Towns fairly and well built of Lime and Stone houses of four stories high and most of them provided with stoves for the winter season as well as any in Europe The streets fair and broad and the People as curious and expert in divers Arts and Manufactures as any of theirs More particularly they tell us of a town called Chia of the Province of Cuames so big that it is said to contain eight several Market-places Another called Acoma a great Town but seated on the top of an high Rock without any ordinary way of access to it but by a pair of staires hewn out of the hard stone or else by certain ladders which the Inhabitants let down and take up as they please And likewise of a third which they call Conibas containing as they say no less than seven leagues in length about half as much in breadth seated upon a Lake but scatteringly built and much of the space taken up with mountains and many fair Gardens in the midst of which the Town standeth This is certain that the Countrie to which they give the general name of New-Mexico is of a vast extent reaching from the Mines of St. Barbara in New-Biscay Eastward and to the North-East above two hundred leagues already discovered but doubtless taking up no small part of those Countries which are sometimes assigned to Florida if not of the confines of Virginia also The first discoverer of this Countrie was one Augustino Royaz a Franciscan Frier about the year 1580 by whose report and incouragement Antonio de Espeio a Native of Corduba but then dwelling at Mexico raised at his own charges a Band of an 150 Horsemen and with a competent number of Slaves Beasts of carriage and other necessaries undertook the business and discovered many Nations as the Conchi Tobosi Passaguates Tepoames Quires and divers others still marching on till he arrived at a great River which he named Rio del Nordt Here he made some stay and caused the Countrie on each side of the River to be called Nova-Mexicana and a City to be built which he likewise named New-Mexico It is seated in the 37 degree of Northern latitude and distant from Old-Mexico four hundred leagues The name whereof is since changed into that of St. Foy but the dignity of the place improved being at present the Metropolis of that Province a Bishops Sea the ordinary Residence of the Governour and hath a Garrison of about two hundred and fifty Souldiers in it which both commands the Countrie and secures their Mines of which they have some in the towns hereabouts the chief of which towns are 1. S. Antonio de Senecu the first Town which they have upon the Nordt River 2. Socorro so named by the Spaniards from the releefe which they found there both for themselves and Horses being almost starved with a long march 3. Pilabo 4. Siviletta all of them old towns but new named by the Spaniards 5. St. Johns built some yeers after the first discovery of the Countrie by John D' Ognate a Spaniard who in the year 1599 or thereabouts over-ran the Countrie a second time with a greater Army yet pursuing the tract of d' Espeio by which means having gathered together an infinite mass of treasure he found no better way to secure it than by building this town CHAP. VIII Of New-Spain and its Provinces 1. THe Kingdom of Mexico or New-Spain was formerly that is before the Spaniards conquer'd and dismembred it much larger than now it is for as much as it comprehended the whole Province of New-Gallicia and reached from the furthest point of the Peninsula of Jucatan Southward as far as New-Biscay and the confines of Califormia Northward containing in length seven hundred leagues or more and about half as much in breadth But since the conquest by Hernando Cortez and his followers the whole Countrie of New-Gallicia is taken from it and made a distinct Government or Audiencia as the Spaniards call it of it self The Natives of the Countrie are of the race of the Chichimecae a savage and wilde sort of People of the Province of New-Gallicia especially in the parts of New-Biscay living in Forests and in deep caves under ground whose posterity doe still at this day much trouble and annoy the Countrie thereabouts notwithstanding all the endeavours of the Spaniards and the Garrisons which they keep in those parts on purpose to destroy them About five hundred years agoe or more according to the account of the Mexican Annals divers Hoards or Swarms of these Chichimecae weary it seems of their Woods and subterraneous dwellings issued out into the more open Aire and fell down in huge multitudes into these Southerly parts of America which are now called Mexico and New-Spain not all at once but at several times and under several names viz. of the Suchimilci Chalcae Tepanecae Tlascaltecae and others who subduing or driving out the People they found in those parts seated themselves in their room And though at first every Nation or Company of them as they came seized upon some Province apart by themselves and held it as it were in Soveraignty to themselves without acknowledgement of any dependance or subjection to their Neighbours or those that were there before them yet in tract of time and by fortune of the Warrs which they made one upon another they all fell under the Government of one King viz. the King of Mexico which was the chief City of the Province This Kingdome at the time that the Spaniards first discovered the Countrie was governed by a Prince named Motezuma one who by his valour and good success in the warres had in a few years of his reign before the Spaniards came thither subdued the better part of a hundred Cities and great Towns to his Dominion and held in actual submission to his Government and tributary to him no less than thirty several Casiques or petty Princes every one of which pay'd him Tribute and were able upon occasion to bring into the field an hundred thousand men He is said to have been for his person a wise and good Prince just affable and tender of his Subjects good but by reason of some heavy exactions which his own power and the practise of his Ancestors before him gave him the confidence to impose upon the conquered People a great part of his Subjects lived but unwillingly under his obedience and rather by constraint than otherwise being also further exasperated against him by one barbarous custome which the Mexicans frequently used viz. the Sacrificing of men Their manner was whensoever they had any solemn occasion of doing honour to their Devil-god Vitzilopuchtli as they called him to send out an Army of men from Mexico into some of the subdued Provinces in case they had no enemies neerer hand and to fetch in as many men as they thought good to be sacrificed whose flesh likewise afterwards they did eate in a solemn Banquet This being a business of their
