The decades of the newe worlde or west India conteynyng the nauigations and conquestes of the Spanyardes, with the particular description of the moste ryche and large landes and ilandes lately founde in the west ocean perteynyng to the inheritaunce of the kinges of Spayne. ... Wrytten in the Latine tounge by Peter Martyr of Angleria, and translated into Englysshe by Rycharde Eden.

¶ The fyrst vyage of Guinea.

IN the yeare of owre Lorde .M.D.LIII. the xii. day of August, sayled from Porchemouth two goodly shyppes, the Primrose and the Li∣on,* 1.1* 1.2 with a pynnesse cauled the moone:* 1.3 beinge all well furnysshed aswell with men of the lu∣stiest sorte to the number of seuen score, as al∣so with ordinaunce and vyttayles requisite to such a vyage: Hauynge also two capitaynes, the one a straunger cauled An¦toniades Pinteado a Portugale,* 1.4 borne in a towne named the porte of Portugale, a wyse, discrete, and sober man, who for his cunnynge in saylynge beinge aswell an expert pylot as polytyke capitayne, was sumtyme in great fauoure with the kynge of Portugale, and to whom the coastes of Brasile and Guinea were commytted to bee kepte from the Frenchemen to whom he was a terroure on the sea in those partes:* 1.5* 1.6 and was furthermore a gentleman of the kinge his masters house. But as fortune in maner neuer fauoureth but flattereth,* 1.7 neuer

promyseth but deceaueth, neuer rayseth but casteth downe a∣geyne, and as great wealth and fauour hath alwayes compa∣nions emulation and enuie, he was after many aduersites and quarels made ageynst hym, inforced to come into Englande: where in this golden vyage he was euyll matched with an vn¦equall coompanion and vnlyke matche of most sundry quali∣ties and conditions with vertues few or none adourned, with vices dyuers and many fowly spotted,* 1.8 knowen of many with out profyte, and desyred of fewe or none for his wyckednes: whose smaule acquayntaunce was profitable to all men, and his familiar conuersation an vndoinge, that happye was the man or woman that knewe hym not, he for his gooddes and shee for her name. In fine, vnfortunate was the coompany that had owght to doo with hym: in so much that it was no maruayle that so goodly an enterpryse with so noble a furni∣ture of men, shyppes, and ordina••••ce of all sortes, with all kynde of vyttayles and that of so ••reat abundaunce, had so smaul successe: which could be none otherwyse wher so foule a spotte dyd blemysshe, ye rather deface the rest. Thus depar¦ted these noble shyppes vnder sayle on theyr vyage. But first this capitayne Wyndam, puttyng furth of his shyp at Porch∣mouth, a kynseman of one of the headde marchauntes, and shewynge herein a muster of the tragical partes he had concea¦ued in his brayne, and with such smaule begynninges nurys∣shed so monstrous a byrth, that more happy, yea and blessed was that younge man beinge lefte behynde then if he had byn taken with them, as sum doo wysshe he had doonne the lyke by theyrs. Thus sayled they on theyr vyage vntyl they came to the Ilandes of Madera where they toke in certeyne wynes for the store of theyr shyppes,* 1.9 and payde for them as they agre¦ed of the price. At these Ilandes they met with a great ga∣lion of the kynge of Portugale full of men and ordinaunce:* 1.10 yet suche as coulde not haue preuayled if it had attempted to withstande or resyst owre shyppes, for the which cause it was set furth, not only to lette and interrupte these owre shyppes of theyr purposed vyage, but all other that shulde attempte the lyke. Yet chiefely to frustrate owre vyage. For the kyng of Portugale was sinisterly informed that owre shyppes were armed to his castel of Mina in these parties,* 1.11 wheras nothing lesse was ment.

