A true reporte, of the late discoueries, and possession, taken in the right of the Crowne of Englande, of the new-found landes: by that valiaunt and worthye gentleman, Sir Humfrey Gilbert Knight Wherein is also breefely sette downe, her highnesse lawfull tytle therevnto, and the great and manifolde commodities, that is likely to grow thereby, to the whole realme in generall, and to the aduenturers in particular. Together with the easines and shortnes of the voyage. Seene and allowed.

The seauenth Chapter sheweth that the Planting there, is not a matter of such charge or diffycultie, as many would make it seeme to be. (Book 7)

NOw therefore for proofe, that the Planting in these parts is a thing that may be doone without the aide of the Princes power and purse, contrarye to the allega∣tion of many malicious persons, who will neither be actors in any good action themselues, nor so much as afoord a good word to the setting forward therof: and that wurse, is they wyl take vpō them to make Mole∣hylles seeme Mountaines, and flies Elephants, to the end they may discourage others, that be verye well or indiffe∣rently affected to the matter, being like vnto Esoppes Dogge which neither would eate haie himself, nor suffer the poore hungry asse to feede thereon.

I say & affirme that God hath prouided such meanes for the furtheraunce of this enterprise, as doth stande vs in steede of great treasure: for first by reason that it hath plea∣sed

God of his great goodnesse, of long time to holde his merciful hād ouer this Realme, in preseruing the people of the same, both frō flaughter by the sword, & great deathby plague, pestilēce, or otherwise, there is at this day great nū∣bers (God he knoweth) which liue in such penurie & wāt, as they could be contented to hazarde their liues, and to serue one yeere for meate, drinke, and apparel, onely with∣out wages, in hope thereby to amend theyr estates: which is a matter in such lyke iourneis, of no small charge to the Prince. Moreouer, thinges in the lyke iourneis of grea∣test price and cost, as victual (whereof there is great plenty to bee had in that countrye without money) and pow∣der, great artillery, or Corselets, are not needful, in so plen∣tiful and chargeable manner, as the shew of such a iourney, may present, for a smal quantity of all these to furnish the Forte onely wyl suffice, vntyl such time as diuers cōmodi∣ties may be found out in those parts, which may be thought wel woorthy a greater charge. Also the peculiar benefite of Archers which God hath blessed this land withal, before al other nations, will stand vs in great stede amongst those naked people.

Another helpe we haue also, which in such lyke cases is a matter of meruailous cost, and wil be in this iourney pro∣cured very easily (that is to say) To transport yeerely as wel our people, as al other necessaries, needful for thē into those parts by the Fleete of Merchaunts, that yeerely venture for Fish in Newfound Land, being not farre distaunt from the countrey, meant to be inhabited, who commonly go with empty Vesselles in effect, sauing some lyttle fraught with Salt. And thus it appeareth that the Souldiers wages, and the transportation may be defrayed for farre lesse summes of money, then the detractors of this enterprise haue giuen

out. Againe, this intended voiage for conquest, hath in lyke manner many other singular priuiledges, wherewith God hath as it were, with his holy hand blessed the same before all others. For after once we are departed the coast of Eng∣land, we may passe straight way thether, without daunger of being driuen into any the countries of our enimies, or doubtfull freends, for commonly one winde serueth to bring vs thether, which sildome faileth from the middle of Ianuarie, to the middle of Maie, a benefite which the Mariners make great account off, for it is a pleasure that they haue in few or none of the other iournies. Also, the passadge is short, for we may go thither in thirty or forty daies at the most, hauing but an indifferent winde, and re∣turne continually in sixteene or twenty dayes at the most. And in the same our iourney, by reason it is in the Occean, and quite out of the way frō the intercourse of other coun∣tries: we may safely trade and traffique, without perill of pyracie, neither shal our Ships, people, or goods, ther be sub¦iecte to the arrest or molestation of any Pagan Potentate, Turkishe Tyrant, yea, or christiā Prince, which heertofore, sometimes vpon slender occasion in other parts, haue stai∣ed our Shippes and marchaundizes, whereby great num∣bers of our Countrimen haue beene vtterly vndoone, dy∣uers put to raunsome, yea and some lost their liues: a thing so fresh in memory as it needeth no proofe, and well wor∣thy of consideration.

