THE STRANGE
VOYAGE and ADVENTURES
OF
DOMINGO GONSALES,
TO THE
WORLD in the MOON.
CONTAINING
<An Account of the Island of St. HELLENA; the Place
where he resided some Years in, and where he planned
this Wonderful Voyage; his entering on Board one of the
Homeward-bound _East-India_ Ships for _Spain_; their
running on the Rocks near the Pike of _Teneriff_, to avoid
an _English_ Squadron of Ships, that were in Pursuit of
the _Spanish_ Fleet; _Gonsales_ had just Time to fix
his Machine, which carried him in Safety to the Pike of
_Teneriff_, having rested his Gansas on the Mountain,
whence was pursued by the Savages; when giving the
Signal to his Birds, they arose in the Air with him for
their Journey to the Moon: The wonderful Apparitions and
Devils he met with in his Progress; their Temptations
to him, which he avoided, and their supplying him with
choice Provisions; his leaving this Hellish Crew, and
proceeding on his Voyage to the Moon; his safe Arrival
there; the Manners, Customs, and Language of the Emperors,
Kings, Princes and People: His short Stay there, to the
great Grief of the _Lunars_; the inestimable Presents
in Jewels the Author received at his Departure; his
repassing to our Earthly Globe again, and was set down in
_China_ by his Birds; his being taken for a Magician by
the Country People, and preserved from their Fury by a
_Chinese_ Mandarin; his going aboard an India Ship bound
to _Europe_; his safe Arrival in his own Country, where
he made his Discoveries to the King of _Spain_, who held
several Cabinet Councils to deliberate on a proper Use to
be made of these Discoveries.
With a Description of the Pike of _Teneriff_, as travelled
up by some _English_ Merchants.
The SECOND EDITION.
LONDON:
Printed by John Lever, Bookseller, Stationer, and
Printseller, at _Little Moorgate_, next to _London Wall_,
near _Moorfields_ 1768.
(Price One Shilling.)
* * * * *
THE STRANGE
VOYAGE and ADVENTURES
of
_DOMINGO GONSALES_,
TO THE
WORLD in the MOON,
BY THE
Several GANZA'S, or Large GEESE.
Before I come to relate our extraordinary Voyage of _Domingo Gonzales_
to the World in the Moon, I will make a Halt at St. _Hellens_, or
_Hellena_, which is now possest by the Honourable _East-India_ Company.
It is called the Sea Inn, because the _English_ and other Nations stop
there as a Place for Watering and Refreshment in their long Voyages
to _India_. It was formerly seized by the _Dutch_, but retaken _May_
6th, 1673, by Captain _Munday_, with a Squadron of _English_ Ships, and
three rich _Dutch East India Ships_ made Prizes in the Harbour; since
which the Company have fortified and secured it, against any future
Invasion of _Dutch, Portuguese_, or _Spaniards_. It was called _Santa
Helena_ by the _Portuguese_, who discovered it on St. _Hellen_'s Day,
being _April_ 2.
There is no Island in the World so far distant from the Continent or
main Land as this. It is about sixteen Leagues in Compass, in the
_Ethiopic_ Sea; in 16 Degrees of South Latitude; about 1500 Miles from
the _Cape of Good Hope_; 360 from _Angola_ in _Africa_; and 510 from
_Brasile_ in _America_. It lies high out of the Water; and surrounded
on the Sea-coasts with steep Rocks, having within many Cliffs,
Mountains and Vallies, of which one is named _Church-Valley_, where
behind a small Church they climb up to the Mountains. To the South is
_Apple-Dale_, so called from the abundance of Oranges, Lemons, and
Pomegranates enough to furnish five or six Ships. On the West-side of
the Church, Ships have good Anchorage close under the Shore, to prevent
the Winds which blow fiercely from the adjacent high Mountains.
The Air seems temperate and healthful, so that sick Men brought
ashore there, in a short Time recover; yet the Heat in the Vallies
is as intolerable as the Cold upon the Mountains; it commonly rains
there five or six Times a Day, so that the Barrenness of the Hills is
not occasioned for the want of Water, of which it hath two or three
good Springs for furnishing Ships with fresh Water; the Ground of
its own Accord brings forth wild Pease and Beans, also whole Woods
of Orange, Lemon, and Pomegranate Trees, all the Year long, laden
both with Blossoms and Fruit, good Figs; abundance of Ebony and
Rose-trees, Parsly, Mustard-seed, Purslain, Sorrel, and the like; the
Woods and Mountains are full of Goats, large Rams, and wild Swine,
but difficult to be taken. When the _Portuguese_ discovered it, they
found neither four-footed Beasts nor Fruit-trees, but only fresh Water;
they afterward planted Fruit-trees, which so increased since, that
all the Vallies stand full of them; Partridges, Pigeons, Moor-hens,
and Peacocks breed here numerously, whereof a good Marksman may soon
provide a Dinner for his Friends. On the Cliff-Islands, on the South,
are thousands of grey and black Mews, or Sea-Pies, and white and
coloured Birds, some with long, others with short Necks, who lay their
Eggs on the Rocks, and suffer themselves to be taken with the Hand,
gazing at their Surprizers, till they are knocked on the Head with
Sticks.
From the Salt-water beating against the Cliffs, a Froth or Scum remains
in some Places, which, the Heat of the Sun so purifies, that it becomes
white and good Salt; some of the Mountains yield. Bole Armoniac, and
a fat Earth like _Terra Lemnia_. The Sea will answer the Pains of a
patient Fisherman, who must use an Angle, not a Net, because of the
foul Ground and beating of the Waves; the chief are Mackrel, Roach,
Carp, but differing in Colour from those among us; Eels as big, as a
Man's Arm, and well tasted Crabs, Lobsters, Oysters and Mussels as good
as _English_.
