A voyage made by M. Roger Bodenham to S. Iohn de Vllua in the bay
of Mexico, in the yeere 1564.
[Sidenote: A new trade begun in the city of Fez by Roger Bodenham.] I
Rodger Bodenham hauing a long time liued in the city of Siuil in Spaine,
being there married, and by occasion thereof vsing trade and traffique
to the parts of Barbary, grew at length to great losse and hinderance by
that new trade begun by me in the city of Fez: whereupon being returned
into Spaine, I began to call my wits about mee, and to consider with my
selfe by what meanes I might recover and renew my state; and in
conclusion, by the ayde of my friends, I procured a ship called The
Barke Fox perteining to London, of the eight or nine score tunnes; and
with the same I made a voyage to the West India, hauing obteined good
fauour with the Spannish merchants, by reason of my long abode, and
marriage of the countrey. My voyage was in the company of the Generall
Don Pedro Melendes for Noua Hispania: who being himselfe appointed
Generall for Terra Firma and Peru, made his sonne Generall for New
Spaine, although Pedro Melendes himselfe was the principall man and
director in both fleets. We all departed from Cadiz together the last
day of May in the yere 1564: and I with my ship being vnder the conduct
of the sonne of Don Pedro aforesayd, arriued with him in Noua Hispania,
where immediately I tooke order for the discharge of my merchandise at
the port of Vera Cruz, otherwise called Villa Rica, to be transported
thence to the city of Mexico, which is sixty and odde leagues distant
from the sayd port of Villa Rica. In the way are many good townes, as
namely, Pueblo de los Angeles, and another called Tlaxcalan. The city of
Mexico hath three great causeyes to bring men to it, compassed with a
lake, so that it needeth no walles, being so defended by the water. It
is a city plentifull of all necessary things, hauing many faire houses,
churches, and monasteries. I hauing continued in the countrey the space
of nine moneths, returned againe for Spaine with the Spanish fleet, and
deliuered the merchandise and siluer which I had in the ship into the
Contratation house, and there receiued my fraight, which amounted
outwards and homewards to the value of 13000 ducats and more. I obserued
many things in the time of my abode in Noua Hispania, aswell touching
the commodities of the countrey as the maners of the people both
Spaniards and Indians: but because the Spanish histories are full of
these obseruations, I omit them, and referre the readers to the same:
onely this I say, that the commodity of Cochinalla groweth in greatest
abundance about the towne of Pueblo de los Angeles, and is not there
woorth aboue forty pence the pound.
A notable discourse of M. Iohn Chilton, touching the people, maners,
mines, cities, riches, forces, and other memorable things of New
Spaine, and other prouinces in the West Indies, seene and noted by
himselfe in the time of his trauels, continued in those parts, the
space of seuenteene or eighteene yeeres.
In the yeere of our Lord 1561, in the moneth of Iuly, I Iohn Chilton
went out of this city of London into Spaine, where I remained for the
space of seuen yeres, and from thence I sailed into Noua Hispania, and
so trauelled there, and by the South sea, vnto Peru, the space of
seuenteene or eighteene yeeres: and after that time expired, I returned
into Spaine, and so in the yere 1586 in the moneth of Iuly, I arriued at
the foresayd city of London: where perusing the notes which I had taken
in the time of my trauell in those yeeres, I haue set downe as
followeth.
In the yeere 1568, in the moneth of March, being desirous to see the
world, I embarked my selfe in the bay of Cadiz in Andaluzia, in a shippe
bound for the Isles of the Canaries, where she tooke in her lading, and
set forth from thence for the voyage, in the moneth of Iune, the same
yere. Within a moneth after, we fell with the Isle of S. Domingo, and
from thence directly to Noua Hispania, and came into the port of S. Iohn
de Vllua, which is a little Island standing in the sea, about two miles
from the land, where the king mainteineth about 50 souldiers, and
captaines, that keepe the forts, and about 150 negroes, who all the
yeere long are occupied in carying of stones for building, and other
vses, and to helpe to make fast the ships that come in there, with their
cables. There are built two bulwarkes at ech ende of a wall, that
standeth likewise in the sayde island, where the shippes vse to ride,
made fast to the sayd wall with their cables, so neere, that a man may
leape ashore. From this port I iourneyd by land to a towne called Vera
Cruz, standing by a riuers side, where all the factours of the Spanish
merchants dwell, which receiue the goods of such ships as come thither,
and also lade the same with such treasure and merchandize as they
returne backe into Spaine. They are in number about foure hundred, who
onely remaine there during the time that the Spanish fleet dischargeth,
and is loden againe, which is from the end of August to the beginning of
April following. And then for the vnwholesomnesse of the place they
depart thence sixteene leagues further vp within the countrey, to a
towne called Xalapa, a very healthfull soile. There is neuer any woman
deliuered of childe in this port of Vera Cruz: for so soone as they
perceiue themselues conceiued with child, they get them into the
countrey, to auoid the perill of the infected aire, although they vse
euery morning to driue thorow the towne aboue two thousand head of
cattell, to take away the ill vapours of the earth. From Xalapa seuen
leagues I came to another place, named Perota, wherein are certaine
houses builded of straw, called by the name of ventas, the inhabitants
whereof are Spaniards, who accustome to harbour such trauellers as are
occasioned to iourney that way vp into the land. It standeth in a great
wood of Pine and Cedar trees, the soile being very colde, by reason of
store of snow which lieth on the mountaines there all the yere long.
There are in that place an infinite number of deere, of bignesse like
vnto great mules, hauing also hornes of great length. From Perota nine
leagues, I came to the Fuentes of Ozumba, which fuentes are springs of
water issuing out of certeine rocks into the midst of the high wayes,
where likewise are certaine ranges, and houses, for the vses before
mentioned. [Sidenote: Pueblo de los Angeles eight leagues.] Eight
leagues off from this place I came to the city of the Angels, so called
by that name of the Spanyards, which inhabit there to the number of a
thousand, besides a great number of Indians. This city standeth in very
plaine fields, hauing neere adioyning to it many sumptuous cities, as
namely the city of Tlaxcalla, a city of two hundred thousand Indians,
tributaries to the king, although he exacteth no other tribute of them
then a handfull of wheat a piece, which amounteth to thirteene thousand
hanneges yeerely as hath appeared by the kings books of account. And the
reason why he contenteth himselfe with this tribute, onely for them, is,
because they were the occasion that he tooke the city of Mexico, with
whom the Tlaxcallians had warre at the same time when the Spanyards came
into the countrey. The gouernour of this city is a Spanyard, called
among them the Alcade mayor, who administreth chiefest causes of
iustice both vnto the Christians and Indians, referring smaller and
lighter vices, as drunkennesse and such like to the iudgement and
discretion of such of the Indians as are chosen euery yeere to rule
amongst them, called by the name of Alcades. These Indians from
fourteene yeeres olde vpwards, pay vnto the king for their yerely
tribute one ounce of siluer, and an hannege of maiz, which is valued
among them commonly at twelue reals of plate. The widowes among them pay
halfe of this. The Indians both of this city, and of the rest, lying
about Mexico, goe clothed with mantles of linnen cloth made of cotton
wooll, painted thorowout with works of diuers and fine colours.
[Sidenote: Tlaxcalla foure leagues northward from los Angeles.] It is
distant from the city of the Angels foure leagues to the Northward, and
fourteene from Mexico. There is another city a league from it, called
Chetula, consisting of more then sixty thousand Indians, tributaries,
and there dwell not aboue twelue Spanyards there. [Sidenote: Vulcan is a
hill that continually burneth with fire.] From it, about two leagues,
there is another, called Acassingo, of aboue fifty thousand Indians, and
about eight or twelue Spanyards, which standeth at the foot of the
Vulcan of Mexico, on the East side. There are besides these, three other
great cities, the one named Tapiaca, a very famous city, Waxazingo, and
Tichamachalcho: all these in times past belonged to the kingdome of
Tlaxcalla: and from these cities they bring most of their Cochinilla
into Spaine. [Sidenote: Pueblo de los Angeles 20. leagues from Mexico.]
The distance from the city of the Angels, to the city of Mexico is
twenty leagues. The city of Mexico is the city of greatest fame in all
the Indies, hauing goodly and costly houses in it, builded all of lime
and stone, and seuen streets in length, and seuen in breadth, with
riuers running thorow euery second street, by which they bring their
prouision in canoas. It is situated at the foot of certaine hilles,
which conteine in compasse by estimation aboue twenty leagues,
compassing the sayd city on the one side, and a lake which is fourteene
leagues about on the other side. Vpon which lake there are built many
notable and sumptuous cities, as the city of Tescuco, where the
Spanyards built sixe frigats, at that time when they conquered Mexico,
and where also Fernando Cortes made his abode fiue or six moneths in
curing of the sicknesse of his people, which they had taken at their
comming into the countrey. There dwell in this city about sixty thousand
Indians, which pay tribute to the king. In this city the sayd Fernando
built the finest church that euer was built in the Indies, the name
whereof is S. Peters.
[Sidenote: The voyage from Mexico to Nueua Biscaia.] After I had
continued two yeeres in this city, being desirous to see further the
countreys, I imployed that which I had, and tooke my voyage towards the
prouinces of California, in the which was discouered a certeine countrey
by a Biscaine, whose name was Diego de Guiara, and called it after
the name of his countrey, New Biscay, where I solde my merchandise
for exchange of siluer, for there were there certaine rich mines
discouered by the aforesayd Biskaine. [Sidenote: The Siluer mines of
Tamascaltepec.] Going from Mexico I directed my voyage somewhat toward
the Southwest, to certaine mines, called Tamascaltepec, and so trauelled
forward the space of twenty dayes thorow desert places vnhabited, till I
came to the valley of S. Bartholomew, which ioyneth to the prouince of
New Biscay. In all these places, the Indians for the most part go naked,
and are wilde people. Their common armour is bowes and arrowes: they vse
to eate vp such Christians as they come by. [Sidenote: The hauen where
the ships of China and the Philippinas arriue.] From hence departing, I
came to another prouince named Xalisco, and from thence to the port of
Nauidad, which is 120 leagues from Mexico, in which port arriue alwayes
in the moneth of April, all the ships that come out of the South sea
from China, and the Philippinas, and there they lay their merchandise
ashore. The most part whereof is mantles, made of Cotton wooll, Waxe,
and fine platters gilded, made of earth, and much golde.
