lost by which disaster being forced again to turn homeward how long he lived or what expeditions he made after this it doth not appear 7. I ought not altogether to forget Sir Sebastian Cabot a Venetian Gentleman yet born and living in England who likewise about this time viz. in the year 1496 at the charge of Henry the seventh King of England set out with two Carvels for the discovery of a North-west passage to Cathay and the East-Indies according to the design which Columbus had first suggested to him In pursuit whereof he is reported to have sailed to 67 degrees of Northern latitude upon the coast of America but finding the Land still to bear Eastward which was contrarie to his purpose he turned sail and coasted down Southward as farre as Florida where with the usual ceremonies he took possession of several places in the name of the King of England as we shall further see in the particular description of the Continent In the way he discovered the Islands Baccaleos or of Cod-fish so named from the great aboundance of that kinde of Fish which they met withall upon the coasts They lie 25 leagues into the Sea over against Cape Raye of New-found land where the English have an extraordinary good Trade for Fishing and also many other rich Commodities But being forced at length to return home again for want of Victuals his business by reason of Warres which we had then with Scotland was wholly laid aside to the great prejudice of the English Nation who in all probability might have made themselves quarter-Masters at least with the Spaniard in the wealthiest parts and Provinces of America if the business had been well followed Sir Sebastian himself went immediatly thereupon into Spain and though he returned again into England and was graced by the King with some titulary dignity viz. of Grand Pilot of England and a pension yet seeing his design was never revived to effect I shall forbear to speak further of him as likewise I shall doe concerning Ferdinand Magellan a Portughese whose name although it be deservedly famous in the History and affairs of the new World and that he had the happiness to discover what so many before him had sought but could not finde namely a passage to the East-Indies by the South Sea and the coast of America called therefore from him ever since Megellans Streits yet because his business chiefly was to discover and not to conquer and that his design upon the Continent failed which was to have planted a Colonie of Spaniards in the middle and narrowest part of the Streits thereby to have secured the Streits to himselfe and prohibited the passage to all Strangers it may suffice to remember him in some other place that is in the description of that part of the Continent which lyeth upon those Streits CHAP. III. Of the Voyage to America or the ordinary course of Navigation which the Spaniards commonly hold to and from the West-Indies 1. THe English Nation have long since bin acquainted with the waies to the West-Indies reasonably well as appears by the many brave exploits gallantly attempted and no less stoutly and successfully performed by them in those parts both at Sea and Land some of which I shall not altogether forget to mention in due place So that this Chapter may seem not so necessarie Nevertheless for the satisfaction of those who are never likely to see America otherwise then in a Map nor to understand the affairs of that rich part of the World but by such reports and relations as this I think it not altogether inconvenient to speak a few words of the particular voyage or course held by Sea to and from America called by the Spaniards commonly Carrera de las Indias 2. Their course is wholly Westward and they reckon commonly from Sevill in Andaluzia which is a Province of old Spain to St. John D' vllua a famous and much frequented Port of the Province of New-Spain in America about 1700 leagues after the Spanish measure which is thrice so much of Italian or common miles and with favorable windes they doe ordinarily dispatch it in two moneths and an half To Nombre be bios or Porto-bello in the Island of Hispaniola they reckon 1400 leagues and doe usually make their voyage in two moneths They set out commonly from St. Lucar which is the Port as it were to Sevill or else from Palos a Sea Town in the same Province with Sevill not many miles distant from St. Lucar Westward and hold their course directly for the Canaries which are certain Islands towards the coasts of Africk under the dominion of the King of Spain well known for the rich Wines yearly transported thence They lye about 200 leagues distant from Spain and the Ships arrive at them commonly in eight or ten daies if nothing hinder making their course through the Bay or Gulf De las yeguas as they call it from the aboundance of Mares which they were transporting into America and were forced thereabouts by a storm to cast over board It is counted the most difficult passage betwixt Spain and the West-Indies especially in the Winter-time being then for the most part dangerously infested with violent and contrary windes At these Islands the Spaniards ordinarily victuall and supply themselves with necessaries the Countrie being rich and affording all things requisite for their journey plentifully especially that called Palma where they use most commonly to touch and furnish themselves From hence they set sail for America by the Islands of Cape Verde which lye in the Atlantick Ocean a few degrees within the Tropiques toward the coast of Africk And hither for the most part they have an easie and certain course seldom wanting some favorable winde or other to bring them within the Tropiques or Torrid Zone as 't is commonly called and being there they have constant windes forward which they call The Brises or Levant-windes These are certain Easterly windes which continually blow within the Tropiques on both sides of the Equator never failing and in the space of fourteen or fifteen daies doe carry the Ships within sight of the Northern Islands as they at the West-Indies call them which are as it were the Suburbs of the New World lying thick scattered upon the coast of America in the Atlantick or North Sea 3. The first which they commonly discover are some of the Caribee Ilands lying toward the coast of Paria viz. Desseada Dominica Guadalupe at which last they alwaies come to Anchor and refresh themselves both going and coming and from hence disperse themselves to the several parts and Ports of America for which they are bound Those that goe for New-Spain take the right hand way towards the Island Hispaniola and having discovered the Cape St. Anthony which is a foreland or Promontorie in the furthest and most Westerly parts of Cuba they sail in sight of the Islands both of St. John de Portrico and also of
America are rather grey than red or yellow and have not that long shaggie haire on the fore-parts of their bodie with which they are painted The Tygres are more fierce and cruel but that is only when they are hungry and seek their prey for otherwise viz. when their bellies are full if the report of Maffaeus be true in his historia Indica they are as fluggish and heavie a Beast as any and may be both taken and killed by any body almost that will But by his favour I will not be the first that shall make tryal There is likewise aboundance of Staggs and wild Deer in all parts of the Continent of America but for ought I know in the Islands there are none found 6. These are all Beasts and Creatures of the Land with which and infinite others not here to be mentioned the New World is aboundantly stored Nor doe the Waters afford less variety either of Sea or more within Land viz. in the Lakes and Rivers which are generally so plentifully and well stored with good fish that there is no Countrie in the World comparable to America in that respect Amongst these the Cayman as they call him or Indian Crocodile as the most prodigious and strange deserves to be first mentioned yet is he an amphibious Creature living as well and perhaps as much upon Land as in the water It is a most fierce and ravenous Creature of a vast bulk or bigness being said to be from the fore part of his snout to the end of his tayle seven or eight yards long and of such strength that he hath been seen to take up a living man lying asleep upon the shore in his mouth and to carry him cleer away with him into the water over to another Island or Rock in the Sea where he meant to have devoured him But being shot with a Caliver he lost his prey and the man was recovered but dyed soon after He seeks his prey commonly upon Land which he kills or drowns in the Water yet cannot there eat it by reason of some peculiar disposition of his throat or gullet which is such as that it permits him not to swallow any thing in the water but with hazard to suffocate or drown himself The best is his motion by Land is but slow and his body so unweldy that he cannot turn himself but with much adoe nor his head to either side without turning his whole body Yet doe they much mischief especially about some Rivers in the Provinces of Mechoacan and Tlascalla where there are many of them They say 't is excellent sport to see a Cayman and a Tygre fight as they happen to doe oftentimes endeavouring to prey one upon another The Cayman with his taile cruelly beats and jerks the Tygre endeavouring what he can to hale him into the water The Tygre as stoutly resists him with his paw and labours to pull up the Cayman to land which for the most part he doth and then opens him by the belly which is the only part of him where he can be pierced his whole body otherwise being armed with scales so extremely hard and thick set that no Lance and scarcely an Harquebuz or Musket shot will enter it The Indians fear him not so much by water as land for being themselves excellent Swimmers and Dyvers and the Cayman alwaies swimming above water or very fleet they make no great matter to encounter him hand to hand in his own element for they easily get under his belly and with their knives or short Lances pierce him there as they list and so bring him to Land 7. The Tyburons are a kinde of Shark-fish of large size and extremely ravenous They are commonly ten or twelve foot long and about six or seven spans broad on the back being fashioned like a Soale with huge wide mouths and two rows of teeth on each side of their mouth very sharp and thick set and of so great strength that at one snatch or jerk they will break the bones or pluck asunder the joints of any Beast whatsoever They follow the ships at Sea willingly for the wash and other stuff which the Mariners cast out to them being so ravenous that they receive everything Acosta reporteth that out of the gullet of one of them he saw taken at the same time a great Butchers knife a long iron hook and a piece of a Cows head with one horn still growing upon it Others tell of Hats whole Shirts Leggs and Arms of Men ropes ends with many other things of like nature found in the same manner Yet is the flesh of them counted very good meat when they are well dryed and a principall reliefe in many occasions at Sea where they are taken without much difficultie and so bigge that many times ten or twelve men have somewhat to doe to pull one of them up when they have him upon the hook They come likewise out of the Sea up into the rivers as the Caymans doe and are exceeding dangerous both to men and cattell that are not aware of them or happen to ly or sleep upon the banks of any great river as in America it is not unusuall to doe At Sea they are commonly attended by a smaller sort of fish which they call Rambos which lives by the meat that falls from the Tyburon as the Jaccall is said to doe by the Lion 8. The Manati or Oxe-fish as some call them is another great fish of the Sea bigger by farre than the Tyburon headed like an Oxe or young heifer with two armes or at least stumpes of armes on each side before and those as some say distinguished into severall joynts with nailes upon them not unlike to those of a mans hand This is a gentle and harmeless creature and though of bulk or body not less than a young Oxe or Bullock yet neither of any feirce or horrid aspect but rather amiable and cleerer countenanced as the figure of it in Hernandez and Laet sheweth It cometh frequently upon land and feeds upon hearbs or grasse if there be any neer and being at Sea it swimes commonly above water and is easily taken 'T is counted for meat the best fish in the World being as tender and delicate as any veale or the best young porke and so like it that a stranger would verily take it for veale which it resembles so much every way both for colour and taste that it hath been disputed and questioned by some whither it might be eaten on fasting dayes for that it both eateth hearbs and grasse resembles flesh so much and beareth its young alive suckling them with milk by certain teats which they have as other Land creatures doe They finde in the head of it a certain Stone or hard congelated Substance which being ground to powder they say is very good for the stone in the reins and to provoke urine especially that which is found in the male-fish 9. The Tortoise is a Fish yet greater than any of
there and are well experienced in the Mines will make good by their testimony I shall need to name onely Acosta who in his naturall History of the Indies lib. 4. cap. 12. tels us 't is the opinion of understanding men in those affaires that there are no less than three hundred thousand Quintalls of metal refined at Potozi every yeare and Laet in his discriptio novi Orbis lib. 1. cap. 4. tels me that a Quintall is a measure which with the Spaniards in America containeth one hundred twenty five pound weight Put these together and the summe will be thirty eight Millions five hundred thousand pound weight of silver melted at Potozi yeerly I suppose it will be said he means of Bullion or metall out of the Mine whereof silver when it is refined makes not the third part I grant both being willing to give all the advantage to moderate propositions that I can But let us then suppose that every pound weight of metal out of the Mine yeelds a Pezo or which is less but five Shillings of fine silver which I suppose no man will deny but it doth one with another and it will aboundantly justifie what I say viz. that if we had it it would pay three such Armies as the State maintains and afford a competent revenue for all publick occasions beside For it amounts to little less than ten millions of money viz. to nine millions three hundred and fifty thousand pound by account which under favour I humbly conceive is an Income thrice as great as the State expendeth yeerly one way or other And otherwise they confess comonly that the Kings annuall revenue out of this only Mine which is but the fifth part is above a million one year with another 2. Potozi is a Mountain in the country of Charcas a Province of Peru in the Southern part of America It lieth about sixty or seventy leagues distant from the South-Sea and about twice so many from the Atlantick or Northern of which we shall speak more in due place being of a soil when the Mine was first discovered extreamly dry hard and rocky and every way as unpleasant to the eye as might be and so utterly barren that it yeelded no kinde of commodity or fruit outwardly And though it lie within the Tropiques in the twenty first degree of latitude yet is the aire about it very cold and the place in the moneths of June July and August constantly showred with rain The colour of the Soil is for the most part of a dark red and the whole fashion of the moutain somewhat resembling a pavillion or round Tent with a point sharpening still upwards in the manner of a Sugar-loafe being in height from the plain ground about a quarter of a Spanish league and in the compass at the bottom a full league or more and at the foot of it on the one side there groweth out a lesser hill which the Indians call Guaina Potozi which signifies the little or younger Potozi which hath veines of good metal likewise but stragling here and there in divers parts of the mountain and not fixed or running in continued branches as those of the great Potozi doe It is a place of it self or to outward appearance that would be thought altogether unhabitable by reason of the unpleasantness and barrenness of its outside but its wealth within hath so peopled it round about that there is not any Town at the West-Indies of greater resort than it nor better supplied with all sorts of things either for necessity or delight having Flesh-meat of all sorts Fowle and Venison in aboundance varietie of choise Fruits excellent Wines with all kinde of conserves and other delicates besides The dwellings of the Spaniards and Indians who come thither onely for pleasure or else for the gain and trading of the Mines are said to extend two or three leagues in circuit round about the foot of the hill the Mines whereof were first discovered by a poore Indian about the yeare 1546 accidentally as it might seem in this manner 3. A certain American of Chumbivilca in the Province of Cusco named Gualpa was hunting thereabouts for venison and being forced to use his hands to climbe up a part of the mountain that was rocky and had some few bushes growing upon it by chance laid hold upon a little shrub which grew out of a vein of the silver and strained himselfe so much to get up that he pulled up the branch by the roots perceiving in the hole or place where the root grew some quantity of metal which upon better veiw and some experience he had of the Mines at Porco not above six leagues distant from thence he found to be very good whereupon he began to look better about him and found presently scatter'd up and down on the surface of the earth severall other pieces of the same metall but a little changed in colour by reason they had lain open a long time perhaps to the rain and weather which yet only upon carrying to Porco he quickly found to be good metal and what a brave fortune he had met with by his hunting And for some time he managed his business warily and happily drawing silver continually out of his Mine as much as he could desire But it was not long before a companion or friend of his whose name was Guanca perceived so much of it that he made shift to become Sharer with him in the Mine and so they two enjoyed for a while the richest Mine in the world and might have done so much longer but for their own covetuousness and dissention It happened that the part of the Mine which this New-comer Guanca had chosen proved not so much to his liking as he expected and therefore he desired to share in common with Gualpa in his Mine which was not better metal than the others was but more easie to get forth but Gualpa refused and the other was so much provoked upon it that being but a Servant to one Villaroel a Spaniard of Porco he presently discovers the whole business to his Master who thereupon making search and finding the metall good and the Mine likely to be rich immediately repaires to the Kings Officers makes known the Mine and procures his Servant Guanca to be enrolled first discoverer of it and together with him undertakes the vein as they call it that is procures so much land about the Mine to be marked out and allotted as the Law alloweth unto those that first discover a Mine which is some certain yeards round about the plot and to those that will undertake to dig and search it By this means they become Lords of the Mine having liberty to dig and draw forth the silver as their own paying the King his Tribute which is the fifth part of what they draw forth 4. There were presently upon this three or four other principal veins of the Mine discovered upon this Mountain of which that which is called the rich
