Spanish fury because they would not render themselves in time and had killed two of their Horses Yet notwithstanding their fellowes fought until they espied the Spanish Army coming and the Ordnance then they returned leaving the field to the Spaniards whose Horse-men followed them and slew about seventy of them without receiving any hurt With this the Indians perceiving the great advantage which the Spaniards had against them with their Horses and meaning to come upon them subtilly with a more powerful Army that they might the better deceive and delude them they sent unto Cortez two of the four Messengers which had been sent unto them with other Indians saying that they of Tlaxcallan knew nothing of the things that had happened certifying likewise that those with whom he had fought were of other communities and not of their jurisdiction being sorrowfull for that which had passed and for so much as it happened in their countrey they would willingly pay for the two Horses which were slain praying them to come in good time to their Towne who would gladly receive them and enter into their league of friendship because they seemed to bee valiant men But all this was a feigned and a false message Yet Cortez beleeved them and gave them thanks for their courtesie and good will and that according to their request he would goe unto their Towne and accept their friendship And touching the death of his Horses hee required nothing for that within short time he expected many more yet sorrowfull he was not so much for the want of them as that the Indians should thinke that Horses could die or be slain Cortez proceeded forwards about two leagues where the Horses were killed although it was almost sun set and his men wearied having travelled far that day He planted his Army by a river side remaining all that night with good watch both of Foot-men and Horse-men fearing some assault but there was no attempt given that night The next morning at sun rising Cortez departed with his Army in good order and in the midst of them went the Fardage and Artillerie and after a little marching they met with the other two Messengers whom they had sent from Zaclotan they came with pitifull cryes exclaiming of the Captaines of the power of Tlaxoallan who had bound them and detained them from returning but with good fortune that night they had broken loose and escaped for otherwise in the morning following they had been sacrificed to the God of Victory and after the sacrifice they had been eaten for a good beginning of the warres the Tlaxcalteca's protesting to doe the like to the bearded men for so they termed the Spaniards and to as many as came with them They had no sooner told their tale when there appeared behind a little hil about a thousand Indians very well appointed after their fashion and came with such a marvellous noise and cry as though their voyces should have pierced the heavens hurling at the Spaniards stones darts and shot with bowes and arrowes Cortez made many tokens of peace unto them and by his Interpreters desired them to leave the battail But so much the more as he intreated for peace the more hasty and earnest were they thinking either to overcome them or else to hold them play to the intent that the Spaniards should follow them to a certaine ambush that was prepared for them of more then fourescore thousand men Here the Spaniards began to cease from words and to lay hand upon their weapons for that company of a thousand were as many as on the Spaniards side were fighting men though they were well practised in the warres very valiant and also pitched in a better place for fight This battail endured certaine houres and at the end the Indians being either wearied or else meaning to take the Spaniards in the snare appointed began to flie towards the main battail not as overcome but to joyne with their own side The Spaniards being hot in the fight and slaughter which was not little followed them with all their fardage and unawares fell into the ambush among an infinite number of Indians armed they stayd not because they would not put themselves out of order and passed through their campe with great haste and fear The Indians began to set upon the Spanish Horsemen thinking to have taken their lances from them their courage was so stout many of the Spaniards had there perished had it not been for their Indian friends who had come with them from Zempoallan and Zaclotan Likewise the courage of Cortez did much animate them for although hee led his Army making way yet divers times hee turned him back to place his men in order and to comfort them and at length came out of that dangerous way and ambush where the Horses might help and the Ordnance stand in stead which two things did greatly annoy the Indians to their great wonder and marvell and at the sight thereof began to flie In both incounters remained many Indians slain and wounded and of the Spaniards some were hurt but none killed who gave most hearty thankes unto God for their delivery from so great a multitude as were foure score thousand against one thousand onely of Indians and Spaniards joyned together The Indians of Zempoallan and Zaclotan did play the valiant men that day wherefore Cortez honoured them with hearty thankes Then they went to pitch their Campe in a village called Teoacazinco where was a little Tower and a Temple and there fortified themselves The night following the Spaniards slept notquietly with fear of a third Invasion of the Tlaxcalteca's As soone as it was day Cortez sent to the Captains of Tlaxcallan to require them of Peace and Friendship willing them quietly to suffer them to passe through their Countrey to Mexico for that they meant them no hurt but rather good wil. The answer of the captains of Tlaxcallan was that the next day they would come and talke with him and declare their minds Cortez was well prepared that night for the answer liked him not but rather seemed brave and a matter determined to be done as some had told him whom hee tooke prisoners who likewise certified that the Tlaxcalteca's were joyned together to the number of a hundred and fifty thousand men to give battaile the next day following and to swallow up alive the Spaniards whom so mortally they did hate thinking them to bee friends unto the Emperour Montezuma unto whom they wished all evill and mischief Their intent was therefore with all their whole power to apprehend the bearded men and to make of them a more solemne Sacrifice unto their Gods then at any time they had done with a generall banquet of their flesh which they called Celestiall The Captaines of Tlaxcallan divided their Souldiers into foure Battailes the one to Tepeticpac another to Ocotelulco the third to Tizatlan and the fourth to Quiahuiztlan that is to say the men of the Mountaines the men of the
The English-American his Travail by Sea and Land OR A NEW SVRVEY OF THE WEST-INDIA'S CONTAINING A Journall of Three thousand and Three hundred Miles within the main Land of AMERICA Wherin is set forth his Voyage from Spain to S t. Iohn de Ulhua and from thence to Xalappa to Tlaxcalla the City of Angeles and forward to Mexico With the description of that great City as it was in former times and also at this present Likewise his Journey from Mexico through the Provinces of Guaxaca Chiapa Guatemala Vera Paz Truxillo Comayagua with his abode Twelve years about Guatemala and especially in the Indian-towns of Mixco Pinola Petapa Amatitlan As also his strange and wonderfull Conversion and Calling from those remote Parts to his Native COUNTREY With his return through the Province of Nicaragua and Costa Rica to Nicoya Panama Portobelo Cartagena and Havana with divers occurrents and dangers that did befal in the said Journey ALSO A New and exact Discovery of the Spanish Navigation to those Parts And of their Dominions Government Religion Forts Castles Ports Havens Commodities fashions behaviour of Spaniards Priests and Friers Blackmores Mulatto's Mestiso's Indians and of their Feasts and Solemnities With a Grammar or some few Rudiments of the Indian Tongue called Poconchi or Pocoman By the true and painfull endevours of THOMAS GAGE now Preacher of the Word of God at Acris in the County of KENT Anno Dom. 1648. London Printed by R. Cotes and are to be sold by Humphrey Blunden at the Castle in Cornhill and Thomas Williams at the Bible in Little Britain 1648. To His Excellency S r. THOMAS FAIRFAX Knight Lord FAIRFAX OF CAMERON CAPTAIN-GENERALL of the Parliaments Army And of all their Forces in ENGLAND and the Dominion of WALES May it please your EXCELLENCY THe Divine Providence hath hitherto so ordered my life that for the greatest part thereof I have lived as it were in exile from my native Countrey which happened partly by reason of my education in the Romish Religion and that in forraign Universities and partly by my entrance into Monasticall orders For twelve years space of which time I was wholly disposed of in that part of America called New-Spain and the parts adjacent My difficult going thither being not permitted to any but to those of the Spanish Nation my long stay there and lastly my returning home not onely to my Country but to the true knowledge and free-profession of the Gospels purity gave me reason to conceive That these great mercies were not appointed me by the heavenly Powers to the end I should bury my Talent in the earth or hide my light under a bushell but that I should impart what I there saw and knew to the use and benefit of my English Country-men And which the rather â—… held my self obliged unto because in a manner nothing hath been written of these Parts for these hundred years last past which is almost ever since the first Conquest thereof by the Spaniards who are contented to lose the honour of that wealth and felicity they have there since purchased by their great endevours so they may enjoy the safety of retaining what they have formerly gotten in peace and security In doing whereof I shall offer no Collections but such as shall arise from mine own observations which will as much differ from what formerly hath been hereupon written as the picture of a person grown to mans estate from that which was taken of him when he was but a Childe or the last hand of the Painter to the first or rough draught of the picture I am told by others that this may prove a most acceptable work but I doe tell my self that it will prove both lame and imperfect and therefore had need to shelter my self under the shadow of some high protection which I humbly pray your Excellency to afford me nothing doubting but as God hath lately made your Excellency the happy instrument not onely of saving my self but of many numbers of godly and well affected people in this County of Kent where now I reside by the favour of the Parliament from the imminent ruine and destruction plotted against them by their most implacable enemies so the same God who â—…ath led your Excellency through so many difficulties towards the settlement of the peace of this Kingdom and reduction of Ireland will after the perfecting thereof which God of his mercy hasten direct your Noble thoughts to employ the Souldiery of this Kingdom upon such just and honourable designes in those parts of America as their want of action at home may neither be a burden to themselves nor the Kingdome To your Excellency therefore I offer a New-World to be the subject of your future pains valour and piety beseeching your acceptance of this plain but faithfull relation of mine wherein your Excellency and by you the English Nation shall see what wealth and honor they have lost by one of their narrow hearted Princes who living in peace and abounding in riches did notwithstanding reject the offer of being first discoverer of America and left it unto Ferdinando of Arragon who at the same time was wholly taken up by the Warrs in gaining of the City and Kingdome of Granada from the Moores being so impoverished thereby that â—…e was compelled to borrow with some difficulty a few Crowns of a very mean man to set forth Columbus upon â—… glorious an expedition And yet if time were closely followed at the heels we are not so farr behinde but we might yet take him by the fore-top To which purpose our Plantations of the Barbadoes St. Christophers Mems and the rest of the Caribe-Islands have not onely advanced our journey the better part of the way but so inured our people to the Clime of the Indies as they are the more inabled thereby to undertake any enterprise upon the firm Land with greater facility Neither is the difficulty of the attempt so great as some may imagine for I dare be bold to affirm it knowingly That with the same pains and charge which they have been at in planting one of those pettie Islands they might have conquer'd so many great Cities and large Territories on the main Continent as might very well merit the title of a Kingdome Our Neighbors the Hollanders may be our example in this case who whilst we have been driving a private Trade from Port to Port of which we are likely now to be deprived have conquered so much Land in the East and West-Indies that it may be said of them as of the Spaniards That the Sunn never sets upon their Dominions And to meet with that objection by the way That the Spaniard being intituled to those Countries it were both unlawfull and against all conscience to dispossess him thereof I answer that the Popes donation excepted I know no title he hath but force which by the same title and by a greater force may be repelled And to bring in the title of First-discovery
