And for to haue the fruition of this benefite all the yeare in the winter they must vse an artificiall helpe to giue a little warmenes vnto the doong for the bringing forth of their egs they do vse thē an other inuentiō as ingenious as the first that is this they take a great number of canes tied one by another whereon they do laye the doong then vppon that they doo lay their egges and do couer them verie well with the same this being done they put vnder the canes straw or some other like thing and set it on fire but in such sort that it dooth not burne but kéepeth a naturall heat all the time till they thinke that they are readie to be taken out Then doo they take and breake them as aforesaide so that their pultrie dooth increase in such number as though they were antes Then doo they put thē into an other cage for the same purpose wheras be old duckes brought vp for no other purpose but to couer the little ones vnder their winges and kéepe them warme and there they doo féede them euery day till such time as they can féede themselues and go abroad into the fieldes to profit themselues in the companie of the olde duckes Many times they haue in number aboue twentie thousand yet do they maintain them with a small-cost and it is in this order euerie morning they do giue them a small quantitie of boyled rice then do they open a doore of the cage which is towardes the riuer and doo put a bridge of canes that doth reach vnto the water then doo they come foorth with so great haste one vpon an other that it is a pastime to sée them All the day after they do passe the time vpon the water and in the fieldes of rice vpon the land wheras they do féede the owners of the rice doo giue vnto the owners of the duckes somewhat to let their duckes go into their fields for that they do destroy all the grasse and other wéeds in it And hurt nothing of the rice When that the euening draweth on then they of the barke do make a sound with a taber or such like y t which being heard of his duckes they throwe thēselues with great spéede into the water and swimme straight vnto their owne barke whereas their bridge is readie put for them and euerie flocke doth know his owne barke by the sounde without missing at any time although there be many flockes together For euerie barke doth vse a different sound the one from the other to the which the duckes are vsed and their eares full thereof so that they neuer fayle their owne barke This manner of liuing is greatly vsed in all that countrie and verie profitable for that it is a victuall most vsed amongst them and is esteemed as a thing of great sustentation and of small price by reason that at al times there is bréeding of them and of small cost Likewise in this Countrey they doo vse a kinde of fishing that is of no lesse industrie then the bringing vppe of these duckes and a thing to be séene The king hath in euerie Citie founded vppon the riuers houses wherein euerie yeare is brought vp many Cormorantes or sea Rauens with whome they doo fishe in those monethes that the fish dooth spawne and that is in this maner following They take the Cormorantes out of their cages and carrie them vnto the riuer side whereas they haue many barkes ordeyned for their fishing and they are halfe full of water Then they take their Cormorantes and with a corde they doo binde their mawes in such sort that no fish can fall into it then they do cast them into the riuer to fish the which they do with such good will and couetousnesse that it is a woonder to sée they throwe themselues into the water with great swiftnesse and diue whereas they do fill their throate with fish Then they come foorth and with the like hast they go vnto the barkes that are halfe ful of water and the fish which they haue taken they put in that water which is put there for that purpose that the fish may not die the which being done they returne againe vnto their fishing as they did before In this order they do indure their fishing foure houres together in such sort that the one doth not trouble the other and when y t their boates with water are ful of fish then do they vnbind them and turne them againe into the riuer for to fish for themselues for they haue neede thereof for that alwayes the day before that they will fish they kéepe thē from their ordinarie victualles which is a litle Millio that they may y e better do their office So after a while that they haue filled their bellies and recreated themselues they take them out of the water and carrie them vnto the ordinarie places whereas they art kept and euerie third day during the time of this fishing they doo take them forth for the same exercise which for them is so great pastime that they would it should indure all the yeare In these thrée monethes they do take so much fish that they do prouide the whole kingdome for all the yeare as in the chapter past it hath béene tolde you which is the occasion that they are as well prouided of fish as of any other thing so that if they please they may eate euerie day fresh fish although they are farre from the sea CHAP. XXIII Of the curtesie that the king of this mightie kingdome doth vnto the Ambassadors that come to him from anie other king prince or comonaltie WE should in the chapter following intreate of the ambassage that king Philip of Spaine with the Christian zeale that he had to sende vnto the king of this kingdome who being mooued by certaine causes and reasons did referre it till a better occasion and we do beléeue that it will be offered shortly Therefore now it shall not be from our purpose to declare in this chapter the honour and curtesie that this king doth vnto the ambassadours of kings princes or any other prouince that doth come vnto him in what sort so euer it be and for that it is of great curiositie it shall be necessarie to declare it with the circumstance wherewith it is done All such as doo enter into this kingdome with the title of ambassadour be it from a king that is a friend or enimie they are respected intreated and made of with so great care and diligence as though they came themselues in person that doo send them Unto whome besides the obseruing the law of nations which is obserued kept among all kings in the worlde in especiall that their persons shall not receiue neither incurre any danger although their ambassage bringeth discontent or harme vnto the king besides all the which there is granted vnto them great and particular priuiledges When that he doth enter into the kingdome by any of
