to prepare our stomacks for a Cup of Chocolatte with the which we ended our breakfast But whilst all this was gallantly performed by the Prior it was a hard Riddle unto us what hee often repeated unto uâ—… saying Brethren break your fast well for your dinner will be the meanest as ever yee did eate in your lives and now enjoy this sweet liberty which will not last long unto you Wee observed the words but knew not what to make of them till wee came unto the Cloister After our breakfast the Indians shewed us a little sport in the Market place running races on horse-back and playing at Iuego de Canna's which is to meet on horseback with broad Targets to defend their heads and shoulders while passing by they hurle Canes or darts one at another which those Indians acted with great dexterity Thus the good Prior of Chiapa feasted us and permitted us to injoy our liberty as long as it seemes it had beene agreed upon by letters between him and the Provinciall which was till it might be dinner time in the Cloister of Chiapa where wee were to bee before noone The time drew neere and we had from St. Philip to the City of Chiapa some two English miles to ride Wherefore the Prior commanded our Mules to bee brought the waits and trumpets gave warning to the Town of our departure and so with many horsemen with dances Musick and ringing of Bells wee were as stately and joyfully conducted out of the Town as wee had been inducted into it At the first halfe miles end the Prior gave thankes unto the Indians and desired them to return the Cloister being neer where wee expected another kinde of entertainment not using in the City and Cloister that pompe and state which in the Country might bee allowed The Indians tooke their leaves of us and on we went with onely two as guides before us Within halfe a mile of the City the Prior and a companion of his stopped and tooke out of his pocket an order from the Provinciall which he read unto us to this effect That whereas we had forsaken our lawfull Superior Calvo in the way to Philippinas and without his licence had come unto the Province of Chiapa hee could not in conscience but inflict some punishment upon us before he did enable us to abide there as members under him therefore hee did strictly command the Prior of Chiapa that as soone as wee should enter into his Cloister hee should shut us up two by two in our chambers as in prisons for three daies not suffering us to goe out to any place save onely to the publick place of refection called Refectory where all the Fryers met together to dine and sup where at noon time we were to present our selves before all the Cloisters sitting upon the bare ground â—…nd there to receive no other dinner but only bread and water but at supper we might have in our chambers or Prisons what the Prior would be pleased to allow us This was the Penance enjoined upon us by the wise and cunning Provinciall This newes at the first was but sowre sawee or a dry Postpast after a double sumptuous breakfast it was a dolefull ditty to us after our Musick and dances to heare of a treble fast after our feast to heare of imprisonment after so great liberty We now began to remember the Provincialls winnings at Tables the night before and the mystery thereof and began to thinke how comfortable his boxes of Chocolatte would be unto us after a meale of bread and water Now wee called to minde the short dinner the Prior had told us at St. Philips wee were like to have that day and of the liberty hee bad us then make much of But the good Prior seeing us sad upon a suddaine and our countenances changed smiled upon us wishing us not to thinke the worse of him nor of the Provinciall who did that out of Policy and to stop the Criolians mouths whom he knew would murmur if no punishment were inflicted upon us Hee assured us after our imprisonment of honours and preferments and that as long as wee were with him wee should want no incouragement and that after a bread and water dinner hee could send us to our chambers a Supper that should strongly support our empty stomacks and furre and line them well for the next foure and twenty houres With these incouragements on wee went to the Cloister of Chiapa where wee were welcomed by most of the Fryers but in some few wee noted a frowning and disaffected countenance We were no sooner conducted to our chambers when the bell sounded to dinner for the rest and cryed aloud to us Penance with bread and water Downe wee went to the common dining place and thanks being given the Fryers sitting round the tables wee foure Philippiniâ—… Ionahs so some Criolians were pleased to term us be took our selves to the middle of the Refectory where without cushions stooles seats or forms wee sate upon the bare ground crosse legged like Tailors acting humility now for our disobedience unto slovenly Calvo While the first dish was presented round the tables to each of us was presented a loafe of reasonable bignesse and a pot of pure Crystall water whereof wâ—…fed and dranke most heartily though with full stomacks from a double breakfast before Yet even here in this publick Act of shame and disgrace which wee knew 〈◊〉 usuall among Fryetâ—… for 〈◊〉 faults then ours we had this comfort that we had a Prior and Provinciall for friends and that that punishment came from a friendly hand whose Chocolatte wee had to comfort our fasting bodies and secondly wee knew that wee should have that night in our prison chambers a better suppâ—…r than any of those before us who fed upon their three or foure dishes But thirdly it was our comfort that at that very time a Criolian Frier also sate upon the ground with us of whose company we had been informed by some friends before wee went into the refectory for some love letters which had been intercepted between him and a Nun of that City tending to much uncivility and breaking their oath of professed chastity But when I perceived this Frier to looke discontentedly upon us I chose my place as neer unto him as I could and hearing him mutter within himselfe against us calling us disobedient Philippinian Ionahs I softly and friendly spoke unto him with these two following Hexameters which suddenly came unto my mind about his misdemeanor Si Monialis Amor te â—…urpia scribere fecit Ecce tibi frigidae praebent medicamina lymphae But my good neighbour snuffing and puffing at my suddain muse seemed to be more discontented then before and would faine withdraw himselfe by degrees from mee not rising up for that was not lawfull to doe till dinner had been ended but wrigling his elbowes and shoulders scornefully from me whom in like manner I followed cleaving friendly to him with this
at this time in Mixco some were so violent that they made the steeple beâ—…d so much that they made the bells sound I was so used unto them that many times in my bed I would not stir for them Yet this yeer they brought me to such a feare that had not the Lord been a present refuge to me in time of trouble I had utterly been undone For being one morning in my chamber studying so great and suddain was an earthquake that it made me run from my table to a window fearing that before I could get down the staires the whole house might fall upon my head the window was in a thicke wall vaulted upwards like an â—…ch which the Spaniards hold to be the safest place if a house should fall where I expected nothing but death as soon as I got under it the earthquake ceased though my heart câ—…sed not to quake with the suddain affrightment Whilst I was musing and thinking what to doe whether I should run downe to the yard or continue where I was there câ—… a second shaking worse then the first I thought with my selfe if the house should fall the Arch would not save my life and that I should either be stifled or throwne out of the window which was not very low and neâ—…r â—…nto the around but somewhat high wide open having no glasse 〈◊〉 but woodden shutâ—… such as there are used and if â—… leaped out of the window I might chance to breake a leg or a limbâ—… yet 〈◊〉 my life The suddainnâ—… of the astonishment tooke from 〈◊〉 the best and most 〈◊〉 deâ—…eration in such a case and in the midst of these my troubled and perplexed thoughts a third motion came as violent as the former wherewith I had now set one foot in the window to leap down had not the same Lord to whom David said in the 46 Ps. v. 2. Therefore will not wee feare though the earth bee moved by his wonderfull providence spoken both to mee and to the moving earth saying as in the 10. Verse Bee still and know that am I God for certainly had it gone on to a fourth motion I had by casting down my self broke either my neck or a legge or some other joynt Thus was I twice saved by my good God in Mixco and in Pinola I was once no lesse in danger in losing a leg by means of a smaller instrument then is a flea This Towne of Pinola in the Indian language is called Panac Pan signifieth in or amongst Cac signifieth three thinges for it signifieth the fire or a fruit otherwise called guiava or thirdly a small vermine commonly called by the Spaniards Nigua which is common over all the India's but more in some places then in others Where there are many hogs there is usually much of this sort of vermine The Spaniards report that many of the Souldiers of Sir Francis Drake died of them when they landed about Nombre de Dios and marched up the high Mountaines of St. Pablo towards Panama who feeling their feet to itch and not knowing the cause thereof scratched them so much till they festred and at last if this report be true cost them their lives Some say they breed in all places high and low upon Tables Beds and upon the ground but experience sheweth the contrary that they onely breed upon the ground for where the houses are sluttish and not often swept there commonly they are most felt and in that they usually get into the Feet and Shooes and seldome into the hands or any other part of the body argues that they breed upon the ground They are lesse then the least Flea and can scarce bee perceived and when they enter into the Foot they make it burn and itch and if then they bee looked to they appeare black and no bigger then the point of a pin and with a pin may easily bee taken out whole but if part of them bee left the smallest part will doe as much harm as the whole and will get into the flesh When once they are got in they breed a little bagge in the flesh and in it a great many Nits which increase bigger and bigger to the bignesse of a great Pea then they begin again to make the Foot itch which if it be scratched falleth to sestering and so indangereth the whole Foot Some hold it best to take them out when they cause the first itching and are getting in but this is hard to doe because they can hardly then bee perceived and they are apt to bee broken Therefore others commonly let them alone untill they bee got into the flesh and have bred a bag with nitâ—… which like a blister sheweth it self through the skinne and then with the point of a pin they dig round about the bag till they can with the pins point take it out whole if it bee broken it comes to breed againe if it bee taken out whole then they put in a little Eare wax or ashes where the bag lay and with that the hole is healed up againe in a day or two The way to avoid this vermines entering into the foot is to lay both shoos and stockings or whatsoever other clothing upon some stool or chair high from the ground and not to go bare foot which yet is wonderfull in the Indians themselves that though they cmmonly doe goe barefoot yet they are seldome troubled with them which is attributed to the hardnesse of their skin for certainly were they as tender footed and skinned as are those that wear both shoos and stockins they would be as much troubled with them as these are Pancac or Pinola is much subject to this Vermin or Nigua and I found it by wofull experience for at my first comming thither not knowing well the quality of it I let one breed so long in my foot and continued scratching it untill my foot came to be so festered that I was fain to liâ—… two whole months in a Chirurgions hand and at last through Gods great mercy and goodnesse to me I lost not a Limbâ—…t that the Providence of God may be known to me the worst of all his Creatures living in so farre a Country from all my friends and from me may be related unto future Generations before I conclude this Chapter I shall further shew both my dangers and deliverances Though true it is most of the Indians are but formally Christians and onely outwardly appear such but secretly are given to witchcraft and idolatry yet as they were under my charge I thought by preaching Christ unto them and by cherishing them and defending them from the cruelty of the Spaniards I might better worke upon them to bring them to more knowledge of some truths at least concerning God and Christ. Therefore as I found them truely loving kind and bountifull unto mee so I indeavoured in all occasions to shew them love by commiserating their sufferings and taking their part against any Spaniard that wronged them and keeping