The next Summer following, being in the yeere 1570 (which was the first
yeere that the Popes Buls were brought into the Indies) I vndertooke
another voyage towards the prouince of Sonsonate, which is in the
kingdome of Guatimala, whither I caried diuers marchandize of Spaine,
all by land on mules backs. The way thitherward from Mexico is to the
city of the Angels, and from thence to another city of Christians 80
leagues off, called Guaxaca, in which there dwelt about 50 Spanyards,
and many Indians. All the Indians of this prouince pay their tribute in
mantles, of Cotton wooll, and Cochinilla, whereof there groweth
abundance thorowout this countrey. Neere to this place there lieth a
port in the South sea, called Aguatulco, in the which there dwell not
aboue three or foure Spanyards, with certaine Negroes, which the king
mainteineth there: in which place Sir Francis Drake arriued in the yeere
1579, in the moneth of April, where I lost with his being there aboue a
thousand duckets, which he tooke away with much other goods of other
merchants of Mexico from one Francisco Gomes Rangifa, factour there for
all the Spanish merchants that then traded in the South sea: for from
this Port they vse to imbarke all their goods that goe for Peru, and to
the kingdome of Honduras. From Guaxaca I came to a towne named Nixapa,
which standeth vpon certaine very high hilles in the prouince of
Sapotecas, wherein inhabit about the number of twenty Spanyards, by the
King of Spaines commandement, to keepe that country in peace: for the
Indians are very rebellious: and for this purpose hee bestowed on them
the townes and cities that be within that prouince. From hence I went to
a city called Tecoantepec, which is the farthest towne to the Eastward
in all Noua Hispania, which some time did belong to the Marques de
Valle, and because it is a very fit port, standing in the South sea, the
king of Spaine, vpon a rebellion made by the sayd Marques against him,
tooke it from him, and doth now possesse it as his owne. Heere in the
yeere 1572 I saw a piece of ordinance of brasse, called a Demy culuerin,
which came out of a ship called the Iesus of Lubeck, which captaine
Hawkins left in S. Iohn de Vllua, being in fight with the Spanyards in
the yeere 1568; which piece they afterwards carried 100 leagues by land
ouer mighty mountaines to the sayd city, to be embarked there for the
Philippinas. Leauing Tecoantepec, I went still along by the South sea
about 150 leagues in the desolate prouince of Soconusco, in which
prouince there groweth cacao, which the Christians cary from thence into
Noua Hispania, for that it will not grow in any colde countrey. The
Indians of this countrey pay the king their tribute in cacao, giuing him
four hundred cargas, and euery carga is 24000 almonds, which carga is
worth in Mexico thirty pieces of reals of plate. They are men of great
riches, and withall very proud: and in all this prouince thorowout,
there dwell not twenty Christians. I trauelled thorow another prouince
called Suchetepec; and thence to the prouince of Guasacapan: in both
which prouinces are very few people, the biggest towne therein hauing
not aboue two hundred Indians. The chiefest merchandise there, is cacao.
Hence I went to the city of Guatimala, which is the chiefe city of all
this kingdome: in this city doe inhabit about 80 Spanyards: and here
the king hath his gouernours, and councell, to whom all the people of
the kingdome repaire for iustice. This city standeth from the coast of
the South sea 14 leagues within the land, and is very rich, by reason of
the golde that they fetch out of the coast of Veragua. From this city to
the Eastward 60 leagues lieth the prouince Sonsonate, where I solde the
merchandize I caried out of Noua Hispania. The chiefest city of this
prouince is called S. Saluador, which lieth 7 leagues from the coast of
the South sea, and hath a port lying by the sea coast, called Acaxutla,
where the ships arriue with the merchandize they bring from Noua
Hispania; and from thence lade backe againe the cacao: there dwell here
to the number of threescore Spanyards. [Sidenote: Nicoia a port where ye
ships which goe to the Philippinas are builded.] From Sonsonate I
trauelled to Nicoia, which is in the kingdome of Nicaragua, in which
port the king buildeth all the shipping that trauell out of the Indies
to the Malucos. [Sidenote: Puerto de Cauallos a rich place.] I went
forward from thence to Costa rica, where the Indians both men and women
go all naked, and the land lieth betweene Panama, and the kingdome of
Guatimala: and for that the Indians there liue as warriers, I durst not
passe by land, so that here in a towne called S. Saluador I bestowed
that which I caried in annile (which is a kinde of thing to die blew
withall) which I caried with me to the port of Cauallos, lying in the
kingdome of Honduras, which port is a mighty huge gulfe, and at the
comming in on the one side of it there lieth a towne of little force
without ordinance or any other strength, hauing in it houses of straw:
at which towne the Spanyards vse yeerely in the moneth of August to
vnlade foure ships which come out of Spaine laden with rich merchandize,
and receiue in heere againe their lading of a kinde of merchandise
called Annile and Cochinilla (although it be not of such value as that
of Noua Hispania) and siluer of the mines of Tomaangua, and golde of
Nicaragua, and hides, and Salsa perilla, the best in all the Indies: all
which merchandize, they returne, and depart from thence alwayes in the
moneth of April following, taking their course by the Island of Iamaica,
in which Island there dwell on the West side of it certeine Spanyards of
no great number. [Sidenote: The description of Hauana at large.] From
this place they go to the cape of S. Anthony, which is the vttermost
part of the Westward of the Island of Cuba, and from thence to Hauana
lying hard by, which is the chiefest port that the king of Spaine hath
in all the countreys of the Indies, and of greatest importance: for all
the ships, both from Peru, Honduras, Porto rico, S. Domingo, Iamaica,
and all other places in his Indies, arriue there in their returne to
Spaine, for that in this port they take in victuals and water, and the
most part of their lading: here they meet from all the foresayd places
alwayes in the beginning of May by the kings commandement: at the
entrance of this port it is so narrow, that there can scarse come in two
ships together, although it be aboue sixe fadome deepe in the narrowest
place of it. In the North side of the comming in there standeth a tower,
in which there watcheth euery day a man to descrie the sailes of ships
which hee can see on the sea; and as many as he discouereth, so many
banners he setteth vpon the tower, that the people of the towne (which
standeth within the port about a mile from the tower) may vnderstand
thereof. Vnder this tower there lieth a sandy shore, where men may
easily go aland: and by the tower there runneth a hill along by the
waters side, which easily with small store of ordinance subdueth the
towne and port. The port within is so large that there may easily ride a
thousand saile of ships without anker or cable, for no wind is able to
hurt them. [Sidenote: The smol force of Hauana.] There inhabit within
the towne of Hauana about three hundred Spanyards, and about threescore
souldiers, which the king mainteineth there for the keeping of a
certeine castle which hee hath of late erected, which hath planted in it
about twelue pieces of small ordinance, and is compassed round with a
small ditch, wherethorow at their pleasure they may let in the sea.
About two leagues from Hauana their lieth another towne called
Wanabacoa, in which there is dwelling about an hundred Indians, and from
this place 60 leagues there lieth another towne named Bahama, situate on
the North side of the Island. The chiefest city of this Island of Cuba
(which is aboue 600 leagues in length) is also called Sant Iago de Cuba,
where dwelleth a bishop and about two hundred Spanyards; which towne
standeth on the South side of the Island about 100 leagues from Hauana.
[Sidenote: The commodities of Cuba.] All the trade of this Island is
cattell, which they kill onely for the hides that are brought thence
into Spaine: for which end the Spanyards mainteine there many negroes to
kil their cattell, and foster a great number of hogs, which being
killed, and cut into smal pieces, they dry in the Sun, and so make it
prouision for the ships which come for Spaine.
Hauing remained in this Island two moneths, I tooke shipping in a
frigat, and went ouer to Nombre de Dios, and from thence by land to
Panama, which standeth vpon the South sea. From Nombre de Dios to Panama
is 17 leagues distance: from which towne there runneth a riuer which is
called the riuer of Chagre, which runneth within 5 leagues of Panama, to
a place called Cruzes, thorow which riuer they cary their goods, and
disimbarke them at the sayd Cruzes, and from thence they are conueyed on
mules backs to Panama by land: where they againe imbarke them in
certeine small shippes in the South sea for all the coast of Peru. In
one of these ships I went to Potossie, and from thence by land to Cusco,
and from thence to Paita.
Here I remained the space of seuen moneths, and then returned into the
kingdome of Guatimala, and arriued in the prouince of Nicoia, and
Nicaragua. From Nicaragua I trauelled by land to a prouince called
Nicamula (which lieth toward the North sea in certaine high mountaines)
for that I could not passe thorow the kingdome of Guatimala at that time
for waters, wherewith all the Low countreys of the prouince of
Soconusco, lying by the South sea, are drowned with the raine that
falleth aboue the mountaines, enduring always from April to September:
which reason for that they call their Winter. From this prouince I came
into another called De Vera Paz, in which the chiefest city is also
called after that name, where there dwelleth a bishop and about forty
Spanyards. Among the mountaines of this countrey toward the North sea,
there is a prouince called La Candona, where are Indian men of war which
the king can not subdue, for that they haue townes and forts in a great
lake of water aboue the sayd mountaines: the most part of them goe
naked, and some weare mantles of cotton wooll. [Sidenote: Chiapa 300
leagues from Mexico.] Distant from this about 80 leagues, I came into
another prouince called the prouince of Chiapa, wherein the chiefest
city is called Sacallan, where there dwelleth a bishop and about an
hundred Spanyards. In this countrey there is great store of Cotten
wooll, whereof the Indians make fine linnen cloth, which the Christians
buy and carry into Noua Hispania. The people of this prouince pay their
tribute to the king all in Cotton wooll and Feathers. Fourteene leagues
from this city there is another called Chiapa, where are the finest
gennets in all the Indies, which are carried hence to Mexico, 300
leagues from it. [Sidenote: Ecatepec an hill nine leagues high.] From
this city I trauelled still thorow hilles and mountaines, till I came to
the end of this prouince, to a hill called Ecatepec, which in English
signifieth The hill of winde: for that they say, it is the highest hill
that euer was discouered: for from the top of it may be discovered both
the North and the South seas; and it is in height supposed to be nine
leagues. They which trauell ouer it, lie alwayes at the foot of it ouer
night, and begin their iourney about midnight, to trauell to the top of
it before the Sunne rise the next day, because the winde bloweth with
such force afterwards, that it is impossible for any man to goe vp: from
the foot of this hill to Tecoantepec, the first towne of Noua Hispania,
are about fifteene leagues. And so from hence I iourned to Mexico.