shoulde returne vnto Lysborne whereas the king was at that instant and to giue him to vnderstand of the difficultie that was found in a meeting that the vizroy had caused to bee made of the most grauest personages of all that kingdome about the prosecuting of that ambassage With this resolution I departed from that kingdome and returned for Spaine and left the present in Mexico in the power of the kings officers till such time as order was giuen what shoulâ— be done therewith I found his maiestie in Lisborne whereas I did deliuer him the letters that were written touching the same matter and did declare vnto him my iudgement touching the meeting aforesaid who incontinent did take the â—harge vpon him to seeke occasion for to put in effect his most christâ—an intent and zâ—ale the which I doo beléeue he hath procured and will by al waies possible and that very shortly we shall sée in that kingdâ—me planted the Catholike faith and their false idolatrie banished And I hope in God it will bee very shortly for that there be within that kingdome religious men of the order of saint Augustine and barefoote friers of saint Francis and of the order of Iesus or Iesuits who are called there the fathers of Saint Paule of whom there is placâ—d fiue or sixe in the citie of Xauquin whereas the vizroy doth dwell and hath erected a couent in that citie euer since the yeare 1583. with a Church whereas they doo say masse ordinarily And it is said of a truth that they haue got license of the saide vizroy for to passe fréely thorough out all the whole kingdome of China But if it bee so you must thinke that hee did it after that he had consulted with the king and doone by his authoritie otherwise I am perswaded he durst not grant any such liceâ—se At this present dooth there go out of Spaine by the order and commandement of his maiestie and his royall counsell of the Indies a companie of religious men of the order of saint Dominicke for to aid and helpe the rest that are there to conclude this enterprise from whom can procéed nothing but that which tends to great effect by reason of their great zeale learning and the better if that they doo ioyâ—e togither in charitie as seruants to one Lord and master and as they which are boundâ— to doo all one worke By which meanes with the fauour and helpe of Almightie God putting to their diligence and industrie they shall easily conquest their hearts good willes shall frustrate the diuell from the possession that so long time he hath possessed in that kingdome and râ—duce them to their true Lord by creation and redemption It will not bee a small helpe the manie and euident tokens which the Chinos doo giue of desire of their saluation For as it is said that they haue read in their bookes that from the Occident shall come the true and perâ—ite law to diâ—ect them to heauen where they shalbe angelâ— And they séeing that those religious people which are câ—me into their kingdome doo come from the Occident they are perswaded without doubt that the law that they doo declare vnto them is the truth by which meanes shall redowne vnto them great goodnesse They are greatly affâ—ctioned vnto the commandements of the Catholike faith and vnto the catechisme which is translated into their language and is abrode in manie parts of that kingdome which is the occasion as the fathers of the companie that are in the citie Xuquien dooth write that many principal persons are conuerted vnto the catholike faith and others being holpen by the heauens and encited by the ensample of them doo demande the holy baptisme which is left vndone because they will not cause any vprore in the countrie And againe when they shall better conceiue thereof they may receiue it with more firme faith God for his mercie cause to go forwards and with his deuine fauour this good worke for his honour and glorie and exalting his holy faith and that so great and infinite a number of soules redéemed by his pretious blood might be saued and to put in the hart of christian kings to procéed forwards in that which he hath begun putting alwaies in their breasts a greater augmentation to the concluding of the same and to put apart from him all such perswasions as shoulde cause him to leaue it off which the diuell will procure by all the wayes and meanes that he may But against God and his diuine will there is neither power nor wisedome The end of the first part The second part of the historie of the mightie kingdome of China that is deuided into three parts The first containeth such thinges as the fathers frier Martin de Herrada prouinciall of the order of Saint Augustine in the Ilands Phlipinas and his companion fryer Geronimo Martin and other soldiers that went with them did see and had intelligence of in that kingdom The second containeth the miraculous voiage that was made by frier Pedro de Alfaro of the order of S. Francis and his companions vnto the said kingdome The third containeth a breefe declaration by the said frier and of frier Martin Ignacio that went out of Spaine vnto China and returned into Spaine againe by the Orientall India after that he had compassed the world Wherein is contained many notable things that hee did see and had intelligence of in the voiage The Argument of the first part Wherein is declared the cause that moued Frier Martin de Herrada and Frier Geronimo Martin and such souldiers as went in their companie for to passe from the Ilands Phillipinas vnto the kingdome of China in the yeare 1577 and of the entrie they made therein and what they did see there for the space of foure monethes and sixteeâ—e daies that they remained and of what they vnderstood of al things that happened vnto them till they returned againe vnto the Ilands from whence they went all the which are notable and strange CHAP. I. The Spaniardes departe from Mexico vnto the Ilandes Philippinas where they had intelligence of the mightie kingdome of China GOuerning in the kingdom of Mexico don Luys de Velasco who was viceroye and lieftenant in that place for the Catholike king don Phillip king of Spaine was coÌ„manded by his maiestie to prepare a great armie in the south sea and to leuie â—ouldiers necessarie for the same and to send them to discouer the Ilands of the west those which that famous captaine Magallanes did giue notice of when he did compasse the world in the ship called the Victorie The viceroy with great care and diligence did performe the kinges commandement This fléete and armie being prepared readie which was not without great cost hee caused them to depart out of the port at Christmas time in the yeare of 1564. and sent for general of the same fléete and for gouernour of that countrie which they should discouer the worthie Miguel
that hee was entred into the spanish ship saw the friers the rest that were in their cōpanie saw that their apparell spéech was strange vnto him he asked of them what they were and from whence they came whether they went and when y e he vnderstood y t they were Castillos of the Ilands Philippinas came frō the said Ilands were bound vnto China with intent to preach the holy gospell he asked thē whose licence they had to conduct them vnto the firme lande But when he vnderstood that they had none hee asked them howe they passed and escaped the fléete of ships that was in the straight aforesayde The Spaniards answered that they found no impediment nor let So he being greatlie amazed as well of the one as of the other entred into his owne boate and with great furie departed from their shippe and went into his owne but at his departure the Spaniards did request him that he would conduct them vnto the cittie who gaue them to vnderstande by signes that he woulde although he feared the rigorous punishment that in that kingdome is executed vppon all such as doo bring into the same any man of a strange nation as hath béene tolde you in the first part of this historie So hee fearing that if hée shoulde enter with him into the port the fault would be imputed vnto him therefore at such time as hee came within halfe a league of the riuers mouth he cast about his shippe and sailed to sea and went so farre that in a short time the Spaniards had lost the sight of them who when they saw that they had no guide they followed the course of another shippe that they had discouered before the other