but being the shape and form of a man they might have named him by the name of some Saint and so some way have excused themselves which they could not doe nor would they doe it in that they persisted in this error that he was their God and had spoken and preached unto them and being afterwards asked by mee whether it were the picture of any Saint such as were in Mixco and other Churches they answered No but that hee was above all the Saints in the Countrey Wee were very joyfull to see that wee had not spent our time in vaine wee cut down boughes of trees and filled the Cave with them and stopped the mouth of it up and came away making the Indian that went with us carry the Idol on his back wrapped up in a cloth that it might not bee seen or perceived as wee went I thought it fit to delay the time till night and then to enter into Mixco that the Indians might see nothing So I stayed at one of the Spaniards houses till it were late and desired him to warn from mee all the Spaniards there abou ts to be at Mixco Church the next Sabbath fearing lest the Idolaters might bee many and rise up against mee that I had somewhat to say unto them and their Blackmores concerning their Sodalities for I would not have them know of the Idoll till they heard of it and saw it in the Church lâ—…st it should come to the Indians hearing and so the Idolaters might absent themselves At night I tooke my Indian and Miguel Dalva with mee and went home and shutting up the Idol in a chest till the next Sabbath I dismissed the Indian charging him to say nothing for hee knew if hee did what harme might come unto him from the Idolaters and I knew few words now would suffice for that hee feared himselfe if it should bee known that hee had been with mee I kept Miguel Dalva with mee who was desirous to see the end of the businesse and prepared my self against the next Sabbath to preach upon the 3. v. of the 20. of Exodus Thou shalt have none other Gods before mee though it were a Text nothing belonging to the Gospel of the day from whence commonly in the Church of Rome the Texts and subjects of Sermons are deducted but I judged that Text most seasonable for the present occasion On the Sabbath day in the morning when the Pulpit was made ready by him who had care of the Church and Altars I caused Miguel Dalva to carry under his Cloak the Idol and to leave it in the Pulpit upon the the ground that it might not bee seene till such time as I should thinke fit in my Sermon to produce it and to watch about the Church till the Congregation came in that none might see it or take it away Never was there a greater resort from abroad to that Church then that day of Spaniards and Blackmores who by the warning I sent unto them expected some great matter from mee and of the Town very few were absent the Fuentes and all the rest that were suspected to be that Idols favorites little thinking that their God was brought from his Cave and now lay hid in the Pulpit to shame them came also that day to Church I commanded Miguel Dalva to bee himself neer the Pulpit at Sermon time and to warne those Spaniards that knew the businesse and some more Blackmores his friends to bee also neere the Pulpit staires Thus Masse being ended I went up to preach when I rehearsed the words of my Text I perceived both Spaniards and Indians began to look one upon another as not being used to Sermons out of the Old Testament I went on laying open this command of God for having no other Gods before him so that the Doctrine might seem to convince all that were there present as well Saint-worshippers as indeed that Idols worshippers if the cause of my preaching upon that Subject had not diverted their eyes from themselves to behold their own guiltiness of Idolatry to look only upon those who worshipped a 〈◊〉 wood for God not as they did for a Saint which yet in my judgment was much alike After I had spoken what I thought fit concerning that horrible sin and shewed that no creature could have the power of God who was the Creator of all things neither could doe good or harme without the true living Gods Commission especially inanimate Creatures as stocks and stones who by the hands and workmanship of man might have eyes and yet were dead Idolâ—… and see not might have eares and not heare might have mouths and not speak might have hands and not worke nor helpe or defend with them such as worshipped them and bowed down unto them Thus having halfe finished my Sermon I bowed my selfe downe in the Pulpit and lifted up the black grim and staring Devill and placed that Dagon on one side of the Pulpit with my eyes fixed upon some of the Fuentes and others who I perceived changed their colour blashed and were sore troubled looking one upon another I desired the Congregation â—…o behold what a God was worshipped by some of them and all to take notice of him if any knew what part of the earth was the Dominion of this God or from whence hee came I told them that some had boasted that this pâ—…ce of wood had spoken and preached against what I had taught of Christ and that therefore hee was worshipped by them for God and they had offered mony hony and of the fruits of the earth unto him and burnt Frankincense before him in a â—…cret and hidden Cave under the earth showing thereby that they were ashamed to own him publickly and that hee lurking in the darknesse of the earth shewed certainly that hee belonged to the Prince of darknesse I challenged him there in publicke to speak 〈◊〉 himself or else by silence to â—…ame and confound all his worshippers I shewed theâ—… how being but wood hee had been made and fashioned by the hands of man and therefore 〈◊〉 but a dead idol I spent a great deal of time arguing with him and 〈◊〉 Satan who had used him as his instrument daring the Devill himselfe to take him from that place which I had confiâ—…ed him to if 〈◊〉 could to shew what little power he or Satan had against the power of my faith in Christ. After much arguing and reasoning according to the shallow capacity of the Indians present I told them if that their God had power to deliver him from that execution which I had intended against him which was there publikely to have him cut in pieces and burnt they should not beleeve the Gospell of Jesus Christ but if they saw no power at all in him against me the weakest instrument of the true living God then I beseeched them to be converted unto that true God who created all things and to imbrace salvation by his Son the only Mediatour
to me it seems as little reason that the sailing of a Spanish Ship upon the coast of India should intitle the King of Spain to that Countrey as the sayling of an Indian or English Ship upon the coast of Spain should intitle either the Indians or English unto the Dominion thereof No question but the just right or title to those Countries appertains to the Natives themselves who if they shall willingly and freely invite the English to their protection what title soever they have in them no doubt but they may legally transferr it or communicate it to others And to say That the inhumane butchery which the Indians did formerly commit in sacrificing of so many reasonable Creatures to their wicked Idols was a sufficient warrant for the Spaniards to divest them of their Country The same argument may by much better reason be inforced against the Spaâ—… 〈…〉 to the Idol of their barbarous cruelty that many populous Islands and large Territorities upon the main Continent are thereby at this day utterly uniâ—…habited as Bartholomeo de las Casas the Spanish Bishop of Guaxaca in New-Spain hath by his Writings in Print sufficiently testified But to end all disputes of this nature since that God hath given the earth to the sons of Men to inhabite and that there are many vast Countries in those parts not yet inhabited either by Spaniard or Indian why should my Country-men the English be debarred from making use of that which God from all beginning no question did ordain for the benefit of mankinde But I will not molest your Excellency with any further argument hereupon rather offering my self and all my weak endevours such as they are to be employed herein for the good of my Country I beseech Almighty God to prosper your Excellency Who am The most devoted and humblest of your Excellencies servants THO. GAGE UPON This WORTHY WORK Of his most worthy Friend THE AVTHOR READER behold presented to thine eye What us Columbus off red long agoe Of the New-World a new discoverie Which here our Author doth so clearly show That he the state which of these Parts would know Need not hereafter search the plenteous store Of Hackluit Purchas and Ramusio Or learn'd Acosta's writings to look o're Or what Herera hath us told before Which merit not the credit due from hence Those being but reck'nings of anothers score But these the fruits of self-experience Wherein our Author useth not the sence Of those at home who doe their judgments leave And after wandring farr with vast expence See many things which they doe ne'r perceive Laborious are by study much at home To know those Parts which they came lately from Less doth he use us as the late writ-Books Of journeys made unto the Levant-States Wherein when we doe pry with curious looks Of Greece and Troy to know the present fates They tell us what Thucidides relates What Strabo writes what Homer crown'd with bayes What Authors more who have out-worn their dates Besides what Plutarch and Polibius sayes So what they were not what they are they sing And shew their reading not their travailing But here our Author neither doth us tell Or to us shew one inch of Sea or Ground Unless such acts which in his time befell Or what his eyes â—…aw the Horizon bound He uttereth nought at all he heard by sound He speaks not of a City or a Street But where â—…mself hath often gone the round And measured o're with his industrious feet And yet it must acknowledg'd be for true Since worthy Hawkins and the famous Drake Did first presâ—… unto the English view This New-found-world for great Eliza's sake Renowned Rawâ—…eigh twice did undertake With labours great and dangers not a few A true discovery of these Parts to make And thereof writ both what he saw and knew But as the man who in a Ship doth pass Our narrow Seas the flowings of each tide The Ships course soundings turnings of the glass What Land he makes on North or Southern side He may impart But who they be abide Or what Religion Language or what Nation Possess each Coast â—…ince he hath never tride How can he make thereof a true Relation So those who have describ'd these Parts before Of Trade Winds Currents Hurican's doe tell Of Headlands Harbours trendings of the shore Of Rocks and 〈◊〉 wherein they might as well Talk of a Nut and onely shew the shell The kernell neither tasted touch'd nor seen Had yet remain'd but that it so befell That these Relations to us made have been Differing as much from what before y'have heard As doth a Land-Map from a Seamans Card. But how these truths reveal'd to us should bee When none but Spaâ—…iards to those Parts may go Which was establish'd by severe Decree Lest Forain people should their fecâ—…ets know This Order yet to be neglected so As that our Author had permission free Whose Nation too they count their greatest foe Seemeth almost a miracle to me Sure the prescience of that power Divine Which safely to those parts did him convey Did not for nought his constant heart incline There twelve whole years so patiently to stay That he each thing exactly might furvay Then him return'd nay more did turn to us And to him shew'd of bliss the perfect way Which of the rest seems most miraculous For had the last of these not truly been These fair Relations we had never seen Nor can I think but this most usefull Book In time to come may like some new-born Starr Direct such Wisemen as therein will look And shew their way unto these Regions farr And though we now lie sunk in Civill war Yet you the worthy Patriots of this Land Let not your hearts be drowned in despair And so your future happiness withstand For time will come you shall enjoy a Peace But then no longer you must joy in sinn When they no more shall raign these Wars shall cease And then your after bliss shall soon beginn The fiery trialls which you now are in In stead of foes shall prove your best of friends And you from servile base affection win To fit your hearts for high and Nobler ends Your Drums which us'd to beat their Martiall dance Upon the banks of Garone Seine and Soane Whilst you trode measures through the Realm of France Doe now at home Oh grief on both sides groane As if they did your ill spilt blood bemoane Which long agoe with Richard England's King When he the holy Warr maintain'd alone Their dreadfull notes did through Iudea ring Now shall the tawnie Indians quake for fear Their direfull march to beat when they doe hear Your brave Red-Crosses on both sides display'd The noble Badges of your famous Nation Which you yeâ—… râ—…er with your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And dy d them deep in drops of detestation You shall again advance with reputation And on the bouâ—…ds of utmost Western shore Shall them transplant and â—…mly â—…ix their station Where English
