3. The thirde that the yland might bee in our possession during the time
of our abode there, In which yland our Generall for the better safetie
of him and his had alreadie planted and placed certaine Ordinance which
were eleuen pieces of brasse, therefore he required that the same might
so continue, and that no Spaniard should come to lande in the saide
yland, hauing or wearing any kinde of weapon.
4. The fourth and the last, that for the better and more sure
performance and maintenance of peace, and of all the conditions, there
might twelue gentlemen of credite bee deliuered of either part as
hostages.
These conditions were concluded and agreed vpon in writing by the
Viceroy and signed with his hand, and sealed with his seale, and 10.
hostages vpon either part were receiued. And further it was concluded
that the two Generals should meet, and giue faith ech to other for the
performance of the premisses. Al which being done, the same was
proclaimed by the sound of a trumpet, and commandement was giuen that
none of either part should violate or breake the peace vpon paine of
death: thus at the ende of three dayes all was concluded, and the Fleete
entred the port, the ships saluting one another as the maner of the Sea
doth require: the morrow after being Friday we laboured on all sides in
placing the English ships by themselues, the Captaines and inferiour
persons of either part, offering, and shewing great courtesie one to
another, and promising great amity vpon all sides. Howbeit as the sequel
shewed, the Spaniards meant nothing lesse vpon their parts. For the
Viceroy and gouernour thereabout had secretly at land assembled to the
number of 1000. chosen men, and wel appointed, meaning the next Thursday
being the 24. of September at dinner time to assault vs, and set vpon vs
on all sides. But before I go any further, I thinke it not amisse
briefly to discribe the matter of the yland as it then was, and the
force and strength, that it is now of. [Sidenote: A faire castle and
bulwarke builded vpon the yland of San Iuan de Vllua.] For the Spaniards
since the time of our Generals being there, for the better fortifying of
the same place, haue vpon the same yland built a faire Castle and
bulwarke very well fortified: this port was then at our being there, a
little yland of stones, not past three feet aboue water in the highest
place, and not past a bow-shotte ouer any way at the most, and it
standeth from the maine land, two bowshootes or more: and there is not
in all this coast any other place for ships safely to arriue at: also
the North windes in this coast are of great violence and force, and
vnlesse the shippes bee safely moored in, with their anckers fastened in
this yland, there is no remedie, but present destruction and shipwracke.
All this our generall wisely foreseeing, did prouide that he would haue
the said yland in his custody, or els the Spaniards might at their
pleasure, haue but cut our cables, and so with the first Northwinde that
blewe, we had our passport, for our ships had gone a shoore. But to
returne to the matter.
[Sidenote: The value of a Spanish viceroy his faith.] The time
approching that their treason must be put in practise, the same Thursday
morning, some appearance thereof began to shewe it selfe, as shifting of
weapons from shippe to shippe, and planting, and bending their Ordinance
against our men that warded vpon the lande, with great repaire of
people: which apparent shewes of breach of the Viceroyes faith caused
our Generall to sende one to the Viceroy, to enquire of him what was
meant thereby, which presently sent and gaue order, that the Ordinance
aforesayde, and other things of suspicion should bee remooued, returning
answer to our Generall in the faith of a Viceroy, that hee would bee our
defence and safetie from all villanous treacherie: this was vpon
Thursday in the morning. Our Generall not being therewith satisfied,
seeing they had secretly conueyed a great number of men aboord a great
hulke or ship of theirs of sixe hundreth tunne, which shippe rode hard
by the Mynion, hee sent againe to the Viceroy Robert Barret the Master
of the Iesus, a man that could speake the Spanish tongue very well, and
required that those men might bee vnshipt againe, which were in that
great hulke. The Viceroy then perceiuing that their treason was
throughly espied, stayed our Master, and sounded the Trumpet, and gaue
order that his people should vpon all sides charge vpon our men, which
warded on shoore, and else where, which strooke such a mase, and sudden
feare among vs, that many gave place, and sought to recouer our shippes
for the safetie of themselues. [Sidenote: The villanous treacherie of
the Spaniards and their crueltie.] The Spaniards which secretly were hid
in ambush at lande were quickly conueyed ouer to the yland in their long
boates, and so comming to the yland, they slewe all our men that they
could meete with, without mercy. The Minion which had somewhat before
prepared her selfe to auoyd the danger, haled away and abode the first
brunt of the 300 men that were in the great hulke: then they sought to
fall aboord the Iesus, where was a cruel fight, and many of our men
slaine: but yet our men defended themselues, and kept them out: so the
Iesus also got loose, and ioyning with the Minion, the fight waxed hote
vpon all sides: but they hauing woon and got our ordinance on shore,
did greatly annoy vs. In this fight there were two great shippes of the
Spaniards sunke, and one burnt, so that with their shippes they were not
able to harme vs, but from the shore they beat vs cruelly with our owne
ordinance, in such sort that the Iesus was very sore spoyled: and
suddenly the Spaniards hauing fired two great ships of their owne, they
came directly against vs, which bred among our men a marueilous feare.
Howbeit the Minion which had made her sayles ready, shifted for her
selfe, without consent of the Generall, Captaine or Master, so that very
hardly our Generall could be receiued into the Minion: the most of our
men that were in the Iesus shifted for themselues, and followed the
Minion in the boat, and those which that small boat was not able to
receiue, were most cruelly slaine by the Spaniards. Of our ships none
escaped sauing the Minion and the Iudith: and all such of our men as
were not in them were inforced to abide the tyrannous cruelty of the
Spaniards. [Sidenote: Copstowe one of M. Hawkins men returned from Nueua
Espanna.] For it is a certaine trueth, that whereas they had taken
certaine of our men ashore, they tooke and hung them vp by the armes
vpon high postes vntill the blood burst out of their fingers ends: of
which men so vsed, there is one Copstow, and certaine others yet aliue
who by the mercifull prouidence of the almighty, were long since arriued
here at home in England, carying still about with them (and shall to
their graues) the marks and tokens of those their inhumane and more then
barbarous cruell dealings.
Chap. 3.
Wherein is shewed, how that after we were escaped from the
Spaniards, wee were like to perish with famine at the Sea, and how
our Generall, for the auoiding thereof was constrained to put
halfe of his men on land, and what miseries wee after that
sustained amongst the Sauage people, and how againe we fell into
the hands of the Spaniards.