part of whatsoever should be discovered to him and his Heirs for ever But denyed him the Government of Mexico out of reason of State though 't is said he much desired it 6. The bounds of this Kingdome at present are thus On the East it hath a large Arm of the Sea which they call the Bay of New-Spain or the Gulf of Mexico On the West it hath some parts of New-Gallicia and Mare del Zur On the North the rest of New-Gallicia and part of Florida and on the South Mare del Zur again and part of Guatimala It extendeth it self in length from the furthest point of Jucatan South-East to the borders of New-Gallicia Northward above one thousand Italian miles and in breadth from Panuco to the South-Sea about half so much It lyeth wholly under the Torrid Zone nor is it a Countrie generally so mountainous or high seated as some others of America are but for the most part level or low yet is it so fanned for three parts at least of four by the cooling blasts off the Sea and the heats otherwise so moderated with frequent rains which it hath constantly three moneths in the year viz. June July and August that the Aire is rendred thereby exceeding temperate and agreeable and the Climate not unhealthfull especially to temperate bodies and such as be never so little used to it A goodly Country it is of inexhaustible wealth and riches whether we regard the Mines of Gold Silver Brass Iron c. of all which it hath many and very good or the Fruits of the Earth aboundance of Cattel plenty of Corn and Grain or any other Commodities and endowments of Nature which serve for the enriching of the World Among other things it affords good store of Cassia the fruit whereof is a thing well known and much commended by the Apothecaries for its use in Physick especially for Purgations and removing of all obstructions of phlegm cholar c. Such store of Balm Amber all sorts of Gumms and precious Liquors as no Country in the World is better furnished with matter of excellent Perfumes and Physiâ—k than the Kingdom of New-Spain is aboundance of Coco-nuts and such plenty of that excellent Dye called Coccinele that 't is said no less than five or six thousand Arrobes of Spanish measure which make above five times so many English Bushels are yearly transported thence Good plenty likewise both of Wheat and Maiz with Barley and Pulse of all sorts All kinde of garden Hearbs Roots and Plants in so great aboundance and so admirably thriving that 't is scarcely to be beleeved Whole Woods and Forests as it were of Oranges Limmons Citrons and other such fruit as hath been said Some Cherries but of Apples Pears and Figgs c. beyond measure The Natives of the Country very ingenious in divers Mechanicall Arts especially in making of feather-Pictures a piece of curiosity wherein they are held to be incomparably or rather inimitably excellent and so industrious at it that although the Americans generally be not a People over much addicted to any kinde of labour or study yet at this they will sit a whole day together without either meat or drink only out of a natural affection they have to the work and a desire to be excellent in it The Country indeed affords them great variety of Birds and other Fowl of most rare and exquisite colours which is a great advantage to their skill and helps much to the accomplishment of their work They paint likewise very curiously upon their Cottons and are held to be generally the best Gold-smiths in the world of most perfect skil in the purging and refining of all sorts of Metals but especially of Gold and Silver And yet in other things so strangely stupid and ignorant that when the Spaniards first appeard among them on Horse-back 't is reported not a few of them took the Horse and Man both for one Cteature and when the Horse neighed they would enquire very seriously what he said There be likewise many fair Lakes in the Province of New-Spain but the principall are those of Chapala and Mexico the former of which is in the more Northern parts of the Kingdome towards the borders of New Gallicia and is chiefly famous for the aboundance of good Salt that is yeerly made and transported thence The other of Mexico is the largest and goodliest one of them in the World of circular form and containing as some say little less than nine hundred miles in compâ—â—s invironed with the main Land the Peninsula or Cape of Florida Jucatan and the Island Cuba having two only passages in and out and both of them well fortified the one betwixt the point of Jucatan and the Isle Cuba where the tide violently enters and the other betwixt the said Island and the Cape Florida where it goeth as violently out upon which Gulf the King of Spain hath alwaies some good ships in readiness for all occasions and by them 't is supposed he doth more assure his Estates in those parts of America than by all his Garrisons beside The whole Kingdome of New-Spain is subdivided into these inferior Provinces viz. 1. Panuco 2. Mexicana 3. Mechoacan 4. Tlascalla 5. Guaxata 6. Chiapa and 7. Jucatan 7. Panuco is the most Northerly Province of New-Spain by some called Guasteca bounded on the East with the Gulf of Mexico on the West with Vxitipa a Country of New-Gallicia on the North with some undiscovered Countries of Florida from which it is divided by the River of Palms on the South with Mechoacan and Mexicana It is called Panuco from a River of that name which running from the mountains Tepecsuan in New Gallicia and dividing New-Biscay from the Province of Zacatecas passeth through the midst of this Country also and at last emptieth it self into the Gulf. The Country is reckoned to be about fifty leagues in length and not much less in breadth of a fruitfull Soile having some Mines of gold in it and once very Populous till Hernando Cortez and the Spaniards about the year 1522 dispeopled it by their cruelty The chief towns now remaining and inhabited by the Spaniards are first St. Lewis de Tampice a Colony of Spaniards situate on the Northern bank of the River Panuco at the very mouth of it where it hath a very large Haven but so barred with sands that no ship of any great burden can enter or abide in it with safety and yet the River otherwise so deep that Vessels of five hundred tun might sail up threescore leagues at least within land and thereby visit the rich Mines of Zatatecas on the one side of it and of New-Biscay on the other at pleasure and without fear of much opposition 2. St. Stevan del Puerto on the South side of the same River eight leagues distant from the Sea or Gulf of Mexico at present the Metropolis or chief town of the Province built by Cortez in the place where stood old Panuco which was
same place good plenty of them again in a short time The End of the first Part. AMERICA ¶ The second Part. Containing The Topographicall description of the several Provinces both of the Northern and Southern part With some other Observations incident thereunto By N. N. Printed by R. Hodgkinsonne for E. Dod. CHAP. I. Of the generall division of the New World into Continent and Islands and of the two parts of the Continent viz. the Northern and the Southern 1. AMerica or the New World as we have said before is it self most generally thought to be but an Island though a very huge one and to be surrounded on all parts by the Sea not only on the East West and South as is already found by experience but also towards the North where it is likewise supposed to be divided from the Continent of Asia by the Sea running between Nevertheless for distinction sake and by reason it is of such a vast extent as that it equalleth and far exceedeth any other part of the World how great soever that is counted or called Continent it seems not amiss to express the whole under this division viz. of Continent and Islands understanding by the first viz. Continent only the main Land or more principall Provinces of America which lye united together and extend themselves in one continued tract from the Northern to the Southern borders and by the latter the Islands which lye about the main Land and though some of them at a good distance from it yet as well by reason of situation as for that they were discovered and conquered at the same time with the other are generally taken and reckoned for part of the New World That which we call the Continent of America is divided