By and by after I came to Mexico (which was in the yere 1572) in the
company of another Spanyard, which was my companion in this iourney, we
went together toward the prouince of Panuco, which lieth vpon the coast
of the North sea, and within three dayes iourney we entred a city called
Mestitlan, where there dwelt twelue Spanyards: the Indian inhabitants
there were about thirty thousand. This city standeth vpon certaine hie
mountaines, which are very thicke planted with townes very holesome and
fruitfull, hauing plentifull fountaines of water running thorow them.
The high wayes of these hilles are all set with fruits, and trees of
diuers kindes, and most pleasant. In euery towne as we passed thorow,
the Indians presented vs with victuals. Within twenty leagues of this
place there is another city called Clanchinoltepec, belonging to a
gentleman, where there inhabit about fourty thousand Indians; and there
are among them eight or nine friers of the order of Saint Augustine, who
haue there a Monastery. Within three dayes after we departed from this
place, and came to a city called Guaxutla, where there is another
Monastery of friers of the same Order: there dwell in this towne about
twelue Spanyards. From this place forwards beginneth a prouince called
Guastecan, which is all plaine grounds without any hilles. The first
towne we came vnto is called Tancuylabo, in which there dwell many
Indians, high of stature, hauing all their bodies painted with blew, and
weare their haire long downe to their knees, tied as women vse to do
with their haire-laces. When they goe out of their doores, they cary
with them their bowes and arrowes, being very great archers, going for
the most part naked. [Sidenote: Salt a principal merchandize.] In those
countreys they take neither golde nor siluer for exchange of any thing,
but only Salt, which they greatly esteeme, and vse it for a principall
medicine for certaine wormes which breed in their lips and in their
gummes. After nine dayes trauell from this place, we came to a towne
called Tampice, which is a port towne vpon the sea, wherein there dwell,
I thinke, forty Christians, of which number whilest wee abode there, the
Indians killed foureteene, as they were gathering of Salt, which is all
the trade that they haue in this place: it standeth vpon the entrie of
the riuer of Panuco, which is a mighty great riuer; and were it not for
a sand that lieth at the mouth of it, ships of fiue hundred tonne might
goe vp into it aboue three score leagues. From hence we went to Panuco,
foureteen leagues from Tampice, which in times past had bene a goodly
city, where the king of Spaine had his gouernour: but by reason that the
Indians there destroyed the Christians, it lieth in a maner waste,
conteining in it not aboue tenne Christians with a priest. In this towne
I fell sicke, where I lay one and forty dayes, hauing no other
sustenance then fruit and water, which water I sent for aboue sixe
leagues off within the countrey. Here I remained till my companion came
to me, which had departed from me another way, reteining in my company
onely a slaue, which I brought with me from Mexico. And the last day in
Easter weeke my companion came to me, finding me in a very weake state,
by reason of the vnholesomenesse of the place. Notwithstanding my
weakenesse, I being set on an horse, and an Indian behinde mee to holde
mee, we went forward on our voyage all that day till night. The next day
in the morning we passed ouer the riuer in a canoa; and being on the
other side, I went my selfe before alone: and by reason there met many
wayes traled by the wilde beasts, I lost my way, and so trauelled thorow
a great wood about two leagues: and at length fell into the hands of
certaine wilde Indians, which were there in certaine cottages made of
straw; who seeing me, came out to the number of twenty of them, with
their bowes and arrowes, and spake vnto mee in their language, which I
vnderstood not: and so I made signes vnto them to helpe mee from my
horse; which they did by commandement of their lord, which was there
with them: and lighted downe. They caried me vnder one of their
cottages, and layed me vpon a mat on the ground: and perceiuing that I
could not vnderstand them, they brought vnto mee a little Indian wench
of Mexico, of fifteene or sixteene yeeres of age, whom they commanded to
aske me in her language from whence I came, and for what intent I was
come among them: for (sayth she) doest thou not know Christian, how that
these people will kill and eat thee? To whom I answered, let them doe
with me what they will; heere now I am. Shee replied, saying, thou
mayest thank God thou art leane; for they feare thou hast the pocks:
otherwise they would eate thee. So I presented to the king a little wine
which I had with me in a bottle; which he esteemed aboue any treasure:
for wine they will sell their wiues and children. Afterwards the wench
asked me what I would haue, and whether I would eat any thing. I
answered that I desired a little water to drinke, for that the countrey
is very hote: and shee brought me a great Venice glasse, gilded, full of
water. And maruelling at the glasse, I demanded how they came by it. She
tolde me that the Casique brought it from Shallapa, a great towne distant
30 leagues from this place on the hilles, whereas dwelt certeine
Christians, and certeine friers of the Order of S. Augustine, which this
Casique with his people on a night slew: and burning the friers
monasterie, among other things reserued this glasse: and from thence
also brought me. Hauing now bene conuersant with them about three or
four houres, they bid her aske me if I would goe my way. I answered her,
that I desired nothing els. So the Casique caused two of his Indians to
leade me forward in my way; going before me with their bowes and
arrowes, naked, the space of three leagues, till they brought me into an
high way: and then making a signe vnto me, they signified that in short
time I should come to a towne where Christians inhabited, which was
called S. Iago de los valles, standing in plaine fields, walled about
with a mud wall: the number of the Christians that dwelt therein, were
not aboue foure or fiue and twenty, vnto which the king of Spaine giueth
Indians and townes, to keepe the countreys subiect vnto him. Here the
Christians haue their mighty mules, which they cary for all the parts of
the Indies, and into Peru, for that all their merchandize are carried by
this meanes by land. In this towne aforesayd, I found my company which I
had lost before, who made no other account of me but that I had beene
slaine: and the Christians there likewise maruelled to heare that I came
from those kinde of Indians aliue, which was a thing neuer seene nor
heard of before: for they take a great pride in killing a Christian,
and to weare any part of him where he hath any haire growing, hanging it
about their necks, and so are accounted for valiant men. [Sidenote: Don
Henrico Manriques viceroy of Mexico.] In this towne I remained eighteene
dayes, till I recouered my health, and in the meane space there came one
Don Francisco de Pago, whom the viceroy Don Henrico Manriques had sent
for captaine generall, to open and discouer a certeine way from the sea
side to the mines of Sacatecas, which were from this place 160 leagues,
for to transport their merchandize by that way, leauing the way by
Mexico, which is seuen or eight weeks trauell. So this captaine tooke me
and my company, with the rest of his souldiers, to the number of forty,
which he had brought with him, and fiue hundred Indians, which we tooke
out of two towns in this prouince called Tanchipa, and Tamaclipa, all
good archers and naked men, and went thence to the riuer de las Palmas,
which is of great bignesse, parting the kingdome of Noua Hispania and
Florida: and going still along by this riuer the space of three dayes,
seeking passage to passe ouer; and finding none, we were at length
inforced to cut timber to make a balsa or raft, which when we had made,
we sate on it, the Indians swimming in the water, and thrusting it
before them to the other side. Within thirty dayes after, trauelling
thorow woods, hiles, and mountaines, we came to the mines of Sacatecas,
which are the richest mines in all the Indies, and from thence they
fetch most siluer: at which mines there dwelt aboue three hundred
Christians: and there our Captaine gaue vs leaue to depart. So we came
to the valley of S. Michael toward Mexico; and from thence to Pueblo
nouo; and from that place to the prouince of Mechuacan, after which name
the chiefest city of that place is called; where there dwelles a bishop,
and aboue an hundred Spanyards in it: it aboundeth with all kind of
Spanish fruits, and hath woods full of nut trees, and wild vines. Heere
are many mines of copper, and great store of cattell. It lieth 60
leagues from Mexico, whither we came within foure dayes after. The
Indians of this countrey are very mighty and big men.
Afterwards I returned another way to the prouince of Sonsonate by Vera
Cruz, and so to Rio Aluarado, and from thence to the prouince of
Campeche, which lieth on the South side of the bay of Mexico; the chiefe
towne of this prouince is called Merida, in which is a bishop and almost
100 Spanyards. The Indians of this prouince pay all their tribute in
mantles of cotton wooll and cacao. There is no port in all this prouince
for a ship of 100 tun to ride in, but onely in the riuer of Tabasco, by
which riuer this city of Merida standeth. The chiefest merchandize which
they lade there in small frigats, is a certeine wood called campeche,
(wherewith they vse to die) as also hides and annile. By this there
lieth the prouince of Iucatan, nere the Honduras by the North sea coast,
where there is also another bishop, and a towne likewise named Iucatan,
where there dwell a few Spanyards. They haue no force at all in all this
coast to defend themselues withall, saue only that the land is low, and
there is no port to receiue any shipping, vnlesse they be frigats, which
cary from thence to the port of S. Iohn de Vllua, waxe, cacao, hony, and
also mantles of cotton wool, whereof they make there great store, and of
which kind of merchandize there is great trade thence to Mexico: of the
same also they pay their tribute to the king.
