Chapter XXII.

Rules for the Indian tongue called Poconchi, or Pocoman.

A Table of the Chapters of this Booke, with the Contents of the most Remarkeable things in them.

_To His Excellency_

Sr. THOMAS FAIRFAX Knight, Lord _FAIRFAX_ of CAMERON, CAPTAIN-GENERALL of the Parliaments Army;

And of all their Forces in _ENGLAND_, and the Dominion of _WALES_.

May it please your EXCELLENCY,

_The Divine Providence hath hitherto so ordered my life, that for the greatest part thereof, I have lived (as it were) in exile from my native Countrey: which happened, partly, by reason of my education in the Romish Religion, and that in forraign Universities; and partly, by my entrance into Monasticall orders. For twelve years space of which time, I was wholly disposed of in that part of_ America _called_ New-Spain, _and the parts adjacent. My difficult going thither, being not permitted to any, but to those of the Spanish Nation; my long stay there; and lastly my returning home, not onely to my Country, but to the true knowledg and free-profession of the Gospels purity, gave me reason to conceive, That these great mercies were not appointed me by the heavenly Powers, to the end I should bury my Talent in the earth, or hide my light under a bushell, but that I should impart what I there saw and knew to the use and benefit of my English Country-men; And which the rather I held my self obliged unto, because in a manner nothing hath been written of these Parts for these hundred years last past, which is almost ever since the first Conquest thereof by the_ Spaniards, _who are contented to lose the honour of that wealth and felicity they have there since purchased by their great endevours, so they may enjoy the safety of retaining what they have formerly gotten in peace and security. In doing whereof I shall offer no Collections, but such as shall arise from mine own observations, which will as much differ from what formerly hath been hereupon written, as the picture of a person grown to mans estate, from that which was taken of him when he was but a Childe; or the last hand of the Painter, to the first or rough draught of the picture. I am told by others, that this may prove a most acceptable work; but I doe tell my self that it will prove both lame and imperfect, and therefore had need to shelter my self under the shadow of some high protection, which I humbly pray your Excellency to afford me; nothing doubting, but as God hath lately made your Excellency the happy instrument, not onely of saving my self, but of many numbers of godly and well-affected people in this County of_ Kent, _(where now I reside by the favour of the Parliament) from the imminent ruine and destruction plotted against them by their most implacable enemies; so the same God who hath led your Excellency through so many difficulties towards the settlement of the peace of this Kingdom, and reduction of_ Ireland, _will, after the perfecting thereof (which God of his mercy hasten) direct your Noble thoughts to employ the Souldiery of this Kingdom upon such just and honourable designes in those parts of_ America, _as their want of action at home may neither be a burden to themselves nor the Kingdome. To your Excellency therefore I offer a_ New-World, _to be the subject of your future pains, valour, and piety, beseeching your acceptance of this plain but faithfull relation of mine, wherein your Excellency, and by you the English Nation shall see what wealth and honor they have lost by one of their narrow hearted Princes, who living in peace and abounding in riches, did notwithstanding reject the offer of being first discoverer of_ America; _and left it unto_ Ferdinando _of_ Arragon, _who at the same time was wholly taken up by the Warrs, in gaining of the City and Kingdome of_ Granada _from the_ Moores; _being so impoverished thereby, that he was compelled to borrow with some difficulty a few Crowns of a very mean man, to set forth_ Columbus _upon so glorious an expedition. And yet, if time were closely followed at the heels, we are not so farr behinde, but we might yet take him by the fore-top. To which purpose, our Plantations of the_ Barbadoes, St. Christophers, Mems, _and the rest of the_ Caribe-Islands, _have not onely advanced our journey the better part of the way; but so inured our people to the Clime of the_ Indies, _as they are the more inabled thereby to undertake any enterprise upon the firm Land with greater facility. Neither is the difficulty of the attempt so great, as some may imagine; for I dare be bold to affirm it knowingly, That with the same pains and charge which they have been at in planting one of those pettie Islands, they might have conquer'd so many great Cities, and large Territories on the main Continent, as might very well merit the title of a Kingdome. Our Neighbors the_ Hollanders _may be our example in this case; who whilst we have been driving a private Trade from Port to Port, of which we are likely now to be deprived, have conquered so much Land in the_ East _and_ West-Indies, _that it may be said of them, as of the_ Spaniards, That the Sunn never sets upon their Dominions. _And to meet with that objection by the way,_ That the Spaniard being intituled to those Countries, it were both unlawfull and against all conscience to dispossess him thereof. _I answer, that (the Popes donation excepted) I know no title he hath but force, which by the same title, and by a greater force may be repelled. And to bring in the title of_ First-discovery; _to me it seems as little reason, that the sailing of a_ Spanish _Ship upon the coast of_ India, _should intitle the King of_ Spain _to that Countrey, as the sayling of an_ Indian _or_ English _Ship upon the coast of_ Spain, _should intitle either the_ Indians _or_ English _unto the Dominion thereof. No question but the just right or title to those Countries appertains to the Natives themselves; who, if they shall willingly and freely invite the_ English _to their protection, what title soever they have in them, no doubt but they may legally transferr it or communicate it to others. And to say, That the inhumane butchery which the_ Indians _did formerly commit in sacrificing of so many reasonable Creatures to their wicked Idols, was a sufficient warrant for the_ Spaniards _to divest them of their Country; The same argument may by much better reason be inforced against the_ Spaniards _themselves, who have sacrificed so many millions of_ Indians _to the Idol of their barbarous cruelty, that many populous Islands and large Territories upon the main Continent, are thereby at this day utterly uninhabited, as_ Bartholomeo de las Casas, _the_ Spanish _Bishop of_ Guaxaca _in_ New-Spain, _hath by his Writings in Print sufficiently testified. But to end all disputes of this nature; since that God hath given the earth to the sons of Men to inhabite; and that there are many vast Countries in those parts, not yet inhabited either by_ Spaniard _or_ Indian, _why should my Country-men the_ English _be debarred from making use of that, which God from all beginning no question did ordain for the benefit of mankinde?_

_But I will not molest your Excellency with any further argument hereupon; rather offering my self, and all my weak endevours (such as they are) to be employed herein for the good of my Country; I beseech Almighty God to prosper your Excellency, Who am_

The most devoted and humblest of your Excellencies servants,

_THO. GAGE._

UPON This WORTHY WORK, _Of his most worthy Friend THE_ AUTHOR.

_Reader_, behold presented to thine eye, What us _Columbus_ off'red long agoe, Of the _New-World_ a new discoverie, Which here our Author doth so clearly show; That he the state which of these Parts would know, Need not hereafter search the plenteous store Of _Hackluit, Purchas_ and _Ramusio_, Or learn'd _Acosta's_ writings to look o're; Or what _Herera_ hath us told before, Which merit not the credit due from hence, Those being but reck'nings of anothers score. But these the fruits of self-experience: Wherein our Author useth not the sence Of those at home, who doe their judgments leave, And after wandring farr with vast expence, See many things, which they doe ne'r perceive; Laborious are by study much at home To know those Parts, which they came lately from. Less doth he use us as the late writ Books Of Journeys made unto the _Levant_-States; Wherein when we doe pry with curious looks, Of _Greece_ and _Troy_ to know the present fates; They tell us what _Thucidides_ relates, What _Strabo_ writes, what _Homer_ crown'd with bayes, What Authors more, who have out-worn their daies, Besides what _Plutarch_ and _Polibius_ sayes: So what they were, not what they are, they sing, And shew their reading, not their travailing. But here our Author neither doth us tell, Or to us shew one inch of Sea or Ground, Unless such acts which in his time befell, Or what his eyes saw the Horizon bound: He uttereth nought at all he heard by sound, He speaks not of a City or a Street, But where himself hath often gone the round, And measured o're with his industrious feet. And yet it must acknowledg'd be for true, Since worthy _Hawkins_, and the famous _Drake_ Did first present unto the English view This New-found-world, for great _Eliza's_ sake; Renowned _Rawleigh_ twice did undertake With labours great, and dangers not a few, A true discovery of these Parts to make, And thereof writ both what he saw and knew. But as the man who in a Ship doth pass Our narrow Seas, the flowings of each tide, The Ships course, soundings, turnings of the glass, What Land he makes on North or Southern side, He may impart: But who they be abide, Or what Religion, Language, or what Nation Possess each Coast; since he hath never tride, How can he make thereof a true Relation? So those who have describ'd these Parts before, Of Trade, Winds, Currents, Hurican's doe tell, Of Headlands, Harbours, tendings of the shore, Of Rocks and Isles: wherein they might as well Talk or a Nut, and onely shew the shell; The kernell neither tasted, touch'd nor seen Had yet remain'd; but that it so befell, That these Relations to us made have been; Differing as much from what before y'have heard, As doth a Land-Map from a Seamans Card. But how these truths reveal'd to us should bee, When none but _Spaniards_ to those Parts may go; Which was establish'd by severe Decree, Lest Forain people should their secrets know; This Order yet to be neglected so, As that our Author had permission free, Whose Nation too they count their greatest foe, Seemeth almost a miracle to me. Sure the prescience of that power Divine, Which safely to those parts did him convey, Did not for nought his constant heart incline There twelve whole years so patiently to stay: That he each thing exactly might survay, Then him return'd, nay more did turn to us, And to him shew'd of bliss the perfect way, Which of the rest seems most miraculous. For had the last of these not truly been, These fair Relations we had never seen. Nor can I think but this most usefull Book In time to come, may like some new-born Starr, Direct such Wisemen as therein will look, And shew their way unto these Regions farr. And though we now lie sunk in Civill war, Yet you the worthy Patriots of this Land, Let not your hearts be drowned in despair, And so your future happiness withstand. For time will come you shall enjoy a Peace, But then no longer you must joy in sinn, When they no more shall raign, these Wars shall cease, And then your after bliss shall soon beginn. The fiery trialls which you now are in, In stead of foes shall prove your best of friends, And you from servile base affection win, To fit your hearts for high and Nobler ends: Your Drums which us'd to beat their Martiall dance Upon the banks of _Garone, Seine_ and _Soane_; Whilst you trode measures through the Realm of _France_, Doe now at home (Oh grief!) on both sides groane, As if they did your ill spilt blood bemoane; Which long agoe with _Richard, England's_ King, When he the holy Warr maintain'd alone, Their dreadfull notes did through _Judea_ ring. Now shall the tawnie _Indians_ quake for fear, Their direfull march to beat when they doe hear; Your brave Red-Crosses on both sides display'd, The noble Badges of your famous Nation, Which you yet redder with your bloods have made, And dy'd them deep in drops of detestation. You shall again advance with reputation, And on the bounds of utmost Western shore Shall them transplant, and firmly fix their station, Where English Colours ne'r did fly before. Your well-built Ships, companions of the Sunn, As they were Chariots to his fiery beams, Which oft the Earths circumference have runn, And now lie moar'd in _Severn, Trent_, and _Tems_, Shall plough the Ocean with their gilded Stems, And in their hollow bottoms you convay To Lands inrich'd with gold, with pearls and gems, But above all, where many thousands stay Of wronged _Indians_, whom you shall set free From _Spanish_ yoke, and _Romes_ Idolatry.

All this and more by you shall sure be done, Yet I no Prophet, nor no Prophets sonne.

_THOMAS CHALONER._

A NEW SURVEY OF THE WEST-INDIES.

CHAP. I.