Fish in the Sea Among the Natives of the country there and some Savage that live wild up and down in the Woods and go naked not withstanding the extream cold but for the most part they are supposed at least to be more civill The first discoverers of the country reporting of them that they both sow corn brew Beer and Ale use Canoas or little Boats at Sea by which they trade with Greenland Freezland and other parts at one thousand or five hundred miles distance from them They are said likwise to have some use of letters but of a Character proper only to their own Nation and not understood by any other people beside themselves Yea they talk likewise as if they had some knowledge of the Latin tongue and of certain Latin books in a Library of one of the Kings of the Country wherein if there be any thing of truth as I hold it not altogether impossible 't is likely some people from the more Northerly parts of Europe that understood the Latin tongue might in times past be cast on shore or suffer Shipwrack upon those Coasts where being constrained to live and abide they might leave some books and other monuments of the Language behind them in the Country after their decease However it be this seems more certain by the report and experience of some English that the people are generally here found to be more ingenious to have better judgement in things and to be much more skilfull in divers Mechanicall arts then usually in these other parts of America they were at first Among other things they were observed to use a kinde of Dart or short Javelin pointed with bright steel and very sharp which being a kinde of Weapon used only by the people of Java and some other of the Islands of the East Indies it is conjectured that they have commerce one with another which seems not altogether improbable But as for the Towns Citties and great Castles among them which some speak of and of the Temples wherein they sacrificed men though that be an ancient and generall custome among the Americans and those of this Country barbarous enough to doe it yet the Reader perhaps will be willing to suspend his beleefe a while as likewise he will for the supposed Mines of gold and silver there of which at least as it may seem the Northerly scituation of the Country doth not well permit us to have such strong presumption Of Brass and Iron 't is likely enough there may be good store if the Country were scarched But as yet the knowledge thereof especially concerning the more Inland parts remains very imperfect Some English Adventurers passing that way have left names to certain Capes or Head-lands upon the Northern Coasts of it and that is all the chief of which are these viz. Cape Elizabeth at the entrance into Hudsons Streights Northward Prince Henries Foreland Cape Charles Kings Foreland with with divers others more to the South Cape Wostenholme and Digges his Island about the mouth of the Streight where it opens it self and disembogues into a large and capacious Bay called as abovesaid Hudsons Bay and dividing these uttermost Provinces of the Northern America into two parts which some call the Eastern and Western point as may be seen in the Maps The people of the Country that are any thing civilized cloath themselves commonly with Beasts skins and with the skins of the Sea-calves otherwise called Morses which are a kinde of Fish of an Amphibious nature much abounding in those Northern Seas of the bigness of a young Heifer or Bullock of two yeares old which they hunt and take in great numbers especiall where the Whale-fishing is not so good and draw a good quantity of oile from them which they call Train-oile as they doe from the Whale The flesh of them is counted reasonable good meat of a taste somewhat like Porke and on each side of their upper Jaw there groweth out a long tooth or Tusk crooked and bending downward not unlike to that of an Elephant each of them a Cubit long sometimes and more of a substance white and very hard like Ivory for which it commonly passeth And it were well if the deceit rested there and went no further For as it seems there are some that vend it for Unicorns horn and attribute I know not what strange and sovereign vertues to it An egregious imposture of which the learned Doctor Brown doth likewise as his manner is acutely and kindly admonish us lib. 3. chap. 23. of his Psudodox Epidemio above mentioned 3. Terra Corterialis is a Province or Country of this Northern part of America lying Southward of Estotiland and Northward of New-France or Canada being so named from Gaspar Corterialis a Portughese Gentleman who in the yeare 1500 or thereabouts first discovered these parts and gave name to the Country but did not much beside For returning the next yeare after with intention to make a further discovery 't is supposed he was shipwracke and drown'd at Sea together with his company of whom as Osorius in his history of Portugall witnesseth never any returned or were heard of and the like misfortune befell his Brother Michael Corterialis the next yeare after who setting out two Ships to search and enquire of concerning the fortunes of his Brother Gaspar perished likewise in his design being himself lost and all his men upon which disasters the Portugheses quite give over the Country and the French succeed them naming the Country New Bretain in reference to Bretain in France which it seemes was their native Country This was about the year 1504. The soil of this Country is very lusty and good for all sorts of grain generally and yeelds a great advantage to the Husbandman but not without good pains taking in the tillage and managing of it For which reason it is called by some Terra di labrador or the land that requires Labourers in allusion perhaps to Terra di lavora or the Country of Campania in Italy so called from a like property The people of the Country of themselves barbarous and savage enough are said to be civilized and bettered in their manners by the conversation of the French They live much upon Fish are excellent Archers jealous of their Wives and dwell for the most part in Caves under ground beeing also much given to Soothsaying Divining further than which they seem not to have much knowledge or sence of any thing that concerns religion The Country was first of all discovered by Sir Sebastion Cabot at the charges of Henery the seventh King of England as hath been said but it was only discovered and the design laid wholly aside by reason of some domestick troubles and a Warre which the King then had with the Scots whereupon the After-comers tooke leave to enter The Towns or places which the French have built since are cheifly 1. Brest 2. St. Marie and 3. Cabo Marzo as they call it of which there is
little more to be said 4. Terra Nova or New-found land the third part of this Northerly Province of America is a great Island lying on the South of Corterialis from which it is divided by a Frith or narrow Sea which the French call Golf de Chastieux This place is chiefly frequented for fishing of which there is such plenty all along the Coasts of this Island and likewise of Terra Corterialis adjoyning to it that the huge Shoales of Cod-fish doe sometimes stay their Ships under sail besides great store of other fish both of salt water and fresh as namely Herrings Salmons Thornback Smelts excellent Oysters and Muscles that are said to have a kinde of Pearl in them but of what quality or value doth not so well appear The Land within is likewise reported to be a very good Countrie plentifully stored with Deer and other sorts of Venison Phesants Partridges Swans with variety of other good Fowl lastly of a temperate Aire and Soile not barren only the people of it are said to be few and to inhabit chiefly the Western and North-west parts of it But this perhaps may be rather out of fear and to avoid the conversation of Strangers which at first they would not endure but fled at the sight of them being themselves altogether Savage and wilde But since 't is said they grow more tractable and will be hired in time of yeer by the Portugheses and other Nations that fish commonly for Whales in the Bay of St. Laurence and other places thereabouts to help them in the opening of their Whales boyling the fish and drawing out the Oyle wherein they that will be got to it are extremely diligent and ready to take pains They are commonly of but mean stature full eyed somewhat broad-faced and for the most part beardless Their houses are only certain long Poles set an end sloping upwards towards the top where they are fastened together and covered downwards with the skins of Beasts having in the mid'st their hearth or place to make fire upon But that which is most remarkable about this Island is the many and fair Havens which it affordeth on all sides for shipping in which respect it is though for the bigness scarsely to be paralleld by any other Island or Place in the World not indeed beautified with any great Towns or stately buildings as some are but affording commodious and secure station for the tallest ships that come before it the chief whereof are these 1. La Roigneuse or Rennosa as it is called six leagues Northward of the Cape Raye which lyeth at the South-East angle of the Island a place much resorted unto for fishing from all parts 2. Portus formosus or the fair Haven three miles Northward of the other capable of great ships and bearing at least four or five miles within Land or more 3. Thornbay called otherwise by the Portugheses Enseada grande or the great Bay for distinction sake 4. Trinity Bay on the North of the Cape St. Francis called by the Spaniards Baia de la conception This is likewise a very large and capacious Bay five miles over where it is narrowest having diverse great Rivers falling into it and some little Islands lying scatteringly up and down in it yet safe and affording very good Anchorage and riding for ships in most parts 5. Bay Blanche as the French call it or White-Bay on the North of the Cape or Promontory of St. John On the South side of the Island and Westward of Cape Raye there is 1. Port Trespasse an excellent and secure Harbour having alwaies a reasonable deep Sea without shallows or Rocks 2. Port St. Marie six leagues distant from it 3. Port Presenza by others called Placenza on the other side of Cape St. Marie towards the West 4. Port du Basques or the Biscayners Haven and lastly on the West side of the Island after you have doubled Cape Raye there is at Georges Bay all of them secure stations large and of great resort 5. Before this Island right over against Cape Ray at a distance of twenty four leagues or more there lyeth an huge Bank or ridge of Land extending it self in length out of the Sea some hundred of leagues if my Author mistake not but in bredth not above four or five and twenty when it is broadest and in other parts much less sharpning towards each end into a Conus or narrow point It is counted one of the Marveils of the Sea which round about it at some distance is very deep and hardly to be sounded especially betwixt the Bank for so they commonly call it and Cape Ray but drawing neerer it grows by degrees more and more shallow insomuch that nigh the Land there is not much more water than is necessary for the ships riding It runneth out in length as was said from North to South from fourty one degrees of latitude to fiftie two and round about it there lye scattered a multitude of lesser Islands which Sir Sebastian Cabot when he first discovered the place called by one common name Los Baccaleos or the Islands of Cod-fish from the great quantity of that sort of fish hee there found which was such that they hindred the passage of his ships and lay in such multitudes upon the Coasts that the very Bears would come and catch them in their claws and draw them to Land This place I say with the rest was first discovered by Sir Sebastian Cabot upon the English account howbeit the matter happened to be lay'd aside upon the aforesaid occasions till in King Henery the eight his time it was revived again by Thorn and Eliot two Merchants of Bristoll but without success after which the Portugheses French and other Nations resort to it and change the names which the first discoverers had given to the Bayes and Capes thereabouts But the English not relinquishing their pretensions of primier discovery and seisin about the yeer 1583 Sir Humfry Gilbert took possession of it again in the name of Queen Elizabeth and prohibited all Nations the liberty of fishing there without the Queen of Englands leave But he being unhappily wracked in his coming home the business was again discontinued for a time viz. till the year 1608 when it was undertaken a new by John Guy another Merchant of Bristoll and with so good success that the Colony in a short time were well furnished with Wheat Rye Barley and other grain of their own sowing with Turnips Coleworts and aboundance of other necessary things not without some probable hopes of Metals a certain and plentifull trade of Sables Musk and other rich Commodities and such excellent good fishing especially for Codfish and Ling that 't is said some English-men doe ordinarily take two or three hundred of them in the space of three or four houres which from thence they conveigh as a sure and ready Merchandise into most parts of Europe CHAP. III. Of Canada and the Countries belonging to it 1 CAnada or New
suppose they have had their hands so full of other business of late that they have not added much to what they had when our troubles began which was only New-Amsterdam as they call it and Orange-Fort afore mentioned nor is it so certain whither they be Master of them at this day or no. In stead of Rivers which this Country seemeth a little to want there are many large and capacious Bayes all along the Coast the principall whereof are that which the Dutch call Nassovius-Bay sometimes the Nordt-river which falleth by it into the Sea at May-port 2. Hell-gate which is but a Channell of the great Nordt-river so called by reason of its difficult and dangerous entrance though within it affords a very safe road for shipping and fifteen or sixteen fathom of water at the mouth 3. Zuid-river so called because it lieth more Southerly than the rest 4. But Virginia properly so called is in a better condition This is an elder Daughter of England one of her first Plantations which having endured diversitie of fortunes and strugling for a long time at the beginning with ill successes is at last by the favour of Divine Providence arrived unto such a competent happiness as that the Colonie are said to live very comfortably and helpfully among themselves and to give good hopes of perpetuating and improving their condition to posterity The Country hath on the North-east of it Niew-Nederlandt aforesaid on the South-west Florida the name of Virginia which before was common to the whole Province being upon the Plantation of New-England and that other restrained to this part of the Country only which reacheth from the thirty fourth to the thirty eighth degree of Northern latitude The Country somewhat inclined to heats which yet are much moderated by those Constant Easterly windes which they call Brises and by some other cooling blasts from the Ocean ever and anon It is a Country generally well distinguished into Hills and Valleys the first whereof are well cloathed with Woods and the latter with Fruits The soile being so good that 't is said in many places an acre of land well husbanded will return two hundred bushels or twenty five quarter of good grain rich in veins of Allom as likewise in Pitch Turpentine Oile plenty of sweet Gummes and severall sorts of plants for Dyers use not wanting many good Mines of Iron Copper c. Timber and tall Cedar-trees in infinite abundance much Cattle Fish and Fowl of all sorts no scarsity of Maiz among the Natives on the mountains some Christall is found and on the Shore Pearls To be short excepting those metalls of Peru and Mexico of which I hear not that any discoveries as yet have been made in these parts it seems not deficient in any thing that may encourage or reward an industrious people The Country not half peopled with Natives and those that are there found as much differing one from another in size as in language and manners There are some whom they call Sasques-Hanoxi of such a vast bulk and stature that they seemed as it were Gyants to the English themselves others whom they call Wigcocomoci so little and low that in companie with the other they seem'd but so many Pigmies but the generality of them it must be confessed are taller and well limb'd though most commonly without beards Their cloathing is mantles of Deer-skins with something like an apron hanging before them They paint their bodies and faces all over with figures of Serpents and other horrid creatures ' as t is thought only that they may seem terrible to their enimies who are so wise as to fright them again as much with the same These of Virginia are held to be crafty and revengefull and not a little more industrious and active than other Natives especially towards the North. There is no Country in the world for the bigness better watered than this part of Virginia is with many pleasant and fair Rivers the cheife whereof are these viz. 1. Pawhatan so named from a principall Roytelet of these parts whose Territores are divided and wonderfully fertilized by this River which runs a course of an hundred miles navigable all the way at least by smaller Vessels and falls into the Sea with a mouth two or three miles broad 2. Nansamund 3. Pammanuke 4. Toppaphanock navigable one hundred and thirty miles 5. Pawtunxet of a deeper Channell than any of the rest and affording variety of choice fish with divers others The English first setled their Plantation upon the South-side of a large and goodly Bay called by the Natives Chese-peack which thrusting it self a good way up into the Countrie and receiving into its bosome many particular Rivers yeelds a very safe station for ships and is the only entrance into this part of the Countrie The Capes or Points whereof are therefore well fortified particularly Cape Henry Cape Charls c. The Towns which the English have built or doe frequent in way of Trade are chiefly 1. James-Town so named by the first Adventurers in honour of King James it lyeth on the South side of the Bay and was first built in the year 1606 but since fortified with a Trench drawn round about it and some pieces of Ordinance planted 2. Henricopolis or Henries Town so named from Prince Henrie then living built in a very convenient place more within Land about fourscore miles distant from James-Town 3. Dales-guift so named because built and planted at the charges of Sir Thomas Dale Deputy Governour of the Countrie about the year 1610. There is also Ketoughtan a Town of the Natives upon the Bay where the English are said to frequent and trade much And lastly Wicocomoco a Town of Powhatans one of the chief Roytelets of the Country as hath been said whom the English at their first comming thither courted much and procured a Crown of Copper with some other richer presents to be sent him from King James on purpose to oblige him which yet they were hardly able to doe For although he professed likewise on his part very much love and affection to the English yet partly by his procurement as 't is said and partly through their own overmuch security not with out some provocations given on the part of the English there were about the year 1621 no less than three hundred and fourty Englishmen murdred by the Savages unexpectedly falling in upon them and with such violence and resolution as that if a certain Native of the Countrie become Christian had not discovered the business a very little before to them at James-Town their principall Fort and place of strength had been surprized and the whole Colony almost at the mercy of the Savages But it pleased God to prevent their utter destruction by that means And since that time I suppose they stand better upon their guard 5. The Bermudas are a multitude of small Islands in the Atlantick or North-Sea as at the Indies they call it lying right over against
