vaimure made before to vpholde the assault And suddenly a great number of the Turkes skipping vpon the ruines thereof displayed their Ensignes euen to the toppe of the same Captaine Pietro Conte with his company was in that ward the which was much shaken and terrified by that sudden ruine I with my company came first thither so that they shortly tooke the repulse and although they refreshed themselues with new supplies fiue or sixe times yet they failed of their purpâ—se There fought personally the Lord Baglione Bragadino and Querini being armed stood not farre off to refresh and comfort our Souldiours and the Captaine of the Castell with the Ordinance that was planted vpon the Butteries destroyed many of our enemies when they gaue y e assault the which endured fiue houres together so that of Turkes were slaine very many and of our side betweene them that were slaine and hurt one hundred most part of the which number were cast away by a mischance of our wilde-fire the which being vnaduisedly and negligently handled burnt vp many of our owne company There died at that present the Earle Gio. Francesco Goro the Captaine Barnardino Agubio and by the throwing of stones Herâ—ole Malaresta Captaine Pietro Contâ— with other Captaines and Standerd bearers were very sore hurt The night following arriued in Cyprus a Pinnasse from Candia which bringing newes of most certaine ayde greatly increased both the mirth and courage of vs all so that we made soone after with the helpe of the Captaine Marco Criuellatore and Maggio the knight certaine retreats flancked to all the places beaten downe and whereas they suspected that the enemy had digged vp any mines with Dogsheads Chests Tikes and Sacks stuffed full of moist earth the Grecians with all speed hauing already brought almost all that which they had because they hauing dispatched their Canueis about necessary vses they brought their hangings cortaines carpets euen to their very sheets to make and stuffe vp their foresayd sacks a very good and ready way to make vp againe their vaimures the which were throwen downe with the fury of the artillery which neuer sâ—inted so that we made vp againe still that in the night the which was throwen downe and broken in the day sleeping very seldome all the souldiers standing alwayes vpon the walles visited continually of the Gouernors of the Citie which slept at no time but in the extreame heat of the day hauing no other time to take their rest because the enemie was at hand giuing vs continually alarmes not suffering vs long to breath The second assault THe nine and twentieth day of the same moneth they set the mine made towards the Brey on fire the which mine was digged in stone which brake and cleft all things in pieces and caused great ruine making an easie way for the enemy to assault vs who with an outragious fury caâ—â— to the toppe whereas Mustafa their Generall was altogether present which assault was receiued and stayed at the beginning of the Earle Hercole Martiningo with his garrison and so were repulsed by our company who fought without any aduantage of couert the vaimure-being throwen downe by the mine There were slaine of our company Captaine Meani the Sergeant Maior of our armie Captaine Celio de Fuochi Captaine Erasmo da Fermo and Captaine Soldatello Antonio d'Ascoli Captaine Gio. d'Istria Standerd bearers with many other officers were sore wounded there died also 30 other of our common souldiers At the Arsenall they were beaten backe with greater dammage of our enemies and small hurt to vs. Fiue onely of our part being â—laine there whereas Captaine Giacomo de Fabriano also was killed and I was wounded in my left legge with an harquebush shot The which assault continued sixe houres the Bishop of Limisso standing vp there incouraging the Souldiours Where also were found present stout women who came thither with weapons stones and water to helpe the Souldiours Our enemies vnderstanding how great hinderance they had receiued at these two assaults changed their mindes and began againe with greater fury then euer they had before accustomed to lay battery to all places and into
our retreats so that they labouring more speedily then euer they did made seuen other forts more vnder the castle and taking away the artillery from them which were farther off planting of it somewhat neerer to the number of fourescore they battered the holde with so great rage that on the eighth day of Iuly with the same night also were numbred fiue thousand Canon shot and after that sort they ouerthrew to the ground the vaimures that scarsely with great trauell and paine we could repaire them againe because our men that laboured about them were continually slaine by their Ordinance and by reason of the endlesse tempest of the shot of their Harquebuzers And our men beganne to decrease For the Turkes caused vs to retire from our Breyes by the violence of their artillery and mining in such sort that there being no more standing left for our Souldiours because we making our vaimures more thicke our standing began to waxe narrower the which presently we of necessitie enlarged with boords as a scaffolde to the vaimure whereby we might haue more elbow roome to fight Captaine Maggio also made one mine vnder the sayd Brey to the intent that we being not able any longer to keepe it the same might be left to our enemies to their great hinderance The third assault TO the sayd Brey the ninth day of Iuly they gaue the third assault to the Turrion of Santa Nappa to that of Andruzzi to the Cortaine to the Keepe of the Arsenall the which assault hauing continued more then sixe houres they were beaten backe in foure places but we left the Brey to their great losse and ours also because we being assaulted our company being not able to mannage their Pikes in good order by reason of the narrownesse of the standing where they were being willing to retire in that order as the L. Baglione had prescribed vnto them and could not cast themselues at the last into a confuse order and retired they being mingled amongst the Turkes so that fire being giuen to our mine the same with a terrible sight to beholde slew presently of our enemies more then one thousand and aboue one hundred of vs. There was slaine Roberto Maluezzi and Captaine Marchetto de Fermo was grieuously wounded At the assault of the Arsenall was slaine Captaine Dauid Noce master of the Campe I my selfe was hurt by the racing of a Cannon shot This assault continued fiue houres and the Citizens of Famagusta shewed great courage in euery place with their women also and yoong striplings The Brey was so defaced by reason of this mine set on fire that no body any more attempted to recouer the same because there was no apt place remaining to stay vpon The left flancker onely remained still whereas another mine was made The gate of Limisso was ouer against this foresayd Brey and somewhat lower which was alwayes open hauing made to the same a Portall with a Percollois annexed to it the which Percollois by the cutting of a small cord was a present defence to the gate and our Souldiours gaue their attendance by that gate to bring in the battered earth which fell in the ditches from the rampaire and when they saw that their enemies in foure dayes came not thither they beganne to entrench aboue the Brey and by the flanckers aboue they suffered no person to passe out of the gate the which thing brought great suspition vnto our enemies because they were often times assailed of our company The fourth assault WHerefore they came the foureteenth day of Iuly to assault the gate of Limisso and laying their battery to all other places they came and planted their Ensignes euen before the gate whereas the L. Baglione and Sig. Luigi were in readinesse who had taken vpon them to defend that gate of the Citie Who assoone as they had encouraged their Souldiours sallying swiftly foorth killed and put to flight the greater part of them and at the last giuing fire to the mine of the flancker slew foure hundred Turkes and Sig. Baglione at the same time woon an Ensigne of our enemies wrasting it violently out of one of the Ensigne bearers hands The day following they gaue fire to the mine of the Corcaine the which thing not falling out greatly to their purpose they followed not their prepared assault Wherefore they beganne to fortifie and aduance higher their trauerses in the ditches for their better assurance against they should giue the assault and they had emptied and carried away all the earth neere vnto the counterskarfe where they lodged in their pauillions so that we could not descrie them They shot seuen pieces of artillery vpon the wall of the counterscharfe so couertly that they were not seene â—wo from the Brey of the Turrion of Santa Nappa one from Andruzzi and two other all along the battery of the Cortaine And they came with certaine boordes couered with rawe and greene hives vnder which they brought their men to digge in the vaimures we being nothing behinde or forgetfull to cast wilde-fire amongst them and sometime to issue foorth of our sallies called Posternes to offend their Pioners although to our great hinderance And we still repaired the vaimures by all meanes possible with Buffe skinnes being moist and wet throwing in also earth shreads and cotton with water being well bound together with cordes all the women of Famagusta gathering themselues together into companies in euery street being guided of one of their Monkes called Caloiero reforted dayly to a certaine place appointed to labour gathering and prouiding for the souldiers stones and water the which was kept for all assaults in halfe buts to quench the fire which the Turks threw amongst them Hauing had no great successe in taking of the gate they found out a newe way neuer heard of before in gathering together a great quantitie of certaine wood called Teglia which easily burned and smelt very euill the which they throwing before the former gate of the Citie and fagots fastened to the same with certaine beames be smeered with Pitch kindled suddenly so great a fire as was not possible for vs to quench the same although we threw vpon it whole Buts of water which were throwen downe from an high Commander which Buts presently brake in sunder This fire continued foure dayes wherefore we were inforced by reason of the extreame heat and sâ—inch to withdraw our selues further inward and they descending towardes their loweâ— flanckers beganne other mines so that the gate was shut vp because it could be no longer kept open and suddenly a thing maruellous to be spoken the standing of the Brey being repaired and made vp againe they planted one piece ouer against the gate the which of vs with stones earth and other things was suddenly buried vp By this time we were driuen to an exigent all our prouision within the Citie stooping very lowe sauing onely hope the noble courage of the Gouernours and Captaines and the
