Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/338

 The great Water.

He sawe there signes of siluer, and therefore called it Rio de Plata, that is, The riuer of siluer. And it is said that at that time he went farther because he liked the countrey well: but he returned backe againe into Spaine, and made account of all things to Don Fernando, demaunding of the king the gouernment thereof which the king granted him. Whereupon he prouided three ships and with them in the yeere 1515. he went againe into that kingdome; but he was there slaine. These Solisses were great discouerers in those partes, and spent therein their liues and goods.

In the same yeere 1512 Iohn Ponce of Leon, which had beene gouernour of the Isle of S. Iohn armed two ships and went to seeke the Isle of Boyuca, where the naturals of the countrey reported to be a Wel, which maketh old men yoong. Whereupon he laboured to finde it out, and was in searching of it the space of sixe moneths, but could finde no such thing.

He entred into the Isle of Bimini; and discouered a point of the firme land standing in 25. degrees towards the north vpon Easter day, and therefore he named it Florida. And because the land seemed to yeeld gold and siluer and great riches, he begged it of the king Don Fernando, but he died in the discouerie of it, as many more haue done.

In the yeere 1513. Vasco Nunnes de Valboa hearing speech and newes of The south sea, determined to goe thither, although his companie dissuaded him from that action. But being a man of good valure with those soldiers that he had, being 290. he resolued to put himselfe into that ieopardie. He went therefore from Dariene the first day of September, carrying some Indians of the countrey with him to be his guides, and he marched ouerthwart the land sometimes quietly, sometimes in war: and in a certaine place called Careca he found Negroes captiues with curled haire.

This Valboa came to the sight of the South Sea on the 25. day of the said moneth, and on Saint Michaels day came vnto it: where he imbarked himselfe against the will of Chiapes, who was the Lord of that coast, who wished him not to doe so,