It is in this Island that the Scene of that notable Fancy, called,
_The Man in the Moon, or a Discourse of a Voyage thither_, by _Domingo
Gonsales_ is laid, written by a learned Bishop, saith the ingenious
Bishop Wilkins, who calls it a pleasant and well contrived Fancy, in
his own Book, intituled, _A Discourse of the New World, tending to
prove that it is possible there may be another habitable World in
the Moon_; wherein among other curious Arguments he affirms, that
this hath been the direct Opinion of divers antient, and some modern
Mathematicians, and may probably be deduced from the Tenets of others,
neither does it contradict any Principle of Reason nor Faith; and that
as their World is our Moon, so our World is theirs.
Now this small Tract having so worthy a Person to vouch for it, and
many of our English Historians having published for Truth, what is
almost as improbable as this, as Sir _John Mandavil_ in his Travels
and others, and this having what they are utterly destitute of,
that is, Invention mixed with Judgment; and was judged worthy to be
Licensed fifty years ago, and not since reprinted, whereby it would be
utterly lost. I have thought fit to republish the Substance thereof,
wherein the Author says he does not design to discourse his Readers
into a Belief of each particular Circumstance, but expects that his
new Discovery of a _new World_, may find little better Entertainment
than _Columbus_ had in his first Discovery of _America_, though yet
that poor Espial betrayed so much Knowledge as hath since increased
to vast Improvements, and the then _Unknown_ is now found to be of
as large Extent as all the other _known World_; that there should be
Antipodes was once thought as great a Paradox, as now that the Moon
should be habitable. But the Knowledge of it may be reserved for this
our discovering Age, wherein our Virtuosi can by their Telescopes gaze
the Sun into Spots, and descry Mountains in the Moon. But this and much
more must be left to the Critics, as well as the following Relation of
our little Eye-witness and great Discoverer, which you shall have in
his own _Spanish_ Stile, and delivered with that Grandeur and Thirst of
Glory, which is generally imputed to that Nation.
It is known to all the Countries of Andaluzia, that I _Domingo
Gonsales_ was born of a noble Family in the renowned City of _Seville_.
My Father's Name being _Therando Gonsales_, near Kinsman on the
Mother's Side to Don _Pedro Sanches_ the worthy Count of _Almanera_, my
Mother was the Daughter of the famous Lawyer _Otho Perez de Sallaveda_,
Governor of _Barcellona_, and _Corrigidor_ of _Biscay_; I being the
youngest of seventeen Children, was put to School, and designed to
the Church; but Heaven purposing to use my Service in Matters of far
another Nature, inspired me with spending some Time in the Wars; it
was at the Time that Don _Fernando_, the renowned Duke _D'Alva_, was
sent into the _Low Countries_ in 1568; I then following the Current
of my Desire, leaving the University of _Salamanca_, whither my
Parents had sent me, without giving Notice to any of my Friends, got
through _France_ to _Antwerp_, where I arrived in a mean Condition.
For having sold my Books, Bedding, and other Things, which yielded me
about 30 Ducats; and borrowed twenty more of my Father's Friends; I
bought a little Nag, wherewith I travelled more thriftily than usually
young Gentlemen do, till arriving within a League of _Antwerp_, some
of the cursed _Gueses_ set upon me, and bereaved me of my Horse,
Money, and all; so I was forced through Necessity to enter into the
Service of Marshal _Cossey_ a French Nobleman, whom I served in an
honourable Employ, though mine Enemies, to my Disgrace affirm, I was
his Horse-keeper's Boy; but for that Matter, I refer myself to Count
_Mansfield_, and other Persons of Condition, who have often testified
to many worthy Men, the very Truth of the Business, which indeed
was this, Monsieur _Cossey_ being about this Time sent to the Duke
_D'Alva_, Governor of the _Low Countries_, he informing the Nobility of
my Birth, and my late Misfortune, judging it would be no small Honour
to him to have a _Spaniard_ of that Quality about him, furnished me
with a Horse, Arms and whatever I wanted, using my Service, after I
had learned _French_, in writing his Letters, because my Hand was very
fair. In time of War, if upon Necessity, I sometimes dressed my own
Horse, I ought not to be reproached therewith, since I count it the
part of a Gentleman to submit to the vilest Office for the Service of
his Prince.
The first Expedition I was in, was when the Marshal my Friend met the
Prince of _Orange_ making a Road into _France_, and forced him to fly
even to the Walls of _Cambray_: It was my good Fortune to defeat a
Trooper, by killing his Horse with my Pistol, who falling upon his Leg,
could not stir, but yielded to my Mercy; I knowing my own Weakness of
Body, and seeing him a lusty tall Fellow, thought it the surest Way to
dispatch him, which having done, I plundered him of a Chain, Money, and
other Things to the Value of 200 Ducats. This Money was no sooner in my
Pockets, but I resumed the Remembrance of my Nobility, and taking my
Audience of Leave from Monsieur _Cossey_, I instantly repaired to the
Duke _D'Alva_'s Court, where divers of my Kindred seeing my Pocket full
of good Crowns, were ready enough to acknowledge me: By their means I
was received into Pay, and in Time obtained Favour with the Duke, who
would sometimes jest a little more severely at my Personage than I
could well bear, for though I must acknowledge my Stature is so little,
as I think no Man living is less, yet since it is the Work of Heaven
and not my own, he ought not to have upbraided a Gentleman therewith,
and those glorious Things that have happened to me may evince, that
wonderful Matters may be performed by very unlikely Bodies, if the Mind
be good, and Fortune second our Endeavours.