[Sidenote: The greatnesse of the king of Spaines tribute out of the West
Indies.] The king hath tribute brought him yerely out of the Indies into
Spaine betweene nine and ten millions of gold and siluer: for he
receiueth of euery Indian which is subiect vnto him (excepting those
which do belong to the Incommenderos, which are the children of those
Spanyards, who first conquered the land, to whom the king gaue and
granted the gouernment of the cities and townes subdued for three liues)
twelue reals of plate, and a hannege of maiz, which is a wheat of the
countrey, (fiue of them making a quarter of English measure) and of
euery widow woman he hath sixe reals, and halfe a hannege of maiz. And
so if any Indian haue twenty children in his house, he payeth for euery
one of them, being aboue fifteene yeres old, after that rate. This Wheat
being duely brought to the gouernour of euery prouince and city, is sold
in Mexico by the kings gouernours there every yeere; so that the money
receiued for it, is put into the kings Treasurie there, and is so
yeerely caried from thence into Spaine. [Sidenote: The quinta.] Of the
Spanyards which are owners of the mines of gold and siluer, he receiueth
the fift part of it, which he calleth his quintas, which being taken out
of the heape, there is his armes set on it; for otherwise it may not be
brought out of the land into Spaine, vnder paine of death. The marke of
siluer, which is eight ounces, when it commeth out of the mines, not
hauing the kings seale vpon it, is woorth three and forty reals of
plate, and so it is current: and when they will bring it for Spaine,
they cary it to the kings Treasure house, where his seale is set vpon
it; and so it is raised in value thereby to threescore and foure reals
of plate: and so the king hath for his custome of euery marke of plate
one and twenty reals.
From the yere of 1570, which was the yeere that the Popes buls came into
the Indies, as is afore mentioned, he hath receiued both of the Indians
which are tributaries vnto him, and also of all others belonging to the
Incommenderos, of euery one being aboue twelue yeeres of age, foure
reals of euery bull. Also they cary other pardons with them into the
Indies, for such as be dead, although an hundred yeres before the
Spanyards came into the countrey: which pardons the friers in their
preachings perswaded the poore Indians to take, telling them that with
giuing foure reals of plate for a Masse, they would deliuer their soules
out of purgatory. Of the Christians likewise dwelling there he hath
foureteene reals for euery bull: and there be certeine buls brought
thither for the Christians besides the former, which serue for pardoning
all such faults wherein they haue trespassed either against the king, by
keeping backe his customes, or one against another by any other injury;
for euery hundred crownes whereof a mans conscience doth accuse him that
he hath deceiued the king or any other, he must giue ten for a bull, and
so after that rate for euery hundred which he hath any way stollen, and
so is pardoned the fault. [Sidenote: The reuenue of the kings buls and
pardons came yerely to three millions.] The reuenue of his buls after
this maner yeeldeth vnto his treasury yeerely aboue three millions of
gold, as I haue bene credibly informed, although of late both the
Spanyards and Indians do refuse to take the buls; for that they perceiue
he doth make a yeerely custome of it: onely ech Indian taketh one pardon
for all his householde, (whereas in former time euery Indian vsed to
take one for euery person in his house) and teareth the same into small
pieces, and giueth to euery one of his householde a little piece, saying
thus, they need now no more, seeing in that which they bought the yeere
before they had aboue ten thousand yeres pardon. These pieces they
sticke vp in the wall of the houses where they lie. [Sidenote:
Rebellions in Noua Hispania by two great exactions.] Both the Christians
and Indians are weary with these infinite taxes and customes, which of
late he hath imposed vpon them, more than in the yeeres before: so as
the people of both sorts did rebell twise in the time that I was among
them, and would have set vp another king of themselues: for which cause
the king hath commanded vpon paine of death, that they should not plant
either oile or wine there, but should alwayes stand in need of them to
be brought out of Spaine, although there would more grow there in foure
yeeres then there groweth in Spaine in twenty, it is so fertile a
countrey.
[Sidenote: The reasons which mooue the kings of Spaine to forbid foren
traffike in the West Indies.] And the king to keepe the countrey alwayes
in subiection, and to his owne vse, hath streightly prouided by lawe,
vpon paine of death, and losse of goods, that none of these countreys
should traffique with any other nation, although the people themselues
doe much now desire to trade with any other then with them, and would
vndoubtedly doe, if they feared not the perill ensuing thereupon.
About Mexico, and other places in Noua Hispania, there groweth a
certaine plant called magueis, which yeeldeth wine, vineger, hony, and
blacke sugar, and of the leaues of it dried they make hempe, ropes,
shooes which they vse, and tiles for their houses: and at the ende of
euery leafe there groweth a sharpe point like an awle, wherewith they
vse to bore or pearce thorow any thing.
Thus to make an end, I have heere set downe the summe of all the
chiefest things that I haue obserued and noted in my seventeene yeres
trauell in those parts.
A relation of the commodities of Noua Hispania, and the maners of
the inhabitants, written by Henry Hawkes merchant, which liued
fiue yeeres in the sayd countrey, and drew the same at the
request of M. Richard Hakluyt Esquire of Eton in the county of
Hereford, 1572.
Saint Iohn de Vilua is an Island not high aboue the water, where as now
the Spanyards vpon M. Iohn Hawkins being there, are in making a strong
fort. In this place all the ships that come out of Spaine with goods for
these parts, do vnlade: for they haue none other port so good as this
is. The comming into this place hath three chanels, and the best of all
is the Northermost, which goeth by the maine land: and on euery side of
the chanels there are many small rocks, as big as a small barrell: they
wil make men stand in doubt of them, but there is no feare of them.
There is another Island there by, called The Island of sacrifices,
whereas the Spanyards did in times past vnlade their goods: and for
that, they say, there are vpon it spirits or deuils, it is not
frequented as it hath bene. In these places the North wind hath so great
dominion, that oftentimes it destroyeth many ships and barks. This place
is giuen to great sicknesse. These Islands stand in 18 degrees and a
halfe, and about the same is great plenty of fish.
Fiue leagues from S. Iohn de Vllua is a faire riuer: it lieth Northwest
from the port, and goeth to a little towne of the Spanyards called Vera
Cruz, and with small vessels or barks, which they call frigats, they
cary all their merchandize which commeth out of Spaine, to the said
towne: and in like maner bring all the gold, siluer, cochinilla, hides,
and all other things that the shippes cary into Spaine vnto them. And
the goods being in Vera Cruz, they carry them to Mexico, and to Pueblo
de los Angeles, Sacatecas, and Saint Martin, and diuers other places so
farre within the countrey, that some of them are 700 miles off, and some
more, and some lesse, all vpon horses, mules, and in waines drawen with
oxen, and in carres drawen with mules.
In this towne of Vera Cruz within these twenty yeres, when women were
brought to bed, the children new borne incontinently died; which is not
now in these dayes, God be thanked.
This towne is inclined to many kinde of diseases, by reason of the great
heat, and a certeine gnat or flie which they call a mosquito, which
biteth both men and women in their sleepe: and assoone as they are
bitten, incontinently the flesh swelleth as though they had bene bitten
with some venimous worme. And this musquito or gnat doth most follow
such as are newly come into the countrey. Many there are that die of
this annoyance.
This towne is situated vpon the riuer aforesayd, and compassed with
woods of diuers maners and sorts, and many fruits, as orenges and
limons, guiaues, and diuers others, and birds in them, popinjayes both
small and great, and some of them as big as a rauen, and their tailes as
long as the taile of a fezant. There are also many other kinde of birds
of purple colour, and small munkeys, maruellous proper.
This hote or sicke countrey continueth fiue and forty miles towards the
city of Mexico; and the fiue and forty miles being passed, then there is
a temperate countrey, and full of tillage: but they water all their corn
with riuers which they turn in upon it. And they gather their Wheat
twise a yere. And if they should not water the ground where as their
corne is sowen, the country is so hote it would burne all.
Before you come to Mexico, there is a great towne called Tlaxcalla,
which hath in it aboue 16000 households. All the inhabitants thereof are
free by the kings of Spaine: for these were the occasion that Mexico was
woone in so short time, and with so little losse of men. Wherefore they
are all gentlemen, and pay no tribute to the king. In this towne is all
the cochinilla growing.
Mexico is a great city; it hath more then fifty thousand households,
whereof there are not past fiue or sixe thousand houses of Spanyards:
all the other are the people of the countrey, which liue vnder the
Spanyards lawes. There are in this city stately buildings, and many
monasteries of friers and nunnes, which the Spanyards haue made. And the
building of the Indians is somewhat beautifull outwardly, and within
full of small chambers, with very small windowes, which is not so comly
as the building of the Spanyards. This city standeth in the midst of a
great lake, and the water goeth thorow all or the most part of the
streets, and there come small boats, which they call canoas, and in them
they bring all things necessary, as wood, and coales, and grasse for
their horses, stones and lime to build, and corne.
This city is subject to many earthquakes, which oftentimes cast downe
houses, and kil people. This city, is very well prouided of water to
drinke, and with all maner of victuals, as fruits, flesh and fish,
bread, hennes and capons, Guiny cocks and hennes and all other fowle.
There are in this city euery weeke three Faires or Markets, which are
frequented with many people, aswell Spanyards as the people of the
countrey. There are in these Faires or Markets all maner of things that
may be inuented, to sell, and in especiall, things of the countrey. The
one of these Faires is vpon the Munday; which is called S. Hypolitos
faire, and S. Iames his faire is vpon the Thursday, and vpon Saturday is
S. Iohns faire. In this city is alwayes the kings gouernour or viceroy,
and there are kept the Termes or Parliaments. And although there be
other places of iustice, yet this is aboue all: so that all men may
appeale vnto this place, and may not appeale from this city, but onely
into Spaine before the king: and it must be for a certeine sum: and if
it be vnder that summe, then there is no appellation from them. Many
riuers fall into this lake which the city standeth in: but there was
neuer any place found wither it goeth out.
The Indians know a way to drowne the city, and within these three yeeres
they would haue practised the same: but they which should haue bene the
doers of it were hanged: and euer since the city hath bene well watched
both day and night, for feare lest at some time they might be deceiued:
for the Indians loue not the Spanyards. Round about the towne there are
very many gardens and orchards of the fruits of the countrey, maruellous
faire, where the people haue great recreation. The men of this city are
maruellous vicious; and in like maner the women are dishonest of their
bodies, more then they are in other cities or townes in this countrey.
