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 booke of the thyrde Decade, to the bysshoppe of Rome Leo the tenth.

I Was determyned (moste holye father) to haue closed vp the gates to this newe worlde, sup¦posinge that I had wandered farre enowgh in the coastes therof, while in the meane time newe letters were brought me frome thense, which caused me ageyne to take my penne in hande. For I receaued letters not only from certeyne of myne acquaintaunce there, but also frome Vaschus Nunnez whome we sayde by the confidence of his owne poure with his confetherates,* 1.1 to haue vsurped the gouernaunce of Dariena after the reiecting of Nicues•• and Ane••sus, Lieuetenantes. By his letter wrytten after his warlyke maner, wee vnder∣stand that he hath passed ouer the mountaynes, diuidyng the Ocean knowen to vs,* 1.2 from the other mayne sea on the south syde of this lande hetherto vnknowen. His epistell is greater then that cauled Capreensis de Seiano. But wee haue gathered out of that and other, onely suche thynges as we thowght moste woorthy to bee noted. Vaschus soo behaued hym selfe in these affayres, that he dyd not onely pacifie the kynges displeasure

conceaued ageynst hym, but also made hym so fauorable and gracious good lorde towarde hym, that he rewarded him and his coompanions with many honorable gyftes and priuileges for theyr attemptes. Wherfore I desyre yowre holynes to in¦clyne yowre attentiue cares, and to consyder with a ioyfull mynde what they haue browght to passe in these great enter∣pryses.* 1.3 For this valiante nation (the Spanyardes I meane) haue not onely with greate paynes and innumerable dangers subdued to the Christian empire, infinite hundre••es and legi∣ons, but also myriades of men. Vaschus Nunnez therfore, whe∣ther it were that he was impacient of Idlenes (for a valiente mynde can not rest in one place or bee vnoccupyed) or leaste a∣ny other shulde preuent hym in soo great a matter (suspecting the newe gouernour Petrus Arias) or being moued by both these causes,* 1.4 and especially for that the kynge had taken displea∣sure with hym for such thynges as he had doone before, toke thaduenture vppon hym with a fewe men to brynge that to passe which the sonne of kynge Comogrus thought could hard∣ly haue byn doone with the ayde of a thousande men,* 1.5 wherof Petrus Arias was appoynted capitayne for the same purpose. As∣semblynge therfore certeyne of the owlde souldiers of Dariena, and many of those whiche came lately from Hispaniola, allured by the fame of greater plentie of golde,* 1.6 he gathered an armye of a hundreth fourescore and tenne men. Thus beinge fur∣nysshed and redie to take his vyage by sea, whyle the wynde serued hym, he departed frome Dariena with one brygantine and tenne of theyr boates whiche they caule Canoas as wee haue sayde. Fyrst therfore arryuynge in the dominion of Care¦ta kynge of Coiba and frende to the Christians,* 1.7 and leauynge his shyppe and boates there, he made his deuout prayers to al¦myghtie god, and therwith went forwarde on his iourney by lande toward the mountaynes. Here he fyrst entered into the region of kynge Poncha,* 1.8 who fledde at his commyng as he had doone before. But Vaschus sent messengers to hym by the con¦duct of certeyne of Careta his men, promysinge hym frendsh••p and defence ageynst his enemies, with many other benefites. Poncha thus entysed with the fayre speache and frendely pro∣fers bothe of owre men and of the Caretans, came to owr men gladly and wyllyngely makynge a league of frendshippe with them, Vaschus enterteyned hym very frendely, and persuaded

hym neuer therafter to stande in feare. Thus they ioyned handes, embrased, and gaue greate gyftes the one to the o∣ther to knytte vp the knotte of contin••all amitie. Ponc••a gaue Vaschus a hundreth and ten poundes weyght of golde,* 1.9 of ••hat pounde which the Spanyardes caule Pesum. He had no grea∣ter plentie of golde at this tyme, by reason he was spoyled the yeare before as we haue sayde. Vaschus to recompence one benefyte with an other, gaue hym certeyne of owre thynges,* 1.10 as counterfet rynges, Christal stones, copper cheynes & brase lettes, haukes belles, lokynge glasses, and suche other fyne stuffe. These thynges they set much by and greately esteeme. For suche thynges as are straunge, are euery where counted precious. He gaue also to Poncha certeyne axes to fell trees: which he accepted as a princely gyfte, bycause they lacke I∣ren and all other metals except golde:* 1.11 by reason wherof they are enforced with greate laboure to cut theyr trees to buylde theyr houses, and especially to make theyr boates holowe withowte instrumentes of Iren, with certeyne sharpe stones whiche they fynde in the ryuers.* 1.12 Thus Vaschus leauynge all thynges in safetie behynde hym, marched forwarde with his armye towarde the mountaynes, by the conducte of certeyne guydes and labourers which Poncha had gyuen hym, as well to leade hym the way, as also to cary his baggages and open the straightes through the desolate places and craggy rockes full of the dennes of wylde beastes. For there is seldoome en∣tercourse or byinge and sellynge betwene these naked people, bycause they stand in neede of fewe thynges and haue not the vse of money.* 1.13 But yf at any tyme they exercise any bartering they doo it but nere hande, exchangynge golde for housholde stuffe with theyr confines whiche sumewhat esteeme the same for ornamente when it is wrough••. Other superfluities they vtterly contemne, as hynderances of theyr sweete libertie, for asmuch as they are gyuen only to play and Idelnes. And for this cause, the high wayes which lye betwene theyr regions are not much worne with many iorneys. Yet haue theyr scou¦tes certeyne priuie markes whereby they knowe the waye the one to inuade the others dominions, and spoyle and infeste them selues on bothe sydes with mutual incursions priuilie in the nyght season. By the helpe therfore of theyr guydes and labourers, with owre carpenters,* 1.14 he passed ouer the horrible

mountaynes and many greate ryuers lyinge in the way, ouer the which h•• made brydges eyther with pyles or trunkes of trees.* 1.15 And here doo I let passe manye thynges whiche they su••fered for lacke of necessaries, beinge also in maner ouer∣come with extreme laboure, leaste I shulde bee tedious in re∣hersinge thynges of smaule value. But I haue thought it good not to omitte suche doinges as he had with the kynges by the waye. Therefore or euer he came to the toppes of the hygh mountaynes, he entered into a Region cauled Quarequa,* 1.16 and mette with the kynge thereof cauled by the same name, with a greate hande of men armed after theyr maner, as with bowes and arrowes, longe and brode two handed swordes made of wodde, longe staues hardened at the endes with fy∣er, dartes also and slynges. He came proudely and cruelly a∣geynst owre men, and sent messengers to them to byd theym stande and procede no further: demaundynge whyther they went and what they hadde to doo there.* 1.17 Herewith he came foorth and shewed hym selfe beinge appareled with al his no¦bilitie: but the other were all naked. Then approchinge to∣warde owre men, he thretened thē with a lions countenance to depart from thense except they woolde bee slayne euery mo¦thers sonne. When owre men denyed that they woolde goo backe, he assayled them fiercely. But the battayle was sone fyny••••••ed. For as soone as they harde the noyse of the har∣gabu••••es,* 1.18 they beleued that owre menne caryed thunder and lyghtenynge about with them. Many also beinge slayne and sore wounded with quarels of crossebowes,* 1.19 they turned their backes and fledde. Owre men folowynge them in the chase, hewed them in pieses as the butchers doo flesshe in the sham∣welles, from one an arme, from an other a legge, from hym a buttocke,* 1.20 from an other a shulder, and from sume the necke from the bodye at one stroke. Thus, syxe hundreth of them with theyr kynge, were slayne lyke brute beastes. Vaschus founde the house of this kynge infected with most abhomina¦ble and vnnaturall lechery.* 1.21 For he founde the kynges bro∣ther and many other younge men in womens apparell, smoth & effeminately decked, which by the report of such as dwelte abowte hym, he abused with preposterous venus. Of these abowte the number of fortie, he commaunded to bee gyuē for a pray to his dogges. For (as we haue sayd) the Spaniardes

vs•• he helpe of dogges in their warres ageynst the naked peo∣ple whom they inuade as fiercely and rauenyngely as yf they were wylde boares or hartes.* 1.22 In soo muche that owre Spa∣nyardes haue founde theyr dogges noo lesse faythful to them in all daungiours and enterpryses, then dyd the Colophoni∣ans or Castabalenses which instituted hole armies of dogges soo made to serue in the warres, that beinge accustomed to place them in the fore froonte of the battayles, they neuer shrunke or gaue backe. When the people had harde of the se∣uere punysshement which owr men had excecuted vppon that fylthy kynde of men,* 1.23 they resorted to theim as it had byn to Hercules for refuge, by violence bryngyng with them al such as they knewe to bee infected with that pestilence, spettynge in theyr faces and cryinge owte to owre men to take reuenge of them and rydde them owte of the worlde from amonge mē as contagious beastes. This stinkynge abhomination hadde not yet entered amonge the people,* 1.24 but was exercised onely by the noble men and gentelmen. But the people lyftinge vp theyr handes and eyes toward heauen,* 1.25 gaue tokens that god was greuously offended with such vyle deedes. Affirmynge this to bee the cause of theyr soo many thunderinges, lyght∣nynge, and tempestes wherwith they are soo often troubeled: And of the ouerflowinge of waters which drowne theyr sets and frutes, whereof famenne and dyuers diseases insue, as they simplye and faythfully beleue, although they knowe none other god then the soonne, whom onely they honoure, thinkynge that it dooth bothe gyue and take awaye as it is pleased or offended. Yet are they very docible,* 1.26 and easye to bee allured to owre customes and religion, if they had any tea¦chers. In theyr language there is nothynge vnpleasaunte to the eare or harde to bee pronounced, but that all theyr woordes may bee wrytten with latin letters as wee sayde of thinhabitantes of Hispaniola. It is a warlyke nation,* 1.27 & hath byn euer hetherto molestous to theyr bortherers. But the re∣gion is not fortunate with frutful ground or plentie of gold. Yet is it full of greate barren mountaynes beinge sumewhat colde by reason of theyr heyght.* 1.28 And therfore the noble men and gentelmen are apparelled. But the common people lyue content onely with the benefytes of nature. There is a regi∣on not past two dayes iourney distant from Quarequa, in which

they founde only blacke Moores:* 1.29 and those excedynge fierce and cruell. They suppose that in tyme paste certeyne blacke mores sayled thether owt of Aethiopia to robbe: & that by ••hippewracke or sume other chaunce, they were dryuen to those mountaynes. Thinhabitantes of Quarequa lyue in con∣tinuall warre and debate with these blacke men. Here Vaschus le••uinge in Quarequa many of his souldiers (which by reason they were not yet accustomed to such trauayles and hunger,* 1.30 fell into dyuers diseases) tooke with hym certeyne guydes of the Quarequatans to conduct hym to the toppes of the moun¦taynes. From the palaice of kynge Poncha, to the prospect of the other south sea,* 1.31 is only syxe dayes iorney: the which ne¦uerthelesse by reasō of many hynderances and chaunces, and especially for lacke of vytayles, he coulde accomplyshe in noo le••se then .xxv. dayes. But at the length, the seuenth daye of the calendes of October,* 1.32 he behelde with woonderinge eyes the toppes of the hygh mountaynes shewed vnto hym by the guydes of Quarequa, from the whiche he myght see the other sea soo longe looked for, and neuer seene before of any man commynge owte of owre worlde. Approchinge therefore to the toppes of the mountaynes, he commaunded his armye to stey, and went him selfe alone to the toppe, as it were to take the fyrst possession therof.* 1.33 Where, faulynge prostrate vppon the grounde, and raysinge hym selfe ageyne vpon his knees as is the maner of the Christians to pray, lyftynge vppe his eyes and handes towarde heauen, and directinge his face to¦warde the newe founde south sea, he poored foorth his hum¦ble and deuout prayers before almyghtie God as a spirituall sacrifice with thankes gyuing,* 1.34 that it had pleased his diuine maiestie to reserue vnto that day the victorie and praise of so greate a thynge vnto hym, beinge a man but of smaule witte and knowleage, of lyttle experience and base parentage.

When he had thus made his prayers after his warlike maner he beckened with his hande to his coompanions to coome to hym, shewynge them the greate mayne sea heretofore vnkno∣wen to thinhabitantes of Europe, Aphrike, and Asia. Here ageyne he fell to his prayers as before: desyringe almyghtie God and the blessed virgin to fauour his beginninges, and to gyue hym good successe to subdue those landes to the glorie of his holy name and encrease of his trewe religion. All his

coompanions dyd lykewyse, and praysed god with loude voy¦ces for ioye. Then Vaschus, with no lesse manlye corage then Hanniball of Carthage shewed his souldiers Italye and the promontories of the Alpes,* 1.35 exhorted his men to lyft vp their hartes, and to behoulde the lande euen nowe vnder theyr feete, and the sea before theyr eyes, whiche shulde bee vnto them a full and iust rewarde of theyr great laboures and tra∣uayles nowe ouerpa••sed. When he had sayde these woordes, he commaunded them to raise certeine heapes of stones in the steede of alters for a token of possession.* 1.36 Then descendynge from the toppes of the mountaynes, least such as might come after hym shulde argue hym of lyinge or falshod, he wrote the kynge of Castelles name here and there on the barkes of the trees bothe on the ryght hande and on the lefte: and raysed heapes of stones all the way that he went, vntyll he came to the region of the nexte kynge towarde the south whose name was Chiapes.* 1.37 This kynge c••me foorthe ageynste hym with a greate multitude of men: threateninge and forbyddynge him not onely to passe through his dominions, but also to goo no further. Herevppon, Vaschus set his battayle in array,* 1.38 and exhorted his men (beinge nowe but fewe) fiercely to assayle theyr enemies, and to esteeme theym noo better then dogges meate as they shulde bee shortly. Placeinge therfore the har∣gabusiers and masties in the forefroonte, they saluted kynge Chiapes and his men with su••h a larome,* 1.39 that when they hard the noyse of the gunnes, sawe the flames of fyer, and sme••te the sauour of brymstone (for the wynde blewe towarde them) they droue them selues to flyght with suche feare leaste thun∣derboultes and lyghtnynges folowed theim, that manye fell downe to the grounde: whom owre men pursuinge, fyrst kee¦pinge theyr order, and after breakyng theyr array, slewe but fewe and tooke many captiue. For they determined to vse no extremitie, but to pacifie those Regions as quie••lye as they myght. Enteringe therfore into the palaice of kynge Ch••apes, Vaschus commaunded many of the captiues to bee loo••ed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lynge them to search owte theyr kynge,* 1.40 and to 〈…〉〈…〉 to coome ••hyther: And that in soo doinge, he woolde h••e his frende and profer hym peace, besyde ma••y 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••enefites. But if he refused to coome, it shulde turne to the destruction of hym and his, and vtter subuersion of his contrey. ••nd

that they myght the more assuredly do this message to Chiape•• he sent with them certeyne of the guydes whiche came with hym from Qnnrequa.

Thus Chiapes beinge persuaded aswel by the Quareqans who coulde coniecture to what ende the matter woolde coome by thexperience whiche they had seene in them selues and theyr kynge, as also by the reasons of his owne men to whome Vas¦chus hadde made soo frendely promyses in his behalfe, came foorthe of the caues in the whiche he lurked, and submytted hym selfe to Vaschus,* 1.41 who accepted hym frendelye. They ioy∣ned handes, embrased the one the other, made a perpetuall league of frendeshippe, and gaue greate rewardes on bothe sydes. Chiapes gaue Vaschus foure hundreth poundes weyght of wrought goulde of those poundes whiche they caule Pesos:* 1.42 And Vaschus recompensed hym ageyne with certeyne of owre thynges. Thus beinge made freendes, they remayned togy∣ther a fewe dayes vntyll Vaschus souldiers were coome which he lefte behynde hym in Quarequa. Then caulinge vnto hym the guydes and labourers which came with hym from thense he rewarded them liberallye and dismissed theym with than∣kes. Shortly after, by the conduct of Chiapes hym selfe, and certeyne of his men, departinge from the toppes of the moun¦taynes, he came in the space of foure dayes to the bankes of the newe sea: where assemblynge al his men togyther with the kynges scribes and notaries, they addicted al that maine sea with all the landes adiacent there vnto to the dominion and Empire of Castile.* 1.43 Here he left part of his souldiers with Chiapes that he myght theselier searche those coastes. And ta∣kyng with hym nyne of theyr lyghters made of one hole tree (which they caule Culchas as thinhabitantes of Hispaniola caul them Canoas) and also a bande of fourescore men with certeine of Chiapes men, he passed ouer a greate ryuer and came to the region of a certeyne kynge whose name was Coquera.* 1.44 He at∣tempted to resyste owre men as dyd the other, and with lyke successe: for he was ouercoome and put to flyght. But Vaschus who entended to wynne hym with gentelnes,* 1.45 sente certeyne Chiapeans to him to declare the greate poure of owre menner howe inuincible they were: howe mercifull to such as submit them selues, also cruell and seuere to such as obstinatly with stande them. Promysinge hym furthermore, that by the frēd¦shippe

of owre men, he myght bee well assured by thexemple of other, not onely to lyue in peace and quietnes hym selfe, but also to bee reuenged of thiniuries of his enemies. Wylling hym in conclusion soo to weigh the matter, that if he refused this gentelnes profered vnto hym by soo greate a victourer, he shulde or it were longe, lerne by feelynge to repent him to late of that perel which he myght haue auoyded by hearing. Coquera with these woordes and exemples, shaken with great feare, came gladly with the messengers, bryngyng with him syxe hundreth & .l. Pesos of wrought gold,* 1.46 which he gaue vnto owre men. Vaschus rewarded hym lykewise as we sayd before of Poncha, Coquera beinge thus pacified, they returned to the palaice of Chiapes. Where, visitinge theyr companions, and re¦stynge there a whyle, Vaschus determyned to search the nexte greate goulfe, the which, from the furthest reachynge therof into the lande of theyr countreys, from the enteraunce of the mayne sea, they saye to bee threescore myles.* 1.47 This they na∣med saynt Mychaeld goulfe,* 1.48 which they say to bee full of in∣habited Ilandes ans hugious rockes. Enteringe therefore into the nyne boates or Culchas wherwith he passed ouer the ryuer before, hauinge also with hym the same coompanye of fourescore hole men, he wente forwarde on his purpose, al∣though he were greatly dissuaded by Chiapes, who ernestly de¦syred hym not to attempt that vyage at that tyme,* 1.49 affirming the goulfe to be soo tempestious and stormy three moonethes in the yeare, that the sea was there by noo meanes nauigable: And that he had seene many Culchas deuoured of whirlepoles euen beefore his eyes. But inuincible Vaschus, impaciente of idlenes, and voyde of all feare in goddes cause, aunswered that god and his holy sayntes woolde prosper his enterpry∣ses in this case, forasmuche as the matter touched God and the defence of the Christian religion, for the maynetenaunce wherof it shulde bee necessarie to haue great abundance of ry∣ches & treasure as the synewes of war ageynste the enemies of the faythe.* 1.50* 1.51 Thus vsinge also thoffice both of an oratoure and preacher, and hauinge persuaded his coompanyons, he lanched from the ••lande. But Chiapes, least Vaschus shulde any thynge doubt of his faythfulnes towarde hym, profered him selfe to goo with hym whither soo euer he went:* 1.52 And wolde by noo meanes assent that Vaschus shulde depart from his pa∣laice,

but that he woolde brynge hym on the waye and take part of his fortune. Therfore as soone as they were nowe en¦tered into the maine sea, such sourges and conflictes of water arose ageynst them that they were at theyr wyttes endes whi¦ther to turne them or where to reste. Thus beinge tossed and amased with feare, the one loked on the other with pale and vncherefull countenaunces. But especially Chiapes and his coompany, who had before tyme with theyr eyes seetle thex∣perience of those ••eoderdies, were greatly discomforted. Yet (as god woolde) they escaped all, and landed at the nexte I∣lande: Where makynge faste theyr boates, they rested there that nyght. Here the water soo encreased, that it almost o∣uerdowed the Iland.* 1.53 They say also that that south sea doth soo in maner boyle and swelle, that when it is at the hyghest it doth couer many greate rockes, which at the faule therof, are seene farre aboue the water. But on the contrary parte, all suche as inhabite the North sea,* 1.54 affirme with one voyce, that hit scarsely riseth at any tyme a cubet aboue the bankes as they also confesse which inhabite the Ilande of Hispanio¦la and other Ilandes situate in the same. The Ilande ther∣fore beinge nowe drye by the faule of the water, they resor∣ted to theyr boates which they founde all ouerwhelmed and full of sande, and sume sore brused, with great ryftes, and almost lost by reason theyr cables were broken.* 1.55 Such as were brused, they tyed fast with theyr gyrdels, with slippes of the barkes of trees, and with tough and longe stalkes of certein herbes of the sea, stopping the ryftes or chynkes with grasse accordynge to the presente necessitie. Thus were they enfor∣ced to returne backe ageyne lyke vnto men that came frome shippewracke, beinge almost consumed with hunger, bycause theyr vytayles were vtterly destroyed by tempeste. Thinhabi¦tantes declared that there is harde all the yeare horrible ro∣rynge of the sea amonge those Ilandes as often as it rysethe or fauleth. But this most especially in those three monethes in the which it is moste boystious as Chiapes towlde Vaschus be¦fore: Meanynge (as they coulde coniecture by his woordes) October, Nouember, and December: for he signifie) the pre¦sent moone and the twoo moones folowynge, countynge the moonethes by the moones, whereas it was nowe October. Here therefore refresshynge hym selfe and his souldiers a

whyle, and passynge by one vnprofitable kynge, he came to an other whose name was Tumaccus,* 1.56 after the name of the re∣gion, beinge situate on that syde of the goulfe. This Tumaccus came foorth ageynste owre men as dyd the other, and with lyke fortune. For he was ouercoome, dryuen to flyght,* 1.57 and many of his men slayne. He hym selfe was also sore woun∣ded, but yet escaped. Vaschus sent certeyne messengers of the Chiapeans to hym to returne, and not to bee afrayde. But he could be nothyng moued nether by promysses nor threatenin¦ges. Yet when the messengers were instant, & ceassed not to threaten death to him and his famely, with the vtter desola∣tion of his kyngedome if he persisted in that obstinacie, at the length he sent his soonne with them: whom Vaschus hono∣rably enterteyninge, apparelinge hym gorgiously and gyuing hym many gyftes, sent hym to his father, wyllynge hym to persuade hym of the puissaunce, munificence, liberalitie, hu¦manitie, and clemencie of owre men. Tumaccus beinge mooued by this gentelnes declared toward his sonne, came with him the thyrde day, bryngynge nothynge with hym at that tyme. But after that he knewe that owre men desyred goulde and pearles,* 1.58 he sent for syxe hundreth and .xiiii. Pesos of golde, and two hundreth and fortie of the biggest and fayrest perles besyde a great number of the smaulest sorte. Owre men mar∣ueyled at the byggenes and fayrenes of these perles although they were not perfectely whyte bycause they take theym not owte of the sea musculs excepte they fyrst rost them,* 1.59 that they may theselyer open them selfe, and also that the fysshe maye haue the better taste, whiche they esteeme for a delicate and princely dysshe, and set more thereby then by the perles them selues. Of these thynges I was enformed of one Arbolantius beinge one of Vaschus coompanions whom he sent to the kyng with manye perles and certeyne of those sea musculs. But when Tum••ccus sawe that owre men soo greatly regarded the bewtie of the perles, he commaunded certeyne of his men to prepare them selues to goo a fysshynge for perles.* 1.60 Who de∣partinge, came ageyne within foure dayes, bringynge with them twelue pounde weight of orient perles after eight oun∣ces to the pounde.* 1.61 Thus reioysinge on bothe parties, they embrased and made a league of continual frendeshippe. Tumac∣cus thought him selfe happie that he had presented owre men

with such thankeful gyftes and was admitted to theyr frend¦shippe: and owre men thinkynge them selues happie and bles¦sed that they had founde suche tokens of great ryches, swa∣lowed downe theyr spettle for thyrste.* 1.62 At all these doinges, kynge Chiapes was present as a wytnes and coompanion. He also reioysed not a lyttle, aswell that by his conductinge he sawe that owre men shulde bee satisfied of theyr desyre, as al¦so that by this meanes he had declared to the next kynge his bortherer and enemie, what frendes he had of owre men, by whose ayde he myght lyue in quyetnes and bee reuenged of his aduersarie if neede shulde soo requyre.* 1.63 For (as wee haue sayde) these naked kynges infeste theim selues with greuous warres onely for ambition and desyre to rule. Vaschus bosteth in his epistell, that he lerned certeyne maruelous secreates of Tumaccus him selfe as concernynge the greate ryches of this lande: wherof (as he sayth) he woold vtter nothyng at this presente,* 1.64 for asmuche as Tumaccus toulde it him in his eare. But he was enformed of bothe the kynges, that there is an Ilande in that goulfe, greater then any of the other, hauing in it but onely one kynge, and hym of soo great poure,* 1.65 that at suche tymes of the yeare as the sea is caulme, he inuadethe theyr dominions with a greate nauie of Culchas, spoyling and caryinge a way for a praye, all that he meeteth. This Iland is distant from these coastes, onely twentie myles: Soo that the promontories or poyntes therof rechyng into the sea, may bee seene from the hylles of this Continent. In the sea nere about this Ilande, sea musculs are engendred of such quanti¦tie, that many of them are as brode as buckelers,* 1.66 In these are perles founde (beinge the hartes of those shell fysshes) of∣ten tymes as bygge as beanes, sumtymes bygger then olyues and such as sumptuous Cleopatra myght haue desyred.* 1.67 Al∣thoughe this Ilande bee soo nere to the shore of this firme lande, yet is the begynnyng therof in the mayne sea without the mouth of the goulfe. Vaschus beinge ioyfull and mery with this rych communication, fantasinge nowe in maner nothing but princes treasures, beganne to speake fierce and cruell woordes ageynst the tyranne of that Ilande, meanyng here∣by too woonne the myndes of the other kynges, and bynde them to hym with a nearer bande of frendeship. Yet therfore raylynge further on hym with spytefull and opprobrious

woordes, he swore great othes that he woolde furthwith in¦uade the Ilande, spoylynge, destroyinge, burnynge, drow∣nynge, and hangynge, sparinge neyther swoorde nor fyre, vntyll he hadde reuenged theyr iniuries: And therwith com∣maunded his Culchas to bee in a redynes. But the twoo kyn∣ges Chiapes and Tumaccus, exhorted hym frendly to deferre this enterprise vntyll a more quiete season, bycause that sea was not nauigable withowte greate daunger, beinge nowe the be¦gynnynge of Nouember. Wherin the kynges seemed to saye trewe. For as Vaschus hym selfe wryteth, great roryng of the sea was harde amonge the Ilandes of the goulfe by reasō of the raginge and conflicte of the water. Great ryuers also des∣cending from the toppes of the mountaynes the same time of the yeare,* 1.68 & ouerflowyng theyr bankes, dryuyng downe with theyr vyolence greate rockes and trees, make a marueylous noyse. Lykewise the furie of the South and Northeast wyn¦des, associate with thunder and lyghtnynge at the same sea∣son, dyd greatly moleste them.* 1.69 Whyle the wether was fayre they were vexed in the night with could: and in the day time, the heate of the sonne troubled them: wherof it is noo mar∣uaile, forasmuche as they were neare vnto the Equinoctiall lyne,* 1.70 although they make noo mention of the eleuation of the pole. For in such regions, in the nyght, the mone and other coulde planettes: but in the daye, the soone and other hotte planettes, doo chiefely exercise theyr influence: Althowghe the antiquitie were of an other opinion,* 1.71 supposinge th•• Equi¦noctiall circle to bee vnhabitable and desolate by reason of the heate of the soonne hauinge his course perpendiculerly or directly ouer the same: except a fewe of the contrary opinion, whose assertions the Portugales haue at these dayes by ex∣perience proued to bee trewe.* 1.72 For they saile yearely to thinha∣bitantes of the south pole, being in maner Antipodes to the peo¦ple cauled Hyperborei vnder the North pole, and exercise mar∣chaundies with them. And here haue I named Antipodes, foras¦much as I am not ignorant that there hath byn men of singu¦lar witte and great lernyng, which haue denyed that there is Antipodes: that is, such as walke feete to feete. But it is most certeyne, that it is not gyuen to anye one man to knowe all thynges. For euen they ••lso were men: whose propertie is to erre and bee deceaued in many thynges. Neuerthelesse, the

Portugales of owre tyme, haue sayled to the fyue and fyftie degree of the south pole:* 1.73 Where, coompasinge abowte the poynt thereof, they myght see throughowte al the heauen a∣bout the same, certeyne shynynge whyte cloudes here & there amonge the starres, lyke vnto theym whiche are seene in the tracte of heauen cauled Lactea via,* 1.74 that is, the mylke whyte waye. They say, there is noo notable starre neare about that pole lyke vnto this of owres which the cōmon people thynke to bee the pole it selfe (cauled of the Italians Tramontana, and of the Spanyardes Nortes) but that the same fauleth benethe the Ocean.* 1.75 When the sonne descendeth from the myddeste of the exiltree of the woorlde frome vs, it rysethe to them, as a payre of balances whose weyght inclynynge from the equall poyse in the myddest towarde eyther of the sydes, causeth the one ende to ryse as much as the other fauleth. When there∣fore it is autumne with vs, it is sprynge tyme with thē: And summer with vs when it is wynter with them. But it su••fi∣seth to haue sayde thus much of strange matters. Let vs now therfore returne to the historie and to owre men.

¶ The seconde booke of the thyrde Decade.

VAschus by thaduice of kynge Chiapes and Tuma∣cus, determyned to deferre his vyage to the sayde Ilande vntyll the nexte sprynge or summer, at which tyme Chiapes offered hym selfe to accoompany owre men and ayde thē therin all that he myght. In this meane tyme Vaschus had knowleage that these kyn¦ges had nettes and fysshynge places in certeyne stations of that sea nere vnto the shore, where they were accustomed to fyshe for sea musculs in the which perles are engendred:* 1.76 And that for this purpose they had certeyne dyuers or fysshers ex¦ercised frome theyr youthe in swymmynge vnder the water. But they doo this onely at certeyne tymes when the sea is calme,* 1.77 that they may theselyer coome to the place where these shell fyshes are woonte to lye. For the bygger that they are, soo much ly they the deaper and nerer to the bottome But the lesser, as it were dowghters to the other, are nerer the bryme

of the w••ter. Lykewyse the leaste of all, as it were their nie∣ses, are yet nearer to the superficiall parte therof. Too them of the byggeste sorte whiche lye loweste, the fysshers descende the depthe of three mens heyght, and sumtyme foure. But to the doughters or nieses as their succession, they descend one∣lye to the mydde thygh. Sumtymes also, after that the sea hathe byn disquyeted with vehemente tempestes, they fynde a greate multytude of these fysshes on the sandes, beyng dry∣uen to the shore by the vyolence of the water. The perles of these whiche are founde on the sande, are but lytle. The fisshe it selfe, is more pleasaunte in eatynge then are owre oysters as owre men report. But perhappes hunger the sweete cause of all meates, caused owre men soo too thynke. Whether per∣les bee the hartes of sea musculs (as Aristotell supposed) or the byrthe or spaune of there intrals (as Plinye thought) Or whether they cleaue contynually to the rockes,* 1.78 or wander by coompanies in the sea by the guydinge of thelde••e: Whether euerye fysshe brynge foorthe one perle or more, at one byrthe or at dyuers: Also whether theye bee fyled frome the rockes wherunto theye cleaue, or maye bee easylye pulled awaye, or otherwyse faule of by them selues when theye are coomme to there full grouth: Lykewyse whether perles bee harde within the shelle or softe, owre men haue as yet noo certayne experyence. But I truste or it bee longe, too knowe the truth hereof. For owre men are euen nowe in hande with the mat∣ter. Also, as soone as I shall bee aduertysed of the arryuall of Petrus Arias the capytayne of owre men,* 1.79 I wyll desyre hym by my letters to make diligent searche for these thynges, and certifye me therof in all poyntes. I knowe that he wyll not bee slacke or omytte any thynge herein. For he is my verye frende: and one that taketh greate pleasure in consyderynge the woorkes of nature. And surelye it seeme••h vnto me vnde∣cente, that wee shoulde with sylence ouerslyppe so greate a thynge whiche aswell in the owlde tyme as in owre dayes, hathe, & yet doothe, drawe bothe men and women to emmo∣derate desyre of superfluous pleasure.* 1.80 Spayne therefore shal∣be able hereafter with perles to satisfie the gredye appetite of suche as in wanton pleasures are lyke vnto Cleopatra & Asopus So that frome hensforth we shal neyther enuye nor reuerence the nyse frutefulnes of Stoidum,* 1.81* 1.82* 1.83 or Taprobana,* 1.84 or the re••de sea.

But lette vs nowe returne to owre purpose. Vaschus therfore determined with the fysshers of Chiapes to proue what myght bee doone in his fyshe pooles or stations of sea muscules. Chiapes to shewe hym selfe obediente to Vaschus his requeste, al∣though the sea were boystyous, coommaunded thirtye of his fysshers to prepare them selfes and to resorte to the fysshinge places. Vaschus sente onelye syxe of his men with them to bee¦holde them frome the sea bankes, but not to coommitte them selues to the daunger of the sea. The fysshynge place was distante frome the palayce of Chiapes aboute tenne myles.* 1.85 They durste not aduenture to dyue to the bottome by reason of the furye of the sea. Yet of the muscules whiche lye hyghest, and of suche as were dryuen to the shore by the vyolence of the water, theye broughte syxe greate farthels in the space of a fewe dayes. The perles of these were but lyttle, aboute the bygnes of smaule fytches: yet verye fayre and bewtyfull, by reason theye were taken newely owte of the fysshe, beinge yet rawe. And that they shulde not bee reproued of lyinge as concerninge the bignes of these sea musculs, they sente many of them into Spayne to the kynge with the perles, the fysshe beynge taken owte. Wee thinke verily that there maye in noo place bygger bee founde. These shelle fysshes therfore beynge thus founde here in soo manye places in that sea, and gold in maner in euerye house,* 1.86 doo argue the ryche treasurye of na∣ture too bee hyd in those coastes, forasmuche as suche greate ryches haue byn founde as it were in the lytle fynger of a gi∣antes hande.* 1.87 What then maye wee thynke of the hole hande of the gyante (for hetherto theye haue onely bynne in hande with the confynes of Vraba) when theye shall haue thorowly searched all the coastes and secreates of the inner partes of all that large lande. But Vaschus contented with these sygnes & ioyfull of his good successe in these enterprises, determined by an other waye to returne to his felowes in Dariena, where also, they haue golde mynes aboute tenne myles from the vil∣lage.* 1.88 He gaue therfore kyng Chiapes leaue to depart, and to fo∣lowe hym noo further: Consailyng hym to continue faythfull to the christian kynge his lorde & maister. Thus embrasinge the one the other, & ioyninge handes, Chiapes departed, with teares declaring the good mynde which he bore to owre men. Vaschus leauing his sicke mē with Chiapes, Went forward on his

iourney with the resydue, hauinge also with him for guydes three of Chiapes maryners. He conueyghed his armye ouer a greate ryuer into the dominion of a certeine kynge cauled Tea¦ocha:* 1.89 who beinge aduertised of the coommyng of owre men, of whose famous actes he had harde muche before, was verye gladde therof and enterteyned them honorably: So that for a token of his frendely affection towarde them, he gaue Vas∣chus twentie poundes weyght of wrought golde after eyght ounces to the pounde:* 1.90 Also twoo hundreth bigge perles: but not fayre, by reason they were taken owt of the musculs after they had byn sodden. After they had ioyned handes, Vaschus recompensed hym with certeyne of owre thynges. Lykewise rewardynge his guydes the seruantes of Chiapes, he dismissed them with commendations to theyr lord. Kyng Teaocha at the departure of owr men from his palaice, dyd not onely appoint them guydes to conduct them in the way, but also gaue them certeyne slaues in the steede of beastes to cary theyr vytayles, bycause they shulde passe throwgh many desertes,* 1.91 baren and rowgh mountaynes and terrible wooddes full of tygers and Lions. He sent also one of his sonnes with these slaues, la∣dynge them with salted and dryed fysh••,* 1.92 and breade of those regions, made of the rootes of Maizium and Iucca. He also commaunded his sonne not to depart from owr men vntyl he were licenced by Vaschus. By theyr conductinge therfore, Vas∣chus came to the dominion of an other kyng whose name was Pacra, a cruell tyranne,* 1.93 fearefull to the other kynges his bor∣therers, and of greater poure then any of them. This tyran, whether it were that his giltie conscience for his mischeuous actes, put him in feare that owre menne woolde reuenge the same, or that he thought hym selfe inferior to resist them, fled at theyr commynge. Vaschus wryteth that in these regions in the mooneth of Nouember he was sore afflicted with greate heate and intollerable thirst,* 1.94 by reason that syde of the moun¦taynes hath lyttle water: In soo muche that they were in daunger to haue perisshed but that certeyne of thinhabitants shewed them of a sprynge which was in the secreate place of a woodde, whither Vaschus with all speade sent twoo quycke and stronge younge men of his coompanions with theyr gour¦des and suche water vesselles as Teaocha his men browghte with them. Of thinhabitantes, there durst none depart from

there coompany bycause the wylde beastes doo soone inuade naked men. For in those mountaynes, and especially in the wooddes neare vnto the springe, they saye that they are sum∣tymes taken owte of there houses in the nyght, excepte they take good heede that the doores bee well sparde. It shall not bee frome my purpose hereto declare a particular chaūce be∣fore I enter any further in this matter.* 1.95 Theye saye therfore that the laste yeare the regyon of Dariena was noolesse infested and trowbeled with a fierse tyger,* 1.96 then was Calidonia in tyme paste with a wylde bore,* 1.97 and Nemea with a horrible lyon.* 1.98 For they affyrme that for the space of syxe hole moonethes there passed not one nyghte withowte summe hurte doone: soo that it kylled nyghtlye eyther a bullocke, a mare, a dogge, or a hogge, sumtimes euen in the highe wayes of the village. For owre men haue nowe greatheardes of cattayle in those regions. They say also that when this tyger had whelpes,* 1.99 noo man myght safelye goo furthe of his doores, bycause shee spared not men if shee mette fyrste with them. But at the len∣geth, necessitye enforced them to inuente a policye howe they myght bee reuenged of suche bludshed. Searchynge therfore dilygently her footesteppes,* 1.100 and folowynge the pathe wher∣bye shee was accustomed in the nyght season to wander owte of her denne to seeke her praye, theye made a greate trenshe or pytte in her walke, coueringe the same with hurdels wher∣vppon theye caste parte of the earthe and dispersed the resy∣due. The dogge tyger chaunsed fyrste into this pitfaul,* 1.101 and fel vppon the poyntes of sharpe stakes and suche other ingens as were of purpose fyxed in the bottome of the trenshe. Be∣ynge thus wounded, he rored soo terrybly, that it grated the bowels of suche as harde hym, and the wooddes and mon∣taynes neare aboute, rebounded the noyse of the horryble crye. When they perceaued that he was layde faste, they re∣sorted to the trenshe and slewe hym with stones, dartes, and pykes. With his teethe and clawes, he broke the dartes in∣to a thousande chyppes, Beynge yet deade, he was fearefull to all suche as behelde hym: what then thinke you he woolde haue doone beynge alyue and loose. One Iohannes Ledisma of Ciuile, a nere frynde to Vaschus and one of the coompanyons of his trauayles, toulde me that he hym selfe dyd eate of the fleshe of that tiger:* 1.102 and that it was nothinge inferyor to biefe

in goodnes. Beynge demaunded howe they knewe hit to bee a tyger forasmuche as none of them had euer seene a tyger, they answered that they knewe hit by the spottes, fiercenes, agilitye, and suche other markes and token wherby the an∣ciente writers haue described the tiger. For sum of them, had before tyme seene other spotted wilde beastes, as lybardes & panthers. The dogge tiger beynge thus kylled, theye folo∣wynge the trase of his steppes towarde the mountaines, came to the denne where the bytche remayned with her twoo younge suckynge whelpes.* 1.103 But shee was not in the denne at there coommynge. Theye fyrste caryed awaye the whelpes with them. But afterwarde fearynge leaste they shulde dye bycause theye were very younge,* 1.104 entendynge when they were bygger to sende them into Spayne, they put cheynes of yren aboute there neckes, and caryed them agayne to there denne: whither returnynge within a fewe dayes after, theye founde the denne emptye and the cheynes not remoued frome there place.* 1.105 Theye suppose that the damme in her furye fore them in pyeces and caryed them awaye, leste anye shulde haue the fruition of them. For theye playnely affirme that it was not possible that they shulde bee loosed frome the chaynes alyue. The skynne of the deade tyger stuffed with drye herbes and strawe, theye sente to Hispaniola to the admyrall and other of the chiefe rulers frome whome the newe landes receyue there lawes and succoure. It shall at this tyme suffyce to haue writ∣ten thus much of the tygers, as I haue lerned by the reporte of them whiche bothe susteyned domage by there rauenynge, and also handeled the skynne of that whiche was slayne. Let vs, nowe therfore returne to kynge Pacra frome whome wee haue disgressed.* 1.106 When Vaschus had entred into the houses for∣saken of Pacra, he sente messengiers to reconcyle hym as he had doone the other kinges. At the first he refused to coomme. But after threatenynges, he came with three other kynges in his coompanye. Vaschus writethe that he neuer sawe a more monstrous and deformed creature: And that nature hath one¦ly gyuen hym humane shape, and otherwyse to bee wor••e thē a brute beaste, with maners accordynge to the linyamentes of his bodye. He abused with moste abhominable lechery the doughters of foure kynges his brotherers frome whome hee had taken them by vyolence. Of the fylthye behauoure of

Pa••ra,* 1.107 of his crueltye and iniuryes doone by hym, many of the other kynges made greuous coomplayntes to Vaschus as vnto a hygh Iudge and iuste reuenger: Moste humblye besechyng hym to see suche thynges punysshed, forasmuche as theye tooke hym for a man sente of god for that purpose. Herevp∣pon Vaschus aswell to wynne their good wylles, as also too shewe an exemple of terroure to suche as vsed lyke fasshions,* 1.108 coommaunded that this monstrous beaste with the other three kynges whiche were subiecte to hym and of lyke condi∣tions, shulde bee geuen for a praye to his feyghtinge dogges, and their torne carkeses to bee burned. Of these dogges whi¦che theye vse in the warres,* 1.109 theye tell maruelous thynges. For theye saye that theye runne vppon thinhabitantes ar∣med after there maner, with noo lesse fiercenes then if theye were hartes or wylde bores, if the Spaniardes doo but one¦ly poynte towarde them with their fyngers: In soo muche that oftentymes they haue had no neede too dryue their ene∣myes too flyght with swoordes or arrowes: But haue doone the same onely with dogges placed in the forefronte of their battayle, and lettynge them slyppe with their watche woorde and priuye token. Wheruppon the barbaryans stry∣ken with feare by reason of the cruell countenaunces of the masties, with their desperate bouldenes and vnaccustomed houlynge and backynge, haue disparcled at the fyrste onsette and broke their arraye. Yet it chaunseth otherwyse when theye haue anye conflicte agaynst the Canibales and the peo∣ple of Caramairi. For these are fyerser, and more warrelyke men: Also so experte arches,* 1.110 that theye can moste certenlye dyrect their venemous arrowes against the dogges with su∣che celeritye as if theye were thunderboltes: By reason wher∣of, they sumtymes kyl many of thē. Thinhabytantes of these montaynes, doo not keepe warre with bowes and arrowes: But vse onelye M••chanis, that is certayne longe and broude swordes made of woodde:* 1.111 Also slynges, longe pykes and dartes hardened at the endes with fyere. Whyle kynge Pacra yet lyued, noo man coulde knowe of hym neyther by fayre meanes nor by foule, where he had the golde whiche was founde in his house. For owre men founde in his iewel house fyftye poundes weyght of golde.* 1.112 Beynge therfore demaun∣ded where he had it, he answered that they whiche gathered

the same in those montaynes in his fathers dayes, were all deade: And that sense he was a chylde, he neuer esteemed golde more then stoones. More then this, theye coulde not gette of hym. By this seuere punyshment executed vppon Pa∣cra, Vaschus concyled vnto hym the myndes of all the other kynges of that prouynce. And by this meanes it came too passe, that when he sente for the sycke men whiche he lefte behynde hym with kynge Chiapes, an other kynge whiche was in the mydde waye (whose name was Bononiama) enter∣teyned them gentellye,* 1.113 and gaue them .xx. pounde weyght of pure wrought golde,* 1.114 besyde great plentye of vyttayles. And not this onely, but also accoompanyed them hym self•• vntyll he had brought them safely frome his palaice into th•• domynyon of Pacra: Where takynge eche of them by the ryghte handes, he delyuered them to Vaschus hym selfe, as a faythefull pledge commytted too his charge, and there∣with spake to Vaschus in this effecte. Mooste myghtye and valyaunte vyctourer, beholde I here delyuer vnto yowe, yowre coompanions in suche plight as I receaued them:* 1.115 wis∣shynge that I had byn aswell able to gyue them healthe, as they were hertely welcoome to suche pore enterteynement as I was able to shewe them. For the fauoure and gentelnesse whiche I haue founde bothe in yowe and them, he shall re∣warde yowe whiche sendeth thunderynge and lyghtelyng to the destruction of myscheuous men,* 1.116 and of his clemencye gi∣ueth vnto good men plentie of Iucca and M••••izium in dewe sea¦son. As he spake these woordes, he lyfted vppe his handes and eyes towarde the soonne whome they honoure for god. Then he spake further to Vaschus, sayinge: In that yowe haue destroyed and slaine owre vyolent and proude enemies, yowe haue browght peace and quyetnesse to vs and owre fa∣melyes, and bounde vs for euer to loue and obeye yowe. Yowe haue soo ouercoome and tamed wylde monsters, that wee thynke yowe to bee sente from heauen for the punyshe∣ment of euell men and defence of innocentes, that vnder the protection of yowre myghtye swoorde, wee maye hereafter leade owre lyues withowte feare, and with more quietne••se gyue thankes to the giuer of all good thinges for h••s mercie shewed vnto vs in this behalfe. When thinterpretoure had toulde Vaschus that kyng Bononiama had sayde the••e woordes,

and suche lyke, Vaschus rendered hym lyke thankes for his humanitye declared towarde owre men, and rewarded hym as he had doone other in whome he founde lyke gentilnesse. Vaschus wryteth that he lerned manye thynges of this kynge as concernynge the greate rychesse of these regions: ••ut that he woolde at this present speake nothynge therof: And rehersethe the same as thynges lyke to haue good successe. What this implicate Hiperbole,* 1.117 or aduauncement meaneth, I doo not well vnderstande. But he playnely seemeth hereby to promysse many greate thynges. And surely it is to be thought that accordynge to his hope, great riches maye bee looked for. For they came in maner into none of thinhabytauntes houses,* 1.118 but that they found in them, eyther bresteplates or curettes of golde, or elles golden ouches, iewels, or gar∣landes to weare aboute there heades, neckes, or armes. I coniecture therfore thus by a symilitude of owre houses:* 1.119 If amonge vs any man of great poure were moued with the de∣syre to haue great plentye of Iron, and woolde enter into I∣talye with a mayne force as dyd the Gothes in tyme paste, what abundaunce of Iron shoulde he haue in their houses: where as he shulde fynde in one place a friyngpan, in an o∣ther a chauldron, here a tryuet, and there a spytte, and these in maner in euery pore mannes house, with suche other innu∣merable: Whereby any man maye coniecture that Iren is plentifully engendred in suche regions where they haue soo greate vse therof. Owre men also perceaued that thinhaby∣tantes of these regions do no more esteeme golde then we do Iren:* 1.120 nor yet soo muche after they sawe to what vse Iren serued vs. Thus muche haue I thoughte good to write too yowre holynesse of suche thynges as I haue gathered owt•• of the letters of Vaschus Nunnez, and learned by woorde of mouthe of such as were his cōpanyons in these affayres. As wee receyue them, so wee gyue them vnto yowe. Tyme which reueleth all secretes, shall hereafter mynyster larger argu∣ment of wrytynge. Theye coulde at this tyme doo no greate thynge in searchynge the golde mynes, forasmuche as of a hundreth fourescore and tenne men whiche Vaschus broughte with hym from Dariena, there remayned onely threescore and ten, or at the most fourescore, whose ayde he nowe vsed in these daungerous aduentures, leauynge euer the crased men

behynd hym in the kinges houses all the waye that he went But they mooste especially fell into sundrye diseases,* 1.121 whiche came lately from Hispaniola. For they were not able to abyde suche calamities as to lyue onely contented with the breade of those regions, and wylde herbes without salte, drinkinge none other then ryuer water, and that oftentimes eyther lac∣kinge or vnholsome, where as before their stomakes had byn vsed to good meates. But the owlde souldiours of Dariena,* 1.122 were hardened to abyde all sorowes, and exceadynge tolle∣rable of labour, heate, hunger, and watchynge: In so muche that merilye they make their booste that they haue obserued a longer and sharper lent then euer yowre holinesse inioyned.* 1.123 For they saye that for the space of foure hole yeares, they eate none other then herbes and frutes, excepte nowe and then perhappes fyshe, and verye seldoome fleshe: Yea, and that sumtime for lacke of al these, they haue not abhorr••d frō mangye dogges and fylt hye toades as wee haue sayde be∣fore. The owlde souldiers of Dariena, I caule those whiche fyrste folowed the capytaynes Nicuesa and Fogeda to inhabyte the lande, of the whiche nowe fewe were lyuynge. But lette vs nowe omytte these thynges, and retourne to Vaschus the victourer of the montaynes.

¶ The thyrde booke of the thyrde Decade.