once is opened then Adversaries begin to swarme and rage so in all points of false and fained Religion where the entrance to it is laid open hatred and enmity will act their parts But much more if with such pretended Religion Wealth and Ambition as counterfeit Mates thrust hard to enter at the opened doore what strife hatred and envy doe they kindle even in the hearts of such who have vowed poverty and the contempt of worldly wealth I may adde to what hath beene observed above that no hatred is comparable to that which is betweene a Jesuite and a Fryer or any other of Romes Religious Orders And above all yet betweene a Jesuite and a Dominican The ambition and pride of Jesuites is inconsistent in a Kingdome or Common-wealth with any such as may bee equall to them in Preaching Counsell or Learning Therefore strive they so much for the education of Gentlemens Children in their Colledges that by teaching the sonnes the love of the fathers and mothers may bee more easily gained and their love and good will thus gained they may withall gaine to themselves whatsoever praise honour glory may bee fit to bee bestowed upon any other Ecclesiasticall Person Which Policy and Ambition in them being so patent and knowne to all the World hath stirred up in all other Religions a hatred to them uncapable ever of Reconciliation This hath made them all to conspire against them and to discover their unsatisfied covetousnesse in beguiling the rich widowes of what meanes â—…ath beene left them by their deceased husbands to erect and build those stately Colledges beyond the Seas the sight whereof both outward and inward doth draw the ignorant people to resort more to their Churches and preaching then to any other Thus whilest in Venice they got the favour of one of the chief Senatours of that Common-wealth they politickly drew him to make his will according to their will and pleasure leaving to his son and heire no more then what they should think fit to afford him But they appropriating to themselves the chiefest part of the young heires meanes and with so proud a legacy thinking to overpower all other Orders were by them opposed so that the Will was called for by the whole State and Senatours of Venice fully examined and they commanded to restore to the heire the whole Estate as enjoyed by his Father Well did that wise Senate conceive that as one Noble man had been cheated by them of his fortunes so might they one by one and so at length the riches of Venice might become a treasure onely for Jesuites to maintaine the pride and pompe of their glorious fabricks And though those vowed servants to the Pope obtained his Excommunication against the whole Estate of Venice upon non-complying with the foresaid Will and Testament yet such was the preaching of all other Preists and Orders against them that they caused the State to slight the Excommunication and in lieu of making them heires of the deceased Senatours Estate they shamefully banished them out of Venice Thus also have the Preists and Fryers of Bisâ—…ya in Spain prevailed against the admitting of Jesuits into San-Sâ—…an though by the favour of some they have in severall occasions obtained an house and erected a Bell to ring and summon in the People to their pretended Church and Colledge Nay the very house wherein their Patron Ignatius Loiola lived have they often seriously offered to buy for a Colledge yet such hath been the opposition of the Preists and Fryers of that Countrey that they have dashed to nought their often iâ—…rated endeavours to purchase that which they esteem their chiefest Relique But to come neerer to our owne Countrey what a combustion did this strife betweene Jesuites and other Preists of England cause among our Papists ten yeares agoe when the Pope sending into England Doctor Smith pretended Bishop of Chalcedon to bee the Metropolitan head over all the Clergy and other Orders how then was â—…t to see the pride of the Jesuites as inconsistent with any one that might oversway them or gain more credit then themselves who never left persecuting the Bishop till by the Popes Letters they had banished him out of England Which curtesie the secular Preists gaining yet a head over them with title of Archdeacon Doctor Champney have ever since sought to repay home by endeavouring alwayes to cast them out of England as pernicious to the State of this Kingdome more then Fryers or any other sort of Preists Which they have sufficiently made known by discovering their covetousnesse in encroaching upon many Houses and Farmes enriching themselves as namely at Winifreds Well so tearmed by them where they had bought an Inne and speedily fell to building there that they might make it a Colledge for Jesuites to entertaine there all Papists comers and goers to that Well and so might win to themselves the hearts of most of the Papists of the Land who doe yearly resort thither to bee washed and healed upon any light occasion either of Head-ach Stomack-ach Ague want of children where they blindly phansie a speedy remedy for all maladies or wants of this World Thus have the Preists discovered further our English Jesuites covetousnesse in the building of the Sope-houses at Lambeth under the name of Mr. George Gage their purse-bearer and since projecting the Monopoly of Sope under Sir Richard Wâ—…on Sir Basil Brooke and many others names who were but Agents and Traders with the Jesuites rich and mighty Stocke Thus came out the discovery of the Levelling of Hils and Mountaines cutting of rocks at Leige in the Low Countryes at the Colledge of the English Jesuites a worke for Gardens and Orchards for their Novices recreation and pastime which as I have heard from their owne mouthes cost them thirty thousand pound which gift they squeezed out of one onely Countesse of this Land Like to this may prove their Colledge at Gaunt for which they have obtained already a faire beginning of eight thousand pounds from the Old Countesse of Shrewsberry and from the greatest part of the Estate of Mr. Sackefield whom whilst they had him in their Colledges they cherished with their best dainties and with hopes that one day hee should bee a Canonized Saint of their Religious Order All these knaveries doe even those Preists of the same Popish Religion discover of them and thereby endeavor to make them odious And though of all the Jesuites be the most covetous yet may I not excuse the Secular Preists Benedictine Monks and the Fryers from this damnanable sinne who also strive for wealth and meanes for their Doway Paris and Liâ—…ve Colledges and lose no opportunities at the death of their Popish favourites for the obtaining a Legacy of one or two hundred Pounds assuring them their soules shall bee the better for their Masses Thus doe those miserable wretches in the very heat of their zeale of soules seeke to suppâ—…sse one another and having vowed Poverty yet make they the
Galeons for fear of Turkes and Hollanders whom the Spanish Dons shake and tremble at set forward our fleet with a pleasant and prosperous gale with a quiet and milken sea untill we came to the Golfe called Golfo de Yeguâ—… or of kicking Mares whose waves and swelling surges did so kick our ships that wee thought they would have kicked our St. Anthonies gilded image out of our ship and bereaved my Antonio Melendez of his gilt and painted idol to whom hee daily bowed and prayed against the mercilesse element and that all our ships galleries would have been torn from us with these spurnings and blowes of that outragious Golfe But at last having overcome the danger of this Golfe the eight Galeons took their leave of us and left our Merchant ships now to shift for themselves The departure of these Galeons was most solemnly performed on each side saluting each other with their Ordnance visiting each other with their Cock-boates the Admirall of the Fleet feasting with a stately dinner in his ship the Admirall of the Galeons and the like performing most of the other ships to the severall Colonells and Captains and other their allied friends that were of the Roiall Fleet. Here it was worth noting to heare the sighes of many of our Indian Apostles wishing they might return again in any of those Galeons to Spain their zeal was now cold and some endeavoured many waies for Calvo his licence to returne which could not be granted others imployed themselves most of that day in writing letters to their friends and Sisters in Cales Thus dinner being ended and the two Admiralls solemnly taking their leaves the warning piece being shot off for the Galeons to joyn together and turne their course to Spain we bad mutuall adieu crying one to another Buen Viaie Buen passage we kept our course towards America sailing before the wind constantly till we came to America a thing worth noting in that voiage from Spain to the Indies that after the Islands of Canaria are once left there is one constant wind continuing to America still the same without any opposition or contrariety of other winds and this so prosperous and full on the sailes that did it blow constantly and were it not interrupted with many calmes doubtlesse the voiage might be ended in a moneth or lesse But such were the calmes that many times we had that we got not to the sight of any land till the twentieth day of August so that neer six weeks we sailed as on a river of fresh water much delighting and sporting our selves in fishing many sorts fishes but especially one which by the Spaniards is called Dorado the golden fish for the skin and scales of it that glitter like gold of this sort we found such abundance that no sooner was the hooke with any small bait cast into the sea when presently the Dorado was caught so that we tooke them many times for pleasure and cast them againe into the sea being a fish fitter to be eaten fresh then salted Many were the feasts and sports used in the ships till wee discovered the first land or Island called Desseada The last day of Iuly being according to the Jesuites Order and Romes appointment the day of Ignatius their Patron and founder of their Religion the gallant ship called S ta Gertrudis wherein went 30 Jesuites for theirs and their Saints sake made to all the rest of the Fleet a most gallant shew shee being trimmed round about with white linnen her flags and top gallants representing some the Jesuites arms others the picture of Ignatius himself and this from the evening before shooting off that night at least fifty shot of Ordinance besides four or five hundred squibs the weather being very calme and all her masts and tacklings hung with paper Lanthornes having burning lights within them the waits ceased not from sounding nor the Spaniards from singing all night The daies solemne sport was likewise great the Jesuites increasing the Spaniards joy with an open procession in the ship singing their superstitions Hymnes and Anthemes to their supposed Saint and all this seconded with roaring Ordnance no powder being spared for the compleating of that daies joy and triumph The fourth of August following being the day which Rome doth dedicate to Dominick the first the founder of the Dominicans or Preachers Order the ship wherein I was named St. Ambony strived to exceed S ta Gertrudis by the assistance of the 27 Dominicans that were in her All was performed both by night and day as formerly in S ta Gertrudis both with powder squibs lights Waits and musick And further did the Dominicans joy and triumph exced the Jesuites in that they invited all the Jesuites with Don Iohn Nino de Toledo the President of Manila with the Captaine of the ship of S ta Gertrudis to a stately dinner both of Fish and Flesh which dinner being ended for the afternoones sport they had prepared a Comedy out of famous Lope de Vega to be acted by some Souldiers Passengers and some of the younger sort of Fryers which I confesse was as stately acted and set forth both in shewes and good apparell in that narrow compasse of our ship as might have been upon the best stage in the Court of Madrid The Comedy being ended and a banquet of sweet meates prepared for the closing up of that daies mirth both ours and S ta Gertrudis Cock-boat carried backe our invited friends bidding each other adieu with our Waits and chiefest Ordnance Thus went we on our Sea Voiage without any storme with pleasant gales many calmes dayly sports and pastimes till we discovered the first land called Desseada upon the twentieth day of August CHAP. VI. Of our discovery of some Islands and what trouble befell us in one of them THe Admirall of our Fleet wondring much at our slow sailing who from the second of Iuly to the 19 of August had seen nor discovered any land save only the Islands of Canaria the same day in the morning called to Councell all the Pilots of the ships to know their Opinions concerning our present being and the neernesse of Land The Ships therefore drew neere unto the Admirall one by one that every Pilot might deliver his opinion Here was cause of laughter enough for the passengers to heare the wise Pilots skil One saying we were three hundred miles another two hundred another one hundred another fifty another more another lesse all erring much from the truth as afterward appeared save onely one old Pilot of the smallest Vesseâ—… of all who affirmed resolutely that with that small gale wherewith wee then sailed wee should come to Guadalupe the next morning All the rest laughed at him but he might well have laughed at them for the next morning by Sun-rising wee plainly discovered an Island called Desseada by the Spaniards or the desired Land for that at the first discovery of the India's it was the first Land the Spaniards found being then as