Besides, in this voyage, we doo not crosse the burnt line, whereby commonly both beuerage and victuall are cor∣rupted, and mens health very much impaired, neither doo we passe the frozen Seas, which yeelde sundrye extreme daungers: but haue a temperate Climate at all times of the yeere, to serue our turnes. And lastly, there neede no de∣laies

by the way, for taking in of freshwater and Fewell, (a thing vsually doone in long iourneys) because as I said aboue, the voyage is not long, and the fresh waters ta∣ken in there, our men heere in England, at theyr returne home, haue found so holesome and sweete, that they haue made choise to drinke it before our▪ Beere or Ale.

Beholde heere good Countreimen, the manifolde bene∣fites, commodities and pleasures heeretofore vnknowne, by Gods especiall blessing not onelie reuealed vnto vs, but also as it were infused into our bosomes, who though he∣therto like Dormise haue slumbered in ignoraunce there∣of, beeing like the Cattes that are lothe for theyr praye to wette their feete, yet if now therefore, at the last we would awake, and with willing mindes (setting friuolous imagi∣nations aside) become industrious instruments to our sel∣ues, Questionles we shoulde not onely heereby setfoorth the glorie of our heauenlie Father, but also easily attaine to the ende of all good purposes, that may be wished or desired.

And may it not much encourage vs to hope for good successe in the countrey of these Sauages, beeing a naked kinde of people, voyde of the knowledge of the discipline of warre, seeing that a Noble man, beeing but a subiecte in this Realme, (in the time of our King Henrie the second) by name Strangbowe, thē Earle of Chepstowe in South VVales, by himselfe and his Alleis and assistaunts, at their owne proper charges, passed ouer into Ireland, and there made conquest of the nowe Countrey, and then kingdom of Ly••••ster, at which time it was verie populous & strong; which historie, our owne Chronicles doo witnes. And why should we be dismaide, more then were the Spani∣ardes, who haue beene able within these fewe yeeres, to

conquer, possesse and enioy; so large a tracte at the earth, in the west-Indies, as is betweene the two Tropicks of Cā∣cer and Capricorne, not onely in the maine firme lande of America▪ which is 47. degrees in latitude frō South to North, & doth cōtain 2820. English miles at the least, that the King of Spayne hath there, in actual possession besides many goodly & rich Islands, as Hispaniola, now called Sa▪ Domingo, Cuba, Iamica, and diuers other, which are bothe beautifull and full of treasure, not speaking anie whitt at all, how large the saide Lande is from East to VVest, which in some places is accounted to be 1500. English miles at the least, from East to VVest, betweene the one Sea and the other.

Or why should our Noble nation be dismaide, more then was Vasques Numes de Balboa,* 1.1 a priuate Gentleman of Spayne, who with the number of 70. Spaniardes at Tich••ri, gaue an ouerthrow vnto that mightie King Che∣macchus, hauing an Armie of an hundred Canoas & 5000. men, and the say de Vasques Numes not long after, with his small number, did put to flight King Chiapes his whole Armie.

Likewise Hernando Cortese, beeing also but a priuate Gentleman of Spayne,* 1.2 after his departure from the Islands of Cuba and Acusamill, and entring into the firme of Ame∣rica, had many most victorious & triumphant conquests, as that at Cyntla, where beeing accompanied with lesse thē 500. Spanish footemen,* 1.3 thirteene Horsemen, and sixe pee∣ces of Ordenaunce onely he ouerthrewe 40000 Indians The same Cortese with his sayde number of Spaniardes, tooke prisoner that mightie Emperour Meter••ma in his most cheefe and famous Cittie of Mexico, which at that instant had in it aboue the number of 500000▪ Indians at

the least, and in short time after, obteyned not onelie the quiet possession of the saide Cittie, But also of his whole Empire.