WHen Vaschus had remained thirtye dayes in the palayce of kynge Pacra, concilynge vnto hym the myddes of thinhabitantes and prouidinge thynges necessarye for his coompanions, he departed frome thense by the conducte of cer∣tayne of kynge Teaocha his men, and came too the banke of the ryuer Comogrus,* 1.124 wherof the region and king therof, are named by the same name. He founde the sydes of these montaynes so rude and baren, that there was nothinge apte to bee eaten, but wilde rootes and certayne vnpleasante frutes of trees. Two kynges beinge neare of bludde, inhaby∣ted this infortunate region,* 1.125 whiche Vaschus ouerpassed with all speede for feare of hunger. One of these poore kinges was named Cotochus, and the other Ciuriza. He tooke them bothe

with hym to guyde hym in the waye, and dismyssed Teaocha his men with vytayles and rewardes. Thus for the space of three dayes, he wandered throughe many deserte wooddes,* 1.126 craggye mountaynes, & muddy marysshes full of suche qua∣myres that men are oftentymes swalowed vp in them if they looke not the more warelye to their fiete. Also through pla∣ces not frequented with resorte of men, and suche as nature had not yet opened to their vse, forasmuche as thinhabitan∣tes haue seldoome entercourse betwene them, but onely by sundrye incurtions, the one to spoyle and destroye the other: Beynge otherwise contented to lyue onely after the lawe of nature, withowte worldly toyle for superfluous pleasures. Thus enteringe at the lengthe into the territorye of anothe•• kynge whose name was Bechebuea,* 1.127 they founde all thynges voyde and in silence: For the kynge and his subiectes, were all fledde to the wooddes. When Vaschus sente messengers to fetche hym, he dyd not onely at the fyrste submytte hym selfe, but also promysse his ayde with all that he myghte make: Protestynge furthermore, th••t he fledde not for feare that owre men woolde doo hym any iniurie, but that he hyd hym selfe for verye shame and griefe of mynde, for that he was not able to receyue them honorablye accordynge vnto their dignitye, bycause his store of vitayles was consumed. Yet in a token of obedience and frendeshyppe, he sente owre men many vesselles of golde,* 1.128 desyring them to accepte them as the gifte of a frind whose good will wanted not in grea∣ter thynges if his abilytye were greater. By whiche woor∣des the poore man seemed to insinuate that he had byn rob∣bed and otherwise cruelly handled of his bortherers. By rea¦son wherof, owre men were enforced to departe from thense more hungerly then theye came. As theye wente forwarde therfore, they espyed certeine naked men coomminge downe from a hylle towarde them. Vaschus coommaunded his armye to staye, and sente his interpretours to them to knowe what they wold haue. Then one of thē to whom the other seemed to gyue reuerence, spake in this effect. Owre lorde & kinge Chiorisus,* 1.129 greeteth yowe well: Wyllynge vs to declare that he hath harde of yowre puissaunce and vertue wherby yowe haue subdued euell men and reuenged the wronges doone to innocentes. For the whiche yowre noble factes and iustyce,

as he doothe honour yowre fame, soo woolde he thinke him selfe moste happye if he myght receiue yowe into his palaice. But, forasmuche as his fortune hath byn so euell (as he im∣puteth it) that beynge owte of yowre waye, yowe haue o∣uerpassed hym, he hath sent yowe this golde in token of his good wyll and fryndshyppe towarde yowe. And with these woordes he deliuered to Vaschus thirty disshes of pure golde. Addynge hereunto, that when so euer it shulde please him to take the paynes to coomme to their kynge, he shulde receyue greater gyftes. He declared further, that a kynge whyche was their bortherer and mortall enemye, was very ryche in golde: And that in subduynge of hym they shulde bothe ob∣teine greate rychesse, and also delyuer them from daylye vex∣ations: whiche thinge myght easilye be doone by their helpe bycause they knewe the countrey. Vaschus put them in good coomforte, and gaue them for rewarde certayne Iren axes whiche they more esteemed then greate heapes of golde.* 1.130 For they haue lyttell neede of golde, hauynge not thuse of pesti∣ferous money. But he that maye get but one axe or hatchet, thynketh hym selfe rycher then euer was Crassus. For euen these naked men doo perceyue that an axe is nece••sarye for a thousande vses: And confesse that golde is desyred onely for certayne vaine and effeminate pleasures,* 1.131 as a thyng whi∣che the lyfe of man maye lacke withowte any inconuenience. For owre glutteny and superfluous sumptuousnesse hath not yet corrupted them: By reason wherof they take it for noo shame to lacke cobardes of plate, where as the pride and wan¦tonnes of owre tyme dooeth in maner impute it to vs for ig∣nominye to bee withowte that, wherof by nature we haue no neede.* 1.132 But their contentation with the benefytes of nature doothe playnly declare that men may leade a free and happy life withowt tables, table clothes, carpettes, napkyns, and towels, with suche other innumerable wherof they haue no vse, excepte perhappes the kynges furnishe their tables with a fewe golden vessels. But the common people dryue awaye hunger with a pyece of their breade in the one hande, and a piece of broylde fyshe or summe kynde of fruite in the other hande. For they eate fleshe but seldome. When their fingers are imbrued with any ounctuous meates, they wype them eyther on the soules of their feete, or on their thyghes, ye &

sumtymes on the skynnes of their priuye members in the steede of a nappekynne. And for this cause doo they often tymes washe them selues in the ryuers. Owre men therfore wente forwarde laden with golde,* 1.133 but sore afflicted with hunger. Thus they came at the length to the dominion of kynge Pocchorrosa who fledde at their coommynge. Here for the space of thirtye dayes they fylled their emptye bellies with breade of the rootes of Maizium. In the meane tyme Vaschus sente for Pocchorrosa:* 1.134 who beynge allured with pro∣misses and fayre woordes, came and submytted hym selfe brynginge with hym for a present .xv. poundes weighte of wrought golde,* 1.135 and a fewe slaues. Vaschus rewarded hym as he had doone other before. When he was mynded to depart, he was aduertised that he shulde passe through the dominiō of a certayne kynge whose name was Tumanama.* 1.136 This is hee whome the soonne of kynge Comogrus declared to bee of soo great poure and fearefull to all his bortherers, & with whom many of Comogrus familyers had byn captyue. But owre men nowe perceiued that they measured his poure by their owne. For their kinges are but guattes compared to elephantes, in respecte to the poure and pollicye of owre men. Owre men were also enformed by suche as dwelte neare aboute Tu∣manama, that his region was not beyonde the montaynes as they supposed: Nor yet so ryche in golde as younge Como∣grus▪ had declared. Yet consulted they of his subduyng: whi∣che they thoughte they myght theaslyer brynge to passe by∣cause Pocchorrosa was his mortall enemye, who moste gladly promysed them his aduice and ayde herein. Vaschus therfore, leauynge his sycke men in the vyllage of Poochorrosa, tooke with hym threscore of his moste valiante souldiers, and de∣clared vnto them howe kynge Tumanama had oftentymes spo∣ken proude and threatnyng woordes ageynste them:* 1.137 Lyke∣wise that it nowe stoode them in hande of necessitye to passe through his dominion: And that he thought it beste to sette vppon hym vnwares. The souldiers consented to his aduice, an•• exhorted him to gyue thaduenture, promisinge that they woolde folowe hym whether so euer he wente. They deter∣mined therfore to go two dayes iorney in one daye, that Tu∣manama not knowynge of their sooden commyng, myght haue no leasure to assemble an armye. The thynge came to passe

euen as they had deuysed. For in the fyrste watche of the nyght, owre men with the Pocchorrosians, inuaded the vyllage and palaice of Tumanama, where they tooke hym prisoner sus∣pectynge nothinge lesse.* 1.138 He had with hym two younge men whiche he abused vnnaturally: Also fourscore women whi••h he had taken vyolently from dyuers kynges. Lykewise a greate number of his gentelmen and subiectes were taken stragelynge in other vyllages neare aboute his palaice. For their houses are not adherent togither as owres bee, bycause they are oftentimes troubeled with vehement whrilewyndes by reason of the sudden chaunges and motions of the ayre caused by the influence of the planetes in the equalitie of the daye and nyght beynge there in maner bothe of one lengthe throughowte all the yeare, forasmuche as they are neare vn∣to the Equinoctiall lyne as we haue sayde before.* 1.139 Their hou∣ses are made of trees, couered and after their maner thetched with the stalkes of certayne towghe herbes. To the palayce of Tumanama,* 1.140 was onely one house adherent, and that euen as bygge as the palayce it selfe. Eyther of these houses were in length a hundreth and twentie pases; and in bredth fyftie pases as owre men measured them. In these two houses the kynge was accustomed to muster his men as often as he prepared an armye. When Tumanaman therfore, was thus ta∣ken captyue with all his Sardanapamcall famelye, the Poc∣chorrosians bragged and threatened hym beynge nowe bounde, that he shulde shortly bee hanged. The other kynges also his bortherers, reioysed at his mysfortune. Wherby owre men perceaued that Tumanama was nolesse troublesome to his neigh¦bours, then was Pacra to the kinges of the southe syde of the montaynes. Vaschus also the better to please them, threatned hym greuously: But in deede entended no euell toward him. He spake therfore sharpely vnto hym with these woordes:* 1.141 Thou shalte nowe su••fer punyshment thou cruell tyranne, for thy pryde and abhominations. Thou shalte knowe of what poure the christians are whom thou haste soo contemned and threated to drawe by the heare of their heades to the nexte ry••er and there to drowne them as thou haste often tymes made thy vaunte emonge thy naked slaues. But thou thy selfe shalte fyrste feele that whiche thou haste prepared for o∣ther.: And herewith commaunded hym to bee taken vppe.

Neuerthelesse gyuynge a priuye tooken of pardon to them whiche layde handes on him. Thus vnhappye Tumanama, fea∣rynge and beleuynge that Vaschus had mente in ernes••e as he commaunded, fell prostrate at his feete and with teares de∣syred pardon: Protestynge that he neuer spake any suche woordes. But that perhappes his noble men in their droon∣kennesse had so abused their toonges whiche he coulde not rule. For their wynes although they bee not made of grapes yet are they of force to make men droonken. He declared fur∣thermore that the other kynges his bortherers had of ma∣lice surmysed suche lyes of hym enuyinge his fortune bycause he was of greater poure then they.* 1.142 Moste humbly desyringe Vaschus that as he tooke hym to bee a iuste vyctourer, soo to gyue no credytte vnto their vniuste and malycious complain∣tes.* 1.143 Addynge herevnto that if it woolde please hym to par∣don hym not hauinge offended, he woolde bringe him great plentie of gold. Thus layinge his ryght hande on his breast, he swore by the sonne, that he euer loued and feared the chrystians sence he fyrste harde of their fame and vyctoryes: Especially when he harde saye that they had Machanas, that is, swoordes sharper then thearse, and such as cutte in pie∣ces al thynges that coomme in their waye. Then directynge his eyes towarde Vaschus who had his swoorde in his hand, he spake thus. Who (excepte he were owte of his wytte) dare lyfte vppe his hande ageynste this swoorde of yowres wherwith yowe are able with one strooke to cleane a man from the heade to the nauell. Lette no man therfore perswade yowe (o moste myghtye victourer) that euer suche woordes proceded owte of my mouthe. As Tumanama with trembeling spake these woordes, therwith swalowynge downe the knot of deathe, Vaschus seemed by his teares to bee moued to com∣passion:* 1.144 And speakyng to hym with chearefull countenance commaunded hym to bee loosed. This doone, he sente imme∣diatly to his palaice for .xxx. poundes weyght of pure gold artifycially wrought into sundry ouches whiche his wyues and concubynes vsed to weare.* 1.145 Also the thyrde daye folo∣wynge, his noble men and gentylmen sent threscore poun∣des weight of golde for their fyne and raunsumme.* 1.146 Tumanama beyng demaūded wher they had that gold, answered that it was not gathered in his dominiōs But that it was brought

his auncestours from the ryuer Comogrus toward the southe. But the Pocchorrosians & other his enemies, sayd that he lyed: Affirmynge that his kingdome was ryche in golde. Tumanama on the contrary part, instantly protested that he neuer knewe any golde myne in all his dominions. Yet denyed not but that there hath sumtimes byn found certaine smaule graines of golde, to the gatherynge wherof, he neuer had any re∣garde, bycause they coulde not gette it without great & longe labour.* 1.147 Whyle these thynges were dooinge, the sycke men whiche Vaschus had lefte in the village of Pocchorrosa, came to hym the .viii. day of the Calendes of Ianuary in the yeare of Christe. M.D.XIII. bringyng with them certayne la∣bourers from the kynges of the southe with sundrye instru∣mentes to dygge the grounde and gather golde. Thus pas∣synge ouer the day of the natiuitye of Christ without bodely labour, vppon sainte Steuens daye he brought certeyne my∣ners to the syde of a hyll not farre dystante from the palaice of Tumanama, where (as he saith) he perceaued by the coloure of the earth that it was lykely to brynge furthe golde. When they had dygged a pytte not past a hand breadth and a halfe,* 1.148 and syfted the earthe therof, they founde certayne smaule graynes of golde no bygger then lintell seedes, amountynge to the weyght of twelue graynes as they prouyd with their balances of assaye before a notarie and wytnesse that the bet∣ter credytte myghte bee gyu••n therto. Wherby they argued that the rychenesse of that lande was agreable to the report of the bortherers, although Vaschus coulde by noo meanes cause Tumanama to confesse the same. They suppose that he no∣thynge esteemed so smaule a portion. But other saye that he denyed his countrey to bee frutefull of golde, leaste by reason therof the desyre of golde, myght intyse owre men to inha∣byte his kyngdome, as in deede the seely kynge was a pro∣phet in soo thinkynge. For they chose that and the region of Pocchorrosa to inhabyte, and determyned to buylde townes in them bothe, if it shulde so please the kynge of Castyle: Aswell that they myght bee baytinge places and vytailynge houses for suche as shulde iorney towarde the southe, as also that both the regions were frutfull and of good grounde to beare frutes and trees. Intendynge nowe therfore to departe from

thense, he tried the earth by chaunce in an other place, where the colour of the grounde with certayne shyninge stones, see∣med to bee a tooken of golde. where causynge a smaule ••itte to bee dygged lyttell beneath thupper cruste of the ea••the, he founde somuche golde as weyghed that pyece of golde whi∣che the Spaniardes caule Castellanum aureum, and is commonly cauled Pesus,* 1.149 but not in one grayne. Reioysynge at the••e too∣kens in hope of great riches, he badde Tumanama to be of good coomforte, promysynge hym that he woolde bee his frende and defender, soo that he troubeled not any of the kynges whiche were frendes to the Christians. He also perswaded hym to gather plentye of golde. Su••me saye that he ledde a∣waye all Tumanam•• his women, and ••p••yled him leaste he shuld rebell. Yet he delyuered his soonne to Vaschus to bee broughte vppe with owre men, to learne their language and relygyon, that he myght therafter the better vse his helpe aswell in all thynges that he shulde haue to doo with owre men, as also more polytykely rule, and obtayne the loue of his owne sub∣iectes. Vaschus at this tyme fell into a vehement feuer by rea∣son of excesse of labour,* 1.150 immoderate watchyng, and hunger: In somuche that departynge from thense, he was fayne too bee borne vppon mennes backes in shietes of gossampyne cot∣ton.* 1.151 Lykewyse also many of his souldiers whiche were soo weake that they coulde nother go nor stonde. To this pur∣pose they vsed the helpe of thinhabytantes, who shewed thē¦selues in althynges wyllynge and obedyente. Also summe of th••m whiche were su••what feeble and not able to trauayle, although not greuously sycke, were ledde by the armes vn∣tyll they came to the domynion of kynge Commogrus a greate frende to the Christyans,* 1.152 of whom wee haue largely made mention before. At Vaschus commynge thether, he founde that the owlde kynge was deade, and his soonne (whome we so pray••ed for his wisedome) to raygne in his steade: And that he was bapti••e•• b•• the name of Charles. The palayce of this Comogrus, is situate at the foote of a st••epe hyll well cultured. H••uynge towarde the southe a playne of twelue leages in b••eadth and veary frutefull.* 1.153 This playne, they caule Zauana. Beyonde his, are the great and hyghe montaynes whiche ••e••yd•• th•• two seas wherof we haue spoken before. Owte of the styepe hylles, spryngeth the ryuer Comogrus,* 1.154 whiche run∣neth

throwgh the sayde playne to the hyghe montaynes, re∣ceauynge into his chanell by their valleys, all the other ry∣uers, & so fauleth into the south sea. It is distante from Da∣riena, aboute threscore and tenne leages towarde the weste. As owre men therfore came to these parties, kynge Comogrus (otherwyse cauled Charles by his christian name) mette thē ioyfully and entertayned them honorably, gyuynge them their fyll of pleasaunte meates and drynkes. He gaue also to Vaschus, twenty pounde weyght of wrought golde.* 1.155 Vaschus re∣compensed him with thinges which he esteemed muche more: As axes and sundry kyndes of carpenters tooles. Also a soul¦diours cloke, and a faire sherte wrought with needle woorke By these gyftes, Comogrus thought hym selfe to bee halfe a god amonge his bortherers. Vaschus at his departynge from hense, ernestly charged Comogrus and the other kynges to re∣mayne faithfull and obedient to the christian king of Castile, if they desyred to lyue in peace and quietnesse: And that they shulde hereafter more diligently applye them selu••s to the ga∣theringe of golde to bee sente to the great christian Tiba (that is) kyng. Declaryng fur••her, that by this meanes th••y shuld bothe gette them and their posterity a patrone and defender ageinst their enemyes, and also obtayne great abundaun••e of owre thinges. These affayres thus happely achiu••d, he went forwarde on his vyage to the palaice of kyng Poncha, where he founde foure younge men whiche were come from Dariena to certify hym that there were certayne shyppes coomme from Hispaniola laden with vyttayles and other necessaries.* 1.156 Wher∣fore takyng with him twentie of his moste lusty souldiers, he made haste to Dariena with longe iorneys: leauinge the resy∣due behynd him to folow at their leasure. He writeth that he came to Dariena the .xiiii. Cal. of Fe, An. 1514. The date of his letter is: From Dariena, the .iiii. day of march.* 1.157 He writeth in the same letter, that he had many sore conflictes, & that he was yet neyther wounded, or loste any of his men in the bat∣taile. And therfore in al his large letter, there is not one leafe without thankes geuynge to almyghty god for his delyuery and preseruation from so many imminent pecels. He attemp∣ted no enterprise or tooke in hande any viage withowt thin∣uocation of god and his holy saintes. Thus was Vaschus Bal∣boa of a vyolen••e Goliath, tourned into Hels••as:* 1.158 And frome

Anteus too Hercules the conquerour of monsters. Beynge therefore thus tourned from a rasshe royster to a polytyk•• and discreate capitayne, he was iudged woorthy to bee ad∣uaunced to greate honoure. By reason whereof, he was bothe receaued into the kynges fauour, and therevppon crea¦ted the generall or Lieuetenaunt of the kynges army in those Regions.* 1.159 Thus much haue I gathered bothe by the letters of certeyne my faythefull frendes beinge in Dariena, and al∣so by woorde of mouth of suche as came lately frome thense. If yowre holynes desyre to knowe what I thynke herein, Suerly as by suche thynges as I haue seene, I beleue these thynges to bee trewe, euen so thorder and agreinge of Vaschus and his coompanions warrelyke letters, seeme to confirme the same.* 1.160 The Spanyarde therfore shall not neede hereafter with vndermynynge the earth with intollerable laboure to breake the bones of owre mother, and enter many myles into her bowels, and with innumerable daungers cut in sunder hole mountaynes to make a waye to the courte of infernall Pluto,* 1.161 to brynge from thense wycked golde the seede of innu∣merable mischeues, withowte the whiche notwithstandynge we may nowe scarsely leade a happy lyfe sithe iniquitie hath so preuayled and made vs slaues to that wherof we are lords by nature: The Spanyarde (I say) shall not neede with such trauayles & difficultie to dygge farre into the earth for gold, but shal fynde it plentifully in maner in the vpper crust of the earth, or in the sandes of ryuers dryded vppe by the heate of sommer, onely wasshynge the earth softely frome the same: And shall with lyke facilite gather plentie of pearles.* 1.162 Cer∣tenly the reuerent antiquitie (by al the Cosmographers assent obteyned not soo greate a benefyte of nature, nor yet aspired to the knowleage hereof, bycause there came neuer man be∣fore owte of owre knowen worlde to these vnknowen nati∣ons:* 1.163 At the leaste, with a poure of men, by force of armes, in maner of conquest: wheras otherwise nothyng can be gotten here, forasmuch as these nations are for the most part seuere defenders of theyr patrimonies, and cruell to straungers, in no condition admittinge them otherwyse then by conquest: es¦pecially the fierce Canibales or Caribes. For these wylye hunters of men,* 1.164 gyue them selues to none other kynde of ex∣ercyse but onely to manhuntynge and tyllage after theyr ma∣ner.

At the commynge therfore of owre men into theyr regi∣ons, they loke as suerly to haue them faule into their snares as if they were hartes or wylde bores:* 1.165 and with no lesse con∣fydence licke their lippes secreately in hope of their praye. If they gette the vpper hande, they eate them greedely: If they mystruste them selues to bee the weaker parte, they truste to theyr feete, and flye swyfter then the wynde. Ageyne, yf the matter bee tryed on the water, aswell the women as men can dyue and swymme, as though they had byn euer brought vp and fedde in the water. It is noo maruayle therefore yf the large tracte of these regions haue byn hytherto vnknowen. But nowe sithe it hath pleased God to discouer the same in owre tyme,* 1.166 it shall becoome vs to shewe owre naturall loue to mankynde and dewtie to God, to endeuoure owre selues to brynge them to ciuilitie and trewe religion, to thincrease of Christes flocke, to the confusion of Infidels and the Deuyll theyr father who delytethe in owre destruction as he hathe doone frome the begynnynge. By the good successe of these fyrst frutes, owre hope is, that the Christian regilion shall streache foorth her armes very farre. Which thyng shulde the sooner coome to passe yf all menne to theyr poure (especially Christian Princes to whom it chiefely perteyneth) wolde put theyr handes to the plowe of the lordes vineyarde.* 1.167 The har∣uest suerly is greate, but the woorkemen are but fewe. As we haue sayde at the begynnynge, yowre holynes shall hereafter nooryshe many myriades of broodes of chekins vnder yowre wynges. But let vs nowe returne to speake of Beragua beinge the weste syde of Vraba,* 1.168 and fyrst founde by Colonus the Admi¦rall, then vnfortunately gouerned by Diego Nicuesa,* 1.169 and nowe lefte in maner desolate: with the other large regions of those prouinces brought from theyr wylde and beastly rudenes to ciuilitie and trewe religion.

¶ The fourth booke of the thyrde Decade.

I Was determyned (moste holy father) to haue proceded no further herein, but that on•• fierye sparke yet remaynynge in my mynde, woolde not suffer me to cease. Wheras I haue therfore declared howe Beragua was fyrste fownde by

Colonus, my thincke I shulde commytte a heynous cryme if I shuld defraude the man of the due commendations of his tra∣uayles,* 1.170 of his cares and troubles, and fynally of the daun∣geours and perels, whiche he susteyned in that nauigation.

Therfore in the yeare of Christe .1502. in the .vi. daye of the Ides of Maye, he hoysed vppe his sayles and departed from the Ilandes of Gades with .iiii. shyppes of fyftie or .iii. score tunne a piece, with a hundreth threscore and tenne mē, and came with prosperous wynde to the Ilandes of Canari•• within fiue daies folowinge, from thense arryuinge the .xvi. day at the Ilande of Dominica beinge the chiefe habitation of the Canibales, he sayled from Dominica to Hispaniola in fyue o∣ther daies. Thus within the space of .xxvi. daies, with pros∣perous wynde and by the swyfte faule of the Ocean from the Easte to the west, he sayled from Spaine to Hispaniola: Which course is counted of the mariners to bee no lesse then a thou∣sande and twoo hundreth leagues.* 1.171 He taryed but a whyle in Hispaniola, whether it were wyllingly, or that he were so ad∣monisshed of the viceroye. Directing therfore his vyage from thense towarde the weste, leauyng the Ilandes of Cuba and Iamaica on his ryght hande towarde the northe, he wryteth that he chaunsed vppon an Ilande more southewarde then Iamaica, whiche thinhabitantes caule Guanassa, so florysshinge and frutefull that it myghte seeme an earthlye Paradyse.* 1.172

Coastynge alonge by the shores of this Ilande, he mette two of the Canoas or boates of those prouinces, whiche were drawne with two naked slaues ageynst the streame. In these boates, was caryed a ruler of the Ilande with his wyfe and chyldren, all na••ed. The slaues seeynge owre men a lande, made signes to them with proude countenaunce in their mai∣sters name, to stande owte of the waye, and threatned them if they woolde not gyue place.* 1.173 Their sympelnes is suche that they nother feared the multitude or poure of owre men, or the greatnes and straungenes of owre shippes. They thought that owre men woolde haue honoured their maister with like reuerence as they did. Owre men had intelligēce at the length that this ruler was a greate marchaunte whiche came to the marte from other coastes of the Ilande.* 1.174 For they exercyse byinge and sellynge by exchaunge with their confinies. He had also with him good stoore of suche ware as they stande

in neede of or take pleasure in: as laton belles, rasers, kny∣ues, and hatchettes made of a certeyne sharpe yelowe bryght stone, with handles of a stronge kynd of woodde. Also many other necessary instrumentes with kychen stuffe and vesselles for all necessary vses. Lykewise sheetes of gossampine cotton wrought of sundrye colours. Owre men tooke hym prysoner with all his famely. But Colonus commaunded hym to bee lo∣sed shortely after, and the greatest parte of his goodes to bee restored to wynne his fryndeshippe. Beinge here instructed of a lande lyinge further towarde the southe, he tooke his vy∣age thether. Therfore lytle more then tenne myles distant frō hense, he founde a large lande whiche thinhabitantes cauled Quiriquetana: But he named it Ciamba.* 1.175 When he wente a lande and commaunded his chaplaine to saye ma••se on the sea ban∣kes, a great confluence of the naked inhabitantes flocked thi¦ther symplye and without feare, brinkynge with them plen∣ty of meate and freshe water, marueylynge at owre men as they had byn summe straunge miracle.* 1.176 When they had presen∣ted their giftes, they went sumwhat backewarde and made lowe curtesy after their maner bowinge their heades and bo∣dyes reuerently. He recompensed their gentylnes rewardinge them with other of owre thynges, as counters, braslettes and garlandes of glasse and counterfecte stoones, lookynge glasses, nedelles, and pynnes, with suche other trashe, whi∣che seemed vnto them precious marchaundies. In this great tracte there are two regions wherof the one is cauled Taia and the other Maia.* 1.177 He writeth that all that lande is very fayre and holsome by reason of the excellent temperatnesse of the ayer: And that it is inferiour to no lande in frutefull ground beinge partely full of mountaines, and partely large playn••s: Also replenyshed with many goodly trees, holsome herbes, and frutes, continuynge greene and floryshynge all the hole yeare. It beareth also verye many holy trees and pyne aple trees. Also .vii. kyndes of date trees wherof summe are frute∣full and summe baren.* 1.178 It bringeth furth lykewyse of it selfe Pelgoras and wilde vynes laden with grapes euen in the wood∣des emonge other trees.* 1.179 He saythe furthermore that there is suche abundaunce of other pleasaunte and profitable frutes, that they passe not of vynes. Of one of those kyndes of date trees, they make certeyne longe and brode swoordes and dar∣tes.

These regyons beare also gossampyne trees here and there commonly in the woodd••s. Lykewise Mirobalanes of sun∣dry kyndes,* 1.180 as those which the phisitians caule Emblicos and Chebulos. Maizium also, Iucca, Ages, and Battatas, lyke vnto those whiche we haue sayde before to bee founde in other regions in these coastes. The same nooryssheth also lyons, Tygers, Hartes, Roes, Goates, and dyuers other beastes. Lyke∣wyse sundry kyndes of byrdes and foules:* 1.181 Emonge the whiche they keepe onely them to franke and feede, whiche are in colour, bygnes, and taste, muche lyke vnto owre pe∣hennes. He saith that thinhabitantes are of high and good∣ly stature,* 1.182 well lym••ed and proportioned both men and wo∣men: Couerynge their priuye partes with fyne breeches of gossampine cotton wrought with dyuers colours. And that they may seeme the more cumlye and bewtifull (as they take it) they paynte their bodyes redde and bla••ke with the iuce of certeyne apples whiche they plante in their gardens for the sa••e purpose. Summe of them paynte their hole bodies:* 1.183 summe but parte: and other summe drawe th•• portitures, of herbes, floures, and knottes, euery one as seemeth be••te to his owne phantasye. Their language differeth vtterlye from theirs of the Ilandes nere aboute them.* 1.184 From these regions, the waters of the sea ranne with as full course to∣warde the weste, as if it had byn the faule of a swyfte riuer. Neuerthelesse he determined to searche the Easte partes of this lande, reuoluynge in his mynde that the regions of Pa∣ria and Os Draconis with other coastes founde before toward the Easte,* 1.185 shulde bee neare theraboute as in deede they were. Departyng therfore from the large region of Quiriquetana the xiii. daye of the calendes of September, when he had sailed thirtie leaques, he founde a ryuer, without the mouth wher∣of he drewe freshe water in the sea.* 1.186 Where also the shoore was so cleane withowte rockes, that he founde grounde e∣uery where, where he myght aptely caste anker. He writeth that the swifte course of the Ocean was so vehement and con¦trarye, that in the space of fortye dayes he coulde scarcelye sayle threscore and tenne leaques, and that with muche dif∣fy••ultie with many fetches and coompasynges,* 1.187 fyndyng him selfe to bee sumtimes repulsed and dryuen farre backe by the vyolente course of the sea when he woolde haue taken lande

towarde the euenynge, le••s••e perhappes wanderynge in vn∣knowen coastes in the darckenes••e of the nyght, he myghte bee in daunger of shypwracke: He writeth that in the space of eyght leaques, he found three great and fayre ryuers vp∣pon the banckes wherof,* 1.188 there grewe reedes bygger then a mannes thygh, In these ryuers was also greate plentye of fyshe and great tortoyses:* 1.189 Lykewise in many places, mul••i∣tudes of Crocodiles lyinge in the ••ande, and yanyng to ••ake the heate of the soonne: Besyde dyuers other kyndes of beastes whervnto he gane no names. He sayth al••o that the soyle of that lande is very diuers a••d variable: beyng sum∣where stonye and full of rough and ••e••ggie promonto••••es or poyntes reachynge into the sea. And in other places as frut∣full as maye bee. They haue also diuers kynges and rulers.* 1.190 In summe places they caule a kynge Cacicus: in other places they caule hym Quebi, and sumwhere Tiba. Suche as haue behaued them selues valiantly in the warres ageynste their enemies, and haue their faces full of scarres, they caule Cu∣pras, and honour them as the antiquitie dyd the goddes whi∣che they cauled Heroes,* 1.191 supposed to bee the soules of suche men as in their lyfe tyme excelled in vertue and noble actes. The common people, they caule Chiui: and a man, they caule Ho••••cu••. When they saye in their language, take man, they say Hoppa home. After this, he came to an other ryuer apte to beare great shyppes: Before the mouthe wherof, l••ye foure smaule Ilandes full of florisshing and frutfull trees. These Ilandes he named Quatuor tempora.* 1.192 From hense saylynge towarde the Easte for the space of .xiii. leaques styll ageinste ••he vyolent course of the water, he founde twelue other smaule Ilandes. In the whiche bycause he founde a newe kynde of frutes muche like vnto owre lemondes, he cauled them Limonares.* 1.193 Wanderynge yet further the same waye for the ••pace of .xii. leaques, he founde a great hauen enteryng into th•• land af∣ter the maner of a goulfe the space of three l••aqu••s, and in maner as brode, into the whiche fell a great ryuer. He••e was Nicuesa loste afterwarde when he soug••te Ber••ga••: By rea••on wherof they cauled it Rio delos perdido••:* 1.194 that is the ryuer of the loste men. Thus Colonus the Admirall yet further con••ynu∣ynge his cour••e ageynste the furye of the ••ea, fou••de manye hyghe montaynes and horrible valleys, with dyuers ryuers

and hauens, from all the whiche (as he saythe) proceaded sweete sauers greatly rec••eatynge and confortynge nature. In so muche that in all this longe tracte there was not one of his men desea••ed vntyll he ca••e to a region whiche thin¦habitantes cau••e Quicuri,* 1.195 in the whiche is the hauen cauled Cariai, named M••robalanus by the admyrall bycause the Miroba∣lane trees are natiue in the regions therabout. In this hauen of Cariai,* 1.196 there came about two hundreth of thinhabitantes to the sea syde with euerye of them three or foure dartes in their handes: Yet of condition gentell enoughe, and not re∣fusyng straungers. Their commyng was for none other pur∣pose then to knowe what this newe nation mente, or what they brough••e with them. When owre men had gyuen them sygnes of peace, they came swymmynge to the shyppes and desyred to barter with them by exchaunge. The admyrall to allure them to frend••hippe, gaue them many of owre thinges: But they refused them, suspectynge summe disceate thereby bycause he woolde not receyue theirs. They wroughte all by sygnes:* 1.197 for one vnderstoode not a woorde of the others lan∣guage. Suche gyftes as were sente them, they lefte on the shore a••d woolde take no part therof. They are of suche ciui∣litye and humanytie, that they esteeme it more honorable to gyue then to take. They sente owre men two younge women beinge vyrgines, of cōmendable fauour and goodly stature, sygnifyinge vnto them that they myghte take them awaye with them if it were their pleasure. These women after the maner of their countrey, were couered from their ancles sum∣what aboue their priuye partes with a certeyne clothe made of gossampine cotton. But the men are al naked. The women vse to cutte their heare: But the men lette it growe on the hynder partes of their heades, and cutte it on the fore parte. Their longe heare, they bynde vppe with fyllettes, & winde it in sundry rowles as owre maydes are accustomed to do. The virgins which were sente to the Admirall he decked in fayre apparell, & gaue them many gyftes, and sent theym home ageyne. But lykewise all these rewardes and apparel they left vppon the shore bycause owre men had refused their gyftes. Yet tooke he two men away with him (and those ve¦ry wyllyngly) that by lernyng the Spanyshe tonge, he might afterwarde vse them for interpretours. He considered that

the tractes of these coastes were not greately troubeled with vehement motions or ouerflowynges of the sea, forasmuche as trees growe in the sea not farre frome the sh••re,* 1.198 euen as they doo vppon the bankes of ryuers. The which thynge al¦so other doo affirme whiche haue latelyer searched those coa∣stes, declaring that the sea riseth and fauleth but lyttle there aboute. He sayth furthermore, that in the prospecte of this lande, there are trees engendred euen in the sea,* 1.199 which after that they are growen to any height, bende downe the toppes of theyr branches into the grounde: which embrasing them causeth other branches to sprynge owt of the same, and take roote in the earth, bringynge foorth trees in theyr kynde suc∣cessiuely as dyd the fyrst roote from whense they had theyr o¦riginall, as do also the settes of vines when onely bothe the endes therof are put into the grounde. Plinie in the twelfth booke of his natural historie maketh mention of suche trees,* 1.200 describynge them to bee on the lande, but not in the sea. The Admirall wryteth also that the lyke beastes are engendered in the coastes of Cariai, as in other prouinces of these regions, and such as we haue spoken of before. Yet that there is one founde here in nature much differinge from the other. This beaste is of the byggenes of a greate moonkeye,* 1.201 but with a tayle muche longer and bygger. It lyueth in the wooddes, and remoueth from tree to tree in this maner. Hangynge by the tayle vppon the braunche of a tree, & gatheryng strength by swayinge her body twyse or thryse too and fro, she casteth her selfe from branche to branche and so from tree to tree as though she flewe. An archer of owres hurt one of them. Who perceauinge her selfe to be wounded,* 1.202 leapte downe from the tree, and fiercely set on hym which gaue her the wounde, in so muche that he was fayne to defende hym selfe with his swoorde. And thus by chaunce cuttyng of one of her armes, he tooke her, and with muche a doo brought her to the ships where within a whyle, shee waxed tame. Whyle shee was thus kep••e and bownde with cheynes, certeyne other of owr hunters hadde chased a wylde bore owt of the maryshes nere vnto the sea syde. For hunger and desyre of fleshe, caused thē to take double pleasure in huntynge. In this meane tyme o∣ther which remayned in the shippes, goinge a lande to recre∣ate them selues, tooke this moonkey with them. Who, as

soone as shee had espied the bore, set vp her brystels & made towarde her. The bore lykewyse shooke his bristels & whette his teethe. The moonkey furiously inuaded the bore,* 1.203 wrap∣pynge her tayle about his body, and with her arme reserued of her victourer, helde hym so fast aboute the throte, that he was suffocate. These people of Cariai, vse to drye the deade bodyes of theyr princes vppon hurdels, and so reserue them inuolued in the leaues of trees.* 1.204 As he went forwarde about twentie leagues from Cariai, he founde a goulfe of suc•• large¦nes that it conteyned .xii. leagues in compa••se. In the mouth of this goulfe were foure lyttle Ilandes so nere tog••ther, that they made a safe hauen to enter into the goulfe. This goulfe is the hauen which we sayde before to be cauled Cera∣baro of thinhabitantes.* 1.205 But they haue nowe lerned th••t only the lande of the one syde therof, lyinge on the ryght hande at the enterynge of the goulfe, is cauled by that name. But that on the lefte syde, is cauled Aburema.* 1.206 He saythe th••t all this goulfe is ful of fruteful Ilandes wel replenysshed with goodly trees: And the grounde of the sea to bee verye cleane withowt rockes, and commodious to cast anker: Lykewyse the sea of the goulfe to haue greate abundance of fysshe: and the land•• of both the sydes to bee inferior to none in frutful∣nes. At his fyrst arryuynge, he espyed two of thinh••bitan••es hauynge cheynes about theyr neckes,* 1.207 made of ouches (which they caule Cuauines,) of base golde artificially wrought in the formes of Eagles, and lions, with dyuers other beastes and foules. Of the two Cariaians whiche he brought with hym from Cariai, he was enformed that the regions of Cerabaro and Aburema were rych in golde. And that the people of Cariai haue all theyr golde frome thense for exchaunge of other of theyr thynges.* 1.208 They towlde hym also, that in the sa••e regi••ns there are fyue vyllages not farre from the sea ••yde, whose in¦habitantes apply the•• selues onely to the gathering of gold The names of the••e vyllages are these: Chirara, Puren, Chitaza, Iureche, Atamea.* 1.209 All the men of the prouince of Cerabaro, go na¦ked, and are paynted with dyuers coloures. They take g••eat pleasure in wearynge garlan••es of floures, and crownes made of the clawes of Lions and Tygers.* 1.210 The women couer onely theyr priuie partes wi••h a fyller of gossampine cotton. Departinge from hen••e and ••oastynge styll by the same shore

for the space of .xviii. leagues, he came to another ryuer, wh••re he espyed aboute three hundreth naked men in a com∣pany. When they sawe the shippes drawe neare the lande, they cryed owte aloude, with cruell countenaunces shakynge th••yr woodden swoordes and hurlynge dartes, takynge also wa••er in theyr mouthes and spoutyng the same ageynst our men:* 1.211 wherby they seemed to insinuate that they woolde re∣ceaue no condition of peace or haue owght to doo with them. Here he commaunded certeyne pieces of ordinaunce to be shot of toward them: Yet so to ouershute them, that none myght be hurt therby. For he euer determyned to deale quietly and peaceably with these newe nations. At the noyse therfore of the gunnes and syght of the fyer, they fell downe to the grounde, and desyred peace.* 1.212 Thus enteringe into further frendshippe, they exchaunged theyr cheynes and ouches of golde for glasses and haukes belles and such other marchan¦dies. They vse drummes or tymbrels made of the shelles of certeyne sea fysshes, wherewith they encorage theym selues in the warres. In this tract are these seuen ryuers, Acateba, Quareba, Zobroba, Aiaguitin, Vrida, Duribba, Beragua,* 1.213 in all the whiche, golde is founde. They defende them selues ageynste rayne and heate with certeyne great leaues of trees in the steade of clokes. Departinge from hense, he searched the coastes of Ebetere, and Embigar, into the which faule the goodly ryuers of Zohoran and Cubigar:* 1.214 And here ceaseth the plentie and frute∣fulnes of golde, in the tracte of fiftie leagues or there about. From hense onely three leagues distant, is the rocke whiche in the vnfortunate discourse of Nicuesa we sayde was cauled of owre men Pignonem.* 1.215 But of thinhabitantes the Region is cauled Vibba.* 1.216 In this tracte also aboute syxe leagues frome thense, is the hauen which Colonus cauled Portus Bellus (wher∣of we haue spoken before) in the region whiche thinhabitan∣tes caule Xaguaguara.* 1.217 This region is very peopulous: but they go all naked. The kyng is paynted with blacke colours, but all the people with redde.* 1.218 The kynge and seuen of his noble men,* 1.219 had euery of them a lyttle plate of golde hangynge at theyr nosethrylles downe vnto theyr lyppes. And this they take for a cumly ornamente.* 1.220 The menne inclose theyr priuie members in a shell: And the women couer theyrs with a fyl∣••et of gossampine cotton tyed about theyr loynes. In theyr

gardens they noorysshe a frute muche lyke the nutte of a pine tree: the whiche (as we haue sayde in an other place) gro∣weth on a shrubbe muche lyke vnto an archichocke: But the frute is muche softer, and meate for a kynge. Also cer∣teyne trees whiche beare gourdes, wherof we haue spoken before. This tree, they caule Hibuero. In these coastes they mette sumtymes with Crocodiles lyinge on the sandes. the whiche when they fled, or tooke the water, they lefte a ve∣ry sweete sauour behynde them sweeter then muske or Casto∣reum.* 1.221 When I was sente ambassadour for the catholike king of Castile to the Soltane of Babilon or Alcayer in Egipte,* 1.222 thinhabitantes nere vnto the ryuer of Nilus toulde me the like of their female Crocodiles. Affyrmyng furthermore that the fatte or sewette of them is equall in sweetnes with the plea∣saunte gummes of Arabic. But the Admirall was nowe at the length enforced of necessytie to departe from hense, as∣well for that he was no longer able to abyde the contrarye and vyolente course of the water, as also that his shyppes were daily more and more putrified and eaten throwgh with certeyne wormes whiche are engendred of the warmenes of the water in all those tractes nere vnto the Equinoctial line.* 1.223 The Uenetians caule these woormes Bissas. The same are al∣so engendred in two hauens of the citie of Alexandria in Egipt and destroye the shyppes if they lye longe at anker.* 1.224 They are a cubet in lengch, and sumwhat more: not passyng the quan∣titie of a fynger in bygnesse. The Spanyshe mariner cauleth this pestilence Broma.* 1.225 Colonus therfore whom before the great monsters of the sea coulde not feare, nowe fearyng this Bro∣ma, beynge also soore vexed with the contrary faule of the sea, directed his course with the Ocean towarde the west, and came first to the ryuer Hiebra,* 1.226 distant onely two leaques from the ryuer of Beragua, bycause that was commodious to har∣borowe great shippes. This region is named after the riuer, and is cauled Beragua the lesse:* 1.227 Bycause bothe the ryuers are in the dominion of the kyng which inhabiteth the region of Beragua.. But what chaunsed vn••o hym in this vyage on the ryghte hande and on the lefte, le••te vs nowe declare. Whyle therfore Colonus the Admirall remayned yet in the ryuer Hie∣bra, he sent Bertholomeus Colonus his brother and Lieuetenaunte of Hispaniola, with the shyppe boa••es and threscore and .viii.

men to the ryuer of Beragua,* 1.228 where the king of the region be∣inge naked and painted after the maner of the countrey, came towarde them with a great multitude of men waytynge on hym, but all vnarmed and without weapons, gyuinge also sygnes of peace. When he approched nerer, and entered com∣munication with owre men, certeyne of his gentelmen nea∣reste aboute his person, rememberinge the maiestie of a king, and that it stoode not with his honour to bargen stondynge, tooke a greate stoone owte of the ryuer, wasshynge an•• rub∣bynge it veary•• decently, & so put it vnder hym with humble reuerence.* 1.229 The kyng thus syttyng, seemed with sygnes & to∣kens to insinuate that it shuld be lawful for owre men to sear¦che & viewe al the ryuers within h••s dominion. Wherfore, the vi. day of the Ides of February, leauing his boates with cer∣teyne of his coompany, he wente by lande a foote from the bankes of Beragua vntyl he came to the ryuer of Duraba,* 1.230 whi∣che he affirmeth to be richer in gold then eyther Hiebra or Bera∣gua. For gold is engendred in al the riuers of that land. In so muche that emonge the rootes of the trees growynge by the bankes of the ryuers, & amonge the stones left of the water,* 1.231 & also where so euer they dygged a hole or pyt in the grounde not paste the deapthe of a handfull and a halfe, they founde the earthe taken owte therof, myxte with golde: Where vp∣pon he determyned to fasten his foote there and to inhabyte. Whiche thynge the people of the countrey perceauynge and smellynge what inconuenyence and myschiefe myght thereof ensewe to their countrey if they shulde permitte straungers to plante their habitation there, assembled a great army, and with horrible owte crye assayled owre men (who had nowe begoonne to buylde houses) soo desperately that they were scarcely able to abyde the fyrste brunte. These nake•• barba∣rians at their fyrst approche, vsed onely slynges and dartes:* 1.232 But when they came nearer to hande strookes, they foughte with their woodden swoordes whiche they caule Machan••s, as wee haue sayd before. A man woolde not thinke what great malice and wrath was kyndeled in their hartes ageinst owre men: And with what desperate myndes they fought for the defense of their lybertie whiche they more esteeme then lyfe or rychesse.* 1.233 For they were nowe so voyde of all feare, and contemnynge deathe, that they neyther scared longe bowes

or crossebowes, nor yet (whiche is mooste to be marueyled) were any thynge discouraged at the terryble noyse of the gunnes shotte of from the shyppes. They retyred once. But shortly after encreasynge their noumber, they returned more fiercely then at the fyrste. They woolde haue byn contented to haue receyued owre men frendly as straungers, but not as inhabitours. The more instante that owre men were to re∣maine, so muche the greater multitude of bortherers flocked togyther dayly, disturbyng thē both nyght & daye sumtymes on the one syde & sumtymes on the other.* 1.234 The shyps lying at anker neare vnto the shore, warded them on the backe halfe. But at the length they were fayne to forsake this lande, and retourne backe the same way by the which they came. Thus with much diffyculty and danger, they came to the Iland of Iamaica lyenge on the south syde of Hispaniola and Cuba,* 1.235 with their shyppes as full of holes as sieues, and so eaten with woormes, as though they had byn bored through with wim∣bles. The water entered so faste at the ryftes and holes, that if they had not with the paynefull labour of their han∣des empted the same as faste, they were lyke to haue perys∣shed. Where as yet by this meanes they arryued at Iamaica, althoughe in maner halfe deade. But their calamitie ceased not here. For as fast as their shyppes leaked, their strengthe dimynisshed so that they were no longer able to keepe theym from synkynge.* 1.236 By reason wherof, faulynge into the han∣des of the barbarians, and inclosed withowte hope of de∣parture, they led their lyues for the space of tenne monthes emong the naked people more myserably then euer dyd Ache∣menides emonge the gyantes cauled Ciclopes: rather lyuing thē beinge eyther contented or satisfied with the strange meates of that Ilande: and that onely at such tymes as pleased the barbarians to giue them part of theirs. The deadly enmity and malice whiche these barbarous kinges beare one ageinst an other, made greatly with owre men. For at suche tymes as they attempted warre ageinst their bortherers they woold sumtymes gyue owre men parte of their breade to ayde them. But howe myserable and wretched a thyng it is to lyue one∣ly with breade gotten by beggynge, yowre holynesse maye easylye coniecture: Especially where all other accustomed foode is lackynge, as wyne, oyle, flesshe, butter, chiese, and

milke, wherwith the stomakes of owr people of Europe haue euer byn noorisshed euen from their cradelles.* 1.237 Therfore as necessyty is subiecte to no lawe, so doothe it enforce men to attempte desperate aduentures. And those the soner, which by a certeyne nobylytie of nature do no further esteeme lyfe then it is ioyned with summe felicity. Bertholomeus Colonus ther∣fore, intendynge rather to proue what god woolde do with hym and his companyons in these extremities,* 1.238 then any lon∣ger to abide the same, commaunded Diegus Mendez his steward with two guydes of that Ilande whome he had hyred with promysses of great rewardes at their retourne, to enter in∣to one of their canoas and take their viage to Hispaniola.

Beynge thus tossed on the sea two and fro from rocke too rocke by reason of the shortenesse and narownes of the ca∣noa, they arryued at the length at the laste corner of Hispa∣niola, beynge distante from Iamaica fortie leagues. Here his guydes departynge from hym, returned ageine to Colonus for the rewardes which he had promysed them. But Diegu•• Men∣dez wente on forward a foote vntyll he came to the citie cau∣led Sanctus Dominicus beynge the chiefe and heade citye of the Ilande.* 1.239 The offycers and rulers of Hispaniola, beinge enfor∣med of the matter, appoynted hym two shyppes wherwith he retourned to his maister and coompanions. As he founde them, soo came they to Hispaniola, verye feeble and in maner naked. What chaunced of them afterwarde, I knowe not as yet. Lette vs nowe therfore leaue these particulers, and speake sumwhat more of generals. In al those tractes whi∣che we sayde here before to haue bynne found by Colonus the Admyrall,* 1.240 bothe he hym selfe writeth, and all his coompa∣nyons of that vyage confesse, that the trees, herbes,* 1.241 and fru∣tes, are floryshing and greene all the hole yeare, and the ayer so temperate and holesome, that of all his coompanye there neuer fell one man sycke, nor yet were vexed eyther with ex∣treme coulde or heate for the space of fyftie leagues from the great hauen of Cerabaro to the ryuers of Hiebra and Beragua.* 1.242* 1.243* 1.244

Thinhabitantes of Cerabaro, and the nat••ons whiche are be∣twyxte that and the sayde ryuers, applye not them selues to the gatherynge of golde but onely at certeyne tymes of the yeare: And are very experte & cunnyng herein, as are owre myners of syluer and Iren.* 1.245 They knowe by longe experience

in what places golde is mooste abundantly engendred: as by the colour of the water of the ryuers, and suche as faule frō the montaynes: And also by the colour of the earthe and sto∣nes. They beleue a certeyne godly nature to be in golde,* 1.246 for asmuche as they neuer gather it excepte they vse certeyne re∣lygious expiations or pourgynge, as to absteyn from women, and all kyndes of plesures and delycate meates and drinkes, d••ring all the tyme that their golden haruest laste••he.* 1.247 They suppose that men do naturally lyue and dye as other beastes do, and therfore honour none other thynge as god. Yet doo th••y praye to the soonne, and honour it when it ryseth. But lette vs nowe speake of the montaines and situation of these landes. From all the sea bankes of these regyons, exceding great and hyghe mountaynes are seene towarde the Southe,* 1.248 yet reachynge by a continuall tracte from the Easte into the weste. By reason wherof I suppose that the two greate seas (wherof I haue spoken largly before) are deuided with these montaynes as it were with bulwarkes, leaste they shoulde ioyne and repugne, as Italye deuideth the sea cauled Tirrhe∣num,* 1.249 from the sea Adriatyke, which is nowe commonly cau∣led the goulfe of Uenes.