After that the Viceroy, Don Martin Henriques had thus contrary to his
faith and promise most cruelly dealt with our Generall master Hawkins,
at S. Iohn de Vllua, where most of his men were by the Spaniards slaine
and drowned, and all his ships sunke and burned, sauing the Minion, and
the Iudith, which was a small barke of fiftie tunne, wherein was then
Captaine master Francis Drake aforesayd: the same night the said barke
lost vs, we being in great necessitie, and inforced to remoue with the
Minion two bow-shoote from the Spanish fleete, where we ankered all that
night: and the next morning wee weyed anker, and recouered an island a
mile from the Spaniards, where a storme tooke vs with a North winde, in
which we were greatly distressed, hauing but two cables and two ankers
left: for in the conflict before we had lost three cables and two
ankers. The morrow after, the storme being ceased and the weather faire,
we weied, and set sayle, being many men in number, and but small store
of victuals to suffice vs for any long time: by meanes whereof we were
in despaire and feare that we should perish through famine, so that some
were in minde to yeelde themselues to the mercy of the Spaniards, other
some to the Sauages or Infidels, and wandring thus certaine daies in
these vnknowen seas, hunger constrained vs to eate hides, cats and dogs,
mice, rats, parrats and munkies: to be short, our hunger was so great,
that wee thought it sauorie and sweete whatsoeuer wee could get to eate.
And on the eight of October wee came to land againe, in the bottome of
the bay of Mexico, where we hoped to haue found some inhabitants, that
wee might haue had some reliefe of victuals, and a place where to
repaire our ship, which was so greatly bruised, that we were scarse able
with our weary armes to keepe foorth the water: being thus oppressed
with famine on the one side and danger of drowning on the other, not
knowing where to find reliefe, wee began to bee in wonderfull despaire,
and wee were of many mindes, amongst whom there were a great many that
did desire our Generall to set them on land, making their choise rather
to submit themselues to the mercie of the Sauages or Infidels, then
longer to hazard themselues at sea, where they very well sawe, that if
they should remaine together, if they perished not by drowning, yet
hunger would inforce them in the ende to eate one another: to which
request our Generall did very willingly agree, considering with himselfe
that it was necessary for him to lessen his number, both for the safetie
of himselfe and the rest: and thereupon being resolued to set halfe his
people ashore that he had then left aliue, it was a world to see how
suddenly mens minds were altered: for they which a little before desired
to be set on land, were now of another minde, and requested rather to
stay: by meanes whereof our Generall was inforced for the more
contentation of all mens minds, and to take away all occasions of
offence, to take this order: First he made choice of such persons of
seruice and account, as were needefull to stay, and that being done, of
those which were willing to goe he appointed such as he thought might be
best spared, and presently appointed that by the boate they should bee
set on shore, our Generall promising vs that the next yeere he would
either come himselfe, or else send to fetch vs home. Here againe it
would haue caused any stony heart to haue relented to heare the pitifull
mone that many did make, and howe loth they were to depart: the weather
was then somewhat stormy and tempestuous, and therefore we were to passe
with great danger, yet notwithstanding there was no remedy, but we that
were appointed to goe away, must of necessitie doe so. [Sidenote: They
were put on land 25 leagues northward of Panuco the 8 of October 1568.]
Howbeit those that went in the first boat were safely set on shore, but
of them which went in the second boate, of which number I my selfe was
one, the seas wrought so high, that we could not attaine to the shore,
and therefore we were constrained through the cruell dealing of Iohn
Hamptone captaine of the Minion, and Iohn Sanders boat-swaine of the
Iesus, and Thomas Pollard his mate, to leape out of the boate into the
maine sea, hauing more then a mile to shore, and so to shift for
ourselues, and either to sinke or swimme. And of those that so were (as
it were) throwen out, and compelled to leape into the sea, there were
two drowned, which were of captaine Blands men.
In the euening Of the same day, it being Munday the eight of October,
1568, when we were all come to shore, we found fresh water, whereof some
of our men drunke so much, that they had almost cast themselues away,
for wee could scarse get life of them for the space of two or three
houres after: other some were so cruelly swollen, what with the drinking
in of the salt water, and what with the eating of the fruit which wee
found on land hauing a stone in it much like an almond (which fruit is
called Capule) that they were all in very ill case, so that we were in a
maner all of vs both feeble, faint and weake.
The next morning being Tewsday, the ninth of October, we thought, it
best to trauell along by the sea coast, to seeke out some place of
habitation: (whether they were Christians or Sauages, we were
indifferent, so that we might haue wherewithall to sustaine our hungry
bodies) and so departing from an hill where we had rested all night, not
hauing any drie threed about vs, (for those that were not wet being not
throwen into the sea, were thorowly wet with raine, for all the night it
rained cruelly:) As we went from the hil, and were come into the plaine,
we were greatly troubled to passe for the grasse and weedes that grewe
there higher then any man. On the left hand we had the sea, and vpon the
right hand great woods, so that of necessitie we must needs passe on our
way Westward, through those marshes; and going thus, suddenly we were
assaulted by the Indians, a warlike kind of people, which are in a maner
as Canibals, although they doe not feede vpon mans flesh as Canibals
doe.
[Sidenote: Chichimici a warlike and cruell people.] These people are
called Chichimici, and they vse to weare their haire long, euen down to
their knees, they doe also colour their faces greene, yellow, red and
blew, which maketh them to seeme very ougly and terrible to beholde.
These people doe keepe warres against the Spaniards, of whom they haue
bene oftentimes very cruelly handled: for with the Spaniards there is no
mercy. [Sidenote: Our men assailed by the Chichemici.] They perceiuing
vs at our first comming on land, supposed vs to haue bene their enemies,
the bordering Spaniards, and hauing by their forerunners descried what
number we were, and how feeble and weake without armour or weapon, they
suddenly according to their accustomed maner, when they encounter with
any people in warlike sorte, raised a terrible and huge crie, and so
came running fiercely vpon vs, shooting off their arrowes as thicke as
haile, vnto whose mercy we were constrained to yeeld, not hauing amongst
vs any kind of armour, nor yet weapon, sauing one caliuer, and two old
rustie swords, whereby to make any resistance, or to saue ourselues:
which when they perceiued that wee sought not any other then fauour and
mercie at their handes, and that we were not their enemies the
Spaniards, they had compassion on vs, and came and caused vs all to sit
down: and when they had a while surueyed, and taken a perfect view of
vs, they came to all such as had any coloured clothes amongst vs, and
those they did strip starke naked, and tooke their clothes away with
them, but those that were apparelled in blacke they did not meddle
withall, and so went there wayes, and left vs without doing vs any
further hurt, onely in the first brunt they killed eight of our men.