_How Rome doth yearly visit the American and Asian Kingdoms._

The policy, which for many yeares hath upheld the erring Church of _Rome_, hath clearly and manifestly been discovered by the many Errors which in severall times by sundry Synods or Generall Councells, (which commonly are but Apes of the Popes fancy, will, pleasure, and ambition) have been enacted into that Church. And for such purposes doth that man of Sinne, and Antichristian tyrant, keep constantly in _Rome_ so many poor Pensionary Bishops as hounds at his table, smelling out his ambitious thoughts, with whom he fills the Synods, when he calls them, charging them never to leave off barking and wearying out the rest of the Prelates, untill they have them all as a prey unto his proud and ambitious designes; from which if any of them dare to start, not onely their Pensions shall be surely forfeited, but their souls shall bee cursed, and they as Hereticks Anathematized with a Censure of Excommunication _latæ sententiæ_. Hence sprung that Master-piece of Policy, decreeing that the Pope alone should be above the Generall Councell, lest otherwise one Mans pride might be curbed by many heads joyned together; And secondly, that Synodicall definition, that the Pope cannot erre, that though the Councels power, wisdome and learning were all sifted into one mans brain, all points of faith straitned into one head and channell; yet the People should not stagger in any lawfull doubts, nor the learned sort follow any more the light of reason, or the sunshine of the Gospel, but all yeelding to blind Obedience, and their most holy Fathers infallibility, in the foggie and Cimmerian mist of ignorance, might secure their souls from erring, or deviating to the _Scylla_ or _Charybdis_ of Schism and Heresie. What judicious eye, that will not be blinded with the napkin of ignorance, doth not easily see that Policy only hath been the chief Actor of those damnable Opinions of Purgatory, Transubstantiation, Sacrifice though unbloody (as they term it) of the Mass, Invocation of Saints, their Canonization or installing of Saints into the kingdom of heaven, Indulgences, auricular Confession, with satisfactory Penance, and many such like: All which doubtles have been commanded as points of Faith, not so much to save those wretched souls, as to advance that crackt-brain head in the conceits of his Europæan wonderers, who long agoe were espyed out by the Spirit of _John_ wondring after the Beast, worshipping him for his power, and saying, _Who is like unto the Beast, who is able to make warre with him?_ Revel. 13. 3, 4. Thus can Policy invent a Purgatory, that a Pope may be sought from all parts of _Europe_, nay now from East and West _India's_, to deliver souls from that imaginary Fire which never God created, but he himself hath fancyed, that so much glory may be ascribed to him, and his power wondered at, who can plunge into torments, condemn to burning, and when he list, deliver out of fire. Much more would he be admired, and his goodnesse extolled, if he would deliver at once all those his Purgatory Prisoners without that Simoniacall receipt of money. But policy can afford an infinite price and value of a sacrifice of the Masse, to delude the ignorant people, that though they leave their whole estates to enrich Cloysters, and fat proud Prelates and Abbots; yet this is nothing, and comes farre short (being finite) to that infinite Sacrifice, which onely can and must deliver their scorching, nay broyling souls: And if this infinite Sacrifice be not enough, (which will not be enough, whereas Christs infinit satisfaction was not enough in the opinion in that erroneous Church) Policy will give yet power to a Pope _si divitiæ affluant_, if money and rich bribes abound, to grant such plenary Indulgences, which may upon one Saints day, or at such a Saints Altar, work that soul out, which lyeth lurking and frying in the deepest pit of Purgatory. O who is like unto the Beast? But will those that wonder at him, bee also wondred at as workers of wonders and miracles? Policy will give power to a Pope to canonize such, and set them at Gods right hand, fit to be prayed unto, and called upon as Judges of our necessities, and Auditors of our wants: But this honor must be given, after that the whole Colledge of Cardinalls have been clothed with new Purple Robes, and Loads of money brought to the Court of _Rome_; Witness those many thousand pounds, which the City of _Barcelona_, and the whole Country of _Catalonia_ spent in the Canonizing of _Raimundus de Pennafort_, a Dominican Fryer: Witnesse at least ten Millions, which I have been credibly informed, that the Jesuites spent for the canonization of their two Twins, _Ignatius Loiola_, and _Franciscus Xavier_, whom they call the East _India_ Apostle. And it is not seven years ago yet that it was my chance to travail from _Frankford_ in _Germany_ as far as _Millan_ in company of one Fryer _John Baptist_ a _Franciscan_, who told me, That was the fourth time of his going to _Rome_ from _Valencia_ in the Kingdome of _Arragon_ in _Spain_ about the Canonization of one _John Capistrano_ of the same Order; and that besides the great Almes which he had begged over many Countreys, (and in that journey went purposely to _Inspurg_ to the Prince _Leopoldo_ for his Almes and Letters of commendation to the Pope and Cardinals) he had spent of the City of _Valencia_ onely five thousand Duckets, and yet was not his Saint enthroned, as he desired, in heaven; But still money was wanting, and more demanded for the dignifying with a Saints title him, who had lived a Mendicant and begging Frier. Thus are those blinded Nations brought by Policy to run to _Rome_ with rich treasures, and thus doe they strive who shall have most Saints of their Countrey or Nation, though impoverishing themselves; whilst at _Rome_ ambition and Policy say not, It is enough, fit mates for the Horsleech his two daughters, crying, _Give, give, Prov._ 30. 15. Give, say they, and the rigid Penance justly to be imposed upon thee for thy sinnes most hainous, shall be extenuated and made easie for thee. Give, say they, and thou shalt be dispensed with to marry thy nearest Kinswoman or Kinsman. It would be a long story to insert here how the Popes Policy sucks out of _England_ our gold and silver for the authorizing of our Papists private Chambers and Altars for the gaining of Indulgences in them, and delivering of souls out of Purgatory, when Masses are said and heard at them. Thus hath _Romes_ policy blinded and deceived many of the _European_ Kingdomes; and with the same greedinesse gapes at _Asia_ and _America_. Who would not admire to see that at this day in _America_ onely, the Popes authority and usurped power is extended to as many Countreys as all _Europe_ containes, wherein no Religion but meer blinde Obedience and subjection to that Man of Sin is known? And daily may it more and more encrease, whereas the King of _Spain_ gloryeth to have received from the Pope power over those Kingdomes farr greater than any other Princes of _Europe_ have enjoyed from him. But the pity is, that what power these Princes have, they must acknowledge it from _Rome_, having given their own power and strength unto the Beast, _Revel._ 17. 13. suffering themselves to be divested of any Ecclesiasticall power over the Clergy, and unabled to tender any Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance to their own and naturall subjects, onely so farre as his Holinesse shall give them power. Which, Policy since the first Conquest of the West _India's_, and ambition to advance the Popes name, hath granted to the Kings of _Spain_, by a speciall title, naming those Kingdomes, _El Patrimonio Real_, The Royall Patrimony; upon this Condition, that the King of _Spain_ must maintain there the preaching of the Gospel, Fryers, Priests and Jesuites to preach it with all the erroneous Popish doctrines, which tend to the advancement of the Popes glory, power, and authority. So that what power hee hath divested himself of, and invested the Pope with; what power other Princes are divested of, and the King of _Spain_ in his Kingdomes of _Europe_, from medling in Ecclesiasticall affaires, or with Ecclesiasticall men; Arch-Bishops, Bishops, Preists, Jesuites, Monkes and Fryers; that same power by way of Royall Patrimony is conferred upon him in the _India's_ only. And this only politickly to maintain there Popery; else never would it have so much increased there; for poor Preists and mendicant Fryers would never have had means enough to be at the charges of sending yeerly Flockes and Sholes of Fryers thither, neither to keep and maintain them there; neither would the covetousnesse of the Popes themselves have afforded out of their full and rich treasures, means sufficient for the maintaning of so many thousand Preachers as at this day are preaching there, more _Rome_ and Antichrists name, then the name of Christ and the truth of the Gospel. And policy having thus opened way to those _American_ parts, the charges thus being laid upon the Crown of _Spain_, and the honour of a Royall Patrimony, with power over the Clergy thus conferred upon the Kings of _Spain_, how doth the Pope yeerly charge the Catholike King with troopes of Jesuites and Fryers to be conveyed thither? Now the Jesuites (the best scholars of _Romes_ policy) seeing this to bee thus setled between the Pope and the King of _Spain_, for the increasing of their Order, and to suppresse the increase of other Religions there, have thought first of a way of challenging all the _India's_ to themselves, alleadging that _Francis Xavierius_ companion of _Ignatius Loiola_ was the first Preacher that ever preached in the _East India's_, and so by right that they being of his profession ought only to be sent thither. But this their way being stopped by the opposition of all other Religious orders, especially by the solicitation of one Fryer _Diego Colliado_, a Dominican, as hereafter I will shew more largely: Now, secondly, their policy is to leane more to the Popes of _Rome_, then any other of those Orders, by a speciall Vow which they make above the three Vowes of other orders, Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience to their superiors; to wit, to be alwaies ready to go to preach when or whither soever the Pope shall send them, and to advance his name, defend his power in what parts soever, maugre whatsoever danger, or opposition. Thus though the remotenesse of _America_ may discourage other Orders from going thither to preach, and their freewill which is left unto them to make choice of so long and tedious a journey may retard their readinesse, and the dangers of the _Barbarians_ unwillingnesse to submit to a Popes power, and admit of a new Religion as superstitious as their own, may affright them from hazarding their lives among a barbarous, rude, and idolatrous people; yet if all others faile, the Pope, and the Jesuites being thus agreed, and the King of _Spain_ bound by the new Royall Patrimony, Preachers have nor, nor shall ever be wanting in those parts: And in stead of the old Jesuites and Preachers grown in age, yeerly are sent thither Missions (as they call them) either of Voluntiers, Fryers mendicants, Preists or Monkes, or else of forced Jesuites: All which entring once into the List and Bond of Missionaries, must abide there, and be maintained by the King of _Spain_ ten yeers. And whosoever before the ten yeers expired, shall desire to see _Spain_ again, or runagate-like shall return, may be constrained (if taken in _Spain_) to return again to the _India's_, as it happened whilst I lived in those parts, to one Fryer _Peter de Balcazar_ a Dominican, who privily flying back to _Spain_, was the year after shipped, and restored again to his forced service under the Pope of _Rome_. And thus doth policy open the wayes to those remote and forain parts of _America_. Thus hath policy wrought upon the Kings of _Spain_; and Jesuiticall policy meeting with Antichrists policy and Ambition, doth _Rome_ yeerly visit her new nursed Children, greeting that Infantile Church of _Asia_ and _America_ with troopes of messengers one after another, like _Jobs_ messengers, bringing under pretence of salvation, damnation and misery to their poor and wretched souls.

CHAP. II.

_Shewing that the_ Indians _wealth under a pretence of their Conversion hath corrupted the hearts of poor begging Fryers, with strife, hatred and ambition._

It is a most true and certain saying, _Odia Religionum sunt acerbissima_, hatred grounded in points and differences of Religion (let me adde, if ambition blow the fire to that hatred) is the most bitter and uncapable of reconciliation. Nay, it is an observation worth noting of some (see Doctor _Day_ upon the I _Cor._ 16. 9. Verse) that the neerer any are unto a conjunction in matters of Religion, and yet some difference retained, the deeper is the hatred; As hee observes, a Jew hates a Christian farre worse then hee doth a Pagan, or a Turke; a Papist hates a Protestant worse then hee doth a Jew, and a Formalist hates a Puritan worse then hee doth a Papist. No such hatred under heaven (saith hee) as that between a Formalist, and a Puritan, whereof our now Domestick and Civill Warres may bee a sad and woefull experience. A truth which made _Paul_ burst out into a lamentable complaint, I _Cor._ 16. 9. saying, _A great doore and effectuall is opened unto mee, and there are many adversaries_.

And as when the doore of true Faith once is opened, then Adversaries begin to swarme and rage; so in all points of false and fained Religion where the entrance to it is laid open, hatred and enmity will act their parts. But much more if with such pretended Religion, Wealth and Ambition as counterfeit Mates thrust hard to enter at the opened doore, what strife, hatred, and envy doe they kindle even in the hearts of such who have vowed poverty and the contempt of worldly wealth? I may adde to what hath beene observed above, that no hatred is comparable to that which is betweene a Jesuite and a Fryer, or any other of _Romes_ Religious Orders; And above all yet betweene a Jesuite, and a Dominican. The ambition and pride of Jesuites is inconsistent in a Kingdome or Common-wealth with any such as may bee equall to them in Preaching, Counsell or Learning. Therefore strive they so much for the education of Gentlemens Children in their Colledges, that by teaching the sonnes, the love of the fathers and mothers may bee more easily gained: and their love and good will thus gained, they may withall gaine to themselves whatsoever praise, honour, glory may bee fit to bee bestowed upon any other Ecclesiasticall Person. Which Policy and Ambition in them being so patent and knowne to all the World, hath stirred up in all other Religions a hatred to them uncapable ever of Reconciliation. This hath made them all to conspire against them, and to discover their unsatisfied covetousnesse in beguiling the rich widowes of what meanes hath beene left them by their deceased husbands, to erect and build those stately Colledges beyond the Seas, the sight whereof both outward and inward doth draw the ignorant people to resort more to their Churches and preaching then to any other. Thus whilest in _Venice_, they got the favour of one of the chief Senatours of that Common-wealth, they politickly drew him to make his will according to their will and pleasure, leaving to his son and heire no more then what they should think fit to afford him. But they appropriating to themselves the chiefest part of the young heires meanes, and with so proud a legacy thinking to overpower all other Orders, were by them opposed so, that the Will was called for by the whole State and Senatours of _Venice_, fully examined, and they commanded to restore to the heire the whole Estate as enjoyed by his Father. Well did that wise Senate conceive, that as one Noble man had been cheated by them of his fortunes, so might they one by one, and so at length the riches of _Venice_ might become a treasure onely for Jesuites to maintaine the pride and pompe of their glorious fabricks. And though those vowed servants to the Pope obtained his Excommunication against the whole Estate of _Venice_ upon non-complying with the foresaid Will and Testament; yet such was the preaching of all other Preists and Orders against them, that they caused the State to slight the Excommunication, and in lieu of making them heires of the deceased Senatours Estate, they shamefully banished them out of _Venice_. Thus also have the Preists and Fryers of _Biscaya_ in _Spain_ prevailed against the admitting of Jesuits into _San-Sebastian_, though by the favour of some they have in severall occasions obtained an house and erected a Bell to ring and summon in the People to their pretended Church and Colledge. Nay the very house wherein their Patron _Ignatius Loiola_ lived, have they often seriously offered to buy for a Colledge; yet such hath been the opposition of the Preists and Fryers of that Countrey, that they have dashed to nought their often iterated endeavours to purchase that which they esteem their chiefest Relique. But to come neerer to our owne Countrey, what a combustion did this strife betweene Jesuites and other Preists of _England_ cause among our Papists ten yeares agoe, when the Pope sending into _England_ Doctor _Smith_ pretended Bishop of _Chalcedon_ to bee the Metropolitan head over all the Clergy and other Orders, how then was it to see the pride of the Jesuites as inconsistent with any one that might oversway them, or gain more credit then themselves? who never left persecuting the Bishop, till by the Popes Letters they had banished him out of _England_. Which curtesie, the secular Preists gaining yet a head over them with title of Archdeacon, Doctor _Champney_, have ever since sought to repay home, by endeavouring alwayes to cast them out of _England_, as pernicious to the State of this Kingdome, more then Fryers or any other sort of Preists; Which they have sufficiently made known by discovering their covetousnesse in encroaching upon many Houses and Farmes, enriching themselves, as namely at _Winifreds_ Well (so tearmed by them) where they had bought an Inne; and speedily fell to building there that they might make it a Colledge for Jesuites to entertaine there all Papists comers and goers to that Well, and so might win to themselves the hearts of most of the Papists of the Land, who doe yearly resort thither to bee washed and healed upon any light occasion either of Head-ach, Stomack-ach, Ague, want of children, where they blindly phansie a speedy remedy for all maladies, or wants of this World. Thus have the Preists discovered further our English Jesuites covetousnesse in the building of the Sope-houses at _Lambeth_ under the name of Mr. _George Gage_ their purse-bearer, and since projecting the Monopoly of Sope under Sir _Richard Weston_, Sir _Basil Brooke_, and many others names, who were but Agents and Traders with the Jesuites rich and mighty Stocke. Thus came out the discovery of the Levelling of Hils and Mountaines, cutting of rocks at _Leige_ in the Low Countryes at the Colledge of the English Jesuites, a worke for Gardens and Orchards for their Novices recreation and pastime, which (as I have heard from their owne mouthes) cost them thirty thousand pound, which gift they squeezed out of one onely Countesse of this Land. Like to this may prove their Colledge at _Gaunt_, for which they have obtained already a faire beginning of eight thousand pounds from the Old Countesse of _Shrewsberry_, and from the greatest part of the Estate of Mr. _Sackefield_, whom whilst they had him in their Colledges, they cherished with their best dainties, and with hopes that one day hee should bee a Canonized Saint of their Religious Order. All these knaveries doe even those Preists of the same Popish Religion discover of them, and thereby endeavor to make them odious. And though of all, the Jesuites be the most covetous, yet may I not excuse the Secular Preists, Benedictine Monks, and the Fryers from this damnable sinne; who also strive for wealth and meanes for their _Doway, Paris_ and _Lisboe_ Colledges, and lose no opportunities at the death of their Popish favourites for the obtaining a Legacy of one or two hundred Pounds, assuring them their soules shall bee the better for their Masses. Thus doe those miserable wretches in the very heat of their zeale of soules seeke to suppresse one another, and having vowed Poverty, yet make they the Conversion of _England_ the onely object of their Ambition and unsatiable Covetousnesse. But above all is this envy and hatred found between Dominicans and Jesuites, for these owe unto them an old grudge, for that when _Ignatius Loiola_ lived, his Doctrine _de Trinitate_ (which hee pretended was revealed to him from heaven, for hee was certainely past the Age of studying at his Conversion) was questioned by the Dominicans, and hee by a Church Censure publickly and shamefully whipped about their Cloisters for his erroneous principles. This affront done to their chief Patron hath stirred up in them an unreconciliable hatred towards the Order of the Dominicans, and hath made them even cracke their braines to oppose _Thomas Aquinas_ his Doctrine. How shamefully doe those two Orders indeavour the destruction of each other, branding one another with calumnies of heresie in the Opinions especially _de Conceptione Mariæ, de libero arbitrio, de Auxiliis_? And of the two, the Jesuites is more bold and obstinate in malice and hatred. How did they some twenty yeares agoe, all _Spaine_ over, about the Conception of _Mary_ stirre up the people against the Dominicans, in so much that they were in the very streets tearmed Hereticks, stones cast at them, the King almost perswaded to banish them out of all his Dominions, and they poore Fryers forced to stand upon their Guard in their Cloisters in many Cities, especially in _Sevill, Osuna, Antiquera_ and _Cordova_, to defend themselves from the rude and furious multitude. Much like this was that publike Conference and disputation betweene _Valentia_ the Jesuite and Master _Lemos_ the Dominican, before the Pope, concerning their altercation _de Auxiliis_; When the cunning Jesuite hoping to brand with heresie the whole Order of Dominicans, had caused _Augustines_ Workes to bee falsly printed at _Lions_, with such words which might directly oppose the _Thomists_ Opinion; and had prevailed, had not _Lemos_ begged of the Pope that the Originall Bookes of _Augustin_ might bee brought out of his Vatican Library, where was found the quite contrary words, to what the false Jesuite had caused to be printed; hee was forced to confesse his knavery, was harshly reprehended, and with the apprehension of that great affront, the next night gave up his ghost to his father, the father of lies and falshood.

