without hauing any remedie of cure §. II. Of their manner of killing and eating of humane flesh and of their creating Gentlemen OF all the honours and pleasures of this life none is so great for this people as to kill and get a name on the heads of their Aduersaries neither are there among them any Feasts comparable to those which they make at the death of those which they kill with great Ceremonies which they doe in this manner Those which beeing taken in the Warre are appointed to die came presently from thence with a token which is a small coard about his necke and if hee bee a man that may runnne away he hath one hand tied to his necke vnder his chinne And before they come to the Townes that are by the way they paint their eie-lids eie-browes and their beards polling them after fashion and enpluming them with Yellow feathers so well placed that yee can see no haire which makes them so gallant as the Spaniards in their rich Apparell and so they goe sharing their victorie whereby soeuer they passe When they come to their owne Countrie the women came out to receiue them showting altogether and striking themselues on the mouth which is a common entertainment among them without any other vexation or imprisonment except that they weare about the necke a round collar like a coard of a good bignesse as hard as a sticke In this collar they beginne to weaue a great manie fathomes of small coard as long as a womans haire fastened aboue with a certaine knot and loose vnderneath and so it goeth from eare to eare behind the backe horrible to looke on And if it be on the Frontier where hee may runne away they put him in stead of shackels below the knees a string of threed twisted verie hard which is too weake for any Knife but that they haue Keepers that goe not one moment from him whether he goe about the houses to the Woods or by the Fields for he hath libertie for all this and commonly the keeper is one that is giuen him for wife and also for to dresse his meate with the which if his Masters doe giue him no meate as the custome is he taketh a Bow and Arrowes and shooteth at the first Henne he seeth or at a Ducke be it whosesoeuer and none doth contradict him and so he waxeth fat neither breaking therefore his sleepe his laughter or his pleasure as the rest and some are as contented though they are to bee eaten that in no wise they will consent to be ransomed for to serue for they say that it is a wretched thing to die and lie stinking and eaten with Wormes These women are commonly faithfull in their charge for they receiue honour thereby and therefore manie times they are young and daughters of the chiefe especially if their brothers are to be the slaiers For those which haue not this interest manie times affect them in such manner that not onely they giue them leaue to runne away but they also doe goe with them neither haue the women any other punishment if they bee taken againe then a few strokes and sometimes they are eaten of those same to whom they gaue life The time when he shall die being determined the women beginne to make vessels that is Bowles Traies and Pots for the Wines so great that euerie one will hold a pipe This being readie as well the principall as the rest doe send their Messengers to inuite others from sundrie places against such a Moone about tenne or twelue leagues compasse or more for the which none doth excuse himselfe The guests doe come in Mogotes or troupes with their wiues and children and all of them doe enter the Towne with Dancers and all the time the people are a gathering together there is Wine for the guests for without it all the other entertainments are nothing worth The people being assembled the Feasts beginne some daies before according to the number and certaine ceremonies preceding and euerie one lasteth a day First they haue for this certaine coards of Cotton-wooll of a reasonable bignesse not twisted but wouen of a verie faire worke it is a thing among them of great esteeme and none hath them but some principall men and according to their finenesse and workmanship and their taking pleasure it is to be beleeued that they are not made in a yeere These are alwaies verie safely kept and are carried to the place with great feast great noise in certain traies where a Master of these things doth tie two knots within from that which one of the points do run in such maner that in the midst there remaineth a noose These knots are so fine that few are found that can make them for some of them haue ten casts about fiue crossing ouer the other fiue as if one should crosse the fingers of the right hand ouer the left after they die them with thewater of a white clay like lime let them drie On the second day they bring a great number of burdens of wilde Canes or Reeds as long as Lances or more and at night they set them on fire in a round heape the points vpward leaning one to another and so they make a great and faire high bone-fire round about the which are men and women dancing with sheaues of arrowes at their backe but they goe very swiftly for hee that is to die which seeth them better then hee is seene because of the fire catcheth hold of all that he can and catcheth them and they beeing many hee misseth few times At the third day they make a dance of men and women all of them with pipes of Canes and all of them at once doe stampe on the ground now with one foot then with the other all together without missing a stroke and obseruing the same measure they play on their pipes and there is no other singing nor speaking they being many and the Canes some bigger and some smaller besides the resounding in the Woods they make a Hel-seeming harmonie but they abide it as if it were the sweetest Musicke in the World And these are their feasts besides others which they intermingle with many graces and soothsayings On the fourth day they carrie the captiued enemie as soone as the day breakes to wash him at a Riuer and they while the time that when they doe returne it may be broad day light comming i 〈…〉 o the Towne the Prisoner goeth presently with a watchfull eye for hee knoweth not out of what house or doore a valiant man is to come out to him that is to catch hold of him behind For as all their happinesse doth consist in dying valiantly and the ceremonie that followeth is now the neerest vnto death as he which is to lay hold of him doth shew his forces in ouer-comming him himselfe alone without any other helpe so he will shew courage and force in resisting him and sometimes he doth
either of a great number of ships with the which he consumed as with fire and lightning flashing from Heauen all those peoples Of new Spaine and Panuco and Xalisco AFter the exceeding cruelties and slaughters aforesaid and the others which I haue omitted which haue beene executed in the Prouinces of New Spaine and Panuco there came to Panuco another Tyrant cruell and vnbrideled in the yeere 1â—25 Who in committing very many cruelties and in branding many for slaues after the manner aforesaid which were all free and in sending very many ships laden to Cuba and Hispaniola where they might best make merchandise of them he atchieued the desolation of this Prouince And it hath come to passe in his time that there hath beene giuen for one Mare eight hundred Indians soules partakers of reason And this man from this roome was promoted to be President of Mexico and of all the Prouince of New Spaine and there were promoted with him other Tyrants to the offices of Auditorships in the which dignities they set forward also this Countrie into so extreme a desolation that if God had not kâ—pt them by meanes of the resistaâ—ce of the religious men of Saint Francis Order and if that there had not beene prouided with all speed a Court of Audience and the Kings Counsell in those parts friend to all vertue they had layd waste all New Spaine as they haue done the I le of Nispaniola There was a man amongst those of the companie of this Captaine who to the end to enclose a Garden of his with a wall kept in his workes eight thousand Indians without paying them ought nor giuing them to eate in manner â—hat they died falling downe suddenly and hee neuer tooke the more thought for the matter After that the chiefe Captaine which I spake of had finished the laying waste of Panuco and that hee vnderstood the newes of the comming of the Kings Court of Audience hee aduised with himselfe to proceed farther into the innermost parts of the Realme to search where hee might tyrannize at his ease and drew by force out of the Prouince of Mexico fifteene or twentie thousand men to the end that they should carrie the loades and carriages of the Spaniards which went with him of whom there neuer returned againe two hundred the others being dead on the high-wayes He came at the Prouince of Mechuacham which is distant from Mexico fortie leagues a Region as blissefull and full of Inhabitants as is that of Mexico The King and Lord of the Countrey went to receiue him with an infinite companie of people which did vnto them a thousand seruices and curtesies He apprehended him by and by for that he had the bruit to be very rich of Gold and siluer and to the end that he should giue him great treasures he beganne to giue him the torments and put him in a paire of stockes by the feet his body stretched out and his hands bound to a stake he maketh a flashing fire against his feet and there a boy with a basting sprinkle soked in Oyle in his hand stood and basted them a little and a little to the end to well rost the skinne There was in one side of him a cruell man the which with a Cros-bow bent aymed right at his heart on the other side another which held a Dog snarling and leaping vp as to runne vpon him which in lesse then the time of a Credo had beene able to haue torne him in pieces and thus they tormented him to the end hee should discouer the treasures which they desired vntill such time as a religious man of Saint Francis Order tooke him away from them notwithstanding that hee died of the same torments They tormented and slue of this fashion very many of the Lords and Cacikes in these Prouinces to the end that they should giue them Gold and Siluer At the same time a certaine tyrant found that certaine Indians had hid their Idols as those which had neuer beene better instructed by the Spaniards of any better God hee apprehended and detayned prisoners the Lords vntill such time as that they would giue them their Idols supposing all this while they had beene of Gold or of Siluer howbeit they were not so wherefore he chastised them cruelly and vniustly But to the end he would not remayne frustrate of his intent which was to spoyle he constrayned the Cacikes to redeeme their said Idols and they redeemed them for such Gold and Siluer as they could finde to the end to worship them for Gods as they had beene wont to doe aforetime This great Captaine passed farther from Mechuacham to the Prouince of Xalisco the which was all whole most full of people and most happie For it is one of the most fertilest and most admirable Countrie of the Indies which had Burrowes contayning in a manner seuen leagues As he entred this Countrey the Lord with the Inhabitants according as all the Indians are accustomed to doe went to receiue him with presents and ioyfulnesse Hee began to commit his cruelties and mischieuousnesse which hee had learned and all the rest had beene accustomed to practise which is to heape vp Gold which is their God Hee burned Townes hee tooke the Cacikes prisoners and gaue them torments Hee made slaues all that hee tooke Whereof there died an infinite number tyed in chaines The women new deliuered of child-birth going laden with the stuffe of euill Christians and being not able to beare their owne children because of trauell and hunger were faine to cast them from them in the wayes whereof there died an infinite An euill Christian taking by force a young Damsell to abuse her the mother withstood him and as shee would haue taken her away the Spaniard drawing his Dagger or Rapier cut off her hand and slue the young girle with slashes of his weapon because shee would not consent to his appetite Amongst many other things he caused vniustly to be marked for slaues foure thousand and fiue hundred soules as free as they men women and sucking babes from of a yeere and a halfe old vnto three or foure yeeres old which notwithstanding had gone before them in peace to receiue them with an infinite number of other things that haue not beene set downe in writing His Stewards slue very many of the Indians hanging them and burning them aliue and casting some vnto the Dogs cutting off their feet hands head and tongue they being in peace onely to bring them into a feare to the end they should serue him It is said of him that he hath destroyed and burned in this Realme of Xalisco eight hundred Burrowes which was the cause that the Indians being fallen desperate and seeing those which remayned how they perished thus cruelly they lift vp themselues and went into the Mountaines slaying certaine Spaniards howbeit by good right And afterwards because of the wickednesses and outrages of other tyrants now being which passed by that way to
fine Sand. Not twenty paces from the wash of the Sea digging a hole and setting therein a Hogshead the head knocked out water is plentifully taken seeming to be no other then the Sea water losing the saltnesse in that passage Thence they went to the Riuer of Socko about 5. l. Eastward of Saint Domingo and went in the night 4. l. vp and suddenly surprised an Estanca that is a Farme place where slaues keepe the great mens cattle make their Cassaui bread dresse their Ginger and Fruites and doe other offices of Husbandry Being thereof possessed they came to parlie for ransome of their Houses and for their Negros for which they gaue them the flesh of thirtie Beeues with Cassaui and Fruites Beefe will not keepe in those parts aboue foure and twenty houres vnlesse first salted and then dried in the Sunne being first cut into two sides like Bacon without any bone left in it nor any peece of flesh thicker then a mans hand It must first be searched with a Knife then rubbed ouer with Salt and hauing so remained twelue houres must be dried in the Sunne and foure hot dayes drying will saue it sufficiently Other Estanças being likewise taken yeelded like contributions From thence they went vpon another Riuer called Marracaua where there was an Ingenio of Sugars which they tooke for their prouisions and caused the owner to ransome it from burning Thence they went to the mouth of the harbour of Saint Domingo and rid there at the East side of the same at Point Torrosilio to intercept any Shipping comming forth The Sergeant Mayor came hither to treat for ransome of some prisoners and with him an Englishman of Captaine Lancaesters company of Captain Raymunds fleete whose Ship was newly cast away comming out of the East Indres into those parts a little to the West of Saint Domingo at Acoa The Spaniards set forth two Caruels to intercept the Boates which they did but the Ships recouered the taken and takers together They brought foure brasse Falcons of Captaine Lancasters Ship ten others of Iron they left for the heauinesse being somewhat farre from the water They tooke also a fine Friggot hidden vnder the trees which they brought for England Thence they went for Iamaica and there found two Barkes laden with Hides and Cannafistula one of which they manned and sent for England taken by a French man of warre by the way Thence they went to Cuba to Cape Corientes and Cape Saint Antonio to expect shipping comming for the Hauana but in vaine Thus after eight moneths spent in the Countrey the Antonie and the Frigot went to the Bay of Honduras the Pilgrime at Hauana spent some few dayes and then set saile for England where they arriued in Plimmouth May 14. 1594. The Antonie and the Frigot within foure leagues of Porto cauallo descried seuen Shippes in the Road the least of ninescore tun They anchored within Caliuar shot of the Spanish Shippes and moored their Ships a head and sterne and bent their broad sides vnto them and there fought all that day with those seuen Shippes and all night now and then a shot Captaine Langton sent the Boate and Shallop to the shore from whence they brought a Frigot of twenty tunne The next morning they fired the Frigot and with their Boates purposed to bring her crosse the Admirals halfe But when they saw them comming they all ranne into the Boates and got ashore The Admirall let slippe the other sixe vnhanged their Rudders and carried them ashore that none should saile away with the Shippes if they were taken They laded the Admirall with the best out of all the Shippes and sent ashore to know if they would ransome the rest which they delaying they fired one of them laden with Hides and Logwood and then another laden with Susaparill But the King of Spaine had forbidden them any ransoming and they came not All their Ordnance was heaued ouerboord sauing two or three Brasse peeces in hope some Englishmen might be the better for them afterward One of them was a Shippe of fiue hundred tunnes They brought away the Admirall of 250. and came into Plimmouth the fifteenth of May the next day after the Pilgrims arriuall ANno 1594. The Earle of Cumberland on his owne charge with the helpe of some aduenturers set forth for the Tercera Ilands the Royall Exchange Admirall of 250. tunnes commanded by Captaine George Caue the May Floure Viceadmirall of like burden commanded by Captaine William Antonie the Samson Rereadmirall commanded by Captaine Nicholas Downton a Caruell and a small Pinnace They set forth from Plimmouth April 6. In the way they tooke a small Barke laden with Galicia wines c. Iune the second they had sight of Saint Michael After ten dayes they descried the great Carricke of 2000. tuns called the Cinque LLagas or Fiue Wounds The May Floure first got vp to her and receiued an vnwelcome salutation In the night the Samson came in and continued the fight and at last the Admirall They agreed that the Admirall should lay the Carrake aboord in the Prow the Viceadmirall in the Waste and the Rereadmirall in the Quarter But it fell out that the Admirall laying her aboord at the looffe recoiled a sterne the Viceadmirall being so neere that she was faine to runne with her bolt sprit betweene the two quarters which forced the Rereadmirall to lay her aboord on the Bowe After many bickerings fire-workes flew about interchangeably At last the Vice-admiral with a Culuering-shot at hand fired the Carrick in her Sterne and the Reare-admirall her Fore-castle by a shot that gaue fire to the Mat on the Beake-head from thence burning to the Mat on the Bolt-sprit and so ran vp to the Top-saile-yard they plying and maintayning their fires so well with their small shot that many of those which came to quench them were slaine These fires encreased so sore that the Vice-admiralls fore-saile and fore-top-saile were both burnt the Reare-admirall being in like predicament whiles the Admirall with much danger and difficultie quenched the fires throwne into her from the Carrick To saue themselues in this heat and furie the Admirall and Vice-admirall fell off leauing the Reare-admirall foule of the Carricks sprit-saile-yard in great danger to haue beene consumed with her had they not helped her off with their Boats In this distresse the companie brought the Commander Don Francisco de Melo to put forth a flagge of truce but the Carricks Carpenter more desperate comforted him with hope of quenching the fire whereupon he cryed Coragio I will neuer yeeld notwithstanding the protestations contestations and obtestations of the lamenting out-crying companie One ran â—â—raged on him charging him with this foule vncharitablenesse threatning vengeance on him and his for this obstinacy in suffering so many soules to perish rather then to accept the English assistance Some of their chiefest rich in chaines and
their eares I forbeare to mention vntill by experience wee shall discouer the truth thereof Moreouer hee learned that there fall into Marrawini diuers great Riuers called Arrenne Topannawin Errewin Cowomma Poorakette Arroua Arretowenne Waoune Anape Aunime and Carapio whereof some he hath seene himselfe That it was twentie dayes iourney from Taupuramune to the head of Marrawini which is inhabited by Arwaccas Sappaios Paragotos and some Yaios and that a dayes iourney from thence to the Land-ward the Countrey is plaine and Champian ground with long grasse Hee passed in this iourney aboue eightie ouerfals of water and many of them very dangerous of some of them I had experience the yeere before He proceeded no further at that present being vnprouided for so long a iourney supposing that it had beene neerer then he found it to the head of the Riuer by a fortnights trauell and so returned backe in sixe dayes space intending better preparation for a second iourney but his purpose was preuented by an vntimely death for shortly after hee was drowned by misfortune whereby we see that man determineth but God disposeth THe tenth day of September being Sunday I left the maine of Guiana and in my ship-boat stood off into the Sea to seeke my ships which were forced to ride foure leagues from shore by reason of the shoales but as we passed ouer them we were in danger to bee cast away by the breach of a Sea which verily had sunke our Boat if with great celeritie wee had not lightned her by heauing ouer-boord many baskets of bread of Cassain Maix Pinas Platanas Potatoes and such like prouision wherewith our Boat was loden by which means it pleased God to deliuer vs from present destruction and to bring vs safe vnto our ships When I came aboord we weighed anchor and steered away from the Iland of Trinidado and vpon the eighteenth day in the morning we arriued at Punta de Galea where wee found three English ships at anchor which was no small comfort vnto vs considering our great defects and wants One of these shippes was called the Diana belonging to Master Lâ—l a Dutch Merchant dwelling in London The other two the Penelope and the Indeuour belonging to Master Hall a Merchant also of London We stayed at this place sixe daies to mend our bad Caske and to take fresh water during which time I was kindly intreated and feasted by the Merchants and had supply of all such things as I stood in neede of which courtesie I requited in the best manner I could for the present Vpon Sunday the twentie foure of September we weighed anchor so likewise did the Diana the other two shippes beeing gone two or three daies before vs but the winde shifting to the North-east inforced vs backe againe almost to the same place from whence wee departed The twentie fiue we weighed againe and plied along the shoare towards Cape Brea about three leagues This Cape is so called of the Pitch which is there gotten in the earth whereof there is such abundance that all places on this side of the World may bee stored there with It is a most excellent Pitch for trimming of shippes that passe into these Regions and hot Countries for it melteth not with the Sunne as other Pitch doth The twentie sixe day we stood along againe the winde being still contrarie and variable intermixt with many calmes and so continued vntill the second of October when we arriued at Port de Hispania Within two daies after our arriuall there Don Sanches de Mendosa the Teniente for that yeere with certaine other Spaniards came aboord vs wee gaue them the best entertainment that our meanes the time and place would affoord and had much friendly conference together They told me that they lately had a conflict with the Charibes where in they had lost seuen or eight of their men and had many others hurt and wounded whereof some came to my Chirurgion to haue their wounds dressed during our abode there And they plainly confessed that they are very much molested by the Charibes and knew not how by any meanes to suppresse them We staied at Porte de Hispania vntill the seuenth day in hope to get some good Tobacco amongst the Spaniards who daily fed vs with delaies and faire words but in truth they had none good at that present for vs which we perceiuing departed thence vpon the seuenth day about one of the clocke in the morning leauing the other ships to attend their trade and stood away for the passages called Les sciot boccas de Drago and disembogued about eight of the clocke the same morning Then wee steered away for an Iland called Meues and leauing the Ilands of Granado Saint Vincent Guadalupa and Monserate in our starboord side wee arriued there the twelfth day where we stopped to take in ballast and more water for our ships were very light In this Iland there is an hot Bath which as well for the reports that I haue heard as also for that I haue seene and found by experience I doe hold for one of the best and most souereigne in the World I haue heard that diuers of our Nation haue there beene cured of the Leprosie and that one of the same persons now or lately dwelt at Woolwich neere the Riuer of Thames by whom the truth may be knowne if any man desire to bee further satisfied therein As for my owne experience although it was not much yet the effects that I found it worke both in my selfe and others of my company in two daies space doe cause mee to conceiue the best of it For at my comming thither I was grieuously vexed with an extreame cough which I much feared would turne me to great harme but by bathing in the Bath and drinking of the water I was speedily cured and euer since that time I haue found the state of my body I giue God thankes for it farre exceeding what it was before in strength and health Moreouer one of my company named Iohn Huntbatch seruant to my brother as he was making a fire burned his hand with Gunpowder and was in doubt thereby to loose the vse of one or two of his fingers which were shrunke vp with the fire but he went presently to the Bath and washed and bathed his hand a good space therein which soopled his fingers in such manner that with great ease he could stir and stretch them out and the fire was so washed out of his hand that within the space of twenty foure houres by twice or thrice washing and bathing it the sorenesse thereof was cured onely the eye-sore for the time remained Furthermore two or three other of my company hauing swellings in their legs were by the Bath cured in a day Hence we departed the sixteenth day of October in the afternoone and leauing the Ilands of Saint Christopher Saint Martin and Anguilla on the
