not but let them peaceably to enter and to traficke in buying and selling paying their ordinarie customes due vnto the king In euery port there is a scriuener or notarie put there by the gouerners that dooth set downe in memorie the day and houre that any shippe doth enter in in order that whether hée be a stranger or natural to take in his lading and dispatch according vnto the old custome of those ports the which is inuiolably kept which is the occasion that they do lade and dispatch in so short time and with so great quietnesse as though there were but one shippe although many times you shall sée in one port two thousande ships small and great In this sort with a bought licence did the Portugals traficke from the Indies in Canton a prouince of this kingdome and in other parts of that kingdome as they themselues haue declared and likewise the Chinos CHAP. VIII Of the kings royall counsell and the order they haue to knowe euerie moneth what dooth passe in all the kingdome THe king hath in the citie of Taybin wheras he is resident a royall counsell of twelue counsellers and a president chosen men throughout al the kingdome and such as haue had experience in gouernement many yeares For to be one of the counsell it is the highest and supremest dignitie that a man can come vnto for that as aforesaid in all this kingdome there is neither Prince Duke Marquesse Earle nor Lord that hath any subiectes but the king only and the prince his sonne These counsellers and the gouernors of these prouinces by them appointed bee such personages that they are respected and esteemed for the time of their continuance in the same estimation as is the other where as they haue these titles For to be one of this counsell it is not sufficient that they be expert and learned in the lawes of the countrie and in morall and naturall Philosophie and commenced in the same but they must be also expert in Astrologie and iudgements For they say he that must be of this supreme counsell by whome is gouerned all these fiftéene prouinces it is requisite that they know all this that is saide for to prognosticate what shall succéede and happen the better to prouide for all necessities that shall come These twelue doo sit in counsell ordinarily in the kinges pallace for the which there is a hall appointed maruellous richly trimmed and in the same thirtéene chayres sixe of them of golde and sixe of siluer both the one and the other of great price wrought with great curiositie yet the thirtenth is more richer for that it is of golde and set full of precious stones of great value that is placed in the middest of them vnder a canopie or cloth of estate of cloth of gold in the which is imbrodered the kinges armes and is as it is saide certaine serpentes wrought with golde wyer in this chayre the president doth sitte when the king is not in presence but if hee be there as séeldome he is then doth the president sit in the first and highest of the chaires on the right hand which be of gold in the which and in the other of siluer they bee placed according vnto their antiquitie in this sort that if the president do die then do the most auncient procéede and inherite his roome and in his chaire doth the fift person rise on the side of the golden chaires and so from the fourth vnto the fift and in this order all the rest arise in the chaires of siluer passing into the other chaires of golde This may the president doo preferring euerie one in order if any doo die without the consent of the king And if any of these chaires be voyd then doth the counsell choose an other by voices the which is done by vprightnes and he which hath the most is preferred but the chiefest in this preferment is merit and sufficiencie If he that is choosen be absent in any gouernment then doo they send for him but if hee bee present in the citie then doo they carrie him before the king giuing him to vnderstand of their election in whose power it is to accept or to make it voyde which neuer doth happen Then the king himselfe on his owne handes according vnto their custome doth make him sweare a solemne oth that he shall doo vpright iustice according vnto the lawes of the countrie and that he shall likewise doo vprighly in the choosing of viceroyes and gouernours or any other Iustices and not be led with affections nor passions neyther receiue anie bribes himself nor any other for him with many other things in this order and effect and aboue all thinges hee shall not bee partaker neyther consent to anye treason at anie time against the king but rather if that hee doo vnderstande of anie such directly or indirectly hee shall straight wayes giue the kinge to vnderstande thereof or his counsell of all that hee dooth knowe or vnderstande alwaye fauouring with his industrie and force the preseruation of peace and life of the king This oth of homage being doone they doo carrie him vnto the chaire which is on the left hande in the hall and doo giue him the possession with great solemnitie for the which certaine dayes after there is great feastes in the citie as well by them of the counsell as by the citizens and courtiers during the which time the marchants do leaue their contractions and trafickes and handicraft men their occupations If any occasion bee requisiâ—e to talke with the king there is none that speaketh with him but the president and if it so fall out that hee be sicke then the most auncient and vppermost in the golden chayres dooth talke with him at all times when néede requireth but when he talketh with him hee is on his knées and his eyes inclyned to the grounde and neuer mooueth although the talke endureth two houres He is paide with the same money that all viceroyes gouernours iustices and captaines of the kingdome are when they will talke with the president it is in the selfe same order In this royall counsell euerie moneth they doo knowe all thinges that doo happen in all the kingdome woorthie to bee aduised of and this is without falt for that those which doo gouerne the prouinces haue expresse commaundement to sende notice vnto the court of all thinges that doo happen in anye of their prouinces touching warres the estate of the countrie the kinges rents or any other thing the which is accomplished with so great care that although it bee a prouince distant fiue hundred leagues from the court yet the post doth not misse his day appointed And those which do first come do tarrie till the last or furthest off doo come and then vpon the day appointed they do all together giue their relations Those which are farre off for to be at the court so soone at the instant as those which are nigh at
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
sort remained the kingdome in diuision a while til such time as Cuythey sonne vnto Laupy did reigne in his fathers stéede Then did there a tyrant rise vp against him called Chimbutey and slew him he by his great valour did bring the kingdome all in one as before after that it had bin in diuision 41. yeares and reigned after that alone 25. yeares his sonne named Fontey did succéede him and reigned 17. yeares And to make short of this linage there was 15. kinges and reigned 176. yeares against the last of them who was called Quioutey there did arise against him tyrannously Tzobu Of this linage there was eyght kinges who reigned 62. yeares against the last of them called Sutey there arose one called Cotey of whose lynage there was fiue kings and reigned twentie foure yeres the last of them called Otey was slaine by Dian There was of this lynage foure kings that reigned 56. yeres against the last of them rose vp Tym and there was of his race fiue kinges and reigned one and 30. yeares against the last of this house rose vp Tzuyn And there was of this linage thrée kings and reigned seuen and thirtie yeares against the last of these rose vp Touco This and all the rest of his lynage did gouerne maruelous well which was the occasion that they endured the longer time There was of them one and twentie kinges and reigned 294. yeares the last of them called Troncon did marrie with one that had béene his fathers wife called Bausa a verie faire woman hee tooke her out of a monasterie where she was a Nunne onely to marrie with her she vsed such policie that he was slaine and did gouerne the kingdome after alone one and fortie yeares The historie sayth that she was dishonest and that with extremitie and vsed the companie of the best and principallest of the realme and not content with that she married with one of base lynage one fit for her purpose because she was so vicious They say that before she did marrie she caused to be slaine the sonnes she had by her first husbande for that she had a desire that a nephew of hers should succéede her in the kingdome Then those of the kingdome perceiuing her intent and wearie of her by reason of her ill liuing sent out to seeke a bastard sonne of her husbandes who was fledde away and with a common consent they raysed him for king He was called Tautzon he caused cruell and rigorous Iustice to be done vpon his stepmother as was reason for her euilles and an example to all those of the kingdome who by a president of her ill liuing beganne to straggle there was of his lynage seuen kinges that reigned 130. yeares against the last called Concham arose Dian of this linage there were but two kinges and reigned eighteene yeares Against the second and last arose Outon and was of his linage thrée kinges and reigned but fiftéene yeares against the last there arose Outzim of this there was but two kinges and reigned nine yeares and thrée monethes there arose against the last Tozo he and his sonne reigned foure yeares with the sonne of this one Auchin did fight and slewe him in the combat and succéeded him in the kingdome hee with other two of his lynage reigned tenne yeares against the last of these arose vp one of the lynage of Vitey the first king and slewe him hee was called Zaytzon there was of this lynage seuentéene kinges and reigned with all peace and quietnesse thrée hundred and twentie yeares the last of this lynage was called Tepyna with whom did fight the gran Tartaro called Vzon who entred into China with a mightie armie and got all the kingdome and it was possessed with nine Tartare kings the which reigned 93. yeares and intreated the inhabitantes with great tyrannie and seruitude the last of these was called Tzintzoum this was more cruell vnto the Chinos then any of the rest which was the occasion that all the kingdome did ioyne together in one and did elect a king called Gombu a man of great valour and of the lynage of auncient kinges past who by his great woorthinesse and ioyning much people together did so much that hee did driue all the Tartaros out of the kingdome with the death of many thousands of them who obstinately and without Iustice did with all tyrannie kéepe that kingdome in possession there was of this lynage twelue kinges with this that now reigneth the eleuen kinges past reigned two hundreth yeares he that now possesseth the kingdome is called Boneg who by the death of his elder brother that died by a fall hee had from his horse did inherite the kingdome he is of 23. yeares of age as they saye and hath his mother aliue of whom as yet there is nothing written so that I can write nothing in particular but that they say he is a gallant gentleman and welbeloued of his subiects and a great friende vnto Iustice. He is married with a cosen of his and hath one sonne Those of his linage hath got of the Tartares many countries since they were driuen out of China the which are on the other side of the mightie wall God for his mercies sake bring them to the knowledge of his holy lawe and accomplish a prophesie that they haue amongst them by the which they are giuen to vnderstand that they shall be ruled and brought in subiection by men with great eyes and long beards a nation that shall come from countries farre off by whom they shalbe commanded which signifieth to be Christians The king of this countrie is had in so great reputation amongest his subiectes that in all the prouinces where he is not resident in the chiefe cities whereas are the vizroyes or gouernors they haue a table of gold in the which is portred the king that nowe reigneth and couered with a curtin of cloth of golde verie riche and thether goeth euerie day the Loytias which are the gentlemen men of lawe and ministers of Iustice and do by duetie reuerence vnto it as though the kinge were personally present This table and picture is discouered the first day of their feasts which they doo celebrate and is at the newe moone of euerye month on the which day all people do repaire and do reuerence vnto the picture with the same respect as they would doo if hee were present they do call the king Lorde of the worlde and sonne of heauen CHAP. II. Of the court and pallace of the king and of the citie where as he is resident and how that in all the kingdome there is not one that is Lord ouer subiectes by propertie THe habitation of this king and almost of al his predecessors hath bin and is commonly in the citie of Taybin or Suntien the occasion is as they saye for that it is néerest vnto the Trtarians with whom continually they haue had wars that they might the better put remedie in any necessitie that
may preuent wars which be offered by princes adiacent vnto him or anie other whatsoeuer But in especiall with the Tartarians with whom they haue had continuall wars many yeare Although at this day that the Tartarians doo feare him very much in such sort as he thinketh it best to kéepe him for his friende and doth acknowledge vnto him a certain maner of vassalage And although at this present and long time since he hath bin and is without any occasion of wars that should come vpon a sodain yet hath he the selfsame care diligēce of preuention as though he had many grieuous enimies to defend himselfe from or to offend them as you shall perceiue in this that followeth For besides that he hath in euery prouince his president counsell of war captaine generall and others ordinarie to take vp people and ordaine their campes squadrons as well by sea as by land to serue at all assaies when that occasion shall serue So likewise he hath in euery city captaines and souldiers for their particular garde defence and doo range watch to set their garde in order both day night as though their enimies were at the gates This military order they do vse and maintaine in such sort that no nation knowne may be compared vnto them Although speaking generally according vnto the relation of certaine spanish souldiers that were there and did many times sée them there be other nations that do excéed them both in valiantnesse courage and worthinesse of mind They haue at the gates of all their cities their squadrons who let the entrie and going out of any whatsoeuer except he haue licence of the iustice of that citie or towne brought them in writing the which gates they do shut and open by order and licence of their captaines which is sent vnto them euery day written in whited tables and their fine vnto it These gates are the force of all the cittie and thereon is planted all the artilerie they haue nigh vnto the which gate is ordinarily the house whereas they are sounded or made At night when they do shut their gates they do glew papers vpon the ioinings of them then they doo seale the papers with the seale that the gouernour or iudge of that cittie doth weare on his finger the which is done by himselfe or by some other in whom he hath great confidence and trust and they cannot open them againe in the morning vntill such time as it bee séene and acknowledged that it hath not béene touched since the night that it was put on So that if any haue any iourney to ride verie early in the morning he must go forth of the citie ouer night before the gates be shut and remaine in the suburbes for out of the cittie it is not possible to goe vntill the gates be open which is not till the sunne be vp ordinarily They do not vse any castles nor forts but great bulwarkes and gun bankes whereas they haue continuall watch and doo change by quarters according as wee do vse and the officers with a great number of souldiers do range throughout the city and bulworkes and commonly the captaines be naturall of those prouinces whereas they haue their charge giuen them in consideration that the loue they haue to their countrie doo binde them to fight to the death for the defence thereof And for that there should be more quietnesse and rest in the cities it is not permitted that any do weare weapons defensiues nor offensiues but onely such souldiers as haue the kings pay neither do they consent they should haue them in their houses neither vse any in trauaile by sea nor lande Besides all this the king hath in the citie of Taybin and Suntiem whereas hee is resident and in such cities lying there about a great number both of horsemen and footemen alwaies in a readinesse for to go with him into any place for the safegarde of his person in time of necessitie The souldiers of this kingdome are in two sorts and manners the one sort are such as bee and are naturals of the citie whereas they haue their charge and these be called in their language Cum in this place the sonne doth succéed the father and for lacke of an heire the king doth prouide one in the dead mans place Euery one of them hath his name written vpon the post of his doore and the place appointed whither he shal go when occasion shall serue enimies being against that cittie or towne The other sort of souldiers are strangers and are consorted for yeares or monethes to serue These be they that ordinarily make their watches musters and ioyne companies for the receit of the captaines these be called in their language Pon. These goe from one place vnto another whereas they are commanded to go One captaine and ancient hath charge of a thousand and a meaner captaine with his ancient a hundreth that doo depend vpon the other So that for to knowe the number of people that is in a great campe it is done with great ease in accounting the ensignes of a thousand men which are easily knowne Euery chiefe or petie captaine of these hath his house vpon the cittie wal and his name put on it and there he dwelleth so long as the warres indureth These captaines euery moneth do exercise their souldiers in marching and putting them in order sometime with quick spéed and other times more slower and to giue assalt and retyre as they are taught by the sound of the drum this they do vse continually in the time of peace as wel as in the time of warre Also how to vse their weapons which are ordinarie hargabuses pikes targets faunchers brushebilles holbards dagars and armour The horsemen do vse in the warres to carrie foure swords hanging at their saddell bowes and doo fight with two at once with great dexteritie and gallant to behold These do accustome to go into the wars accompanied with many seruants and familiar friends on foote all wel armed after the gallantest manner that possible they may These footemen be marueilous full of pollicie and ingenious in warlike or martiall affaires and although they haue some valor for to assalt and abide the enimie yet doo they profite themselues of policies deuises and instruments of fire of fire workes Thus do they vse as wel by land in their wars as by sea many homes of fire full of olde iron and arrowes made with powder fire worke with the which they do much harme and destroy their enimies The horsemen do fight with bowes and arrowes and lances and with two swordes as I haue saide before and some with hargabuses They cannot gouerne their horses very wel for that they haue but one péece of iron that is crosse in their mouthes that serueth for a bridle and for to make them stay they pull but one raine and with clapping their hands together and making of a noise before them They
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
benefites and profites and likewise to request him if it were his pleasure to sende an ambassador to y e king of that kingdome the better to confirme their friendship to carrie with him some things which be vsed in his countrie which would be maruellous well estéemed of the Chinos be a way vnto the preaching of the gospel and bee a beginning that a farther contraction may growe betwixt the Christians and the Chinos of the which shall follow the aforesaid profite vnto other countries by the great quantitie of things as well of riches as of other curiosities that shalbe brought from theÌ„ce After they had well considered with great deliberation who should be the person that they shoulde send vpon so long a iourney for to request his maiestie of the aforesaid in the ende they did agrée vppon for to desire the prouinciall of the Augustine friers who was called Frier Dilho de Herrera a man of great learning and of great experience touching matters of those Ilands for that hee was one of the first discouerers of them they requested him for the loue of God and the good seruice to his maiestie and the benefite that might come thereby vnto these Ilands that he would take vpon him to go with this petition for they were fully perswaded for that he had trauailed so manie places of those Ilands as also for his office and vocation there was none that better coulde put in effect their desire and perswade with his maiestie the great importance of that ambassage and manie other things necessarie touching the gouernement of those Ilands This determination was liked well of them all and that they had chosen well in sending of the prouinciall who incontinent departed from the Ilands in a shippe that was pepared for Noua Hispania which was in the yeare of Christ 1573. At his inbarking hee was accompanied with the gouernour and all those of that citie of whom hee was maruellouslie well beloued for his holinesse and good condition Desiring him with all diligence to procure to returne with as much breuity as was possible vnto those ilands whereas they so much loued him and had néede of his presence He did promise them to make all the spéede possible and in paiment of the trauel that he did take vpon him for the benifite profite he requested them al that they would pray vnto God to giue a good voyage they promised him to doo it the which they did performe with particular care Then did the master command to weigh ankers and to set saile which was in the moneth of Nouember the same yeare and with reasonable whether they arriued at the new Spaine and came vnto the cittie of Mexico and from thence they went and embarked themselues in the North seas who with prosperous winds the xiii day of August the yeare following they ariued in San. Lucar debarameda in Spaine and caried me in his company From thence the day following we departed from Syuel from whence wee departed forthwith toward Madrid whereas his maiestie was at that present and we came thither the fiftéenth day of September in anno 1574. the same wéeke that they had newes of the losse of the Goleta Wée went straightwayes to kisse the kings hands and caried the letters which we brought from his gouernor and citie by whom both we and the letters were receiued with his accustomed benignitie and did heare the petition with great satisfaction for that the desire was holy and profitable and told vs that he would command his counsell to vnderstand in the same with a particular consideration and with so much breuitie as the thing required and gaue vs thankes for the great trauell and long iourney which we tooke vpon vs in his seruice for to giue him notice of the discouering of this great kingdome and of other things touching the Ilands Philippinas He straightwayes commanded that we should be prouided for of all things necessarie for our sustentation for the time that we should there remaine and that we should go and giue account of all things for the which we came thither vnto the counsel of the Indies who was Don Iuan de Obando vnto whom his maiestie did recommend the consideration to be done with great care and to consult vpon the same After that they had comuned with the roiall counsell of the Indies touching that which should be requisite and conuenient which was done as it appeared in effect for that they gaue vs facultie in a few dayes after of all things that was requested from the said Ilands except that which did touch the ambassage vnto the 〈◊〉 of China as a thing of greater importance and requested lonâ—â—r time to consider of the same so that they did referre it till they â—â—d a better occasion So that with this resolution and with fortie religious men and manie commissions from his maiestie touching the good gouernement of that new kingdome wee departed from Syuell in the moneth of Ianuarie the yeare following in 1575. whereas I remained by his order and for certaine respects But the aforesaid Prouinciall did imbarke himselfe with his fortie religious persons and departed in the moneth of Iuly with a faire winde and merrie passage till they came vnto newe Spaine and from thence into the South sea vntill they came in sight of the Ilands whereas the wether did alter and they were forced by the furie thereof to ariue at an Iland inhabited with Gentiâ—es by whome they were all slaine and none escaped but onely an Indian natural of the Ilands which wee carried from thence in our companie for Spaine He afterwards came vnto Manilla and gaue them to vnderstand how they were all slaine and how the Gentiles did teare all the papers and commissions in péeces and of all that happened to them This being knowne by the gouernor and by the rest that dwelt in the Ilands after that they had done the rytes with the funerall griefes as iustice required in such a case they finding themselues in the same necessitie that before they were in by reason of the losse of the aforesaid Prouinciall and his companions and also of the letters and prouisions sent from his maiestie they forthwith in the same determination did write new letters in requesting that which in part the king had granted although they had no knowledge thereof they did also therein write touching the ambassage that they did request for the king of China adding therunto new occasions wherby they should be moued to do them so much fauour as to send the ambassador afore requested which was a thing of great importanâ—s for all those Ilands When that these letters came in conformitie with the others before sent the king did ordaine for gouernor of those Ilands a Gentleman who was called Don Gonsalo de Mercado y Ronquillo a man of great valor discretion one that had serued the king as wel in the Peru. as in Mexico with great fidelitie who
