Gage (1625-1637)
Thévenot, Melchisédech (1620?-1692). Relations de divers voyages curieux qui n'ont point este publiées [...]. Paris: Thomas Moette, 1696.
Among the Europeans who visited part of America during the first half of the seventeenth century and wrote an account of their travels, Thomas Gage is undoubtedly one of the least-known today; and yet his work created a sensation at the time.
Born in England, Thomas Gage was sent by his father to Spain in 1612 to study with the Jesuits, but later joined the Dominicans instead. In the summer of 1625, Gage embarked in Cadix, Spain with 27 of his fellow friars to go on a mission. After staying in Mexico for several months, he went to Guatemala where he taught for several years; he also lived for some time among the Indians of North America. In 1637 Gage decided to return to Spain; four years later he renounced his Catholic faith, returned to his country of origin and became a rector in the Anglican Church.
In 1648 Gage published the account of his stay in Mexico and Central America. The work made a very strong impression, for no foreigner before him had yet visited the Spanish colonies. In addition to describing their riches, Gage also revealed how vulnerable the colonies were militarily, thus making the English covet their riches. In 1654 the English organized an expedition to seize Hispaniola, with Gage going along as chaplain. The expedition suffered a defeat in Hispaniola, but succeeded in capturing Jamaica, where Gage died in office in 1656.
Gage's account appeared at first under the title The English-American His Travel by Sea and Land; or A New Survey of the West India's, Containing a Journal of Three Thousand Miles Within the Main Land of America. During the second half of the seventeenth century, it went through two other English editions, three French editions, and one Dutch and one German edition each.
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