[Sidenote: The valley of the people called Caracones.] At length I

arriued at the valley of the people called Caracones, the 26. day of the

moneth of May: and from Culiacan vntill I came thither, I could not

helpe my selfe, saue onely with a great quantitie of Maiz: for seeing

the Maiz in the fieldes, were not yet ripe, I was constrained to leaue

them all behind me. In this valley of the Caracones wee found more store

of people then in any other part of the Countrey which wee had passed,

and great store of tillage. [Sidenote: Valle del Senor.] But I

vnderstood that there was store there of in another valley called The

Lords valley, which I woulde not disturbe with force, but sent thither

Melchior Diaz with wares of exchange to procure some, and to giue the

sayde Maiz to the Indians our friendes which wee brought with vs, and to

some others that had lost their cattell in the way, and were not able to

carry their victuals so farre which they brought from Culiacan. It

pleased God that wee gate some small quantitie of Maiz with this

traffique, whereby certaine Indians were relieued and some Spanyards.

And by that time that wee were come to this valley of the Caracones,

some tenne or twelve of our horses were dead through wearinesse: for

being ouercharged with great burdens, and hauing but little meate, they

could not endure the trauaile. Likewise some of our Negros and some of

our Indians dyed here: which was no small wante vnto vs for the

performance of our enterprise. [Sidenote: The valley de los Caracones

distant fiue dayes journey from the Westerne sea.] They tolde me that

this valley of the Coracones is fiue dayes journey from the Westerne

Sea. [Sidenote: Seuen or eight Isles, which are the Isles of California.

A ship scene on the sea coast.] I sent for the Indians of the Sea coast

to vnderstand their estate, and while I stayed for them the horses

rested: and I stayed there foure dayes, in which space the Indians of

the Sea coast came vnto mee: which told mee, that, two dayes sayling

from their coast of the Sea, there were seuen or eight Islands right

ouer against them well inhabited with people, but badly furnished with

victuals, and were a rude people: And they told mee, that they had seene

a Shippe passe by not farre from the shore: which I wote not what to

thinke whether it were one of those that went to discouer the Countrey,

or else a Ship of the Portugals.

Chap. 2.

They come to Chichilticale: after they had rested themselues two

dayes there, they enter into a Countrey very barren of victuals,

and hard to trauaile for thirtie leagues, beyond which they found

a Countrey very pleasant, and a riuer called Rio del Lino, they

fight with the Indians being assaulted by them, and with victorie

vanquishing their citie, they relieued themselues of their

pinching hunger.

I Departed from the Caracones, and alwayes kept by the Sea coast as

neere as I could iudge, and in very deed I still found my selfe the

farther off: in such sort that when I arriued at Chichilticale I found

myselfe tenne dayes iourney from the Sea: and the father prouinciall

sayd that it was onely but fiue leagues distance, and that hee had seene

the same. Wee all conceiued great griefe and were not a little

confounded, when we saw that wee found euery thing contrary to the

information which he had giuen your Lordship.

The Indians of Chichilticale say, that if at any time they goe to the

Sea for fish, and other things that they carry, they goe trauersing, and

are tenne dayes iournie in going thither. And I am of opinion that the

information which the Indians giue me should be true. The sea returneth

toward the West right ouer against the Coracones the space of tenne or

twelue leagues. [Sidenote: The Chichilticale is indeede but in 28. deg.]

Where I found that your Lordships ships were seene, which went to

discouer the hauen of Chichilticale, which father Marcus of Niça sayd to

bee in fiue and thirtie degrees. God knoweth what griefe of mind I haue

sustained: because I am in doubt that some mishappe is fallen vnto them:

and if they follow the coast, as they sayde they would, as long as their

victuals last which they carry with them, whereof I left them store in

Culiacan, and if they be not fallen into some misfortune, I hope well in

God that by this they haue made some good discouerie, and that in this

respect their long staying out may be pardoned.

[Sidenote: The 24. of Iune.] I rested myselfe two dayes in

Chichilticale, and to haue done well I should haue stayed longer, in

respect that here wee found our horses so tyred; but because wee wanted

victuals, we had no leasure to rest any longer: I entred the confines of

the desert Countrey on Saint Iohns eue, and to refresh our former

trauailes, the first dayes we founde no grasse, but worser way of

mountaines and badde passages, then wee had passed alreadie: and the

horses being tired, were greatly molested therewith: so that in this

last desert we lost more horses than we had lost before: and some of my

Indians which were our friends dyed, and one Spanyard whose name was

Spinosa; and two Negroes, which dyed with eating certaine herbes for

lacke of victuals. From this place I sent before mee one dayes iourney

the master of the fielde Don Garcia Lopez de Cardenas with fifteene

horses to discouer the Countrey, and prepare our way: wherein hee did

like himselfe, and according to the confidence which your Lordship

reposed in him. And well I wote he fayled not to do his part: for as I

have informed your Lordship, it is most wicked way, at least thirtie

leagues and more, because they are inaccessible mountaines.

[Sidenote: A godly and fruitfull countrey found.] But after wee had

passed these thirtie leagues, wee found fresh riuers, and grasse like

that of Castile, and specially of that sort which we call Scaramoio,

many Nutte trees and Mulberrie trees but the Nutte trees differ from

those of Spayne in the leafe: and there was Flaxe, but chiefly neere

the bankes of a certayne riuer which therefore we called El Rio del

Lino, that is to say, the riuer of Flaxe: wee found no Indians at all

for a dayes trauaile, but afterward foure Indians came out vnto vs in

peaceable maner, saying that they were sent euen to that desert place to

signifie vnto vs that wee were welcome, and that the next day all the

people would come out to meet vs on the way with victuals: and the

master of the fielde gaue them a crosse, willing them to signifie to

those of their citie that they should not feare, and they should rather

let the people stay in their houses, because I came onely in the name of

his Majestie to defend and ayd them.

And this done, Fernando Aluarado returned to aduertise mee that certaine

Indians were come vnto them in peaceable maner, and that two of them

stayed for my comming with the master of the fielde. Whereupon I went

unto them and gave them beades and certaine short clokes, willing them

to returne vnto their citie, and bid them to stay quiet in their houses

and feare nothing. [Sidenote: A wise forecast.] And this done I sent the

master of the field to search whether there were any bad passage which

the Indians might keepe against vs, and that hee should take and defend

it vntill the next day that I shoulde come thither. [Sidenote: The

treason of the Indians.] So hee went, and found in the way a very bad

passage, where wee might haue sustayned very great harme: wherefore

there hee seated himselfe with his company that were with him: and that

very night the Indians came to take that passage to defend it, and

finding it taken, they assaulted our men there, and as they tell mee,

they assaulted them like valiant men; although in the ende they retired

and fledde away; for the master of the fielde was watchfull, and was in

order with his company: the Indians in token of retreate sounded on a

certaine small trumpet, and did no hurt among the Spanyards. [Sidenote:

Great forecast and diligence of the Campe-master.] The very same night

the master of the fielde certified mee hereof. Whereupon the next day in

the best order that I could I departed in so great want of victuall,

that I thought that if wee should stay one day longer without foode, wee

should all perish for hunger, especially the Indians, for among vs all

we had not two bushels of corne: wherefore it behooued mee to pricke

forward without delay. The Indians here and there made fires, and were

answered againe afarre off as orderly as wee for our liues could haue

done, to giue their fellowes vnderstanding, how wee marched and where we

arriued.

[Sidenote: They arriue at the citie of Cibola.] Assoone as I came within

sight of this citie of Grenada, I sent Don Garcias Lopez Campe-master,

frier Daniel, and frier Luys, and Fernando Vermizzo somewhat before with

certaine horsemen, to seeke the Indians and to aduertise them that our

comming was not to hurt them, but to defend them in the name of the

Emperour our Lord, according as his maiestie had giuen vs in charge:

which message was deliuered to the inhabitants of that countrey by an

interpreter. [Sidenote: The arrogancie of the people of Cibola.] But

they like arrogant people made small account thereof; because we seemed

very few in their eyes, and that they might destroy vs without any

difficultie: and they strooke frier Luys with an arrow on the gowne,

which by the grace of God did him no harme.

[Sidenote: Commandement to vse gentlenesse to the Sauages.] In the meane

space I arriued with all the rest of the horsemen, and footemen, and

found in the fieldes a great sort of the Indians which beganne to shoote

at vs with their arrowes: and because I would obey your will and the

commaund of the Marques, I woulde not let my people charge them,

forbidding my company, which intreated mee that they might set vpon

them, in any wise to prouoke them, saying that that which the enemies

did was nothing, and that it was not meete to set vpon so fewe people.

On the other side the Indians perceiuing that we stirred not, tooke

great stomacke and courage vnto them: insomuch that they came hard to

our horses heeles to shoote at vs with their arrowes. Whereupon seeing

that it was now time to stay no longer, and that the friers also were of

the same opinion, I set vpon them without any danger: for suddenly they

fled part to the citie which was neere and well fortified; and other

vnto the field, which way they could shift: and some of the Indians were

slaine, and more had beene if I would haue suffered them to haue bene

pursued.

[Sidenote: There were 800 men within the towne. Gomara, Hist. gen. cap.