countrie to make a difference in the qualitie of the guestes by the nâ—mber of the tables All these were placed in circle or compasse as aforesaide that they might see one another In the midest betwixt them there was a round compasse wheras was represented a comedie with much pastime and indured all the dinnner time and a good while after There was also great store of verie good and excellent musicke accompanied with gallant voyces also iesters with puppets and other thinges of great pastime to driue the time away On the first table was set to euery one of the guestes little baskets wrought with golde and siluer wyre full of swéete meates made of sugar as Marchpanes Castels Pitchers Pots Dishes Dogges Bulles Elephants and other things verie curious and all guilt besides this there were many dishes full of flesh as Capons Hennes Géese Teales gamons of Bacon peeces of Béefe and other sortes of flesh wherewith all the tables were replenished sauing that whereat they did sit to dine which was replenished with victuals that was dressed for all the other was rawe and was of so great aboundance that there was at times more then fiftie dishes and they were serued with great curiositie They had wine of diuers sortes and of that which they doo make in that countrie of the Palme trée but of so great excellencie that they founde no lacke of that which was made of Grapes The dinner endured foure houres and according vnto the aboundance and diuersitie they had in victuals it might haue indured eight houres for it was in so good order that it might haue béene giuen vnto any prince in the world Their seruants and slaues that they brought with them at the same time did dine in another hal nigh vnto the same with so great abundance as their masters When dinner was done the gouernor commanded the people to come vnto him with whom he did talke and comon with great friendship and good conuersation and would not consent that they shoulde kneele downe neither to bee bare headed So after that hee had made vnto them tokens of friendshippe and deteined them a while in demaunding of many thinges lastly he told them that there was an order come from the vizroy of Aucheo that they shuld go thither with great spéede so that it did require that they shoulde depart the next day following for the which they were verie glad and ioyfull for that they had great desire the one to sée the other and againe with him they might treate and comon tguching their comming into that countrie and for what intent and for all other things néedfull for that he was a man fit for their purpose and one welbeloued of the king So hee tooke his leaue of vs with great friendship and curtesie who did surrender the same after our custome putting of our cappes and making reuerence for the which hee made shewe that it greatly contented him At their going foorth out of the hall they found the captaine that did dine with them and with him many other Gentlemen that tarried their comming for to beare them company vnto their lodging going before them many seruants that did carie the raw meate that was vpon the other tables ouer and aboue that which they did eate on the which was done for great maieâ—tie and a ceremony verie much vsed in that kingdom so many times as they do make any banquet So when they came vnto their lodging they founde that the Insuanto had sent them a very good present in the which was for euery one of them foure péeces of silke and counting chestes with other thinges and certaine painted mantels for the seruants and slaues So after they had taken their leaue of the captaines and Gentlemen that did beare them companie home they beganne with great ioy to put all thinges in order for their iourney the next day following CHAP. XXI The Spaniards departe from the Cittie of Chincheo and commeth to that of Aucheo whereas the vizroy did tarrie their comming THe next day in the morning before that the Spaniards were stirring there was within the house all thinges necessary for their iourney as well of litter chaires as of horses and men for to carrie them and their stuffe the which they did with so good a will as aforesaid that they did fall out and striue amongst themselues who should be the first that should receiue their burthen So all things being in good order they departed hauing in their companie the same captaine and souldiers that vnto that time had béene their guard vntil they came vnto the cittie of Aucheo whereas the vizroy was This iourney was vnto them ioyfull as well for to entreate of matters touching their comming and to be resolued what they shuld do as also to depart out of Chincheo whereas they passed much trouble by reason of the great number of people that came for to sée them who neuer would be satisfied and y t was in such extremity that some dayes at tenne of the clocke in the night the stréete round about their lodging were full of people and onely to sée them which caused great trouble and heate with their rumor presse amongst them This day by reason they vnderstood that they should depart the prease and multitude of the people was so great that although they had tip staues before them to beate the people away and to make roome yet was it almost night before they could get out of the citie so that they were constrained to remaine in a towne there hard by all that night where as by the commandement of the gouernour they were verie well lodged and their supper made readie in verie good order as it was in seauen dayes together till such time as they came vnto Aucheo without taking for the same or for anie other thing necessarie for their sustentation anie price or value There went continuallie before them a Post with a prouision from the gouernour written in a great borde wherein was declared who they were and from whence they came and commanding that there should bee prouided for them all things necessarie in abundance vppon the kings cost which was the occasion that so much people came for to sée them that in the high waies they were many times disturbed so with great trouble the thirde day they came vnto a citie which was called Megoa which was sometimes the head gouernement the which was offortie thousand housholds but a great part thereof was dispeopled the occasion thereof they tolde vs and was that about thirtie yeares past the Iapones who brought for their guides thrée Chinos who doo nowe dwell in Manilla and are become Christians and came vpon that cittie to reuenge themselues of an iniurie that was done vnto them the which they put in execution with so great secrecie and policie that they made themselues lords of the citie without any daunger or hurt vnto themselues for that fiftie Iapones men fit for that purpose did
day and carrie them vnto his mansion or dwelling All this kingdome is so fertile as well for the ordinarie watring as also for the temperature of the heauen that almost all the whole yeare they do gather fruits but in especiall of wheat and rice so that both the one and the other are very good cheape that our people in the discourse of their trauaile or pilgrymage did buy one pyco of rice or of wheate meale which is fiue rouâ—s of Spaine for one ryall and a halfe according vnto this rate al other thinges beare their prices as hath béene before declared They say that in this countrie there be many elephants lyons tygres ownses other brute breastes of the which these friers sawe verie few aliue but many skins of them which is a signe that it is of truth There are many beasts whereof come the muske the which are of the tygres like vnto a litle dogge the which they do kill put them vnder the ground certaine dayes and after that it is putrified rotten the flesh and bloud is conuerted into that swéete powder There be also many cyuet cats little worth a great number of horse although those which the said friers did sée were litle yet is it a common voice fame that in some of the fiftéene prouinces there are very good but they were not there so that they can not say they had seene theÌ„ But the hens géese duckes and other poultrie that are in all partes of this kingdome are without number which is the occasion that they are of small estimation the abundance of fish ia no lesse as well of the sea as of the riuers in the which they are conformable All they that do declare of the thinges of this countrie and the small price that it is solde for is such that the saide Frier doth affirme and others that haue bin in that kingdome that for the value of sixe marauadies which is a pennie may four companions eat very wel of flesh fish rice and fruits and drinke good wine of that countrie In all this kingdome there are many mynes both of gold and siluer and all verie rich but the king will not let them be labored but with great lymitation saying that which is in those mynes be in his house and that they should procure to bring it from other kingdomes yet notwithstanding the abundance is so great both of the one and the other and so coÌ„mon that there is no man although he be of an occupation but hee hath in his house things both of gold and siluer and other very rich iewels They do estéeme for his value more the siluer than the golde and they say the cause is for that the prices of golde are variable as in Italie but the siluer is alwaies at one sâ—aye and price There are great store of pearles but in especiall in the Iland of Aynao and great abundance of quickesiluer copper yron steele laton tyn lead salt peter brimstone and other things which were woont to beautifie a kingdome but aboue all there is very much muske and amber gryce The king of this kingdome besides the great rent the which he hath it is saide that he hath great treasories in all the principall cities those which are the head cities of the prouinces for the confirmance thereof it was affirmed vnto the saide fryer for a verie certaintie that in the citie of Canton all the money that hath entred into the same for y e space of fiue hundred yeres as well by way of the Portingals as by those of the kingdom of Cyan and others their borderers and all the tributes of that prouince is altogether in the kings treasure house of that citie which amounteth vnto by good account many more millions than may be well numbred for to giue credite thereunto It is as common for the people of this countrie to weare silke as in Europe to weare lynnen yea they do make their shooes thereof some of satten and many times of cloth of golde of verie gallant colours the cause is by reason of the great abundance that they haue therof and is of so great quantitie that it is carried from the Citie of Canton vnto the Protingall Indians more than thrée thousand kintals euery yeare besides a great quantitie which is carried vnto Iapon and ordinarily more than â—iftéene ships laden for the Ilandes of Luzon The Sianes and other nations doo also carrie away a great quantitie and although there are carried away ordinarily as afore saide yet there remaineth so great quantity in that kingdome that many fleetes may be laden therewith There is also great store of â—laxe cotton and other kinde of webstrie and also good cheape that the aforesaide Fryer dooth affirme that he hath seene solde a canga which is fiftéene fadam for foure ryals of plate The fine earthen dishes that are in this countrie cannot be declared without many wordes But that which is brought from thence into Spaine is verie course although vnto them that hath not séene the finer sort it seemeth excellent good but they haue such with them that a cubbaâ—d thereof amongest vs would be esteemed as though it were of golde The finest cannot be brought foorth of the kingdome vpon paine of death neyther can any haue the vse therof but onely the Loytias which be there gentlemen as hath béen tolde you There is great quantitie of sugar honie and waxe and verie good cheape as aforesaide And in conclusion I say that they liue with so great abundance that all things do flow so that they lacke nothing necessarie for their bodies but for their soules which is the principallest they do lack as you haue vnderstoode in the discourse of this historie God remedie the same at his pleasure The rent which the king of this kingdome hath is declared vnto you in a proper chapter of it selfe so that in this I will declare that which the sayde fryer tolde me and is onely of one riuer which is called the riuer of the salt and is in the prouince of Canton and is worth vnto him euerie yeare a million and a halfe And although the ordinarie rent the which he hath euery yeare dooth exceede the greatest king that is nowe knowen in all the world in quantitie yet in his treasories which be gathered together and kept if it be true that the Chinos do say in euery principall citie of these fiftéene prouinces is more than a great number of kings togither haue or can procure no nor come nigh vnto it by a great deale All the cities and townes of this kingdome are walled about with stone walles and at euerie fiftéene paces a bulwarke and without the wall commonly all of them haue a riuer or else a great déepe moote wherein they may bring water at all times with the which they are very strong they doo vse no fortes neyther haue they any but
doo but amongst other signes and tokens of the same he made a crosse and set it by the doore of his house wherunto he did reuerence at all times when he passed by the same with great deuotion His neighbours when as they saw that signe a thing of them neuer séene before and howe that that Christian did make particular reuerence they beganne to mocke and scorne him and the crosse and pulled it downe from the place whereas it was set did other things in dispite thereof and of him that had set it there in that place whose hatred and discourtesie was so much that they determined in their minds to burne it and to put the same in execution who at the same instance did all miraculously die I say those that would haue burnt the same the which was séene of many other who haue giuen sufficient testimony therof And within fewe dayes after all the whole linage of those dead persons did follow the same way and not one escaped This miracle being spread throughout all the kingdome the naturals thereof did set vp many crosses in all parts This they say was the principall motion that God put into their hearts for to moue them to demande for such as shoulde baptise them and preach the holy gospell Likewise a great helpe vnto the same was the declaration of the painted cloth which the aforesaid religious man did send to the king Since that time there hath gone vnto the Cittie of Machao certaine naturals of that kingdome who being affectioned vnto our faith were baptised there with the which and with the hope aforesaid they are all sustained till such time as it is y e pleasure of God to send them the remedie for their soules the which hée hath caused them to desire which cannot be long according vnto that which hath béene séene and the miracles that God doth worke the more for to kindle their desire as the myracle of the crosse before spoken off and others the which certaine Cochinchinos did declare in the Cittie of Machao in anno 1583. and happened the same yeare and was very fresh in the memorie of all those of the saide kingdome The one of them was that one of the Christians aforesaid went to visite a principall man that had the palsie and kept his bed many yeares before and conferring with his long sickenesse he told of certaine myracles such as he had vnderstanding that was done by Christ our redéemer when that he was man amongst men whome hée redéemed but in particular those which he did in the healing of the like infirmities such as he lay sicke of alonely with his deuine vertue in touching of them with any part of his garmeÌ„ts or shadow The Iudge hearing this hee had a particular faith deuotion to him that had doone these myracles that the christian had told him asked what his name was what signes tokens he had he told him that his name was Iesus of Nazareth redéemer of the worlde the sauiour and glorifier of men And the better to declare vnto him his signes he shewed to him an Image or picture that he had of his y t which was giuen him such time as he was baptised printed in paper of Iesu Christ when he ascended vp into heauen the which for lacke of Churches and other of greater volume hee should haue continually with him make his praiers thereunto This sicke man tooke it and fixed his eies thereon with so great deuotion and faith in requesting him to giue him his health that he would presently beleeue in him bée baptised At the same instant in the sight of them all he felt himselfe whole of y e infirmitie that he had suffered so many yeares before and neuer could find any humaine remedy for the same although he had prooued an infinite number He straightwayes willed the Christian to baptise him vnto whome hée gaue a great summe of monie the which hee receiued against his will and spent it in workes of mercie and with part thereof he bought a bigge barke in the which at this day he dooth passe people thorough a riuer whereas they were wont to passe great perill and danger and hee doth it for Gods sake and receiueth nothing for the same A fewe dayes after in another part of this kingdome there happened another myracle of no lesser substance then the first that is there was a Cochinchina in the said citie of Machao who did aske to bee baptised of a barefoote Frier which after y t hee had catechised sufficiently hée gaue it vnto him and after a great time that hee had béene in his company and had experience of his Christianitie deuotion he gaue him licence for to returne vnto his country with a good token that at his comming thither he would procure to augment the desire of Christianitie the which God had begunne to kindle in their brest This good new christian did procure the same with so great care that he did profite very much being holpen with the fauor of God who made him his instrument hee healed certaine infirmities in shewing vnto the patients an Image of our ladie the which he had continually about his necke and had therunto great deuotion and woulde declare to them with great zeale the Lords prayer or Pater noster His fame was so much spred abrode in all parts of this prouince wherein he dwelled that it came vnto the eares of a Mandarin or principall Iudge of the same who was many dayes in his bedde a leaper both of handes and féete and neuer coulde finde any phisition nor medecine that could giue him his health nor any other humaine remedie who being verie desirous to be healed hée sent â—or the saide Christian and asked if hée would take vppon him to heale him of that infirmitie as it was affirmed that hee had done by others of greater importance The Christian saide hée would then the Iudge did promise vnto him for the same great giftes and rewardes but hee made no account thereof but oneliâ— requested of him for reward that after hee should bee hole that he would be baptised and become a Christian the which he did accept and principally he shewed vnto him the Image that hée had of our lady saying If thou wilt beléeue in this lady that is heere ingraued and in her most holy sonne Iesus Christ the redéemer of the whole world thou shalt presently be made hole This Mandarin or Iudge did beholde the same with great attention and thought on the words which he had heard spoken And in determining with himselfe to beléeue the same at the very point that he did put it in execution he was healed of al his infirmitie a thing which caused great admiration in all that prouince These myracles and that of the crosse in a short time being knowne abrode haue caused such a desire vnto the inhabitants of that kingdome to become Christians that by all manner of meanes
a kingdome that hath great abundance of prouision and lacke of things of contractation or marchandice which is the occasion that they are little knowen Trauailing a little forwardes is the kingdome of Coromandel whose chiefe citie is called Calamina and nowe vulgarly Malipur and is there whereas was martyred the happie Apostle S. Thomas And they say that at this day there remaineth some of his relickes by whom God did many myracles The naturall people therefore haue a particular memory vntill this day of that saint This citie at this day is populared with Portingals and with the naturall people there is in it a church wherein is comprehended the house whereas was and died the holy Apostle this countrie belongeth vnto the king of Visnaga who although he be a Gentile he hath great reuerence and respect vnto the house of the holy Apostle and for particular deuotion he doth giue euerie yeare a certaine charitie There is in this citie two couentes of religious men the one of the companie of Iesus and the other of the order of S. Francis From this citie of Calamina to that of Visnaga there wheras the king is it is fiue and thirtie leagues by land This king is mightie and his kingdome very great and full of people and hath great rentes They say that onely the rent he hath of fine gold is worth vnto him thrée millions of the which he spendeth but one onely and doth keepe euerie yeare two millions in his treasorie the which according vnto the report fame is at this day with many millions He hath twelue principall or chiefe captaines and euerie one of them hath the gouernement of an infinite number of people hath great rent for the same for he that hath least rent hath sixe hundred thousand ducats yearely Euerie one of them are bound to giue the king to eate and all the people of his house one month in the yeare so that by this account the twelue captaines which are the lordes of the kingdome and as wee might say dukes doo beare his cost all the whole yeare The million the which he doth spend is in giftes and in extraordinarie thinges The king hath in his house what with wiues seruants and slaues nigh about fourtéene thousand persons and in his stable ordinarily a thousand horse and for his seruice and garde eight hundreth Elephants of whoÌ„ he doth spend euerie day eight hundreth ducats The garde of his person is â—oure thousand horsemen to whoÌ„ he giueth great wages He hath also in his house thrée hundreth wiues besides a great number of concubines they goe all gallantly apparelled and with rich iewels of the which there are of great estimation in y e kingdome they do almost euerie three daies change newe colors of apparell They do ordinarily vse colors of precious stones such as are called in spaine ojo de gato cats eies They haue great store of saphires pearles diamonds rubies many other stones y t are in that kingdome in great abundance Amongest all these wiues there is one that is as legitimate whose children doo inherite and if it so fall out that she is barren the first that is borne of any of y e other doth inherite which is the occasion that they neuer lacke a successor in that kingdome When the king of this kingdome doth die they do carrie him foorth into a mightie fielde with great sadnesse and mourning apparell and there in the presence of those twelue péeres a fore saide they do burne his bodie with wood of Sandalo which is of a great smell with the which they do make a great fire After that the bodie of the king is burned and consumed they throwe into the same the wiues that hee best loued with seruants and slaues those that he most estéemed in his life time the which they do with so great content that euery one dooth procure to be the first for to enter into the fire and they that are last do thinke themselues vnhappie All these do say that they go to serue the king in the other life whereas they shalbe with great ioy This is the occasion that they goe with so good a will to die and carrie with them the most richest and festiuall apparell they haue Of this is gathered that they do beléeue the immortalitie of the soule for that they doo confesse there is an other life and that thither they do returne and liue for euer without ende They are people that would be conuerted with the like facilitie vnto the holy gospell as their neighbours if there went any thether to preach Thrée score and tenne leagues from this citie there is a Pagode or temple of Idols whereas is a rich faire euery yeare it is a very sumptuous building and edified in a place so high that it may be séene many leagues before you come vnto it It hath ordinarily foure thousande men of garde who are paide with the rent of the temple the which is rich and verye good There is nigh vnto the same many mynes of golde and precious stones and that is taken out of them is rent vnto the temple There is in it a prâ—est of the Idolles whom they call in their language brama and is as the high priest in that countrie All the people of the land do come vnto him to vnderstand the doubtes of their manner of liuing and he doth dispence with them in many things that be prohibited by their lawes y e which he may do according vnto the sayd lawes and manie times he doth dispence with certaine of theÌ„ But here one to be laughed at which is that when a woman cannot suffer the condition of her husbande or is wearie of him for other occasions she goeth vnto this Brama and giuing vnto him a péece of golde which may be to the value of a ducat in Spaine he doth vnmarry theÌ„ and setteth her at libertie that she may marry with an other or with many if she please in token of this she is giuen a marke with an yron vpon her right shoulder so that with that alone she remaineth at libertie and her husband cannot do vnto her any harme for the same neither compell her to returne againe to his company There are in this kingdome many mynes of verie fine diamonds and are had in great estimation and very well knowen in Europe There hath béene found in them a stone so fine and of so great value that but few yeares past the king did sell the same vnto an other mightie king his borderer called Odialcan for a million of golde besides other thinges of value that hee gaue him ouer and aboue It is a healthfull countrie with very goâ—d and fresh ayres rich of prouisions and of all other necessaries not only for the humaine life but also for curiositie and delightes that be therein It is in fourtéene degrées towardes the pole artico All the people therein are faint hearted and cowards and for
