America: or An exact description of the West-Indies: more especially of those provinces which are under the dominion of the King of Spain. / Faithfully represented by N.N. gent.

CHAP. I.

Of the generall division of the New World into Continent and Islands; and of the two parts of the Continent, viz. the Nor∣thern and the Southern.

1. AMerica, or the New World (as we have said before) is it self most generally thought to be but an Island (though a very huge one) and to be sur∣rounded on all parts by the Sea: not only on the East, West, and South, (as is already found by experience) but also towards the North; where it is likewise supposed to be divided from the Continent of Asia, by the Sea running between. Nevertheless for distinction sake, and by reason it is of such a vast extent, as that it equalleth and far exceedeth any other part

of the World, how great soever, that is count∣ed or called Continent, it seems not amiss to express the whole under this division, viz. of Continent and Islands: understanding by the first, viz. Continent, only the main Land, or more principall Provinces of America, which lye united together, and extend themselves, in one continued tract, from the Northern to the Southern borders; and by the latter, the Islands which lye about the main Land, and, though some of them at a good distance from it, yet as well by reason of situation, as for that they were discovered and conquered at the same time with the other, are generally taken and reckoned for part of the New World. That which we call the Continent of America, is divided generally into two parts, which are two great Peninsulas, or ••emy-Islands, envi∣roned on all parts by the Sea, save onely in the midst; where they are joyned together by a certain Isthmus, or neck of Land, which they call the Streit of Darien, lying almost under the Equinoctial Line, in some few degrees of Northern latitude: which runneth in length from the district of Panama, as they call it, and Nombre de Dios to the Southward, about an hundred miles or more, but in bredth from East to West, or from the North to the South

Sea, is nothing answerable; being in some pla∣ces not above seventeen or eighteen miles over. These two Peninsulas are generally counted the Northern and Southern parts of America; so called from their situation, in respect of the Equator: the one of them lying wholly Northward of the Equinoctiall Line, and the other, at least for the greatest part of it, South∣ward. They contained anciently (beside many huge and vast Provinces, governed, for the most part, by Royteletts, or certain pettie Princes in each respective Province or Terri∣torie, whom they called Casiques) two great and mightie Kingdoms; the one of Cusco, ge∣nerally called the Kingdom of Peru, in the Southern part; and the other of Mexico, now called new Spain, in the Northern: of both which, and likewise of the manner of the first conquering and subduing of them by the Spa∣niards, when time was, something shall be said in due place.

2. The Mexican, or Northern part of Ame∣rica, containeth these several Provinces, viz. 1. Estotiland, 2. Canada, or New France, 3. Virginia, 4. Florida, 5. Califormia, 6. New Gallicia, 7. New Spain, or Mexicana properly so called; and lastly 8. Guatimala, together with some other lesser Islands, so neerly ad∣joyning

to the Continent, that they are usually reckoned for part of it, by those which de∣scribe the Countrie; and therefore shall be mentioned in their several places accordingly, viz. as parts of the respective Provinces upon which they lye. The Peruvian, or Southern, part containeth these which follow, viz. 1. Castella del oro, as the Spaniards call it, or golden Castile, 2. Nova Granada, 3. Peru, 4. Chile, 5. Paraguay, 6. Brasil, 7. Guiana, and lastly Paria, or new Andalusia, as some call it. The Islands which lye further off from the main Land, but yet reckoned commonly for part of the New World, by reason they were discovered, as hath been said, and for the greater part conquered and subdued with it, are chiefly those called 1. Los Ladrones, 2. the Islands of Salomon, which lye in the South Sea: and in the Northern, 1. the Caribee Islands, 2. St. John de Port-rico, 3. Hispaniola, 4 Ja∣maica, and 5. Cuba; of all which in their order, according to the method of the latest, and, as I presume, the exactest Cosmographers, viz. of our learned Countriman Dr. Heylyn, and his Author Laet: upon whom I must profess to rest very much in this part of my report, especially as to the site and position of Places.

CHAP. II.

Of Estotiland, and the several Provinces which it containeth.

1. THe first Province of the Continent of America towards the North, is called Estotiland; for what reason I must plainly confess, I cannot so cleerly discover; unless perhaps our Neighbours the Duch happened to have the first naming of it, and that it beareth any signification of its Easterly lying in respect of the other Provinces. It containeth all those Regions of the Mexican or Northern part of America, which lye fur∣thest toward the North East: on which side, as likewise more directly Eastward, it is wash∣ed all along with the main Ocean, or North-Sea; having on the South Canada, or new France: Westward, and to the North-west, it is not yet fully discovered: but supposed either to be joyned to some parts of Tartary, or (which I think is the more common con∣jecture to be divided from it by the Sea: which some, presuming it to be but a narrow Sea, call the Streits of Anian, from a Province or part of the Asiatique Tartary, which beareth

that name, and lyeth upon it. On the North it hath a Bay, or large Inlet of the Sea, which the English call Hudsons Streites from Capt. Henry Hudson an Englishman, who in the yeare 1610 is said to have sailed in this Sea no less then three hundred leagues Westward, in search of a passage that way to the Kingdomes of Catha and China; of which we have spoken already, and which was so much endeavoured in those times both by our selves and our neigh∣bours the Duch: but without success hither∣to. The whole Province containeth these par∣ticular Countries, if I may so call them, or Prefectships, as some others doe, viz. First, E∣stotiland more properly so called. Secondly, Terra Corterialis. Thirdly, New-found land, and Fourthly certain Islands neer adjoyning to the Continent, which they call Bacca∣leos.

2. Estotiland specially so called, is the most Northerly region of all America towards the East, lying betwixt the abovesaid Hudsons Sreights, which it hath on the North, and Terra Corterialis on the South. The soil of the country is said to be reasonably good, and well stored with naturall Commodities, I mean, such as are of necessity and may be expected in such a cold northerly quarter, as Flesh, fowl,

and good store of Fish in the Sea. Among the Natives of the country there, and some Savage that live wild up and down in the Woods, and go naked, not withstanding the extream cold: but for the most part, they are supposed at least to be more civill. The first discoverers of the country reporting of them, that they both sow corn, brew Beer and Ale, use Canoas or little Boats at Sea, by which they trade with Greenland, Freezland, and other parts at one thousand or five hundred miles distance from them. They are said likwise to have some use of letters, but of a Character proper only to their own Nation, and not understood by any o∣ther people beside themselves. Yea they talk likewise, as if they had some knowledge of the Latin tongue; and of certain Latin books in a Library of one of the Kings of the Country: wherein, if there be any thing of truth, (as I hold it not altogether impossible) 'tis likely, some people from the more Northerly parts of Europe, that understood the Latin tongue, might in times past be cast on shore, or suffer Shipwrack upon those Coasts; where being constrained to live and abide, they might leave some books, and other monuments of the Lan∣guage behind them in the Country after their decease. However it be, this seems more cer∣tain,

by the report and experience of some English, that the people are generally here found to be more ingenious, to have better judgement in things, and to be much more skilfull in divers Mechanicall arts, then usually in these other parts of America they were at first. Among other things they were observed to use a kinde of Dart, or short Ja∣velin, pointed with bright steel and very sharp: which being a kinde of Weapon used only by the people of Java, and some other of the Islands of the East Indies, it is conjectured, that they have commerce one with another: which seems not altogether improbable. But as for the Towns, Citties and great Castles a∣mong them, which some speak of, and of the Temples, wherein they sacrificed men, (though that be an ancient and generall custome among the Americans, and those of this Country bar∣barous enough to doe it) yet the Reader per∣haps will be willing to suspend his beleefe a while: as likewise he will, for the supposed Mines of gold and silver there: of which (at least as it may seem) the Northerly scituation of the Country doth not well permit us to have such strong presumption. Of Brass and Iron, 'tis likely enough there may be good store, if the Country were scarched. But as

yet the knowledge thereof, especially concer∣ning the more Inland parts; remains very im∣perfect. Some English Adventurers passing that way, have left names to certain Capes or Head-lands upon the Northern Coasts of it, and that is all: the chief of which are these, viz. Cape Elizabeth at the entrance into Hud∣sons Streights Northward. Prince Henries Foreland. Cape Charles. Kings Foreland with with divers others, more to the South. Cape Wostenholme and Digges his Island about the mouth of the Streight; where it opens it self and disembogues into a large and capacious Bay, called (as abovesaid) Hudsons Bay, and dividing these uttermost Provinces of the Northern America into two parts, which some call the Eastern and Western point; as may be seen in the Maps. The people of the Country, that are any thing civilized, cloath themselves commonly with Beasts skins, and with the skins of the Sea-calves otherwise called Mor∣ses; which are a kinde of Fish of an Amphibi∣ous nature, much abounding in those Nor∣thern Seas, of the bigness of a young Heifer, or Bullock of two yeares old, which they hunt and take in great numbers, especiall where the Whale-fishing is not so good; and draw a good quantity of oile from them, which they

call Train-oile, as they doe from the Whale. The flesh of them is counted reasonable good meat, of a taste somewhat like Porke: and on each side of their upper Jaw there groweth out a long tooth, or Tusk, crooked and ben∣ding downward, not unlike to that of an Ele∣phant, each of them a Cubit long sometimes and more, of a substance white and very hard like Ivory; for which it commonly passeth. And it were well, if the deceit rested there, and went no further. For as it seems, there are some that vend it for Unicorns horn and attri∣bute I know not what strange and sovereign vertues to it. An egregious imposture, of which the learned Doctor Brown doth likewise (as his manner is) acutely and kindly admonish us. lib. 3. chap. 23. of his Psudodox. Epidemio, above mentioned.

3. Terra Corterialis is a Province, or Country of this Northern part of America, ly∣ing Southward of Estotiland, and Northward of New-France or Canada, being so named from Gaspar Corterialis a Portughese Gentle∣man, who in the yeare 1500 or there∣abouts first discovered these parts, and gave name to the Country; but did not much be∣side. For returning the next yeare after, with intention to make a further discovery, 'tis sup∣posed

he was shipwracke and drown'd at Sea together with his company; of whom, as Oso∣rius in his history of Portugall, witnesseth ne∣ver any returned or were heard of: and the like misfortune befell his Brother Michael Corteri∣alis the next yeare after; who setting out two Ships to search and enquire of, concerning the fortunes of his Brother Gaspar, perished like∣wise in his design, being himself lost and all his men: upon which disasters the Portugheses quite give over the Country, and the French succeed them, naming the Country New Bre∣tain, in reference to Bretain in France, which it seemes, was their native Country. This was about the year 1504. The soil of this Country is very lusty and good, for all sorts of grain ge∣nerally, and yeelds a great advantage to the Husbandman, but not without good pains ta∣king in the tillage and managing of it: For which reason it is called by some Terra di la∣brador, or the land that requires Labourers; in allusion perhaps to Terra di lavora, or the Country of Campania in Italy, so called from a like property. The people of the Country, of themselves barbarous and savage enough, are said to be civilized and bettered in their man∣ners by the conversation of the French. They live much upon Fish, are excellent Archers,

jealous of their Wives, and dwell for the most part in Caves under ground; beeing also much given to Soothsaying & Divining; further than which they seem not to have much knowledge, or sence of any thing that concerns religion. The Country was first of all discovered by Sir Sebastion Cabot, at the charges of Henery the seventh, King of England, as hath been said; but it was only discovered, and the design laid wholly aside, by reason of some domestick troubles, and a Warre which the King then had with the Scots: whereupon the After∣comers tooke leave to enter. The Towns or places, which the French have built since, are cheifly, 1. Brest, 2. St. Marie, and 3. Cabo Marzo, as they call it; of which there is little more to be said.

4. Terra Nova, or New-found land, the third part of this Northerly Province of Ame∣rica, is a great Island, lying on the South of Corterialis, from which it is divided by a Frith, or narrow Sea, which the French call Golf de Chastieux. This place is chiefly frequented for fishing; of which there is such plenty all along the Coasts of this Island, and likewise of Terra Corterialis adjoyning to it, that the huge Shoales of Cod-fish doe sometimes stay their Ships under sail: besides great store of other

fish, both of salt water and fresh, as namely Herrings, Salmons, Thornback, Smelts, ex∣cellent Oysters, and Muscles that are said to have a kinde of Pearl in them; but of what quality or value, doth not so well appear. The Land within is likewise reported to be a very good Countrie, plentifully stored with Deer and other sorts of Venison, Phesants, Par∣tridges, Swans, with variety of other good Fowl; lastly of a temperate Aire and Soile, not barren: only the people of it are said to be few, and to inhabit chiefly the Western and North-west parts of it. But this perhaps may be rather out of fear, and to avoid the conversation of Strangers; which at first they would not endure but fled at the sight of them, being themselves altogether Savage and wilde. But since 'tis said, they grow more tractable, and will be hired, in time of yeer, by the Por∣tugheses, and other Nations that fish com∣monly for Whales in the Bay of St. Laurence, and other places thereabouts, to help them in the opening of their Whales, boyling the fish, and drawing out the Oyle; wherein they that will be got to it, are extremely diligent and ready to take pains. They are commonly of but mean stature, full eyed, somewhat broad∣faced, and for the most part beardless. Their

houses are only certain long Poles, set an end sloping upwards towards the top, where they are fastened together, and covered down∣wards with the skins of Beasts, having in the mid'st their hearth, or place to make fire upon. But that which is most remarkable about this Island, is the many and fair Havens which it affordeth on all sides for shipping: in which respect it is though, for the bigness, scarsely to be paralleld by any other Island or Place in the World: not indeed beautified with any great Towns, or stately buildings, as some are, but affording commodious and secure station for the tallest ships that come before it; the chief whereof are these: 1. La Roigneuse, or Rennosa, as it is called, six leagues Northward of the Cape Raye, which lyeth at the South-East angle of the Island; a place much re∣sorted unto for fishing, from all parts. 2. Por∣tus formosus, or the fair Haven, three miles Northward of the other; capable of great ships, and bearing at least four or five miles within Land, or more. 3. Thornbay, called otherwise by the Portugheses Enseada grande, or the great Bay, for distinction sake. 4. Tri∣nity Bay, on the North of the Cape St. Fran∣cis, called by the Spaniards Baia de la concep∣tion. This is likewise a very large and capa∣cious

Bay, five miles over, where it is narrow∣est, having diverse great Rivers falling into it, and some little Islands lying scatteringly up and down in it, yet safe, and affording very good Anchorage and riding for ships in most parts. 5. Bay Blanche, as the French call it, or White-Bay, on the North of the Cape or Promontory of St. John. On the South side of the Island, and Westward of Cape Raye, there is, 1. Port Trespasse, an excellent and secure Harbour, having alwaies a reasonable deep Sea, without shallows or Rocks. 2. Port St. Marie, six leagues distant from it. 3. Port Presenza, by others called Placenza, on the other side of Cape St. Marie, towards the West. 4. Port du Basques, or the Biscayners Haven; and lastly on the West side of the Island, after you have doubled Cape Raye, there is at Georges Bay, all of them secure sta∣tions, large and of great resort.

5. Before this Island, right over against Cape Ray, at a distance of twenty four leagues or more, there lyeth an huge Bank or ridge of Land, extending it self in length, out of the Sea, some hundred of leagues, if my Author mistake not; but in bredth not above four or five and twenty, when it is broadest: and in other parts much less, sharpning towards

each end into a Conus or narrow point. It is counted one of the Marveils of the Sea; which round about it, at some distance, is very deep, and hardly to be sounded, especially betwixt the Bank, (for so they commonly call it) and Cape Ray, but drawing neerer it grows by degrees more and more shallow; insomuch that nigh the Land, there is not much more water than is necessary for the ships riding. It runneth out in length, as was said, from North to South, from fourty one degrees of latitude to fiftie two; and round about it there lye scattered a multitude of lesser Islands; which Sir Sebastian Cabot, when he first dis∣covered, the place called by one common name Los Baccaleos, or the Islands of Cod-fish, from the great quantity of that sort of fish hee there found: which was such, that they hindred the passage of his ships, and lay in such multitudes upon the Coasts, that the very Bears would come and catch them in their claws, and draw them to Land. This place, I say, with the rest was first discovered by Sir Sebastian Cabot, upon the English account; howbeit the matter happened to be lay'd aside upon the aforesaid occasions; till in King Henery the eight his time, it was revived again by Thorn and Eliot, two Merchants of Bristoll,

but without success: after which the Portu∣gheses, French, and other Nations, resort to it and change the names which the first disco∣verers had given to the Bayes and Capes thereabouts. But the English not relinquish∣ing their pretensions of primier discovery and seisin, about the yeer 1583 Sir Humfry Gilbert took possession of it again, in the name of Queen Elizabeth, and prohibited all Nations the liberty of fishing there, without the Queen of Englands leave. But he being unhappily wracked in his coming home, the business was again discontinued for a time, viz. till the year 1608, when it was undertaken a new by John Guy, another Merchant of Bristoll; and with so good success, that the Colony in a short time were well furnished with Wheat, Rye, Barley, and other grain of their own sowing, with Turnips, Coleworts, and aboun∣dance of other necessary things, not without some probable hopes of Metals, a certain and plentifull trade of Sables, Musk, and other rich Commodities, and such excellent good fish∣ing, especially for Codfish and Ling, that 'tis said some English-men doe ordinarily take two or three hundred of them in the space of three or four houres; which from thence they

conveigh, as a sure and ready Merchandise, into most parts of Europe.

CHAP. III.

Of Canada and the Countries belonging to it.

1 CAnada, or New France, is a large Province of this Northern part of America, bounded Northward with Terra Corterialis abovesaid, and on the South with that part of Virginia which is called New Eng∣land: on the East it is washed with the Ocean or North Sea; the Western borders of it be∣ing not yet fully discovered or known. It hath its name from the River Canada, which wa∣tereth the whole Province, running through the midest of it, and is counted one of the fair∣est and greatest Rivers of America; where yet it is suppposed there are the fairest and greatest of all the World beside. It hath its head or spring in those undiscovered parts of this Nor∣therly tract, which remain yet unknown; and runs generally with a large and violent stream, having in it many Cataracts, or falls of the

Water, as it were, from some Rocks lying in the channels which renders the passage of it up the stream extremely difficult, and down∣wards no less dangerous. In some places it swells and spreads it self out into large and huge Lakes, containing, some of them, one hundred miles in compass, and having diverse small Islands scattered up and down in them: after which it is presently again reduced into a narrower channel, of a league or two leagues broad generally. Thus it runneth turning and winding up and down the Country, as 'tis supposed, some hundred of leagues from its head-spring; till at last having received into its channel many lesser Rivers of the Countrie, it empties it self into a great Bay, which they call the Bay of St. Lawrence; being at the mouth no less thin thirty or fourty leagues broad, as it is said, and one hundred and fifty fathom deep of water. The French Authors report, that it hath been actually searched for above one thousand two hun∣dred miles and upward from the Bay: and that the Savages living thereabouts, doe speak confidently, of certain Bayes of Salt-water more towards the South; and of great vessels which they have seen that way: which, if true, must necessarily be from the South Sea. But I per∣ceive

not that any farther enquiry hath been made by them about it; as doubtless a business of so great importance would deserve, viz. to finde such a commodious and easie passage into the South Sea, and thereby to the other Indies. Therefore I suppose those relations are not much credited. The Countrie on both sides the River, is reasonably pleasant and fer∣til, especially on the South or South-west of it; where it seemeth to be a little mountai∣nous, the ground ascending, for the most part upwards from the River, and rising with ma∣ny little hills, clad most of them with Vines, of which there is great aboundance in the Countrie, and other trees, and divided fre∣quently with other lesser streams, which at se∣veral places doe all of them fall into the great River. In this Countrie the French hitherto, I suppose, have made the greatest discoveries of any other Nation; yet not the first, but fol∣lowing the tract of Corterialis and Sir Sebasti∣an Cabot, that went before them. The whole Country containeth these particular Provinces, or subdivisions, viz. 1. New-France, more e∣specially so called. 2. Nova-Scotia. 3. Norim∣begua: and 4. some Islands adjoyning.

2. New-France, specially so called, lyeth on the North-side of the River Canada, some∣what

what inclining towards the East; and on the South of Terra Corterialis: but in the We∣stern, or more inland parts, the River divideth it in the midst, the French having seated them∣selves on both sides of it. The Countrie na∣turally aboundeth with Staggs, and other sorts of wilde Deer, Bears, Marterns, Foxes, and Hares; of which last there is such plenty, that the French call one of the Islands, Isle aux Lieures, or the Island of Hares. They have likewise good store of Conies: Fish and Fowl in aboundance; only they complain the Winter is long, that the Snow lyeth upon the ground sometimes till a good part of May be past, and that the North-west winde, especially in Win∣ter, blows very cold there, and brings aboun∣dance of Snow with it. The Countrie hath very much wood; but otherwise of a Soile not unapt for Corne, especially Pulse, and such like grain; of which it affordeth extraordina∣rie increase. But the peculiar Commodity of the Countrie seems to be their Chains of Esurgnuy, as they call it, which some say is only a kinde of shel-fish of exceeding white colour; yet found to be of soveraign vertue for the stanching of blood: in which respect they make both Beads and Bracelets of them, and not only use them, but vend them also as a

chief Commoditie; though others, as Laet, out of the Commentaries of the French-men themselves, seem to report otherwise, and to describe the use and making of Esurgnuy only as a piece of superstition among the Savages, about some dead men. The People, when the French came first among them, were altoge∣ther rude and barbarous, as the most part of them continue still; living generally without houses or any certain places of abode; goe na∣ked, save only that they have a little piece of some Beasts skin bound about their middle. Those about the Sea coasts live most upon fishing; which they practise in certain light boats, which at night they are able to draw to draw to Land, without much help; and but turning the bottom upward, they serve them for an house to sleep in. The Countrie affords good plenty of Maiz in many places, but it is said to be the Womens work both to digge the ground and sow it; the Men giving themselves to no kinde of labour, but only of hunting and fishing. Among many other bad enough, they are said to have one vile custome among them, which is, that the young Maidens, when they are fourteen or fifteen yeers old, have leave to prostitute themselves to all Comers; and that they marrie not usually, till they have

thus satiated themselves with promiscuous lust for the space of 4 or 5 yeers together: after which, notwithstanding they take husbands, and prove so extremely loving and constant (if a man could beleeve it) that they never marrie twice, but after their rude manner mourn for their Husbands all their life long.

They have some few Towns; the chief whereof are these, viz. 1. Hochelaga, said to be the seat and residence of a King of this Countrie, which at least some of the Natives acknowledge, and exceedingly reverence, car∣rying him sometimes in great pomp upon their shoulders, sitting upon a Carpet of Beasts skins. This Town, if there be any such (for it must be confessed, the reports concerning it are not so certain) is situate far within Land, at a di∣stance of six or seaven leagues from the River Canada; and is a kinde of fortified place, encompassed about with a three-fold course of Timber-ramparts one within another, of about two Rods high from the ground, with cross planks or pieces of Timber, laid out on purpose to hinder the scaling, or getting up, by an Enemie. Towards the top there is, as it were, a Scaffold or Gallery framed, from whence they may throw down stones (of

which there is alwaies good store ready) or what else they have to annoy the assaylants. It hath one only Gate for entrance, and that likewise well fortified, after their manner. There are said to be in it fifty or threescore great houses, built, (as the manner of the Ame∣ricans generally is, that use houses) in a square figure, each side being about fiftie foot long or more, and sixteen or twenty broad, but not many stories high; and in the midest of the Court or void space, a place to make their fire, and doe other necessary work about it. The Countrie round about this Town pleasant and good. 2. Stadac, or as some call it Stada∣cone, another Town of the Natives, not far from the Isle d' Orleance Westward. 3. Que∣beque, another old Town, which the French, having first expelled the Natives, and made it a Colonie of their own, have since named St. Croix. 4. Tadousac, a Town lying at the mouth of the River Saguenay, having a small Haven, but very safe, and capable of ten or twenty good ships. 5. France-Roy: This is little more than a Castle and Fort, built by Mounsieur Robeval, a French man, at his first landing there, about the yeer 1540. And lastly St. Lewis, a place which the French designed for a Colonie, in the year 1611, un∣der

the command of Monsieur Champlain; but it came not to effect, by reason of the Iroquois, a Savage and war-like People on the South-side of the River Canada, who doe often trouble and alarme the French in their Quarters, and particularly hindred this Plan∣tation.

3. Nova-Scotia, or New-Scotland, is a part of this Province of America, so named by Sir William Alexander, a Scottish Gentleman, to whom King James gave it by Letters Patents, in the year 1621, being made afterwards Se∣cretary of State for Scotland; and after that, by King Charles, Earl of Sterling. It contain∣eth all that part of the Province of Canada, or New-France, which the French call Accadie, or sometimes Cadia, (which properly is only a Peninsula, or half Island lying thereabouts) together with so much of the main Land as lyeth between the River Canada, and the Bay Francoise, that is, reaching from the River of St. Croix, upon the West, to the Isle of Assumption in the East. This was done pre∣sently after that Sir Samuell Argall, Gover∣nour of Virginia, had outed the French of all their possessions on the South-side of Canada, that is, such as lay within the bounds of Vir∣ginia and New-England, where they had not

any thing to doe; much less to molest and make-warre upon such people as lived quietly under the protection of the English. But the Patentee after sometime, finding that to plant and maintain Colonies, was no business to be undertaken by a single person, sold Port-royall, which was the principall place he had there, to the French, and wholly discontinued his en∣deavours in the rest, which the French there∣fore have since possessed.

The places of chief importance in this Coun∣try are, 1. Port-royall above mentioned. This was first a Colony of French, planted there, by Monsieur de Montz about the yeare 1604. but being destroyed by the English from Vir∣ginia, about the yeare 1613. it was granted to Sir William Alexander; who as we heard, sold it back again to the French, and they took possession of it the second time, and upon a∣nother account. Howbeit, if report speak true, as the affaires of the world are alwais uncer∣tain, it is now again very lately taken from them by some English, commanded by Major Sedgwick. It hath a reasonable good Haven belonging to it, of a mile broad and more within, and two miles in length: the mouth or entrance being somewhat narrower, but neere upon a mile over. 2. St. Lukes Bay, so

named by the Colony which Sir William Alex∣ander sent thither; but by the French Port au Mouton, or Sheeps Bay. 3. Gaspe or Gachepe, another fair Port right over against the Isle of Assumption.

4. To the Southwest of Nova Scotia, and Nothward of Virginia, lieth the Country of Norim begua, so generally called, and as it hath been thought, from a great City or Town in this Province, or from a River bearing the same name. But as for the first, later discove∣ries finde none such; and as for the River that should be called Norimbegua; it is likewise swallowed up in that which is more truely cal∣led Pemtegovet: which is indeed a fair River running many miles together in this Tract, but not well navigable above twenty or thirty at the most, by reason of the Cataracts or great falls of water which it hath; and which are an inconvenience incident unto many other Ri∣vers of the New World, and doth make them at severall places unpassable. The mouth of this River is said to be eight or nine miles broad having many little mountainous Islands lying before and about it; one whereof the French call La Isle haute, from the great height which it seemeth to beare to them at Sea. Westward of this River Pemtegovet, at a di∣stance

of twenty or thirty miles there empty∣eth it self another great River into the Sea, which they call Quinnebequi, but the English, as Laet reporteth, Sagadahoc: betwixt and about which two Rivers the cheif and most known parts of this Country of Norimbegua lyeth, saving only a small Southerly Tract up∣on another River which they call Chovacovet. The aire of this whole Country is found to be of a very good temperature, and the soil, if it were used, supposed to be no less fruitfull; especially towards the Rivers, and where it is not mountainous or overgrown with Woods, as it is in some parts; where yet it affords much good Timber, abundance of Walnut trees, and of other Nuts, Firre-trees, Beech, with much other necessary and usefull wood: elsewhere there is as much good pasturage and very fair plains; only the Sea Coasts are said to be shallow and full of sands; so that the sai∣ling neer is generally accounted but dange∣rous; and which I suppose, may be some, rea∣son why there occurres not upon these Coasts, any particular Ports or havens, which as yet Authors seem to have thought worthy of their report.

5. There are adjoyning to these parts of Canada or New-France, cerain Islands, which

although they come not under any one cōmon name, yet it seemes most fit, that we should take notice of them as Appurtenances to this Country. The Principall of these are, 1. Na∣tiscotec, or the Isle of Assumption, situate in the very mouth of the great River of Cana∣da. It was discovered first in the yeare 1534. by Jaques Cartier a French man, and con∣tains in length thirty leagues or more, but in breadth not much above seven or eight. The Island is for the most part very plain and level, and of a soil fruitfull enough if it had Inhabi∣tants: plentifully stored both with fowl and fish, having convenient roades but no very good harbours for Ships to stand and abide in. 2. Rameae. These are, as it were, a Fry of Islets, or lesser Islands, lying together in the great Gulf or Bay of Saint Lawrence, on the South-side of Natiscotec; being a place much resorted to by the French, for the Morsefishing in time of the year, of which we have spoken something already. They are so numerous up∣on these Coasts, that a small French Bark, 'tis said will catch one thousand or five hundred of them in a few houres; and so large, fat, and unctious withall, that of the bellies of five or six Morses, they make an Hogs-head or more of Trane-oile, as good as that which they have

of the Whale; beside the benefit of their flesh, which they say, especially if it be young, is as tender and sweet as Veale. The skins of them they dress, as we doe our Oxe-hides; and they say, they are twice as thick and serviceable up∣on any occasion. 3. Brion, a small Island South∣ward of the Rameae, not above two or three leagues in length, and about so much likewise in breadth, but of a rich Soil and excellent good pasturage, though shaded in some places with many tall and lofty trees of severall kindes; having another lesser Island neighbour∣ing upon it, which they call Isle Blanche, or the white Island, of like fertility with it self. 4. Insula Britonum, or Isle Breton, called also sometimes the Isle of Saint Lawrence. This lyeth to the South-East of the Isle Brion, of a Triangular forme, containing about eighty leagues in compass, mountainous for a great part of it and rugged, but in the Valleys more fruitfull and pleasant; having no Rivers, at least not any that are much known, but instead thereof, embraced much with armes of the Sea, and thereby not unlik∣ly to be well stored with fish upon the Coasts of it. In the midst of the Country there is a great Lake, which containes within it many lesser Islands. The Woods well replenished

with most sorts of Deere, a kinde of black Foxes, and aboundance of the American Birds, which they call Pengwins. The chief Port, or Haven of it is New-port, called by the French Port aux Anglois, because much frequented by the English in regard of the fishing. Lastly, there is the Isle de Sable, so called by the French, as 'tis supposed, from the Sands which lye so much about it, containing about fifteen leagues in compass, and distant from Breton-Isle not much less than twenty or thirty lea∣gues; held to be of an unsafe landing, by rea∣son of the said sands lying about it: and there∣fore though the planting of it hath been twice attempted by the French, and once by the Por∣tugheses, yet the business never had success.

The Inland parts of this whole country of Canada, are still in the hands of the Savages or Natives, and not much discovered further than to know the names of the people: the chief whereof that occurre, are these, viz. the Iro∣quois, a stout and warlike people on the North∣east of Norimbegua, often molesting the French. The Souriquois and Etechemins in the Country of Accadie, or New-Scotland, who are more their friends, and doe help them som∣times against the Iroquois. Beside on the banks, and about the River of Canada, there are the

Algoumequins, the Algoiugequins, Quenon∣gebins, Attagopautans, and many other Mon∣tagnets of such harsh names, that we should be enforced almost to pass them over in silence, though they otherwise deserv'd to be named: only this we may observe in the general, of the Savages of these parts of America, viz. That as ignorant and barbarous as they are, yet they have made shift to discover the Factions, Emu∣lations, and Enmities than are amongst the Eu∣ropean People that come thither; and are able to make such advantage of it, by siding some of them with the one, and some with the other, that they all preserve their liberty by it: So that as yet the footing which either the French, English, or any other Nation have among them, seems rather to be for the security of their own abode and trading where they live, than to give them any absolute right of pos∣session; much less any general command of the Countrie.

CHAP. IIII.

Of Virginia and the Countries thereto be∣longing.

1. VIrginia, so named by Sir Walter Rawleigh, about the year 1584, in honour of our Maiden Queen Elizabeth, of famous Memorie, is a fair Province of this Northern part of America; bounded on the North with Canada, on the East with the Sea called Mare del Nort, on the South with Flo∣rida; the Western confines of it being not yet known; but supposed, and perhaps not altoge∣ther improbably, to extend themselves as far as the South Sea. The more inland parts of the Countrie are mountainous and somewhat barren; but otherwise thick set with Woods, and those as well replenished with wild Beasts, Venison, and a sort of People, not much less wilde and savage than Beasts: the Maritime parts more plain and fruitfull. The whole Countrie extends it self from North to South, that is to say, from the Southermost parts of Norimbega to Florida, full ten degrees of la∣titude, viz. from thirty four to fourty four, containing thereby inclusively six hundred

common or English miles: being sub-divided into three inferiour Provinces or Parts, which are these, viz. 1. New-England, 2. Novum-Belgium, or Neiw-Nederlands, as our Neigh∣bours call it. And 3. Virginia, properly so called: to which, because it is an English Plantation, and a part of this Western World, it shall not be amiss to add the Bermudae Islands.