213.] But considering that hereof wee might reape but small profite,

because the Indians that were withoute, were fewe, and those which were

retired into the citie, with them which stayed within at the first were

many, where the victuals were whereof wee had so great neede, I

assembled my people, and diuided them as I thought best to assault the

citie, and I compassed it about: and because the famine which wee

sustained suffered no delay my selfe with certaine of these gentlemen

and souldiers put our selues on foote, and commaunded that the

crossebowes and harquebusiers shoulde giue the assault, and shoulde

beate the enemies from the walles, that they might not hurt vs, and I

assaulted the walles on one side, where they told me there was a scaling

ladder set vp, and that there was one gate but the crossebowmen suddenly

brake the strings of their bowes, and the harquebusiers did nothing at

all: for they came thither so weake and feeble, that scarcely they

coulde stand on their feete: and by this meanes the people that were

aloft on the wals to defend the towne were no way hindered from doing vs

all the mischiefe they could: [Sidenote: They defend the wals with

stones like those of Hochelaga.] so that twise they stroke mee to the

ground with infinite number of great stones, which they cast downe: and

if I had not beene defended with an excellent good headpiece which I

ware, I thinke it had gone hardly with mee: neuerthelesse my companie

tooke mee vp with two small wounds in the face, and an arrowe sticking

in my foote, and many blowes with stones on my armes and legges, and

thus I went out of the battell very weake. I thinke that if Don Garcias

Lopez de Cardenas the second time that they strooke mee to the ground

had not succoured mee with striding ouer mee like a good knight, I had

beene in farre greater danger then I was. But it pleased God that the

Indians yeelded themselues vnto vs, and that this citie was taken: and

such store of Maiz was found there in, as our necessitie required. The

Master of the fielde, and Don Pedro de Touar, and Fernando de Aluarado,

and Paul de Melgosa Captaines of the footemen escaped with certaine

knocks with stones: though none of them were wounded with arrowes, yet

Agoniez Quarez was wounded in one arme with the shot of an arrowe, and

one Torres a townesman of Panuca was shot in the face with another, and

two footemen more had two small woundes with arrowes. And because my

armour was gilded and glittering, they all layd load on mee, and

therefore I was more wounded then the rest, not that I did more then

they, or put my selfe forwarder then the rest, for all these Gentlemen

and souldiers carried themselues as manfully as was looked for at their

hands. I am nowe well recouered I thanke God, although somewhat bruised

with stones. Likewise in the skirmish which wee had in the fieldes, two

or three other souldiers were hurt, and three horses slaine, one of Don

Lopez, the other of Viliega and the third of Don Alonso Manrique, and

seuen or eight other horses were wounded; but both the men and horses

are whole and sound.

Chap. 3.

Of the situation and state of the seuen cities called the kingdome

of Cibola, and of the customes and qualities of those people, and

of the beasts which are found there.

It remaineth now to certifie your Honour of the seuen cities, and of the

kingdomes and prouinces whereof the Father prouincial made report vnto

your Lordship. And to bee briefe, I can assure your honour, he sayd the

trueth in nothing that he reported, but all was quite contrary, sauing

only the names of the cities, and great houses of stone: for although

they be not wrought with Turqueses, nor with lyme, nor brickes, yet are

they very excellent good houses of three or foure or fiue lofts high,

wherein are good lodgings and faire chambers with lathers instead of

staires, and certaine cellers vnder the ground very good and paued,

which are made for winter, they are in manner like stooues: and the

lathers which they have for their houses are all in a maner mooueable

and portable, which are taken away and set downe when they please, and

they are made of two pieces of wood with their steppes, as ours be. The

seuen cities are seuen small townes, all made with these kinde of houses

that I speake of: and they stand all within foure leagues together, and

they are called the kingdome of Cibola, and euery one of them haue their

particular name and none of them is called Cibola, but altogether they

are called Cibola. And this towne which I call a citie, I haue named

Granada, as well because it is somewhat like vnto it, as also in

remembrance of your lordship. In this towne where I now remain, there

may be some two hundred houses, all compassed with walles, and I think

that with the rest of the houses which are not so walled, they may be

together fiue hundred. There is another towne neere this, which is one

of the seuen, and it is somewhat bigger than this, and another of the

same bignesse that this is of, and the other foure are somewhat lesse:

and I send them all painted vnto your lordship with the voyage.

[Sidenote: A painter necessarie in a new discouery.] And the parchment

wherein the picture is, was found here with other parchments. The people

of this towne seeme vnto me of a reasonable stature, and wittie, yet

they seeme not to bee such as they should be, of that iudgment and wit

to builde these houses in such sort as they are. For the most part they

goe all naked, except their priuie parts which are couered: and they

haue painted mantles like those which I send vnto your Lordship. They

haue no cotton wooll growing, because the countrey is colde, yet they

weare mantels thereof as your honour may see by the shewe thereof: and

true it is that there was found in their houses certaine yarne made of

cotton wooll. [Sidenote: Store of Turqueses.] They weare their haire on

their heads like those of Mexico, and they are well nurtured and

condicioned: And they haue Turqueses I thinke good quantitie, which with

the rest of the goods which they had, except their corne, they had

conueyed away before I came thither: for I found no women there, nor no

youth vnder fifteene yeeres olde, nor no olde folkes aboue sixtie,

sauing two or three olde folkes, who stayed behinde to gouerne all the

rest of the youth and men of warre. There were found in a certaine paper

two poynts of Emralds, and certaine small stones broken which are in

colour somewhat like Granates very bad, and other stones of Christall,

which I gaue one of my seruants to lay vp to send them to your lordship,

and hee hath lost them as hee telleth me. We found heere Guinie cockes,

but fewe. The Indians tell mee in all these seuen cities, that they eate

them not, but that they keepe them onely for their feathers. I beleeue

them not, for they are excellent good, and greater then those of Mexico.

The season which is in this countrey, and the temperature of the ayre is

like that of Mexico: or sometime it is hotte, and sometime it raineth;

but hitherto I neuer sawe it raine, but once there fell a little showre

with winde, as they are woont to fell in Spaine.

[Sidenote: Gomora hist. gen. Cap. 213. sayth that the colde is by reason

of the high mountaines.] The snow and cold are woont to be great, for so

say the inhabitants of the Countrey: and it is very likely so to bee,

both in respect to the maner of the Countrey, and by the fashion of

their houses, and their furres and other things which this people have

to defend them from colde. There is no kind of fruit nor trees of

fruite. The Countrey is all plaine, and is on no side mountainous:

albeit there are some hillie and bad passages. There are small store of

Foules: the cause whereof is the colde, and because the mountains are

not neere. Heere is no great store of wood, because they haue wood for

their fuell sufficient foure leagues off from a wood of small Cedars.

There is most excellent grasse within a quarter of a league hence, for

our horses as well to feede them in pasture, as to mow and make hay,

whereof wee stoode in great neede, because our horses came hither so

weak and feeble. The victuals which the people of this countrey haue, is

Maiz, whereof they haue great store, and also small white Pease: and

Venison, which by all likelyhood they feede vpon, (though they say no)

for wee found many skinnes of Deere, of Hares, and Conies. They eate the

best cakes that euer I sawe, and euery body generally eateth of them.

They haue the finest order and way to grinde that we euer saw in any

place. And one Indian woman of this countrey will grinde as muche as

foure women of Mexico. They have most excellent salte in kernell, which

they fetch from a certaine lake a dayes iourney from hence. [Sidenote:

The Westerne sea within 150 leagues from Cibola.] They haue no knowledge

among them of the North Sea, nor of the Westerne Sea, neither can I tell

your lordship to which wee bee neerest; But in reason they should seeme

to be nearest to the Westerne Sea: and at the least I thinke I am an

hundred and fiftie leagues from thence: and the Northerne Sea should bee

much further off. Your lordship may see how broad the land is here. Here

are many sorts of beasts, as Beares, Tigers, Lions, Porkespicks, and

certaine Sheep as bigge as an horse, with very great hornes and little

tailes, I haue seene their hornes so bigge, that it is a wonder to

behold their greatnesse. Here are also wilde goates whose heads likewise

I haue seene, and the pawes of Beares, and the skins of wilde Bores.

There is game of Deere, Ounces, and very great Stagges: and all men are

of opinion that there are some bigger then that beast which your Lordship

bestowed upon me, which once belonged to Iohn Melaz. [Sidenote: Oxe hides

dressed and painted very cunningly.] They trauell eight dayes iourney vnto

certaine plaines lying toward the North Sea. In this countrey there are

certaine skinnes well dressed, and they dresse them and paint them where

they kill their Oxen, for so they say themselues.

Chap. 4.

Of the state and qualities of the kingdomes of Totonteac, Marata,

and Acus, quite contrary to the relation of Frier Marcus. The

conference which they haue with the Indians of the citie of

Granada which they had taken, which had fiftie yeres past

foreseene the comming of the Christians into their countrey. The

relation which they haue of other seuen cities, whereof Tucano is

the principall, and how he sent to discouer them. A present of

divers things had in these countreys sent vnto the Viceroy Mendoça

by Vasques de Coronado.

The kingdome of Totonteac so much extolled by the Father prouinciall,

which sayde that there were such wonderfull things there, and such great

matters, and that they made cloth there, the Indians say is an hotte

lake, about which are fiue or sixe houses: and that there were certaine

other, but that they are ruinated by warre. The kingdome of Marata is

not to be found, neither haue the Indians any knowledge thereof.

