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 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, by whose industrie and magnani∣mitie suche Landes and Regions were disco∣uered, as were vnknowen to theyr predices∣soures. 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 mar¦uell 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 attemp∣tes. we commende bothe, and for theyr iust desertes worthe∣ly extoll them. Wherfore, as concernynge the Ilandes of the west 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 a∣ny man. Take it therfore as foloweth.

¶ Christophorus Colonus (other wise called Columbus) A gentilman of Italy, borne in the citie of Genua, perswaded Fernando and Elyzabeth, catholike prynces, that he doubted not to fynde certayne Ilandes of India, nere vnto owre Occean sea, if they wolde furnysshe hym with shyppes and other thynges apper∣teynynge. Affyrminge that therby not onely the Christian re∣ligion 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 Spa∣niardes 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, being accompanied with C C. xx. Spanyardes. The fortunate Ilandes (as manye

thinke them to be, whiche the Spaniardes call Canariae, found but of late dayes) are distaunte from the Ilandes of Gades, a thousande and twoo hundreth myles, accordyng to theyr ac∣compte: for they say they are distant three hundreth leaques: wheras such as are expert sea men, affyrme that euery leaque conteyneth foure myles, after theyr supputations. These I∣landes were called fortunate, for the temperate ayre whiche is in them. For neyther the coldenesse of wynter is sharpe vn∣to them, nor the heate of sommer intollerable. Yet some men are of opinion, that those were in olde tyme called the fortu∣nate Ilandes, 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, be∣fore 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 vn∣knowen they became knowen, and of saluage and wilde, bet∣ter manured. For by the longe course of manye yeres, they were forgotten, and remayned as vnknowen.

These seuen Ilandes (the••fore) called the Canaries, were foūde by chaunce by a frenche man, called Betanchor, by the permis∣sion 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 Ilan∣des called Lancelotus and Fort••suentura, 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. The other three were subdued in our tyme. Grancanaria, by Perrus de Vera, citezen of the noble citie of Xericium, and Mi∣chaell of Moxica. Palma and Tenerifen, by Alphonsus Lugo, at the kynges charges. Gomera and Ferrea were easely subdued: But the matter wente harde with 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 a∣boute foure hundreth of his men. But at the length he ouer∣came them. And thus all the Ilandes of Canariae were added to the dominion of Spayne. From these Ilandes Colonus di∣rectynge his viage towarde th•• weste, folowinge the fallinge of the sonne, but declining somwhat towarde the left hande,

sayled on forwarde .xxxiii. dayes continually, hauynge onely the fruition of the heauen and the water. Then the Spany∣ardes 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, 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, appeased theyr furie, and pro∣longed 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 other¦wise disobey hym, it wolde be reputed for treason. Thus af∣ter 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, and the other 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. They foūd also great riuers of freshe water, and naturall hauens, of ca∣pacitie 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 to∣warde the Northe, that the northnortheaste wynde roughely tossed the shyppes by reason of the wynter. Turnynge ther∣fore the stemmes of his shyppes towarde the Easte, he affyr∣med that he had founde the Ilande of Ophir, whyther Salo∣mons

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. This Ilande he called Hisp••niola: on whose northe syde as he approched nere to the lande, the keele or bottome of the big∣geste vessell ranne vpon a blynde rocke couered with water, 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: 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. 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 multi¦tude 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 swim∣minge to the shyppes, bryngyng golde with them, 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, whose name was Guaccanarillus: for it hath many kyn∣ges, as when Eneas arriued in Italy, he founde Latium diui∣ded into many kyngedomes and prouinces, as Latium, Mezeuri∣um, 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, when owre men went to praier, and kneled on their knees after the maner of the Chri∣stians, 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 humani∣tie towardes owre men: and helpen them with theyr lighters or small boates (whiche they call Canoas) to vnlade theyr bro¦ken shyppe: And that with suche celeritie and cherefulnesse, that no frende for frende, or kynseman for kynseman, in su∣che case moued with pitie, coulde do more. Theyr boates are

made only of one tree, made holow with a certain sharpe stone (for they haue no yron.) And are very longe and narowe. Ma¦ny 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, inua∣dynge theyr countrey, takynge them captiue, kyllyng and ea∣tyng 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: 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 hog∣ges, and eate them when they are wel fedde: of suche as they eate, they fyrst eate the intralles and extreme partes, as han∣des, 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 ve∣ry 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 hun¦dreth of them if they encountre with them. Theyr meate is a certeyne roote which they cal Ages: 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 ma∣n••••. 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, so that if it be dronke it causeth present death, and yet the breade made of the ••a••e