the residue of his Army to follow him with as much speed as might be so that with that company which he carried with him he made way taking away the trees that were cut downe to disturbe his passage and in this order in short time passed his host without any hurt or danger but with great pain and travaile for certainly if the Mexicans had been there to defend that passage the Spaniards had not passed for it was then a very evill way though now it be a reasonâ—…ble wide open rode where Mules laden with wares from St. John de Ulhua and the Sugar farmes daily passe and the Mexicans also thought the same to be sure with the trees which were crossed the way whereupon they were carelesse of that place and attended their coming in plain ground for from Tlaxcallan to Mexico are three wayes of the which Cortez chose the worst imagining the thing that afterwards fell out or else some had advised him how that way was cleare from the enemies At the descent of this hill Cortez abode and rested himselfe till all the whole Army were come together to descend downe into the plaine for from hence they descried the fires and beacons of their enemies in sundry places and all those who had attended their â—…ing by the other two waies were now gathered together thinking to set upon them betwixt certain bridges which are in the plain made for travellers by reason of the many dikes and currents of water which issue from the lake where a great company abode expecting their coming But Cortez sent twenty Horse-men who made way among them and then followed the whole Army who â—…lew many of them without receiving any hurt Thus did the remembrance of those antiquities newly refreshed by the object of the hill and plain beneath make that cold and hard passage more comfortable and easie unto us The first Towne we came to below the hill was Quabutipec of the jurisdiction of Tezcuco where we also called to mind that this was the place neer unto which was pitched the Campe of the Indians of Culhua which was neer a hundred thousand men of warre who were sent by the Seniors of Mexico and Tezcuco to encounter Cortez but all in vain for his Horse-men broke through them and his Artillerie made such havock among them that they were soon put to flight Three leagues from hence on our right hand as we travailed we discovered Tezcuco by the side of the lake and out of the Rode yet it ministred unto us matter of a large discourse taken from the time of Cortez and the first Conquerers who found it a great City and at that time even as big as Mexico though in it Cortez met with no resistance for as he journeyed towards it foure principall persons inhabitants of it met with his forces bearing a rod of gold with a little flag in token of peace saying that Coacuacoyocin their Lord had sent them to desire him not to make any spoile in his City and Townes about it and likewise to offer his friendship praying also that it might please him with his whole Army to take his lodging in the Town of Tezcuco where he should be well received Cortez rejoycing at this message yet jealous of some treachery and mistrusting the people of Tezcuco whose forces joyned with the Mexicans and Culhuacans he had met with a little before went forward on his way and came to Quahutichan and Huaxuta which then were suburbs of the great City Tezcuco but now are petty Villages by themselves where he and all his host were plenteously provided of all things necessary and threw down the Idols This done he entred into the City where his lodging was prepared in a great house sufficient for him and all the Spaniards with many other his Indian friends And because that at his first entry he saw neither women nor children he suspectâ—…d some treason and forthwith proclaimed upon pain of death that none of his men should goe out In the evening the Spaniards went up into the Zâ—…ties and galleries to behold the City and there they saw the great number of Citizens that fled from thence with their stuffe some towards the mountaines and others to the water side to take boat a thing strange to see the great haste and stirre to provide for themselves There were at that time at least twenty thousand little boats called Canoas occupied in carrying houshold-stuffe and passengers Cortez would faine have remedied it but the night was so nigh at hand that he could not He would gladly also have apprehended the Lord but hee was one of the first that fled unto Mexico This Towne of Tezcuco to this day is famous among the Spaniards for that it was one of the first if not the first which according to the Histories of those parts is very probable that received a Christian King to rule and governe For Cortez hearing that Coacuacoyocin then King of that City and Townes adjacent was fled caused many of the Citizens to be called before him and having in his company a young gentleman of a Noble house in that countrey who had been lately christened and had to name Hernando Cortez being his God-father who loved him well said unto the Citizens that this new Christian Lord Don Hernando was sonne unto Nezâ—…valpincintli their loving Lord wherefore he required them to make him their King confidering that Coacuacoyocin was fled unto the enemies laying also before them his wicked fact in killing of Cacuzâ—… his owne brother onely to put him from his inheritance and Kingdome through the â—…uticement of Quahutimâ—…cin a mortall enemy to the Spaniards In this sort was that new Christian Don Hernando elected King and the fame thereof being blown abroad many Citizens repaired home again to visit their new Prince so that in short space the City was as well replenished with people as it was before and being also well used at the Spanirds hands they served them diligently in all things that they were commanded And Don Hornando abode ever after a faithfull friend unto the Spaniards in their warres against Mexico and in short time learned the Spanish tongue And soone after came the inhabitants of Quahutichan Huaxuta and 〈◊〉 to submit themselves craving pardon if in any thing they had offended Within two daies after Don Hernando was made King of this great City and Territorie belonging to it whose borders reach unto the borders of Tlaxcallan came certaine gentlemen of Huaxuta and Quobutichan to certifie unto him how all the power of the Mexicans was coming towards them and to know if it were his pleasure that they should carry their wives children and other goods into the mountaines or else to bring them where he was their feare was so great Cortez for the King his God-child and favourite made unto them this answer saying Bee ye of good courage and feare ye not Also I pray you to command your wives and families to make no
relent the stench also of the dead bodies was wonderfull noysome That night Cortez purposed to make an end the next day of the Warres and Quahutimoc pretended to flie and for that purpose had enbarked himself in a Canoa of twenty Oares When the day appeared Cortez with his men and foure Peeces of Ordnance came to the corner where those that yet remained were shut up as Cattel in a Pound Hee gave order to Sandoval and Alvarado what they should doe which was to be ready with their Vergantines and to watch the coming out of the Canoa's which were hidden betwixt certaine houses and especially to have regard unto the Kings person and not to hurt him but to take him alive Hee commanded the residue of his men to force the Mexican boates to goe out and hee himselfe went up into a Tower inquiring for the King where hee found Xihuacoa Governour and Captaine Generall of the City who would in no wise yeeld himself Then came out of the City a great multitude of old folkes men women and children to take boat The throng was so great with hast to enter the Canoa's that many by that meanes were drowned 〈◊〉 the Lake Cortez required his men not to kill those miserable creatures But yet 〈◊〉 could not stay the Indians his friends of Tlaxcallan and other places who slew and sacrificed above fifteen thousand The men of Warre stood in the house toppes and Zoties beholding their perdition All the Nobility of Mexico were enbarked with the King Then Cortez gave signe with the shot of a hand-Gunne that his Captaines should bee in a readinesse so that in short space they wan fully and wholly the great City of Mexico The Vergantines likewise brake in among the Fleet of boates without any resistance and presently beat down Quahutimoc his Royall Standard Garcia Holguin who was a Captaine of one of the Vergantines espied a great Canoa of twenty Oares deep laden with men who being by one of his prisoners informed that the King was in it gave chase to it and presently overtooke it When Quahutimoc who stood upon the Puppe of his Canoa ready to fight saw the Spaniards Crossebowes bent to shoot and many drawne swords against him hee yeelded himselfe declaring that hee was King Garcia Holguin being a glad man of such a prisoner tooke him and carried him unto Cortez who received him very respectfully But when Quahutimoc came neer unto him hee laid his hand upon Cortez his dagger saying I have done all my best and possible endeavour to defend my self and my Vassals according to my duty hoping not to have come to this estate and place where now I stand and considering that you may doe with mee what you please I beseech you to kill mee and that is my onely request Cortez comforted him with faire words giving him hope of life and tooke him up into a Zotie requiring him to command his Subjects that yet held out to yeeld and render themselves Which Quahutimoc presently performed and at that time after so many Prisoners taken and so many thousands slain and starved there were about threescore and ten thousand persons who seeing their Prince a Prisoner threw down their weapons and submitted themselves Thus did Hernando Cortez winne the famous and stately City of Mexico on the 13. day of August Anno Dom. 1521. In remembrance whereof every yeere on that day they make in Mexico a sumptuous feast and solemne procession wherein is carried the Standard Royall with the which the City was wonne In the losse of it was as much to bee observed as Antiquity can produce of any Victory wherein was one Emperour the greatest that ever was in those parts slain and another as great a Warrier as ever America had knowne taken Prisoner The Siege endured from the time the Vergantines came from Tlaxcallan three moneths and therein were on Cortez his side neer 200000 Indians who dayly increased and came in to help him 900 Spaniards fourescore horses onely seventeen or eighteen Peeces of Ordnance sixteen or as some say eighteen Vergantines and at least 6000 Canoa's In this Siege were slain fifty Spaniards onely and six horses and not above eight thousand of the Indians Cortez his friends And on the Mexicans side were slaine at least a hundred and twenty thousand Indians besides those that died with hunger and Pestilence At the defence of the City were all the Nobility by reason whereof many of them were slaine The multitude of people in the City was so great that they were constrained to eat little to drink salt water and to sleep among the dead bodies where was a horrible stench and for these causes the disease of Pestilence fell among them and thereof died an infinite number Whereupon is to bee considered their valour and stedfast determination for although they were afflicted with such hunger that they were driven to eat boughes rindes of trees and to drink salt water yet would they not yeeld themselves And here also is to be noted that although the Mexicans did eat mans flesh yet they did eat none but such as were their enemies for had they eaten one another and their owne children there would not so many have died with hunger The Mexican women were highly commended not onely because they abode with their husbands and fathers but also for the great paines they tooke with the sick and wounded persons yea and also they laboured in making slings cutting stones fit for the same and throwing stones from the Zoties for therein they did as much hurt as their men The City was yeelded to the spoile and the Spaniards tooke the gold plate and feathers the Indian friends had all the rest of cloth and other stuffe Thus was that famous City ruinated and burnt by the Spaniards and the power of that Nation brought under the Spanish subjection Cortez having found the aire of that City very temperate and pleasant for mans life and the situation commodiouâ—… thought presently of rebuilding it and of making it the chief Seat of Justice and Court for all that Country But before I come to speake of it as rebuilded and now flourishing I must adde unto what hath been said of Montezuma his former state and houses in it the greatnesse of the Market place and Temple which was in it when the Spaniards ruined and destroyed it The conveniency of the Lake about this City gave encouragement to the Mexicans to set apart a most spatious Market place whither all the Country about might resort to buy exchange and sell which was the more easie for them by reason of the abundance of Boates which were made onely for such Trafique In this great lake there were at that time above two hundred thousand of these little boats which the Indians call Acaâ—…es and the Spaniards call them Canoa's wrought like a kneading trough some bigger then others according to the greatnesse of the body of the tree whereof they are made And where I number
