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 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,* 1.1 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,* 1.2 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 accu∣stomed to eate, bycause they coulde not yet well agree with such meates as they fownde in the Ilandes, determined short¦ly

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 quiet∣ly and content with theyr lyttle whiche they thowght abun∣dante,* 1.3 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 no∣thynge 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,* 1.4) was for the most parte vn∣ruly, 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 glad∣nes, as thowgh they had offered sacryfyce to God. Inten∣dynge therefore to pacifie their troubled myndes, and to pu∣nyshe 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 Re¦gion of Cibaua. This kynges name was Guarionexius:* 1.5 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,* 1.6 he sent one ca¦pitayne 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,* 1.7 ma∣ny 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

hym. But the ambassadours on the contrary part, threatened hym, that yf he wolde soo doo, the other kynges wolde in∣uade 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,* 1.8 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 ex¦cogitated this deceyte,* 1.9 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 fa¦milie and many other wayting on hym, armed after theyr ma¦ner. 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 other∣wyse 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,* 1.10 browght hym to the Admi¦rall: 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 fa∣milie beinge taken, the Admirall was determined to runne o∣uer the Ilande. But he was certified that there was such fa∣mine amonge thinhabitantes,* 1.11 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,* 1.12 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

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 her¦bes, 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 wa∣sted 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,* 1.13 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 buyl∣dynges to bee dayly erected, and owre shippes lying in the ha¦uen 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 in∣ner 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.* 1.14 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,* 1.15 whiche is soone resol∣ued into sande. This masse of golde, I my selfe sawe in Ca∣stile, in the famous citie of Methymna Campi, where the courte lay all that wynter. I sawe also a great piece of pure Electrum:* 1.16 of the whiche belles and apothecaries morters, and many su∣che other vessels and instrumentes maye bee made, as were in owlde tyme of copper of the citie of Corinthus. This piece of E∣lectrum, 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

weight, after .viii. vnces to the pownde. It was fownde in the howse of a certen prynce, and lefte hym by his predeces∣sours. And albeit that in the dayes of thinhabitantes yet li∣uynge, Electrum was no where digged, yet knewe they where the myne therof was:* 1.17 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 woorke∣men skylfull therin, were appoynted therto. Not farre from the towre of Conception, in the same mountaynes, is fownd great plentie of Amber:* 1.18 and owte of certen rockes of the same distilleth a substance of the yelowe coloure whiche the payn∣ters vse.* 1.19 Not farre from these mountaynes are many greate wooddes, in the which are none other trees then brasile, whi¦che the Italians caule Verzino.* 1.20 But here perhappes (right no¦ble prynce) yowe wolde aske what shoulde be the cause, that where as the Spanyardes haue brought owte of these Ilan∣des certen shyppes laden with brasile, sumwhat of gossam∣pine cotton, a quantitie of amber, a lyttel golde, and sum spi¦ces, 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,* 1.21 that when Colonus the admirall was lykewise demaunded the cause here∣of, 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 se∣dition and newes, then desyrous of peace and quietnesse: Also that beynge gyuen to lycenciousnes,* 1.22 they rebelled & forsooke hym, fyndynge matter of false accusations agaynst hym, by∣cause 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 hi∣therto the gaynes haue scarsely counteruayled the charges.* 1.23 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

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,* 1.24 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 Re¦gion 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.* 1.25 For all the trauayles of theyr bo∣dyes, 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 ex∣treme necessitie, browght parte of theyr tribute: Moste hum∣bly desyringe the Admirall to haue compassion of theyr cala∣mities, 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 re∣compensed. But fewe of the inhabitantes of the mountaynes of Cibaua, kepte theyr promyse, bycause they were sorer op∣pressed with famine then any of the other.* 1.26 They saye, that the inhabitantes of these mountaynes, differ no lesse in ma∣ners 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,* 1.27 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 hym¦self howe he myght bee delyuered,* 1.28 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 Christi∣an 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

suche incursions. By this crafty deuise, he thought to haue browght to passe, that his brother whiche was in that regy∣on, and the other his kynsefolkes and frendes with their ad∣herentes, 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 Ciba∣uians, if they shulde moue warre ageynste them. Owre men had scarsely entered into the Region, but the brother of Cau∣naboa came agenste them with an armie of fyue thousande na∣ked menne,* 1.29 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 Ci¦bauian, as a man not ignorant in the disciplyne of warre, a∣bowte the distance of a furlonge from the howse, diuided his armye into fyue batayles, appoyntinge to euery of them a cir¦cuite by equal diuision: And placed the froont of his owne ba¦tayle, 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,* 1.30 in such sort that none might escape. But owre men iudginge it better to en∣counter 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 hor∣ses, and slewe as many as abode thende of the fyght.* 1.31 The re¦sidue 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: prote∣stinge that they wolde neuer more rebelle, but doo what so e∣uer 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 eue∣ry 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 exce∣dynge fruitfull: hauinge in it many goodly springes: and ry∣uers,