2. New-England is that part of this Pro∣vince of America which lyeth next to Canada, or New France, by which it is bordered to∣wards the North, Eastward with Norimbegua, on the South and South-west with Niew-Ne∣derlande: the other borders, that is, directly Westward, remaining yet unknown. The Coun¦trie lyeth about the middle of the Temperate Zone, betwixt the degrees of fourty one and fourty four, being naturally of the same degree of heat with France or Italy, parallel to which it lyeth in the Western Hemisphere; but yet these heats so moderated and allayed by the coldness of the adjoyning Seas, that the Coun∣try generally is found very agreeable to English bodies. The Soil abundantly fruitfull, not only of the natural Commodities of the Place, but likewise of all such as are transported thi∣ther out of England. Great store of Woods and Trees both for Fruit and Building; plenty

of Deer; and of Turkies, Partridges, Swans, Geese, Cranes, Ducks, and Pigeons, so great aboundance, as serve the Inhabitants almost to excess. But the Commodities whereby they chiefly maintain their Trade, are rich Furres, many sorts of good Fish, some quantity of Amber, Flax, Linnen, Iron, Pitch, Masts, Ca∣bles, yea and timber for Shipping. In a word, it is supposed by those which seem to under∣stand the Country well, That there is little coms for England by the way of the Sound, but might be had from hence, at easier rates and less trouble, if the busines were well considered. The Natives of the Countrie are said to be much better disposed, more tractable, docil, and apt to be perswaded to civility, than their Neighbours; especially when they are fairly dealt withall, and not provoked into distemper by rough handling. The Countrie on the Sea side replenished with very good Havens. They report, that in the space of 70 miles, there are no less than twenty or twenty five good and secure ports, some of them capable of five hundred or a thousand sail of ships, and fenced from the fury of windes and Sea, by the inter∣position of certain Islets, which, to the num∣ber of two hundred at least, are said to lye scattered up and down upon that Coast.

The places where the English have chiefly seated themselves, are, 1. St. Georges Fort; where the first Plantation was setled, at the mouth of the River Sagahadoc, in a kinde of Peninsula or half-Island. 2. New-Plimouth, seated no less commodiously upon a large and spacious Bay, called by the Natives Patouxet. It consisted at the first building but of nine∣teen Families only, but is now improved into a handsome Town. 3. New-Bristoll, upon the Sea side also, but lying more Northerly than Plimouth. 4. Barstable. 5. Boston: And lastly Quillipiack, which by the name seems to have been some old Town of the Natives, who upon a great mortality happening among them, are said to have diserted these parts of the Countrie but a few years before the Eng∣lish came thither: It lyeth upon a Bay called the Bay of the Massachousetts, and is at pre∣sent possessed by the English.

This part of Virginia was first discovered by Captain Gosnold, in the year 1602. Four years after that King James granted it by Let∣ters Patents unto a Corporation of certain Knights, Gentlemen, and Merchants to be planted by them and managed to the best ad∣vantage of the Publique: In which Sir John Popham, Lord chief Justice of the Common-Pleas,

being one of the principall, by his encouragement, and chiefly also at his charge a Colony was sent thither in the year 1607, under the Presidencie of Captain George Pop∣ham, and Mr. Raleigh Gilbert: but the Presi∣dent Popham dying the next year after, and not long after him the Lord chief-Justice like∣wise, who was the chief Patron of the work, the Colonie returned home: and though af∣terwards it was attempted several times, yet never could they finde success in their endea∣vors, nor be setled in any form, till the year 1620: When, by the building of New-Pli∣mouth, and some more particular care had of the business, by several incouragements sent from thence to bring on others, and by reason of some domestick motives which perswaded many people to leave their Countrie and goe that way, it is grown at last to a very probable and hopefull condition of good subsistence for the future, being, for many temporal re∣spects, worthy of all favour and cherishing by the State.

3. Novum-Belgium, or Niew-Neder∣landt, hath on the North-East New-England, on the South and South-West Virginia, pro∣perly so called; taking its name from the Netherlanders or Dutchmen, who began their

Plantation there about the year 1614: The Countrie, as they said, being then void, and therefore free for any body that would take possession of it: Notwithstanding which pre∣tence, they were scarse warm in their Quar∣ters, when Sir Sam. Argall, Governour of Virginia, having first spoyled the French in Accadie, as we said, disputed the possessi∣on with these also. And although they plead∣ed Hudsons right (who by Commission from King James, and upon an English account, had lately discovered those parts) and pre∣tended they had not only bought all his Cards and Maps of the Countrie, but all his Interest and Right also, and had fully contented him for all his pains and charges in the discovery; yet the said Hudson, being an English man, and acting all that he did, by Commission from the King of England, upon debate it was concluded, That the Land could not be alie∣nated after discoverie, without the King of Englands consent; especially it being but a part of the Province of Virginia, already pos∣sessed by the Subjects of England: So that they were forced to wave that title, and the Dutch Governor submitted his Plantation to his Majestie of England, and to the Governor of Virginia, for and under him: Upon which

Terms, for a good while, they held it. After∣wards, upon confidence, it seems, of a new Governour sent from Amsterdam, they not only failed to pay the promised contribution and tribute, but fell to fortifie themselves, and to entitle the Merchants of Amsterdam to an absolute Propriety and Dominion of the Countrie, independent of any other; building Towns, as New Amsterdam, raising Forts, as Orange Fort, neer that branch of the Nordt River, which they call Hell gates. Complaint whereof being made to King Charles, and by his Embassador represented to the States, they disown the business, and declare by publique instrument, that they were not interessed in it, but that it was only a private undertaking, viz. of the West Indian Company of Am∣sterdam. Whereupon a Commission was granted to Sir George Culvert, made Lord Baltimore in Ireland, to possess and plant the Southern parts thereof, lying towards Vir∣ginia, by the name of Maryland; and to Sir Edmund Loyden to plant the Northern parts towards New-England, by the name of Nova-Albion: Which makes the Dutch the second time seem willing to compound; and for the summe of two thousand and five hundred pounds, they offer to be gone, and leave all

they had there. But by advantage of the troubles in England, which then began to ap∣pear, and soon after followed, they not only goe back from their first Propositions, and make higher demands, but also most mischie∣vously and wickedly (as some report) they furnish the Natives with Arms, and teach them the use of them, as it may be thought, expe∣cting to use their help, upon occasion, against the English. An Act questionless of very per∣nicious consequence, not only to the English Adventurers, who have since been much damni∣fied and prejudiced by the said Natives in their Plantations, but also to the Dutch themselves; who, as 'tis reported, were the first, or with the first, that smarted by it: The Savages, being thus arm'd and train'd, first of all falling foule upon them, destroying their Farm-houses, and forcing them to betake themselves to their Forts and Fastnesses: So that at present there is but little good account can be gi∣ven further of the State of this Coun∣trie.

As to the nature and quality of the soil, it differeth not much from the parts about it; the temperature of the aire and commodities of the Country being generally the same, which New-England or Virginia yeeldeth. And as

for Towns and places of abode, it doth not appeare, that either the English or Dutch have as yet set themselves much to building in this Country. What the English had done before our late troubles at home, it may be feared, is wholly ruined by the misfortunes which befell them there: And for the Dutch, although they make large reports of the Country, and chal∣lenge a huge Circuit of land under the name of the New-Netherlands, and title of the States; yet I suppose they have had their hands so full of other business of late, that they have not added much to what they had, when our troubles began; which was only New-Am∣sterdam, as they call it, and Orange-Fort, afore mentioned; nor is it so certain, whither they be Master of them at this day or no. In stead of Rivers, which this Country seemeth a little to want, there are many large and capacious Bayes all along the Coast: the principall whereof are, that which the Dutch call Nasso∣vius-Bay, sometimes the Nordt-river, which falleth by it into the Sea at May-port. 2. Hell∣gate, which is but a Channell of the great Nordt-river, so called by reason of its difficult and dangerous entrance; though within it a∣ffords a very safe road for shipping, and fifteen or sixteen fathom of water at the mouth.

3. Zuid-river, so called because it lieth more Southerly than the rest.

4. But Virginia properly so called, is in a bet∣ter condition. This is an elder Daughter of Eng∣land, & one of her first Plantations, w^ch having endured diversitie of fortunes, and strugling for a long time at the beginning with ill successes, is at last by the favour of Divine Providence arri∣ved unto such a competent happiness, as that the Colonie are said to live very comfortably and helpfully among themselves, and to give good hopes of perpetuating, and improving their condition to posterity. The Country hath on the North-east of it Niew-Nederlandt aforesaid, on the South-west Florida; the name of Virginia, which before was common to the whole Province, being, upon the Plantation of New-England and that other, restrained to this part of the Country only, which rea∣cheth from the thirty fourth to the thirty eighth degree of Northern latitude. The Country somewhat inclined to heats; which yet are much moderated by those Constant Easterly windes, which they call Brises, and by some other cooling blasts from the Ocean ever and anon. It is a Country generally well distinguished into Hills and Valleys: the first whereof are well cloathed with Woods, and

the latter with Fruits. The soile being so good, that 'tis said in many places, an acre of land well husbanded will return two hundred bu∣shels, or twenty five quarter of good grain: rich in veins of Allom, as likewise in Pitch, Turpentine, Oile, plenty of sweet Gummes, and severall sorts of plants for Dyers use: not wanting many good Mines of Iron, Copper, &c. Timber and tall Cedar-trees in infinite abundance; much Cattle: Fish and Fowl of all sorts: no scarsity of Maiz among the Na∣tives; on the mountains some Christall is found, and on the Shore Pearls. To be short, excepting those metalls of Peru and Mexico, (of which I hear not, that any discoveries as yet have been made in these parts) it seems not deficient in any thing, that may encourage or reward an industrious people. The Country not half peopled with Natives; and those that are there found, as much differing one from another in size, as in language and manners. There are some, whom they call Sasques-Hanoxi of such a vast bulk and stature, that they seemed, as it were Gyants to the English themselves; others, whom they call Wigcoco∣moci, so little and low, that in companie with the other they seem'd but so many Pigmies: but the generality of them, it must be confessed,

are taller and well limb'd, though most com∣monly without beards. Their cloathing is mantles of Deer-skins with something like an apron hanging before them. They paint their bodies and faces all over with figures of Ser∣pents and other horrid creatures, 'as tis thought, only that they may seem terrible to their enimies, who are so wise as to fright them again as much with the same. These of Virgi∣nia are held to be crafty and revengefull, and not a little more industrious and active, than other Natives, especially towards the North. There is no Country in the world, for the big∣ness, better watered than this part of Vir∣ginia is, with many pleasant and fair Rivers: the cheife whereof are these, viz. 1. Pawhatan, so named from a principall Roytelet of these parts, whose Territores are divided and won∣derfully fertilized by this River, which runs a course of an hundred miles, navigable all the way, at least by smaller Vessels, and falls into the Sea with a mouth two or three miles broad. 2. Nansamund. 3. Pammanuke. 4. Toppaphanock, navigable one hundred and thirty miles. 5. Pawtunxet, of a deeper Chan∣nell than any of the rest, and affording variety of choice fish, with divers others.

The English first setled their Plantation

upon the South-side of a large and goodly Bay, called by the Natives Chese-peack, which thrusting it self a good way up into the Coun∣trie, and receiving into its bosome many par∣ticular Rivers, yeelds a very safe station for ships, and is the only entrance into this part of the Countrie: The Capes or Points where∣of are therefore well fortified, particularly Cape Henry, Cape Charls, &c. The Towns which the English have built, or doe frequent in way of Trade, are chiefly 1. James-Town, so named by the first Adventurers, in honour of King James: it lyeth on the South side of the Bay, and was first built in the year 1606, but since fortified with a Trench drawn round about it, and some pieces of Ordinance plant∣ed. 2. Henricopolis, or Henries Town, so na∣med from Prince Henrie, then living, built in a very convenient place more within Land, about fourscore miles distant from James-Town. 3. Dales-guift, so named, because built and planted at the charges of Sir Thomas Dale, Deputy Governour of the Countrie, about the year 1610. There is also Ketough∣tan, a Town of the Natives upon the Bay, where the English are said to frequent and trade much. And lastly Wicocomoco, a Town of Powhatans, one of the chief Roytelets of

the Country, as hath been said, whom the En∣glish, at their first comming thither, courted much, and procured a Crown of Copper, with some other richer presents, to be sent him from King James, on purpose to oblige him: which yet they were hardly able to doe. For although he professed likewise on his part very much love and affection to the English, yet partly by his procurement, as 'tis said, and partly through their own overmuch security, not with out some provocations given on the part of the English, there were, about the year 1621 no less than three hundred and fourty English∣men murdred by the Savages, unexpectedly fal∣ling in upon them, and with such violence and resolution, as that if a certain Native of the Countrie, become Christian, had not disco∣vered the business a very little before to them at James-Town, their principall Fort and place of strength had been surprized, and the whole Colony almost at the mercy of the Savages. But it pleased God to prevent their utter de∣struction by that means: And since that time, I suppose they stand better upon their guard.

5. The Bermudas are a multitude of small Islands in the Atlantick or North-Sea, as at the Indies they call it, lying right over against

Virginia, at a distance of four or five hundred miles. They lye from thirty to thirty two de∣grees of Northern latitude, in form of a Crois∣sant, or half-Moon; being so called from John Bermudaz a Spaniard, who first discovered them. But the principall of them, and that which is most properly called Bermudaz Island, lyeth at the lowest and most Southerly corner of them, in the latitude of thirty two degrees, and twenty five minutes. They are sometimes called the Summer Islands, from Sir George Summers; who, in the year 1609. in company of Sir Thomas Gates, and about one hundred and fifty persons more, sailing towards Virginia, hardly escaped a terrible shipwrack upon these Islands: the ship, which they were forced to run on shore, being lost, but the men and much of her lading, by Gods great mercy, saved by their Boats. They found the place altogether desolate, inhabited neither by Man nor Beast, save only some Swine in the Woods; but of Fowle such infinite plenty, that they would take a thousand of some one sort as big as Pidgeons, in 2 or 3 houres; with these and the Swine they found there, which were very large and fat, for the most part of the time they stayed, and with variety of fish they sustained themselves happily, till they had

built a new Ship and a Bark, sufficient to wast them and their Company over to Virginia. They found likewise diverse sorts of fruits in the Islands, very pleasing and good: aboun∣dance of Mulberry trees and Silk-worms. Pal∣mitos, Cedar-trees, and others; on the Sea coasts some quantity of Pearls, Amber-greese, and other good Commodities, an Aire gene∣rally so temperate and agreeable to their con∣stitution, that they reioyced not a little in their misfortune, which had cast them upon a place so likely to be advantagious to them∣selves and the Nation: as by their earnest pro∣curement it hath since in part proved: it being at this day one of the chiefest Plantations of the English: and though as yet they seem to trade only in Tobacco, as likewise Virginia is said to doe; yet it is not through any defect either in the one Countrie or the other, as if they afforded no better Commodities, but ra∣ther through the fault and unskilfulness of the Planters, who busie themselves only in those ordinary and easie Commodies, and neglect the improvement of better, viz. that of the Silk-worms and of making Silk. The first Co∣lonie was sent thither in the year 1612, under the command of Captain Rich. Moore; which prospered so well, that in a few years the whole

Island, (viz. the principall one) where they doe chiefly inhabit, was divided into Cantreds, or Hundreds, as we may call them, and to every Hundred a Burrough or chief Town assigned, and the Government setled entirely according to the Laws of England. In the year 1623 there were no less than three thou∣sand reckoned to be there, ten good Forts erected, and about fiftie pieces of Ordinance planted upon them: although the place it self is so naturally fenced with Rocks and little Islands lying about it, that the Inhabitants, in that respect only, seem to contemn all dan∣gers from without: it being almost impossible, without particular knowledge of the passages, for a Vessel of but eight or ten Tuns to come safely into Harbour: and yet with such know∣ledge there is both easie passage and secure station for the tallest ships.

CHAP. V.

Of Florida.

1. SOuthward of Virginia, somewhat towards the West, lyeth the large and spacious Countrie of Florida, enobled hi∣therto

rather by the great pains which the Spa∣niards have taken, and the ill successes which they have met with in the discovery and search of this Province, than by any thing else they have discovered in it answerable to their de∣sires. On the East it hath the Atlantick Oce∣an, or Mare del Nordt. On the South and some part of the West, the Gulf of Mexico; and on the rest of the West, part of New-Gal∣licia, and some other Countries, not yet per∣fectly known. It was first of all discovered by Sir Sebastian Cabot (as hath been said) at the charges of the King of England, about the yeare 1497; but afterwards more throughly searched into by John de Ponce, a Spaniard, in the year 1512, and by him named Florida, because he first landed upon it on Palm-Sunday, which, as they say, the Spaniards use to call Pascha de Flores, or Pascha Florida. The Countrie lyeth in the same parallel with Castile in Spain, and is supposed to be of a neer temperature with it, both for Aire and Soil: only this of Ame∣rica is supposed to be somewhat the more fertil and lusty, as not having as yet been worn out with Tillage and use, as the other hath. They have great plenty of Maiz in this Countrie, which they both sow and reap in less than four Moneths space; and which is

somewhat more observable, among People otherwise barbarous, it is not counted among them any mans private possession; but laid up in publique Granaries and Barns out of which it is orderly distributed at all times to parti∣cular persons and Families, according to their necessity. Its well stored likewise with diverse sorts of Fruits, both proper to the Country, and common to other parts; especially with a kinde of Plum of a rare colour and taste, Mulberry trees, Cherry trees, Chesnuts, Grapes, &c. Beasts they have in aboundance, both wilde and tame, with no less plenty of Fowl. Many huge Forests and lesser Woods, well repleni∣shed with good Okes of the largest size, lofty Cedars, Cypress, and Bay trees, with extraor∣dinary plenty of that wood which the Ame∣ricans call Pavame, and the French Saffasras, the bark whereof is said to be very Medicinal in sundry Diseises, especially for the Stone, and all obstructions of Urine, Winde-Colick, and others; and therefore much used by the Apothecaries. They have also another sort of wood called Esquine, not unknown in other parts, affirmed to be of soveraign and present remedie against the Lues Venerea; a Maladie which the Indians are said to be generally, and not seldome very fouly subject unto: yea they

say, that the Spaniards from the Indies first brought it into Italy and other parts of Eu∣rope; where formerly it was either not at all or at least not much known. 'Tis likewise thought, that the Country is not altogether without Mines of Gold and Silver, especially about the mountains Apalatei, as they call them, though neglected by the Natives, till the Spaniards came and rifled so strangely for Gold in the other Provinces; which probably might make the Natives of this Province to conceale theirs, when the Spaniards were among them; and still to forbear the search∣ing after it (in case that indeed they have any) only that they may not be troubled with such Ghuests. But for Emralds, Turquoises, and other fine Stones, it is certain, the Countrie hath many, of great worth and beauty: but the plenty of these make them cheap at the Indies, and to be thought not worth the search∣ing after. The People of this Countrie are somewhat of the largest size and stature, in re∣spect of other Americans generally, yet well proportion'd withall, going for the most part naked, only with some skin of a Stag, or other Beast, tyed before them. Their hair black and let to grow; so that in many of them it hangs down as low as their thighs. Cunning they

are said to be, and great dissemblers; stomack∣full, and much given to revenge: which is the cause that they are seldome, but in warre, one with another. One thing, they say, there is pe∣culiar to this Country of Florida, viz. that it breeds aboundance of Hermaphrodites, more than any other part of the world beside: whom they likewise use most hardly, making them carry their burthens and luggage like Beasts, and putting them to all kinde of Drudgery.

2. The Country is generally plain and level, having few or no mountains at all in it, save only the Apalatei, supposed by the Natives to have rich Mines of gold in them, and which the Spaniards saw, but had not time nor other necessarie accommodation to stay and search them; by reason they were so much wearied and wasted with a long March, before they gat thither, and found the People so stout and obstinate thereabouts, that in stead of enter∣taining them with their Hens and Fowl as other places had done, they were welcom'd with blows, and made to return, leaving not a few of their best Soldiers behinde. Rivers there are many, and those very large and com∣modious, as namely Rio Secco, or the dry Ri∣ver, so called by the Spaniards (as some think)

because they could finde no gold in it. 2. Rio Grande, or the great River. 3. Ligeris. 4. Ga∣runna. 5. Sequana, &c. These last, so named by the French, who, after the Spaniards, for some time had, but never held any long possession of the Countrie. There are also Rio de Flores, Rio de Nieves, Rio de Spirito Santo, lesser streams, yet all of them with the rest, falling at several places into the great Lake of Mexico; and some of them, not a little haunted by the Caymans or West-Indi∣an Crocodiles, a Creature, as hath been said before, dangerous both at Sea and Land. The Country hath not yet been so well discovered, much less conquered or subdued by those who pretend themselves to be Masters of it, as to be distinguished into any certain Provinces. The Natives, who as yet hold possession and command of it for the most part, are them∣selves generally sorted into certain Tribes or great Families; all which are governed seve∣rally by a chief of their own, whom they call Paracoussi; and by reason thereof, are almost continally in feud and warre one with ano∣ther. The Provinces or parts of the Country, that I finde any way mentioned by Authors, with any account at all of their situation and bounds, are only these, viz. 1. Panuco. 2. Co∣las:

And 3. Tegesta, or Florida, properly so called. The first lyeth on the borders of New-Spain, beyond the Bay called de Spirito Santo. The second neer the Point or Cape called Cape Florida. The third being that long Peninsula or half Island which pointeth upon the Isle Cuba, and streatcheth it self out North and South an hundred leagues or more in length; but is not in bredth above thirty where it is largest, and in many parts much less: well known by the Cape called Los Martyres, which looketh (as it were) into the Isle Cuba, and the River of the Holy Ghost, with three other goodly Bays, which open and empty themselves into that of New-Spain, or the Gulf of Mexico.

3. The Towns and places most known in this Province, are Saint Helens, seated on or neer unto a Promontorie of the same name, where this Country bordereth on Virginia. 2. Fort Charls, or Arx Carolina, built and so named by the French in the reign of Charls the ninth their King, but afterwards ruin'd by the Spaniards. 3. Port-royall, a well frequented Haven, at the mouth of a river which beareth the same name. More within land there is, 1. Apalche, an old Town of the Natives, for∣merly a place of great resort; now a poor

thing of about some fourty or fifty Cottages: and yet as poor as it is, Pamphilus Narvaez a Spaniard; at the time when he searched the Country, found the Natives not willing to part with it. For though he took it from them, it was not without some resistance, and they quickly recovered it again: and at 2. Aute, another old Town of theirs, nine dayes march from the other, they overtook him, and fell so resolutely upon him, that he left not a few of his best Souldiers dead upon the place, and was content himself to march quietly away with the rest. 3. Ochalis, a Town consisting of about 5 or 600 Sheds and Cottages likewise of the Natives. 4. Vittacuche a Bur∣rough of two hundred Houses. There is also on the Eastern shore of this Peninsula St. Matthewes, a place possessed and well forti∣fied by the Spaniards; and Saint Augustines on the same Shore, but lying somewhat more Southerly than the other, at the mouth of a River called likewise Saint Austins. This latter was taken and sack'd by Sir Francis Drake in the yeare 1585. who took out of one only Fort, called Saint Johns, no less than eighteen pieces of Brass Ordinance, and twenty thou∣sand Florens in ready money, which was in∣tended for the pay of the Garrison.

4. This Country is not much inhabited ei∣ther by Spaniards or French, though both suc∣cessively have had it in possession: For Ponce a Native of Leon, as hath been said, first dis∣covered the Peninsula upon Palm-Sunday, 1512. but did no more than only scowre along the Coasts, and give some names to the Pro∣montories, Rivers and places of note which he met with. After him, Vasquez de Ayllon with some Ships from Hispaniola fell in with the more North-east parts of the Country to∣wards Virginia, but did no more than get some few of the Natives, (and that treacherously, as some say, having first invited them on ship∣board, to dinner and upon pretence of traf∣fique with them) with whom he presently re∣turned for Spain. If it were so, his practises did not prosper with him; for a few years af∣ter, returning again with a stronger supply of men, and provision to make a further desco∣very of the Country, one of his Ships was cast away upon the rocks, in the same place viz. before the Cape Saint Helena, and two hun∣dred of his men murdered by the Natives be∣fore his face upon their landing. Nor had the voyage of Pamphilus Narvaes before mentio∣ned, any better success in the year 1528. For venturing too farre up into the Country, viz.

to Apalche, as was said, (which was a full moneths march from the place of his first land∣ing) out of hopes of some great Treasures there to be found, though at first he made shift to master some of their petty Towns, yet final∣ly he lost both himself and most of his men. Lastly the expedition of Hernandes a Soto in the yeare 1543. though more famous than a∣ny of these, yet proved as fruitless as the rest. He began his March in the yeare 1538. and continued it till 1543. over-running the coun∣try with a little Armie of three hundred and fifty horse and 90 foote, subduing the Para∣coussi, or petty Princes, where he came, to the Crown of Spain, and compelling them to send in their Turkies, Hens and other Fowles, for the victualling of his running Camp, every day: till at last finding his hopes of gold fru∣strate, and a good part of his Army wasted, and the rest much weakned with travell, struck with greife, and (as some say also) with a fea∣ver he died in the midst of his journey, and the remnant of his company, under the command of Ludevico Muscoso his Lieutenant, with much difficulty recovered Mexico at last. Up∣on so many unsuccessfull attempts, the Spani∣ards seem to leave the Country; whereupon the French enter, sent thither by Gaspar Co∣ligni

Admirall of France in the yeare 1562, but they were such as the Spaniards liked not to have so neer them: wherefore immediatly upon the landing of a second supply in the year 1565 at Charls Fort upon the River Port-royall above said, the Spaniards set upon them both by Sea and Land, force their Ships violently upon the rocks, sack the new Town, and put the whole Colony to the sword (scarce one man escaping) together with Ribault him∣self, who was Commander in chief for the expedition. There were above six hundred French slain in this Action, and all their hopes in Florida thereby utterly extinct. Since that time the Spaniards have better fortified those places of the Peninsula, viz. Saint. Matthews and Saint Augustines abovesaid; together with the Castles of Saint Philip and Saint Jage in the more northerly parts of it. But it is like Aesops dog in the manger, rather to keep out others, than that they make any good improve∣ment of the Country themselves: and there∣fore if they were beaten out, and sent to at∣tend their Mines and Sugar-mills elswhere, it may seem but just. The Country is a large and goodly Province of America, of a fertil and good soil generally, yet neither peopled with Natives, nor used in any sort as it ought, to

the honor of God and the advancement of publick good. What reason or justice there∣fore can it be, that the Spaniards, only by the advantage of a Fort or two upon the Coasts, should pretend to be Lords of the whole land? and neither improve it themselves, as it ought to be improved, nor permit any other Nations, that are willing so to doe? 'Tis supposed in∣deed, they keep it as a reserve of Treasure to themselves, that when they have leasure, or that their Mines at Potozi, or other places fail, they may make a further search about the Apa∣latti of this Province; of which there are con∣fident reports that they have Mines; and though success hitherto hath not answered their endeavours much, yet they despaire not in due time to finde them, upon an absolute con∣quest of the Country and a more thorough search. And truly their policie and great provi∣dence seems not easily to be condemned: but in the mean time, if any other Nation upon just grounds shall happen to step between and prevent them, they have but little reason to complain, or to count themselves inju∣red.

5. There lie over against the Country of Florida westward, or southwest certain small Islands, which because they are but small ones,

and lye so neer the Continent, Geographers sometimes describe as a part and appertaining to the Continent. They are called by a gene∣rall name the Leucayae Islands, and have not much to be spoken of them. The cheife are first Las Tortugas, or the Tortoises, which are se∣ven or eight little Islands lying together at the South-west point of the Peninsula called Cape Florida, right over against the Port Havana of the Isle Cuba; from which they are distant a∣bout five or six leagues; and by their lying so scattered up and down in the Sea, as they doe, they make the passage from thence to Havana not a little dangerous. Secondly Los Martire. These are three great rocks, rather than Islands lying to the South-east of Cape Florida, and covered for the most part with a whitish sand and a few bushes growing on them. They seem at a distance to beare a resemblance of men im∣pald, or bound to stakes, as the Martyrs in Pri∣mitive times usually were; which occasioned the Spaniards so to name them. 'Tis very dan∣gerous to come too neer them; but to have sight of them is of great use to men at Sea: For by passing these rocks, and leaving them to the South-east, they certainly know, that they are now entred the Streits, not of Magel∣lan, which lye many thousands of leagues fur∣ther

Southward, (of which we shall speake in due place) but of Bahama; that is, that they have left the Ocean, and are fallen in among those many Islands, which doe, as it were Bar∣ricado and block up the Eastern Coasts of A∣merica towards Nombre de Dios and Terra firma, as they call it; through which the passage to the Continent is sometimes dange∣rous, by reason of contrary windes; and al∣wayes such, as it requires the skill and care of an experienced Pilot to conduct the Ships well thither. Thirdly, Bahama, lying westward of Cape Florida, famous for nothing but only for giving name to the Streits so called, which run betwixt the Peninsula of Florida and it, with such a violent course and torrent, that although it be above sixteen miles broad, yet many times neither winde nor Oares can pre∣vail against it. Fourthly, Guanahani, the first piece of American ground that was disco∣vered, and named by Christopher Columbus Saint Saviours, or Salvador, as hath been said.

CHAP. VI.

Of Califormia.

1. CAliformia in the generall containeth all those Provinces of the Northern part of America, whither discovered or un∣discovered, which lie westward of Florida, Ca∣nada and Virginia, and to the Northwest of New-Gallicia, up to the Streits of Anian, or that Sea, which is supposed to divide the Con∣tinent of Tartary from America: but more especially taken, it comprehends only that large Peninsula or Demy-Island (as it seemeth to be) which stretcheth it self from North to South, to a vast length, on the West side of Mar Vermiglio, as 'tis commonly called, and sometimes the Bay of Califormia. They that take it in ihe first and largest sense, describe under the name of Califormia these four par∣ticular Provinces, viz. 1. Quivira, 2. Cibola, 3. Califormia, properly so called, and 4. Nova Albion.

2. Quivira takes up the most Northern and unknown part of America towards the West, reaching as far as the supposed Streit of Anian aforesaid (if there be any such) or else

joyning to the Continent of Tartary. It is likewise the barrenest and least fruitfull part of all the West-Indies, especially for Corn. Cattle it hath great store, and pasturage good; the Countrie being for the most part plain and level, and nothing else but pasturage: The Na∣tives few and Savage; living in Hoards, or great Companies together, after the manner of the Tartars: to whom they are Neighbours; and, as it is not improbably thought, of their race: They cloath themselves (viz. the Men) most commonly in that kinde of Oxes hide which we described before, chap. 9. under the name of Taurus Mexicanus: The Women with little else but their hair; notwithstanding the Countrie, especially for one halfe of the year, is evcessively cold. Their Cattel, though they be much less than the ordinary Kine of Europe, are the chief sustenance and imploy∣ment of the Natives; by pasturing of huge Heards whereof from place to place the Peo∣ple live, and maintain a Traffique with other parts. Yet some of them inhabit Towns; the chief whereof, as yet discovered, seem to be these, viz. Acus, or Acuco, as some call it, a small Town, but seated in a strong defensible place, having some small quantity of Cotton growing about it. 2. Tignez, a Town seated

upon the banks of a River, bearing the same name, and inhabited, it seems, by a stout and resolute People, and whom the Spanish, coming among them in the year 1540, had much adoe to Master. They endured a siege for the space of six weeks together; and at last finding themselves so strongly begirt by enemies, that there was no means of escape, but by death or yeelding up themselves, rather than they would fall alive into their hands, they first buried and spoiled all such Treasure as they had (which were chiefly Saphirs, and a few other Gemms that the Countrie afforded) and after that setting fire on their houshold stuff, they took their Wives and Children with them, and made a desperate salley out upon the Spani∣ards; wherein, although they were most of them slain, trod under the horse feet, or drown'd in passing the River, yet was it not without some loss to the Spaniards themselves: Nor would those few that were left behinde deliver up the Town, till it was fired about their ears, and that they could no longer abide in it. 3. Cicuic, another small Town four dayes journey distant from Tignez. The Countrie about this place, although generally it be all good pasturage, and maintains aboun∣dance of Cattel, yet is it so open and plain,

that for almost one hundred miles together the Spaniards in their march hither from New-Spain found neither stone nor tree, nor any thing else that could serve them for a Land∣mark: so that they were forced, as they mar∣ched along, to raise up heaps of the Country Cow-dung, to serve them for direction in their coming back: which was not long after. For, not finding the Commodities they sought for, and fearing to be surprized by Winter in those cold Countries, where they had no kinde of accommodation, they made some∣what a hasty retreat: leaving only behinde them some few Religious men, of the Order of St. Francis, whose desires to doe the Peo∣ple good by converting them to the true knowledge and worship of Almighty God, procured them not long after, the Crown of Martyrdom; being murdred all of them save one, by the Natives, and he not without much difficulty escaping their hands.

