L E T T E R

X X I I I.

TO THE SAME.
[ Madamoiselle de Beauvais ]
ANNO 48.

Of his Sea Voyage from Lisbon to
the B R A S I L S.

OME week after we set sayl at Lisbon, we arriv’d at the Madera’s (one of the Affrique Ilands) where landing at Funchal (the chief City, or Bishops seat) we were kindly entertain’d by the Merchants there, contending in Hospitalitie who should first lodge and entertain us, (as the manner is, where provisions are plenty, and Strangers rare) here we staid some 4 or 5 dayes feasted and regaled every day, and presented at our departure with the rarities of the Isle, they making the best confectures in the world, both for dry and wet, Sugar growing there in great abundance, and their Wines surpassing for Generous all that ever I tasted yet: when prosecuting our voyage, after a few dayes sayl we had a sight of the Canaries or Fortunate Ilands, where under the pick of Teneriff we lay some dayes becalmed, it being one of the highest mountains in the world, all green unto the Top, and of so equal an Ascent, that those of Babel might have innocently built their Tower there, secure from Deluge, and did it extend itself a little higher, one could not imagine a more pleasant nor easier passage unto Heaven. From thence we sayl’d along the coast of Affrique, towards the Islands of Capo verte, which we past without touching at them, the Air being generally held unwholsom, but at that Season Infectious; after which, steering our course Westward towards the Brasils, and once past all commerce the land has with the Sea, of common air, and repercussion of waves, &c. we had the pleasantest Voyage as could be imagined, no storms, the Winds (which surely on those Seas blow all from Land) hardly having breath enough (for the long Voyage they had made) to fill our sayls, and the air so pure, as in comparison with the pleasure of it there, it seemes as paine to breath on Land, where the air is stuffing, suffocating, and noisom, tainted as it passes with Ordures and Filth, (there being few Countryes like Arabia, affording more sweets than stenches) whereas that of the Sea comes purely (as it were) drayn’d and purified by the Sun-beams, as it passes to the sence. Then for other pleasures, you have none on Land, but we had some at Sea to equal it; and to begin with the most incredible, Hawking and Hunting, (besides Fishing) we had perpetually for more than a moneth together. Our ship being all incompast with Dorado’s or shining Fishes (somwhat like Dolphins) hunting the Flying Fishes, which you might see on Top of the water, fluttering to escape, and the Dorado’s bounding to overtake them, till being hard pursued, and so near prest, as they were in danger to be ta’n, the poor flying Fish would get on wing, and flying one danger, incurre another; for a flight of Sea fowl (call’d Booby’s by the English) followed us all the way hovering in the air, in expectance of their prey, seeing the flying fish on wing, would stoop at them, and each one singling out one, flye them to a mark. Then for Fishing, our Mariners had but only to choose out their Dorads (as a good Woodman would a Dear) and strike him straight with his Fisgigg (or Dart with many barbed heads) never failing of their Cast, and this furnished us with fresh Fish all the time, it being excellent meat, short and crisp like our Salmons, and much like them in bignesse; which being ta’n, strange it was to behold the curious colours of its seales, fading by degrees, as death won on life, (just as the skies colour does when night comes on) till quite dead it became all black, with good reason, it putting on mourning for its death, whose life had cloath’d it in such rich and glittering colour. An other sort of Fish we took call’d the Shark or Tuberon, black and great as a Porpoise, with terrible long Teeth, huge wide jaws, and so ravenous, as at a bit ’twould snatch a Legg or Arm away of any it found swimming in the Sea; these have certaine little Fishes called the Pilot Fish, cleaving to them so fast by a Fynn o’th’ top of the head, you can hardly separate them by any force: they have great heads, some spann long of body, and are excellent meat. Nor wanted we the pleasures of Gardens too at Sea, the Ocean (for many hundred miles from Land, and many miles together) being all cover’d over with a certain Green, so thick as the Ship could hardly make way thorough it, with many Gridiline Flowers besides like our Crocus’s, rendring it a most delightfull spectacle. Then for other prospect, do but behold the rising and setting Sun, and you should see a hundred several forms and figures, like your seenes in Masques and playes, with lights behind them, reflecting them to the Eye, and betwixt light and shadow, setting them off more resplendently to the view. For other commodities and delicacies you have on Land, we wanted none, Our great Cabines being large as your Chambers, our Beds as commodious, our Decks spacious as your Galleries to walk in, our Kitchin our Sellars as well furnished, heards of Swine, flocks of Sheep, and Pullen of all sorts aboard, perpetually feasting, nor wanted we Musick to our Feast, (besides an excellent set of Trumpets) the Mariners having some Fiddles amongst them, to which they often danc’d to delight the Passengers. And thus sleeping, eating, drinking, and recreating our selves, we made our voyage secure from storms, secure from Pirats and Enemies, till making Land about Capo St. Augustine, we might descry some 3 or 4 sail which knowing to be Hollanders of Fernambucca, and not willing to encounter them, we steered to Seaward again, being that night overtaken by one of them, who allarumn’d us as if their whole Fleet had made after us, appearing on every side of us with fiers on his main Mast, and about the wast of his ship perpetually burning (as a call it seems for his Companions, if any were in sight) sayling away in the morning to find them out, and returning towards Evening, (ever endeavouring like a Kite to snatch away our Carvel and Pattachio, which lay like Chickens close under our Wings) till at last, about the height of Baia, it left us, despairing to meet any of their Fleet higher up, when holding on our course for the Rio, and sounding all the way, we found it a bold Coast, some 35 Fathom all the way, with neither Flats nor Rocks, so passing by Capo Frio (so call’d from the excessive cold there, though under the Torrid Zone, and the climate on either side be exceeding hot) at last we arrived before the mouth of St. Sebastians Haven, where under a little Isle we cast Anchor, having in lesse than three moneths, deducting our stay in Affrique, made the voyage almost to the Antipodes, of 4 ships (as we were) and more than 4 hundred men, losing only one man in all the voyage; and here let me cast Anchor too, er’ I prosecute my voyage.