And in like manner in the Country of Peru, which the King of Spayne hath nowe in actual possession, Fran∣cisco Pysare, with the onelie ayde of Diego de Almagro, and Hernando Luche, beeing all three but priuate Gentlemen was the principall person that first attempted the discoue∣rie and conquest of the large and rich Countrye of Peru, which through the ayde of the almighty, he brought to passe and atchiued, in the Tambo of Cassiamalcha, (which is a large place of ground, enclosed with walles) in which place he tooke the great and mightye Prince Attabalipa prisoner,* 1.4 amidest the number of 60000 Indians his sub∣iectes, which were euer before that day accounted to bee a warlike kinde of people, which his great victory it pleased God to graunt vnto him in the yeere of our Lorde 1533. he not hauing in his company aboue the number of 210. Spaniardes, whereof there was not past 60, horsemen in all: After the taking of which Prince, Attabalipa, he offe∣red vnto Pyzare for his raunsome, to fill a great large Hall ful of Golde and Siluer, and such Gold and Siluer vessels as they then vsed, euen as hie as a man might reache with his arme. And the sayd Prince caused the same Hall to bee marked rounde about at the sayde height, which raun∣some Pyzara graunted to accept. And after when as thys mightie Prince had sent to his vassals & subiects to bring in Golde and Siluer for the filling of the Hal, as aforesaid, as namelie to the Citties or Townes of Quito, Pacyacama and Cusco, as also to the Caloa of Lyma, in which Towne, as their owne writers doo affyrme, they founde a large and fayre house, all s••ated and couered with ••olde: and

when as the said Hal was not yet a quarter full, a mutenye arose amongst the Spaniardes, in which it was commonly giuen out, that the said Prince had politiquely offered this great raunsome vnder pretence to rayse a much more mightie power, whereby the Spaniardes should bee taken slayne, and ouerthrowne: wherevppon they grewe to this resolution, to put the sayd Prince to death, and to make particion of the gold and siluer already brought in, which they presently put in execution. And comming to make perfect Inuentory of the same, as well for the Em∣peror then King of Spayne, his fift parte as otherwise there was founde to be already brought in into the sayde Hall, the number of 132425. pounde weight of siluer, and in golde the number of 1828125. pezos,* 1.5 which was a ritches neuer before that nor since seene of any man together, of which there did appertaine to the Emperor for his fyft parte of Golde 365625. pezos, & for his fift parte of siluer 26485. pound weight, & to euery Horseman 8000. pezos of gold, and 67, pounde weight of siluer. Euery Soldi∣er had 4550. pezos of golde, and 280. pounde weight of siluer. Enety Captain had, some 30000. some, 20000. pe∣zos of golde and of siluer, propottionally aunswerable to theyr degrees and calling, according to the rate agreed vp∣on amongst them.* 1.6 Fraunces Pizare as their General, accor∣ding to his degree and calling proportionally, had more then any of the rest, ouer and besides the Massie table of gold, which Attahalipa had in his Lyttier, which wayed, 25000. pezos of Golde: neuer was there before that day, Soldiers so riche in so small a time, and with so little dan∣ger. And in this iourney for want of Iron, they did shoe theyr Horsses some with Gold, and some with siluer. This is to be seene in the generall. Historye of the west Indies, whereas the dooings of Pizare, and the conquest of the

Peru is more at large set foorth.

To this may I adde the great discoueries & conquestes, which the Princes of Portingall haue made rounde about the West, the South, and the East partes of Africa, and al∣so at Calicute and in the East Indies, and in America, at Bra¦silia and elswhere, in sundry Islandes in fortefying, peo∣pling, and planting all along the sayd Coastes, & Islandes, euer as they discouered, which beeing rightly wayed and considered, dooth minister iust cause of incouragement to our country men, not to account it so harde and difficult a∣thing for the subiectes of this noble Realme of Englande, to discouer people plant and possesse the like goodly lands and rich Countries not farre from vs, but neere adioyning and offering it selfe vnto vs (as is aforesayde) which haue neuer yet heeretofore, beene in the actuall possession of any other Christian Prince, then the Princes of this realm All which, (as I thinke) shoulde not a little animate and encourage vs, to looke out and to aduenture abroade, vn∣derstanding what large Countries and Islandes the Por∣tingals with theyr small number haue within these fewe yeeres discouered, peopled, and planted, some part wherof I haue thought it not amisse, breefely in perticuler to name, bothe the Townes, Countries, and Islandes, so neere as I coulde vppon the suddaine call them to remem∣braunce, for the rest I doo referre this Reader to the Histo∣ries, where more at large the same is to be seene. Fyrste they did winne and conquere from the Princes of Barba∣ry the Island of Geysera & towne of Arzilla, not past 140 myle distaunt from their Metrapolitane and cheefe Cittie of Fesse: and after that they wunne also from the sayde Princes the Townes of Tangier, Seuta, Mazigam Azamore and Azaffie, all alongst the Sea Coastes. And in the