were an inch thick with blood and the ground a foot thick of it so that there was a divellish stench The Preists went dayly into those Oratories and suffered none other but great personages to enter in And when any such went in they were bound to offer some man to be sacrificed that those bloudy hangmen and Ministers of the devill might wash their hands in the blood of those so sacrificed and might spriâ—…kle their house therewith For their service in the Kitchin they had a pond of water that was filled once a year which was brought by the Conduit pipes before mentioned from the principall fountaine All the residâ—…e of the foresaid circuit served for places to breed fowles with gardens of herbs and sweet trees with roses and flowers for the Altars and this is also the Church of Romes custome and superstition to trim and deck their Saints and Altars with Garlands and Crowns of Roses and other flowers Such so great and strange was this Temple of Mexico for the service of the devill who had deceived those simple Indians There did reside as I said before of Monkes and Fryers in their Cloisters joyning to their Churches in this Temple and houses joyning to it continually five thousand persons and all these were lodged and had their living there for that Temple was marvellous rich and had divers Townes onely for their maintenance and reparation and were bound to sustaine the same alwaies on foot These Townes did sow corn and maintain all those five thousand persons with bread fruit flesh fish and firewood as much as they needed for they spent more firewood then was spent in the Kings Court These persons did live like Romes Abby-lubbers at their hearts ease as servants and vassals unto the Gods which were many and every God had severall rankes and Orders of Preists to serve him as the severall Saints canonized by the Popes of Rome have under them distinct Religious Orders of Preists Dominick hath Dominicans Francis Franciscans Benedict Benedictines Basil Basilians Bernard Bernardines Augustin Augustines and the like The Gods of Mexico as the Indians reported to the first Spaniards were two thousand in number the chiefest were Vitzilopuchtli and 〈◊〉 whose Images stood highest in the Temple upon the Altars They were made of stone in full proportion as bigge as a Gyant They were covered with a lawne called Nacar they were beset with pearles pretious stones and peeces of gold wrought like birds beasts fishes and flowers adorned with Emeralds Turquies Chalcedoâ—… and other little fine stones so that when the lawne was taken away the Images seemed very beautifull and glorious to behold But must I find out Rome still among these heathens and will the Papists bee angry if I tell them plainly that what I mislike in these Idolatrous Mexicans I mislike in them for doe not they deck and adorne their Idol Saints as the heathens did Vitzilopuchtli and Tezcatlipuca Doe not they cover their woodden and stony statues of Saints and of the Virgin Mary with fine lawne shirts and hide them with curtaines of cloth of Gold and crowne them with Crowns of Silver and Gold and enrich them with costly and pretious Jewels and Diamonds not considering that they are the workes of their owne hands Ad quid perditioâ—…aec poterant enim venundari dari pauperibus These two Indian Idols had for a girdle great snakes of gold and for collars or chaines about their necks ten hearts of men made of gold and each of them had a counterfeit Visor with eies of glasse and in their necks Death painted These two Gods were brethren for Tezcatlipuca was the God of Providence and Vitzipâ—…luchtli God of the Warres who was worshipped and feared more then all the rest There was another God who had a great Image placed upon the top of the chappell of Idols and hee was esteemed for a speciall and singular God above all the rest This God was made of all kind of seeds that grow in that Countrey which being ground they made a certain paste tempered with childrens blood and Virgins sacrificed who were opened with rasors in their brests and their hearts taken out to offer as first fruits unto the Idoll The Preists consecrate this Idoll with great pompe and many Ceremonies All the Comarcans and Citizens were present at the Consecration with great triumph and incredible devotion After the Consecration many devout persons came and sticked in the dowy Image pretious stones wedges of gold and other Jewels And after all this pompe ended no secular man might touch that holy Image no nor yet come into his Chappel nay scarcely religious persons except they were Tlâ—…caztli who were Preists of Order They did â—…ew this Image many times with new dough taking away the old And then like againâ—… unto the Papists who think themselves happy with their Saints reliques though ragges or bones blessed was hee that coulâ—… get one peece of the old ragges or a peece of the old dough for the which there was most earnest suites made by the Souldiers who thought themselves sure therewith in the Warres Also at the Consecration of this Idoll a certaine vessell of water was blessed with many words and ceremonies peradventure from this heathenish Ceremonie came the superstitious holy water to Rome and that water was preserved very religiously at the foot of the Altar for to consecrate the King when hee should bee crowned and also to blesse any Captaine Generall when hee should be elected for the Wars with onely giving him a draught of that water And as the Romish Church makes much of their dead mens skulles and rotten bones laying them up in their Churchyards under some arches made for that purpose in the Churchwalls even so was it here in Mexico for without this Temple and over against the principall doore thereof a stones cast distant stood a Charnell house onely of dead mens heads prisoners in Warres and sacrificed with the knife This monument was made like unto a Theatre more large then broad wrought of lime and stone with ascending steps in the walls whereof was graffed betwixt stone and stone a skull with the teeth outwards At the foot and head of this Theatre were two towers made onely of lime and skulles the teeth outward which having no other stuffe in the wall seemed a strange â—…ight At and upon the top of the Theatre were theresâ—…ore and ten poles standing the one from the other foure or five foot distant and each of them was full of sâ—…aves from the foot to the top Each of these staves had others made fast unto them and every one of them had five skulles broched through the temples When the Spaniards first entred into Mexico as friends before the death of Montezuma they visited all these monuments and in what they have written and transmitted to posteriry of that City it is recorded of one Andrew de Tapia and Gonzalo de Umbria that one day they did reckon these
in it two rich Colonies called Pamico and St. Iames in the valleys The third Province of Mexico is called Mechoacan which containeth in circuit fourscore leagues It is also an exceeding rich countrey abounding in Mulberry trees silk hony wax black-amber works of divers coloured feathers most rich rare and exquisite and such store of fish that from thence it tooke its name Mechuoucan which signifieth a place of fishing The language of the Indians is most elegant and copious and they tall strong active and of very good wits as may be seen in all their workes but especially in those of feathers which are so curious that they are presented for rich presents to the King and Nobles of Spaine The chiefe City of this Province is Valladolid a Bishopsseat and the best Townes are Sinsonte which was the residence of the Kings of this countrey There is also Pascuar and Colima very great Townes inhabited by Indians and Spaniards There are also two good havens called St. Anthony and St. Iames or Santiago This country of Mechoacan was almost as great as the Empire of Mexico when Cortez conquered those parts The King that was then of Mechoacan was called Caconzin who was a great friend unto Cortez and a servitor to the Spaniards and willingly yeelded himselfe as vassall to the King of Spaine yet such was the cruelty of Don Nunio de Guzman the first Ruler and President of the Chancery of Mexico after the conquest that understanding he was put out of his office he tooke his journey against the Teuchichimecas and carried in his company five hundred Spaniards with whom and six thousand Indians which by force he tooke out of Mechoacan he conquered Xalixco which is now called the new Galicia And as for this purpose hee passed through Mechoacan he tooke prisoner the King Caconzin who was quiet and peaceable and stirred not against him and tooke from him ten thousand markes of plate and much gold and other treasure and afterwards burned him and many other Indidian Gentlemen and principall persons of that Kingdome because they should not complaine saying that a dead dog biteth not They were in this Kingdome as superstitious and idolatrous as in the rest of America No divorcement was permitted amongst them except the party made a solemn oath that they looked not the one on the other stedfastly and directly at the time of their marriage In the burying likewise of their Kings they were superstitious cruell and Idolatrous When any King of Mechoacan happened to be brought to such extremity of sicknesse that hope of life was past then did he name and appoint which of his sons should inherit the state and Crown and being known the new King or heir presently sent for all the Governours Captains and valiant souldiers who had any office or charge to come unto the buriall of his father and he that came not from thenceforth was held for a Traitour and so punished When the death of the old King was certaine then came all degrees of estates and did bring their presents to the new King for the approbation of his Kingdome But if the King were not throughly dead but at the point of death then the gates were shut in and none permitted to enter and if he were throughly dead then be gan a generall cry and mourning and they were permitted to come where their dead King lay and to touch him with their hands This being done the carkasse was washed with sweet waters and then a fine shirt put upon him and a payre of shoâ—… amde of Dear skinne put on his feet and about his ankleâ—… were tied bellâ—… of gold about the wrists of his hands were put braceletâ—… of Turkisâ—…s and of gold likewise about his neck they did hang collars of pretious stones and also of gold and rings in his eares with a great Turkise in his neither lip Then his body was laid upon a large Beere whereon was placed a good bed under him on his one side lay a bow with a quiver of arrowes and on his other side lay an Image made of fine 〈◊〉 of his own stature or bignesse with a great ruffe of fine feathers shooes upon his feeâ—… with bracelets and a collar of gold While this was a doing others were busâ—…â—…n washing the men and women which should be slain for to accompany him into hâ—…ll These wretches that were to be slain were first banqueted and filled with drinkâ—… 〈◊〉 they should receive their death with lesse paine The new King did appoint those who should die for to serve the King his father and many of those sâ—…ple soules esteemed that death so odious for a thing of immortall glory First six Gentlewomen of noble birth were appointed to die the one to have the office of keeper of his jewels which he was wont to weare another for the office of cup-bearer another to give him water with a bason and Ewer another to give him alwaies the Urinall another to be his Cooke and another to serve for Landress They slew also many women slaves and free-maidens for to attend upon the Gentlewomen and moreover one of every occupation within the City When all these that were appointed to die were washed and their bellies full with meat and drinke then they painted their faces yellow and put garlands of sweet flowers upon each of their heads Then they went in order of procession before the Beere whereon the dead King was carried some went playing on instruments made of Snail shells and others played upon bones and shells of Sea Tortois others went whistling and the most part weeping The sons of the dead King and other Noble men carried upon their shoulders the Beere where the Corps lay and proceeded with an easie pace towards the Temple of the God called Curicaveri his kinsmen went round about the Beer singing a sorrowfull song The officers and houshold-servants of the Court with other Magistrates and Rulers of justice bare the Standards and divers other Arms. And about midnight they departed in the order aforesaid out of the Kings Palace with great light of fire-brands and with a heavy noyse of their trumpets and drummes The Citizens which dwelt where the Corse passed attended to make clean the street And when they were come to the Temple they went four times round about a great fire which was prepared of Pine tree to burn the dead body Then the Beer was laid upon the fire and in the meane while that the body was burning they mawled with a club those which had the garlands and afterward buried them four and four as they were apparelled behind the Temple The next day in the morning the ashes bones and jewels were gathered and laid upon a rich mantle the which was carried to the Temple gate where the Preists attended to blesse those divellish reliques whereof they made a dow or paste and thereof an Image which was apparelled like a man with a visor on his face and all other sorts of