Of our arrival to St. Sebastians, or the Rio de Janaro in Brasil.

Whilst we lay here at Anchor, our Mariners Angling, took certain Fishes about the bignesse of Rochats or Gurnet, which they call Cunny Fishes from their resemblance of our Cunnies in face (but only they wanted Ears) with bellies all white and chequered, which swell’d just like blown bladders, when they had lain a while panting on the Hatches, these were rank poison, as the Portuguez assured us, the Sea being full of divers other venomous Fishes, which renders the water unwholsom, as I experimented my self, when bathing me in it, I came out all faintish and ill-dispos’d, accustom’d to come out of other Seas more strong and vigorous. Mean time advertisement being given from the Fort unto the Town of our arival, they (perceiving us to be frends) sent divers Boats and Canoes forth to welcom us, and bring us aboard all sorts of fresh provision and fruits of the Country. Their Midsummer being our Mid-winter here. Amongst the rest, having Pilots sent us to conduct us in, we weighed Anchor towards Evening, and with a gentle Brize or gale from Seaward, blowing constantly every Night from Sea, as every Morning it does from Land. We entred the Bay betwixt two mighty Rocks some mile assunder (the one (from its form) call’d the Sugar loaf) when having past the Fort some mile or so, beyond the Entrance of the Bay, we discover’d the pleasantst prospect in the world for natural Landschap, of the Rio or Lake some twenty mile or more about, all tufted with Green Islands, some a mile about, some more, some lesse, the Town situated on the left hand, some 2 or three mile beyond the Fort, where was safe harbour for many hundred ships. Here ariving, and going on shore, I found a Lodging prepar’d for me, by the Fathers of the Company, with two Molato’s or Mungril Negro’s to serve me, with my dyet from their Kitchin, just against my Lodging, whether by order from the King, the recommendations of the Governor (who came along with us) or the charity of the good Father I know not, but certainly ’twas so extra-ordinary an accommodation, as no money could have purchased the like, there being no Innes nor Pensions to lodge or eat at, as with us; all who frequent those parts being either Merchants, who lodge with their Correspondents, or Seafaring men, who lodge aboard, never any man like me before making that voyage merely on Curiosity.

