AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1539- 



Indians which had bin set free, whom the said governour 

 had sent before to advertise them of their libertie, that 

 none of them from thenceforth should be made slaves, 

 and that no man should invade them, nor use them 

 badly; signifying unto them, that the Emperors Majesty 

 had willed and commanded that it should be so. With 

 the foresaid company I went on my voyage untill I came 

 Petatlan a to the towne of Petatlan, finding all the way great inter- 

 tozvne. tainment, and provision of victuals, with roses, flowres, 



and other such things, and bowers which they made for 

 me of chalke and boughs platted together in all places 

 where there were no houses. In this towne of Petatlan 

 I rested 3. dayes, because my companion Honoratus fell 

 so sicke, that I was constrained to leave him there behinde. 

 Then, according to my said instruction, I followed 

 my journey as the holy Ghost did leade me, without 

 any merit of mine, having in my company the said 

 Stephan the Negro of Dorantez, and certaine of the 

 Indians which had bin set at liberty, and many of the 

 people of the countrey, which gave me great intertain- 

 ment and welcome in all places where I came, and 

 made mee bowers of trees, giving me such victuals 

 as they had, although they were but small : because 

 (as they said) it had not rained there in 3 yeres, 

 and because the Indians of this countrey sought meanes 

 rather to hide themselves, then to sowe corne, for 

 feare of the Christians of the Towne of S. Michael, 

 which were wont to make in-roades even to that place, 

 and to warre upon them, and to cary them away captives. 

 In all this way, which may be about 25 or 30. leagues 

 from that part of Petatlan, I saw nothing worthy the 

 noting, save that there came to seeke me certaine Indians 

 from the Island, where Fernando Cortez the Marques 

 of the valley had bin, of whom I was informed, that 

 The island of it was an island, & not firme land, as some suppose it 

 ^aint lago. ^q \^q^ They came to ye firme land upon certaine rafts 

 of wood : and from the maine to the island is but 

 halfe a league by sea, litle more or lesse. Likewise cer- 



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