Purchas his pilgrimes. part 1 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

§. V. COLVMBVS his first Voyage, and improuement therein of the Mariners Art.

ON Friday, the third of August, the same yeere, hee set forth with his three Carauels from Palos; himselfe in the Admirall, called * 1.1 Santa Maria; the second Pinta, in which, was Captaine Martin Alonso Pinçon, and his brother Francisco Martinez [ 40] Pinçon, Master; the third Ninna, whose Captaine and Master was Vincent Yannez Pinçon, which found halfe that eighth part of the expence which Colombo had couenanted to contribute.* 1.2 There were in all (some say) an hundred and twenty men; Herera hath but ninety. On the fourth of August, the Rudder of the Pinta proued loose, which they fastened as well as they could with Cords, but soone after with force of Wind brake, and they were all compelled to strike sayle; which, in such a Voyage as this (they knew not whither) could not but be trou∣blesome, and seeme also ominous. On the eleuenth of August they had sight of the Canaries; where hauing refreshed themselues in the Ile Gomera, they hasted thence the sixt of Septem∣ber, for feare of the Portugals, who had set forth three Caruels to take them. The seuenth they lost sight of Land, with sighes and teares, many of them fearing neuer to see it againe; whom [ 50] Don Christopher comforted as well as he could, with promises of rich Discoueries: and sayling that day * 1.3 eighteene leagues, he reckoned no more then fifteene, diminishing his accompt, to make them seeme neerer home. On the foureteenth of September he first obserued the Variation of the Compas, which no man till then had considered, which euery day appeared more euident. On Sunday, the sixteenth, they saw pieces of * 1.4 Grasse, or Herbes, on the Water, of a pale greene colour, and on one of them a Grasse-hopper aliue, and some signes of Land approching, made some beleeue they had seene it. On the nineteenth they saw an Alcatraz (a kind of Sea-Fowle) and the next day two, which with other Grasse euery day encreasing, encreased their hopes of Land, saue that the Grasse sometimes hindered their sayling.

All this while he had the Wind in poupe, which on the two and twentieth of Septembe•• [ 60] came crosse at Southwest; and the Spaniards murmured, that the former Winds, which had been large to bring them hither, would neuer permit their returne to Spaine, and now began to blam•• the King and Queene, which had listned to that bold Italian, res••luing to pursue the Voyage 〈◊〉〈◊〉 further (the Admirall vsing all his Wits to the contrarie in vaine, mixing with 〈…〉〈…〉

Prayers, Threats and Menaces) alledging, That he thought to make himselfe a great Lord with the price of their liues; and that they had alreadie done their dutie, sayling further from Land then euer any had: nor ought they to be guiltie of their owne deaths, proceeding they knew not whither, till Victuals fayled them, which alreadie would scarcely hold out their returne, nor yet the Caruels, being alreadie spent, and faultie, with other like quarrels: threatning to throw him into the Sea, if he would not returne; and if hee were so desperate to perish, they would saue themselues. Colombo sweetly calmed those tempests with gentle words and rich promises, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (as is thought, before agreed vpon) talking with Vin••ent Pinçon, suddenly cryed, Land, Land, on the fiue and twentieth of September, which filled them with cheare and hope, [ 10] which yet proued but Clouds: and therefore howsoeuer the mutinous tempest was for a time stilled, yet on the second of October that storme reuiued with such force, that hee hauing pro∣longed as farre as hee might, with likelier signes dayly of Land, at last he indented with them for three dayes. This they promised to trie, but not one houre longer▪ saying, all were Lyes which he had promised. The first of these dayes he perceiued by the Sunne-set, that Land was neere, and commanded, that they should abate their Sayles in the Night; in which Night hee spyed Light.

