next morning they were attacked by a numerous Is driven body of natives, and obliged to retire.'

1540.

off.

age of

Notwithstanding the general rejection of Cartier's Third voy advice relative to making a settlement in Canada,' Cartier. individuals entertained just sentiments on the subject. A nobleman of Picardy, François de la Roque, lord of Roberval, more zealous than any of his countrymen for prosecuting discoveries in this country, fitted out two ships at his own expense; but not being ready for embarkation himself, he sent Cartier with five ships before him, with a royal commission, as captain general. 4 Cartier commenced this third voyage in May; and, after en- May 25, countering many storms, landed in Newfoundland Sails on the twenty third of August. Roberval not arriving, he proceeded to Canada; and on a small river, four leagues above the port de St. Croix, First built a fort, and began a settlement, which he cal- tlement in led Charlebourg.

1 Herrera, v. 225. Univ. Hist. xl. 382. Belknap Biog. i. 186. There is an entire account of this expedition in Purchas, v. 1528-1556. Soto had already received from Charles V the title of Marquis of Florida. Nearly 1000 men were raised in Spain for the expedition, and among them were many gentlemen of quality. Ten ships were fitted out to carry them with all necessary stores; and they sailed from San Lucar for Cuba 6 April 1538. Herrera, v. 224. Prince Chron. Introd. 92. Biblioth. Americ. 57. 2 See A. D. 1535.

3 Created by the king (15 January 1540) lord in Norumbega, and his lieutenant general and viceroy in Canada, Hochelaga, Saguenay, Newfoundland, Belle Isle, Carpon, Labrador, the Great Bay, and Baccalaos, with plenary authority. Charlevoix, Nouv. France, i. 21.

4 This commission, given by Francis I, is inserted entire, in the original French, in Hazard's Collections, i. 19-21.

5 Hakluyt, iii. 232-236. Forster Voy. 441, 442. Prince Chron. Intrad 92. Chalmers [i. 82.] says, Cartier built this fort with the design rather to explore the great river of St. Lawrence, than to take formal possession of the country. This first settlement appears to have been at no great distance from Quebec and the little river of Charles. There is a small place just about there, called Charlesbourg. Forster Voy. 444, Translator's Note.

N

French set

Canada.

Orellana descends

the Napo and Ama

zon.

Aug. 26.

February.

1541.

Francis Orellana, having accompanied Gonsalvo Pizarro from Quito to the river Napo, followed its course to the Maregnon; descended that river; and arrived at its mouth after a voyage of nearly seven months.'

The reduction of Chili was completed.*

St. Jago de la Nueva Estremadura, the capital Capital of of Chili, was founded by Peter de Valdivia. 3

Chili foun

ded.

chiefly de

St. Jago de Guatimala was principally destroyed Guatemala by the eruption of a volcano, attended with a dreadstroyed. ful storm, and succeeded by an inundation. The city, for greater security, was now removed, together with the episcopal see and king's council, to the distance of two miles. 5

June 26. Pizarro

assassinated.

Francis Pizarro was assassinated at his own palace at noon day, by the friends of Almagro, at the age of sixty three years."

1 Robertson, iii. 85. Harris Voy. i. 272. Harris says, he sailed 500 leagues down this river, which he and Herrera say is the River of the Amazons. Gonsalvo Pizarro went from Quito in 1540 with 200 Spaniards, and 300 Indians to carry burdens, to discover the Isle of Cinnamon. Arriving at Guana, Pizarro soon after near the Napo left his sick men and treasure with Orellana, and went with a company by land along the river's side 200 leagues. Orellana, in the mean time, went down the river. Pizarro, not finding him on his return, was reduced to great extremity for want of provisions; and of the 200 Spaniards, who left Quito, not more than 10 returned to that city. Ibid. 273.

2 With the addition of Chili, seven great kingdoms, inhabited by a vast number of wealthy and warlike nations, had now, since the discovery of America, been compelled to submit to the Spanish yoke. Europ. Settlements, i. 67.

3 Herrera, v. 300. Univ. Hist. xxxix. 208.

4 It was the capital of the audience of Guatimala, and one of the noblest cities of New Spain. Herrera (v. 356.] says, that 600 Indians perished, and a great number of Spaniards. The authors of the Universal History [xxxix. 147.] say, that, beside a hurricane and volcanic eruption, there was at the same time one of the most dreadful earthquakes, ever felt in any part of the globe; but their account of the number that perished appears exaggerated. 5 Purchas, i. 814.

6 Vega [612-615.] says, that 13 conspirators in Chili went with drawn swords, and assassinated him. Herrera (v. 289-291.] says, that John de Reda was at the head of the conspirators; that he was joined by 17 others, "all able and daring men;" that they acquainted 12 others, " no ways inferior to themselves," with the design, who also agreed to carry it on; that "they all set out armed from Almagro's house," and that some stayed to cure the streets," so that those, who m his house, were only nineteen."

Don Pedro de Alvarado, in assisting to suppress Death of an insurrection of Indians, was thrown down a pre- Alvarado. cipice by a horse, which fell from a high rock against him; and he died soon after of his bruises.'

1542.

Soto, having marched several hundred miles, and Progress of passed through the Indian towns of Alibama, Ta- Soto. lise, and Tascalusa, to Mavilla, whence, after a severe engagement, he had retreated to Chicaça, remained there until April of this year. His His army, now resuming its march through the Indian territories, was reduced to about three hundred men, and forty horses. Soto, having appointed Lewis de Moscoso his successor in command, died at the May 21. confluence of Guacoya and Missisippi. 5

4

His death.

