¶THE FIRSTE BOOKE OF THE DECADES of the Ocean, written by Peter Martyr of Angleria, Milenoes, counsiler to the kyng of Spayne and Protonotarie Apostolicall, To Ascanius Sphorcia, vicount Cardinall. &c.

THE REVERENDE AND thanckefull antiquite was accustomed to esteme those men as goddes,The reward of vert [...]e by whose industrie and magnani­mitie suche Landes and Regions were disco­uered, as were vnknowen to theyr predices­soures. But vnto vs hauynge onely one god whom we honour in triplicitie of person, this resteth, that albeit we do not woorship that kind of men with diuine honoure, yet do we reuerēce them, and woorthely maruell at theyr noble actes and enterprises. Unto kynges and princes we gyue due obeysaunce, by whose gouernaunce and furtheraunce they haue bin ayded, to perfurme theyr attemp­tes. we commende bothe, and for theyr iust desertes worthe­ly extoll them. Wherfore, as concernynge the Ilandes of the west Ocean,The Ilandes of the weste Ocean. lately discouered, & of the auctours of the same, (whiche thynge you desyre by your letters to knowe) I wyll begynne at the fyrst auctoure therof, leste I be iniurious to a­ny man. Take it therfore as foloweth.

¶ Christophorus Colonus (other wise called Columbus) A gentilman of Italy,Christopho­rus Colonus. borne in the citie of Genua, perswaded Fernando and Elyzabeth, catholike prynces, that he doubted not to fynde certayne Ilandes of India, India▪ nere vnto owre Occean sea, if they wolde furnysshe hym with shyppes and other thynges apper­teynynge. Affyrminge that therby not onely the Christian re­ligion myght be enlarged, but Spayne also enryched by the great plentie of golde, pearles, precious stones, and spices, whiche might be founde there. At the lenghte three shyppes were appoynted hym at the kinges charges: of the which one was a great caracte with deckes: and the other twoo were light marchaunte shyppes without deckes, whiche the Spa­niardes call Carauelas. Thus he departed from the costes of Spaine about the calendes of September, in the yere of Christ 1492. and set forward on his viage,The fyrst viage of Colo­nus. being accompanied with C C. xx. Spanyardes. The fortunate Ilandes (as manye [Page] thinke them to be, whiche the Spaniardes call Canariae, The Ilandes of Canarie. found but of late dayes) are distaunte from the Ilandes of Gades, Gades or Cals mals. a thousande and twoo hundreth myles, accordyng to theyr ac­compte: for they say they are distant three hundreth leaques:A leaque, what it con­teyneth by sea. wheras such as are expert sea men, affyrme that euery leaque conteyneth foure myles, after theyr supputations. These I­landes were called fortunate,the fortunate Ilandes. for the temperate ayre whiche is in them. For neyther the coldenesse of wynter is sharpe vn­to them, nor the heate of sommer intollerable. Yet some men are of opinion, that those were in olde tyme called the fortu­nate Ilandes,Cabouerde. whiche the Portugales call Capo Verde. Colonus therfore sayled fyrste to the Ilandes of Canariae, to the intente there to refreshe his shyppes with freshe water and fuell, be­fore he committed him selfe to this so laborious a vyage. And bycause I haue here made ment [...]on of the Ilandes of Canariae: It shall not be muche from my purpose to declare howe of vn­knowen they became knowen, and of saluage and wilde, bet­ter manured. For by the longe course of manye yeres, they were forgotten, and remayned as vnknowen.

These seuen Ilandes (the [...]fore) called the Canaries, The seuen Ilandes of Canarie. were foūde by chaunce by a frenche man, called Betanchor, Betanchor A frenche man subdued the Ilandes of Canarie. by the permis­sion of queene Katharine, protectrixe of kyng Iohn her son, while he was yet in his nonage, about the yere of Christe. M. CCCC. V. This Betanchor inuaded twoo of these Ilan­des called Lancelotus and Fort [...]suentura, L [...]ncelotus. Fortisuētura. whiche he inhabited and brought to better culture. He beinge deade, his son and heire solde bothe the sayde Ilandes to certayne Spaniardes.

After this, Fernandus Peraria and his wyfe, inuaded Ferrea and Gomera. Ferrea. Gomera. The other three were subdued in our tyme. Grancanaria, Grancanaria. by Perrus de Vera, citezen of the noble citie of Xericium, and Mi­chaell of Moxica. Palma and Tenerifen, Palma. Tenerifen. by Alphonsus Lugo, at the kynges charges. Gomera and Ferrea were easely subdued: But the matter wente harde with Alphonsus Lugo. Alphonsus Lugo. For that naked and wylde nation, fyghtinge onely with stones and clubbes, droue his armie to flighte at the fyrste assaulte, and slewe a­boute foure hundreth of his men. But at the length he ouer­came them. And thus all the Ilandes of Canariae were added to the dominion of Spayne. From these Ilandes Colonus di­rectynge his viage towarde th [...] weste, folowinge the fallinge of the sonne, but declining somwhat towarde the left hande, [Page 2] sayled on forwarde .xxxiii. dayes continually, hauynge onely the fruition of the heauen and the water. Then the Spany­ardes whiche were accompanied with hym, beganne fyrste to murmure secretely among them selues: and shortly after with wordes of reproche spake euyll of Colonus theyr gouernoure,Colonus men rebel against hym. and consulted with them selues, eyther to rydde hym out of the waye, orelles to cast hym into the sea: Ragyng that they were deceyued of a straunger, an outlandishe man, a Ligurian a Genues, and brought into suche daungerous places, that they myght neuer returne ageyne. And after .xxx. days were paste, they furiousely cryed out againste him, and threatned him that he shulde passe no further. But he euer with ientyll wordes and large promyses,Faire wo [...] ­des and pro­mises. appeased theyr furie, and pro­longed day after day, some tyme desyring them to beare with hym yet a whyle, and some time putting them in remembrance that if they shulde attempte any thinge agaynst him, or otherwise disobey hym, it wolde be reputed for treason. Thus af­ter a fewe dayes, with cherefull hartes they espied the lande longe looked for. In this fyrst nauigation, he discouered .vi. Ilandes, wherof twoo were exceding great: Of whiche, the one he called Hispaniola, hispaniola. and the other Iohanna. Iohanna. But at that tyme he knewe not perfectely that Iohanna (other wyse called Cuba,) was an Ilande. As they coasted alonge by the shore of certayne of these Ilandes, they harde nyghtingales synge in the thycke woodes in the month of Nouember.Nightinga­les synge in Nouember. They foūd also great riuers of freshe water, and naturall hauens, of ca­pacitie to harborowe greate nauies of shippes. Saylinge by the coastes of Iohanna, from the northe poynte to the west, he rode lyttell le [...]se then eyght hundreth miles (for they call it a hundreth and foure score leaques) supposyng that it had byn the continent or fyrme land, bicause he coulde nother fynd the landes ende, nor any token of the ende, as farre as he coulde iudge with his eye: wherfore he determined to returne backe agayne, beyng therto partly enforced by the roughnesse of the sea. for the sea banckes of the Ilande of Iohanna, by sondrye wyndinges and turnynges, bende them selues so muche to­warde the Northe, that the northnortheaste wynde roughely tossed the shyppes by reason of the wynter. Turnynge ther­fore the stemmes of his shyppes towarde the Easte, he affyr­med that he had founde the Ilande of Ophir, The Ilande of Ophir. whyther Salo­mons [Page] shyppes sayled for golde. But the description of the Cosmographers well considered, it seemeth that bothe these, and the other Ilandes adioynyng, are the Ilandes of Antilia. The ilandes of Anti [...]ia. This Ilande he called Hisp [...]niola: on whose northe syde as he approched nere to the lande, the keele or bottome of the big­geste vessell ranne vpon a blynde rocke couered with water,A shypwrack and cloue in sunder. But the playnenesse of the rocke was a helpe to them that they were not drowned. Makynge haste therfore with the other two sh [...]ps to helpe them, they brought awaye al the men without hurte. Here comming fyrst a land, they sawe certayne men of the Ilande:The people of the Iland [...]. who perceauynge an vnknowen nation comminge towarde them, flocked together and ranne al into the thycke wooddes, as it hadde byn hares courc [...]d with grehoundes.Naked peo­ple. Owre men pursuing them, tooke onely one woman, whom they brought to the shyppes: where fyllinge her with meate and wyne, and apparelinge her, they let her departe to her company. Shortly after a greate multitude of them came runnynge to the shore to beholde this newe nation, whom they thought to haue discended from heauen. They cast them selues by heapes into the sea, and came swim­minge to the shyppes, bryngyng golde with them,Expert swimmers▪ go [...]d for erth and glasse. which they chaunged with owre men for erthen pottes, drinking gla [...]ses, poyntes, pynnes, hawkes belles, lokinge gla [...]ses, and suche other trifles. Thus growing to further familiaritie, owre men were honorably enterteyned of the kynge of that parte of the Ilande,Many kinges whose name was Guaccanarillus: for it hath many kyn­ges, as when Eneas arriued in Italy, he founde Latium diui­ded into many kyngedomes and prouinces, as Latium, Mezeuri­um, Turnum, and Tarchontem, which were seperated with narow boundes, as shall more largely appere hereafter. At the euen tyde about the faulyng of the sonne,Relygious & humaine peo­ple when owre men went to praier, and kneled on their knees after the maner of the Chri­stians, they dyd the lyke also. And after what maner so euer they sawe them praye to the crosse, they folowed them in all poyntes as well as they coulde. They shewed much humani­tie towardes owre men: and helpen them with theyr lighters or small boates (whiche they call Canoas) to vnlade theyr broken shyppe:Canoas. And that with suche celeritie and cherefulnesse, that no frende for frende, or kynseman for kynseman, in su­che case moued with pitie, coulde do more. Theyr boates are [Page 3] made only of one tree,Mono [...]yla. They haue no Iren. made holow with a certain sharpe stone (for they haue no yron.) And are very longe and narowe. Many affirme that they haue sene some of them with fortie ores. The wylde and myscheuous people called Canibales, or Caribes, whiche were accustomed to eate mannes flesshe (and called of the olde writers, Anthropophagi) molest them excedyngly,Can [...]bales or Caribes Anthropo­phagi. inua­dynge theyr countrey, takynge them captiue, kyllyng and ea­tyng them. As owre men sayled to the Ilandes of these meke and humayne people, they lefte the Ilandes of the Canibales, in maner in the middest of theyr viage towarde the south. They complayned that theyr Ilandes were no lesse vexed with the incursions of these manhuntyng Canibales when they go forth a rouynge to seeke theyr praye:The crueltie of the Cani­bales. then are other tame beastes, of Lyons and Tigers. Such chyldren as they take, they geld to make them fat as we doo cocke chikyns and younge hog­ges, and eate them when they are wel fedde: of suche as they eate, they fyrst eate the intralles and extreme partes, as han­des, feete, armes, necke, and heade. The other moste fle [...]shy partes, they pouder for store, as we do pestelles of porke and gammondes of bakon. Yet do they absteyne from eatynge of women and counte it vyle. Therfore suche younge women as they take, they keepe for increace, as we doo hennes to leye egges. The olde women, they make theyr drudges. They of the Ilandes (which we may nowe caul owres) bothe the men and the women when they perceaue the Canibales coming, haue none other shyfte but onely to flie: for althoughe they vse ve­ry sharpe arrowes made of reedes, yet are they of small force to represse the furie of the Canibales: for euen they them selues confesse, that tenne of the Canibals are able to ouercome a hundreth of them if they encountre with them. Theyr meate is a certeyne roote which they cal Ages:Ages. Rootes [...]n the steede or meate. muche lyke a na [...]ew roote in fourme and greatnesse: but of sweete taste, muche lyke a greene chestnutte. They haue also an other kynde of rootes, whiche they call Iucca, wherof they make breade in lyke ma­n [...].Iucca. Breade of rootes. They vse Ages more often rosted or sodden, then to make breade therof. But they neuer eate Iucca, excepte it be firste sliced and pressed, (for it is ful of lycoure) and then baked or sodden. But this is to be marueled at, that the iuyce of this roote is a poyson as strong as Aconitum, an herbe of a straung [...] nature. so that if it be dronke it causeth present death, and yet the breade made of the [...]a [...]e [Page] therof, is of good taste and holsome, as all they haue proued. They make also an other kynde of breade of a certayne pulse, called [...]anicum, Ma [...]um. muche lyke vnto wheate, wherof is great plē ­tie in the dukedome of Mylane, Spayne, and Granatum.

But that of this countrey is longer by a spanne, somewhat sharpe towarde the ende, and as bygge as a mannes arme in the brawne: The graynes wherof are sette in a maruelous order, and are in fourme somwhat lyke a pease. While they be soure and vnripe, they are white: but when they are ripe they be very blacke. When they are broken, they be whyter then snowe. This kynde of grayne, they call Maizium. Golde is of some estimation among them: [...]olde in esti­ [...]ation. for some of them hange certain small pieces therof at theyr eares and nosethrilles. A lyttell beyonde this place, our men wente a lande for fresshe water, where they chaunced vpon a Ryuer whose sande was myxed with muche golde.Golde in the sandes of ry­uers. They founde there no kindes of foure fo­ted beastes excepte three kyndes of lyttell conyes. These I­landes also nourishe serpentes:Serpentes without ve­m [...]ne. but such as are without hurt. Lykewise wylde geese, turtle doues, and duckes,Turtle doues Duckes. much grea­ter then ours, and as whyte as swannes, with heades of pur­ple colo [...]re. Also Popiniaies,Popingiayes. of the whiche some are greene, some yelowe, and some lyke them of India, with yelowe ryn­ges about theyr neckes, as Plinie describeth them.Plini. Of these they broughte fortie with them, of moste liuely and delectable coloures, hauyng three fethers entermengled with greene, ye­lowe, and purple, whiche varietie, deliteth the sense not a li­tle. Thus muche thought I good to speake of Potingiaies, (ryghte noble Prynce) specially to this intente, that albeit the opinion of Christophorus Colonus (who affirmeth these Ilandes to be parte of India) dothe not in all poyntes agree with the iudgement of auncient wryters as touchynge the bignesse of the Sphere and compasse of the Globe as concernynge the nauigable portion of the same beynge vnder vs,These Ilan­d [...]s are parte of India. The Indians are Antipo­des to the spaniardes. yet the Po­pingiaies and many other thynges brought from thence, doo declare that these Ilandes sauoure som [...]hat of India, eyther beynge nere vnto it, or elles of the same nature: forasmuche as Aristotle also,Aristotle. about the ende of his booke De C [...]elo et Mundo. and likewise Seneca, Seneca. with diuerse other authours not ignorant in Cosmography, do affirme that India is no longe tracte by sea, distante from Spayne by the weste Ocean,India not far from Spaine for the soyle [Page 4] of these Ilandes, bryngeth forthe Mastir,Mastir. Aloes,Aloe. and sun­drye other sweete gummes and spyces as doth India. Cotton also of the gossampine tree,Gossampyne cotton or bo [...] base. as in India in the countrey of the people called Seres.Seres.

¶The languages of all the nations of these Ilandes,The lāguage of these Indians. maye well be written with our Latine letters. For they cal heauen Tur [...]i. A house, Boa. Golde, Cauni. A good man, Taino. nothing Mayani. All other wordes of theyr language, they pronounce as playnely as we doo the Latine tongue. In these Ilandes they founde no trees knowen vnto them, but pyne appe trees, and date trees:Trees and frutes vnknowen to vs. And those of maruelous heyght and exceding harde, by reason of the greate moystnesse and fatnesse of the grounde,Far & moyste grounde. with continuall and temperate heate of the sonne,heate conti­nuall and temperate. whiche endureth so all the hole yere. They playnely affyrme the Ilande of Hispaniola to be the most fruiteful lande that the heauen compasseth aboute,The fru [...]tful­nes of hispa­niola as shall more largely appere here­after in the particular description of the same, whiche we in­tende to sette foorthe when we shall be better instructed.

Thus makynge a leage of frendshyppe with the kynge, and leauynge with hym .xxxviii. men to searche the Ilande, he departed to Spayne takynge with hym .x. of the inhabitauntes to lerne the Spanishe tongue, to the intent to vse them after­warde for interpretours. Colonus therfore at his returne, was honorably receaued of the kyng and queene: who caused him to sytte in theyr presence, whiche is a token of great loue and honoure amonge the Spaniardes. He was also made Admi­rall of the Ocean: and his brother gouenoure of the Iland.

Towarde the second viage,The seconde viage of Co­lonus. he was furnished with .xii. ship­pes: wherof there were great caractes of a thousand tunne: xii. were of that sorte, whiche the Spaniardes call Carauelas: without deckes: and twoo other of the same sorte somewhat bygger, and more apte to beare deckes, by reason of the gret­nesse of theyr mastes. He had also a thousand and two hun­dreth armed footemen well appoynted: Amonge whiche were many artificers, as smythes, carpenters, myners, and suche other: Certayne horsemen also, wel armed: Likewise mares, shiepe, heyghfers, and such other of bothe kindes for incrase. Lykewise all kynde of pulse or grayne and corne, as wheate, barlye, rye, beanes and pease, and suche other, as well for food as to sowe:Come and sedes to sowe, Besyde vynes, plantes and seedes, of suche [Page] trees, fruites, and herbes, as those countreyes lacke. And (not to be forgotten) sundry kindes of artillery & iron tooles,Tooles and artillery. as bowes, arrowes, crossebowes, bylles, hargabuses, brode swoordes, large targettes, pikes, mattockes, sh [...]ouelles, hammers, nayles, sawes, ares, and suche other. Thus beynge furnished accordyngely, they set forwarde from the Ilandes of Gad [...]s, (nowe called Cals,) the .vii. day before the calendes of October, in the yere of Christe .1493. and arriued at the Ilandes of Canarie, at the calendes of October. Of these I­landes, the laste is called Ferrea, in whiche there is no other water that maye be drunke, but onely that is gathered of the dewe whiche continually distilleth from one onely tree grow­ynge on the h [...]ghest backe of the Ilande,water drop­pyng from a tree continu­ally. and falleth into a rounde trenche made with mannes hande. We were infour­med of these thynges within fewe dayes after his departure. what shal succede, we wyl certifie yowe hereafter. Thus fare ye well, from the courte, at the Ides of Nouember .1493.

¶ The seconde booke of the fyrste Decade to Ascanius Ph [...]rcia, vicounte Cardinall. &c.

YOwe repete (ryghte honorable Prynce) that yowe are desirous to knowe what newes we haue in Spayne from the newe worlde: and that those thynges haue greatly delyted you which I wrote vnto yowre highnesse of the fyrste nauigation. Yowe shal now therefore receaue what hath succeded. Methymna Campi, Methymna Campi. is a famous towne in high Spayne in the respect from yowe, and is in that parte of Spayne whiche is called Castella Vetus:Castella ve­tu [...]. beynge distante from Gades about .xl. myles. Here the courte remayned, when aboute the .ix. of the kalendes of Aprell in this yere of nynetie and foure, there were postes sente to the kynge and queene, certifyinge them that there were .xii. ship­pes come from the newe Ilandes and arryued at Gades. Gades But the gouernoure of the shyppes sente worde to the kynge and quene that he had none other matter to certifie them of by the postes, but onely that the Admiral with fiue shippes and .iiii. score and tenne men remayned styll in Hispaniola, to searche the [Page 5] secretes of the Ilande. And that as touching other matters, he hym selfe wolde shortly make ralation in theyr presence, by worde of mouthe. Therfore the daye before the nones of A­prel, he came to the courte him selfe. What I learned of him and other faythefull and credible men whiche came with hym from the Admirall, I wyl reherse vnto yowe in such order as they declared the same to me when I demaunded them. Take it therfore as foloweth. The thyrde daye of the Ides of Oc­tober, departynge from Ferrea, The Iland of Ferrea. the laste of the Ilandes of Ca­nariae, and from the costes of Spayne with a nauie of .xvii. ship­pes, they sayled .xxi. dayes before they came to any Ilande: inclyning of purpose more towarde the lefte hand then at the fyrst viage, folowyng the northnortheast wynde: and arriued fyrst at the Ilandes of the Canibales, Ilands of the Canibales. or Caribes of which, onely the fame was knowen to our men. Amonge these, they chaunsed fyrste vpon one, so beset with trees, that they coulde not se so muche as an elle space of bare earthe or stony grounde. this they called Dominica, The Iland of Dominica. bicause they found it on the sunday. They taried here no tyme, bycause they sawe it be deserte. In the space of these .xxi. dayes, they thynke that they sayled .viii. hundreth and .xx. leaques,viii. hundreth & .xx. leaques in .xxi. dayes. the Northenortheast wynde was so full with them, and so fresshely folowed the sterne of theyr shyppes. After they hadde sayled a lyttle further, they espied dyuerse Ilandes replenysshed with sundrye kyndes of trees, from the whiche came fragrant sauours of spyces and sweete gummes. Here they sawe neyther man nor beaste, ex­cept certayne lisartes of huge bignesse,Lysertes, as they reported whi­che went alande to viewe the countrey. This Iland they cauled Galana, or Galanta. The Ilande of Galanta. From the cape or poynt of this Iland, es­pying a mountayne a farre of, they sayled thyther. Aboute .xxx. myles from this mountayne, they sawe a ryuer discēding whiche seemed to be a token of some great and large fludde. This is the fyrste lande whiche they founde inhabited from the Ilandes of Canariae, and is an Ilande of the Canibales, The Iland of Guadalupea. as they lerned by the interpretours whiche they tooke with them from Hispaniola into Spayne at theyr fyrste viage. Serchynge the Ilande, they founde innumerable villages of .xx. houses or .xxx. at the mooste, sette rounde abowte in order,Uilages of .xx or . [...]xx. houses. ma­kynge the streete in coompasse lyke a markette place. And for asmuch as I haue made mention of theyr houses, it shal not be [Page] greately from my purpose to describe in what maner they are buylded. They are made rounde lyke belles or rounde pauy­lions.The building of theyr hou­ses. Theyr frame is raysed of excedynge hyghe trees, sette close together and fast rampaired in the grounde, so standyng a slope and bending inward that the tappes of the trees ioyne together and beare one agaynste an other, hauynge also with­in the house, certayne stronge and shorte props or postes whi­che susteyne the trees from [...]allynge. They couer them with the leaues of date trees and other trees strongly compact and hardened, wherewith they make them close from wynde and wether. At the shore postes or proppes with [...]n the hou [...]e, they t [...]e ropes of th [...] [...]ottō of [...] trees, [...]ampine [...]otton. or other ropes made of certayne long and toughe [...]tes much lyke vnto the shrubbe called Sp [...]r [...]m. wherof in olde tyme they vsed to make bondes for v [...]nes [...] and rop [...] for shyppes. These they tye ouer [...] the hou [...]e fro [...] poste to poste. On these they ley as it [...] matt [...]e [...]es made of the cotton of the gos­samp [...]ne tress, wh [...]che g [...]we plentifully in these Ilandes.

Th [...]s cotton the Spani [...]des call Algodon, and the Italians B [...]m [...]sine. And thus they [...]eepe in hangynge beddes.Bomba [...]e. han [...]in [...]e beddes. At the enteraunce of one of theyr hou [...]es, they sawe two Images of woodde lyke vnto serpentes, wh [...]che they thoughte had byn such idoles as they honour. But they le [...]ned afterwarde that they were se [...]te there onely for cooml [...]nesse. For they knowe none other god then the Sunne and Moone, althoughe they make certaine Images of gossampine cotton to the similitude of such phantasies as they say appere to them in the nyghte.Images. Our men found in theyr houses, all kyndes of erthen vessels, not muche vnlyke vnto oures. They founde also in theyr ki­chens, mannes flesshe, duckes fless [...]e, and goose flesshe, al in one pot:Fyne cookery and other on the spittes redye to be layde to the fire. Entrynge into theyr inner lodgynges, they founde faggottes of the bones of mennes armes and legges, which they reserue to make heades for theyr arrowes,Arrowe heds of bones▪ bycause they lacke iron. The other bones they caste awaye when they haue eaten the flesshe. They founde likewise the heade of a yonge man faste­ned to a poste and yet bledinge. They haue in some villages, one great haule or pallaice, aboute the whiche theyr common houses are placed. To this they resort, as often as they come together to playe. When they perceaued the commynge of [Page 6] our men, they fledde, in theyr houses they founde also about xxx. chyldren and women captiues which were reserued to be eaten, but our men tooke them awaye to vse them for inter­pretoures. Searchyng more diligently thynner partes of the Ilande, they founde .vii. other ryuers, bygger then this whiche we spake of before, runnyng throughe the Ilande, with fruitefull and pleasante banckes, delectable to beholde. This Ilande, they called Guadalupea, for the similitude that it hath to the mounte Guadalupus in Spayne,The mount Guadalupus [...] where the Image of the virgin MARIE is religiously honored. But the inhabitaun­tes caul it Carucueria. Carucueria. or Queraquiera. It is the chiefe habitation of the Canibales. They brought from this Iland .vii. Popin­payes, bygger then phesantes,Popyngayes bygger then phesauntes muche differynge from other in coloure: hauynge theyr backes, brestes, and bealies of purple coloure, and theyr wynges of other variable coloures. In al these Ilandes is no lesse plentie of popingiayes then with vs of sparrowes or starlinges. As we brynge vp capons and hennes to francke or make them fatte, so do they these bigger kyndes of popyngaies for the same purpose. After that they hadde thus searched the Ilande and dryuen these Canibales to flyghte,The Caniba­les dry [...]en to flyght. (whiche ranne awaye at theyr fyrst approche as sone as they had espied them) they cauled theyr company together. And as soone as they had broken the Canibals boates or lygh­ters (whiche they call Canoas) they lowsed theyr ankers the daye before the Ides of Nouember, and departed from Gua­dalupea. Colonus the admirall, for the desyre he hadde to se his companions, whiche at his fyrst vyage he lefte the yere before in Hispaniola to searche the countrey, lette passe many Ilandes bothe on his righte hande and lefte hande, and sayled direct­ly thyther. By the waye, there appeared from the Northe. A great Ilande which the captiues that were taken in Hispaniola, cauled Madanino, or Matinino:Matinino an I [...]ande of women. Affirmynge it to be inhabited only with womē: To whō the Canibales haue accesse at certen tymes of the yeare, as in owlde tyme the Thracians had to the Amazo­nes in the Ilande of Lesbos. The men children, they sende to theyr fathers. But the women theye kepe with them selues. They haue greate and stronge caues or dennes in the ground, to the which they flye for safegarde if any men resorte vnto them at any other tyme then is appoynted. And there defende them selues with bowes and arrowes, ag [...]nst the violence of [Page] suche as attempte to enuade them. They coulde not at this tyme approche to this Ilande, by reasō of the Northenortheast wynde which blewe soo vehemently from the same, wher as they nowe folowed the Eastesoutheaste. After they de­parted frome Madanino, and sayled by the space of .xi. myles, they passed not farre frome an other Ilande which the cap­tyues sayde to bee verye peopulous, and replenyshed with all thynges necessarie for the life of man. This they cauled Mons Serratus, The Ilandes of Mons Serratus. bycause it was ful of mountaynes. The captyues fur­ther declared that the Canibales, are wonte at some tyme to goo frome theyr owne coastes aboue a thousande myle to hunte for men.hunt [...]nge for men. The daye folowynge, they sawe an other Ilande the whiche, bycause it was rownde, they cauled Sancta Maria Rotunda. Sancta Maria Rotunda. The nexte daye, theye founde an other, which they cauled S. Marrini. Sanctus Mar [...]inus. Which they lette passe also bycause they had no leasure to tarye. Lykewyse the thirde daye they espyed an other, whose Diamerral syde extendynge frome the Easte to the weste, they iudged to bee a hundreth and fyftie myle.

Theye affirme all these Ilandes to be maruelous fayre and frutefull. This laste, they cauled Sancta Maria Antiqua. Sancta Maria Antiqua, Saylyng yet forwarde, and leauynge many other Ilandes, after they had sayled aboute fortie myle, they chaunced vpon an other muche bygger then any of the reste, which thinhabitans caule Ay Ay, but they named it Insula crucis. Insula crucis An Ilande of the Canibals Heare they cast anker to fetche fresshe water. The Admiral also commaunded .xxx. men to go a lande out of his owne shyp, and to search the Ilande Here they founde fowre dogges on the shore. The Inhabi­tants are Canibales, The Caniba­les are ex­pert archers. and maruelous experte in shutinge, as well women as men: And vse to infecte theyr arrowes with poy­son: when they had taryed there two dayes, they sawe a farre of, a Canoa, in the whiche were eight men and as manye women hauynge with them bowes and arrowes.Arrowes in­fected with veneme. They fearsly assayled owre men withoute all feare, and hurte sum of them with theyr venemous arrowes. Amonge these there was a certen woman to whome the other gaue reuerence and obeyde as though she were theyr queene. Her sonne wayted vppon her, beinge a younge man, strongly made, of terrible & frow­nynge countenaunce and a lyons face.A conflict [...]ith the Ca­nib [...]les. Owre men leaste they sholde take the more hurte by beinge wounded a farre of, thowght it beste to ioyne with them. Therfore with all spede [Page 7] settinge forewarde with their ores the brigantine in whiche they were sette alande, they ouerturned their Canoa with a great violence, which beinge ouerwhelmed, they notwith­stondinge, as well the women as the men swymminge, caste theyr dartes at owre men, thicke and threefowlde. At the lengthe, gatherynge them selues together vpon a rocke coue­red with the water, they fowght manfully vntyll they were ouercome and taken, one being slayne, and the queenes sonne sore wounded. When they were browght into the Admirals shippe, they dyd no more put of their fiernes and cruell countenances,The fierce­nes and terri­ble counte­n [...]unce of the Canibales. then do the Lyons of Libia when theye perceaue thē selues to be bownde in chaynes. There is no man able to be­howlde them, but he shall feele his bowelles grate with a certen horroure, nature hath endewed them with soo terrible menacynge, and cruel aspecte. This coniecture I make of my selfe and other which often tymes wente with me to see them at Methymna Campi. Methymna Campi. But nowe to returne to the viage. Procea­dinge thus further and further, more then fiue hundrethe myles, firste towardes the Westesoutheweste, then towarde the Southwest, and at the lengthe towarde the Weste northeweste, they entered into a mayne large sea hauinge in it in­numerable Ilandes,Innumerable ilandes. maruelouslye differinge one from an o­ther, for sum of them were verye frutefull and full of herbes and trees. Other sum, verye drye, barren, and rowgh with high rockye mountaynes of stone, wherof sum were of bright blewe or asurine coloure, and other glysteringe white: wherfore they supposed them by good reason to bee the mynes of metalles and precious stones.The mynes of Metales & precious sto­nes. But the rowghnes of the sea, and mult [...]tude of Ilandes standinge so thicke togyther, hindered them soo, that they cowlde caste no anker leaste the big­ger vesselles shulde runne vppon the rockes. Therefore they deferred the searchinge of these Ilandes vntyl an other tyme They were so manye and stoode so thicke, that they coulde not number them. Yet the smauler vesselles which drewe no greate depthe, entered emonge them and numbered fortie and syxe Ilandes. But the bigger vesselles, kepte aloofe in the mayne sea for feare of the rockes. They caule the sea where this multitude of Ilandes are situate, Archipelagus. The sea cau­led Archipe­lagus▪ Frome this tracte proceadinge forrewarde, in the mydde waye there lyeth an Iland which thinhabitantes caule Burichena, or Buchona. [Page] But they named it Insula. S. Iohannis, Insula. S. Io­hannes o [...] Buchena. Dyuers of theym whome we had delyuered frome the Canibales, sayde that they were borne in this Ilande: affirminge it to be very peopulous and frutefull, hauinge also manye fayre wooddes and hauens. There is deadly hatred and continual battayle betwene them & the Canibales, They haue no boates to passe from their owne coastes to the Canibales. But if it bee their chaunce to ouercome them, when they make incursion into theyr countreye to seke their praye (as it sumtyme happeneth, the fortune of warre beinge vncerteyne) they serue them with like sause, requiringe deathe for deathe.Death for d [...]athe For one of theym mangeleth an other in pieces, and roste them and eate them euen before their eyes. They taryed not in this Ilande. Yet in the weste angle therof, a fewe of them went a lande for fresshe water, and fownd a greate and h [...]gh howse after the maner of their buylding, hauinge .xii. other of their vulgare cotages placed abowte the same:The moun­taynes are coulder then the playnes. but were all lefte desolate, whether it were that they resorted to the mountaynes by reson of the heate which was that tyme of the yeare, and to returne to the playne when the ayre wareth cowlder, or els for feare of the Canibales which make incursion into the Ilande at certen seasons. In all this Ilande is only one kinge. The south syde hereof exten­deth abowte two hundrethe myles. Shortlye after, they came to the Ilande of Hispaniola, beinge distante frome the firste Ilande of the Canibales, fyue hundrethe leaques.From Dominica to hi [...]pani­ola fyue hun­dreth leaques Here they fownde all th [...]nges out of order, and theyr felowes slayne whi [...]h they lefte here at their fyrste vyage. In the begin­ninge of Hispaniola, (hauinge in it many regions and kynge­domes as we haue sayde) is the region of Xamana whose kinge is named Gua [...]canarillus. The Spany­ [...]des lefte in the Iland are s [...]ayne. kynge Guac­canari [...]lus rebelleth. This Guaccanarillus ioyned frendeshippe with owre men at the fyrste viage, and made a league with them: But in the absence of the Admirall, he rebelled, & was the cause of owre mens destruction, althowgh he dissimuled the same, and pretended frendship at the Admirales returne. As owre men sayled on yet a litle furthe [...], they espied a longe Canoa with many ores, in which was the b [...]other of Guaccanaril­lus with only one man waytinge on hym. He browght with hym two Images of goulde,Two images of goulde. which he gaue the Admirall in the name of his brother. And towlde a [...]ale in his language as concerninge the deathe of owre men, as they proued afterwarde, [Page 8] but at this tyme had no regarde to his communicati­on for lacke of interpretours, which were eyther all deade, or escaped and stoulne awaye when they drewe nere the Ilandes. But of the .x.vii. dyed by change of ayre and dyer. The inhabitantes of these Ilandes haue byn euer soo vsed to liue at libert [...]e, in playe and pastyme,Libertie and idlenes. that they can hardely away with the yoke of seruitude which they attempte to shake of by all meanes they maye. And surely if they had receaued owre rel [...]gion, I wolde thinke their life moste happye of all men,A happy kind of lyfe. if they might therwith enioye their aunciente libertie. A fewe thinges contente them, hauinge no delite in suche su­per [...]luites,Superfluite. for the which in other places men take infinite paynes and commit manie vnlawfull actes, and yet are neuer satisfied, wheras many haue to muche, and none inowgh.many haue to much and none inough. But emonge these simple sowles, a fewe clothes serue the naked: we [...]ghtes and measures are not needefull to such as can not skyll of crafte and deceyte and haue not the vse of pestife­tous monye, the seede of innumerable myscheues. So that if we shall not be ashamed to confesse the truthe, they seeme to lyue in that goulden worlde of the whiche owlde wryters speake so much▪ The goulden worlde wherin men lyued simplye and innocentlye without inforcement of lawes, without quarellinge Iudges and libelles, contente onely to satisfie nature, without fur­ther vexation for knowelege of thinges to come. Yet these naked people also are tormēted with ambitiō for the desyre they haue to enlarge their dominions:Naked men troubled with ambicion. by reason wherof they kepe warre & destroy one an other: frō the which plage I suppo [...]e the golden world was not free. For euen then also, Cede, non c [...]dam, that is, gyue place,Gyue place. & I wyll not giue place, had entred emonge men. But nowe to returne to the matter frō which we haue digressed. The admiral desyrous to knowe further of the death of his men, sent for Guaccanarillus to come to him to his ship, dissimulinge that he knew any thinge of the matter.The Admira sendeth for the kynge. After that he came aboord shyp, saluting the Admiral & his cō pany gyuing also certē golde to the Capetaynes and offycers, turned him to the womē captiues which not longe before our mē had deliuered frō the Canibales. And ernestly beholding one of them whome owre men cauled Catharyne, he spake gentelly vnto her.No horses in the Ilandes. And thus when he had seene and marueyled at the horses and suche other thinges as were in the shyppe, vn­knowen [Page] to them, and had with a good grace and merelye as­ked leaue of the Admirall, he departed. Yet sum there were which counseyled the Admirall to kepe hym styll: that if they might by any meanes proue that he was consentinge to the deathe of owre men, he might bee punished accordinglie. But the Admirall considering that it was yet no tyme to incense thinhabitantes myndes to wrathe,A tyme for all thynges. dysmyssed hym. The next daye folowing, the kinges brother resortyng to the shyppes, eyther in his owne name or in his brothers, seduced the wo­men. For on the next nyght about mydnight, this Katherine aswell to recouer her owne libertie as also her felowes, being suborned therto eyther by the kinge or his brothers promises attempted a much more difficulte and daungerous aduenture then dyd Cloelia of Rome,A desperate aduenture of a woman. Cloelia of Rome. which beinge in hostage with other maydes to the kynge Porcena, deceaued her kepers, and rode ouer the ryuer Tiber, with the other virgins which were pled­ges with her. For wheras they swamme ouer the ryuer on horsebacke. This Katharyne with seuen other women, tru­stynge onlye to the strengthe of theyr owne armes, swamme aboue three longe myles: and that also, at suche tyme as the sea was sumwhat rowghe. For euen soo farre of frome the shore, lay the shippes at rode, as nigh as they could coniecture But owre men folowinge them with the shippeboates, by the same light seene on the shore wherby the women were ledde, tooke three of them: supposinge that Katharyne with the o­ther foure, wente to Guaccanarillus. For in the springe of the morninge, certen messengers beinge sente to hym by the Admirall, had intelligence that he was fledde with all his familie and stuffe, and the women also. which thinge ministred fur­ther suspection that he was consentinge to the death of owre men. Wherfore the Admirall sente forthe an armye of three hundrethe men, ouer the which he appoynted one Melchior to be capitayne, wylling hym to make diligent searche to fynde owte Guaccanarillus. Melchior therfore with the smauleste vessels enteringe into the countreye by the ryuers and scouringe the shores,Guaccanaril­lus is sought. [...]l [...]hior. chaunced into certen croked goulfes defended with .v lyttle & stiepe hilles, supposinge that it had byn the mouth of sum greate ryuer. He founde here also a verye commodious and safe hauen, and therefore named it Portus Regalis. They saye that the enteraunce of this is so crooked and bendinge, [Page 9] that after the shippes are once within the same, whether they turne thē to the lefte hand, or to the ryght, they can not perceaue where they came in vntyll they returne to the mouth of the ryuer: Although it be there so brode that three of the byggeste vessels may sayle together on a froont. The sharpe & high hilles on the one syde and on the other, so brake the wynde, that they were vncerten howe to rule theyr sayles. In the myddle gulfe of the ryuer, there is a promontorie or point of the lande with a pleasaunte groue full of Popingayes and other byrdes which breede therein and singe verye sweetlye.Popingayes and byrdes They perceaued also that two ryuers of no smaule largenes fell into the hauen. Whyle they thus searched the lande be­twene bothe, Melchior espied a high house a farre of, where supposinge that Guaccanarillus had lyne hyd, he made towarde it. And as he was goynge, there mette hym a man with a frownynge countenaunce and a grymme looke, with a hun­dreth men folowynge hym, armed with bowes and arrowes, and long and sharpe staues like iauelynnes, made harde at the endes with fyre. Who approchyng towardes owre men, spake owte alowde with a terryble voyce, sayenge that they were Taini, Taini. (that is) noble men, and not Canibales. But when owre men had gyuen them signes of peace, they lefte bothe theyr weapons and fiercenes. Thus geuynge eche of them certen haukes belles,haukes bel­les▪ they tooke it for so greate a rewarde, that they desyred to enter bondes of nere frendeshyppe with vs, and feared not immediatly to submitte them selues vnder owre power, and resorted to our shyps with theyr presentes. They that measured the house (beinge made in rounde fourme fownde it to be from syde to syde .xxxii. greate paces,A large hous compa­sed abowte with .xxx. other vulgare houses, hauinge in them many beames crosse ouer, and couered with reedes of sundry colours,Reedes of sū ­dry colours. wrethed and as it were weaued with maruelous art When owre men asked sum of them where they myght fynde Guaccanarillus. They aunswered that that Region was none of his. But theyr kynges beynge there presente. Yet they sayde they supposed that Guaccanarillus was gone from the playne to the mountaynes. Makynge therfore a brotherly league with this Caccicus, Caccius. (that is to saye a kynge) they retourned to the Admyrall to make relation what they hadde seene and harde.

whervppon he sent forth dyuers other Centurians with their [Page] hundrethes to searche the countrey yet further. Emonge the which were Hoiedus and Gorualanus, ho [...]edus and Gorualanus. noble younge gentlemen & of great courage. And as they went towarde the mountaines to seeke Guaccanarillus, dyuidinge the mountaynes betwene thē one of them fownde on the one syde therof foure ryuers fau­lynge frome the same mountaynes: and the other founde .iii. on the other syde. In the sandes of all these ryuers is fownd great plentye of goulde,Golde in ry­uers faulinge from moun­taynes. which thinhabitantes of the same Ilande which were with vs, gathered in this maner. Making holes in the sande with theyr handes, a Cubette deape, and takynge vp sande with their lefte handes from the botome of the same,The maner of gathering golde. they picked out graynes of goulde with their ryght handes withowte any more arte or cunnynge.Graynes of golde. And so deliue­red it to owre men: who affirme that many of them thus ga­thered, were as bygge as tares or fytchis. And I my selfe sawe a masse of rude goulde,A masse of rude go [...]de weighinge .ix ounces. (that is to say, suche as was neuer molten) lyke vnto suche stones as are founde in the bot­tomes of ryuers, weighinge nyne ownces, which Hoieda him selfe fownde. Beinge contented with these signes, they returned to the Admirall to certifie him hereof. For the Admirall had commaunded vnder payne of punyshement that they shuld meddle no further then their commission: which was only to searche the places with their signes. For the fame went that there was a certeyne kynge of the mountaynes from whense those ryuers had their faule, whom they caule Cacicus Caunaboa that is, the lord of the house of golde.Cannaboa, kynge of the house of gold For they caule a house Boa, goulde, Cauni: and a kynge or Lorde, Cacicus, as we haue sayde before.hol [...]ome wa­ter and plen­tie of fysshe. They affirme that there can noo where be found better fysshe, nor of more pleasant tast, or more holsome then in these ryuers: also the waters of the same to be most holsom to drynke. Melchior hym selfe towld me, that in the moneth of December,The day and nyght of e­qual length in Decēber. the days and nyghtes bee of equal length among the Canibalis. But the sphere or circles of the heauen, agreeth not thervnto. [...]yrdes breed in December Albeit that in the same moneth, sume byrdes make their nestes, and sume haue alredy hatched their egges by reason of the heate beinge rather continuall then extreme. He towlde me also when I questioned with hym as concer­nynge the eleuation of the pole from the horizontal lyne,The eleuati­on of the po [...]e that al the sterres cauled Plastrum or charles wayne,The starres are cauled gardens of the pole, are hydde vn­der the Northe pole to the Canibales. And surely there retur­ned none from thense at this viage, to whome there is more [Page 10] credit to be gyuen, then to this man. But if he had byn skilfull in Astronomye, he shulde haue sayde that the day was almoste equall with the night. For in no place towarde the stay of the sonne (cauled Solsticium) can the night be equall with the day. And as for them, they neuer came vnder the Equinoc [...]iall, The Equino­tial lyne. for asmuch as they had euer the northe pole theyr guyde, and euer eleuate in sight aboue the Horizontal. Thus haue I briefe­ly written vnto yowre honoure, as muche as I thought suffi­ciente at this tyme. And shall shortly hereafter (by Gods fa­uoure) wryte vnto you more largely of suche matters as shal­be dayly better knowen. For the admirall hym selfe (whome I vse famylyerly as my verye frende) hathe promysed me by his letters, that he wyl gyue me knowlege of al such thynges as shall chaunce. He hath nowe chosen a stronge place where he may buyld a Citie nere vnto a comodious hauen. And hath alredy buylded many houses and a chapell in the whiche (as in a newe worlde heretofore voyde of all religion) god is dayly serued with .xiii. preestes accordinge to the maner of owre churches.A chapel and preestes. When the tyme nowe approched when he promy­sed to sende to the kynge and queene, and hauynge prospe­rous wynde for that purpose, sent backe the .xii. Carauelles wherof we made mencion before it was no smaul hynderance and greefe, vnto hym: Especially consyderynge the death of his men whom he lefte in the Ilande at the fyrst vyage, wherby we are yet ignorant of many places & other secretes wher­of we might otherwyse haue had further knowleage. But as tyme shall reueale them ageyne, so wyll I aduertyse yowe of the same. And that you may the better knowe by conference had with the Apothecaries and marchaunt strangers Sirophenici­ans, Marchaunts Sirophenici­ans. what these Regions beare, and howe hotte theyr ground is, I haue sent you all kyndes of graynes, with the barke & inner partes of that tree whiche they suppose to bee the Cinamome tree.The Cyna­mome tree. And yf it be your pleasure to taste eyther of the graynes, or of the smaule seedes the which you shoulde per­ceaue to haue fawlen from these graynes, or of the wodde it selfe, touch them firste softely mouinge them to your lyppes. For although they bee not hurtefull, yet for theyr excesse of heate, they are sharpe and byte the tongue, yf they remayne any whyle theron. But if the tongue be blystered by tastynge of them, the same is taken away by drynkynge of water. Of [Page] the corne also wherof they make theyr breade, this brynger shall delyuer sume graynes to your Lordeshyppe bothe whyte and blacke: And therwith also, a Trunke of the tree of Aloes The which if you cutte in peeces,Xiloaloes or lignū Aloes. you shall feele a sweete sa­uoure to proceade from the same. Thus fare you hartely wel. From the courte of Methimna Campi. The thyrde day before the Calendes of May. Anno. Domini, M. CCCC. XCIIII.

¶ The thyrde boke of the fyrst Decade, to Lodouike Cardinall of Aragonye and Neuie to the kynge.

YOwe desyre that folyshe Phaeton shulde ageine rule the Chariotes of the Sunne:The fable of Phaeton. And con­tende the drawe sweete lycoures out of the harde flynte, wheras you requyre me to dys­scribe vnto you the newe worlde, fownde in the weste by the good fortune & gouernaunce of the Catholike Princes Ferdinandus and He­lisabeth,kynge Ferdi­nandus and queene Heli­zabeth your Uncle and Aunte: shewyng me also the letters of kynge Frederike your vncle, wrytten to me in the same be­halfe. But sythe you haue layde this burden on my backe, in whose power it is to commaunde me to take vppon me more then I am wel able. Ye bothe shal receaue this precious stone, rudely closed in leade after my maner of workemanshyppe. Wherfore when you shall perceaue the lerned sorte frendelye: The malicious, enuiously: And the backebyters, furiously, to bende theyr sclaunderous dartes ageynst owre fayre Nimphes of the Ocean, hereides. He meaneth the Ilandes. You shall freely proteste in howe short tyme, and in the myddeste of what troubles and calamities, you haue enforced me to wryte of the same. Thus fare you well frome Granata the ninthe day before the Calendes of May.

¶ We haue declared in the boke here before, howe the Admi­rall passed by the coastes of the Canibales to the Ilande of Hispa­niola with his whole nauie.hispaniola. But nowe we entende further to shewe what he fownde as concernynge the nature of this I­lande, after that he had better searched the seacreates of the same: Likewyse of the Ilande of Cuba nere vnto it which he yet supposed to bee the firme lande. Hispaniola therfore (which he affirmeth to bee Ophir, [...]phir whe­ther Salo­mons [...]hips sayled for golde. wherof we reade in the thyrde boke [Page 11] of the kynges) is of latitude, fyue southe degrees: hauynge the northe pole eleuate on the northe syde .xxvii. degrees: And on the Southe syde (as they saye) xxii. degrees. It reacheth in length from the Easte to the Weste, seuen hundrethe and foure score myles. It is distant from the Ilandes of Gades (cauled Cales) xlix. degrees, and more as sum saye. The forme of the Ilande, resembleth the leafe of a chesnutte tree. Uppon a high hyll on the North syde of the Ilande, he buylded a ci­tie,Isabella. bycause this place was most apte for that purpose by rea­son of a myne of stones which was nere vnto the same, ser­uynge well bothe to buylde with, and also to make lyme. At the bottome of this hyll, is there a great playne of three score myles in lengthe:A playne of threescore myles of len­gthe. and in bredth sumwhere .xii. sumwhere .xx. myles where it is brodest, and .vi. myles where it is narowest Through this playne runne dyuers fayre ryuers of holsome waters. But the greatest of them which is nauigable, fauleth into the hauen of the citie for the space of halfe a furlonge. Howe fertile and fruitfull this valley is, you shal vnderstand by these thynges which folowe. On the shore of this ryuer,A token of maruelous fruitfu [...]nes, they haue lymyted and enclosed certeyne grounde to make gardeynes and orchiardes, in the which al kyndes of bygger herbes, as radyshe, letuse, colewortes, borage, and such o­ther, waxe rype within .xvi. dayes after the seede is sowen. Lykewyse Melones, Gourdes, Cucumers, and suche other, within the space of .xxxvi. dayes. These garden herbes, they haue fresshe and greene all the whole yeare.herbes grene at the hole yeare. Also the rootes of the canes or reedes, of the lycour wherof, suger is made, growe a cubette high within the space of .xv. dayes:Suger reeds Plantes and vines. but the lycoure is not yet hardened. The lyke they affirme of plantes or shrouddes of younge vines: And that they haue the second yeare gathered ripe and sweete grapes of the same. But by reason of to muche rankenes, they beare but fewe clusters. Furthermore, a man of the countrey sowed a lyttle wheate about the Calendes of February, and brought with hym to the citie a handefull of the rype eares of the same the thyrde day before the calendes of Aprell: which was that yeare the vigile of the Resurrection of owre Lorde. Also, al kyndes of pulse, as beanes, peason, fytches, tares, and suche other, are rype twyse in the yeare,Corne and grayne rype twise a yeare as all they which come from thense, affirme with one voyce: Yet that the grounde is not vniuer­sally [Page] apte to beare wheate. In the meane tyme whyle these thynges were doinge, the Admirall sent owte a companye of xxx. men to searche the Region of Cipangae, otherwyse cauled Cibana This Region is full of mountaynes and rockes:The Region of C [...]panga or Cibana. And the myddle ba [...]ke of the hole Ilande in the whiche is greate plentie of goulde.Golde. When they that went to searche the Regi­on, were returned they reported maruelous thynges as tou­chinge the great ryches of this Region. Frome these moun­taynes, descende foure greate ryuers,Foure greate ryuers. which by the marue­lous industrye of nature, deuided the hole Ilande into foure partes, in maner equall, ouerspreadinge and wateringe the hole Ilande with their branches. Of these foure ryuers, the one reacheth towarde the Easte. This the inhabitantes caule Iunna: An other, towarde the Weste, and is cauled Attibunicus. The thirde towarde the Northe, named Iachem: the laste rea­cheth into the Southe, and is cauled Naiba. The daye before the Ides of Marche, the Admiral him selfe with al his horse men and foure hundreth footemen,The golden region of Cibana. marched directly towarde the South syde of the goulden Region. Thus passinge ouer the ryuer, the plaine and the mountayne which enuironed the other syde of the playne, he chaunced vpon an other vale the which a ryuer muche bygger then the fyrste, and many other meane ryuers runne throwgh. When he had also conueighed his armye ouer the ryuer and passed the seconde vale whiche was in no part inferiour to the firste, he made away through the thirde mountayne,Uales and mountaynes. where was no passage before, and descended into an other vale which was nowe the beginninge of Cibana. The vale of Cibana. Through this also runne many fluddes, and ryuers, out of euery hyll, and in the sandes of theym all, is fownde great plentie of goulde. And when he had nowe entered three score and twelue myles into the goulden region from the citie he entended to buylde a fortresse vppon the toppe of a hyll, standing by the shore of a certeyne great ryuer, that he might the better and more safelye searche the secreates of the inner partes of the Region. This he cauled the fortresse of saynte Thomas. The which in the meane tyme whyle he was buyl­dynge, thinhabitantes beinge desirous of haukes belles and other of owre thinges,Golde for haukes bels. resorted dayly thyther. To whom the Admirall declared, that if they wolde brynge goulde, they shulde haue what so euer they wolde aske, Forthwith tur­ninge [Page 12] theyr backes and runnynge to the shore of the next ry­uer, they returned in a short tyme, brynginge with them their handes full of goulde. Amongest al other, there came a owld man bringynge with him two pybble stones of goulde weigh­inge an vnce,Graynes end pipple stones of golde. desyrynge them to gyue him a bell for the same who when he sawe oure men maruell at the byggenes therof, he made signes that they were but smaule and of no value in respecte of sume that he had seene. And takynge in his hande foure stones the least wherof was as bygge as a walnut, and the byggest as bygge as an orange, he sayde that there was fownde peeces of goulde soo bygge in his countrey, beynge but halfe a dayes iourney from thense, and that they had no regarde to the gatheringe therof. Whereby we perceaue that they passe not muche for goulde in asmuch as it is goulde on­ly,They passe not for golde, in that it is golde onely but. &c. but so farre esteeme it, as the hande of the artificer hathe fashioned it in any coomely fourme. For who doth greatly esteeme rowgh marble or vnwrought Iuerye. But if they be wrought with the cunninge hande of Phidias or Praxiteles, and shaped to the similitude of the fayre nimphes or fayeres of the sea (cauled Nereiades) or the fayres of the wods, (cauled Hamadriades) they shal neuer lacke byers. Besyde this owld man, there came also dyuers other, brynginge with them pypple stones of gold weighing .x. or .xii. drammes: And feared not to confesse, that in the place where they gathered that golde, there were found sūtyme stones of gold as bygge as the heade of a chyld When he had taryed heare a fewe dayes,Stones of golde as byg as the heade of a chy [...]de, he sent one Luxanus, a noble younge gentylman with a fewe armed men to searche all the partes of this Region. Who at his returne, reported that thinhabitantes shewed him greater thinges thē we haue spoken of here before. But he dyd openly declare nothynge therof: which they thought was doone by the Admirales commaundement. They haue wooddes full of certeyne spyces:Spyces▪ but not suche as we commonly vse. These they gather euen as they do golde: that is as much as wyl serue for theyr purpose, euery man for hym selfe, to exchange the same with the inhabitantes of other countreys adioyninge to them, for such thinges as they lacke, as dysshes, pottes, stooles, and suche other necessaries. As Luxanus returned to the Admiral, (which was about the Ides of Marche) he fownde in the wooddes, certeyne wylde vines, rype and of pleasaunt taste.wylde Vines of pleasaunte taste. But thin­habitantes [Page] passe not on them. This Region though it bee full of stones and rockes (and is therfore cauled Cibana, which is as muche to saye as a stone) yet it is well replenyshed with trees and pastures.F [...]uitful moū ­t [...]ynes. Ye they instantly affirme, that if the grasse of these mountaynes bee cutte, it groweth ageyne within the space of foure dayes, higher then wheate. And for as muche as many showers of rayne doo faule in this Region, whereof the ryuers and fluddes haue their increase, in euery of the which, golde is fownde myrte with sande in all places, they iudge that the golde is dryuen from the mountaynes,Golde in the landes of ry­uers faulinge from the moū taynes. by the vehement course of the streames which faule from the same, and runne into the ryuers. The people of this Region are gyuen to Idelnes and playe.Libertie and Idelnes. For suche as inhabyte the moun­taynes, syt quakynge for coulde in the wynter season,The moun­taynes are coulde. & had rather soo wander vppe and downe Idelly, then take the peines to make them apparell, wheras they haue wooddes full of gossāpine cotton. But such as dwel in the vales or plaines feele no coulde in wynter. When the Admirall had thus searched the beginninge of the region of Cibana, he repayred to Isabella (for so he named the citie) where, leauinge the gouernance of the Ilande with his deputies, he prepared hym selfe to search further the lymettes of the Ilande of Cuba or Iohanna, which he yet doubted to bee the firme lande,The Ilande of Cuba. and distant from Hispaniola. onely three score and ten myles. This dyd he with more speedy expedicion, caulyng to remembraunce the kinges commaundement, who wylled hym fyrst with all celeritie to ouer runne the coastes of the newe Ilandes, leaste any other prince shulde in the meane tyme attempte to inuade the same.Least any o­the [...] prince. &c For the Kynge of Portugale affirmed that it perteyned only to hym to discouer these vnknowen landes. But the byshop of Rome Alexander the .vi. to auoyd the cause of this discenti­on,Discencion betweene the Portugales and Spani­ardes. graunted to the Kynge of Spayne by thauctoritie of his leaden bulles, that no other prince shulde bee so boulde as to make any viages to any of those vnknowen regions, lyenge without the precinct of a directe lyne drawē from the North to the Southe a hundreth leaques westwarde without the paralelles of the Ilandes cauled Capud Viride. or Cabouerde, which we thynke to bee those that in owlde tyme were cauled Hespe­rides. T [...]e Ilandes o [...] Cabouerde o [...] hisperides These perteyne to the kynge of Portugale. And frome these, his pylottes whiche doo yearely searche newe coastes [Page 13] and regions, directe their course to the Easte,The Portu­gales viages saylynge euer towarde the lefte hande by the backe of Aphrike and the seas of the Ethiopians: Neyther to this day had the Portugales at any tyme sayled Southwarde, or Westewarde from the I­landes of Cabouerde. Preparyng therfore three shippes, he made haste towarde the Ilande of Iohanna or Cuba whyther he came in shorte space, and named the poynt therof where he fyrst arryued, Alpha and O:Alpha and O that is, the fyrste and the laste: for he supposed that there had byn thend of owre Easte bycause the sonne fauleth there: And of the weste, bycause it ryseth there. For it is apparente, that westwarde, it is the beginninge of India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges: And Eastewarde, the fur­thest ende of the same:The ende of the Easte and West. which thinge is not contrary to reason forasmuche as the Cosmographers haue lefte the lymites of India beyonde Ganges vndetermyned: where as also sume were of opinion that India was not farre frō the coastes of Spaine as we haue sayde before.Note. India not far frō Spayne. Within the prospecte of the begyn­nynge of Cuba, he founde a commodious hauen in the extreme angle of the Ilande of Hispaniola. For in this part, the Iland receaueth a greate goulfe. This hauen, he named saynt Ny­colas porte,Saynt Nyco­las porte. beinge scarsely .xx. leaques from Cuba. As he departed from hense and sayled westwarde by the south syde of Cuba, the further that he went, so muche the more the sea see­med to bee extended in breadth & to bende towarde the south. On the south syde of Cuba, he fownde an Ilande which thin­habitantes caule Iamaica. The Iland of Iamaica. This he affirmeth to bee longer and broder then the Iland of Sicilie: hauyng in it only one mountayne, which on euery parte begynninge from the sea, ryseth by little and little into the myddest of the Ilande: And that soo playnely without rowghnes, that suche as goo vp to the toppe of the same, can scarsely perceaue that they ascende.Iamaica. This Ilande he affirmed to bee very fruitfull and full of peo­ple as well in thinner partes of the same as by the shore: And that thinhabitantes are of quicker wytte then in the other I­landes,Quicke wyt­ted people. and more experte artificers and warrelyke men. For in many places where he woulde haue arryued, they came ar­med ageynst him and forbodde him with threatening wordes But beinge ouercome,The composeinge of the earth. they made a league of frendeship with hym. Thus departynge from Iamaica, he sayled towarde the Weste with a prosperous wynde for the space of three [...]core & [Page] tenne dayes: thinkinge that he had passed so farre by the compasse of the earth being vnderneth vs, that he had byn nere vnto Aurea Chersonesus (nowe cauled Malaccha, Aurea Cher­sonesus, or Malaccha.) in owre Easte India beyonde the beginninge of Persides. For he playnely bele­ued that he had lefte onely two of the twelue howres of the sonne,A secreate of Astronomie. which were vnknowen to vs, for the owlde wryters haue lefte halfe the course of the sonne vntouched, where as they haue but onely discussed that superficiall parte of the earth which lyeth betwene the Ilandes of Gades and the ry­uer of Ganges:The ryuer of Ganges. or at the vttermoste, to Aurea Chersonesus. In this nauigation, he chaunced on many furious seas, running with a faule as it had byn the streames of fluddes: Also many whorlepooles, and shelfes, with many other daungers, and streyghtes by reason of the multytude of Ilandes,Daungerous streightes by reason of ma­ny Ilandes. which ley on euery syde. But not regardinge all these perelles, he determyned to proceade vntyl he had certaine knowledge whether Cuba were an Ilande or firme lande. Thus he sayled forward coastinge euer by the shore towarde the weste for the space of CC.xxii. leaques, that is, abowte a thousande and three hundreth myles: And gaue names to seuen hundreth Ilandes by the waye:The Admi­ral gaue na­mes to seuen hundrethe I­landes. Leauynge also on the lefte hande (as he feared not to reporte) three thousande here and three.thre thousād Ilandes. But let vs nowe returne to suche thinges as he fownde worthy to be noted in this nauigation. Saylinge therfore by the syde of Cuba, and searchinge the nature of the places, he espied not farre from Alpha and O, a large hauen of capacitie to harborowe manye shippes:A large hauē whose enteraunce is bendinge, beinge inclosed on bothe sydes with capes or poyntes which receaue the water. This hauen is large within, and of exceadinge depthe. Say­linge by the shore of this porte, he sawe not farre frome the same, two cotages couered with reedes, and in many places fyer kyndeled. Here he sente certeyne armed men owte of the shippes to the cotages: where they fownde nother man nor woman, but rostemeate enowgh. For they fownde certeyne spyttes of woodde lyenge at the fyre, hauinge fyshe on theym abowt a hundreth pownde weight, and two serpentes of .viii foote longe a piece,Rosted fysshe and serpents of .viii. foote longe. wherat marueylinge, and lokynge abowt if they coulde espye any of thinhabitantes, and that none ap­peared in syght (for they fledde all to the mountaynes at the comminge of owre men) they fell to theyr meate, and eate the [Page 14] fyshe taken with other mens trauayle: But they absteyned frō the serpentes, which they affirme to differ nothinge from Crocodiles of Egypt,Crocodiles of Egypte. but onely in byggenes. For (as Plinie sayth) Crocodiles haue sumetymes byn fownde of .xviii. cubettes longe. But of these the byggest were but of .viii. fote. Thus beinge well refresshed, they entered into the next woodde where they fownde many of the same kynde of serpentes hangynge vppon bowghes of trees: of the which, sume had theyr mou­thes tyed with strynges, and sume theyr teethe taken owte. And as they searched the places nere vnto the hauen, they sawe abowte .lxx. men in the toppe of a hyghe rocke, whiche fledde as soone as they had espied owre men. Who by signes and tokens of peace, caulinge them ageyne, there was one which came nere them and floode on the toppe of a rocke, see­mynge as thowgh he were yet ferefull. But the Admiral sent one Didacus to hym,Didacus thin­terpretour. a man of the same countrey, whom he had at his fyrste vyage taken in the Ilande of Guanahaini, beinge nere vnto Cuba: wyllinge hym to come nere and not to bee a­frayde. When he harde Didacus speke to him in his owne tonge he came bowldly to hym: and shortly after resorted to his cō ­pany, persuadinge them to come without all feare. After this message was doone, there descended frome the rockes to the shippes, abowt three score and ten of thinhabibitantes, pro­feringe frendeshippe and gentelnes to owre men: whiche the Admirall accepted thankefully, and gaue them dyuers rewardes: And that the rather, for that he had intelligence by Di­dacus thenterpretoure, that they were the kynges fysshers,The kynges. fysshers. sent of theyr lorde to take fysshe ageynst a solemne feaste which he prepared for an other kynge. And wheras the Admirales men had eaten the fysshe whiche they lefte at the fyre, they were the gladder therof, bycause they had lefte the serpentes.Serpentes esteemed for delicate mea [...] Ophiophagi▪ For there is nothinge amonge theyr delicate dysshes, that they esteeme so muche as these serpentes: In soo muche that it is no more lawfull for the common people to eate of them, then peacockes or phesantes amonge vs. As for the fysshes, they doubted not to take as many more the same nyght. Beynge asked why they fyrst rosted the fysshe which they entended to beare to their kynge. They answered, that they might bee the fressher and vncorrupted. Thus ioyninge handes for a token of further frendeship, euery man resorted to his owne. The [Page] Admirall went forwarde as he had appoynted, folowing the faulinge of the sonne from the beginninge of Cuba cauled Al­pha and O. The shores or sea bankes euen vnto this hauen, al­beit they be ful of trees, yet are they rowgh with mountains. Of these trees, su [...]e were ful of blossoomes and flowres, and other laden with fruites.Blossomes & fruites bothe at one tyme. Beyonde the hauē the lande is more fertile and peopulous, whose inhabitantes are more gentyll and more desyrous of owre thinges. For as sone as they had espied owre sh [...]ppes, they flocked all to the shore, brynginge with them suche breade as they are accustomed to eate, and gourdes full of water, offeringe theym vnto owre men, and further desyringe them to coome alande. In all these Ilandes is a certeyne kynde of trees as bygge as elmes, whiche beare gourdes in the steade of fruites.Trees which beare gourds These they vse only for drin­kynge pottes, and to fetche water in, but not for meate, for the inner substance of them, is sowrer then gaule, & the barke as harde as any shelle. At the Ides of Maye, the watche men lokinge owte of the toppe castell of the shyppe towarde the Southe, sawe a multitude of Ilandes standinge thicke toge­ther,A multitude of Ilandes. beynge all well replenished with trees, grasse, and her­bes, and wel inhabyted. In the shore of the continent, he chaū ­ced into a nauigable ryuer whose water was soo hotte,hotte water. that no man myght endure to abyde his hande therein any tyme. The day folowinge, espying a farre of a Canoa of fysher men of thinhabitantes, fearinge least they shulde flye at the syght of owre men, he commaunded certeyne to assayle them pryuily with the shyppe boates. But they fearinge nothinge, taryed the comminge of owre men. Nowe shal you heare a newe kind of fyshinge.A straunge kynde of fysshynge. Lyke as we with greyhoundes doo hunte hares, in the playne fieldes. So doo they as it were with a huntyng fysshe,A h [...]ntynge [...]ysshe. take other fysshes. This fysshe was of shape or fourme vnknowen vnto vs: but the body therof, not muche vnlyke a greate yele: hauinge on the hynder parte of the heade, a very towgh skynne, lyke vnto a greate bagge or purse. This fysshe is tyed by the syde of the boate with a corde lette downe soo farre into the water, that the fysshe maye lye close hyd by the keele or bottome of the same, for shee may in no case abyde the sight of the ayer. Thus when they espie any greate fysshe, or tortoyse (wherof there is great abundance bygger then great targettes) they let the corde at lengthe.Abu [...]ance of to [...]oy [...]es. But when she feeleth [Page 15] her selfe loosed, shee enuadeth the fysshe or tortoyse as swift­ly as an arrowe. And where she hath once fastened her howld shee casteth the purse of skynne wherof we sp [...]ke before: And by drawyng the same togyther, soo graspeleth her pray, that no mans strength is sufficient to vnloose the same, excepte by lyttle and lyttle drawinge the lyne, shee bee lyfted sumwhat aboue the brymme of the water. For then, as sone as she se­eth the brightnes of the ayer, shee lettethe goo her howlde. The praye therfore, beinge nowe drawen nere to the brymme of the water,Fyssher men. there leapeth soodenly owte of the boate into the sea soo manye fysshers, as maye suffice to holde faste the praye, vntyll the reste of the coompany haue taken it into the boate. Which thinge doone, they loose soo muche of the cord, that the hunting fysshe, may ageyne return [...] to her place with in the water: where by an other corde, they let downe to her a piece of the praye, as we vse to rewarde greyhoundes after they haue kylled theyr game. This fysshe, they caule Guaicanū, The fysshe Guaicanum. But owre men caule it Reuersum. They gaue owre men foure tortoyses taken by this meanes: And those of such byggenes that they almoste fylled theyr fysshinge boate. For these fys­shes are esteemed amonge them for delicate meate. Owre men recompensed them ageyne with other rewardes, and soo lette them departe. Beinge asked of the coompasse of that lande, they aunswered that it had no ende westewarde. Most instantly defyringe the Admirall to coome alande:humaine people. or in his name to sende one with thē to salute their Cazicus, (that is) their kinge: Affirmynge that he wolde gyue owre men many presentes, yf they wolde goo to hym. But the Admiral, leaste he shulde bee hyndered of the vyage which he had begunne, refused to goo with them. Then they desyred to knowe his name, and towld owre men lykewyse the name of theyr kyng. Thus sayling on yet further euer toward the West, within fewe dayes he came nere vnto a certeyne exceding high moūtayne, wel inhabyted by reason of the great fertilitie of the same.A moun [...]aine fruitefull and well inhabi­ted. Thinhabitauntes of this mountayne, browght to owre shippe, breade, gossam­pine cotton, cunnies, and sundry kyndes of wyldfowle: de­maun [...]ynge relygiously of thinterpretoures, if this nation descended not from heauen. The kynge of this people, and dy­uers other sage men that stoode by hym, informed hym that that lande was no Ilande. Shortly after, enteringe into one [Page] of the Ilandes beinge on the lefte hande of this lande, they fownde no body therin: for they fledde al at the commyng of owre men. Yet fownde they there fowre dogges of maruelous deformed shape,Dogges of strange shape and dumme. and suche as coulde not barke. This kynd of dogges, they eate as we do goates. Here is great plentie of geese, duckes,Duckes. and hearons.hearons Betwene these Ilandes and the continente, he entered into soo narowe streyghtes, that he coulde scarsely turne backe the shippes: And these also so sha­lowe, that the keele of the shyps sumtyme rased on the sandes The water of these streyghtes,Streightes. for the space of fortie myles, was white and thycke lyke vnto mylke,whyte and thicke water. and as thowgh mele had byn sparkeled throwgh owte al that sea. And when they had at the lengthe escaped these strayghtes, and were nowe coome into a mayne and large sea, and had sayled theron for the space of foure score myles, they espyed an other excedinge hygh mountayne, whyther the Admirall resorted to store his shyppes with fresshe water and fuel. Heare amonge certeyne wooddes of date trees,wooddes of date trees. and pyneable trees of excedyng height he fownd two natiue sprynges of fresshe water. In the meane tyme whyle the woodde was cuttynge and the barrelles fyl­lyng, one of owre archers went into the wood to hunt: where he espyed a certeyne man with a whyte vesture,Men appare­led like white fryers. soo lyke a fryer of thorder of saynt Marye of Mercedis, that at the fyrste sight he supposed it had byn the Admiralles preeste which he browght with hym, beyng a man of the same order. But two other folowed hym immediatlye owte of the same wooddes, shortly after, he sawe a farre of a hole coompany of men clo­thed in apparel, beinge abowte .xxx. in nomber. Then turning his backe and cryinge owte to his felowes, he made haste to the shyppes with all that he myght dryue. These apparelled men, made signes and tokens to hym to tary and not to bee afrayde. But that notwithstandinge, he ceased not to flye. The Admirall beinge aduertised hereof, and not a lyttle reioysynge that he had fownde a ciuile people, in continently sent forth armed men, with commaundement, that yf neede should soo requyre, they shulde enter fortie myles into the Ilande, vntyl they myght fynde eyther those apparelled men, or other inhabitantes of that countrey. When they hadde passed ouer the woodde, they came into a greate playne full of grasse and herbes, in which appeared no token of any pathe way. Here [Page 16] attemptinge to goo throwgh the grasse and herbes, they were soo entangled and bewrapte therin, that they were scarsely able to passe a myle, the grasse beinge there lyttle lower then owre rype corne.grasse almost as hyghe as corne Beinge therfore weryed, they were enforced to returne ageyne, fyndyng no pathe way. The day folowing he sent foorth .xxv. armed men an other way: Commaunding them to make diligent searche and inquisition what maner of people inhabited the land. Who departinge, when they had fownde not farre from the sea syde certeyne steppes of wylde beastes,Steppes of wyld beastes feete. of the which they suspected sum to bee of Lyons feete being striken with feare, returned backe ageyne. As they came they fownde a woodde in the which were many natiue vines here and there crepinge abowte highe trees,Natiue vines with many other trees bearinge aromaticall fruites and spyces.Trees bea­ringe spyces and sweete fruites. Of these vines they browght with them into Spaine many clusters of grapes very ponderous and full of lycoure. But of the other fruites, they browght none bycause they putrified by the waye in the shippe, and were caste into the sea. They saye also that in the laundes or medowes of those wooddes, they sawe flockes of greate cranes twyse as bygge as owres.Greate Cra­nes. As he went forward and turned his sayles towarde certeyne other mountaines, he espied two cotages on the shore, in the whiche he sawe onely one man: who beinge browght to the shyppe, signified with heade, fyngers, and by al other signes, that he coulde deuise that the lande which lay beyonde those mountaynes, was ve­ry full of people. And as the Admirall drewe nere the shore of the same, there mette hym certeyne Canoas hauinge in them many people of the countrey, who made signes and tokens of peace and frendeshyp. But here Didacus thinterpretour whiche vnderstoode the language of thinhabitantes of the beginning of Cuba, Dyuers lan­guages in the Ilande of Cuba. vnderstode not them one whytte, wherby they consy­dred that in sundry prouinces of Cuba, were sundry languages He had also intelligence, that in the inlande of this Region, was a kynge of greate power, and accustomed to weare apparell. He sayth that all the tracte of this shore, was drowned with water and full of mudde, besette with many trees, after the maner of owre marysshes, Yet whereas in this place they wente alande for fresshe water, they fownde many of the shelfysshes in the whiche pearles are gathered.Pearles in [...]helfysshes. But that coulde not cause the Admirall to tracte the tyme there, entendinge at [Page] this viage, only to proue howe many landes & seas he coulde discouer accordin [...]e to the kynges commaundement. As they yet proceded forwarde, they sawe here and there al the waye alonge by the shore, a great smoke rysinge, vntyll they came to an other mountayne foure score myles distant. There was no rocke or hyll that coulde be seene, but the same was all of a smoke. But whether these fyers were made by thinhabi­tantes for their necessary busynes, or as we are wont to sette beacons on fyre when we suspecte thapproche of owre enemi­es, thereby to gyue warninge to theyr neyghbours to bee in a redines, and gather togyther if perhappes owre men shulde attempte any thinge ageynst them, or otherwyse as seemethe most lykely, to caule them togyther as to a wonder to behould owre shippes, they knewe yet no certentie. In this tracte, the shores bended sumetyme towarde the Southe, and sumetyme towarde the Weste and westesouthwest: And the sea was euery where entangeled with Ilandes:The sea en­tangeled with Ilandes by reason whereof, the keeles of the shippes often tymes rased the sandes for shalownes of the water: So that the shyppes beinge very sore brused and appayred the sayles, cables, and other tackelinges, in maner rotten, and the vytayles, (especially the byskette breade) corrupted by takynge water at the riftes euyll closed, the Ad­mirall was enforced to turne backe ageyne. This laste poynte where he touched of Cuba (not yet beinge knowen to be an Ilande) he cauled Euangelista. Euangelista. Thus [...]urning his sayles toward other Ilandes lyinge not farre from the supposed continente, he chaunced into a mayne sea where was suche a multitude of greate tortoyses,A multitude of great tor­toyses that sumtyme they stayed the shyppes. Not longe after, he entered into a gulfe of whyte water,A goufe of whyte water humaine people. lyke vn­to that wherof we spake before. At the lengh fearing the shel­fes of the Ilands, he returned to the shore of Cuba by the same way which he came. Here a multitude of thinhabitantes, as well women as men, resorted to hym with cheerefull counte­naunce and without feare: bringynge with them popingayes breade, water, and cunnyes: But especially stocke doues much bygger then owres: which he affirmeth, in sauour and taste, to bee muche more pleasaunt then owre partryches.Stock doues of more plea­saunt tast thē partriches. Wherfore where as in eatinge of them he perceaued a certeyne sauoure of spyce to proceade from them, he commaunded the croppe to bee opened of suche as were newely kylled, and fownde the [Page 17] same full of sweete spyces, whiche he argued to bee the cause of theyr strange taste. For it standeth with good reason, that the flesshe of beastes, shulde drawe the nature and qualitie of theyr accustomed nury [...]hemente. As the Admirall harde masse on the shore, there came towarde hym a certeyne gouernoure,The humanitie of a reue­rende owlde gouernour. a man of foure score yeares of age, and of great grauitie, al­thowgh he were naked sauinge his pryuie partes. He had a greate trayne of menne waytinge on hym. All the whyle the preeste was at masse, he shewed hym selfe verye humble and gaue reuerente attendaunce with graue and demure counte­naunce. When the masse was ended, he presented to the Ad­mirall, a baskette of the fruites of his countrey, delyueringe the same with his owne handes. When the Admirall had gentelly interteyned hym, desyringe leaue to speake, he made an oration in the presence of Didacus thinterpretoure, in this ef­fecte.An oration of the naked gouernour. I haue byn aduertised (moste mighty prince) that you haue of late with greate power subdued many landes and Regions hytherto vnknowē to you: and haue browght no little feare vppon all the people and inhabitantes of the same. The which your good fortune, you shal beare with lesse insolencie,Theyr opini­on of the [...] of man. if you remember that the soules of men haue two iourneyes after they are departed from this bodye. The one fowle and darke, prepared for suche as are iniurious and cruell to man kynde: The other pleasaunt and delectable, ordeyned for thē which in theyr lyfe tyme, loued peace and quietnes. If there­fore you acknowleage your selfe to bee mortall, and consyder that euery man shall receaue condigne rewarde or punyshemēt for such thinges as he hath done in this life, you wyl wrongefully hurte no man. When he had sayde these wordes and o­ther lyke, which were declared to the Admirall by thinterpre­tour, he marueylinge at the iudgemente of the naked owlde man, answered, that he was gladde to heare his opinion as touchinge the sundry iourneys and rewardes of sowles departed from theyr bodyes: Supposinge that nother he, or any o­ther of thinhabitantes of those Regions,Desyre of golde founde that which religion coulde not fynde. had had any know­leage thereof. Declaringe further that the chiefe cause of his comminge thyther was to instructe them in such godly know­leage and trewe religion: And that he was sente into those countreys by the Christian kynge of Spayne (his lorde and maister) for the same purpose:Virtus post num­mos. &c. And specially to subdue and [Page] punishe the Canibales and such other mischeuous people: And to defende innocentes ageynst the violence of such euyl doers wyllynge hym and all other such as embrased vertue, in no case to bee afrayde: But rather to open his mynde vnto him, if eyther he, or any other suche quiete men as he was, hadde susteyned any wronge of theyr neyghbours: and that he wold see the same reuenged. These comfortable wordes of the Ad­mirall soo pleased the owlde man, that notwithstandyng his extreeme age, he woulde gladly haue gone with the Admiral as he had doone in deede, if his wyfe and chyldren had not hyndered hym of his purpose. But he marueyled not a lyttle, that the Admirall was vnder the dominion of an other: And muche more, when thinterpretour towlde hym of the glorye, magnificence, pompes, greate power, and furnymentes of warre of owre kynges, and of the multitudes of cities and townes which were vnder theyr dominions. Intendyng therfore to haue gonne with the Admirall, his wyfe and children fell prostrate at his feete, with teares desyrynge hym not to forsake them and leaue them desolate. At whose pytifull re­questes, the worthy owlde man beinge moued, remayned at home to the comfort of his people and famylie, satisfyenge rather them then hym selfe. For not yet ceasinge to woonder, and of heauy countenaunce bycause he myght not departe, he demaunded oftentymes if that lande were not heauen, which browght foorth suche a kynde of men. For it is certeyne, that amonge them, the lande is as common as the sonne and wa­ter:The Iland as common as the sunne and water. And that Myne and Thyne (the seedes of all myscheefe) haue no place with them. They are contente with soo lyttle, that in soo large a countrey, they haue rather superfluitie thē scarsenes. Soo that (as wee haue sayde before) they seeme to lyue in the goulden worlde,The golden worlde. without toyle, lyuinge in open gardens, not intrenched with dykes, dyuyded with hedges, or defended with waules. They deale trewely one with an o­ther, without lawes, without bookes, and without Iudges. They take hym for an euyll and myscheuous man, which ta­keth pleasure in doinge hurte to other. And albeit that they delyte not in superfluities, yet make they prouision for thin­crease of suche rootes,Prouisiō without care. wherof they make theyr breade, as Ma­izium, Iucca, and Ages, contented with suche simple dyet,Simple diete wher­by health is preserued, and dyseases auoyded. The Admirall [Page 18] therfore departinge from thense, and myndinge to returne a­geyne shortly after, chaunced to coome ageyne to the Ilande of Iamaica beinge on the sowthe syde therof:The Iland of Iamaica. and coasted all a longe by the shore of the same, from the Weste to the Easte. From whose last corner on the East syde, when he sawe to­warde the North on his lefte hande, certeyn high mountains he knewe at the length that it was the sowthe syde of the I­lande of Hispaniola, hispaniola. which he had not yet passed by. Wherfore at the Calendes of September, enteringe into the hauen of the same Ilande, cauled saynt Nycolas hauen, he repayred his shippes to thintent that he myght ageyne wast and spoyle the Ilandes of the Canibales,The Cani­bales. and burne all theyr Canoas, that those raueninge wolues myght no longer persecute and deuoure the innocent sheepe. But he was at this tyme hynde­red of his purpose by reason of a dysease which he had gottē with to muche watchinge.Sickenes of to much wat­chinge. Thus beinge feeble and weake, he was ledde of the maryners to the citie of Isabella, where, with his two brytherne which were there, & other his familiers, he recouered his health in shorte space. Yet coulde he not at this tyme assayle the Canibales, by reason of sedicion that was rysen of late amonge the Spanyardes which he had lefte in His­paniola, wherof we wyll speake more heareafter. Thus fare ye wel.

¶ The fourth booke of the fyrst decade to Lodouike Cardinall of Aragonie.

COlonus the Admirall of the Ocean, returning (as he supposed) from the continent or firme lande of East India,Easte India. had aduertisement that his brother Boilus & one Peter Margarita, an owld familier of the kinges, and a noble man, with diuers other of those to whom he had left the gouernemēt of the Iland,The Spany­arde [...] rebelle in the Admi­r [...]ls absence. were of corrupted mynde ageynst him, departed into Spayne. Wherfore as wel to purge him of such crimes as they shuld ley to his charge, as also to make a supply of other men in the place of them which were returned, & especially to prouyde for vitailes, as wheat, wyne, oyle, and such other which the Spanyardes are accu­stomed to eate, bycause they coulde not yet well agree with such meates as they fownde in the Ilandes, determined shortly [Page] to take his vyage into Spayne. But what he dyd before his departure, I wyll brefely rehearse.

The kynges of the Ilandes which had hytherto lyued quiet­ly and content with theyr lyttle whiche they thowght abun­dante,The kynges of the Ilande rebell. wheras they nowe perceaued that owre men began to fasten foote within theyr Regions and to beare rule amonge them, tooke the matter so greuously, that they thowght no­thynge elles but by what meanes they myght vtterly destroy them, and for euer abolysshe the memory of theyr name. For that kynde of men (the Spanyardes I meane which folowed the Admirall in that nauigation,The Spani­ardes m [...]sbe­hauour.) was for the most parte vn­ruly, regardynge nothinge but Idlenes, playe, and libertie: And wolde by no meanes absteyne from iniuries: Rauyshynge the womē of the Ilandes before the faces of their husbandes fathers, and brethrene: By which theyr abhomynable mysde maynour, they disquieted the myndes of all thinhabitantes: In so much that where so euer they fownde any of owre men vnprepared, they slewe them with suche fyercenes and glad­nes, as thowgh they had offered sacryfyce to God. Inten­dynge therefore to pacifie their troubled myndes, and to pu­nyshe them that slew his men before he departed from thense, he sent for the kynge of that vale, which in the booke before, we descrybed to bee at the foote of the mountaynes of the Region of Cibaua. This kynges name was Guarionexius:Guarionexius the kynge of the greatyale Didacus the interpretour who, the more streyghtly to concyle vnto hym the frendeshyppe of the Admirall, gaue his syster to wyfe to Didacus, a man from his chyldes age browght vp with the Admiral, whom he vsed for his interpretoure in the prouinces of Cuba. After this, he sent for Caunaboa, cauled the lorde of the howse of goulde: that is, of the mountaynes of Cibaua, For this Caunaboa, Caunaboa, the kynge of the house of golde. he sent one capitayne Hoieda, whom the ditionaries of Caunaboa had enforced to keepe his howlde bysiegeinge for the space of .xxx. dayes, the fortresse of saynte Thomas, in the which Hoieda with his fyftie souldiers, stoode at theyr defence, vntyll the comminge of the Admirall. Whyle Hoieda remayned with Caunaboa, Capitayne hoieda. ma­ny ambassadours of the kynges of dyuers Regions were sent to Caunaboa, persuadinge hym in no condicion to permitte the Christians to inhabite the Ilande, except he had rather serue then rule. On the other partie, Hoieda aduertised Caunaboa to goo to the Admirall, and to make a league of frendeship with [Page 19] hym. But the ambassadours on the contrary part, threatened hym, that yf he wolde soo doo, the other kynges wolde in­uade his Region. But Hoieda aunswered theym ageyne, that wheras they conspired to maynteyne their libertie, they shuld by that meanes be browght to seruitude & destruction if they entended to resist or keepe warre ageinst the Christians. Thus Caunaboa on the one syde and the other,kynge Caunaboa, [...]ad s [...]ain the Spany­arde [...]. beinge troubeled as it were a rocke in the sea, beaten with contrary fluddes, & much more vexed with the stormes of his gyltie conscience for that he had priuilie slaine .xx. of owre men vnder pretence of peace feared to coome to the Admirall. But at the length, hauing excogitated this deceyte,Caunaboa cō spireth the Admiralle [...] death. to haue slayne the Admirall and his coompany vnder the colour of frendshippe if oportunitie wold soo haue serude, he repayred to the Admiral with his hole familie and many other wayting on hym, armed after theyr maner. Beinge demaunded why he browght soo greate a rout of men with hym, he aunswered that it was not decente for soo great a prince as he was, to goo foorth of his howse without suche a bande of men. But the thinge chaunced much other­wyse then he looked for. For he fell into the snares which he had prepared for other. For wheras by the way he began to repente hym that he came foorthe of his howse, Hoieda with many fayre wordes and promyses,Fayre worde make fooles fayne. browght hym to the Admirall: At whose commaundement, he was immediatly taken & put in prison: So that the sowles of owre men were not longe from their bodies vnreuenged. Thus Caunaboa with all his fa­milie beinge taken, the Admirall was determined to runne o­uer the Ilande. But he was certified that there was such fa­mine amonge thinhabitantes,Famine in the Ilande of hispaniola. that there was alredye fyftie thousande menne deade therof: And that they dyed yet dayly as it were cotton sheepe: The cause wherof was wel knowen to bee theyr owne obstinacie and frowardnes. For where as they sawe that owre men entended to choose them a dwelling place in the Ilande, supposinge that they myght haue driuen them from thence if the vytailes of the Ilande shoulde fayle, they determyned with them selues, not only to leaue sowing and plantyng, but also to destroy and plucke vp by the rootes euery man in his owne region,The hunger of golde cau­seth great famine. that whiche they had alredye sowen of both kyndes of breade wherof we made mencion in the fyrst booke. But especially amonge the mountaynes of [Page] Cibaua, otherwyse cauled Cipanga, for as muche as they hadde knoweleage that the golde which abundeth in that Region, was the cheefe cause that deteyned owre men in the Ilande. In the meane tyme, he sent foorth a Capitayne with a bande of men to searche the sowthe syde of the Ilande. Who at his returne, reported that throwghe out all the Regions that he trauayled, there was suche scarsenes of breade, that for the space of .xvi. dayes he eate nowght elles but the rootes of herbes, and of younge date trees, or the fruites of other wylde trees, But Guarionexius, the kynge of the vale lyinge beneth the mountaynes of Cibaua, whose kyngedoome was not soo wa­sted as the other, gaue owre menne certeyne vytayles.

Within a fewe dayes after, bothe that the iourneys myght bee the shorter, and also that owre men myght haue more safe places of refuge, if the inhabitantes shuld hereafter rebell in lyke maner, he buylded an other fortesse (whiche he cauled the towre of Cōception) betwene the citie of Isabella and saint Thomas fortresse,The towre of conception. in the marches of the kyngdome of this Guarionexius within the precincte of Cibaua vpon the syde of A hyll, hauynge a fayre ryuer of holsome water runnynge hard by the same. Thus when the inhabitantes sawe newe buyl­dynges to bee dayly erected, and owre shippes lying in the hauen rotten and halfe broken, they beganne to despayre of any hope of libertie, & wandered vp and downe with heuie [...]here. From the towre of Conception, searchynge diligently the in­ner partes of the mountaynes of Cibaua, there was A certeine kyng whiche gaue them a masse of rude golde, as bygge as a mans fyst, weighing .xx. vnces.A masse of gold weigh­inge .xx. oun­ces. This golde was not fownde in the banke of that ryuer, but in a heape of drye earthe: and was lyke vnto the stone cauled Tofus, Tofus. whiche is soone resol­ued into sande. This masse of golde, I my selfe sawe in Ca­stile, in the famous citie of Methymna Campi, where the courte lay all that wynter. I sawe also a great piece of pure Electrum:Electrum is a metall natu­rally mix [...] of one portion of golde & another of [...]iluer beinge of propertie to be­wray poyson, and was therfore in owlde tyme in grea­ter estimation then golde. of the whiche belles and apothecaries morters, and many su­che other vessels and instrumentes maye bee made, as were in owlde tyme of copper of the citie of Corinthus. This piece of E­lectrum, was of such weight, that I was not onely with both my handes vnable to lifte it from the grownde, but also not of strengthe to remoue it eyther one waye or an other. They affyrmed that it wayde more then three hundreth pownde [Page 20] weight, after .viii. vnces to the pownde. It was fownde in the howse of a certen prynce, and lefte hym by his predeces­sours. And albeit that in the dayes of thinhabitantes yet li­uynge, Electrum was no where digged, yet knewe they where the myne therof was:The myne of Electrum. but owre men with muche adoo, coulde hardely cause them to shewe them the place, they bore them suche priuie hatred. Yet at the length, they browght theym to the myne, beyng nowe ruinate and stopped with stones and rubbisshe. It is muche easier to dygge then is the iren myne: and myght bee restored agein, if myners and other woorke­men skylfull therin, were appoynted therto. Not farre from the towre of Conception, in the same mountaynes, is fownd great plentie of Amber:An other kynde of am­ber is taken out of greate whale fishes and owte of certen rockes of the same distilleth a substance of the yelowe coloure whiche the payn­ters vse.Orpement or oker. Not farre from these mountaynes are many greate wooddes, in the which are none other trees then brasile, whiche the Italians caule Verzino. wooddes of brasile trees. But here perhappes (right noble prynce) yowe wolde aske what shoulde be the cause, that where as the Spanyardes haue brought owte of these Ilan­des certen shyppes laden with brasile, sumwhat of gossam­pine cotton, a quantitie of amber, a lyttel golde, and sum spices, why they haue not broughte suche plentie of golde and suche other ryche marchaundies as the fruitfulnesse of these regions seeme to promisse. To this I answere,Causes of hinderance. that when Colonus the admirall was lykewise demaunded the cause here­of, he made answere that the Spanyardes whiche he tooke with him into these regions, were gyuen rather to slepe, pley, and ydlenesse; then to laboure: And were more studious of se­dition and newes, then desyrous of peace and quietnesse: Also that beynge gyuen to lycenciousnes,Licenciusnes of to much l [...] ­bertie they rebelled & forsooke hym, fyndynge matter of false accusations agaynst hym, by­cause he went aboute to represse theyr owtragiousenes.

