Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/343

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came to an Island called Ascension, because they came vnto it vpon Ascension day: They went vnto the end of it standing in 16. degrees of latitude: from whence they came backe because they could finde no place to goe out at: and from hence they went round about it to another riuer, which they called The riuer of Grisalua standing in 17. degrees of latitude: the people thereabout troubled them sore, yet notwithstanding they brought from thence some gold and siluer and feathers, being there in great estimation, and so they turned backe againe to the Island of Cuba.

In the same yeere 1518. one Francis Garay armed three ships in the Isle of Iamaica at his owne charges, and went towards the point of Florida standing in 25. degrees towards the north, seeming to them to be an Island most pleasant, thinking it better to people Islands than the firme land, because they could best conquere them and keepe them. They went there on land, but the people of Florida killed many of them, so that they durst not inhabite it.

So they sailed along the coast, and came vnto the riuer of Panuco, standing 500. leagues from the point of Florida in sailing along the coast: but the people resisted them in euery place. Many of them also were killed in Chila, whom the Sauages flaied and eate, hanging vp their skinnes in their Temples in memoriall of their valiantnes. Notwithstanding all this Francis de Garay went thither the next yeere and begged the gouernment of that countrey of the Emperour, because he sawe in it some shew of gold and siluer.

In the yeere 1519. in the moneth of Februarie Fernando Cortes went from the Island of Cuba to the land which is called Noua Spania with 11. ships and 550. Spanyards in them. The first place where he went on land was the Island of Consumel; where they immediately destroied all the Idols, and set crosses on the altars and the images of the virgine Marie.

From this Island they went and arriued on the firme land of Iucatan, at the point De las Duennas, or the point of Ladies, and went thence to the riuer of Tauasco, and set vpon a citie fast by called Potoncian inuironed with wood, and the houses were built with lime and stone,