AMERICA OR An exact Description OF THE WEST-INDIES More especially of those Provinces which are under the Dominion of the King of Spain Faithfully represented by N N. Gent. London printed by Ric. Hodgkinsonne for Edw. Dod and are to be sold at the Gun in Ivy-lane 1655 TO The worthily Honoured Mr. JOHN ROBINSON of London Merchant the Author wisheth all happiness in this and a better Life Honoured Sir THere be two Reasons why this Stranger presumeth to address himself to you The one is to take Sanctuary under the Patronage of your honoured name For though he be no Grand Delinquent nor guilty of any such offence that he should much fear or fly the Sentence of Justice yet for many small faults imperfections in his bâ—ok which the over hasty casting together of his observations could not well avoid he will be found perhaps not a little obnoxious to Molestation and Censure The other is to pay a Tribute of Due Acknowledgement to your Vertue and Nobleness of which all that know you are good witnesses And who doth not know you either in your Person or Fame in this great and flourishing City Who doth not speake you for a Mirrour of much Generosity and Goodness in your self and also a Favorer and Cherisher of all good and honest endeavors in others For this reason Sir it being the Authors ambition not to seem altogether ignorant of a thing so generally known he presumeth upon this bold Address being only unhappy that he cannot for some necessary reasons that hinder him Immortalize his own name as he hopeth to doe his book by an inscription of such eminent Merit and Worth Permit it noblest Sir for this once to be thus Hereafter if it please God I may have some better liberty to profess my self your Servant and to let the World know how much I honour Vertue and Goodness in you So resteth Sir with his best wishes for your health and the encrease of all prosperity to you Your most humble Servant N N. THE Publishers Advertisement to the Reader THou hast here courteous Reader presented to thee a generall view of those remote but rich and goodly parts of the World to which the Hand of Divine Providence seemeth at this time to be leading the English Nation for the execution of those things which his Divine Justice and Wisedome hath decreed to be done by them It might seem perhaps not altogether unfitting to have perfixed something in this place concerning the Reason of the States Resolution and the Great and Transcendent Cause which hath been given why the English Forces should move that way in the manner they doe as well to satisfie the Nation in the Justice of that Design wherein they are likely to be so much engaged as to stop the Mouths of some exasperated Englishmen who are ready to asperse the Action with the imputation of Pyracie and other unseemly characters of their Disaffection And truly the Author once intended so much But being a man otherwise as he freely professeth and saving the respects duty which he oweth to his Native Countrie no way disaffected to the Good and Honor of Spain and seeing there hath been such Honorable Application made from that Crown to his Highness and the State of England as 't is yet supposed may accommodate things in difference and prevent War he thinks it more reasonable at present to be silent and expect as with his best wishes he doth the certain issue of that Negotiation and if it may so please God an establishment of Peace betwixt the Nations Not being able otherwise but to fear and almost to ominate affliction and ill success to that part which shall persist to deny Justice and give cause of the war Of which in breif having thus premonished thee Reader I bid thee heartily fare-well in our Lord. June 14. 1655. A. B. The Contents of the first Part. Chap. 1. OF the Globe of the Earth in general and of the general parts which it containeth Chap. 2. Of America in particular and of its first discovery by Christopher Columbus Americus Vesputius and others Chap. 3. Of the voyage to America or the ordinary course of Navigation which the Spaniards hold to and from the West-Indies Chap. 4. Of some particular Adventures made by the English into the parts of America especially those of Sir Francis Drake Sir Thomas Cavendish the Lord Admiral Clifford and others which are briefly related Chap. 5. Of the situation and most probable extent of the New-World the temperature and disposition of the Aire there the quality of the Soil and Nature of its several Climates Chap. 6. Of the principall Commodities of America both Natural and Mercantile and first of Maiz of Cassavi Jucca and other Roots there of which they make bread Chap. 7. Of some choise and excellent Fruits and Fruit-beâ—ring Trees at the West-Indies Chap. 8. Of Cacao and the famous drink called Chocolatte of Atolle and other drinks used at the West-Indies Chap. 9. Of the aboundance of Cattel at the West-Indies and of several sorts of Beasts and other Creatures both of Land and Water proper to the New-World Chap. 10. Of Sugar-Canes Cotton-wooll Mulberry-Trees and Silk-worms at the West-Indies Chap. 11. Of the aboundance and excellency of the Metals at the West-Indies especially of Gold and Silver Chap. 12. Of the famous Silver Mines of Potozi and of the Peaâ—ls and Pearl-fishing at the West-Indies The Contents of the second Part. Chap. 1. OF the general division of the New-World into Continent and Islands and of the two parts of the Continent viz the Northern and the Southern Chap. 2. Of Estotiland and the several Provinces which it containeth Chap. 3. Of Canada and the Countries belonging to it Chap. 4. Of Virginia and the Countries thereto belonging Chap. 5. Of Florida Chap. 6. Of Califormia Chap. 7. Of New-Gallicia Chap. 8. Of New-Spain and its Provinces Chap. 9. Of Guatimala Chap. 10. Of Peruana or the Southern part of America Chap. 11. Of Castella Aurea Chap. 12. Of New-Granada Chap. 13. Of the Kingdome of Peru. Chap. 14. Of the Province of Chile Chap. 15. Of Paraguay or Rio de la Plata Chap. 16. Of Brasilâ— Chap. 17. Of Guiana Chap. 18. Of Paria or New-Andalusia Chap. 19. Of the American Islands viz. The Caribee Islands Port-rico Hispaniola Cuba Jamaica AMERICAE DESCRIP Miliaria Germanica CHAPTER I. Of the Globe of the Earth in generall and of the generall parts which it containeth 2. This therefore being a demonstration for the stability and unmovable fixedness of the Earth in the middle of the World of such evident obvious and unrevincible experience as it is Me thinks it cannot be sufficiently wondred at why the World should seem so generally and so seriously to be taken with the Eccentrick and injudicious fancies of Copernicus and Galilaeus concerning the perpetual motion which they imagine to be in the Earth and that the Heavens or celestial Bodies stand still and move not at
voyage onely to Cape Verde themselves sent out a Carvell with instructions to make what discoveries they could of any Land westward But their project had no great success the Carvell after much fowl weather and hardship endured making a difficult return home and discovering nothing Whereupon he applyeth himself to the King of England who was at that time Henry the seventh a Prince that loved treasure well enough but cared not to hazard much to gain it and all that Columbus could promise as yet upon that point was onely that he would discover a shorter way to the East-Indies whereby Christian Princes might procure themselves the wealth of those rich Countries already known in a shorter time and at far less charges than hitherto they had been able to doe But what through the parcimony of this Prince and his cold attention to the business when it was first propounded to him and what through the misfortunes which his Brother Bartholmew Columbus met withall in his way to England which somewhat hindred his addresses to the King there was no answer given till it was too late and that Columbus had engaged his service unto Ferdinand King of Castile who at last viz. after a matter of six or seven years attendance and delayes had yeilded to his request at the earnest entreaty of the Queen Isabella and of the Cardinal Mendoza Archbishop of Toledo It is said that the Queen was become so zealous and earnestly affected to the business as 't is supposed upon some principles of Religion suggested to her by a Religious man Fernando de Talovera her Confessor that she pawned many of hir own Jewels to help to furnish him out and 't is certain the Treasure of Castile was never more exhausted than it was at that time through a long and chargeable warre with the Moors which was not quite ended when Columbus received his Commission So that many humane reasons might seem to have excused that King from undertaking any new charge at that time especially had it not been the will of divine Providence to have that work goe forward and to recompense the liberality and piety of those Princes with such an infinite advantage both of wealth and honour by the means of this man 4. On Friday the third of August 1492 he set out from Palos a Port Town of Andalusia with three Carvels whereof the Admirall Sancta Maria was commanded by himself the Vice-Admirall Pinta commanded by Captain Martin Pincon and the Ninna commanded by Captain Vincent Yannez Pineon having aboard in all of them together about 120 men and among them Americus Vespucius for one On the eleventh of August following they had sight of the Canary Islands and sailing forwards on the 16th day they met with certain quantities of long grass floating upon the water and upon one of them a Gras-hopper alive which grass as it encreased daily more and more for some time so it put them in continual hopes every day of coming to some Land Nevertheless they sailed August quite out the whole Moneth of September following and some part of October without kenning of any land which troubled them extreamly insomuch that his company began to mutiny desperately and to threaten their Admiral that they would throw him overboard unless he would presently return for Spain swearing they were abus'd and that he should not make himself a great Lord as he intended with the perill of their lives They alledged moreover that the Ships were spent and grown so leaky that they thought they would scarce endure the Seas so long as to carry them safely home again Columbus was much afflicted with this behaviour and resolution of his Souldiers yet endeavored to pacify and draw them on as much as he could with good words and to animate them still with hopes of success but at length seeing nothing else could prevail with them much against his will he made them a promise that if within three dayes they descryed not Land he would forthwith return for Spain This was on the 10th of October and the very night following they discovered the Island Guanahani one of the Leucaiae Islands which lye together in the Gulfe of America called afterwards by Columbus St. Salvador This was a great rejoycing to them all especially to Columbus who went on shore and having sung the Te Deum on his knees with tears in his eyes he erected a Cross and took possession of the Island in the name of the Catholique Kings Ferdinand and Isabella all the Spaniards that were with him presently according to his Patent acknowledging him Viceroy of the Countrie There were standing by some few of the Natives wondring to see men cloathed and so acoutred as the Spaniards were themselves being for the most part naked and onely painted upon their bodies with white black red and other colours as their fancie lead them In their nostrils and upon their lips some of them had rings of gold pendant as it were in the way of ornament which the Spaniards quickly espied and inquiring of them by signes where they had such fine things they came to understand that a certain King of that Country who lived a great way further toward the South had aboundance of it This news pleased them so well that they made no long stay there but on the 15th of October they set Sail and fell upon another of those Islands seven or eight leagues distant from this which they called la Conception from thence upon the 17th they came to the Island Fernandina and from thence to Cuba Columbus not suffering his men in any of these places to take ought from the Natives against their will or without giving them something for it which they seemed to desire At Cuba he found that the Natives had some Towns and Villages which they inhabited and were so ordered that in fifty or threescore houses sometimes 2000 or 1500 people of Men Women and Children were contained according to the custome of the Country that all People of the same Linage or Kindred lived together in one house and their houses being built square in the fashion of a Court with long and large sides though but low and of a lamentable Architecture easily contained them all 5. From hence they sailed to Hispaniola where they had sight of the King of the Country named Guacanagari who received him and his company with much shew of kindeness presenting him with the Fruits and other Commodities of the Country and which was better than all the rest giving them more certain information of those golden Provinces which were afterwards discovered in the main Land for as yet they were but upon Islands and had not touched or seen any part of the Continent of America Columbus was so well satisfied with the intelligence which he had gained that he resolved to return for Spain and to make report of his Adventures to the King whereunto the condition of his Ships want of some necessary Provisions to proceed
and are reckoned to be about foure hundred leagues distant from England at which when the ships have touched and supplied themselves with such necessaries as they want which commonly they doe at the Tercerae Islands but never stay to goe on shore they set sayle from thence directly for Saint Lucar or Cadiz which when the coast of Portugal was free for them and that they might come up securely with the Cape Saint Vincent they usually reached in fourteene or fifteene dayes but now of late by reason of the Warres and the revolt of that Nation from the Spanyard they doe a little decline that coast and consequently come in some few dayes later than ordinary CHAP. IIII. Of some particular Adventures made by the English into the parts of America especially those of Sir Francis Drake Sir Thomas Cavendish the Lord Admirall Clifford and others which are briefly related 1. BY what hath beene said in the precedent Chapter the English will in part perceive how the voyage to the west Indies is commonly made where the chiefe difficulty or danger of it is and how avoyded what may seeme wanting to their more perfect information shall be supplied in the particular description of the several places Ports and Roades for shipping which belong to the respective Provinces At present for the entertainment of the Reader and to performe an office of due respect unto the memorie of som brave men of our Nation who have formerly visited those coasts with good advantage to themselves and honor to the Nation I shall endeavor to give a brief account of the Atchievements of some of the principall of them leaving the rest unto such particular occasions of remembring them as will occurre in the discourse afterwards and begin first with him whose memorie is deservedly most famous and honored by all men for his extraordinary abilities experience and happy conduct at Sea viz. with Sir Francis Drake 2. This brave Sea-man at the first beginnings of his actions was Captain of the Judith with Sir John Hawkins in the voyage of Guiny one thousand five hundred sixty seven and received together with him some considerable damage and injuries from the Spanyard in the Port of Saint John D' Vllua of the West-Indies contrary to promise and agreement with him and therefore to repayre himselfe having first beene assured by some Divines that his Cause and Designe was just as Master Camden witnesseth of him In the yeere one thousand five hundred seventy two he set out for America with two ships and a pinnace whereof that called the Dragon was commanded by himself and at his first attempt surprizeth Nombre de Dios at that time one of the richest Townes of America But in the Action happening to receive a wound in one of his feet which disabled him very much he was not able either to hold the place or to gather that rich spoyle that lay even in sight before him For his Company a little too much discouraged with his disaster carried him back to the Ships almost whether he would or no to the great joy and content of the Spaniards leaving the town and an infinite mass of treasure behinde them untouch'd a great part whereof they saw with their own eyes in the Governors house namely huge bars of silver lying round about the Hall of his Palace piled up a great height from the ground ready to be laded and transported for Spain as soon as the Ships came But there wanted some resolution in his company by whom being over-borne he was forced to put to Sea much against his Will so that the success of his first enterprise served onely to whet his stomach and courage to give them a second visit as soon as might be Being somewhat recovered of his wound he