Of Brasil in general.

Brasil, as tis confined by the Ocean on th’ one side, and the Rivers of Amazones and de Plato on th’ other, is a vast Continent, and far bigger than all Europe, the Climat is hot and moist, by reason of the aboundance of Rain that falls there continually; yet there are no Rivers at all in the Country (but only those it is surrounded with) from whence any watry vapours should exhale. It has only some 4 or 5 Ports by which you may enter into the Country, all the rest o’th’ shore being impenetrable, by reason of Rocks, and inextricable woods, for many hundred miles together, the Countrie seeming rather reserv’d for the habitation of men hereafter, than ever to have been Inhabited heretofore; and one of these Ports was that we now entred.

Of the Town.

The Town of St. Sebastians is situate in a Plain some mile in length, bounded at either end with rising Hills, the inmost towards the Lake inhabited and inclos’d by the Benedictins, and the outmost towards the Sea by the Fathers of the Company; upon which hill was formerly situated the Antient Town (as the Ruins of houses, and the great Church, yet remaining, testifie) till for the commodity of Traffique, and portation of Merchandise, ’twas by degrees reduc’d unto the Plain, their buildings being but low, and streets not above 3 or 4, the principal regarding the Haven. Behind the Town is a great plain some two mile over, part of it bushy, part woody, and part medow ground, beyond which you find a Country so wholly different from ours, as there’s not a Tree nor Plant, Bird, Beast, nor any thing you ever saw in Europe to be found, and to speak somewhat of each one in particular.

Of the Country.

The Country is for the most part all o’r-grown with wood, which the soyl, unforc’d since the Creation of the world had produc’d without culture, amongst which are some trees of such vast bignesse, as th’ar above 7 or 8 fathom in Diameter, and 70 or 80 high, of which they make Canoes, or Trees hollowed into Boats of 2 or 300 run. As for the Brasile wood, by excellency taking its denomination from thence ’tis but a shrub in comparison with the other Trees, much like our bigger sort of Hawthorn Trees. The Country is naturally hot and moist, by reason of frequent rains; whence in many places, where the moisture settles in the bottoms, you have medow grounds, some 20 or 30 mile over, seeming abandoned by those Trees, for not being firm enough to sustain the weight of their huge vast bulks.

Of the Fruit Trees, and Plants.

For Fruit Trees, besides wild Limons, which grow every wher in great abundance, the Bonano deservedly claims the first place, it being a Tree that from the root grows yearly up to the heighth of an ordinary Plum or Cherry-tree, and much about that bulk; tis all green, the body being nothing but a collection of the leaves, which spred out towards the Top, and fall like plumes of Feathers, each leaf being some 6 foot in length, and 2 in bredth, on top of which, the fruit grows some 40 together in a bunch, in husks like Beans, all yellow when they are ripe, the fruit of colour and tast much like our Apricock, but much more firm and more delicious. For their Caijus, it is a sort of Tree of the bigness of our ordinary Apple-trees, the leaves like chesnut leaves, and fruit much like the bigger sort of green Figs, fastned to the Tree in lieu of stalk, by certain Chesnuts, which roasted are excellent meat, the fruit eaten whole, melts all away to juice, exceeding cooling and refreshing, excepting certain strings which hang in your teeth, so tough, you cannot swallow them. The Guaver is a certain Tree about the same height and bignesse, the Fruit is round and green, like to our Nectarins, but crusht, you finde a round red pulp within, about the bignesse of a Bilyard ball, eating like so many Strawberries moulded into a past. Another sort of Fruit they have call’d Mamons, growing like great green pears, some 20 or more in cluster on the top of the Tree, never arriving to the maturity of being eaten raw, but they make a good conserve. Limons, Oranges and Citrons they have in great excellence and abundance (which I suspect to have been transplanted thither at first) and Limes of a mixt species, betwixt the Orange and Limon, all round, with a bunch on the top, of a drier tast, & more eager douce than either. Another Tree they have, of whose root dryed, and the moisture prest out of it (which is rank poison) they make their farina de pan, as they call it, which they use instead of bread, when fresh and recent, tis like the Crums of wheaten bread, and when stale, like pownded Oatmeal; by every ones Trencher they lay heaps of this, and though Bread (made of Corn, brought from Portugal and the Western Islands) be neither scarce nor dear, yet most of the Inhabitants rather eat of that. But above all, the Ananaz is one of the deliciousest Plants the Earth did e’r produce, it growing like an Artichoke, the leaves thick and sharply Indented, like those of Sempervive, thistly on the top, with a rind all scaly like the pine-apple, which paring off, you find the fruit of the bignesse of an ordinary Meloon, of a Golden colour, and distinguisht into Cells, like Oranges, which slicing and eating in wine (as ’twas affirm’d of Manna) every one finds, that gust and tast in’t, he is the most delighted with. Meloons they have too, both yellow and green, far better than those of Europe (though transplanted from thence perhaps at first) and Boratos in as great abundance as Turnips and Carots are with us. To conclude, another Tree it has called the Pinto, which though no fruit Tree, yields them more profit than all the rest; growing most commonly in moist places like our Willow, the body growing Cane-wise, distinguisht by several knots, out of whose poory sides, the branches issue forth in round, with their several falls rendring it so many stories high; of a delightfull green, body and all, whose leaves being thick and filmy, they use to sleave and spin to what finesse they please; the grosser serving for Hemp, the middle sort for Flax, and the finer for Silk.