Though the Duke's Jokes a little disgusted me, yet I endeavoured to
conceal my Resentment, and accommodating myself to some other of his
Humours, I was so far interested in his Favour, that at his going into
_Spain_, whither I attended him, by his Kindness, and other Accidents,
wherein by my Industry I was seldom wanting to myself, I was able to
carry home 3000 Crowns in my Pocket.
At my Return, my Parents, who were extremely disturbed at my Departure,
received me with Joy, which was increased because they found I had
brought wherewith to maintain Myself without being chargeable to them,
or lessening the Portions of my Brothers and Sisters. But doubting I
would spend it as lightly as I got it, they sollicited me to marry
the Daughter of _John Figueres_, a considerable Merchant of _Lisbon_,
to which I complied, and putting my Marriage Money, and good Part of
my own into the Hands of my father, I lived like a Gentleman many
Years very happily: At length a Quarrel arising between me and _Pedro
Delgades_, a Gentleman and Kinsman of mine; it grew so high, that
when no Mediation of Friends could prevail, we two went alone with
our Swords into the Field, where it was my Chance to kill him, tho' a
stout proper Man; but what I wanted in Strength I Supplied in Courage,
and my Agility countervailed for his Stature. This being acted in
Carmona, I fled to _Lisbon_, thinking to conceal myself with some
Friends of my Father-in-Law, till the Business might be accommodated;
at which Time, a famous _Spanish_ Count coming from the _West-Indies_,
published triumphant Declarations of a great Victory he had obtained
against the _English_ near the _Isle of Pines_, whereas in reality
he got nothing at all in that Voyage but Blows, and a considerable
Loss. It had been well if Vanity and Lying had been his only Crimes;
his Covetousness had like to have been my utter Ruin, though since it
hath proved the Occasion of eternizing my Name I verily believe to
all Posterity, and to the unspeakable Benefit of all Mortals for ever
hereafter, at least if it please Heaven that I return home safe to my
Country, and give perfect Instructions how those almost incredible and
impossible Acquirements may be imparted to the World. You shall then
see Men flying in the Air, from one Place to another, you shall then
be able to send Messages many hundred Miles in an Instant, and receive
Answers immediately, without the Help of any Creature upon Earth; you
shall then presently impart your Mind to your Friend, though in the
most remote and obscure Place of a populous City, and a Multitude of
other notable Experiments; but what exceeds all, you shall then have
the Discovery of a _New World_, and Abundance of rare and incredible
Secrets of Nature, which the Philosophers of former Ages never so much
as dreamt of; but I must be cautious in publishing these wonderful
Mysteries, till our Statesmen have considered how they may consist
with the Policy and good Government of our Country, and whether the
Fathers of the Church may not judge the divulging them prejudicial
to the Catholic Faith, which (by those Wonders I have seen above any
mortal Man before me) I am instructed to advance without Respect to any
temporal Advantage whatsoever.
But to proceed: This huffing Captain pretended much Discontent for the
Death of _Delgades_, who was indeed some Kin to him; however, he was
willing to be quiet if I would give him a thousand Ducats: I had now,
besides a Wife, two Sons, whom I was not willing to beggar, only to
satisfy the avaricious Humour of this Boaster, and so was necessitated
to take some other Course. I embarked in a stout Carrick bound for the
_East-Indies_, carrying the Value of two thousand Ducats to trade with,
leaving as much more for the Support of my Wife and Children behind,
whatever Misfortune might happen to me. In the _Indies_ I thrived
exceedingly, laying out my Stock in Diamonds, Emeralds, and Pearls,
which I bought at such easy Rates, that my Stock safely arriving in
_Spain_, (as I understood it did) must needs yield ten for one. But
having doubled _Cape Bona Esperanza_ in my Way home, I fell dangerously
sick, expediting nothing but Death, which had undoubtedly happened, but
that we just then recovered the blessed Isle of St. _Hellens_, the only
Paradise I believe on Earth, for Healthfulness of Air, and Fruitfulness
of Soil, producing all Necessaries for the Life of Man. It is about
16 Leagues in Compass, and has no firm Land or Continent within 300
Leagues, nay not so much as an Island within an hundred Leagues of
it, so that it may seem a Miracle of Nature, that out of so vast and
tempestuous an Ocean, such a small Rock or Piece of Ground should arise
and discover itself. On the South is a good Harbour, and near it divers
small Houses built by the _Portuguese_ to accommodate Strangers, with
a pretty Chapel handsomely beautified with a Tower, and Bell therein.
Near it is a Stream of excellent fresh Water, divers handsome Walks,
planted on both Sides with Orange, Lemon, Pomegranate, Almond-Trees
and the like, which bear Fruit all the Year, as do also divers others.
There are Store of Garden Herbs, with Wheat, Pease, Barley, and most
Kinds of Pulse; but it chiefly aboundeth with Cattle and Fowl, as
Goats, Swine, Sheep, Partridges, wild Hens, Pheasants, Pigeons, and
wild Fowl beyond Credit; but especially about _February_ and _March_
are to be seen huge Flocks of a kind of wild Swans, (whereof I shall
have Occasion to speak more hereafter) who like our Cuckows and
Nightingales, go away at a certain Season, and are no more seen that
Year.