By reason wherof he was not yet able to breake the power of the inhabytantes, and freely to possesse the full dominion of the Ilande. And these hynderaunces to be the cause that hi­therto the gaynes haue scarsely counteruayled the charges.And this on­ly gathered & not digged out of the bo­di of the min [...] Albeit, euen this yere whyle I wryte these thynges at owre requeste, they gathered in twoo moonethes the summe of a thousande and twoo hundreth poundes weight of golde. But bycause we intende to speake more largely of these thynges [Page] in theyr place, we wyll nowe retourne from whense we haue digressed. When the inhabitantes perceaued that they could by no meanes shake the yoke from their neckes, they made hū ble supplication to the Admirall that they myght stande to theyr tribute,The people make [...]u [...]li­ca [...]ion to st [...]d to their tri­bute and apply them selues to reincrease the fruites of theyr countrey, beinge nowe almoste wasted. He graunted them theyr requeste: and appoynted such order that euery Region shulde paye their tribute, with the commodities of theyr countreys, accordinge to theyr portion, and at suche tyme as they were agreed vppon. But the violent famine dyd frustrate all these appoyntmentes.Famine. For all the trauayles of theyr bo­dyes, were scarsely able to suffice to fynde them meate in the wooddes, whereby to susteyne theyr lyues, beinge of longe tyme contented with rootes and the fruites of wylde trees. Yet manye of the kynges with theyr people, euen in this ex­treme necessitie, browght parte of theyr tribute: Moste hum­bly desyringe the Admirall to haue compassion of theyr cala­mities, and to beare with them yet a whyle, vntyll the Iland were restored to the owlde state. Promysinge further, that that which was nowe wantinge, shulde then bee dowble re­compensed. But fewe of the inhabitantes of the mountaynes of Cibaua, kepte theyr promyse, bycause they were sorer op­pressed with famine then any of the other.The nature of the Region dispo [...]eth the maner of the people. They saye, that the inhabitantes of these mountaynes, differ no lesse in ma­ners and language from them which dwel in the playnes, thē amonge vs, the rusticalles of the countrey from gentylmen of the courte: wheras notwithstandinge, they lyue bothe as it were vnder one portion of heuen, and in many thinges, much after one fasshion, as in nakednes, and rude simplicitie: But nowe lette vs returne to Caunaboa, kynge Caunaboa in capti­uitie. the kynge of the howse of golde, beinge in captiuitie. When he perceaued him selfe to be caste in pryson, fretinge and gratinge his teethe as it had bin a lyon of Libia, and dayely and nightlye deuisinge with hymself howe he myght bee delyuered,The persuasion of Cauna­boa. beganne to persuade the Admirall, that for as muche as he had nowe taken vnto his dominion the Regiō of Cipanga or Cibaua (wherof he was king) it shulde bee expedient to sende thyther a garryson of Christi­an men, to defen [...]e the same from the incursions of his owld enemyes and borderers. For he sayde, that it was signyfied vnto hym, that the countreye was wasted and spoyled with [Page 21] suche incursions. By this crafty deuise, he thought to haue browght to passe, that his brother whiche was in that regy­on, and the other his kynsefolkes and frendes with their ad­herentes, shoulde haue taken, eyther by sleyghte or force, as many of owre men, as myght haue redeemed hym. But the Admyrall vnderstandynge his crafty meanynge, sente Hoi [...]dae with suche a coompany of men, as might vanquishe the Ciba­uians, if they shulde moue warre ageynste them. Owre men had scarsely entered into the Region, but the brother of Cau­naboa came agenste them with an armie of fyue thousande na­ked menne,Caunaboa his brother rebelleth. armed after theyr maner with clubbes, arrowes typte with bones, and speares made harde at the endes with fyre. He stole vpon owre men beyng in one of theyr howses: and encamped rownde about the same on euery syde. This Cibauian, as a man not ignorant in the disciplyne of warre, a­bowte the distance of a furlonge from the howse, diuided his armye into fyue batayles, appoyntinge to euery of them a circuite by equal diuision: And placed the froont of his owne batayle, directlye ageynst owre men. When he had thus set his batayles in good array, he gaue certeyne signes that the hole army shulde marche forwarde in order with equal paces, and with a larome fresshly assayle theyr enemies,A conflict be­twene the Cibauians and the Spany­ardes. in such sort that none might escape. But owre men iudginge it better to en­counter with one of the batayles, then to abyde the brunt of the hole army, gaue onset on the mayne batayle aranged in the playne, bycause that place was most commodious for the horsemen. When the horsemen therfore hadde gyuen the charge, they ouerthrewe them with the brestes of theyr hor­ses, and slewe as many as abode thende of the fyght.The Cibaui­ans haue the ouerthrowe. The residue beinge stryken with feare, disparcled, and fledde to the mountaynes and rockes: from whense they made a pytifull houlynge to owre men, desyringe them to spare them: prote­stinge that they wolde neuer more rebelle, but doo what so e­uer they woulde commaunde them, if they wolde suffer theim to lyue in theyr owne countrey. Thus the brother of Caunaboa beinge taken, the Admirall licenced the people to resorte eue­ry man to his owne. These thinges thus fortunately atchiued this Region was pacified. Amonge those mountaynes, the vale which Caunaboa inhabited, is cauled Magona, and is exce­dynge fruitfull: hauinge in it many goodly springes: and ry­uers, [Page] in the sande wherof, is fownde great plentie of golde. The same yeare in the mooneth of Iune,A great tem­pest in the moneth of Iune. they saye there rose suche a boystous tempeste of wynde from the sowtheaste, as hath not lyghtly ben harde of: The violence hereof was such that it plucked vppe by the rooes what so euer greate trees were within the reache of the force therof. When this whirle wynde came to the hauen of the citie, it beate downe to the bottome of the sea, three shippes which lay at anker,Three ships drowned ly­inge at anker & broke the cables in sundre: and that (which is the greater maruail) without any storme or rowghnes of the sea, onely turnynge them three or foure tymes abowte. The inhabitantes also af­firme, that the same yeare, the sea extended it selfe further in to the lande, and rose higher then euer it dyd before by the memory of man, by the space of a cubet. The people therfore, muttered amonge them selues, that owre nation hadde trow­bled the elementes, and caused such portentous signes. These tempestes of the ayer (which the Grecians caule Tiphones, that is, whyrle wyndes) they caule,whyrle wyn­des. Furacanes:Furacanes. which they say, doo often tymes chaunce in this Ilande: But that neyther they nor theyr great grandfathers euer sawe suche violent and fu­rious Furacanes, that plucked vppe greate trees by the rootes: Neyther yet suche surges and vehement motions on the sea, that soo wasted the lande. As in deede it may appeare, for as muche as, where so euer the sea bankes are nere to any plaine there are in maner euery where, florishing medowes reachinge euen vnto the shore. But nowe let vs returne to Caunaboa. As kynge Caunaboa therefore and his brother shoulde haue binne browght into Spayne,The death of kynge Caunab [...]a and his brother. they dyed by the waye for verye pen­syuenes and anguyshe of mynde. The Admiral, whose shippes were drowned in the forsayde tempeste, perceauinge him selfe to bee nowe enclosed, cōmaunded foorthwith two other ship­pes (which the Spaniardes caule Carauelas) to bee made. For he had with hym, all maner of artificers perteyninge therun­to. Whyle these thinges were dooinge, he sent foorth Bartholomeus Colonus his brother, beinge leauetenaunt of the Ilande, with an army of men to searche the golde mynes beinge dy­stant three score leaques from the citie of Isabella, Bartholomeus Colonus th [...] [...]eauete­ [...]a [...]nt sear­ [...]he [...] the go [...]d [...] [...]nes. which were fownde by the conducte of certeyne people of the Ilande, bee­fore the mynes of Cipanga or Cibaua, were knowen. In these mynes, they fownde certeyne deepe pittes which had byn digged [Page 22] in owlde tyme, owte of these pyttes, the Admirall (who affirmeth this Ilande of Hispaniola to bee Ophir, as we haue sayde before) supposeth th [...]t Salomon the kynge of Hierus [...]lem had his greate ryches of golde wherof we reede in the owlde testamente:The golde mynes of Salomon. And that his shippes sayled to this Ophir by the goulfe of Persia cauled Sinus Persicus. But whether it bee soo or not, it lyeth not in me to iudge, but in my opinion it is farre of. As the myners dygged the superficiall or vppermost parte of the earthe of the mynes,Golde in the superficiall partes of the earth. durynge for the space of .vi. miles, and in dyuers places syfted the same on the drye lande, they fownde such plentie of golde, that euery hyred labourer could easely fynde euery day, the weyght of three drammes. These mynes beinge thus searched and fownde, the Lieuetenaunte certifyed the Admirall hereof by his letters. The which when he had receaued the .v. daye of the Ides of Marche. Anno. 1495. he entered into his newe shippes, and tooke his viage directly to Spayne to aduertise the kynge of all his affayres,The Admiral taketh his vi­age to spaine leauinge the hole regiment of the Iland with his brother the Lieuetenaunte,

¶ The fyfte booke of the fyrst decade, to Lodouike Cardinall of Aragonie.

AFter the Admyralles departyng into Spain his Brother the Lieuetenaunte, buylded A fortesse in the golde mynes, as he had com­maunded hym. This he cauled the golden towre,The golden towre. bycause the labourers fownde golde in the earth and stone wherof they made the waules of the fortresse. He consumed three monethes in makynge the instrumentes wherwith the golde shulde bee gathered, washed, tryed, and molten.Lacke of vy­tayles. Yet was he at this tyme by reason of wante of vitayles, enforced to leaue all thynges imperfecte, and to goo seeke for meate. Thus as he with a bande of armed men, had entered three score myles further within the lande, the people of the countrey here and there resortynge to hym, gaue hym a certen portion of theyr breade in exchange for other of owre thynges. But he coulde not long tary here, bicause they lacked meate in the fortresse, whyther he hasted with such as he had now gotten. Leauyng [Page] therfore in the fortresse a garryson of tenne men, with that portion of the Ilande breade whiche yet remayned,huntinge houndes. leauynge also with them a hownde to take those kyndes of lyttle bea­stes which they caule Vsias, not muche vnlyke owre conyes, he returned to the fortresse of Conception. This also, was the moonthe wherin the kynge Guarionexius, and also Manicautexius, kynge Mani­cautexius. bortherer vnto hym, shulde haue brought in theyr tributes. Remaynynge there the hole moonthe of Iune, he exacted the hole tribute of these twoo kinges, and vytayles necessary for hym and suche as he brought with hym, whiche were abowt foure hundreth in number. Shortely after, abowte the calen­des of Iulye, there came three Caraueles from Spayne,Uytayles browght frō Spayne. brin­gynge with them sundry kyndes of vitayles, as wheate, oyle wyne, bacon, and marckelmas beafe: whiche were dyuyded to euery man accordynge as neede required. Sum also was lost in the cariage for lacke of good lookyng too. At the arry­uall of these shyppes, the lieuetenaunte receaued commaund­ment from the kynge and the Admyrall his brother, that he with his men shulde remoue theyr habitation to the sowthe syde of the Ilande, bycause it was nerer to the golde mynes: Also that he shoulde make dilygent searche for those kynges whiche had slayne the Christian men, and to sende them with theyr confederates, bownd into Spayne. At the nexte vyage therfore, he sent three hundreth captiues with three Kinges: And when he had diligently searched the coastes of the south syde, he transported his habitation, and buylded a fortresse there, vpon the toppe of a hyll, neere vnto a shure hauen.

This fortresse, he cauled saynt Dominikes towre.Saynt Domi­nikes towre. Into this hauen, runneth A ryuer of holsome water, replenyshed with sundrye kyndes of good fysshes. They affyrme this ryuer to haue many benefytes of nature. For, where so euer it runneth all thynges are excedynge pleasaunte and fruitfull: hauynge on euery syde, groues of date trees,Groues of date trees. and dyuers other of the Ilande frutes so plentyfully, that as they sayled alonge by the shore, often tymes the branches therof laden with flow­res & fruites, hunge soo ouer theyr heades, that they mighte plucke them with theyr handes. Also that the frutefulnes of this grownde, is eyther equall with the soyle of Isabella, or better. In Isabella, Isabe [...]l [...]. he lefte only certeyne sicke men and shippe wrightes, whom he had appointed to make certeyne carauels [Page 23] The residue of his men, he conueighed to the sowth, to saint Dominickes towre. After he had buylded this fortresse, lea­uinge therin a garryson of .xx. men, he with the remanent of his souldiers, prepared them selues to searche the inner par­tes of the Weste syde of the Ilande, hytherto knowen onely by name. Therfore abowte .xxx. leaques, (that is) foure score and tenne myles from the fortresse, he chaunced on the ryuer Naiba, The ryuer of Naiba whiche we sayde to descende from the mountaynes of Cibaua, ryght towarde the sowth, by the myddest of the Iland. When he had ouerpassed this ryuer with a coompanye of ar­med men diuided into .xxv. decurions, that is, tenne in a company with theyr capitaynes, he sent two decurions to the re­gions of those kinges in whose landes were the great woods of brasile trees.wooddes of brasile trees. Inclyninge towarde the lefte hande, they fownde the woodes, entered into them, and felled the hygh and precious trees, which were to that day, vntouched. Eche of the decurions fylled certeyne of the Ilande howses with the trunkes of brasile, there to be reserued vntyll the shyppes came which shulde cary them away. But the Lieuetenaunt directinge his iourney towarde the ryght hande, not farre from the bankes of the ryuer of Naiba, fownde a certeyne kynge whose name was Beuchius Anacauchoa, kinge Beuchius Anacau­choa. encamped ageynst thinha­bitantes of the prouince of Naiba, to subdue them vnder his dominion, as he had doone manye other kynges of the Ilande, bortherers vnto hym: The palaice of this great kynge, is cau­led Xaragua:The palaice of [...]aragua. and is situate towarde the Weste ende of the I­lande, distante from the ryuer of Naiba .xxx. leaques. All the prynces which dwell betwene the Weste ende and his palaice, are ditionaries vnto hym. All that Region from Naiba,, to the furtheste marches of the weste, is vtterly withowte golde, al­thowgh it bee full of mountaynes.Mountaynes without gold When the kynge had espi­ed owre men, layinge a parte his weapons, & gyuinge signes of peace, he spake gentelly to them, incerteyne whether it were of humanitie or feare) and demaunded or thē what they woolde haue. The Lieuetenaunte aunswered: That he shulde paye tribute to the Admirall his brother,Tribute. in the name of the Christian kynge of Spayne. To whom he sayde: Howe can yowe requyre that of me, whereas neuer a Region vnder my dominion bringeth foorth golde. For he had harde, that there was a strange nation entered into the Ilande, whiche made [Page] greate searche for golde. But he supposed that they desyred none other thynge. The leauetenaunt answered ageyne: God forbydde that we shulde enioyne any man to pay such tribute as he myght not easely forbeare, or such as were not engendered or growinge in the Region: But we vnderstand that your Regions brynge foorth great plentie of Gossampine cotton, and hempe,The woolfe entreateth. the sheepe. with suche other, whereof we desyre yowe to gyue vs parte. When he harde these woordes, he promysed with cherefull countenaunce, to gyue hym as muche of these thynges as he wolde requyre. Thus dismissinge his army, & sendynge messengers beefore, he hym selfe accoompanyed the Leauetenaunte and browght hym to his palaice, beinge dy­stante (as we haue sayde) .xxx. leaques. In al this tracte, they passed throwgh the Iurisdiction of other princes beinge vn­der his dominion: Of the whiche, sume gaue them hempe, of no lesse goodnes to make tackelinges for shippes then owre woodde. Other sume, browght breade, and sum gossampyne cotton:hempe and gossampine cotton. And soo euery of them payde tribute with suche com­modities as theyr countreys browght foorth. At the lengthe they came to the kinges mansion place of Xaragua. Before they entered into the palaice,howe the Lieuetenant was recea­ued at the kynges pa­laice. A greate multitude of the kynges seruauntes and subiectes resorted to the courte, honorably (after their maner) to receaue their kyng Beuchius Anacauchoa, with the strangers which he browght with hym to se the magnificence of his courte. But nowe shall yowe heare howe they were in­terteyned. Amonge other tryumphes and syghtes, two are es­pecially to bee noted. Fyrste there mette them a company of xxx. women, beinge all the kynges wyues and concubines,The kinges wyues. bearinge in theyr handes branches of date trees, singinge and daunsinge: They were all naked, sauynge that theyr pryuie partes were couered with breeches of gossampine cotton. But the virgins, hauynge theyr heare hangynge downe abowte their shulders, tyed abowte the foreheade with a fyllet, were vtterly naked.well fauered women. They affirme that theyr faces, brestes, pappes handes, and other partes of theyr bodyes, were excedynge smoothe, and well proportioned: but sumwhat inclyning to a louely browne. They supposed that they had seene those most beawtyfull Dryades, Dryades. or the natyue nymphes or fayres of the fontaynes wherof the antiquites speake so muche. The bran­ches of date trees which they bore in theyr right handes whē [Page 24] they daunced, they delyuered to the Leauetenaunt with lowe curtesy and smylynge countenaunce. Thus enteringe into the kynges howse, they fownde a delycate supper prepared for them after theyr maner.A delicate supper. When they were well refreshed with meate, the nyght drawinge on, they were browght by the kynges officers, euery man to his lodginge, accordyng to his degree, in certeyne of theyr howses abowte the palaice, where they rested them in hangynge beddes after the maner of the countrey,hanginge beddes. wherof we haue spoken more largely in an other place.

¶ The daye folowyng they browght owre men to their com­mon haule,A common haule. into the whiche they coome together as often as they make any notable games or triumphes, as we haue said before. Here, after many daunsynges, synginges, maskinges runnynges, wrestlynges, and other tryinge of mastryes, soo­denly there appered in a large plaine nere vnto the haule .ii. greate armies of men of warre, whiche the kynge for his pa­styme had caused to bee prepared,A pretie pastyme. as the Spaniardes vse the playe with reedes whiche they caule Iuga de Canias. As the ar­mies drewe neere together, they assayled the one the other as fiersely, as if mortal ennemies with theyr baners spleade, shulde fight for theyr goodes, theyr landes, theyr lyues, their libertie, theyr countrey, theyr wyues and theyr chyldren.

Soo that within the momente of an howre, foure men were slayne,Foure men slaine in [...]port and many wounded. The battayle also shoulde haue contynued longer, if the kynge had not at the request of owre men, caused them to cease. The thyrde day, the Lieuetenant conselynge the kynge to sowe more plentie of gossampine vp­pon the bankes nere vnto the waters syde, that they myghte the better paye theyr tribute priuately accordynge to the mul­titude of theyr howses, he repayred to Isabella to vysite the sicke men whiche he had lefte there, and also to see howe his woorkes wente forwarde. In the tyme of his absence .xxx. of his men were consumed with diuerse diseases.Prouision for diseased men Wherfore be­inge sore trowbled in his mynde, and in maner at his wyttes ende what he were best to doo, for as muche as he wanted al thynges necessarie as well to restore them to healthe whiche were yet acrased, as also vitayles to mayntaine the hole mul­titude, where as there was yet no shippe coome from Spaine, as at the length he determyned to sende abrode the sicke men [Page] here and there to sundrye Regions of the Ilande, and to the castelles which they had erected in the same. for directly from the citie of Isabella to saynt Dominikes towre, that is, from the north to the south,The castels or towres of hispaniola. throwgh the Iland, they had buylded thus many castelles. Fyrste .xxxvi. myles distante from Isa­bella, they buylded the castell of Sperantia. from Sperantia. xxv. myles, was the castell of saynte Catharine. from saynte Ca­tharines .xx. myles, was saynt Iames towre. Other .xx. mi­les from saynte Iames towre, was A stronger fortresse then any of the other, which they cauled the towre of Conception: which he made the stronger bicause it was situate at the roo­tes of the golden mountaynes of Cibaua,The golden mountaynes of Cibaua. in the greate and large playne soo fruitefull and well inhabited as we haue be­fore described. He buylded also an other in the mydde waye betwene the towre of Conception & saynt Dominikes towre. The which also was stronger then the towre of Conception, bycause it was within the lymittes of A great kynge, hauing vnder his dominion fiue thowsande men: whose chiefe Citie and heade of the Realme, beynge cauled Bonauum, Bonauum he wylled that the castell shulde also bee cauled after the same name.

Therfore leauynge the sicke men in these castels and other of the Ilande howses nere vnto the same, he hym selfe repay­red to saynte Dominikes,Tribute. eractinge tributes of all the kyn­ges whiche were in his waye. When he had taryed there A fewe dayes, there was a rumor spredde, that all the kynges abowte the borders of the towre of Conception, had conspy­red with desperate myndes to rebell agenste the Spaniardes.The kynges rebelle. When the Lieuetenaunte was certified hereof, he tooke his iorneye towarde them immediately, not beyng discoraged ey­ther by the lengthe of the waye, or feeblenesse of his souldy­ers, beynge in maner forweried with trauayle. As he drewe nere vnto them, he had aduertisement that kynge Guarionexius was chosen by the other prynces to bee the Capitayne of this rebellion:Guarionexius capitaine of the conspira­cie. And that he was enforsed therto halfe vnwilling, beynge seduced by theyr perswasions and prouocations. The whiche is more lykely to be trewe, for that he had before had experience of the power and policie of owre men. They came together at a daye appoynted, accoompanied with .xv. thou­sande men,An army of xv thou [...]ande Barbarians. armed after their maner, once agen to proue the fortune of warre. Here the Lieuetenaunte consultynge with [Page 25] the Capitayne of the fortresse and the other souldiers of whō he had the conducte, determyned to sette vpon them vnwares in their owne howses before they coulde prepare theyr army. He sent foorthe therfore to euery kynge, a Centurian, that is, a capitaine of a hundreth, which were commaunded vppon a sudden to inuade theyr howses in the night, and to take thē sleepinge, beefore the people (beinge scattered here and there) might assemble togyther. Thus secreatly enteringe into their vylages, not fortified with waules, trenches, or bulwarkes, they broke in vppon them, tooke them, bounde them,The kynges are taken p [...] soners. and led away euery man his prisoner according as they were cōmaunded. The Lieuetenaunt hym selfe with his hundreth men, as­sayled kynge Guarionexius as the woorthier personage, whom he tooke prysoner as dyd the other capitaynes theyr kynges, & at the same howre appoynted. Foureteene of theym were browght the same nyght to the towre of Conception. Short­lye after, when he had put to death two of the kynges which were the chiefe autours of this newe reuolte, and had subor­ned Guarionexius and the other kynges to attempte the same: least the people for sorowe of theyr kynges shulde neglecte or forsake their countrey, which thinge myght haue byn greate incommoditie to owre men, who by thincrease of theyr seedes and fruites were oftentymes ayded, he freely pardoned and dismissed Guarionexius and the other kynges.kynge Guari­onexius is pardoned. The people in the meane tyme flocked togyther abowte the towre, to the nōber of fyue thowsande withowte weapons, with pytiful houling for the delyueraunce of theyr kynges: The ayer thundered, & the earth trembeled throwgh the vehemencie of theyr owtery The Lieuetenaunt warned Guarionexius and the other kynges, with threatenynges, with rewardes, and with promyses, neuer hereafter to attempte any suche thynge. Then Guarionexius made an oration to the people of the great power of owre mē, of theyr clemencie towarde offenders, and liberalitie to suche as remayne faithfull: desyringe them to quiet theyr myndes: and from hensefoorth nother in deede nor thowght to inter­pryse any thynge ageynst the Christians, but to obeye & serue them, excepte they wolde dayly br [...]nge them selues into fur­ther calamyties. When the oration was fynyshed, they tooke hym vp and set hym on theyr shulders, and soo caryed hym home to his owne palaice. And by this meanes, this Region [Page] was pacified for a whyle. But owre men, with heauy coun­tenaunce wandered vppe and downe, as desolate in a strange countrey, lackinge vytailes,Lacke of vy­tayles. and worne owte of apparell, wheras .xv. moonethes were nowe passed sence the Admirals departure: duringe which tyme, they coulde heare nothynge owte of Spayne. The Leauetenaunt comforted them all th [...]t he coulde with fayre wordes and promyses. In the meane tyme, Beuchius Anacauchoa (the kynge of the Weste partes of the Region of Xaragua (of whom we spake before) sente messen­gers to the Lieuetenaunt to signifye vnto hym,Beuchius A­nacauchoa, the kynge of Xaragua. that he hadde in a redynes the gossampine cotton and suche other thin­ges as he wylled hym to prepare for the paymente of his try­bute. Whervppon the Lieuetenaunt tooke his iorney thyther, and was honorably receaued of the kynge and his syster, sū ­tyme the wyfe of Caunaboa the kynge of Cibaua, Queene Ana­caona, the wife of kynge Caunaboa. bearing no lesse rule in the gouernaunce of her brothers kyngedome, then he hym selfe. For they affirme her to bee a wyse woman, of good maners, and pleasaunt in company. Shee ernestly persuaded her brother by thexample of her husbande, to loue and obeye the Christians. This woman was cauled Anacanoa. He fownde in the palaice of Beuchius Anacauchoa .xxxii. kynges which hadde browght theyr tributes with them,xxx [...]i. kynges. and abode his comminge. They browght with them also besyde theyr trybute assigned them, further to demerite the fauour of owre men, great plentie of vytayles: as bothe kyndes of breade, cunnyes, and fys­shes, alredy dryed bycause they shulde not putrifie: Serpen­tes also of that kynd which wee sayd to bee esteemed amonge them as most delicate meate,Serpentes eaten. and lyke vnto Crocodiles sauing in byggenes. These serpentes they caule Iuannas, which owre men learned sumewhat to late to haue byn engendred in the Ilande. For vnto that day, none of them durste aduenture to taste of them by reason of theyr horrible deformitie and lothe sumnes. Yet the Lieuetenaunt beinge entysed by the pleasantnes of the kynges syster, determined to taste of the serpentes. But when he felte the fleshe therof to bee so delicate to his tonge, he fel too, amayne without al feare. The which thinge his coompanyons perceauinge, were not behynde hym in greedines: In soo muche that they hadde nowe none other talke then of the sweetenes of these serpentes: which they affyrme to bee of more pleasaunte taste, then eyther owre phesauntes [Page 26] or pertriches. But they lose theyr taste, excepte they bee pre­pared after a certeyne fasshion: as doo peacockes and phe­sauntes except they bee interlarded beefore they bee rosted. They prepare them therefore after this maner.The dressing of serpentes to be eaten. Fyrst takynge owte theyr bowels euen from the throte to the thyghes, they wa [...]e and rubbe theyr bodies very cleane bothe within and withowte. Then rouling them togyther on a cyrcle, inuolued after the maner of a slepynge snake, they thruste them into a potte of no bygger capacitie then to houlde them only. This doone, puttinge a lyttle water vnto them with a portion of the Ilande pepper, they seethe thē with a soft fyer of sweete woodde, and suche as maketh no greate smoke. Of the fat of them beinge thus sodde, is made an excedinge pleasaunte brothe or potage. They say also, that there is no meate to bee compared to the egges of these serpentes,Serpentes egges eaten. which they vse to seethe by them selues. They are good to bee eaten as sone as they are sodde: And may also bee reserued many dayes after. But hauinge sayde thus muche of theyr intertaynement and daintie fare, let vs nowe speake of other matters. When the Lieuetenaunt had fylled one of the Ilande howses with the gossampine cotton which he hadde receaued for trybute,Gossampine cotton. the kynges promysed furthermore to gyue hym as muche of theyr breade, as he wolde demaunde. He gaue them hartie thankes and gentely accepted their freendly profer. In the meane time whyle this breade was gatheringe in sundry Regions to bee browght to the palaice of Beuchius Anacauchoa kynge of Xaragua, he sent messengers to Isabella for one of the two carauelles which were lately made there: intendinge to sende the same thyt [...]er ageyne laden with breade. The maryners gladde of these tydynges, sayled abowte the Ilande, and in short space browght the shippe to the coastes of Xaragua. The syster of kynge Beuchius Anacauchoa, that wyse and pleasaunt woman Ana­caona, [...]ueene Anacaona. (the wyfe sumtyme of Caunaboa the kynge of the golden howse of the mountaynes of Cibaua, whose husbande dyed in the way when he shulde haue byn caryed into Spayne,) when shee harde saye that owre shyppe was arryued on the shore of her natiue countrey, persuaded the kynge her brother that they bothe myght goo togyther to see it. For the place where the shyppe lay, was not paste .vi. myles distante from Xaragua. They rested all night, in the mydde way, in a certeyne vyllage [Page] in the which was the treasurye or iewell howse of An [...]caona. The treasurie of Queene Anacaona. Her treasure was nother goulde, syluer, or precious stones, but only thynges necessary to bee vsed, as cheyars, stooles, settels, dysshes, potingers, pottes, pannes, basons, treyes, and suche other howsholde stuffe and instrumentes, worke­manly made of a certeyne blacke and harde shyninge woodde which that excellent lerned phisition Iohn baptiste Elisius, af­firmeth to bee hebene.hebene woodde. What so euer portion of wytte nature hath gyuen to the inhabitantes of these Ilandes, the same doth most appeare in these kynde of woorkes, in whiche they shewe great arte and cunnyng. But those which this woman had, were made in the Iland of Guanabba, The Ilande of Guanabba situate in the mouth of the weste syde of Hispaniola. In these they graue the lyuely Images of such phantasies as they suppose they see walke by night which the Antiquitie cauled Lemures. Also the Images of men serpents,Conninge ar­tificers. beastes, & what soo euer other thyng they haue once seene. What wolde yowe thinke (moste noble Prynce) that they coulde doo, if they had the vse of Iren and steele? For they onely fyrste make these softe in the fyre, and after­warde make them holowe & carue them with a certeyne stone which they fynde in the ryuers.A stone in the steede of Iren Of stooles and chayers, shee gaue the Lieuetenaunt .xiiii. And of vesselles perteynynge to the table and kychen, shee gaue hym three score, sum of wood and sume of earthe. Also of gossampine cotton ready spunne foure great bottomes of excedinge weight. The day folowing when they came to the sea syde, where was an other vylage of the kynges, the Lieuetenaunt commaunded the shyppe boat to bee browght to the shore. The kyng also had prepared two canoas, paynted after theyr maner: one for hym selfe and certeyne of his gentelmen: an other for his syster Anacaona and her waytinge women. But Anacaona desyred to bee caried in the shyppe boate with the Lieuetenaunte. When they nowe approched nere vnto the shyppe,Gunnes. certeyne great pieces of ordinaunce were discharged of purpose. The sea was fyl­led with thunder, and the ayer with smooke. They trembled and quaked for feare, supposinge that the frame of the world had byn in danger of fauling. But when they sawe the Lieuetenaunte lawgh, and looke cherefully on them, they cauled ageyne theyr spirites.Musical in­strumentes. And when they yet drewe nerer to the shippe, and harde the noyse of the fluites, shalmes, & drūmes, [Page 27] they were wonderfully astonyed at the sweete harmony ther­of.Ignorance causeth admiration. Enterynge into the shyppe and beholdinge the foreshippe and the sterne, the toppe castel, the maste, the hatches, the ca­bens, the keele, and the tackelinges, the brother fixinge his eyes on the syster, and the syster on the brother, they were bothe as it were dumme and amased, and wyste not what to saye for to muche wonderynge. Whyle beholdinge these thin­ges they wandered vp and downe the shippe, the Lieuetenaūt commaūded the ankers to bee loosed, and the sailes to be hoysed vp. Then were they further astonyshed, when they sawe soo greate a mole, to moue as it were by it selfe, without ores and without the force of man. For there arose from the earth suche a wynde as a man wolde haue wyshed for of purpose. Yet furthermore, when they perceaued the shyppe to moue sū tyme forwarde and sumtyme backewarde: sumtyme towarde the ryght hande and sumtyme towarde the lefte, & that with one wynde and in maner at one instante, they were at theyr wyttes ende for to muche admiration. These thynges fynished and the shyppes beinge laden with breade and suche other re­wardes, they beinge also recompensed with other of owre thynges, he dismissed not onely the kynge Beuchius Anacauchoa, and his syster, but lykewise all theyr seruauntes and women replenyshed with ioye and woonderinge. After this, he hym selfe tooke his iorney by foote with his souldiers to the citie of Isabella: where he was aduertised that one Roldanus Ximenus, Roldanus Xeminus. a nawghty felowe, (whom before beinge his seruante, he had preferred to bee capitayne of the myners and labourers, and after made hym a Iudge in causes of controuersie) had vsed hym selfe owtragiously and was malyciously mynded ageinst hym, and further, the cause of much myschiefe in his absēce.The intemperancie and malice of a seruile witte aduaunced. For kynge Guarionexius (who a whyle before was pardoned of his former rebellion, and persuaded the people to obeye the Spanyardes) was by his nawghty vsage, and suche other as were confethered with hym, so accensed to reuenge the iniu­ries which they susteyned at his handes, bysyde the abhomi­nable actes which they folowynge onely the lawe of nature, abhorred to admytte, that he with his famelie, famylyers, & ditionaries, of desperate mynde fledde to the mountaynes be­inge distant from Isabella onely tenne leaques Westwarde, to­warde the north syde of the sea. These mountaynes,Cignaian [...] ▪ and also [Page] the inhabitantes of the same they caule by one name Ciguaios. The greate kyng of al the kynges and regions of these mountayne, is cauled Maiobanexius:Maiobanexi­us, the great kynge of the mountaynes and his courte or palaice is na­med Capronus. The mountaynes are rowgh, hygh, and suche as no man can passe to the toppes therof. They are also ben­dynge: and haue theyr corners reachinge downe to the sea. Betwene bothe the corners of the mountaynes, is there a greate playne, by the which many riuers faule from the mountaynes into the sea. The people are verye fierse and warlyke men,The inhaby­tantes of the mountaynes. hauing theyr original of the Canybales. For when they descende from the mountaynes to the playnes to keepe warre with theyr bortherers, they eate all suche as they kyll. Guario­nexius therfore,Guarionexi­us rebelleth ageyne. flyinge to this kyng of these mountaynes, gaue hym many presentes of suche thynges as are wantinge in his countrey: therwith declaringe howe vylely, vylaynously, and violently, he had byn vsed of owre men: with whom he could nothinge preuayle nother by fayre meanes, nor by foule: no­ther by humilytie nor by stoutnes. And that to bee the cause of his resortinge to hym at that tyme: moste humbly desyring hym to bee his defence ageynst thoppressions of suche myscheuous people. Maiobanexius here vppon, made hym promesse to ayde and helpe hym ageynst the Christians al that he myght. The Lieuetenaunt therfore made hast to the fortresse of Con­ception: whyther as soone as he was coome, he sent for Rol­danus Xeminus, Roldanus Xeminus rebel­leth. who with suche as folowed hym, lay in certeyne of the Ilande vylages, twelue miles distant from the fortres. At his comminge, the Leauetenaunt asked hym what al these sturres and tumultes ment. He answered without abashemēt: Yowre brother the Admirall hath to doo therwith, and shall answere for the same before the kynge. For we perceaue that the kynge hath soo put hym in truste, that he hath hadde no regarde to vs. Here we peryshe for hunger whyle we folowe yowe: and are dryuen to seeke owre vnhappy foode in the desertes. Yowre brother also, assigned me assistant with yowe in gouerninge the Ilande. Wherfore syth yowe haue no more respecte vnto vs, we are determyned noo longer to bee vnder yowre obedience. When Roldanus had spoken these wordes & suche other, the Lieuetenaunte wolde haue layde handes on hym: but he escaped his fyngers, and fledde to the weste par­tes of the Region of Xaragua, hauinge with hym a trayne of [Page 28] threescore and tenne men whiche were of his confetheracie. Here this fylthy synke of rebels thus conspired, played their vages and lyued with loose brydels in al kyndes of myschefe robbynge the people, spoylinge the countrey,Licenciou [...] ­nes in l [...]berte and rauyshinge bothe wyues and virgines. Whyle these thynges were doing in the Ilande, the Admirall hadde eyght shyppes appoynted hym by the kynge: Of the whiche he sent two laden with vi­tayles, from Cales or Gades of Hercules pyllers,hercules pyllers. directly to the Lieuetenaunt his brother. These shyppes by chaunce arryued fyrst on that syde of the Ilande where Roldanus Xeminus ranged with his coompanyons. Roldanus in shorte tyme hadde seduced them: promysinge them in the steade of mattockes,A violente persasion. wenches pappes: for laboure, pleasure: for hunger, abundance: and for wearynes and watchinge, sleepe and quietnes. Guarionexius in the meane tyme,The furie of guarionexius assemblynge a power of his freendes and confetherates, came oftentymes downe into the playne, and slewe as many of the Christian men, as he coulde meete con­uenientlye, and also of the Ilande menne whiche were theyr freendes: wastynge theyr grounde, destroyinge theyr seedes, and spoylinge theyr vylages. But Roldanus and his adheren­tes, albeit they had knowleage that the Admiral wolde shortly coome, yet feared they nothynge bycause they had seduced the newe menne which came in the fyrste shippes. Whyle the Lieuetenaunt was thus tossed in the middest of these stormes, in the meane tyme his brother the Admyrall set forwarde frō the coastes of Spay [...]e: But not directly to Hispaniola: For he turned more towarde the southe. In the which vyage,The thyrde vyage of [...]o­lenus the Admirall. what he dyd, what coastes both of the lande and sea he coompased, and what newe regions he discouered, wee wyl fyrst declare. For to what ende and conclusion the sayde tumultes and se­ditions came, wee wyll expresse in thende of the booke folowynge. Thus fare ye well.

¶ The syxte booke of the fyrste decade, to Lodouike Cardinall of Aragonie.

COlonus the Admyral, the thyrde day of the Calendes of Iune, in the yeare of Christe .1498. hoysed vp his sayles in the hauen of the towne Barrameda­bas, not farre distante from Cales: and set forwarde [Page] on his vyage with eyght shippes laden with vytayles and o­ther necessaries. He diuerted from his accustomed rase which was by the Ilandes of Canarie, by reason of certeyne frenche­men pirates and couers on the sea,Frenche mē pyrats. whiche laye in the ryght way to meete with hym. In the way frō Cales to the Ilandes of Canarie, abowte foure score and ten myles towarde the lefte hande, is the Ilande of Madera, The Iland of Madera. more southwarde then the citie of Ciuile by foure degrees. For the pole artyke is eleuate to Ciuile, xxxvi. degrees: But to this Iland (as the mariners saye) only .xxxii. He sayled therfore fyrste to Madera. And sendinge from thense directly to Hispaniola, the resydue of the ship­pes laden with vytayles and other necessaries, he hym selfe with one shyppe with deckes, and two marchaunt carauelles coasted towarde the southe to coome to the Equinoctial lyne,The Admiral ayleth to the Equinoctiall. and so furth to folowe the tracte of the same towarde the West, to thintent to searche the natures of suche places as he coulde fynde vnder or nere vnto the same, leauinge Hispaniola on the north syde on his ryght hande. In the myddle of his rase, lye xiii. Ilandes of the Portugales, whiche were in owlde tyme cauled Hesperides: And are nowe cauled Caput Viride, or Caboeurde. [...]ixii. Ilandes of hesperi­des, now cauled Cabouer­de. These are situate in the sea, ryght ouer ageynst the inner par­tes of Ethiope, Westwarde two dayes saylinge. One of these the Portugales caule Bonauista. With the snayles, or rather tortoyses of this Ilande, many leprous men are healed and clensed of theyr leprositie.healynge of the leper. Departing sodainly from hense by reason of the contagiousnes of the ayre, he sayled .CCCCLXXX myles towarde the Weste southwest, which is the myddest betwene the weste and the southe. There was he so vexed with maladies and heate (for it was the moneth of Iune) that his shyppes were almoste sette on fyre.Contagious ayre and ex­treeme heate The hoopes of his barrels cracked and brake, and the fresshe water ranne owte. The men also complayned that they were not able to abyde that extremitie of heate. Here the northe pole was eleuate only .v. degrees from the Horizontall.The pole ele­uate .v. de­grees. For the space of .viii. dayes in the which he suffered these extremites, only the fyrst day was fayre: but all the other, clowdy and rayny: yet neuerthelesse feruent hotte. Wherefore it oftentymes repented hym not a little that euer he tooke that way. Beinge tossed in these dangiours and vexations eyght contynuall dayes, at the lengthe an Eastsoutheaste wynde arose, and gaue a prosperous blaste [Page 29] to his sayles. Which wynde folowinge directly towarde the weste, he fownde the starres ouer that paralelle, placed in o­ther order,The starres placed in o­ther order. and an other kynde of ayer, as the Admirall hym selfe towlde me. And they al affirme, that within three dayes saylinge, they fownde moste temperate and pleasaunte ayre. The Admirall also affirmeth, that from the clime of the great heate and vnholsome ayer, he euer ascended by the backe of the sea, as it were by a hygh mountayne towarde heauen.A sea rysyng lyke a moun­tayne. Yet in all this tyme, coulde he not once see any lande. But at the length, the day before the Calendes of Iuly, the watcheman lookynge foorth of the toppecastell of the greatest shyppe, cry­ed owte alowde for ioy that he espyed three excedynge hyghe mountaynes: Exhortinge his felowes to bee of good cheere, and put away all pensiuenes. For they were very heauy and sorowfull, as well for the greefe which they susteyned by reason of thintollerable heate, as also that their freshe water fayled them, which ranne owte at the ryftes of the barels, cau­sed by extreme heate as we haue sayde.heate cau­seth the bar­rels to breke. Thus beinge wel con­forted, they drewe to the lande. Yet at theyr fyrst approche, they coulde not arryue by reason of the shalownes of the sea nere the shore. Yet lookyng owte of theyr shyppes, they might well perceaue that the Region was inhabyted and well cultured. For they sawe very fayre gardens, and pleasaunte me­dowes: frome the trees and herbes wherof, when the mor­nynge dewes beganne to ryse, there proceaded manye sweete sauoures.Swete sa­uours proceadynge frome the lande. Twentie myles distant from hense, they chaunced into a hauen, verye apte to harborowe shippes, but it had no ryuer runninge into it. Saylinge on yet sumwhat further, he fownde at the lengthe a commodious hauen wherin he might repayre his shippes and make prouision of fresshe water and fuell. Arenalis cauleth this lande Puta. The Iland of Puta. They fownd no houses nere vnto the hauen: but innumerable steppes of certeine wilde beastes feete, of the which they fownde one deade much lyke a goate. The day folowynge,People of ly corporature & longe heare nere the E­quin [...]ctiall. they sawe a Canoa commynge a farre of, hauinge in it .xxiiii, younge men of godly corpora­ture & high stature, al armed with targets, bowes & arrowes The heare of theyr heds, was lōge & plaine, & cutte on the forheade much after the maner of the Spanyardes. Theyr priuie partes were couered with fillettes of gossampyne cotton, of sundry coloures enterlaced: And were besyde al ouer naked. [Page] Here the Admirall consideringe with hym selfe the corpora­ture of this people and nature of the lande, he beleaued the same to bee soo much the nerer heauen then other Regions of the same paralelle,The higher the coulder. and further remoued from the grosse va­pours of the vales and marysshes, howe muche the hygheste toppes of the byggest mountaynes are distante from the deepe vales. For he ernestly affirmeth, that in all that nauigation, he neuer wente owte of the paralelles of Ethiope: So greate difference is there betwene the nature of thinhabitantes and of the soyles of dyuers Regions all vnder one clyme or para­lelle▪ as is to see betwene the people and regions being in the firme lande of Ethiope,Difference betwene people of one c [...]ime. Ethiopia. and theym of the Ilandes vnder the same clime, hauinge the pole starre eleuate in the same degree. For the Ethiopians are all blacke, hauinge theyr heare curld more lyke wulle then heare. But these people of the Iland of Put [...] (beinge as I haue sayde vnder the clyme of Ethiope) are whyte, with longe heare, and of yelowe colour. Wherfore it is app [...]rente, the cause of this soo greate difference,Note the cause of difference. to bee rather by the disposition of the earthe, then constitucion of heauen. For wee knowe, that snowe fauleth on the moun­taynes of the Equinoctiall or burnte lyne, and the same to endure there continually: We knowe lykewyse that thinhabi­tantes of the Regions farre distante frome that lyne towarde the northe, are molested with greate heate.

¶ The Admiral that he myght allure the younge men to him with gentelnes, shewed them lokynge glasses, fayre & bright vesselles of copper, haukes belles, and suche other thynges vnknowen to them. But the more they were cauled, so much the more they suspected crafte and deceate, and fledde backe­warde. Yet dyd they with greate admiracion beholde owre men and theyr thynges, but styll hauinge their ores in theyr handes redy to flye. When the Admirall sawe that he coulde by no meanes allure thē by gyftes, he thought to proue what he coulde do with musicall instrumentes:Musical instrumentes. and therefore com­maunded that they which were in the greatest shippe, shulde play on theyr drummes and shalmes. But the younge men supposinge this to bee a token of battayle, lefte theyr ores, and in the twynlynge of an eye hadde put theyr arrowes in theyr bowes and theyr targettes on theyr armes: And thus direc­tinge theyr arrowes towarde owre men, stoode in expectaciō [Page 30] to knowe what this noyse myght meane. Owre men lykewise preparinge theyr bowes and arrowes, approched toward thē by lyttle and lyttle. But they departinge from the Admirals shippe, and trustinge to the dexteritie of theyr ores came soo neare one of the lesse shippes, that one of theym plucked the clooke from the gouernour of that shippe, and as wel as they coulde by signes, requyred hym to coome alande, promysinge feyth that they wolde common with hym of peace. But when they sawe hym goo to the Admirals shippe whether he went to aske leaue that he might common with them, suspectinge heareby sume further deceate, they lept immmediatly into the Canoa, and fledde as swyft as the wynde. So that to con­clude, they coulde by no meanes be allured to familiaritie.

Wherfore the Admirall thowght it not conuenient to bestowe any longe tyme there, at this vyage. No greate space frome this Ilande, euer towarde the weste, the Admirall saith he fownde so owteragious a faule of water, runninge with such a violence from the Easte to the Weste,The violent course of the water from the Easte to the Weste. that it was nothynge inferioure to a myghty streame faulynge from hyghe moun­taynes. He also confessed, that since the fyrst daye that euer he knewe what the sea mente, he was neuer in suche feare. Proceadinge yet sumwhat further in this daungerous vyage, he fownde certeyne goulfes of .viii. myles, as it had byn thenteraunce of sume greate hauen, into the which, the sayde vi­olent streames dyd faule. These goulfes or streyghtes, he cau­led Os Draconis, The goulfe cauled Os Draconis. that is, the dragons mouth. And the Iland directly ouer ageynste the same, he named Margarita. Owte of these streyghtes, isshewed no lesse force of fresshe water whi­che encounteringe with the saulte, dyd stryue to passe foorth: Soo that betwene bothe the waters, was no smaule conflict.A conflict be­twene the fre [...]he water & the salte. But enteringe into the goulfe, at the lengthe he fownde the water therof very fresshe and good to drynke. The Admyrall hym selfe, and they which were his companions in this vy­age, beinge men of good credit, and perceauinge my diligence in searchinge for these matters, towlde me yet of a greater thynge. That is, that for the space of .xxvi, leaques, amoun­tynge to a hundreth and foure myles, he sayled euer by freshe water:A sea of fresh water. In so muche, that the further he proceaded, especial­ly towarde the west, he affirmeth the water to bee the fre [...]her. After this, he came to a highe mountayne,marmasets & monkeys. inhabited onely [Page] with moonkeys or marmasits on that part towarde the East. For that syde was rowgh with rockye and stony mountains: And therfore not inhabyted with men. Yet they that went a lande to searche the countrey, fownde nere vnto the sea, ma­ny fayre fieldes well tylled and sowen: But noo people, nor yet houses or cotages. Parhappes they were gone further in to the countrey to sowe theyr corne and applye theyr husban­dry, as wee often see owre husbande men to leaue theyr stati­ons and vyiages for the same purpose. In the weste syde of that mountayne, they espyed a large playne, whither they made haste,The fayre & large region of paria. and cast anker in the brode ryuer. As soone as the inhabitantes had knowleage that a strange nation was arry­ued in theyr coastes, they came flockinge withowte all feare to see owre men. We vnderstode by theyr sygnes and poyn­tynges, that this Region was cauled Paria: and that it was very large: In so muche that the further it reacheth towarde the weste, to be so muche the better inhabited and replenished with people. The Admiral therfore, takynge into his shyppe foure of the men of that lande, searched the weste partes of the same. By the temperatenes of the ayer, the pleasauntnes of the grownde,Temperate ayer and frutful grounde. and the multytude of people which they saw dayly more and more as they sayled, they coniectured that these thynges portended sum great matter: As in deede their opinion fayled them not, as we wyll further declare in his place. The soonne not yet rysen, but beginninge euen now to ryse, beinge one day allured by the pleasauntnes of the place and sweete sauours which breathed from the land to the ship­pes,Sweete s [...] ­uours proceadynge frome the lande. they went alande. Here they fownde a greater multy­tude of people then in any other place. As owre men appro­ched towarde them, there came certeine messengers from their Cacici, that is, the kynges of the countrey, to desyre the Ad­mirall in the name of theyr princes to coome to theyr palay­ces withowte feare,humayne people. and that they and al theyrs shulde bee at his commaundement. When the Admirall had thanked them and made his excuse for that tyme, there came innumerable people with theyr boates to the shippes: hauyng for the most parte cheynes abowte theyr neckes, garlandes on theyr hea­des, and braselettes on theyr armes of pearles of India:Cheynes and garlandes of gold & perles And that so commonlye, that owre women in playes and tryum­phes haue not greater plentie of stones of glasse and crystall [Page 31] in theyr garlandes, crownes, gerdels, and suche other tyre­mentes. Beinge asked where they gathered them, they poyn­ted to the next shore by the sea bankes. They signified also by certeyne scorneful giestures which they made with theyr mouthes and handes, that they nothyng esteemed perles.Baskettes ful of pearles, I knowe who had bags ful. Taking also baskettes in their handes, they made signes that the same might bee fylled with them in shorte space. But bycause the corne wherwith his shyppes were laden to bee caryed into Hispaniola, had taken hurt by reason of the salte water, he de­termined to deferre this marte to a more conuenient tyme. Yet he sent to lande two of the shippe boates laden with men, to thintent to fetch sum garlandes of perles for exchange of our thynges, and also sumwhat to searche the nature of the Re­gion and disposition of the people. They enterteyned owr mē gentelly:howe the Admirals men were enter­teyned. and came flockynge to them by heapes, as it hadde byn to beholde sume straunge monsters. Fyrste there came to meete owre men, two men of grauitie, whome the multitude folowed. One of these was well in age, and the other but younge. They thinke it was the father with his soonne whiche shulde succede hym. When the one had saluted and embrased the other, they browght owre men into a certeyne rownde howse, nere vnto the whiche, was a greate courte. Hether were browght many chayers and stooles made of a certeyne blacke woodde,cheyers and st [...]les of he­bene. and very coonningely wrowght. After that owre men, and theyr Princes were sette, theyr wayting men came in laden, sume with sundry delicate dysshes, and sume with wyne.Fruites and wyne. But theyr meate, was only fruites: and those of dyuers kyndes and vtterly vnknowē to vs. Theyr wyne was both whyte and redde: not made of grapes, but of the lycour of dyuers fruites, and very pleasaunte in drynkynge.wyne of the lycour of fruites. After this banquette made in the owlde mans howse, the younge man browght them to his tabernacle or mancion place, where was a greate coompany bothe of men and women, but they stoode deceauered the one from the other. They are whyte,whyte men nere the Equinoctial e­uen as owre men are, sauynge suche as are much conuersant in the sonne. They are also very gentyll, and full of humani­tie towarde strangiers. They coouer theyr pryuie partes with gossampine cotton wrowght with sundry coloures: and are besyde all naked. There was fewe or none, that had not ey­ther a coller, a cheyne, or a braselette of golde and pearles, [Page] and many had all. Beinge asked where they had that golde, they poynted to certeyne mountaynes,mountaynes are the matrices of golde. seemynge with theyr countenaunce to dissuade owre men from goinge thyther. For puttinge theyr armes in theyr mouthes, and grynninge as thowgh they bytte the same, stylle poyntinge to the moun­taynes, they seemed to insinuate that men were eaten there: But whether they mente by the Canibales,Canibales or wylde beastes owre men cowlde not well perceaue. They tooke it excedinge greeuouslye, that they coulde nother vnderstande owre men, nor owre men them. When they which were sente to lande, were returned to the shippes abowte three of the clocke at af­ter noone the same daye, bringinge with them certeyne gar­landes and collers of pearles, they loosed theyr ankers to departe, myndinge to coome ageyne shortly, when all thynges were sette in good order in Hispaniola. But he was preuented by an other, which defeated hym of the rewarde of his tra­uayle. He was also hyndered at this tyme by reasō of the shalownes of the sea & violēt course of the water,Shalownes of the sea, which with continual tossing, broosed the greatest ship as often as any great gale of wynde arose. To auoyde the daungiours of suche sha­lowe places, and shelfes, he euer sent one of the smaulest ca­rauelles before,The vse of careuelles or brigantines. to try the way with soundinge: and the byggest sh [...]ppes folowed behynde. The Regions beinge in the large prouince of Paria for the space of .CCXXX. myles, are cau­led of thinhabitantes, Cumana,, and Manacapana:Cumana and Manacapana regions of the prouince of Paria. Curiana. from these regions distant three score leaques, is there an other Region cauled Curiana. When he had thus pass [...]d ouer this long tract of sea, supposing styll that it had byn an Ilande, & doutinge that he might passe by the Weste to the Northe directlye to Hispaniola, he chaunced into a ryuer of .xxx. cubettes depthe, & of such breadth as hath not lyghtly byn harde of.A ryuer of maruelous depth and bredth. For he af­firmeth it to bee .xxviii. leaques. A lyttle further toward the Weste, yet sumwhat more sowthwarde as the bending of the shore requyred, [...]he entered into a sea full of herbes or weedes.A [...]ea of wee­des. The seede of the herbes whiche swymme on the water, are muche lyke the berryes of the tree cauled Lentiscus, Lentiscus. which beareth the sweete gūme cauled M [...]stix. Mastix. They grewe soo thicke, that they sumetyme in maner stayed the shippes. The Admirall reported, that here there is not one daye tho­rowghe owte all the yeare muche longer or shorter then an [Page 32] other: And that the Northe pole is here eleuate onely fyue degrees as at Paria, The eleuati­on of the pole at Paria. in whose tracte all these coastes lye. Hee also declared certeyne thynges as concerninge the variete of the northe pole: The which because they seeme contrarye to thoppinions of all the Astronomers,Note a se­cre [...]te as concerning the pole starre. I wyll touche them but with a drye foote as sayth the prouerbe. But it is wel knowen (moste noble prince) that the starre which we caule the pole starre, or north starre, (cauled of the Italians Tramontana) is not the very poynte of the pole Artyke vppon the whiche the axes or extremities of heauens are turned abowte. The which thynge may well be proued, if when the starres fyrst appeare,An experiēce yowe beeholde the pole starre throwgh any narowe hole. For soo, applyinge yowre instrument therto in the morninge sum­what before the day springe haue blemyshed theyr lyght, yf then yowe looke throwgh the same hole, yowe shall perceaue it to bee moued from the place where yowe sawe it fyrst. But howe it commeth to passe, that at the beginnynge of the eue­nyng twilight, it is eleuate in that Region only fyue degrees in the moneth of Iune, and in the morninge twylight to bee eleuate .xv. degrees by the same quaadrante,A maruelous secreate. I doo not vn­derstande. Nor yet doo the reasons which he bringeth, in any poynt satysfye me. For he sayth, that he hereby coniectured, that the earth is not perfectlye rownde: But that when it was created, there was a certeyne heape reysed theron,That the earth is not perfectly rownde. much hygher thē the other partes of the same. So that (as he saith) it is not rownde after the forme of an apple or a bal (as other thynke) but rather lyke a peare as it hangeth on the tree: And that Paria is the Region which possesseth the supereminente or hyghest parte thereof nereste vnto heauen. In soo muche that he ernestly contendeth, the earthly Paradyse to bee situ­ate in the toppes of those three hylles,paradise is in the moun­taynes of pa­ria. which wee sayde bee­fore,Looke the nin [...]h booke seconde de­cade. that the watche man sawe owte of the toppe castell of the shippe: And that the outragious streames of the fre [...]he waters whiche soo violentlye isshewe owte of the sayde goulfes and stryue soo with the salte water, faule headlonge from the toppes of the sayde mountaynes. But of this matter, it shall suffice to haue sayde thus muche. Lette vs nowe therfore re­turne to the historye from which we haue dygressed. When he perceaued hym selfe to bee thus inwrapped in soo greate a goulfe beyonde his expectacion, soo that he had now no hope [Page] to fynde any passage towarde the northe whereby he myght sayle directly to Hispaniola, he was enforced to turne backe the same way by the which he came, and directed his viage to Hispaniola by the northe of that lande lyinge towarde the Easte. They which afterwarde searched this lande more curiou [...]lye, wyll it to bee parte of the continente or firme lande of India,Paria is part of the firme lande of india and not of Cuba as the Admiral supposed. For there are many which affirme that they haue sayled rownd abowt Cuba. But whether it bee so or not, or whether enuyinge the good for­tune of this man, they seeke occasions of querelinge ageynste hym, I can not iudge: But tyme shall speake, which in tyme appoynted, reuealeth both truth and falsehod.Tyme reuea­leth al things But whether Paria bee Continent or not, the Admirall dothe not muche con­tende. But he supposeth it to bee Continente. He also affir­meth that Paria is more southewarde then Hispaniola, Paria more southewarde then hispani­ola by eyght hundreth fourescore and two myles. At the length he came to Hispaniola (to see his souldiers which he left with his brethren) the thyrde day of the calendes of September: In the yeare 1498. But (as often tymes chaunceth in humayne thynges,) amonge his soo many prosperous, pleasaunte, and luckye af­fayres, fortune mengeled sume seedes of wormewoodde, and corrupted his pure corne with the malicious weedes of coccle.

¶ The seuenth booke of the fyrst decade, to the same Lodouike Cardinall. &c.

WHen the Admirall was nowe coome to the I­lande of Hispaniola, he fownde all thynges confounded and owte of order. For Roldanus (of whom wee spake beefore) refused in his ab­sence to obey his brother,The spany­ardes rebe [...]l in the Admi­rals absence trustinge to the multitude of such as were confethered with him. And not onely behaued hym selfe proudely a­geynst the Admiralles brother and Lieuetenaunt sumtyme his maister, but also sente letters to his reproche to the kynge of Spayne, therin accusinge bothe the brehtren, leying heynous matters to theyr charges. But the Admirall ageyne, sent messengers to the kynge, which myght informe hym of theyr re­bellion: Instantly desyringe his grace, to sende hym a newe supplye of men, wherby he myght suppresse theyr licēciousnes [Page 33] and punyshe them for theyr mischeuous actes. They accused the Admirall and his brother to bee vniust men,The Spany­ardes accu [...]e the Admirall. cruel enemies and sheaders of the Spanyshe bludde: declarynge that vppon euery lyght occasion, they wolde racke them, hange them, and heade them: And that they tooke pleasu [...]e therin. And that they departed from them as from cruell tyrantes and wylde beastes reioysinge in bludde, also the kynges enemyes. Affyr­minge lykewyse that they well perceaued theyr intente to bee none other then to vsurpe Thempire of the Ilandes: whiche thynge (they sayde) they suspected by a thousand coniectures. And especially in that they wolde permitte none to resorte to the golde mynes, but only suche as were theyr familiers.The Admirales answere. The Admirall on the contrary parte, when he desyred ayde of the kynge to infringe theyr insolencie, auouched that al those his accusers, which had deuised suche lyes ageynste hym, were nowghtye felowes, abhominable knaues and vylaynes, the­ues and baudes, ruff [...]ans aduouterers and rauishers of women faulse periured vagabundes, and suche as had byn eyther conuict in prysons, or fledde for feare of Iudgment: soo escaping punyshement, but not leauinge vice wherin they styll contynu­ed and browght the same with them to the Ilande, lyuinge there in lyke maner as before, in thefte, lechery, and all kyn­des of myscheefe: And soo gyuen to Idlenes and sleepe,In [...]olencie & idelnes of li­bertie. that wheras they were browght thyther for myners, labourers, & scullyans, they wolde not nowe goo one furlonge from theyr houses except they were borne on mens backes, lyke vnto thē whiche in owlde tyme were cauled Ediles Curules. For,These had the cust [...]es of the tēp [...]ts. to this office, they put the miserable Ilande men, whom they hande­led moste cruelly. For leaste theyr handes shulde discontinewe from sheadinge of bludde, and the better to trye theyr strength and manhod, they vsed nowe and then for theyr pastyme to stryue amonge them selues and proue who coulde most cleanely with his swoorde at one stroke stryke of the heade of an inno­cente.A cruel and deuel [...]she pa­styme. Soo that he which coulde with moste agilitie make the heade of one of those poore wretches to flye quyte and cleane from the body to the grounde at one stroke, he was the best mā and counted moste honorable. These thynges and many suche other, the one of them layde to the others charge beefore the kynge. Whyle these thynges were doinge, the Admirall sente his brother the lieuetenaunt with an army of foure score and [Page] tenne footemen, and a few horsemen, (with three thousande of the Ilande men which were mortall enemies to the Cigua­uians) to meete the people of Ciguaua, with Kynge Guarionexius theyr graunde capitayne,kynge Guari­onerius is ca­pitaine of .vi. thousand Ci­guauians. who had doone muche myscheefe to owre men and suche as fauoured theym. Therefore when the Lieuetenaunt had conducted his army to the bankes of a certeyne greate ryuer runnynge by the playne which we sayd before to lye betwene the corners of the mountaynes of Ciguaua and the sea, he fownde two scoutes of his enemyes lurkinge in certeyne busshes: wherof the one, castynge hym selfe head longe into the sea, escaped: and by the mouthe of the ryuer swamme ouer to his coompanyons. The other beinge taken, declared that in the woodde on the other side the ryuer, there lay in campe syxe thousande Cyguauians redy, vnwares to a [...]sayle owre men passynge bye. Wherfore the Lieuetenaunte fyndyng a shalowe place where he myght passe ouer, he with his hole army entered into the ryuer. The which thyng when the Ciguauians had espyed, they came runnynge owte of the wooddes with a terrible crye and moste horrible aspect, much lyke vnto the people cauled Agathyrsi of whom the poete vir­gile speaketh.Pie [...]i Agathyrsi. For they were all paynted and spotted with sundry coloures, and especiall with blacke and redde whiche they make of certeyne fruites nooryshed for the same purpose in theyr gardens,Naked men painted with the ioyce of certē fruites. with the ioyce wherof they paynt them sel­ues from the forheade, euen to the knees: hauing theyr heare (whiche by arte they make longe and blacke if nature deny it them wrethed and rowled after a thousande fasshions.heare made longe & black by arte. A man wold th [...]nke them to bee deuylles incarnate newly broke owte of hell, they are soo lyke vnto helhoundes. As owre mē waded ouer the ryuer, they s [...]otte at them and hurled dartes soo thicke, that it almoste tooke the lyght of the sonne from owre men. In so much that if they had not borne of the force therof with theyr targettes,The vse of targettes. the matter hadde gonne wronge with them. Yet at the length, many beinge wounded, they pa [...]ed ouer the ryuer, which thynge when the enemies sawe, they fled [...]e: whome owre men persuinge, slewe sume in the chase:The Ci [...]uani an [...] [...] dryuē to [...]l [...]ght. but not many, by reason of theyr swyftenes of foote. Thus beinge in the wooddes, they shotte at owre men more safely. For they being accustomed to the wooddes and naked without any lette, passed throwgh the busshes and shrubbes [Page 34] as it had byn wylde bores or hartes: wheras owre men were hyndered by reason of theyr apparell, targettes, longe iaue­lens, and ignorance of the place. Wherfore, when he had rested there all that nyght in vayne, and the daye folowynge sawe none steringe in the wodes, he went (by the councel and conducte of the other Ilande men which were in his a [...]mye) immediatly from thense, to the montaynes in the which king Maiobanexius had his cheefe mansion place in the vylage cauled Capronum, kynge Maio­banexius. by the which name also, the kynges palaice was cauled, beinge in the same vylage. Thus marchinge forwarde with his army, abowte twelue myle of, he encamped in the vylage of an other kynge, which thinhabitantes had forsa­ken for feare of owre men. Yet makynge dyligent search, they fownde two, by whom they had knowleage that there was tenne kynges with Maiobanexius in his palaice of Capronum, with an army of eight thousand Ciguauians.An army of viii. thousand Ciguau [...]a [...]. At the Lieuetenantes fyrst approche, he durst not gyue them battayle vntyll he had sumwhat better searched the Region: Yet did he in the meane tyme skyrmysshe with them twyse. The nexte nyght abowte mydnyght, he sent furth scoutes, and with them guydes of the Ilande men which knewe the countrey. Whom the Ciguauians espyenge from the mountaynes, prepared them selues to the battayle with a terrible crye or alarome after their ma­ner:A Larome. but yet durst not coome owte of the wooddes, supposing that the Lieuetenaunt with his mayne army had byn euen at hande. The day folowynge, whē he brought his army to the place where they encamped, leaping owt of the wooddes,The Ciguauians out to f [...]yght ageine they twyse attempted the fortune of warre, fiercely assayling owre men with a mayne force, and woundinge manye before they coulde coouer them with theyr targettes. Yet owre men put them to flyght, slewe many, and tooke many. The resydewe fledde to the wooddes, where they kept them styll as in their moste safe houlde. Of them which were taken, he sent one, & with hym an other of the Ilande men which was of his parte to Maiobanexius with commaundement in this effect. The Lieuetenaunt brought not hether his army (O Maiobanexius) to kepe warre eyther ageynst yowe or yowre people:The Lieuetenaunt his ambassage to kynge Maio­banexius. For he greately desyreth yowre frendeshippe. But his entent is, that Guario­nexius who hath persuaded yowe to bee his ayde ageynste hym to the greate destruction of yowre people and vndoynge of [Page] yowre countrey, may haue dewe correction aswell for his disobedience towarde him, as also for raysing tumultes amonge the people. Wherfore, he requyreth yowe and exorteth yowe, to delyuer Guarionexius into his handes.kynge Guari­onexius. The which thynge yf yowe shall performe, the Admirall his brother wyll not only gladly admitte yowe to his frendeshyppe, but also enlarge & defende yowre dominion. And if herein yowe refuse to accomplys [...]e his requeste, it wyll folowe, that yowe shall shortelye repent yowe therof. For yowre kyngedome shall be wasted with swoorde and fyer, and yowe shall abyde the fortune of war [...]e wherof yowe haue had experience with fauour, as you shall further know here after to yowre payne, yf with stober­nes yowe prouoke hym to shewe the vttermoste of his poure. When the messenger had thus doone his errante, Maiobanexius answered,Maiobanexi­us h [...]s an­swere. that Guarionexius was a good man, indued with many vertues as all men knewe: And therfore he thought hym worthy his ayde: especially in as muche as he fledde to hym for succoure, and that he had made him such promesse, whom also he had proued to bee his faithfull frende.Natural ha­tred of vyce. Ageyne, that they were nawghty men, violent and cruell, desyringe other mens goodd [...]s, and suche as spared not to sheede innocentes bludde: In fyne, that he wolde not haue to doo with suche myscheuous men, nor yet enter into frendeshippe with them. When these thynges came to the Lieuetenauntes eare, he commaunded the vylage to be burnte where he hym selfe encam­ped, with many other vylages there abowte. And when he drewe nere to the place where M [...]iobanexius lay, he sent messengers to hym ageyne, to common the matter with hym, and to wyll hym, to sende sume one of his moste feythful frendes to entreate with hym of peace. Where vppon the kynge sent vnto hym one of his cheefe gentelmen, and with hym two other to wayte on hym. When he came to the Lieuetenauntes pre­sence,The Lieuetenaunte [...] gen­telnes toward Ma [...]obanexius he frendly requyred hym to persuade his lord and ma­ster in his name, and ernestly to admonysshe hym, not to suf­fer his floryshinge kyngedome to bee spoyled, or hym selfe to abyde the hasarde of warre for Guarionexius sake: And further to exhorte hym to delyuer hym, ex [...]epte he wolde procure the destruction bothe of hym selfe, his people, and his countrey. When the messenger was returned, Maiobanexius assembled the people, declaring vnto them what was doone, but they cried [Page 35] owte on hym to delyuer Guarionexius: And beganne to curse the daye that euer they had receaued hym,A rare fayth­fulnes in a barbarous kynge. thus to disturbe theyr quietnes. Maiobanexius answered them, that Guarionexius was a good man, and had well deserued of him, giuinge hym many princely presentes: And had also tawght both his wyfe and hym to synge and daunce, whiche thynge he dyd not lyttle esteeme. And was therfore fully resolued in no case to forsake hym, or ageynste all humanitie to betraye his frende whiche f [...]edde to hym for succoure: but rather to abyde al extremities with him, then to minister occasion of obloquye to slaunderes to reporte that he had betrayed his geste whom he tooke into his house with warranties, Thus dismissinge the people sighinge and with sorowfull hartes, he cauled Guarionexius before hym, promysinge hym ageyne, that he wolde bee partaker of his fortune whyle lyfe lasted. In so muche that he thowght it not beste to sende any further woorde to the Lieuetenaunt: but appoynted hym whome before he sent to hym, to keepe the way with a garryson of men, to thintent that if any mes­sengers shulde be sent from the Lieuetenaunt, to sleye them by the way, and admitte none to communication or further entretie of peace. In the meane tyme, the Lieuetenaunt sent twoo, wherof the one was a captiue C [...]guauian, and the other an Ilande man of them which were frendes to owre men: They were bothe taken and slayne.The Lieuetenauntes mes­sengers are slayne. The Lieuetenaunt folowed thē onely with ten footemen and foure horsemen. Fyndinge his messengers deade in the waye, he was further prouoked to wrathe, and determyned more extremely to deale with Maiobanexius. And therefore wente forwarde incontinently with his hole army to his cheefe palaice of Capronum where he yet laye in campe. At his approche, all the kynges fledde,A [...] the k [...]nges are dryuen to [...]lyght. euery man his way, and forsooke theyr capitayne Maiobanexius: who also with all his famelye, fledde to the rowgh mountaynes. Sum of the Ciguauians, sowght for Guarionexius to sley hym, for that he was the cause of all these troubles. But his feete sa­ued his lyfe. For he fledde in tyme to the mountaynes where he lurked in maner alone amonge the desola [...]e rockes.

Whereas nowe the Lieuetenauntes souldiers were forwe­ryed with longe warre, with watchinge, laboure, and hun­ger, (for it was nowe three moonethes sence the warres be­ganne) many desyred leaue to departe to the towre of Conception, [Page] where they had graneges and exercised tyllage. He gaue them theyr pa [...]seportes with alowance of vytayles, and soo that only thyrtie remayned with hym. These three moonethes warre, they contynued very paynefull and myserablye: Soo th [...]t duryng al that tyme,The Spany­ardes are peinful in the warres. they had none other meate but only Cazibi: that is, suche rootes whereof they make theyr breade, and that but syldome to theyr fyll: Also Vsias, that is, lyttle beastes lyke Conyes, if by chaunce now and then, they tooke sume with theyr houndes. Their drinke was none other then water, such as they fownde, sumtyme sweete, and sumtyme muddy saueringe of the marysshes. Emonge these delicates, that lyttle sleepe that they had, was euer for the moste parte abrode vnder the firmamente: And that not without watche­men, and in contynual remoouinge as the nature of warre re­quyreth.A desperate aduenture with .xxx. men With these fewe therfore, the Lieuetenaunt determined to searche the mountaynes, dennes, & caues, if he coulde in any place fynde the steppes of Maiobanexius or Guarionexius. In the meane tyme certeyne of his menne (whom hunger enfor­ced to goo a huntinge to proue if they coulde take any conies) chaunced vppon twoo of Maiobanexius familyers, whiche were sent to certeyne vylages of his, to make prouision of breade. These he enforced to declare where theyr lord lay hydde. And vsed the same also for guides to bringe owre mē to the place. Twelue of owre men tooke this enterpryse in hand, painting them selues after the maner of the Ciguauians. Soo that by this stratageme or policie,A police, they came sodenly vppon Maiobanexius, kynge Maio­banexius is taken. and tooke hym prisoner with his wyfe, children, and fa­milie, and conueighed them to the towre of Conception to the Lieuetenaunt. Within a fewe dayes after, hunger compelled Guarionexius to coome owte of the dennes: whome, certeine of the people fearinge the Lieuetenaunt, bewrayde to owre hunters. The Lieuetenaunt beinge certified hereof, sent furthe a bande of foote men, commaunding them to lye in ambushe vntyll suche tyme as Gu [...]rionexius wente from the playnes to the mountaynes,Guarionexius is taken. and then soodenly to intrappe hym. They went as they were commaunded, tooke hym, and browght hym a­waye with them. And by this meanes were all the Regions nere abowte, pacified and quyeted. A certeyne noble woman of nere kynred to Maiobanexius, and wyfe to an other kynge whose dominion was yet vntouched, folowed hym in al these [Page 36] aduersities. They affirme this woman to bee the fayrest and moste bewetifull that euer nature browght foor [...]he in the I­lande.A Bewtifull woman. Whom, when the kynge her husbande who looued her moste ardently (as her bewetie deserued) harde saye that shee was taken prisoner he wandered vppe and downe the deser­tes lyke a man owte of his wytte, not knowinge what to doo or saye. But at the lengthe, he came to the Lieuetenaunte, promysinge moste faythfully that he wold submitte hym selfe and all that he coulde make, vnder his poure, soo that he wolde restore hym his wyfe. The Lieuetenant accepted the cō dition & restored him his wife, with certeyne other rulers and gentelmen which he had taken prisoners before: Charginge them, and byndinge them with an othe, to bee euer redye at his commaundement. Shortly after, this kynge, of his owne free motion, came ageyne to the Lieuetenaunt, bringyng with hym fyue thousande men without weapons, sauynge onely suche instrumentes as they vse in tyllage of theyr grownde.A kynge sen­deth the lieuetenaunt fyue thousand mē to tyll the grownde. He brought with hym also, seedes to sowe: wherwith at his owne charge, he caused suche plentie of theyr corne and frui­tes to growe in sundry places of the large vale whereof wee spake before, that shortely after, were seene manye fayre and fruitefull fieldes that came therof. And for his gentelnes be­inge rewarded of the Lieuetenaunte with certeyne of owre thynges, he departed ioyfully. When the report hereof came to the Ciguauians,The kynges submit them selues to the Lieuetenaunt it mooued the myndes of the kynges to hope of clemencie. Where vppon they came togyther to the Lieuetenaunt with humble submission and faythful promesse euer after to bee vnder his obedience: desyring hym to restore vnto them theyr kynge, with his famylie. At theyr requeste, the kynges wyfe and his householde was sette at Libertie, but he kepte styll as a prisoner. These thynges dyd the Lieue­tenaunt in the Ilande, not yet knowinge what his a [...]uersa­ries and accusers had layde to his charge before the kynge of Spayne: who beinge disquyeted with theyr quarelinges and accusacions, and especially for that by reason of theyr discention, of soo greate abundaunce of golde and other thynges, there was as yet but lyttle browght into Spayne, appointed a newe gouernour which shuld see a redresse in these thinges:A newe go­uen [...]our of the ilande. And eyther to punyshe suche as were fautie, or elles to sende them to hym. What was fownde ageynste the Admirall and [Page] his brother,An vnwoor­thy r [...]warde fo [...] soo greate paynes. or ageynst his aduersaries whiche accused hym, I doo not wel knowe. But this I am sure of, that both the brethrene are taken, browght, and cast in prison, with their goodes confiscate. But as soone as the kynge vnderstoode that they were browght bounde to Cales, he sent messengers in poste, with commaundemente that they shulde bee loosed and coome freely to his presence: wherby he declared that he tooke theyr troubles greeuouslye. It is also sayde, that the newe gouernoure sent letters to the kynge, wrytten with the Admiralles hande in straunge and vnknowen sypheringes, to his brother the Lieuetenaunt beinge absente, wyllynge hym to bee in a redynes with a poure of armed men to coome and ayde hym if the Gouernoure shulde profer hym any violence. Wherof the gouernour hauinge knowleage (as he saythe) be­inge also aduertised that the Leauetenaunt was gonne to his brother before the men which he had prepared were in a redines, apprehended them bothe vnwares, before the multitude came togyther. What wyl folowe, tyme, the moste trewe and prudent Iudge, wyll declare. Thus fare ye well.

¶ The eyghth booke of the fyrste Decade, to Cardinall Lodouike.

THe greate ryche, and plentifull Ocean sea, heretofore vnknowen,The Ocean sea heretofore vnknowen. and nowe fownde by Christophorus Colonus the Admyrall, by thautori­tie and furtherance of the Catholyke kynge, I haue presented vnto yowre honoure (ryght noble Prince) lyke a golden cheyne vnwoork manly wrought. But yowe shall nowe re­ceaue a precious iewell to bee appendaunt therto. T [...]erfore e­monge suche as were pylottes or gouernoures vnder the Ad­myrall,Shipmasters vnder the Admiral. and had dylygently marked the courses and differen­ces of the wyndes, many had licences graunted them of the kynge to seeke further of theyr owne charges, vppon condicion to pay hym faithfully his portion,The fifte por­tion dewe to the kynge. which is the fyrst part. But bycause emonge all other, one Petrus Alphonsus cauled Nig­nus by his surname) sayled towarde the Southe with more prosperous fortune then any of the other,The na [...]igation of Petrus A [...]phonsus. I thinke it best first to speake sumwhat of his vyage. He therfore, with only one [Page 37] shippe, well furnyshed at his owne charges, after that he had his passeporte with commaundement in no case to caste anker paste fyftie leaques distante from any place where the Admy­rall hadde touched, sayled fyrste to Paria where the Admyrall fownde bothe the men and women soo laden with cheynes,Paria. garlandes, and braselettes of pearles, as wee haue sayde be­fore. Coastynge therfore alonge by the same shore accordinge to the kynges commaundement, (yet leauinge behynde hym the Regions of Cumana and Manacapana) he came to the Region which thinhabitantes thereof,Cumana. Manacapana▪ caule Curiana:Curiana. where he fownd a hauen (as he saythe) muche lyke the porte of Gades or Cales. In to the which enteringe, he sawe a farre of certeyne how­ses on the shore, and perceaued when he drewe nere, that it was a vylage of onely eyght howses. Proceadynge yet fur­ther for the space of three myles, he espyed an other vylage well replenyshed with people, where there met hym fyftie na­ked men on a coompany hauinge with them a certeyne ruler, who desyred Alphōsus to coome to theyr coastes. He browght with hym at this tyme, many haukes belles, pynnes, nedels, braselettes, cheynes, garlandes, and rynges with counterfet stones and glasses, and such other tryfelles,Perles for tryfels. the which with­in the momente of an houre, he hadde exchaunged for .xv. vnces of theyr pearles which they wore abowte theyr neckes and armes. Then they yet more ernestly desyred him to sayle to theyr coastes: Promysynge hym that he shulde there haue as many pearles as he wolde desyre.Great plentie of pearles. He condecended to their requeste: And the daye folowynge, came to the place where they appoynted hym: Lyinge there at anker, a great multy­tude of people resorted to hym,humayne people. instantely requyringe hym to coome alande. But when he consydered the innumerable multytude of people which was there assembled, and that he had only .xxxiii. men in his coompany, he durste not commyt hym selfe to theyr handes, but gaue them to vnderstand by signes and tokens that they shulde coome to the shyppe with theyr canoas. For theyr boates (which the men of the Iland caule Canoas) are made only of one hole peece of woodde as in the Ilandes: yet more rude, and not soo artificially as theyrs are. These they caule Gallitas: They swarmed therefore to the shyp as faste as they myght, brynginge with them great plentie of pearles (which they caule Tenoras) exchaunginge the same for [Page] owre marchaundies. He fownde this people to bee of gentyl nature, simple and innocente, beinge conuersant with them in theyr houses, for the space of .xx. dayes. Theyr houses are made of woodde, coouered with the leaues of date trees. Theyr meate for the moste parte, is the shelfysshes in the whiche pearles are engendred,Shel fy [...]hes in which per­les are engen­d [...]d wherof theyr sea coastes are ful. They haue also greate plentie of wylde beastes, as hartes, wylde bores, and coonys lyke vnto hares, both in colour and byggenes.Beastes and foules. Stocke doues also, and turtle doues. Lykewyse geese and duckes which they nooryshe in theyr houses as wee doo. Peacockes flye abowte in maner in euerye woodde and groue: but they are not distinct with sundry coloures as ours are: for the cockes are lyke vnto the hennes. These people of Curiana, are craftie hunters and exceding cunning archers,hunters and archers. soo that they wyll not lyghtly mysse any beast or byrde that they shoote at. Owre men consumed certeyne dayes here very ple­sauntely. Durynge which tyme, who soo euer brought them a peacocke,Theyr maner of bargening had for the same, foure pynnes. He that brought a pheasaunt, had twoo: And for a stocke doue or turtle doue, one: And for a goose, a smaul lookyng glasse or a lyttle stone of glasse. Thus they bought and soulde with proferynge and byddynge, denyinge and refusinge as it had byn in a greate market. When pynnes were profered them,The vse of pynnes. they asked what they shulde doo with them, beinge naked. But owre men sa­tisfied them with a craftie answere, declaring by tokens that they were very necessary to picke theyr teeth and to pul thor­nes owte of theyr flesshe. But aboue al thynges haukes bel­les were most esteemed amonge them,haukes bels in great esti­mation. for theyr sounde & faire coloure: And wolde therfore gyue much for one of thē. Owre men lodginge in theyr houses, harde in the nyght season hor­ryble noyses and rorynges of wylde beastes in the wooddes which are full of exceadinge greate and hygh trees of sundry kyndes.Roringe of Wyld beastes But the beastes of these wooddes, are not noysome to men. For the people of the countrey goo dayly a hunting, naked, with theyr bowes and arrowes: Yet hath it not byn harde of, that any man hath byn slayne of any wylde beaste. As many hartes or wylde bores as owre men woolde desyre them to brynge,hartes and wyl [...] bores. they woolde kyll in the wooddes with their bowes and arrowes, and not fayle to brynge theim. They lacke kyne, goates, & sheepe. Theyr breade is made of rootes, [Page 38] as is theyrs of the Ilandes. This nation, hath blacke heare, grosse and sumwhat curlde, yet longe also. They keepe theyr teeth very whyte:Blacke and curlde heare. White teethe. And for that purpose vse to cary a certeine herbe betwene theyr lyppes for the most parte of the day, and to wasshe theyr mouthes when they cast it away. The women doo all theyr busynes at home in theyr howses, and haue al­so the cure of tyllage of the grounde. But the men apply them selues to the warres and huntynge, to playe,Earthen Ues­sels. singynge and daunsing. They haue sundry kyndes of water pottes, iugges, and drinckinge cuppes made of earthe in other places abowt theym and brought thether for exch [...]unge of other thynges: For they vse fayres and markettes for the same purpose: and are gretly desyrous of such thynges, as are not brough [...] forth or made in theyr countrey, as nature hath gyuen a dispositi­on to al men to desyre and bee delyted with newe and strange thynges. Many of them, had hangynge at theyr pearles,Conninge a [...] t [...]ficers. the Images of certeine beastes and birdes very artificiously made of golde, but not pure. These also are brought them from o­ther places for exchange of other thynges. The golde wher­of they are made,Base golde. is natiue, and of much lyke finenes to that wherof the florenes are coyned. The men of this countrey, in close theyr priuie members in a gourde, cutte after the fashion of a coddepiece: or els, coouer the same with the shelle of a tortoyse,A strange m [...] ner of coue­ringe theyr pr [...] uities. tyed abowte theyr loynes with laces of gossampine cotton. In other places of that tract, they thrust the synew with in the sheethe therof, and bynde the skinne fast with a stringe. The greate wylde beastes wherof wee spake before, and many other thynges whiche are not founde in any of the Ilandes, testifie that this regiō is part of the cōtinēt or firme land.Tokēs of the continent or firme lande. But the chiefest cōiecture wherby they argue the same, is, that by the coastes of that lande, from Paria towarde the weste, they sayled aboute three thousande myles, fyndynge no signe or token of any ende. These people of Curiana (whiche sum caule Curtana) beinge demaunded where they hadde suche plentie of golde, signified that it was brought them from a Region cauled Canchieta or Cauchieta, The g [...]den Regiō of Cauchieta. being distant from them syxe soonnes, that is, syxe dayes iourney westwarde: And that theyr Ima­ges of goulde, were m [...]de in the same Region. Where vppon owre men directed theyr vyage thyther immediatly: and arry­ued there at the calendes of Nouember, in [...]he yeare of Christ [Page] a thousande and fyue hundreth. The people of the countrey resorted to them withoute feare, bryngynge with them of the golde which we sayde to bee natyue in that Region. This people had also collers of pearles abowte theyr neckes, whiche were brought them frome Curiana for exchange of theyr mar­chandies. None of them wolde exchaunge any of those thin­ges which they had owte of other countreys: as nother the Curians golde, nor the Canchietans pearles. Yet amonge the Canchietans, they fownde but little gold redy gathered. They toke with thē frō thense, certen very fayre marmasets or munkeys, & many popingayes of sundry coloures. In the monethe of Nouember,Temperate ayer [...]n No­uember. the ayer was there most temperate, & nothyng coulde. The gardens of the north pole, were owte of syght to bothe these people, they are soo nere to the Equinoctiall.The Equinoctial lyne. Of the degrees of the pole, they can gyue none other accoumpte. These people,humane peo­ple. are wel disposed men, of honest condicions, and nothinge suspicious. For all most all the nyght longe, they re­sorted to the shippe with theyr boates, and went aboorde ship withowte feare, as dyd the Curians. They caule pearles, Co­rixas. They are sumwhat ielyous. For, when any straungers coome emonge them, they euer place theyr women behynd thē. In this Region of Canchieta, the gossampine trees growe of them selues commonly in many places,Gossampine trees. as doo with vs elmes, wyllowes, and salowes. And therfore they vse to make bree­ches of cotton,Chorlyshe people wherwith they coouer theyr pryuie partes in many other Regions there aboute. When they had yet sayled on forwarde by the same coastes, there came foorth ageynste them abowte twoo thousande men, armed after theyr maner, forbydding them to coome aland. These people were soo rude and saluage, that owre men coulde by no meanes allure them to familiaritie. Owre men therfore, contented only with their pearles, returned backe the same way they came: where they remayned with the Curians continually for the space of twentie dayes,Alphōsus re­turneth to Paria. and fylled theyr bellyes wel with good meate. And here it seemeth to me, not farre from my purpose, to declare what chaunced vnto theim in theyr returne, when they came nowe within the syght of the coaste of Paria. Can [...]bales in the goulfes of Paria. They happened therefore in the way, at Os Draconis and the goulfes of Paria, (wherof wee spake before) to meete with a nauie of .xviii. Canoas of Canibales which went a rouyng to hunt for mē. Who [Page 39] soone as they had espyed owr men, assailed theyr shippe fiercely and without feare enclosed the same, disturbing owre men on euery syde with theyr arrowes. But owre men so feared them with theyr gunnes, that they fledde immediatly, whom owre menne folowinge with the shippe boate, tooke one of theyr Canoas, and in it, only one Canibal (for the other had escaped) and with hym, an other man bownde: Who, with teares runninge downe his cheekes, and with giesture of his handes, eyes, and heade, signified that syxe of his coompa­nyons had byn cruelly cutte in pieces and eaten of that mys­cheuous nation: and that he shulde haue byn lykewyse handeled the day folowynge. Wherfore they gaue hym poure ouer the Canyball, to doo with hym what he wolde.Death for death. Then with the Canibales owne clubbe, he layde on hym al that he might dryue with hande and foote, grinninge and fretinge as it had byn a wylde bore: Thinkynge that he had not yet sufficiently reuenged the death of his companyons, when he had beaten owte his braynes and guttes. When he was demaunded af­ter what sorte the Canibales were woont to inuade other contreys,howe the ca­nibales forti­fie their cāpe he answered that they euer vsed to carye with them in theyr Canoas, a greate multitude of clubbes: The whiche, where soo euer they lande, they pitche in the grownde, and encampe them selues within the coompasse of the same, to lye the more safely in the nyght season. In Curiana, they fownde the head of a capitaine of the Canibales, nailed ouer the doore of a certeyne gouernoure, for a token of victorie, as it hadde byn the standerde or helmette taken from the enemye in bat­tayle. In these coastes of Paria, is a Region cauled Haraia, Haraia. in the whiche, greate plentie of salte is gathered after a strange sorte. For the sea beinge there tossed with the poure of the wyndes, dryueth the salte waters into a large playne by the sea syde:Salte engen­dred of the water of the sea. where: afterward when the sea waxeth c [...]ulme, and the soonne begynnethe to shyne, the water is congeled into moste pure and whyte salte, wherewith innumerable shyppes might bee laden, if men doo resorte thether for the same bee­fore there faule any rayne. For the rayne meltethe it, and causeth it to synke into the sande, and soo by the pores of the earthe, to returne to the place from whense it was dryuen. Other say, that the playne is not fylled from the sea, but of certeine springes whose water is more sharpe and salt thē theSprynges of of salt water. [Page] water of the sea. Thinhabitantes doo greatlye esteeme this bay of salte. Which they vse, not only for theyr owne commoditie, but also woorkinge the same into a square forme lyke vnto brickes, they sell it to strangers for exchaunge of other thynges whiche they lacke. In this Region, they stretche and drye the deade bodies of theyr kinges and noble men,The bodies of princes dryed & reserued layinge the same vpon a certeyne frame of woodde much lyke vnto a hurdle or grediren, with a gentell fyre vnder the same, thus by lyttle and lyttle consuminge the flesshe and keepinge the skynne hole with the bones inclosed therein. These dryed carcases, they haue in greate reuerence, and honour them for theyr householde and famylier goddes. They say that in this place they sawe a man, and in an other place a woman, thus dryed and reserued. When they departed from Curiana, the .viii day of the Ides of February to returne to Spayne, they had three score and .xvi. poundes weight (after .viii. vnces to the pownde) of perles, which they bought for exchange of owre thynges, amountinge to the value of fyue shyllinges.Threescore & xvi. poundes weight of perles for .v. shil­lynges. Depar­tinge therfore, they consumed three score dayes in theyr iourney (althowgh it were shorter then frome Hispaniola) by reason of the contynuall course of the sea into the weste,The course of the sea to­ward the weste. whiche dyd not only greately stey the shippe, but also sumtymes dryue it backe. But at the length they came home soo laden with per­les, that they were with euery maryner, in maner as common as chaffe. But the master of the shyppe, Petrus Alphonsus, perles as cō ­mō as chaffe [...]etrus Alphō sus in prison. beinge accused of his coompanyons that he had stowlen a great mul­titude of precious perles, and defrauded the kynge of his portion which was the fyueth parte, was taken of Fernando de Vega, a man of greate lerninge and experience and gouernour o [...] Gallecia, where they arryued, and was there kepte in pryson a longe tyme. But he styll denyethe that euer he deteyned anye parte of the perles. Many of these perles were as bygge as hasell nuttes,Orient perles as bygge as hasel nuttes. and oriente, (as we caule it) that is, lyke vnto them of the Easte partes. Yet not of soo greate price, by rea­son that the holes therof are not soo perfecte. When I my selfe was presente with the ryght honorable duke of Methyna, and was bidden to dyner with hym, in the citie of Ciuile, they browght to hym aboue a hundre [...]h and twentie vnces of per­les to be soul [...]e: which surely did greatly delyte me with their fayrenes and brightnes. Sum saye, that Alphonsus hadde not [Page 40] these perles in Curiana being distante from Os Draconis more thē a hundreth and twentie leaques,Curiana Os Draconis. but that he had them in the Regions of Cumana and Manacapana, Cumana. Manacapana. nere vnto Os Draconis and the Ilande of Margarita. The Iland of Margarita. For they deny that there is any per­les fownde in Curiana. But sithe the matter is yet in controuersie, we wyll passe to other matters. Thus muche yowe haue whereby yowe maye coniecture what commoditie in tyme to coome may bee looked for from these newe landes of the west Ocean, wheras at the fyrste discoueringe, they shewe such to­kens of greate ryches. Thus fare ye well.

¶ The .ix. booke of the fyrst Decade to Cardynall Lodouike.