After that owr shyppes departed from the Ilandes of Ma¦dera forwarde on theyr vyage, began this woorthy capitaine Pinteados sorowe as a man tormented with the company of a terrible hydra who hytherto flattered with hym and made hym a fayre countenance and shewe of loue.* 1.12 Then dyd he take vppon hym to commaunde all alone, settynge nowght bothe by capitayne Pinteado with the reste of the marchaunte fac∣tours: sumtymes with opprobrious woordes and sumtymes with threatenynges most shamefully abusynge them, takinge from Pinteado the seruice of the boys and certeyne mariners that were assigned hym by thorder and direction of the woor¦shypfull marchauntes, and leauynge hym as a common mary∣ner, which is the greatest despite and greefe that can be to a Portugale or Spanyarde to be diminysshte theyr honoure which they esteeme aboue all rychesse. Thus saylyng forward on theyr vyage, they came to the Ilandes of Canarie,* 1.13 conti∣nuynge theyr course from thense vntyll they arryued at the Ilande of saynt Nicolas where they vyttayled them selues with fresshe meate of the flesshe of wylde goates whereof is great plentie in that Ilande and in maner of nothynge else.* 1.14 From hense folowynge on theyr course, and taryinge here and there at the deserte Ilandes in the waye, bycause they wolde not coome to tymely to the countrey of Guinea for the heate,* 1.15 and taryinge sumwhat to longe (for what can bee wel mynystred in a common wealth where inequalitie with tyran∣nie wyll rule alone) they came at the length to the fyrst lande of the countrey of Guinea where they fell with the great ry∣uer of Sesto where they myght for theyr marchaundies haue laden theyr shyppes with the graynes of that countrey,* 1.16* 1.17 which is a very hotte frute, and much lyke vnto a fygge as it grow∣eth on the tree. For as the fygges are full of smaule seedes, so is the sayde frute ful of graynes which are lose within the codde, hauynge in the myddest thereof a hole on euery syde. This kynde of spice is much vsed in coulde countreys, and may there be solde for great aduantage for thexchaunge of o∣ther wares.* 1.18 But owr men by the persuasion or rather inforce¦ment of this tragicall capitayne, not regardynge and settyng lyght by that commoditie in comparason to the fine gold they thristed,* 1.19 sayled an hundreth leaques further vntyl they came to the golden lande: where not attemptinge to come nere the

castell perteynynge to the kynge of Portugale, whiche was within the ryuer of Mina,* 1.20 made sale of theyr ware onely on this syde and beyonde it for the golde of that countrey to the quantitie of an hundredth and fiftie poundes weyght, there beinge in case that they myght haue dispatched al theyr ware for golde, if the vntame brayne of Wyndam had or could haue gyuen eare to the counsayle and experience of Pinteado. For when that Wyndam not satisfied with the golde whiche he had (and more myght haue had if he had taryed abowt the Mina) commaundynge the sayde Pinteado (for so he toke vp¦pon hym) to leade the shyppes to Benin beinge vnder the E∣quinoctial line and a hundreth and fiftie leaques beyonde the Mina where he loked to haue thyer shyppes laden with pep∣per:* 1.21* 1.22 And beinge counsayled of the sayde Pinteado consyde∣rynge the late tyme of the yere for that tyme to go no further but to make sale of theyr wares such as they had for golde wherby they myght haue byn great gayners. But Wyndam not assentynge hereunto, fell into a suddeyne rage, reuilynge the sayde Pinteado,* 1.23 caulynge hym Iewe with other oppro∣brious woordes, sayinge. This horson Iewe hath promised to brynge vs to such places as are not, or as he can not bring vs vnto. But if he doo not, I wyl cut of his eares and naile them to the mast. Pinteado gaue the forsayde counsayle to goo no further for the safegard of the men and theyr lyues, which they shulde put in daungioure if they came to late for the rossia which is theyr wynter,* 1.24 not for coulde but for smo∣therynge heate with close and cloudy ayer and storminge we∣ther of such putrifyinge qualitie that it rotted the cotes of theyr backes.* 1.25 Or els for coommynge to soonne for the scor∣chynge heate of the sonne which caused them to lynger in the way.* 1.26 But of force and not of wyll, browght he the shyppes before the ryuer of Benin:* 1.27 where rydynge at an anker, sente their pinnesse vp into the ryuer fiftie or threscore leaques, frō whense certeyne of the marchauntes with capitayne Pintea∣do, Francisco a Portugale,* 1.28 Nicolas Lambert gentleman,* 1.29 and other marchauntes were conducted to the courte where the kyng remayned .x. leaques from the ryuer syde: whyther when they came,* 1.30 they were browght with a greate company to the presence of the kynge who beinge a blacke moore (althoughe not so blacke as the rest) sat in a great houge haule longe and

wyde, the walles made of earthe withowte wyndowes, the the roofe of thynne boordes open in sundry places lyke vnto louers to lette in the ayer.