from ships and Castle landed the Viceroy and his Lady and all his Traine accompanyed with Don Martin de Carrillo the Visiter generall for the strife between the Count of Gelves the last Viceroy the Archbishop of Mexico The great Don and his Lady being placed under a Canope of state began the Te Deum to be sung with much variety of musicall instruments all marching in procession to the Cathedrall where with many lights of burning lampes torches Wax candles was to the view of all set upon the high Altar their God of bread to whom all knees were bowed a prayer of thanks-giving sung holy water by a Preist sprinkled upon all the people and lastly a Masse with three preists solemnly celebrated This being ended the Viceroy was attended on by the Chief High Justice named Alcâ—…lde Major by the Officers of the Town some Judges sent from Mexico to that purpose and all the Souldiers of the Ships and Town unto his lodging The Fryers likewise in Procession with their Crosse before them were conducted to their severall Cloisters Fryer Calvo presented his Dominicans to the Prior of the Cloister of St. Dominicke who entertained us very lovingly with some sweet Meates and every one with a Cup of the Indian drink called Chocolatte whereof I shall speake hereafter This refreshment being ended wee proceeded to a better which was a most stately Dinner both of Fish and Flesh no Fowles were spared many Capons Turky Cocks and Hens were prodigally lavished to shew us the abundance and plenty of Provision of that Country The Prior of this Cloister was no stayed ancient grey-headed man such as usually are made Superiours to govern young and wanton Fryers but hee was Gallant and Amorous young Sparke who as wee were there informed had obtained from his Superiour the Provinciall the Government of that Convent with a Bribe of a thousand Duckats After dinner hee had some of us to his Chamber where wee observed his lightnesse and little savour of Religion or Mortification in him We thought to have found in his Chamber some stately Library which might tel us of Learning and love of Study but we found not above a dozen old Bookes standing in a corner covered with dust and Cobwebs as if they were ashamed that the Treasure that lay hid in them should be so much forgotten and undervalued and the Guitarra the Spanish Lute preferred and set above them His Chamber was richly dressed and hung with many pictures and with hangings some made with Cotten Wooll others with various coloured feathers of Mechoacan his Tables covered with Carpets of Silk his Cubboards adorned with severall sorts of China Cups and Dishes stored within with severall dainties of sweet Meates and Conserves This sight seemed to the zealous Fryers of our Mission most vaine and unbeseeming a poore and mendicant Fryer to the others whose end in comming from Spain to those parts was Liberty and loosnesse and covetousnesse of riches this sight was pleasing and gave them great incouragement to enter further into that Country where soone a Mendicant Lazarus might become a proud and wealthy Dives The discourse of the young and light headed Prior was nothing but vaine boasting of himself of his birth his parts his favour with the chiefe Superior or Provinciall the love which the best Ladies the richest Merchants Wives of the Towne bare unto him of his cleere and excellent voice and great dexterity in Musick whereof he presently gave us a taste tuning his Guitarra and singing to us some verses as hee said of his owne composing some lovely Amaryllis adding scandall to scandall loosenesse to liberty which it grieved some of us to see in a Superiour who should have taught with words and in his life and Conversation examples of Repentance and Mortification No sooner were our senses of hearing delighted well with Musick our sight with the objects of Cotten-Wool Silke and Feather workes but presently our Prior caused to be brought forth of all his store of dainties such variety as might likewise relish well and delight our sense of tasting Thus as wee were truely transported from Europe to America so the World seemed truely to bee altered our senses changed from what they were the night day before when we heard the hideous noise of the Mariners â—…oifing up Sailes when wee saw the deep and monsters of it when we tasted the stinking water when we smelt the Tarre and Pitch but here wee heard a quivering and trembling voice and instrument well tuned wee beheld wealth and riches wee tasted what was sweet and in the Sweet-meates smelt the Muske and Civit wherewith that Epicurean Prior had seasoned his Conserves Here wee broke up our discourse and pastimes desirous to walke abroad and take a view of the Towne having no more time then that and the next day to stay in it Wee compassed it round about that afternoone and found the situation of it to bee sandy except on the South-West side where it is Moorish ground and full of standing Bogs which with the great heates that are there cause it to bee a very unhealthy place The number of Inhabitants may bee three thousand and amongst them some very rich Merchants some worth two hundred some three hundred and some foure hundred thousand Duckats Of the buildings little we observed for they are all both Houses Churches and Cloisters built with Boards and Timber the Walls of the richest mans house being made but of boards which with the impetuous Winds from the North hath bin cause that many times the town hath bin for the most part of it burnt downâ—…o the ground The great Trading from Mexico by Mexico from the East-India's from Spain from Cuba Sto. Domingo Iucatan Portables and by Portabello from Peru from Cartagena and all the Islands lying upon the North Sea and by the River Alvarado going up to Zapâ—…tecas St. Ildefonso and towards Guaxaca and by the River Grijala running up to Tabasco Los Zoques and Chiapa de Indios maketh this little Town very rich and to abound with all the Commodities of the Continent Land and of all the East and West-India's Treasures The unhealthinesse of the place is the reason of the paucity of Inhabitants and the paucity of them together with the rich Trading and commerce the reasons that the Merchants therein are extraordinary rich who yet might have been farre richer had not the Town been so often fired and they in thâ—… fire had great losses All the strength of this Towne is first the hard and dangerous entrance into the Haven and secondly a rock which lyeth before the Town lesse then a Musket shot off upon which is built a Castle and in the Castle a slight Garrison of Souldiers In the Town there is neither Fort nor Castle nor scarce any people of warlike mindes The Rocke and Castle are as a Wall defence and inclosure to the Haven which otherwise lyeth wide open to the Ocean and to the Northern
jewels that the dead King was wont to weare so that it seemed a gallant Idoll At the foot of the Temple staires they opened a grave ready made which was square large two fadome deepe it was also hanged with new mats round about and a faire bed therein in the which one of the Preists placed the Idoll made of ashes with his eyes towards the East part and did hang round about the walls Targets of gold and silver with bowes and arrows and many gallant tuffes of feathers with earthen vessels as pots dishes and platters so that the grave was filled up with houshold-stuffe chests covered with leather apparell Jewels meate drinke and armour This done the grave was shut up and made sure with beames boardes and floored with earth on the top All those Gentlemen who had served or touched any thing in the buriall washed themselves and went to dinner in the Court or yard of the Kings house without any table and having dined they wiped their hands upon certain lockes of Cotton-wooll hanging downe their heads and not speaking any word except it were to aske for drinke This ceremonie endured five daies and in all that time no fire was permitted to be kindled in the City except in the Kings house and Temples nor yet any corne was ground or market kept nor any durst goe out of their houses shewing all the sorrow that might be possible for the death of their King And this was the superstitious manner of burying the Kings of Mechoacan This people did punish adultery most rigorously for to commit it was death as well for the man as the womâ—…n But if the adulterer were a Gentleman his head was decked with feathers and after that he was hanged and his body burned and for this offence was no pardon either for man or woman But for avoiding of adultery they did permit other common womâ—…n but no publike and ordinary stewes Now the Indians of Mechoacan are greatly taken with the popish devices and are strong in that religion as any part of America The fourth and last Province of the Countrey or Empire of Mexico is called Galicia nova and is watered with two very great rivers the one named Piastle and the other San Sâ—…stian This Province glorieth in many great Townes of Indians but especially in â—…ix inhabited both by Indians and Spaniards the first and chiefest is Xalisco taken by Nunio dâ—… Guzman 1530. when he fled from Mexico in a rage and tooke prisoner and burned the King of Mechoâ—… The second is Guadalaiara The third Coanum The fourth Compostelâ—… The fifth St. Espirit The sixth Copala which now is called Nova Mexico new Mexico And here it is that the Spaniards are daily warring against the Indians which live Northward and are not as yet reduced nor brought under the Spanish yoake and government They are valiant Indians and hold the Spaniards hard to it and have great advantage against them in the rocks and mountaines where they abide and cut off many Spaniards Their chief weapons are but bowes and arrowes and yet with them from the thick Woods hils and rockes they annoy and offend the Spaniards exceedingly I have heard some Spaniards say that they flie and climbe up the rocks like Goates and when they draw nigh unto them then they cry out with a hideous noise shooting their arrowes at them and in an instant are departed and fled unto another rock The reson why the Spaniards are so earnest to pursue and conquer these Indians more then many others of America which as yet are not brought in subjection to the Spaniards is for the many Mines of silver and treasure of gold which they know to bee there They have got already sure possession oâ—… part of those riches in the Mines called St. Lewis Sacatecas from whence they send all the silver that is coyned in the Mint houses of Mexico and the City of Angels and every yeere besides to Spain in silver wedges at least six Millions But the further the Spaniards goe to the North still more riches they discover and faine would they subdue all those Northern parts as I have heard them say lest our English from Virginia and their other plantations get in before them I have heard them wonder that our English enter no further into the maine land surely say they either they feare the Indians or else with a little paultry Tobacco they have as much as will maintaine them in lazinesse Certainly they intend to conquer through those heathenish Indians untill by land they come to Florida and Virginia for so they boast if they bee not met with by some of our Northern Nations of Europe who may better keep them off then those poor Indians and may doe God greater and better service with those rich Mines then the Spaniards hitherto have done Thus having spoken somewhat of the foure Provinces of Mexico which was the first member of the division Mexican and Peruan Now I shall briefly say somewhat further of three more Countries belonging to the Mexican or Northern Tract as opposite to the Peruan omiting Florida Virginia Norumbega Nova Francia Corterialis and Estotilandia because I will not write as many doe by relation and hearsay but by more sure intelligence insight and experience In my first division next to Mexico I placed Quivira Iâ—…eatan and Nicaragua of these three therefore I shall say a little and then somewhat of the Peruan part Quivira is seated on the most Western part of America just over against Tartary from whence being not much distant some suppose that the Inhabitants first came into this new World And indeed the Indians of America in many things seeme to bee of the race and progenie of the Tartars in that Quivira and all the Westside of the Country towards Asia is farre more populous then the East towards Europe which sheweth these parts to have been first inhabited Secondly their uncivility and barbarous properties tell us that they are most like the Tartars of any Thirdly the West side of America if it bee not continent with Tartary is yet disjoyned by a small straight Fourthly the people of Quivira neerest to Tartary are said to follow the seasons and pasturing of their cattell like the Tartarians All this side of America is full of herbage and injoyeth a temperate aire The people are desirous of glasse more then of gold and in some places to this day are Cannibals The chief riches of this Country are their Kine which are to them as we say of our Ale to drunkards meat drink and cloth and more too For the Hides yeeld them houses or at least the coverings of them their bones bodkins their hair thred their finews ropes their horns mawes and bladders vessels their dung fire their Calve skinnes budgets to draw and keepe water their blood drink their flesh meat There is thought to bee some traffique from China or Cathaya hither to those parts where as yet the Spaniards have not entred For
