1591.
Dec. 23. |
44. "A Discourse of the Indies." All the mines of India belong
to particular merchants, and the King has 15 in the 100 of every
one of them at the marking, and it is death and loss of goods to
carry gold or silver out of the country unmarked. What is got
out of the mines of each Province by public order has to be brought
to the Cities where the States are, to be marked, and the 10 in the
100 taken for the King is then supplied to the merchants. There
are 4 notable places under the king of Spain in the Indies, viz.,
Nova Hispania and the Province of Funduras (sic) in one Continent,
and Peru and Novo Regno also in another Continent. Nova
Hispania has no gold of itself, but has a Haven in the other which
has, and the King sends 2 or 3 ships yearly to China who change
silver for gold, and it is death for strangers to land in China for
trade, but there are Islands appointed for that purpose. The
silver of Nova Spania is marked at Mexico, from whence they take
it to Vera Cruz and then to St. John del Luva, where it remains
until the Fleet is appointed, who load it about 12 days before
setting sail. Funduras has two Havens called Trusiglio and Porto
de la Vallo, out of which Province there is a great store of money,
but the good done is not known. Peru has gold and silver; Lima
is the place for making it, and Cagliaco de Lima is the principal
Haven, and where the treasure used first to be laden, and then
carried to Panama on the coast of Peru, and thence by land to
Nombre de Dios, in terra firma dil Peru (sic), and shipped to the
Havana. Novo Regno has mines also, but more of gold than
silver, the treasure of which Province, when marked, used to be
conveyed to Carthagena, where the other ships of Peru used to
meet and then go for Havana, but the Discoverer does not know
as to the amount of good done. Havana is the key of the Indies,
insomuch that he who is Lord of that obtaineth the rest. Understands there is extreme want of money in Spain, and as it is likely
they will hasten the treasure left at Havana, "so that without
speed there is no hope of the present." Great secrecy is needed, for
the Spaniards have often prevented the intentions of the English,
having long before been certified of their purposes. Good ships
should be prepared, not many in one place, but scattered in the
divers ports with orders to meet "at the secret appointment"
when prepared "that they may be gone before they seem to have
been thought of." 1½ pp. Endorsed as above. [Col. Papers, Vol. 32,
No. 1.] |