falls with his Ships into the Sound of Darien where he lighted upon a certain People called Symerons which are for the most part Negros and such as having been Slaves to the Spaniards by reason of their cruelty and hard usage are run from them they live in Woods and wild places of the Countrie in great companies together not much unlike to other Savages hating the Spaniards deadly and doing them upon all occasions what mischief they can By these he gets Intelligence that a Requa as they there call it that is a certain number of Mules most commonly they are fourty or fiftie in a company laden with Treasure and other things was to pass within few daies from Panama in the South-Sea to Nombre de Dios to be Ship'd from thence for Spain which he therefore resolved if it were possible to surprize These Requas from Panama to Ventacruz which is about six leagues distant in the roade to Nombre de Dios doe constantly travel in the night by reason of the openness of the way and the excessive heats in the day time neither had they as then any other guard but onely of those who drive them and perhaps some Gentleman or Officer of the Kings to oversee the Treasure by reason of their great security and that they had liv'd til then without all fear or suspicion of an enemy upon that coast so that the enterprise seemed to them not to be any matter of great difficultie Wherefore having gained a sufficient number of those Symerons to his party which he might easily doe with no more than eighteen stout and resolute men of his own leaving the rest to guard and manage the Ships as occasion might be they march by night over the Streit of Darien as 't is called which is that Isthmus or neck of Land that joyns the two parts of America together viz. the Northern and the Southern part and contains in that part of it where they were not above eighteen or twenty miles over from Sea to Sea though in length it be many leagues They were come down undiscovered within one league of Panama and had lodged themselves in a Grove on each side of the road where the Requa or company of Mules was to pass which according to their expectation also came and as the manner is so tyed one to another that if you stop one you make them all stand The Requa which was now coming belonged for the most part of it to the Treasurer of Lima who with his Daughter and Family were going for Spain with eight Mules in the company laden with Gold and one with Jewels which without question had been all taken but for the indiscretion of one English-man named Robert Pike who having drank a little too much Strong-water in his martch was become pot-valiant with it so as his companion could not keep him to his postures nor perswade him to lye close as they were commanded to doe till the watch-word should be given but hearing the Mules come neer out of a foolish bravery and ambition to be the first that should give onset in such an Action stood up and wearing his shirt uppermost as they did all the better to distinguish
diseases as proceed of too much aboundance and heat of blood but to such as are used to it and eate it moderately they say it is a most agreeable kinde of food easie of concoction not at all obstructive as bread with us whether of wheat or other grain is generally held to be more or less but rather in some degree purgative of noxious humors and helpfull against the stone and other oppilations of the body with which infirmities the Indians that continually feed upon this Maiz both in bread and many other waies dressed are observed seldom or never be troubled The buds of it while they are green and tender are of such a fat and delicious substance that they use them commonly instead of oyle and butter being no less pleasant and agreeable to the taste They make Wine of it also or a drink not less strong than Wine and which being freely taken as quickly overcoms a man which they make by steeping the grains of Maiz in water till it breaks and afterwards boyling it much after the manner as we make ordinarily our beer of Mault There are diverse sorts of this Maiz but that which is most commonly used for bread is this already described Their way of eating it especially with the commoner sort of People is most commonly boyled in the grain hot which they doe much after the manner that the People of China and Japan use in the boyling of their Rice They have an earthen or some other sort of Vessel full of little holes at the bottom and round about the sides below into which having put so much of the grains of Maiz as they think fit and stopt it up they set it into another vessel which they have full of water and already boyling on the fire so as the water enters by little and little into the vessel where the Maiz is through the little holes with which the Maiz presently beginneth to swel and after a little boyling so stops the holes of the vessel that no more water can enter and so boyling it on still it comes at last from a pulp or soft moisty substance to be more firm and hard and such as they use for bread And when they eate it single or alone as bread they count this the best way of eating it viz. in the grain hot but otherwise dressing it as they oftentimes doe with oyle butter sugar and diverse sorts of Spice they make many other pleasant and delicious meats of it This as I said is the more common way of using it by the ordinary sort of people but the rich and better sort grinde the Maiz as we doe our wheat and bake it for the most part into little cakes which confectioned with sugar and spices as they use doe make a very curious and dainty kinde of meat 3. This is their Maiz or the Indian wheat as they call it They have another kinde of bread at the West-Indies called Cassavi made of a certain root which they call Jucca it is a root of a large size and somewhat of a moist substance the juyce whereof is held to be a kinde of poyson especially to some persons for of others I read that they have eate of the root green and full of juyce though not without danger nor perhaps without costing some of them their lives as namely the English at Port-rico under the Earle of Cumberland but the root of it when it is well dryed especially if they use so much art with it as to grinde it and work it into paste is made into a very good sort of bread yet more nourishing than toothsome For the chief art which they use about it is rather in the planting of the root than otherwise of which the manner is thus They raise a bed of earth in some lusty and good soile of about nine or ten foot square every way in which at an equall distance they set ten or twelve slips as I may call them or little branches which grow naturally out of the same root each of them about a foot long on every side of the bed commonly three and laid so aslope within the ground that the ends of them all doe almost meet together in the middle of the bed Out of these after a certain time there springs a set of new roots which grow commonly to the bigness and length of a mans arme and sometimes as big as a mans thigh but this is onely when they let them lye a long time in the ground viz. a year or year and half but then likewise they are said to be best and to make the most pleasant and agreeable bread By that time they are come to maturitie the whole bed or plat of earth on which they were planted seems to to be all turned into roots Then they take them out of the ground and having scraped them a little on the outside they slice or cut them into small pieces which done in a press made for that purpose they strain and force out all the juyce they can just in the same manner as some Countrie folk strain crabs and press their cheese when they make it and having by that means brought their Jucca into the fashion of a broad cake but somewhat thin they lay it up for some time till it be more throughly dryed and then use it for bread without more trouble 'T is said to have little or no taste at all in the eating and that 's probable enough by the ordering of it but as for vertue and nourishment wondrous good and wholsome yet I remember Acosta who had tasted of it sayes plainly he had rather eat a piece of the coursest and blackest bread he ever saw in his life Neither doe they eate it but first moistned and steeped in some water or warm broath the reason whereof is the excessive dryness of the bread which is such that neither Wine nor Milk nor their Melasso as they call it which is the honey or sweet juyce of the sugar canes will pierce it and therefore it keeps long and they carrie it commonly to Sea instead of Bisket By Land it is chiefly used in the Barlovente Islands which are Hispaniola Cuba Jamaica c. where there is not such plenty either of Wheat or Maiz not through any defect or barrenness of the soile but as it is rather thought from some indisposition of the Aire and Climate which is such that the very meal which they bring thither sometimes from New Spain and from the Canaries contracts presently such a moistness that they can hardly make any good bread of it and that which they doe make will not keep but in a few daies become moist and fluid again and by consequence apt to corrupt which is generally attributed to the over-much humidity and heat of the Countrie 4. There is yet a third sort of bread made at the Indies which they call Chugno and is made likewise of a certain small root called Popa This bread is
these before spoken of viz. than the Tyburon or the Manati and upon the Shores of the West Indies every where there are great multitudes of them found These are a Shell-fish of figure and shape round carrying their house or cover alwayes upon their back and by consequence moving but slowly They take them sometimes at Sea with Nets made for that purpose only but most commonly on the Shore whither they frequently resort in huge multitudes cheifly to lay their egges which in the sand are hatched with incredible increase onely by the heat of the Sun and though they make all the haste they can to Sea again assoon as ever they perceive any body yet they are easily overtaken and by turning them with a staffe or pole upon their backs which is not hard for them to doe that are acquainted with the manner of hunting Tortoises two or three men will stay and take a whole company of them They are commonly a yard and a quarter at least in length and sometime more than twice so much in breadth and of such bigness weight that it will ordinarily require six or seven stout men to draw one of them out of the water and scarce any found so little but it will lode two or three men to carry it handsomely away when it is cut in pieces The flesh of them is very excellent good meat when it is well powdred and of no lesse pleasant taste Every Tortoise layeth commonly two or three hundred egges at a time as big as Hens egges but round like a ball good likewise to eate and have this propertie that whither boiled or rosted the white of them is alwaies soft When the young ones are hatcht they naturally make to Sea never expecting that the old one should come to feed them To this the Tyde helps them very much and there they live and thrive so well that as they say some one of them hath been found of that bigness and weight that 20. men had much adoe to lift it from the ground 10. There is besides these infinite variety of other kindes of fish in the Indian or American Seas as the Iguana which is a kinde of water-Serpent of somewhat a terrible and ugly forme but otherwise not at all hurtfull of the bigness commonly of an Otter or Fox the skyn spotted and smooth and the flesh neither unwholesome nor unpleasant meat And the Bobo which is a gallant fish as any belong to the Seas of the length of a mans arme having one only bone or gristly substance running through the midst of it from end to end it is of a most tender and delicate substance white as milk and as fat as butter excellent meat which way soever dressed boyl'd bak'd stew'd roasted or otherwise And beside these many others which I must necessarily pass over in silence as likewise I might well doe these that follow viz. the Niguas as the Spaniards call them or West-Indian Nits and the Broma or water-worme two little Insects indeed and hardly to be numbred in the rank of perfect Creatures yet such as make themselves considerable enough to be named only by their troublesomness the one to Men at Land the other to the ships at Seas The Niguas are so small a kinde of vermine that they can hardly be perceived single nothing neer so bigge as a Flea which lodge themselves insensibly and unperceived at first under the nails of Mens fingers and toes and in other private parts of the body and multiply in a short time so strangely that they turn the party to extream pain and torture and not seldome cause him to lose a joint either of his hands or feet Nor is it easie to prevent their breeding without continuall brushing of cloaths and a great care to keep all things about a man as much as can be clean and dry When they are perceived to be bred the best remedy is counted to be to pour melted wax upon the place where they are nestled which though it scalds and be troublesome for the time yet when it is cold it brings away a shoale of that little vermin with it sometimes four or five hundred of them at a pull A cheap remedy indeed if it be so effectual as they say The Broma or water-worm is no less troublesome and mischievous to the ships at Sea it is found generally in all parts within the Tropiques or Torrid Zone and more especially neer the Line The English call it sometimes Arters from what ground I am not able to say but the inconvenience and danger which it brings to ships if not prevented is apparent and great They fasten commonly in such great multitudes upon the planks of a ship especially betwixt winde and water where it is not less dangerous that the ships many times are found covered with them very thick in those parts and the planks under water wrought like Hony-combs full of a number of little cells or cavities which the worms make in them and in time eate through the planks be they never so thick and endanger the ship They are at first as little as a pins head or less but grow in time to the bigness of a Mans little finger and the further they work into a plank the bigger likewise they grow And therefore to prevent the inconveniences that would otherwise certainly befall the ships that goe to the West-Indies they usually sheath them as they call it before they goe out that is they naile or fasten upon the ribs of the ships under water and betwixt winde and water sometimes thin sheats of lead sometimes double planks of good thickness both within and without But neither of these wayes are counted good partly by reason of the overmuch weight or ballast which they give to the ship and partly for that they endure not for the worm easily works through the planks be they never so thick and the lead being very thin washeth away and in time decayes so much that the worm will not be hindred from entring Others burn the outermost planks of the ship under water and above to the blackness of a coal and then pitch it all over with pitch This doth reasonable well But the best remedie of all and that which is now most generally used is that which is said to be the Invention of Sir John Hawkins a Gentleman in his time of great experience and command at Sea They take the sheathing-board which they intend to lay on and besmeare all the inside of it with Tarre half a finger thick at least and upon the Tarre another half finger thick of hair such as is commonly used in Morter and then nayle it down on the ribs of the ship so far as they judge it necessary driving the nails reasonably thick never above a span distance one from another This is thought both the cheapest and securest way For the Tarre either killeth the worm as some think or at least when she is wrought through the
strange kinde of efficacie so as a man seems not satisfied with looking upon it but desires to view it still more and more that it fortifieth the facultie visive and restoreth it when it is dim and decayed by overmuch attent looking upon any thing and therefore Lapidaries and men that cut or engrave fine stones have usually some of them lying by them only to refresh and revive their sight when they perceive it fail them or grow weak at any time To which end viz. the better to please and affect the sight they are shap'd or cut for the most part with some hollowness in them whereby the visual rayes as they are called being united and strengthened one with another doe give the greater lustre They are said to appear both fairer and bigger at a distance nor doe they change or abate their lustre either for Sun shade candle-light or otherwise as most of the other sorts of Jemmes usually doe more or less and as they are commonly of the bigness so are they not much under the value of a Diamond if they be of the best and perfect sort of Emralds For all are not such There are some of so exquisite and admirable lustre as nothing can be desired more in others the green is more dark and clowded and lastly some are spotted but those are commonly held to be counterfeit Those which the fortunate Cortez after the conquest of Mexico presented to his new Spouse the Lady Jane Zuniga were extraordinary and thought to be the rarest in the World They were five of them of most exquisite colour and perfection and of such bigness that they were wrought into several figures and shapes of things viz. one in the fashion of a Coronet or little Crown another of a Rose fair and great the third was like to a Fish with the eyes of gold counted an admirable piece of Indian work the fourth was wrought in the fashion of a Bell having for its clapper a great and rich pearl engraven round about with this Motto Sea Bendito qui te criava in English Blessed is he that created thee the fifth was like a Cup with the foot and brim of gold and four little chains of gold all joyning together at the top or cover of it in a great pearl 'T is said that the Merchants of Genoa offered no less summe than 40000. Duckets for one of them which they would have presented to the great Turk but were refused And though I confess there be some of much greater bigness mentioned in Pliny yet doubtless these were very rare stones both for bigness workmanship and perfection They grow usually in other stones like to Chrystal and the greatest plenty of them is in the new Kingdom of Granada and in the Province of Veragua and especially about the Citties of Manta and Port Vieil where there is a whole Country or little Province which they call de las Esmaldas or the Land of Emralds from the aboundance of them that are supposed to be there and which the Spaniards had not yet subdued when my Author wrote and they send usually three or four hundred weight of this kinde of Jemmes only into Spain one yeer with another 6. Of Pearls which anciently were counted the only Jemme both for price and excellency and such as Princes only and persons of very noble quality used there is such plenty of them at