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 thyrde booke of the seconde Decade of the supposed continent.

ALl the chiefe officers in Beragua, and such as were most politike in counsayle, determyned that Nicuesa shulde bee sowght owte if by a∣ny meanes he coulde bee founde. Where vp∣pon they tooke from Ancisus the gouernoure refusinge the commynge of Nicuesa, a brygan¦tyne whiche he made of his owne charges: And agreed, ageynst bothe the wyll of Ancisus, and the master of fence Vaschus Nunnez, that Nicuesa shulde bee sowght foorthe to take away the stryfe as touchinge the gouernement. They elected therfore Colmenaris (of whom we spake before) to take this matter in hande: wyllynge hym to make diligent search

for Nicuesa in those coastes where they supposed he erred. For they harde that he had forsaken Beragua, the region of an vn∣frutefull grounde. They gaue hym therfore commaundement to brynge Nicuesa with hym, and further to declare vnto hym that he shulde doo ryght good seruice to coome thether, in ta∣kyng away thoccasion of theyr seditions. Colmenaris tooke the thynge vppon hym the more gladly bycause Nicuesa was his ve¦ry frende: Supposinge that his commynge with vytayles shulde bee noo lesse thankefull to Nicuesa and his coompanie, then it was to them of Vraba. Furnysshynge therefore one of his owne shippes whiche he browght with hym and also the brigantyne taken frome Ancisus, he frayghted the same with part of the vytayles and other necessaries which he browght with hym before from Hispaniola to Vraba. Thus coursynge a∣longe by all the coastes and goulfes nere there abowte, at the length at the poynte cauled Marmor, he founde Nicuesa, of all lyuynge men most infortunate, in maner dryed vppe with ex∣treeme hunger, fylthye and horrible to beholde, with onely three score men in his company, lefte alyue of seuen hundreth. They al seemed to hym soo miserable, that he noo lesse lamen¦ted theyr case, then yf he had founde them deade. But Colme∣naris conforted his frende Nicuesa: and embrasinge hym with teares and cherefull woordes, relyued his spirites, and fur∣ther encoraged hym with greate hope of better fortune: decla¦rynge also that his commynge was looked for and greatelye desyred of al the good men of Vraba, for that they hoped that by his autoritie, theyr discorde and contention shulde bee fy∣nysshed. Nicuesa thanked his frende Colmenaris. after such sorte as his calamitie requyred. Thus they tooke shyppe to gyther, and sayled directly to Vraba. But so variable and vnconstant is the nature of man, that he soone groweth owte of vse, be∣commeth insolente and vnmyndful of benefites after to much felicitie. For Nicuesa, after thus many teares and weepynges after dyuers bewaylinges of his infortunate desteny, after so many thankes geuynge, ye after that he had faulen downe to the grounde and kyssed the feete of Colmenaris his sauioure, he beganne to quarel with hym before he came yet at Vraba, repro¦uinge hym and them all for thalteracion of the state of thyn∣ges in Vraba, and for the gatheringe of golde: Affirming that none of them owght to haue layde hande of any golde with