[Sidenote: Eight of our men slaine.] And at our departure, they
perceiuing in what weake case we were, pointed vs with their hands which
way we should go to come to a towne of the Spaniards, which as we
afterwards perceiued, was not past ten leagues from thence, vsing these
words: Tampice, Tampice Christiano, Tampice Christiano, which is as much
(we thinke) as to say in English, at Tampice you shall find the
Christians. The weapons that they vse are no other but bowes and
arrowes, and their aime is so good, that they very seldome misse to hit
any thing that they shoote at. Shortly after they had left vs stript (as
aforesayd) we thought it best to diuide our selues into two companies,
and so being separated, halfe of vs went vnder the leading of one
Anthony Godard, who is yet a man aliue, and dwelleth at this instant in
the towne of Plimmouth, whom before we chose to be captaine ouer vs all,
and those which went vnder his leading, of which number I Miles Philips
was one, trauailed Westward that way which the Indians with their hands
had before pointed vs to go. The other halfe went vnder the leading of
one Iohn Hooper, whom they did choose for their captain, and with the
company that went with him, Dauid Ingram was one, and they tooke their
way and trauelled Northward, and shortly after, within the space of two
dayes, they were againe incountered with the sauage people, and their
captaine Hooper and two more of his company were slaine: then againe
they diuided themselues, and some held on their way still Northward, and
other some, knowing that we were gone Westward, sought, to meet with vs
againe, as in truth there was about the number of 25 or 26 of them that
met with vs in the space of foure dayes againe, and then we began to
reckon amongst our selues, how many wee were that were set on shore, and
we found the number to be an hundred and foureteene, whereof two were
drowned in the sea and eight were slaine at the first incounter, so that
there remained an hundred and foure, of which 25 went Westward with vs,
and 52 to the North with Hooper and Ingram: and as Ingram since hath
often told me, there were not past three of their company slaine, and
there were but sixe and twenty, of them that came againe to vs, so that
of the company that went Northward, there is yet lacking, and not
certainely heard of, the number of three and twenty men. And verely I
doe thinke that there are of them yet aliue, and married in the said
countrey, at Cibola, as hereafter I purpose (God willing) to discourse
of more particularly, with the reason and causes that make mee so to
thinke of them that were lacking, which were Dauid Ingram, Twide,
Browne, and sundry others, whose names wee could not remember. And being
thus met againe together, we trauelled on still Westward, sometime
thorow such thicke woods, that we were inforced with cudgels to breake
away the brambles and bushes from tearing our naked bodies: other
sometimes we should trauell thorow the plaines, in such high grasse that
we could scarse see one another, and as we passed in some places, we
should haue of our men slaine, and fall downe suddenly, being strooken
by the Indians, which stood behinde trees and bushes, in secret places,
and so killed our men as they went by, for wee went scatteringly in
seeking of fruites to relieue our selues. We were also oftentimes
greatly annoyed with a kind of flie, which in the Indian tongue is
called Tequani, and the Spaniards called them Muskitos. There are also
in the sayd countrey a number of other kinde of flies, but none so
noysome as these Tequanies bee: you shall hardly see them they be so
small, for they are scarse so big as a gnat: they will sucke ones blood
marueilously, and if you kill them while they are sucking, they are so
venimous that the place will swell extremely, euen as one that is stoong
with a Waspe or Bee: but if you let them sucke their fill, and to goe
away of themselues, then they doe you no other hurt, but leaue behind
them a red spot somewhat bigger then a flea-biting. At the first wee
were terribly troubled with these kinde of flies, not knowing their
qualities, and resistance wee could make none against them, being naked:
as for cold wee feared not any, the countrey there is alwayes so warme.
And as we trauelled thus for the space of tenne or twelue dayes, our
captaine did oftentimes cause certaine to goe vp into the toppes of high
trees, to see if they could descrie any towne or place of inhabitants,
but they could not perceiue any, and vsing often the same order to
climbe vp into high trees, at the length they descried a great riuer
that fell from the Northwest into the maine sea, and presently after, we
heard an harquebuze shot off, which did greatly incourage vs, for
thereby wee knew that we were neere to some Christians, and did
therefore hope shortly to finde some succour and comfort, and within the
space of one houre after, as we trauelled, we heard a cocke crowe,
which was also no small ioy vnto vs, and so we came to the North side of
the riuer of Panuco, where the Spaniards haue certaine Salines, at which
place it was that the harquebuze was shot off, which before we heard: to
which place we went not directly, but missing thereof, we left it about
a bowshot vpon our left hand: of this riuer wee dranke very greedily,
for wee had not met with any water in sixe dayes before, and as we were
here by the riuer side resting our selues, and longing to come to the
place where the cocke did crowe, and where the harquebuze was shot off,
we perceiued many Spaniards vpon the other side of the riuer, riding vp
and downe on horsebacke, and they perceiuing vs, did suppose that we had
beene of the Indians their bordering enemies, the Chichimeci: the riuer
was not past halfe a bowe shoot ouer: and presently one of the Spaniards
tooke an Indian boate called a Canoa, and so came ouer, being rowed by
two Indians, and hauing taken the view of vs, did presently rowe ouer
backe againe to the Spaniards, who without any delay made out about the
number of twenty horsemen, and imbarking themselues in the Canoas, they
led their horses by the reines swimming ouer after them, and being come
ouer to that side of the riuer where we were, they sadled their horses,
and being mounted vpon them with their lances charged, they came very
fiercely running at vs. Our captaine Anthony Godard seeing them come in
that order, did perswade vs to submit and yeelde our selues vnto them,
for being naked, as we at this time were, and without weapon, we could
not make any resistance, whose bidding we obeied, and vpon the yeelding
of our selues, they perceiued vs to be Christians, and did call for more
Canoas, and caried vs ouer by foure and foure in a boat, and being come
on the other side, they vnderstanding by our captaine how long we had
bene without meate, imparted between two and two a loafe of bread made
out of that countrey wheat, which the Spaniards call Maiz, of the
bignesse of our halfepenie loaues, which bread is named in the Indian
tongue Clashacally. This bread was very sweete and pleasant vnto vs, for
we had not eaten any in a long time before: and what is it that hunger
doth not make to haue a sauory and delicate taste? And hauing thus
parted the bread amongst vs, those which were men they sent afore to the
towne, hauing also many Indians inhabitants of that place to garde them:
they which were yong, as boyes, and some such also as were feeble, they
tooke vp vpon their horses, behind them, and so caried vs to the towne
where they dwelt, which was very neere distant a mile from the place
where, we came ouer.