cool the heat which there is great by reason it is a low and Marsh kind of ground lying neer the South Sea The next chief Town and most considerable after Capalita is Tecoantequepete this is a Sea Town upon Mar del Zur and a harbour for small vessels such as Trade from those parts to Acapulco and Mexico and to Realejo and Guatemala and sometimes to Panama Here upon some occasions Ships which come from Peru ' to Acapulco doe call in It is a port no farthet safe then that no English or Holland Ships doe come thereabouts which if they did they would there find no resistance but from thence would finde an open and easie Rode over all the Countrey Upon all this South Sea side from Acapulco to Panama which is above two thousand miles by land there is no open harbour but this for Guaxaca and La Trinidad for Guatemala and Realejo for Nicaragua and Golfo de Salinas for small vessels in Costa Rica and all these unprovided of Ordnance and Ammunition all open dores to let in any Nation that would take the pains to surround the World to get a treasure This port of Tecoantepeque is the chiefe for fishing in all that Countrey wee met him in the wayes sometimes with fifty sometimes with a hundred mules together laden with nothing but salt fish for Guaxaca City of the Angels and Mexico There are some very rich Merchants dwell in it who trade with Mexico Peru and Philippinas sending their small vessels out from Port to Port which come home richly laden with the Commodities of all the Southerne or Easterne parts From hence to Guatemala there is a plaine Rode along the Coast of the South Sea passing through the Provinces of Soconuzco and Suchutepeques but wee aiming at Chiapa tooke our journey over the high Rocks and Mountaines called Quelenes travailing first from Tecoantepeque to Estepeque and from thence through a desert of two dayes journey where wee were faine to lodge one night by a spring of water upon the bare ground in open wide fields where neither Town nor house is to bee seene yet thatcht lodges are purposely made for travailers This plain lyeth so open to the Sea that the wind from thence blow so strongly and violently that travailers are scarce able to â—…it their horses and mules which is the reason no people inhabit there because the windes teare their houses and the least fire that there breaks out doth a great deale of mischief This plaine yet is full of Cattell and Horses and Mares some wild some tame and through this windy Champaigne Country with much adoe we travailed though my self thought I should even there end my daies for the second day being to reach to a Towne and my three friends riding before thinking that I followed them evening now drawing on they made more hast to find the Town But in the meane while my horse refused to goe any further threatning to lie downe if I put him to more then hee was able I knew the towne could not be far and so I lighted thinking to walke and lead my horse who also refused to bee led and so lay downe With this a troop of thoughts beset mee and to none I could give a flat answer I thought if I should goe on foot to finde out the Towne and my company and leave my horse there sadled I might both lose my selfe and my horse and saddle and if I should find the Towne and come in the morning for my horse the plain was so wide and spatious that I might seeke long enough and neither finde him nor know the place where I left him for there was nothing neere to marke the place nor where to hide the saddle neither hedge tree shrub within a mile on any side Wherefore I considered my best course would bee to take up my lodging in the wide and open wildernesse with my horse and to watch him lest hee should wander and stray away untill the morning or untill my friends might send from the towne to see what was become of mee which they did not that night thinking I had taken my way to another Town not far from thence whither they sent in the morning to enquire for me I looked about therefore for a commodious place to rest in but found no choice of lodgings every where I found a bed ready for mee which was the bare ground a bolster onely or pillow I wanted for my head and seeing no bank did kindly offer it selfe to ease a lost stranger and pilgrime I unsadled my weary Jade and with my saddle fitted my head in stead of a pillow Thus without a supper I went to bed in my Mothers owne bosome not a little comforted to see my tired horse pluck up his spirits and make much of his supper which there was ready for him of short dry and withered grasse upon which hee sed with a greedy and hungry stomack promising mee by his feeding that the next day he would performe a journey of at least thirty or forty miles The poor beast fed apace my careful eye watched him for at least an houre when upon a suddain I heard such an hideous noise of howling barking and crying as if a whole Army of dogs were come into the wildernesse and howled for want of a prey of some dead horse or mule At first the noise seemed to be a pretty way off from mee but the more I hearkened unto it the nigher it came unto mee and I perceived it was not of dogs by some intermixt shriekings as of Christians which I observed in it An observation too sad for alone man without any helpe or comfort in a wildernesse which made my haire to stand upright my heart to pant my body to bee covered with a fearfull sweat as of death I expected nothing else not knowing from whence the noise proceeded sometimes I thought of Witches sometimes of devils sometimes of Indians turned into the shape of beasts which amongst some hath beene used sometimes of wild and savage beasts and from all these thoughts I promised my self nothing but sure death for the which I prepared my selfe recommending my soule to the Lord whilst I expected my body should bee a prey to cruell and mercilessesse beasts or some instruments of that roaring Lion who in the Apostle goeth about seeking whom he may devoure I thought I could not any waies prevaile by flying or running away but rather might that way runne my selfe into the jawes of death to hide there was no place to lie still I thought was safest for if they were wild beasts they might follow their course another way from mee and so I might escape Which truly proved my safest course for while I lay sweating and panting judging every cry every howling and shrieking an alarm to my death being in this agony and fearfull conflict till about midnight on a suddain the noise ceased sleep though but the shadow of death seized upon my wearied
his land be over-run by a foraine nation nay by their owne slaves the Black-mores who doubtlesse to be set at liberty would fide against them in any such occasion and lastly the Criolians who also are sore oppressed by them would rejoyce in such a day and yeeld rather to live with freedome and liberty under a forain people then to be longer oppressed by those of their own blood The miserable condition of the Indians of that Country is such that though the Kings of Spain have never yeelded to what some would have that they should be slaves yet their lives are as full of bitternesse as is the life of a slave For which I have known my selfe some of them that have come home from toyling and moyling with Spaniards after many blowes some wounds and little or no wages who have sullenly and stubbornly lain down upon their beds resolving to die rather then to live any longer a life so slavish and have refused to take either meat or drinke or any thing else comfortable and nourishing which their wives have offered unto them that so by pining and starving they might consume themselves Some I have by good perswasions encouraged to life rather then to a voluntary and wilfull death others there have been that would not be perswaded but in that wilfull way have died The Spaniards that live about that Country especially the farmers of the valley of Mixco Pinola Petapa Amatitlan and those of the Sacatepeques alleadge that all their trading and farming is for the good of the Common-wealth and therefore whereas there are not Spaniards enough for so ample and large a Countrey to doe all their work and all are not able to buy slaves and Blackmores they stand in need of the Indians help to serve them for their pay and hire whereupon it hath been considered that a partition of Indian labourers be made every Monday or Sonday in the afternoon to the Spaniards according to the farmes they occupie or acording to their severall employments calling and trading with Mules or any other way So that for such and such a district there is named an officer who is called Juez Repartidor who according to a List made of every farme house and person is to give so many Indians by the week And here is a doore opened to the president of Guatemala and to the Judges to provide well for their 〈◊〉 servants whom they commonly appoint for this office which is thus performed by them They name the Town and place of their meeting upon Sonday or Monday to the which themselves and the Spaniards of that district do resort The Indians of the severall Towns are to have in a readinesse so many labourers as the Court of Guatemala hâ—…h appointed to be weekly taken out of such a Towne who are conducted by an Indian officer to the Towne of generall meeting and when they come thither with their tooles their spadeâ—… shovels bils or axes with their provision of victuals for a week which are commonly soâ—…e dry cakes of Maiz puddings of frixoles or French beanes and a little Chile or biting long pepper or a bit of cold meat for the first day or two and with beds on their backes which is only a course woollen mantle to wrap about them when they lye on the bare ground then are they shut up in the Towne-house some with blowes some with spurnings some with boxes on the eare if presently they goe not in Now all being gathered together and the house filled with them the Juez Repartidor or officer calls by the order of the List such and such a Spaniard and also calls out of the house so many Indians as by the Court are commanded to be given him some are allowed three some foure some ten some fifteen some twenty according to their employments and delivereth unto the Spaniard his Indians and so to all the rest till they be all served who when they receive their Indians take from them a toole or their mantles to secure them that they run not away and for every Indian delivered unto them they give unto the Juez Repartidor or officer halfe a Riall which is three pence an Indian for his fees which mounteth yeerly to him to a great deale of money for some officers make a partition or distribution of four hundred some of two hundred some of three hundred Indians every week and carrieth home with him so many halfe hundred Rials for one or halfe a daies worke If complaint be made by any Spaniard that such and such an Indian did run away from him and served him not the week past the Indian must be brought and surely tied to a post by his hands in