generally into two parts which are two great Peninsulas or â—emy-Islands environed on all parts by the Sea save onely in the midst where they are joyned together by a certain Isthmus or neck of Land which they call the Streit of Darien lying almost under the Equinoctial Line in some few degrees of Northern latitude which runneth in length from the district of Panama as they call it and Nombre de Dios to the Southward about an hundred miles or more but in bredth from East to West or from the North to the South Sea is nothing answerable being in some places not above seventeen or eighteen miles over These two Peninsulas are generally counted the Northern and Southern parts of America so called from their situation in respect of the Equator the one of them lying wholly Northward of the Equinoctiall Line and the other at least for the greatest part of it Southward They contained anciently beside many huge and vast Provinces governed for the most part by Royteletts or certain pettie Princes in each respective Province or Territorie whom they called Casiques two great and mightie Kingdoms the one of Cusco generally called the Kingdom of Peru in the Southern part and the other of Mexico now called new Spain in the Northern of both which and likewise of the manner of the first conquering and subduing of them by the Spaniards when time was something shall be said in due place 2. The Mexican or Northern part of America containeth these several Provinces viz. 1. Estotiland 2. Canada or New France 3. Virginia 4. Florida 5. Califormia 6. New Gallicia 7. New Spain or Mexicana properly so called and lastly 8. Guatimala together with some other lesser Islands so neerly adjoyning to the Continent that they are usually reckoned for part of it by those which describe the Countrie and therefore shall be mentioned in their several places accordingly viz. as parts of the respective Provinces upon which they lye The Peruvian or Southern part containeth these which follow viz. 1. Castella del oro as the Spaniards call it or golden Castile 2. Nova Granada 3. Peru 4. Chile 5. Paraguay 6. Brasil 7. Guiana and lastly Paria or new Andalusia as some call it The Islands which lye further off from the main Land but yet reckoned commonly for part of the New World by reason they were discovered as hath been said and for the greater part conquered and subdued with it are chiefly those called 1. Los Ladrones 2. the Islands of Salomon which lye in the South Sea and in the Northern 1. the Caribee Islands 2. St. John de Port-rico 3. Hispaniola 4 Jamaica and 5. Cuba of all which in their order according to the method of the latest and as I presume the exactest Cosmographers viz. of our learned Countriman Dr. Heylyn and his Author Laet upon whom I must profess to rest very much in this part of my report especially as to the site and position of Places CHAP. II. Of Estotiland and the several Provinces which it containeth 1. THe first Province of the Continent of America towards the North is called Estotiland for what reason I must plainly confess I cannot so cleerly discover unless perhaps our Neighbours the Duch happened to have the first naming of it and that it beareth any signification of its Easterly lying in respect of the other Provinces It containeth all those Regions of the Mexican or Northern part of America which lye furthest toward the North East on which side as likewise more directly Eastward it is washed all along with the main Ocean or North-Sea having on the South Canada or new France Westward and to the North-west it is not yet fully discovered but supposed either to be joyned to some parts of Tartary or which I think is the more common conjecture to be divided from it by the Sea which some presuming it to be but a narrow Sea call the Streits of Anian from a Province or part of the Asiatique Tartary which beareth that name and lyeth upon it On the North it hath a Bay or large Inlet of the Sea which the English call Hudsons Streites from Capt. Henry Hudson an Englishman who in the yeare 1610 is said to have sailed in this Sea no less then three hundred leagues Westward in search of a passage that way to the Kingdomes of Catha and China of which we have spoken already and which was so much endeavoured in those times both by our selves and our neighbours the Duch but without success hitherto The whole Province containeth these particular Countries if I may so call them or Prefectships as some others doe viz. First Estotiland more properly so called Secondly Terra Corterialis Thirdly New-found land and Fourthly certain Islands neer adjoyning to the Continent which they call Baccaleos 2. Estotiland specially so called is the most Northerly region of all America towards the East lying betwixt the abovesaid Hudsons Sreights which it hath on the North and Terra Corterialis on the South The soil of the country is said to be reasonably good and well stored with naturall Commodities I mean such as are of necessity and may be expected in such a cold northerly quarter as Flesh fowl and good store of
endeavoured severall times to extract and draw it forth in certain Vessels of Iron and Brass which they have caused to be let down into the bottom of the Vulcan or pit by long Iron chaines made on purpose but as we said the extreme heat and force of the fire below alwayes melted them before they could be drawn up again and by that meanes hath hitherto rendred all such attempts frustrate 2. St. Salvador fourty leagues distant from Guatimala Eastward and seated upon the River Guacapa 3. Acaputla a Town of the Natives situated at the mouth of the said River and is as it were the port Town to St. Salvador 4. Trinidad a Town of great resort being the generall Empory and place of Traffique for all sorts of Commodities betwixt the people of New-Spain and Peru. 5. St. Michaels two or three leagues distant from the Bay Fonseca upon the South Sea 6. Xeres de la Frontera in the Confines of this Province towards the borders of Nicaragua 5. Honduras hath on the South Guatimala abovesaid on the West a certain Bay or Arme of the Sea which they call Goulfo dulce from the aboundace of fresh waters which run into it from all parts On the North and North-east the Atlantick Ocean and somewhat to the South-east Nicaragua It containes in length viz. from East to West coasting along upon the Sea about one hundred and fifty leagues and in breadth fourscore The Country rich both in Corn and Pasturage being said to be very much advantaged that way by the constant overflowings of the Rivers which it hath very many about Michael-mass time and which the people order so well that they water their very Gardens and exceedingly fertilize the whol Champaign or lower parts of the ground by them The Country is not thought to be without some good Mines both of Gold and Silver but the Natives so little covetous of wealth and the Spaniards it seemes so much busied elsewhere that as yet no great discoveries have been made save only about Gracias a Dios and some few other places where there are good Mines The cheif Towns of this Province are 1. New-Valladolidt anciently called Commayagua seated in a pleasant and fruitfull Valley upon the banks of the River Chamalucon fourty leagues distant from the Sea 2. Gracias a Dios thirty leagues distant from Valladolidt Westward made a Colony of Spaniards by Gabriel de Roias in the year 1530 for defence of the Mines thereabouts against some Savages that were not then reduced 3. San Pedro a place of great wealth and traffique and the