This towne is well situated, and well replenished with all kindes of
fruits, as Orenges, Limons, Pomegranates, Apricoks, and Peaches, and
sundry others, and is inhabited with a great number of tame Indians, or
Mexicans, and had in it also at that time about the number of two
hundred Spaniards, men, women, and children, besides Negros. [Sidenote:
The Salines of Panuco.] Of their Salines, which lie upon the West side
of the riuer, more then a mile distant from thence, they make a great
profit, for it is an excellent good merchandize there: the Indians doe
buy much thereof, and cary it vp into the countrey, and there sell it to
their owne countrey people, in doubling the price. Also much of the Salt
made in this place, is transported from thence by sea to sundry other
places, as to Cuba, S. Iohn de Vllua, and the other ports of Tamiago,
and Tamachos, which are two barred hauens West and by South aboue
threescore leagues from S. Iohn de Vllua. When we were all come to the
towne, the Gouernor there shewed himselfe very seuere vnto vs, and
threatened to hang vs all: and then he demanded what money wee had,
which in trueth was very little, for the Indians which we first met
withall, had in a maner taken all from vs, and of that which they left,
the Spaniards which brought vs ouer, tooke away a good part also:
howbeit, from Anthony Godard the Gouernour here had a chaine of gold,
which was giuen vnto him at Carthagena, by the Gouernour there, and from
others he had some small store of money: so that we accounted that
amongst vs all he had the number of fiue hundred Pezos, besides the
chaine of gold.
And hauing thus satisfied himselfe, when he had taken all that we had,
he caused vs to be put into a little house much like a hogstie, where we
were almost smoothered: and before we were thus shut vp into that little
coat, they gaue vs some of the countrey wheate, called Mayz, sodden,
which they feede their hogs withall. But many of our men which had bene
hurt by the Indians at our first comming on land, whose wounds were very
sore and grieuous, desired to haue the helpe of their Surgeons to cure
their wounds. The gouernour, and most of them all answered, that wee
should haue none other Surgeon but the hangman, which should
sufficiently heale vs of all our griefes: and thus reuiling vs, and
calling vs English dogs, and Lutheran heretikes, we remained the space
of three dayes in this miserable state, not knowing what should become
of vs, waiting euery houre to be bereaued of our liues.
Chap. 4.
Wherein is shewed how we were vsed in Panuco, and in what feare of
death we were there, and how we were caried to Mexico to the
Viceroy, and of our imprisonment there and at Tescuco, with the
courtesies and cruelties wee receiued during that time, and how in
the end wee were by proclamation giuen to serue as slaues to
sundry gentlemen Spaniards.
Vpon the fourth day after our comming thither, and there remaining in a
perplexitie, looking euery houre when we should suffer death, there came
a great number of Indians and Spaniards weaponed to fetch vs out of the
house, and amongst them we espied one that brought a great many of new
halters, at the sight whereof we were greatly amazed, and made no other
account but that we should presently haue suffered death, and so crying
and calling to God for mercie and forgiuenesse of our sinnes, we
prepared our selues, making vs ready to die: yet in the end, as the
sequel shewed, their meaning was not so: for when wee were come out of
the house, with those halters they bound our armes behind vs, and so
coupling vs two and two together, they commanded vs to march on through
the towne, and so along the countrey from place to place toward the
citie of Mexico, which is distant from Panuco West and by South the
space of ninetie leagues, hauing onely but two Spaniards, to conduct vs,
they being accompanied with a great number of Indians warding on either
side with bowes and arrowes, lest we should escape from them. And
trauelling in this order, vpon the second day at night we came vnto a
towne which the Indians call Nohele, and the Spaniards call it Santa
Maria: in which towne there is a house of white friers, which did very
courteously vse vs, and gaue vs hote meat, as mutton and broath, and
garments also to couer our selues withal, made of white bayes: we fed
very greedily of the meat, and of the Indian fruit, called Nochole,
which fruit is long and small, much like in fashion to a little
cucumber. Our greedy feeding caused vs to fall sicke of hote burning
agues. And here at this place one Thomas Baker one of our men died of a
hurt: for he had bene before shot with an arrow into the throat at the
first incounter.
The next morrow about ten of the clocke, we departed from thence, bound
two and two together, and garded as before, and so trauailed on our way
toward Mexico, till we came to a towne within forty leagues of Mexico,
named Mestitlan, where is a house of blacke friers: and in this towne
there are about the number of three hundred Spaniards, both men, women,
and children. The friers sent vs meat from the house ready dressed, and
the friers, and the men and women vsed vs very courteously, and gave vs
some shirts and other such things as we lacked. Here our men were very
sicke of their agues, and with eating of another fruit called in the
Indian tongue, Guiaccos, which fruit did binde vs so sore, that for the
space of tenne or twelue dayes we could not ease our selues. The next
morning we departed from thence with our two Spaniards and Indian gard,
as aforesayd. Of these two Spaniards the one was an aged man, who all
the way did very courteously intreate vs, and would carefully go before
to prouide for vs both meat and things, necessary to the vttermost of
his power: the other was a yong man who all the way trauelled with vs,
and neuer departed from vs, who was a very cruell caitiue, and he caried
a iaueline in his hand, and sometimes when as our men with very
feeblenesse and faintnesse were not able to goe so fast as he required
them, he would take his iauelin in both his handes, and strike them with
the same betweene the necke and the shoulders so violently, that he
would strike them downe; then would he cry, and say, Marchad, marchad
Ingleses perros, Luterianos, enemigos de Dios: which is as much to say
in English, as March, march on you English dogges, Lutherans, enemies to
God. And the next day we came to a towne called Pachuca, and there are
two places of that name: as this towne of Pachuca, and the mines of
Pachuca, which are mines of siluer, and are about sixe leagues distant
from this towne of Pachuca towards the Northwest.