did cast about to sea for which occasion the other two ships that wee spake off before were departed So a little before the sunne-set they discouered the mouth and entrie of a great and mightie brode riuer out of the which came two great streames or armes and in them many ships entering in and going forth and considering how they had the winde which serued them well they entered into the same but when they had sailed forwards a quarter of a league they discouered so great a multitude of barkes that it seemed vnto them a groue or some inhabited place and as wee drewe nigh vnto them they not knowing our shippe all began to flie and run away with so great noise as though they should haue béene all set on fire or smoke in that place The Spaniards séeing that they were the occasion of this feare amongst them they withdrew themselues into the middest of the riuer whereas they strooke saile and came to an anker there they did ride all that night and it was in such a place that none of al the other barks and boates came nigh them by a great way The next day following which was sunday the one twentith day of Iune they weighed anker and went vnder their foresaile vp that arme of the riuer the which within a little while they had sailed did ioine with the other arme aforesaide and was in that place of so great widenesse that it séemed to bée a sea there sailed in and out many shippes barkes and boates of whome the Spaniards demaunded how farre the port was off from that place but they answered nothing at all but with great laughter and wonder to sée the Spaniards and their kind of attyre they departed But when they had sailed two leagues vp the riuer they discouered a high towre and very faire vnder the which were at an anker a great number of shippes thither they sailed right on So when as they came right ouer against the towre they saw on shore a great mighty crane to discharge merchandize withall whereat lay many ships but when they came to the point fearing that some ordinance would be shot at them they strooke all their sailes according vnto the vse custome in y e ports of Spaine They after a while that they had remained in that sort saw that neither the towre nor y e ships did make any motion towards them they turned and hoised vp againe their sailes and went wheras al the ships were when they came amongst them they let fall their anker wheras they did ride looking when they would come to demand of them any thing CHAP. III. The Friers and their companions came vnto the Cittie of Canton they went on shore and praised God for that it had pleased him to let thē see their desire fulfilled There comes a Iustice to visite them and hath with them great communication THe Spaniards séeing that they were there at an anker a good while that there was none that came vnto them to demand any questiō they hoised out their boate went in it on shore wheras they al knéeled downe vpon their knées and with great deuotion did say Te Deum laudamus giuing thankes to God for that he had so myraculously brought them into y e kingdome of China of them so much desired without any Pilot or other humane industrie the which being doone they began to walke along by the crane aforesaid nigh vnto the which were certaine houses whereas were kept ropes and tackling belonging vnto the shippes so they procéeded forwards with intent to séeke the gates of the Citie the which after they had gone the space of foure hargabus shot they found the gate which was verie great and sumptuous of a strong and gallant edifice The people of the country séeing them at their comming a shore how they did knéele downe and how that their manner of attire was different from the people of the same not knowing from whence they did come did cause in them great admiration and to ioyne togither a great troope of people and followed them with great desire to sée the end of their enterprise This great multitude of people was the occasion that they entred in at the gates of the Cittie without being discouered of the guards ports that were put there for that purpose neither were they disturbed of the entry by reason of the great throng of people and strangenesse of the matter So after they had gone a while in the stréete the people increasing more and more to sée them they staied in the porch of a great house there where as the iustices of the sea or water bailies do kéepe their courts of audience and in the meane time that they remained there which was a pretty while the guardes of the gate vnderstood that amongst y e presse throng of the people did enter certaine strangers contrary to the precept giuen them vpon great penalties they straightway with great feare that their ouersight should be discouered ran laid hands vpon y e Spaniards carried them backe againe put them out of the gate of the citie without doing any euil or harme vnto their persons willed them to stay
die but be banished for euer out of the kingdome with precise band y t they their wiues children al that should come of them should for euer liue on those Ilands that are now called Iapon which were at y t time desert without people This sentence was executed the offenders did accept the same for mercie So they were caried to y e said Ilands wheras when they saw thēselues out of their naturall countrie without any possibility euer to returne againe they ordained their cōmon wealth as a thing to last for euer directing all their lawes which were for their conseruation gouernment contrarie vnto the Chinos from whence they came But in particular they made one wherin they did prohibite for euer their descendents to haue any frindship with the Chinos did admonish them to do them all the euill that was possible which is obserued kept vnto this day inuiolable shewing thēselues their contraries in all they may euen in their apparell spéech customes for the which there is no nation so abhorred of the Chinos as is the Iapones so that they are payd their hatred with the like And although at that time the said Iapones were subiectes and tributaries vnto the king of China and so continued long time after now at this day they are not but do all harme that may be vnto those of that kingdome They haue much siluer but not so fine as that is of our Indians likewise great abundance of rice and flesh and in some parts wheate although they haue all this with many fruits and herbes other things which be their ordinary victuals yet are they not so well prouided as are their cōfines or neighbors and no default in the lande for that it is verie good and fruitefull But that the naturall people do giue themselues verie little vnto the tilling and sowing thereof for that they are more affectioned vnto the warres then vnto that and this is the reason that many times they do lack prouision and victuals which is the verie same reason that the naturall people others do report of them There be in these Ilandes thrée score sixe kingdoms or prouinces and many kings although it may be better said rulers or principals such as the Spaniardes found in the Ilands of Luzō for which cause although they be called kings yet are they not neither in their cōtractation nor rent for they haue verie little in respect of the multitude of people The king Nobunanga who died in the yeare 1583. was the most principall and greatest Lord amongst them all as well of people as of riches who was slaine by a captaine of his and punished by God