On this happy Island did they set me ashore with a Negro to attend
me, where I recovered my Health, and continued a whole Year, solacing
myself for want of human Society with Birds and brute Beasts; _Diego_
my Black moor was forced to live in a Cave at the West End of the Isle,
for had we dwelt together, Victuals would not have been so plenty with
us; but now, if one succeeded well in hunting or fowling, the other
would find Means to treat him, and if both missed, we were fain to
look out sharply; but this seldom happened, since no Creature there
fears a Man more than a Goat or Cow, whereby I easily tamed divers
Kinds of Birds and Beasts by only muzzling them, so that till they came
either to me or _Diego_ they could not feed. At first I much delighted
in a Kind of Partridges, and a tame Fox, whereof I made good Use for
if I had Occasion to confer with _Diego_, I would take one of them
muzzled and hungry, and tying a Note about his Neck, beat him from
me, whereupon he would strait away to _Diego_'s Cave, and if he were
not there, would beat about till he found him, yet this Conveyance
being not without some Inconvenience, I persuaded _Diego_, (who tho'
a Fellow of good Parts, was content to be ruled by me) to remove to a
Cape on the North-west Part of the Island, being though a League off,
yet within Sight of my House and Chapel, and so when the Weather was
fair, we could by Signals declare our Minds to each other in an Instant
either by Night or Day, wherein we took much Pleasure. If in the Night
I would signify any Thing to him, I set up a Light in the Bell Tower,
which was a pretty large-Room with a fair Window well glazed, and
the Walls within plaistered white, so that though the Light were but
small, it made a great Show; after this Light had stood half an Hour,
I covered it, and then if I saw any Signal of Light again from my
Companion I knew he waited for my Notice, and so by hiding and shewing
my Light according to the Agreement betwixt us, I certified him of
what I pleased. In the Day I advertised him by Smoke, Dust, and other
refined Ways.
After a while I grew weary of it as too painful, and again used my
winged Messengers, upon the Shore, about the Mouth of our River, I
found Store of a kind of wild Swans feeding upon Prey, both of Fish and
Birds, and which is more strange; having one Claw like an Eagle, and
the other like a Swan. These Birds breeding here in infinite Numbers,
I took thirty or forty of them young, and bred them up by Hand for
Recreation; yet not without some Thoughts of that Experiment which I
after put in Practice. These being strong and able to continue a great
Flight, I taught them first to come at Call afar off, not using any
Noise, but only shewing them a white Cloth; and here I found it true
what Plutarch affirms, That Creatures which eat Flesh are more docible
than others. 'Tis wonderful to think what Tricks I taught them ere they
were a Quarter old, amongst others I used them by Degrees to fly with
Burdens, wherein I found them able beyond Belief, and a white Sheet
being displayed to them by _Diego_, upon the Side of a Hill, they would
carry from me to him Bread, Flesh, or whatever I pleased, and upon the
like Calf come to me again. Having proceeded thus far, I consulted how
to join a Number of them together, so as to carry a heavier Weight,
which if I could compass, I might enable a Man to be carried safely
in the Air from one Place to another. I puzzled my Wits extremely
with this Thought, and upon Trial found, that if many were put to the
bearing of one great Burthen, by reason it was impossible all of them,
should rise together just at one Instant, the first that rise finding
himself stayed by a Weight heavier than he could stir, would soon give
over, and so the second, third, and all the rest. I contrived at last
a Way whereby each might rise with only his own Proportion of Weight,
I fastened about each _Gansa_ a little Pulley of Cork, and putting a
String of a just Length through it, I fastened one End to a Block of
almost eight Pounds Weight, and tied a two Pound Weight to the other
End of the String, and then causing the Signal to be erected, they all
arose together, being four in Number, and carried away my Block to the
Place appointed. This hitting so luckily, I added two or three Birds
more, and made Trial of their carrying a Lamb, whose Happiness I much
envied, that he should be the first living Creature to partake of such
an excellent Device.
At length after divers Trials, I was surprized with a great Longing
to cause myself to be carried in the same Manner, _Diego_ my Moor was
likewise possessed with the same Desire, and had I not loved him well,
and wanted his Service, I should have resented his ambitious Thought;
for I count it greater Honour to have been the first _Flying Man_,
than to be another _Neptune_ who first adventured to sail on the Sea.
Yet seeming not to understand his Intention, I only told him, that all
my _Gansas_ were not strong enough to carry him, being a Man though
of no great Bulk, yet twice heavier than myself. Having prepared all
Necessaries, I one Time placed myself and, all my Utensils on the Top
of a Rock at the River's Mouth, and putting myself upon my Engine at
full Sea, I caused _Diego_ to advance the Signal, whereupon my Birds,
twenty-five in Number, rose all at once, and carried me over lustily to
the Rock on the other Side, being about a Quarter of a League, I chose
this Time and Place, because if any Thing had, fallen out contrary to
Expectation, the worst that could happen was only falling into the
Water; and being able to swim well, I hoped to receive little Hurt in
my Fall. When I was once safe over, O how did my Heart even swell with
Joy and Admiration at my own Invention; how often, did I with myself
in the Midst of _Spain_, that I might fill the World with the Fame of
my Glory and Renown? Every Hour I had a longing Desire for the coming
of the _Indian_ Fleet to take me home with them, which then staid
three Months beyond their usual Time: At length they arrived, being
three Carricks much weather-beaten, the Men sick and weak, and so were
constrained to refresh themselves in our Island a whole Month. The
Admiral was called _Alphonso de Xima_, a valiant, wise Man, desirous
of Glory, and worthy better Fortune than afterwards befel him; to him
I discovered my Device of the Gansas; being satisfied, that it was
impossible otherwise to persuade him to take many Birds into his Ship,
who for the Niceness of their Provision would be more troublesome than
so many Men; yet I adjured him by Oaths and Persuasions to be secret
in the Business, though I did not much doubt it, alluring myself he
durst not impart the Experiment, to any before our King were acquainted
therewith. I had more Apprehension left Ambition, and the Desire of
gaining to himself the Honour of so admirable an Invention, should
tempt, him to dispatch me. However I was forced to run the Risque
unless I would adventure the Loss of my Birds, the like whereof for my
Purpose were not to be had in Christendom, nor was I sure ever to bring
up others to serve my Turn.