Here at this towne the good olde man our Gouernour suffered vs to stay
two dayes and two nights, hauing compassion of our sicke and weake men,
full sore against the minde of the yoong man his companion. From thence
we tooke our iourney, and trauelled foure or fiue dayes by little
villages, and Stantias, which are farmes or dairie houses of the
Spaniards, and euer as wee had neede, the good olde man would still
prouide vs sufficient of meates, fruites, and water to sustaine vs. At
the end of which fiue dayes wee came to a towne within fiue leagues of
Mexico, which is called Quoghliclan, were wee also stayed one whole day
and two nights, where was a faire house of gray friers, howbeit wee saw
none of them. Here wee were told by the Spaniards in the towne, that wee
had not past fifteene English miles from thence to Mexico, whereof wee
were all very ioyfull and glad, hoping that when we came thither, we
should either be relieued, and set free out of bonds, or els bee quickly
dispatched out of our liues: for seeing our selues thus caried bound
from place to place, although some vsed vs courteously, yet could wee
neuer ioy, nor be merrie till wee might perceiue our selues set free
from that bondage, either by death or otherwise.
The next morning we departed from thence on our iourney towards Mexico,
and so trauelled till wee came within two leagues of it, where there was
built by the Spaniards a very faire church, called our Ladyes church, in
which there is an image of our Lady of siluer and gilt, being as high,
and as large as a tall woman, in which church, and before this image,
there are as many lamps of siluer as there be dayes in the yeere, which
vpon high dayes are all lighted. Whensoeuer any Spaniards passe by this
church, although they be on horse backe, they will alight, and come into
the church, and kneele before this image, and pray to our Lady to defend
them from all euil; so that whether he be horseman or footman he will
not passe by, but first goe into the Church, and pray as aforesayd,
which if they doe not they thinke and beleeue that they shall neuer
prosper: which image they call in the Spanish tongue, Nuestra sennora de
Guadalupe. At this place there are certain cold baths, which arise,
springing vp as though the water did seeth: the water thereof is
somewhat brackish in taste, but very good for any that have any sore or
wound, to wash themselues therewith, for as they say, it healeth many:
and euery yeere once vpon our Lady day the people vse to repair thither
to offer, and to pray in that Church before the image, and they say that
our Lady of Guadalupe doeth work a number of miracles. About this Church
there is not any towne of Spaniards that is inhabited, but certaine
Indians doe dwell there in houses of their own countrey building.
Here we were met with a great number of Spaniards on horsebacke, which
came from Mexico to see vs, both gentlemen, and men of occupations, and
they came as people to see a wonder: we were still called vpon to march
on: and so about foure of the clocke in the afternoone of the said day
we entered into the citie of Mexico, by the way or street called la
calle Santa Catherina: and we stayed not in any place till we came to
the house or palace of the Vice Roy, Don Martin Henriques, which
standeth in the middest of the city, hard by the market place, called La
plaça del Marquese. [Sidenote: Certaine Englishmen taken prisoners at
the fight at Sant Iuan de Vllua.] We had not stayed any long time at
this place, but there was brought vs by the Spaniards from the market
place great store of meat, sufficient to haue satisfied fiue times so
many as we were: some also gaue vs hats, and some gaue vs money: in
which place we stayed for the space of two houres, and from thence we
were conueyed by water in two large Canoas to an hospital where as
certaine of our men were lodged, which were taken before the fight at S.
Iohn de Vllua: wee should haue gone to our Ladies hospitall, but that
there were also so many of our men taken before at that fight that there
was no roome for vs. After our coming thither, many of the company that
came with me from Panuco dyed within the space of fourteene dayes: soone
after which time we were taken foorth from that place, and put
altogether into our Ladies hospitall, in which place we were courteously
vsed, and visited oftentimes by vertuous gentlemen and gentlewomen of
the citie, who brought vs diuers things to comfort vs withall, as
succats and marmilads, and such other things, and would also many times
giue vs many things, and that very liberally. In which hospitall we
remained for the space of sixe moneths, vntill we were all whole and
sound of body, and then we were appointed by the Vice Roy to be caried
vnto the towne of Tescuco, which is from Mexico Southwest distant eight
leagues:[11] in which towne there are certaine houses of correction and
punishment for ill people called Obraches, like to Bridewell here in
London: into which place diuers Indians are sold for slaues, some for
ten yeeres, and some for twelue. It was no small griefe vnto vs when we
vnderstood that we should be caried thither, and to bee vsed as slaues,
we had rather be put to death: howbeit there was no remedy, but we were
caried to the prison of Tescuco, where we were not put to any labour,
but were very straitly kept, and almost famished, yet by the good
prouidence of our mercifull God, we happened there to meet with one
Robert Sweeting, who was the sonne of an Englishman, borne of a Spanish
woman; this man could speake very good English, and by his means wee
were holpen very much with victuals from the Indians, as mutton, hennes,
and bread. And if we had not bene so relieued, we had surely perished:
and yet all the prouision that wee had gotten that way was but slender.
And continuing thus straightly kept in prison there for the space of two
moneths, at the length wee agreed amongst our selues to breake forth of
prison, come of it what would, for we were minded rather to suffer death
then longer to liue in that miserable state. And so hauing escaped out
of prison, we knew not what way to flie for the safetie of ourselues,
the night was darke, and it rained terribly, and not hauing any guide,
we went we knew not whither, and in the morning, at the appearing of the
day, we perceiued our selues to be come hard to the city of Mexico,
which is 24 English miles from Tescuco. The day being come we were
espied by the Spaniards, and pursued, and taken, and brought before the
Vice Roy and head iustices, who threatned to hang vs for breaking of the
kings prison. [Sidenote: Almost an hundred Englishmen prisoners in
Mexico.] Yet in the end they sent vs into a garden belonging to the Vice
Roy, and comming thither, we found there our English gentlemen which
were deliuered as hostages when as our General was betrayed at S. Iohn
de Vllua, as is aforesaid, and with them wee also found Robert Barret,
the Master of the Iesus, in which place we remained labouring and doing
such things as we were commanded, for the space of 4 moneths, hauing but
two sheepe a day allowed to suffice vs all, being very neere a hundred
men, and for bread we had euery man two loaues a day, of the quantity of
one halfe-peny loafe. At the end of which foure moneths, they hauing
remooued our gentlemen hostages, and the Master of the Iesus to a prison
in the Vice Roy his own house, did cause it to be proclaimed, that what
gentleman Spaniard soeuer was willing or would haue any English man to
serue him, and be bound to keepe him forth comming, to appeare before
the Iustices within one moneth after notice giuen, that they should
repaire to the said garden, and there take their choice: which
proclamation was no sooner made, but the gentlemen came and repaired to
the garden amaine, so that happie was he that could soonest get one of
vs.