An other reason of this mortall enmity between these two Orders, is for that the Jesuites surpasse all others in ambition or honour, credit, and estimation, whence it is they cannot indure to behold the Dominicans to exceed them in any preferment. Now it is that by the Laws of _Arragon_ and the Kingdome of _Valencia_, the Kings of _Spain_ are tied to have a Dominican Fryer for their Confessor or ghostly father; which could but the Jesuites obtain, how would they then rule and govern _Spain_ and the Kings heart? But though they could never yet prevail to alter this established law, yet have they prevailed now lately so that _Antonio de Sotomayor_ the King of _Spains_ Confessor should lie at rest in the Court of _Madrid_, with a pension and dry title only; and that _Florencia_ that grand Statist should be Confessor to the Count of _Olivares_, the Royall Issue, the Queen, and should hear the Kings confessions oftner then his chosen and elected Confessor _Sotomayor_. Secondly, the Dominicans as first Authors of the Inquisition (which they prove from their Martyr _Peter_ of _Verona_) still enjoy the highest places of that Court, which is a wofull sight to the Jesuites to see their Religion affaires handled, their Church kept pure from what they call heresy by any but themselves. O had they (as they have often strived for it) in their hands the judicature of that tribunall, how should all Dominicans, nay all sorts of Preists but their own, presently by them be branded with heresy? Thirdly, in _Rome_ there is an other preferment successively due to Dominicans, from the time of _Dominicus de Guzman_ founder of that Religion, to wit, to be _magister Sacri Palatii_, the Popes Palace master, instituted to this purpose that about him there may be some learned Divine (for commonly the Popes are more Statists, and Canonists, then Divines) to read a daily lecture of Divinity to such as will be instructed therein, and to resolve the Pope himselfe of whatsoever difficult points in Divinity may be questioned. This is the Dominicans due with a pension to maintain Coach and servants within the Palace of _St. Peter_. Which the Jesuites have often by favour and cunning Jesuiticall trickes endeavoured to bereave the Dominicans of; but proving labour in vain, they continue still in their unplacable enmity and hatred against them. And thus you see the fountaines of their strife; which as here in _Europe_ hath been well seen, so hath this contentious fire overpowered the fire of their zeal of soules in the _East_ and _West-India's_; and the wealth and riches of those Countries, the ambition of honor in their Gospel function hath more powerfully drawn them thither, then (what they pretend) the Conversion of a barbarous and idolatrous nation. This was well published to the view of the whole world by a most infamous libel which in the year 1626 fryer _Diego di Colliado_ a missionary Fryer in _Philippinas_ and _Japan_ set out of the unheard of passages and proceedings of the Jesuites in those _Eastern_ parts. At that time the Jesuites pretended that mission to themselves only, and petitioned the King of _Spain_, that only they might go thither to preach, having been the first plantation of _Franciscus Xavier_, and since continued successively by their Preists. To this purpose they remembred the King of the great charges he was at in sending so many Fryers and maintaining them there; all which should be saved, might they only have free ingresse into those Kingdomes. All which charges they offered themselves to beare, and further to bring up the _Indians_ in the true faith, to instruct them and civilize them, to teach them all liberall sciences, and to perfect them in musick and all musicall instruments, and in fencing, dancing, vaulting, painting and whatsoever els might make them a compleat, and civill people. But against all this was objected by _Diego Colliado_, that not zeal only and charity moved them to this offer, but their ambition and covetousnesse, which would soon be seen in their encroaching upon the silly and simple _Indians_ wealth, bringing instances of many thousand pounds which they had squeezed from the poore _Barbarians_ in the Islands of _Philippinas_; And that their entring into _Japan_ was more to enrich themselves, then to convert the _Japonians_ to Christianisme; that whensoever they entred into that Kingdome they conveyed from _Manila_ whole ships laden with the richest commodities of those Islands; that their trading was beyond all other Merchants trading, their Bench for exchange mony farre more accustomed then any other whither for _China_, for _Japan_, for _Peru_ and _Mexico_; and that the Viceroy himselfe made use of none other, but theirs. That to keep out all other orders out of _Japan_, they had ingratiated themselves so farre, under pretence of trading, into the Emperours favour by gifts of Watches, Clocks, Dials, Lockes, and Cabinets, and such like presents of most curious and artificiall Workmanship, that they had got free accesse to his Court, and counselled him to beware of Fryers, which cunningly crept into his Kingdome to preach a new law, perswading him by rigorous search and enquiries to root them out: thus politickly for their own ends hindering the increase of Christianisme by any means or instruments save themselves; and blinding the Emperors eyes with their cunning insinuations, that he might not see in them, what they desired he might discover in others, that they might appear in sheep skins, and others clothed with wolves skins; and so the Fryers might have little heart to trade, but enough to doe to save themselves from the stormy persecution, whilst they freely might enjoy the liberty of rich trading. This brand upon these cunning foxes was commanded to be printed, thankes given to _Diego Colliado_ for discovering to the Estate their crafty proceedings, with not a few tenents maintained by them in _Japan_ even against their owne Soveraigne; a fat Bishoprick was offered to the Fryer, which he refusing, commission was given unto him for the raising of forty Fryers out of _Spain_, and the conducting of them to the Islands of _Philippinas_, and that it should be free for all Preists and Fryers, as well as Jesuites, to passe to those parts for the preaching of Christ and the extending of Christianisme among the Heathens and Barbarians. O that this my discovery made to _England_ of those dissembling and false Preists, would make us wise to know and discover under the ashes of their pretended Religion, the fire of strife and contention which they kindle in Kingdomes, and to rake up that covetousnesse, which we may easily find in them; tending to the ruine of many fair estates, and to the temporall and spirituall danger of this our flourishing Kingdome!

CHAP. III.

_Shewing the manner of the Missions of Fryers and Jesuites to the_ India's.

All the Kingdomes of _America_, that have been conquered by the Kings of _Spain_, are divided as into severall temporall governments, so into severall spirituall jurisdictions, under the name of Provinces, belonging unto severall religious Orders, and their Provincials. These though so farre distant from _Europe_, yet live with a dependency and subordination unto the Court of _Rome_, and are bound to send thither a strict account and relation of what most remarkable passages and successes happen there, as also what want of Preachers there is in every severall Province. Which is to be performed in this manner. Every religious Order (except the Jesuites and Dominicans, whose Generall continueth till death, unlesse a Cardinals cap be bestowed upon him) maketh election of one of the same order to be the head Ruler, or (as they call him) Generall over all those of the same profession every sixth year. The subjects unto this Generall which are dispersed in _Italy, Germany, Flanders, France, Spain, East_ and _West-India's_ are divided into sundry Provinces, as in _Spain_ there is one Province of _Andaluzia_, another of _Castilia nueva_, new Castile, another of _Castilia vieja_, old Castile, another of _Valencia_, another of _Arragon_, of _Murcia_, of _Catalonia_; So likewise in _America_ there is the Province of _Mexico_, of _Mechoacan_, of _Guaxaca_, of _Chiapa_ and _Guatemala_, of _Comayagua, Nicaragua_ and the like. Every Province of these hath a head named the Provinciall, chosen by the chief of the Province every three years; which election is called a Provinciall Chapter, and the former a Generall Chapter, which also is allotted to be in some chief City, commonly in _Italy, France_, or _Spain_. When the Provinciall Chapter is kept, then by the consent of all that meet in it is there one named by name of Procurator or Diffinitor, who is to goe in the name of the whole Province to the next election of the Generall, and there to demand such things as his Province shall think fit, and to give an account of the State of the Province from whence he is sent. Thus from the _West-India's_ are sent Procurators, who commonly are the best prizes the _Holland_ Ships meet with, for that they carry with them great wealth, and gifts to the Generalls, to the Popes and Cardinals and Nobles in _Spain_, as bribes to facilitate whatsoever just or unjust, right or wrong they are to demand. Among other businesses their charge is this, to make known the great want of laborers in the aboundant and plentifull harvest of the _India's_ (though not all Provinces demand Preachers from _Spain_, as I will shew hereafter) and to desire a number of thirty or forty young Preists, who may be fit for any _Indian_ language and to succeed the old standers.

The Order of the Province being read to the Generall, or his Generall Chapter, then are Letters Patents granted unto this Procurator from the Generall, naming him his Vicar Generall for such a Province, and declaring his sufficiency and worthy parts, (though none at all in him, as I have beene witnesse of some) the great paines hee hath taken in the new planted _Indian_ Church, and how fit hee hath been judged to convey to those parts, a Million of such as shall voluntarily offer themselves for the propagation of Christianity amongst those Barbarians. Then the tauny _Indian_ Fryer being well set out with high Commendations, and fairly painted with flattering Elogies, presents these his Patents (and with them peradventure a little wedge of Gold, a Box of Pearles, some Rubies or Diamonds, a Chest of Cochinill, or Sugar, with some boxes of curious Chocolatte, or some feather works of _Mechoacan_, some small fruits of his great paines and labour) to the Pope; who for his first reward gives him his Toe and Pantofle to kisse, seconding this honour with a joyfull countenance to behold an Apostle, judging him worthy of the best of the _Indian_ wealth, and his soule peradventure fit for the title of a Saint; This complacency in the gift and the giver, breeds immediately a _motus proprius_ in his Holinesse to grant a Bull with a degree of the Popes Commissary, wherein this poore Mendicant Fryer is inabled to runne over all the Cloisters of his Profession in _Spain_, to gather up his thirty or forty yong Preachers. Who for their better encouragement are at their first listing by the Popes Authority absolved _à culpa et à poena_, from all sinne, and from their Purgatory and Hell due unto it, by a plenary Indulgence. And whosoever shall oppose, or any way discourage this Popes Commissary, or those that are or would be listed by him, are _ipso facto_ excommunicated with an Anathem reserved only to this Commissary or his Holiness himself. O what is it to see, when such a Commissaries coming is knowen, how the young birds, that as in Cages are shut up within the walls of a Cloister, leap and cherish themselves with hopes of liberty? What is it to see disordered Fryers, who for their misdemeanours, and leaping over their Cloister wals in the night to find out their wanton harlots, have been imprisoned, now rejoyce at the coming of a Popes Commissary, and Plenary Indulgence, freeing them from sinnes past, and fitting them for the Conversion of souls, though there be not one averted from their Harlot, nor as yet truly and unfainedly converted to the love of God? True it is, I have knowne some that have written their names in the list of _Indian Missionaries_, men of sober life and Conversation, moved onely with a blind zeale of encreasing the Popish Religion: yet I dare say and confidently print this truth without wronging the Church of _Rome_, that of thirty or forty which in such occasions are commonly transported to the _India's_, the three parts of them are Fryers of leud lives, weary of their retired Cloister lives, who have beene punished often by their Superiours for their wilfull back-sliding from that obedience which they formerly vowed; or for the breach of their poverty in closely retaining money by them to Card and Dice, of which sort I could here namely insert a long and tedious Catalogue; or lastly such, who have been imprisoned for violating their vow of chastity with leud and lascivious women, either by secret flight from their Cloisters, or by publike Apostatizing from their Order, and cloathing themselves in Lay-mens Apparell, to run about the safer with their wicked Concubines. Of which sort it was my chance to bee acquainted with one Fryer _John Navarro_ a Franciscan in the City of _Guatemala_, who after hee had in secular apparell enjoyed the leud company of one _Amaryllis_ a famous Woman player in _Spain_ for the space of a year, fearing at last hee might bee discovered, listed himselfe in a Million to _Guatemala_, the year 1632, there hoping to enjoy with more liberty and lesse feare of punishment any lustfull or carnfull object. Liberty, in a word, under the Cloak of Piety and Conversion of Soules, it is, that drawes so many Fryers (and commonly the younger sort) to those remote _American_ parts; where after they have learned some _Indian_ language, they are licenced with a Parish Charge to live alone out of the sight of a watching Prior or Superiour, out of the bounds and compasse of Cloister walls, and authorized to keep house by themselves, and to finger as many Spanish Patacones, as their wits device shall teach them to squeeze out of the newly Converted _Indians_ wealth. This liberty they could never injoy in _Spain_, and this liberty is the Midwife of so many foule falls of wicked Fryers in those parts. For the present onely, I shall return again to my Fryer _John Navarro_, who at his comming to _Guatemala_, being made for his wit and learning, Master and Reader of Divinity, and much esteemed of for his acute Preaching, among many others got the estimation and love of a chief Gentlewoman, (_Qua semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem, testa diu_) who continued in _Navarro_ his heart the former sent of the unchast love of _Amaryllis_, so far that the Fryer being blinded and wounded with _Cupids_ Arrow sticking in his heart, ran headlong to quench his lustfull thirst upon St. _James_ his day, 1635. for bitter memory of the Tragical event (being the Spaniards common Advocate, and speciall Patron of that City, named _St. Jago de Guatemala_) where cruell _Mars_ oppressing _Venus_ in her wanton Acts, the injured husband acting _Mars_, & finding _Navarro Cupids_ page saluting his _Venus_ upon her bed, drew his sword, cutting the Fryer first in the head and face, who strugling with death, and purchasing his life with a swift and nimble flight to a Garden, where his own brother a Fryer of the same Order, & Pander to that foul act, entertained the Motherlesse children; for the husband having missed his fatall blow (willingly as some imagined, or unwillingly as others judged) in the Fryers heart, wilfully laid it in the throat of his unchast Wife, scarce leaving way for breath to make a speedy Confession of her sinne to _Navarro_ his Brother; who tendring her soule as much as his Brother had tendred her body absolved her from her sinne, finding signes, though no uttering speech of Repentance, while the murderer fled, and the murdered lay in the doore of her house for a sad object to all, that immediately flocked thither to see that bloody Tragedy. The Wife being the same day buried, the Husband being retired to a close Sanctuary, _Navarro_ was carried to his Convent to bee cured; and after his Cure was banished that Country; whom two yeares after it was my chance to meet in _Cartagena_ returning to _Spain_ with his scard face, bearing the marke of his lascivious life, and of that liberty which hee had injoyed in _America_. Such are the fruits of the zeale of those wretches, who upbraid our Church and Ministers for want of zeale to labour in the Conversion of Infidels. Who when they arrive to those parts, are entertained with ringing of Bells, with sounding of Trumpets most part of the way as they travaile, and as Apostles are received by the _Indians_, though soon like _Judas_ they fall from their calling, and for pleasure and covetousnesse sell away Christ from their Soules. _England_ may here learn to beware of such Converters, who are daily by name of Missionaries sent hither by the Pope to preach among us Popery; but like _Navarro_ come to feed and cherish their wanton lusts, as I could give many instances, might I not be censured for long digressions in mingling English Histories with my _American_ Travailes.