[Sidenote: Tadouac seemeth because it is a lake, and endeth in ac to

haue some affinitie herewith.] The kingdome of Acus is one onely small

citie, where they gather cotton which is called Acucu. And I say that

this is a towne. For Acus with an aspiration nor without is no word of

the countrey. And because I gesse that they would deriue Acucu of Acus,

I say that it is this towne whereinto the kingdom of Acus is conuerted.

Beyond this towne they say there are other small townes which are neere

to a riuer which I haue seene and haue had report of by the relation of

the Indians. I would to God I had better newes to write vnto your

lordship: neuerthelesse I must say the trueth: And as I wrote to your

lordship from Culiacan, I am now to aduertise your honour as wel of the

good as of the bad. Yet this I would haue to bee assured, that if all

the riches and the treasures of the world were heere, I could haue done

no more in the seruice of his Maiestie and of your lordshippe, then I

haue done in comming hither whither you haue sent mee, my selfe and my

companions carrying our victuals vpon our shoulders and vpon our horses

three hundred leagues; and many dayes going on foote trauailing ouer

hills and rough mountains, with other troubles which I cease to

mention, neither purpose I to depart unto the death, if it please his

Maiestie and your lordship that it shall be so.

Three dayes after this citie was taken, certaine Indians of these people

came to offer mee peace, and brought mee certaine Turqueses and badde

mantles, and I received them in his Maiesties name with all the good

speaches that I could deuise, certifying them of the purpose of my

comming into this countrey, which is in the name of his Maiestie, and by

the commaundment of your Lordship, that they and all the rest of the

people of this prouince should become Christians, and should knowe the

true God for their Lorde, and receiue his Maiestie for their King and

earthly Soueraigne: And herewithall they returned to their houses, and

suddenly the next day they set in order all their goods and substance,

their women and children, and fled to the hilles, leauing their townes

as it were abandoned, wherein remained very fewe of them. [Sidenote: A

citie greater than Granada.] When I sawe this, within eight or tenne

dayes after being recouered of my woundes, I went to the citie, which I

sayde to be greater then this where I am, and found there some fewe of

them, to whom I sayde that they should not bee afrayd, and that they

should call their gouernour vnto mee: Howbeit forasmuch as I can learne

or gather, none of them hath any gouernour: for I sawe not there any

chiefe house, whereby any preeminence of one ouer another might bee

gathered. After this an olde man came, which sayd that hee was their

lord, with a piece of a mantle made of many pieces, with whom I reasoned

that small while that hee stayed with mee, and hee sayd that within

three dayes after, hee and the rest of the chiefe of that towne would

come and visite mee, and giue order what course should bee taken with

them. Which they did: for they brought mee certaine mantles and some

Turqueses. I aduised them to come downe from their holdes, and to

returne with their wiues and children to their houses, and to become

Christians, and that they would acknowledge the Emperours maiestie for

their King and lorde. And euen to this present they keepe in those

strong holdes their women and children, and all the goods which they

haue. [Sidenote: Two tables painted by the Indians, one of beasts

another of birdes and fishes.] I commaunded them that they should paint

mee out a cloth of all the beastes which they knowe in their countrey:

And such badde painters as they are, foorthwith they painted mee two

cloths, one of their beastes, another of their birdes and fishes.

[Sidenote: An old prophecie that those parts should be subdued by

Christians.] They say that they will bring their children, that our

religious men may instruct them, and that they desire to knowe our lawe:

And they assure vs, that aboue fiftie yeeres past it was prophecied

among them, that a certaine people like vs should come, and from that

part that wee came from, and that they should subdue all that countrey.

[Sidenote: They worship the water.] That which these Indians worship as

farre as hitherto wee can learne, is the water: for they say it causeth

their corne to growe, and maintaineth their life; and that they know

none other reason, but that their ancesters did so. I haue sought by all

meanes possible to learne of the inhabitants of these townes, whether

they haue any knowledge of other people, countreys and cities:

[Sidenote: Seuen cities farre from Granada.] And they tell mee of seuen

cities which are farre distant from this place, which are like vnto

these, though they haue not houses like vnto these but they are of

earth, and small: and that among them much cotton is gathered. The

chiefe of these townes whereof they haue any knowledge, they say is

called Tucano: and they gaue mee no perfect knowledge of the rest. And I

thinke they doe not tell me the trueth, imagining that of necessitie I

must speedily depart from them, and returne home. But herein they shall

soone finde themselues deceiued. I sent Don Pedro de Touar with his

companie of footemen and with certaine other horsemen to see this towne:

And I would not haue despatched this packet vnto your lordship, vntill I

had knowen what this towne was, if I had thought that within twelue or

fifteene dayes I might haue had newes from him: for hee will stay in

this iourney thirtie dayes at least. And hauing examined that the

knowledge hereof is of small importance, and that the colde and the

waters approch: I thought it my duety to doe according as your lordship

gaue me charge in your instructions, which is, that immediatly vpon mine

arriuall here, I should signifie so much vnto your lordship, and so I

doe, sending withall the bare relation of that which I haue seene. I

haue determined to send round about the countrey from hence to haue

knowledge of all things, and rather to suffer all extremitie, then to

leaue this enterprise to serue his maiestie, if I may find any thing

wherein I may performe it, and not to omit any diligence therein, vntill

your lordship send mee order what I shall doe. Wee haue great want of

pasture: [Sidenote: The Spaniards victualling in discoueries.] and your

Lordship also shall vnderstand, that among all those which are here,

there is not one pound of raisins, nor suger, nor oyle, nor any wine,

saue only one pinte which is saued, to say Masse: for all is spent and

spilt by the way. Now your lordship may prouide vs what you thinke

needefull. And if your honour meane to send vs cattell, your lordship

must vnderstand that they will bee a sommer in comming vnto vs: for they

will not be able to come vnto vs any sooner. [Sidenote: A garment

excellently imbroidered with needle worke.] I would haue sent your

lordshippe with this dispatch many musters of things which are in this

countrey: but the way is so long and rough, that it is hard for me to

doe so: neuerthelesse I send you twelue small mantles, such as the

people of the countrey are woont to weare, and a certaine garment also,

which seemeth vnto me to bee well made: I kept the same, because it

seemed to mee to bee excellent well wrought, because I beleeue that no

man euer sawe any needle worke in these Indies, except it were since the

Spaniards inhabited the same. I send your Lordshippe also two clothes

painted with the beasts of this country, although as I haue sayde, the

picture be very rudely done, because the painter spent but one day in

drawing of the same. I haue seene other pictures on the walles of the

houses of this citie with farre better proportion, and better made. I

send your honour one Oxe-hide, certaine Turqueses, and two eare-rings of

the same, and fifteene combes of the Indians, and certain tablets set

with these Turqueses, and two small baskets made of wicker, whereof the

Indians haue great store. I send your Lordship also two rolles which the

women in these parts are woont to weare on their heads when they fetch

water from their welles, as wee vse to doe in Spaine. And one of these

Indian women with one of these rolles on her head, will carie a pitcher

of water without touching the same vp a lather. I send you also a muster

of the weapons wherewith these people are woont to fight, a buckler, a

mace, a bowe, and certaine arrowes, among which are two with points of

bones, the like whereof, as these conquerours say, haue neuer beene

seene. I can say nothing vnto your lordshippe touching the apparell of

their women. For the Indians keepe them so carefully from vs, that

hitherto I haue not seene any of them, sauing only two olde women, and

these had two long robes downe to the foote open before, and girded to

them, and they are buttoned with certaine cordons of cotton. I

requested the Indians to giue me one of these robes, which they ware, to

send your honour the same, seeing they would not shewe mee their women.

And they brought mee two mantles which are these, which I send you as it

were painted: they haue two pendents like the women of Spaine, which

hang somewhat ouer their shoulders. [Sidenote: The death of Stephan the

Negro.] The death of the Negro is most certaine: for here are many of

the things found which hee carried with him: And the Indians tell me

that they killed him here, because the Indians of Chichilticale tolde

them that hee was a wicked villaine, and not like vnto the Christians:

because the Christians kill no women: and hee killed women: and also he

touched their women, which the Indians loue more then themselues;

therefore they determined to kill him: But they did it not after such

sort as was reported, for they killed none of the rest of those that

came with him: neither slewe they the young lad which was with him of

the prouince of Petatlan, but they tooke him and kept him in safe

custodie vntill nowe. And when I sought to haue him, they excused

themselues two or three dayes to giue him mee, telling mee that hee was

dead, and sometimes that the Indians of Acucu had carried him away. But

in conclusion when I tolde them that I should bee very angry if they did

not giue him mee, they gaue him vnto me. Hee is an interpreter, for

though hee cannot well speake their language, yet hee vnderstandeth the

same very well. [Sidenote: Gold and siluer found in Cibola.] In this

place there is found some quantitie of golde and siluer, which those

which are skilful in minerall matters esteeme to be very good. To this

houre I could neuer learne of these people from whence they haue it: And

I see they refuse to tell mee the trueth in all things imagining, as I

haue sayde, that in short I would depart hence, but I hope in God they

shall no longer excuse themselues. I beseech your lordship to certifie

his Maiestie of the successe of his voyage. For seeing wee haue no more

then that which is aforesayd, and vntil such time as it please God that

wee finde that which wee desire, I meane not to write my selfe. Our

Lorde God keepe and preserue your excellencie.