There are neere about this city of Mexico many riuers and standing
waters, which haue in them a monstrous kinde of fish, which is
maruellous rauening, and a great deuourer of men and cattell. He is
woont to sleepe vpon the drie land many times, and if there come in the
meane time any man or beast and wake or disquiet him, he speedeth well
if he get from him. He is like vnto a serpent, sauing that he doth not
flie, neither hath he wings.
There is West out of Mexico a port towne which is on the South sea,
called Puerto de Acapulco, where as there are shippes which they haue
ordinarily for the nauigation of China, which they haue newly found.
This port is threescore leagues from Mexico.
There, is another port towne which is called Culiacan, on the South sea,
which lieth West and by North out of Mexico, and is 200 leagues from the
same: and there the Spanyards made two ships to goe seeke the streight
or gulfe, which, as they say, is betweene the Newfoundland and
Groenland; and they call it the Englishmens streight: which as yet was
neuer fully found. They say, that streight lieth not farre from the
maine land of China, which the Spanyards account to be maruellous rich.
Toward the North from Mexico there are great store of siluer mines.
There, is greater quantitie of siluer found in these mines toward the
North, then there is any other parts: and as the most men of experience
sayde alwayes, they finde the richer mines the more Northerly. These
mines are commonly vpon great hilles and stony ground, maruellous hard
to be laboured and wrought.
Out of some of the mines the Indians finde a certeine kinde of earth of
diuers colours, wherewith they paint themselues in times of their
dances, and other pastimes which they vse.
In this countrey of Noua Hispania there are also mines of golde,
although the golde be commonly found in riuers, or very neere vnto
riuers. And nowe in these dayes there is not so much golde found as
there hath bene heretofore.
There are many great riuers, and great store of fish in them, not like
vnto our kindes of fish. And there are maruellous great woods, and as
faire trees as may be seene, of diuers sorts, and especially firre
trees, that may mast any shippe that goeth vpon the sea, oakes and
pineapples, and another tree which they call Mesquiquez: it beareth a
fruit like vnto a peascod, maruellous sweet, which the wilde people
gather, and keepe it all the yere, and eat it in stead of bread.
The Spanyards haue notice of seuen cities which old men of the Indians
shew them should lie towards the Northwest from Mexico. They haue vsed
and vse dayly much diligence in seeking of them, but they cannot find
any one of them. They say that the witchcraft of the Indians is such,
that when they come by these townes they cast a mist vpon them, so that
they cannot see them.
[Sidenote: Pedro Morales and Nicolas Burgignon write the like of
Copalla.] They haue understanding of another city which they call
Copalla: and in like maner, at my beeing in the countrey, they haue vsed
much labour and diligence in the seeking of it: they haue found the lake
on which it should stand, and a canoa, the head whereof was wrought with
copper curiously, and could not finde nor see any man nor the towne,
which to their vnderstanding should stand on the same water, or very
neere the same.
[Sidenote: The strange oxen of Cibola.] There is a great number of
beasts or kine in the countrey of Cibola, which were neuer brought
thither by the Spanyards, but breed naturally in the countrey. They are
like vnto our oxen, sauing that they haue long haire like a lion, and
short hornes, and they haue upon their shoulders a bunch like a camell,
which is higher then the rest of their body. They are maruellous wild
and swift in running. They call them the beasts or kine of Cibola.
[Sidenote: Cibola abandoned.] This Cibola is a city which the Spanyards
found now of late, without any people in the same, goodly buildings,
faire chimneys, windowes made of stone and timber excellently wrought,
faire welles with wheeles to draw their water, and a place where they
had buried their dead people, with many faire stones vpon the graues.
And the captaine would not suffer his souldiers to brake vp any parte of
these graues, saying, he would come another time to do it.
[Sidenote: A great riuer near Cibola.] They asked certeine people which
they met, whither the people of this city were gone: and they made
answer, they were gone downe a riuer, which was there by, very great,
and there builded a city which was more for their commodity.
This captaine lacking things necessary for himselfe and his men, was
faine to return backe againe, without finding any treasure according to
his expectation: neither found they but fewe people, although they found
beaten wayes, which had beene much haunted and frequented. The captaine
at his comming backe againe, had a great checke of the gouernour,
because he had not gone forwards, and seene the end of that riuer.
They haue in the countrey, farre from the sea side, standing waters,
which are salt: and in the moneths of April and May the water of them
congealeth into salt, which salt is all taken for the kings vs and
profit.
[Sidenote: Dogs of India described.] Their dogs are all crooked backt,
as many are of the countrey breed, and cannot run fast: their faces are
like the face of a pig or an hog, with sharpe noses.
In certeine prouinces which are called Guatimala, and Soconusco, there
is growing great store of cacao, which is a berry like vnto an almond:
it is the best merchandize that is in all the Indies. The Indians make
drinke of it, and in like maner meat to eat. It goeth currently for
money in any market or faire, and may buy an flesh, fish, bread or
cheese, or other things.
There are many kinde of fruits of the countrey, which are very good, as
plantans, sapotes, guianes, pinas, aluacatas, tunas, mamios, limons,
grapes which the Spanyards brought into the countrey, and also wild
grapes, which are of the country, and very small, quinses, peaches,
figs, and but few apples, and very small, and no peares: but there are
melons and calabaçs or gourds.
There is much hony, both of bees and also of a kind of tree which they
call magueiz. This hony of magueiz is not so sweet as the other hony,
but it is better to be eaten only with bread, then the other is; and the
tree serueth for many things, as the leaves make threed to sowe any kind
of bags, and are good to couer and thatch houses, and for diuers other
things.
They haue in diuers places of the countrey many hote springs of water:
as aboue all other, I haue seen one in the prouince of Mechuacan. In a
plaine field without any mountaine, there is a spring which hath much
water, and it is so hot, that if a whole quarter of beefe be cast into
it, within an halfe houre it will be as well sodden as it will be ouer a
fire in halfe a day. I haue seene halfe a sheepe cast in it, and
immediately it hath bene sodden, and I haue eaten part of it.
There are many hares, and some conies. There are no partridges, but
abundance of quailes.
They haue great store of fish in the South sea, and many oisters, and
very great. The people do open the oisters, and take out the meat of
them, and dry it as they do any other kinde of fish, and keepe them all
the yeere: and when the times serue, they send them abroad into the
country to sell, as all other fish. They haue no salmon, nor trowt, nor
pele, nor crape, tench, nor pike in all the countrey.
There are in the countrey mighty high mountaines, and hilles, and snow
upon them: they commonly burne; and twise every day they cast out much
smoke and ashes at certeine open places, which are in the tops of them.
There is among the wilde people much manna. I haue gathered of the same,
and haue eaten it, and it is good: for the Apothecaries send their
seruants at certeine times, to gather of the same for purgations and
other vses.
There are in the mountaines many wilde hogs, which all men kill, and
lions and tygres; which tygres do much harm to men that trauell in the
wildernesse.
[Sidenote: Mines discouered, not found againe.] In this countrey, not
long since, there were two poore men that found a maruellous rich mine;
and when these men went to make a register of the same (according to the
law and custom) before the kings officers, they thought this mine not
meet for such men as they were: and violently took the sayd mine for the
king; and gaue no part thereof vnto the two poore men. And within
certaine dayes the kings officers resorted thither to labor in the
mine, and they found two great mighty hilles were come together; so they
found no place to worke in. [Sidenote: The authour fiue yeeres in Nueua
Espanna.] And in the time while I was among them, which was fiue yeeres,
there was a poore shepheard, who keeping his sheepe, happened to finde a
well of quicke-siluer; and he went in like maner to manifest the same,
as the custome and maner is; the kings officers dealt in like order as
they did with the two poore men that found the rich mine, taking it
quite from the shepheard: but when they went to fetch home the
quicke-siluer, or part thereof, they could neuer finde it againe. So
these things haue bene declared vnto the king, who hath giuen
commandement, that nothing being found in the fields, as mines, and such
like, shall be taken away from any man. And many other things haue bene
done in this countrey, which men might count for great maruels.
There is a great abundance of sugar here, and they make diuers
conserues, and very good, and send them to Peru, where as they sell them
maruellous well, because they make none in those parts.
[Sidenote: Description of the Indians person and maner.] The people of
the countrey are of good stature, tawny coloured, broad faced, flat
nosed, and giuen much to drinke both wine of Spaine and also a certeine
kind of wine which they make with hony of Maguiez, and roots, and other
things which they vse to put into the same. They call the same wine
Pulco. They are soone drunke, and giuen to much beastlinesse, and void
of all goodnesse. In their drunkennesse, they vse and commit Sodomy; and
with their mothers and daughters they haue their pleasures and pastimes.
Whereupon they are defended from the drinking of wines, vpon paines of
money, aswell he that selleth the wines as the Indian that drinketh the
same. And if this commandement were not, all the wine in Spaine and in
France were not sufficient for the West Indies onely.
[Sidenote: The people of Nueua Espanna great cowards.] They are of much
simplicity, and great cowards, voide of all valour, and are great
witches. They vse diuers times to take with the diuell, to whom they do
certaine sacrifices and oblations: many times they haue bene taken with
the same, and I haue seene them most cruelly punished for that offence.
The people are giuen to learn all maner of occupations and sciences,
which for the most part they learned since the coming of the Spanyards:
I say all maner of arts. They are very artificiall in making of images
with feathers, or the proportion or figure of any man, in all kind of
maner as he is. The finenesse and excellency of this is woonderfull,
that a barbarous people as they are, should giue themselues to so fine
an arte as this is. They are goldsmiths, blackesmiths, and coppersmiths,
carpenters, masons, shoomakers, tailors, sadlers, imbroderers, and of
all other kind of sciences: and they will do worke so good cheape, that
poore young men that goe out of Spaine to get their liuing, are not set
on worke: which is the occasion there are many idle people in the
countrey. For the Indian will liue all the weeke with lesse then one
groat: which the Spanyard cannot do, nor any man els.