in the sande wherof, is fownde great plentie of golde. The same yeare in the mooneth of Iune,* 1.32 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,* 1.33 & 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 af∣firme, 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 trow∣bled the elementes, and caused such portentous signes. These tempestes of the ayer (which the Grecians caule Tiphones, that is, whyrle wyndes) they caule,* 1.34 Furacanes:* 1.35 which they say, doo often tymes chaunce in this Ilande: But that neyther they nor theyr great grandfathers euer sawe suche violent and fu∣rious 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,* 1.36 they dyed by the waye for verye pen∣syuenes 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 ship∣pes (which the Spaniardes caule Carauelas) to bee made. For he had with hym, all maner of artificers perteyninge therun∣to. Whyle these thinges were dooinge, he sent foorth Bartholo¦meus Colonus his brother, beinge leauetenaunt of the Ilande, with an army of men to searche the golde mynes beinge dy∣stant three score leaques from the citie of Isabella,* 1.37 which were fownde by the conducte of certeyne people of the Ilande, bee∣fore the mynes of Cipanga or Cibaua, were knowen. In these mynes, they fownde certeyne deepe pittes which had byn dig¦ged

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:* 1.38 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,* 1.39 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,* 1.40 leauinge the hole regiment of the Iland with his brother the Lieuetenaunte,

Notes

• * 1.1

  Easte India.
• * 1.2

  The Spany∣arde•• rebelle in the Admi∣r••ls absence.
• * 1.3

  The kynges of the Ilande rebell.
• * 1.4

  The Spani∣ardes m••sbe∣hauour.
• * 1.5

  Guarionexius the kynge of the greatyale Didacus the interpretour
• * 1.6

  Caunaboa, the kynge of the house of golde.
• * 1.7

  Capitayne ho¦ieda.
• * 1.8

  kynge Cauna¦boa, ••ad s••ain the Spany∣arde••.
• * 1.9

  Caunaboa cō¦spireth the Admiralle•• death.
• * 1.10

  Fayre worde make fooles fayne.
• * 1.11

  Famine in the Ilande of his¦paniola.
• * 1.12

  The hunger of golde cau∣seth great famine.
• * 1.13

  The towre of conception.
• * 1.14

  A masse of gold weigh∣inge .xx. oun∣ces.
• * 1.15

  Tofus.
• * 1.16

  Electrum is a metall natu∣rally mix•• of one portion of golde & an¦other of ••iluer beinge of pro¦pertie to be∣wray poyson, and was ther¦fore in owlde tyme in grea∣ter estimation then golde.
• * 1.17

  The myne of Electrum.
• * 1.18

  An other kynde of am∣ber is taken out of greate whale fishes
• * 1.19

  Orpement or oker.
• * 1.20

  wooddes of brasile trees.
• * 1.21

  Causes of hinderance.
• * 1.22

  Licenciusnes of to much l••∣bertie
• * 1.23

  And this on∣ly gathered & not digged out of the bo∣di of the min••
• * 1.24

  The people make ••u••••li∣ca••ion to st••d to their tri∣bute
• * 1.25

  Famine.
• * 1.26

  The nature of the Region dispo••eth the maner of the people.
• * 1.27

  kynge Cauna¦boa in capti∣uitie.
• * 1.28

  The persuasi¦on of Cauna∣boa.
• * 1.29

  Caunaboa his brother rebelleth.
• * 1.30

  A conflict be∣twene the Ci¦bauians and the Spany∣ardes.
• * 1.31

  The Cibaui∣ans haue the ouerthrowe.
• * 1.32

  A great tem∣pest in the mo¦neth of Iune.
• * 1.33

  Three ships drowned ly∣inge at anker
• * 1.34

  whyrle wyn∣des.
• * 1.35

  Furacanes.
• * 1.36

  The death of kynge Cauna¦b••a and his brother.
• * 1.37

  Bartholome¦us Colonus th•• ••eauete∣••a••nt sear∣••he•••• the go••d•• ••••nes.
• * 1.38

  The golde mynes of Sa¦lomon.
• * 1.39

  Golde in the superficiall partes of the earth.
• * 1.40

  The Admiral taketh his vi∣age to spaine