From the Prouince of Cibola, and from this citie of Granada the third of

August 1540. Francis Vasques de Coronado kisseth the hands of your

Excellencie.

The rest of this voyage to Acuco, Liguex, Cicuic, and Quiuira, and

vnto the Westerne Ocean, is thus written in the generall historie

of the West Indies by Francis Lopez de Gomera, Chap. 214.

Because they would not returne to Mexico without doing something, nor

with emptie hands, they agreed to passe further into the countrey, which

was tolde them to bee better and better. So they came to Acuco a towne

vpon an exceeding strong hill. [Sidenote: The Westerne sea discouered.]

And from thence Don Garcias Lopez de Cardenas with his companie of

horsemen went vnto the Sea: and Francis Vasques went to Tiguex, which

standeth on the banke of a great riuer. There they had newes of Axa and

Quiuira. There they sayde was a King whose name was Tartatrax, with a

long beard, horie headed, and rich, which was girded with a Bracamart,

which prayed vpon a payre of beades, which worshipped a Crosse of golde,

and the image of a woman, the Queene of heauen. This newes did greatly

reioyce and cheere vp the armie: although some thought it to bee false,

and the report of the Friers. They determined to goe thither, with

intention to winter in so rich a countrey as that was reported to bee.

One night the Indians ranne away, and in the morning they found thirtie

horses dead, which put the armie in feare. In their iourney they burnt a

certaine towne: And in another towne which they assaulted, they killed

certaine Spaniards, and wounded fiftie horses and the inhabitants drewe

into their towne Francis de Ouando wounded or dead, to eate and

sacrifice him as they thought, or peraduenture to see more perfectly,

what maner of them the Spaniards were: for there was not found there any

signe of sacrificing men. Our people layde siege vnto the towne, but

could not take it in more then fiue and fortie dayes space. The

townesmen that were besieged, dranke snowe in stead of water: and seeing

themselues forlorne they made a fire, wherein they cast their mantles,

feathers, Turqueses and precious things, that those strangers might not

enioy them. They issued out in a squadron with their women and children

in the middest, to make way by force, and to saue themselues, but fewe

escaped the edge of our swordes and the horses, and a certaine riuer

which was neere the towne. Seuen Spaniards were slaine in this conflict,

and fourescore were wounded, and many horses: whereby a man may see of

what force resolution is in necessitie. Many Indians returned to the

towne with the women and children, and defended themselues, vntill our

men set fire on the towne. In this countrey there are melons, and white

and redde cotton, whereof they make farre larger mantels, then in other

parts of the Indies. From Tigues they went in foure dayes iourney to

Cicuic, which is a small towne, and foure leagues from thence they met

with a new kind of oxen wild and fierce, whereof the first day they

killed fourescore, which sufficed the armie with flesh. From Cicuic they

went to Quiuira, which after their accompt, is almost three hundred

leagues distant, through mighty plaines, and sandie heathes so smooth,

and wearisome, and bare of wood, that they made heapes of oxe-dung for

want of stones and trees, that they might not lose themselues at their

returne: for three horses were lost on that plaine, and one Spaniard,

which went from his companie on hunting. All that way and plaines are as

full of crookebacked oxen, as the mountaine Serena in Spaine is of

sheepe: but there is no people but such as keepe those cattell. They

were a great succour for the hunger and want of bread which our people

stoode in. One day it rayned in that plaine a great showre of haile, as

bigge as Orenges, which caused many teares, weakenesse, and vowes. At

length they came to Quiuira and found Tatarrax, whome they sought, an

hoarie headed man, naked, and with a iewell of copper hanging at his

necke, which was all his riches. The Spaniards seeing the false report

of so famous riches, returned to Tiguex, without seeing either crosse or

shew of Christianitie: and from thence to Mexico. [Sidenote: The

Spaniards would haue inhabited the countrey.] In the ende of March of

the yeere 1542. Francis Vasquez fell from his horse in Tiguex, and with

the fall fell out of his wits, and became madde. Which some tooke to bee

for griefe, and others thought it to be but counterfeited: for they were

much offended with him, because hee peopled not the countrey.

Quiuira is in fortie degrees: it is a temperate countrey, and hath very

good waters, and much grasse, plummes, mulberries, nuts, melons and

grapes, which ripen very well. There is no cotton: and they apparell

themselues with oxe-hides and deeres skinnes. They sawe shippes on the

sea coast, which bare Alcatrarzes or Pellicanes of golde and siluer in

their prows, and were laden with marchandises, and they thought them to

bee of Cathaya, and China, because they shewed our men by signes that

they had sayled thirtie dayes.

Frier Iohn de Padilla stayed behinde in Tigues, with another of his

companions called Frier Francis, and returned to Quiuira, with some

dozen Indians of Mechuacan, and with Andrew de Campo a Portugall, the

gardiner of Francis de Solis: He tooke with him horses and mules with

prouision. He tooke sheepe and hennes of Castile, and ornaments to say

Masse withall. The people of Quiuira slewe the Friers, and the Portugall

escaped with certaine Indians of Mechuacan. Who albeit at that time he

escaped death, yet could hee not free himselfe out of captiuitie: for by

and by after they caught him againe. But ten moneths after he was taken

captiue, hee fled away with a couple of dogs. As hee trauiled, hee

blessed the people with a crosse, whereunto they offered much, and

wheresoeuer hee came, they giue him almes, lodging, and foode.

[Sidenote: Andrew de Campo trauailed from Quiuira to Panuco.] He came to

the countrey of the Chichimechas and arriued at Panuco. When he came to

Mexico, hee ware his haire very long, and his beard tyed up in a lace,

and reported strange things of the lands, riuers and mountaines that he

had passed.

It grieued Don Antonio de Mendoca very much that the army returned home:

for he had spent aboue threescore thousand pesos of golde in the

enterprise, and ought a great part thereof still. [Sidenote: The cause

why the Spaniards peopled not in Cibola.] Many sought to haue dwelt

there; but Francis Vasquez de Coronado, which was rich, and lately

married to a faire wife, would not consent, saying, that they could not

maintaine nor defend themselues in so poore a countrey, and so farre

from succour. They trauailed aboue nine hundred leagues in this

countrey.

The foresayd Francis Lopez de Gomara in his generall historie of

the West Indies, Chap. 215. writeth in maner following of

certaine great and strange beasts neuer seene nor heard of in our

knowen world of Asia, Europe, and Africa: which somewhat

resembling our oxen, hauing high bunches on their backes like

those on the backes of Camels, are therefore called by him Vacas

corcobados, that is to say, Crooke-backed oxen, being very

deformed and terrible in shewe, and fierce by nature: which

notwithstanding for foode, apparell, and other necessarie vses,

are most seruiceable and beneficiall to the inhabitants of those

countreys. He reporteth also in the same chapter of certaine

strange sheepe as bigge as horses, and of dogs which vse to carie

burthens of 50. pound weight vpon their backes.

All the way betweene Cicuic and Quiuira is a most plaine soyle, without

trees and stones, and hath but fewe and small townes. [Sidenote: These

are much like the people that Captain Frobisher brought into England

from Meta Incognita.] The men clothe and shooe themselues with lether;

and the women which are esteemed for their long lockes, couer their

heads and secrets with the same. They haue no bread of any kinde of

graine, as they say: which I account a very great matter. Their chiefest

foode is flesh, and that oftentimes they eate raw, either of custome or

for lacke of wood. They eate the fatte as they take it out of the Oxe,

and drinke the blood hotte, and die not therewithall, though the ancient

writers say that it killeth, as Empedocles and others affirmed, they

drinke it also colde dissolued in water. They seeth not the flesh for

lacke of pots, but rost it, or to say more properly, warme it at a fire

of Oxe-dung: when they eate, they chawe their meate but little, and

rauen vp much, and holding the flesh with their teeth, they cut it with

rasors of stone, which seemeth to be great bestialitie: but such is

their maner of liuing and fashion. They goe together in companies, and

mooue from one place to another, as the wilde Moores of Barbarie called

Alarbes doe, following the seasons and the pasture after their Oxen.

[Sidenote: The description of the oxen of Quiuira.] These Oxen are of

the bignesse and colour of our Bulles, but their hornes are not so

great. They haue a great bunch vpon their fore shoulders, and more haire

on their fore part then on their hinder part: and it is like wooll.

They haue as it were an horse-manne vpon their backe bone, and much

haire and very long from the knees downward. They haue great tuffes of

haire hanging downe their foreheads, and it seemeth that they haue

beardes, because of the great store of haire hanging downe at their

chinnes and throates. The males haue very long tailes, and a great

knobbe or flocke at the end: so that in some respect they resemble the

Lion, and in some other the Camell. They push with their hornes, they

runne, they ouertake and kill an horse when they are in their rage and

anger. Finally, it is a foule and fierce beast of countenance and forme

of bodie. The horses fledde from them, either because of their deformed

shape, or else because they had neuer seene them. Their masters haue no

other riches nor substance: of them they eat, they drink, they apparel,

they shooe themselues: and of their hides they make many things, as

houses, shooes, apparell and ropes: of their bones they make bodkins: of

their sinewes and haire, threed: of their hornes, mawes, and bladders,

vessels; of their dung, fire: and of their calues-skinnes, budgets,

wherein they drawe and keepe water. To bee short, they make so many

things of them as they haue neede of, or as many as suffice them in the

vse of this life.