they sayd to our men it was for no hurt but that the Viceroy of the Iland would come aboord to see the shippe But they presently sent the Purser to the Towne of Maiorca where he was examined by the Viceroy very straightly what their shippe and captaine were and what voyage they intended but he confessed nothing at all In the meane time they in the Towne were likewise straightly examined by a Priest and other officers vpon their othes who for their othes sake declared the whole estate of their voyage The Ambassadours man was a French man and therefore was suffered to goe to the shippe on a message but he could tell the Ambassadour none other newes but that the Viceroy would come aboord the shippe and that our men should come with him but they had another meaning For the Marseilian Marchants were stayed in like maner in the Towne onely to make a better shew vnto vs. But in the meane time being there three of foure dayes there came men vnto vs euery day more or lesse but one day especially there came two men on horsebacke whom we tooke to be officers being lusly men and very well horsed These men desired to speake with our Captaine for all things that passed there were done in the name of our Captaine Iohn Gray for it was sayd by vs there that he was Captaine of one of her Maiesties shippes wherefore all things passed in his name and the Ambassadour not seene in any thing but rather concealed and yet did all because of his tongue and good inditing in that language For he himselfe went on land clothed in Ueluet and talked with these men and with him ten or twelue lusly fellowes well weaponed ech one hauing a Boatespeare or a Caliuer the Captaine Iohn Gray being one of them and our boat lying by very warely kept and ready For then wee began to suspect because the place was more frequented with men then it was woont The men on horsebacke were in doubt to come neere because hee came so well weaponed But they bade him welcome and gaue him great salutations in words as their maner is and demanded why he came so strong for they sayd he needed not to feare any man in the Iland Answere was made that it was the maner of English Captaines to goe with their guard in strange places Then they tolde our Ambassador thinking him to be the Captaine that they were sent from the Viceroy to know what they did lacke for they promised him beefe or mutton or any thing that was in the Iland to be had but their purpose was to haue gotten more of our men if they could and they sayde that wee should haue our men againe the next day with such prety delusions they fed vs still Then our Ambassadour did write a letter to the Viceroy in her Maiesties name and in our Captaine Iohn Grayes name and not in his owne and sent it by them desiring him to send his men and not to trouble him in his voyage for he had giuen him no such cause nor any of his So these men departed with great courtesie in words on both parts And in all this time we did see men on horsebacke and on foot in the woods and trees more then they were accustomed to be but we could perceiue nothing thereby The next day or the second came either foure or sixe of the best of them as wee thought the Viceroy excepted and very many men besides in the fieldes both on foot and on horse but came not neere the water side And those in like order desired to speake with the Captaine and that when he came on land the trumpets might sound but then the Ambassadour whom they thought to be Captaine would not goe nor suffer the trumpets to be sounded for that he thought it was a trappe to take himselfe and more of his company But did send one of the principall of the Marchants to talke with them And the Captaine Iohn Gray went also with him not being knowen of the Spaniards for he went as a souldiour Thus they receiued of those men the like wordes as they had of the other before mentioned who sayd we should haue our men againe for they meant vs no hurt Then our Ambassadour did write another letter and sent it by them to the Viceroy in like order as he did before but he receiued no answere of any of them In all this time they had priuily gathered together the principall men of the Iland and had laboured day and night to bring downe ordinance not making any shew of their trecherie towards vs. But the same night following we saw very many lights passe in the woods among the trees And in the morning when the watch was broken vp being Saturday the ninth of Februarie at faire day light one of our men looked foorth and saw standing on land the cariage of a piece then was one commanded to goe into the toppe and there he did deserie two or three pieces and also many men on the shoare with diuers weapons that they brought Then they suddenly tooke foure or fiue brasse pieces and placed them on either side of the harborough where we should go out and hid them with stones and bushes that we should not see them Now I thinke the harborough not to be aboue the eight part of a mile ouer Thus perceiuing their meaning which was most plaine wee agreed to take vp our anker and goe out and leaue our men there hauing none other way to take Then our Ambassadour intreated the Master of the Marseilian his friend to goe on land with his boat and to know the trueth who satisfied his request And at his returne he tolde vs that it was very true that they would lay holde of vs if they could Then we weighed our ankers but hauing little winde we towed the shippe forward with the boat The Viceroy himselfe was at the water side with more then fiue hundred men on both sides of the harbour as we thought And when we came out with our shippe as far as their ordinance our Ambassadour and the Captaine being in their armour the Master commanding of the company and trimming of the sailes the Pilot standing on the poope attending to his charge with other very well furnished and euery man in order about their businesse very ready they on land on the contrary part hauing a very faire piece mounted on the North side openly in all our sights as the shippe passed by they trauersed that piece right with the maine mast or after-quarter of the shippe and a Gunner standing by with a lintstorke in his hand about foureteene or fifteene foot long being as we thought ready to giue fire Our whole noise of trumpets were sounding on the poope with drumme and flute and a Minion of brasse on the summer decke with two or three other pieces alwayes by our Gunners trauersed mouth to mouth with theirs on
destroyed whereof I neede not make any other mention The new Cairo answereth euery yeere in tribute to the grand Signior 600000 ducates of golde neat and free of all charges growing on the same which money is sent to Constantinople about the fine of September by the way of Aleppo alwayes by lande vnder the custodie of three hundred horsemen and two hundred Ianizaries footmen The citie of Cairo is adorned with many faire Mesquitas rich great anâ— of goodly and gorgeous building among which are fiue principall The first is called Morastanâ— that is to say The hospitall which hath of rent fiue hundred ducats of golde euery day left vnto it by a king of Damasco from auncient times which king hauing conquered Cairo for the space oâ— fiue dayes continually put the people thereof to the sword and in the end repenting him of so great manslaughter caused this cruelty to cease and to obtaine remission for his sinne commiâ—ted caused this hospitall to be built enriching it as is aboue said The second famous monument of Cairo is called Neffisaâ— of one Neffisa buried there who was a Dame of honour and mooued by lust yeelded her body voluntarily without rewarde to any that required the same and sayde she bestowed this almes for the loue of her Prophet Mahomet and therefore at this day they adore her reuerence her and finally haue canonized her for a Saint affirming that shee did many miracles The third is called Zauia della Innachari who was one of the foure Doctors in the law The fourth is called Imamsciafij where is buried Sciafij the second Doctor of this law Of the other two Doctors one is buried in Damasco the other in Aleppo The fift last famous monument is Giamalazar that is the house of Lazarus and this is the generall Uniuersity of the whole kingome of Egypt In this place Anno 1566 in the moneth of Ianuary by misfortune of fue were burned nine thousand bookes of great value as well for that they were written by hand as also wrought so richly with golde that they were worth 300 and 400 ducats a piece one with another And because it could neuer be knowen yet how this fire beganne they haue and doe holde the same for a most sinister augurie and an euident and mâ—nifest signe of their vtter ruine The houses of Cairo without are vâ—ry faire within the greater number richly adorned with hangings wrought with golde Euery person which resorteth to this place for traffiques sake is bound to pay halfe a duckat except the gentlâ—men Venetians Siotes and Rhaguseans because they are tributarie to the Grand Signior Cairo is distant from the riuer Nilus a mile and more being situate on a plaine saue that on the one side it hath a faire little hill on the toppe whereof stands a faire castle but not strong for that it may be battered on euery side but very rich large compassed about with faire gardens into the which they conueigh water for their necessitie out of Nilus with certaine wheeles other like engines This magnificent citie is adorned with very fruitfull gardens both pleasant and commodious with great plenty of pondes to water the same Notwithstanding the great pleasures of Cairo are in the moneth of August when by meanes of the great raine in Ethiopia the riuer Nilus ouerfloweth and watereth all the countrey and then they open the mouth of a great ditch which extendeth into the riuer and passeth through the midst of the citie and entring there are innumerable barkes rowing too and fro laden with gallant girles and beautifull dames which with singing eating drinking and feasting take their solace The women of this countrey are most beautifull and goe in rich attire bedecked with gold pretious stones and iewels of great value but chiefely perfumed with odours and are very libidinous and the men likewise but foule and hard fauoured The soile is very fertile and abundant the flesh fat which they sell without bones their candles they make of the marowe of cattell because the Moores eate the tallow They vse also certaine litle furnaces made of purpose vnder the which they make fire putting into the furnace foure or fiue hundred â—gges and the said fire they nourish by litle and litle vntill the chickens be hatched which after they be hatched and become somewhat bigger they sell them by measure in such sort as we sell and measure nuts and chestnuts and such like Of certaine notable monuments without the citie of Cairo WIthout the Citie sixe miles higher into the land are to be seene neere vnto the riuer diuerse Piramides among which are three marueilous great and very artificially wrought Out of one of these are dayly digged the bodies of auncient men not rotten but all whole the cause whereof is the qualitie of the Egyptian soile which will not consume the flesh of man but rather dry and harden the same and so alwayes conserueth it And these dead bodies are the Mummie which the Phisitians and Apothecaries doe against our willes make vs to swallow Also by digging in these Pyramides oftentimes are found certaine Idoles or Images of golde siluer and other mettall but vnder the other piramides the bodies are not taken vp so whole as in this but there are found legges and armes comparable to the limmes of giants Neare to these piramides appeareth out of the sand a great head of stone somewhat like marble which is discouered so farre as the necke ioyneth with the shoulders being all whole sauing that it wanteth a little tippe of the nose The necke of this head contayneth in circuit about sixe and thirty foot so that it may be according to the necke considered what greatnesse the head is of The riuer Nilus is a mile broad wherein are very many great Croccodiles from Cairo vpward but lower then Cairo passeth no such creature and this they say is by reason of an inchantment made long since which hindereth their passage for comming any lower then Cairo Moreouer of these creatures there are sometimes found some of an incredible bignesse that is to say of fourtie foot about The males haue their members like to a man and the females like to a woman These monsters oftentimes issue out of the water to feede and finding any small beasts as sheepe lambes goates or other like doe great harme And whiles they are foorth of the water if they happen at vnwares vpon any man woman or childe whom they can â—uercome they spare not their liues In the yeere of our Lorde one thousand fiue hundred and sixtie it happened that certaine poore Christians trauelling by Cairo towardes the countrey of Prete Ianni to rescue certaine slaues were guided by a Chaus and iourneyed alongst the banke of the said riuer The Chaus remained lingering alone behinde to make his prayers as their custome is at a place called Tana whom being busie in his double deuotion one of these Crocodiles ceazed by the shoulders and drew