[11] It is nothing of the kind, being 16 miles East North East of
Mexico, on the banks of Lake Tezcuco.
Chap. 5.
Wherein is shewed in what good sort, and how wealthily we liued with
our masters vntil the comming of the Inquisition, when as againe
our sorrows began a fresh: Of our imprisonment in the holy house,
and of the seuere iudgement, and sentences giuen against vs, and
with what rigour and crueltie the same were executed.
The gentlemen that thus tooke vs for their seruants or slaues, did new
apparell vs through out, with whom we abode, doing such service as they
appointed vs vnto, which was for the most part to attend vpon them at
the table, and to be as their chamberlaines, and to waite vpon them when
they went abroad, which they greatly accounted of; for in that countrey
no Spaniard will serue one another, but they are all of them attended
and serued by Indians weekly, and by Negroes which be their slaues
during their life. In this sort we remained and serued in the said citie
of Mexico, and thereabouts for the space of a yeere and somewhat longer.
Afterwards many of vs were by our masters appointed to go to sundry of
their Mines where they had to doe, and to be as ouerseers of the Negroes
and Indians that laboured there. In which mines many of vs did profite
and gaine greatly: for first we were allowed three hundred Pezos a man
for a yeere, which is threescore pound sterling and besides that the
Indians and Negroes which wrought vnder our charge, vpon our well using
and intreating of them, would at times as vpon Saturdayes when they had
left worke, labour for vs, and blow as much siluer as should be worth
vnto vs 3 markes or there abouts, euery marke being worth 6 Pezos, and a
halfe of their money, which 19 Pezos and a halfe, is worth 4li. 10s. of
our money. Sundry weeks we did gaine so much by this means besides our
wages, that many of vs became very rich, and were worth three thousand,
or foure thousand Pezos, for we liued and gained thus in those Mines
some three or foure yeeres. As concerning those Gentlemen which were
deliverd as hostages, and that were kept in prison, in the Viceroy his
house, after that we were gone from out the garden to serue sundry
gentlemen as aforesaid, they remained prisoners in the said house for
the space of 4 moneths after their comming thither, at the end whereof
the fleete being readie to depart from S. Iohn de Vllua, to goe for
Spaine, the said Gentlemen were sent away into Spaine with the fleete,
where as I haue heard it credibly reported, many of them died with the
cruell handling of the Spaniards in the Inquisition house, as those
which haue bene deliuered home after they had suffered the persecution
of that house can more perfectly declare. Robert Barret also master of
the Iesus, was sent away with the fleete into Spaine the next yeere
following, where afterwards he suffered persecution in the Inquisition,
and at the last was condemned to be burnt, and with him one more of our
men whose name was Iohn Gilbert.
Now after that sixe yeeres were fully expired since our first coming
into the Indies, in which time we had bene imprisoned and serued in the
said countreys as is before truely declared. In the yeere of our Lord
one thousand fiue hundred seuenty foure, the Inquisition began to be
established in the Indies, very much against the mindes of many of the
Spaniards themselues: for neuer vntil this time since their first
conquering and planting in the Indies, were they subiect to that bloodie
and cruell Inquisition. The chiefe Inquisitor was named Don Pedro Moya
de Contreres, and Iohn de Bouilla his companion, and Iohn Sanches the
Fischall, and Pedro de los Rios the Secretary: they being come and
setled, and placed in a very faire house neere vnto the white Friers,
considering with themselues that they must make an entrance and
beginning of that their most detestable Inquisition here in Mexico, to
the terror of the whole countrey, thought it best to call vs that were
Englishmen first in question, and so much the rather, for that they had
perfect knowledge and intelligence that many of vs were become very
rich, as hath bene alreadie declared, and therefore we were a very good
booty and pray to the Inquisitors: so that now againe began our sorrowes
a fresh, for we were sent for, and sought out in all places of the
countrey, and proclamation made vpon paine of losing of goods and
excommunication that no man should hide or keepe secret any Englishmen
or any part of their goods. By means whereof we were all soone
apprehended in all places, and all our goods seized and taken for the
Inquisitors vse, and so from all parts of the countrey we were conueied
and sent as prisoners to the citie of Mexico, and there committed to
prison, in sundry darke dungeons, where we could not see but by candle
light, and were neuer past two together in one place, so that we saw not
one another, neither could one of vs tell what was become of another.
Thus we remained close imprisoned for the space of a yeere and a halfe,
and others for some lesse time, for they came to prison euer as they
were apprehended. During which time of our imprisonment, at the first
beginning we were often called before the Inquisitors alone, and there
seuerely examined of our faith, and commanded to say the Pater noster,
the Aue Maria, and the Creed in Latin, which God knoweth great number of
vs could not say, otherwise then in the English tongue. And hauing the
said Robert Sweeting who was our friend at Tescuco alwayes present with
them for an interpreter, he made report for vs, that in our own countrey
speech we could say them perfectly, although not word for word as they
were in Latin. Then did they proceede to demand of vs vpon our othes
what wee did beleeue of the Sacrament, and whether there did remaine any
bread or wine after the words of consecration, yea or no, and whether we
did not beleeue that the host of bread which the priest did hold vp ouer
his head, and the wine that was in the chalice, was the very true and
perfect body and blood of our Sauiour Christ, yea or no: To which if we
answered not yea, then was there no way but death. Then they would
demand of vs what we did remember of our selues, what opinions we had
held, or had bin taught to hold contrary to the same whiles we were in
England: to which we for the safety of our liues were constrained to
say, that we neuer did beleeue, nor had bene taught otherwise then as
before we had sayd. Then would they charge vs, that we did not tell them
the truth, that they knew the contrary, and therefore we should cal our
selues to remembrance, and make them a better answer at the next time,
or els we should be rackt, and made to confesse the trueth whether we
would or no. And so comming againe before them the next time, we were
still demanded of our beliefe whiles we were in England, and how we had
bin taught, and also what we thought or did know of such of our owne
company as they did name vnto vs, so that we could neuer be free from
such demands, and at other times they would promise vs, that if we would
tell them trueth, then should we haue fauour and be set at libertie,
although we very wel knew their fair speeches were but means to entrap
vs, to the hazard and losse of our liues: howbeit God so mercifully
wrought for vs by a secret means that we had, that we kept vs still to
our first answer, and would stil say that we had told the trueth vnto
them, and knew no more by our selues nor any other of our fellows then
as we had declared, and that for our sinnes and offences in England
against God and our Lady, or any of his blessed Saints, we were heartily
sory for the same, and did cry God mercy, and besought the Inquisitors
for Gods sake, considering what we came into those countreyes by force
of weather, and against our wils, and that neuer in all our lives we had
either spoken or done any thing contrary to their lawes, that therefore
they would haue mercy vpon vs. [Sidenote: Our men are cruelly rackt.]