Two houres after Midnight, Rodrigo de Triana descryed Land on the eleuenth of October,* 1.5 1492. which when it was day, they saw to be an Iland of fifteene leagues compasse, plaine and woodie, with a great Poole of fresh Water, the naked people wondring on the shore, thinking [ 20] their Shippes were liuing Creatures. They went on Land, and termed it San Saluador,* 1.6 by the Inhabitants called Guanahani, one of the Iles Lucayos, nine hundred and fiftie leagues from the Canaries, and hauing said a Te Deum on his knees, with teares in his eyes, Colombo tooke pos∣session in name of the Catholike Kings, Ferdinand and Isabella, in presence of Rodrigo de Esco∣uedo, Notarie; the Spaniards also acknowledging him for Vice-Roy. The people wondred at the Beards, Whitenesse, Clothing of the Spaniards, who gaue them coloured Caps, Glasse-beads, and other Toyes. And when they departed, the naked Natiues followed, some in Canoas,* 1.7 others swimming after them. They were all naked, their haire bound vp, their stature meane, bodies well formed, colour like those of the Canaries, Oliue, painted some blacke, others of other colours, in part, or all ouer the body, as each best fancied. They knew not the vse of Iron, or [ 30] Weapons, but layd their hands on the edge of the Sword. They saw no liuing Creatures but Parrats among them. They trucked for Cotton Yarne, and had Rings of Gold in their Nose∣thrils, which they said that it came from the South, where they had a King rich therein. They tooke the Spaniards to be men come from Heauen.

On the fifteenth of October he went seuen leagues thence to another Iland (which he cal∣led Santa Maria de la Concecion) the seuenteenth, to Fernandina, where the Women, with Cotton short Coates, from the Nauill to the mid Thigh, couered their nakednesse. The fourth Iland he called Isabella, and thereof (as of all the former) tooke solemne possession. He would not suffer any of his companie to take ought from the Natiues in any place. Thence he passed to Cuba, and went on Land, thinking it to be Zipango; and some Indians which he carried [ 40] with him, signified, that there was Gold and Pearles.* 1.8 He sent two Spaniards with two Indi∣ans to search the Countrey, which found a Towne of fiftie houses of about a thousand persons (for a whole Kindred or Linage dwelt together in one house) where the people kissed their hands and feet, thinking them heauenly Wights, gaue them Bread of a Root, and perfumed them with certaine Herbes burned. They saw store of Cotton growing of it selfe, and strange kinds of Birds and Trees. The Spaniards had most mind to the Gold which they saw in their Noses, of which they questioned these Indians, who answered Cubanacan, that is in the midst of Cuba, which the Spaniards vnderstood of the Can of Cathay, mentioned by Marco Polo. In hope of singular successe, Martin Alonso Pinçon left the Admirall, who also left Cuba, which he called Iuana, in honour of the Prince of Castile, to seeke that Iland which he named Hispa∣niola, before Hayti. For hauing demanded of Zipango in Cuba, the Indians thinking hee had [ 50] meant Cibao, which is one of the richest Mines of Hispaniola, directed him thither. Here gi∣uing a Woman which they tooke, Meat, Drinke, and Clothes, he sent with her some of his In∣dians, which reported much good of the Spaniards, whence grew much acquaintance betwixt them, and after, with their King Guacanagari, which entreated Colombo to come aland. Here he lost his principall Ship, and erected a Fort called the Natiuitie,* 1.9 and vnderstood of the Gol∣den Prouinces of this Iland: and hauing good remonstrance of his Golden Hopes and Haps also, in exchange for Trifles, with some Indians taken with him, leauing eight and thirtie Spaniards in his new Fort, after reconciliation with Pinçon (the Indians, which carried the Admirals Letter to him, attributed their mutuall vnderstanding to some Deitie therein) he pre∣pared [ 60] for his returne.

Before this, he charged them to behaue themselues with all due respects to Guacanagari, and to his Indians, without wrong to any: and on Friday, the fourth of Ianuary, in the yeere 1493. (after their account) sayled from the Port of Natiuitie. He saw three Mermaids leaping a good height out of the Sea, Creatures (as hee affirmed) not so faire as they are painted,* 1.10 somewhat