owte the aduice of hym or of Fogeda his coompanion. When these sayinges and suche lyke, came to the eares of theym of Vraba, they soo stoured vp the myndes of Ancisus Lieuetenaunte for Fogeda, and also of Vaschus Nunnez, of the contrary parte, a∣geinste Nicuesa, that shortely after his arryuall with his three score men, they commaunded hym with threatenynge to de∣parte frō thense. But this pleased not the better sort. Yet fea∣rynge least tumult shulde bee amonge the people whom Vaschus Nunnez had stered to factions, the best parte was fayne to giue place to the greatest. This wretched man therfore Nicuesa thus drowned in miseries, was thruste into the brigantyne whiche he hym selfe browght: and with hym only seuentene men, of his three score which remayned alyue. He tooke shyppe in the Calendes of Marche in the yeare .1511. intendynge to goo to Hispaniola to coomplayne of the rasshenes of Vaschus Nunnez, and of the violence doone to hym by Ancisus. But he entered into the brigantine in an vnfortunate houre: for he was neuer seene after. They suppose that the brigantine was drowned with all the men therin. And thus vnhappie Nicuesa faulynge headlonge owte of one miserye into an other, ended his lyfe more myserablye then he lyued. Nicuesa beinge thus vylely re∣iected, & al theyr vytayles consumed which Colmenaris browght them, faulynge in maner madde for hunger, they were enfor∣ced lyke raueninge woolues seakynge theyr praye, to inuade suche as dwelte abowte theyr confynes. Vas••hus Nunnez there∣fore, theyr newe capitayne of theyr owne election, assembling togyther a hundreth and thirtie men, and settinge them in or¦der of battell after his swoordeplayers fasshion, puffed vppe with pryde, placed his souldiers as pleased hym in the fore∣warde and rereward, and sume as pertisens abowt his owne person. Thus associatinge with hym Colmenaris, he wente to spoyle the kynges which were bortherers there abowte, and came fyrst to a Region abowte that coaste, cauled Coiba, (wher¦of we made mencion before) imperiously and with cruel coun∣tenaunce commaundinge the kynge of the region whose name was Careta, (of whome they were neuer troubled as often as they passed by his dominions) to gyue them vytayles. But Careta denyed that he coulde gyue them any at that tyme: al∣leagyng that he had oftentymes ayded the Christians as they passed by those coastes: by reason wherof his store was nowe

consumed: Also that by the meanes of the contynuall warre which he kepte euer from his chyldes age with a kyng whose name is Poncha, bortheringe vppon his dominion, he and his famelie were in greate scarsenes of all thynges. But Vaschus woolde admytte none of these excuses: And thervppon tooke Careta prisoner, spoyled his vyllage, and browght hym bownd with his twoo wyues and chyldren and all his famelie to Dari¦ena. With this kynge Careta, they founde three of the felowes of Nicuesa, the whiche when Nicuesa passed by those coastes to seeke Beragua, fearynge punysshement for theyr euyll desertes stoule away from the shyppes lyinge at anker: And when the nauie departed, commytted them selues to the mercie of Careta, who enterteyned them very frendely. They had nowe bynne there .xviii. moonethes, and were therefore as vtterly naked as the people of the contrey. Duringe this tyme, the meate of thinhabitances seemed vnto them delicate di••shes and prince∣ly fare: especially bycause they enioyed the same withowte a∣ny stryfe for myne and thyne, which twoo thynges moue and enforce men to such harde shyftes and miseries, that in lyuing they seeme not to lyue. Yet desyred they to returne to theyr owlde cares, of su••he force is education and natural effection towarde them with whom we haue byn browght vp. The vy¦tayles whiche Vaschus browght frome the vyllage of Careta to his felowes lefte in Dariena, was rather sumewhat to assuage theyr present hunger, and vtterly to take away theyr necessi∣tie. But as touchinge Anc••sus beinge Lieuetenaunt for Fogeda, whether it were before these thynges or after, I knowe not. But this I am sure of, that after the reiectinge of Nicu••sa, ma¦ny occasions were sought agenst Ancisus by Vascus and his fac∣tionaries. Howe soo euer it was, Ancisus was taken, and cast in pryson, and his goodes confiscate. The cause hereof was, (as Vaschus alleaged) that Ancisus hadde his commission of the Lieuetenauntshippe, of Fogeda onely whome they sayde to bee nowe deade, and not of the kynge. Sayinge that he woolde not obey any man that was not put in office by the kyng hym selfe by his letters patentes. Yet at the request of the graueste sorte, he was sumwhat pacified, and delt more gentelly with hym, hauinge sum compassion of his calamities. And thervp¦pon commaunded hym to bee loosed. Ancisus beinge at libertie, tooke shyppe to departe from thense to Hispaniola. But beefore