usuall residence of the Farmours of the Kings customes for this Province 4. Puerto de Cavallos ten leagues distant from San Pedro so called from the aboundance of Horses which in a great tempest and storm at Sea the Spaniards were forced to cast over board at this place It is one of the most noted Havens of these parts and naturally strong yet so ill guarded formerly that the English twice pillaged it viz. in the year 1591 under Captain Newport and in the year 1596 under Captain Shirley What the state of it at present is I cannot say only that it is a good inlet into a rich Country 5. St. Thomas de Castile eighteen leagues distant from Cavallos another strong place and to which they say the Colony of Puerto Cavallas was lately transpoted 6. Truxillo a Town pleasantly seated betwixt two Rivers at the foot of a Mountain not far from the Cape de Honduras which at this Town first begins to shew it self running far out into the Sea from whence the shore still withdrawing it self as it were more inwards all along the Coast of this Province till it joyneth with Jucatan there is made a very spacious and goodly Bay called commonly the Bay of Honduras otherwise Golfo dulce as we said having many good and secure stations for shipping 7. St. George de Olancho so called from the Valley of Olancho in which it is seated a rich part of the Country both in Mines and otherwise insomuch that the Governors of this Province and these of Nicaragua more than once fought for the possession of it in the field and it was some time before the King of Spain could determine the Controversie betwixt them 6. Nicaragua is a Country of this Province bordered Northward with Honduras on the East with the Atlantick Ocean and part of Veragua on the South with Mare del zur and on the West with Guatimala being called by some the new Kingdome of Leon. It hath few Rivers in it the want whereof is supplyed by the benefit of a great Lake in the midst of the Country called by the Spaniards Laguna de Nicaragua containing as is supposed above one hundred in leagues compass It emptyes it self by the Port of St. Juan into the Atlantick or North Sea but reacheth as far as the South or Mare del Zur at least within a very few leagues and from whence some Spanish Captains are said to have made a passage though with much difficulty into the Lake and from thence to the North Sea It is aboundantly well stored with good fish but withall much haunted with Crocodiles and the Country about it so plentifull in all things especially Cattel Cotten-wooll Sugars and all kinde of Fruits that the Spaniards commonly call it Mahomets Paradise the People said to be the most Hispanioliz'd of all other Americans since the Conquest both in behaviour apparel manners c. The chief Towns are 1. Leon de Nicaragua a Bishops Sea 2. Granada both of them seated upon the Lake very commodiously yet distant one from the other fourteen or fifteen leagues at least 3. Segovia thirty leagues distant from Granada having some veins of silver about it 4. Jaen a town almost at the end or mouth of the Lake from whence by a long Channel of about three or four leagues it disembogues or emptieth it self into the Sea at the Port St. Juan 5. Realeio This is as it were the Chattam of America being a place on the South-Sea where the King of Spain hath all his ships built that are built of American timber and inhabited by few or none but Shipwrights Mariners and men of that profession 6. Nicoya a town that giveth name to a little Territorie which some reckon as a distinct part of this Province by it self 7. Avarines 8. Cartago fourty leagues distant from Nicoya and lying almost in the midst of the Isthmus or Streit of Darien equally distant both from the North and South Sea on both which it is said likewise to have a convenient Port or Haven for shipping 7. Veragua is bounded on the West with that part of Nicaragua which some call Casta ricca make a distinct Province of this Countrie being indeed a very wealthy part of it on the East it hath the district or Country of Panama being otherwise washed on all sides by the Sea It hath its name from a River of great note in
this tract by which it was first discovered The Countrie is for the most part Mountainous and the Soil outwardly but barren but recompencing all defects with the aboundance of its more inward wealth I mean in the richness of its Mines of which it is said to afford many and so inexhaustibly rich and good that the Spaniards here know no end of their wealth although by reason of the stoutness and untamableness of the Natives it were a long time and they met with no small difficulties before they could make themselves masters of the Treasure The chief Towns they have here are 1. La Conception lying at the mouth of a River so named and the seat of the Governor 2. La Trinidad upon the banks of the same River likewise but more down towards Port Beleno and about six leagues Eastward of Conception 3. St. Foy twelve leagues more to the South where the Spaniards melt their gold and cast it into Bars or Ingots 4. Carlos a town they have upon the Coast of Mare del Zur 5. Philippina another on the West of Carlos both of these well seated upon a large and capacious Bay before which there lyeth a fry of certain little Islands to the number of thirty or more which the Spaniards are said to have wholly dispeopled long since by forcing the Natives over into the Continent to work in the Mines as usually they did before the Emperors prohibition but now they use Slaves or Negros which they buy for that purpose from Guiny and other parts CHAP. X. Of Peruana or the Southern part of America 1. THe Country of Peru understanding by it all that part of America which lyeth on the South of Darien is generally resembled to the form of a Pyramis reversed the Basis whereof that is as I conconceive the more Southerly parts of it towards Magellanica and the Streits extend themselves largely both East and West becoming more sharp and streit towards the North and those parts by which it is joyned to Mexicana in the whole it is supposed to contain a circuit of seventeen thousand miles at least and is watered with four of the greatest Rivers of the World beside aboundance of lessers streams which issuing from the Andes and other Mountains of the Countrie doe run from all parts both into the North and South Sea much fertilizing the Countries through which they pass The four principall are these 1. Orellana otherwise called the River of Amazons This riseth in the Province of Peru and runneth a course of little less than five thousand miles discharging it self at last into the North Sea through a channel as some say of threescore leagues broad and yet with such a violent current or stream that it is said to keep its natural colour and taste almost thirty miles in the Sea 2. Orenoque a River of the Province of Guiana whose head or spring is not yet discovered it is said to be Navigable a thousand miles together by the tallest ships and no less than two thousand by Pinnaces and smaller Vessels and dischargeth it self likewise into the North Sea by sixteen several channels or mouths making thereby several Islands some whereof are said to be of good bigness and to lye at a distance of one hundred miles or more one from the other 3. Maragnon a River of a yet larger course than any of the former being as 't is said no less than six thousand miles from its head which is out of the Andes in Peru to its fall which is likewise into the North Sea about Cape Blanco by a channel