Arwaccas To most of these places there can be no passage but by Canoas in the Winter being marsh-medowy grounds ouerflowne with swelling Tides But in the Summer it is faire and then they hide their Canoas in the Woods by the Sea-side As for the Riuer of Marwin there are no other Riuers which fall into it but there be many Ilands and some very great The passage to the head thereof from the men with long eares is very dangerous by reason of the passage through hollow and concaue Rockes wherein harbour Bat-mise of an vnreasonable bignesse which with their clawes and wings doe wound the Passengers shrewdly yea and oftentimes depriue them of life During which passage which is some quarter of a mile and very darke for the Rockes are close aboue and in fashion like an Indian house they are inforced to make great fires in their Canoas and put ouer their heads some of their Crab-baskets â—o defend them from the force of their clawes and wings and so they safely passe There is a Chareebee with whom I am very well acquainted whose name is Carouree who assured me of certaine transparent stones both of a greene and red colour which hee described by a greene eare-ring which I shewed him affirming they were somewhat bigger and that they lay in a little gutter at the head of the Riuer which ran in a Valley betweene two Hills I was further informed by a Yaio an ancient man who came downe from the head of the Riuer Selinama in a little Canoa with foure other and a boy three of which were Arwaccas and one Yaio who was borne in Orenoque and as I iudge about the age of foure score yeeres or little lesse who reported to mee that hee was one of them which with Morequito and Putimay was at the killing of nine Spaniards and a Spanish Pedas and how Morequito was put to death and a greatmany of his Indians hanged himselfe was taken prisoner and pinched with Pinsers for his punishment and his eares nailed to wood which I coniecture was a Pillourie Besides they rubbed his body ouer with salt mixt with Vrine after they had pinched him and fetcht bloud and after tyed him vp in chaines The reason why they put him not to death was because hee had beene a great Traueller and knew the Countries well and so they kept him for a Guide It so chanced that the Spaniards vpon his informing them of the Cassipagotos Countrie and how rich they were and how he would be their guide went with some companie to conquer it the Captaine of the Spaniards was called Alexander as he saith But the Cassipagotos knowing his crueltie thought it better to fight it out then trust to his clemency and so ouerthrew him and his companie driuing them to their Canoas in which fight he escaped But yet afterward it was his mishap to be againe in the hands of his aduersarie by the meanes of Caripana King of Emeria and put in chaines and handled cruelly His body was besmeared as he said with a yellow stone for so he called it which I take to be Brimstone and so set on fire on his body and after that he was well and his skinne smooth and faire they anointed him with honie from top to toe and so scattered dust vpon him in which which were millions of Pismires tying him in chaines to a great tree where Muskitos flockt about him like moates in the Sunne and did pitifully sting him then which death had beene better as hee said Within some small space hee with another Yaio and three Arwaccas were chosen to goe a fishing some two dayes iourney from the Towne Likewise there went as ouerseers ouer them foure Spaniards three of which while they were a fishing went into the Wood a fowling and the fourth which was left for the ouerseer by chance fell asleepe which they espying agreed to release themselues and to slip from the shoare with their Canoa and went vp Selinama seuen dayes iourney within land from the head thereof to a Towne of the Arwaccas called Cooroopon where he now dwelleth whose name is Weepackea and the chiefe Arwacca which came with him is called Edaddeawa and the Captaine of Cooroopon is called Naushickeban This Yaio told mee of a Mountaine at the head of Dissikeebee which is called Oraddoo where is a great Rocke of white Spar which hath streams of Gold in it about the breadth of a Goose-quill and this he affirmeth very earnestly Also he speaketh of a Plaine which is some seuen or eight dayes iourney from the Mountaine where is great store of Gold in graines so big as the top of a mans finger and after the flouds be fallen they finde them which Plaine is called Mumpara Further he spake of a Valley not farre distant from thence which is called Wancoobanona which hath the like and he said they gather them the space of two moneths together which two moneths are presently after the great raines which wash away the sand and grauell from the grasse which groweth in turfets and then they may perceiue the Gold lie glistering on the ground And of these they are very charie And the Captaines and Priests or Pâ—â—ays doe charge the Indians very strictly yea with punishment of the whip that they be secret and not reueale it to the Spaniard But it seemeth they are willing the English should haue it or else hee would neuer haue related so much of the state of his Countrie He spake very much of Sir Walter Raleigh he likewise knew Francis Sparrow and the boy which Sir Walter left behind him at Topiawary his house He further said that Topiawary wondred that he heard not from Sir Walter according to his promise and how Topiâ—wary did verily thinke that the Spaniard had met with him and so had slaine him Further hee saith how Topiawary is dead and how one Roponoyegrippo succeeded in his roome Likewise he sayth Caripana the King of Emeria who was very subiect to the Spaniard and did once betray him to the Spaniard is now dead at which he seemed not a little to reioyce and how one Dothronias is in his place and is a good King holding Armes against the Spaniard with the Cassipagotos and and giuing him many ouerthrowes so that now hee hath cleare left Dissikeebee and not a Spaniard there He likewise said how Topiawary had drawne in the Indians of Wariwackeri Amariocupana Aromaya Wickery and all the people that belonged to Wanuritone Captaine of Canuria and Wacariopea Captaine of Sayma against Sir Walter Raleigh his comming to haue warred against the Yeanderpuremei And as yet Wanuritone and Wacariopea doe expect his comming He addeth further how he knew the two Nations of Tiuitiuas called Ciawana and Warawitty who are forced in the flouds to build their houses on the top of trees And now he saith the Spaniard hath for the most part destroyed them keeping diuers of them to make and mend
eaten and it hath no poison The Caramuru are like the Sea Snakes of Portugall of ten or fifteene spans long very fat and roafted taste like Pigge these haue strange teeth and many men are may med by their bytings and the hand or foot where they were bitten doe rot away It hath ouer all the bodie many prickels The Countrimen say that they engender with the Snakes for they finde them many times knit with them and many in the sands tarrying for the Sea Snakes Amoreaty is like the Toad fish it is full of prickels and thrusts himselfe vnder the sand along the shoare and prickes the foot or hand vnderneath that toucheth it and it hath no other remedie but only by fire Amayacurub is round and of the bignesse of the Bugallos of Spaine and are very venemous it hath the bodie full of Wartes and therefore it is called Curub that is to say a Wart in their Language Ierepomonga is a Snake that liueth in the Sea her manner of liuing is to lie very still and whatsoeuer liuing thing that toucheth it remaineth so fast sticking to it that in no wise it can stirre and so he feedeth and sustaines himselfe Sometimes it commeth out of the Sea and becommeth very small and as soone as it is toucht it sticketh fast and if they goe with the other hand to lose themselues they remaine also fast by it and then it becommeth as bigge as a great Cable and so carrieth the person to the Sea and eateth it and because it cleaueth so fast it is called Terepomong that is to say a thing that cleaneth fast Finally there are many kinds of very venomous fishes in the Sea that haue so vehement a poison that ordinarily none escapeth that catech or toucheth them The Mermen or men of the Sea are called in their language Ypupiapra the men of the country are so afraid of them that many of them die only with the thought of them none that seeth them scapeth Some that died already being demanded the cause said that they had seene this Monster they properly are like men of a good stature but their eies are very hollow The Female are like women they haue long haire and are beautiful these Monsters are found in the bars of the fresh Riuers in Iagoaripe seuen or eight leagues from the Bay haue many bin found in the yeere 82. an Indian going to fish was chased by one and fleeing in a Canoa told it to his Master The Master for to animate the Indian would needs go see the Monster being carelesse with one hand out of the Canoa it catcht hold of him and carried him away and hee was neuer seene againe and in the same yeere died an Indian of Franciscus Lorenço Cacyro In Port Secure are some seene which haue killed some Indians alreadie the manner of their killing is to embrace themselues with the person so strongly kissing and grasping it hard to it selfe that they crush it in pieces remaining whole and when they perceiue it dead they giue some sighings in shew of sorrow and letting them goe they runne away and if they carrie any they eate onely the eies the nose the points of the fingers and toes and priuie members and so ordinarily they are found on the sands with these things missing The Seas of these parts are very plentifull of Cutties this kind of fish hath a hood alwaies full of very blacke Inke this is their defence from the greater fishes for when they come to catch them they cast that Inke before their eies and the water becommeth very blacke and then hee goes his waies They take them with shooting at them but they baite them first they are also taken with lights by night For to eate them they beate them and the more the softer they are and of better taste Apula is a shel-fish like the joint of a Cane it is rare it is eaten and drinking it fasting in Powder a souereigne remedie for the Milt or Spleene In these parts are infinite of the Sea-fomes and are great as broad as a hat they haue many foulds wherewith they catch the fish and resemble the Barberie Purses they are not eaten if they sting any one they cause great paines and cause to weepe and so said an Indian that was stung with one of them that he had receiued many wounds with Arrowes but neuer wept till then they are neuer seene but in neape tides or slow waters therefore the Portugals call them Agnas mortas or Dead waters The Vça is a kind of Crab found in the mire and they are infinite and the foode of all this Countrie chiefly for the slaues of Guinea and the Indians of the Countrie they haue a good taste vpon them is good drinking cold water They haue a particularitie to bee noted that when they cast their shell they goe into their holes and there they are two or three moneths and casting the shell mouthes and feet they come so out and they grow againe as before Guainumu is a kind of Crabs so great that a mans legge will goe into their mouth They are good to eate when it doth thunder they come out of their holes and make so great a noise the one with the other that men haue gone out with their weapons thinking they had beene enemies if they doe eate a certaine herbe whosoeuer eateth them then dieth these are of the Land but keepe in holes neere the Sea side The Aratu Crabs keepe in the trunkes of the trees that grow in the Oowes of the Sea when thay find a Cockle that gapeth they seeke presently some little stone and very cunningly put it into the Cockle the Cockle shutteth presently and not beeing able because of the little stone it hath within they with their mouthes doe take out the fish and eate it There are ten or twelue kinds of Crabs in this Countrie and as I haue said they are so many in number and so healthfull that all are eaten especially of the Indians c. The Oysters are many and some are very great and the meate is as broad as the palme of the hand in these are some Pearles found very rich in other smaller are also very fine Pearles found The Indians in old time came to the Sea for Oysters and got so many that they made great Hils of the shels and carried the fishes they carried away for to eate all the yeere vpon these Hils by the continuance of time grew great Groues of Trees and very thicke and high and the Portugals discouered some and euery day goe discouering others anew and of these shels they make lime and of one only heape was part of the Colledge of the Bay made the Palaces of the Gouernour and many other buildings and yet it is not ended the lime is very white good for to garnish and lime withall if it bee in the raine it becommeth
ended by the women Moussacat that is the Master of the Familie being busily employed in making of an Arrow casts not so much as his eyes for a certaine time vpon the Guest as if hâ— marked nothing At length comming vnto the Guest hee speaketh vnto him in these words Ere Ioube that is Are you come then how doe you what seeke you c. After hee demandeth whether you be hungrie if you grant that you are presently he commandeth meates of diuers kindes to be set before you in earthen vessels to wit Meale which with them supplieth the place of bread Venison Fowle Fish and other things of that kinde but because there is no vse with them for Tables and Benches all those things are set on the ground As touching Drink if you desire Cao-uin that it be in the house it shall presently be giuen you Lastly after the women haue stoutly solemnized the comming of the Guests with weeping they come vnto them bringing Fruits and other trifling Presents and so secretly demand Coâ—bes Looking-glasses and little Beades of glasse which they winde about their armes Moreouer if you will lodge all night in that Village the Moussacat commandeth a very neat and cleane bed to be hanged vp for you round about which he will cause smal fires to be kindled and often quickned in the night with Bellows which they call Tatapecoua not much vnlike the little round Fannes wherewith the nicer and more delicate sort of women with vs defend the scorching of fire from their faces Not because that Countrie is subiect vnto cold but by reason of the moisture of the night and especially because it is their vsuall manner Now seeing we haue chanced to mention Fire which they call Tata and Smoake Tatatin I thinke it needfull that I declare the excellent manner of kindling the same They haue two kindes of wood whereof the one is very soft but the other very hard which they vse after this manner to kindle fire They sharpen a twig of a foot long of that hard wood at the one end like a Spindle and sticke the point thereof in any piece of that soft wood then laying it on the ground or vpon a stocke they turne that twig swiftly about with the palmes of their hands as if they would pierce an hole through the piece of wood which lieth vnder Through that so swift and violent motion smoake is not onely raised but also fire putting Cotton vnto it or certaine drie leaues in stead of our Countrie tinder fire is very aptly ingendred whereof I my selfe haue made triall After that the Guests haue refreshed themselues with meate and lodged after the manner which we haue declared if they be liberall they vse to giue vnto the men Kniues Scizzers and Pinsers fit for the plucking out of the haires of their beards to the women Combes and Looking-glasses and to the children Fish-hookes But if the Guest want victuals when he hath agreed of the price he may carrie them away Moreouer because they want all kinde of beasts of burden they are all of necessitie to trauell on foot If Strangers bee wearie and giue a Knife to any of the Barbarians he presently offereth his helpe to carrie him that is wearie I my selfe when I liued in those Countries was diuers times carried by those Porters and that surely two miles iourney together And if wee admonished them to rest a little they laughed at vs with these words What Thinke you that wee are so effeminate or of so weake a courage that wee should faint and lie downe vnder our burden I would rather carrie you all the day without any intermission But we breaking out into laughter wondered at those two legged Hackneyes and encouraging them said let vs therefore proceed on the way They exercise naturall charitie abundantly among themselues for they daily giue one vnto another both Fish Meale and Fruits and also other things nay they would be very sorrie if they saw their neighbours want those things which they haue They also vse the like liberalitie towards Strangers whereof it shall be sufficient to bring one example In the tenth Chapter of this Booke I made mention of a certaine danger which my selfe and two other Frenchmen escaped to wit that we were in great perill of death by reason of an huge Lizard which met vs in the way at that time wee wandred two dayes through the middle of the Woods out of the way and indured no meane hunger and at length came vnto a certaine Village called Pauo where wee had lodged before There wee were most liberally entertained by the Barbarians For hauing heard the troubles which wee had suffered and specially the great danger wherein we were that we were likely to haue beene deuoured by wilde beasts but chiefly that wee were in danger to bee slaine by the Margaiates our common enemies neere vnto whose borders wee approached vnawares and seeing also the hurts and scratches of thornes wherewith our skâ—n was miserably rent they tooke our harmes so grieuously that I may here truly affirme that the faigned flatteries wherewith our Countrie people vse to comfort the distressed are farre from the sincere humanitie of that Nation which we call Barbarous For they washed our feet with cleare water which put me in minde of the ancient custome euery one of vs sitting apart vpon an hanging Bed Then the Masters of the Families who had alreadie prouided meates to be prepared for vs and caused new Meale to be ground which as I elsewhere said is nothing inferiour vnto the crumme of white bread in goodnesse presently after wee had beene a little refreshed commanded all the best meates to wit Venison Fowle Fish and the most exquisite and choicest Fruits wherewith they continually abound to bee set before vs. Moreouer the night approching the Moussacat our Host remoueth all the children from vs that wee might the more quietly rest The next day after early in the morning he commeth vnto vs and demandeth goe to Atourassap that is dearly beloued Confederates haue you quietly rested this night wee answered very quietly Then saith he my sonnes rest your selues yet a while for yesterday I perceiued that you were very wearie To be briefe I am not able to expresse with words how friendly and curteously wee were entertained But wee neuer trauelled farre from home without a Sachell full of Merchandises which might serue vs in stead of money among those Barbarians Departing therefore thence we gaue our Hosts what wee thought good to wit Kniues Sizzers Pinsers to the men Combes Looking-glasses Bracelets and glassen Beades to the women and Fish-hookes to the children I one day turned out of the way to lodge in a certaine Village and was requested by my Moussacat to shew him what I had in my Sachell who commanded a great earthen vessell to bee brought wherein to put my merchandises I tooke them all out and set them in order
in those parts are of al colours as Horses in these all being the Câ—â—tle of the Sun They take a black Lambe which they esteeme the holiest colour for Sacrifices and the Kings weare commonly black and offer that first for Soothsaying a thing vsed by them in all things of moment in peace and warre looking into the heart and lungs for prognostications they set the head to the East not tying any of his feet open him aliue being holden by three or foure Indians and that on the left side to take out his heart and entrals with their hands without cutting The best Augury was if the lungs mooued when they were taken forth the worst if the Sacrifice in the opening arose on the feet ouercomming those which held it If one prooued vnluckie they assayed another of a Ram and another of a barren Ewe if all prooued vâ—â—ucky they gaue ouer keeping the Feast and said the Sunne was angry for some fault which they had done and expected wars Dearth Murrayne c. After this Augury they opened not the other Sacrifices aliue but cut off their heads offering the bloud and heart to the Sun The fire which they vsed must bee new giuen them as they said by the hands of the Sunne which they did by the force of the Sunne beames shining thorow a Iewell which the High Priest held in his hand as by a burning Glasse on Cotton With this fire they burned the Sacrifice and rosted that dayes flesh and carried thereof to the Temple of the Sunne and to the house of Virgins to keepe all the yeere And if the Sunne did not shine they made fire with motion of two smooth round stickes but this absence or refusall of the Sunne they esteemed vnlucky All the flesh of those Sacrifices was rosted openly in the two streets aforesaid they parted it amongst the Incas Curacas and common people which were at the Feast giuing it with the bread çancu After this they had many other Viands and when they had done eating they fell to drinking in which vice they exceeded though now the Spaniards example haue that way done good and this vice is infamous amongst them The Inca sitting in state sends his Kinsmen to the principall in his name to make them drinke first the valorous Captaynes next the Curacas which haue not bin Commanders in war then to Cozco-Incas by priuiledge the manner was this the Inca which brought the drinke said the Capa Inca sends thee banketting drinke and I come in his name to drinke with thee The Captaine or Curaca tooke the Cup with great reuerence and lifted vp his eyes to the Sunne as giuing him thankes for such a fauour and hauing drunke returned the Cup to the Inca with shew of adoration not speaking one word Hee sends to the Captaines in generall but to some speciall Curacas only the rest the Incas in their owne name and not in the Kings cause to drinke The Cups were holden in great veneration because the Capa Inca had touched them with his hands and lips After this beginning they fell to freer drinking one to another and after that to dancing the Feast continuing nine dayes with great iollity but the Sacrifices held but the first and after they returned to their Countries Now for their Knights till they had that order they were not capeable of the dignities of warre or peace The youths of the Royall bloud for none else might be in election from sixteene yeeres old vpwards first made experiments of themselues in rigorous tryals whether they could indure the hard Aduentures of warre Euery yeere or each other yeere these noble youths were shut vp in a house where old Masters examined them They were to fast seuen dayes strictly with a little raw 〈…〉 ne and water to try their endurance of hunger and thirst Their Parents and brethren al 〈…〉 ed for them to intreate the Sunne to fauour them They which could not sustaine this fast were reiected as vnsufficient After this they heartned them with meate and tryed their actiuitie in running of a certaine Race a league and halfe long where was a Banner set which he that first came at was Captaine of the rest others also to the tenth were subordinately honoured Their next tryall was in skirmish one halfe to keepe the other to get a Fort and they which were now keepers were another day besiegers where eagernesse and emulation sometimes cost some their liues in that ludicrous warre Then followed wrestling betwixt equals leaping throwing small and great stones also a Launce and a Dart and other Armes shooting casting with a sling and exercise in all weapons of warre They caused them to watch ten or twelue nights as Centinels comming suddenly on them at vncertaine houres shaming those which they found sleeping They tryed with wands how they could indure stripes beating them cruelly on the armes and legs where the Indians goe bare and if they made any sad remonstrance of sorrow they reiected them saying how would they beare their enemies weapons They were to bee in manner vnsensible A Fencer also made semblance with a two hand Club called Macana another while witâ— a Pike to hit or strike them and if they shrugged or in their eyes or body made shew of feare they were reiected Next they made triall whether they had skill to make their armes of all sorts and shooes called Vsuta like those which the Franciscans weare After all these the Captaines and Masters of these Ceremonies tell them of their pedigree from the Sunne the noble Acts of their Ancestors and instruct them in courage clemency and mildenesse to the poore with other parts of morality The Heire apparant indured no lesse rigorous tryals then others except in running for the Banner and all that tryall time which was from one New Moone to another he went in poore and vile habit to teach him to pity the poore These things done the King solemnly attended made a Speech to them and each on their knees receiued at his hand the first Ensigne of dignity which was to boare a hole in their eares The New Knight kissed his hand and the next person to the Inca put off his Vsutas and put him on gallant shooes of Wooll Then did he goe to another place where other Incas put him on breeches as the token of manhood which before he might not weare after which they put on his head two kinds of flowres and a leafe of another herbe which will long keepe greene No other men might weare those flowres The Prince had the same Ensignes and differed only in his yellow fringe of Wooll which none but he and that first after his tryall might weare and an Axe of Armes with a kinde of Iaueline aboue a yard long which when they put in his hand they said Aucunapac that is for tyrant Traytors The Kings fringe was coloured he ware besides on his head two feathers of a Bâ—rd called Coreqâ—enque which are