or fourescore thousand men These two captaines being of one religion with the foure kings which were Moores wrought meanes with them to betray their owne king into their hands The king of Bezeneger esteemed not the force of the foure kings his enemies but went out of his city to wage battell with them in the fieldes and when the armies were ioyned the battell lasted but a while not the space of foure houres because the two traitourous captaines in the chiefest of the fight with their compaines turned their faces against their king and made such disorder in his army that as astonied they set themselues to flight Thirty yeeres was this kingdome gouerned by three brethren which were tyrants the which keeping the rightfull king in prison it was their vse euery yeere once to shew him to the people and they at their pleasures ruled as they listed These brethren were three captaines belonging to the father of the king they kept in prison which when he died left his sonne very yong and then they tooke the gouernment to themselues The chiefest of these three was called Ramaragio and sate in the royall throne and was called the king the second was called Temiragio and he tooke the gouernment on him the third was called Bengatre and he was captaine generall of the army These three brethren were in this battell in the which the chiefest and the last were neuer heard of quicke nor dead Onely Temiragio fled in the battel hauing lost one of his eyes when the newes came to the city of the ouerthrow in the battell the wiues and children of these three tyrants with their lawfull king kept prisoner fâ—ed away spoiled as they were the foure kings of the Moores entred the city Bezeneger with great triumph there they remained sixe moneths searching vnder houses in all places for money other things that were hidden and then they departed to their owne kingdomes because they were not able to maintaine such a kingdome as that was so farre distant from their owne countrey When the kings were departed from Bezeneger this Temiragio returned to the city and then beganne for to repopulate it and sent word to Goa to the Merchants if they had any horses to bring them to him and he would pay well for them and for this cause the aforesayd two Merchants that I went in company withall carried those horses that they had to Bezeneger Also this Tyrant made an order or lawe that if any Merchant had any of the horses that were taken in the aforesayd battell or warres although they were of his owne marke that he would giue as much for them as they would and beside he gaue generall safe conduct to all that should bring them When by this meanes he saw that there were great store of horses brought thither vnto him hee gaue the Merchants faire wordes vntill such time as he saw they could bring no more Then he licenced the Merchants to depart without giuing them any thing for their horses which when the poore men saw they were desperate and as it were mad with sorrow and griefe I rested in Bezeneger seuen moneths although in one moneth I might haue discharged all my businesse for it was necessary to rest there vntill the wayes were cleere of theeues which at that time ranged vp and downe And in the time I rested there I saw many strange and beastly dâ—eds done by the Gentiles First when there is any Noble man or woman dead they burne their bodies and if a married man die his wife must burne herselfe aliue for the loue of her husband and with the body of her husband so that when any man dieth his wife will take a moneths leaue two or three or as shee will to burne her selfe in and that day being come wherein shee ought to be burnt that morning shee goeth out of her house very earely either on horsebacke or on an eliphant or else is borne by eight men on a smal stage in one of these orders she goeth being apparelled like to a Bride carried round about the City with her haire downe about her shoulders garnished with iewels and flowers according to the estate of the party and they goe with as great ioy as Brides doe in Venice to their nuptials shee carrieth in her left hand a looking glasse and in her right hand an arrow and singeth thorow the City as she passeth and sayth that she goeth to sleepe with her deere spowse and husband She is accompanied with her kindred and friends vntill it be one or two of the clocke in the afternoone then they goe out of the City and going along the riuers side called Nigondin which runneth vnder the walles of the City vntill they come vnto a place where they vse to make this burning of women being widdowes there is prepared in this place a great square caue with a little pinnacle hard by it foure or fiue steppes vp the foresayd caue is full of dried wood The woman being come thither accompanied with a great number of people which come to see the thing then they make ready a great banquet and she that shall be burned eateth with as great ioy and gladnesse as though it were her wedding day and the feast being ended then they goe to dancing and singing a certeine time according as she will After this the woman of her owne accord commandeth them to make the fire in the square caue where the drie wood is and when it is kindled they come and certifie her thereof then presently she leaueth the feast and taketh the neerest kinseman of her husband by the hand and they both goe together to the banke of the foresayd riuer where shee putteth off all her iewels and all her clothes and giueth them to her parents or kinsefolke and couering herselfe with a cloth because she will not be seene of the people being naked she throweth herselfe into the riuer saying O wretches wash away your â—innes Comming out of the water she rowleth herselfe into a yellow cloth of foureteene braces long and againe she taketh her husbands kinseman by the hand and they go both together vp to the pinnacle of the square caue wherein the fire is made When she is on the pinnacle shee talketh and reasoneth with the people recommending vnto them her children and kindred Before the pinnacle they vse to set a mat because they shall not see the fiercenesse of the fire yet there are many that will haue them plucked away shewing therein an heart not fearefull and that they are not affrayd of that sight When this silly woman hath reasoned with the people a good while to her content there is another woman that taketh a pot with oile and sprinckleth it ouer her head and with the same she anoynteth all her body and afterwards throweth the pot into the fornace and both the woman and the pot goe together into the fire and presently the people that are
in litters of Cedar artificially wrought and richly dressed In the second place marcheth a great company of footemen sumptuously apparelled Then afarre off commeth one of these Bonzii master of the ceremonies for that superstition brauely clad in silkes and gold in a large and high litter excellently well wrought accompanied with 30 other Bonzii or thereabout wearing hats linnen albes and fine blacke vpper garments Then attired in ashe colour for this colour also is mourning with a long torch of Pineaple he sheweth the dead body the way vnto the fire lest it either stumble or ignorantly go out of the way Well neere 200 Bonzii folow him singing the name of that deuill the which the partie deceassed chiefly did worship in his life time and there withall a very great bason is beaten euen to the place of fire in stead of a vell Then follow two great paper baskets hanged open at staues endes full of paper roses diuersly coloured such as beare them doe march but slowly shaking euer now and then their staues that the aforesayd flowers may fall downe by litle and litle as it were drops of raine and be whirled about with wind This shower say they is an argument that the soule of the dead man is gone to paradise After al this eight beardles Bonzii orderly two and two drag after them on the ground long speares the points backward with flags of one cubite a piece wherein the name also of that idole is written Then there be caried 10 lanterns trimmed with the former inscription ouercast with a fine vaile and candles burning in them Besides this two yoong men clothed in ashe colour beare pineaple torches not lighted of three foote length the which torches serue to kindle the fire wherein the dead corpes is to bee burnt In the same colour follow many other that weare on the crownes of their heads faire litle three square blacke lethren caps tied fast vnder their chinnes for that is honorable amongst them with papers on their heads wherein the name of the deuill I spake of is written And to make it the more solemne after commeth a man with a table one cubite long one foot broad courred with a very fine white vaile in both sides whereof is written in golden letters the aforesayd name At the length by foure men is brought foorth the corps sitting in a gorgeous litter clothed in white hanging downe his head and holding his hands together like one that prayed to the rest of his apparell may you adde an vpper gowne of paper written full of that booke the which his God is sayd to haue made when he liued in the world by whose helpe and merites commonly they doe thinke to be saued The dead man his children come next after him most gallantly set foorth the yongest wherof carieth likewise a pineaple torch to kindle the fire Last of all foloweth a great number of people in such caps as I erst spake of When they are al come to y e place appointed for the obsequie al the Bonzii w t the whole multitude for the space of one houre beating pannes and basons with great clamours call vpon the name of that deuill the which being ended the Obsequie is done in this maner In the midst of a great quadrangle railed about hanged with course linnen and agreeably vnto the foure partes of the world made with foure gates to goe in and out at is digged a hole in the hole is laied good store of wood whereon is raised gallantly a waued roofe before that stand two tables furnished with diuers kindes of meates especially drie Figs Pomegranates and Tartes good store but neither Fish nor Flesh vpon one of them standeth also a chafer with coales and in it sweete wood to make perfumes When all this is readie the corde wherewith the litter was caried is throwen by a long rope into the fire as many as are present striue to take the rope in their handes vsing their aforesayd clamours which done they goe in procession as it were round about the quadrangle thrise Then setting the litter on the wood built vp ready for the fire that Bonzius who then is master of the ceremonies saieth a verse that no bodie there vnderstandeth whirling thrise about ouer his head a torch lighted to signifie thereby that the soule of the dead man had neither any beginning nâ— shall haue at any time an ende and throweth away the torch Two of the dead man his children or of his neere kinne take it vp againe and standing one at the East side of the litter the other at the West doe for honour and reuerence reach it to each other thrise ouer the dead corps and so cast it into the pile of wood by and by they throw in oyle sweete wood and other perfumes accordingly as they haue plentie and so with a great flame bring the corpes to ashes his children in the meane while putting sweete wood into the chafer at the table with odours doe solemnly and religiously worship their father as a Saint which being done the Bonzii are paied each one in his degree The master of the ceremonies hath for his part fiue duckats sometimes tenne sometimes twentie the rest haue teene Iulâ—es a piece or els a certaine number of other presents called Caxae The meate that was ordained as soone as the dead corps friends and all the Bonzii are gone is left for such as serued at the obsequie for the poore and impotent lazars The next day returne to the place of obsequie the dead man his children his kinred and friends who gathering vp his ashes bones and teeth doe put them in a gilded pot and so carie them home to bee set vp in the same pot couered with cloth in the middest of their houses Many Bonzii returne likewise to these priuate funerals and so doe they againe the seuenth day then cary they out the ashes to bee buried in a place appointed laying thereupon a foure square stone wherein is written in great letters drawen all the length of the stone the name of that deuil the which the dead man worshipped in his life time Euery day afterward his children resort vnto the graue with roses and warme water that the dead corps thirst not Nor the seuenth day onely but the seuenth moneth and yeere within their owne houses they renue this obsequie to no small commodities and gaine of the Bonzii great rich men doe spend in these their funerals 3000 duckats or thereabout the meaner sort two or three hundred Such as for pouertie be not able to go to that charges are in the night time darke long without all pompe and ceremonies buried in a dunghill They haue another kinde of buriall especially neere the Sea side for them that bee not yet dead These fellowes are such as hauing religiously with much deuotion worshipped Amida now desirous to see him doe slay themselues And first they goe certaine dayes begging almes the which they thrust