Of their Beasts.

For their beasts they are all strangely different from ours: The Coty has some resemblance to our Hare, but bigger, without Ears, and its back parts ending more bluntly towards the Scut, and of a redder colour than all the rest o’th body: The Tatoo is, not much unlike our lesser sort of Swine, but ’thas a more swag belly, and longer snout. Pigritas they have, so called from the slownesse of their pace, so monstrous, as no Devil can be painted more horrible and ugly, all scally like the Rhinoceros, but more Serpent like, going so slowly, as it scarcely advances a pace a day: Ounces, Tigers, & Leopards they have too for wild beasts, and for tame, Sheep, Swine, Goats and Oxen (all imported) and breeding there in so great abundance, especially the latter sort (which they nourish both for food and service, to turn their sugar-mills) as the fathers of the Company have for their share (not far from the Rio) more than twenty thousand all grazing in one pasture. Bugiis or Apes, they have in great abundance, most commonly all black with white faces, their tails inspire, turning inward, they smell sweet, and when they have done any mischief, will so hugg you, whistling lamentably with their mouths, as you cannot but pardon them; but above all, the prettyest Animal Nature ever made is the Saguin, about the bignesse of a little Squirrel, with long shag mains, and bushy tails, of golden colour (most commonly) fac’t and handed like a Black-more, with small fingers and smirking countenances; peeping or squeeking like a Cricket when it craves, so as could it be but transported (as ’tis so tender and delicate, it commonly dies on change of air) all your Island Shocks, and Bollonian dogs would be banisht Ladies Laps and Chambers, and these be their sole Minions and Favourites.

Of their Fowl.

For their Fowl, they are all so beautifull in comparison with ours, as we may well say, Nature learnt her colouris there, when she painted them; and that for Birds, whilst those of Arabia are call’d birds of Paradise, Brasil may well be called the Paradise of Birds. Amongst the rest the Arara is a certain Bird about the bignesse of a Goshawk, seeming a whole Garden of Tulips, every Feather being of a several colour, which beheld in Sun-shine, even dazle your Eyes, they are so bright & glittering; of these I had one I taught to speak like a Parrot, but in so grosse & big a tone, as you could not abstain from laughing to hear it; an other Bird they have call’d a Canada, differing from the Arara only in colour; its back and wings without being all Azurine, and breast and wings within of golden yellow: Others all jet black they have, with a stomacher of Aurora colour, borthered with Crimsen, others again all scarlet. In fine the ordinarest Bird they have, is the Parrot, of which they have hundred sorts; The Parrachitos about May coming thither in flocks, just like Starrs in other Countries, and are sold as cheap, & eaten as ordinarily as they. With the rarer sorts of all which beasts & fowl I had my Chamber furnished, during my stay in the Country, as Sanguins one or two, which I always carryed along with me, calling them my Pocket Lyons, out of which at meals they’d come, and on either shoulder one, take meat from my hands and mouth, of my kindnesse to which, I had an Arara was so jealous, as it never left importuning me with its caresses, now looking me in the face, and talking to me, now climbing up my back, it being a good-natur’d Bird, having only this ill quality, to be alwayes pecking and tearing with its Bill what ever was next it, which makes your frugal Portuguez, or wholly banish them their houses, or provide them Iron Perches to exercise their Beacks on. Many other sorts of Animals I had, which all perished by Sea, my Sanguins by change of air, my Arara’s drown’d, on which I made this following Epigram.