Yet all this would not serue; for still from time to time we were called
upon to confesse and about the space of 3 moneths before they proceeded
to their seuere iudgement, we were al rackt, and some enforced to vtter
that against themselves, which afterwards cost them their liues. And
thus hauing gotten from our own mouthes matter sufficient for them to
proceed in iudgement against vs, they caused a large scaffold to be made
in the middest of the market place in Mexico right ouer against the head
church, and 14 or 15 daies before the day of their iudgement with the
sound of a trumpet, and the noise of their Attahalies, which are a kind
of drummes, they did assemble the people in all parts of the citie:
before whom it was then solemnely proclaimed that whosoeuer would vpon
such a day repaire to the market place, they should heare the sentence
of the holy Inquisition against the English heretikes, Lutherans, and
also see the same put in execution. Which being done, and the time
approching of this cruell judgement, the night before they came to the
prison where we were, with certaine officers of that holy hellish house,
bringing with them certaine fooles coats which they had prepared for vs,
being called in their language S. Benitos, which coats were made, of
yellow cotton and red crosses vpon them, both before and behind: they
were so busied in putting on their coats about vs, and bringing vs out
into a large yard, and placing and pointing vs in what order we should
go to the scaffold or place of iudgment vpon the morrow, that they did
not once suffer vs to sleepe all that night long. The next morning being
come, there was giuen to every one of vs for our breakfast a cup of
wine, and a slice of bread fried in honie, and so about eight of the
clocke in the morning, we set foorth of the prison, euery man alone in
his yellow coat, and a rope about his necke, and a great greene Waxe
candle in his hand vnlighted, hauing a Spaniard appointed to goe vpon
either side of euery one of vs: and so marching in this order and maner
toward the scaffold in the market place, which was a bow shoot distant
or thereabouts, we found a great assembly of people all the way, and
such a throng, that certain of the Inquisitors officers on horseback
were constrained to make way, and so comming to the scaffold, we went vp
by a pairs of stayres, and found seates readie made and prepared for vs
to sit downe on, euery man in order as he should be called to receiue
his iudgement. We being thus set downe as we were appointed, presently
the Inquisitors came vp another paire of staires, and the Viceroy and
all the chiefe Iustices with them. When they were set downe and placed
vnder the cloth of estate agreeing to their degrees and calling; then
came vp also a great number of Friers, white, blacke and gray, about the
number of 300 persons, they being set in the places for them appointed.
Then was there a solemne Oyes made, and silence commanded, and then
presently beganne their seuere and cruell iudgement.
[Sidenote: The cruell iudgements of the Spanish Inquisitors vpon our
poore countrey-men.] The first man that was called was one Roger the
chiefe Armourer of the Iesus, and hee had iudgement to haue three
hundred stripes on horsebacke, and after condemned to the gallies as a
slaue for 10 yeeres.
After him were called Iohn Gray, Iohn Brown, Iohn Moone, Iames Collier,
and one Thomas Browne: these were adiudged to haue 200 stripes on
horsebacke, and after to be committed to the gallies for the space of 8
yeeres.
Then was called Iohn Keyes, and was adiudged to have 100 stripes on
horsebacke, and condemned to serue in the gallies for the space of 6
yeeres.
Then were seuerally called the number of 53 one after an other, and
euery man had his seueral iudgement, some to haue 200 stripes on
horseback, and some 100, and condemned for slaues to the gallies, some
for 6 yeeres, some for 8 and some for 10.
And then was I, Miles Philips, called, and was adiudged to serue in a
monasterie for 5 yeeres, without any stripes, and to weare a fooles
coat, or S. Benito, during all that time.
Then were called Iohn Storie, Richard Williams, Dauid Alexander, Robert
Cooke, Paul Horsewell and Thomas Hull: these sixe were condemned to
serue in monasteries without stripes, some for three yeeres and some for
foure, and to weare the S. Benito during all the said time. Which being
done, and it now drawing toward night, George Riuelly, Peter Momfrie,
and Cornelius the Irishman, were called and had their iudgement to be
burnt to ashes, and so were presently sent away to the place, of
execution in the market place but a little from the scaffold, where they
were quickly burnt and consumed. And as for vs that had receiued our
iudgement, being 68 in number, we were caried backe that night to prison
againe. And the next day in the morning being good Friday, the yeere of
our Lord 1575; we were all brought into a court, of the Inquisitors
pallace, where we found a horse in a readinesse for euery one of our men
which were condemned to haue stripes, and to be committed to the
gallies, which were in number 60 and so they being inforced to mount vp
on horsebacke naked from the middle vpward, were caried to be shewed as
a spectacle for all the people to behold throughout the chiefe and
principall streetes of the citie, and had the number of stripes to euery
one of them appointed, most cruelly laid vpon their naked bodies with
long whips by sundry men appointed to be the executioners thereof: and
before our men there went a couple of criers which cried as they went:
Behold these English dogs, Lutherans, enemies to God, and all the way as
they went there were some of the Inquisitors themselues, and of the
familiars of that rakehel order, that cried to the executioners, Strike,
lay on those English hereticks, Lutherans, Gods enemies: and so this
horrible spectacle being shewed round about the citie, they returned to
the Inquisitors house with their backes all gore blood, and swollen with
great bumps, and were then taken from their horses, and carried againe
to prison, where they remained vntill they were sent into Spaine to the
gallies, there to receiue the rest of their martirdome: and I and the 6
other with me which had iudgement, and were condemned amongst the rest
to serue an apprentiship in the monastery, were taken presently and sent
to certaine religious houses appointed for the purpose.
