PART I. EUROPEAN DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS. PERIOD II. FROM THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO, IN 1521, TO THE FIRST THE emperor of Spain appointed Cortes captain-general and 1522. governor of New Spain; and certain commissioners to receive Cortes apand administer the royal revenue there, with independent juris- pointed diction. Viceroys were afterward appointed.1 governor of New Spain. Villa del Spiritu Santo, in the province of Guascaca in New S. Santo. Spain, was built by Gonzalo de Sandoval. Newfoundland, settled by different nations, is said to have Newfoundcontained at this period fifty houses.2 land. The islands of Bermudas were discovered by Juan Bermu- Bermudas. dez.3 CORTES, with 300 foot and 150 horse, conquered Panuco. 1523. On the river Chila he built a town, called Santo Stephano del Conquests Puerto, and left in it 100 foot and 30 horse. He now rebuilt and settlethe city of Mexico, on the model of the European towns, divid- Spaniards. ing the ground among the conquerors. The Spanish Quarter 1 Herrera, d. 3. lib. 4. c. 3. Robertson, b. 5. Humboldt, ii. 66. 2 Alcedo, Art. ESPIRITU-SANTO. Encyc. Methodique, Geog. Art. VILLA DEL SPIRITU SANTO; and Art. TERRE NEUVE. 3 Herrera, d. 4. lib. 2. c. 6. Alcedo, Art. BERMUDAS. Prince, on the authority of Purchas, ascribes this discovery to Gonsales Ferdinandus Oviedas in 1515. On examining the passage in Purchas, I am convinced there is an error; some facts incidentally mentioned there by Oviedas, relating to Charles V, not being reconcileable to that date. An extract from Oviedas, in the margin of Purchas, seems to imply, that Bermudez had made the voyage before him, and that the principal island was already called by his name. Herrera says, Bermudez was a native of Palos. "Llamaron à esta Isla la Bermuda, y por otro nombre la Garça, porque el Capitan que la descubriò se llamara Juan Bermudez, natural de la villa de Palos, y la não que llevava, la Garça." See A. D. 1572. ments of the 1523. was begun with 1200 inhabitants.1 Pedro de Alvarado, sent from Mexico with 300 foot, 70 horse, and 4 field pieces, to discover and conquer Quauthemallan, Xochuuxo, and other towns toward the South Sea, discovered and subdued all that country; Guatemala. and, the next year, founded the city of St. Jago de Guatemala. Gonzales d'Avila discovered and peopled a place in the bottom of Ascension bay, in 14° north latitude, and called the town Gil de Buena Vista.2 vice of France. 1524. JOHN DE VERRAZZANO, a Florentine, having been sent out the Voyage of preceding year by Francis I. of France, with four ships, to proVerrazzano secute discoveries in the northern parts of America, now coasted in the ser- from the 28th to the 50th degree north latitude. In this voyage he discovered, with a considerable degree of accuracy, the coast of Florida. The whole extent of his discovery was upwards of 700 leagues of the North American coast, which he named New France. He made another voyage the next year; but he and his crew were lost by some unknown disaster; and, 3 1 Herrera, d. 3. lib. 5. c. 3. Robertson, b. 5. Harris' Voy. i. 172. Venegas, California, i. 133. The city was ultimately built with 100,000 houses, "fairer and stronger than before." Purchas, i. 788. 2 Harris' Voy. i. 272. Alcedo, Art. GUATEMALA; "a name derived from that of Quauhthemallan, which is the name given to this kingdom by the Indians." 3 Hakluyt, iii. 295-300, where is Verrazzano's own account of his voyage, sent to Francis I," written in Diepe the eight of July, 1524." Univ. Hist. xxxix. 406. Forster, Voy. 432-436. Prince, A. D. 1524. Belknap, Biog. i. 33. Harris' Voy. i. 810. Brit. Emp. Introd. xlvi, and i. 163. Purchas, i. 769. Chalmers, i. 512. Some historians place these discoveries in the years 1523, 1524, 1525. It appears, that Verrazzano was sent out by the French king in 1523; that he at first cruized with success against the Spaniards; that he at length sailed with one of his four ships on a voyage of discovery; that he "departed from the dishabited rocke by the isle of Madeira the 17th of January the yeere 1524;" and that he made another voyage in 1525, with the design of settling a colony, but was heard of no more. Forster supposes, that in his voyage of 1524 he first arrived off that part of the American coast, where the town of Savannah now stands; a new land," says Verrazzano, "never before seene of any man either ancient or moderne." Having sailed thence to the southward as far as to the 30th deg. north lat. it appears that he then sailed northward to the 34th deg. and thence still northward until he found the coast "trend toward the east ; that here he attempted to send his boat ashore, but was prevented by the roughness of the sea; that proceeding to the eastward, he found a well cultivated island, and a little beyond it a good harbour, in which were more than 20 canoes, belonging to the natives; that he proceeded still northwardly to 50° along the coast of the country; and that then, on account of the failure of his provisions, he sailed directly for