VIncentiagnes Pinzonus, and also Aries Pinzonus, The nauigation of vincentius and Aries Pinzonus. his neuie, by his brothers syde, which accompa­nyed the Admiral Colonus in his fyrste vyage, and were by him appoynted to bee masters of twoo of the smaule shippes which the Spaniardes caule Carauelas, beinge mooued by the greate ryches and amplytude of the new landes, furnyshed of theyr owne charges, foure carauels in the hauen of theyr owne countrey which the Spanyardes caule Palos, bortheringe on the weste Ocean. Hauynge therfore the kynges licence and passeporte to departe,Licence and passeporte. they loosed frō the hauen, abowte the Calendes of December, in the yeare 1499. This hauen of Palos is three score and twelue myles distant from Gades, commonly cauled Cales: and three score and foure myles from Ciuile.Cales. Ciuile. All thinhabitantes of this towne, not one excepted, are greately gyuen to searchinge of the sea, and continually exercysed in sayling. They also directed their vyage fyrst to the Ilandes of Canarie by the Ilandes of Hesperides, The Ilandes of Canarie nowe cauled Cabouerde, Cabouerde. which sum caule Gorgodes Meducias. Saylinge therfore directly towarde the southe frome that I­land of the Hesperides which the Portugales (being possessers of the same) caule Sancti Iacobi, and departinge frome thense at the Ides of Ianuary, they folowed the southwest wynde,s. Iames I­lande. beinge in the myddest betwene the south and the weste. When they supposed that they had sayled aboute three hundrethe leaques by the same wynde, they say that they loste the syght [Page] of the Northe starre:The North pole owte of syght. and were shortelye after, tossed with excedinge tempestes bothe of wynde and sea, and vexed with intollerable heate. Yet sayled they on further (not without greate daunger) for the space of twoo hundrethe and fortie leaques, folowing yet the same wynde by the lost pole. Wher­fore, whether habitable Regions bee vnder the Equinoctiall lyne or not,habitable Regions vnder the Equinoc­tial lyne. let these men and the owlde wryters, aswel Philosophers as poetes and cosmographers discusse. For these men, affirme it to bee habitable, and maruelou [...]ly replenished with people: and they, that it is vnhabitable by reason of the soone beames dependinge perpendicularly or directlye o­uer the same. Yet were there many of the oulde wryters, whi­che attempted to proue it habitable. These maryners beinge demaunded, if they sawe the south pole, they answered that they knewe no starre there lyke vnto this pole, that myght be decerned aboute the poynte. But that they sawe an other or­der of starres, and a certeyne thicke myst rysynge from the horizontall lyne,An other or­der of starres A thycke mist which greatly hyndered theyr syght. They contende also, that there is a great heape or rysynge in the myd­dest of the earth,A rysinge in the myddest of the earth. which taketh away the syght of the southe pole, vntyll they haue vtterly passed ouer the same. But they verely beleue that they sawe other images of starres, muche differinge from the situation of the starres of owre hemisphe­rie or halfe circle of heauen. Howe soo euer the matter bee, as they informe vs, wee certifie yowe. At the lengthe, the se­uenth day of the calendes of Februarye, they espied lande a farre of. And seinge the water of the sea to bee troubelous, soundinge with theyr plummet, they founde it to bee .xvi. fa­thames deepe. Goinge a lande, and tarienge there for the space of twoo dayes, they departed bycause they saw no peo­ple steringe, althowghe they fownde certeyne steppes of men by the sea syde. Thus grauinge on the trees and the stones nere vnto the shore, the kynges name and theyrs, and the tyme of theyr comming thether, they departed. Not farre frō this station, folowynge the fyers on the lande by nyght, they founde a nation lyinge vnder the open fyrmamente after the maner of warre. Owre men thought it not beste to trowble them vntyll the morninge. Therefore, at the rysinge of the soonne, fortie of owre men well armed, wente toward them: ageynst whom came furth .xxxii. of them, with bowes, slinges [Page 41] and dartes, euen redy to the feyght. The other coompanye folowed them, armed after the same maner. Owr men affirme that they were of hygher stature then eyther the Almaynes or Pannonians.People of hygh stature. They behelde owre men with frownynge and threatenynge countenaunce. But owre men thought it not good to faule to bickeringe with them, vncerteyne whether it were for feare, or bycause they wolde not dryue thē to flight. Wherfore they went aboute to allure them by faire meanes & rewardes. But they refused all kynde of gentelnes, & stoode euer in a redines to feight, declaringe the same by signes and tokens. Thus owr men resorted to theyr shippes, and they to the place from whence they came, without any further busy­nes. The same nyght abowte mydnyght, they fledde, and left the place voyde where they lay in campe. Owre men suppose them to bee a vagabunde and wanderinge nacion lyke vnto the Scythians,A vagabunde kynde of men withowte houses or certeyne dwellinge pla­ces, lyuinge onely with the fruites of the earth, hauing theyr wyues and chyldren folowinge them. Such as measured their footesteppes in the sande, affirme with greate othes, that one of theyr feete is almost as longe as twoo feete of owre men of the meane sorte. Saylinge on yet further,Giantes. they founde an o­ther ryuer, but not of deapth sufficient to beare the carauels. They sent therfore the foure shippe boates to lande, ful of ar­med men to search the countrey. They espyed vppon a hyghe hyll nere vnto the sea syde, a greate multitude of people, to whom owre coompany sent furthe one man with certeyne of owre thynges to allure them to exchaunge. And when he had cast a haukes bell towarde them, they cast downe a wedge of golde a cubette longe. The which as he stouped to take vppe, they soodenly inclosed hym, and caryed hym awaye. But he was shortly after rescued by his coompanyons, to sum of their paynes: for they slewe eyght of owre men, and wounded ma­ny a farre of, with theyr arrowes, and dartes made of wood hardened at the endes with fyre. After this, they encoompa­sed owre shippe boates within the ryuer, and came rasshelye within the reache of owre men,Desperate bouldenes. layinge houlde on the boates sydes, where they were thrust throwgh and hewen in peeces as it had byn sheepe, by reason they were naked. Yet wolde they not for al this, gyue ouer: but tooke from owre men one of their boates, hauing noo men in it. For the gouernour therof [Page] being slayne with an arrowe, the other fledde and escaped. And thus they lefte this fierce and warlyke people, saylinge towarde the northweste alonge by the same coastes, with so­rowfull hartes for the death of theyr coompanyons. When they had sayled abowte .xl. leaques, they chaunced into a sea of suche fresshe water,A sea of fres­she water. that they fylled theyr barelles and hogges heades therwith. Searching the cause hereof, they vnderstoode that a vehement course of ryuers discended with great violence from the toppes of certeyne greate hylles. They say also that there lyeth within the sea, many fortunate and fruitfull Ilandes,Many fruite­full Ilandes. and well inhabyted: And that thinhabitantes of this tracte are men of meeke nature and suche as doo not refuse strangers:humane people. Yet lyttle profytable to them, bycause they had noo marchandyes for their purpose, as golde or precyous stones. For lacke wherof, they brough [...] frome thense thyrtie captiues to sell for slaues. Thinhabitantes caule this Region Mariatambal. Mariatāball. The Region of the easte parte of that ryuer, is cauled Camomorus: Camomorus. And that of the weste parte, Paricora: Paricora. in the midlande wherof, thinhabitantes signified that there is greate plentie of golde. For, folowynge this ryuer directly toward the Northe (as the bendynge of the shore requyred) they recouered ageyne the syght of the north pole. All the coaste of this tracte, perteyneth to Paria, Regions of Paria. the which (as we sayd before) was fyrst founde by Colonus hym selfe,Golde and perles. and hath in maner in euery place, greate abundaunce of pearles. They saye that these coastes are adioynynge vnto, and all one with Os Draconis, Os Draconis. and also bortherynge vppon the Regions of Cumana, Cumana. Manacapana, Manacapana. Cu­riana, Curiana Cauchieta, and Cuchibachoa. Wherfore they thought it to bee parte of the firme lande of India beyonge the ryuer of Ganges. For the greate and large coompa [...]se therof, dothe not permit that it shulde bee an Ilande. Albeit, the hole earth vncouered with water, largely taken, may bee cauled an Ilande.The hole earth largely tak [...] ▪ maye bee cauled an Ilande. From the poynte of that land where they lost the sight of the north pole, saylynge by a continuall tracke abowte three hundreth leaques towarde the weste syde of Paria, they say that almoste in the mydde way, they chaunced into a ryuer cauled Maragno­num, Maragnonus a ryuer of ex­cead [...]nge bread [...]h and full of Ilands looke decade [...]i. liber. ix. which they affirme to bee of such excedinge breadth, that it myght seeme incredible, if the antiquitie dyd not make mention of the lyke. Beinge demaunded of me if it were not salte water where it diuided the lande, they answered, that the water [Page 42] therof was very fresshe and sweete: And that the further it ranne, to bee soo muche the fressher: Also full of Ilandes & homsome fyshe. They bare auouche the breadth therof, to bee more then thirtie lea [...]ues. Yet if wee well weighe and consy­der the largenes and wydenes of Boriostomea and Spiriosiomea, the mouthes of the famous ryuer of Ister (nowe cauled Danubius) & howe farre they violate or corrupte the salte water with their freshenes,Boriostomea, and Spirio­s [...]omea▪ mou­thes of the ryuer of Da­nubius, wee shall cease to marueile, althowgh this other ryuer bee greater. For, who can diminysshe the poure of nature, but that it may make this bigger then the other, and an other bygger then this. And I suppose this to bee the ryuer wher­of Colonus the Admirall made mention in the discription of his vyage in these coastes. But wee shall hereafter haue further knowleage hereof. Let vs nowe therfore returne to the com­modities of these Regions. They fownde in many Ilandes abowte Paria, The commo­dities of the Regions and Ilandes a­bout Paria. Brasile. great wooddes of brasile trees: And brought a­waye with them, three thousande poundes weight thereof. They say that the brasile of Hispaniola, is muche better then this, to dye clothe with a more fayre and durable colour. Frō hense, folowynge the wynde (whiche the Spanyardes caule Norduest, and the Italians Graeco) they passed by many Ilandes very fruitefull, yet lefte desolate and wasted by reason of the crueltie of the Canibales.Mani fruitful Ilandes lefte desolate. For they went alande in many pla­ces, and fownde the ruines of many destroyed howses. Yet in sum places, they founde men, but those exceadinge fearefull, flyinge to the mountaynes, rockes, and wooddes at the sight of euery straunger or shippe, and wanderinge without houses or certeyne abydinge places, for feare of the Caniballes lay­inge wayte and huntinge after them.Canibales. Here they founde those great trees which of thē selues in dyuers places bringe furth the fruite or spice whiche the Apothecaries caule Cassia f [...]stula:Trees of Cassia fistula. And that of noo lesse goodnes then that which the phisitians minister to such as bee diseased with the ague. Bu [...] it was not ripe at theyr beinge there. They affirme that there are trees of suche byggenes,Trees of maruelous byggenes. that .xvi. men ioyninge handes togyther and standinge in coompasse, can scarsely embrase sum of them. E­monge these trees is fownde that monstrous beaste with a snowte lyke a foxe, a tayle lyke a marmasette,A monstrou [...] be [...]ste. eares lyke a batte, handes lyke a man, and feete lyke an ape, bearing her whelpes abowte with her in an owtwarde bellye muche lyke [Page] vnto a greate bagge or purse. The deade carkas of this beast, you sawe with me, and turned it ouer and ouer with yowre owne handes, marueylynge at that newe belly and wonder­full prouision of nature. They say it is knowen by experience, that shee neuer letteth her whelpes goo owte of that purse, exexcept it bee eyther to play, or to sucke, vntyl suche tyme that they bee able to gette theyr lyuing by them selues. They tooke this beaste with her whelpes: But the whelpes dyed shortely after in the shyppes. Yet the damme liued certeyne moonethes: But at the length, not beinge able to abyde soo greate alteration of ayer, and chaunge of meate,Alteracion of ayer & chāge of meate shee dyed also in the way. But of this beaste, wee haue sayde enowgh. Let vs now therfore returne to the autoures of these thynges. These twoo Pinzoni, the vncle and the neuie, susteyned manye great trowbles and horrible tempestes and perilles in this nauigation. For when they had nowe sayled by the coastes of Paria abowte .vi. hundreth leaques, and (as they supposed) beyonde the citie of Cathay and the coastes of Easte India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges,Cathay in India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges there rose soodenly soo fierce a tempeste in the moo­neth of Iuly, that, of the foure carauels which they had with them, twoo were drowned euen beefore theyr eyes:A shipwracke by tempest. and the thyrde lyenge at anker, with lyke soodennes caryed owte of theyr syght throwgh the violence of the tempeste: The fourth also lyinge at anker, was soo shaken and broosed, that al the seames therof were almost loosed. Yet came they to lande owt of this laste shyppe, but vtterlye despayrynge of the shyppe. Wherfore consultynge with them selues what was best to bee doone in soo extreeme a case, and how to prouide them a safe dwellinge place in those Regions beinge owt of al hope how to departe from thense,Extreme re­medie in a desperat case they determined to sley all the inhabitantes of the contrey nere abowte them, leaste they with the other shulde conspire togyther to kyl them, but theyr fortune was better. For the carauell which the tempeste had caryed a way, was coome to them ageyne. This had in it .xviii. men: And the other that remayned, was saued and repayred. With these two therfore, they tooke theyr vyage directly to Spaine And thus beinge tossed with tempestes and vexed with aduersities, they returned to theyr natiue contrey of Palos, to theyr wyues and children, the day before the Calendes of October, with the losse of many of theyr dere frendes and neighbours. [Page 43] they browght with them Cinamome and gynger:Cinamome and gynger but not ve­ry good, bycause they were not there fully seasoned with the heate of the soone before they brought them frō thense. They browght also, certeyne precious stones, whiche Baptista Elysius. that excellent philosopher and yowre lordeshippes phisitian, affirmeth to bee trewe Topases.Topases. After these mens returne, o­ther of theyr neighbours beinge moued thereto by a certeyne emulation, to proue yf theyr fortune wolde bee anye better, lyke men of good corage,Men of noble corage. beinge nothing discomforted by the harde fortune of theyr neighboures, knowinge that it often tymes chaunceth that that which is one mans vndoinge is an other mans makynge, attempted a newe vyage towarde the sowthe by the coastes of Paria, A nother vyage folowynge the steppes of Colo­nus the Admiral, who had fyrst discouered the same. They also browght with them greate plentie of Cassia fistula: And fownde that precious medecine cauled of the Spanyardes, Animae album, Animae album. whose perfume is of most excellent effect to heale the reumes, murres, and heauines of the heade. As touchinge this vyage, as yet I knowe noo other newes that I thought worthy to certifie yowe of. Wherfore, I wyl nowe make an ende of this booke, bycause yow put me so often in rememberance of your departure. Yet to accomplysshe the Decade, I wyll declare sumwhae of the superstitions of Hispaniola. The supersti­tions of his­paniola. Yowe shall nowe therfore vnderstand the illusions wherwith the people of the Ilande haue byn seduced after the errours of the owlde gen­tilitie,The errours of the owlde gentilitie. and wandered in the ignorance and blyndenes of hu­mane nature corrupted by the disobedience of owr fyrst parentes, which hath remayned in all nations vpon the face of the earth, except where it hath pleased god by the lyght of his spirite by his woorde, to poure vppon his electe the grace of re­nouation,The grace of renouation. by the lyght wherof the naturall darkenes recea­ueth sume clearenes as in a glasse, vntyll imperfection shalbe abolyshed. Owre men therefore, were longe in the Ilande of Hispaniola, before they knewe that the people thereof honorede any other thynge thē the lyghtes of heauen, or had any other Religion. But when theye had byne nowe longe conuersante with them, and by vnderstandyng their language, drewe to a further familiaritie, they had knowleage that they vsed dy­uers rytes and superstitions. I haue therfore gathered these fewe thynges folowynge, owte of a booke wrytten by one [Page] Ramonus an heremyte,Ramonus an heremyte. whom Colonus had lefte with certeyne kynges of the Ilande to instruct them in the Christian fayth. And bycau [...]e in maner their hole religion is none other thing then Idolatry, I wyll begynne at theyr Idoles.Ido [...]atry and Idoles. It is therfore apparente by the Images which they honour open­ly and commonly, that there appere vnto them in the nyghte seasons certeyne phanta [...]ies and illusions of euyll spirites,Illu [...]ions of euyl spirites. seducinge them into many fonde and folyshe errours. For they make certeyne Images of gossampine cotton foulded or wre­thed after theyr maner,Images of gossamp [...]ne cotton. and harde stopped within. These I­mages they make sytting, much lyke vnto the pictures of sprites and deuelles which owr paynters are accustomed to pa [...]nt vppon waules. But forasmuch as I my selfe sent yowe foure of these Images, yowe may better presently signifie vnto the kynge yowre vncle, what maner of thynges they are, & howe lyke vnto paynted deuelles, then I can expresse the same by wrytynge. These Images, thinhabitantes caule Zemes:zemes. wherof the leaste, made to the lykenes of younge deuels,younge de­uyls. they bind to theyr forheades when they goo to the warres ageynst their enemies: And for that purpose haue they those strynges han­gynge at them which yowe see. Of these, they beleue to ob­teyne rayne if rayne be lackyng, and lykewyse fayre wether. For they thinke that these Zemes are the mediatours and messengers of the greate god,Mediatours. whom they acknowleage to be on­ly one, eternall,Only one god eternall. withowte ende, omnipotent and inuisible. Thus euery kynge hath his particuler Zemes which he honoureth.The names of god. They caule the eternall god, by these twoo names, Iocauna, and Guamaonocon, as theyr predicessours tawght them. Affirminge that he hath a father cauled by these fyue names:The father of god. that is, Artab [...]ra, Mamona, Cuacarapita, Liella, Guimazoa. Nowe shall yowe heare what they fable on the earth as touchinge the originall of man.The originall of man kynde There is in the Ilande a Region cauled Caunana, wher they fayne that mankynde came fyrst owte of twoo caues of a mountayne: and that the byggest sorte of men, came furth of the mouth of the byggest caue, and the least sorte owte of the leaste caue. The rocke in the which these caues are, they caule Cau [...]a. The greatest denne, they name Cazibaxagua, and the lesse Amaiauna. Fables much lyke Ouide his transfor­mations. They say, that before it was lawful for men to come foorth of the caue, the mouth of the caue was kepte and watched nyghtly by a man whose name was Machochael. This Ma­chochael, [Page 44] departinge sumwhat farre from the caue to thintente to see what thynges were abrode, was soodenly taken of the soonne (whose sight he was forbydden) and was turned into a stone. They fayne the lyke of dyuers other, that whereas they went foorthe in the nyghte season a fysshynge, so farre from the caue that they coulde not returne before the rysynge of the soone (the which it was not lawful for them to behold) they were transformed into myrobalane trees,The original of Miroba­lane trees. which of them selues growe plentifully in the Ilande. They saye further­more, that a certeyne ruler cauled Vagoniona, sent one furth of the caue to goo a fysshynge, who by lyke chaunce was turned into a nyghtyngale bycause the soonne was rysen beefore he came ageyne to the caue:The nightin­gale. And that yearelye abowte the same tyme that he was turned into a byrde, he dothe in the nyght with a moornynge songe bewayle his mysfortune, and caule for the helpe of his maister Vagoniona. And this they thynke to bee the cause why that byrde singeth in the night season. But Vagoniona, beinge sore troubled in his mynd for the losse of his familier frende whom he loued soo intierly, leauinge the men in the caue, brought foorth onely the women with theyr suc­kynge chyldren, leauinge the women in one of the Ilandes of that tracte, cauled Mathinino, The Iland of Mathinino. and caryed the chyldren awaye with hym: which poore wretches oppressed with famine, fainted and remained on the banke of a certeine ryuer where they were turned into frogges,Children tur­ned into frogges. and cryed toa, toa, that is, mama, ma­ma, as chyldren are wont to crye for the mothers pappe. And hereof they say it commeth that frogges vse to cry so pytiful­ly in the sprynge tyme of the yeare: And that men were scat­tered abrode in the caues of Hispaniola withowte the companye of women. They say also, that whereas Vagoniona hym selfe, was accustomed to wander in dyuers places, and yet by a speciall grace,A speciall grace. neuer transformed, descended to a certeyne fayre woman whom he sawe in the bottome of the sea, and recea­ued of her certeyne pibple stones of marble (whiche they caule Cibas) and also certeine yelowe and bright plates of laton, whiche they caule Cuaninos. These thynges to this day are had in greate estimation amonge the kynges, as goodly iewels and most holy reliques.holy reliques These men whiche we sayde before were lefte in the caues withowte women, went furth in the nyght (as they say) to wasshe them selues in a ponde of raine water [Page] and sawe a farre of by the way a greate multitude of certeine beastes in shape sumwhat lyke vnto women, creping as thicke as antes aboute the myrobalane trees: And that as they at­tempted to take these beastes,women are slippery cat­tayle. they slypped owte of their han­des as they had byn yeles. Where vppon they consulted, and determyned bythaduice of the elders,Al wisedome gothe not by age. that al suche shulde bee sowght foorthe amonge them, as were scabbyd and leprous, to thintente that with theyr rowghe and harde handes, they myght theselyer take holde of them. These men, they caule Caracaracoles: And sente them foorthe a huntinge to take these beastes. But of many which they tooke, they coulde keepe but only foure: The whiche as they wolde haue vsed for women, they fownde that they lacked womans priuities. Wherefore caulinge thelders ageyne to counsayle, to consult what were beste to bee done in this case,here nedeth sum tropolo­gicall inter­pretour. theyr aduice was that the byrde which wee caule the Pye, shuld bee admitted with his byll to open a place for that purpose, whyle in the meane tyme these men cauled Caracaracoles, shulde hould fast the womens thighes abrode with theyr rowgh handes. Full wysely therfore was the pye put to this office, and opened the womens priuities, and hereof the women of the Ilande haue theyr original and ofspringe. But nowe doo I cease to marueyle that the owlde Grekes dyd fable and wryte so manye bookes of the people cauled Myrmidones, Myrmidones which they fayned to bee engendred of an­tes or pissemeres. These and suche lyke, the sagest and wysest of the people,Preachers for the deuyl. preache continually to the simple sorte, and re­herse the same as moste holy oracles. But it is yet more chyl­dysshe that they fable as touchinge thoriginall of the sea. For they saye that there was once in the Ilande, a man of greate power, whose name was Iaia: whose only soonne being dead, he buryed hym within a greate gourde.A vengeable greate gourd. This Iaia, greuouslye takyng the death of his soonne, after a fewe moonthes, came ageyne to the gourde: The which when he had opened, there isshewed foorth many great whales and other monsters of the sea:The originall of the sea. where vppon he declared to suche as dwelt abowte hym, that the sea was enclosed in that gourde. By which report, foure brethren (borne of one woman who dyed in her trauail) beinge moued, came to the gourde in hope to haue many fys­shes. The whiche when they had taken in theyr handes, and espied Iaia comming, (who oftentymes resorted to the gourd [Page 45] to viset the boones of his soonne, fearing least he shulde sus­pecte them of thefte and sacrileage, sodaynely let the gourde faule owte of theyr handes: which beinge broken in the faule the sea furthwith brake owte at the ryftes therof, and so fyl­led the vales, & ouerflowed the playnes, that only the moun­taynes were vncouered, whiche nowe conteyne the Ilandes which are seene in those coastes.The originall of Ilandes. And this is the oppinion of theyr wyse men as concernynge thoriginall of the sea. But nowe (most noble prince) you shall heare a more pleasaunt fa­ble. There is a certeyne caue cauled Iouanaboina, in the territorye of a certeyne kynge whose name is Machinnech. This caue they honour more religiously then dyd the Grekes in tyme paste, Corinth, Cyrrha, or Nysa:A holy caue. And haue adourned it with pictures of a thousand fasshions. In thenterance of this caue they haue twoo grauen Zemes, wherof the one is cauled Bin­thaitel, and the other Marohu. Images. Beinge demaunded why they had this caue in soo greate reuerence, they answered ernestly, by­cause the Soonne and the Moone came fyrst owt of the same to gyue lyght to the worlde.The originall of the soone and moone. They haue religious concourse to these caues, as wee are accustomed to goo on Pylgramage to Rome or Uaticane,Pylgramage. Compostele, or Hierusalem, and most ho­lye and heade places of owre Religion. They are also subiect to an other kynde of superstition.walkynge sprytes. For they thinke that deade folkes walke in the nyght, and eate of the fruite cauled Guan­naba, vnknowen vnto vs, and sumwhat lyke vnto a quynse. Affirmynge also that they are conuersant with lyuing people,Incubi. euen in theyr beddes, and to deceaue women in takynge vp­pon them the shape of men, shewynge them selues as thowgh they wolde haue to doo with them: But when the matter cō ­meth to actual deede, soodenly to vanysshe away.A remedye a­geynst wal­kyng sprites. If any doo suspecte that a deade body lyeth by hym when he feeleth anye straunge thynge in the bedde, they say hee shalbe owt of dout by feelynge of the belly therof: affirmyng that the spirites of deade men may take vppon them al the members of mans bo­dy, sauinge only the nauell. If therfore by lacke of the na­uell he doo perceaue that a deade body lyeth by hym, the fee­lynge is immediatly resolued. They beleue verely, that in the nyght, and often tymes in theyr iourneys, and especially in common and hygh wayes, deade men doo meete with the ly­uynge. Ageynste whome, if any man bee stoute and owte of [Page] feare, the phantasye vanyssheth incontinentely.Phantasies proceadynge of feare. But yf anye feare, the phantasy or vysion doth soo assaute hym and stryke hym with further feare, that manye are thereby astonysshed and haue the lymmes of theyr bodyes taken. Thinhaby­tantes beinge demaunded of whom they had those vayne su­persticions,Al is not good that is owlde they answered that they were lefte them of theyr forefathers as by discent of inheritance: And that they haue had the same (before the memory of man) composed in certeine rymes and songes, which it was lawful for none to lerne but onely the kynges soonnes, who commytted the same to me­morye,Syngynge & playinge bycause they hadde neuer any knoweleage of letters. These they synge beefore the people on certeyne solemne and festiuall dayes, as moste religious ceremonies: whyle in the meane tyme they play on a certeyne instrumente made of one hole peece of woodde sumwhat holowe lyke a tymbrell. Their preestes and diuines (whom they caule Boitios) instructe them in these superstitions.Preestes and diuines. These preestes, are also phisitians,Phisitians. di­uisinge a thousande craftes and subtylties howe to deceaue the simple people which haue them in greate reuerence. For they persuade them that the Zemes vse to speake with theym familierlye,Ignorance is noryshed with super­st [...]tion. and tel them of thynges to come. And if any haue bin sicke & are recouered, they make them beleue that they ob­teyned theyr healthe of the Zemes. These Boitii, bynde them selues to muche fastinge and owtewarde clenlynes and pour­geinges:Fastynge and outward clenlynes. Especially when they take vppon them the cure of any Prince. For then they drynke the pouder of a certeyne herbe, by whose qualitie they are dryuen into a furye: At whiche tyme (as they say) they lerne many thynges by reuelation of the Zemes. A pouder of maruelous effecte. Then, puttinge secreatly in theyr mouthes, ey­ther a stone, or a bone, or a piece of fleshe, they coomme to the sicke person, commaundinge al to departe owte of that place,Iuggelynge. excepte one or twoo, whom it shall please the sicke man to ap­poynt. This doone, they goo about hym three or foure tymes, greatly deforminge theyr faces, lyppes, and nosethrils with sundry fylthy giestures:A strange ma [...]er of curing blowynge, breathinge, and suckyng the forheade, temples, and necke of the pacient, wherby (they saye) they drawe the euyll ayer from hym, and sucke the di­sease owt of his veynes. Then rubbinge hym about the shoul­ders, thyghes, and legges, and drawynge downe theyr han­des close by his feete, holdinge them yet faste togyther, they [Page 46] runne to the dore beinge open, where they vnclose and shake theyr handes, affirminge that they haue dryuen away the di­sease, and that the pacient shall shortely bee perfectly restored to health. After this, commynge behynde hym, he conueygh­eth the piece of fleshe owte of his owne mouth like a iuggeler, and sheweth it to the sicke man, sayinge, behoulde what you haue eaten to muche: you shall nowe bee hole, bycause I haue taken this from you. But if he intende yet further to deceaue the pacient, he persuadeth hym that his Zemes is angry,Angery gods ey­ther bycause he hath not buylded hym a chapell, or not hono­red hym religiously, or not dedicated vnto him a groue or garden. And if it soo chaunce that the sicke person dye, his kins­folkes by wytchecrafte enforce the deade to confesse whether he dyed by naturall destenye,They make the deade to speake. or by the neglygence of the Boi­tius, in that he had not fasted as he shulde haue doone, or not mynistred a conuenient medicine for the disease. Soo that yf this phisitian bee founde fautie, they take reuenge of hym. Of the stones or bones which these Boitii carye in theyr mouthes, yf the women can coome by them, they keepe them religiously beleauinge them to bee greatly effectuall to helpe women whiche trauayle with chylde: And therfore honoure them as they doo theyr Zemes. For dyuers of thinhabitantes, honour Zemes of dyuers fasshions. Sume make theim of woodde,Diuers Idols of sundry shape. as they were admonyshed by certeyne visions apperinge vnto them in the wooddes. Other, whiche haue receaued answere of them amonge the rockes, make thē of stone and marble. Sum they make of rootes to the similitude of suche as appeare to them when they are gathering the rootes cauled Ages, wherof they make theyr breade, as we haue sayde before. These Zemes, they beleue to send plentie and frutefulnes of those rootes, as the antiquitie beleued suche fayries or spirites as they cauled Dryades, Hamadryades, Satyros, Panes, and Nereides, Fayries or spirites of the gentyles. to haue the cure and prouidence of the sea, wooddes, sprynges and fountaynes, assigninge to euery thynge, theyr peculier goddes.Peculier goddes. Euen soo doo thinhabitantes of this Ilande attribute a Zemes to euery thynge, supposinge the same to gyue eare to theyr inuocati­ons. Wherfore, as often as the kynges aske counsaile of their Zemes as concerning their warres,They aske cō saile of Ido [...]s increase of fruites or scars­nes, or health and sickenes, they enter into the house dedicate to theyr Zemes, where, snuffinge vp into theyr nosethryls the [Page] pouder of the herbe cauled Cohobba (wherwith the Boitii are dryuen into a furye) they say that immediatly they see the houses turne topsy turnye,The [...]ouder of the herbe Cohobba. and men to walke with theyr heeles vp­warde: of suche force is this pouder vtterly to take away all sense. As soone as this maddenes ceaseth, he embraseth his knees with his armes, holdynge downe his heade. And whē he hath remayned thus a whyle astonysshed, he lyfteth vp his heade as one that came newe owt of sleepe: And thus loking vp towarde heauen, Fyrst he fumbeleth certeyne confounded woordes with hym selfe. Then certeyne of the nobilitie or chiefe gentelmen that are about him (for none of the common people are admytted to these mysteries) with lowde voyces gyue tokens of reioysing that he is returned to them from the speache of the Zemes, Secreate mi­steries. demaundynge of hym what he hathe seene. Then hee openinge his mouthe, doateth that the Zemes spake to hym duryng the tyme of his traunce: declaring that he had reuelations eyther concerninge victorye or destruction:Reuelations. famyne or plentie: health or syckenes, or what soo euer hap­peneth fyrst on his toonge. Nowe (moste noble Prince) what neede you hereafter to marueyle of the spirite of Apollo soo shakynge his Sibylles with extreme furie?The spirite of Apollo. The Sibilles Yowe had thowght that the superstitious antiquitie hadde peryshed. But nowe wheras I haue declared thus much of the Zemes in generall, I thowght it not good to lette passe what is sayde of them in particuler. They saye therefore, that a certeyne kynge cauled Guamaretus, I haue harde the lyke of o­ther in Eng­lande. had a Zemes whose name was Corochotum: who (they say) was often tymes woonte to descende frome the hygheste place of the house where Guamaretus kepte hym faste bounde. They affirme, that the cause of this his breakynge of his bandes and departure, was eyther to hyde hym selfe, or to goo seeke for meate,hungery and [...]echerous Gods. or els for the acte of generation: And that sumtymes beinge offended, that the kynge Guamaretus had byn negligent and slacke in honouringe hym, he was woont to lye hyd for certeyne dayes. They say also that in the kynges vy­lage there are sumtyme chyldren borne hauing twoo crownes which they suppose to bee the children of Corochotum the Zemes. Childrē with two crownes They fayne lykewyse, that Guamaretus beinge ouercome of his enemies in the battayle, and his vylage with the palaice con­sumed with fyer, Corochotus brake his bandes and was after­warde founde a furlonge of, safe and withowte hurte. He [Page 47] hath also an other Zemes cauled Epileguanita, made of woodde, in shape lyke a foure footed beaste: who also is sayde,wanderinge Images. often tymes to haue gonne from the place where he is honoured, in to the wooddes. As soone as they perceaue him to bee gonne, a great multitude of them gather togyther to seeke hym with deuoute prayers: And when they haue fownde hym, brynge hym home religiously on theyr shulders to the chapell dedica­ted vnto hym. But they coomplayne that sence the commynge of the Christian men into the Ilande, he fledde for all togy­ther, and coulde neuer sence bee founde, wherby they diuined the destruction of theyr countrey. They honoured an other Zemes in the lykenes of a woman, on whom wayted twoo other lyke men, as they were ministers to her. One of these, execu­ted thoffice of a mediatour to the other Zemes which are vnder the power and commaundement of this woman,Mediatours, A woman ze­mes of great poure. to rayse wyndes, cloudes, and rayne. The other is also at her commaundemente a messenger to the other Zemes whiche are ioyned with her in gouernaunce, to gather togyther the waters whiche faule from the hygh hylles to the valleys, that beinge loosed, they may with force brust owte into greate fluddes and ouer­flowe the countrey if the people doo not gyue due honoure to her Image. There remayneth yet one thynge woorthy to bee noted, wherwith we wyll make an ende of this booke. It is a thynge well knowen, and yet fresshe in memory amonge the inhabitantes of the Ilande, that there was sumetyme twoo kynges (of the which one was the father of Guarionexius of whō we made mention before) which were woont to absteyne fyue dayes togyther continually from meate and drinke,Fyue dayes fastinge. to knowe sumwhat of theyr Zemes of thynges to coome:A maruelous il [...]usion of the deuyll. And that for this fastynge beinge acceptable to theyr Zemes, they receaued answere of them, that within fewe yeares, there shuld coome to the Ilande a nation of men couered with apparell, which shulde destroye al the customes and cerymonyes of the Iland. and eyther sley all theyr chyldren,The deuyll sumtyme tel­leth truth. or brynge them into serui­tude. The common sort of the people, vnderstoode this oracle to bee mente of the Canibales. And therefore when they had any knowleage of theyr commyng, they euer fledde, and were fully determyned neuer more thaduenture the battayle with them. But when they sawe that the Spanyardes had entered into the Ilande, consultinge amonge them selues of the mat­ter, [Page] they concluded that this was the nation which was mēt by thoracle.The Idols abolyshed. Wherin, theyr opinion deceaued them not. For they are nowe all subiecte to the Christians, all suche beinge slayne as stoobernely resisted. Nor yet remayneth there anye memory of theyr Zemes: for they are al brought into Spayne, that we myght bee certified of theyr illusions of euyl spirites and Idoles, the which yowe yowre selfe (most noble Prince) haue seene and felte when I was presente with yowe. I let passe many thynges bycause yow put me in remembrance that to morowe yowe take yowre iorney towarde yowre countrey, to brynge home the queene yowre aunte, whom yowe accoom­panyed hether at the commaundemente of kynge Frederyke yowre vncle. Wherfore I byd yowe farewel for this tyme, de­syrynge yowe to remember yowre Martyr, whome yowe haue compelled in the name of the kynge yowre vncle, to gather these fewe thynges owte of a large feelde of hystoryes.

¶ The tenth and laste booke of the fyrst decade, as a con­clusion of the former bookes: Wrytten to Inacus Lopez Mendocius, countie of Tendilla, and vice­roye of Granata.

AT the fyrst begynnynge and newe attempte, when Colonus had taken vppon hym thenterpryse to search the Ocean sea, I was ernest­ly moued and requyred by the letters of cer­teyne of my frendes and noble men of Rome to wryte suche thynges as shoulde happen. For they whyspered with greate admiraci­on, that where as there were many newe landes founde, and nations which liued naked and after the lawe of nature,The Lawe of nature. they coulde here noo certentie therof, beinge greately desyrous of the same. In this meane tyme had fortune ouerthrowne Ascanius (his brother Lodouike beinge cast owt of Mylayne by the frenchmen) whose autoritie wold not suffer me to bee idle,Milayne in the hands of the frenchmē but euer to haue my pen in hande. To hym I wryte the twoo fyrst bookes of this decade, besyde many other of my hyd commen­taries whiche yowe shall see shortely. Fortune dyd noo lesse withdrawe my mynde frome wrytynge, then disturbe Ascaniu [...] from power. As he was tossed with contrary stormes and ceased [Page 48] to persuade me, euen soo slacked my feruentnes to enquyre any further, vntyl the yeare of Christe .1500. When the court remayned at Granata where yowe are viceroye: At which time Lodouike the Cardinall of Aragonie, neuie to kynge Frede­rike by his brothers syde (beinge at Granata with the queene Parthenopea the syster of owre catholike kynge) browght me kynge Frederikes letters, wherby he exhorted me to fynyshe the other bookes whiche folowed the twoo epystell bookes,Epistel books which I wryte to Ascanius. For they both acknowleaged that they hadde the copie of all that I wryte to cardinall Ascanius. And albeit that euen then I was sicke (as yowe knowe) yet tooke I the burden vppon me, and applyed my selfe to wry­tynge. I haue therfore chosen these fewe thynges, owte of a greate heape of suche as seemed to me most woorthy to bee noted amonge the large wrytynges of the autoures and sear­chers of the same. Wherfore, forasmuch as yowe haue ende­uoured to wreste owt of my handes the hole exemple of al my woorkes, to adde the same to the innumerable volumes of yowre librarie, I thowght it good nowe to make a breefe re­hersall of those thynges which were done from that yeare of a thowsande and fyue hundreth,The historye folowing, conteyneth the actes of ten yeare. euen vnto this yeare which is the tenth from that. For I entende to wryte more largelye of these thynges hereafter, if god graunte me lyfe. I hadde wrytten a hole booke by it selfe of the superstitions of the people of the Ilande, supposinge therwith to haue accomplyshed the hole Decade consistynge of tenne bookes. But I haue added this to the tenthe as a perpendiculer lyne, and as it were a backe guyde or rerewarde to the other: So that yowe may knytte the fyrst tenthe, to the nynthe, and impute this to oc­cupie the place of the tenthe to fyll vp the Decade. This or­der haue I appoynted, lest I shulde bee compelled often times to wryte ouer the hole woorke, or sende yowe the same defa­ced with blottes and interlynynge. But nowe let vs coome to owre purpose. The shippe masters and maryners ranne ouer many coastes durynge these tenne yeares: But euer folowed suche as were fyrste fownde by Colonus. For rasinge continually alonge by the tracte of Paria, Paria, part of the firme lād of East India which they beleue to bee parte of the firme lande or continent of easte India, sume of theym chaunced vppon certeyne newe landes towarde the easte, and sume towarde the weste, in which they fownde bothe goulde [Page] and frankensence.Golde & fran­kensence. For they browght from thense many iew­els and ouches of golde, and greate plentie of frankensence, whiche they had of the people of those countreys, partely for exchange of sume of owre thynges, and partely by force, ouer commynge them by warre. Yet in sume places, althowgh they bee naked,The fierce­nes of the naked people. they ouercame owre men, and slewe hole armyes. For they are excedinge fierce, and vse venemous arrowes, and longe staues lyke iauelens, made harde at the ende with fyer. They fownde many beastes,Innumerable beastes vn­lyke vnto owres. both creepinge and foure footed, muche differinge from owres, variable and of sundrye shapes innumerable: yet not hurtflul, excepte Lyons, Tygers, and Crocodiles. This I meane in sundry Regions of that greate lande of Paria: but not in the Ilandes: Noo not soo much as one. For all the beastes of the Ilandes, are meeke and with­owte hurte,Nothing hurtfull in the I­landes. except men which (as wee haue sayde) are in ma­ny Ilandes deuourers of mans flesshe. There are also dyuers kyndes of foules. And in many places battes of such bygnes, that they are equall with turtle doues.Battes as bygge as tur­tle doues. These battes, haue often tymes assauted men in the nyght in theyr sleepe, and soo bytten them with theyr venemous teethe, that they haue byn therby almoste dryuen to madnes, in soo much that they haue byn compelled to flye from such places, as from rauenous harpies. In an other place, where certeyne of them slepte in the nyght season on the sandes by the sea syde, a monster com­mynge owte of the sea,A man deuoured of a mon­ster of the sea came vppon one of them secreatly and caryed hym away by the myddeste owte of the sight of his fe­lowes to whome he cryed in vayne for helpe vntyll the beaste lepte into the sea with her praye. It was the kynges pleasure that they shulde remayne in these landes,The Spany­ardes profer them selues to subdue the newe landes. and buylde townes and fortresses. Where vnto they were soo wel wyllynge, that dyuers profered them selues to take vppon them the subduing of the lande, makyng great sute to the kynge that they might bee appoynted therto. The coaste of this tracte is exceadynge greate and large: and the Regions and landes therof extende maruelous farre:Note the lar­genes of the newe landes. Soo that they affirme the continent of these Regions with the Ilandes abowte the same, to bee thryse as bygge as al Europe, besyde those landes that the Portugales haue fownde southwarde, whiche are also exceadynge large. Therfore doubtlesse Spayne hathe deserued greate prayse in these owre dayes,Commendacion of the Spaniardes. in that it hath made knowen vnto vs soo [Page 49] many thowsandes of Antipodes which leye hyd before and vn­knowen to owre forefathers:Antipodes. And hath thereby mynystred so large matter to wryte of, to suche lerned wyttes as are desy­rous to sette furthe knowleage to the commoditie of men: to whom I opened away when I gathered these thynges rudely to gyther as yowe see: The which, neuerthelesse I trust yowe wyll take in good parte, aswell for that I can not adourne my rudenes with better vesture,The autours excusse. as also that I neuer tooke penne in hande to wryte lyke an historiographer, but only by epistels scribeled in haste, to satisfie theym, from whose com­maundementes I myght not drawe backe my foote. But now I haue digressed enowghe. Let vs nowe therefore returne to Hispaniola. Hispaniola. Owre men haue founde by experience, that the breade of the Iland is of smaule strength to such as haue byn vsed to owr breade made of wheate: And that theyr strenthes were much decayed by vsynge of the same, Wherfore the king hath of late commaunded that wheate shulde bee sowen there in diuers places and at sundry tymes of the yeare.The nature of the place, al­tereth the formes and qua­lities of thynges. Wheate. herbes. Catayle, It groweth into holowe reedes, with fewe eares, but those verye bygge and frutefull. They fynde the lyke softenes or delicatenes to bee in herbes, which growe there to the height of corne. Neat or cattall, becoome of bygger stature and exceadynge fat, but theyr flesshe is more vnsauery, and theyr bones (as they say) eyther withowte marye, or the same to bee verye waterysshe. But of hogges and swyne,hogges. they affirme the contrarye, that they are more holsoome and of better taste, by reason of cer­teyne wylde frutes whiche they eate, beinge of muche better nooryshement then maste. There is almost none other kynd of flesshe commonly soulde in the market. The multitude of hog­ges, are excedingly encreased,, and becoome wylde as soone as they are owte of the swyneheardes keepynge. They haue suche plentie of beastes and foules,Plentie of beastes and fou [...]e. that they shall heareafter haue noo neede, to haue any brought from other places. Thincrease of all beastes, growe bygger then the broode they came of, by reason of the rankenes of the pasture, althowgh theyr feadynge bee only of grasse, withowte eyther barley or other grayne. But wee haue sayde enowgh of Hispaniola. They haue nowe fownde that Cuba, Cuba, is an Ilande. (which of longe tyme they thowght to haue byn firme lande for the greate length therof) is an I­lande. Yet is it noo maruell that thinhabitantes them selues [Page] towlde owre men when they searched the length therof, that it was withowte ende. For this nacion being naked and con­tente with a lyttle, and with the limittes of theyr owne con­trey, is not greatly curyous to know what theyr neyghbours doo, or the largenes of theyr dominion. Nor yet knewe they if there were any other thinge vnder heauen, besyde that whiche they walked on with theyr feete. Cuba, The descrip­tion of Cuba. is frome the Easte into the Weste, muche longer then Hispaniola: And in breadthe from the Northe to the Southe, much lesse then they suppo­sed at the fyrst: for it is very narowe in respecte to the length: And is for the moste parte, very frutefull and pleasaunt. East­warde not farre from Hispaniola, there lyethe an Ilande, lesse then Hispaniola more then by the halfe, which owre men cauled Sancti Iohannis, The Iland of Burichema or S. Iohannis. beinge in maner square. In this they founde excedynge ryche golde mynes. But beinge nowe occupied in the golde mynes of Hispaniola,, Golde mynes they haue not yet sent labourers in to that Iland. But the plentie and reuenewe of golde of al o­ther Regions, gyue place to Hispaniola, where they gyue theim selues in maner to none other thynge then to gather golde,The order of woorkynge in the golde mynes. of which woorke this order is appoynted. To euery such wyttie and skylfull man as is put in truste to bee a suruoier or ouer­seer of these woorkes, there is assigned one or more kynges of the Ilande with theyr subiectes.The kynges brynge theyr subiectes to woorke in the golde mynes. These kynges accordyng to theyr league, coome with theyr people at certeyne tymes of the yeare, and resorte euery of them to the golde myne to the which he is assigned: where they haue all maner of dygginge or myninge tooles deliuered them: And euery kynge with his men, haue a certeyne rewarde alowed them for theyr labour. For when they departe from the mynes to sowynge of corne, and other tyllage (wherunto they are addict at certeyne other tymes,Tyllage. leaste theyr foode shulde fayle them) they receaue for theyr laboure, one a ierken, or a dublet, an other a sherte, an other a cloke or a cappe. For they nowe take pleasure in these thynges, and goo no more naked as they were wont too doo. And thus they vse the helpe and laboure of the inhabitantes both for the tyllage of theyr ground, and in theyr gold mines as thowghe they were theyr seruauntes or bondemen. They beare this yoke of seruitude with an euyll wyll: but yet they beare it. They caule these hyred labourers, Anaborias. Yet the kynge doth not suffer that they shulde bee vsed as bondemen: [Page 50] And onely at his pleasure they are sette at libertie or appoyn­ted to woorke. At suche tyme as they are cauled together of theyr kynges to woorke (as souldiers or pioners are assem­bled of theyr centurians) many of them stele away to the mountaynes and wooddes, where they lye luckynge,They abhorre laboure being con­tent for that tyme to lyue with wyld frutes, rather then take the paynes to laboure. They are docible and apte to lerne,They are do­cible. and haue nowe vtterly forgotten theyr owlde supersticions. They beleue godly, and beare wel in memory suche thynges as they haue lerned of owre faith. Theyr kynges children are brought vp with the chiefest of owre men,The kynges chyldren. and are instructed in letters and good maners. When they are growen to mans age, they sende them home to theyr countreys to bee exemple to other, and especially to gouerne the people if theyr fathers bee dead that they maye the better set foorthe the Christian Religion, and keepe theyr subiectes in loue and obedience. By reason whereof, they coome nowe by fayre meanes and gentell per­suasions to the mynes which lye in twoo Regions of the I­lande aboute thirtie myles distante frome the citie of Dominica: wherof the one is cauled Sancti Christophori: The two chiefe golde myres of hispaniola. And the other being distante aboute foure score and tenne myles, is cauled Cibaua, not farre from the cheefe hauen cauled Portus Regalis. These regions are very large: In the which in many places here and there, are fownd sumtyme euen in the vpper crust of the earth and sumtyme amonge the stones,Golde founde in the vpper part of the earth. certeyne rounde pieces or plates of golde, sumtyme of smaule quantitie, and in sum places of great weyght: In so muche that there hath byn found rounde pieces of three hundreth pounde weyght, and one of three thousande, three hundreth and tenne pounde weyght:A piece of golde weigh­inge three thousande three hūdreth & ten pounds. A coastly shipwrake. The whiche (as yowe harde) was sente hole to the kynge in that shyppe in the which the gouernour Boadilla was comming home into Spayne, the shyppe with all the men beinge drow­ned by the way, by reason it was ouer laden with the weight of golde and multytude of men. Albeit, there were moo then a thowesande persons whiche sawe and handeled the piece of golde. And wheras here I speake of a pounde, I doo not meane the common pounde, but the summe of the ducate of golde, with the coyne cauled Triens, which is the thyrde parte of a pounde, whiche they caule Pesus. Pesus. The sum of the weyght hereof, the Spanyardes caule Castellanum Aureum. Al the golde [Page] that is dygged in the mountaynes of Cibaua and Porte Re­gale,The fynynge and [...] of go [...]de. is caryed to the towre of Conception, where shoppes with al thynges apperteyninge are redy furnysshed to fyne it, melte it, and caste it into wedges. That doone, they take the kynges portion therof, whiche is the fyfte parte, and soo re­store to euery man his owne whiche he gotte with his labour. But the golde whiche is fownde in saynt Christophers myne and the Region there aboute, is caryed to the shoppes whiche are in the vylage cauled Bonauentura. In these twoo shoppes, is molten yerely, aboue three hundreth thousand pounde weight of golde.Three hun­dreth thousād weyght of gold molten yerely [...] [...]is­paniola. If any man bee knowen deceatefully to keepe backe any portion of golde, whereof he hathe not made the kynges officers pryuie, he forfiteth the same for a fyne. There chaunce amonge them often tymes many contentions and controuer­sies,Controuerses the whiche onlesse the magistrates of the Ilande doo fy­nysshe, the ease is remoued by applelation to the hyghe coun­sayle of the courte, from whose sentence it is not lawfull to appele in all the dominions of Castyle. But lette vs nowe re­turne to the newe landes frome whense wee haue digressed.The newe landes. They are innumerable, dyuers, and exceadynge fortunate. Wherfore the Spanyardes in these owre dayes, and theyr noble enterpryses,The Spany­ardes noble enterpryses. are not inferiour to the actes of her­cules or Sa­turnus. &c. doo not gyue place eyther to the factes of Sa­turnus, or Hercules, or any other of the ancient princes of famous memorie which were canonized amonge the goddes cauled He­roes for theyr searchinge of newe landes and regions, & brin­ginge the same to better culture and ciuilitie. Oh God: howe large and farre shal owre posteritie see the Christian Religion extended?Enlarging of the Christian Religion Howe large a campe haue they nowe to wander in, whiche by the trewe nobilitie that is in theym, or mooued by vertue, wyll attempte eyther to deserue lyke prayse amonge men, or reputacion of well doinge before god. What I con­ceaue in my mynde of these thynges,The originall of trewe nobilitie. I am not able to expresse with penne or tonge. I wyll nowe therfore soo make an ende of this perpendiculer conclusion of the hole Decade, as myn­dinge hereafter to searche and gather euery thynge particulerlye, that I maye at further leasure wryte the same more at large. For Colonus the Admiral with foure shyppes, and a hundreth threescore and tenne men appoynted by the kynge, dis­couered in the yeare of Christe .1520. the lande ouer ageynste the weste corner [...]f Cuba, distant from the same aboute a hun­dreth [Page 51] and thirtie leaques: In the myddest of which tracte, ly­eth an Ilande cauled Guanassa. The Ilande of Guanassa From hense he directed his vy­age backewarde towarde the Easte by the shore of that coast, supposinge that he shulde haue founde the coastes of Paria: but it chaunced otherwyse. It is sayd also that Vincentius Agnes (of whom we haue spoken before) and one Iohannes Diaz (with dyuers other of whose vyages I haue as yet no certeyne knowleage) haue ouer runne those coastes.The vyage of Iohannes Diaz. But if God graunt me life, I trust to know the truthe hereof and to aduertise yowe of the same. Thus fare ye well.

¶THE FYRST BOOKE OF THE SECONDE Decade, to Leo bysshop of Rome, the tenthe of that name, of the supposed Con­tinent or firme lande.

SENSE the tyme that Galeatius Butrigarius of Bo­nonie, and Iohannes Cursius of Florence (moste holye father) came to the catholyke kynge of Spayne, the one, of yowre holynes ambasage, and thother for thaffaires of his cōmon welth, I was euer for the moste parte in theyr coom­panie, and for theyr vertues and wysedoome, had theym in greate reuerence. And wheras they were greatly gyuen to studye, and continuall reuoluinge of dyuers autours, they chaunced vppon certeyne bookes negligently let slyppe owte of my handes, entreatinge of the large landes and Regions hether­to lyinge hyd, and almost west Antipodes, west Antipo­des. fownde of late by the Spanyardes. Yet beinge allured and delited with the newe­nes and strangenes of the matter althowgh rudely adourned, they commended the same: Therwith ernestely desyringe me [Page] in theyr owne names, and requyring me in the name of yowr holynes, to adde here vnto all suche thynges as were fownde after that tyme, and to gyue them a copie thereof to sende to yowre holynes, that yowe myght therby vnderstande, bothe howe greate commoditie is chaunced to the progenye of man­kynde, as also increase of the militante congregation in these owre dayes,The [...]ncrea [...]e of the Christi­an congrega­tion. by the fortunate enterpryses of the kynges of Spayne. For lyke as rased or vnpaynted tables, are apte to receaue what formes soo euer are fyrst drawen theron by the hande of the paynter, euen soo these naked and simple peo­ple, doo soone receaue the customes of owre Religion, and by conuersation with owre men, shake of theyr fierce and natiue barbarousnes. I haue thowght it good therefore to satisfie the request of these wyse men, especially vsinge thautoritie of yowre name, wherunto not to haue obeyed, I shulde esteeme my selfe to haue commytted a heynous offence. Wherefore I wyl nowe brefely reherse in order, what hyd coastes the Spanyardes ouerranne, who were the autours therof, where they rested, what further hope they browght, and fynallye what great thynges those tractes of landes doo promesse in tyme to coome. In the declaration of my decade of the Ocean, which is nowe printed and dispersed throwghowte Christendome vnwares to me, I described howe Christophorus Colonus fownde those Ilandes wherof we haue spoken,Christophorus Colonus. and that turnynge from thense towarde the lefte hande southwarde, he chaun­ced into greate regions of landes, and large seas, distant frō the Equinoctial lyne, onely from fyue degrees to tenne:Of landes di­stante frō the Equinoctiall from fyue degrees to ten. where he founde brode ryuers and exceadinge hygh mountaynes co­uered with snowe and harde by the sea bankes, where were many commodious and quyet hauens. But Colonus being now departed owte of this lyfe,The death of Colonus. the kynge beganne to take care, howe those landes myght be inhabited with Christian men to thincrease of owre fayth: Where vppon he gaue licence by his letters patentes to al such as wolde take the matter in hand,A generall lycence. and especially to twoo, wherof Diego Nicuesa was one, and the other was Alphonsus Fogeda. The nauigation of Alphonsus Fogeda. Wherfore aboute the Ides of De­cember, Alphonsus departinge fyrst with three hundreth souldiers from the Ilande of Hispaniola (in the which wee sayde the Spanyardes had builded a citie, and planted theyr habitaci­on) and saylynge in maner full southe, he came to one of the [Page 52] hauens founde before whiche Colonus named Portus Carthaginis, Portus Carthaginis. bothe bycause of the Ilande standynge ageynste the course of the streame, & also that by reason of the largenes of the place and bendynge sydes, it is muche lyke to the hauen of Spaine cauled Carthago. Thinhabitantes caule the Ilande Codego, as the Spanyardes caule the Ilande of theyr hauen, Scombria.

This Region is cauled of the inhabitantes Caramairi:The Region of Caramairi▪ In the which they affirme bothe the men and women to bee of good­ly stature,People of goodly stature but naked. The men haue theyr heare cutte rownde by theyr eares, but the women were it longe. Bothe the men and women are very good archers. Owre men fownde certen trees in this prouince, which bore greate plentie of sweete ap­ples, but hurteful, for they turne into wormes when they are eaten.Apples whi­che turne in­to woo [...]mes. Especially the shadowe of the tree,A tree whose shadowe is hurtfull. is contagious, for suche as sleepe vnder it any tyme, haue theyr headdes swolne and lose theyr sight. But if they sleepe but a whyle, theyr syght commeth ageyne after a fewe dayes. This porte is dy­stant foure hundreth fyftie and syxe myles from that parte of Hispaniola which the Spanyardes caule Beata, in the which also they furnysshe them selues when they prepare anye vyage to seeke other newe landes. When Fogeda had entered into the hauen,Fogeda his autoritie con­firmed by the kynges let­ters patents. he inuaded, slewe, and spoyled the people, whome he founde naked and scattered. For they were gyuen hym for a praye, by the kynges letters patentes bycause they hadde bin before tyme cruel ageynst the Christians, and coulde neuer bee allured to permytte them quietly to coome within theyr domi­nions. Here they founde gold, but in no greate quantitie, nor yet that pure. They make of it, certeyne brest plates and brooches, which they weare for coomelynes. But Fogeda not con­tent with these spoyles, vsinge certeyne captiues whiche he had taken before, for guydes, entered into a vyllage twelue myles distante frome the sea syde further into the lande, into the whiche they were fledde whom he fyrst inuaded.warlyke people. Here he founde a naked people, but apte to warre. For they were ar­med with targettes, shieldes, longe swoordes made of wood, and bowes with arrowes typte with bone, or hardened with fyer. As soone as they had espyed owre men, they with their gestes whom they had receaued, assayled them with desperate myndes, beinge therto more ernestly prouoked, beholding the calamitie of these whiche fledde vnto theym, by the violence [Page] doone to theyr women and chyldrē, in the spoyle and slawghter. In this conflicte owre men had the otherthrowe:The Spanyardes haue the ou [...]rthrowe. In the which, one Iohannes de Lacossa (beinge in autoritie nexte vnto Fogeda the capitayne, and also the fyrste that gathered golde in the sandes of Vraba) was slayne with fyftie souldiers. For these people infecte theyr arrowes with the deadly poyson of a certeyne herbe.Arrowes in­fected with poyson. The other with theyr capitayne Fogeda be­inge discomfited, fledde to the shyppes. Whyle they remayned thus in the hauen of Carthago sorowfull and pensyue for the losse of their companions, the other capitayne Diego Nicuesa, The nauigation of Diego Nicuesa. (whom they lefte in Hispaniola, preparyng hym selfe towarde the vyage in the hauen Beata) came to theim with fyue ship­pes and seuen hundrethe foure score and fyfteene menne. For the greater number of souldyers, folowed Nicuesa, both bycause free libertie was gyuen them to choose which of the capytaynes them lyst, and also that by reason of his age, he was of greater autoritie: But especially bycause the ru­moure was that Beragua beinge by the kynges commission ap­poynted to Nicuesa, The regions of vraba and [...]eragua. was rycher in golde then Vraba assigned to Alphonsus Fogeda. Therfore, at the arryuall of Nicuesa, they con­sulted what was beste to bee doone: And determyned fyrste to reuenge the deathe of their felowes. Where vppon, settynge theyr battayle in arraye, they marched in the nyght towarde them whiche slewe Cossa with his coompanyons,The Spany­ardes reuēge the death of theyr compa­nyons. Thus stea­lynge on them vnwares in the last watche of the nyght, and encoompasinge the vyllage where they laye, consistynge of a hundreth howses and more, hauynge also in it thryse as ma­ny of theyr neyghbours as of them selues, they set it on fyer, with diligent watche that none myght escape. And thus in shorte tyme they browght theym and theyr howses to asshes, and made them pay the raunsome of bludde with bludde.A greate slawghter. For of a greate multitude of men and women, they spared one­ly syxe chyldren, al other being destroyed with fyer or sword except fewe which escaped priuilye. They lerned by the reser­ued chyldren, that Cossa and his felowes were cutte in pieces and eaten of them that slewe them. By reason wherof, they suppose that these people of Caramairi tooke theyr originall of the Caribes otherwyse cauled Canibales. Canibales. Here they founde sume golde amonge the asshes. For the hunger of golde,The hunger of golde. dyd noo lesse encorage owr men to aduenture these perels and labours [Page 53] then dyd the possessynge of the landes. These thynges thus fynysshed, and the death of Cossa and his felowes reuenged, they returned to the hauen. After this, Fogeda whiche came fyrst, fyrst lykewyse departinge with his army to seeke Vraba, commytted to his gouernaunce, sayled by an Ilande cauled Fortis, The Ilande Fo [...]tis. lyinge in the mydwaye betwene Vraba and the hauen of Carthago. In to the which descendinge, he fownde it to bee an Ilande of the Canybales, brynginge with hym frome thense two men and seuen women: for the residue escaped. Here he fownde in the cotages of them that fledde, a hundrethe foure score and tenne drammes of golde, caste and wrought in dy­uers formes.wrought gold Saylynge forwarde from hense, he came to the Easte coastes of Vraba, whiche thinhabitantes caule Caribana, Caribana. from whense the Caribes or Canibales of the Ilandes are sayde to haue theyr name and originall. Here he beganne to buylde a fortresse, and a vyllage nere vnto the same, therein intendynge to place theyr fyrst habitacion. Shortly after, be­inge instructed by certeyne captyues that there was aboute twelue myles further within the lande, a certeyne vyllage cauled Tirufi, hauinge in it a ryche golde myne,A gold myne. he determyned to destroye the vylage. To the which when he came, he fownde thinhabitantes redye to defende theyr ryght:The Spany­ardes are re­pulsed. And that soo stoutly, that encounteryng with them, he was repulsed with shame and domage. For these people also, vse bowes and ve­nemous arrowes. within a fewe dayes after, beinge enfor­sed for lacke of vytales to inuade an other vyllage, he hym selfe was stryken in the thyghe with an arrowe.Fogeda i [...] wounded. Sume of his felowes say, that he was thus wounded of one of thinhaby­tantes whose wyfe he had ledde awaye captiue before. They say also that he had first frendly comoned with Fogeda for redemynge of his wyfe, & had appoynted a day to brynge a portion of golde for her raunsome:Ransome. And that he came at the daye assigned, not laden with golde, but armed with bowes and arrowes, with eyght other confetherate with hym, whiche had bin before partetakers of the iniuries doone to them first at the hauen of Carthago, and afterward at the burnyng of the vyllage. In reuenge wherof they had desperatly consecrated them selues to death. But the matter beinge knowen, the captayne of this conspiracie was slayne of Fogeda his coompany­ons, and his wyfe deteyned in captiuitie. Fogeda also throwgh [Page] the maliciousnes of the veneme, consumed and was dryed vp by lyttle & lyttle. Whyle these thynges chaunced thus, they espyed Nicuesa the other capitayne to whom Baragua the region of the weste syde of Vraba, Fogeda con­sumeth by force of the Beragua and Uraba. was assigned to inhabite. He gaue wynde to his sayles to take his vyage towarde Beragua, the day after that Fogeda departed owte of the hauen of Car [...]hago. Nicuesa. He with his army which he browght with hym, coasted euer alonge by the shore vntyll he came to the goulfe Coiba, The goulfe Coiba. whose kynges name is Careta. Here he founde theyr language to bee in maner nothynge lyke vnto that of Hispaniola or of the hauen of Carthago: wherby he perceaued that in this tracte there are many languages differinge from theyr owne bortherers.Dyuers lan­guages. Nicue­sa departinge frome Coiba, wente to the prouince or Lieuete­nauntshippe of Fogeda his companion. Within a fewe dayes after he hym selfe enteringe into one of those marchaunt ship­pes whiche the Spanyardes caule Carauelas, commaunded that the bygger vessels, shulde folowe farre behynde. He tooke with hym twoo smaule shyppes commenly cauled bergantines or brygantynes.Bergantines or brigāt [...]nes. I haue thowght it good in all the discourse of these bookes, to vse the common names of thinges, bicause I had rather bee playne then curious: especially forasmuche as there doo dayly aryse manye newe thynges vnknowen to the antiquitie, wherof they haue lefte noo trewe names. Af­ter the departure of Nicuesa, there came a shyppe from Hispanio­la to Fogeda, the capitayne wherof, was one Barnardino de Calauera, Barnardino de [...]. who had stoulne the same from Hispaniola with three score men, withowte leaue or aduice of the Admirall and the other gouernours. With the vytayles whiche this shippe browg [...]t they refresshed theym selues and sumewhat recouered theyr strengthes muche weakened for lacke of meate, Fogeda his companyons whyspered and muttered ageynste hym daylye more and more, that he fedde them furthe with vayne hope. For he had towlde them that he left Ancisus in Hispaniola (whō he chose by the kynges commission to bee a Iudge in causes,Ancisus. bycause he was lerned in the lawe) to coome shortly after him with a shippe laden with vytayles: And that he marueyled that he was not coome many dayes sense. And herein he said nothinge but trewth. For when he departed, he lefte Ancisus halfe redy to folowe hym. But his felowes supposinge that all that he sayde of Ancisus had byn fayned, sume of them de­termyned [Page 54] priuilie to steale away the twoo brigantynes frome Fogeda, and to returne to Hispaniola. But Fogeda hauing know­leage hereof, preuented theyr diuise. For leauynge the custo­die of the fortresse with a certeyne noble gentelman cauled Francisco Pizarro, he hym selfe thus wounded, with a fewe other in his companie, entered into the shyppe wherof we spake be­fore, and sayled directly to Hispaniola, Fogeda re­turneth to hispaniola. both to heale the wound of his thygh if any remedy myght bee found, & also to knowe what was the cause of Ancisus taryinge: Leauing hope with his felowes (which were nowe browght from three hundreth to three score, partly by famyne and partly by warre) that he wolde returne within the space of .xv. dayes:Famyne prescribyng al­so a condition to Pizarro and his companions, that it shulde not bee imputed to them for treason to departe from thense if he came not ageyne at the day appoynted with vytayles and a newe supply of men. These .xv. dayes beinge nowe paste, whereas they coulde yet heare nothynge of Fogeda, and were dayly more and more oppressed with sharpe hunger, they en­tered into the twoo brigantynes which were lefte, and departed from that land. And as they were nowe saylynge on the mayne sea towarde Hispaniola, a tempeste soodeynly arysynge,A brigantine drowned with the stroke of a fyshe. swalowed one of the brygantynes with all that were therein. Sum of theyr felowes affirme that they playnely sawe a fyshe of houge greatenes swymmyng abowte the brygantyne (for those seas brynge furthe greate monsters) and that with a stroke of her tayle, shee broke the rudder of the shyppe in pee­ces: which faylynge, the brigantine beinge dryuen abowt by force of the tempest, was drowned not farre from the Ilande cauled Fortis, The Ilande Fortis. lyinge betwene the coastes of the hauen Carthago and Vraba. As they of the other brygantyne wolde haue lan­ded in the Ilande, they were dryuen backe with the bowes and arrowes of the fierce barbarians. Proceadynge therfore on theyr vyage, they mette by chaunce with Ancisus betweene the hauen of Carthago,Ancisus. and the Region of Cuchibacoa in the mouthe of the ryuer whiche the Spanyardes cauled Boiū gatti, The Region of Cuchiba­coa. Boiū gatti. that is, the house of the catte, bycause they sawe a catte first in that place: and Boium, in the toonge of Hispaniola, is a house. Ancisus came with a shyppe laden with all thynges necessarye, bothe for meate and drynke, and apparell, bryngynge also with hym an other brigantine. This is he for whose comming [Page] the capitayne Fogeda looked for soo longe. He loosed anker from Hispaniola in the Ides of September: And the fourth day after his departure, he espyed certeyne hyghe mountaynes,Mountaynes couered with snowe. the whiche for the abundance of snowe which lyeth continu­ally in the toppes therof, the Spanyardes cauled Serra Neuata, Serra Neuata. when Colonus the fyrst fynder of those Regions passed by the same. The fyfte daye, he sayled by O [...] Draconis. Os Draconis. They whiche were in the brygantyne, towlde Ancisus that Fogeda was returned to Hispaniola. But Ancisus supposing that they had fayned that tale, commaunded them by thautoritie of his commission to turne backe ageyne. The brigantiners obeyed and folowed hym: yet made they humble sute vnto hym that he woolde graunte them that with his fauour they myght eyther goo a­geyne to Hispaniola, or that he hym selfe woolde brynge theim to Nicuesa: And that they woolde for his gentelnes declared towarde them in this behalfe, rewarde hym with twoo thou­sande drammes of golde. For they were ryche in golde, but poore in breade.Riche in gold and pore in breade. But Ancisus assented to neyther of theyr re­questes: affirmynge that he myght by no meanes goo anye o­ther way then to Vraba the prouince assigned to Fogeda. Where vppon, by theyr conduct, he tooke his vyage directly toward Vraba. But nowe let it not seme tedious to yowre holynes to heare of one thyng worthy to bee remembred, which chaunced to this Lieuetenaunt Ancisus as he came thether. For he also cast anker in the coastes of the region of Caramairi whiche wee sayde to bee famous by reason of the hauen of Carthago:The Region of Caramairi and of the goodly stature, strength, and beawty of both men and women beinge in the same. Here he sent certeyne to goo alande on the shore, both to fetche fresshe water, and also to repaire the shippe boate which was sore broosed. In this meane tyme A greate multitude of the people of the countrey armed after theyr maner,Feare on both partes. came aboute owre men as they were occupied abowte theyr busynes, and stoode in a redynes to feight, for the space of three dayes contynually: durynge whiche tyme, neyther durst they set vppon owre men, nor owre men assayle them. Thus bothe parties keepynge theyr arraye, stoode styl three hole dayes the one gasynge on the other. Yet all this tyme owre men applyed theyr woorke, placinge the shippe­wrightes in the myddeste of theyr armye.Ship w [...]ygh­tes. As they stoode thus amased, twoo of owre coompanye wente to fyll theyr water [Page 55] pottes at the mouthe of the ryuer nere vnto them both, where soodenly there came furthe ageynste them a capitayne of the barbarians with ten armed men which inclosed them, & with terrible countenaunce bent theyr arrowes ageynste them, but shotte theym not of. One of owre men fledde: but the other remayned, caulynge his felowe ageyne and rebukynge hym for his fearefulnes. Then he spake to the barbarians in their owne language which he had lerned beinge conuersant with the captiues that were caryed from thense longe before. They marueylynge to here a straunger speake in their natiue tonge, put of theyr fiercenes and fell to frendly communication, de­maundinge who were the capitaynes of that coompanie whi­che were arryued in theyr lande. He answered that they were strangers passyng by: And that he marueyled why they wold attempte to dryue them from theyr coastes and disturbe theyr shyppes: arguinge theim of follye and crueltie, and further threatinge their ruine and destruction, except they woold vse them selues more frendely towarde them. For hee aduertised them that there wolde shortly coome into theyr lande armed men, in nōber lyke to the sandes of the sea: And that to theyrter destruction, not only if they resysted them not, but also excepte they receaued them and enterteyned them honorably. In the meane tyme Ancisus was enformed that his men were de­teyned. Wherefore suspectinge sume deceate, he browght furth al his target men for feare of theyr venemous arrowes:The vse of targettes a­genst vene­mous ar­rowes. And settinge them in battell arraye, he marched forwarde to­warde them which steyed his men. But he which communed with the barbarians, gyuinge him a signe with his hande to procede noo further, he steyed. And cauling to hym the other, he knewe that all was safe. For the barbarians profered him peace, bycause they were not they whom they suspected them to haue byn: meanynge by Fogeda and Nicu [...]sa, who had spoy­led the vyllage standinge there by the sea syde, and caryed a­way many captiues, and also burnte an other vyllage further within the lande. And therefore (as they sayde) the cause of theyr comminge thether, was to reuenge those iniuries, if by any meanes they coulde.The barbari­an [...] haue res­pect to iustice Yet that they woolde not exercyse theyr weapons ageynste the innocente. For they sayde it was vngodly to feyght ageynst any, not beinge prouoked.

Layinge a parte therefore theyr bowes and arrowes, they [Page] enterteyned owre men gentelly, and gaue them greate plentie of salted fysshe and breade of theyr contrey:Salted fi [...]he. And fylled theyr vessels with syder made of theyr contrey frutes and seedes,wyne of fr [...]t [...]s and see [...]es. not inferiour to wyne in goodnes. Thus Ancisus hauinge en­tered into frendshyp and made a league of peace with thinha­bitantes of Caramairi whiche were before sore prouoked by o­ther capitaynes, he lanched from that lande, and directed his course to Vraba by the Ilande Fortis, Vr [...]a. hauinge in his shippe a hundreth and fyftie fresshe men whiche were substitute in the place of suche as were deade. Also twelue mates, and manye swine, and other beastes both males and females for increase. Lykewyse,Art [...]ller [...]e. fyftie pieces of ordinaunce, with a greate multy­tude of targettes, swoordes, iauelyns, and suche other wea­pons for the warres. But all this with euyl speede and in an euyll houre. For as they were euen nowe enteringe into the hauen,Ancisus ship w [...]acke. the gouernour of the shippe which satte at the helme, stroke the shyppe vppon the sandes, where it was soo fast en­closed, and beaten with the waues of the sea, that it opened in the myddes [...]e, and al lost that was therin. A thynge surely miserable to beholde. For of all the vytayles that they had, they saued onely twelue barels of meale, with a fewe chieses, and a lyttle bysket breade.Meale. chee­ [...]es, & bysket. For al the beastes were drowned: And they them selues scaped hardly and halfe naked by helpe of the brigantine & ship boate, caryeng with them only a fewe weapons. Thus they fell from one calamitie into an other, beinge nowe more carefull for theyr lyues then for golde. Yet beinge browght alyue and in health to that land which they soo greatly desyred, they coulde doo noo lesse then to prouide for the susteynynge of theyr bodyes, bycause they coulde not lyue onely by ayer. And wheras theyr owne fayled, they must needes lyue by other mens. Yet amonge these soo many aduersities, one good chaunce offered it selfe vnto them. For they founde, not farre from the sea syde, a groue of date trees,A groue of date trees. a­monge the which, & also amonge the reke or weedes of the maryshes, they espyed a multitude of wylde bores,wylde bores. with whose fleshe they fed the selues wel certeine dayes. These they say to bee lesse then owres: And with soo shorte tayles, that they thought they had byn cutte of. They dyffer also from owres in theyr feete: for theyr hynder feete are hole vndiuided, and also withowte any houfe. But they affirme that they haue [Page 56] proued by experience theyr flesshe to bee of better taste & more holsoome then owres. Durynge this tyme, they fedde also of dates and the rotes of younge date trees, which they eate like wyse in Ciuile and Granata where they caule them Palmitos, of the leaues wherof they make biesomes in Rome. Sumetymes also, they eate of the appels of that Region,Apples of a strange kynd whiche haue the taste of prunes, and haue also stones in them, and are but lyt­tle and of redde coloure. I suppose them to bee of that kynde wherof I eate in the citie of Alexandria in Egypt in the moneth of Aprell: The trees wherof, the Iewes that dwel there, beinge lerned in the lawe of Moyses, affirme to bee the Ceders of Libane,Ceders of Libane. which beare owlde fruites and newe all the yeare as dothe the orange tree. These apples are good to bee eaten, and haue a certeyne sweetnes myxte with a gentell sharpnes, as haue the frutes cauled Sorbes. Sorbes are cauled in french Cou [...] er they grow not in Eng­lande. Thinhabitantes plant these trees in theyr orchyardes and garedens, and nooryshe theym with greate diligence as wee doo cheries, peaches, and quyn­ses. This tree in leaues, heyght, and trunke, is verye lyke vnto the tree that beareth the frute cauled Zizipha, which the Apothecaries caule Iuiuba. But wheras now the wylde bores beganne to faile them, they were ageyne enforced to consulte and prouyde for the tyme to coome. Where vppon with theyr hole army, they entered further into the land. The Canibales of this prouince, are moste experte archers.The frute cauled [...]i [...]i­pha or Iuiuba Canibales. Ano [...]sus had in his coompany, a hundreth men. They mette by the way with only three men of thinhabitantes, naked,Men of des­perat bold­nes. and armed with bowes and venemous arrowes, who without al feare, assayled owr men fiercely, wounded manye, and slewe manye: And when they had emptied theyr quyuers, fledde as swyftely as the wynde: For (as we haue sayde) they are excedynge swyfte of foote by reason of theyr loose goinge frome theyr chyldes age They affirme that they lette slyppe no arrowe owte of theyr bowes in vayne. Owre men therfore returned the same waye that they came, much more infortunate then they were before and consulted amonge them selues to leaue that lande: espe­cyally because thinhabitantes had ouerthrowne the fortresse which Fogeda buylded, and had burnte thirtie houses of the vyllage, as soone as Pizarrus and his company lefte of Fogeda, had forsaken the lande. By this occasion therefore, beinge dryuen to seeke further, they had intelligence that the weste [Page] syde of that goulfe of Vraba, The goulfe of Uraba. was more frutefull and better to inhabite. Wherfore, they sent the one halfe of theyr men thi­ther with the brigantine, and lefte the other nere to the sea syde on the easte p [...]rt. This goulfe, is .xxiiii. myles in bredth: And howe muche the further it entereth into the firme lande, it is soo muche the narower. Into the goulfe of Vraba, there faule many ryuers: but one (as they say) more fortunate then the ryuer of Nilus in Egypte. This ryuer is cauled Darien,:The great ryuer of Dariē, fauleth into the goulfe of Uraba. vp­pon the bankes whereof, beinge verye frutefull of trees and grasse, they entended to playnte their newe colonie or habita­cion. But thinhabitantes maruelynge at the brygantine be­inge bygger then theyr canoas, and specially at the sayles therof, fyrst sente away theyr chyldren and weakeste sorte of theyr people with theyr baggage and housholde stuffe, and as­sembled all suche togyther bothe men and women, as were meete for the warres: Thus beinge armed with weapons and desperate myndes, they stoode in a redynes to feight, and ta­ryed the comminge of owre men vppon a lyttle hyl, as it were to take thaduantage of the grounde. Owre men iudged them to bee aboute fyue hundreth in nomber. Then Ancisus the ca­pitayne of owre men, and Lieuetenaunt in the steede of Fogeda, settinge his men in order of battayle array, and with his hole coompany kneelinge on his knees, they al made humble pray­ers to god for the victorie, and a vowe to the Image of the blessed virgin whiche is honoured in Ciuile,Prayer and vowes. by the name of Sancta Maria Antiqua, promysinge to sende her manye golden gyf­tes and a straunger of that contrey: also to name the vyllage Sancta Maria Antiqua after her name: lykewyse to [...]erecte a temple cauled by the same name: or at the leaste to dedicate the king of that prouince his palaice to that vse, if it shulde please her to assiste them in this daungerous enterpryse. This doone, al the souldiers tooke an othe,The souldi­ers make an othe. that noo man shulde turne his backe to his enemies. Then the capytayne commaundinge them to bee in a redines with theyr targets and iauelens, and the trumpyter to blowe the battayle, they fiercely a [...]sayled theyr enemyes with a larome. But the naked barbarians, not longe able to abyde the force of owre men, were putte to flyght,The barba­rians are dryuen to flight. with theyr kynge and capitayne Cemaccus. Owre men entered into the vyllage, where they fownde plentie of meate suche as the people of the contrey vse, sufficiente to assuage [Page 57] theyr present hunger, as breade made of rootes, with certeine fruites vnlyke vnto owres, whiche they reserue for store as wee doo chestnuttes.Chestnuttes. Of these people, the men are vtterly na­ked: but the women from the nauell downewarde, are coue­red with a fyne clothe made of gossampine cotton. This Re­gion is vtterly withowte any sharpenes of wynter. For the mouthe of this ryuer of Darien, is onlye eyght degrees distante from the Equinoctiall lyne:The ryuer of Darien, but viii. degrees from the Equinoctial. So that the commone sorte of owre men, scarsely perceaue anye difference in lengthe betwene the day and nyght all the hole yeare. But bycause they are igno­rant in astronomie, they can perceaue noo smaule difference. Therfore wee neede not much passe if the degree do differ sum what from theyr opinion, for asmuche as the difference can not bee greate. The day after that they arryued at the lande▪ they sayled alonge by the ryuer, where they founde a greate thicket of reedes continuinge for the space of a myle in length supposing (as it chaunced in deede) that the bortherers there aboute which had fledde, had eyther lyne lurkynge there, or els to haue hyd theyr stuffe amonge those reedes: Where vp­pon, armynge them selues with theyr targettes,Golde founde in a thicket of reedes. for feare of the people lyinge in ambusshe, they searched the thicket dily­gently, and founde it withowte men, but replenyshed with householde st [...]ffe and golde. They fownde also a great multi­tude of sheetes, made of the sylke or cotton of the gossampine tree.Sheetes of gossampine. Lykewyse dyuers kyndes of vessels and tooles made of woodde, and many of earth: Also many breste plates of gold and ouches wrought after theyr maner,Breste plates of golde. to the sum of a hun­dreth and twoo pounde weight. For they also take pleasure in the bewtie of gold, and worke it very artificially, although it bee not the price of thynges amonge them as with vs. They haue it owte of other Regions for exchaunge of such thynges as theyr contrey bringeth furthe. For suche Regions as haue plentie of breade and gossampine, lacke golde: And suche as brynge furth golde, are for the most parte rowght with mon­taynes and rockes, and therfore baren.The golden Reg [...]on [...] are for the moste pa [...]te baren. And thus they exer­cise marchandies withowte the vse of money. Reioysing therfore with double gladdenes, aswell in that they sawe greate lykenes of golde, as also that fortune hadde offered them soo fayre and frutefull a contrey, they sent for theyr felowes whō they hadde lefte before in the easte syde of the goulfe of Vraba, [Page] Yet sume saye that the ayer is there vnholsome, bycause that parte of the Region lyethe in a lowe valley enuironed with mountaynes and marysshes.

¶ The seconde booke of the seconde decade, of the supposed continente.

I Haue described to yowre holynes where Fo­geda with his coompany (to whome the large tractes of Vraba was assigned to inhabite) intended to fasten there foote.Fogeda, the Lieuetenaunt of Uraba. Lette vs nowe therfore leaue them of Vraba for a whyle, and returne ageyne to Nicuesa to whom the gouer­naunce and Lieuetenaunteshippe of the moste large prouince of Beragua (beinge the weste syde of the goulfe of Vraba) was appoynted.Nicuesa the Lieuetenaunt of Beragua. We haue declared howe Nicuesa departinge with one carauell and twoo brigantines frome Vraba the iurisdiction of his frende and companyon Fogeda, directed his course westwarde to Beragua, leauinge the bygger shippes sumewhat behynde hym,Nicuesa loste his felowes in the night. to folowe hym a farre of. But he tooke this diuise in an euyll howre. For he bothe loste his fe­lowes in the nyght, and went past the mouth of the ryuer of Beragua, which he chiefely sowght. One Lupus Olanus a Can­tabrian,Lupus Olanus and gouernoure of one of the greate shippes, had the conducte of one of the brigantines. He commynge behynde, lerned of thinhabitantes which was the waye Eastewarde to the goulfe of Beragua ouer passed and lefte behynde of Nicuesa. Olanus therfore directinge his course towarde the Easte, mette with the other brigantine which had also wandered owte of the way by reason of the darkenes of the nyght. The gouer­nour of this brigantine, was one Petrus de Vmbria. Petrus de vmbria Thus bothe beinge gladde of theyr meetinge, they consulted what was best to bee doone, and which way they coulde coniecture their gouernour had taken his vyage.The capitay­nes consu [...]te where to find theyr lost go­uernour. After deliberation, they iudged that Nicuesa could no more lacke sum to put him in remem­beraunce of Beragua, then they them selues were myndful ther­of, hopynge also to fynde hym there. They sayled therefore towarde Beragua: where they founde within .xvi. myles dy­stant, a ryuer which Colonus named Lagartos, bycause it noo­ryshethe greate lysardes whiche in the Spanysshe toonge are [Page 58] cauled Lagartos. The ryuer Lagartos. These lysertes are hurtfull bothe to man and beaste, and in shape muche lyke vnto the Crocodiles of the ry­uer of Nilus in Egypte. In this ryuer, they founde theyr companyons and felowes of theyr erroure lyinge at anker with the greate shippes which folowed behynde by the gouernours commaundement. Here the hole assemble beinge carefull and disquieted by reason of the gouernours erroure, after consul­tacion, by thaduise of the capitaynes of the brigantines, who had rased nere vnto the coastes of Beragua, they sayled direct­ly thether. Beragua, in the language of thinhabitantes of the same prouince, is as much to saye, as the golden ryuer.The golden ryuer of Be­ragua. The region it selfe is also cauled by the same name, takynge name of the ryuer. In the mouth of this ryuer, the greatest vessels cast anker, and conueighed al theyr vytailes and other neces­saries to lande with theyr shippe boates: and elected Lupus O­lanus to bee theyr gouernour in the steede of Nicuesa whom they had loste. By thaduice therfore of Olanus and the other vnder capitaynes, that all hope of departure myght bee taken from the souldiers which they had nowe browght thether, and to make them the more wyllinge to inhabite that land, they vt­terly forsooke and caste of those shyppes beinge nowe rotten for age, and suffered them to bee shaken and broosed of the surges of the sea. Yet of theyr soundeste plankes, with other newe, made of the trees of that Region (which they say to be excedinge bygge and hygh) they framed a newe carauel short­ly after, whiche they myght vse to serue for theyr necessitie. But Beragua was founde by the vnfortunate destenie of Petrus de Vmbria. The enter­prise & death of Petrus de Umbria. For he, beinge a man of prompt wytte and apt for­wardenes to attempte thynges (in whiche sumetyme fortune wyll beare a stroke notwithstandinge owre prouidence) tooke vpon hym thaduenture to searche the shore to thintent to find a waye for his felowes where they myght beste coome alande. For this purpose, he chose hym twelue maryners, and wente aboorde the shippe boate whiche serued the greateste shyppes. The flowinge of the sea, raged and rored there, with a horri­ble whurlinge as wee reede of the daungerous place of Scylla in the sea of Scicilie,The daunge­rous place of Scilla in the sea of Cicilie. by reason of the houge and ragged roc­kes reachyng into the sea, from which the waues rebounding with violence, make a greate noyse and rowghnes on the water, whiche rowghnes or reflowinge, the Spanyardes caule [Page] Resacca. In these daungers wretched Vmbria wresteled a while. But in shorte space, a waue of the sea almoste as bygge as a mountayne, reboundinge from the rockes, ouerwhelmed the boate and deuoured the same with the men, euen in the sight of theyr felowes: So that of them all, onely one escaped by reason he was experte in swymmynge.Swymminge For gettinge holde of the corner of a rocke, and susteynynge the rage of the sea vntyll the nexte daye when it wexed caulme, and the shore was drye by the faule of the water, he escaped and resorted to his coompanye. But Vmbria with the other eleuen, were vtterlye caste away. The resydue of the coompany, durst not commite them selues to the shippe boates, but went alande with theyr brigantines. Where remaynynge a fewe dayes, and saylinge alonge by the ryuer, they founde certeyne vyllages of thinhabitantes, which they caule Mumu. Here they beganne to build a fortresse, and to sowe seedes after the maner of theyr coun­trey, in a certeyne vale of frutefull grownde, bicause in other places the region is baren. As these thynges were thus doo­inge in Beragua, one of their coompanye standynge vppon the toppe of a hyghe rocke of especiall, and lyftynge his eyes to­warde the Weste, beganne to crye, Lynnyn sayles, lynnyn say­les. And the nerer it drewe towarde hym, he perceaued it to bee a shyppe boate comminge with a lyttle sayle. Yet receaued they it with muche reioysinge: for it was the fyssher boate of Nicuesa his carauele,The fyssher boate of Ni­cuesa his ca­rauele. and of capacitie to carye onely fyue men, and had nowe but three in it, which had stoulne it from Nicuesa bycause he refused to gyue credit to theim that he had pas­sed Beragua, and lefte it behynde hym Eastwarde. For they se­inge Nicuesa and his felowes to consume dayely by famynne, thowght they woolde proue fortune with that boate, if their chaunce myght bee to fynde Beragua, as in deede it wss. De­batinge therefore with theyr felowes, of these matters, they declared howe Nicuesa erred and loste the carauele by tempest,The misera­ble case of Nicuesa. and that he was nowe wanderinge amonge the marysshes of vnknowen coastes, full of myserie and in extreeme penurie of all thynges, hauinge nowe lyued for the space of three score and tenne dayes, only with herbes and rootes, and syldoome with frutes of the countrey, contented to drinke water, and yet that often tymes faylynge, bycause he was instant to tra­uayle westwarde by foote, supposing by that meanes to come [Page 59] to Beragua. Colonus the fyrste fynder of this mayne lande, had coasted alonge by this tracte, and named it Gratia Dei: but the inhabitantes caule it Cerabaro. The Region of Gratia Dei or Cerabaro. Throwghe this Region, there runneth a ryuer which owre men named Sancti Matthei, The ryuer of Sancti Mat­thei. distante from the weste syde of Beragua aboute a hundrethe and thirtie myles. Here I lette passe the name of this ryuer, and of ma­nye other places by the names which thinhabitantes vse, by­cause owre men are ignorant thereof. Thus Lupus Olanus the conductor of one of the shippes of Nicuesa, and nowe also vice Leauetenaunt in his steede, after that he hadde receaued this information of the maryners, sente thether a brigantine vn­der theyr guydynge, these maryners therfore, which came in the fyssher boate, founde Nicuesa, The rigo­rousnes of Nicuesa. and browght hym to the place where Olanus laye, whome at his commynge he caste in pryson, and accused hym of treason bycause he vsurped thau­toritie of the Lieuetenauntshippe, and that for the desyre he had to beare rule and bee in autoritie, he tooke no care of his errours: also that he behaued hym selfe negligently: demaundinge further more of hym, what was the cause of his soo longe delay. Lykewyse he spake to al the vnder officers sharplye and with a troubled mynde: And within fewe dayes after commaunded them to trusse vp theyr packes, and make them redye to departe. They desyred hym to quyet hym selfe, and to forbeare them a while vntyl they had reaped the corne that they had sowne, which wolde shortly bee rype. For all kynd of corne waxeth rype there euery fourth moonethe after it is sowne.Come wa [...]eth rype euery fourth month But he vtterly denyed to tarye and whytte: but that he woolde foorthwith departe from that vnfortunate lande: And plucked vp by the rootes al that euer was browght into the goulfe of Beragua, and commaunded them to directe theyr course towarde the Easte. After they had sayled aboute the space of .xvi. myles, a certeyne younge man whose name was Gregorie, a Genues borne, and of a chylde browght vp with Colonus, The commendacion of a younge man browght vp with Colonus cauled to rememberance that there was a hauen not farre frome thense: And to proue his sayinge trewe, he gaue his felowes these tokens: that is, that they shulde fynde vp­pon the shore, an anker of a loste shyppe halfe couered with sande: And vnder a tree nexte vnto the hauen, a sprynge of cleere water. They came to the lande: founde the anker and the sprynge, and commended the wytte and memorye of the [Page] younge man, that he only amonge many of the marynes whi­che had searched those coastes with Colonus, bore the thynge soo well in mynde. This hauen, Colonus cauled Portus Bellus. Portus Bellus. Wheras in this vyage for lacke of vytayles they were sume­tymes enforced to goo alande, they were euel entreated of the inhabitantes. By reason wherof, theyr strengthes were soo wekened with hūger,weakenes of hunger. that they were not able to keepe warre ageynst naked men, or scarsely to beare theyr harnes on their backes. And therfore owre men loste twentie of theyr coom­panie, which were slayne with venemous arrowes. They consulted to leaue the one halfe of theyr felowes in the hauen of Portus Bellus: And the other parte Nicu [...]sa tooke with hym to­warde the Easte: where abowte twentie and eyght myles frō Portus Bellus, he intended to buylde a fortresse harde by the sea syde vppon the poynte or cape which in tyme paste Colonus na­med Marmor. Cap Marmor. But they were soo feeble by reason of longe hunger, that theyr strength serued them not to susteyne suche la­boure. Yet he erected a lyttle towre able to resyst the fyrst as­saute of the inhabitantes. This towre he cauled Nomen Dei. Nomen Dei. From the tyme that he left Beragua, what in the iorney amonge the sandie playnes, then also for hunger whyle he buylded the towre,Nicuesa his men cōsumed of the fewe which remayned a lyue, he loste twoo hundreth. And thus by lyttle and lyttle, the multitude of se­uen hundreth foure score and fyue men, was nowe browght to scarsely one hundreth. Whyle Nicuesa lyued with these few miserable men, there arose a contētion amonge them of Vraba, Contencion about the lieuetenauntship of Uraba. as concerninge the Lieuetenantshippe. For one Vaschus Nunnez, Ua [...]chus Nunnez moneth sedition. by the iudgemente of all men, trustynge more to his strengthe then wytte, stoured vp certeyne lyght felowes ageynst Ancisus, sayinge that Ancisus had not the kynges letters patentes for that office: And that it was not sufficient that he was auto­rised by Fogeda. Ancisus lieuetenaunt for Fogeda. And therfore forbodde that he shulde execute the office of the Lieuetenaunteshippe: And wylled theym to chuse certeyne of theyr owne coompanye, by whose coun­sayle and authoritie they myght bee gouerned.

Thus beinge diuided into factions by reason that Fogeda, their capitayne came not ageyne, whom they supposed to bee nowe deade of his venemous wounde, they contended whether it were beste to substitute Nicuesa in his place. The wyseste sorte suche as were famylier with Nicuesa, and coulde not beare thinsolencie [Page 60] of Vaschus Nunnez, thowght it good that Nicuesa shuld bee,Nicu [...]sa. sowght owt throwgh owt all those coastes. For they had knoweledge that he departed from Beragua bycause of the ba­rennes of the grounde: And that by thexemple of Ancisus, and suche other as had made shippewracke, it were possible that he might wander in sume secreate place: And that they coulde not be quiete in theire myndes vntyll they knewe the certētie, whether he with his felowes were alyue or deade. But Vas­chus Nunnez, fearinge leaste at the commyng of Nicuesa he shulde not bee had in autoritie emonge his felowes, sayde they were mad men to thinke that Nicuesa lyued: And althowgh he were alyue, yet that they hadde noo neade of his helpe. For he auouched that there was none of his felowes, that were not as meete to rule as Nicuesa. While they were thus reasonynge too and froo, one Rodericus Colmenaris arryued in those coastes with two greate shippes hauinge in theym three score fresshe men,Rodericus Col­menaris. with greate plentie of vitailes and apparel. Of the na­vigation of this Colmenaris, The nauiga­tion of Rode­ricus Colme­naris. I intende to speake sumewhat more. He therfore departed from the hauen of Hispaniola cauled Beata (where they prepare and furnysshe theym selues whiche make any viage into these landes) aboute the Ides of Oc­tober in the yeare .1510: And landed the .ix. of Nouember in a Region in the large prouince of Paria founde by Colonus betwene the hauen Carthago and the Region of Cuchibachoa. Cuchibacoa. In this viage what by the rowghnes of the sea & fiercenes of the barbariās, he suffered many incommodities. For when his fresshe water fayled, he sayled to the mouthe of a certeyne riuer which thinhabitantes caule Gaira, The ryuer Gaira. beinge apte to receaue shippes. This ryuer had his course from the toppe of an exceadinge hyghe mountayne couered with snowe,An exceding hygh moun­tayne coue­red with snowe. hygher then the which, all the coompanyons of this capitayne Rodericus, saye that they ne­uer sawe. And that by good reason, yf it were couered wyth snowe in that Region which is not past ten degrees distante from the Equinoctial lyne. As they beganne to drawe water owt of their shippeboate, a certeyne Kynge made towarde theym appareled with vestures of gossampine cotton, hauinge twen­tie noble men in his coompanye appareled also:Appareled men. Whyche thinge seemed straunge to owre men, and not seene before in those parties. The Kinges apparell, hunge loose from his shoulders to his elbowes: And from the ge [...]dle downewarde, [Page] it was muche like a womans kertle, reachinge euen to his heeles. As he drewe neere towarde owre men, he seemed frendly to admonysshe theym to take none of the water of that ryuer, affirminge it to bee vnholsome for men: And shewed theym that not farre from thense, there was a ryuer of good water. They came to the ryuer. And endeuouringe to coome nere rhe shore, they were dryuen backe by tempeste. Also the burbulinge of the sande, declared the sea to bee but shalowe there. They were therefore enforced to returne to the fyrste ryuer where they myght safely caste anker. This Kinge layde wayte for owre men. For as they were fyllinge theire barrelles, he set on theym with abowt seuen hundreth men (as owre men iud­ged) armed after theire maner, althowgh they were naked. For only the kynge and his noble men were appareled. They tooke away the shippeboate, and brooke it in maner to chips: soo fiercely assylynge owre menne with theyr venemous ar­rowes,Seuen and forty Spany­ardes are s [...]aine with venemous arrowes. that they slewe of them fortie and seuen beefore they coulde couer them selues with theyr targettes. For that poy­son is of such force, that albeit the woundes were not great, yet they dyed therof immediatly. For they yet knewe noo re­medie ageynste this kynde of poyson,Ierua. A remedy a­genste vene­mous arrows as they after lerned of thinhabitantes of Hispaniola. For this Ilande bringeth foorth an herbe which quencheth and mortifieth the violent poyson of the herbe wherewith theyr arrowes are infected, soo that it bee ministred in tyme. Yet of owre coompany whiche went for water, seuen escaped that conflicte, and hyd them selues in a hollowe tree,Seuen men left behynde. lurkynge there vntyll nyght. Yet escaped they not the handes of theyr enemyes. For the shippe depar­ted from thense in the nyght season and lefte them there, sup­posinge that they had byn slayne. Thus by manye▪ suche pe­rels and daungers (which I lyghtly ouerpasse bicause I wyl not bee tedious to yowre holynes) he arryued at the length at the hauen of Vraba, The hauen of Uraba. and cast anker at the easte syde therof, frō whense not longe before, owre men departed to the west syde by reason of the barennes of that soyle. When he had conty­nued a whyle in the hauen, and sawe noo man stourynge, marueylinge at the silence of the places (for he supposed there to haue fowunde his felowes) he coulde not couiecture what this shulde meane: and there vppon beganne to suspecte that eyther they were deade, or that they had chaunged the place [Page 61] of theyr habitacion. To knowe the certentie hereof, he com­maunded all the greate ordinaunce and other smaule gunnes which he had in his shippes, to bee charged: And fyers to bee made in the nyght vppon the toppes of the rockes. Thus the fyers beinge kyndeled, he commaunded all the gunnes to bee shotte of at one instante: by the horrible noyse whereof, the goulfe of Vraba was shaken,The gou [...]fe of Uraba. althowghe it were .xxiiii. myles distante: for soo brode is the goulfe. This noyse was harde of theyr felowes in Dariena: Dariena. And they aunswered them ageyne with mutual fyers. Wherfore, by the folowynge of these fy­ers, Colmenaris browght his shippes to the Weste syde. Here those wretched and miserable men of Dariena which nowe tho rowgh famen and feeblenes helde theyr wery sowles in theyr teethe redy to departe from theyr bodies by reason of the calamities which beefell vnto them after Ancisus shippewracke,Famen. lyftinge vp theyr handes to heauen, with the teares runnynge downe theyr cheekes bothe for ioye and sorowe, embrased Rodericus and his felowes with such kynde of reioysinge as their presente necessitie seemed to requyre. For whereas they were before his comminge, withowte vytayles and almoste naked, he brought them abundance of meate, drynke, and apparell. It restethe nowe (moste holy father) to declare what came of the dissention amonge them of Vraba, what became of the contencion of Uraba as concernynge the go­uernaunce after the losse of theyr capitaynes.

¶ The thyrde booke of the seconde Decade of the supposed continent.