by this meanes for his luciferine pride for that it did farre excéede that of Nabuchadonozor and was come vnto that point that he would haue béene worshipped for a God for the which he commanded to make a sumptuous temple and to put in it thinges that did well declare and showe his follie of the which that you may sée how farre it did extend I will declare here onely that which he did promise vnto them that did visite his temple First the rich men that came vnto the saide temple and did worshippe his picture should be more richer and those that were poore should obtaine great riches and both the one and the other that had no successors to inherite their goods should also obtaine them and also long life for to enioy the same with great peace and quietnesse The second that their life should be prolonged to 80. yeares The third that they should bee hole of all their infirmities and diseases and shall obtaine full accomplishment of all their desires with health and tranquillitie And the last he commanded that euery month they should celebrate a feast for his birth day and therein to visite his temple with certification that all those that did beléeue in him and in that which hee promised should without all doubt sée it accomplished and those which in this life were faultie and did not doo in effect his commaundement in the other they should goe the way to perdition And the better to accomplish this his will he commaunded to be put in this temple al the Idols in his kingdomes that were most worshipped such as to whom frequented most pilgrimes the which being done he presently forbad rhat not one of them all should be worshipped but he onely that was the true Fotoque and vniuersall God the author and creator of nature This foolishnesse did this proud king a little before his miserable death and many other more that I do leaue out for feare that I should be too tedious in this Itinerario There did succéed this proude king in the kingdome his sonne called Vozequixama who for that he is very yong at this day it is gouerned by a worthy captaine called Faxiuandono All men that are borne in this land are naturally inclined to warres and robberies and it is vsed ordinarily amongst themselues alwayes he that hath most power and strength doth carry away the best part and yet he doth inioy it with little securitie for that as the prouerbe saith he findeth a last for his shoo or the length of his foote is found and another commeth when he thinketh least off and carrieth away their spoile with victorie reuenging iniuries the one for the other without being requested thereunto which is the occasion that they are neuer without ciuill warres that séemeth to bée the influence of the clime of that land This and the continual exercise in armes and in robberies hath giuen them the name of warriers and do terrifie all their borderers and neighbors They vse many weapons but especially hargabusses swords and lances and are very expert in them On the firme land of China they haue done many suddaine robberies and thefts and haue gone thorough therewith at their pleasure and would haue done the like at the Ilands of Luzon vsed for the same all meanes possible but yet it fell out contrary vnto their meanings and returned their backes full euill against their wils with their hands vpon their owne heads On a time they came vnto the Illocos who with the fauour of the Spaniards whose vassals they are did desende themselues worthily that the Iapones thought it best to returne vnto their houses and to leaue their begun pretence with determination neuer to put themselues in the like perill for that they had lost many of their companie Not many yeares since there happened vnto them the like disgrace in China there went tenne thousande of them to robbe and steale and at their going on lande they did sacke a cittie with little hurt and smal resistance who with the content of that pray forgot themselues and did not preuent the harme that might chance vnto them the Chinos being offended did compasse them about in such sort that when the Iapones remembred themselues they were in
and 6. men may walke side by side on them they are garnished with many bulworks and towers a small distance the one from the other with their battlements faire galleries where as many times their vizroyes dooth goe to recreate themselues with the gallant sight of the mountaines and riuers with their fields so odoriferous There is betwixt the wals of their cities the mote of the same a broade space that six horsemen may ride together the like space is within betwixt the walles and the houses whereas they may walke without impediment Their wals are kept in such good reparation by reason of their great care and diligence that they séeme to be but new made yet in some cities there is founde mention of two thousand yeeres since the first foundation In euery citie the king doth ordaine a Iustice and giueth him great rents onely to visit them and make them to be renewed and repaired where as is requisite and is done vpon the kings cost for out of his rents in such cities townes is giuen them all that is néedfull to be asked The high waies in all this kingdome are made kept plaine with great care diligence and the entering into the cities and townes are very sumptuous and with great maiestie they haue thrée or foure gates bound with yron very strong Their streetes verie well paued and so broad that 15. horsemen may ride together in them and so straight that although they be very long yet you may discouer the end On both the sides are portals vnder which be their shops full of all sorts of merchandises very curious and of all occupations that you will desire In the streets a good space the one from the other are made manie triumphall arkes of extreme bewtie They are made of masons worke verie curiously painted after the fashion of the old antiquitie of Rome All their houses ordinarily haue three doores that in the middest is great the other be lesser but of a maruellous gallant propotion The king is alwayes resident in the citie of Suntien which in their language is as much to say the citie of heauen Of which citie the Chinos do declare many things which séemeth to be true for that if you do talke with many of them and at sundrie times and places yet doo they not varie the one from the other and according to their report it should be greatest in all the worlde in these dayes They who do make it to be least do affirme that to goe from gate to gate leauing the suburbs had néed of a summers day and a good horse to do it it is also called Quinsay as Marcus Paulus doth call it CHAP. IX Of the wonderfull buildings in this kingdome and of mightie wall or circuit in the same of 500. leagues long IN this kingdome in al places there be men excellent in architecture and the necessaries that they haue to build with is the best that is in the world For as it is said in the chapter past they haue a kinde of white earth of the which they make brickes of so great hardnesse and strength that for to breake them you must haue pickaxes and vse much strength and this is the cause that in all the kingdome there is mightie buildings and verie curious Putting apart the kings pallace where hee is resident in Taybin for of that you shall haue a particular chapter in all such cities that bee the heads of the prouinces is resident a vizroy or gouernour and dwelleth in the house that