3. Cibola lyeth more Southward of Qui∣vira, betwixt it and New-Gallicia to the North and North-East: On the West it hath Mar Vermiglio, or the Bay of Califormia. The Aire of the Province indifferently tempe∣rate, especially if compared to the sharp frosts and colds of Quivira. The Countrie, for the

most part level and plain, as Quivira is. Few trees at all in it, except here and there some woods of Cedars: which yet doe aboundantly supply the Natives both with Timber and Fuel. The ground affords plenty of Maiz, and some small white Pease; of both which they usually make bread. There is great store of Venison, and a kinde of Sheep (as they say, and as it should seem by their Fleece) as big as some little Horse or Oxen; some of their horns weighing fourty or fifty pound. But perhaps, by some mistake of Authors, this Beast may be no other then the Taurus Mexi∣canus afore described: whose hair is extreamly thick and shaggie, and of which they make cloath, as of wooll, as hath been said. There are also Lyons, Bears, and Tygres in this Pro∣vince, in such numbers, than the People of the Countrie are not a little troubled with them, and would gladly destroy them, if they knew how. The People are generally well limb'd, tall of stature, and seem to be a little more ingenious than their neighbours of Qui∣vira: yet they goe naked many of them, only covered before with Mantles made of skins: which are many times painted, and that with such curiosity and Art, as doe sufficiently ar∣gue, that neither themselves nor their neigh∣bours

of Quivira, from whom they have them in traffique, doe make them; but that they are the Merchandise and Commodities of some other Nations, perhaps of Cathay or China, who, by the North-west Seas, doe trade with the Maritime parts and People of Qui∣vira.

4. This part of the Countrie hath been reasonably well searched by the Spaniards, but as yet nothing discovered so considerable as to perswade them to stay in it. That which seems most observable, is the great Lake Tonteac, situate almost in the midst of the Province; upon which, or neer unto it, they found seven or eight old Towns of the Natives, some whereof contained four or five hundred of their Cottages or little houses, and were for∣tified also with Ramparts, and other works of defence; so as the Spaniards could not become Masters of them but by force and storming them: in the attempt whereof Vasquez Caro∣nado himself, their Commander in chief, was twice beaten down with stones, by the Na∣tives; yet at last carrying the place, he found in it good plenty of Maiz indeed, which was some refreshment to his Army, but nothing else: whereupon having named the place Gra∣nada, in memory of the Vice-Roy of New-Spain,

who sent him upon that expedition, he departed. In his return homeward he fell upon a certain Countrie, which he named Tucayan, of which his companie report great matters: as first of a certain River called Huex, on the banks whereof, in the space of twenty leagues or thereabouts, there stand no less than fifteen good Burroughs well built, and furnished likewise with stoves or hot-hou∣ses, against the cold, as in other Countries of Europe: as also of a very fruitfull and pleasant Valley, which therefore they called Aroya de Corazones, of another gteat Town and Terri∣torie thereto belonging, called Chichilticala: and lastly of the Valley of Nuestra Sennora, or our Ladies dale, in the South parts of the said Territorie; all of them described for such rich and delicious places, that some take them for the Campi Elisii of America: especially seeing the Spaniards were never known to visit them the second time; the discoveries which have been made since, being only of the North-west parts of the Countrie along the coasts of Mar Vermiglio; and this no further than only to give name to certain Capes or Pro∣montories which they met with, as namely 1. Porto de St. Clara, neer to the mouth of the River which they call Rio del Nordt. 2. Las

Playas. 3. St. Michael. 4. Lago del oro, which bordereth on Quivira: And lastly El Rey Coronado, Eastward of that.

5. Califormia, specially so called, is by ma∣ny thought and described to be but a Peninsula or half Island, by reason that the Bay which divides it from Quivira and New-Gallicia, towards the North runneth much narrower than it doth Southerly: which made them think, that somwhere or other at the North it was joyned to the main-Land of A∣merica. But later discoveries have found it to be a perfect Island, and altogether separate from the Continent. For about the yeer 1620 some Adventurers beating upon those coasts Northward, accidentally, and before they were aware, fell upon a Streit, the waters whereof ran with such a Torrent and violent course, that they brought them into Mar Ver∣miglio, whether they would or no, and before they knew it: and by that means discovered that Califormia was an Island, and that the waters which were observed to fall so violent∣ly into that Sea, towards the North, were not the waters of any River emptying it self into the Bay from the main-Land, as was formerly thought, but the waters of the North-west Sea it self, violently breaking into the Bay, and

dividing it wholly from the Continent. It lyeth North and South, extending it self in a vast length, full twenty degrees of latitude, viz. from twenty two to fourty two; but the bredth nothing answerable. The most Nor∣thern point of it is called Cape Blanche: that to the South, Cape St. Lucas, memorable for that rich and gallant prize which Captain Ca∣vendish, in the year 1587, being then in his voyage about the World, took from the Spa∣niards neer to this place. As for the Island it self, it is not at all inhabited by the Spaniards; whether it be, that they want men to furnish new Plantations, or that they finde no matter of invitation and encouragement from the Countrie; or perhaps that the access thither be not so easie. For 'tis reported to be won∣derfully well peopled by the Natives; and that there were found only upon the coasts and along the shore of Mar Vermiglio twenty or twenty three Nations, all of different langua∣ges. The Countrie aboundantly well stored both with Fish and Fowl, as appears partly by the Natives; who take an huge pride in making themselves gay with the bones of the one, with which they load their eares, and sometimes their noses also: and with the fea∣thers of the other, which ordinary People

weare only sticking about their waste; but great persons, and such as will be fine indeed, beset their heads strangely with them, and have cōmonly one bunch of them bigger than ordi∣nary hanging down behinde them like a tayle: Having no knowledge of the true God, they worship what the Devill will have them, that is, the Sun; attributing to it only, the increase of their Fruits and Plants, healthfull Seasons, and most of the other good they enjoy, or are sensible of. Their government is said to be only Oeconomicall, each Father ordering the affairs of his Familie apart, without subjection to any other superiour; yet so well managed, that they live in good peace one with another; not without many good Laws and Customes, viz. That they allow but one wife to one Man, That they punish Adultery with death, That they suffer not Maids to talk or converse with Men, till they be married, That Widdows may not marry, till they have mourned at least one half of a year for their Husbands deceased, and divers others of like nature: which perhaps if the truth were known, doe more properly be∣long to the Natives of Ʋtopia or New-Atlan∣tis, then to these of Califormia.

6. The places therein, as yet most observed, are only upon the Sea Coasts, viz. the Capes

St. Clara and St. Lucas; the one at the South-East of the Island, looking towards New-Gallicia; the other at the South-west, looking into the Sea and towards Asia. 2. St. Cruce: This is a large and convenient Haven, not far from Cape St. Clara. 3. Cabo de las Playas, more within the Bay. 4. St. Andrews, ano∣ther convenient Haven upon an Island of the same name. 5. St. Thome, an Island at the mouth of the Gulf, or Bay, of about twenty five leagues in compass, rising Southerly with an high mountainous point, under which is a convenient road for shipping, and twenty five fathoms of water. On the other side of the Island, towards the main Sea, there is first St. Abad, a good Haven, and almost surround∣ed with a pleasant and fruitfull Countrie. 2. Cape Trinidado. 3. Cape de Cedras. 4. Puebla de las Canoas, from the aboundance of those little Boats which the Americans ge∣nerally use, and doe call Canoes; whereof perhaps some store is made there. 5. Cabo de Galera, and some others.

7. Nova-Albion is only the more Nor∣therly part of this Island, reaching from the thirty eighth degree of latitude, up towards the North as far as Cape Blanco, first discovered by Sir Francis Drake, in his Circumnavigation

of the World, in the year 1577, and by him named Nova-Albion, in honour of England, his own Countrie, which anciently bore that name. They found the Countrie exceedingly well stored with Dear, grazing up and down the Hills by thousands in a company: The Men generally goe naked all over, the Women using only a piece of a mat, or some such thing in∣stead of an Apron. Their houses built only of Turf and Osier; yet so wrought together, that they served very well to keep out the cold: in the midst of it is their hearth where they make their fire, and lye al round about it together, upon several Beds of Bulrushes. What their Towns are, or whither they have any, is not yet discovered. When the English first landed in those parts, under Sir Francis Drake, the Natives of the Countrie immediatly presented themselves to the General, bringing him fine presents of Feathers, and some K••lls of Net∣work made of Rushes: and the news of their arrivall being spread up into the Countrie, it was not long before the King himself came and gave them a visit. He was a person of goodly stature, cloathed all over with certain Conie skins of that Countrie, the furre where∣of is exceeding smooth and fine, and the only Robe of Nobility there. He had many other

tall men attending on him, and one that went before him, bearing somewhat instead of a Mace; at which there hung three Crowns, by so many chains; the Crowns were made of Feathers, the Chains of Bone; both of them very ingeniously wrought. After these fol∣lowed a great multitude of the common sort of People, but none of them without his pre∣sent of something or other, even to the very Boys. The King would needs have the Crowns put upon the Generals head, and the Chains about his neck; to which he consented: and by that Ceremonie promised, in the name and behalf of the Queen of England, from whom he said he came, to take them into his protection. So after many other civilities gi∣ven and returned betwixt them, the King at length departed, and Sir Francis with his men returned to their ships; having first erected a pillar upon the place; on which he fastned the Arms of England, with the Queens name and his own, to remain as a monument of his being there, and of the surrender which was made of that Country to the Queen of England.

CHAP. VI.

Of New-Gallicia, and the Provinces thereto belonging.

1. NEw-Gallicia is the most Norther∣ly Countrie of all America, that is inhabited to any purpose by the Spaniards. Here 'tis true, they are scattered up and down in all the parts of it; but it is at a huge distance, and for the most part only where the Mines are. It is bounded on the East and to the South with the Kingdom of Mexico, or New-Spain: on the West with the Gulf or Bay of Califormia. Northward, for so much as is yet discovered, with Quivira and Cibola; lying between eighteen and twenty eight degrees of Northern latitude, that is, from La Natividad, a Port so named by the Spaniards, in the con∣fines of New-Spain, to the most Northerly borders of Cinoloa, a part of this Province; containing, as is supposed, not much less than three hundred leagues in length, and in bredth much more; and whereof not a tenth part is either used or frequented by the Spaniards: The Aire is generally here very temperate, in∣clining rather to heat than cold, and subject

now and then to sodain storms of rain and great claps of thunder; which yet doe not hin∣der, but that the Countrie is held to be reaso∣nably healthfull, and the people observed to live generally to a good old age. The Soil, by reason of the Climate, would be a little in∣clining to drought, but that beside the fre∣quent rains which it hath, it is constantly moistned with fresh morning dews; which make it for the most part wonderfully fruitfull, almost beyond beleef: yeelding for every bu∣shel of Wheat that is sown threescore; and of Maiz two hundred for one: beside great plenty of Sugar-Canes and Cochineel; both which, notwithstanding the Spaniards are said to neglect in some sort, imploying themselves wholly about richer Commodities. For the Countrie affords them good store of Mines, viz. of Sylver and Brass; but of Gold or Iron, not many as yet have been found: the Rivers plentifully abounding with Fish, and the Woods with Venison and some other wilde Beasts. The Countrie generally more moun∣tainous than plain, frequently shaded with Woods and whole Forrests of the statelyest Pine trees and Oaks of timber that are to be seen. The People are said to be somewhat of a wavering and inconstant disposition, apt to

take offence; and though civilized in some measure, and made Christians by the Spaniards, yet oftentimes upon some light distaste given, they seem willing to return again to their Woods and Barbarism. The reason whereof in part is conceived to be a natural slothfulness and unwillingness unto any kinde of labour in this People; which they labour most of all to avoid, and are so wise, that they never will be brought to it, but upon good wages: but on the contrary, given to sports very much, viz. singing, dancing, and drinking out of measure; in so much as 'tis thought, if it were not for their beloved liquor, they would hardly be per∣swaded long to take either the care or the pains of Husbandry. They are of stature reasonably tall, dwelling both in Towns and Villages; be∣ing distinguished into certain Clans or Tribes; each whereof is governed by one Chief, but all of them subject to the Judges and Officers of the King of Spain. It contains in it these in∣feriour Provinces, 1. Cinoloa. 2. Couliacan. 3. Xalisco. 4. Guadalaiara; all of them on the Western shore. 5. Zacatecas. 6. New-Biscay: and 7. New-Mexico, more within Land.

2. Cinoloa is the most Northern part of New-Gallicia, bounded on the West, with some part of the Gulf or Bay of Califormia:

On the East with a long ridge of Mountains, which they call Tepecsuan: On the North with Cibola; and with Couliacan on the South. The Country, beside the general fertility of the whole Province of New Gallicia, yeelds great store of Cotton-wooll, by reason whereof both Men and Women here are better appareld, for the most part, than elsewhere the Ameri∣cans are. Exceedingly well watered with Ri∣vers, which descend from those mountains Tepecsuan, not above thirty or fourty leagues distant from the Sea; and which, with the varietie of their streams and Meandrous gli∣dings, doe divide the Country into many and good pastures, which are likewise stored with aboundance of Kine, Oxen and other Cattel. The chief towns of the Spaniards are, 1. St. Philip and Jacob, seated towards the Sea side, on the banks of a fair River, some thirty or fourty leagues distant from the town of Cou∣liacan. 2. St. John de Cinoloa, an ancient Co∣lonie of Spaniards, setled there by Francisco de Tharra, in the year 1554, which is all they have in this Countrie; except some few old Forts of the Natives, which they found, after their manner, poorly furnished; but have since repaired them for defense against the Natives of those parts, which as yet remain unreduced.

3. Couliacan lyeth Southward of Cinoloa, coasting all along the Bay of Califormia, which it hath on the West. On the East it hath New-Biscay: and on the South Xalisco. The Countrie not defective in any kinde of neces∣sary Provision, more especially aboundeth with Fruits of all sorts: But the Spaniards look only at the Mines; of which they have some few in this Countrie. The People were generally cloathed with Garments of Cotton-wooll, when the Spaniards came first among them, but yet never a whit the more modest; being exceedingly given to Venery, and that in a more shameless and beastly manner, than many other Americans were, that goe naked. The Spanish Towns are these, 1. Hiustula, seated on the banks of a fair River, distant about a dayes journie from the Sea. 2. Quinola. 3. Quatrabarrios, an old Town of the Na∣tives, but new named by the Spaniards. 4. El Leon, an old burrough. 5. Couliacan, the chief town of the Province. 6. St. Mi∣chael, in the Valley of Arroba, two leagues distant from the Sea, in a rich and plentifull Countrie both for Corn and fruit, and built by Nunnez de Gusman in the year 1531, after he had burnt the Towns, and destroyed a great part of the Natives, inhabitants of the Country.

4. Xalisco, or Galesco, as some call it, is bounded on the North with Couliacan: On the South with some parts of New-Spain: On the East with the Province of Guadalaiara; and on the West with the Gulf or Bay of Ca∣liformia. The Countrie chiefly fertil in Maiz and Mines of Silver; not altogether so apt for herbage and pasture, as some other Countries about it. The People were Cannibals, before the Spaniards came among them, and did eate Mans-flesh; were much given to quarrelling and contentions among themselves; but by this time 'tis supposed, are reasonably well re∣claimed both from the one and the other. In this Countrie, beside many other goodly streams, is the great and famous River Bara∣nia, on the banks whereof are seated most of their principall Towns, viz. Xalisco, which gives name to the whole Province, and to a large Promontory or Foreland on the We∣stern coasts, which shoots it self out into the Bay of Califormia, right over against certain Islands which the Spaniards call the Three Maries. This was an ancient Cittie or Town of the Natives; but sacked and taken from them by Nunnez de Gusman, in the year 1530. 2. Compostella, now the chief City of the Pro∣vince, and a Bishops Sea. 3. La Purification,

a small Town on the Sea side towards the con∣fines of New-Spain. 4. St. Sebastians, in Chiametla, so called from the River upon which it is built; having rich Mines of silver round about it; and therefore made a Colony by Franciscus de Tharra above mentioned, in the year 1554.

5. Guadalaiara, is bounded on the West with Xalisco; on the South, and South-west with New-Spain; on the North with Zaca∣tecas. A Countrie exceeding pleasant, and rich in all kinde of Commodities, but especi∣ally in its Mines of silver: Well watered with the River Barania, which runneth through the midst of it, and with divers other streams: Yeelding aboundantly, both Wheat, Maiz, and some other grain. In a word, there is no∣thing said of the properties of New-Gallicia in generall, either for Soile, Climate, or People, but is peculiarly verified of this Province. The chief Towns whereof are, 1. Guadalaiara, which gives name to the whole Province about it. It is seated on the banks of the River Ba∣rania, in a most delectable and sweet Aire, and a rich Soil; by advantage whereof it is become the Metropolis of New-Gallicia, honoured with an Episcopall Sea, which was translated thither from Compostella, in the year 1570,

with the Courts of Judicature, and with the Residence of the Kings Treasurers for that Province. 2. St. Maria de los lagos, a town thirty leagues Eastward of Guadalaiara; be∣ing a Frontier place, and built on purpose to secure the Countrie against the Chichemecae, which are a barbarous and unreduced People of the North-East parts of this Country; who harbouring themselves in Caves under ground in the thickest of huge Woods and Forests, doe oftentimes issue out and make foul spoil in the Countrie where they come; and would doe much more harme, if it were not for this Gar∣rison. 3. Del Spiritu Santo, built by the Founder of the other two, viz. Nunnez de Gusman aforesaid, in a part of the Countrie which they call Tepeque.

6. The Zacatecas, as they call them, are bounded on the South with Guadalaiara: on the North with New-Biscay: on the West with Couliacan, and some part of Xalisco: and on the East with New-Span. The Countrie, especially the more Western part of it, very rich in silver Mines, no Province of this part of America richer; but not so apt either for Wheat or Maiz. 'Tis a Countrie that would please some rich Miser well, that could live only with the sight of his money: But the

Eastern parts of it aboundantly stored with all sorts of Fruits; the Woods every where replenished with Deer; the Fields no less with Corn, and every tree almost giving entertain∣ment to some Bird or other. The towns are, 1. Las Zacatecas, fourty leagues distant from Guadalaiara, and four-score from Mexico, but neighboured with most rich Mines; and therefore both Garrison'd and also well peo∣pled by the Spaniards: 'Tis supposed there are no less then five hundred Families of them in the Town and about the Mines. 2. St. Mar∣tins, twenty seven leagues distant from Zaca∣tecas, and as rich a place; having a Colony of four hundred Spaniards at least. 3. St. Lucas de Avinno. 4. Erena, lesser towns, but both of them rich and seated in the midst of excel∣lent Mines. 6. Nombre de Dios, in the most Northerly part of all this Countrie, sixty eight leagues distant from Guadalaiara, and founded by the aforesaid Francisco de Tharra; who ha∣ving subdued and quieted the Natives, and thereby gained to himself the Government of these Countries, granted the propriety of some silver Mines both to the Spaniards and Na∣tives; and by that means drew so many of them thither, that in a short time it became the chiefest and best Peopled town of the whole

Province. 7. Durango, in the Valley of Gua∣diana, eight leagues distant from Nombre de Dios. 8. Xeres de Frontera, a place built on purpose for the repressing of the Chichemecae aforesaid, and other Savages that infested the borders of Guadalaiara, in the regencie of the Marquis of Villa Manrique. And lastly St. Lewis, built by Alonso Pacheco, in that part of the Countrie which is called Ʋxi∣tipa, and Peopled by him with a Colonie of Spaniards; being distant about twen∣ty leagues from Panuco in New-Spain, to which the whole Countrie of Ʋxitipa once belonged.

7. New-Biscay hath on the South the Za∣catecas; on the West the Countrie of Cinoloa. Northward it is bounded with New-Mexico; the Eastern borders of it looking towards Flo∣rida, not yet well discovered; so called by the Spaniards only from its neighbourhood to New-Gallicia. It is, as the other Provinces, exceedingly rich in silver Mines, and hath some also of lead: which serve principally, as some say, for the refining or purging of the other Metal. The people generally of a stout and re∣solute disposition, and with much difficulty submitting to the yoake: yea the Spaniards ••hemselves confess, there remain yet to this

day four great Towns unreduced, though they lye, as it were, in the middle way, betwixt the Zacatecas aforesaid, and the Mines and Town of St. Barbara of this Province. The Spani∣ards call them Las quatro Ceinegas, or the four Quagmires, as lying perhaps in the Marishes, or in some fenny and lower parts of the Coun∣trie. The towns which themselves hold are 1. St. Barbara, famous for the rich Mines about it. 2. St. Johns, equall to the other, and not above three or four leagues distant from it. 3. Ende, the most Northerly town which the Spaniards have in this Countrie, di∣stant about twenty leagues from the o∣ther. These be all Colonies of the Spa∣niards, and built on purpose for securing the Mines.

7. New-Mexico (as 'tis called for distincti∣on sake) is bounded on the South-west with New-Biscay; more directly Westward with some parts of Quivira: the Countries North∣ward of it, not yet discovered: Eastward it extends it self as far as Florida. This is, without comparison, the largest Province of all New-Gallicia, having been searched and discovered by the Spaniards above one hundred, some say above two hundred leagues directly Eastward and to the North-East: and they report won∣ders

of it, if we may beleeve them, at least in respect of what was generally found in these Northern parts of America at their first discovery; as namely, that they have Towns fairly and well built of Lime and Stone, hou∣ses of four stories high, and most of them pro∣vided with stoves for the winter season, as well as any in Europe: The streets fair and broad, and the People as curious and expert in divers Arts and Manufactures, as any of theirs. More particularly they tell us of a town called Chia, of the Province of Cuames, so big, that it is said to contain eight several Market-places. Another called Acoma, a great Town, but seated on the top of an high Rock, without any ordinary way of access to it, but by a pair of staires, hewn out of the hard stone; or else by certain ladders which the Inhabitants let down and take up as they please. And likewise of a third, which they call Conibas, containing, as they say, no less than seven leagues in length, & about half as much in breadth, seated upon a Lake, but scatteringly built, and much of the space taken up with mountains and many fair Gardens, in the midst of which the Town standeth. This is certain, that the Countrie, to which they give the general name of New-Mexico, is of a vast extent, reaching from the

Mines of St. Barbara in New-Biscay East∣ward and to the North-East above two hun∣dred leagues already discovered, but doubtless taking up no small part of those Countries which are sometimes assigned to Florida, if not of the confines of Virginia also. The first discoverer of this Countrie was one Augustino Royaz, a Franciscan Frier, about the year 1580, by whose report and incouragement Antonio de Espeio, a Native of Corduba, but then dwel∣ling at Mexico, raised, at his own charges, a Band of an 150 Horsemen, and with a competent number of Slaves, Beasts of car∣riage, and other necessaries, undertook the bu∣siness, and discovered many Nations, as the Conchi, Tobosi, Passaguates, Tepoames, Quires, and divers others; still marching on till he ar∣rived at a great River, which he named Rio del Nordt. Here he made some stay and caused the Countrie on each side of the River to be called Nova-Mexicana, and a City to be built, which he likewise named New-Mexico. It is seated in the 37 degree of Northern lati∣tude, and distant from Old-Mexico four hun∣dred leagues. The name whereof is since changed into that of St. Foy; but the dignity of the place improved: being at present the Metropolis of that Province, a Bishops Sea,

the ordinary Residence of the Governour, and hath a Garrison of about two hundred and fifty Souldiers in it, which both commands the Countrie and secures their Mines, of which they have some in the towns hereabouts: the chief of which towns are, 1. S. Antonio de Sene∣cu, the first Town which they have upon the Nordt River. 2. Socorro, so named by the Spaniards from the releefe which they found there both for themselves and Horses, being almost starved with a long march. 3. Pilabo. 4. Siviletta; all of them old towns, but new named by the Spaniards. 5. St. Johns, built some yeers after the first discovery of the Countrie by John D' Ognate, a Spa∣niard, who in the year 1599, or there∣abouts over-ran the Countrie a second time with a greater Army, yet pursuing the tract of d' Espeio, by which means, having ga∣thered together an infinite mass of treasure, he found no better way to secure it, than by build∣ing this town.

CHAP. VIII.

Of New-Spain, and its Provinces.

1. THe Kingdom of Mexico, or New-Spain, was formerly, that is, be∣fore the Spaniards conquer'd and dismembred it, much larger than now it is; for as much as it comprehended the whole Province of New-Gallicia, and reached from the furthest point of the Peninsula of Jucatan Southward; as far as New-Biscay and the confines of Ca∣liformia Northward: containing in length seven hundred leagues or more, and about half as much in breadth. But since the con∣quest by Hernando Cortez and his followers, the whole Countrie of New-Gallicia is taken from it, and made a distinct Government, or Audiencia, as the Spaniards call it, of it self. The Natives of the Countrie are of the race of the Chichimecae, a savage and wilde sort of People of the Province of New-Gallicia, espe∣cially in the parts of New-Biscay, living in Forests and in deep caves under ground; whose posterity doe still at this day much trou∣ble and annoy the Countrie thereabouts; not∣withstanding all the endeavours of the Spani∣ards,

and the Garrisons which they keep in those parts on purpose to destroy them. About five hundred years agoe or more, according to the account of the Mexican Annals, divers Hoards or Swarms of these Chichimecae, wea∣ry, it seems, of their Woods and subterrane∣ous dwellings, issued out into the more open Aire, and fell down in huge multitudes into these Southerly parts of America, which are now called Mexico and New-Spain: not all at once, but at several times, and under seve∣ral names, viz. of the Suchimilci, Chalcae, Te∣panecae, Tlascaltecae, and others; who subdu∣ing or driving out the People they found in those parts, seated themselves in their room: And though at first every Nation or Company of them, as they came, seized upon some Pro∣vince apart by themselves, and held it, as it were, in Soveraignty to themselves, without acknowledgement of any dependance or sub∣jection to their Neighbours, or those that were there before them; yet in tract of time, and by fortune of the Warrs, which they made one upon another, they all fell under the Govern∣ment of one King, viz. the King of Mexico: which was the chief City of the Province. This Kingdome, at the time that the Spaniards first discovered the Countrie, was governed

by a Prince, named Motezuma; one, who by his valour and good success in the warres, had in a few years of his reign, before the Spani∣ards came thither, subdued the better part of a hundred Cities and great Towns to his Do∣minion; and held in actual submission to his Government, and tributary to him, no less than thirty several Casiques or petty Princes; every one of which pay'd him Tribute, and were able upon occasion to bring into the field an hundred thousand men. He is said to have been, for his person, a wise and good Prince, just, affable, and tender of his Subjects good: but by reason of some heavy exactions, which his own power and the practise of his Ance∣stors before him, gave him the confidence to impose upon the conquered People, a great part of his Subjects lived but unwillingly un∣der his obedience, and rather by constraint than otherwise: being also further exasperated against him by one barbarous custome, which the Mexicans frequently used, viz. the Sacri∣ficing of men. Their manner was, whensoever they had any solemn occasion of doing honour to their Devil-god Vitzilopuchtli, as they called him, to send out an Army of men from Mexico, into some of the subdued Provinces, (in case they had no enemies neerer hand)

and to fetch in as many men as they thought good, to be sacrificed; whose flesh likewise afterwards they did eate in a solemn Banquet. This being a business of their Satanicall Reli∣gion, and Motezuma a Prince extremely su∣perstitious and devoted to the service of his gods, it is said, that he sacrificed commonly, one yeer with another, twenty thousand men, and some yeers, upon extraordinary occasions, not less than fifty thousand: So great and grie∣vous a Tyranny, by the just judgement and permission of Almighty God, for their great and unnatural sins, did the Enemy of Man∣kinde exercise upon them. He was likewise much given to Women; but it was only to such as were counted his Wives; of which he is said to have had no less than one hundred and fifty with child by him at one time.

2. Cortez, that fortunate Spaniard, who first conquered this rich and mighty Kingdom, soon discovered the discontents and ill affecti∣ons which a great part of Motezumas People bare towards his Government; and resolved to make his advantage of it. Where∣fore, being already landed in the Island Acu∣samil, or Cozamul, as 'tis often called, and having gained his first battel at Potonchan, and after that another at Cintla, where, with

a handfull of men (not above five hundred in all) some horse, and a few pieces of Ordinance, he defeated an Army of fourty thousand In∣dians, he quickly obliged those of Zempoallan and Tlascaella to take part with him against Motezuma; and by their means divers others: as likewise they did, assisting him both in his first march towards Mexico with a com∣petent number of Men, and at the siege and taking of it, with an Army of an hundred thousand: In recompense whereof, they enjoy at this day many great Immunities and privi∣ledges above the rest of the Americans, and in a manner equall to those of the Spaniards themselves. Motezuma was so frighted with the success of Cortez, and with the revolt of so many of his own Subjects from him, espe∣cially upon his gaining a third battel, and sack∣ing of the rich town of Chololla, that at the first he freely admitted him into Mexico, and soon after without much contestation, acknow¦ledged himself Vassal to the Emperor and King of Spain; presenting him in the nature of a Tribute, as much gold as amounted to one hundred and sixty thousand Castlins or pieces of Castile, which are said to be nine shillings and seven pence a peece of common money. Nothwithstanding, not long after, upon some

differences growing betwixt the Spaniards and People of Mexico, and that a Governor of Motezumas in the Country, named Qualpo∣poca, had put some Spaniards to death, Mote∣zuma was confined to Cortez his house, and for the more security of his person, a pair of Gives or Fetters put upon his leggs; although he utterly disclaimed the fact of Qualpopoca, and caused him with his Son and some others that were complices in the business, to be pub∣liquely burnt for it in the Market place of Mexico, and that by the sentence of Cortez himself. The Mexicans, provoked with the injurie and indignity offered to their King, in the midst of his Royal Citie, and in the sight of his People, begin to mutiny and take Arms for the rescue of their Prince. They besiege the Spaniards in their house, together with Mo∣tezuma, and press so hard upon them, that the Fetters are taken off, and Motezuma's help used for the allaying of the tumult, and quiet∣ing the People: and although they keep him still under guard, yet they permit him to com∣mand and dispatch all affairs, as freely as if he were at liberty; to be attended by his Noble∣men and other Servants, in the full State and dignity of a King; only he went not abroad but some guard of Spaniards were with him.

3. About this time there were certain ships come to Vera Crux, which was a new Port town of this Countrie that the Spaniards had built since their coming thither, and had land∣ed neer upon a thousand men; which was an accident that had like to have spoiled the de∣sign of Cortez and all his Company at Mexi∣co: these men being sent by James Velasquez, Governour of Cuba, expressly against Cortez and his men, upon pretence that they acted not conformably to the Commission which they had received from him; and gave him no account of their proceedings: which in a great part was true. For it must be confessed, Cor∣tez and his men finding themselves to have fallen upon an adventure that was certainly rich and good; and having got such footing and interest in the Country already, by their success and victories, and chiefly by their con∣federacy with so many of the Natives and Peo∣ple of the Countrie revolted to them, did al∣most at first▪ by a general consent, renounce their Commission and dependency upon Velasquez, and professed to act immediatly from and for the King of Spain. What pre∣tences they had for such a resolution, seemingly at least irregular, is not so well known. What ever they were, they proceed in it, and the

whole company, (excepting only some few who yet went along with the rest) choose Cor∣tez anew for their Commander in chief, and appoint likewise, by common consent, all other Officers of Justice, both Civil and Mili∣tary, among themselves: and to give the bet∣ter colour at Court to their proceedings, they send Portocorrero and Monteio, two of their principalls, into Spain, with a rich and huge present, to the Emperour, both to make re∣port of the State of the Country, and to pro∣cure immediate Commission from his Maje∣stie, to proceed: after which they advance to∣wards Mexico, as hath been said. Velasquez, at Cuba, understanding their proceedings, la∣bored to intercept both their Messengers and Present, but could not: and therefore sent Pamphilo Narvaez with eleven ships, and about nine hundred or a thousand men, to apprehend Cortez and oppose his proceedings. This hapned about the time that the differences were but newly calmed betwixt the Spaniards and the People of Mexico; and though it ob∣liged Cortez to leave the City in a wavering and unsetled condition, yet he took such or∣der, that Motezuma still remained under the guard of the Spaniards, as before, assisted with some thousands of their friends of Tlascalla;

and he himself taking the rest and some few Spaniards along with him, with undaunted courage and resolution, marched against Narvaez. And such was his good fortune, that not only Narvaez became his prisoner, without much bloodshed, but likewise all his Men joyned with him in his designe, through the favour of the Chancery, or supreme Court of St. Domingo, and by the procurement of the Licentiate Vasquez de Ayllon, a Judge of it, who was sent with Narvaez to accommodate the differences.