resembling Men in the face, of which at other times he said he had seene on the Coast of Gui∣nea. In his returne, he discouered a great part of the Coast of Hispaniola, and gaue Names to Capes and Harbours. In this Voyage, Colombo is said first to haue taught the Spaniards, in their sayling, to obserue the Sunne and Pole in their Nauigations, which they before knew not. Obseruing by his skill in Astronomie, that the Moone being in coniunction with Mercury, and opposition with Iupiter, and the Sunne also in like opposition, to produce great Windes, hee made some stay, and had new commerce with other Indians, where accidentally happened the first quarrell and skirmish betwixt the Spaniards and Natiues. But soone after their King sent them his Crowne of Gold, and much Victuall, and gaue them further intelligence. From this Gulfe de las Flechas, or of Arrowes, on Wednesday the seuenteenth of Ianuarie, hee departed, [ 10] and made homewards: in which it is obserued, that as in their way to the Indies, hauing the Wind large, they reckoned farre fewer leagues then they sayled, so in their returne they accoun∣ted more, the Admirals reckoning being a hundred and fiftie lesse then theirs.

* 1.11A tedious Tempest befell them in Februarie: wherein other remedies seeming to fayle, they vowed Pilgrimages to our Lady by Lot; the first fell on the Admirall himselfe, to Guadalupe; the second to Loretto, on Pedro de Villa; and a third Vow was common to all, that they should at the first Church of our Lady they came to, make Procession in their shirts, with other like de∣uoted Deuotions.

How vnlike was this to that of the Psalmist, in like stormes happening to them that see the Wonders of the Lord in the Deepe.* 1.12 For the Lord commandeth and rayseth the stormie Wind, which [ 20] lifteth vp the Waues thereof. They mount vp to the Heauen, they goe downe againe to the Depths, their Soule is melted because of trouble. They reele too and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits end. Then they cry vnto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the Storme a Calme, so that the Waues thereof are still. Then are they glad, because they be quiet. So he bringeth them vnto their desired Hauen. O that men would prayse the Lord (not goe on Pilgrimage to our Lady) for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men, &c.

The Psalmist in like case is to distressed Mariners a better Admirall then Colombo, whose de∣uotion herein fayled in the Obiect.* 1.13 Yet his diligence and wisedome in this is to be commended, that fearing shipwracke, lest this famous Discouerie might also be lost, he writ the whole Dis∣course [ 30] in Parchment, and folding it in a Seare-cloth, he put it in a Barrell or Hogs-head, which he threw into the Sea.

But on the fifteenth of February they saw Land, being S. Maries Iland, one of the Azores; where going on shore to fulfill their vowed Pilgrimage, the Gouernour came vpon them, and after many words told them, that hee had order from the King of Portugall to take them. But making an escape, another Storme tooke them, and caused another Pilgrimage to be vowed to our Lady of Cinta, the Lot falling on the Admirall: And thus was he forced to Lis∣bone;* 1.14 where, after much contesting with the Portugals, the King sent for him, being now much grieued for omitting such an opportunitie; yet vsed him kindly, although there were that offe∣red to kill Colombo, before hee should carry newes of this Discouerie to Spaine; the rather, for [ 40] his boldnesse, obiecting to the King his neglect. But the gentle King repro••ed these cruell Gentlemen, and after kind vsage, licenced him to depart.

True it is, that the Portugall Nation haue in their Bookes and Writings sought to obscure this Exploit of Columbus, attributing it rather to a Dreame of Zipango out of Marco Polo, and his confident glorious nature, seconded by successe vnlooked for (for which, as idle imaginations, their King had refused his offer) then any such excellencie as the Castilian Writers ascribe to him.* 1.15 But Enuy is the darke shadow, that alwayes followes him at the heeles, which walkes in the bright Sunne-light of Vertue and high Attempts. Euen the Spaniards themselues, not only by the tale of the Pilot before mentioned, but by light esteeme of his worth haue shewed a con∣temptible contempt of him: some of whom obiecting to himselfe the easinesse of this Disco∣uerie, [ 50] as he sate at Table, he prayed to make an Egge, which then he gaue them, to stand on end; which when they could not, hee bruising the shell, and making the end flat, made it to stand thereon: thereby insinuating, how easie it was for them to doe that which they had seene and learned of him.