the Market place and there be whipped upon his bare backe But if the poor Indian complaine that the Spaniards cousened and cheated him of his shovell axe bill mantle or wages no justice shall be executed against the cheating Spaniard neither shall the Indian be righted though it is true the order runs equally in favour of both Indian and Spaniard Thus are the poore Indians sold for three pence a peece for a whole weeks slavery not permitted to goe home at nights unto their wives though their worke lie not above a mile from the Town where they live nay some are carried ten or twelve miles from their home who must not returne till Saturday night late and must that week do whatsoever their Master pleaseth to command them The wages appointed them will scarce find them meat and drinke for they are not allowed a Riall a day which is but sixpence and with that they are to find themselves but for six daies worke and diet they are to have five Rials which is halfe a crowne This same order is observed in the City of Guatemala and Townes of Spaniards where to every family that wants the service of an Indian or Indians though it be but to fetch water and wood on their backs or to goe of arrants is allowed the like service from the neerest Indian Townes It would grieve a Christians heart to see how by some cruell Spaniards in that weeks service those poor wretches are wronged and abused some visiting their wives at home whilst their poore husbands are digging and delving others whipping them for their slow working others wounding them with their swords or breaking their heads for some reasonable and well grounded answer in their own behalfe others stealing from them their tooles others cheating them of halfe others of all their wages alleadging that their service cost them halfe a Riall and yet their worke not well performed I knew some who made a common practice of this when their wheat was sowne and they had little to do for the Indians yet they would have home as many as were due unto their farme and on Monday and Tuesday would make them cut and bring them on their backes as much wood as they needed all that week and then on Wednesday at noon knowing the
and are given to much superstition and to observe crosse waies and meeting of beasts in them the flying of birds their appearing and singing neer their houses at such and such times Many are given to witchcraft and are deluded by the devill to beleeve that their life dependeth upon the life of such and such a beast which they take unto them as their familiar spirit and think that when that beast dieth they must die when he is chased their hearts pant when he is faint they are faint nay it happeneth that by the devils deluâ—…ion they appear in the shape of that beast which commonly by their choice is a Buck or Doe a Lion or Tigre or Dog or Eagle and in that shape have been shot at and wounded as I shall shew in the Chapter following And for this reason as I came to understand by some of them they yeeld unto the Popish Religion especially to the worshiping of Saintâ—… Images because they looke upon them as much like unto their forefathers Idols and secondly because they see some of them painted with Beasts as Hierom with a Lion Anthony with an Asse and other wild beasts Dominick with a Dog â—…las with a Hog Mark with a Bull and Iohn with an Eagle they are more confirmed in their delusions and thinke verily those Saints were of their opinion and that those bâ—…asts were their familiar spirits in whose shape they also were transformed when they lived and with whom they died All Indians are much affected unto these Popish Saints but especially those which are given to witchcraft and out of the smalnesse of their means they will be sure to buy some of these Saints and bring them to the Church that there they may stand and be worshipped by them and others The Churches are full of them and they are placed upon standers gilded or painted to be carried in procession upon mens shoulders upon their proper day And from hence cometh no little profit to the Priests for upon such Saints daies the owner of the Saint maketh a great feast in the Towne and presenteth unto the Preist sometimes two or three sometimes four or five crownes for his Masse and Sermon besides a Turkey and three or four fowls with as much Cacao as will serve to make him Chocolatte for all the whole Octave or eight daies following So that in some Churches where there are at least fourty of these Saints Statues and Images they bring unto the Priest at least fourty pounds a yeer The Preist therefore is very watchfull over those Saints daies and sendeth warning before hand unto the Indians of the day of their Saint that they may provide themselves for the better celebrating it both at home and in the Church If they contribute not bountifully then the Preist will chide and threaten that he will not preach Some Indians through poverty have been unwilling to contribute any thing at all or to solemnize in the Church and at his house his Saints day but then the Preist hath threatned to cast his Saints image out of the Church saying that the Church ought not to be filled with such Saints as are unprofitable to soul and body and that in such a statues room one may stand which may doe more good by occasioning a solemn celebration of one day more in the yeer So likewise if the Indian that owed one of those images die and leave children they are to take care of that Saint as part of their inheritance and to provide that his day be kept but if no son or heirs be left then the Preist calleth for the heads of the severall Tribes and for the chief officers of justice and maketh a speech unto them wherein he declareth that part of the Church ground is taken up in vain by such an image and his stander without any profit either to the Preist the Church or the town no heir or owner being left alive to proceed for that orphan Saint to owne it and that in case they will not seek out who may take charge of him and of his day the Preist will not suffer him to stand idâ—… in his Church like those whom our Saviour in the Gospel rebuked quid hic statis tota die 〈◊〉 for that they stooâ—… idle in the market all the day these very expressions have I heard there from some Friers and therefore that he must banish such a Saints picture out of the Church and must deliver him up before them into the Justices hands to be kept by them in the Town-house untill such time as he may be bought and owned by some good Christian The Indians when they hear these expressions begin to feare leâ—…t some judgement may befall their Town for suffering a Saint to be excommunicated and cast out of their Church and therefore present unto the Preist 〈◊〉 offering for his prayerâ—… unto the Saint that he may doe them no harme and desire him to limit 〈◊〉 a time to bring him an answer for the disposing of that Saint thinking it will prove a disparagement and affront unto their Town if what once hath belonged to the Church â—…e now out and delivered up to the secular power and that in the mean time they will find out some good Christian either of the 〈◊〉 friends and kindred to him or them who first owned the Saint or else some stranger who may buy that Saint of the Preist if he continue in the Church or of the secular power if he be continue out of the Church and delivered up unto them which they are unwilling to yeeld to having been taught of judgements in such a case like to befall them and may by 〈◊〉 speedy feast and solemnity appease the Sainâ—…s anger towards them for having 〈◊〉 â—…o sleighted by the Town Alas poore Indians what will they not be 〈◊〉 unto by those Friers and Preists who study nothing more than their own ends and to enrich themselves from the Church and Altar their policies who are the wise and prudent children of this world spoken of in the Gospel can easily overtop and master the simplicity of the poor Indians who rather then they will bring an affront upon their Towne by suffering any of their Saints to be cast out of their Church or to be with mony redeemed out of the secular powers hands will make hast to present unto him an owner of that orphan Saint who for him shall give to the Preist not only what he may be prized to be worth in a Painters shop for the workmanship gold and colours belonging to him but besides shall present him what before hath been observed for the solemnizing of his feast These feasts bring yet unto the Saints more profit then hitherto hath been spoken of for the Indians have been taught that upon such daies they ought to offer up somewhat unto the Saints and therefore they prepare either mony some a Riall some two some more or else commonly about Guatemala white wax-candles and in
other places Cacao or fruits which they lay before the image of the Saint whilst the Masse is celebrating Some Indians will bring a bundle of candles of a dozen tied together of Rials a peice some some of three or four for a Riall and will if they be let alone light them all together and burne them out so that the Preist at the end of the Masse will find nothing but the ends Therefore knowing well of the waies of policy and covetousnesse he chargeeh the Church officers whom I said before were called Mayordomo's to looke to the offerings and not to suffer the Indians who bring candles to light more then one before the Saint and to leave the other before him unlighted having formerly taught them that the Saints are as well pleased with their whole candles as with their burnt candles that so hee may have the more to sell and make mony of After Masse the Preist and the Mayordomo's take and sweep away from the Saint whatsoever they find hath been offered unto him so that sometimes in a great Towne upon such a Saints day the Preist may have in mony twelve or twenty Rials and fifty or a hundred candles which may be worth unto him twenty or thirty shillings besides some ends and pieces Most of the Friers about Guatemala are with these offerings as wel stored with candles as is any Wax-chandlers shop in the City And the same candles which thus they have received by offerings they need not care to sell them away to Spaniards who come about to by them though some will rather sell them together to such though cheaper that their mony might come in all at once for the Indians themselves when they want again any candles for the like feast or for a Christening and for a womans Churching at which times they also offer candles will buy their own againe of the Preist who sometimes receiveth the same candles and mony for them again five or six times And because they find that the Indians incline very much to this kind of offerings and that they are so profitable unto them the Friers doe much presse upon the Indians in their preaching this point of their Religion and devotion But if you demand of these ignorant but zealous offerers the Indians an account of any point of faith they will give you little or none The mystery of the Trinity and of the incarnation of Christ and our redemption by him is too hard for them they will only answer what they have been taught in a Catechisme of questions and answers but if you ask them if they beleeve such a point of Christianity they will never answer affirmatively but only thus Perhaps it may be so They are taught there the doctrin of Rome that Christs body is truely and really present in the Sacrament and no bread in substance but only the accidents if the wisest Indian be asked whether he beleeve this he will answer Perhaps it may be so Once an old woman who was held to be very religious in the Town of Mixco came to me about receiving the Sacrament and whilst I was instructing of her I asked her if she beleeved that Christ body was in the Sacrament she answered Peradventure it may be so A little while after to try her and get her out of this strain and common answer I asked her what who was in the Sacrament which she received from the Preists hand at the Altar she answered nothing for a while and at last I pressed upon her foâ—… an affirmative answer and then she began to looke about to the Saints in the Church which was dedicated to a Saint which they call St. Dominick and as it seemed being troubled and doubtful what to say at last she cast her eyes upon the high Altar but I seeing she delayed the time asked her again who was in the Sacrament to which she replyed S. Dominick who was the Patron of that Church and Town At this I smiled and would yet further try her simplicity with a simple question I told her she saw S. Dominick was painted with a dog by him holding a torch in his mouth and the globe of the world at his feet I asked her whether all this were with St. Dominick in the Sacrament To which