So that after the aforesaid father frier Martin Ignacio had made his account of all that he had trauelled from the time he departed from Siuel til he returned vnto Lysborne in compassing the world he found that it was nine thousand and forty leagues by sea by lande besides many other leagues that he trauelled in China and in other parts of the which hee dooth make no account All these leagues are full of mightie kingdomes and al or the most part of them are subiect vnto the tyranny of lucyfer God for his infinite mercy conuert them and take pittie on them as hee did when that he came from heauen vppon the earth to die for all put into the heart of the king of Spaine that amongst other good workes the which with his most Christian zeale dooth intend and do for to procure this which will bee so much vnto the glory of God and great desert of honor vnto himselfe the which he may do very commodiously being as he is at this day Lord of all the Indies and of the biggest part of all that newe world This petition is worthy that all we Christians doo desire of God for that his holy name in all the world may be praised and exalted and the sonnes of Adam who for their sinnes are so dispersed and forgotten of God and first beginning they may go and inioy the happy and glorious kingdome for the which they were created FINIS Excellent â—lummes Excellent white sugar good cheape Honie wax Excellent good silke Great store of flaxe and hempe CottoÌ„ wool wheat and barlie rie oates Great abundance of rice Chestnuts All kind of beasts Excellent furres Muske Great store of buffes Deere hogs and goates Great store of wildfoule Foule soâ—de by waight A penie Reubarbe and other medicinall hearbs Foure hundred of Nutmegs for sixe pence Cloues sixe pound for 3 pence the like of pepper Sinamom 25. pound for two shilings Mines of gold and siluer other mettals Iron and steele 4. shilling a quintal Siluer is more worth then gold Great store of pearles 243. kings The mightie city of Causie The China is in compas 3000. leagues and 1800. â—eagues long The mightie citie called Suntien or Quinsay A wal of 500 leagues long Great abundance of wool and good cheape Shooes and bus kines of veluet Great abundance of Marters furres An il vse and custome A good custome to auoid inconueniences Ingenious people WagoÌ„s with sailes Cloth of gold tissue silke Porâ—â—an All occupations bee in streetes by themselues The son inherits his fathers occupation A strange image A mysterie of the trinitie S. Thomas preached in this kingdome The martyrdome of saint Thomas A false myracle They cast lottes They throw their gods vnder their feete A hogs head for a sacrifice Another kind of lots Inuocation to the diuell The diuell telleth lies Strange opinions Marueilous barieties The first inuention of â—â—re Strange opinions The inuention of plough and spade The first king of China The soule is immortall Strange ob sequies They make their sacrifices in the night Great superstition Gallant colours for religious men Gallant bels The eldest sonne is prohibited to take orders A straung kindof buriall They that haue most daughters are most richest They may marrie with many wiues Honest women A straung kind of marriage A good order to auoid idle people I would the like were with vs. A very good order A mirror for vs to looke vpon Vitey the first king of China Which is foure yeardes quarter and halfe The first inuention of garments and dying oâ— colours No women to be idle A strange kind of hâ—â—rb A citie of a daies iourney long Foure curious halles Punished for taking bribes The rent of the king Puregold Fine siluer Pearles Precious stones Muske and amber Rice Barley Wheate Salt Mayz Millo Panizo Other graine Peeces of silke Raw silke Cotton wool Mantels Great care for to defend their countrie Uerie ill horsemen The number of souldiers in all China The souldier is roially paid The number of footemen horsemen They haue no neede of other nations Straight lawes Councellers must be expert in sciences Euery prouince hath his viceroy Captaine generall A very good propertie of Iustices A very good order A very good consideration An occasion of amitie betwixt neighbours Cruell tormentes A more cruelâ— torment A great care to do true Iustice. Ceremonies in performing of their oth Thirteene prisons in euery great cittie Uictualing houses in the prisons and shops Adulterie is death Paper made of the filme of canes Pens made of canes Any good thing gratified The order of their commencement in schooles The first inuenting of armor Artilerie 1300. yeares before vs. A strange kind of courtesie Where Limahon was bornâ— One rouer robbed an other One hundred and thirtie great ships of warre with fortie thousand men They do more estâ—eme honoâ— than losse of ships or men A good praise of others The captaine generall of the king of China Omoncon promiseth to carrie the friers vnto China A good pretence The Friers names that weÌ„t to China A token that fine cloath is esteemed They departed towards China Their compasses diuided into 12. parts They leaue the worshiping of one Idol to worship another They call the Spaniards Castillias Ensignes to knowe the Iustices â—e first lanâ—ing of the Fryers The vse of their bankets Wine of a palme tree A thing to keepe away the sunne The people of the countrie weare no weapons but the souldiers Chincheo hath seuentie thousand housholds A thousand ships in one riuer They haue no vse of castles Earth quaks in this countrey Rich marchandice Triumphant arches Great maiâ—stie He offered 500. shippes of warre Note the spaniards â—nsolencie A citie of three hundred thousand housholds A city bigger theÌ„ the other and requireth three daies to go from one gate to an other Seuentie leagues compasse The wall of the Citie is fiue fadam high fourâ— broad The citie double mooted A strange â—eremonie Comedies vsed amongest them Tomblers The argument of theâ—â— comedie All things good cheape 111. Idols in one chappell People in great subiecâ—ion Suspition of euill The vse of their mustering Souldiers are punished Their mustering is one throughout the whole kingdome SuperstitioÌ„ To keepe away the sun Sâ—range sacrifices Mine kine and horse The Chinos are fearefull of the sea From the Philippinas to the China is two hundred leagues The papists and â—hâ— Infidels â—eremoniâ—s much alike The Spaniards rise at thei midnight mattens and whip themselues They were in great perill The Friers vsed certaine coniurations for that S. Antonie was a sleepe Marke the Friers conâ—fession of Images The Chinos most vpright in all their iudgements and in execution of iustice The vizroies commission A sacred thing no doubt of it A prophesie Canarias Fortunadas The names of the Canarias Much snow Great quantitie of brimstone Thedropping from a tree doth seruethe whole Iland with water Opinions of this Iland
in the Spanish tongue I haue for the increase of the knowledge of the subiectes of Englande and specially for the illuminating of the mindes of those that are to take the voyage next in hande to Iapan China and the Philippinas translated the same worke into english and committed it to print passing ouer Paulus Venetus and sir Iohn Mandeuill because they wrote long agoe of those regions which labour to say trueth I haue vndertaken at the earnest request and encouragement of my worshipfull friend Master Richard Hakluit late of Oxforde a gentleman besides his other manifolde learning and languages of singular and deepe insight in all histories of discouerie and partes of Cosmographie who also for the zeale he beareth to the honour of his countrie and countrimen brought the same first aboue two yeares since ouer into this court and at this present hath in hande a most excellent and ample collection of the sundrie trauailes and nauigations of our owne nation a matter long intended by him and seruing to the like beneficiall and honorable purpose which I hope will shortly come to light to the great contentation of the wiser sort In the meane season hauing nowe at length finished according to my poore skill and leasure this my translation I thought best to dedicate and commende the same to your worshipfull patronage as the man that I holde most worthie of the same and most able of our nation to iudge aright of the contentes thereof and to correct the errors of the author whensoeuer you shall meete with them beseeching you to accept in good part the trauaile and good meaning of the translator and so wishing vnto you health increase of knowledge with fortunate and glorious successe in your further couragious attempts I leaue you to the protection of the almightie From London the first of Ianuarie 1589. Your worships alwaies to command Robert Parke The Printer to the Christian reader WHereas good courteous Reader in this historie describing the kingdome of China with the countries there adiacent thou shalt finde many times repeated and that in some things too gloriously the zeale of certaine Spanish Friers that laboured in discouerie of the saide China and the declaration of certaine myracles but falsely reported by them to haue beene wrought togither with examples of diuerse their superstitious practises which happily may giue offence vnto some in reading thou must vnderstande that this is to be rather imputed vnto the first writer of this historie in spanish than to any fault of mine for the Spaniardes following their ambitious affections doo vsually in all their writinges extoll their owne actions euen to the setting forth of many vntruthes and incredible things as in their descriptions of the conquestes of the east and west Indies c. doth more at large appeare Notwithstanding all which our translator as it seemeth hath rather chosen to be esteemed fidus interpres in truely translating the historie as it was though conteyning some errors then to be accounted a patcher or corrupter of other mens workes But howsoeuer either our first authour or the translator haue shewed themselues affectioned sure I am that the knowledge of thiâ— kingdome will not onely be pleasant but also verie profitable to our English nation and by playing the good Bee in onely accepting herein that which is good I doubt not but the reading of this historie will bring thee great contentment and delight Vale. The Historie of the mightie kingdome of China in the which is contained the notable things of that kingdome touching that which is naturall CHAP. I. The description of the kingdome and the confines that it hath belonging THis great and mightie kingdome of China which we do meane to treat of in this Historie hath béene discouered by cléere and true notice within this tenne yeares by Spanyards that were dwellers in the Ilands Philippinas that are three hundreth leagues distant from the said kingdome Notwithstanding that long time before there was relation giuen by way of the Portingall Indias by such as dwelt in Macao and did traâ—â—ke to Canton a citie of the same kingdome of China But this was by relation so that the one nor the other could satisfie for that there was founde varietie in that which was true till the yeere of 1577. Frier Martin de Gorrada prouincial of the Augustine friers who were the first discouerers of the said Ilands Philippinas and ministred first the holy baptisme amongst them with his companions frier Hieronimo Martin Pedro Sarmiento and Myghell de Loarcha chéefe officers of the citie of Marrila in the said Ilands by the order and commandement of Guido de Labassares gouernour thereof did enter into the saide kingdome of China Led and gouerned by a captaine belonging to the king of the said kingdome called Omoncon Of the comming of this Omoncon vnto the Ilands Philippinas and of his hardines to carrie the aforesaid vnto the firme land he being commanded to the contrarie vpon paine of death and how he was receiued and great courtesie shewed and of other things verie curious you shall â—inde in the second part of this historie where as is the substance and whole relation of all that was brought vnto the king of Spaine You shall vnderstande that this mightie kingdome is the Orientalest part of all Asia and his next neighbour towards the Ponent is the kingdome of Quachinchina whereas they doo obserue in whole all the customes and rites of China The greatest part of this kingdome is watred with the great Orientall Ocean sea beginning at the Iland Aynan which is hard by Quachinchina which is 19. degrées towards the North and compassing towards the South whereas their course is Northeast And beyond Quachinchina towards the North the Bragmanes do confine which are much people and verie rich of golde siluer and pretious stones but in especiall Rubies for there are infinit They are proude and hawtie men of great corage wel made but of browne colour they haue had but few times warre with them of China in respect for that betwixt both the kingdomes there are great and mightie mountaines and rockes that doth disturbe them And harde vnto this nation ioyneth the Patanes and Mogores which is a great kingdome and warlike people whose head is the Gran Samarzan They are the true Scythas or Massagetas of whom it is affirmed that they were neuer ouercome by any other nation they are a people well proportioned and white by reason they dwel in a cold countrie Betwixt the West and the South is the Trapobana or Samatra a kingdome very rich of gold pretious stones pearles and more towards the South are the two Iauas the great and the lesse and the kingdome of the Lechios and in equall distance are the Iapones yet notwithstanding those that are more indifferent to this kingdome are the Tartarians which are on the selfe firme land or continent and are alonely deuided by a wal as shalbe declared in the 9 chapter
brought out of all Indies iâ— there be no deceit vsed in it for many times they will put amongst it small peeces of lead and other things of weight There is also great store of kyne that are so little worth that you may buy a very good one for eight â—ials of plate beefes that are bought for halfe the mony one whole venison is bought for two rials great store of hogs whose flesh is as holesome and good as our mutton in Spaine There is great aboundance of goates of other beasts that are to be eaten which is the occasion that they are of little value The flying foules that doo breed about the lakes riuers are of so great quantitie that there is spent daily in small villages in that countrie many thousands and the greatest sort of them are Teales The fashion how they do breed and bring them vp shalbe declared in a chapter particularly for that which is said shal not séeme impossible They be sold by waight likewise capons and hens for so smal value that two pounds of their flesh being plucked is woorth ordinarily two Foys which is a kinde of mony like vnto the quartes of Spaine hogs flesh two pounds for a Foy and a halfe which is 6. marauadiz Likewise all other victuals after the same rate as it doth plainly appeare by the relation made by the friers There are also many herbs for medicines as very fine Reubarbe and of great quantitie and wood called Palo de china great store of Nutmegs with the which they may lade fleetes and of so lowe a price that you may buy foure hundreth for a ryall of plate and cloues sixe pound for halfe a ryall of plate and the like in pepper Synamom one roue which is 25. pound for foure ryals of plate and better cheape I do leaue to speake of many oâ—her hearbs medicinable profitable for the vse of man for that if I should write the particular vertue of euerie of them it would require a great volume Of fish both swimming and shell fish of all sorts that they haue with them is to be wondred at not onely vpon the sea coasts but also in the remote places of that kingdome by reason of the great riuers which be nauigable vnto such places Besides all this it is verie rich of mines of golde and siluer and other mettals the which gold and siluer excepted they do sell it so good cheape that a quintal of Copper yron or stéele is to be bought for eight rials of plate Golde is better cheape there then it is in Europe but siluer is more woorth There is founde great store of pearles in all this kingdome but the most part of them are not rounde by the which you may gather and vnderstande the goodnesse and fertilitie of the same And that the first that did discouer and inhabite that kingdome were not deceiued for that they founde all things necessarie vnto the preseruing of the life of man and that in aboundance for the which with iust reason the inhabitants may thinke themselues to possesse the best and fertilest kingdome in all the whole world CHAP. V. Of the antiquitie of this kingdome AS before is said this kingdome is of so ancient antiquity that there is opinion that the first that did inhabite this countrie were the Neuewes of Noe. But the light which is found in the histories of China is that from the time of Vitey who was their first king and did reduce their kingdome vnto an empire and hath and doth indure vnto the king that now rayneth as you shall vnderstand in the place where we shall make mention of the kings of that countrie whereas you shal vnderstand by iust computation that vnto this day there hath reyned naturall and vsurped to the number of 243. kings The sonne doth succeede the father in the kingdome and for want of a sonne the next kinsman doth succéed and for that they do take after the vse of the emperors of Turkie so many wiues as pleaseth them it seldome falleth out to lacke heires for that the first sonne that is borne of either of his wiues is right heire vnto the kingdome and the rest of his sonnes he doth appoint them cities where as they do dwel priuately and there they are prouided of all things necessarie for them conformable vnto their degrées with expresse commission vpon'paine of death neuer to go out of them neither to returne vnto the court except they be sent for by the king So after this conclusion all those that are kinsâ—olke vnto the king are resident and kept in a mightie and populous citie called Causi whereas those whome the king and his counsel do thinke and sâ—e to be men of great wisedome or giuen to martiall affaires they doo commande that they neuer goe forth of their houses to auoide occasions of suspition whereby might grow alterations and treasons against the king The dwelling places of these prouinces are mightie and of a huge bignesse for that within the compasse of them they haue all manner of contentment necessary for them as gardens orchards fishing ponds of diuers sorts parkes and groues in the which are all kinde of flying foules fish and beasts as are to be found in the mountaines and riuers And it is walled round about with a stone wall so that euery house of these séemeth to be a towne They giue themselues much vnto musike wherewith they doo passe away the time And for that they are giuen to pleasure and ease they are commonly corpulent and fatte verie faire conditioned and quiet liberall vnto strangers These princes in what place so euer they are the gouernours of the cities are bound to visite them euery festiuall day Likewise if they doo passe on horsebacke by their doores they must alight and walke on foote while they haue passed it and if they be borne in a litle chaire likewise to come out of the same and to walke on foote with silence till they be past And for that they shall not plead ignorance the gates of these princes houses are all painted red so that they being brought vp from their youth in this straight close and idle life it is not vnto them tedious but dooth rather reioyce in the same CHAP. VI. The bignesse of this kingdome of China and of such measures as they do vse in trauaile THis mightie kingdome which we commonly call China without knowing any cause or foundation wherefore we should so cal it Those countries neere ioyning vnto the same do call it Sangley and they in their naturall toonge do cal it Taybiner the which is to be vnderstood nothing but a kingdome and is the most biggest and populous that is mentioned in all the world as it shalbe apparant in the discourse of this hystorie and in the wonderfull things that shalbe treated of in the next chapter following All the which is taken out of the bookes and
hystories of the said Chinos whereas they do make mention of the mightinesse thereof and of the 15. prouinces that are comprehended in the same The which bookes and hystories were brought vnto the citie of Manilla printed and set forth in China and were translated into the spanish toong by interpreters of the saide nations And for that they were baptised and became Christians they remaine as dwellers amongest vs in these Ilandes the better to obserue and keepe the lawes of baptisme and to flie the paine punishment the which they should receiue for dooing the same for that they turned Christians and receiued the faith without the license of the king and counsell which is forbidden vppon paine of death and is executed with great violence and without remission This mightie kingdome is in circuit or compasse about 69516. Die which is a kind of measure that they do vse which being reduced into the spanish account is almost 3000. leagues and in length 1800. leagues this is to be vnderstood the whole 15. prouinces the which are garnished with many cities and townes besides a great number of villages as you may plainely see in the chapter following By the said booke it is found that the Chinos haue amongst them but only three kind of measures the which in their language are called Lii Pu and Icham which is as much to say or in effect as a forlong league or iorney the measure which is called Lii hath so much space as a mans voice in a plaine grounde may bee hearde in a quiet day halowing or whoping with all the force and strength he may and ten of these Liis maketh a Pu which is a great spanish league and ten Pus maketh a dayes iourney which is called Icham which maketh 12. long leagues By the which account it is founde that this kingdome hath the number of leagues as aâ—ore is saide Yet by the account of other bookes they do finde it bigger and of more leagues Yet frier Martin de Herrada prouinciall of the austen friers in the Ilands Philippinas who is an excellent Geometrician and Cosmographer did cast the account with great diligence by their owne descriptions and doth finde it to amount vnto the sum aforesaid to be 1800. leagues long and 3000. leagues in compasse beginning at the prouince of Olam which is that towards the South and nearest vnto Malacia and so alongst the countrie towards the North east for the space of 600. leagues CHAP. VII Of the 15. prouinces that are in this kingdome THis mightie kingdome is deuided into fiftéene prouinces that euery one of them is bigger then the greatest kingdome that we doo vndâ—rstand to be in all Europe Some doo esteeme those cities to be metropolitans where as is resident the gouernors presidents or viz Rées which in their natural toong are called Cochin of the prouinces two of them which are called Tolanchia and Paguia are gouerned by the king in person with his royall counsel The occasion why the king is alwayes resident or abiding in one of these two prouinces which are two of the mightiest and most popularst of people is not for that in them he is most at his content or receiue more pleasure in them then in any of the other but onely for that they doo conâ—ine vpon the kingdome of Tartaria with whom in times past they had ordinary and continuall wars and for that the king might with more ease put remedie in such harmes receiued and defend with better oportunitie the rage of his enimie he did ordaine and situate his pallace and court in them two And for that it hath béene of antiquitie many yeeres past it hath remained hitherto and appeareth to continue still the habitation of the kings of that kingdome as by desert for the excellencie of the clime and aboundance of all things necessarie The names of the fiftéene prouinces are as followeth Pagâ—ia Foquiem Olam Sinsay Sisuam Tolanchia Cansay Oquiam Aucheo Honan Xanton Quicheâ— Chequeam Susuam and Saxij Almost all these prouinces but in particular tenne of them which are alongst the sea costs are full of déepe riuers of swéete water and nauigable vpon whose branches are situated many cities and townes whereof you may not onely haue the number of them but also their names for that these Chinos are so curious people that in their books are named besides the cities and townes the banketing houses and houses of pleasure which the gentlemen haue for their recreation And for that it will be more trouble then profite to inlarge any further in this matter I will refer it vnto the next chapter where I will intreate of the cities and townes that either of these prouinces hath and passe ouer all the rest as not necessarie for our intent is to set forth the bignes of this kingdome CHAP. VIII Of the cities and townes that euery one of these prouinces hath in himselfe THese fiftéene prouinces which with better truth might be called kingdomes according vnto the greatnes of them as you may perceiue by the number of cities and townes that each of them hath besides villages the which if I should adde herevnto would be an infinite number The number of cities townes that euery prouince hath First the prouince of Paguia where as ordinarily the king and his counsel is resident hath 47. cities and 150. townes Canton hath 37. cities and 190. townes Foquien hath 33. cities and 99. townes Olam hath 90. cities and 130. townes Synsay hath 38. cities and 124. townes Sisuan hath 44. cities and 150. townes Tolanchia hath 51. cities and 123. townes Cansay hath 24. cities and 112. townes Ochian hath 19. cities and 74. townes Aucheo hath 25. cities and 29. townes Honan hath 20. cities and 102. townes Xaton hath 37. cities and 78. townes Quicheu hath 45. cities and 113. townes Chequeam hath 39. cities and 95. townes Susuan hath 42. cities and 105. townes By which account appeareth to be 591. cities and 1593. townes beside villages and houses of pleasure which are an infinite number by the which you may consider that this kingdome doth deserue to be called great and compared with the best and principalâ—t that is heaâ—d of in al the whole world The Chinos doe vse in their pronunciation to terme their cities with this sylable Fu that is as much to say citie as Taybin fu Canton fu and their townes with this sylable Cheu They haue some villages that are so great that it lacketh but onely the name of a towne All their cities for the most part are situated by the riuers sides such as are nauigable the cities are moted rounde about which make them to bee verie strong not only the cities but townes are walled round about with high and strong wals of stone one faddome high and all the rest is of bricke but of so hard a substance that it is not to be broken almost with pickaxes Some cities hath their wals so broad that 4.