It happened all these Doubts were causeless, the Man I believe was
honest, but the Misfortune we met with prevented all these Thoughts.
Thursday, _June_ 21, 1599, we set Sail for _Spain_, I having allowed me
a convenient Cabin for my Birds, and Engine, which the Captain would
have persuaded me to have left behind, and it was a Wonder I did not,
but my good Fortune saved my Life, for after two Months Sail we met
with an _English_ Fleet about 10 Leagues from the Island of _Teneriff_,
one of the _Canaries_, famous for a Hill therein called _Pico_, which
is seen at Sea above an hundred Leagues off. We had aboard five Times
their number of Men, all in Health, and were well provided with
Ammunition; yet finding them resolved to fight, and knowing what
infinite Riches we carried, concluded it better if possible to escape,
than by encountering a Crew of desperate Fellows, to hazard not only
our Lives, which a Man of Courage does not value, but the Estates of
many poor Merchants, who I am afraid were undone by the Miscarriage
of this Business. Our Fleet consisted of five Sail, that is, three
Carricks, a Bark, and a Caravel, who coming from St. _Thomas Isle_, had
in an ill Hour overtaken us some Days before. The _English_ had three
Ships well provided, who no sooner spied but presently engaged us, and
changing their Course, endeavoured to bring us under their Lee, which
they might easily do as the Wind then flood, they being light nimble
Vessels, as _English_ Ship's generally are; ours heavy, deep laden,
and foul with the Sea; So our Captain resolved, wisely enough it may
be, not neither valiantly nor fortunately, to fly, commanding us to
disperse ourselves. The Caravel by too much Haste fell upon one of the
Carricks and bruised her so, that one of the _English_ easily fetched
her up and entered her, the Caravel sinking before our Eyes. The Bark
escaped unpursued, and another, of our Carricks after some Chase was
given over by the Enemy, who expecting a sufficient Booty of us, and
getting us between them, fell upon us with much Fury; our Captain
hereupon gave Direction to run ashore upon _Teneriff_, the Port whereof
we could not recover, saying, "That he hoped to save Part of the Goods,
and some of our Lives, and he had rather the rest should be lost, than
all fall into the Mercy of our Foes."
When I heard this Resolution, observing the Sea to work high, and
knowing all the Coast to be so full of Rocks and Shoals, that it was
impossible our Ship should come near the Land, unless broken into a
thousand Pieces, I represented to the Captain the Desperateness of
the Attempt, wishing him rather to try the Kindness of the Enemy,
than throw away himself and so many brave Men; but he would by no
Remonstrances be removed from his Resolution, therefore finding it high
Time to shift for myself, I locked up my little Casket of Jewels, which
putting into my Sleeve, I then betook me to my _Gansas_, and having
harnessed them to my Engine, and put myself thereon, supposing, as
indeed it happened, that when the Ship should split, my Birds, though
they wanted their Signal, yet for saving their own Lives, which Nature
hath taught all Creatures to preserve, would make toward Land, which
fell out according to my Expectation; the People in the Ship wondered
what I was doing, none being acquainted with the use of my Birds but
the Captain, _Diego_ being in the other Ship which fled away unpursued;
we were about half a League from Land, when our Carrick struck upon
a Rock, and split to Pieces, upon which I let loose the Reins to my
Birds, having first placed myself upon the Top of the Deck, and with
the Shock they all arose carrying me fortunately to the Land; of which
you need not doubt but I was very joyful, though it was a miserable
Sight to behold my Friends and Acquaintance in that woful Distress,
of whom yet many escaped better than they expected, for the _English_
launching out their Cock-boats, discovered more generous Tempers than
we are pleased to allow them, taking Compassion of their Calamity,
and endeavouring with all Diligence to save them from the Fury of the
Waves, though with much Danger to themselves, among others they took up
our Captain, who, as Father _Pacio_ since told me, having put himself
with twelve others into the Cock-boat, was forced to yield to one
Captain _Raymund_, who carried him and our Pilot along with them in
their Voyage to the _East-Indies_, whither they were bound, but it was
their hard Fate, by a Breach of the Sea near Cape _Buona Esperanca_, to
be swallowed of the merciless Waves, whole Rage they awhile before had
so hardly escaped; the rest as I likewise heard, who were about twenty
six Persons they took into their Ship, and set them on Land at _Cape
Verde_.