of seventy leagues in breadth 4. Rio de la Plata otherwise called Paraguay a River of two thousand miles course and falling as the rest into the North Sea by a channel of threescore miles over and about thirty four degrees Southward of the Line towards Magellans Streits This Southern part of America containeth these particular Provinces following all of them wealthy and large viz. Castella aurea or Golden Castile 2. Nova-Granada or the new Kingdome as they call it 3. Peru specially so called 4. Chile 5. Paraguay 6. Brasil 7. Guiana And 8. Paria with some lesser Islands adjoyning to all or most of these Provinces and commonly reckoned as part of them CHAP. XI Of Castella Aurea 1. CAstella del oro as the Spaniards call it or golden Castile taketh up all the rest of the Isthmus or streit of Darien which hath not been yet spoken of being bounded Eastward and to the North-East with the Atlantick Ocean and on the West with Mare del Zur and some part of Veragua Southward it hath the new Kingdom or Granada It is called sometimes Terra firma because it was one of the first parts of firm Land which the Spaniards touched upon after they had passed so many Islands as seemed for some time to block up and barre them from the Continent of America It is subdivided into these inferiour Provinces or Countries viz. 1. Panama 2. Darien 3. Nova-Andaluzia 4. St. Martha And 5. the little Province De la Hacha 2. Panama commonly called the District or Circle of Panama is bounded Eastward with the Gulf or Bay of Vrraba by which it is separate from the rest of the Continent of this Southern part of America on the West it hath Veragua one of the Provinces of Guatimala being on both the other sides washed with the Sea It is supposed to contain in length from Cartagena and Popayan to the confines of Veragua about fourscore or ninety leagues in breadth not above threescore in any part and where it is narrowest viz. betwixt the City of Panama and Nombre de Dios if measured by a right line not above six or seven over from Sea to Sea It lyeth almost under the Equinoctial line but a few degrees Northward of it and therefore somewhat hot and by the neighbourhood of both Seas subject to a foggy and gross Aire in comparison of some other parts so that it is not counted generally so healthfull a Countrie especially for strangers and in the Summer time The chief towns and places which the Spaniards inhabit here are 1. St. Philip otherwise called Porto Bello from the good Haven adjoyning to it A strong town and at present the staple of Trade betwixt Panama and Spain the Haven fortified likewise with two strong Castles notwithstanding which it was both surprized and well pillaged by the English under the Command of Captain Parker about the year 1601 and the Governour himself Pedro Melendez taken prisoner 2. Nombre de Dios so named by Didaco Niquesa a Spanish Adventurer who being driven by distress of weather and ready to be wracked bad his Men here get on shore en Nombre de Dios that is in Gods name The town was very well seated for Commerce and Trade at the beginning and enjoyed it for a good while but the place being found something less healthfull and otherwise obnoxious to Enemies at Sea the Trade and chief
not much examine To obtain his liberty he offered the Spaniards to give them the room wherein they were filled up with gold and silver as high as a Souldier could reach with the point of his sword and as some say performed it at least the greater part of it Yet were the Spaniards so farre from granting him liberty according to his expectation and their promise that not long after they took away his life most basely strangling him in prison after they had received him as 't is credibly reported above ten millions of gold and silver together upon pretences indeed of Treason and some dangerous plottings against them by Atabalipa and his People a criminal piece of Treason doubtless for a poor Prince injuriously imprisoned to endeavour his liberty and his subjects to assist him the best they could Notwithstanding which the Spanish Writers themselves doe generally dislike the Fact and some of them with detestation enough God the righteous Judge saith mine Author Lopez Vaz seeing this villanous Act suffered none of those Spaniards to dye by the course of nature but brought them all to evil and shamefull ends Which was very true for although upon the death of Atabalipa the Spaniards held themselves for Masters of the Countrie and Pizarro quickly obtained of the Emperor to be made a Marquess yet long it was before the Indians could be wholly subdued Mango Inga the Brother of Atabalipa making a stout and sharp resistance for a good while together defeating the Spaniards in three or four several encounters in which Diego and John Pizarro brothers to the Marquess were slain and twice taking the Citie of Cusco from them by force And when at last he happened to be overcome and driven to fly to the Mountains the Conquerors viz. Almagro and Pizarro to whom the Emperor had given the command of the Countrie in several fall out among themselves chiefly about the bounds of their respective Dominions Civil Warres ensue betwixt them in which first of all Almagro is taken prisoner by Pizarro sentenced to death and executed without mercy and not long after Pizarro himself murdered in his own house by a Bastard sonne of Almagro named Diego who thereupon had the confidence to take upon him the government and to encounter the Licentiate Vacca de Castro the Emperors Commissioner in the open field where being worsted and taken he afterward lost his head at Cusco After this Blascus Nunnez Vela being made Vice-Roy of Peru and governing somewhat severely Gonzales Pizarro the fourth Brother rebelleth with many Spaniards with him against whom Vela Nunnez the Vice-Roy's Brother is sent but to little purpose being taken prisoner by the Pizarrists and put to death This so incenseth the Vice-Roy that himself in person marcheth against the Rebells but to his own ruine For a Battle being fought in the fields of Quito the hated Vice-Roy had the ill hap to be made prisoner and by Carvaial Lieutenant to Pizarro presently without further process caused to dye in revenge as 't is supposed for his brother whom the Vice-Roy among many others had lately sentenced to death Pizarro after this defeats Centenus another General of the Emperors but was at last by the Governor Gasca defeated himself taken prisoner and beheaded for his Rebellion together with Carvaial his Lieutenant and divers other of his Complices so that there remained now of all the five Brothers Pizarri only Ferdinand alive who as some report was sent prisoner into Spain by the Emperours Commissioner others say that his Brother the Marquess sent him thither with the process concerning Almagro's death However certain it is that in Spain he dyed a prisoner Martin de Alcantara half-brother to the Marquess was murdered with him in the Marquess's house Garcia Alvarado was stab'd to death by one of the Almagrists and what became of Pedro Baldivia with some others shall be shewed in the description of Chile Thus perished by the just hand of God and through their own mutual dissentions ambition and covetousness those first Coquerors of Peru viz. Pizarro and his Companions none of them all leaving so much as a good name behind him and of their issue little is spoken The Marquiss himself is said to have had a sonne by a sister of Atabalipa whom they call Donna Angelina but he dyed young and whether he were legitimate