For whiche waye soo euer they sayled from the poynt cauled Promontorium, S. Augustini (whiche perteyneth to the Portugales & prospecteth ageynste the sea Atlantike) euen vnto Vraba and the hauen Cerabaro,* 1.250* 1.251* 1.252 and to the furthest landes found hyther∣to westwarde, they had euer greate mountaynes in syghte bothe nere hande and farre of, in all that longe rase. These mountaynes were in sume place, smooth, pleasaunt and frut¦full,* 1.253 full of goodly trees and herbes: And sumwhere, hygh, rowgh, ful of rockes, and baren, as chaunseth in the famus mountayne of Taurus in Asia, and also in dyuers coastes of our mountaynes of Apennini,* 1.254 and suche other of lyke byggenesse. The rydgies also of these mountaynes are diuided with good¦ly and fayre valleis. That part of the mountaynes which in¦cludeth the lymettes of Beragua,* 1.255 is thought to be hygher then the clowdes,* 1.256 in so much that (as they saye) the tops of them can seldome bee seene for the multitude of thicke clowdes which are beneath the same. Colonus the Admirall the fyrste fynder of these regions, affirmeth that the toppes of the mon¦taynes of Beragua are more then fiftie myles in heyghth.* 1.257 He

sayth furthermore that in the same region at the rotes of the montaynes the way is open to the south sea, and compareth it as it were betwene Uenice and Genua, or Ianua as the Ge∣nues wyll haue it cauled, whiche fable that theyr citie was buylded of Ianus.* 1.258 He affirmeth also that this lande reacheth foorth towarde the south: And that from hense it taketh the begynnynge of breadth, lyke as from the Alpes owte of the narowe thygh of Italy,* 1.259 we see the large and mayne landes of Fraunce, Germanye, and Pannonye, to the Sarmatians and Scythyans, euen vnto the mountaynes and rockes of Riphea and the frosen sea, and embrase therwith as with a continuall bonde, all Tracia, and Grecia, with all that is included within the promontorie or poynt of Malea and Hel∣lespontus southwarde, and the sea Euzinus and the marysshes of Maeotis in Scythia northwarde. The Admirall supposethe,* 1.260 that on the lefte hande in saylynge towarde the weste, this lande is ioyned to India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges: And that on the ryght hande towarde the North, it bee extended to the frosen sea, beyonde the Hyperboreans and the North pole: So that both the seas (that is to meane that south sea which we sayde to bee founde by Vaschus, and owre Ocean) shulde ioyne and meete in the corners of that land: And that the waters of these seas doo not onely inclose and compasse the same withowt diuision as Europe is inclosed with the seas of Hellespontus and Tanais, with the frosen Ocean & owre sea of Tyrrhenum with the Spanysshe seas. But in my opini∣on, the vehement course of the Ocean toward the weste, doth signifie and lette that the sayde two seas shulde not so ioyne togither:* 1.261 But rather that that land is adherent to the firme landes towarde the Northe, as we haue sayde before. It shall suffice to haue sayde thus muche of the length hereof. Let vs nowe therfore speake sumwhat of the breadth of the same,* 1.262 We haue made mention before howe the south sea is diuided by narowe lymittes from owre Ocean, as it was pro¦ued by thexperience of Vaschus Nun••ez and his coompanions which fyrst made open the way thyther. But as dyuersly as the mountaynes of owre Alpes in Europe are sumwhere na∣rowe and in sume place brode, euen so by the lyke prouidēc•• of nature, this lande in sume parte therof reacheth farre in breadth, and is in other places coarcted with narowe limet∣tes

from sea to sea, with valleys also in sume places, wher∣by men may passe from the one syde to the other. Where we haue descrybed the regions of Vraba and Beragua to bee situ∣ate,* 1.263 these seas are deuided by smaule distaunce. Yet owght we to thynke the region which the great ryuer of Maragnonus runneth through,* 1.264 to bee very large if we shall graunt Marag∣nonum to bee a ryuer and no sea, as the freshe waters of the same owght to persuade vs. For in suche narowe caues of the earth, there can bee no swalowinge goulfes of such byg¦nesse as to receaue or nooryshe so great abundance of water. The lyke is also to bee supposed of the great ryuer of Dabaiba which we sayde to bee from the corner of the goulfe of Vraba in sume place of fortie fathomes depth,* 1.265 and sumwhere fiftie: Also three myles in breadth, and so to faule into the sea. We must needes graunt that the earth is brode there, by the whi∣che the ryuer passeth from the hyghe mountaynes of Dabaiba from the East and not from the west. They say that this ry∣uer consisteth and taketh his encrease of foure other ryuers faulynge from the mountaynes of Dabaiba.* 1.266 Owre men caule this ryuer Flumen. S. Iohannis. They say also that from hense it fauleth into the goulfe of Vraba by seuen mouthes as doothe the ryuer of Nilus into the sea of Egypte.* 1.267 Lykewyse that in the same region of Vraba there are in sume places narowe streyghtes not passynge fyftene leaques: and the same to bee saluage and withowt any passage by reason of dyuers ma∣rysshes and desolate wayes,* 1.268 which the Latines caule Lamas: But the Spanyardes accordynge to theyr varietie, caule thē Tremedales, Trampales, Cenegales, Sumideros, and Zabondaderos. But before we passe any further, it shall not bee greatly from owr purpose to declare from whense these mountaynes of Dabaiba haue theyr name accordynge vnto thantiquities of thinhabi∣tantes.* 1.269 They saye therefore that Dabaiba was a woman of greate magnanimitie and wysedome emonge theyr predices∣sours in owlde tyme: whom in her lyfe, all thinhabitantes of those prouinces did greatly reuerence, and beinge deade gaue her diuine honour and named the regiō after her name, beleuynge that shee sendeth thunder and lyghtnynge to de∣stroy the frutes of the earth yf shee bee angered, and to send plentie if shee bee well pleased. This superstition hathe byn persuaded them by a craftie kynde of men vnder pretense of

religion to thintent that they might enioye suche gyftes and offeringes as were brought to the place where shee was ho∣noured.* 1.270 This is sufficient for this purpose. They saye fur∣thermore that the marysshes of the narowe lande wherof we haue spoken, brynge foorth great plentie of Crocodiles, dra∣gons, battes, and gnattes beinge very hurtfull. Therefore when so euer they take any iorney towarde the south, they go owte of the way towarde the mountaynes, and eschewe the regions neare vnto those perelous fennes or maryshes. Sume thinke that there is a valley lyinge that way that the ryuer runneth which owre men caule Rio de los perdidos, that is, the ryuer of the lost men (so named by the misfortune whiche there befell to Nicuesa and his coompany) and not far distant from the hauen Cerabaro whiche diuideth those mountaynes towarde the south.* 1.271 But let vs nowe fynishe this booke with a fewe other thynges woorthy to bee noted. They say there∣fore that on the ryght hande and lefte hande frome Dariena, there are twentie ryuers in all the whiche,* 1.272 greate plentie of golde is founde. Being demaunded what was the cause why they brought no greater abundance of gold from thense, they answered that they lacked myners: And that the men which they tooke with them from Spayne thyther, were not accu∣stomed to laboure, but for the moste parte brought vp in the warres. This lande seemeth also to promesse many precious stones.* 1.273 For besyde those which I sayde to bee founde neare vnto Cariai and Sancta Martha, one Andreas Moralis a pylot (who had trauayled those coastes with Iohannes de la Cossa whyle he yet lyued) had a precious diamonde which he bought of a na∣ked younge man in the region of Cumana in the prouince of Paria.* 1.274 This stone was as longe as two ioyntes of a mans mid¦dell fynger, and as bygge as the fyrst ioynte of the thumme: beinge also paynted on euery syde, consistynge of eyght squa¦res perfectly formed by nature. They say that with this they made scarres in anuilles and hammers, and brake the teethe of fyles, the stone remaynyng vnperysshed. The younge man of Cumana, wore this stone aboute his necke emonge other ou¦ches, and soulde it to Andreas Moralis for fyue of our coūterfect stones made of glasse of dyuers colours wherwith the igno∣rant younge man was greatly delyted. They founde also cer¦teyne topases on the shore.* 1.275 But thestimation of golde was so

farre entered into the heades of owre men, that they had no regarde to stones. Also the most part of the Spanyardes,* 1.276 do lawgh them to scorne which vse to weare many stones: speci¦ally such as are common: Iudginge it to bee an effeminate thynge, and more meete for women then men. The noble mē onely when they celebrate solēne mariages, or set forth any triūphes, weare cheynes of gold byset with precious stones, and vse fayre apparell of sylke embrothered with golde inter¦mixt with pearles and precious stones: And not at other ty∣mes. They thynke it no lesse effeminate for men to smell of the sweete sauours of Arabie:* 1.277 And iudge hym to bee infected with sum kynde of fylthy lechery, in whom they smell the sa¦uour of muske or Castoreum. But lyke as by one apple taken from a tree, we may perceyue the tree to bee frutfull, and by one fyshe taken in a ryuer, we may knowe that fyshe is ingen∣dered in the same, euen so, by a lyttel gold, and by one stone, we owght to consyder that this lande bringeth forthe great plentie of golde and precious stones.* 1.278 What they haue found in the porte of Sancti Martha in the region of Cariai when the hole nauye passed therby vnder the gouernaunce of Petrus A∣rias and his coompany with certeine other of the kynges of∣fycers,* 1.279* 1.280 I haue suffyciently declared in his place. To be shorte therefore, all thynges do so florysshe, growe, encrease, and prosper, that the laste are euer better then the fyrste. And surely to declare my opinion herin,* 1.281 what so euer hath here••o¦fore byn discouered by the famous trauayles of Saturnus and Hercules, with such other whō the antiquitie for their heroical factes honoured as goddes, seemeth but lyttell and obscure if it be compared to the Spanyardes victorious laboures.

This I byd yowre holynes fare well, desyringe yowe to cer∣tifye me howe yowe lyke these fyrste frutes of the Ocean, that beyng encoraged with yowre exhortations, I maye the gladlyer and with lesse tediousnesse write suche thynges as shal chaunce heraf¦ter.

The fyft booke of the thirde decade.

AL suche lyuynge creatures as vnder the cer∣cle of the moone bringe forthe any thynge, are accustomed by thinstincte of nature as soone as they are delyuered of their byrthe, eyther to close vppe the matrice, or at the leaste to bee quyete for a space. But owre mooste frutefull Ocean and newe woorlde, engendereth and bringeth furthe dayly newe byrthes wher∣by men of great wytte, and especially suche as are studyous of newe and meruelous thinges, may haue sumwhat at hand wherwith to feede their myndes. If yowre holynesse do aske to what purpose is al this, ye shal vnderstand, that I had scarcely fynysshed the historye of suche thynges as chaunsed to Vaschus Nunnez and his coompanye in their vyage to the southe sea, when soodenly there came newe letters from Pe∣trus Arias the newe gouernour whom the kyng had appoynted the yeare before with an army of men and a nauye of shippes to sayle to these newe landes. He sygnifyeth by his letters, that he with his nauye and coompany, arryued all safelye.

Furthermore, Iohannes Cabedus (whome yowre holynes at the requeste of the moste catholyke kynge had created bysshoppe of that prouynce of Dariena) and three other of the chiefe offy∣cers ioined in cōmission to be his assystance,* 1.282 as Alfonsus de Ponte, Diegus Marques, and Iohannes de Tauira, confyrmed the same let∣ters and subscribed them with their names. The nauygati∣on therfore of Petrus Arias,* 1.283 was in this maner. The daye be∣fore the Ides of Apryll, in the yeare of Christe .1514. he hoy∣sed vppe his sayles in the towne of saincte Lucar de Barrameda,* 1.284 sytuate in the mouthe of the ryuer Batis,, whiche the Spani∣ardes nowe caule Guadalchebir. The seuen Ilandes of Canaria are about foure hundreth myles distant from the place where this riuer fauleth into the sea.* 1.285 Summe thinke that these are the Ilandes which the owlde writers did caule the fo••t••n••te Ilandes. But other thynke the contrary. The name of the••e Ilandes, are these. The two whiche appere fyrste in syght, are named Lanzelota and Fortisuentura. On the backehalfe of these, lyeth Magna Canaria or Grancanaria. Beyonde that is Te∣urife: and Gomera sumwhat towarde the northe frome that.

Palma and Ferrea, lye behynde as it were a bulwarke to all the other. Petrus Arias therfore, arriued at Gomera the eyghte daye after his departure, with a nauye of .xvii. shippes and a .M. and fyue hundreth men, althoughe there were onely a thou∣sand and two hundreth assygned hym by the kynges letters. It is sayde furthermore that he lefte behynd hym more then two thousande verye pensyue and syghynge that they also myght not be receaued, proferynge them selues to go at their owne charges. He taried .xvi. dayes in Gomera to thintente to make prouysyon of fuell and freshe water:* 1.286 But chiefely to repayre his shyppes beynge sore brosed with tempestes, and especially the gouernours shippe whiche had loste the rudder. For these Ilandes are a commodious restynge place for all suche as intende to attempte any nauygations in that mayne sea. Departynge from hense in the nones of Maye, he sawe no more lande vntyll the thirde daye of Iune, at the whiche he arriued at Dominica an Ilande of the Canibales,* 1.287 being distant from Gomera aboute eyght hundreth leaques. Here he remay∣ned foure dayes, makinge newe prouision of freshe water and fuell, durynge whiche tyme he sawe no man nor yet any step∣pes of men: But founde plentie of sea crabbes and greate ly∣sartes. From hense he sayled by the Ilandes of Matinina (o∣therwyse cauled Madanino) Guadalupea,* 1.288 and Galanta (otherwyse cauled Galana) of all whiche, we haue spoken in the fyrste de∣cade. He passed also throughe the sea of herbes or weedes, continuyng a long tracte. Yet nother he, nor Colonus the Ad∣myrall (who fyrste founde these Ilandes and sayled through this sea of weedes) haue declared anye reason howe these weedes shoulde coome.* 1.289 Summe thynke the sea too be ve∣rye muddye there, and that these weedes are engendered in the bottome therof, and so beynge loosed, to ascende to the vppermooste parte of the water, as wee see oftentymes chaunce in certeyne stondynge pooles, and sumtymes also in greate ryuers. Other suppose that they are not engendered there, but to bee beaten from certeyne rockes by the vyolence of the water in tempestes. And thus they leaue the matter in dowte: Neyther haue they yet any certeyne experyence whe∣ther they stycke faste and gyue place to the shyppes, or wan∣der loose vppon the water. But it is to bee thought that they are engendered there. For otherwyse they shulde bee dryuen

togyther on heapes by thympulsyon of the shyppes euen as a beasome gathereth the swepynges of a house, and shulde al∣so lette the course of the shyppes. The fourth day after that he departed frome Dominica,* 1.290 the hyghe mountaynes couered with snowe (wherof we haue spoken in the seconde decade) appered vnto hym. They saye that there the seas runne as swyftely towarde the weste,* 1.291 as it were a ryuer faulyng from the toppes of hyghe montaynes: Although they sayled not directly toward the west, but inclined sumwhat to the south. From these montaynes fauleth the ryuer of Gaira,* 1.292 famous by the slaughter of owre men at such tyme as Rodericus Colmenares passed by those coastes as we haue sayde before. Lykewyse many other fayre ryuers haue their originall from the same montaynes. This prouynce (in the whiche is also the regy∣on of Caramairi) hath in it two notable hauens,* 1.293 of the which owre men named the one Carthago or Carthagona,* 1.294 and the other Sancta Martha, the region wherof, thinhabitantes caule Satur∣ma.* 1.295 The porte of Sancta Martha, is nearer to the montaines co∣uered with snowe cauled Montes Niuales:* 1.296 for it is at the rootes of the same montaines. But the hauen of Carthago, is more westewarde aboute fyftie leaques. He writeth marueylous thynges of the hauen of Sancta Martha, whiche they also con∣firme that came lately frō thēse: Of the which younge Vesput••us is one to whō Americus Vesputius his vncle (being a Florētine borne) left the exact knowlege of the mariners facultie,* 1.297 as it were by inheritance after his death for he was a very expert maister in the knowledge, of his carde, his compasse, and the eleuation of the pole starre with all that perteineth ther∣to. This younge Vesputius was assygned by the kyng to bee one of the maisters of the gouernours shyppe, bicause he was cunninge in iudgyng the degrees of the eleuation of the pole starre by the quadrante. For the charge of gouernynge the rudder, was chiefely coommytted to one Iohannes Serranus a Spaniarde, who had oftentymes ouer runne those coastes. Vesputius is my verye familyar frende, and a wyttie younge man in whose coompany I take great pleasure, and there∣fore vse hym oftentymes for my geste. He hath also made many vyages into these coastes, and diligently noted suche thinges as he hath seene. Petrus Arias therfore writeth, and he confyrmeth the same, that thinhabitantes of these regy∣ons

tooke their originall of the Caribes or Canibales, as ap∣peared by the desperate fiercenes and crueltie which they of∣tentymes shewed to owre men when they passed by their coa∣stes. Suche stou••enes and fortitude of mynde is natu••••llye engendered in these naked Barbarians,* 1.298 that they feared not to a••sayle owre hole nauy & to forbyd them to coome a land. They feyght with venemous arrowes as we haue sayde be∣fore. Perceauynge that owre men contempned their threat∣nynges, they ranne furiously into the sea, euen vppe to the breastes,* 1.299 nothynge fearinge eyther the bygnes or multitude of owre shyppes, but ceased not continually beinge thus in the water, to cast dartes and shute their venemous arrowes as thicke as hayle: In so muche that owre men had bynne in great daunger if they had not byn defended by the cages or pauisses of the shyppes and their targettes. Yet were two of them wounded whiche died shortely after. But this con∣flycte continued so sharpe, that at the length owre men were enforced to shute of their byggest pieces of ordinaunce with hayleshotte:* 1.300 At the slaughter and terrible noyse wherof the barbarians beynge sore discomfited and shaken with feare, thynkynge the same to be thunder and lyghtnynge,* 1.301 tourned their backes and fledde amayne. They greately feare thun∣der bycause these regyons are oftentymes vexed with thun∣der and lyghtnynge by reason of the hyghe montaynes and nearenesse of the same to the region of the ayer wherin such fierie tempestes are engendered which the philosophers caule Meteora.* 1.302 And all be it that owre men had nowe dryuen their enemyes to flyght, and sawe them disparcled and owte of or∣der, yet dowted they and were of dyuers opinions whether they shulde pursue them or not On the one partie, shame pric∣ked them forwarde, and on the other syde feare caused them to caste many perelles, especially consyderynge the venemous arrowes whiche these barbarians canne direct so certeynely.* 1.303 To departe from theym with a drye foote (as saithe the pro∣uerbe) with so great a nauye and suche an armye, they repu∣ted it as a thynge greately soundynge to their reproche and dishonour. At the length therfore shame ouercommyng feare, they pursued them and came to land with their shippe boates.

The gouernoure of the nauie, and also Vesputius doo wryte, that the hauen is no lesse then three leagues in compasse, be∣inge

also safe withowt rockes, and the water therof so clere, th••t a man may see pybble stones in the bottome twentie cu∣bettes deape. They saye lykewyse that there fauleth twoo fayre ryuers of fresshe water into the ha••••n: but the same to bee meeter to beare the canoas of these prouinces then anye bygger vessels. It is a delectable thynge to heare what they tel of the plentie and varietie, and also of the pleasaunt tast of the fysshes aswel of these riuers as of the sea there about. By reason wherof they founde here many fyssher boates and nettes woonderfully wrought of the stalkes of certeyne her••∣bes or weedes dryed and tawed and wrethed with cordes of spunne gossampine cotton.* 1.304 For the people of Caramairi, Gaira,* 1.305 and Saturma, are very cunnynge in fysshynge, and vse to sell fysshe to theyr bortherers for exchaunge of suche thynges as they lacke. When owre men had thus chased the Barbary∣ans from the sea coastes, and hadde nowe entered into theyr houses, they assayled them with newe skyrmushes, especial∣ly when they sawe them faule to sackynge and spoylyng, and theyr wyues and chyldren taken captiue. Theyr householde stuffe was made of great reedes which growe on the sea ban∣kes,* 1.306 and the stalkes of certeyne herbes beaten and afterward made harde. The floures therof were strewed with herbes of sundry coloures: And the waules hanged with a kynde of tapstry artificially made of gossampine cotton,* 1.307 and wrought with pictures of Lions, Tygers, and Eagles. The doores of theyr houses and chambers were full of dyuers kyndes of shelles hangynge loose by smaule cordes,* 1.308 that beinge shaken by the wynde they myght make a certeyne rattelynge and al∣so a whystelynge noyse by gatherynge the wynde in theyr ho¦lowe places. For herein they haue greate delyte, and impute this for a goodly ornamente. Dyuers haue shewed me many woonderfull thynges of these regions: Especially one Conza∣lus Fernandus Ouiedus beinge one of the maiestrates appointed in that office which the Spanyardes caule Veedor,* 1.309 who hath al∣so hetherto entered further into the lande then any other. He affirmeth that he chaunced vppon the fragmente of a saphire bygger then the egge of a goose. And that in certeyne hylles where he trauayled with thirtie men, he founde many of the precious stones cauled Smaragdes,* 1.310 calcidones, and Iaspers, besyde great pieces of amber of the montaines. He also with

dyuers other do affirme that in the houses of sume of the Ca¦nibales of these regions,* 1.311 they found the lyke precious stones set in golde and inclosed in the tapstry or arras (if it may soo bee cauled) wherewith they hange theyr houses. The same lande bryngeth foorth also many wooddes of brasile trees & great plentie of golde:* 1.312 In so much that in maner in al places they founde on the se•• bankes and on the shoores, certeyne marchasites in token of golde.* 1.313 Fernandus Ouiedus declareth fur∣thermore that in a certeyne region cauled Zenu, lyinge foure score and tenne myles from Dariena Eastwarde, they exercyse a straunge kynde of marchaundies. For in the houses of the inhabitantes, they founde greate chestes and baskets made of the twigges and leaues of certeyne trees apte for that pur¦pose, beinge all full of gressehoppers, grylles, crabbes, or crefysshes: snayles also, and locustes whiche destrowe the fieldes of corne,* 1.314 all well dryed and salted. Beinge demaun∣ded why they reserued such a multitude of these beastes, they answered that they kepte them to bee soulde to theyr borthe∣rers which dwell further within the lande: And that for the exchange of these precious byrdes and salted fysshes, they re¦ceaued of them certeyne strange thynges wherin partely they take pleasure, and partly vse them for theyr necessary affay∣ers. These people dwel not togyther, but scattered here and there. Thinhabitantes of Caramairi, seeme to dwel in an earth¦ly Paradise, theyr region is so fayre and frutefull, withowt owtragious heate or sharpe coulde, with lyttle difference of the length of day and nyght throwghowt all the yeare. Af∣ter that owre men had thus dryuen the barbarians to flyght, they entered into a valley of two leagues in breadth & three in length, extendynge to certeyne frutful mountaynes ful of grasse,* 1.315 herbes, and trees, at the rootes wherof, lye twoo o∣ther valleys towarde the ryght hande and the left, throwgh eyther of the which runneth a fayre ryuer, whereof the ryuer of Gaira is one, but vnto the other they haue yet gyuen noo name. In these valleys they founde manye fayre gardeyns and pleasaunte fyeldes watered with trenshes distrybuted in marueylous order,* 1.316 with no lesse arte then owre Insubrians and Hetrurians vse to water theyr fyeldes. Theyr common meate, is Ages, Iucca, Maizium, Battatae, with suche other rootes and frutes of trees, and also suche fysshe as they vse in the

Ilandes and other regions of these prouinces. They eate mans fleshe but seldome, bycause they meete not oftentymes with strangiers, except they goo foorth of theyr owne domi∣nions with a mayne army of purpose to hunt for men,* 1.317 when theyr rauenynge appetite pricketh them forwarde. For they absteyne from them selues, and eate none but suche as they take in the warres or otherwyse by chaunce. But suerly it is a miserable thynge to heare howe many myriades of men these fylthy and vnnaturall deuourers of mans flesshe haue consumed,* 1.318 and lefte thousandes of moste fayre and frutfull Ilandes and regions desolate withowte menne: By reason wherof owre men founde so many Ilandes whiche for theyr fayrenes and frutefulnesse myght seeme to bee certeyne earth¦ly Paradyses, and yet were vtterly voyde of men. Hereby yowre holynesse may consider howe pernitious a kynde of men this is. We haue sayde before that the Ilande named Sancti Iohannis (which thinhabitantes caule Burichena) is nexte to Hispaniola. It is sayde that onely the Canibales which dwell in the other Ilandes nere about this, as in the Ilande cau∣led Hayhay or Sancte Crucis, and in Guadalupea (otherwise cauled Queraqueiera,* 1.319 or Carucuiera) haue in owre tyme vyolentely taken owte of the sayde Ilande of Sancti Iohannis, more then fyue thousande men to bee eaten. But let it suffice thus much to haue wandered by these monstrous bludsuckers. We wyll nowe therfore speake sumewhat of the rootes whereof they make theyr breade, forasmuch as the same shall hereafter bee foode to Christian men in steede of breade made of wheate,* 1.320 and in the steade of radysshe with such other rootes as they haue byn accustomed to eate in Europe. We haue oftentymes sayde before that Iucca is a roote whereof the beste and moste delicate breade is made bothe in the firme lande of these regi¦ons, and also in the Ilandes. But howe it is tylled or hus∣banded, howe it groweth, and of howe dyuers kyndes it is, I haue not yet declared. Therefore, when they intende to plante this Iucca,* 1.321 they make a hole in the earth knee deape, and rayse a heape of the earth taken owte of the same, fashio¦nynge it lyke a square bedde of nyne foote breadth on euerye syde, settynge twelue trunkes of these rootes (beinge about a foote and a halfe longe a piece) in euery of the sayd beddes conteynynge three rootes of a syde, so layde a slope, that the

endes of them ioyne in maner togyther in the center or myd∣dest of the bedde within the grounde. Owt of the ioyntes of the rootes and spaces betwene the same, sprynge the toppes and blades of newe rootes, which by lyttle and lyttle encrea¦synge, growe to the byggenes and length of a mans arme in the brawne, and oftentymes as bygge as the thygh: So that by the tyme of theyr full rypenes, in maner all the earthe of the heape, is conuerted into rootes.* 1.322 But they say that these rootes are not rype in lesse tyme then a yeare & a halfe: And that the longer they are su••fered to growe euen vntyll twoo yeares complete, they are so muche the better and more per∣fecte to make breade therof.* 1.323 When they are taken foorthe of the earth, they scrape them and slyse thē with certeyne sharpe stones scruynge for the same purpose: And thus layinge thē betwene two great stones, or puttynge them in a sacke made of the stalkes of certeyne towgh herbes and smaule reedes, they presse them (as we do cheese or crabbes to drawe owte the iuse thereof) and so let them drye a daye before they eate them. The iuse or lyquoure, they cast away: for (as we haue sayde) it is deadly poyson in the Ilandes.* 1.324 Yet is the iuse of suche as growe in the firme lande, holsome if it bee sodde, as is the whey of owre mylke. They saye that there are manye kyndes of this Iucca, wherof su••e are more pleasaunte and delycate then the other, and are therefore reserued as it were to make fine manchet for the kynges owne tables. But the gentelmen eate of the meaner sorte, and the common people of the basest. The fynest they caule Cazabbi,* 1.325 which they make rounde lyke cakes in certeyne presses before they seeth it or bake it. They saye furthermore that there are lykewyse dy∣uers kyndes of the rootes of Ages and Battata.* 1.326 But they vse these rather as frutes and dysshes of seruice, then to make breade therof, as we vse rapes, radysshes, mussheroms, na∣uies, perseneppes, and such lyke. In this case, they mooste especially esteeme the best kynde of Battatas, which in pleasant tast and tendernes farre exceadeth owre musheromes. It shal suffice to haue sayde thus muche of rootes.* 1.327 We wyll nowe therfore speake of an other kynde of theyr breade. We decla¦red before that they haue a kynde of grayne or pulse muche lyke vnto Panicum, but with sumwhrt bygger graines, which they beate into meale vppon certeyne greate hollowe stones

with the labour of their handes when they lacke Iucca: And of this is made the more vulgar or common breade. It is sowen thrise a yeare, so that the frutfulnesse of the grounde may beare it by reason of the equalitie of the tyme, whereof wee haue spoken suffyciently before.* 1.328 In these regyons they founde also the graine of Maizium,* 1.329 and sundry kyndes of fru∣tes of trees diligentely planted and well husbanded. The waye betwene the regyons of Caramairi and Saturma, is fayre, brode, and ryghte foorthe. They founde here also sundrye kyndes of waterpottes made of earthe of dyuers colours,* 1.330 in the whiche they bothe fetche and keepe freshe water. Lyke∣wise sundry kindes of iugges, godderdes, drynkyng cuppes, pottes, pannes, dysshes, and platters artifycially made.

When the gouernour had gyuen commaundement by procla∣mation, that thinhabitantes shulde eyther obey the Christian kynge and embrase owre relygion, or elles to depart owte of their countrey, they answered with venemous arrowes. In this skyrmyshe, owre men tooke summe of theym: whereof clothynge the moste parte in faire apparell, they sente them ageyne to their owne coompany: But leadyng the resydue to the shyppes to thin••ent to shewe them the poure and magny∣fycence of the christians that they myght declare the same to their coompanions, therby to wynne their fauour, they ap∣pareled them lykewyse and sente them after their felowes.

Theye affyrme that in all the ryuers of these coastes, theye sawe great argumentes and tokens of golde.* 1.331 They founde here and there in their houses good store of hartes flesshe and bores fleshe wherwith they fedde them selues dilycately.* 1.332

They also, haue greate plentie of sundry kyndes of byrdes and foules,* 1.333 wherof they brynge vppe many in their houses, summe for necessarye foode, and other for daynty dysshes as we do hennes and partriches. Owre men hereby coniecture that the ayer of these regions is veary holsome,* 1.334 for as muche as sleapynge all nyghte vnder the fyrmament on the bankes of the ryuers, none of them were at any tyme offended with reumes or heade ache by reason of any noysome humoure or vapoure proceadynge from the earthe, ayer, or water. Owre men furthermore, founde there many great bothomes of gos∣sampyne cotton ready spunue, and fardelles of dyuers kyn∣des of fethers wherof they make them selue•• crestes and plu∣mes* 1.335

after the maner of owre men of armes: also certeine clo∣kes whiche they esteeme as moste cumly ornamentes. They founde lykewyse an innumerable multitude of bowes and ar∣rowes.* 1.336 Thinhabitantes also of these regiōs, in summe places vse to burne the carkeses of their prynces when theye are deade, and to reserue their bones buryed with spyces in cer∣teyne hylles.* 1.337 In other places, they onely drye theym and imbaume them with spyc••s and sweete gummes, and soo re∣serue them in sepulchers in their owne houses. Sumwhere also, they drye them, spyce them; adourne them with precy∣ous iewells and ouches, and so reuerently place them in cer∣teyne tabernacles made for the same purpo••e in their owne palayces. When owre men had many of their tabellets, bras∣lettes, collers, and suche other ouches (whiche they caule Guanines) they founde them rather to bee made of laton then of golde:* 1.338* 1.339 wherby they suppo••e that they haue vsed to exchaunge their ware with summe craftie straungers whiche broughte thē those counterfect ou••hes to defraude them of their golde. For euen owre menne perceaued not the deceate vntyll they came to the meltynge. Furthermore, certayne of owre buyl∣ders wanderynge a lyttell way from the sea coastes, chaun∣ced to fynde certayne pyeces of white marble.* 1.340 Wherby they thynke that in tyme paste summe straungers haue coome too those landes, whiche haue dygged marble owte of the moun∣taines, and lefte those fragmentes on the plaine. There owre men learned that the ryuer Maragnonus descendeth frome the montaynes couered with snowe cauled Montes Niuales or Serra Neuata:* 1.341 And the same to bee encreased by many other ryuers whiche faule into it throughowte all the lowe and watelye regions by the whiche it runneth with so longe a tracte from the sayde montaynes into the sea: And this to bee the cause of the greatnesse therof. These thynges beyng thus brought to passe, the gouernour cōmaunded the trumpitour to blowe a retraite: Whervppon they whiche were sente to lande (be∣ynge fyue hundreth in noumber) makynge a great shoute for ioye of their victory, sette them selues in order of battayle, and so keping their array, returned to the shippes laden with spoyle of those prouinces, and shynynge in souldiers clokes of fethers,* 1.342 with faire plumes and crestes of variable colours. In this meane tyme hauynge repaired their shyppes and fur∣nysshed

the same with all necessaries, they loosed anker the xvi. daye of the Calendes of Iuly, directynge their course to the hauen of Carthagena, in the whiche viage they destroyed and wasted certayne Ilandes of the Canibales lyinge in the waye, accordynge as they were commaunded by the kynge. But the swifte course of the water deceaued bothe Iohannes Serranus the chiefe Pilet of the gouernours shyppe,* 1.343 and all the other, althoughe they made their boste that they perfectely knewe the nature therof. For they affyrme that in one night they were caried forty leaques beyonde their estimation.* 1.344

The syxte booke of the thirde Decade.

HEre muste we sumwhat digresse from cosmo∣graphy, and make a philosophicall discours to searche the secreate causes of nature. For wheras they al affyrme with on cōsent, that the sea runneth there from the Easte to the weste as swyftly as it were a ryuer faulinge from hyghe mountaynes,* 1.345 I thoughte it not good to lette so great a matter slyppe vntou∣ched. The whiche while I consyder, I am drawen into no smaule ambyguitie and doute, whether those waters haue their course whiche flowe with so contynuall a tracte in cir∣cuite from the Easte, as thowghe they fledde to the west ne∣uer to retourne, and yet neyther the weste therby any whitte the more fylled, nor the Easte emptied. If we shall saye that they faule to their centre (as is the nature of heuye thynges) and assigne the Equinoctiall lyne to be the centre (as summe affyrme) what centre shall we appointe to bee able to receaue so great aboundaunce of water?* 1.346* 1.347 Or what circumference shal be founde weate? They whiche haue searched those coastes, haue yet founde no lykely reason to be trewe. Many thynke that there shoulde bee certeyne large straightes or enterances in the corner of that great lande whiche we described to bee eyght tymes bygger then Italye,* 1.348 and the corner therof to be full of goulfes, wherby they suppose that summe strayghtes shulde passe through the same lyinge on the weste syde of the Ilande of Cuba: And that the sayde straightes shoulde swa∣lowe vp those waters, and so conuey the same into the weste

and from thense ageyn into owre Easte Ocean, or north seas as summe thynke.* 1.349 Other wyll, that the goulfe of that great lande bee closed vppe: and the land to reache farre towarde the northe on the backe syde of Cuba: so that it embrace the northe landes whiche the frosen sea encompaseth vnder the northe pole: And that all the lande of those coastes, shoulde ioyne togyther as one fir••e lande: Wherby they coniecture that those waters shulde bee turned aboute by the obiecte or resystaunce of that lande so bendynge towarde the north, as we see the waters ••courned aboute in the crooked bankes of certeyne ryuers. But this agreeth not in all poyntes. For they also whiche haue searched the frosen sea,* 1.350 and sayled frome thense into the weste, do lykewyse affyrme that those northe seas flow•• contynually towarde the weste, although nothing so swiftely. These northe seas haue byn searched by one Se∣bastian Cabot a Uenetian borne,* 1.351 whom beinge yet but in ma∣ner an infante, his parentes caryed with them into Englande hauyng occasion to resorte thether for trade of marchandies, as is the maner of the Uenetians too leaue no parte of the worlde vnsearched to obteyne richesse.* 1.352 He therfore furnis∣shed two shippes in England at his owne charges:* 1.353 And fyrst with three hundreth men, directed his course so farre toward the northe pole, that euen in the mooneth of Iuly he founde monstrous heapes of Ise swimming on the sea,* 1.354 and in maner continuall day lyght. Yet sawe he the lande in that tracte, free from Ise, whiche had byn molten by heate of the sunne. Thus seyng suche heapes of Ise before hym he was enforced to tourne his sayles and folowe the weste, so coastynge styll by the shore, that he was thereby broughte so farre into the southe by reason of the lande bendynge so muche southward that it was there almoste equall in latitude with the sea cau∣led Fretum Herculeum,* 1.355 hauynge the north pole eleuate in maner in the same degree. He sayled lykewise in this tracte so farre towarde the weste, that he had the Ilande of Cuba his lefte hande in maner in the same degree of langitude. As he tra∣ueyled by the coastes of this greate lande (whiche he named Baccallaos) he sayth that he found the like course of the waters toward the west,* 1.356 but the same to runne more softely and gen∣telly then t••e swifte waters whiche the Spanyardes found in their nauigations southeward.

Wherefore, it is not onely more lyke to bee trewe, but ought also of necessitie to bee concluded, that betwene both the lan∣des hetherto vnknowen, there shulde bee certeyne great open places wherby the waters shulde thus continually passe from the East into the weste: which waters I suppose to bee dry∣uen about the globe of the earth by the vncessaunt mouynge and impulsion of the heauens:* 1.357 and not to bee swalowed vp and cast owt ageyne by the breathynge of Demogorgon as sume haue imagined bycause they see the seas by increase and de∣crease,* 1.358 to flowe and re••••owe. Sebastian Cabot him selfe, na∣med those landes Baccallaos, bycause that in the seas therabout he founde so great multitudes of certeyne bigge fysshes much lyke vnto ••umes (which thinhabitantes caule Baccallaos) that they sumtymes stayed his shippes. He founde also the peo∣ple of those regions couered with beastes skynnes:* 1.359 Yet not without thuse of reason.

He saythe also that there is greate plentie of beares in those regions, whiche vse to eate fysshe.* 1.360 For plungeinge theym selues into the water where they perceue a multitude of these fysshes to lye, they fasten theyr clawes in theyr scales, and so drawe them to lande and eate them. So that (as he saith) the beares beinge thus satisfied with fysshe, are not noysom to men. He declareth further, that in many places of these regions,* 1.361 he sawe great plentie of laton amonge thinhabitan¦tes. Cabot is my very frende, whom I vse famylierly, and de¦lyte to haue hym sumtymes keepe mee company in myne owne house. For beinge cauled owte of England by the commaun∣dement of the catholyke kynge of Castile after the deathe of Henry Kynge of Englande the seuenth of that name, he was made one of owre counsayle and assystance as touchynge the affayres of the newe Indies, lookynge dayely for shippes to bee furnysshed for hym to discouer this hyd secreate of na∣ture. This vyage is appoynted to bee begunne in March in the yeare next folowynge,* 1.362 beinge the yeare of Chryst M. D. X••I. What shall succeade, yowre holynes shalbe aduertised by my letters if god graunte me lyfe. Sume of the Spany∣ardes denye that Cabot was the fyrst fynder of the lande of Baccallaos: And affirme that he went not so farre westewarde. But it shall suffice to haue sayde thus much of the goulfes & strayghtes, and of Cebastian Cabot. Let vs nowe therefore

returne to the Spanyardes. At this tyme, they let passe the hauen of Carthago vntouched, with all the Ilandes of the Ca¦nibales there aboute,* 1.363 whiche they named Insulas Sancti Bernardi: Leauynge also behynde theyr backes, all the region of Cara∣mairi. Heare by reason of a sooden tempeste, they were caste vppon the Ilande Fortis,* 1.364 beinge about fyftie leagues distante from the enteraunce of the goulfe of Vraba. In this Ilande, they founde in the houses of thinhabitantes, many baskets made of certeyne greate sea reedes, ful of salte. For this I∣lande hath in it many goodly salte bayes: by reason whereof they haue greate plentie of salte which they sell to other na∣tions for such thynges as they stande in neede of.* 1.365 Not farre from hense,* 1.366 a great curlewe as bygge as a storke came flying to the gouernours shippe, and suffered her selfe to bee ••easely taken: which beinge caryed about amonge all the shippes of the nauie, dyed shortly after, They sawe also a great multy¦tude of the same kynde of foules on the shore a farre of.

The gouernour his shyppe whiche we sayde to haue loste the rudder beinge nowe sore broosed and in maner vnprofytable, they lefte behynde to folowe at leasure. The nauie arriued at Dariena the twelfth day of the Calendes of Iuly,* 1.367 and the go∣uernour his shippe (beinge voyde of men) was dryuen a lande in the same coastes within foure dayes after. The Spany∣ardes whiche nowe inhabited Dariena, with theyr Capitayne and Lieuetenant Vuschus Nunnez Balboa (of whom we haue large¦ly made mention before) beinge certified of tharryual of Petrus Arias and his coompanye,* 1.368 wente foorthe three myles to meete him, & receaued him honorably & religiously with the psalme Te deum Laudamus, giuing thankes to god by whose safe cōducte they were brought so prosperously thether to al theyr confor∣tes. They receaued them gladly into theyr houses builded af¦ter the maner of those prouinces. I may well caule these re∣gions, Prouinces,* 1.369 a Procul victis, (that is) such as are ouercome farre of, forasmuch as owre men doo nowe inhabite the same all the barbarous kynges and Idolatours beinge eiected. They enterteyned them with such chere as they were able to make them: as with the frutes of those regions, and newe breade bothe made of rootes and the grayne Mai••ium. Other delicates to make vp the feast, were of theyr owne store whi∣che they brought with theym in theyr shyppes, as poudered

flesshe, salted fysshe, and breade made of wheate. For they brought with them many barrelles of wheate meale for the same purpose.* 1.370 Here maye yowre holynes not withowt iuste cause of admiracion beholde a kynges nauie and great multi¦tude of Christians, inhabytinge not onely the regions situate vnder the circle of heauen cauled Tropicus Cancri, but also in maner vnder the Equinoctiall lyne,* 1.371 contrary to thopinion of the owlde wryters, a fewe excepted. But after that they are nowe mette togyther, let vs further declare what they deter¦myned to doo. Therefore, the daye after that the nauie arri∣ued, there assembled a coompany of the Spanyardes thinha∣bitoures of Dariena, to the number of foure hundreth and fyf∣tie men. Petrus Arias the gouernour of the nauie and his coom¦pany, conferred with them bothe priuilie and openlye of cer∣teyne articles wherof it was the kynges pleasure he shulde en¦quire: And most especially as concernyng such thynges wher¦of Vaschus the fyrste fynder and Admirall of the Southe sea, made mentiō in his large letter sent frō Dariena to Spayn. In this inquisition they founde all thynges to bee trewew, herof Vaschus had certifyed the kynge by his letters: And there vp∣pon concluded that in the dominions of Comogra, Pocchorrosa, & Tumanama, at thassignement of Vaschus, certeine fortresses shuld bee erected foorthwith to thintente there to plant theyr colo∣nie or habitacion.* 1.372 To the better accomplysshemente hereof, they sent immediatly one Iohannes Aiora a noble younge gentel¦man of Corduba and vnder Lieuetenant,* 1.373 with foure hundreth men and foure carauelles and one other lyttle shippe. Thus de¦partinge, he sayled fyrst directly to the hauen of Comogrus,* 1.374 dy¦stant from Dariena aboute twentie and fyue leagues, as they wryte in theyr last letters. Frome hense, he as appoynted to sende a hundreth and fyftie of his foure hundreth, towarde the South by a newe and ryghter way founde of late, by the which (as they say) it is not paste .xxvi. leagues from the pa∣laice of kynge Comogrus to the enteraunce of the goulfe of Sancti Michaelis.* 1.375 The residewe of the foure hundreth, shall re∣mayne there to bee an ayde and succour to all such as shall ior¦ney to and fro. Those hundreth and fiftie which are assigned to go southwarde, take with them for interpretours certeine of owre men which had lerned the sootherne language of the bonde men which were gyuen to Vaschus when he ouerranne

those regions, and also certeyne of the bondem••n them selues which had nowe lerned the Spanysshe tonge. They say that the hauen of Pocchorrosa,* 1.376 is onely seuen leaques distante frome the hauen of Comogrus. In Pocchorrosa, he is assigned to leaue fyft••e men with the lyghtest shyp which maye bee a passinger betwene them:* 1.377 that lyke as we vse poste horses by lande, so may they by this currant shippe, in shorte space certifie the Lieuetenaunt and thinhabitours of Dariena of suche thynges as shall chaunce. They entende also to buylde houses in the region of Tumanama. The palaice of kynge Tumanama,* 1.378 is distant from Pocchorrosa about twentie leaques. Of these foure hun∣dreth men, beinge of the owlde souldiers of Dariena and men of good experience, fyftie weare appoynted to bee as it were Decurians to guide and conducte the newe men from place to place to do their affaires.* 1.379 When they had thus sette all thynges in order, they thought it good to aduertise the king hereof, and therwith to certifye hym that in those prouinces there is a kynge named Dabaiba whose dominion is very riche in golde:* 1.380 But the same to be yet vntouched by reason of his great power. His kingedome ioyneth to the seconde greate ryuer named Dabaiba after his name,* 1.381 whiche fauleth into the sea owt of the corner of the goulfe of Vraba as we haue large¦ly declared before. The common reporte is, that all the lande of his dominions is ryche in golde. The palayce of kynge Dabaiba is fyfty leaques distante from Dariena.* 1.382 Thinhabitan∣tes saye that from the palaice, the golde mynes reache to the borthers on euery syde.* 1.383 Albeit, owre men haue also golde mynes not to bee contempned, euen within three leaques of Dariena, in the which they gather golde in many places at this presente: Yet doo theye affyrme greater plentie to bee in the mynes of Dabaiba. In the bookes of owre fyrste frutes wrytten to yowre holynesse, we made mention of this Dabai∣ba, wherin owre men were deceaued and mystooke the mat∣ter.* 1.384 For where they founde the fyssher men of kyng Dabaiba in the marysshes, they thought his region had byn there also. They determyned therfore to sende to kynge Dabaiba, three hundreth choyse younge men to be chosen owte of the hole army as moste apte to the warres,* 1.385 and well furnysshed with all kyndes of armoure and artillery, to thintent to go vnto hym and wyl hym, eyther frendly and peaceably to per∣mytte

them to inhabyte parte of his kingdome with the frui∣tion of the golde mynes, or elles to bydde him battayle and dryue hym owte of his countrey. In their letters, they often ••ymes repete this for an argument of great rychesse to coome,* 1.386 that they in maner dygged the grounde in noo place, but founde the earthe myxte with sparkes and smaule graynes of golde. They haue also aduertised the kynge that it shalbe commodious to place inhabitours in the hauen of Sancta Mar∣tha in the region of Saturma,* 1.387 that it maye bee a place of refuge for them that sayle from the Ilande of Dominica from the whi∣che (as they saye) it is but foure or fyue dayes saylyng to that hauen of the regyon of Saturma:* 1.388 And from the hauen, but thre dayes saylyng to Dariena.* 1.389 But this is to bee vnderstode in go∣ynge and not in returnynge. For the returnyng from thense is so laborious and difficulte by reason of the contrary course of the water,* 1.390 that they seeme as it were to ascende hyghe montaynes and stryue ageynste the poure of Neptunus. This swyfte course of the sea towarde the Weste, is not so violente to theym whiche retourne to Spayne frome the Ilandes of Hispaniola and Cuba: Althoughe they also do laboure ageynste the faule of the Ocean: The cause wherof is, that the sea is here verye large, so that the waters haue their full scoope. But in the tracte of Paria, the waters are constrayned toge∣ther by the bendynge sydes of that great lande, and by the multytude of Ilandes lyinge ageynste it, as the lyke is seene in the straightes or narowe seas of Sicilie where the violent course of the waters cause the daungerous places of Scylla and Charybdis,* 1.391 by reason of those narowe seas whiche conteine Ionium, Libicum, and Tirrhenum. Colonus the fyrst fynder of these regyons, hath lefte in wrytynge, that saylynge from the I∣lande of Guanassa,* 1.392 and the prouynces of Iaia,* 1.393 Maia,* 1.394 and Cera∣baro,* 1.395 beyng regyons of the west marches of Beragua,* 1.396 he founde the course of the water so vehemente and furious ageynste the fore parte of his shippe whyle he sailed from those coastes towarde the Easte, that he coulde at no tyme touche the grounde with his soundynge plummet, but that the contra∣ry vyolence of the water woolde beare it vppe from the bot∣tome.* 1.397 He affyrmeth also, that he coulde neuer in one hole daye with a meately good wynde, wynne one myle of the course of the water. And this is the cause why they are of∣tentymes

enforced to sayle fyrste by the Ilandes of Cuba and Hispaniola, and so into the mayne sea toward the North when they returne to Spaine, that the Northe wyndes maye fur∣ther their vyage whiche they can not brynge to passe by a di∣recte course.* 1.398 But of the motions of the Ocean sea to and fro, this shal suffyce. Let vs now therfore reherse what they write of Dariena, & of their habitation there, which they caule Sancta Maria Antiqua,* 1.399 planted on the sea bankes of Dariena. The situati¦on of the place, hath no natural munition or defense: And the ayer is more pestiferous then in Sardus.* 1.400 The Spanyshe inhabi∣tours, are all pale & yelowe, lyke vnto them that haue the ye∣lowe gianndyes. Whiche neuerthelesse commeth not of the na∣ture of the region as it is situate vnder the heauen. For in ma¦ny regyons beyng vnder the selfe same degree of latitude, ha∣uyng the pole of the same eleuation,* 1.401 they fynd holsome & tem∣perate ayer, in such places where as the earth bryngeth forth fayre sprynges of water, or where holsome ryuers runne by bankes of pure earthe without mudde: but moste especyally where they inhabyte the sydes of the hylles and not the val∣leyes. But that habytation whiche is on the bankes of the ryuer of Dariena, is sytuate in a deepe valley, and enuironed on euery syde with hyghe hylles: By reason wherof, it re∣ceaueth the soonne beames at noonetyde directly perpenticu∣lar ouer their heades, and are therfore sore vexed by reflecti∣on of the beames bothe before, behynde, and from the sydes. For it is the reflection of the soonne beames whiche causeth feruente heate,* 1.402 and not their accesse or nerenesse to the earth. Forasmuche as they are not passyble in them selues as dothe manyfestly appeare by the snowe lyinge contynually vnmol∣ten vpon certeyne hygh montaynes, as yowre holynesse kno∣weth ryghte well. The soonne beames therfore faulyng on the montaynes, are reflected downewarde into the valley by reason of thobiecte of the declynynge sydes of the hylles, as it were the faule of a greate rounde stoone rowled frome the toppe of a montayne. The valley therfore receaueth, both those beames whiche faule directly theron, and also those whiche are reflected downwarde from euery syde of the mon∣taynes. Their habitation therfore in Dariena,* 1.403 is pernicious and vnholsome onely of the particular nature of the place, & not by the sytuation of the regyon as it is placed vnder the

heauen or ••••eare to the soonne. The place is also contagious by the nature of the soyle, by reason it is coompased aboute with muddy and stynkynge marysshes, thinfection wherof is not a lyttle encreased by the heate. The vyllage it selfe, is in a maryshe, and in maner a standynge puddle, where, of the droppes faulyng from the handes of the bond men whyle they water the pauementes of their houses,* 1.404 toades are en∣gendered immediately, as I my selfe sawe in an other place the droppes of that water turne into flees in the soomer sea∣son. Furthermore, where so euer they dygge the grounde the deapthe of a handefull and a halfe, there springeth owte vnholsome and corrupte water of the nature of the ryuer which runneth through the deepe & muddy chanel of the val∣ley, and so fauleth into the sea. Now therfore they consulte of remouyng their habytation. Necessytie caused them fyrst to fasten their foote heare,* 1.405 bycause that they whiche fyrst ar∣ryued in those landes, were oppressed with suche vrgente hunger, that they had no respecte to chaunge the place al∣thoughe they were thus vexed by the contagion of the soyle and heate of the soonne, besyde the corrupte water and in∣fectious ayer by reason of venemous vapours and exhalati∣ons rysynge from the same. An other great incommoditie was, that the place was destitute of a commodious hauen, beynge three leaques distante from the mouthe of the goulfe. The waye is also roughe and diffyculte to brynge vyttayles and other necessaries from the sea. But lette vs nowe speake sumwhat of other particular thynges whiche chaunsed.