in euery such citie the king hath ordeined on his proper cost all the which to conclude are superbious and admirable and wrought by marueilous art and are as bigge as a great village by reason that they haue within them great gardens water ponds woods compassed about in the which as it is declared in the 4. chapter is great quantitie of hunt and flying foules Their houses commonly be verie gallant and after the manner of Rome and generallie at the doores and gates of them are planted trées in gallant order the which maketh a gallant shadow and séemeth well in the stréets All these houses are within as white as milke in such sort that it séemeth to bee burnished paper The floares are paued with square stones verie broad and smooth their seelings are of an excellent kind of timber verie well wrought and painted that it séemeth like damaske and of the colour of gold that sheweth verie well euerie one of them hath three courts and gardens full of flowers and herbes for their recreation And there is none of them but hath his fish poole furnished although it bee but small The one side of their courts is wrought verie gallant like as it is in counting houses vpon the which they haue many idols carued and wrought of diuers kinds ofmettals the other thrée parts or angles of their courts are painted with diuers things of verie great curiositie But aboue all things they are marueilous cleane not onely in their houses but also in their stréetes in the which commonly they haue thrée or foure necessarie or common places of ease verie curiously ordained and placed for that the people being troubled with their common necessitie shall not foule the streetes and therefore they haue this prouision the like is vsed in all wayes throughout the kingdome Some cities there be whose streets be nauigable as in Bruxels in Flanders Mexico in the Indians and as in Venice in Italie which is the occasion that they are better serued and prouided for that their barkes and boates doo enter laden with all kinde of victuals harde to their doores The highwayes throughout all this kingdome are the best and gallantest paued that euer hath béene discouered they are verie plaine yea vnto the mountaines and they are cut by force of labour and pickaxes and maintained with bricke and stone the which by report of them which hath séene it is one of the worthiest things that is in all the realme There are many mightie bridges and of a wonderfull making some wrought vpon boats as it is in Syuill but in especiall vpon such riuers as are broad and déepe In the citie of Fucheo there is a towre right against the house of the kings chiefe receiuer it is affirmed by those that haue séene it to surmount any building that hath béene amongst the Romanes the which is raised and founded vppon fortie pillars and euerie pillar is of one stone so bigge and so high that it is strange to tell them and doubtfull to the hearers to beléeue it for which cause I thinke it best not to declare it in particular as I do in all things where as I doo finde it difficult to be beléeued and where I haue no certaine author to verifie the truth There is in this kingdome a defence or wall that is fiue hundred leagues long and beginneth at the citie Ochyoy which is vppon the high mountaines and
them at all times when they shalbe demaunded of him by the iudges or vizroies They are shakled and manakled and put in wards that do answere into the court whereas the officers of the prison do make them to lie with their face downewarde vppon a floore made of bords for the same purpose and do draw ouer them iron chaines drawne through great iron rings that are placed betwixt prisoner and prisoner wherewith they are so strait crushed that they cannot moue nor turne them from one side to another also they doo lay on them a certaine couering of timber wherein remaineth no more space of hollownesse then their bodies doth make thus are they vsed that are condemned to death This prison is so painefull and grieuous that many doo dispaire and kill themselues because they cannot suffer it In the day time they do take them forth and take off their manacles that they may worke for to sustaine themselues all such as haue nothing to maintaine themselues nor any other that wil help them them the king dooth giue a pittance of rice to sustaine them Likewise they do worke what they may to better the same There is neuer no execution done vpon such as are condemned to die but at the comming of the visiters or iudges of residence whom they do call Chenes and Leuchis the which do◠make their visitation in secret as you doo vnderstande in the chapter where I spake of them These doe visite the prisoners and demaund a note of the names of all them that are condemned and the cause wherefore and although that some of their sentences are confirmed by the king and his counsell yet they will sée them againe in the presence of these iudges that did condemne them or such as did gouerne in their absence for to be informed of them the faults of euerie one whereby he may sée and vnderstand whether his sentence of condemnation bee done with iustice or not This diligence being done they doo choose out among them fiftie condemned men such whose faults are most odious and commande the iayler to put all things in order for to doo execution on them the which being done they do examine them a new and looke vpon the causes and faults to see if by any meanes they can saue them And if they do finde in any of them any iot of discharge they do apart them from the rest and straightwayes command three pieces of ordinance to be shot off which is to giue warning to bring forth them that shalbe executed Then againe when they doo bring them forth they doo a new enter in counsell to sée if they can saue any of them and when not they command other three péeces of ordinance to be shot off to cause them to be brought out into the fielde and yet before they do breake vp their counsell they doo turne and sée once againe all their faults to sée if that by any meanes possible there might bee some remedie to saue them If they do finde any or any suspect of indicion they do returne out of the field that person and sende him againe to the prison Some doo returne with an euill will for that they had rather die at once then for to suffer the straightnes and crueltie of the prison In the meane time while they are perusing their causes and concluding the same they do cause these condemned prisoners to sit vpon heaps of ashes and do giue them to eate So when all y t these diligences are concluded and they can finde no remedy to saue any of them according vnto iustice they doo commande thrée péeces of artilery more bee shot off then do they execute iustice according vnto their sentence giuen them The deathes that they do execute is hanging setting vppon stakes quartering and burning but there is none that is burned but such as are traitors to the king When the last thrée of artilerie is shot off then the belles do ring and a great rumor is in the cittie for that this execution is done but seldome The day of execution all their shops are shut in and there is none that doth worke vntill sun be set which is after that the executed men are buried the which is done with the companie of much people The next day after this is done the visitors do make the second visitation which is of the théeues a thing verie much abhorred amongst them and