ALl the chiefe officers in Beragua, Beragua. and such as were most politike in counsayle, determyned that Nicuesa shulde bee sowght owte if by a­ny meanes he coulde bee founde. Where vp­pon they tooke from Ancisus the gouernoure refusinge the commynge of Nicuesa, a brygantyne whiche he made of his owne charges: And agreed, ageynst bothe the wyll of Ancisus, and the master of fence Vaschus Nunnez, that Nicuesa shulde bee sowght foorthe to take away the stryfe as touchinge the gouernement.Nicuesa is sought foorth They elected therfore Colmenaris (of whom we spake before) to take this matter in hande: wyllynge hym to make diligent search [Page] for Nicuesa in those coastes where they supposed he erred. For they harde that he had forsaken Beragua, the region of an vn­frutefull grounde. They gaue hym therfore commaundement to brynge Nicuesa with hym, and further to declare vnto hym that he shulde doo ryght good seruice to coome thether, in ta­kyng away thoccasion of theyr seditions. Colmenaris tooke the thynge vppon hym the more gladly bycause Nicuesa was his very frende: Supposinge that his commynge with vytayles shulde bee noo lesse thankefull to Nicuesa and his coompanie, then it was to them of Vraba. Furnysshynge therefore one of his owne shippes whiche he browght with hym and also the brigantyne taken frome Ancisus, he frayghted the same with part of the vytayles and other necessaries which he browght with hym before from Hispaniola to Vraba. Thus coursynge a­longe by all the coastes and goulfes nere there abowte, at the length at the poynte cauled Marmor, he founde Nicuesa, Nicuesa is founde in a miserable case. of all lyuynge men most infortunate, in maner dryed vppe with ex­treeme hunger, fylthye and horrible to beholde, with onely three score men in his company, lefte alyue of seuen hundreth. They al seemed to hym soo miserable, that he noo lesse lamented theyr case, then yf he had founde them deade. But Colme­naris conforted his frende Nicuesa: and embrasinge hym with teares and cherefull woordes, relyued his spirites, and fur­ther encoraged hym with greate hope of better fortune: declarynge also that his commynge was looked for and greatelye desyred of al the good men of Vraba, for that they hoped that by his autoritie, theyr discorde and contention shulde bee fy­nysshed. Nicuesa thanked his frende Colmenaris. after such sorte as his calamitie requyred. Thus they tooke shyppe to gyther, and sayled directly to Vraba. But so variable and vnconstant is the nature of man, that he soone groweth owte of vse, be­commeth insolente and vnmyndful of benefites after to much felicitie.In [...]olencie of to much felicitie. For Nicuesa, after thus many teares and weepynges after dyuers bewaylinges of his infortunate desteny, after so many thankes geuynge, ye after that he had faulen downe to the grounde and kyssed the feete of Colmenaris his sauioure, he beganne to quarel with hym before he came yet at Vraba, reprouinge hym and them all for thalteracion of the state of thyn­ges in Vraba, and for the gatheringe of golde: Affirming that none of them owght to haue layde hande of any golde with [Page 62] owte the aduice of hym or of Fogeda his coompanion. When these sayinges and suche lyke, came to the eares of theym of Vraba, they soo stoured vp the myndes of Ancisus Lieuetenaunte for Fogeda, and also of Vaschus Nunnez, of the contrary parte, a­geinste Nicuesa, Nicuesa fau­leth from one miserie into an other. that shortely after his arryuall with his three score men, they commaunded hym with threatenynge to de­parte frō thense. But this pleased not the better sort. Yet fea­rynge least tumult shulde bee amonge the people whom Vaschus Nunnez had stered to factions, the best parte was fayne to giue place to the greatest.The greatest part ouercommeth the best This wretched man therfore Nicuesa thus drowned in miseries, was thruste into the brigantyne whiche he hym selfe browght: and with hym only seuentene men, of his three score which remayned alyue. He tooke shyppe in the Calendes of Marche in the yeare .1511. intendynge to goo to Hispaniola to coomplayne of the rasshenes of Vaschus Nunnez, and of the violence doone to hym by Ancisus. The death of Nicuesa. But he entered into the brigantine in an vnfortunate houre: for he was neuer seene after. They suppose that the brigantine was drowned with all the men therin. And thus vnhappie Nicuesa faulynge headlonge owte of one miserye into an other, ended his lyfe more myserablye then he lyued. Nicuesa beinge thus vylely re­iected,Famen enfor­seth them to faule to spoy­lynge. & al theyr vytayles consumed which Colmenaris browght them, faulynge in maner madde for hunger, they were enfor­ced lyke raueninge woolues seakynge theyr praye, to inuade suche as dwelte abowte theyr confynes. Vas [...]hus Nunnez there­fore,Uaschus vsurpeth thautorit [...]e of the Lieuetenant­shippe. theyr newe capitayne of theyr owne election, assembling togyther a hundreth and thirtie men, and settinge them in order of battell after his swoordeplayers fasshion, puffed vppe with pryde, placed his souldiers as pleased hym in the fore­warde and rereward, and sume as pertisens abowt his owne person. Thus associatinge with hym Colmenaris, he wente to spoyle the kynges which were bortherers there abowte, and came fyrst to a Region abowte that coaste, cauled Coiba, (wherof we made mencion before) imperiously and with cruel coun­tenaunce commaundinge the kynge of the region whose name was Careta, Careta, k [...]nge of Coiba. (of whome they were neuer troubled as often as they passed by his dominions) to gyue them vytayles. But Careta denyed that he coulde gyue them any at that tyme: al­leagyng that he had oftentymes ayded the Christians as they passed by those coastes: by reason wherof his store was nowe [Page] consumed: Also that by the meanes of the contynuall warre which he kepte euer from his chyldes age with a kyng whose name is Poncha, bortheringe vppon his dominion, he and his famelie were in greate scarsenes of all thynges. But Vaschus woolde admytte none of these excuses: And thervppon tooke Careta prisoner,kynge Careta is taken and spoyled. spoyled his vyllage, and browght hym bownd with his twoo wyues and chyldren and all his famelie to Dariena. With this kynge Careta, they founde three of the felowes of Nicuesa, the whiche when Nicuesa passed by those coastes to seeke Beragua, fearynge punysshement for theyr euyll desertes stoule away from the shyppes lyinge at anker: And when the nauie departed, commytted them selues to the mercie of Careta, who enterteyned them very frendely. They had nowe bynne there .xviii. moonethes, and were therefore as vtterly naked as the people of the contrey. Duringe this tyme, the meate of thinhabitances seemed vnto them delicate di [...]shes and prince­ly fare:hunger is the best sauce. especially bycause they enioyed the same withowte a­ny stryfe for myne and thyne,Wyne & thine the seedes of al mischefe. which twoo thynges moue and enforce men to such harde shyftes and miseries, that in lyuing they seeme not to lyue. Yet desyred they to returne to theyr owlde cares, of su [...]he force is education and natural effection towarde them with whom we haue byn browght vp. The vytayles whiche Vaschus browght frome the vyllage of Careta to his felowes lefte in Dariena, was rather sumewhat to assuage theyr present hunger, and vtterly to take away theyr necessi­tie. But as touchinge Anc [...]sus beinge Lieuetenaunt for Fogeda, Ancisus, lieuetenaunt for Fogeda is cast in prison. whether it were before these thynges or after, I knowe not. But this I am sure of, that after the reiectinge of Nicu [...]sa, many occasions were sought agenst Ancisus by Vascus and his fac­tionaries. Howe soo euer it was, Ancisus was taken, and cast in pryson, and his goodes confiscate. The cause hereof was, (as Vaschus alleaged) that Ancisus hadde his commission of the Lieuetenauntshippe, of Fogeda onely whome they sayde to bee nowe deade, and not of the kynge. Sayinge that he woolde not obey any man that was not put in office by the kyng hym selfe by his letters patentes. Yet at the request of the graueste sorte, he was sumwhat pacified, and delt more gentelly with hym, hauinge sum compassion of his calamities. And thervppon commaunded hym to bee loosed. Ancisus beinge at libertie, tooke shyppe to departe from thense to Hispaniola. Anci [...]us ta­keth his vy­age to hispa­niola. But beefore [Page 63] he had hoysed vppe his sayle, all the wysest sorte resorted to hym, humbly desyringe hym to returne ageyne: promysynge that they wolde doo theyr diligence, that Vaschus beinge reconciled, he myght bee restored to his full autoritie of the Lieue­tenauntshippe. But Ancisus refused to consent to theyr request and soo departed. Yet sume there were that murmured that god and his angels shewed this reuenge vpon Ancisus, The reueng of God. bycau [...]e Nicuesa was reiected throwgh his counsayle. Howe soo euer it bee, the searchers of the newe landes, faule headlonge in­to ruine by theyr owne follye, consuminge them selues with ciuile discorde,The inconueniences of discorde. not weighinge soo greate a matter, nor em­ployinge theyr beste endeuoure aboute the same as the woor­thynes of the thynge requyreth. In this meane tyme, they determyned all with one agreemente, to sende messengers into Hispaniola to the younge Admirall and viceroy, sonne and heyre to Christophorus Colonus the fynder of these landes,The sonne & heyr [...] of Colonus, is Admirall and vice­roy of hispa­niola. and to the o­ther gouernoures of the Ilande (from whom the newe landes receaue theyr ayde and lawes) to signifie vnto thē what state they stoode in, and in what necessitie they lyued: also what they had founde, and in what hope they were of greater thinges if they were furnyshed with plentie of vytayles and other necessaries. For this purpose they elected at the assignement of Vascus, one Valdiuia,, Valdiuia. beinge one of his faction, and instruc­ted by hym ageinst Anc [...]sus. And to bee a [...]sistant with hym, they appoynted one Zamudius a Cantabrian: So that commaunde­ment was gyuen to Valdiuia to returne from Hispaniola with vy­tayles: And Zamudius was appoynted to take his vyage into Spayne to the kynge.zamudius & Ancisus, take their vyage to Spayne. They tooke shippe both togyther with Ancisus, hauinge in mynde to certifie the kynge howe thynges were handeled there, muche otherwyse then Zamudius information. I my selfe spake with both Ancisus and Zamudius at their commynge to the courte. Whyle they were occupied aboute these matters, those wretched men of Dariena loosed Carera the kynge of Coiba vppon condicion that he shulde ayde theym in theyr warres ageynst his enemy and theyrs, kynge Poncha bortheringe vpon his dominions.kinge Pōcha. Careta made a league with thē, promysinge that as they passed by his kyngedome, he woolde gyue them all thynges nece [...]sarie, and meete them with an ar­mie of men, to goo forwarde with them to the battaile agenst Poncha. Theyr weapons are nother bowes nor venemed ar­rowes, [Page] as we sayde thinhabitantes to haue which dwel east­warde beyonde the goulfe. They feight therefore at hande, with longe swordes (which they caule Macanas) made of wood bycause they haue noo Iren.Swoordes of woodde. They vse also longe staues lyke ia [...]elens hardened at the endes with fyer, or typte with bone. Also certeyne stynges and dartes. Thus after the league made with Careta, bothe he and owre men had certeyne dayes ap­poynted theym to tyll theyr grounde and sowe theyr seedes. This doone, by the ayde of Careta and by his conduction, they marched towarde the palaice of Poncha, kynge Careta conspireth with the Spanyardes a­genst kynge Poncha. who f [...]edde at theyr cō mynge. They spoyled his vyllage and mytigated theyr hun­ger with such vytayles as they founde there. Yet coulde they not helpe their felowes therwith by reasō of the farre distance of the place, althowghe they had greate plentie. For the vyl­lage of Poncha, was more then a hundreth myles distant from Dariena: wheras was also none other remedy but that the same shulde haue byn caryed on mens backes to the sea syde beinge farre of, where they left theyr shyppes in the which they came to the vyllage of Car [...]ta. Here they founde certeyne powndes weyght of gold, grauen & wrought into sundrye ouches.wrought gold Af­ter the sacking of this vyllage they resorted toward the ships intendyng to leaue the kinges of the inland vntouched at this tyme, & to inuade onely them which dwelt by the sea coastes. Not farre from Coiba, in the same tracte, there is a Region na­med Comogra, The region of Comogra, distant frome Dariena xxx. leaques. and the Kinge thereof, cauled Comogrus after the same name. To this Kinge they came fyrst next after the sub­vertion of Poncha: And founde his palaice situate in a frutefull playne of twelue leaques in bredthe, at the rootes of the fur­ther syde of the nexte mountaynes. Comogrus had in his courte a certeyne noble man of nexe consanguinitie to Kynge Careta, whiche had fledde to Comogrus by reason of certeyne dissention whiche was betwene Careta and hym. These noble men, they caule Iura. kynge Como­grus. This Iura therfore of Coiba, mette owre men by the way, and conciled Comogrus to them, bycause he was well kno­wen to owr mē from the tyme that Nicuesa passed fyrst by those coastes. Owre men therefore went quietlye to the palaice of Comogrus beinge distante from Dariena thirtie leaques by a plaine waye abowte the mountaynes, This Kynge Comogrus, had se­uen sonnes,The kynges palaice. younge men of comelye forme and stature, whiche he had by sundry wyues. His palaice was framed of postes [Page 64] or proppes made of trees fastened togeyther after a straunge sorte, and of soo stronge bylding, that it is of no lesse strength then waules of stone. They which measured the length of the floure thereof, founde it to bee a hundreth and fyftie pases, and in breadthe, foure score foote: beinge roofed and paued with maruelous arte. They founde his store house, furnysshed with abundance of delicate vitailes after the maner of theyr countrey: And his wyne celler replenished with great vesselles of earth and also of woodde fylled with theyr kynde of wyne and syder.wyne & syder For they haue noo grapes. But lyke as they make theyr breade of those three kyndes of rootes cauled Iucca, agis, and Naizium, (whereof we spake in the fyrste decade) Soo make they theyr wyne of the frutes of date trees, and syder of other frutes and seedes, as doo the Almaynes, Flemynges Englysshe men, and owre Spanyardes whych inhabite the mountaynes, as the Uascons and Asturians: likewise in the mountaynes of the Alpes, the Noricians, Sueuians, and Hel­uetians, make certeyne drynkes of barley, wheat, hoppes, and apples. They say also that with Comogrus, they droonk wynes of sundry tastes, both whyte and blacke.Blacke wine. But nowe yow shall heare of a thynge more monstrous too behoulde. Enterynge therfor īto the inner partes of the palaice, they were browght into a chamber hanged aboute with the carkeses of men,The bo [...]yes of deade kynges, religiously honoured. tyed with ropes of gossampine cotton. Beinge demaunded what they ment by that superstition, they answered that those were the carkeses of the father, graundefather, and great graund­father with the other auncestours of theyr Kyng Comogrus. Declaringe that they had the same in greate reuerence, and that they tooke it for a godly thynge to honoure them religiously: And therfore appareled euery of the same sumptuouslye with golde and precious stones accordynge vnto theyr estate. After this sorte dyd the antiquitie honoure theyr Penates, Penat [...]s. whyche they thowght had the gouernaunce of their lyues. Howe they drye these carkeses vppon certeine instrumētes made of wood,The carcases of men dryed like vnto hurdels, with a softe fyer vnder the same, so that onely the skynne remayneth to houlde the bones together, we haue described in the former decade. Of Comogrus his seuen soonnes, the eldest had an excellente naturall wytte.The kynges sonne a yonge man of excellent wytte, He ther­fore thowght it good to flatter and please thys wandrynge kynde of men (owr men I meane) lyuynge onely by shiftes and [Page] spoyle, least beinge offended and seekynge occasions ageynste hym and his familie, they shuld handle hym as they dyd other whiche sowght noo meanes howe to gratifie theym. Where­fore, he gaue Vaschus and Colmenaris foure thousande ounces of golde artificially wrought,Foure thousande vnces of wrought golde. and also fyftie slaues whyche he had taken in the warres. For suche, eyther they sell for ex­chaunce of other thinges, or otherwise vse them as theym ly­steth▪ For they haue not the vse of money. This golde with as muche more which they had in an other place, owre men way­ed in the porche of Comogrus his palaice to separate the fyfte parte thereof,The distribution of golde. whiche portion is due to the Kynges escheker. For it is decreed that the fyft parte of both golde, perles, and precious stones, shulde be assigned to the Kinges treasourers: And the resydue, to bee diuided emonge theym selues by com­position. Here as brabblynge and contention arose emonge owr men abowt the diuidinge of gold, this eldeste soonne of Kynge Comogrus beinge presente, whome we praysed for his wysedome, commynge sume what wyth an angery counte­naunce towarde hym whiche helde the balences, he strooke theym wyth his fyste, and scatered all the golde that was therein,Young Como­grus his ora­tion. abowte the porche, sharpely rebukynge theym with woordes in this effecte. What is the matter yowe Christian men, that yow soo greatly esteme soo litle a portion of golde more then yowr owne quietnes, whiche neuerthelesse yow en­tend to deface from these fayre ouches and to melte the same into a rude masse. If yowre hunger of goulde bee soo insati­able that onely for the desyre yowe haue therto,The hunger of golde. yowe disqui­ete soo many nations, and yow yowre selues also susteyne soo many calamites and incommodities, lyuing like banished men owte of yowre owne countrey, I wyll shewe yowe a Region floweinge with goulde,A reg [...]on flo­winge wyth golde. where yowe may satisfie yowr raue­ninge appetites. But yowe muste attempte the thynge with a greater poure: For it standeth yow in hande by force of armes to ouercome kynges of greate puissaunce, and rigorous defen­ders of theyr dominions. For bysyde other, the greate kinge Tumanama will coome foorthe ageynste yowe,kynge Tumanama. whose kengdome is moste ryche with golde, and distante from hense onely syx soonnes: that is, syx dayes: for they number the dayes by the sonne.Canibales. Furthermore, or euer yowe canne coome thether, yow must passe ouer the mountaynes inhabited of the cruell Cany­bales [Page 65] a fierce kynde of men, deuourers of mans flesshe, lyuing withowte lawes, wanderinge, and withowte empire. For they also, beinge desyrous of golde, haue subdewed them vnder theyr dominion whiche before inhabited the golde mynes of the mountaynes,The golde mynes of the mountaynes. and vse them lyke bondemen, vsyng their laboure in dygginge and workynge theyr golde in plates and sundry Images lyke vnto these whiche yowe see here. For wee doo no more esteeme rude golde vnwrought,Unwrought golde not estemed. then we doo cloddes of earthe, before it bee formed by the hande of the workeman to the similitude eyther of sume vessell nece [...]sarie for owre vse, or sume ouche bewetifull to be worne. These thynges doo wee receaue of theim for exchaunge of other of owre thynges, as of prisoners taken in warre,Exchaunge. whiche they bye to eate, or for sheetes and other thynges perteynynge to the furnyture of householde, suche as they lacke which inhabite the mountaynes: And especially for vitayles wherof they stande in greate neede by reason of the barrennes of the mountaynes. This iorney therfore, must bee made open by force of men. And when yowe are passinge ouer these mountaynes (poyntinge with his fynger towarde the southe mountaynes) yowe shal see an other sea, where they sayle with shyppes as bygge as yowres (meanynge the caraueles) vsinge both say­les and ores as yowe doo,Abundance of golde. althowghe the men bee naked as wee are. All the waye that the water runnethe frome t [...]e mountaynes, and all that syde lyinge towarde the Southe, bryngeth foorth golde abundantly. As he sayde these woor­des, he poynted to the vesselles in whiche they vse to serue theyr meate, affirmyng [...] that kynge Tumanama, and all the o­ther kynges beyonde the mountaynes, had suche and al their other householde stuffe of golde:householde stuffe of gold And that there was noo lesse plentie of golde amonge those people of the Southe, then of Iren with vs. For he knewe by relation of owre men, wher­of owre swoordes and other weapons were made. Owre ca­pitaynes marueylyng at the oration of the naked younge man (for they had for interpretours those three men whiche had byn before a yere and a halfe conuersant in the court of kynge Careta) pondered in theyr myndes, & ernestly considered his say­inges. Soo that his rasshenes in scatteringe the golde owte of the balances, they turned to myrth and vrbanitie, commendynge his dooinge and sayinge therin. Then they asked hym [Page] frendely, vppon what certeyne knoweleage he spake those thynges: Or what he thowght beste herein to bee doone yf they shulde brynge a greater supplye of men. To this, younge Comogrus, stayinge a whyle with hym selfe as it were an ora­tour preparinge him selfe to speake of sume graue matter, and disposynge his bodye to a giesture meete to persuade, spake thus in his mother tonge. Gyue eare vnto me o yowe Chry­stians. Albeit that the gredie hunger of golde hathe not yet vexed vs naked men,Naked peo­ple tormēted with ambitiō yet doo we destroy one an other by rea­son of ambition and desyre to rule. Hereof springeth mortall hatred amonge vs, and hereof commethe owre destruction. Owre predicessours kepte warres, and soo dyd Comogrus my father with princes beinge bortherers abowte hym. In the which warres, as wee haue ouercoome, so haue wee byn ouer coome, as dothe appere by the number of bondemen amonge vs, which we tooke by the ouerthrowe of owre enemyes, of the whiche I haue gyuen yowe fiftie. Lykewyse at an other tyme, owre aduersaries hauinge thupper hande agenste vs, ledde away manye of vs captiue. For suche is the chaunce of warre. Also, amonge owre familiers (wherof a great number haue byn captiues with them) beholde here is one whiche of longe tyme ledde a paynefull lyfe in bondage vnder the yoke of that kynge beyonde the mountaynes, in whose kyngdome is suche abundance of golde. Of hym, and suche other innu­merable, and lykewyse by the resort of free men on theyr syde comminge to vs, and ageyne of owre men resortinge to theim by safe conduct, these thynges haue byn euer as well knowen vnto vs,A vehement persuasion. as owre owne possessions. But that yowe maye bee the better assured hereof, and bee owte of all suspection that yowe shal not bee deceaued, make me the guyde of this viage, byndynge me fast and keepyng me in safe custodie to bee han­ged on the next tree, yf yowe fynde my sayinges in any point vntrewe. Folowe my counsayle therfore, and send for a thousande Christian men apte for the warres, by whose power we may with also the men of warre of Comogrus my father armed after owre maner, inuade the dominions of owre enemyes: where, bothe yowe may bee satisfyed with golde, and we for owre conductinge and aydynge yowe in this enterpryse, shall thynke owre selues abun [...]antly rewarded, in that yowe shall helpe to delyuer vs from the iniuries and perpetuall feare of [Page 66] owre enemies. After these woordes, this prudente younge Comogrus helde his peace. And owre men moued with greate hope and hunger of golde,A token of hunger. beganne ageine to swalowe downe theyr spertle.

¶ The fourth booke of the seconde Decade, of the supposed Continent.

AFter that they had taryed here a fewe dayes and baptised Comogrus with all his famelie,kynge Como­grus is baptised with his famely. and named hym by the name of Charles af­ter the kynge of Spayne, they returned to theyr felowes in Dariena leauinge with hym the hope of the thousande souldyers, which his sonne requyred to passe ouer those mountaynes towarde the South sea. Thus enteringe into the vyl­lage which they had chosen to inhabite, they had knowleage that Valdiuia was returned,Ualdiuia re­turneth from hispaniola. within syxe moonethes after his departure: but with noo great plentie of vytayles, bycause he browght but a smaule shippe: yet with hope that shortely after, there shulde bee sent them abundance of vytayles with a newe supply of men. For younge Colonus, the Admiral and viceroy of Hispaniola, and the other gouernours of the Ilande, acknowleaged that hetherto they had noo respecte to theym of Dariena, bycause they supposed that Ancisus the Lieuetenant had safely arryued there with his shippe laden with vatayles: wyllynge them from hensefoorth to bee of good cheere, and that they shulde lacke nothynge hereafter: But that at this present tyme, they had noo bygger shippe wherby they myght sende them greater plentie of necessaries by Valdiuia. The vy­tayles therfore which he browght, serued rather sumwhat to mytigate theyr present necessitie, then to satisfye theyr lacke. Wherfore within a fewe dayes after Valdiuia his returne, they fel ageine into lyke scarsnes: especially for asmuch as a great storme and tempest whiche came from the hyghe mountaynes with horrible thunder and lyghtnynge in the mooneth of Nouember,horrible thunder and [...]ightnynge in the moneth of Nouember. browght with it suche a fludde, that it partely cary­ed away and partly drowned all the corne and seedes whiche they had sowne in the moonethe of September in a frutefull [...]rounde before they went to kyng Comogrus. The seedes which [Page] they of Hispaniola caule Maizium, Bread of Maizius & hobba and they of Vraba caule Hobba: Wherof they make theyr bread, which also wee sayde to bee rype thryse euery yeare, bycause those Regions are not bytten with the sharpnes of wynter by reason of theyr nerenes to the Equinoctial lyne. It is also agreable to the principles of na­turall philosophie, that this breade made of Maizius or Hobba, shulde bee more holsome for thinhabitantes of those contreys then breade made of wheate, by reason that it is of easyer di­gestion.Digestion strengthened by owtwarde colde. For wheras coulde is wantinge, the naturall heate is not dryuen frome the owtewarde partes into the inwarde partes and precordials, whereby digestion is much strengthe­ned. Beinge therfore thus frustrate of the increase of theyr seedes, and the kynges nere abowte them spoyled of both vy­tayles and golde, they were enforced to seeke theyr meate further of:hunger. And therwith to signifie to the gouernours of Hispaniola with what great necessitie they were oppressed: And what they had lerned of Comogrus as concernynge the Regions to­warde the Southe: wyllynge them in consideration therof to aduertyse the kynge to sende them a thousande souldiers,A newe sup­ply of a thou­sande souldy­ers. by whose helpe they myght by force make waye throwghe the mountaynes diuidynge the sea on bothe sydes, if they coulde not brynge the same to passe quyetly. The same Valdiuia was also sent on this message, caryinge with hym to the kynges treasourers (hauinge theyr office of recepte in Hispaniola) three hundreth poundes weyght of golde after eyght ounces to the pounde, for the fyfte portion dewe to the kynges escheker. This pounde of .viii. vnces, the Spanyardes caule Marcha, Marcha. whiche in weyght amounteth to fyftie pieces of golde cauled Castellani. But the Castilians, caule a pound Pesum. We conclude therfore,Pesus. that the sume hereof, was .xv. thousande of those peeces of golde cauled Castellani. And thus is it apparente by this accompte, that they receaued of the barbarous kynges, a thousande and fyue hundreth poundes of eyght ounces to the pounde.A thousande and fyue hundreth pounds weyght of wrought gold All the whiche they founde redy wrought in sundry kyndes of ouches, as cheynes, braselets, tablets, and plates, bothe to hange before theyr brestes, and also at theyr eares, and nosethryls. Valdiuia therefore tooke shyppinge in the same carauell in the whiche he came last, and returned also beefore the thyrde day of the Ides of Ianuary, in the yeare of Christ M.D.XI. What chaunced to hym in this vyage, wee wyll [Page 7] declare in place conuenient. But let vs nowe returne to them which remayned in Vraba. After the dismissinge of Valdiuia, be­inge pricked forwarde with owtragious hunger, they deter­mined to searche the inner partes of that goulfe in sundry places.The goulfe of Uraba. The extreme angle or poynt of the same goulfe is distant from the enterance therof, aboute foure score myles. This angle or corner, the Spanyardes caule Culata. Culata. Vaschus hym selfe came to this poynte with a hundreth men, coastynge alonge by the goulfe with one brygantine and certeyne of the boates of those regions, which the Urabians caule Vru, Uaschus searcheth the goulfe of Uraba. lyke vnto them whiche thinhabitantes of Hispaniola caule Canoas. From this poynt, there fauleth a ryuer from the East into the goulfe,A maruelous great ryuer▪ faulyng into the g [...]u [...]fe of Uraba. ten tymes bygger then the ryuer of Dariena which al­so fauleth into the same. Saylyng alonge by the ryuer about the space of thirtie myles (for they caule it nyne leaques) and sumwhat inclynynge towarde the ryght hande southwarde, they founde certeyne vyllages of thinhabitantes, the Kynge whereof, was cauled Dabaiba. Owre men also were certifyed before, that Cemacchus the kynge of Dariena whom they put to flyght in the battayle,kynge Daba­iba and [...]he­macchus, are dryuen to flyght. fledde to this Dabaiba. But at the com­mynge of owre men, Dabaiba also fledde. It is thowght that he was admonysshed by Cemacchus, that he shulde not abyde the brunte of owre men. He folowed his counsayle: for [...]ooke his vyllages, and lefte all thynges desolate. Yet owre men founde heapes of bowes and arrowes: Also much household stuffe and many fysshyng boates. But those maryshe groundes were neyther apte for sowinge of seedes or planting of trees.Marysshe grounde By reason wherof, they founde there fewe suche thynges as they desyred that is, plentie of vytayles. For thinhabitantes of this Region, haue noo breade but such as they get in other contreys nere abowte them by exchaunge for theyr fy [...]she, on­ly to serue theyr owne necessitie. Yet founde they in the hou­ses of them that fledde, golde wrought and grauen, amoun­tynge to the sume of seuen thousande of those pieces whiche we sayde to bee cauled Castellani:wrought gold wheyghynge vii. thousand Castellane [...]. Also certeyne canoas: of the which they brought away twoo with them, and great plentie of theyr hou [...]holde stuffe, with certeyne bundels of bowes and arrowes. They saye, that from the marysshes of that ryuer, there coome certeyne battes in the nyght season, as bygge as turtle dooues,Battes as bygge as turtle doue [...]. inuadyng men and bytinge them with a deadly [Page] wounde, as sume of them testifie whiche haue byn bytten of the same. I my selfe communing with Ancisus the Lieuetenant whom they reiected,Ancisus byt­ten of a batte and amonge other thynges askynge him of the venemous bytinge of these battes, he toulde me that he hym selfe was bytten by one of them on the heele, his foote lyinge vncouered in the nyght by reason of the heate in sommer season: But that it hurt hym noo more, then yf he hadde byn bytten by any other beaste not venemous. Other saye, that the bytynge of sume of them is venemous: Yet that the same is healed incontinently,Remedies ageynst vene­mous arrows if it be wasshed with water of the sea. Ancisus toulde me also, that the venemous woundes made by the Canibales arrowes infected with poyson, are healed by wasshynge with water of the sea, and also by cauterising with hotte Irens: And that he had experience thereof in the region of Caribana, where many of his men were so wounded. They departed therfore, from the poynte of the goulfe of Vraba, not well contented bycause they were not laden with vitailes. In this their returne, there arose soo greate a tempest in that wyde goulfe,A tempest. that they were enforced to caste into the sea, all the householde stuffe whiche they tooke from the poore wret­ches whiche lyued onely by fisshinge. The sea also swalowed vpp the two boates that they tooke from theym, wherewyth the men were likewise drowned. The same tyme that Vaschus Nunnez attempted to searche the poynte of the goulfe towarde the southe, euen then by agremente, dyd Rodericus Colmenaris take his viage towarde the mountaynes by the easte,Colmenaris taketh his vyage towarde the montains with threscormen, by the ryuer of the other goulfe. Aboute fortie miles dis­tante from the mouthe of the ryuer, (for they caule it twelue leaques) he founde certeyne vilages situate vppon the bankes of the ryuer, whose Chiui, (that is,) kinge, they caule Turui. With this kinge dyd Colmenaris yet remayne when Vaschus after his re­turne to Dariena, sayling by the same ryuer, came to hym. Here refresshinge theyr hole coompany with the vitailes of this Tur­ui, kynge Turui. they departed from thense togyther. Other fortie myles from hense, the ryuer encoompaseth an Iland inhabited with fyssher men. In this, bycause they sawe greate plentie of the trees which beare Cassia f [...]stula, they named the Iland Cannafistula. The Iland of Cannafistula. They found in it, threescore villages of tenne cotages apiece. On the right syde of the Iland there runneth an other ryuer, whose chanell is of depth suffiente to beare brigantines. This [Page 68] ryuer they cauled Riuum Nigrum: She ryuer or Riuu [...] Niger. A to [...]e of v. hundreth houses. from the mouthe wherof about xv. myles distante they founde a towne of fyue hundreth hou­ses seuered: whose Chebi, (that is,) kinge, was cauled Abenama­chei. They all forsooke theyr houses as soone as they harde of owre mennes commyng. But when they sawe that owre men pursued them, they turned ageyne and ranne vppon them with desperate mindes, as men driuen from their owne possessions. Theyr wepons, are swordes of wod, and long staues like iauelens, hardened at the ende with fyer: But they vse ney­ther bowes nor arrowes: nor any other of thinhabitantes of the weste syde of the goulfe.Th [...]nhabitan­tes of the west [...]yde of the goulfe. The pore naked wretches were easely dryuen to flight with owre weapons. As owre men fo­lowed theym in the chase, they tooke the kinge Abenamachei and certeine of his noble men.kynge Abenamachei, is ta­ken and his arme cut of. A common souldier of owres whom the kynge had wounded, coomminge to hym when he was ta­ken, cutte of his arme at one stroke with his swoorde. But this was doone vnwares to the capitaynes. The number of the Christian men which were here, was aboute a hundrethe and fiftie: the one halfe whereof, the capytaynes lefte here, and they with the resydue, rowed vpp the ryuer ageyne with twelue of the boates of those Regions, whiche they caul. Vru, as they of Hispaniola caule them Canoas, as we haue sayde. From the ryuer of Riuus Niger and the Iland of Cannafistula, Many other ryuers fau­ling into Ri­uus Niger. for the space of threescore and ten myles, leauing both on the right hande & on the lefte many riuers faulinge into it bigger then it selfe, they entred into one by the conductynge of one of the naked inhabitantes, beinge appoynted a guyde for that purpose. Uppon the banke of this ryuer next vnto the mouthe of the same, there was a kynge cauled Abibeiba: kyng abibei­ba dwellethe in a tree. who, bycause the Region was full of marysshes, had his palaice buylded in the toppe of a highe tree, a newe kynde of byldynge and seldome seene. But that lande beareth trees of suche exceding heigth,Abundance of moyster & heat is cause of byggenes. that emonge theyr branches, a man may frame large houses: As wee reede the like in diuers autoures howe in many Regi­ons where the ocean sea rysethe and ouerflowethe the lande, the people were accustomed to flye to the high trees, and after the faule of the water, to take the fysshe lefte on the lande.The rysynge of the Ocean sea. This maner of buyldinge, is to laye beames crosse ouer the branches of the trees, faste bownde togyther, and there vp­pon to rayse theyr frame, strongly made ageynste wynde and [Page] wether. Owre men suppose that they buylde theyr houses in trees, by reason of the greate fluddes and ouerflowinge of ryuers whiche often tymes chaunce in those Regions. These trees are of suche heighth,Trees of maruelous height that the strength of no manes arme is able to hurle a stone to the houses buylded therein. And therfore doo I gyue the better credit to Plinie and other au­tours whiche wrytte that the trees in sume places in India are soo high by reason of the frutefulnes of the grounde,Plinie. abun­dance of water, and heate of the Region, that noo man is able to shute ouer theym with an arrowe. And by iudgemente of all men, it is thowght that there is noo frutfuller ground vn­der the soonne,Frutefull grounde. then this is whereof wee nowe entreate. Owr men measuringe manye of these trees, founde theym to bee of suche biggnes, that seuen men, ye sumetymes eight, holdinge hande in hande with theyr armes streached furthe, were scar­sely able too fath [...]me them aboute. Yet haue they theyr cel­lers in the grounde,Cellers in the grounde. well replenysshed with such wynes wherof wee haue spoken beefore. For albeit that the vehemencie of the wynde, is not of poure to caste downe those houses, or to breeke the branches of the trees, yet are they tossed there­with, and swaye sumwhat from syde to syde, by reason wherof, the wyne shulde bee muche troubeled with moouinge. All other necessarye thinges, they haue with theym in the trees. When the kynge or any other of the noble men, dyne or suppe in these trees, theyr wyues are browght theym from the cel­leres by theyr seruantes, whyche by meanes of exercise, are accustomed with noo lesse celeritie to runne vppe and downe the steares adherente to the tree, then doo owre waytynge bo­yes vppon the playne grounde, fetche vs what wee caule for from the cobbarde bysyde owr dyninge table. Owre men therfore, came to the tree of kinge Abibeiba, and by thinterpretoures cauled hym foorthe to communication, gyuinge hym signes of peace, and there vppon willinge hym to coomme downe. But he denyed that he woolde coomme owte of his house: Desy­ringe them to suffer hym to lyue after his fasshion. But owre men fell from fayre woordes to threateninge, that excepte he wolde descende with all his famelie, they wolde eyther ouer­throwe the tree, or elles set it on fyer. When he had denied them ageyne, they fell to hewinge the tree with theyr axes. Abibeiba seeinge the chippes faule from the tree on euery syde,Abibeiba, the kynge of the tree, yeldethe to Uaschus. [Page 69] chaunged his purpose, and came downe with only two of his soones. Thus after they had entreated of peace, they commu­ned of gatheringe of golde. Abibeiba answered that he had noo golde, and that he neuer had any neede therof, nor yet regar­ded it any more then stones. But when they were instante vppon hym, he sayde vnto them.Gold no more estemed then stones. If yowe soo greatly desyre golde, I will seeke for sume in the nexte mountaynes, and bringe it vnto yowe. For it is plentifully engendred in those mountaynes. Then he appointed a day when he wold bringe this golde. But Abibeiba came neyther at the day, nor after the daye appoynted. They departed therfore from thense well refresshed with his vitailes and wyne, but not with goulde as they hoped. Yet were they enformed the like by Abibeiba and his ditionaries as concerninge the golde mynes and the Canibales, as they harde before of kinge Comogrus. Saylinge yet further aboute thirtie myles, they chaunced vppon certeyne cotages of the Canibales:Canibales. But vtterly voyde with owte men or stuffe. For when they had knowleage that owre men wandered in the prouinces nere aboute theym they resorted to the mountaynes, caryinge al theyr goodes and stuffe wyth them.

¶ The fyfte booke of the seconde Decade of the supposed continent.

IN the meane tyme whyle these thynges were doone alonge by the shores or bankes of the ryuer, a certeyne Decurian, that is a capy­tayne ouer tenne, of the coompanye of those which Vascus and Colmenaris had lefte for a garryson in Riuo Nigro in the dominion of kynge Abinamachei, whether it were that he was compelled throwgh hunger, or that his fataule dayes was nowe coome, he attempted with his souldiers to searche the coun­treys nere there about, and entered into the vyllage of a king cauled Abraiba. kyng Abraib [...] This capitaynes name was Raia: whom Abrai­ba slewe, with twoo of his felowes: but the resydue fledde. Within a fewe dayes after, Abraiba hauinge compassion of the calamitie of his kynseman and neyghbour Abenamacheius being dryuen from his owne possessions (whose arme also we sayd before that one of the souldiers cut of at the riuer of Riuo Nigro [Page] and nowe remaynynge with Abraiba to whome he fledde by stelth after he was taken, went to Abibeiba thinhabitour of the tree, who had nowe lykewyse forsaken his contrey for feare of owre men, and wandered in the desolate mountaynes and wooddes. When he had therfore founde him, he spake to him in this effecte.Abraiba cau­seth the kyn­ges to rebell. What thynge is this Oh vnfortunate Abibeiba? or what nation is this that soo tormenteth vs that wee can not enioye owre quyet lybertie? Howe longe, howe longe I say shall wee suffer theyr crueltie? were it not much better for vs to die, then to abide such iniuries and oppre [...]sions as yow, as Abinamacheius owre kynseman, as Cemacchus, as Careta, as Pon­cha, as I and other princes of owr order doo susteyne? Canne any thinge bee more intollerable then to see owre wyues, owre chyldren, and owre subiectes, to bee ledde awaye cap­tiues, and owre goodes to be spoyled euen before owre faces.

I take the goddes to wytnes, that I speake not soo much for myne owne part as I doo for yowe whose case I lament. For albeit they haue not yet touched me, neuer [...]helesse, by the example of other, I owght to thynke that my destruction is not farre of.Men good enowgh yf they had [...]ren Let vs therfore (yf wee bee men) trye owre stren­gthe and proue owre fortune ageynst them whiche haue delte thus cruelly with Abenam [...]cheius, and dryuen hym owte of his contrey. Let vs set on them with all owre poure, and vtterly destroy them And yf wee can not sleye them al, yet shall wee make them afrayde eyther to assayle vs ageyne, or at the least dimynysshe theyr poure. For what soo euer shall befaule, no­thynge can chaunce woorse vnto vs then that which we now suffer. When Abibeiba harde these wordes and such other like, he condecended to doo in al thinges as Abraiba wolde requyre: Where vppon they appoynted a day to brynge theyr conspira­cie to passe. But the thynge chaunced not accordynge to their desyre. For of those whiche wee sayde to haue passed to the Canibales, there returned by chaunce to Riuus Niger the nyght before the day appoynted to woorke theyr feate, thirtie men to the ayde of theym whiche were lefte there yf anye sedition shulde ryse they suspected.The kynges are dryuen to flyght. Therfore at the daunyng of the day, the confetherate kynges with fyue hundreth of theyr di­tionaries armed after theyr maner, beseaged the vyllage with a terrible alarome, knowynge nothynge of the newe menne which came thether the same nyght. Here owre target men [Page 70] came foorth ageynst them, and fyrst assayled them a farre of with theyr arrowes, then with theyr pykes, and laste with theyr swoordes: But the naked seely sowles, perceauinge a greater number of theyr aduersaries thē they looked for,Captyues. were soone dryuen to flyght, and slayne for the most parte lyke sca­terynge sheepe. The kynges escaped, they slewe manye, and tooke many captiues whiche they sente to Dariena where they vse them for labourers to tyll and sowe theyr grounde. These thynges thus happely atchyued, and that prouince quyeted, they returned by the ryuer to Dariena, leauinge theyr thyrtie men for a garryson vnder the gouernance of one Furatado a ca­pitayne.A garyson of xxx. men. This Furatado therfore, sente from Riu [...] Nigro where he was appoynted gouernoure, twentie of his felowes & one woman, with, xxiiii. captiues to Vaschus and his company, in one of the byggest Canoas of that prouince. As they rowed downe by the ryuer,xviii. Spany­ardes slayne and drowned there came foorth soodenly ouerthwarte the ryuer ageynst them, foure greate Canoas, which ouerthrew theyr boate and slewe as many of them as they coulde coome by, bycause they were vnprepared suspecting noo such thinge. Owre men were all drowned and slayne excepte twoo, which hyd them selues amonge certeyne fagottes that swamme on the water, in the whiche they laye lurkynge, and soo escaped to theyr felowes in Dariena: who by them beinge aduertysed hereof, beganne to caste theyr wyttes what this thyng might meane: beinge no lesse solicitate for them selues, then meditatynge in what daunger theyr felowes had byn in Riuo Nigro, excepte by good fortune, those thirtie newe men which were sente to them, had coome to the vyllage the nyght before the conspiracie shulde haue byn wrought. Consultinge therefore what was best to bee doone herein, at the lengthe with dyly­gent searchynge they had intelligence that fyue kynge, that is to wytte, Abibeiba the inhabitoure of the tree,The kinges which conspired the death of the Christi­ans. and Cem [...]cchus dryuen from his vyllage whiche owre menne nowe possessed, Abraiba also and Abenamacheius, kynsemen, with Dabaiba the king of the fysher men inhabytinge the corner of the goulfe whiche we cauled Culata, were all a [...]sembled to conspire the Christian mens destruction at a day assigned. Which thynge had surely coome to passe, if it had not byn otherwyse hyndered by gods prouidence. It is therfore ascrybed to a myracle:A strange chaunce. And trewly not vnwoorthely if wee weye howe chaunce detected and be­wrayed [Page] wrayed the counsayle of these kynges. And bycause it is worthy to bee harde, I wyll declare it in fewe woordes. Vaschus Nunnez therfore,Vaschus. who rather by poure then by election, vsur­ped the gouernaunce in Dariena, beinge a master of fence, and rather a rasshe royster then politike capitayne (althowgh for­tune sumtyme fauoureth fooles) amonge many women which in dyuers of these regions he had taken captyue, had one whiche in fauoure and bewtie excelled all other. To this woman her owne brother often tymes resorted,women can keepe no coun [...]ayle. who was also dryuen owte of his contrey with kynge Cemacchus, with whom he was very familier and one of his chiefe gentelmen. Amonge other communication which he had with his syster whom he loued entierly, he vttered these woordes. My deare and welbeloued syster, gyue care to my sayinges, and keepe moste secreatelye that whiche I wyll declare vnto yowe, yf yowe desyre yowre owne wealth and myne, and the prosperitie of owre contrey and kynsefolkes. The insolencie and crueltie of these menne whiche haue dryuen vs owte of owre possessions, is soo intollerable, that the princes of the lande are determyned noo lon­ger to susteyne theyr oppressions.

By the conductinge therfore of fyue kinges (which he named in order) they haue prepared a hundreth greate Canoas, An army of C [...]anoas and lyue. W [...]men with fyue thousande men of warre by lande and by sea, with vitai­les also in the village of Tichiri, sufficient to maintayne such an army. Declaringe further, that the kinges by agremente, had diuided emonge theym the goodes and headdes to owre men:Tryu [...]phe before victory And therfore admony [...]hed her, at the daye appoynted by sume occasion to conueigh her selfe owte of the way, leste shee shuld bee slayne in the confusion of the bataile. For the souldier victourer, is not woonte to spare any that commethe in his rase. And thus shewinge his syster the daye a [...]igned to the slawghter,Affection cor­ru [...]teth trew iudgement. he departed. But the younge woman (for it is the swoord that women feare and obserue more then the grauitie of Cato,) whether it were for the loue or feare that shee had to Vaschus, forgettinge her parentes, her kynsfolkes, her countrey and all her frendes, ye and all the kinges into whose throtes Vaschus, had thruste his swoorde shee opened all the matter vn­to hym, and conceled none of those thinges whiche her vndis­crete broother had declared to her. When Vaschus therfore had hard the matter, he caused Fuluia, (for soo had they named her) [Page 71] to sende for her brother, who came to her immediatly, was taken, and enforced to tell the hole circunstances of the matter. Where vppon, he playnely confessed that kinge Cemacchus hys lorde and master, sente those foure canoas to the destruction of owre men, and that these newe conspiraces were attempted by his consaile.The con [...]pi­r [...]ti [...] of the kynges is de­tected. Likewise that Cemacchus sowght the destructi­on of Vaschus hym selfe when he sent hym fortie men vnder pretence of fren [...]shippe to tyll and sowe his grownd after the maner of the contrey, gyuinge them in commaundement to sleye Vaschus at Marris, whyther he resorted to comforte his laboures as the maner is of all good husbandes. Yet durste they at noo tyme execute theyr lordes commaundemente vppon hym, by­cause Vaschus came neuer emonge them afoote or vnarmed,kyng Cemac­chus, con [...] reth the o [...]th of Uaschus. but was accustomed to ryde to theym in harnes with a iauelen in his hande and a swoorde by his syde. Wherfore Cemacchus be­inge frustrate of his particu [...]er con [...]aile, tooke this laste thing in hande to his owne destruction and his neighbours. For the conspiracie beinge detected, Vaschus cauled threescore and tenne souldiers,Ua [...]chus purseweth the kynges with threescore & ten men. commaundinge them to folow him, but decla­red nothing vnto them whether hee wente or what hee entended to do. He wente forwarde therfore fyrste towarde Cemac­chus which ley from hym, onely tenne myles. But he had knowleage that he was fledde to Dabaiba the kinge of the marishes of Culata. Yet searchinge his village, he founde a noble man a ruler vnder hym and also his kinsseman, whome he tooke pri­soner with many other of his familiers and frendes both men and women. The same houre that he sette forwarde to seeke for Cemacchus, Rodericus Colmenaris rowed vp the ryuer with foure of theyr biggeste Canoas and threescore men by the conduction of the maydes brother who browght hym to the village of [...]i­chiri, Colmenaris [...]acketh the vylage of Cichiri. in the which we sayd all their vitailes to remayne whiche were prepared for theyr armye. Colmenaris therfore, sacked the village, and possessed all their vitayles and wyne of sundry colours: likewise tooke the gouernoure thereof prisoner, and hanged hym on the tree in whiche he dwelte hym selfe, com­maundinge hym too bee shotte throwgh with arrowes in the sight of thinhabitantes,Fyue rulers hanged and shot th [...]owgh with arrows. and with hym foure other rulers to bee hanged on iebbettes to the exemple of other rebelles. This punysshmente thus executed vppon the conspiratours, s [...]rooke the hartes of all thinhabitantes of the prouince wych suche [Page] feare, that there is not nowe a man that dare stoore his finger ageynst the wrathe of owre men. They lyue nowe therefore quietly: And the other kinges by theyr exemple doo the glad­lyer liue in subiection, with lesse offence bearinge the yoke whyche they can by noo meanes shake of.

The syxte booke of the seconde decade of the supposed continente.

THese thinges, thus fynysshed, assemblinge all their company togither they determined with one consente, that a messynger shulde foorth with bee sente to Hispaniola (from whense they haue their lawes and ayde) to declare the hole order of all these affayres, fyrste to the admirall and gouernoure of the Ilande, and afterwarde to the Kinge of Spayne, and to persuade hym to sen [...]e those thousand men which younge Comogrus said to bee expediente to passe ouer the mountaynes lying betwene them and the golden regions towarde the Southe.The golden region [...] on the south side the moun­taynes. Vaschus him selfe dyd greatly affecte this embasage: But neyther woolde the resydewe of his felowes electe hym therto, nor his factiona­ries suffer hym to departe: Aswell for that therby they thou­ght they shulde bee left desolate, as also that they murmured that if Vaschus shulde once goo from theym, he wolde neuer re­turne to suche turmoyles and calamities, by thexemple of Val­diuia and zamudius, The death of Ualdiuia and zamudius. who had byn now absente sence the mooneth of Ianuary, in soo muche that they thowght they woolde ne­uer coomme ageine. But the matter was otherwise then they tooke it, as I wyl shewe in his place. For they were perissh [...]d. At the lengeth after many scrutinies, they elected one Iohn Quicedus, Iohannes Quiced [...]s is sent to Spain a graue man well in yeares, & treasourer of the kings escheker in those prouinces. They had conceaued a good opi­nion of this Quicedus that all thynges shulde bee well browght to passe by his meanes, aswell for his wysdome, as also that they were in good hop of his returne, bycause he had brought his wiffe with hym to those regions, whome he lefte with his felowes for a pledge of his comminge ageyne. When they had thus elected Quicedus, they were ageyne of diuers opinions whome they might ioyne with hym for assistance: Affirminge [Page 72] that it were a daungerous thinge to committe soo weightye a matter to one mans handes. Not that they mistrusted Quice­dus. but bycause the life of man is frayle, and the chaunge of the ayer perelous,Chaunge of the ayer is daungerous. especially to theym hauynge nowe of longe tyme byn accustomed to the temperature nere vnto the Equinoc­ [...]iall, if they shulde bee compelled to returne to the North with alteratiō of ayer & dyet. They thowght it therfore good to appoynt a cōpaniō to Quicedus, that if [...]y chance the one shuld fayl the other might remayne: And that if they both escaped, the king shuld gyue the better credit to the relation of both: After longe consultatiō therfore, they chose Rodericus Colmenaris a man of good experience,Rodericus Colmenaris assist [...]nt wi [...] Quicedus. of whō we haue often tymes made mēcion. For from his youth, he had trauayled ouer al Europe by land and by sea, and was present at the doinges of all thynges in Italy ageynst the Frenchemen: Of whose returne also, they had noo smaule hope bycause he had many fermes and h [...]dde tylled and sowne much grounde in Dariena, by thincrease wherof he might get much gold by sellyng the same to his felows. He lefte therfore the charge of al his affayres in Dariena, with his partener Alphonsus Nunnez, a Iudge of the lawe, who also was lyke to haue byn chosen procuratoure of this vyage be­fore Colmenaris if one had not put theim in remembraunce that he had a wyfe at Matritis: A wyfe is a hynderance fearyng least beinge ouercoome with her teares, he woolde no more returne. Colmenaris therefore, a free man and at libertie being associate assistant with Quicedus they tooke shyppyng togyther in a brigantine, the fourth day of the Calendes of Nouember, in the yeare of Christ .1512.

In this vyage, beinge tossed with sundry tempestes, they were by the violence of the wynde, cast vppon the Weste coa­stes of that large Ilande whiche in the fyrste Decade we cau­led Cuba, Cub [...]. supposed to haue byn fyrme lande. They were sore oppressed with hunger. For it was nowe three moonethes sence they departed from theyr felowes.Three moo­ [...]eth [...] [...]rom [...] to Cuba, by rea­ [...]on of tepest [...] By reason whereof, they were enforced to take lande to proue what ayde they coulde gette amonge the inhabitantes. Theyr chaunce there­fore, was to arryue in that part of the Ilande, where Valdiuia was dryuen alande by tempest. But oh yowe wretched men of Dariena? Tary for Valdiuia whom yowe sent to prouide to h [...]lpe yowre nece [...]sities? [...] Prouyde for yowre selues rather and trust not to them whose fortune yowe knowe not. For when he arryued [Page] in Cuba, thinhabitantes slewe him with al his felowes, and lefte the carauell wherin they were caried, torne in pieces and halfe couered with sande on the shore: where Quicedus and Colmenaris fyndyng the fragmentes therof, bewayled their fe­lowes mysfortune. But they founde none of theyr carkeses: supposinge that they were eyther drowned, or deuoured of the Canibals, which oftentymes make incursions into that Ilande to hunte for men. But at the length, by twoo of the I­lande men which they had taken, they had knowleage of Valdiuia his destruction: And that thinhabitantes the more gree­dely attempted the same,hurt of la­uyshenes of the tonge. for that they had harde by the bab­lynge of one of his felowes that he had great plentie of gold. For they also take pleasure in the bewtie of gold, which they forme artificially into sundry ouches. Thus owre men stry­ken with pensyuenes for the cruell destenie of theyr felowes, and in vayne seekynge reuenge for theyr iniuries, determyned to forsake that vnfortunate lande, departynge from those co­uetous naked barbarians with more sorowe and necessitie then they were in before. Or euer they had passed the South syde of Cuba, they fel into a thousande mysfortunes: and had intellygence that Fogeda arryued thereaboute,The calami­tie & death of Fogeda. leadynge a my­serable lyfe, tossed and turmoyled with tempestes and vexed with a thousand perplexities: Soo that departing from thense almost alone, his felowes beinge for the most parte all consu­med with maladies and famyn,Maladies & famen. he came with much difficultie to Hispaniola, where he dyed by force of the poyson of his vene­mous wound which he had receaued in Vraba as we haue said before. But Ancisus elected Lieuetenaunt,The prospe­rous vyage of Ancisus. sayled by all those coastes with much better fortune. For as he hym selfe toulde me, he founde prosperous wyndes in those parties, and was well enterteyned of thinhabitantes of Cuba. But this special­ly in the dominion of a certeyne kynge whose name was Com­mendator. A kyng of Cuba [...]aptised by the name of Commen­dator. For wheras he desyred of the Christian men whiche passed by, to bee baptised, demaundynge the name of the go­uernour of the Ilande next vnto Hispaniola, beinge a noble man and a knyght of thorder of Galatraua of which order al are cauled Commendatores, this kynges desyre was to bee named after hym. Kynge Commendator therfore, frendely receaued Ancisus, and gaue hym greate abundance of al thynges necessarie. But what Ancisus lerned of theyr religion durynge the tyme of hisAncisus [Page 73] remaynynge there, I haue thowght good to aduertyse yowre holynes. Yowe shall therefore vnderstande,A maruelou [...] historie howe God wrought miracles by the simple fayth of a maryner. that certeyne of owre men saylinge by the coastes of Cuba, lefte with kynge Commendator ▪ a certeyne poore maryner beinge diseased. Who in shorte space recoueringe his health, and hauynge nowe sum­what lerned theyr language, beganne to growe into great estimation with the kynge and his subiectes, in soo muche that he was oftentymes the kynges Lieuetenaunt in his warres ageynst other princes his bortherers. This mans fortune was soo good, that all thynges prospered well that he tooke in hande. And albeit that he were not lerned, yet was he a vertuous and well meanynge man accordynge to his knowleage, and dyd religiously honoure the blessed virgin, bearynge euer about with hym her picture fayre paynted vpon paper & sowd in his apparell nere vnto his breste:Be not rashe in iudgement Signifyinge vnto the kyng, that this holynes was the cause of al his victories: per­suadynge hym to doo the lyke, and to cast away all his Zemes which were none other then the symilitudes of euyll spirites,Zemes, moste cruell enemyes and deuourers of owre sowles: And to take vnto hym the holy virgin and moother of god to bee his patronesse if he desyred all his affayres aswell in warre as in peace to succede prosperously. Also that the blessed virgyn woolde at noo tyme fayle hym, but bee euer redy to helpe him and his, if they woolde with deuoute hartes caule vppon her name. The maryner had soone persuaded the naked nation: And there vppon gaue the kynge (who demaunded the same) his pycture of the virgin, to whom he buylded and dedicate a chapell and an altare,A chapel builded to the picture of the virgin Mary euer after contemnynge and reiectynge his Zemes. Of these Zemes made of gossampine cotton to the similitudes of sprytes walkynge in the nyght which they of­tentymes see, and speake with them familierly, wee haue spoken sufficiently in the nynth booke of the fyrst Decade. Fur­thermore, accordynge to the institution of this maryner; when the soonne draweth towarde the faule, this kynge Commenda­tor with all his famely bothe men and women, resorte daylye to the sayde chapell of the virgin Marie,God re [...]pec­teth the infancie of fa [...]the for zeles sake where kneelyng on theyr knees and reuerently bawyng downe theyr heades, holdynge theyr handes ioyned togyther, they salute thimage of the virgin with these woordes: Aue Maria, Aue Maria. For fewe of them can rehearse any more woordes of this prayer. At [Page] Ancisus his beinge there, they tooke hym and his felowes by the handes, and ledde them to this chapell with reioysinge, sayinge that they woolde shewe theym maruelous thynges. When they were entered,One Religion turned into an other, hol­deth styl ma­ny th [...]nges of the fyrst. they poynted with theyr fyngers to the Image of the virgin altobeset and hanged abowte with ouches and iewels and many earthen pottes, fylled sum with sundry meates, and sume with water, rownde aboute all the tabernacle. For these thynges they offer to the image in the sleede of sacrifice, accordynge to theyr owlde supersticion towarde theyr Zemes. Beinge demaunded why they dyd thus, they answered,A strange fantasie. leaste the image shulde lacke meate if perhaps it shuld be a hungerd. For they most certenly beleue that ima­ges may hunger, and that they doo eate and drynke.

But what ayde and helpe they confesse that they haue had of the godly poure of this image, that is of the blessed virgin, it is a thynge woorthy to be harde, and most assuredly to bee taken for a truthe. For by the report of owre men, there is such feruēt godly loue & zeale in these simple men toward the holy virgin, that to them beinge in the daungers of warre ageynst theyr enemies, they doo in maner (yf I may soo terme it) compel her to descende from heauen to helpe them in theyr neces­sities.The effect of godly zeale. For such is the goodnes of god, that he hath lefte vn­to men in maner a pryce wherby wee may purchase hym with his holy angels and sayntes, that is to wytte, burnyng loue, charitie & zeale. Howe therfore can the blessed virgin at any time be absent frō thē which cal for her helpe with pure faith & feruent loue? Commendator him selfe, with al his noble mē and gentelmen, doo testifie with one voyce, that in a fought bat­tayle in the which this maryner was capitayne, bearyng with hym this picture of the virgin Marie,A miracle in the tyme of the battayle the Zemes of theyr ene­mies turned their backes and trembeled in the presence of the virgins Image and in the syght of them all. For euery of thē brynge theyr Zemes to the battayle, hopynge by theyr helpe to obteyne the victorie. Ye they say further, that duryng the tyme of the battayle, they sawe not only an Image, but a liuely woman clothed in fayre and whyte apparel, aydynge them ageinst theyr enemies: whiche thynge also the enemyes them selues acknowleaged,The virgin Mary▪ is pre­sent at the battayle. confessynge that on the contrary parte shee appeared to them, shakynge a septer in her hande with threatenynge countenaunce, whiche caused theyr hartes to [Page 74] shake and faynt for feare. But after that this maryner depar­ted from them, beinge taken into a shyppe of certeyne Christi­ans passynge by those coastes, Commendator declared that he with all his subiectes, continually obserued his institucions: In soo muche that beinge at contention with an other prince, which of theyr Zemes were moste holy and of greateste poure, the matter grewe to suche extremitie that they tryed it with hande strokes: And that in all these attemptes, the blessed virgin neuer fayled hym, but was euer presente in the brunte of the battayle, and gaue hym easye victorie with a smaule poure of men, ageynst a mayne armye of his enemies. Beinge demaunded with what woordes they cryed vppon the virgin Mary when they assayled theyr enemies, they answered that they had lerned noo other woordes of the mariners doctrine, but Sancta Maria adiuua nos, Sancta Maria adiuua nos: That is, holy Mary helpe vs, holy Marye helpe vs: And this also in the Spa­nysshe tonge. For he had lefte these woordes in the mouthes of all men.A maruelus experience of fayth Whyle they murthered and destroyed them selues thus on bothe sydes, they fell to entreatie of peace and agre­ed to trye the matter, not hande to hande by combatte of cer­teyne chosen for bothe parties as the maner was amonge the Romaynes and dyuers other nations in the owlde tyme, or by any slyght or policie, but that twoo younge men shulde bee chosen, for eche partie one, with theyr handes bounde fast be­hynde them in the playne fielde, bothe parties beinge sworne to acknowleage that Zemes to bee the better, which fyrst loo­sed the bandes of the younge man whiche stoode bounde for the tryall of his religion. Thus diuidinge them selues,Muche lyke vnto this, is redde in. Reg. xviii. and placeinge the sayde younge men before them in the syght of them al, with theyr handes fast bounde by theyr enemyes, the contrary parte cauled fyrst on theyr Zemes (that is, the deuyll to whose similitude theyr Images are made) who immediatly appered in his lykenes aboute the younge man that stoode bounde in the defence of Sathans kyngedome.The deuil appeareth in his lykenes

But as soone as Commendator with his coompanye cryed Sancta Maria adiuua nos, Sancta Maria adiuua nos, forthwith there appeared a fayre virgin clothed in whyte, at whose presence the deuell vanquisshed immediatly. But the virgin hauinge a longe rod in her hande, & putting the same on the bandes of the younge man that stoode for Commendator, his handes were loosed immediatly [Page] in the syght of them all, and his bandes founde about the handes of hym that stoode for the other partie,An other mi­racle. in somuch that they them selues fownde hym dowble bounde. But for all this, were not the enemies satissyed: querelinge that this thynge was doone by sum slyght or diuise of man, and not by the poure of the better Zemes. And there vppon requyred for thaduoydynge of all suspection, that there myght bee eyght graue and sage men appoynted, for eche syde foure, whiche shulde bynde the men in the syght of theim all, and also gyue iudgemente whether the thynge were doone withowte crafte or gyle. Oh pure simplicitie and constant fayth: Oh golden and blessed confidence. Commendator and his familiers, doubted not to graunte theyr enemies theyr requeste with lyke faythe wherwith the diseased woman obteyned healthe of the fluxe of her bludde,Math. 14. and wherby Peter feared not to walke on the sea at the syght of his master Christe. These younge men therfore were bounde in the presence of these eight graue men, and were placed within theyr lystes in the syght of bothe parties. Thus vppon a signe gyuen, when they cauled vppon theyr Zemes, there appered in the syght of them all,The deuyl appereth agein. a deuyll with a longe tayle, a wyde mouthe, greate teeth, and hornes, resem­blyng the similitude of the Image which the kyng being enemye to Commendator, honoured for his Zemes. As this deuyl at­tempted to loose the bandes of his cliente, the blessed virgin was immediatly presente as before at the caule of Commendator and his subiectes,The Uirgin Mary ouer­commeth the deuyll. and with her rodde loosed the bandes of her suppliant, which were ageyne lykewyse founde fast tyed aboute the handes of hym that stoode for the contrarye parte. The enemies therefore of Commendator, beinge stryken with greate feare and amased by reason of this greate miracle, confessed that the Zemes of the virgin was better thē their Zemes. For the better profe wherof, these pagans beinge bortherers to Commendator, Infidels conuerted by mi­racle▪ and baptised. which had euer before byn at continuall warre and enmitie with hym, when they had knowleage that Ancisus was arryued in those coastes, they sente ambasadoures vnto hym, to desyre hym to send them preestes of whom they might bee baptised: Where vppon he sent them twoo which hee had with hym there at that present. They baptised in one day a hundreth and thirtie of thinhabitantes, sumtyme enemyes to Commendator, but now his frendes & ioyned with him in aliance.

[Page 75]All suche as came to bee baptised, gaue the preestes of theyr owne liberalitie,The preeste & rewarde. eyther a cocke or a henne. But no capons: for they can not yetskyl how to carue theyr cocke chyckēs to make them capons. Also certeyne salted fysshes, and newe fyne ca­kes made of theyr breade: likewise certeyne foules franked and made fatte. When the preestes resorted to the shippes, syxe of these newe baptysed men accoompanied theym laden with vitailes, wherwith they ledde a ioyfull Easter. For on the Sunday two dayes before saynte Lazarus day, they depar­ted from Dariena, and touched at that tyme, onely to the cape or angle of Cuba nere vnto the Easte syde of Hispaniola. At the requeste of Commendator, Ancisus lefte with hym one of his coom­panie, to thintente too teache hym and his subiectes wyth o­ther his bortherers, the salutacion of the angell whiche we caule the Aue Maria. Aue Maria. For they thinke them selues to be soo much the more beloued of the blessed virgin, as they can reherse the more woordes of that prayer. Thus Ancisus takinge his leaue of kynge Commendator, directed his course to Hispaniola, from whiche he was not farre. Shortely after, he tooke his viage to Spayne,Ancisus vy­age to Spain and came to Valladoleto to the kynge, to whom he made greuous complaint of the insolencie of V [...]schus N [...]nnes, Ancisus com­playneth of Uaschuz. in so muche that by his procuremente, the Kynge gaue sentence a­geynste hym. Thus muche haue I thowght good (moste holy father) wherof to aduertyse yowr holynes as concernyng the religiō of these nations, not only as I haue byn instructed of Ancisus (wyth whom I was dayly couersante in the court and vsed hym familiarlye) but also as I was enformed of dyuers other men of greate autoritie, to thintente that yowre excel­lencie may vnderstande howe docible this kynde of men is, and wyth what facilitie they may bee allured to embrase owr religion. But this can not bee doone soodenlye.The haruest is grea [...], but the labourers are fewe. Yet we haue greate cause to hope that in shorte tyme they wilbe all drawen by litle and litle to the euangelicall lawe of Christe, to the great en­crease of his flocke. But let vs nowe returne to the messengers or procuratours as concerniynge the affayres of Dariena.

¶ The seuenth booke of the seconde decade of the supposed continente.

FRom Dariena to Hispaniola is eyghte dayes sai­linge and sumtymes lesse with a prosperous wynde.From Darie­na to hispaniola viii. dayes saylyng. Yet Quicedus and Colmenaris the procu­ratoursof Dariena, by reason of tempestes and contrary wyndes, could scarsely saile it in a hundrethe dayes. When they had taryed a fewe dayes in Hispaniola, and had declared the cause of the comminge to the admirall and the other gouer­nours, they tooke shippinge in two marchante shippes beinge redye furnysshed, which were also accustomed to saile too and froo betwene Spayne and the Ilande of Hispaniola. They departed from Dariena (as we sayde before) the fourthe day of the calendes of nouember in the yeare of Christ .1512, and came not to the courte before the calendes of May in the yeare fo­lowinge beinge the yeare of Christe .1513.The procura­tours of Dariena, are honorably recea­ued at the courte. At thyr commynge to the courte, Iohannes Fonseca (to whom at the begynnynge the charge of these affayres was committed, whom also for hys faithful seruice towarde the kinge, yowre holynes created ge­nerall commissarie in the warres ageynste the moores) recea­ued them honorably, as men comminge from the newe world, from naked nations, and landes vnknowen to other menne.

¶ By the prefermente therefore of the bysshope of Burges, Quicedus and Colmenaris were brought before the king, and declared theyr legacie in his presence. Suche newes and presentes as they brought, were delectable to the kinge and his noble men, for the newnes and straungnes therof. They also suior­ned with me often tymes.Their cōplexion is altered Theyr countenaunces doo declare the intemperatenes of the ayer and region of Dariena. For they are yelowe lyke vnto them that haue the yelowe gaundies: And also swolne. But they ascrybe the cause hereof, to the hunger which they susteyned in tyme past. I haue byn aduer­tised of thaffayres of this newe woorlde, not onely by these procuratours of Dariena, Of whom the autour had information and Ancisus, and Zamudius, but also by conference with Ba [...]ia the lawier, who ranne ouer a greate parte of those coastes. Likewyse by relation of Vincentius Annex the patrone of the shippes, and Alfonsus Nignus, both being men of greate experience and wel trauayled in those parties, beside [Page 79] many other, of whom wee haue made mention in other places For there came neuer any from thense to the court, but tooke greate pleasure to certifie mee of al thynges eyther by woorde of mouth or by wrytynge. Of many thynges therfore which I lerned of them, I haue gathered suche as to my Iudgemēt seeme moste worthy to satisfie them that take delyte in hysto­ries. But let vs nowe declare what folowed after the com­minge of the procuratours of Dariena. Therfore, before theyr arryuall there was a rumoure spreade in the courte, that the chiefe gouernoures and Lieuetenauntes Nicuesa and Fogeda, al­so Iohannes De la Gossa (a man of such reputacion that by the kyn­ges letters patentes he was named the greate master of the kynges shippes) were all peryshed by mischaunce:The greate master of the kynges ships And that those fewe which yet remayned alyue in Dariena, were at con­tencion and discorde amonge them selues: So that they ney­ther endeuoured theyr diligence to allure those simple natiōs to owre faythe, nor yet had regarde to searche the natures of those Regions. In consideration wherof, the kynge was de­termyned to sende a newe capitayne thyther whiche shulde re­store and set all thynges in good order, and put them owte of autoritie whiche hadde vsurped thempire of those prouinces withowte the kynges speciall commaundement. To this of­fice, was one Petrus Arias assigned,Petrus arias is e [...]ected go­uernour of Dariena. a man of greate prowes and a citisen of Segouia. But when the procuratours of Dariena had published in the courte howe greate a matter it was, and of what moment, many laboured ernestly to the kyng, to take the office owte of his handes. But the bysshop of Burges be­inge the kynges chiefe chaplayne, and one of the commissio­ners appoynted by hym in these matters, beinge aduertised hereof, came immediatly to the kynge, and spake to hym in this effect.Thoracion of the byshop. of Burges in the def [...]nce of Pe [...]us arias. May it please yowre hyghnes to vnderstand (most catholyke Prince) that wheras Petrus Arias a man of valiente corage and greate seruice, hath offered hym selfe to aduenture his lyfe in yowre maiesties affayres, vnder vncerteyne hope of gayne and moste certeyne perels, yet that notwithstandynge sum other haue ambiciously maliced his felicitie and prefermēt labouringe for thoffice whereto he is elected: It maye please yowre grace herein soo to shewe hym yowr fauour and permit hym to enioye his sayde office, as yowre maiestie doo knowe hym to bee a woorthy and meete man for the same, hauyng in [Page] tyme paste had greate experience of his prowesse and valianenesse, aswell in behauinge hym selfe as orderinge his souldi­ers, as yowr hyghnes may the better consyder if it shal please yowe to caule to remembrance his doinges in the warres of A­phrica,The warres of Aphrica. where he shewed hym selfe bothe a wyse Capitayne, and valient souldier. As concerninge his maners and vsages other wayes, they are not vnknowen to yowre maiestie, vn­der whose wynge he hath of a chylde byn browght vp in the courte, and euer founde faythfull towarde yowre hyghnesse. Wherfore, to declare my opinion vnder yowre graces fauour (whom it hath pleased to appoynt me a commissioner in these affayres) I thinke it were vngodly that he shuld bee put from his office at the sute of any other, especially beinge thereto moued by ambition and couetousnes: who perchaunce woold proue them selues to be the same men in the office if they shuld obteyne it, as they nowe shewe them selues in the ambitious desirynge of the same. When the bysshoppe had sayde these woordes, the kynge confirmed the election of Petrus Arias in more ample maner then before:Petrus Arias Lieuetenante of Dariena. wyllynge the byshoppe to ap­poynt hym a thousande and twoo hundreth souldiers at his charges, makynge hym a warrante to thofficers of his esche­ker to delyuer hym money in preste for the same purpose. Pe­trus Arias therfore beinge thus put in office and authorysed by the kynges letters patentes vnder his brode seale,Petrus Arias hath a thou­sand & tw [...]o hundreth mē appoynted at the kynges charges. chose a greate number of his souldiers in the court, and soo departed frome Valladoleto aboute the calend [...]s of October in the yeare 1513: And sayled fyrst to Ciuile beinge a verye ryche citie and well replenyshed with people: where by the kynges magistra­tes he was furnyshed with men and vytayles and other necessaries perteynynge to soo greate a matter. For the king hath in this citie erected a house seruinge only for thaffayres of the Ocean,A house in Ciuile appoin­ted to the af­fayres of India. to the which al they that goo or coome from the newe landes and Ilandes, resorte to gyue accomptes aswell what they cary thyther as what they brynge from thense, that the kynge may bee truly answered of his custome of the fyfte part bothe of golde and other thynges as wee haue sayde before. This house, they caule the house of the Contractes of Indi. Petrus Arias founde in Ciuile aboue twoo thousand younge men which made great sute to goo with hym:Perularia. lykewyse noo small number of couetous owlde men: of the whiche, many offered [Page 77] them selues to goo with him of theyr owne charges withowt the kynges stipende.Many profe them selues to go of they [...] owne char­ges. But leste the shippes shulde bee pestered with to great a multitude, or least vytayles shulde fayle them, the libertie of free passage was restraynt. It was also decre­ed that noo stranger might passe withowt the kynges licence. Wherfore I doo not a lyttle maruaile at Aloisius Cadamustus a venetian and wryter of the Portugales vyages,Aloisius Ca­damustus i [...] reproued. that he was not a shamed to wryte thus of the Spanyardes nauigations: we went: we sawe: we dyd. Wheras he neuer went, not any Uenetian sawe. But he stoule certeyne annotacions owte of the three first bookes of my fyrst Decade wrytten to Cardinal Ascanius and Arcimboldus, supposinge that I woolde neuer haue publysshed the same. It myght also happen that he came by the copie therof at the hande of sum ambasadoure of Uenice. For I haue graunted the copie to many of them, and was not daungerous to forbyd them to cōmunicate the same to other. Howe so euer it bee, this honeste man Aloisius Cadamustus feared not to chalenge vnto hym the frute of an other mans laboure. Of the inuentions of the Portugales (which surely are woonderfull) whether he haue wrytten that whiche he hath seene (as he sayth) or lykewise bereaued other men of the iuste com­mendations of theyr trauayles,The Port [...] gales inue [...] tions. I wyll not iudge, but am content to let hym lyue after his maner. Emonge the company of these souldiers, there were none embarked but suche as were licenced by the kynge, except a fewe Italians, Genues, who by frendshippe and sute were admitted for the Admirals sake younge Colonus, sonne and heyre to Christophorus Colonus the fyrst fynder of those landes. Petrus Arias therfore tooke shippyng in the ryuer Betis (nowe cauled Guadalqueuir) runnyng by the citie of Ciuile,The nauiga­tiō of Petrus Arias. aboute the beginnynge of the yeare of Christe .1514. But he loosed anker in an euyll houre.A shipwracke For suche a tempeste folowed shortly after his departure, that it rent in pieces two of his shippes, and soo tossed the other that they were enfor­ced to heaue ouer boorde parte of theyr vytayles to lyghten them. All such as escaped, sayled backe ageyne to the coastes of Spayne: where, beinge newely furnyshed and refreshed, by the kynges officers, they went forwarde on theyr viage. The master pylot of the gouernoures shyppe, was Iohannes Vesputius a Florentine, the neuie of Americus Vesputius, Americus Vesputius. who left hym as it were by discente of inheritance, thexperience of the mariners [Page] facultie, and knowleage of the sea, carde and compasse. But wee were aduertised of late by certeyne which came from His­paniola, that they had passed the Ocean with more prosperous wynde. For this marchaunt shyppe commynge from Hispaniola founde them landinge at certeyne Ilandes nere there aboute. But in the meane tyme whyle my importunate caulers on, Ga­leaceus Butrigarius and Iohannes Cursius, men studious by al meanes to gratifie yowre holynes, ceased not to put me in remembe­rance that they had one in a redines to depart into Italy, and taryed onely to cary with hym vnto yowre holynes these my fayre Nereides althowgh rudely decked, leaste I shulde bestow muche tyme in vayne, I haue let passe many thynges, & wyll reherse onely such as seeme in my iudgement moste woorthye memory, althowgh sumwhat disordered as occasion hath serued. So it is therfore that this Petrus Arias hath a wyfe named Helisabeth a Boadilla, A notable ex­emple of a valient woman. beinge niese by the broothers syde to the marques of Boadilla, which rendered the citie of Segouia to Fernando and Helisabeth princes of Spayne at such tyme as the Portugales inuaded the kingdome of Castile: by reason wherof they were encoraged fy [...]ste to resyste, and then with open warre to assayle and expulse the Portugales for the great tre­sure which kynge Henry brother to queene Helisabeth hadde gathered togyther there.kynge henry. This marquesse whyle shee lyued, dyd euer shewe a manly and stoute mynde, bothe in peace and warre, so that by her counsayle manye noble thynges were browght to good effecte in Castile: vnto this noble woman, the wyfe of Petrus Arias was niese by her brothers syde. Shee folowyng the magnanimitie of her aunt, perceauinge her hus­bande nowe furnyshyng hym selfe to depart to the vnknowen coastes of the newe woorlde, and those large tractes of lande and sea, spake these wordes vnto hym. My moste deare and welbeloued husbande,The wyfe of Petrus Arias. we owght not nowe to forget that frō owre younge yeares we haue byn ioyned togyther with the yoke of holy matrimonie to thintente that wee sh [...]lde soo lyue togyther and not a sunder durynge the tyme of owre naturall lyfe. Wherefore for my parte to declare my affection herein, yowe shall vnderstande, that whyther so euer yowre fatal de­stenye shall dryue yowe, eyther by the furious waues of the greate Ocean, or by the manyfoulde and horrible daungers of the lande, I wyll surely beare yowe coompany. There can no [Page 78] perell chaunce to me so terrible, nor any kynde of death so cruell, that shal not bee much easyer for me to abyde, then to liue so farre seperate from yowe. It were muche better for me to dye, and eyther to bee cast into the sea to bee deuoured of the fysshes, or on the lande to the Canibales, then with continu­all mournynge and bewaylinge, to lyue in deathe and dye ly­uinge, whyle I consume in lookyng rather for my husbandes letters then for hym selfe. This is my full determinacion, not rashely nor presentely excogitate, nor conceaued by the lyght phantasie of womans brayne, but with longe deliberatiō and good aduisement. Nowe therfore choose to whether of these twoo yowe wyll assente: Eyther to thruste yowre swoorde in my throte, or to graunte me my requeste. As for the ch [...]ldren which god hath giuen vs as pledges of owr inseperable loue, (for they had foure sonnes and as many dowghters) shal not stay me a moment. Let vs leaue vnto them suche gooddes and possessions as haue byn left vs by owre parentes and frendes wherby they may lyue amonge the woorshipful of theyr order. For other thynges I take no care. When this noble matrone of manly vertue had fynisshed these woordes, her husbande seinge the constant mynde of his wyfe, and her in a redynes to doo accordynge to her woordes, had no hart to denye her lo­uinge peticion: but embrasinge her in his armes, commended her intente and consented to her requeste. Shee folowed hym therfore as dyd Ipsicratea her Mithridates with her heare hange­inge loose aboute her shulders. For shee loueth her husbande as dyd Halicarnassea of Caria, hers beinge deade, and as dyd Ar­temisia her Mausolus: We haue also had aduertisemēt sence their departure that she (being browght vp as it were amonge soft fethers) hath with noo lesse stoute corage susteyned the rorin­ges and rages of the Ocean, then dyd eyther her husband or any of the maryners brought vp euen amonge the sourges of the sea. But to haue sayde thus much hereof, this shal suffice. Let vs nowe speake of other thynges no lesse woorthy memorie. Therfore, whereas in the fyrste Decade we haue made mencion of Vincentius Annez Pinzonus, ye shal vnderstande that he accoompanyed Christophorus Colonus the Admirall in his fyrst vy­age, and afterwarde made an other vyage of his owne char­ges with onely one shyppe. Ageyne, the fyrste yeare after the departinge of the Capitaynes Nicuesa and Fogeda, he ran ouer [Page] those coastes from Hispaniola, The thyrde nauigation of Uincentiu [...] Pinzonus. and searched all the southe syde of Cuba from the Easte to the weste, and sayled rownde about that Ilande which to that day for the greate length thereof, was thowght to haue bin part of the continent or firme land, al thowgh sume other say that they dyd the lyke. Vincentius An­nez therfore, knowyng nowe by experience that Cuba was an Ilande, sayled on further, and found other landes westward from Cuba, Cuba. but such as the Admirall had fyrst touched. Wherfore, beinge in maner encompased with this newe lande, tur­ninge his course towarde the lefte hande, and rasing the coa­stes of that lande by the East, ouerpassinge also the mouthes of the goulfes of Beragua, Beragua. Vraba, Vraba. and Cuchibachoa, Cuchibacoa. he arryued at the Region which in the fyrst Decade we cauled Paria and Os Draconis:Paria. Os Draconis And entered into the greate goulfe of fresshe water, which Colonus discouered, beinge replenished with great abundance of fysshe, and famous by reason of the multitude of I­landes lyinge in the same, beinge distant Eastwarde from Cu­riana aboute a hundreth and thirtie myles,Curiana, in the which tract are the Regions of Cumana and Manacapana, Cumana. Manacapana, whiche also in the syxte booke of the fyrst Decade we sayde to bee Regions of the large prouince of Paria, where many affirme to bee the gre­teste plentie of the beste pearles,Plentie of Pearles. and not in Curiana.

The kinges of these regions (whom they caul Chiacones, as they of Hispaniola caule theym Cacici) beinge certified of the comminge of owre men, sente certeyne spyes to enquire what newe nati­on was arryued in theyr coastes, what they browght, and what they woolde haue: and in the meane tyme furnysshed a number of theyr Canoas (whiche they caule Chichos) with men armed after their maner. For they were not a lytle astonisshed to beholde owre shippes with the sayles spreade, wheras they vse no sayles, nor can vse but smaule ons if they woolde, by reason of the narownes of theyr canoas. Swarmynge ther­fore aboute the shippe with theyr canoas (which we may well caule Monoxyla, Monoxyla. The Barbarians assayle owre men beinge in theyr shyppes. bycause they are made of one hole tree,) they feared not to shute at owr men beinge yet within their ships and keepinge theym selues vnder the hatches as safely as yf they had byn defended with stone waules. But when owre men had shotte of certeyne pieces of ordinance ageynst theym they were soo discomfited with the noyse and slawghter therof that they droue them selues to flight.The vse of gunnes. Beinge thus dispar­cled, [Page 79] owr men chased them with the shippe bote, tooke many, and slewe many. When the kynges harde the noyse of the gunnes, and were certyfied of the losse of their men, they sent ambasadours to Vincentius Agnes to entreate of peace, fearinge the spoyle of theyr goodes and destruction of theyr people, if owre men shuld [...] coomme alande in theyr wrathe and furye. They desyred peace therfore,Great abun­dance of gold and franken­sence. as could bee coniectured by their signes and poyntinges: For owre men vnderstoode not one woorde of theyr language. And for the better proofe that they desired peace, they presented owre men with three thou­sand of those weights of gold that the Spanyardes caule Cas­ [...]ellanum Aureum, which they commonly caule Pesum. Olibanum. Also a gre­ate barell of woodde full of moste excellente masculine fran­kensence, weighing about two thousande and syxe hundreth poundes weight after eight ounces to the pounde: Whereby they knewe that that lande browght furthe greate plentie of frankensence.Sabea, [...]is a contrey in A­rabie, which bringeth forth frankensence For there is noo entercourse of marchaundies betwene thinhabitantes of Paria and the sabeans beinge soo farre distante, wheras also the of Paria knowe nothynge with owte theyr owne coastes.Paria. With the golde and frankensence whiche the presented to owre men, they gaue them also a gre­ate multitude of theyr peacockes,Peacockes which wee cau [...]e Turkye cockes. bothe cockes and hennes, deade and alyue, aswell to satisfie theyr present necessitie, as also to cary with theym into Spayne for encrease. Lykewyse certeyne carpettes, coouerlettes, table clothes and hanginges made of gossampine silke fynelye wrought after a straunge diuise with plesante & variable colours, [...]arpets and couerlett [...]s fynely wrou­ght. hauing golden belles & suche other spangles and pendauntes as the Italians caule Sonaglios, and the Spanyardes Cascaueles, hanging at the purfles therof. They gaue theym furthermore speakinge popingiais of sundry colours as many as they woolde aske.Popyngayes. For in Paria, there is no lesse plentie of popingiais, then with vs of dooues or sparous, Thinhabitantes of these Regions both men and women are appareled with vestures made of gossampine cot­ton,Thapparell of the [...]h [...]bittants o [...] paria the men to the knees, and the women too the calfe of the legge. The fasshion of theyr apparell, is symple and playne muche like vnto the Turkes. But the mens, is double and quilted like that whiche the Turkes vse in the warres. The princes of Paria, are rulers but for one yeare:Rule [...]s for one yeare. But their autoritie is noo lesse emonge the people both in peace and warre, then [Page] is thautoritie of other kynges in those Regions. Theyr villa­ges are buylded in coompasse, [...] greate goulfe of Pa­ria. along by the bankes of all that greate goulfe. Fyue of theyr princes came to owre men wyth theyr presentes, whose names I thowght worthy to bee put in this historie in remembrance of soo notable a thinge Chiaco­nus Chiauaccha, (that is the prince of Chiauaccha, for they caule princes or kinges Chiaconos) Chiaconus Pintiguanus, Chiaconus Chamailaba, Chiaconus Polomus, and Chiaconus Potto. The goulfe beinge fyrste founde of the admirall Colonus, they caule, Baia Natiuitatis, Baia Natiui­tatis the gret goulfe of Pa­ [...]ia. bycause he entered into the same in the day of the natiuitie of Christe: But at that tyme he only passed by it withowte anye further searching. and Baia in the Spanysshe tong, signifieth a goulfe. When Vincentius had thus made a league with these Princes, folowinge his appoynted course, he founde many regions to­warde the East,Uincentuis maketh a league with v. princes. of Paria. desolate by reason of diuers finddes and ouer flowynges of waters: also many standynge pooles in dyuers places, and those of excedynge largenes. He ceased not to folowe this tracte vntyll he came to the poynte or cape of that moste longe lande. This poynte semethe as though it woolde inuade the monte Atlas in Aphrica. Mount Atlas in aphrike. For it prospectethe towarde that parte of Aphrike, whiche the portugales caule Caput Bonoe Sperantiae. The poyntes or capes of the mount Atlas, are rough and saluage nere vnto the sea. The cape of Bona Speranza, ga­therethe thirtie and foure degrees of the Southe pole, cauled the pole antartike: But that poynte, onely seuen degrees. I suppose this lande to bee that, which I fynde in owlde wry­ters of Cosmographie to bee cauled the greate Iland Atlan­tike,The great I­land atlantike. withowt any further declaringe eyther of the sytuation, or of the nature therof.

¶ The eight booke of the seconde decade of the supposed continente.

WHen Iohan the king of portugale lyued which was predicessoure to hym that nowe reigneth,Contention betwene the Castilians & Portugale [...] for the newe landes there arose a great contention betwene the Castilians and Portugales as concerninge the do­minion of these newe founde landes. The Por­tugales, bycause they were the firste that durst attempte to searche the Ocan sea sence the memorie of man, [Page 80] affirmed that all the nauigations of the Ocean, owght to per­teyne to theym onely. The Castilians argued on the contrarie parte, that what so euer god by the ministratiō of nature hath created on the earth, was at the begynnynge common emong men: And that it is therfore lawfull to euery man to possese suche landes as are voyd of Christian inhabitours. Whyle the matter was thus vncerteynly debated, bothe parties agreed that the controuersie shulde bee decerned by the bysshope of Rome, and plighted faithe to stande to his arbitrimente. The kyngedome of Castile was at that tyme gouerned by that great Queene Helisabeth with her husbande: for the roialme of Castile was her dowerye.The bysshop of Rome diui­deth the land Shee also and the kynge of Por­tugale, were cosyn germaynes of two systers: by reason wherof the dissention was more easely pacified. By thassent therfore of both parties, Alexander the bysshop Rome, the .vi. of that name, by thautorite of his leaden bull, drewe a right line from the North to the South a hundreth leaques westwarde withowte the paralelles of those Ilandes whiche are cauled Caput Viride or Cabouerde, Cabouerde loke decade i. lib. iii Within the compase of this lyne (al­thowgh soomme denye it) faulethe the poynte of this lande wherof we haue spoken, which they caule Caput Sancti Augustini, otherwyse cauled Promontorium Sancti Augustini, that is, saynt Au­gustines cape or poynte. And therfore it is not lawful for the Castilians to fasten foote in the beginnynge of that lande. Vin­centius Annez therfore, departed from thense, beinge aduertised of thinhabitantes, that on the other syde of the hyghe moun­taynes towarde the South, lyinge before his eyes, there was a Region cauled Ciamba, The golde [...] region of Ci­amba. which browght foorth greate plentie of golde. Of certeyne captiues whiche he too [...]e in the goulfe of Paria (which certenly perteyneth to the dominion of Castile) he browght sume with hym to Hispaniola, and lefte them with the younge Admirall to lerne owre language. But he hym selfe, repayred to the courte to make ernest sute to the kynge that by his fauoure, he myght bee gouernour of the Iland of Sancti Iohannis (otherwyse cauled Burichena, The Iland of S. Iohannes beinge distante from Hispaniola onely .xxv. leaques) bycause he was the fyrst fynder of golde in that Ilande. Before Vincentius made sute for this office, one Don Christopher a Portugale, the soonne of the countie of Camigna, was gouernoure of the Ilande: whom the Canibales of the other Ilandes slewe, with all the Christian [Page] men that were in the same, excepte the byshop and his famili­ers, which fledde and shyfted for them selues, forsakynge the church and all the ornamentes thereof. For yowre holynes hath consecrated fyue byshoppes in these Ilandes at the re­quest of the most catholyke kynge.Fyue byshop­pes of the I­land made by th [...] bysshop of Rome. In Sancto Dominico being the chiefe citie of Hispaniola, Garsia de Padilla, a reguler fryer of the or­der of saynt Fraunces, is byshop. In the towne of Concepti­on, doctor Petrus Xuarez of Deza: And in the Ilande of saynte Iohn or Burichena, Alfonsus Mansus a licenciate, beinge bothe ob­seruantes of thinstitucion of saynt Peter. The fourth, is fryer Barnarde of Mesa, a man of noble parentage, borne in Toledo, a preacher, and byshop of the Ilande of Cuba. The fyfte is Iohannes Cabedus, a fryer preacher, whom yowre holynes annoyn­ted mynister of Christ, to teache the Christian faithe amonge the inhabitantes of Dariena. The Canibales shall shortely re­pent them, and the bludde of owre men shalbe reuenged: And that the sooner, bycause that shortly after they had committed this abhominable slaughter of owre men, they came ageyne from theyr owne Ilande of Sancta Crux (otherwyse cauled AyAy) to the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis. The Caniba­les of the I­land of Sancta Crux. and slewe a kynge whiche was a frende to owre men, and eate hym and all his famely, vtter­ly subuertinge his vyllage, vppon this occasion that viola­tinge the lawe of hostage, he had slayne seuen Canibales whiche were lefte with hym by composition to make certeyne ca­noas, bicause the Iland of Sancti Iohannis beareth greater trees and apter for that purpose, then doth the Ilande of Sancti Crux the chiefe habitacion of the Canibales. These Canibales yet remaynynge in the Ilande, certeine of owre men sayling from Hispaniola, chaunced vppon them. The thynge being vnderstode by thinterpretoures, owre men quarelynge with theym and caulynge them to accompte for that mischeuous deede, they immediatly directed theyr bowes and venemous arrowes a­geynst them, and with cruell countenaunces threatened thē to bee quyet, least it shulde repent them of theyr commyng thyther. Owre men fearynge theyr venemous arrowes (for they were not prepared to fyght) gaue them signes of peace. Being demaunded why they destroyed the vyllage, and where the kynge was with his famelye, they answered that they rased the vyllage and cutte the kynge with his famelie in peeces & eate them in the reuenge of theyr seuen woorkemen: And that [Page 81] they had made faggottes of theyr bones to cary theim to the wyues and chyldren of theyr slayne woorkemen, in wytnesse that the bodyes of theyr husbandes and parentes lay not vn­reuenged: and therewith shewed the faggottes of bones to owre men: who beinge astonyshed at theyr fiercenes and cru­eltie, were enforced to dissimble the matter and houlde theyr peace, quarelynge noo further with them at tha [...] tyme. These and suche other thynges doo dayly c [...]aunce, the which I doo let passe least I shulde offende the eares of yowr holynes with suche bluddy narrations. Thus haue wee sufficiently digres­sed from the regions of Beragua and Vraba beinge the chiefeste foundations of owre purpose.Beragua and Uraba. Wee wyll nowe therefore en­treate sumewhat of the largenes and depthe of the ryuers of Vraba:The ryuers of Uraba. Also declare bothe what they and the landes whiche they runne through doo brynge foorth: lykewise of the greatnes of the lande from the Easte to the West, and of the bredth therof from the Southe to the North, and what theyr opini­on and hope is of thynges yet vnknowen in the same. Wee wyll therfore beginne at the newe names wherwith the Spa­nyardes haue named these prouinces sence they were vnder the dominions of the Christians.

¶ The nynth booke of the seconde Decade, of the supposed Continent.

BEragua therfore, they cauled Castella Aurea, that is golden Castile: And Vraba they named An­daluzia Noua, that is, newe Andalusia.Beragua, cauled Castella aurifera, and Uraba, Andaluzia noua. Sum caule Peru, Noua Castilia. And lyke as of many Ilandes which they subdu­ed, they choose Hispaniola for the chiefe place of theyr habitacion, soo in the large tract of Paria, they appoynted theyr coloine or bydyng place in the twoo regions of Vraba and Beragua, Beragua and Uraba, regi­ons of Paria▪ that all suche as attempte and vyages in those coastes, may resorte to them as to safe portes to bee refreshed when they are wery or dry­uen to necessitie. All owre seedes, and plantes,The fruteful­nes of Uraba do nowe maruelously encrease in Vraba. Lykewyse blades, settes, slippes, graffes, suger canes, and suche other as are brought from o­ther places to those regions, as also beastes and foules as we haue sayde before. O maruelous frutefulnes. Twentie dayes [Page] after the seede is sowne, they gather rype cucumers, and such lyke, But colwortes, beetes, Letuse, Borage are rype within the space of ten dayes. Gourdes, melones, and pompones, within the space of .xxviii. dayes. Dariena hathe many natiue trees and frutes of dyuers kyndes with sundry tastes,The frutfu [...] ­nes of Dari­ena. & hol­some for the vse of mē:Dyuers hol­somy frutes of [...]rees. of the which I haue thowght it good to descrybe certeyne of the best. They noorysshe a tree which they caule Guaiana, Guaiana, that beareth a frute much resemblynge the kynde of citrous which are commonly cauled limones, of taste sumwhat sharpe myxt with swetenes. They haue also abun­dance of nuttes of pynetrees, and great plentie of date trees,Pine trees. Date trees. whiche beare frutes bygger then the dates that are knowen to vs: but they are not apte to bee eaten for theyr to much so­wernes. Wylde and baren date trees, growe of them selues in sundry places, the branches wherof they vse for biesommes, and ea [...]e also the buddes of the same. Guarauana, Guarauana being higher and bygger then the orange tree, bringeth furth a great frute as bygge as pome citrous.