into their sleeues then preach they in publique a sermon vnto the people declaring what they mind to doe with the great good liking of all such as doe heare them for euery body wondreth at such a kinde of holinesse Then take they hookes to cut downe briars and thornes that might hinder them in their way to heauen and so embarke themselues in a new vessell tying great stones about their neckes armes â—oines thighes and feete thus they launching out into the maine Sea be either drowned there their shippe bouged for that purpose or els doe cast themselues ouer-boord headlong into the Sea The emptie barke is out of hand set a fire for honours sake by their friends that folow them in another boat of their owne thinking it blasphemie that any mortall creature should afterward once touch the barke that had bene so religiousâ—y halowed Truly when we went to Meaco eight dayes before we came to the I le of Hiu at Fore towne sixe men and two women so died To all such as die so the people erecteth a Chappell and to each of them a pillar and a pole made of Pineaple for a perpetuall monument hanging vp many shreds of paper in stickes all the roofe ouer with many verses set downe in the walles in commendation of that blessed company Wherefore vnto this place both day and night many come very superstitiously in pilgrimage It happened euen then as Aloisius Almeida and I went to christen a childe wee traueiled that way at what time foure or fiue olde women came foorth out of the aforesayd chappell with beades in their handes for in this point also the deuill counterfaiteth Christianitie who partly scorned at vs for follie partly frowned and taunted at our small deuotion for passing by that holy monument without any reuerence or worship done thereunto at all It remaineth now we speake two or three wordes of those Sermons the Bonzii are woont to make not so many as ours in number but assuredly very well prouided for The Pulpit is erected in a great temple with a silke Canopie ouer it therein standeth a costly seate before the seate a table with a bell and a booke At the houre of Sermon each secâ— of the Iapans resorteth to their owne doctors in diuers Temples Up goeth the doctor into the Pulpit and being set downe after that hee hath lordlike looked him about signifieth silence with his bell and so readeth a fewe wordes of that booke we spake of the which he expoundeth afterward more at large These preachers be for the most part eloquent and apt to drawe with their speach the mindes of their hearers Wherefore to this ende chieflie such is their greedinesse tendeth all their talke that the people bee brought vnder the colour of godlinesse to enrich their monasteries promising to each one so much the more happinesse in the life to come how much the greater costes and charges they bee at in Church matters and obsequies notwithstanding this multitude of superstitious Sects and companies and the diuersitice thereof amongst themselues yet in this principally all their Superintendents doe trauell so to perswade their Nouices in their owne tales and lies that they thinke nothing els trueth nothing els sure to come by euerlasting saluation nothing els woorth the hearing Whereunto they adde other subtleties as in going grauitie in countenance apparell and in all outward shew comelinesse Whereby the Iapans mindes are so nousâ—ed in wicked opinions doe conceiue thereby such trust and hope of euerlasting saluation that not onely at home but also abroad in euery corner of the towne continually almost they run ouer their beades humbly asking of Amida and Xaca wealth honour good health and euerlasting ioyes Thus then deare brethren may you thinke how greatly they need the helpe of God that either doe bring the Gospell into this countrey or receiuing it brought vnto them doe forsake idolatrie and ioine themselues with Christ being assaulted by so many snares of the deuill troubled with the daily dissuasions of their Bonzii and finally so iniuriously so hardly so sharpely vexed of their kinred and friends that except the grace of God obtained by the sacrifices and prayers of the Catholique church doe helpe vs it cannot be chosen but that the faith and constancie of many if not of all in these first beginnings of our churches will greatly be put in ieopardie So much the more it standeth you vpon that so earnestly long for the health of soules to commend specially these Iapanish flocks vnto our Lord. We came to Sacaio the eight and twentie day of Ianuary Aloisius Almeida first for businesse but afterward let by sicknesse staied there some while but I parting the next day from thence came thirteene leagues off to Meaco the last of Ianuarie Of my comming all the Christians tooke great comfort but specially Gaspar Vilela who in 6 yeres had seen none of our companie at Meaco his yeeres are not yet fortie but his gray haires shew him to be seuentie so vehemently is his litle body afflicted and worne with extreme cold Hee speaketh Iapanish so skilâ—ully after the phrase of Meaco the which for the renowne of this people and royal seat of the king is best accounted of that hee doeth both confesse and preach in that language Certaine godly bookes also he hath done into that speach not omitting to translate other as laisure suffreth him To make an ende our Lord for his goodnesse vouchsafe to preserue vs all continually and to giue vs ayde both rightly to interprete his will and well to doe the same From Meaco the 19 of February 1565. Other such like matter is handled both in other his letters and also in the Epistles written by his companions to be seene at large in the aforesaid volume Amongst the rest this seemed in my iudgement one of the principall and therefore the rather I tooke vpon me to do it into English Of the Iles beyond Iapan in the way from China to the Moluccas AMongst other Iles in the Asian sea betwixt Cantan a Chinish hauen in Cathaio the Moluccas much spoâ—en of in the Indian histories and painted out in Maps Ainan and Santianum are very famous Ainan standeth 19 degrees on this side of the Equinoctiall line nere China from whence the Chinish nation haue their prouision for shipping and other necessaries râ—quisite for their Nauie There staied Balthasar Gagus a great traueiler 5 moneths who describeth that place after this maner Ainan is a goodly countrey ful of Indian fruits all kind of victuals besides great store of it wels and pearle well inhabited the townes built of stone the people rude in conditions apparelled in diuers coloured rugs with two oâ—e hornes as it were made of fine cypres hanging downe about their eares and a paire of sharpe cyzers at their foreheads The cause wherefore they go in such attire I could not vnderstand except it bee for that they do counterfeit the deuil in the
some blood vpon them for a token of their victories But seeing no signe thereof vpon it he was vpon the point to say vnto him that he had killed none of the men of Thimogoa when as Vasseur preuenting that which hee might obiect declared and shewed vnto him by signes the maner of his enterprise adding that by reason of the two Indians which he had slaine his sword was so bloudy that hee was inforced to wash and make it cleane a long while in the Riuer which the olde man beleeued to be like to be true and made no maner of replie thereunto Vasseur La Caille and their other companions went out of the hal to go into the roome whither they had carried the Indian there they found the Paracoussy sitting vpon tapistries made of small reedes which was at meate after the Indian fashion and the Indian that was smitten hard by him lying vpon the selfe same tapistry about whom stoode the wife of the Paracousâ—y with all the young damsels which before bewailed him in the hall which did nothing else but warme a great deale of mosse in stead of napkins to rub the Indians side Hereupon our men asked the Paracousâ—y againe for what occasion the Indian was so persecuted in his presence hee answered that this was nothing else but a kinde of ceremonie whereby they would call to minde the death and persecutions of the Paracoussies their ancestours executed by their enemie Thimogoa alleaging moreouer that as often as he himselfe or any of his friends and allies returned from the Countrey whithout they brought the heads of their enemies or without bringing home some prisoner hee vsed for apâ—rpetuall memorie of all his predecessors to beate the best beloued of all his children with the selfe same weapons wherewith they had bene killed in times past to the ende that by renewing of the wound their death should be lamentâ—d afresh Now wheÌ„ they were thus informed of those ceremonies they thanked the Paracoussy for their good intertainement which they had receiued so setting saile came to me vnto the fort where they declared all vnto me as I haue recited it heretofore The eight and twentieth of Iuly our shippes departed to returne into France And within a while about two moneths after our arriuall in Florida the Paracoussy Satourioua sent certaine Indians vnto mee to knowe whether I would stande to my promise which I had made him at my first arriuall in that Countrey which was that I would shewe my selfe friend to his friendes and enemie vnto his enemies and also to accompany him with a good number of Harquebuzes when he should see it expedient and should finde a fit occasion to goe to warre Now seeing he rested vpon this promise he prayed mee not to deferre the same seeing also that making accompt thereof hee had taken such good order for the execution of his enterprise that he was ready and was furnished with all things that were necessary for the voyage I made him answere that for his amitie I would not purchase the enmitie of the other and that albeit I would yet notwithstanding I wanted meanes to doe it For it behoued mee at that present to make prouision of victuals and munition for the defence of my Fort. On the other side that my Barkes were nothing ready and that this enterprise would require time Moreouer that the Paracoussy Satourioua might holde himselfe ready to depart within two moneths and that then I would thinke of fulfilling my promise to him The Indians caried this answere to their Paracoussy which was litle pleased with it because hee could not deferre his execution or expedition aswell because all his victuals were ready as also because tenne other Paracoussies were assembled with him for the performance of this enterprise The ceremonie which this Sauage vsed before hee embarked his armie deserueth not to be forgotten For when hee was set downe by the Riuers side being compassed about with ten other Paracoussies hee commaunded water to be brought him speedily This done looking vp into heauen he fell to discourse of diuers things with gestures that shewed him to be in exceeding great choller which made him one while shake his head hither and thither and by and by with I wote not what furie to turne his face toward the Countrey of his enemies and to threaten to kill them Hee oftentimes looked vpon the Sunne praying him to graunt him a glorious victory of his enemies Which when hee had done by the space of