Since thou so like unto the Phoenix wert,
In shape, in colour, and in every part,
That so unlike should be your destiny,
That should by fire, thou shouldst by water die.

Of their Insects, or lesser sort of Animals.

For their Insects, a certain little crab or crevish they have, no bigger than Beetles, earththed in banks of sand, as Cunnies are in Burroughs, with one claw far bigger than the other, which makes them turn whirling about, as other Crabs motions are retrogred: another strange Insect they have the Portuguez call Lobedio, or Praise God, as for some admirable thing, as indeed this is; it being a certain animated stick, like the end of some small twig, some fingers length, out of the joynts of which there grow out leggs by pairs, on which it crawls, like walking Tressles, nor can you perceive any other life it has, nor any other part of living Creature; as Eyes, Mouth, &c. I finding one of them crawling on me as I walked forth into the Woods, which tyed with a Thrid, and fastned to a bough, I kept long time in my Chamber, not perceiving any sustenance it took, often peircing it, to find if it had any sence; it alwayes crawling in the same manner about, until at last it vanished, I know not how; but that which molested me me most of all, was a certain kind of animated dust, which insensibly ingenders to worms in your feet as big as Magots in a cheese, which unless they be carefully extracted, leave each one the seeds behind of a hundred more; these was I grievously tormented with for a month together, so as I could not stir, but as I was carryed in a Hamatta; nor did I ever know before, how near confining pain and pleasure was; I, at their first ingendring in my feet, being assaulted with so fierce an itch, as ’twas the greatest pleasure in the world to scratch it, which presently was succeeded by so intollerable a pain, as I never remember to have felt the like.

Of the Salvages, or Natives of Brasil.