rather to please him causing to vndermine and cut the Hills to execute that dismall fate more terribly After some bickerings with the Spaniards hee fled to the Antis and there perished miserably Manco Inca Brother of Huascar came to the Spaniards at Cozco to demand the repossession of the Empire by inheritance due to him They made him faire semblance and he offered to promote the Gospell according to his Fathers testament as a better Law and the Spanish affaires Articles were agreed on and they granted him a Diadem with great solemnitie buâ— so farre short of the wonted that the old men cried as fast for the want of that as the yong boyes shouted for ioy of this When afterwards he propounded the accomplishment of those Articles which had beene made betwixt the Spaniards and the Indians that the Naturals might liue in quiet and knowe what seruice to performe to the Spaniards with the reall restitution of his Empire the Gouernour Pizarro and his brethren excused themselues by the broyles and stirres which had growne amongst themselues which hither to permitted not the accomplishment They further expected answer from the Emperor their Lord of whom he might hope for al good the Articles being good for both parts to whom they had giuen account of the capitulations his brother Hernando being shortly to returne with answere But when he was aâ—riued at Tumpiz the Maâ—quesse tooke occasion to rid himselfe of the Incas importunitie and with many faire words intreated him to returne to his Fortresse till things might be perfected which he doing they held him there Prisoner fearing his haughty courage The Indians seeing their Inca Prisoner were much grieued but he comforted them saying that he and they ought to obey the Spaniards for so Huayna Capac had commanded in his Testament and that they should not be weary till they had seene the last issue of these things Hee hoped that this his imprisonment would turne into greater liberalitie with him these Utracochas being a Nation comne from Heauen The Marquesse dismissed himselfe of the Inca whose person and guard hee commended to his brethren Iuan and Gonzalo and went to the Citie of Kings to people and eâ—large it The Inca Manco with much obsequiousnesse to all the Spaniards and many presents of Gold Siluer Gemmes Fruits c. making no shew of griefe for his imprisonment obtayned his libertie which he had laboured the rather hearing that Hernando Pizarro was comming to gouerne in Cozco Hee gate leaue to goe to Yucay which was the Garden of the Kings to which place he summoned his Captaines and complained of the Spaniards breach of promise in not performing the Capitulations which they had made with Titu Autauchi his brother and that they had laid him in prison with Iron fetters that he had perceiued their ill mindes from the beginning but suffered it to iustifie his cause with God and with the world that none might obiect to him the disturbing of the peace But now he could no further relie on their vaine promises well knowing that the Spaniards shared the Land amongst themselues in Cusco Rimac and Tumpiz whereby it well appeared that they intended not the restitution of the Empire to him and that he was loth to make further triall of their fetters and therefore required their best aduice intending with Armes to recouer his right trusting in Pachacamac and his father the Sun that they would not herein forsake him They told him that he might looke for like reward at the hands of those strangers as Atahuallpa had found notwithstanding the payment of his ransome and it was Pachacamacs great grace they had not dealt with his Royall Person likewise c. Thus Manco raised forces so that 200000. Indians came to Cozco and shot Arrowes with fire on them on all the houses of the Citie generally without respect of the Royall houses only they reserued the Temple of the Sunne with the Chappels within it and the house of the Virgins which two they spared thogh their wealth was gone not to commit any sacrilegious act against their Religion Three Hals also they reserued wherein to make their feasts in time of raine one of which was in the house that had belonged to the first Inca Manco Capac The author proceedes in the particular fights and seege of the Spaniards too long here to rehearse In diuers places they killed seuen hundred Spaniards But at last Manco was driuen to forsake the Countrey by the inequality of the Spaniards horses Guns and other offensiue and defensiue armes against which they had no experiments to make resistance In the ciuill-vnciuill broiles and warres of the Spaniards in Peru some of them fled to Manco Inca to auoide the Viceroies seuerity one of which was Gomez Perez a cholericke man which playing at Bowles with the Inca would stand so stiffely on measuring of his cast and the earnest folly of play that forgetting all good manners he one day vsed the Inca as if he had beene an Indian slaue wherewith the Inca prouoked gaue him a blow with his fist on the breast whereupon Gomez with his Bowle strooke the Inca on the head so great a blowe that hee fell downe dead Whereupon the Indians set on the Spaniards which first fled into the house to defend themselues there but were fired out and the Indians hauing killed them with enraged furie had purposed to eate vp their flesh raw but after left them to the birds and wilde beasts for foode Thus died Manco by the hands of those whom hee had preserued from death and had kindly vsed in those wilde Mountaines of Uillca campa which hee had chosen for his securitie I was present when some Incaâ— present at the act with teares recounted this to my Mother which came afterwards from these Mountaines with the Inca Sayri Tupac the sonne of that vnfortunate Prince by order of the Viceroy Mendoza Marquesse of Canete This Vice-roy vsed to perswade that comming in of the Inca the Ladie Beatriz his Fathers Sister which so wrought with his Guard hee being then too young to take the Diademe that vpon promise of certaine conditions hee came and rendted himselfe to the Vice-roy and after went to Cusco and was baptised by the name of Don Diego together with his wife Cusci Huarcay grandchilde to Huascar Inca Anno 1558. Shee was a faire woman but somewhat pale as are all the women of that Countrie about sixteene yeeres olde I went in my mothers name to visite the Inca and to kisse his hand which vsed mee courteously and two small vessels of gilt Plate were brought forth of which he dranke one I the other He spent his time one day visiting one part and another another part of the Citie Hee adored the Sacrament calling it Pachacamac Pachacamac He went thence to the Valley of Yucay and there remayned till his death which was about three yeeres after leauing no issue but a daughter which
Anno 1533. the Gouernour gaue his brother Hernando leaue to goe with a Companie of Spaniards to Guamachucâ— and there he found an hundred thousand Castiglians of Gold which they brought for Atabalipas ransome Diego Almagro came with an hundred and fiftie men to our succour Because the Gold came so slowly Atabalipa willed the Gouernour to send three men to Cusco laying the blame on his imprisonment which made the Indians not to obey him These Christians were carried by Indians in Hamacas a kinde of Litters and were serued They arriued at Xauxa where was Chilicuchima a great Captaine of Atabalipa the same which had taken Cusco which had all the Gold at his command He gaue the Christians thirty burthens of Gold of which each weighed an hundred pounds They said it was little and he gaue them fiue burthens more which they sent to the Gouernour by a Negro whom they had brought with them They went on to Cusco where they found Quizquiz a Captaine of Atabalipas which made little account of the Christians He said that if they would not restore his Master for that Gold he would giue he would take him out of their hands and sent them presently to a Temple of the Sunne couered with plates of Gold The Christians without the helpe of any Indian for they refused saying they should die it being the Temple of the Sunne with Pickaxes of Brasse disfurnished the same as they told vs afterwards and spoyled the Temple Many Pots and vessels of Gold were also brought which there they vsed for their cookery for ransome of their Lord Atabalipa In all the house there was such store of Gold that it amased them They were amazed to see one seat in their house of Sacrifices which weighed nineteene thousand Pezos of Gold in another where old Cusco lay buried the pauement and the walls were couered with plates of Gold and Siluer which they did not breake for feare of the Indians displeasure nor many great earthen Pots there couered with Gold likewise In that House were two dead and embalmed neere to whom stood a woman with a Maske of Gold on her face which fanned away the winde and Flies Shee would not let them enter with their shooes on they went in and tooke much Gold but not all for Atabalipa had intreated them because there lay his Father They found there a great house full of Pots and Tubs and vessels of Siluer They would haue brought much more then they did but that they were alone and aboue two hundred and fiftie leagues from other Christians but they shut it vp and sealed it for his Maiestie and the Gouernour Francis Pizarro and set a guard on it Ouer the Riuers as they passed they found two Bridges together one open for the vulgar the other shut for the passage of great men Hernando Pizarro trauelling ouer the Mountaines with his Horse where the way was made with hands in many places as a Scale or Staires which ware off his Horse shooes commanded the Indians to shooe his Horses with Gold and Siluer and so came to the Citie bigger then Rome called Pachalchami where in one filthie chamber was an Idoll of wood which they said was their God which giues life to all things at whose feete were many Emeralds fastned in Gold They haue him in such veneration that none may serue nor touch him nor the walls of the house but such as they say are called by him It is certanie that the Deuill there speakes to them and tells them what they should doe They come 300. leagues off to him and offer him gold siluer and iewels giuing it to the Porter which goeth in and returnes them an answer They which serue him must be pure and chaste abstaining from eating and women All the Countrie of Catamez payeth him tribute The Indians feared that the Idoll would haue destroyed the Spaniards which neuerthelesse entred without scruple and brought very little Gold thence for the Indians had hidden it all they found the places whence they had carried great store so that they got not aboue 30000. Pezos of a Cacike 10000. more Chilicuchima sent them word that he had store of Gold for them at Xauxa but deceiued them They brought him and other great men to Atabalipa which put coarse Cloth on them before their entrance and did him great reuerence lifting vp their hands to the Sunne with thankes that they had seene their Lord and came by little and little neerer him and kissed his hands and feet who shewed great signes of Maiestie and would not looke any of them in the face They tied Chilicuchima to a stake and set fire to him to extort a confession of old Cuscos Gold from him which much burned first said that Quizquiz had it in keeping and that old Cusco though dead was still obserued and had victuals set before him and told of another Pauilion where were great vessels from whence the Gouernour sent and fetched much Gold The Christians came from Cusco with aboue an hundred and ninety Indians laden with Gold Some vessels were so great that twelue Indians had much adoe to bring them The Gouernour melted all the small pieces which I can well tell for I was keeper of the house of Gold and saw it melted and there were aboue nintie Plates of Gold there were in that roome two hundred great tankards of Siluer and many small with pots and other peeces very faire I thinke I saw weighed of the Siluer 50000. Markes There were also in the same roome eighty tankards of Gold and other great peeces there was also a heape higher then a man of those plates of very fine Gold and to say truth in all the roomes of the house were great hils or heapes of Gold and Siluer The Gouernour put them together and weighed them before the Offiâ—â—rs and then those some to make the shares for the company The Gouernour sent the Emperour a present of 100000. pesoes in fifteene tankards and foure pots and other rich peeces Euery footman had 4800. Pesoes of gold which made 7208. Duckets and the Horsemen twice as much besides other aduantages Before the sharing he gaue Almagros company 25000. pesoes and 2000. pesoes of Gold to those which had staid at Saint Michaels and much gold to all that came with the Captaine two or three great Cups of gold a peece to the Merchants and to many which had gotten it lesse then they deserued I say it for so it fared with me Many presently amongst which I was demanded leaue to returne to Spaine and fiue and twenty obtained it When Atabalipa heard they would carry the gold out of the Country he sent for men to come and assault the Gouernour A few dayes before two Sonnes of old Cusco came thither and lodged with the Gouernour one of them was naturall Lord of the Countrey Vpon newes of forces comming they brought Atabalipa by night to a stake
receiued their senses againe and seeing vs so neere vnto the Land beganne to arise and goe on their hands and feete And hauing landed wee made fire in certaine trenches and boyled some of the Maiz which wee had brought and found raine-water and with the heate of the fire the men beganne to recouer and take strength and the day that we arriued there was the sixth of Nouember After the men had eaten I commanded Lopez de Ouiedo who was the best able and strongest of all the rest that he should goe close to any tree of them that were there at hand and climing vp into one of them he should discouer the Land where we were and see if hee could haue any knowledge thereof He did so and saw that we were in an Iland and found certaine poore Cottages of the Indians which stood solitary because those Indians were gone vnto the field And so he tooke a pot a young whelpe and a little Thorn-backe and returned vnto vs. About halfe an houre after an hundred Indian Archers came suddenly vpon vs who though they were great yet feare made them seeme to be Giants and they stood round about vs where the first three were It had beene a vaine thing amongst vs to thinke that there were any to defend vs because there were scarce sixe that were able to rise from the ground The Controller and I came towards them and called vnto them and they came neere vnto vs and wee endeauoured the best we could to secure them so we gaue them Crownes and Bells and euery one of them gaue mee an Arrow which is a token of friendship and they told vs by signes that they would returne vnto vs in the morning and bring vs somewhat to eate because at that time they had nothing The next morning at the breake of day which was the houre whereof the Indians had spoken they came vnto vs and brought vs much fish and certaine Roots which they eate and are like vnto Nuts some bigger and some lesse which they digge vnder the water with much trouble At the euening they returned againe and brought vs more fish and some of the same Roots and brought also their wiues and little children with them that they might see vs and so they returned rich in Crownes and Bells which we gaue them and the next day they returned to visite vs with the same things which they had done before Then seeing we were now prouided of fish of those roots and water and other things which we could get we agreed to embarke our selues and proceed on our Voyage so wee digged the Boat out of the sand where it was fast moored and were constrained to strippe our selues naked and indured great labour to launch her into the water Being embarked about two Cros-bow shots within the Sea there came such a waue of water that it washed vs all and being naked and the cold extreme wee let goe the Oares and another blowe which the Sea gaue vs ouerturned the Boat whereupon the Controller and two other went out to escape by swimming but the cleane contrary befell them because the Boat strucke them vnder water and drowned them That Coast being very faire the Sea cast vs all aland on the same Coast all tumbled in the water and halfe drowned so that we lost not a man but those three whom the Boat smote vnder water Wee which remained aliue were all naked hauing lost all that which wee had which although it were but a little yet was it much for vs at that time and being then Nouember and the cold very extreme and being in such case that a man might easily tell all our bones we seemed to be the proper and true figure of Death As for my selfe I am well able to say that from the moneth of May past I had not eaten any other thing then parched Maiz and sometimes I was in so great necessitie that I haue eaten it raw because although the Horses were killed while they made the Boats yet I could neuer eate them and I did not eate fish ten times I speake this that euery one might consider how we could continue in that case and aboue all the North wind blew that day so that we were neerer vnto death then life It pleased God that seeking the brands of the fire which we had made before wee embarked wee found light there and so making great fires we stood crauing mercy from our Lord God and pardon of our sinnes with many teares euery one of vs grieuing not onely for himselfe but for all the rest that hee saw in the same state At the setting of the Sunne the Indians supposing that we had not beene gone came to finde vs and brought vs somewhat to eate but when they saw vs thus in so differing an habite from the first and in such strange manner they were so afraid that they turned backe againe but I went towards them and called them who beheld mee with much feare Hereupon I gaue them to vnderstand by signes that the Boat was caft away and three men drowned and there they themselues saw two dead and the rest of vs that were now remayning were going the high way to death The Indians seeing the misfortune which had befallen vs and the lamentable case wherein we were with so great calamitie and miserie came amongst vs and through great griefe and compassion which they had of vs beganne mightily to weepe and lament and that from the heart insomuch that they might be heard farre from thence and they thus lamented more then halfe an houre And surely seeing these men so depriued of reason and so cruell after the manner of brute beasts so bewayled our miseries it caused that in me and all the rest of our men the compassion and consideration of our miseries should be much more increased The mournfull lamentation being somewhat appeased I demanded of the Christians whether they thought it fit that I should intreate those Indians to bring vs to their houses whereunto some of them that were of Noua Spagna answered me that I should not speake a word thereof because if they brought vs home to their houses they would haue sacrificed vs to their Idols Now seeing there was no other remedie and that what other way soeuer death was more certaine and more neere I cared not for that which they said but prayed the Indians that they would bring vs to their houses and they shewed vs that it pleased them very well and that wee should tarrie a little and they would doe as much as wee desired presently thirty of them laded themselues with wood and went vnto their houses which were farre from thence and wee remained with the rest vntill it was almost night and then they tooke vs and conducting vs we went with much anguish and heauinesse vnto their houses And because they feared lest through the extreme coldnesse of the way any of vs should die or swound and faint they
borne of themselues to become their enemies Wee demanded of them why they married them not among themselues who answered that it was a beastly thing to marrie them vnto their kindred and that it was much better to kill them then giue them for wiues vnto their kinsfolke and enemies And they obserue this custome and other of their Neighbours also called Iaguanes and no other of that Countrie but they obserue the same And when they take wiues they get the women of their enemies and the price which they pay is the best Bow that they can get with two Arrowes And if peraduenture they haue not a Bow they giue a Net of the widenesse of a mans arme and as much more in length Dorante abode with them and not long after fled from them Castiglio and Esteuamico came into the firme Land to the Iaguanes All they are Archers and well â—et although they be not so great as the other which we left behind and haue all their paps and their lips pierced like them Their food principally are roots of two or three sorts which they seeke throughout the whole Countrie which are very harsh and puffe vp such as eat them They stay two dayes to roast them and many of them are very bitter and withall they dig them with much paines but the famine in those Countries is so great that they cannot liue without them and they goe two or three leagues to seeke them They sometimes kill any wilâ—e beast whatsoeuer and at certaine times take fish but this is so little and their hunger so great that they eat Frogs Ants Egs Wormes Lizards Salamanders Serpents and Vipers which with their stinging kill men they also eat earth wood and whatsoeuer they can get the dung of wild beasts and other things which I leaue to report and I certainly beleeue that if there were stones in that Country they would eat them They keep the sharpe bones of fishes and Serpents which they eat to grind them all afterwards and so eate that powder The men load not themselues nor carrie burdens but the old men and women do all this who are least esteemed among them they beare no such loue to their children as the other doe whereof I haue spoken before There are some among them who vse that sinne which is against nature Their women are very sufficient and able to indure labour for of the foure and twentie houres of the day and night they haue but sixe houres of rest and all the greater part of the night they spend in heating their Ouens to dry those Rootes which they eate And when the day beginneth to appeare they beginne to draw water and carrie wood vnto their houses and giue order for other things which they want The greater part of them are great Theeues because although among them they are well diuided yet if the Father or the Sonne turne but their heads about the one taketh from the other whatsoeuer he can get They are great and monstrous Liers and great Drunkards and for that purpose they drinke a certaine kind of drinke They are so well vsed to runne that without resting themselues or standing still at all they runne from Morning vntill the Euening following a Deere and in this manner they kill many following them vntill they tire them and sometimes take them aliue Their houses are of Mats set vpon foure Arches and they take them vp and remooue them euery two or three daies to seeke food They sow nothing at all to be able to haue fruit thereof and are a very pleasant and cheerefull people and notwithstanding the great hunger they indure they cease not to dance and sport themselues The best time which they haue is when they eate Tune because then they haue no hunger and passe all that time in dancing and eate day and night all the time they haue them They wring them open them and set them to dry and beeing thus dried they hang them vp in Garlands like figges and keepe them to eate by the way when they returne thence they also dry their Pils and make powder of them Many times while we were with them it so fell out that we continued foure daies without eating any thing because it was not there to be had to make vs merrie they told vs that wee should shortly haue Tune and should eate many of them and drinke their juice and fill our bellies very well and that wee should be verie cheerefull and contented and without any hunger And when they told vs this it was fiue or sixe monethes to the time of Tune And when the time came wee came to eate Tune and by the way wee found many flies of three sorts very mischieuous and noisome and all the rest of the Summer they put vs to much trouble And to defend vs from them we made fires of rotten and moist wood that it might not burne but make a smoake but this defence put vs to another trouble for all the night wee did nothing else but complaine of the smoake which came into our eyes and also of the great heate which the much fire gaue vs and wee went out to sleepe by the side thereof and if at any time we could sleepe they remembred vs with their bastinadoes to returne and make the fires burne They who dwell further within the Land vse a remedie for these flies as intollerable as this and worse that is to say they goe with fire-brands in their hands burning the Fields and the Woods wheresoeuer they meete with them to make the flies to flie away and so also they vse to digge vnder the earth for Lizards and other such like things to eate them they vse also to â—ill Decre compassing them with many fires Which they also doe to take away food from the beasts that they might be constrained to goe from thence to find it where they would haue them For they neuer settle themselues to dwell but where wood and water are and sometimes they load themselues all with this prouision and goe to seeke Deere which most commonly abide where there is neither water nor wood and the day they came thither they killed Deere and some other hunting game such as they could get and consumed all the water and wood in preparing them to be eaten and in the fires which they made to hunt the flies and tarried till the next day to take some thing to carrie with them by the way When they depart they goe so miserably vexed with flyes that they seeme to haue the disease of Lazarus and in this manner they expell hunger two or three times in the yeere with so great paines as hath beene said and because I haue proued it I dare affirme that there is no trauell in the World found like vnto this They found Oxen there and I saw them three times and eate of them and as I thinke they are of the bignesse of those of Spaine