such as they doo finde culpable hee is whipped throughout the common stréetes with great shame with a borde hanging about his necke as aforesaide whereon is written his fault and therewith they are carried throughout the stréetes thrée or foure dayes They do beate them on the calues of their legges with a broade and thicke cane of foure fingers broad and as thicke as a mans finger the which they do lay in water before the more for to torment them they are bound with their hands behind them and their faces downewards to the earth two hangmen do execute this whipping of them the one at one legge and the other at the other and it is done with so great crueltie that after they haue giuen sixe blowes they cannot stande vppon their féete and many times it chanceth that with fiftie blowes they die The most part of these théeues do die in the punishments and many times there is whipped togither of théeues two hundred So that with these and others that are punished in the prisons is of a verie truth that there do die euerie yeare in one of these principall cities of the prouince more then sixe thousande persons At these punishments the iudges are alwaies in presence and for that they should not be mooued to compassion in the meane time that execution is done they do occupie themselues in banquettings or other pastimes Adulteries are death and such as do consent to be coockoldes which is neuer founde but amongst them of the basest sort are punished with exemplar punishments ordained for the same CHAP. XIII Of the characters and letters that the Chinos do vse and of the colleges and scholes that are in this kingdome and of other curious things The king hath in euerie citie colledges or schooles at his owne cost in the which they doo learne to write read count as well as to studie naturall or morall philosophie Astrologie lawes of the countrie or any other curious science They that doo teach in these schooles be such persons as excell in euerie facultie such as may be found none better but speciallie in writing and reading for that there is none although he be neuer so poore but dooth learne to write and read because amongst them he is accounted infamous that cannot doo both Unto higher studies come a great number of students and doo trauaile all they may possiblie to profite for that it is the best course and surest way to obtaine the name of a Loytia or gentleman or other dignitie as more plainelie shall bée shewed you in the chapter
language as they sayd for to shew instruct them the way vnto heauen The Spaniards hauing heard this if made them very much to maruaile frō that time forwards they had good hope to prosecute that which they did pretend So with this with great spirituall corporal ioy they tooke their leaue of the Iudge and went vnto their lodging wheras they gaue thanks vnto God for the good directing of their busines did pray vnto him to helpe thē that they might sée a finall conclusion of their desire All this falsenes that the interpreter did vse was by the diuine permission as afterwards they did gather when that by himselfe they were put out of all doubt and did declare what he did pretend by the way order he tooke For without all doubt if that the Iudges had plainly vnderstood that they would haue there remained they would not haue suffered them to haue entred and séene the countrie And the viceroy being aduertised thereof would haue caused them to depart in that troublesome wether whereas possible they should haue béene all drowned for that the moneths of Iuly August and September in that countrie are ordinarily full of stormes and tempestes CHAP. IX The Spaniards remained certaine daies in Aucheo they go to visite the beautie of that citie but in especiall the captaine generall of the sea who was so affectioned vnto the Ara of blacke stone they brought that hee did with all care and diligence procure it of gift ALl the time that they remained in Aucheo they did occupie thēselues in visiting of the principals of y t court amōgst whom he that did most reioice to see them was the captaine generall of the men of war of that prouince who after that he had intreated them very friendly and louingly he desired them that they would returne the next day to visite him to bring with them the Ara of blacke stone which they had shewed vnto the viceroy that he might sée it for that he had praised it very much and to bring also of their painted Images They did obey his commandement and came vnto him when that he was at dinner with great maiestie Then so soone as he had dined he commanded that they should enter into the hal there where he was The interpreter when he drew nigh vnto him did knéele down and made signes vnto the Spaniards to follow him and do the like but the captaine commanded them to arise to couer their heads did very much behold the Ara or altar stone making a showe of great admiration to beholde it hee demanded of the Fryers many things of great curiositie and asked them if they would sell him that stone and he would giue them for it what they would demande The father Costodio answered saying that they solde nothing and much lesse that for that it was consecrated and dedicated to the diuine colto or sacrifice The Captaine replied and saide that if they would not sell it that they should giue it him and hee would be gratefull vnto them in some other thing that they should thinke well of The father Costodio answered that by no maner of meanes he could not do it for that vpon the same they did celebrate and say masse at such time as they did sacrifice vnto the true God At that instant the captaine did put his handes vppon it to féele it and the father Costodio made signes vnto him to take away his handes for that he sinned greatly therein Then he séeing that they would not giue it him he tooke his leaue saying that they should leaue it there with him for that hee would looke vppon it more at leasure promising to returne it them againe afterwardes The father Costodio did consent thereunto but first he requested him not to touch it with his handes So after that he had satisfied himselfe in the beholding of it his affection was then much more to remaine therewith and for to accomplish the same not fayling of his word and promise that he had made hee deuised with himselfe a certaine slight and policie and sent for the father Costodio who came vnto him with great content thinking verily that he would haue returned their Ara. When he came vnto him he did intertaine him verie ioyfully and said that he was vpon his iorney to certain warres by the commandement of the king that amongst those seruants that he carried with him for his seruice there were two christened Chinos which had beene captiues vnto the Portugales of the citie of Machao from whence they ran away of whom he had had vnderstanding in all thinges of the ceremonies of the Christians and that their comming thether was to baptise such as would receiue the same and hee being fully certified in many thinges touching the same he liked well thereof and gaue great content and hoped to be one of them that first should receiue the faith when the king should grant licence for the same All this as it séemed was that they should let him haue the Ara vnto the which he was so affectioned as aforesaid But the father Costodio vsed the matter in such sort that hee got it out of his fingers which was no small matter Within a few dayes