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, 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 or¦der, 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: 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. They founde there no kindes of foure fo∣ted beastes excepte three kyndes of lyttell conyes. These I∣landes also nourishe serpentes: but such as are without hurt. Lykewise wylde geese, turtle doues, and duckes, much grea∣ter then ours, and as whyte as swannes, with heades of pur∣ple colo••re. Also Popiniaies, of the whiche some are greene, some yelowe, and some lyke them of India, with yelowe ryn∣ges about theyr neckes, as Plinie describeth them. Of these they broughte fortie with them, of moste liuely and delectable coloures, hauyng three fethers entermengled with greene, ye∣lowe, and purple, whiche varietie, deliteth the sense not a li∣tle. 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 Ilan¦des 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, yet the Po∣pingiaies 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, about the ende of his booke De C••elo et Mundo. and likewise 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, for the soyle

of these Ilandes, bryngeth forthe Mastir, Aloes, and sun∣drye other sweete gummes and spyces as doth India. Cotton also of the gossampine tree, as in India in the countrey of the people called Seres.

¶The languages of all the nations of these Ilandes, 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: And those of maruelous heyght and exceding harde, by reason of the greate moystnesse and fatnesse of the grounde, with continuall and temperate heate of the sonne, 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, as shall more largely appere here∣after in the particular description of the same, whiche we in∣tende 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 de¦parted to Spayne takynge with hym .x. of the inhabitauntes to lerne the Spanishe tongue, to the intent to vse them after∣warde 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 Admi∣rall of the Ocean: and his brother gouenoure of the Iland.

Towarde the second viage, he was furnished with .xii. ship∣pes: 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 gret∣nesse of theyr mastes. He had also a thousand and two hun∣dreth 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: Besyde vynes, plantes and seedes, of suche

trees, fruites, and herbes, as those countreyes lacke. And (not to be forgotten) sundry kindes of artillery & iron tooles, as bowes, arrowes, crossebowes, bylles, hargabuses, brode swoordes, large targettes, pikes, mattockes, sh••ouelles, ham¦mers, 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 I∣landes, 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 grow∣ynge on the h••ghest backe of the Ilande, and falleth into a rounde trenche made with mannes hande. We were infour∣med 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.

Notes

• The reward of vert••e
• The Ilandes of the weste Ocean.
• Christopho∣rus Colonus.
• India▪
• The fyrst vi¦age of Colo∣nus.
• The Ilandes of Canarie.
• Gades or Cals mals.
• A leaque, what it con∣teyneth by sea.
• the fortunate Ilandes.
• Cabouerde.
• The seuen I¦landes of Ca¦narie.
• Betanchor A frenche man subdued the Ilandes of Canarie.
• L••ncelotus.
• Fortisuētura.
• Ferrea.
• Gomera.
• Grancanaria.
• Palma.
• Tenerifen.
• Alphonsus Lugo.
• Colonus men rebel against hym.
• Faire wo••∣des and pro∣mises.
• hispaniola.
• Iohanna.
• Nightinga∣les synge in Nouember.
• The Ilande of Ophir.
• The ilandes of Anti••ia.
• A shypwrack
• The people of the Iland••.
• Naked peo∣ple.
• Expert swim¦mers▪ go••d for erth and glasse.
• Many kinges
• Relygious & humaine peo∣ple
• Canoas.
• Mono••yla. They haue no Iren.
• Can••bales or Caribes Anthropo∣phagi.
• The crueltie of the Cani∣bales.
• Ages. Rootes ••n the steede or meate.
• Iucca. Breade of rootes.
• an herbe of a straung•• na¦ture.
• Ma••••••um.
• ••olde in esti∣••ation.
• Golde in the sandes of ry∣uers.
• Serpentes without ve∣m••ne.
• Turtle doues Duckes.
• Popingiayes.
• Plini.
• These Ilan∣d••s are parte of India. The Indians are Antipo∣des to the spaniardes.
• Aristotle.
• Seneca.
• India not far from Spaine
• Mastir.
• Aloe.
• Gossampyne cotton or bo••¦base.
• Seres.
• The lāguage of these Indi¦ans.
• Trees and frutes vnkno¦wen to vs.
• Far & moyste grounde.
• heate conti∣nuall and tem¦perate.
• The fru••tful∣nes of hispa∣niola
• The seconde viage of Co∣lonus.
• Come and se¦des to sowe,
• Tooles and artillery.
• water drop∣pyng from a tree continu∣ally.