halfe an houre hee sprinkled with his hand a little of the water which hee helde in a vessell vpon the heads of the Paracoussies and cast the rest as it were in a rage and despite into a fire which was there prepared for the purpose This done hee cried out thrise He Thimogoa and was followed with fiue hundreth Indians at the least which were there assembled which cried all with one voyce He Thimogoa This ceremonie as a certaine Indian tolde mee familiarly signified nothing else but that Satourioua besought the Sunne to graunt vnto him so happy a victory that hee might shed his enemies blood as he had shed that water at his pleasure Moreouer that the Paracoussies which were sprinckled with a part of that water might returne with the heads of their enemies which is the onely and chiefe triumph of their victories The Paracoussy Satourioua had no sooner ended his ceremonies and had taken a viewe of all his company but he embarked himselfe and vsed such diligence with his Almadies or boates that the next day two houres before the Sunnes set he arriued on the territories of his enemies about eight or tenne leagues from their villages Afterward causing them all to goe on land hee assembled his counsell wherein it was agreed that fiue of the Paracoussies should saile vp the Riuer with halfe of the troupes and by the breake of the day should approche vnto the dwelling of their enemie for his owne part that hee would take his iourney through the woods and forrests as secretly as hee coulde that when they were come thither as well they that went by water as hee which went by land should not faile by the breake of the day to enter into the village and cut them all in pieces except the women and little children These things which were thus agreed vpon were executed with as great fury as was possible which when they had done they tooke the heades of their enemies which they had slaine and cut off their haire round about with a piece of their skulles they tooke also foure and twentie prisoners which they led away and retired themselues immediatly vnto their Boates which wayted for them Being come thither they beganne to singe praises vnto the Sunne to whom they attributed their victorie And afterwards they put the skins of those heads on the end of their â—auelings and went altogether toward the territories of Paracoussy Omoloa one
the same day to see if there were any people and fresh water and wee found certaine small cottages couered with drie grasse with certaine little staues layd ouerthwart and we went a little way into the countrey which was very barâ—n by certaine small and streight pathes and found a little pond or pit but drie and without water and here the Captaine tooke possession for the Marques of the valley in the name of his Maiestie and after this we returned to our ship and that night we sawe foure or fiue fires on the land The next day the Captaine determined because hee had seene these fires to goe on shore and so with our two boates we went fifteene or twenty of vs vnto certaine crooked strands two leagues from the place where our ships rode and where we had seene the fires and we found two Indians of exceeding huge stature so that they caused vs greatly to wonder they caried their bowes and arrowes in their hands and as soone as they saw vs leap on shore they ran away and wee followed them vnto their dwellings and lodgings which were certaine cottages and bowers couered with boughs and there we found great and small steps of many people but they had no kind of victuals but onely cuttle-fishes which wee found there The countrey toward the sea side seemed but barren for we saw neither trees nor greene grasse there yet were there certaine smal pathes not well beaten and along the sea-coast we saw many tracts of dogges hares and conies and in certaine small Islands neere vnto the maine we saw Seale-fishes This hauen is called Ancon de Sant Andres Chap. 5. They discouer a mountainous Island very great and neere vnto it certaine other Islands with a goodly greene and pleasant countrey They haue sight of certaine Indians in Canoas of canes whose language sounded like the Flemish tongue with whome they could not haue any traffique THe next day we proceeded on our voyage sayling betweene the maine and an Island which we suppose to be in circâ—it about a hundred or eighty leagues sayling sometimes within one and sometimes within two leagues of the maine The soile of this Island is of certaine mountaines not very steepe with caues in them and as farre as wee could descrie by the coast there appeared no signe of any plaine countrey Here from this day forward wee began to bee afraid considering that we were to returne to the port of Santa Cruz for it was supposed that all along this mighty gulfe from the entrance in at Culiacanâ— vntil the returning backe vnto the said hauen was all firme land and also because wee had the firme land alwayes on our right hand and it goeth round circle-wise vnto the sayd hauen but many thought and hoped that we should finde some mouth or out-let whereby wee might passe through vnto the other coast What our successe was we will declare in the relation following The next day being Thursday wee sayled with scant winde for it was almost calme and passed beyond that great Island hauing firme land alwayes on our right hand and coasting as I sayd very neere vnto it The next day likewise we sayled with little winde it being in a manner calme and passed neere vnto the shore by certaine round baies and certaine points which the land made which was pleasant to behold bring somewhat greene and there seemed to be some creeke there This Friday at night wee sayled altogether with a fresh gale and at breake of day wee were betweene the maine land and an Island on our left hand which was somewhat big as farre as we could discerne There was a great bay in the firme land and before it was a point which stretched farre into the sea The firme land seemed to bee much fresher and pleasanter then those lands which we had passed hauing many bankes and hilles of indifferent height and beautifull to behold The countrey as farre as wee could discerne was so pleasant and delightfull that wee all desired to goe on shore and to search vp into it two or three dayes iourney to see whether it were inhabited or not Wee saw within the land of that bay two fires The night following being Saturday we sailed continually with a prosperous and fresh gale and the wind was so great that we drew our bonet to our maine sayle and sayled so till the morning On Sunday the twelfth of October we found our selues altogether inclosed with land on the right hand with the maine which compassed vs before and behinde and on the left hand with an Island of a league and a halfe and betweene the maine and the Island in the midst of the sea there lay a small Islet and also betweene the sayd maine and the Island there were two mouthesâ— through which there appeared a passage whereby afterwad we passed through This maine was much more fresh and greene then the other which wee had passed and had certaine plaines and points of mountaines of pleasant view and full of greene grasse Here all this night we saw two or three villages which were very great and at breake of day we saw a Canoa or boate made of canes which came from the land out of a creeke and wee stood still vntill it came neere vnto vs in the ship and they began to speake in their language which no man vnderstood whose pronuntiation was like to the Flemings and being called they returned with great haste vnto the shore and we were very sory because our boate had not followed them Here happened vnto vs a very strange thing which was that as this Indian returned to the shore in certaine of these creekes where a number of his fellow Indians were as wee vieweâ— that part we sawe fiue Canoas issue foorth which came toward vs whereupon wee stayed to see what they would doe In the meane while our Admirall came vp vnto vs which was neere the shore for she also had seene them and so being come together we cast anker expecting what those Canoas would doe In the meane while our Generall commanded vs to make ready our boate and to furnish the same with oares and men to trie if we could by any meanes take some of them that we might come to some knowledge of them and that wee might giue them some of our trifles and specially of our hookes and beads to winne their friendship The Indians with their fiue Canoas approched within one or two stones cast of vs and then began to speake very loude vnto vs in a very strange language alwayes standing vpon their guard to retire themselues with speede When our Captaine saw this and that they would not come neere vs but rather retired he commanded sixe mariners to goe into the boate from the sterne of the ship and himselfe also went with them with all possible haste toward the Indians The Indians returned to the shore with so great celeritie that they seemed to flie
behind vs vnsearched at the bottome of this great sea or gulfe All Friday and the night following we sayled with a scant winde and on Saturday at breake of day we were betweene two points of land which make a bay wherein we saw before and behinde foure or fiue great and small Islands The land was very mountainous part wherof was couered with grasse and part was voide Within the land appeared more mountaines and hils and in this place we were come neere vnto the hauen of Santa Cruz which is all firme land except it be diuided in the very nooke by some streite or great riuer which parteth it from the maine which because we had not throughly discouered all of vs that were imployed in this voyage were not a little grieued And this maine land stretcheth so farre in length that I cannot well expresse it for from the hauen of Acapulco which standeth in seuenteene degrees and twenty minutes of latitude wee had alwayes the coast of the firme laud on our right hand vntill we came to the great current of the white red sea and here as I haue said we knew not the secret of this current whether it were caused by a riuer or by a streit and so supposing that the coast which wee had on our right hand was closed vp without passage wee returned backe againe alwayes descending Southward by our degrees vntill wee returned vnto the sayd hauen of Santa Cruz finding still along the coast a goodly and pleasant countrey and still seeing fires made by the Indians and Canoas made of Canes We determined to take in fresh water at the hauen of Santa Cruz to runne along the outward Westerne coast and to see what it was if it pleased God Here we rested our selues and eat of the plummes and fruits called Pithaias and wee entred into the port of Santa Cruz on Sunday the 18 of October and stayed there eight daies to take in wood and water resting our selues all that while that our men might strengthen and refresh themselues Our captaine determined to diuide amongst vs certain garments of taffata with clokes and saies and a piece of taffata and likewise ordained that wee should goe on land to catch a couple of Indians that they might talke with our interpreter and that we might come to the knowledge of their language Whereupon thirteene of vs went out of our ship by night and lay in ambush in a place which is called The well of Grijalua where we stayed vntill noone betweene certaine secret wayes and could neuer see or descrie any one Indian wherefore wee returned to our ships with two massiue-dogs which we caried with vs to catch the Indians with more ease and in our returne we found two Indians hidden in certaine thickets which were come thither to spie what wee did but because wee and our dogs were weary and thought not on them these Indians issued out of the thickets and fled away and wee ranne after them and our dogges saw them not wherefore by reason of the thicknes of the wilde thistles and of the thornes and bryars and because we were weary we could neuer ouertake them they left behinde them certaine staues so finely wrought that they were very beautifull to behold considering how cunningly they were made with a handle and a corde to fling them