after the Captaine being readie to imbarke himselfe for to make his iourney he sent vnto the Spaniardes that two of them should come vnto him and that they should bring with them the blacke stone for there were certaine friendes of his that would sée it The father Costodio did straightwayes accomplish his commandement and carried with him the Ara or altar stone for that he durst not do otherwise yet they did beléeue that in giuing him some pretie or curious thing they should content him and quiet his mind they carried also with them the Image of Marie Magdalen made of feathers which was more woorthie than the Ara setting a part the consecration So whē the religious fathers came wheras he was he went foorth to méete them more then tenne paces with signification of great ioy and carrying them aside he saide vnto them once againe that the captiues had told him so many things of their vertuous maner of liuing of other things touching the heauen that he had great affection vnto them desired that they might remaine in the countrie for to baptise the inhabitants therof that he wold be the first but the cause wherfore he did delay the time is for to eschew the paines y t is pronounced against all those that do receiue any law or strange ceremonie without particular licence of the king And for that he went in hast to go inhabite a certaine prouince that he was ready to depart in y e which so soone as it was possible he would do so much y t al they should become Christians for as much as he tolde him that the blacke stone vnto the which he was affectioned was consecrated that he would let him haue
and very dangerous for ships that passe thorough it for very few times it is without stormes or some other greater danger as it happened vnto a verie great shippe in the mouth of the straight in the presence of Frier Martin Ignacio the which in verie little space was swallowed vp with the sea in it more theÌ„ thrée hundred thousand ducats in merchandice that was within her although the successe thereof our people did attribute it more vnto the iust iudgement of God than vnto the storme for that according as they were informed they had committed grieuous offences at the time when she sanke for being very nigh with his shippe in the which he went and many other more they felt not neither had any suspition of any danger From this straight to go vnto Malaca you coast alongest the sea fiue and twentie leagues all which coast is full of great mightie and thicke woods by reason whereof as also for that it is not inhabited there are many tygers elephants and mightie great lysards and other furious beastes The citie of Malaca in our pole articke is eleuated from the equinoctiall onely one degrée of ancient time it was the most principallest citie of all these kingdomes and resident therein a mightie king a Moore but after it was conquered by the Portingals who in these wars did wonderfull things of great force courage they did driue foorth all the Moores out of the same and out of all the borders and made of their Mezquita or temple which was a singular péece of worke a high church as it doth remaine vnto this day there are also thrée monasteries of religious men one of S. Dominicke an other of S. Francis and the third of the companie of Iesus or Iesuites It is a verie temperate countrie being so nigh the equinoctiall line the reason is for that euery wéeke ordinarily it rayneth thrée or foure times which is the greatest cause of health in all that countrie and thereby is made woonderfull fruitfull and with great abundance of prouision but particularly of fruites for there is great store and some sortes neuer séene in Europe amongst the which there is one y t is called in the Malaca tongue Durion and is so good that I haue heard it affirmed by manie that haue gone about the worlde that it doth excéede in sauour all others that euer they had séene or tasted it is in forme like vnto a mellon whose ryne is somewhat harde and hath vpon it little white prickes which séemeth like haire and within the fruite be partitions which be of the colour like vnto maniar blanco and of so good sauour and tast as it Some do say that haue séene it that it séemeth to be y t wherwith Adam did transgresse being carried away by the singular sauour The leaues which this trée yéeldeth are so bigge that a man may couer himselfe with one of them which mee thinketh is but coniecture or defining but there is Cannafistola for to lade fléetes very bigge and good and of a singular effect one of the notablest things in this kingdome is a maruellous trée of an admirable vertue the which putteth foorth so many rootes of so contrarie vertue that those which grow towards the orient be good against poyson agues and many infirmities that do war against humaine life those rootes that growe â—owards the west be ranke poyson in effect all cleane contrarie vnto the first So that it seemeth here to be founde two contraries in one subiect a thing which in philosophie they were woont to count impossible This citie is of great contractation for that there come thether all the kingdomes that we haue spoken of and from many other more that are nigh thereabouts but in particular a great number of great ships from the Indians Canton Chincheo and froÌ„ many other places likewise the Iapones carry thether their siluer to sell those of the kingdome of Syan carry many things very curious but especially cloues and pepper of the Iland Malucas and those of Burneo bring much sanders nutmegs and those of Iaba Pegu bring the wood of aguila and those from Cochinchina Cham bring great store of wrought silke drogges and spicerie and those of Samatra or Trapouana much golde and wrought things fine cloth of Vengalas Coromandel All these and other thinges make this citie famous and plentifull as also very much enlarged of the Portingals that go thether ordinarily euery yeare and traficke there CHAP. XXIII Of some kingdomes of the newe worlde and of particular things that haue beene seene in them and treateth of the citie and riuer of Ganies OUer against this famous citie of which so many thinges may be spoken of is that mightie kingdome and Iland of Samatra called by the ancieÌ„t cosmogrosers Trapouana which is as some say the Iland of Ophir whether y e fléet went which king Salomon sent of which there is particular mention made in the scripture in the third booke of the kings cap. 9. 10. and in the Paralipomenon cap. 9. that went returned againe ladeÌ„ with gold rich tymber for to adorne the temple of Ierusalem and of many other curious things whose memorie doth remain vnto this day amongst the naturall people although diffusedly But not so much as those that haue it out of the holy scripture neither so true This Iland is vnder the equinoctial line so that the one halfe doth extend vnto the pole artick the other halfe vnto the poole antarticke It hath in longitude 230. leagues and in latitude three score seuen leagues and is so nigh vnto Malaca that in some parts it is lesse than ten leagues In this kingdom there are many lords rulers yet he y t hath the greatest part thereof is a Moore and is called Achan it is one of the richest Ilands in al the world for y t it hath many mynes of fine golde of the which although there is a law y t they cannot take out of theÌ„ more than is necessarie yet there is great abundance carried from thence to Malaca Turkie and many other places There is gathered vpon this Iland great abundance of pepper and beniewyn of Boninas in great quantity out of whose trées whereof there is great woods there come foorth so swéet a smel that it seemeth an earthly paradice and was wont to be smelled twenty leagues at sea for which respect the ships that saile that way do come so nigh the lande as they may to haue the comfort of that smell There is also much Camphora and all kinde of spices by reason wherof there commeth vnto this kingdome to traficke many Turkes that come in ships and foystes out of the red sea Also there doth traficke thether those of the kingdom of Sunda Iaua the great and Ambayno and others that are there nigh vnto them Unto this Iland came certaine Portingals to buy and sell whereas they were