Therfore shortly after that they weare arryued, there happe∣ned many thynges wherof they had no knowledge before. A certayne well learned phisytion of Ciuile, whome partely thautorytie of the bysshoppe of Dariena, and partely the de∣syre of golde had allured to those landes, was so scarred with lyghtnynge in the nyghte season lyinge in bedde with his wyfe, that the house and all the stuffe therin beynge sette on fyer and burnte,* 1.406 he and his wyfe beynge bothe soore scorched, ranne foorthe cryinge and almoste naked, hardely escapynge the daunger of deathe. At an other tyme, as cer∣tayne of them stoode on the shoore, a great Crocodyle soden∣ly caryed awaye a masty of a yeare and a halfe owlde,* 1.407 as a kyte shulde haue snatched vppe a chicken:* 1.408 And this euen in

the presence of theym all, where the myserable dogge cryed in vayne for the helpe of his mayster. In the nighte season they were tormented with the bytynge of battes whiche are there soo noysome that if they byte any man in his sleape,* 1.409 they putte hym in daunger of lyfe, onely with drawynge of bludde: In so muche that summe haue dyed therof, fau∣lynge as it were into a consumption through the malycious∣nesse of the venemous wounde. If these battes chaunce to fynde a cocke or a henne abrode in the nyght season, they byte them by the combes and so kyll them. They also whi∣che wente laste into these regions, do wryte, that the lande is troubeled with Crocodyles, Lyons, and Tigers:* 1.410 But that they haue nowe deuised artes and ingens howe to take them. Lykewyse that in the houses of their felowes, they founde the hydes and cases of suche Lyons and Tygers as they had kylled. They wryte furthermore, that by reason of the ranke¦nesse and frutefulnesse of the grounde, kyne, swyne, and hor∣ses, doo maruelously increase in these regions, and growe to a muche bygger quantitie then they whiche weare of the first broode.* 1.411 Of the excedynge hyghnesse of the trees with their fruites, of the garden herbes, fruites, plantes, and seedes whiche owre men broughte from Spayne and sowed and set the same in these regyons, lykewyse of the hertes and other foure footed beastes bothe tame and wylde, also of dyuers kyndes of foules, byrdes, and fysshes, they write euen as we haue declared in the decades before. Careta the kynge of the regyon of Cioba,* 1.412 was with them for the space of three dayes: whome when they had frendly enterteyned and she∣wed hym the secreate places of their shyppes, their horses al∣so with their trappars, bardes, and other furnimentes, be∣syde many other thinges whiche seemed straunge to hym, and had further delited his mynd with the harmony of their musycall instrumentes, and gyuen hym many rewardes, they dysmyssed hym halfe amased with to muche admyration.* 1.413

He sygnifyed vnto them, that their trees in that prouynce, of the planckes wherof, if shyppes were made, they shoulde bee safe from the woormes of the sea whiche they caule Bro∣mas.* 1.414 Howe these woormes knawe and corrode the shyppes, wee haue declared before. Owre shyppes are greatly trou••e∣led with this plage if they lye longe in the hauens of these

regyons. But they affyrme that the woodde of this tree is soo bytter, that the woormes wyll not taste therof. There is also an other tree peculyar to these landes:* 1.415 whose leaues if they onely touche the bare in any place of a mannes body, they cause greate blysters, and those soo malycious that ex∣cepte the same bee foorthwith healed with salte water or fastynge spyttle, they doo incontynently engender deadely paynes. They saye lykewyse, that the sauour of the woodde is presente poyson:* 1.416 And that it can noo whither bee caryed without daunger of lyfe. When thinhabitauntes of the I∣lande of Hispaniola had oftentymes attempted to shake of the yoke of seruytude, and coulde neuer brynge the same to passe neyther by open warre nor yet by priuye conspiraces, they were determyned in the nyghte season to haue kylled owre men in their sleepe with the smoke of this woodde. But when the Christian men had knowledge hereof, they com∣pelled the poore wretches to confesse their intente, and pu∣nysshed the chiefe autours of the deuyse. They haue also a certayne herbe with the fauour wherof they are preserued from the hurte of this venemous woodde so that they maye beare it safely.* 1.417 Of these smaule thynges it shall suffyce too haue sayde thus muche. They looke dayly for many greater thynges to certyfye vs of from the Ilandes of the south sea.* 1.418 For at suche tyme as the messenger whiche broughte owre letters departed from thense, Petrus Arias prepared an expedi∣tion to that ryche Ilande whiche lyeth in the mouthe of the goulfe cauled Sinus S. Michaelis, and reacheth into the southe sea,* 1.419 beyng also lefte vntouched of Vaschus by reason that the sea was at that tyme of the yeare sore troubeled with tem∣pestes, as wee haue further declared in Vaschus his vyage to the southe. Wee looke therfore dayly for greater thynges then are hetherto paste. For they haue nowe taken in hand to subdue manye other prouynces, whiche wee suppose too bee eyther verye ryche, or to brynge furthe summe straunge woorkes of nature. Iohannes Diaz Solistus of Nebrissa (of whome we haue made mention before) is sente by the froonte of the cape or poynte of Sancti Augustini (whiche reacheth seuen de∣grees beyonde the Equinoctiall lyne,* 1.420 and perteyneth to the dominion of the Portugales) to thintent to ouer runne the southe syde from the backe halfe of Paria, Cumana, Cuquibacoa,

with the hauens of Carthag•• and Sancta Martha, of Dariena also and Beragua, that more perfecte and certeyne knowledge may bee had of those tractes. Furthermore, one Iohannes Poncius was sente foorthe with three shyppes to destroye the Cani∣bales bothe in the lande and Ilandes there aboute:* 1.421 aswell that the nations of the more humane and innocente people maye at the length lyue without feare of that pestiferous ge∣neration, as also the better and more safely to searche the se∣creates and rychesse of those regions. Many other lykewise were sente dyuers and sundry wayes: as Gasper Badaiocius too searche the West partes: Franciscus Bezerra, to sayle by the cor∣ner of the goulfe: And Valleius, to passe by the mouthe or en∣teraunce therof to the Easte coastes of the goulfe to searche the secreates of that lande, in the whiche Fogeda with his coompanye had of late begunne to plante their habitation,* 1.422 and had buylded a fortresse and a vyllage. Badaiocius departed fyrste frome Dariena with foure score souldiours well appoyn∣ted: Whome Lodouicus Mercado folowed with fyftye:

To Bezerra were also fourescore assygn••d, and three score and tenne to Valleius.* 1.423 Whether they shall arryue at safe and com∣modious hauens, or faule into vnfortunate stations, he one∣ly knoweth whose prouydence ruleth all: For as for vs men wee are included within the knowledge of thinges after they haue chaunced. Lette vs now therfore coome to o∣ther matters.

¶The seuenthe booke of the thirde decade.

PEtrus Arias the gouernour of the supposed con∣tinente, was scarsly entred into the mayne sea with his nauye onwarde on his vyage to Dariena. But I was aduertised that one Andreas Moralis a pilot who had oftentymes ouer runne the coastes of these new seas and the Ilandes of the same,* 1.424 was coome to the courte to sell suche marchaundies as he broughte with hym frome thense. This man had dyligently searched the tracte of the supposed continente, and especyally thinner regyons of the Ilande of Hispaniola, wherunto he was appoynted by

his brother Nicolaus Ou••ndos (the gouernour of the Iland and chiefe Commendatory of the order of the knyghtes of Alcanta∣ra) bycause he was a wytty man and more apte to searche su∣che thynges then any other: So that with his owne han∣des he drewe faire cardes and tables of suche regyons as hee discouered. Wherin as he hath bynne founde faythfull of suche as haue sense had better tryall hereof, so is he in most credyt emongest the best sorte. He therfore resorted to me as all they are accustomed to doo, wh••che retourne from the Ocean.* 1.425 What I learned of hym and dyuers other of thin∣ges heretofore vnknowen, I wyll nowe declare. The begin∣nynge of this narration, shalbe the particular description of the Ilande of Hispaniola, forasmuche as it is the heade and as it weare the principall marte of all the lyberality of the Oce∣an, and hath a thousande and againe a thousande fayre, plea∣saunt,* 1.426 bewtifull, and ryche Nereides whiche lye aboute it on euery syde, adournynge this their ladye and moother, as it were an other Tethis the wyfe of Neptunus,* 1.427 enuyronynge her aboute, and attendynge vppon her as their queene and pa∣tronesse. But of these Nereiades (that is to saye, the Ilandes placed aboute her) we wyll speake more hereafter. Lette vs in the meane tyme declare sumwhat of the Ilande whiche owre men named Margaritea Diues (whiche the Spanyardes caule De las perlas) beyng nowe well knowen,* 1.428 and lyinge in the southe sea in the goulfe cauled Sinus Sancti Michaelis (that is) sainte Michaels goulfe.* 1.429 This Iland hath presently brought to owre knowledge many straunge and woonderfull thynges and promysseth no smaule hope of greater thynges in tyme to coome. In this is founde great plentie of pearles so fayre & great,* 1.430 that the sumptuous queene Cleopatra myght haue see∣med to weare them in her crownes, chaynes, and braslettes. Of the shelfysshes wherin these are engendered, wee wyll speake sumwhat more in thende of this narration. But let vs nowe returne to Hispaniola moste lyke vnto the earthly pa∣radyse.* 1.431 In the description hereof, we wyll begynne of the imposytion of dyuerse names: Then of the forme of the I∣lande, temperate ayer and benefyciall heauen: And fynally of the deuisyon of the regyons. Therfore for the ryghter pro∣nunsyation to the names, yowre holynesse muste vnderstande that they are pronounced with thaccent, as yowe may know

by the verge sette ouer the heddes of the vowels, as in the name of the Ilande Matinino, where the accente is in the last vowell, and the lyke to be vnderstoode in all other names. They saye therfore, that the fyrste inhabitours of the Iland were transported in their Canoas (that is boates made of one hole pyece of woodde) from the Ilande of M••tinino,* 1.432 beynge lyke banysshed men dryuen from thense by reason of certaine contrary factions and diuisyons emonge them selues, lyke as wee reade howe Dardanus came from Corytho,* 1.433 and Teuerus from Creta into Asia,* 1.434 and that the regyon where they placed their habitation, was afterwarde cauled Troianum.* 1.435 The lyke wee reade howe the Tirians and Sidonians arryued with their nauye in Libya by the fabulous conduction of Dido.* 1.436* 1.437 These Matininans in like maner beynge banysshed from their owne countrey, planted their fyrste habytation in that parte of the Iland of Hispaniola whiche they caule Cabonao, vpon the banke of the ryuer named Bahaboni: As is redde in the begynnynge of the Romaynes that Eneas of Troye aryued in the region of Italy cauled Latium vppon the bankes of the ryuer of Ti∣ber.* 1.438* 1.439 Within the mouthe of the ryuer of Bahaboni, lyeth an I∣lande where it is sayde that thinhabitauntes buylded their fyrste howse whiche they named Camoteia. This howse they consecrated shortely after, and honoured the same reuerently with continual gyftes and monumentes, euen vntyl the com∣mynge of owre men, lyke as the Christians haue euer relygy∣ously honoured Ierusalem the fountayne and oryginall of owre faythe:* 1.440 As also the Turkes attribute the lyke to the cytie of Mecha in Araby,* 1.441 and thinhabytantes of the fortunate Ilandes (cauled the Ilandes of Canarye) to Tyrma buylded vppon a hyghe rocke from the whiche many were wounte with ioyfull myndes and songes to caste them selues downe headlonge,* 1.442 beyng persuaded by their priestes that the soules of all suche as so dyd for the loue of Tyrma, shulde therby en∣ioye eternall felycity. The conquerours of the Ilandes of Canarie, founde them yet remaynyng in that superstition, e∣uen vntyll owre tyme: Nor yet is the memory of their sacri∣fyces vtterly worne awaye: The rocke also reserueth the owlde name vnto this daye. I haue also learned of late, that there yet remayneth in the Ilande summe of the faction of Betanchor the Frenshe man and fyrste that broughte the I∣landes* 1.443

to good culture and ciuilitie beyng therto lycenced by the kynge of Castile as I haue sayde before. These doo yet (for the moste parte) obserue bothe the language and maners of the Frenshemen, although the eyres and successours of Be∣tanchor, had soulde the two subdued Ilandes to certeyne men of Castile. Yet thinhabitours whiche succeded Betanchor, and buylded them houses and encreased their families there, do contynue to this daye: And lyue quietly and pleasauntly with the Spanyardes, not greued with the sharpe coulde of Fraunce. But lette vs nowe returne to thinhabitauntes of Matinino and Hispaniola. The Ilande of Hispaniola was fyrste named by the fyrste inhabitours,* 1.444 Quizqueia, and then Haiti.

And this not by chaunce, or at the pleasure of suche as diui∣sed these names, but of credulitie and belefe of summe great effecte. For Quizqueia, is as muche to saye as a great thinge: And that so greate that none maye bee greater. They inter∣prete also, that Quizqueia sygnifyeth, large, vniuersall, or al, in like signification as the Greekes named their god cauled Pan:* 1.445 Bycause that for the greatnes therof, these symple sou∣les supposed it to bee the hole worlde: And that the soonne beames gaue lyghte to none other worlde but onely to this Ilande with the other adiacente aboute the same: And thervppon thoughte it most woorthy to bee cauled great, as the greatest of all other knowen to them. Haiti is as muche to saye by interpretation, as roughe, sharpe, or craggie. But by a fyguratiue speache cauled denomination (wherby the hole is named by part) they named the hole Iland Haiti (that is) roughe: For as muche as in many places the face of this Iland is rough b•• reason of the craggie montaynes,* 1.446 horrible thicke wooddes, and terrible darke and diepe valleys enuy∣roned with great and highe montaynes, althoughe it bee in manye other places exceadynge bewtifull and florysshynge.

Here muste wee sumwhat digresse from thorder we are ente∣red into. Perhappes your holynesse wyll maruell by what meanes these symple men shoulde of soo longe contynuance beare in minde suche principles, where as they haue no know¦ledge of letters. So it is therfore, that from the beginninge, their princes haue euer byn accustomed to committe their chil∣dren to the gouernaunce of their wise men whiche they caule Boitios, to bee instructed in knowledge,* 1.447 and to beare in me∣morie

suche thynges as they lerne. They gyue them selues chieflye to two thynges: As generally to lerne thoriginall and successe of thynges: And particularlye to reherse the no∣ble factes of their graundefathers great graundefathers and auncestours aswell in peace as in warre. These two thynges they haue of owlde tyme composed in certeyne myters and ballettes in their language. These rhymes or ballettes,* 1.448 they caule Ar••itos. And as owre mynstrelles are accustomed too synge to the harpe or lute, so doo they in lyke maner synge these songes and daunce to the same, playinge on tymbrelles made of shels of certen fysshes. These tymbrels they caule Ma∣guei. They haue also songes and ballettes of loue: And o∣ther of lamentations and moornyng:* 1.449* 1.450 Summe also to enco∣rage them to the warres, with euery of them their tewnes a∣greable to the matter. They exercyse theym selues muche in daunceinge, wherin they are verye actyue and of greater agi∣litie then owre men, by reason they gyue them selues to no∣thyng so muche, and are not hyndered with apparell whiche is also the cause of their swiftenesse of foote. In their bal∣lettes lefte them of their auncestours, they haue prophecies of the comminge of owre men into their countrey. These they synge with moornyng and as it were with gronyng,* 1.451 bewayle the losse of their lybertie and seruitude. For these prophecies make mention that there shoulde coome into the Ilande Ma∣guacochios,* 1.452 that is, men clothed in apparell, and armed with suche swoordes as shulde cutte a man in sunder at one stroke: vnder whose yoke their posteritie shulde bee subdued. And here I do not maruell that their predicessours coulde prophe¦cye of the seruitude and bondage of their successyon, if it bee trewe that is sayd of the familiaritie they haue with spirites whiche appeare to them in the night,* 1.453 wherof we haue large∣ly made mention in the nynth booke of the first decade, where also wee haue entreated of their Zemes (that is) their Idoles and Images of diuelles whiche they honoured.* 1.454 But they saye that sence these Zemes were taken awaye by the Christi¦ans, the spirites haue no more appeared. Owre men ascribe this to the sygne of the crosse wherwith they defende theym selues from suche spirites. For they are nowe all clensed and sanctifyed by the water of bapt••me wherby they haue renoun¦ced the deuel and are consecrated the holy members of Christ.

They are vniuersally studyous to knowe the boundes and ly∣mettes of their regions and kingdomes: And especially their Mitaini (that is) noble men. So that euen they are not vtterlye ignorante in the surueyinge of their landes.* 1.455 The common people haue none other care then of settynge, sowynge, and plantynge. They are mooste experte fysshers,* 1.456 by reason that throughowte the hole yeare, they are accustomed daylye to plounge them selues in the ryuers, so that in maner they lyue no lesse in the water then on the lande. They are also giuen to huntynge. For (as I haue sayde before) they haue twoo kyndes of foure footed beastes, wherof the one is lyttle cun∣nes cauled Vtias, and the other Serpentes named Iuannas,* 1.457 muche lyke vnto Crocodiles,* 1.458 of eyght foote length, of moste pleasaunte taste, and lyuynge on the lande. All the Ilandes nooryshe innumerable byrdes and foules:* 1.459 As stocke doues, duckes, geese, hearons, bysyde nolesse number of popingiais then sparowes with vs.* 1.460 Euery kynge hath his subiectes di∣uided to sundrye affaires: As summe to huntynge, other to fysshynge, and other summe to husbandrye. But let vs now returne to speake further of the names. We haue sayde that Quizqueia and Haiti, were the oulde names of this Ilande.

The hole Ilande was also cauled Cipanga of the region of the montaynes aboundynge with golde:* 1.461 Lyke as owre anciente poetes cauled all Italye Latium of parte therof.* 1.462 Therfore as they cauled Ausonia and Hesperia, Italie, euen soo by the na∣mes of Quizqueia, Haiti, and Cipanga, they vnderstode the hole Ilande of Hispaniola. Owre men dyd fyrste name it Isabella of queene Helisabeth whiche in the Spanyshe tounge is cauled Isabella:* 1.463 And so named it of the fyrst Colonie where they plan∣ted their habitation vpon the banke nere vnto the sea on the Northe syde of the Ilande, as wee haue further declared in the fyrste decade. But of the names, this shall suffyce. Lette vs nowe therfore speake of the forme of the Ilande.* 1.464 They whiche fyrste ouer ranne it, described it vnto me to bee lyke the leafe of a chestnutte tree, with a goulfe towarde the west syde, lyinge open ageynst the Ilande of Cuba. But the experte shyppe mayster Andreas Moralis, broughte me the forme therof sumwhat differynge from that. For from bothe the corners, as from the Easte angle and the West, he described it to be in∣dented and eaten with many great goulfes, and the corners

to reache foorthe verye farre: and placeth manye large and safe hauens in the great goulfe on the East syde. But I trust shortely soo to trauayle further herein, that a perfecte carde of the particular description of Hispaniola maye bee sente vnto yowre holynesse.* 1.465 For they haue nowe drawne the Geogra∣phicall description therof in cardes, euen as yowre holynesse hath seene the forme and sytuation of Spayne and Italye with their montaines, valleyes, ryuers, cities, and colonies. Lette vs therfore without shamfastnesse compare the Ilande of Hispaniola to Italie,* 1.466 sumtyme the heade and queene of the hole worlde. For if wee consyder the quantitie, it shal bee founde lyttle lesse, and muche more frutefull. It reacheth from the Easte into the Weste, fyue hundreth and fortye my∣les accordynge to the computation of the later searchers: Althoughe the Admyrall sumwhat increased this number as wee haue sayde in the fyrste decade. It is in breadth summe where, almoste three hundreth myles: And in summe places narower where the corners are extended. But it is suerlye muche more blessed and fortunate then Italie:* 1.467 Beynge for the mooste parte therof so temperate and florysshynge, that it is neyther vexed with sharppe coulde, nor afflycted with immoderate heate. It hath bothe the steyinges or conuersy∣ons of the soonne (cauled Solstitia) in maner equall with the Equinoctiall,* 1.468 with lyttle difference betwene the length of the daye and nyghte throughout all the yeare. For on the the south syde, the day ascendeth scarcely an houre in length aboue the nyghte, or contrary wyse. But the dyfference is more on the northe syde.* 1.469 Yet are there summe regions in the Ilande in the whiche the coulde is of sum force. But yowre holynesse muste vnderstonde this to bee incident by reason of the obiecte or nearenesse of the mountaines, as wee wyl more largely declare hereafter. Yet is not this coulde so pearcynge or sharpe, that thinhabitantes are molested with snowe or bytynge froste. In other places, the Ilande enioyeth perpe∣tuall springe tyme, and is fortunate with contynuall soomer and haruest.* 1.470 The trees floryshe there all the hole yeare: And the medowes contynue alway greene. All thynges are excea∣dynge fortunate, and growe to great perfection. How won∣derfully all garden herbes and frutes doo encrease,* 1.471 soo that within the space of syxtene dayes after the seede is sowne, al

herbes of smaule steames, as lettesse, borage, radyshe, and suche other, coome to their full rypenesse: And also howe herbes of the bygger sorte, as gourdes, melones, cucumers, pompons, citrous, and suche other, coome to their perfection in the space of thirtie dayes, wee haue sufficiently declared elles where. Of the beastes transported out of Spaine the∣ther,* 1.472 wee haue sayde howe they growe too a muche greater kynde: In so muche that when they faule into communica∣tion of the oxen or kyne, they compare them in bignesse to ele¦phantes, and swyne to mules:* 1.473 But this sumwhat by an ex∣cessyue kynde of speache. Wee haue also made mention how their swynes flesshe is more sauourye and of farre better and more pleasaunte taste and more holsome then owres, by rea∣son they are fedde with the frutes of Myrobalane trees,* 1.474 and other pleasaunte and nurysshynge fruites of that contrey, whiche growe there of them selues, as do with vs beeches, holly, & okes. Uynes woolde also prosper there with marue∣lous encrease,* 1.475 if they had any regard to the plantinge therof. The lyke encrease commeth of wheate if it be sowen vppon the mountaynes where the colde is of sume strength:* 1.476 but not in the playnes, by reason of to much fatnes and rankenes of the grownde. It is in maner incredible to heare, that an eare of wheate shuld bee bygger then a mans arme in the brawne,* 1.477 and more then a spanne in length, bearynge also more then a thousande graynes, as they all confesse with one voyce, and ernes••ly affirme the same with othes. Yet they say the bread of the Ilande (cauled Cazabbi made of the roote of Iucca,* 1.478 to bee more holsome, because it is of easyer digestion, and is cul¦tured with lesse labour and greater increase. The residue of the tyme which they spende not en settynge and plantynge, they bestowe in gatheringe of golde.* 1.479 They haue nowe suche plentie of foure footed beasts,* 1.480 that horses and oxe hydes with sheepe skynnes and goate skyns and such other, are brought from thense into Spayne: So that nowe the doughter in ma∣ny thynges helpeth and succurreth her mother. Of the trees of brasile,* 1.481 spices, the graine which coloureth scarlet in bright shinynge redde, mastix,* 1.482 gossampine cotton,* 1.483 the precious me∣tall cauled Electrum,* 1.484 and such other commodities of this I∣lande, we haue spoken sufficiently before. What therefore can chaunce more happy vnto man vpon the earth, then there

to lyue where he neede not to bee dryuen to close chaumbers with sharpe coulde or fayntynge heate?* 1.485 Nor yet in wynter eyther to bee laden with heauy apparell, or to burne the shin¦nes with continual syttyng at the fyer, which thynges make men oulde in short tyme by resoluinge the natural heate, wher of a thousande diseases insue.* 1.486 They also affirme the ayer to bee very healthfull: and the waters of the ryuers to bee no lesse holsome, as they whiche haue theyr continuall course through the earth of the golden mynes.* 1.487 For there is in ma∣ner no ryuer, no mountaynes, and but fewe playnes that are vtterly without golde. But let vs nowe at the length coome to the particular description of the inner partes of this bles∣sed Ilande.* 1.488 We haue before declared howe it is in maner e∣qually diuided with foure greate ryuers descendynge frome hygh mountaynes: wherof that which runneth towarde the East, is cauled Iunna, as that towarde the West is named At∣tibunicus: The thyrde is Naiba or Haiba which runneth South∣warde: The fourth is cauled Iache, and fauleth towarde the North. But this shippe master, hath brought an other des∣cription obserued of thinhabitantes from the begynnynge.

Let vs therfore diuide the hole Ilande into fiue partes, cau∣lynge the regions of euery prouince by theyr owlde names: and fynally make mention of suche thynges as are woorthye memory in euery of them. The begynninge of the Ilande on the East syde, is conteyned in the prouince named Caizcimu: so named for that in theyr language Cimu, signifieth the front or begynnynge of any thynge. After this, foloweth the pro∣uince of Huhabo, and then Caihabo. The fourth is Bainoa, Guacca¦iarima conteyneth the west corner. But the last saue one, Bainoa is of larger boundes then the three other. Caizcimu reachethe from the fyrst fronte of the Ilande to the ryuer Hozama, whi∣che runneth by the citie of saynt Dominicke.* 1.489 But towarde the North syde, it is ended at the rough mountaynes of Hai∣ti.* 1.490 Huhabo, is included within the mountaynes Haiti and the ryuer Iaciga. Caeiabo the thyrde prouince, conteyneth all that lyeth betwene Cubaho and Dahatio, euen vnto the mouth of the ryuer of Iaccha or Iache (one of the foure which diuide the I∣lande equally) and ascendethe to the mountaynes of Cibaua,* 1.491 where the greateste plentie of golde is founde: Owte of the which also the ryuer Demahus springeth: and ioynynge with

the springes of the ryuer of Naiba, (being an other of the foure which diuideth the Ilande towarde the south sea) fauleth to an other banke of the ryuer of saynt Dominicke. Bainoa, be∣gynneth at the confines of Caiabi, and reacheth euen vnto the Ilande of Cahini which lieth neare vnto the sea bankes of the north syde of the Ilande where wee sayde that they erected the fyrst colonie or habitacion.* 1.492 The prouince of Guaccaiarima,* 1.493 occupieth the remanent towarde the west. This they named Guaccaiarima, bycause it is the extreme or vttermost parte of the Ilande. For Iarima in theyr language signifieth the tayle or ende of any thynge: And Gua, is an article whiche they vse often tymes in the names of thynges: And especially in the names of theyr kynges: as Guarionexius, and Guaccanarillus. In the prouince of Caizimu, are these regions: Higuei, Guanama, Rey∣re, Xagua, Aramana, Arabo, Hazoa. Macorix, Caiacoa, Guaiagua, Baguanimabo and the rough mountaynes of Haiti. Here let vs speake sume¦what of theyr aspirations which they vse otherwyse then the Latins doo.* 1.494 It is to bee noted that there is no aspiration in theyr vowels, which hath not theffecte of a consonant. So that they pronounce theyr aspirations more vehemently then wee do the consonant .f. Ye, all suche woordes as in their tonge are aspirate, are pronounced with lyke breath and spi∣rite as is .f. sauing that herein the neather lyppe is not mo∣ued to thuppermost teethe. With open mouthes and shakynge theyr brestes, they breath out these aspirations, ha, he, hi, ho, hu, as the Hebrewes and Arabians are accustomed to pronounce theyrs.* 1.495 I fynde also that the Spanyardes vse the lyke vehe∣mence in the aspirations of those woordes whiche they haue receaued of the Moores & Arabians which possessed Spaine,* 1.496 and continued there many yeares: As in these woordes: Almo hadda, whiche signifieth a pyllowe or bolster: Also Almohaza, that is, a horse combe: with dyuers such other woordes whi¦che they speake in maner with panting brestes and vehement spirite. I haue thought it good to reherse these thynges, by¦cause amonge the Latines it often tymes soo chaunceth that onely the accent or aspiration, chaungeth the signification of the woorde:* 1.497 as hora, for an houre, and ora for the plurale number of this woorde os, which signifieth the mouth: Also ora, which signifieth regions or coastes. The lyke also chaun¦ceth in the diuersitie of the accente, as occido I kyll, and occi∣••o

I faule. Euen so in the language of these simple men, there are many thynges to bee obserued. But let vs nowe returne to the description. In the prouince of Hubabo, are these regi∣ons: Xamana, Canabacoa, Cuhabo, with many other, the names wherof I haue not yet learned. The prouince of Caibabo, con¦teyneth these regions: Magua, and Cacacubana. Thinhabitan∣tes of this region, haue a peculyar language much differinge from the common language of the Iland,* 1.498 and are cauled Ma∣coryxes. There is also an other region cauled Cubana, whose language differeth from the other. Lykewyse the region of Baiohaigua, hath a dyuers toonge. There are also other regi∣ons, as Dahabon, Cybaho, and Manabaho. Catoy is in the myddle of the Ilande. By this runnethe the ryuer Nizaus: And the montaynes cauled Mahaitin, Hazua, and Neibaymao, confine with the same. In the prouince of Bainoa, are the regions of Ma∣guana, Iagohaiucho, Bauruco, Dabaiagua, and Attibuni, so named of the ryuer: Also Caunoa, Buiaici, Dahabonici, Maiaguariti, Atiei, Maccazina, Guahabba, Anniuici, Marien, Guaricco, Amaguei, Xaragua, Yaguana, Azzuei, Iacchi, Honorucco, Diaguo, Camaie, and Neibaimao. In Guaccaierima the last prouince, these regions are conteyned: Mauicarao, Guabagua, Taquenazabo, Nimaca, Bainoa the lesse, Cabaymi, Iamaizi, Manabazao, Zaua¦na, Habacoa, and Ayqueroa. But let vs entreate sumwhat of the particulars of the regions. In the prouince of Caizcimu, with in the great goulfe of the beginnynge, there is a greate caue in a hollowe rocke vnder the roote of a hygh mountayne,* 1.499 a∣bout twoo furlonges from the sea. The enterie of this caue is not much vnlyke the doores of a great temple, beinge very large and turnynge many wayes. Andreas Moralis the shyp ma∣ster,* 1.500 at the commaundement of the gouernoure, tempted to searche the caue with the smaulest vessels. He sayth that by certeyne priuie wayes, manye ryuers haue concourse to this caue as it were to a sinke or chanell.* 1.501 After thexperience here of, they ceased to maruaile whither other ryuers ranne whi∣che commynge fourescore and tenne myles, were swalowed vp, so that they appeared no more, nor yet fell into the sea by any knowen wayes. Nowe therfore they suppose that ry¦uers swalowed vp by the holowe places of that stony moun∣tayne, faule into this caue. As the shipmaster entered into the caue his shippe was almost swalowed. For he saith that there are many whyrlepooles and rysinges or boylinges of the wa∣ter,

which make a violent conflicte and horrible rorynge one encounteryng the other. Also many huge holes & holowe pla∣ces: So that what on the one syde with the whirle pooles,* 1.502 & on the other side with the boyling of the water, his shyp was long in maner tossed vp and downe lyke a baule. It greatly repented hym that he had entered, yet knewe he no way how to come forth. He now wandered in darkenesse, as wel for the obscurenesse of the caue into the which he was farre entered,* 1.503 as also that in it were thicke cloudes engendered of the moist vapours proceading of the conflicte of the waters whiche cō∣tinually faule with great violence into the caue on euery side. He compareth the noyse of these waters, to the faule of the famous ryuer of Nilus from the montaines of Ethyope.* 1.504 They were al so deafe, that one could not here what an other said. But at the length with great daunger & feare, he came foorth of the caue as it had byn owte of hel. Aboute three score mi∣les distante from the chiefe citie of saincte Dominicke, there are certeyne hyghe montaynes vppon the toppes wherof is a lake or standynge poole inaccessible,* 1.505 neuer yet seene of them whiche came latelye to the Ilande, bothe by reason of the roughnesse of the montaines, and also for that there is noo pathe or open waye to the toppes of the same. But at the length the shyppe maister beinge cond••cted thether by one of kynges, ascended to the toppes of the montaines and came to the poole. Hee saith that the coulde is there of sum force. And in token of wynter, hee founde ferne and bramble bus∣shes, whiche two, growe only in coulde regions.* 1.506 These mon∣taynes, they caule Ymizui Hibabaino. This poole is of freshe water three myles in compasse, and wel replenysshed with di∣uerse kindes of fysshes. Many smaule riuers or brookes faule into it. It hath no passage owte, bycause it is on euery syde enclosed with the toppes of mountaynes. But lette vs nowe speake of an other poole whiche maye well bee cauled a sea in the mydlande, and bee coompared to the Caspian or Hircanian sea in the fyrme land of Asia:* 1.507 with certeyne other la∣kes and pooles of fresshe water.

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¶The eyghte booke of the thirde decade.

THe prouynce of Bainoa beynge thrise as bygge as the three fyrst, that is, Caizcimu, Vhabo, and Caihabo, includeth a valley named Caiouani, in the whiche there is a lake of salte, soure, and bytter water, as wee reade of the sea cauled Caspium,* 1.508 lyinge in the firme lande betwene Sar∣matia and Hircania. Wee haue therfore named it Caspium, al∣thoughe it bee not in the region of Hircania. It hath manye swalowinge goulfes,* 1.509 by the whiche, bothe the water of the sea springeth into it, and also suche as faule into it from the montaines,* 1.510 are swalowed vppe. They thyncke that the ca∣ues therof, are so large and deepe, that great fysshes of the sea passe by the same into the lake. Emonge these fysshes, there is one cauled Tiburonus whiche cutteth a man in sunder by the myddest at one snappe with his teethe,* 1.511 and deuoureth hym. In the ryuer Hozama, runnynge by the chiefe citie of sayncte Dominicke, these Tiburoni do sumtymes coome from the sea and deuoure manye of thinhabitauntes: Especially suche as do dayly ploonge them selues in the water to thin∣tent to keepe their bodyes verye cleane. The ryuers whiche faule into the lake,* 1.512 are these. From the Northe syde, Guani∣nicabon: From the Southe, Xaccoei: from the Easte, Guannabo And from the West, Occoa. They saye that these ryuers are great and continuall: And that besyde these, there are .xx. other smaule ryuers whiche faule into this Caspium.* 1.513 Also on the Northe syde within a furlonge of the lake, there are a∣boue twoo hundreth springes, occupyinge lykewise aboute a furlonge in circuite, the water wherof is coulde in soomer, freshe also, and holsome to bee droonke. These sprynges make a ryuer than can not bee waded ouer, whiche neare at hande ioynynge with the other, fauleth into the lake. Here muste wee staye a whyle. The kynge of this regyon founde his wyfe praying in a chapel builded by the Christians with in the precincte of his dominion,* 1.514 and required her coompanie to satisfye his fleshely luste. His wyfe reproued hym, and put hym in remembraunce to haue respecte to the holye place. The woordes whiche shee spake to hym,* 1.515 were these: Teitoca,

Teitoca: whiche is as muche to saye, as, bee quyet, bee quyet: Techeta cynato guamechyna: That is, god wyl bee greatly angerie. Guamechyna, sygnifyeth god, Techeta greatly, Cynato angrie. But the husbande halynge her by the arme, sayde: Guaibba, that is, go: Cynato macabuca guamechyna: That is: what is that to me if god be angerye?* 1.516 And with these woordes as he pro∣fered her violence, soodenlye he became dumme and lame. Yet by this myracle beynge striken with repentaunce, he euer after ledde a relygious lyfe: In soo muche that from thense foorthe hee woolde neuer suffer the chapell to bee swepte or decked with any other mannes hande. By the same myracle, manye of thinhabitauntes and all the Christians beyng mo∣ued, resorted deuoutly to the chappell. They take it in good parte that the kynge suffered the reuenge of that reproche. Lette vs nowe retourne to Caspium. That salte lake is tossed with stormes and tempestes: And oftentymes drowneth smaule shyppes or fyssher boates, and swaloweth them vppe with the maryners:* 1.517 In so muche that it hath not byn harde of, that any man drowned by shyppewracke, euer ploonged vppe ageyne, or was caste on the shore, as commonly chaun∣ceth of the deade bodyes of suche as are drowned in the sea. These tempestes, are the deintie banquetes of the Tiburones. This Caspium, is cauled Hagueigabon. In the myddest hereof, lyeth an Ilande named Guarizacca,* 1.518 to the whiche they resorte when they go a fysshynge: But it is not cultured. There is in the same playne, an other lake nexte vnto this, whose wa∣ter is myxte of salte and freshe: And is therfore nother apte to bee droonke, not yet to bee refused in vrgente necessytie. This conteineth in length .xxv. miles, and in breadth eight myles: In summe places also nyne or ten. It receaueth ma∣nye ryuers whiche haue no passage owte of the same, but are swalowed vppe as in the other. Water springeth out of the sea into this also: but in no great quantitie, whiche is the cause that it is so commyxte. In the same prouynce to∣warde the Weste syde, there is an other lake of freshe water,* 1.519 not farre distante from Caspius. This thinhabitauntes caule Iainagua. The same salte lake, hath on the North syde therof, an other named Guaocaa. This is but lyttle: as not past three or foure myles in breadth, and one in length. The water of this, maye well bee droonke. On the southe syde of the salte

lake, there lyeth an other named. Babbareo, of three myles in length and in maner rounde. The water of this is freshe as of ••he two other. This lake bycause it hath no passage owte nor yet any swalowynge goulfes, conueyeth the superfluous waters to the sea if it be encreased with the streames whiche faule sumtimes more abondantly frō the montaines. This is in the region of Xamana in the prouince of Bainoa. There is an other cauled Guaniba, lying betwene the East & the South nere vnto the syde of Caspius. This is ten myles in length and al∣moste rounde.* 1.520 There are furthermore many other smaule stan∣dyng pooles or lakes disparsed here and there in the Iland, whiche I wyll lette passe leste I shulde bee tedious in remai∣nyng to longe in one thynge. I wyll therfore make an ende with this addition, that in all these, great plentie of fyshe and foule is nourysshed. All these lakes lye in a large playne, the whiche from the East reacheth into the West a hundreth and twentie myles:* 1.521 beyng of breadth .xviii. myles where it is na∣rowest, and .xxv. where it is largest. Lookyng toward the West, it hath collaterally on the lefte hande the montaines of Daiguani: And on the ryght hande, the montaines, of Caigua, so cauled of the name of the vale it selfe. At the rootes of the montaines of Caigua toward the North syde, there lyeth an o¦ther vale much longer & larger then that before named. For it conteineth in length, almoste two hundreth myles:* 1.522 And in breadth .xxx. wher it is largest, & about .xx. wher it is narowest This vale in summe parte therof, is cauled Maguana: In an other place, Iguamu, & elles where, Hathathiei. And forasmuche as wee haue here made mention of this parte of the vale na∣med Hathathiei, wee wyll sumwhat digresse from the discourse of this description, and entreate of a thinge so straunge and maruelous, that the lyke hath not vyn hard of. So it is ther∣fore, that the kyng of this region named Caramatexius, taketh great pleasure in fysshinge. Into his nettes chanced a yonnge fyshe of the kynde of those huge monsters of the sea whiche thinhabitours caule Manari,* 1.523 not founde I suppose in owre seas nor knowen to owre men before this tyme. This fy••he is foure footed, and in shape lyke vnto a tortoyse althoughe shee be not couered with a shel, but with scales: And those of such hardnesse & couched in suche order, that no arrowe can hur••e her. Her scales are byse•• & defend with a thousand knobbes.

Her backe is playne, and her heade vtterly lyke the heade of an oxe. She lyueth both in the water and on the lande: She is slowe of mouynge: of condition meeke, gentell,* 1.524 assocyable and louing to mankind and of a maruelous sence or memorie as are the elephant and the delphyn. The king norisshed this fyshe certeine daies at home with the breade of the countrey, made of the roote of Iucca and Panycke with suche other rootes as men are accustomed to eate. For when shee was yet but younge, he cast her into a poole or lake neare vnto his palaice there to bee fedde with hande. This lake also receaueth wa∣ters and casteth not the same foorth ageine. It was in tyme passe cauled Guaurabo: But is nowe cauled the lake of Mana••i after the name of this fyshe whiche wandered safelye in the same for the space of .xxv. yeares, and grewe excedyng byg. What so euer is written of the Delphines of Baian or Ari∣on, are muche inferior to the dooinges of this fysh: which for her gentle nature they named Matum, that is gentle or noble. Therefore when so euer any of the kynges familyers, especi∣ally suche as are knowen to her, resorte to the bankes of the lake and caule Matum, Matum,* 1.525 then she (as myndefull of suche benefites as she hath receaued of men) lyftethe vp her heade and commeth to the place whither she is cauled,* 1.526 and there re∣ceaueth meate at the handes of suche as feede her. If any desirous to passe ouer the lake, make signes and tokens of theyr intente, she boweth her selfe to them, therewith as it were gentelly inuitynge them to amount vppon her, and con¦ueyeth them safely ouer. It hath byn seene that this mon∣strous fysshe hath at one tyme safely caryed ouer tenne men singinge and playinge.* 1.527 But if by chaunce when she lyfteed vp her heade she espyed any of the Christian men, she woolde immediatly ploonge downe ageyne into the water and refuse to obey, bycause she had once receaued iniury at the handes of a certeyne wanton younge man amonge the Christians, who hadde caste a sharpe darte at her, although she were not hurte by reason of the hardenes of her skynne beinge roughe and ful of skales and knobbes as we haue sayde. Yet dyd she beare in memorie thiniurie she susteyned, with so gentell a re∣uenge requitynge thingrat••tude of hym which h••d delte with her so vngentelly. From that day when so euer she was cau∣led by any of her familiers, sh•• woolde fyrst looke circum••pect¦ly

about her, least any were present appareled after the ma∣ner of the Christians. She woolde oftentymes play and wre∣stle vppon the banke with the kynges chamberlens: And es∣pecially with a younge man whom the kynge fauoured well, beinge also accustomed to feede her. Shee woolde bee sume∣tymes as pleasaunt and full of play as it had byn a moonkey or marmaset: And was of longe tyme a great comfort and so∣lace to the hole Ilande. For no smaule confluence aswell of the Christians as of thinhabitantes, had dayly concourse to beholde so straunge a myracle of nature, the contemplation wherof was no lesse pleasaunt then woonderfull. They say that the meate of this kynde of fysshe, is of good taste: And that many of them are engendered in the seas therabout. But at the length, this pleasaunt playfelowe was loste, and cari∣ed into the sea by the great ryuer Attibunicus,* 1.528 one of the foure which diuide the Ilande. For at that tyme there chaunced so terrible a tempest of wind, & rayne, with such fluds ensewing that the like hath not lightly byn hard of. By reason of this tempest, the ryuer Attibunicus so ouerflowed the bankes, that it fylled the hole vale & myxt it selfe with all the other lakes. At which tyme also, this gentell Matum and pleasaunte com∣panyon,* 1.529 folowynge the vehemente course and faule of the fluddes, was therby restored to his oulde moother and na∣tyue waters, and sence that tyme neuer seene ageyne. Thus hauynge digressed sufficiently, let vs nowe coome to the situ¦ation of the vale. It hathe collaterally the mountaynes of Cibaua and Caiguam which brynge it to the South sea.* 1.530 There is an other vale beyonde the mountaynes of Cibaua towarde the North. This is cauled the vale of Guarionexius, bycause that before the memorie of man, the predicessours and aun∣cestours of kyng Guarionexius to whom it is descended by right of inheritaunce,* 1.531 were euer the lordes of the hole vale. Of this kynge, we haue spoken largely in the fyrst narration of the Ilande in the fyrst Decade. This vale is of length from the East to the West, a hundreth and fourescore myles: And of breadth from the South to the North, thirtie myles wher it is narowest, and fiftie where it is brodeste. It begynneth from the region Canobocoa by the prouinces of Huhabo and Caia¦bo: And endeth in the prouince of Bainoa and the region of Ma¦riena. It lyeth in the myddest betwene the mountaynes of C••∣baua,

and the mountaynes of Cabonai and Cazacubuna. There is no prouince nor any region, which is not notable by the ma∣iestie of mountaynes,* 1.532 frutefulnes of vales,* 1.533 pleasauntnesse of hylles,* 1.534 and delectablenes of playnes,* 1.535 with abundaunce of fayre ryuers runnynge through the same.* 1.536 There are no sides of mountaynes or hylles, no ryuers, which abound not with golde and delycate fysshes,* 1.537 except only one ryuer which from thoriginall therof, with the sprynges of the same breakynge foorth of the mountaynes, commeth owt salte and so conty∣nueth vntyll it peryshe. This ryuer is cauled Bahuan: and run¦neth through the myddle of the region Maguana in the pro∣uince of Bainoa. They suppose that this ryuer hathe made it selfe awaye vnder the grounde by sume passages of playster or salte earthe. For there are in the Ilande many notable salte bayes,* 1.538 wherof we wyl speake more hereafter. We haue declared howe the Ilande is diuided by foure ryuers & fyue prouinces.* 1.539 There is also an other particion, whiche is this. The hole Ilande consysteth of the tops of foure mountaines which diuide it by the myddest from the East to the weste. In all these is abundance of nooryshynge moysture and greate plentie of golde:* 1.540 of the caues also of the whiche, the waters of al the riuers (into the which the caues emptie them selues) haue theyr originall and increase.* 1.541 There are lykewyse in thē horryble dennes, obscure and darke vales, and myghtie roc∣kes of stone. There was neuer any noysome beaste founde in it: Nor yet any rauenynge foure footed beaste.* 1.542 No lyon, no beare no fierce tygers, no craftie foxes, nor deuouring wool∣fes. Al thynges are blessed and fortunate: And nowe more fortunate, for that so many thousandes of men are receaued to bee the sheepe of Christes flocke, all theyr Zemes and I∣mages of deuylles being reiected and vtterly out of memorie.* 1.543 If I chaunce nowe and then in the discourse of this narrati∣on to repeate one thynge dyuers tymes or otherwise to make digression, I must desyre yowre holynes therwith not to bee offended. For whyle I see, heare, and wryte these thinges, mee seemeth that I am herewith so affected, that for verye ioy I feele my mynde stirred as it were with the spirite of A∣pollo as were the Sibylles, whereby I am enforced to re∣peate the same ageyne: Especially when I consyder howe farre the amplitude of owre religion spreadeth her wynges.