CHAP. IV.

_Shewing to what Provinces of the East and West_ India's _belonging to the Crown of_ Castilia _are sent Missions of Fryers and Jesuites. And specially of the Mission sent in the yeare_ 1625.

In all the Dominions of the King of _Spain_ in _America_, there are two sorts of Spaniards more opposite one to another then in _Europe_ the Spaniard is opposite to the French, or to the Hollander, or to the Portingall; To wit, they that are born in any parts of _Spain_ and goe thither, and they that are borne there of Spanish parents, whom the Spaniards, to distinguish them from themselves, terme _Criolio's_, signifying the Natives of that Countrey. This hatred is so great, that I dare say, nothing might bee more advantagious then this, to any other Nation that would conquer _America_. And nothing more easily gained, then the Wils and affections of the Natives of the Country, to joyne with any other Nation to free and rescue themselves from that subjection, or kind of Slavery, which they suffer under the hard usage of the Spaniards, and their partiall Government and justice toward them, and those that come from _Spain_. This is so grievous to the poore Criolio's or Natives, that my selfe have often heard them say, They would rather bee subject to any other Prince, nay to the _Hollanders_, then to the _Spaniards_, if they thought they might enjoy their Religion; and others wishing the _Hollanders_, when they tooke _Truxillo_ in _Honduras_, had stayed in it and entred further into the land, they should have been welcome to them; and that the Religion they enjoyed with so much slavery, was nothing sweet unto them. This mortall hatred betwixt these two sorts of _Spaniards_, made the Criolio's so ready to joyn against the Marquesse of _Gelves_ Viceroy of _Mexico_, in the tumult and mutiny of that City, wherein they cleaving to _Don Alonso de Zerna_, the Arch-Bishop caused the Viceroy to escape for his life by flight, and would then have utterly rooted out the Spanish Government, had not some Preists disswaded them from it; but of this I shall speak more largely hereafter. The cause of this deadly hatred hath proceeded from a jealousie which the _Spaniards_ have ever had of the Criolio's, that they would faine withdraw themselves first from the commerce with _Spain_, and secondly, from the Government which is laid upon them; which is such, that the Criolio's must be alwaies under, and a subject, alwaies governed, but scarce any a Governour. Never yet was there seen any Criolio made Viceroy of _Mexico_, or _Peru_; or President of _Guatemala_, or _Santa fe_, or S. _Domingo_; or Governour of _Yucatan, Cartagena, Havana_; or _Alcalde Mayor_ (as they call them) of _Soconusco, Chiapa, San Salvador_, and such like places of credit. So likewise in the Courts of Chancery, as _Sto. Domingo, Mexico, Guatemala, Lima_, and the rest, where commonly there are Six, called _Oydores_ and one _Fiscal_, scarce one of them to be found a Criolio, or native of the Countrey; though there be among them those that descended of the chief Conquerors; as in _Lima_ and _Peru_ the _Pizarros_, in _Mexico_ and _Guaxaca_ the house of the Marquesse _Del Valle, Ferdinando Cortez_ his Successors, others of the house of _Giron_, others of the house of _Alvarado_, others of the _Guzmanes_, finally many of the chiefest houses of _Spain_; yet none of these ever preferred to any dignity. And not onely thus are they kept from offices, but daily affronted by the _Spaniards_ as uncapable of any Government, and termed halfe _Indians_ by them.