[Sidenote: The Indians ignorance from whence they came.] They say, that
they came of the linage of an olde man which came thither in a boat of
wood, which they call a canoa. But they cannot tell whether it were
before the flood or after, neither can they giue any reason of the
flood, nor from whence they came. And when the Spanyards came first
among them, they did certeine sacrifice to an image made in stone, of
their owne inuention. The stone was set vpon a great hill, which they
made of bricks of earth: they call it their Cowa. And certeine dayes in
the yere they did sacrifice, certeine olde men, and yoong children: and
onely beleeued in the Sunne and the Moone, saying, that from them they
had all things that were needful for them. They haue in these parts
great store of cotton wool, with which they make a maner of linen cloth,
which the Indians weare, both men and women, and it serueth for shirts
and smocks, and all other kind of garments, which they weare vpon their
bodies: and the Spanyards vse it to all such purposes, especially such
as cannot buy other. And if it were not for this kind of cloth, all
maner of cloth that goeth out of Spaine, I say linnen cloth, would be
solde out of all measure.
[Sidenote: The wilde Indians.] The wilde people go naked, without any
thing vpon them. The women weare the skinne of a deere before their
priuities, and nothing els vpon all their bodies. They haue no care for
any thing, but onely from day to day for that which they haue need to
eat. They are big men, and likewise the women. They shoot in bowes which
they make of a cherry tree, and their arrowes are of cane, with a
sharpe flint stone in the end of the same; they will pierce any coat of
maile: and they kill deere, and cranes, and wilde geese, ducks, and
other fowle, and wormes, and snakes, and diuers other vermin, which they
eat. They liue very long: for I haue seene men that haue beene an
hundred yeres of age. They haue but very litle haire in their face, nor
on their bodies.
The Indians haue the friers in great reuerence: the occasion is, that by
them and by there meanes they are free and out of bondage; which was so
ordeined by Charles the emperor: which is the occasion that now there is
not so much gold and siluer comming into Europe as there was while the
Indians were slaues. For when they were in bondage they could not chuse
but doe their taske euery day, and bring their master so much metall
out of their mines: but now they must be well payed, and much intreated
to haue them worke. So it hath bene, and is a great hinderance to the
owners of the mines, and to the kings quinto or custome.
There are many mines of copper in great quantity, whereof they spend in
the countrey as much as serueth their turnes. There is some golde in it,
but not so much as will pay the costs of the fining. The quantity of it
is such, and the mines are so farre from the sea, that it will not be
worth the fraight to cary it into Spaine. On the other side, the kings
officers will giue no licence to make ordinance thereof; whereupon the
mines lie vnlaboured, and of no valuation.
There is much lead in the countrey; so that with it they couer churches,
and other religious houses: wherefore they shall not need any of our
lead, as they haue had need thereof in times past.
The pompe and liberalitie of the owners of the mines is maruellous to
beholde: the apparell both of them and of their wiues is more to be
compared to the apparell of noble persons then otherwise. If their wiues
go out of their houses, as vnto the church, or any other place, they goe
out with great maiesty, and with as many men and maids as though she
were the wife of some noble man. I will assure you, I haue seene a
miners wife goe to the church with an hundred men, and twenty
gentlewomen and maids. They keepe open house: who will, may come and eat
their meat. They call men with a bell to come to dinner and supper. They
are princes in keeping of their houses, and bountifull in all maner of
things.
[Sidenote: Things necessary to mines of siluer and golde.] A good owner
of mines must haue at the least an hundred slaues to cary and to stampe
his metals; he must haue many mules, and men to keepe the mines; he must
haue milles to stampe his metals; he must haue many waines and oxen to
bring home wood to fine the oare; he must haue much quicke-siluer, and a
maruellous quantity of salt-brine for the metals; and he must be at many
other charges. And as for this charge of quicke-siluer, it is a new
inuention, which they finde more profitable then to fine their oare with
lead. Howbeit the same is very costly: for there is neuer a hundred of
quicke-siluer but costeth at the least threescore pounds sterling. And
the mines fall dayly in decay, and of lesse value: and the occasion is,
the few Indians that men haue to labour their mines.
There is in New Spaine a maruellous increase of cattle, which daily do
increase, and they are of a greater growth then ours are. You may haue a
great steere that hath an hundred weight of tallow in his belly for
sixteene shillings; and some one man hath 2000 head of cattel of his
owne. They sell the hides vnto the merchants, who lade into Spaine as
many as may be well spared. They spend many in the countrey in shoes and
boots, and in the mines: and as the countrey is great, so is the
increase of the cattell woonderfull. In the Island of Santo Domingo they
commonly kill the beasts for their hides and tallow; and the fowles eat
the carkeises: and so they do in Cuba and Porto Rico, whereas there is
much sugar, and cana fistula, which dayly they send into Spaine. They
have great increase of sheep in like maner, and dayly do intend to
increase them. They have much wooll, and as good as the wooll of Spaine.
They make cloth as much as serueth the countrey, for the common people,
and send much cloth into Peru. I haue seene cloth made in the city of
Mexico, which hath beene solde for tenne pezos a vare, which is almost
foure pounds English, and the vare is less then our yard. They haue woad
growing in the countrey, and allum, and brasill, and diuers other things
to die withall, so that they make all colours. In Peru they make no
cloth: but heereafter our cloth will be little set by in these parts,
vnlesse it be some fine cloth. The wools are commonly foure shillings
euery roue, which is fiue and twenty pounds: and in some places of the
countrey that are farre from the places where as they make cloth, it is
woorth nothing, and doth serue but onely to make beds for men to lie
on.
They make hats, as many as do serue the Countrey, very fine and good,
and sell them better cheape, then they can be brought out of Spaine, and
in like maner send them into Peru.
Many people are set on worke both in the one and in the other: they spin
their wooll as we doe, and in steed of oyle, they haue hogs grease: they
twist not their threed so much as wee doe, neither worke so fine a
threed. They make kersies, but they make much cloth, which is course,
and sell it for lesse than 12. pence the vare. It is called Sayall.
They haue much silke, and make all maner of sorts thereof, as Taffataes,
Sattins, Veluets of all colours, and they are as good as the silkes of
Spaine, sauing that the colours are not so perfect: but the blackes are
better then the blackes that come out of Spaine.
They haue many horses, and mares, and mules, which the Spaniards brought
thither. They haue as good Iennets, as any are in Spaine, and better
cheape then they bee in Spaine. And with their mules they cary all their
goods from place to place.
There is raine vsually in this Countrey, from the moneth of May, to the
midst of October, euery day, which time they call their winter, by
reason of the said waters. And if it were not for the waters which fall
in these hot seasons, their Maiz, which is the greatest part of their
sustenance, would be destroyed. This Maiz is the greatest maintenance
which the Indian hath, and also all the common people of the Spaniards.
And their horses and mules which labour, cannot be without the same.
This graine is substantiall, and increaseth much blood. If the Miners
should bee without it, they coulde not labour their mines: for all their
seruants eate none other bread, but onely of this Maize, and it is made
in cakes, as they make oaten cakes, in some places of England.
[Sidenote: An Hanega is a bushel and an halfe.] The Indians pay tribute,
being of the age of 20. yeeres, 4. shillings of money, and an hanege of
Maiz, which is worth 4. shillings more vnto the king euery yeere. This
is payd in all Noua Hispania, of as many as be of the age of 20. yeeres,
sauing the citie of Tlascalla, which was made free because the citizens
thereof were the occasion that Cortes tooke Mexico in so little a
time.[2] And although at the first they were freed from painment of
tribute, yet the Spaniards now begin to vsurpe vpon them, and make them
to till a great field of Maiz, at their owne costes euery yeere for the
King, which is as beneficial vnto him, and as great cost vnto them, as
though they paid their tribute, as the others doe.
[2] The Republic of Tlascala had at first opposed the Spaniards on their
advance to Mexico, but being defeated, became their allies and remained
true to them throughout the troublous period of the evacuation and siege
of the Capital.
The ships which goe out of Spaine with goods for Peru, goe to Nombre de
Dios, and there discharge the said goods: and from thence they be
carried ouer the necke of a land, vnto a port towne in the South sea,
called Panama, which is 17. leagues distant from Nombre de Dios. And
there they doe ship their goods againe and so from thence goe to Peru.
They are in going thither three moneths, and they come backe againe in
20. dayes. They haue seldome foule weather, and fewe ships are lost in
the South sea. [Sidenote: Salomons Islands, sought and found in the
South Sea 1588.] Foure yeeres past, to wit 1568, there was a ship made
out of Peru, to seeke Salomons Islands, and they came somewhat to the
South of the Equinoctial, and found an Island with many blacke people,
in such number that the Spaniards durst not go on land among them. And
because they had bene long vpon the voyage, their people were very
weake, and so went not on land, to know what commoditie was vpon it. And
for want of victuals, they arriued in Noua Hispania, in a port called
Puerto de Nauidad, and thence returned backe againe vnto Peru, whereas
they were euil entreated, because they had not knowen more of the same
Island.
[Sidenote: China found by the West.] They haue in this port of Nauidad
ordinarily their ships, which goe to the Islands of China,[3] which are
certaine Islands which they haue found within these 7. yeres. They haue
brought from thence gold, and much Cinamon, and dishes of earth, and
cups of the same, so fine, that euery man that may haue a piece of them,
will giue the weight of siluer for it. There was a Mariner that brought
a pearle as big as a doues egge from thence, and a stone, for which the
Viceroy would haue giuen 3000 duckets. Many things they bring from
thence, most excellent. There are many of these ylands, and the
Spaniards haue not many of them as yet: [Sidenote: This is to be
understood of the time when this discourse was written, Anno 1572.] for
the Portugals disturbe them much, and combate with them euery day,
saying, it is part of their conquest, and to the maine land they cannot
come at any hand. There are goodly people in them, and they are great
Mariners, richly apparelled in cloth of gold, and siluer, and silke of
all sorts, and goe apparelled after the maner of the Turkes. This report
make such as come from thence. [Sidenote: China ships with one saile.]