yeere of our Lorde 1455. Alouis de Cademost•• a gentle∣man Venetian, was he that first discouered for theyr vse Cape Verd, with the Islandes adioyning, of which hee then peopled and planted those of Bonanista and Santiago discouering also the Riuer Senega, otherwise called Niger and Cape Rouge and Sere Leone, and in a fewe yeeres after they did discouer the Coast of Ginea, and there peopled & built the Castell of Myne: then discouered they further, to the countreys of Melegettes, Benyn, and Manicongo, with the Islandes of Principe, Anobon, Saint Mathew, and S. Thomas, vnder the Equynoctial lyne, which they peo∣pled and built in the sayd Island of S. Thomas, the Hauen Towne or Port of Pauosan. After that, about the yeere of our Lorde 1494. one Bartholomew Dias was sent foorth, who was the first man that discouered and dobled that great and large Cape called Bon, Esperance, and passing the Curraunts that runne vppon the sayd coast, on the South∣est parte of Affrica, betweene the sayde maine Land and the Island of S. Lawrence, otherwise called of the aunci∣ents, Madagascar, he discouered to the harbor named the Riuer of Infants. After that since the yeere of our Lorde God 1497. and before the full accomplishment of the yeere of Christ 1510 through the trauails and discoue∣ries of Vasques de Game, Peeter Aluares, Thomas Lopes, An∣drew Corsale, Iohn de Empolie, Peeter Sinter, Sancho De∣toar,* 1.7 and that noble and woorthy Gentleman Alonso de Alburqueque, they did discouer people, and plant at Ceffala, beeing vpon the East side of Affrica, in 20. degrees of lati∣tude of the South pole, and direct West from the Islande of S. Lawrence, (at which Port of Ceffala, diuers doo a∣firme that King Salomon did fetch his golde) As also vpon the sayd East side of Affrica, they did afterwarde discouer

people, and plant at M••nzanbique, Quil•••• Monbaz•• and Melinde 2. degrees of sotherly latitude, and so vppe to the streight of Bubell, Mandell at the entring of the Redde sea, all vppon the East coast, of Affrica, from whence they put off at the Cape of Garda Funi, and past the great gulfe of Arabia, or Indian Sea East to Sinus Persicus, and the Island of Ormus, and so passing the large and great Riuet Indus, where he hath his fall into the mayne Occean, in 23. de∣grees & di. vnder the tropick of Cancer, of Septentrionall latitude, they made theyr course againe directly towards the South, and began to discouer people and plant vpon the west side of the hether India at Goa, Mangallor, Cana∣n••r, Calecute, and Chochyn, and the Island of Zeylam.

And heere I thinke good to remember to you, that af∣ter theyr planting vpon this coaste, their forces grewe so great, that they were able to compell all the Mores, the subiectes of the mighty Emperor of the Turks to pay tri∣bute vnto them, euer as they passed the Gulfe of Arabia, from the porte of Mecca in Arabia filice, where Mahomet lyeth buried, or any of the other portes of the sayd Land, euer as they passed to and from the Hauens of Cochyn, Calecute, and Cananor, and by theyr martiall manner of discipline, practised in those partes, the great and mightye Prince the Sophie Emperor of the Persians, & professed ene∣mie to the Turck, came to the knowledge and vse of the Caliuer shotte, and to enterlace and ioine footemen with his Horsemen, sithence which time the Persians, haue growen to that strength and force, that they haue giuen many mighty and great ouerthrowes to the Turke, to the great quiet of all Christendome.

And from the Island of Zeylam aforesayde, they also discouered more East, in passing the Gulfe of Bengala, and

so passed the notable and famous Riuer of Ganges, where he hath his fall into the maine Occean, vnder the tropicke of Cancer, and to the Cape of Malaca, and vnto the great & large Islands of Sumatro,* 1.8 Iaua maior, Iaua minor, Mindano, Palobane, Celebes, Gilolo, Tydore, Mathin, Bor∣neio, Machian, Terranette, and all other the Islandes of Molucques and Spiceries, and so East, alongst the coasts of Cataia, to the Ports of China, Zayton, and Quinsay, and to the Islandes of Zipango, and Iapan, situate in the East, in 37. degrees of septentrionall latitude and in 195. of longitude. Their noble and woorthy dis∣coueries heere also is not to be forgotten, that in the yeere of our Lorde 1501. that famous and woorthy gentleman Americus Vespusue, did discouer people and plant to theyr vse the Holdes and fortes which they haue in Brasillia▪ of whom (hee beeing but a priuate Gentleman, the whole Country or firme Land of the VVest Indies, is common∣ly called and knowne by the name of America.

