The English-American : a new survey of the West Indies, 1648 / Thomas Gage ; edited with an introduction by A.P. Newton.

  • Thomas Gage
Date:
1928
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The English-American : a new survey of the West Indies, 1648 / Thomas Gage ; edited with an introduction by A.P. Newton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    which the Spaniards that fir£f conquered that country thought to have made their chief harbour; but after¬ wards by reason of the small shelter they found in it for their ships against the north winds they left it, and removed to St John de Ulhua. Here we began to discover the power of the priests and friars over the poor Indians, and their subjection and obedience unto them. The Prior of St John de Ulhua had writ a letter unto them the day before of our passing that way, charging them to meet us in the way, and to welcome us into those parts; which was by the poor Indians gallantly performed. For two miles before we came to the town there met us on horseback some twenty of the chief of the town, presenting unto every one of us a nosegay of flowers; who rid before us a bow-shot, till we met with more company on foot, to wit, the trumpeters, the waits (who sounded pleasantly all the way before us), the officers of the church, such as here we call church-wardens, though more in number, according to the many sodalities or confraternities of saints whom they serve; these likewise presented to each of us a nosegay; next met us the singing men and boys, all the choristers [quiriSters], who softly and leisurely walked before us singing, Te Deum laudamus, till we came to the midSt of the town, where were two great elm trees, the chief market-place; there was set up one long arbour with green bows, and a table ready furnished with boxes of conserves, and other sweetmeats, and diet-bread to prepare our stomachs for a cup of chocolate, which while it was seasoning with the hot water and sugar, the chief Indians and officers of the town made a speech unto us, having firSt kneeled down and kissed our hands one by one. They welcomed us into their country, calling us the Apostles of Jesus Christ, thanked us for that we had left our own country, our friends, our fathers and mothers for to save their souls; they told us they honoured us as gods upon earth; and many
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