Ther is an other tree much lyke to a chestnut tree whose frute is lyke to the bygger sort of fygs, beinge holsome & of plesant taste. Mameis, Mameis, is an other tree that bringeth foorthe frute as bygge as an orange, in taste nothynge inferioure to the beste kyndes of melones. Guananala, Guananala. beareth a frute lesse then any of the other, but of sweete sauoure lyke spice, and of delectable taste. Houos, Houos. is an other tree whose frute bothe in shape and taste, is much lyke to prunes, but sumwhat bygger. They are surely persuaded that this is the Myrobalane-tree.Mirobalani, Hogges fed with miroba­lanes These growe soo abundantely in Hispaniola, that the hogges are fedde with the frute therof as with maste amonge vs. The hogges lyke this kynde of feadynge soo well, that when these frutes wax rype, the swyneherdes can by no meanes keepe them owte of the wooddes of these trees: by reason wherof, a greate mul­tytude of them are becoome wylde. They also affirme, that in Hispaniola, swynes flesshe is of much better taste and more hol­some then mutton.Swynes fle [...]she of better tast and more holsum then mutton. For it is not to bee doubted, but that dy­uers kyndes of meates do engender sundry tastes and quali­ties in suche as are noryshed therwith. The moste puissaunte prince Ferdinandus, declared that he had eaten of an other frute browght from those landes, beinge full of scales with keyes mu [...]h lyke a pine apple in forme and coloure, but in tendernes equal to melopepones, and in taste excedyng al garden frutes. [Page 82] For it is noo tre, but an herbe much lyke vnto an archichoke, or Acantho. The kynge hym selfe, gaue the cheefest commendation to this. I haue eaten none of these frutes. For of a great number which they browght from thense,Frutes putri­fyed on the sea. only one remayned vncorrupted, the other being putrified by reason of the longe vyage. All suche as haue eaten of theym newely gathered in theyr natyue soyle, doo maruelou [...]ly commende theyr swete­nes and pleasaunt taste. They dygge also owte of the ground certeyne rootes growynge of theim selues, whiche they caule Betatas, Betatas, much lyke vnto the nauie rootes of Mylayne, or the greate puffes or musheroms of the earth. Howe soo euer they bee dressed, eyther fryed or sodde, they gyue place to noo such kynde of meate in pleasant tendernes. The skyn is sumwhat towgher then eyther of nauies or mussheroms, and of earthy coloure: But the inner meate therof, is verye whyte. These are noorysshed in gardens, as we sayde of Iucca in the fyrste Decade. They are also eaten rawe, and haue the taste of rawe chestnuttes, but are sumwhat sweeter. Wee haue spoken suf­ficiently of trees, herbes, and frutes. Wee wyll nowe there­fore entreate of thynges sencitiue. The laundes and desolate pastures of these regions, are inhabited and deuoured of wild and terrible beastes, as Lions, Tygers,Lions and Tygers. and such other mon­sters as we nowe knowe, and haue byn descrybed of owlde autoures in tyme past. But there is especially one beast engendered here,A straunge beast. in which nature hath endeuoured to shewe her cun­nyng. This beaste is as bygge as an oxe, armed with a longe snoute lyke an Elephant, and yet no Elephant. Of the colour of an oxe and yet noo oxe. With the houfe of a horse, and yet noo horse. With eares also much lyke vnto an Elephant, but not soo open nor soo much hangyng downe: yet much wyder thē the eares of any other beaste. Of the beast which beareth her whelpes about with her in her seconde b [...]lly as in a purse (beinge knowen to none of the owlde wryters) I haue spokē in the fyrst Decade which I doubte not to haue coome to the handes of yowre holynes. Let vs nowe therfore declare what resteth of the fluddes and ryuers of Vraba. The ryuers of Uraba. The ryuer of Dariena fauleth into the goulfe of Vraba with a narowe chanel,The ryuer of Darien fau­leth into the goulfe of Uraba. scarsly able to beare the canoas or lyghters of that prouince, and runneth by the vyllage where they chose theyr dwellynge place. But the ryuer in the corner of the goulfe which we sayde that [Page] Vaschus passed by, they found to bee .xxiiii. furlonges in bredth (which they caule a league) and of exceadynge depthe,A league is xxiiii furlōges as of twoo hundreth cubettes, faulynge into the goulfe by dyuers mouthes. They say that this ryuer fauleth into the goulfe of Vraba, lyke as the ryuer Ister (otherwyse cauled Danubius, Danubius. and Danowe) fauleth into the sea Pontike, and Nilus into the sea of Egypte: wherfore they named it Grandis, Grandis or Rio grandis. that is great: whiche also they affirme to nooryshe many and great Crocodyles,A crocodile is much lyke an eute, but of excedyng bignes. as the owld wryters testifie of Nilus, and especially as I haue lerned by experience, hauinge sayled vp and downe the ryuer of Nilus when I was sent ambasadoure to the Soldane of Alcayr at the commaundement of the moste catholyke Kynge.

What I may therfore gather owte of the wrytynges of so many lerned autours as concerninge the ryuer of Nilus, The autoure of this booke was in Egipt The riuer Nilus in Egypte I knowe not. For they say that nature hath gyuen two riuers of that name to water the lande, whether they wyll them to sprynge owte of the mountaynes of the moone or the soonne,Montes, or owte of the toppes of the rowgh mountaines of Ethiopia:Lunae. Affirming one of the same to faule into the goulfe of Egypte toward the Northe, and the other into the South Ocean sea. What shall wee saye in this place? Of that Nilus in Egypte, there is noo doubte. The Portugales also whiche sayle by the coastes of the Ethiopians cauled Nigritae, The Portugales nauigaci­ons. and by the kyngedome of Me­linda passinge vnder the Equinoctiall lyne, amonge theyr m [...]ruelous inuentions haue founde an other towarde the South, and ernestly affirme the same to bee also deriued frō the mountaynes of the moone: And that it is an other chanell of Nilus, bycause it bryngeth foorth Crocodyles, whereas it hathe not byn reade before tyme that any other ryuer noorysshed Croco­dyles sauinge onely Nilus. This ryuer, the Portugales caule Senega. The ryuer Senega▪ an other chanell of the ryuer of Nilus. It runneth throwgh the Region of the Nigritas, beinge very frutefull towarde the north shore: but on the southe syde sandie and rowghe. Crocodiles are also engendred herein. What shall wee then say of this thyrde: ye I may wel say the fourth.Crocodiles. The thyrde & fourth Nilus. For I suppose them also to bee Crocodiles which Colonus with his coompany founde armed with scales as harde as shelles in the ryuer cauled Delagartos wherof wee haue made mention before.Delagartos. Shall wee say that these ryuers also of Darien and Vraba, haue theyr originall frome the mountaynes of the moone, wheras they sprynge owte of the nexte mountaynes, [Page 83] and can by noo meanes haue the same originall with Nilus in Egypte, or that in Nigrita, The ryuers springe owt of the moun­taynes or els that in the kyngedome of Melinda, from whense soo euer they are deryued. Whereas these other (as we haue sayde) springe owt of the next mountaines whiche deuyde an other southe sea with noo greate distaunce from the North Ocean. Wherfore it appeareth by experience of such as haue trauayled the worlde in owre time, that other waters besyde the ryuer of Nilus in Egypte,Crocodiles engendred in o­ther ryuers besyde Nilus [...]n Egypte. maye lykewyse brynge foorth Crocodiles. In the marysshes also and fennes of the Regions of Dariena, are founde greate plentie of Phe­sauntes and peacockes, (but not of variable coloures) with many other kyndes of byrdes and foules vnlyke vnto owres,Byrdes and foules. as well apte to bee eaten, as also to delite the eares of menne with pleasaunt noyse. But owre Spanyardes, bycause they are ignorant in foulynge, take but fewe. Also innumerable popingayes of sundry kindes are found chattering in the groues of those fenny places. Of these there are sume equall to Ca­pons in byggenes, and sume as lyttle as sparowes. But of the diuersitie of popingayes,Popingayes. we haue spoken sufficientely in the fyrst Decade. For in the rase of this large lande, Colonus hym selfe browght and sent to the courte a greate number of euery kynde,A philosophi­cal discourse as cūcerning thoriginal of springes and ryuers. the which it was lawfull for all the people to beholde, and are yet dayly browght in lyke maner. There re­mayneth yet one thynge moste woorthy to bee put in hystorye: The which I had rather to haue chaunced into the handes of Cicero or Liuie, then into myne. For the thynge is soo maruey­lous in my estimation, that I fynde my wytte more entange­led in the description hereof, then is sayde of the henne when shee seeth her younge chekyn inwrapped in towe or [...]laxe. The breadth of that lande from the North Ocean to the south sea is only syxe dayes iourney by relation of thinhabitantes.The breadth of the [...]ande at Uraba frō the North O­cean to the South sea. The multitude therfore and grea [...]nes of the ryuers on the one side and on the other syde the narowenes of the lande, brynge me into suche doubte howe it can coome to passe, that in soo little a space of three dayes iourney, measurynge from the hygh toppes of those mountaynes, I doo not vnderstande howe soo many and soo great ryuers, may haue recourse into this north sea. For it is to bee thought that as many doo flowe towarde thinhabitantes of the southe. These ryuers of Vraba are but smaule, in comparison of many other in those coastes. For the [Page] Spanyardes say, that in the tyme of Colonus, they founde and passed by an other ryuer after this,A ryuer of maruelous byggenes loke the first decade the ix. boke. whose goulfe faulynge in to the sea, they affirme to bee lyttle lesse then a hundreth my­les in the fyrste coastes of Paria, as wee haue sayde elsewhere. For they saye that it fauleth from the toppes of hyghe moun­taynes with soo swyfte and furious a course, that by the vio­lence and greatnes therof, it dryueth backe the sea althowgh it bee rowghe and enforced with a contrary wynde. They all affirme lykewyse, that in all the large tracte therof, they felt noo sower or salte water, but that all the water was fresshe, sweete, and apte to bee droonke. Thinhabitantes caule this ryuer Maragnonum: The great ryuer Maragnonus. l [...]ber. i [...]. decade i. And the regions adiacent to the same, Ma­riatambal, Mariatambal. Camamorus, Camamorus. and Paricora. Paricora. Besyde those ryuers whiche I haue named before, as Darien, Grandis, Dabaiba, Beragua, Sancti Ma­thei, Boius ga [...]ti, Delagartos, & Gaira, they which of late haue searched those coastes, haue founde many other. Deliberatinge there­fore with my selfe, from whense these mountaynes beinge soo narowe and nere vnto the sea on bothe sydes, haue such great holowe caues or dennes of suche capacitie, and from whense they are fylled to cast foorth such abundance of water, hereof also askynge them the opinions of the inhabitantes, they af­firme them to bee of dyuers iudgementes herein: Alleagynge fyrst the greatnes of the mountaynes to bee the cause, whiche they say to bee very hygh, which thynge also Colonus the first fynder therof affirmeth to bee trewe: Adding there vnto that the Paradise of pleasure is in the toppes of those mountaines whiche appeare from the goulfe of Paria and Os Draconis, Paradice. Loke .vi, [...]oke fyrst decade. as he is fully persuaded. They agree therfore that there is greate caues within these mountaynes: but it resteth to consy [...]er frō whense they are fylled.The sea. If therefore all the ryuers of fresshe waters by thoppinion of manye, do soo flowe owte of the sea as dryuen and compelled throwghe the pa [...]sages or pores of the earth by the ponderous weyght of the sea it selfe, as wee see them breake furth of the sprynges and directe their course to the sea ageyne,The land en­closed with two seas. then the thynge is lesse to bee marueyled at here then in other places. For wee haue not redde that in a­ny other place twoo such seas haue enuironed any lande with soo narowe lymittes. For it hath on the right syde, the great Ocean where the sonne goeth downe on the lefte hande: And an other on the other syde where the sonne ryseth, nothynge [Page 84] inferioure to the fyrst in greatenes, for they suppose it to bee myxte and ioyned as all one with the sea of East India.

This lande therefore being burdened with so great a weight on the one syde and on the other (yf this opinion bee of anye value) is enforced to swalowe vp such deuoured waters, and ageyne to cast foorth the same in open springes and streames. But if wee shall denye that the earth draweth humours of the sea, and agree that all fountaynes or sprynges are engende­red of the conuersion or turnynge of ayer into water distilling within the halowe places of the montaynes (as the most part thinke) we wyll gyue place rather to thautoritie of them whi­che stycke to those reasons, then that owre sense is satisfyed of the full truth therof. Yet doo I not repugne that in sume caues of mountaynes, water is turned into ayer.Conursion of ayer into wa­ter in the ca­ues of moun­tayn [...]s. For I my selfe haue seene, howe in the caues of manye mountaynes in Spayne, in maner showers of rayne doo faule continually: And that the water gathered by this meanes, doth send furth certeyne ryuers by the sydes of the mountaynes, wherwith al suche trees as are planted on the s [...]iepe or foote of the moun­taynes, as vines, Oliue trees, and suche other, are watered. And this especially in one place: As the ryght honorable Lo­douike the Cardinall of Aragonie moste obsequious to yowre holynes, and twoo other byshoppes of Italy, wherof the one is Siluius Pandonus, and the other an Archebysshop (whose name and tytle I doo not remember) can beare me wytnes. For whē wee were togyther at Granata, lately delyuered from the domi­nion of the Moores, and walked for owre pastyme to certeine pleasaunte hylles (by the whiche there ranne a fayre ryuer) Whyle Cardinall Lodouike occupied hym selfe in shutynge at byrdes whiche were in the bushes nere vnto the ryuer, I and the other twoo bysshops determined to clime the mountaynes to searche thoriginall and springe of the ryuer: for wee were not farre from the toppes thereof. Folowynge therefore the course of the ryuer, wee founde a greate caue in which was a continuall faule of water as it had byn a [...]houre of rayne:Showers of rayne in the caues of montaynes the water wherof, faulyng into a trenche made with mans hand, encreaseth to a ryuer, and runneth downe by the sydes of the mountaynes. The lyke is also seene in this famous towne of Valladoleto (where we nowe suiorne) in a certeyne greene close, not past a furlonge distant from the waules of the towne. I [Page] graunte therfore that in certeyne places by conuersion of the ayrie dewe into water within the caues of suche mountaynes, many sprynges and ryuers are engendred. But I suppose that nature was not sollicitate to brynge furthe suche greate fluds by this so smaule industry. Twoo reasons therfore, do sound beste to my iudgement: whereof the one is, the often faule of rayne:The often fal of ra [...]ne and cont [...]nuall sprynge time. The other, the continuall autumne or sprynge tyme which is in those regions beinge soo nere vnto the Equinocti­al that the common people can perceaue no difference betwene the length of the day and the night throwgh owt al the yeare whereas these two seasons are more apte to engender abun­dance of rayne then eyther extreme wynter or feruent summer An other reason in effect much lyke vnto the fyrst,The Equinoc [...]iall. is this: If the sea bee full of pores, and that by the pores therof beinge opened by the Southe windes,The pores of the sea & the South wynd. wee shal consent that vapours are lyfted vp wherof the watery cloudes are engendred, this lande must needes bee moysted with moo shoures then anye o­ther, yf it bee as narowe as they saye, and enuironed with twoo mayne seas collaterally beatinge on the same. Howe so euer it be: I can not but gyue credit to the report of such worthy men as haue recourse to those regions: And can noo lesse then declare the same albeit it may seeme incredible to sume ignorant persons not knowynge the poure of nature to whome Plinie was persuaded that nothynge was impossible.Nothinge im­possible to the poure of naure. Wee haue therfore thought it good to make this discourse by the way of argument, least on the one syde, men of good lernyng and iudgement, and on the other syde, suche as are studious to fynde occasions of quarelynge in other mens wrytynges, shulde iudge vs to bee so vndescreete lyghtly to gyue creditte to euery tale not beinge consonant to reason. But of the force and greate violence of those fresshe waters,The cause of the greatnes and force of the goulfe. which repulsinge the sea make so greate a goulfe (as wee haue sayde) I thinke the cause therof to bee the greate multitude of fluddes and ryuers, which beinge gathered togither, make so great a poole: and not one ryuer as they suppose. And for as muche as the mountaynes are excedynge hyghe and stiepe,hygh and stiepe hylles I thinke the vi­olence of the faule of the waters to be of such force, that this conflicte betwene the waters, is caused by thimpulsion of the poole that the salte water can not enter into the goulfe. But here perhappes sume wyll marueyle at me why I shulde mar­ueyle [Page 85] soo muche hereat, speakynge vnto me scornefully after this maner. Why dothe he soo marueyle at the greate ryuers of these Regions? Hathe not Italye his Eridanus, The fludde Eridanus. named the kynge of ryuers of the owlde wryters? Haue not other regi­ons also the lyke? as wee reede of Tanais, Tanais. Ganges, Ganges. and Danubius, Danubius. which are sayde soo to ouercoome the sea, that freshe water may bee drawne fortie myles within the fame. These menne I woolde satisfie with this answere. The famous ryuer of Padus in Italye (whiche they nowe caule Po, Padus. and was of the Greekes cauled Eridanus) hath the greate mountaynes cauled Alpes diuidinge Fraunce,Alpes. Germanie, and Pannonie from I­talye, lyinge at the backe therof as it were bulwarges agger, full of moysture: And with a longe tracte receauinge Ticinum with innumerable other great ryuers,Ticinum. fauleth into the sea A­driatike.The sea Adriatike, sume caule the go [...]lfe of Uenes. The lyke is also to bee vnderstode of the other. But these ryuers (as owre men were enformed by the kynges) faul into the Ocean sea with larger and fuller chanels nere hand. And sume there are which affirme this lande to bee very large in other places althowgh it bee but narowe here. There commeth also to my remembrance an other cause: the whiche al­thowgh it bee of no greate force,An other rea­son yet doo I entende to wryte it. Perhappes therfore the length of the lande reachyng far from the Easte to the weste, if it bee narowe, may bee a helpe hereunto. For as wee reade that the ryuer Alpheus passethe through the holowe places vnder the sea from the citie of Elis in Peloponoso, The ryuer Alpheus. and breaketh foorth at the fountayne or sprynge Arethusa in the Iland of Sicilia, Arethusa so is it possible that these mountaynes may haue suche longe caues perteynynge vnto theim,Longe caues in the moun­taynes. that they may be the receptacles of the water passing through the landes beinge farre distante: And that the same waters commynge by soo longe a tracte, may in the way bee greately encreased by the conuersion of ayer into water, as wee haue sayde. Thus muche haue I spoken freely, permittinge bothe to them whiche doo frendely enterprete other mens doinges, and also to the malicious scorners, to take the thynge euen as them lysteth. For hetherto I can make no further declaration hereof. But whē the truth shalbe better knowē, I wyl do my diligence to commit the same to wryting. Nowe therefore, forasmuche as we haue spoken thus muche of the breadth of this land, we entēd to describe the length & forme of the same.

¶ The tenth booke of the seconde Decade, of the supposed Continent.

THat lande reacheth foorth into the sea euen as doth Italy, althowgh not like the legge of a man as it doth.The length and forme of the Iland. Cap. S. Augusti. But I nowe compare a Pigmean or a dwarfe to a giant. For that part therof which the Spaniardes haue ouer runne from the sayde Easte poynt which rea­cheth towarde the sea Atlantike (the ende not beinge yet founde towarde the Weste) is more then eyght tymes longer then Italye.Eyght tymes bygger t [...]en Italy besyde that part whiche the Por­tugales po [...] ­sesse. Italy is in length a thou [...]and and two hundreth myles, and in breadth foure hundreth and ten. And by what reason I am moued to say eyght tymes, yowre holynes shall vnderstande. From the tyme therefore that I fyrste determined to obeye their re­questes who wylled me fyrste in yowre name to wryte these thynges in the laten tonge, I dyd my endeuoure that al thinges myght coome foorth with dewe tryall and experience.

Wherupon I repayred to the byshoppe of Burges beinge the chiefe refuge of this nauigation. As wee were therfore secretly togyther in one chamber, we had many instrumentes perteynynge to these affayres as globes and manye of those mappes which are commonly cauled the shipmans cardes, or cardes of the sea.Cardes of the sea. Of the which, one was drawen by the Portugales, wherunto Americus Vesputius is sayde to haue put to his hande, beinge a man moste experte in this facultie and a Florentyne borne:The carde of Americus Uesputius. who also vnder the stipende of the Portugales, hadde sayled towarde the south pole many degrees beyond the Equinoctiall. In this carde we founde the fyrst front of this land to bee brooder then the kynges of Vraba had persuaded owre men of theyr mountaynes. To an other, Colonus the Admiral whyle he yet lyued and searched those places had gyuen the beginnynge with his owne handes:The carde of Colonus. Wherunto Bartholomeus Co­lonus his brother and Lieuetenaunt had addid his iudgement, for he also, had sayled aboute those coastes. Of the Spany­ardes lykewyse, as many as thought them selues to haue any knowleage what perteyned to measure the lande and the sea, drewe certeyne cardes in parchement as concernyng these na­uigations. Of all other, they most esteeme them which Iohan­nes de la Cossa the coompanion of Fogeda (whom wee sayde to bee slayne of the people of Caramairi in the hauen Carthago, The carde of Iohannes de la Cossa.) and an [Page 86] other expert pylot cauled Andreas Moralis, The carde of Andreas mo­ralis. had set foorth. And this aswell for the greate experience which they bothe hadde (to whom these tractes were as wel knowen as the chambers of theyr owne houses) as also that they were thought to bee cunninger in that parte of Cosmographie which teacheth the description and measuringe of the sea. Conferringe therefore all these cardes togyther, in euery of the whiche was drawen a lyne expressinge, not the myles,The maner of measuring the cardes. but leagues after the maner of the Spanyardes, we tooke owre compases and beganne to measure the sea coastes after this order. From that poynt or fronte which we sayde to bee included within the lyne perteynynge to the Portugales iurisdiction,Loke decade i. liber. iii. beinge drawen by the paralelles of the Ilandes of Cabouerde, The Iland of Cabouerde. but a hundreth leagues further towarde the weste (which they haue nowe also sear­ched on euery syde) we founde three hundreth leagues to the enterance of the ryuer Maragnonum: Maragnonum And from thense to Os Draconis, Os Draconis seuen hundreth leagues: but sumwhat lesse in the description of sume: For they doo not agree in al poyntes exquisite­ly. The Spanyardes wyll that a league conteyne foure myles by sea and but three by lande.A league. From Os Draconis, to the cape or poynt of Cuchibacoa, Cuchibachoa. which beinge pa [...]sed, there is a goulfe on the lefte hande, we measured three hundrethe leagues in one carde, and much thereabout in an other. From this poynt of Cuchibacoa, to the region of Caramairi in which is the hauen Car­thago (which sum caule Carthagena) we found about a hundreth and seuentie leagues.Caramairi. Carthago. From Caramairi to the Ilande Fortis,,The Iland Fortis. fiftie leagues. From thense to the goulfes of Vraba amonge the which is the vyllage cauled Sancta Maria Antiqua where the Spanyardes haue apoynted theyr habitacion,Vraba. only .xxxiii. leagues. From the ryuer of Vraba in the prouince of Dariena to the ry­uer of Beragua where Nicuesa hadde intended to haue fastened his foote if god hadde not otherwyse decreed,Beragua. we measured a hundreth and thirtie leagues. Frome Beragua to that ryuer whiche wee sayde of Colonus to bee cauled Sancti Matthei, R. Sancti Mat­thei .i in the which also Nicuesa loosinge his carauell, wandered in greate calamities, we founde in owre cardes, onely a hundreth and fortie leagues: Yet many other which of late tyme haue coome from these partes, haue descrybed many moo leagues in this tracte frō the ryuer of Sancti Matthei: In which also, they place dyuers ryuers, as Aburema with the Ilande cauled Scutum Cateba R. Aburema Scutum Cateba [Page] lyinge before it, whose kynges name is Facies combusta. Lyke­wise an other ryuer cauled Zobraba: R. Zobroba. after that, Vrida:Vrid [...]. and thē Duraba in the which gold is founde.Duraba, Furthermore, many goodly hauens, as Cerabaro and Hiebra, Cerabaro, Hiebra, soo cauled of thinhabitan­tes. And thus if yowre holynes wyll conferre these numbers togyther, yowe shall fynde in this accompte, a thousand fiue hundreth twentie and fyue leagues,Note. whiche amounte to f [...]ue thousande and seuen hundreth myles from the poynt of Sancti Matthei, R. d [...] los perdides which they caule Sinum perditorum: that is, the goulfe of the loste men. But we may not leaue here. For after this, one Astar Ouetens [...]s, otherwyse named Iohannes Dias de Solis, The nauigation of I [...]an­nes Dias. borne in Nebrissa (which bringe [...]h foorth many lerned men) saylinge frome this ryuer towarde the weste, ouer ranne manye coastes & lea­gues: But the myddeste of that shore, bendethe towarde the North: And is not therfore directly placed in order with the other. Yet may we gather by a diameter or ryght lyne, about three hundreth leagues. Hereby maye yowe gather what is the length of this lande.The eleuatiō of the pole. But of th [...] breadth, perhappes wee shall hereafter haue further knowleage. Let vs nowe speake sumwhat of the varietie of the degrees of the eleuation of the pole starres. This lande therfore, althowgh it reache foorth from the East into the Weste, yet is it crooked and hathe the poynt bendynge so toward the south, that it loseth the sight of the North pole,The iuri [...]dic­tion of the Po [...]tugales. and is extendend beyonde the Equinoctial lyne seuen degrees towarde the South pole. But the poynt herof, perteyneth to the iurisdiction of the Portugales as we haue sayde. Leauinge this poynt and saylinge toward Paria the north starre is seene ageyne,Paria, and is so much the more lyf­ted vp, in howe much the region enclyneth more towarde the Weste. The Spanyardes therfore, haue dyuers degrees of eleuations, vntyl they come to Dariena beinge their chiefe station and dwellynge place in those landes.Darlena. For they haue forsaken Beragua, Beragua. where they found the North pole eleuate .viii. degrees But from hense the lande doth soo muche bende towarde the North, that it is there in maner equall with the degrees of the strayghtes of Hercules pyllers:hercules pyl­lers. especially yf wee measure certeyne landes founde by them towarde the Northe syde of Hispaniola. Emonge the which, there is an Ilande, about three hundreth and .xxv. leagues from Hispaniola, as they say whiche haue searched the same, named Boiuca or Agnaneo, in the which [Page 87] is a continual sprynge of runnynge water of such maruelous vertue, that the water therof beinge dronk,The Ilande Boiuca or Agnaneo. perhappes with sume dyete, maketh owld men younge ageyne. And here must I make protestacion to yowre holynes, not to thynke this to bee sayde lyghtly or rashely.A water of maruelous vertue. For they haue soo spredde this rumour for a truth throwghowt all the courte, that not onely all the people, but also many of them whom wisedome or for­tune hath diuided from the common sort, thinke it to be true. But if yowe shal aske my opinion herein,The renoua­tion of age. I wyl answere that I wyll not attribute so greate poure to nature: but that god hath noo lesse reserued this prerogatiue to hym selfe, then to searche the hartes of men, or to gyue substance to priuation, (that is) beinge to noo beinge: Excepte we shall beleue the fa­ble of Colobis of Eson renouate, to bee as trewe as the wrytin­ges of Sibylla Erythrea. Albeit perhappes the scoles of phisitians and naturall philosophers wyll not muche stycke to affirme that by thuse of certeyne secreate medecines and dyete,The acciden­tes of age may bee hyd­den. the accidentes of age (as they caule them) may be longe hydden and deferred, which they wyll to bee vnderstoode, by the renoua­cion of age. And to haue sayde thus much of the length and breadthe of these Regions, and of the rowghe and hugious mountaynes with theyr watery caues, also of the dyuers de­grees of that lande, I thinke it sufficient. But I thowght it not good to let passe what chaunced to these miserable men amonge theyr generall calamities. I remember that when I was a chylde, mee thowght my bowelles grated and that my spirites were maruelouslye troubeled for verye pitie, when I readde in the poet Uirgyl howe Achemenides was lefte of Vlysses vpon the sea bankes amonge the giantes cauled Cyclopes. Achemenides, Note: Vlyss [...]s. Note: Encas. where for the space of many dayes from the departinge of Vlyss [...]s vn­tyll the commynge of Encas he eate none other meate but only berryes and hawes. But owre vnfortunate Spanyardes whiche folowed Nicuesa to inhabite Beragua, Extreme hunger. woolde haue estemed hawes and berryes for greate delicates. What shulde I heare speake of the heade of an asse bowght for a greate price, and of such other extremities as men haue suffered in townes be­seaged?This was at the [...]iege of hieru [...]alem. After that Nicuesa hadde determyned to leaue Beragua for the barrennes of the soyle, he attempted to searche Por [...]um Bellum, Portus B [...]llus and then the coastes of the poynt cauled Marmor, Ma [...]mo [...]. if he myght there fynde a place more fortunate to inhabite. In this [Page] meane tyme, so greuous famen oppressed his souldiers, that they neyther absteyned from eatinge of mangie dogges which they had with them aswell for theyr defence as for huntynge (for in the warre ageynst the naked people,Mangy dogs eaten. dogges stoode thē in greate steade) nor yet sumtymes from the slayne inhabitan­tes. Fo [...] they founde not there any frutefull trees or plentie of foules as in Dariena, but a barren grounde and not meete to bee inhabited. Here certeyne of the souldiers made a bargein with one of theyr felowes for the price of a leane dogge, who also was almoste deade for hunger:A mangy dog dere sold. They gaue the owner of the dogge many of those pieces of golde which they caule Pesos or golden Castellans. Thus agreinge of the price, they fleid the dogge to bee eaten, and caste his mangie skynne with the bones of the heade hangynge therto, amonge the bushes. The day folowynge, a certeyne foot [...]man of theyr company, chaunced to fynde the skynne beinge nowe full of maggottes and stynkynge. He brought it home with hym, sodde it, and eate it. Many resorted to hym with theyr dysshes for the brothe of the sodde skynne,Broth of a mangy dogs skynne. proferinge hym for euerye dysshefull a piece of golde. An other founde twoo toades and sodde them which a sicke man bought of hym for twoo fyne shertes curi­ously wrought of lynen intermyxt with golde.Toades eatē Certeyn other wanderinge abowte to seeke for vytayles, founde in a pathe­way in the myddest of a fyelde, a deade man of thinhabitan­tes whiche had byn slayne of his owne coompanye and was nowe rotten and stynkynge.A deade man eaten. They drewe hym a syde, dismemberde hym secreatly, rosted hym and eate hym, therewith as­swagynge theyr hunger as yf they had byn fedde with phea­sauntes. One also, which departinge from his companions in the nyght season, went a fyshyng amonge the reedes of the marysshes, lyued only with slyme or mudde for the space of certeyne dayes, vntyll at the lengthe creepinge and almoste deade, he founde the way to his felowes. And thus these mi­serable men of Beragua vexed with these and suche other aflic­tions, were browghe from the number of seuen hundreth thre score & ten souldiers, scarsely to fortie, beinge nowe also ad­ded to the coompany of them in Dariena. Fewe were slayne of thinhabitantes. But the resydewe consumed by famen, brea­thed owt theyr wery sowles, openynge a waye to the newe landes for such as shal coome after them, appeasinge the fury [Page 88] of the barbarous nations, with the price of theyr bludde.Note. Consyderinge therfore after these stormes, with what case other men shall ouerrunne and inhabite these landes, in respecte to the calamities that these men haue suffered, they shall seeme to goo to bryde feastes where all thynges are redy prepared ageynst their commynge. But where Petrus Arias arryued with the kynges nauie and newe supply of men,Petrus Arias whom the Spanyardes caule Ped [...]arias. to this houre I knowe no certentie. What shall chaunce herafter I wyll make diligente inquisition if I shall vnder­stande this to bee acceptable to yowre holynes. Thus I byd yowe hartely farewell: from the courte of the mooste Catholyke kynge, the daye beefore the nones of December, in the yeare of Christe, M. D. XIIII.

¶The fyrst booke of the thyrde Decade, to the bysshoppe of Rome Leo the tenth.

I Was determyned (moste holye father) to haue closed vp the gates to this newe worlde, supposinge that I had wandered farre enowgh in the coastes therof, while in the meane time newe letters were brought me frome thense, which caused me ageyne to take my penne in hande. For I receaued letters not only from certeyne of myne acquaintaunce there, but also frome Vaschus Nunnez whome we sayde by the confidence of his owne poure with his confetherates,Ua [...]chus Nunn [...]z, gouernor of Dariena. to haue vsurped the gouernaunce of Dariena after the reiecting of Nicues [...] and Ane [...]sus, Lieuetenantes. By his letter wrytten after his warlyke maner, wee vnder­stand that he hath passed ouer the mountaynes, diuidyng the Ocean knowen to vs,The newe south Ocean. from the other mayne sea on the south syde of this lande hetherto vnknowen. His epistell is greater then that cauled Capreensis de Seiano. But wee haue gathered out of that and other, onely suche thynges as we thowght moste woorthy to bee noted. Vaschus soo behaued hym selfe in these affayres, that he dyd not onely pacifie the kynges displeasure [Page] conceaued ageynst hym, but also made hym so fauorable and gracious good lorde towarde hym, that he rewarded him and his coompanions with many honorable gyftes and priuileges for theyr attemptes. Wherfore I desyre yowre holynes to inclyne yowre attentiue cares, and to consyder with a ioyfull mynde what they haue browght to passe in these great enter­pryses. [...]mmendati­ [...] of the Spa [...]ardes. For this valiante nation (the Spanyardes I meane) haue not onely with greate paynes and innumerable dangers subdued to the Christian empire, infinite hundre [...]es and legi­ons, but also myriades of men. Vaschus Nunnez therfore, whe­ther it were that he was impacient of Idlenes (for a valiente mynde can not rest in one place or bee vnoccupyed) or leaste a­ny other shulde preuent hym in soo great a matter (suspecting the newe gouernour Petrus Arias) or being moued by both these causes, [...] Ualient mynd can not [...]ee ydle. and especially for that the kynge had taken displea­sure with hym for such thynges as he had doone before, toke thaduenture vppon hym with a fewe men to brynge that to passe which the sonne of kynge Comogrus thought could hard­ly haue byn doone with the ayde of a thousande men, [...] desperate [...]duenture wherof Petrus Arias was appoynted capitayne for the same purpose. As­semblynge therfore certeyne of the owlde souldiers of Dariena, and many of those whiche came lately from Hispaniola, allured by the fame of greater plentie of golde,Uaschus his v [...]age toward [...]he golden [...]ountaynes. he gathered an armye of a hundreth fourescore and tenne men. Thus beinge fur­nysshed and redie to take his vyage by sea, whyle the wynde serued hym, he departed frome Dariena with one brygantine and tenne of theyr boates whiche they caule Canoas as wee haue sayde. Fyrst therfore arryuynge in the dominion of Careta kynge of Coiba and frende to the Christians,Careta kynge of Coiba and leauynge his shyppe and boates there, he made his deuout prayers to almyghtie god, and therwith went forwarde on his iourney by lande toward the mountaynes. Here he fyrst entered into the region of kynge Poncha, kyng Poncha who fledde at his commyng as he had doone before. But Vaschus sent messengers to hym by the conduct of certeyne of Careta his men, promysinge hym frendsh [...]p and defence ageynst his enemies, with many other benefites. Poncha thus entysed with the fayre speache and frendely pro­fers bothe of owre men and of the Caretans, came to owr men gladly and wyllyngely makynge a league of frendshippe with them, Vaschus enterteyned hym very frendely, and persuaded [Page 89] hym neuer therafter to stande in feare. Thus they ioyned handes, embrased, and gaue greate gyftes the one to the o­ther to knytte vp the knotte of contin [...]all amitie. Ponc [...]a gaue Vaschus a hundreth and ten poundes weyght of golde,A hundreth & x. poundes weyght of golde. of [...]hat pounde which the Spanyardes caule Pesum. He had no grea­ter plentie of golde at this tyme, by reason he was spoyled the yeare before as we haue sayde. Vaschus to recompence one benefyte with an other, gaue hym certeyne of owre thynges,Strange thinges are coun­ted precious. as counterfet rynges, Christal stones, copper cheynes & brase lettes, haukes belles, lokynge glasses, and suche other fyne stuffe. These thynges they set much by and greately esteeme. For suche thynges as are straunge, are euery where counted precious. He gaue also to Poncha certeyne axes to fell trees: which he accepted as a princely gyfte, bycause they lacke I­ren and all other metals except golde:Lacke of [...]ren. by reason wherof they are enforced with greate laboure to cut theyr trees to buylde theyr houses, and especially to make theyr boates holowe withowte instrumentes of Iren, with certeyne sharpe stones whiche they fynde in the ryuers.A stone in the steede of Irē. Thus Vaschus leauynge all thynges in safetie behynde hym, marched forwarde with his armye towarde the mountaynes, by the conducte of certeyne guydes and labourers which Poncha had gyuen hym, as well to leade hym the way, as also to cary his baggages and open the straightes through the desolate places and craggy rockes full of the dennes of wylde beastes. For there is seldoome en­tercourse or byinge and sellynge betwene these naked people, bycause they stand in neede of fewe thynges and haue not the vse of money.Superflu [...] ­ties hynder libertie. But yf at any tyme they exercise any bartering they doo it but nere hande, exchangynge golde for housholde stuffe with theyr confines whiche sumewhat esteeme the same for ornamente when it is wrough [...]. Other superfluities they vtterly contemne, as hynderances of theyr sweete libertie, for asmuch as they are gyuen only to play and Idelnes. And for this cause, the high wayes which lye betwene theyr regions are not much worne with many iorneys. Yet haue theyr scoutes certeyne priuie markes whereby they knowe the waye the one to inuade the others dominions, and spoyle and infeste them selues on bothe sydes with mutual incursions priuilie in the nyght season. By the helpe therfore of theyr guydes and labourers, with owre carpenters,Carpenters. he passed ouer the horrible [Page] mountaynes and many greate ryuers lyinge in the way, ouer the which h [...] made brydges eyther with pyles or trunkes of trees.Brydges. And here doo I let passe manye thynges whiche they su [...]fered for lacke of necessaries, beinge also in maner ouer­come with extreme laboure, leaste I shulde bee tedious in re­hersinge thynges of smaule value. But I haue thought it good not to omitte suche doinges as he had with the kynges by the waye. Therefore or euer he came to the toppes of the hygh mountaynes, he entered into a Region cauled Quarequa, The region of Quarequa. and mette with the kynge thereof cauled by the same name, with a greate hande of men armed after theyr maner, as with bowes and arrowes, longe and brode two handed swordes made of wodde, longe staues hardened at the endes with fy­er, dartes also and slynges. He came proudely and cruelly a­geynst owre men, and sent messengers to them to byd theym stande and procede no further: demaundynge whyther they went and what they hadde to doo there.kinge Quare­qua is dryuen to flyght. Herewith he came foorth and shewed hym selfe beinge appareled with al his nobilitie: but the other were all naked. Then approchinge to­warde owre men, he thretened thē with a lions countenance to depart from thense except they woolde bee slayne euery mothers sonne. When owre men denyed that they woolde goo backe, he assayled them fiercely. But the battayle was sone fyny [...]ed. For as soone as they harde the noyse of the har­gabu [...]es,hargabus [...]es. they beleued that owre menne caryed thunder and lyghtenynge about with them. Many also beinge slayne and sore wounded with quarels of crossebowes,Crossebow [...]s they turned their backes and fledde. Owre men folowynge them in the chase, hewed them in pieses as the butchers doo flesshe in the sham­welles, from one an arme, from an other a legge, from hym a buttocke,vi. C. Barbarians are s [...]aine from an other a shulder, and from sume the necke from the bodye at one stroke. Thus, syxe hundreth of them with theyr kynge, were slayne lyke brute beastes. Vaschus founde the house of this kynge infected with most abhominable and vnnaturall lechery.Unnatural le­chery. For he founde the kynges bro­ther and many other younge men in womens apparell, smoth & effeminately decked, which by the report of such as dwelte abowte hym, he abused with preposterous venus. Of these abowte the number of fortie, he commaunded to bee gyuē for a pray to his dogges. For (as we haue sayd) the Spaniardes [Page 90] vs [...] he helpe of dogges in their warres ageynst the naked peo­ple whom they inuade as fiercely and rauenyngely as yf they were wylde boares or hartes.The vse of dogges in the warre agenst the naked Barbarians. In soo muche that owre Spa­nyardes haue founde theyr dogges noo lesse faythful to them in all daungiours and enterpryses, then dyd the Colophoni­ans or Castabalenses which instituted hole armies of dogges soo made to serue in the warres, that beinge accustomed to place them in the fore froonte of the battayles, they neuer shrunke or gaue backe. When the people had harde of the se­uere punysshement which owr men had excecuted vppon that fylthy kynde of men,Naturaul ha­tred of vnna­tural sinne. they resorted to theim as it had byn to Hercules for refuge, by violence bryngyng with them al such as they knewe to bee infected with that pestilence, spettynge in theyr faces and cryinge owte to owre men to take reuenge of them and rydde them owte of the worlde from amonge mē as contagious beastes. This stinkynge abhomination hadde not yet entered amonge the people,Palatini. but was exercised onely by the noble men and gentelmen. But the people lyftinge vp theyr handes and eyes toward heauen,I wolde all men were of this opinion. gaue tokens that god was greuously offended with such vyle deedes. Affirmynge this to bee the cause of theyr soo many thunderinges, lyght­nynge, and tempestes wherwith they are soo often troubeled: And of the ouerflowinge of waters which drowne theyr sets and frutes, whereof famenne and dyuers diseases insue, as they simplye and faythfully beleue, although they knowe none other god then the soonne, whom onely they honoure, thinkynge that it dooth bothe gyue and take awaye as it is pleased or offended. Yet are they very docible,The harue [...] is great & the woorkemen but fewe. and easye to bee allured to owre customes and religion, if they had any teachers. In theyr language there is nothynge vnpleasaunte to the eare or harde to bee pronounced, but that all theyr woordes may bee wrytten with latin letters as wee sayde of thinhabitantes of Hispaniola. It is a warlyke nation,warre [...]yke people. & hath byn euer hetherto molestous to theyr bortherers. But the re­gion is not fortunate with frutful ground or plentie of gold. Yet is it full of greate barren mountaynes beinge sumewhat colde by reason of theyr heyght.The hygher the cou [...]der. And therfore the noble men and gentelmen are apparelled. But the common people lyue content onely with the benefytes of nature. There is a regi­on not past two dayes iourney distant from Quarequa, in which [Page] they founde only blacke Moores:A region of black moores and those excedynge fierce and cruell. They suppose that in tyme paste certeyne blacke mores sayled thether owt of Aethiopia to robbe: & that by [...]hippewracke or sume other chaunce, they were dryuen to those mountaynes. Thinhabitantes of Quarequa lyue in con­tinuall warre and debate with these blacke men. Here Vaschus le [...]uinge in Quarequa many of his souldiers (which by reason they were not yet accustomed to such trauayles and hunger,Diseases of change of ayer & dyet. fell into dyuers diseases) tooke with hym certeyne guydes of the Quarequatans to conduct hym to the toppes of the mountaynes. From the palaice of kynge Poncha, to the prospect of the other south sea,The south sea. is only syxe dayes iorney: the which neuerthelesse by reasō of many hynderances and chaunces, and especially for lacke of vytayles, he coulde accomplyshe in noo le [...]se then .xxv. dayes. But at the length, the seuenth daye of the calendes of October,Ua [...]chus is coome to the fyght of the newe south sea. he behelde with woonderinge eyes the toppes of the hygh mountaynes shewed vnto hym by the guydes of Quarequa, from the whiche he myght see the other sea soo longe looked for, and neuer seene before of any man commynge owte of owre worlde. Approchinge therefore to the toppes of the mountaynes, he commaunded his armye to stey, and went him selfe alone to the toppe, as it were to take the fyrst possession therof.Prayer. Where, faulynge prostrate vppon the grounde, and raysinge hym selfe ageyne vpon his knees as is the maner of the Christians to pray, lyftynge vppe his eyes and handes towarde heauen, and directinge his face towarde the newe founde south sea, he poored foorth his humble and deuout prayers before almyghtie God as a spirituall sacrifice with thankes gyuing,God rayseth the poore frō the dungehyl that it had pleased his diuine maiestie to reserue vnto that day the victorie and praise of so greate a thynge vnto hym, beinge a man but of smaule witte and knowleage, of lyttle experience and base parentage.

When he had thus made his prayers after his warlike maner he beckened with his hande to his coompanions to coome to hym, shewynge them the greate mayne sea heretofore vnkno­wen to thinhabitantes of Europe, Aphrike, and Asia. Here ageyne he fell to his prayers as before: desyringe almyghtie God and the blessed virgin to fauour his beginninges, and to gyue hym good successe to subdue those landes to the glorie of his holy name and encrease of his trewe religion. All his [Page 91] coompanions dyd lykewyse, and praysed god with loude voyces for ioye. Then Vaschus, with no lesse manlye corage then Hanniball of Carthage shewed his souldiers Italye and the promontories of the Alpes,hanniball of Carthage. exhorted his men to lyft vp their hartes, and to behoulde the lande euen nowe vnder theyr feete, and the sea before theyr eyes, whiche shulde bee vnto them a full and iust rewarde of theyr great laboures and tra­uayles nowe ouerpa [...]sed. When he had sayde these woordes, he commaunded them to raise certeine heapes of stones in the steede of alters for a token of possession.Uaschus ta­keth possessi­on of the mountaynes Then descendynge from the toppes of the mountaynes, least such as might come after hym shulde argue hym of lyinge or falshod, he wrote the kynge of Castelles name here and there on the barkes of the trees bothe on the ryght hande and on the lefte: and raysed heapes of stones all the way that he went, vntyll he came to the region of the nexte kynge towarde the south whose name was Chiapes. kynge Chia­pes. This kynge c [...]me foorthe ageynste hym with a greate multitude of men: threateninge and forbyddynge him not onely to passe through his dominions, but also to goo no further. Herevppon, Vaschus set his battayle in array,A battayle. and exhorted his men (beinge nowe but fewe) fiercely to assayle theyr enemies, and to esteeme theym noo better then dogges meate as they shulde bee shortly. Placeinge therfore the har­gabusiers and masties in the forefroonte, they saluted kynge Chiapes and his men with su [...]h a larome,Chiapes is d [...]yuen to f [...]yght. that when they hard the noyse of the gunnes, sawe the flames of fyer, and sme [...]te the sauour of brymstone (for the wynde blewe towarde them) they droue them selues to flyght with suche feare leaste thun­derboultes and lyghtnynges folowed theim, that manye fell downe to the grounde: whom owre men pursuinge, fyrst keepinge theyr order, and after breakyng theyr array, slewe but fewe and tooke many captiue. For they determined to vse no extremitie, but to pacifie those Regions as quie [...]lye as they myght. Enteringe therfore into the palaice of kynge Ch [...]apes, Vaschus commaunded many of the captiues to bee loo [...]ed [...] lynge them to search owte theyr kynge,Ua [...]chus sen­ [...]th for k [...]ng [...]. and to [...] to coome [...]hyther: And that in soo doinge, he woolde h [...]e his frende and profer hym peace, besyde ma [...]y [...] [...]enefites. But if he refused to coome, it shulde turne to the destruction of hym and his, and vtter subuersion of his contrey. [...]nd [Page] that they myght the more assuredly do this message to Chiape [...] he sent with them certeyne of the guydes whiche came with hym from Qnnrequa.

Thus Chiapes beinge persuaded aswel by the Quareqans who coulde coniecture to what ende the matter woolde coome by thexperience whiche they had seene in them selues and theyr kynge, as also by the reasons of his owne men to whome Vaschus hadde made soo frendely promyses in his behalfe, came foorthe of the caues in the whiche he lurked, and submytted hym selfe to Vaschus, Chiapes sub­mitteth hym selfe to Uas­chus. who accepted hym frendelye. They ioy­ned handes, embrased the one the other, made a perpetuall league of frendeshippe, and gaue greate rewardes on bothe sydes. Chiapes gaue Vaschus foure hundreth poundes weyght of wrought goulde of those poundes whiche they caule Pesos:iiii.C. pounds weyght of wrought gold. And Vaschus recompensed hym ageyne with certeyne of owre thynges. Thus beinge made freendes, they remayned togy­ther a fewe dayes vntyll Vaschus souldiers were coome which he lefte behynde hym in Quarequa. Then caulinge vnto hym the guydes and labourers which came with hym from thense he rewarded them liberallye and dismissed theym with than­kes. Shortly after, by the conduct of Chiapes hym selfe, and certeyne of his men, departinge from the toppes of the mountaynes, he came in the space of foure dayes to the bankes of the newe sea: where assemblynge al his men togyther with the kynges scribes and notaries, they addicted al that maine sea with all the landes adiacent there vnto to the dominion and Empire of Castile.Uaschus ad­dicteth the newe land & sea, to the do­minion of Castile. Here he left part of his souldiers with Chiapes that he myght theselier searche those coastes. And ta­kyng with hym nyne of theyr lyghters made of one hole tree (which they caule Culchas as thinhabitantes of Hispaniola caul them Canoas) and also a bande of fourescore men with certeine of Chiapes men, he passed ouer a greate ryuer and came to the region of a certeyne kynge whose name was Coquera. kynge Coquera is dryuen to flygh [...]. He at­tempted to resyste owre men as dyd the other, and with lyke successe: for he was ouercoome and put to flyght. But Vaschus who entended to wynne hym with gentelnes,Uaschus vseth both gentelnes and rigour. sente certeyne Chiapeans to him to declare the greate poure of owre menner howe inuincible they were: howe mercifull to such as submit them selues, also cruell and seuere to such as obstinatly with stande them. Promysinge hym furthermore, that by the frēdshippe [Page 92] of owre men, he myght bee well assured by thexemple of other, not onely to lyue in peace and quietnes hym selfe, but also to bee reuenged of thiniuries of his enemies. Wylling hym in conclusion soo to weigh the matter, that if he refused this gentelnes profered vnto hym by soo greate a victourer, he shulde or it were longe, lerne by feelynge to repent him to late of that perel which he myght haue auoyded by hearing. Coquera with these woordes and exemples, shaken with great feare, came gladly with the messengers, bryngyng with him syxe hundreth & .l. Pesos of wrought gold,vi.C. and .l. poundes weyght of wrought gold which he gaue vnto owre men. Vaschus rewarded hym lykewise as we sayd before of Poncha, Coquera beinge thus pacified, they returned to the palaice of Chiapes. Where, visitinge theyr companions, and restynge there a whyle, Vaschus determyned to search the nexte greate goulfe, the which, from the furthest reachynge therof into the lande of theyr countreys, from the enteraunce of the mayne sea, they saye to bee threescore myles.A goulfe of threescore myles. This they na­med saynt Mychaeld goulfe,Saynt Mich [...] els goulfe which they say to bee full of in­habited Ilandes ans hugious rockes. Enteringe therefore into the nyne boates or Culchas wherwith he passed ouer the ryuer before, hauinge also with hym the same coompanye of fourescore hole men, he wente forwarde on his purpose, al­though he were greatly dissuaded by Chiapes, who ernestly desyred hym not to attempt that vyage at that tyme,The manly corage and godly zeale of Uaschus affirming the goulfe to be soo tempestious and stormy three moonethes in the yeare, that the sea was there by noo meanes nauigable: And that he had seene many Culchas deuoured of whirlepoles euen beefore his eyes. But inuincible Vaschus, impaciente of idlenes, and voyde of all feare in goddes cause, aunswered that god and his holy sayntes woolde prosper his enterpry­ses in this case, forasmuche as the matter touched God and the defence of the Christian religion, for the maynetenaunce wherof it shulde bee necessarie to haue great abundance of ry­ches & treasure as the synewes of war ageynste the enemies of the faythe.Ryche [...] are the synewea of warre The faythfulnes of kynge Chiapes. Thus vsinge also thoffice both of an oratoure and preacher, and hauinge persuaded his coompanyons, he lanched from the [...]lande. But Chiapes, least Vaschus shulde any thynge doubt of his faythfulnes towarde hym, profered him selfe to goo with hym whither soo euer he went:A tempest on the sea. And wolde by noo meanes assent that Vaschus shulde depart from his pa­laice, [Page] but that he woolde brynge hym on the waye and take part of his fortune. Therfore as soone as they were nowe entered into the maine sea, such sourges and conflictes of water arose ageynst them that they were at theyr wyttes endes whither to turne them or where to reste. Thus beinge tossed and amased with feare, the one loked on the other with pale and vncherefull countenaunces. But especially Chiapes and his coompany, who had before tyme with theyr eyes seetle thex­perience of those [...]eoderdies, were greatly discomforted. Yet (as god woolde) they escaped all, and landed at the nexte I­lande: Where makynge faste theyr boates, they rested there that nyght. Here the water soo encreased, that it almost o­uerdowed the Iland.The increa­sing of the South sea. They say also that that south sea doth soo in maner boyle and swelle, that when it is at the hyghest it doth couer many greate rockes, which at the faule therof, are seene farre aboue the water. But on the contrary parte, all suche as inhabite the North sea,The Northe Ocean. affirme with one voyce, that hit scarsely riseth at any tyme a cubet aboue the bankes as they also confesse which inhabite the Ilande of Hispaniola and other Ilandes situate in the same. The Ilande ther­fore beinge nowe drye by the faule of the water, they resor­ted to theyr boates which they founde all ouerwhelmed and full of sande, and sume sore brused, with great ryftes, and almost lost by reason theyr cables were broken.hard shyft in necessitie. Such as were brused, they tyed fast with theyr gyrdels, with slippes of the barkes of trees, and with tough and longe stalkes of certein herbes of the sea, stopping the ryftes or chynkes with grasse accordynge to the presente necessitie. Thus were they enfor­ced to returne backe ageyne lyke vnto men that came frome shippewracke, beinge almost consumed with hunger, bycause theyr vytayles were vtterly destroyed by tempeste. Thinhabitantes declared that there is harde all the yeare horrible ro­rynge of the sea amonge those Ilandes as often as it rysethe or fauleth. But this most especially in those three monethes in the which it is moste boystious as Chiapes towlde Vaschus before: Meanynge (as they coulde coniecture by his woordes) October, Nouember, and December: for he signifie) the present moone and the twoo moones folowynge, countynge the moonethes by the moones, whereas it was nowe October. Here therefore refresshynge hym selfe and his souldiers a [Page 93] whyle, and passynge by one vnprofitable kynge, he came to an other whose name was Tumaccus, The Region Tumacca. after the name of the re­gion, beinge situate on that syde of the goulfe. This Tumaccus came foorth ageynste owre men as dyd the other, and with lyke fortune. For he was ouercoome, dryuen to flyght,kynge Tu­maccus is driuen to flyght. and many of his men slayne. He hym selfe was also sore woun­ded, but yet escaped. Vaschus sent certeyne messengers of the Chiapeans to hym to returne, and not to bee afrayde. But he could be nothyng moued nether by promysses nor threateninges. Yet when the messengers were instant, & ceassed not to threaten death to him and his famely, with the vtter desola­tion of his kyngedome if he persisted in that obstinacie, at the length he sent his soonne with them: whom Vaschus hono­rably enterteyninge, apparelinge hym gorgiously and gyuing hym many gyftes, sent hym to his father, wyllynge hym to persuade hym of the puissaunce, munificence, liberalitie, humanitie, and clemencie of owre men. Tumaccus beinge mooued by this gentelnes declared toward his sonne, came with him the thyrde day, bryngynge nothynge with hym at that tyme. But after that he knewe that owre men desyred goulde and pearles,Golde and perles, he sent for syxe hundreth and .xiiii. Pesos of golde, and two hundreth and fortie of the biggest and fayrest perles besyde a great number of the smaulest sorte. Owre men mar­ueyled at the byggenes and fayrenes of these perles although they were not perfectely whyte bycause they take theym not owte of the sea musculs excepte they fyrst rost them,Musculs of the sea. that they may theselyer open them selfe, and also that the fysshe maye haue the better taste, whiche they esteeme for a delicate and princely dysshe, and set more thereby then by the perles them selues. Of these thynges I was enformed of one Arbolantius beinge one of Vaschus coompanions whom he sent to the kyng with manye perles and certeyne of those sea musculs. But when Tum [...]ccus sawe that owre men soo greatly regarded the bewtie of the perles, he commaunded certeyne of his men to prepare them selues to goo a fysshynge for perles.Fysshyng for perles Who de­partinge, came ageyne within foure dayes, bringynge with them twelue pounde weight of orient perles after eight oun­ces to the pounde.xii pounde weyght of perles. Thus reioysinge on bothe parties, they embrased and made a league of continual frendeshippe. Tumac­cus thought him selfe happie that he had presented owre men [Page] with such thankeful gyftes and was admitted to theyr frendshippe: and owre men thinkynge them selues happie and blessed that they had founde suche tokens of great ryches, swa­lowed downe theyr spettle for thyrste.The thyrst of golde. At all these doinges, kynge Chiapes was present as a wytnes and coompanion. He also reioysed not a lyttle, aswell that by his conductinge he sawe that owre men shulde bee satisfied of theyr desyre, as also that by this meanes he had declared to the next kynge his bortherer and enemie, what frendes he had of owre men, by whose ayde he myght lyue in quyetnes and bee reuenged of his aduersarie if neede shulde soo requyre.Ambition a­monge naked men. For (as wee haue sayde) these naked kynges infeste theim selues with greuous warres onely for ambition and desyre to rule. Vaschus bosteth in his epistell, that he lerned certeyne maruelous secreates of Tumaccus him selfe as concernynge the greate ryches of this lande: wherof (as he sayth) he woold vtter nothyng at this presente,This Ilande is cauled Margarites Diues, or Di­tes. for asmuche as Tumaccus toulde it him in his eare. But he was enformed of bothe the kynges, that there is an Ilande in that goulfe, greater then any of the other, hauing in it but onely one kynge, and hym of soo great poure,A kynge of greate poure. that at suche tymes of the yeare as the sea is caulme, he inuadethe theyr dominions with a greate nauie of Culchas, spoyling and caryinge a way for a praye, all that he meeteth. This Iland is distant from these coastes, onely twentie myles: Soo that the promontories or poyntes therof rechyng into the sea, may bee seene from the hylles of this Continent. In the sea nere about this Ilande, sea musculs are engendred of such quantitie, that many of them are as brode as buckelers,Biggeperles. In these are perles founde (beinge the hartes of those shell fysshes) of­ten tymes as bygge as beanes, sumtymes bygger then olyues and such as sumptuous Cleopatra myght haue desyred.Cleopatra, queene of E­gypt resolued a pearle in vineger and drunke it, price.v. thou­sande pounde of owr mony. thef [...]rcenes of U [...]schus. Al­thoughe this Ilande bee soo nere to the shore of this firme lande, yet is the begynnyng therof in the mayne sea without the mouth of the goulfe. Vaschus beinge ioyfull and mery with this rych communication, fantasinge nowe in maner nothing but princes treasures, beganne to speake fierce and cruell woordes ageynst the tyranne of that Ilande, meanyng here­by too woonne the myndes of the other kynges, and bynde them to hym with a nearer bande of frendeship. Yet therfore raylynge further on hym with spytefull and opprobrious [Page 94] woordes, he swore great othes that he woolde furthwith inuade the Ilande, spoylynge, destroyinge, burnynge, drow­nynge, and hangynge, sparinge neyther swoorde nor fyre, vntyll he hadde reuenged theyr iniuries: And therwith com­maunded his Culchas to bee in a redynes. But the twoo kyn­ges Chiapes and Tumaccus, exhorted hym frendly to deferre this enterprise vntyll a more quiete season, bycause that sea was not nauigable withowte greate daunger, beinge nowe the begynnynge of Nouember. Wherin the kynges seemed to saye trewe. For as Vaschus hym selfe wryteth, great roryng of the sea was harde amonge the Ilandes of the goulfe by reasō of the raginge and conflicte of the water. Great ryuers also des­cending from the toppes of the mountaynes the same time of the yeare,Great ryuer [...] faulyng from mounta [...]nes. & ouerflowyng theyr bankes, dryuyng downe with theyr vyolence greate rockes and trees, make a marueylous noyse. Lykewise the furie of the South and Northeast wyndes, associate with thunder and lyghtnynge at the same sea­son, dyd greatly moleste them.Thunder and lyghtnynge in Nouember. Whyle the wether was fayre they were vexed in the night with could: and in the day time, the heate of the sonne troubled them: wherof it is noo mar­uaile, forasmuche as they were neare vnto the Equinoctiall lyne,Colde in the nyght nere the Equinoc­tial. although they make noo mention of the eleuation of the pole. For in such regions, in the nyght, the mone and other coulde planettes: but in the daye, the soone and other hotte planettes, doo chiefely exercise theyr influence: Althowghe the antiquitie were of an other opinion,habitable re­gions vnder the Equinoctiall lyne. supposinge th [...] Equinoctiall circle to bee vnhabitable and desolate by reason of the heate of the soonne hauinge his course perpendiculerly or directly ouer the same: except a fewe of the contrary opinion, whose assertions the Portugales haue at these dayes by ex­perience proued to bee trewe.The natiuita­tions of the Portiugales towarde the southe pole. Antipodes. he meaneth S. Augustine and Lectau­tius. For they saile yearely to thinha­bitantes of the south pole, being in maner Antipodes to the people cauled Hyperborei vnder the North pole, and exercise mar­chaundies with them. And here haue I named Antipodes, forasmuch as I am not ignorant that there hath byn men of singular witte and great lernyng, which haue denyed that there is Antipodes: that is, such as walke feete to feete. But it is most certeyne, that it is not gyuen to anye one man to knowe all thynges. For euen they [...]lso were men: whose propertie is to erre and bee deceaued in many thynges. Neuerthelesse, the [Page] Portugales of owre tyme, haue sayled to the fyue and fyftie degree of the south pole:The starres [...]b [...]i [...]e the southe pole. Where, coompasinge abowte the poynt thereof, they myght see throughowte al the heauen a­bout the same, certeyne shynynge whyte cloudes here & there amonge the starres, lyke vnto theym whiche are seene in the tracte of heauen cauled Lactea via, Lactea via. that is, the mylke whyte waye. They say, there is noo notable starre neare about that pole lyke vnto this of owres which the cōmon people thynke to bee the pole it selfe (cauled of the Italians Tramontana, and of the Spanyardes Nortes) but that the same fauleth benethe the Ocean.A simyli [...]ude declarynge Antipodes. When the sonne descendeth from the myddeste of the exiltree of the woorlde frome vs, it rysethe to them, as a payre of balances whose weyght inclynynge from the equall poyse in the myddest towarde eyther of the sydes, causeth the one ende to ryse as much as the other fauleth. When there­fore it is autumne with vs, it is sprynge tyme with thē: And summer with vs when it is wynter with them. But it su [...]fi­seth to haue sayde thus much of strange matters. Let vs now therfore returne to the historie and to owre men.

¶ The seconde booke of the thyrde Decade.

VAschus by thaduice of kynge Chiapes and Tuma­cus, determyned to deferre his vyage to the sayde Ilande vntyll the nexte sprynge or summer, at which tyme Chiapes offered hym selfe to accoompany owre men and ayde thē therin all that he myght. In this meane tyme Vaschus had knowleage that these kynges had nettes and fysshynge places in certeyne stations of that sea nere vnto the shore, where they were accustomed to fyshe for sea musculs in the which perles are engendred:The maner of fysshynge for perles. And that for this purpose they had certeyne dyuers or fysshers exercised frome theyr youthe in swymmynge vnder the water. But they doo this onely at certeyne tymes when the sea is calme,T [...]e kindes o [...] per [...]es. that they may theselyer coome to the place where these shell fyshes are woonte to lye. For the bygger that they are, soo much ly they the deaper and nerer to the bottome But the lesser, as it were dowghters to the other, are nerer the bryme [Page 95] of the w [...]ter. Lykewyse the leaste of all, as it were their nie­ses, are yet nearer to the superficiall parte therof. Too them of the byggeste sorte whiche lye loweste, the fysshers descende the depthe of three mens heyght, and sumtyme foure. But to the doughters or nieses as their succession, they descend one­lye to the mydde thygh. Sumtymes also, after that the sea hathe byn disquyeted with vehemente tempestes, they fynde a greate multytude of these fysshes on the sandes, beyng dry­uen to the shore by the vyolence of the water. The perles of these whiche are founde on the sande, are but lytle. The fisshe it selfe, is more pleasaunte in eatynge then are owre oysters as owre men report. But perhappes hunger the sweete cause of all meates, caused owre men soo too thynke. Whether per­les bee the hartes of sea musculs (as Aristotell supposed) or the byrthe or spaune of there intrals (as Plinye thought) Or whether they cleaue contynually to the rockes,Dyuers ques­ti [...]s as cōcer­nynge perles or wander by coompanies in the sea by the guydinge of thelde [...]e: Whether euerye fysshe brynge foorthe one perle or more, at one byrthe or at dyuers: Also whether theye bee fyled frome the rockes wherunto theye cleaue, or maye bee easylye pulled awaye, or otherwyse faule of by them selues when theye are coomme to there full grouth: Lykewyse whether perles bee harde within the shelle or softe, owre men haue as yet noo certayne experyence. But I truste or it bee longe, too knowe the truth hereof. For owre men are euen nowe in hande with the mat­ter. Also, as soone as I shall bee aduertysed of the arryuall of Petrus Arias the capytayne of owre men,Petrus arias I wyll desyre hym by my letters to make diligent searche for these thynges, and certifye me therof in all poyntes. I knowe that he wyll not bee slacke or omytte any thynge herein. For he is my verye frende: and one that taketh greate pleasure in consyderynge the woorkes of nature. And surelye it seeme [...]h vnto me vnde­cente, that wee shoulde with sylence ouerslyppe so greate a thynge whiche aswell in the owlde tyme as in owre dayes, hathe, & yet doothe, drawe bothe men and women to emmo­derate desyre of superfluous pleasure.wanton and superfluous pleasures. Spayne therefore shal­be able hereafter with perles to satisfie the gredye appetite of suche as in wanton pleasures are lyke vnto Cleopatra & Asopus So that frome hensforth we shal neyther enuye nor reuerence the nyse frutefulnes of Stoidum, Cleopatra. A [...]opus. Stoidum. or Taprobana, Taprobana, or the re [...]de sea. [Page] But lette vs nowe returne to owre purpose. Vaschus therfore determined with the fysshers of Chiapes to proue what myght bee doone in his fyshe pooles or stations of sea muscules. Chiapes to shewe hym selfe obediente to Vaschus his requeste, al­though the sea were boystyous, coommaunded thirtye of his fysshers to prepare them selfes and to resorte to the fysshinge places. Vaschus sente onelye syxe of his men with them to beeholde them frome the sea bankes, but not to coommitte them selues to the daunger of the sea. The fysshynge place was distante frome the palayce of Chiapes aboute tenne myles.The fysshing place of king Chiapes. They durste not aduenture to dyue to the bottome by reason of the furye of the sea. Yet of the muscules whiche lye hyghest, and of suche as were dryuen to the shore by the vyolence of the water, theye broughte syxe greate farthels in the space of a fewe dayes. The perles of these were but lyttle, aboute the bygnes of smaule fytches: yet verye fayre and bewtyfull, by reason theye were taken newely owte of the fysshe, beinge yet rawe. And that they shulde not bee reproued of lyinge as concerninge the bignes of these sea musculs, they sente many of them into Spayne to the kynge with the perles, the fysshe beynge taken owte. Wee thinke verily that there maye in noo place bygger bee founde. These shelle fysshes therfore beynge thus founde here in soo manye places in that sea, and gold in maner in euerye house,Golde in ma­ner in euery house. doo argue the ryche treasurye of na­ture too bee hyd in those coastes, forasmuche as suche greate ryches haue byn founde as it were in the lytle fynger of a gi­antes hande.The ryche treasurye of nature. What then maye wee thynke of the hole hande of the gyante (for hetherto theye haue onely bynne in hande with the confynes of Vraba) when theye shall haue thorowly searched all the coastes and secreates of the inner partes of all that large lande. But Vaschus contented with these sygnes & ioyfull of his good successe in these enterprises, determined by an other waye to returne to his felowes in Dariena, where also, they haue golde mynes aboute tenne myles from the vil­lage.The golde mynes of Dariena. He gaue therfore kyng Chiapes leaue to depart, and to fo­lowe hym noo further: Consailyng hym to continue faythfull to the christian kynge his lorde & maister. Thus embrasinge the one the other, & ioyninge handes, Chiapes departed, with teares declaring the good mynde which he bore to owre men. Vaschus leauing his sicke mē with Chiapes, Went forward on his [Page 96] iourney with the resydue, hauinge also with him for guydes three of Chiapes maryners. He conueyghed his armye ouer a greate ryuer into the dominion of a certeine kynge cauled Teaocha:Kynge Teao­cha entertey­neth vaschus frende [...]ye. who beinge aduertised of the coommyng of owre men, of whose famous actes he had harde muche before, was verye gladde therof and enterteyned them honorably: So that for a token of his frendely affection towarde them, he gaue Vas­chus twentie poundes weyght of wrought golde after eyght ounces to the pounde:Twentye pounde weight of wroughte golde. Also twoo hundreth bigge perles: but not fayre, by reason they were taken owt of the musculs after they had byn sodden. After they had ioyned handes, Vaschus recompensed hym with certeyne of owre thynges. Lykewise rewardynge his guydes the seruantes of Chiapes, he dismissed them with commendations to theyr lord. Kyng Teaocha at the departure of owr men from his palaice, dyd not onely appoint them guydes to conduct them in the way, but also gaue them certeyne slaues in the steede of beastes to cary theyr vytayles, bycause they shulde passe throwgh many desertes,Desertes full of wylde beastes. baren and rowgh mountaynes and terrible wooddes full of tygers and Lions. He sent also one of his sonnes with these slaues, la­dynge them with salted and dryed fysh [...],Dryed fysshe and breade of those regions, made of the rootes of Maizium and Iucca. He also commaunded his sonne not to depart from owr men vntyl he were licenced by Vaschus. By theyr conductinge therfore, Vas­chus came to the dominion of an other kyng whose name was Pacra, a cruell tyranne,Kynge Pacr [...] a tyranne. fearefull to the other kynges his bor­therers, and of greater poure then any of them. This tyran, whether it were that his giltie conscience for his mischeuous actes, put him in feare that owre menne woolde reuenge the same, or that he thought hym selfe inferior to resist them, fled at theyr commynge. Vaschus wryteth that in these regions in the mooneth of Nouember he was sore afflicted with greate heate and intollerable thirst,Greate heate in the mo­nethe of No­uember. by reason that syde of the mountaynes hath lyttle water: In soo muche that they were in daunger to haue perisshed but that certeyne of thinhabitants shewed them of a sprynge which was in the secreate place of a woodde, whither Vaschus with all speade sent twoo quycke and stronge younge men of his coompanions with theyr gourdes and suche water vesselles as Teaocha his men browghte with them. Of thinhabitantes, there durst none depart from [Page] there coompany bycause the wylde beastes doo soone inuade naked men. For in those mountaynes, and especially in the wooddes neare vnto the springe, they saye that they are sum­tymes taken owte of there houses in the nyght, excepte they take good heede that the doores bee well sparde. It shall not bee frome my purpose hereto declare a particular chaūce be­fore I enter any further in this matter.hurte by wylde bea­stes. Theye saye therfore that the laste yeare the regyon of Dariena was noolesse infested and trowbeled with a fierse tyger,A tyger. then was Calidonia in tyme paste with a wylde bore,Calydonia is a foreste in Scotlande. and Nemea with a horrible lyon.Nemea is a wodde in Greece. For they affyrme that for the space of syxe hole moonethes there passed not one nyghte withowte summe hurte doone: soo that it kylled nyghtlye eyther a bullocke, a mare, a dogge, or a hogge, sumtimes euen in the highe wayes of the village. For owre men haue nowe greatheardes of cattayle in those regions. They say also that when this tyger had whelpes,Tigers whel­pes. noo man myght safelye goo furthe of his doores, bycause shee spared not men if shee mette fyrste with them. But at the len­geth, necessitye enforced them to inuente a policye howe they myght bee reuenged of suche bludshed. Searchynge therfore dilygently her footesteppes,Thus the E­giptians take Crocodiles. and folowynge the pathe wher­bye shee was accustomed in the nyght season to wander owte of her denne to seeke her praye, theye made a greate trenshe or pytte in her walke, coueringe the same with hurdels wher­vppon theye caste parte of the earthe and dispersed the resy­due. The dogge tyger chaunsed fyrste into this pitfaul,The dogge tyger taken. The rorynge of the tyger. and fel vppon the poyntes of sharpe stakes and suche other ingens as were of purpose fyxed in the bottome of the trenshe. Be­ynge thus wounded, he rored soo terrybly, that it grated the bowels of suche as harde hym, and the wooddes and mon­taynes neare aboute, rebounded the noyse of the horryble crye. When they perceaued that he was layde faste, they re­sorted to the trenshe and slewe hym with stones, dartes, and pykes. With his teethe and clawes, he broke the dartes in­to a thousande chyppes, Beynge yet deade, he was fearefull to all suche as behelde hym: what then thinke you he woolde haue doone beynge alyue and loose. One Iohannes Ledisma of Ciuile, a nere frynde to Vaschus and one of the coompanyons of his trauayles, toulde me that he hym selfe dyd eate of the fleshe of that tiger:Tigers flesh eaten. and that it was nothinge inferyor to biefe [Page 97] in goodnes. Beynge demaunded howe they knewe hit to bee a tyger forasmuche as none of them had euer seene a tyger, they answered that they knewe hit by the spottes, fiercenes, agilitye, and suche other markes and token wherby the an­ciente writers haue described the tiger. For sum of them, had before tyme seene other spotted wilde beastes, as lybardes & panthers. The dogge tiger beynge thus kylled, theye folo­wynge the trase of his steppes towarde the mountaines, came to the denne where the bytche remayned with her twoo younge suckynge whelpes.The bitche tyger. But shee was not in the denne at there coommynge. Theye fyrste caryed awaye the whelpes with them. But afterwarde fearynge leaste they shulde dye bycause theye were very younge,Tigers whelpes. entendynge when they were bygger to sende them into Spayne, they put cheynes of yren aboute there neckes, and caryed them agayne to there denne: whither returnynge within a fewe dayes after, theye founde the denne emptye and the cheynes not remoued frome there place.A straunge thynge. Theye suppose that the damme in her furye fore them in pyeces and caryed them awaye, leste anye shulde haue the fruition of them. For theye playnely affirme that it was not possible that they shulde bee loosed frome the chaynes alyue. The skynne of the deade tyger stuffed with drye herbes and strawe, theye sente to Hispaniola to the admyrall and other of the chiefe rulers frome whome the newe landes receyue there lawes and succoure. It shall at this tyme suffyce to haue writ­ten thus much of the tygers, as I haue lerned by the reporte of them whiche bothe susteyned domage by there rauenynge, and also handeled the skynne of that whiche was slayne. Let vs, nowe therfore returne to kynge Pacra frome whome wee haue disgressed.kynge Pacr [...]. When Vaschus had entred into the houses for­saken of Pacra, he sente messengiers to reconcyle hym as he had doone the other kinges. At the first he refused to coomme. But after threatenynges, he came with three other kynges in his coompanye. Vaschus writethe that he neuer sawe a more monstrous and deformed creature: And that nature hath onely gyuen hym humane shape, and otherwyse to bee wor [...]e thē a brute beaste, with maners accordynge to the linyamentes of his bodye. He abused with moste abhominable lechery the doughters of foure kynges his brotherers frome whome hee had taken them by vyolence. Of the fylthye behauoure of [Page] Pa [...]ra, Naturall ha­tred of vyce. of his crueltye and iniuryes doone by hym, many of the other kynges made greuous coomplayntes to Vaschus as vnto a hygh Iudge and iuste reuenger: Moste humblye besechyng hym to see suche thynges punysshed, forasmuche as theye tooke hym for a man sente of god for that purpose. Herevp­pon Vaschus aswell to wynne their good wylles, as also too shewe an exemple of terroure to suche as vsed lyke fasshions,Foure kinges deuo [...]red of dogges. coommaunded that this monstrous beaste with the other three kynges whiche were subiecte to hym and of lyke condi­tions, shulde bee geuen for a praye to his feyghtinge dogges, and their torne carkeses to bee burned. Of these dogges whiche theye vse in the warres,The vse of dogges in warre a­geinst naked men. theye tell maruelous thynges. For theye saye that theye runne vppon thinhabitantes ar­med after there maner, with noo lesse fiercenes then if theye were hartes or wylde bores, if the Spaniardes doo but onely poynte towarde them with their fyngers: In soo muche that oftentymes they haue had no neede too dryue their ene­myes too flyght with swoordes or arrowes: But haue doone the same onely with dogges placed in the forefronte of their battayle, and lettynge them slyppe with their watche woorde and priuye token. Wheruppon the barbaryans stry­ken with feare by reason of the cruell countenaunces of the masties, with their desperate bouldenes and vnaccustomed houlynge and backynge, haue disparcled at the fyrste onsette and broke their arraye. Yet it chaunseth otherwyse when theye haue anye conflicte agaynst the Canibales and the peo­ple of Caramairi. For these are fyerser, and more warrelyke men: Also so experte arches,The Cany­bales are ex­perte ar­chers. that theye can moste certenlye dyrect their venemous arrowes against the dogges with su­che celeritye as if theye were thunderboltes: By reason wher­of, they sumtymes kyl many of thē. Thinhabytantes of these montaynes, doo not keepe warre with bowes and arrowes: But vse onelye M [...]chanis, that is certayne longe and broude swordes made of woodde:Swoordes of woodde. Also slynges, longe pykes and dartes hardened at the endes with fyere. Whyle kynge Pacra yet lyued, noo man coulde knowe of hym neyther by fayre meanes nor by foule, where he had the golde whiche was founde in his house. For owre men founde in his iewel house fyftye poundes weyght of golde.F [...]tie pounde w [...]ght of golde. Beynge therfore demaun­ded where he had it, he answered that they whiche gathered [Page 98] the same in those montaynes in his fathers dayes, were all deade: And that sense he was a chylde, he neuer esteemed golde more then stoones. More then this, theye coulde not gette of hym. By this seuere punyshment executed vppon Pa­cra, Vaschus concyled vnto hym the myndes of all the other kynges of that prouynce. And by this meanes it came too passe, that when he sente for the sycke men whiche he lefte behynde hym with kynge Chiapes, an other kynge whiche was in the mydde waye (whose name was Bononiama) enter­teyned them gentellye,kynge Bono­niama, fr [...]nde to the christi­ans. and gaue them .xx. pounde weyght of pure wrought golde,wroughte golde. besyde great plentye of vyttayles. And not this onely, but also accoompanyed them hym self [...] vntyll he had brought them safely frome his palaice into th [...] domynyon of Pacra: Where takynge eche of them by the ryghte handes, he delyuered them to Vaschus hym selfe, as a faythefull pledge commytted too his charge, and there­with spake to Vaschus in this effecte. Mooste myghtye and valyaunte vyctourer, beholde I here delyuer vnto yowe, yowre coompanions in suche plight as I receaued them:The oration of kynge Bonon [...]ama wis­shynge that I had byn aswell able to gyue them healthe, as they were hertely welcoome to suche pore enterteynement as I was able to shewe them. For the fauoure and gentelnesse whiche I haue founde bothe in yowe and them, he shall re­warde yowe whiche sendeth thunderynge and lyghtelyng to the destruction of myscheuous men,The sparke of the lawe of nature, is the lawe written in the hartes of men. and of his clemencye gi­ueth vnto good men plentie of Iucca and M [...]izium in dewe season. As he spake these woordes, he lyfted vppe his handes and eyes towarde the soonne whome they honoure for god. Then he spake further to Vaschus, sayinge: In that yowe haue destroyed and slaine owre vyolent and proude enemies, yowe haue browght peace and quyetnesse to vs and owre fa­melyes, and bounde vs for euer to loue and obeye yowe. Yowe haue soo ouercoome and tamed wylde monsters, that wee thynke yowe to bee sente from heauen for the punyshe­ment of euell men and defence of innocentes, that vnder the protection of yowre myghtye swoorde, wee maye hereafter leade owre lyues withowte feare, and with more quietne [...]se gyue thankes to the giuer of all good thinges for h [...]s mercie shewed vnto vs in this behalfe. When thinterpretoure had toulde Vaschus that kyng Bononiama had sayde the [...]e woordes, [Page] and suche lyke, Vaschus rendered hym lyke thankes for his humanitye declared towarde owre men, and rewarded hym as he had doone other in whome he founde lyke gentilnesse. Vaschus wryteth that he lerned manye thynges of this kynge as concernynge the greate rychesse of these regions: [...]ut that he woolde at this present speake nothynge therof: And rehersethe the same as thynges lyke to haue good successe. What this implicate Hiperbole, Hiperbole. or aduauncement meaneth, I doo not well vnderstande. But he playnely seemeth hereby to promysse many greate thynges. And surely it is to be thought that accordynge to his hope, great riches maye bee looked for. For they came in maner into none of thinhabytauntes houses,Great plenty of golde. but that they found in them, eyther bresteplates or curettes of golde, or elles golden ouches, iewels, or gar­landes to weare aboute there heades, neckes, or armes. I coniecture therfore thus by a symilitude of owre houses:A symilitude for the profe of plentye of golde. If amonge vs any man of great poure were moued with the de­syre to haue great plentye of Iron, and woolde enter into I­talye with a mayne force as dyd the Gothes in tyme paste, what abundaunce of Iron shoulde he haue in their houses: where as he shulde fynde in one place a friyngpan, in an o­ther a chauldron, here a tryuet, and there a spytte, and these in maner in euery pore mannes house, with suche other innu­merable: Whereby any man maye coniecture that Iren is plentifully engendred in suche regions where they haue soo greate vse therof. Owre men also perceaued that thinhaby­tantes of these regions do no more esteeme golde then we do Iren:Iren more estemed then golde. nor yet soo muche after they sawe to what vse Iren serued vs. Thus muche haue I thoughte good to write too yowre holynesse of suche thynges as I haue gathered owt [...] of the letters of Vaschus Nunnez, and learned by woorde of mouthe of such as were his cōpanyons in these affayres. As wee receyue them, so wee gyue them vnto yowe. Tyme which reueleth all secretes, shall hereafter mynyster larger argu­ment of wrytynge. Theye coulde at this tyme doo no greate thynge in searchynge the golde mynes, forasmuche as of a hundreth fourescore and tenne men whiche Vaschus broughte with hym from Dariena, there remayned onely threescore and ten, or at the most fourescore, whose ayde he nowe vsed in these daungerous aduentures, leauynge euer the crased men [Page 99] behynd hym in the kinges houses all the waye that he went But they mooste especially fell into sundrye diseases,Chaunge of dyet is daun­gerous. whiche came lately from Hispaniola. For they were not able to abyde suche calamities as to lyue onely contented with the breade of those regions, and wylde herbes without salte, drinkinge none other then ryuer water, and that oftentimes eyther lac­kinge or vnholsome, where as before their stomakes had byn vsed to good meates. But the owlde souldiours of Dariena, Owld [...] soul­diers. were hardened to abyde all sorowes, and exceadynge tolle­rable of labour, heate, hunger, and watchynge: In so muche that merilye they make their booste that they haue obserued a longer and sharper lent then euer yowre holinesse inioyned.A longe len [...]. For they saye that for the space of foure hole yeares, they eate none other then herbes and frutes, excepte nowe and then perhappes fyshe, and verye seldoome fleshe: Yea, and that sumtime for lacke of al these, they haue not abhorr [...]d frō mangye dogges and fylt hye toades as wee haue sayde be­fore. The owlde souldiers of Dariena, I caule those whiche fyrste folowed the capytaynes Nicuesa and Fogeda to inhabyte the lande, of the whiche nowe fewe were lyuynge. But lette vs nowe omytte these thynges, and retourne to Vaschus the victourer of the montaynes.

¶ The thyrde booke of the thyrde Decade.

WHen Vaschus had remained thirtye dayes in the palayce of kynge Pacra, concilynge vnto hym the myddes of thinhabitantes and prouidinge thynges necessarye for his coompanions, he departed frome thense by the conducte of cer­tayne of kynge Teaocha his men, and came too the banke of the ryuer Comogrus, Comogrus ▪ wherof the region and king therof, are named by the same name. He founde the sydes of these montaynes so rude and baren, that there was nothinge apte to bee eaten, but wilde rootes and certayne vnpleasante frutes of trees. Two kynges beinge neare of bludde, inhaby­ted this infortunate region,Two poore kynges. whiche Vaschus ouerpassed with all speede for feare of hunger. One of these poore kinges was named Cotochus, and the other Ciuriza. He tooke them bothe [Page] with hym to guyde hym in the waye, and dismyssed Teaocha his men with vytayles and rewardes. Thus for the space of three dayes, he wandered throughe many deserte wooddes,Desertes. craggye mountaynes, & muddy marysshes full of suche qua­myres that men are oftentymes swalowed vp in them if they looke not the more warelye to their fiete. Also through pla­ces not frequented with resorte of men, and suche as nature had not yet opened to their vse, forasmuche as thinhabitan­tes haue seldoome entercourse betwene them, but onely by sundrye incurtions, the one to spoyle and destroye the other: Beynge otherwise contented to lyue onely after the lawe of nature, withowte worldly toyle for superfluous pleasures. Thus enteringe at the lengthe into the territorye of anothe [...] kynge whose name was Bechebuea, kynge Bechebuea submyt­teth him selfe they founde all thynges voyde and in silence: For the kynge and his subiectes, were all fledde to the wooddes. When Vaschus sente messengers to fetche hym, he dyd not onely at the fyrste submytte hym selfe, but also promysse his ayde with all that he myghte make: Protestynge furthermore, th [...]t he fledde not for feare that owre men woolde doo hym any iniurie, but that he hyd hym selfe for verye shame and griefe of mynde, for that he was not able to receyue them honorablye accordynge vnto their dignitye, bycause his store of vitayles was consumed. Yet in a token of obedience and frendeshyppe, he sente owre men many vesselles of golde,Uessels of golde. desyring them to accepte them as the gifte of a frind whose good will wanted not in grea­ter thynges if his abilytye were greater. By whiche woor­des the poore man seemed to insinuate that he had byn rob­bed and otherwise cruelly handled of his bortherers. By reason wherof, owre men were enforced to departe from thense more hungerly then theye came. As theye wente forwarde therfore, they espyed certeine naked men coomminge downe from a hylle towarde them. Vaschus coommaunded his armye to staye, and sente his interpretours to them to knowe what they wold haue. Then one of thē to whom the other seemed to gyue reuerence, spake in this effect. Owre lorde & kinge Chiorisus, kynge Chiori­sus [...]endeth Ua [...]chus xxx. dysshes of pure golde. greeteth yowe well: Wyllynge vs to declare that he hath harde of yowre puissaunce and vertue wherby yowe haue subdued euell men and reuenged the wronges doone to innocentes. For the whiche yowre noble factes and iustyce, [Page 100] as he doothe honour yowre fame, soo woolde he thinke him selfe moste happye if he myght receiue yowe into his palaice. But, forasmuche as his fortune hath byn so euell (as he im­puteth it) that beynge owte of yowre waye, yowe haue o­uerpassed hym, he hath sent yowe this golde in token of his good wyll and fryndshyppe towarde yowe. And with these woordes he deliuered to Vaschus thirty disshes of pure golde. Addynge hereunto, that when so euer it shulde please him to take the paynes to coomme to their kynge, he shulde receyue greater gyftes. He declared further, that a kynge whyche was their bortherer and mortall enemye, was very ryche in golde: And that in subduynge of hym they shulde bothe ob­teine greate rychesse, and also delyuer them from daylye vex­ations: whiche thinge myght easilye be doone by their helpe bycause they knewe the countrey. Vaschus put them in good coomforte, and gaue them for rewarde certayne Iren axes whiche they more esteemed then greate heapes of golde.Axes of Iren more este [...]med then any gold For they haue lyttell neede of golde, hauynge not thuse of pesti­ferous money. But he that maye get but one axe or hatchet, thynketh hym selfe rycher then euer was Crassus. For euen these naked men doo perceyue that an axe is nece [...]sarye for a thousande vses: And confesse that golde is desyred onely for certayne vaine and effeminate pleasures,Su [...]erfluous an [...] effemy­nate plesur [...] as a thyng whi­che the lyfe of man maye lacke withowte any inconuenience. For owre glutteny and superfluous sumptuousnesse hath not yet corrupted them: By reason wherof they take it for noo shame to lacke cobardes of plate, where as the pride and wantonnes of owre tyme dooeth in maner impute it to vs for ig­nominye to bee withowte that, wherof by nature we haue no neede.An exemple of the lyfe of owre fyrst parentes. But their contentation with the benefytes of nature doothe playnly declare that men may leade a free and happy life withowt tables, table clothes, carpettes, napkyns, and towels, with suche other innumerable wherof they haue no vse, excepte perhappes the kynges furnishe their tables with a fewe golden vessels. But the common people dryue awaye hunger with a pyece of their breade in the one hande, and a piece of broylde fyshe or summe kynde of fruite in the other hande. For they eate fleshe but seldome. When their fingers are imbrued with any ounctuous meates, they wype them eyther on the soules of their feete, or on their thyghes, ye & [Page] sumtymes on the skynnes of their priuye members in the steede of a nappekynne. And for this cause doo they often tymes washe them selues in the ryuers. Owre men therfore wente forwarde laden with golde,Plentye of gold & scarcenesse of m [...]are. but sore afflicted with hunger. Thus they came at the length to the dominion of kynge Pocchorrosa who fledde at their coommynge. Here for the space of thirtye dayes they fylled their emptye bellies with breade of the rootes of Maizium. In the meane tyme Vaschus sente for Pocchorrosa:kn [...]g Pecchorro [...]a [...]ub [...]yt­teth hym selfe. who beynge allured with pro­misses and fayre woordes, came and submytted hym selfe brynginge with hym for a present .xv. poundes weighte of wrought golde,xv. pounde weyghte of wroughte golde. and a fewe slaues. Vaschus rewarded hym as he had doone other before. When he was mynded to depart, he was aduertised that he shulde passe through the dominiō of a certayne kynge whose name was Tumanama. kyng Tuma­nama, looke decad. ii. lib. [...] This is hee whome the soonne of kynge Comogrus declared to bee of soo great poure and fearefull to all his bortherers, & with whom many of Comogrus familyers had byn captyue. But owre men nowe perceiued that they measured his poure by their owne. For their kinges are but guattes compared to elephantes, in respecte to the poure and pollicye of owre men. Owre men were also enformed by suche as dwelte neare aboute Tu­manama, that his region was not beyonde the montaynes as they supposed: Nor yet so ryche in golde as younge Como­grus ▪ had declared. Yet consulted they of his subduyng: whi­che they thoughte they myght theaslyer brynge to passe by­cause Pocchorrosa was his mortall enemye, who moste gladly promysed them his aduice and ayde herein. Vaschus therfore, leauynge his sycke men in the vyllage of Poochorrosa, tooke with hym threscore of his moste valiante souldiers, and de­clared vnto them howe kynge Tumanama had oftentymes spo­ken proude and threatnyng woordes ageynste them:A good po­licye. Lyke­wise that it nowe stoode them in hande of necessitye to passe through his dominion: And that he thought it beste to sette vppon hym vnwares. The souldiers consented to his aduice, an [...] exhorted him to gyue thaduenture, promisinge that they woolde folowe hym whether so euer he wente. They deter­mined therfore to go two dayes iorney in one daye, that Tu­manama not knowynge of their sooden commyng, myght haue no leasure to assemble an armye. The thynge came to passe [Page 105] euen as they had deuysed. For in the fyrste watche of the nyght, owre men with the Pocchorrosians, inuaded the vyllage and palaice of Tumanama, where they tooke hym prisoner sus­pectynge nothinge lesse. [...] is tak [...] prisoner. He had with hym two younge men whiche he abused vnnaturally: Also fourscore women whi [...]h he had taken vyolently from dyuers kynges. Lykewise a greate number of his gentelmen and subiectes were taken stragelynge in other vyllages neare aboute his palaice. For their houses are not adherent togither as owres bee, bycause they are oftentimes troubeled with vehement whrilewyndes by reason of the sudden chaunges and motions of the ayre caused by the influence of the planetes in the equalitie of the daye and nyght beynge there in maner bothe of one lengthe throughowte all the yeare, forasmuche as they are neare vn­to the Equinoctiall lyne as we haue sayde before.The cause of vehemente wyndes nere he Equinoc­ [...]ial. Their hou­ses are made of trees, couered and after their maner thetched with the stalkes of certayne towghe herbes. To the palayce of Tumanama, kynge Tum [...] nama his palaice. was onely one house adherent, and that euen as bygge as the palayce it selfe. Eyther of these houses were in length a hundreth and twentie pases; and in bredth fyftie pases as owre men measured them. In these two houses the kynge was accustomed to muster his men as often as he prepared an armye. When Tumanaman therfore, was thus ta­ken captyue with all his Sardanapamcall famelye, the Poc­chorrosians bragged and threatened hym beynge nowe bounde, that he shulde shortly bee hanged. The other kynges also his bortherers, reioysed at his mysfortune. Wherby owre men perceaued that Tumanama was nolesse troublesome to his neighbours, then was Pacra to the kinges of the southe syde of the montaynes. Vaschus also the better to please them, threatned hym greuously: But in deede entended no euell toward him. He spake therfore sharpely vnto hym with these woordes:Uaschus his woordes to kynge Tumanama. Thou shalte nowe su [...]fer punyshment thou cruell tyranne, for thy pryde and abhominations. Thou shalte knowe of what poure the christians are whom thou haste soo contemned and threated to drawe by the heare of their heades to the nexte ry [...]er and there to drowne them as thou haste often tymes made thy vaunte emonge thy naked slaues. But thou thy selfe shalte fyrste feele that whiche thou haste prepared for o­ther.: And herewith commaunded hym to bee taken vppe.