4. With this recruit Cortez marches back again to Mexico; but at his comming findes things in a very bad condition. For the Mexi∣cans were now in an absolute Rebellion, and made open warre against the Spaniards; had block'd up those in the Citie, together with their friends the Tlascaltecans, and either stopped up or possessed themselves of all the Avennues by land or water: so that it was some time before Cortez could get in with his forces. But at last by advantage of the night, in which the Mexicans never use to fight, nor yet to keep any very good guard, he found a passage, and made shift to bring in his forces, to the great rejoycing and incouragement of his men within, who were very hard put to it

by the numerous Mexicans, and pressed to yeeld themselves, and deliver up Motezuma. But upon his coming they took heart again; and he with his fresh Companies sallying out upon the Citizens, easily set them at further distance. But yet their numbers were such, and so infinitely surpassing his, being called in from all parts of the Kingdome not revolted, and their resolution such to destroy or starve the Spaniards, as they would neither admit, nor so much as hear of any terms of Accommoda∣tion; which Cortez profered them divers times: their general cry being nothing else, but Get you hence, deliver up the King; and calling them Enemies, Theevs, Robbers, and what not? and truly the condition of the Spa∣niards was such, and the Mexicans had them so much in their power, if not to kill, yet at least to starve them, by reason of their infinite numbers, which dayly increased, and by being so much Masters of the City both by land and water, and having broken down all, or most of the bridges, by which only there was passage out of it, that the Spaniards would gladly have been gone, if they durst: but they knew, their but offering to leave the City would be their destruction. Mexico is built, like Venice, upon the water, in the midst of an huge Lake, having

three only waies to enter it by land, which are upon three several Causeys, of a league, two leagues, and half a league long; and of but little breadth: on all other parts it is surround∣ed by the Lake, which by sundry and large Channels enters and waters the Citie in all the quarters of it; where they have draw-bridges to pull up and let down at pleasure. At these passes the Spaniards knew very well they should be over-power'd by their enemies; who by this time were grown so resolute and hardy, that they seem'd not to fear or regard death, but in fight would run desperately in multi∣tudes even upon the mouths of the Ordinance: and doubtless but for the Hors-men, which stav'd them off, they would in a short time have rendred them in a manner useless, and have choak'd them up (as it were) with their own dead bodies. In this hurly-burly and di∣stress the Spaniards, whither by force or other∣wise, procured Motezuma (who was yet in their power) to appear above upon a Gallerie, or flat of roof the house, upon a pretence, that he should offer som terms of accomodation from the Spaniards, and to shew himself to be well: But it was in a place where the stones and ar∣rows flew so thick from the enraged multitude below, that Motezuma himself received a

wound, by one of them, in his head, so unhap∣pily, that within a few dayes after he dyed of it: as they say, who would not have the Spa∣niards thought to have murder'd him; as the Mexicans say they did, with divers other No∣ble-men, and some of his Children, the very night they fled. However it were, not long after his death, out of extream necessity, and chiefly for want of Victuals, the Spaniards were forced to leave the City in the night time, and with the loss of four hundred and fifty of their men, who were slain or taken priso∣ners at the passing of a draw-Bridge; the rest making a heavy retreat to their friends at Tlas∣calla. There is standing at this day in Mexico, upon the place where so many of them were killed, a certain Hermitage, which they call Los Martyres, or the Hermitage of the Mar∣tyrs; but very improperly, saith mine Author, their own Countriman: for what reason I shall not here enquire.

5. This retreat of the Spaniards out of Mexico happened to be upon the tenth of Ju∣ly after mid-night in the year 1520, which the Spaniards at Mexico call the dolefull night. Nevertheless the undaunted Cortez, being got, though with huge difficulty and trouble, by reason of the pursuit of the Mexicans for a

good part of the way, to his sure friends of Tlascalla, neither lost his courage, nor gave over his resolution of yet gaining Mexico: especially the way being now laid open, and sufficient occasion given, by the death of Mo∣tezuma, and the provocations of the Mexi∣cans themselves, to make himself absolute and sole Lord of the place. Wherefore having sent for, and procured a competent supply of fresh Souldiers from St. Domingo, or Hispaniola, Almeria, Cuba, and other places, being in all nine hundred Foot, eight hundred Horse, and seventeen pieces of Ordinance, he joyns him∣self with the Auxiliary Forces of Tlascalla, which were no less than an hundred thousand men, armed with Bows and Arrows: and with this Army marches again towards Mexi∣co, and besieges it both by Land and Water, viz. with the help of thirteen Vergantines, or Galliots, which he had built upon the Lake, and six thousand Canoas, or little Boats, which his friends and confederates had procured him. By which means, and by his Army on Land, in a short time he cut off all Provision from the Citie, and after a siege of full three moneths or more; and a most stout and obsti∣nate resistance made by the People within, in which they are said to have lost above a hun∣dred

thousand men, beside those which perish∣ed by famine, sickness, or otherwise, he took it by force upon tuesday the thirteenth of Au∣gust 1521, sackt it first, and then burnt it to the ground: yet afterwards he caused it to be rebuilt again, far more beautifully than at first it was; as in due place we shall further see. They speak not of above fifty Spaniards slain during the whole siege, six horses, and not ma∣ny Tlascaltecans. In this manner, and with so little charges to the Conqueror, there fell to the Crown of Spain the richest and goodliest Kingdome (one of them) of the whole World, viz. the Kingdome of Mexico, which the Con∣querors presently named New-Spain; and in reference to which name, the Catholike King hath ever since stiled himself in the plural Hispaniarum Rex, or King of both Spains: and all by the valour, prudence, admirable re∣solution, and happy conduct of Cortez; who was at first but a private Adventurer in the American Plantations and discoveries, though otherwise a Gentleman of a good Familie in Spain, born at Medellin in the Countrie of Estramedura. The Emperor Charls the fifth, who was then also King of Spain, for his great services endowed him deservedly with many great and rich Territories in the Provinces of

Tlascalla, Mechoacan, and other parts there∣abouts, made him Marquis of the Valley, viz. of Guaxata, (which is his chief Title) a rich and flourishing Province of that Country, Captain General, or Commander in chief, of all the Military forces of New-Spain, and Ge∣neral Discoverer of all the Maritime parts and Coasts of America towards the South-Sea, assigning him in propriety the twelfth part of whatsoever should be discovered, to him and his Heirs for ever: But denyed him the Go∣vernment of Mexico out of reason of State; though 'tis said, he much desired it.

6. The bounds of this Kingdome at pre∣sent are thus. On the East it hath a large Arm of the Sea, which they call the Bay of New-Spain, or the Gulf of Mexico: On the West it hath some parts of New-Gallicia and Mare del Zur: On the North the rest of New-Gal∣licia, and part of Florida: and on the South Mare del Zur again, and part of Guati∣mala. It extendeth it self in length from the furthest point of Jucatan South-East, to the borders of New-Gallicia Northward, above one thousand Italian miles; and in breadth from Panuco to the South-Sea, about half so much. It lyeth wholly under the Torrid Zone; nor is it a Countrie generally so mountainous

or high seated, as some others of America are, but for the most part level or low; yet is it so fanned, for three parts at least of four, by the cooling blasts off the Sea, and the heats other∣wise so moderated with frequent rains, which it hath constantly three moneths in the year, viz. June, July, and August, that the Aire is rendred thereby exceeding temperate and agreeable, and the Climate not unhealthfull, especially to temperate bodies, and such as be never so little used to it. A goodly Country it is, of inexhaustible wealth and riches; whe∣ther we regard the Mines of Gold, Silver, Brass, Iron, &c. of all which it hath many, and very good; or the Fruits of the Earth, aboun∣dance of Cattel, plenty of Corn and Grain, or any other Commodities and endowments of Nature; which serve for the enriching of the World. Among other things it affords good store of Cassia; the fruit whereof is a thing well known and much commended by the Apothecaries for its use in Physick, especi∣ally for Purgations, and removing of all ob∣structions of phlegm, cholar, &c. Such store of Balm, Amber, all sorts of Gumms and pre∣cious Liquors, as no Country in the World is better furnished with matter of excellent Perfumes and Physi••k, than the Kingdom

of New-Spain is; aboundance of Coco-nuts, and such plenty of that excellent Dye, called Coccinele, that 'tis said, no less than five or six thousand Arrobes of Spanish measure (which make above five times so many English Bushels) are yearly transported thence. Good plenty likewise both of Wheat and Maiz, with Barley and Pulse of all sorts: All kinde of garden Hearbs, Roots and Plants in so great aboundance, and so admirably thriving, that 'tis scarcely to be beleeved. Whole Woods and Forests, as it were, of Oranges, Limmons, Citrons and other such fruit, as hath been said. Some Cherries; but of Apples, Pears, and Figgs, &c. beyond measure. The Natives of the Country very ingenious in divers Mecha∣nicall Arts, especially in making of feather-Pictures; a piece of curiosity, wherein they are held to be incomparably, or rather inimi∣tably excellent; and so industrious at it, that although the Americans generally be not a People over much addicted to any kinde of labour or study, yet at this they will sit a whole day together, without either meat or drink, only out of a natural affection they have to the work, and a desire to be excellent in it. The Country indeed affords them great variety of Birds, and other Fowl, of most rare and

exquisite colours; which is a great advantage to their skill, and helps much to the accom∣plishment of their work. They paint likewise very curiously upon their Cottons; and are held to be generally the best Gold-smiths in the world; of most perfect skil in the purging and refining of all sorts of Metals, but especi∣ally of Gold and Silver. And yet in other things so strangely stupid and ignorant, that when the Spaniards first appeard among them on Horse-back, 'tis reported, not a few of them took the Horse and Man both for one Cteature; and when the Horse neighed, they would enquire very seriously, what he said. There be likewise many fair Lakes in the Pro∣vince of New-Spain; but the principall are those of Chapala and Mexico: the former of which is in the more Northern parts of the Kingdome, towards the borders of New Gal∣licia, and is chiefly famous for the aboundance of good Salt that is yeerly made and transport∣ed thence. The other of Mexico is the largest and goodliest (one of them) in the World, of circular form, and containing, as some say, little less than nine hundred miles in comp••••s, invironed with the main Land, the Peninsula or Cape of Florida, Jucatan, and the Island Cuba; having two only passages in and out,

and both of them well fortified: the one be∣twixt the point of Jucatan, and the Isle Cuba, where the tide violently enters; and the other betwixt the said Island and the Cape Florida, where it goeth as violently out: upon which Gulf the King of Spain hath alwaies some good ships in readiness for all occasions; and by them 'tis supposed, he doth more assure his Estates in those parts of America, than by all his Garrisons beside.

The whole Kingdome of New-Spain is sub∣divided into these inferior Provinces, viz. 1. Panuco. 2. Mexicana. 3. Mechoacan. 4. Tlascalla. 5. Guaxata. 6. Chiapa: and 7. Jucatan.

7. Panuco is the most Northerly Province of New-Spain, by some called Guasteca, bounded on the East with the Gulf of Mexi∣co: on the West with Ʋxitipa, a Country of New-Gallicia: on the North with some un∣discovered Countries of Florida, from which it is divided by the River of Palms; on the South with Mechoacan and Mexicana. It is called Panuco from a River of that name; which running from the mountains Tepecsuan in New Gallicia, and, dividing New-Biscay from the Province of Zacatecas, passeth through the midst of this Country also, and at last empti∣eth

it self into the Gulf. The Country is reckoned to be about fifty leagues in length, and not much less in breadth; of a fruitfull Soile, having some Mines of gold in it, and once very Populous, till Hernando Cortez and the Spaniards, about the year 1522, dispeo∣pled it by their cruelty. The chief towns now remaining and inhabited by the Spaniards are, first St. Lewis de Tampice, a Colony of Spa∣niards situate on the Northern bank of the River Panuco, at the very mouth of it; where it hath a very large Haven, but so barred with sands, that no ship of any great burden can enter or abide in it with safety; and yet the Ri∣ver otherwise so deep, that Vessels of five hun∣dred tun, might sail up threescore leagues at least within land, and thereby visit the rich Mines of Zatatecas on the one side of it, and of New-Biscay on the other, at pleasure, and without fear of much opposition. 2. St. Ste∣van del Puerto on the South side of the same River, eight leagues distant from the Sea or Gulf of Mexico; at present the Metropolis or chief town of the Province, built by Cortez, in the place where stood old Panuco, which was likewise the Metropolis or head town of the Natives, before the Spaniards burnt and de∣stroyed it. 3. St. Jago de los Valles. This is

a Frontier place, and enjoyeth certain speciar Immunities and some fair possessions also fo defense of the Country against the Savages. It is twenty five leagues distant from St. Ste∣ven del Puerto, lying in an open or Champain Country, and is fenced about with a wall of Earth.

8. Mechoacan hath on the North-East Pa∣nuco; on the East Mexicana, properly so cal∣led, on the South part of Tlascalla; on the West the main Ocean, or Mare del Zur; and last of all more directly Northward Xalisco, which is a Province of New Gallicia. The name signifieth in the American language, as much as a Fish Country; & so it is, having many fair Lakes and Rivers in it aboundantly well stored with good Fish. The Country so excee∣dingly pleasant and healthfull, that 'tis usuall for sick persons of other Provinces to come hither to recover their health, only by the be∣nefit of a good Aire. The Soil so aboundantly fertil of all sorts of grain, that of four mea∣sures of seed, it hath been often observed, they have reaped the next harvest more than so ma∣ny hundred measures of the same grain. Very well wooded; and by reason of its many Ri∣vers and fresh springs equally rich in good pa∣sture: and beside great plenty of Medicinall

Hearbs and Plants. It affordeth good store of Amber nigh the Sea Coasts, Mulberry-trees, & consequently Silks; much Honey, wax and di∣vers other Commodities, both for necessity and pleasure. The People of the Country are generally tall, of a strong active body, and a good wit, especially in comparison of other Natives: not unskilfull in divers curious Ma∣nufactures; and the most excellent Feather-Picturers, aforementioned, are said to be found in this Province. They seem more generally inclined to the humors and customes of the Spaniards, than many other Americans; and received the preaching of Christian Religion, when time was, with much willingness: so that the Country is now entirely Christian, and di∣vided into several Parishes. There are said to be in it one hundred and fifty Towns or Bur∣roughs (beside many scattered Villages) most of which have free Schools erected in them, for the training up of youth in Christian Re∣ligion, good literature and Arts; and few of them without an Hospitall for the sick, of which towns the principall are such as follow, viz. Zinzoutza, the seat of the ancient Kings of Mechoacan. 2. Pascuar, a City fourty se∣ven leagues distant from Mexico, once a Bi∣shops Sea, but now removed to Valladolit.

3. Valladolit, the Metropolis or chief City of the Province, since the Episcopall chair was removed from Pascuar thither. It lyeth upon a great Lake, equall almost for bigness to that of Mexico, and is about seven leagues distant from Pascuar, towards the East. 4 St. Mi∣chaels, a good town, fourty leagues Westward of Mexico, and in the way to the Zacatecas, but lying in a road that is somewhat dange∣rous, being not a little infested with Savages on both sides of it. 5. St. Philips. 6. La Con∣ception de Salaya, 17 leagues distant from Valladolid, and a convenient stage for Travel∣lers; being indeed, with the two last menti∣oned, built chiefly for the defence and securing of the Country against the Savages. 7. Guaxa∣nato, a Town on the borders of Panuco, where there are very rich Mines of silver. 8. Le∣on, another Town likewise of very rich Mines, twenty four leagues distant from Valladolid, and threescore from Mexico. 9. Zamorra. 10. Villa de los Lagos, and others. Towards the Sea there is, 1. Acatlan, but two miles di∣stant from the Coast, and a small town; yet by reason of a safe and very good Harbour which it hath for shipping, a place of no little trading. 2. Natividad, another well known and convenient Haven upon Mare del Zur,

pertaining to this Province, and from whence they usually set sail for the Philippine Islands. 3. St. Jago de buena Speranza, so called by the Spaniards, perhaps from the aboundance of good Pearls they found upon this Coast. 4. Co∣lyma. 5. Zacatula, and some others.

This Province, as we said, was at first a di∣stinct Kingdome of it self, yet subordinate and tributary to that of Mexico; the King where∣of named Tamgaivan Bimbicha (as Laet re∣porteth) at the first coming of the Spaniards thither, after the conquest of Mexico, volunta∣rily submitted himself to them, and was bapti∣zed. Nevertheless afterwards, upon a pretence of I know not what Treason intended by him against them, and which the Spanish Writers themselves professedly think to have been feigned▪ by command of Nunnez de Gusman, President of the Chancery of Mexico, he was most inhumanely burnt alive, and the Spaniards seized upon his Kingdome.

9. Mexicana, specially so called, is bound∣ed on the East with the Gulf of Mexico; on the West with Mechoacan: on the North with Panuco, and some parts of New-Gallicia; and on the South with Tlascalla: so called from Mexico, which is the chief City of the Province, and of all America beside. A large

and rich Country, containing not much less than one hundred and thirty leagues both in length and bredth; and if it yeelds any thing to Peru in the plenty of gold and silver, 'tis certain, it much excells it in many other com∣modities: as namely in all sorts of Fruits, aboundance of Cattel, plenty of Corn and Grain; in all which the advantage which this Country hath, not only of Peru, but of all the other Provinces of America beside, is well known: not to speak any thing of the great plenty and variety of good Fish, which both the Rivers and Lakes of this Country afford, which is very great: insomuch that the very tribute of the one Lake of Mexico is said to yeeld an Income of above twenty thousand Crowns yearly, one with another. The Peo∣ple of the Country are generally industrious and active, especially since the Spaniards came among them; rich Merchants, if they apply themselves to it; and they say likewise good Souldiers, when they are trained and imployed that way. The chief towns and places of the Province are, 1. Mexico, both anciently and at present the Metropolis and Capitall City; being the seat of an Archbishop, and the or∣dinary Residence of the Vice-Roy and chief Governours of New-Spain. Formerly it stood

like another Venice, upon the water, being built upon certain Islands within the Lake, and interlaced in all the quarters of it with divers pleasant Currents, both of fresh and salt water. But the old City being destroyed by Cortez, as we said, it was rebuilt by him more upon the firm Land, almost upon the banks of the great Lake; (for there are two of them, the one of salt-water, the other of fresh; which continu∣ally ebbe and flow into one another, & contain in the compass of the whole, about thirty leagues or more: upon which there are thought to be not less than fourty or fifty thousand Canoas or little Boats continually plying from one Town to another;) and in the midst of a fair Plain, or Champaign Coun∣try, containing likewise, as some say, not less than sixty or seventy leagues in compass, and environed with mountains of so great height, that the tops of them are said to be continu∣ally covered with snow. At present it is thought to be one of the richest Cities of the World, abounding (if reports be true) in all kinde of voluptuous gallantry and bravery, even to excess: It is supposed to contain about six or seven miles in compass, and to consist of above an hundred thousand Houses or Fami∣lies▪ whereof not the tenth part Spaniards: but

those that are, be all Gentlemen, I mean as to their garb and manner of living; for they live most splendidly in all respects, both for dyet and apparel. For the first, we have spoken so much already of the general plenty of all things in the Kingdom of New-Spain, that pertain to this part of pleasure, that it is not to be doubted: and for the second this may be some instance, viz. that it is no extraordinary matter to see an Hat-band and Role all of Diamonds, in some ordinary Gentlemans Hat; and of Pearl among the common Citizens and Tradesmen. The Coaches (which most Gen∣tlemen keep) almost covered with gold and silver, richly beset with precious stones, and within ordinarily lined with cloth of gold, or the best China silk that can be gotten: of which Coaches, in time of year, at the Alameda, as they call it, which is, as it were, the Hide Park of Mexico, and a place made of purpose for recreation and delight, a man shall observe not seldome, above a thousand or two thou∣sand Coaches, full of Ladies and Gallants coming thither only to take the aire and their pleasure, both the one and the other attended with a numerous train of servants and Mu∣lattos of both sexes. In la Plateria, which is but one only street in Mexico, nigh to the Vice-Roys

Palace, in less than half an hours space, with the turn of an eye, you may see millions of wealth in Gold, Silver, and precious Stones, in the Gold-smiths and Jewellers shops there∣abouts. In a word, there is nothing hinders Mexico from being the most absolute Citie in the World for delight and bravery, but on∣ly two inconvinces to which it is subject. The one is the danger of the Lake; with the Infalls whereof it may seem to be almost continually threatned, and in the year 1629, did actually suffer a very great calamity: the waters break∣ing through the banks, and drowning a great part of the City, with the destruction of much People, and the loss of all their goods intirely, through the avarice (as is supposed) of the Vice-Roy that then was, and some other of the Kings Officers, who diverted the money that should have been imployed, for the for∣tifying and repairing of the banks, to their proper uses. The other is from the Nature of the Soil and ground it self, on which the City standeth; which is found to have a tincture of of salt-Nitre in it, somewhat strong; and the windes partly from the Lake it self, and partly from the Hills about it, raising the dust of this earth constantly every evening, for many moneths of the year together, so violently, that

the Aire is even darkned therewith for some time: the Inhabitants are much annoyed by it, and made subject to divers Hypocondriacall pains and infirmities, and sometimes killed with it, especially such as either cannot or care not much to avoid it. The Citie lyeth about 60 leagues or one hundred and fifty miles distant from the Atlantick or North Sea; from whence by the Port of St. John D'Ʋllua, or Vera Crux, (which are the usuall landing places) there is a fair and easie march to Mexi∣co, by the Cities of Xalapa, Perotta, Puebla de los Angelos, and Tlascalla, all of them open and unfortified places (as likewise Mexico it self is) and the Country round about very rich and well accommodated with all things. The second town of this Province is Tescuco, an ancient and fair Citie seated upon the same Lake six or seven leagues distant from Mexico, to which it yeeldeth not much either for beau-or bravery. 3. Quitlavaca, a Citie built wholly upon certain Islets within the Lake, and therefore called sometimes by the Spaniards Venezuela, or Little-Venice, having one only passage by Land to it, over a Causey of flint∣stone half a league or more in length, and about sixteen or twenty foot broad. 4. Ʋztacpa∣lapa, a City of ten thousand Housholds or

thereabnuts, six leagues distant from Tescuco, and about twenty from Mexico. 5. Mexi∣caltzingo a Burrough of four thousand Hous∣holds. 6. Cuyacan, of six thousand: All these are seated upon the Lake. Further from the Lake there is Chololla, a great Citie and a rich place, not much inferiour-to Mexico. Anciently this City was, as it were, the Sanctuary of the Mexican Kings, and the chief place of their barbarous and inhu∣mane Superstitions, where yearly not less than five or six thousand Indian Children of both sexes were sacrificed to Vitzilopuchtli, that is, to the Devil. It was likewise the chief burying place of all the Mexican Nobility, whose Tombs and Monuments there afforded the Spaniards at their first rifling of them, an in∣finite mass of Treasure; and yet not half so much, as by report, they both desired and ex∣pected. 2. Mastitlan, a Town pleasantly seated upon the top of an huge mountain, in the midst of most delicate Groves and shady Woods round about it, and reckoned to con∣tain not less than thirty thousand Inhabitants in all, dwelling either in the Citie, or upon the sides of the Mountain. 3. Autepecque, this is a Town belonging to the Marquiss de Valle, who is of the Posterity of Cortez, and

said to be seated in the most delicious place of all New-Spain. 4. Acapulco, a Town seat∣ed upon the South-Sea, or Mare del Zur, yet belonging to this Province. It is a Haven Town and one of the most frequented upon the South Sea, situate upon a large and capa∣cious Bay of about a league broad at the en∣trance, and affording many convenient stati∣ons and Docks for shipping. At the bottome of the Bay Westward lyeth the Town, with a strong Castle very opportunely built both for the command and security of the Port, well walled and fortifyed with Bulwarks, and ha∣ving a constant Garrison of four hundred Souldiers in it, or thereabouts. The reason whereof I suppose may be chiefly this, viz. that from this Port there is the greatest traffique and entercourse held betwixt the East and West-Indies, together with the Philippine Islands. The Country hath many rich Mines of silver in it, and some of Gold: the chief of which first are by Herera reported to be these, viz. 1. those of Puchuca, fourteen leagues distant from Mexico. 2. Of Tasco, twenty four leagues distant. 3. Talpuiana. 4. Cultepeque. 5. Zacualpa. 6. Zupan∣guo, and divers others.

10. Tlascalla is a Province of New-Spain,

which extendeth it self entirely from one Sea to another, viz. from the Atlantick to Mare del Zur, with which it is bounded on the East and West parts; lying otherwise and for the most part betwixt the Provinces of Mexicana last spoken of, and that of Guaxata which followeth; containing in length, viz. from one Sea to the other, not much less than an hundred leagues, and in some places fourscore in bredth; but towards the South-Sea growing much narrower. It is a Country exceedingly plentifull both of Corn and Cattel, full of rich pasturage, and so plentifully stored with Maiz, some Wheat, and other Grain, that it is counted, as it were, the Granary of Ameri∣ca. The People of this Country, when the Spaniards first landed among them, lived in the form of a Common-wealth or Free State, refusing to be subject to the King of Mexico, with whom they had almost continuall Warre; and upon that account, as hath been said, assi∣sted Cortez in the Conquest of the Kingdom: and without whose help 'tis most certain, he had never been able to doe any thing. They enjoy therefore many speciall Priviledges and Immunities, more than other Americans doe. They pay no tribute but only an handfull of Wheat yearly for every person, in way of ac∣knowledgement

and otherwise living under the protection of the Spaniards, wholly in the form of their ancient Government. The whole Province is said to contain two hundred good Towns and Burroughs, and more than one thousand Villages, all of them exceedingly populous, and supposed to contain in the whole above a million and half of Natives, be∣side Spaniards, who have some few Colonies in the Country for securing of it. The chief Towns of the Province are, 1. Tlascalla it self, which denominates the whole Country as the Metropolis of it. It is a fair town, and com∣modiously seated in the midst of a large and fertil Campaign of threescore miles in com∣pass. It consisteth of four large and beautifull streets or quarters, and in the midest of them where they all meet, hath a Piazza, or Market place, equall to that of Mexico, and able to receive twenty or thirty thousand persons con∣veniently to buy and sell in it. 2. Puebla de los Angeles, or the Citie of Angels, a town built by Sebastian Ramirez, a Church-man, and he that was the first president or chief Governour of Mexico, under the Crown of Castile. It was built in the year 1531, almost in the road way from Vera Crux to Mexico; and seated in a very delicate and fertil Coun∣try,

and of a good Aire. It is a Bishops Sea, and valued at twenty thousand Duckets of yearly Rent; the Citie it self supposed to con∣tain about fifteen hundred Families; where there is aboundance of excellent cloath made, and for fineness not yeelding to the best of Spain. 3. Zempoallan, seated upon a River of the same name. 4. Napaluca. 5. Guaxa∣cingo: all of them great and ancient towns of the Natives. 6. Segura de la Frontera, a Spa∣nish town, built by Cortez presently upon the Conquest of Mexico, for the securing of the confines, as the name importeth. 7. Vera Crux, a town built by Cortez and his Com∣panions, at their first landing; and where af∣terward, by a stratagem, and out of a resolu∣tion either to Conquer or dye in the Country, he caused all his ships to be burnt, that his Soul∣diers might not so much as think of returning back from whence they came. The town was at first built five or six leagues up within land; but the place being found not to be so health∣full, the Inhabitants in a short time deserted it, and seated themselves upon a Bay of the Sea right over against St. John D'ullua. 8. Me∣dellin, another Spanish town, built likewise by Cortez, in memory of his own birth place; which was Medellin, a small town of Estra∣medura,

a Province of Spain. Lastly, St. John D'ullua, a noted and the most usuall Port to all this Province, and likewise to the City of Mexico it self, from the North Sea: but of difficult entrance, especially to such as are not well acquainted with the passage, or want Guides; by reason of certain Rocks and quick∣sands, wherewith the mouth of the Haven is said to be barred: but within, the station is more safe. It hath likewise two strong Bull∣warks or Forts raised, on either side of the en∣trance one, to defend the passage.

11. Guaxata hath on the North the Bay of Mexico; on the South Mare del Zur; on the East Jucatan and Chiapa, which is one of the Provinces of Guatimala; on the West Tlascalla. The Country extendeth it self upon the South Sea about an hundred leagues in length, but from the Sea to the borders of Tlascalla one hundred and twenty: East∣ward not above half so much; having a good Aire, and a Soil no less fruitfull, especially in Mulberry trees, and a great aboundance of Silks, which the Country affordeth more than any other Province of America beside. Nor is it less rich in Mines of gold and silver; there being scarse a River in the whole Country, but the sands of it are said to be tinctured more

or less with that yellow Metal. It yeeldeth likewise great plenty of Cassia and Cocchinele, two rich Commodities: and the People gene∣rally, if they would takes pains, might be the wealthiest, 'tis thought, of any other in Ame∣rica: but whether it be through any volunta∣ry contempt of Riches, or through any natu∣rall sloathfullness, as yet they seem to pine in the midst of plenty, living, for the most part of them, little better than from hand to mouth; nevertheless exceeding liberall of what they have, especially to such as bear the habit of Religion, and attend the service of their Souls; maintaining in a plentifull and good manner, as 'tis said, no less than one hundred and twen∣ty Convents of Religious Men, of several Or∣ders, in this only Province; besides Hospitals, Schools for the training up of Youth, and other places of publique Charity. It is subdi∣vided into many particular Provinces; which, because they are many and but small, in com∣parison of some other, we may call Wapentakes, or Hundreds, rather than Provinces: the prin∣cipall whereof are these that follow, viz. 1. Misteca. 2. Tutepecque. 3. Zapoteca. 4. Guazacoalco. 5. Gueztaxatla: and 6. the Vally of Guaxata, from whence Cortez, after the Conquest of Mexico, had his title given

him by the Emperor, Marquess of the Valley. It is the richest and most pleasant part of the whole Province, extended in a continued tract together full sixteen leagues or more, lying about fourscore Southward of Mexico, and wanting neither Mines of gold and silver nor any other of the prime and best Commodities of the New-World. The towns of principall note inhabited by the Spaniards in this Pro∣vince are, first Antequera, in the Valley afore∣said, a stately Citie, and beautified with a fair Cathedrall Church, built with pillars of the finest Marble, of great height and bigness. 2. St. Ildephonso. 3. St. Jago, commonly called St. Jago of the Valley Nexatapa; yet is it self a City fairly seated upon a Hill. 4. Del Spirito Santo, a town built by Gonsalvo Sando∣vall, in the year 1526, distant not above three leagues from the Gulf or Bay of Honduras. 5. Aguatulco, otherwise called Guatulco, a noted and convenient Haven, or Port-town upon the South Sea, yet pertaining to this Province: A rich place by reason of the trade from Mexico to Peru, and from Peru to Mexico, which passeth all through this town. There are reckoned of the Natives of this Pro∣vince not less than six hundred and fifty Bur∣roughs and Villages, and in them above an

hundred and fifty thousand persons that pay tribute; beside Women and Children, and Spaniards in great number.

12. Jucatan is a Peninsula, or half-Island, encompassed for the most part with the Sea; save only to the South-west, where it is joyned to Guaxata: its farther and more Easterly point looking towards Cuba. The whole Pro∣vince contains in compass nine hundred miles or more, the Aire somewhat hot, and the Soil not altogether so fertil in all Commodities, as some other parts of New-Spain are: yet are the People therefore more industrious living for the most part by Handi∣crafts and Trades, and much more willing to take pains than their Neigbours. They report some speciall things of this Province of Juca∣tan, as namely, that the People of the Countrie used generally, and long before the Spaniards came thither, a certain Ceremony of Religion, not much unlike to our Baptism, and which they called by a name that in their language signified Regeneration, or a second Birth; that they observed it so diligently, that few or none among them omitted to initiate themselves by it, beleeving, that thereby the Seeds and ground-work of all goodness was laid in them, and that they were fortified by it against

the assaults and molestations of evil-Spirits: That after they were three or four yeers old, till they came to twelve, they usually thus washed and baptized themselves; and that none were permitted among them to marry, that were not first initiated after this manner: That they chose likewise a solemn day upon which to doe this; and fasted (at least the Fa∣ther and Mother of the party to be initiated) alwaies three dayes before: and that a great many of the Natives had a Tradition, or ge∣neral report among them, that of ancient time this Province of Jucatan was possessed and cultivated by a certain People which came thi∣ther from the East, after a tedious long wan∣dering and many hardships endured at Sea, having escaped the hands of their Enemies only through the power of God, or the Deity they worshiped; who helped them, and made them to pass securely, even through the waves of the Sea. All which, if true, seems not a little to confirm the report which goeth for current in the Welch Chronicles, of one Madoc ap Owen the sonne of Guineth, a Prince of that Countrie, who is said to have fallen upon a farre Countrie this way in his travels; which he liked so well, that having secured to his Companions their safe abode there, during his

absence, he returned himself into Wales for more Men; and that he transported thither as many as he could carry in ten Barks full la∣den. This he is said to have done about the year of our Lord 1170. But neither he nor any of his Men were ever heard of since; and the suc∣cess of the expedition, it seems, little enquired after by the Welch. However the relation seems not altogether incredible, or beyond belief.

The chief towns of the Province are, 1. Me∣rida, in the Navil of the Country, and the seat of the Governor, twelve leagues distant from the Sea on either side. 2. Valladolidt, thirty leagues distant from Merida. 3. Cam∣peche, a great town consisting of about three thousand housholds or more, when first con∣quered by the Spaniards; who found such Monuments of Art and curious industrie in it, as did cleerly argue, that the place had been once possessed by some People that were not barbarous. It is now called St. Francisco, and was surprized in the year 1596 by Captain Parker, an English man, who took the Gover∣nor himself and some other persons of quality prisoners, and carried them away with him, together with a ship richly laden with gold and silver, beside other Commodities of good va∣lue.

4. Tabasco, by the Spaniard now called Villa de Nuestra Sennara de Victoria, and com∣monly Victoria only, in memory, as 'tis thought, of the first great victory which Cortez obtain∣ed over these People at the battel of Poton∣chan, as hath been said. 5. Cintla. 6. Po∣tonchan. 7. Salamanca.