daies going vp with the tide euerie day a little brought them vp vnto the Towne Assoone as the people were come on shore he pitched his Campe on the Sea side hard vpon the Bay which went vp vnto the Towne And presently the Captaine Generall Vasques Porcallo with other seuen Horsemen foraged the Countrie halfe a league round about and found sixe Indians which resisted him with their Arrowes which are the weapons which they vse to fight withall The Horsemen killed two of them and the other foure escaped because the Countrie is cumbersome with Woods and Bogs where the Horses stacke fast and fell with their Riders because they were weake with trauelling vpon the Sea The same night following the Gouernour with an hundred men in the Brigantines lighted vpon a Towne which he found without people because that assoone as the Christians had sight of Land they were descried and saw along the Coast many smokes which the Indians had made to giue aduice the one to the other The next day Luys de Moscoso Master of the Campe set the men in order the Horsemen in three Squadrons the Vantgard the Batalion and the Râ—reward and so they marched that day and the day following compassing great Creekes which came out of the Bay They came to the Towne of Vcita where the Gouernour was on Sunday the first of Iune being Trinitie Sunday The Towne was of seuen or eight houses The Lords house stood neere the shoare vpon a very high Mount made by hand for strength At another end of the Towne stood the Church and on the top of it stood a fowle made of wood with gilded eies Here we found some Pearles of small value spoiled with the fire which the Indians doe pierce and string them like Beads and weare them about their neckes and hand-wrists and they esteeme them very much The houses were made of Timber and couered with Palme leanes From the Towne of Vcita the Gouernour sent Alcalde Maior Baltasar de Gallegos with fortie Horsemen and eightie Footmen into the Countrie to see if they could take any Indians and the Captaine Iohn Rodriguez Lâ—billo another way with fiftie Footmen Iohn Rodriguez Lobillo returned to the Campe with sixe men wounded whereof one died and brought the foure Indian women which Baltasar Gallegos had taken in the Cabbins or Cottages Two leagues from the Towne comming into the plaine field he espied ten or eleuen Indians among whom was a Christian which was naked and scorched with the Sunne and had his armes razed after the manner of the Indians and differed nothing at all from them And assoone as the Horsemen saw them they ranne toward them The Indians fled and some of them hid themselues in a Wood and they ouertooke two or three of them which were wounded and the Christian seeing an Horseman runne vpon him with his Lance began to crie out Sirs I am a Christian slay mee not nor these Indians for they haue saued my life And straight way hee called them and put them out of feare and they came forth of the Wood vnto them The Horsemen tooke both the Christian and the Indians vp behind them and toward night came into the Campe with much ioy which thing being knowne by the Gouernour and them that remained in the Campe they were receiued with the like This Christians name was Iohn Ortiz and hee was borne in Siuill of Worshipfull Parentage He was twelue yeeres in the hands of the Indians He came into this Countrie with Pamphilo de Naruaez and returned in the ships to the Iland of Cuba where the Wife of the Gouernour Pamphilo de Naruaez was and by his commandement with twentie or thirtie other in a Brigandine returned backe againe to Florida and comming to the Port in the sight of the Towne on the shoare they saw a Cane sticking in the ground and riuen at the top and a Letter in it and they beleeued that the Gouernour had left it there to giue aduertisement of himselfe when hee resolued to goe vp into the Land and they demanded it of foure or fiue Indians which walked along the Sea shoare and they bad them by signes to come on shoare for it which against the will of the rest Iohn Ortiz and another did And assoone as they were on the Land from the houses of the Towne issued a great number of Indians which compassed them about and tooke them in a place where they could not flee and the other which sought to defend himselfe they presently killed vpon the place and tooke Iohn Ortiz aliue and carried him to Vcita their Lord. And those of the Brigandine sought not to land but put themselues to Sea and returned to the the Iland of Cuba Vcita commanded to bind Iohn Ortiz hand and foot vpon foure stakes aloft vpon a raft and to make a fire vnder him that there he might bee burned But a daughter of his desired him that he would not put him to death alleaging that one only Christian could do him neither hurt nor good telling him that it was more for his honour to keepe him as a Captiue And Ucita granted her request and commanded him to bee cured of his wounds and assoone as he was whole he gaue him the charge of the keeping of the Temple because that by night the Wolues did carrie away the dead corpses out of the same who commended himselfe to God and tooke vpon him the charge of his Temple One night the Wolues gate from him the corpses of a little child the Sonne of a principall Indian and going after them he threw a Dart at one of the Wolues and strooke him that carried away the corps who feeling himselfe wounded left it and fell downe dead neere the place and hee not woting what he had done because it was night went backe againe to the Temple the morning being come and finding not the bodie of the childe he was very sad Assoone as Vcita knew thereof he resolued to put him to death and sent by the tract which hee said the Wolues went and found the bodie of the childe and the Wolfe dead a little beyond whereat Vcita was much contented with the Christian and with the watch which hee kept in the Temple and from thence forward esteemed him much Three yeeres after he fell into his hands there came another Lord called Mocoço who dwelleth two daies iourney from the Port and burned his Towne Vcita fled to another Towne that he had in another Sea Port. Thus Iohn Ortiz lost his office and fauour that he had with him These people being worshippers of the Deuill are wont to offer vp vnto him the liues and bloud of their Indians or of any other people they can come by and they report that when hee will haue them doe that Sacrifice vnto him he speaketh with them and telleth them that hee is athirst and willeth them to sacrifice vnto him Iohn Ortiz had notice by the Damosell that
they calked them with the flaxe of the Countrie and with the Mantles which they rauelled for that purpose A Cooper made for euery Brigandine two halfe hogs heads which the Mariners call quarterers because foure of them hold a Pipe of water In the moneth of March when it had not rained a moneth before the Riuer grew so big that it came to Nilco which was nine leagues off and on the other side the Indians said that it reached other nine leagues into the land In the towne where the Christians were which was somewhat high ground where they could best goe the water reached to the stirrops They made certaine rafts of timber and laid many boughes vpon them whereon they set their horses and in the houses they did the like But seeing that nothing preuailed they went vp to the lofts and if they went out of the houses it was in Canoes or on horseback in those places where the ground was highest So they were two moneths and could doe nothing during which time the Riuer decreased not The Indians ceased not to come vnto the Brigantines as they were wont and came in Canoes At that time the Gouernour feared they would set vpon him He commanded his men to take an Indian secretly of those that came to the Towne and stay him till the rest were gone and they tooke one The Gouernour commanded him to be put to torture to make him confesse whether the Indians did practise any treason or no. Hee confessed that the Caciques of Nilco Guachoya and Taguanate and others which in all were about twenty Caciques with a great number of people determined to come vpon him and that three dayes before they would send a great present of fish to colour their great treason and malice and on the very day they would send some Indians before with another present And these with those which were our slaues which were of their conspiracie also should set the houses on fire and first of all possesse themselues of the lances which stood at the doores of the houses and the Caciques with all their men should be neere the Towne in ambush in the wood and when they saw the fire kindled should come and make an end of the conquest The Gouernour commanded the Indian to be kept in a chaine and the selfe same day that he spake of there came thirty Indians with fish Hee commanded their right hands to be cut off and sent them so backe to the Cacique of Guachaya whose men they were He sent him word that he and the rest should come when they would for he desired nothing more and that he should know that they taught not any thing which he knew not before they thought of it Hereupon they all were put in a very great feare And the Caciques of Nilco and Taguanate came to excuse themselues and a few dayes after came he of Guachoya The Brigandines being finished in the moneth of Iune the Indians hauing told vs That the Riuer increased but once a yeare when the Snowes did melt in the time wherein I mentioned it had already increased being now in Summer and hauing not rained a long time it pleased God that the flood came vp to the Towne to seeke the Brigandines from whence they carried them by water to the Riuer Which if they had gone by land had beene in danger of breaking and splitting their keeles and to be all vndone because that for want of Iron the spikes were short and the plankes and timber were very weake They shipped two and twenty of the best Horses that were in the Campe the rest they made dried flesh of and dressed the Hogges which they had in like manner They departed from Minoya the second day of Iuly 1543. There went from Minoya three hundred twenty and two Spaniards in seuen Brigandines well made saue that the plankes were thin because the nailes were short and were not pitched nor had any decks to keepe the water from comming in In stead of deckes they laid plankes whereon the Marriners might run to trim their sailes and the people might refresh themselues aboue and below They sailed downe the Riuer seuenteene dayes which may be two hundred and fiftie leagues iourney little more or lesse and neere vnto the Sea the Riuer is diuided into two armes each of them is a league and a halfe broad By the way the Indians set on them slew some and wounded many The eighteenth of Iuly they went forth to Sea with faire and prosperous weather for their voyage They sailed with a reasonable good winde that day and the night following and the next day till euening song alwaies in fresh water whereat they wondred much for they were very farre from land But the force of the current of the Riuer is so great and the coast there is so shallow and gentle that the fresh water entreth farre into the Sea They indured an intolerable storme first and after that the torment of an infinite swarme of Moskitos which fell vpon them which as soone as they had stung the flesh it so infected it as though they had beene venomous For the sayles which were white seemed blacke with them Those which rowed vnlesse others kept them away were not able to rowe Hauing passed the feare and danger of the storme beholding the deformities of their faces and the blowes which they gaue themselues to driue them away one of them laughed at another They met all together in the creeke where the two Brigandines were which outwent their fellowes There was found a skumme which they call Copee which the Sea casteth vp and it is like Pitch wherewith in some places where Pitch is wanting they pitch their ships there they pitched their Brigandines They rested two dayes and then eftsoones proceeded on their Voyage They sailed two dayes more and landed in a Bay or arme of the Sea where they stayed two dayes From the time that they put out of Rio Grande to the Sea at their departure from Florida vntill they arriued in the Riuer of Panuco were two and fiftie dayes They came into the Riuer of Panuco the tenth of September 1543. There arriued there of those that came out of Florida three hundred and eleuen Christians From the Port de Spiritu Santo where they landed when they entred into Florida to the Prouince of Ocute which may be foure hundred leagues little more or lesse is a very plaine Countrie and hath many Lakes and thicke Woods and in some places they are of wilde Pine-trees and is a weake soyle There is in it neither Mountaine nor Hill The Countrie of Ocute is more fat and fruitfull it hath thinner Woods and very goodly Medowes vpon the Riuers From Ocute to Cutifachiqui may be an hundred and thirty leagues eightie leagues thereof are Desart and haue many Groues of wilde Pine-trees Through the Wildernesse great Riuers doe passe From Cutifachiqui to Xuala may bee two hundred and fifty leagues it is
the Spaniards arriued began the great slaughters and spoyles of people the Spaniards haâ—ing begun to take their wiues and children of the Indies for to serue their turne and to vse them ill and hauing begun to eate their victuals gotten by their sweate and trauell not contenting themselues with that which the Indians gaue them of their owne good will euery one after their abilitie the which is algates very small forasmuch as they are accustomed to haue no more store then they haue ordinarily neede of and that such as they get with little trauell And that which might suffice for three housholds reckoning ten persons for each houshold for a moneths space one Spaniard would eate and destroy in a day Now after sundry other forces violences and torments which they wrought against them the Indians began to perceiue that those were not men discended from heauen Some of them therefore hid their victuals others hid their wiues and children some others fled into the Mountaines to separate themselues a farre off from a Nation of so hard natured and ghastly conuersation The Spaniards buffeted them with their fists and bastonades pressing also to lay hands vpon the Lords of the Townes And these cases ended in so great an hazard and desperatenesse that a Spanish Captaine durst aduenture to rauish forcibly the wife of the greatest King and Lord of this I le Since which time the Indians began to search meanes to cast the Spaniards out of their lands and set themselues in armes but what kinde of armes very feeble and weake to withstand or resist and of lesse defence The Spaniards with their Horses their Speares and Lances began to commit murders and strange cruelties they entred into Townes Borowes and Villages sparing neither children nor old men neither women with childe neither them that lay In but that they ripped their bellies and cut them in peeces as if they had beene opening of Lambes shut vp in their fold They laid wagers with such as with one thrust of a sword would paunch or bowell a man in the middest or with one blow of a sword would most readily and most deliuerly cut off his head or that would best pierce his entrals at one stroake They tooke the little soules by the heeles ramping them from the mothers dugges and crushed their heads against the clifts Others they cast into the Riuers laughing and mocking and when they tumbled into the water they said now shift for thy selfe such a ones corpes They put others together with their mothers and all that they met to the edge of the sword They made certaine Gibbets long and low in such sort that the feete of the hanged on touched in a manner the ground euery one enough for thirteene in honour and worship of our Sauiour and his twelue Apostles as they vsed to speake and setting to fire burned them all quicke that were fastened Vnto all others whom they vsed to take and reserue aliue cutting off their two hands as neere as might be and so letting them hang they said Get you with these Letters to carry tydings to those which are fled by the Mountaines They murdered commonly the Lords and Nobility on this fashion They made certaine grates of pearches laid on pickforkes and made a little fire vnderneath to the intent that by little and little yelling and despairing in these torments they might giue vp the Ghost One time I saw foure or fiue of the principall Lords roasted and broyled vpon these gredirons Also I thinke that there were two or three of these gredirons garnished with the like furniture and for that they cryed out pittiously which thing troubled the Captaine that he could not then sleepe he commanded to strangle them The Sergeant which was worse then the Hang man that burned them I know his name and friends in Siuil would not haue them strangled but himselfe putting Bullets in their mouthes to the end that they should not cry put to the fire vntill they were softly roasted after his desire I haue seene all the aforesaid things and others infinite And forasmuch as all the people which could flee hid themselues in the Mountaines and mounted on the tops of them fled from the men so without all manhood emptie of all pitie behauing them as sauage beasts the slaughterers and deadly enemies of mankinde they taught their Hounds fierce Dogs to teare them in peeces at the first view and in the space that one may say a Credo assailed and deuoured an Indian as if it had beene a Swine These Dogges wrought great destructions and slaughters And forasmuch as sometimes although seldome when the Indians put to death some Spaniards vpon good right and Law of due Iustice they made a Lawe betweene them that for one Spaniard they had to slay an hundred Indians There were in this Ile Hispaniola fiue great principall Realmes and fiue very mighty Kings vnto whom almost all other Lords obayed which were without number There were also certaine Lords of other seuerall Prouinces which did not acknowledge for soueraigne any of these Kings One Realme was named Magua which is as much to say as the Kingdome of the plaine This Plaine is one of the most famous and most admirable things of all that is in the world For it containeth fourescore leagues of ground from the South Sea vnto the North sea hauing in breadth fiue leagues and eight vnto ten It hath on one side and other exceeding high Mountaines There entreth into it aboue thirty thousand Riuers and Lakes of the which twelue are as great as Ebro and Duero and Guadalqueuir And all the Riuers which issue out of a Mountaine which is towards the West in number about fiue and twenty thousand are very rich of Gold In the which Mountaine or Mountaines is contained the Prouince of Cibao from whence the Mines of Cibao take their names and from whence commeth the same exquisite Gold and fine of foure and twenty Karrets which is so renowned in these parts The King Lord of this Realme was called Guarionex which had vnder him his Vassals Lieges so great and mighty that euery one of them was able to set forth threescore thousand men of armes for the seruice of the King Guarionex Of the which Lords I haue known some certain This Guarionex was very obedient and vertuous naturally desirous of peace and well affectioned to the deuotion of the Kings of Castile and his people gaue by his commandement euery housekeeper a certaine kinde of Drumfull of Gold but afterwards being not able to fill the Dâ—um cut it off by the middest and gaue the halfe thereof full For the Indians of that I le had little or none industrie or practise to gather or draw Gold out of the Mines The Cacique presented vnto the King of Castile his seruice in causing to be manured all the lands from the Isabella where the Spanish first sited vnto the Towne of Saint
such wise as that since the first entring into New Spaine which was on the eight day of Aprill in the eighteenth yeere vnto the thirtieth yeere which make twelue yeeres complete the slaughters and the destructions haue neuer ceassed which the bloudie and cruell hands of the Spaniards haue continually executed in foure hundred and fiftie leagues of Land or thereabout in compasse round about Mexico and the Neighbour Regions round about such as the which might containe foure or fiue great Realmes as great and a great deale farre fertiler then is Spaine All this Countrie was more peopled with Inhabitants then Toledo and Siuill and Vallodolid and Sauagoce with Barcelona For that there hath not beene commonly in those Cities nor neuer were such a world of people when they haue beene peopled with the most as there was then in the said Country which containeth in the whole compasse more then 1800. leagues during the time of the aboue mentioned twelue yeeres the Spaniards haue slaine and done to death in the said 450. leagues of Land what men what women what young and little children more then foure Millions of soules with the dint of the Sword and Speare and by fire during I say the Conquests as they call them Neither yet doe I here comprize those whom they haue slaine and doe slay as yet euery day in the aforesaid slauerie and oppression ordinarie Amongst other Murders and Massacres they committed this one which I am now to speake of in a great Citie more then of a thirtie thousand housholds which is called Cholula that is that comming before them the Lords of the Countrie and places neere adioyning and first and formost the Priests with their chiefe high Priest in procession to receiue the Spaniards with great solemnitie and reuerence so conducting them in the middest of them towards their Lodgings in the Citie in the houses and place of the Lord or other principall Lords of the Citie the Spaniards aduised with themselues to make a massacre or a chastise as they speake to the end to raise and plant a dread of their cruelties in euery corner of all that Countrie Now this hath beene alwaies their customary manner of doing in euery the Regions which they haue entred into to execute incontinent vpon their first arriuall some notable cruell butcherie to the end that those poore and innocent Lambes should tremble for feare which they should haue of them in this wise they sent first to summon all the Lords and Noblemen of the Citie and of all the places subiect vnto the same Citie who so soone as they came to speake with the Captaine of the Spaniards were incontinent apprehended before that any body might perceiue the matter to be able thereupon to beare tidings thereof vnto others Then were demanded of them fiue or sixe thousand Indians to carry the lodings and carriages of the Spaniards which Indians came forthwith and were bestowed into the base Courts of the Houses It was a pitifull case to see these poore folke what time they made them ready to beare the carriages of the Spaniard They come all naked only their secret parts couered hauing euery one vpon their shoulder a Net with a small deale of victuall they bow themselues euery one and hold their backes cowred downe like a sort of â—llie Lambes presenting themselues to the Swords and thus being all assembled in the base Court together with others one part of the Spanish all armed bestowe themselues at the gates to hemme them in whiles the rest put these poore Sheepe to the edge of the Sword and the Speares in such sort that there could not escape away one onely person but that he was cruelly put to death sauing that after a two or three dayes you might haue seene come forth sundry all couered with bloud which had hid and saued themselues vnder the dead bodies of their fellowes and now presenting themselues before the Spaniards asking them mercy and the sauing of their liues they found in them no pitie nor compassion any whit at all but were all hewed in pieces All the Lords which were aboue and vnderneath were all bound the Captaine commanding them to be brent quicke being bound vnto stakes pitched into the ground Howbeit one Lord which might be peraduenture the principall and King of the Countrie saued himselfe and cast himselfe with thirtie or fortie other men into a Temple thereby which was as good vnto them as a Fort which they call in their Language Qewe and there he defended himselfe a good part of the day But the Spaniards whose hands nothing can escape specially armed for the warre cast fire on the Temple and burned all those which were within From Cholula they went to Mexico The King Motensuma sent to meet them a thousand of presents and Lords and people making ioy and mirth by the way After great and abhominable tyrannies committed in the Citie of Mexico and in other Cities and the Countrey ten fifteene and twenty leagues compasse of Mexico this tyrannie and pestilence aduanced it selfe forward to waste also infect and lay desolate the Prouince of Panuco It was a thing to be wondred at of the world of people that there were and the spoyles and slaughters there done Afterward they wasted also after the selfe manner all the Prouince of Tuttepeke and the Prouince of Ipelingo and the Prouince of Columa each Prouince contayning more ground then the Realme of Leon and Castile This Captaine tyrant with this gorgeous and pretended title dispatched two other Captaines as very tyrants and farre more cruell and lesse pitifull then himselfe into great Realmes most flourishing and most fertile and full of people to wit the Realme of Guatimala which lieth to the Seaward on the South side and the same of Naco and Honduras otherwise called Guaymura which coasteth on the Sea on the North side confronting and confining the one with the other three hundred leagues distance from Mexico He sent the one by Land and the other by Sea both the one and the other carried with them a many of troopes to serue on horsebacke and a foot He which went by Sea committed exceeding pillings cruelties and disorders amongst the people on the Sea-coast The Prouinces and Realmes of Naco and Honduras which resembled a Paradise of pleasures and were more peopled frequented and inhabited then any Countrey in the world now of late wee comming along thereby haue seene them so dispeopled and destroyed that who so should see them his heart would cleaue for sorrow ware hee neuer so flinty They haue slaine within these eleuen yeeres more then two millions of soules hauing not left in more then an hundred leagues of the Countrey square but two thousand persons whom they slay as yet daily in the said ordinary bondage The great tyrant and Captaine which went to Guatimala as hath beene said exceeded all from the Prouinces neere to Mexico according as himselfe wrote in a Letter to the principall
