

^6 AMERICA. Chap. III. 



ne^ who fince his difcovery of the South Sea was held in fome repute at the 

 Spanifb Court, had built four Ships on the Shore of the fame Ocean, to make 

 farther infpections along the Coafts thereof : but being commanded to come 

 to Arias the Governor, he was committed to Prifon, and accufed of highTrea- 

 fon, as if he had intentions to fettle him felf in Peru, and abfolutely to have left 

 Daria : all which though he difown'd, and utterly deni'd with great protefta- 

 tions when brought to a Trial, and no witnefs to affirm the contrary, yet was 

 by Jrioj's fpeciai Order Beheaded. 



Not long after which Lupus Sofa, Governor of the Canary Iflands, was fent to 

 fucceed Aria* in Ts.ew Jndalujia. 



S E C T. IX. 



The Expeditions of Francifco Fernandez, Lupus Gaizedus, Chriftophero 

 Morantes, Bernardo Igniguez, and Juan Grifalva. 



v C Ernande^ Cai^edns y and Morantes, antient Planters in Cuba, obtain'da Licence 



•*■ from the Governor Diego Velafques, to Rig out three Ships with a hundred 

 and ten Men to difcovcr new Lands. : Velafques thought fit to add one more 

 to their number upon the Kings account- which Truft he committed to Igni* 

 gue^ : all of them confulted with the experienced Navigator Antonio Alamimsl 

 Six days the Fleet had been at Sea, when they difcover'd Land, which by a 

 ?«?3 al ° f the Namc miftake was call'd Jucatan, becaufe the Inhabitants being ask'd what was the 

 Name of the Coaft, anfwer'd jucatan • which, as the Spaniards were afterwards 

 informed, fignifi'd, We under ftand you not* 



Upon the Shore they found a City, whofe Stone Buildings, with ftately 

 Fronts and high Turrets, fliew'd moft magnificently. Fernandez call'd this 

 City for its wonderful bignefs, Cairo, from the Egyptian Metropolis, famous 

 through the World. 



The Spaniards coming to Land were courteoufly received, and conducted in- 

 to the City ; the neatnefs of whofe Marketplaces , and exa&nefs of their 

 Streets, they beheld with admiration,- as alfo the coftly Stuff Garments both 

 of Men and Women : but their wonder increased when they beheld very arti- 

 ficial CrofTes^ concerning which upon inquiry they related, That a Man more 

 glorious than the Sun, being bufie in erecting the Croifes, died. But thefe 

 People, though fo courteous and civil at firil, feem'd in few days to be weary 

 of their company ; which the Spaniards obferving founded a Retreat and Sail- 

 ing Wefterly, proceeded on their intended Defign, and foon after anchored 

 before Campechum - y the King of which conducted Fernandez and Morantes, with 

 fome others, into the City, confiding of three thoufand Houfes. In his Palace 

 they were entertain'd with all manner of Fowl roafted : After which refrefli- 

 ment they furvey'd the City ; in which, amongft pther curious Buildings, was 

 *£$^ 1b ** mM a hi S h > but fc l uare Theatre of Marble, on which flood the Image of a Man, on 

 all corners aflaulted by four wild Beads, which were of a no lefs ftrange than 

 horrible fliape. Not far from this Image they faw a Serpent fifliion'd up of 

 Chalk and little Stones, whofe coyl'd up Tail was forty feven Foot long, and 

 of a proportionable thicknefs. This Serpent, fprinkled with Mens Blood ycc 

 warm, feem'd to prey upon a Marble Lyon : both thefe were inclos'd with a 

 . Stone Rail, within which Malefactors were daily executed. BloodyBows and 

 Arrows broke in fmall pieces lay between the Bones and dead Bodies. Igniguc^ 



%aird 



Stately City. 



CtmfuhiMtn a City. 