All along the Coast of this Country there lye certain Islands, some within the Bay or Gulf called Honduras, pertaining to the next Province, as 1. La Zarza. 2. La Desconesci∣da. 3. Vermeia. 4. Los Negrillos; and some without it, as 1. Zaratan. 2. Pantoia. 3. De Mugeres, or the Island of Women; so named by the Spaniards, who at their first discovery of these parts, for a long time together could meet with none but Women. The chief of them is called Acusamil, commonly Cozamul, and is fifteen leagues in length, and about five broad, and was, as it were, the thorough-fare, or common road of the Spaniards when they first discovered the Countries of New-Spain. For first here landed Ferdinando de Corduba, after him John de Griialva, and others; and last of all, the fortunate Cortez. It is now called St. Crux.

CHAP. IX.

Of Guatimala.

1. GƲatimala is the last general Pro∣vince of this Northern part of America, and brings us down to the Isthmus or neck of Land, which, as we said, joyneth the Northern and Southern parts of the New-World together. This Countrie, viz. Guati∣mala, is bounded Northward with the Penin∣sula of Jucatan abovesaid, and part of the Gulf or Bay of Honduras; on the South wi h Mare del Zur: on the East and South-East it hath Castella aurea: and on the West New-Spain. The length of it lyeth upon the coast of Mare del Zur, and is said to be little less than three hundred leagues; but the breadth not half so much in any place, and in some very narrow. It is generally a fertil and good Countrie in all respects, but especially abound∣ing in Cattel and good Pastures: being sub∣divided into six inferiour Provinces or Coun∣tries, which are, 1. Chiapa. 2. Verapaz. 3. Guatimala, specially so called. 4. Hondu∣ras. 5. Nicaragua: And lastly, 6. Ve∣ragua.

2. Chiapa is bordered on the West with New-Spain; on the East with Vera paz: on the North with Jucatan: and on the South with Mare del Zur. It is a Countrie much shaded with Woods, and those replenished with many fair and goodly trees, of divers sorts and of the largest size, as Oaks, Pines, Cedar, and Cypress trees; besides others which yeeld them a good kinde of Rosin, precious Gumms, &c. It hath likewise good plenty of Cocchinele: but as for Mines either of gold or silver, I observe not much to be spoken; the Countrie is supposed to afford some, but hi∣therto no great search hath been made; possi∣bly for want of Labourers to work in the Mines. The only inconvenience which the Countrie seemeth to lye under, is the aboun∣dance of Serpents, or Snakes which it breedeth: there are some of them said to be twenty foot long or more; and doe not a little infest the Natives: who yet are not without a general Antidote or Remedy which the Countrie like∣wise naturally affordeth: which is nothing else but the leaves of some of their trees dryed to powder; of which they make a plaister of soveraign efficacie, as 'tis said, against their venome; and otherwise generally good for any old and inveterate sores.

The places of more principall note in this Countrie inhabited by the Spaniards, are 1. Ciudad Real, pleasantly seated in the midst of a round Vale or Plain, and almost encom∣passed with Hills round about it, in form of an Amphitheatre; at the foot of one of which, standing in the midst of the rest, the City is built. It is a Citie specially priviledged by the Kings of Spain; of a pure and temperate Aire, and the Country about plentifully abounding both in Corn and Fruit. 2. Chiapa, which giveth name to the Valley aforesaid; it is a Bishops Sea, and famous, if but for one of its Prelates, viz. Bartholomaeus de las Casas, of the Order of Preachers, who was Bishop of this Citie, and his memory justly precious among the poor Americans at this day, for his Charity towards them, and for the stout and zealous opposition which he made against the Spani∣ards cruel and inhumane dealings with the Natives at the beginning of their Conquests: by which at last, notwithstanding much diffi∣culty and resistance made by interessed persons of the other side, he procured them liberty, and an Edict from the Emperor in favour of them; whereby they were declared to be Free Peo∣ple, and not Slaves; and the Spaniards for∣bidden to use them any longer as such, or to

force them to any kinde of labour against their wills, or otherwise than by agreement with them, which liberty they enjoy to this day; and though the Spaniaiards are said to give them very small wages in some places, and for their work in their Sugar Mills (which is no small labor) not above five Royalls or two Shillings six Pence a week, for the maintenance of themselves, their Wives and Children, yet by reason, it is with their consent, and in a Country where all things are plentifull and cheap: their condition is much better than it was, and the favour which that good Bishop did them, never to be forgotten. It is at pre∣sent a great City and populous, and lyeth al∣most in the middle way betwixt the Cities of Mexico and Guatimala. 3. St. Bartholomews. 4. Tecpatlan and some others belonging to the Natives.

3. Vera paz, or the Country of True peace, was so named by the Spaniards, as they say, be∣cause it was never conquered by the Sword, but reduced to obedience only by the preach∣ing of the Dominican Friers. It is bounded on the West and South-west with Chiapa; on the East with some part of Guatimala, and Honduras, and on the North with Jucatan, It Containes about thirty leagues length, and al∣most

as much in breadth, being a woody and mountainous Country for the most part, yet well distingushed with Valleys and lower grownd. It is thought to be a little too much subject to rain, which 'tis said to have for nine moneths of the year almost continually; by reason whereof the Country, being other∣wise hot, is much anoyed with a kind of Mos∣quit, or great sort of Gnatts, which spoyle the fruit very much, and are otherwise not a little troublsome to the people. The chief Commo∣dities of this Country, are first a kinde of Am∣ber, which some call liquid Amber, which drops from divers of their trees, and is said to be a Commodity very precious and of much use. Mastick, Sazaparilla, China wood, and divers other Medicinall woods, which it affor∣deth in great plenty. But as for any Towns or places of much Traffique or note, inhabited by the Spaniards; I finde not any named, save only St. Augustines; neer unto which, there is said to be a Cave and Fountain within ground, which converts the water that falleth into it, out of several lesser Springs, into a kinde of Alablaster, or stone perfectly white, and fashions it likewise into pillars, statues, and other artificiall formes very curiously, as Laet reporteth.

4. Guatimala, specially so called, hath on the West the river Xicalapa, which divides it from Vera paz. On the East it is bounded with the Country of Nicaragua, on the North with Honduras, and on the South with Mare del Zur. The Country by reason of its Neigh∣bourhood with Vera paz, not altogether clear of Mountains, but otherwise well watered with Rivers, and enriched with fair and fruit∣full Valleyes, which afford not only good pa∣sturage, and many great heards of Cattel, but likewise good store of Wheate, Maiz and o∣ther fruits of the Earth. Great plenty of Cot∣ton-Wooll, generally both here and in the o∣ther Provinces, viz. of Vera paz, Chiapa, &c. some medicinall woods likewise and liquors; and absolutely the best Sulfur of America. The people generally tractable and well dispo∣ed, both in poynt of Religion and Civill Go∣vernment. The Towns of cheif note are, 1. Guatimala, otherwise called St. Jago de Guatimala, the cheif City of the Province, situate upon the banks of a pleasant River, and in all respects convenient but for the Neigh∣bourhood of two Vulcans (as they call them at the West-Indies) that is, of certain Moun∣tains, which cast fire and smoak out of them more or less continually, and with which, a∣bout

the year 1586. it was almost buried with ashes and burnt Earth, which the one of them, for the space of six moneths together, continu∣alled belched out in such fearfull quantity, that many people were slain, and the City re∣ceived much damage by it. There are many of these Vulcans in severall parts of America, as namely at Arequipa in the Kingdome of Peru, at Puebla de los Angeles, in the Province of Tlascalla abovesaid; a Mountain of so great height, that they are said to goe little less than thirty leagues, turning and winding, before they can reach the top of it, and others in se∣verall other places. They are generally Moun∣tains of great height, and running sharp up∣wards, but at the top containing some quan∣tity of plain and level grownd; in the midst whereof is the pit or hole, out of which a∣boundance of smoak and fiery ashes are vomi∣ted almost continually, and so deep, that they are supposed for the most part to reach to the very bottom of the Mountain. Some of these Vulcans cast forth neither fire nor smoak, yet are clearly seen to burn at the bottom with a quick fire, and which is so extremely hot, that it instantly melteth Iron, or any other Metall that is cast into it; as by experience hath been found. For some, conceiving that the matter

which maintains these fires, within the bowells of the Earth so long together, can be nothing els but melted Gold, have endeavoured seve∣rall times to extract and draw it forth in cer∣tain Vessels of Iron and Brass, which they have caused to be let down into the bottom of the Vulcan or pit, by long Iron chaines made on purpose, but as we said, the extreme heat and force of the fire below, alwayes melted them, before they could be drawn up again, and by that meanes hath hitherto rendred all such at∣tempts frustrate. 2. St. Salvador fourty leagues distant from Guatimala Eastward, and seated upon the River Guacapa. 3. Acaputla, a Town of the Natives situated at the mouth of the said River, and is, as it were, the port Town to St. Salvador. 4. Trinidad, a Town of great resort, being the generall Empory and place of Traffique, for all sorts of Commodi∣ties, betwixt the people of New-Spain and Peru. 5. St. Michaels two or three leagues distant from the Bay Fonseca, upon the South Sea. 6. Xeres de la Frontera, in the Confines of this Province, towards the borders of Ni∣caragua.

5. Honduras hath on the South Guatimala abovesaid, on the West a certain Bay or Arme of the Sea, which they call Goulfo dulce, from

the aboundace of fresh waters which run into it from all parts: On the North and North-east the Atlantick Ocean; and somewhat to the South-east Nicaragua. It containes in length viz. from East to West, coasting along upon the Sea, about one hundred and fifty leagues, and in breadth fourscore. The Coun∣try rich both in Corn and Pasturage, being said to be very much advantaged that way, by the constant overflowings of the Rivers, which it hath very many, about Michael-mass time, and which the people order so well, that they wa∣ter their very Gardens, and exceedingly ferti∣lize the whol Champaign, or lower parts of the ground by them. The Country is not thought to be without some good Mines both of Gold and Silver: but the Natives so little covetous of wealth, and the Spaniards, it seemes, so much busied elsewhere, that as yet no great discove∣ries have been made, save only about Gracias a Dios, and some few other places, where there are good Mines.

The cheif Towns of this Province are, 1. New-Valladolidt, anciently called Com∣mayagua, seated in a pleasant and fruitfull Valley upon the banks of the River Chamalu∣con, fourty leagues distant from the Sea. 2. Gra∣cias a Dios, thirty leagues distant from Valla∣dolidt▪

Westward, made a Colony of Spaniards by Gabriel de Roias in the year 1530, for de∣fence of the Mines thereabouts, against some Savages that were not then reduced. 3. San Pedro, a place of great wealth and traffique, and the usuall residence of the Farmours of the Kings customes for this Province. 4. Pu∣erto de Cavallos, ten leagues distant from San Pedro, so called from the aboundance of Hor∣ses, which in a great tempest and storm at Sea, the Spaniards were forced to cast over board at this place. It is one of the most noted Ha∣vens of these parts, and naturally strong, yet so ill guarded formerly, that the English twice pillaged it, viz. in the year 1591, under Cap∣tain Newport, and in the year 1596, under Captain Shirley. What the state of it at pre∣sent is, I cannot say, only that it is a good in∣let into a rich Country. 5. St. Thomas de Castile, eighteen leagues distant from Caval∣los, another strong place, and to which, they say, the Colony of Puerto Cavallas was late∣ly transpoted. 6. Truxillo, a Town pleasant∣ly seated betwixt two Rivers at the foot of a Mountain, not far from the Cape de Hondu∣ras, which at this Town first begins to shew it self, running far out into the Sea; from whence the shore still withdrawing it self, as

it were more inwards, all along the Coast of this Province, till it joyneth with Jucatan; there is made a very spacious and goodly Bay, called commonly the Bay of Honduras, other∣wise Golfo dulce, as we said, having many good and secure stations for shipping. 7. St. George de Olancho, so called from the Valley of Olancho, in which it is seated: a rich part of the Country both in Mines and otherwise; inso∣much that the Governors of this Province and these of Nicaragua, more than once fought for the possession of it in the field; and it was some time before the King of Spain could determine the Controversie be∣twixt them.

6. Nicaragua is a Country of this Province bordered Northward with Honduras; on the East with the Atlantick Ocean and part of Veragua; on the South with Mare del zur; and on the West with Guatimala, being called by some the new Kingdome of Leon. It hath few Rivers in it; the want whereof is supplyed by the benefit of a great Lake, in the midst of the Country, called by the Spaniards Laguna de Ni∣caragua, containing, as is supposed, above one hundred in leagues compass. It emptyes it self by the Port of St. Juan into the Atlantick or North Sea, but reacheth as far as the South or

Mare del Zur, at least within a very few leagues; and from whence some Spanish Cap∣tains are said to have made a passage, though with much difficulty, into the Lake, and from thence to the North Sea. It is aboundantly well stored with good fish, but withall much haunted with Crocodiles; and the Country about it so plentifull in all things, especially Cattel, Cotten-wooll, Sugars, and all kinde of Fruits, that the Spaniards commonly call it Mahomets Paradise; the People said to be the most Hispanioliz'd of all other Americans since the Conquest, both in behaviour, apparel, manners, &c. The chief Towns are 1. Leon de Nicaragua, a Bishops Sea. 2. Granada, both of them seated upon the Lake very commo∣diously, yet distant one from the other four∣teen or fifteen leagues at least. 3. Segovia, thirty leagues distant from Granada, having some veins of silver about it. 4. Jaen, a town almost at the end or mouth of the Lake, from whence, by a long Channel of about three or four leagues, it disembogues or emptieth it self into the Sea, at the Port St. Juan. 5. Rea∣leio: This is, as it were, the Chattam of Ame∣rica, being a place on the South-Sea, where the King of Spain hath all his ships built, that are built of American timber, and inhabited

by few or none but Shipwrights, Mariners, and men of that profession. 6. Nicoya, a town that giveth name to a little Territorie, which some reckon as a distinct part of this Province by it self. 7. Avarines. 8. Cartago, fourty leagues distant from Nicoya, and lying, almost in the midst of the Isthmus or Streit of Darien, equally distant both from the North and South Sea; on both which it is said likewise to have a convenient Port or Haven for ship∣ping.

7. Veragua is bounded on the West with that part of Nicaragua, which some call Casta ricca, & make a distinct Province of this Coun∣trie, being indeed a very wealthy part of it: on the East it hath the district, or Country of Panama, being otherwise washed on all sides by the Sea. It hath its name from a River of great note in this tract, by which it was first discovered. The Countrie is for the most part Mountainous, and the Soil outwardly but barren, but recompencing all defects with the aboundance of its more inward wealth. I mean in the richness of its Mines; of which it is said to afford many, and so inexhaustibly rich and good, that the Spaniards here know no end of their wealth; although, by reason of the stoutness and untamableness of the Na∣tives,

it were a long time, and they met with no small difficulties, before they could make themselves masters of the Treasure. The chief Towns they have here are, 1. La Conception, lying at the mouth of a River so named, and the seat of the Governor. 2. La Trinidad, upon the banks of the same River likewise, but more down towards Port Beleno, and about six leagues Eastward of Conception. 3. St. Foy, twelve leagues more to the South, where the Spaniards melt their gold, and cast it into Bars or Ingots. 4. Carlos, a town they have upon the Coast of Mare del Zur. 5. Philippina, another on the West of Carlos; both of these well seated upon a large and capacious Bay: before which there lyeth a fry of certain little Islands, to the number of thirty or more, which the Spaniards are said to have wholly dispeo∣pled long since, by forcing the Natives over into the Continent, to work in the Mines; as usually they did before the Emperors prohibi∣tion: but now they use Slaves or Negros, which they buy for that purpose from Guiny and other parts.

CHAP. X.

Of Peruana; or the Southern part of Ame∣rica.

1. THe Country of Peru, understand∣ing by it all that part of America which lyeth on the South of Darien, is gene∣rally resembled to the form of a Pyramis re∣versed; the Basis whereof, that is (as I con∣conceive) the more Southerly parts of it to∣wards Magellanica and the Streits, extend themselves largely both East and West, be∣coming more sharp and streit towards the North, and those parts by which it is joyned to Mexicana: in the whole it is suppo∣sed to contain a circuit of seventeen thou∣sand miles at least, and is watered with four of the greatest Rivers of the World, beside aboundance of lessers streams, which issuing from the Andes and other Mountains of the Countrie, doe run from all parts both into the North and South Sea, much fertilizing the Countries through which they pass. The four principall are these. 1. Orellana, otherwise called the River of Amazons. This riseth in the Province of Peru, and runneth a course of lit∣tle

less than five thousand miles, discharging it self at last into the North Sea, through a channel as some say, of threescore leagues broad, and yet with such a violent current or stream, that it is said to keep its natural colour and taste almost thirty miles in the Sea. 2. Ore∣noque, a River of the Province of Guiana, whose head or spring is not yet discovered, it is said to be Navigable a thousand miles toge∣ther by the tallest ships, and no less than two thousand by Pinnaces and smaller Vessels, and dischargeth it self likewise into the North Sea by sixteen several channels or mouths, making thereby several Islands, some whereof are said to be of good bigness, and to lye at a distance of one hundred miles or more one from the other. 3. Maragnon, a River of a yet larger course than any of the former, being, as 'tis said, no less than six thousand miles from its head, which is out of the Andes in Peru, to its fall, which is likewise into the North Sea; about Cape Blanco, by a channel of seventy leagues in breadth. 4. Rio de la Plata, otherwise cal∣led Paraguay, a River of two thousand miles course, and falling, as the rest, into the North Sea, by a channel of threescore miles over, and about thirty four degrees Southward of the Line, towards Magellans Streits.

This Southern part of America containeth these particular Provinces following, all of them wealthy and large, viz. Castella aurea, or Golden Castile. 2. Nova-Granada, or the new Kingdome, as they call it. 3. Peru, speci∣ally so called. 4. Chile. 5. Paraguay. 6. Bra∣sil. 7. Guiana: And 8. Paria; with some lesser Islands adjoyning to all or most of these Provinces, and commonly reckoned as part of them.

CHAP. XI.

Of Castella Aurea.

1. CAstella del oro, as the Spaniards call it, or golden Castile, taketh up all the rest of the Isthmus or streit of Darien, which hath not been yet spoken of, being bounded Eastward and to the North-East with the Atlantick Ocean, and on the West with Mare del Zur, and some part of Veragua: Southward it hath the new Kingdom or Grana∣da. It is called sometimes Terra firma, because it was one of the first parts of firm Land which the Spaniards touched upon, after they had passed so many Islands, as seemed, for some

time, to block up and barre them from the Continent of America. It is subdivided into these inferiour Provinces or Countries, viz. 1. Panama. 2. Darien. 3. Nova-Andaluzia. 4. St. Martha: And 5. the little Province De la Hacha.

2. Panama, commonly called the District or Circle of Panama, is bounded Eastward with the Gulf or Bay of Ʋrraba, by which it is separate from the rest of the Continent of this Southern part of America: on the West it hath Veragua, one of the Provinces of Gua∣timala; being on both the other sides washed with the Sea. It is supposed to contain in length from Cartagena and Popayan, to the confines of Veragua, about fourscore or nine∣ty leagues; in breadth not above threescore in any part: and where it is narrowest, viz. be∣twixt the City of Panama and Nombre de Dios, if measured by a right line, not above six or seven over from Sea to Sea. It lyeth al∣most under the Equinoctial line, but a few degrees Northward of it, and therefore somewhat hot, and by the neighbourhood of both Seas, subject to a foggy and gross Aire, in comparison of some other parts; so that it is not counted generally so healthfull a Coun∣trie, especially for strangers, and in the Sum∣mer

time. The chief towns and places which the Spaniards inhabit here are, 1. St. Philip, otherwise called Porto Bello, from the good Haven adjoyning to it. A strong town and at present the staple of Trade betwixt Panama and Spain: the Haven fortified likewise with two strong Castles: notwithstanding which, it was both surprized and well pillaged by the English, under the Command of Captain Parker, about the year 1601, and the Gover∣nour himself Pedro Melendez taken prisoner. 2. Nombre de Dios, so named by Didaco Ni∣quesa, a Spanish Adventurer, who being driven by distress of weather, and ready to be wrack∣ed, bad his Men here get on shore en Nombre de Dios (that is, in Gods name.) The town was very well seated for Commerce and Trade at the beginning, and enjoyed it for a good while; but the place being found something less healthfull, and otherwise obnoxious to Enemies at Sea, the Trade and chief Inhabi∣tants are since removed to Porto Bello, or St. Philip aforesaid, as to a more fortified and securer place. 3. Acla, a Town upon the same Coast, but lying South-East of Nombre de Dios. 4. Nata, commonly called St. Jago de Nata, situated on the West side of this Pro∣vince, upon Mare del Zur, or the South Sea,

about thirty leagues distance from Panama, towards the borders of Veragua. 5. Panama, the chief City of the Province, being also a Bi∣shops Sea, who is Suffragan to the Archbishop of Lima, and the ordinary residence of the Governour and Courts of Justice for these parts. It is seated likewise upon the South Sea, and so neer, that at high water, the ships are said to ride even under the walls. Through this town the wealth both of Peru and Spain passeth once every yeer: from Spain by Nom∣bre de Dios and Porto Bello, from whence what∣soever Merchandise or other Commodities come from Spain, are transported to Panama by Land, and from thence by Sea to all the parts of Peru; and by Panama, whatsoever comes from Peru, to be sent into Spain. It hath commonly a strong Garrison of Souldi∣ers in it, and is doubtless a place otherwise well fortified, being of so great importance. Last∣ly La Crux Real, a few leagues distant from Panama, and for the most part inhabited by Negros.

3. Darien hath on the North the District, or Circle of Panama; on the South the new Kingdome of Granada: Eastward it is bound∣ed with the Gulf of Ʋrraba abovesaid, and some part of the River Darien, which giveth

name to the Province: and to the West with the South Sea; of a more temperate Aire by farre than that of Panama, and a Soil so ad∣mirably fruitfull and lusty, that they say Me∣lons, Cucumers, and generally all other Fruits of the Garden are ripe and fit to gather with∣in twenty dayes or less, after their first sowing. The chief and indeed only Town of this tract is Darien, called anciently by the first Foun∣ders of it St. Maria Antiqua, and by others the Antique of Darien; being one of the first Towns that were built by the Spaniards on the firm Land.

4. Eastward of Darien and the Gulf of Ʋr∣raba lyeth the Countrie of New-Andaluzia, as some call it, though that name be likewise (and perhaps more truly) attributed to the Province of Paria hereafter to be spoken of: on the East it hath the Countrie called St. Martha: on the North the main Ocean; and New-Granada towards the South. It is for the most part a Mountainous Countrie, and full of Woods, which, they say, yeeld aboundance of Rosin, Gumms, and some very good Balsams. But the Plains, by reason of much rain, to which the Countrie is subject, especially for some times of the year, of but a spewy and cold Soil. The Spaniards, at their first comming,

found it a rich Country, not so much from the nature and profits of the Soil (though it be said to have some Mines in it, and those of Gold) but by reason of a certain opinion, and respect, which the Americans of these parts are generally said to have born towards this Country, insomuch that they would be brought and buryed therein from other places very remote; and according to the custome of the Country, not without good store of Gold and other Jewels, according to the quality and condition of the Person that was buried: of which the Spaniards soon gained intelligence, and in ransacking the Graves and Monuments of the Dead, are supposed to have found an infinite Mass of Treasure: But those Mines are long since exhau∣sted.

The places of chief impotance here are, 1. Carthagena, situate upon the North Sea in a sandy Peninsula or half Island, well built, and for the bigness of it, of good wealth and riches; as the English well found under Sir Francis Drake, in the yeare 1585, when they took the place, and having pillaged it, carried away, beside aboundance of Treasure; no less than two hundred and fourty brass peices of Ordinance. It is counted one of the best

Havens belonging to the firme land of Ameri∣ca. 2. Tolu, by the Spaniards now called St. Jago, twelve leagues distant from Cartagena; a place memorable for the excellent Balsam w^ch is brought from thence, & commonly cal∣led the Balsam of Tolu. 3. St. Crux de Mopox, a neate Town, seated a little above the conflu∣ence of the two Rivers St. Martha and Mag∣dalene, which water this Province. 4. Baran∣ca de Nolambo, a place of great Traffique, e∣specially for all Commodities of the new Kingdome of Granada: it standeth upon the banks of the Magdelene River, and about six leagues distant from the Sea. 5. Buena Vista, otherwise called St. Sabastian de Buena Vista, a Town commodiously seated upon a rising ground not far from the Gulf of Ʋrraba or the Sound of Darien, about a league and half from the Sea: and lastly Villa de St. Maria, thirty leagues southward of Cartage∣na.

5. St. Martha, so called from the cheif City of the Province, is bordered on the West with New-Andaluzia; on the East with Rio de la Hacha; on the North with the Ocean, and on the South with New-Granada. It is about threescore and ten leagues in length, and not much less in breadth; a mountainous

Country likewise for the most part, and the ground not much commended, but only for some fruits of the Ordinary growth of Spain, viz. Oranges, Limons, &c. which thrive here very well. The aire upon the Coasts very hot, but more within land as extremely cold, viz. upon the Mountaines. The Country is well watered with Rivers, the chief whereof is Rio Grande, as they call it, or the great River of Magdalene, which rising in the Mountains of New-Granada, falleth down into this province, & empties it self into the Sea, betwixt the Cities of St. Martha and Cartegena, though at a di∣stance of ten or twenty leagues from either, with a double stream, and such a violent course, that as Acosta testifies, it is counted not a little dangerous, to attempt the entrance of it sometimes, viz. when the Tyde and the stream are contrary. The chief Towns are, 1. St. Martha, seated upon the Sea coast, hav∣ing a safe and very convenient Haven belong∣ing to it, and well defended from the windes by the advantage of an high Mountain, lying almost right over against it. It is no great Town but rich, for the bigness: at least it was found so when Sir Francis Drake surprised it, in the year 1595. What it was the year fol∣lowing, when Sir Anthony Shirly called there,

and in the yeare 1630, when the Dutch took it, I cannot say. 2. Tenariffe on the banks of the Magdalene, fourty leagues distant from St. Martha. 3. Villa de las Palmas, twenty leagues southward of Tenariff. 4. Ciudad de los Reyes in the Valley of Ʋpar, and upon the banks of a large River called Guataporta, which a little below this Town falleth into the Mag∣dalene. It is a Frontire place, and but ill neigh∣boured by reason of certain unreduced Sava∣ges inhabiting the Mountain Tayrone, and those other Mountains of this Province, which the Spaniards call las Sierras Nievadas, be∣cause their tops are perpetually covered with Snow. 5. New-Salamanca, in the same Val∣ley of Ʋpar, famous for its Brass Mines. 6. O∣canna and others.

6. Rio de la Hacha is the name of a little Province lyinging on the North-East of St. Martha, washed on all other parts with the waters of the main Ocean, or with the Gulf or Bay of Venezuela. It taketh its name from a small Town called de la Hacha, about a mile distant from the Sea, having no convenient Haven, but otherwise seated in a soile very rich and fertill, not only of all sorts of Fruits and and Plants, especially such as are brought from Spain, but likewise in many Mines of Gold,

Gemmes of great size and value, and many excellent Salt Wiches, as they call them. It is eight leagues distant from Salamanca afore∣said, and eighteen from Cape Vela the most westerly Point, or Foreland of the Bay of Ve∣nuezuela; and with the rest, had the hard hap to be surprised and pillaged by the English with Sir Francis Drake in the year 1595. 2. Rancheria six leagues Eastward of la Hacha, inhabited cheifly by Pearl-fishers, or such as get their living for the most part by fishing for Pearle; which was wont to be good on these Coasts. 3. Tapia and some others.

CHAP. XII.

Of New-Granada.

1. THe new Kingdome of Granada, as 'tis commonly called, was for the most part both discovered and conquered by Gonsalvo Ximenes, about the yeare 1536, and with so good success that in less than a years space, the whole Country was quietly setled under the Spaniards government, and the Captain with his Small Company had made shift to gather together such a mass of Trea∣sure,

as may seem almost incredible, viz. from the Reguli, or petty Princes of those Countries, whom he had either destroyed or made Tributary. Laet casteth up the summe thus, one hundred ninty one thousand, two hundred ninty four Pezos of absolute fine Gold, thirty seven thousand of Gold less fine, and eighteen thousand of the coursest sort of all. Of Emralds great and small eigh∣teeen hundred, besides aboundance of other rich booty. The Country is bounded on the North with Castella aurea aforesaid; on the West with Mare del Zur; on the East with Venezuela; the Southern parts of it being not yet well discovered, by reason of certain huge and unpassable Mountains, which block it up wholly on that side, save only where a pas∣sage is kept open into the Province of Peru, specially so called. It containeth in length a∣bout one hundred and thirty leagues, and not much less in breadth, being for the most part a very healthfull Country, and abounding in Mines of the best sort of Metal, beside others of Brass and Iron. It is subdivided into these two Provinces, viz. Granada, specially so cal∣and 2. Popayana.

2. Granada, specially so called, is a Country of a very temperate and good aire, neither sub∣ject

to much heat, nor to extremity of cold: the reason of this may seem to be its neerness to the Line, from which it is distant North∣ward but a very few degrees. The Country ex∣ceeding fruitfull both of Corn and Cattel, affording rich pasturage, and many great heards of Cattel, many good Mines, as well of Gold as other Metals; and in that part of it which is called Tunia, as great plenty of the fairest sort of Emralds. Some parts of it are woody; and among other sorts very good, both for Timber and Feuel. there is one which the Natives call Guaiacum, a medici∣nable wood, and of soveraign use, they say, for those that are subject to the Lues Venerea, and such like Maladies. The People of the Coun∣try generally tall of stature, and of a strong constitution, but much more given to sport and pastime, than to any kinde of labor or in∣dustry. The Towns and places of cheif impor∣tance are, 1. St. Foy, commonly called St. Foy de Bagota, which was the old name of this Province, and to distinguish it from another St. Foy in the Country of New-Mexico, as was said. It is the Metropolis and Capitall City of this Province, an Arcbishops sea, and the ordinary residence of the Governor; built by Gonsalvo Ximenes a Spaniard Native of

Granada in Old-Spain, upon the Lake called Guatavita, and is inhabited at this present by above six hundred Families of Spaniards. 2. St. Michael, twelve leagues Northward of St. Foy, and a well traded Town. 3. Tocayma, situate in the territory of the Panches, which are a certain barbarous People of this Country, not yet perfectly reduced, and possessing not the worst part of it. It is fifteen leagues di∣stant from St. Foy, towards the North-East, being situate on the banks of Pati, a small Ri∣ver, a little above its confluence into the Mag∣dalene. 4 Trinidad, seated on the banks of ano∣ther River, called Zarbi, in a convenient place and good Soil, and the Country about it rich∣ly abounding in Veins of Christall, Emralds, Adamants, Chalcedonies, and other Gemmes of good account. 5. Tunia, a strong Town, built very advantagiously for defence on the top of an hill, & is both a Garrison and place of re∣treat against the Savages, which somtimes infest this Tract, and also well traded Empory. 6. Pampelona, 60 leagues from St. Foy to the North-east; a rich place both for Mines of gold, which it affordeth, and also for great heards of Cattel, which the Country breeds and maintains. 7. La Palma. 8. Merida, the fur∣thest Town of this Province North-eastward

towards Venezuela. On the South-east there is only St. Juan de los Lanos, or St. John of the Plaines, fitfy leagues distant from St. Foy, but seated in a rich Angle of the Country, and where there are good Veins of gold.

3. Popayana, the other part of this New-Kingdome, is bordered on the West with part of Granada last spoken of; from which the River St. Martha divides it for the most part. On the North it hath Nova-Andalusia or Car∣tagena; on the West Mare del Zur; and on the South Quito, or rather some unreduced Coun∣tries lying betwixt them both. It extends in length above one hundred leagues from North to South, but in breadth, viz, betwixt the River St. Martha, and the South Sea, not much above fourty or fifty. The Country is said to be a little too much subject to rain, yet not so, but that the fertility of the soil answers the industry of the Inhabitants in most parts very well. The places of chief note in it are, 1. Popayan, situate on the banks of a fair Ri∣ver, but not named, and in the midst of a Plain, in a place of great wealth, and enjoying a good aire. It is a Bishops Sea, and the ordi∣nary Residence of the Governour of the Pro∣vince. 2. Antiochia, otherwise called St. Fide.s de Antiochia, on the borders of New-Anda∣luzia,

and about one hundred leagues from Popayan. 3. Caramanta, seated likewise on the banks of the River St. Martha. 4. St. Anne in the Cantred, or Hundred of Anzerma, a Town neatly situate upon the side of an hill betwixt two Rivers, and in the midst of a Plain no less pleasant and fertil. 5. St. Jago de Arma, so named from the Teritory in which it standeth, rich and famous for its Mines of Gold, which it is said to have many and very good. 6. New-Carthago twenty leagues di∣stant or more from St. Jago. 7. Bonaventura, situate on a Bay of the South Sea, bearing that name. A small Town, but of great enter∣course and trade, especially for conveying the Commodities of New-Spain unto Popayan and other places of this Province. 8. Timana, four∣score leagues distant from Parayan, and sea∣ted at the Foot of the Andes toward the East. 9. St. Juan de Pasto, so called from its situation in a Valley of rich pasturage. 10. St. Sabastian de la Plata in the South-east con∣fines of this Province, so named from the Mines of Silver, which are found thereabouts. 11. Almaguer. 12. Madrigal, I should say, both of them situate in a barren soil, but that no soil may be counted barren, that bears Gold.