will soone take an end c. And a little below he saith Whereby your Maiestie shall know cleerely how those which gouerne in those quarters doe deserue to be dismounted and deposed from their gouernment to the end that the Common-weales may be relieued That if that be not done in mine aduise they can neuer be cured of their diseases His Maiestie shall vnderstand moreouer that in those Regions there are not any Christians but Deuils that there are no Seruants of God and the King but Traitors to the state and their King And in truth the greatest incumbrance that I find in reducing the Indians that are in warre and to set them at peace and to lead those which are at peace to the knowledge of our faith is vnnaturall and cruell entreatie which they that are in peace receiue of the Spanish being so deeply altered and launced that they haue nothing in more hatred and horror then the name of Christians the which in all these Countries they call in their Language Yares that is to say Deuils For the acts which they committed here are neither of Christians nor of men which haue the vse of reason but of Deuils Whereof it commeth to passe that the Indies which doe see these behauiours to be generally so farre estranged from all humanitie and without any mercie aswell in the heads as in the members they esteeme that the Christians do hold these things for a Law and that their God and their King are the Authors thereof And to endeuour to perswade them otherwise were to endeuour in vaine and to minister vnto them the more ample matter to deride and scorne Iesus Christ and his Law The Indians that are in war seeing the intreatie vsed toward the Indians that are in peace would choose rather to die once for all then to endure sundrie deaths beeing vnder the command of the Spanish I know this by experience most victorious Caesar c. He calleth the Indians in warre those which saued themselues by flying into the Mountaines from the slaughters of the mischieuous Spaniards And hee calleth the Indians in peace those which after hauing lost an infinite of their people by the Massacres haue beene thralled into the Tyrannicall and horrible seruitude aforesaid and whereof in the end they haue beene fined out desolated and slaine as appeareth by that which hath beene said by the Bishoppe which notwithstanding speaketh but little in comparison of that which they haue suffered The Indians in that Countrie haue accustomed to say if when they are trauelled and driuen vp the Mountaines loden they happen to fall downe and to faint for feeblenesse and for paine for at that time they lay on vpon them blowes with their feet and with their staues and they breake their teeth with the pummels of their Swords to make them rise and march on without taking of breath with these words Out vpon thee what a Uillaine art thou they I say the Indians for their parts are wont to say I can no more kill me here right I doe desire to die heere and this they say with great sighes and being scarce able to speake for hauing their heart drawne together declaring a great anguish and dolour Of the Prouince of Carthagene THis Prouince of Carthagene is situate vnder and a fiftie leagues distant from the same of Saint Martha towards the West confining with the Prouince of Ceu vnto the Gulph of Araba which are a hundred leagues all along the Sea-side and is a great Countrie within Land towards the South These Prouinces since the yeere 1498. or ninetie nine vntill now haue beene euill entreated martyred massacred desolated like vnto that of Saint Martha Of the Coast of Pearles and of Paria and of the I le of the Trinitie FRom the Coast of Paria vnto the Gulfe of Venesuela without forth which are two hundred leagues the Spanish haue wrought great and strange destructions rioting vpon that people and taking aliue as many as they could to the end they might sell them for slaues and oftentimes making them prisoners against the assurance and the promise of friendship made vnto them It cannot bee well told nor particularly exprest the sundrie kindes and greiuous vexations wrongs hurts and spoiles which those people indured at the Spaniards hands from the yeere 1510. vntill this present I will onely rehearse two or three acts by the which it may be iudged of the rest innumerable and excessiue and worthy all torments and fire In the I le of the Trinitie which is farre greater and more fertile then the I le of Sicile and ioyneth with the firme Land of the Coast of Paria and where the people are the best disposed and most enclined to vertue in their kind of all the Indians as they went there a Captaine Rouer in the yeere 1510. accompanied with sixtie or seuentie other pettie Theeues well appointed they published among the Indians by Proclamations and other publike Summons that they should come and dwell and liue with them in that I le The Indians receiued them as their owne bowels and babes and as well the Lords as Subiects serued them with exceeding readinesse bringing them to eate from day to day as much as might suffice to feed as many moe people For this is the liberalitie of all these Indians of the new World to bestow on the Spaniards of all that they haue in great abundance The Spanish build a great house of Timber in the which the Indians should dwell altogether for the Spanish would haue it so that there should bee one only house for all and no more to compasse that which they had alreadie premeditate to doe and did it When they laid the Thatch vpon the binding staues or sparres and had alreadie couered to the height of two mens length to the end that those that were within might not see those that were without vnder colour to hasten forward the worke that it might bee the sooner dispatched they set a great number of people within the Spaniards deuiding themselues the one part of them being bestowed without compassing the house round about with their weapons because of those that might get forth the other part of them presse into the house Thus laying hands on their Swords they beganne to threaten the Indians naked as they were to kill them if they did stirre and then bound them And those which fled they hewed them in pieces Howbeit some of the Indians which fled both of the hurt and not hurt with others that had not come within the house tooke their Bowes and Arrowes and assembled themselues in another house about an hundred or two hundred persons And as they kept the gate the Spaniards set fire on the house and burned them aliue After with their purchase which might bee of an hundred or fourescore persons of them which they had bound they get them to the I le of Saint Iohn where they sold the one moitie and thence to the I le
other who had hid themselues in the caues and bowels of the earth fleeing the dint of the sword so raging and plaguing They haue slaine destroyed and sent to Hell by diuers and strange manners of cruelties and vngodlinesses more I suppose then foure or fiue millions of soules and yet at this present they ceasse not to doe the same by infinite outrages spoyles and slaughters which they haue committed and doe commit daily vnto this present They tooke the Lord Soueraigne of all the Prouince without all cause onely to bereaue him of his Gold giuing him also the torture which Lord vnbound himselfe and escaped from them into the Mountaines wherefore also the Subiects rose and were in a mutinie hiding themselues vpon the Mountaines amongst the hedges and bushes The Spaniards make after to chase them and hauing found them commit cruell massacres and as many as they take aliue they sell them in port sale for slaues In diuers Prouinces yea in all where they became before that they tooke the Soueraigne Lord the Indians went to receiue them with songs and dances and with presents of Gold in great quantitie The payment made them was to bee put to the edge of the sword and hewen in pieces One time as they went to receiue the Spanish in the fashion aboue said the Dutch Captaine tyrant caused to bee put in a thatched house a great number of people and hakled in pieces And being on high neere the top of the house certaine beames which diuers had got vpon auoyding the bloudy hands and swords of those people O mercilesse beasts the deuilish man sent to put to fire whereby as many as there were were burned aliue By this meanes the Countrie remayned very desart the people fleeing into the Mountaines where they hoped to saue themselues They came into another great Prouince in the confines of the Prouince and Realme of Saint Martha where they found the Indians peaceable in their Burroughs and in their houses doing their businesse they continued a long time with them eating their store and the Indians serued them as if they had to receiue of them their life and safeguard supporting their continuall oppressions and vsuall outragiousnesses which are intolerable besides that one Spanish glutton eateth more in one day then would suffice an whole houshold of more then ten Indians They gaue them at that time a great quantitie of Gold of their owne good-will ouer and besides other seruices innumerable which they did vnto them At the end as these tyrants would depart the place they aduised to pay them for their lodging in this manner The Almaine tyrant Gouernour commanded to take such Indians as they could with their wiues and children and that they should shut them vp within an inclosure letting them know that who so would come forth and be let goe free that he should redeeme himselfe at the pleasure of the vniust Gouernour in giuing so much Gold for himselfe so much for his wife and so much for euery poll of his children And yet to presse them the more he commanded to giue them nothing to eate vntill such time as they had performed the quantitie of Gold inflicted them for their ransome Many sent to their houses for Gold and bought out themselues as they were able and those same were deliuered and went abroad about their businesse to get their liuing The tyrant sent certaine Spanish thieues and robbers to goe take them againe the second time after they had beene redeemed They are carried to the perclose and there wrung with hunger and thirst to the end that they should yet once againe pay for their freedome And there were many amongst them which were taken and ransomed two or three sundry times Others which had not to giue for because they had all they had hee let them within the toyle die for hunger And in this manner hath beene destroyed a Prouince very rich of people and gold the which hath a Vale or Bourne of fourtie leagues where hath beene brent a Burrough of the receit of a thousand housholds This Tyrant resolued with himselfe to pierce farther into the Countrey with a great desire to discouer on that side that Hill of Peru. By occasion of which accursed Voyage both hee and others carried forth with them Indians infinite Ioden with two or three quintals weight and being enchained If any were weake and weary fainting for hunger or trauelling they cut incontinent his head off euen with the collar of the chaine that yoked them because they should not need to vnhamper the others that went with the same collars about their neckes and so tumbled the head on the one side and the body on the other And the lode of him that had so fayled was distributed and bestowed vpon others To tell of the Prouinces which hee hath layed desart and the Townes and places which hee hath brent for all the houses are thatched and to number the Nations which hee hath slaine and the cruelties and murders particular which hee had committed by the way it would bee a thing scarse credible howbeit very true and wonderfull In this same very course and steppes marched sithence the other tyrants who came from the said Venesuela and others of the Prouince of Saint Martha with the selfe same holy intention to discouer the same sacred golden Palace of Peru and found the whole Countrie in length more then two hundred leagues so burned dispeopled and spoyled hauing beene before most notably peopled and most fertile as hath beene said that themselues as very tyrants and sauage beasts as they were wondered and stood astonished to see the trackes of the destructions so lamentable wheresoeuer he had passed All these things haue beene giuen in euidence with the depositions of many witnesses by the Attorney of the Councell of the Indies and the euidences are kept amongst the Records of the same Councell and yet haue they neuer burnt aliue any of those execrable tyrants Those Prouinces of Venesuela with the others which they haue laid waste and dispeopled more then foure hundred leagues forthright as hath beene said is a region the most blissefull and the richest of Gold and was the best peopled of any in the world in such sort that they haue disturned from the Kings Coffers and occasioned the losse in this Realme of aboue two millions of rent within seuenteene yeeres sithence by past that these enemies of God and the King haue begunne to destroy it neither is there any hope that euer those losses will be repaired These seuenteene yeeres they haue sent by Sea a great number of ships Ioden and stuffed with Indians to make sale of them as slaues at Saint Martha at the Iles of Hispaniola and of Iamayca and at Saint Iohns Ile moe then one million and doe send daily as now this yeere 1542. the Court of the Audience Royall notwithstanding established for and at Hispaniola right well seeing all this and dissimuling to see it
of the Spaniards but at the ringing of the Gold there were quickely gathered and flocked thither foure or fiue thousand which shed themselues forth ouer many great Realmes and Prouinces more then fiue hundred or sixe hundred leagues the which Countrey hath beene throughly destroyed they executing still the selfe same practises and others more barbarous and cruell Of a veritie from that day vnto this present there hath beene destroyed and brought to desolation moe soules then he hath counted and they haue with lesse reuerence of God or the King and with lesse pittie then before abolished a great part of the linage of mankinde They haue slaine vnto this day in these same Realmes and yet daily they doe slay them moe then foure Millions of soules Certaine dayes passed they pricked in shooting with darts of reedes to death a mightie Queene wife of Eling who is yet King of that Realme whom the Spaniards by laying hands vpon him compelled to rebell and in rebellion he persisteth They tooke the Queene his wife and so as hath beene said slue her against all reason and iustice being great with childe as she was as it was said onely to vexe her husband withall Of the new Realme of Granado WIthin the yeare 1539 there tooke their flight together sundry tyrants flocking from Venesuela from Saint Martha and from Carthagene to search for the Perous and there were also others which came downe from Peru it selfe to assay to make a glade farther into the Countrie And they found from beyond Saint Marthas and Carthagene three hundred leagues vp into the Countrie fertile lands and admirable Prouinces full of infinite people kinde hearted like the rest and very rich as well of Gold as of precious stones which they call Emeralds Vnto the which Prouinces they gaue the name of New Granado for because that the tyrant which came first into this Countrey was a Granadan borne in our Countrey A Gouernour for as much as he which robbed and slew in the new Realme of Granado would not admit him for consort with him to rob and slay as did he he procured an enquirie and thereby euidence came in against him with sundry witnesses vpon the fact of his slaughters disorders and murders which he had done and doth as yet vnto this day the processe of which enquirie together with the euidences was read and is kept in the Records of the Counsell of the Indies The witnesses doe depose in the same enquirie that the said whole Realme was in peace the Indians seruing the Spaniards giuing them to eate of their labour and labouring continually and manuring the ground and bringing them much Gold and precious stones such as are Emeralds and all that which they could or had the Townes and the Lordships and the people being distributed amongst the Spaniards euery one his share which is all that they studie for for that that it is their meane way to attaine to their last end and scope to wit Gold And all being subdued to their tyrannie and accustomed bondage the tyrant the principall Captaine which commanded ouer that Countrey tooke the Lord and King of the Countrey and detained him prisoner six or seuen moneths exacting of him Gold and Emeralds without cause or reason at all The said King who was named Bogata for feare which they put him in said that hee would giue them an house full of Gold hoping that he should escape out of the hands of him which tormented him And he sent Indians which should bring him Gold and by times one after another they brought in a great quantitie of Gold and precious stones But because the King did not giue an whole house full of Gold the Spaniards bid kill him sithence that he did not accomplish that which he had promised The tyrant commanding that this King should be arraigned before himselfe They sommon and accuse in this order the greatest King of all that Countrie and the tyrant giueth sentence condemning him to be racked and tormented if he doe not furnish forth the house full of Gold They giue him the torture and the strapado with cords they fling burning sewet vpon his naked belly they lay on bolts vpon his feete which were fastened to one stake and gird his necke fast vnto another stake two men holding both his hands and so they set fire vnto his feete and the tyrant comming vp and downe now and then willeth him to haue his death giuen him by little and little if he made not ready the Gold Thus they dispatched and did to death that Noble Lord in those torments during the execution whereof God manifested by a signe that those cruelties displeased him in consuming with fire all the towne where they were committed All the Spaniards to the end to follow their good Captaine and hauing none other thing to doe but to hackle in peeces those poore innocents doe the like tormenting with diuers and sauage torments euery Indian both Cacique or Lord of euery people or peoples with all their flockes that were committed to their charges those said Lords with all their subiects seruing them and giuing them Gold and Emeraulds as many as they could and as much as they had Tormenting them onely to the end they should giue them more Gold and rich Minerals thus they broyled and dispatched all the Lords of that Countrie For the great reare of the notorious cruelties that one of the pettie tyrants did vnto the Indians there transported himselfe vnto the Mountaines in flying so great crueltie a great Lord named Daytama with many of his people For this they hold for their last remedy and refuge if it might haue preuailed them ought and this the Spaniards call insurrection and rebellion Which the Captaine head tyrant hauing knowledge of he sendeth supplie of Souldiers vnto the said cruell man for whose cruelties sake the Indians that were peaceable and had endured great tyrannies and mischiefes were now gone into the Mountaines to the end he should pursue them Who because it sufficeth not to hide them in the entrals of the earth finding there a great multitude of people slue and dispatched them aboue fiue hundred soules what men what women for they receiued none to mercy Also the witnesses depose that the said Lord Daytama before that the Spaniards put him to death came to the cruell man and brought him foure or fiue thousand Castillans the which notwithstanding he was murdered as abouesaid Another time many Indians being come to serue the Spaniards and seruing them with humilitie and simplicitie as they are accustomed to doe reputing themselues assured behold the Captaine of the towne where they serued who commeth by night commanding that those Indians should be put to the edge of the sword when they had supped and whiles that they were a sleepe taking their rest after the toyle which they sustained the day time And this he did for that it seemed him necessary to doe this massacre to the end to
which being done he went and sat him downe in his place then immediately another rose vp and did the like and so they continued vntill the meate was sodden When they had ended their Feast they began to dance taking the heads of their enemies in their hands which hanged vpon the wall behinde them and in signe of ioy there is one or two which sing moderating their voice by the measure ef their hands which they beate vpon their knees then they rest sometimes and cry ho ho ho and begin againe to dance blow like a man that is out of breath They made this triumph for a victory which they had gotten of the Irocois of whom they had slaine some hundred whose heads they cut off which they had with them for the ceremony They were three Nations when they went to war the Estechemins Algoumequins and Mountainers to the number of a thousand when they went to war against the Irocois whom they encountred at the mouth of the Riuer of the said Irocois and slew an hundred of them The war which they make is altogether by surprises for otherwise they would be out of hart they feare the said Irocois very much which are in greater number then the said Mountainers Estechemins and Algoumequins The twenty eight day of the said moneth they encamped themselues in the foresaid hauen of Tadousac where our Ship was at the break of day their said great Sagamo came out of his Cabine going round about all the other Cabins and cried with a loud voice that they should dislodge to goe to Tadousac where their good friends were Immediately euery man in a trice tooke down his cabin and the said grand Captain first began to take his canoe carried it to the Sea where he embarked his wife and children store of furs and in like manner did well neere two hundred canowes which goe strangely for though our Shallop was well manned yet they went more swift then we There are but two that row the man and the wife Their Canowes are some eight or nine pases long and a pace or a pace a halfe broad in the middest and grow sharper sharper toward both the ends They are very subiect to ouerturning if one know not how to guide them for they are made of the barke of a Birch tree strengthned within with little circles of wood well handsomely framed and are so light that one man will carry one of them easily and euery Canowe is able to carry the weight of a Pipe when they would passe ouer any land to goe to some Riuer where they haue busines they carry them with them Their Cabins are low made like Tents couered with the said barke of a tree and they leaue in the roofe about a foot spacevncouered wherby the light commeth in and they make many fires right in the midst of their Cabin where they are sometimes ten housholds together They lie vpon skins one by another and their dogs with them They were about a thousand persons men women and children The place of the point of S. Matthew where they were first lodged is very pleasant they were at the bottome of a little hill which was ful of Fir Cypresse trees vpon this point there is a little leuel plot which discouereth far off vpon the top of the said hill there is a Plain a league long and halfe a league broad couered with trees the soile is very sandy and is good pasture all the rest is nothing but Mountains of very bad rocks the Sea beateth round about the said hil which is dry for a large halfe league at a low water THe ninth day of Iune the Sauages began to make merrie together and to make their feast as I haue said before and to dance for the aforesaid victory which they had obtained against their enemies After they had made good cheere the Algoumequins one of the three Nations went out of their Cabins and retired themselues apart into a publike place and caused all their women and girles to sit downe in rankes one by the other and stood themselues behinde then singing all in one time as I haue said before And suddenly all the women and maidens began to cast off their Mantles of skins and stripped themselues starke naked shewing their priuities neuerthelesse odorned with Matachia which are paternosters and chaines enterlaced made of the haire of the Porkespicke which they dye of diuers colours After they had made an end of their songs they cried all with one voyce ho ho ho at the same instant all the women and maidens couered themselues with their Mantels for they lye at their feete and rest a short while and then eftsoones beginning againe to sing they let fall their Mantels as they did before They goe not out of one place when they dance and make certaine gestures and motions of the body first lifting vp one foote and then another stamping vpon the ground While they were dancing of this dance the Sagamo of the Algoumequins whose name was Besouat sat before the said women and virgins betweene two staues whereon the heads of their enemies did hang. Sometimes he rose and made a speech and said to the Mountainers and Estechemains ye see how we reioyce for the victory which we haue obtained of our enemies ye must doe the like that we may be contented then they all together cried ho ho ho. Assoone as hee was returned to his place the great Sagamo and all his companions cast off their Mantels being starke naked saue their priuities which were couered with a little skin and tooke each of them what they thought good as Matachias Hatchets Swords Kettels Fat Flesh of the Orignac Seales in briefe euery one had a present which they gaue the Algoumequins After all these ceremonies the dance ceased and the said Algoumequins both men and women carried away their presents to their lodgings They chose out all ò two men of each Nation of the best disposition which they caused to run and he which was the swiftest in running had a present All these people are of a very cheerefull complexion they laugh for the most part neuerthelesse they are somewhat melancholly They speake very distinctly as though they would make themselues well vnderstood and they stay quickely bethinking themselues a great while and then they begin their speech againe they often vse this fashion in the middest of their Orations in counsaile where there are none but the principals which are the ancients the women and children are not present All these people sometimes endure so great extremity that they are almost constrained to eate one another through the great colds and snowes for the Beasts and Fowles whereof they liue retire themselues into more hot climates I thinke if any would teach them how to liue and to learne to till the ground and other things they would learne very well for I
