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
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
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
Temperature and Disposition of the Aire there the quality of the Soile and Nature of its several Climates 1. THe Spaniards and other Nations have not altogether the same sense concerning the situation or extent of the West-Indies Commonly they are taken to signifie that part of the World lately discovered which lyeth Westward of the Worlds general and fixed Meridian which according to the common opinion runneth through the Azores or Tercerae Islands from one Pole to another thereby dividing the Globe of the Earth into two equall parts or Hemispheres The Spaniards looking to the pretended Donation or Grant made by Pope Alexander the sixth to the Kings of Castile and Leon of whatsoever Lands or Islands discovered or that should be discovered by them sailing Westward of the Azores whether upon the coast of India or elsewhere doe not seldom comprehend under the notion of the West Indies and the New World the Moluccae and Philippine Islands with some other places in the Indian Sea though they lie cleerly in the Eastern Hemisphere which because it seems not so properly done and doth otherwise beget obscuritie in the Authors that treat of this subject I thought it not amiss to give this Item of it here According therefore to the most ordinarie and general acception of the word America or the West-Indies is that part of the World lately discovered which lyeth Westward of the Azores and the Worlds Meridian and possesseth either in Sea or Land the greatest part of that Hemisphere viz. the Western Hemisphere of the World the Land it self viz. of America being bounded Eastward and and South-East with the Atlantick Ocean and Westward and to the South-west with Mare del Zur the Northern borders of it being not yet known A Countrie of so vast an extent that some have equalled it to all the other three parts of the World Europe Asia and Africa together to whom I can hardly assent yet doe readily acknowledge it to be much larger than any one yea perhaps than any two of the other parts could they be exactly compared It lyeth for the most part North and South not directly but somewhat inclining in the Southern part of it Eastward and in the Northern part Westward being in length as 't is commonly supposed from Terra Magellanica in the South to Estetiland and the further parts of Quivira in the North above a thousand nine hundred and seaventy seaven Spanish leagues which according to English or common measure is more than six thousand miles reaching from 60. degrees of Northern latitude for so farr it hath been discovered already by Land unto 53 degrees of Southern The breadth of it viz. from St. Michael otherwise called Piura in the Province of Quito upon the South Sea to the Prefecture and Town of Parayba on the Coast of Brasil where it is thought to be broadest is reckoned to be 1300. leagues and in the whole compass to contain little less than ten thousand leagues or thirty thousand common English miles 2. The whole Countrie lyeth in the form of two Peninsula's or large demy-Islands joyned together by an Ihstmus or neck of Land called the Streit of Darien of about an hundred miles in length but in breadth viz. from one Sea to another in many places especially about Panama and Nombre de Dios not above seventeen and eighteen miles over They that resemble the Country to the form of a Pyramis reversed I suppose would be understood onely of the Southern or Peruvian part as 't is called neither is it so easie to conceive where they lay the Basis of it if from the Coast of Peru Westward to the uttermost point of Brasil towards the East as by the form of the Maps 't is most probable they doe the spire or top of their Pyramis will have somewhat an obtuse or blunt point in as much as the Countrie of Magellanica which lyeth upon the Streits and maketh the point of the Pyramis is by confession some hundred of leagues over from East to West or from the Atlantick to the South Sea the Streits themselves running a course of one hundred and ninety leagues all along the Coast of it and consequently must be of a far greater bredth than the Streit of Darien where 't is evident the Land of America or rather of Peru contracts it self into a much sharper point or Pyramis viz. betwixt Panama and Nombre de Dios as hath been said To me taking the whole Country or both Peninsulas together America seems rather to resemble some rich Usurers bagge tyed fast in the mid'st the one end whereof is rich and well stuff'd with Crowns the other empty and loose So seems America The Southern part thereof containing the golden Countries of Peru New-Granada Castella aurea Chile and the rest like the full bottome of the bagge swells and spreads it self with a large circumference and border both East and West the Northern part especially beyond New Spain and the Streit of Darien which is as it were the hand upon the Purse and that part by which the Catholike King both holds and commands all the rest as the Provinces thereof seem to lye more scattered one from another and not so compacted together as consisting much of Islands and the Continent it self frequently divided with Bays and Inlets of the Sea so in comparison of the Southern Provinces it affords but little of those precious Commodities for which America's acquaintance is so much desired by other Nations and with equall care policie and good success hitherto forbidden by the Spaniards 3. It is a question among Cosmographers too great for me to determine whether America be really Continent or Island that is whether the Northern Borders of it be joyned to any part of Asia or divided from it by some narrow Sea or Frith as it is to the Southward from those as yet undiscovered Southern Lands which lie on the other side of Magellan's Streits It seems to be the more common Opinion at least amongst Englishmen that it is an Island though a huge one wholly surrounded by the Sea and divided from Asia by a certain Frith or narrow Sea which they call the Streits of Anian from a Province of the Asiatique Tartarie which beareth that name and is supposed to border upon those Streits Nor doe there want some presumptions of probability for it as for example a report of Pliny out of Cornelius Nepos an ancient and credible Author of certain Indians that were driven by storm upon the Coasts of Suevia or Suaben in Germany in their Canoa's or little Boats in which it had been impossible for them to have come thither by any other passage than by the North parts of America Impossible I say to have come any other way and not to have touched first at some other Lands or Islands by the way viz. upon the Coasts of Barbary Spain Portugall the Azores or Canarie Islands by reason that a ship or any thing else floating at Sea when it is