he had hoysed vppe his sayle, all the wysest sorte resorted to hym, humbly desyringe hym to returne ageyne: promysynge that they wolde doo theyr diligence, that Vaschus beinge recon¦ciled, he myght bee restored to his full autoritie of the Lieue∣tenauntshippe. But Ancisus refused to consent to theyr request and soo departed. Yet sume there were that murmured that god and his angels shewed this reuenge vpon Ancisus, bycau••e Nicuesa was reiected throwgh his counsayle. Howe soo euer it bee, the searchers of the newe landes, faule headlonge in∣to ruine by theyr owne follye, consuminge them selues with ciuile discorde, not weighinge soo greate a matter, nor em∣ployinge theyr beste endeuoure aboute the same as the woor∣thynes of the thynge requyreth. In this meane tyme, they de¦termyned all with one agreemente, to sende messengers into Hispaniola to the younge Admirall and viceroy, sonne and heyre to Christophorus Colonus the fynder of these landes, and to the o∣ther gouernoures of the Ilande (from whom the newe landes receaue theyr ayde and lawes) to signifie vnto thē what state they stoode in, and in what necessitie they lyued: also what they had founde, and in what hope they were of greater thin¦ges if they were furnyshed with plentie of vytayles and other necessaries. For this purpose they elected at the assignement of Vascus, one Valdiuia,, beinge one of his faction, and instruc∣ted by hym ageinst Anc••sus. And to bee a••sistant with hym, they appoynted one Zamudius a Cantabrian: So that commaunde∣ment was gyuen to Valdiuia to returne from Hispaniola with vy∣tayles: And Zamudius was appoynted to take his vyage into Spayne to the kynge. They tooke shippe both togyther with Ancisus, hauinge in mynde to certifie the kynge howe thynges were handeled there, muche otherwyse then Zamudius informa¦tion. I my selfe spake with both Ancisus and Zamudius at their commynge to the courte. Whyle they were occupied aboute these matters, those wretched men of Dariena loosed Carera the kynge of Coiba vppon condicion that he shulde ayde theym in theyr warres ageynst his enemy and theyrs, kynge Poncha bor¦theringe vpon his dominions. Careta made a league with thē, promysinge that as they passed by his kyngedome, he woolde gyue them all thynges nece••sarie, and meete them with an ar∣mie of men, to goo forwarde with them to the battaile agenst Poncha. Theyr weapons are nother bowes nor venemed ar∣rowes,

as we sayde thinhabitantes to haue which dwel east∣warde beyonde the goulfe. They feight therefore at hande, with longe swordes (which they caule Macanas) made of wood bycause they haue noo Iren. They vse also longe staues lyke ia••elens hardened at the endes with fyer, or typte with bone. Also certeyne stynges and dartes. Thus after the league made with Careta, bothe he and owre men had certeyne dayes ap∣poynted theym to tyll theyr grounde and sowe theyr seedes. This doone, by the ayde of Careta and by his conduction, they marched towarde the palaice of Poncha, who f••edde at theyr cō¦mynge. They spoyled his vyllage and mytigated theyr hun∣ger with such vytayles as they founde there. Yet coulde they not helpe their felowes therwith by reasō of the farre distance of the place, althowghe they had greate plentie. For the vyl∣lage of Poncha, was more then a hundreth myles distant from Dariena: wheras was also none other remedy but that the same shulde haue byn caryed on mens backes to the sea syde beinge farre of, where they left theyr shyppes in the which they came to the vyllage of Car••ta. Here they founde certeyne powndes weyght of gold, grauen & wrought into sundrye ouches. Af∣ter the sacking of this vyllage they resorted toward the ships intendyng to leaue the kinges of the inland vntouched at this tyme, & to inuade onely them which dwelt by the sea coastes. Not farre from Coiba, in the same tracte, there is a Region na∣med Comogra, and the Kinge thereof, cauled Comogrus after the same name. To this Kinge they came fyrst next after the sub∣vertion of Poncha: And founde his palaice situate in a frutefull playne of twelue leaques in bredthe, at the rootes of the fur∣ther syde of the nexte mountaynes. Comogrus had in his courte a certeyne noble man of nexe consanguinitie to Kynge Careta, whiche had fledde to Comogrus by reason of certeyne dissention whiche was betwene Careta and hym. These noble men, they caule Iura. This Iura therfore of Coiba, mette owre men by the way, and conciled Comogrus to them, bycause he was well kno∣wen to owr mē from the tyme that Nicuesa passed fyrst by those coastes. Owre men therefore went quietlye to the palaice of Comogrus beinge distante from Dariena thirtie leaques by a plaine waye abowte the mountaynes, This Kynge Comogrus, had se∣uen sonnes, younge men of comelye forme and stature, whiche he had by sundry wyues. His palaice was framed of postes