There are also in this countrey other beastes as big as horses, which

because they haue hornes and fine wool, they cal them sheepe, and they

say that euery horne of theirs weigheth is fiftie pound weight.

There are also great dogs which will fight with a bull, and will carrie

fiftie pound weight in sackes when they goe on hunting, or when they

remooue from place to place with their flockes and heards.

DIVERS VOYAGES MADE BY ENGLISHMEN TO THE FAMOUS CITIE OF MEXICO,

AND TO ALL OR MOST PART OF THE OTHER PRINCIPALL PROUINCES,

CITIES, TOWNES AND PLACES THROUGHOUT THE GREAT AND LARGE KINGDOM

OF NEW SPAINE, EUEN AS FARRE AS NICARAGUA AND PANAMA, AND THENCE

TO PERU: TOGETHER WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE SPANIARDS FORME OF

GOUERNMENT THERE: AND SUNDRY PLEASANT RELATIONS OF THE MANERS AND

CUSTOMES OF THE NATURAL INHABITANTS, AND OF THE MANIFOLD RICH

COMMODITIES AND STRANGE RARITIES FOUND IN THOSE PARTES OF THE

CONTINENT: AND OTHER MATTERS MOST WORTHY THE OBSERUATION.

The voyage of Robert Tomson Marchant, into Noua Hispania in the

yeere 1555. with diuers obseruations concerning the state of the

Countrey: And certaine accidents touching himselfe.

Robert Tomson borne in the towne of Andouer in Hampshire began his

trauaile out of England in An. 1553. in the moneth of March: who

departing out of the citie of Bristoll in a good ship called The barke

yong, in companie of other Marchants of the sayd citie, within 8. dayes

after arriued at Lisbone in Portugall, where the sayd Robert Tomson

remained 15. dayes, at the end of which he shipped himselfe for Spaine

in the sayd shippe, and within 4. dayes arriued in the bay of Cadiz in

Andalusia, which is vnder the kingdome of Spaine, and from thence went

vp to the citie of Siuil by land, which is 20. leagues, and there hee

repaired to one Iohn Fields house an English Marchant, who had dwelt in

the said city of Siuil 18. or 20. yeres maried with wife and children:

In whose house the said Tomson remained by the space of one whole yeere

or thereabout, for two causes: The one to learn the Castillian tongue,

the other to see the orders of the countrey, and the customes of the

people. At the end of which time hauing seene the fleetes of shippes

come out of the Indies to that citie, with such great quantitie, of

gold and siluer, pearles, precious stones, suger, hides, ginger, and

diuers other rich commodities, he did determine with himselfe to seeke

meanes and opportunitie to passe ouer to see that rich countrey from

whence such great quantitie of rich commodities came. And it fell out

that within short time after, the said Iohn Field (where the sayd Tomson

was lodged) did determine to passe ouer into the West Indies, himselfe,

with his wife, children, and familie, and at the request of the sayde

Tomson, he purchased a licence of the King to passe into the Indies, for

himselfe, his wife and children, and among them also for the sayde

Tomson to passe with them: so that presently they made preparation of

victuall and other necessarie prouision for the voyage. But the shippes

which were prepared to perfourme the voyage being all ready to depart,

vpon certaine considerations by the kings commandment were stayed and

arrested till further should bee knowen of the Kings pleasure. Whereupon

the said Iohn Field, with Robert Tomson departed out of Siuil and came

down to S. Lucar 15. leagues off, and seeing the stay made vpon the

ships of the said fleet, and being not assured when they would depart,

determined to ship themselues for the Iles of the Canaries, which are

250. leagues from S. Lucar, and there to stay till the said fleet should

come thither: for that is continually their port to make stay at 6. or

8. daies, to take in fresh water, bread, flesh, and other necessaries.

So that in the moneth of February in An. 1555. the sayde Robert Tomson

with the said Iohn Field and his companie, shipped themselues out of the

towne of S. Lucar in a caruel of the citie of Cadiz, and within 6. dayes

they arriued at the port of the Grand Canaria, where at our comming the

ships that rode in the said port began to cry out of all measure with

loud voyces, in so much that the castle which stood fast by began to

shoot at vs, and shot 6. or 7. shot at vs, and strooke downe our maine

maste, before we could hoise out our boat to goe on land, to know what

the cause of the shooting was, seeing that we were Spanish ships, and

were comming into his countrey. So that being on lande, and complaining

of the wrong and damage done vnto us; they answered, that they had

thought we had bene French rouers, that had come into the said port to

do some harme to the ships that were there. For that 8. dayes past there

went out of the port a caruell much like vnto ours, laden with sugers

and other marchandise for Spaine and on the other side of the point of

the sayd Iland, met with a Frenchman of warre, who tooke the said

caruell, and vnladed out of her into the said French ship both men and

goods. And being demanded of the said Spaniards what other ships

remained in the port whence they came, they answered that there remained

diuers other ships, and one laden with sugers (as they were) and ready

to depart for Spaine: vpon the which newes the Frenchmen put 30. tall

men of their ship well appointed into the said caruel which they had

taken, and sent her backe againe to the said port from whence she had

departed the day before. And somewhat late towards the euening came into

the port, not shewing past 3. or 4. men, and so came to an anker hard by

the other ships that were in the said port, and being seene by the

castle and by the said ships, they made no reconing of her, because they

knew her, and thinking that she had found contrary windes at the sea, or

had forgot something behinde them, they had returned backe againe for

the same, and so made no accompt of her, but let her alone riding

quietly among the other ships in the said port: So that about midnight

the said caruel with the Frenchmen in her went aboord the other ship

that lay hard by laden with sugers, and droue the Spaniards that were in

her vnder hatches, and presently let slip her cables and ankers, and set

saile and carried her cleane away, and after this sort deceiued them:

And they thinking or fearing that we were the like did shoote at vs as

they did. [Sidenote: English factors in the Grand Canaria.] This being

past, the next day after our arriuall in the sayd port, wee did vnbarke

our selues and went on lande vp to the citie or head towne of the great

Canaria, where we remained 18. or 20. dayes: and there found certaine

Englishmen marchants servants of one Anthony Hickman and Edward

Castelin, marchants of the citie of London that lay there in traffique,

of whom wee receiued great courtesie and much good cheere. After the

which 20. dayes being past, in the which we had seene the countrey, the

people, and the disposition thereof, wee departed from thence, and

passed to the next Ile of the Canaries 18. leagues off; called

Teneriffe, and being come on land, went vp to the citie called La

Laguna, where we remained 7. moneths, attending the comming of the whole

fleete, which in the ende came, and there hauing taken that which they

had neede of, wee shipped our selues in a ship of Cadiz, being one of

the saide fleete, which was belonging to an Englishman maried in the

citie of Cadiz in Spaine, whose name was Iohn Sweeting, and there came

in the sayd ship for captain also an Englishman maried in Cadiz, and

sonne in law to the sayde Iohn Sweeting, whose name was Leonard Chilton:

there came also in the said ship another Englishman which had beene a

marchant of the citie of Exeter, one of 50. yeeres or thereabout, whose

name was Ralph Sarre. So that we departed from the sayd Ilands in the

moneth of October the foresayd yeere, 8. ships in our companie, and so

directed our course towards the bay of Mexico, and by the way towardes

the Iland of S. Domingo, otherwise called Hispaniola. So that within 32.

dayes after we departed from the Iles of Canaries wee arriued with our

ship at the port of S. Domingo, and went in ouer the barre where our

ship knocked her keele at her entrie: and there our ship rid before the

towne, where wee went on land, and refreshed our selues 16. dayes, where

we found no bread made of wheat, but biscuit brought out of Spaine, and

out of the bay of Mexico: for the countrey it selfe doeth yeelde no

kinde of bread to make graine withall. But the bread they make there, is

certaine cakes made of rootes called Cassaui, which is something

substantiall, but it hath but an vnsauorie taste in the eating thereof.

Flesh of beefe and mutton they haue great store: for there are men that

haue 10000. head of cattell, of oxen, bulles and kine, which they doe

keepe onely for the hides; for the quantitie of flesh is so great, that

they are not able to spend the hundreth part. Hogs flesh is there good

store, very sweete and sauorie, and so holesome, that they giue it to

sick folkes to eat in stead of hennes and capons, although they haue

good store of poultrie of that sort, as also of Guinycocks and

Guinyhens. At the time of our being there, the citie of S. Domingo was

not of aboue 500. housholds of Spaniards, but of the Indians dwelling in

the suburbs there were more. The countrey is most part of the yere very

hot, and very ful of a kind of flies or gnats with long bils, which do

pricke and molest the people very much in the night when they are

asleepe, in pricking their faces and hands, and other parts of their

bodies that lie vncouered, and make them to swel wonderfully. [Sidenote:

Many of our men died of these wormes at the taking of Puertorico.] Also

there is another kind of small worme which creepeth into the soles of

mens feet and especially of the black Moores and children which vse to

go barefoot, and maketh their feet to grow as big as a mans head, and

doth so ake that it would make one run mad. They haue no remedy for the

same, but to open the flesh sometimes 3. or 4. inches and so dig them

out. The countrey yeeldeth great store of suger, hides of oxen, buls and

kine, ginger, Cana fistula and Salsa perilla: mines of siluer and gold

there are none, but in some riuers there is found some smal quantitie of

gold. The principal coine that they do trafique withal in that place, is

blacke money made of copper and brasse: and this they say they do vse

not for that they lacke money of gold and siluer to trade withall out of

the other parts of India, but because if they should haue good money,

the marchants that deale with them in trade, would cary away their gold

and siluer, and let the countrey commodities lie still. And thus much

for S. Domingo. So we were comming from the yles of Canaries to S.