considering that all the Ilands as also the Maine where wee were is all Rockie Grounds and broken Lands Now the next day wee determined to fortifie our selues in a little plot of ground in the middest of the Lake aboue mentioned where wee built an house and couered it with sedge which grew about this Lake in great abundance in building whereof wee spent three weekes and more but the second day after our comming from the Maine wee espied eleuen Canoas or Boats with fifty Indians in them comming toward vs from this part of the Maine where wee two dayes before landed and being loath they should discouer our fortification wee went out into the Sea side to meete them and comming somewhat neere them they all sate downe vpon the stones calling aloud to vs as wee rightly ghessed to doe the like a little distance from them hauing sate a while in this order Captaine Gosnold willed mee to goe vnto them to see what countenance they would make but as soone as I came vp vnto them one of them to whom I had giuen a Knife two dayes before in the Maine knew mee whom I also very well remembred and smiling vpon me spake somewhat vnto their Lord or Captaine which sate in the midst of them who presently rose vp and tooke a large Beuer skinne from one that stood about him and gaue it vnto me which I requited for that time the best I could but I pointing towards captaine Gosnold made signes vnto him that hee was our Captaine and desirous to bee his friend and enter league with him which as I perceiued he vnderstood and made signes of ioy whereupon Captaine Gosnold with the rest of his companie being twenty in all came vp vnto them and after many signes of gratulations Captaine Gosnold presenting their Lord with certaine trifles which they wondred at and highly esteemed wee became very great friends and sent for meat aboord our Shalop and gaue them such meates as wee had then ready dressed whereof they misliked nothing but our Mustard whereat they made many a sowre face While wee were thus merrie one of them had conueighed a Target of ours into one of their Canoas which wee suffered onely to trie whether they were in subiection to this Lord to whom we made signes by shewing him another of the same likenesse and pointing to the Canoa what one of his companie had done who suddenly expressed some feare and speaking angerly to one about him as wee perceiued by his countenance caused it presently to be brought backe againe So the rest of the day wee spent in trading with them for Furres which are Beauers Luzernes Marterns Otters Wilde-cat skinnes very large and deepe Furre blacke Foxes Conie skinnes of the colour of our Hares but somewhat lesse Deere skinnes very large Seale skinnes and other beasts skinnes to vs vnknowne They haue also great store of Copper some very red and some of a paler colour none of them but haue Chaines Eare-rings or Collars of this metall they head some of their Arrowes herewith much like our broad Arrow heads very workmanly made Their Chaines are many hollow pieces semented together each piece of the bignesse of one of our reeds a finger in length ten or twelue of them together on a string which they weare about their neckes their Collars they weare about their bodies like Bandelieres a handfull broad all hollow pieces like the other but somewhat shorter foure hundred pieces in a Collar very fine and euenly set together Besides these they haue large drinking Cups made like Sculls and other thinne plates of Copper made much like our Boare-speare blades all which they so little esteeme as they offered their fairest Collars and Chaines for a Knife or such like triste but wee seemed little to regard it yet I was desirous to vnderstand where they had such store of this mettall and made signes to one of them with whom I was very familiar who taking a piece of copper in his hand made a hole with his finger in the ground and withall pointed to the Maine from whence they came They strike fire in this manner euery one carrieth about him in a Purse oftewd Leather a Minerall stone which I take to be their Copper and with a flat Emerie stone wherewith Glasiers cut glasse and Cutlers glase blades tied fast to the end of alittle sticke gently hee striketh vpon the Minerall stone and within a stroke or two a sparke falleth vpon a piece of Touch-wood much like our Spunge in England and with the least sparke he maketh a fire presently Wee had also of their Flaxe wherewith they make many strings and cords but it is not so bright of colour as ours in England I am perswaded they haue store growing vpon the Maine as also Mines and many other rich commodities which we wanting both time and meanes could not possibly discouer Thus they continued with vs three dayes euery night retiring themselues to the furthermost part of our Iland two or three miles from our Fort but the fourth day they returned to the Maine pointing fiue or sixe times to the Sunne and once to the Maine which we vnderstood that within fiue or sixe dayes they would come from the Maine to vs againe but being in their Canoas a little from the shoare they made huge cries and shouts of ioy vnto vs and wee with our Trumpet and Cornet and casting vp our caps into the aire made them the best farewell wee could yet sixe or seuen of them remayned with vs behinde bearing vs companie euery day in the Woods and helped vs to cut and carrie our Sassafras and some of them lay aboord our ship These people as they are exceeding curteous gentle of disposition and well conditioned excelling all others that we haue seene so for shape of body and louely fauour I thinke they excell all the people of America of stature much higher than wee of complexion or colour much like a darke Oliue their eye-browes and haire blacke which they weare long tyed vp behinde in knots whereon they pricke feathers of fowles in fashion of a Crownet some of them are blacke thinne bearded they make beards of the haire of beasts and one of them offered a beard of their making to one of our Saylers for his that grew on his face which because it was of a red colour they iudged to be none of his owne They are quicke eyed and stedfast in their lookes fearelesse of others harmes as intending none themselues some of the meaner sort giuen to filching which the very name of Sauages not weighing their ignorance in good or euill may easily excuse their garments are of Deere skinnes and some of them weare Furres round and close about their neckes They pronounce our Language with great facilitie for one of them one day sitting by mee vpon occasion I spake smiling to him these words How now sirrha are you
a string of leather put through a hole at one end and made fast with a knot at the other Their Arrowes are of a much greater size then our and longer feathered with three feathers tyed on and nocked very artificially headed with a long shanke bone of a Deere made very sharpe and some Iron heads with two fangs in manner of a harping Iron They haue likewise Darts headed with sharpe bone one of which I darted among the Stones and it brake not These they vse very cunningly to kill Fish Fowle and Beasts They gaue vs the best welcome they could spreading Deere skins for vs to sit on the ground by their fire and gaue vs of their Tobacco in our Pipes which was most excellent and so generally commended of vs all to be as good as any we euer tooke being the simple Leafe without any composition very strong and of a pleasant sweete taste they gaue vs some to carry toour Captaine whom they called our Bashabe neither did they require any thing for it but we would receiue nothing from them without remuneration Here we saw their women who stood behinde them as desirous to see vs but not willing to be seene for before whensoeuer we came a Shoare they retired into the woods whether it were it regard of their owne naturall modesty being naked or by the commanding ielousie of their husbands which we rather suspected for it hath beene an inclination noted alwayes generally in Sauages wherefore we would by no meanes seeme to take any speciall notice of them They were very well fauoured low of stature and exceeding fat they had two little children very fat and of good countenance which they loue tenderly all naked except their legges which were couered with thin leather buskins fastned with straps to a Girdle about their waste which they gird very streight and is decked round about with little round peeces of Copper To these we gaue Chaines Bracelets and other trifles which the Sauages seemed to accept with great kindnesse At our comming away we would haue had those two that supped with vs to goe aboord and sleepe as they had promised our Captaine but it appeared their company would not suffer them whereat we might easily perceiue they were much grieued but not long after our departure they came with three more to our Ship signing to vs if one of our Company would goe lye a Shoare with them they would stay with vs. Our Captaine would command none but Griffin one of them we were to leaue in the Countrey by their agreement with my Lord the Right Honorable Count Arundell if it should be thought needefull or conuenient went with them in their Canoa and three of them stayed aboord vs. Whom our Captaine and whole Company very kindely vsed himselfe saw their lodging prouided and them lodged in an old Saile vpon the Orlop and because they most feared our Dogs they were tyed vp whensoeuer any of them came aboord vs. Griffin which lay on Shoare reported vnto me their manner and as I may tearme them the Ceremonies of their Idolatry which they performe thus One among them the eldest of the company as he iudged riseth right vp the rest sitting still and sodainely cryed Bowh waugh then the women fall downe and lye vpon the ground and the men altogether answering the same fall a stamping round about with both feete as hard as they can making the ground shake with sundry loud outcries and change of voyce and sound many take the fire stickes and thrust them into the earth and then rest silent a while of a sudden beginning as before they looke round about as though they expected the comming of something as hee verily supposed and continue stamping till the yonger sort fetch from the Shoare Stones of which euery man take one and first beate vpon them with the fire sticks then with the Stones beate the ground with all their strength and in this sort as â—he reported they continued aboue two houres In the time of their Pauose our watch aboord were singing and they signed to him to doe so which he did looking and lifting vp his hands to heauen then they pointed to the Moone as if they imagined hee worshipped that which when he with signes denied they pointed to the Sunne rising which hee likewise disliked lifting vp his hands againe then they looked about as though they would see what Starre it might be laughing one to another After this ended they which haue wiues take them a part and withdraw themselues seuerally into the wood all night The next morning as soone as they saw the Sunne rise they pointed to him to come with them to our Ship and hauing receiued their men from vs they came with all their Canoas and company houering about our Ship to whom because it was the Sabbath day I signed they should depart and at the next Sunne rising wee would goe along with them to their houses which they vnderstood as we thought and departed three of their Canoas coursing about the Iland and the others towards the Maine This day about fiue a clocke afternoone came three other Canoas from the Maine of which some had beene with vs before and they came directly aboord vs and brought vs Tobacco which we tooke with them in their Pipe which was made of earth very strong but blacke and short containing a great quantity Some Tobacco they gaue to our Captaine and some to me in very ciuill kinde manner we requited them with Bread and Pease When we came at Shoare they all most kindely entertained vs taking vs by the hands as they had obserued we did to them aboord in token of welcome and brought vs to sit downe by their fire where sat together thirteene of them They filled their Tobacco Pipe which was then the short claw of a Lobster which will hold ten of our Pipes full and we dranke of their excellent Tobacco as much as we would with them but wee saw not any great quantity to trucke for and it seemed they had not much left of old for they spend a great quantity yearely by their continuall drinking they would signe vnto vs that it was growne yet but a little aboue ground but it would be high with a leafe as broad as both their hands and often would by pointing to one part of the Maine Eastward signe vnto vs that the Bashabe whom wee take to be their King or some great Commander had plenty of Furres and much Tobacco At our departure they made signe if any of vs would stay there a shoare some of them would goe lye aboord with vs at which motion Master Booles seruant to the Right Honorable Count Arundell being desirous to see the manner of the foresaid Ceremonies staied with them and had Griffin with him and three of the Sauages lodged with vs in manner as the night before Early the next morning being Munday the third of Iune
certaine knowledge how to fall with the Coast hauing sounded euery watch and from fifty fathom had come in good deeping to seuenty and so to an hundred This day the weather being faire after the foure a clocke watch when he thought not to haue found ground before sounding in aboue a hundred fathom we had ground in foure and twenty fathom Wherefore our Sayles being downe one of our men presently cast out a hooke and before hee iudged it at ground was fished and haled vp an exceeding great and well fed Cod then there were cast out three or foure hookes more the fish was so plentifull and so great as when our Captaine would haue set sayle we desired him to suffer them to take fish a while because wee were so delighted to see them catch fish so great so fast as the hooke came downe some playing with the hooke they tooke by the backe And one of the Mates with two hookes at a Lead at fiue draughts together haled vp ten fishes all were generally very great some were measured This caused our Captaine not to maruell at the shoalding for he perceiued it was a fish-banke which for our farewell from the Land it pleased God in the continuance of his blessings to giue vs knowledge of Sunday the fourteenth of Iuly about six a clocke at night we were come into sounding in our Channell but for want of sight of the Sunne and Starre to make a true obseruation and with contrary windes we were constrained to beate vp and downe till Tuesday the sixteenth of Iuly when by fiue a clocke in the morning wee made Sylly from whence hindred with calmes and small windes Vpon Thursday the eighteenth of Iuly about foure a clocke wee came to anchor safâ—ly in Dartmouth which Hauen haply with Gods assistance wee made the last and first Harbour in England as the Termini of our Voyage A briefe Note of what profits we found the Countrie yeeld in the small time of our stay there Trees Oake of an excellent graine staight and great timber Elme Beech Birch very tall and great of whose Barque they make their Canoas Nut-hasle Hasle Alder Cherry tree Ash Mâ—ple Ewe Spruce Asp Fir in great abundance many other fruit trees which we know not Fowles Eagles Hernshawes Cranes Duks great Geese Swans Penguins Shark Crow Rauen Kite Soga Mewes Doues Turtles birds of sundry colours and many other fowles vnknown Beasts Deere red and fallow Beare Wolfe Beauer Otter Hare Conie Marterns Sables Hogs Porkespines Polcats Cats wilde great Dogs some like Foxes some like our other beasts the Sauages signe vnto vs with hornes and broad eares which we take to be Olkes or Loshes Fishes Whales Porpoise Seales Cod very great Haddocke great Herring Plaise Thornbacke Rock-fish Lobster great Crabbe Mussels Cockles Wilks Cunner-fish Lumpe-fish Whiting the Sauages signe vnto vs that they haue Tortoise very great Plants Fruits Herbs Tobacco excellent sweet and strong Vine wilde Strawberries Raspberries Gooseberries Hurtleberries Corant trees in abundance Rose bushes Pease which the Sauages signe to be very great in the Maine Ground-nuts Angelica a most soueraigne herbe and an herbe that spreadeth like Camomell and smelleth like sweet Marjoram great plenty Good Dies which appeare by their painting which they carrie with them in bladders Words which I learned of the Sauages in their Language Sunne or Moone Kesus Cod-fish Biskeiore A fish with hornes Manedo Lobster Shoggah Rock-fish Shagatocke Cockle-fish Hesucke Muskell Shoorocke Cunner-fish Tattaucke Crabbe Wussorasha Porpoise Muscopeiuck Plaise Anego Tortoise Romcaneeke Pease Ushcomono Tobacco Tomoch A leafe Mebeere A weed Cashterush A Firre tree Seteock A stone Nabscurr A Bowe Shoanor An Arrow Tobood Barke of a tree Mashquere Water Shamogoon Sand Cheemuck Crowe Cagagoose Haire Messer or Meris A beard Nicowur A Beare Rogsoo Beauer Paneah Otter Nymemano Rat Sanuke Polcat Pocamka Cat Pushuck Fallow Deere Coribo Hogge Madoso Red Deere Moosurr They tell vs of other beasts which they call Tasquus Pisho Narsim Teeth Ibider A hand and finger Breecke A Naile of the hand Cushe A legge Codd A foot Musseete Plum-tree Epsegan Strawberry Pishoa Gooseberry Shewanor Cherry tree Espegononino Corant tree Asheemena Rashberrie Kiskeemy A lippe Metoan Fire Squida The maine Land Bemoquiducke Sea Shoubbe Father Wado Sonne Usto Wane of the Sea Toboogg Pitch and Tallow Poco Wilde Rose Minusheck Birch Pasquar Sword Edagawancke Mountaine Machoucke Winde Puckchawsen Bloud Pagâgocun Red Paint Woroman Blacke Paint Cogosho A Dogge Remâ—ose A Ship or Boat Quiden An Oare Wuttohogauor A Garnepo Fly Chussuah Bread Paune Raine Soogoran A nose Peech-ten An Axe or Hatchet Tomaheegon A Knife Quodogon Oake Askabesse White Bone whereof they haue Chaines Girdles Bracelets Speesone The Cheeke Canoah A Shirt or Coat Tenoganuke The Chinne Queh An Eye Sheesuck Eylid Momon Forehead Scottoquah An Eare Fawwucke A fish-hooke Makeecon A Rainbow Shomogon The Names of their chiefe Gouernours whom they call Sagomoh 1. Bashabez 2. Abatuckquishe 3. Bdahanedo one of them we haue 4. Abokeesussick 5. Shurokinit 6. Psaheno 7. Mentoelmet 8. Ageemohuck 9. Mawermet 10. Chanacoboin 11. Amilquin 12. Muasacoromoneete These dwell vpon the Maine and weare an ornament of white bone vpon their head and Chaines and Bracelets and Girdles and haue their skinne garments laced with them The Names of our Virginians Bdahanedo Brother to the Bashabes Amocret his Brother Satacomoah Maneduck Scikaworrowse Thus haue I giuen thee the proceedings of Virginia and New Englands Discouerie for the originall beginning of the Discouerie Sir Sebastian Cabot was the first Discouerer both of it and the rest of the Continent of America The first Plantation was more Southerly by the charges of Sir Walter Raleigh as before is shewed The next yeere New Patents were obtained of his Maiestie for a double Plantation in these parts I trouble not the Reader with the whole Patent both because it hath sustained diuersified alteration diuision and subdiuision and because I more minde things there done than here for which cause I haue also omitted the Articles and instruction two dayes after dated signed and sealed with the Priuie Seale for the gouernment of the said Plantation of both which I haue the Copies by mee I onely here giue thee the beginning of the first Patent Aprill 10. 1606. CHAP. XIIII The description of the Ilands of Açores or the Flemish Ilands taken out of Linschoten with certaine occurrents and English acts THe Iles of Açores or the Flemish Ilands are seuen that is Tercera Saint Mary Saint George Gratiosa Pico and Faiael There are yet two Ilands called Flores and Coruo which are not contained vnder the name of Açores but yet at this day are vnder the gouernment of the same Ilands so that they are in all accounted nine Ilands They are called Açores that is to say Sparhawkes or Hawkes because that in their first discouery they found many Sparhawks in them wherof they hold the name although at this day there is not any there
and straight of a comely proportion and of a colour browne when they are of any age but they are borne white Their haire is generally blacke but few haue any beards The men weare halfe their heads shauen the other halfe long for Barbers they vse their women who with two shels will grate away the haire of any fashion they please The women are cut in many fashions agreeable to their yeares but euer some part remaineth long They are very strong of an able body and full of agilitie able to endure to lye in the woods vnder a tree by the fire in the worst of winter or in the weedes and grasse in Ambuscado in the Summer They are inconstant in euery thing but what feare constraineth them to keepe Craftie timerous quicke of apprehension and very ingenious Some are of disposition fearefull some bold most cauteloâ—s all Sauage Generally couetous of Copper Beads and such like trash They are soone moued to anger and so malicious that they seldome forget an iniury they seldome steale one from another least their Coniurers should reueale it and so they be pursued and punished That they are thus feared iâ— certaine but that any can reueale their offences by coniuration I am doubtfull Their women are carefull not to be suspected of dishonesty without the leaue of their husbands Each houshold knoweth their owne lands and gardens and most liue of their owne labours For their apparell they are sometime couered with the skins of wilde Beasts which in winter are dressed with the haire but in summer without The better sort vse large mantels of Deare skins not much differing in fashion from the Irish Mantels some imbrodered with white Beades some with Copper other painted after their manner But the common sort haue scarce to couer their nakednesse but with grasse the leaues of trees or such like Wee haue seene some vse mantels made of Turkie-feathers so prettily wrought and wouen with threds that nothing could be discerned but the feathers That was exceeding warme and very handsome But the women are alwayes couered about their middles with a skin and very shamefac't to be seene bare They adorne themselues most with Copper Beads and paintings Their women some haue their legs hands brests and face cunningly imbrodered with diuers works as Beasts Serpents artificially wrought into their flesh with blacke spots In each eare commonly they haue three great holes whereat the hang Chaines Bracelets or Copper Some of their men weare in those holes a small greene and yellow coloured Snake neere halfe a yard in length which crawling and lapping her selfe about his necke oftentimes familiarly would kisse his lips Others weare a dead Rat tied by the taile Some on their heads weare the wing of a bird or some large feather with a Rattell Those Rattels are somewhat like the chape of a Rapier but lesse which they take from the taile of a Snake Many haue the whole skin of a Hawke or some strange fowle stuffed with the wings abroad Others a broad peece of Copper and some the hand of their enemy dried Their head and shoulders are painted red with the roote Pocone braied to powder mixed with Oyle this they hold in summer to preserue them from the heate and in winter from the cold Many other formes of paintings they vse but he is the most gallant that is the most monstrous to behold Their Buildings and habitations are for the most part by the Riuers or not farre distant from some fresh Spring Their Houses are built like our Arbors of small yong sprigs bowed and tied and so close couered with mats or the barks of trees very hand somely that notwithstanding either winde raine or weather they are so warme as stoues but very smoakie yet at the top of the house there is a hole made for the smoake to goe into right ouer the fire Against the fire they lye on little hurdles of Reedes couered with a mat borne from the ground a foote and more by a Hurdle of wood On these round about the house they lye heads and points one by thother against the fire some couered with Mats some with Skins and some starke naked lye on the ground from six to twenty in a house Their Houses are in the midst of their Fields or Gardens which are small plots of grounds some twenty some forty some a hundred some two hundred some more some lesse sometimes from two to a hundred of those houses together or but a little seperated by groues of trees Neare their habitations is little small wood or old trees on the ground by reason of their burning of them for fire So that a man may gallop a horse amongst these woods any way but where the creekes or Riuers shall hinder Men Women and Children haue their seuerall names according to the seuerall humour of their Parents Their women they say are easily deliuered of child yet doe they loue children very dearely To make them hardy in the coldest mornings they wash them in the Riuers and by painting and ointments so tan their skins that after a yeare or two no weather will hurt them The men bestow their times in fishing hunting warres and such manlike exercises scorning to be seene in any womanlike exercise which is the cause that the women be very painfull and the men often idle The women and children doe the rest of the worke They make Mats Baskets Pots Morters pound their corne make their bread prepare their victuals plant their corne gather their corne beare all kinde of burdens and such like Their fire they kindle presently by chasing a dry pointed sticke in a hole of a little square peece of wood that firing it selfe will so fire mosse leaues or any such like dry thing that will quickly burne In March and Aprill they liue much vpon their fishing wares and feede on fish Turkies and Squirrels In May and Iune they plant their fields and liue most of Acornes Walnuts and fish But to mend their diet some disperse themselues in small companies and liue vpon fish Beasts Crabs Oysters land Tortoyses Strawberries Mulberries and such like In Iune Iuly and August they feede vpon the rootes of Tocknough Berries Fish and greene Wheate It is strange to see how their bodies alter with their diet euen as the Deere and wilde Beasts they seeme fat and leane strong and weake Powhatan their great King and some others that are prouident rost their fish and flesh vpon hurdles as before is expressed and keepe it till scarce times For fishing and hunting and warres they vse much their Bowe and Arrowes They bring their Bowes to the forme of ours by the scraping of a shell Their Arrowes are made some of straight yong sprigs which they head with bone some two or three inches long These they vse to shoote at Squirrels on trees Another sort of Arrowes they vse made of reedes these are peeced