The men of the maine land haue certeine traffique with some of these
ylanders, and come thither in a kind of ships, which they haue with one
saile, and bring of such marchandize as they haue need of. And of these
things there haue bene brought into New Spaine both cloth of gold and
siluer, marueilous to be seene. So by their saying, there is not such a
countrey in the whole world. The maine land is from the ylands 190.
leagues: and the ylands are not farre from the Malucos Northwards. And
the people of these ylands, which the Spaniards haue, say, that if they
would bring their wiues and children, that then they should haue among
them what they would haue. So there goe women dayly, and the king payeth
all the charges of the maried men and their wiues, that go to these
ylands. And there is no doubt but the trade will be marueilous rich in
time to come. It was my fortune to be in company with one Diego
Gutieres, who was the first Pilot that euer went to that countrey of the
Phillippinas. Hee maketh report of many strange things in that Countrey,
as well riches as other, and saith, if there bee any Paradise vpon
earth, it is in that countrey: and addeth, that sitting vnder a tree,
you shall haue such sweet smels, with such great content and pleasure,
that you shall remember nothing, neither wife, nor children, nor haue
any kinde of appetite to eate or drinke, the odoriferous smels wil be so
sweete. This man hath good liuings in Noua Hispania, notwithstanding hee
will returne thither, with his wife and children, and as for treasure
there is abundance, as he maketh mention. In this countrey of Noua
Hispania there are many buckes and does, but they haue not so long
hornes as they haue here in England. The Spaniards kill them with hand
guns, and with greyhounds, and the Indians kill them with their bowes
and arrowes, and with the skins they make chamoyce, such as we in
England make doublets and hose of, as good as the skins that are dressed
in Flanders and likewise they make marueilous good Spanish leather of
them. [Sidenote: Indian Rauens not killed, to deuoure carrion.] There is
a bird which is like vnto a Rauen, but he hath some of his feathers
white: there is such abundance of them, that they eate all the corrupt
and dead flesh which is in the countrey. Otherwise the abundance of
carren is so much, that it would make a marueilous corrupt aire in all
the countrey, and be so noisome, that no man could abide it. Therefore
it is commanded there shall none of them be killed. These birds are
alwayes about cities and townes, where there is much flesh killed.
[3] The Philippines.
[Sidenote: Wrong done to the Indians punished.] The Indians are much
favoured by the Iustices of the Countrey, and they call them their
orphanes. And if any Spaniard should happen to doe any of them harme, or
to wrong him in taking any thing from him, as many times they doe, or to
strike any of them, being in any towne, whereas iustice is, they are as
well punished for the same, as if they had done it one Spaniard to
another. When a Spaniard is farre from Mexico, or any place of iustice,
thinking to doe with the poore Indian what he list, considering he is so
farre from any place of remedy, he maketh the Indian do what he
commandeth him, and if he will not doe it, hee beateth and misuseth him,
according to his owne appetite. The Indian holdeth his peace, vntill he
finde an opportunitie, and then taketh a neighbor with him, and goeth to
Mexico, although it be 20. leagues off and maketh his complaint. This
his complaint is immediately heard, and although it be a knight, or a
right good gentleman, he is forthwith sent for, and punished, both by
his goods, and also his person is imprisoned, at the pleasure of the
Iustice. [Sidenote: Iustice the cause of ciuilitie.] This is the
occasion that the Indians are so tame and ciuil, as they are: and if
they should not haue this fauour, the Spaniards would soone dispatch all
the Indians, or the Indians would kill them. But they may call them dogs
and vse other euil words, as much they will, and the Indian must needes
put it vp, and goe his way.
The poore Indians wil go euery day two or three leagues to a faire or
market with a childe vpon their necks, with as much fruit or rootes, or
some kind of ware, as cotton wooll, or cadis of all colours, as shall be
not worth a pennie: and they will mainteine themselues vpon the same.
For they liue with a marueillous small matter.
They are in such pouertie, that if you neede to ride into the Countrey,
you shall haue an Indian to goe with you all the day with your bed upon
his backe, for one royall of plate: and this you shall haue from one
towne to another. Here you are to vnderstand, that all men that traueile
by the way, are alwayes wont to carry their beds with them. They are
great theeues, and wil steale all that they may, and you shall haue no
recompence at their hands.
[Sidenote: The apparel of the Indians.] The garments of the women, are
in this maner. The vppermost part is made almost like to a womans
smocke, sauing that it is as broade aboue as beneath, and hath no
sleeues, but holes on eche side one to put out their armes. It is made
of linnen cloth made of cotton wooll, and filled full of flowers, of red
cadis and blew, and other colours. This garment commeth downe to the
knees, and then they haue cloth made after the same maner, and then they
goeth rounde about their waste, and reacheth to their shooes and ouer
this a white fine sheet vpon their heads, which goeth downe halfe the
legge. Their haire is made vp round with an haire lace about their head.
And the men haue a small paire of breaches of the same cotton wooll, and
their shirts which hang ouer their breeches, and a broad girdle about
their middles, and a sheete with flowers vpon their backes, and with a
knot vpon one shoulder and an hat vpon their heads, and a paire of
shoes. And this is all their apparell, although it be a Casique, which
they vse in all the Countrey.
The wals of the houses of the Indians, are but plaine, but the stones
are layd so close, that you shall not well perceiue the ioynts betweene
one stone and another, they are so finely cut: and by the meanes that
the stones are so workmanly done, and finely ioyned together, there is
some beautie in their wals. They are marueilous small and light, as
Pumic stones. They make their doores very little, so that there can go
in but one man at a time. Their windowes and roomes within their houses
are small, and one roome they haue reserued for their friends, when they
come to talke one with another, and that is alwayes faire matted, and
kept marueilous cleane, and hanged full of images, and their chaires
standing there to sit in. They eate their meate vpon the ground, and
sleepe on the ground vpon a mat, without any bed, both the gentlemen,
and other.
The Indians strike their fire with one sticke in another, aswell the
tame people, as the wilde. For they know not how to do it with an yron,
and a stone.
[Sidenote: Diuers speeches.] In Noua Hispania, euery 10. or 12. leagues
they haue a contrary speach, sauing onely about Mexico: so there is a
number of speeches in the Countrey.
[Sidenote: Mutezuma, and his riches.] Mutezuma which was the last King
of this Countrey, was one of the richest princes which haue bene seene
in our time, or long before. He had all kinde of beasts which were then
in the countrey, and all maner of birdes, and fishes, and all maner of
wormes, which creepe vpon the earth, and all trees, and flowers, and
herbes, all fashioned in siluer and golde, which was the greatest part
of al his treasure, and in these things had he great ioy, as the old
Indians report. And vnto this day, they say that the treasure of
Mutezuma is hidden, and that the Spaniards haue it not. This King would
giue none of his people freedome, nor forgiue any of them that should
pay him tribute, though he were neuer so poore. For if it had bene told
him that one of his tributaries was poore, and that he was not able to
pay his tribute according to the custome, then he would haue him bound
to bring at such times as tributes should be payd, a quill full of Lice,
saying, hee would haue none free, but himselfe. He had as many wiues or
concubines, as hee would haue, and such as liked him. [Sidenote: The
Indians wash themselues euery day.] Alwayes whensoeuer he went out of his
Court to passe the time, he was borne vpon 4 of his noble mens shoulders
set vpon a table, some say, of golde, and very richly dressed with
feathers of diuers and many colours and flowers. He washed all his body
euery day, were it neuer so cold. And vnto this day so do all the Indians,
and especially the women.
The Spaniards keepe the Indians in great subjection. They may haue in
their houses no sword nor dagger, nor knife with any point, nor may
weare vpon them any maner of armes, neither may they ride vpon any horse
nor mules, in any sadle nor bridle, neither may they drinke wine, which
they take for the greatest paine of all. They haue attempted diuers
times to make insurrections, but they haue bene ouerthrowen immediatly
by their owne great and beastly cowardlinesse.[4]
[4] This cannot be said of the aboriginal Mexicans, as nothing could
have surpassed the determination and courage they showed during the
great siege of Mexico.
[Sidenote: Cannybals.] There remaine some among the wild people, that
vnto this day eate one another. I haue seene the bones of a Spaniard
that haue been as cleane burnished, as though it had been done by men
that had no other occupation. And many times people are caried away by
them, but they neuer come againe, whether they be men or women.
They haue in the Sea ylands of red salt in great abundance, whereas they
lade it from place to place about the Sea coast: and they spend very
much salt with salting their hides and fish: and in their mines they
occupie great quantitie. They haue much Alume, and as good as any that
is in all the Leuant, so that they neede none of that commoditie. They
have also of their owne growing, much Cana fistula, and much Salsa
Perilla, which is marueilous good for many kind of diseases.
There are in Florida many Iarrefalcons, and many other kinde of hawkes,
which the gentlemen of Noua Hispania send for euery yeere. The Spaniards
haue two forts there, chiefly to keepe out the Frenchmen from planting
there.
A discourse written by one Miles Philips Englishman, one of the
company put on shoare Northward of Panuco, in the West Indies, by
M. Iohn Hawkins 1568. conteining many special things of that
countrey and of the Spanish gouernment, but specially of their
cruelties vsed to our Englishmen and amongst the rest to himselfe
for the space of 15. or 16 yeres together, vntil by good and
happy means he was deliuered from their bloody hands, and
returned into his owne Countrey. An. 1582.[5]
[5] This account differs in some slight particulars from that given by
Sir John Hawkins himself, which will be found in Volume XV. of this
edition.
Chap. 1.
Wherein is shewed the day and time of our departure from the coast
of England, with the number and names of the ships, their Captaines
and Masters, and of our trafique and dealing vpon the coast of
Africa.