made of the juyce of the yong Maiz or Indian wheat which they so confection with spices musk and sugar that it is not onely admirable in the sweetnesse of the smell but much more nourishing and comforting the stomack This is not a Commoditie that can bee transported from thence but is to be drunk there where it is made But the other Chocolatte is made up in Boxes and sent not onely to Mexico and the parts thereabouts but much of it is yeerly transported into Spain This City of Guaxaca is the richer by reason of the safety they enjoy for the carriage of their Commodities to and from the port of St. Iohn de Ulhua by the great River Alvarado which runneth not far from it and although the Barkes come not to the City of Guaxaca yet they come up to the Zapotecas and to St. Ildefonso which is not farre from Guaxaca And the carelessenesse of the Spaniards here is to bewondred at that all along this River which runneth up into the heart of their Country they have built as yet no Castles Towers or watch-houses or planted any Ordinance trusting onely in this that great ships cannot come up as if Frigots or smaller Barks such as they themselves use may not bee made to annoy them But of Guaxaca I shall say no more but conclude that it is of so temperate an aire so abounding in fruits and all provision requisite for mans life so commodiously situated between the North and South Sea having on the North side St. Iohn de Ulbua and on the South Tecoantepeque a small and unfortified harbour that no place I so much desired to live in whilest I was in those patrs as in Guaxaca which certainly I had attempted as I travailed by it had I not understood that the Criolian or Native Fryers were many and as deadly enemies unto those that came from Spain as were the Mexicans And this their spight and malice they shewed whilest wee were there to an ancient and grave old Fryer Master in Divinity who living had been for learning the Oracle of those parts This old man died when I was there and because when hee lived they could pick no hole in his Coat being dead they searched his chamber and finding in a Coffer some moneys which hee had not made knowne to his Superiour when living which they would reduce to a sinne against his posessed poverty called Propriety and subject to the censure of Excommunication they reported that hee had died excommunicated and might not injoy their Christian buriall in the Church or Cloister and so ignominiously buried their old Divine and with him his Crredit and reputation in a grave made in one of their Gardens A thing much talked on as scandalous to all the City and Country which they salved with saying hee was excommunicated but the truth was he was of Spaine and therefore at his death they would shew their spight unto him For certainly they could not doe it for the sinne of Propriety which by him had been committed in his life and to them all may be well said what our Saviour said to the Jewes bringing to him a woman found in adultery to bee stoned Whosoever of you is without sinne let him cast the first stone for all of them yea even the best Fryers that live in America are some way or other much or lesse guilty of the sinne of Propriety which they professe and vow against With this which wee saw with our eyes besides what with our eares wee had heard of discords and factions amongst them wee thought Guaxaca was no place for us to live in so after three daies we made haste out of it and departed towards Chiapa which lyeth three hundred miles from thence And for our comfort in our further travailing we were informed in Guaxaca that in most Towns of the Rode through that country the Indians had an order from the High Justice to give unto Fryers travailing that way either horse to ride on or to carry their carriages and provision of food freely without mony if they had none so that at their departure they should write it down in the town booke what they had spent not abiding above foure and twenty houres in the Town which expences of travailers the Indians afterwards at the yeers end of their ordinary Justice and Officers were to give an account of with carrying their Towne book unto the Spanish Justice to whom they belonged and by so doing these expences were allowed of to bee discharged by the common Towne Purse or Treasure for the which a common plot of ground was alloted to bee yeerly sowen with wheat or Maiz. With this charitable relief and help of the Townes wee conceived better of the rest of our long journey and hoped to compasse it with more ease And so joyfully we went on and the first place where wee made triall of this order was at a great Town called Antequera where wee freely called for our fowles and what other provision we saw in the Town fed heartily on them and the next day when we were to pay and to depart wee called for the Town book subscribed our hands to what wee had spent our selves and horses and went our way praising the discretion of the Justices of that Country who had setled a course so easy and comfortable for us especially who had but shallow purses for our long journy Yet we found in some small Towns that the Indians were unwilling and as they alleadged unable to extend this Charity to us being foure in company and bringing with us the charge likewise of foure horses which made us sometimes make the longer journey that wee might reach unto some great and rich Towne The next to Antiquera in that Rode is Nixapa which is of at the least eight hundred Inhabitans Spaniards and Indians standing upon the side of a River which wee were informed was an arme of the great River Alvarado In this Town is a very rich Cloister of Dominican Fryers where we were well entertained in it there is a picture of our Lady which superstitiously they fancy to have wrought miracles and is made a pilgrimage from far and neere and consequently hath great riches and Lampes belonging unto it This is counted absolutely one of the wealthiest places of all the Countrey of Guaxaca for here is made much Indigo Sugar Cochinill and here grow many trees of Cacao and Achiotte whereof is made the Chocolatte and is a commodity of much trading in those parts though our English and Hollanders make little of it when they take a prize of it at Sea as not knowing the secret virtue and quallity of it for the good of the stomack From hence we went to Aguatulco and Capalita also great Towns standing upon a plain Country full of Sheep and Cattell abounding with excellent fruits especially Pines and Sandia's which are as big as Pumpions and so waterish that they even melt like snow in the mouth
verse Solamen misero est socios retinere Panettes Hee thought I followed him to steale away his loafe from him This new found word Panettes had almost choaked him had not hee made use of the medicinall water which stood before him of the which he dranke a good draught whereby I perceived his courage against me and my friends was tamed and I told him I hoped his burning want on love was cooled Thus with my Criolian neighbours company my bread and water went down cheerfully and dinner being ended we were again conducted to our chambers where we dranke a cup of old Alvarez his Chocolatte The Castilian Friers flocked unto our prisons some to talke with us some bringing us conserves and sweet-meats others other dainties which they had prepared to helpe our digestion of bread and cold water My suddain verses to my Criolian neighbour were presently noysed about the Cloister and were the chiefe subject of our talke that afternoone Our supper was provided for us according to the promise and generous spirit of the Prior who also honoured our prison that night with his owne and two other Friers company supping with us all in one chamber together And thus we passed our three daies of imprisonment merrily and contentedly wishing we might never suffer harder usage in any prison then we had done in this which was not to us such a punishment as did bring with it the privation of any liberty of enjoying the company of friends of feasting with them but onely the privation of the liberty of our legs to walke about those three daies and this rather an ease then a punishment for that we wanted rather rest then much stirring after so long and tedious a journey as we had compassed from Mexico thither We were no sooner set at liberty but we presently found the Provinciall and Prior ready to dispose of us so that in lieu of our imprisonment we might receive honor and credit Two were sent into the Country to learne some Indian language that so they might be beneficed and preach unto the Indians My selfe and another desired to goe farther to Guatemala that there we might practise Philosophy and Divinity in the famous Universitie of that City Nothing that we desired was denied unto us onely the time was thought not fit untill Michaelmâ—… because then the schooles were renewed and new Orders setled In the meane time the Provinciall having also heard of my verses ex tempore to the Criolian Frier and knowing that the Latin tongue is better grounded in England then among the Spaniards who abuse poore Priscian and daily breake his pate with foolish soloecismes and considering the want hee had of a Master of the Latine tongue to supply a Lecture of Grammar and Syntax to the youâ—…hes of Chiapa in a schoole in that Cloister which brought a sufficient yeerly stipend unto the Covent desired me to accept of that place untill such time as he should take care to send me to Guatemala promising me all incouragements in the meane time fitting and that I should when I would go about to see the Country which I much desired and also that out of the schoole annuity I should have my allowance for bookes and other necessaries I could not but accept of this good offer and so with this imployment I remained in that City from Aprill to the end of September where I was much esteemed of by the Bishop and Governour but especially by the Prior who would never ride about the Country for his recreation but he would take me with him whereby I had occasion to note concerning the Province riches commodities and government of Chiapa what in the ensuing Chapter I shall faithfully commend unto the Presse CHAP. XV. Describing the Countrey of Chiapa with the chiefest Townes and Commodities belonging unto it THough Chiapa in the opinion of the Spaniards be held to be one of the poorest Countries of America because in it as yet there have been no mines discovered nor golden sands found in the rivers nor any haven upon the South-sea whereby commodities are brought in and carried out as to Mexico Guaxaca and Guatemala yet I may say it exceedeth most Provinces in the greatness and beauty of fair Towns and yeeldeth to none except it be to Guatemala nay it surpasseth all the rest of America in that one and famous and most populous Towne of Chiapa of the Indians And it ought not to be so much slighted by the Spaniards as it is if they would looke upon it as standing between Mexico and Guatemala whose strength might be all Americaes strength and whose weakenesse may prove dangerous to all that flourishing Empire for the easy entrance into it by the river of Tabasco or for its neer joyning and bordering unto Iucatan Besides the commodities in it are such as doe uphold a constant trading and commerce amongst the inhabitants themselves and with other neighbouring Countries and from no one part of America doth Spaine get more Cochinil then from one of the Provinces of Chiapa the Townes also being great and populous by their yeerly pole tribute do adde much to the King of Spaines revenues This Country is divided into three Provinces to wit Chiapa Zeldales and Zoques whereof Chiapa it selfe is the poorest This containes the great Towne of Chiapa of the Indians and all the Townes and farmes North-ward towards Maquilapa and West-ward the Priory of Comitlan which hath some ten Townes and many farmes of Cattle Horses and Mules subject unto it and neighbouring unto it lieth the great valley of Capanabastla which is another Priory reaching towards Soconuzco This valley glorieth in the great river which hath its spring from the mountaines called Cuchumatlanes and runneth to Chiapa of the Indians and from thence to Tabasco It is also famous for the abundance of fish which the river yeeldeth and the great store of Cattell which from thence minister food and provision both to the City of Chiapa and to all the adjacent Townes Though Chiapa the City and Comitlan as standing upon the hils bee exceeding cold yet this valley lying low is extraordinary hot and from May to Michaelmas is subject to great stormes and tempests of thunder and lightning The head Towne where the Priory stands is called Copanabastla consisting of above eight hundred Indian inhabitants But greater than this is Izquintenango at the end of the valley and at the foot of the mountaines of Cuchumatlanes Southward And yet bigger then this is the Towne of St. Bartholomew Northward at the other end of the valley which in length is about fourty miles and ten or twelve onely in breadth All the rest of the Townes lie towards Soconuzco and are yet hotter and more subject to thunder and lightning as drawing neerer unto the South-sea coast Besides the abundance of cattell the chiefe commoditie of this valley consisteth in Cotton-wooll whereof are made such store of mantles for the Indians wearing that the Merchants far and neer come