[Page]Neuerthelesse gyuynge a priuye tooken of pardon to them whiche layde handes on him. Thus vnhappye Tumanama, fea­rynge and beleuynge that Vaschus had mente in ernes [...]e as he commaunded, fell prostrate at his feete and with teares de­syred pardon: Protestynge that he neuer spake any suche woordes. But that perhappes his noble men in their droon­kennesse had so abused their toonges whiche he coulde not rule. For their wynes although they bee not made of grapes yet are they of force to make men droonken. He declared fur­thermore that the other kynges his bortherers had of ma­lice surmysed suche lyes of hym enuyinge his fortune bycause he was of greater poure then they.Oderunt quen metuunt. Moste humbly desyringe Vaschus that as he tooke hym to bee a iuste vyctourer, soo to gyue no credytte vnto their vniuste and malycious complain­tes.kyng Tuma­nama his woordes. Addynge herevnto that if it woolde please hym to par­don hym not hauinge offended, he woolde bringe him great plentie of gold. Thus layinge his ryght hande on his breast, he swore by the sonne, that he euer loued and feared the chrystians sence he fyrste harde of their fame and vyctoryes: Especially when he harde saye that they had Machanas, that is, swoordes sharper then thearse, and such as cutte in pie­ces al thynges that coomme in their waye. Then directynge his eyes towarde Vaschus who had his swoorde in his hand, he spake thus. Who (excepte he were owte of his wytte) dare lyfte vppe his hande ageynste this swoorde of yowres wherwith yowe are able with one strooke to cleane a man from the heade to the nauell. Lette no man therfore perswade yowe (o moste myghtye victourer) that euer suche woordes proceded owte of my mouthe. As Tumanama with trembeling spake these woordes, therwith swalowynge downe the knot of deathe, Vaschus seemed by his teares to bee moued to com­passion:T [...]manama is pardoned. And speakyng to hym with chearefull countenance commaunded hym to bee loosed. This doone, he sente imme­diatly to his palaice for .xxx. poundes weyght of pure gold artifycially wrought into sundry ouches whiche his wyues and concubynes vsed to weare.xxx. pounde weyghte of wroughte golde. Also the thyrde daye folo­wynge, his noble men and gentylmen sent threscore poun­des weight of golde for their fyne and raunsumme.lx poundes weyght of golde. Tumanama beyng demaūded wher they had that gold, answered that it was not gathered in his dominiōs But that it was brought [Page 102] his auncestours from the ryuer Comogrus toward the southe. But the Pocchorrosians & other his enemies, sayd that he lyed: Affirmynge that his kingdome was ryche in golde. Tumanama on the contrary part, instantly protested that he neuer knewe any golde myne in all his dominions. Yet denyed not but that there hath sumtimes byn found certaine smaule graines of golde, to the gatherynge wherof, he neuer had any re­garde, bycause they coulde not gette it without great & longe labour.They ab­horre labour. Whyle these thynges were dooinge, the sycke men whiche Vaschus had lefte in the village of Pocchorrosa, came to hym the .viii. day of the Calendes of Ianuary in the yeare of Christe. M.D.XIII. bringyng with them certayne la­bourers from the kynges of the southe with sundrye instru­mentes to dygge the grounde and gather golde. Thus pas­synge ouer the day of the natiuitye of Christ without bodely labour, vppon sainte Steuens daye he brought certeyne my­ners to the syde of a hyll not farre dystante from the palaice of Tumanama, where (as he saith) he perceaued by the coloure of the earth that it was lykely to brynge furthe golde. When they had dygged a pytte not past a hand breadth and a halfe,The coloure of the golden earthe and a tryall of the same. and syfted the earthe therof, they founde certayne smaule graynes of golde no bygger then lintell seedes, amountynge to the weyght of twelue graynes as they prouyd with their balances of assaye before a notarie and wytnesse that the bet­ter credytte myghte bee gyu [...]n therto. Wherby they argued that the rychenesse of that lande was agreable to the report of the bortherers, although Vaschus coulde by noo meanes cause Tumanama to confesse the same. They suppose that he no­thynge esteemed so smaule a portion. But other saye that he denyed his countrey to bee frutefull of golde, leaste by reason therof the desyre of golde, myght intyse owre men to inha­byte his kyngdome, as in deede the seely kynge was a pro­phet in soo thinkynge. For they chose that and the region of Pocchorrosa to inhabyte, and determyned to buylde townes in them bothe, if it shulde so please the kynge of Castyle: Aswell that they myght bee baytinge places and vytailynge houses for suche as shulde iorney towarde the southe, as also that both the regions were frutfull and of good grounde to beare frutes and trees. Intendynge nowe therfore to departe from [Page] thense, he tried the earth by chaunce in an other place, where the colour of the grounde with certayne shyninge stones, see­med to bee a tooken of golde. where causynge a smaule [...]itte to bee dygged lyttell beneath thupper cruste of the ea [...]the, he founde somuche golde as weyghed that pyece of golde whi­che the Spaniardes caule Castellanum aureum, and is commonly cauled Pesus, Tokens of great plentie of go [...]de. but not in one grayne. Reioysynge at the [...]e too­kens in hope of great riches, he badde Tumanama to be of good coomforte, promysynge hym that he woolde bee his frende and defender, soo that he troubeled not any of the kynges whiche were frendes to the Christians. He also perswaded hym to gather plentye of golde. Su [...]me saye that he ledde a­waye all Tumanam [...] his women, and [...]p [...]yled him leaste he shuld rebell. Yet he delyuered his soonne to Vaschus to bee broughte vppe with owre men, to learne their language and relygyon, that he myght therafter the better vse his helpe aswell in all thynges that he shulde haue to doo with owre men, as also more polytykely rule, and obtayne the loue of his owne sub­iectes. Vaschus at this tyme fell into a vehement feuer by rea­son of excesse of labour,Ua [...]chus fau­leth [...]icke. immoderate watchyng, and hunger: In somuche that departynge from thense, he was fayne too bee borne vppon mennes backes in shietes of gossampyne cot­ton.Feeblenes of hunger and watchinge. Lykewyse also many of his souldiers whiche were soo weake that they coulde nother go nor stonde. To this pur­pose they vsed the helpe of thinhabytantes, who shewed thē selues in althynges wyllynge and obedyente. Also summe of th [...]m whiche were su [...]what feeble and not able to trauayle, although not greuously sycke, were ledde by the armes vn­tyll they came to the domynion of kynge Commogrus a greate frende to the Christyans,kynge Como­g [...]us frende [...] to the Chris [...]ians of whom wee haue largely made mention before. At Vaschus commynge thether, he founde that the owlde kynge was deade, and his soonne (whome we so pray [...]ed for his wisedome) to raygne in his steade: And that he was bapti [...]e [...] b [...] the name of Charles. The palayce of this Comogrus, is situate at the foote of a st [...]epe hyll well cultured. H [...]uynge towarde the southe a playne of twelue leages in b [...]eadth and veary frutefull.The large & [...]teful plain o [...] [...]auana. This playne, they caule Zauana. Beyonde his, are the great and hyghe montaynes whiche [...]e [...]yd [...] th [...] two seas wherof we haue spoken before. Owte of the styepe hylles, spryngeth the ryuer Comogrus, Tho ryuer Comogru [...]. whiche run­neth [Page 103] throwgh the sayde playne to the hyghe montaynes, re­ceauynge into his chanell by their valleys, all the other ry­uers, & so fauleth into the south sea. It is distante from Da­riena, aboute threscore and tenne leages towarde the weste. As owre men therfore came to these parties, kynge Comogrus (otherwyse cauled Charles by his christian name) mette thē ioyfully and entertayned them honorably, gyuynge them their fyll of pleasaunte meates and drynkes. He gaue also to Vaschus, twenty pounde weyght of wrought golde.xx. pounde weyght of wrought gold Vaschus re­compensed him with thinges which he esteemed muche more: As axes and sundry kyndes of carpenters tooles. Also a souldiours cloke, and a faire sherte wrought with needle woorke By these gyftes, Comogrus thought hym selfe to bee halfe a god amonge his bortherers. Vaschus at his departynge from hense, ernestly charged Comogrus and the other kynges to re­mayne faithfull and obedient to the christian king of Castile, if they desyred to lyue in peace and quietnesse: And that they shulde hereafter more diligently applye them selu [...]s to the ga­theringe of golde to bee sente to the great christian Tiba (that is) kyng. Declaryng fur [...]her, that by this meanes th [...]y shuld bothe gette them and their posterity a patrone and defender ageinst their enemyes, and also obtayne great abundaun [...]e of owre thinges. These affayres thus happely achiu [...]d, he went forwarde on his vyage to the palaice of kyng Poncha, where he founde foure younge men whiche were come from Dariena to certify hym that there were certayne shyppes coomme from Hispaniola laden with vyttayles and other necessaries.Uaschus re­ [...]u [...]neth to Dariena. Wher­fore takyng with him twentie of his moste lusty souldiers, he made haste to Dariena with longe iorneys: leauinge the resy­due behynd him to folow at their leasure. He writeth that he came to Dariena the .xiiii. Cal. of Fe, An. 1514. The date of his letter is: From Dariena, the .iiii. day of march.The good fortune of Uaschus. He writeth in the same letter, that he had many sore conflictes, & that he was yet neyther wounded, or loste any of his men in the bat­taile. And therfore in al his large letter, there is not one leafe without thankes geuynge to almyghty god for his delyuery and preseruation from so many imminent pecels. He attemp­ted no enterprise or tooke in hande any viage withowt thin­uocation of god and his holy saintes. Thus was Vaschus Bal­boa of a vyolen [...]e Goliath, tourned into Hels [...]as:Uaschus wa [...] turned from G [...]th to [...]eus, And frome [Page] Anteus too Hercules the conquerour of monsters. Beynge therefore thus tourned from a rasshe royster to a polytyk [...] and discreate capitayne, he was iudged woorthy to bee ad­uaunced to greate honoure. By reason whereof, he was bothe receaued into the kynges fauour, and therevppon created the generall or Lieuetenaunt of the kynges army in those Regions.O flaterynge fortune, looke his death in the booke of the Ilande lately founde. Thus much haue I gathered bothe by the letters of certeyne my faythefull frendes beinge in Dariena, and al­so by woorde of mouth of suche as came lately frome thense. If yowre holynes desyre to knowe what I thynke herein, Suerly as by suche thynges as I haue seene, I beleue these thynges to bee trewe, euen so thorder and agreinge of Vaschus and his coompanions warrelyke letters, seeme to confirme the same.The earth is owre general mother. The Spanyarde therfore shall not neede hereafter with vndermynynge the earth with intollerable laboure to breake the bones of owre mother, and enter many myles into her bowels, and with innumerable daungers cut in sunder hole mountaynes to make a waye to the courte of infernall Pluto, The courte of infernall Pluto. to brynge from thense wycked golde the seede of innu­merable mischeues, withowte the whiche notwithstandynge we may nowe scarsely leade a happy lyfe sithe iniquitie hath so preuayled and made vs slaues to that wherof we are lords by nature: The Spanyarde (I say) shall not neede with such trauayles & difficultie to dygge farre into the earth for gold, but shal fynde it plentifully in maner in the vpper crust of the earth, or in the sandes of ryuers dryded vppe by the heate of sommer, onely wasshynge the earth softely frome the same: And shall with lyke facilite gather plentie of pearles.There i [...] a better waye then this. Cer­tenly the reuerent antiquitie (by al the Cosmographers assent obteyned not soo greate a benefyte of nature, nor yet aspired to the knowleage hereof, bycause there came neuer man be­fore owte of owre knowen worlde to these vnknowen nati­ons:The Sp [...]ni­ardes con­questes. At the leaste, with a poure of men, by force of armes, in maner of conquest: wheras otherwise nothyng can be gotten here, forasmuch as these nations are for the most part seuere defenders of theyr patrimonies, and cruell to straungers, in no condition admittinge them otherwyse then by conquest: especially the fierce Canibales or Caribes. For these wylye hunters of men,Manhunters gyue them selues to none other kynde of ex­ercyse but onely to manhuntynge and tyllage after theyr ma­ner. [Page 104] At the commynge therfore of owre men into theyr regi­ons, they loke as suerly to haue them faule into their snares as if they were hartes or wylde bores:The fierse­nesse of the Can [...]bales. and with no lesse con­fydence licke their lippes secreately in hope of their praye. If they gette the vpper hande, they eate them greedely: If they mystruste them selues to bee the weaker parte, they truste to theyr feete, and flye swyfter then the wynde. Ageyne, yf the matter bee tryed on the water, aswell the women as men can dyue and swymme, as though they had byn euer brought vp and fedde in the water. It is noo maruayle therefore yf the large tracte of these regions haue byn hytherto vnknowen. But nowe sithe it hath pleased God to discouer the same in owre tyme,Owre duty to god, and na­turall loue to mankynde. it shall becoome vs to shewe owre naturall loue to mankynde and dewtie to God, to endeuoure owre selues to brynge them to ciuilitie and trewe religion, to thincrease of Christes flocke, to the confusion of Infidels and the Deuyll theyr father who delytethe in owre destruction as he hathe doone frome the begynnynge. By the good successe of these fyrst frutes, owre hope is, that the Christian regilion shall streache foorth her armes very farre. Which thyng shulde the sooner coome to passe yf all menne to theyr poure (especially Christian Princes to whom it chiefely perteyneth) wolde put theyr handes to the plowe of the lordes vineyarde.Thoffyce of Chrystian prynces. The haruest is great. &c. The har­uest suerly is greate, but the woorkemen are but fewe. As we haue sayde at the begynnynge, yowre holynes shall hereafter nooryshe many myriades of broodes of chekins vnder yowre wynges. But let vs nowe returne to speake of Beragua beinge the weste syde of Vraba, Beragua. and fyrst founde by Colonus the Admirall, then vnfortunately gouerned by Diego Nicuesa, Nicuesa. and nowe lefte in maner desolate: with the other large regions of those prouinces brought from theyr wylde and beastly rudenes to ciuilitie and trewe religion.

¶ The fourth booke of the thyrde Decade.

I Was determyned (moste holy father) to haue proceded no further herein, but that on [...] fierye sparke yet remaynynge in my mynde, woolde not suffer me to cease. Wheras I haue therfore declared howe Beragua was fyrste fownde by [Page] Colonus, my thincke I shulde commytte a heynous cryme if I shuld defraude the man of the due commendations of his tra­uayles,The fourth nauigation of Colonus the Admirall. of his cares and troubles, and fynally of the daun­geours and perels, whiche he susteyned in that nauigation.

Therfore in the yeare of Christe .1502. in the .vi. daye of the Ides of Maye, he hoysed vppe his sayles and departed from the Ilandes of Gades with .iiii. shyppes of fyftie or .iii. score tunne a piece, with a hundreth threscore and tenne mē, and came with prosperous wynde to the Ilandes of Canari [...] within fiue daies folowinge, from thense arryuinge the .xvi. day at the Ilande of Dominica beinge the chiefe habitation of the Canibales, he sayled from Dominica to Hispaniola in fyue o­ther daies. Thus within the space of .xxvi. daies, with pros­perous wynde and by the swyfte faule of the Ocean from the Easte to the west, he sayled from Spaine to Hispaniola: Which course is counted of the mariners to bee no lesse then a thou­sande and twoo hundreth leagues.From Spaine to hispan [...]ola a thou [...]ande and two hun­dreth leagues He taryed but a whyle in Hispaniola, whether it were wyllingly, or that he were so ad­monisshed of the viceroye. Directing therfore his vyage from thense towarde the weste, leauyng the Ilandes of Cuba and Iamaica on his ryght hande towarde the northe, he wryteth that he chaunsed vppon an Ilande more southewarde then Iamaica, whiche thinhabitantes caule Guanassa, so florysshinge and frutefull that it myghte seeme an earthlye Paradyse.The flory [...] ­shyng Ilande of Guanassa.

Coastynge alonge by the shores of this Ilande, he mette two of the Canoas or boates of those prouinces, whiche were drawne with two naked slaues ageynst the streame. In these boates, was caryed a ruler of the Ilande with his wyfe and chyldren, all na [...]ed. The slaues seeynge owre men a lande, made signes to them with proude countenaunce in their mai­sters name, to stande owte of the waye, and threatned them if they woolde not gyue place.Simple. people. Their sympelnes is suche that they nother feared the multitude or poure of owre men, or the greatnes and straungenes of owre shippes. They thought that owre men woolde haue honoured their maister with like reuerence as they did. Owre men had intelligēce at the length that this ruler was a greate marchaunte whiche came to the marte from other coastes of the Ilande.A greate marchaunt. For they exercyse byinge and sellynge by exchaunge with their confinies. He had also with him good stoore of suche ware as they stande [Page 105] in neede of or take pleasure in: as laton belles, rasers, kny­ues, and hatchettes made of a certeyne sharpe yelowe bryght stone, with handles of a stronge kynd of woodde. Also many other necessary instrumentes with kychen stuffe and vesselles for all necessary vses. Lykewise sheetes of gossampine cotton wrought of sundrye colours. Owre men tooke hym prysoner with all his famely. But Colonus commaunded hym to bee lo­sed shortely after, and the greatest parte of his goodes to bee restored to wynne his fryndeshippe. Beinge here instructed of a lande lyinge further towarde the southe, he tooke his vy­age thether. Therfore lytle more then tenne myles distant frō hense, he founde a large lande whiche thinhabitantes cauled Quiriquetana: But he named it Ciamba. The regyon of Querique­tana or Ci­amba. When he wente a lande and commaunded his chaplaine to saye ma [...]se on the sea ban­kes, a great confluence of the naked inhabitantes flocked thither symplye and without feare, brinkynge with them plen­ty of meate and freshe water, marueylynge at owre men as they had byn summe straunge miracle.Gentle peo­ple. When they had presen­ted their giftes, they went sumwhat backewarde and made lowe curtesy after their maner bowinge their heades and bo­dyes reuerently. He recompensed their gentylnes rewardinge them with other of owre thynges, as counters, braslettes and garlandes of glasse and counterfecte stoones, lookynge glasses, nedelles, and pynnes, with suche other trashe, whi­che seemed vnto them precious marchaundies. In this great tracte there are two regions wherof the one is cauled Taia and the other Maia. The regyons of Taia and Maia. He writeth that all that lande is very fayre and holsome by reason of the excellent temperatnesse of the ayer: And that it is inferiour to no lande in frutefull ground beinge partely full of mountaines, and partely large playn [...]s: Also replenyshed with many goodly trees, holsome herbes, and frutes, continuynge greene and floryshynge all the hole yeare. It beareth also verye many holy trees and pyne aple trees. Also .vii. kyndes of date trees wherof summe are frute­full and summe baren.Seuen kyn­des of date trees. It bringeth furth lykewyse of it selfe Pelgoras and wilde vynes laden with grapes euen in the wood­des emonge other trees.wylde vines. He saythe furthermore that there is suche abundaunce of other pleasaunte and profitable frutes, that they passe not of vynes. Of one of those kyndes of date trees, they make certeyne longe and brode swoordes and dar­tes. [Page] These regyons beare also gossampyne trees here and there commonly in the woodd [...]s. Lykewise Mirobalanes of sun­dry kyndes,M [...]robalanes as those which the phisitians caule Emblicos and Chebulos. Maizium also, Iucca, Ages, and Battatas, lyke vnto those whiche we haue sayde before to bee founde in other regions in these coastes. The same nooryssheth also lyons, Tygers, Hartes, Roes, Goates, and dyuers other beastes. Lyke­wyse sundry kyndes of byrdes and foules:Byrdes and foules. Emonge the whiche they keepe onely them to franke and feede, whiche are in colour, bygnes, and taste, muche lyke vnto owre pe­hennes. He saith that thinhabitantes are of high and good­ly stature,People of goodly stature well lym [...]ed and proportioned both men and wo­men: Couerynge their priuye partes with fyne breeches of gossampine cotton wrought with dyuers colours. And that they may seeme the more cumlye and bewtifull (as they take it) they paynte their bodyes redde and bla [...]ke with the iuce of certeyne apples whiche they plante in their gardens for the sa [...]e purpose. Summe of them paynte their hole bodies:They paynt theyr bodyes summe but parte: and other summe drawe th [...] portitures, of herbes, floures, and knottes, euery one as seemeth be [...]te to his owne phantasye. Their language differeth vtterlye from theirs of the Ilandes nere aboute them.The [...]wyfte cour [...]e of the sea from the East to the West. From these regions, the waters of the sea ranne with as full course to­warde the weste, as if it had byn the faule of a swyfte riuer. Neuerthelesse he determined to searche the Easte partes of this lande, reuoluynge in his mynde that the regions of Pa­ria and Os Draconis with other coastes founde before toward the Easte,Pari [...]. shulde bee neare theraboute as in deede they were. Departyng therfore from the large region of Quiriquetana the xiii. daye of the calendes of September, when he had sailed thirtie leaques, he founde a ryuer, without the mouth wher­of he drewe freshe water in the sea.Fresshe wa­ter in the sea. Where also the shoore was so cleane withowte rockes, that he founde grounde e­uery where, where he myght aptely caste anker. He writeth that the swifte course of the Ocean was so vehement and contrarye, that in the space of fortye dayes he coulde scarcelye sayle threscore and tenne leaques, and that with muche dif­fy [...]ultie with many fetches and coompasynges,F [...]ches and compasinges fyndyng him selfe to bee sumtimes repulsed and dryuen farre backe by the vyolente course of the sea when he woolde haue taken lande [Page 106] towarde the euenynge, le [...]s [...]e perhappes wanderynge in vn­knowen coastes in the darckenes [...]e of the nyght, he myghte bee in daunger of shypwracke: He writeth that in the space of eyght leaques, he found three great and fayre ryuers vp­pon the banckes wherof,Faire ryuers. Great reedes there grewe reedes bygger then a mannes thygh, In these ryuers was also greate plentye of fyshe and great tortoyses:Great tortoy­ses. Lykewise in many places, mul [...]i­tudes of Crocodiles lyinge in the [...]ande, and yanyng to [...]ake the heate of the soonne: Besyde dyuers other kyndes of beastes whervnto he gane no names. He sayth al [...]o that the soyle of that lande is very diuers a [...]d variable: beyng sum­where stonye and full of rough and [...]e [...]ggie promonto [...]es or poyntes reachynge into the sea. And in other places as frut­full as maye bee. They haue also diuers kynges and rulers.Dyuers lan­guages. In summe places they caule a kynge Cacicus: in other places they caule hym Quebi, and sumwhere Tiba. Suche as haue behaued them selues valiantly in the warres ageynste their enemies, and haue their faces full of scarres, they caule Cu­pras, and honour them as the antiquitie dyd the goddes whi­che they cauled Heroes, Hero [...] ▪ supposed to bee the soules of suche men as in their lyfe tyme excelled in vertue and noble actes. The common people, they caule Chiui: and a man, they caule Ho [...]cu [...]. When they saye in their language, take man, they say Hoppa home. After this, he came to an other ryuer apte to beare great shyppes: Before the mouthe wherof, l [...]ye foure smaule Ilandes full of florisshing and frutfull trees. These Ilandes he named Quatuor tempora. Quatuor tem­pora. From hense saylynge towarde the Easte for the space of .xiii. leaques styll ageinste [...]he vyolent course of the water, he founde twelue other smaule Ilandes. In the whiche bycause he founde a newe kynde of frutes muche like vnto owre lemondes, he cauled them Limonares. Twel [...]e I­lāds na [...]ed Li [...]na [...]es. Wanderynge yet further the same waye for the [...]pace of .xii. leaques, he founde a great hauen enteryng into th [...] land af­ter the maner of a goulfe the space of three l [...]aqu [...]s, and in maner as brode, into the whiche fell a great ryuer. He [...]e was Nicuesa loste afterwarde when he soug [...]te Ber [...]ga [...]: By rea [...]on wherof they cauled it Rio delos perdido [...]: Rio de los pe [...] ­didos. that is the ryuer of the loste men. Thus Colonus the Admirall yet further con [...]ynu­ynge his cour [...]e ageynste the furye of the [...]ea, fou [...]de manye hyghe montaynes and horrible valleys, with dyuers ryuers [Page] and hauens, from all the whiche (as he saythe) proceaded sweete sauers greatly rec [...]eatynge and confortynge nature. In so muche that in all this longe tracte there was not one of his men desea [...]ed vntyll he ca [...]e to a region whiche thinhabitantes cau [...]e Quicuri, The region of Qu [...]curi. in the whiche is the hauen cauled Cariai, named M [...]robalanus by the admyrall bycause the Miroba­lane trees are natiue in the regions therabout. In this hauen of Cariai, The hauen of Cariai or Mirobalanus there came about two hundreth of thinhabitantes to the sea syde with euerye of them three or foure dartes in their handes: Yet of condition gentell enoughe, and not re­fusyng straungers. Their commyng was for none other pur­pose then to knowe what this newe nation mente, or what they brough [...]e with them. When owre men had gyuen them sygnes of peace, they came swymmynge to the shyppes and desyred to barter with them by exchaunge. The admyrall to allure them to frend [...]hippe, gaue them many of owre thinges: But they refused them, suspectynge summe disceate thereby bycause he woolde not receyue theirs. They wroughte all by sygnes:Ciuile and human [...] people for one vnderstoode not a woorde of the others lan­guage. Suche gyftes as were sente them, they lefte on the shore a [...]d woolde take no part therof. They are of suche ciui­litye and humanytie, that they esteeme it more honorable to gyue then to take. They sente owre men two younge women beinge vyrgines, of cōmendable fauour and goodly stature, sygnifyinge vnto them that they myghte take them awaye with them if it were their pleasure. These women after the maner of their countrey, were couered from their ancles sum­what aboue their priuye partes with a certeyne clothe made of gossampine cotton. But the men are al naked. The women vse to cutte their heare: But the men lette it growe on the hynder partes of their heades, and cutte it on the fore parte. Their longe heare, they bynde vppe with fyllettes, & winde it in sundry rowles as owre maydes are accustomed to do. The virgins which were sente to the Admirall he decked in fayre apparell, & gaue them many gyftes, and sent theym home ageyne. But lykewise all these rewardes and apparel they left vppon the shore bycause owre men had refused their gyftes. Yet tooke he two men away with him (and those very wyllyngly) that by lernyng the Spanyshe tonge, he might afterwarde vse them for interpretours. He considered that [Page 107] the tractes of these coastes were not greately troubeled with vehement motions or ouerflowynges of the sea, forasmuche as trees growe in the sea not farre frome the sh [...]re,sy [...]e. euen as they doo vppon the bankes of ryuers. The which thynge also other doo affirme whiche haue latelyer searched those coa­stes, declaring that the sea riseth and fauleth but lyttle there aboute. He sayth furthermore, that in the prospecte of this lande, there are trees engendred euen in the sea,Trees gro­wyn [...] in th [...] sea after a straunge sor [...] ▪ which after that they are growen to any height, bende downe the toppes of theyr branches into the grounde: which embrasing them causeth other branches to sprynge owt of the same, and take roote in the earth, bringynge foorth trees in theyr kynde suc­cessiuely as dyd the fyrst roote from whense they had theyr originall, as do also the settes of vines when onely bothe the endes therof are put into the grounde. Plinie in the twelfth booke of his natural historie maketh mention of suche trees,Plinie, describynge them to bee on the lande, but not in the sea. The Admirall wryteth also that the lyke beastes are engendered in the coastes of Cariai, as in other prouinces of these regions, and such as we haue spoken of before. Yet that there is one founde here in nature much differinge from the other. This beaste is of the byggenes of a greate moonkeye,A straunge kynde of moonkeys. but with a tayle muche longer and bygger. It lyueth in the wooddes, and remoueth from tree to tree in this maner. Hangynge by the tayle vppon the braunche of a tree, & gatheryng strength by swayinge her body twyse or thryse too and fro, she casteth her selfe from branche to branche and so from tree to tree as though she flewe. An archer of owres hurt one of them. Who perceauinge her selfe to be wounded,A moonkeye feyghteth with a man. leapte downe from the tree, and fiercely set on hym which gaue her the wounde, in so muche that he was fayne to defende hym selfe with his swoorde. And thus by chaunce cuttyng of one of her armes, he tooke her, and with muche a doo brought her to the ships where within a whyle, shee waxed tame. Whyle shee was thus kep [...]e and bownde with cheynes, certeyne other of owr hunters hadde chased a wylde bore owt of the maryshes nere vnto the sea syde. For hunger and desyre of fleshe, caused thē to take double pleasure in huntynge. In this meane tyme o­ther which remayned in the shippes, goinge a lande to recre­ate them selues, tooke this moonkey with them. Who, as [Page] soone as shee had espied the bore, set vp her brystels & made towarde her. The bore lykewyse shooke his bristels & whette his teethe. The moonkey furiously inuaded the bore, [...] conflict be­twene a mon­key and a wylde bore. wrap­pynge her tayle about his body, and with her arme reserued of her victourer, helde hym so fast aboute the throte, that he was suffocate. These people of Cariai, vse to drye the deade bodyes of theyr princes vppon hurdels, and so reserue them inuolued in the leaues of trees.The bodyes of kynges dryed & reserued As he went forwarde about twentie leagues from Cariai, he founde a goulfe of suc [...] largenes that it conteyned .xii. leagues in compa [...]se. In the mouth of this goulfe were foure lyttle Ilandes so nere tog [...]ther, that they made a safe hauen to enter into the goulfe. This goulfe is the hauen which we sayde before to be cauled Cera­baro of thinhabitantes.Cerabaro. But they haue nowe lerned th [...]t only the lande of the one syde therof, lyinge on the ryght hande at the enterynge of the goulfe, is cauled by that name. But that on the lefte syde, is cauled Aburema. Aburema. He saythe th [...]t all this goulfe is ful of fruteful Ilandes wel replenysshed with goodly trees: And the grounde of the sea to bee verye cleane withowt rockes, and commodious to cast anker: Lykewyse the sea of the goulfe to haue greate abundance of fysshe: and the land [...] of both the sydes to bee inferior to none in frutful­nes. At his fyrst arryuynge, he espyed two of thinh [...]bitan [...]es hauynge cheynes about theyr neckes,Cheynes of golde. made of ouches (which they caule Cuauines,) of base golde artificially wrought in the formes of Eagles, and lions, with dyuers other beastes and foules. Of the two Cariaians whiche he brought with hym from Cariai, he was enformed that the regions of Cerabaro and Aburema were rych in golde. And that the people of Cariai haue all theyr golde frome thense for exchaunge of other of theyr thynges.Plentie of golde. They towlde hym also, that in the sa [...]e regi [...]ns there are fyue vyllages not farre from the sea [...]yde, whose inhabitantes apply the [...] selues onely to the gathering of gold The names of the [...]e vyllages are these: Chirara, Puren, Chitaza, Iureche, Atamea. Fiue villages rych in gold. All the men of the prouince of Cerabaro, go naked, and are paynted with dyuers coloures. They take g [...]eat pleasure in wearynge garlan [...]es of floures, and crownes made of the clawes of Lions and Tygers.Crownes of beasts claws The women couer onely theyr priuie partes wi [...]h a fyller of gossampine cotton. Departinge from hen [...]e and [...]oastynge styll by the same shore [Page 108] for the space of .xviii. leagues, he came to another ryuer, wh [...]re he espyed aboute three hundreth naked men in a com­pany. When they sawe the shippes drawe neare the lande, they cryed owte aloude, with cruell countenaunces shakynge th [...]yr woodden swoordes and hurlynge dartes, takynge also wa [...]er in theyr mouthes and spoutyng the same ageynst our men:Soytefu [...]l people. wherby they seemed to insinuate that they woolde re­ceaue no condition of peace or haue owght to doo with them. Here he commaunded certeyne pieces of ordinaunce to be shot of toward them: Yet so to ouershute them, that none myght be hurt therby. For he euer determyned to deale quietly and peaceably with these newe nations. At the noyse therfore of the gunnes and syght of the fyer, they fell downe to the grounde, and desyred peace.Guns make peace. Thus enteringe into further frendshippe, they exchaunged theyr cheynes and ouches of golde for glasses and haukes belles and such other marchandies. They vse drummes or tymbrels made of the shelles of certeyne sea fysshes, wherewith they encorage theym selues in the warres. In this tract are these seuen ryuers, Acateba, Quareba, Zobroba, Aiaguitin, Vrida, Duribba, Beragua, Seuen goldē ryuers in all the whiche, golde is founde. They defende them selues ageynste rayne and heate with certeyne great leaues of trees in the steade of clokes. Departinge from hense, he searched the coastes of Ebetere, and Embigar, into the which faule the goodly ryuers of Zohoran and Cubigar: Note where the plentie of golde endeth And here ceaseth the plentie and frute­fulnes of golde, in the tracte of fiftie leagues or there about. From hense onely three leagues distant, is the rocke whiche in the vnfortunate discourse of Nicuesa we sayde was cauled of owre men Pignonem. Pignonem. But of thinhabitantes the Region is cauled Vibba. Vibba. In this tracte also aboute syxe leagues frome thense, is the hauen which Colonus cauled Portus Bellus (wher­of we haue spoken before) in the region whiche thinhabitan­tes caule Xaguaguara. Portus Bellus. This region is very peopulous: but they go all naked. The kyng is paynted with blacke colours, but all the people with redde.Paynted people. The kynge and seuen of his noble men,A strange syght. had euery of them a lyttle plate of golde hangynge at theyr nosethrylles downe vnto theyr lyppes. And this they take for a cumly ornamente.A she [...] in the steede of a codpiece. The menne inclose theyr priuie members in a shell: And the women couer theyrs with a fyl­ [...]et of gossampine cotton tyed about theyr loynes. In theyr [Page] gardens they noorysshe a frute muche lyke the nutte of a pine tree: the whiche (as we haue sayde in an other place) gro­weth on a shrubbe muche lyke vnto an archichocke: But the frute is muche softer, and meate for a kynge. Also cer­teyne trees whiche beare gourdes, wherof we haue spoken before. This tree, they caule Hibuero. In these coastes they mette sumtymes with Crocodiles lyinge on the sandes. the whiche when they fled, or tooke the water, they lefte a ve­ry sweete sauour behynde them sweeter then muske or Casto­reum. Crocodiles of [...]weete sa­uour. When I was sente ambassadour for the catholike king of Castile to the Soltane of Babilon or Alcayer in Egipte,Alcayr or Ba­bilon in Egipt thinhabitantes nere vnto the ryuer of Nilus toulde me the like of their female Crocodiles. Affyrmyng furthermore that the fatte or sewette of them is equall in sweetnes with the plea­saunte gummes of Arabic. But the Admirall was nowe at the length enforced of necessytie to departe from hense, as­well for that he was no longer able to abyde the contrarye and vyolente course of the water, as also that his shyppes were daily more and more putrified and eaten throwgh with certeyne wormes whiche are engendred of the warmenes of the water in all those tractes nere vnto the Equinoctial line.Shippes ea­ten with wormes. The Uenetians caule these woormes Bissas. The same are al­so engendred in two hauens of the citie of Alexandria in Egipt and destroye the shyppes if they lye longe at anker.Alexandria in Egypte. They are a cubet in lengch, and sumwhat more: not passyng the quan­titie of a fynger in bygnesse. The Spanyshe mariner cauleth this pestilence Broma. Broma. Colonus therfore whom before the great monsters of the sea coulde not feare, nowe fearyng this Bro­ma, beynge also soore vexed with the contrary faule of the sea, directed his course with the Ocean towarde the west, and came first to the ryuer Hiebra, Hiebra, distant onely two leaques from the ryuer of Beragua, bycause that was commodious to har­borowe great shippes. This region is named after the riuer, and is cauled Beragua the lesse:Beragua. Bycause bothe the ryuers are in the dominion of the kyng which inhabiteth the region of Beragua.. But what chaunsed vn [...]o hym in this vyage on the ryghte hande and on the lefte, le [...]te vs nowe declare. Whyle therfore Colonus the Admirall remayned yet in the ryuer Hie­bra, he sent Bertholomeus Colonus his brother and Lieuetenaunte of Hispaniola, with the shyppe boa [...]es and threscore and .viii. [Page 105] men to the ryuer of Beragua, how the king of Beragua enterteyn [...]d the lyeuete­naunte. where the king of the region be­inge naked and painted after the maner of the countrey, came towarde them with a great multitude of men waytynge on hym, but all vnarmed and without weapons, gyuinge also sygnes of peace. When he approched nerer, and entered com­munication with owre men, certeyne of his gentelmen nea­reste aboute his person, rememberinge the maiestie of a king, and that it stoode not with his honour to bargen stondynge, tooke a greate stoone owte of the ryuer, wasshynge an [...] rub­bynge it veary [...] decently, & so put it vnder hym with humble reuerence.The [...]r reue­rence to their kynge. The kyng thus syttyng, seemed with sygnes & to­kens to insinuate that it shuld be lawful for owre men to searche & viewe al the ryuers within h [...]s dominion. Wherfore, the vi. day of the Ides of February, leauing his boates with cer­teyne of his coompany, he wente by lande a foote from the bankes of Beragua vntyl he came to the ryuer of Duraba, Golde in the ry [...]er of Du­raba. whi­che he affirmeth to be richer in gold then eyther Hiebra or Bera­gua. For gold is engendred in al the riuers of that land. In so muche that emonge the rootes of the trees growynge by the bankes of the ryuers, & amonge the stones left of the water,Great plenty of golde. & also where so euer they dygged a hole or pyt in the grounde not paste the deapthe of a handfull and a halfe, they founde the earthe taken owte therof, myxte with golde: Where vp­pon he determyned to fasten his foote there and to inhabyte. Whiche thynge the people of the countrey perceauynge and smellynge what inconuenyence and myschiefe myght thereof ensewe to their countrey if they shulde permitte straungers to plante their habitation there, assembled a great army, and with horrible owte crye assayled owre men (who had nowe begoonne to buylde houses) soo desperately that they were scarcely able to abyde the fyrste brunte. These nake [...] barba­rians at their fyrst approche, vsed onely slynges and dartes:Slynges and dartes. But when they came nearer to hande strookes, they foughte with their woodden swoordes whiche they caule Machan [...]s, as wee haue sayd before. A man woolde not thinke what great malice and wrath was kyndeled in their hartes ageinst owre men: And with what desperate myndes they fought for the defense of their lybertie whiche they more esteeme then lyfe or rychesse.L [...]berty mo [...]e esteemed thē ryches. For they were nowe so voyde of all feare, and contemnynge deathe, that they neyther scared longe bowes [Page] or crossebowes, nor yet (whiche is mooste to be marueyled) were any thynge discouraged at the terryble noyse of the gunnes shotte of from the shyppes. They retyred once. But shortly after encreasynge their noumber, they returned more fiercely then at the fyrste. They woolde haue byn contented to haue receyued owre men frendly as straungers, but not as inhabitours. The more instante that owre men were to re­maine, so muche the greater multitude of bortherers flocked togyther dayly, disturbyng thē both nyght & daye sumtymes on the one syde & sumtymes on the other.The Spany­ardes are dryuen to flight. The shyps lying at anker neare vnto the shore, warded them on the backe halfe. But at the length they were fayne to forsake this lande, and retourne backe the same way by the which they came. Thus with much diffyculty and danger, they came to the Iland of Iamaica lyenge on the south syde of Hispaniola and Cuba, The Ilande of Iamaica. with their shyppes as full of holes as sieues, and so eaten with woormes, as though they had byn bored through with wim­bles. The water entered so faste at the ryftes and holes, that if they had not with the paynefull labour of their han­des empted the same as faste, they were lyke to haue perys­shed. Where as yet by this meanes they arryued at Iamaica, althoughe in maner halfe deade. But their calamitie ceased not here. For as fast as their shyppes leaked, their strengthe dimynisshed so that they were no longer able to keepe theym from synkynge.A myserable case. By reason wherof, faulynge into the han­des of the barbarians, and inclosed withowte hope of de­parture, they led their lyues for the space of tenne monthes emong the naked people more myserably then euer dyd Ache­menides emonge the gyantes cauled Ciclopes: rather lyuing thē beinge eyther contented or satisfied with the strange meates of that Ilande: and that onely at such tymes as pleased the barbarians to giue them part of theirs. The deadly enmity and malice whiche these barbarous kinges beare one ageinst an other, made greatly with owre men. For at suche tymes as they attempted warre ageinst their bortherers they woold sumtymes gyue owre men parte of their breade to ayde them. But howe myserable and wretched a thyng it is to lyue one­ly with breade gotten by beggynge, yowre holynesse maye easylye coniecture: Especially where all other accustomed foode is lackynge, as wyne, oyle, flesshe, butter, chiese, and [Page 110] milke, wherwith the stomakes of owr people of Europe haue euer byn noorisshed euen from their cradelles.Necessytie hath no lawe howe farre lyfe is to bee esteemed. Therfore as necessyty is subiecte to no lawe, so doothe it enforce men to attempte desperate aduentures. And those the soner, which by a certeyne nobylytie of nature do no further esteeme lyfe then it is ioyned with summe felicity. Bertholomeus Colonus ther­fore, intendynge rather to proue what god woolde do with hym and his companyons in these extremities,A daunge­rous enter­pryse. then any lon­ger to abide the same, commaunded Diegus Mendez his steward with two guydes of that Ilande whome he had hyred with promysses of great rewardes at their retourne, to enter in­to one of their canoas and take their viage to Hispaniola.

Beynge thus tossed on the sea two and fro from rocke too rocke by reason of the shortenesse and narownes of the ca­noa, they arryued at the length at the laste corner of Hispa­niola, beynge distante from Iamaica fortie leagues. Here his guydes departynge from hym, returned ageine to Colonus for the rewardes which he had promysed them. But Diegu [...] Men­dez wente on forward a foote vntyll he came to the citie cau­led Sanctus Dominicus beynge the chiefe and heade citye of the Ilande.Sanctus Domi­nicus. The offycers and rulers of Hispaniola, beinge enfor­med of the matter, appoynted hym two shyppes wherwith he retourned to his maister and coompanions. As he founde them, soo came they to Hispaniola, verye feeble and in maner naked. What chaunced of them afterwarde, I knowe not as yet. Lette vs nowe therfore leaue these particulers, and speake sumwhat more of generals. In al those tractes whi­che we sayde here before to haue bynne found by Colonus the Admyrall,Landes foūd by Colonus. bothe he hym selfe writeth, and all his coompa­nyons of that vyage confesse, that the trees, herbes,Temperate regions and holsome aier and fru­tes, are floryshing and greene all the hole yeare, and the ayer so temperate and holesome, that of all his coompanye there neuer fell one man sycke, nor yet were vexed eyther with ex­treme coulde or heate for the space of fyftie leagues from the great hauen of Cerabaro to the ryuers of Hiebra and Beragua. Cerabaro. Hiebra. Beragua.

Thinhabitantes of Cerabaro, and the nat [...]ons whiche are be­twyxte that and the sayde ryuers, applye not them selues to the gatherynge of golde but onely at certeyne tymes of the yeare: And are very experte & cunnyng herein, as are owre myners of syluer and Iren.Experte my­ners. They knowe by longe experience [Page] in what places golde is mooste abundantly engendred: as by the colour of the water of the ryuers, and suche as faule frō the montaynes: And also by the colour of the earthe and sto­nes. They beleue a certeyne godly nature to be in golde,A god [...]y na­ture in golde. for asmuche as they neuer gather it excepte they vse certeyne re­lygious expiations or pourgynge, as to absteyn from women, and all kyndes of plesures and delycate meates and drinkes, d [...]ring all the tyme that their golden haruest laste [...]he.Go [...]den har­uest. They suppose that men do naturally lyue and dye as other beastes do, and therfore honour none other thynge as god. Yet doo th [...]y praye to the soonne, and honour it when it ryseth. But lette vs nowe speake of the montaines and situation of these landes. From all the sea bankes of these regyons, exceding great and hyghe mountaynes are seene towarde the Southe,hyghe [...]nd greate moun­taynes. yet reachynge by a continuall tracte from the Easte into the weste. By reason wherof I suppose that the two greate seas (wherof I haue spoken largly before) are deuided with these montaynes as it were with bulwarkes, leaste they shoulde ioyne and repugne, as Italye deuideth the sea cauled Tirrhe­num, Ty [...]rhenuum is nowe cau­led Tu [...]eane from the sea Adriatyke, which is nowe commonly cau­led the goulfe of Uenes.

For whiche waye soo euer they sayled from the poynt cauled Promontorium, S. Augustini (whiche perteyneth to the Portugales & prospecteth ageynste the sea Atlantike) euen vnto Vraba and the hauen Cerabaro, Cap. S. Augusti­ni. Vraba. Cerabaro. and to the furthest landes found hyther­to westwarde, they had euer greate mountaynes in syghte bothe nere hande and farre of, in all that longe rase. These mountaynes were in sume place, smooth, pleasaunt and frutfull,Frutful mountaynes. full of goodly trees and herbes: And sumwhere, hygh, rowgh, ful of rockes, and baren, as chaunseth in the famus mountayne of Taurus in Asia, and also in dyuers coastes of our mountaynes of Apennini, A [...]ennini are mountaynes which d [...]uide Italy lute .ii. partes and suche other of lyke byggenesse. The rydgies also of these mountaynes are diuided with goodly and fayre valleis. That part of the mountaynes which includeth the lymettes of Beragua, Beragaa. is thought to be hygher then the clowdes,The moun­taynes of Beragua higher then the cl [...]udes. in so much that (as they saye) the tops of them can seldome bee seene for the multitude of thicke clowdes which are beneath the same. Colonus the Admirall the fyrste fynder of these regions, affirmeth that the toppes of the montaynes of Beragua are more then fiftie myles in heyghth.Montaynes of fiftie miles heyght. He [Page 107] sayth furthermore that in the same region at the rotes of the montaynes the way is open to the south sea, and compareth it as it were betwene Uenice and Genua, or Ianua as the Ge­nues wyll haue it cauled, whiche fable that theyr citie was buylded of Ianus. Ianus other­wy [...]e cauled Iaphet, the son of Noe. He affirmeth also that this lande reacheth foorth towarde the south: And that from hense it taketh the begynnynge of breadth, lyke as from the Alpes owte of the narowe thygh of Italy,Italy is lyke vnto a legge in the sea, & the moun­taynes of the alpes, are in the thyghe therof. we see the large and mayne landes of Fraunce, Germanye, and Pannonye, to the Sarmatians and Scythyans, euen vnto the mountaynes and rockes of Riphea and the frosen sea, and embrase therwith as with a continuall bonde, all Tracia, and Grecia, with all that is included within the promontorie or poynt of Malea and Hel­lespontus southwarde, and the sea Euzinus and the marysshes of Maeotis in Scythia northwarde. The Admirall supposethe,Colonus his opinion of the suppo [...]ed Continent. By this con­iecture, the way shuld be open to Ca­thay by the hiperbore [...]. that on the lefte hande in saylynge towarde the weste, this lande is ioyned to India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges: And that on the ryght hande towarde the North, it bee extended to the frosen sea, beyonde the Hyperboreans and the North pole: So that both the seas (that is to meane that south sea which we sayde to bee founde by Vaschus, and owre Ocean) shulde ioyne and meete in the corners of that land: And that the waters of these seas doo not onely inclose and compasse the same withowt diuision as Europe is inclosed with the seas of Hellespontus and Tanais, with the frosen Ocean & owre sea of Tyrrhenum with the Spanysshe seas. But in my opini­on, the vehement course of the Ocean toward the weste, doth signifie and lette that the sayde two seas shulde not so ioyne togither:Looke the n [...] uigation of Cabote. deca. iii. lib. vi. But rather that that land is adherent to the firme landes towarde the Northe, as we haue sayde before. It shall suffice to haue sayde thus muche of the length hereof. Let vs nowe therfore speake sumwhat of the breadth of the same,The breadth of the lande We haue made mention before howe the south sea is diuided by narowe lymittes from owre Ocean, as it was proued by thexperience of Vaschus Nun [...]ez and his coompanions which fyrst made open the way thyther. But as dyuersly as the mountaynes of owre Alpes in Europe are sumwhere na­rowe and in sume place brode, euen so by the lyke prouidēc [...] of nature, this lande in sume parte therof reacheth farre in breadth, and is in other places coarcted with narowe limet­tes [Page] from sea to sea, with valleys also in sume places, wher­by men may passe from the one syde to the other. Where we haue descrybed the regions of Vraba and Beragua to bee situ­ate,The regions of Uraba and Beragua. these seas are deuided by smaule distaunce. Yet owght we to thynke the region which the great ryuer of Maragnonus runneth through,The greate riuer Marag­nonus. to bee very large if we shall graunt Marag­nonum to bee a ryuer and no sea, as the freshe waters of the same owght to persuade vs. For in suche narowe caues of the earth, there can bee no swalowinge goulfes of such bygnesse as to receaue or nooryshe so great abundance of water. The lyke is also to bee supposed of the great ryuer of Dabaiba which we sayde to bee from the corner of the goulfe of Vraba in sume place of fortie fathomes depth,The great riuer Dabai­ba, or sancty Iohannis. and sumwhere fiftie: Also three myles in breadth, and so to faule into the sea. We must needes graunt that the earth is brode there, by the whi­che the ryuer passeth from the hyghe mountaynes of Dabaiba from the East and not from the west. They say that this ry­uer consisteth and taketh his encrease of foure other ryuers faulynge from the mountaynes of Dabaiba. The ryuers haue their in­crease from the sprynges of the mon­taynes. Owre men caule this ryuer Flumen. S. Iohannis. They say also that from hense it fauleth into the goulfe of Vraba by seuen mouthes as doothe the ryuer of Nilus into the sea of Egypte.The ryuer of Nilus in E­gypte. Lykewyse that in the same region of Vraba there are in sume places narowe streyghtes not passynge fyftene leaques: and the same to bee saluage and withowt any passage by reason of dyuers ma­rysshes and desolate wayes,Marisshes and desolate wayes. which the Latines caule Lamas: But the Spanyardes accordynge to theyr varietie, caule thē Tremedales, Trampales, Cenegales, Sumideros, and Zabondaderos. But before we passe any further, it shall not bee greatly from owr purpose to declare from whense these mountaynes of Dabaiba haue theyr name accordynge vnto thantiquities of thinhabi­tantes.A superstiti­ous opinion of thoriginall of montaines of Dabaiba. They saye therefore that Dabaiba was a woman of greate magnanimitie and wysedome emonge theyr predices­sours in owlde tyme: whom in her lyfe, all thinhabitantes of those prouinces did greatly reuerence, and beinge deade gaue her diuine honour and named the regiō after her name, beleuynge that shee sendeth thunder and lyghtnynge to de­stroy the frutes of the earth yf shee bee angered, and to send plentie if shee bee well pleased. This superstition hathe byn persuaded them by a craftie kynde of men vnder pretense of [Page 112] religion to thintent that they might enioye suche gyftes and offeringes as were brought to the place where shee was ho­noured.Dragons and crocodiles in the marishes This is sufficient for this purpose. They saye fur­thermore that the marysshes of the narowe lande wherof we haue spoken, brynge foorth great plentie of Crocodiles, dra­gons, battes, and gnattes beinge very hurtfull. Therefore when so euer they take any iorney towarde the south, they go owte of the way towarde the mountaynes, and eschewe the regions neare vnto those perelous fennes or maryshes. Sume thinke that there is a valley lyinge that way that the ryuer runneth which owre men caule Rio de los perdidos, that is, the ryuer of the lost men (so named by the misfortune whiche there befell to Nicuesa and his coompany) and not far distant from the hauen Cerabaro whiche diuideth those mountaynes towarde the south.The hauen Cerabaro. But let vs nowe fynishe this booke with a fewe other thynges woorthy to bee noted. They say there­fore that on the ryght hande and lefte hande frome Dariena, there are twentie ryuers in all the whiche,Twentie gol­den ryuers. greate plentie of golde is founde. Being demaunded what was the cause why they brought no greater abundance of gold from thense, they answered that they lacked myners: And that the men which they tooke with them from Spayne thyther, were not accu­stomed to laboure, but for the moste parte brought vp in the warres. This lande seemeth also to promesse many precious stones.Precious stones. For besyde those which I sayde to bee founde neare vnto Cariai and Sancta Martha, one Andreas Moralis a pylot (who had trauayled those coastes with Iohannes de la Cossa whyle he yet lyued) had a precious diamonde which he bought of a na­ked younge man in the region of Cumana in the prouince of Paria. a precious di­emonde of ercedynge bygnes. This stone was as longe as two ioyntes of a mans middell fynger, and as bygge as the fyrst ioynte of the thumme: beinge also paynted on euery syde, consistynge of eyght squares perfectly formed by nature. They say that with this they made scarres in anuilles and hammers, and brake the teethe of fyles, the stone remaynyng vnperysshed. The younge man of Cumana, wore this stone aboute his necke emonge other ouches, and soulde it to Andreas Moralis for fyue of our coūterfect stones made of glasse of dyuers colours wherwith the igno­rant younge man was greatly delyted. They founde also certeyne topases on the shore.Topases. But thestimation of golde was so [Page] farre entered into the heades of owre men, that they had no regarde to stones. Also the most part of the Spanyardes,The Spany­erdes con­temne effeminate plesures do lawgh them to scorne which vse to weare many stones: specially such as are common: Iudginge it to bee an effeminate thynge, and more meete for women then men. The noble mē onely when they celebrate solēne mariages, or set forth any triūphes, weare cheynes of gold byset with precious stones, and vse fayre apparell of sylke embrothered with golde intermixt with pearles and precious stones: And not at other ty­mes. They thynke it no lesse effeminate for men to smell of the sweete sauours of Arabie:Sweete sa­uoru [...]. And iudge hym to bee infected with sum kynde of fylthy lechery, in whom they smell the sauour of muske or Castoreum. But lyke as by one apple taken from a tree, we may perceyue the tree to bee frutfull, and by one fyshe taken in a ryuer, we may knowe that fyshe is ingen­dered in the same, euen so, by a lyttel gold, and by one stone, we owght to consyder that this lande bringeth forthe great plentie of golde and precious stones.A similitude prouing great plentie of golde & preci­ous stones. What they haue found in the porte of Sancti Martha in the region of Cariai when the hole nauye passed therby vnder the gouernaunce of Petrus A­rias and his coompany with certeine other of the kynges of­fycers,The hauen of Sancta Mar­tha. Cariai. I haue suffyciently declared in his place. To be shorte therefore, all thynges do so florysshe, growe, encrease, and prosper, that the laste are euer better then the fyrste. And surely to declare my opinion herin,The heroical factes of the Spaniardes. what so euer hath here [...]ofore byn discouered by the famous trauayles of Saturnus and Hercules, with such other whō the antiquitie for their heroical factes honoured as goddes, seemeth but lyttell and obscure if it be compared to the Spanyardes victorious laboures.

This I byd yowre holynes fare well, desyringe yowe to cer­tifye me howe yowe lyke these fyrste frutes of the Ocean, that beyng encoraged with yowre exhortations, I maye the gladlyer and with lesse tediousnesse write suche thynges as shal chaunce herafter.

The fyft booke of the thirde decade.

AL suche lyuynge creatures as vnder the cer­cle of the moone bringe forthe any thynge, are accustomed by thinstincte of nature as soone as they are delyuered of their byrthe, eyther to close vppe the matrice, or at the leaste to bee quyete for a space. But owre mooste frutefull Ocean and newe woorlde, engendereth and bringeth furthe dayly newe byrthes wher­by men of great wytte, and especially suche as are studyous of newe and meruelous thinges, may haue sumwhat at hand wherwith to feede their myndes. If yowre holynesse do aske to what purpose is al this, ye shal vnderstand, that I had scarcely fynysshed the historye of suche thynges as chaunsed to Vaschus Nunnez and his coompanye in their vyage to the southe sea, when soodenly there came newe letters from Pe­trus Arias the newe gouernour whom the kyng had appoynted the yeare before with an army of men and a nauye of shippes to sayle to these newe landes. He sygnifyeth by his letters, that he with his nauye and coompany, arryued all safelye.

Furthermore, Iohannes Cabedus (whome yowre holynes at the requeste of the moste catholyke kynge had created bysshoppe of that prouynce of Dariena) and three other of the chiefe offy­cers ioined in cōmission to be his assystance,The bysshop of Dariena. as Alfonsus de Ponte, Diegus Marques, and Iohannes de Tauira, confyrmed the same let­ters and subscribed them with their names. The nauygati­on therfore of Petrus Arias, The nauigation of Petrus Arias. was in this maner. The daye be­fore the Ides of Apryll, in the yeare of Christe .1514. he hoy­sed vppe his sayles in the towne of saincte Lucar de Barrameda, Saint Lucar. sytuate in the mouthe of the ryuer Batis,, whiche the Spani­ardes nowe caule Guadalchebir. The seuen Ilandes of Canaria are about foure hundreth myles distant from the place where this riuer fauleth into the sea.The Iland of Canarie. Summe thinke that these are the Ilandes which the owlde writers did caule the fo [...]t [...]n [...]te Ilandes. But other thynke the contrary. The name of the [...]e Ilandes, are these. The two whiche appere fyrste in syght, are named Lanzelota and Fortisuentura. On the backehalfe of these, lyeth Magna Canaria or Grancanaria. Beyonde that is Te­urife: and Gomera sumwhat towarde the northe frome that. [Page] Palma and Ferrea, lye behynde as it were a bulwarke to all the other. Petrus Arias therfore, arriued at Gomera the eyghte daye after his departure, with a nauye of .xvii. shippes and a .M. and fyue hundreth men, althoughe there were onely a thou­sand and two hundreth assygned hym by the kynges letters. It is sayde furthermore that he lefte behynd hym more then two thousande verye pensyue and syghynge that they also myght not be receaued, proferynge them selues to go at their owne charges. He taried .xvi. dayes in Gomera to thintente to make prouysyon of fuell and freshe water:Prouision of fresshe water and fuell. But chiefely to repayre his shyppes beynge sore brosed with tempestes, and especially the gouernours shippe whiche had loste the rudder. For these Ilandes are a commodious restynge place for all suche as intende to attempte any nauygations in that mayne sea. Departynge from hense in the nones of Maye, he sawe no more lande vntyll the thirde daye of Iune, at the whiche he arriued at Dominica an Ilande of the Canibales, The Iland of Dominica. being distant from Gomera aboute eyght hundreth leaques. Here he remay­ned foure dayes, makinge newe prouision of freshe water and fuell, durynge whiche tyme he sawe no man nor yet any step­pes of men: But founde plentie of sea crabbes and greate ly­sartes. From hense he sayled by the Ilandes of Matinina (o­therwyse cauled Madanino) Guadalupea, Guadalupea, otherwy [...]e cauled Caru­cuer [...]a, or Queraquiera. and Galanta (otherwyse cauled Galana) of all whiche, we haue spoken in the fyrste de­cade. He passed also throughe the sea of herbes or weedes, continuyng a long tracte. Yet nother he, nor Colonus the Ad­myrall (who fyrste founde these Ilandes and sayled through this sea of weedes) haue declared anye reason howe these weedes shoulde coome.The sea of herbes. Summe thynke the sea too be ve­rye muddye there, and that these weedes are engendered in the bottome therof, and so beynge loosed, to ascende to the vppermooste parte of the water, as wee see oftentymes chaunce in certeyne stondynge pooles, and sumtymes also in greate ryuers. Other suppose that they are not engendered there, but to bee beaten from certeyne rockes by the vyolence of the water in tempestes. And thus they leaue the matter in dowte: Neyther haue they yet any certeyne experyence whe­ther they stycke faste and gyue place to the shyppes, or wan­der loose vppon the water. But it is to bee thought that they are engendered there. For otherwyse they shulde bee dryuen [Page 114] togyther on heapes by thympulsyon of the shyppes euen as a beasome gathereth the swepynges of a house, and shulde al­so lette the course of the shyppes. The fourth day after that he departed frome Dominica, These moun­taynes are cauled Mon­tes Niuales or Serra Ne­uata, dec [...]de ii. liber. i & .ii. the hyghe mountaynes couered with snowe (wherof we haue spoken in the seconde decade) appered vnto hym. They saye that there the seas runne as swyftely towarde the weste,The swyfte cour [...]e of the sea towarde the west. as it were a ryuer faulyng from the toppes of hyghe montaynes: Although they sayled not directly toward the west, but inclined sumwhat to the south. From these montaynes fauleth the ryuer of Gaira, The ryuer Gaira. famous by the slaughter of owre men at such tyme as Rodericus Colmenares passed by those coastes as we haue sayde before. Lykewyse many other fayre ryuers haue their originall from the same montaynes. This prouynce (in the whiche is also the regy­on of Caramairi) hath in it two notable hauens,Caramairi. of the which owre men named the one Carthago or Carthagona, Carthago. and the other Sancta Martha, the region wherof, thinhabitantes caule Satur­ma. Saturma. The porte of Sancta Martha, is nearer to the montaines co­uered with snowe cauled Montes Niuales:Mountaynes couered with snowe. for it is at the rootes of the same montaines. But the hauen of Carthago, is more westewarde aboute fyftie leaques. He writeth marueylous thynges of the hauen of Sancta Martha, whiche they also con­firme that came lately frō thēse: Of the which younge Vesput [...]us is one to whō Americus Vesputius his vncle (being a Florētine borne) left the exact knowlege of the mariners facultie,Americus Vesp [...] tius. as it were by inheritance after his death for he was a very expert maister in the knowledge, of his carde, his compasse, and the eleuation of the pole starre with all that perteineth ther­to. This younge Vesputius was assygned by the kyng to bee one of the maisters of the gouernours shyppe, bicause he was cunninge in iudgyng the degrees of the eleuation of the pole starre by the quadrante. For the charge of gouernynge the rudder, was chiefely coommytted to one Iohannes Serranus a Spaniarde, who had oftentymes ouer runne those coastes. Vesputius is my verye familyar frende, and a wyttie younge man in whose coompany I take great pleasure, and there­fore vse hym oftentymes for my geste. He hath also made many vyages into these coastes, and diligently noted suche thinges as he hath seene. Petrus Arias therfore writeth, and he confyrmeth the same, that thinhabitantes of these regy­ons [Page] tooke their originall of the Caribes or Canibales, as ap­peared by the desperate fiercenes and crueltie which they of­tentymes shewed to owre men when they passed by their coa­stes. Suche stou [...]enes and fortitude of mynde is natu [...]llye engendered in these naked Barbarians,The stoutnes of the Barba­rian [...]. that they feared not to a [...]sayle owre hole nauy & to forbyd them to coome a land. They feyght with venemous arrowes as we haue sayde be­fore. Perceauynge that owre men contempned their threat­nynges, they ranne furiously into the sea, euen vppe to the breastes,The Caniba­les feygh [...] in the water. nothynge fearinge eyther the bygnes or multitude of owre shyppes, but ceased not continually beinge thus in the water, to cast dartes and shute their venemous arrowes as thicke as hayle: In so muche that owre men had bynne in great daunger if they had not byn defended by the cages or pauisses of the shyppes and their targettes. Yet were two of them wounded whiche died shortely after. But this con­flycte continued so sharpe, that at the length owre men were enforced to shute of their byggest pieces of ordinaunce with hayleshotte:The vse of gunnes. At the slaughter and terrible noyse wherof the barbarians beynge sore discomfited and shaken with feare, thynkynge the same to be thunder and lyghtnynge,The genera­cion of thun­der and lyghtnynge. tourned their backes and fledde amayne. They greately feare thun­der bycause these regyons are oftentymes vexed with thun­der and lyghtnynge by reason of the hyghe montaynes and nearenesse of the same to the region of the ayer wherin such fierie tempestes are engendered which the philosophers caule Meteora. Meteora. And all be it that owre men had nowe dryuen their enemyes to flyght, and sawe them disparcled and owte of or­der, yet dowted they and were of dyuers opinions whether they shulde pursue them or not On the one partie, shame pric­ked them forwarde, and on the other syde feare caused them to caste many perelles, especially consyderynge the venemous arrowes whiche these barbarians canne direct so certeynely.Uenemous arrowes To departe from theym with a drye foote (as saithe the pro­uerbe) with so great a nauye and suche an armye, they repu­ted it as a thynge greately soundynge to their reproche and dishonour. At the length therfore shame ouercommyng feare, they pursued them and came to land with their shippe boates.

The gouernoure of the nauie, and also Vesputius doo wryte, that the hauen is no lesse then three leagues in compasse, be­inge [Page 115] also safe withowt rockes, and the water therof so clere, th [...]t a man may see pybble stones in the bottome twentie cu­bettes deape. They saye lykewyse that there fauleth twoo fayre ryuers of fresshe water into the ha [...]n: but the same to bee meeter to beare the canoas of these prouinces then anye bygger vessels. It is a delectable thynge to heare what they tel of the plentie and varietie, and also of the pleasaunt tast of the fysshes aswel of these riuers as of the sea there about. By reason wherof they founde here many fyssher boates and nettes woonderfully wrought of the stalkes of certeyne her [...] ­bes or weedes dryed and tawed and wrethed with cordes of spunne gossampine cotton.Plentie of fysshe. For the people of Caramairi, Gaira, Cunnynge fysshers. and Saturma, are very cunnynge in fysshynge, and vse to sell fysshe to theyr bortherers for exchaunge of suche thynges as they lacke. When owre men had thus chased the Barbary­ans from the sea coastes, and hadde nowe entered into theyr houses, they assayled them with newe skyrmushes, especial­ly when they sawe them faule to sackynge and spoylyng, and theyr wyues and chyldren taken captiue. Theyr householde stuffe was made of great reedes which growe on the sea ban­kes,Theyr house­holde stuffe. and the stalkes of certeyne herbes beaten and afterward made harde. The floures therof were strewed with herbes of sundry coloures: And the waules hanged with a kynde of tapstry artificially made of gossampine cotton,Tapstry. and wrought with pictures of Lions, Tygers, and Eagles. The doores of theyr houses and chambers were full of dyuers kyndes of shelles hangynge loose by smaule cordes,A straunge phantasy. that beinge shaken by the wynde they myght make a certeyne rattelynge and al­so a whystelynge noyse by gatherynge the wynde in theyr holowe places. For herein they haue greate delyte, and impute this for a goodly ornamente. Dyuers haue shewed me many woonderfull thynges of these regions: Especially one Conza­lus Fernandus Ouiedus beinge one of the maiestrates appointed in that office which the Spanyardes caule Veedor, This is he whom Card [...] nus praiseth. who hath al­so hetherto entered further into the lande then any other. He affirmeth that he chaunced vppon the fragmente of a saphire bygger then the egge of a goose. And that in certeyne hylles where he trauayled with thirtie men, he founde many of the precious stones cauled Smaragdes,Precious stones The Sma­ragde is the treweme [...]od [...] calcidones, and Iaspers, besyde great pieces of amber of the montaines. He also with [Page] dyuers other do affirme that in the houses of sume of the Canibales of these regions,Another kind of amber is founde in whales. they found the lyke precious stones set in golde and inclosed in the tapstry or arras (if it may soo bee cauled) wherewith they hange theyr houses. The same lande bryngeth foorth also many wooddes of brasile trees & great plentie of golde:Gold & bra­sile. In so much that in maner in al places they founde on the se [...] bankes and on the shoores, certeyne marchasites in token of golde.Marchasites are flowers of metals, by the colours wherof the kyndes of metals are kno­wen. Fernandus Ouiedus declareth fur­thermore that in a certeyne region cauled Zenu, lyinge foure score and tenne myles from Dariena Eastwarde, they exercyse a straunge kynde of marchaundies. For in the houses of the inhabitantes, they founde greate chestes and baskets made of the twigges and leaues of certeyne trees apte for that purpose, beinge all full of gressehoppers, grylles, crabbes, or crefysshes: snayles also, and locustes whiche destrowe the fieldes of corne,These locu­stes burne the corne with toching and deuoure the residewe they are in India of .iii. foote length. The fayre re­gion of Cara­mairi. all well dryed and salted. Beinge demaun­ded why they reserued such a multitude of these beastes, they answered that they kepte them to bee soulde to theyr borthe­rers which dwell further within the lande: And that for the exchange of these precious byrdes and salted fysshes, they receaued of them certeyne strange thynges wherin partely they take pleasure, and partly vse them for theyr necessary affay­ers. These people dwel not togyther, but scattered here and there. Thinhabitantes of Caramairi, seeme to dwel in an earthly Paradise, theyr region is so fayre and frutefull, withowt owtragious heate or sharpe coulde, with lyttle difference of the length of day and nyght throwghowt all the yeare. Af­ter that owre men had thus dryuen the barbarians to flyght, they entered into a valley of two leagues in breadth & three in length, extendynge to certeyne frutful mountaynes ful of grasse,Fruteful montaynes. herbes, and trees, at the rootes wherof, lye twoo o­ther valleys towarde the ryght hande and the left, throwgh eyther of the which runneth a fayre ryuer, whereof the ryuer of Gaira is one, but vnto the other they haue yet gyuen noo name. In these valleys they founde manye fayre gardeyns and pleasaunte fyeldes watered with trenshes distrybuted in marueylous order,Gardens. In [...]ubres are nowe cauled Lumbardes, and hetrusci, Tuseans. with no lesse arte then owre Insubrians and Hetrurians vse to water theyr fyeldes. Theyr common meate, is Ages, Iucca, Maizium, Battatae, with suche other rootes and frutes of trees, and also suche fysshe as they vse in the [Page 116] Ilandes and other regions of these prouinces. They eate mans fleshe but seldome, bycause they meete not oftentymes with strangiers, except they goo foorth of theyr owne domi­nions with a mayne army of purpose to hunt for men,Many coun­treys lefte desolate by the fiercenes of the Caniba­les. when theyr rauenynge appetite pricketh them forwarde. For they absteyne from them selues, and eate none but suche as they take in the warres or otherwyse by chaunce. But suerly it is a miserable thynge to heare howe many myriades of men these fylthy and vnnaturall deuourers of mans flesshe haue consumed,One my [...]iade is ten thou­sande. and lefte thousandes of moste fayre and frutfull Ilandes and regions desolate withowte menne: By reason wherof owre men founde so many Ilandes whiche for theyr fayrenes and frutefulnesse myght seeme to bee certeyne earthly Paradyses, and yet were vtterly voyde of men. Hereby yowre holynesse may consider howe pernitious a kynde of men this is. We haue sayde before that the Ilande named Sancti Iohannis (which thinhabitantes caule Burichena) is nexte to Hispaniola. It is sayde that onely the Canibales which dwell in the other Ilandes nere about this, as in the Ilande cau­led Hayhay or Sancte Crucis, and in Guadalupea (otherwise cauled Queraqueiera, A miserable hearynge. or Carucuiera) haue in owre tyme vyolentely taken owte of the sayde Ilande of Sancti Iohannis, more then fyue thousande men to bee eaten. But let it suffice thus much to haue wandered by these monstrous bludsuckers. We wyll nowe therfore speake sumewhat of the rootes whereof they make theyr breade, forasmuch as the same shall hereafter bee foode to Christian men in steede of breade made of wheate,Breade of rootes. and in the steade of radysshe with such other rootes as they haue byn accustomed to eate in Europe. We haue oftentymes sayde before that Iucca is a roote whereof the beste and moste delicate breade is made bothe in the firme lande of these regions, and also in the Ilandes. But howe it is tylled or hus­banded, howe it groweth, and of howe dyuers kyndes it is, I haue not yet declared. Therefore, when they intende to plante this Iucca, The maner of plantinge the roote Iucca. they make a hole in the earth knee deape, and rayse a heape of the earth taken owte of the same, fashionynge it lyke a square bedde of nyne foote breadth on euerye syde, settynge twelue trunkes of these rootes (beinge about a foote and a halfe longe a piece) in euery of the sayd beddes conteynynge three rootes of a syde, so layde a slope, that the [Page] endes of them ioyne in maner togyther in the center or myd­dest of the bedde within the grounde. Owt of the ioyntes of the rootes and spaces betwene the same, sprynge the toppes and blades of newe rootes, which by lyttle and lyttle encreasynge, growe to the byggenes and length of a mans arme in the brawne, and oftentymes as bygge as the thygh: So that by the tyme of theyr full rypenes, in maner all the earthe of the heape, is conuerted into rootes.Earth turned into rootes. But they say that these rootes are not rype in lesse tyme then a yeare & a halfe: And that the longer they are su [...]fered to growe euen vntyll twoo yeares complete, they are so muche the better and more per­fecte to make breade therof.howe breade is made of rootes. When they are taken foorthe of the earth, they scrape them and slyse thē with certeyne sharpe stones scruynge for the same purpose: And thus layinge thē betwene two great stones, or puttynge them in a sacke made of the stalkes of certeyne towgh herbes and smaule reedes, they presse them (as we do cheese or crabbes to drawe owte the iuse thereof) and so let them drye a daye before they eate them. The iuse or lyquoure, they cast away: for (as we haue sayde) it is deadly poyson in the Ilandes.A straunge thynge. Yet is the iuse of suche as growe in the firme lande, holsome if it bee sodde, as is the whey of owre mylke. They saye that there are manye kyndes of this Iucca, wherof su [...]e are more pleasaunte and delycate then the other, and are therefore reserued as it were to make fine manchet for the kynges owne tables. But the gentelmen eate of the meaner sorte, and the common people of the basest. The fynest they caule Cazabbi, Cazabbi. which they make rounde lyke cakes in certeyne presses before they seeth it or bake it. They saye furthermore that there are lykewyse dy­uers kyndes of the rootes of Ages and Battata. Ages and Battata. But they vse these rather as frutes and dysshes of seruice, then to make breade therof, as we vse rapes, radysshes, mussheroms, na­uies, perseneppes, and such lyke. In this case, they mooste especially esteeme the best kynde of Battatas, which in pleasant tast and tendernes farre exceadeth owre musheromes. It shal suffice to haue sayde thus muche of rootes.Panicum is a grayne sume­what lyke [...] The Italians caule it Me­ [...]ca. We wyll nowe therfore speake of an other kynde of theyr breade. We declared before that they haue a kynde of grayne or pulse muche lyke vnto Panicum, but with sumwhrt bygger graines, which they beate into meale vppon certeyne greate hollowe stones [Page 117] with the labour of their handes when they lacke Iucca: And of this is made the more vulgar or common breade. It is sowen thrise a yeare, so that the frutfulnesse of the grounde may beare it by reason of the equalitie of the tyme, whereof wee haue spoken suffyciently before.he meanethe the equall length of day and nyght which i [...] con­tinually in re­gions vnder the Equinoc­tial lyne. In these regyons they founde also the graine of Maizium, Maizium and sundry kyndes of fru­tes of trees diligentely planted and well husbanded. The waye betwene the regyons of Caramairi and Saturma, is fayre, brode, and ryghte foorthe. They founde here also sundrye kyndes of waterpottes made of earthe of dyuers colours,Earth of dy­uers colours. in the whiche they bothe fetche and keepe freshe water. Lyke­wise sundry kindes of iugges, godderdes, drynkyng cuppes, pottes, pannes, dysshes, and platters artifycially made.

When the gouernour had gyuen commaundement by procla­mation, that thinhabitantes shulde eyther obey the Christian kynge and embrase owre relygion, or elles to depart owte of their countrey, they answered with venemous arrowes. In this skyrmyshe, owre men tooke summe of theym: whereof clothynge the moste parte in faire apparell, they sente them ageyne to their owne coompany: But leadyng the resydue to the shyppes to thin [...]ent to shewe them the poure and magny­fycence of the christians that they myght declare the same to their coompanions, therby to wynne their fauour, they ap­pareled them lykewyse and sente them after their felowes.

Theye affyrme that in all the ryuers of these coastes, theye sawe great argumentes and tokens of golde.Golde in ryuers. They founde here and there in their houses good store of hartes flesshe and bores fleshe wherwith they fedde them selues dilycately.hartes and bores.

They also, haue greate plentie of sundry kyndes of byrdes and foules,Foules. wherof they brynge vppe many in their houses, summe for necessarye foode, and other for daynty dysshes as we do hennes and partriches. Owre men hereby coniecture that the ayer of these regions is veary holsome,holsome ayer. for as muche as sleapynge all nyghte vnder the fyrmament on the bankes of the ryuers, none of them were at any tyme offended with reumes or heade ache by reason of any noysome humoure or vapoure proceadynge from the earthe, ayer, or water. Owre men furthermore, founde there many great bothomes of gos­sampyne cotton ready spunue, and fardelles of dyuers kyn­des of fethers wherof they make them selue [...] crestes and plu­mesGossampine cotton. Fethers. [Page] after the maner of owre men of armes: also certeine clo­kes whiche they esteeme as moste cumly ornamentes. They founde lykewyse an innumerable multitude of bowes and ar­rowes.Bowes and ar [...]owes. Thinhabitantes also of these regiōs, in summe places vse to burne the carkeses of their prynces when theye are deade, and to reserue their bones buryed with spyces in cer­teyne hylles.Deade bo­dies reserued In other places, they onely drye theym and imbaume them with spyc [...]s and sweete gummes, and soo re­serue them in sepulchers in their owne houses. Sumwhere also, they drye them, spyce them; adourne them with precy­ous iewells and ouches, and so reuerently place them in cer­teyne tabernacles made for the same purpo [...]e in their owne palayces. When owre men had many of their tabellets, bras­lettes, collers, and suche other ouches (whiche they caule Guanines) they founde them rather to bee made of laton then of golde:Ouches of la­ton. Gonzalus Ouiedus, sayth that they gilt maruelo [...]y with the iuse of a certeyne. herbe. wherby they suppo [...]e that they haue vsed to exchaunge their ware with summe craftie straungers whiche broughte thē those counterfect ou [...]hes to defraude them of their golde. For euen owre menne perceaued not the deceate vntyll they came to the meltynge. Furthermore, certayne of owre buyl­ders wanderynge a lyttell way from the sea coastes, chaun­ced to fynde certayne pyeces of white marble.whyte mar­ble. Wherby they thynke that in tyme paste summe straungers haue coome too those landes, whiche haue dygged marble owte of the moun­taines, and lefte those fragmentes on the plaine. There owre men learned that the ryuer Maragnonus descendeth frome the montaynes couered with snowe cauled Montes Niuales or Serra Neuata:The great ryuer Maragnonus. This ioyneth with the myghty ryuer cauled Flumen Amazonum, found of late. And the same to bee encreased by many other ryuers whiche faule into it throughowte all the lowe and watelye regions by the whiche it runneth with so longe a tracte from the sayde montaynes into the sea: And this to bee the cause of the greatnesse therof. These thynges beyng thus brought to passe, the gouernour cōmaunded the trumpitour to blowe a retraite: Whervppon they whiche were sente to lande (be­ynge fyue hundreth in noumber) makynge a great shoute for ioye of their victory, sette them selues in order of battayle, and so keping their array, returned to the shippes laden with spoyle of those prouinces, and shynynge in souldiers clokes of fethers,Clokes of fethers. with faire plumes and crestes of variable colours. In this meane tyme hauynge repaired their shyppes and fur­nysshed [Page 118] the same with all necessaries, they loosed anker the xvi. daye of the Calendes of Iuly, directynge their course to the hauen of Carthagena, in the whiche viage they destroyed and wasted certayne Ilandes of the Canibales lyinge in the waye, accordynge as they were commaunded by the kynge. But the swifte course of the water deceaued bothe Iohannes Serranus the chiefe Pilet of the gouernours shyppe,The swyfte course o [...] the water. and all the other, althoughe they made their boste that they perfectely knewe the nature therof. For they affyrme that in one night they were caried forty leaques beyonde their estimation.x [...]. leaques in one nyght.

The syxte booke of the thirde Decade.

HEre muste we sumwhat digresse from cosmo­graphy, and make a philosophicall discours to searche the secreate causes of nature. For wheras they al affyrme with on cōsent, that the sea runneth there from the Easte to the weste as swyftly as it were a ryuer faulinge from hyghe mountaynes,Sundry opini­ons why the sea runneth with so swyft course from the East into the west. I thoughte it not good to lette so great a matter slyppe vntou­ched. The whiche while I consyder, I am drawen into no smaule ambyguitie and doute, whether those waters haue their course whiche flowe with so contynuall a tracte in cir­cuite from the Easte, as thowghe they fledde to the west ne­uer to retourne, and yet neyther the weste therby any whitte the more fylled, nor the Easte emptied. If we shall saye that they faule to their centre (as is the nature of heuye thynges) and assigne the Equinoctiall lyne to be the centre (as summe affyrme) what centre shall we appointe to bee able to receaue so great aboundaunce of water?The equinocti­all lyne. why all wa­ters moue to­warde the south or Equi­noctial, [...]reade Cardanus de subtili [...]. l [...]ber .ii. de E [...]ementis. Or what circumference shal be founde weate? They whiche haue searched those coastes, haue yet founde no lykely reason to be trewe. Many thynke that there shoulde bee certeyne large straightes or enterances in the corner of that great lande whiche we described to bee eyght tymes bygger then Italye,Strayghtes. and the corner therof to be full of goulfes, wherby they suppose that summe strayghtes shulde passe through the same lyinge on the weste syde of the Ilande of Cuba: And that the sayde straightes shoulde swa­lowe vp those waters, and so conuey the same into the weste [Page] and from thense ageyn into owre Easte Ocean, or north seas as summe thynke.As by the strayght of Magellanus. The north landes. Other wyll, that the goulfe of that great lande bee closed vppe: and the land to reache farre towarde the northe on the backe syde of Cuba: so that it embrace the northe landes whiche the frosen sea encompaseth vnder the northe pole: And that all the lande of those coastes, shoulde ioyne togyther as one fir [...]e lande: Wherby they coniecture that those waters shulde bee turned aboute by the obiecte or resystaunce of that lande so bendynge towarde the north, as we see the waters [...]courned aboute in the crooked bankes of certeyne ryuers. But this agreeth not in all poyntes. For they also whiche haue searched the frosen sea,The frosen sea. and sayled frome thense into the weste, do lykewyse affyrme that those northe seas flow [...] contynually towarde the weste, although nothing so swiftely. These northe seas haue byn searched by one Se­bastian Cabot a Uenetian borne,Sebastian Cabot. whom beinge yet but in ma­ner an infante, his parentes caryed with them into Englande hauyng occasion to resorte thether for trade of marchandies, as is the maner of the Uenetians too leaue no parte of the worlde vnsearched to obteyne richesse.The veneti­ans. He therfore furnis­shed two shippes in England at his owne charges:The viage of Sebastian Cabot from Englande to the fro [...]en sea. And fyrst with three hundreth men, directed his course so farre toward the northe pole, that euen in the mooneth of Iuly he founde monstrous heapes of Ise swimming on the sea,Frost in the moneth of Iuly. and in maner continuall day lyght. Yet sawe he the lande in that tracte, free from Ise, whiche had byn molten by heate of the sunne. Thus seyng suche heapes of Ise before hym he was enforced to tourne his sayles and folowe the weste, so coastynge styll by the shore, that he was thereby broughte so farre into the southe by reason of the lande bendynge so muche southward that it was there almoste equall in latitude with the sea cau­led Fretum Herculeum, Fretum her­culeum, diui­deth Spayne & the Moores and is nowe cauled the strayghtes of Marrok. hauynge the north pole eleuate in maner in the same degree. He sayled lykewise in this tracte so farre towarde the weste, that he had the Ilande of Cuba his lefte hande in maner in the same degree of langitude. As he tra­ueyled by the coastes of this greate lande (whiche he named Baccallaos) he sayth that he found the like course of the waters toward the west,Ba [...]llaos, or Terra Baccallea­ [...]um. but the same to runne more softely and gen­telly then t [...]e swifte waters whiche the Spanyardes found in their nauigations southeward.

[Page 119]Wherefore, it is not onely more lyke to bee trewe, but ought also of necessitie to bee concluded, that betwene both the lan­des hetherto vnknowen, there shulde bee certeyne great open places wherby the waters shulde thus continually passe from the East into the weste: which waters I suppose to bee dry­uen about the globe of the earth by the vncessaunt mouynge and impulsion of the heauens:The mouyng of heuen cau­seth the sea to moue. and not to bee swalowed vp and cast owt ageyne by the breathynge of Demogorgon as sume haue imagined bycause they see the seas by increase and de­crease,Demogorgon is the spirite of the earth. to flowe and re [...]owe. Sebastian Cabot him selfe, na­med those landes Baccallaos, bycause that in the seas therabout he founde so great multitudes of certeyne bigge fysshes much lyke vnto [...]umes (which thinhabitantes caule Baccallaos) that they sumtymes stayed his shippes. He founde also the peo­ple of those regions couered with beastes skynnes:People coue­red with beastes sk [...]n [...] Yet not without thuse of reason.

He saythe also that there is greate plentie of beares in those regions, whiche vse to eate fysshe.howe beares take and eate fysshes of the sea. For plungeinge theym selues into the water where they perceue a multitude of these fysshes to lye, they fasten theyr clawes in theyr scales, and so drawe them to lande and eate them. So that (as he saith) the beares beinge thus satisfied with fysshe, are not noysom to men. He declareth further, that in many places of these regions,Perhappes this laton is copper which ho [...]deth gold. For latō hath no myne, and is an artifici­all metal and not natural. Cabot cauled owt of Eng­lands into Spayne. he sawe great plentie of laton amonge thinhabitantes. Cabot is my very frende, whom I vse famylierly, and delyte to haue hym sumtymes keepe mee company in myne owne house. For beinge cauled owte of England by the commaun­dement of the catholyke kynge of Castile after the deathe of Henry Kynge of Englande the seuenth of that name, he was made one of owre counsayle and assystance as touchynge the affayres of the newe Indies, lookynge dayely for shippes to bee furnysshed for hym to discouer this hyd secreate of na­ture. This vyage is appoynted to bee begunne in March in the yeare next folowynge,The Second viage of Ca­bot. beinge the yeare of Chryst M. D. X [...]I. What shall succeade, yowre holynes shalbe aduertised by my letters if god graunte me lyfe. Sume of the Spany­ardes denye that Cabot was the fyrst fynder of the lande of Baccallaos: And affirme that he went not so farre westewarde. But it shall suffice to haue sayde thus much of the goulfes & strayghtes, and of Cebastian Cabot. Let vs nowe therefore [Page] returne to the Spanyardes. At this tyme, they let passe the hauen of Carthago vntouched, with all the Ilandes of the Canibales there aboute,The Ilandes of the Cany­bales. whiche they named Insulas Sancti Bernardi: Leauynge also behynde theyr backes, all the region of Cara­mairi. Heare by reason of a sooden tempeste, they were caste vppon the Ilande Fortis, The Ilande Fortis. beinge about fyftie leagues distante from the enteraunce of the goulfe of Vraba. In this Ilande, they founde in the houses of thinhabitantes, many baskets made of certeyne greate sea reedes, ful of salte. For this I­lande hath in it many goodly salte bayes: by reason whereof they haue greate plentie of salte which they sell to other na­tions for such thynges as they stande in neede of.Salte Not farre from hense,A straunge thynge. a great curlewe as bygge as a storke came flying to the gouernours shippe, and suffered her selfe to bee [...]easely taken: which beinge caryed about amonge all the shippes of the nauie, dyed shortly after, They sawe also a great multytude of the same kynde of foules on the shore a farre of.

The gouernour his shyppe whiche we sayde to haue loste the rudder beinge nowe sore broosed and in maner vnprofytable, they lefte behynde to folowe at leasure. The nauie arriued at Dariena the twelfth day of the Calendes of Iuly,how Petrus Arias with the kynges nauy arriued at Dariena. and the go­uernour his shippe (beinge voyde of men) was dryuen a lande in the same coastes within foure dayes after. The Spany­ardes whiche nowe inhabited Dariena, with theyr Capitayne and Lieuetenant Vuschus Nunnez Balboa (of whom we haue largely made mention before) beinge certified of tharryual of Petrus Arias and his coompanye,howe Uas­chus recea­ued the new gouernour. wente foorthe three myles to meete him, & receaued him honorably & religiously with the psalme Te deum Laudamus, giuing thankes to god by whose safe cōducte they were brought so prosperously thether to al theyr confor­tes. They receaued them gladly into theyr houses builded after the maner of those prouinces. I may well caule these re­gions, Prouinces,whye these regions are cau [...]ed pro­ [...]ces. a Procul victis, (that is) such as are ouercome farre of, forasmuch as owre men doo nowe inhabite the same all the barbarous kynges and Idolatours beinge eiected. They enterteyned them with such chere as they were able to make them: as with the frutes of those regions, and newe breade bothe made of rootes and the grayne Mai [...]ium. Other delicates to make vp the feast, were of theyr owne store whi­che they brought with theym in theyr shyppes, as poudered [Page 120] flesshe, salted fysshe, and breade made of wheate. For they brought with them many barrelles of wheate meale for the same purpose.Barrelles of meale. Here maye yowre holynes not withowt iuste cause of admiracion beholde a kynges nauie and great multitude of Christians, inhabytinge not onely the regions situate vnder the circle of heauen cauled Tropicus Cancri, but also in maner vnder the Equinoctiall lyne,habitable re­gions vnder the Equinoc­tiall lyne. contrary to thopinion of the owlde wryters, a fewe excepted. But after that they are nowe mette togyther, let vs further declare what they determyned to doo. Therefore, the daye after that the nauie arri­ued, there assembled a coompany of the Spanyardes thinha­bitoures of Dariena, to the number of foure hundreth and fyf­tie men. Petrus Arias the gouernour of the nauie and his coompany, conferred with them bothe priuilie and openlye of cer­teyne articles wherof it was the kynges pleasure he shulde enquire: And most especially as concernyng such thynges wherof Vaschus the fyrste fynder and Admirall of the Southe sea, made mentiō in his large letter sent frō Dariena to Spayn. In this inquisition they founde all thynges to bee trewew, herof Vaschus had certifyed the kynge by his letters: And there vp­pon concluded that in the dominions of Comogra, Pocchorrosa, & Tumanama, at thassignement of Vaschus, certeine fortresses shuld bee erected foorthwith to thintente there to plant theyr colo­nie or habitacion.where the newe gouer­nour planted his habitatiō To the better accomplysshemente hereof, they sent immediatly one Iohannes Aiora a noble younge gentelman of Corduba and vnder Lieuetenant,The viage of Iohannes Aiora with foure hundreth men and foure carauelles and one other lyttle shippe. Thus departinge, he sayled fyrst directly to the hauen of Comogrus, The hauen of Comogrus dystant from Dariena aboute twentie and fyue leagues, as they wryte in theyr last letters. Frome hense, he as appoynted to sende a hundreth and fyftie of his foure hundreth, towarde the South by a newe and ryghter way founde of late, by the which (as they say) it is not paste .xxvi. leagues from the pa­laice of kynge Comogrus to the enteraunce of the goulfe of Sancti Michaelis. Sainte My­chaels goulf [...] The residewe of the foure hundreth, shall re­mayne there to bee an ayde and succour to all such as shall iorney to and fro. Those hundreth and fiftie which are assigned to go southwarde, take with them for interpretours certeine of owre men which had lerned the sootherne language of the bonde men which were gyuen to Vaschus when he ouerranne [Page] those regions, and also certeyne of the bondem [...]n them selues which had nowe lerned the Spanysshe tonge. They say that the hauen of Pocchorrosa, The hauen Pocchorrosa. is onely seuen leaques distante frome the hauen of Comogrus. In Pocchorrosa, he is assigned to leaue fyft [...]e men with the lyghtest shyp which maye bee a passinger betwene them:A passynger shyppe. that lyke as we vse poste horses by lande, so may they by this currant shippe, in shorte space certifie the Lieuetenaunt and thinhabitours of Dariena of suche thynges as shall chaunce. They entende also to buylde houses in the region of Tumanama. The palaice of kynge Tumanama, Kyng Tuma­nama. is distant from Pocchorrosa about twentie leaques. Of these foure hun­dreth men, beinge of the owlde souldiers of Dariena and men of good experience, fyftie weare appoynted to bee as it were Decurians to guide and conducte the newe men from place to place to do their affaires.Decurians are officers deuided into [...]ennes, &c. When they had thus sette all thynges in order, they thought it good to aduertise the king hereof, and therwith to certifye hym that in those prouinces there is a kynge named Dabaiba whose dominion is very riche in golde:Kyng Dabai­ba. But the same to be yet vntouched by reason of his great power. His kingedome ioyneth to the seconde greate ryuer named Dabaiba after his name,The gold my­nes of Daba­iba whiche fauleth into the sea owt of the corner of the goulfe of Vraba as we haue largely declared before. The common reporte is, that all the lande of his dominions is ryche in golde. The palayce of kynge Dabaiba is fyfty leaques distante from Dariena. The pallaice of kynge Dabaiba. Thinhabitan­tes saye that from the palaice, the golde mynes reache to the borthers on euery syde.The gold mynes of Darie­na. Albeit, owre men haue also golde mynes not to bee contempned, euen within three leaques of Dariena, in the which they gather golde in many places at this presente: Yet doo theye affyrme greater plentie to bee in the mynes of Dabaiba. In the bookes of owre fyrste frutes wrytten to yowre holynesse, we made mention of this Dabai­ba, wherin owre men were deceaued and mystooke the mat­ter. [...]n erroure. For where they founde the fyssher men of kyng Dabaiba in the marysshes, they thought his region had byn there also. They determyned therfore to sende to kynge Dabaiba, three hundreth choyse younge men to be chosen owte of the hole army as moste apte to the warres,E [...]pedition a­geinst kynge Dabaiba. and well furnysshed with all kyndes of armoure and artillery, to thintent to go vnto hym and wyl hym, eyther frendly and peaceably to per­mytte [Page 121] them to inhabyte parte of his kingdome with the frui­tion of the golde mynes, or elles to bydde him battayle and dryue hym owte of his countrey. In their letters, they often [...]ymes repete this for an argument of great rychesse to coome,Great plentie of golde, that they in maner dygged the grounde in noo place, but founde the earthe myxte with sparkes and smaule graynes of golde. They haue also aduertised the kynge that it shalbe commodious to place inhabitours in the hauen of Sancta Mar­tha in the region of Saturma, The regyon of Saturma that it maye bee a place of refuge for them that sayle from the Ilande of Dominica from the whi­che (as they saye) it is but foure or fyue dayes saylyng to that hauen of the regyon of Saturma:The Ilande of Dominica, And from the hauen, but thre dayes saylyng to Dariena. Dariena. But this is to bee vnderstode in go­ynge and not in returnynge. For the returnyng from thense is so laborious and difficulte by reason of the contrary course of the water,Difficulte saylyng ageynst the course of the sea, that they seeme as it were to ascende hyghe montaynes and stryue ageynste the poure of Neptunus. This swyfte course of the sea towarde the Weste, is not so violente to theym whiche retourne to Spayne frome the Ilandes of Hispaniola and Cuba: Althoughe they also do laboure ageynste the faule of the Ocean: The cause wherof is, that the sea is here verye large, so that the waters haue their full scoope. But in the tracte of Paria, the waters are constrayned toge­ther by the bendynge sydes of that great lande, and by the multytude of Ilandes lyinge ageynste it, as the lyke is seene in the straightes or narowe seas of Sicilie where the violent course of the waters cause the daungerous places of Scylla and Charybdis, The daunge­rous straigh­tes of Scylla & Charybdis, by reason of those narowe seas whiche conteine Ionium, Libicum, and Tirrhenum. Colonus the fyrst fynder of these regyons, hath lefte in wrytynge, that saylynge from the I­lande of Guanassa, Guanassa. and the prouynces of Iaia, Iaia, Maia, Maia. and Cera­baro, Cerabaro. beyng regyons of the west marches of Beragua, Beragua. he founde the course of the water so vehemente and furious ageynste the fore parte of his shippe whyle he sailed from those coastes towarde the Easte, that he coulde at no tyme touche the grounde with his soundynge plummet, but that the contra­ry vyolence of the water woolde beare it vppe from the bot­tome.The vehe­ment course of the sea fro the east to the west. He affyrmeth also, that he coulde neuer in one hole daye with a meately good wynde, wynne one myle of the course of the water. And this is the cause why they are of­tentymes [Page] enforced to sayle fyrste by the Ilandes of Cuba and Hispaniola, and so into the mayne sea toward the North when they returne to Spaine, that the Northe wyndes maye fur­ther their vyage whiche they can not brynge to passe by a di­recte course.The north [...] wynde But of the motions of the Ocean sea to and fro, this shal suffyce. Let vs now therfore reherse what they write of Dariena, & of their habitation there, which they caule Sancta Maria Antiqua, Sancta Ma­ria Antiqua, the fy [...]st ha­bitation of the spaniar­des in the fyrme lande. planted on the sea bankes of Dariena. The situation of the place, hath no natural munition or defense: And the ayer is more pestiferous then in Sardus. Sardus the Ilande of Sardinia, The Spanyshe inhabi­tours, are all pale & yelowe, lyke vnto them that haue the ye­lowe gianndyes. Whiche neuerthelesse commeth not of the na­ture of the region as it is situate vnder the heauen. For in many regyons beyng vnder the selfe same degree of latitude, ha­uyng the pole of the same eleuation,The variety of regions ly­nge vnder one paralel, they fynd holsome & tem­perate ayer, in such places where as the earth bryngeth forth fayre sprynges of water, or where holsome ryuers runne by bankes of pure earthe without mudde: but moste especyally where they inhabyte the sydes of the hylles and not the val­leyes. But that habytation whiche is on the bankes of the ryuer of Dariena, is sytuate in a deepe valley, and enuironed on euery syde with hyghe hylles: By reason wherof, it re­ceaueth the soonne beames at noonetyde directly perpenticu­lar ouer their heades, and are therfore sore vexed by reflecti­on of the beames bothe before, behynde, and from the sydes. For it is the reflection of the soonne beames whiche causeth feruente heate,By what meanes the [...]onne beames are cau [...]e of fer­uent heate▪ and not their accesse or nerenesse to the earth. Forasmuche as they are not passyble in them selues as dothe manyfestly appeare by the snowe lyinge contynually vnmol­ten vpon certeyne hygh montaynes, as yowre holynesse kno­weth ryghte well. The soonne beames therfore faulyng on the montaynes, are reflected downewarde into the valley by reason of thobiecte of the declynynge sydes of the hylles, as it were the faule of a greate rounde stoone rowled frome the toppe of a montayne. The valley therfore receaueth, both those beames whiche faule directly theron, and also those whiche are reflected downwarde from euery syde of the mon­taynes. Their habitation therfore in Dariena, The pernicious ayer of Darien [...]. is pernicious and vnholsome onely of the particular nature of the place, & not by the sytuation of the regyon as it is placed vnder the [Page 122] heauen or [...]eare to the soonne. The place is also contagious by the nature of the soyle, by reason it is coompased aboute with muddy and stynkynge marysshes, thinfection wherof is not a lyttle encreased by the heate. The vyllage it selfe, is in a maryshe, and in maner a standynge puddle, where, of the droppes faulyng from the handes of the bond men whyle they water the pauementes of their houses,Toades and flees engen­dered of droppes of water, toades are en­gendered immediately, as I my selfe sawe in an other place the droppes of that water turne into flees in the soomer sea­son. Furthermore, where so euer they dygge the grounde the deapthe of a handefull and a halfe, there springeth owte vnholsome and corrupte water of the nature of the ryuer which runneth through the deepe & muddy chanel of the val­ley, and so fauleth into the sea. Now therfore they consulte of remouyng their habytation. Necessytie caused them fyrst to fasten their foote heare,Necessytie hath no [...]aw [...] bycause that they whiche fyrst ar­ryued in those landes, were oppressed with suche vrgente hunger, that they had no respecte to chaunge the place al­thoughe they were thus vexed by the contagion of the soyle and heate of the soonne, besyde the corrupte water and in­fectious ayer by reason of venemous vapours and exhalati­ons rysynge from the same. An other great incommoditie was, that the place was destitute of a commodious hauen, beynge three leaques distante from the mouthe of the goulfe. The waye is also roughe and diffyculte to brynge vyttayles and other necessaries from the sea. But lette vs nowe speake sumwhat of other particular thynges whiche chaunsed.