CHAP. XIII.

Of the Kingdome of Peru.

1. PEru, in the Southern part of Ame∣rica, was anciently a great and mighty Kingdome, as Mexico in the Northern, and fell under the power of the Spaniards much after the same manner, that the King∣dome of Mexico did, viz. through the dissen∣tions and differences among the People them∣selves: The manner and occasion briefly thus. Huayna Capac, the last Inca, or King of Peru, had, beside many others, two Sons which he chiefly loved; the one by a lawfull Wife his neer Kinswomen, called Huascar: the other by a Concubine named Atabalipa; betwixt whom, at his death, he divided his Kingdome; setling the one, viz. Atabalipa, at Quito, and making him King of all the Provinces belong∣ing to it, and which, for the most part, himself had conquered; and the other, viz. Huascar, at Cusco, making him King of Peru, and of the Provinces about it, at a distance of five hun∣dred leagues one from another, thereby lea∣ving to either of them a Dominion large enough, if reason could have satisfied ambiti∣on.

But Huascar rested not long content, disdaining that a Bastard-Brother should share so much with him in his Kingdome, contrary to the more just interest of some of his other Brothers, and to the custom of the Incas his Ancestors, who alwaies ruled as Monarchs, not admitting any division of their Kingdoms. Hereupon differences and emulations arise be∣twixt the two Brothers; Atabalipa, King of Quito, is commanded to appear at Cusco, both to assist at the Funeral solemnities of Huayna Capac their Father, and to doe ho∣mage for his Kingdome; which he doth not refuse: only desireth the King his Brother not to oblige him to come so far, and through Countries so unsafe, without an attendance suitable to a King, and that might secure his journey: which pretence of his was not thought unreasonable. So he brings along with him an Army of thirty thousand men; which, through the negligence and too much security of Huascars Officers of Warre, was permitted to come so neer Cusco, that with it, after some Battels fought, he taketh prisoner Huascar himself, King of Peru, puts to death all the Incas, or Children of the Blood Royal, that he could get into his power; and in this manner, for some time, holds the Kingdom,

though not without much difficulty, by reason of the hatred which the people generally bare towards him, for his cruelty towards the Roy∣all Progenie; and the opposition which divers of Huascars Captains made against him in se∣veral parts.

2. Things being in this condition at Cusco among the Natives, the Spaniards that were at Panama, having rested there full fifteen yeers since the Conquest of Mexico, without ma∣king any further discovery upon the South Sea than the Islands of Pearls, which lye not above sixteen or seventeen leagues off from Panama, resolve, about this time, to make some further search of the Continent by Sea. The business was undertaken chiefly by one Fran∣cisco Pizarro, born at Truxillo in Spain, a Man of but mean parentage and fortune, but yet a good Souldier, and Diego Almagro, a rich Merchant of Panama. At first they met with many difficulties and discouragements in the Design; Pizarro being full eight moneths at Sea, sailing of that course, which now, having better knowledge of the Countrie, they easily dispatch in fourteen or fifteen dayes, his men some of them dying, and others deserting the service, though with the apparent hazzard of their lives: so that at eight moneths end he

found himself only with fourteen Men in a poor Island, and in the most destitute conditi∣on that could be. Yet being himself of an un∣daunted courage and resolution, and those few men he had with him of the same minde with himself, they all resolved rather to dye than to give over the Design. So putting again to Sea, they fall at last into the River of Tum∣bez, which in a few dayes brings them to a town and fortified place called likewise Tum∣bez where they found Inhabitants and a place most agreeable to their desires, viz. where they found good plenty of Gold; for which, not being in a condition to fight, they were content at present to seem Merchants; and so for a few petty Commodities which they had brought with them, of no value, 'tis said they received of the Natives the full quantity of thirty thousand pezos of pure gold; which re∣vived their spirits not a little. Whereupon finding the Countrie to be good and likely to afford much Treasure, they return back again to Panama, make declaration of the Coun∣trie they had discovered, and sollicite for fur∣ther license to subdue and conquer it. Which having obtained, Pizarro, with four other of his Brothers, stout and resolute men like him∣self, a competent number of ships, and about

two hundred Souldiers, prosecute the Design, and appear at Cusco with their little Army, just at the time that the differences there were hot∣test, and that Huascar the King was newly become prisoner to his Brother Atabalipa: who, although at first he seemed to contemn the small numbers of the Spaniards, and count them little better than mad-men, that would venture so farre into a strange Countrie, no better provided than he took them to be, and upon such an extravagant pretence, as that seemed to him, which they told him was the cause of their coming; yet after a while, ha∣ving heard the noise of their Ordinance, and a little tasted how sharp their Swords were, he was content to become prisoner himself. The Spaniards at first treated him well, and put him in such hopes of liberty, that out of con∣fidence to gain it, and that he might enjoy the Kingdome, though tributary to the Spaniards, himself alone, he caused his Brother the King Huascar to be put secretly to death, and dis∣sembled the matter to the Spaniards, as if it had been done against his will; which, they in∣tending other matters, did not much examine. To obtain his liberty, he offered the Spaniards to give them the room wherein they were, filled up with gold and silver as high as a Souldier

could reach with the point of his sword; and, as some say, performed it, at least the greater part of it: Yet were the Spaniards so farre from granting him liberty, according to his expectation and their promise, that not long after they took away his life, most basely strangling him in prison, after they had received him, as 'tis credibly reported, above ten milli∣ons of gold and silver together: upon preten∣ces indeed of Treason, and some dangerous plottings against them, by Atabalipa and his People; (a criminal piece of Treason doubt∣less, for a poor Prince, injuriously imprisoned, to endeavour his liberty, and his subjects to assist him the best they could!) Notwithstand∣ing which, the Spanish Writers themselves doe generally dislike the Fact, and some of them with detestation enough. God, the righteous Judge, (saith mine Author Lopez Vaz) seeing this villanous Act, suffered none of those Spani∣ards to dye by the course of nature, but brought them all to evil and shamefull ends. Which was very true: for although upon the death of Atabalipa, the Spaniards held themselves for Masters of the Countrie, and Pizarro quickly obtained of the Emperor to be made a Mar∣quess; yet long it was before the Indians could be wholly subdued, Mango Inga, the

Brother of Atabalipa making a stout and sharp resistance for a good while together, defeating the Spaniards in three or four several encoun∣ters (in which Diego and John Pizarro bro∣thers to the Marquess were slain) and twice taking the Citie of Cusco from them by force. And when at last he happened to be overcome, and driven to fly to the Mountains, the Con∣querors, viz. Almagro and Pizarro, to whom the Emperor had given the command of the Countrie in several, fall out among themselves, chiefly about the bounds of their respective Dominions, Civil Warres ensue betwixt them: in which first of all Almagro is taken prisoner by Pizarro, sentenced to death, and executed without mercy; and not long after Pizarro himself murdered in his own house, by a Ba∣stard sonne of Almagro named Diego; who thereupon had the confidence to take upon him the government, and to encounter the Licentiate Vacca de Castro, the Emperors Commissioner, in the open field; where being worsted and taken, he afterward lost his head at Cusco. After this, Blascus Nunnez Vela being made Vice-Roy of Peru, and governing somewhat severely, Gonzales Pizarro the fourth Brother, rebelleth, with many Spani∣ards with him; against whom Vela Nunnez,

the Vice-Roy's Brother, is sent; but to little purpose, being taken prisoner by the Pizarrists, and put to death. This so incenseth the Vice-Roy, that himself in person marcheth against the Rebells, but to his own ruine. For a Bat∣tle being fought in the fields of Quito, the hated Vice-Roy had the ill hap to be made prisoner, and by Carvaial, Lieutenant to Pi∣zarro, presently, without further process, caused to dye, in revenge, as 'tis supposed, for his bro∣ther, whom the Vice-Roy, among many o∣thers, had lately sentenced to death. Pizarro after this defeats Centenus, another General of the Emperors; but was at last, by the Go∣vernor Gasca, defeated himself, taken prisoner, and beheaded for his Rebellion, together with Carvaial his Lieutenant, and divers other of his Complices: so that there remained now of all the five Brothers Pizarri, only Ferdi∣nand alive, who, as some report, was sent pri∣soner into Spain, by the Emperours Com∣missioner; others say, that his Brother the Marquess sent him thither with the process concerning Almagro's death. However, cer∣tain it is, that in Spain he dyed a prisoner. Martin de Alcantara, half-brother to the Marquess, was murdered with him in the Mar∣quess's house; Garcia Alvarado was stab'd to

death by one of the Almagrists; and what became of Pedro Baldivia, with some others, shall be shewed in the description of Chile. Thus perished, by the just hand of God, and through their own mutual dissentions, ambi∣tion, and covetousness, those first Coquerors of Peru, viz. Pizarro and his Companions; none of them all leaving so much as a good name behind him: and of their issue little is spoken. The Marquiss himself is said to have had a sonne by a sister of Atabalipa, whom they call Donna Angelina, but he dyed young; and whether he were legitimate or no, it may be doubted. But the Factions of the Pizar∣rists and Almagrists being extinct, by the dili∣gence and moderation of succeeding Gover∣nours, the affairs of Peru came by degrees to be better setled, & the People, either willingly, or by constraint, were perswaded to acknow∣ledge the Spanish Government, and to live quietly in most parts of the Coun∣trie.

2. The Dominion of the Kings of Cusco, which in some sense, and by some writers up∣on occasion, is called the Kingdome of Peru, was extended by the last Inca, or King, Huay∣na Capac, from North to South above one thousand leagues together, comprehending

not only a great part of the Province of Chile towards the South, but also the New-Kingdome of Granada and divers other Pro∣vinces to the North: but Peru properly so cal∣led, containeth little more than half so much, viz. six hundred leagues in length, and about fifty or threescore in breadth; except only in some places, as in the Country of Chac••poyas, where 'tis thought, it may be one hundred leagues over from the Andes to the South Sea. It is bounded on the East and North-east with that vast ridge of Mountains which they call the Andes: on the West it is washed with Marc del zur; on the North it hath the Country of Popayan; and on the South Chile. It is com∣monly divided into three parts, which they call the Plains, the Hill-country, and the Andes. The Plains are that part of the Country which lie along upon the Sea Coast, being for the most part a meer level without any Hills at all. The Sierra, as they call it, or Hill-Country is that part of Peru, which is partly mountainous and partly plain, fertill and well inhabited in both. The Andes are so high, rocky, and inac∣cessible, that they are scarce inhabited at all but by Savages, save only upon the skirts of them. The Plaines from the Sea shore to the Hill-Counsry, are for the most part about ten

leagues over or broad, upon which it never raineth all the year long. The Hill-Country is commonly twenty leagues in breadth where narrowest; and from September to Aprill hath rain, the rest of the year generally being fair weather. But on the Andes, which take up all the rest of the Country of Peru, it raineth almost continually all the yeare long. In the Hill-Country, Their Summer begins in Aprill, as is said, and ends in September; but in the Plaines, it begins in October and ends in May. So that in the space of one day a man may tast both Summer and Winter; be scorchd with excessive heate in the morning, and yet well nipt with cold before night. The Andes generally are covered with thick Woods and wild Forests; the Hill-Country for a great part naked and open; the Plains in many places sandy and dry, and would be much more scorched with heat, then they are, but for the neighbourhood of the Sea, which affords them many cooling gales from the South and South-west windes; whose property, although it be naturally in other parts to be tempestuous, to bring rain and foul weather, yet here there is nothing but Serenity and fair Sun-shine dayes all the year long, although these windes blow almost without ceasing upon the Country,

and no other at any time, whereas the Sierra or Hill countrys have winde from every coast, and such as bringeth all sorts of weather with it, Rain, Hail, Frost, Snow, great claps of Thunder, &c. The Countrie affordeth not so much Cattel of the breed of Europe as some other Provinces of America; but instead of these, both the Woods and Pastures are re∣plenished, with great multitudes of the Vicug∣nes and Pacos above mentioned, which are of no less profit & service. The Pacos here are said to be as big as some young Heifer of two yeers old, bearing a fleece like Sheep, and their flesh no less pleasant than the Mutton of Europe. But the great wealth of this Countrie lyes out of sight, in the bowels of the Earth, viz. in those rich and, as they may seem, inexhau∣stible Mines both of gold and silver, which, as 'tis well known, this Countrie of Peru afford∣eth, more than any other Province of America beside. The People are said to be, at least ex∣teriorly, of greater simplicity than some other Americans, both in point of behavior and judgement, yet of good courage in the warrs and fearless of death: They are noted also to be dissemblers, and not alwaies to declare their mindes truly and plainly; and which is worse than all, to have bin given over to that foul sin

of Sodomy; in so much that their Women were generally found to be of small esteem with them, to be used no better than slaves, and most cruelly beaten by them upon every light occasion. For both which (their unnatu∣ral filthiness and inhumaninity) if it pleased the Divine Justice to deliver them into the hands of those who used them likewise cruelly, who can deny but that the Judgements of God were just, and that they received such recom∣pence for their works, as the Apostle saith Rom. 1.13. was meet?

The Countrie is generally divided into three Juridicall Resorts, as they call them, or Courts of Appeal, which are Quito, Lima, and Charcas: but the particular Provinces, as they are com∣monly observed by Geographers, said to be six, viz. 1. Quito. 2. Los Quixos. 3. Lima. 4. Cusco. 5. Charcas.: And 6. Collao.

3. Quito is the first Province of Peru to∣wards the North, or the new Kingdome of Granada, with which on that side it is bounded; having on the West Mare del Zur; on the South Lima, and on the East Los Quixos. It lyeth in a manner right under the Line; the Soil reasonably fertill, and well stored with Cattel, especially with the Pacos or Peruvian Sheep; having plenty also of Fish and Fowl;

good store of Cotton-woll, in which the Peo∣ple of the Countrie are especially industrious, make a Cloath or Stuff thereof, equall almost to silk for fineness. Much Tobacco, Guaia∣cum, Sarzaparilla, and other medicinall Plants. The chief Towns are, 1. Caranguez, anciently a Royall Citie, where stood a sumptuous and stately Palace of the Kings of Peru, now almost deserted. 2. Ottavallu, another place of the same dignitie, and the same condition at present with Carangues. 3. Quito, com∣monly called S. Francisco de Quito: It is a Citie built by the Spaniards, at the foot of a certain ridg of Mountains, which it hath on the North and North-West side of it, and are said by Laet, to cross the whole Countrie of Peru quite over from the South to the North Sea. It is inhabited by five hundred Families of Spaniards at least, beside Natives and well for∣tified and might be thought a town very well seated in all respects, but for the neighbour∣hood of a Vulcan, which at times annoyeth it very much; as namely in the year 1560, when it vomited out such aboundance of fla∣ming cinders and other sulphurous matter, as had it not been for a showre of rain unex∣pectedly falling, would have much damnified, if not destroyed, the place. 4. Tacunga fif∣teen

leagues distant from Cusco. 5. Rhio∣bamba, fourty leagues distant from that. 6. Thomebamba. 7. Cuenza, threescore and four leagues from Quito on another roade, but environned on all sides with Mines both of gold and silver, brass, iron, and likewise some veins of sulphur. 8. Loxa, sixteen leagues Southward of Cuenza, and seated pleasantly betwixt two Rivers, in the midst of the rich Valley or Plain called Guixibamba. 9. Zamorra, twently leagues Eastward of Loxa. These are all Towns inhabited by Spa∣niards, and lye more within land. Towards the Sea, and upon the Sea coasts, there is first Pu∣erto Vieio, so called because it was the first Town the Spaniards possessed on this Conti∣nent; a place of no very good Aire, and there∣fore not much frequented. 2. Mantu, ano∣ther Sea Town, and of good resort, by reason of the Trade which is here chiefly dri∣ven betwixt Panama and Peru. 3. Guaiaquil, or St. Jago de Guaiaquil, a famous and well fre∣quented Empory, seated upon an arme of the Sea, not far from the mouth of the said River Guaiaquil. 4. Castro, a Colonie of Spaniards towards that part of this Province which some call Provincia de las Esmauldas, or the Land of Emralds. 5. St. Michaels, the first Colo∣nie

which the Spaniards built in this Countrie, called by the Natives Piura. 6. Payta, a small Town, yet neighboured by a safe and well frequented Haven, guarded against the windes by the point St. Helena on the North; and on the South with Punta Piura; yet burnt by Captain Cavendish in the year 1587, and the rich Island Puna neer adjoyning, ransacked and pillaged.

4. Los Quixos lyeth South and to the South-East of Quito, being bordered more directly Eastward with a part of the Province of Guiana, called by some El dorada, or the golden Countrie: on the South it hath Lima and Cusco. Of the Countrie it self there is not my thing observed that may seem peculiar: The chief Towns are, 1. Baeza, built in the year 1559 by Ramirez de Avila, eighteen leagues from Cusco. 2. Archidona, twenty leagues to the South-East of Baeza. 3. Avi∣la. 4. Sevilla del Oro. All of them Colonies of Spaniards. Then is there in the Sierra, or hilly part of the Countrie more towards the Andes, 1. Valladolidt. 2. Loyola. 3. St. Ja∣go de las Montannas; all Colonies likewise, that you may know the Countrie hath some∣thing in it worth the looking after.

5. Lima, called also Los Reyes, hath on

the East Collao and some part of Cusco; on the North Los Quixos; on the West Ma∣re del Zur; and on the South Charcas. The Countrie extendeth it self in length upon the Coasts of the South Sea two hundred and fifty, some say full three hundred leagues in length, viz. from the Cape del Aguia Northward, on the borders of Quito as far as Arequipa to∣wards the South: the soil reasonably fertil in all things, as being much more equally divided into Hill and Plain Countrie, and much better Peopled than some other Provinces. The pla∣ces most observable and important in it are, 1. Miraflores, as the Spaniards call it, a well seated and wealthy Town in the Valley of Za∣nu, five leagues distant from the Sea, where it hath likewise a good Haven or Port. 2. Truxillo, two or three leagues distant from the Sea, the Haven whereof is said to be large but not so safe. The Town it self is seated up∣on the banks of a pleasant River in the Valley of Chicama, consisting of five hundred Fami∣lies or more, the Aire very healthfull, and the Countrie thereabouts as fruitfull and good as any of these parts of America, especially abounding in Corn, Sugar-Canes and Cattel. 3. La Parilla, twenty leagues Southward of Truxillo in the Valley called Santa, and well

neighboured with rich Mines of silver lately discovered. 4. Arnedo, seated among the Vineyards of the Valley of Changay, ten leagues from Lima northward. 5. Lima, by the Spa∣niards commonly called la Ciudad de los Reyes, or the City of Kings, so named because Pizarro who built it layd the first stone on Twelfth day, 1553, which they call The Feast of the Kings. It is seated in the Valley of Lima, one of the fruitfullest parts of all Peru, and so neatly built, that all the chief streets of the Citie open upon a fair Market-place, or Piaz∣za, of such a large square, that upon the sides thereof are built, in a stately and convenient manner the Cathedral Church and Palace of the Archbishop, the Vice-Roys Palace, and Courts of Justice, with the Exchequer or pub∣lique Treasury, the Town-House, or place where the Citie Magistrates meet and hold their Courts, the publique Armory or Maga∣zine, and divers other fair buildings of the Nobility and better sort of Citizens. The whole City is environed round about with most delicate fields and pleasant gardens, and scarse a Citizens house within, but by the opor∣tunity of a River which runneth by it, is well supplyed with water. Briefly, as it is the Me∣tropolis of Peru, that is, the chief and principall

Citie for Authority and Dignity, so is it like∣wise the chiefest for delight and wealth. 6. Cul∣lao, this is the Haven or Port Town to Lima, and but two leagues distant from it: A Town of six or seven hundred Families, all or most of them Sea-men; and not a house in it but is well provided of Cellar-room and Stowage for Merchandise, which is there received from all parts, both coming from and going to the Sea. It was, with Lima it self, surprized by Sir Francis Drake, in the year 1579, and their Cellars searched as well as could be done in so short a time: whereupon, since it is said to be fortified with two strong Bulwarks, a wall of earth, and about thirty piece of Ordinance planted on the Works. 7 Pachacama, four leagues Southward of Lima, memorable chief∣ly for Pizarros good fortune here, who is re∣ported to have found in one only old Temple of the Natives, the quantity of nine hundred thousand Duckets of gold and silver, beside what his Souldiers are supposed to have seiz'd on and conveighed away before he came. 8. Guarco, a Colony of three hundred Spa∣niards, sixteen leagues to the Southward of Pachacama, rounded with the best fields for Wheat in all Peru. 9. Valverde, a great Town inhabited by five hundred Spaniards,

and though at sixteen leagues distance from the Sea, yet well traded and rich: The Valley wherein it lyeth, and from which it taketh its name, affording the best Vines of America. 10. Castro-Verreina, threescore leagues di∣stant from Lima to the South East. It lyeth in the Valley of Chocolocha, and is a rich place, by reason of the good Mines of silver which are about it, and the aboundance of the best sort of Tobacco. 11. Arequipa, a pleasant and delightsome town in the Valley of Quil∣ca, one hundred and twenty leagues distant from Lima Southward; of a temperate and fresh Aire, a flourishing Soile, and the Town very rich and frequented; by reason that through it much of the silver of Potozi and divers other Mines thereabouts, that is de∣signed for Spain, passeth yearly to be shipped for Panama, at a Haven belonging to this Town, though at a distance, as som say, of 10. or 21. leagues. 12 Caxamalca, more within land towards the North; a place chiefly memorable for the imprisonment & murder of Atabalipa, the last King of Peru, whom the Spaniards over∣threw and took prisoner neer to this place, and afterwards used as hath been said. Lastly 13. Leon de Guanuco, so called from the Territory wherein it standeth, a rich and pleasant place,

being anciently a Palace of the Kings of Peru, very magnificent and stately, now likewise much beautified with Houses both of the Spa∣nish and Peruvian Nobility, some Convents of Religious men, and a Colledge of Jesuites.

6. Cusco is the farre greater part of the Pro∣vince of Peru, containing generally all the Sierra or Hill Countries, and those parts of the Andes likewise which lye Southward of the little Province or Cantred of Guanuco, being coasted Westward and to the North-west with Lima; Eastward with Los Quixos, and some part of Guiana; and on the South with Char∣cas, enjoying for the most part a temperate and good Aire, neither over-heated with the scorching Sun in the day, nor damped with any cold mists or dews in the Evening, as some parts of the Plains of Peru are; but well wa∣tered with many fresh Rivers, which make the Valleys and lower grounds of it good pastu∣rage, and to maintain great Heards of Cattel. The Woods especially stored with the Coca, whose leafe is counted so restorative as we said Chap. 7. and with much excellent Venison. The principall Towns and places of Trade in it are first Bombon, situate upon a Lake called Chinchacocha, said to be ten leagues in com∣pass, begirt round about almost with hills, and

neighboured with many other lesser but plea∣sant Villages. 2. Parcos, once a Palace Roy∣all of the Inca's, seated on the top of a little hill encompassed with other Rocky and higher Mountains on all sides. 3. Guamanga, called by the Spaniards St. Juan de la Vittoria, a fair and well built City, and an Episcopall Sea, threescore and ten leagues distant from Lima Eastward. 4. Bilcas, another Palace of the Inca's, now a good Town of the Natives, and situate, as is supposed, in the very midst of the Countrie of Peru. 5. Guancavelica, a new Town raised from the condition of a very poor Village, to a place of very great impor∣tance and traffique, only by the Mines of Quick-silver, of which we spake Chap. 11. and which were first discovered there in the year 1566. It is now inhabited by two thou∣sand Spaniards at least, and twice as many Na∣tives. 6. Cusco, the chief City of the Province, and anciently the seat of the Kings of Peru, one hundred and twenty leagues or more di∣stant from Lima, to the South-East, begirt round about with Mountains, and the Citie it self seated upon a rugged and unequall Soile; yet anciently very magnificent and beautifull; it being the custome of the Incas or Puruvian Monarchs, that every one of their Nobility

should build themselves a Palace in that Citie where the Palace Royall was. The Incas Pa∣lace here was justly counted one of the won∣ders of the World: it was built on the top of a very high Mountain, on the North side of the Citie, walled round about, and for the most part of it, with three several walls all of massy stones, and those of such huge stupendious bigness, yet most exactly laid together and fitted one with another, that the Spaniards, considering the Indians had neither Instru∣ments of Iron, or any thing else to polish and fashion them, nor Engins to draw them up to that height, nor so much as Carts to fetch them from the Quarries and places where they were found, which was eight or nine leagues di∣stance, and over no small Rivers, said plainly, 'twas the work of the Devil, and not of Man, to lay them there: which seeming a thing not so easily to be supposed, I must, for my part, as plainly confess, 'tis a Problem somewhat above my capacity at present to resolve, viz. how it should come to pass, that not only here, but in divers other parts of the Countrie, where the Incas and their Nobility had their Palaces, such evident Monuments of ab∣solute Art and Skill should be found among a People so absolutely ignorant

and unacquainted with Art, as the Ame∣ricans were reported to be. It is now quite demolished, and converted to private dwellings; only the walls are permitted to stand, as well to testifie the greatness of the ancient structure, as because the stones thereof (as mine Author Laet reporteth) are so hugely ponderous & big, that the Spainards know not well how to remove them, and per∣haps dare not venture upon it. Many other Monuments there were of the Incas Magnifi∣cence & greatnes, as beside their Temples which were very stately and rich. Those publick Caw∣seys or high-wayes, pav'd and laid with stone, which the Incas, with incredible cost and pains had caused to be made from Cusco to the ut∣most Confines of their Kingdome, as large as it was, onely for the ease and commoditie of the people; they all meeting at Cusco from all quarters, l ke so many lines from severall parts of the Circumference, and Concentring in the midst of the City, upon a Piazza or Market-place, one of the fairest in all Peru. The wealth which the Spaniards found here is not to be estimated; all the Vessels, and U∣tensills, of what sort soever, belonging to the Incas Palace, being said to be of perfect Silver or Gold; all the Roomes and Cham∣bers

of the Palace wainscoted and ceiled with Gold; beside an infinite number of Birds, Beasts, Fowles, Serpents and other creatures, carved and wrought all of Gold or Silver. Nor was it otherwise in due proportion, in the Palaces of the Nobility: all were found inesti∣mably wealthy and rich: And yet 'tis thought, what they found above ground, was nothing, in comparison of that which they met with in the ransacking of Cellars, Vaults, and other subterraneous places, where the poor con∣quered Peruvians had endeavoured to con∣vey it out of sight; which was such that to this day, they say, those treasures are not ex∣hausted, but that in digging upon occasion un∣der ground, they still chop upon some good quantities of concealed Metals. The City at present is thought to contain some thirteen or fourteten thousand Inhabitants, whereof the third part only Spaniards, the rest Natives. 7. St. Francisco de la vittoria, a Colony of Spaniards situate at the foot of the Andes, twenty leagues distant from Cusco. 8. St. Juan del oro, another Colony in the Valley of Caravaya, neighboured with rich Mines of the purest Gold of Peru. Beyond which pla∣ces, more towards the Andes, there are said to lie certain Countries as yet undiscovered,

much famed for gold Mines, but of such un∣passable difficulty, that hitherto the Spaniards, though divers times attempting it, have not been able to effect any thing answerable to their desires.

8. Collao lyeth Southward of those Coun∣tries, which goe under the generall name of the Province of Cusco, having on the West Lima, on the South Charcas; but Eastward and to the North-east, it is shut up by a ridge of Mountaines, running in one body or con∣tinued Tract from the confines of Collao, as far as the City of Cusco, where they divide. The Country generally plain, commodiously watered in all parts with fresh Rivers, and consequently affording rich pasturage and good heards of Cattell. It is thought to be the most populous Country of all Peru; what through the soundness and good temperature of the aire, what through the richness and fer∣tility of the Soil. The chief Towns and places of note in it, being 1. Chuquinga, a great Town, and held to be naturally almost im∣pregnable, as being environed round about, either with deep unfordable Waters, or with Mountains unpassable, and having one only Cawsey leading to it, reported to be for two or three leagues together no broader than to

permit one single person to march convenienly upon it. 2. Ayavire, by the Spaniards called Las Sepulturas, being a place especially eno∣bled by the stately Monuments of the Peru∣vian Nobility, which were found there. 3. Hatuncolla, the Metropolis or chief Town of this Province, seated upon the banks of the River Caravaya, whose sands are very much fam'd for Gold. 4. Chinquita, a Colony of Spaniards upon the banks of Titicaca, one of the greatest Lakes that belong to America said to be fourscore leagues in compass, having many small Islands in it of a good and fruitfull soil, abounding in fish and variety of Sea-fowl. It is supposed to be fourscore leagues distant likewise from the South Sea, having only one Estuary or Mouth, which is something streit, but of such a deep water and violent stream, that, as Acosta testifieth of it, it is not possible to build a Bridge of stone, or timber over it. But the Natives instead thereof have laid a Bridge of straw upon it, which serves as well; viz. so many great bundles of straw sedge or such like matter, well and surely made up, and fastened together, as will reach from one side or bank of the Estuary to another; at which likewise having made them sure, they cast some good quantity of more straw and

sedge upon them, and have a Bridge very con∣venient, upon which they doe both securely pass themselves, and also drive Cattell and doe other necessary business. The Town is a place of extraordinary Wealth and Trading, and so considerable, that the Governour thereof is always named by the King of Spain himself, and his place estimated at fifty thou∣sand Duckats per annum. 5. Tiaguanaco at the Estuary or Mouth of the Lake, memorable only for the ruines of certain great and stupen∣dious buildings, which anciently, it seems, have stood there, the stones whereof (some of them) are said to have been of thirty foot length a piece, fifteen foot broad, and six or seven foot thick. There were likewise found the Statues of certain men excellently carved and wrought, of a Gigantine Stature or bigness, and likewise vested in forrain and strange ha∣bits, not at all used, nor ever known to have been used by the Peruvians themselves, or by any other of the present Nations of America. 6. Nuestra Sennora de la Paz, or our Lady of Peace. It is but a small Town, yet pleasantly seated upon the banks of a River in a fair and fruitfull Plain, having Mountaines on either side. It lyeth almost in the middle of the Pro∣vince, fourescore leagues distant from Cusco,

and as many from Potozi: the Country round about it not a little famous for the best sort of Mines. There are also, 7. Chilane. 8. Acos. 9. Pomata, and some others; all of them good Towns, but not so considerable as those o∣ther.

7. Los Charcas is the furthest Country Southward of the Province of Peru, reaching up as far as Ch le, with which on the South it is bordered, having on the North Lima and Col∣lao; on the West Mare del Zur, and on the East some Countries not yet well discovered, which lie betwixt it and the Province of Para∣guay, or de la Plata. The Country is said to be in length about one hundred and fifty leagues, measuring it directly, or in a right line from North to South; but measuring it about a∣long the Sea Coast much above two hundred. Not very rich either in Corn or Cattel, al∣though in some parts it wanteth not good Pasturage: but of unparalleld wealth, in respect of the Mines both of Gold, and Silver which are here digged; the principall whereof are those of Potozi, and Porco above menti∣oned. The Towns and places of chiefest im∣portance are, 1. la Plata, or the Silver-Town, so called from the rich Mines of Silver there∣abouts, namely those of Porco, which is a Hill

neer adjoyning to the Town. It had been an∣ciently a Mine of the Incas, or Kings of Peru, yet held out and continued so rich, even to its last discovery by the Spaniards, that 'tis thought, Pizarro if reason could have ruled him, might here only have raised himself a rent of two hundred thousand Duckets per annum. But his desire and hopes, first to finde more at Potozi, and afterwards his ambition and gree∣diness to have or command all, carryed him to violent courses which proved his ruin, as hath been said. The Town is conveniently sea∣ted in a fruitfull soil, honoured with the Resi∣dence of the Governour of the Province, and with a Bishops Sea, said to be the richest of Peru, viz. of fourescore thousand Duckets rent per annum. 2. Oropesa, a place of good Me∣tal, as a man may it perceive by the name; lieth in the rich and pleasant Valley of Cochabamba, twenty leagues distant from la Plata. 3. Po∣tozi, before the discovery of the Mines a poor and sorry Village, now the richest and best peopled Town of the Province, inhabited by no less than four or five thousand Spaniards, and of the Natives many more, beside above thirty thousand poor Negro-Slaves and other people belonging unto and labouring in the Mines; whose dwelings are in divers little

Villages thereabouts: a place hugely resorted unto, both by Merchants for profit, and by Gallants for their pleasure, and though lying in a cold and but barren soil outwardly, yet so well accomodated with all things, that no∣thing can be desired more: and we need not wonder it should be so; for where money is, there is alwayes the best Market. The place lyeth in one and twenty degrees and some Mi∣nutes of Southern latitude, eighteen leagues distant from La Plata, and about one hundred and sixty from Cusco; and may be found both from the North and South Sea. From the South by the way of Arica, which is a Port or Haven upon Mare del Zur, seventy leagues or thereabouts distant from it, whither all, or most part of the Silver of Potozi, Porco, and other Mines of this province, is carryed year∣ly upon the backs of the Pacos, or Sheep of Peru above mentioned, to be shipped there, for Panama, or Lima, and so for Spain. From the North it may be found by the River de la Plata, which falleth into the Atlantick Ocean thirty four degrees and some minuts Southward of the Line, and hath many good Townes of Spaniards seated either upon, or neer unto it, as namely Buenos Ayres, St. Fe, Corduba, St. Jago de Eteco, and others, by

which through a plain, and for the most part plentifull Country, the March to Potozi is so fair and open, that it may seem rather tedious than difficult. For they lay it indeed com∣monly at a distance of three hundred leagues or more from Buenos Ayres, which is the far∣thest Town from it toward the Sea; but per∣haps upon tryall, it would not be found so much; it being otherwise certainly reported, that the Spaniards of Petozi and parts there∣abouts, doe frequently come down and trade with those of Buenos Ayres, for divers sorts of European Merchandise, and others, and would do much more, if the King of Spain would give leave, which if the distance were so great betwixt them, perhaps were not so pro∣bable. 4. Misque. 5. Lagunilla. 6. Tarixa, smaller Towns, but such as furnish Potozi with all sorts of good Wine, Wheate, Maiz, Sugar and the choisest fruits. 8. Arica the most known and frequented Port of this Country, upon Mare del Zur, of which we spake in the discription of Potozi. It was taken and sacked by Sir Francis Drake, in the year 1577, who found good booty both in the Town and in the ships; but is since, they say, better fortified both with Bul∣warks and Ordinance, as doubtless the

great importance of the place requireth.