As for myself, being now ashore in an Island inhabited by _Spaniards_,
I reckoned I was safe, but found myself mistaken, for it was my hap to
pitch upon that Part of the Isle where the _Pike_ begins to rise, which
is inhabited by a Savage People who live upon the Sides of that Hill,
the Top whereof is for the most Part covered with Snow, and formerly
accounted, for its Steepness, inaccessible, either for Man or Beast,
yet these Savages fearing the _Spaniards_ keep as near the Top as they
can, never coming down into the fruitful Vallies but to seek for Booty;
a Crew of these Outlaws happened to spy me soon after I landed, and
thinking they had got a Prize, approached me with all Speed; I guess
their Design before they came within half a Mile, when perceiving them
come down the Hill directly toward me, with long Staves and other
Weapons, I thought it necessary to secure myself from these Villains,
who out of Hatred to us _Spaniards_ would have cut me to Pieces; the
Country was sandy, but the _Pike_ beginning to lift up itself, I espied
in the Side a white Cliff, which I Hoped my _Ganzas_ Would take for
a Mark, and being put up, would make all that way, whereby I might
be carried so far, that those barbarous Rascals should not overtake
me, before I got to some _Spaniard_'s House, or hid myself, till by
the Covert of the Night I might travel to _Laguna_, the chief City of
the Island, three Miles off. So I settled myself upon my Engine, and
let loose the Reins to my _Gansas_, who by good Fortune took all one
Course, tho' not just the Way I aimed at. But what of that! O Reader
prick up thy Ears, and prepare thyself to hear the strangest Chance
that ever happened to any Mortal, and which I know thou wilt not have
the Grace to believe till thou seest the like Experiment, which I doubt
not in a short Time may be performed. My _Gansas_, like so many Horses
that had gotten the Bit between their Teeth, made not their Flight
toward the Cliff I intended, though I used my wonted Means to direct
the Leader the Flock that Way, but with Might and Main took up toward
the Top of the _Pike_, and never stopt till they came there, a Place in
vulgar Estimation (though since experimentally contradicted) fifteen
Miles in Height. What kind of Place this was I would gladly relate, but
that I hasten to Matters of greater Importance: When I was set down
there, my poor _Gansas_ fell to panting, blowing, and gaping for Breath
as if they would all have died, so I did not trouble them awhile,
forbearing to draw them in, which they never used to endure without
struggling, but little did I expect what followed.
It was now the Season that these Birds take their Flight away, as
our Cuckows and Swallows do in _Spain_ towards _Autumn_, and as I
afterwards found, being mindful of their usual Voyage, just when I
began to settle myself to take them in, they with one Consent rose up,
and having no other higher Place to make toward, to my unspeakable Fear
and Amazement, struck bolt upright, and never left towring upward,
still higher and higher, for the Space, as I guest, of an Hour, after
which I thought they laboured less than before, till at length, ah
wonderful! they remained immoveable, as steadily as if they had sat
upon so many Perches; the Lines slacked, neither I, nor the Engine
moved at all, but continued still, as having no Manner of Weight. I
found then by Experience, what no Philosopher ever dreamt of, namely,
that those Things we call heavy do not fall towards the Center of the
Earth as their natural Place, but are drawn by a secret Property of the
Globe of the Earth, or rather something within it, as the Load-stone
draweth Iron, which is within the Compass of its attractive Beams. For
though my Gansas could continue unmoved, without being sustained by
any Thing but the Air, as easily and quietly as a Fish in the Water,
yet if they forced themselves never so little, it is impossible to
imagine with what Swiftness they were carried, either Upward, Downward,
or Sideways; I must ingenuously confess my Horror and Amazement in
this Place was such, that had I not been armed with a true _Spanish_
Resolution, I should certainly have died for Fear.
The next Thing that disturbed me was the Swiftness of the Motion, which
was so extraordinary, that it almost stopt my Breath, if I should liken
it to an Arrow out of a Bow, or a Stone thrown down from the Top of
an high Tower, it would come vastly short of it; another Thing was
exceeding troublesome to me, that is the Illusions of Devils and wicked
Spirits, who the first Day of my Arrival came about me in great Numbers
in the Likeness of Men and Women, wondering at me like so many Birds
about an Owl, and speaking several Languages which I understood not,
till at last I met with some that spoke good _Spanish_, some _Dutch_,
and others _Italian_, all which I understood and here I had only a
Touch of the Sun's Absence once for a short Time, having him ever after
in my Sight. Now though my _Gansas_ were entangled in my Lines, yet
they easily seized upon divers Kinds of Flies and Birds, especially
Swallows and Cuckows, whereof there were Multitudes, even like Motes
in the Sun, though I never saw them eat any Thing at all. I was much
obliged to those, whether Men or Devils I know not, who among divers
Discourses told me, "If I would follow their Directions, I should not
only be carried, safe Home, but be assured to command at all, Times
all the Pleasures of that Place." To which Motion, not daring to give
a flat Denial, I desired Time to consider, and withal indebted them,
(though I felt no Hunger at all, which may seem strange) to help me
to some Victuals, lead I should starve in my Journey so they readily
brought me very good Flesh and Fish of several Sorts, and well dressed,
but that it was extreme fresh without any Relish of Salt. Wines
likewise I tasted of divers Kinds as good as any in Spain and Beer no
better in all _Antwerp_. They advised me, that while I had Opportunity
I should make my Provisions, telling me, that till the next _Thursday_
they could help me to no more, at which Time they would find Means to
carry me back, and set me safe in _Spain_, in any Place I would desire,
provided I would become one of their Fraternity, and enter into such
Covenants as they had made to their Captain and Master, whom they would
not name: I answered civily, "I saw little Reason to rejoice in such an
Offer, desiring them to be mindful of me as Occasion served;" so for
that Time I was rid of them having first furnished my Pockets with as
much Victuals as I could thrust in, among which I would be sure to find
a Place for a small Bottle of good Canary.