Yet amonge these so many blessed and fortunate thynges, this one greeueth me not a lyttle: That these simple poore men neuer brought vp in labour,* 1.544 do dayly peryshe with intol∣lerable trauayle in the golde mynes: And are therby brought to suche desperation, that many of them kyll them selues, ha¦uynge no regarde to the procreation of chyldren. In so much that women with chylde, perceauynge that they shall brynge foorth such as shalbe slaues to the Christians, vse medecines to destroy theyr conception. And albeit that by the kynges letters patentes it was decreed that they shulde bee set at ly∣bertie, yet are they constrayned to serue more then seemeth conuenient for free men. The number of the poore wretches is woonderfully extenuate. They were once rekened to bee aboue twelue hundreth thousande heades: But what they are nowe, I abhorre to rehearse. We wyll therefore let this passe: and returne to the pleasures of Hispaniola.* 1.545 In the moun¦taynes of Cibaua, which are in maner in the myddest of the I∣lande in the prouince of Caiabo (where we sayd to bee the grea¦test plentie of natyue golde) there is a region named Cotohi, si¦tuate in the clowdes,* 1.546 enuironed with the toppes of hyghe mountaynes, and well inhabited. It consisteth of a playne of .xxv. myles in length, and .xv. in breadth. This playne is hygher then the toppes of other mountaynes:* 1.547 So that these mountaynes, maye seeme to bee the chiefe and progenitours of the other.* 1.548 This playne suffereth alterations of the foure tymes of the yeare: as the Sprynge, Soomer, Autumne, and wynter. Here the herbes ware wythered, the trees loose theyr leaues,* 1.549 and the medowes become hore: The whiche thynges (as we haue sayde) chaunce not in other places of the Ilande, where they haue only the Spring and Autumne. The soyle of this playne bryngeth foorth ferne and bramble busshes bearynge blacke berries or wylde raspes,* 1.550 which two are tokens of coulde regions. Yet is it a fayre region: for the coulde therof is not very sharpe: neyther dooth it aflicte thin¦habitantes with froste or snowe. They argue the frutefulnes of the region by the ferne, whose stalkes or steames are byg∣ger then a spere or iauelen. The sydes of those mountaynes are ryche in golde.* 1.551 Yet is there none appoynted to dygge for the same, bycause it shalbe needefull to haue apparelled my∣ners, and such as are vsed to labour. For thinhabitantes ly¦uinge

confeuted with lyttle, are but tender: And can not ther∣fore away with labour or abyde any coulde.* 1.552 There are two ryuers which runne through this region, and faule from the toppes of the present mountaynes. One of these is named Co¦moiayxa, whose course is towarde the West, and fauleth into the chanell of Naiba. The other is cauled Tirecotus: which run∣nynge towarde the East, ioyneth with the ryuer of Iunna. In the Ilande of Creta (nowe cauled Candie) as I passed b•• in my legacie to the Soldane of Alcayr or Babylon in Egypte,* 1.553 the Uenetians toulde me that there laye suche a region in the toppes of the mountaynes of Ida, whiche they affirme to bee more frutefull of wheate corne then any other region of the Iland. But forasmuch as once the Cretenses rebelled agenst the Uenetians, and by reason of the streight and narowe way to the toppes therof, longe defended the region with armes against thauctoritie of the Senate, and at the length beinge forweryed with warres, rendered the same, the Senate com∣maunded that it shulde bee lefte deserte, and the streightes of thenteraunces to bee stopped, lest any shulde ascende to the region without their permissyon. Yet in the yeare of Christe M. D. ii. lycence was graunted to the husband men to tyll and manure the region, on suche condition that no suche as were apte to the warres, myght enter into the same. There is also an other region in Hispaniola named Cotoby after the same name. This diuideth the boundes of the prouinces of Vhabo and Caiabo. It hath mountaynes, vales, and plaines. But bycause it is baren, it is not muche inhabited. Yet is it richest in golde: For the originall of the abundaunce of gold, beginneth here: In so muche that it is not gathered in smaule graines and sparkes as in other places: but is founde hole,* 1.554 massie, and pure, emonge certaine softe stones and in the vai∣nes of rockes, by breakynge the stones wherof, they folowe the vaynes of golde. They haue founde by experience, that the vayne of golde is a lyuinge tree:* 1.555 And that the same by all wayes that it spreadeth & springeth from the roote by the softe pores and passages of the yearth,* 1.556 putteth foorth bran∣ches euen vnto the vppermost part of the earth, & ceaseth not vntyl it discouer it selfe vnto the open ayer: At whiche time, it sheweth foorth certaine bewtifull colours in the steede of floures, rounde stones of golden earth in the steede of frutes,

and thynne plates in steede of leaues. These are they whiche are disparcled throughout the hole Ilande by the course of the ryuers, eruptions of the spr••nges owte of the montaines, and violent faules of the fluddes. For they thincke that such graines are not engendered where they are gathered: especial¦ly on the dry land: but otherwise in the riuers. They say that the roote of the goldē tree extendeth to the center of the earth & there taketh norishēmt of increase.* 1.557 For the deaper that they dygge,* 1.558 they fynd the trunkes therof to be so muche the grea∣ter as farre as they maye folowe it for abundaunce of water springing in the montaines. Of the braunches of this tree, they fynde summe as smaule as a threde, and other as bygge as a mannes fynger accordynge to the largenesse or straight∣nesse of the ryftes and clyftes. They haue sumetimes chaun∣ced vpon hole caues susteyned and borne vp as it were with golden pyllars:* 1.559 And this in the wayes by the whiche the branches ascende: The whiche beynge fylled with the sub∣staunce of the truncke creapynge from beneath, the branche maketh it selfe waye by whiche it maye passe owte.* 1.560 It is of∣tentymes diuided by encounterynge with sum kynde of harde stone. Yet is it in other clyftes noorisshed by the exhalations and vertue of the roote. But now perhappes yowe will aske me what plentie of golde is brought from thense. Yowe shall therfore vnderstande that onely owte of Hispaniola,* 1.561 the sum of foure hundreth and sumtymes fyue hundreth thousande du∣cates of gold is brought yearely into Spayne: as may be ga∣thered by the fyfthe portion dewe to the kynges Excheker, which amounteth to the sum of a hundreth and fourscore, or fourescore and ten thousande Castellanes of golde, and sum¦tymes more. What is to bee thought of the Ilande of Cuba and Sancti Iohannis (otherwise cauled Burich••na) beyng both ve∣ry ryche in golde, we wyll declare further hereafter. To haue sayde thus muche of golde,* 1.562 it shall suffyce. Wee wyll nowe therfore speake sumwhat of salte wherwith wee may season and reserue suche thynges as are bought with golde. In a region of the prouince of Bainoa, in the montaynes of Daiaguo, about twelue myles distant from the salte lake cauled Caspius, there are salte bayes in the montaynes in a maner as hard as stoones, also clearer and whiter then cristall. There are lyke∣wyse suche salte baies whiche growe woonderfully in Lai••ta∣••ia

(now cauled Cataloma) in the territorie of the duke of Cadona the chiefe ruler in that region. But suche as knowe theym bothe, affyrme that these of Bainoa are moste notable. They saye also that this can not be clefte without wedges and bea¦telles of Iron. But that of Lale••ana,* 1.563 maye easlye bee broken as I my selfe haue proued. They therfore compare this to su∣che stoones as may easely bee broken: And the other to mar∣ble. In the prouince of Caizimu▪ in the regions of Iguanama, Ca∣iacoa, and Guariagua, there are sprynges whose waters are of maruelous nature,* 1.564 beynge in the superfytial or vppermooste parte, fre••he: In the myddest, myxte of salte and fre••he: And in the lowest parte, salte and sower. They thincke that the salte water of the sea, issheweth owte softely, and the freshe, to sprinke owte of the mountaines. The one fauleth downe and the other ryseth: & are not therfore so vniue••sal∣ly myxt wherby the one may vtterly corrupt thother. If any man laye his eare to the grounde neare to any of these sprin∣ge••, he shal perceaue the ground there to bee so hollowe,* 1.565 that the reboundyng noyse of a horseman comminge may be harde for the space of three myles, and a foote man one myle. In the laste region towarde the southe named Guaccaiarima, in the lordshyp of Zauana,* 1.566 they say there are certeyne wyld men whi¦che lyue in the caues & dennes of the montaynes, contented onely with wilde fruites. These men neuer vsed the compa∣nye of any other: nor wyll by any meanes becoome tame.

They lyue without any certaine dwellynge places, and with owte tyllage or culturynge of the grounde, as wee reade of them whiche in oulde tyme lyued in the golden age. They say also that these men are withowte any certaine language.* 1.567 They are sumtymes seene. But owre men haue yet layde handes on none of them. If at any tyme they coome to the syght of men, and perceyue any makynge toward them, they flye swifter then a harte. Ye they affyrme them to bee swifter then grehowndes.* 1.568 What one of these solytarie wanderers dyd, it is worth the hearyng. So it is that owr men hauyng granges adioyning nere vnto the thicke wods, certen of thē repaired thither in the mooneth of Septēber in the yeare .M.D.xiiii. In the meane tyme,* 1.569 one of these wylde men came leapynge owte of the woodde. And approchynge sumwhat toward them with smyling countenaunce, soodenly snatched

vppe a childe of therse beynge the soonne of the owner of the graunge, whiche he begotte of a woman of the Ilande. He ranne awaye with the childe, and made sygnes to owre men to folowe hym. Many folowed aswel of owre men as of the naked inhabytantes, but all in vayne. Thus when the plea∣saunt wanderer perceaued that the Christians ceased to pur∣sue hym, he lefte the childe in a crosse waye by the whiche the swyneheardes were accustomed to dryue the swyne to their pasture. Shortly after, a swynchearde founde the chyld and brought hym home to his father yet tormentynge hym selfe for sorowe, supposynge that wylde man to haue byn one of the kynde of the Canibales, and that his soonne was nowe deuowred. In the same Ilande they gather pytche whiche sweateth owte of the rockes,* 1.570 beynge muche harder and sou∣rer then the pitche of the tree: and is therfore more commo∣dious to calke or defende shyppes ageynste the woormes cau∣led Bromas, wherof wee haue spoken largely before. This I∣lande also bryngeth foorth pitche in two kyndes of trees,* 1.571 as in the Pyne tree and an other named Copeia. I neede not speake of the pyne tree,* 1.572 bycause it is engendered and knowen in maner euery where. Lette vs therfore speake sumwhat of the other tree cauled Copeia:* 1.573 Pitche is lykewyse gathered of it as of the pyne tree: althoughe summe saye that it is gathe∣red by distyllyng or droppyng of the woode when it is burnt. It is a straunge thynge to here of the leafe thereof: and how necessary prouision of nature is shewed in the same. It is to be thought that this is the tree in the leaues wherof the Chal¦deans (beynge the fyrste fynders of letters) expressed their myndes before the vse of paper was knowen.* 1.574 This leafe is a spanne in breadth and almost round. Owre men write in them with pynnes or nedles or any suche instrumentes made of me∣tall or woodde, in maner as well as on paper. It is to bee lawghed at what owre men haue perswaded the people of the Ilande as towchynge this leafe.* 1.575 The symple soules be∣leue that at the commandement of owre men, leaues do speak and disclose secreates.* 1.576 They were brought to this credulitie by this meanes. One of owre men dwellynge in the citie of Dominica the chiefe of the Ilande, delyuered to his seruaunte (beyng a man borne in the Ilande) certayne rosted connies, (whiche they caule Vtias beynge no bygger then myse) wyl∣lynge

hym to carie the same to his frende whiche dwelte fur∣ther within the Ilande. This messenger, whether it were that he was therto constrayned through hunger, or entysed by appetite, deuoured three of the counnies by the waye.

He to whome they were sente, writ to his frynde in a leafe howe manye he receaued. When the mayster had looked a whyle on the leafe in the presence of the seruaunt, he sayde thus vnto hym. Ah soonne, where is thy faythe? Coulde thy gredye appetyte preuayle so muche with the as to cause the to eate the connies commytted to thy fydelytie? The poore wretche trembelynge and greatlye amased, confessed his faute: And therwith desyred his mayster to tell hym howe he knewe the treweth therof. This leafe (quod he) whiche thou browghtest me, hath toulde me all. Then hee further rehearsed vnto hym the houre of his coommynge to his frende,* 1.577 and lykewyse of his departynge when hee re∣tourned. And thus they meryly deceaue these seely soules and keepe theym vnder obedyence: In so muche that they take owre men for goddes, at whose coommaundement lea∣ues doo disclose suche thynges as they thyncke mooste hyd and secreate. Bothe the sydes of the leafe receaueth the for∣mes of letters euen as dooeth owre paper.* 1.578 It is thycker then double parchement, and meruelous toughe. While it is yet florys••hynge and newe, it sheweth the letters whyte in greene. And when it is drye, it becommeth whyte and harde lyke a table of woodde: but the letters wexe yelowe. It dooeth not corrupte or putrifye: nor yet looseth the let∣ters thoughe it bee wette: nor by any other meanes excepte it bee burnte. There is an other tree named Xagua: the iuise of whose soure apple beynge of a darke redde coloure,* 1.579 stay∣neth and coloureth what soo euer is touched therwith: And that soo fyrmely, that noo wasshynge canne take it awaye for the space of twentie dayes. When the apple is full ripe, the iuise looseth that strength. The apple is eaten, and of good tast. There is also an herbe whose smoke (as we haue rehersed the like before of a certen woodde) is deadly poison. On a tyme when the kynges assembled together and conspi∣red the destruction of owre men,* 1.580 where as they durste not at∣tempte thenterprise by open warre, theyr diuise was, priui∣lye to lay many bundels of those herbes in a certeyne house,

whiche shortly after they intended to set on fyer, to thinten•• that owre men makynge haste to quenshe the same, myght take theyr death with the smoke therof. But theyr purposed practyse beinge bewrayed, thautours of the diuise were pu∣nysshed accordyngly. Nowe (moste holy father) for as much as yowre holynesse wryteth that what so euer we haue writ∣ten of the newe worlde, dooth please yowe ryght well, wee wyll reherse certeyne thynges owte of order, but not greatly from owre purpose. Of the settynge the rootes of Maizium Agis, Iucca, Battatas, and such other beinge theyr common foode, and of thuse of the same, we haue spoken sufficiently before. But by what meanes they were fyrste applyed to the commo∣ditie of men, we haue not yet declared. We nowe therefore entende to entreate sumwhat hereof.

¶ The nynth booke of the thyrde Decade.

THEY saye that the fyrste inhabitours lyued contented with the rootes of dates,* 1.581 and Ma¦gueans, which is an herbe muche lyke vnto that which is commonly cauled Sengrene or Orpin. Also the rootes of Guaiegans, whi¦che are rounde and greate muche lyke vnto puffes of the earth or mussheromes. They did lykewise eate Guaieros, lyke vnto perseneppes: Cibaios lyke nuttes, Cabaioes and Macoanes, lyke vnto onions, with dy∣uers other suche rootes. They say that after many yeares, a certeyne Boi••ion, that is, a wyse oulde man, sawe vppon the bankes syde, a bushe lyke vnto fenel: and transplantyng the roote therof, brought it from wyldenes to a better kynde, by noorysshynge it in gardens.* 1.582 This was the begynnynge of Iucca, which at the fyrste was deadely poyson to all suche as dyd eate therof rawe. But for as muche as they perceaued it to bee of pleasaunte taste, they determyned many wayes to proue the vse therof: And at the length founde by experience that beinge sodde or fryed, it was lesse hurtefull: by whiche meanes also, they came to the knowledge of the veneme ly∣inge hyd in the iuse of the roote. Thus by dryinge, saltynge, seasonynge, and otherwyse temperynge it, they brought it

to theyr fine breade which they caule Cazabbi,* 1.583 more delectable and holsome to the stomacke of manne then breade made of wheate, bycause it is of easyer digestion. The same is to bee vnderstoode of other rootes and the grayne of Maizium whi∣che they haue chosen for their chiefe meate amonge the seedes of nature, as we reade howe Ceres the doughter of Saturnus,* 1.584 gathered wheate and barley (with suche other corne as are nowe most in vse amonge men) in Egypte of certeyne graynes taken owt of the mudde dryuen from the mountaynes of Ethi¦opia by thincrease of the ryuer Nilus, and lefte in the plaine at such tyme as Nilus resorted ageyne to his chanell. For the which facte, we reade that the antiquitie gaue diuine honour to Ceres, who fyrst norished and increased such chosen seedes. There are innumerable kyndes of Ages:* 1.585 the varietie wherof, is knowen by theyr leaues and floures. One kynde of these, is cauled Guanaguax. This is whyte boothe within & without An other named Guaraguei is of vyolet colour without & white within. The other kyndes of Ages, they caul Zazaueios. These are redde without and whyte within. Squiuetes, are whyte within and without. Tunna, is all together of vyolet coloure. Hobos is yelowe booth of skynne and inner substance. There is an other named A••ibunicix: The skynne of this is of violet colour, and the substance whyte. Aniguamar, hath his skynne also of vyolet coloure, and is whyte within. Guaccaracca. hath a whyte skynne, and the substance of vyolet colour. There are many other which are not yet brought to vs. But I feare me least in the rehearsall of these,* 1.586 I shal prouoke the spurres of malicious persons ageynst me which wyll scorne these owr doinges for that we haue wrytten of many such smaule thin∣ges to a prince occupyed in suche weyghty affayres, as vnto yowre holynes vppon whose shulders resteth the burthen of the hole Christian worlde. But I wolde aske of these maly¦cious en••yers of other mens trauayles, whether Plinie and such other famous wryters,* 1.587 when they dyrected and dedica∣ted such thinges to kynges and princes, entended only to pro¦fyte them to whom they consecrated the frute of theyr know∣leage. They sumtymes intermyxte famous thynges with ob∣scure thynges, lyght with heauie, and greate with smaule, that by the foortheraunce of princes, theyr vniuersall poste∣ritie myght enioye the fruition of the knowleage of thynges.

At other tymes also, beinge intent about particular thinges, and desyrous of newe thynges, they occupyed them selues in the searchinge of particular tractes and coastes, with suche thynges as nature brought foorth in the same, by this mea∣nes to coome the better to more absolute and vniuersal know¦leage. Let theym therefore contemne owre doinge: And wee wyll laugh to scorne, not theyr ignoraunce and slothfulnes, but pernicious curiousnes: And therewith hauynge pitie of theyr frowarde dispositions, wyll commit theim to the vene∣mous serpentes of whome enuie tooke his fyrst orginall. It shall in the meane tyme abundantly contente vs that these thynges do please yowre holynes: And that yowe doo not dispise owre simple vestures wherwith we haue only weaued togyther and not adourned, gathered and not described such maruelous thynges in the garnyshynge wherof, nature hath sufficiently shewed her cunnynge. Owre desyre is none other but herein for yowre sake to doo owre endeuoure that these thynges maye not peryshe. Let euery man take hereof what lyketh hym best. Of the sheepe or bullocke soulde in the mar∣ket, nothynge remayneth in the euenynge, bycause the shul∣der pleaseth one, the legge an other, and the necke an other. Ye, sume haue most phantasie to the bowels, and sume to the feete. Thus hauynge enough wandered, lette vs returne to owre purpose and declare with what woordes they salute the kynges chyldren when they are fyrst borne: or howe they ap¦ply the begynnyng of theyr lyues to the end: And why their kynges are cauled by many names. Therfore when the kynge hath a sonne borne, such as dwel neare about his pallaice or vyllage, repayre to the queenes chamber, where one saluteth the newe borne chylde with one name, and an other with an other name.* 1.588 God saue the thowe shyninge lampe sayth one: An other cauleth him bryght and cleare. Sume name him the victourer of his enemies: and other sume, the puissaunt con∣querour descended of bludde royall, and bryghter then gold, with dyuers other suche vayne names. Therfore lyke as eue¦ry of the Romane emperours was cauled Adiabenicus,* 1.589 Par••••icus, Ar¦menicus, Dacicus, Go••bicus, and Germanicus, accordynge to the titles of theyr parentes and auncestours, euen so by thimposition of names inuented by other kynges, Beucbicus Anacachoa the lord of the region of Xaragua (of whome and of the wyse woman

Anachaona his syster, we haue spoken largely in the fyrste De∣cade) was cauled by all these names folowynge: Tureigua Ho∣bin: whiche is as muche to saye, as, a kynge shynynge as bryght as laton. Starei, that is, bryghte: Huibo, hyghnesse: Duih••ynequen, a ryche fludde. With all these names and more then fortye other suche, dooeth kynge Beuchius magnifye hym selfe as often as he commaundeth any thynge to bee doone or causeth any proclamation to bee made in his name. If the cryer by neglygence leaue owte any of these names, the king thynketh it to sounde greatly to his contumely and reproche. The lyke is also of other. Howe fondely they vse them sel∣ues in makynge their testamentes,* 1.590 wee wyll nowe declare. They leaue thinheritaunce of their kyngedomes to theldest soonnes of their eldest systers. If shee fayle, to theldest of the seconde syster and so of the thirde if the second also faile. For they are owte of doubte that those children coome of their bludde. But the children of their owne wyues, they counte to bee not legitimate. If there remayne none of their systers children, they leaue thinheritaunce to their broothers.* 1.591 And if they faile, it descendeth to their owne soonnes. Laste of all, if al these faile, they assygne it to the woorthiest, as to hym that is of greatest power in all the Ilande, that he may defende their subiectes from their auncient enemyes. They take as many wyues as them lysteth. They suffer the best be∣loued of the kynges wyues, and concubynes to bee buryed with hym.* 1.592 Anachaona the syster of Beuchius the kyng of Xaragua, being a woman of suche wisedome and cunnynge that in ma∣kynge of rhymes and balettes shee was counted a prophetisse emonge the beste, commaunded, that emonge all the wyues and concubynes of the kinge her brother, the fayrerest (whose name was Guanahattabenechina) shulde be buried alyue with him, and two of her waytyng maydes with her. Shee woolde also haue appointed dyuers other to that offyce, if shee had not byn otherwise perswaded by the prayers of certeyne fryers of saincte Fraunces order whiche chaunced then to bee pre∣sente.* 1.593 They saye that this Guanahattabenechina had none in all the Iland comparable to her in bewtie. She buried with her all her iewelles and twentie of her best ornamentes. Their custome is, to place besyde euery of them in their sepultures, a cuppe full of water and a portion of the fyne breade of Ca∣zabbi.

In Xaragua, the regyon of this kynge Beuchius, and in Hazua, parte of the regyon of Caiabo, also in the fayre vale of salte and freshe lakes, and lykewise in the region of Yaquino in the prouynce of Bainoa, it rayneth but seldome.* 1.594 In al these regyons are fosses or trenches made of oulde tyme, wherby they conueye the waters in order to water their fyeldes, with no lesse arte then doo thinhabitours of newe Carthage, and of the kyngedome of Murcien in Spartaria for the feldoome faule of rayne. The region of Maguana, deuydeth the prouynce of Bainoa from Caiabo,* 1.595 and Zauana from Guaccaiarima. In the deepe vales, they are troubled with raine more often then ned••th. Also the confynes of the chiefe citie named saincte Dominike are moister then is necessary. In other places, it rayneth mo∣derately. There are therfore in the Ilande of Hispaniola, dy∣uers & variable motions of the elementes,* 1.596 as we reade the lyke of manye other regions. Of their colonies or mantions which the Spaniardes haue erected in this Ilande we haue spoken suffycientelye beefore.* 1.597 They haue sence that tyme buylded these vyllages: Portus Platae, Portus Regalis, La∣res, Villanoua, Azuam, and Saluaterra. Hauynge sayde thus muche of the Ilande of Hispaniola the moother and ladye of the other Ilandes,* 1.598 and as it were Tethys the moste bewtifull wyfe of Neptunus the god of the sea, let vs nowe entreate sumwhat of her Nymphes and faire Nereides whiche waite vppon her and adourne her on euery syde. Wee wyll therfore begynne at the nearest cauled the newe Arethusa,* 1.599 soo named of the fontayne Arethusa in the Ilande of Sicilie. This is famous by reason of a sprynge: but otherwyse vnprofytable. Owre men na∣med it of late, Duas Arbores, bycause it hath onely twoo trees groynge in it: nere vnto the whiche is a fountaine that com∣meth from the Ilande of Hispaniola throughe the secreate pas∣sages of the earth vnder the sea, and breaketh foorth in this Ilande, as the ryuer Alpeus in Achaia runneth vnder the sea from the citie of Elide, and breaketh foorth in the Ilande of Sicilie in the fountayne Arethusa.* 1.600 That the foūtayne of this newe Arethusa hath h••s original from the Ilande of Hispaniola, it is manifest hereby, that the water isshewynge owte of the fountayne, bryngeth with it the leaues of many trees whiche growe in Hispaniola, and not in this Ilande. They saye that the fountayne hath his originall from the ryuer Yiamiroa in the region of Guaccaiarima confynynge with the land of Zauan••

This Ilande is not pas••e a myle in circuite, and commodi∣ous for fyssher men. Directly towarde the Easte (as it were the porter kepynge the enterie to Tothys) lyeth the Ilande of Sancti Iohannis (otherwise cauled Burichena) wherof wee haue spoken largely before.* 1.601 This aboundeth with golde: and in fruitefull soile, is equall with her moother Hispaniola. In this are many colonies or mansions of Spaniardes, whiche ap∣plye them selues to gatherynge of golde. Towarde the west on the Northe syde, great Cuba (for the longenesse therof,* 1.602 longe supposed to be the continent or fyrme lande) wardeth owre Tethys on the backe halfe. This is muche longer then Hispaniola: And from the Easte to the Weste, is diuyded in the myddest with the circle cauled Tropicus Cancri. Hispaniola and the other lyinge on the South syde of this, are included almost in the mydde space betwene the sayde Tropyke and the Equi∣noctiall lyne,* 1.603 whiche many of the oulde writers supposed to bee vnhabitable & desert by reason of the feruent heate of the soonne in that clyme as they coniectured. But they were deceaued in their opinion. They affyrme that rytcher golde mynes are founde in Cuba then in Hispaniola.* 1.604 They saye also that euen nowe while I wryte these thynges, there is golde gathered together ready to the meltyng, amountynge to the quantitie of a hundreth and fourescore thousande Castellans of gold, an argument surely of great rychesse. Iamaica is more towarde the Southe then these:* 1.605 And is a pleasaunte and fruitefull Ilande, of soyle apte for corne, graffes, and settes, it consysteth of onely one mountayne. Thinhabitauntes are warrelyke men and of good wytte. Colonus compared it to Sicilie in bygnesse. They whiche of late searched it more ex∣actely, saye that it is sumwhat lesse: but not muche. It is thought to be without gold and precious stoones, as the like was supposed of Cuba at the begynnynge. The Ilande of Guadalupea (fyrste named Caraqueira) lyinge on the Southe syde of Hispaniola,* 1.606 is foure degrees nearer the Equinoctiall. It is eaten and indented with two goulfes (as wee reade of great Britanye nowe cauled Englande, and Calidonia nowe cau∣led Scotlande) beinge in maner two Ilandes.* 1.607 It hath fa∣mous portes, In this they founde that gumme whiche the Apothecaries caule Animae Album,* 1.608 whose fume is holesome a∣geynst reumes and heauynesse of the heade. The tree whiche

engendereth this gumme, beareth a fruite muche lyke to a date,* 1.609 beinge a spanne in length. When it is opened, it see∣meth to conteyne a certayne sweete meale. As owre husbande men are accustomed to reserue chestenuttes and suche other harde fruites all the wynter, soo do they the dates of this tree,* 1.610 beynge muche lyke vnto a sygge tree. They founde al∣so in this Ilande, Pyne trees of the beste kynde, and suche other deyntie dysshes of nature, wherof wee haue spoken largely before. Ye, they thyncke that thinhabitauntes of o∣ther Ilandes, had their seedes of soo many pleasaunt frutes from hense. For the Canibales beinge a wylde and wande∣rynge people,* 1.611 and ouer runnynge all the countreys aboute them to hunte for mannes fleshe, were accustomed to brynge home with them what so euer they founde straunge or profy∣table in any place. They are intractable, and wyll admytte no straungiers. It shall therfore bee needefull to ouercoome them with great poure.* 1.612 For as well the women as men, are experte archiers, and vse to inueneme their arrowes. When the men go foorthe of the lande a man huntynge, the women manfully defende their coastes ageynst suche as attempte to inuade the same. And hereby I suppose it was thought that there were Ilandes in the Ocean, inhabited onely with wo∣men, as Colonus the admirall hym selfe perswaded me, as I haue sayde in the fyrste decade. This Ilande hath also frute∣full mountaynes and playnes, and notable ryuers. It nou∣ryssheth honye in trees, and in the caues of rockes,* 1.613 as in Palma one of the Ilandea of Canarie, honye is gathered emong the briers and bramble busshes. Aboute .xviii. myles Easte∣ward from this Iland, lieth an Iland which owr men named Desiderata,* 1.614 brynge .xx. myles in circuite and verye fayre. Also aboute ten myles from Guadalupea towarde the Southe, lyeth the Ilande of Galanta,* 1.615 beynge thirtie myles in circuite and playne. It was so named for the neatenesse and bewtifulnes therof. Nyne myles distant from Guadalupea toward the East, there are syxe smaule Ilandes named Todos Sanctos or Barbara.* 1.616 These are full of rockes and barren: Yet necessarye to bee knowen to suche as vse to trauayle the seas of these coastes. Ageyne, from Guadalupea .xxxv. myles towarde the Northe, there is an Ilande named Monsserratus,* 1.617 conteynynge in circuite fortye myles, hauynge also in it a mountayne of notable

heyght. The Ilande named Antipua,* 1.618 distante from Guadalupea thirtie myles, is aboute fortye myles in circuite. Diegus Colo∣nus the soonne and heyre of Christophorus Colonus, tould me that his wyfe (whome he lefte in the Ilande of Hispaniola a•• his comming into Spaine to the courte) did write vnto hym, that of late emonge the Ilandes of the Canibales, there is one founde whiche aboundeth with golde. On the lefte syde of Hispaniola towarde the Southe, neare vnto the hauen Botea, there lyeth an Ilande named Portus Bellus.* 1.619 They tell marue∣lous thynges of the monsters of the sea aboute this Ilande, and especially of the tortoyses. For they saye that they are bygger then greate rounde targettes. At suche tyme as the h••ate of nature moueth theym too generation,* 1.620 they coome foorthe of the sea: And makynge a deepe pytte in the sande, they laye three or foure hundreth egges therin. When they haue thus emptied their bagge of conception, they putte as muche of the sande ageyne into the pytte, as maye suffyce to couer the egges: And soo resorte ageyne to the sea, no∣thynge carefull of their successyon. At the daye appoynted of nature to the procreation of these beastes, there creapeth owte a multitude of tortoyses, as it were pyssemares swar∣mynge owte of an ante hyll: And this onely by the heate of the soonne withowte any helpe of their parentes. They saye that their egges are in maner as bygge as geese egges.* 1.621 They also coompare the fleshe of these tortoyses, to be equall with veale in taste. There are besyde these, innumerable I∣landes the whiche they haue not yet searched:* 1.622 nor yet is it greatly necessarye to syfte this meale so fynely. It maye suffyce to vnderstond that there are large landes & many re∣gyons whiche shal hereafter receaue owre nations, tounges, and maners: and therwith embrase owre relygion. The Troyans dydde not soodenly replenyshe Asia,* 1.623 the Tyrians Libia,* 1.624 nor the Greekes and Phoenices Spayne.* 1.625* 1.626

As touchynge the Ilandes which lye on the north syde of His∣paniola, I haue let passe to speake. For albeit they are commo¦dious for ty••lage and fysshynge, yet are they lefte of the Spa¦nyardes as poore and of smaule value.* 1.627 We wyll nowe there∣fore take owre leaue of this owlde Tethis with her moyst and watery Nymphes:* 1.628 And receaue to owre newe acquaintance the bewetifull ladye of the South sea rychely crowned with

great pearles, the Ilande of Dites beinge ryche both in name and in treasure. In my epistell booke whiche I sente vnto yowre holynes this last yeare, I declared howe Vaschus Nunnez Balboa the capitayne of them whiche passed ouer the daunge∣rous mountaynes towarde the South sea,* 1.629 learned by report that in the prospect of those coastes there laye an Ilande a∣boundynge with pearles of the greatest sorte: And that the kynge therof was ryche and of great power, infestynge with warres the other kynges his bortherers, and especially Chi∣apes and Tumacchus. We declared further howe at that tyme it was lefte vntouthed by reason of the ragynge tempestes whi¦che troubled that South sea three moonethes in the yeare. But it is nowe better knowen to owre men, who haue nowe also brought that fierce kynge to humanitie: and conuerted hym from a cruell tyger to one of the meeke sheepe of Christes flocke sanctifyed with the water of baptisme with all his fa∣melie and kyngedome.* 1.630 It shall not therefore bee from owre purpose to declare by the gouernaunce of what capitaines or by what meanes these thynges were so happely atchyued.

¶ The tenth booke of the thyrde Decade.

TT the arryuall of Petrus Arias the newe gouer¦nour of Dariena, he gaue commaundment that one Gaspar Moralis shulde take in hande thexpe¦dition to the Ilande of Dites.* 1.631 He therefore tooke his vyage fyrst to Chiapes and Tumacchus kynges of the South, whom Vaschus beefore had concyled and lefte fryndes to the Christi¦ans. They frendely and magnifycally enterteyned owr men who prepared them a nauie of the kynges boates to passe o∣uer into this Ilande, which they caule Dites and not Margarita or Margaritea,* 1.632 although it abounde with pearles which in the latin tonge are cauled Margaritae. For they fyrst cauled an other by this name, which lyeth next to the mouth of Os Draconis in the region of Paria,* 1.633* 1.634 in the which also is founde greate plentie of pearles. Gaspan brought with hym onely threescore armed men to the Ilande, for that he coulde conuey ouer no greater number by reason of the smaulenes and narownes of theyr

boates or barkes which they caule Culchas, made of one hole piece of tymber as we haue sayde b••fore.* 1.635 The kynge of the I¦lande came foorth ageinst them fiercely with cruell and threa¦tenynge countenaunce, and with a great bande of armed men cryinge in maner of a larome and in token of the battayle, Guazzauara, Guazzauara, which is as much to saye as, battayle a∣geynst the enemie: And is as it weare a watch worde to giue thonset, wherwith also they threwe theyr dartes. For they haue not thuse of bowes. They were so obstinate and despe∣rate that they assayled owre men with foure Guazzauaras▪ that is, battayles. At the length owre men with certeyne of Chia∣pes and Tumacchus men (beinge oulde enemies to this kynge of the Ilande, gotte the vpper hande by reason they assayled the kynge soodenly and vnwares. Yet was he determyned to assemble a greater power, and once ageyne to attempt the for¦tune of warre, but that he was otherwyse persuaded by the kinges his bortherers which counceled him to gyue ouer and submyt hym selfe: sumtyme by thexemple of them selues and other threatenynge the destruction of his flooryshynge kynge∣dome: And otherwhyles declarynge vnto hym the humani∣tie and gentelnes of owre men, by whose frendship he might obteyne honoure and quyetnes to hym and his: wyllyng hym furthermore to consider what chaunced vnto them which the yeare before resysted and aduentured the hasarde of the bat∣tayle as dyd these kynges, Poncha, Pocchorrosa, Quarequa, Chiapes, and Tumaccus with such other. By these persuasions, the king submytted hym selfe and came freendely to owre men whom he conducted to his palaice which they say to be maruelously adourned and princelyke.* 1.636 As soone as they entered into the pallaice,* 1.637 he brought foorth a basket of curious woorkeman∣shyp and full of pearles which he gaue them. The summe of these pearles amounted to the weyght of a hundreth and ten poundes after .viii. vnces to the pounde.* 1.638 Beinge ageyne re∣warded of owre men with such tryfles as they brought with them of purpose, as garlandes of Christall and glasse and o∣ther counterfet stones of dyuers colours, with lookyng glas∣ses also and laton belles, and especially two or three Iren hatchets (which they more esteme then great heapes of gold) he thaught hym selfe abundantly recompensed.* 1.639 They laughe owre men to scorne that they wyll departe with so great and

necessarie a thynge for any summe of golde: affyrmynge an axe or hatchet to bee profytable for manye vses of men: and that golde serueth onely for wanton pleasures, and not to be greatly necessary. Beynge therfore ioyfull and gladde of the frendeshyppe of owre men, he tooke the capitaine by the hand and brought him with certeine of his familiars to the highest towre of his palaice, from whense they myght prospecte the mayne sea.* 1.640 Then castyng his eyes about hym on euery side, and lookynge towarde the Easte, he sayde vnto them. Be∣holde here lyeth open before yowe the infynite sea extended beyond the soonne beames. Then tournyng hym toward the Southe and Weste, he sygnyfied vnto them that the lande which laye before their eyes, the toppes of whose great mon∣taynes they myght see,* 1.641 was exceadynge large. Then coom∣mynge sumwhat nearer, he sayde: Beholde these Ilandes on the ryght hande and on the lefte, whiche all obeye vnto owre empyre, and are ryche, happye, and blessed, if yowe caule those landes blessed whiche abounde with golde and perle. Wee haue in this Ilande lyttle plentie of golde: But the deepe places of all the seas aboute these Ilandes, are full of perles: wherof yowe shall receaue of me as many as yow wyll requyre, so that ye persyste in the bonde of frendeshyppe whiche yowe haue begunne. I greatly desyre yowre frende∣shyppe, and woolde gladlye haue the fruition of yowre thyn∣ges, whiche I sette muche more by then myllyons of perles. Yowe shall therfore haue no cause to doubte of any vnfayth∣fulnesse or breache of frendeshyppe on my behalfe. Owre men gaue hym lyke frendly woordes: and encouraged hym with many fayre promysses to doo as he had sayde. When owre men were nowe in a redynesse to departe, they couenaunted with hym to paye yearely to the greate kynge of Castyle a hundreth pounde weyghte of perles.* 1.642 He gladlye agreed to their request, and tooke it for no great thyng: nor yet thought hym selfe any whitte the more to becoome tributarie. With this kynge they founde suche plentie of hartes and connies,* 1.643 that owre men stondynge in their houses myght kyll as ma∣nye as them lyste with their arrowes. They lyue heare verye pleasauntly, hauynge greate plentie of al thynges necessary. This Ilande is scarsely syxe degrees distant from the Equi∣noctiall lyne. They haue the same maner of breade made of

rootes and the graine of Maizium, and wyne made of seedes and fruites,* 1.644 euen as they haue in the region of Comogra and in other places aswell in the Ilandes as in the firme lande. This kynge is nowe baptised with all his familye▪ and sub∣iectes.* 1.645 His desyre was at his baptisme, to bee named Petrus Arias after the name of the gouernour. When owre men de∣parted, he accompanied them to the sea syde and furnysshed them with boates to retourne to the continent.* 1.646 Owre men diuided the perles emonge them, reseruyng the fyfte portion to be delyuered to thoffycers of the kynges Excheker in those partes. They saye that these perles were maruelous precious, faire, oriente, and exceadynge bygge:* 1.647 In so muche that they broughte manye with theym bygger then hasell nuttes. Of what pryce and value they myghte bee, I consyder by one perle the which Paulus predicessour to yowre holines,* 1.648 bowght at the second hand of a marchant of Uenece for foure & forty thousande ducates. Yet emonge those whiche were brought from this Ilande, there was one bought euen in Dariena for a thousande and two hundreth Castelans of golde. This was almost as bygge as a meane walnutte:* 1.649 And came at the length to the handes of Petrus Arias the gouernoure, who gaue it to that noble and faithefull woman his wyfe, of whose maner of departure with her husbande, wee haue made mention be∣fore. Wee muste then needes thinke that this was verye pre∣cious which was bowght so deare emonge suche a multitude of perles where they were not bought by one at once, but by poundes and at the least by ounces. It is also to be thought that the Uenecian marchaunte boughte his for no great sum of mony in the East parts. But he sould it the dearer for that he chaunced to lyue in those lasciuious and wanton dayes when men were gyuen to suche nyse and superfluous pleasu∣res,* 1.650 and mette with a marchaunt for his purpose. But lette vs nowe speake sumwhat of the shelfysshes in the whiche perles are engendered. It is not vnknowen to yowre holy∣nesse, that Aristotell, and Plinie his folower, were of dyuers opinions as concernynge the generation of perles.* 1.651 But these Indians and owre men, rest onely in one assertion, not assentyng to them in any other: as eyther that they wan∣der in the sea, or that they moue at anye tyme after they are borne. They wyll therfore that there bee certayne gree••••

places as it were medowes in the bottome of the sea,* 1.652 bryn∣gynge foorthe an herbe muche lyke vnto thyme, and affyrme that they haue seene the same: And that they are engende∣red, norysshed, and growe therin, as wee see thincrease and succession of oysters to growe aboute them selues. Also that these fysshes delyteth not in the conuersation or coompanye of the sea dogges: Nor yet to bee contented with onely one, twoo, or three, or at the moste foure pearles: Affyrmyng that in the fysshynge places of the kynge of this Ilande, there was founde a hundreth pearles in one fyshe,* 1.653 the whirhe Gas∣par Moralis the capitayne hym selfe, and his coompanions, diligently numbered. For it pleased the kynge at their be∣ynge there & in their presence, to commaund his diuers to go a fysshynge for those kynde of fysshes. They compare the matrices of these fysshes,* 1.654 to the places of conception in hen∣nes, in the whiche their egges are engendered in great mul∣titudes and clusters: And beleue that these fysshes brynge foorth their byrth in lyke maner. For the better profe wher∣of, they saye that they founde certaine pearles coommynge foorthe of their matreces, as beynge nowe coome to the tyme of their full rypenesse,* 1.655 and moued by nature to coome owte of their moothers wombe openynge it selfe in tyme conueni∣ent. Lykewise that within a while after, they sawe other succede in lyke maner. So that to conclude, they sawe sum coommynge foorthe, and other summe yet abydinge the tyme of their perfection: whiche beyng complete, they also became loose and opened the matrice. They perceaued the pearles to bee inclosed in the myddest of their bellies, there to bee noris∣••hed and increase as an infante suckynge his moothers pap∣pes within her wombe, before hee moue to coome foorthe of her priuye places. And if it chaunce any of these shelfysshes to be founde scatered in the sande of the sea (as I my selfe haue seene oysters disparcled on the shores in diuers places of the Ocean) they affyrme that they haue byn violently dryuen thi∣ther from the bottome of the sea by force of tempestes, and not to haue wandered thither of them selues. But, that they becoome white by the clearenesse of the mornynge dewe, or waxe yelowe in troubled wether, or otherwyse that they ••eeme to reioyse in faire wether and cleare ayer, or contrary¦wyse to bee as it were astonisshed and dymme in thunder and

tempestes, with suche other, the perfecte knowledge hereof is not to bee looked for at the handes of these vnlearned men whiche handell the matter but grossely, and enquire no fur∣ther then occasyon serueth. Yet do they affyrme by thexperi∣ence and industrie of the dyuers, that the greatest pearles lye in the deepest places,* 1.656 they of the meane sorte hygher, and the least hyghest of all and nearer to the brymme of the wa∣ter. And saye therfore that the greatest do not wander: but that they are created, nourysshed, and increase in the dee∣pest places of the sea, whether fewe, dyuers, and that but seeldome dare aduenture to diue so deepe to gather them, as∣wel for feare of the sea crabbes whiche wander emonge these perle fyshes to feede of them,* 1.657 and for feare of other monsters of the sea, as also leste their brethe shuld fayle them into long remayninge in the water. And this they saye to bee the cause why the owldest and therfore byggest sea muscles,* 1.658 inhabyte the deepest places from whense they are not lyghtly moued by tempestes. Furthermore, howe muche the bygger and oul∣der these fyshes are, they say that in their larger matrices, the greater number and bygger pearles are founde: And that for this cause, there are fewer founde of the byggest sorte. They thyncke also, that when they fyrste faule from their fysshes in the deepe places, they are deuoured of other fysshes, by∣cause they are not yet harde. Ageyne, the smaulest differ from the byggest in a certayne swellynge or impostumation whiche the Spaniardes caule a tympane. For they denye that to be a pearle which in oulde muscles cleaueth fast to the shel: But that it is a warte, whiche beynge rased from the shell with a fyle, is rounde and bryght but onely of one syde, and not pre∣cious, beynge rather of the nature of the fyshe it selfe, then of a pearle. They confesse that they haue seene certayne of these muscles cleauynge on rockes: Yet these but fewe, and nothynge woorthe. It is also to bee thought that the pearle fysshes or sea muscles whiche are founde in India, Arabie, the redde sea, or Taprobana, are ruled in suche order as the afore named famous autours haue written. For their opini∣on herein is not vtterly to bee reiected, forasmuche as they were learned men and trauayled longe in the serchynge of these thynges. But wee haue nowe spoken suffyciently of these sea fysshes and of their egges which the fonde nysenes

and wantonnesse of men haue made dearer then the egges of hennes or geese. Lette vs therfore entreate sumwhat of o∣ther particular thynges whiche are coome to owre know∣ledge of late. We haue elles where largely described the mou¦thes of the goulfe of Vraba, with sundrye and variable regi∣ons diuided with the manyfolde goulfes of that sea. But as∣concernynge the West coastes in the whiche owre men haue buylded houses and planted their habitations on the bankes of Dariena, I haue no newe matter to write. Yet as touching the East partes of the goulfe,* 1.659 I haue learned as foloweth. They saye that the vnyuersal lande of the East region of the goulfe from the corner therof farre reachynge into the sea, and from the extreame or vtter moste mouthe of the same re∣ceauynge the waters of the sea whiche faule into it, euen vn∣to Os Draconis and Paria, is by one generall name cauled Cari∣bana,* 1.660 of the Caribes or Canibales whiche are founde in euery regyon in this tracte. But from whense they had their par∣ticular originall,* 1.661 and howe leauynge their natiue soyle, they haue spredde their generation so farre lyke a pestiferous con∣tagion, wee wyll nowe declare. Therfore from the fyrste fronte reachynge foorth into the sea (in whose tracte we said that Fogeda fastened his foote) toward the corner, about nyne myles distant, there lyeth a vyllage of Caribana named Fu••craca.* 1.662 Three myles distant from this, is the vyllage of Vraba, of the whiche it is thoughte that the hole goulfe tooke his name, because this vyllage was once the heade of the kyngedome. Aboute syxe myles from this, is Fe••i. Nyne myles from Feti••, is Zerema:* 1.663 And about twelue myles from this, Sorache. Owre men founde all these vyllages full of people, all the whiche gyue them selues onely to manhuntynge. In so muche that if they lacke enemyes ageynst whom they maye keepe warre, they exercise crueltie ageynst them selues, and eyther sleye the one the other, or elles dryue the vanquysshed to flyghte.

Whereby it is apparante that by these their continuall war∣res, and dryuynge the one the other owte of their countreis, this infection hath gonne so farre not onelye on the fyrme lande, but also into the Ilandes. I was also aduertised of an other thynge the whiche to my iudgement, seemeth woor∣thye to bee putte in memorye.

One Corrales a iudge in causes of lawe amonge the Spany∣ardes

of Dariena, sayth that on a tyme walkyng abrode with his booke in his hande, he met by the waye with a fugityue which had stedde from the great landes lyinge farre toward the weste, and remayned here wyth a Kynge wyth whom he was enterteyned. When this man perceaued the lawier lookynge on his booke, marueylynge thereat, he came run∣ninge vnto him, and by interpretours of the kynge whom he serued, spake thus vnto him: Haue yowe also bookes wherin yowe may reserue thynges in perpetual memorye?* 1.664* 1.665 And letters wherby yowe may declare yowre mynde to suche as are ab∣sent? And herewith desyred that the booke might bee opened vnto hym, supposyng that he shulde therein haue founde the letters of his owne countrey. But when he sawe theim vn∣lyke, he sayde further that in his countrey there were cities fortified with waules and gouerned by lawes: and that the people also vsed apparell. But of what religion they were, I dyd not learne. Yet had owre men knowleage both by the woordes and signes of this fugitiue, that they were circum∣cised.* 1.666 What nowe thinke yowe hereby (most holy father) Or what do yowe diuine may come hereof when tyme shall sub∣due al these vnder yowre throne?* 1.667 Let vs nowe entermyngle certeyne smaule thynges amonge these great matters. I haue not thought good to pretermitte that which chaunced to Io∣hannes Solysius, who, to searche the South syde of the supposed continent, departed with three shippes from porte Ioppa (not farre distante from the Ilandes of Gades or Cales in the Oce∣an) the fourth day of the Ides of September in the yeare. M D. xv. Or what successe Iohannes Pontius had, whom the newe gouernour Petrus Arias appoynted to vanquishe and destroy the Caribes or Canibales, deuourers of mans fleshe.* 1.668 Also to what ende the vyages of the other capitaynes came, whiche were sent foorth dyuers wayes at the same tyme: As Gonzalus Bada∣••ocius, Franciscus Bezerra, and Valleius, Iohannes Solicius tooke the mat¦ter in hande in an euyll houre.* 1.669 He sayled beyonde the poynt of saynt Augustine, (which they caule Cabo. S. Augustini) toward the South syde of the supposed continent beyonde the Equi∣noctiall lyne.* 1.670 For (as we haue sayde before) that poynt rea∣cheth Southwarde to the seuenth degree of the South poole cauled the pole Antartike. He proceaded in that viage syxe hundreth leagues: And founde the lande from the poynte to

extende so farre towarde the South beyonde the Equinocti∣all, that he came to the thirtie degree of the South pole. As he sayled thus forwarde, hauynge nowe on his backe halfe the starres named Caput Draconis, (that is, the dragons heade) and the regions of Paria lyinge northwarde frome hym, and prospectynge towarde the pole Artyke, he chaunced to faule into the handes of the fylthye Canibales.* 1.671 For these craftie foxes seemed to make signes of peace, when in theyr mindes they conceaued a hope of a daintie banquet:* 1.672 And espying their enemies a farre of, beganne to swalowe theyr spettle as their mouthes watered for greedines of theyr pray. As vnhappye Solys••us descended with as many of his coompanie as coulde en¦ter into the boate of the byggest shippe, soodenly a great mul∣tytude of thinhabitantes bruste foorth vppon them, and slew them euery man with clubbes, euen in the syght of theyr fe∣lowes. They caried away the boate, and in a moment broke it all to fytters. Not one man escaped. Theyr furie not thus satisfied, they cutte the slayne men in pieces euen vppon the shore where theyr felowes might beholde this horrible specta¦cle from the sea. But they being stryken with feare through this exemple, durst not coome foorth of theyr shyppes, or di∣uise howe to reuenge the death of theyr Capitaine and coom∣panyons. They departed therefore from these vnfortunate coastes: And by the waye ladynge theyr shippes with brasell returned home ageyne with losse and heauie chere.* 1.673 Of these thynges I was aduertysed of late by theyr owne letters.