CHAP. XIIII.

Of the Province of Chile.

1. FOllowing the coast of Mare del Zur, or the South Sea, the next Province pertaining formerly to the Kingdome of Peru, is that of Chile. This is the most Southerly Province of the whole Country of America, reaching up as far as Magallanes Streits, with which to the Southward it is bounded: North∣ward it hath a Desart, and undiscovered Country, lying betwixt it and the confines of Peru called Atacama: on the West it hath Mare del Zur, and on the East up to Rio de la Plata, the Atlantick or North Sea, with some Countries undiscovered, which inter∣pose betwixt it and Paraguay to the North-East. It lyeth all of it beyond the Tropique of Capricorn, in a temperate Zone, and extendeth it self in length from the borders of Peru, to the mouth of the Streits five hundred leagues or more; but the breadth of it neither equall nor certain. They say 'tis called Chile from the word Chil, which signifies cold; it seems

in their language as well as ours, it being ge∣nerally a cold and bleak Country, the aire in many parts of it so extremely sharp and pier∣cing, that both Horse and Rider sometimes in travelling are frozen to death, as the Spani∣ards found by experience in their first search and discovery of the Country, under the Con∣duct of Diego Almagro, who is said to have left the greatest part of his men dead behinde him in this manner. But this is chiefly towards the Andes, and on the Sea coast; the more inland parts of it, though mountainous also in some parts, yet are more temperate, and being also well watered with Rivers, are much more fruitfull than the other, affording both Wheat, and Maiz, and likewise other grain, excel∣lent Pasturage in many places and great store of Cattel, Wine, Honey, not without many & rich Mines both of Gold and Silver. The Na∣tives of this Country were found the most stout and warlike of all the Americans, the Spaniards had hitherto met withall, fighting with them and oftentimes defeating them in the open field surprising and sacking their Towns, and last of all taking their Captain and Commander in chief Prisoner. This was Pedro Baldivia, one of those good men that consented to the death of Atabalipa the last

King of Peru, after a greater ransome ac∣cepted and paid, than perhaps the King of Spain could well raise on a sudden, if he had occasion to use it for himself. The Araucans (for so are the People called that had him pri∣soner) are said to have entertained him for a while gallantly, making him a feast; but for his last draught give him a cup of melted gold, which the poor man was forced to take down, and so dyed.

The whole Province generally is divided first into Chile, specially so called; and second∣ly Magellanica, or that part which lyeth more Southward down to the Streits of Ma∣gellan.

2. Chile, properly so called, is bordered Northward with the Desart and barren Countrie of Atacama above mentioned; on the South with Magellanica; on the West with Mare del Zur; Eastward and to the North-East with some parts of Pa∣raguay, or rather with some undisco∣vered Countries, lying betwixt them both. The length of it from North to South is recko∣ned to be little less than three hundred leagues, and generally of a fruitfull Soile, affording beside aboundance of gold and silver, both Corn, Cattel, Vineyards, and divers sorts of

Fruits, equall both for kinde and plenty to Spain it self, and sundry other parts of Europe. The Aire likewise for the most part temperate, and the People, in their manners and conditi∣ons approaching much neerer to the Civility and likewise subtilty of Europeans, than other Americans did: which doubtless may be at∣tributed to the conformity of the Climates under which they lye, agreeable to those of Europe; though otherwise in respect of the sphere and seasons of the yeer, there be Diame∣tricall difference betwixt us, as for example, their Spring beginning in September, which is our Autumn; and their Autumn in March, which is our Spring: their longest day being that of St. Lucy on the eleventh of December, which is our shortest; and their shortest be∣ing St. Barnabies, viz. the eleventh of June which is our longest, &c.

The Towns of chiefest note and impor∣tance in this Province are first Gopiapo, an old Town in the most Northerly parts of this Pro∣vince, towards the Sea, where it hath a very commodious Haven belonging to it. 2. La Serena, a Town situate on the banks of Co∣quimbo, a pleasant River a little above its in∣flux into the Sea, built by Baldivia, in the year 1544: The Countrie about it very rich in

Mines of Gold; and the Town it self so well garrison'd for fear of the Natives, that when the English, under Sir Francis Drake, about four-score years since, attempted the gaining of the place, they found hot service of it, being stoutly resisted and beaten back again to their ships, by a salley of no less than three hundred good Horse and two hundred Foot. 3. St. Ja∣go, the principall Town of the Province, a Bi∣shops Sea, and the ordinary residence of the Governor, lying on the banks of the River Tapocalma, in the thirty fourth degree of Southern latitude, fifteen leagues distant from the South-Sea, at which it hath a very com∣modious and much frequented Haven, which they call Valparayso, and where the English met with better fortune, as hath been said al∣ready in the report of Sir Francis Drakes voy∣age. 4. La Conception, a strong Town, seated on the Bay called Penco, threescore or seventy leagues distant from St. Jago towards the South, a place not a little fortified both by Nature and Art, having the Bay and a certain ridge of high Mountains begirting it almost round about; and where it is otherwise ac∣cessible, a Castle and certain Bulwarks with Ordinance, besides a Garrison of five hundred Souldiers at least continually in it: and all

little enough to defend it against the Arau∣canes, their deadly Enemies, who live therea∣bouts, and are ever and anon making incursions almost up to the walls of it. Over against the place, in Mare del Zur, but very neer the shore, there lyeth a certain Island called St. Maries, exceedingly plentifull in Swine and all sorts of Poultry, which the Garrison of La Conception make good use of. 5. Los Confines: this is a Frontier Town, built by the aforesaid Baldivia, for defence of the rich Mines of gold at Ongol, a place neer adjoyn∣ing. 6. La Imperiale, another strong Garri∣son of this place on the banks of the River Cauten, neer to which that great battel was fought, where Baldivia, with divers other Spaniards, was taken prisoner, who were no otherwise overcome, but by being overwearied with killing of their Enemies, and by that means not able to make their retreat. 7. Villa rica, another Colonie of the Spaniards in these parts, sixteen leagues distant from Imperiale, and twenty five from the Sea. 8. Baldivia, so named from the Commander himself Pedro Baldivia, who built it in the Valley of Gua∣dallanquen, two or three leagues distant from the Sea, where it hath a good and capacious Port; but neerer to it the best Mines of Peru,

so rich, that 'tis said, they yeelded Baldivia every day, so long as he could enjoy them, twenty five thousand Crowns for every man that wrought in them. 9. Osorno, a Town ly∣ing on the Bay of Chilve in a barren Soile out∣wardly, but otherwise neither less rich, nor less populous than Baldivia it self. These three towns, viz. Baldivia, Imperiale, and Osorno were in the years 1596, 1599, 1604, surprized by the Araucanes, and other sava∣ges confederate with them, sack'd and burnt; and though the Spaniards be said to have re∣covered and garrisond some of them with fresh Souldiers, yet how long they were able to hold them, or whether they be Masters of them at this day I cannot say. There is likewise 10 Castro the most Southerly Town of the whole Province; built in a certain Island within the Bay of Chilve; and lastly towards Paraguay and Rio de la Plata there are the Towns Men∣doza, and St. Juan de la Frontera; but they lye on the other side of the Andes, fourty leagues distant from any of these we speak of, and perhaps more, and not above one hun∣dred from Buenos Ayres, and the Atlantick Ocean.

3. Magellanica, the other part of this Pro∣vince is bounded Northward with Chile above∣said,

and some parts of the Countries de la Plata; on the South with the narrow-Sea called Magellans Streits, having Mare del Zur on the West; and on the East the Atlan∣tick Ocean. It contains in length, from the borders of Chile to the mouth of the Streits, about one hundred leagues; and in breadth, viz. from the North to the South Sea, some∣what more, viz. towards Chile and the North-west parts of it; for towards the South and South-west it streightens still more and more; insomuch, that they which resemble the Southern part of America to the form of a Pyramis reversed, makes this part of the Coun∣trie to be the spire or top of the Pyramis. It beareth the name of Ferdinand Magellan, a Portughese, who first discovered that narrow Sea, so famously known by the name of Ma∣gellans Streits, upon which it lyeth. It is a large Countrie and supposed not to be altoge∣ther barren of Metals; but as yet no great discoverie hath been made of it: partly by rea∣son of the excessive cold to which 'tis thought to be subject: and partly perhaps by reason of the difficulty of the enterprize, it being so far remote, and very hardly passable in many pla∣ces, by reason of the huge mountains the An∣des, which barre it, as it were, against all ad∣venturers:

but chiefly by reason of the stout∣ness and untameableness of the Araucanes and other Natives of Chile, through whose Coun∣trie the march lyeth, and who must first be conquered. So that very little can be said more of this Countrie, than only to name the Ports and places upon the Sea coasts, at which the Spaniards, and likewise some other Nati∣ons at several times have touched: the chief whereof upon the South-Sea are first Cabo de las Islas, a Promontorie or Foreland twenty six leagues distant from that of St. Felix on the confines of Chile. 2. Puerto de San. Ste∣phano, fiftie leagues from that, towards the South. 3. La Valle de Nuestra Sennora, or our Ladies Dale, a large and secure Bay, eigh∣teen leagues Southward of St. Stephens. 4. La Punta Delgada 5. Puerto de los Reyes. 6. Ancona Sin Salida: All of them South∣ward towards the Streits. Then is there al∣most at the opening of the Streits Cabo de la Vittoria, Cabo Desseado, and some others. Up∣on the North-Sea, and up towards Rio de la Plata, the chief places observed are first Rio de la Crux, and the Cape which they call de las Rameras, about thirty leagues distant from the Streits mouth. 2. The Bay of St. Julian, fourty leagues Northward of that. 3. El

Puerto Desseado. 4. Puerto de los Leones. 5. The Bay of Anegada: All of them good and capacious Havens for the security of shipping upon these coasts, and lying at a di∣stance of thirty or fourty leagues one from another, up towards Rio de la Plata, and the Countrie of Paraguay, of which we are next to speak.

As for the Streits themselves, so much spo∣ken of, and likewise so necessary to be known by those who frequent these parts of the World, they are a narrow Sea or Frith, by which the Atlantick Ocean, or rather some parts of it, doth fall into Mare del Zur, or the South Sea. The passage is long, running, as 'tis commonly supposed, will nigh one hun∣dred leagues together, almost in a parallel line, or in the same degree of latitude from one end to the other: and likewise extremely difficult, by reason of the many windings and turnings of the Sea, which force them to be ever and anon altering of their course; and a Mountainous high Countrie on both sides of it, from whence it is almost continually beaten with storms, both dangerous and terrible, They were first discovered by Ferdinand Magellan, by Nation a Portughese, but in the service of the King of Spain; and by him named Ma∣gellanes

Streits: who, although himself lived not to return into Spain, being slain in the con∣quest of the Moluccae Islands, yet his compa∣nions did, in the ship called Vittoria; from whence the Cape de la Vittoria abovesaid took its name. They lye at the mouth or entrance of them by the Atlantick Ocean, in the fifty two degrees of Southern latitude, and have not above fifty three and some minutes at their Exit, or opening into the South-Sea. There is likewise since this, and of but late times, viz. about the year 1615 another Streit discovered, by the Dutch, and called from the Discoverer Fretum, or the Streits of le Maire, four or five degrees more to the Southward than those of Magellan, and supposed to be a much ea∣sier and safer passage. The intention was, by the discovery of these Streights, to have found a shorter way to the East-Indies, and the Kingdoms of Cathay and China, than that which was then only used, viz. by the Cape de Buena Speranza, and the Coast of Africk: and so they doe; but by reason of the great difficultie and uncertaintie of the passage, I suppose neither the one nor the other is much frequented: the Spaniards for the most part serving themselves of their American Ports upon the South-Sea, from whence they make

their voyages and returns to and from the other Indies, and from thence home to Spain; and the English with other Nations of Europe, trading still by the Coast of Africk and Cape of Good Hope, or else by the way of Alexan∣dria and the Persian Gulf, as heretofore.

CHAP. XV.

Of Paraguay, or Rio de la Plata.

1. WEe have seen in Magellanica the furthest, that is, the most Southerly part of the New-World, and be∣fore it in order all the Western Coasts of America that lye either upon or towards Ma∣re del Zur, viz. from Panama, the first Pro∣vince of this Southern part down as far as the Streits. We are now to return and take a view of the Eastern Coasts, and those Countries which lye upon the Atlantick Ocean, steering our course henceforth Northward, not direct∣ly, but as the Coast leads us for a while East∣ward and by North: for as much as the Land of America from the Streits of Magellan up as far as Brasil, and almost to the Equator, runneth out with a long Easterly point, little

less than three thousand leagues together. The first Province we meet with on this side, next to Magellanica, is the Countrie of Paraguay, oftentimes called Rio de la Plata, from the name of an huge River, which runneth for the most part, through the midst of it. It is bor∣dered, as we said, to the South and towards the Streits with Magellanica; on the East with the Atlantick Ocean; more Northward, or to the North-East, it hath Brasil; and on the West those undiscovered Countries of the Pro∣vince of Chile, of which we spake. The Coun∣trie on both sides the River is reported to be a very lusty and fruitfull Soil, bearing besides those which are proper and Native, all sorts of European Fruits and Grain in great aboun∣dance, with Sugar-Canes, as many, great, and good, as any other Province of the New-World. Nor is it excelled by any other Coun∣trie for good pasturage and great heards of Cattel, Sheep, Swine: In particular Horses are said to have so multiplyed here, that of thirty Mares, and about six or seven Stallions, which the Spaniards left there, in the space of fourty yeers the whole Countrie thereabouts towards the South, was filled with the Breed of them, running wilde in great companies to∣gether, through all the Woods and Forrests

of the Country, and of excellent mettle and service if they could be tamed. It affordeth likewise great store of wild Deer and Stags, some Lions, Tygers, &c. nor is it without good Mines, some both of Gold and Silver; but cheifly, as to what is yet discovered, of Brass, and Iron; and the People altogether Sa∣vage. The River de la Plata, which, as we said divides the Country, is one of the largest of the whole World, rising, as 'tis supposed, out of the Lake called de los Xarayes, three hundred leagues or more within land, and falling into the Atlantick, or North Sea, in thirty four degrees of Southern latitude, with an Estuary or Mouth of thirty, or two and thirty leagues over.

The whole Country is usually subdivi∣ded into three inferiour Provinces, which are. 1. Rio de la Plata properly so called. 2. Tucuman. 3. La Crux de Sierra.

2. Rio de la Plata, properly so called, is that part of the Country, which extendeth it self on both sides of the River, in length ma∣ny leagues together, but not answerable in breadth; and containeth these Towns of chief∣est note and importance, viz. 1. Buenos Ayres, by some called La Trinidad, on the Sou∣thern banks of the River de la Plata, sixty

four leagues, they say, from the Mouth of it. It is seated commodiously at the foot of a little Mountain, and fortified with a Mud-wall, a little Castle, and some pieces of Or∣dinance. 2. Sta. Fe, in English St, Faiths, fifty leagues above Buenos Ayres, upon the same River and a richer place, chiefly by reason of their cloath, of which there is here one of the greatest Manufactures of all these parts of Peru. 3. Nuestra Sennora de la Assumption, commonly called Assumption only, lying yet higher up the River almost one hundred leagues, a well built, and well frequented Town, said to be inhabited by two hundred Families at least of naturall Spaniards, besides Mestizos, as they call them, which are the breed of Spaniards by the American People, men or women; and Mulattos, which are likewise their Race, but begotten upon Negroes: of both which there are reckoned to be here some Thousands. 4. La Ciudad Real, or more commonly called Ontiveros, fourscore leagues Northward from Assumption, seated on the banks of the River Parana in a fruitfull Soil, as the Country generally is about all these pla∣ces, but the Aire here not so healthfull. 5. St. Anne, upon the same River. 6. St. Sal∣vador.

3. Westward of la Plata, lyeth the Coun∣try of Tucuman, extending it self as far as the borders of Chile; a Country not yet well dis∣covered either to the North or the South. That part of it which lyeth toward Chile is well manured and husbanded, and likewise very fruitfull: But that towards Magellanicae neither the one nor the other, remaining al∣together untitled and barren. The chief Towns and places of note are, 1. St. Jago de Esteco, the principall Town of the Province and a Bi∣shops Sea, seated upon the River Esteco, one hundred and fourscore leagues distant from Buenos Ayres. 2. St Michael de Tucuman, seated at the foot of an huge rocky Mountain, but otherwise in a Soil the fruitfullest and best, both for Corn and Pasturage, of all this Coun∣try, twenty eight leagues distant from St. Ja∣go. 3. Talavera, or Nuestra Sennora de Tala∣vera, as the Spaniards call it, situate upon the banks of Salado, in a good Soil, and inhabi∣ted by an industrious People, grown excee∣ding rich and wealthy, cheifly by their Manu∣factures of Cotton-wooll, whereof they have great plenty, and by which they drive a Trade as farre as the Mines at Potozi, and other parts of Peru. 3. Corduba another rich Town of this Province and of great trade, as lying

at an equall distance, viz. of fifty leagues, both from Sta. Fe, as they call it, or St. Faiths, in the Province of La Plata abovesaid, & from St. Ju∣an de la Frontera in the Country of Chile; and almost in the road way from Potozi and those parts of Peru to Buenos Ayres and the North Sea. There are likewise the Townes 5. Choci∣noca. 6. Sococha. 7. Calebinda. 8. Morata and others; but belonging for the most part to the reduced Natives.

4. Sta. Crux de Sierra is a little Territory (at least in comparison to some others (lying towards Peru, and reckoned by some for part of the Province of Peru. It lyeth betwixt the two great Rivers of Paraguay and Guapay, one hundred leagues distant, as 'tis said, from Charcas, to which yet, in some causes it is subordinate. The Soil of the Country abun∣dantly fertill in all sorts of American Fruits, besides good plenty both of Wheat and Maiz, scarsity of nothing usefull for mans life, unless it be fresh water in some places. The chief Towns of it are, 1. Sta. Crux, situate at the foot of a great Mountain or Hill, but opening upon a large Plain, whose thirsty drieness is well refreshed by a certain Brook or Torrent, which issueth out of a neighbouring Mountain, & a few leagues distant from the Town maketh

a pretty Lake which supplyeth the Country thereabouts, both with fresh water and fish good plenty 2. Barranea, a Town supposed to be not above threesore leagues distant from Potozi. 3. Nova-Rioia, once a Colony of Spaniards, but sacked and spoiled by the Sa∣vages of these parts, about the yeare 1548, and the first Discoverer of the Country, name∣ly Nunno de Chaves treacherously murdered by a Native; since which time, 'tis said to have been deserted.

CHAP. XVI.

Of Brasil.

1. NOrthward of Paraguay, or Rio de la Plata, lyeth the Country of Brasil, a large Province of this Easterly part of America, and bounded to the East with Ma∣re del Nort, or the Atlantick Ocean; on the West with the Andes. On the North it hath the great River Maragnon, which divides it from Guiana, and on the South Paraguay. It containes in length measuring by the Sea coast from North to South, two hundred leagues and more, but in breadth, that is from the An∣des

to the Sea, scarse half so much: of which likewise but a small portion is yet discovered, and less possessed; The Portugheses, who are Masters of the Country, holding only some few places towards the Sea, with so much of the uplands as the Inhabitants thereabouts can use, leaving all the rest to the Natives, or such as will adventure further for it. The Country is in some parts mountainous, and well set with Forests and huge Woods, yet generally of a Champaign and low ground, commodiously distinguished and watered with good Rivers. The Aire for the most part sound and healthfull, being said to be very much cleered by certain fresh windes from the Southward, which they have almost continu∣ally all along upon the coasts. The Soil would be admirably fruitfull, were it not for over∣much rain; to which, especially in some parts the Country is subject. Nevertheless it is won∣derfully plentious, and aboundeth with sugar-Canes, more than any other part of America beside; the Portugheses here having their Inge∣nios, as they call them, or sugar-Mills, up and down in all parts of the Country, with many thousands of Slaves working in them, which are brought them yearly out of Guiny, Con∣go, and other parts of Africk. And 'tis a mer∣chandise

doubtless of huge profit to them; the Portugheses being supposed to transport one year with another only out of Brasil a hun∣dred and fifty thousand Arrobes of fine sugar, every Arrobe containing twenty five Bushels, as some say, of English measure. There is like∣wise great quantity of that red wood, which they commonly call Brasil-wood, so much u∣sed both in England and other parts for dying of Cloath. The Trees of this wood are said to be of such incredible bigness, that whole Fa∣milies of the Natives live upon or within an Arme of them, and they are a principall Sto∣wage and refuge for them, when the Land is overflowed with waters, as at some times of the year it happens to be, and that unexpe∣ctedly on the sudden. This Country is another Africk, abounding with variety of many strange and prodigious creatures, more than any other part of the New-World, as may be seen in Authors, especially Laet lib. 15. cap. 5. &c. and the Natives generally no less savage and barbarous, going for the most part naked, eating Mans-fl••sh; the men cruel to extrea∣mity, and the women as wanton and immo∣dest: both of them, especially more towards the Andes, hairy all over like bruit beasts, from whom they seem but little to differ, save only in shape.

The Country is not as yet divided into Pro∣vinces or such nationall districts, as the other parts of America generally are, although there be found among them as many severall sorts of People, and of different languages, as in any other Country, but into certain Pre∣fectures or lesser Governments, which the Portugheses have erected and setled, only for the command and better securing of those parts which themselves hold in the Country. They lie all of them towards the Sea coast, and are reckoned to be about thirteen in number viz.

2. The Prefecture of St. Vincent, bordering on Rio de la Plata, and inhabited by the most civill People of Brasil, where the Portugheses have these Towns of note, viz. Los Santos, at the bottom of a Bay, or huge Arme of the Sea, with an Haven belonging to it capable of ships of good burthen. It lyeth two or three leagues distant from the main Ocean, and was taken and held by the English under Sir Tho∣mas Cavendish, some two moneths together, in the yeare 1521, but is now better fortified with a Wall, two strong Castles, and some pie∣ces of Ordinance. 2. St. Vincent, not above four miles distant from Los Santos, and better built, only it hath not the benefit of such a

good Haven. 3. Itange. 4. Cananea; all of them southward of St. Vincent, at some leagues distance. 5. St. Paul, situate upon the top of a Mountain or little Hill, having a very curi∣ous prospect into the open fields, both to∣wards the East, North and South; westward it overlooketh a little Wood or Forest, and is neighboured, they say, with very rich Mines of Gold in the Mountaines Pernapiacaba, six or seven leagues distant. 6. St. Philips on the banks of Iniambis, a fair River of this Coun∣try.

The Prefecture of Rio de Janeiro, a district of this Country once held by the French, but taken from them by the Portugheses in the yeare 1558, and all the French put to the Sword. It hath these Towns, 1. Colignia, so named from that famous Hugonot Gaspar Co∣ligni Admiral of France, by whose assistance and encouragement chiefly it had been peo∣pled by the French; being seated on a Bay of the River Janeiro. 2. St. Sebastians, a Town built by the Portugheses at the Mouth of the said Bay, and fortified with four strong Bul∣works. 3. Angra de los Reyes, twelve leagues distant from St. Sebastians westward, beside some Burroughs of the Natives very populous, but neither strong nor fortified.

The Prefecture del Spirito Santo, one of the most fertil Prefectships of all Brasil, plenti∣fully stored with Cotton-wooll, watered with excellent Rivers, especially that which they call Parayba, of a large stream, and full of good fish. The Prefecture it self is not very large, as having one only Town of note in it, inhabited by the Portugheses, called likewise Spirito Santo; but it hath two hundred Fami∣lies at least in it, and a very safe and commo∣dious Haven belonging to it three or four leagues distant from the Sea.

The Prefecture of Puerto Seguro, fifty leagues more to the North of Spirito Santo, having these Towms, viz. 1. Puerto Seguro it self, seated, as it were, upon a Rock or Cliff to∣wards the Sea side, where it commands the Haven, and contains in it about two hundred Families of Portugheses. 2. Sta. Crux, three leagues distant from Puerto Seguro. 3. Ama∣ro, or St. Omars in America, once a rich Town, and well Traded by reason of the aboundance of sugar-Canes which the Countrie affordeth, but since deserted, as some say, by the Portu∣gheses, not able to maintain the place and their trading against the Savages thereabouts, who having kild & likewise eaten most of the slaves at their sugar-Farms in the Countrie, seemed

to threaten no less to themselves.

The Prefecture Dos Ilheos, as the Portughe∣ses call it, either from certain Islands which lye before it, or from the principall Town cal∣led Ilheos seated upon a convenient Bay or Arme of the Sea, about thirty leagues distant from Puerto Seguro to the North. There are said to be one hundred or one hundred and fifty Families of Portugheses in it; and a few leagues from it more within land, a Lake of ten or twelve leagues in compass, well stored with good Fish, especially those called Mana∣ti, a dainty Fish for meat, as hath been said, and so big, that, as Laet reporteth, some of them here are found of a thousand or eleven hundred pound weight, and sometimes more. The Portugheses hereabouts would quickly grow rich by the aboundance of sugar-Canes and good Cattel which the Countrie breeds, but for the Guaymuri, as they call them, which are a sort of Savages of Gigantine size and stature, as they say, much more fierce and cruel than others, and which doe very much infest their quarters.

The Prefecture of Todos los Santos, in eng∣lish All Saints, lying upon a goodly and spa∣cious Bay called likewise the Bay of All Saints, thirty leagues distant from Dos Ilheos above∣said,

and is a very convenient and safe Harbour for shipping in those Seas, which are sometimes not a little stormy and tempestuous. Its a place very well fortified, and especially me∣morable for a brave exploit performed there by Peter Heynes a Dutch man, and Admiral of a squadron of States ships in the year 1627, who, as 'tis said, only with his own ship (the rest of his company not being able to follow him) thrust into a Fleet of Spaniards, of no less than twenty six sail, that lay at Anchor in the Bay, and having sunk their Admiral, took all the rest at Mercy, and carried them out with him in spite of some other ships that lay there, and the Castle, and above fourty pieces of Or∣dinance planted on the shore. Their chief Towns are St. Salvador, built on a little hill on the North side of the Bay. It is a walled Town, and fortified with no less than three strong Castles, yet surprized by the Dutch in the year 1624, but lost again the next year following, as they would make us believe, by the treachery of some of their own compa∣nie.

The Prefecture of Fernambuck, held to be one of the richest and best of the Countrie, both for Tobacco, Sugar, and great quantity of Brasil wood, which is yeerly brought from

thence. Their chief Towns are first Olinda, the biggest Town and best Peopled of all Brasil, containing by estimation above two thousand persons Portugheses, not reckoning Ecclesia∣sticks and Religious men into the number; of which yet there are many. It lyeth toward the Sea side, but upon such an uneven ground that it is not apt to be fortified otherwise then it is by Nature; neither is the Haven so great as a Town of such Trading would require; yet is it fortified with a Castle and some pieces of Ordinance. The Castle and a great part of the suburbs along the Coast, were surprized by the English under Captain Lancaster in the year 1595, and a rich prize of the chief Com∣modities of Brasil and India brought from thence; and in the year 1630 the Town it self, Castle and all taken by the Dutch, who there∣upon became Masters of this whole Prefecture, which they held for many years together a∣gainst the Spaniards, but have since lost it wholly again to the Portughese. 2. Garasa, five leagues distant from Olinda, a small Town but holding likewise some little Commerce with the Sea, by the benefit of a River upon which it standeth. 3. Amatta de Brasil. 4. San. Lorenzo, and some other Vil∣lages.

The Prefecture of Tamaraca; so called from a little Island lying before it, and part of its Precinct. It is counted the first, that is, the most ancient Prefectship of Brasil, having otherwise nothing in it that is very considera∣ble, save only a good Haven or Port, with a Castle, for the security and command of it, held to be impregnable.

The Prefecture of Parayba, so called from the chief Town of the Province, upon the banks of the River S. Domingo, and at the bot∣tome of a Bay or Arm of the Sea, by which ships of good burthen come up even close to the Town. Its inhabited by above five hun∣dred Portugheses, a walled Town and likewise fortified with a Castle upon Cape Delo, neer adjoyning to it.

The Prefecture of Rio Grande, or the great River, a small Precinct on the South-side of Rio Grande, where it falls into the Sea. It was once possessed by the French about the year 1597, who were outed by the Portugheses, and the place fortified both against them and the Savages, with a Castle, which the Dutch in the yeare 1631 found an impregnable piece, and too hard for them: and besides this there is not much in the whole Prefectship that seems memorable.

The Prefecture of Siara, in which they seem to have as little, that is, no Towns of note, only a Castle and some few houses for those that attend the gathering of Cotton-wooll, some Chrystal, and other precious stones, which the Countrie is said to afford.

The Prefecture of Maragnon: This is an Island lying at the mouth of the great River Maragnon in the furthest parts of Brasil Northward. The soil exceedingly fruitfull if there were any body to manure and husband it, affording plenty of Maiz naturally, and a certain other root which the Savages call Ma∣riot, and use likewise for Bread: great store of Cotton-wooll, sugar-Canes, Saffron, with the best sort of Tobacco; not without some Balme and Amber, watered with many fresh Rivers and springs, well wooded both for Timber and Fuel; and the Aire so exceeding∣ly temperate and agreeable, that no People in the World are generally longer liv'd than those of this Island; being otherwise very strong and able of body, healthfull of consti∣tution, never bald, and the Women so fruit∣full and lusty, that they are said to beare Chil∣dren (many of them) at seventy or eighty years of age. The Men very curious in the Fea∣ther works of America, and not a little indu∣strious

in the Manufactures of Cotton-wooll. It lyeth some few degrees Southward of the Equator, and containeth not in the compass of the whole Island above fifty or threescore leagues at most. The French were once Ma∣sters of it, viz. about the year 1612, when they built the strong Fort called St. Lewis, upon the principall Bay or Port belonging to the Island, and planted twenty two good pieces of Ordinance upon it, and by the pains of some Religious men among them, began to doe much good upon the Natives, by redu∣cing them to Civility and good Man∣ners, and instructing them in the true know∣ledge of God and of Christian Religion: But were soon after, viz. in the year 1614, driven out by the Portughese, under the command of Hierom de Albuquerque, who, for the security of the Island against them, and the Natives that took their part, built those other two Forts which are called St. Maries and St. Francis, and likewise two Towns more within the Island, which he founded and Peopled, naming the one of them St. Andrew, which lyes towards the North; and the other St. James, towards the South.

And lastly the Prefecture of Para. This is the most Northerly part of Brasil, bordering upon

Guiana, so called from the River Para, which runneth through the midst of it, upon which, in a convenient place, and upon raised ground, the Portugheses have built a very strong Castle, well walled on all sides, save only towards the River, where it is planted with Ordinance. It is built in a Quadrangular form, and hath at least 300 persons of the Portughese Nati∣on (beside the Garrison Souldiers) belonging to it, who have all imployment enough about the Cotton-wooll, sugar-Canes, and Tobacco, which the Countrie is said to afford in good plenty.

CHAP. XVII.

Of the Country of Guiana.