Which generall contempt hath also spread it selfe in the Church, where no Criolio Preist is scarce ever preferred to be a Bishop, or Canon in a Cathedrall Church, but all such as come from _Spain_. So likewise in the religious orders they have many years indeavored to keep under and suppress such as have bin admitted to their orders of the natives of the Countrey, lest the number of them should prevail against those that are brought from _Spain_; they have been very nice in choosing of them, & though they have been forced to admit of some, yet stil the Provincials, the Priors, and all Superiors have been _Spaniards_ born in _Spain_. Till now lately some Provinces have got the upper hand and prevailed against the _Spaniards_, & have so filled their cloisters with Criolio's or natives, that they have utterly refused to admit the supplies of _Spanish_ Missions which formerly were sent unto them, and till this day are sent to others. In the Province of _Mexico_ there are Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustines, Carmelites, Mercenarians, and Jesuites, whereof the Jesuites and Carmelites only to this day prevail against Criolio's, bringing every two or three years Missions from _Spain_. The last Mission that was sent to the Mercenarians was the year 1625. and then was the opposition such between that Mission and the Criolio's, that in the election of the next Provinciall in their Cloister of _Mexico_, the Fryers drew knives one against another, and were like to kill each other, had not the Viceroy gone to their Cloister to make peace, and imprison some of them. Yet at last by the multitude of voices the native party prevails, and till this day have exempted themselves from _Spanish_ Missions, alleadging (as others have done) that they have Fryers enough in their Cloisters, and need none to be sent them from _Spain_; submitting themselves to the Pope, and presenting to him as stately gifts as ever _Spaniards_ did before them. In the Province of _Guaxaca_ none admit of Missionaries from _Spain_; true it is the Dominicans are but newly subdued by the Criolian party; and as yet are strongly pleading at _Rome_ for _Spanish_ Fryers, alleadging that the glory and lustre of their Religion hath been much blurred since the non-admittance of supplies of their zealous Compatriots. The Province of _Guatemala_, (which is of a large extent) containing _Guatemala, Chiapa_, the _Zoques_, part of _Tabasco_, the _Zeldales_, the _Sacapulas_, the _Vera Paz_, all the coast lying to the South sea _Suchutepeques_ and _Soconusco, Comayagua, Honduras, S. Salvador, Nicaragua_ hath in it these orders chiefly, Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustines, (who are subject to _Mexico_ being one poore Cloister in _Guatemala_) Jesuites also in _Guatemala_ subject to the government of _Mexico_ and Mercenarians; whereof the three orders of Dominicans, Franciscans, and Mercenarians, are the only Preachers and parish Preists throughout all the forenamed Provinces. And these three Orders have still kept under the Criolian party, never as yet suffering any of them to be Provinciall, bringing every two or three years some one year and some another, Missions of Fryers from _Spain_ to maintain and keep up their faction against the Criolians. The Provinces of _Peru_ being more distant from _Spain_, and hard to come to by sea, have no Missions sent unto them. There are of the most Romish religious orders, yet the chief are Dominicans; and they all live above their vow of poverty, abounding in wealth, riot, liberty and pleasures. In the Kingdome of _Nuevo reino de Granada_, and _Cartagena, Santa fee, Barinas, Popayan_, and the government of _St. Martha_, are Dominicans, Jesuites, Franciscans, Carmelites, Augustines and Mercenarians, whereof the Dominicans, Jesuites and Franciscans till this day admit of Missions from _Spain_. The Island of _Cuba, Jamaica, la Margarita, Puerto rico_, all are subject to the head Provinciall of _Santo Domingo_, being Dominicans, Jesuites, and Franciscans, and have all now and then Missions from _Spain. Yucatan_ hath in it only Franciscans, who live most richly and plentifully, and strongly uphold the _Spanish_ faction with _European_ Missions: _Mechoacan_ belongeth to the _Mexican_ Fryers, and is in the same condition as was said before of _Mexico._ Thus have I briefly run over all _America_ that pertains to the Crown of _Castilia_: for the _East-India's_ they belong to the Crown of _Portingall_ and _Brasill_, as first discovered and possessed by the _Portingalls_, and now doubtlesse are subject to King _John_, the new King of _Portingall_. Yet the Islands of _Philippinas_ are subject to the King of _Spain_, and there are Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustines, and Jesuites, all which lie still in wait in _Manila_ the Metropolitan City, for some sure shipping to _Japan_, to convert that Kingdome. And though they admit of some few Criolio's among them, especially some of their Converts of _China_ and _Japan_; yet their chief number and strength is of Spanish Missionaries, who are more frequently conveyed thither then to the parts afore-mentioned of _America_. First they are sent in the ships that are bound for _Nueva Espana_ and _Mexico_; and after they have rested two or three moneths in _Mexico_, they are sent to _Acapulco_, lying on the _Mar del Zur_, there they are shipped in two great Caracks which yearly go and come richly laden with _China, Japan_, and all _East-India_ ware from _Manila_ to _Acapulco_ to enrich _Mexico_ with farre greater riches then any are sent by the North sea from _Spain_. The voiage from _Acapulco_ thither, is longer then from _Spain_ to _Mexico_, and easy and pleasant, though the return is farre longer and most dangerous. The year of our Lord 1625. there were four Missions sent; the one of Franciscans to _Yucatan_, the other of Mercenarians to _Mexico_, the other two of Dominicans and Jesuites to _Philippinas_. At which time it was my fortune to reside among the Dominicans in _Xerez_ in _Andaluzia_. The Popes Commissary for that Mission was Fryer _Matheo de la Villa_, who having a Commission for thirty and having gathered some 24 of them about _Castilia_ and _Madrid_, sent them by degrees well stored with mony to _Cales_, to take up a convenient lodging for himselfe and the rest of his crew, till the time of the setting forth of the _Indian_ Fleet. This Commissary named one Fryer _Antonio Calvo_ to be his substitute, and to visit the Cloisters of _Andaluzia_ lying in his way; namely _Cordova, Sevill, St. Lucar_, and _Xerez_, to try if out of them he could make up his compleat number of thirty, which was after fully compleated. About the end of _May_ came this worthy _Calvo_ to _Xerez_, and in his Company one _Antonio Melendez_ of the Colledge of _St. Gregory_ in _Valladolid_, with whom I had formerly neer acquaintance. This _Melendez_ greatly rejoyced when he had found mee; and being well stocked with _Indian_ Patacones, the first night of his coming invited me to his chamber to a stately supper. The good _Xerez_ Sack which was not spared, set my friend in such a heat of zeale of converting _Japonians_, that all his talke was of those parts never yet seen, and at least six thousand leagues distant. _Bacchus_ metamorphosed him from a Divine into a Orator, and made him a _Cicero_ in parts of Rhetoricall eloquence. Nothing was omitted that might exhort mee to joyne with him in that function, which he thought was Apostolicall. _Nemo Propheta in patria sua_, was a great argument with him; sometimes he propounded Martyrdome for the Gospel sake, and the glory after it, to have his life and death printed, and of poore Fryer _Antony_ a Clothiers son of _Segovia_ to bee stiled _St. Anthony_ by the Pope, and made collaterall with the Apostles in heaven; thus did _Bacchus_ make him ambitious of honor upon the earth, and preferrement in heaven. But when he thought this Rhetoricke had not prevailed, then would he act a _Midas_ and _Croesus_, fancying the _India's_ paved with tiles of gold and silver, the stones to be Pearls, Rubies, and Diamonds, the trees to bee hung with clusters of nutmegs bigger then the clusters of grapes of _Canaan_, the fields to be planted with Sugar Canes, which should so sweeten the _Chocolatte_, that it should farre exceed the milke and hony of the land of promise; the silkes of _China_ hee conceited so common, that the sailes of the Ships were nothing else; finally he dreamed of _Midas_ happinesse, that whatsoever he touched should be turned to gold: Thus did _Xerez_ Nectar make my friend and mortified Fryer, a covetous worldling. And yet from a rich covetous Merchant did it shape him to a Courtier in pleasures; fancying the _Philippinas_ to be the _Eden_, where was all joy without teares, mirth without sadnesse, laughing without sorrow, comfort without griefe, plenty without want, no not of _Eves_ for _Adams_, excepted only that in it should be no forbidden fruit, but all lawfull for the taste and sweetning of the palate; and as _Adam_ would have been as God, so conceited _Melendez_ himselfe a God in that _Eden_, whom travelling, _Indian_ Waites and trumpets should accompany; and to whom, entring into any Town, nosegaies should be presented, flowers and boughes should be strowed in his way, Arches should be erected to ride under, Bels for joy should be rung, and _Indian_ knees for duty & homage, as to a God, should be bowed to the very ground. From this inducing argument, and representation of a Paradise, he fell into a strong Rhetoricall point of curiosity; finding out a tree of knowledge, and a Philosophicall maxime, _Omnus homo naturaliter scire desiderat_, man naturally inclines to know more and more; which knowledge he fancied could be no where more furnished with rare curiosities then in those parts; for there should the Gold and Silver, which here are fingered, in their growth in the bowels of the earth be known; there should the pepper be known in its season, the nutmeg and Clove, the Cinnamon as a rine or bark on a tree; the fashioning of the Sugar from a green growing Cane into a loaf; the strange shaping the _Cochinil_ from a worme to so rich a Scarlet die; the changing of the _Tinta_ which is but grasse with stalke and leaves into an _Indigo_ black dye, should be taught and learned; and without much labour thus should our ignorance be instructed with various and sundry curiosities of knowledge and understanding. Finally, though _Xerez_ liquor (grapes bewitching tears) had put this bewitching eloquence into my _Antonies_ brain, yet he doubted not to preferre before it his wine of _Philippinas_, growing on tall and high trees of _Coco_, wherein he longed to drinke a Spanish Brindis in my company to all his friends remaining behind in _Spain_. Who would not bee moved by these his arguments to follow him, and his _Calvo_, or ball pated Superiour? Thus supper being ended my _Melendez_ desired to know how my heart stood affected to his journey; and breaking out into a _Voto a Dios_ with his converting zeal, he swore he should have no quiet nights rest untill he were fully satisfied of my resolution to accompany him. And having learned the Poets expression, _Quid non mortalia pectora cogis, Auri sacra fames?_ he offered unto me halfe a dozen of Spanish pistols, assuring me that I should want nothing, and that the next morning _Calvo_ should furnish me with whatsoever monies I needed, for to buy things necessary for the comfort of so long and tedious a journy. To whom I answered, suddain resolutions might bring future grief and sorrow, and that I should that night lye down and take counsell with my pillow, assuring him that for his sake I would doe much, and that if I resolved to goe, my resolution should draw on an other friend of mine, an Irish Fryer, named _Thomas Deloon_. Thus tooke I my leave of my _Melendez_, and retired my self to my chamber and bed, which that night was no place of repose and rest to me as formerly it had been. I must needs say _Melendez_ his arguments, though most of them moved me not; yet the opportunity offered me to hide my self from all sight and knowledge of my dearest friends, stirred up in me a serious thought of an angry and harsh letter, which not long before I had received out of _England_ from mine own father, signifying unto me the displeasure of most of my friends and kindred, and his own grievous indignation against me, for that having spent so much money in training me up to learning, I had not only utterly refused to be of the Jesuites Order (which was his only hopes) but had proved in my affections a deadly foe and enemy unto them. And that he would have thought his money better spent, if I had been a Scullion in a Colledge of Jesuites, then if I should prove a Generall of the Order of Dominicans; that I should never think to be welcome to my Brothers nor kindred in _England_, nor to him; that I should not expect ever more to heare from him, nor dare to see him if ever I returned to _England_; but expect that he would set upon mee even Jesuites, whom I had deserted and opposed, to chace mee out of my Country; that _Hailing_ house though hee had lost it with much more meanes for his Religion during his life; yet with the consent of my Eldest Brother (now Governour of _Oxford_, and Masse-founder in that our Famous University) hee would sell it away; that neither from the Estate, or money made of it, I might injoy a childs part due unto mee. These reasons stole that nights rest from my body, and sleep from my eyes, teares keeping them unclosed and open, lest _Cynthia's_ black and mourning Mantle should offer to cover, close and shut them. To this Letters consideration was joyned a strong opposition, which serious Studies & ripenesse of Learning, with a carefull discussion of some Schoole-points and Controversies had bred in mee against some chief of the Popish Tenents. Well could I have wished to have come to _England_, there to satisfie and ease my troubled Conscience; well considered I, that if I stayed in _Spain_, when my Studies were compleatly finished, the Dominicans with a Popes Mandamus would send me home for a Missionary to my Country. But then well considered I the sight of a wrathfull Father, the power of a furious Brother a Colonell, who (as now landed in _England_ to search me out, and do me mischief) then, when _Zephryus_ with a pleasant gale seconded his Popish zeale, might violently assault mee. Well considered I the increased rout and rable of both their great friends, the Jesuites, who what with Court friends power, what with subtile plots and Policies would soone and easily hunt me out of _England_. Lastly, well considered I my _Melendez_ his last inducing Argument of the increase of knowledge naturall by the insight of rich _America_ and flourishing _Asia_, and of knowledge spirituall by a long contemplation of that new planted Church, and of those Church Planters lives and Conversations. Wherefore after a whole nights strife and inward debate, as the glorious Planet began to banish nights dismall horror, rising with a bright and cheerefull countenance, rose in my minde a firme and setled resolution to visit _America_, and there to abide till such time as Death should surprise my angry Father, _Ignatius Loiola_ his devoted Mecænas, and till I might there gain out of _Potosi_ or _Sacatecas_ treasure that might Counterpoise that Childs part, which for detesting the foure Cornered Cap, and black Coat of Jesuites, my Father had deprived mee of. So in recompence of the Supper which my friend _Anthony_ had bestowed upon mee, I gave him a most pleasing breakfast by discovering unto him my purpose and resolution to accompany him in his long and Navall journey. And at noon I feasted him with a dinner of one dish more then his breakfast, to wit, the company also of my Irish friend _Thomas Deloon_. After dinner wee both were presented to _Calvo_ the bald pate Superiour; who immediately imbraced us, promised to us many curtesies in the way, read unto us a Memorandum of what dainties he had provided for us, what varieties of fish and flesh, how many Sheep, how many Gammons of Bacon, how many fat Hens, how many Hogs, how many barrels of white Bisket, how many Jars of wine of _Casalla_, what store of Rice, Figs, Olives, Capars, Raysins, Lemmons, sweet and sowre Oranges, Pomegranates, Comfits, Preserves, Conserves and all sorts of _Portingall_ sweet meates; hee flattered us that hee would make us Masters of Arts, and of Divinity in _Manila_; then opened hee his purse, and freely gave us to spend that day in _Xerez_, and to buy what most we had a mind to, and to carry us to _Cales_; Lastly hee opened his hands to bestow upon us the holy Fathers Benediction, that no mischiefe might befall us in our way; I expected some Relique or naile of his great toe, or one of his velvet Pantofles to kisse; But peradventure with frequent kissing through _Italy_ and all _Castilia_ it was even worn thredbare. Much were wee frowned at by the Dominicans our chiefest friends of _Xerez_, but the liberty which with _Melendez_ we injoyed that day about the City of _Xerez_ tooke from us all sad thoughts, which so suddaine a departure from our friends might have caused in us. And _Calvo_ much fearing that the love of some Nuns (too powerfull with Spanish Fryers) might yet keep us back from pursuing our purposed journey, with cunning policy perswaded us to depart from _Xerez_ the next morning. Which willingly wee performed in company of _Melendez_ and another Spanish Fryer of that City (leaving our Chests and Bookes to _Calvo_ to send after us) and that day wee travailed like Spanish Dons upon our little Boricoes, or Asses towards _Puerto de Santa Maria_, taking in our way that stately Convent of _Cartusians_, and the River of _Guadalethe_, the former Poets River of oblivion, tasting of the fruits of those _Elysian_ fields and Gardens and drinking of _Guadalethes_ Crystall Streams, that so perpetuall oblivion might blind and cover all those Abstractive Species which the intuitive knowledge of _Spains_ and _Xerezes_ pleasant objects had deeply stamped in our thoughts and hearts. At evening wee came to that _Puerto_ so famous for harbouring _Spains_ chief Gallies, and at that time _Don Frederique de Toledo_; who hearing of the arrivall of foure _Indian_ Apostles, would not loose that occasion of some Soule-Sanctification (which he thought might bee his purchase) by entertaining us that night at Supper. The Town thought their Streets blessed with our walking in them, and wished they might injoy some Reliques from us, whom they beheld as appointed to Martyrdome for Christ and Antichrists sake together; the Galley slaves strived who should sound their Waits and Trumpets most joyfully, _Don Frederique_ spared no cost in Fish and Flesh that night, doubting not but that receiving foure Prophets, hee should receive a fourefold reward hereafter. Supper being ended, wee were by _Don Frederique_ his Gentlemen conveyed to the Cloister of the _Minims_ appointed by _Don Frederique_ to lodge us that night, who to shew their brotherly love washed our feet, and so recommended us to quiet and peaceable rest. The next morning after a stately breakfast bestowed upon us by those poor Mendicant Fryers, a boat was prepared for us and _Don Frederique_ his Gentlemen to wait on us, and to convey us to _Cales_. Where wee found out our fellow Apostles, and the Popes Commissary Fryer _Mathew De la Villa_, who welcomed us with _Romes_ Indulgences, _a culpa & a poena_, and with a flourishing Table stored with Fish and Flesh for dinner. There wee continued in daily honour and estimation, enjoying the sights most pleasant which _Cales_ both by Sea and Land could afford unto us, untill the time of the Fleets departing. Which when it drew neere, our Grand Apostle Fryer _Mathew De la Villa_, (whom wee thought burned with zeal of Martyrdome) tooke his leave of us; shewing us the Popes Commission to nominate in his place whom hee list, and naming bald _Calvo_ for Superiour, returning himselfe to _Madrid_ with more desire to enjoy a Bishoprick in _Spain_ (as wee understood) then to sacrifice his life in _Japan_. His departure caused a Mutiny among us, and cooled the spirit of two of our Missionaries, who privily fled from us. The rest were pleased with honest _Calvo_, for that hee was a simple and ignorant old man, (whom they could more jeere then any way respect) more Scullion-like in daily greazing his white habit with handling his fat Gammons of Bacon, then like a Popes Commissary; for his Masters Toe the proudest of our Missioners then would willingly have kissed; yet _Calvoes_ greazy fists the humblest would loath to have kissed. Thus under a sloven was that Apostolicall Mission to bee conveyed first to _Mexico_ three thousand _Spanish_ Leagues from _Spain_, and afterwards three thousand Leagues further from thence to _Manila_ the Metropolitan and Court City of the Islands of _Philippinas_.

CHAP. V.

_Of the_ Indian _Fleet that departed from_ Cales, Anno Dom. 1625. _And of some remarkable passages in that Voiage._