I do greatlie doubt least I seeme ouertedious in the reci¦tall of the perticuler discoueries and conquestes of the East and west Indies, wherein I was the more bolde to vrge the patience of the Reader, to the ende it might most mani∣festly and at large appeare, to all such as are not acquainted with the Histories, howe the King of Portingall, whose Country for popularity and number of people, is scarce comparable to some three shires of Englande. And the King of Spayne likewise, whose naturall Countrey dooth not greatly abounde with people Both which Princes by meanes of theyr discoueries, within lesse then 90. yeeres past, haue as it appeareth, both mightely and meruailous∣lie enlarged theyr territories & dominions through theyr owne industrie, by the assistance of the omnipotēt, whose

ayde we shall not neede to doubt, seeing the cause & quar∣rell which we take in hand tendeth to his honour and glo∣ry, by the enlargement of the Christian fayth.

To conclude, since by christian duety we stand bounde cheefely to further all such acts as doo tende to the encrea∣sing the true flocke of Christ, by reducing into the right way those loste sheepe which are yet astray. And that wee shall therein followe the example of our right vertuous predicessors of renowmed memory, and leaue vnto our posteritie, a deuice memoriall of so godly an enterprise. Let vs I say for the considerations alledged, enter into iudgement with our selues, whether this action may be∣long to vs or no. The rather for that this voyage through the mighty assistaunce of the omnipotent God, shal take our desired effect (whereof there is no iust cause of doubt) Then shall her Maiesties dominions be enlarged, her high∣nes auncient titles iustly confyrmed, all odious ydlenes from this our Realme vtterly banished. Diuers decayed Townes repay red, and many poore and needy persons relieued, and estates of such as nowe liue in want shalbe embettered. The ignorant & barbarous Idolaters taught to knowe Christ. The innocent defended from their bloo∣die tyrannicall neighbours. The diabolicall custome of sacrifycing humaine Creatures abolished.

All which (no man doubteth) are thinges gratefull in the sight of our Sauiour, and tending to the honour and glory of the Trinitie: Be of good cheere therefore, for he that can not erre hath sayd: That before the ende of the world, his word shall bee preached to all nations. Which good worke, I trust is reserued for our Nation to accom∣plish in these partes: Wherefore my deere Countrimen, be not dismayed, for the power of God is nothing dimi∣nished,

nor the loue that he hath to the preaching and planting of the Gospell any whirt abated. Shall we then doubt he will be lesse ready, most mightily and miracu∣lously to assist our Nation in this quarrel, which is cheefe∣ly and principally vndertaken for the enlargement of the christian fayth abroade, and the banishment of ydlenes at home, then he was to Columnus, Vasques Numes, Hernand•• Cortese, and Fraunces Pyzare in the west: and Vasques de Game, Peter Aluares, & Alonso de Alburqueque in the East.

Let vs therefore with cheerefull mindes and couragious hearts, giue the attempt, and leaue the sequell to almightye God, for if he be on our part, what forceth it who be against vs. Thus leauing the correction & refor∣mation vnto the gentle Reader, whatsoe∣uer is in this Treatise too much or too little, or otherwise vnper∣fect, I take leaue and so ende.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2. D••cad. lib. 5. fo. 77. of the West Indes, in English Cano••s is a kinde of boate. 3. Decad. lib. 1. fol. ••7▪
• * 1.2

  About the yeere of our Lord 1511.
• * 1.3

  Conquest of the West Indes fol. 43 and 45. in English.
• * 1.4

  A merue∣lous victorie.
• * 1.5

  A pezo is worth vii. s. vi. d. Eng∣lish.
• * 1.6

  Se the Hi∣story of the West Indies in French; the xiii. booke. fol. 138. some part where∣of is trans∣lated into English.
• * 1.7

  Ceffala is accounted to be the place where the Noble and wise King Salo∣mon did fetch his golde.
• * 1.8

  These are the furthest parts of the world from Englande. At these Islands hath Sir Fraun∣ces Drake beene, wher the fame of the Qu. most excel∣lent Maie∣stie was re∣nowmed.