Set battels are very rare,
except if fall out where there are many trees, where eyther part may
haue some hope of defence, after the deliuerie of euery arrow, in
leaping behind some or other.
If there fall out any warres betwee vs & them; what their fight is
likely to bee, we hauing aduantages against them so many maner of waies,
as by our discipline, our strange weapons and deuises els; especially by
ordinance great and small, it may be easily imagined; by the experience
we haue had in some places, the turning vp of their heeles against vs in
running away was their best defence.
In respect of vs they are a people poore, and for want of skill and
iudgement in the knowledge and vse of our things, doe esteeme our
trifles before thinges of greater value: Notwithstanding in their proper
manner considering the want of such meanes as we haue, they seeme very
ingenious; For although they haue no such tooles, nor any such craftes,
sciences and artes as wee; yet in those thinges they doe, they shewe
excellencie of wit. And by howe much they vpon due consideration shall
finde our manner of knowledges and craftes to exceede theirs in
perfection, and speed for doing or execution, by so much the more is it
probable that they shoulde desire our friendships & loue, and haue the
greater respect for pleasing and obeying vs. Whereby may bee hoped if
meanes of good gouernment bee vsed, that they may in short time be
brought to ciuilitie, and the imbracing of true religion.
Some religion they haue alreadie, which although it be farre from the
truth, yet beyng as it is, there is hope it may bee the easier and
sooner reformed.
They beleeue that there are many Gods which they call 'Mantoac', but of
different sortes and degrees; one onely chiefe and great God, which hath
bene from all eternitie. Who as they affirme when hee purposed to make
the worlde, made first other goddes of a principall order to bee as
meanes and instruments to bee vsed in the creation and gouernment to
follow; and after the Sunne, Moone, and Starres, as pettie goddes and
the instruments of the other order more principall. First they say were
made waters, out of which by the gods was made all diuersitie of
creatures that are visible or inuisible.
For mankind they say a woman was made first, which by the woorking of
one of the goddes, conceiued and brought foorth children: And in such
sort they say they had their beginning. [C 3]
But how manie yeeres or ages haue passed since, they say they can make
no relation, hauing no letters nor other such meanes as we to keepe
recordes of the particularities of times past, but onelie tradition from
father to sonne.