The nine and twentieth of October being Wednesday we set sayle out of this hauen of Santa Cruz with little winde and in sayling downe the chanell our shippe called the Trinitie came on ground vpon certaine sholdes this was at noone at a low water and with all the remedy that we could vse wee could not draw her off whereupon wee were constrained to vnderprop her and to stay the next tide and when the tide began to increase wee vsed all diligence to draw her off and could not by any meanes whereat all the company and the Captaine were not a little grieued for wee thought wee should haue lost her there although wee ceased not with all our might to labour with both our boates and with our cable and capsten In the ende it pleased God about midnight at a full sea with the great force which wee vsed to recouer her that wee drew her off the sand for which we gaue God most hearty thankes and rode at anker all the rest of the night wayting for day-light for feare of falling into any further danger or mishap When day was come wee set forward with a fresh gale and proceeded on our voyage directing our prows to the maine sea to see whether it would please God to let vs discouer the secret of this point But whether it pleased not his great goodnesse or whether it were for our sinnes wee spent eight dayes from this port before we could double the poynt by reason of contrary winds and great raine and lightning and darkenesse euery night also the windes grew so raging and tempestuous that they made vs all to quake and to pray continually vnto God to ayde vs. And hereupon wee made our cables and ankers ready and the chiefe Pilot commanded vs with all speede to cast anker and in this sorte we passed our troubles and whereas wee rode in no securitie he caused vs foorthwith to weigh our ankers and to goe whither the wind should driue vs. And in this sorte wee spent those eight dayes turning backe by night the same way that wee had gone by day and sometimes making good in the night that which we had lost in the day not without great desire of all the company to haue a winde which might set vs forward on our voyage being afflicted with the miseries which wee indured by reason of the thunders lightnings and raine wherewith we were wet from toppe to toe by reason of the toyle which wee had in weighing and casting of our ankers as neede required And on one of these nights which was very darke and tempestuous with winde and raine because we thought we should haue perished being very neere the shore we prayed vnto God that he would vouchsafe to ayde and saue vs without calling our sinnes to remembrance And straightway wee saw vpon the shrowdes of the Trinity as it were a candle which of it selfe shined and gaue a light whereat all the company greatly reioyced in such sort that wee ceased not to giue thankes vnto God Whereupon we assured our selues that of his mercie hee would guide and saue vs and would not suffer vs to perish as indeede it fell out for the neâ—â— day wee had good weather and all the mariners sayd that it was the light of Saint Elmo which appeared on the shrowdes and they saluted it with their songs and prayers These stormes tooke vs betweene the Isles of Saint Iago and Saint Philip and the Isle called Isla de perlas lying ouer against the point of California supposed to be firme land Chap. 7. Sayling on their way they discouer a pleasant
Countrey and in their iudgement greatly inhabited and finde the Sea-coast very deepe They went to discouer or viewe the Isle of perles And by a current one of their ships is separated from the other and with great ioy after three dayes they had sight again of her and following their voyage they discouer certaine great greene and pleasant plaines WE began to sayle along the coast the seuenth or eight of Nouember the land alwayes shewing very greene with grasse pleasant to behold and certaine plaines neere the shore and vp within the countrey many pleasant hils replenished with wood and certaine valleys so that wee were delighted aboue measure and wondered at the greatnes and goodly hiew of the countrey euery night we saw fires which shewed that the countrey is greatly inhabited Thus we proceeded on our voyage vntill the tenth of the sayd moneth of Nouember hauing alwayes the coast of the maine Ocean on our right hand and the farther we sailed wee alwayes found the countrey more delight some and pleasant as well in beholding the greennes therof as also in that it shewed certaine plaines and deepe valleys through which riuers did fall downe into the land within certaine mountaines and hilles full of great woods which were not very high and appeared within the countrey Here we were 54 leagues distant from California little more or lesse alwayes toward the Southwest seeing in the night three or foure fires whereby it appeareth that the countrey is inhabited and full of people for the greatnes of the countrey argueth no lesse and we supposed that there must needs bee great townes inhabited within the land although in this poynt we were of diuers opinions The sea is so deepe on all this coast that we could scarce find ground in 54 fadomes On the greatest part of the coast there are hilles of very white sand and it seemeth to be a dangerous coast because of the great and swift tides which goe there for the sand sheweth so much for the space of ten or twelue leagues for so the Pilots affirmed This day being Saturday the winde increased and wee had sight of the Isle of pearles which on this side of the gulfe appeareth with a deepe valley all couered ouer with trees and sheweth much fairer then on the other side and wee entred into the Porte of Santa Cruz. From the ninth of Nouember to the fifteenth we sayled not aboue tenne leagues because we had contrary winds and great showres and besides this we had another mischance which did not a little grieue vs for wee lost company of the ship called The Trinitie and could neuer see her for the space of three dayes whereupon wee suspected that shee was returned home vnto New Spaine or that she was seuered from our company wherefore we were grieued out of measure to see our selues so left alone and the Captaine of all others was most sad though he ceased not to encourage vs to proceede on our voyage saying that notwithstanding all this wee ought not to leaue off this enterprise which we had begunne and that though we were left alone we should deserue the greater commendation and credite whereupon wee all answered him that wee would not haue him thinke that any of vs would euer be discouraged but that we would follow him vntill hee should thinke it reasonable that we should not proceede any further in the enterprise and that we were in danger of perishing and that vntill then wee would bee at his commandement but withall we perswaded him that after he had seene any great difficulty to proceede any further he should doe well to returne backe to make relation of our successe to the R. H. lord the Marques de valle Hereupon he made an Oration vnto vs wherein he told vs that he could not beleeue much lesse could imagine wherefore the shippe called the Trinitie should returne into Newe Spaine nor why she should willingly depart from vs and goe vnto any other place and that he thought by all reason that some current had caried her out of our sight and that through contrary weather and tempests she could not fetch vs vp and that not withstanding all that which we had done in the voyage he had an instruction that if by chance we were separated one from the other wee were to take this course to meete againe together namely to returne backe eight or tenne leagues to seeke one another beyond certaine head-lands which lay out into the sea and that therefore we should doe well to returne to seeke her vp This sentence pleased vs all and so returning to seeke her we espied her two leagues distant from vs comming toward vs with a fresh gale of winde where at we greatly reioyced Thus being come together we ankered for that day because the weather seemed very contrary and the Captaine chid them for their negligence in sayling because they had in such sort lost our company and they excused themselues that they could doe no lesse because a current had caried them away aboue three leagues whereby they could neuer reach vnto vs. The next day being the sixeteenth of Nouember wee set forward but sayled very little for the North and North west winds were against vs. Here we discouered certaine plaines in my iudgement very great and greene and right before vs we could not discerne any mountaines or woods whereat wee marueiled to see so great a countrey And wee met an Indian in a Canoa on the shore whereon the sea did breake who stayed to beholde vs a great while and oftentimes hee lifted vp himselfe to view vs the better then returned backe along the coast we vsed al diligence to see whether he would come out further from the shore to giue him chace and to trie whether we could catch him but he very cunningly viewed vs without comming neere vnto vs and returned to the shore with his Canoa Here we saw in the euening but one fire and wist not whether it were done by the cunning of the Indians because they would not haue vs know that there were people there or that it was so indeede From the said 16 day of Nouember vntill the 24 of the same moneth we could not proceede on our way aboue 12 or 15 leaguesâ— and looking into our Sea-chart we found our selues distant from the Xaguges of the port of Santa Cruz about 70 leagues Now on the 24 day being munday very early in the morning we beganne to take very good view of that Countrey and all along the coast we saw many faire plaines with certaine furrowes made in the midst like vnto halfe plaines the said plaine still appearing vp into the Countrey with pleasant champions because the grasse which grew there was very beautifull short and greene and good pasture for cattell Howbeit because we rode so farre off we could not perfectly iudge what kind of grasse it was but it shewed very short and greene
great depth of water so neere the shore Being gone abord our botes we made toward the shore ouer against a village of the Indians who as soone as they saw vs about to come on laud left an hill whereon they stood to behold what we did came downe to the shore where we were prepared to come on land but before they came against vs they caused their women and children to fly into the mountaines with their goods then came directly towards vs threatning vs with certaine great staâ—es which they carried in their handes some 3 yardes long and thicker then a mans wrest but perceiuing that for all this we ceased not to come neere the sea shore to come on land they began to charge vs with stones and to fling cruelly at vs and they hit 4 or 5 men among whom they smote the Generall with two stones In the meane while the other bote landed a little beneath whereupon when they saw that they were forced to diuide themselues to keepe the rest of our company from comming on land they began to be discouraged and did not assaile the Generals boate so fiercely who began to cause his people to goe on shore with no small trouble for albeit he was neere the land yâ—â— as soone as they leape out of the boat they sunke downe because they could finde no fall footing and thus swimming or otherwise as they could first a souldier called Spinosa got on land and next to him the General and then some of the rest and began to make head against the Indians and they came hastily with those staues in their hands for other kinds of weapons we saw none sauing bowes and arrowes of pine-tree After a short combate they brake in pieces the targets of the Generall and of Spinosa In the meane while those of the other boat were gotten on land but not without much difficultie by reason of the multitude of stones which continually rained downe vpon them and they stroke Terazzo on the head a very shrowd blow and had it not bene for our targets many of vs had beene wounded and in great distresse although our enemies were but few in number In this maner all our company came on shore with swimming and with great