Therfore shortly after that they weare arryued, there happe­ned many thynges wherof they had no knowledge before. A certayne well learned phisytion of Ciuile, whome partely thautorytie of the bysshoppe of Dariena, and partely the de­syre of golde had allured to those landes, was so scarred with lyghtnynge in the nyghte season lyinge in bedde with his wyfe, that the house and all the stuffe therin beynge sette on fyer and burnte,A hou [...]e sette on fyer with lyghtnynge, he and his wyfe beynge bothe soore scorched, ranne foorthe cryinge and almoste naked, hardely escapynge the daunger of deathe. At an other tyme, as cer­tayne of them stoode on the shoore, a great Crocodyle soden­ly caryed awaye a masty of a yeare and a halfe owlde,A dogge de­uoured of a crocodyle, as a kyte shulde haue snatched vppe a chicken:Tanquam canis e Nilo. And this euen in [Page] the presence of theym all, where the myserable dogge cryed in vayne for the helpe of his mayster. In the nighte season they were tormented with the bytynge of battes whiche are there soo noysome that if they byte any man in his sleape,The byting of battes. they putte hym in daunger of lyfe, onely with drawynge of bludde: In so muche that summe haue dyed therof, fau­lynge as it were into a consumption through the malycious­nesse of the venemous wounde. If these battes chaunce to fynde a cocke or a henne abrode in the nyght season, they byte them by the combes and so kyll them. They also whi­che wente laste into these regions, do wryte, that the lande is troubeled with Crocodyles, Lyons, and Tigers:Lyons and tygers, But that they haue nowe deuised artes and ingens howe to take them. Lykewyse that in the houses of their felowes, they founde the hydes and cases of suche Lyons and Tygers as they had kylled. They wryte furthermore, that by reason of the rankenesse and frutefulnesse of the grounde, kyne, swyne, and hor­ses, doo maruelously increase in these regions, and growe to a muche bygger quantitie then they whiche weare of the first broode.Beastes wer bygger in the [...]r kynde, Of the excedynge hyghnesse of the trees with their fruites, of the garden herbes, fruites, plantes, and seedes whiche owre men broughte from Spayne and sowed and set the same in these regyons, lykewyse of the hertes and other foure footed beastes bothe tame and wylde, also of dyuers kyndes of foules, byrdes, and fysshes, they write euen as we haue declared in the decades before. Careta the kynge of the regyon of Cioba, how the go­uernour en­terteyned kyng Careta, was with them for the space of three dayes: whome when they had frendly enterteyned and she­wed hym the secreate places of their shyppes, their horses al­so with their trappars, bardes, and other furnimentes, be­syde many other thinges whiche seemed straunge to hym, and had further delited his mynd with the harmony of their musycall instrumentes, and gyuen hym many rewardes, they dysmyssed hym halfe amased with to muche admyration.Note.

He sygnifyed vnto them, that their trees in that prouynce, of the planckes wherof, if shyppes were made, they shoulde bee safe from the woormes of the sea whiche they caule Bro­mas. Broma or Bissa, are wormes whi­che destroy shippes, Howe these woormes knawe and corrode the shyppes, wee haue declared before. Owre shyppes are greatly trou [...]e­led with this plage if they lye longe in the hauens of these [Page 123] regyons. But they affyrme that the woodde of this tree is soo bytter, that the woormes wyll not taste therof. There is also an other tree peculyar to these landes:A venemous tree. whose leaues if they onely touche the bare in any place of a mannes body, they cause greate blysters, and those soo malycious that ex­cepte the same bee foorthwith healed with salte water or fastynge spyttle, they doo incontynently engender deadely paynes. They saye lykewyse, that the sauour of the woodde is presente poyson:Perhappes they [...] vene­mous arrows are made of this woodds or. &c. And that it can noo whither bee caryed without daunger of lyfe. When thinhabitauntes of the I­lande of Hispaniola had oftentymes attempted to shake of the yoke of seruytude, and coulde neuer brynge the same to passe neyther by open warre nor yet by priuye conspiraces, they were determyned in the nyghte season to haue kylled owre men in their sleepe with the smoke of this woodde. But when the Christian men had knowledge hereof, they com­pelled the poore wretches to confesse their intente, and pu­nysshed the chiefe autours of the deuyse. They haue also a certayne herbe with the fauour wherof they are preserued from the hurte of this venemous woodde so that they maye beare it safely.A preserua­tiue ageynst poyson, Of these smaule thynges it shall suffyce too haue sayde thus muche. They looke dayly for many greater thynges to certyfye vs of from the Ilandes of the south sea.The Ilands of the south sea, For at suche tyme as the messenger whiche broughte owre letters departed from thense, Petrus Arias prepared an expedi­tion to that ryche Ilande whiche lyeth in the mouthe of the goulfe cauled Sinus S. Michaelis, and reacheth into the southe sea,The ryche I­land cauled Dites, beyng also lefte vntouched of Vaschus by reason that the sea was at that tyme of the yeare sore troubeled with tem­pestes, as wee haue further declared in Vaschus his vyage to the southe. Wee looke therfore dayly for greater thynges then are hetherto paste. For they haue nowe taken in hand to subdue manye other prouynces, whiche wee suppose too bee eyther verye ryche, or to brynge furthe summe straunge woorkes of nature. Iohannes Diaz Solistus of Nebrissa (of whome we haue made mention before) is sente by the froonte of the cape or poynte of Sancti Augustini (whiche reacheth seuen de­grees beyonde the Equinoctiall lyne,Cab, sancti Augustini, Of the euyll successe of these viages, reade decade iii, Liber, ix, and perteyneth to the dominion of the Portugales) to thintent to ouer runne the southe syde from the backe halfe of Paria, Cumana, Cuquibacoa, [Page] with the hauens of Carthag [...] and Sancta Martha, of Dariena also and Beragua, that more perfecte and certeyne knowledge may bee had of those tractes. Furthermore, one Iohannes Poncius was sente foorthe with three shyppes to destroye the Cani­bales bothe in the lande and Ilandes there aboute:An expedition to destroy the Canibales, aswell that the nations of the more humane and innocente people maye at the length lyue without feare of that pestiferous ge­neration, as also the better and more safely to searche the se­creates and rychesse of those regions. Many other lykewise were sente dyuers and sundry wayes: as Gasper Badaiocius too searche the West partes: Franciscus Bezerra, to sayle by the cor­ner of the goulfe: And Valleius, to passe by the mouthe or en­teraunce therof to the Easte coastes of the goulfe to searche the secreates of that lande, in the whiche Fogeda with his coompanye had of late begunne to plante their habitation,Fogeda. and had buylded a fortresse and a vyllage. Badaiocius departed fyrste frome Dariena with foure score souldiours well appoyn­ted: Whome Lodouicus Mercado folowed with fyftye:

To Bezerra were also fourescore assygn [...]d, and three score and tenne to Valleius. Looke. decad. [...] Lib. ix, Whether they shall arryue at safe and com­modious hauens, or faule into vnfortunate stations, he one­ly knoweth whose prouydence ruleth all: For as for vs men wee are included within the knowledge of thinges after they haue chaunced. Lette vs now therfore coome to o­ther matters.

¶The seuenthe booke of the thirde decade.

PEtrus Arias the gouernour of the supposed con­tinente, was scarsly entred into the mayne sea with his nauye onwarde on his vyage to Dariena. But I was aduertised that one Andreas Moralis a pilot who had oftentymes ouer runne the coastes of these new seas and the Ilandes of the same,The nauigations of An­ [...]reas Mo­ [...]alis was coome to the courte to sell suche marchaundies as he broughte with hym frome thense. This man had dyligently searched the tracte of the supposed continente, and especyally thinner regyons of the Ilande of Hispaniola, wherunto he was appoynted by [Page 124] his brother Nicolaus Ou [...]ndos (the gouernour of the Iland and chiefe Commendatory of the order of the knyghtes of Alcanta­ra) bycause he was a wytty man and more apte to searche su­che thynges then any other: So that with his owne han­des he drewe faire cardes and tables of suche regyons as hee discouered. Wherin as he hath bynne founde faythfull of suche as haue sense had better tryall hereof, so is he in most credyt emongest the best sorte. He therfore resorted to me as all they are accustomed to doo, wh [...]che retourne from the Ocean.A particular description of the Ilande of hispaniol [...] What I learned of hym and dyuers other of thin­ges heretofore vnknowen, I wyll nowe declare. The begin­nynge of this narration, shalbe the particular description of the Ilande of Hispaniola, forasmuche as it is the heade and as it weare the principall marte of all the lyberality of the Oce­an, and hath a thousande and againe a thousande fayre, plea­saunt,Nereides are nymphes of the [...]ea▪ he meaneth I­landes, bewtifull, and ryche Nereides whiche lye aboute it on euery syde, adournynge this their ladye and moother, as it were an other Tethis the wyfe of Neptunus, T [...]this the wyfe of Neptunus and goddesse of the sea, enuyronynge her aboute, and attendynge vppon her as their queene and pa­tronesse. But of these Nereiades (that is to saye, the Ilandes placed aboute her) we wyll speake more hereafter. Lette vs in the meane tyme declare sumwhat of the Ilande whiche owre men named Margaritea Diues (whiche the Spanyardes caule De las perlas) beyng nowe well knowen,The Ilande of Margari­tea Diues, and lyinge in the southe sea in the goulfe cauled Sinus Sancti Michaelis (that is) sainte Michaels goulfe.Saincte Mi­chaels goulfe This Iland hath presently brought to owre knowledge many straunge and woonderfull thynges and promysseth no smaule hope of greater thynges in tyme to coome. In this is founde great plentie of pearles so fayre & great,Great perles that the sumptuous queene Cleopatra myght haue see­med to weare them in her crownes, chaynes, and braslettes. Of the shelfysshes wherin these are engendered, wee wyll speake sumwhat more in thende of this narration. But let vs nowe returne to Hispaniola moste lyke vnto the earthly pa­radyse.hispaniola lyke vnto the earthly para­dyse, In the description hereof, we wyll begynne of the imposytion of dyuerse names: Then of the forme of the I­lande, temperate ayer and benefyciall heauen: And fynally of the deuisyon of the regyons. Therfore for the ryghter pro­nunsyation to the names, yowre holynesse muste vnderstande that they are pronounced with thaccent, as yowe may know [Page] by the verge sette ouer the heddes of the vowels, as in the name of the Ilande Matinino, where the accente is in the last vowell, and the lyke to be vnderstoode in all other names. They saye therfore, that the fyrste inhabitours of the Iland were transported in their Canoas (that is boates made of one hole pyece of woodde) from the Ilande of M [...]tinino, The fy [...]st in­habitours of hi [...]paniola beynge lyke banysshed men dryuen from thense by reason of certaine contrary factions and diuisyons emonge them selues, lyke as wee reade howe Dardanus came from Corytho, Dardanus. and Teuerus from Creta into Asia,Teu [...]rus. and that the regyon where they placed their habitation, was afterwarde cauled Troianum. Troianum. The lyke wee reade howe the Tirians and Sidonians arryued with their nauye in Libya by the fabulous conduction of Dido. T [...]rians, Sidonians: These Matininans in like maner beynge banysshed from their owne countrey, planted their fyrste habytation in that parte of the Iland of Hispaniola whiche they caule Cabonao, vpon the banke of the ryuer named Bahaboni: As is redde in the begynnynge of the Romaynes that Eneas of Troye aryued in the region of Italy cauled Latium vppon the bankes of the ryuer of Ti­ber.Eneas. Latium. Within the mouthe of the ryuer of Bahaboni, lyeth an I­lande where it is sayde that thinhabitauntes buylded their fyrste howse whiche they named Camoteia. This howse they consecrated shortely after, and honoured the same reuerently with continual gyftes and monumentes, euen vntyl the com­mynge of owre men, lyke as the Christians haue euer relygy­ously honoured Ierusalem the fountayne and oryginall of owre faythe:hierusalem As also the Turkes attribute the lyke to the cytie of Mecha in Araby,Mecha. and thinhabytantes of the fortunate Ilandes (cauled the Ilandes of Canarye) to Tyrma buylded vppon a hyghe rocke from the whiche many were wounte with ioyfull myndes and songes to caste them selues downe headlonge,The Ilandes of Canarie, beyng persuaded by their priestes that the soules of all suche as so dyd for the loue of Tyrma, shulde therby en­ioye eternall felycity. The conquerours of the Ilandes of Canarie, founde them yet remaynyng in that superstition, e­uen vntyll owre tyme: Nor yet is the memory of their sacri­fyces vtterly worne awaye: The rocke also reserueth the owlde name vnto this daye. I haue also learned of late, that there yet remayneth in the Ilande summe of the faction of Betanchor the Frenshe man and fyrste that broughte the I­landesBetanchor, a Frenchman, [Page 125] to good culture and ciuilitie beyng therto lycenced by the kynge of Castile as I haue sayde before. These doo yet (for the moste parte) obserue bothe the language and maners of the Frenshemen, although the eyres and successours of Be­tanchor, had soulde the two subdued Ilandes to certeyne men of Castile. Yet thinhabitours whiche succeded Betanchor, and buylded them houses and encreased their families there, do contynue to this daye: And lyue quietly and pleasauntly with the Spanyardes, not greued with the sharpe coulde of Fraunce. But lette vs nowe returne to thinhabitauntes of Matinino and Hispaniola. The Ilande of Hispaniola was fyrste named by the fyrste inhabitours,The fyrst na­mes of his­paniola. Quizqueia, and then Haiti.

And this not by chaunce, or at the pleasure of suche as diui­sed these names, but of credulitie and belefe of summe great effecte. For Quizqueia, is as muche to saye as a great thinge: And that so greate that none maye bee greater. They inter­prete also, that Quizqueia sygnifyeth, large, vniuersall, or al, in like signification as the Greekes named their god cauled Pan:Pan. Bycause that for the greatnes therof, these symple sou­les supposed it to bee the hole worlde: And that the soonne beames gaue lyghte to none other worlde but onely to this Ilande with the other adiacente aboute the same: And thervppon thoughte it most woorthy to bee cauled great, as the greatest of all other knowen to them. Haiti is as muche to saye by interpretation, as roughe, sharpe, or craggie. But by a fyguratiue speache cauled denomination (wherby the hole is named by part) they named the hole Iland Haiti (that is) roughe: For as muche as in many places the face of this Iland is rough b [...] reason of the craggie montaynes,The rough­nesse of his­paniola horrible thicke wooddes, and terrible darke and diepe valleys enuy­roned with great and highe montaynes, althoughe it bee in manye other places exceadynge bewtifull and florysshynge.

Here muste wee sumwhat digresse from thorder we are ente­red into. Perhappes your holynesse wyll maruell by what meanes these symple men shoulde of soo longe contynuance beare in minde suche principles, where as they haue no knowledge of letters. So it is therfore, that from the beginninge, their princes haue euer byn accustomed to committe their chil­dren to the gouernaunce of their wise men whiche they caule Boitios, to bee instructed in knowledge,The maner of lernynge. and to beare in me­morie [Page] suche thynges as they lerne. They gyue them selues chieflye to two thynges: As generally to lerne thoriginall and successe of thynges: And particularlye to reherse the no­ble factes of their graundefathers great graundefathers and auncestours aswell in peace as in warre. These two thynges they haue of owlde tyme composed in certeyne myters and ballettes in their language. These rhymes or ballettes,Ballets and rhymes. they caule Ar [...]itos. And as owre mynstrelles are accustomed too synge to the harpe or lute, so doo they in lyke maner synge these songes and daunce to the same, playinge on tymbrelles made of shels of certen fysshes. These tymbrels they caule Ma­guei. They haue also songes and ballettes of loue: And o­ther of lamentations and moornyng:Singing and daunceing. Soonges of loue and moornynge. Summe also to enco­rage them to the warres, with euery of them their tewnes a­greable to the matter. They exercyse theym selues muche in daunceinge, wherin they are verye actyue and of greater agi­litie then owre men, by reason they gyue them selues to no­thyng so muche, and are not hyndered with apparell whiche is also the cause of their swiftenesse of foote. In their bal­lettes lefte them of their auncestours, they haue prophecies of the comminge of owre men into their countrey. These they synge with moornyng and as it were with gronyng,Prophesies, bewayle the losse of their lybertie and seruitude. For these prophecies make mention that there shoulde coome into the Ilande Ma­guacochios, Note that is, men clothed in apparell, and armed with suche swoordes as shulde cutte a man in sunder at one stroke: vnder whose yoke their posteritie shulde bee subdued. And here I do not maruell that their predicessours coulde prophecye of the seruitude and bondage of their successyon, if it bee trewe that is sayd of the familiaritie they haue with spirites whiche appeare to them in the night,Theyr famili­aritie with spirites wherof we haue large­ly made mention in the nynth booke of the first decade, where also wee haue entreated of their Zemes (that is) their Idoles and Images of diuelles whiche they honoured.The deuyl is dryuen awaye by baptisme But they saye that sence these Zemes were taken awaye by the Christians, the spirites haue no more appeared. Owre men ascribe this to the sygne of the crosse wherwith they defende theym selues from suche spirites. For they are nowe all clensed and sanctifyed by the water of bapt [...]me wherby they haue renounced the deuel and are consecrated the holy members of Christ. [Page 126] They are vniuersally studyous to knowe the boundes and ly­mettes of their regions and kingdomes: And especially their Mitaini (that is) noble men. So that euen they are not vtterlye ignorante in the surueyinge of their landes.Surueyers The common people haue none other care then of settynge, sowynge, and plantynge. They are mooste experte fysshers,They lyue as much in the water as on the lande by reason that throughowte the hole yeare, they are accustomed daylye to plounge them selues in the ryuers, so that in maner they lyue no lesse in the water then on the lande. They are also giuen to huntynge. For (as I haue sayde before) they haue twoo kyndes of foure footed beastes, wherof the one is lyttle cun­nes cauled Vtias, and the other Serpentes named Iuannas, Serpentes muche lyke vnto Crocodiles,A Crocodile is much lyke to owr ewte or Lyserte of eyght foote length, of moste pleasaunte taste, and lyuynge on the lande. All the Ilandes nooryshe innumerable byrdes and foules:Byrdes and foules As stocke doues, duckes, geese, hearons, bysyde nolesse number of popingiais then sparowes with vs.Popingayes Euery kynge hath his subiectes di­uided to sundrye affaires: As summe to huntynge, other to fysshynge, and other summe to husbandrye. But let vs now returne to speake further of the names. We haue sayde that Quizqueia and Haiti, were the oulde names of this Ilande.

The hole Ilande was also cauled Cipanga of the region of the montaynes aboundynge with golde:Cipanga. Lyke as owre anciente poetes cauled all Italye Latium of parte therof.Italy cauled Latium Therfore as they cauled Ausonia and Hesperia, Italie, euen soo by the na­mes of Quizqueia, Haiti, and Cipanga, they vnderstode the hole Ilande of Hispaniola. Owre men dyd fyrste name it Isabella of queene Helisabeth whiche in the Spanyshe tounge is cauled Isabella:Isabella And so named it of the fyrst Colonie where they plan­ted their habitation vpon the banke nere vnto the sea on the Northe syde of the Ilande, as wee haue further declared in the fyrste decade. But of the names, this shall suffyce. Lette vs nowe therfore speake of the forme of the Ilande.The forme of the Ilande of hispaniola They whiche fyrste ouer ranne it, described it vnto me to bee lyke the leafe of a chestnutte tree, with a goulfe towarde the west syde, lyinge open ageynst the Ilande of Cuba. But the experte shyppe mayster Andreas Moralis, broughte me the forme therof sumwhat differynge from that. For from bothe the corners, as from the Easte angle and the West, he described it to be in­dented and eaten with many great goulfes, and the corners [Page] to reache foorthe verye farre: and placeth manye large and safe hauens in the great goulfe on the East syde. But I trust shortely soo to trauayle further herein, that a perfecte carde of the particular description of Hispaniola maye bee sente vnto yowre holynesse.A particular carde of his­paniola. For they haue nowe drawne the Geogra­phicall description therof in cardes, euen as yowre holynesse hath seene the forme and sytuation of Spayne and Italye with their montaines, valleyes, ryuers, cities, and colonies. Lette vs therfore without shamfastnesse compare the Ilande of Hispaniola to Italie,hispaniola compared to Italie, sumtyme the heade and queene of the hole worlde. For if wee consyder the quantitie, it shal bee founde lyttle lesse, and muche more frutefull. It reacheth from the Easte into the Weste, fyue hundreth and fortye my­les accordynge to the computation of the later searchers: Althoughe the Admyrall sumwhat increased this number as wee haue sayde in the fyrste decade. It is in breadth summe where, almoste three hundreth myles: And in summe places narower where the corners are extended. But it is suerlye muche more blessed and fortunate then Italie:The temperature of hispa­niola. Beynge for the mooste parte therof so temperate and florysshynge, that it is neyther vexed with sharppe coulde, nor afflycted with immoderate heate. It hath bothe the steyinges or conuersy­ons of the soonne (cauled Solstitia) in maner equall with the Equinoctiall,The equinoc­tiall. with lyttle difference betwene the length of the daye and nyghte throughout all the yeare. For on the the south syde, the day ascendeth scarcely an houre in length aboue the nyghte, or contrary wyse. But the dyfference is more on the northe syde.Coulde acci­dentall, and not by the sy­tuation of the region, Yet are there summe regions in the Ilande in the whiche the coulde is of sum force. But yowre holynesse muste vnderstonde this to bee incident by reason of the obiecte or nearenesse of the mountaines, as wee wyl more largely declare hereafter. Yet is not this coulde so pearcynge or sharpe, that thinhabitantes are molested with snowe or bytynge froste. In other places, the Ilande enioyeth perpe­tuall springe tyme, and is fortunate with contynuall soomer and haruest.Perpetuall [...]pringe and [...]oomer, The trees floryshe there all the hole yeare: And the medowes contynue alway greene. All thynges are excea­dynge fortunate, and growe to great perfection. How won­derfully all garden herbes and frutes doo encrease,Maruelous frutfulnes soo that within the space of syxtene dayes after the seede is sowne, al [Page 127] herbes of smaule steames, as lettesse, borage, radyshe, and suche other, coome to their full rypenesse: And also howe herbes of the bygger sorte, as gourdes, melones, cucumers, pompons, citrous, and suche other, coome to their perfection in the space of thirtie dayes, wee haue sufficiently declared elles where. Of the beastes transported out of Spaine the­ther,Beastes wee haue sayde howe they growe too a muche greater kynde: In so muche that when they faule into communica­tion of the oxen or kyne, they compare them in bignesse to elephantes, and swyne to mules:Oxen and swyne of ex­ceadyng byg­nesse, But this sumwhat by an ex­cessyue kynde of speache. Wee haue also made mention how their swynes flesshe is more sauourye and of farre better and more pleasaunte taste and more holsome then owres, by rea­son they are fedde with the frutes of Myrobalane trees,Swyne fed with Myrobalanes and other pleasaunte and nurysshynge fruites of that contrey, whiche growe there of them selues, as do with vs beeches, holly, & okes. Uynes woolde also prosper there with marue­lous encrease,Uines if they had any regard to the plantinge therof. The lyke encrease commeth of wheate if it be sowen vppon the mountaynes where the colde is of sume strength:wheate but not in the playnes, by reason of to much fatnes and rankenes of the grownde. It is in maner incredible to heare, that an eare of wheate shuld bee bygger then a mans arme in the brawne,An eare of wheate as byg as a mās arme in the brawne and more then a spanne in length, bearynge also more then a thousande graynes, as they all confesse with one voyce, and ernes [...]ly affirme the same with othes. Yet they say the bread of the Ilande (cauled Cazabbi made of the roote of Iucca, The bread of the Ilande. to bee more holsome, because it is of easyer digestion, and is cultured with lesse labour and greater increase. The residue of the tyme which they spende not en settynge and plantynge, they bestowe in gatheringe of golde.Golde, They haue nowe suche plentie of foure footed beasts,Great plentie of cattayle, that horses and oxe hydes with sheepe skynnes and goate skyns and such other, are brought from thense into Spayne: So that nowe the doughter in ma­ny thynges helpeth and succurreth her mother. Of the trees of brasile,Brasile, spices, the graine which coloureth scarlet in bright shinynge redde, mastix,Mastyx, gossampine cotton,Gossampine the precious me­tall cauled Electrum, Electrum. and such other commodities of this I­lande, we haue spoken sufficiently before. What therefore can chaunce more happy vnto man vpon the earth, then there [Page] to lyue where he neede not to bee dryuen to close chaumbers with sharpe coulde or fayntynge heate?Incommodi­ties of intem­perat regiōs Nor yet in wynter eyther to bee laden with heauy apparell, or to burne the shinnes with continual syttyng at the fyer, which thynges make men oulde in short tyme by resoluinge the natural heate, wher of a thousande diseases insue.holsome ayer and water They also affirme the ayer to bee very healthfull: and the waters of the ryuers to bee no lesse holsome, as they whiche haue theyr continuall course through the earth of the golden mynes.Golde euery where For there is in ma­ner no ryuer, no mountaynes, and but fewe playnes that are vtterly without golde. But let vs nowe at the length coome to the particular description of the inner partes of this bles­sed Ilande.The description of the in­ner partes of [...]he Ilande, We haue before declared howe it is in maner e­qually diuided with foure greate ryuers descendynge frome hygh mountaynes: wherof that which runneth towarde the East, is cauled Iunna, as that towarde the West is named At­tibunicus: The thyrde is Naiba or Haiba which runneth South­warde: The fourth is cauled Iache, and fauleth towarde the North. But this shippe master, hath brought an other des­cription obserued of thinhabitantes from the begynnynge.

Let vs therfore diuide the hole Ilande into fiue partes, cau­lynge the regions of euery prouince by theyr owlde names: and fynally make mention of suche thynges as are woorthye memory in euery of them. The begynninge of the Ilande on the East syde, is conteyned in the prouince named Caizcimu: so named for that in theyr language Cimu, signifieth the front or begynnynge of any thynge. After this, foloweth the pro­uince of Huhabo, and then Caihabo. The fourth is Bainoa, Guaccaiarima conteyneth the west corner. But the last saue one, Bainoa is of larger boundes then the three other. Caizcimu reachethe from the fyrst fronte of the Ilande to the ryuer Hozama, whi­che runneth by the citie of saynt Dominicke.The citie of s. Dominicke But towarde the North syde, it is ended at the rough mountaynes of Hai­ti. The moun­taynes of haiti Huhabo, is included within the mountaynes Haiti and the ryuer Iaciga. Caeiabo the thyrde prouince, conteyneth all that lyeth betwene Cubaho and Dahatio, euen vnto the mouth of the ryuer of Iaccha or Iache (one of the foure which diuide the I­lande equally) and ascendethe to the mountaynes of Cibaua, The moun­taynes of Ci­baua where the greateste plentie of golde is founde: Owte of the which also the ryuer Demahus springeth: and ioynynge with [Page 128] the springes of the ryuer of Naiba, (being an other of the foure which diuideth the Ilande towarde the south sea) fauleth to an other banke of the ryuer of saynt Dominicke. Bainoa, be­gynneth at the confines of Caiabi, and reacheth euen vnto the Ilande of Cahini which lieth neare vnto the sea bankes of the north syde of the Ilande where wee sayde that they erected the fyrst colonie or habitacion.The Ilande of Cahini The prouince of Guaccaiarima, Of prouinces diuided into region [...] occupieth the remanent towarde the west. This they named Guaccaiarima, bycause it is the extreme or vttermost parte of the Ilande. For Iarima in theyr language signifieth the tayle or ende of any thynge: And Gua, is an article whiche they vse often tymes in the names of thynges: And especially in the names of theyr kynges: as Guarionexius, and Guaccanarillus. In the prouince of Caizimu, are these regions: Higuei, Guanama, Rey­re, Xagua, Aramana, Arabo, Hazoa. Macorix, Caiacoa, Guaiagua, Baguanimabo and the rough mountaynes of Haiti. Here let vs speake sumewhat of theyr aspirations which they vse otherwyse then the Latins doo.Of theyr aspi­rations It is to bee noted that there is no aspiration in theyr vowels, which hath not theffecte of a consonant. So that they pronounce theyr aspirations more vehemently then wee do the consonant .f. Ye, all suche woordes as in their tonge are aspirate, are pronounced with lyke breath and spi­rite as is .f. sauing that herein the neather lyppe is not mo­ued to thuppermost teethe. With open mouthes and shakynge theyr brestes, they breath out these aspirations, ha, he, hi, ho, hu, as the Hebrewes and Arabians are accustomed to pronounce theyrs.The pronunciation of the hebrewes & Arabians, I fynde also that the Spanyardes vse the lyke vehe­mence in the aspirations of those woordes whiche they haue receaued of the Moores & Arabians which possessed Spaine,The Moores and Arabiās possessed Spayne. and continued there many yeares: As in these woordes: Almo hadda, whiche signifieth a pyllowe or bolster: Also Almohaza, that is, a horse combe: with dyuers such other woordes whiche they speake in maner with panting brestes and vehement spirite. I haue thought it good to reherse these thynges, bycause amonge the Latines it often tymes soo chaunceth that onely the accent or aspiration, chaungeth the signification of the woorde:howe the aspiration changeth the sig­nification of wordes as hora, for an houre, and ora for the plurale number of this woorde os, which signifieth the mouth: Also ora, which signifieth regions or coastes. The lyke also chaunceth in the diuersitie of the accente, as occido I kyll, and occi­ [...]o [Page] I faule. Euen so in the language of these simple men, there are many thynges to bee obserued. But let vs nowe returne to the description. In the prouince of Hubabo, are these regi­ons: Xamana, Canabacoa, Cuhabo, with many other, the names wherof I haue not yet learned. The prouince of Caibabo, conteyneth these regions: Magua, and Cacacubana. Thinhabitan­tes of this region, haue a peculyar language much differinge from the common language of the Iland,Dyuers languages in the Ilande and are cauled Ma­coryxes. There is also an other region cauled Cubana, whose language differeth from the other. Lykewyse the region of Baiohaigua, hath a dyuers toonge. There are also other regi­ons, as Dahabon, Cybaho, and Manabaho. Catoy is in the myddle of the Ilande. By this runnethe the ryuer Nizaus: And the montaynes cauled Mahaitin, Hazua, and Neibaymao, confine with the same. In the prouince of Bainoa, are the regions of Ma­guana, Iagohaiucho, Bauruco, Dabaiagua, and Attibuni, so named of the ryuer: Also Caunoa, Buiaici, Dahabonici, Maiaguariti, Atiei, Maccazina, Guahabba, Anniuici, Marien, Guaricco, Amaguei, Xaragua, Yaguana, Azzuei, Iacchi, Honorucco, Diaguo, Camaie, and Neibaimao. In Guaccaierima the last prouince, these regions are conteyned: Mauicarao, Guabagua, Taquenazabo, Nimaca, Bainoa the lesse, Cabaymi, Iamaizi, Manabazao, Zauana, Habacoa, and Ayqueroa. But let vs entreate sumwhat of the particulars of the regions. In the prouince of Caizcimu, with in the great goulfe of the beginnynge, there is a greate caue in a hollowe rocke vnder the roote of a hygh mountayne,A greate caue in the rocke of a moun­tayne, a­bout twoo furlonges from the sea. The enterie of this caue is not much vnlyke the doores of a great temple, beinge very large and turnynge many wayes. Andreas Moralis the shyp ma­ster,A daungerus enterprise at the commaundement of the gouernoure, tempted to searche the caue with the smaulest vessels. He sayth that by certeyne priuie wayes, manye ryuers haue concourse to this caue as it were to a sinke or chanell.Riuers deuoured of caues, After thexperience here of, they ceased to maruaile whither other ryuers ranne whi­che commynge fourescore and tenne myles, were swalowed vp, so that they appeared no more, nor yet fell into the sea by any knowen wayes. Nowe therfore they suppose that ryuers swalowed vp by the holowe places of that stony moun­tayne, faule into this caue. As the shipmaster entered into the caue his shippe was almost swalowed. For he saith that there are many whyrlepooles and rysinges or boylinges of the wa­ter, [Page 129] which make a violent conflicte and horrible rorynge one encounteryng the other. Also many huge holes & holowe pla­ces: So that what on the one syde with the whirle pooles,whirlepooles and conflict [...] of waters, & on the other side with the boyling of the water, his shyp was long in maner tossed vp and downe lyke a baule. It greatly repented hym that he had entered, yet knewe he no way how to come forth. He now wandered in darkenesse, as wel for the obscurenesse of the caue into the which he was farre entered,Clowdes in the caue. as also that in it were thicke cloudes engendered of the moist vapours proceading of the conflicte of the waters whiche cō ­tinually faule with great violence into the caue on euery side. He compareth the noyse of these waters, to the faule of the famous ryuer of Nilus from the montaines of Ethyope.The Catarac­tes of Nilus They were al so deafe, that one could not here what an other said. But at the length with great daunger & feare, he came foorth of the caue as it had byn owte of hel. Aboute three score mi­les distante from the chiefe citie of saincte Dominicke, there are certeyne hyghe montaynes vppon the toppes wherof is a lake or standynge poole inaccessible,A standynge poole in the t [...]ppe of a hygh moun­tayne. neuer yet seene of them whiche came latelye to the Ilande, bothe by reason of the roughnesse of the montaines, and also for that there is noo pathe or open waye to the toppes of the same. But at the length the shyppe maister beinge cond [...]cted thether by one of kynges, ascended to the toppes of the montaines and came to the poole. Hee saith that the coulde is there of sum force. And in token of wynter, hee founde ferne and bramble bus­shes, whiche two, growe only in coulde regions.Ferne and bramble bus­shes, growe only in coulde regions. These mon­taynes, they caule Ymizui Hibabaino. This poole is of freshe water three myles in compasse, and wel replenysshed with di­uerse kindes of fysshes. Many smaule riuers or brookes faule into it. It hath no passage owte, bycause it is on euery syde enclosed with the toppes of mountaynes. But lette vs nowe speake of an other poole whiche maye well bee cauled a sea in the mydlande, and bee coompared to the Caspian or Hircanian sea in the fyrme land of Asia:The Caspia [...] and hircani­an sea. with certeyne other la­kes and pooles of fresshe water.

¶The eyghte booke of the thirde decade.

THe prouynce of Bainoa beynge thrise as bygge as the three fyrst, that is, Caizcimu, Vhabo, and Caihabo, includeth a valley named Caiouani, in the whiche there is a lake of salte, soure, and bytter water, as wee reade of the sea cauled Caspium, A great lake of soure and salte water. lyinge in the firme lande betwene Sar­matia and Hircania. Wee haue therfore named it Caspium, al­thoughe it bee not in the region of Hircania. It hath manye swalowinge goulfes,Swalowinge goulfes. by the whiche, bothe the water of the sea springeth into it, and also suche as faule into it from the montaines,Sea fysshes in lakes of the midlande are swalowed vppe. They thyncke that the ca­ues therof, are so large and deepe, that great fysshes of the sea passe by the same into the lake. Emonge these fysshes, there is one cauled Tiburonus whiche cutteth a man in sunder by the myddest at one snappe with his teethe,The deuou­rynge fysshe cauled T [...]bu­ronus. and deuoureth hym. In the ryuer Hozama, runnynge by the chiefe citie of sayncte Dominicke, these Tiburoni do sumtymes coome from the sea and deuoure manye of thinhabitauntes: Especially suche as do dayly ploonge them selues in the water to thin­tent to keepe their bodyes verye cleane. The ryuers whiche faule into the lake,The ryuers that fau [...]e in­to the lake Caspium, are these. From the Northe syde, Guani­nicabon: From the Southe, Xaccoei: from the Easte, Guannabo And from the West, Occoa. They saye that these ryuers are great and continuall: And that besyde these, there are .xx. other smaule ryuers whiche faule into this Caspium. CC [...] sprynges within the space of a furlonge. Also on the Northe syde within a furlonge of the lake, there are a­boue twoo hundreth springes, occupyinge lykewise aboute a furlonge in circuite, the water wherof is coulde in soomer, freshe also, and holsome to bee droonke. These sprynges make a ryuer than can not bee waded ouer, whiche neare at hande ioynynge with the other, fauleth into the lake. Here muste wee staye a whyle. The kynge of this regyon founde his wyfe praying in a chapel builded by the Christians with in the precincte of his dominion,A myracle. and required her coompanie to satisfye his fleshely luste. His wyfe reproued hym, and put hym in remembraunce to haue respecte to the holye place. The woordes whiche shee spake to hym,The Indian language. were these: Teitoca, [Page 130] Teitoca: whiche is as muche to saye, as, bee quyet, bee quyet: Techeta cynato guamechyna: That is, god wyl bee greatly angerie. Guamechyna, sygnifyeth god, Techeta greatly, Cynato angrie. But the husbande halynge her by the arme, sayde: Guaibba, that is, go: Cynato macabuca guamechyna: That is: what is that to me if god be angerye?A kyng stric­ken dumme and lame by [...] myracle. And with these woordes as he pro­fered her violence, soodenlye he became dumme and lame. Yet by this myracle beynge striken with repentaunce, he euer after ledde a relygious lyfe: In soo muche that from thense foorthe hee woolde neuer suffer the chapell to bee swepte or decked with any other mannes hande. By the same myracle, manye of thinhabitauntes and all the Christians beyng mo­ued, resorted deuoutly to the chappell. They take it in good parte that the kynge suffered the reuenge of that reproche. Lette vs nowe retourne to Caspium. That salte lake is tossed with stormes and tempestes: And oftentymes drowneth smaule shyppes or fyssher boates, and swaloweth them vppe with the maryners:Such as are drowned in the lake are not cast vp ageyne. In so muche that it hath not byn harde of, that any man drowned by shyppewracke, euer ploonged vppe ageyne, or was caste on the shore, as commonly chaun­ceth of the deade bodyes of suche as are drowned in the sea. These tempestes, are the deintie banquetes of the Tiburones. This Caspium, is cauled Hagueigabon. In the myddest hereof, lyeth an Ilande named Guarizacca, The Ilande Guarizacca in the myddest of the poole. A lake of salt and freshe water. to the whiche they resorte when they go a fysshynge: But it is not cultured. There is in the same playne, an other lake nexte vnto this, whose wa­ter is myxte of salte and freshe: And is therfore nother apte to bee droonke, not yet to bee refused in vrgente necessytie. This conteineth in length .xxv. miles, and in breadth eight myles: In summe places also nyne or ten. It receaueth ma­nye ryuers whiche haue no passage owte of the same, but are swalowed vppe as in the other. Water springeth out of the sea into this also: but in no great quantitie, whiche is the cause that it is so commyxte. In the same prouynce to­warde the Weste syde, there is an other lake of freshe water,A lake of fresshe water not farre distante from Caspius. This thinhabitauntes caule Iainagua. The same salte lake, hath on the North syde therof, an other named Guaocaa. This is but lyttle: as not past three or foure myles in breadth, and one in length. The water of this, maye well bee droonke. On the southe syde of the salte [Page] lake, there lyeth an other named. Babbareo, of three myles in length and in maner rounde. The water of this is freshe as of [...]he two other. This lake bycause it hath no passage owte nor yet any swalowynge goulfes, conueyeth the superfluous waters to the sea if it be encreased with the streames whiche faule sumtimes more abondantly frō the montaines. This is in the region of Xamana in the prouince of Bainoa. There is an other cauled Guaniba, lying betwene the East & the South nere vnto the syde of Caspius. This is ten myles in length and al­moste rounde.A lake of ten myles in l [...]ngth There are furthermore many other smaule stan­dyng pooles or lakes disparsed here and there in the Iland, whiche I wyll lette passe leste I shulde bee tedious in remai­nyng to longe in one thynge. I wyll therfore make an ende with this addition, that in all these, great plentie of fyshe and foule is nourysshed. All these lakes lye in a large playne, the whiche from the East reacheth into the West a hundreth and twentie myles:A playne of a hundreth and twentie miles beyng of breadth .xviii. myles where it is na­rowest, and .xxv. where it is largest. Lookyng toward the West, it hath collaterally on the lefte hande the montaines of Daiguani: And on the ryght hande, the montaines, of Caigua, so cauled of the name of the vale it selfe. At the rootes of the montaines of Caigua toward the North syde, there lyeth an other vale much longer & larger then that before named. For it conteineth in length, almoste two hundreth myles:A playne of two hundreth myles in length. And in breadth .xxx. wher it is largest, & about .xx. wher it is narowest This vale in summe parte therof, is cauled Maguana: In an other place, Iguamu, & elles where, Hathathiei. And forasmuche as wee haue here made mention of this parte of the vale na­med Hathathiei, wee wyll sumwhat digresse from the discourse of this description, and entreate of a thinge so straunge and maruelous, that the lyke hath not vyn hard of. So it is ther­fore, that the kyng of this region named Caramatexius, taketh great pleasure in fysshinge. Into his nettes chanced a yonnge fyshe of the kynde of those huge monsters of the sea whiche thinhabitours caule Manari, The marue­lous fysshe Manari. not founde I suppose in owre seas nor knowen to owre men before this tyme. This fy [...]he is foure footed, and in shape lyke vnto a tortoyse althoughe shee be not couered with a shel, but with scales: And those of such hardnesse & couched in suche order, that no arrowe can hur [...]e her. Her scales are byse [...] & defend with a thousand knobbes. [Page 131] Her backe is playne, and her heade vtterly lyke the heade of an oxe. She lyueth both in the water and on the lande: She is slowe of mouynge: of condition meeke, gentell,A monster of the sea fedde with mans hande. assocyable and louing to mankind and of a maruelous sence or memorie as are the elephant and the delphyn. The king norisshed this fyshe certeine daies at home with the breade of the countrey, made of the roote of Iucca and Panycke with suche other rootes as men are accustomed to eate. For when shee was yet but younge, he cast her into a poole or lake neare vnto his palaice there to bee fedde with hande. This lake also receaueth wa­ters and casteth not the same foorth ageine. It was in tyme passe cauled Guaurabo: But is nowe cauled the lake of Mana [...]i after the name of this fyshe whiche wandered safelye in the same for the space of .xxv. yeares, and grewe excedyng byg. What so euer is written of the Delphines of Baian or Ari­on, are muche inferior to the dooinges of this fysh: which for her gentle nature they named Matum, that is gentle or noble. Therefore when so euer any of the kynges familyers, especi­ally suche as are knowen to her, resorte to the bankes of the lake and caule Matum, Matum, Matum. then she (as myndefull of suche benefites as she hath receaued of men) lyftethe vp her heade and commeth to the place whither she is cauled,A fyshe cary­eth men oue [...] the lake. and there re­ceaueth meate at the handes of suche as feede her. If any desirous to passe ouer the lake, make signes and tokens of theyr intente, she boweth her selfe to them, therewith as it were gentelly inuitynge them to amount vppon her, and conueyeth them safely ouer. It hath byn seene that this mon­strous fysshe hath at one tyme safely caryed ouer tenne men singinge and playinge.A maruelou [...] thynge. But if by chaunce when she lyfteed vp her heade she espyed any of the Christian men, she woolde immediatly ploonge downe ageyne into the water and refuse to obey, bycause she had once receaued iniury at the handes of a certeyne wanton younge man amonge the Christians, who hadde caste a sharpe darte at her, although she were not hurte by reason of the hardenes of her skynne beinge roughe and ful of skales and knobbes as we haue sayde. Yet dyd she beare in memorie thiniurie she susteyned, with so gentell a re­uenge requitynge thingrat [...]tude of hym which h [...]d delte with her so vngentelly. From that day when so euer she was cau­led by any of her familiers, sh [...] woolde fyrst looke circum [...]pectly [Page] about her, least any were present appareled after the ma­ner of the Christians. She woolde oftentymes play and wre­stle vppon the banke with the kynges chamberlens: And es­pecially with a younge man whom the kynge fauoured well, beinge also accustomed to feede her. Shee woolde bee sume­tymes as pleasaunt and full of play as it had byn a moonkey or marmaset: And was of longe tyme a great comfort and so­lace to the hole Ilande. For no smaule confluence aswell of the Christians as of thinhabitantes, had dayly concourse to beholde so straunge a myracle of nature, the contemplation wherof was no lesse pleasaunt then woonderfull. They say that the meate of this kynde of fysshe, is of good taste: And that many of them are engendered in the seas therabout. But at the length, this pleasaunt playfelowe was loste, and cari­ed into the sea by the great ryuer Attibunicus, The ryuer Attibunicus. one of the foure which diuide the Ilande. For at that tyme there chaunced so terrible a tempest of wind, & rayne, with such fluds ensewing that the like hath not lightly byn hard of. By reason of this tempest, the ryuer Attibunicus so ouerflowed the bankes, that it fylled the hole vale & myxt it selfe with all the other lakes. At which tyme also, this gentell Matum and pleasaunte com­panyon,The situation of the great [...]ale. folowynge the vehemente course and faule of the fluddes, was therby restored to his oulde moother and na­tyue waters, and sence that tyme neuer seene ageyne. Thus hauynge digressed sufficiently, let vs nowe coome to the situation of the vale. It hathe collaterally the mountaynes of Cibaua and Caiguam which brynge it to the South sea.The moun­taynes of Ci­baua and Caiguam. There is an other vale beyonde the mountaynes of Cibaua towarde the North. This is cauled the vale of Guarionexius, bycause that before the memorie of man, the predicessours and aun­cestours of kyng Guarionexius to whom it is descended by right of inheritaunce,The greate vale of Guari­ [...]nexius. were euer the lordes of the hole vale. Of this kynge, we haue spoken largely in the fyrst narration of the Ilande in the fyrst Decade. This vale is of length from the East to the West, a hundreth and fourescore myles: And of breadth from the South to the North, thirtie myles wher it is narowest, and fiftie where it is brodeste. It begynneth from the region Canobocoa by the prouinces of Huhabo and Caiabo: And endeth in the prouince of Bainoa and the region of Mariena. It lyeth in the myddest betwene the mountaynes of C [...] ­baua, [Page 132] and the mountaynes of Cabonai and Cazacubuna. There is no prouince nor any region, which is not notable by the ma­iestie of mountaynes,Mountaynes, frutefulnes of vales,Uales. pleasauntnesse of hylles,hylles. and delectablenes of playnes,Playnes. with abundaunce of fayre ryuers runnynge through the same.Ryuers. There are no sides of mountaynes or hylles, no ryuers, which abound not with golde and delycate fysshes,Golde in all mountaynes, and golde and fysshe in all ryuers. except only one ryuer which from thoriginall therof, with the sprynges of the same breakynge foorth of the mountaynes, commeth owt salte and so conty­nueth vntyll it peryshe. This ryuer is cauled Bahuan: and runneth through the myddle of the region Maguana in the pro­uince of Bainoa. They suppose that this ryuer hathe made it selfe awaye vnder the grounde by sume passages of playster or salte earthe. For there are in the Ilande many notable salte bayes,Salte bayes, wherof we wyl speake more hereafter. We haue declared howe the Ilande is diuided by foure ryuers & fyue prouinces.howe the I­lande is diui­ded with mountaynes. There is also an other particion, whiche is this. The hole Ilande consysteth of the tops of foure mountaines which diuide it by the myddest from the East to the weste. In all these is abundance of nooryshynge moysture and greate plentie of golde:Golde. of the caues also of the whiche, the waters of al the riuers (into the which the caues emptie them selues) haue theyr originall and increase.The ryuers haue theyr in­crease from the caues of the moun­taynes There are lykewyse in thē horryble dennes, obscure and darke vales, and myghtie roc­kes of stone. There was neuer any noysome beaste founde in it: Nor yet any rauenynge foure footed beaste.No hurtful or raueninge beast in the Ilande. No lyon, no beare no fierce tygers, no craftie foxes, nor deuouring wool­fes. Al thynges are blessed and fortunate: And nowe more fortunate, for that so many thousandes of men are receaued to bee the sheepe of Christes flocke, all theyr Zemes and I­mages of deuylles being reiected and vtterly out of memorie.The autours excuse. If I chaunce nowe and then in the discourse of this narrati­on to repeate one thynge dyuers tymes or otherwise to make digression, I must desyre yowre holynes therwith not to bee offended. For whyle I see, heare, and wryte these thinges, mee seemeth that I am herewith so affected, that for verye ioy I feele my mynde stirred as it were with the spirite of A­pollo as were the Sibylles, whereby I am enforced to re­peate the same ageyne: Especially when I consyder howe farre the amplitude of owre religion spreadeth her wynges. [Page] Yet amonge these so many blessed and fortunate thynges, this one greeueth me not a lyttle: That these simple poore men neuer brought vp in labour,By what meane [...] the peo­ple of the I­land are gretly consumed. do dayly peryshe with intol­lerable trauayle in the golde mynes: And are therby brought to suche desperation, that many of them kyll them selues, hauynge no regarde to the procreation of chyldren. In so much that women with chylde, perceauynge that they shall brynge foorth such as shalbe slaues to the Christians, vse medecines to destroy theyr conception. And albeit that by the kynges letters patentes it was decreed that they shulde bee set at ly­bertie, yet are they constrayned to serue more then seemeth conuenient for free men. The number of the poore wretches is woonderfully extenuate. They were once rekened to bee aboue twelue hundreth thousande heades: But what they are nowe, I abhorre to rehearse. We wyll therefore let this passe: and returne to the pleasures of Hispaniola. The plesures of hispaniola. In the mountaynes of Cibaua, which are in maner in the myddest of the I­lande in the prouince of Caiabo (where we sayd to bee the greatest plentie of natyue golde) there is a region named Cotohi, situate in the clowdes,The region of Cotohi, [...]i­tuate in the Clowdes. enuironed with the toppes of hyghe mountaynes, and well inhabited. It consisteth of a playne of .xxv. myles in length, and .xv. in breadth. This playne is hygher then the toppes of other mountaynes:A playne in the toppes of mountaynes So that these mountaynes, maye seeme to bee the chiefe and progenitours of the other.The hygher, the coulder. This playne suffereth alterations of the foure tymes of the yeare: as the Sprynge, Soomer, Autumne, and wynter. Here the herbes ware wythered, the trees loose theyr leaues,Moderate coulde in the mountaynes. and the medowes become hore: The whiche thynges (as we haue sayde) chaunce not in other places of the Ilande, where they haue only the Spring and Autumne. The soyle of this playne bryngeth foorth ferne and bramble busshes bearynge blacke berries or wylde raspes,Ferne of mar­uelous bignes which two are tokens of coulde regions. Yet is it a fayre region: for the coulde therof is not very sharpe: neyther dooth it aflicte thinhabitantes with froste or snowe. They argue the frutefulnes of the region by the ferne, whose stalkes or steames are byg­ger then a spere or iauelen. The sydes of those mountaynes are ryche in golde.Golde. Yet is there none appoynted to dygge for the same, bycause it shalbe needefull to haue apparelled my­ners, and such as are vsed to labour. For thinhabitantes lyuinge [Page 133] confeuted with lyttle, are but tender: And can not ther­fore away with labour or abyde any coulde.Thinhabi­tantes of his­paniola can abyde no la­bour nor coulde. There are two ryuers which runne through this region, and faule from the toppes of the present mountaynes. One of these is named Comoiayxa, whose course is towarde the West, and fauleth into the chanell of Naiba. The other is cauled Tirecotus: which run­nynge towarde the East, ioyneth with the ryuer of Iunna. In the Ilande of Creta (nowe cauled Candie) as I passed b [...] in my legacie to the Soldane of Alcayr or Babylon in Egypte,The Iland of Creta of Can­die, vnder the dominion of the Ueneti­ans. the Uenetians toulde me that there laye suche a region in the toppes of the mountaynes of Ida, whiche they affirme to bee more frutefull of wheate corne then any other region of the Iland. But forasmuch as once the Cretenses rebelled agenst the Uenetians, and by reason of the streight and narowe way to the toppes therof, longe defended the region with armes against thauctoritie of the Senate, and at the length beinge forweryed with warres, rendered the same, the Senate com­maunded that it shulde bee lefte deserte, and the streightes of thenteraunces to bee stopped, lest any shulde ascende to the region without their permissyon. Yet in the yeare of Christe M. D. ii. lycence was graunted to the husband men to tyll and manure the region, on suche condition that no suche as were apte to the warres, myght enter into the same. There is also an other region in Hispaniola named Cotoby after the same name. This diuideth the boundes of the prouinces of Vhabo and Caiabo. It hath mountaynes, vales, and plaines. But bycause it is baren, it is not muche inhabited. Yet is it richest in golde: For the originall of the abundaunce of gold, beginneth here: In so muche that it is not gathered in smaule graines and sparkes as in other places: but is founde hole,Pure and massie golde in the region of Cotoy. massie, and pure, emonge certaine softe stones and in the vai­nes of rockes, by breakynge the stones wherof, they folowe the vaynes of golde. They haue founde by experience, that the vayne of golde is a lyuinge tree:The vaine of golde, is a ly­uynge tree. And that the same by all wayes that it spreadeth & springeth from the roote by the softe pores and passages of the yearth,These colers or floures are cauled Mar­chasites, Pyntes. putteth foorth bran­ches euen vnto the vppermost part of the earth, & ceaseth not vntyl it discouer it selfe vnto the open ayer: At whiche time, it sheweth foorth certaine bewtifull colours in the steede of floures, rounde stones of golden earth in the steede of frutes, [Page] and thynne plates in steede of leaues. These are they whiche are disparcled throughout the hole Ilande by the course of the ryuers, eruptions of the spr [...]nges owte of the montaines, and violent faules of the fluddes. For they thincke that such graines are not engendered where they are gathered: especially on the dry land: but otherwise in the riuers. They say that the roote of the goldē tree extendeth to the center of the earth & there taketh norishēmt of increase.The roote of the golden tree. For the deaper that they dygge,The braun­ches of the golden tree. they fynd the trunkes therof to be so muche the grea­ter as farre as they maye folowe it for abundaunce of water springing in the montaines. Of the braunches of this tree, they fynde summe as smaule as a threde, and other as bygge as a mannes fynger accordynge to the largenesse or straight­nesse of the ryftes and clyftes. They haue sumetimes chaun­ced vpon hole caues susteyned and borne vp as it were with golden pyllars:Caues susteyned with pyl­lers of golde. And this in the wayes by the whiche the branches ascende: The whiche beynge fylled with the sub­staunce of the truncke creapynge from beneath, the branche maketh it selfe waye by whiche it maye passe owte.The stones of the golde mynes. It is of­tentymes diuided by encounterynge with sum kynde of harde stone. Yet is it in other clyftes noorisshed by the exhalations and vertue of the roote. But now perhappes yowe will aske me what plentie of golde is brought from thense. Yowe shall therfore vnderstande that onely owte of Hispaniola, what [...]old is brought yere­ly from his­paniola into Spayne. the sum of foure hundreth and sumtymes fyue hundreth thousande du­cates of gold is brought yearely into Spayne: as may be ga­thered by the fyfthe portion dewe to the kynges Excheker, which amounteth to the sum of a hundreth and fourscore, or fourescore and ten thousande Castellanes of golde, and sumtymes more. What is to bee thought of the Ilande of Cuba and Sancti Iohannis (otherwise cauled Burich [...]na) beyng both ve­ry ryche in golde, we wyll declare further hereafter. To haue sayde thus muche of golde,Salte of the mountaynes, very hard and cleare. it shall suffyce. Wee wyll nowe therfore speake sumwhat of salte wherwith wee may season and reserue suche thynges as are bought with golde. In a region of the prouince of Bainoa, in the montaynes of Daiaguo, about twelue myles distant from the salte lake cauled Caspius, there are salte bayes in the montaynes in a maner as hard as stoones, also clearer and whiter then cristall. There are lyke­wyse suche salte baies whiche growe woonderfully in Lai [...]ta­ [...]ia [Page 134] (now cauled Cataloma) in the territorie of the duke of Cadona the chiefe ruler in that region. But suche as knowe theym bothe, affyrme that these of Bainoa are moste notable. They saye also that this can not be clefte without wedges and beatelles of Iron. But that of Lale [...]ana, Salt as hard as stones. maye easlye bee broken as I my selfe haue proued. They therfore compare this to su­che stoones as may easely bee broken: And the other to mar­ble. In the prouince of Caizimu ▪ in the regions of Iguanama, Ca­iacoa, and Guariagua, there are sprynges whose waters are of maruelous nature,Sprynges of salt, fresshe and sower water. beynge in the superfytial or vppermooste parte, fre [...]he: In the myddest, myxte of salte and fre [...]he: And in the lowest parte, salte and sower. They thincke that the salte water of the sea, issheweth owte softely, and the freshe, to sprinke owte of the mountaines. The one fauleth downe and the other ryseth: & are not therfore so vniue [...]sal­ly myxt wherby the one may vtterly corrupt thother. If any man laye his eare to the grounde neare to any of these sprin­ge [...], he shal perceaue the ground there to bee so hollowe,holowe ca­ues in the grounde that the reboundyng noyse of a horseman comminge may be harde for the space of three myles, and a foote man one myle. In the laste region towarde the southe named Guaccaiarima, in the lordshyp of Zauana, Certeyne wyld men ly­uing in caue [...] and dennes they say there are certeyne wyld men whiche lyue in the caues & dennes of the montaynes, contented onely with wilde fruites. These men neuer vsed the compa­nye of any other: nor wyll by any meanes becoome tame.

They lyue without any certaine dwellynge places, and with owte tyllage or culturynge of the grounde, as wee reade of them whiche in oulde tyme lyued in the golden age. They say also that these men are withowte any certaine language.Men without a certeyne language They are sumtymes seene. But owre men haue yet layde handes on none of them. If at any tyme they coome to the syght of men, and perceyue any makynge toward them, they flye swifter then a harte. Ye they affyrme them to bee swifter then grehowndes.Men as swift as greihoūds What one of these solytarie wanderers dyd, it is worth the hearyng. So it is that owr men hauyng granges adioyning nere vnto the thicke wods, certen of thē repaired thither in the mooneth of Septēber in the yeare .M.D.xiiii. In the meane tyme,A wyld man runneth a­way with a chylde one of these wylde men came leapynge owte of the woodde. And approchynge sumwhat toward them with smyling countenaunce, soodenly snatched [Page] vppe a childe of therse beynge the soonne of the owner of the graunge, whiche he begotte of a woman of the Ilande. He ranne awaye with the childe, and made sygnes to owre men to folowe hym. Many folowed aswel of owre men as of the naked inhabytantes, but all in vayne. Thus when the plea­saunt wanderer perceaued that the Christians ceased to pur­sue hym, he lefte the childe in a crosse waye by the whiche the swyneheardes were accustomed to dryue the swyne to their pasture. Shortly after, a swynchearde founde the chyld and brought hym home to his father yet tormentynge hym selfe for sorowe, supposynge that wylde man to haue byn one of the kynde of the Canibales, and that his soonne was nowe deuowred. In the same Ilande they gather pytche whiche sweateth owte of the rockes,Pitche of the rocke. beynge muche harder and sou­rer then the pitche of the tree: and is therfore more commo­dious to calke or defende shyppes ageynste the woormes cau­led Bromas, wherof wee haue spoken largely before. This I­lande also bryngeth foorth pitche in two kyndes of trees,Pitche of two kyndes of trees. as in the Pyne tree and an other named Copeia. I neede not speake of the pyne tree,The pine tree. bycause it is engendered and knowen in maner euery where. Lette vs therfore speake sumwhat of the other tree cauled Copeia:The tree Copeia. Pitche is lykewyse gathered of it as of the pyne tree: althoughe summe saye that it is gathe­red by distyllyng or droppyng of the woode when it is burnt. It is a straunge thynge to here of the leafe thereof: and how necessary prouision of nature is shewed in the same. It is to be thought that this is the tree in the leaues wherof the Chaldeans (beynge the fyrste fynders of letters) expressed their myndes before the vse of paper was knowen.The leafe of a tree in the steede of paper. This leafe is a spanne in breadth and almost round. Owre men write in them with pynnes or nedles or any suche instrumentes made of me­tall or woodde, in maner as well as on paper. It is to bee lawghed at what owre men haue perswaded the people of the Ilande as towchynge this leafe.They beleue that leaues do speake. The symple soules be­leue that at the commandement of owre men, leaues do speak and disclose secreates.A pretie storie. They were brought to this credulitie by this meanes. One of owre men dwellynge in the citie of Dominica the chiefe of the Ilande, delyuered to his seruaunte (beyng a man borne in the Ilande) certayne rosted connies, (whiche they caule Vtias beynge no bygger then myse) wyl­lynge [Page 135] hym to carie the same to his frende whiche dwelte fur­ther within the Ilande. This messenger, whether it were that he was therto constrayned through hunger, or entysed by appetite, deuoured three of the counnies by the waye.

He to whome they were sente, writ to his frynde in a leafe howe manye he receaued. When the mayster had looked a whyle on the leafe in the presence of the seruaunt, he sayde thus vnto hym. Ah soonne, where is thy faythe? Coulde thy gredye appetyte preuayle so muche with the as to cause the to eate the connies commytted to thy fydelytie? The poore wretche trembelynge and greatlye amased, confessed his faute: And therwith desyred his mayster to tell hym howe he knewe the treweth therof. This leafe (quod he) whiche thou browghtest me, hath toulde me all. Then hee further rehearsed vnto hym the houre of his coommynge to his frende,Ignorance causeth ad­miration. and lykewyse of his departynge when hee re­tourned. And thus they meryly deceaue these seely soules and keepe theym vnder obedyence: In so muche that they take owre men for goddes, at whose coommaundement lea­ues doo disclose suche thynges as they thyncke mooste hyd and secreate. Bothe the sydes of the leafe receaueth the for­mes of letters euen as dooeth owre paper.The leafe wherin they wryte. It is thycker then double parchement, and meruelous toughe. While it is yet florys [...]hynge and newe, it sheweth the letters whyte in greene. And when it is drye, it becommeth whyte and harde lyke a table of woodde: but the letters wexe yelowe. It dooeth not corrupte or putrifye: nor yet looseth the let­ters thoughe it bee wette: nor by any other meanes excepte it bee burnte. There is an other tree named Xagua: the iuise of whose soure apple beynge of a darke redde coloure,A stronge co­lour of the iuise of an apple. stay­neth and coloureth what soo euer is touched therwith: And that soo fyrmely, that noo wasshynge canne take it awaye for the space of twentie dayes. When the apple is full ripe, the iuise looseth that strength. The apple is eaten, and of good tast. There is also an herbe whose smoke (as we haue rehersed the like before of a certen woodde) is deadly poison. On a tyme when the kynges assembled together and conspi­red the destruction of owre men,An herbe who [...]e smoke is poyson. where as they durste not at­tempte thenterprise by open warre, theyr diuise was, priui­lye to lay many bundels of those herbes in a certeyne house, [Page] whiche shortly after they intended to set on fyer, to thinten [...] that owre men makynge haste to quenshe the same, myght take theyr death with the smoke therof. But theyr purposed practyse beinge bewrayed, thautours of the diuise were pu­nysshed accordyngly. Nowe (moste holy father) for as much as yowre holynesse wryteth that what so euer we haue writ­ten of the newe worlde, dooth please yowe ryght well, wee wyll reherse certeyne thynges owte of order, but not greatly from owre purpose. Of the settynge the rootes of Maizium Agis, Iucca, Battatas, and such other beinge theyr common foode, and of thuse of the same, we haue spoken sufficiently before. But by what meanes they were fyrste applyed to the commo­ditie of men, we haue not yet declared. We nowe therefore entende to entreate sumwhat hereof.

¶ The nynth booke of the thyrde Decade.

THEY saye that the fyrste inhabitours lyued contented with the rootes of dates,The kyndes of frutes wherwith thinhabitan­tes lyued fyrst. and Magueans, which is an herbe muche lyke vnto that which is commonly cauled Sengrene or Orpin. Also the rootes of Guaiegans, whiche are rounde and greate muche lyke vnto puffes of the earth or mussheromes. They did lykewise eate Guaieros, lyke vnto perseneppes: Cibaios lyke nuttes, Cabaioes and Macoanes, lyke vnto onions, with dy­uers other suche rootes. They say that after many yeares, a certeyne Boi [...]ion, that is, a wyse oulde man, sawe vppon the bankes syde, a bushe lyke vnto fenel: and transplantyng the roote therof, brought it from wyldenes to a better kynde, by noorysshynge it in gardens.Necessitie the moother of all artes. This was the begynnynge of Iucca, which at the fyrste was deadely poyson to all suche as dyd eate therof rawe. But for as muche as they perceaued it to bee of pleasaunte taste, they determyned many wayes to proue the vse therof: And at the length founde by experience that beinge sodde or fryed, it was lesse hurtefull: by whiche meanes also, they came to the knowledge of the veneme ly­inge hyd in the iuse of the roote. Thus by dryinge, saltynge, seasonynge, and otherwyse temperynge it, they brought it [Page 136] to theyr fine breade which they caule Cazabbi, The fine breade Ca­zabb [...], made of the rootes of Iucca. more delectable and holsome to the stomacke of manne then breade made of wheate, bycause it is of easyer digestion. The same is to bee vnderstoode of other rootes and the grayne of Maizium whi­che they haue chosen for their chiefe meate amonge the seedes of nature, as we reade howe Ceres the doughter of Saturnus, howe Ceres fyrst founde wheate and [...]arly in E­gypte. gathered wheate and barley (with suche other corne as are nowe most in vse amonge men) in Egypte of certeyne graynes taken owt of the mudde dryuen from the mountaynes of Ethiopia by thincrease of the ryuer Nilus, and lefte in the plaine at such tyme as Nilus resorted ageyne to his chanell. For the which facte, we reade that the antiquitie gaue diuine honour to Ceres, who fyrst norished and increased such chosen seedes. There are innumerable kyndes of Ages: The [...]ootes of ages. the varietie wherof, is knowen by theyr leaues and floures. One kynde of these, is cauled Guanaguax. This is whyte boothe within & without An other named Guaraguei is of vyolet colour without & white within. The other kyndes of Ages, they caul Zazaueios. These are redde without and whyte within. Squiuetes, are whyte within and without. Tunna, is all together of vyolet coloure. Hobos is yelowe booth of skynne and inner substance. There is an other named A [...]ibunicix: The skynne of this is of violet colour, and the substance whyte. Aniguamar, hath his skynne also of vyolet coloure, and is whyte within. Guaccaracca. hath a whyte skynne, and the substance of vyolet colour. There are many other which are not yet brought to vs. But I feare me least in the rehearsall of these,The autour [...] excu [...]e. I shal prouoke the spurres of malicious persons ageynst me which wyll scorne these owr doinges for that we haue wrytten of many such smaule thin­ges to a prince occupyed in suche weyghty affayres, as vnto yowre holynes vppon whose shulders resteth the burthen of the hole Christian worlde. But I wolde aske of these malycious en [...]yers of other mens trauayles, whether Plinie and such other famous wryters,Plinie. when they dyrected and dedica­ted such thinges to kynges and princes, entended only to profyte them to whom they consecrated the frute of theyr know­leage. They sumtymes intermyxte famous thynges with ob­scure thynges, lyght with heauie, and greate with smaule, that by the foortheraunce of princes, theyr vniuersall poste­ritie myght enioye the fruition of the knowleage of thynges. [Page] At other tymes also, beinge intent about particular thinges, and desyrous of newe thynges, they occupyed them selues in the searchinge of particular tractes and coastes, with suche thynges as nature brought foorth in the same, by this mea­nes to coome the better to more absolute and vniuersal knowleage. Let theym therefore contemne owre doinge: And wee wyll laugh to scorne, not theyr ignoraunce and slothfulnes, but pernicious curiousnes: And therewith hauynge pitie of theyr frowarde dispositions, wyll commit theim to the vene­mous serpentes of whome enuie tooke his fyrst orginall. It shall in the meane tyme abundantly contente vs that these thynges do please yowre holynes: And that yowe doo not dispise owre simple vestures wherwith we haue only weaued togyther and not adourned, gathered and not described such maruelous thynges in the garnyshynge wherof, nature hath sufficiently shewed her cunnynge. Owre desyre is none other but herein for yowre sake to doo owre endeuoure that these thynges maye not peryshe. Let euery man take hereof what lyketh hym best. Of the sheepe or bullocke soulde in the mar­ket, nothynge remayneth in the euenynge, bycause the shul­der pleaseth one, the legge an other, and the necke an other. Ye, sume haue most phantasie to the bowels, and sume to the feete. Thus hauynge enough wandered, lette vs returne to owre purpose and declare with what woordes they salute the kynges chyldren when they are fyrst borne: or howe they apply the begynnyng of theyr lyues to the end: And why their kynges are cauled by many names. Therfore when the kynge hath a sonne borne, such as dwel neare about his pallaice or vyllage, repayre to the queenes chamber, where one saluteth the newe borne chylde with one name, and an other with an other name.By what na­mes they sa­lute the kyn­ges chyldren when they are borne. God saue the thowe shyninge lampe sayth one: An other cauleth him bryght and cleare. Sume name him the victourer of his enemies: and other sume, the puissaunt con­querour descended of bludde royall, and bryghter then gold, with dyuers other suche vayne names. Therfore lyke as euery of the Romane emperours was cauled Adiabenicus, The names and ytles of the Romane Emperours. Par [...]icus, Armenicus, Dacicus, Go [...]bicus, and Germanicus, accordynge to the titles of theyr parentes and auncestours, euen so by thimposition of names inuented by other kynges, Beucbicus Anacachoa the lord of the region of Xaragua (of whome and of the wyse woman [Page 137] Anachaona his syster, we haue spoken largely in the fyrste De­cade) was cauled by all these names folowynge: Tureigua Ho­bin: whiche is as muche to saye, as, a kynge shynynge as bryght as laton. Starei, that is, bryghte: Huibo, hyghnesse: Duih [...]ynequen, a ryche fludde. With all these names and more then fortye other suche, dooeth kynge Beuchius magnifye hym selfe as often as he commaundeth any thynge to bee doone or causeth any proclamation to bee made in his name. If the cryer by neglygence leaue owte any of these names, the king thynketh it to sounde greatly to his contumely and reproche. The lyke is also of other. Howe fondely they vse them sel­ues in makynge their testamentes,howe they make theyr testamente [...] wee wyll nowe declare. They leaue thinheritaunce of their kyngedomes to theldest soonnes of their eldest systers. If shee fayle, to theldest of the seconde syster and so of the thirde if the second also faile. For they are owte of doubte that those children coome of their bludde. But the children of their owne wyues, they counte to bee not legitimate. If there remayne none of their systers children, they leaue thinheritaunce to their broothers.So dyd grea Alexander And if they faile, it descendeth to their owne soonnes. Laste of all, if al these faile, they assygne it to the woorthiest, as to hym that is of greatest power in all the Ilande, that he may defende their subiectes from their auncient enemyes. They take as many wyues as them lysteth. They suffer the best be­loued of the kynges wyues, and concubynes to bee buryed with hym.The kynges wyues and concubines are buryed with hym. Anachaona the syster of Beuchius the kyng of Xaragua, being a woman of suche wisedome and cunnynge that in ma­kynge of rhymes and balettes shee was counted a prophetisse emonge the beste, commaunded, that emonge all the wyues and concubynes of the kinge her brother, the fayrerest (whose name was Guanahattabenechina) shulde be buried alyue with him, and two of her waytyng maydes with her. Shee woolde also haue appointed dyuers other to that offyce, if shee had not byn otherwise perswaded by the prayers of certeyne fryers of saincte Fraunces order whiche chaunced then to bee pre­sente.They burie theyr iewels with them. A dreame of an other lyfe after this. They saye that this Guanahattabenechina had none in all the Iland comparable to her in bewtie. She buried with her all her iewelles and twentie of her best ornamentes. Their custome is, to place besyde euery of them in their sepultures, a cuppe full of water and a portion of the fyne breade of Ca­zabbi. [Page] In Xaragua, the regyon of this kynge Beuchius, and in Hazua, parte of the regyon of Caiabo, also in the fayre vale of salte and freshe lakes, and lykewise in the region of Yaquino in the prouynce of Bainoa, it rayneth but seldome.where it ray­neth but sel­dome. In al these regyons are fosses or trenches made of oulde tyme, wherby they conueye the waters in order to water their fyeldes, with no lesse arte then doo thinhabitours of newe Carthage, and of the kyngedome of Murcien in Spartaria for the feldoome faule of rayne. The region of Maguana, deuydeth the prouynce of Bainoa from Caiabo, where it ray­neth much. and Zauana from Guaccaiarima. In the deepe vales, they are troubled with raine more often then ned [...]th. Also the confynes of the chiefe citie named saincte Dominike are moister then is necessary. In other places, it rayneth mo­derately. There are therfore in the Ilande of Hispaniola, dy­uers & variable motions of the elementes,Uariable mo­tions of the elementes. as we reade the lyke of manye other regions. Of their colonies or mantions which the Spaniardes haue erected in this Ilande we haue spoken suffycientelye beefore.The colonies and vyllages which the Spanyardes haue buylded They haue sence that tyme buylded these vyllages: Portus Platae, Portus Regalis, La­res, Villanoua, Azuam, and Saluaterra. Hauynge sayde thus muche of the Ilande of Hispaniola the moother and ladye of the other Ilandes,The other I­landes about hispaniola, and as it were Tethys the moste bewtifull wyfe of Neptunus the god of the sea, let vs nowe entreate sumwhat of her Nymphes and faire Nereides whiche waite vppon her and adourne her on euery syde. Wee wyll therfore begynne at the nearest cauled the newe Arethusa, The Ilande Arethusa. soo named of the fontayne Arethusa in the Ilande of Sicilie. This is famous by reason of a sprynge: but otherwyse vnprofytable. Owre men na­med it of late, Duas Arbores, bycause it hath onely twoo trees groynge in it: nere vnto the whiche is a fountaine that com­meth from the Ilande of Hispaniola throughe the secreate pas­sages of the earth vnder the sea, and breaketh foorth in this Ilande, as the ryuer Alpeus in Achaia runneth vnder the sea from the citie of Elide, and breaketh foorth in the Ilande of Sicilie in the fountayne Arethusa. A sprynge runnyng vnder the sea frome hispan [...]ola to Arethusa. That the foūtayne of this newe Arethusa hath h [...]s original from the Ilande of Hispaniola, it is manifest hereby, that the water isshewynge owte of the fountayne, bryngeth with it the leaues of many trees whiche growe in Hispaniola, and not in this Ilande. They saye that the fountayne hath his originall from the ryuer Yiamiroa in the region of Guaccaiarima confynynge with the land of Zauan [...] [Page 138] This Ilande is not pas [...]e a myle in circuite, and commodi­ous for fyssher men. Directly towarde the Easte (as it were the porter kepynge the enterie to Tothys) lyeth the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis (otherwise cauled Burichena) wherof wee haue spoken largely before.The Iland of Sancti Iohannis. This aboundeth with golde: and in fruitefull soile, is equall with her moother Hispaniola. In this are many colonies or mansions of Spaniardes, whiche ap­plye them selues to gatherynge of golde. Towarde the west on the Northe syde, great Cuba (for the longenesse therof,The Ilande of Cuba. longe supposed to be the continent or fyrme lande) wardeth owre Tethys on the backe halfe. This is muche longer then Hispaniola: And from the Easte to the Weste, is diuyded in the myddest with the circle cauled Tropicus Cancri. Hispaniola and the other lyinge on the South syde of this, are included almost in the mydde space betwene the sayde Tropyke and the Equi­noctiall lyne,habitable re­gions vnder the Equinoc­tiall. whiche many of the oulde writers supposed to bee vnhabitable & desert by reason of the feruent heate of the soonne in that clyme as they coniectured. But they were deceaued in their opinion. They affyrme that rytcher golde mynes are founde in Cuba then in Hispaniola. The ryche golde mynes of Cuba. They saye also that euen nowe while I wryte these thynges, there is golde gathered together ready to the meltyng, amountynge to the quantitie of a hundreth and fourescore thousande Castellans of gold, an argument surely of great rychesse. Iamaica is more towarde the Southe then these:The Iland of Iamaica. And is a pleasaunte and fruitefull Ilande, of soyle apte for corne, graffes, and settes, it consysteth of onely one mountayne. Thinhabitauntes are warrelyke men and of good wytte. Colonus compared it to Sicilie in bygnesse. They whiche of late searched it more ex­actely, saye that it is sumwhat lesse: but not muche. It is thought to be without gold and precious stoones, as the like was supposed of Cuba at the begynnynge. The Ilande of Guadalupea (fyrste named Caraqueira) lyinge on the Southe syde of Hispaniola, The Iland of Guadalupea. is foure degrees nearer the Equinoctiall. It is eaten and indented with two goulfes (as wee reade of great Britanye nowe cauled Englande, and Calidonia nowe cau­led Scotlande) beinge in maner two Ilandes.England and Scotlande. It hath fa­mous portes, In this they founde that gumme whiche the Apothecaries caule Animae Album, The gumme cauled Anim [...] album. whose fume is holesome a­geynst reumes and heauynesse of the heade. The tree whiche [Page] engendereth this gumme, beareth a fruite muche lyke to a date,Dates. beinge a spanne in length. When it is opened, it see­meth to conteyne a certayne sweete meale. As owre husbande men are accustomed to reserue chestenuttes and suche other harde fruites all the wynter, soo do they the dates of this tree,Pine trees. beynge muche lyke vnto a sygge tree. They founde al­so in this Ilande, Pyne trees of the beste kynde, and suche other deyntie dysshes of nature, wherof wee haue spoken largely before. Ye, they thyncke that thinhabitauntes of o­ther Ilandes, had their seedes of soo many pleasaunt frutes from hense. For the Canibales beinge a wylde and wande­rynge people,The Cani­ba [...]es. and ouer runnynge all the countreys aboute them to hunte for mannes fleshe, were accustomed to brynge home with them what so euer they founde straunge or profy­table in any place. They are intractable, and wyll admytte no straungiers. It shall therfore bee needefull to ouercoome them with great poure.whereby it was thought that there were Ilandes of women▪ For as well the women as men, are experte archiers, and vse to inueneme their arrowes. When the men go foorthe of the lande a man huntynge, the women manfully defende their coastes ageynst suche as attempte to inuade the same. And hereby I suppose it was thought that there were Ilandes in the Ocean, inhabited onely with wo­men, as Colonus the admirall hym selfe perswaded me, as I haue sayde in the fyrste decade. This Ilande hath also frute­full mountaynes and playnes, and notable ryuers. It nou­ryssheth honye in trees, and in the caues of rockes,hony in trees and ro [...]kes. as in Palma one of the Ilandea of Canarie, honye is gathered emong the briers and bramble busshes. Aboute .xviii. myles Easte­ward from this Iland, lieth an Iland which owr men named Desiderata, The Ilande Desiderata. brynge .xx. myles in circuite and verye fayre. Also aboute ten myles from Guadalupea towarde the Southe, lyeth the Ilande of Galanta, The Ilande Galanta. beynge thirtie myles in circuite and playne. It was so named for the neatenesse and bewtifulnes therof. Nyne myles distant from Guadalupea toward the East, there are syxe smaule Ilandes named Todos Sanctos or Barbara. The Ilandes of Todos Sanctos or Barbara. These are full of rockes and barren: Yet necessarye to bee knowen to suche as vse to trauayle the seas of these coastes. Ageyne, from Guadalupea .xxxv. myles towarde the Northe, there is an Ilande named Monsserratus, The Ilande [...] monsserratus conteynynge in circuite fortye myles, hauynge also in it a mountayne of notable [Page 139] heyght. The Ilande named Antipua, The Ilande Antiqua, distante from Guadalupea thirtie myles, is aboute fortye myles in circuite. Diegus Colo­nus the soonne and heyre of Christophorus Colonus, tould me that his wyfe (whome he lefte in the Ilande of Hispaniola a [...] his comming into Spaine to the courte) did write vnto hym, that of late emonge the Ilandes of the Canibales, there is one founde whiche aboundeth with golde. On the lefte syde of Hispaniola towarde the Southe, neare vnto the hauen Botea, there lyeth an Ilande named Portus Bellus. The Ilande Portus Bellus Great Tortoyses. They tell marue­lous thynges of the monsters of the sea aboute this Ilande, and especially of the tortoyses. For they saye that they are bygger then greate rounde targettes. At suche tyme as the h [...]ate of nature moueth theym too generation,The genera­tion of Tor­toyses. they coome foorthe of the sea: And makynge a deepe pytte in the sande, they laye three or foure hundreth egges therin. When they haue thus emptied their bagge of conception, they putte as muche of the sande ageyne into the pytte, as maye suffyce to couer the egges: And soo resorte ageyne to the sea, no­thynge carefull of their successyon. At the daye appoynted of nature to the procreation of these beastes, there creapeth owte a multitude of tortoyses, as it were pyssemares swar­mynge owte of an ante hyll: And this onely by the heate of the soonne withowte any helpe of their parentes. They saye that their egges are in maner as bygge as geese egges.The egges o [...] Tortoyses. They also coompare the fleshe of these tortoyses, to be equall with veale in taste. There are besyde these, innumerable I­landes the whiche they haue not yet searched:Innumerable Ilandes. nor yet is it greatly necessarye to syfte this meale so fynely. It maye suffyce to vnderstond that there are large landes & many re­gyons whiche shal hereafter receaue owre nations, tounges, and maners: and therwith embrase owre relygion. The Troyans dydde not soodenly replenyshe Asia,Troians▪ the Tyrians Libia,Tirians. nor the Greekes and Phoenices Spayne.Greekes. P [...]en [...]t [...]ns.

As touchynge the Ilandes which lye on the north syde of His­paniola, I haue let passe to speake. For albeit they are commodious for ty [...]lage and fysshynge, yet are they lefte of the Spanyardes as poore and of smaule value.The North Iland [...]s. We wyll nowe there­fore take owre leaue of this owlde Tethis with her moyst and watery Nymphes:The Ilandes of the south sea, And receaue to owre newe acquaintance the bewetifull ladye of the South sea rychely crowned with [Page] great pearles, the Ilande of Dites beinge ryche both in name and in treasure. In my epistell booke whiche I sente vnto yowre holynes this last yeare, I declared howe Vaschus Nunnez Balboa the capitayne of them whiche passed ouer the daunge­rous mountaynes towarde the South sea,The Iland of pearles. learned by report that in the prospect of those coastes there laye an Ilande a­boundynge with pearles of the greatest sorte: And that the kynge therof was ryche and of great power, infestynge with warres the other kynges his bortherers, and especially Chi­apes and Tumacchus. We declared further howe at that tyme it was lefte vntouthed by reason of the ragynge tempestes whiche troubled that South sea three moonethes in the yeare. But it is nowe better knowen to owre men, who haue nowe also brought that fierce kynge to humanitie: and conuerted hym from a cruell tyger to one of the meeke sheepe of Christes flocke sanctifyed with the water of baptisme with all his fa­melie and kyngedome.wylde beasts must be tamed with the rod. It shall not therefore bee from owre purpose to declare by the gouernaunce of what capitaines or by what meanes these thynges were so happely atchyued.

¶ The tenth booke of the thyrde Decade.

TT the arryuall of Petrus Arias the newe gouernour of Dariena, he gaue commaundment that one Gaspar Moralis shulde take in hande thexpedition to the Ilande of Dites. An expeditiō to the Ilande of Dites in the south sea He therefore tooke his vyage fyrst to Chiapes and Tumacchus kynges of the South, whom Vaschus beefore had concyled and lefte fryndes to the Christians. They frendely and magnifycally enterteyned owr men who prepared them a nauie of the kynges boates to passe o­uer into this Ilande, which they caule Dites and not Margarita or Margaritea, The Iland of Margaritea. although it abounde with pearles which in the latin tonge are cauled Margaritae. For they fyrst cauled an other by this name, which lyeth next to the mouth of Os Draconis in the region of Paria, O [...] Draconis. Paria. in the which also is founde greate plentie of pearles. Gaspan brought with hym onely threescore armed men to the Ilande, for that he coulde conuey ouer no greater number by reason of the smaulenes and narownes of theyr [Page 140] boates or barkes which they caule Culchas, made of one hole piece of tymber as we haue sayde b [...]fore.A conflict. The kynge of the Ilande came foorth ageinst them fiercely with cruell and threatenynge countenaunce, and with a great bande of armed men cryinge in maner of a larome and in token of the battayle, Guazzauara, Guazzauara, which is as much to saye as, battayle a­geynst the enemie: And is as it weare a watch worde to giue thonset, wherwith also they threwe theyr dartes. For they haue not thuse of bowes. They were so obstinate and despe­rate that they assayled owre men with foure Guazzauaras ▪ that is, battayles. At the length owre men with certeyne of Chia­pes and Tumacchus men (beinge oulde enemies to this kynge of the Ilande, gotte the vpper hande by reason they assayled the kynge soodenly and vnwares. Yet was he determyned to assemble a greater power, and once ageyne to attempt the fortune of warre, but that he was otherwyse persuaded by the kinges his bortherers which counceled him to gyue ouer and submyt hym selfe: sumtyme by thexemple of them selues and other threatenynge the destruction of his flooryshynge kynge­dome: And otherwhyles declarynge vnto hym the humani­tie and gentelnes of owre men, by whose frendship he might obteyne honoure and quyetnes to hym and his: wyllyng hym furthermore to consider what chaunced vnto them which the yeare before resysted and aduentured the hasarde of the bat­tayle as dyd these kynges, Poncha, Pocchorrosa, Quarequa, Chiapes, and Tumaccus with such other. By these persuasions, the king submytted hym selfe and came freendely to owre men whom he conducted to his palaice which they say to be maruelously adourned and princelyke.The kynge of the Ilande of Dites submitteth him selfe. As soone as they entered into the pallaice,The kynges pal [...]aice. he brought foorth a basket of curious woorkeman­shyp and full of pearles which he gaue them. The summe of these pearles amounted to the weyght of a hundreth and ten poundes after .viii. vnces to the pounde.A hundreth & ten pounde weight of pearles. Beinge ageyne re­warded of owre men with such tryfles as they brought with them of purpose, as garlandes of Christall and glasse and o­ther counterfet stones of dyuers colours, with lookyng glas­ses also and laton belles, and especially two or three Iren hatchets (which they more esteme then great heapes of gold) he thaught hym selfe abundantly recompensed.axes and hat­chets more esteemed thē golde. They laughe owre men to scorne that they wyll departe with so great and [Page] necessarie a thynge for any summe of golde: affyrmynge an axe or hatchet to bee profytable for manye vses of men: and that golde serueth onely for wanton pleasures, and not to be greatly necessary. Beynge therfore ioyfull and gladde of the frendeshyppe of owre men, he tooke the capitaine by the hand and brought him with certeine of his familiars to the highest towre of his palaice, from whense they myght prospecte the mayne sea.The kynges woordes. Then castyng his eyes about hym on euery side, and lookynge towarde the Easte, he sayde vnto them. Be­holde here lyeth open before yowe the infynite sea extended beyond the soonne beames. Then tournyng hym toward the Southe and Weste, he sygnyfied vnto them that the lande which laye before their eyes, the toppes of whose great mon­taynes they myght see,Ilandes rych in golde and pearles. was exceadynge large. Then coom­mynge sumwhat nearer, he sayde: Beholde these Ilandes on the ryght hande and on the lefte, whiche all obeye vnto owre empyre, and are ryche, happye, and blessed, if yowe caule those landes blessed whiche abounde with golde and perle. Wee haue in this Ilande lyttle plentie of golde: But the deepe places of all the seas aboute these Ilandes, are full of perles: wherof yowe shall receaue of me as many as yow wyll requyre, so that ye persyste in the bonde of frendeshyppe whiche yowe haue begunne. I greatly desyre yowre frende­shyppe, and woolde gladlye haue the fruition of yowre thyn­ges, whiche I sette muche more by then myllyons of perles. Yowe shall therfore haue no cause to doubte of any vnfayth­fulnesse or breache of frendeshyppe on my behalfe. Owre men gaue hym lyke frendly woordes: and encouraged hym with many fayre promysses to doo as he had sayde. When owre men were nowe in a redynesse to departe, they couenaunted with hym to paye yearely to the greate kynge of Castyle a hundreth pounde weyghte of perles.C. pounde weyght of perles yerely for a tribute. He gladlye agreed to their request, and tooke it for no great thyng: nor yet thought hym selfe any whitte the more to becoome tributarie. With this kynge they founde suche plentie of hartes and connies,Plentie of hartes and conni [...]. that owre men stondynge in their houses myght kyll as ma­nye as them lyste with their arrowes. They lyue heare verye pleasauntly, hauynge greate plentie of al thynges necessary. This Ilande is scarsely syxe degrees distant from the Equi­noctiall lyne. They haue the same maner of breade made of [Page 141] rootes and the graine of Maizium, and wyne made of seedes and fruites,wyne of frui­tes and sedes euen as they haue in the region of Comogra and in other places aswell in the Ilandes as in the firme lande. This kynge is nowe baptised with all his familye▪ and sub­iectes.The kynge is baptised. His desyre was at his baptisme, to bee named Petrus Arias after the name of the gouernour. When owre men de­parted, he accompanied them to the sea syde and furnysshed them with boates to retourne to the continent.The fyft part of perles due to the kynge. Owre men diuided the perles emonge them, reseruyng the fyfte portion to be delyuered to thoffycers of the kynges Excheker in those partes. They saye that these perles were maruelous precious, faire, oriente, and exceadynge bygge:Byg perles. In so muche that they broughte manye with theym bygger then hasell nuttes. Of what pryce and value they myghte bee, I consyder by one perle the which Paulus predicessour to yowre holines,A perle for a pope. bowght at the second hand of a marchant of Uenece for foure & forty thousande ducates. Yet emonge those whiche were brought from this Ilande, there was one bought euen in Dariena for a thousande and two hundreth Castelans of golde. This was almost as bygge as a meane walnutte:An other perle of great price. And came at the length to the handes of Petrus Arias the gouernoure, who gaue it to that noble and faithefull woman his wyfe, of whose maner of departure with her husbande, wee haue made mention be­fore. Wee muste then needes thinke that this was verye pre­cious which was bowght so deare emonge suche a multitude of perles where they were not bought by one at once, but by poundes and at the least by ounces. It is also to be thought that the Uenecian marchaunte boughte his for no great sum of mony in the East parts. But he sould it the dearer for that he chaunced to lyue in those lasciuious and wanton dayes when men were gyuen to suche nyse and superfluous pleasu­res,Nise and su­perfluous pleasures. and mette with a marchaunt for his purpose. But lette vs nowe speake sumwhat of the shelfysshes in the whiche perles are engendered. It is not vnknowen to yowre holy­nesse, that Aristotell, and Plinie his folower, were of dyuers opinions as concernynge the generation of perles.Dyuers opinions of the generation of pearles. But these Indians and owre men, rest onely in one assertion, not assentyng to them in any other: as eyther that they wan­der in the sea, or that they moue at anye tyme after they are borne. They wyll therfore that there bee certayne gree [...] [Page] places as it were medowes in the bottome of the sea,h [...]rbes in the bottome of the sea. bryn­gynge foorthe an herbe muche lyke vnto thyme, and affyrme that they haue seene the same: And that they are engende­red, norysshed, and growe therin, as wee see thincrease and succession of oysters to growe aboute them selues. Also that these fysshes delyteth not in the conuersation or coompanye of the sea dogges: Nor yet to bee contented with onely one, twoo, or three, or at the moste foure pearles: Affyrmyng that in the fysshynge places of the kynge of this Ilande, there was founde a hundreth pearles in one fyshe,A hundreth perles [...]n one shell fysshe. the whirhe Gas­par Moralis the capitayne hym selfe, and his coompanions, diligently numbered. For it pleased the kynge at their be­ynge there & in their presence, to commaund his diuers to go a fysshynge for those kynde of fysshes. They compare the matrices of these fysshes,The matrice of the perle fysshe. to the places of conception in hen­nes, in the whiche their egges are engendered in great mul­titudes and clusters: And beleue that these fysshes brynge foorth their byrth in lyke maner. For the better profe wher­of, they saye that they founde certaine pearles coommynge foorthe of their matreces, as beynge nowe coome to the tyme of their full rypenesse,The [...]yrth of perles. and moued by nature to coome owte of their moothers wombe openynge it selfe in tyme conueni­ent. Lykewise that within a while after, they sawe other succede in lyke maner. So that to conclude, they sawe sum coommynge foorthe, and other summe yet abydinge the tyme of their perfection: whiche beyng complete, they also became loose and opened the matrice. They perceaued the pearles to bee inclosed in the myddest of their bellies, there to bee noris­ [...]hed and increase as an infante suckynge his moothers pap­pes within her wombe, before hee moue to coome foorthe of her priuye places. And if it chaunce any of these shelfysshes to be founde scatered in the sande of the sea (as I my selfe haue seene oysters disparcled on the shores in diuers places of the Ocean) they affyrme that they haue byn violently dryuen thi­ther from the bottome of the sea by force of tempestes, and not to haue wandered thither of them selues. But, that they becoome white by the clearenesse of the mornynge dewe, or waxe yelowe in troubled wether, or otherwyse that they [...]eeme to reioyse in faire wether and cleare ayer, or contrarywyse to bee as it were astonisshed and dymme in thunder and [Page 142] tempestes, with suche other, the perfecte knowledge hereof is not to bee looked for at the handes of these vnlearned men whiche handell the matter but grossely, and enquire no fur­ther then occasyon serueth. Yet do they affyrme by thexperi­ence and industrie of the dyuers, that the greatest pearles lye in the deepest places,where the byggest, meane, and least pearles are engēdred they of the meane sorte hygher, and the least hyghest of all and nearer to the brymme of the wa­ter. And saye therfore that the greatest do not wander: but that they are created, nourysshed, and increase in the dee­pest places of the sea, whether fewe, dyuers, and that but seeldome dare aduenture to diue so deepe to gather them, as­wel for feare of the sea crabbes whiche wander emonge these perle fyshes to feede of them,Sea crabbes and for feare of other monsters of the sea, as also leste their brethe shuld fayle them into long remayninge in the water. And this they saye to bee the cause why the owldest and therfore byggest sea muscles,The sea mus­cles wherin perles are engendred. inhabyte the deepest places from whense they are not lyghtly moued by tempestes. Furthermore, howe muche the bygger and oul­der these fyshes are, they say that in their larger matrices, the greater number and bygger pearles are founde: And that for this cause, there are fewer founde of the byggest sorte. They thyncke also, that when they fyrste faule from their fysshes in the deepe places, they are deuoured of other fysshes, by­cause they are not yet harde. Ageyne, the smaulest differ from the byggest in a certayne swellynge or impostumation whiche the Spaniardes caule a tympane. For they denye that to be a pearle which in oulde muscles cleaueth fast to the shel: But that it is a warte, whiche beynge rased from the shell with a fyle, is rounde and bryght but onely of one syde, and not pre­cious, beynge rather of the nature of the fyshe it selfe, then of a pearle. They confesse that they haue seene certayne of these muscles cleauynge on rockes: Yet these but fewe, and nothynge woorthe. It is also to bee thought that the pearle fysshes or sea muscles whiche are founde in India, Arabie, the redde sea, or Taprobana, are ruled in suche order as the afore named famous autours haue written. For their opini­on herein is not vtterly to bee reiected, forasmuche as they were learned men and trauayled longe in the serchynge of these thynges. But wee haue nowe spoken suffyciently of these sea fysshes and of their egges which the fonde nysenes [Page] and wantonnesse of men haue made dearer then the egges of hennes or geese. Lette vs therfore entreate sumwhat of o­ther particular thynges whiche are coome to owre know­ledge of late. We haue elles where largely described the mouthes of the goulfe of Vraba, with sundrye and variable regi­ons diuided with the manyfolde goulfes of that sea. But as­concernynge the West coastes in the whiche owre men haue buylded houses and planted their habitations on the bankes of Dariena, I haue no newe matter to write. Yet as touching the East partes of the goulfe,The regions of the [...]ast syde of the goulfe of Ura­ba, I haue learned as foloweth. They saye that the vnyuersal lande of the East region of the goulfe from the corner therof farre reachynge into the sea, and from the extreame or vtter moste mouthe of the same re­ceauynge the waters of the sea whiche faule into it, euen vn­to Os Draconis and Paria, is by one generall name cauled Cari­bana, The region of Caribana. of the Caribes or Canibales whiche are founde in euery regyon in this tracte. But from whense they had their par­ticular originall,The original of the Cani­bales. and howe leauynge their natiue soyle, they haue spredde their generation so farre lyke a pestiferous con­tagion, wee wyll nowe declare. Therfore from the fyrste fronte reachynge foorth into the sea (in whose tracte we said that Fogeda fastened his foote) toward the corner, about nyne myles distant, there lyeth a vyllage of Caribana named Fu [...]craca. The vylages of Caribana. Three myles distant from this, is the vyllage of Vraba, of the whiche it is thoughte that the hole goulfe tooke his name, because this vyllage was once the heade of the kyngedome. Aboute syxe myles from this, is Fe [...]i. Nyne myles from Feti [...], is Zerema: Manhun [...]ers. And about twelue myles from this, Sorache. Owre men founde all these vyllages full of people, all the whiche gyue them selues onely to manhuntynge. In so muche that if they lacke enemyes ageynst whom they maye keepe warre, they exercise crueltie ageynst them selues, and eyther sleye the one the other, or elles dryue the vanquysshed to flyghte.