or proppes made of trees fastened togeyther after a straunge sorte, and of soo stronge bylding, that it is of no lesse strength then waules of stone. They which measured the length of the floure thereof, founde it to bee a hundreth and fyftie pases, and in breadthe, foure score foote: beinge roofed and paued with maruelous arte. They founde his store house, furnysshed with abundance of delicate vitailes after the maner of theyr countrey: And his wyne celler replenished with great vesselles of earth and also of woodde fylled with theyr kynde of wyne and syder. For they haue noo grapes. But lyke as they make theyr breade of those three kyndes of rootes cauled Iucca, agis, and Naizium, (whereof we spake in the fyrste decade) Soo make they theyr wyne of the frutes of date trees, and syder of other frutes and seedes, as doo the Almaynes, Flemynges Englysshe men, and owre Spanyardes whych inhabite the mountaynes, as the Uascons and Asturians: likewise in the mountaynes of the Alpes, the Noricians, Sueuians, and Hel∣uetians, make certeyne drynkes of barley, wheat, hoppes, and apples. They say also that with Comogrus, they droonk wynes of sundry tastes, both whyte and blacke. But nowe yow shall heare of a thynge more monstrous too behoulde. Enterynge therfor īto the inner partes of the palaice, they were browght into a chamber hanged aboute with the carkeses of men, tyed with ropes of gossampine cotton. Beinge demaunded what they ment by that superstition, they answered that those were the carkeses of the father, graundefather, and great graund∣father with the other auncestours of theyr Kyng Comogrus. De¦claringe that they had the same in greate reuerence, and that they tooke it for a godly thynge to honoure them religiously: And therfore appareled euery of the same sumptuouslye with golde and precious stones accordynge vnto theyr estate. After this sorte dyd the antiquitie honoure theyr Penates, whyche they thowght had the gouernaunce of their lyues. Howe they drye these carkeses vppon certeine instrumētes made of wood, like vnto hurdels, with a softe fyer vnder the same, so that onely the skynne remayneth to houlde the bones together, we haue described in the former decade. Of Comogrus his seuen soonnes, the eldest had an excellente naturall wytte. He ther∣fore thowght it good to flatter and please thys wandrynge kynde of men (owr men I meane) lyuynge onely by shiftes and