I shall now declare the Quality of the Place wherein I was: The Clouds
I perceived to be all under between me and the Earth. The Stars,
because it was always Day, I saw at all Times alike, not shining
bright, as we see in the Night upon Earth, but of a whitish Colour,
like the Moon with us in the Day-Time, those that were seen, which
were not many, shewed far greater than with us, yea, as I guessed no
less than ten Times bigger: As for the Moon, being then within two
Days of the Change, she appeared of an huge and dreadful Greatness.
It is not to be forgot, that no Stars appeared but on that Part of
the Hemisphere next the Moon, and the nearer to her, the larger they
appeared again; whether I lay quiet and rested, or were carried in the
Air, I perceived myself to be always directly between the Moon and the
Earth, whereby 'tis plain, that my _Gansas_ took their Way directly
toward the Moon, and that when we rested, as we did at first for many
Hours, either we were insensibly carried round about the Globe of the
Earth, though I perceived no such Motion, or else that, according to
the Opinion of _Copernicus_, the Earth is carried about, and turneth
round perpetually, from West to East, leaving to the Planets only that
Motion which the Astronomers call natural, and is not upon the Poles
of the Equinoctial, commonly called the Poles of the World, but upon
those of the Zodiac; the Air in that Place I found without any Wind,
and exceeding temperate, neither Hot nor Cold, where neither the Sun
Beams had any Object to reflect upon, nor the Earth and Water appear
to affect the Air with their natural Quality of Coldness; as for
the Philosophers attributing Heat and Moisture to the Air, I always
esteem'ed it a Fancy: Lastly, I remember that after my Departure from
the Earth, I never felt either Hunger or Thirst, whether the Purity of
the Air, freed From the Vapours of the Earth and Water, might yield
Nature sufficient Nourishment, or what else might be the Cause I cannot
determine, but so I found it, though I was perfectly in Health both of
Body and Mind, even above my usual Vigour.
Some Hours after the Departure of that Devilish Company, my _Gansas_
began to bestir themselves, still directing their Course toward the
Globe or Body of the Moon, making their Way with such incredible
Swiftness, that I conceive they advanced little less than fifty Leagues
in an Hour, in which Passage I observed three Things very remarkable,
one that the farther we went the less the Globe of the Earth appeared
to us, and that of the Moon still larger: Again the Earth, which I
had ever in mine Eye, seemed to mask itself with a kind of Brightness
like another Moon, and as we discern certain Spots or Clouds as it
were in the Moon, so did I then see the like in the Earth; but whereas
the Form of these Spots in the Moon are always the same, these on the
Earth seemed by Degrees to change every Hour; the Reason whereof seems
to be, that whereas the Earth according to his natural Motion (for
such a Motion I am now satisfied (he hath according to the Opinion of
_Copernicus_) turns round upon her own Axis every four and twenty Hours
from West to East) I should at first see in the Middle of the Body of
this new Star the Earth, a Spot like a Pear, with a Morsel bit out on
one Side, in some Hours I should observe this Spot move away toward
the East: This no doubt was the main Land of _Africa_; then might I
perceive a great shining Brightness in that Place which continued about
the same Time, and was questionless the vast _Atlantick_ Ocean: After
this succeeded a Spot almost Oval, just as we see _America_ described
in our Maps, then another immense Clearness, representing _Mare del
zar_ or the _South Sea_; lastly, a number of Spots like the Countries
and lands in the _East-Indies_, so that it seemed to me no other than
an huge mathematical Globe turned round leisurely before me, wherein
successively all the Countries of our earthly World were within
twenty-four Hours represented to my View, and this was all the Means I
now had to number the Days, and reckon the Time.
I could now wish that Philosophers and Mathematicians would confess
their own Blindness, who have hitherto made the World believe that the
Earth hath no Motion, and to confirm it, are forced to attribute to
every one of the celestial Bodies two Motions directly contrary to each
other, one from the East to the West, to be performed in twenty-four
Hours with an impetuous rapid Motion; the other from West to East in
several Proportions: O incredible Supposition! that those huge Bodies
of the fixed Stairs in the highest Orb, whereof they confess divers,
are above an hundred Times bigger than the whole Earth, should like so
many Nails in a Cart-wheel be whirled about in so short a Time; whereas
it is many thousand Years, no less (say they) than thirty thousand,
before that Orb finishes his Course from West to East, which they call
his natural Motion; now whereas they allow their natural Course from
West to East to every one of them, therein they do well; the Moon
performs it in seven and twenty Days, the _Sun, Venus_ and _Mercury_ in
a Year or thereabout, _Mars_ in three Years, _Jupiter_ in twelve, and
_Saturn_ in thirty. But to attribute to these celestial Bodies contrary
Motions at once, is an absurd Conceit, and much more to imagine, that
the same Orb wherein the fixed Stars are, whose natural, Course takes
up so many thousands of Years, should be turned about every twenty-four
Hours. I will not go so far as _Copernicus_, who makes, the Sun the
Center of the Earth and immoveable, neither will I be positive in any
Thing, only this I say, allow the Earth its Motion, which these Eyes
of mine can testify to be true, and all those Absurdities are removed,
every one having only his own single and proper Motion.
But where am I? I promised an History, and am unawares turned Disputer.