two the which being interpreted christianly may be vnderstoode to be the mysterie of the holy trinitie that wee that are christians doo worship and is part of our faith the which with other things séemeth somwhat to be respondent to our holy sacred and christian religion so that of verie truth we may presume that saint Thomas the Apostle did preach in this kingdome who as it is declared in the lesson on his day After that he had receiued the holy ghost and preached the holy gospel vnto the Parthes Medes Persas Brachmanes and other nations he went into the Iudias whereas he was martyred in the citie of Calamina for his faith and holy gospel that he preached It is verified that when this glorious apostle did passe into the Indies hee trauelled through this kingdome of China where as it appeareth he did preach the holy gospel and mysterie aforesaid of the holy trinitie whose picture in the manner aforesaid doth indure vnto this day although those people by the great and long blindnesse which they are in with their errors and idolatrie doo not perfectly knowe what that figure with thrée heads doth represent or signifie The better for to beléeue that which is said or at least to vnderstande that it is so is that it is found in the writings of the Armenians that amongst them are in reputation and of great authoritie there it saith that this glorious apostle did passe through this kingdome of China when he went into the Indies where he was martyred that he did preach there the holy gospell although it did profite verie little for that the people were out of order and occupied in their warres and therefore this Apostle did passe into the Indies and left some of the countrie although but a few baptised and instructed that when it should please God they might haue occasion to perseuer in that which was taught them They haue also amongst them as it is said certaine pictures after the fashion and with the ensignes of the twelue apostles which is a helpe to the verifying of that aforesaide although if you doo aske of the people who they are they doo answere that they were men and great philosophers that did liue vertuouslie and therfore they are made angels in heauen They doo also vse amongst them the picture of a woman verie faire with a man childe in her armes whereof they say shée was deliuered and yet remained a virgine and was daughter vnto a mightie king they doo reuerence her verie much and do make prayer vnto her more then this they cannot say of this mysterie but that she liued a holy life and neuer sinned Frier Gaspar de la Cruz a Portugall of the order of saint Dominicke was in the citie of Canton where he did write many things of this kingdome and with great attention whom I do follow in many things in the proces of this hystorie and he saith that he being vpon a small Iland that was in the middest of a mightie riuer there was a house in manner of a monastery of religious people of that country and being in it he saw certaine curious things of great antiquitie amongst them he saw a chappel like vnto an oratorie or place of prayer verie well made and curiouslie dressed it had certaine staires to mount into it and compassed about with gilte grates and was made fast and looking vpon the altar the which was couered with a cloth verie rich hee sawe in the midedst of the same an image of a woman of a meruailous perfection with a childe hauing his armes about hir necke and there was burning before her a lampe he being amased at this sight he did demande the signification but there was none that could declare more thereof then that which is saide before Of this which hath ben said it is easily to be beléeued how that the apostle S. Thomas did preach in this kingdom for that it is séene these people haue conserued these traditions many yeares past and doo conserue the same which is a signe token that they had some notice of the true God whose shadows they do represent There is amongst them many errors and without anie foundation and is not of them to be séene nor perceiued til such time as by faith they shall knowe the right God as may bee séene in the chapters where we shall speake of these matters CHAP. II. I do prosecute the religion they haue and of the Idols they do worship OUer and aboue that which is saiâ—e these Idolaters and blind people being men so prudent wise in the gouernement of their common wealth and so subtill and ingenious in all arts yet they do vse many other things of so great blindnes and so impertinent that it doth make them to woonder which attentiuelie doo fall in the consideration yet is it not much to be meruailed at considering that they are without the cléere light of the true Christian religion without the which the subtilest and delicatest vnderstandings are lost and ouerthrowne Generally amongst them they doo vnderstand that the heauen is the creator of all things visible and inuisible and therefore they do make a shew of it in the first caract or letter of the crosse row that the heauen hath a gouernour to rule all such things as are comprehended there aboue whom they call Laocon Tzautey which is to be vnderstood in their language the gouernour of the great and mightie God this they do worship as the principall next vnto the sun They say that this gouernour was not begotten but is eternal and hath no body but is a spirit Likewise they do say that with this there is another of the same nature whom they call Causay and is like wise a spirit and vnto this is giuen power of the lower heauen in whose power dependeth the life and death of man This Causay hath thrée subiectes whom he doth commande and they say they bee likewise spirites and they doo aide and helpe him in things touching his gouernement They are called Tauquam Teyquam Tzuiquam either of them hath distinct power the one ouer the other they say that Tauquam hath charge ouer the raine to prouoke water for the earth and Teyquam ouer humane nature to bring forth mankinde ouer warres sowing the ground and fruites And Tzuiquam ouer the seas and all nauigators They doo sacrifice vnto them and doo craue of them such things as they haue vnder their charge and gouernement for the which they do offer them victuals swéete smels frontals and carpets for their altars likewise they promise many vowes and represent plaies and comedies before their Idols the which they do verie naturallie Besides this they haue for saints such men as haue surmounted other in wisedome in valour in industrie or in leading a solitarie or asper life or such as haue liued without doing euill to any And in their language they cal them Pausaos which be such as
making that the soule dooth mooue out of one into another as certaine old philosophers did affirme it to bee who were as blind and as far from the truth as they CHAP. VII Of their temples and of certaine manner of religious people both men and women and of their superiours THere are found in this kingdome many moral things the which do touch verie much our religion which giueth vs to vnderstand that they are people of great vnderstanding in especial in naturall things and that it should be of a certainty that the holy apostle of whom we haue spoken did leaue amongst them by his preachings occasion for to learne manie things that do shew vnto vertue one of the which is that there is found amongst them many monasteries in their cities and townes and also in the fieldes wherein are manie men and women that do liue in great closenes and obedience after the fashioÌ„ of other religious monasteries They haue amongst theÌ„ that is knowne onely foure orders euery one of theÌ„ hath their generall who dwelleth ordinarily in the citie of Suntien or Taybin wheras is the king his counsel These their generals they doo call in their language Tricon who doo prouide for euery prouince a prouinciall to assist visite all the conuents correcting and amending such faults as is found according vnto the institution and manner of liuing This prouinciall doth ordaine in euery conuent one which is like vnto the prior or guardian whom al the rest do reuerence and obey This generall is for euer till he doo die except they doo finde in him such faults that he doth deserue to be depriued yet they do not elect their prouincials as we do vse but it is doone by the king his counsell alwayes choosing 〈◊〉 that is knowne to be of a good life and fame so that fauour carrieth nothing away This generall is apparelled all in silke in that colour that his profession dooth vse either blacke yeallow white or russet which are the fower colours that the foure orders doo vse hee neuer goeth foorth of his house but is carried in a little chaire of Iuorie or golde by foure or sixe men of his habite When any of the conuent doth talke vnto him it is on their knées they haue also amongst them a seale of their monasterie for the dispatching of such businesse as toucheth their religion These haue great rentes giuen them by the king for the sustayning of themselues and their seruants All their conuents hath great rentes in general part giuen them by the king and part of charitie giuen them in those cities or townes whereas they haue their houses the which are many and verie huge They doo aske their charitie in the stréets singing with the sounde of two little â—ords and other instruments Euery one of them when they do begge doth carrie in their hands a thing wherin are written certaine praiers that they say is for the sins of the people and all that is giuen them in charitie they lay it vpon the said thing wherewith they do vnderstand in their blinde opinion that their spirit is cleare of all sinne In general their beards and heads are shauen and they weare one sole vesture without making any difference according vnto the colour of their religion They do eate altogether haue their sels according to the vse of our friers their vestures or apparel is ordinary of serge of the saide foure colours They haue beads to pray on as the papists vse although in another order they doe assist al burials for to haue charity they do arise two houres before day to pray as our papists do their mattins and do continue in the same vntill the day doo breake they doo praie all in one voice singing in verie good order and attention and all the time of their praying they do ring belles whereof they haue in that kingdome the best and of the gallantest sounde that is in all the world by reason that they are made almost all of stéele they pray vnto the heauen whom they take for their God and vnto Sinquian who they say was the inuenter of that their manner of life and became a saint They may leaue their order at all times at their pleasure giuing their generall to vnderstand thereof But in the time that they are in that order they cannot marrye neither deale with anye women vpon paine to bee punished asperly At such time as one doth put himselfe in religion the father or next kinsman of him that taketh the order doth inuite all them of the conuent and doth make them a great and solemne banket yet you must vnderstand that the eldest sonne of any man cannot put himself in any monasterie but is prohibited by the lawes of the countrie for that the eldest sonne is bound to sustaine his father in his olde age When that any of these religious men do die they doe wash him and shaue him before they do burie him do all weare mourning apparell for him The religious man or woman that is once punished for any fault cannot afterward turne and receiue the habite at any time They haue a certaine marke giuen vnto them in token of their fault and that is a bordâ— put about their necke so that it is séene of all people Euerie morning and euening they do offer vnto their Idolles frankensence beniamin wood of aguila and cayolaque the which is maruelous swéete and other gummes of swéet and odoriferous smels When that they will lanch any ship into the water after that it is made then these religious men all apparelled with rich roabes of silke do go to make sacrifices vpon the poopes of them wheras they haue their oratories and there they doe offer painted papers of diuers figures the which they doe cut in peeces before their idols with certaine ceremonies and songes well consorted and ringing of little belles they do reuerence vnto the diuell And they do paint him in the fore castle for that he shall do no harme vnto the ships that being done they do eate and drinke till they can no more And with this they thinke it is sufficient for the shippe that all such viages as shee shall make shall succéede well the which they haue amongst them for a thing most certaine and if they did not blesse them in this order all things would fall out to the contrarie CHAP. VIII The order that they haue in burying of the dead and the mourning apparell they haue IT séemeth vnto me not farre from our purpose to declare in this place how they vse in this kingdome to burie the dead it is surely a thing to be noted the maner is as foloweth WheÌ„ that any one doth die at the very instant y t he yéeldeth vp y e gost they do wash his bodie all ouer from top to toe then do they apparell him with the best apparell that he had all perfumed with swéet smels TheÌ„ after he
both of his first wife and of all the other wiues For lacke of a sonne by his first wife the first borne of the other wiues doth inherite the most part so that fewe times or neuer there is none that dieth without heyres eyther by his first wife or by the others And if it so fall out that any of these his wiues do commit adulterie the which seeldome chaunceth by reason of their kéeping in and great honestie as also it is great infamie vnto the man that doth offer any such thing then may the husband finding them togither kill them but after that first furie being past he cannot but complaine of the adulterers vnto the Iustice and although it be prooued verie apparant yet can they giue them no more punishment but beate them cruelly vppon their thyghes as is the custome and lawe of the countrie as shalbe declared vnto you in his place Then may the husband afterwardes sell his wife for a â—laue and make money of her for the dowrie he gaue her notwithstanding there be amongst them that for interest will dissemble the matter yea and will séeke oportunities and occasion Yet if such be spied or knowen they are righteously punished They say in the prouinces that be néere vnto Tartaria and in the selfe same Tartaria they doo vse a custome and manner of marriage very strange that is the vizroyes or gouernors doo limit and appoint a time when that all men and women shall méete together such as will marie or receiue the order of religion The time being accomplished all such as would be married do méete together in a citie of that prouince appointed for that purpose and when they come thether they doo present themselues before 12. auncient and principall men appointed there by the king for the same purpose who doo take a note of their names both of men and women and of what state and degrée they are and of their substance for to dowrie their wiues with whom they shalbe married Then do they number all the men and women that be there if they do find more men than women or to the contrarie more womeÌ„ than men then they cast lots do leaue the number that doth so beare in register til the next yeare y t they may be the first that shalbe married Then sixe of those ancient men do put the men in thrée parts the rich they put in one part without any consideration of gentilitie or beautie and those that are rich in a meane in an other parte and the poore in the thirde part In the meane time that these sixe men be occupied in the reparting of the men the other sixe doe repart the women in thrée parts to say in this manner the most fairest in one part and them not so faire in an other and the fowlest in an other This diuision being made theÌ„ do they marrie them in this order vnto the riche men they doo giue the fairest and they doo giue for them the prise that is appointed by the Iudges and vnto them that are not so rich they do giue them that are not so faire without paying for them anye thing at all and vnto the poore men they giue the fowlest with all that which the rich men do pay for the faire women diuiding it into equall partes Sure it is a notable thing if it bee true This being done they are all married in one daie and holpen although peraduenture not all content the marriages being doone there is great feastes made in such houses as the king hath ordeyned in euerye citie for the same purpose the which are furnished with beds and all other necessaries belonging thereunto for that the new married people may be serued of all that is néedfull for the time that the feast do indure This solemnitie beeing finished which they saye doth indure fiftie dayes these newe married people doo goe vnto their owne houses You must vnderstande that this custome of marriage is ordeyned for the coÌ„mon and poore people and not for Lords nor gentlemen who are not bound to obey this ordinaunce but to marrie whereas they like best euerie one to séeke and marrie with his equall or else by an order which the king hath set downe vnto the viceroyes and gouernors what to be done therein When that the king of China is married then dooth hee choose thirtie concubines the principallest persons in all his kingdome the which hee dooth kéepe and maintayne within his pallace so long as hee doth liue But after that hee is dead and his funerall ended as is accustomed then doth the heire or successor of the kingdome apparell these thirtie women maruelous gorgeously with many iewelles then doth hee cause them to set in an Estrado or rich pallet gallantly dressed and furnished in one of the thrée halles as shall be declared in the second chapter of the third booke with their faces couered in such sort as they may not be séene nor knowen and being set in this order then doth there enter in thirtie gentlemen of the principallest of the kingdome those whom the king left named in his testameÌ„t the which goeth by antiquitie or according vnto order set by the king and eyther of them doth take one of these Ladies by the hand and looke howe they found theÌ„ so they doo carrie them with their faces couered till they bring them home to their houses whereas they haue them for their wiues and do maintaine and kéepe them all the dayes of their liues towards the mainteyning of them the king doth leaue in his testament great reueneues and the successor in the kingdome doth accomplish and performe the same with great diligence and care In old time when that the kinges of China would marrie anie of his children or kinsfolkes he did make in his pallace a great and solemne banket to the which he did inuite all the principallest Lordes and gentlemen of his court commaunding to bring with them their sonnes and daughters who did accomplish the same striuing who should apparell their children most richest and most gallantest The banket being done the young princes do go whereas are these young Ladies euerie one placed in order according to their age and there he doth chuse his wife according to his owne will or desire and where he liketh best Likewise the infants or kings daughters doe the like in choosing their husbands amongst the young lords and gentlemen But at this time this custome is left off for that the princes and gentlemen do marry with their kinsfolkes so that it be not in the first or seconde degrée yet many times they do not kéepe the second CHAP. X. How that in all this mightie kingdome there is no poore folks walking in the streets nor in the teÌ„ples a begging the order that the king hath giuen for the maintayning of them that cannot worke MAnie things of great gouernment hath béene and shall be declared in this historie worthie to be
considered and in my opinion this is not the least that is contayned in this chapter which is such order as the king and his counsell hath giuen that the poore may not go a begging in the stréetes nor in the temples whereas they make orations vnto their Idols for the auoyding therof the king hath set downe an order vpon great and gréeuous penaltie to be executed vpon the saide poore if they do begge or craue in the stréetes and a greater penaltie vpon the citizens or townes men if they do giue vnto any such that beggeth but must incontinent go and complaine on them to the Iustice who is one that is called the Iustice of the poore ordayned to punish such as doo breake the lawe and is one of the principallest of the citie or towne and hath no other charge but only this And for that the townes be great and many and so full of people and an infinite nomber of villages whereas it cannot be chosen but there is many borne lame and other misfortunes so that he is not idle but alwaies occupied in giuing order to remedie the necessities of the poore without breaking of the lawe This Iudge the first day that hee doth enter into his office hee commaundeth that whatsoeuer children be borne a créeple in any part of his members or by sicknes be taken lame or by any other misfortune that incontinent their fathers or mothers doo giue the Iudge to vnderstande thereof that he may prouide for all things necessarie according vnto the ordinance and will of the king and his counsell the which is the man child or woman child being brought before him and seene the default or lacke that it hath if it be so that with the same it may exercise any occupation they giue and limit a time vnto the parents for to teach the child that occupation ordayned by the Iudge and it is such as with their lamenes they may vse without any impediment the which is accomplished without faile but if it so be that his lamenes is such that it is impossible to learne or exercise any occupation this Iudge of the poore doth commaund the father to sustaine and maintaine him in his owne house all the dayes of his life if that hee hath wherewithall if not or that hee is fatherlesse then the next rich kinsman must maintaine it if he hath none such then doth all his parents and kinsfolkes contribute and pay their partes or giue of such thinges as they haue in their houses But if it hath no parentes or they be so poore that they cannot contribute nor supply any part therof then doth the king maintaine them in verie ample manner of his owne costes in hospitalles verie sumptuous that he hath in euerie citie throughout his kingdome for the same effect and purpose in the same hospitalles are likewise maintayned all such néedie and olde men as haue spent all their youth in the wars and are not able to maintaine themselues so that to the one and the other is ministred all that is néedefull and necessarie and that with great diligence and care and for the better accomplishing of the same the Iudge doth put verie good order and dooth appoint one of the principallest of the citie or towne to be the administrator without whose licence There is not one within that hospitall that can goe foorth of the limittes for that licence is not granted vnto anie neyther doo they demaund it for that there they are prouided of all thinges necessarie so long as they doo liue as well for apparell as for victualles Besides all this the olde folkes and poore men within the hospitall doo bring vpp hennes chickens and hogges for their owne recreation and profit wherein they doo delight themselues The Iudge doth visite often times the administrator by him appointed Likewise the Iudge is visited by an other that commeth from the court by the appointment of the king and the counsell to the same effect and to visite all such hospitalles as bee in the prouinces limited in his commission and if they doo finde any that hath not executed his office in right and iustice then they doo displace them and punishe them verie rigorouslie by reason whereof all such officers haue great care of their charges and liue vprightly hauing before their eyes the straight account which they must giue and the cruell rewarde if to the contrarie The blinde folkes in this countrie are not accounted in the number of those that of necessitie are to bee maintayned by their kinsfolkes or by the king for they are constrayned to worke as to grind with a querne wheate or rice or to blowe smythes bellowes or such like occupations that they haue no néede of their sight And if it be a blind woman when the commeth vnto age she doth vse the office of women of loue of which sorâ—e there are a great number in publike places as shall bee declared in the Chapter for that purpose These haue women that doo tende vpon them and doo paint and trim them vp and they are such that with pure age did leaue that office So by this order in all this kingdome although it be great and the people infinite yet there is no poore that doo perish nor begge in the stréetes as was apparant vnto the austen and barefoote fryers and the rest that went with them into that countrie The third booke and historie of the great and mightie kingdome of China in the which is contayned many notable things woorthie to be considered of touching morall and pollitike matters CHAP. I. How manie kinges hath beene in this kingdome and their names IN the fourth Chapter of the first booke I did promise particularly to declare howe many kinges haue béene in this kingdome and their names Nowe to accomplish the same I will beginne and declare the succession of them from Vitey who was the first that did reduce the kingdome to one empire gouernment vnto him that dooth reigne at this daye remitting that which shall lacke vnto the Chapter aforesaide whereas shall be found the number of the kinges and how many yeares since the first beginning of this kingdome and the manner of the succession This Vitey was the first king of China as it appeareth by their histories where as they doo make particular mention But amongest other thinges that they do declare of the kinges person they do say that he was in height so much as seuen mesures which is accustomed in China and euerie measure is two thirdes of a Spanish vare which is by good account foure vares and two terses in length he was sixe palmes broade in the shoulders and was as valiant in his déedes as in bignesse of his bodie he had a Captaine called Lincheon who was not onely valiant but politike and of great wisedome by reason whereof with his valour and strength he did subiect vnto Vitey all the whole countrie that he doth nowe possesse and
shoulde happen or paraduenture for that the temperature or clime of that place is more healthfull then the other prouinces or the dwelling to be of more pleasure as it is giuen to vnderstand by that worde Suntien which in their language is as much to say the celestiall citie it is of such bignesse that for to crosse it ouer from gate to gate a man must traueile one whole day and haue a good horse and put good diligence or else he shal come short this is besides the subburbes which is as much more ground Amongst the Chinos is founde no varietie in the declaration of this migâ—tie city and of the great riches that is in it which is a signe to be of a truth for that they agree all in one There is so much people in it what of citizens and courtiers that it is affirmed y t vpon any vrgent occasion there may be ioyned together two hundreth thousand men and the halfe of them to bee horsemen At the entring into this citie toward the orient is situated the mightie and sumptuous pallace of the king where he remaineth ordinarily although hee hath other two the one in the midst of the citie and the other at the end towards the West This first pallace they do testifie is of such huge bignesse and so much curiositie that it is requisite to haue foure dayes at the least to view and sée it all First it is compassed about with seuen walles very huge and the space that is betwixt one wall and another doth containe ten thousand souldiers which doo watch and gard the kings house dayly there is within this pallace thrée score and ninetéene halles of a marueilous rich and and curious making wherein there are many women that doo serue the king in the place of pages and squires but the principallest to be seene in this pallace is foure halles verie rich whereas the king giueth audience vnto such ambassadours as come vnto him from other kingdomes or prouinces or vnto his owne people when they call any court of parliament which is very seldome for that he is not séene by his commons out of his owne house but by great chance and yet when they doo sée him for the most part it is by a glasse window The first of these hals is made al of mettall very curiously wrought with manie figures and the seconde haththe séeling and the floore wrought in the order of masons worke all of siluer of great valure the thirde is of fine golde wrought and inamiled verie curiously The fourth is of so great riches that it much excéedeth all the other thrée for that in it is represented the power and riches of that mightie kingdome and therfore in their language they do cal it the hall of the kings treasure and they do affirme that it deserueth to haue that name for that there is in it the greatest treasure that any king hath in all the world besides many iewels of an inestimable price and a chaire wherein he dooth sit of great maiesty made of Iuory set full of pretious stones and carbuncles of a great price that in the darkest time of the night the hall is of so great clearenesse as though there were in it manie torches or lights the wals are set full of stones of diuers sorts verie rich and of great vertue wrought verie curiously and to declare it in fewe words it is the richest and principalst thing to be séene in all the kingdome for therein is the principallest thereof In these foure halles are heard such ambassadours as are sent from other countries according vnto the estate and qualitie of the king and prouinces from whence they come so that according as they are estéemed so are they entertained into one of these foure hals If that from whence they come is from a king of small power he hath audience in the first hall if he be of a reasonable power in the second hal and in this order in the rest Within this mightie pallace the king hath all that any humane vnderstanding can desire or aske touching this life in pleasures for to recreate his person and for their quéene for that neuer or by great chance they go foorth of the same and it hath béene a customable vse amongst the kings of that countrie that it is as a thing inherited by succession neuer to go forth They say their reason why they doo keepe themselues so close not to go abroade is to conserue the mightie estate of their estade and also to auoide for being slaine by treason as many times it falleth so out for which occasion you haue had kings that in all the time of their reigne haue not gone out of their pallace but onely the day of their oath and crownation and besides this their close kéeping yet haue they tenne thousande men continually as aforesaide in garde of the pallace both day and night besides others that are in the courtes staires and halles and other places Within the gates and wals of this mightie pallace they haue gardines orchards woodes and groues whereas is all manner of hunt and foule and great pondes full of fish And to conclude they haue all manner of pleasures and delites that may be inuented or had in any banketting house in the fielde In all this kingdome there is not one that is lorde ouer any subiect or vassales as they of Turkie neither haue they any iurisdiction proper but that which is his patrimonie and moueables or that which the king doth giue them in recompence of good seruice or gouernement or for any other particular respect all the which dooth end with the person and is returned againe vnto the king except he will giue it into the sonne of him that is dead in curtesie more then by obligation or duetie giuing to vnderstande that it is to auoyd inconueniences and occasions of treasons which might grow if that there were any lords that were rich or of power not for couetousnes or any other intent Those whom he dooth put in authoritie whether they are vizroyes gouernours or captaine generals or whatsoeuer they be hée giueth vnto them large wages sufficient to sustaine them in their office in so ample sort that it is rather ouerplus vnto them then lacke for that he will not that their necessitie compell them to take presents or bribes which thing doth blinde them that they cannot do iustice vprightly and vnto him that doth receiue or take any such although it be but of smal prise he is cruelly punished CHAP. III. The number of such subiects as doo pay vnto the king tribute in all these fifteene prouinces VNderstanding the greatnesse of this kingdome of China and the infinite number of people that is therein it is an easie thing to bee beléeued the number that euery prouince hath of such as do pay tribute as is taken out of the booke that the officers haue whereby they do recouer that