spoyle, least beinge offended and seekynge occasions ageynste hym and his familie, they shuld handle hym as they dyd other whiche sowght noo meanes howe to gratifie theym. Where∣fore, he gaue Vaschus and Colmenaris foure thousande ounces of golde artificially wrought, and also fyftie slaues whyche he had taken in the warres. For suche, eyther they sell for ex∣chaunce of other thinges, or otherwise vse them as theym ly∣steth▪ For they haue not the vse of money. This golde with as muche more which they had in an other place, owre men way∣ed in the porche of Comogrus his palaice to separate the fyfte parte thereof, whiche portion is due to the Kynges escheker. For it is decreed that the fyft parte of both golde, perles, and precious stones, shulde be assigned to the Kinges treasourers: And the resydue, to bee diuided emonge theym selues by com∣position. Here as brabblynge and contention arose emonge owr men abowt the diuidinge of gold, this eldeste soonne of Kynge Comogrus beinge presente, whome we praysed for his wysedome, commynge sume what wyth an angery counte∣naunce towarde hym whiche helde the balences, he strooke theym wyth his fyste, and scatered all the golde that was therein, abowte the porche, sharpely rebukynge theym with woordes in this effecte. What is the matter yowe Christian men, that yow soo greatly esteme soo litle a portion of golde more then yowr owne quietnes, whiche neuerthelesse yow en∣tend to deface from these fayre ouches and to melte the same into a rude masse. If yowre hunger of goulde bee soo insati∣able that onely for the desyre yowe haue therto, yowe disqui∣ete soo many nations, and yow yowre selues also susteyne soo many calamites and incommodities, lyuing like banished men owte of yowre owne countrey, I wyll shewe yowe a Region floweinge with goulde, where yowe may satisfie yowr raue∣ninge appetites. But yowe muste attempte the thynge with a greater poure: For it standeth yow in hande by force of armes to ouercome kynges of greate puissaunce, and rigorous defen∣ders of theyr dominions. For bysyde other, the greate kinge Tumanama will coome foorthe ageynste yowe, whose kengdome is moste ryche with golde, and distante from hense onely syx soonnes: that is, syx dayes: for they number the dayes by the sonne. Furthermore, or euer yowe canne coome thether, yow must passe ouer the mountaynes inhabited of the cruell Cany∣bales

a fierce kynde of men, deuourers of mans flesshe, lyuing withowte lawes, wanderinge, and withowte empire. For they also, beinge desyrous of golde, haue subdewed them vn¦der theyr dominion whiche before inhabited the golde mynes of the mountaynes, and vse them lyke bondemen, vsyng their laboure in dygginge and workynge theyr golde in plates and sundry Images lyke vnto these whiche yowe see here. For wee doo no more esteeme rude golde vnwrought, then we doo cloddes of earthe, before it bee formed by the hande of the workeman to the similitude eyther of sume vessell nece••sarie for owre vse, or sume ouche bewetifull to be worne. These thynges doo wee receaue of theim for exchaunge of other of owre thynges, as of prisoners taken in warre, whiche they bye to eate, or for sheetes and other thynges perteynynge to the furnyture of householde, suche as they lacke which inha¦bite the mountaynes: And especially for vitayles wherof they stande in greate neede by reason of the barrennes of the moun¦taynes. This iorney therfore, must bee made open by force of men. And when yowe are passinge ouer these mountaynes (poyntinge with his fynger towarde the southe mountaynes) yowe shal see an other sea, where they sayle with shyppes as bygge as yowres (meanynge the caraueles) vsinge both say∣les and ores as yowe doo, althowghe the men bee naked as wee are. All the waye that the water runnethe frome t••e mountaynes, and all that syde lyinge towarde the Southe, bryngeth foorth golde abundantly. As he sayde these woor∣des, he poynted to the vesselles in whiche they vse to serue theyr meate, affirmyng•• that kynge Tumanama, and all the o∣ther kynges beyonde the mountaynes, had suche and al their other householde stuffe of golde: And that there was noo lesse plentie of golde amonge those people of the Southe, then of Iren with vs. For he knewe by relation of owre men, wher∣of owre swoordes and other weapons were made. Owre ca∣pitaynes marueylyng at the oration of the naked younge man (for they had for interpretours those three men whiche had byn before a yere and a halfe conuersant in the court of kynge Careta) pondered in theyr myndes, & ernestly considered his say∣inges. Soo that his rasshenes in scatteringe the golde owte of the balances, they turned to myrth and vrbanitie, commen¦dynge his dooinge and sayinge therin. Then they asked hym

