CHAP. VIII.
Of the Countries situate Weslward from Florida and Virginia towards the South Sea.
HItherto we haue discouered those parts of this Northern America, which trend along the North sea, which the English & French Nations haue most made knowne vnto vs: further westward the midland Countries are not so well known; yet following our Spanish guides we here pre∣sent them from their relations to your view. When as Cortez had con∣quered Mexico, as after followeth to be related, he was made Admi∣rall of the South seas, but the gouernement of Mexico and new Spaine was, with the ti∣tle of Viceroy, giuen to Don Antonio de Mendoza. These two, partly in emulation of each others glorie, partly in hope of enriching themselues, sought to discouer vnknown lands; the one by Sea; the later, both by sea and land.
The Viceroy sent a 1.1 as he himselfe testifieth, Francis Vasquez de Coronado, and Frier Marco de Nisae, with Stephen a Negro by land: out of whole relations we haue inserted that which concerneth our purpose. Marke b 1.2 the Frier, and Stephen set forth with cer∣taine Indians in this Discouerie: and Stephen going before, came to Ceuola, as Marke related, where hee was slaine: the Frier followed with his Indian guides, and passed thorough one place where was small store of victuall, because it had not there rained, as the Inhabitants affirmed, in three yeares space. The Indians called him Hayota, that is, a man come from heauen. He passed on further, led by the fame of Cevola, which with o∣ther six cities were reported to be vnder the gouernment of one Lord, & to haue houses of stone, cōsisting of diuers stories, where were many Turqueses, with many other strāge reports of their markets, multitudes, and wealth. But because the Frier came not there for feare of the Negroes entertainment, let vs listen to c 1.3 Francis Vasques, who came, saw, and ouercame. An.1540. he went with his army from Culiacan which is 200. leagues from Mexico, & after a long and tedious iourney, he at last arriued in this prouince, and conquered (almost with the losse of himselfe) the first Citie of the seuen, which he called Cranado. Twice he was stricken down with stones from the wall, as he offered to scale the fame. He saith that their houses were of foure or fiue stories or lofts, to which they ascended on ladders: and that they had sellers vnder the ground, good, and paued. But those seuen cities were small townes, all standing in the compasse of foure leagues, all called by that generall name of Cevol•• or Cibola, and none of them particularly so cal∣led, but hauing other peculiar names, they were of like building. In this towne which he conquered stood 200 houses, walled about, and 300. others not walled. The Inhabi∣tants had before remoued their wiues & wealth to the hill. He reporteth of beasts there, beares, tigres, lions, and sheep, as big as horses, with great hornes, & little tailes, Ounces also & stags. That which the Indians worshipped (as far as they could learne) was the water, which, said they, caused the corne to grow, and maintained their life. Hee found there a garment excellently embroidered with needle-worke. Vasques went hence to Tiguez, to Cicuic, and to Quivira, as d 1.4 Lopes de Gomar a reporteth. This way is full of