tribute and it is affirmed that there are as many more such as are frée and and do pay no tribute The Loytians and ministers of iustice all sorts of souldiers both by sea and land which is an infinite number are frée and do pay nothing the number as followeth The prouince of Paguia hath two millions seuen hundred and foure thousand that doth pay tribute to the king The prouince of Santon 3. millions and 700. thousand tributers The prouince of Foquien two millions foure hundred and seuen thousand tributers The prouince of Olam two millions two hundred foure thousand tributers The prouince of Sinsay thrée millions thrée hundred foure score thousand The prouince of Susuan two millions and fiftie thousand The prouince of Tolanchia there where as the king is resident and is the biggest of them al sixe millions fourescore and ten thousand The prouince of Causay two millions thrée hundred and fiue thousand The prouince of Oquiam thrée millions and eight hundred thousand The prouince of Aucheo two millions eight hundred and foure thousand The prouince of Gonan one million and two hundred thousand The prouince of Xanton one million nine hundred fortie and foure thousand The prouince of Quicheu two millions thirtie and foure thousand The prouince of Chequeam two millions two hundred and fortiefoure thousand The prouince of Sancii which is the least of all the prouinces hath one million sixe hundred thréescore and twelue thousand tributers By this account it is found that the tribute payers are verie many and it is approoued in manie places of this historie whereas they do treate of the greatnes of this kingdome that it is the mightiest and biggest that is to bee read of in all the world God for his mercies sake bring them to the knowledge of his lawe and take them out from the tyrannie of the diuell wherein they are wrapped CHAP. IIII. The tribute that the king hath in these fifteene prouinces according vnto the truest relation ALthough this kingdome is great and very rich yet there is none that doth pay so little tribute ordinarily vnto their king as they do neither amongst Christians Moores nor gentiles that we know The extraordinary and personall seruice is very much that in some respect wee may say that they are more slaues then frée men for that they do not possesse one foote of land but they pay tribute in respect whereof as also for the great misusing of them by their gouernours will bee a great part and occasion to inuite them to receiue the lawe of the gospell and that with great facilitie to inioy the the libertie of the same The ordinarie tribute that euery one dooth pay that dooth kéepe house is two Mases euery yeare which is as much as two spanish rials of plate This tribute is verie little yet the Loytians which is a great part of the kingdome do pay none neither their gouernours nor ministers captaines nor souldiours the multitude of the people is so great and the kingdome so bigge that alonely that which they giue for expences of the king and his court is woonderfull with customes dueties portages and other rents not accounting that which is paide vnto garisons and souldiers of that kingdome neither in that which is spent in repairing of walles of particular cities and in men of warre at sea and camps by land to gouernours and iustices which doth not enter into this account The rent which remaineth vnto the king ordinarily is this that followeth and is taken with great regard out of the booke of his excheker Yet the Chinos do say that it is much lesse thē that they do pay at this time for that this is of old antiquitie when as the tributes were lesse the tributes as followeth Of pure golde from seuentéene to two and twentie killates they giue him foure millions and two hundred fiftiesixe thousand and nine hundred Taes euerie one is worth ten rials and foure and twentie marauadies spanish mony Of fine siluer thrée millions one hundred fifty thrée thousand two hundred and ninetéene Taes The mines of pearles whereof you haue many in this kingdome although they are not verie round is woorth vnto him commonly two millions sixe hundred thirtie thousand Taes Ofprecious stones of all sorts as they come from the mines one million foure hundred thrée score and ten thousand Taes Of muske and amber one million and thirtie fiue thousande Taes Of earthen dishes and vessell fourescore thousand taes Besides all this the king doth put forth verie much ground to his subiects and they do pay him with part of the croppe that they gather or with the cattle that they bring vp on y e same grounde The quantitie that they pay him is as followeth Of cleane rice which is a common victuall throughout all the kingdome of the countries adioyning to them they paie him thréescore millions one hundred thrée score eleuen thousand eight hundred thirtie and two hanegges Of barley twentie nine millions thrée hundred foure score and eleuen thousand nine hundred fourescore two hanegges Of wheat like vnto that in Spaine thirtie thrée millions one hundred twentie thousand and two hundred hanegges Of salt twentie fiue millions thrée hundred and fortie thousand foure hundred hanegges which is made in his owne salt pits and is of a great rent Of wheat called Mayz twentie millions two hundred and fiftie thousand hanegs Of Millio twentie foure millions of hanegges Of Panizo fourtéene millions and two hundred thousande hanegges Of other different graine and séeds fortie millions and two thousand hanegges They doo pay him in péeces of silke of fourtéene vares long the péece two hundred fiue thousand and fiue hundred ninetie péeces Of raw silke in bundles fiue hundred and fortie thousande pounds Of cotton wooll thrée hundred thousand pounds Of mantles wrought of all colours eight hundred thousand foure hundred mantles of Chimantas Made of rawe silke that waieth twelue pound a péece thrée hundred thousand sixe hundred and eightie of them Ofmantles made of cotton of fourty vares sixe hundred seuenty eight thousand eight hundred and seuentie Of Chimantas of cotton thrée hundred foure thousand sixe hundred forty eight All this aforesaide is for expenses of the court which is great The Chinos y t come vnto the Philippinas do affirme the same do not differ in the report which is a signe to be true likewise they do receiue of it in his tresurie whereas is many millions cannot be otherwise considering his great rents CHAP. V. Of the men of war that are in the fifteene prouinces as wel footmen as horsemen and of the great care they haue in the gard of the kingdome LOoke what care and diligence this mightie king hath that iustice should be ministred with right equitie so likewise yea much more he hath touching matters that
haue very ill saddels so that they be al verie ill horsemen The like prouision hath the king for the sea hée hath great fléetes of ships furnished with captaines and men that doo scoure and defend the costs of the countrie with great diligence and watchings The souldiers as well by land as by sea are paid with great liberalitie and those that do aduantage themselues in valor are very much estéemed and haue great preferment and rewards When these Chinos doo take anie prisoner in the wars they doo not kill him nor giue him more punishment but to serue as a souldier in that countrie in the farthest parts from their naturall the king paying him his wages as other souldiers are paid These for that they may be knowne doo weare redde bonnets but in their other apparell they do differ nothing from the Chinos Likewise such as be condemned by iustice for criminall offences to serue in any frontier as is vsed much amongst them they also weare redde caps or bonnets and so it is declared in their sentence that they do condemne them to the red bonnet CHAP. VI. More of the men of war which are in al these fifteene prouinces and how many there be in euerie one of them as well horsemen as footemen IN the chapter past you do vnderstande what care these Chinos haue in the time of peace as well as in warre for to defend their citties and what preparations they haue generally throughout al the countrie Now lacketh to let you know particularly the number that euery prouince hath in it selfe the better to vnderstand the mightinesse therof They haue in euerie prouince in their chiefe or metropolitan citie a counsell of warre with a president and foure counsailers all the which are such as haue bin brought vp from their youth in the wars with experience of the vse of armour and weapon so that vnto them is giuen the charge for the defence of their prouince These counsellers doo ordaine captaines and prouide other officers and all necessaries for the warres and send them vnto such cities and townes whereas they sée it is néedfull And for that in the accomplishing thereof there shalbe no lacke the treasurer is commanded to deliuer vnto them whatsoeuer they do aske without any delay The number of the souldiers that euery prouince had in the yeare 1577. at such time as frier Martin de Herrada and his companie entered into China hauing no wars but great peace and quietnesse is as followeth The prouince of Paguia whereas ordinarily the king is resident hath two millions and one hundred and fiftie thousand footemen and foure hundred thousand horsemen The prouince of Santon hath one hundred and twenty thousand footemen and fortie thousand horsemen The prouince of Foquieu hath eight and fiftie thousande and nine hundred footemen and twentie two thousand foure hundred horsemen The prouince of Olam hath thrée score and sixtéene thousand footemen and twentie fiue thousande fiue hundred horsemen The prouince of Cinsay hath eightie thousand thrée hundred footemen but of horsemen verie few or none for that this prouince and the other that followe are all mountaines and ful of rockes and stones The prouince of Oquiam hath twentie thousande and sixe hundred footemen and no horsemen for the reason aforesaide The prouince of Susuan foure score and sixe thousande footemen and foure and thirtie thousande and fiue hundred horsemen The prouince of Tolanchia which is that which doth border vpon the Tartarians with whom the kings of China haue had wars as aforesaid hath two millions eight hundred thousād footmen two hundred ninty thousand horsemen are the most famous and best in all the whole kingdome for that they are brought vp in the vse of armour from their youth and many times exercised the same in times past when they had their ordinarie war with their borderers the Tartarians The prouince of Causay hath fiftie thousand footemen and twentie thousand two hundred and fiftie horsemen The prouince of Aucheo there whereas the friers were hath foure score and sixe thousand footemen and fortie eight thousand horsemen The prouince of Gonan fortie foure thousand footemen and fouretéene thousand fiue hundred horsemen The prouince of Xanton hath fiftie two thousand footemen and eightéene thousand nine hundred horsemen The prouince of Quincheu hath fortie eight thousand and seuen hundred footemen and fiftéene thousande thrée hundred horsemen The prouince of Chequeam thirty foure thousand footmen and thirtéene thousand horsemen The prouince of Saucii which is least of them all hath forty thousand footemen and sixe thousand horsemen All these people aforesaid euerie prouince is bound by an order set downe in parlement to haue in a redinesse the which is an easie thing to be done the one is for that the king doth pay them roiallie the other for that they do dwel in their owne natural countries and houses wheras they do inioy their patrimonies and goods leauing it vnto their sonnes who doo inherite the same and his office as aforesaid In the time of wars they are bounde to assist the place that hath most necessitie By this account it plainely appeareth that all these prouinces which may better be called kingdomes considering their greatnes haue fiue millions eight hundred fourtie sixe thousand fiue hundred footemen nine hundred fortie eight thousand thrée hundred fifty horsemen All the which if in valor and valiantnes might be equalled vnto our nations in Europe they were sufficient to conquer y e whole world And although they are more in number equal in policies yet in their valiantnesse courage they are far behind Their horse for the most part are little but great traueilers Yet they say within the countrie there are verie great excellent good horse I do not here declare the industrie that might with the fauour of God be vsed to win and ouercome this people for that the place serueth not for it and I haue giuen large notice thereof vnto whom I am bound And againe my profession is more to bee a meanes vnto peace then to procure any warres and if that which is my desire might be doone it is that with the word of God which is the sworde that cutteth the hearts of men wherewith I hope in the Lorde to sée it CHAP. VII Of a law amongst the Chinos that they cannot make anie wars out of their owne countrie neither go forth of the same neither can any stranger come in without licence of the king ALthough in many things that haue bin séene in this kingdome is shewed and declared the sharpe and ripe witts of these men and with what wisedome and prudence they doo gouerne their countries yet wherein they doo most manifest the same in my iudgement is in that which shalbe declared in this chapter They without all doubt séeme to excéede the Gréekes Carthagenians Romanes of whom the old ancient histories haue signified to vs also
hand doo send postes daily that the one may ouertake the other They do run post after the vse of Italy Spain with a horne but they were woont to haue a coller of belles the better to be heard so y t the postmasters when they do heare the horne or bels do straight waies bridle their horse to be in a readines Likewise if their iourney be to passe by water as many times it hapneth then y e boat-men do make their barks readie Then when the counsell hath taken relation of all the posts in effect the president incontinent doth giue a straight account thereof vnto the king then he or the counsell by his order if anie such néede requireth do put remedie for that that is néedfull for the time And if it be requisite to send any Iustice about the same he is straight wayes appointed and dispatched and sent in all haste and with great secrecie and this Iustice doth make inquiries in such sort that it is not knowen no not in the citie where the fault is committed And for that touching this matter it shall bee spoken of more at large in chapters following I will conclude with this that this king will haue such dominion ouer his kingdome and subiectes that although it be great with so manie Prouinces Cities and Townes yet not one Uiceroy Gouernor nor Iustice can put any man vnto death without his sentence be first confirmed by the kinge and his royall counsell except it be in the warres actually for that there in the delaying thereof may growe some perill therefore they doo permit the captaine generall or his lieftenant to behead or hang what so euer souldier that shall offende or doo anie ill thing this may they do without consentment of the king or his counsell onely with the consentment of the kinges Treasorer or of the generall of the fielde the which bee both of them graue personages and they must be both conformable in their iudgementes or els they cannot execute death CHAP. IX Ofsuch presidents and ministers as the king doth put in euerie prouice and the order that they haue in their gouenment YOu do vnderstand howe the two prouinces Paguia and Tolanchia are gouerned by the supreme counsell of the king and such ministers as they doo send to gouerne The other thirtéene prouinces that do remaine haue eyther of them a vizroy or gouernor whom the common people do call Insuanto who is continually resident and doth dwell in the metropolitane citie whereof the prouince doth commonly beare the name And although all the kinges officers and Iustices of what sort of administration they are be generally called by the name of Loytia yet euerie one hath a speciall and a particular name besides according vnto his office that he doth execute of the which and of their proper names I will giue you to vnderstand for that it doth differ from our purpose The vizeroy that is in euerie prouince principall and supreme magistrate in place of the king they do call him Comou Th◠second in dignitie is the gouernour of all the prouince and he is called Insuanto who hath verie little lesse maiestie than the viceroy then the Corregidor or gouernor that is resident in any citie where as is neither viceroy nor gouernor is called Tutuan all of this degrée Of any thing that is of importance of what citie so euer they be they do giue relation thereof vnto the higher gouernor called Insuanto and likewise this Insuanto vnto the viceroy or Comon whose charge is to giue the king to vnderstand thereof or his royall counsell by the postes that we haue spoken of before The third in dignitie is called Ponchasi this is the president or counsell of the kinges reuenewes who hath vnder him a counsell and many ministers and officers as sargents and others which do recouer the rents in euerie prouince This state dooth giue account of all his office vnto the Tutuan after that he hath paide all kind of wages and charges ordinarie and extraordinarie due to any officer of the kinges in all that prouince The fourth degrée or dignitie is called Totoc and this is captaine generall of all souldiers as well footmen as horsemen The fift is called Auchasi he is president and gouernour ouer Iustices both criminall and ciuill and doth determine with his counsell all matters in difference whatsoeuer that doo appeale vnto him from other meaner Iustices The sixt is called Aytao this is generall puruier and president of the counsell of warre whose office is to prouide souldiers when that it is requisite or necessitie demaundeth and to prouide ships munitions and victuals for any fléete that shall passe by sea as that be requisite by land and for the suppliment of garrisons in cities and coastes To this is giuen the charge to examine such strangers that do come to any prouince to knowe of whence they are and wherefore they do come and of all other thinges that after beeing knowen to giue the viceroy to vnderstande thereof and of all thinges néedfull These sixe offices or charge are of great authoritie and they that haue the execution thereof are had in great reuerence euerie one of them hath in societie or counsell tenne which are men chosen of great experience and diligence and they do help him in the exhibition and dispatch of matters touching that office When they are in place of counsell which is in the pallace of the viceroy whereas euerie office hath his place appointed garnished in very good order their sociates are diuided in two partes fiue of them do sit on the right hand of the president and fiue on the left hand those which do sit on the right hande are the most auncientes and haue the more preheminence and doo differ from the other that be on the left hande in this thing only for that they do weare wastes or girdels imbossed with gold and yealow hattes and they on the left hand haue their girdels imbossed with siluer and weare blewe hats the which girdels with gold and siluer and hats yealow and blewe there is none that is permitted to weare but onelye the counsellers Likewise these and the presidents do weare the kinges armes on their breastes and backes imbrodered with golde without the which they can not goe foorth to anie place where they must be séene neyther sitte in Iustice to determine anie thing whatsoeuer If they doo they are not onely disobedient but are seuerely punished at the time of their visitation If the President of any of these counsels doo die then one of the auncientest of the counsellers dooth succéede him in the office obseruing in all thinges the order as I haue saide in the Chapter past of the royall counsell All these Iustices generally haue a maruellous morall vertue and that is they be all very patient in hearing any complaynt although it be declared with choller and proude spéech It is the first thing that is taught
them in their schooles they are verye well nourtered and courteous in their spéeches although it bee with them that they haue condemned by lawe If that vppon any necessitie they must goe into any part of the prouince to make any information of importaunce then is appointed one of the counsell and hee goeth alone but he hath with him the authoritie of them all Besides these sixe Counsellers or Iudges aforesaide there bee others of lesse dignitie although greatly respected as all ministers of Iustice bee in this kingdome and they are called as followeth Cautoc this is the chiefe auncient-bearer Pochim the seconde treasourer Pochinsi he that kéepeth the seale royall Autzatzi he is as the maior or bailife of any citie or towne There be also other thrée officers which are called Guytay Tzia Tontay these doo kéepe court and haue audience in their houses once a wéeke and when they do open their doores there is shott off foure péeces of artilerie to giue all men to vnderstande that they are in place readie to heare and to doo Iustice. If they do finde any that is culpable or faultie they doo straight wayes sende them with a Sargent vnto the ordinarie Iustice of the Citie which is called Zompau with a bill or note in the which is signified the punishment that he must haue Euerie ordinarie Iustice hath committed to his charge a thousand souldiers He can not excéed his limit nor iurisdictiō neyther can anie other haue to doo in his charge Euerie night they doo range their circuit and doo cause that euerie one may be quiet in his house and to put out their candelles and lightes in time to auoyde fires which hath happened amongest them verie great by reason that their houses are so néere one to an other and all the vpper partes of their houses wrought with tymber according vnto the vse of Byskaye and all suche as they doo finde with light after the houre limited they are punished verie asperly From these there is no appellation but vnto suche Iustices as are sent from the court and besides them vnto none but vnto 〈◊〉 that doo come ordinarily who doo vndoo and make satisfaction of all griefes or wronges doone by the other and these are called in their language Gomdim which is as much to say a righter of all griefe this man is respected more than all the rest Besides all these there be other particular officers which be called Tompo these haue the charge to sée the prouision of victualles and to put a price on them an other is called Tibuco he that dooth arest and punish vagabundes and idle persons Quinche is the chéefe Sargent Chomcan is the kéeper of the prison this is one that they haue in great reuerence for that he hath a priuilege aboue all the rest that after hee hath done his dutie vpon his knées at his first entrie hee may tell his tale on foote and so can not the rest doo but knéeling When that these gouernours or Iustices doo newly come into these Prouinces or Cities ordeyned and sent by the supreme counsell they doo sende two or thrée dayes before they come themselues their letters patentes and prouisions the which being séene and obeyed there goeth foorth to receiue him all the Loytias and men of warre with their souldiers and ensignes military and other officers making great feastes and pastimes Likewise the citizens at this time doo hange their stréetes with clothes of silke and other thinges very richly and trimmed with flowers bearing him companie vnto his lodging with much musicke and sound of instrumentes Aboue all these dignities offices there is one which is called Quinchay which is to be vnderstood in their language the golden seale this goeth not from the court but vpon waightie matters and of great importance touching the quietnesse of all the kingdome The order they haue in the choyse of these Iustices and officers and of other matters touching good gouernement shall be declared vnto you in the Chapter following CHAP. X. Here is prosecuted the manner howe they do choose their gouernors and Iustices and howe they doo execute the same ALl such officers as I haue declared vnto you in the Chapter past the king dooth ordaine them by consent of his counsell who doo informe themselues with a particular diligence of the qualitie and behauiour of the person that shall be elected The principall matter that they doo aduertise themselues is that the viceroy gouernour or counseller be not a naturall of that countrey that he is prouided for and that for to preuent the inconuenience that might happen in the executing of good Iustice which many times chaunceth eyther for the loue of his friendes and kinsfolkes or else for the hate hee hath to his enimies All such as are prouided in these offices after that they do depart from the court whereas the charge is giuen them til they come to the prouince citie or towne wheras they shall remaine in Iustice they doo spende nothing on their owne horses for that in all places whereas they doo trauaile or come the king hath houses appointed whereas they are receiued and lodged and serued of all thinges necessarie as well for horses for themselues as horses for them that come with him likewise of barkes and boates if that his iourney be by water all is of frée cost it is all appointed what they shall haue to eate which is conformable vnto the qualitie of his person and the office he hath in charge And when they do come vnto such houses as are appointed by the king to receiue and cherish them they of the house do aske him if he will haue his pittance or ordinarie in money or in victualles who if he haue any kinsfolkes or friendes in that place that will inuite him then dooth hee demaund it in money and kéepe it to himselfe These houses are maruelously well prouided of beds and all other things necessarie for that the Ponchas who is president of the kinges reuenewes hath a particular care to see all these things well furnished by a commandement from the king and the supreme counsell When they doo come vnto the citie or towne whereas they take the charge of gouernment after they haue giuen the intertainment vnto them with feasts pastime as is declared in the Chapter past then do they bring him and lodge him in the kings house and do prouide him of seruants all thinges necessarie that belongeth vnto him and ministers néedefull for the execution of iustice who likewise haue their abiding in the same house as sergeants and notaries and other ministers of lesse authoritie The king doth pay them all sufficient wages for that it is forbidden vpō great penalties to take bribes or any other thing of any clyent Likewise y e Iudges be straightly charged commāded that is one of the chiefest articles that is giuen them frō the counsel not to consent to be visited of any clyents in
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
following where the order howe they doo giue them the title Loytia shall bée spoken off and is amongst vs after the fashion of procéeding or commencing doctor Unto the Colleges as well Maiors as Minors the king dooth sende euerie yéere Uisâ—ters for to sée and vnderstande howe the studentes doo profite and what the masters bée with other matters touching their good gouernement In their vsitation they doo honour in wordes those whome they finde of abilitie animating them to perseuer in the same and doo put in prison and punish such as they knowe to haue abilitie and doo not profite themselues thereof and such as haue none nor will not learne they put out of the Colleges that others may occupie their places that better will imploy themselues They haue great abundance of paper the which is made of the filme of canes and with great facilitie it is verie good cheape their printed bookes are made thereof the most part of it can be written but on the one side for that it is so thinne they doo not write with pennes as wée doo made of quilles but with pennes made of canes and at the ende like a fine brush like vnto a painters pensill and although this bée their order yet haue they amongst them excellent Scriueners that grow thereby to bée verie rich When they write letters vnto anie principall person they gilde the margent of the paper and limbe it and they put the letter written into a purse made of the same paper all guilt and painted the which they shut and seale so that the letter is onely contained therein This they doo vse verie much that although one go to visite another in person yet they doo carrie a letter written in their sléeues and possible there shall not bee written in the same tenne letters and that signifieth that they doo come to kisse their handes these things are to bée solde at the bookebinders of all sortes as well for principall persons and men of authoritie as for others of meaner estate for to desire reprehend or discommende and to concluâ—e for all thinges that they will desire or haue néede of yea if it bée to defie anie bodie so that the buyer hath no more to doo but to close it vp and seale it so sende it whither his pleasure is These and manie other curiosities they doo vse as you haue heard and shall heare in the discourse of this small hystorie or at the least somewhat touched for that the breuitie that I doo pretend and will vse will not permit that I shoulde enter so farre for to declare at large but to be briefe in that I shall declare CHAP. XIIII Of the examination of such whome they preferre to the degree of Loytia which is with vs the degree of a doctor and howe they doo commence them and howe they doo beare him companie THese Uisitours of whome wee haue spoken the king and his counsaile doo sende them to viâ—ite his prouinces and amongest the greatest things that are giuen them in charge is the visitation of the Colledges and schooles which the king hath in all the principall citties as is saide the which visitour hath a particular authoritie for to commence or graduate such students as haue finished their course and are of abilitie and sufficiencie to perfourme the same They doo make them Gentlemen if they bée capable of anie charge of iustice or gouernement And for that the vse of their ceremonies is a thing woorthie to bée knowne I will heere declare the same order which Frier Martin de Herrada and his companions did sée in the citie of Aucheo at the time of their commencement At such time as the visitor hath concluded the visitation of his prouince and hath punished the malifactours and rewarded the good in the metropolitane cities hée dooth straight wayes cause proclamation to bee made that all students and scholers that doo finde themselues sufficient and haue a corage to be examined to take the degrée of Loytia the which although amongst them is vnderstoode to bee made a gentleman yet amongst vs is a doctour The day appointed being come they are all presented before the visitour who taketh all their names in a scrowle and appointeth another day for their examination This day for honour of the feast the visitor dooth inuite all the learned Loytias that are in the citie who ioyntly with him do make the examination with great rigour alwayes putting forwardes and preferring those that are skilfull in the lawes of the countrey by which they do gouerne all other faculties whatsoeuer and that they be therewithall good and vertuous And all those that they doo finde with these properties they do write their names in an other scrowle and doo appoint the day of commencement the which is done with great ceremonies and much people in whose presence the visitor in the name of the king doth giue vnto them the ensignes of degrée and dignitie to be a Loytia that is a waste or girdle bossed with gold or siluer and a hat with certaine thinges on it as shall be shewed you in the chapter following which is a signe and token that doth make the difference from the vulgar people without the which none can shewe himselfe in publike And although al be called Loytias I meane those that come to it by letters or learning and others by the warres and others by a gift of the king yet they differ the one from the other in estimation For that those of the royall counsell viceroyes gouernors and visitors are made Loytias by disputation in learning And the generall Captaines Maiors Bailifes and Testators are a gift of the kinges in recompence of some good seruice that they haue done These haue no more preheminence but onely that they haue the benefite of their priuileges and haue the dignitie of that vocation but these are neuer preferred to greater honours as the other Loytias are of these you haue in euery citie very many There be others likewise of great estimation and are put in the second degrée and are those that are made by desert in the warres and are elect and chosen by the generals by authoritie of the king for some act or worthie déede done in the wars by force of armes or such like approued by witnesse of great credite vnto whom besides the title and honour giuen vnto them they doo giue them great liuings for that no valiant or worthie déede but is had in estimation and gratified with great liberalitie which is the occasion that those which are meane souldiors are animated to imitate those that be most principall and valiant According vnto my promise I will here with as much breuitie as may bee declare vnto you the order of their commencements and how they do accompanie them after that they are made Loytias for that it is a thing worth the hearing The day appointed being come for to commence or giue degrées all the Loytias with the visitor doo