And here to speke of the great reuerence they gyue to their kynge,* 1.31 beinge such that if wee wolde gyue as much to owr sa¦uiour Chryst, we shuld remoue from owr heades many plages which w••e dayly deserue for owre contempte and impietie.

So it is therfore, that when his noble men are in his pre¦sence, they neuer looke hym in the face, but syt courynge, as wee vppon owre knees so they vppon theyr buttockes with theyr elbowes vppon theyr knees and theyr handes beefore theyr faces, not lookynge vppe vntyll the kynge commaunde them. And when they are commynge towarde the kynge as farre as they do see him, do they shewe such reuerence sytting on the grounde with theyr faces couered as before. Lykewise when they depart from hym they turne not theyr backes to∣warde hym, but go creepynge backewarde with lyke reue∣rence.

And nowe to speake sumwhat of the communication that was betwene the kynge and owre men,* 1.32 yowe shall fyrst vnder¦stande that he hym selfe coulde speake the Portugale tounge which he had lerned of a chylde. Therfore after that he had commaunded owre men to stande vp, and demaunded of them the cause of theyr commynge into that countrey, they answe∣red by Pinteado that they were marchauntes trauaylynge in∣to those parties for the commodities of his countrey for ex∣chaunge of wares which they had browght from theyr coun∣treys, beinge such as shulde bee no lesse commodious for him and his people. The kynge then hauynge of owlde lyinge in a certeyne store house thirtie or fortie kyntals of pepper (euery kyntall beinge an hundreth weyght) wyllynge them to looke vppon the same,* 1.33 and ageyne to brynge hym a syght of suche marchaundies as they had browght with them. And therup∣pon sent with the capitayne and the marchauntes certeyne of his men to conducte them to the warers syde, with other to brynge the ware from the pinnesse to the courte. Who when they were returned and the wares seene, the kynge grewe to this ende with the marchauntes,* 1.34 to prouyde in thirtie dayes the ladynge of all theyr shyppes with pepper.

And in case theyr marchaundies wolde not extende to the va¦lue

of so muche pepper, he promysed to credite them to theyr nexte returne: and thereuppon sente the countrey rounde a∣bowt to gather pepper, causynge the same to be browght to the courte: So that within the space of .xxx. days they had gathered foure score toonne of pepper.

In the meane season owre men partly hauynge no rule of them selues,* 1.35 but eatyng withowt measure of the frutes of the countrey, and drynkyng the wyne of the palme trees that droppeth in the nyght from the cutte branches of the same, and in such extreeme heate runnynge continually into the wa¦ter, not vsed before to such suddeyne and vehement alterati∣ons (then the which nothynge is more daungerous) were ther¦by browght into swellynges and agues. In so much that the later tyme of the yeare cōmyng on, caused thē to dye sū••ymes iii. & sūtimes .iiii. or .v. in a day. Then Wyndam perceauyng the tyme of the .xxx. dayes to be expyred, & his men dying so fast, sent to the court in poste to capitayne Pinteado and the rest to come away and to tary no longer. But Pinteado with the rest, wrote backe to hym ageyne, certifyinge hym of the great quantitie of pepper they had alredy gathered and loked dayly for much more: Desyrynge hym furthermore to remem¦ber the great prayse and name they shulde wynne if they came home prosperously, and what shame of the contrary. With which answere Wyndam not satisfied, and many of theyr men dyinge dayly, wylled and commaunded them ageine eyther to coomme away furthwith, or els thretened to leaue them be∣hynde. When Pinteado harde this answere, thynkynge to persuade hym with reason, tooke his way from the court to∣warde the shyppes beinge conducted thyther with men by the kynges commaundement.