the new World that the very Negro Servants or She slaves are said to weare Chains and Bracelets of them These grow in Oysters or a certain shel-Fish much resembling Oysters and bearing that name and are fetcht up from the bottom of the Sea by the poor Indians that are forced to dive for them 'T is true the Indians through necessity and custome are become wonderfully apt and ready at this work even almost beyond beleefe They will descend commonly ten or twenty fathom deep into the water and stay there an houre or the better part of an houre plucking the shel-fishes from the hard Rocks or searching for them in the gravelly corners and chinks under water till they have filled the satchels or baggs which they carried down with them or that want of breath enforceth them to come up Howbeit if the Sea be very deep or not calm they finde much difficultie to abide under water and therefore tye commonly certain stones of good weight about them only to keep them down which are exceeding painfull to them all the time they are under water beside the danger they are in to be destroyed by the Tyburons and other preying fishes whiles they are there But when they have a minde to come up 't is but unloosing of the stones and they mount presentiy being counted the most expert Swimmers in the World To which likewise their own dry wither'd and lean complexions doe dispose them very much being for the most part of very thin and spare bodies and dyeted on purpose for this service with the dryest meat which their hard Masters can procure for them and that also in small quantity and with but scant allowance The Pearls differ much from one another both in fashion colour bigness and polishing and they seldom finde two of them altogether alike when they doe it much enhaunceth the price and estimation of them even where they are most common a pair of such Pearls having been valued at the Indies themselves at a thousand Duckets They are counted the most excellent which are of an Orient white colour bright and cleer like the finest Allom bigge weighty and especially if they be round which is counted such a singular raritie in this Gem that Oviedo tells us of himself he once bought a Pearl at the Indies not much bigger than the pellet of some Cross bow for which he gave 650. times the weight of it in good gold upon no other special account but only because it was round They fish for Pearls upon all the coasts of America and the Islands generally more or less but especially in the South-Sea about Panama and the Island Margarita so called from the aboundance of them which they have found there and in the North-Sea about the Islands of Cumana Cubagna Rio de la Hacha and other places which are commonly found bigger than those of the South Sea And although it be the opinion of some grounded upon the covetousness of the Spaniards when they first came into those parts who spared not the very feed or mother of the Pearl it self but swept took all that came to hand that the profit of Pearl-fishing is much decayed of what it was yet if it be true what the same Oviedo tells us I should think it may be otherwise and the trade good still For he saith These Pearl-Oysters come by shoals successively into the places where they are usually taken and that though a bank in the Sea be swept never so clean of them by the Pearl-fishers yet not far off they finde alwaies more and likewise in the
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
lesser Islands lying together in the great Gulf or Bay of Saint Lawrence on the South-side of Natiscotec being a place much resorted to by the French for the Morsefishing in time of the year of which we have spoken something already They are so numerous upon these Coasts that a small French Bark 't is said will catch one thousand or five hundred of them in a few houres and so large fat and unctious withall that of the bellies of five or six Morses they make an Hogs-head or more of Trane-oile as good as that which they have of the Whale beside the benefit of their flesh which they say especially if it be young is as tender and sweet as Veale The skins of them they dress as we doe our Oxe-hides and they say they are twice as thick and serviceable upon any occasion 3. Brion a small Island Southward of the Rameae not above two or three leagues in length and about so much likewise in breadth but of a rich Soil and excellent good pasturage though shaded in some places with many tall and lofty trees of severall kindes having another lesser Island neighbouring upon it which they call Isle Blanche or the white Island of like fertility with it self 4. Insula Britonum or Isle Breton called also sometimes the Isle of Saint Lawrence This lyeth to the South-East of the Isle Brion of a Triangular forme containing about eighty leagues in compass mountainous for a great part of it and rugged but in the Valleys more fruitfull and pleasant having no Rivers at least not any that are much known but instead thereof embraced much with armes of the Sea and thereby not unlikly to be well stored with fish upon the Coasts of it In the midst of the Country there is a great Lake which containes within it many lesser Islands The Woods well replenished with most sorts of Deere a kinde of black Foxes and aboundance of the American Birds which they call Pengwins The chief Port or Haven of it is New-port called by the French Port aux Anglois because much frequented by the English in regard of the fishing Lastly there is the Isle de Sable so called by the French as 't is supposed from the Sands which lye so much about it containing about fifteen leagues in compass and distant from Breton-Isle not much less than twenty or thirty leagues held to be of an unsafe landing by reason of the said sands lying about it and therefore though the planting of it hath been twice attempted by the French and once by the Portugheses yet the business never had success The Inland parts of this whole country of Canada are still in the hands of the Savages or Natives and not much discovered further than to know the names of the people the chief whereof that occurre are these viz. the Iroquois a stout and warlike people on the Northeast of Norimbegua often molesting the French The Souriquois and Etechemins in the Country of Accadie or New-Scotland who are more their friends and doe help them somtimes against the Iroquois Beside on the banks and about the River of Canada there are the Algoumequins the Algoiugequins Quenongebins Attagopautans and many other Montagnets of such harsh names that we should be enforced almost to pass them over in silence though they otherwise deserv'd to be named only this we may observe in the general of the Savages of these parts of America viz. That as ignorant and barbarous as they are yet they have made shift to discover the Factions Emulations and Enmities than are amongst the European People that come thither and are able to make such advantage of it by siding some of them with the one and some with the other that they all preserve their liberty by it So that as yet the footing which either the French English or any other Nation have among them seems rather to be for the security of their own abode and trading where they live than to give them any absolute right of possession much less any general command of the Countrie CHAP. IIII. Of Virginia and the Countries thereto belonging 1. VIrginia so named by Sir Walter Rawleigh about the year 1584 in honour of our Maiden Queen Elizabeth of famous Memorie is a fair Province of this Northern part of America bounded on the North with Canada on the East with the Sea called Mare del Nort on the South with Florida the Western confines of it being not yet known but supposed and perhaps not altogether improbably to extend themselves as far as the South Sea The more inland parts of the Countrie are mountainous and somewhat barren but otherwise thick set with Woods and those as well replenished with wild Beasts Venison and a sort of People not much less wilde and savage than Beasts the Maritime parts more plain and fruitfull The whole Countrie extends it self from North to South that is to say from the Southermost parts of Norimbega to Florida full ten degrees of latitude viz. from thirty four to fourty four containing thereby inclusively six hundred common or English miles being sub-divided into three inferiour Provinces or Parts which are these viz. 1. New-England 2. Novum-Belgium or Neiw-Nederlands as our Neighbours call it And 3. Virginia properly so called to which because it is an English Plantation and a part of this Western World it shall not be amiss to add the Bermudae Islands 2. New-England is that part of this Province of America which lyeth next to Canada or New France by which it is bordered towards the North Eastward with Norimbegua on the South and South-west with Niew-Nederlande the other borders that is directly Westward remaining yet unknown The Countrie lyeth about the middle of the Temperate Zone betwixt the degrees of fourty one and fourty four being naturally of the same degree of heat with France or Italy parallel to which it lyeth in the Western Hemisphere but yet these heats so moderated and allayed by the coldness of the adjoyning Seas that the Country generally is found very agreeable to English bodies The Soil abundantly fruitfull not only of the natural Commodities of the Place but likewise of all such as are transported thither out of England Great store of Woods and Trees both for Fruit and Building plenty of Deer and of Turkies Partridges Swans Geese Cranes Ducks and Pigeons so great aboundance as serve the Inhabitants almost to excess But the Commodities whereby they chiefly maintain their Trade are rich Furres many sorts of good Fish some quantity of Amber Flax Linnen Iron Pitch Masts Cables yea and timber for Shipping In a word it is supposed by those which seem to understand the Country well That there is little coms for England by the way of the Sound but might be had from hence at easier rates and less trouble if the busines were well considered The Natives of the Countrie are said to be much better disposed more tractable docil and apt to be perswaded to civility than
their Neighbours especially when they are fairly dealt withall and not provoked into distemper by rough handling The Countrie on the Sea side replenished with very good Havens They report that in the space of 70 miles there are no less than twenty or twenty five good and secure ports some of them capable of five hundred or a thousand sail of ships and fenced from the fury of windes and Sea by the interposition of certain Islets which to the number of two hundred at least are said to lye scattered up and down upon that Coast The places where the English have chiefly seated themselves are 1. St. Georges Fort where the first Plantation was setled at the mouth of the River Sagahadoc in a kinde of Peninsula or half-Island 2. New-Plimouth seated no less commodiously upon a large and spacious Bay called by the Natives Patouxet It consisted at the first building but of nineteen Families only but is now improved into a handsome Town 3. New-Bristoll upon the Sea side also but lying more Northerly than Plimouth 4. Barstable 5. Boston And lastly Quillipiack which by the name seems to have been some old Town of the Natives who upon a great mortality happening among them are said to have diserted these parts of the Countrie but a few years before the English came thither It lyeth upon a Bay called the Bay of the Massachousetts and is at present possessed by the English This part of Virginia was first discovered by Captain Gosnold in the year 1602. Four years after that King James granted it by Letters Patents unto a Corporation of certain Knights Gentlemen and Merchants to be planted by them and managed to the best advantage of the Publique In which Sir John Popham Lord chief Justice of the Common-Pleas being one of the principall by his encouragement and chiefly also at his charge a Colony was sent thither in the year 1607 under the Presidencie of Captain George Popham and Mr. Raleigh Gilbert but the President Popham dying the next year after and not long after him the Lord chief-Justice likewise who was the chief Patron of the work the Colonie returned home and though afterwards it was attempted several times yet never could they finde success in their endeavors nor be setled in any form till the year 1620 When by the building of New-Plimouth and some more particular care had of the business by several incouragements sent from thence to bring on others and by reason of some domestick motives which perswaded many people to leave their Countrie and goe that way it is grown at last to a very probable and hopefull condition of good subsistence for the future being for many temporal respects worthy of all favour and cherishing by the State 3. Novum-Belgium or Niew-Nederlandt hath on the North-East New-England on the South and South-West Virginia properly so called taking its name from the Netherlanders or Dutchmen who began their Plantation there about the year 1614 The Countrie as they said being then void and therefore free for any body that would take possession of it Notwithstanding which pretence they were scarse warm in their Quarters when Sir Sam. Argall Governour of Virginia having first spoyled the French in Accadie as we said disputed the possession with these also And although they pleaded Hudsons right who by Commission from King James and upon an English account had lately discovered those parts and pretended they had not only bought all his Cards and Maps of the Countrie but all his Interest and Right also and had fully contented him for all his pains and charges in the discovery yet the said Hudson being an English man and acting all that he did by Commission from the King of England upon debate it was concluded That the Land could not be alienated after discoverie without the King of Englands consent especially it being but a part of the Province of Virginia already possessed by the Subjects of England So that they were forced to wave that title and the Dutch Governor submitted his Plantation to his Majestie of England and to the Governor of Virginia for and under him Upon which Terms for a good while they held it Afterwards upon confidence it seems of a new Governour sent from Amsterdam they not only failed to pay the promised contribution and tribute but fell to fortifie themselves and to entitle the Merchants of Amsterdam to an absolute Propriety and Dominion of the Countrie independent of any other building Towns as New Amsterdam raising Forts as Orange Fort neer that branch of the Nordt River which they call Hell gates Complaint whereof being made to King Charles and by his Embassador represented to the States they disown the business and declare by publique instrument that they were not interessed in it but that it was only a private undertaking viz. of the West Indian Company of Amsterdam Whereupon a Commission was granted to Sir George Culvert made Lord Baltimore in Ireland to possess and plant the Southern parts thereof lying towards Virginia by the name of Maryland and to Sir Edmund Loyden to plant the Northern parts towards New-England by the name of Nova-Albion Which makes the Dutch the second time seem willing to compound and for the summe of two thousand and five hundred pounds they offer to be gone and leave all they had there But by advantage of the troubles in England which then began to appear and soon after followed they not only goe back from their first Propositions and make higher demands but also most mischievously and wickedly as some report they furnish the Natives with Arms and teach them the use of them as it may be thought expecting to use their help upon occasion against the English An Act questionless of very pernicious consequence not only to the English Adventurers who have since been much damnified and prejudiced by the said Natives in their Plantations but also to the Dutch themselves who as 't is reported were the first or with the first that smarted by it The Savages being thus arm'd and train'd first of all falling foule upon them destroying their Farm-houses and forcing them to betake themselves to their Forts and Fastnesses So that at present there is but little good account can be given further of the State of this Countrie As to the nature and quality of the soil it differeth not much from the parts about it the temperature of the aire and commodities of the Country being generally the same which New-England or Virginia yeeldeth And as for Towns and places of abode it doth not appeare that either the English or Dutch have as yet set themselves much to building in this Country What the English had done before our late troubles at home it may be feared is wholly ruined by the misfortunes which befell them there And for the Dutch although they make large reports of the Country and challenge a huge Circuit of land under the name of the New-Netherlands and title of the States yet I