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
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
in length and about six in breath having these only places of importance in it viz. Mon Pater which is a good Fort of the Spaniards built at the East Angle of the Island to secure their Pearl-fishing when that Trade held and to defend their ships which commonly rode there at Anchor 2. the Valley of Sta. Lucia two leagues distant from the Sea where the Spaniards have a Colony 3. Makanao a Town of the Natives This whole Island was surprised by the English under Captain Parker in the yeare 1601 who in stead of Prisoners carryed away good store of the Spaniards Pearl which he forced them to pay for their ransome 5. Cubagna another Island pertaining to this Province of Paria lyeth almost in the midle way betwixt the Island Margarita and the Continent from which last it is not counted to be above a league distant and five or six from the other being it self in the compass of the whole not much above three or four of a Soil wholy barren and destitute of all kinde of necessaries for the life and sustinance of man without Corn without Pasturage without Fruit without water yet only for the richness of the Pearl-fishing round a-about it for many yeares together there was no place more frequented than it Nor is it at present wholly deserted for though the Trade of Pearls be said to have failed for some yeares yet have they a Colony still remaining there called New-Cadiz and on the East part of the Islands a certain Fountain not far from the Sea side which yeeldeth a kinde of Bituminous substance like Oyle of such a medicinable vertue for many diseases that it sufficiently recompenseth the want of the Pearls by a more reall utillity and benefit is found in good plenty floating for the most part upon the Sea thereabout 5. The lesser Islands as they are called part of this Provinciall Prefecture of Paria lie all along upon the coasts of Venezuela from East to West in number many but the principal of them are 1. Tortuga a little Island said to be not above four or five miles in length and in breadth hardly one but well know for the aboundance of good Salt that is made and transported thence every yeare it lieth five or six leagues westward of Margarita hath a good Harbour and aboundance of that wood called Guaiacum of which we spake before 2. Bonayre an Island of five or six leagues in compass well stored with small Cattell especially Sheep and Goates It lyeth right over against the Bay called Golfo Triste or the Vnfortunate Bâ—y and was the place whether the Spaniards transplanted the poor Natives of Hispaniola when they grew weary of killing them 3. Curacaos three or four leagues westward of Bonayre and containing about so many in compass of a soil exceedingly fertill and good for Pasturage having likewise on the north side of the Island a very good and safe Harbour for shipping 4. Aruba three or four leagues distant from Curacaos to the North-east about five miles in compass being for the most part a level and flat Country inhabited but not much either by Spaniards or Natives 5. Los Monges or the Monks as the Spaniards named them These are three or four lesser Island lying eastward of the Cape Coquibocoa of great use and direction at Sea to those that sail for Carthagena but for any thing else scarsely memorable CHAP. XIX Of the American Islands 1. VVE have spoken hitherto only of the Continent of America and those Islands which lye so neer the Continent that they are commonly reckoned as part of it and appertaining to the respective Provinces against which they lie It remains now not to leave any thing considerable untouch'd at least that we take a veiw of some other Islands viz. that lie further off and seem not to have any other relation to America but only that of obedience and subjection to the Spaniards government who are Lords of America and have reduced at least the principall and chief of those Islands long since under their power They lye either in the South or the North Sea Those in the South or Mare del Zur are chiefly two viz. Los Ladrones and the Islands Fernandinae Los Ladrones in English the Islands of Theeves lye as it were in the midle way betwixt the main-Main-land of America and the Philippine Islands but some hundred of leagues distant from either in the fourth degree of Northern latitude So named by Ferdinand Magellan from the pilfering disposition he observed in the Natives when he sailed that way for the Moluccae Islands They were a nimble and active sort of People yet light-fingerd it should seem and going for the most part naked tall of stature excellent Swimmers and Divers and have not much more to be spoken in their Commendation The Fernandinae are only two Islands of no great bigness lying over against the coast of Chile in the three and thirtieth degree of Southern latitude and about one hundred leagues or three hundred English miles from the Continent yet well stored with some lesser sort of Cattel as Goats c. good plenty likewise of Venison in the Woods and of Fish upon the Coasts for which reason though lying at some distance yet are they not a little frequented by the Spaniards of Peru who finde many good Harbours and roads for shipping belonging to and about these Islands But the chief viz. of the American Islands abovesaid are those which lye in the Atlantick or North-Sea on the East side and as it were in the way to the Continent of America which are as follow viz. 1. The Caribes 2. Port-rico 3. Hispaniola 4. Cuba and 5. Jamaica Of the Caribee Islands 1. THe Caribee-Islands as the English commonly call them are a row or ridge as it were of lesser Islands which extend themselves almost in fashion of a Bow from the Coast of Paria as far as St. John de Port-rico The name signifies as much as the Islands of Cannibals or Man-Eaters and so the Natives generally were before they were either destroyed or reduced to better manners by the Spaniards There are many of them but the principall and those which seem most worthy of notice are 1. Granada This lyeth in form of a Croissant or half-Moon upon the Continent of Paria viz. that part of it which is called Cuniana having a reasonable good Haven and a Soil not altogether unfruitfull but much over-shaded with Woods and hitherto but little inhabited 2. St. Vincent six or seven leagues Northward of Granada but from any part of the Continent ten at least a very fruitfull Island yeelding aboundance of Sugar-Canes that grow naturally without any Art or help of Husbandry well watered with Rivers and affording many convenient Bays and safe roads for shipping It lyeth in a circular form and is thought to contain about eight or ten leagues in compass Inhabited by a People not over much industrious nor sollicitous for ought but what
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