difficultie and if they had not hoâ—pen one another some of them had bene drawned Thus we landed and within a while after those of the other bote were come on land the Indians be tooke themselues to flight taking their way toward the mountaines whether they had sent their women children and goods on the other side we pursued them one of those Indians which came to assaile the Generals boat was slaine vpon the strand two or three others were wounded and some said more While we pursued them in this maner our mastiue dogge Berecillo ouertooke one of them not farre from vs who because we were so wet could not run very fast and pulled him downe hauing bitten him cruelly and doubtlesse he had held him till we had come vnlesse it had happened that another of his companions had not followed that Indian which the dogge had pulled downe who with a staffe which he had in his hands gaue the dogge a cruell blow on the backe and without any staying drew his fellow along like a Deere and Berecillo was faine to leaue him for paine neither had he scarse taken the dogge off on him but the Indian got vp and fled so hastily towarde the mountaine that within a short while hee ouertooke his fellowe which had saued him from the pawes of the dogge who as it appeared betooke him Iustily to his heeles and thus they came vnto their fellowes which descended not downe to the shore being about some twentie and they were in all about fiftie or sixtie After we had breathed our selues a while we viewed their houses where they stood which were certaine cottages couered with shrubs like broome and rosemary with certaine stakes pight in the ground and the Generall willed vs to march all together without dispersing of our selues a little way vp those mountaines to see if there were any water and wood because we stood in great neede of them both And while we marched forward we saw in certaine little vallies the goods which the women had left there behind them in their flight for the Indians as soone as they saw vs pursue them ouertooke the women and for feare charged them to flie away with their children leauing their stuffe in this place We went vnto this booty and found good store of fresh-fish and dried fish and certaine bags containing aboue 28 pound weight full of dried fish ground to pouder and many seal-skins the most part dressed with a faire white graine vpon them and others very badly dressed There were also their instruments to fish withall as hookes made of the prickes of certaine shrubs and trees Here we tooke the said skins without leauing any one in the place and then we returned to the sea because it was â—ow night or at least very late and found our botes waiting for vs. Chap. 13. A description of the Canoas of the Indians of the I le of Cedars and how coasting the same to find fresh water they found some and desiring to take thereof they went on shore and were diuersly molested with the weapons of the Indians They christen an old Indian and returne vnto their ships THe Canoas which they had were certaine thicke trunkes of Cedars some of them of the â—hicknesse of two men and three fadome long being not made hollow at all but being laid along and fastened together they shoue them into the sea neither were they plained to any purpose for we found no kind of edge-toole sauing that there were certaine sharp stones which we found vpon certaine rockes that were very keene wherewith we supposed that they did cut flea those seales And neere the shore we found certaine water wherewith we filled certaine bottles made of the skins of those seales contayning ech of them aboue a great paile of water The next day our Generall commanded vs so set saile whereupon saâ—ling with a fresh gale about 2 leagues from the shore of this Iland trending about the same to see the end thereof and also to approch neere the firme land to informe our selues of the state thereof because we had seene 5 or 6 fires we compassed the same about for by this meanes we performed 2 or 3 good actions namely we returned to our right course and searched whether any riuer fell out of the coast of the firme land or whether there were any trees there or whether any store of Indians did shew themselues or no. In this maner proceeding on our way all the Friday being the 16 of Ianuary at euening and seeking to double the point of the Iland so fierce and contrary a Northren winde encountered vs that it draue vs backe that night ouer against the lodgings and
inhabited in a riuer by thâ—m called the riuer of May and standing in thirty degrees and better In ranging this coast along the captaine found it to be all an Island and therefore it is all lowe land and very scant of fresh water but the countrey was maruellously sweet with both marish and medow ground and goodly woods among There they found sorell to grow as abundantly as grasse and where their houses were great store of maiz and mill and grapes of great bignesse but of taste much like our English grapes Also Deere great plentie which came vpon the sands before them Their houses are not many together â—or in one house an hundred of them do lodge they being made much like a great barne and in strength not inferiour to ours for they haue stanchions and rafters of whole trees and are couered with palmito-leaues hauing no place diuided but one small roome for their king and queene In the middest of this house is a hearth where they make great fires all night and they sleepe vpon certeine pieces of wood hewâ—n in for the bowing of their backs and another place made high for their heads which they put one by another all along the walles on both sides In their houses they remaine onely in the nights and in the day they desire the fields where they dresse their meat and make prouision for victuals which they prouide onely for a meale from hand to mouth There is one thing to be maruellâ—d at for the making of their fire and not onely they but also the Negros doe the same which is made onely by two stickes rubbing them one against another and this they may doe in any place they come where they finde sticks sufficient for the purpose In their apparell the men onely vse deere skinnes wherewith some onely couer their priuy members othersome vse the same as garments to couer them before and behind which skinnes are painted some yellow and red some blacke russet and euery man according to his owne fancy They do not omit to paint their bodies also with curious knots or antike worke as euery man in his owne fancy deuiseth which painting to make it continue the better they vse with a thorne to pricke their flesh and dent in the same whereby the painting may haue better hold In their warres they vse a sleighter colour of painting their faces thereby to make themselues shew the more fierce which after their warres ended they wash away againe In their warres they vse bowes and arrowes whereof their bowes are made of a kind of Yew but blacker then ours and for the most part passing the strength of the Negros or Indians for it is not greatly inferior to ours their arrowes are also of a great length but yet of reeds like other Indians but varying in two points both in length and and also for nocks and feathers which the other lacke whereby they shoot very stedy the heads of the same are vipers teeth bones of fishes flint stones piked points of kniues which they hauing gotten of the French men broke the same put the points of them in their arrowes heads some of them haue their heads of siluer othersome that haue want of these put in a kinde of hard wood notched which pierceth as farre as any of the rest In their fight being in the woods they vse a maruellous pollicie for their owne safegard which is by clasping a tree in their armes and yet shooting notwithstanding this policy they vsed with the French men in their fight whereby it appeareth that they are people of some policy and although they are called by the Spanyards Gente triste that is to say Bad people meaning thereby that they are not men of capacity yet haue the French men found them so witty in their answeres that by the captaines owne report a counseller with vs could not giue a more profound reason The women also for their apparell vse printed skinnes but most of them gownes of mosse somewhat longer then our mosse which they sowe together artificially and make the same surplesse wise wearing their haire downe to their shoulders like the Indians In this riuer of May aforesayd the captaine entring with his pinnesse found a French ship of fourescore tun and two pinnesses of fifteene tun a piece by her and speaking with the keepers thereof they tolde him of a fort two leagues vp which they had built in which their captaine Monsieur Laudonniere was with certeine souldiers therein To whom our captaine sending to vnderstand of a watering-place where he might conueniently take it in and to haue licence for the same he straight because there was no conuenient place but vp the riuer fiue leagues where the water was fresh did send him a pilot for the more expedition thereof to bring in one of hiâ— barks which going in with other boats prouided for the same purpose ankered before the fort into the which our captaine went where hee was by the Generall with other captaines and souldiers very gently enterteined who declared vnto him the time of their being there which was fourteene moneths with the extremity they were driuen to for want of victuals hauing brought very little with them in which place they being two hundred men at their first comming had in short space eaten all the maiz they could buy of the inhabitants about them and therefore were driuen certaine of them to serue a king of the Floridians against other his enemies for mill and other victuals which hauing gotten could not serue them being so many so long a time but want came vpon them in such sort that they were faine to gather acorns which being stamped small and often washed to take away the bitternesse of them they did vse for bread eating withall sundry times roots whereof they found many good and holesome and such as serue rather for medecines then for meates alone But this hardnesse no contenting some of them who would not take the paines so much as to fish in the riuer before their doores but would haue all things put in their mouthes they did rebell against the captaine taking away first his armour and afterward imprisoning him and so to the number of fourescore of them departed with a barke and a pinnesse spoiling their store victuall and taking away a great part thereof with them and so went to the Islands of Hispaniola and Iamaica a rouing where they spoiled and pilled the Spanyards and hauing taken two carauels laden with wine and casaui which is a bread made of roots and much other victuals and treasure had not the grace to depart therewith but were of such haughty stomacks that they thought their force to be such that no man durst meddle with them and so kept harborow in Iamaica going dayly ashore at their pleasure But God which would not suffer such euill doers vnpunished did indurate their hearts in such sort that