and in the midst of a fair Plain or Champaign Country containing likewise as some say not less than sixty or seventy leagues in compass and environed with mountains of so great height that the tops of them are said to be continually covered with snow At present it is thought to be one of the richest Cities of the World abounding if reports be true in all kinde of voluptuous gallantry and bravery even to excess It is supposed to contain about six or seven miles in compass and to consist of above an hundred thousand Houses or Families whereof not the tenth part Spaniards but those that are be all Gentlemen I mean as to their garb and manner of living for they live most splendidly in all respects both for dyet and apparel For the first we have spoken so much already of the general plenty of all things in the Kingdom of New-Spain that pertain to this part of pleasure that it is not to be doubted and for the second this may be some instance viz. that it is no extraordinary matter to see an Hat-band and Role all of Diamonds in some ordinary Gentlemans Hat and of Pearl among the common Citizens and Tradesmen The Coaches which most Gentlemen keep almost covered with gold and silver richly beset with precious stones and within ordinarily lined with cloth of gold or the best China silk that can be gotten of which Coaches in time of year at the Alameda as they call it which is as it were the Hide Park of Mexico and a place made of purpose for recreation and delight a man shall observe not seldome above a thousand or two thousand Coaches full of Ladies and Gallants coming thither only to take the aire and their pleasure both the one and the other attended with a numerous train of servants and Mulattos of both sexes In la Plateria which is but one only street in Mexico nigh to the Vice-Roys Palace in less than half an hours space with the turn of an eye you may see millions of wealth in Gold Silver and precious Stones in the Gold-smiths and Jewellers shops thereabouts In a word there is nothing hinders Mexico from being the most absolute Citie in the World for delight and bravery but only two inconvinces to which it is subject The one is the danger of the Lake with the Infalls whereof it may seem to be almost continually threatned and in the year 1629 did actually suffer a very great calamity the waters breaking through the banks and drowning a great part of the City with the destruction of much People and the loss of all their goods intirely through the avarice as is supposed of the Vice-Roy that then was and some other of the Kings Officers who diverted the money that should have been imployed for the fortifying and repairing of the banks to their proper uses The other is from the Nature of the Soil and ground it self on which the City standeth which is found to have a tincture of of salt-Nitre in it somewhat strong and the windes partly from the Lake it self and partly from the Hills about it raising the dust of this earth constantly every evening for many moneths of the year together so violently that the Aire is even darkned therewith for some time the Inhabitants are much annoyed by it and made subject to divers Hypocondriacall pains and infirmities and sometimes killed with it especially such as either cannot or care not much to avoid it The Citie lyeth about 60 leagues or one hundred and fifty miles distant from the Atlantick or North Sea from whence by the Port of St. John D'Vllua or Vera Crux which are the usuall landing places there is a fair and easie march to Mexico by the Cities of Xalapa Perotta Puebla de los Angelos and Tlascalla all of them open and unfortified places as likewise Mexico it self is and the Country round about very rich and well accommodated with all things The second town of this Province is Tescuco an ancient and fair Citie seated upon the same Lake six or seven leagues distant from Mexico to which it yeeldeth not much either for beau-or bravery 3. Quitlavaca a Citie built wholly upon certain Islets within the Lake and therefore called sometimes by the Spaniards Venezuela or Little-Venice having one only passage by Land to it over a Causey of flint-stone half a league or more in length and about sixteen or twenty foot broad 4. Vztacpalapa a City of ten thousand Housholds or thereabnuts six leagues distant from Tescuco and about twenty from Mexico 5. Mexicaltzingo a Burrough of four thousand Housholds 6. Cuyacan of six thousand All these are seated upon the Lake Further from the Lake there is Chololla a great Citie and a rich place not much inferiour-to Mexico Anciently this City was as it were the Sanctuary of the Mexican Kings and the chief place of their barbarous and inhumane Superstitions where yearly not less than five or six thousand Indian Children of both sexes were sacrificed to Vitzilopuchtli that is to the Devil It was likewise the chief burying place of all the Mexican Nobility whose Tombs and Monuments there afforded the Spaniards at their first rifling of them an infinite mass of Treasure and yet not half so much as by report they both desired and expected 2. Mastitlan a Town pleasantly seated upon the top of an huge mountain in the midst of most delicate Groves and shady Woods round about it and reckoned to contain not less than thirty thousand Inhabitants in all dwelling either in the Citie or upon the sides of the Mountain 3. Autepecque this is a Town belonging to the Marquiss de Valle who is of the Posterity of Cortez and said to be seated in the most delicious place of all New-Spain 4. Acapulco a Town seated upon the South-Sea or Mare del Zur yet belonging to this Province It is a Haven Town and one of the most frequented upon the South Sea situate upon a large and capacious Bay of about a league broad at the entrance and affording many convenient stations and Docks for shipping At the bottome of the Bay Westward lyeth the Town with a strong Castle very opportunely built both for the command and security of the Port well walled and fortifyed with Bulwarks and having a constant Garrison of four hundred Souldiers in it or thereabouts The reason whereof I suppose may be chiefly this viz. that from this Port there is the greatest traffique and entercourse held betwixt the East and West-Indies together with the Philippine Islands The Country hath many rich Mines of silver in it and some of Gold the chief of which first are by Herera reported to be these viz. 1. those of Puchuca fourteen leagues distant from Mexico 2. Of Tasco twenty four leagues distant 3. Talpuiana 4. Cultepeque 5. Zacualpa 6. Zupanguo and divers others 10. Tlascalla is a Province of New-Spain which extendeth it self entirely from one Sea to another viz. from the Atlantick to Mare
by Gonsalvo Sandovall in the year 1526 distant not above three leagues from the Gulf or Bay of Honduras 5. Aguatulco otherwise called Guatulco a noted and convenient Haven or Port-town upon the South Sea yet pertaining to this Province A rich place by reason of the trade from Mexico to Peru and from Peru to Mexico which passeth all through this town There are reckoned of the Natives of this Province not less than six hundred and fifty Burroughs and Villages and in them above an hundred and fifty thousand persons that pay tribute beside Women and Children and Spaniards in great number 12. Jucatan is a Peninsula or half-Island encompassed for the most part with the Sea save only to the South-west where it is joyned to Guaxata it s farther and more Easterly point looking towards Cuba The whole Province contains in compass nine hundred miles or more the Aire somewhat hot and the Soil not altogether so fertil in all Commodities as some other parts of New-Spain are yet are the People therefore more industrious living for the most part by Handicrafts and Trades and much more willing to take pains than their Neigbours They report some speciall things of this Province of Jucatan as namely that the People of the Countrie used generally and long before the Spaniards came thither a certain Ceremony of Religion not much unlike to our Baptism and which they called by a name that in their language signified Regeneration or a second Birth that they observed it so diligently that few or none among them omitted to initiate themselves by it beleeving that thereby the Seeds and ground-work of all goodness was laid in them and that they were fortified by it against the assaults and molestations of evil-Spirits That after they were three or four yeers old till they came to twelve they usually thus washed and baptized themselves and that none were permitted among them to marry that were not first initiated after this manner That they chose likewise a solemn day upon which to doe this and fasted at least the Father and Mother of the party to be initiated alwaies three dayes before and that a great many of the Natives had a Tradition or general report among them that of ancient time this Province of Jucatan was possessed and cultivated by a certain People which came thither from the East after a tedious long wandering and many hardships endured at Sea having escaped the hands of their Enemies only through the power of God or the Deity they worshiped who helped them and made them to pass securely even through the waves of the Sea All which if true seems not a little to confirm the report which goeth for current in the Welch Chronicles of one Madoc ap Owen the sonne of Guineth a Prince of that Countrie who is said to have fallen upon a farre Countrie this way in his travels which he liked so well that having secured to his Companions their safe abode there during his absence he returned himself into Wales for more Men and that he transported thither as many as he could carry in ten Barks full laden This he is said to have done about the year of our Lord 1170. But neither he nor any of his Men were ever heard of since and the success of the expedition it seems little enquired after by the Welch However the relation seems not altogether incredible or beyond belief The chief towns of the Province are 1. Merida in the Navil of the Country and the seat of the Governor twelve leagues distant from the Sea on either side 2. Valladolidt thirty leagues distant from Merida 3. Campeche a great town consisting of about three thousand housholds or more when first conquered by the Spaniards who found such Monuments of Art and curious industrie in it as did cleerly argue that the place had been once possessed by some People that were not barbarous It is now called St. Francisco and was surprized in the year 1596 by Captain Parker an English man who took the Governor himself and some other persons of quality prisoners and carried them away with him together with a ship richly laden with gold and silver beside other Commodities of good value 4. Tabasco by the Spaniard now called Villa de Nuestra Sennara de Victoria and commonly Victoria only in memory as 't is thought of the first great victory which Cortez obtained over these People at the battel of Potonchan as hath been said 5. Cintla 6. Potonchan 7. Salamanca All along the Coast of this Country there lye certain Islands some within the Bay or Gulf called Honduras pertaining to the next Province as 1. La Zarza 2. La Desconescida 3. Vermeia 4. Los Negrillos and some without it as 1. Zaratan 2. Pantoia 3. De Mugeres or the Island of Women so named by the Spaniards who at their first discovery of these parts for a long time together could meet with none but Women The chief of them is called Acusamil commonly Cozamul and is fifteen leagues in length and about five broad and was as it were the thorough-fare or common road of the Spaniards when they first discovered the Countries of New-Spain For first here landed Ferdinando de Corduba after him John de Griialva and others and last of all the fortunate Cortez It is now called St. Crux CHAP. IX Of Guatimala 1. GVatimala is the last general Province of this Northern part of America and brings us down to the Isthmus or neck of Land which as we said joyneth the Northern and Southern parts of the New-World together This Countrie viz. Guatimala is bounded Northward with the Peninsula of Jucatan abovesaid and part of the Gulf or Bay of Honduras on the South wi h Mare del Zur on the East and South-East it hath Castella aurea and on the West New-Spain The length of it lyeth upon the coast of Mare del Zur and is said to be little less than three hundred leagues but the breadth not half so much in any place and in some very narrow It is generally a fertil and good Countrie in all respects but especially abounding in Cattel and good Pastures being subdivided into six inferiour Provinces or Countries which are 1. Chiapa 2. Verapaz 3. Guatimala specially so called 4. Honduras 5. Nicaragua And lastly 6. Veragua 2. Chiapa is bordered on the West with New-Spain on the East with Vera paz on the North with Jucatan and on the South with Mare del Zur It is a Countrie much shaded with Woods and those replenished with many fair and goodly trees of divers sorts and of the largest size as Oaks Pines Cedar and Cypress trees besides others which yeeld them a good kinde of Rosin precious Gumms c. It hath likewise good plenty of Cocchinele but as for Mines either of gold or silver I observe not much to be spoken the Countrie is supposed to afford some but hitherto no great search hath been made possibly for want of Labourers to work 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
Inhabitants are since removed to Porto Bello or St. Philip aforesaid as to a more fortified and securer place 3. Acla a Town upon the same Coast but lying South-East of Nombre de Dios. 4. Nata commonly called St. Jago de Nata situated on the West side of this Province upon Mare del Zur or the South Sea about thirty leagues distance from Panama towards the borders of Veragua 5. Panama the chief City of the Province being also a Bishops Sea who is Suffragan to the Archbishop of Lima and the ordinary residence of the Governour and Courts of Justice for these parts It is seated likewise upon the South Sea and so neer that at high water the ships are said to ride even under the walls Through this town the wealth both of Peru and Spain passeth once every yeer from Spain by Nombre de Dios and Porto Bello from whence whatsoever Merchandise or other Commodities come from Spain are transported to Panama by Land and from thence by Sea to all the parts of Peru and by Panama whatsoever comes from Peru to be sent into Spain It hath commonly a strong Garrison of Souldiers in it and is doubtless a place otherwise well fortified being of so great importance Lastly La Crux Real a few leagues distant from Panama and for the most part inhabited by Negros 3. Darien hath on the North the District or Circle of Panama on the South the new Kingdome of Granada Eastward it is bounded with the Gulf of Vrraba abovesaid and some part of the River Darien which giveth name to the Province and to the West with the South Sea of a more temperate Aire by farre than that of Panama and a Soil so admirably fruitfull and lusty that they say Melons Cucumers and generally all other Fruits of the Garden are ripe and fit to gather within twenty dayes or less after their first sowing The chief and indeed only Town of this tract is Darien called anciently by the first Founders of it St. Maria Antiqua and by others the Antique of Darien being one of the first Towns that were built by the Spaniards on the firm Land 4. Eastward of Darien and the Gulf of Vrraba lyeth the Countrie of New-Andaluzia as some call it though that name be likewise and perhaps more truly attributed to the Province of Paria hereafter to be spoken of on the East it hath the Countrie called St. Martha on the North the main Ocean and New-Granada towards the South It is for the most part a Mountainous Countrie and full of Woods which they say yeeld aboundance of Rosin Gumms and some very good Balsams But the Plains by reason of much rain to which the Countrie is subject especially for some times of the year of but a spewy and cold Soil The Spaniards at their first comming found it a rich Country not so much from the nature and profits of the Soil though it be said to have some Mines in it and those of Gold but by reason of a certain opinion and respect which the Americans of these parts are generally said to have born towards this Country insomuch that they would be brought and buryed therein from other places very remote and according to the custome of the Country not without good store of Gold and other Jewels according to the quality and condition of the Person that was buried of which the Spaniards soon gained intelligence and in ransacking the Graves and Monuments of the Dead are supposed to have found an infinite Mass of Treasure But those Mines are long since exhausted The places of chief impotance here are 1. Carthagena situate upon the North Sea in a sandy Peninsula or half Island well built and for the bigness of it of good wealth and riches as the English well found under Sir Francis Drake in the yeare 1585 when they took the place and having pillaged it carried away beside aboundance of Treasure no less than two hundred and fourty brass peices of Ordinance It is counted one of the best Havens belonging to the firme land of America 2. Tolu by the Spaniards now called St. Jago twelve leagues distant from Cartagena a place memorable for the excellent Balsam which is brought from thence commonly called the Balsam of Tolu 3. St. Crux de Mopox a neate Town seated a little above the confluence of the two Rivers St. Martha and Magdalene which water this Province 4. Baranca de Nolambo a place of great Traffique especially for all Commodities of the new Kingdome of Granada it standeth upon the banks of the Magdelene River and about six leagues distant from the Sea 5. Buena Vista otherwise called St. Sabastian de Buena Vista a Town commodiously seated upon a rising ground not far from the Gulf of Vrraba or the Sound of Darien about a league and half from the Sea and lastly Villa de St. Maria thirty leagues southward of Cartagena 5. St. Martha so called from the cheif City of the Province is bordered on the West with New-Andaluzia on the East with Rio de la Hacha on the North with the Ocean and on the South with New-Granada It is about threescore and ten leagues in length and not much less in breadth a mountainous Country likewise for the most part and the ground not much commended but only for some fruits of the Ordinary growth of Spain viz. Oranges Limons c. which thrive here very well The aire upon the Coasts very hot but more within land as extremely cold viz. upon the Mountaines The Country is well watered with Rivers the chief whereof is Rio Grande as they call it or the great River of Magdalene which rising in the Mountains of New-Granada falleth down into this province empties it self into the Sea betwixt the Cities of St. Martha and Cartegena though at a distance of ten or twenty leagues from either with a double stream and such a violent course that as Acosta testifies it is counted not a little dangerous to attempt the entrance of it sometimes viz. when the Tyde and the stream are contrary The chief Towns are 1. St. Martha seated upon the Sea coast having a safe and very convenient Haven belonging to it and well defended from the windes by the advantage of an high Mountain lying almost right over against it It is no great Town but rich for the bigness at least it was found so when Sir Francis Drake surprised it in the year 1595. What it was the year following when Sir Anthony Shirly called there and in the yeare 1630 when the Dutch took it I cannot say 2. Tenariffe on the banks of the Magdalene fourty leagues distant from St. Martha 3. Villa de las Palmas twenty leagues southward of Tenariff 4. Ciudad de los Reyes in the Valley of Vpar and upon the banks of a large River called Guataporta which a little below this Town falleth into the Magdalene It is a Frontire place and but ill neighboured by reason of certain