Whereby it is apparante that by these their continuall war­res, and dryuynge the one the other owte of their countreis, this infection hath gonne so farre not onelye on the fyrme lande, but also into the Ilandes. I was also aduertised of an other thynge the whiche to my iudgement, seemeth woor­thye to bee putte in memorye.

One Corrales a iudge in causes of lawe amonge the Spany­ardes [Page 143] of Dariena, sayth that on a tyme walkyng abrode with his booke in his hande, he met by the waye with a fugityue which had stedde from the great landes lyinge farre toward the weste, and remayned here wyth a Kynge wyth whom he was enterteyned. When this man perceaued the lawier lookynge on his booke, marueylynge thereat, he came run­ninge vnto him, and by interpretours of the kynge whom he serued, spake thus vnto him: Haue yowe also bookes wherin yowe may reserue thynges in perpetual memorye?Bookes. Loke in the begynnyng of the booke of the landes lately founde. And letters wherby yowe may declare yowre mynde to suche as are ab­sent? And herewith desyred that the booke might bee opened vnto hym, supposyng that he shulde therein haue founde the letters of his owne countrey. But when he sawe theim vn­lyke, he sayde further that in his countrey there were cities fortified with waules and gouerned by lawes: and that the people also vsed apparell. But of what religion they were, I dyd not learne. Yet had owre men knowleage both by the woordes and signes of this fugitiue, that they were circum­cised.Circumcised people. What nowe thinke yowe hereby (most holy father) Or what do yowe diuine may come hereof when tyme shall sub­due al these vnder yowre throne?what chaun­ced to the Capitaines whi­che the gouernour sent dy­uers wayes, Let vs nowe entermyngle certeyne smaule thynges amonge these great matters. I haue not thought good to pretermitte that which chaunced to Io­hannes Solysius, who, to searche the South syde of the supposed continent, departed with three shippes from porte Ioppa (not farre distante from the Ilandes of Gades or Cales in the Oce­an) the fourth day of the Ides of September in the yeare. M D. xv. Or what successe Iohannes Pontius had, whom the newe gouernour Petrus Arias appoynted to vanquishe and destroy the Caribes or Canibales, deuourers of mans fleshe.Looke decade iii. liber .vi. Also to what ende the vyages of the other capitaynes came, whiche were sent foorth dyuers wayes at the same tyme: As Gonzalus Bada­ [...]ocius, Franciscus Bezerra, and Valleius, Iohannes Solicius tooke the matter in hande in an euyll houre.The vyage of Iohannes Solisius. He sayled beyonde the poynt of saynt Augustine, (which they caule Cabo. S. Augustini) toward the South syde of the supposed continent beyonde the Equi­noctiall lyne.Cap. S. Augusti [...]i ▪ For (as we haue sayde before) that poynt rea­cheth Southwarde to the seuenth degree of the South poole cauled the pole Antartike. He proceaded in that viage syxe hundreth leagues: And founde the lande from the poynte to [Page] extende so farre towarde the South beyonde the Equinocti­all, that he came to the thirtie degree of the South pole. As he sayled thus forwarde, hauynge nowe on his backe halfe the starres named Caput Draconis, (that is, the dragons heade) and the regions of Paria lyinge northwarde frome hym, and prospectynge towarde the pole Artyke, he chaunced to faule into the handes of the fylthye Canibales.Iohn Solysi­us is slaine of the Caniba­les. For these craftie foxes seemed to make signes of peace, when in theyr mindes they conceaued a hope of a daintie banquet:The fierce­nes of the Canibale [...]. And espying their enemies a farre of, beganne to swalowe theyr spettle as their mouthes watered for greedines of theyr pray. As vnhappye Solys [...]us descended with as many of his coompanie as coulde enter into the boate of the byggest shippe, soodenly a great mul­tytude of thinhabitantes bruste foorth vppon them, and slew them euery man with clubbes, euen in the syght of theyr fe­lowes. They caried away the boate, and in a moment broke it all to fytters. Not one man escaped. Theyr furie not thus satisfied, they cutte the slayne men in pieces euen vppon the shore where theyr felowes might beholde this horrible spectacle from the sea. But they being stryken with feare through this exemple, durst not coome foorth of theyr shyppes, or di­uise howe to reuenge the death of theyr Capitaine and coom­panyons. They departed therefore from these vnfortunate coastes: And by the waye ladynge theyr shippes with brasell returned home ageyne with losse and heauie chere.Brasell. Of these thynges I was aduertysed of late by theyr owne letters.

What they haue els doone, I shal haue more particular knowleage hereafter, Iohannes Pontius was also repulsed by the Cani­bales in the Ilande of Guadalupea beinge one of the chiefe I­landes of theyr habitacion.Iohannes Pō [...]ius is repul­sed by the Canibales. For when they sawe owre men a farre of on the sea, they ley in ambushe soodenly to inuade them when they shulde coome alande. Owre men sent foorth a fewe foote men and with them theyr laundresses to wasshe theyr shertes and sheetes. For from the Ilande of Ferrea be­inge one of the Ilandes of Canarie (euen vnto this Ilande, for the space of foure thousande and twoo hundreth myles) they had seene no lande where they myght fynde any fresshe water: for as muche as in all this large space, the Ocean is without Ilandes. At theyr commynge therfore to lande, the Canibales assayled them, caried awaye the women, and put [Page 144] the men to suche distresse that fewe of them escaped. By rea­son wherof, Pontius being greately discomfited, durste not in­uade the Canibales, fearynge theyr venemed arrowes which these naked manhunters can direct most certenly. Thus good Pontius faylyng of his purpose, was fayne to gyue ouer the Canibales, whome (beinge safe and vnder the house roufe) he threatened to vanquyshe and destroy. Whether he went from thense, or what newe thynges he founde, I haue as yet no further knowleage. By these mysfortunes, Solysius loste his lyfe, and Pontius his honour. Let vs nowe speake of an other whose enterpryse came to lyke purpose the same yeare. Iohan­nes Aiora borne in the citie of Corduba, The vyage of Io [...]annes Aior [...]. a man of noble parentage, sent in steade of the Lieuetenaunt (as we haue sayde) more couetous of golde then carefull of his charge or desyrous of prayse for well deseruynge,Locke decade iii. liber, v [...]. sought occasions of querelynge ageynst the kynges and spoyled many, violently extortynge golde of them ageynst ryght and equitie: And further hande­led them so extremely, that of frendes they became most cruel enemies:The lewde behau [...]ur of Iohn Aiora. In so much that they ceased not with desperat myndes by all meanes they coulde to sley owre men openly or priuilye. By reason wherof it is coome to passe, that where be­fore they bartered quyetly exchanginge ware for ware, they are nowe fayne to doo all thynges by force of armes. When he had thus exacted a great quantitie of golde of them (as it is sayd) he fledde priuilie and tooke away a shyppe with him by stelth as the common rumoure goeth: Nor yet hetherto haue we hard whyther he went or where he is arryued. Sum suspect that Petrus Arias the gouernour shulde consente to his departure bycause this Iohannes Aiora is brother to Gonsalus Aiora the kynges historiographer, a man booth lerned, and expert in the discipline of warre: and so much the gouernours frend, that these two amonge a fewe, may be counted exemples of rare amitie. I my selfe also am greately bounde vnto theym bothe and haue longe enioyed theyr frendeshippe. Yet shall I desyre them bothe to pardone me in declarynge my phan­tasie herein, that in all the turmoyles and tragicall affayres of the Ocean, nothynge hath so muche displeased me as the couetousnes of this man who hath so disturbed the pacified myndes of the kynges. Nowe emonge these troubelous chaunces, let vs rehearse the variable fortune of Gonsalus Badaiccius, [Page] & his felowes,The variable fortune of Gō [...]alus Bada [...]o­cius. whose prosperous begynnynges, ended with vnfortunate successe. Gonsalus therfore in the moneth of May in the yeare of Christe M. D. xv. departed from Dariena with fourescore armed men, directynge his vyage towarde the Southe, and restynge in no place vntyll he came to the regi­on of Cerabaro which owre men named Gratia Dei, Ce [...]abaro. Decade .iii.li.iii. distant from Dariena about a hundreth and fourescore myles: for they caule it threescore leaques. He spente certeyne dayes here in Idel­nesse: for he coulde neyther by fayre meanes nor by foule, al­lure the kynge of the regyon to coome to hym. While he laye thus idelly, there came to hym other fyftie men sente frome Dariena vnder the gouernaunce of capytayne Lodouicus Mercado who departed from Dariena in the calendes of Maye, to thin­tent to searche thinner partes of those regyons. When they mette together, they determyned after consultation, to passe ouer the montaynes lyinge towarde the Southe, euen vnto the Southe sea latelye founde. Beholde nowe a wonderfull thynge: That in a lande of suche maruelous longitude in other places, they founde it here to bee onely aboute fyftie myles distant to the Southe sea:The South sea. for they counte it .xvii. lea­ques,A leaque con­teyneth foure myles by sea and but three by lande. as the maner of the Spanyardes is to reken, and not by myles. Yet saye they that a leaque consysteth of three my­les by lande and foure by sea as wee haue noted before. In the toppes of the mountaynes and turnynge of the waters, they founde a kynge named Iuana ▪ whose kyngedome is also named Coiba as is the regyon of kynge Careta, of whome we haue made mention elles where. But for as muche as the re­gyon of this Iuana, is rycher in golde, they named it Coiba Di­tes, The golden region of Coi­ [...]a Dytes. that is, Coiba the rych. For, whersoeuer they dygged the grounde, whether it were on the drye lande or in the weate chanelles of the ryuers, they founde the sande whiche they caste foorthe, myxte with golde. Iuana fledde at the coom­mynge of owre men,Sande myxte w [...]th golde. howe theyr slaues are marked in the face. and coulde neuer bee brought ageyne. They spoyled all the countrey neare aboute his palayce. Yet had they but lyttle golde: for hee had caryed all his stuffe with hym. Here they founde certeyne slaues marked in the faces after a straunge sorte. For with a sharpe prycke made eyther of bone, or elles with a thorne, they make holes in their faces: and foorthwith sprinkelynge a pouder theron, they moiste the pounced place with a certeyne blacke of redde [Page 145] iuise, whose substaunce is of suche tenacitie and claniminesse, that it wyll neuer weare awaye. They brought these slaues away with them. They saye that this iuise is of such sharp­nesse and putteth them to suche payne, that for extreeme do­loure they haue no stomacke to their meate certaine dayes af­ter. The kynges whiche take these slaues in their warres, vse their helpe in seekynge for golde and in tyllage of the grounde, euen as do owre men. From the pallaice of Iuana. folowynge the course of the water aboute tenne myles to­warde the Southe, they entered into the dominion of an other kynge, whome owre men named the oulde man, bycause hee was oulde, not passynge of his other name. In the regyon of this kynge also, they founde golde in all places bothe on the lande and in the ryuers.Golde. This region is verye fayre and frutefull: and hath in it many famous ryuers. Departynge from hense, in fyue dayes iorneye they came to a lande lefte desolate. They suppose that this was destroyed by ciuile dis­corde for as muche as it is for the mooste parte fruiteful,A fruteful re­gion left desolate by ciuile discorde. and yet not inhabited. The fyfth daye, they sawe two men com­mynge a farre of. These were laden with breade of Maizium, whiche they caryed on their shulders in sackes. Owre men tooke them: and vnderstoode by them that there were twoo kynges in that tracte: The one was named Periqu [...]te, kynge Per [...] ­quete. whoe dwelte neare vnto the sea. The others name was Totonoga. This Totonoga, was blynde and dwelte in the continent. The twoo men whiche they mette, were the fysshers of Totonoga, whome he had sente with certayne fardelles of fyshe to Peri­quete, and had ageyne receaued breade of hym for exchaunge. For thus do they communicate their commodities one with an other by exchaunge, without [...]huse of wycked money.

By the conductinge of these twoo men, they came to kynge Totonoga dwellynge on the Weste syde of sayncte Michaelles goulfe in the Southe sea.S. Mi [...]hael, kynge Toto­noga. They had of this kynge, the sum of syxe thousande Castellans of golde bothe rude and artify­cially wrought. Emonge those groumes of rude or natyue golde, there was one founde of the weyghte of two Castel­lans,Six thousand Cas [...]ellan [...] of golde. whiche argued the plentifull rychenesse of the ground. Folowing the same coastes by the sea syde toward the West, they came to a kynge whose name was Taracuru, kyng Tara­curu. of whome they had golde amountynge to the weyght of eight thousand [Page] Pesos. viii. thou [...]and pesos of gold Wee haue sayde before that Pesus is the weyghte of a Castelane not coyned. From hense they wente to the domi­nion of this kynges broother named Pananome, kynge Pana­nome. who fledde at their commynge, and appered no more afterwarde. They saye that his kyngdome is ryche in golde. They spoyled his pallaice in his absence. Syxe leaques from hense, they came to an other kyng named Tabor. kyng Tabor. From thense they came to th [...] kyng of Cheru. kynge Cheru. He frendly enterteyned owre men, and gaue them foure thousande Pesos of golde. [...]iii. thousande pesos of gold Salte. He hathe in his do­minion many goodly salte dayes: the region also aboundeth with golde. About twelue myles from hense, they came to an other kyng cauled Anata, kyng Anata. of whome they had .xv. thousande Pesos of golde whiche he had gotten of the kinges his borthe­rers whom he had vanquisshed by warre.xv. thousande pesos of gold A great part of this golde was in rude forme bycause it was molten when he set the kynges houses on fyer whom he spoyled.Theyr maner of warre. For they robbe and sley the one the other, sackynge and fyryng their villa­ges, and wastinge their countreys. They keepe warre barba­rously and to vtter destruction, executing extreeme crueltie a­geinst them that haue the ouerthrowe. Gonsalus Badaiocius with his felowes, wandered at lybertie vntyll they came to this kyng: And had gathered great heapes of gold of other kin­ges. For, what in braslettes, collers, earinges, breste plates, helmettes, and certeine barres wherwith women beare vppe their brestes, they had gathered together in gold the sum of fourescore thousande Castellans,Fourescore thousand Ca­stellans o [...] golde. whiche they had obteyned partly by exchaunge for owre thinges where they founde the kinges their frendes, & otherwise by forceible meanes where they founde the contrary. They had gotten also forty slaues whose helpe they vsed both for cariage of their vitailes and bagagies in the steade of moiles or other beastes of burden, and also to relieue suche as were sycke and forweried by rea­son of their longe iorneys and hunger. After these prospe­rous viages, they came by the dominion of kynge Scoria, kyng Scoria. to the palaice of a kynge named Pariza:kyng Pariza. where (fearyng no such thing) Pariza enclosed them with a great armye,Gasalus Badaiocius hath the ouerthrow and is spoy­led of grea [...] ryches of golde, and assayled them straggelyng and vnwares, in suche sorte that they had no leasure to put on their armure. He slewe and wounded a­bout fyftie, and put the resydue to flyght. They made such [...] hast, that they had no respect eyther to the gold they had ga­thered, [Page 146] or to their slaues: but lefte all behynde them. Those fewe that escaped, came to Dariena. The opinion of all wyse men as concernynge the varyable and inconstant chaunces of fortune in humane thinges,The Incon­stancie of fortune. were false, if al thinges shuld haue happened vnto them prosperously. For such is the na­ture of this blynde goddesse, that she oftentimes delyteth in the ouerthrowe of them whom she hath exalted: and taketh plesure in confounding hygh thinges with lowe, and the con­trary. Wee see this order to bee impermutable, that who soo wyll applye hym selfe to gather rootes, shall sumtymes meete with sweete lyqueresse, and other whiles with soure cockle. Yet wo vnto Pariza: for he shall not longe sleape in rest. The gouernour him selfe was of late determined with three hun­dreth and fyftie choise souldiers to reuenge the death of owr men: But where as he by chaunce fell sycke, his poure went forward vnder the conducting of his Lieuetenant Gaspar Spino­sa, a Iudge in cases of lawe in Dariena. At the same time other were sent foorth to the Ilande of Dites to exacte the portion of pearles lymited to the king for his tribute. What shal suc­cede, tyme will bring to owre knowleage. The other two, at­tempted thinhabitantes beyond the goulfe Franciscus Bezerra passyng ouer by the corner of the goulfe and the mouthes of the ryuer of Dabaiba, The expedi [...]i­on of Fraun­ces Be [...]arra [...] geynst the Canibales. with two other capitaines and a hundreth and fyftie souldiers well appointed, went to make warre vp­pon the Canibales euen in Caribana their owne chiefest dominion, toward the vyllage of Turusy, wherof we haue made men­tion before in the comming of Fogeda. They brought also with them diuers engens of warre:Gun [...]e [...] ▪ as [...]hree pieces of ordinanunce whose shot were bygger then egges: Likewise forty archers, and .xxv. hagbutters to thintent to reache the Caniballes a farre of, and to preuent their venemed arrowes. But what became of hym and his company, or where they arriued, we haue yet no parfecte knowleage. Certaine which came of late from Dariena to Spaine, reported that at their departure, they of Dariena stode in great feare least they also were tossed with sum misfortune. The other capitaine Valleius, Ualeius [...]epul­sed of the Canibales. obteyned the fore parte of the goulfe. But he passed ouer by an other waye then dyd Bezerra. For he tooke the beginning of Caribana, and Bezerra the ende. Valleius returned ageine. But of the three score and ten men whiche he conueighed ouer with hym, hee [Page] lefte fortye and eyght slaine emonge the Canibales. These are the newes whiche they bringe that came laste from Da [...]iena. There came to me the day before the Ides of October in this yeare M.D.xvi. Rodericus Colmenares (of whom we haue made mention before) and one Franciscus Delapuente. This Franciscus, was one of the vnder capitaines of this bande, whose chiefe capitaine was Gonsalus Badaiocius who hardly escaped the han­d [...]s of kyng Pariza. These twoo capitaines therfore, Rodericus and Franciscus who departed from Dariena immediatly after the misfortune whiche befell to Badaiocius and his companye,The Ilandes of the south s [...]a. do both affirme, the one that he hath harde, and the other that he hath seene, that in the Southe sea there are diuers Ilan­des lying westwarde from the Iland of Dites and saincte Mi­chaels goulfe,In this sea [...] Il [...]ndes of Molucca. most frutefull of [...]pices. in many of the which are trees engendred and nourisshed which bring foorth the same aromaticall fruites, as doth the region of Collocutea, Collocutea. This lande of Collocutea, with the regions of Cochinus and Camemorus, Cochinus and Camemorus, from whense the Portuga­les haue their spyces. are the chiefe marte places from whense the Portugales haue their spices. And here­by do they coniecture that the land where the frutfulnesse of spyce begynneth, shulde not be farre from thense. In so much that many of them whiche haue ouerrunne those coastes, do onely desyre that leaue may be graunted them to searche fur­ther, and that they wil of their owne charges frame and fur­nishe shippes and aduenture the viage to seeke those Ilandes and regions. They thinke it best that these shippes shulde bee made and prepared,he meaneth by the streight of Magella­nus. euen in saincte Michaels goulfe: And not to attempte this vyage by sainte Augustines point, which waye were both longe and di [...]fyculte, and ful of a thousande daungers, and is saide to reache beyonde the forty degree of the pole Antartike. The same Franciscus, being partener of the trauailes and daungiers of Gonsalus, saithe that in ouer run­ninge those landes, he founde great heardes of hartes and wylde bores:howe they take hartes and wylde bores. and that he toke many of them by an arte which thinhabitauntes taught him: whiche was to make pittes or trēches in their walkes, and to couer the same with bouwes. By this meanes also they deceaue al other kindes of wild and foure footed beastes. But they take foules after the same ma­ner that we do: As stocke doues with an other tame stocke done brought vp in their houses.Stocke d [...]ue [...] These they tye by a strynge, and suffer them to flye a little emong the trees. To the which [Page 147] as other birdes of their kind resort, they kil thē with their arrowes.Theyr maner of foulynge. Otherwyse they take thē with nettes in a bare place pourged from trees & bushes: and scateryng certeyne seedes rounde about that place, in the myddeste whereof they tye a tame foule or byrde of the kynde of them whiche they desyre to take. In lyke maner do they take popingiayes and other foules. But they say that popingiayes are so simple,Po [...]ingiayes ar [...] ea [...]ely ta­ken. that a great multitude of them wyll flye euen into the tree in whose bouwes the fouler sytteth: & swarme about the tame chatterynge popingiaye, sufferynge them selues to bee easely taken. For they are so without feare of the syght of the fouler, that they tary whyle he cast the snare about theyr neckes, the o­ther beinge nothynge feared hereby, thoughe they see hym drawe them to him with the snare, and put them in the bagge which he hath about hym for the same purpose. There is an other kynde of foulynge,A straunge kynde of fou­lynge. heretofore neuer harde of, and pleasaunt to consyder. We haue declared before howe that in cer­teyne of the Ilandes, and especially in Hispaniola, there are dy­uers lakes or standynge pooles. In sume of these (beinge no deaper then men may wade ouer them) are seene great multy­tudes of water foules: as wel for that in the bottome of these lakes, there growe many herbes and weedes, as also that by reason of the heate of the sonne pearceinge to the naturall place of generation and corruption,Fysshes and wo [...]mes engē dered of sume where beinge doubled in force by reflection and preserued by moyster, there are engen­dered of the stymines of the earth and water, and by the prouidence of the vniuersall creator, innumerable lyttle fys [...]hes, with a thousande sundry kyndes of frogges, wormes, knat­tes, flyes and such other. The foules which vse these lakes,Foules. are of dyuers kyndes: As duckes, geese, swannes, seemewes, gulles, and such other. We haue sayde also that in theyr or­chardes they noryshe a tree which beareth a kynde of greate gourdes. Of these gourdes therefore well stopped leaste any water shulde enter in at theyr ryftes and cause them to sinke,Gourdes of the tree. they cast many in the shalowe pooles: where, by theyr conti­nuall wanderynge and wauerynge with the motions of the wynde and water, they put the foules owt of suspection and feare. The fouler in the meane tyme, disguysinge hym selfe as it were with a visour, putteth a great gourde on his head much lyke to a helmet, with two holes neare about his eyes, [Page] his face and hole heade besyde beinge couered therwith. And thus entereth he into the poole euen vnto the chynne. For beinge from theyr infancie exercised in swymmynge and ac­customed to the waters, they refuse not to continue therein a longe space. The foules thynkynge this gourde to be one of the other that swymme vppon the water, the fouler goeth softly to the place wher he seeth the greatest flocke of foules: And with waggynge his heade, counterfectinge the mouing of the wauerynge gourdes, drawethe neare to the foules: where softely puttynge foorth his ryght hande, he soodenly snatcheth one by the legges and plungeth her into the water where he putteth her into a bagge whiche he hath with hym of purpose The other foules supposinge that this dyued in­to the water of her owne motion to seke for foode (as is their maner) are nothyng moued hereby, but go forwarde on their waye as before, vntyll they also faule into the same snare. I haue here for this cause entered into the declaration of theyr maner of huntynge and foulynge, that by these more pleasaunt narrations I may sumwhat mytigate and asswage the horrour conceaued in yowre stomake by the former rehearsall of theyr bluddy actes and cruell maners. Lette vs nowe therfore speake sumwhat ageyne of the newe and later opinions as concernynge the swyfte course of the sea towarde the west about the coastes of Paria: L [...]er opini­ons of the swift course of the Ocean towarde the west. also of the maner of gathering of golde in the golde myne of Dariena, as I was aduertised of late. And with these two quyet and peaceable thynges, we wyl make an ende of the tragical affayres of the Ocean: and therwith byd yowre holynes fare wel. So it is therfore, that Andreas Moralis the pylot, and Ouiedus (of whom we haue made mention before) repayred to me, at my house in the towne of Matrite, As we met thus togyther, there arose a contention betwene them two, as concernynge this course of the Ocean. They both agree that these landes and regions perteynynge to the dominion of Castile, doo with one continuall tract and perpetuall bonde, embrase as one hole firme lande or conti­nent al the mayne lande lyinge on the north syde of Cuba and the other Ilandes,The continēt or firme land. beinge also northwest both from Cuba and Hispaniola. Yet as touchynge the course of the water, they var­rie in opinion. For Andreas, wyll that this vyolent course of water bee receaued in the lappe of the supposed continente [Page 148] which bendeth so much and extendeth so farre towarde the North, as we haue said: And that by the obiect or resistance of the lande so bendynge and crookynge, the water shulde as it were rebounde in coompasse, and by force therof be dryuen about the north syde of Cuba and the other Ilandes excluded without the circle cauled Tropicus Caneri, where the largenes of the sea maye receaue the waters faulynge frome the narowe streames, and therby represse that inordinate course, by rea­son that the sea is there very large and great. I can compare his meanynge to nothynge more aptely then to the swyfte streame commyng foorth of a mylle and faulyng into the myl poole. For in al suche places where waters runne with a vy­olent faule through narowe chanels, and are then receaued in large pooles, they are soodenly disparcled and theyr violence broken: So that wheras before they seemed of such force as to ouerthrowe all thynges beinge in theyr waye, it can not then be perceaued which way they runne. The Admiral him selfe Diegus Colonus, The vyages of Diegus Colonus. sonne and heyre to Christophorus Colonus the fyrst fynder of these landes (who had nowe in commyng and goinge, foure tymes passed throughe these seas) beinge de­maunded of me what he founde or perceaued in saylynge too and fro,The vyage from the new landes to Spayne. answered that there was muche difficultie in retur­nynge the same way by the which they go. But wheras they fyrst take the waye by the mayne sea towarde the North be­fore they directe theyr course to Spayne, he saythe that in that tract, he felt the shippe sumtymes a lyttle dryuen backe by the contrary course of the water. Yet supposeth that this chaunceth onely by the ordinarie flowynge and reflowynge of the sea: And the same not to be enforced by the circumflection or course of the water reboundynge in compasse as we haue sayde. But thinketh rather, that this mayne lande or supposed continent, shulde sumwhere bee open: And that the sayde open place, shoulde bee as it were a gate, enterie, or streyght, diuydyng the North partes of that lande from the South: by the which also, the Ocean runnynge towarde the West, may by the rotation or impulsion of the heauens, bee dryuen about the hole earth. Ouiedus agreeth with Andreas Motralis as touchynge the continuall adherence and closenes of the sayde continente. Yet neyther that the waters shulde so beate ageynst the bendynge backe of the West lande, or bee in [Page] such sorte repulsed and dryuen into the mayne sea. But saith that he hath diligently consydered, that the waters runne from the deepest and myddest of the maine sea, towarde the West. Also that saylinge nere vnto the shore with smaule ves­selles, he founde the same waters to returne ageine towarde the East.The contrary course of wa­ters. So that in the same place, they runne together with contrary course, as we oftentimes see the lyke to chaunce in riuers wherby the obiecte of the bankes, diuers whirlepooles and turnynges aryse in the water. By reason wherof, if any chaffe, strawe, woodde, or any other thyng of lyght substance be caste in any suche places in ryuers, it foloweth that al such as runne with the water in the myddest of the chanell, pro­cede well forwarde: But suche as faule into the bendynge goulfes and indented margentes of the crooked bankes, are caryed ouerthwarte the chanell, and so wander about vntyll they meete with the ful and directe course of the ryuer. Thus haue we made yowe partener of suche thinges as they haue gyuen vs, and writen their dyuers opinions. We wyll then gyue more certeyne reason, when more certeyne truth shalbe knowen. We must in the meane tyme, leane to opinions vntil the day coome appointed of god to reueale this secreate of nature, with the perfecte knowleage of the pointe of the pole starre.The poynt of the pole star, Hauyng sayd thus muche of the course of the Ocean, a briefe declaration of the golde mynes of Dariena, The golde mynes of Dariena and the maner of ga­therynge golde. shall close vppe owre Decades and make an ende of owre trauayles. Wee haue sayde, that nyne myles distante from Dariena, are the sydes of the hylles and the drye playnes in the whiche golde is gathered bothe on the drye lande, and also on the bankes and in the chanelles of ryuers. Therfore to al such as are wyllynge to gather golde, there is of ordinarie custome appointed to euery man by the suruoiers of the mynes, a square plotte of grounde conteyning twelue pases, at the ar­bitriment of the chooser, so that it bee not grounde already occupied, or lefte of other. The portion of grounde beinge thus chosen (as it were assygned of the augures to buylde a temple) they inclose their slaues within the same, whose helpe the Christians vse in tyllynge of their grounde and ga­therynge of golde, as we haue saide. These places appointed vnto them, they keepe as long as them lyue. And if they per­ceaue tookens of lyttle golde, they requyre an other plotte of [Page 149] ground of twelue pases to be assigned them, leauyng the first in commen.Owre inclosi­ers woolde leaue no such commens. And this is thorder which the Spaniardes inha­bitinge Dariena obserue in gatheryng of golde. I suppose al­so that they vse the lyke order in other places: How be it, I haue not yet enquired so farre. It hath byn proued that these twelue pases of grounde, haue yelded to their choosers, the summe of fourescore Castellans of gold.Aurisacra Fam [...]e And thus leade they theyr lyues in fulfyllynge the holy hunger of golde. But the more they fyll their handes with fyndynge,The broosie of couetous­nes. the more increa­seth their couetous desyre. The more woodde is layde to the fyer, the more furiously rageth the flame. Unsaciable coue­tousnesse is no more diminisshed with increase of rychesse, then is the drinesse of the dropsye satisfyed with drinke. I lette passe manye thynges wherof I intende to write more largely in tyme conuenient, if I shall in the meane season vn­derstande these to be acceptable vnto yowre holynesse: my dewtie and obseruaunce to whose autoritie; hath caused me the gladlier to take this labour in hande. The prouidence of the eternall creatour of all thynges, graunt yowre holynesse many prosperous yeares.

¶The laste booke of Peter Martyr of Angle­ria, of the Landes and Ilandes lately founde: and of the maners of the inhabitauntes of the same.

I Haue partli declared before in mi decades how certeine fugit [...]ues which came owt of the large West landes arriued in the confynes of Dariena: Loke Decade [...]ii. Liber. x. And howe that marueylinge at the bookes of owre men, they declared that they sumtyme dwelte in regions whose inhabitauntes vsed suche instrumentes and were ruled by politike lawes. Also that they had cities fortified with waules,Cities fortify­ed with wau­les. and faire pallaces with streates well paued, and common places whyther mar­chauntes resort as to the burse or streate. These landes, owre men haue nowe founde. Therfore who were thautours here­of, or what successe they had herein, who so desireth to know with the conditions of straunge regions and the maners of [Page] the people, let hym giue diligent attendance to such thynges as folowe. Of the Iland of Cuba (nowe cauled Fernandina, The Iland of Cuba or Fer­nand [...]na. ly­ynge nexte vnto Hispaniola on the west syde, and yet sumwhat so bendynge towarde the Northe that the circle cauled Tropi­cus Caneri deuideth it in the myddeste, wher as Hispaniola is dis­tante from the Tropike and declinynge certen degrees to­ward the Equinoctial line) we haue spoken sumwhat before. In this Iland of Fernandina, there are nowe syxe townes [...]rec­ted. Wherof, the chiefe is named Sanctiago of saynt Iames the patrone of the Spanyardes. In this, there is natiue golde, found both in the mountaynes and ryuers: By reason wher­of they are daylye occupied in gathering & digging the same. But shortely after that I had finished my sayde bookes, thre Spanyardes that were the most auncient citizens of Cuba, The Spani­ards of Cuba attempt new vyages. as Franc [...]scus Fernandes of Corduba Lupus Ocho, & Christophorus Morantes, determined to seeke newe landes, as the myndes of the Spa­nyardes are euer vnquiet and geuen to attempte great enter­prises. They furnyshed at their owne charges, three of those shyppes whiche they caule Carauels. And hauynge fyrste ly­cence of Diegus Velasquen the gouernour of the Ilande, they de­parted with a hundreth and ten men from the West angle of Cuba. The west an­gle of [...]uba. For this angle is moste commodious to relieue shyppes and to make prouision for freshe water and fuell. Thus they sayled continually syxe dayes and a halfe, betwene the West and the South, contented onely with the syght of the heauen and the water: durynge whiche tyme, they suppose that they sayled not past threescore and syxe myles.Note. For they ley at an­ker all nyght where so euer the faulynge of the soonne tooke the day light from them, leaste by wanderynge in vnknowen seas, they myght chaunce to be cast vppon rockes or sandes. But at the length they chaunced vppon a great Ilande na­med Iucatana, The Iland of Iucatana. whose beginnyng thinhabitauntes caule Eccam­pi. A great citie well buylded. Owre men went to the citie stondynge on the sea syde, the whiche for the bygnes therof, they named E [...]yrus or Alcair. Thinhabitauntes enterteined them very frendly. When they were entered into the citie, they marueyled to behold the hou­ses buylded lyke towres, magnifycall temples,Temples. streates well paued, and great excercise of bying and sellyng by exchaunge of ware for ware.humane peo­ple. Their houses are eyther bylte of stone, or of bricke and lyme, and artifycially wrought. To the fyrste [Page 150] porches of their houses and fyrst habitations, they ascend by ten or twelue steares. They are couered eyther with tyles,Cunnyng artifycers. slates, reades, or stalkes of certeyne herbes. They gratified the one the other with mutuall gyftes. The barbarians gaue owre men many brooches and iewelles of golde, verye fayre and of cunnyng woorkmanshyppe. Owre men recompensed them with vestures of sylke and woolle, counterfecte stones, of coloured glasse and christall, haukes belles of laton, and suche other rewardes whiche they greatly esteemed for the straungenes of the same. They sette nowght by lookynge glasses, bycause they haue certeyne stoones muche brighter.Appareled people. This nation is appareled after a thousande fasshyons with vestures made of gossampyne cotten or bombage of dyuers coloures. The women are couered from the girdle to the heele hauynge dyuers fasshions of veles aboute their heades and brestes, with great cautele least any parte of their legges or feete bee seene. They resorte muche to their temples: vnto the which the chiefe rulers haue the wayes paued from their owne houses. They are Idolatours and circumcised.Circumci [...]ed Id [...]laters. They occupie their maner of exchaunginge, with muche fydelitie. They vse to adourne the heares of their heades, being demanded by thinterpretours of whom they receaued their circum­cisyon, they answered that there once passed an exceadynge fayre man by their costes, who lefte them that in tooken to remember hym. Other saye that a manne brighter th [...]n the soone, went emonge them and executed that offyce. But there is no certentie hereof. When owre men had remayned there certeyne dayes, they seemed to bee molestous to thinhabitan­tes accordynge to the common sayinge. The longer a geste ta­rieth, the woorse is his enterteynement. The whiche thynge owre men perceauyng, they made the more h [...]st awaye. Be­ynge therfore prouided of all thynges nece [...]sary, they tooke their vyage directly towarde the west by the prouidence wh [...] ­che thinhabitauntes caule Comi and M [...]i [...]m. Comi. Mai [...]m. They ouer passed these regions takyng onely freshe water and fuel in the same. The barbarians both men, women, and ch [...]ldren flocked to the sea syde, astonysshed greatly to behold the huge bygnesse of the shyppes. Owre men marueyled in maner no le [...]se to viewe their buyldynges and especially their temples sytuate neare vnto the sea, and erected after the maner of towers. [Page] Thus at the length hauyng sayled about a hundreth and ten myles, they thought it good to ley anker in a prouince named Campechium, Campechium. whose chiefe towne consysteth of three thousande houses.A towne of three thou­sand howses. Thinhabitauntes came swymmynge to the shyppes: marueylyng excedyngly at the maner of saylinge, and at the sayles and other tackelynges But when they hard the thun­der of the gunnes, sawe the smoke, and smelte the sauour of brimstone and fyer, they supposed that thunderboultes and lyghtnynges had byn sente from god. The kynge receaued owre men honorably and broughte them into his pallayce: where he feasted them well after his maner. They are accusto­med to eate fleshe, and haue great plentie of beastes and fou­les:Plentie of beastes and foules. as peacockes, and other whiche they francke and feede in their houses: Also dyuers kyndes of wylde foules of the mountaines, wooddes, and waters: Likewise partriches, quailes, turtle dooues, duckes, and geese. Of beastes, they haue connies, woolues, lyons, tigers, foxes, wylde boores, hartes, and hares. After this banquet, the kyng with his traine and famylie brought owre men into a brode crosse way where many streates do meete.Theyr Idoles and Idolatry. In this, they shewed them as it were a great and highe aulter buylded foure square of mar­ble compacte together partly with the toughe cleye of Babi­lon cauled Bitumem, and partly with smaule stoones. It had on euery syde foure steares. Uppon the altare was an Image of a man made of marble: and fast by it the Images of two beastes of vnknowen shape, whiche seemed as thoughe they wolde with yanynge mouthes haue torne in sunder the bealy of the mannes Image. On the other syde stoode a great ser­pent compacte of the sayde toughe cleye and smaule stoones. This serpent beynge in length .xlvii. foote, and of the byg­nesse of a large oxe, seemed to deuour a lyon of marble, and was al by sparcled with freshe bludde. Harde by the altare, were thre postes fastned in the ground, the which three other trauersed and were susteined with stones. In this place offen­ders were put to death: In token wherof they sawe innume­rable arrowes steined with bludde, sum scatered, sum lyinge on heapes, and sum broken: Also a great number of mennes bones lying in a court or yarde nere vnto this funestal place. Their houses are here also builded of lime and stone.houses of lyme & stone. They named this king, Lazarus, bicause they arriued at this lande on [Page 151] saint Lazarus day. Departing frō hense & directing theyr course styl toward the West for the space of .xv. myles, they came to a prouince named Aquanil, The prouince Aquinall. whose chiefe towne is cauled Moseo, Moseo. & the kynge thereof, Cupoton. He behelde owre men with a fro­warde countenaunce, and fought occasion to doo them sume priuie mischiefe whyle they sought for fresshe water. For he made signes vnto them that on the further syde of the nexte hyll, they shulde fynde sprynges of water, intendyng to haue assayled them in that narowe passage. But by the colouryng of theyr forheades (as they are accustomed in theyr warres) and by the bearynge of theyr bowes and other weapons, owr men perceaued theyr wylynes, and refused to go any further. Yet a thousande of the Barbarians assayled theym vnwares and vnprepared. By reason wherof, they were put to flyght, and dyuers of them slayne in the chase.The Spany­ardes are put to flyght and many slayne. Many that fledde to warde the shippes, were entangeled in the mudde and mary­shes nere vnto the shore. Twentie and two, were slayne with arrowes, and the resydewe for the most parte, wounded. Franciscus Fernandes the gouernour of the nauie, receaued in this conflicte three and thirtie woundes. And in maner none escaped without hurt. If they had gonne to the hylles whiche were appoynted them, they had byn slayne euery man. They therfore that escaped, returned to the Ilande of Fernardina frome whense they came, where they were receaued of theyr felows with heauie chere. But when Diegus Velasquen the gouernoure of the Ilande, had intelligence hereof,An other ex­pedition. he immediatly furny­shed a newe nauie of foure Caraueles with three hundreth men. Of this nauie he appoynted Iohn Grisalua his neuie, to be the gouernour: And assigned for vnder capitaynes, Al­phons Auila, Frances Montegio, and Peter Aluarado. For the pylot he assigned Antonie Alamino who had the regiment of the fyrst nauie. They attempted the same vyage ageyne, but declyned sumwhat more towarde the South about thre­score and tenne myles. Before they sawe any lande, they es­pyed a towre a farre of, by the viewe wherof, they came to an Ilande named Cozumella, The Iland of Cozumella. from the whiche they smelte sweete sauours proceadynge with the wynde,Sweete sa­uours. before they approched to the lande by the space of three myles. They founde the I­lande to be fortie and fiue myles in circuite. It is playne and of maruelous frutefull s [...]yle.A frutefull Ilande, There is also golde in it, but it [Page] is not engendered there, but brought thether from other regions. It aboundeth with hony, fruites, and herbes: And hath also great plentie of foules and foure footed beastes. Theyr order and maner of lyuyng, is in al thynges lyke vnto theyrs of Iucatana. Towres and [...]emples. Lykewyse theyr howses, temples, streates, and apparell. In many of theyr houses, are great postes of marble after the maner of owre buyldynge. They founde there, the foūdations of certeyne owlde towres ruinate: And one especially with .xviii. steares ascendynge to it, after the maner of solemne temples. They marueyled greatly at owre shippes and maner of saylynge. At the fyrst, they wolde admyt no straun­gers: but shortly after, receaued them gentelly. Theyr chiefe ruler (whom owre men supposed to bee a preeste) led them vp to the toppe of the towre, where they erected a banner and addicted the Ilande to the dominion of the kynge of Castyle, namynge it Sancta Crux, Cozumella named Sancta Crux. bycause they entered into the same in the nones of Maye beinge then the feaste of the holye crosse. They saye that it was cauled Cozumella of kynge Cozumellaus, whose auncestours were the fyrst that inhabited the Ilande.Idoles lyke beares. In the towre, they founde many chambers furnyshed with Images, made both of earthe and marble to the similytude of beares. These they caule vppon with a houlynge and lamentable songe,Idolatry. perfumyng them with sweete odours, and other wyse honourynge them as theyr domesticall goddes They are also circumcised. The kynge was in fayre apparel made of gossampine cotton curiously wrought. He was lame on the one foote by reason that as he once exercysed hym selfe in swymmynge, a deuourynge fyshe cauled Tuberon, byt of al the toes,Gentell peop [...]e. of one of his feete. He entreated owre men very frend­ly and made them great chiere. After they had byn here thre dayes, they departed. And saylynge styll towarde the Weste, they espyed great mountaynes a farre of. But as they drewe neare, they perceaued it to bee the Ilande of Iucatana beinge distant from Cozumella onely fyue myles.Iucatana but fyue myles from Cozu­me [...]la. Directynge therfore theyr course towarde the south syde of Iucatana, they compa­sed it on that syde which lyeth nearest to the supposed conti­nent: Yet coulde they not sayle rounde about it by reason of the multitude of rockes, shalowe places, and shelfes of sande. Then Alaminus the pylot turned his sailes to the North side wherof he had better knowleage. Thus at the length, they [Page 152] came to the towne Campeebium and kynge Lazarus with whom they had bin that attempted the fyrst vyage the yeare before. At the fyrst, they were gentelly receaued, and requyred to re­sort to the towne. But shortly after,The Barba­rians make resistaunce. they repented that they had bydden them: and there vpon wylled them to stay about a stones cast from the towne, and to proceade no further.

When owre men desyred that they myght make prouision for freshe water before theyr departure, they assigned them to a certeyne well which they had lefte behynde them. Declaringe further, that it shulde be lawfull for them to take water there or els no wheare. Owre men rested that nyght in the fyelde adioynynge to the well. The which thynge the Barbarians suspectinge, assembled an army of three thousande men, and encamped not farre from them. Bothe partes passed awaye the nyght without sleepe. They fearynge leaste owre menne shulde breake into the towne: And owre men, least the Bar­barians shulde inuade them soodenly, on the one parte with trumpettes, and on the other syde with the noyse of timbrels kept them styll wakynge that were disposed to sleape, At the sprynge of the day, the Barbarians approched to owre mens campe & cauled for thinterpretours of Cuba, whose language is much agreable vnto theyrs. They had diuised to lyght a torche of frankensence and to place the same betwene bothe tharmies to thintent that if owre men dyd not depart before the torche were consumed, to stande to theyr perell.A conflicte, The torch was wasted and the matter came to hand strokes. They slewe onely one of owre men with an arrowe bycause his target fayled hym. But many were wounded. After this con­flicte, owre men resorted to theyr ordinaunce which they had planted neare vnto the well. When they had discharged certeyne pecces, the Barbarians fledde backe into the towne. Owre men were of fierce and greedy courage to haue pursued them, but that Grisalua the gouernour wolde not suffer thē. From thense they proceaded to the last ende of Iucatana, The length of Iuca [...]ana. which they founde to reache more then two hundreth myles frome the East to the West. Here they founde a comodious hauen and named it Portus desideratus. From hense they sayled to other landes, and came to the region nexte to Iucatana Westwarde, whiche they doubte whether it be an Ilande or parte of the firme lande: but thinke it rather to be annext to the continent [Page] In this there is a goulfe which they suppose to be incoompa­sed with bothe the landes. But of this, there is no certentie. Thinhabitantes caule this region Caluacam or otherwise Oloan. The region of Caluacam, or Oloan. They founde here also a great ryuer whiche by his violente course and faule, driueth freshe water two myles into the sea. This they cauled Grisalua after the name of the gouernoure.The ryuer Grisalua. The barbarians marueilyng at the huge greatnesse and mo­uynge of owre shyppes, came swarmyng the bankes on bothe sydes the ryuer, to the number of syxe thousande men armed with targettes and brest plates of gold,Targets and brest plates of golde. bowes and arrowes, brode swoordes of heauy woodde, and longe iauelens harde­ned at the endes with fyer: Thus stondynge in battayle raye to defende their coostes, and with proude countenaunces for­byddinge owre men to coome alande. Bothe parties watched al that nyght in armes. In the dawne of the day, owr men espied about a hundreth Canoas (whiche we haue saide to be their boates) full of armed men. Here also the language of thinterpretours of Cuba agreed well enowghe with thers. When they had admitted the peace profered them by thinter­pretours, al the Canoas staied excepte one whiche approched toward the shippes. A certeyne ruler that was in this Canoa, demaunded of owre men what they sought in other mennes landes. They answered, gold. And that, for permutation of other ware, and not of gift or vyolently. The Canoa returned and the ruler certified the kyng hereof, who came gladlye to the shyppes. When he had saluted the gouernour, he cauled his chamberlen vnto hym, commaundynge him to bringe his armure and other ornamentes of golde wherwith he armed Crisalua from the toppe of the heade to the soule of the foote:Armure of golde. In so muche that, what so euer any man of armes armed at all partes, is emong vs accustomed to weare of Iren or steele when he commeth in to the fielde,Experte arti­ficers. all suche kynde of furni­tures made of golde and wrought with woonderfull arte, the kyng gaue to the gouernour. He recompensed hym with ves­tures of sycke, clothe, lynen, and other of owre thinges▪ In the beginning of this Iucatana, when they sayled to Cozumella, they chaunced vppon a Canoa of fyssher men to the number of nyne, fysshyng with hookes of golde.Fysshe hokes of golde. They tooke them all prisoners. One of them was knowen to this kyng, who pro­mysed the daye folowyng to sende the gouernour as muche [Page 153] golde for his raunsome as the man hym selfe waied. But the gouernour denyed that he coulde release hym withowte the consent of his felowes: And therfore kept hym styll to proue what he could further knowe of hym. Departing from hense and saylynge styll westwarde, they founde a great goulfe in the which three smaule Ilandes were sytuate. Of these,The Ilandes of Sacrifice. they went to the byggest. But oh abhominable crueltie: oh most corrupted myndes of men, and deuelyshe impietie? Let euery godly man close the mouth of his stomake lest he be desturbed.Chyldren sa­crified to I­doles. They offer younge children of bothe kyndes to their Idoles of marble and earth. Emonge their Idoles of marble,Their Idoles of marble. there standeth a lyon hauynge a hole throwgh the necke, into the whiche they poure the bludde of the miserable sacrifyce, that it maye from thense runne downe into a syncke of marble. Lette vs nowe declare with what ceremonies they sacryfyce the bludde of these pore wretches. They cutte not their thro­tes, but open the very brestes of these selye soules and take owte their hartes yet pantynge, with the hotte bludde wher­of, they anoynte the lyppes of their Idoles, and suffer the resydue to faule into the synke. This doone, they burne the harte and bowels, supposynge the smoke therof to be accep­table to their goddes. Of their Idoles, one is made to the shape of a man, bowynge downe his heade and lookynge to­ward the synke of bludde, as it were acceptyng the offeringe of the slayne sacrifyce. They eate the fleshe of the armes, thighes, and legges, especially when they sacrifyce an enemy taken in the warres. They founde a streame of congeled blud as thoughe it had runne from a bouchery. For this my [...] purpose, they bringe these wretches from the nexte I­landes. They sawe also innumerable heades, and trunkes of bodies thus mangeled, besyde many other yet remaining hole and couered with certeine mattes. All the trackes of these re­gions abounde with golde and precious stones.Gold and precious stones▪ One of owre men wanderynge in the Ilande, chaunced to fynde two wa­ter pottes of alabaster artifycially wrought and full of lyttle stones of dyuers colours. They saye also that they founde a stone of the value of two thousand Castilans of gold,A stone of great price. whiche they sent to the gouernour. This Ilande they named the I­land of sacrifyce. Thinhabitauntes are circumcised. There are also other Ilandes sytuate about this Coluacana, or Caluacam, [Page] the whiche are inhabited onely with women lyuing without the coompanye of men after the maner of the Amazones. Ilandes of women. But they that ponder the matter more wisely, thinke them rather to be certeyne women whiche haue vowed chastitie and pro­fessed a solytarie lyfe as the nunnes doo with vs, or as the virgins cauled Vestales or Bonae Deae, were accustomed to do a­monge the gentiles in oulde tyme. At certeyne tymes of the yeare, men of the other Ilandes resorte vnto them. But not for thintent of generation, but moued with pitie to helpe them to dresse their gardens and tyll their grounde. The re­porte goeth lykewise that there are other Ilandes of cor­rupte women to whom men resorte for carnall copulation: And that they cutte of one of the pappes of their women children least it shuld hinder their shootyng. Also that they kepe onely the women children and sende awaye the men children. Owr men therfore drewe nere to the shore of Colluacana where they quyetly exercised marchaundies with thinhabitauntes. The kyng gaue them a great potte of gold:Golde. Also braslettes, chaynes, brouches, with many other iewelles, and al of gold. Owre men ageyne on the other parte satisfyed him with such stuffe as they had done other before. Here wolde they gladly haue planted a newe colonie or habitation, but that the go­uernour wolde not permytte them, wherat they gruged not a lyttle. The houses and other edifyes of this prouynce, are buylded like vnto towres.houses lyke towres. It hath also .xv. great townes in it.xv. greate townes in the prou [...]nce of Col [...]ua [...]ana. Of these they affirme that they haue seene sum consisting of more then .xx. thousande houses,Townes of x [...]. thousande hou [...]es. not ioyning together, but deseuered with courtes and gardens. They haue also cer­teyne large market places encompased with waules, and streates well paued. Likewise fornaces and ouens made of lyme and bricke. Furthermore al sortes of handy craftes men & very cunning artificers. This kinges name was Potanchanus: & the region is cauled Palmaria. The region of Palmaria. The towne where the king kepeth his court, cōteineth .xv. thousand houses. When they re­ceaue any straungiers and make a leage of frendshyppe with them, they are accustomed with a knife made of a sharpe stone, to let them selues bludde in the toonge,A token of frendship. hande, arme, or sum other parte of the body: And this euen in the syght of them whom they admitte to frendshyp, in token that they are ready to shedde their bludde in their fryndes causes. Their priestes professe a vertuous lyfe,Preestes. and liue vnmaried. What it is to [Page 154] haue to do with women, no man knoweth before he be ma­ried. Fornication and adultery (which selde chaunce emonge thē) they counte abhomination. The women are of maruelous chastitie.Chastitie. Eurey noble mā after that he haue had one wife, may haue as many concubines as hym lysteth. But a maried wo­man taken in adulterie,The puny [...]hement of adulterie. is soulde of her husbande. But this onely to the prince: at whose handes it shal be lawfull for her kynsefolkes to redeeme her. It is not lawfull for suche as are not maried,Mariage is honoured. to sytte at the same table with them that are maried, or to eate of the same dyshe or drinke of the same cup. In the moneth of August and September, they absteine .xxxv. dayes not onely from fleshe wherof they haue great plentie,Fastynge. but also from fyshe and al other thinges that lyue by bludde: And durynge these daies, lyue onely with herbes and frutes. They reken twentie dayes to the moneth, and twentie mo­nethes to the yeare. Owre men consumed certeyne dayes here verye pleasauntly. When they departed, coastynge styll by the same shore, they came to an other kyng whom they na­med Ouandus. kynge Ouandus. When he had intellygence that owre men desi­red golde, he brought foorth certeyne plates of molten gold. But whē the gouernour signified vnto him by thinterpretors that he desyred great plentie of that metal, the day folowing he brought him a mannes Image of golde beinge a cubette in length: Also a fanne of golde,Idoles, iew­els, and ou­ches of gold. and an Idole of one of his domesticall goddes of curious woorkemanshyppe. Likewyse garlandes of stones of sundry colours, with many breste plattes, brooches, and other kyndes of ornamentes, and all of golde. He gaue hym furthermore aboundaunce of delycate meates well salted and poudred with spices. When he had required owre men to coome alande, he commaunded his ser­uauntes with all speede to prepare a great multitude of bran­ches of trees and to waite vppon owre men to his pallayce. As they went thus in order, sum behynde and sum before on bothe sydes, they seemed so to shadowe owre men with the bouwes as thoughe they had gonne in a continuall arbour. The kynge hym selfe hauynge a septer in his hand, dyd sette them in their arraye, and sumtyme strike suche as were negli­gent in bearyng their bouwes. They shewed them selues obe­dient in all thynges, and with graue countenaunce, humbled them selues to receaue his stripes. When he was demaunded [Page] where he had suche plentie of golde,Gold in mountaynes and ryuers he pointed with his fynger to the next mountaynes, and to the ryuers descen [...]yng from the same. They are so accustomed to the riuers and exer­cised in swymming,Theyr maner of gatheryng golde. that it is al one to them to li [...]e in the wa­ter and on the lande. When they desyre to gather golde, they plunge theym selues in the ryuers and brynge from the bot­tome therof, bothe their handes full of sande, whiche syf­tynge from hande to hande, they gather owte the graynes of golde. And by this meanes in the space of twoo houres, they fyll a reede as bygge as a mannes fynger. Of the sweete sauours of these landes,Sweete sa­uours. many thinges myght be spoken, the whiche bycause they make rather to theffeminatynge of the myndes of men, then for any necessarye purpose, I haue thought best to omytte them. The kynge also gaue the go­uernour a younge virgine of twelue yeares of age, adourned with ryche and fayre iewelles.A stone of great price. Of the stones whiche he had of this kynge, one was valued at twoo thousande Castellans of golde. Thus at the length they departed from this kyng, laden with golde and precious stoones. Crisalua the gouer­nour, sente one of the Carauelles to his vncle Diego Velasquen gouernour of the Ilande of Cuba, with messengers to dely­uer hym the golde, iewelles, and other ornamentes. The resydue in the meane tyme styll folowed the tracte towarde the West. One of them in the whiche Frauncis Montegius the vnder gouernour was caryed, sayled harde by the shore: and the other twoo kept aloofe within prospecte of the land. Thinhabitauntes of these coastes also, no lesse marueylynge at the shyppes then dyd the other, came with twelue Canoas to Montegius, desyringe hym by thinterpretours to coome alande, promysynge in the name of their kynge, that hee shoulde be honorably entertayned. But Montegious answe­red that hee coulde not assente to their request bycause his coompanions were so farre from hym. Yet dyd he gyue them certayne of owre thynges straunge vnto them, and thankes for their gentylnesse. Shortly after espyinge a great towne they directed their course thither. Thinhabitauntes prohi­byted them to coome alande, and came foorthe ageynst them with bowes & quyuers ful of arrowes, brode swoordes made of heauy woode, and Iauelens hardned at the ende with fier. They shotte at owre men a farre of: And owre men dischar­ged [Page 155] certeyne pieces of ordinaunce ageynst them. The Barba­rians astonysshed at the noyse of the gunnes, fledde amayne, and desyred peace. Here owre mens vytayles began to fayle them, and theyr shyppes were broosed with longe vyages. Hauynge therefore founde and doone these thynges whereof we haue spoken, Crisalua returned to the Ilande of Fernandina well contented,Other viages from Cuba or Fernandina. but so were not his companions. We muste nowe diuerte sumwhat from this matter, and speake of an o­ther nauigation. And from thense wyll we returne to these landes which owre men haue founde. So it is therfore, that Diegus Velasquen the gouernour of the Iland of Fernandina, about the same tyme that he had sent foorth this nauie of foure Ca­raueles, he prepared an other nauigation of onely one Cara­uell and one brygantine with fortie and fyue men. These ex­ercised vyolent handes ageinst thinhabitauntes of those regi­ons where they arryued, thynkynge that they myght forcea­bly drawe them to the dyggynge of golde bycause they were Caffranite Idolaters and circumcised.

There are at the sea syde not farre from the supposed continent,Many Iland [...] betwene Cuba and the firme lande. many lyttle Ilandes of moste fortunate and frutefull soyle, whereof three are thus named: Guanapan, Guanguan, and Quitilla. Owte of one of these (which they named Sancta Marina) they violentely caried away three hundreth men and women which they thrust in­to the Carauell and returned immediatly to Fernardina, lea­uynge the brigantine with .xxv. of theyr felowes to thintent to hunt for more men. The hauen where the Carauell fyrste arryued, is cauled Carenas, beinge distante from the angle of Cuba and the chiefe citie of Sanctiago, Sanctiago the chiefe ci­tie of Cuba. two hundreth and fyftie myles. For this Ilande of Cuba, is very longe, reachyng in length from the East to the West, and situate directly vnder the circle cauled Tropicus Cancri as we haue sayde before. Now shall you heare how fortune sought the reuenge of these pore wretches. Therfore as theyr kepers went aland and few remained in the Carauel, they perceuing occasiō ministred wher by they myght recouer theyr libertie, soodeynely snatched vp owt mens weapons and slewe syxe of them which yet remayned in the Carauel, whyle the residue lepte into the sea.The Barba [...]ians sley the Spaniardes with theyr owne wea­pons. And by this meanes the Barbarians possessed the Carauell which they had soone learned to rule, and thus returned to theyr owne countreys. But they sayled fyrste to the nexte Ilande [Page] where they burnte the Carauel and caried away the weapons with them. From hense they conueyed them selues to theyr owne countreys with the Canoas of this Ilande. Heare in lyke maner they pryuilie assayled them that were lefte with the brigantyne, and slewe many of them also. The residue that escaped, fledde to the brigantine where they bewayled theyr felowes deathes and counted theyr owne escape a vic­torie. On the shore not farre from the place where they suffe­red this misfortune, there is a tree, in the toppe wherof they set vp a crosse, and graued this inscription in the barke of the tree: Vannuis Aldarieci. There is a ryuer named Darien, on the banke wherof standeth the chiefe citie of the supposed conti­nent.The chiefe citie of the sup­posed conti­nent. The gouernour therfore hauing intelligence herof, sent with all speede two shippes of warre well furnyshed, to the ayde of them that were lefte. But they were wyse to late. Yet folowynge the viewe of the crosse, they came to the shore and redde the letters grauen on the tree, but durste not attempte fortune. Thus with all theyr hardie souldiers departinge from hense with despayre, they sayled to the nexte Ilande, out of the which they caryed away by violence fyue hundreth men and women, supposynge lykewyse that they myght lawfully so doo bycause they were Idolaters and circumcised. But the like chaunce happened vnto them when they landed at Fernandina. For the Barbarians espyinge oportunitie, sette vppon the Spaniardes in one of the shippes with theyr owne weapons and slewe theyr keepers.The Spany­ardes are s [...]ayne ageyne with theyr owne wepōs. The residue that escaped, castynge them selues into the sea, swamme to the nexte cara­uell, and with theyr felowes assayled the carauell that was taken from them. This conflicte was so sharpe, that for the space of foure houres, it was doubtfull whether parte shulde obteyne the victorie. The Barbarians both men and women fought verye fiercely, aswell to recouer theyr libertie, as also to holde faste the praye whiche they had gotten. But in fine, the Spanyardes had the vpper hande by reason they were more experte in handelynge of theyr weapons and rulyng of theyr Carauell. The Barbarians beinge thus ouercoome,The barbari­ans are slaine and pu [...] to flyght. lepte into the sea: but the Spanyardes tooke theym ageyne with the shippe boates. About a hundreth of the Barbarians peryshed, beinge partely drowned and partly slayne with the swoorde: And but fewe of the Spanyardes. These thynges [Page 156] thus pacified, the resydue of the Barbarians were caryed to the towne of Sanctiago and condemned to laboure in the golde mynes. Shortly after they made owte a newe vyage to an o­ther of the Ilandes,An other vy­age. whiche lye there about so thicke, that they commonly caule the number of them Archipelagus, Archipelagus. as they in owre sea of Ionicum are cauled Symplegades. A multitude of Ilandes. Here owre men were cruelly handeled: and as many of them as came alande eyther slayne or wounded. This Ilande they named Florida, bycause they arryued there on Easter day whiche the Spany­ardes caule the floryshynge day of the resurrection. They say also that in this tracte they sawe .xxvi. Ilandes which Colo­nus had ouerpassed:xxvi. Ilandes about hispaniola & Cuba. And the same so to lye aboute Hispaniola & Cuba, as though they warded them from the furie of the Oce­an. In many of these they founde natiue golde of lyke good­nes to that which is founde in Granatum. Thinhabitantes al­so weare many iewels, and haue many Images of theyr do­mesticall goddes made both of golde artificially wrought and also of woodde gylted.Images of golde. Francis Cheregatus browght one of theyr Idoles with hym, wherby may bee considered of what wytte and aptenes they are. It is a maruelous thynge to see what maner of rasers they haue,Rasers of stone. made of certeyne yelowe stones cleare & transparent lyke vnto Crystal. With these they shaue and carue as though they were made of fine steele. Whē the edges are blunte with longe exercise, they sharpen them not with a whetstone, or powder, or any other stone, but temper them onely with water. They haue also a thousande kindes of instrumentes or tooles and such other thynges of fyne deuise,Instrumentes and tooles. which were to longe to rehearse. Let vs therefore returne from whense we haue digressed, as to Cozumella, Iucatana, Colluacana or Olloa, beinge al landes lately founde, and so rich fruteful and pleasaunt, that they may in maner be compared to the earthly Paradyse.Landes lyke vnto the earthly Paradyse. Therfore, after that it was know­en to owre men of howe greate momente these trattes were, the Spanyardes which inhabited the Ilande of Cuba Anunc­tus beinge the gouernour of the Ilande furnyshed a newe nauie of ten Carauelles and fyue hundreth menne,An other vy­age of .x. Carauels and a. hundreth mē. with twoo smaule brigantines, as it weare in the steade of lyght horse­men or forerunners whose ayde they myght vse as scoutes to searche the wayes for daunger of rockes and shalow sandes or shelfes. They shipte also certeyne horses,horses and mares. as fyue stoned [Page] horses and .xvi. mares apte for the warres. For their gene­rall gouernour and Admiral of the nauy, they elected Fernando Cortesius who at that tyme was the chiefe ruler of the citie of Sanctiago. Fernando Cortesius. For vnder capitaines, they appointed Alfons Portu­carerius, Francis Montegius, Alfons Auila, Aluerado Spatense Iohn Velasquen, & Diegus Ordassus. They styll folowed the same wynde from the last angle of Cuba toward the west. As soone as Frauncis Fernandes of Corduba, and then Iohn Gri­salua came within prospecte of the Ilande of Sacrifyces (wherof we haue made mention before) soodenly a tempest of contrary wynde prohibited theym to take lande and drowe them backewarde to Cozumella lyinge on the East syde of Iuca­tana. The Iland of Cozumella. This Ilande hath onely one hauen named sainte Iohns porte. And hath in it, onely syxe townes. Also none other water then in welles and cesterns, bycause it lacketh riuers and springes by reason it is plaine, conteynynge onely .xlv. myles in circuite. At the coommynge of owre men, thinha­bitauntes fledde to the thicke woods, & forsoke their townes for feare. Owre men entered into their houses where they founde plentie of vyttayles and many ornamentes pertey­nynge to the furnyshynge of their houses, as hanginges and carpettes of dyuers colours, sheetes also of gossampine cot­ton (whiche they caule Amaccas) and muche apparell.Carpets and sheetes. They haue furthermore innumerable bookes,Innumerable bokes. of the whiche with many other thinges sent to owre newe Emperour, we wyll speake more largely hereafter. The souldiers wandered a­bout the Iland & viewe althynges diligently, kepyng them selues styll in battell raye least they myght be sodenly inua­ded. They founde but a fewe of thinhabitauntes and onely one woman in their coompanie. By thinterpretours of Cuba and other whiche the Spaniardes tooke fyrst from Iucatana, they perswaded the woman to caule the kynges that were absente. They came gladly & made a leage of frendshyp with owre men, wherby they were restored to their houses and a great parte of their stuffe. They are circumcised Idolatours,Circumcised Idolaters. and sacrifyce children of bothe kyndes to their Zemes, which are the Images of their familiar and domesticall spirites whiche they honour as goddes. When I enquired of Alaminus the pilote, also of Frances Montegius and Portucarerius, from whense they had the children they offered in sacrifyce,They Sacri­fice Chyldren they [Page 157] answered that they bowght them in the Ilandes theraboute by exchaunge for golde and other of their trafycke. For in al this so large a space of land, the deuelyshe anxietie for the de­syre of wicked money, hath not yet oppressed thinhabitantes. They saye the same also of the Ilandes lately founde, wher­of two are named Destam and Sestam, The Ilandes of Dis [...]am & Sestam. whose inhabitauntes go naked: and for scarenesse of children, sacrifice dogges whi­che they nourishe aswell for that purpose as also to eate as wee do connies. These dogges are dumme and can not barke,Sacrifice of dogges. hauynge snowtes lyke vnto foxes. Suche as they destinate to eate, they geld while they are whelpes, wherby they waxe very fat in the space of foure monethes. They reserue al the bytches for increase, and but fewe dogges. Owre men dis­swaded them from these superstitions, declarynge how they were abhominable and detested of god. They were soone per­swaded and desyred a law whiche they myght folowe.They are soone persuaded to owre religion. Owre men therfore declared vnto them that there was onely one god which made heauen & earth, the geuer of al good thyn­ges, beyng of one incomprehensyble substaunce vnder tripli­citie of person. As soone as they harde these woordes, they broke their Zemes, and pared, scraped, and washed the paue­mentes and waules of their temples. Owre men gaue them a painted picture of the blessed vyrgine whiche they placed reuerently in their temple,The picture of the bles­sed virgine and aboue it a crosse to be hono­red in the remembraunce of god and man and the saluation of mankynde. They erected also an other great crosse of wod in the toppe of the temple, why [...]her they oftentymes resorte togither to honour the Image of the vyrgine. Thinhabitan­tes signified by thinterpretours that in the Iland of Iucatana not far from them, there were seuē Christians captiues which in tyme past were dryuen thither by tempeste. The Ilande of Cozumella, is onely fyue miles distant from Iucatana. The go­uernour Cort [...]si [...]s being aduertised herof,An other vy­age furnyshed ii. Carauels with fyftie mē, wyllyng thē incontinent to direct their viage thither & to make serch for these mē. They toke with thē thre interpretours of Cozumella (whose lāguage agreeth with theirs with let [...]ers to the Christians if any myght be found. He fur­ther declared vnto theym howe goodly a matter they shoulde bringe to passe if they coulde bringe away any of them. For he no wayes doubted but that by their information, he shuld [Page] be fully certified of the commodities of all those tractes, and the maners of thinhabitauntes. Thus they departed with commaundement to retourne within the space of syxe dayes. But when they had remayned there now .viii. days, and hard no woorde of their Cozumellane interpretours whome they had sent alande with the message and letters, owre men re­turned to Cozumella without them, suspectyng that they were other slaine or deteyned. And where as the hole nauye was now determyned to depart from Cozumella but that they were hyndered by contrary wynde, they sodenly espied towarde the weste a Canoa coommynge from Iucatana, and in it, one of the Christian captiues (named Hieronimus Aquillaris) who had lyued seuen yeares in that Ilande.Aquillaris .vii. yeares captiue in the Iland of Iu­catana. With what ioye they em­brased the one the other, the chance may declare. They were no lesse desyrous to heare, then he to tell of the mysfortune wh [...]che befell to hym and his coompanions. And here it shal not bee greatly from my purpose breefely to rehearse how the thynge chaunced. In my Decades I haue made mention of a certayne noble man named Valdiuia, Valdiuia. whome the Spanyardes whiche inhabited Dariena in the supposed continente of the goulf of Vraba, sent to the Iland of Hispaniola to Colonus the Admiral and viceroy with the residue of the Senate and counsel there (to whom perteyneth the redresse and orderynge of all thinges in these newe landes) to sygnifye vnto them in what extreme necessitie and penurie they lyued. Unhappy Valdiuia therfore,The ship­wracke of Ualdiuis. takynge this matter in hand in an euell houre, was with a sudden and vyolent whirlewinde, dryuen vppon cer­tayne quickesandes in the prospecte of the Ilande of Iamaica, lyinge on the South syde of Hispaniola and Cuba. These blind and swalowyng sandes, the Spaniardes caule vypers:The quicke sandes cau­led vypers. And that by good reason, bycause in them many shyppes are en­tangled, as the lycertes are implycate in the tayles of the vi­pers. While the Carauell thus wresteled with the water, it was so bruste in sunder, that Valdiuia with thirtie of his fe­lowes, coulde scarsely with muche difficultie descende into the shyppe boate: where, without [...]ers, and without sayles, they were caried awaye by the vyolence of the water. For (as we haue said before in owre Decades) the seas do runne there continually with a vyolent course towarde the West.The course of the sea to­warde the west. They wandered thus .xiii. dayes not knowyng whyther they went [Page 158] nor yet fyndynge any thyng to eate. Famen consumed seuen of them whiche were caste in the sea to feede the fyshes. The resydue lykewise in maner consumed by famen and faulynge from one calamitie into an other, were driuen to Iucatana and fell into the handes of a cruell kynge who slewe Valdiuia the gouernour with certayne of his felowes.Ualdiuia is sacrificed to Idoles. And when hee had fyrst sacrifyced them to his Zemes, shortely after he eate them with his frindes of that conspiracie. For they eate onely their enemyes and straungiers: And doo otherwise absteyne from mannes fleshe. In this meane tyme, while Hieronimus Aqullraris with syxe of his felowes were reserued to be sacrifyced the thirde daye,howe Aquil­laris escaped they brooke their bandes, escaped the han­des of that cruell tyranne, and fledde to an other kynge be­ynge his enemye, who receaued them, yet onely as bonde­men. It is a straunge thinge to heare of the moother of this Aquillaris. For as soone as she harde that her soonne was fau­len into the handes of the nations that eate mannes fleshe, shee fell madde incontinent: So that when so euer after, shee sawe any meate rostyng at the fyer, or onely ready spytted to laye to the fyer, shee ceased not to crye out in this maner. O me moste wretched moother: Behold the members of my son. But to returne to owre purpose. When Aquillaris had now re­ceaued the gouernours letter sente by the Cozumellane mes­sengers, hee declared to the kynge his mayster (whose name was Taxmarus) what was their erraunt thither,kynge Taxmarus. and wherfore they were sent: vsyng in the meane tyme many large discour­ses in expressynge the great poure and magnifycence of their kynge who had of late arriued in those coastes. Also of their humanitie and gentilnesse toward their frindes and suche as submytted them selues to them, and againe their rygour and fiercenesse ageynst suche as stoobernly eyther contemned them or denyed their requestes. With these woordes he broughte Taxmarus into suche feare, that the maister was now fayne to desyre his seruaunt so to handell the matter that they myght quyetly enter into his dominion as his freendes and not as his enemies. Aquillaris promised in their behalfe that they shuld not onely coome in peace, but also to ayde hym ageynst his enemyes if neede shulde so require. Whervppon hee dismissed Aquillaris and with hym three of his fam [...]liers and coompani­ons. Thus they sayled together from Cozumella to Iueatana to [Page] the ryuer whiche they had founde before in the fyrst vyage thither by the gouernance of Alaminus the pilot. They found the mouthe of the ryuer stopped with sande,The mouth of a ryuer sto [...]ped with sande. as wee reade of the ryuer of Nilus in Egipte when the wyndes (cauled Etesū) blowe in summer and especially in the canicular dayes. Ther­fore where as they coulde not enter into thē ryuer with the biggeste vesselles (although it bee otherwise apte to receaue great shyppes) the gouernour caused two hundreth men to be sette alande with the brigantynes and shyppe boates: wyl­lynge Aquillaris to offer peace to thinhabitauntes. They de­maunded what owre men required. Aquillaris answered, vyt­tayles. There was a longe space of sande by the syde of the towne, whither they wylled them to resorte, promysynge to brynge them vyttayles thither the daye folowynge.Turky hens. Owre men wente and they came accordynge to their promisse and brought with them eyght of their hennes beynge as bygge as peacockes, of brownyshe coloure, and not inferiour to pea­cockes in pleasaunte tast. They brought also as muche bread made of Maizium (whiche is a graine not muche vnlyke vnto panyke) as wolde scarcely serue tenne hungry men: And here with desyred them to depart. But when they perceaued that owre men made no hast away, immediately there came a great coompanye of armed men towarde theym demaundyng what they had to do thus to wander in other mennes landes. Owr men made answere by Aquillaris, that they desyred peace, vyt­tayles, and golde for exchaunge of other thinges. They an­swered ageyne, that they wolde nother peace nor warre with them. But threatned them to auoyde the lande excepte they woolde bee distroyed euery manne. Owre men sayde that they woulde not departe withowte suffyciente vyttayles to mayntayne their souldyers.

They appoynted the day folowynge to brynge them more vy­tayles: but they brooke promesse. Yet perceauing the second day that owre men were encamped on the sande and had re­posed there that nyght, they brought them as much more vytayles, and commaunded them in the name of theyr kynge to departe. Owre men sayde that they were desyrous to see the towne, and to haue yet more store of vytayles. The Barba­rians denyed theyr request, and therewith departed whispe­rynge and mutterynge amonge them selues. In the meane [Page 159] tyme owre men were styll so oppressed with hunger that they were enforced to seeke for meate. The gouernoure therefore sent his vnder capitaynes to lande with a hundreth and fyf­tie men.A confl [...]cte. As they went dispersed in dyuers companyes about the vyllages of the country, the Barbarians met with one of theyr bandes, and put them to great distresse. But when theyr felowes beinge not farre from them, harde the noyse of theyr alarome, they came with all possible haste to theyr res­cue. The gouernour on the other syde, placinge his ordinance in the brygantines and shippe boates, approched to the shore with the residue of his souldiers. The Barbarians lykewise, beinge redy furnyshed to the battayle, came run­nynge to the sea syde to disturbe theym that they shulde not coome alande: And with theyr arrowes, wounded manye a farre of vnprepared. The gouernoure discharged aboute .xx. pieces of ordinaunce ageynste them:The Barba­rians are put to flyght. With the slaughter and terrible thunder wherof, & with the flame of fyer and smel of brimstone, they were so astonished and put to such feare, that they fled and disparcled lyke wylde beastes: whom owre men persuinge, entered into the towne which thinhabitantes for­fooke in maner for feare of theyr owne men whom they sawe so dismayde. On the banke of this ryuer there is a towne of such portentous byggenes as I dare not speake.The great towne of Postanchana or Uictoria. But Alami­nus the pylot, sayth that it conteyneth in circuite fyue hun­dreth myles, and that it consisteth of .xxv. thousande houses.A towne of xxv. thou [...]ād houses. Sume make it sumwhat lesse: But they all agree that it is exceadynge great and notable. The houses are diuided with gardens, and are buylded of lyme and stone verye artificially and of cunnynge woorkemanshippe. To theyr haules, cham­bers, parlers, or other places of habitation, they ascende by tenne or twelue steares: And haue certeyne spaces betwene euery house: so that it is not lawful for any to lade his neighbours waules with rafters or beames. Theyr houses are sep [...] rate one from an other by the space of three houses: And are for the more parte couered with reede and thetche: And ma­ny also with slate or other stone. The barbarians them selues confessed that they were that day fortie thousande men at the battayle, which were vanquished of a fewe by reason of the newe and vnknowen kynde of feyght with gunnes and hor­ses.Gunnes and horses. For the gouernour had vnbarked .xvi. horses which were [Page] also at the battayle, and so fiercely assayled the Barbarians on the backehalfe, that they brake theyr array and scattered them as it had byn flockes of sheepe, ouerthrowing, woun­dynge, and kyllynge them on euery syde. Whiche thynge th [...] seely wretches so imputed to a miracle, that they had not the poure to occupie theyr wepons. For wheras before they had neuer seene any horses, they thought that the man on horse­backe and the horse, had byn all one beaste,The man & the horse. thought to be one beast. as the antiqui­tie dyd fable of the monster Centaurus. Centaurus. Owr men possessed the towne .xxii. dayes where they made good chere vnder couert, whyle the owners of the houses lay vnder the firmament and durst not assayle owre men who had placed them selues in the strongest parte of the towne, where sume kepte continuall watche (least the Barbarians shulde soodenly inuade theim) whyle other gaue them selues to reste and sleepe. Thinhabi­tantes caule this towne Potanchana: But owre men for the victorie which they obteyned here, named it Victoria. It is a maruelous thynge to consider the greatenes, magnifi [...]ence and finenes of the buyldinge of certeyne palaices they haue in the countrey to the which they resorte sumtymes for theyr solace and pastyme. [...]alaices of maruelous bygnes and [...]el buylded. These are curiously buylded with many plea­saunt diuises, as galeries, solars, t [...]rrettes, portals, gutters with chambers boorded after the maner of owre waynscotte and well flowred. Foure of owr Spanyardes went into one of them of such greatnes, that they wandered in the same for the space of foure houres before they coulde fynde the waye owt. At the length by thinterpretours and certeyne captiues owre men sent for the kynge and suche rulers as were nexte vnder hym in autoritie, wyllyng them to submyt them selues and to coome into the towne vnarmed. Gyuinge the messen­gers further in commaundement to certifie them that in their so doinge, they wolde commen with them as concernynge conditions of peace, and restore them theyr towne. They came gladly, and entered euery man into his owne house vppon condition that they shulde euer thereafter absteyne from such cerimonies and horrible sacrifices of mans fleshe to deuils the mortal enemies to mankynd, whose Images they honoured. And to directe the eyes of theyr myndes to Christe owre god the maker of heauen and earth,They receue owre religiō. who was borne into this world of a virgin, and suffered death on the crosse for the re­demption [Page 160] of mankynde. And fynally to professe them selues subiectes to the great Christian kynge of Spayne. They pro­mysed both, and were instructed as farre as the shortenes of tyme wolde permitte. Beinge thus restored, they recompen­sed owre men with many rewardes: Supposynge suche men to be sent from heauen, which being so fewe in number, durst attempte battayle ageynst so great a multitude. They gaue owre men also certeyne golde and twentie slaues. Departing therefore from hense, and coastynge styll alonge by the same shore, they came ageyne to the goulfe whiche Alaminus the py­lot founde before vnder Grisalua. This they named Bian Sancti Iohannis, that is, Saynt Iohns goulfe: For Bian in the Spa­nyshe tonge signifieth a goulfe. Here thinhabitantes resor­ted to them peaceably. Aboute a myle frome the shore, was a towne of a thousande and fyue hundreth houses situate vp­pon a hyll.A towne of a thousand & fyue hundred houses, They profered owre men halfe the towne if they wolde dwel with them for euer. This perhaps they dyd the rather eyther fearynge thexemple of thinhabitantes of Potan­ [...]hana, the fame wherof myght haue coome to theyr eares, or els hopynge that vnder the shadowe of suche valiant menne, they myght obteyne ayde and succour ageynst theyr enemies and bortherers. For (as I haue sayde before) they dystroye one an other with continuall warre for the desyre to inlarge theyr dominions. Owre men refused perpetuall habitacion, and accepted theyr frendely profer for a tyme. As they came alande, the people folowed them on euery syde with bouwes in theyr handes which they helde ouer owre mens heades to defende them from the rayne as though they had walked in a continual arbour. Here they encamped. And least the residue lefte in the shippes, shulde in the meane tyme waxe slothefull with Idlenes, the gouernour gaue commaundement to Alaminus the pylot and Francis Montegius to search the west partes of that lande, whyle he relieued the weried souldiers and healed suche as were wounded. To them that went forward on this vyage, he assigned two brigantines with fiftie men.An other v [...] ­age of two brygantines & fiftie men. Unto this goulfe, the course of the water was gentyl enough and moderate.where the sea runneth swyftly from the East to the West. But when they had sayled a lyttle further towarde the Weste, they founde the sea runnynge with so swift a course as if it were a great ryuer faulynge from the tops of hygh mountaynes: In so much that in a shorte space of tyme [Page] it caried them fiftie myles from theyr felowes. When they were now entered into this violent streame of the water,A conflict be­twene the waters comming from the west and from the south. they sawe on their left hand a large playne sea which mette with the course of the other waters faulynge from the weste. And lyke as two great ryuers that runne contrary wayes, make a vehement conflycte where they meete, so seemed the waters commyng from the Southe to resyst these waters as enemyes that had entered into the ryght or possessyon of an other. On the contrary parte, they sawe the lande reachynge farre bothe on the lefte hande and on the ryght. In this strife be­twene the waters, they were so tossed on bothe sydes and entangled with whirlepooles,A dangerous and peinefull vyage. that they longe wrestled with owte hope of lyfe. At the length with muche difficultie, tur­nynge the stemmes or forpartes of their shyppes ageynst the streame from whense they came, and labourynge al that they myght with their oers and sayles, they coulde scarsely ouer­coome the rage of the water: In so much that where as they thought that they had in one nyght sayled twoo myles, they founde that they were dryuen backe foure myles. Yet at the length with goddes helpe, they ouercame this daungerours conflycte. They spente .xxii. daies in this lyttle space of sea: And when they were nowe returned to their felowes, decla­red vnto them that that ende was the land of Colluacana whi­che they adiudged to be parte of the supposed continent.The land of Colluacana. The lande whiche they sawe a farre of before their fase, they sup­pose eyther to be annexed to owre continent, or to bee ioyned to the large North regions cauled Baccalaos, The land of Baccaleos or Baccal [...]arum wherof we haue made mention in owr Decades in the vyage of Sebastian Ca­bote. This matter is yet doubtefull. But wee truste it shall once bee better knowen. While Alaminus and Montegius searched these secreates, the kynge of the prouince (whose name was Multoxumam) sent owre men by one of his chiefe of­fycers (beynge also his Lieuetenaunt of the sayde towne) ma­ny ryche and goodly presentes of golde, syluer, and precious stoones,Rych presen­ [...]es of golde and precious sle [...]es. sette and wroughte after a marueylous straunge de­uyse and with no lesse cunnynge woorkemanshyp. Here they determined to sende messengiers to owre newe Emperour to knowe his pleasure that they myght in this prouince plan [...] a newe colonie or habitation. And this dyd they withowte thaduise of Diegus Velasquen the gouernour of the Iland of Cuba or [Page 161] Fernandina, who fyrste sente them foorth with commaundement to returne ageyne after they had searched these regions and obteyned plentie of golde. While they consulted hereof, they were of dyuers opinions. But the moste part alleaged that in this case it was not requisyte to make the gouernour of their counsaile. Forasmuche as the matter shulde be referred to a higher Iudge, as to the kyng of Spaine him selfe. When they were thus agreed, they receaued vyttayles of the gentle kyng of the prouince, and assigned the place of their colonie twelue myles from the sayde towne, in a fruteful and holsome soile.A newe colo­nie. For their generall gouernour, they elected Cortesius the gouer­nour of the nauye, against his wyll as sum saye. For other magistrates to gouerne the citie which they intended to build he choose Portu [...]arerius and Montegius of whome we haue made mention before.This Cortesi­us hath writ­ten a booke of these thinges They chose also certeyne messengiers to sende to the kyng by the conduction of Alaminus the pylot. Furthermore, foure of the princes of this prouince offered thē selues wyllyngly to go with owre men into Spaine to thin­tent to see owre landes and that kynge whose poure is soo great and whose auctoritie reacheth so farre. They brought lykewise two women with them, which serued & obeied thē in all thinges after the maner of theyr countrey. The people of this nation is of broune or yelowyshe colour. Bothe the men and the women haue pendauntes of gold and precious stones hanginge at their eares. The men also, boore their nether lyppes full of holes from the vppermoste parte of the lyppe euen vnto the nethermoste parte of the gumme.They weare rynges and plates at ther lyppes. At these they hange certeyne rynges and plates of golde and syluer fastned to a smaule and thynne plate lyinge within betwene the lippe and the gumme. At the byggest hole in the myddest of the lip, there hangeth a rounde plate of syluer as brode as the coyne cauled a Corolyne, and as thicke as a mannes fynger. I do not remember that euer I sawe any thinge that seemed more fylthy in myne eye.The dyuers phantasies of men. Yet do they thynke that there is nothing more cumly vnder the circle of the moone. Wherby we may see howe vainely mankynde wandereth in his owne blynd­nesse. The Ethiopian thincketh the blacke colour to be fayrer then the white: And the white man thinketh otherwise. They that are pouled, thinke that more decent then to weare a bush and they that weare beardes, iudge it a deformitie to be sha­uen. [Page] As appetite therfore moueth, and not as reason perswadeth, men runne after vanities: And euery prouynce is rul [...]d by their ownesense, as writeth saint Ierome. From whense they haue their golde, we haue spoken sufficiently before. But as owre men marueyled where they had their syluer,Syluer. they shewed them certayne high mountaynes whiche are con­tinually couered with snowe sauynge that at certeyne [...]ymes of the yeare, the onely toppes are seene hate bicause the snow is there molten by reason of the thicke and warme [...]loudes. The playnes therfore, or mylde, softe, and pleasaunt moun­taynes seeme to brynge foorthe golde: And the rough crag­gye mountaynes with their coulde valleyes, are the places wh [...]re syluer is engendered.Note where go [...]d and syl­ue [...] are engē ­dered. They haue also laton, wherof they make such maces and hammers as are vsed in the war­res.I thinke this l [...]ton to [...]e sum ky [...]de of pure copper▪ or els copper that holde [...]h golde. Fo [...] la­ton is an arti­ficial me [...]a [...], & hath no natu­ [...]all myne Theyr bokes Dyggynge mattockes also, and spades: for they haue nother Iren nor steele. But lette vs nowe speake of the pre­sentes sent into Spayne to the kyng: and fyrste of the bokes. These procuratours therfore of the newe colonie of the pro­uynce of Colluacana, emong other their presentes, brought al­so a great number of bookes, the leaues wherof are made of the inner ryndes or barkes of trees, thinner then eyther that of the elme or of the salowe. These they smere or annoint with the pytche of molten Bitumen, and while they be softe, extend them to what forme them lysteth. When they be coulde and harde, they rubbe them ouer with a certeyne playster. It is to bee thoughte that they beate the playster into fine floure, and so temperynge it with sum byndynge moister, to make a cruste therwith vppon the leaues, wheron they wryte with any sharpe instrument, and blotte the same againe with a [...]punge or sum suche other thynge, as marchaunt men and noble mens stewardes are accustomed to do with their wry­tynge tables made of the woodde of fygge trees. The leaues of their bokes are not set in order after the maner of owres, but are extended many cubettes in length. The matters whi­che they write, are conteyned in square table: Not loose, but so bounde togither with the toughe and flexible cley cau­led Bitumen, that they seeme lyke woodden tables whiche had byn vnder the handes of cunnyng bokebynders. Which way so euer the booke lyeth open, there are two leaues seene and two sydes written, with as many lyinge hyd vnder them, ex­ [...]epte the booke be vnfoulded in length. For vnder one leafe [Page 162] there are many leaues ioyned togyther. The formes of their letters are nothynge lyke vnto owres.Theyr letters But are muche more crooked and entangeled, lyke vnto fyshehookes, knottes, snares, starres, dise, fyles, and suche other muche lyke vnto the Egiptian letters, and written in lynes lyke vnto owres. Here and there betwene the lynes, are pictured the shapes of men & dyuers beastes: And especially the Images of kynges and other noble men.what is conteyned in theyr bookes. Wherby it is to be thought tha [...] in suche bookes, the factes of their kynges are conceyued, as wee see the lyke emonge vs howe owre printers expresse the summe of histories in pictures, that men may therby be the more al­lured to bye suche bookes. The couerynges of their bookes are also artifycially wrought and paynted. When they are shutte, they seeme to differre nothynge from owres in forme. In these bookes are furthermore comprehended their lawes, rytes of ceremonies and sacrifyces, annotations of Astro­nomie, accomptes, computations of tymes, with the maner of graffynge, sowyng, and other thynges perteinyng to hus­bandry. They begynne the yeare from the goynge downe of the seuen starres cauled Vergiliae or Pleiades: And counte theyr monethes accordyng to the moones. They name a moneth, Tona, of the moone. For in theyr language, they caule the moone Tona, they reken the dayes by the soonnes. Therfore as many daies as they name, they saye, so many soonnes. The soonne in their tonge, is cauled Tonati [...]o. They destribute the yeare (without any reason why) into twentie monethes: And the moneth into as many dayes. The temples whiche they frequent,Temple [...] rychly adour­ned. they adourne with golden hangynges and o­ther ornamentes of golde and syluer with precious stones in­termixte. At the springe of the daye,Prayer. they perfume their tem­ples with frankensence and make their praiers before they take in hande any other busynesse. But oh horrible crueltie. For thinhabitauntes of all these tractes also, doo sacrifyce children to their Idoles in lyke maner as wee haue sayde be­fore.They sacry­fice chyldren & captyues. At suche tyme as the seedes lye in the ground, and when the corne begynneth to shewe foorth the eare, they destinate to their Zemes suche bondmen as they haue bought, or suche captiues as they haue taken in the warres, which they sacri­fyce after that they haue made them great chiere and decked them in precious apparell. Also before they sacrifyce these [Page] poore wretches,A wronge way to heauē they lead them about the towne whyle al the people salute them humbly and reuerently, affyrmyng that in shorte space, they shalbe receaued into the coompanye of the goddes. They honour their Zemes with an other sharp kind of deuotion: For they lette them selues bludde, eyther in the tonge,Bluddy gods lyps, eares legges, thyghes, or brest, which they take in their handes and hurle it vppe towarde heauen, soo that with the faule therof the pauement of the temple is all s [...]ar­cled with bludde, wherby they thincke that their goddes are well pleased. From the newe colonie (cauled Villa Ricca) nyne myles distante,Villa Ricca. there is a towne of .xv. thousande houses, whiche thinhabitauntes caule Cemobal, but owre men named it Sybilla. Siuilla Noua. The kynge of this towne had fyue men whiche he reserued to be sacrifyced. Whom when owre men wold haue delyuered, the kynge made humble request to them, sayinge that if they tooke awaye suche men as he had consecrated to be offered to the goddes, they shulde brynge vtter destruction to hym and all his kyngdome.The force of an owlde er­rour. For if owre sacrifyces (sayd he) do cease, owre Zemes wyll take suche displeasure with vs that they wyll suffer owre corne, graffes, and frutes, to bee consumed of woormes, scortched with drowth, destroyed with fluddes, or blasted with lyghtnynge. Owre men per­ceauynge his ernestnesse herein, thought it beste to chose the least euel, perceauynge that it was yet no tyme to disquyes their myndes, and therfore suffered them to exercise their ac­customed ceremonies. And althoughe their priestes promysse theym immortall glorie, eternall felicytie, and perpetuall conuersation with the goddes after the stormye dayes of this lyfe,Theyr priests lyue chast. yet do they with heauy countenaunces giue eare to their promisses, and had rather be sette at lybertie. Their priestes are named Quines in the plurell number, and Quin in the syn­gular. They leade a pure and chaste lyfe: And are honoured of the people with feare and reuerence. They make fagots of the bones of their enemyes which they haue taken in the warres,Faggots of bones. and hange vppe the same at the feete of their Zemes, as tokens of the victories obteyned by their fauour. To these they adde certayne titles and superscriptions as testimonies of the same. This is straunge and woorthy to be noted, that when their children are a yeare oulde, the priestes in their temples with deuoute ceremonies and murmurynge woordes, [Page 163] poure water in forme of a crosse vpon their heades with a cruet, wherby they seeme to baptise them.A fygure of baptisme. Neyther do they as the Iewes and Turkes, thinke their temples polluted if any of a straunge relygion bee present at their sacrifyces and other solemnities. Wee haue nowe spoken suffycientely of their bookes, temples, and superstitions. Lette vs nowe therfore coome to the other presentes which were brought to the kynge.The presen­tes sent into Spayne to the kynge. Emonge these, there were twoo broode and rounde plates (whiche summe haue named the Images of the soonne and moone) the one of siluer and the other of gold in largenesse and roundnesse muche lyke to the stones of hand mylles:Two Images of gold and syluer. yet but thynne, and in maner bothe of one circumfe­rence, that is xxviii. spannes in circuite.