all slaine and some for the profession of the faith for the which they are holden for martyrs of Iesu Christ by the opinion of christians that doo dwell nigh when they vnderstood y e cause The most part of this kingdome are Moores therefore they do abhor the christians do make with them all the warrâ— they can but in especiall with them that dwell in Malaca whom many times they haue put in great danger of their liues and losse of their goods Running froÌ„ this kingdome of Malaca by the north northwest cost is the mightie kingdome of Pegu the which is in bignes greater theÌ„ Samatra equall in riches especially of pearls and al sorts of stones very fine christall there is great store of prouision and an infinite number of people and the king thereof is mightie to whoÌ„ as we haue said y e king of Cyan doth pay tribute because he ouercame him in a battaile which he had w t him in the yeare 1568. according vnto the common opinion the occasion was that vnderstanding how that the saide king of Syan had in his power a white Elephant whome those of the kingdome of Pegu do worship for God the king sent to buy the same and to giue for it so much as he would estéeme or value it but he vtterly denied the same and saide that he would not let him haue it for all that he had in his kingdom the which caused so great anger vnto the king that hee called together all the souldiers that he could make with determination to get by force of armes that which he could not by faire meanes and great ritches in the which he did so great diligence that in a fewe dayes hee had ioyned together an armie of a million and sixe hundreth thousande of men of warre with whome hee departed vnto the saide kingdome of Syan which was from his kingdome two hundreth leagues and did not onely performe his pretence in bringing away the white Elephant but did also make the king tributarie as he is vnto this day as hath bin declared vnto you The rites of the people and priestes of this countrie doo resemble much those of the kingdome of Syan they haue amongst them many monasteries of men that liue honestly solitarie with great penance and people verie apt to receiue the holy gospell For ouer and aboue that they are docible and of a good vnderstanding they are men which do studie philosophie and are well inclyned and charitable and haue a particular affection vnto vertue and vnto such as they do knowe that haue vertue and very friendly to remedie the necessitie of their poore neighbours Going from this kingdome towardes the north is the kingdome of Arracon verie plentifull of prouision but few things of contractation or marchandice which is the occasion that it is not well knowen to the Spaniardes for that they haue not gone thether They doo vnderstand of the naturall people and of their customes that they are very apt to receiue the holie gospell From this kingdome alongst the same coast you came vnto the kingdome of Vangala through the which doth passe the riuer Ganges one of the foure that comme foorth of paradice terrenall the which being vnderstood by a certaine king of this kingdome he determined to cause some to ascend vp that riuer till such time as he had found the head spring or head thereof and therewith paradice for the which effect he commanded to be made diuers â—ortes of barkes both small and great and sent in them vp the riuer certaine men of whose diligence hee had long experience were prouided with victuals for many daies and gaue commandement that presently after that theyhad discouered that which hee desired that they should returne with great spéede far to giue him particular and true relation with pretence foorthwith to go himselfe to inioy the things which he thought necessarie to be séene and woorthie to be desired of his trauaile and in a place so delightfull These men did nauigate vp the riuer many monethes and came vnto a place whereas the water came foorth so softly and with so small noyse which gaue them to vnderstande that they were not farre from the first head thereof which should be paradice that which they went to séeke They gaue to vnderstand that in this place after they had séene so many tokens comforted themselues with maruellous swéete smels and aires of great delight they thought verily that they had bin in the paradice terrenall And more when as they came vnto that place where as the riuer did runne so peaceable and the ayre so delicate and swéet there entred into the hearts of them all so great and extraordinarie ioy that they séemed to be in the true paradice and forgot all the trauaile that they had passed for to come thether and of any other thing that did signifie paine or griefe But when they did intend to go forwardes with this their pretence and intent and thereunto did put all diligence possible they found by experience that all their trauaile was in vaine and howe that they remained alwaies in one place and coulde not vnderstand from whence did come or procéede that contradiction they could not find in the waters by reason of the peaceablenesse thereof This experience being done attributing it vnto a miserie because they could not get a shore they returned backe againe by the same riuer till they came to their owne kingdome wheras they arriued in a very short time and gaue their king to vnderstand who sent them all as afore saide and many other thinges more the which I do leaue out for that I do take it apocripha They hold it for a certaintie that the riuers Eufrates and Tygris are not far from this riuer Ganges and it séemeth to be true for both of them doo discharge their currents or water into the Persian sea the which is not farre distant from this kingdome The people of this kingdome haue this riuer in great reuerence which is the occasion that they neuer enter into the same but with great respect and feare And when they doo washe or bath themselues in it they haue it for a certainetie that they remaine cleare from all their sinnes Likewise this kingdome with great ease might be conuerted vnto the catholike faith as it séemeth for that they haue amongst them many morall rites ceremonies and vertues CHAP. XXIIII Of the kingdome of Coromandel and others his borderers and of the citie of Salamina whereas was and died the glorious Apostle S. Thomas and of the power and riches of the king of this kingdome the order of their buryinges and other thinges of great curiositie RUnning alongest the coast from Vengala is the kingdome of Masulapatar and certaine other kingdomes nigh vnto the same they be all Gentiles as the rest of their borderers yet it is vnderstood with great facilitie they would leaue their opinions It is