much variety of fruits and gardens as in any one Indian Town in the Country But above all Acacabastlan is farre known and much esteemed of in the City of Guatemala for excellent Muskmillians some small some bigger then a mans head wherewith the Indians load their mules and carry them to sell all over the Country From hence to Guatemala there are but thirty short leagues and though some hills there be ascents and descent yet nothing troublesome to man or beast Among these Mountaines there have beene discovered some mines of metall which the Spaniards have begun to digge and finding that they have been some of Copper and some of iron they have let them alone judgeing them more chargeable then profitable But greater profit have the Spaniards lost then of iron and copper for using the poore Indians too hardly and that in this way from Acacabastlan to Guatemala especially about a place called el Agua Caliente the hot water where is a River out of which in some places formerly the Indians found such store of gold that they were charged by the Spaniards with a yeerly tribute of gold But the Spaniards being like Valdivia in Chille too greedy after it murthering the Indians for not discovering unto them whereabout this treasure lay have lost both treasure and Indians also Yet unto this day search is made about the Mountaines the River and the sands for the hidden treasure which peradventure by Gods order and appointment doth and shall lie hide and kept for a people better knowing and honouring their God At this place called el Agua Caliente or the hot water liveth a Blackmore in an Estancia of his own who is held to be very rich and gives good entertainement to the Travellers that passe that way he is rich in Cattell Sheep and Goates and from his Farm stores Guatemala and the people thereabout with the best Cheese of all that Country But his riches are thought not so much to increase from his Farm and cheeses but from this hidden treasure which credibly is reported to be known unto him He hath been questioned about it in the Chancery of Guatemala but hath denyed often any such treasure to be known unto him The jealousie and suspicion of him is for that formerly having been a slave hee bought his freedome with great summes of money and since hee hath been free hath bought that farm and much land lying to it and hath exceedingly increased his stock To which hee answereth that when hee was young and a slave hee had a good Master who let him get for himself what hee could and that hee playing the good husband gathered as much as would buy his liberty and at first a little house to live in to the which God hath since given a blessing with a greater increase of stock From this hot water three or foure leagues there is another River called Rio de las Vaccas or the River of Cowâ—…s where are a company of poore and country people most of them Mestizo's and Mulatto's who live in thatched houses with some small stock of Cattell spending their time also in searching for sands of Gold hoping that one day by their diligent search they and their children and all their Country shall bee inriched and that Rio de las Vaccas shall parallel Pactolus and stirre up the wits of Poets to speak of it as much as ever they have spoke of that From this River is presently discovered the pleasantest valley in all that Country where my selfe did live at least five yeers called the Valley of Mixco and Pinola lying six leagues from Guatemala being fifteen miles in length and ten or twelve in breadth Out of the inclosures this Valley is stored with sheep the ground inclosed is divided into many Farmes where groweth better wheat then any in the Country of Mexico From this Valley the city is well provided of wheat and Bisket is made for the ships that come every yeere unto the Golf It is called the Valley of Mixco and Pinola from two Townes of Indians so called standing opposite the one to the other on each side of the Valley Pinola on the left side from Rio delas Vaccas and Mixco on the right Here do live many rich Farmers but yet Country and clownish people who know more of breaking clods of earth then of managing Armes offensive or defensive But among them I must not forget one friend of mine called Iuan Palomeque whom I should have more esteemed of then I did if I could have prevailed with him to have made him live more like a man then a beast more like a free men then a bond slave to his gold and silver This man had in my time three hundred lusty mules trained up in the way of the Golf which hee divided into six Requa's or companies and for them be kept above a hundred Black-more slaves men women and children who lived neer Mixco in severall thatched cottages The house he lived in himselfe was but a poore thatched house wherein he tooke more delight to live then in other houses which he had in Guatemala for there hee lived like a wilde Simarron among his slaves and Black-mores whereas in the City he should have lived civilly there he lived with milke curds and blacke hard and mouldy bisket and with a dry tassajo which is dry salted beefe cut out in thinne slices and dryed in the sun and wind till there be little substance left in it such as his slaves were wont to cary to the Golfe for their provision by the way whereas if he had lived in the City he must have eat for his credit what others of worth did eat But the miser knew well which was the best way to save and so chose a field for a City a cottage for a house company of Simarrones and Black-mores for Citizens and yet he was thought to be worth six hundred thousand duckats He was the undoer of all others who dealed with Mules for bringing and carrying commodities to the Golfe for the Merchants for he having lusty Mules lusty slaves would set the price or rate for the hundred weight so as he might get but others at that rate hiring Indians and servants to goe with their Mules might lose He was so cruell to his Black-mores that if any were untoward he would torment them almost to death amongst whom he had one slave called Macaco for whom I have often interceded but to little purpose whom he would often hang up by the armes and whip him till the blood ran about his back and then his flesh being torne mangled and all in a goar blood he would for last cure powre boyling grease upon it he had marked him for a slave with burning irons upon his face his hands his armes his back his belly his thighes his legs that the poor slave was weary of life and I thinke would two or three times have hanged himselfe if I had not counselled him to the
his land be over-run by a foraine nation nay by their owne slaves the Black-mores who doubtlesse to be set at liberty would fide against them in any such occasion and lastly the Criolians who also are sore oppressed by them would rejoyce in such a day and yeeld rather to live with freedome and liberty under a forain people then to be longer oppressed by those of their own blood The miserable condition of the Indians of that Country is such that though the Kings of Spain have never yeelded to what some would have that they should be slaves yet their lives are as full of bitternesse as is the life of a slave For which I have known my selfe some of them that have come home from toyling and moyling with Spaniards after many blowes some wounds and little or no wages who have sullenly and stubbornly lain down upon their beds resolving to die rather then to live any longer a life so slavish and have refused to take either meat or drinke or any thing else comfortable and nourishing which their wives have offered unto them that so by pining and starving they might consume themselves Some I have by good perswasions encouraged to life rather then to a voluntary and wilfull death others there have been that would not be perswaded but in that wilfull way have died The Spaniards that live about that Country especially the farmers of the valley of Mixco Pinola Petapa Amatitlan and those of the Sacatepeques alleadge that all their trading and farming is for the good of the Common-wealth and therefore whereas there are not Spaniards enough for so ample and large a Countrey to doe all their work and all are not able to buy slaves and Blackmores they stand in need of the Indians help to serve them for their pay and hire whereupon it hath been considered that a partition of Indian labourers be made every Monday or Sonday in the afternoon to the Spaniards according to the farmes they occupie or acording to their severall employments calling and trading with Mules or any other way So that for such and such a district there is named an officer who is called Juez Repartidor who according to a List made of every farme house and person is to give so many Indians by the week And here is a doore opened to the president of Guatemala and to the Judges to provide well for their 〈◊〉 servants whom they commonly appoint for this office which is thus performed by them They name the Town and place of their meeting upon Sonday or Monday to the which themselves and the Spaniards of that district do resort The Indians of the severall Towns are to have in a readinesse so many labourers as the Court of Guatemala hâ—…h appointed to be weekly taken out of such a Towne who are conducted by an Indian officer to the Towne of generall meeting and when they come thither with their tooles their spadeâ—… shovels bils or axes with their provision of victuals for a week which are commonly soâ—…e dry cakes of Maiz puddings of frixoles or French beanes and a little Chile or biting long pepper or a bit of cold meat for the first day or two and with beds on their backes which is only a course woollen mantle to wrap about them when they lye on the bare ground then are they shut up in the Towne-house some with blowes some with spurnings some with boxes on the eare if presently they goe not in Now all being gathered together and the house filled with them the Juez Repartidor or officer calls by the order of the List such and such a Spaniard and also calls out of the house so many Indians as by the Court are commanded to be given him some are allowed three some foure some ten some fifteen some twenty according to their employments and delivereth unto the Spaniard his Indians and so to all the rest till they be all served who when they receive their Indians take from them a toole or their mantles to secure them that they run not away and for every Indian delivered unto them they give unto the Juez Repartidor or officer halfe a Riall which is three pence an Indian for his fees which mounteth yeerly to him to a great deale of money for some officers make a partition or distribution of four hundred some of two hundred some of three hundred Indians every week and carrieth home with him so many halfe hundred Rials for one or halfe a daies worke If complaint be made by any Spaniard that such and such an Indian did run away from him and served him not the week past the Indian must be brought and surely tied to a post by his hands in the Market place and there be whipped upon his bare backe But if the poor Indian complaine that the Spaniards cousened and cheated him of his shovell axe bill mantle or wages no justice shall be executed against the cheating Spaniard neither shall the Indian be righted though it is true the order runs equally in favour of both Indian and Spaniard Thus are the poore Indians sold for three pence a peece for a whole weeks slavery not permitted to goe home at nights unto their wives though their worke lie not above a mile from the Town where they live nay some are carried ten or twelve miles from their home who must not returne till Saturday night late and must that week do whatsoever their Master pleaseth to command them The wages appointed them will scarce find them meat and drinke for they are not allowed a Riall a day which is but sixpence and with that they are to find themselves but for six daies worke and diet they are to have five Rials which is halfe a crowne This same order is observed in the City of Guatemala and Townes of Spaniards where to every family that wants the service of an Indian or Indians though it be but to fetch water and wood on their backs or to goe of arrants is allowed the like service from the neerest Indian Townes It would grieve a Christians heart to see how by some cruell Spaniards in that weeks service those poor wretches are wronged and abused some visiting their wives at home whilst their poore husbands are digging and delving others whipping them for their slow working others wounding them with their swords or breaking their heads for some reasonable and well grounded answer in their own behalfe others stealing from them their tooles others cheating them of halfe others of all their wages alleadging that their service cost them halfe a Riall and yet their worke not well performed I knew some who made a common practice of this when their wheat was sowne and they had little to do for the Indians yet they would have home as many as were due unto their farme and on Monday and Tuesday would make them cut and bring them on their backes as much wood as they needed all that week and then on Wednesday at noon knowing the