Upon the first of _July_ in the afternoon, _Don Carlos de Ybarra_ Admirall of the Galeons that then lay in the Baye of _Cales_ gave order that a warning Peece should be shot off to warne all Passengers, Souldiers, and Mariners to betake themselves the next morning to their Ships. O what was it to see some of our Apostolicall company who had injoyed much liberty for a moneth in _Cales_, who had began to entangle their hearts with some young Nuns love, now hang down their heads, and act with sad and demure lookes loath to depart, and cry out, _Bonum est nos hic esse_, it is good for us to be here? and amongst them one Fryer _John De Pacheco_ made the warning Peece to be a warning to him to hide himself (who could no more be found amongst his fellow Missioners) thinking it a part of hard cruelty to forsake a young Franciscan Nun to whom he had engaged and wholly devoted his heart. What was it to see others with weeping eyes piercing through the Iron grates the tender Virgins hearts, leaving and bequeathing unto them some pledges of their wanton love, and receiving from them some Cordialls against Sea-sicknesse, Caps, Shirts and Hand-kerchiefs, to eye them or weare them when _Æolus_ or _Neptune_ should most oppose them? The second of _July_ in the morning early notice was given unto us, that one Fryer _Pablo de Londres_, an old crab faced English Fryer living in St. _Lucar_ had got the Duke of _Medina_ his letter and sent it to the Governour of _Cales_ charging him to search for me & to stay me, signifying the King of _Spains_ will and pleasure, that no _English_ should passe to the _India's_, having a Countrey of their own to convert; this did that old fryer to stop my passage, having before wrote unto me many letters to the same purpose, and got a letter from that father _Master_ that was in _England_ before, with the Count of _Gondomar, alias_ Fryer _Diego de la Fluente_, then Provinciall of _Castilia_, and sent it unto mee, wherein that Superiour offered mee many kind offers of preferrement, if I would desist from my journey, and return to him to _Castilia_; but none of these letters could prevail with mee; nor the Governours searching stop mee; for immediately I was conveyed alone to our ship, and there closely hid in a barrell that was emptied of Bisquet to that purpose; so that when the Governour came a ship-board to enquire for an _English_ man, Fryer _Calvo_ having the father of liers in my stead about him, resolutely denyed mee, who would not be found, because not sought for in a barrells belly. This found our Apostles sport and talk that first day. Then went out the ships one by one crying _A dios, A dios_, and the Towne replying _Buen viaie, buen viaie_; when all were out and no hopes of enjoying more _Cales_ pleasures and liberty, then began my young Fryers to wish themselves again a Land, some began presently to feed the fishes with their Nuns sweet dainties; others to wonder at the number of stately ships, which with eight Galeons that went to convey us beyond the Islands of _Canaria_ were fourty one in all; some for one Port of the _Indiaes_, and some for another. To _Puerto Rico_ went that year two ships; to _Santo Domingo_ three, to _Jamaica_ two, to _Margarita_ one, to the _Havana_ two, to _Cartagena_ three, to _Campeche_ two, to _Honduras_ and _Truxillo_ two, and to _St. John de Ulhua_, or _Vera Crux_ sixteen; all laden with Wines, Figs, Raisins, Olives, Oyle, Cloth, Carsies, Linnen, Iron, and quick silver for the Mines, to fetch out the pure silver of _Sacatecas_ from the earthen drosse from whence it is digged. The persons of most note that went that year, was first the Marquesse _de Serralvo_ with his Lady, who went for Viceroy of _Mexico_, in stead of the Conde _de Gelves_ then retired to a Cloister for feare of the common people, who the year before had mutinied against him; this Marquesse went in the ship called _St. Andrew_, and with him in the same ship went _Don Martin de Carillo_ a Preist, and Inquisitor of the Inquisition of _Valladolid_; who was sent for Visiter Generall to _Mexico_, to examine the strife between the Conde _de Gelves_ and the Arch-Bishop, and the mutiny that for their sakes had happened, with full Commission and Authority to imprison, banish, hang and execute all Delinquents. In the ship called _Santa Gertrudis_ went _Don John Nino de Toledo_, who was sent to be President of _Manila_ in _Philippinas_; and in the same ship with him went the whole Mission of thirty Jesuites sent to _Philippinas_; who had already got the favour of the President, and politickly sought to be passengers in the same ship, that so they might the more ingratiate themselves to him; for this cunning generation studies purposely how to insinuate themselves with Kings, Princes, Great men, Rulers, and Commanders. In the ship called _St. Antony_ went my Dominican Mission of 27 Fryers. In the ship called _Nostra Sennora de Regla_ went four and twenty Mercenarian Fryers bound for _Mexico_; part of those that afterwards drew their knives to slash and cut the Criolio's of their Profession. Thus with the Convoy of eight Galeons for fear of _Turkes_ and _Hollanders_ (whom the Spanish _Dons_ shake and tremble at) set forward our fleet with a pleasant and prosperous gale, with a quiet and milken sea, untill we came to the Golfe, called _Golfo de Yeguas_, or of _kicking Mares_, whose waves and swelling surges did so kick our ships, that wee thought they would have kicked our _St. Anthonies_ gilded image out of our ship, and bereaved my _Antonio Melendez_ of his gilt and painted idol, (to whom hee daily bowed and prayed against the mercilesse element,) and that all our ships galleries would have been torn from us with these spurnings and blowes of that outragious Golfe. But at last having overcome the danger of this Golfe, the eight Galeons took their leave of us, and left our Merchant ships now to shift for themselves. The departure of these Galeons was most solemnly performed on each side, saluting each other with their Ordnance, visiting each other with their Cock-boates, the Admirall of the Fleet feasting with a stately dinner in his ship, the Admirall of the Galeons; and the like performing most of the other ships to the severall Colonells and Captains and other their allied friends that were of the Roiall Fleet. Here it was worth noting to heare the sighes of many of our _Indian_ Apostles, wishing they might return again in any of those Galeons to _Spain_; their zeal was now cold, and some endeavoured many waies for _Calvo_ his licence to returne (which could not be granted) others imployed themselves most of that day in writing letters to their friends, and Sisters in _Cales_. Thus dinner being ended, and the two Admiralls solemnly taking their leaves, the warning piece being shot off for the Galeons to joyn together, and turne their course to _Spain_, we bad mutuall adieu, crying one to another _Buen Viaie, Buen passage_; we kept our course towards _America_, sailing before the wind constantly till we came to _America_; a thing worth noting in that voiage from _Spain_ to the _Indies_; that after the Islands of _Canaria_ are once left, there is one constant wind, continuing to _America_ still the same without any opposition or contrariety of other winds; and this so prosperous and full on the sailes, that did it blow constantly, and were it not interrupted with many calmes, doubtlesse the voiage might be ended in a moneth or lesse. But such were the calmes that many times we had, that we got not to the sight of any land till the twentieth day of _August_; so that neer six weeks we sailed as on a river of fresh water, much delighting and sporting our selves in fishing many sorts fishes, but especially one, which by the _Spaniards_ is called _Dorado_, the golden fish, for the skin and scales of it that glitter like gold; of this sort we found such abundance, that no sooner was the hooke with any small bait cast into the sea, when presently the _Dorado_ was caught, so that we tooke them many times for pleasure, and cast them againe into the sea, being a fish fitter to be eaten fresh then salted. Many were the feasts and sports used in the ships, till wee discovered the first land, or Island called _Desseada_. The last day of _July_ (being according to the Jesuites Order, and _Romes_ appointment, the day of _Ignatius_ their Patron and founder of their Religion) the gallant ship called _Sta. Gertrudis_ (wherein went 30 Jesuites) for theirs and their Saints sake made to all the rest of the Fleet a most gallant shew, shee being trimmed round about with white linnen, her flags and top gallants representing some the Jesuites arms, others the picture of _Ignatius_ himself, and this from the evening before, shooting off that night at least fifty Shot of Ordinance, besides four or five hundred squibs (the weather being very calme) and all her masts and tacklings hung with paper Lanthornes having burning lights within them; the waits ceased not from sounding, nor the _Spaniards_ from singing all night. The daies solemne sport was likewise great, the Jesuites increasing the _Spaniards_ joy with an open procession in the ship, singing their superstitious Hymnes and Anthemes to their supposed Saint, and all this seconded with roaring Ordnance, no powder being spared for the compleating of that daies joy and triumph. The fourth of _August_ following, being the day which _Rome_ doth dedicate to _Dominick_, the first founder of the Dominicans or Preachers Order, the ship wherein I was, named _St. Anthony_, strived to exceed _Sta. Gertrudis_, by the assistance of the 27 Dominicans that were in her. All was performed both by night and day; as formerly in _Sta. Gertrudis_, both with powder, squibs, lights, Waits and musick. And further did the Dominicans joy and triumph exced the Jesuites, in that they invited all the Jesuites, with _Don John Nino de Toledo_ the President of _Manila_, with the Captaine of the ship of _Sta. Gertrudis_, to a stately dinner both of Fish and Flesh; which dinner being ended, for the afternoones sport they had prepared a Comedy out of famous _Lope de Vega_, to be acted by some Souldiers, Passengers and some of the younger sort of Fryers; which I confesse was as stately acted and set forth both in shewes and good apparell, in that narrow compasse of our ship, as might have been upon the best stage in the Court of _Madrid_. The Comedy being ended, and a banquet of sweet meates prepared for the closing up of that daies mirth, both ours, and _Sta. Gertrudis_ Cock-boat carried backe our invited friends, bidding each other adieu with our Waits and chiefest Ordnance. Thus went we on our Sea Voiage without any storme, with pleasant gales, many calmes, dayly sports and pastimes till we discovered the first land called _Desseada_ upon the twentieth day of _August_.

CHAP. VI.

_Of our discovery of some Islands, and what trouble befell us in one of them._

The Admirall of our Fleet wondring much at our slow sailing, who from the second of _July_ to the 19 of _August_ had seen nor discovered any land, save only the Islands of _Canaria_; the same day in the morning called to Councell all the Pilots of the ships, to know their Opinions concerning our present being, and the neernesse of Land. The Ships therefore drew neere unto the Admirall one by one, that every Pilot might deliver his opinion. Here was cause of laughter enough, for the passengers to heare the wise Pilots skil; One saying, we were three hundred miles, another two hundred, another one hundred, another fifty, another more, another lesse, all erring much from the truth (as afterward appeared) save onely one old Pilot of the smallest Vessell of all, who affirmed resolutely, that with that small gale wherewith wee then sailed, wee should come to _Guadalupe_ the next morning. All the rest laughed at him, but he might well have laughed at them, for the next morning by Sun-rising wee plainly discovered an Island called _Desseada_ by the _Spaniards_, or the desired Land, for that at the first discovery of the _India's_ it was the first Land the _Spaniards_ found, being then as desirous to find some Land after many dayes sailing as wee were. After this Island presently we discovered another called _Marigalante_, then another called _Dominica_, and lastly, another named _Guadalupe_, which was that wee aimed at to refresh our selves in, to wash our foule cloathes, and to take in fresh water, whereof wee stood in great need. By two or three of the clock in the afternoone wee came to a safe Rode lying before the Island, where wee cast our Anchors, no wayes fearfull of the naked Barbarians of that and the other Islands, who with great joy doe yearly expect the _Spanish_ Fleets coming, and by the Moones doe reckon the Moneths, and thereby make their guesse at their comming, and prepare some their sugar Canes, others the Plantin, others the Tortois, some one Provision, some another to barter with the _Spaniards_ for their small Haberdash, or Iron, Knives, or such things which may help them in their Wars, which commonly they make against some other Islands. Before our Anchors were cast, out came the _Indians_ to meet us in their Canoa's, round like Troughes, some whereof had beene painted by our _English_, some by the _Hollanders_, some by the _French_, as might appeare by their severall Armes, it being a common Rode and harbour to all Nations that saile to _America_.

Before wee resolved to goe to shore, wee tasted of those _Indian_ fruites, the plantin above all pleasing our taste and Palate. Wee could not but much wonder at that sight never yet seene by us of people naked, with their haire hanging down to the middle of their backes, with their faces cut out in severall fashions, or flowers, with thin plates hanging at their Noses, like Hog-rings, and fauning upon us like children, some speaking in their unknowne tongue, others using signs for such things as we imagined they desired. Their signe for some of our _Spanish_ Wine was easily perceived, and their request most willingly granted to by our men, who with one reasonable Cup of _Spanish_ Sacke presently tumbled up their heeles, and left them like swine tumbling on the Deck of our Ship. After a while that our people had sported with these rude and Savage Indians, our two Cock-Boates were ready to carry to shore such as either had clothes to wash, or a desire to bathe themselves in a River of fresh Water which is within the Island, or a mind to set their feet again upon unmoveable Land, after so many daies of uncertain footing in a floating and reeling Ship. But that day being farre spent, our Fryers resolved to stay in the Ship, and the next whole day to visit the Island; many of the Mariners and Passengers of all the Ships went that evening to shore, some returning at night, and some without feare continuing with the _Indians_ all night on shore. The next morning my selfe and most of our Fryers went and having hired some _Spaniards_ to wash our cloathes, we wandred sometimes all together sometimes two and two, and sometimes one alone about the Island, meeting with many _Indians_, who did us no hurt, but rather like children fauned upon us, offering us of their fruits, and begging of us whatsoever toies of pins, points or gloves they espied about us. Wee ventured to goe to some of their houses which stood by a pleasant River, and were by them kindly entertained, eating of their fish, and wild deeres flesh. About noone wee chanced to meet with some of the Jesuites of _Santa Gertrudis_ Ship in the midst of the Mountain, who were very earnest in talke with a _Mulatto_, all naked like the rest of the _Indians_. This _Mulatto_ was a Christian, born in _Sevill_ in _Spain_, and had been slave there formerly to a rich Merchant, his name was Lewis, and spoke the _Spanish_ Language very perfectly. Some twelve yeeres before, hee had run away from his Master by reason of hard and slavish usage, and having got to _Cales_, offering his service to a Gentleman then bound for _America_, the Gentleman fearing not that his true Master should ever have more notice of him from a new World, took him a Ship board with him as his slave. The _Mulatto_ remembring the many stripes which hee had suffered from his first cruell Master, and fearing that from _America_ hee might by some intelligence or other be sent back again to _Spain_, and also jealous of his Second Master (whose blowes hee had begun to suffer in the Ship) that hee would prove as cruell as his first; when the Ships arrived at _Guadalupe_, resolved rather to die among the _Indians_ (which hee knew might be his hardest fortune) then evermore to live in slavery under _Spaniards_. So casting his life upon good or bad fortune, hee hid himselfe among the trees in the Mountaine till the Ships were departed; who after being found by the _Indians_, and giving them some toyes which hee had got by stealth from his Master, hee was entertained by them, they liking him, and hee them. Thus continued this poore Christian slave among those Barbarians from yeare to yeare; who had care to hide himselfe at the comming of the _Spanish_ Fleet yearely. In twelve yeares that hee had thus continued amongst them, hee had learned their language, was married to an _Indian_, by whom hee had three children living. The Jesuites by chance having met with him, and perceiving more by the Wooll upon his head, that hee was a _Mulatto_, then by his black and tauny skin (for those _Indians_ paint themselves all over with a red colour) they presently imagined the truth that hee could not come thither but with some _Spaniard_, so entering into discourse with him, and finding him to speak _Spanish_, they got the whole truth of him. Then wee joyning with the Jesuites, began to perswade the poore Christian to forsake that heathenish life, wherein his soule could never bee saved, promising him if hee would goe along with us, hee should bee free from slavery forever. Poore Soule, though hee had lived twelve yeares without hearing a word of the true God, worshipping stockes and stones with the other Heathens; yet when hee heard again of Christ, of eternall damnation in hells torments, and of everlasting Salvation in Heavens joyes, hee began to weep, assuring us that hee would goe with us, were it not for his Wife and Children, whom hee tenderly loved, and could not forsake them. To this wee replyed, that thee might be a meanes of saving likewise their Souls, if hee would bring them with him; and further that wee would assure him that care should bee taken that neither hee, his Wife, nor children should ever want meanes competent for the maintenance of their lives. The _Mulatto_ hearkned well to all this, though a suddaine feare surprized him, because certaine _Indians_ passed by, and noted his long conference with us. The poore and timorous _Mulatto_ then told us, that hee was in danger, for having been knowen by us, and that hee feared the _Indians_ would kill him, and suspect that wee would steale him away; which if they did, and it were noised about the island, wee should soone see their love changed into cruell rage and Mutiny. Wee perswaded him not to feare any thing they could doe to us, who had Souldiers, Guns and Ordnance to secure ours and his life also, wishing him to resolve to bring his Wife and Children but to the Sea side, where our men were drying their Clothes, and would defend him, and a Boat should bee ready to convey him with his Wife and Children a Ship board. The _Mulatto_ promised to doe as wee had counselled him, and that hee would entice his Wife and Children to the Sea side to barter with us their Wares for ours, desiring some of the Jesuites (whom hee said he should know by their black Coates) to bee there ready for him with a Cock-Boat. _Lewis_ departed, as to us hee seemed resolute in what hee had agreed; Our joy likewise was great with the hope of bringing to the light of Christianity five Soules out of the darknesse of heathenish Idolatry. The Jesuites who had begun with this _Mulatto_ were desirous that the happy end and conclusion might bee their glory. So taking their leaves of us, they hastened to the Sea to informe the Admirall of what they had done, and to provide that the Cock-Boat of their Ship might bee in readinesse to receive _Lewis_, and his family. Wee likewise returned to the shore to see if our Shirts, and Clothes were dry. Most of us (among whom my selfe was one) finding our Linnen ready and our Boat on Shore went aboard to our Ship, leaving two or three of our company with many of other Ships on shore, especially the Jesuites waiting for their prey. When we came to our Ship, most of our Fryers with what love they had found in the Barbarians, were inflamed with a new zeale of staying in that Island, and converting those Heathens to Christianity, apprehending it an easie businesse (they being a loving people) and no wayes dangerous to us, by reason of the Fleet that yearely passeth that way, and might enquire after our usage. But by some it was objected, that it was a rash and foolish zeale with great hazard of their lives, and many inconveniences were objected against so blind and simple an attempt. But those that were most zealous slighted all reasons, saying that the worst that could happen to them could bee but to be butchered, sacrificed and eaten up; and that for such a purpose they had come out of _Spain_ to be crowned with the Crowne of Martyrdome for confessing and preaching Jesus Christ. While wee were hot in this solemne consultation, behold an uproare on the shoare; our people running to and fro to save their lives, leaving their clothes, and hasting to the Cock-Boats, filling them so fast and so full, that some sunke with all the people in them; Above al, most pitiful and lamentable were the cries of some of our women, many casting themselves to the Sea, choosing rather to venture to be taken up by some Boat, or at worst to bee drowned, then to bee taken and to bee cruelly butchered by the _Indians_. Wee wondering at this suddain alteration, not knowing the cause of it, at last perceived the Arrowes to come out thick from the Wood from behind the Trees, and thereby guessed at the truth that the Barbarians were mutinied. The uproare lasted not halfe an houre, for presently our Admirall shot off two or three Peeces of Ordnance and sent a Company of Souldiers to shore to guard it and our people with their Muskets; which was well and suddainly performed, and all the _Indians_ soon dispersed. Three of our Fryers who had remained on the land, our Cock-Boat brought them to us with more of our Passengers, among whom one Fryer _John de la Cueva_, was dangerously shot and wounded in one of his shoulders; this Fryer had beene earnest with mee to stay on shore with him, which I refused, and so escaped that cruell and fiery onset of the _Indians_. Besides those that were drowned and taken up at shore (which were fifteen persons) two Jesuites were found dead upon the Sand, three more dangerously wounded, three passengers likewise slaine, ten wounded, besides three more of the Fleet which could never bee found alive or dead, and were thought to have beene found in the Wood by the _Indians_, and to have beene murthered by them. Our _Mulatto Lewis_ came not according to his word; but in his stead a suddaine Army of treacherous _Indians_, which gave us motive enough to thinke, that either _Lewis_ himselfe had discovered the Jesuites Plot to take him away with his Wife and Children; or that the _Indians_ suspecting it by his talke with us had made him confesse it. And certainly this was the ground of their Mutiny; for whereas _Lewis_ before had said, that hee would know the Jesuites by their black Coats, it seemes hee had well described them above all the rest unto the _Indians_, for (as it was after well observed) most of their Arrowes was directed to the black Markes, and so five of them in little above a quarter of an houre slaine and wounded. All that night our Souldiers guarded the Coast, often shooting off their Muskets, to affright the _Indians_, who appeared no more unto us. All that night wee slept little, for wee watched our Ship; lest the _Indians_ in their Canoas should set upon us and take us asleepe. Some lamented the dead and drowned, others pitied our wounded Fryer _John De la Cueva_, who all that night lay in great torment and misery, others laughed and jeared at those zealous Fryers, who would have stayed in that Island to Convert the Barbarians, saying they had had their full desire of Martyrdome, for had they beene but that night with the _Indians_, doubtlesse they had beene shred for their Suppers. But now wee perceived their zeale was coole, and they desired no more to stay with such a Barbarous kind of People; but rather wished the Admirall would shoot off the warning Peece for us all to take up our Anchors, and depart from so dangerous a place. In the morning all the Ships made hast to take in such fresh water as was necessary for their voiage yet to _America_, a strong watch being kept along the Coast, and a Guard guarding our men to the River; and all the morning while this was doing not one _Indian_ could bee found or seen, nor our three men that were missing, appeared. Thus at noone with a pleasant and prosperous Gale we hoisted up our Sailes, leaving the Islands, and harbour of _Guadalupe_.