in but they hold all of their great Werowance Powhatan vnto whom they pay tribute of Skins Beads Copper Pearle Deare Turkies wild Beasts and Corne. What hee commandeth they dare not disobey in the least thing It is strange to see with what great feare adoration all these people do obey this Powhatan For at his feet they present whatsoeuer hee commandeth at the least frowne of his brow their greatest spirits will tremble with feare and no maruell for hee is very terrible and tyrannous in punishing such as offend him For example hee caused certaine malefactors to bee bound hand and foot then hauing many fires gathering great store of burning coles they rake these coles round in the forme of a cock-pit and in the midst they cast the offenders to broyle to death Somtimes hee causeth the heads of them that offend him to bee laid vpon the altar or sacrificing stone and one with clubs beat out their braines When he would punish any notorious enemy or malefactor hee causeth him to bee tied to a tree and with Muscle shels or Reeds the executioner cutteth off his ioynts one after another euer casting what they cut off into the fire then doth hee proceed with S 〈…〉 els and Reeds to case the skin from his head and face then doe they rip his belly and so burne him with the tree and all Thus themselues reported they executed George Cassen Their ordinary correction is to beat them with cudgels Wee haue seene a man kneeling on his knees and at Powhatans command two men haue beat him on the bare skin till hee hath fallen senselesse in a sound and yet neuer cry nor complained In the yeere 1608 he surprised the people of Payankatank his neere neighbours and subiects The occasion was to vs vnknowne but the manner was thus First he sent diuers of his men to lodge amongst them that night then the Ambusacodes inuironed all their houses and at the hour appointed they all fel to the spoile twenty foure men they slew the long haire of their one side of their heads with the skinne cased off with shels or reeds they brought away They surprised also the women the children and the Werowance All these they present to Powhatan The Werowance women and children became his prisoners and doe him seruice The lockes of haire with their skins he hanged on a line vnto two trees And thus hee made ostentation of as great a triumph at Werowocomoco shewing them to the English men that then came vnto him at his appoitment they expecting prouision he to betray them supposed to halfe conquer them by this spectacle of his terrible crueltie And this is as much as my memory can call to mind worthy of note which I haue purposely collected to satisfie my friends of the true worth and qualitie of Virginia Yet some bad natures will not stick to slander the Countrey that will slouenly spit at all things especially in company where they can find none to contradict them Who though they were scarce euer ten miles from Iames Towne or at the most but at the Falls yet holding it a great disgrace that amongst so much action their actions were nothing exclaime of all things though they neuer aduentured to know any thing nor euer did any thing but deuoure the fruits of other mens labours Being for most part of such tender educations and small experience in martiall accidents because they found not English Cities nor such faire houses nor at their owne wishes any of their accustomed dainties with Feather-beds and Down-pillowes Tauernes and Ale-houses in euery breathing place neither such plentie of Gold and Siluer and dissolute libertie as they expected had little or no care of any thing but to pamper their bellies to fly away with our Pinnaces or procure their meanes to returne for England For the Countrey was to them a misery a ruine a death a hell their reports here and their owne actions were there according Some other there were that had yeerely stipends to passe to and againe for transportation who to keepe the mystery of the businesse in themselues though they had neither time nor meanes to know much of themselues yet all mens actions or relations they so formally tuned to the temporizing times simplicitie as they could make their ignorances seeme much more then all the true actors could by their experience And those with their great wordes deluded the world with such strange promises as abused the businesse much worse then the rest For the businesse being builded vpon the foundation of their fained experience the planters the Money Tin and meanes haue still miscarried yet they euer returning and the Planters so farre absent who could contradict their excuses which still to maintaine their vain-glory and estimation from time to time they haue vsed such diligence as made them passe for truths though nothing more false And that the aduenturers might be thus abused let no man wonder for the wisest liuing is soonest abused by him that hath a faire tongue and a dissembling heart There were many in Virginia meerely proiecting verball and idle contemplators and those so deuoted to pure idlenesse that though they had liued two or three yeeres in Virginia lordly necessitie it selfe could not compel them to passe the Pninsula or Pallisadoes of Iames Town those wittie spirits what would they not affirme in the behalfe of our transporters to get victuall from their ships or obtaine their good words in England to their passes Thus the clamors and the ignorance of false informers are sprung those disasters that sprung in Virginia and our ingenious Verbalists were no lesse plague to vs in Virginia then the Locusts to the Egyptians For the labour of thirtie of the best only preserued in Christianitie by their industry the idle liuers of neere two hundred of the rest who liuing neere ten months of such naturall meanes as the Countrey naturally of it selfe afforded notwithstanding all this and the worst fury of the Sauages the extremitie of sicknesse mutinies faction ignorances and want of victuall in all that time I lost but seuen or eight men yet subiected the Sauages to our desired obedience and receiued contribution from fiue and thirtie of their Kings to protect and assist them against any that should assault them in which order they continued true and faithfull and as subiects to his Maiestie so long after as I did gouerne there vntill I left the Countrey since how they haue reuolted the Countrey lost and againe replanted and the businesses haue succeeded from time to time I refer you to the relations of them returned from Virginia that haue beene more diligent in such obseruations gathered out of the Writings of diuers of that Plantation by Doctor William Simons CHAP. IIII. The proceedings of the English Colony in Virginia taken faithfully out of the writings of THOMAS STVDLY Cape-Merchant ANAS TODKILL Doctor RVSSELL NATHANIEL POWELL WILLIAM PHETIPLACE and RICHARD POT
entertained him with strange coniurations Earely in a morning a great fire was made in a long house a Mat spred on each side on one of which he was set the guard went out and in came a great grim fellow skipping all painted with cole mingled with Oyle many Snakes and Weesels skins stuffed with Mosse their tailes tied together and meeting on the crowne of his head round about the tassell was a coronet of Fethers the skins hung round about his head shoulders backe and face With a hellish voyce strange gestures and passions with a Rattle in his hand hee began his inuocation and enuironed the fire with a circle of Meale After this three such other diuels rushed in with like trickes painted halfe blacke halfe red all their eyes painted white with some red stroakes along their cheekes These hauing danced a prettie while three more came in as vgly as the rest with red eyes and white stroakes ouer their blacke faces At last they all sat downe right against him the chiefe Priest in the midst and three on each hand All then with their Rattles began a song which ended the chiefe Priest laid downe fiue Wheate cornes and straining his armes and hand with such violence that he swet and his veines swelled hee began a short Oration at the conclusion whereof they gaue a short groane and then laid downe three graiues more Now they began their Song againe and then another Oration euer laying downe so many cornes as before till they had twice encircled the fire That done they take a bunch of little stickes prepared for that purpose and at the end of euery Song and Oration laid downe a sticke betwixt the diuisions of the Corne. Till night neither he nor they did eate or drinke and then they feasted merrily with their best prouisions Three dayes they vsed this Ceremonie thereby to know as they said whether hee intended them well or no. The circle of meale signified their Countrey the two circles of Corne the Sea-bounds and the stickes his Countrey They imagined the World to be flat and round like a trencher and themselues in the midst After this they brought him a bigge of Powder which they carefully preserued till the next spring to plant as they did their Corne because they would be acquainted with the nature of that sâ—ede Opitchapam the Kings brother inuited him to his house where hee welcommed him with as many Platters of Bread Fowle and wilde Beasts as did encompasse him but not any would eate with him reseruing the remainders in Baskets At his returne to Opechankanoughs all the Kings women and their children flocked about him as for their customary due to be merry with such fragments At last they brought him to Werowocomoco to Pohatan where aboue two hundred of his Courtiers stood wondring on him till Pohatan and his traine had put themselues in their greatest brauery Before a fire hee sat on a seate like a bedsted couered with a great robe made of Rarowcun Skinnes all the tailes hanging by on each hand did sit a yong wench of sixteene or eighteene yeeres of age along on each side the house two rowes of men and behinde them as many women with all their heads and shoulders painted red many of their heads bedecked with the white downe of Birds euery one adorned with some thing a great chaine also of white Beades about their neckes At his entrance before the King all the people gaue a great shout The Queene of Appanatucke was appointed to bring water to wash his hands another brought him a bunch of Feathers instead of a Towell to drie them Hauing feasted him in their best manner the held a consultation in conclusion whereof two great stones were brought before Pohatan and as many as could lay hold on him dragged him to them and thereon laid his head being ready with their clubbes to beate out his braines Pocahuntas the Kings dearest Daughter when no intreatie would preuaile got his head into her armes and laid her owne vpon his to saue him from death whereupon the Emperour was contented hee should liue to make him Hatchets and Beads Bels and Copper for her For they thought him like themselues of all occupations the King himselfe making his owne Robes Shooes Bowes Arrowes Pots Planting also Hunting and doing Offices no lesse then the rest Two dayes after Pohatan hauing disguised himselfe in the dreadfullest manner caused Captaine Smith to be brought forth to a great house in the woods and there vpon a Mat by the fire to bee left alone Not long after from behinde a Mat which diuided the house was made the dolefullest noise that euer hee had heard After this Pohatan with twenty more as blacke as himselfe came vnto him and told him that they were now friends and presently hee should goe to Iames Towne to send him two great Gunnes and a Grindstone for which hee would giue him the Countrey of Capahowolick and for euer esteeme hiâ— as his Sonne Nantaquaus Hee sent him thither with twelue guides When they came to the Fort Smith vsed the Sauages kindely and shewed Rawhunt Pohatans trusty seruant two Demiculuerius and a Milstone to carry to Pohatan somewhat too heauie for their carriage But when they saw him discharge them loden with stones on the boughes of a great tree hanging full of isickles the Ice and boughes comming downe with such furie the Sauages were halfe dead with feare and at last returning contented with toies and presents for Pohatan his women and childred This his returning safe to the Port once more staied the Pinnace her flight for England which till his returne could not set saile so extreame was the weather and so great the Frost His relation of the plenty he had seene especially at Werowocomoco where inhabited Powhatan that till that time was vnknowne so reuiued againe their dead spirits as all mens feare was abandoned Powhatan hauing sent with this Captaine diuers of his men loaded with prouision hee had conditioned and so appointed his trustie Messengers to bring but two or three of our great Ordnances but the Messengers being satisfied with the sight of one of them discharged ran away amazed with feare till meanes were vsed with gifts to assure them our loues ALL this time our cares were not so much to abandon the Countrie but the Treasurer and Counsell in England were as diligent and carefull to supply vs. Two tall Shippes they sent vs with neere one hundred men well furnished with all things could be imagined necessary both for them and vs. The one commanded by Captaine Newport the other by Captaine Nelson an honest man and an expert Marriner but such was the leewardnesse of his Ship that though he were within sight of Cape Henry by stormy contrary windes was forced so farre to Sea as the West Indies was the next land for the repaire of his Masts and reliefe of wood and water But Captaine
the order of watch renued the squadrons each setting of the watch trained The whole Company euery Saturday exercised in a field prepared for that purpose the Boates trimmed for trade which in their iourney encountred the second supply that brought them backe to discouer the Countrey of Monacan How or why Captaine Newport obtained such a priuate Commission as not to returne without a lumpe of Gold a certainty of the South-Sea or one of the lost Company of Sir Walter Rawley I know not nor why he brought such a fiâ—e pieced Barge not to beare vs to that South-Sea till wee had borne her ouer the Mountaines which how farre they extend is yet vnknowne as for the Coronation of Powhatan and his Presents of Bason Ewer Bed Cloathes and such costly nouelties they had bin much better well spared then so ill spent For we had his fauour much better onely for a poore peece of Copper till this stately kinde of soliciting made him so much ouerualue himselfe that he respected vs as much as nothing at all as for the hiring of the Poles and Dutch to make Pitch and Tarre Glasse Mils and Sope-ashes was most necessary and well But to send them and seuenty more without victuall to worke was not so well considered yet this could not haue hurt vs had they bin two hundred though then we were one hundred and thirty that wanted for our selues For wee had the Sauages in that order their haruest being newly gathered that we feared not to get victuall sufficient had wee bin fiue hundred Now was there no way to make vs miserable but to neglect that time to make our Prouision whilst it was to be had the which was done to performe this strange Discouery but more strange Coronation to loose that time spend that victuall wee had tire and starue our men hauing no meanes to carry victuall munition the hurt or sicke but their owne backes how or by whom they were inuented I know not But Captaine Newport we onely accounted the author who to effect these proiects had so gilded all our hopes with great promises that both Company and Councell concluded his resolution I confesse wee little vnderstood then our estates to conclude his conclusion against all the inconueniences the foreseeing President alleadged There was added to the Counsell one Captaine Waldo and Captaine Winne two ancient Souldiers and valiant Gentlemen but ignorant of the businesse being newly arriued Ratcliffe was also permitted to haue his voyce and Master Scriuener desirous to see strange Countries so that although Smith was President yet the Counsell had the authority and ruled it as they listed as for cleering Smiths obiections how Pitch and Tarre Wanscot Clapboord Glasse and Sope-ashes could be prouided to relade the Ship or prouision got to line with all when none was in the Countrey and that which we had spent before the Shippes departed The answere was Captaine Newport vndertooke to fraught the Pinnace with Corne in going and returning in his Discouery and to refraught her againe from Werowocomoco also promising a great proportion of victuall from his Ship inferring that Smiths propositions were onely deuises to hinder his iourney to effect it himselfe and that the cruelty Smith had vsed to the Sauages in his absence might occasion them to hinder his designes For which all workes were left and one hundred and twenty chosen men were appointed for his guard and Smith to make cleere these seeming suspitions that the Sauages were not so desperate as was pretended by Captaine Newport and how willing hee was to further them to effect their proiects because the Coronation would consume much time vndertooke their message to Powhatan to intreate him to come to Iames Towne to receiue his Presents accompanied onely with Captaine Waldo Master Andrew Buckler Edward Brinton and Samuell Collier with these foure hee went ouer land against Werawocomoco there passed the Riuer of Pamaunke in the Sauages Canoaes Powhatan being thirty miles off who presently was sent for in the meane time his women entertained Smith in this manner In a faire plaine field they made a fire before which he sitting vpon a Mat suddenly amongst the woods was heard such a hideous noise and shriking that they be tooke them to their armes supposing Powhatan with all his power came to surprise them but the beholders which were many men women and children satisfied the Captaine there was no such matter being presently presented with this anticke thirty yong women came naked out of the woods onely couered behinde hefore with a few greene leaues their bodies all painted some white some red some blacke some party colour but euery one different their leader had a faire paire of Stagges hornes on her head and another Skinne at her girdle another at her arme a quiuer of Arrowes at her backe and Bowes and Arrowes in her hand the next in her hand a Sword another a Clubbe another a Pot-sticke all hornd alike the rest euery one with their seuerall deuises These Feinds with most hellish cries and shouts rushing from amongst the trees cast themselues in a ring about the fire singing and dancing with excellent ill variety oft falling into their infernall passions and then solemnely againe to sing and dance Hauing spent neere an houre in this Maskarado as they entred in like manner they departed Hauing reaccommodated themselues they solemnly inuited Smith to their lodging but no sooner was hee within the house but all these Nimphes more tormented him then euer with crowding and pressing and hanging vpon him most tediously crying Loue you not mee This salutation ended the feast was set consisting of Fruite in Baskets Fish and Flesh in woodden Platters Beanes and Pease there wanted not for twenty Hogges nor any Sauage daintie which their inuention could deuise some attending others singing and dancing about them this mirth and banquet being ended with Firebrands instead of Torches they conducted him to his lodging The next day came Powhatan Smith deliuered his Message of the Presents sent him and redeliuered him Namontacke desiring him to come to his Father Newport to accept those Presents and conclude their reuenge against the Monacans whereupon the subtill Sauage thus replyed If your King haue sent mee presents I also am a King and this my land eight dayes I will stay to receiue them your Father is to come to mee not I to him nor yet to your Fort neither will I bite at such a baite as for the Monacans I can reuenge my owne in 〈…〉 ies and as for Aaquanuchocke where you say your Brother was slaine it is a contrary way from those parts you suppose it But for any salt water beyong the Mountaines the relations you haue had from my people are false whereupon he began to draw plots vpon the ground according to his discourse of all those Regions many other discourses they had yet both desirous to giue each other content in Complementall curtesies
Port Royall where his Boate was split presently in peeces and he made shift to climbe so steepe a Rocke by night as would haue troubled the strongest man in 〈…〉 le to haue done by day He discerned in the morning where he was and without other refreshing then water which he tooke temperately or might else haue drunk his last he got in halfe a day to a friends house He was liuing Anno 1622. Some treasure in Dollers to the value of twentie pounds was found the remainder of some Wrack The Company sent M. Daniel Tucker to be Gouernour hee set saile in the George accompanied with the Edwin some preparation was made to resist but he at last was receiued and acknowledged in May 1616. Somewhat hee had to doe to bring them to their workes which yet he effected their day worke till nine in the morning and then staying till three in the afternoone they began againe continuing till sun-set Besides meat drinke and clothes they had for a time a certaine kind of brasse Money with a Hog on the one side in memory of the Hogs there found at first landing Hee by Master Richard Norwoods helpe laid out the eight Tribes in the Mayne which were to consist of fiftie shares to a Tribe each share twentie fiue Acres He began to plant some of the Colony on speciall shares and appointed Bailiffes to each Tribe Hee held a generall Assise in his second moneth at Saint Georges where for sedition Iohn Wood a Frenchman was hanged He sent the Edwin to Trade with the Natiues of the West Indies for Cattel Corne Plants which had it been continued might happily haue bin more beneficiall to the Plantation then the Magazines from hence She returned with Figs Pines Sugar-canes Plantans Papawes and diuers other plants which were presently replanted and since haue increased by the Gouernours commendable husbandry Seuerity by the conceit thereof produced an admirable fact Fiue men which could by no meanes get passage for England resolued to aduenture an escape viz. Richard Sander Mariner chiefe plotter William Goodwin a Ship Carpenter Tho. Harison a Ioyner Iames Baker Gentleman and Henry Puet These insinuated to the Gouernour that they would build him a Boat of two or three Tuns with a close Deck fit to fish in all weathers Hee glad to see them so obsequious furnished them with necessaries whatsoeuer they could desire Shee was fitted and gone the euening before hee sent for her to see as was reported how shee could saile This was most true and Botelias his aduenture from Goa in the East Indies to Lisbon was not so admirable a triall Barker had borrowed a Compasse Diall of M. Hughes leauing a Letter to him to haue patience for that losse whereby their aduenture was intimated The Gouernours threats were not in that remotenesse so terrible as the two present swelling Elements whom yet they found more gentle then a French Pickaroone who in stead of succour which they desired tooke from them what they liked leaning them not so much as a Crosse-staffe to obserue with and so cast them off They continued their course till their victuall began to faile and the knees of their Boat were halfe hewed away for fire wood They at last arriued in Ireland where the Earle of Tomund entertained them and caused the Boat to be hanged vp for a Monument hauing sayled 3300. miles thorow the Ocean by a right line without sight of any Land This fortunate Sanders in the rifling of a Ship taken in the East Indies bought a Chest for three or foure shillings but would for want of a Key haue sold it againe for lesse But one day hauing little to doe hee broke it open and found therein 1000. pounds sterling or so much gold as bought him in England a good estate which leauing with his wife he returned againe to the East Indies The Company sent Captaine Powell in the Hopewell after he had landed his passengers in Summer Iles to trade in the Indies who by the way fell foule on a Brasillman and afterwards a Frenchman on him but hee got safe to the Ilands and told what he had done The Gouernour kept his second Assize and made a proclamation against the killing of coheires Powell is againe sent to the West Indies from thence with thirteene or fourteene men Hee made triall but in vaine for the Whale-fishing for which and to which purpose the Company soone after sent the Neptune In the beginning of his second yeere he called the third azise in which one was hanged two others condemned but reprieued The Rat Tragedy was now terrible some Fishes haue been taken with Rats in their bellies catched as they swam from I le to I le One Henry Long with sixe others being on fishing a sudden storm arose with terrible thunder and the Boat was tossed ouer the Rocks the fiâ—h tossed ouer-boord and Long with two others escaped the rest drowned one of the three being demanded what he thought in the present perill answered hee said nothing but Gallowes claime thy right which within halfe a yeere fell out accordingly Powell returned with three Frigats laden with Meale Hides and Munition The Master and Gouernour contending both were dispossessed by a stronger power Waters with twelue men were sent to Virginia and would no more returne to Summers Iles. A. 1618. arriued there the Diana with men and prouision and the first Magazine a course I heare not much applauded by the Planters here or in Virginia the companies honest care seeming by some others dishonestie frustrate This Ship fraught with 30000. weight of Tobacco gaue by the good sayle thereof encouragement to the Aduenturers The Gouernour building a house of Cedar in the best Land appropriated it to himselfe to the griefe of others there of whom Master Hughes could not by threats nor imprisonment be so pacified but that here to the Company hee approued his cause Two men and a Gentlewomen thinking to make their escape in a Boat to Virginia were neuer heard of after Sixe others attempted the like but were apprehended araigned condemned and one of them hanged The Gouernours hard dealings so much complained of caused him in the Blessing to returne to excuse himselfe and to get that house assured him leauing Captaine Kendall to supply his place The Gilli-flower and the Treasurer were sent By the Sea-flower which went to Virginia a Preacher was sent to the Ilands and newes of a new Gouernour Captaine Kerby came in with a small Barke from the West Indies A Dutch Frigot was cost away on the Westerne shoare the people saued by the English Captaine Butler the new Gouernour arriued in the Warwicke the twentieth of October 1619. The Redoubt a platforme of the Kings Castle at the same time whiles the New Gouernour and old Planters were feasting aboord accidentally was consumed with fire The next month came in the Garland which had come