Domingo, and there staying vntil the moneth of December, which was 3.

moneths. About the beginning of Ianuary we departed thence towards the

bay of Mexico and new Spaine, toward which we set our course, and so

sailed 24. dayes till we came within 15. leagues of S. Iohn de Vllua,

which was the port of Mexico of our right discharge: And being so neere

our said port, there rose a storme of Northerly windes, which came off

from Terra Florida, which caused vs to cast about into the sea, againe,

for feare least that night we should be cast vpon the shoore before day

did breake, and so put our selues in danger of casting away: the winde

and sea grew so foule and strong, that within two houres after the

storme began, eight ships that were together were so dispersed, that we

could not see one another. One of the ships of our company being of the

burthen of 500. tun called the hulke of Carion, would not cast about to

sea as we did, but went that night with the land, thinking in the

morning to purchase the port of S. Iohn de Vllua, but missing the port

went with the shoare and was cast away. There were drowned of that ship

75. persons, men, women and children, and 64. were saved that could

swim, and had meanes to saue themselves: among those that perished in

that ship, was a gentlemen who had bene present the yere before in S.

Domingo, his wife and 4. daughters with the rest of his seruants and

household. We with the other 7. ships cast about into the sea, the

storme during 10. dayes with great might, boisterous winds, fogs and

raine: our ship being old and weake was so tossed, that she opened at

the sterne a fadome vnder water, and the best remedy we had was to stop

it with beds and pilobiers, and for feare of sinking we threw and

lightned into the sea all the goods we had or could come by: but that

would not serue. Then we cut our maine mast, and threw all our Ordinance

into the sea sauing one piece, which early in a morning when wee thought

wee should haue sunke, we shot off, and as pleased God there was one of

the ships of our company neere vnto vs, which we saw not by meanes of

the great fogge, which hearing the sound of the piece, and vnderstanding

some of the company to be in great extremitie, began to make toward vs,

and when they came within hearing of vs, we desired them for the loue of

God to helpe to saue vs, for that we were all like to perish. They

willed vs to hoise our foresaile as much as we could and make towards

them, for they would do their best to saue vs, and so we did. And we had

no sooner hoised our foresaile, but there came a gale of winde and a

piece of a sea, strooke in the foresaile, and caried saile and maste all

ouerboord, so that then we thought there was no hope of life. And then

we began to imbrace one another, euery man his friend, euery wife her

husband, and the children their fathers and mothers, committing our

soules to Almighty God, thinking neuer to escape aliue: yet it pleased

God in the time of most need when all hope was past, to aide vs with his

helping hand, and caused the winde a little to cease, so that within two

houres after, the other ship was able to come aboord vs, and tooke into

her with her boat man, woman and child, naked without hose or shoe vpon

many of our feete. I do remember that the last person that came out of

the ship into the boat was a woman blacke Moore, who leaping out of the

ship into the boat with a yong sucking childe in her armes, lept too

short and fell into the sea, and was a good while vnder the water before

the boat could come to rescue her, and with the spreading of her clothes

rose aboue water againe, and was caught by the coat and pulled into the

boate hauing still her child vnder her arme, both of them halfe drowned,

and yet her natural loue towards her child would not let her let the

childe goe. And when she came aboord the boate she helde her childe so

fast vnder her arm still, that two men were scant able to get it out. So

we departed out of our ship and left it in the sea: it was worth foure

hundreth thousand ducats, ship and goods when we left it. And within

three dayes after we arriued at our port of S. Iohn de Vllua in New

Spaine. I do remember that in the great and boysterous storme of this

foule weather, in the night, there came vpon the toppe of our maine

yarde and maine maste, a certaine little light, much like vnto the

light of a little candle, which the Spaniards called the Cuerpo santo,

and saide it was S. Elmo, whom they take to bee the aduocate of Sailers.

At the which sight the Spaniards fell downe vpon their knees and

worshipped it, praying God and S. Elmo to cease the torment, and saue

them from the perill that they were in with promising him that on their

comming on land, they would repaire vnto his Chappell, and their cause

Masses to be saide, and other ceremonies to be done. The friers cast

reliques into the sea, to cause the sea to be still, and likewise said

Gospels, with other crossings and ceremonies vpon the sea to make the

storme to cease: which (as they said) did much good to weaken the furie

of the storme. But I could not perceiue it, nor gaue no credite to it,

till it pleased God to send vs the remedie and deliuered vs from the

rage of the same, His Name be praised therefore. This light continued

aboord our ship about three hours, flying from maste to maste, and from

top to top: and sometime it would be in two or three places at once. I

informed my selfe of learned men afterward what that light should be,

and they said, that it was but a congelation of the winde and vapours of

the Sea congealed with the extremitie of the weather, which flying in

the winde, many times doeth chance to hit on the masts and shrowds of

the ships that are at sea in foule weather. And in trueth I do take it

to be so: for that I haue seene the like in other ships at sea, and in

sundry ships at once. By this men may see how the Papists are giuen to

beleeue and worship such vaine things and toyes, as God, to whom all

honour doth appertaine and in their neede and necessities do let to call

vpon the liuing God, who is the giuer of all good things.

[Sidenote: His arriuall at Vera Cruz.] The 16. of April in Anno 1556. we

arrived at the port of S. Iohn de Vllua in new Spaine, very naked and

distressed, of apparell, and all other things, by meanes of the losse of

our foresaid ship and goods, and from thence we went to the new Towne

called Vera Cruz, fiue leagues from the said port of S. Iohn de Vllua,

marching still by the sea side, where wee found lying vpon the sands

great quantitie of mightie great trees with roots and all, some of them

of foure, fiue, and sixe cart load by our estimation, which, as the

people told vs, were in the great stormy weather, which we endured at

sea, [Sidenote: Florida 300. leagues from San Iuan de Vllua.] rooted out

of the ground in Terra Florida, which is three hundredth leagues ouer

by Sea, and brought thither. So we came to the saide Towne of Vera cruz,

where wee remained a moneth: and there the said Iohn Field chanced to

meete with an olde friend of his acquaintance in Spaine, called Gonçalo

Ruiz de Cordoua, a very rich man of the saide Towne of Vera cruz: who

hearing of his comming thither with his wife and family, and of his

misfortune by Sea, came vnto him and receiued him and all his household

into his house, and kept vs there a whole moneth, making vs very good

cheere, and giuing vs good entertainment, and also gaue vs that were in

all eight persons, of the said Iohn Fields house, double apparell new

out of the shop of very good cloth, coates, cloakes, hose, shirts,

smocks, gownes for the women, hose, shoes, and al other necessary

apparel, and for our way vp to the Citie of Mexico, horses, moiles, and

men, and money in our purses for the expenses by the way, which by our

accompt might amount vnto the summe of 400. Crownes. And after wee were

entred two dayes iourney into the Countrey, I the saide Robert Tomson

fell so sicke of an ague, that the next day I was not able to sit on my

horse, but was faine to be caried vpon Indians backes, from thence to

Mexico. And when wee came within halfe a dayes iourney of the Citie of

Mexico, the saide Iohn Field also fell sicke, and within three dayes

after we arriued at the said Citie, hee died: And presently sickened one

of his children, and two more of his houshold people, and within eight

days died. So that within tenne dayes after we arriued at the Citie of

Mexico, of eight persons that were of vs of the saide company, there

remained but foure aliue, and I the said Tomson was at the point of

death of the sicknes that I got vpon the way, which continued with mee

the space of sixe moneths. At the end of which time it pleased Almightie

God to restore me my health againe, although weake and greatly disabled.

And being some thing strong, I procured to seeke meanes to liue, and to

seeke a way how to profite my selfe in the Countrey, seeing it had

pleased God to sende vs thither in safetie. Then by friendship of one

Thomas Blake a Scottishman borne, who had dwelt and had bene married in

the said Citie aboue twentie yeeres before I came to the saide Citie, I

was preferred to the seruice of a gentleman a Spaniard dwelling there, a

man of great wealth, and one of the first conquerours of the said Citie,

whose name was Gonçalo Cerezo, with whom I dwelt twelue moneths and a

halfe. At the ende of which I was maliciously accused by the Holy house

for matters of Religion, and so apprehended and caried to prison, where

I lay close prisoner seuen moneths, without speaking to any creature,

but to the Iailer that kept the said prison, when he brought me my meat

and drinke. In the meane time was brought into the saide prison one

Augustin Boacio an Italian of Genoua also for matters of Religion, who

was taken at Sacatecas 80. leagues to the Northwest of the Citie of

Mexico: At the ende of the said seuen moneths, we were both caried to

the high Church of Mexico, to doe open penance upon an high scaffold,

made before the high Alter, vpon a Sunday, in presence of a very great

number of people, who were at the least fiue or sixe thousand. For there

were that came one hundreth mile off, to see the said Auto (as they call

it) for that there were neuer none before, that had done the like in the

said Countrey, nor could not tell what Lutheranes were, nor what it

meant: for they neuer heard of any such thing before. We were brought

into the Church, euery one with a S. Benito vpon his backe, which is

halfe a yard of yellow cloth, with a hole to put in a mans head in the

middest, and cast ouer a mans head: both flaps cast one before, and

another behinde, and in the middest of euery flap, a S. Andrewes crosse,

made of red cloth, sowed on vpon the same, and that is called S. Benito.