France. Forster supposes the place where Verrazzano attempted to send his boat ashore was "somewhere about New Jersey or Staten Island." In lat. 40° he entered a harbour, which, by his description, Dr. Belknap supposed, must be that of New York. The well cultivated island was supposed by Forster to be Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard. Verrazzano says, "sailing northeast. . we approached to the land that in times past was discovered by the Britons, which is in fifty degrees." Purchas says, Verrazzano rather sought to discover all along the coast, than to search or settle within land. for several succeeding years, neither the king, nor the nation, 1524. thought any more of America.1 first discov Historians remark, to the great honour of Italy, that the three Italians Powers, which at this day possess almost all America, owe their made the first discoveries to the Italians: Spain, to Columbus, a Genoese; eries; England, to the Cabots, Venetians; and France, to Verrazzano, a Florentine; a circumstance which is thought sufficient to prove, that in those times no nation was equal to the Italians in point of maritime knowledge and extensive experience in navigation. It is remarkable, that the Italians, with all their knowledge and experience, have not been able to acquire one inch of ground but no setfor themselves in America. This singular failure has been as- tlement. cribed to the penurious mercantile spirit of the Italian republics; to their mutual animosities and petty wars; and to their contracted selfish policy.2 Luke Velazquez, the Spaniard of Aylon, who, four years Voyages to before, had perfidiously carried off a number of the natives from Florida. St. Helena, having for that vile action obtained the reward of a discoverer of new lands instead of merited punishment, now sent over several ships to Florida. The year following, he came over in person with three more ships; but, as if in judicial punishment of his cruel perfidy, he lost 200 of his men, who were cut off by the natives, and one of his ships was wrecked near Cape St. Helena. These losses, with his disappointments in the expected advantages of his discoveries, induced him to return to Hispaniola, where he died of a broken heart.3 The tribunal of the Indies, which had hitherto been but an Tribunal of assembly of the counsellors of other tribunals, was now estab- the Indies. lished as a particular one, with a president and counsellors.1 Papantzin, a Mexican princess, sister of Montezuma, was Mexican baptized; and she was the first person, who received Christian baptism. baptism in Tlatelolco.5 CHARLES V, emperor of Spain, having sent Stephen Gomez 1525. from Corunna to find a passage to the Molucca Islands by the 1 Some authors say, they were massacred and eaten by the savages. Charlevoix thinks the story is without foundation. "Peu de tems après son arrivée en France, il fit un nouvel armement à dessein d'établir une Colonie dans l'Amerique. Tout ce qu'on sçait de cette enterprise, c'est que s'étant embarqué il n'a point páru depuis, et qu'on n'a jamais bien sçû ce qu'il étroit deveau.-Il y périt: On ignore par quel accident. Ce qu'il y a deplus certain, c'est que le malheureux sort de Verazani fut cause que pendant plusieurs anneés, ni le Roi, ni la Nation ne songerent plus à l'Amerique." Nouv. France, i. 4, 7, 8, and Fastes Chron. Lescarbot, liv. i. c. 4. 2 Charlevoix, ut supra. Forster, Voy. 437. Purchas, i. 735. Roscoe's Life of Leo X. iv. c. 20. 3 Univ. xl. 379, 380. See A. D. 1520. 4 Muñoz, Introd. xxiv. Note. 5 Clavigero, i. 231. 1525. way of America; this skilful navigator sailed to Cuba and Florida, and thence northwardly to Cape Razo, in the 46th degree Voyage of north latitude, and returned without making the discovery. was the first Spaniard who sailed along this northern coast.1 S. Gomez. Enterprise against Peru. 1526. Voyage of Sebastian April 1. He Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro, who had already distinguished themselves among the Spanish conquerors of America, not satisfied with the glory of the past, resolved to perform still greater achievements. Pizarro, having marched under Balboa across the isthmus of Darien at the time of his discovery of the South Sea, had received various hints from the natives concerning the opulent country of Peru. He and Almagro associating with them Hernando de Luque, a schoolmaster and an ecclesiastic in Panama, who had amassed considerable wealth, these three solemnly swore in public, and entered into articles under hand and seal, never to forsake each other in any dangers or discouragements whatever, until they should have made an entire conquest of that country. Pizarro, by license of Pedrarias d'Avila the Spanish governor, sailed from Panama to Peru on this daring enterprise, with 112 Spaniards and some Indians, and Almagro soon followed him; but both were repulsed, and compelled to leave the country, which they had invaded.3 SEBASTIAN CABOT, not finding public patronage in England, had passed over into Spain; and was now employed by Charles V, in a voyage for the discovery