J. Rodri

covers

Juan Rodriguez de Cabrillo, a Portuguese in the service of Spain, on an expedition, to search for guez disthe Straits of Anian, and to explore the western Cape Mencoast of America, discovered land in forty two de- docino. grees north latitude, on the North American coast, and, in honour of the Viceroy, who had employed him, called it Cabo Mendocino. Having proceeded to the forty fourth degree, he was compelled by the sickness of his crew, the want of provisions, the

I Herrera, v. 351-354. Vega, 520.

2 See A. D. 1539. He reached Mavilla (a town enclosed with wooden walls) in 1541. The engagement there was in October of that year; and in it 2000 poor natives were slain, and 48 Spaniards. A considerable number of Spaniards died afterward of their wounds; so that their entire loss was 83. They lost also, 45 horses. The town was burnt in the action. Chicaça was an Indian village of 20 houses.

3 Univ. Hist. xli 391. See A. D. 1543.

4 Herrera, vi. 8.

5 Herrera, vi. 9. Purchas, v. 1552. Belknap. Biog. i. 192. Univ. Hist. xli. 392. To prevent the Indians from obtaining knowledge of his death, his body was put into an oak, hollowed for that purpose, and sunk in the river. Belknap Biog. i. 192. Harris Voy. i. 809. Herrera, vi. 9. Herrera, who mentions the hollowed oak, defines the place in the river where it was sunk, by saying it was where the river was a quarter of a league over, and 19 fathoms deep. At his death he was 42 years of age, and had expended 100,000 ducats in this expedition. Herrera, vi. 9, where there is a pleasing account of his character,

Cartier returns to

France.

weakness of his ship, and the turbulence of the sea, to return.'

Cartier, having waited in vain at Canada for the arrival of the viceroy M. de Roberval, and consumed all his provisions; and now dreading an attack from the savages, set out on his return to France. Roberval, with three ships and two hundred persons, coming to recruit the settlement in Canada, met him at Newfoundland, and would have obliged him to return to his province; but he eluded him in the night, and sailed for Bretagne. Roberval The viceroy, proceeding up the river St. Lawrence winters in four leagues above the island of Orleans, and finding here a convenient harbour, built a fort, and remained over the winter.*

Canada.

Termina

1543.

The small remains of Soto's army, consisting of tion of So- three hundred and eleven men, arrived at Panuco to's expedition. on the tenth of September; and the great expedition terminated in the poverty and ruin of all, who were concerned in it. Not a Spaniard was now left in Florida. 3

Last voy

age of Orellana.

1544.

Orellana, having contracted with the king of Spain for the government of as much territory as he could conquer, in the provinces about the river Amazon, by the name of New Andeluzia, sailed. May 11. from San Lucar with four ships and four hundred men, and arrived at the mouth of a river, which he

1 Forster Voy. 448. Venegas California, i. 161.

2 Hakluyt, iii. 240. Purchas, i. 750; v. 1605. Purchas says, that Roberval built the fort " faire and strong." Belknap Biog. i. 35. Forster Voy. 442. Prince Chron. Introd. 93.

3 Harris Voy. Purchas, v. 1556. See an account of Soto's expedition entire in Herrera, Decad iv. book vi, chap.i; book vii, chap. iii, iv, v ; book x, chap. i, ii. See also Harris Voy. i. 80 810, for an account of it, written by a Portuguese, who went on th

supposed to be the Napo, that he had formerly descended. Ascending this river about a hundred leagues, he built a brigantine, and staid here about three months, during which time fifty five of his men died. Proceeding higher up, he met with various disasters, and, after much fruitless research for the main branch of the river, fell sick, and, re- His death. linquishing the design, died of his distemper and of grief.

1545:

Potosi dis

The mines of Potosi were accidentally discover- Mines of ed by an Indian, named Hualpa. Coming to a covered. steep place, while pursuing some wild goats up the mountain, he laid hold of a shrub, which, yielding to his weight, came up by the roots, and discovered a large mass of silver. On the disclosure of this discovery, the mines were wrought to immense advantage. 3

1546.

in Peru.

A pestilence prevailed through the entire king- Pestilencé dom of Peru. It began at Cuzco; and, spreading over the country, swept off an immense number of people."

1 See A. D. 1541. One of the ships, carrying 70 men and 11 horses, turned back, on account of contrary winds, and was heard of no more. 2 Vega, 1006. Herrera, v. 265. vi. 81, 82. See an account of Orellana's two voyages ibid. Decad. iv. book vi, chap. iii; and Dec. v. book i, chap. iv.

3 Herrera, vi. 89. Vega, 344. Univ. Hist. xxxix. 193. Anderson, ii. 76. Beside the mass of silver, Hualpa observed large lumps of the metal in the earth, adhering to the roots of the plant. Hastening to his house at Porco, he washed the silver, and used it; and, when it was exhausted, repaired to his treasury. A confidential friend of Hualpa disclosed the secret to a Spaniard, living at Porco, and the mine was immediately wrought. The first register of the mines of Potosi was in April 1545; aud Hualpa's mine was called, The Discoverer, because it marked the channel to other mines in that mountain. Ibid.

4 Herrera, vi. 112,