she answered Perhaps it might be so wherewith I began to chide her and to instruct her But mine instruction nor all the teaching and preaching of those Spanish Preists hath not yet well grounded them in principles of faith they are dull and heavie to beleeve or apprehend of God or of heaven more then with sense or reason they can conceive Yet they goe and run that way they see the Spaniards run and as they are taught by their idolatrous Preists Who have taught them much formality and so they are as our Formalists formerly in England very formall but little substantiall in Religion They have been taught that when they come to confession they must offer somewhat to the Preist and that by their gifts and almes their sins shall be sooner forgiven this they doe so formally observe that whensoever they come to confession but especially in Lent none of them dareth to come with empty hands some bring mony some honey some egs some fowls some fish some Cacao some one thing some another so that the Preist hath a plentifull harvest in Lent for his pains in hearing their Confessions They have been taught that also when they receive the Communion they must surely every one give at least a Riall to the Preist surely England was never taught in America to buy the Sacrament with a two pence offering and yet this custome too much practised and pressed upon the people which they performe so that I have known some poor Indians who have for a week or two forborne from coming to the Communion untill they could get a Riall offering It is to be wondred what the Preists doe get from those poore wretches in great Towns by Confession and Communion Rials in great Townes where they denie the Sacrament to none that will receive it and in some Townes I have knowne a thousand Communicants and force all above twelve or thirteen yeers of age to come to Confession in the Lent They are very formall also in observing Romes Monday Thursday and good-Friday and then they make their monuments and sepulchres wherein they set their Sacrament and watch it all day and night placing before it a Crucifix on the ground with two basins on each side to hold the single or double Rials which every one must offer when he cometh creeping upon his knees and bare-footed to kisse Christs hands feet and side The candles which for that day and night and next morning are burned at the sepulchre are bought with another Contribution-Riall which is gathered from house to house from every Indian for that purpose Their Religion is a dear and lick-penny religion for such poor Indians and yet they are carried along in it
formally and perceive it not They are taught that they must remember the souls in Purgatory and therefore that they must cast their almes into a chest which standeth for that purpose in their Churches whereof the Preist keepeth the key and openeth it when he wanteth mony or when he pleaseth I have often opened some of those chests and have found in them many single Rials some halfe pieces of eight and some whole pieces of eight And because what is lost and found in the high-waies must belong to some body if the true owner be not knowne they have been taught that such monies or goods belong also to the soules departed wherefore the Indians surely more for fear or vanities sake that they may be well thought on by the Preist if they find any thing lost will bestow it upon the soules surer then the Spaniards themselves who if they find a purse lost will keep it and will bring it either to the Preist or cast it into the chest An Indian of Mixco had found a patacon or peece of eight in a high-way and when he came to Confession he gave it unto me telling me he durst not keep it lest the soules should appear unto him and demand it So upon the second day of November which they call All soules day they are extraordinary foolish and superstitious in offering monies fowles egs and Maiz and other commodities for the soules good but it proves for the profit of the Preist who after Masse wipes away to his chamber all that which the poore gulled and deluded Indians had offered unto those soules which needed neither mony food nor any other provision and he fills his purse and pampers his belly with it A Frier that lived in Petapa boasted unto me once that upon their All Soules day his offerings had been about a hundred Rials two hundred Chickens and fowls half a dozen Turkeyes eight bushels of Maiz three hundred egs four sontles of Cacao every sontle being four hundred granes twenty clusters of plantins above a hundred wax candles besides some loaves of bread and other trifles of fruits All which being summed up according to the price of the things there and with consideration of the coyn of mony there halfe a Ryall or three pence being there the least coyn mounts to above eight pounds of our money a faire and goodly stipend for a Masse brave wages for halfe an houres work a politick ground for that Error of Purgatory if the dead bring to the living Preist such wealth in one day onely Christmas day with the rest of those holy daies is no lesse superstitiously observed by these Indians for against that time they frame and set in some corner of their Church a little thatched house like a stall which they call Bethlehem with a blazing Starre over pointing it unto the three Sage wise men from the East within this stall they lay in a Crib a child made of wood painted and guilded who represents Christ new borne unto them by him stands Mary on the one side and Ioseph on the other and an Asse likewise on the one side and an oxe on the other made by hands the three wise men of the East kneel before the Crib offering gold Frankincense and Myrrhe the shepheards stand a loof off offering their Country gifts some a Kid some a Lambe some Milk some Cheese and Curds some fruits the fields are also there represented with flocks of Sheep and Goats the Angels they hang about the stall some with Vialls some with Lutes some with Harps a goodly mumming and silent stage play to draw those simple souls to look about and to delight their senses and fantasies in the Church There is not an Indian that cometh to see that supposed Bethlehem and there is not any in the Town but doth come to see it who bringeth not either money or somewhat else for his offering Nay the policy of the Preists hath been such that to stirre up the Indians with their Saints example they have taught them to bring their Saints upon all the holy dayes untill Twelfth day in Procession unto this Bethlehem to offer their gifts according to the number of the Saints that stand in the Church some daies there come five some daies eight some daies ten dividing them into such order that by Twelfth day all may have come and offered some money some one thing some another The owner of the Saint hee cometh before the Saint with his friends and kindred if there bee no sodality or company belonging unto that Saint and being very well apparelled for that purpose he bowes himselfe and kneels to the Crib and then rising takes from the Saint what hee bringeth and leaveth it there and so departs But if there be a sodality belonging to the Saint then the Mayordomo's or chief Officers of that company they come before the Saint and doe homage and offer as before hath been said But upon Twelfth day the Alcaldes Maiors Jurates and other Officers of Justice must offer after the example of the Saints and the three Wise men of the East whom the Church of Rome teacheth to have been Kings because they represent the Kings power and authority And all these daies they have about the Town and in the Church a dance of Shepheards who at Christmas Eve at midnight begin before this Bethlehem and then they must offer a Sheep amongst them Others dance clothed like Angels and with wings and all to draw the people more to see sights in the Church then to worship God in Spirit and in Truth Candlemas day is no lesse superstitiously observed for then the picture of Mary comes in procession to the Altar and offereth up her Candles and Pigeons or Turtle-Doves unto the Preist and all the Town must imitate her example and bring their Candles to be blessed and hallowed of foure or five or as many as they bring one onely shall bee restored back unto them because they are blessed all the rest are for the Preist to whom the Indians resort after to buy them and give more then ordinary because they are hallowed Candles At Whitsontide they have another sight and that is in the Church also whilst a Hymne is sung of the Holy Ghost the Preist standing before the Altar with his face turned to the people they have a device to let fall a Dove from above over his head well dressed with flowers and for above half an houre from holes made for that purpose they drop down flowers about the Preist shewing the gifts of the holy Ghost to him which example the ignorant and simple Indians are willing to imitate offering also their gifts unto him Thus all the yeer are those Preists and Fryers deluding the poore people for their ends enriching themselves with their gifts placing Religion in meer Policy and thus doth the Indians Religion consist more in sights shewes and formalities then in any true substance But as sweet meat must have sowre sawce so
and some small villages but after the two daies we drew neer unto the Heathens Frontiers where there was no more open way for Mules but we must trust unto our feet We went up and down mountaines amongst woods for the space of two daies being much discouraged with the thickets and hardnesse of the way and having no hope of finding out the Heathens In the night we kept watch and guard for feare of enemies and resolved yet the third day to goe forward In the mountaines we found many sorts of fruits and in the bottomes springâ—… and brookes with many trees of Cacao and Achiotte The third day we went on and came to a low valley in the miâ—…st whereof ran a shallow river where we found some Milpa's or plantations of Maiz. These were a testimony unto us of some Indians not far off and therefore made us keep together and be in readinesse if any assault or onset should be made upon us by the Heathens Whilst we thus travelled on we suddenly fell upon halfe a dozen poore cottages covered with boughes and plantin leaves and in them wee found three Indian women two men and five young children all naked who faine would have escaped but they could not We refreshed our selves in their poore cottages and gave them of our provision which at the first they refused to eat howling and crying and pulling till Moran had better incouraged and comforted them whose language they partly understood We clothed them and tooke them along with us hoping to make them discover unto us some treasure or some bigger plantation But that day they were so sullen that we could get nothing out of them Thus we went on following some tracks which here and there we found of Indians till it was almost evening and then we did light upon above a dozen cottageâ—… more and in them a matter of twenty men women and children from whom we tooke some bows and arrowes and found there store of plantins some fish and wild Venison wherewith we refreshed our selves These told us of a great Towne two daies journey off which made 〈◊〉 be very watchfull that night Here I began with some more of our company to be sick and weary so that the next day I was not able to goe any further whereupon we resolved to set up our quarters there and to send out some scouts of Indians and Spaniards to discover the country who found further more cottages and plantations of Maiz of Chile of Turkey beans and Cotton-wooll but no Indians at all for they were all fled Our scouts returned and gave us some incouragement from the pleasantnesse of the Country but withall wished us to be watchfull and carefull for that certainly the flight of those Indians was a signe that our coming was noised about the Country The next day we purposed to move forward to that plantation which our scouts had discovered being as we were informed safer and more open to foresee any danger ready to befall us All these plantatioâ—… lay along by the river where the sun was exceeding hot which had caused feavers and a flux in some of us With much wearinesse and faintnesse I got that day to our journeys end beginning now to â—…epent mee of what I was ingaged in and on foot and â—…ring some suddain dangeâ—… by reason our coming was now known by the Indians The prisoners we had with 〈◊〉 began to tell us of some gold that they did sometimes find in that river and of a grâ—… lake yeâ—… forward about which did inhabit many thousand Indians who were very warlike and skilfull in their bows and arrows The one incouraged some the other much discouraged