of the Molucca Islands. He entered into a treaty with the emperor, the principal articles of which were, That Cabot should have the command of a squadron of four ships, in quality of captain-general, and that Martin Mendoz, who had been treasurer to Magellan's squadron, should 1 Prince, A. D. 1525. Forster, Voy. 447. P. Martyr [460, 461.] takes notice of this voyage: "Decretum est, ut Stephanus Gomez alia via tendat, qua se inquit reperturum inter Baccalaos et Floridas, jam diu nostras terras, iter ad Cataium; neque aliud habebit in mandatis, quàm ut inquirat, an exitus ad magnum vulgo Canem ex Oceani hujus nostri variis inflexibus, et vastis ambagibus reperiatur. Is, nec freto neque à se promisso Cataio repertis, regressus est intra mensem decimum à discessu." Venegas [Hist. Californ. i. 124.] affirms, that he was sent out in 1524, "and not in 1525, as Gomara says; and that he returned to Spain in 1525, carrying with him some Indians. Gomez accompanied Magellan in his great voyage a few years before. Purchas, i. 738. 2 Robertson, b. 6. Pizarro was also with Ojeda, in his disastrous expedition for settling the continent. See A. D. 1510, and 1513. All the people on the coast of the South Sea concurred in informing Balboa, that there was a mighty and opulent kingdom, situated at a considerable distance toward the south east. 3 Vega, del Peru, P. 2. lib. 1. c. 1. and lib. 2. c. 17. Herrera, d. 3. lib. 6. c. 13. Purchas, v. 1491-1497. Robertson, b. 6. H. de Luque celebrated mass; "llorando la gente de ver tal acto, teniendolos por locos, porque tal negocio emprendian." Dividing a consecrated host into three parts, he reserved one part for himself, and gave to his associates the other two, of which they partook; "and thus, in the name of the Prince of Peace, ratified a contract, of which plunder and bloodshed were the objects." serve under him, as lieutenant; that he should sail through the 1526. newly discovered Straits, then cross the South Sea to the Molucca Islands, and thence proceed on the discovery of Tharsis, Ophir, and Cipango, which were then thought to be the islands of Japan; and that he should there load his ships with gold, silver, and the other precious commodities, which the country afforded. It was Cabot himself who proposed this expedition. Sailing from Seville with five vessels, one of which was freighted by a private adventurer, he first made the island of Patos, near Cape St. Augustine, in Brazil. The loss of his principal ship in the bay of Patos, a mutiny among his mariners, and the want of provisions sufficient to carry him through the Straits of Magellan, induced him to resolve not to proceed farther on the projected voyage. Making a pinnace here, to pass up the Rio de la Plata, he ascended that river 60 leagues, and came to some islands, which he called, The Islands of St. Gabriel. Here he left his ships, and rowed up the Uraguay in boats three leagues to a river on the right, which he called Rio de San Salvador; built a small fort on its banks; and detached some soldiers up the river, under the command of Alvarez Ramon. This officer and some of his people were killed by the natives. Cabot next sailed about 30 leagues up the Paraguay, and built a fort at the mouth of a river, issuing from the mountains of Tucuman, and called it, The Fort Santi Spiritus; but it is generally called by historians, Cabot's Fort. Sending despatches to the emperor, Fort built. with the silver that he had collected, he remained at Paraguay two years; discovered about 200 leagues on that river; and, leaving Nuno de Lara the command of the fort Santi Spiritus Returns to with 120 men, returned to Spain.1 Spain. W. Indies. Before this time, Thomas Tison, an Englishman, had found English the way to the West Indies, and was resident there; whence it trade in the is conjectured, that the English merchants already carried on a clandestine trade with those parts of America.2 1 Herrera, d. 3. lib. 9. c. 3. De Bry, America, P. 2. Alcedo, Art. PARAGUAY, Purchas, lib. 7. c. 11. Harris' Voy. i. 272. Southey's Brazil, P. 1. c. 3. Charlevoix, Paraguay, i. 31-39. Charlevoix tells an affecting story of the fate of the garrison, which, though it has the air of romance, is not incredible. See NOTE X. 2 Hakluyt, iii. 500. This fact was discovered by Hakluyt in " a certaine note or letter of remembrance, written 1526, by master Nicholas Thorne, a principall marchant of Bristol, unto his friend and factour Thomas Midnall," then at St. Lucar in Andalusia. It appears, that to the Tison above mentioned Thorne sent armour and other commodities, specified in that letter. "This Thomas Tison," says Hakluyt," (so farre as I can conjecture) may seeme to have bene some secret factour for M. Thorne and other English marchants in those remote partes; whereby it is probable that some of our marchants had a kinde of trade to the West Indies even in those ancient times and before also." In the History of Bristol, lately published [i. 325.], it is affirmed, that "in a ledger of Mr. N. Thorn, under the date 1526, there is an invoice of armour and other merchan |