What they haue els doone, I shal haue more particular know¦leage hereafter, Iohannes Pontius was also repulsed by the Cani∣bales in the Ilande of Guadalupea beinge one of the chiefe I∣landes of theyr habitacion.* 1.674 For when they sawe owre men a farre of on the sea, they ley in ambushe soodenly to inuade them when they shulde coome alande. Owre men sent foorth a fewe foote men and with them theyr laundresses to wasshe theyr shertes and sheetes. For from the Ilande of Ferrea be∣inge one of the Ilandes of Canarie (euen vnto this Ilande, for the space of foure thousande and twoo hundreth myles) they had seene no lande where they myght fynde any fresshe water: for as muche as in all this large space, the Ocean is without Ilandes. At theyr commynge therfore to lande, the Canibales assayled them, caried awaye the women, and put

the men to suche distresse that fewe of them escaped. By rea∣son wherof, Pontius being greately discomfited, durste not in∣uade the Canibales, fearynge theyr venemed arrowes which these naked manhunters can direct most certenly. Thus good Pontius faylyng of his purpose, was fayne to gyue ouer the Ca¦nibales, whome (beinge safe and vnder the house roufe) he threatened to vanquyshe and destroy. Whether he went from thense, or what newe thynges he founde, I haue as yet no further knowleage. By these mysfortunes, Solysius loste his lyfe, and Pontius his honour. Let vs nowe speake of an other whose enterpryse came to lyke purpose the same yeare. Iohan∣nes Aiora borne in the citie of Corduba,* 1.675 a man of noble parentage, sent in steade of the Lieuetenaunt (as we haue sayde) more co¦uetous of golde then carefull of his charge or desyrous of prayse for well deseruynge,* 1.676 sought occasions of querelynge ageynst the kynges and spoyled many, violently extortynge golde of them ageynst ryght and equitie: And further hande∣led them so extremely, that of frendes they became most cruel enemies:* 1.677 In so much that they ceased not with desperat myn¦des by all meanes they coulde to sley owre men openly or pri¦uilye. By reason wherof it is coome to passe, that where be∣fore they bartered quyetly exchanginge ware for ware, they are nowe fayne to doo all thynges by force of armes. When he had thus exacted a great quantitie of golde of them (as it is sayd) he fledde priuilie and tooke away a shyppe with him by stelth as the common rumoure goeth: Nor yet hetherto haue we hard whyther he went or where he is arryued. Sum suspect that Petrus Arias the gouernour shulde consente to his departure bycause this Iohannes Aiora is brother to Gonsalus Aiora the kynges historiographer, a man booth lerned, and expert in the discipline of warre: and so much the gouernours frend, that these two amonge a fewe, may be counted exemples of rare amitie. I my selfe also am greately bounde vnto theym bothe and haue longe enioyed theyr frendeshippe. Yet shall I desyre them bothe to pardone me in declarynge my phan∣tasie herein, that in all the turmoyles and tragicall affayres of the Ocean, nothynge hath so muche displeased me as the couetousnes of this man who hath so disturbed the pacified myndes of the kynges. Nowe emonge these troubelous chaun¦ces, let vs rehearse the variable fortune of Gonsalus Badaiccius,

& his felowes,* 1.678 whose prosperous begynnynges, ended with vnfortunate successe. Gonsalus therfore in the moneth of May in the yeare of Christe M. D. xv. departed from Dariena with fourescore armed men, directynge his vyage towarde the Southe, and restynge in no place vntyll he came to the regi∣on of Cerabaro which owre men named Gratia Dei,* 1.679 distant from Dariena about a hundreth and fourescore myles: for they caule it threescore leaques. He spente certeyne dayes here in Idel∣nesse: for he coulde neyther by fayre meanes nor by foule, al∣lure the kynge of the regyon to coome to hym. While he laye thus idelly, there came to hym other fyftie men sente frome Dariena vnder the gouernaunce of capytayne Lodouicus Mercado who departed from Dariena in the calendes of Maye, to thin∣tent to searche thinner partes of those regyons. When they mette together, they determyned after consultation, to passe ouer the montaynes lyinge towarde the Southe, euen vnto the Southe sea latelye founde. Beholde nowe a wonderfull thynge: That in a lande of suche maruelous longitude in other places, they founde it here to bee onely aboute fyftie myles distant to the Southe sea:* 1.680 for they counte it .xvii. lea∣ques,* 1.681 as the maner of the Spanyardes is to reken, and not by myles. Yet saye they that a leaque consysteth of three my∣les by lande and foure by sea as wee haue noted before. In the toppes of the mountaynes and turnynge of the waters, they founde a kynge named Iuana▪ whose kyngedome is also named Coiba as is the regyon of kynge Careta, of whome we haue made mention elles where. But for as muche as the re∣gyon of this Iuana, is rycher in golde, they named it Coiba Di∣tes,* 1.682 that is, Coiba the rych. For, whersoeuer they dygged the grounde, whether it were on the drye lande or in the weate chanelles of the ryuers, they founde the sande whiche they caste foorthe, myxte with golde. Iuana fledde at the coom∣mynge of owre men,* 1.683 and coulde neuer bee brought ageyne. They spoyled all the countrey neare aboute his palayce. Yet had they but lyttle golde: for hee had caryed all his stuffe with hym. Here they founde certeyne slaues marked in the faces after a straunge sorte. For with a sharpe prycke made eyther of bone, or elles with a thorne, they make holes in their faces: and foorthwith sprinkelynge a pouder theron, they moiste the pounced place with a certeyne blacke of redde

iuise, whose substaunce is of suche tenacitie and claniminesse, that it wyll neuer weare awaye. They brought these slaues away with them. They saye that this iuise is of such sharp∣nesse and putteth them to suche payne, that for extreeme do∣loure they haue no stomacke to their meate certaine dayes af∣ter. The kynges whiche take these slaues in their warres, vse their helpe in seekynge for golde and in tyllage of the grounde, euen as do owre men. From the pallaice of Iuana. folowynge the course of the water aboute tenne myles to∣warde the Southe, they entered into the dominion of an other kynge, whome owre men named the oulde man, bycause hee was oulde, not passynge of his other name. In the regyon of this kynge also, they founde golde in all places bothe on the lande and in the ryuers.* 1.684 This region is verye fayre and frutefull: and hath in it many famous ryuers. Departynge from hense, in fyue dayes iorneye they came to a lande lefte desolate. They suppose that this was destroyed by ciuile dis∣corde for as muche as it is for the mooste parte fruiteful,* 1.685 and yet not inhabited. The fyfth daye, they sawe two men com∣mynge a farre of. These were laden with breade of Maizium, whiche they caryed on their shulders in sackes. Owre men tooke them: and vnderstoode by them that there were twoo kynges in that tracte: The one was named Periqu••te,* 1.686 whoe dwelte neare vnto the sea. The others name was Totonoga. This Totonoga, was blynde and dwelte in the continent. The twoo men whiche they mette, were the fysshers of Totonoga, whome he had sente with certayne fardelles of fyshe to Peri∣quete, and had ageyne receaued breade of hym for exchaunge. For thus do they communicate their commodities one with an other by exchaunge, without ••huse of wycked money.

By the conductinge of these twoo men, they came to kynge Totonoga dwellynge on the Weste syde of sayncte Michaelles goulfe in the Southe sea.* 1.687* 1.688 They had of this kynge, the sum of syxe thousande Castellans of golde bothe rude and artify∣cially wrought. Emonge those groumes of rude or natyue golde, there was one founde of the weyghte of two Castel∣lans,* 1.689 whiche argued the plentifull rychenesse of the ground. Folowing the same coastes by the sea syde toward the West, they came to a kynge whose name was Taracuru,* 1.690 of whome they had golde amountynge to the weyght of eight thousand

Pesos.* 1.691 Wee haue sayde before that Pesus is the weyghte of a Castelane not coyned. From hense they wente to the domi∣nion of this kynges broother named Pananome,* 1.692 who fledde at their commynge, and appered no more afterwarde. They saye that his kyngdome is ryche in golde. They spoyled his pallaice in his absence. Syxe leaques from hense, they came to an other kyng named Tabor.* 1.693 From thense they came to th•• kyng of Cheru.* 1.694 He frendly enterteyned owre men, and gaue them foure thousande Pesos of golde.* 1.695 He hathe in his do∣minion many goodly salte dayes: the region also aboundeth with golde. About twelue myles from hense, they came to an other kyng cauled Anata,* 1.696 of whome they had .xv. thousande Pesos of golde whiche he had gotten of the kinges his borthe∣rers whom he had vanquisshed by warre.* 1.697 A great part of this golde was in rude forme bycause it was molten when he set the kynges houses on fyer whom he spoyled.* 1.698 For they robbe and sley the one the other, sackynge and fyryng their villa∣ges, and wastinge their countreys. They keepe warre barba∣rously and to vtter destruction, executing extreeme crueltie a∣geinst them that haue the ouerthrowe. Gonsalus Badaiocius with his felowes, wandered at lybertie vntyll they came to this kyng: And had gathered great heapes of gold of other kin∣ges. For, what in braslettes, collers, earinges, breste plates, helmettes, and certeine barres wherwith women beare vppe their brestes, they had gathered together in gold the sum of fourescore thousande Castellans,* 1.699 whiche they had obteyned partly by exchaunge for owre thinges where they founde the kinges their frendes, & otherwise by forceible meanes where they founde the contrary. They had gotten also forty slaues whose helpe they vsed both for cariage of their vitailes and bagagies in the steade of moiles or other beastes of burden, and also to relieue suche as were sycke and forweried by rea∣son of their longe iorneys and hunger. After these prospe∣rous viages, they came by the dominion of kynge Scoria,* 1.700 to the palaice of a kynge named Pariza:* 1.701 where (fearyng no such thing) Pariza enclosed them with a great armye,* 1.702 and assayled them straggelyng and vnwares, in suche sorte that they had no leasure to put on their armure. He slewe and wounded a∣bout fyftie, and put the resydue to flyght. They made such•• hast, that they had no respect eyther to the gold they had ga∣thered,

or to their slaues: but lefte all behynde them. Those fewe that escaped, came to Dariena. The opinion of all wyse men as concernynge the varyable and inconstant chaunces of fortune in humane thinges,* 1.703 were false, if al thinges shuld haue happened vnto them prosperously. For such is the na∣ture of this blynde goddesse, that she oftentimes delyteth in the ouerthrowe of them whom she hath exalted: and taketh plesure in confounding hygh thinges with lowe, and the con∣trary. Wee see this order to bee impermutable, that who soo wyll applye hym selfe to gather rootes, shall sumtymes meete with sweete lyqueresse, and other whiles with soure cockle. Yet wo vnto Pariza: for he shall not longe sleape in rest. The gouernour him selfe was of late determined with three hun∣dreth and fyftie choise souldiers to reuenge the death of owr men: But where as he by chaunce fell sycke, his poure went forward vnder the conducting of his Lieuetenant Gaspar Spino∣sa, a Iudge in cases of lawe in Dariena. At the same time other were sent foorth to the Ilande of Dites to exacte the portion of pearles lymited to the king for his tribute. What shal suc∣cede, tyme will bring to owre knowleage. The other two, at∣tempted thinhabitantes beyond the goulfe Franciscus Bezerra pas¦syng ouer by the corner of the goulfe and the mouthes of the ryuer of Dabaiba,* 1.704 with two other capitaines and a hundreth and fyftie souldiers well appointed, went to make warre vp∣pon the Canibales euen in Caribana their owne chiefest domini¦on, toward the vyllage of Turusy, wherof we haue made men∣tion before in the comming of Fogeda. They brought also with them diuers engens of warre:* 1.705 as ••hree pieces of ordinanunce whose shot were bygger then egges: Likewise forty archers, and .xxv. hagbutters to thintent to reache the Caniballes a farre of, and to preuent their venemed arrowes. But what became of hym and his company, or where they arriued, we haue yet no parfecte knowleage. Certaine which came of late from Dariena to Spaine, reported that at their departure, they of Dariena stode in great feare least they also were tossed with sum misfortune. The other capitaine Valleius,* 1.706 obteyned the fore parte of the goulfe. But he passed ouer by an other waye then dyd Bezerra. For he tooke the beginning of Caribana, and Bezerra the ende. Valleius returned ageine. But of the three score and ten men whiche he conueighed ouer with hym, hee

lefte fortye and eyght slaine emonge the Canibales. These are the newes whiche they bringe that came laste from Da••iena. There came to me the day before the Ides of October in this yeare M.D.xvi. Rodericus Colmenares (of whom we haue made mention before) and one Franciscus Delapuente. This Franciscus, was one of the vnder capitaines of this bande, whose chiefe capitaine was Gonsalus Badaiocius who hardly escaped the han∣d••s of kyng Pariza. These twoo capitaines therfore, Rodericus and Franciscus who departed from Dariena immediatly after the misfortune whiche befell to Badaiocius and his companye,* 1.707 do both affirme, the one that he hath harde, and the other that he hath seene, that in the Southe sea there are diuers Ilan∣des lying westwarde from the Iland of Dites and saincte Mi∣chaels goulfe,* 1.708 in many of the which are trees engendred and nourisshed which bring foorth the same aromaticall fruites, as doth the region of Collocutea,* 1.709 This lande of Collocutea, with the regions of Cochinus and Camemorus,* 1.710 are the chiefe marte pla¦ces from whense the Portugales haue their spices. And here∣by do they coniecture that the land where the frutfulnesse of spyce begynneth, shulde not be farre from thense. In so much that many of them whiche haue ouerrunne those coastes, do onely desyre that leaue may be graunted them to searche fur∣ther, and that they wil of their owne charges frame and fur∣nishe shippes and aduenture the viage to seeke those Ilandes and regions. They thinke it best that these shippes shulde bee made and prepared,* 1.711 euen in saincte Michaels goulfe: And not to attempte this vyage by sainte Augustines point, which waye were both longe and di••fyculte, and ful of a thousande daungers, and is saide to reache beyonde the forty degree of the pole Antartike. The same Franciscus, being partener of the trauailes and daungiers of Gonsalus, saithe that in ouer run∣ninge those landes, he founde great heardes of hartes and wylde bores:* 1.712 and that he toke many of them by an arte which thinhabitauntes taught him: whiche was to make pittes or trēches in their walkes, and to couer the same with bouwes. By this meanes also they deceaue al other kindes of wild and foure footed beastes. But they take foules after the same ma∣ner that we do: As stocke doues with an other tame stocke done brought vp in their houses.* 1.713 These they tye by a strynge, and suffer them to flye a little emong the trees. To the which

as other birdes of their kind resort, they kil thē with their ar¦rowes.* 1.714 Otherwyse they take thē with nettes in a bare place pourged from trees & bushes: and scateryng certeyne seedes rounde about that place, in the myddeste whereof they tye a tame foule or byrde of the kynde of them whiche they desyre to take. In lyke maner do they take popingiayes and other foules. But they say that popingiayes are so simple,* 1.715 that a great multitude of them wyll flye euen into the tree in whose bouwes the fouler sytteth: & swarme about the tame chatte¦rynge popingiaye, sufferynge them selues to bee easely taken. For they are so without feare of the syght of the fouler, that they tary whyle he cast the snare about theyr neckes, the o∣ther beinge nothynge feared hereby, thoughe they see hym drawe them to him with the snare, and put them in the bagge which he hath about hym for the same purpose. There is an other kynde of foulynge,* 1.716 heretofore neuer harde of, and plea¦saunt to consyder. We haue declared before howe that in cer∣teyne of the Ilandes, and especially in Hispaniola, there are dy∣uers lakes or standynge pooles. In sume of these (beinge no deaper then men may wade ouer them) are seene great multy∣tudes of water foules: as wel for that in the bottome of these lakes, there growe many herbes and weedes, as also that by reason of the heate of the sonne pearceinge to the naturall place of generation and corruption,* 1.717 where beinge doubled in force by reflection and preserued by moyster, there are engen∣dered of the stymines of the earth and water, and by the pro¦uidence of the vniuersall creator, innumerable lyttle fys••hes, with a thousande sundry kyndes of frogges, wormes, knat∣tes, flyes and such other. The foules which vse these lakes,* 1.718 are of dyuers kyndes: As duckes, geese, swannes, seemewes, gulles, and such other. We haue sayde also that in theyr or∣chardes they noryshe a tree which beareth a kynde of greate gourdes. Of these gourdes therefore well stopped leaste any water shulde enter in at theyr ryftes and cause them to sinke,* 1.719 they cast many in the shalowe pooles: where, by theyr conti∣nuall wanderynge and wauerynge with the motions of the wynde and water, they put the foules owt of suspection and feare. The fouler in the meane tyme, disguysinge hym selfe as it were with a visour, putteth a great gourde on his head much lyke to a helmet, with two holes neare about his eyes,

his face and hole heade besyde beinge couered therwith. And thus entereth he into the poole euen vnto the chynne. For beinge from theyr infancie exercised in swymmynge and ac∣customed to the waters, they refuse not to continue therein a longe space. The foules thynkynge this gourde to be one of the other that swymme vppon the water, the fouler goeth softly to the place wher he seeth the greatest flocke of foules: And with waggynge his heade, counterfectinge the mouing of the wauerynge gourdes, drawethe neare to the foules: where softely puttynge foorth his ryght hande, he soodenly snatcheth one by the legges and plungeth her into the water where he putteth her into a bagge whiche he hath with hym of purpose The other foules supposinge that this dyued in∣to the water of her owne motion to seke for foode (as is their maner) are nothyng moued hereby, but go forwarde on their waye as before, vntyll they also faule into the same snare. I haue here for this cause entered into the declaration of theyr maner of huntynge and foulynge, that by these more pleasaunt narrations I may sumwhat mytigate and asswage the horrour conceaued in yowre stomake by the former rehear¦sall of theyr bluddy actes and cruell maners. Lette vs nowe therfore speake sumwhat ageyne of the newe and later opini¦ons as concernynge the swyfte course of the sea towarde the west about the coastes of Paria:* 1.720 also of the maner of gathering of golde in the golde myne of Dariena, as I was aduertised of late. And with these two quyet and peaceable thynges, we wyl make an ende of the tragical affayres of the Ocean: and therwith byd yowre holynes fare wel. So it is therfore, that Andreas Moralis the pylot, and Ouiedus (of whom we haue made mention before) repayred to me, at my house in the towne of Matrite, As we met thus togyther, there arose a contention betwene them two, as concernynge this course of the Ocean. They both agree that these landes and regions perteynynge to the dominion of Castile, doo with one continuall tract and perpetuall bonde, embrase as one hole firme lande or conti∣nent al the mayne lande lyinge on the north syde of Cuba and the other Ilandes,* 1.721 beinge also northwest both from Cuba and Hispaniola. Yet as touchynge the course of the water, they var∣rie in opinion. For Andreas, wyll that this vyolent course of water bee receaued in the lappe of the supposed continente

which bendeth so much and extendeth so farre towarde the North, as we haue said: And that by the obiect or resistance of the lande so bendynge and crookynge, the water shulde as it were rebounde in coompasse, and by force therof be dryuen about the north syde of Cuba and the other Ilandes excluded without the circle cauled Tropicus Caneri, where the largenes of the sea maye receaue the waters faulynge frome the narowe streames, and therby represse that inordinate course, by rea∣son that the sea is there very large and great. I can compare his meanynge to nothynge more aptely then to the swyfte streame commyng foorth of a mylle and faulyng into the myl poole. For in al suche places where waters runne with a vy∣olent faule through narowe chanels, and are then receaued in large pooles, they are soodenly disparcled and theyr violence broken: So that wheras before they seemed of such force as to ouerthrowe all thynges beinge in theyr waye, it can not then be perceaued which way they runne. The Admiral him selfe Diegus Colonus,* 1.722 sonne and heyre to Christophorus Colonus the fyrst fynder of these landes (who had nowe in commyng and goinge, foure tymes passed throughe these seas) beinge de∣maunded of me what he founde or perceaued in saylynge too and fro,* 1.723 answered that there was muche difficultie in retur∣nynge the same way by the which they go. But wheras they fyrst take the waye by the mayne sea towarde the North be∣fore they directe theyr course to Spayne, he saythe that in that tract, he felt the shippe sumtymes a lyttle dryuen backe by the contrary course of the water. Yet supposeth that this chaunceth onely by the ordinarie flowynge and reflowynge of the sea: And the same not to be enforced by the circumflec¦tion or course of the water reboundynge in compasse as we haue sayde. But thinketh rather, that this mayne lande or supposed continent, shulde sumwhere bee open: And that the sayde open place, shoulde bee as it were a gate, enterie, or streyght, diuydyng the North partes of that lande from the South: by the which also, the Ocean runnynge towarde the West, may by the rotation or impulsion of the heauens, bee dryuen about the hole earth. Ouiedus agreeth with Andreas Mo¦tralis as touchynge the continuall adherence and closenes of the sayde continente. Yet neyther that the waters shulde so beate ageynst the bendynge backe of the West lande, or bee in

such sorte repulsed and dryuen into the mayne sea. But saith that he hath diligently consydered, that the waters runne from the deepest and myddest of the maine sea, towarde the West. Also that saylinge nere vnto the shore with smaule ves∣selles, he founde the same waters to returne ageine towarde the East.* 1.724 So that in the same place, they runne together with contrary course, as we oftentimes see the lyke to chaunce in riuers wherby the obiecte of the bankes, diuers whirlepooles and turnynges aryse in the water. By reason wherof, if any chaffe, strawe, woodde, or any other thyng of lyght substance be caste in any suche places in ryuers, it foloweth that al such as runne with the water in the myddest of the chanell, pro∣cede well forwarde: But suche as faule into the bendynge goulfes and indented margentes of the crooked bankes, are caryed ouerthwarte the chanell, and so wander about vntyll they meete with the ful and directe course of the ryuer. Thus haue we made yowe partener of suche thinges as they haue gyuen vs, and writen their dyuers opinions. We wyll then gyue more certeyne reason, when more certeyne truth shalbe knowen. We must in the meane tyme, leane to opinions vntil the day coome appointed of god to reueale this secreate of na¦ture, with the perfecte knowleage of the pointe of the pole starre.* 1.725 Hauyng sayd thus muche of the course of the Ocean, a briefe declaration of the golde mynes of Dariena,* 1.726 shall close vppe owre Decades and make an ende of owre trauayles. Wee haue sayde, that nyne myles distante from Dariena, are the sydes of the hylles and the drye playnes in the whiche golde is gathered bothe on the drye lande, and also on the bankes and in the chanelles of ryuers. Therfore to al such as are wyllynge to gather golde, there is of ordinarie custome appointed to euery man by the suruoiers of the mynes, a square plotte of grounde conteyning twelue pases, at the ar∣bitriment of the chooser, so that it bee not grounde already occupied, or lefte of other. The portion of grounde beinge thus chosen (as it were assygned of the augures to buylde a temple) they inclose their slaues within the same, whose helpe the Christians vse in tyllynge of their grounde and ga∣therynge of golde, as we haue saide. These places appointed vnto them, they keepe as long as them lyue. And if they per∣ceaue tookens of lyttle golde, they requyre an other plotte of

ground of twelue pases to be assigned them, leauyng the first in commen.* 1.727 And this is thorder which the Spaniardes inha∣bitinge Dariena obserue in gatheryng of golde. I suppose al∣so that they vse the lyke order in other places: How be it, I haue not yet enquired so farre. It hath byn proued that these twelue pases of grounde, haue yelded to their choosers, the summe of fourescore Castellans of gold.* 1.728 And thus leade they theyr lyues in fulfyllynge the holy hunger of golde. But the more they fyll their handes with fyndynge,* 1.729 the more increa∣seth their couetous desyre. The more woodde is layde to the fyer, the more furiously rageth the flame. Unsaciable coue∣tousnesse is no more diminisshed with increase of rychesse, then is the drinesse of the dropsye satisfyed with drinke. I lette passe manye thynges wherof I intende to write more largely in tyme conuenient, if I shall in the meane season vn∣derstande these to be acceptable vnto yowre holynesse: my dewtie and obseruaunce to whose autoritie; hath caused me the gladlier to take this labour in hande. The prouidence of the eternall creatour of all thynges, graunt yowre holynesse many prosperous yeares.

¶The laste booke of Peter Martyr of Angle∣ria, of the Landes and Ilandes lately founde: and of the maners of the inhabitauntes of the same.

I Haue partli declared before in mi decades how certeine fugit••ues which came owt of the large West landes arriued in the confynes of Dariena:* 1.730 And howe that marueylinge at the bookes of owre men, they declared that they sumtyme dwelte in regions whose inhabitauntes vsed suche instrumentes and were ruled by politike lawes. Also that they had cities fortified with waules,* 1.731 and faire pallaces with streates well paued, and common places whyther mar∣chauntes resort as to the burse or streate. These landes, owre men haue nowe founde. Therfore who were thautours here∣of, or what successe they had herein, who so desireth to know with the conditions of straunge regions and the maners of

the people, let hym giue diligent attendance to such thynges as folowe. Of the Iland of Cuba (nowe cauled Fernandina,* 1.732 ly∣ynge nexte vnto Hispaniola on the west syde, and yet sumwhat so bendynge towarde the Northe that the circle cauled Tropi∣cus Caneri deuideth it in the myddeste, wher as Hispaniola is dis∣tante from the Tropike and declinynge certen degrees to∣ward the Equinoctial line) we haue spoken sumwhat before. In this Iland of Fernandina, there are nowe syxe townes ••rec∣ted. Wherof, the chiefe is named Sanctiago of saynt Iames the patrone of the Spanyardes. In this, there is natiue golde, found both in the mountaynes and ryuers: By reason wher∣of they are daylye occupied in gathering & digging the same. But shortely after that I had finished my sayde bookes, thre Spanyardes that were the most auncient citizens of Cuba,* 1.733 as Franc••scus Fernandes of Corduba Lupus Ocho, & Christophorus Morantes, de¦termined to seeke newe landes, as the myndes of the Spa∣nyardes are euer vnquiet and geuen to attempte great enter∣prises. They furnyshed at their owne charges, three of those shyppes whiche they caule Carauels. And hauynge fyrste ly∣cence of Diegus Velasquen the gouernour of the Ilande, they de∣parted with a hundreth and ten men from the West angle of Cuba.* 1.734 For this angle is moste commodious to relieue shyppes and to make prouision for freshe water and fuell. Thus they sayled continually syxe dayes and a halfe, betwene the West and the South, contented onely with the syght of the heauen and the water: durynge whiche tyme, they suppose that they sayled not past threescore and syxe myles.* 1.735 For they ley at an∣ker all nyght where so euer the faulynge of the soonne tooke the day light from them, leaste by wanderynge in vnknowen seas, they myght chaunce to be cast vppon rockes or sandes. But at the length they chaunced vppon a great Ilande na∣med Iucatana,* 1.736 whose beginnyng thinhabitauntes caule Eccam∣pi.* 1.737 Owre men went to the citie stondynge on the sea syde, the whiche for the bygnes therof, they named E••yrus or Alcair. Thinhabitauntes enterteined them very frendly. When they were entered into the citie, they marueyled to behold the hou∣ses buylded lyke towres, magnifycall temples,* 1.738 streates well paued, and great excercise of bying and sellyng by exchaunge of ware for ware.* 1.739 Their houses are eyther bylte of stone, or of bricke and lyme, and artifycially wrought. To the fyrste

porches of their houses and fyrst habitations, they ascend by ten or twelue steares. They are couered eyther with tyles,* 1.740 slates, reades, or stalkes of certeyne herbes. They gratified the one the other with mutuall gyftes. The barbarians gaue owre men many brooches and iewelles of golde, verye fayre and of cunnyng woorkmanshyppe. Owre men recompensed them with vestures of sylke and woolle, counterfecte stones, of coloured glasse and christall, haukes belles of laton, and suche other rewardes whiche they greatly esteemed for the straungenes of the same. They sette nowght by lookynge glasses, bycause they haue certeyne stoones muche brighter.* 1.741 This nation is appareled after a thousande fasshyons with vestures made of gossampyne cotten or bombage of dyuers coloures. The women are couered from the girdle to the heele hauynge dyuers fasshions of veles aboute their heades and brestes, with great cautele least any parte of their legges or feete bee seene. They resorte muche to their temples: vnto the which the chiefe rulers haue the wayes paued from their owne houses. They are Idolatours and circumcised.* 1.742 They occupie their maner of exchaunginge, with muche fydelitie. They vse to adourne the heares of their heades, being deman¦ded by thinterpretours of whom they receaued their circum∣cisyon, they answered that there once passed an exceadynge fayre man by their costes, who lefte them that in tooken to remember hym. Other saye that a manne brighter th••n the soone, went emonge them and executed that offyce. But there is no certentie hereof. When owre men had remayned there certeyne dayes, they seemed to bee molestous to thinhabitan∣tes accordynge to the common sayinge. The longer a geste ta∣rieth, the woorse is his enterteynement. The whiche thynge owre men perceauyng, they made the more h••st awaye. Be∣ynge therfore prouided of all thynges nece••sary, they tooke their vyage directly towarde the west by the prouidence wh••∣che thinhabitauntes caule Comi and M••i••m.* 1.743* 1.744 They ouer passed these regions takyng onely freshe water and fuel in the same. The barbarians both men, women, and ch••ldren flocked to the sea syde, astonysshed greatly to behold the huge bygnesse of the shyppes. Owre men marueyled in maner no le••se to viewe their buyldynges and especially their temples sytuate neare vnto the sea, and erected after the maner of towers.

Thus at the length hauyng sayled about a hundreth and ten myles, they thought it good to ley anker in a prouince named Campechium,* 1.745 whose chiefe towne consysteth of three thousande houses.* 1.746 Thinhabitauntes came swymmynge to the shyppes: marueylyng excedyngly at the maner of saylinge, and at the sayles and other tackelynges But when they hard the thun∣der of the gunnes, sawe the smoke, and smelte the sauour of brimstone and fyer, they supposed that thunderboultes and lyghtnynges had byn sente from god. The kynge receaued owre men honorably and broughte them into his pallayce: where he feasted them well after his maner. They are accusto∣med to eate fleshe, and haue great plentie of beastes and fou∣les:* 1.747 as peacockes, and other whiche they francke and feede in their houses: Also dyuers kyndes of wylde foules of the mountaines, wooddes, and waters: Likewise partriches, quailes, turtle dooues, duckes, and geese. Of beastes, they haue connies, woolues, lyons, tigers, foxes, wylde boores, hartes, and hares. After this banquet, the kyng with his traine and famylie brought owre men into a brode crosse way where many streates do meete.* 1.748 In this, they shewed them as it were a great and highe aulter buylded foure square of mar∣ble compacte together partly with the toughe cleye of Babi∣lon cauled Bitumem, and partly with smaule stoones. It had on euery syde foure steares. Uppon the altare was an Image of a man made of marble: and fast by it the Images of two beastes of vnknowen shape, whiche seemed as thoughe they wolde with yanynge mouthes haue torne in sunder the bealy of the mannes Image. On the other syde stoode a great ser∣pent compacte of the sayde toughe cleye and smaule stoones. This serpent beynge in length .xlvii. foote, and of the byg∣nesse of a large oxe, seemed to deuour a lyon of marble, and was al by sparcled with freshe bludde. Harde by the altare, were thre postes fastned in the ground, the which three other trauersed and were susteined with stones. In this place offen∣ders were put to death: In token wherof they sawe innume∣rable arrowes steined with bludde, sum scatered, sum lyinge on heapes, and sum broken: Also a great number of mennes bones lying in a court or yarde nere vnto this funestal place. Their houses are here also builded of lime and stone.* 1.749 They na¦med this king, Lazarus, bicause they arriued at this lande on

saint Lazarus day. Departing frō hense & directing theyr course styl toward the West for the space of .xv. myles, they came to a prouince named Aquanil,* 1.750 whose chiefe towne is cauled Moseo,* 1.751 & the kynge thereof, Cupoton. He behelde owre men with a fro∣warde countenaunce, and fought occasion to doo them sume priuie mischiefe whyle they sought for fresshe water. For he made signes vnto them that on the further syde of the nexte hyll, they shulde fynde sprynges of water, intendyng to haue assayled them in that narowe passage. But by the colouryng of theyr forheades (as they are accustomed in theyr warres) and by the bearynge of theyr bowes and other weapons, owr men perceaued theyr wylynes, and refused to go any further. Yet a thousande of the Barbarians assayled theym vnwares and vnprepared. By reason wherof, they were put to flyght, and dyuers of them slayne in the chase.* 1.752 Many that fledde to warde the shippes, were entangeled in the mudde and mary∣shes nere vnto the shore. Twentie and two, were slayne with arrowes, and the resydewe for the most parte, wounded. Fran¦ciscus Fernandes the gouernour of the nauie, receaued in this con¦flicte three and thirtie woundes. And in maner none escaped without hurt. If they had gonne to the hylles whiche were appoynted them, they had byn slayne euery man. They ther¦fore that escaped, returned to the Ilande of Fernardina frome whense they came, where they were receaued of theyr felows with heauie chere. But when Diegus Velasquen the gouernoure of the Ilande, had intelligence hereof,* 1.753 he immediatly furny∣shed a newe nauie of foure Caraueles with three hundreth men. Of this nauie he appoynted Iohn Grisalua his neuie, to be the gouernour: And assigned for vnder capitaynes, Al∣phons Auila, Frances Montegio, and Peter Aluarado. For the pylot he assigned Antonie Alamino who had the regiment of the fyrst nauie. They attempted the same vyage ageyne, but declyned sumwhat more towarde the South about thre∣score and tenne myles. Before they sawe any lande, they es∣pyed a towre a farre of, by the viewe wherof, they came to an Ilande named Cozumella,* 1.754 from the whiche they smelte sweete sauours proceadynge with the wynde,* 1.755 before they approched to the lande by the space of three myles. They founde the I∣lande to be fortie and fiue myles in circuite. It is playne and of maruelous frutefull s••yle.* 1.756 There is also golde in it, but it

is not engendered there, but brought thether from other regi¦ons. It aboundeth with hony, fruites, and herbes: And hath also great plentie of foules and foure footed beastes. Theyr order and maner of lyuyng, is in al thynges lyke vnto theyrs of Iucatana.* 1.757 Lykewyse theyr howses, temples, streates, and ap¦parell. In many of theyr houses, are great postes of marble after the maner of owre buyldynge. They founde there, the foūdations of certeyne owlde towres ruinate: And one especi¦ally with .xviii. steares ascendynge to it, after the maner of so¦lemne temples. They marueyled greatly at owre shippes and maner of saylynge. At the fyrst, they wolde admyt no straun∣gers: but shortly after, receaued them gentelly. Theyr chiefe ruler (whom owre men supposed to bee a preeste) led them vp to the toppe of the towre, where they erected a banner and addicted the Ilande to the dominion of the kynge of Castyle, namynge it Sancta Crux,* 1.758 bycause they entered into the same in the nones of Maye beinge then the feaste of the holye crosse. They saye that it was cauled Cozumella of kynge Cozumellaus, whose auncestours were the fyrst that inhabited the Ilande.* 1.759 In the towre, they founde many chambers furnyshed with I¦mages, made both of earthe and marble to the similytude of beares. These they caule vppon with a houlynge and lamen¦table songe,* 1.760 perfumyng them with sweete odours, and other wyse honourynge them as theyr domesticall goddes They are also circumcised. The kynge was in fayre apparel made of gossampine cotton curiously wrought. He was lame on the one foote by reason that as he once exercysed hym selfe in swymmynge, a deuourynge fyshe cauled Tuberon, byt of al the toes,* 1.761 of one of his feete. He entreated owre men very frend∣ly and made them great chiere. After they had byn here thre dayes, they departed. And saylynge styll towarde the Weste, they espyed great mountaynes a farre of. But as they drewe neare, they perceaued it to bee the Ilande of Iucatana beinge distant from Cozumella onely fyue myles.* 1.762 Directynge therfore theyr course towarde the south syde of Iucatana, they compa∣sed it on that syde which lyeth nearest to the supposed conti∣nent: Yet coulde they not sayle rounde about it by reason of the multitude of rockes, shalowe places, and shelfes of sande. Then Alaminus the pylot turned his sailes to the North side wherof he had better knowleage. Thus at the length, they

came to the towne Campeebium and kynge Lazarus with whom they had bin that attempted the fyrst vyage the yeare before. At the fyrst, they were gentelly receaued, and requyred to re∣sort to the towne. But shortly after,* 1.763 they repented that they had bydden them: and there vpon wylled them to stay about a stones cast from the towne, and to proceade no further.

When owre men desyred that they myght make prouision for freshe water before theyr departure, they assigned them to a certeyne well which they had lefte behynde them. Declaringe further, that it shulde be lawfull for them to take water there or els no wheare. Owre men rested that nyght in the fyelde adioynynge to the well. The which thynge the Barbarians suspectinge, assembled an army of three thousande men, and encamped not farre from them. Bothe partes passed awaye the nyght without sleepe. They fearynge leaste owre menne shulde breake into the towne: And owre men, least the Bar∣barians shulde inuade them soodenly, on the one parte with trumpettes, and on the other syde with the noyse of timbrels kept them styll wakynge that were disposed to sleape, At the sprynge of the day, the Barbarians approched to owre mens campe & cauled for thinterpretours of Cuba, whose language is much agreable vnto theyrs. They had diuised to lyght a torche of frankensence and to place the same betwene bothe tharmies to thintent that if owre men dyd not depart before the torche were consumed, to stande to theyr perell.* 1.764 The torch was wasted and the matter came to hand strokes. They slewe onely one of owre men with an arrowe bycause his tar¦get fayled hym. But many were wounded. After this con∣flicte, owre men resorted to theyr ordinaunce which they had planted neare vnto the well. When they had discharged cer¦teyne pecces, the Barbarians fledde backe into the towne. Owre men were of fierce and greedy courage to haue pursued them, but that Grisalua the gouernour wolde not suffer thē. From thense they proceaded to the last ende of Iucatana,* 1.765 which they founde to reache more then two hundreth myles frome the East to the West. Here they founde a comodious hauen and named it Portus desideratus. From hense they sayled to other landes, and came to the region nexte to Iucatana Westwarde, whiche they doubte whether it be an Ilande or parte of the firme lande: but thinke it rather to be annext to the continent

In this there is a goulfe which they suppose to be incoompa∣sed with bothe the landes. But of this, there is no certentie. Thinhabitantes caule this region Caluacam or otherwise Oloan.* 1.766 They founde here also a great ryuer whiche by his violente course and faule, driueth freshe water two myles into the sea. This they cauled Grisalua after the name of the gouernoure.* 1.767 The barbarians marueilyng at the huge greatnesse and mo∣uynge of owre shyppes, came swarmyng the bankes on bothe sydes the ryuer, to the number of syxe thousande men armed with targettes and brest plates of gold,* 1.768 bowes and arrowes, brode swoordes of heauy woodde, and longe iauelens harde∣ned at the endes with fyer: Thus stondynge in battayle raye to defende their coostes, and with proude countenaunces for∣byddinge owre men to coome alande. Bothe parties watched al that nyght in armes. In the dawne of the day, owr men es¦pied about a hundreth Canoas (whiche we haue saide to be their boates) full of armed men. Here also the language of thinterpretours of Cuba agreed well enowghe with thers. When they had admitted the peace profered them by thinter∣pretours, al the Canoas staied excepte one whiche approched toward the shippes. A certeyne ruler that was in this Canoa, demaunded of owre men what they sought in other mennes landes. They answered, gold. And that, for permutation of other ware, and not of gift or vyolently. The Canoa returned and the ruler certified the kyng hereof, who came gladlye to the shyppes. When he had saluted the gouernour, he cauled his chamberlen vnto hym, commaundynge him to bringe his armure and other ornamentes of golde wherwith he armed Crisalua from the toppe of the heade to the soule of the foote:* 1.769 In so muche that, what so euer any man of armes armed at all partes, is emong vs accustomed to weare of Iren or steele when he commeth in to the fielde,* 1.770 all suche kynde of furni∣tures made of golde and wrought with woonderfull arte, the kyng gaue to the gouernour. He recompensed hym with ves∣tures of sycke, clothe, lynen, and other of owre thinges▪ In the beginning of this Iucatana, when they sayled to Cozumella, they chaunced vppon a Canoa of fyssher men to the number of nyne, fysshyng with hookes of golde.* 1.771 They tooke them all prisoners. One of them was knowen to this kyng, who pro∣mysed the daye folowyng to sende the gouernour as muche

golde for his raunsome as the man hym selfe waied. But the gouernour denyed that he coulde release hym withowte the consent of his felowes: And therfore kept hym styll to proue what he could further knowe of hym. Departing from hense and saylynge styll westwarde, they founde a great goulfe in the which three smaule Ilandes were sytuate. Of these,* 1.772 they went to the byggest. But oh abhominable crueltie: oh most corrupted myndes of men, and deuelyshe impietie? Let euery godly man close the mouth of his stomake lest he be desturbed.* 1.773 They offer younge children of bothe kyndes to their Idoles of marble and earth. Emonge their Idoles of marble,* 1.774 there standeth a lyon hauynge a hole throwgh the necke, into the whiche they poure the bludde of the miserable sacrifyce, that it maye from thense runne downe into a syncke of marble. Lette vs nowe declare with what ceremonies they sacryfyce the bludde of these pore wretches. They cutte not their thro∣tes, but open the very brestes of these selye soules and take owte their hartes yet pantynge, with the hotte bludde wher∣of, they anoynte the lyppes of their Idoles, and suffer the resydue to faule into the synke. This doone, they burne the harte and bowels, supposynge the smoke therof to be accep∣table to their goddes. Of their Idoles, one is made to the shape of a man, bowynge downe his heade and lookynge to∣ward the synke of bludde, as it were acceptyng the offeringe of the slayne sacrifyce. They eate the fleshe of the armes, thighes, and legges, especially when they sacrifyce an enemy taken in the warres. They founde a streame of congeled blud as thoughe it had runne from a bouchery. For this my 〈◊〉〈◊〉 purpose, they bringe these wretches from the nexte I∣landes. They sawe also innumerable heades, and trunkes of bodies thus mangeled, besyde many other yet remaining hole and couered with certeine mattes. All the trackes of these re∣gions abounde with golde and precious stones.* 1.775 One of owre men wanderynge in the Ilande, chaunced to fynde two wa∣ter pottes of alabaster artifycially wrought and full of lyttle stones of dyuers colours. They saye also that they founde a stone of the value of two thousand Castilans of gold,* 1.776 whiche they sent to the gouernour. This Ilande they named the I∣land of sacrifyce. Thinhabitauntes are circumcised. There are also other Ilandes sytuate about this Coluacana, or Caluacam,

the whiche are inhabited onely with women lyuing without the coompanye of men after the maner of the Amazones.* 1.777 But they that ponder the matter more wisely, thinke them rather to be certeyne women whiche haue vowed chastitie and pro∣fessed a solytarie lyfe as the nunnes doo with vs, or as the virgins cauled Vestales or Bonae Deae, were accustomed to do a∣monge the gentiles in oulde tyme. At certeyne tymes of the yeare, men of the other Ilandes resorte vnto them. But not for thintent of generation, but moued with pitie to helpe them to dresse their gardens and tyll their grounde. The re∣porte goeth lykewise that there are other Ilandes of cor∣rupte women to whom men resorte for carnall copulation: And that they cutte of one of the pappes of their women chil¦dren least it shuld hinder their shootyng. Also that they kepe onely the women children and sende awaye the men children. Owr men therfore drewe nere to the shore of Colluacana where they quyetly exercised marchaundies with thinhabitauntes. The kyng gaue them a great potte of gold:* 1.778 Also braslettes, chaynes, brouches, with many other iewelles, and al of gold. Owre men ageyne on the other parte satisfyed him with such stuffe as they had done other before. Here wolde they gladly haue planted a newe colonie or habitation, but that the go∣uernour wolde not permytte them, wherat they gruged not a lyttle. The houses and other edifyes of this prouynce, are buylded like vnto towres.* 1.779 It hath also .xv. great townes in it.* 1.780 Of these they affirme that they haue seene sum consisting of more then .xx. thousande houses,* 1.781 not ioyning together, but deseuered with courtes and gardens. They haue also cer∣teyne large market places encompased with waules, and streates well paued. Likewise fornaces and ouens made of lyme and bricke. Furthermore al sortes of handy craftes men & very cunning artificers. This kinges name was Potanchanus: & the region is cauled Palmaria.* 1.782 The towne where the king ke¦peth his court, cōteineth .xv. thousand houses. When they re∣ceaue any straungiers and make a leage of frendshyppe with them, they are accustomed with a knife made of a sharpe stone, to let them selues bludde in the toonge,* 1.783 hande, arme, or sum other parte of the body: And this euen in the syght of them whom they admitte to frendshyp, in token that they are ready to shedde their bludde in their fryndes causes. Their priestes professe a vertuous lyfe,* 1.784 and liue vnmaried. What it is to

haue to do with women, no man knoweth before he be ma∣ried. Fornication and adultery (which selde chaunce emonge thē) they counte abhomination. The women are of maruelous chastitie.* 1.785 Eurey noble mā after that he haue had one wife, may haue as many concubines as hym lysteth. But a maried wo∣man taken in adulterie,* 1.786 is soulde of her husbande. But this onely to the prince: at whose handes it shal be lawfull for her kynsefolkes to redeeme her. It is not lawfull for suche as are not maried,* 1.787 to sytte at the same table with them that are maried, or to eate of the same dyshe or drinke of the same cup. In the moneth of August and September, they absteine .xxxv. dayes not onely from fleshe wherof they haue great plentie,* 1.788 but also from fyshe and al other thinges that lyue by bludde: And durynge these daies, lyue onely with herbes and frutes. They reken twentie dayes to the moneth, and twentie mo∣nethes to the yeare. Owre men consumed certeyne dayes here verye pleasauntly. When they departed, coastynge styll by the same shore, they came to an other kyng whom they na∣med Ouandus.* 1.789 When he had intellygence that owre men desi∣red golde, he brought foorth certeyne plates of molten gold. But whē the gouernour signified vnto him by thinterpretors that he desyred great plentie of that metal, the day folowing he brought him a mannes Image of golde beinge a cubette in length: Also a fanne of golde,* 1.790 and an Idole of one of his domesticall goddes of curious woorkemanshyppe. Likewyse garlandes of stones of sundry colours, with many breste plat¦tes, brooches, and other kyndes of ornamentes, and all of golde. He gaue hym furthermore aboundaunce of delycate meates well salted and poudred with spices. When he had required owre men to coome alande, he commaunded his ser∣uauntes with all speede to prepare a great multitude of bran∣ches of trees and to waite vppon owre men to his pallayce. As they went thus in order, sum behynde and sum before on bothe sydes, they seemed so to shadowe owre men with the bouwes as thoughe they had gonne in a continuall arbour. The kynge hym selfe hauynge a septer in his hand, dyd sette them in their arraye, and sumtyme strike suche as were negli∣gent in bearyng their bouwes. They shewed them selues obe∣dient in all thynges, and with graue countenaunce, humbled them selues to receaue his stripes. When he was demaunded

where he had suche plentie of golde,* 1.791 he pointed with his fynger to the next mountaynes, and to the ryuers descen••yng from the same. They are so accustomed to the riuers and exer∣cised in swymming,* 1.792 that it is al one to them to li••e in the wa∣ter and on the lande. When they desyre to gather golde, they plunge theym selues in the ryuers and brynge from the bot∣tome therof, bothe their handes full of sande, whiche syf∣tynge from hande to hande, they gather owte the graynes of golde. And by this meanes in the space of twoo houres, they fyll a reede as bygge as a mannes fynger. Of the sweete sauours of these landes,* 1.793 many thinges myght be spoken, the whiche bycause they make rather to theffeminatynge of the myndes of men, then for any necessarye purpose, I haue thought best to omytte them. The kynge also gaue the go∣uernour a younge virgine of twelue yeares of age, adourned with ryche and fayre iewelles.* 1.794 Of the stones whiche he had of this kynge, one was valued at twoo thousande Castellans of golde. Thus at the length they departed from this kyng, laden with golde and precious stoones. Crisalua the gouer∣nour, sente one of the Carauelles to his vncle Diego Velasquen gouernour of the Ilande of Cuba, with messengers to dely∣uer hym the golde, iewelles, and other ornamentes. The resydue in the meane tyme styll folowed the tracte towarde the West. One of them in the whiche Frauncis Montegius the vnder gouernour was caryed, sayled harde by the shore: and the other twoo kept aloofe within prospecte of the land. Thinhabitauntes of these coastes also, no lesse marueylynge at the shyppes then dyd the other, came with twelue Canoas to Montegius, desyringe hym by thinterpretours to coome alande, promysynge in the name of their kynge, that hee shoulde be honorably entertayned. But Montegious answe∣red that hee coulde not assente to their request bycause his coompanions were so farre from hym. Yet dyd he gyue them certayne of owre thynges straunge vnto them, and thankes for their gentylnesse. Shortly after espyinge a great towne they directed their course thither. Thinhabitauntes prohi∣byted them to coome alande, and came foorthe ageynst them with bowes & quyuers ful of arrowes, brode swoordes made of heauy woode, and Iauelens hardned at the ende with fier. They shotte at owre men a farre of: And owre men dischar∣ged

certeyne pieces of ordinaunce ageynst them. The Barba∣rians astonysshed at the noyse of the gunnes, fledde amayne, and desyred peace. Here owre mens vytayles began to fayle them, and theyr shyppes were broosed with longe vyages. Hauynge therefore founde and doone these thynges whereof we haue spoken, Crisalua returned to the Ilande of Fernandina well contented,* 1.795 but so were not his companions. We muste nowe diuerte sumwhat from this matter, and speake of an o∣ther nauigation. And from thense wyll we returne to these landes which owre men haue founde. So it is therfore, that Diegus Velasquen the gouernour of the Iland of Fernandina, about the same tyme that he had sent foorth this nauie of foure Ca∣raueles, he prepared an other nauigation of onely one Cara∣uell and one brygantine with fortie and fyue men. These ex∣ercised vyolent handes ageinst thinhabitauntes of those regi∣ons where they arryued, thynkynge that they myght forcea∣bly drawe them to the dyggynge of golde bycause they were Caffranite Idolaters and circumcised.