enter into the royall hall whereas they were examined al richly apparelled and being assembled then do enter in al those that shal receiue degrées galantly apparelled without any vpper garment and before euerie one of them go the Padrines and after them the Graduates with garments very finely made riding on Gennets very sumptuously couered with cloth of gold and silke that do carie the ensignes that shalbe giuen vnto him the which hee dooth demande of the visitor knéeling vpon his knées with great humilitie Who first sweare them that in all offices committed vnto them they shall with all care and diligence doo iustice equallie vnto all men and that they shall not receiue â—anie bribes or presents whatsoeuer that they shall be true and loyall vnto the king and that they shall not conspire in any confederacie or treason against him and manie other things which ceremonies he standeth long about This oth being taken the visitor who presenteth the kings person dooth put on them the ensignes aforesaide with the facultie belonging thereunto and then hée and all the Loytias imbrace them presently This doone they depart out of the hal in verie decent order at which instant all the belles in the citie are rong and great store of ordinance and artilerie discharged which continueth a good space Then they carrie these newe Loytias throughout the citie accompanied with a multitude of people in manner following There go first before them many souldiers marching in good order with drommes and trompets and other musicall instruments verie melodious after them are borne many Maces then follow all the Loytias some on horsebacke and some are carried in litter chaires in most gallant order after which follow the Padrines Then the new commenced Loytias with out any vpper garment as before is saide all mounted vppon white horses verie richly couered with cloth of Golâ—e hauing euerie one of them a tippet of taffeta vpon his shoulder and on his head a hat with two small tippets hanging downe behinde much after the fashion of those that hang on the bishops miter this is permitted vnto none but vnto those of their orders abouesaide vpon their hats they haue two branches of golde or of siluer and guilt made like vnto a bunch of fethers Before euerie one of them are carried sixe frames couered with â—atten and euerie one is carried by foure men in these frames are written in letters of golde their disputation facultie and title giuen them for the same and their armes with manie other things which I omit for breuitie sake because this marching and passing holdeth eight houres togither The Citizens there kéepe this day festiuall and do ordeine manie dances and sportes And the better sort doo celebrate three or foure daies after banquetting the newe made Loytia and giuing him ioy of his newe preferment euerie man seeking his good will and fauour From this day forwards hée is of abilitie to take vppon him any office and gouernement whatsoeuer and therefore straight wayes he goeth vnto the court to procure the same and carrieth with him the ensignes of his commencement and is apparelled so that he may be knowne wherefore they doo him great honour in the way as hee goeth and lodge him in such houses as the king hath appointed in euerie towne for such as they be When he commeth to the court hee goeth and dooth his duetie vnto the president and vnto the rest of the royall counsell who euerie one a part doo giue him ioy of his new dignitie and with many words of great curtesie praise promise him as occasion shall serue to prouide him a place as they by their examination doo vnderstande his abilitie and againe as they see his discréete dealing and care in such matters as they do giue him in charge so will they preferre him to better dignitie and honour So the next day following they register him in their booke of memorie which is alwayes in the counsell chamber and they remaine there waiting and seruing them vntill they haue prouided them of some gouernement which is not long after for that the kingdome is great with manie prouinces and Citties as by this historie you shal vnderstand CHAP. XV. How that with them they haue had the vse of Artilery long time before vs in these parts of Europe AMongst many things worthie to bée considered which haue béene and shalbe declared in this historie amongst manie other which of purpose I omit because I would not be tedious vnto the reader no one thing did cause so much admiracion vnto the Portugals when that they did first traficke in Canton neither vnto our Spaniards who long time after went vnto the Philippinas as to finde in this kingdome Artilerie And wee finde by good account taken out of their histories that they had the vse thereof long time before vs in Europe It is said that the first beginning was in the yeare 1330. by the industrie of an Almane yet howe he was called there is no historie that dooth make mention but the Chinos saie and it is euidently séene that this Almaine dooth not deserue the name of the first inuentor but of the discouerer for that they were the first inuentors and from them hath the vse therof béene transported vnto other kingdomes where it is nowe vsed The Chinos saie that their first king called Vitey did first inuent the same and that he was taught the manner how to make them by a spirite that came out of the earth for to defende himselfe and his kingdome from the Tartares that did much molest him with warres for according vnto the tokens giuen him as it dooth appeare in their histories and the industrie for the same it appeareth that it was some spirit enimie vnto mankind onely for to destroy them as in these daies the experience thereof is apparant vnto vs. All the which carieth a similitude of the trueth for that this king was a great sorcerer inchanter as you may well vnderstande by the herbe that he had growing in y e court of his pallace whereof before I haue told you And if this be not credible because so many yeres are past since this kings raigne yet it is of truth y t when these Chinos went to the kingdom of Pergu to coÌ„quest y e east Indies more then 1500. yeares since they caried with them y e like instruments of warre which did serue them in their conquest the which conquest being ended they left behind them certaine péeces of artilerie which were found afterwards by the Portugals wheron were grauen the armes of China and in what yeare they were made agréeing iust with the time of the conquest Such Artilerie as the Frier Gerrada and his companions did sée at their being there they say it was of antiquitie and very ill wrought and was for the most part péeces to shoote stones or murderers but it was giuen them to vnderstande that in other prouinces of the kingdome
such as are poore widowes and driuen by necessitie cannot sustaine themselues they may for the supplying of their want sell their children and binde them to perpetuall seruitude the which is permitted in such sort that there are amongst them rich merchants that deale in no other thing and all the maiden children that they buy so bee brought vp with great care and taught to plaie and sing and other things appertaining vnto pleasure Then after when they are of yeares they carrie â—hem vnto the houses aforesaid ordained for common women The first day that they doo dedicate her to this ill office before shée is put into this common house they carrie her before a iudge which the king hath ordained for euerie house appertaining to any cittie or towne appointed to bée their kéeper and sée that there bee no euill rule kept amongst them and this iudge dooth place her in the house himselfe and from that day forwards her master hath no more to doo with her but to go euerie moneth vnto the iudge to recouer his tribute which is a certaine summe set downe by the iudge by agréement made betwene them both he appointeth besides this the time when hée shall be paide for her and for that was spent in her bringing vp and teaching These women be very much haunted and passe away the time maruellous pleasantly by reason of their singing and playing which they doo with great cunning and according vnto the report of the Chinos they apparell themselues with great curiositie and paint themselues They haue amongst them many blinde women that are frée and not bonde these are trimmed dressed and painted by others that haue their sight and such as haue spent all their youth in these houses can not goe foorth so long as they liue as is commaunded by a lawe publike least by their dishonest demeanure they should be an occasion of some harme and an euill example to others Whatsoeuer proâ—ite dooth remaine vnto these women when they haue payed their maister they giue vnto the Iudge their superiour who doth keepe it faithfully and carefully and giueth a good account thereof euerie yeare vnto the Uisitors And afterwardes when these women waxe olde it is repaâ—ed vnto them againe by order of the said Iudge But it is bestowed in such sort that they shall not lacke neither haue vrgent necessitie But if it so fall out that they should lacke they will giue them a stipend to maintaine them onely for to dresse and trimme the blinde women or else they will put them into the kinges hospitall a place ordeyned for such as can not helpe themselues The men children which they buy and are solde to supplie their necessitie in the order aforesaide of the women they put to learne some occupation and after that they are expert therein they doo serue a master in the same trade for a certaine time the which being expired their masters are not only bound to giue them their libertie but also to prouide them of wiues and to marrie them prouiding also for them houses and necessaries wherewith they may get their liuing Which if they doo not of their owne frée will they are compelled by Iustice to doo whether they will or no. And they for a token of gratefulnesse must come vnto their masters the first day of the yeare and other dayes appointed and bring him some present The children of these be all frée and subiect to no bondage for the benefite â—oone vnto their father for their bringing vp CHAP. XXI The fashion of their ships aswell of those that passe the seas as of those that doo roade riuers which are manie and great and howe they doo prouide themselues of fish for all the yeare THere is in this kingdome a great number of shippes and barkes with the which they sayle all a long their coastes and vnto Ilandes neere hande and into their riuers the which doo runne cleane through the most part of all their prouinces and there dwelleth so much people vpon these riuers in shippes and barkes that it séemeth to be some great Citie there is so many of theÌ„ that they do esteeme that there is almost as many people that dwell vpon the water as vpon the lande They make them slightly and with small cost for they haue in all partes of this countrie great aboundance of tymber iron and other thinges necessarie for this vse but in especiall a kinde of glew wherewith they doo â—awbe and trimme their shippes that is much more tougher and stronger then the pitch which wee vse which after it is layde on sticketh fast and maketh their shipping as harde as stones the aboundance whereof and the great number of shipwrightes and againe for that there is not on the lande roome enough for the people to inhabite being so many in number causeth them to build so great a number of shippes and barkes They vse their shippes and barkes of many fashions euery one hath his proper name Such ships as they haue to saile long voiages be called Iuncos but for the warre they make huge mightie vessels with high castles both on the prowe and sterne much after the fashion of them that come out of the Easterne seas and vnto those with which the Portingales sayle into the east India They haue these in so great number y t a generall may ioine together in 4. dayes an armie of more than 600. Those which they do commonly vse for burden and to lade are made much after y e same fashion greatnes and smal difference there is betwéene them but that they are lower both before at the sterne There is an other sort of lesser vessels are much like vnto pâ—nases haue foure great ores on ech side whereat row sixe men at euery ore foure at the least These are excellent good to rowe in and out ouer their hard hauens or into any place where is litle water they do call theÌ„ Bancoens There is an other sort that is more brode than these which they call Lanteas carie eight ores on a side with sixe men at euerie ore Of these two last sorts of vessels pirates rouers at the sea do coÌ„monly vse for in those seas there be very many for that they be very nimble to fly to giue assalt as occasion doth serue They haue an other sort of vessels y t are long like vnto a galley but more square being very brode néede little water they do vse theÌ„ likewise to transport merchandise froÌ„ one place to an other they are swift run vp the riuers with smal force of the armes Many other sorts of barks they haue besides the aforesaid some with galleries windows painted and gylt but chiefely those which the Uiceroyes and Gouernours doo make for their recreation Of those sortes of shipping afore sayd which they call Iuncos the king hath in al his prouinces great armies and in them souldiers with their Captaines to defend
the prouinces whatsoeuer The iudge or gouernor of the first towne dooth in person go forth to méete and receiue him and giue him his welcome with great complement of words câ—remonies all the Loytias Captaines souldiers and the inhabitants of the towne doo accompanie the iudge or gouernour when that they go to receiue him But at his disembarking to come a shore they will not suffer him to set his féete vppon the ground although it be but a little way that he should go but hath at the waters side in a readinesse eight men with a chaire made of yuorie or of some other pretious thing with the curteines of veluâ—t damaske or cloth of golde which for the like oportunitie they haue in euerie cittie or principall towne appointed by the king wherein they do carrie him to his lodging Likewise they haue in euerie citie and great towne throughout all the kingdome a principall house and sufficient for to lodge such like personages It is also vsed to lodge such iudges as are sent by the king to execute his commandement when they passe by anie of such cities or townes There is in euery one of these houses a Lieutenant he hath in it maruellous and excellent houshold stuffe as hangings beddes seruants and all other necessaries not 〈◊〉 to lodge one ambassador but many if they shoulde there méete and not one to disturbe an other So as aforesaide they doo beare him company either on horsebacke or in a chaire which is the ordinarie carriage amongst them till hee come vnto this house whereas they doo leaue him with much curtesie and many ceremonies alonelie with them that waite vppon him and serue him And also a Captaine with a thousand or two thousande souldiers for to garde him continuallie and to beare him companie till hee returne againe out of the kingdome Then the next day following the iudge or gouernour that did receiue him dooth go and visite him And after that they haue demanded of him such ordinarie thinges as is vsed in such like visitations then doo they learne of his estate and of the prince that hath sent him and in summe the effect of his comming and ambassage then doo they straightwayes at the houre dispatch a post vnto the gouernour or vizroy of the prouince who is alwayes resident in the chiefe or metropolitan Citie thereof and hée at the same instant dooth dispatch another post with that message vnto the king and his roial counsel And he dooth sende order vnto the ambassador either to stay or a safe conduct for him to go vnto the place whereas hee is Likewise hée sendeth order vnto the iudge howe hée shall intreate that ambassador which is giuen according vnto the relation sent him wherein hée did vnderstande the state of the king and prince that sent him Likewise the number of souldiers y t shall beare him companie and of all other thinges néedefull for him in his iourney all the which is set downe in order and in particular as what they shall giue euery man to eate for him and his seruants and in what townes and howe hee shall be lodged His safe conduct is brought him written vppon a whited table after the fashion as we haue tolde you heere before in manie places and is with great lâ—tters wherein is contained from what king that ambassador is sent This table is borne alwayes before him wheresoeuer hee dooth go But that pasport which is sent him afterwards from the royall councell with facultie that hée may go vnto the court is after another sort for that it is written in parchment and gallantlie lymned and with the kings seale of Golde hanging at it which is neuer giuen but at such like occasion or for some prouision giuen to a vizroy Looke what is spent vppon this ambassadour in all his iourney and vppon them that doo beare him companie for all necessaries is vppon the kings cost and charges and is paide by the kinges treasurers in euerie place where as they doo go Generallie in all partes they doo make him great feastes and banquets with pastimes and presents that day that hee dooth enter into the Cittie of Taâ—bin or Paquin whereas the king is There goeth foorth to méete him without the citie all the Gentlemen of the court with the royall councel and president who according vnto the saying of the Chinos goeth forth with little lesse maiestie and companie then the king who if the ambassadour bee from a king that is mightie they giue him the right hand if not they giue him the left hand and in this sort they go ether talâ—ing with himselfe or by interpreters demaunding of him of his health and of his trauaile in comming and other thinges till hée come into the court of the pallace whereas he is lodged and there they doo leaue him with some to beare him companie and hee dooth returne vnto his house with all this company aforesaid But when they do depart from him they doo giue him power in the name of the king to make a certaine number of Loytias and to set at libertie a certaine number of prisoners such as are condemned to die and other good déeds particular Those that doo enter in this kingdome with the title of an ambassador they cannot do him any griefe for anie delight or euill that he doth although they can make good proofe thereof And for that it is of a truth you shall vnderstande the proofe by experience There was sent vnto this king one Bartholmew Perez a Portugall and his company by order of the vizroy of the India with an ambassage from the king Don Manuel of Portugall they were accused before the vizroy of the prouince of Canton by the ambassadors of the king of Malaca that were there present who were bounde vnto the court to treat of matters of their king they did testifie that the ambassage that the Portugal did bring was false and they were spies sent from the vizroy of the India for to view the fortresses of the citie that they might come afterwards and take it as they had done in many places of the India they perseuering still in the euill and mischieuous intent did will the vizroy to apprehend them and to punish them as such spies did deserue offâ—ing themselues to giue good information for the same Who after that he had well considered thereof and consulted with the Loytias of the citie and with his counsailors they commanded that they should be apprehended and put in straite prison whereas their declarations were taken with great care deceit and pollicie and by reason that in them they found contrarieties some for feare confessed much more then that which was demanded and other saide that it was of truth so that by their confessions according vnto the lawes of the countrie they were condemned to die and sent their iudgement vnto the roiall councell for to confirme the same with intent and great desire for to execute the same The
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
Lopez de Legaspi who afteâ—warde died in the said Ilande with the title of Adelantado a yeare after that the fathers Fryer Martin de Herrada and Fryer Geronimo Marin and their companies did enter into China So after that our Spaniardes hadde discouered the sayde Ilandes and some of them populared to the vse of his Maiestie but in especiall that of Manilla which is fiue hunâ—red leagues in circuit in the which is situated the citie of Luson and is also called Manilla and as the metropolitane of all the Iland whereas the gouernours haue ordeined their place of abiding euer since the first discouery They haue also founded in that citie a cathedrall Church and erected a bishopricke And for Bishops of the same his maiestie did ordaine the most reuerend fryer don Domingo de Salazar of the ordâ—r of preachers in whom was comprehended some holinesse good life and learning as was requisite and necessarie for that prouince and was consecrated in Madrid the yeare of 1579. At this present there be thrée monasteries of religious men in that Iland the one of the order of S. Austen and were the first that by the coÌ„mandement of his maiestie did enter into this Ilands preaching the law of the gospell which was great profit vnto those soules yet great trauaile vnto them and cost many of them their liues in dooing it the other monasterie is of barefoote Fryers of the order of S. Francis of the prouince of S. Ioseph who haue béene great examples with great profit vnto them of those portes The third are of the order of S. Dominicke or preachers who haue done their dutie in all things so well as the other These thrée orders were alonely in those Ilands for certaine yeares till now of late time haue gone thither Iesuites which haue bin a great aide and helpe vnto their religion When these Spaniardes were come vnto these Ilands they had straightwaies notice of the mightie kingdome of China as well by the relation of them of the Ilands who tolde vnto them the maruels thereof as also within a fewe daies after they did sée and vnderstand by ships that came into those ports with marchants that brought marchandise and other things of great curiositie from that kingdome did particularly declare the mightinesse and riches therof all which haue béen declared vnto you in the first thrée bookes of this historie This beeing knowen vnto the religious people of S. Austin who at that time were alone in those Ilands but in especiall vnto the prouinciall Fryer Martin de Herrada a man of great valour and wel learned in all sciences who séeing y â— great capacitie or towardnesse which the Chinos had more then those of the Ilandes in all things but in especiall in their gallantnesse discretion and wit he straightwaies had a great desire to go thether with his fellow to preach the gospell vnto those people of so good a capacitie to receiue the same who with a pretended purpose to put it in vre effect he began with great care studie to learne that language the which he learned in few daies did make therof a dictionarie TheÌ„ afterwards they did giue great intertainmeÌ„t presents vnto the marchants that came froÌ„ China for to procure them to carie theÌ„ thether many other things the which did shew their holie-zeale yea they did offer themselues to bee slaues vnto the marchants thinking by y â— means to enter in to preach but yet none of these diligences did take effect till such time as the diuine maiestie did discouer a better way as shalbe declared vnto you in this chapter following CHAP. II. A rouer of this kingdome of China called Limahon doth make himselfe strong at the sea and doth ouercome an other rouer of the same countrie called Vintoquiam THe Spaniards did enioy their new habitation of Manilla in great quietnesse vâ—ide of all care of any accideâ—t that might disquiet theÌ„ or any strange treasons of enimies for to offende them for that those Ilandes were in great quietnes and in obedience vnto the Christian king Don Phillip and in continuall traficke with the Chinos which séemed vnto them a sufficient securitie for the continuance of the quiâ—tnesse they liued in And againe for that they vnderstoode that they had a law amongst them as hath bin told you in this historie y t it was forbidden to make any wars out of their owne countrie But being in this security and quietnes vnlooked for they were beset with a mightie great Armada or fléete of ships by the rouer Limahon of whose vocation thâ—re are coÌ„tinually on y â— coast the one by reason that y e country is full of people wheras of necessitie must be many idle persons and the other principall occasion by reason of the great tyranny y t the gouernorâ— doo vse vnto the subiects This Limahon came vpon theÌ„ with intent to do theÌ„ harme as you shal vnderstand This rouer was borne in the citie of Trucheo in the prouince of Cuytan which the Portingals do cal Catim He was of mean parentage and brought vp in his youth in liberty and vice hee was by nature warlike and euill inclinâ—d He would learne no oâ—cupation but all giuen to robbe in the high waies and became so â—xpâ—rt that many came vnto him and followed that trade He made himself Captain ouer theÌ„ which were more then two thousand wâ—re so strong y t they were feared in all that prouince where as they were This being knowen vnto the king and to his councell they did straight way coÌ„mand the viceroy of the prouince wher as the rouer was that with all the haste possible he should gather together all the garrisons of his Frontyers to apprehende and take him and if it were possible to carrye him aliue vnto the Citie of Taybin if not his head The Uiceroy incontinent did gather together people necessarie and in great haste to followe him The which being knowen vnto Limahon the rouer who saw that with the people he had he was not able to make resistance against so great a number as they were and the eminent danger that was therein he called together his companies and went from thence vnto a port of the sea that was a fewe leagues from that place and did it so quickly and in such secret that before the people that dwelt therein could make any defence for that they were not accustomed to any such assaultes but liued in great quietnesse they were lordes of the port and of all such ships as were there into the which they imbarked themselues straightwaies wayed anker and departed to the sea whereas they thought to bee in more securitie than on the lande as it was true Then hee séeing himselfe lorde of all those seas beganne to robbe and spoyle all shippes that he could take as well strangers as of the naturall people by which meanes in a small time hee was prouided of mariners and