In the meane season Windam all rageinge,* 1.36 brake vppe Pin∣teados Caben, broke open his chestes, spoyled suche prouisy∣on of coulde stilled waters and suckettes as he hade prouided for his health, and lefte hym nothynge neyther of his instru∣mentes to sayle by, nor yet of his apparell. And in the meane tyme faulinge sycke hym selfe, dyed also.* 1.37 Whose death Pin∣teado comminge aborde, lamented as muche as if he had byn the derest frend he had in the worlde. But certeyne of the maryners and other officers dyd spette in his face,* 1.38 sum cau∣lynge hym Iewe, saying that he had browght them thether

to kylle them: And sum drawynge theyr swordes at hym ma∣kynge A shewe to sley hym. Then he perceauinge that they wolde nedes away, desyred them to tary that he might fetch the reste of the marchauntes that were fefte at the court. But they wolde not graunte his request. Then desyred he them to gyue hym the shippe boate with as muche of an owlde sayle as myght serue for the same, promisynge them therewith to bringe Nicolas Lamberte and the rest into England: But all was in vayne. Then wrotte he a letter to the courte to the marchauntes informynge them of all the matter, and promy∣synge thē if god wolde lende hym life to returne with al hast to fetche them. And thus was Pinteado kepte a bordeshippe ageynste his wyll, thrust amonge the boyes of the shippe, not vsed like a man, nor yet like an honest boy: But glad to find fauoure at the cokes hande. Then departed they, leauing one of theyr shippes behynde them, whiche they soonke for lake of men to cary her. After this within sixe or seuen days say∣linge, dyed also Pinteado for very pensiuenesse and thowght that strooke hym to the harte:* 1.39 A man worthy to serue any prince and most vilely vsed. And of seuen score men came home to Plymmuowth scarsely fortye, and of them many dyed. And that no man shulde suspecte these wordes which I haue sayd in commendation of Pinteado, to be spoken vpon fauour otherwyse then truth, I haue thought good to adde herevnto the coppie of the letters which the kyng of Portugale and the infant his brother wrote vnto hym to reconcyle hym at suche tyme as vppon the kynge his masters displeasure (and not for any other cryme or offence as may appere by the sayde letters) he was onely for pouertie inforced to coomme into Englande where he fyrst persuaded owre marchauntes to attempte the sayde vyages to Guinea. But as the kynge of Portugale to late repented hym that he had so punysshed Pinteado vp∣pon malicious informations of such as enuied the mans good fortune, euen so may it hereby appere, that in sum cases, euen Lyons them selues, may eyther bee hyndered by the contempt or ayded by the helpe of the pore myse accordynge vnto the fa¦ble of Isope.

¶ The coppie of Antomanes Pinteado his letters parentes wherby the kynge of Portugale made hym knyght of his house after all his troubles and imprisonment, which by wronge information made to the kynge, he had susteyned of longe tyme, beinge at the laste deli∣uered, his cause knowen and manifested to the kynge by a grey fryer the kynges confessoure.

I The kynge do gyue yow to vnderstande lorde Frances Desseosa one of my counsayle and o∣uerseer of my house, that in consideration of the good seruice which Antonie Anes Pinte∣ado, the sonne of Iohn Anes, dwellynge in the towne cauled the porte, hath doone vnto me, my wyll and pleasure is, to make hym knyght of my house, alowynge to hym in pension seuen hun∣dreth reys monethly,* 2.1 and euery daye one alcayr of barly as longe as he kepeth a horse, and to bee payde accordynge to the ordinaunce of my house. Prouydynge alwayes that he shal receaue but one mariage gyfte: And this also in such con¦dition that the tyme whiche is excepted in owre ordinaunce forbyddynge such men to mary for gettynge such chyldren as myght succeade them in this alowance, which is syxe yeares after the makynge of this patente, shalbe fyrste expired before he do mary. I therfore commaunde yowe to cause this to bee entered in the booke cauled the Matricola of owre housholde vnder the tytle of knyghtes. And when it is so entered, let the clerke of the Matricola for the certentie therof, wryte on the backe syde of this Aluala or patente, the number of the leafe wherin this owre graunt is entered. Which doone, let hym returne this wrytynge vnto the sayd Antonie Anes Pin¦teado for his warrant.

I Diego Henriques haue wrytten this in Almarin the xxii. day of September, in the yeare of owre lorde .1551. And this beneuolence the kynge gaue vnto Antonie Anes Pintea∣do the .xxv. day of Iuly this present yeare.