or no it may be doubted But the Factions of the Pizarrists and Almagrists being extinct by the diligence and moderation of succeeding Governours the affairs of Peru came by degrees to be better setled the People either willingly or by constraint were perswaded to acknowledge the Spanish Government and to live quietly in most parts of the Countrie 2. The Dominion of the Kings of Cusco which in some sense and by some writers upon occasion is called the Kingdome of Peru was extended by the last Inca or King Huayna Capac from North to South above one thousand leagues together comprehending not only a great part of the Province of Chile towards the South but also the New-Kingdome of Granada and divers other Provinces to the North but Peru properly so called containeth little more than half so much viz. six hundred leagues in length and about fifty or threescore in breadth except only in some places as in the Country of Chacâ—poyas where 't is thought it may be one hundred leagues over from the Andes to the South Sea It is bounded on the East and North-east with that vast ridge of Mountains which they call the Andes on the West it is washed with Marc del zur on the North it hath the Country of Popayan and on the South Chile It is commonly divided into three parts which they call the Plains the Hill-country and the Andes The Plains are that part of the Country which lie along upon the Sea Coast being for the most part a meer level without any Hills at all The Sierra as they call it or Hill-Country is that part of Peru which is partly mountainous and partly plain fertill and well inhabited in both The Andes are so high rocky and inaccessible that they are scarce inhabited at all but by Savages save only upon the skirts of them The Plaines from the Sea shore to the Hill-Counsry are for the most part about ten leagues over or broad upon which it never raineth all the year long The Hill-Country is commonly twenty leagues in breadth where narrowest and from September to Aprill hath rain the rest of the year generally being fair weather But on the Andes which take up all the rest of the Country of Peru it raineth almost continually all the yeare long In the Hill-Country Their Summer begins in Aprill as is said and ends in September but in the Plaines it begins in October and ends in May. So that in the space of one day a man may tast both Summer and Winter be scorchd with excessive heate in the morning and yet well nipt with cold before night The Andes
of the night in which the Mexicans never use to fight nor yet to keep any very good guard he found a passage and made shift to bring in his forces to the great rejoycing and incouragement of his men within who were very hard put to it by the numerous Mexicans and pressed to yeeld themselves and deliver up Motezuma But upon his coming they took heart again and he with his fresh Companies sallying out upon the Citizens easily set them at further distance But yet their numbers were such and so infinitely surpassing his being called in from all parts of the Kingdome not revolted and their resolution such to destroy or starve the Spaniards as they would neither admit nor so much as hear of any terms of Accommodation which Cortez profered them divers times their general cry being nothing else but Get you hence deliver up the King and calling them Enemies Theevs Robbers and what not and truly the condition of the Spaniards was such and the Mexicans had them so much in their power if not to kill yet at least to starve them by reason of their infinite numbers which dayly increased and by being so much Masters of the City both by land and water and having broken down all or most of the bridges by which only there was passage out of it that the Spaniards would gladly have been gone if they durst but they knew their but offering to leave the City would be their destruction Mexico is built like Venice upon the water in the midst of an huge Lake having three only waies to enter it by land which are upon three several Causeys of a league two leagues and half a league long and of but little breadth on all other parts it is surrounded by the Lake which by sundry and large Channels enters and waters the Citie in all the quarters of it where they have draw-bridges to pull up and let down at pleasure At these passes the Spaniards knew very well they should be over-power'd by their enemies who by this time were grown so resolute and hardy that they seem'd not to fear or regard death but in fight would run desperately in multitudes even upon the mouths of the Ordinance and doubtless but for the Hors-men which stav'd them off they would in a short time have rendred them in a manner useless and have choak'd them up as it were with their own dead bodies In this hurly-burly and distress the Spaniards whither by force or otherwise procured Motezuma who was yet in their power to appear above upon a Gallerie or flat of roof the house upon a pretence that he should offer som terms of accomodation from the Spaniards and to shew himself to be well But it was in a place where the stones and arrows flew so thick from the enraged multitude below that Motezuma himself received a wound by one of them in his head so unhappily that within a few dayes after he dyed of it as they say who would not have the Spaniards thought to have murder'd him as the Mexicans say they did with divers other Noble-men and some of his Children the very night they fled However it were not long after his death out of extream necessity and chiefly for want of Victuals the Spaniards were forced to leave the City in the night time and with the loss of four hundred and fifty of their men who were slain or taken prisoners at the passing of a draw-Bridge the rest making a heavy retreat to their friends at Tlascalla There is standing at this day in Mexico upon the place where so many of them were killed a certain Hermitage which they call Los Martyres or the Hermitage of the Martyrs but very improperly saith mine Author their own Countriman for what reason I shall not here enquire 5. This retreat of the Spaniards out of Mexico happened to be upon the tenth of July after mid-night in the year 1520 which the Spaniards at Mexico call the dolefull night Nevertheless the undaunted Cortez being got though with huge difficulty and trouble by reason of the pursuit of the Mexicans for a good part of the way to his sure friends of Tlascalla neither lost his courage nor gave over his resolution of yet gaining Mexico especially the way being now laid open and sufficient occasion given by the death of Motezuma and the provocations of the Mexicans themselves to make himself absolute and sole Lord of the place Wherefore having sent for and procured a competent supply of fresh Souldiers from St. Domingo or Hispaniola Almeria Cuba and other places being in all nine hundred Foot eight hundred Horse and seventeen pieces of Ordinance he joyns himself with the Auxiliary Forces of Tlascalla which were no less than an hundred thousand men armed with Bows and Arrows and with this Army marches again towards Mexico and besieges it both by Land and Water viz. with the help of thirteen Vergantines or Galliots which he had built upon the Lake and six thousand Canoas or little Boats which his friends and confederates had procured him By which means and by his Army on Land in a short time he cut off all Provision from the Citie and after a siege of full three moneths or more and a most stout and obstinate resistance made by the People within in which