There are at the sea syde not farre from the supposed continent,* 1.796 many lyttle Ilan¦des of moste fortunate and frutefull soyle, whereof three are thus named: Guanapan, Guanguan, and Quitilla. Owte of one of these (which they named Sancta Marina) they violentely caried away three hundreth men and women which they thrust in∣to the Carauell and returned immediatly to Fernardina, lea∣uynge the brigantine with .xxv. of theyr felowes to thintent to hunt for more men. The hauen where the Carauell fyrste arryued, is cauled Carenas, beinge distante from the angle of Cuba and the chiefe citie of Sanctiago,* 1.797 two hundreth and fyftie myles. For this Ilande of Cuba, is very longe, reachyng in length from the East to the West, and situate directly vnder the circle cauled Tropicus Cancri as we haue sayde before. Now shall you heare how fortune sought the reuenge of these pore wretches. Therfore as theyr kepers went aland and few re¦mained in the Carauel, they perceuing occasiō ministred wher by they myght recouer theyr libertie, soodeynely snatched vp owt mens weapons and slewe syxe of them which yet remay¦ned in the Carauel, whyle the residue lepte into the sea.* 1.798 And by this meanes the Barbarians possessed the Carauell which they had soone learned to rule, and thus returned to theyr owne countreys. But they sayled fyrste to the nexte Ilande

where they burnte the Carauel and caried away the weapons with them. From hense they conueyed them selues to theyr owne countreys with the Canoas of this Ilande. Heare in lyke maner they pryuilie assayled them that were lefte with the brigantyne, and slewe many of them also. The residue that escaped, fledde to the brigantine where they bewayled theyr felowes deathes and counted theyr owne escape a vic∣torie. On the shore not farre from the place where they suffe∣red this misfortune, there is a tree, in the toppe wherof they set vp a crosse, and graued this inscription in the barke of the tree: Vannuis Aldarieci. There is a ryuer named Darien, on the banke wherof standeth the chiefe citie of the supposed conti∣nent.* 1.799 The gouernour therfore hauing intelligence herof, sent with all speede two shippes of warre well furnyshed, to the ayde of them that were lefte. But they were wyse to late. Yet folowynge the viewe of the crosse, they came to the shore and redde the letters grauen on the tree, but durste not attempte fortune. Thus with all theyr hardie souldiers departinge from hense with despayre, they sayled to the nexte Ilande, out of the which they caryed away by violence fyue hundreth men and women, supposynge lykewyse that they myght law¦fully so doo bycause they were Idolaters and circumcised. But the like chaunce happened vnto them when they landed at Fernandina. For the Barbarians espyinge oportunitie, sette vppon the Spaniardes in one of the shippes with theyr owne weapons and slewe theyr keepers.* 1.800 The residue that escaped, castynge them selues into the sea, swamme to the nexte cara∣uell, and with theyr felowes assayled the carauell that was taken from them. This conflicte was so sharpe, that for the space of foure houres, it was doubtfull whether parte shulde obteyne the victorie. The Barbarians both men and women fought verye fiercely, aswell to recouer theyr libertie, as also to holde faste the praye whiche they had gotten. But in fine, the Spanyardes had the vpper hande by reason they were more experte in handelynge of theyr weapons and rulyng of theyr Carauell. The Barbarians beinge thus ouercoome,* 1.801 lepte into the sea: but the Spanyardes tooke theym ageyne with the shippe boates. About a hundreth of the Barbarians peryshed, beinge partely drowned and partly slayne with the swoorde: And but fewe of the Spanyardes. These thynges

thus pacified, the resydue of the Barbarians were caryed to the towne of Sanctiago and condemned to laboure in the golde mynes. Shortly after they made owte a newe vyage to an o∣ther of the Ilandes,* 1.802 whiche lye there about so thicke, that they commonly caule the number of them Archipelagus,* 1.803 as they in owre sea of Ionicum are cauled Symplegades.* 1.804 Here owre men were cruelly handeled: and as many of them as came alande eyther slayne or wounded. This Ilande they named Florida, bycause they arryued there on Easter day whiche the Spany∣ardes caule the floryshynge day of the resurrection. They say also that in this tracte they sawe .xxvi. Ilandes which Colo∣nus had ouerpassed:* 1.805 And the same so to lye aboute Hispaniola & Cuba, as though they warded them from the furie of the Oce∣an. In many of these they founde natiue golde of lyke good∣nes to that which is founde in Granatum. Thinhabitantes al∣so weare many iewels, and haue many Images of theyr do∣mesticall goddes made both of golde artificially wrought and also of woodde gylted.* 1.806 Francis Cheregatus browght one of theyr Idoles with hym, wherby may bee considered of what wytte and aptenes they are. It is a maruelous thynge to see what maner of rasers they haue,* 1.807 made of certeyne yelowe stones cleare & transparent lyke vnto Crystal. With these they shaue and carue as though they were made of fine steele. Whē the edges are blunte with longe exercise, they sharpen them not with a whetstone, or powder, or any other stone, but tem¦per them onely with water. They haue also a thousande kin¦des of instrumentes or tooles and such other thynges of fyne deuise,* 1.808 which were to longe to rehearse. Let vs therefore re¦turne from whense we haue digressed, as to Cozumella, Iucatana, Colluacana or Olloa, beinge al landes lately founde, and so rich fruteful and pleasaunt, that they may in maner be compared to the earthly Paradyse.* 1.809 Therfore, after that it was know∣en to owre men of howe greate momente these trattes were, the Spanyardes which inhabited the Ilande of Cuba Anunc∣tus beinge the gouernour of the Ilande furnyshed a newe na¦uie of ten Carauelles and fyue hundreth menne,* 1.810 with twoo smaule brigantines, as it weare in the steade of lyght horse∣men or forerunners whose ayde they myght vse as scoutes to searche the wayes for daunger of rockes and shalow sandes or shelfes. They shipte also certeyne horses,* 1.811 as fyue stoned

horses and .xvi. mares apte for the warres. For their gene∣rall gouernour and Admiral of the nauy, they elected Fernando Cortesius who at that tyme was the chiefe ruler of the citie of Sanctiago.* 1.812 For vnder capitaines, they appointed Alfons Portu∣carerius, Francis Montegius, Alfons Auila, Aluerado Spatense Iohn Velasquen, & Diegus Ordassus. They styll folowed the same wynde from the last angle of Cuba toward the west. As soone as Frauncis Fernandes of Corduba, and then Iohn Gri∣salua came within prospecte of the Ilande of Sacrifyces (wherof we haue made mention before) soodenly a tempest of contrary wynde prohibited theym to take lande and drowe them backewarde to Cozumella lyinge on the East syde of Iuca∣tana.* 1.813 This Ilande hath onely one hauen named sainte Iohns porte. And hath in it, onely syxe townes. Also none other water then in welles and cesterns, bycause it lacketh riuers and springes by reason it is plaine, conteynynge onely .xlv. myles in circuite. At the coommynge of owre men, thinha∣bitauntes fledde to the thicke woods, & forsoke their townes for feare. Owre men entered into their houses where they founde plentie of vyttayles and many ornamentes pertey∣nynge to the furnyshynge of their houses, as hanginges and carpettes of dyuers colours, sheetes also of gossampine cot∣ton (whiche they caule Amaccas) and muche apparell.* 1.814 They haue furthermore innumerable bookes,* 1.815 of the whiche with many other thinges sent to owre newe Emperour, we wyll speake more largely hereafter. The souldiers wandered a∣bout the Iland & viewe althynges diligently, kepyng them selues styll in battell raye least they myght be sodenly inua∣ded. They founde but a fewe of thinhabitauntes and onely one woman in their coompanie. By thinterpretours of Cuba and other whiche the Spaniardes tooke fyrst from Iucatana, they perswaded the woman to caule the kynges that were absente. They came gladly & made a leage of frendshyp with owre men, wherby they were restored to their houses and a great parte of their stuffe. They are circumcised Idolatours,* 1.816 and sacrifyce children of bothe kyndes to their Zemes, which are the Images of their familiar and domesticall spirites whiche they honour as goddes. When I enquired of Alaminus the pilote, also of Frances Montegius and Portucarerius, from whense they had the children they offered in sacrifyce,* 1.817 they

answered that they bowght them in the Ilandes theraboute by exchaunge for golde and other of their trafycke. For in al this so large a space of land, the deuelyshe anxietie for the de∣syre of wicked money, hath not yet oppressed thinhabitantes. They saye the same also of the Ilandes lately founde, wher∣of two are named Destam and Sestam,* 1.818 whose inhabitauntes go naked: and for scarenesse of children, sacrifice dogges whi∣che they nourishe aswell for that purpose as also to eate as wee do connies. These dogges are dumme and can not barke,* 1.819 hauynge snowtes lyke vnto foxes. Suche as they destinate to eate, they geld while they are whelpes, wherby they waxe very fat in the space of foure monethes. They reserue al the bytches for increase, and but fewe dogges. Owre men dis∣swaded them from these superstitions, declarynge how they were abhominable and detested of god. They were soone per∣swaded and desyred a law whiche they myght folowe.* 1.820 Owre men therfore declared vnto them that there was onely one god which made heauen & earth, the geuer of al good thyn∣ges, beyng of one incomprehensyble substaunce vnder tripli∣citie of person. As soone as they harde these woordes, they broke their Zemes, and pared, scraped, and washed the paue∣mentes and waules of their temples. Owre men gaue them a painted picture of the blessed vyrgine whiche they placed reuerently in their temple,* 1.821 and aboue it a crosse to be hono∣red in the remembraunce of god and man and the saluation of mankynde. They erected also an other great crosse of wod in the toppe of the temple, why••her they oftentymes resorte togither to honour the Image of the vyrgine. Thinhabitan∣tes signified by thinterpretours that in the Iland of Iucatana not far from them, there were seuē Christians captiues which in tyme past were dryuen thither by tempeste. The Ilande of Cozumella, is onely fyue miles distant from Iucatana. The go∣uernour Cort••si••s being aduertised herof,* 1.822 furnyshed ii. Carauels with fyftie mē, wyllyng thē incontinent to direct their viage thither & to make serch for these mē. They toke with thē thre interpretours of Cozumella (whose lāguage agreeth with theirs with let••ers to the Christians if any myght be found. He fur∣ther declared vnto theym howe goodly a matter they shoulde bringe to passe if they coulde bringe away any of them. For he no wayes doubted but that by their information, he shuld

be fully certified of the commodities of all those tractes, and the maners of thinhabitauntes. Thus they departed with commaundement to retourne within the space of syxe dayes. But when they had remayned there now .viii. days, and hard no woorde of their Cozumellane interpretours whome they had sent alande with the message and letters, owre men re∣turned to Cozumella without them, suspectyng that they were other slaine or deteyned. And where as the hole nauye was now determyned to depart from Cozumella but that they were hyndered by contrary wynde, they sodenly espied towarde the weste a Canoa coommynge from Iucatana, and in it, one of the Christian captiues (named Hieronimus Aquillaris) who had lyued seuen yeares in that Ilande.* 1.823 With what ioye they em∣brased the one the other, the chance may declare. They were no lesse desyrous to heare, then he to tell of the mysfortune wh••che befell to hym and his coompanions. And here it shal not bee greatly from my purpose breefely to rehearse how the thynge chaunced. In my Decades I haue made mention of a certayne noble man named Valdiuia,* 1.824 whome the Spanyardes whiche inhabited Dariena in the supposed continente of the goulf of Vraba, sent to the Iland of Hispaniola to Colonus the Ad¦miral and viceroy with the residue of the Senate and counsel there (to whom perteyneth the redresse and orderynge of all thinges in these newe landes) to sygnifye vnto them in what extreme necessitie and penurie they lyued. Unhappy Valdiuia therfore,* 1.825 takynge this matter in hand in an euell houre, was with a sudden and vyolent whirlewinde, dryuen vppon cer∣tayne quickesandes in the prospecte of the Ilande of Iamaica, lyinge on the South syde of Hispaniola and Cuba. These blind and swalowyng sandes, the Spaniardes caule vypers:* 1.826 And that by good reason, bycause in them many shyppes are en∣tangled, as the lycertes are implycate in the tayles of the vi∣pers. While the Carauell thus wresteled with the water, it was so bruste in sunder, that Valdiuia with thirtie of his fe∣lowes, coulde scarsely with muche difficultie descende into the shyppe boate: where, without ••ers, and without sayles, they were caried awaye by the vyolence of the water. For (as we haue said before in owre Decades) the seas do runne there continually with a vyolent course towarde the West.* 1.827 They wandered thus .xiii. dayes not knowyng whyther they went

nor yet fyndynge any thyng to eate. Famen consumed seuen of them whiche were caste in the sea to feede the fyshes. The resydue lykewise in maner consumed by famen and faulynge from one calamitie into an other, were driuen to Iucatana and fell into the handes of a cruell kynge who slewe Valdiuia the gouernour with certayne of his felowes.* 1.828 And when hee had fyrst sacrifyced them to his Zemes, shortely after he eate them with his frindes of that conspiracie. For they eate onely their enemyes and straungiers: And doo otherwise absteyne from mannes fleshe. In this meane tyme, while Hieronimus Aqullraris with syxe of his felowes were reserued to be sacrifyced the thirde daye,* 1.829 they brooke their bandes, escaped the han∣des of that cruell tyranne, and fledde to an other kynge be∣ynge his enemye, who receaued them, yet onely as bonde∣men. It is a straunge thinge to heare of the moother of this Aquillaris. For as soone as she harde that her soonne was fau∣len into the handes of the nations that eate mannes fleshe, shee fell madde incontinent: So that when so euer after, shee sawe any meate rostyng at the fyer, or onely ready spytted to laye to the fyer, shee ceased not to crye out in this maner. O me moste wretched moother: Behold the members of my son. But to returne to owre purpose. When Aquillaris had now re∣ceaued the gouernours letter sente by the Cozumellane mes∣sengers, hee declared to the kynge his mayster (whose name was Taxmarus) what was their erraunt thither,* 1.830 and wherfore they were sent: vsyng in the meane tyme many large discour∣ses in expressynge the great poure and magnifycence of their kynge who had of late arriued in those coastes. Also of their humanitie and gentilnesse toward their frindes and suche as submytted them selues to them, and againe their rygour and fiercenesse ageynst suche as stoobernly eyther contemned them or denyed their requestes. With these woordes he broughte Taxmarus into suche feare, that the maister was now fayne to desyre his seruaunt so to handell the matter that they myght quyetly enter into his dominion as his freendes and not as his enemies. Aquillaris promised in their behalfe that they shuld not onely coome in peace, but also to ayde hym ageynst his enemyes if neede shulde so require. Whervppon hee dismissed Aquillaris and with hym three of his fam••liers and coompani∣ons. Thus they sayled together from Cozumella to Iueatana to

the ryuer whiche they had founde before in the fyrst vyage thither by the gouernance of Alaminus the pilot. They found the mouthe of the ryuer stopped with sande,* 1.831 as wee reade of the ryuer of Nilus in Egipte when the wyndes (cauled Etesū) blowe in summer and especially in the canicular dayes. Ther∣fore where as they coulde not enter into thē ryuer with the biggeste vesselles (although it bee otherwise apte to receaue great shyppes) the gouernour caused two hundreth men to be sette alande with the brigantynes and shyppe boates: wyl∣lynge Aquillaris to offer peace to thinhabitauntes. They de∣maunded what owre men required. Aquillaris answered, vyt∣tayles. There was a longe space of sande by the syde of the towne, whither they wylled them to resorte, promysynge to brynge them vyttayles thither the daye folowynge.* 1.832 Owre men wente and they came accordynge to their promisse and brought with them eyght of their hennes beynge as bygge as peacockes, of brownyshe coloure, and not inferiour to pea∣cockes in pleasaunte tast. They brought also as muche bread made of Maizium (whiche is a graine not muche vnlyke vnto panyke) as wolde scarcely serue tenne hungry men: And here with desyred them to depart. But when they perceaued that owre men made no hast away, immediately there came a great coompanye of armed men towarde theym demaundyng what they had to do thus to wander in other mennes landes. Owr men made answere by Aquillaris, that they desyred peace, vyt∣tayles, and golde for exchaunge of other thinges. They an∣swered ageyne, that they wolde nother peace nor warre with them. But threatned them to auoyde the lande excepte they woolde bee distroyed euery manne. Owre men sayde that they woulde not departe withowte suffyciente vyttayles to mayntayne their souldyers.

They appoynted the day folowynge to brynge them more vy∣tayles: but they brooke promesse. Yet perceauing the second day that owre men were encamped on the sande and had re∣posed there that nyght, they brought them as much more vy¦tayles, and commaunded them in the name of theyr kynge to departe. Owre men sayde that they were desyrous to see the towne, and to haue yet more store of vytayles. The Barba∣rians denyed theyr request, and therewith departed whispe∣rynge and mutterynge amonge them selues. In the meane

tyme owre men were styll so oppressed with hunger that they were enforced to seeke for meate. The gouernoure therefore sent his vnder capitaynes to lande with a hundreth and fyf∣tie men.* 1.833 As they went dispersed in dyuers companyes about the vyllages of the country, the Barbarians met with one of theyr bandes, and put them to great distresse. But when theyr felowes beinge not farre from them, harde the noyse of theyr alarome, they came with all possible haste to theyr res∣cue. The gouernour on the other syde, placinge his ordinance in the brygantines and shippe boates, approched to the shore with the residue of his souldiers. The Barbarians lykewise, beinge redy furnyshed to the battayle, came run∣nynge to the sea syde to disturbe theym that they shulde not coome alande: And with theyr arrowes, wounded manye a farre of vnprepared. The gouernoure discharged aboute .xx. pieces of ordinaunce ageynste them:* 1.834 With the slaughter and terrible thunder wherof, & with the flame of fyer and smel of brimstone, they were so astonished and put to such feare, that they fled and disparcled lyke wylde beastes: whom owre men persuinge, entered into the towne which thinhabitantes for∣fooke in maner for feare of theyr owne men whom they sawe so dismayde. On the banke of this ryuer there is a towne of such portentous byggenes as I dare not speake.* 1.835 But Alami∣nus the pylot, sayth that it conteyneth in circuite fyue hun∣dreth myles, and that it consisteth of .xxv. thousande houses.* 1.836 Sume make it sumwhat lesse: But they all agree that it is exceadynge great and notable. The houses are diuided with gardens, and are buylded of lyme and stone verye artificially and of cunnynge woorkemanshippe. To theyr haules, cham∣bers, parlers, or other places of habitation, they ascende by tenne or twelue steares: And haue certeyne spaces betwene euery house: so that it is not lawful for any to lade his neigh¦bours waules with rafters or beames. Theyr houses are sep••¦rate one from an other by the space of three houses: And are for the more parte couered with reede and thetche: And ma∣ny also with slate or other stone. The barbarians them selues confessed that they were that day fortie thousande men at the battayle, which were vanquished of a fewe by reason of the newe and vnknowen kynde of feyght with gunnes and hor∣ses.* 1.837 For the gouernour had vnbarked .xvi. horses which were

also at the battayle, and so fiercely assayled the Barbarians on the backehalfe, that they brake theyr array and scattered them as it had byn flockes of sheepe, ouerthrowing, woun∣dynge, and kyllynge them on euery syde. Whiche thynge th•• seely wretches so imputed to a miracle, that they had not the poure to occupie theyr wepons. For wheras before they had neuer seene any horses, they thought that the man on horse∣backe and the horse, had byn all one beaste,* 1.838 as the antiqui∣tie dyd fable of the monster Centaurus.* 1.839 Owr men possessed the towne .xxii. dayes where they made good chere vnder couert, whyle the owners of the houses lay vnder the firmament and durst not assayle owre men who had placed them selues in the strongest parte of the towne, where sume kepte continuall watche (least the Barbarians shulde soodenly inuade theim) whyle other gaue them selues to reste and sleepe. Thinhabi∣tantes caule this towne Potanchana: But owre men for the vic¦torie which they obteyned here, named it Victoria. It is a mar¦uelous thynge to consider the greatenes, magnifi••ence and finenes of the buyldinge of certeyne palaices they haue in the countrey to the which they resorte sumtymes for theyr solace and pastyme.* 1.840 These are curiously buylded with many plea∣saunt diuises, as galeries, solars, t••rrettes, portals, gutters with chambers boorded after the maner of owre waynscotte and well flowred. Foure of owr Spanyardes went into one of them of such greatnes, that they wandered in the same for the space of foure houres before they coulde fynde the waye owt. At the length by thinterpretours and certeyne captiues owre men sent for the kynge and suche rulers as were nexte vnder hym in autoritie, wyllyng them to submyt them selues and to coome into the towne vnarmed. Gyuinge the messen∣gers further in commaundement to certifie them that in their so doinge, they wolde commen with them as concernynge con¦ditions of peace, and restore them theyr towne. They came gladly, and entered euery man into his owne house vppon condition that they shulde euer thereafter absteyne from such cerimonies and horrible sacrifices of mans fleshe to deuils the mortal enemies to mankynd, whose Images they honoured. And to directe the eyes of theyr myndes to Christe owre god the maker of heauen and earth,* 1.841 who was borne into this world of a virgin, and suffered death on the crosse for the re∣demption

of mankynde. And fynally to professe them selues subiectes to the great Christian kynge of Spayne. They pro∣mysed both, and were instructed as farre as the shortenes of tyme wolde permitte. Beinge thus restored, they recompen∣sed owre men with many rewardes: Supposynge suche men to be sent from heauen, which being so fewe in number, durst attempte battayle ageynst so great a multitude. They gaue owre men also certeyne golde and twentie slaues. Departing therefore from hense, and coastynge styll alonge by the same shore, they came ageyne to the goulfe whiche Alaminus the py∣lot founde before vnder Grisalua. This they named Bian Sancti Iohannis, that is, Saynt Iohns goulfe: For Bian in the Spa∣nyshe tonge signifieth a goulfe. Here thinhabitantes resor∣ted to them peaceably. Aboute a myle frome the shore, was a towne of a thousande and fyue hundreth houses situate vp∣pon a hyll.* 1.842 They profered owre men halfe the towne if they wolde dwel with them for euer. This perhaps they dyd the rather eyther fearynge thexemple of thinhabitantes of Potan∣••hana, the fame wherof myght haue coome to theyr eares, or els hopynge that vnder the shadowe of suche valiant menne, they myght obteyne ayde and succour ageynst theyr enemies and bortherers. For (as I haue sayde before) they dystroye one an other with continuall warre for the desyre to inlarge theyr dominions. Owre men refused perpetuall habitacion, and accepted theyr frendely profer for a tyme. As they came alande, the people folowed them on euery syde with bouwes in theyr handes which they helde ouer owre mens heades to defende them from the rayne as though they had walked in a continual arbour. Here they encamped. And least the residue lefte in the shippes, shulde in the meane tyme waxe slothefull with Idlenes, the gouernour gaue commaundement to Alami¦nus the pylot and Francis Montegius to search the west par¦tes of that lande, whyle he relieued the weried souldiers and healed suche as were wounded. To them that went forward on this vyage, he assigned two brigantines with fiftie men.* 1.843 Unto this goulfe, the course of the water was gentyl enough and moderate.* 1.844 But when they had sayled a lyttle further to¦warde the Weste, they founde the sea runnynge with so swift a course as if it were a great ryuer faulynge from the tops of hygh mountaynes: In so much that in a shorte space of tyme

it caried them fiftie myles from theyr felowes. When they were now entered into this violent streame of the water,* 1.845 they sawe on their left hand a large playne sea which mette with the course of the other waters faulynge from the weste. And lyke as two great ryuers that runne contrary wayes, make a vehement conflycte where they meete, so seemed the waters commyng from the Southe to resyst these waters as enemyes that had entered into the ryght or possessyon of an other. On the contrary parte, they sawe the lande reachynge farre bothe on the lefte hande and on the ryght. In this strife be∣twene the waters, they were so tossed on bothe sydes and entangled with whirlepooles,* 1.846 that they longe wrestled with owte hope of lyfe. At the length with muche difficultie, tur∣nynge the stemmes or forpartes of their shyppes ageynst the streame from whense they came, and labourynge al that they myght with their oers and sayles, they coulde scarsely ouer∣coome the rage of the water: In so much that where as they thought that they had in one nyght sayled twoo myles, they founde that they were dryuen backe foure myles. Yet at the length with goddes helpe, they ouercame this daungerours conflycte. They spente .xxii. daies in this lyttle space of sea: And when they were nowe returned to their felowes, decla∣red vnto them that that ende was the land of Colluacana whi∣che they adiudged to be parte of the supposed continent.* 1.847 The lande whiche they sawe a farre of before their fase, they sup∣pose eyther to be annexed to owre continent, or to bee ioyned to the large North regions cauled Baccalaos,* 1.848 wherof we haue made mention in owr Decades in the vyage of Sebastian Ca∣bote. This matter is yet doubtefull. But wee truste it shall once bee better knowen. While Alaminus and Montegius searched these secreates, the kynge of the prouince (whose name was Multoxumam) sent owre men by one of his chiefe of∣fycers (beynge also his Lieuetenaunt of the sayde towne) ma∣ny ryche and goodly presentes of golde, syluer, and precious stoones,* 1.849 sette and wroughte after a marueylous straunge de∣uyse and with no lesse cunnynge woorkemanshyp. Here they determined to sende messengiers to owre newe Emperour to knowe his pleasure that they myght in this prouince plan•• a newe colonie or habitation. And this dyd they withowte thaduise of Diegus Velasquen the gouernour of the Iland of Cuba or

Fernandina, who fyrste sente them foorth with commaundement to returne ageyne after they had searched these regions and obteyned plentie of golde. While they consulted hereof, they were of dyuers opinions. But the moste part alleaged that in this case it was not requisyte to make the gouernour of their counsaile. Forasmuche as the matter shulde be referred to a higher Iudge, as to the kyng of Spaine him selfe. When they were thus agreed, they receaued vyttayles of the gentle kyng of the prouince, and assigned the place of their colonie twelue myles from the sayde towne, in a fruteful and holsome soile.* 1.850 For their generall gouernour, they elected Cortesius the gouer∣nour of the nauye, against his wyll as sum saye. For other magistrates to gouerne the citie which they intended to build he choose Portu••arerius and Montegius of whome we haue made mention before.* 1.851 They chose also certeyne messengiers to sende to the kyng by the conduction of Alaminus the pylot. Furthermore, foure of the princes of this prouince offered thē selues wyllyngly to go with owre men into Spaine to thin∣tent to see owre landes and that kynge whose poure is soo great and whose auctoritie reacheth so farre. They brought lykewise two women with them, which serued & obeied thē in all thinges after the maner of theyr countrey. The people of this nation is of broune or yelowyshe colour. Bothe the men and the women haue pendauntes of gold and precious stones hanginge at their eares. The men also, boore their nether lyppes full of holes from the vppermoste parte of the lyppe euen vnto the nethermoste parte of the gumme.* 1.852 At these they hange certeyne rynges and plates of golde and syluer fastned to a smaule and thynne plate lyinge within betwene the lippe and the gumme. At the byggest hole in the myddest of the lip, there hangeth a rounde plate of syluer as brode as the coyne cauled a Corolyne, and as thicke as a mannes fynger. I do not remember that euer I sawe any thinge that seemed more fylthy in myne eye.* 1.853 Yet do they thynke that there is nothing more cumly vnder the circle of the moone. Wherby we may see howe vainely mankynde wandereth in his owne blynd∣nesse. The Ethiopian thincketh the blacke colour to be fayrer then the white: And the white man thinketh otherwise. They that are pouled, thinke that more decent then to weare a bush and they that weare beardes, iudge it a deformitie to be sha∣uen.

As appetite therfore moueth, and not as reason perswa¦deth, men runne after vanities: And euery prouynce is rul••d by their ownesense, as writeth saint Ierome. From whense they haue their golde, we haue spoken sufficiently before. But as owre men marueyled where they had their syluer,* 1.854 they shewed them certayne high mountaynes whiche are con∣tinually couered with snowe sauynge that at certeyne ••ymes of the yeare, the onely toppes are seene hate bicause the snow is there molten by reason of the thicke and warme ••loudes. The playnes therfore, or mylde, softe, and pleasaunt moun∣taynes seeme to brynge foorthe golde: And the rough crag∣gye mountaynes with their coulde valleyes, are the places wh••re syluer is engendered.* 1.855 They haue also laton, wherof they make such maces and hammers as are vsed in the war∣res.* 1.856 Dyggynge mattockes also, and spades: for they haue nother Iren nor steele. But lette vs nowe speake of the pre∣sentes sent into Spayne to the kyng: and fyrste of the bokes. These procuratours therfore of the newe colonie of the pro∣uynce of Colluacana, emong other their presentes, brought al∣so a great number of bookes, the leaues wherof are made of the inner ryndes or barkes of trees, thinner then eyther that of the elme or of the salowe. These they smere or annoint with the pytche of molten Bitumen, and while they be softe, extend them to what forme them lysteth. When they be coulde and harde, they rubbe them ouer with a certeyne playster. It is to bee thoughte that they beate the playster into fine floure, and so temperynge it with sum byndynge moister, to make a cruste therwith vppon the leaues, wheron they wryte with any sharpe instrument, and blotte the same againe with a ••punge or sum suche other thynge, as marchaunt men and noble mens stewardes are accustomed to do with their wry∣tynge tables made of the woodde of fygge trees. The leaues of their bokes are not set in order after the maner of owres, but are extended many cubettes in length. The matters whi∣che they write, are conteyned in square table: Not loose, but so bounde togither with the toughe and flexible cley cau∣led Bitumen, that they seeme lyke woodden tables whiche had byn vnder the handes of cunnyng bokebynders. Which way so euer the booke lyeth open, there are two leaues seene and two sydes written, with as many lyinge hyd vnder them, ex∣••epte the booke be vnfoulded in length. For vnder one leafe

there are many leaues ioyned togyther. The formes of their letters are nothynge lyke vnto owres.* 1.857 But are muche more crooked and entangeled, lyke vnto fyshehookes, knottes, snares, starres, dise, fyles, and suche other muche lyke vnto the Egiptian letters, and written in lynes lyke vnto owres. Here and there betwene the lynes, are pictured the shapes of men & dyuers beastes: And especially the Images of kynges and other noble men.* 1.858 Wherby it is to be thought tha•• in suche bookes, the factes of their kynges are conceyued, as wee see the lyke emonge vs howe owre printers expresse the summe of histories in pictures, that men may therby be the more al∣lured to bye suche bookes. The couerynges of their bookes are also artifycially wrought and paynted. When they are shutte, they seeme to differre nothynge from owres in forme. In these bookes are furthermore comprehended their lawes, rytes of ceremonies and sacrifyces, annotations of Astro∣nomie, accomptes, computations of tymes, with the maner of graffynge, sowyng, and other thynges perteinyng to hus∣bandry. They begynne the yeare from the goynge downe of the seuen starres cauled Vergiliae or Pleiades: And counte theyr monethes accordyng to the moones. They name a moneth, Tona, of the moone. For in theyr language, they caule the moone Tona, they reken the dayes by the soonnes. Therfore as many daies as they name, they saye, so many soonnes. The soonne in their tonge, is cauled Tonati••o. They destribute the yeare (without any reason why) into twentie monethes: And the moneth into as many dayes. The temples whiche they frequent,* 1.859 they adourne with golden hangynges and o∣ther ornamentes of golde and syluer with precious stones in∣termixte. At the springe of the daye,* 1.860 they perfume their tem∣ples with frankensence and make their praiers before they take in hande any other busynesse. But oh horrible crueltie. For thinhabitauntes of all these tractes also, doo sacrifyce children to their Idoles in lyke maner as wee haue sayde be∣fore.* 1.861 At suche tyme as the seedes lye in the ground, and when the corne begynneth to shewe foorth the eare, they destinate to their Zemes suche bondmen as they haue bought, or suche captiues as they haue taken in the warres, which they sacri∣fyce after that they haue made them great chiere and decked them in precious apparell. Also before they sacrifyce these

poore wretches,* 1.862 they lead them about the towne whyle al the people salute them humbly and reuerently, affyrmyng that in shorte space, they shalbe receaued into the coompanye of the goddes. They honour their Zemes with an other sharp kind of deuotion: For they lette them selues bludde, eyther in the tonge,* 1.863 lyps, eares legges, thyghes, or brest, which they take in their handes and hurle it vppe towarde heauen, soo that with the faule therof the pauement of the temple is all s••ar∣cled with bludde, wherby they thincke that their goddes are well pleased. From the newe colonie (cauled Villa Ricca) nyne myles distante,* 1.864 there is a towne of .xv. thousande houses, whiche thinhabitauntes caule Cemobal, but owre men named it Sybilla.* 1.865 The kynge of this towne had fyue men whiche he reserued to be sacrifyced. Whom when owre men wold haue delyuered, the kynge made humble request to them, sayinge that if they tooke awaye suche men as he had consecrated to be offered to the goddes, they shulde brynge vtter destruction to hym and all his kyngdome.* 1.866 For if owre sacrifyces (sayd he) do cease, owre Zemes wyll take suche displeasure with vs that they wyll suffer owre corne, graffes, and frutes, to bee consumed of woormes, scortched with drowth, destroyed with fluddes, or blasted with lyghtnynge. Owre men per∣ceauynge his ernestnesse herein, thought it beste to chose the least euel, perceauynge that it was yet no tyme to disquyes their myndes, and therfore suffered them to exercise their ac∣customed ceremonies. And althoughe their priestes promysse theym immortall glorie, eternall felicytie, and perpetuall conuersation with the goddes after the stormye dayes of this lyfe,* 1.867 yet do they with heauy countenaunces giue eare to their promisses, and had rather be sette at lybertie. Their priestes are named Quines in the plurell number, and Quin in the syn∣gular. They leade a pure and chaste lyfe: And are honoured of the people with feare and reuerence. They make fagots of the bones of their enemyes which they haue taken in the war¦res,* 1.868 and hange vppe the same at the feete of their Zemes, as tokens of the victories obteyned by their fauour. To these they adde certayne titles and superscriptions as testimonies of the same. This is straunge and woorthy to be noted, that when their children are a yeare oulde, the priestes in their temples with deuoute ceremonies and murmurynge woordes,

poure water in forme of a crosse vpon their heades with a cruet, wherby they seeme to baptise them.* 1.869 Neyther do they as the Iewes and Turkes, thinke their temples polluted if any of a straunge relygion bee present at their sacrifyces and other solemnities. Wee haue nowe spoken suffycientely of their bookes, temples, and superstitions. Lette vs nowe therfore coome to the other presentes which were brought to the kynge.* 1.870 Emonge these, there were twoo broode and rounde plates (whiche summe haue named the Images of the soonne and moone) the one of siluer and the other of gold in largenesse and roundnesse muche lyke to the stones of hand mylles:* 1.871 yet but thynne, and in maner bothe of one circumfe∣rence, that is xxviii. spannes in circuite.

That of golde is of the weyght of three thousande and .viii. hundreth Castellans, where as wee haue sayde before that a Castellane is a coyne of golde which weyeth more then a Du¦cate by a trient, that is the thyrde parte of a pounde. In the center of this, was the Image of a kynge of halfe a cubette longe, syttinge in a trone and appareled to the knee, lyke vn¦to a maumette, with such countenaunce as owre paynters are wonte to paynte fayries or sprites. About the Image, were the ••hapes of trees and floures, so that it seemed to sytte as though it had byn in a fielde. The other of syluer, was made to the same similitude, beinge also in maner of the same weyght, and both of pure metall. They brought lykewyse certeyne graynes of rude golde (that is, suche as was neuer molten) about the byggenes of fytches or the pulse cauled lin¦tels in token of plentie of natiue golde. Also two cheynes of golde,* 1.872 wherof the one conteyned .viii. lynkes in the whiche were set two hundreth threescore and twoo fayre and cleare redde stones, and yet no rubyes: furthermore, a hundrethe fourescore and three greene stones, and yet no emerodes. Ne∣uerthelesse, these are in lyke estimation with them as the o∣ther are with vs. At the edge of this cheine, there hange .xxvii golden belles, hauynge betwene euery of them, foure iewels of precious stones inclosed in golde, at euery of the which in lyke maner hange certeyne spangels of golde. The other cheyne consisteth onely of foure golden lynkes, beset rounde about with a hundreth and two redde stones, and a hundreth threescore and twelue greene stones, with .xxvi. golden belles

curiously wrought and placed in comely order. In the very•• myddest of the cheyne, are ten great precious stones inclosed in golde, at the whiche also hange a hundrethe golden pen∣dauntes of cunnynge woorkemanshippe.* 1.873 They brought fur∣thermore twelue paire of lether huskynnes of diuers colours, summe imbrothered with gold and summe with syluer, with plates and iewelles of golde and precious stones inclosed, and at euery of them certayne golden belles. Also certeyne myters besette with precious stoones of dyuerse colours,* 1.874 emonge the whiche sume are blewe like vnto saphires. Of crestes, gerdles, and fannes made of fethers, I wotte not what I shulde saye.* 1.875 But suerly if euer the wyttes and inuen∣tions of men haue deserued honoure or cōmendacion in such•• artes, these seeme moste woorthy to bee had in admiracion. I do not maruaile at golde and precious stones. But am in maner astony••hed to see the woorkemanshyppe excell the sub∣stance. For I haue with woonderynge eyes behelde a thou∣sande formes and similitudes, of the which I am not able to write.* 1.876 And in my iudgement, I neuer sawe any thing whose bewtie myght so allure the eyes of men. As they marueyled at the naturall bewtie of the fethers of owre peacockes and pheasantes, so dyd we no lesse maruel at the artifycial bewtie of suche thinges as they make of fe••hers and quilles impaled with golde. For I sawe in manye of their woorkes, all ma∣ner of natiue colours euen in the quilles wherof they make suche instrumentes. They brought also two helmettes gar∣nysshed with precious stones of a whiteshe blewe colour.* 1.877 One of these is edged with belles and plates of golde, and vnder euery bell two knobbes of golde. The other, besyde the sto∣nes wherwith it is couered,* 1.878 is lykewyse edged with .xxv. golden belles and knobbes: & hath on the crest, a greene bird with the feete, bylle, and eyes, of golde. Also foure speares muche lyke vnto troute speares or yele speares,* 1.879 the woodde wherof is all couered with quilles of diuers colours maruei∣lously wrethed with golden wyers and plates intermyxte. Euery of these speares haue three pikes, whose edges or teeth are all of precious stones made faste with wyers of golde. Of like workmanship they brought a great scepter byset with pre¦cious stoones and belles of gold,* 1.880 also a braslet of gold,* 1.881 and showes made of a hartes skynne,* 1.882 sowed bimbrothered with

goldē wyers, with a white sole beneth. Furthermore a glasse of a bryght blewe stone,* 1.883 and an other of white, bo••h enclosed in golde. Likewise a precious stone of the kynde of them that are cauled Sphinges, inclosed in golde. Furthermore the heade of a great lysarde, two great shelles, two duckes, the shapes of diuers other byrdes, foules, and fysshes, and all of massie golde.* 1.884 Furthermore .xxiiii. rounde and souare targettes,* 1.885 shieldes, and buckelers of golde, and fyue of ••yluer. Also a triple crowne of plates and wyers of golde marueyleuslye wreathed with quilles and fethers of diuers colours,* 1.886 hauing on the fronte a plate of golde on the whiche is grauen the I∣mage of the Idole Zemes. About this Image, hange foure other plates like crosses of gold in the whiche are grauen the heades of diuers beastes,* 1.887 as lyons, tigers, woulues, and such other. They brought also the symilitudes of certeyne bea∣stes made summe of roddes or twygges, and sum of woodde with the beastes owne skynnes theron,* 1.888 and garnysshed with collers of laton belles. Lykewise diuers shietes weaued of gossampyne cotton of sundry colours,* 1.889 wherof two are ryche∣ly frynged with golde and precious stones, and three other with euilles and fethers intermyxte with gossampine cotton of sundrye colours and chekered lyke the panes of a cheste borde. Sum are on the one syde, of blacke, white, and redde colours: and on the other syde, plaine without any varietie. Other sum, are wrought in lyke maner with variable colours wi••h a wheele or circle of blacke in the myddest intermyxt•• with shyning fethers and sparkes of golde lyke starres. They brought also cloth of Aras or Uerdure of marueylous wo••k∣manshyppe.* 1.890 Lekewise a souldiers cl••ke suche as their pryn∣c••s weare in the warres,* 1.891 with certeyne priuye coates of sence, and sundrye tirementes perteynyng to their heades, with al∣so many suche other thynges more bewtifull to the eye then ryche or precious, wherof to entreate particularly, it shoulde be more tedious then profytable. I lette passe here also to speake of many particular nauigations and of the traua••les and daungers whiche they susteyned in the sam••, with the monsters and secreates of nature they sawe: ••hiche are all conteyned in the regesters of owre Se••••te of th••ffayres of India,* 1.892 owte of the whiche I haue select••d the••e fe•••• a••••••∣tations, suche as seemed to me moste meete to bee ••u••lis••••••d.

Notwithstandyng these ryche and goodly presentes, yet were they that brought them, and also Cortesius the gouernour of the nauye and autour of erectinge their newe colonie in those remote regions,* 1.893 adiudged by the Senate to haue doen ageinst ryght and equitie, in that they attempted the same withowte thaduice of the gouernour of the Ilande of Cuba who sente them foorthe by the kynges auctoritie, where as they dyd other thinges besyde their commyssyon, ye althoughe they wente to the kynge, not fyrst knowynge his pleasure whom the kyng had substitute his Lieuetenaunt in that Ilande. In so muche that by his procuratour, he accused them before the Senate as fugitiue theeues and traytours. They on the other parte alleaged that they had dooen the kyng better seruyce then he: And that they had shewed suffycient obedience in appealyng to the kyng as the hygher Iudge. But the gouer∣nour required by the vertue of his commission and the kinges letters pattentes that they myght be headed for their disobe∣dience ageinst hym whom they knewe to be autorised by the kynge. They ageine replied that they had not offended the kyng, but rather deserued rewarde for their great dangiers and trauailes. Bothe the rewarde and punishment were de∣ferred, and a daye appointed when bothe parties shoulde bee harde. Leete vs nowe therfore coome to the Spaniardes of Dariena,* 1.894 thinhabitours of the goulfe of Vraba in the supposed Continent. We haue sayde before that Dariena is a ryuer run∣nynge towarde the Weste syde of the goulfe of Vraba. On the banke of this ryuer, the Spaniardes planted their fyrst colo∣nie or habitation after they had vanquisshed kynge Chemaccus. This colonie they named Sancta Maria Antiqua,* 1.895 by reason of a vowe whiche they made to the virgine Marie in the tyme of the battaile ageynst Chemaccus. To these (as wee haue mad•• mention in the ende of owre decades) was Petrus Arias sente with a thousande and two hundreth men at the request of Vas∣chus Nunnez Balboa,* 1.896 who was then the gouernour of Dariena, and the fyrst that found and discouered the large South sea here∣tofore vnknowen.* 1.897 Wee haue also declared how at the arriual of Petrus Arias the newe gouernour, he deuided his armye into Centurions, that is, capitaines ouer hundrethes, whom hee sent foorth dyuers waies. What tragedies folowed hereof, I wyll absolue in fewe woordes, bycause all are horrible and

vnpleasaunte. For sence we fynyshed owre Decades,* 1.898 there hath byn none other then kyllynge, sleyinge, murtherynge and accusinge. The kynge made Vaschus gouernoure but du∣rynge his pleasure. His courage was such, and his factes so notorious, that he coulde not longe abyde the hautynes of Pe¦trus Arias. To bee breefe, theyr faulynge owte and discord con¦founded al thynges. Iohn Cacedus the pulpitte fryer of the order of saynt Frances, dyd his vttermoste endeuour to make them frendes, promysynge vnto Vaschus the dowghter of Petrus Arias to wyfe. But no meanes coulde be founde howe these two which bore the chiefe rule, myght bee brought to agree∣ment. At the length the matter grewe to such extremitie, that Petrus Arias fyndynge occasion of querelynge ageynste Vaschus,* 1.899 sent processe to the maiestrates of the towne, wherby he com¦maunded them to strangle Vaschus, and fyue other which were chiefe capitaynes vnder hym: Alleagynge that they and their confetherates conspired to rebel in the South sea: And that Vaschus hym selfe for that intente, had buylded and furnished foure shippes to search the south coastes of the supposed con∣tinent: Also that to his three hundreth souldiers and compa¦nions which he had with hym, he shulde speake woordes of this effecte as foloweth. My frendes, and felowes of my longe peynes and trauayles:* 1.900 Howe longe shall we be subiecte to the commaundement of other, sythe wee haue bydden the brunt and ouercumme thenterprise for the whiche this newe gouernour was sent with so great a multitude? Who can any longer abyde his pryde and insolentie? Lette vs therefore fo∣lowe these coastes whyther so euer fortune shall dryue vs: And amonge these so many pleasaunt and fruteful prouinces of this large lande, let vs chose one in the whiche wee maye with libertie spende that portion of owre lyues which yet re∣mayneth. Who can fynde vs, or shalbe able to profer vs vyo∣lence? When these or the lyke woordes were declared to Pe∣trus Arias, he sente to the Southe partes for Vaschus, wyllynge hym by the vertue of his commission to repayre to him foorth with. Vaschus obeyed, and at his commynge was caste in pry∣son: yet constantly denyinge that euer he entended any suche thynge. Wytnesses were brought ageynst hym, and his wor¦des rehearsed from the begynnynge.* 1.901 To conclude, he was iudged woorthy death, and was put to execution. And this

is the rewarde wherwith the blynde goddesse oftentymes re∣compenseth such as haue susteyned great trauayles and daun¦giours to bee hyghly in her fauoure. Petrus Arias leauynge his wyfe in Dariena,* 1.902 embarked hym selfe in the shippes left of Vas∣chus, to thintent to searche those coastes. But whether he be returned or not, we haue yet no certeyne knoweleage. He hath also his fortune. Yet is there an other gouernour as∣signed, whose name is Lupus Sosa,* 1.903 the viceroye of the I∣landes of Canarie. What stomake Petrus Arias may haue yf he re¦turne, let good men iudge. There was nothyng doone vnder hym woorthy glorie. Sume thynke that he was at the be∣gynnyng to slacke and negligent in his office, and not seuere in correctynge errours and misorders. But we wyll leaue him and rehearse sumwhat wherof we haue byn lately informed as touchynge the great and diepe ryuer of Dabaiba,* 1.904 the whiche for the greatnes and largenes therof, owre men named Gran∣dis, that is, great, as we haue noted in owre Decades. This riuer fauleth into the furthest corner of the goulfe of Vraba by seuen portes or mowthes as dooth the ryuer of Nilus into the Egyptian sea,* 1.905 whose large description yowe may also reade in owre Decades. That the mountaynes on euery syde about this ryuer,* 1.906 are rych in golde, we haue learned by thinforma∣tion of thinhabitauntes, of whom we made diligent inquisiti¦on. Vaschus, and besyde hym other gouernoures and Lieu••te∣nauntes, haue fouretymes entered into this ryuer with theyr armyes in battayle array, and with dyuers kyndes of shippes fyrste for the space of fortie myles, then fyftie, and at the last fourescore, at an other tyme also ouerthwarte the ryuer. Oh shamefull chaunce and detestable couwardenes of owre men.* 1.907 A naked nation encounterynge with them that had apparell, the armed ageynste the vnarmed, had the ouerthrowe in ma∣ner in all conflictes, and were other all slayne or wounded. They vse inuenemed arrowes, and are suche experte archers, that if they espye any place of theyr enemie bare or vnarmed, they wyll not lyghtly fayle to stryke him there They vse al∣so many dartes,* 1.908 which in the tyme of the battayle they hurle so thicke a farre of, that they take the lyght of the sonne frō theyr enemies as it were with a clowde. They haue lykewise brode and longe swoordes made of a heauie and harde kinde of woodde,* 1.909 wherewith they feyght fiercely neare at hande.