CHAP. VII.

_Of our further Sayling to St._ John de Ulhua, aliàs, Vera Crux; _and of our landing there._

Upon the 22 day of _August_, wee sailed so pleasantly that wee soone left the sight of the Islands; The _Indians_ uproare had weaved for us a thred of long discourse; It made some hate their calling to teach and convert _Indians_, but _Calvo_ hee encouraged us, telling us many Stories of the good and gentle nature of the _Indians_ of _Philippinas_, to whom we were going, and that most of them were Christians already, who esteemed their Preists as Gods upon the earth; and that those that were not as yet converted to Christianity, were kept in awe by the power of the _Spaniards_. Our chiefe care the first two or three daies was to looke to our plantins which we got from the _Indians_. This fruit pleased us all exceedingly, judging it to bee as good, or better then any fruit in _Spain_. It is not gathered ripe from the tree; but being gathered green, it is hung up some daies, and so ripens and growes yellow and mellow, and every bit as sweet as honey. Our Sugar Canes were no lesse pleasing unto us, whilst chewing the pith, we refreshed and sweetned our mouthes with the juice. We fed for the first week almost upon nothing but _Tortois_; which seemed likewise to us that had never before seen it, one of the Sea monsters, the Shell being so hard as to beare any Cart wheel, and in some above two yards broad; when first they were opened, we were amazed to see the number of egges that were in them, a thousand being the least that we judged to be in some of them. Our _Spaniards_ made with them an excellent broth with all sorts of spices. The meat seemed rather flesh then Sea fish, which being corned with salt, and hung up two or three dayes in the aire, tasted like Veal. Thus our Hens, our Sheep, our powdred Beef, and gammons of Bacon, which we brought from _Spain_, were some dayes slighted, while with greedy stomacks we fell hard to our Sea Veale.

After foure dayes sail, our Fryer _John de la Cueva_, who had been shot by the _Indians_, died; all his body being swelled, which gave us just occasion to thinke, that the arrow which was shot into his shoulder was poisoned. His buriall was as solemnly performed as could be at Sea. His grave being the whole Ocean, he had weighty stones hung to his feet, two more to his shoulders, and one to his brest; and then the superstitious _Romish Dirige_ and _Requiem_ being sung for his soul, his Corpse being held out to the Sea on the ship side, with ropes ready to let him fall, all the ship crying out three times, _buen Viaie_ (that is, a good Voiage) to his soul chiefly, and also to his Corpse ready to travail to the deep to feed the Whales; at the first cry all the Ordnance were shot off, the ropes on a suddain loosed, and _John de la Cueva_ with the weight of heavy stones plunged deep into the Sea, whom no mortall eyes ever more beheld. The like we saw performed in the ship of _Santa Gertrudis_, to another Jesuite, one of the three who had been dangerously wounded by the _Indians_ of _Guadalupe_; who likewise died like our Fryer, his body being swelled as with poyson. Now our sailing was more comfortable then before; for we passed in the sight of the land of _Puerto Rico_, and then of the great Island of _Sto. Domingo_; and here our company began to be lessened, some departing to _Puerto Rico_, and _Sto. Domingo_, others to _Cartagena_, and _Havana_, and _Honduras, Jamaica_, and _Jucatan_. We remained now alone the Fleet for _Mexico_; and so sailed till we came to what the _Spaniards_ call _la Sonda_, or the sound of _Mexico_; for here we often sounded the Sea; which was so calme, that a whole week we were stayed for want of wind, scarce stirring from the place where first we were caught by the calme. Here likewise we had great sport in fishing, filling again our bellies with _Dorados_, and saving that provision which we had brought from _Spain_. But the heat was so extraordinary, that the day was no pleasure unto us; for the repercussion of the suns heat upon the still water and pitch of our ships, kindled a scorching fire, which all the day distempered our bodies with a constant running sweat, forcing us to cast off most of our clothes. The evenings and nights were somewhat more comfortable, yet the heat which the sun had left in the pitched ribs and plankes of the ship was such, that under deck and in our Cabins wee were not able to sleep, but in our shirts were forced to walke, or sit, or lie upon the deck. The Mariners fell to washing themselves and to swimming, till the infortunate death of one in the ship called _St. Francisco_, made them suddainly leave off that sport. The neerer wee come to the main land, the sea abounds with a monstrous fish called by the _Spaniards, Tiburon_. Some mistake this fish for the _Caiman_, or _Crocodile_, holding them both for one; and thinking that it is only the _Caiman_ or _Crocodile_ (by abuse called _Tiburon_) which devoures mans flesh, a whole joynt at a bit in the water. But the mistake is grosse, for the _Caiman_ is plated all over with shells, whereas the _Tiburon_ hath no shells, but only like other great Sea fishes, hath a thick skin. The _Caiman_ though the _Indians_ eat of it, yet the _Spaniards_ hate it; who eat of the _Tiburon_; and in our ship catching one with a tridentall iron Fork, and haling him with a Cable rope to the ship side, and then binding him with it, (being as much as a dozen or fifteen men could do to hoise him up into the ship) we found him to be a most monstrous creature, twelve els long at least, which we salted, and found likewise to eat like flesh, as hath been said of the _Tortois_. This kind is as ravenous after mans flesh as the _Crocodile_, and many of them were to be seen in this Sound of _Mexico_.

The _Spaniards_ bathing themselves dayly by the ships side, (where there is no such danger of the _Tiburon_; who useth not to come too neere the ships) one Mariner of the ship called _St. Francisco_ being more venturous then the rest, and offering to swimme from his ship, to see some friends in another not farre off, chanced to be a most unfortunate prey to one of them, who before any boat could be set out to help him, was thrice seen to bee pulled under water by the Monster, who had devoured a leg, an arme, and part of his shoulder; the rest of the body was after found and taken up, and carried to _S. Francisco_, and there buried in the forme and manner as hath been said of our Fryer _John de la Cueva. They that goe downe to the sea in ships, these see the workes of the Lord, and his wonders in the deepe, Ps._ 107. 23, 24. Here they shall see not only Whales, but other Fishes like Monsters mastering strong and valiant men, with severall sets of sharpe, strong and mighty teeth, devouring at one bit whole limmes with flesh and bones together. This mischance sadded all our Fleet for three daies till it pleased God to refresh our burning heat with a cool and prosperous wind, driving us out of that calm Sound, which (if we had continued in it with that excessive heat) might have proved most unsound and unhealthy to our bodies. Three daies after we had sailed, being Munday in the morning about seven of the clock, one of our Fryers saying Masse, and all the people in the ship kneeling to hear it, and to adore their bread God, one Mariner with a loud and suddain voice crieth out _Tierra, Tierra, Tierra_, Land, Land, Land, which rejoyced the hearts of all that were in the ship, as it seemed, more then their Masse, for leaving that, and their God upon the Altar with the Preist to eat him alone, they arose from their knees, to behold the Continent of _America_. Great was the joy of all the ships that day; and great was the slaughter which our old _Calvo_ made among his fowles, (which he had spared formerly) to feast that day his Fryers. About ten of the clock the whole face of the land was visibly apparent, and wee with full sale running to imbrace it. But our wise Admirall knowing the danger of the Coast, and especially the dangerous entring into the Haven, by reason of the many rockes that lie about it, and are known only by markes and flags set out to give all ships warning of them; perceiving that with the wind wherewith wee sailed then, we should not come till towards evening to the Port: and lastly, fearing lest some North-wind (which is dangerous upon that Coast, and ordinary in the month of _September_) should in the night arise, and endanger all our ships upon the rockes; he therefore called to Councell all the Pilots, to know whether it were best to keep on our sailing with full sail that day, with hopes to get that day in good time into the Haven, or else with the middle sail only to draw neer, that the next morning with more security wee might with the help of boats from land be guided in. The result of the Councell was not to venture that day too neer unto the Port, for fear of being benighted, but to pull down all, but the middle sail. The wind began to calme, and our ships to move slowly towards land, and so we continued till night. A double watch was kept that night in our ship, and the Pilot was more watchfull himselfe and more carefull then at other times; But our Fryers betooke themselves to their rest; which continued not long; for before midnight the wind turned to the North, which caused a suddain and generall cry and uproar in ours, and all the other ships. Our Mariners came to the Fryers, using almost the same words of Jonah 1. 6. _What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise call upon thy God, if so bee that God will thinke upon us, that we perish not._ They changed the name of God into the blessed Virgin _Mary_, in whom they seeme to confide in such occasions more then in God himselfe. Their feare was more for the apprehension of danger by that kind of wind, and of what might happen, then for what as yet the wind threatned, which was not strong nor boisterous; however hallowed wax candles were lighted by the Fryers, knees bowed to _Mary_, Letanies and other hymnes and prayers sung aloud unto her, till towards the dawning of the day; when behold the North wind ceased, our wonted gale began to blow again, it being Gods will and pleasure, and no effect of the howling Fryers prayers to _Mary_, who yet superstitiously to deceive the simple people, cryed out, _Milagro, Milagro, Milagro,_ a miracle, a miracle, a miracle. By eight a clock in the morning wee came to the sight of the houses, and made signes for boats to convey us into the Haven; which immediately with great joy came out, and guided us one by one between those Rockes, which make that Port as dangerous as any I have discovered in all my travailes both upon the North and South sea. Our Waits plaied most pleasantly, our Ordnance saluted both Towne and Fort over against it, our hearts and countenances reciprocally rejoyced; wee cast our Anchors, which yet were not enough to secure our ships in that most dangerous Haven, but further with Cable ropes we secured them to Iron rings, which for that purpose are fastned into the Wall of the Fort, for feare of the strong and boisterous Northerne winds. And thus welcoming one another to a new world, many boates waiting for us, we presently went with joy to set footing in _America_.

CHAP. VIII.