they are said to have lost above a hundred thousand men beside those which perished by famine sickness or otherwise he took it by force upon tuesday the thirteenth of August 1521 sackt it first and then burnt it to the ground yet afterwards he caused it to be rebuilt again far more beautifully than at first it was as in due place we shall further see They speak not of above fifty Spaniards slain during the whole siege six horses and not many Tlascaltecans In this manner and with so little charges to the Conqueror there fell to the Crown of Spain the richest and goodliest Kingdome one of them of the whole World viz. the Kingdome of Mexico which the Conquerors presently named New-Spain and in reference to which name the Catholike King hath ever since stiled himself in the plural Hispaniarum Rex or King of both Spains and all by the valour prudence admirable resolution and happy conduct of Cortez who was at first but a private Adventurer in the American Plantations and discoveries though otherwise a Gentleman of a good Familie in Spain born at Medellin in the Countrie of Estramedura The Emperor Charls the fifth who was then also King of Spain for his great services endowed him deservedly with many great and rich Territories in the Provinces of Tlascalla Mechoacan and other parts thereabouts made him Marquis of the Valley viz. of Guaxata which is his chief Title a rich and flourishing Province of that Country Captain General or Commander in chief of all the Military forces of New-Spain and General Discoverer of all the Maritime parts and Coasts of America towards the South-Sea assigning him in propriety the twelfth
del Zur with which it is bounded on the East and West parts lying otherwise and for the most part betwixt the Provinces of Mexicana last spoken of and that of Guaxata which followeth containing in length viz. from one Sea to the other not much less than an hundred leagues and in some places fourscore in bredth but towards the South-Sea growing much narrower It is a Country exceedingly plentifull both of Corn and Cattel full of rich pasturage and so plentifully stored with Maiz some Wheat and other Grain that it is counted as it were the Granary of America The People of this Country when the Spaniards first landed among them lived in the form of a Common-wealth or Free State refusing to be subject to the King of Mexico with whom they had almost continuall Warre and upon that account as hath been said assisted Cortez in the Conquest of the Kingdom and without whose help 't is most certain he had never been able to doe any thing They enjoy therefore many speciall Priviledges and Immunities more than other Americans doe They pay no tribute but only an handfull of Wheat yearly for every person in way of acknowledgement and otherwise living under the protection of the Spaniards wholly in the form of their ancient Government The whole Province is said to contain two hundred good Towns and Burroughs and more than one thousand Villages all of them exceedingly populous and supposed to contain in the whole above a million and half of Natives beside Spaniards who have some few Colonies in the Country for securing of it The chief Towns of the Province are 1. Tlascalla it self which denominates the whole Country as the Metropolis of it It is a fair town and commodiously seated in the midst of a large and fertil Campaign of threescore miles in compass It consisteth of four large and beautifull streets or quarters and in the midest of them where they all meet hath a Piazza or Market place equall to that of Mexico and able to receive twenty or thirty thousand persons conveniently to buy and sell in it 2. Puebla de los Angeles or the Citie of Angels a town built by Sebastian Ramirez a Church-man and he that was the first president or chief Governour of Mexico under the Crown of Castile It was built in the year 1531 almost in the road way from Vera Crux to Mexico and seated in a very delicate and fertil Country and of a good Aire It is a Bishops Sea and valued at twenty thousand Duckets of yearly Rent the Citie it self supposed to contain about fifteen hundred Families where there is aboundance of excellent cloath made and for fineness not yeelding to the best of Spain 3. Zempoallan seated upon a River of the same name 4. Napaluca 5. Guaxacingo all of them great and ancient towns of the Natives 6. Segura de la Frontera a Spanish town built by Cortez presently upon the Conquest of Mexico for the securing of the confines as the name importeth 7. Vera Crux a town built by Cortez and his Companions at their first landing and where afterward by a stratagem and out of a resolution either to Conquer or dye in the Country he caused all his ships to be burnt that his Souldiers might not so much as think of returning back from whence they came The town was at first built five or six leagues up within land but the place being found not to be so healthfull the Inhabitants in a short time deserted it and seated themselves upon a Bay of the Sea right over against St. John D'ullua 8. Medellin another Spanish town built likewise by Cortez in memory of his own birth place which was Medellin a small town of Estramedura a Province of Spain Lastly St. John D'ullua a noted and the most usuall Port to all this Province and likewise to the City of Mexico it self from the North Sea but of difficult entrance especially to such as are not well acquainted with the passage or want Guides by reason of certain Rocks and quick-sands wherewith the mouth of the Haven is said to be barred but within the station is more safe It hath likewise two strong Bullwarks or Forts raised on either side of the entrance one to defend the passage 11. Guaxata hath on the North the Bay of Mexico on the South Mare del Zur on the East Jucatan and Chiapa which is one of the Provinces of Guatimala on the West Tlascalla The Country extendeth it self upon the South Sea about an hundred leagues in length but from the Sea to the borders of Tlascalla one hundred and twenty Eastward not above half so much having a good Aire and a Soil no less fruitfull especially in Mulberry trees and a great aboundance of Silks which the Country affordeth more than any other Province of America beside Nor is it less rich in Mines of gold and silver there being scarse a River in the whole Country but the sands of it are said to be tinctured more or less with that yellow Metal It yeeldeth likewise great plenty of Cassia and Cocchinele two rich Commodities and the People generally if they would takes pains might be the wealthiest 't is thought of any other in America but whether it be through any voluntary contempt of Riches or through any naturall sloathfullness as yet they seem to pine in the midst of plenty living for the most part of them little better than from hand to mouth nevertheless exceeding liberall of what they have especially to such as bear the habit of Religion and attend the service of their Souls maintaining in a plentifull and good manner as 't is said no less than one hundred and twenty Convents of Religious Men of several Orders in this only Province besides Hospitals Schools for the training up of Youth and other places of publique Charity It is subdivided into many particular Provinces which because they are many and but small in comparison of some other we may call Wapentakes or Hundreds rather than Provinces the principall whereof are these that follow viz. 1. Misteca 2. Tutepecque 3. Zapoteca 4. Guazacoalco 5. Gueztaxatla and 6. the Vally of Guaxata from whence Cortez after the Conquest of Mexico had his title given him by the Emperor Marquess of the Valley It is the richest and most pleasant part of the whole Province extended in a continued tract together full sixteen leagues or more lying about fourscore Southward of Mexico and wanting neither Mines of gold and silver nor any other of the prime and best Commodities of the New-World The towns of principall note inhabited by the Spaniards in this Province are first Antequera in the Valley aforesaid a stately Citie and beautified with a fair Cathedrall Church built with pillars of the finest Marble of great height and bigness 2. St. Ildephonso 3. St. Jago commonly called St. Jago of the Valley Nexatapa yet is it self a City fairly seated upon a Hill 4. Del Spirito Santo a town built