Yea, the Pinçons, his chiefe Associates, by like spirit of proud Enuy, maligned him; one of which had, after the Islands discouered, forsaken him, as yee haue heard: which hee was forced to dissemble, and be reconciled, the most of his companie being of kinne to the Pinçons, or at lest inhabitants of Palos with them. They also entred suit with Colombo, and arrogated to their owne valour this Discouerie, which Columbus would (after so many dayes not finding Land) haue forsaken, but was proceeded in by their resolution. And in his third Voyage 1949. Rolda∣nus [ 60] Ximenius raysed a Rebellion in those parts, and effected, that Bouadilla was sent Gouernour into Hispaniola, who sent the Admirall, with his Brother, Prisoners all the way, of his long Discouerie into Spaine, for which he had so aduentured. These Iron Chaynes could cold Enuy, for so much Gold, for such a World, render vnto that Worthy of Men. But the Catholike Kings

of higher Spirits (for Enuy, the first sinne we read of in the Deuill,* 1.16 and which made him a De∣uill, as Tertullian and Cyprian in their Tractates of Patience haue obserued, the first also in the first-borne Man, which made him an incarnate Deuill and Murtherer, is but the sink•• and settled Dregs of Basenesse, which wanting proper worth, malignes it to others) these much honoured Columbus, as well they might, and confirmed his Priuiledges anew, besides many speciall graces done him, as did also the Cardinall of Spaine, and still is done by their ingenuous Writers, Ouiedo, Herera, and others.

This Storie at large I haue set downe, that Discouerers may by this example learne to digest greater Stormes at home, then the boysterous Elements in their tempestuous Conspiracie yeeld [ 10] them; and to know, that Pusillanimitie and Impatience are the vnfittest Attempters in the World. The Spaniards other Discoueries in the American parts (for so were they called of Americus Vesputius, a Florentine, who accompanied Colombo in his first Voyage, and after dis∣couered a greater part of the Continent then the Admirall had, as Cabota in that did more then they both) I list not to pursue; easie it is to know, that Gold bartered for Glasse, Beads, Nee∣dles, and other Toyes, would be strongly actiue, and strangely attractiue to new Discoueries. Dimidium facti qui bene caepit, habet. Cortes his Conquest of Mexico, and Pizarro his Peru were not comparable to their Masters Master-Peace, who found the New World, to find them worke. Before Colombo went his second Voyage, he left a Card, contayning the description of the whole Nauigation and Discouerie, in Spaine with the Kings, and his sonnes, Pages to [ 20] the Prince.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ouiedo hath Gallega.
• * 1.2

  Mart. Dec. & Ouiedo.
• * 1.3

  When he had runne aboue 700. he recko∣ned lesse then 600. nor their Pilots much more deceiued by the wind alway large.
• * 1.4

  This Grasse they call Sal∣gazzi, or Sara∣gasso, floting in diuers places this and ••hat way, which at first terrified them, as if they had en••oūtred sunken Lands.
• * 1.5

  Rod. de Triana first saw Land.
• * 1.6

  Guanahani, or San Saluador.
• * 1.7

  A Conoa is a Boat made of one tree, which they wrought into that forme with sharpe stones, & helpe of fire: some caried but one, & some aboue 40. or 50. men in them. S. Maria de la Conception. Fernandina. Isabella.
• * 1.8

  Cuba.
• * 1.9

  A Fort.
• * 1.10

  Three Mer∣maids.
• * 1.11

  Pilgrimages vowed.
• * 1.12

  Ps. 107.24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.
• * 1.13

  Prouidence, lest the Voyage should mis∣carry.
• * 1.14

  Bar. Dec. 1. l. 3. c. 11.
• * 1.15

  Enuy.
• * 1.16

  Impatientiae ••a∣tales ab ipso Diab. depre∣hendo. Diabolus iam tum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Deus vniuersa opera h••mi••i subiecisset, im∣patienter 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Nec enim dolu∣isset si sustinu∣isset, nec inui∣disset si non do∣luisset. Tert. de patien∣tia. Cyp. de beno pat. Diabo••us homi∣nem ad imagi∣n••m Dei factum impatienter tu∣lit, inde & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 primus & per∣didit.