the rest who wished themselves out of those woods and unknown places and began to murmur against Moran who had been the cause of their ingagement in that great danger Our night was set and I and the rest of the sick Spaniards went to rest some upon the bare ground but my self and others in hamacca's which are of net work tied at two posts or trees and hanging in the aire which with the least stirring of the body rocke one asleep as in a Cradle Thus I tooke my rest till about midnight at which time our watches gave an alarm against our approaching enemies who where thought to be about a thousand They came desperately towards us and when they saw they were discovered and our drums beat up and our fowling peeces and muskets began to shoot they hollowed and cried out with a hideous noise which uproar and suddain affrightment added sweat and fear to my feaver But Moran who came to confesse with mee and to prepare himselfe for death or for some deadly wound comforted me wishing me to fear nothing and to lie still for that I could doe them no good and that lesse was my danger then I apprehended because our Souldiers had compassed me about so that on no side the Heathens could come in and flie we could not without the losse of all our lives The skirmish lasted not above an hour and then our enemies began to flie back We tooke ten of them and in the morning found thirteen dead upon the ground and of ours five onely were wounded whereof one died the next day In the morning our Souldiers began to mutiny and to talke of returning back fearing a worse and more violent onset that day or the night following for some of the Indians who were taken told them plainly that if they went not away there would come six or seven thousand against them They told us further that they knew well that the Spaniards had all the country about except that little portion of theirs which they desired to enjoy quietly and peaceably and not to meddle with us but rather if we would see their countrey and goe through it as friends they would let us without doing us any hurt but if we came in a warlike manner to fight and to bring them into slavery as we had done their neighbours they were all resolved to die fighting rather then to yeeld With these words our Souldiers were divided some with Moran were of opinion to try the Indians and to go peaceably through their Country til they could come to some Towne of Iucatan others were of opinion to fight others to return back again considering their weakenesse against so many thousands of Indians as were in the Country But that day nothing was agreed upon for that we could not stir by reason of the sick and wounded So we continued there that night and as the night before much about the same time the enemies came againe upon us but finding us ready and watching for them they soone fled In the morning we resolved to returne back and Moran sent the Heathens word that if they would let him goe through their country quietly to discover some land of Iucatan he would after a few monthes come peaceably unto them with halfe adâ—…en Indians no more trusting his life upon
when being carryed with the stream too much to the one side of the land it ran upon a Rock so that the very stern was lifted up and almost cast out of the Pilots hands who cryed out not to God but unto the Virgin Mary saying Ayudad nos Virgen Santissima que si no aqui nos pereceâ—…os help us O most holy Virgin for if not here were perish This and the outcry of all that were in the Frigat gave unto mee an Alarm of death from the which yet it pleased God by the meanes and diligence of the painefull Mariners to deliver mee and all the Company for with much adoe most part of that night they haled from the Cock-boat the Frigat off from the Rock after the streame had made it three severall times to strike upon it After a very troublesome night in the morning wee got our little Shiâ—… out of all danger and from between the two Islands on the other side of them where wee sailed prosperously towards Panama That morning my stomack recovered some of its lost strength and I began to eat and to drink and to walk about rejoycing much to see those pleasant Islands which wee sailed by In the Evening wee got to Puerto de Perico where wee cast Anchor expecting to bee searched in the morning but that night the Master of our Ship having gone to shore the wind turned and blew so strong that wee lost our Anchor and and were driven back almost to la Pacheque and feared wee should bee carried out into the Ocean againe so farre that we should with great difficulty get to Panama But that God whom the Sea and winds doe obey turned againe that contrary wind into a prosperous gale wherewith wee came once more unto Perico and being searched wee went on with full sail to Panama Being neere the Port and without an Anchor in our Ship the wind once more blew us back and had not the Ship Master sent us an Anchor we had gon againe to Pacheque or further But with that anchor we stayed all that night at Perico wondring among our selves that so many crosses should befall us which made some say that we were bewitched others that certainly there was amongst us some excommunicated person whom they said if they knew of they would hurle him over bord Whilst they were in this discourse the wind turned yet againe and we levying our anchor went on to Panama whither it pleased God that time safely to conduct us in I being now well strengthened made no stay in that frigat which I thought would have been my last abiding place in this world but went to land and betooke my selfe to the Cloister of the Dominicans where I stayed almost fifteen daies viewing and reviewing that City which is governed like Guatemala by a President and six Judges and a Court of Chancery and is a Bishops sea It hath more strength towards the South sea then any other Port which on that side I had seen and some Ordnances planted for the defence of it but the houses are of the least strength of any place that I had entred in for lime and stone is hard to come by and therefore for that reason and for the great heat there most of the houses are built of timber and bords the Presidents house nay the best Church walls are but bords which serve for stone and bricke and for tiles to cover the top The heat is so extraordinary that a linnen cut doublet with some slight stuffe or taffetie breeches is the common cloathing of the inhabitants Fish fruits and herbage for sallets is more plentifull there then flesh the coole water of the Coco is the womens best drinke though Chocolate also and much wine from Peru be very abounding The Spaniards are in this City much given to sinne loosenesse and venery especially who make the Black-mores who are many rich and gallant the chiefe objects of their lust It is held to be one of the richest places in all America having by land and by the river Chiagre commerce with the North sea and by the South trading with all Peru East-India's Mexico and Honduras Thither is brought the chiefe treasure of Peru in two or three great ships which lie at anchor at Puerto de Perico some three leagues from the City for the great ebbing of the sea at that place especially suffereth not any great vessell to come neerer where daily the sea ebbs and falls away from the City two or three miles leaving a mud which is thought to cause much unhealthinesse in that place being seconded with many other muddy and moorish places about the Town It consisteth of some five thousand inhabitants and maintaineth at least eight Cloisters of Nuns and Friers I feared much the heats and therefore made as much haste out of it as I could I had my choice of company by land and water to Portobelo But considering the hardnesse of the mountaines by land I resolved to goe by the river Chiagre and so at midnight I set out from Panama to Venta de Cruzes which is ten or twelve leagues from it The way is thither very plaine for the most part and pleasant in the morning and evening Before ten of the clock we got to Venta de Cruzes where live none but Mulatto's and Black-mores who belong unto the flat boates that carry the merchandize to Portobel There I had very good entertainment by that people who desired me to preach unto them the next Sabbath day and gave me twenty Crownes for a Sermon and procession After five daies of my abode there the boats set out which were much stopped in their passage downe the river for in some places we found the water very low so that the boats ran upon the gravell from whence with poles and the strength of the Black-mores they were to be lifted off againe sometimes again we met with such streams that carried us with the swiftnesse of an arrow downe under trees and boughes by the river side which sometimes also stopped us till we had cut downe great branches of trees Had not it pleased God to send us after the first weeke plentifull raine which made the water run downe from the mountaines and fill the river which otherwise of it selfe is very shallow we might have had a tedious and longer passage but after twelve daies we got to the sea and at the point landed at the Castle to refresh our selves for halfe a day Certainly the Spaniards trust to the streames and shallownesse of that river which they thinke will keep off any forain nation from attempting to come up to Venta de Cruzes and from thence to Panama or else they would strengthen more and fortifie that Castle which in my time wanted great reparations and was ready to fall downe to the ground The Governour of the Castle was a notable wine-bibber who plyed us with that liquor the time that we stayed there and wanting a Chaplain for himselfe and
in wax candles and sell sometimes one candle five or six times p. 150. An old Indian Womans judgement concerning the Sacrament of the Lords supper p. 150 151. All soules day Christmas Candlemas day and Whitsunday daies of great lucre and profit to the Preists p. 151 152. The Indians are forced to marry at thirteen and fourteen yeers of age and why p. 153. The ground of our Fairs in England p. 154. Severall dances of the Indians p. 154 155. CHAP. XX. Shewing how and why I departed out of Guatemala to learne the Poconchi language and to live among the Indians and of some particular passages and Accidents whilst I lived there p. 156. Contents The Author going with some few Spaniards and Christian Indians into a Countrey of unknowne Heathens fell dangerously sick and was further in a skirâ—…h with the Barbarians and by that meanes also in danger of his life p. 157. 158. Indians growne up in age forcedly driven to Baptisâ—… without any principlâ—…s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Preists and Friers that first entred into America ibid. 〈◊〉 a woody mountainous and barren Countrey p. 159. 〈◊〉 India's are Grammers and Dictionaries of the severall Indian tongues p. 〈◊〉 The Authour became perfect in the Poconchi language in one quarter of a 〈◊〉 ibid. The meanes chiefly from the Church which the Authour enjoyed yeerly in the Townes of Mixco and Pinola p. 161 162. A Plague of Locusts in the India's brought no small profit to the Authour p. 163 164. The Spaniards confidence in some blessed breads against the plague of Locusts ibid. An infectious disease amongst the Indians brought to the Author neer a hundred pounds in halfe a yeer ibid. The Authour struck downe as dead to the ground with a flash of lightning and again in danger of his life by an Earthquake p. 165 166. Of a small Vermine lesse then a flea called Nigua common in the India's wherewith the Author was in danger of losing a leg ibid. The Authour like to be killed by a Spaniard for defending the poore Indians p. 167. A notorious Witch in the Town of Pinola affrighted the Authour p. 167. sequ The Indian Wizards and Witches changed into shapes of beasts by the Devil as appeareth by two examples p. 169. sequ Some Idolaters in the Towne of Mixco discovered their preaching Idol found out by the Authour and burnt publikely in the Church and hee in great danger to bee killed by them p. 171. sequ The Authors conflict within himselfe about comming home to England for conscience sake and his resolution therein p. 180 181. Neer upon 9000. peeces of Eight got by the Authour in twelve yeers that hee lived in the India's p. 181. CHAP. XXI Shewing my Iourney from the Towne of Petapa into England and some chief passages in the way p. 182. Contents Relation of a place called Serro Redondo five leagues from Petapa p. 182. A strange fire and smoake constantly comming out of the earth neer unto a Towne called Aguachapa which by the Spaniards is supposed to be a mouth of hell p. 183. The priviledge of a great river called Lempa dividing the Countrey of St. Salvador and Nicaragua p. 184. A Frier thinking to take up gold from the bottome of the fiery Vulcan of Leon deceived p. 185. The City of Leon and Countrey about called by the Spaniards Mahomets paradise ibid. About the beginning of February the City of Granada in Nicaragua is one of the richest places in the India's by reason of many rich commodities and some of the King of Spain his revenews carried thither to be transported by the Frigats to Carthagena or Havana p. 185 186. The dangerous passage from the Lake of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 led El Desâ—…adero p. 