formally and perceive it not They are taught that they must remember the souls in Purgatory and therefore that they must cast their almes into a chest which standeth for that purpose in their Churches whereof the Preist keepeth the key and openeth it when he wanteth mony or when he pleaseth I have often opened some of those chests and have found in them many single Rials some halfe pieces of eight and some whole pieces of eight And because what is lost and found in the high-waies must belong to some body if the true owner be not knowne they have been taught that such monies or goods belong also to the soules departed wherefore the Indians surely more for fear or vanities sake that they may be well thought on by the Preist if they find any thing lost will bestow it upon the soules surer then the Spaniards themselves who if they find a purse lost will keep it and will bring it either to the Preist or cast it into the chest An Indian of Mixco had found a patacon or peece of eight in a high-way and when he came to Confession he gave it unto me telling me he durst not keep it lest the soules should appear unto him and demand it So upon the second day of November which they call All soules day they are extraordinary foolish and superstitious in offering monies fowles egs and Maiz and other commodities for the soules good but it proves for the profit of the Preist who after Masse wipes away to his chamber all that which the poore gulled and deluded Indians had offered unto those soules which needed neither mony food nor any other provision and he fills his purse and pampers his belly with it A Frier that lived in Petapa boasted unto me once that upon their All Soules day his offerings had been about a hundred Rials two hundred Chickens and fowls half a dozen Turkeyes eight bushels of Maiz three hundred egs four sontles of Cacao every sontle being four hundred granes twenty clusters of plantins above a hundred wax candles besides some loaves of bread and other trifles of fruits All which being summed up according to the price of the things there and with consideration of the coyn of mony there halfe a Ryall or three pence being there the least coyn mounts to above eight pounds of our money a faire and goodly stipend for a Masse brave wages for halfe an houres work a politick ground for that Error of Purgatory if the dead bring to the living Preist such wealth in one day onely Christmas day with the rest of those holy daies is no lesse superstitiously observed by these Indians for against that time they frame and set in some corner of their Church a little thatched house like a stall which they call Bethlehem with a blazing Starre over pointing it unto the three Sage wise men from the East within this stall they lay in a Crib a child made of wood painted and guilded who represents Christ new borne unto them by him stands Mary on the one side and Ioseph on the other and an Asse likewise on the one side and an oxe on the other made by hands the three wise men of the East kneel before the Crib offering gold Frankincense and Myrrhe the shepheards stand a loof off offering their Country gifts some a Kid some a Lambe some Milk some Cheese and Curds some fruits the fields are also there represented with flocks of Sheep and Goats the Angels they hang about the stall some with Vialls some with Lutes some with Harps a goodly mumming and silent stage play to draw those simple souls to look about and to delight their senses and fantasies in the Church There is not an Indian that cometh to see that supposed Bethlehem and there is not any in the Town but doth come to see it who bringeth not either money or somewhat else for his offering Nay the policy of the Preists hath been such that to stirre up the Indians with their Saints example they have taught them to bring their Saints upon all the holy dayes untill Twelfth day in Procession unto this Bethlehem to offer their gifts according to the number of the Saints that stand in the Church some daies there come five some daies eight some daies ten dividing them into such order that by Twelfth day all may have come and offered some money some one thing some another The owner of the Saint hee cometh before the Saint with his friends and kindred if there bee no sodality or company belonging unto that Saint and being very well apparelled for that purpose he bowes himselfe and kneels to the Crib and then rising takes from the Saint what hee bringeth and leaveth it there and so departs But if there be a sodality belonging to the Saint then the Mayordomo's or chief Officers of that company they come before the Saint and doe homage and offer as before hath been said But upon Twelfth day the Alcaldes Maiors Jurates and other Officers of Justice must offer after the example of the Saints and the three Wise men of the East whom the Church of Rome teacheth to have been Kings because they represent the Kings power and authority And all these daies they have about the Town and in the Church a dance of Shepheards who at Christmas Eve at midnight begin before this Bethlehem and then they must offer a Sheep amongst them Others dance clothed like Angels and with wings and all to draw the people more to see sights in the Church then to worship God in Spirit and in Truth Candlemas day is no lesse superstitiously observed for then the picture of Mary comes in procession to the Altar and offereth up her Candles and Pigeons or Turtle-Doves unto the Preist and all the Town must imitate her example and bring their Candles to be blessed and hallowed of foure or five or as many as they bring one onely shall bee restored back unto them because they are blessed all the rest are for the Preist to whom the Indians resort after to buy them and give more then ordinary because they are hallowed Candles At Whitsontide they have another sight and that is in the Church also whilst a Hymne is sung of the Holy Ghost the Preist standing before the Altar with his face turned to the people they have a device to let fall a Dove from above over his head well dressed with flowers and for above half an houre from holes made for that purpose they drop down flowers about the Preist shewing the gifts of the holy Ghost to him which example the ignorant and simple Indians are willing to imitate offering also their gifts unto him Thus all the yeer are those Preists and Fryers deluding the poore people for their ends enriching themselves with their gifts placing Religion in meer Policy and thus doth the Indians Religion consist more in sights shewes and formalities then in any true substance But as sweet meat must have sowre sawce so
and that this my true and faithfull History shall bee a Monument of three thousand and three hundred miles travelled by an English man within the main land of America besides other sea navigations to Panama from 〈◊〉 to Carthagâ—… and from thence unto the Havâ—…na The way which we travelled from Carthago to Nicoya was very mountainous hard unpleasant for we met with â—…w Estancia'â—… of Spaniards and few Indian Towns and those very poor smal and all of dejecâ—…d and wretched people Yet Nicoya is a pretty Towne and head of a Spanish government where wee found one Iusto de Salazar Alcalde Maior who entertained us very well and provided lodgings for us for the time that wee should abide there and comforted us with hopeful words that though for the present there was no ship or frigat in the Golfe of Salinas yet he doubted not but very shortly one would come from Panama thither for Salt and other commodities as yeerly they were wont The time of the yeer when we came thither was a fit time for me to get againe some monies after my great losse for it was in Lent which is the Friers chiefest harvest who as I have before observed then by Confessions and by giving the Communion get many money offerings The time and the Franciscan Frier who had the Pastorship and charge of that Towne were both very commodious unto me who could not refuse as long as I stayed there to exercise my function lest I should bring a just cause of suspition and aspersion upon my selfe The Frier of the Towne was a Portingal who about three weeks before my comming thither had had a very great bickering and strife with Iusto de Salazar the Alcalde Maior for defending the Indians whom Salazar did grievously oppresse employing them in his and his wifes service as slaves and not paying them what for the sweat of their browes was due unto them and commanding them to be from their home and from their wives and from their Church upon the Sabbath working for him as well that day as any other Which the Frier not enduring charged them in the pulpit not to obey any such unlawfull commands from their Alcalde Maior But Iusto de Salazar who had been trained up in warres and fighting and had served formerly in the Castle of Milan thought it a great disparagement unto him now to be curbed by a Frier and by such a one to be interrupted in his government of the Indians and in the waies of his owne lucre and gaine Therefore after many bitter words and defiances which had passed between him and the Frier he came one day resolutely to the Friers house with his sword drawne and certainly had not the Frier been assisted by some of the Indians he had killed him The Frier being as hot as he and standing upon his calling Orders and Preisthood presuming that hee durst not touch him violently lest his priviledge should bring an excommunication upon the striker and offendour would not flie from him but dared him boldly which was a strong provocation to Satazars heat and passion and caused him to lift up his sword and aime his blow and stroke at the Frier which fell so unhappily that with it he strucke of two of the Friers fingers and had undoubtedly seconded another blow more hurtfull and dangerous to the Frier had not the Indians interposed themselves and shut up their Preist into hiâ—… chamber Iusto was for this action excommunicated yet for that he was a man of high authority he soone got off his excommunication from the Bishop of Costarica and sent his complaint to the Chancery of Guatemala against the Frier where with friends and mony he doubted not but to overcome the Mendicant Preist as it happened after for as I was informed hee caused the Frier to be sent for up to the Court and there prevailed so much against him that he got him to be removed from Nicoya In this season the Frier kept his house and chamber and would by no means goe out to the Church either to say Masse or to preach or hear Confessions all which that time of the yeer did require of him but had got one to helpe him who alone not being able to performe so great a charge of many hundred Indians Spaniards Black-mores and Mulaito's who from the Countrey without and from the Towne within expected to have their Confessions heard their sins absolved the word preached and the Communion to be given them hearing of my comming desired me to assist and helpe him and that for my paines I should have my meat and drinke at his table and a Crowne daily for every Masse and whatsoever else the people should voluntarily offer besides the Sermons which should be well rewarded unto me I staied in this Towne from the second week of Lent untill Easter weeke where what with three Sermons atten Crownes a peece what with my daily stipend and many other offerings I got about an hundred and fifty Crownes The weeke before Easter newes came of a frigat from Panâ—…ma to Golfo de Salinaâ—… which much comforted us who already began to mistrust the delay The Master of the frigat came to Nicâ—…ya which is as Court thereabouts and with him the three Spaniards and my selfe agreed for our passage to Panama About Chira Golfo de Salinas and Nicâ—…ya there are some farmes of Spaniards few and very small Indian Townes who are all like slaves employed by the Alcalde Maior to make him a kind of thred called Pita which is a very rich Commodity in Spain especially of that colour wherewith it is dyed in these parts of Nicoja which a is purple colour for the which the Indians are here much charged to work about the Sea shore and there to finde out certain shels wherewith they make this purple dye There are also shels for other colours which are not knowne to be so plentifully in any other place as here About Chira and Golfo de Salinas the chief commodities are Salt Hony Maiz some Wheat and Fowles which every yeer they send by some few Frigats to Panama which from thence come on purpose to fetch them with this purple coloured thred or Pita which I have spoken of The Frigat which came when I was there was soon laden with these Commodities and with it we set out hoâ—…ng to have been at Panama within five or six dayes But as often before we had been crossed so likewise in this short passage wee were striving with the Wind Sea and Corrientes as they are called which are swift streames as of a River foure full weekes After the first day that wee set out wee were driven with a wind and storme towards Peru till wee came under the very Aequinoctiall line where what with excessive heat what with mighty stormes we utterly despaired of life But after one week that we had thus run towards it pleased God in whom and by whom all creatures live move and