The common people before they sawe the penitents come into the Church,

were giuen to vnderstand that wee were heretiques, infidels, and people

that did despise God, and his workes, and that wee had bene more like

deuils than men, and thought wee had had the fauour of some monsters, or

heathen people. And when they saw vs come into the Church in our players

coates, the women and children beganne to cry out, and made such a

noise, that it was strange to see and heare, saying, that they neuer

sawe goodlier men in all their liues, and that it was not possible that

there could be in vs so much euill as was reported of vs, and that we

were more like Angels among men, then such persons of such euill

Religion as by the Priestes and friers wee were reported to be, and that

it was great pitie that wee should bee so vsed for so small an offence.

So that being brought into the said high Church, and set vpon the

scaffold which was made before the high Alter, in the presence of all

the people, vntil high Masse was done, and the sermon made by a frier,

concerning our matter, they did put vs in all the disgrace they could,

to cause the people not to take so much compassion vpon vs, for that wee

were heretiques, and people that were seduced of the deuill, and had

forsaken the faith of the Catholique Church of Rome, with diuers other

reprochfull wordes, which were too long to recite in this place. High

Masse and Sermon being done, our offences, as they called them, were

recited, euery man what he had said and done, and presently was the

sentence pronounced against vs. That was that the said Augustine Boacio

was condemned to wear his S. Benito all the dayes of his life, and put

into perpetuall prison, where hee should fulfill the same, and all his

goods confiscated and lost. And I the saide Tomson to weare the S.

Benito for three yeeres, and then to be set at libertie. And for the

accomplishing of this sentence or condemnation, we must be presently

sent downe from Mexico, to Vera Cruz, and from thence to S. Iohn de

Vllua, and there to be shipped for Spaine, which was 65. leagues by

land, with strait commandement, that vpon paine of 1000. duckets, the

Masters euery one should looke straitly vnto vs, and carry vs to Spaine,

and deliver vs vnto the Inquisitors of the Holy house of Siuill, that

they should put vs in the places, where we should fulfill our penances,

that the Archbishop of Mexico had enioyned vnto us, by his sentence

there giuen. For performance of the which, we were sent downe from

Mexico, to the Sea side, which was 65. leagues, with fetters upon our

feete, and there deliuered to the Masters of the ships, to be carried

for Spaine, as before is said. And it was so, that the Italian, fearing

that if he had presented himselfe in Spaine before the Inquisitors, that

they would haue burned him, to preuent that danger when wee were comming

homeward, and were arriued at the yland of Terçera, one of the ysles of

the Açores, the first night that we came into the said port to an

ancker, about midnight he found the meanes to get him naked out of the

ship into the sea, and swam naked a shoare, and so presently got him to

the further side of the yland, where hee found a little Caruel ready to

depart for Portugal, in the which he came to Lisbone, and passed into

France, and so into England, where hee ended his life in the Citie of

London. And I for my part kept still aboord the ship, and came into

Spaine, and was deliuered to the Inquisitors of the Holy house of

Siuill, where they kept me in close prison, till I had fulfilled the

three years of my penance. Which time being expired, I was freely put

out of prison, and set at libertie: and being in the Citie of Siuil a

casher of one Hugh Typton, an English marchant of great doing, by the

space of one yeere, it fortuned that there came out of the Citie of

Mexico, a Spaniard, called Iohn de la Barrera, that had bene long time

in the Indies, and had got summes of golde and siluer, and with one

onely daughter shipped himselfe for to come for Spaine, and by the way

chanced to die, and giue all that hee had vnto his onely daughter, whose

name was Marie de la Barrera, and being arriued at the Citie of Siuil,

it was my chance to marry with her. The marriage was worth to mee 2500.

pounds in barres of golde and siluer, besides iewels of great price.

This I thought good to speake of, to shew the goodnes of God to all them

that put their trust in him, that I being brought out of the Indies, in

such great misery and infamy to the world, should be prouided at Gods

hand in one moment, of more then in all my life before I could attaine

vnto by my owne labour.

After we departed from Mexico, our S. Benitoes were set vp in the high

Church of the said Citie, with our names written in the same, according

to there vse and custome, which is and will be a monument and a

remembrance of vs, as long as the Romish Church doth raigne in that

country. The same haue bene seene since by one Iohn Chilton, and diuers

others of our nation, which were left in that countrey long since, by

Sir Iohn Hawkins. And because it shalbe knowen wherefore it was that I

was so punished by the Clergies hande, as before is mentioned, I will in

briefe words declare the same.

It is so, that being in Mexico at the table, among many principall

people at dinner, they began to inquire of me being an Englishman,

whether it were true, that in England they had ouerthrowen all their

Churches and houses of Religion, and that all the images of the Saints

of heauen that were in them were throwen downe, broken, and burned, and

in some places high wayes stoned with them, and whether the English

nation denied their obedience to the Pope of Rome, as they had bene

certified out of Spaine by their friends. To whom I made answere, that

it was so, that in deed they had in England put downe all the Religious

houses of friers and monks that were in England, and the images that

were in their Churches and other places were taken away, and vsed there

no more: for that (as they say) the making of them, and putting of them

where they were adored, was cleane contrary to the expresse commandement

of Almighty God, Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image, &c.

and that for that cause they thought it not lawfull that they should

stand in the Church, which his the house of adoration. One that was at

the declaring of these words who was my master Gonsalo Cereso, answered

and said, if it were against the commandement of God to haue images in

the Churches, that then he had spent a great deale of money in vaine,

for that two yeres past he had made in the monastery of Santo Domingo,

in the said citie of Mexico, an image of our Lady of pure siluer and

golde, with pearles and precious stones, which cost him 7000. and odde

pesos, and euery peso is 4.s. 8.d. of our money: which indeed was true,

for that I haue seene it many times my selfe where it stands. At the

table was another gentleman, who presuming to defend the cause more then

any other that was there, saide, that they knew well ynough that they

made but of stockes and stones, and that to them was no worship giuen,

but that there was a certaine veneration due vnto them after they were

set vp in the Church, and that they were set there to a good intent: the

one, for that they were books for the simple people, to make them

vnderstand the glory of the saints that were in heauen, and a shape of

them to put vs in remembrance to cal vpon them, to be our intercessors

vnto God for vs, for that we are such miserable sinners, that we are not

worthy to appeare before God, and that vsing deuotion to saints in

heauen, they may obtaine at Gods hands the sooner the thing that we

demand of him. As for example, said he, imagin that a subiect hath

offended his king vpon the earth in any kind of respect, is it for the

party to go boldly to the king in person, and to demand pardon for his

offences? No, saith he, the presumption were two great, and possibly he

might be repulsed, and haue a great rebuke for his labour. Better it is

for such a person to seek some priuate man neere the king in his Court,

and make him acquainted with his matter, and let him be a mediator to

his Maiesty for him, and for the matter he hath to do with him, and so

might he the better come to his purpose, and obteine the thing which he

doeth demand: euen so saith he, it is with God and his saints in heauen:

for we are wretched sinners, and not worthy to appeare nor present our

selues before the Maiesty of God to demand of him the thing that we haue

need of: therefore thou hast need to be deuout, and have deuotion to

the mother of God, and the saints of heauen, to be intercessors to God

for thee, and so mayest thou the better obtaine of God the thing that

thou dost demand. To this I answered, and said, sir, as touching the

comparison you made of the intercessors to the king, how necessary they

were, I would but aske you this question. Set the case that this king

you speake of, if he be so merciful, as, when he knoweth that one, or

any of his subiects hath offended him, he send for him to his owne

towne, or to his owne house, or palace, and say unto him, come hither, I

know that thou hast offended many lawes, if thou doest know thereof, and

doest repent thee of the same, with ful intent to offend no more, I wil

forgiue thy trespasse, and remember it no more: said I, if this be done

by the kings owne person, what then hath this man need to go seeke

friendship at any of the kings priuat seruants hands, but go to the

principal, seeing that he is readier to forgive thee, then thou art to

demand forgiuenes at his hands? Euen so is it with our gracious God, who

calleth and crieth out vnto vs throughout all the world, by the mouth of

his Prophets, Apostles, and by his owne mouth, saying, Come vnto me al

ye that labour and are ouer laden, and I wil refresh you: besides 1000.

other offers and proffers which hee doth make vnto vs in his holy

Scriptures. What then haue we need of the saints helpe that are in

heauen, whereas the Lord himself doth so freely offer himselfe vnto vs?