1. NExt to Brasil, towards the North, lyeth the pleasant and fruitfull Countrie of Guiana, supposed, not improbably, to be so called from the River Wia, one of the principall Rivers of the Province; which yet is said to have more and fairer than any other part of America beside. It is bounded on the East with the Atlantick Ocean, or Mare del Nordt; on the West with the Andes, or ra∣ther

some undiscovered Mountainous Coun∣tries which lye between the one and the other: On the North it hath the great River Ore∣noque; and on the South that of the Amazons, of Orellana. The Countrie lyeth on both sides of the Equator, extended from the fourth de∣gree of Southern latitude, to the eighth de∣gree of Northern: yet enjoyeth a temperate and good Aire, not oppressed with any exces∣sive heat; which is chiefly attributed to the Brises or Easterly windes, almost perpetually every day about noon blowing upon it. To∣wards the Sea side it is for the most part a flat and level Countrie; in the more Inland parts Mountainous and swelled with Hills; but in all generally of such a rich and fertil Soil, that for F••uits, or any outward Commodities of the Earth, it yeelds not to any other Province of the New-World, but rather farre excelleth the most; having, as it were a continual Sum∣mer, without Winter or Autumn, the Trees never uncloathed or made bare, Fruits alwaies ripe, or growing to maturity, the Meadows and Pastures alwaies Verdant and green: and, as we said so excellently well watered with Rivers, that no Countrie in the World seems comparable to it in this respect: And by the principall of them it is divided into four infe∣riour

or lesser Provinces, which are, 1. Rio de las Amazones. 2. Wiapoco, or Guiana, pro∣perly so called. 3. Orenoque: And 4. the Islands of Guiana.

2. Rio de las Amazones, or the Countrie of Amazons, containeth all that part of Guiana which lyeth on both sides of the River Orella∣na, of a rich and good Soil generally, abound∣ing with all sorts of Fruits, and especially with those which the Americans call Totock, and love extremely, out of an opinion, they say, that it excites them to Venery, whereunto they are of themselves but too much inclined; and of another which they call Pita, of a taste f••••re more delicious and pleasing, and not so hurt∣full as the other. The Countrie was first dis∣covered by Francisco Orellana a Spaniard from Quito, but it was only by the River Orellana: and though he be credibly reported to have sailed no less than eighteen hundred leagues down the stream, and to have discovered a rich and fair Countrie on both sides the River, well peopled with Natives, and giving in divers places no small arguments of greater wealth and riches more within Land; yet such was the bad success of his second indeavors, and likewise of those that followed him, that, as yet, there seems no further report to be given▪

at least not of any thing special, concerning this part of the Countrie.

3. Wiapoco, or Guiana, properly so called, taketh up the middle part of this Province, be∣ing divided, as the other, almost into two equall parts, by the River Wiapoco, which runs through the midst of it. The Countrie on both sides of the River very rich and fertil, and so naturally apt, both for sugar-Canes, Cotton-wooll, and Tobacco, that they are said to grow here (all of them very good) without planting or any Art of Husbandry. In this Countrie is likewise the famous D••rada, as the Spaniards call it, or Citie of Gold (if it could be found) with the reports and hopes whereof some of our own Nation seem to have been not a little possessed, as well as the Spaniards. Nor can I much blame them; for if the sto∣ries of it had prov'd true, it must have been one of the goodliest and fairest Cities of the World (not to speak of the wealth.) Diego de Ordas, the Spaniard who first brought news of it to his Countrimen, being said to have tra∣velled one whole day and half another in it, before he could arrive at the Kings Palace; which yet must be supposed to have stood but in the midst of the Citie. But for ought ap∣pears, if the indeavors of future times effect

nothing more in the discovery of it than for∣mer have done, it must pass for the Metropolis of Ʋtopia still, as I think most men take it to be. Places of less Magnificence, but more Cer∣tainty are first Caripo: This was once a Colo∣ny of English setled there by Captain Robert Harcourt, in the year 1608, upon the banks of Wiapoco, and not farre from the mouth of it; being a place, by advantage of a Rock, which it hath on the one side of it, of good strength and very difficult access, the Aire about it sound, and said to be very agreeable to English bodies. 2. Gomaribo, a Colony formerly of the Dutch, on the North-west side of the Bay of Wiapoco, but since deserted by them. 3. Moyemon. 4. Crewinay, both of them Towns of the Natives, not farre distant from the other.

4. Orenoque, or the third devision of this Province, comprehendeth the most Northerly parts of Guiana, lying upon or towards the banks of this famous River. A Countrie like∣wise reported to be very rich, and comparable to Peru it self for hidden Treasure; which, they say, is not yet discovered, only for want of diligent and industrious searching. The pla∣ces in it already known are only 1. Coniolaba, as they call it, which seems to be some Town

of the Natives, lying a few leagues distant from the Orenoque towards the South. 2. Mo∣vequito, a known Port or Haven Town upon a branch of the Orenoque, much frequented and of great use to the English, when they discovered those coasts. 3. Wenicapora: And lastly St. Thome, the only Town which the Spaniards hold upon this part of the Conti∣nent, situate upon the principall Channel of the O••enoque, and consisting of two hundred Families or thereabouts. It is now a fortified place; and was taken by Sir Walter Raleigh in that unfortunate Action of 1617, for which the year following (though by vertue of an old attainder, as some say) he lost his head.

5. The Islands that belong, and are com∣monly reckoned as parts of Guiana, are either such as lye scattered about the shore of the Province, or such as are found at the mouth, and sometimes farre within the Channel of those great Rivers which empty themselves at several parts out of this Countrie into the Sea, viz. Orenoque, Wiapoco, Rio de las Amazones, &c. There are many of them, but of any great name or esteem only two, viz. Trinidado and Tabag••.

Trinidado lyeth at the mouth of the River Orenoque, over against the Countrie of Paria,

from which it is separated by a Fryth or nar∣row Sea, which Columbus at his first discovery of it, and from the difficulty of the passage, (by reason of some lesser Islands scattered up and down in the Channel, and through which the Sea breaks with a great deal of force) cal∣led Boca del Dragro, or the Dragons mouth. It lyeth betwixt the ninth and tenth degrees of Northern latitude, accounted to be in length about 24. or tweny five leagues, and about eighteen in breadth, of a cloudy and less plea∣sant aire, yet the Soil good, and aboundantly well stored with all Commodities of the natu∣ral growth of America, viz. Maiz, sugar-Canes, Cotton-wooll, and the best sort of To∣bacco, good quantity of Fruits also, and of Cattel; some veins of gold, and of a kinde of Pitch, which they digge out of a Mine, such plenty, that as many ships as could come, might lade themselves with it; and is said to be good in all other respects, except only that it will not endure the Sun. The chief Town of this Island is called St. Josephs, situate on the banks of a little River, which they call Carone, on the South side of the Island; which was likewise taken by Sir Walter Raleigh, in the year abovesaid and in it the Governour An∣tonio Berreo, who, to procure his liberty or

fair treating at Sir Walters hands, is thought to have furnished him with some relations con∣cerning Guiana more liberally than otherwise he needed.

Tabago lyeth Eastward of Trinidado, and divided from it by a little Sea of eight miles over, said to have, for the bigness of it, as ma∣ny safe Harbours belonging to it, as any Island of America. The Dutch of late years have named it Niew-Walacheren; and are said to frequent it; but for what special Commodi∣ties or reason, doth not appear.

CHAP. XVIII.

Of Paria, or New-Andalusia.

1. THe last, but not the least Province of the Southern America, is the Coun∣try of Paria, by som called Nova-Andalusia, but for what reason or resemblance with Andalusia of Old-Spain they doe not tell us. This Country lying as it doth, brings us back again by the Ea∣stern Coast to the Isthmus or Streit, which, as we have often said, joyns the two parts of the Continent of America together; at least to those Countries that lye next upon it to the

South, viz. the new Kingdome of Granada, &c. It hath on the East Guiana, and those Islands which lye about the mouth of Orenoque; on the West the Gulf or Bay of Venezuela, with some part of the New Kingdome above∣said; on the North it is washed with the At∣lantick Ocean, and hath on the South some Countries not yet discovered, toward the An∣des. The whole consisteth partly of Continent and partly of Islands, neer adjoyning to it; and is commonly divided into five several Pre∣cincts or parts, which are 1. Cumana. 2. Ve∣nezuela. 3. Margarita. 4. Cubagna: And 5. some lesser Islands.

2. Cumana is bounded Eastward with the Gulf of Paria, and the River Orenoque; on the West with Venezuela: Northward it hath the Atlantick Ocean; and on the South those undiscovered Countries above mentioned: containing in length two hundred leagues or more, as some say, and not much less than one hundred in breadth; but for ought appears, little of it planted or used, save only upon the Sea side, where the Coast hath formerly been much famed for the rich Trade of Pearls and Pearl-Fishing; which failing, its princi∣pall esteem now is for an excellent vein of Salt, which they digg here as out of a Mine,

and gather it naturally made ready to their hands, not half a mile from the Sea side, on the back-side of the Promontory or Cape, cal∣led by some Punto de Araya, and by others for this reason Cape de Salinas. Places of chiefest consideration here are, 1. Cumana it self, a Colony of Spaniards seated on the banks of a little River two miles distant from the Sea, where it hath a good Harbour. 2. St. Jago, a very strong fortress, which the Spaniards of late yeares have built, for the defence and se∣curity of the Salt-works against the Dutch, who began to trade much that way, and in the yeare 1622, had a design to have made themselves Masters of the Place. 3. St. Mi∣chael de Neveri, another Fortress of theirs upon a River so called. 4. Guaniba, a Town of the Natives.

3. Venezuela, the prineipall part of this Province, is bordered on the East with Cuma∣na; on the West with a great Gulf, or Bay, commonly called the Bay of Venezuela, with the L••ke Maracabo, and some part of New-Granada; Nothward it hath the Ocean, or Atlantick Sea; southward some undiscovered Countries, which, as we said, lye betwixt the Andes and it. It stretches out in length from East to West one hundred and thirty leagues

or thereabouts, but in breadth little more than half so much; being named Venezuela, or Little Venice, by Alonso de Oyeda a Spaniard, who at his first discovery of the Country fell upon a Town of the Natives, which stood like another Venice, all upon the waters, and hav∣ing no passage to it, but only by Boats. Its a Country extraordinary rich in all sorts of Commodities, affords good Pasture for Cattel, and aboundance of fair heards of them, Oxen, Sheep, Swine, &c. plenty of Corn and other Grain, great store of Venison likewise in the Woods, of Fish in the Rivers, Gold in the Mines; and therefore not likely but to be well peopled and inhabited, especially by the Spaniards, whose Towns and places of chief importance are these, viz. 1. Venezuela, at the most westerly Confines of the Country, built upon the Sea, with the advantage of a double Haven, in a temperate and good Aire, and Soil round about it, the richest and best of the whole Province. It is now a Bishops Sea, who is Suffragan to the Arch-Bishop of St. Domingo in Hispaniola, and the ordinary Residence of the Governour. 2. Caravalleda, called by the Spaniards Nuestra Sennora de Caravalleda, fourscore leagues distant from Venezuela toward the East, upon the Sea,

likewise. 3. St. Jago de Leon in the Country of Caracas four or five leagues southward of Caravalleda, and six or seven distant from the Sea. 4. New-Valentia, twenty five leagues distant from St. Jago. 5. New-Xeres, a Town but lately built fifteen leagues south∣ward of New Valentia. 6. New-Segovia, but one league distant from Xeres. 7. Tucuyo a place well known and frequented, for the aboundance of Sugar which is made there, and in the Country round about it. 8. Truxillo, or our Lady de la Paz, eighteen leagues south∣ward of the Lake Maracaybo, a place of great resort, and much frequented for trade both by Spaniards and Natives. 9. Laguna, a Town lying more towards the bottom of the Lake, said to be much haunted with Tygres; and more than this, not much is said of it.

4. Margarita is an Island lying right over against the Salinas, or Cape de Araya afore mentioned, seven or eight leagues distant from the Main-land, and taking its name from the aboundance of Pearles found about it, when time was. It containes not above fif∣teen or sixteen leagues in length, and about six in breath, having these only places of im∣portance in it, viz. Mon Pater, which is a good Fort of the Spaniards built at the East An∣gle

of the Island, to secure their Pearl-fishing when that Trade held, and to defend their ships, which commonly rode there at Anchor. 2. the Valley of Sta. Lucia, two leagues di∣stant from the Sea, where the Spaniards have a Colony. 3. Makanao, a Town of the Na∣tives. This whole Island was surprised by the English under Captain Parker in the yeare 1601, who in stead of Prisoners carryed a∣way good store of the Spaniards Pearl, which he forced them to pay for their ran∣some.

5. Cubagna, another Island pertaining to this Province of Paria, lyeth almost in the midle way betwixt the Island Margarita and the Continent; from which last it is not coun∣ted to be above a league distant, and five or six from the other; being it self in the com∣pass of the whole, not much above three or four: of a Soil wholy barren and destitute of all kinde of necessaries for the life and susti∣nance of man, without Corn, without Pastu∣rage, without Fruit, without water; yet only for the richness of the Pearl-fishing round a∣about it, for many yeares together, there was no place more frequented than it. Nor is it at present wholly deserted: for though the Trade of Pearls be said to have failed for some

yeares, yet have they a Colony still remaining there, called New-Cadiz; and on the East part of the Islands a certain Fountain, not far from the Sea side, which yeeldeth a kinde of Bituminous substance like Oyle, of such a me∣dicinable vertue for many diseases, that it suffi∣ciently recompenseth the want of the Pearls by a more reall utillity and benefit, & is found in good plenty floating for the most part up∣on the Sea thereabout.

5. The lesser Islands (as they are called) part of this Provinciall Prefecture of Paria, lie all along upon the coasts of Venezuela from East to West; in number many, but the principal of them are 1. Tortuga, a little Island said to be not above four or five miles in length, and in breadth hardly one, but well know for the aboundance of good Salt that is made, and transported thence every yeare; it lieth five or six leagues westward of Margarita; hath a good Harbour, and aboundance of that wood called Guaiacum, of which we spake before. 2. Bonayre an Island of five or six leagues in compass, well stored with small Cattell, especially Sheep and Goates. It lyeth right over against the Bay called Golfo Triste, or the Ʋnfortunate B••y, and was the place whether the Spaniards transplanted the poor

Natives of Hispaniola, when they grew weary of killing them. 3. Curacaos three or four leagues westward of Bonayre, and containing about so many in compass, of a soil excee∣dingly fertill and good for Pasturage, having likewise on the north side of the Island a very good and safe Harbour for shipping. 4. Aru∣ba, three or four leagues distant from Cura∣caos to the North-east, about five miles in compass, being for the most part a level and flat Country, inhabited, but not much, either by Spaniards or Natives. 5. Los Monges, or the Monks, as the Spaniards named them: These are three or four lesser Island lying east∣ward of the Cape Coquibocoa of great use and direction at Sea, to those that sail for Cartha∣gena, but for any thing else scarsely memo∣rable.

CHAP. XIX.

Of the American Islands.

1. VVE have spoken hitherto only of the Continent of Ameri∣ca, and those Islands, which lye so neer the Continent, that they are commonly reckoned as part of it, and appertaining to the respective Provinces against which they lie. It remains now, (not to leave any thing considerable un∣touch'd at least) that we take a veiw of some other Islands viz. that lie further off and seem not to have any other relation to America, but only that of obedience and subjection to the Spaniards government, who are Lords of A∣merica, and have reduced at least the princi∣pall and chief of those Islands, long since un∣der their power. They lye either in the South or the North Sea. Those in the South, or Mare del Zur are chiefly two, viz. Los Ladrones, and the Islands Fernandinae. Los Ladrones, in English, the Islands of Theeves, lye as it were

in the midle way betwixt the Main-land of America and the Philippine Islands, but some hundred of leagues distant from either, in the fourth degree of Northern latitude. So na∣med by Ferdinand Magellan, from the pilfe∣ring disposition he observed in the Natives, when he sailed that way for the Moluccae I∣slands. They were a nimble and active sort of People, yet light-fingerd, it should seem, and going for the most part naked, tall of stature, excellent Swimmers and Divers, and have not much more to be spoken in their Commen∣dation. The Fernandinae are only two Islands of no great bigness lying over against the coast of Chile, in the three and thirtieth degree of Southern latitude, and about one hundred leagues, or three hundred English miles from the Continent: yet well stored with some lesser sort of Cattel, as Goats, &c. good plenty likewise of Venison in the Woods, and of Fish upon the Coasts: for which rea∣son, though lying at some distance, yet are they not a little frequented by the Spaniards of Peru; who finde many good Harbours and roads for shipping belonging to, and about these Islands.

But the chief, viz. of the American Islands

abovesaid, are those which lye in the Atlantick or North-Sea, on the East side, and as it were in the way to the Continent of America; which are as follow, viz. 1. The Caribes. 2. Port-rico. 3. Hispaniola. 4. Cuba, and 5. Jamaica.

Of the Caribee Islands.

1. THe Caribee-Islands (as the En∣glish commonly call them) are a row or ridge, as it were of lesser Islands, which extend themselves, al∣most in fashion of a Bow, from the Coast of Paria, as far as St. John de Port-rico: The name signifies as much as the Islands of Canni∣bals, or Man-Eaters; and so the Natives ge∣nerally were, before they were either destroy∣ed or reduced to better manners by the Spa∣niards. There are many of them, but the prin∣cipall and those which seem most worthy of notice are, 1. Granada: This lyeth in form of a Croissant or half-Moon, upon the Conti∣nent of Paria, viz. that part of it which is called Cuniana; having a reasonable good

Haven, and a Soil not altogether unfruitfull, but much over-shaded with Woods, and hi∣therto but little inhabited. 2. St. Vincent, six or seven leagues Northward of Granada, but from any part of the Continent ten at least: a very fruitfull Island, yeelding aboun∣dance of Sugar-Canes that grow naturally without any Art or help of Husbandry; well watered with Rivers, and affording many convenient Bays and safe roads for shipping. It lyeth in a circular form, and is thought to contain about eight or ten leagues in compass; Inhabited by a People not over much industri∣ous, nor sollicitous for ought but what con∣cerns the belly. 3. Dominica, an Island of twelve leagues in length, very fruitfull of a good sort of Tobacco, which the Europeans have of the Natives chiefly in exchange of Knives, some Hatchets, and other Instruments of Iron, which they value much. It hath on the West side of it a convenient Harbour for ships; but the People being said to continue Cannibals, and exceedingly barbarous, even to this present, no Nations as yet, have attemp∣ted to inhabit among them. 4. La Desseada, a small Island, but of great use to the Spani∣ards, who alwaies touch at it both coming and

going. 5. Guadalupe, another small Island, which they likewise take in their way continu∣ally to and from America: it serves them chiefly for fresh water, and lyeth eight or ten leagues Westward of Desseada. 6. Antego, as the English corruptly call it, rather Antiqua, is an Island of about seven leagues in length, and almost as much in breadth, lying to the North-East of Guadalupe, where the English of late years are said to have planted a Colony, but wherein their Trade lyeth, doth not so well appear. 7. St. Christophers: This lyeth on the North-west of Guadalupe; where the English and French (both of them) having planted their several Colonies, were, not many years since, outed by the Spainyards, yet per∣mitted quietly to pass to their other Plantati∣ons. The chief Commoditie which the Coun∣trie yeeldeth is Tobacco; and in the Easterly parts of it some Salt. 8. Barbados: This is an Island at the North-East of St. Vincent, of an ovall form, and of the same bigness or extent with that of St. Vincent, that is, containing in the compass of the whole a matter of eigh∣teen or twenty miles. It lyeth the most Easter∣ly of all the rest of these Islands; of a Soil very lusty and good, especially for such Com∣modities

as are proper for it. On the East side it hath many Angles and Points shooting out into the Sea, which consequently make many Bays upon the Coast of it; but, by reason of certain quick-sands which lye before them, not much used or frequented by ships. On the South side it hath a large and convenient Har∣bour, capable of the tallest ships, and well fre∣quented. It is counted now one of the best Colonies of the English, but said to have been heretofore not a little at the mercy of the Spa∣niard Their chief Trade is Tobacco, and a kinde of course Sugar, which we call Barbados-Su∣gar, and will not keep long; not that the Countrie is unapt for better, but, as 'tis rather supposed, because the Planters want either skill, or stock, to improve things to the best. The Countrie is somewhat hot, and it behoves an English man to be very temperate and wary, when he goes first thither. 9. Sta. Crux, called by the Natives anciently Ayay, fifteen leagues distant from Port-rico to the South-East, woody and Mountainous, having on the West side of it a convenient Harbour for ship∣ing. They speak of a certain Fruit of this Countrie not unlike to a green Apple; which if a Man eat, it causeth such an inflammation

and swelling of his tongue, that for twenty four hours space at least, he looseth the use of it quite; but afterwards it asswageth of it self without further hurt: And also of certain Fen-waters, with which, if a Man chance to wash his face before noon, it likewise swells so much presently, that his eyes will be closed up; but in the afternoon no such matter; which I mention, because they say there is a Colony of English setled there of late years. There be many other of these Caribee Islands beside, as namely Anguilla, Barbada, St. Bartholmews, Las Nieves, St. Lucies, St. Martins, Monts∣errat, &c. but of so little consideration, espe∣cially to our Nation, that it would seem but tedious to mention them further.

Of Port-rico and Monico.

1. POrt-rico is an Island fifteen leagues distant from Sta. Crux, as hath been said, to the North-west, and about as many from Hispaniola to the South-East; but from the Continent or main Land of Paria (which seems to be the neerest) one hundred and thir∣ty,

or one hundred and thirty six, as some reckon. It lyeth almost in a Quadrangular form, being supposed to contain about thirty leagues in length, and not less than twenty in breadth, in eighteen and nineteen degrees of Northern-latitude. The Aire reasonably tem∣perate and agreeable, not scorched with any excessive heats in Summer, nor beaten with those continuall rains, to which some parts of America are subject, in Winter: its greatest annoyance being from those sudden and vio∣lent tempests, which they call Hurricanoes, which infest it very much, especially in the moneths of August and September. The Soil fruitfull enough, affording aboundance of Su∣gar-Canes, Ginger, Cassia, Hides, and divers other rich Commodities. As concerning the Mines both of gold and silver, which were once certainly known to be there, some say they are exhausted and spent long since; others think that's but a pretence of the Spaniards, to keep strangers from looking into the Country, while they themselves are more busied within Land. It is divided almost in the midst from East to West with a ridge of Mountains which the Spaniards call Sierra del Loquillo, and hath these Towns of chief note and importance,

viz. first Port-rico it self, commonly called St. John de Port-rico, a strong and neat Town well built in a little Island by it self, but joyn∣ed to the other by certain huge piles of Tim∣ber-work, of vast labour and expence, done by command of Philip the second, King of Spain. It was attempted by Sir Francis Drake in the year 1595 without success, but a few years af∣ter taken by the Earl of Cumberland, as hath been said. 2. St. Germans in the West parts of the Island, three or four leagues distant from the Sea, a place, as 'tis said to be, neither fortified nor much frequented. 3. Luysay on the East side, a good and well frequented Port, some leagues distant from Port-rico.

2. Eastward of Port-rico, and betwixt it and Hispaniola there lyeth a little, but fruitfull Island called Mona; and Westward of that another called Monico, or Monetta, which last the English, when time was, found so admira∣bly stored with a sort of wilde Fowl, that the huge flights of them seemed to darken the Aire over their heads, and upon their landing found such plenty of their eggs upon the shore and ground thereabouts, that they presently laded two of their boats with them. But how Peo∣pled or possessed not so well known.

Of Hispaniola.

1. HIspaniola (or little Spain, as Co∣lumbus named it) is if not the lar∣gest, yet at least the fairest and goodliest of all the American Islands, called by the Natives anciently Hayti. It lyeth, as we said, fifteen leagues Westward of Port-rico, and distant from the main Land of America about one hundred and twenty; of a Triangular form; the sharpest point whereof is that towards Port-rico, which they call Cabo de Enganno. That towards the West inclines to a semi-cir∣cle, containing a good and convenient Bay betwixt the two points, viz. St. Nicholas to the North, and Cabo de Donna Maria to∣wards the South. It's not thought to be less than one hundred and fifty leagues in length, in breadth from threescore to thirty, and to contain in the compass of the whole four hun∣dred leagues at least; lying betwixt eighteen and twenty degrees of Northern latitude, ha∣ving an Aire somewhat infested with the morning heats, but well cooled again in the

afternoon, by a constant winde from the Sea, which they call there Virason. It is, for the fer∣tility of the Soil, the richest and most flourish∣ing Countrie (one of them) in the World; the T••ees and all things else there, continually clad, as it were, in their Summer livery, the Mea∣dows and Pastures alwaies green, and of such an excellent Herbage, that Cattel both breed and thrive there almost beyond beleef; both great Cattel and small, as Kine, Sheep, Hogs, &c. brought thither out of Spain, having mul∣tiplyed to such numbers, that they live wilde now in Heards, as hath been said, and are both hunted and killed, like Stags or other Venison only for their Hides, which they send yeerly into Spain and other parts of Europe, as a great Merchandise and Commoditie of huge profit to them. So plentifull of Sugar-Canes, that 'tis thought no less than one thousand Chests of refined Sugar are sent out of this only Island one year with another. Nor was it for∣merly without good Mines, both of gold and silver; which whether they be now wasted and wholly exhaust, or only neglected for want of Miners to work in them, time may shew. Of Brass and Iron they have many good Mines at present, of no small profit and ad∣vantage

to them. The whole Island is said to be naturally divided, as it were, into four se∣veral quarters, by four several Rivers, arising out of one and the same Mountain almost in the midst of the Island, that is to say, 1. Jache. which runneth Northward. 2. Nubila, to∣wards the South. 3. Yunna, or Junna, to the East: And 4. Hatebonico, to the West: but others (it must be confessed) mention the same Rivers without any such speciall obser∣vation. The chief Towns and places of this Island inhabited by Spaniards are first St. Do∣mingo, on the South side of the Island, built first by Bartholmew Columbus, in the year 1594, on the banks of Ozama one of the fairest Rivers of the Country, towards the Sea side; where it hath l kewise a good Haven or Port, and on the West side of it a strong Castle. Its a place of great honor and dignity at pre∣sent, being an Archbishops Sea, and the ordi∣nary Residence of the Governor and supream Courts for these parts of America, but flou∣rished more formerly with resort and multi∣tudes of people, than now it doth; which is attributed to the later discoveries of Mexico and Peru; by occasion whereof aboundance of the Inhabitants, and not a little of the trade

likewise hath been drawn from it. 2. Salvaleon twenty eight leagues distant from St. Domingo towards the East. 3. Juguana, or Sta. Maria del Puerto, in the more western parts of the Island, a small Town not above a league di∣stant from the Sea, where it hath a good Ha∣ven, but supposed not to be much fortified. 4. Cotuy, once a rich Town in the North parts of the Island, and well frequented: now said to be in a manner deserted. 5. Conception de la Vega, built by Columbus himself, and from whence he had his Title Duke de la Vega: it lyeth twenty or thirty leagues northward of St. Domingo. 6. Puerto de la Plata, or the Silver-Haven, fourty leagues distant from St. Domingo likewise towards the North, it is the second Town for wealth and trade in the whole Island, commodiously seated on a Bay, or Arme of the Sea, and fortified with a Castle. 7. Azua, or New-Compostella, twenty four miles, or eight leagues westward of St. Domingo and a place much frequented by reason of the good sugar-Canes, which the Country thereabouts yeeldeth. There is like∣wise 8. St. Jago de los Cavalleros, ten leagues northward of La Vega. 9. Monte Christo, fourteen leagues westward of Plata, and

lastly 10. Zeybo on the South-side of the I∣sland, twenty leagues distant from St. Domin∣go; all of them pleasant and handsome Towns, and well seated, but destitute of Inhabitants very much: as likewise the whole Island gene∣rally is; the Natives being all destroyed, or Transplanted long since, and the Spaniards themselves, by the following discoveries and conquests upon the Continent, invited to bet∣ter quarters.

Of Cuba and Jamaica.

1. VVEstward, or rather to the North-weast of Hispaniola lyeth Cuba, parted from the other by a Frith, or narrow Channel, which runneth betwixt the Capes of St. Nicholas, belonging to Hi∣spaniola, and that called Mayzi belonging to Cuba. On the North it hath a Frie of little Islands, called, as above said, the Leucayae I∣slands, so many and so thick scattered, that they serve for no small security and defence of the Island on that side; beside a part of the Pen∣insula of Florida which coasteth it likewise

Northward; on the west it hath the Country of Jucatan, which is part of the Continent, but at a distance of fourty or fifty leagues; and on the South Jamaica. It is reckoned to be in length from Cape Mayzi, which looks towards Hispaniola, to the Cape of St. Antho∣ny which is upon the Bay of Mexico, two hundred and thirty leagues; but in breadth neither proportionable nor certain; being in some places not above fifteen or sixteen leagues over; & in none above fourty. But for fertility of soil contending with Hispaniola it self, and for temperature & healthiness of aire much exceeding it: nor less rich formerly in good Mines both of gold and silver, plentifully stored at present, not only with Sugar-Canes of the best growth, but likewise with aboundance of Ginger-roots, Cassia Fistula, Mastique, A∣loes, Cynnamon, Long-Pepper of America, as they call it, and divers sorts of spices. The Pastures no less abounding with Cattell of all sorts, especially of European breed; the Rivers and coasts of the Sea with good Fish: no scarsity of Fowl whether wild or tame; good Mines of Brass and Iron still found, with some Gold in the Rivers, especially those which fall into the Bay Pagua or the

south-side of the Island. The Woods, where the Country is mountainous and rocky as in some parts it is, well replenished with Tim∣ber, and many odoriferous trees beside, from which they gather a certain Rosin, or Gumme, not less precious and usefull than the Storax, or sweet Gumme so called, of which the Her∣borists speak so much. In a word the only in∣convenience which the Spaniards found in it, was from Serpents, which the Natives out of an old superstition among them, had preser∣ved so long, they came to bee grieviously an∣noyed by them at last; and when they would have destroyed them, could not; what remedy the Spaniards have since provided against them, appeares not. The River Caute, which is one of the chiefest Rivers of the Island, is still said to be much haunted with Crocodiles; that are very dangerous to strangers unacquainted with the Country, and to any that rest or sleep neer the banks of the River.

2. The Towns and places of chief impor∣tance belonging to this Island are, 1. St. Jago, seated at the bottom of a large and capa∣cious Bay on the South-side of the Island, two or three leagues distant from the Sea, and counted the chiefest Port on that side. It is a Bishops sea, and once a very populous and rich

place of trade, but at present not a little de∣cayed, only for want of Inhabitants, who are advanced more up into the Continent, having left the Islands behinde them more than half empty. Neer unto this place, viz. about three or four leagues distance, are those famous Mountains, which the Spaniards call Sierras de Cobre, or the Brass Mountains, from the aboundance of that Metal which the Mines in them doe still afford, 2. Baracao, thirty leagues Eastward of St. Jago toward the Sea. 3. Bayamo, or St. Salvador, seated more within land in a rich and pleasant part of the Island, but not so commodious for trade. 4. Puerto del Principe on the North side of the Island fourty leagues distant from St. Jago, neer to which, saith Laet, there is a Foun∣tain, which sendeth forth a liquor of a Bituminous substance, and black as Pitch, very good and much used in those parts for the calking of Ships, and gathered in great abundance upon the Sea, into which it falleth, and is sometimes digged also, as out of a Mine. 6. La Trinidad nine or ten leagues Eastward of the Bay of Xagua. Last∣ly 6. Havana, the most known and best traded Port absolutely of all these parts, and and perhaps of the whole Continent, ly∣ing

at the most northerly point of the Island towards Cape Florida; a place natu∣rally strong, and so well fortified by Art, that it is held impregnable. The entrance whereof is defended on each side with a strong Castle, and a stronger than either built right opposite to the Mouth of the Haven; and all of them so commodiously and advantageously situated for the defence and assistance of each other, (as 'tis said) nothing can be devised better. Close to one of them there is erected a watch-Tower, of such height, that from the top of it, they easily descry whatsoever Ships move upon those Seas, and give notice of them to the Guards; being thereby a very great assurance not only to the Inhabitants of this place and Island, but also to the whole Bay of Mexico. And is therefore the ordinary Seat of the Go∣vernour, and the generall Rendezvous of the Spanish Ships, when they goe home for Spain, meeting heer from all parts of the Gulf, and tarrying one for another till all be come in, and from thence setting sail for Spain, through the Sreits of Bahama, and by some of the Leu∣cayae Islands above mentioned. It is likewise a very strong Garrison; it being said, that the King of Spain allowes pay for no less number

than 1000. Souldiers only for this place.

Jamaica is somewhat a lesser Island, lying Southward of Cuba, and to the West of Hi∣spaniola, almost at an equall distance, viz twenty leagues from them both. They reckon it to be in length about fifty leagues or more in breadth twenty, and to contain in the whole about one hundred and fifty, of a rich and fertil Soil, and in nothing less provided for the necessities of mans life, than either Hi∣spaniola or Cuba; well stock'd with Cattel, and as plentifully stored with Fruits of all sorts, yeelding abundance of Cotton-wooll, more than either of the other Islands: only it wanteth the conveniency of some good Ha∣vens and Ports, which it hath but few; and the Sea round about it so shelvy, and full of Rocks and broken Islands, that the coast of it is held to be not a little dangerous: and therefore as little frequented by Merchants or others. There being at present three only small Towns inhabited in the whole Island, viz. 1. Sevilla, or New-Sevill, in the North parts of the Island. 2. Melilla ten leagues distant from Sevill towards the East. And lastly Oristan, 14. leagues distant from it towards the South.

FINIS.