_Of our Landing at_ Vera Crux, _otherwise St._ John de Ulhua, _and of our entertainment there._

Upon the 12 day of _September_, we happily arrived in _America_ in that famous Towne, called _St. John de Ulhua_, otherwise _Vera Crux_; famous for that it was the first beginning of the famous conquest of that valiant and ever renowned Conqueror _Hernando Cortez_. Here first was that noble and generous resolution, that never heard of policy, to sinke the ships, which had brought the first _Spaniards_ to that Continent, greater then any of the other three parts of the world, to the intent that they might thinke of nothing but such a conquest as after followed, being destitute of the helpe of their ships, and without hopes evermore to returne to _Cuba, Yucatan_, or any of those parts from whence they had come. Here it was, that the first five hundred _Spaniards_ strengthned themselves against millions of enemies, and against the biggest fourth part of all the world. Here were the first Magistrates, Judges, Aldermen, Officers of Justice named. The proper name of the Towne is _S. John de Ulhua_, otherwise called _Vera Crux_, from the old Harbour and Haven of _Vera Crux_, six leagues from this, and so called for that upon good Friday it was first discovered. But the old _Vera Crux_ proving too dangerous an Harbour for ships, by reason of the violence of the Northern winds; it was utterly forsaken by the _Spaniards_, who removed to _St. John de Ulhua_, where their ships found the first safe road by reason of a Rocke, which is a strong defence against the winds. And because the memory of the worke of that good Friday should never be forgotten; to _S. John de Ulhua_ they have added the name also of _Vera Crux_, taken from that first Haven which was discovered upon good Friday, _Anno_ 1519.

As soone as we came to shore, wee found very solemne preparations for entertainment, all the Towne being resorted to the Sea side, all the Preists and Canons of the Cathedrall Church, all the religious Orders of the severall Convents (which are there Dominicans, Franciscans, Mercenarians, and Jesuites) being in a readinesse with their Crosses borne before them, to guide the new Viceroy of _Mexico_, in procession to the chiefe Cathedrall Church. The Fryers and Jesuites were quicker in going to land then the great _Don_ the Marquesse _de Serralvo_ and his Lady. Some of them kissed the ground as holy in their opinion, for the Conversion of those _Indians_ to Christianity, who before had worshipped Idols, and sacrificed to Devils; others kneeled upon their knees making short prayers, some to the Virgin _Mary_, others to such Saints as they best affected; and so betooke themselves to the places and stations of those of their profession. In the mean time all the Cannon playing both from ships and Castle, landed the Viceroy and his Lady and all his Traine, acccompanyed with _Don Martin de Carrillo_ the Visiter generall for the strife between the Count of _Gelves_ the last Viceroy, & the Archbishop of _Mexico_. The great Don and his Lady being placed under a Canope of state, began the _Te Deum_ to be sung with much variety of musicall instruments, all marching in procession to the Cathedrall, where with many lights of burning lampes, torches, & Wax candles, was to the view of all set upon the high Altar their God of bread; to whom all knees were bowed; a prayer of thanks-giving sung, holy water by a Preist sprinkled upon all the people, and lastly a Masse with three Preists solemnly celebrated. This being ended the Viceroy was attended on by the Chief High Justice, named _Alcalde_ Major by the Officers of the Town, some Judges sent from _Mexico_ to that purpose, and all the Souldiers of the Ships and Town unto his lodging; The Fryers likewise in Procession with their Crosse before them were conducted to their severall Cloisters. Fryer _Calvo_ presented his Dominicans to the Prior of the Cloister of St. _Dominicke_, who entertained us very lovingly with some sweet Meates, and everyone with a Cup of the _Indian_ drink called _Chocolatte_, whereof I shall speake hereafter. This refreshment being ended, wee proceeded to a better, which was a most stately Dinner both of Fish and Flesh; no Fowles were spared, many Capons, Turky Cocks, and Hens were prodigally lavished, to shew us the abundance and plenty of Provision of that Country. The Prior of this Cloister was no stayed, ancient, grey-headed man, such as usually are made Superiours to govern young and wanton Fryers; but hee was a Gallant and Amorous young Sparke, who (as wee were there informed) had obtained from his Superiour the Provinciall the Government of that Convent with a Bribe of a thousand Duckats. After dinner hee had some of us to his Chamber, where wee observed his lightnesse and little savour of Religion or Mortification in him; We thought to have found in his Chamber some stately Library, which might tel us of Learning and love of Study; but we found not above a dozen old Bookes, standing in a corner covered with dust and Cobwebs, as if they were ashamed that the Treasure that lay hid in them, should be so much forgotten, and undervalued, and the Guitarra (the _Spanish_ Lute) preferred and set above them. His Chamber was richly dressed and hung with many pictures, and with hangings, some made with Cotten Wooll, others with various coloured feathers of _Mechoacan_, his Tables covered with Carpets of Silk; his Cubboards adorned with severall sorts of _China_ Cups and Dishes, stored within with severall dainties of sweet Meates and Conserves.

This sight seemed to the zealous Fryers of our Mission most vaine, and unbeseeming a poore and mendicant Fryer; to the others, whose end in comming from _Spain_ to those parts was Liberty, and loosnesse, and covetousnesse of riches, this sight was pleasing and gave them great incouragement to enter further into that Country, where soone a Mendicant _Lazarus_ might become a proud and wealthy _Dives_. The discourse of the young and light headed Prior was nothing but vaine boasting of himself, of his birth, his parts, his favour with the chiefe Superior or Provinciall, the love which the best Ladies, the richest Merchants Wives of the Towne bare unto him, of his cleere and excellent voice, and great dexterity in Musick, whereof he presently gave us a taste, tuning his _Guitarra_ and singing to us some verses (as hee said, of his owne composing) some lovely _Amaryllis_, adding scandall to scandall, loosenesse to liberty, which it grieved some of us to see in a Superiour who should have taught with words, and in his life and Conversation examples of Repentance and Mortification. No sooner were our senses of hearing delighted well with Musick, our Sight with the objects of Cotten-Wool, Silke and Feather workes, but presently our Prior caused to be brought forth of all his store of dainties, such variety as might likewise relish well and delight our sense of tasting. Thus as wee were truely transported from _Europe_ to _America_, so the World seemed truely to bee altered, our senses changed from what they were the night & day before when we heard the hideous noise of the Mariners hoising up Sailes, when wee saw the deep and monsters of it, when we tasted the stinking water, when we smelt the Tarre and Pitch; but here wee heard a quivering and trembling voice and instrument well tuned, wee beheld wealth and riches, wee tasted what was sweet, and in the Sweet-meates smelt the Muske and Civit, wherewith that Epicurean Prior had seasoned his Conserves. Here wee broke up our discourse and pastimes, desirous to walke abroad and take a view of the Towne, having no more time then that, and the next day to stay in it. Wee compassed it round about that afternoone; and found the situation of it to bee sandy, except on the South-West side, where it is Moorish ground, and full of standing Bogs, which with the great heates that are there, cause it to bee a very unhealthy place; The number of Inhabitants may bee three thousand, and amongst them some very rich Merchants, some worth two hundred, some three hundred, and some foure hundred thousand Duckats. Of the buildings little we observed, for they are all, both Houses, Churches, and Cloisters built with Boards and Timber, the Walls of the richest mans house being made but of boards, which with the impetuous Winds from the North hath bin cause that many times the town hath bin for the most part of it burnt down to the ground. The great Trading from _Mexico_, & by _Mexico_ from the _East-India's_, from _Spain_, from _Cuba, Sto. Domingo, Jucatan, Portabello_, and by _Portabello_ from _Peru_, from _Cartagena_ and all the Islands lying upon the North Sea, and by the River _Alvarado_ going up to _Zapotecas, St. Ildefonso_, and towards _Guaxaca_, and by the River _Grijalva_, running up to _Tabasco, Los Zoques_ and _Chiapa de Indios_, maketh this little Town very rich, and to abound with all the Commodities of the Continent Land, and of all the _East_ and _West-India's_ Treasures. The unhealthinesse of the place is the reason of the paucity of Inhabitants, and the paucity of them, together with the rich Trading and commerce, the reasons that the Merchants therein are extraordinary rich; who yet might have been farre richer, had not the Town been so often fired, and they in the fire had great losses. All the strength of this Towne is first the hard and dangerous entrance into the Haven; and secondly, a rock which lyeth before the Town lesse then a Musket shot off; upon which is built a Castle, and in the Castle a slight Garrison of Souldiers. In the Town there is neither Fort, nor Castle, nor scarce any people of warlike mindes. The Rocke and Castle are as a Wall, defence, and inclosure to the Haven, which otherwise lyeth wide open to the Ocean, and to the Northern Winds. No Ship dares cast anchor within the Haven, but onely under the Rock and Castle, and yet not sure enough so with Anchors, except with Cables also they be bound and fastened to Rings of Iron for that purpose to the side of the Rock; from whence sometimes it hath happened that Ships floating with the Stream too much on one side the Rocke have been driven off and cast upon the other Rockes or out to the Ocean, the Cables of their Anchors, and those wherewith they have beene fastned to the Castle being broken with the force of the Winds. This happened to one of our Ships the first night after we landed; who were happy that we were not then at Sea; for there arose such a storme and Tempest from the North, that it quite broke the Cables of one Ship and drove it out to the maine Sea, and wee thought it would have blowne and droven us out of our beds after it, for the slight boarded houses did so totter & shake, that we expected every houre when they would fal upon our heads. We had that first night enough of St. _John de Ulhua_, and little rest, though feasted as well at Supper as at Dinner by our vaine boasting Prior, who before wee went to bed, had caused all our feet to bee washed, that now in easier beds then for above two moneths together the strait and narrow Cabins of the Ship had allowed us, our sleep might be more quiet, and more nourishing to our bodies; but the whistling Winds and tottering Chambers, which made our Beds uneasie Cradles to us, caused us to flie from our rest at midnight, and with our bare (though washed) feet to seeke the dirty Yard for safer shelter. In the morning the Fryers of the Cloister who were acquainted with those winds and storms, laughed at our fearefulnesse, assuring us, that they never slept better then when their Beds were rocked with such like blasts. But that nights affrightment made us weary already of our good and kind entertainment; wee desired to remove from the Sea side; which our Superiour _Calvo_ yeelded to, not for our feare sake so much, as for his feare, lest with eating too much of the fruits of that Countrey, and drinking after them too greedily of the water (which causeth dangerous Fluxes, and hasteneth death to those that newly come from _Spain_ to those parts) wee should fall sick, and die there, as hundreds did after our departure for want of temperance in the use of those fruits, which before they had never seen, or eaten. Thirty Mules were ready for us, which had bin brought a purpose from _Mexico_, and had waited for us in St. _John de Ulhua_ six days before ever the Fleet arrived. _Calvo_ that day busied himselfe a Ship board in sending to shore our Chests, and such Provision as had been left of Wines, and Bisket, Gammons of Bacon, and salted Beefe, whereof there was some store, besides a dozen Hens and three Sheep, which was much wondred at, that so much should be left after so long a voiage. In the mean time we visited our friends and tooke our leaves of them in the forenoone; and after Dinner seats were prepared for us in the Cathedrall Church to sit and see a Comedy acted, which had beene on purpose studied and prepared by the Town for the entertainment of the new Viceroy of _Mexico_. Thus two daies onely we abode in St. _John de Ulhua_, and so departed.

CHAP. IX.

_Of our journey from St. _John de Ulhua _to_ Mexico; _and of the most remarkeable Townes and Villages in the way._

Upon the 14 day of _September_ we left the Town and Port of _S. John de Ulhua_, entring into the rode to _Mexico_, which we found the first three or four leagues to bee very sandy, as wide and open as is our rode from _London_ to _S. Albans_. The first _Indians_ we met with, was at the old _Vera Crux_, a Towne seated by the sea side, which the _Spaniards_ that first conquered that countrey thought to have made their chief Harbour: but afterwards by reason of the small shelter they found in it for their ships against the North winds, they left it, and removed to _S. John de Ulhua_. Here we began to discover the power of the Preists and Fryers over the poore _Indians_, and their subjection and obedience unto them. The Prior of _S. John de Ulhua_ had writ a letter unto them the day before of our passing that way, charging them to meet us in the way, and to welcome us into those parts; which was by the poor _Indians_ gallantly performed; for two miles before we came to the Towne, there met us on Horse-back some twenty of the chiefe of the Towne, presenting unto every one of us a nosegay of flowers; who rid before us a bow shot, till we met with more company on foot, to wit, the Trumpeters, the Waits; (who sounded pleasantly all the way before us) the Officers of the Church, such as here we call Church-wardens, though more in number, according to the many sodalities or confraternities of Saints whom they serve, these likewise presented to each of us a nosegay; next met us the singing men and boyes, all the Quiristers, who softly and leisurely walked before us singing, _Te Deum laudamus_, till we came to the midst of the Towne, where were two great Elme trees, the chiefe Market place; there was set up one long arbour with green bowes, and a table ready furnished with boxes of conserves, and other sweet meates, and diet-bread, to prepare our stomacks for a cup of _Chocolatte_, which while it was seasoning with the hot water and Sugar, the chiefe _Indians_ and Officers of the Towne made a speech unto us, having first kneeled downe and kissed our hands one by one; they welcomed us into their Countrey, calling us the Apostles of Jesus Christ, thanked us for that we had left our own Countrey, our friends, our fathers and mothers for to save their soules; they told us they honoured us as Gods upon earth; and many such complements they used till our _Chocolatte_ was brought. We refreshed ourselves for the space of one hour, and gave hearty thanks to the _Indians_ for their kind respects unto us, assuring them that nothing was more deare unto us in this world then their souls, which that we might save, wee regarded not sea, nor land dangers, nor the unhumane cruelties of barbarous and savage _Indians_, (who as yet had no knowledge of the true God) no nor our owne lives.

And thus we took our leaves, giving unto the chief of them some Beads, some medals, some Crosses of brasse, some _Agnus Dei_, some reliques brought from _Spain_, and to every one of the Town an Indulgence of fourty years, (which the Pope had granted unto us, to bestow where, and upon whom, and as often as wee would) wherewith we began to blind that simple people with ignorant, erroneous, and Popish principles. As we went out of the Arbour to take our Mules, behold the Market place was full of _Indian_ men and women; who as they saw us ready to depart, kneeled upon the ground as adoring us for a blessing, which as we rid along, we bestowed upon them with lifted up hands on high, making over them the signe of the Crosse. And this submission of the poor _Indians_ unto the Preists in those parts; this vain-glory in admitting such ceremonious entertainment and publike worship from them, did so puffe up some of our young Fryers hearts, that already they thought themselves better then the best Bishops in _Spain_, who though proud enough, yet never travail there with such publike acclamations as we