Of the Natives or Inhabitants what shall I say, but if, as John Baptista de porta says, every Nation has resemblance to some certain beast or Animal, certainly these Brasilians are most like Asses, dull and phlegmatick, in servitutem nati, and only fit for toil and druggery, which is the reason Nature perhaps provided that Country with neither Horse nor Asse, nor any beast of carriage or burthen besides themselves, yet are they rather squat than robust, with broad Bodies, and little Leggs, small Eyes, of sallow, sickly complexion, ill featured, with black and greezy hair, nor curl’d nor dangling, but flagging ill-favouredly about their Ears, going for the most part all naked both Men and Women, with only some rag to hide their privy parts, which you would never desire to see, you are so disgusted with the rest, they being all Christians, but such, as put me in mind of that sentence of Holy Scripture, Homines et Jumenta salvabis Domine, that the Lord will save both Man and Beast; for surely they are both, having not wit enough to commit ingenious Vices, nor Temperance enough to abstain from brutal ones; and thus much for those who live among the Portugals, betwixt which and the other Savages I imagin there is as much difference as between wild Beasts and tame; neither can I believe what is reported of their fiercenesse, though all that is reported of their ferity I do, as their eating one the other, and having not so much as a word in their language, signifying nor God, nor King, nor Law, for were they so fierce as ’tis reported, certainly they would never have yeelded their Country up so tamely to the Portugal, nor suffer them to enjoy it so quietly as they do; But to return to my tame Salvages, I hired 4 of them for a journey I made by Land, to carry my Hamatta, whilst tother two ran Lacqueying by, which was on this manner. Your Hamatta is a certain cotton Net about the bignesse of a Blancket, drawn together at each end, and fastned by a strong Line to a Cane as big and long as a Colstaff, carryed on their Shoulders, where you sit or lye in what posture you please on a Boulster or Pillow, far more easily than in any Litter (the Portuguez men having a Negro carrying a Parasol or Umbrella to shadow them from the Sun, whilst the Women are shadowed and defended from publique sight, by some rich coverture thrown over the Hamatta, with two Negro Maids going by their sides, to help them up, and put on their hoppinas when the Net’s laid down, and they rise to go out of it to any place. In one of these I was carryed some twenty miles a day, more or lesse, according as the way was more plain or mountainous, covenanting with my Savages for a small matter in money, besides my finding them dyet, which was only a little farina de pan (or bread made of the root of a certain Tree, as we have said before) for the rest they rather finding me, for to our Farina was had ordinarily no other meat but Fish, of which at every plash of water where they came (but casting in their hooks) they took enough for twenty men, when we presently made fires upon the place, and broyl’d them, eating them afterwards with the juyce of wild Lymons, growing every where in the woods; and this, with water for our drink, was all our sustenance, and for our lodging at night, we hung up our Hamattas betwixt two Trees, and there slept till morning, only along the Coast, in that tract which the Portugals have made to travel by Land from place to place, you sail not every second day at most to find some Ross or Country Farm of the Portuguez where for your money you are well accommodated with all sorts of pullen and fruit. One pleasure I had in passing through the woods, was to see the Trees full of Apes and Parats, (as if they had born no other fruit) one chasing another with such noise and chattering, you could not hear one another speak, and you should see those Apes which had young, with 2 or 3 claspt about their neck, or hanging on their back, which they went thus luggering, till they waxed big, to catch which, the Natives would shoot the old once with their Arrows (with which they are the best mark men in the world, considering what clouterly Bows and Arrows they shoot withall) when the old one tumbling down, the young for want of exercizing their Legs, had not th’ addresse to runne away.

Of the Commodities of the Country.

From my Voyage, I will return to speak of the Riches of the Country, chiefly consisting in their Sugar, which when I have named, I have named all: not that it wants others, but that it can want no others, having that, since that country which abounds with that commodity which all others have need of, can never want any commodity which others abound withall. For the rest, it produces neither Corn, nor Wine, nor Salt, which I attribute not so much to the difference of the Climate, as some politique reason to keep them with that necessary dependency on Portugal, to vent their commodities, and prevent revolt. Now for their Sugar thus it grows, and thus ’tis made; Their Sugar canes are prun’d to the heighth of standing corn: nor need they other culture, but every second year to cut them close by the roots, as we do Osiers, when against the next year they never fail to spring up agen, the flaggs of which Canes are of a pleasant green, and shew a far off just like a Field of Corn, which being ripe about the month of June, they joint them in pieces some foot long, and carry them to the Mill, turn’d by Oxen, or Water, consisting of two round Cylinders, about the bignesse of Mil-posts, plated with Iron, which turning inwards, and joyning as close together as they can meet, so squeez the canes in passing through them, as they come out on th’other side all bruzed, and dry as keques, which were all liquid before; which Liquor is conveyed by Troughs to certain Caldrons, where ’tis boyl’d, still retaining its amber colour, till powr’d out at last into their forms or coolers, with a certain Lee ’tis rendred white; And in these Mills (during the season of making Sugar) they work both day and night, the work of immediately applying the canes into the Mill being so perillous as if through drousinesse or heedlessnesse a fingers end be but engag’d betwixt the Posts, their whole body inevitably follows, to prevent which, the next Negro has alwayes a Hatchet readie to chop off his Arm, if any such Misfortune should arive.

Of the Starrs, and Heavens of the other Hemisphere.