[Sidenote: This fleet consisted of 6 ships.] Vpon Munday the second of
October 1567. the weather being reasonable faire, our Generall M. Iohn
Hawkins, hauing commanded all his Captaines and Masters to be in a
readinesse to make sail with him, hee himselfe being imbarked in the
Iesus, whereof was appointed for Master Robert Barret, hoised saile, and
departed from Plymouth vpon his intended voyage for the parts of Africa,
and America, being accompanied with fiue other saile of ships, as
namely the Mynion, wherein went for Captaine M. Iohn Hampton, and Iohn
Garret Master. The William and Iohn, wherein was Captaine Thomas Bolton,
and Iames Raunce Master. The Iudith, in whom was Captaine M. Francis
Drake afterward knight, and the Angel, whose Master, as also the
Captaine and Master of the Swallow I now remember not. And so sayling in
company together vpon our voyage vntil the tenth of the same moneth, an
extreeme storme then tooke vs neere vnto Cape Finister, which dured for
the space of foure dayes, and so separated our ships, that wee had lost
one another, and our Generall finding the Iesus to bee but in ill case,
was in minde to giue over the voyage, and to returne home. Howbeit the
eleuenth of the same moneth the Seas waxing calme, and the winde comming
faire, he altered his purpose, and held on the former intended voyage:
And so comming to the yland of Gomera being one of the ylands of the
Canaries, where according to an order before appointed, we met with all
our ships which were before dispersed, wee then took in fresh water and
departed from thence the fourth of Nouember, and holding on our course,
vpon the eightenth day of the same moneth wee came to an ancker vpon the
coast of Africa, at Cape Verde in twelue fadome water; and here our
Generall landed certaine of our men, to the number of 160. or
thereabout, seeking to take some Negros. And they going vp into the
Countrey for the space of sixe miles, were encountred with a great
number of the Negros: who with their enuenomed arrowes did hurt a great
number of our men, so that they were inforced to retire to the ships, in
which conflict they recouered but a few Negros, and of these our men
which were hurt with their enuenomed arrowes, there died to the number
of seuen or eight in very strange maner, with their mouths shut, so that
wee were forced to put stickes and other things into their mouths to
keepe them open,[6] and so afterward passing the time vpon the coast of
Guinea, until the twelfth of Ianuary, we obteined by that time the
number of 150. Negros. And being ready to depart from the Sea coast,
there was a Negro sent as an Ambassadour to our Generall, from a King of
the Negros, which was oppressed with other Kings his bordering
neighbours, desiring our Generall to grant him succour and ayde against
those his enemies, which our Generall granted vnto, and went himselfe
in person a lande, with the number of two hundreth of our men or
thereabouts, and the said King which had requested our ayde, did ioyne
his force with ours, so that thereby our Generall assaulted, and set
fire vpon a Towne of the said King his enemies, in which there was at
the least the number of eight or ten thousand Negros, and they
perceiuing that they were not able to make any resistance sought by
flight to saue themselues, in which their flight there were taken
prisoners to the number of eight or nine hundreth, which our Generall
ought to haue had for his share: howbeit the Negro King which requested
our ayde, falsifying his word and promise, secretly in the night
conueyed himselfe away with as many prisoners as he had in his custodie:
but our Generall notwithstanding finding himselfe to haue nowe very
neere the number of 500. Negros thought it best without longer abode to
depart with them, and such marchandize as hee had from the coast of
Africa, towards the West Indies,[7] and therefore commanded with all
diligence to take in fresh water and fewel, and so with speed to prepare
to depart. [Sidenote: The William and Iohn separated and neuer after met
with the fleete.] Howbeit before we departed from thence, in a storme
that wee had, wee lost one of our ships, namely the William and Iohn, of
which ship and of her people, we heard no tidings during the time of our
voyage.
[6] They died of tetanus.
[7] All three voyages made by Hawkins to the West, in 1562, 1564 and
1567 were for the purpose of trading in slaves.
Chap. 2.
Wherein is shewed the day and time of our departure from the coast
of Africa, with the day and time of our arriuall in the West
Indies, also of our trade, and trafique their, and also of the
great crueltie that the Spaniards vsed towards vs, by the Vice-roy
his direction, and appointment, falsifying his faith and promise
giuen, and seeking to haue intrapped vs.
All things being made in a readinesse, at our Generall his appointment,
vpon the thirde day of Februarie 1568, wee departed from the coast of
Africa, hauing the weather somewhat tempestuous, which made our passage
the more hard; and sayling so for the space of 52. dayes, vpon the 27 of
March 1568. we came in sight of an yland called Dominica, vpon the
coast of America in the West Indies, situated in 14. degrees
latitude,[8] and 322. of longitude: from thence our Generall coasted from
place to place, euer making trafique with the Spaniards and Indians as
hee might, which was somewhat hardly obtained, for that the King had
straightly charged all his gouernours in those parts not to trade with
any: yet notwithstanding, during the moneths of April and May, our
Generall had reasonable trade and trafique, and courteous entertainement
in sundry places, as at Margarita, Coraçao, and else where, til we came,
to Cape de la vela,[9] and Rio de Hacha,[10] (a place from whence all
the pearles doe come:) the gouernour there would not by any meanes
permit vs to haue any trade or trafique, nor yet suffer vs to take in
fresh water: by meanes whereof our Generall for the auoyding of famine
and thirst about the beginning of Iune, was enforced to land two
hundreth of our men, and so by maine force and strength to obtaine that
which by no faire meanes hee could procure: And so recouering the Towne
with the losse of two of our men, there was a secret and peaceable trade
admitted, and the Spaniards came in by night, and bought of our Negroes
to the number of 200. and vpwards, and of our other merchandize also.
From thence we departed for Carthagena, where the Gouernour was so
straight, that wee could not obteine any trafique there, and so for that
our trade was neere finished, our Generall thought it best to depart
from thence the rather for the auoyding of certaine dangerous stormes
called the Huricanos, which accustomed to begin there about that time of
the yere, and so the 24. of Iuly 1568. we departed from thence directing
our course North: and leauing the yland of Cuba vpon our right hand, to
the Eastward of vs, and so sayling toward Florida, vpon the 12. of
August an extreeme tempest arose, which dured for the space of 8. dayes,
in which our ships were most dangerously tossed and beaten hither, and
thither, so that we were in continuall feare to be drowned by reason of
the shallownes of the coast, and in the end we were constrained to flee
for succour to the port of S. Iohn de Vllua, or Vera Cruz, situated in
19. degrees of latitude, and in 279. degrees of longitude, which is the
port that serueth for the Citie of Mexico: in our seeking to recouer
this port our Generall met by the way three small ships that caried
passengers, which hee tooke with him, and so the sixtenth of September
1568. wee entered the saide port of S. Iohn de Vllua. The Spaniards
there supposing vs to haue bene the King of Spaines Fleete, the chiefe
officers of the Countrey thereabouts came presently aboord our Generall,
where perceiuing themselues to haue made an vnwise aduenture, they were
in great feare to haue bene taken and stayed: howbeit our Generall did
vse them all very courteously. [Sidenote: Mexico 60. leagues from S.
Iuan de Vllua.] In the said port there were twelue ships which by report
had in them in treasure to the value of two hundreth thousand pound, all
which being in our Generall his power and at his deuotion, he did freely
set at libertie, as also the passengers which he had before stayed, nor
taking from any of them all the value of one groat: onely hee stayed two
men of credite and accompt, the one named Don Laurenzo de Alua, and the
other Don Pedro de Riuera, and presently our Generall sent to the
Viceroy to Mexico which was threescore leagues off, certifying him of
our arriuall there by force of weather, desiring that forasmuch as our
Queene his Soueraigne, was the king of Spaine his louing sister and
friend, that therefore hee would, considering our necessities and wants,
furnish vs with victuals for our Nauie, and quietly suffer vs to repaire
and amend our ships. And furthermore that at the arriual of the Spanish
Fleet which was there dayly expected and looked for, to the ende that
there might no quarell arise betweene them, and our Generall and his
company for the breach of amitie, he humbly requested of his
excellencie, that there might in this behalfe some special order be
taken. This message was sent away the 16. of September 1568. it being
the very day of our arriual there.
[8] Should be 18 degrees.
[9] In Venezuela.
[10] In Colombia.
The next morning being the seuententh of the same moneth, wee descried
13. saile of great shippes: and after that our Generall vnderstood, that
it was the king of Spaines Fleete then looked for, he presently sent to
aduertise the Generall hereof, of our being in the sayd port, and giuing
him further to vnderstand, that before he should enter there into that
harbour, it was requisite that there should passe betweene the two
Generals some orders and conditions to bee obserued on either part, for
the better contriuing of peace betweene them and theirs, according to
our Generals request made vnto the Viceroy. And at this instant our
Generall was in a great perplexitie of minde, considering with himselfe
that if hee shoulde keepe out that Fleete from entring into the port, a
thing which hee was very well able to doe with the helpe of God, then
should that Fleete be in danger of present shipwracke and losse of all
their substance, which amounted vnto the value of one million and eight
hundreth thousand pounds. [Sidenote: It is put downe 6. millions in Sir
Iohn Hawkins his relation.] Againe he saw that if he suffered them to
enter, hee was assured that they would practise by all maner of meanes
to betray him and his, and on the other side the hauen was so little,
that the other Fleete entring, the shippes were to ride one hard aboord
of another. Also hee saw that if their Fleete should perish by his
keeping of them out, as of necessitie they must if he should haue done
so, then stood hee in great feare of the Queene our Soueraignes
displeasure in so waightie a cause: therefore did he choose the least
euill, which was to suffer them to enter vnder assurance, and so to
stand vpon his guard, and to defend himselfe and his from their treasons
which we were well assured they would practise, and so the messenger
being returned from Don Martin de Henriques, the newe Viceroy, who came
in the same Fleete, and had sufficient authoritie to command in all
cases both by Sea and by lande in this prouince of Mexico or new Spaine,
did certifie our Generall, that for the better maintenance of amitie
betweene the king of Spaine and our Soueraigne, all our requests should
bee both fauourably granted, and faithfully perfourmed: signifying
further that he heard and vnderstood of the honest and friendly dealing
of our Generall, toward the king of Spaines subjects in all places where
he had bene, as also in the said port: so that to bee briefe our
requests were articled, and set downe in writing. Viz.
[Sidenote: 4. Articles concluded vpon, betwixt the English and the
Spaniards; although the treacherous Spaniards kept none of them.]
1. The first was that wee might haue victuals for our money, and licence
to sell as much wares, as might suffice to furnish our wants.