generally are covered with thick Woods and wild Forests the Hill-Country for a great part naked and open the Plains in many places sandy and dry and would be much more scorched with heat then they are but for the neighbourhood of the Sea which affords them many cooling gales from the South and South-west windes whose property although it be naturally in other parts to be tempestuous to bring rain and foul weather yet here there is nothing but Serenity and fair Sun-shine dayes all the year long although these windes blow almost without ceasing upon the Country and no other at any time whereas the Sierra or Hill countrys have winde from every coast and such as bringeth all sorts of weather with it Rain Hail Frost Snow great claps of Thunder c. The Countrie affordeth not so much Cattel of the breed of Europe as some other Provinces of America but instead of these both the Woods and Pastures are replenished with great multitudes of the Vicugnes and Pacos above mentioned which are of no less profit service The Pacos here are said to be as big as some young Heifer of two yeers old bearing a fleece like Sheep and their flesh no less pleasant than the Mutton of Europe But the great wealth of this Countrie lyes out of sight in the bowels of the Earth viz. in those rich and as they may seem inexhaustible Mines both of gold and silver which as 't is well known this Countrie of Peru affordeth more than any other Province of America beside The People are said to be at least exteriorly of greater simplicity than some other Americans both in point of behavior and judgement yet of good courage in the warrs and fearless of death They are noted also to be dissemblers and not alwaies to declare their mindes truly and plainly and which is worse than all to have bin given over to that foul sin of Sodomy in so much that their Women were generally found to be of small esteem with them to be used no better than slaves and most cruelly beaten by them upon every light occasion For both which their unnatural filthiness and inhumaninity if it pleased the Divine Justice to deliver them into the hands of those who used them likewise cruelly who can deny but that the Judgements of God were just and that they received such recompence for their works as the Apostle saith Rom. 1.13 was meet The Countrie is generally divided into three Juridicall Resorts as they call them or Courts of Appeal which are Quito Lima and Charcas but the particular Provinces as they are commonly observed by Geographers said to be six viz. 1. Quito 2. Los Quixos 3. Lima. 4. Cusco 5. Charcas And 6. Collao 3. Quito is the first Province of Peru towards the North or the new Kingdome of Granada with which on that side it is bounded having on the West Mare del Zur on the South Lima and on the East Los Quixos It lyeth in a manner right under the Line the Soil reasonably fertill and well stored with Cattel especially with the Pacos or Peruvian Sheep having plenty also of Fish and Fowl good store of Cotton-woll in which the People of the Countrie are especially industrious make a Cloath or Stuff thereof equall almost to silk for fineness Much Tobacco Guaiacum Sarzaparilla and other medicinall Plants The chief Towns are 1. Caranguez anciently a Royall Citie where stood a sumptuous and stately Palace of the Kings of Peru now almost deserted 2. Ottavallu another place of the same dignitie and the same condition at present with Carangues 3. Quito commonly called S. Francisco de Quito It is a Citie built by the Spaniards at the foot of a certain ridg of Mountains which it hath on the North and North-West side of it and are said by Laet to cross the whole Countrie of Peru quite over from the South to the North Sea It is inhabited by five hundred Families of Spaniards at least beside Natives and well fortified and might be thought a town very well seated in all respects but for the neighbourhood of a Vulcan which at times annoyeth it very much as namely in the year 1560 when it vomited out such aboundance of flaming cinders and other sulphurous matter as had it not been for a showre of rain unexpectedly falling would have much damnified if not destroyed the place 4. Tacunga fifteen leagues distant from Cusco 5. Rhiobamba fourty leagues distant from that 6. Thomebamba 7. Cuenza threescore and four leagues from Quito on another roade but environned on all sides with Mines both of gold and silver brass iron and likewise some veins of sulphur 8. Loxa sixteen leagues Southward of Cuenza and seated pleasantly betwixt two Rivers in the midst of the rich Valley or Plain called Guixibamba 9. Zamorra twently leagues Eastward of Loxa These are all Towns inhabited by Spaniards and lye more within land Towards the Sea and upon the Sea coasts there is first Puerto Vieio so called because it was the first Town the Spaniards possessed on this Continent a place of no very good Aire and therefore not much frequented 2. Mantu another Sea Town and of good resort by reason of the Trade which is here chiefly driven betwixt Panama and Peru. 3. Guaiaquil or St. Jago de Guaiaquil a famous and well frequented Empory seated upon an arme of the Sea not far from the mouth of the said River Guaiaquil 4. Castro a Colonie of Spaniards towards that part of this Province which some call Provincia de las Esmauldas or the Land of Emralds 5. St. Michaels the first Colonie which the Spaniards built in this Countrie called by the Natives Piura 6. Payta a small Town yet neighboured by a safe and well frequented Haven guarded against the windes by the point St. Helena on the North and on the South with Punta Piura yet burnt by Captain Cavendish in the year 1587 and the rich Island Puna neer adjoyning ransacked and pillaged 4. Los Quixos lyeth South and to the South-East of Quito being bordered more directly Eastward with a part of the Province of Guiana called by some El dorada or the golden Countrie on the South it hath Lima and Cusco Of the Countrie it self there is not my thing observed that may seem peculiar The chief Towns are 1. Baeza built in the year 1559 by Ramirez de Avila eighteen leagues from Cusco 2. Archidona twenty leagues to the South-East of Baeza 3. Avila 4. Sevilla del Oro. All of them Colonies of Spaniards Then is there in the Sierra or hilly part of the Countrie more towards the Andes 1. Valladolidt 2. Loyola 3. St. Jago de las Montannas all Colonies likewise that you may know the Countrie hath something in it worth the looking after 5. Lima called also Los Reyes hath on the East Collao and some part of Cusco on the North Los Quixos on the West Mare del Zur and on the South Charcas The Countrie extendeth it self in length upon
the Coasts of the South Sea two hundred and fifty some say full three hundred leagues in length viz. from the Cape del Aguia Northward on the borders of Quito as far as Arequipa towards the South the soil reasonably fertil in all things as being much more equally divided into Hill and Plain Countrie and much better Peopled than some other Provinces The places most observable and important in it are 1. Miraflores as the Spaniards call it a well seated and wealthy Town in the Valley of Zanu five leagues distant from the Sea where it hath likewise a good Haven or Port. 2. Truxillo two or three leagues distant from the Sea the Haven whereof is said to be large but not so safe The Town it self is seated upon the banks of a pleasant River in the Valley of Chicama consisting of five hundred Families or more the Aire very healthfull and the Countrie thereabouts as fruitfull and good as any of these parts of America especially abounding in Corn Sugar-Canes and Cattel 3. La Parilla twenty leagues Southward of Truxillo in the Valley called Santa and well neighboured with rich Mines of silver lately discovered 4. Arnedo seated among the Vineyards of the Valley of Changay ten leagues from Lima northward 5. Lima by the Spaniards commonly called la Ciudad de los Reyes or the City of Kings so named because Pizarro who built it layd the first stone on Twelfth day 1553 which they call The Feast of the Kings It is seated in the Valley of Lima one of the fruitfullest parts of all Peru and so neatly built that all the chief streets of the Citie open upon a fair Market-place or Piazza of such a large square that upon the sides thereof are built in a stately and convenient manner the Cathedral Church and Palace of the Archbishop the Vice-Roys Palace and Courts of Justice with the Exchequer or publique Treasury the Town-House or place where the Citie Magistrates meet and hold their Courts the publique Armory or Magazine and divers other fair buildings of the Nobility and better sort of Citizens The whole City is environed round about with most delicate fields and pleasant gardens and scarse a Citizens house within but by the oportunity of a River which runneth by it is well supplyed with water Briefly as it is the Metropolis of Peru that is the chief and principall Citie for Authority and Dignity so is it likewise the chiefest for delight and wealth 6. Cullao this is the Haven or Port Town to Lima and but two leagues distant from it A Town of six or seven hundred Families all or most of them Sea-men and not a house in it but is well provided of Cellar-room and Stowage for Merchandise which is there received from all parts both coming from and going to the Sea It was with Lima it self surprized by Sir Francis Drake in the year 1579 and their Cellars searched as well as could be done in so short a time whereupon since it is said to be fortified with two strong Bulwarks a wall of earth and about thirty piece of Ordinance planted on the Works 7 Pachacama four leagues Southward of Lima memorable chiefly for Pizarros good fortune here who is reported to have found in one only old Temple of the Natives the quantity of nine hundred thousand Duckets of gold and silver beside what his Souldiers are supposed to have seiz'd on and conveighed away before he came 8. Guarco a Colony of three hundred Spaniards sixteen leagues to the Southward of Pachacama rounded with the best fields for Wheat in all Peru. 9. Valverde a great Town inhabited by five hundred Spaniards and though at sixteen leagues distance from the Sea yet well traded and rich The Valley wherein it lyeth and from which it taketh its name affording the best Vines of America 10. Castro-Verreina threescore leagues distant from Lima to the South East It lyeth in the Valley of Chocolocha and is a rich place by reason of the good Mines of silver which are about it and the aboundance of the best sort of Tobacco 11. Arequipa a pleasant and delightsome town in the Valley of Quilca one hundred and twenty leagues distant from Lima Southward of a temperate and fresh Aire a flourishing Soile and the Town very rich and frequented by reason that through it much of the silver of Potozi and divers other Mines thereabouts that is designed for Spain passeth yearly to be shipped for Panama at a Haven belonging to this Town though at a distance as som say of 10. or 21. leagues 12 Caxamalca more within land towards the North a place chiefly memorable for the imprisonment murder of Atabalipa the last King of Peru whom the Spaniards overthrew and took prisoner neer to this place and afterwards used as hath been said Lastly 13. Leon de Guanuco so called from the Territory wherein it standeth a rich and pleasant place being anciently a Palace of the Kings of Peru very magnificent and stately now likewise much beautified with Houses both of the Spanish and Peruvian Nobility some Convents of Religious men and a Colledge of Jesuites 6. Cusco is the farre greater part of the Province of Peru containing generally all the Sierra or Hill Countries and those parts of the Andes likewise which lye Southward of the little Province or Cantred of Guanuco being coasted Westward and to the North-west with Lima Eastward with Los Quixos and some part of Guiana and on the South with Charcas enjoying for the most part a temperate and good Aire neither over-heated with the scorching Sun in the day nor damped with any cold mists or dews in the Evening as some parts of the Plains of Peru are but well watered with many fresh Rivers which make the Valleys and lower grounds of it good pasturage and to maintain great Heards of Cattel The Woods especially stored with the Coca whose leafe is counted so restorative as we said Chap. 7. and with much excellent Venison The principall Towns and places of Trade in it are first Bombon situate upon a Lake called Chinchacocha said to be ten leagues in compass begirt round about almost with hills and neighboured with many other lesser but pleasant Villages 2. Parcos once a Palace Royall of the Inca's seated on the top of a little hill encompassed with other Rocky and higher Mountains on all sides 3. Guamanga called by the Spaniards St. Juan de la Vittoria a fair and well built City and an Episcopall Sea threescore and ten leagues distant from Lima Eastward 4. Bilcas another Palace of the Inca's now a good Town of the Natives and situate as is supposed in the very midst of the Countrie of Peru. 5. Guancavelica a new Town raised from the condition of a very poor Village to a place of very great importance and traffique only by the Mines of Quick-silver of which we spake Chap. 11. and which were first discovered there in the year 1566. It is now inhabited by two thousand
and towards the Streits with Magellanica on the East with the Atlantick Ocean more Northward or to the North-East it hath Brasil and on the West those undiscovered Countries of the Province of Chile of which we spake The Countrie on both sides the River is reported to be a very lusty and fruitfull Soil bearing besides those which are proper and Native all sorts of European Fruits and Grain in great aboundance with Sugar-Canes as many great and good as any other Province of the New-World Nor is it excelled by any other Countrie for good pasturage and great heards of Cattel Sheep Swine In particular Horses are said to have so multiplyed here that of thirty Mares and about six or seven Stallions which the Spaniards left there in the space of fourty yeers the whole Countrie thereabouts towards the South was filled with the Breed of them running wilde in great companies together through all the Woods and Forrests of the Country and of excellent mettle and service if they could be tamed It affordeth likewise great store of wild Deer and Stags some Lions Tygers c. nor is it without good Mines some both of Gold and Silver but cheifly as to what is yet discovered of Brass and Iron and the People altogether Savage The River de la Plata which as we said divides the Country is one of the largest of the whole World rising as 't is supposed out of the Lake called de los Xarayes three hundred leagues or more within land and falling into the Atlantick or North Sea in thirty four degrees of Southern latitude with an Estuary or Mouth of thirty or two and thirty leagues over The whole Country is usually subdivided into three inferiour Provinces which are 1. Rio de la Plata properly so called 2. Tucuman 3. La Crux de Sierra 2. Rio de la Plata properly so called is that part of the Country which extendeth it self on both sides of the River in length many leagues together but not answerable in breadth and containeth these Towns of chiefest note and importance viz. 1. Buenos Ayres by some called La Trinidad on the Southern banks of the River de la Plata sixty four leagues they say from the Mouth of it It is seated commodiously at the foot of a little Mountain and fortified with a Mud-wall a little Castle and some pieces of Ordinance 2. Sta. Fe in English St Faiths fifty leagues above Buenos Ayres upon the same River and a richer place chiefly by reason of their cloath of which there is here one of the greatest Manufactures of all these parts of Peru. 3. Nuestra Sennora de la Assumption commonly called Assumption only lying yet higher up the River almost one hundred leagues a well built and well frequented Town said to be inhabited by two hundred Families at least of naturall Spaniards besides Mestizos as they call them which are the breed of Spaniards by the American People men or women and Mulattos which are likewise their Race but begotten upon Negroes of both which there are reckoned to be here some Thousands 4. La Ciudad Real or more commonly called Ontiveros fourscore leagues Northward from Assumption seated on the banks of the River Parana in a fruitfull Soil as the Country generally is about all these places but the Aire here not so healthfull 5. St. Anne upon the same River 6. St. Salvador 3. Westward of la Plata lyeth the Country of Tucuman extending it self as far as the borders of Chile a Country not yet well discovered either to the North or the South That part of it which lyeth toward Chile is well manured and husbanded and likewise very fruitfull But that towards Magellanicae neither the one nor the other remaining altogether untitled and barren The chief Towns and places of note are 1. St. Jago de Esteco the principall Town of the Province and a Bishops Sea seated upon the River Esteco one hundred and fourscore leagues distant from Buenos Ayres 2. St Michael de Tucuman seated at the foot of an huge rocky Mountain but otherwise in a Soil the fruitfullest and best both for Corn and Pasturage of all this Country twenty eight leagues distant from St. Jago 3. Talavera or Nuestra Sennora de Talavera as the Spaniards call it situate upon the banks of Salado in a good Soil and inhabited by an industrious People grown exceeding rich and wealthy cheifly by their Manufactures of Cotton-wooll whereof they have great plenty and by which they drive a Trade as farre as the Mines at Potozi and other parts of Peru. 3. Corduba another rich Town of this Province and of great trade as lying at an equall distance viz. of fifty leagues both from Sta. Fe as they call it or St. Faiths in the Province of La Plata abovesaid from St. Juan de la Frontera in the Country of Chile and almost in the road way from Potozi and those parts of Peru to Buenos Ayres and the North Sea There are likewise the Townes 5. Chocinoca 6. Sococha 7. Calebinda 8. Morata and others but belonging for the most part to the reduced Natives 4. Sta. Crux de Sierra is a little Territory at least in comparison to some others lying towards Peru and reckoned by some for part of the Province of Peru. It lyeth betwixt the two great Rivers of Paraguay and Guapay one hundred leagues distant as 't is said from Charcas to which yet in some causes it is subordinate The Soil of the Country abundantly fertill in all sorts of American Fruits besides good plenty both of Wheat and Maiz scarsity of nothing usefull for mans life unless it be fresh water in some places The chief Towns of it are 1. Sta. Crux situate at the foot of a great Mountain or Hill but opening upon a large Plain whose thirsty drieness is well refreshed by a certain Brook or Torrent which issueth out of a neighbouring Mountain a few leagues distant from the Town maketh a pretty Lake which supplyeth the Country thereabouts both with fresh water and fish good plenty 2. Barranea a Town supposed to be not above threesore leagues distant from Potozi 3. Nova-Rioia once a Colony of Spaniards but sacked and spoiled by the Savages of these parts about the yeare 1548 and the first Discoverer of the Country namely Nunno de Chaves treacherously murdered by a Native since which time 't is said to have been deserted CHAP. XVI Of Brasil 1. NOrthward of Paraguay or Rio de la Plata lyeth the Country of Brasil a large Province of this Easterly part of America and bounded to the East with Mare del Nort or the Atlantick Ocean on the West with the Andes On the North it hath the great River Maragnon which divides it from Guiana and on the South Paraguay It containes in length measuring by the Sea coast from North to South two hundred leagues and more but in breadth that is from the Andes to the Sea scarse half so much