other thinges which before hee lacked requisite for that new occupation He sacked robbed and spoyled all the townes that were vpon the coast and did verie much harme So he finding himselfe verie strong with fortie shippes well armed of those he had out of the port and other that he had taken at the sea with much people such as were without shame their handes imbrued with robberies and killing of men hee imagined with himselfe to attempt greater matters and diâ— put it in execution he assaulted great townes and did a thousand cruelties in such sort that on all that coast whereas hee was knowen he was much feared yea and in other places farther off his fame was so published abroad So he following this trade and exercise he chanced to meete with an other roouer as himselfe called Vintoquian likewise naturally borne in China who was in a port voide of any care or mistrust whereas Limahon finding opportunitie with greater courage did fight with the shippes of the other that although they were thréescore ships great and small and good souldiers therein hée did ouercome them and tooke fiue and fiftie of their ships so that Vintoquian escaped with fiue ships Then Limahon séeing himselfe with a fléete of nintie fiue shippes well armed and with many stout people in them knowing that if they were taken they should be all executed to death they therefore setting all feare a part gaue themselues to attempt new inuentions of euill not onely in robbing of great Cities but also in destroying of them CHAP. III. The king of China doth arme a fleete of shippes against the rouer Lymahon who withdraweth himselfe to Tonzuacaotican whereas he hath notice of the Philippinas THe complayntes increased euerie day more and more vnto the king and his counsell of the euils doone vnto the Chinos by this rouer Lymahon For the which commandement was giuen straightwaies vnto the Uiceroy of that prouince whereas he vsed to execute his euill that with great expedition he might be taken for to cut off this inconuenience who in few dayes did set foorth to sea one hundred and thirtie great shippes well appointed with fortie thousand men in them and one made generall ouer them all a gentle man called Omoncon for to go seeke and foâ—lowe this Rouer with expresse commandement to apprehende oâ— kill him although to the executing of the same he put both shippes and men in danger Of all this prouision Lymahon had aduertisement by some secrete friends who séeing that his enemies were many and he not able to counteruaile them neither in shippes nor men determined not to abide the comming but to retire and depart from that coast so in flying he came vnto an Ilande in secrete called Tonznacaotican which was fortie leagues from the firme land and is in the right way of nauigation to the Ilands Philippinas In this Iland was Lymahon retyred with his armie a certaine time and durst not returne to the firme land for that he knew that the kinges fléete did lie vpon the coast to defende the fame And although he did send foorth some ships a robbing yet did they not doo any thing of importance but rather camâ— flying away from the mightie power of the kinges From this Ilande they did goefoorth with some of their ships robbing and spoyling al such as they met with marchandice other things that they carried from one Ilande to an other and from the Iland vnto the firme comming from thence amongst them all they caused to take two ships of China which came froÌ„ Manilla and were bound to their owne countrie And hauing then in their power they searched them vnder hatches and found that they had rich things of golde and spanish ryalles which they had in truck of their marchandice the which they carried to the Ilandes They informed themselues in all points of the state and fertilitie of that countrie but in particular of the Spaniardes and how many there were of theÌ„ in the citie of Manilla who were not at that present aboue seuentie persons for that the rest were separated in the discouering and populing of other Ilands newly found and vnderstanding that these few did liue without any suspition of enimies and had neuer a fort nor bulwarke and the ordinance which they had although it was very good yet was it not in order to defend themselues nor offend their enemies hee determined to goe thither with all his fléete and people for to destroy and kill them and to make himselfe lorde of the saide Ilande of Manilla and other adiacent there nigh the same And there he thought himselfe to be in securitie from the power of the king which went séeking of him And so as he was determined he put it in vre with as much expedition as was possible CHAP. IIII. This rouer Limahon goeth to the Ilands Philippinas and commeth to the citie of Manilla THis Rouer Limahon determining to goe and to take the Ilands Philippinas and to make himselfe lord and king ouer them all but first to kill the Spaniardes which hee thought easely to be done for that there was so fewe And there he pretended to liue in securitie without feare that before he had of the kings great fléete for that it was so farre distant from the firme lande So with this determination hee departed from those Ilandes whereas hee was retyred and went to sea and sayling towardes the Ilandes Philippinas they passed in sight of the Ilandes of the Illocos which had a towne called Fernandina which was newe founded by the Captaine Iohn de Salzedo who at that instant was in the same for lieutenant to the gouernour Foure leagues from the same they met with a small galley which the said Iohn de Salzedo had sent for victuals There was in her but 25. souldiers besides y e rouers so that with the one the other they were but a fewe in number for that as they thought they did trauaile in places of great securitie and without any suspition to mâ—ete enemies So soone as Limahon had discouered the galley hee cast about towardes her and with great ease did take her and did burne and kill all that was in her and pardoned one of them This being done he did prosecute his voyage according vnto his determination and passed alongest but not in such secret but that hee was discouered by the dwellers of the towne of Fernandina who gaue notice thereof vnto the lieutenant of the gouernor aforesaide as a woonder to sée so many shippes together and a thing neuer séene before at those Ilands Likewise it caused admiration vnto him and made him to thinke and to imagine with great care what it might bee hee sawe that they did beare with the citie of Manilla and thought with himselfe that so great a fléete as that was could not goe to the place which they bare in with for any goodnesse towardes the dwellers therein who were voide of all
his people and the fort and with that furie they slewe more then one hundreth Chinos and tooke prisoners seuentie women which they founde in the same trench but when that Lymahon vnderstoode the rumour he tooke himselfe straightwayes to his fort which he had made for to defend himselfe from the kinges nauie if they should happen to finde him out and there to saue his life vpon that extremitie he commaunded some of his souldiers to goe foorth and to skirmish with the Spaniardes who were verie wearie with the trauaile of all that day and with the anguish of the great heate with the burning of the ships and the trench which was intollerable for that they all burned together The Captaines séeing this and that their people were out of order neither could they bring them into any for that they were also weary although y e general of the field did succour theÌ„ in time the which did profite them much yet did they sound a retraite did withdraw themselues with the losse of fiue Spaniards and thirtie of the Indians their friends and neuer a one more hurt Then the next day following the Generall of the fielde did bring his souldiers into a square battle and began to march towards the fort with courage to assalt it if occasion did serue thereunto hee did pitch his campe within two hundreth paces of the fort and founde that the enimie did all that night fortifie himselfe verie well and in such sort that it was perilous to assalt him for that he had placed vpon his fort thrée péeces of artilerie and many bases besides others ingins of fire worke Seing this that his péeces of artilerie that hee brought were very small for to batter and little store of munition for that they had spent all at the assalt which the rouer did giue them at Manilla the Generall of the fielde and the captaines concluded amongst themselues that séeing the enimie had no ships to escape by water neither had hee any great store of victuals for that all was burnt in the ships it was the best and most surest way to besiege the fort and to remaine there in quiet vntill that hunger did constraine them either to yéeld or come to some conclusion which rather they will then to perish with hunger This determination was liked well of them all although it fell out cleane contrarie vnto their expectation for that in the space of thrée monethes that siege indured this Limahon did so much that within the fort he made certaine small barks and trimmed them in the best manner he coulde wherewith in one night hee and all his people escaped as shall bee tolde you a thing that séemed impossible and caused great admiration amongst the Spaniards and more for that his departure was such that he was not discouered neither by them on the water nor on the lande What happened in these thrée monethes I doo not here declare although some attempts were notable for that my intent is to declare what was the occasion that those religious men and their consorts did enter into the kingdome of China and to declare of that which they said they had séene for the which I haue made relation of the comming of Limahon and of all the rest which you haue heard CHAP. VIII Omoncon captain of the king of China commeth to seeke Limahon and doth meete with Spaniards IN the meane time that the siege indured at the fort as you haue vnderstood there went and came certaine vessels which brought victuals and other necessaries from the cittie of Manilla which was but fortie leagues from the mouth of that riuer of Pagasinan as hath béene tolde you It happened vppon a day that a shippe of Myguel de Loarcha wherein was Frier Martin de Herrada Prouinciall of the Augustine Friers who was come vnto the riuer Pagansinan for to sée the Generall of the fielde and in the same shippe returned vnto Manilla to hold Capitulo or court in the saide Ilande and port of Buliano Seuen leagues after they were out of the mouth of Pagasinan they mette with a shippe of Sangleyes who made for the port and thinking them to bée enimies they bore with them hauing another shippe that followed them for their defence and had no more in them but the saide prouinciall and fiue Spanyards besides the mariners This shippe of Sangley séeing that hee did beare with them woulde haue fledde but the winde woulde not permit him for that it was to him contrarie which was the occasion that the two shippes wherein the Spanyards were for that they did both saile and rowe in a small time came within Cannon shot In one of the shippes there was a Chino called Sinsay one that had béene many times at Manilla with merchandise and was a verie friend and knowne of the Spanyards and vnderstoode their language who knowing that shippe to be of China and not to be a rouer did request our people not to shoote neither to doo them any harme vntill such time as they were informed what they were in that same shippe This Sinsay went straight wayes into the fore shippes and demaunded what they were and from whence they came and bing well informed he vnderstoode that he was one of the ships of warre that was sent out by the king of China to séeke the rouer Limahon who leauing the rest of the fléet behinde came forth to séeke in those Ilands to see if he coulde discouer him to be any of them and the better to bee informed thereof they were bounde into the port of Buliano from whence they came with their two shippes from whome they woulde haue fledde thinking they had béene some of the rouers shippes Being fully perswaded the one of the other they ioyned togither with great peace and friendshippe the Spanyards straightwayes entred into their boate and went vnto the shippe of the Chinos and carried with them the aforesaid Sinsay for to be their interpreter and â—o speake vnto the Chinos In the saide shippe came a man of great authoritie who was called Omoncon who brought a commission from their king and shewed it vnto the Spanyards and vnto the father Prouinciall in the which the king and his councell did pardon all those souldiers that were with Limahon if that forthwith they would leaue him and returne vnto the kings part and likewise did promise great gifts and fauour vnto him that did either take or kill the aforesaid rouer Then did Sinsay declare vnto him of the comming of the rouer vnto the Ilands and all that happened in the siege of the Cittie as aforesaide and howe they had him besieged in the riuer of Pagansinan from whence it was not possible for him to escape The captain Omoncon reioyced very much of these newes and made many signes of great content and did embrace the Spanyards many times and gaue other tokens wherby he diâ— manifest the great pleasure he receiued and woulde therewith straight-waies
who also was verie well learned and of the Cittie of Mexico the souldiers that were appointed to beare them companie were called Pedro Sarmiento chiefe sargeant of the Cittie of Manilla of Vilorado and Miguel de Loarcha both principall men and good Christians as was conuenient for that which they tooke in hand These fathers did carrie them for this purpose that if they did remaine there with the king preaching of the Gospell then they shoulde returne with the newes thereof to giue the Gouernour to vnderstande of all that they had séene and happened vnto them and likewise vnto the king of Spaine if néede did so require This offer of the captaine Omoncon and the appointment which was made by the gouernour and the prouinciall was knowne throughout al the Citie and after that they had made great reioycings and feasts for the same it was approued of all men that those that were named were principall persons as aforesaid and were fully certified that there should nothing be neglected of that they did commaunde them neither let passe any occasion for that it was that which they did all desire but in particular for the â—eruice and honor of God and for the benefite and profite that shoulde redowne vnto them all by the mutuall contractation betwixt the one nation the other and also giue the king to vnderstande of so good newes as this is The Gouernâ—â— did straightwayes call those persons that were named and appointed to come before the captaine Omoncon and tolde them what was determined the which they did accept with great ioy and gaue great thankes and the gouernor in token of gratitude did giue vnto the Captaine Omoncon in the presence of them all a gallant chaine of golde and a rich robe of crimson in graine a thing that hee estéemed verie much and much more estéemed in China for that it is a thing that they haue not there Besides this they did ordaine a reasonable present for to sende vnto the gouernor of Chincheo he that dispatched Omoncon by the commandement of the king to go and séeke the rouer also another present for the vizroy of the prouince of Ochian who was at that present in the citie of Aucheo And for that Sinsay shoulde not finde himselfe agréeued who was a merchant well knowne amongst them and perhappes might bee the occasion of some â—uill and disturbance of their pretence they gaue vnto him also another chaine of golde as well for this as also for that hee was euer a sure and perfite friend vnto the Spaniards Then straightwayes by the commaundement of the Gouernor there were brought togither all such Chinos as were captiue and taken from Limahon out of the fort aforesaide at Pagansinan and gaue them vnto Omoncon to carrie them free with him and gaue likewise commaundement that the Generall of the fielde and all such Captaines and souldiers that were at the siege of the forte shoulde giue vnto him all such as did there râ—maine binding himselfe to paye vnto the souldiers to whome they did appertaine all whatsoeuer they should be valued to be worth all the which being done he commanded to bee put in a redinesse all that was necessarie for the voyage and that in ample manner the which was doone in a short time CHAP. X. Omoncon departeth with certificate in what perplexitie he left Limahon the rouer and doth carrie with him the Fathers of S. Augustine THe twelfth day of Iune in the yeare of our Lord 1575. being sunday in the morning the aforesaid Gouernor and all that were in the cittie did ioyne and go together vnto the monasterie of saint Augustine where was deuout prayers made vnto the holy ghost and after they had all of them requested of God so to direct the voyage that it might be to the honor and glorie of his deuine maiestie and to the saluation of the soules of that kingdome whome lucyfer hath so long possessed Omoncon and Synsay did take their leaue of the Gouernour and of the rest giuing them thankes for their good entertainement that they made them and did promise them in recompence thereof to bee alwayes their assured friends as shall appeare by his works and to carrie them whome he did request of his owne good will with securitie as vnto himselfe that he would first suffer wrong himselfe before any should bee doone vnto those whom he had on his charge The Gouernor and all the rest did thankfully accept his new offer giuing him to vnderstand that they were fully perswaded that his word déede should be all one and therewith they tooke their leaue of them and of the religious men with the two souldiers their companions not lacking teares to be shed on both parts Then did they al imbarke themselues in a ship of the Ilands which was made readie for the same effect and went out of the port in the company of another shippe with merchants of China that were at Manilla into the which Sinsay put himselfe with all their victuals for to carry it vntill they came vnto the port of Buliano whereas was the great shippe of Omoncon wherin they should make their voyage which was that which was forced to returne backe againe by reason of foule wether they aryued at the same port the sunday following for that the winde was somewhat contrarie and had lost the shippe that carried their victuals but after founde her at an anker in the port for that she was the bigger shippe and sailed better they founde also in her two Spanish souldiers whom the generall of the fielde had sent from Pagansinan for that from the place whereas he was he did sée the saide ship to enter into the port with commandement for to carrie them vnto him This did cause vnto the religious men and souldiers a suspition that the generall of the fielde woulde procure to stay them vntill such time as he did sée the ende of the siege of the fort which euerie day was looked when they would yeelde for that they shoulde carry with them Limahon the rouer a liue or dead Uppon the which almost euery one gaue his iudgement that it were better to depart without obeying his commandement neither to take their leaue of him but to prosecute their voyage so much desired for they thought euerie houre of their staying to bee a whole yeare fearing that euerie thing woulde be an impediment to disturbe their intent and purpose but better perswading themselues knowing the good condition and great Christianitie of the generall of the fielde whom Frier Martin had alwayes in place of his sonne for that he was Neuew vnto the Adelantado Legaspi the first gouernor and discouerer of the said Philippinas whom he brought with him from Mexico being but a childe they were agréed to go vnto him and shewe their obedience and to take their leaue of him and of all the rest of their friends that were in the campe So with this determination they put
called them all to naught from the poope of his shippe with manie reprochfull woordes saying that they came to steale the honour that hee with so great trauayle and perill had gotten Then the generall séeing that he could not goe thorough with his purpose hee determined to leaue him and therewith to cast about with his shippes and returned into the port of the baye from whence they came This brought in his shippe a sonne of Sinsay to giue occasion vnto his father for to come vnto him and likewise his owne father whome they did straightwayes put in prison and his wife and mother which is a thing commonly vsed in that countrie the children to pay for their parentes and to the contrarie the parents for the children Sinsay who feared the same woulde not goe vnto his owne house till such time as he did carrie commandement from the Uiceroy for to deliuer out of prison those that were put there without desert the which was granted by the Uiceroy with other fauours and great honour as shall bee declared vnto you CHAP. XIII Omoncon doth disembarke himselfe with our Spaniardes in the port of Tanfuso and are verie well receiued by the Iustice and made verie much of by the order of the Insuanto of that prouince WIthin a little while after that the Captayne of the sixe shippes departed for Chincheo Omoncon and his companie ariued at the port of Tanfuso hard by vpon wednesday in the euening being the fift day of Iuly This Tanfuso is a gallant and fresh towne of foure thousand housholders and hath continually a thousand souldiers in garrison and compassed about with a great and strong wall and the gates fortified with plates of yron the foundations of all the houses are of lime stone and the walles of lime and yearth and some of bricke their houses within very fairely wrought with great courts their stréetes faire and brode all paued Before that Omoncon did come vnto an anker they sawe all the souldiers and the people of the towne were gathered together vpon the rockes that were ioyning vnto the port all armed readie vnto the battaile amongst whom there was a principall captaine thrée more of his companions that were sent him by the Gouernor of Chincheo whom they do call in their language Insuanto who had vnderstaÌ„ding of the coÌ„ming of Omoncon his companie by the ship aforesaid he sent theÌ„ thither before that in his name should entertain them cherish them all that was possible When the ship entred into the port Omoncon did salute the towne with certain péeces of artilery discharged all his hargubushes sixe times about therwithal tooke in their saile and let anker fall Then straightwaies the captaine whoÌ„ the Insuanto had sent came abord the ship who had expresse coÌ„mission not to leaue the company of our people after that they were disembarked till such time as they came whereas he was but to beare them companie and to prouide them of all thinges necessarie the which he did accomplish All these captaines and ministers of the king doo weare certaine ensignes for to be knowen from the common people who are not permitted to weare any such and they can not goe abroad in publike without the same neyther will they if they might for that by them they are obeyed and reuerenced as well in the stréetes as in any other place where they come all such generally be called Loytias which is as much to say in our language Gentlemen the particular ensignes which they doo vse bee broade wastes or girdles embossed after diuerse manners some of golde and siluer some of the shell of a Turtuga or Turtell and of a swéete wood and other some of Iuerie the higher estates hath them embrodered with pearles and precious stones and their bunnets with two long eares and their buskins made of satten and vnshorne veluet as we haue declared more at large in the first thrée bookes Then after so soone as they were come to an anker in the port the Iustice did send them a license in writing for to come foorth of the shippe as a thing necessarie for that without it the waiters or guardes of the water side will not suffer them to put foote a land This licence was written vpon a borde whited and firmed by the Iustice whose charge it is to giue the licence Then when they came a shoore there were the souldiers that were appointed by the Insuanto in a readinesse to beare them companie and did direct and leade them vnto the kinges houses of the sayde Citie the like hath euerie Citie almost thoroughout all the kingdome there they did lodge them These houses are very great and very wel wrought and gallant with faire courtes belowe and galleries aboue they had in them stanges or pondes of water full of fish of sundrie sortes The Insuanto had giuen order vnto the Iustice of Tansuso wherein he had ordained what hee should giue them to eate and all other things that should be done particularly by it selfe without lacking ofany thing and appointed the Captaine that he with his souldiers should not depart from them not a iot but alwaies to beare them company whethersoeuer they went and not to depart till he had farther order from him in accomplishing whereof they remayned with them that night in the kings house The Iustice of the citie when that he had lodged them went himselfe in person to the waters side and caused all their stuffe to be vnladen out of the ship and caused it to be carried with great care and diligence vnto the Fryers whereas they were The people of the citie did presse very much to sée these strangers so that with the presse as also with the great heate they were marueilously afflicted which being perceiued by the Iustice he gaue order that they might bee eased of that trouble caused sergeants to kéepe the doore and their yeomen to make resistance against the people Yet notwithstanding though they did not trouble them so much they ranged round about the house and clymed vpon the walles to procure to sée them as a rare thing for that they came from countries so farre off and apparelled verie different from that they do vse or otherwise haue séene So when that the night was come the Iustice of the citie did make them a banket according vnto the fashion of the countrie and it was in this manner following They were carried into a hall that was verye curiously wrought wherein were many torches and waxe candles light and in the middest therof was set for euerie one of the guests a table by himselfe as is the vse fashion of that countrie which more at large shalbe deâ—lared euerie table had his couering of damaske or satten very well made the tables were gallantly painted without any table clothes neither do they vse any for they haue no néede of them for that they do eate all their victualles with
and feasted at the commaundement giuen by the Insuanto as you haue heard the third day they departed in the morning towardes Chincheo whether they were commaunded to bee carried with great spéede and good intertainement At their going foorth of the towne they were accompanied with a great number of souldiers both hargubushes and pikes and before them a great noyse of trompets drommes and hoybuckes till such time as they came vnto the riuers side whereas was a brygandine prouided and made readie in all pointes to carrie them vp the riuer all the stréetes alongest whereas they went there followed them so much people that it was innumerable and all to sée them So when they were embarked the which was done with great speede to auoyd the presse of the people there came vnto them the Captaine of the â—ortie ships of whom wee made mention in the Chapter past with thrée byrgandines one wherein he was himselfe and was marueylously well trimmed and in the other two were souldiers that did beare him companie As soone as he came vnto them hee straight wayes entred into the brygandine whereas the religious men were with three Spaniardes and brought with him great store of conserues and made them a gallant banket the which did indure so long as he was with them which was the space of rowing of two long leagues in which time their pleasure was such that they thought it but a quarter of a league From thence he departed from them and returned but left many thinges behinde him for their comfort in their iourney and made great offers with an outward showe that it was a griefe vnto him to depart from out of their companie All alongest the ryuers whereas they went was seated with villages verie gallant and fresh both on the one side and on the other Some of them did content our people verie much who asked the names howe they were called and the Captaynes answered them and sayde that those were villages that did not deserue the honour of a name but when you doo come there whereas the king is you shall see Cities that it shall be a woorthie thing to knowe their names the which townes haue thrée and foure thousande souldiers such as in Europe are estéemed for reasonable Cities At the end of the two leagues there whereas the Captaine did leaue the companie of our Spaniardes in the riuer they came vnto a great baye whereas was at an anker a fléete of more then a hundreth and fiftie shippes men of warre whose Generall was this Captaine whom we haue spoken of that did beare the Fryers and the rest companie At such time as the fléete did discouer them they began to salute them as well with great péeces of artilerie as with hargubushes and other kinde of pastimes which commonly they do vse at such times and that is doone by the commandement of their Generall At such time as they had made an ende of shooting and other pastimes then did he take his leaue of them with the ceremonie aforesaide and went out of the brygandine whereas the Fryers were and went into his owne which carryed him vnto the Admirall wherein he imbarked himselfe Our Spaniardes after his departure did trauaile vp the riuer more than thrée leagues hauing continually both on the one side and on the other verie many and faire townes and full of people In the ende of the thrée leagues they went a lande halfe a league from the Towne of Tangoa whereas straightwayes all such things as they carried with them were takeÌ„ vpon mens backs and carried it vnto the towne before them whereas they were tarying their comming for to giue them great entertaynement At their going a shore they founde prepared for the two religious men little chayres to carrie them vppon mens backes and for the souldiers and the rest of their companions was ordayned horse The fathers did refuse to be carried and would haue gone a foote for that the way was but short and pleasant full of gréene trées and againe for humilitie refusing to be carried in so rich chaires and vppon mens backes of so good a vocation as they séemed to be But Omoncon and the other Captaine would not consent thereunto saying that it was the order giuen by the Insuanto and that they could not by any meanes breake but performe in all points or else to be cruelly punished for the same I meane such captaines as had the charge for to garde beare them companie and that no excuse could serue theÌ„ and againe that it was conuenient so to be done for y t from that time the Chinos should respect them and vnderstande that they were principall persons for y t they were carried vpon mens backes as they do their Loytias The fathers obeyed their reasons and entred into the chayres were carried with eight men a péece the other their coÌ„panions with foure men a péece according vnto the order giuen by the gouernor Those that carried the chaires did it with so good a will y t there was striuing who should first lay hands to them This towne of Tangoa hath thrée thousand souldiers and is called in their language Coan at the entring in it hath many gardens orchards a stréete where through they carried the Spaniards vnto their lodging they affirmed it to be halfe a league long all the stréete whereas they went it was full of bordes stalles where on was laide all kinde of marchandice very curious and things to be eaten as fresh fish salt fish of diuers sortes great abundance of â—oule and flesh of al sorts fruits and gréene herbs in such quantitie that it was sufficient to serue such a Citie as Siuell is The presse of people was so much in the stréets that although there were many typstaues souldiers that did make way wheras they went yet could they not passe but with great difficultie So they were brought vnto the kings house which was very great marueilously wel wrought with stone brick and many halles paâ—lers and chambers but none aboue but all belowe So soone as they were afoote there was brought from the Captaine or Iustice of the towne whom they doo call Ticoan a message bidding them welcome therwith a present which was great store of capons hens teales ducks géese flesh of four or fiue sorts fresh fish wine and fruits of diuers sorts of so great quantitie that it was sufficient for two hundreth men All the which they would haue giuen for a little coole aire by reason that it was then very hoat wether againe the great number of people y t came thether to sée them did augment it the more So in the euening the two spanish souldiers weÌ„t forth into the stréets to walk abrode left the two Fryers within their lodging vnto whoÌ„ afterwards they did giue intelligence of all things that they had séene which did cause great admiratioÌ„ the wall of the towne was very