and great riches confessed that they had taken three Portugall prizes The Spaniards at first receiued them on good conditions but some villaines seeing their wealth murthered them for which this Auditor had sentenced Roderigo de Fuentes with others as his Letter to the King of Spaine importeth Now had there then beene a Virginian or Bermudan Plantation how easily might they haue attained thither the Boat at least and escaped that butchery I could hither adde instructions from the English Indian Ships 1604. and 1608. from Captaine Fenton 1582. from the Earle of Cumberlands Voyages before related in the yeares 86. 89. 91. 93. 96. 97. and from Master Candish Master Dauis and others But we haue made too long a Virginian Voyage hauing no better freight then Arguments which the Times doe now promise if not worthy wise mens approbation yet good mens indulgence where in a weake body and manifold weighty imployments the willingnesse of a heart truely English sincerely Christian may seeme tolerable if not commendable pardonable if not plausible Another labour remaines to set downe rules and proiects of best fecibility and accomplishing this noble worke but I am onely a Freeman no Councellour of that Plantation and haue neither Lands there nor other aduenture therein but this of my loue and credit which with the allegiance to my Soueraigne and desire of the publike good of this Kingdome is more to me then all the treasures of America I seeke the good and not the goods of England and Virginia I follow the hand of God which haue giuen England so many rights in Virginia right naturall right nationall right by first discouery by accepted trade by possession surrendred voluntarily continued constantly right by gift by birth by bargaine and sale by cession by forfeiture in that late damnable trechery and massacre and the fatal possession taken by so many murthered English Gods bounty before his iustice now hath giuen vs Virginia that we should so in iudgement remember mercy as to giue Virginia againe to God in Christian acknowledgement of his goodnesse and mercy of his word and workes and in our owne more serious conuersion to prepare that of Virginia God goeth before vs in making this designe honorable to Religion to Humanity to our Ancestors to our King to our Kingdome God goeth before vs and hath giuen Virginia so rich a portion to allure and assure our loues in multiplying our people and thereby our necessities enforcing a vent in endowing Virginia with so large a iointure so temperate so commodious for the climate compared with other Countries beyond other Countries in her own diuersified Lands Seas Riuers in so fertile a soyle in so strong sweete stately delicate Woods and Timbers in her naturall hopes of Wines of Silkes of the bodies of Natiues seruile and seruiceable in Drugges Irons and probability also of other Mines in all materials for Shipping and other buildings God goeth before vs in offering that meane to saue that which wee seeke and spend in other perhaps enemies Countries to breede vp Marriners to train vp Souldiers to exercise labourers by transportation of English and Europaean creatures to plant another England in America enriched with the best things of Europe to giue vs Fish Tobacco and other present improuements as earnest of future better hopes and that in these times which haue so manifold necessities thereof in regard of monies men and trades decayed in regard of neighbour plantations in the probabilities of a South-Sea glory and in the case of obtruded warre obtruding on vs absolute necessity and including and concluding euery way so manifold vse God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost which goe before vs in these things if not in miraculous fire and cloudy pillars as when Israel went to Canaan yet in the light of reason and right consequence of arguments come into vs and fillvs with the spirit of wisedome and vnderstanding the spirit of counsell and of fortitude the spirit of knowledge and the feare of the Lord I may adde the spirit of vnity and counsell that he may vouchsafe to goe with vs and we with him and after him to Uirginia Amen O Amen Be thou the Alpha and Omega of Englands Plantation in Virginia O GOD. The end of the ninth Booke ENGLISH DISCOVERIES AND PLANTATIONS IN NEW ENGLAND AND NEW-FOVND-LAND WITH THE PATENT AND VOYAGES TO NEW-SCOTLAND Relations also of the Fleets set forth by Queene Elizabeth against the Spaniards THE TENTH BOOKE CHAP. I. A briefe Relation of the Discouerie and Plantation of New-England and of sundry Accidents therein occurring from the yeere of our Lord 1607. to this present 1622. Published by the President and Councell and dedicated to the Princes Highnesse here abbreuiated WHen this Designe was first attempted some of the present Company were therein chiefly interessed who being carefull to haue the same accomplished did send to the discouery of those Northern parts a braue Gentleman Cap. Henry Challons with two of the Natiues of that Territorie the one called Maneday the other Assecomet But his misfortunes did expose him to the power of certaine strangers enemies to his proceedings so that by them his Company were seized the ships and goods confiscated and that Voyage wholly ouerthrowne This losse and vnfortunate beginning did much abate the rising courage of the first Aduenturers but immediately vpon his departure it pleased the Noble Lord Chiefe Iustice Sir Iohn Popham Knight to send out another shippe wherein Captayne Thomas Hanam went Commander and Martine Prinne of Bristow Master with all necessary supplyes for the seconding of Captayne Challons and his people who arriuing at the place appointed and not finding that Captayne there after they had made some Discouerie and found the Coasts Hauens and Harbours answerable to our desires they returned Vpon whose Relation the Lord Chiefe Iustice and we all waxed so confident of the businesse that the yeere following euery man of any worth formerly interessed in it was willing to ioyne in the charge for the sending ouer a competent number of people to lay the ground of a hopefull Plantation Hereupon Captaine Popham Captaine Rawley Gilbert and others were sent away with two ships and an hundred Landmen Ordnance and other prouisions necessary for their sustentation and defence vntill other supply might be sent In the meane-while before they could returne it pleased God to take vs from this worthy member the Lord Chiefe Iustice whose sudden death did so astonish the hearts of the most part of the Aduenturers as some grew cold and some did wholly abandon the businesse Yet Sir Francis Popham his Sonne certaine of his priuate friends and other of vs omitted not the next yeere holding on our first resolution to ioyne in sending forth a new supply which was accordingly performed But the ships arriuing there did not only bring vncomfortable newes of the death of the Lord Chiefe Iustice together with the death of Sir Iohn Gilbert the elder
in the night escaped away and returned with the losse of much of her prouision and the ouerthrow of that Voyage to the ruine of that poore Gentleman Captayne Smith who was detayned Prisoner by them and forced to suffer many extremities before he got free of his troubles Notwithstanding these Disasters it pleased God so to worke for our incouragement againe as he sent into our hands Tasquantum one of those Sauages that formerly had beene betrayed by this vnworthy Hunt before named by whose means there was hope conceiued to worke a peace betweene vs and his friends they beeing the principall Inhabitants of that Coast where the fire was kindled But this Sauage Tasquantum being at that time in the New-found-land with Captaine Mason Gouernour there for the vndertakers of that Plantation Master Darmer who was there also and sometimes before imployed as wee haue said by vs together wiâ—h Captayne Iohn Smith found the meanes to giue vs intelligence of him and his opinion of the good vse that might bee made of his Employment with the readinesse of Captayne Mason to further any of our Attempts that way eyther with Boates or other prouision necessarie and resoluing himselfe to goe from thence aduised vs to send some to meete with him at our vsuall place of fishing to ayde him in his indeuour that they ioyning together might bee able to doe what he hoped would be very acceptable vnto all wel-wishers of that businesse Vpon this newes we dispatched the next season Cap. Rocraft with a company for that purpose in hope to haue met with Captaine Darmer but the care and discretion of Cap. Mason was such finding Captayne Darmers resolution to goe beyond his meanes that he perswaded him first to go for England that prouiding himselfe there as was requisite hee might proceed in time expedient which counsell he obserued as fit it was although our expectation of his ioyning with Captaine Rocraft was thereby disappointed Yet so it happened that Captaine Rocraft at his arriuall in those parts met with a French Barke that lay in a Creeke a fishing and trading which hee seized on and sent home the Master and Company in the same ship which hee went out in With this Barke and his owne Company he meant to keepe the Coast that Winter quarter being very well fitted both with Salt and other necessaries for his turne but as this was an Act of extremitie the poore man being of our owne Religion so succeeded it accordingly For in a short time after certaine of this Captaynes Company conspired together to cut his throate and to make themselues Masters of the whole spoyle and so to seeke a new Fortune where they could best make it This Conspiracie being discouered to the Captayne he let it go on till the time that it should haue beene put in execution when hee caught them in their owne traine and so apprehended them in the very instant that they were purposed to begin their Massacre But after hee had preuented the mischiefe and seized vpon the Malefactois hee tooke to his consideration what was best to bee done with them And being loth by himselfe to dispatch them as they deserued hee resolued to put them a shoare thinking by their hazard that it was possible they might discouer something that might aduance the publike and so giuing them some Armes for their defence and some victuall for their sustentation vntill they knew better how to prouide for themselues hee left them a place called Sawaguatock where they remayned not long but got from thence to Menehighon an Iland lying some three leagues in the Sea and fifteene leagues from that place where they remayned all that Winter with bad lodging and worse fare yet came all safe home saue one sickely man which dyed there the rest returned with the Shippe wee sent for Rocrafts supply and prouision to make a Fishing Voyage After these fellowes were landed the Captaine finding himselfe but weakely man'd and his Ship to draw too much water to Coast those places that by his instructions hee was assigned to discouer hee resolued to goe for Virginia where he had liued a long time before and had as hee conceiued many friends that would helpe him with some things that hee had occasion to vse Arriuing there he was not deceiued of his expectation for Sir Samuel Argall being their Gouernour and one that respected him much for his owne sake was the readier to helpe him in regard of the good hee wished to the businesse wherein he was imployed But all this could not preuaile for after that Sir Samuel Argall came from thence his departure being more sudden then was expected it fell out that the new Gouernour entred the Harbour and finding Rocraft ready to bee gone sent to him to command him to come aboord to speake with him which hee readily obeyed as soone as hee could fit his boat and men for that purpose And so leauing his Barke with her great Anker at head and taking with him the halfe of his company he was forced to stay aboard the new Gouernors Ship that night In the meane while a storme arising our Barke wanting hands to doe their labour droue a shoare and there sunke But yet the Gouernour and Captaine so laboured the next day when they knew thereof as that they freed her againe but that occasion forced our Captain to stay so long in the Countrey to fit himselfe a new as in the interim a quarrell fell out betweene him and another of that place so as Rocraft was slaine and the Barke sunke the second time and finally disabled from yeelding vs any benefit to this present But we not knowing this disaster and Captain Darmer arriuing with his Sauage out of New-found land dispatched him away the next season in a Ship wee sentagaine for the fishing businesse and assigned him a company to ioyne with Rocraft and his people Captain Darmer arriuing there and not finding Rocraft was a little perplexed and in doubt what to doe yet hearing by those Mutiners which hee found there that hee was gone for Virginia he was hopefull of his returne and liued in that expectation till such time as he heard by a Ship that came from thence to fish for the Colony the confusion of his fortune and the end of his masery in this world Then hee determined to take the Pinnace that the yeere before was assigned to Rocraft for him to make the Trade with and with her to proceed on his designe and so embarked himselfe and his prouision and company in her And leauing the Fisher-men to their labour he coasted the shoare from thence searching euery Harbour and compassing euery Cape-land till hee arriued in Uirginia where hee was in hope to meet with some of the prouision or company of Rocraft to help to supply him of what hee wanted as also to lay a Decke vpon his Pinnace that before had not any and now was
neuer seene before And all to ioyne the Kingdome of that land Vnto 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 IlaÌ„ds wealth by peace made great His Pride which far aboue the heauens did swel And his desire as vnsuffic'd as hell But well haue winds his proud blasts ouerblown And swelling waues alaid his swelling heart Well hath the Sea with greedy gulfs vnknown 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 blest For whom both winds waues are prest to fight So rule your owne so succour friends opprest As farre from pride as ready to doe right That England you you England long enioy No lesse your friends delight then foes annoy I haue thought good to adde here the prime reports made by the Spaniards and their friends touching the successe of their Armada as they were printed in Spaine and after published and scorâ—ed in England The true Relation of the successe of the Catholike Armie against their Enemies by the Letters of the Post-master of Logrono of the fourth of September and by Letters from Roan of the one and thirtieth of August and by Letters from Paris of the Kings Embassadour there wherein he declareth the imprisonment of Francis Drake and other great Nobles of England and how the Queene is in the Field with an Armie and of a certaine Mutinie which was amongst the Queenes Armie with the successe of the said Catholike Armie since they entred in the Groyne till they came on the Coast of England with two Ballets compounded by Christouer Brauo a blind man of Cordowa Printed with licence by Gabriel Ramos Beiarano Printer THe newes of England is confirmed here by a Letter of the Gouernour of Roan Hee writeth hee hath in his power the chiefe Pilot of Captaine Drake and that he knoweth that all the English Armie remained ouerthrowne hauing sunke two and twentie Ships and taken fortie and imprisoned Francis Drake hauing giuen them chase almost as high as Abspurge and slaine many by the sword and likewise saith that there was foâ—â—d in Captaine Drakes Ship a Peece of Ordnance of fiue and twentie foot long which discharged a Shot of a hundreth weight at once made of purpose with one onely Shot to sinke our Spanish Admirall and it pleased God although shee was somewhat battered yet was shee repaired againe and ouerthrew the English Armie THe English haue lost aboue fortie Ships in one encounter where they could not flye which was in Luxaten a Hauen in Scotland to the which place since the departure of the Spanish Armies from Calleis the English Armie followed and supposing they went to take that Hauen they got before ours to defend the entrance wee seeing them so neere the English Fleet and that they could not retire as they alwaies did when they pleased to the English Hauen they set vpon them so valiantly that they sunke twentie of their Ships and they tooke twentie 〈◊〉 whole and sound and the rest seeing their destruction fled away with great losse of men and their Ships very much battered and with this they say the Spanish Armie tooke the Hauen where they are very well lodged as euery one affirmeth and so the newes is here I pray God giue them good successe Wee vnderstand by the Post come from Calleis that in England it is forbidden vpon paine of death and losse of goods that no bodie doe write newes from thence to any place which confirmeth the newes aboue I Doe not write newes of the Spanish Armie because they are diuers and would gladly write the very truth Now by the newes which runneth from diuers places as Calleis Deepe and Holland and presumptions from England and other places it is holden for certaine that they fought with the English and broken their heads hauing sunke many of their Ships and taken others and the rest which they say were twentie seuen Ships returned very much battered to the Riuer of London which are all those that could escape There goeth with this Post another Post of Iorge Seguin of Calleis which saith that certaine Masters and Mariners of Zeland did affirme to the Gouernours of Calleis Mounsier de Gorden that our Fleet is in a Hauen or Riuer in Scotland called Trifla where they say there may ride two thousand Ships this is that which commonly is currant here BY newes from London the thirtie six of August it is knowne for most certaine from persons of credite that the Queens Admiral Generall was arriued in the Riuer of London with twentie fiue ships onely without his Admirall Ship which was taken by our Admirall Saint Iohn and it is well knowne in England that to hide the losse of their Admirall Ship they say bee put himselfe in a smaller Ship the better to follow our Armie and it is knowne for certaintie that he saued himselfe in a Boat when he lost his Ship That Drake for certaintie is taken or slaine The same is confirmed by the way of Holland by a Pinnace of theirs And from Austerland that the Queene commanded vpon paine of death that no body should speake of her Fleet and that there was great sorrow in those parts of England and that the Queene had in the field thirtie thousand raw Souldiers betwixt Douer and Margate and that the Catholikes vnderstanding that all their Fleet was dispersed moued a certaine Mutinie which forced the Queene to goe her selfe into the Field and for certaine it is knowne that there is not brought into England neither Ship nor Boat of ours more then the Ship of Don Pedro Valdez and that our Fleet was gone into Scotland and arriued in a Hauen called Trapena Euxaten AFter that I had written this here is arriued a Scottishman which saith that all the Spanish Fleet is arriued in Scotland and that Scottishmen haue taken Armes against the English THat vpon the thirtieth of Iuly without seeing any sayle of the Enemies in the Sea hee came to the Channell sixe leagues from Plimouth where vnderstanding the Enemies were hee gathered together and set in order all the Fleet and sayling the first of August there was discouered some Sayles of the Enemies the which the second day were numbred to bee three score Sayle of which the Duke tooke the wind and passed without any fight although he presented the same to them howbeit they began to shoot at the Rearward but the Duke in the Galleon S. Martin set the Prow of his Ship against the biggest of the Enemies the which being succoured by twentie others fled away of this fight and first encounter there was sunke three Galeasses and foure mightie Galeons of the Queenes there was burnt of ourâ— by negligence of a Gunner the Admirall of
Fleet lye as neere before the Towne of Saint Michael as conueniently they could to hold them in expectation whilest my Lord Generall and the rest with two thousand men imbarked into small Barkes and Pinnaces secretly in the night did conuey themselues about the point to land at a Towne called Villa Franca some sixe miles further then the first determinate landing And for that purpose they had most of all our Boats with them and three English men for their guides that perfectly knew all the Ilands and the Townes by long trade and liuing amongst them These three guides assured our Generall both of a quiet landing and of a very faire and secret way to march from thence to Saint Michaels Towne Our troupes being thus shipped and our Generall also they made hast towardes Villa Franca where they arriued safe were al landed by the next morning without any manner of resistance For most of all the Town vpon their arriuall abandoned the Town and we that were left vnder the command of the Reare-Admirall in the best Ships before the Towne of Saint Michaells did all the night giue them perpetuall Alarums with Shot Drummes and Trumpets in such Boats as were left sometimes in one place sometimes in another alongst the shoare where the Spaniards kept their Corps de Guards and fiers who were often in great amazements calling and running to and fro thinking verily that wee were landing in that place or about it And thus wee did to giue our Army the better and more secret meanes to make their descent and so to come vnlooked for on their backes as their very way did lie and might in truth very conueniently haue beene performed They being thus landed wee in the Ships did all the next day looke out apace hoping to see our troupes come marching ouer the Hills and Plaines that were perfect in our view for the most part of the way that they were to come being all alongst the Sea side was in our sight more brim from the Ships by farre then if wee had beene ashoare But this good Towne of Villa Franca had so welcomed and intertained our men being seated in a pleasant soyle full of fruits wines and fresh victualls and the Sellars stuffed so full of Oade and Wheat as that our Army was content there to ingarrison without any further pursuit of Saint Michaels Towne and there for sixe dayes together they lay feasting and carrying aboard of Oade Wheat Salt and other merchandise into certaine priuate mens Ships that followed the Fleet for such purposes Whilest wee all in vaine still gaped for their comming which wee the rather thought would haue bin at the last for that in all this time they neuer so much as sent word to make vs partakers of their determination to the contrary whereby they would be sure wee should neither participate any of their Commodities nor see the disposure of them although â—wee cast many coniectures and aymed neere the marke finding this lingring very strange But to doe right to euery man I assure my selfe our Generall had no benefit of these wares and commodities being of a disposition too noble and bountifull to valiew such trifles worth his regard For it had beene easie for him to haue abounded with wealth and possessions without following the fortune of the warres or the hazard of the Seas if hee had aymed at such common markes But in this meane while as wee in the great Ships ancored in Saint Michaels Road there came in about the Point that lies westwards from the Towne a small Brasil man and let fall his Ancor in the middest of vs all A little after him wee might discerne aloofe off a mightie huge Carack bearing in with all sayles toward vs whom shee tooke to bee the Spanish Armada And the Brasil man confessed that hee thought the same also for the King of Spaines men of Warre when he makes Fleets are compounded of the shipping of diuers Nations and therefore the more hardly to bee distinguished from ours which was at that time compounded of English and Holland Bottoms besides one great Spanish Gallion called the Saint Andrew and some other lesser Spanish Vessels that wee had taken before Now there blew a stiffe gale from the Land ouer Saint Michaels Towne in such sort that shee must either put roome into the Sea or fall vpon vs. For as the wind then stood she could not run in with the Towne or Fort by no meanes neither was it any part of their meaning As soone as wee had made her to bee a Carrack wee tooke in all our Flags by a generall commandement from our Reare-Admiral and withall directions were giuen that no man should once weigh an Ancor or shoot off a Peece or put off a Boat but with leaue or order All this while she still bare in with vs with all sayles to the Boates end when suddenly one of the Holland Squadron contrary to al discretion the direction before weighed his Ancors hoised his top sailes made towards this Carack now ready to double the Poynt that entred the Road where we lay and when the Hollander came neere the Carack hee presently made two or three Shot at her Whereupon shee discouering vs to bee Enemies changed her course and at the very instant in the view of vs al that obserued it as if shee had had the wind at her deuotion the gale changed came full of the Seas with the helpe whereof and with the feare of falling into our hands shee tooke a resolutiou to runne her selfe a ground hard vnder the Towne and Fort. Which done from thence there presently came multitudes of Boats fetching away their men and best wares and that done shee was instantly by them set on fire in many places at once being full of great Ordnance as appeared by the report they made Such is now the custome and obstinacie of all those Sea-faring men vnder the Spanish iurisdiction as that by reason of the seuere order set downe by the King to that effect they will carelesly burne their Ships and wares if they can escape themselues rather then to grow to any composition to saue halfe thereby And the like was seene at Cades by the Fleet that was outwards bound for the Indies who after they had entertained a parley with vs to compound for their Ships and all the merchandize at a ransome of halfe the valew whilest they amused vs with this colourable pretence thereby they gained time to steale out some of their goods and afterwards set the Shippes on fire where they road But this argueth as great seueritie in the Soueraigne as slauery in the subiect This Carrack was a Ship of infinite wealth that at Saint Hellens watering as shee came from the East Indies put ouer to Brasil and so coasted alongst the West Indies and was fraughted with the riches and wares both of the East and West Wee hasted all wee