frendely, vppon what certeyne knoweleage he spake those thynges: Or what he thowght beste herein to bee doone yf they shulde brynge a greater supplye of men. To this, younge Comogrus, stayinge a whyle with hym selfe as it were an ora∣tour preparinge him selfe to speake of sume graue matter, and disposynge his bodye to a giesture meete to persuade, spake thus in his mother tonge. Gyue eare vnto me o yowe Chry∣stians. Albeit that the gredie hunger of golde hathe not yet vexed vs naked men, yet doo we destroy one an other by rea∣son of ambition and desyre to rule. Hereof springeth mortall hatred amonge vs, and hereof commethe owre destruction. Owre predicessours kepte warres, and soo dyd Comogrus my father with princes beinge bortherers abowte hym. In the which warres, as wee haue ouercoome, so haue wee byn ouer coome, as dothe appere by the number of bondemen amonge vs, which we tooke by the ouerthrowe of owre enemyes, of the whiche I haue gyuen yowe fiftie. Lykewyse at an other tyme, owre aduersaries hauinge thupper hande agenste vs, ledde away manye of vs captiue. For suche is the chaunce of warre. Also, amonge owre familiers (wherof a great number haue byn captiues with them) beholde here is one whiche of longe tyme ledde a paynefull lyfe in bondage vnder the yoke of that kynge beyonde the mountaynes, in whose kyngdome is suche abundance of golde. Of hym, and suche other innu∣merable, and lykewyse by the resort of free men on theyr syde comminge to vs, and ageyne of owre men resortinge to theim by safe conduct, these thynges haue byn euer as well knowen vnto vs, as owre owne possessions. But that yowe maye bee the better assured hereof, and bee owte of all suspection that yowe shal not bee deceaued, make me the guyde of this viage, byndynge me fast and keepyng me in safe custodie to bee han∣ged on the next tree, yf yowe fynde my sayinges in any point vntrewe. Folowe my counsayle therfore, and send for a thou¦sande Christian men apte for the warres, by whose power we may with also the men of warre of Comogrus my father armed after owre maner, inuade the dominions of owre enemyes: where, bothe yowe may bee satisfyed with golde, and we for owre conductinge and aydynge yowe in this enterpryse, shall thynke owre selues abun••antly rewarded, in that yowe shall helpe to delyuer vs from the iniuries and perpetuall feare of

owre enemies. After these woordes, this prudente younge Comogrus helde his peace. And owre men moued with greate hope and hunger of golde, beganne ageine to swalowe downe theyr spertle.

Notes

• Beragua.
• Nicuesa is sought foorth
• Nicuesa is founde in a miserable case.
• In••olencie of to much felici¦tie.
• Nicuesa fau∣leth from one miserie into an other.
• The greatest part ouercom¦meth the best
• The death of Nicuesa.
• Famen enfor∣seth them to faule to spoy∣lynge.
• Uaschus vsur¦peth thautori¦t••e of the Lieuetenant∣shippe.
• Careta, k••nge of Coiba.
• kynge Careta is taken and spoyled.
• hunger is the best sauce.
• Wyne & thine the seedes of al mischefe.
• Ancisus, lieue¦tenaunt for Fogeda is cast in prison.
• Anci••us ta∣keth his vy∣age to hispa∣niola.
• The reueng of God.
• The inconue¦niences of discorde.
• The sonne & heyr•• of Colo¦nus, is Admi¦rall and vice∣roy of hispa∣niola.
• Valdiuia.
• zamudius & Ancisus, take their vyage to Spayne.
• kinge Pōcha.
• Swoordes of woodde.
• kynge Careta conspireth with the Spa¦nyardes a∣genst kynge Poncha.
• wrought gold
• The region of Comogra, distant frome Dariena xxx. leaques.
• kynge Como∣grus.
• The kynges palaice.
• wyne & syder
• Blacke wine.
• The bo••yes of deade kyn¦ges, religious¦ly honoured.
• Penat••s.
• The carcases of men dryed
• The kynges sonne a yonge man of excel¦lent wytte,
• Foure thou¦sande vnces of wrought golde.
• The distribu¦tion of golde.
• Young Como∣grus his ora∣tion.
• The hunger of golde.
• A reg••on flo∣winge wyth golde.
• kynge Tuma¦nama.
• Canibales.
• The golde mynes of the mountaynes.
• Unwrought golde not este¦med.
• Exchaunge.
• Abundance of golde.
• householde stuffe of gold
• Naked peo∣ple tormēted with ambitiō
• A vehement persuasion.
• A token of hunger.