Vaschus hym selfe receaued many woundes in encounterynge with them. And thus by reason of the fiercenes of these bar∣barians, the ryuer of Dabaiba is yet lefte vnsearched. We wil nowe speake sumwhat more of the Iland of Hispaniola (which the Spanyardes caule Spagnuola) the moother and chiefe of al other landes or Ilandes wherof we entended to wryte.* 1.910 In it the Senate is now restored, and fyue Iudges assigned to giue lawes to all thinhabitauntes of those tractes. But in shorte tyme, they shall cease gatherynge of golde although there bee grea••e plentie: by reason they shall lacke labourers and my∣ners, forasmuch as thinhabitauntes whose helpe they vsed herein, are brought to a smaule number, consum••d partly by warre, and many more by famen that yeare that they dygged vp the rootes wherof they made theyr beste breade, and lefte of sowynge theyr grayne of Maizium which is theyr common foode, supposinge hereby to haue dryuen owre men owte of the Ilande, who had vytayles sente them from Spayne. A great number of them also, dyed of newe and straunge disea∣ses which in the yeare of Christe a thousande fyue hundreth and .xviii. consumed theym lyke rotton sheepe.* 1.911

And (to saye the truth) owre mens vnsaciable desyre of gold, so oppressed these poore wretches with extreme labour and ••oyle, where as before they lyued pleasauntly and at lybertie, gyuen onely to playes and pastymes as daunsynge, fysshinge, foulynge, and huntyng of lyttle connies, that many of them peri••shed euen for verye anguy••he of mynde, the whiche (with their vnaccustomed labour) are thynges of them selues suffy∣cient to engender many newe diseases. But the kynge and the Senate haue nowe determyned that they be reduced to a people, and to gyue them selues onely to increase, and tyl∣lage of the gound: And that onely such as are bought or ta∣k••n owte of other regions, bee appointed to labour in the golde mynes.* 1.912 But it shall suffyce to haue sayde thus muche of the pestiferous hunger of golde. Therfore to speake of o∣ther matters: It is a marueylous thynge to consyder howe all thynges increase and prosper in this Ilande. There are nowe .xxviii suger presses wherwith great plentie of suger is made.* 1.913 The canes or reedes wherin the suger groweth, are bygger and hygher then in any other place: And are as bygge as a mans arme in the brawne, and higher then the

stature of a man, by the halfe. This is more woonderfull, that where as in Ualentia in Spaine (where a great quanti∣tye of suger is made yearely) where so euer they applye them selues to the great increase therof,* 1.914 yet doth euery roote bring foorthe not paste fyue, or syxe, or at the moste seuen of those reedes: wheras in Hisponiola one roote beareth twentie, and oftentymes thirtie. Foure footed beastes and cattayle,* 1.915 are marueylously increased in this Ilande. And albeit that the rauenynge hunger of golde hath hitherto greatly hyndered owre men from tyllage of the ground, yet is there great plen∣tye of wheate,* 1.916 whiche prospereth so wel that it yealdeth sum¦tyme a hundreeh foulde: And this especially on the hylles or rydges of the mountaynes prospectynge towarde the North. Uines do also increase here with no lesse frutefulnesse.* 1.917 What shuld I speake of the trees that beare Cassia fistula,* 1.918 brought first into this Iland from the other Ilandes neare vnto the suppo¦sed Continent, as we haue noted in owr decades? There is nowe suche plentie hereof, that after a fewe yeares we shall haue a pounde of the price that wee paye nowe for an ounce. Of the bresyle and mirobalane trees,* 1.919* 1.920 with other innumerable prerogatiues and benefites whiche nature hath plentiful∣ly giuen to this blessed Iland, we haue spoken suffyci∣ently in owr decades. Yet haue I thought good to repeate part of the same, bycause I think that the wittes of many readers haue di∣uerted from the weyght of great af∣faires, to the recordation of such pleasaunt thynges. And yet do not suche thynges as are sauery, engen∣der tedyous∣nesse, soo that a precious mat∣ter bee adourned with a precious vesture.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ua••chus Nun¦n••z, gouernor of Dariena.
• * 1.2

  The newe south Ocean.
• * 1.3

  ••••mmendati∣•••• of the Spa¦••••ardes.
• * 1.4

  •• Ualient mynd can not ••ee ydle.
• * 1.5

  •• desperate ••duenture
• * 1.6

  Uaschus his v••age toward ••he golden ••ountaynes.
• * 1.7

  Careta kynge of Coiba
• * 1.8

  kyng Poncha
• * 1.9

  A hundreth & x. poundes weyght of golde.
• * 1.10

  Strange thin¦ges are coun∣ted precious.
• * 1.11

  Lacke of ••ren.
• * 1.12

  A stone in the steede of Irē.
• * 1.13

  Superflu••∣ties hynder libertie.
• * 1.14

  Carpenters.
• * 1.15

  Brydges.
• * 1.16

  The region of Quarequa.
• * 1.17

  kinge Quare∣qua is dryuen to flyght.
• * 1.18

  hargabus••es.
• * 1.19

  Crossebow••s
• * 1.20

  vi. C. Barbari¦ans are s••aine
• * 1.21

  Unnatural le∣chery.
• * 1.22

  The vse of dogges in the warre agenst the naked Barbarians.
• * 1.23

  Naturaul ha∣tred of vnna∣tural sinne.
• * 1.24

  Palatini.
• * 1.25

  I wolde all men were of this opinion.
• * 1.26

  The harue•••• is great & the woorkemen but fewe.
• * 1.27

  warre••yke people.
• * 1.28

  The hygher the cou••der.
• * 1.29

  A region of black moores
• * 1.30

  Diseases of change of ayer & dyet.
• * 1.31

  The south sea.
• * 1.32

  Ua••chus is coome to the fyght of the newe south sea.
• * 1.33

  Prayer.
• * 1.34

  God rayseth the poore frō the dungehyl
• * 1.35

  hanniball of Carthage.
• * 1.36

  Uaschus ta∣keth possessi∣on of the mountaynes
• * 1.37

  kynge Chia∣pes.
• * 1.38

  A battayle.
• * 1.39

  Chiapes is d••yuen to f••yght.
• * 1.40

  Ua••chus sen∣••••th for k••ng 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.41

  Chiapes sub∣mitteth hym selfe to Uas∣chus.
• * 1.42

  iiii.C. pounds weyght of wrought gold.
• * 1.43

  Uaschus ad∣dicteth the newe land & sea, to the do∣minion of Castile.
• * 1.44

  kynge Coque¦ra is dryuen to flygh••.
• * 1.45

  Uaschus vseth both gentelnes and rigour.
• * 1.46

  vi.C. and .l. poundes weyght of wrought gold
• * 1.47

  A goulfe of threescore myles.
• * 1.48

  Saynt Mich••¦els goulfe
• * 1.49

  The manly corage and godly zeale of Uaschus
• * 1.50

  Ryche•• are the synewea of warre
• * 1.51

  The faythful¦nes of kynge Chiapes.
• * 1.52

  A tempest on the sea.
• * 1.53

  The increa∣sing of the South sea.
• * 1.54

  The Northe Ocean.
• * 1.55

  hard shyft in necessitie.
• * 1.56

  The Region Tumacca.
• * 1.57

  kynge Tu∣maccus is dri¦uen to flyght.
• * 1.58

  Golde and perles,
• * 1.59

  Musculs of the sea.
• * 1.60

  Fysshyng for perles
• * 1.61

  xii pounde weyght of perles.
• * 1.62

  The thyrst of golde.
• * 1.63

  Ambition a∣monge naked men.
• * 1.64

  This Ilande is cauled Margarites Diues, or Di∣tes.
• * 1.65

  A kynge of greate poure.
• * 1.66

  Biggeperles.
• * 1.67

  Cleopatra, queene of E∣gypt resolued a pearle in vineger and drunke it, price.v. thou∣sande pounde of owr mony. thef••rcenes of U••schus.
• * 1.68

  Great ryuer•• faulyng from mounta••nes.
• * 1.69

  Thunder and lyghtnynge in Nouember.
• * 1.70

  Colde in the nyght nere the Equinoc∣tial.
• * 1.71

  habitable re∣gions vnder the Equinocti¦all lyne.
• * 1.72

  The natiuita∣tions of the Portiugales towarde the southe pole. Antipodes. he meaneth S. Augustine and Lectau∣tius.
• * 1.73

  The starres ••b••i••••e the southe pole.
• * 1.74

  Lactea via.
• * 1.75

  A simyli••ude declarynge Antipodes.
• * 1.76

  The maner of fysshynge for perles.
• * 1.77

  T••••e kindes o•• per••es.
• * 1.78

  Dyuers ques∣ti••s as cōcer∣nynge perles
• * 1.79

  Petrus arias
• * 1.80

  wanton and superfluous pleasures.
• * 1.81

  Cleopatra.
• * 1.82

  A••opus.
• * 1.83

  Stoidum.
• * 1.84

  Taprobana,
• * 1.85

  The fysshing place of king Chiapes.
• * 1.86

  Golde in ma∣ner in euery house.
• * 1.87

  The ryche treasurye of nature.
• * 1.88

  The golde mynes of Dariena.
• * 1.89

  Kynge Teao∣cha entertey∣neth vaschus frende••ye.
• * 1.90

  Twentye pounde weight of wroughte golde.
• * 1.91

  Desertes full of wylde beastes.
• * 1.92

  Dryed fysshe
• * 1.93

  Kynge Pacr•• a tyranne.
• * 1.94

  Greate heate in the mo∣nethe of No∣uember.
• * 1.95

  hurte by wylde bea∣stes.
• * 1.96

  A tyger.
• * 1.97

  Calydonia is a foreste in Scotlande.
• * 1.98

  Nemea is a wodde in Greece.
• * 1.99

  Tigers whel∣pes.
• * 1.100

  Thus the E∣giptians take Crocodiles.
• * 1.101

  The dogge tyger taken. The rorynge of the tyger.
• * 1.102

  Tigers flesh eaten.
• * 1.103

  The bitche tyger.
• * 1.104

  Tigers whel¦pes.
• * 1.105

  A straunge thynge.
• * 1.106

  kynge Pacr••.
• * 1.107

  Naturall ha∣tred of vyce.
• * 1.108

  Foure kinges deuo••red of dogges.
• * 1.109

  The vse of dogges in warre a∣geinst naked men.
• * 1.110

  The Cany∣bales are ex∣perte ar∣chers.
• * 1.111

  Swoordes of woodde.
• * 1.112

  F••••tie pounde w••••ght of golde.
• * 1.113

  kynge Bono∣niama, fr••nde to the christi∣ans.
• * 1.114

  wroughte golde.
• * 1.115

  The oration of kynge Bonon••ama
• * 1.116

  The sparke of the lawe of nature, is the lawe written in the hartes of men.
• * 1.117

  Hiperbole.
• * 1.118

  Great plenty of golde.
• * 1.119

  A symilitude for the profe of plentye of golde.
• * 1.120

  Iren more estemed then golde.
• * 1.121

  Chaunge of dyet is daun∣gerous.
• * 1.122

  Owld•• soul∣diers.
• * 1.123

  A longe len••.
• * 1.124

  Comogrus▪
• * 1.125

  Two poore kynges.
• * 1.126

  Desertes.
• * 1.127

  kynge Beche¦buea submyt∣teth him selfe
• * 1.128

  Uessels of golde.
• * 1.129

  kynge Chiori∣sus ••endeth Ua••chus xxx. dysshes of pure golde.
• * 1.130

  Axes of Iren more este••med then any gold
• * 1.131

  Su••erfluous an•• effemy∣nate plesur••••
• * 1.132

  An exemple of the lyfe of owre fyrst pa¦rentes.
• * 1.133

  Plentye of gold & scarce¦nesse of m••are.
• * 1.134

  kn••g Pecchor¦ro••a ••ub••yt∣teth hym selfe.
• * 1.135

  xv. pounde weyghte of wroughte golde.
• * 1.136

  kyng Tuma∣nama, looke decad. ii. lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.137

  A good po∣licye.
• * 1.138

  〈…〉〈…〉 is tak•• prisoner.
• * 1.139

  The cause of vehemente wyndes nere he Equinoc∣••ial.
• * 1.140

  kynge Tum••¦nama his palaice.
• * 1.141

  Uaschus his woordes to kynge Tuma¦nama.
• * 1.142

  Oderunt quen metuunt.
• * 1.143

  kyng Tuma∣nama his woordes.
• * 1.144

  T••manama is pardoned.
• * 1.145

  xxx. pounde weyghte of wroughte golde.
• * 1.146

  lx poundes weyght of golde.
• * 1.147

  They ab∣horre labour.
• * 1.148

  The coloure of the golden earthe and a tryall of the same.
• * 1.149

  Tokens of great plentie of go••de.
• * 1.150

  Ua••chus fau∣leth ••icke.
• * 1.151

  Feeblenes of hunger and watchinge.
• * 1.152

  kynge Como∣g••us frende•• to the Chris••i¦ans
• * 1.153

  The large & ••••••teful plain o•• ••auana.
• * 1.154

  Tho ryuer Comogru••.
• * 1.155

  xx. pounde weyght of wrought gold
• * 1.156

  Uaschus re∣••u••neth to Dariena.
• * 1.157

  The good fortune of Uaschus.
• * 1.158

  Uaschus wa•• turned from G••••••••th to ••••••••eus,
• * 1.159

  O flaterynge fortune, looke his death in the booke of the Ilande lately founde.
• * 1.160

  The earth is owre general mother.
• * 1.161

  The courte of infernall Pluto.
• * 1.162

  There i•• a better waye then this.
• * 1.163

  The Sp••ni∣ardes con∣questes.
• * 1.164

  Manhunters
• * 1.165

  The fierse∣nesse of the Can••bales.
• * 1.166

  Owre duty to god, and na∣turall loue to mankynde.
• * 1.167

  Thoffyce of Chrystian prynces. The haruest is great. &c.
• * 1.168

  Beragua.
• * 1.169

  Nicuesa.
• * 1.170

  The fourth nauigation of Colonus the Admirall.
• * 1.171

  From Spaine to hispan••ola a thou••ande and two hun∣dreth leagues
• * 1.172

  The flory••∣shyng Ilande of Guanassa.
• * 1.173

  Simple. people.
• * 1.174

  A greate marchaunt.
• * 1.175

  The regyon of Querique∣tana or Ci∣amba.
• * 1.176

  Gentle peo∣ple.
• * 1.177

  The regyons of Taia and Maia.
• * 1.178

  Seuen kyn∣des of date trees.
• * 1.179

  wylde vines.
• * 1.180

  M••robalanes
• * 1.181

  Byrdes and foules.
• * 1.182

  People of goodly stature
• * 1.183

  They paynt theyr bodyes
• * 1.184

  The ••wyfte cour••e of the sea from the East to the West.
• * 1.185

  Pari••.
• * 1.186

  Fresshe wa∣ter in the sea.
• * 1.187

  F••••ches and compasinges
• * 1.188

  Faire ryuers. Great reedes
• * 1.189

  Great tortoy∣ses.
• * 1.190

  Dyuers lan∣guages.
• * 1.191

  Hero••••▪
• * 1.192

  Quatuor tem∣pora.
• * 1.193

  Twel••e I∣lāds na••ed Li••••••na••es.
• * 1.194

  Rio de los pe••∣didos.
• * 1.195

  The region of Qu••curi.
• * 1.196

  The hauen of Cariai or Mirobalanus
• * 1.197

  Ciuile and hu¦man•• people
• * 1.198

  sy••e.
• * 1.199

  Trees gro∣wyn•••• in th•• sea after a straunge sor••▪
• * 1.200

  Plinie,
• * 1.201

  A straunge kynde of moonkeys.
• * 1.202

  A moonkeye feyghteth with a man.
• * 1.203

  •• conflict be∣twene a mon∣key and a wylde bore.
• * 1.204

  The bodyes of kynges dry¦ed & reserued
• * 1.205

  Cerabaro.
• * 1.206

  Aburema.
• * 1.207

  Cheynes of golde.
• * 1.208

  Plentie of golde.
• * 1.209

  Fiue villages rych in gold.
• * 1.210

  Crownes of beasts claws
• * 1.211

  Soytefu••l people.
• * 1.212

  Guns make peace.
• * 1.213

  Seuen goldē ryuers
• * 1.214

  Note where the plentie of golde endeth
• * 1.215

  Pignonem.
• * 1.216

  Vibba.
• * 1.217

  Portus Bellus.
• * 1.218

  Paynted people.
• * 1.219

  A strange syght.
• * 1.220

  A she•• in the steede of a codpiece.
• * 1.221

  Crocodiles of ••weete sa∣uour.
• * 1.222

  Alcayr or Ba∣bilon in Egipt
• * 1.223

  Shippes ea∣ten with wormes.
• * 1.224

  Alexandria in Egypte.
• * 1.225

  Broma.
• * 1.226

  Hiebra,
• * 1.227

  Beragua.
• * 1.228

  how the king of Beragua enterteyn••d the lyeuete∣naunte.
• * 1.229

  The••r reue∣rence to their kynge.
• * 1.230

  Golde in the ry••er of Du∣raba.
• * 1.231

  Great plenty of golde.
• * 1.232

  Slynges and dartes.
• * 1.233

  L••berty mo••e esteemed thē ryches.
• * 1.234

  The Spany∣ardes are dryuen to flight.
• * 1.235

  The Ilande of Iamaica.
• * 1.236

  A myserable case.
• * 1.237

  Necessytie hath no lawe howe farre lyfe is to bee esteemed.
• * 1.238

  A daunge∣rous enter∣pryse.
• * 1.239

  Sanctus Domi∣nicus.
• * 1.240

  Landes foūd by Colonus.
• * 1.241

  Temperate regions and holsome aier
• * 1.242

  Cerabaro.
• * 1.243

  Hiebra.
• * 1.244

  Beragua.
• * 1.245

  Experte my∣ners.
• * 1.246

  A god••y na∣ture in golde.
• * 1.247

  Go••den har∣uest.
• * 1.248

  hyghe ••nd greate moun∣taynes.
• * 1.249

  Ty••rhenuum is nowe cau∣led Tu••eane
• * 1.250

  Cap. S. Augusti∣ni.
• * 1.251

  Vraba.
• * 1.252

  Cerabaro.
• * 1.253

  Frutful moun¦taynes.
• * 1.254

  A••ennini are mountaynes which d••uide Italy lute .ii. partes
• * 1.255

  Beragaa.
• * 1.256

  The moun∣taynes of Be¦ragua higher then the cl••udes.
• * 1.257

  Montaynes of fiftie miles heyght.
• * 1.258

  Ianus other∣wy••e cauled Iaphet, the son of Noe.
• * 1.259

  Italy is lyke vnto a legge in the sea, & the moun∣taynes of the alpes, are in the thyghe therof.
• * 1.260

  Colonus his opinion of the suppo••ed Continent. By this con∣iecture, the way shuld be open to Ca∣thay by the hiperbore••••.
• * 1.261

  Looke the n••¦uigation of Cabote. deca. iii. lib. vi.
• * 1.262

  The breadth of the lande
• * 1.263

  The regions of Uraba and Beragua.
• * 1.264

  The greate riuer Marag∣nonus.
• * 1.265

  The great riuer Dabai∣ba, or sancty Iohannis.
• * 1.266

  The ryuers haue their in∣crease from the sprynges of the mon∣taynes.
• * 1.267

  The ryuer of Nilus in E∣gypte.
• * 1.268

  Marisshes and desolate wayes.
• * 1.269

  A superstiti∣ous opinion of thoriginall of montaines of Dabaiba.
• * 1.270

  Dragons and crocodiles in the marishes
• * 1.271

  The hauen Cerabaro.
• * 1.272

  Twentie gol∣den ryuers.
• * 1.273

  Precious stones.
• * 1.274

  a precious di∣emonde of ercedynge bygnes.
• * 1.275

  Topases.
• * 1.276

  The Spany∣erdes con∣temne effemi¦nate plesures
• * 1.277

  Sweete sa∣uoru••.
• * 1.278

  A similitude prouing great plentie of golde & preci∣ous stones.
• * 1.279

  The hauen of Sancta Mar∣tha.
• * 1.280

  Cariai.
• * 1.281

  The heroical factes of the Spaniardes.
• * 1.282

  The bysshop of Dariena.
• * 1.283

  The nauigati¦on of Petrus Arias.
• * 1.284

  Saint Lucar.
• * 1.285

  The Iland of Canarie.
• * 1.286

  Prouision of fresshe water and fuell.
• * 1.287

  The Iland of Dominica.
• * 1.288

  Guadalupea, otherwy••e cauled Caru∣cuer••a, or Que¦raquiera.
• * 1.289

  The sea of herbes.
• * 1.290

  These moun∣taynes are cauled Mon∣tes Niuales or Serra Ne∣uata, dec••de ii. liber. i & .ii.
• * 1.291

  The swyfte cour••e of the sea towarde the west.
• * 1.292

  The ryuer Gaira.
• * 1.293

  Caramairi.
• * 1.294

  Carthago.
• * 1.295

  Saturma.
• * 1.296

  Mountaynes couered with snowe.
• * 1.297

  Americus Vesp••¦tius.
• * 1.298

  The stoutnes of the Barba∣rian••.
• * 1.299

  The Caniba∣les feygh•• in the water.
• * 1.300

  The vse of gunnes.
• * 1.301

  The genera∣cion of thun∣der and lyght¦nynge.
• * 1.302

  Meteora.
• * 1.303

  Uenemous arrowes
• * 1.304

  Plentie of fysshe.
• * 1.305

  Cunnynge fysshers.
• * 1.306

  Theyr house∣holde stuffe.
• * 1.307

  Tapstry.
• * 1.308

  A straunge phantasy.
• * 1.309

  This is he whom Card••¦nus praiseth.
• * 1.310

  Precious stones The Sma∣ragde is the treweme••od••
• * 1.311

  Another kind of amber is founde in whales.
• * 1.312

  Gold & bra∣sile.
• * 1.313

  Marchasites are flowers of metals, by the colours wherof the kyndes of me¦tals are kno∣wen.
• * 1.314

  These locu∣stes burne the corne with toching and deuoure the residewe they are in India of .iii. foote length. The fayre re∣gion of Cara∣mairi.
• * 1.315

  Fruteful mon¦taynes.
• * 1.316

  Gardens. In••ubres are nowe cauled Lumbardes, and hetrusci, Tuseans.
• * 1.317

  Many coun∣treys lefte de¦solate by the fiercenes of the Caniba∣les.
• * 1.318

  One my••iade is ten thou∣sande.
• * 1.319

  A miserable hearynge.
• * 1.320

  Breade of rootes.
• * 1.321

  The maner of plantinge the roote Iuc¦ca.
• * 1.322

  Earth turned into rootes.
• * 1.323

  howe breade is made of rootes.
• * 1.324

  A straunge thynge.
• * 1.325

  Cazabbi.
• * 1.326

  Ages and Battata.
• * 1.327

  Panicum is a grayne sume∣what lyke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 The Italians caule it Me∣••••ca.
• * 1.328

  he meanethe the equall length of day and nyght which i•• con∣tinually in re∣gions vnder the Equinoc∣tial lyne.
• * 1.329

  Maizium
• * 1.330

  Earth of dy∣uers colours.
• * 1.331

  Golde in ryuers.
• * 1.332

  hartes and bores.
• * 1.333

  Foules.
• * 1.334

  holsome ayer.
• * 1.335

  Gossampine cotton. Fethers.
• * 1.336

  Bowes and ar••owes.
• * 1.337

  Deade bo∣dies reserued
• * 1.338

  Ouches of la∣ton.
• * 1.339

  Gonzalus Oui¦edus, sayth that they gilt maruelo••••••y with the iuse of a certeyne. herbe.
• * 1.340

  whyte mar∣ble.
• * 1.341

  The great ry¦uer Maragno¦nus. This ioyneth with the myghty ryuer cauled Flumen Ama¦zonum, found of late.
• * 1.342

  Clokes of fethers.
• * 1.343

  The swyfte course o•• the water.
• * 1.344

  x••. leaques in one nyght.
• * 1.345

  Sundry opini∣ons why the sea runneth with so swyft course from the East into the west.
• * 1.346

  The equinocti∣all lyne.
• * 1.347

  why all wa∣ters moue to∣warde the south or Equi∣noctial, ••reade Cardanus de sub¦tili••. l••ber .ii. de E••ementis.
• * 1.348

  Strayghtes.
• * 1.349

  As by the strayght of Magellanus. The north landes.
• * 1.350

  The frosen sea.
• * 1.351

  Sebastian Cabot.
• * 1.352

  The veneti∣ans.
• * 1.353

  The viage of Sebastian Ca¦bot from Eng¦lande to the fro••en sea.
• * 1.354

  Frost in the moneth of Iuly.
• * 1.355

  Fretum her∣culeum, diui∣deth Spayne & the Moores and is nowe cauled the strayghtes of Marrok.
• * 1.356

  Ba••••••llaos, or Terra Baccallea∣••um.
• * 1.357

  The mouyng of heuen cau∣seth the sea to moue.
• * 1.358

  Demogorgon is the spirite of the earth.
• * 1.359

  People coue∣red with beastes sk••n••
• * 1.360

  howe beares take and eate fysshes of the sea.
• * 1.361

  Perhappes this laton is copper which ho••deth gold. For latō hath no myne, and is an artifici∣all metal and not natural. Cabot cauled owt of Eng∣lands into Spayne.
• * 1.362

  The Second viage of Ca∣bot.
• * 1.363

  The Ilandes of the Cany∣bales.
• * 1.364

  The Ilande Fortis.
• * 1.365

  Salte
• * 1.366

  A straunge thynge.
• * 1.367

  how Petrus Arias with the kynges nauy arriued at Dariena.
• * 1.368

  howe Uas∣chus recea∣ued the new gouernour.
• * 1.369

  whye these regions are cau••ed pro∣••••••ces.
• * 1.370

  Barrelles of meale.
• * 1.371

  habitable re∣gions vnder the Equinoc∣tiall lyne.
• * 1.372

  where the newe gouer∣nour planted his habitatiō
• * 1.373

  The viage of Iohannes Aiora
• * 1.374

  The hauen of Comogrus
• * 1.375

  Sainte My∣chaels goulf••
• * 1.376

  The hauen Pocchorrosa.
• * 1.377

  A passynger shyppe.
• * 1.378

  Kyng Tuma∣nama.
• * 1.379

  Decurians are officers deuided into ••ennes, &c.
• * 1.380

  Kyng Dabai∣ba.
• * 1.381

  The gold my∣nes of Daba∣iba
• * 1.382

  The pallaice of kynge Dabaiba.
• * 1.383

  The gold my¦nes of Darie∣na.
• * 1.384

  ••n erroure.
• * 1.385

  E••pedition a∣geinst kynge Dabaiba.
• * 1.386

  Great plentie of golde,
• * 1.387

  The regyon of Saturma
• * 1.388

  The Ilande of Dominica,
• * 1.389

  Dariena.
• * 1.390

  Difficulte say¦lyng ageynst the course of the sea,
• * 1.391

  The daunge∣rous straigh∣tes of Scylla & Charybdis,
• * 1.392

  Guanassa.
• * 1.393

  Iaia,
• * 1.394

  Maia.
• * 1.395

  Cerabaro.
• * 1.396

  Beragua.
• * 1.397

  The vehe∣ment course of the sea fro the east to the west.
• * 1.398

  The north•• wynde
• * 1.399

  Sancta Ma∣ria Antiqua, the fy••st ha∣bitation of the spaniar∣des in the fyrme lande.
• * 1.400

  Sardus the Ilande of Sardinia,
• * 1.401

  The variety of regions ly∣nge vnder one paralel,
• * 1.402

  By what mea¦nes the ••onne beames are cau••e of fer∣uent heate▪
• * 1.403

  The pernicious ayer of Darien••.
• * 1.404

  Toades and flees engen∣dered of drop¦pes of water,
• * 1.405

  Necessytie hath no ••aw••
• * 1.406

  A hou••e sette on fyer with lyghtnynge,
• * 1.407

  A dogge de∣uoured of a crocodyle,
• * 1.408

  Tanquam canis e Nilo.
• * 1.409

  The byting of battes.
• * 1.410

  Lyons and tygers,
• * 1.411

  Beastes wer bygger in the••r kynde,
• * 1.412

  how the go∣uernour en∣terteyned kyng Careta,
• * 1.413

  Note.
• * 1.414

  Broma or Bissa, are wormes whi∣che destroy shippes,
• * 1.415

  A venemous tree.
• * 1.416

  Perhappes they•• vene∣mous arrows are made of this woodds or. &c.
• * 1.417

  A preserua∣tiue ageynst poyson,
• * 1.418

  The Ilands of the south sea,
• * 1.419

  The ryche I∣land cauled Dites,
• * 1.420

  Cab, sancti Augustini, Of the euyll successe of these viages, reade decade iii, Liber, ix,
• * 1.421

  An expedition to destroy the Canibales,
• * 1.422

  Fogeda.
• * 1.423

  Looke. decad. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lib. ix,
• * 1.424

  The nauigati¦ons of An∣••reas Mo∣••alis
• * 1.425

  A particular description of the Ilande of hispaniol••
• * 1.426

  Nereides are nymphes of the ••ea▪ he meaneth I∣landes,
• * 1.427

  T••this the wyfe of Nep¦tunus and goddesse of the sea,
• * 1.428

  The Ilande of Margari∣tea Diues,
• * 1.429

  Saincte Mi∣chaels goulfe
• * 1.430

  Great perles
• * 1.431

  hispaniola lyke vnto the earthly para∣dyse,
• * 1.432

  The fy••st in∣habitours of hi••paniola
• * 1.433

  Dardanus.
• * 1.434

  Teu••rus.
• * 1.435

  Troianum.
• * 1.436

  T••rians,
• * 1.437

  Sidonians:
• * 1.438

  Eneas.
• * 1.439

  Latium.
• * 1.440

  hierusalem
• * 1.441

  Mecha.
• * 1.442

  The Ilandes of Canarie,
• * 1.443

  Betanchor, a Frenchman,
• * 1.444

  The fyrst na∣mes of his∣paniola.
• * 1.445

  Pan.
• * 1.446

  The rough∣nesse of his∣paniola
• * 1.447

  The maner of lernynge.
• * 1.448

  Ballets and rhymes.
• * 1.449

  Singing and daunceing.
• * 1.450

  Soonges of loue and moor¦nynge.
• * 1.451

  Prophesies,
• * 1.452

  Note
• * 1.453

  Theyr famili∣aritie with spirites
• * 1.454

  The deuyl is dryuen awaye by baptisme
• * 1.455

  Surueyers
• * 1.456

  They lyue as much in the water as on the lande
• * 1.457

  Serpentes
• * 1.458

  A Crocodile is much lyke to owr ewte or Lyserte
• * 1.459

  Byrdes and foules
• * 1.460

  Popingayes
• * 1.461

  Cipanga.
• * 1.462

  Italy cauled Latium
• * 1.463

  Isabella
• * 1.464

  The forme of the Ilande of hispaniola
• * 1.465

  A particular carde of his∣paniola.
• * 1.466

  hispaniola compared to Italie,
• * 1.467

  The tempera¦ture of hispa∣niola.
• * 1.468

  The equinoc∣tiall.
• * 1.469

  Coulde acci∣dentall, and not by the sy∣tuation of the region,
• * 1.470

  Perpetuall ••pringe and ••oomer,
• * 1.471

  Maruelous frutfulnes
• * 1.472

  Beastes
• * 1.473

  Oxen and swyne of ex∣ceadyng byg∣nesse,
• * 1.474

  Swyne fed with Myroba¦lanes
• * 1.475

  Uines
• * 1.476

  wheate
• * 1.477

  An eare of wheate as byg as a mās arme in the brawne
• * 1.478

  The bread of the Ilande.
• * 1.479

  Golde,
• * 1.480

  Great plentie of cattayle,
• * 1.481

  Brasile,
• * 1.482

  Mastyx,
• * 1.483

  Gossampine
• * 1.484

  Electrum.
• * 1.485

  Incommodi∣ties of intem∣perat regiōs
• * 1.486

  holsome ayer and water
• * 1.487

  Golde euery where
• * 1.488

  The descripti¦on of the in∣ner partes of ••he Ilande,
• * 1.489

  The citie of s. Dominicke
• * 1.490

  The moun∣taynes of haiti
• * 1.491

  The moun∣taynes of Ci∣baua
• * 1.492

  The Ilande of Cahini
• * 1.493

  Of prouinces diuided into region••
• * 1.494

  Of theyr aspi∣rations
• * 1.495

  The pronunci¦ation of the hebrewes & Arabians,
• * 1.496

  The Moores and Arabiās possessed Spayne.
• * 1.497

  howe the as¦piration chan¦geth the sig∣nification of wordes
• * 1.498

  Dyuers lan¦guages in the Ilande
• * 1.499

  A greate caue in the rocke of a moun∣tayne,
• * 1.500

  A daungerus enterprise
• * 1.501

  Riuers deuou¦red of caues,
• * 1.502

  whirlepooles and conflict•• of waters,
• * 1.503

  Clowdes in the caue.
• * 1.504

  The Catarac∣tes of Nilus
• * 1.505

  A standynge poole in the t••ppe of a hygh moun∣tayne.
• * 1.506

  Ferne and bramble bus∣shes, growe only in coulde regions.
• * 1.507

  The Caspia•• and hircani∣an sea.
• * 1.508

  A great lake of soure and salte water.
• * 1.509

  Swalowinge goulfes.
• * 1.510

  Sea fysshes in lakes of the midlande
• * 1.511

  The deuou∣rynge fysshe cauled T••bu∣ronus.
• * 1.512

  The ryuers that fau••e in∣to the lake Caspium,
• * 1.513

  CC•• sprynges within the space of a furlonge.
• * 1.514

  A myracle.
• * 1.515

  The Indian language.
• * 1.516

  A kyng stric∣ken dumme and lame by •• myracle.
• * 1.517

  Such as are drowned in the lake are not cast vp ageyne.
• * 1.518

  The Ilande Guarizacca in the myddest of the poole. A lake of salt and freshe water.
• * 1.519

  A lake of fresshe water
• * 1.520

  A lake of ten myles in l••ngth
• * 1.521

  A playne of a hundreth and twentie miles
• * 1.522

  A playne of two hundreth myles in length.
• * 1.523

  The marue∣lous fysshe Manari.
• * 1.524

  A monster of the sea fedde with mans hande.
• * 1.525

  Matum.
• * 1.526

  A fyshe cary∣eth men oue•• the lake.
• * 1.527

  A maruelou•• thynge.
• * 1.528

  The ryuer Attibunicus.
• * 1.529

  The situation of the great ••ale.
• * 1.530

  The moun∣taynes of Ci∣baua and Cai¦guam.
• * 1.531

  The greate vale of Guari∣••nexius.
• * 1.532

  Mountaynes,
• * 1.533

  Uales.
• * 1.534

  hylles.
• * 1.535

  Playnes.
• * 1.536

  Ryuers.
• * 1.537

  Golde in all mountaynes, and golde and fysshe in all ryuers.
• * 1.538

  Salte bayes,
• * 1.539

  howe the I∣lande is diui∣ded with mountaynes.
• * 1.540

  Golde.
• * 1.541

  The ryuers haue theyr in∣crease from the caues of the moun∣taynes
• * 1.542

  No hurtful or raueninge beast in the Ilande.
• * 1.543

  The autours excuse.
• * 1.544

  By what mea¦ne•• the peo∣ple of the I∣land are gret¦ly consumed.
• * 1.545

  The plesures of hispaniola.
• * 1.546

  The region of Cotohi, ••i∣tuate in the Clowdes.
• * 1.547

  A playne in the toppes of mountaynes
• * 1.548

  The hygher, the coulder.
• * 1.549

  Moderate coulde in the mountaynes.
• * 1.550

  Ferne of mar∣uelous bignes
• * 1.551

  Golde.
• * 1.552

  Thinhabi∣tantes of his∣paniola can abyde no la∣bour nor coulde.
• * 1.553

  The Iland of Creta of Can∣die, vnder the dominion of the Ueneti∣ans.
• * 1.554

  Pure and massie golde in the region of Cotoy.
• * 1.555

  The vaine of golde, is a ly∣uynge tree.
• * 1.556

  These colers or floures are cauled Mar∣chasites, Pyntes.
• * 1.557

  The roote of the golden tree.
• * 1.558

  The braun∣ches of the golden tree.
• * 1.559

  Caues sustey¦ned with pyl∣lers of golde.
• * 1.560

  The stones of the golde mynes.
• * 1.561

  what ••old is brought yere∣ly from his∣paniola into Spayne.
• * 1.562

  Salte of the mountaynes, very hard and cleare.
• * 1.563

  Salt as hard as stones.
• * 1.564

  Sprynges of salt, fresshe and sower water.
• * 1.565

  holowe ca∣ues in the grounde
• * 1.566

  Certeyne wyld men ly∣uing in caue•• and dennes
• * 1.567

  Men without a certeyne language
• * 1.568

  Men as swift as greihoūds
• * 1.569

  A wyld man runneth a∣way with a chylde
• * 1.570

  Pitche of the rocke.
• * 1.571

  Pitche of two kyndes of trees.
• * 1.572

  The pine tree.
• * 1.573

  The tree Copeia.
• * 1.574

  The leafe of a tree in the steede of paper.
• * 1.575

  They beleue that leaues do speake.
• * 1.576

  A pretie storie.
• * 1.577

  Ignorance causeth ad∣miration.
• * 1.578

  The leafe wherin they wryte.
• * 1.579

  A stronge co∣lour of the iuise of an apple.
• * 1.580

  An herbe who••e smoke is poyson.
• * 1.581

  The kyndes of frutes wherwith thinhabitan∣tes lyued fyrst.
• * 1.582

  Necessitie the moother of all artes.
• * 1.583

  The fine breade Ca∣zabb••, made of the rootes of Iucca.
• * 1.584

  howe Ceres fyrst founde wheate and ••arly in E∣gypte.
• * 1.585

  The ••ootes of ages.
• * 1.586

  The autour•• excu••e.
• * 1.587

  Plinie.
• * 1.588

  By what na∣mes they sa∣lute the kyn∣ges chyldren when they are borne.
• * 1.589

  The names and ytles of the Romane Emperours.
• * 1.590

  howe they make theyr testamente••
• * 1.591

  So dyd grea Alexander
• * 1.592

  The kynges wyues and concubines are buryed with hym.
• * 1.593

  They burie theyr iewels with them. A dreame of an other lyfe after this.
• * 1.594

  where it ray∣neth but sel∣dome.
• * 1.595

  where it ray∣neth much.
• * 1.596

  Uariable mo∣tions of the elementes.
• * 1.597

  The colonies and vyllages which the Spanyardes haue buylded
• * 1.598

  The other I∣landes about hispaniola,
• * 1.599

  The Ilande Arethusa.
• * 1.600

  A sprynge run¦nyng vnder the sea frome hispan••ola to Arethusa.
• * 1.601

  The Iland of Sancti Iohan¦nis.
• * 1.602

  The Ilande of Cuba.
• * 1.603

  habitable re∣gions vnder the Equinoc∣tiall.
• * 1.604

  The ryche golde mynes of Cuba.
• * 1.605

  The Iland of Iamaica.
• * 1.606

  The Iland of Guadalupea.
• * 1.607

  England and Scotlande.
• * 1.608

  The gumme cauled Anim•• album.
• * 1.609

  Dates.
• * 1.610

  Pine trees.
• * 1.611

  The Cani∣ba••es.
• * 1.612

  whereby it was thought that there were Ilandes of women▪
• * 1.613

  hony in trees and ro••kes.
• * 1.614

  The Ilande Desiderata.
• * 1.615

  The Ilande Galanta.
• * 1.616

  The Ilandes of Todos Sanctos or Barbara.
• * 1.617

  The Ilande•• monsserratus
• * 1.618

  The Ilande Antiqua,
• * 1.619

  The Ilande Portus Bellus Great Tortoy¦ses.
• * 1.620

  The genera∣tion of Tor∣toyses.
• * 1.621

  The egges o•• Tortoyses.
• * 1.622

  Innumerable Ilandes.
• * 1.623

  Troians▪
• * 1.624

  Tirians.
• * 1.625

  Greekes.
• * 1.626

  P••en••t••ns.
• * 1.627

  The North Iland••s.
• * 1.628

  The Ilandes of the south sea,
• * 1.629

  The Iland of pearles.
• * 1.630

  wylde beasts must be tamed with the rod.
• * 1.631

  An expeditiō to the Ilande of Dites in the south sea
• * 1.632

  The Iland of Margaritea.
• * 1.633

  O•• Draconis.
• * 1.634

  Paria.
• * 1.635

  A conflict.
• * 1.636

  The kynge of the Ilande of Dites submit¦teth him selfe.
• * 1.637

  The kynges pal••aice.
• * 1.638

  A hundreth & ten pounde weight of pearles.
• * 1.639

  axes and hat∣chets more esteemed thē golde.
• * 1.640

  The kynges woordes.
• * 1.641

  Ilandes rych in golde and pearles.
• * 1.642

  C. pounde weyght of perles yerely for a tribute.
• * 1.643

  Plentie of hartes and conni••••.
• * 1.644

  wyne of frui∣tes and sedes
• * 1.645

  The kynge is baptised.
• * 1.646

  The fyft part of perles due to the kynge.
• * 1.647

  Byg perles.
• * 1.648

  A perle for a pope.
• * 1.649

  An other perle of great price.
• * 1.650

  Nise and su∣perfluous pleasures.
• * 1.651

  Dyuers opini¦ons of the generation of pearles.
• * 1.652

  h••rbes in the bottome of the sea.
• * 1.653

  A hundreth perles ••n one shell fysshe.
• * 1.654

  The matrice of the perle fysshe.
• * 1.655

  The ••yrth of perles.
• * 1.656

  where the byggest, meane, and least pearles are engēdred
• * 1.657

  Sea crabbes
• * 1.658

  The sea mus∣cles wherin perles are engendred.
• * 1.659

  The regions of the ••ast syde of the goulfe of Ura∣ba,
• * 1.660

  The region of Caribana.
• * 1.661

  The original of the Cani∣bales.
• * 1.662

  The vylages of Caribana.
• * 1.663

  Manhun••ers.
• * 1.664

  Bookes.
• * 1.665

  Loke in the begynnyng of the booke of the landes lately founde.
• * 1.666

  Circumcised people.
• * 1.667

  what chaun∣ced to the Ca¦pitaines whi∣che the gouer¦nour sent dy∣uers wayes,
• * 1.668

  Looke decade iii. liber .vi.
• * 1.669

  The vyage of Iohannes So¦lisius.
• * 1.670

  Cap. S. Augusti••i▪
• * 1.671

  Iohn Solysi∣us is slaine of the Caniba∣les.
• * 1.672

  The fierce∣nes of the Ca¦nibale••.
• * 1.673

  Brasell.
• * 1.674

  Iohannes Pō¦••ius is repul∣sed by the Ca¦nibales.
• * 1.675

  The vyage of Io••annes Aior••.
• * 1.676

  Locke decade iii. liber, v••.
• * 1.677

  The lewde behau••ur of Iohn Aiora.
• * 1.678

  The variable fortune of Gō¦••alus Bada••o∣cius.
• * 1.679

  Ce••abaro. De¦cade .iii.li.iii.
• * 1.680

  The South sea.
• * 1.681

  A leaque con∣teyneth foure myles by sea and but three by lande.
• * 1.682

  The golden region of Coi∣••a Dytes.
• * 1.683

  Sande myxte w••th golde. howe theyr slaues are marked in the face.
• * 1.684

  Golde.
• * 1.685

  A fruteful re∣gion left deso¦late by ciuile discorde.
• * 1.686

  kynge Per••∣quete.
• * 1.687

  S. Mi••hael,
• * 1.688

  kynge Toto∣noga.
• * 1.689

  Six thousand Cas••ellan•• of golde.
• * 1.690

  kyng Tara∣curu.
• * 1.691

  viii. thou••and pesos of gold
• * 1.692

  kynge Pana∣nome.
• * 1.693

  kyng Tabor.
• * 1.694

  kynge Cheru.
• * 1.695

  ••iii. thousande pesos of gold Salte.
• * 1.696

  kyng Anata.
• * 1.697

  xv. thousande pesos of gold
• * 1.698

  Theyr maner of warre.
• * 1.699

  Fourescore thousand Ca∣stellans o•• golde.
• * 1.700

  kyng Scoria.
• * 1.701

  kyng Pariza.
• * 1.702

  Gasalus Bada¦iocius hath the ouerthrow and is spoy∣led of grea•• ryches of golde,
• * 1.703

  The Incon∣stancie of fortune.
• * 1.704

  The expedi••i∣on of Fraun∣ces Be••arra ••¦geynst the Canibales.
• * 1.705

  Gun••e••▪
• * 1.706

  Ualeius ••epul∣sed of the Ca¦nibales.
• * 1.707

  The Ilandes of the south s••a.
• * 1.708

  In this sea 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Il••ndes of Molucca. most frutefull of ••pices.
• * 1.709

  Collocutea.
• * 1.710

  Cochinus and Camemorus, from whense the Portuga∣les haue their spyces.
• * 1.711

  he meaneth by the streight of Magella∣nus.
• * 1.712

  howe they take hartes and wylde bores.
• * 1.713

  Stocke d••ue••
• * 1.714

  Theyr maner of foulynge.
• * 1.715

  Po••ingiayes ar•• ea••ely ta∣ken.
• * 1.716

  A straunge kynde of fou∣lynge.
• * 1.717

  Fysshes and wo••mes engē¦dered of sume
• * 1.718

  Foules.
• * 1.719

  Gourdes of the tree.
• * 1.720

  L••••er opini∣ons of the swift course of the Ocean towarde the west.
• * 1.721

  The continēt or firme land.
• * 1.722

  The vyages of Diegus Colonus.
• * 1.723

  The vyage from the new landes to Spayne.
• * 1.724

  The contrary course of wa∣ters.
• * 1.725

  The poynt of the pole star,
• * 1.726

  The golde mynes of Da¦riena and the maner of ga∣therynge golde.
• * 1.727

  Owre inclosi∣ers woolde leaue no such commens.
• * 1.728

  Aurisacra Fam••e
• * 1.729

  The broosie of couetous∣nes.
• * 1.730

  Loke Decade ••ii. Liber. x.
• * 1.731

  Cities fortify∣ed with wau∣les.
• * 1.732

  The Iland of Cuba or Fer∣nand••na.
• * 1.733

  The Spani∣ards of Cuba attempt new vyages.
• * 1.734

  The west an∣gle of ••uba.
• * 1.735

  Note.
• * 1.736

  The Iland of Iucatana.
• * 1.737

  A great citie well buylded.
• * 1.738

  Temples.
• * 1.739

  humane peo∣ple.
• * 1.740

  Cunnyng arti¦fycers.
• * 1.741

  Appareled people.
• * 1.742

  Circumci••ed Id••laters.
• * 1.743

  Comi.
• * 1.744

  Mai••m.
• * 1.745

  Campechium.
• * 1.746

  A towne of three thou∣sand howses.
• * 1.747

  Plentie of beastes and foules.
• * 1.748

  Theyr Idoles and Idolatry.
• * 1.749

  houses of lyme & stone.
• * 1.750

  The prouince Aquinall.
• * 1.751

  Moseo.
• * 1.752

  The Spany∣ardes are put to flyght and many slayne.
• * 1.753

  An other ex∣pedition.
• * 1.754

  The Iland of Cozumella.
• * 1.755

  Sweete sa∣uours.
• * 1.756

  A frutefull Ilande,
• * 1.757

  Towres and ••emples.
• * 1.758

  Cozumella na¦med Sancta Crux.
• * 1.759

  Idoles lyke beares.
• * 1.760

  Idolatry.
• * 1.761

  Gentell peop••e.
• * 1.762

  Iucatana but fyue myles from Cozu∣me••la.
• * 1.763

  The Barba∣rians make resistaunce.
• * 1.764

  A conflicte,
• * 1.765

  The length of Iuca••ana.
• * 1.766

  The region of Caluacam, or Oloan.
• * 1.767

  The ryuer Grisalua.
• * 1.768

  Targets and brest plates of golde.
• * 1.769

  Armure of golde.
• * 1.770

  Experte arti∣ficers.
• * 1.771

  Fysshe hokes of golde.
• * 1.772

  The Ilandes of Sacrifice.
• * 1.773

  Chyldren sa∣crified to I∣doles.
• * 1.774

  Their Idoles of marble.
• * 1.775

  Gold and pre¦cious stones▪
• * 1.776

  A stone of great price.
• * 1.777

  Ilandes of women.
• * 1.778

  Golde.
• * 1.779

  houses lyke towres.
• * 1.780

  xv. greate townes in the prou••nce of Col••ua••ana.
• * 1.781

  Townes of x••. thousande hou••es.
• * 1.782

  The region of Palmaria.
• * 1.783

  A token of frendship.
• * 1.784

  Preestes.
• * 1.785

  Chastitie.
• * 1.786

  The puny••he¦ment of adul¦terie.
• * 1.787

  Mariage is honoured.
• * 1.788

  Fastynge.
• * 1.789

  kynge Ouan¦dus.
• * 1.790

  Idoles, iew∣els, and ou∣ches of gold.
• * 1.791

  Gold in moun¦taynes and ryuers
• * 1.792

  Theyr maner of gatheryng golde.
• * 1.793

  Sweete sa∣uours.
• * 1.794

  A stone of great price.
• * 1.795

  Other viages from Cuba or Fernandina.
• * 1.796

  Many Iland•• betwene Cu¦ba and the firme lande.
• * 1.797

  Sanctiago the chiefe ci∣tie of Cuba.
• * 1.798

  The Barba••i¦ans sley the Spaniardes with theyr owne wea∣pons.
• * 1.799

  The chiefe ci¦tie of the sup∣posed conti∣nent.
• * 1.800

  The Spany∣ardes are s••ayne ageyne with theyr owne wepōs.
• * 1.801

  The barbari∣ans are slaine and pu•• to flyght.
• * 1.802

  An other vy∣age.
• * 1.803

  Archipelagus.
• * 1.804

  A multitude of Ilandes.
• * 1.805

  xxvi. Ilandes about hispani¦ola & Cuba.
• * 1.806

  Images of golde.
• * 1.807

  Rasers of stone.
• * 1.808

  Instrumentes and tooles.
• * 1.809

  Landes lyke vnto the earth¦ly Paradyse.
• * 1.810

  An other vy∣age of .x. Cara¦uels and a. hundreth mē.
• * 1.811

  horses and mares.
• * 1.812

  Fernando Cortesius.
• * 1.813

  The Iland of Cozumella.
• * 1.814

  Carpets and sheetes.
• * 1.815

  Innumerable bokes.
• * 1.816

  Circumcised Idolaters.
• * 1.817

  They Sacri∣fice Chyldren
• * 1.818

  The Ilandes of Dis••am & Sestam.
• * 1.819

  Sacrifice of dogges.
• * 1.820

  They are soone persua¦ded to owre religion.
• * 1.821

  The picture of the bles∣sed virgine
• * 1.822

  An other vy∣age
• * 1.823

  Aquillaris .vii. yeares captiue in the Iland of Iu∣catana.
• * 1.824

  Valdiuia.
• * 1.825

  The ship∣wracke of Ualdiuis.
• * 1.826

  The quicke sandes cau∣led vypers.
• * 1.827

  The course of the sea to∣warde the west.
• * 1.828

  Ualdiuia is sacrificed to Idoles.
• * 1.829

  howe Aquil∣laris escaped
• * 1.830

  kynge Tax¦marus.
• * 1.831

  The mouth of a ryuer sto••ped with sande.
• * 1.832

  Turky hens.
• * 1.833

  A confl••cte.
• * 1.834

  The Barba∣rians are put to flyght.
• * 1.835

  The great towne of Pos¦tanchana or Uictoria.
• * 1.836

  A towne of xxv. thou••ād houses.
• * 1.837

  Gunnes and horses.
• * 1.838

  The man & the horse. thought to be one beast.
• * 1.839

  Centaurus.
• * 1.840

  ••alaices of maruelous bygnes and ••el buylded.
• * 1.841

  They receue owre religiō.
• * 1.842

  A towne of a thousand & fyue hundred houses,
• * 1.843

  An other v••∣age of two brygantines & fiftie men.
• * 1.844

  where the sea runneth swyftly from the East to the West.
• * 1.845

  A conflict be∣twene the wa¦ters comming from the west and from the south.
• * 1.846

  A dangerous and peinefull vyage.
• * 1.847

  The land of Colluacana.
• * 1.848

  The land of Baccaleos or Baccal••arum
• * 1.849

  Rych presen∣••es of golde and precious sle••es.
• * 1.850

  A newe colo∣nie.
• * 1.851

  This Cortesi∣us hath writ∣ten a booke of these thinges
• * 1.852

  They weare rynges and plates at ther lyppes.
• * 1.853

  The dyuers phantasies of men.
• * 1.854

  Syluer.
• * 1.855

  Note where go••d and syl∣ue•• are engē∣dered.
• * 1.856

  I thinke this l••ton to ••e sum ky••de of pure copper▪ or els copper that holde••h golde. Fo•• la∣ton is an arti∣ficial me••a••, & hath no natu∣••all myne Theyr bokes
• * 1.857

  Theyr letters
• * 1.858

  what is con¦teyned in theyr bookes.
• * 1.859

  Temple•• rychly adour∣ned.
• * 1.860

  Prayer.
• * 1.861

  They sacry∣fice chyldren & captyues.
• * 1.862

  A wronge way to heauē
• * 1.863

  Bluddy gods
• * 1.864

  Villa Ricca.
• * 1.865

  Siuilla Noua.
• * 1.866

  The force of an owlde er∣rour.
• * 1.867

  Theyr priests lyue chast.
• * 1.868

  Faggots of bones.
• * 1.869

  A fygure of baptisme.
• * 1.870

  The presen∣tes sent into Spayne to the kynge.
• * 1.871

  Two Images of gold and syluer.
• * 1.872

  Two cheine•• of gold mar∣uelou••ly byset with precious stones and iewels.
• * 1.873

  Buskyns.
• * 1.874

  Myters.
• * 1.875

  how can we then ca••l thē beastly or Barbarous.
• * 1.876

  If they had chāged their gold for owre Irē, they had not so soone byn subdued. Quylles.
• * 1.877

  ••elmets.
• * 1.878

  •• byrde.
• * 1.879

  Speares.
• * 1.880

  A sce••ter.
• * 1.881

  A braselet.
• * 1.882

  Shooes.
• * 1.883

  Glasses.
• * 1.884

  Byrdes. fou∣les, & fysshes of golde.
• * 1.885

  Targets. &c. of gold.
• * 1.886

  A crowne of golde.
• * 1.887

  Crosses.
• * 1.888

  Images of baest••s.
• * 1.889

  Shi••tes.
• * 1.890

  Cloth of ar∣ras.
• * 1.891

  A souldyers cl••cke.
• * 1.892

  Reg••stere of thaff••yres of India.
• * 1.893

  Tha••toritie of the Lieue∣tenaunt.
• * 1.894

  The Spany∣ardes of Da∣riena.
• * 1.895

  Sancta Maria Antiqua.
• * 1.896

  Petrus Arias whom the Spanyardes name Pedia∣••ias.
• * 1.897

  This sea the spanyardes ••aule ••ardel 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.898

  Contention betwene Uas¦chus and Pe∣trus Arias.
• * 1.899

  Petrus Arias commandeth that Uaschus be put to death.
• * 1.900

  Uaschus is accused.
• * 1.901

  Uaschus is put to death.
• * 1.902

  Petrus Arias.
• * 1.903

  Lupus Sosa.
• * 1.904

  The great ry¦uer of Dabai∣ba or Grandis
• * 1.905

  The goulfe of Uraba.
• * 1.906

  The ryche mountaynes of Dabaiba.
• * 1.907

  Fierce & war lyke people.
• * 1.908

  Dartes.
• * 1.909

  Swoordes of heauie wood.
• * 1.910

  hispan••ola Ouiedus wry∣teth that ther are nowe .v. monasteries.
• * 1.911

  Newe and strange disea∣ses.
• * 1.912

  The suger of hispaniola.
• * 1.913

  Suger of Ua∣leutia.
• * 1.914

  A token of maruelous fruitfulnes.
• * 1.915

  Cattayle.
• * 1.916

  wheate.
• * 1.917

  Uines.
• * 1.918

  Cassia Fistula.
• * 1.919

  Brasyle.
• * 1.920

  Myrobalanes