wee espied one gallie vnder our â—ee hard by vs boging vp with vs. Then because it was euening one of the great ships discharged sixe great shot at vs to the ende the gallies should knowe that wee were the shippe they looked for Then the gallie came vp and hayling vs of whence our shippe was a Portugall which wee had with vs made them answere that we were of the fleete of â—ierra firma and of Siuil with that they bid vs amaine English dogs and came vpon our quarter star-boord and giuing vs fiue cast pieces out of her prowe they sought to lay vs aboord but wee so galled them with our muskets that we put them from our quarter Then they winding their gallie came vp into our sterne and with the way that the gallie had did so violently thrust in the boordes of our captaines cabbin that her nose came into it minding to giue vs all their prowe and so to sinke vs. But wee being resoluteâ— so plyed them with our small shot that they could haue no time to discharge their great ordinance and when they began to approch wee heaued into them a ball of fire and by that meanâ—s put them off whereupon they once againe fell asterne of vs and gaue vs a prowe Then hauing the second time put them off wee went to prayer and sang the first part of the 25. Psalme praysing God sor our safe deliuerance This being done we might see 2. gallies and a frigat all three of them bending themselues together to encounter vs hereupon we eftsoones commending our estate into the hands of God armed our selues and resolued for the honour of God her Maiestie and our countrey to fight it out till the last man Then shaking a pike of fire in dâ—fâ—ance of the enemie and weauing them amaine we bad them come aboord and an Englishman in the gallie made answer that they would come aboord presently So managing our selues to our furniture and euery moment expecting the assault wee heard them parle to this effect that they determined to keepe vs companie till the morning and then to make an end with vs then giuing vs another shot from one of the gallies they fell asterne Thus our fight continued with the shippes and with the gallies from seuen of the clock in the morning till eleuen at night Howbeit God which neuer faileth them that put their trust in him sent vs a gale of winde about two of the clocke in the morning at Eastnortheast which was for the preuenting of their crueltie and the sauing of our liues Also the Lord be praised for it in all this dangerous fight wee had not one man slame and but 2. hurt but our sayles and ropes were so rent with their shot that it was wonderfull to behold our maine mast also was shot cleane through whereby wee were in exceeding great danger Thus our consortes forsooke vs and left vs in these extremities The next day being the 14. of Iune in the morning wee sawe all our aduersaries to lee-ward of vs and they espying vs chased vs till 10. of the clocke and then seeing they could not preuaile gaue vs ouer So that day about 5. of the clocke in â—he afternoone we bare vp to the Southwest in hope to finde our consortes but we had no sight of them at that time nor afterward Then stoode we in all that night for the Cape of S. Anthonie hoping there to see our Admirall according to his direction The 15. day of Iune early in the morning we desâ—ryed the Spanish fleete againe being within 5. leagues of Cape S. Anthonie Then hauing no sight of our consortes wee stoode for the place according to the direction of our owner sir George Carcy where we did plie for the space of 23. dayes and neuer could see any sayle but two frigats which wee gaue chase vnto the 24. of Iune and could not fet them vp Thus we giue God most humble thankes for our fafe deliuerance from the cruell enemie which hath beene more mightie by the prouidence of God then any tongue can expresse to whom bee all prayse honour and glory both now and euer Amen Appendix THe barke called The Content had but one Minion one Falcon one Saker 2. port-bases She continued fight from seuen in the morning til sunset with 3. armadas of 600. and 700. tunnes apiece and one small shippe of 100. tunnes not being aboue musket shot from any of them And before the sunne was set there came vp to her two of the kings gallies Besides the Armadas shot their great ordinance continually at her not so few as 500. times And the sides hull and mastes of the Content were sowed thicke with musket bullets Moreouer all their sheats tops and shrowdes were almost cut insunder with their great small shot There passed from the galies each whereof came thrise vp to her discharged fiue great pieces at a time out of euery their prowes forthright within three yards of her poope through her maine saile 19. great shot through her main top-saile foure through her fore-saile seuen through her fore-top-saile fiue and through her maine maste one The vpper part of the Content was hurt in fiue places Onely 13. men continued this fight the rest being in holde A frigat of the Spaniards being afterward taken confessed that there were in the gallies aboue 40. Spaniards slaine and many were hurt in that combate The names of those 13. persons that continued the fight Nicolas Lisle Captaine M. Major Lieutenant William King Master Iohn Barwick Mrs. mateâ— William Clement gunner Thomas Houldships Bote-swaine Charles Creame Thomas Godfrey Giles Thornton Iohn Pells Iohn Bourel Ralph Grey William Heore The names of the rest be these following Iohn Pie Iohn Smith Iohn White Iohn Butcher Iohn Brooke Iohn Twopenie Edmund Giggs William Bateman William White Laurence Shellie A true report of a voyage vndertaken for the West Indies by M. Christopher Newport Generall of a fleete of three shippes and a pinnesse viz. The golden Dragon Admirall whereof was Captaine M. Newport himselfe The Prudence Vice-admirall vnder the conduct of Captaine Hugh Merrick The Margaret vnder Captaine Robert Fred and The Virgin our pinnesse vnder Captaine Henry Kidgil Begun from London the 25. of Ianuarie 1591. Written by M. Iohn Twitt of Harewich Corporall in the Dragon In which voyage they tooke and burnt vpon the coast of Hispaniola within the bay of Honduras and other places 3. townes and 19. saile of shippes and frigatsâ— THe 12. day of Februarie An. 1591. we set saile from Douer roade and hauing a prosperous winde the 27. day of the same moneth wee fell with Cape Cantin on the coast of Barbarie and on the 28. wee arriued at Santa Cruz roade where hauing refreshed our selues some 3. or 4. dayes we put off to sea againe and about the 5. of March wee passed by the Ilands of the Canaries and hauing a fauourable wind the 4. of April An. 1592. we fell
as they molested vs in our watering so they stept not in other deuises but put in practise to burne our ships or remoue them out of the harbour For within some 20 dayes after our comming in they had prepared 5 Carauels and filled them with such tâ—ings as would best take fire and burne these they brought within a mile or little more of our ships and there set them on fire for neerer they could not well come because of our watch of boates for as is aboue said the Admirall had alwaies 6 boates that kept watch aboue halfe a mile from the ships for feare of such exploytes as these which was the cause they could not fire them so neere the ships as they would haue done But these fired Carauels had the tide with them and also the little winde that blewe was in their fauour which caused them to come downe the streame the faster which our boats perceiuing made to them with as much expedition as conueniently they could but the tide and wind both seruing them they approched toward the ships with great expedition Our men in the towne began to be in some feare of them yet no man mooued or started froÌ„ his quarter more then if there had bene nothing to doe Also the masters and such as were aboord were somewhat amased to see 5 so great fires to be comming downe among their ships but they prepared for to cleere thâ—m of it as well as they could being prouided afore hande iudging that some such sâ—râ—tagems would be there vsed the riuer being very fit therefore But God be thanked who was alwaies with vs our best defence in this voyage by whose assistance we performed this so great an attempt with so small forces Our companie in the boats so played the men when they saw the fires come neere our ships that casting grapnels with yron chaines on them as euery boat had one for that purpose some they towed aground and some they brought to a bitter or anker where thâ—y rode tâ—ll all their force was burned out so we were deliuered by Gods helpe from this fearefull danger Within some 6 nights after this which might be about the 26 day after our comming in abode there about 11 of the clocke at night came driuing downe other 3 great raftes burning with â—he hugest fires that I haue seene These were eâ—ceeding dangerous for when our men approched theÌ„ thinking to clap their grapnels vpon them as they had done vpon the Carauels the night before they were preuented for there stooke out of the rafts many poles which kept them from the body of the rafts that they could not come to throw their grapnels into theÌ„ yet they had this inconuenience worse then al the rest which most troubled vs. There stooke out among the poles certaine hollow trunks filled with such prouision of fire-workes that they ceased not stâ—lâ— as the fire came downe to those trunks to set theÌ„ on fire to spout out such sparkles that our boats hauing powder in them for our mens vse durst not for feare of fyring theÌ„selues with their owne powder come nâ—ere those sparkles of the raftes but seeing them to driue neerer neerer our ships they wet certain clothes and laid vpon their flaskes and bandelers and so ventured vpon them with their grapnels tooke holde of them and so towed them on ground where they stooke fast were not burnt out the neâ—â— day in the morning Diuerse logs and timbers came driuing along by our ships and burning but with our boats we easily defended them And thus God be praysed we escaped the second fires A third firing was prepared as a Negro gaue vs to vnderstand but this we preuented by our departure For this third firing were very great preparations and we were credibly informed of certainetie that this firing should be such as we should neuer be able to preuent and assuredly these fires be dangerous things and not to be preuented vpon the sudden vnlesse it be afore prepared for and foreseene For when it commeth vpon the sudden and vnlooked for and vnprouided for it bringeth men into a great amazement and at their wits ende And therefore let all men riding in riuers in their enemies countrey be sure to looke to be prouided before hand for against fire there is no resistance without preparation Also it is a practise in these hot countreys where there be such expert swimmers to cut the cables of ships and one night it was practised to cut the Admirals cable and yet the boate rode by the cable with two men in her to watch all the night and the bwoy onely was cut but not the cable but after that night seeing then our good watch they neuer after attempted it While all these things passed our ships God be thanked thorow the industry of our gouernours and diligent labour of our men began to be wholly laden and all the best marchandize conueyed aboord our ships so that our Admirall ment to depart that night which was the 31 day after our entrance or else on the next day at the farthest and so warning was giuen to all men to make themselues readie Our Admiral being aboord his ship y e same morning espyed in the sands right against the place where the ships rode that there was a small banke of sand newly cast vp vnder which he perceiued now and then some people to be presently he tooke his boat and went to the towne and called all the Captaines together declaring that the enemies were about some pretence right against the ships consulting whether it were best to sally out see what they were doing or depart that euening according to the former determination The Admirall was of opinion to depart that night saying it was but folly to seeke warres since we had no neede to doe it other affirmed it were good to see what they did least the winde might be contrarie and the ships not get out and so our enemies may build vpon vs to our great disaduantage Well said the Admiral the matter is not great for there can be no danger in this sally for where they worke it is within Falkon-shot of the ships and if any power should come against you the ships may play vpon them with 40 peeces of ordinance at the least so that a bird cannot passe there but she must be slaine I am somewhat vnwilling you should go for I haue not bene well these two dayes and I am not strong to march vpon those heauie sands they answered all at once you shall not neede to trouble your selfe for this seruice for you see it is nothing and of no danger being so neere the ships doubt you not we will accomplish this seruice well ynough and returne againe within this houre The Admirall answered the danger cannot be great but yet you shall goe out strong for feare of the worst And so the Admirall marshalled them 275 men French and English