At which sayings, many of the hearers were astonied, and said, that by

that reason, I would giue to vnderstand, that the inuocation of Saints

was to be disanulled, and by the Lawes of God not commanded. I answered,

that they were not my words but the words of God himselfe: looke into

the Scriptures your selfe, and you shall so finde it. The talk was

perceiued to be preiudiciall to the Romish doctrine, and therefore it was

commanded to be no more entreated of, and all remained vnthought vpon,

had it not bene for a villanous Portugal that was in the company, who

said, Basta ser Ingles para saber todo esto y mas: who the next day,

without imparting any thing to any body, went to the Bishop of Mexico,

and his Prouisor, and said, that in a place where he had bene the day

before, was an Englishman, who had said, that there was no need of

Saints in the Church, nor of any inuocation of Saints, vpon whose

denomination I was apprehended for the same words here rehearsed, and

none other thing, and thereupon was vsed, as before is written.

[Sidenote: Sant Iuan de Vllua.] Now to speake somewhat of the

description of the countrey, you shall vnderstand, that the port of S.

Iohn de Vllua is a very little Island low by the water side, the

broadest or longest part thereof not aboue a bow-shoote ouer, and

standeth within two furlongs of the firme land. In my time there was but

one house, and a little Chappel to say masse in, in all the Island: the

side to the land wards is made by mans handes, with free-stone and

grauel, and is 4. fadome deepe downe right, wherefore the great ships

that come in there do ride so neere the shoare of the land, that you may

come and goe aland vpon their beake noses. They vse to put great chaines

of yron in at their halsers, and an ancker to the land ward, and all

little ynough to more well their shippes for feare of the Northerly

winds, which come of the coast of Florida, that sometimes haue caried

ships, and houses, and all away to the shoare. The king was wont to haue

20. great mightie Negroes, who did serue for nothing else, but onely to

repaire the said Island, where the foule weather doeth hurt it. The

Countrey all thereabout is very plaine ground, and a mile from the sea

side a great wildernes, with great quantitie of red Deere in the same,

so that when the mariners of the ships are disposed, they go vp into the

wildernes, and do kil of the same, and bring them aboard to eate, for

their recreation.

[Sidenote: The way and distance from San Iuan de Vllua to Vera Cruz, is

five leagues.] From this port to the next towne, which is called Vera

Cruz, are 5. leagues almost by the Sea side, till you come within one

league of the place, and then you turne vp towards the land, into a

wood, till you come to a litle riuer hard by the said townes side, which

sometimes of the yere is dry without water. The towne of Vera Cruz in my

time, had not past 300. housholds, and serued out but for the folke of

the ships, to buy and bring there goods aland, and deliuer it to their

owners, as also the owners and their factors to receiue there goods of

the Masters of the ships. This town standeth also in a very plaine on

the one side the riuer, and the other side is enuironed with much sande

blowen from the sea side with the tempest of weather, many times comming

vpon that coast. This town also is subiect to great sicknes, and in my

time many of the Mariners and officers of the ships did die with those

diseases, there accustomed, and especially those that were not vsed to

the countrey, nor knew the danger thereof, but would commonly go in the

Sunne in the heat of the day, and did eat fruit of the countrey with

much disorder, and especially gaue themselues to womens company at their

first comming: whereupon they were cast into a burning ague, of the

which few escaped.

[Sidenote: Venta de Rinconado.] Halfe a dayes iourney from Vera Cruz,

towards Mexico, is a lodging of fiue or sixe houses, called the

Rinconado, which is a place, where is a great pinacle made of lime and

stone, fast by a riuer side, where the Indians were wont to doe their

sacrifices vnto their gods, and it is plaine and low ground betwixt that

and Vera Cruz, and also subiect to sicknes: but afterward halfe a dayes

iourney that you do begin to enter into the high land, you shall find as

faire, good, and sweet countrey, as any in the world, and the farther

you go, the goodlier and sweeter the countrey is, till you come to

Pueblo de los Angeles, which may be some 43 leagues from Vera Cruz,

which was in my time a towne of 600. housholds, or thereabout, standing

in a goodly soile. Betweene Vera Cruz and that you shall come through

many townes of the Indians, and villages, and many goodly fields of

medow grounds, Riuers of fresh waters, forrests, and great woods, very

pleasant to behold. From Pueblo de los Angeles, to Mexico, is 20 leagues

of very faire way and countrey, as before is declared. Mexico was a

Citie in my time, of not aboue 1500. housholds of Spaniards inhabiting

there, but of Indian people in the suburbs of the said city, dwelt aboue

300000. as it was thought, and many more. This City of Mexico is 65

leagues from the North sea, and 75 leagues from the South sea, so that

it standeth in the midst of the maine land, betwixt the one sea and the

other. It is situated in the middest of a lake of standing water, and

enuironed round about with the same, sauing in many places, going out of

the Citie, are many broad wayes through the said lake or water. This

lake and Citie is enuironed also with great mountaines round about,

which are in compasse aboue thirtie leagues, and the said Citie, and

lake of standing water, doeth stand in a great plaine in the middest of

it. This lake of standing water doeth proceed from the shedding of the

raine, that falleth upon the saide mountaines, and so gather themselues

together in this place.

All the whole proportion of this Citie doeth stand in a very plaine

ground, and in the middest of the said Citie is a square place of a

good bow-shoote ouer from side to side: and in the middest of the said

place is the high Church, very faire and well builded all through, at

that time not halfe finished, and round about the said place, are many

faire houses built: on the one side, are the houses where Mutezuma the

great king of Mexico that was, dwelt, and now there lye alwayes the

viceroyes that the king of Spaine sendeth thither euery three yeeres.

And in my time there was for viceroy a gentleman of Castil, called Don

Luis de Velasco. And on the other side of the saide place, ouer against

the same, is the Bishops house, very faire built, and many other houses

of goodly building. And hard by the same, are also other very faire

houses, built by the Marques de Valle, otherwise called Hernando Cortes,

who was hee that first conquered the saide Citie and Countrey, who after

the said conquest which hee made with great labour and trauaile of his

person, and danger of his life, and being growen great in the Countrey,

the King of Spaine sent for him, saying that he had some particular

matters to impart vnto him. [Sidenote: This is to be vnderstood of his

second comming into Spaine.] And when he came home, he could not bee

suffered to returne backe againe, as the King before had promised him.

With the which, for sorrow that he tooke, he died; and this he had for

the reward of his good seruice.

The said Citie of Mexico hath the streetes made very broad, and right,

that a man being in the high place, at the one ende of the street, may

see at the least a good mile forward, and in all the one part of the

streets of the North part of their Citie, there runneth a pretie lake of

very cleare water, that euery man may put into his house as much as he

will, without the cost of any thing, but of letting in. Also there is a

great caue or ditch of water that commeth through the Citie, euen vnto

the high place, where come euery morning at the break of the day twentie

or thirtie Canoas, or troughes of the Indians, which bring in them all

manner of prouision for the citie, which is made, and groweth in the

Countrey, which is a very good commoditie for the inhabitants of that

place. And as for victuals in the said Citie, of beefe, mutton, and

hennes, capons, quailes, Guiny-cockes, and such like, all are very good

cheape: To say, the whole quarter of an oxe, as much as a slaue can

carry away from the Butchers, for fiue Tomynes, that is, fiue Royals of

plate, which is iust two shillings and sixe pence, and a fat sheepe at

the Butchers for three Royals, which is 18. pence and no more. Bread is

as good cheape as in Spaine, and all other kinde of fruites, as apples,

peares, pomegranats, and quinces, at a reasonable rate. The Citie goeth

wonderfully forwards in building of Frieries and Nunneries, and

Chappels, and is like in time to come, to be the most populous Citie in

the world, as it may be supposed. The weather is there always very

temperate, the day differeth but one houre of length all the yere long.

The fields and the woods are alwayes greene. The woods full of

popinjayes, and many other kinde of birdes, that make such an harmonie

of singing, and crying, that any man will reioyce to heare it. In the

fields are such odoriferous smels of flowers and hearbs, that it giueth

great content to the senses. About the Citie of Mexico two, three, or

foure leagues off, are diuers townes of Indians, some of 4000. or 6000.

housholds, which doe stand in such a goodly soyle, that if Christians

had the inhabitation thereof, it would be put to a further benefite. In

my time were dwelling and aliue in Mexico, many ancient men that were of

the conquerours at the first conquest with Hernando Cortes: for then it

was about 36. yeeres agoe, that the said Countrey was conquered.

About Mexico there are diuers Mines of siluer, and also in other places

there about, but the principall Mines that are in all New Spaine are in

Sacatecas, 80. leagues from Mexico, and the Mines of S. Martin, thirtie

leagues, both to the Westward of Mexico, where is great store of gold

and siluer. Also there is a place called the Misteca, fiftie leagues to

the Northwest, which doth yeeled great store of very good silke, and

Cochinilla. Wine and oyle there is none growing in the Countrey, but

what commeth out of Spaine. Also there are many goodly fruits in that

Countrey, whereof we haue none such, as Plantanos Guyaues, Lapotes,

Tunas, and in the wilderness great store of blacke cheries, and other

wholesome fruites. The Cochinilla is not a worme, or a flye, as some say

it is, but a berrie that groweth vpon certaine bushes in the wilde

field, which is gathered in time of the yeere, when it is ripe. Also the

Indico that doeth come from thence to die blew, is a certaine hearbe

that groweth in the wilde fieldes, and is gathered at one time of the

yeere, and burnt, and of the ashes thereof, with other confections put

thereunto, the said Indico is made. Balme, Salsa perilla, Cana fistula,

suger, oxe hides, and many other good and seruiceable things the

Countrey doeth yeeld, which are yeerely brought into Spaine, and there

solde and distributed to many nations.