〈◊〉 The Authour and his 〈◊〉 like to be surprized by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Crocodile p. 187. The Authour roâ—…bed at sea by a Holland man of Warre of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Crownes p. 188 189. A Frier fâ—… defending the poâ—…re Indians of Nicoyâ—… 〈◊〉 two fingers which were cut off by the 〈◊〉 de Maior p. 192. The Author forced to drinke his owne urine and lost and like to perish in an unknowne Island and afterwards upon a Rocke p. 193 194. Some particulars of the City of Panama p. 195. The river of Chiagre very shallow in many places without some great raine cause the water to fall into it from the mountaines ibid. Some particulars of Portobello during the time that the Spanish Fleet stayeth there p. 196. The Papists Bread God or Sacrament eaten and gnawne by a Mouse in Porto-bello with a Fast in bread and water for that contempt done unto their God p. 197 198. The Spaniards feare of the English that then inhabited the Island called Providence p. 199. Some English Prisoners at Carthagena with one Captain Rouse who at Havana challenged some Spaniards into the field who had abused him p. 199 200 From the whole Spanish Fleet one gallantly taken 〈◊〉 worth foâ—…re 〈◊〉 thousand Duckats by two Holland or English ships not well knowne upon the Coast of Havana p. 201. The manner of the Dominicans habit with the meaning of it p. 203. CHAP. XXII Shewing how and for what causes after I had arrived in England I took yet another journey to Rome and other parts of Italy and returned again to settle my selfe in this my Countrey p. 205. Contents Price a Monke very familiar with William Laud late Archbishop of Canterbury p. 205. The Authors Brother in great favour at Court and aspiring to a Bishopricâ—…e or to be Parish Preist of Covengarden ibid. The Authour apprehended by a Pursevant aâ—… protected by Sir Francis VVindebank p. 207. The Authour from the low Countries got letters of recommendation to some chiefe Cardinals in Rome p. 207. The Author robbed by French Pyrates going from Ligorne to Rome ibid. The Cardinal Don Francisco Barbarini intituled the Protectour of England 〈…〉 and proceedings of VVilliam Laud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 20â—… VVilliam Laud his further Complyance with the Cardinals of Rome as testified by Fitzherbert the Iesuite in a conference with the Authour ibid. A designe of making an English Cardinall at Rome and who chiefly eyed for that purpose p. 20â—… A true Copy of the manner of sending the Author to live at Orleans in France p. 209 210. The miracle printed by the Papists of the blushing and sweating of the Ladies picture of Loretto tried by the Authour and found to bee a meer lie p. 210. At the calling of the Parliament now sitting the Romish crew in Italy much perplexed p. 210 211. The Authour taken again by a French Fleet of ships as he was coming home from Ligorne p. 211. The Author twice assaulted in London by Papists and like to be killed for his profession of the truth and service to the State p. 211 212. FINIS ERRATA PAg. 6 l. 54 read that Kingdom p. 8 l. 34 r. their own p. 10 l. 46 r. party p. 11 l 56 r. Sâ—…via p. 15 l. 2â—… r. St. Iohn de Ulâ—… ibid. l. 49. r. the spurnings p. 16 l. 33 34 r. the first founder p. 17 l. 23. r. were p. 24 l. 3 r. 〈◊〉 ibid. l. 5 6 r. Grijâ—…lva p. 25 l. 42 r. out of the Arbour p. 27 l 23 r. keepers p. 28 l. 46 r. 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 p. 35 l. 12 r. well bâ—…ked p. 36 l. 6 r. sacrificed p. 43 l. 5 r. in a Spanish ibid. l. 55 r. it maketh p. 51 l. 39 r. those sacrifices p. 53 l. 43 r. consecrated p. 62 l. 30 r. to be the Viceroyes p. 65 l. 31 r. Uiva â—…l Roy p. â—…9 l. 51 r. Antiquâ—…ra p. 71 l. 4 r. it glorietli ibid l. 47 r. made p. 72 l. 1 r. glorious p. 74 l. 23 24. r. 〈◊〉 p. 76 l. 12 r. have in it p. 79 l. 21 r. Sâ—…villa p. 83 l. 2 r. to follow him p. 85 l. 59 r. which p. 88 l. 2 r. met here p. 95 l. 14 r. merrâ—… p. 96 l. 28 r. Cloister p. 100 l. 21 r. bodies ibid. l. 22 r. planet p. 102 l. 51 52 r. women p. 109 l. 19 r. another p. 114 l. 33 r. those that p. 115 l. 41 r. any thing with them p. 116 l. 14 r. ten leagues p. 11â—… l. 10 a deadly p. â—…19 l. 3 r. Originall sin ibid l. 42 r. 1â—…27 ibid l. ult r. Preachers p. 122 l. 22 r. not holy p. 123 l. 2 r. grieving p. 125 l. 51 r. cheap ibid l. 59 r. stately p. 126 l. 38 r. he lift p. 128 l. 26 r. thousand Crownes ibidâ—… l. 55 r. is no landing p. 129 l. 20 r. to enrich Guatemala p. 130 l. 46 r. 〈◊〉 ibid l. 54 r. his power p. 141 l. 26 r. which after p. 149 l. 38 r. provide p. 150 l. 31 r. buy p. 153 l. 9 r taught more for ibid l. 33 r. livers in the town p. 156 l. 26 r. halving p. 159 l. 7 r. President p. 169 l. 38 r. killed him p. 170 l. 44 r. taken up p. 171 l. 54 r. a running water p. 178 l. 45 r. Priests p. 179 l. 12 r. sent me a Patent ibid l. 16. r. to further p. 180 l. 2 r. against it which p. 182 l. 14 r. would not p. 183 l. ulâ—… r. 〈◊〉 p. 184 l. 50 r. there p. 187 l. 5 r. difficult journey p. 193 l. 17 towards death p. 198 l. 13 r. would p. 203 l. 30 r. Popham p. 209 l. 48 49 put tâ—… before suprâ—…ominatum and leave it ouâ—… in the next line p. 213 l. 40 r. Râ—… ibid l. 43 r. quipat p. 214 l. 2 r. quitâ—… tacque p 215 l 26 r chiquilâ—…h tacque ibid l 4â—… r the second person ibid l 49 r loâ—…e thee p 216 l 18 r. 〈◊〉 ibid l 21 22 r verbs passives ibid l 28 r in 〈◊〉 and r change â—…h ibid l 51 â—… 〈◊〉
more Crownes then what before I have numbred from the Sodalities The next yeere following all that country was generally infected with a kinde of contagious sicknesse almost as infectious as the Plague which they call Tabardillo and was a Feaver in the very inward parts and bowels which scarce continued to the seventh day but commonly tooke them away from the world to a grave the the third or fifth day The filthy smell and stench which came from them which lay sick of this disease was enough to infect the rest of the house and all that came to see them It rotted their very mouths and tongues and made them as black as a coal before they died Very few Spaniards were infected with this Contagion but the Indians generally were taken with it It was reported to have begun about Mexico and to have spread from Town to Town till it came to Guatemala and went on forwards and so likewise did the Locusts the yeer before marching as it were from Mexico over all the Country I visited many that died of this infection using no other Antidote against it save onely a handkerchief dipped in Vineger to smell unto and I thanke God I escaped where many dyed In Mixco I buried ninety young and old and in Pinola above an hundred and for all these that were eight yeere old or upwards I received two Crownes for a Masse for their soules delivery out of Purgatory See good Reader whether the conceit of Purgatory have not been a maine policy of Rome to enrich the Preist and Clergy with Masse stipends from such as die making them beleeve that nothing else can helpe their soules if once plunged into that conceited fire Where thou maist see that one contagious sicknesse in two small Townes of Indians brought unto me in lesse then half a yeer neere a hundred pounds for Masses for almost two hundred that died Nay such is the greedy covetousnesse of those Preists that they will receive three or four Masse stipends for one day making the people beleeve that the same Masse may bee offered up for many and doe one soule as much good as another Thus with the Plague of Locusts and the contagion of sicknesse for the first two yeers together had I an occasion to enrich my self as did other Preists my neighbours But think not that because so many died therefore the Towns growing lesse my offerings for the future were lessened The Encomendero's or Lords of the two Towns took care for that who that they might not lose any part of that Tribute which was formerly paid unto them presently after the sicknesse was ceased caused them to bee numbred and as I have in the Chapter before observed forced to marriage all that were twelve yeers and upwards of age which also was a new streame of Crownes flowing into my bagges for from every couple that were married I had also two Crownes besides other offerings and in both the Towns I married in that occasion above fourescore Couple Truly by all this I thank the Lord I was more strengthened in my conceit against the Church of Rome and not with that greedinesse of that Lucre intised to continue in it though I found the preferments there farre greater then any might bee in the Church of England where I knew nothing was to bee got with singing or hudling over a Masse But yet though for the present my profit was great my eyes were open to see the errours whereby that profit came so plentifully to mee and to all that crew of Idolatrous Preists The judgments ceased not here in that Country in my time but after this contagion there was such an Inundation of rain that the husbandmen feared again the losse of all their Corn. At noonetime the darke clouds for a month together began to thicken and cover the face of the heavens powring down such stormy showres as swept away much Corn and many poore Cottages of Indians besides the raine the fiery thunder bolts breaking through the clouds threatned a dolefull judgement to all the Country In the Valley of Mixco two riding together were stricken dead from their Mules the Chappel of our Lady of Carâ—…al in the same valley was burnt to the ground and likewise two houses at the river of Vacas In Petapa another flâ—…sh of lightning or thunderbolt fell into the Church upon the high Altar cracking the walls in many places running from Altar to Altar defacing all the gold and leaving a print and stamp where it had gone without any more hurt In the Cloister of the Franciscans in Guatemala a Frier sleeping upon his bed after dinner was stricken dead his body being left all blacke as if it had been burnt with fire and yet no signe of any wound about him Many accidents happened that yeer which was 1632. all about the Countrey But my selfe was by the safe protection of the Almighty wonderfully saved for being on a Saturday at night in Mixco trembling and â—…earing and yet trusting in my God and praying unto him in my chamber one flash of lightning or thunderbolt fell close to the Church wall to which my chamber joyned and killed two Calves which were tied to a post in a yard to be slaughtered the next morning The lightning was so neer and terrible that it seemed to have fired all my house and strucke me downe unto the ground where I lay as dead for a great while when I came again to my self I heard many Indians about my house who were come to see if either it or the Church were set on fire This stormy season brought me also much profit for as formerly the Spaniards of the valley and the Indians betooke themselves to their Idol Saints carrying them about in procession which was not done without mony which they call their almes unto their Saints that they may the better be heard and intreated by them The summer following there was more then the ordinary earthquakes which were so great that yeer in the Kingdome of Peru that a whole City called Truxillo was swallowed up by the earth which opened it selfe and almost all the people were lost whilst they were at Church worshiping and praying unto their Saints The huâ—…t they did about Guatemala was not so much as in other places only some few mud walls were shaken downe and some Churches cracked which made the people fear and betake themselves again to their Saints and empty their purses before them for Masses and processions lest the danger should prove as great as was that of the great earthquake which happened before my coming into that Country These earthquakes when they begin are more often then long for they last but for a while stirring the earth with three motions first on the one side then on the other and with the third motion they seem to set it right againe If they should continue they would doubtlesse hurle downe to the ground any steeple or building though never so great and strong Yet