Rey. —

¶ The secretaries declaration wrytten vnder the kynges graunt.

YOwre maiestie hath vouchsafed in respect and consyderation of the good seruice of Antonie Anes Pinteado dwellynge in the porte, and soonne of Iohn Anes to make hym knyght of yowre house with ordinarie alowance of seuen hundreth reys pension by the moneth and one Alcayr of barley by the day as longe as he keepeth a horse: And to bee payde accordyng to the ordinaunce of yowr house with condition that he shall haue but one mariage gyfte: And that not within the space of .vi. yeares after the makynge of these letters patentes.

The secretaries note. Entered in the booke of the Matrico∣la. Fol. 683.

Francisco de Siquera.

¶ The coppie of the letter of Don Lewes thinfant and brother to the kynge of Portugale: sent into Englande to Antonianes Pinteado.

ANtonie Anes Pinteado, I the infant bro∣ther to the kynge, haue me hartely commen¦ded vnto yow. Peter Gonsalues is gone to seeke yow, desyrynge to brynge yowe home ageyne into yowr countrey. And for that purpose, hath with hym a safe conduct for yow, graunted by the kynge, that thereby yowe may freely and withowt all feare come home. And al∣though the wether be foule and stormy, yet fayle not to come. For in the tyme that his maiestie hath gyuen yow, yow maye doo many thynges to yowre contentacion and gratifying the kynge, wherof I wolde bee ryght gladde: and to brynge the same to passe wyll doo all that lyeth in me for yowre profyte. But forasmuch as Peter Gonsalues wyll make further decla∣ration hereof vnto yow, I say no more at this present. Wrytten in Luxburne the .viii. day of December, Anno .M.D.LII.

¶ The Infant don Lews.

AL these forsayd wrytynges I sawe vnder sel•• in the house of my frende Nicolas Lyese with whom Pinteado left them at his vnfortunat•• departynge to Guinea. But notwithstanding all these frendly letters and fayre promyses, Pinteado durste not attempte to go home, neyther to keep•• company with the Portugales his countrey men withowt th•• presence of other, forasmuch as he had secreate admonition that they intended to sley hym, if tyme and place myght hau•• serued theyr wycked intent.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The prym∣rose
• * 1.2

  The Lyon.
• * 1.3

  The Moone
• * 1.4

  Pinteado.
• * 1.5

  Brasile.
• * 1.6

  Guinea.
• * 1.7

  The flatte∣ryng of for∣tune.
• * 1.8

  The euel con¦ditions of Wyndam.
• * 1.9

  The Ilandes of Madera.
• * 1.10

  A galeon of the kinge of Portugale.
• * 1.11

  The castel of Mina.
• * 1.12

  howe Wyndā abused Pin∣teado.
• * 1.13

  The Ilandes of Canarie.
• * 1.14

  The Ilande of. s. Nico••as.
• * 1.15

  Guinea.
• * 1.16

  The ryuer of ••esto.
• * 1.17

  Graynes.
• * 1.18

  The thrist of golde.
• * 1.19

  The castel of mena.
• * 1.20

  The quantite of golde.
• * 1.21

  Benin.
• * 1.22

  Pepper.
• * 1.23

  Furie admit∣teth no coun∣sayle.
• * 1.24

  The Rossia.
• * 1.25

  Rottinge heate.
• * 1.26

  Scorchinge heate.
• * 1.27

  Benin.
• * 1.28

  Francisco.
• * 1.29

  Nicolas Lam¦bert.
• * 1.30

  The kyng of Benin his court.
• * 1.31

  Reuerence towarde the kynge.
• * 1.32

  The commu∣nication be∣twene the kynge of Be∣nin and owr men.
• * 1.33

  Pepper.
• * 1.34

  The kynges gentlenesse towarde owr men.
• * 1.35

  The disorder and death of owre men.
• * 1.36

  The furie of Wyndam.
• * 1.37

  The death of Wyndam.
• * 1.38

  Pinteado euil vsed of the maryners.
• * 1.39

  The death of Pinteado.
• * 2.1

  Seuen hun∣dreth reys are .x. s. Alcayr, is halfe a bus∣shel.