receive you curteously and entertaine you with all love and charity In witnesse whereof with our owne hand wee have subscribed these being sealed with the seale of our Office Dated at Soriano the ninth day of April 1640. Fryer Nicholas Master of the Order Fryer Ignatius Ciantes Master Provinciall of England and Companion Yet after I had got this Order I bethought my selfe further that I would try one way which was to see if I could find out a Miracle which might give mee better satisfaction of the Romish Religion then had the former experience of my life and the lives of the Priests Cardinals and all such with whom I had lived in Spain and America I had heard much of a Picture of our Lady of Loretto and read in a Booke of Miracles or lies concerning the same that whosoever prayed before that picture in the state of mortall sinne the picture would discover the sinne in the soule by blushing and by sweating Now I framed this argument to my selfe that it was a great sin the sin of unbeliefe or to waver and stagger in points of Faith but in mee according to the Tenents of Rome was this sin for I could not believe the point of Transubstantiation and many other therefore if the Miracles which were printed of the foresaid Lady of Loretto were true and not lies certainly shee would blush and sweat when such an unbeliever as I prayed before her To make this triall I went purposely to Loretto and kneeling downe before God not with any faith I had in the picture I prayed earnestly to the true Searcher of all hearts that in his Son Jesus Christ he would mercifully looke upon me a wretched sinner and inspire and enlighten mee with his Spirit of truth for the good and salvation of my soule In my prayer I had a fixed and setled eye upon the Ladies picture but could not perceive that shee did either sweat or blush wherewith I arose up from my knees much comforted and incouraged in my resolution to renounce and abandon Popery and saying within my selfe as I went out of the Church surely if my Lady neither sweat nor blush all is well with mee and I am in a good way for salvation and the miracles written of her are but lies With this I resolved to follow the truth in some Protestant Church in France and to relinquish errour and superstition Upon which good purpose of mine I presently perceived the God of truth did smile with what I heard hee was ordering in England by an Army of Scotland raised for Reformation and by a new Parliament called to Westminster at which I saw the Papists and Jesuites there began to tremble and to say that it would blast all their designes and all their hopes of setling Popery William Laud his policy was now condemned and cursed Con was dead at Rome the Cardinalâ—… Cap for one of the three forenamed was no more spoken of Fitton was daunted Fit zherbert and Courtney quite disheartned Sir Kenelham Digby his Agency and comming to Rome put off and suspended and with all this good newes I was much heartned and incouraged to leave off my journey to France and to return to England where I feared not my Brother nor any kindred nor the power of the Papists but began to trust in the protection of the Parliament which I was informed would reform Religion and make such laws as should tend to the undermining of all the Jesuits plots and to the confusion and subversion of the Romish errours and Religion I was too weak of body to make my journey by land by reason of my long Ague which had but newly left mee and so resolved to goe to Ligorne to find out shipping there where I found foure or five ships of English and Hollanders ready to set out but were bound to touch at Lisboe in their way I bargained with one Captaine Scot for my passage first to Lisboe intending there to make a second bargain We had no sooner sailed on as farre as to the Coast of France joyning to the Dutchy of Savoy but presently from Canes came out part of a Fleet lying there under the command of the Bishop of Burdeaux to discover us and take us for a lawfull prize I might say much here of the valour of the good old Captaine Scot who seeing all the other ships had yeelded to the French men of Warre would upon no termes yeeld to be their prize which they challenged because wee were bound for Lisboe then their enemies Country but would fight with them all and at last rather blow up his ship then to deliver the goods which had been intrusted to him by the Merchants of Ligorne We were in a posture to fight our guns ready and Mariners willing to dye that day which was heavy news to me After much treaty between the French and our valorous Captain who still held out and would not yeeld there came up to us two ships to give us the last warning that if wee yeelded not they would immediately set our ship on fire With this all the passengers and many more in the ship desired the Captaine to yeeld upon some faire Articles for the securing of what goods he had for England and should appeare were not any way for the strengthening of any enemies to the State and Kingdome of France With much adoe our Captaine was perswaded and we were carried with the rest into Canes for a lawfull prize I seeing that the ships were like to bee stayed there long obtained the Bishop of Burdeaux his passe to goe to Marcells and from thence by land through France Which being granted I went by water to Tolon and from thence to Marcells and so in company of Carriers to Lions and from thence to Paris Roane and Deepe where in the first packet boat to Rye I passed over to Enggland where I landed upon Michaelmas day the same yeere that this present Parliament began to â—…it the November following My Brothers Spirit I found was not much daunted with the new Parliament nor some of the proudest Papists who hoped for a suddain dissolving of it But when I saw their hopes frustrated by His Majesties consent to the continuing of it I thought the acceptable time was come for mee wherein I ought not to dissemble any further with God the world and my friends and so resolved to bid adieu to flesh and blood and to prize Christ above all my kindred to own and professe him publiquely maugre all opposition of hell and kindred to the contrary I made my self first knowne to Doctor Brunnick Bishop of Exeter and to Mr. Shuâ—…e of Lumbard street from whom I had very comfortable and strong incouragements The Bishop of Exeter carried me to the Bishop of London then at Fullom from whom I received order to Preach my Recantation Sermon at Pauls which done I thought I must yet doe more to satisfie the world of my sincerity knowing that Converts are hardly believed
all those which were occasion of the death of the twelve Spaniards For which causes and obstinacy at the first Cortez judged by his sentence that all the Townes which had been privy to the murther should for ever remain Captives and slaves others affirm that he overcame them without any condition and corrected them for their disobedience being Sodomites Idolaters and eaters of mans flesh and chiefly for example of all others And in conclusion they were condemned for slaves and within twenty daies that these Wars lasted hee pacified all that Province which is very great hee drave from thence the Culhuacans hee threw down the Idols and the chiefest persons obeyed him And for more assurance he built there this Town naming it Segura De la Frontera appointing all Officers for the purpose whereby the Christians and strangers might passe without danger from Vera Crux to Mexico This Town likewise as all the rest from St. Iohn de Ulhua to Mexico is very plentifull of provision and many sorts of fruits namely Plantins Sapots and Chicosapots which have within a great black kernell as big as our horse Plâ—…ms the fruit it self is as red within as Scarlet as sweet as Honey but the Chicosapotte is lesse and some of them red some browne coloured and so juicy that at the eating the juyce like drops of Honey fall from them and the smell is like unto a baked Peare Here likewise were presented unto us Clusters of Grapes as faâ—…e as any in Spain which were welcome unto us for that wee had seen noâ—… since we came from Spain and wee saw by them that the Countrey thereabouts would be very fit for Vineyards if the King of Spain would grant the planting of Vines in those parts which often hee hath refused to doe lest the Vineyards there should hinder the Trading and Trafique between Spain and those parts which certainly had they but Wine needed not any commerce with Spain This Towne is of a more temperate Climate then any other from Vera Crux to Mexico and the people who formerly had been eaters of Mans flesh now as civill and politick as loving and curteous as any in the rode From whence we declined a little out of our way more Westward the rode being North-Westward only to see that famous Towne of Tlaxcallan whose inhabitants joyned with Cortez and wee may say were the chiefe instruments of that great and unparalleld Conquest CHAP. X. Wherein is set downe the estate and condition of the great Towne of Tlaxcallan when the first Spaniards entred the Empire of Mexico Cortez his first encounter with the Tlaxcalteca's their league with him with a description of the Towne and of the state and condition of it now TLaxcallan being worth all the rest of the Townes and Villages between S. Iohn de Ulhua and Mexico I thought it not fit to parallell it with the others in naming it briefely and passing by it as a Traveller but rather I judged it convenient and beseeming my present History to record to posterity with one whole Chapter the greatnesse of it and the valour of its inhabitants from the conquest of America made by Hernando Cortez Who being upon his march to Mexico and having arrived to Zaclotan and being informed that the Tlaxcalteca's were men of valour and enemies to Montezuma the Emperour of Meixco thought it his best policy to joyne with them against the Mexicans Whereupon hee dispatched unto them foure Indians of a Towne called Zempoallan as Ambassadours to acquaint them of his coming into those parts and of his desire to visit their Towne not for any harme he intended to them but rather for their good The Tlaxcalteca's fearing Cortez and judging him a friend of Montezuma because upon his way to visit him and having heard of the many costly presents which the Emperour had sent unto him they resolved to resist his coming and to send him no answer to his ambassage but tooke the four Messengers which he had sent and imprisoned them minding to sacrifice them unto their Gods as Espies Cortez seeing the long tarrying of the Messengers departed from Zaclotan without any intelligence from Tlaxcallan His camp had not marched much after their departure from that place but they came to a great circuit of stone made without lime or morter being of a fadome and a halfe high and twenty foot broad with loupe holes to shoot at this wall crossed over a whole valley from one mountain to another and but one only entrance or gate in the which the one wall doubled against the other and the way there was fourty paces broad in such sort that it was an evil and perillous passage if any had been there to defend it Cortez demanded the cause of that circuit and who had built it the Indians that went with him told him that it was but a division from their countrey and Tlaxcallan and that their Antecessors had made the same to disturbe the entrance of the Tlazcalteca's in time of warre who came to rob and murther them because of the friendship betwixt them and Montezuma whose vassals they were That strange and costly wall seemed a thing of great majesty to the Spaniards and more superfluous then profitable yet they suspected that the Tlaxcalteca's were valiant warriers who had such defence made against them But Cortez setting all fear aside with three hundred Souldiers on a ranke entred the way in the wall and proceeded in good order all the way forwards carrying the Ordnance ready charged and he himselfe the Leader of all his Army and sometimes he would be halfe a league before them to discover and make the way plain And having gone the space of three leagues from that circuit he commanded his Foot-men to make haste because it was somewhat late and he with his Horse-men went to descry the way forwards who ascending up a hill two of the formost Horse-men met with fifteen Indians armed with swords and targets and tuffes of feathers which they used to weare in the warres These fifteen being Spies when they saw the Horse-men began to flie with fear or else to give advice But Cortez approaching with other three Horsemen called to them to stay which they by no means would hearken unto till six more Horse-men ran after them and overtooke them The Indians then joyning all together with determination rather to die then to yeeld shewed to the Spaniards signes to stand still But the Horsemen coming to lay hands on them they prepared themselves to battel and fought defending themselves for a while In this fight the Indians slew two of their Horses and as the Spaniards do witnesse at two blowes they cut off a Horse head bridle and all Then came the rest of the Horsemen the Army also of the Indians approached for there were in sight neer five thousand of them in good order to succour their fifteen fighting men but they came too late for that purpose for they were all slain by the