of which likewise but a small portion is yet discovered and less possessed The Portugheses who are Masters of the Country holding only some few places towards the Sea with so much of the uplands as the Inhabitants thereabouts can use leaving all the rest to the Natives or such as will adventure further for it The Country is in some parts mountainous and well set with Forests and huge Woods yet generally of a Champaign and low ground commodiously distinguished and watered with good Rivers The Aire for the most part sound and healthfull being said to be very much cleered by certain fresh windes from the Southward which they have almost continually all along upon the coasts The Soil would be admirably fruitfull were it not for overmuch rain to which especially in some parts the Country is subject Nevertheless it is wonderfully plentious and aboundeth with sugar-Canes more than any other part of America beside the Portugheses here having their Ingenios as they call them or sugar-Mills up and down in all parts of the Country with many thousands of Slaves working in them which are brought them yearly out of Guiny Congo and other parts of Africk And 't is a merchandise doubtless of huge profit to them the Portugheses being supposed to transport one year with another only out of Brasil a hundred and fifty thousand Arrobes of fine sugar every Arrobe containing twenty five Bushels as some say of English measure There is likewise great quantity of that red wood which they commonly call Brasil-wood so much used both in England and other parts for dying of Cloath The Trees of this wood are said to be of such incredible bigness that whole Families of the Natives live upon or within an Arme of them and they are a principall Stowage and refuge for them when the Land is overflowed with waters as at some times of the year it happens to be and that unexpectedly on the sudden This Country is another Africk abounding with variety of many strange and prodigious creatures more than any other part of the New-World as may be seen in Authors especially Laet lib. 15. cap. 5. c. and the Natives generally no less savage and barbarous going for the most part naked eating Mans-flâ—sh the men cruel to extreamity and the women as wanton and immodest both of them especially more towards the Andes hairy all over like bruit beasts from whom they seem but little to differ save only in shape The Country is not as yet divided into Provinces or such nationall districts as the other parts of America generally are although there be found among them as many severall sorts of People and of different languages as in any other Country but into certain Prefectures or lesser Governments which the Portugheses have erected and setled only for the command and better securing of those parts which themselves hold in the Country They lie all of them towards the Sea coast and are reckoned to be about thirteen in number viz. 2. The Prefecture of St. Vincent bordering on Rio de la Plata and inhabited by the most civill People of Brasil where the Portugheses have these Towns of note viz. Los Santos at the bottom of a Bay or huge Arme of the Sea with an Haven belonging to it capable of ships of good burthen It lyeth two or three leagues distant from the main Ocean and was taken and held by the English under Sir Thomas Cavendish some two moneths together in the yeare 1521 but is now better fortified with a Wall two strong Castles and some pieces of Ordinance 2. St. Vincent not above four miles distant from Los Santos and better built only it hath not the benefit of such a good Haven 3. Itange 4. Cananea all of them southward of St. Vincent at some leagues distance 5. St. Paul situate upon the top of a Mountain or little Hill having a very curious prospect into the open fields both towards the East North and South westward it overlooketh a little Wood or Forest and is neighboured they say with very rich Mines of Gold in the Mountaines Pernapiacaba six or seven leagues distant 6. St. Philips on the banks of Iniambis a fair River of this Country The Prefecture of Rio de Janeiro a district of this Country once held by the French but taken from them by the Portugheses in the yeare 1558 and all the French put to the Sword It hath these Towns 1. Colignia so named from that famous Hugonot Gaspar Coligni Admiral of France by whose assistance and encouragement chiefly it had been peopled by the French being seated on a Bay of the River Janeiro 2. St. Sebastians a Town built by the Portugheses at the Mouth of the said Bay and fortified with four strong Bulworks 3. Angra de los Reyes twelve leagues distant from St. Sebastians westward beside some Burroughs of the Natives very populous but neither strong nor fortified The Prefecture del Spirito Santo one of the most fertil Prefectships of all Brasil plentifully stored with Cotton-wooll watered with excellent Rivers especially that which they call Parayba of a large stream and full of good fish The Prefecture it self is not very large as having one only Town of note in it inhabited by the Portugheses called likewise Spirito Santo but it hath two hundred Families at least in it and a very safe and commodious Haven belonging to it three or four leagues distant from the Sea The Prefecture of Puerto Seguro fifty leagues more to the North of Spirito Santo having these Towms viz. 1. Puerto Seguro it self seated as it were upon a Rock or Cliff towards the Sea side where it commands the Haven and contains in it about two hundred Families of Portugheses 2. Sta. Crux three leagues distant from Puerto Seguro 3. Amaro or St. Omars in America once a rich Town and well Traded by reason of the aboundance of sugar-Canes which the Countrie affordeth but since deserted as some say by the Portugheses not able to maintain the place and their trading against the Savages thereabouts who having kild likewise eaten most of the slaves at their sugar-Farms in the Countrie seemed to threaten no less to themselves The Prefecture Dos Ilheos as the Portugheses call it either from certain Islands which lye before it or from the principall Town called Ilheos seated upon a convenient Bay or Arme of the Sea about thirty leagues distant from Puerto Seguro to the North. There are said to be one hundred or one hundred and fifty Families of Portugheses in it and a few leagues from it more within land a Lake of ten or twelve leagues in compass well stored with good Fish especially those called Manati a dainty Fish for meat as hath been said and so big that as Laet reporteth some of them here are found of a thousand or eleven hundred pound weight and sometimes more The Portugheses hereabouts would quickly grow rich by the aboundance of sugar-Canes and good Cattel which the
concerns the belly 3. Dominica an Island of twelve leagues in length very fruitfull of a good sort of Tobacco which the Europeans have of the Natives chiefly in exchange of Knives some Hatchets and other Instruments of Iron which they value much It hath on the West side of it a convenient Harbour for ships but the People being said to continue Cannibals and exceedingly barbarous even to this present no Nations as yet have attempted to inhabit among them 4. La Desseada a small Island but of great use to the Spaniards who alwaies touch at it both coming and going 5. Guadalupe another small Island which they likewise take in their way continually to and from America it serves them chiefly for fresh water and lyeth eight or ten leagues Westward of Desseada 6. Antego as the English corruptly call it rather Antiqua is an Island of about seven leagues in length and almost as much in breadth lying to the North-East of Guadalupe where the English of late years are said to have planted a Colony but wherein their Trade lyeth doth not so well appear 7. St. Christophers This lyeth on the North-west of Guadalupe where the English and French both of them having planted their several Colonies were not many years since outed by the Spainyards yet permitted quietly to pass to their other Plantations The chief Commoditie which the Countrie yeeldeth is Tobacco and in the Easterly parts of it some Salt 8. Barbados This is an Island at the North-East of St. Vincent of an ovall form and of the same bigness or extent with that of St. Vincent that is containing in the compass of the whole a matter of eighteen or twenty miles It lyeth the most Easterly of all the rest of these Islands of a Soil very lusty and good especially for such Commodities as are proper for it On the East side it hath many Angles and Points shooting out into the Sea which consequently make many Bays upon the Coast of it but by reason of certain quick-sands which lye before them not much used or frequented by ships On the South side it hath a large and convenient Harbour capable of the tallest ships and well frequented It is counted now one of the best Colonies of the English but said to have been heretofore not a little at the mercy of the Spaniard Their chief Trade is Tobacco and a kinde of course Sugar which we call Barbados-Sugar and will not keep long not that the Countrie is unapt for better but as 't is rather supposed because the Planters want either skill or stock to improve things to the best The Countrie is somewhat hot and it behoves an English man to be very temperate and wary when he goes first thither 9. Sta. Crux called by the Natives anciently Ayay fifteen leagues distant from Port-rico to the South-East woody and Mountainous having on the West side of it a convenient Harbour for shiping They speak of a certain Fruit of this Countrie not unlike to a green Apple which if a Man eat it causeth such an inflammation and swelling of his tongue that for twenty four hours space at least he looseth the use of it quite but afterwards it asswageth of it self without further hurt And also of certain Fen-waters with which if a Man chance to wash his face before noon it likewise swells so much presently that his eyes will be closed up but in the afternoon no such matter which I mention because they say there is a Colony of English setled there of late years There be many other of these Caribee Islands beside as namely Anguilla Barbada St. Bartholmews Las Nieves St. Lucies St. Martins Montserrat c. but of so little consideration especially to our Nation that it would seem but tedious to mention them further Of Port-rico and Monico 1. POrt-rico is an Island fifteen leagues distant from Sta. Crux as hath been said to the North-west and about as many from Hispaniola to the South-East but from the Continent or main Land of Paria which seems to be the neerest one hundred and thirty or one hundred and thirty six as some reckon It lyeth almost in a Quadrangular form being supposed to contain about thirty leagues in length and not less than twenty in breadth in eighteen and nineteen degrees of Northern-latitude The Aire reasonably temperate and agreeable not scorched with any excessive heats in Summer nor beaten with those continuall rains to which some parts of America are subject in Winter its greatest annoyance being from those sudden and violent tempests which they call Hurricanoes which infest it very much especially in the moneths of August and September The Soil fruitfull enough affording aboundance of Sugar-Canes Ginger Cassia Hides and divers other rich Commodities As concerning the Mines both of gold and silver which were once certainly known to be there some say they are exhausted and spent long since others think that 's but a pretence of the Spaniards to keep strangers from looking into the Country while they themselves are more busied within Land It is divided almost in the midst from East to West with a ridge of Mountains which the Spaniards call Sierra del Loquillo and hath these Towns of chief note and importance viz. first Port-rico it self commonly called St. John de Port-rico a strong and neat Town well built in a little Island by it self but joyned to the other by certain huge piles of Timber-work of vast labour and expence done by command of Philip the second King of Spain It was attempted by Sir Francis Drake in the year 1595 without success but a few years after taken by the Earl of Cumberland as hath been said 2. St. Germans in the West parts of the Island three or four leagues distant from the Sea a place as 't is said to be neither fortified nor much frequented 3. Luysay on the East side a good and well frequented Port some leagues distant from Port-rico 2. Eastward of Port-rico and betwixt it and Hispaniola there lyeth a little but fruitfull Island called Mona and Westward of that another called Monico or Monetta which last the English when time was found so admirably stored with a sort of wilde Fowl that the huge flights of them seemed to darken the Aire over their heads and upon their landing found such plenty of their eggs upon the shore and ground thereabouts that they presently laded two of their boats with them But how Peopled or possessed not so well known Of Hispaniola 1. HIspaniola or little Spain as Columbus named it is if not the largest yet at least the fairest and goodliest of all the American Islands called by the Natives anciently Hayti It lyeth as we said fifteen leagues Westward of Port-rico and distant from the main Land of America about one hundred and twenty of a Triangular form the sharpest point whereof is that towards Port-rico which they call Cabo de Enganno That towards the West inclines to a semi-circle containing a good and
of the chiefest Rivers of the Island is still said to be much haunted with Crocodiles that are very dangerous to strangers unacquainted with the Country and to any that rest or sleep neer the banks of the River 2. The Towns and places of chief importance belonging to this Island are 1. St. Jago seated at the bottom of a large and capacious Bay on the South-side of the Island two or three leagues distant from the Sea and counted the chiefest Port on that side It is a Bishops sea and once a very populous and rich place of trade but at present not a little decayed only for want of Inhabitants who are advanced more up into the Continent having left the Islands behinde them more than half empty Neer unto this place viz. about three or four leagues distance are those famous Mountains which the Spaniards call Sierras de Cobre or the Brass Mountains from the aboundance of that Metal which the Mines in them doe still afford 2. Baracao thirty leagues Eastward of St. Jago toward the Sea 3. Bayamo or St. Salvador seated more within land in a rich and pleasant part of the Island but not so commodious for trade 4. Puerto del Principe on the North side of the Island fourty leagues distant from St. Jago neer to which saith Laet there is a Fountain which sendeth forth a liquor of a Bituminous substance and black as Pitch very good and much used in those parts for the calking of Ships and gathered in great abundance upon the Sea into which it falleth and is sometimes digged also as out of a Mine 6. La Trinidad nine or ten leagues Eastward of the Bay of Xagua Lastly 6. Havana the most known and best traded Port absolutely of all these parts and and perhaps of the whole Continent lying at the most northerly point of the Island towards Cape Florida a place naturally strong and so well fortified by Art that it is held impregnable The entrance whereof is defended on each side with a strong Castle and a stronger than either built right opposite to the Mouth of the Haven and all of them so commodiously and advantageously situated for the defence and assistance of each other as 't is said nothing can be devised better Close to one of them there is erected a watch-Tower of such height that from the top of it they easily descry whatsoever Ships move upon those Seas and give notice of them to the Guards being thereby a very great assurance not only to the Inhabitants of this place and Island but also to the whole Bay of Mexico And is therefore the ordinary Seat of the Governour and the generall Rendezvous of the Spanish Ships when they goe home for Spain meeting heer from all parts of the Gulf and tarrying one for another till all be come in and from thence setting sail for Spain through the Sreits of Bahama and by some of the Leucayae Islands above mentioned It is likewise a very strong Garrison it being said that the King of Spain allowes pay for no less number than 1000. Souldiers only for this place Jamaica is somewhat a lesser Island lying Southward of Cuba and to the West of Hispaniola almost at an equall distance viz twenty leagues from them both They reckon it to be in length about fifty leagues or more in breadth twenty and to contain in the whole about one hundred and fifty of a rich and fertil Soil and in nothing less provided for the necessities of mans life than either Hispaniola or Cuba well stock'd with Cattel and as plentifully stored with Fruits of all sorts yeelding abundance of Cotton-wooll more than either of the other Islands only it wanteth the conveniency of some good Havens and Ports which it hath but few and the Sea round about it so shelvy and full of Rocks and broken Islands that the coast of it is held to be not a little dangerous and therefore as little frequented by Merchants or others There being at present three only small Towns inhabited in the whole Island viz. 1. Sevilla or New-Sevill in the North parts of the Island 2. Melilla ten leagues distant from Sevill towards the East And lastly Oristan 14. leagues distant from it towards the South FINIS Errata PAg. 4. for their read there p. 26. for degrees r. leagues p. 37. for abstenious r. abstemious p. 43. for de bios r. de Dios p. 48. for Philirpine r. Philippine p. 106. for rending r. trending p. 154. for cleerer r. cleer p. 166. for times r. time p. 171. for dusty r. dusky p. 176. for Ovil r. Oval p. 192. for in line r. in a line p. 208. for unparalled r. unparalleld p. 217. for more r. no more p. 234. for Catha r. Cathay for Duch r. Dutch p. 235. for there and some r. there are some p. 239. for enquire of r. enquire p. 242. for though r. thought p. 243. for Georges bay r. St. Georges bay p. 344. for Role r. Rose p. 369. for these r. those p. 419. for thirty thousand r. three thousand p. 437. for Dragro r. Drago Books printed and to be sold by Edward Dod at the Gun in Ivie-Lane AN entire commentary on the old Testament in four Volumes wherein the divers translations and expositions literal and mystical of all the most famous Commentators both ancient and modern are propounded examined and Judged off for the more full satisfaction of the Studious in all things which compleateth the Authors Comment on the whole Bible the like never yet published in english by any written by John Mayer D. D. in folio Natures Paradox an excellent Romance in quarto translated by Major Wright Lucasta Epodes Odes Sonnets Songs by R. Lovelace Esquire in Octavo The Life and death of Mr. Carter with a funerall Sermon in Octavo The Joviall Crew of Merry Beggars by R. Brome in quarto The Deputation of Angels or the Angel Guardian proved by the dim sight of Nature by Robert Dingly in Octavo The Reign of King Charles faithfully impartially delivered and disposed into Annals by H. L. Esquire