One Accident more befell me worth mentioning, that during my Stay I saw
a kind of a reddish Cloud coming toward me, and continually approaching
nearer, which at last I perceived was nothing but a huge Swarm of
Locusts. He that reads the Discourses of learned Men concerning them,
as _John Leo_ of _Africa_, and others who relate that they are seen in
the Air several Days before they fall on the Earth, and adds thereto
this Experience of mine, will easily conclude, that they can come from
no other Place than the Globe of the Moon. But now give me leave to go
on quietly in my Journey for eleven or twelve Days, during all which
Time I was carried directly toward the Globe or Body of the Moon, with
such a violent Whirling as is inexpressible, for I cannot imagine a
Bullet out of a Cannon could make Way through the vaporous and muddy
Air near the Earth with half that Celerity; which is the more strange,
since my _Gansas_ moved their Wings but now and then, and sometimes for
a quarter of an Hour not at all, only holding them stretched out, as
we see Kites, and Eagles sometimes do for a short Space, during which
Pauses, I suppose they took their Naps, and Times of Sleeping, for
other Times I could perceive they never had any; for myself I was so
fastened to mine Engine, that I durst slumber enough to serve my Turn,
which I took with as great Ease, as if I had lain on the best Down-bed
in _Spain_.
After eleven Days Passage in this violent Flight, I perceived we began
to approach to another Earth (if I may so call it) being the Globe or
very Body of that Star which we call the Moon. The first Difference I
found between this and our Earth was, that it appeared in its natural
Colours, as soon as ever I was free from the Attraction of the Earth;
whereas with us, a Thing a League or two from us, puts on that deadly
Colour of Blue. I then perceived also that this World was the greatest
Part covered with a huge mighty Sea, those Parts only being dry Land
which, are to us somewhat darker than the rest of her Body, I mean,
what the Country People call, _The Man in the Moon_, and that Part
which shines so bright is another Ocean besprinkled with Islands, which
for their Smallness we cannot discern so far off; so that the Splendor
which appears to us in the Night, is nothing but the Reflection of the
Sun-beams returned to us out of the Water as from a Lookin'glass. How
much this disagrees with what our Philosophers teach in the Schools is
evident: But alas, how many of their Errors hath Time and Experience in
this our Age, and among other vain Conjectures, who hath not hitherto
believed the upper Region of the Air to be very hot; as being next,
forsooth, to the natural Place of the Element of Fire; meer Vanities,
Fancies and Dreams: For after I was once free from the attractive Beams
of that tyrannous Load-stone the Earth, I found the Air altogether
serene, without Winds, Rain, Mists or Clouds, neither hot nor cold,
but constantly pleasant, calm and comfortable, till my Arrival in that
_New World of the Moon_ as for that Region of Fire, our Philosophers
talk of, I heard no News of it, mine Eyes have sufficiently informed me
there is no such Thing.
The Earth had now by turning about shewed me all her Parts twelve
Times, when I finished my Course; for when my Reckoning it seemed to
be (as indeed it was) _Tuesday, September_ 11, (at which Time the Moon
being two Days old was in the twentieth Degree of _Libra_) my _Gansas_
seemed by one Consent to stay their Course, and rested for certain
Hours, after which they took their Flight, and in less than an Hour
set me on the Top of an high Hill in that _Other World_, where many
wonderful Things were presented to my Sight. For I observed first, that
though the Globe of the Earth appeared much greater there than the Moon
doth to us, even three Times bigger, yet all Things there were ten,
twenty, yea thirty Times larger than ours; their Trees were thrice as
high, and above five Times, broader and thicker; so were their Herbs,
Birds, and Beasts, though I cannot well compare them to ours, because I
found not any kind of Beast or Bird there which any way resembled ours,
except Swallows, Nightingales, Cuckoos, Woodcocks, Batts, and some
kind of Wild Fowl: And likewise such Birds as my _Gansas_, all which,
as I now perceived, spend their Time in their Absence from us, in that
World, neither do they differ in any Thing from ours, but are the very
same kind.
No sooner was I upon the Ground, but I found myself extreme hungry;
stepping then to the next Tree, I fastened my Engine and _Ganzas_
thereto, and in great Haste fell to examining my Pockets for the
Victuals I had reserved there; but to my great Surprize and Vexation,
instead of Partridges and Capons, which I thought I had hoarded there,
I found nothing but a Medley of dry Leaves, Goats Hair, Sheep or Goats
Dung, Moss, and the like; my Canary-wine was turned, and stunk like
Horse-piss: O the Villainy and Cheats of these cursed Spirits, whose
Assistance if I had depended on, in what a Condition had I been! While
I stood musing at this strange Metamorphosis, on a sudden I heard my
_Gansas_ fluttering behind me, and looking back, I spied them falling
greedily upon a Shrub within the Reach of their Lines, whose Leaves
they fed earnestly upon, whereas before I had never seen them eat any
green Thing whatever; so stepping to the Shrub; I put a Leaf to my
Mouth; the Taste was so excellent; that I cannot express it, and if I
had not with Discretion moderated my Appetite, I should have forfeited
thereon; yet it happened, to be a good Bait both for me and my Birds,
when we had most Need of Refreshment.
Scarce had we ended our Banquet, when I saw myself surrounded with a
strange kind of People both in Feature, Manners, and Apparel; their
Stature was very different, but they Were generally twice as high as
ours; their Shape and Countenance pleasant, and their Habit hardly to
be described; for I never saw either Cloth, Silk, nor other Stuff,
like that whereof their Cloths were made; neither can I possibly
relate their Colour, they being in a manner all cloathed alike; it was
neither Black, White, Yellow, Red nor Blue, nor any Colour composed of
these: If you ask what was it then? I must tell you, it was a Colour
never seen in our earthly World, and so neither to be described nor
conceived by us; for as it is hard to make a Man born blind understand
the Difference between Green and Blue, so neither can I decypher this
Moon-colour, as having no Affinity with any I ever beheld; I can only
say it was the most glorious and delightful that can be imagined,
neither was any Thing more pleasant to me during my Stay there.