Chap. 6.
Wherein is shewed how we were vsed in the religious houses, and that
when the time was expired, that we were adiudged to serue in them,
there came newes to Mexico of M. Francis Drakes being in the South
Sea, and what preparation was made to take him, and how I seeking
to escape, was againe taken, and put in prison at Vera Cruz, and
how againe I made mine escape from thence.
I Miles Philips and William Lowe were appointed to the blacke Friers,
where I was appointed to be an ouerseer of Indian workmen, who wrought
there in building of a new church: amongst which Indians I learned their
language of Mexican tongue very perfectly, and had great familiaritie
with many of them, whom I found to be a courteous and louing kind of
people, ingenious, and of great vnderstanding, and they hate and abhorre
the Spaniards with all their hearts, they haue vsed such horrible
cruelties against them, and do still keepe them in such subiection and
seruitude, that they and the Negros also doe daily lie in waite to
practise their deliuerance out of that thraldome and bondage, that the
Spaniards doe keepe them in. William Lowe he was appointed to serue the
Cooke in the kitchen, Richard Williams and Dauid Alexander were
appointed to the Grey Friers, Iohn Story and Robert Cooke to the white
Friers: Paul Horsewel the Secretary tooke to be his seruant: Thomas Hull
was sent to a Monastery of priests, where afterward he died. Thus we
serued out the yeeres that we were condemned for, with the vse of our
fooles coates, and we must needs confesse that the Friers did vse very
courteously: for euery one of vs had his chamber with bedding and diet,
and all things cleane and neat: yea many of the Spaniards and Friers
themselues do vtterly abhorre and mislike of that cruell Inquisition,
and would as they durst bewaile our miseries, and comfort vs the best
they could, although they stood in such feare of that diuelish
Inquisition, that they durst not let the left hande know what the right
doth. Now after that the time was expired for which we were condemned to
serue in those religious houses, we were then brought againe before the
chief Inquisitor, and had all our fooles coates pulled off and hanged vp
in the head church, called Ecclesia Maior, and euery mans name and
iudement written thereupon with this addition, An heretike Lutheran
reconciled. And there are also all their coates hanged vp, which were
condemned to the gallies, with their names and iudgements, and
vnderneath his coat, Heretike Lutheran reconciled. And also the coats
and names of the three that were burned, whereupon were written, An
obstinate heretike Lutheran burnt. Then were we suffered to goe vp and
downe the countrey, and to place our selues as we could, and yet not so
free, but that we very well knew that there was good espiall alwayes
attending vs and all our actions, so that we durst not once speake or
looke awry. Dauid Alexander and Robert Cooke returned to serue the
Inquisitor, who shortly after maried them both to two of his Negro
women: Richard Williams maried a rich widow of Biskay with 4000 Pezos.
Paul Horsewell is maried to a Mestisa, as they name those whose fathers
were Spaniards, and their mothers Indians, and this woman which Paul
Horsewell hath maried, is sayd to be the daughter of one that came in
with Hernando Cortes the conquerour, who had with her in mariage foure
thousand Pezos, and a faire house: Iohn Storie is maried to a Negro
woman: William Lowe had leaue and licence to goe into Spaine where he is
now maried: for mine owne part I could neuer throughly settle my selfe
to marry in that countrey, although many faire offers were made vnto me
of such as were of great abilitie and wealth, but I could haue no liking
to liue in that place, where I must euery where see and know such
horrible idolatrie committed, and durst not once for my life speake
against it: and therefore I had alwayes a longing and desire to this my
natiue countrey: and, to returne and serue againe in the Mines where I
might haue gathered great riches and wealth, I very well saw that at one
time or another I should fall againe into the danger of that diuelish
Inquisition, and so be strip of all, with losse of life also, and
therefore I made my choice rather to learne to weaue Grogranes and
Taffaties, and so compounding with a Silke-weauer, I bound my selfe for
three yeeres to serue him, and gaue him an hundred and fiftie Pezos to
teach me the science, otherwise he would not haue taught mee vnder seuen
yeeres prentiship, and by this meanes I liued the more quiet, and free
from suspition. Howbeit I should many times be charged by familiars of
that diuelish house, that I had a meaning to runne away into England,
and to be an heretike Lutheran againe: To whom I would answere that they
had no neede to suspect any such thing in mee, for that they knew all
very well that it was impossible for me to escape by any maner of
meanes: yet notwithstanding I was called before the Inquisitor, and
demanded why I did not marrie: I answered that I had bound myselfe at
an occupation. Well said the Inquisitor, I knowe thou meanest to runne
away, and therefore I charge thee here vpon paine of burning as an
heretike relapsed, that thou depart not out of this citie, nor come
neere to the port of S. Iohn de Vllua, nor to any other port: To the
which I answered that I would willingly obey. Yea said he, see thou doe
so, and thy fellowes also, they shall haue the like charge.
So I remained at my science the full time, and learned the Art, at the
end wherof there came newes to Mexico that there were certaine
Englishmen landed with a great power at the port of Acapulco, vpon the
South sea, and that they were comming to Mexico to take the spoyle
thereof, which wrought a marueilous great feare amongst them, and many
of those that were rich began to shift for themselues, their wiues and
children: vpon which hurlie burlie the Viceroy caused a generall muster
to be made of all the Spaniards in Mexico, and there were found to be
the number of 7000 and odde householders of Spaniards in the citie and
suburbs, and of single men vnmaried, the number of 3000 and of
Mestizoes, which are counted to be the sonnes of Spaniards, borne of
Indian women, twenty thousand persons, and then was Paul Horsewel and I
Miles Philips sent for before the Viceroy, and were examined if we did
know an English man named Francis Drake, which was brother to Captaine
Hawkins: to which we answered, that Captaine Hawkins had not any brother
but one, which was a man of the age of threescore yeeres or thereabouts,
and was now gouernour of Plimmouth in England. And then he demanded of
vs if we knewe one Francis Drake, and we answered, no.