River St. Martha 4. St. Anne in the Cantred or Hundred of Anzerma a Town neatly situate upon the side of an hill betwixt two Rivers and in the midst of a Plain no less pleasant and fertil 5. St. Jago de Arma so named from the Teritory in which it standeth rich and famous for its Mines of Gold which it is said to have many and very good 6. New-Carthago twenty leagues distant or more from St. Jago 7. Bonaventura situate on a Bay of the South Sea bearing that name A small Town but of great entercourse and trade especially for conveying the Commodities of New-Spain unto Popayan and other places of this Province 8. Timana fourscore leagues distant from Parayan and seated at the Foot of the Andes toward the East 9. St. Juan de Pasto so called from its situation in a Valley of rich pasturage 10. St. Sabastian de la Plata in the South-east confines of this Province so named from the Mines of Silver which are found thereabouts 11. Almaguer 12. Madrigal I should say both of them situate in a barren soil but that no soil may be counted barren that bears Gold CHAP. XIII Of the Kingdome of Peru. 1. PEru in the Southern part of America was anciently a great and mighty Kingdome as Mexico in the Northern and fell under the power of the Spaniards much after the same manner that the Kingdome of Mexico did viz. through the dissentions and differences among the People themselves The manner and occasion briefly thus Huayna Capac the last Inca or King of Peru had beside many others two Sons which he chiefly loved the one by a lawfull Wife his neer Kinswomen called Huascar the other by a Concubine named Atabalipa betwixt whom at his death he divided his Kingdome setling the one viz. Atabalipa at Quito and making him King of all the Provinces belonging to it and which for the most part himself had conquered and the other viz. Huascar at Cusco making him King of Peru and of the Provinces about it at a distance of five hundred leagues one from another thereby leaving to either of them a Dominion large enough if reason could have satisfied ambition But Huascar rested not long content disdaining that a Bastard-Brother should share so much with him in his Kingdome contrary to the more just interest of some of his other Brothers and to the custom of the Incas his Ancestors who alwaies ruled as Monarchs not admitting any division of their Kingdoms Hereupon differences and emulations arise betwixt the two Brothers Atabalipa King of Quito is commanded to appear at Cusco both to assist at the Funeral solemnities of Huayna Capac their Father and to doe homage for his Kingdome which he doth not refuse only desireth the King his Brother not to oblige him to come so far and through Countries so unsafe without an attendance suitable to a King and that might secure his journey which pretence of his was not thought unreasonable So he brings along with him an Army of thirty thousand men which through the negligence and too much security of Huascars Officers of Warre was permitted to come so neer Cusco that with it after some Battels fought he taketh prisoner Huascar himself King of Peru puts to death all the Incas or Children of the Blood Royal that he could get into his power and in this manner for some time holds the Kingdom though not without much difficulty by reason of the hatred which the people generally bare towards him for his cruelty towards the Royall Progenie and the opposition which divers of Huascars Captains made against him in several parts 2. Things being in this condition at Cusco among the Natives the Spaniards that were at Panama having rested there full fifteen yeers since the Conquest of Mexico without making any further discovery upon the South Sea than the Islands of Pearls which lye not above sixteen or seventeen leagues off from Panama resolve about this time to make some further search of the Continent by Sea The business was undertaken chiefly by one Francisco Pizarro born at Truxillo in Spain a Man of but mean parentage and fortune but yet a good Souldier and Diego Almagro a rich Merchant of Panama At first they met with many difficulties and discouragements in the Design Pizarro being full eight moneths at Sea sailing of that course which now having better knowledge of the Countrie they easily dispatch in fourteen or fifteen dayes his men some of them dying and others deserting the service though with the apparent hazzard of their lives so that at eight moneths end he found himself only with fourteen Men in a poor Island and in the most destitute condition that could be Yet being himself of an undaunted courage and resolution and those few men he had with him of the same minde with himself they all resolved rather to dye than to give over the Design So putting again to Sea they fall at last into the River of Tumbez which in a few dayes brings them to a town and fortified place called likewise Tumbez where they found Inhabitants and a place most agreeable to their desires viz. where they found good plenty of Gold for which not being in a condition to fight they were content at present to seem Merchants and so for a few petty Commodities which they had brought with them of no value 't is said they received of the Natives the full quantity of thirty thousand pezos of pure gold which revived their spirits not a little Whereupon finding the Countrie to be good and likely to afford much Treasure they return back again to Panama make declaration of the Countrie they had discovered and sollicite for further license to subdue and conquer it Which having obtained Pizarro with four other of his Brothers stout and resolute men like himself a competent number of ships and about two hundred Souldiers prosecute the Design and appear at Cusco with their little Army just at the time that the differences there were hottest and that Huascar the King was newly become prisoner to his Brother Atabalipa who although at first he seemed to contemn the small numbers of the Spaniards and count them little better than mad-men that would venture so farre into a strange Countrie no better provided than he took them to be and upon such an extravagant pretence as that seemed to him which they told him was the cause of their coming yet after a while having heard the noise of their Ordinance and a little tasted how sharp their Swords were he was content to become prisoner himself The Spaniards at first treated him well and put him in such hopes of liberty that out of confidence to gain it and that he might enjoy the Kingdome though tributary to the Spaniards himself alone he caused his Brother the King Huascar to be put secretly to death and dissembled the matter to the Spaniards as if it had been done against his will which they intending other matters did