I will conclude this Treatise of Brasil with a word or two of the Starrs of the other Hemisphere, garnisht with many constellations wholly unknown to us, of which the Cruciero or Crosse is the principalst, consisting of 5 or 6 Stars of the first magnitude, as bright as any in our Hemisphere; whose brightnesse, as with a foil, is set off the more by a great black cloud that’s continually under it, as is the whitnesse of the Milky Way tendred more perspicuous, by a streak of black in the midst of it, tending towards the same constellation; both which, as also another great black cloud on th’other side the Milkie way, I observ’d at my being there, for more than six months continually: whence I concluded, ’twas the natural complexion of that sky (as ours is blew) to have much part of it black, which perhaps renders the people of that Climat far more melancholy than ours, which black clouds I much wonder none (as I know of) has observ’d besides my self, especially since there are 2 white clouds not far from the Cruciero appearing always in the same posture and figure, so generally observ’d and known, as they are call’d Nubes Magellanicae, from Magellan, who first discovered them. And thus much for Brasilia may suffice; In which, if I have been too long, you will perceive at least, I have made al hast I could away. There being nothing in the Country, besides the satisfying my curiosity, that could invite me to longer stay than whilst the Fleet was preparing, which in the beginning of August, the 8th month after our Arival there, was ready to depart, I being to Imbark on the Admiral Don Rhoderigo d’ Alancastro, who nobly invited me to dyet and lodge with him in his own Cabbin.

 

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L E T T E R

X X I V.

To the Reverend Father John Pererio
of the Society of J. in Brasil,

Anno 50.

     Reverend Father,

TIL I can do’t in deeds, you will please to accept of my thanks in words for al your noble favours in Brasil, by whose curtesie twas that I not only lived there, but that my life in all my voyage has been preserved ever since; for Non vivere, sed bene valere vita est, you know: and I can assured you I never far’d better than I did on ship-board with the General Don Roderigo d’ Alancastro, to whom you particularly recommended me, who lodg’d me in his own Cabbin, plac’d me at his table next himself, and not only made me companion alive with him, but would have don’t in death too, if there had been occasion, (as we imagined, on sight of another Fleet, which afterward proved frends) when putting a Rapier in my hand, and arming me with a Rondache or Shield, he bid me (if we chanc’d to fight) keep alwayes close to him, that we might live or die together. So as (my dear F.) whilst others oblige as ’twere by chance, you only have the Art to do it, by linking benefit thus to benefit, till you make such a chain of it, as he must be most ungratefull should not alwayes remaine your Thrall; but that which your Modesty will not hear from me, I hope shortly you shall hear from the King himself, whom I have informed since my Arival of the many favours I received from you in Brasil, chiefly for his sake, next to God; nor have I limited my Gratitude only to this place, but I have written also to Rome, that I might repay your curtesies the sooner, the more I should call into contribution to the debt, of which Letter behold the Copy.

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Ad Eminentissimum Card.
Fra. Barba. Anno 50.
Post suum ex Brasilia reditum:

     Eminentissime Domine,

Ex quo foeda illa Tempestas nuper in Anglia exorta me quasi Naufragum in alienas orbis terrarum oras ejecisset, ego, ac si omnis terra mihi patria fuisset, vel potius nulla, magnâ partê Europae peragrâta, atque nonnulla Asiae, Affricaeq; Brasiliam tandem in America cogitavi, quo à nobis remotior eo propius Lumen notitiae admoturus.

After which Exordium I proceed, and say,

“that though it abound in many things; and that a Gold mine has lately been discover’d there in the Territory of St. Pauls, and a veyn of Emeralds nigh Sancto Spiritu, yet I esteem more than any Gold or Pretious Stones, the planting of the Christian Faith, (I having no where seen Learning and Piety more flourishing than there) chiefly by the Industry of the Father of the Society, who converting those Barbarous people daily, whilst they exercise their Bodies in cultivating the Land, do cultivate their Souls for Heaven.”

I will conclude, by telling you how our voyage was so prosperous all the way, as for more than 3 months none of our 22 sayl ever lost sight of one another, til nigh the Western Ilands; or Tiercieros (where I only with our Purser went ashore, the Generall suffering none else to stir) our Fleet was so dissipated by fowl weather, as only 7 of us entred Lisbon road together, the rest comming afterwards dropping one by one, excepting 2 or 3 catcht up by the Hollanders, and one or two lost: And this is all I can tell you of our Voyage hither: besides which, I have no more to say, but only agen & agen to Iterate my many thanks unto you, R. F. Rector, F. Vasconcells, and all the rest, with the assurances that I shall alwayes be

Your R. &c.