his commandement he would make them answere And therwith he tooke the letter and the memoriall of the present and commanded in his presence to put about the neckes of the Friers in manner of a scarfe to eyther of them sixe péeces of silke and vnto the souldiers their companions and vnto Omoncon and Sinsay each of them foure péeces and to euerye one of their seruantes two a péece and to giue vnto the two Fryers and the souldiers Omoncon and Sinsay euerie one of them two branches of siluer which is a thing vsed in that countrie vnto them that haue doone some woorthie déede as hath béene tolde you before So with the silke about their neckes and with the branches in their hands they returned out of the hall downe the staires the way they came and so through the court into the stréetes from whence they sawe them shut the court gate with so great a noyse as when they did open it From thence at the request of Omoncon Sinsay they went vnto the house of Totoc who is the Captaine generall of all the men of warre vnto the house of Cagnitoâ— who is y e chiefe standerd bearer their houses were nigh the one the other very faire great They found theÌ„ with as great maiestie as the viceroy and in the same order with a table before them had on ech side of theÌ„ armed souldiers knéeling on their knées Yet did they not vse our men with the curtesie that the viceroy vsed to cause them to stand vp which was the occasion that straightwayes they made a showe that they would depart and be gone complayning of Omoncon Sinsay for that they did carrie them thether and tolde them with anger that the gouernour of Manilla did intreate them in a different sort who was there resident for the mightiest prince in all the worlde and they but easie marchants neither was their going thether to be equalled vnto the benefite that they camâ— thether for This discontent the which they receiued was the occasion that they would nâ—t go to make any more visitations although the sayde Omoncon and Sinsay for their owne interest would haue carried them to the houses of other officers and gentlemen of the court But they made signes vnto those that were their guides to direct their way vnto their lodgings for that they would goe to eate somewhat and to take their ease the which was ordayned in a great house of the kinges there whereas ordinarily the Iudges doo sit to heare matters of Iustice. So at their comming thether they founde all their stuffe in good order and their dinner marueilous well prouided and the whole house hanged and trimmed as though it had béene for the kings owne person with many wayting men and souldiers those which did gard them both day and night and hanging at the doore two tables or bordes commanded by the viceroy wheron was written who they were that were there lodged and from whence they came and wherefore and that none whosoeuer should be so hardie as to offer them any wrong or disturbance vpon paine to be for the same offence seuerely punished In this house they were more in quiet than in anie other place whereas they had béen neyther did the people giue them so much trouble by reason of the great care which the Iudges had in putting order for the same by the commandemeÌ„t of the viceroy yet was it the greatest towne and most populed of all that prouince although in other prouinces there be that be much bigger and is affirmed that the Citie of Taybin or Suntiem there whereas the king and his court is resident hath thrée hundreth thousande housholds and yet there is a bigger Citie in the kingdome called Lanchin which requireth thrée dayes to go from one gate to an other and is in compasse more then seuentie leagues the which is not far distant from Canton that which the Portingalles hath great notice of But of certaine there is very much spoken of the mightinesse of this Citie and I my selfe haue heard reported and affirmed to bee of a trueth by men of authoritie that haue béene in the Citie of Canton religious Fryers of the order of Iesus or Iesuites to whom ought to be giuen credite This Citie of Aucheo hath a verie faire and strong wall made of stone which is fiue fadam high and foure fadam brode the which was measured many times by our people for that they had a gate out of their lodging that did open to the same This wall is all couered ouer with tiles to defende the rayne water for hurting of it which could not to the contrarie but receiue damage for that there is no lyme vsed in the whole wall They haue not one castle in all this Citie neyther is there any vsed in all that kingdome for all their force and strength is in their gates the which be made very strong with a double wall within verie broade betwixt the which are continually many souldiers such as do keepe watch and ward both day and night Upon these gates they haue much ordinance but verie ill wrought I meane such as were séene by our men yet they do say that in other places they haue excellent good and verie curiously wrought The whole wall is full of bartilmentes and theron written the names of such souldiers as are bound to repayre thether in the time of necessitie At euerie hundreth paces they haue lodginges the which are very huge and great there whereas in the time of necessitie doo remaine and dwell their Captaynes so long as their troubles doo indure all the wall is fortified with two great mots or ditches the one within and the other without the which they doo fill at all times when they please by sluces which they haue from the riuer for the same purpose and doo serue of water almost all the houses in the Citie whereas they haue their stanges for the most part full of fish This mightie Citie is situated in a great plaine and compassed round about with mightie rockes and mountaines which is the occasion that it is not so healthfull and the inhabitants saye that it is by reason of the mountaines and many times it is ouerflowen in the winter by spring tides froÌ„ the riuer And in that yeare that this doth happen it doth destroy and ruinate a great part of the city as it was at that time when our people did sée it for y t in the winter before they were troubled with these great tides which did them much harme Now to returne to our purpose you shall vnderstand that in the kinges house aforesaide our people remained all the time that they were in this Citie wheras they were made much of and visited by the principall of the same but in especiall of the viceroy who the verie same day diâ— send to inuite them for the next day following who made vnto them a famous banket
as you shall vnderstand in this chapter following CHAP. XXIIII The viceroy doth banket our people in his owne house two daies one after the other THe next day after that our people came into the Citie the Uiceroy did sende to inuite them to dinner to his owne house whereas he made them a great banket in the forme following At their comming vnto the pallace there came foorth a great number of Gentlemen seruantes vnto the viceroy to bid them welcome with great store of musicke and tokens of mirth Being entred into the first court they brought them into a mightie hall that was marueilously well trimmed wherein was a great number of tables set in such order as they were in the banket that was made them by the gouernour of Chincheo as hath beene tolde you although in the number and furniture did far excell the other But before they did sit down there came vnto them two captaines principall men vnto whoÌ„ the viceroy had committed the charge of the banket to doo all things in his name for that it is a custome in that kingdome that noble meÌ„ must not be present in their bankets they make So the charge was giuen vnto them to make theÌ„ be mery and to bid his guests welcome When they came vnto them they vsed great curtesie and passed away the time in gallâ—nt discourses till it was time to go to dinner that they began to bring in their victuals Then before they did sit downe the captaines did take ech of them a cup in his hande in maner of a Sorlue as they do vse and being full of wine they went together whereas they might discouer the heaueÌ„ and offered it vnto the sunne and vnto the saints of heauen adding thereunto many words of prayers but principally they did request that the comming of their newe guestes might be profitable vnto them all and that the friendship which they did pretende to establish might be for good both vnto the one and to the other This their oration and prayer being done they did spill out the wine making a great courtesie then were they straightwayes filled againe and making reuerence vnto their guestes euerie one by himselfe they set the cuppes downe vpon the tables whereas the fathers should dine whereas they were set euerie one by himselfe This being doone the first seruice was set vppon the bordes and the Captaines were set at other tables which were not so many in number nor so well furnished nor dressed as the other the dinner was famous and of manie diuersities of meates excéeding verie much that which was made them by the Gouernor of Aucheo The time which the banket indured which was verie late there was great store of musicke of diuers instrumentes as of vials gitterns and rebuckes and with them many iesters did make them merâ—y at their dinner The which being done the saide Captaines did beare their guests companie out of the pallace whereas they did anew inuite them to dinner for the next day in the same hâ—ll they obeying their request did come wheras was made vnto them a banket more famous than the first This day at the banket was present the Totoc hee whome they visited the first day came in his owne house and founde with so great maiestie Likewise there dyned with them the Captaynes that were at the first banket In this seconde banket they had as the day before verie much musicke and a Comedie that indured long with manie pretie and merrie iestes there was also a tombler who did his feates verie artificially as well in vauting in the ayre as vppon a staffe that two men did hold on their shoulders Before the comedie did beginne was tolde them by their interpreter the significâ—tion thereof that the better they might content themselues in the conceiuing whose argument was that in times past there was in that countrie manie mightie and valiant men But amongest them all there was in particular thrée brethren that did excéede all the rest that euer were in mightinesse and valiantnesse The one of them was a white man the other was ruddish or hie coloured and 〈◊〉 third blacke The ruddish being more ingenious and of better industrie did procure â—o make his white brother king the which iudgement was agréeable vnto the rest Then they altogether did take away the kingdome from him that did at that time raigne who was called Laupicono an effeminate man and verie vicious This they did represent verie gallantly with garmentes verie méete for those personages The banket and play beeing finished according as they did the day before the Captaynes did beare them companie till they were out of the pallace and from thence they went vnto their lodgings with their ordinarie companie appointed by the viceroy which was that Captaine that we haue spoken of with his souldiers who neither night nor day dooth not depart from their garde CHAP. XXV The Spaniards do carie their present vnto the viceroy who hauing receiued it by the hands of Omoncon doth seale it and sende it vnto the king our men bee forbidden to goe foorth of their houses to see any thing in the Citie and it doth intreat of other particular things THe same night our men did common amongst themselues to sée if it were good presently to giue order to put in vre the thing they came for séeing that they might treat therof with the Uiceroy he being a man that shewed vnto them so much fauour and good will So in conclusion they were all resolued that straightwayes the next daye in the morning shoulde goe vnto him Michaell de Loarcha and Peter Sarmiento and carrie vnto him the present which they brought and to haue with them to beare them company Omoncon and Sinsay and being presented to request that hee would appoint a day when they might goe and talke with him about principall matters This accorde they put in execution according vnto their determination and the two souldiers went and carried the present as it was agreed So they came vnto the pallace and hauing tarried till such time as they opened the gates of the audience which was with the ceremony spoken of in the 22. chapter it was tolde vnto the viceroy that the Castillos were there and had brought a present who incontinent saide that as then he â—ould not talke with them but that the captaine Omoncon Sinsay should enter in with the present and that they should returne vnto their lodginges for that he had a care to call them when that oportunitie did serue to intreat of all things to their pleasure They did as they were â—ommaunded and those who carried the present in did afterwarde giue our people to vnderstand all that had passed with them saying that in opening the present there was a note thereof taken before a notarie and straightwayes commanded to bee put in againe where it was taken out before the sayde notarie other witnesses the which being done
to them y e holy gospell which was the right way vnto the saluation of their soule Unto all the which they gaue attentiue eare although with little desire to see the experience as appeared for that the chiefest matter in effect they did let passe and asked of them in what order they left the rouer Limahon and whether hée might escape or not and other questions touching the same matter which endured a good while without touching of anie other matter in effect The Spaniards answered as they thought and supposed that at that time it could not be but that he was either taken prisoner or slaine Then did the Insuanto conclude his spéech in saying vnto them that they should returne vnto their owne country to the Ilands and at such time as they did bring Limahon they woulde conclude all things touching the friendship they requested as also for the preaching of the gospell So with this last resolution they tooke their leaue and went vnto their lodging with pretence not to speake more of that matter for that they sawe it booted not after they had giuen their censure and againe as they vnderstood it was by speciall order from the king and his counsaile and therewith they beganne to put all thinges in good order for their departure the which they greatly desired for that they saw little fruite to procéede of their great labour and trauell as also to sée themselues cleare of that manner of prison in the which they were not to go forth of their lodgings without expresse licence So from that day forwards they did procure with all haste for to depart and gaue the vizroy to vnderstande thereof who answered them and saide that they should comfort themselues and receiue ioy and pleasure and that he would dispatch them so soone as the visitor of that prouince was come to Aucheo which would bee within tenne dayes for that hee had written vnto him that he should not dispatch them vntil his comming for that he would sée them From that day forwards hee commaunded that sometimes they should let them to go forth abrode to recreate themselues and that they should shew vnto them some particular pleasure or friendship So one of them was carried to sée the mustering of their men of warre which they haue in a common custome throughout all the kingdome to doo it the first day of â—he newe moone and is sure a thing to be séene and they do it in the field which is ioyning vnto the wals of the citie in this manner following There were ioyned togither litle more or lesse then 20. thousand souldiers pickemen and hargabus shot who were so expert that at the sounde of the drum or trumpet they straightwayes put themselues in battle aray and at another sound in a squadron and at another the shot doo deuide themselues from the rest and discharge their péeces with very gallant and good order and with a trice put themselues againe into their places or standings this being doone the picke men came foorth and gaue the assalt altogether with so good order consort that it séemed vnto the Spaniards that they did excéed al the warlike orders vsed in all the world and if it were so that their stomaâ—ks and hardinesse were equall vnto their dexteritie and number of people it were an easie thing for them to conquer the dominion of all the world If it so chance that any souldier should lacke in his office not repaire to his place appointed he is straightwayes punished very cruelly which is the occasion that euerie one of them hath a care vnto his charge This their musâ—â—r endured foure houres and it was certifiâ—d vnto the Spainiards that the same day and houre it is done in oll citties and townes throughout all the whole kingdome although they are without suspection of enimies Fiue and twentie dayes after that the Insuanto had giuen the resolute answere vnto the Spaniards came the visitor thither and the whole citie went forth to receiue him who entred in with so great maiestie that if they had not knowne who hée was they could not haue béene perswaded but that he had beene the king So the next day following the Spaniards went to visite him for dueties sake as also for that he had a desire to sée them They found him in his lodging where he began to make visitation of the cittie In their courtes were an infinite number of people which came thither with petitions and complaintes but in the halles within there was none but his seruants and sergeants When that any came for to present his petition the porter that was at the entrie made a great noise in manner of an .o. est for that it was a good way from the place whereas the visitor did sit then commeth forth straightwayes one of his pages and taketh the petition and carrieth it in vnto him At this time it was told him how that the Castillas were there hee commaunded that they should enter and talked with them a few words but with great curtesie and all was touching the imprisonment of Limahon without making any mention of their departure or tarrying So after a while that he had beholded them and their apparel hee tooke his leaue of them saying that by reason of the great businesse he had in that visitation he could not shewe them any curtesie neither to vnderstande of them what their request and desire was but gaue them great thankes for their curtesie shewed in that they woulde come to visite him Hee was set in the same visitation after the same manner and order as they founde the gouernor of Chincheo and the vizroy with a table before him with paper ynke and other thinges readie to write the which according as it was giuen them to vnderstand is a common vse in all y e kingdome vsed with al Iudges whether it be for sentence of death or other matters of iustice as hath béene told you many times before Thrée dayes after the visitor was come thither the Insuanto departed for his owne house with order that with all spéede possible he should ordaine shippes wherin the Castillias should returne vnto the Philippinas Likewise the same day all those that were there assembled by the order of the vizroy departed vnto their owne houses And the Spaniards were commanded for to sâ—ay vntill the full of the moone which should bee the twentith of August and that day they shoulde take their leaue of them for on that day amongst them it is holden for good to beginne any thing whatsoeuer Wherein they doo vse great superstition and doo make many banquets as vppon newyeares day as hath béene tolde diffusedly The day before y e departure of y e Spaniards there came some in behalfe of the vizroy to inuite them and made them banquet in the order and fashion as at the first although this for that it was at their departure was more sumptuous wherein was
presently gaue it a newe master in selling it vnto a gold-smith for as much as it was woorth who did melt it and made things thereof according to his trade yet they not being content therewith and that it séemed vnto them that those fathers could not but bring with them much riches they inquired of the China boy whom they brought to bee their interpreter with faire words to know if they had any gâ—lde or siluer or pretious stones or any other thing of valure but when they vnderstoode that they brought none of those things but onely their bookes and some other ornaments to say masse they straightwayes imagined in their mindes and that with great care and diligence to procure some way to get from them the other Challice which they had seene and the better to put it in execution they repeated againe vnto the Friers that which before hath beene tolde you augmenting thereunto many wordes and reasons affirming that they had spent vpon them in giuing them to eate twelue Taes more then y e Challice which they had giuen them did weigh or amount to which was twelue ducats of Spaine hauing before giuen them to vnderstaÌ„d at such time as they did eate that they did it of almes and for Gods sake and with so great content that many times it happened when they sawe that the Spaniards woulde not eate any dainty thing but would féede and content themselues with base victuals he would say vnto them that they shoulde eate without any griefe or care that when it should so fall out that his substance did saile him hee woulde then pawne one of his sonnes to buy victuals The father Costodio plainly séeing and vnderstanding that their intent purpose was wholly grouÌ„ded for to get from him y e other challice he answered that he had not for to giue them how that he had giuen the other challice in pawn of that which they had spent in victuals and for their trauell that they had taken for them The interpreter did replie saying that if they had nothing that they shoulde séeke it séeing that they ought it for their victuals which they had eaten and that it was the vse of that countrie that when any man did owe any thing hath not for to pay the same for to sell their children or else to become slaues vnto their creditor they demanded the other Challice that remained for that the other which they had giuen theÌ„ did weigh but sixtéene Taes which was but a small matter in respect of their desert onely for their trauel in their enterpretations This Frier Costodio did pacifie them in the best maner hee coulde promising to pay both the one and the other hauing oportunitie for the same and that they woulde procure it with as great care as was possible and requesting him for to keepe the Challice that he had giuen him in pawne in great veneration for that hee did estéeme it much more for the consecration and dedication vnto the deuine Colto then for the value of that it wayed and more promised him vpon his word to write vnto the Portugals that were in Machao signifying vnto theÌ„ their necessitie and to demande their almes charity and looke whatsoeuer they did send them being little or much should bee giuen him Then the interpreter who had his eyes fixed vppon gaine saide that they shoulde forthwith write and that hee woulde giue him a messenger for to carrie the letter and to bring answere of the same as hee had doone the like not many dayes before The Father Costodio did write vnto the Bishoppe that was in Machao giuing him to vnderstande of his comming and of his companions vnto the Cittie of Canton and howe that his comming thither was onelie to procure for to preach the holy Gospel and for to conuert and turne to God those blind Idolaters The which letter being receiued by the bishop he made answere praysing their intent and purpose animating them with godly wordes of exhortation and therewith did sende and demand the copie of such authortie as they brought from the holy father touching that the which they pretended This hee did for that all the sayde countrie vnto the lande of Iapon was committed vnto him by the holy father Unto this letter the father Costodio answered that hauing oportunitie he would obey his commandement and shew vnto him the facultie he brought and also would him selfe in person go thether for to kisse his handes and to satisfie all the inhabitants of that towne for that it was giuen him to vnderstande that they reported euill of them and sayde that they were vacabondes and lost men and not true religious men neither sacerdotes nor priestes and how that they had requested certaine Chinos which at that time came vnto Machao that at their returne againe vnto Canton they should tell the Iudges and aduertise them with good aduisement how that there were cerâ—â—ine Castillos come into their Citie whom they did certainely know not to be of their nation but of an other and subiectes vnto a different strange king whom they did beléeue to come thether for some ill intent and purpose in counterfeit attire and came for spyes from the Castillos of Luzon and that they did beléeue that after them did come some armie to do hurt in some part of that countrie and that they should preuent it in time for that if so be that any thing should happen the fault should not be imputed vnto them All this the Portingales did as afterwarde they did plainely vnderstande for feare that the Castillos shoulde take from them their contractation and gaine which they had in that city by which occasion their intent did so procéede forward that they did certifie the Chinos that the chiefe Captaine of Machao who was put there by the king of Portingall had presented a petition vnto a Citie that was ioyning to Canton aduertising the Iudges of that before spoken of and protesting that iâ— any harme or damage should come to that country in admitting the Castillos that it should not be imputed vnto them But the Iudge vnderstanding their euill intent and that their accusations were more vppon malice and enuie then of any trueth he answered vnto the same that he was particularly informed of those religious persons against whom they did complaine howe that they were men of whom they néeded not to feare and without any suspition as it did plainely appeare when they did visite their ship wherein they came where they found nothing but onely a fewe bookes and some other thinges which did more signifie deuotion than to make any warre This Iudge notwithstanding the answere he made for that afterwards the chiefe captaine should not raise vp some inuention tooke the originall petition and sent it with great securitie vnto y e viceroy of the prouince of Aucheo that he might sée peruse it who when that he had easily perceiued it and vnderstood the intent of
him that presented the same and the innocencie of them that were therein complained of he sent commanded the gouernor of Canton for to giue them good intertainment and not to permit any harme or hurt to be done vnto theÌ„ that he should send them vnto the city of Aucheo for that he would sée them for that it was tolde him that they seemed to be holy men and although that they had their apparell in tho same forme of the Austin friers whom he had séene yet their garments were of an other colour and more asper The chiefe captaine séeing that his intent fell not out well with the Iudges of China he commanded to bee proclaymed publicke in Machao that none should write vnto them nor coÌ„municate with them vpon paine of banishment and to pay two thousande ducats All this was not sufficient for to coole the mindes of some deuout persons of the religion of the glorious saint Francis but were rather incyted to offer their fauour helpe séeing they had néede thereof but in particular the bishop did helpe them alwaies with his almes and also an honorable priest called Andres Cotino who making small account of the proclamation did write vnto them diuerse times although secretly and sent their letters with almes and many exhortations to procéed forward with their holy zeale intent Besides this they sent vnto theÌ„ a spaniard called Pedro Quintero who had dwâ—lt there many yeares amongest the Portingals and hauing oportunitie they sent him many times with comfortable things and letters but not signed for if happily they should be met with all they might denie them to be theirs Now returning to our purpose the interpreter with desire to be payd of that which hee saide he had spent and laide out did bring the messenger that he promised them to go vnto Machao to carrie their letters vnto such religious men as they knewe in the which he craued their almes and helpe for to pay their interpreter and praying them for the loue of God to sende them likewise so much as should redéeme their challice who at this time knew not how it was solde and broken This messenger went with all diligence and secrecie and returned with the like brought with him that which they sent for other iunkets of great coÌ„tent the which came in very good season for that one of the sayde friers called frier Sebastian of S. Francis was very sick of a strong ague wherof in few daies after he died very wel with a strange desire to suffer martyrdome for Gods sake When this messenger came there was come thither the Aytao who is Iudge of the strangers and was without the citie vnto whom was coÌ„mited the examination of the Spaniards who after that he had concluded other matters coÌ„manded them to be brought afore him with great loue genâ—lenesse for so the viceroy of Aucheo had commanded him CHAP. VI. The Spaniards seing themselues in great necessitie hauing not to maintaine themselues they go into the streetes to aske almes the gouernor vnderstanding thereof coÌ„mandeth to giue them a stipend out of the kings treasure the interpreter goeth forwardes with his couetousnes deceit they be carried before the Iudges of the citie with whoÌ„ they do intreat of diuers matters they do aduise the the viceroy of al who coÌ„mandeth to send theÌ„ to Aucheo BEcause they would not sée themselues in the like danger with the interpreter as y t which was past they would not go any more to eate at his house but rather to giue an example vnto those of the citie they went foorth euery day by two and two to aske almes and although they were infidels yet they gaue them with great contentment and ioie because it was a rare thing in that kingdome to sée them begge in the stréetes by reason as hath béene tolde you that they haue no poore folk neither are they permitted if there be any to aske in y e streetes nor in their temples When that the Gouernor vnderstoode thereof and how that they did it for pure necessitie and had no other waies to maintaine themselues hee commanded to be giuen them euerie day a certaine stipend vpon the kinges cost the which was with so great abundance that mainteining the souldiers that came with them and all the rest yet had they to spare for that their stipende was giuen theÌ„ in money which was sixe Mayesses of siluer whereof they had to spare for that all thinges in that countrie is so good cheape as hath béen told you in many places Their interpreter séeing the good newes that was brought from Machao for the Spaniardes by a bill that a certayne deuout man had sent him in secret whereupon would be giuen vnto him all that was néedefull with protestation to pay all that should be giuen vnto them although it should amount vnto a great summe with the which hee wrote a letter vnto the Fryer Costodio of great comfort in strengthening him and all the rest to perseuer in their intent which God had put in their mindes for the saluation of those soules the Interpreter I say beganne to imagine that for to profite himselfe it was conuenient for to delate and detract the departure of the Spaniardes and did exact vpon them euery day in the buying of their victuals the halfe of the money that was giuen them So vpon a day he came verie much out of order and fayned that the Aytao had commanded that they should foorthwith depart out of the kingdome but yet notwithstanding he would present a petition in their name saying that for as much as time did not serue them to nauigate neither was their shippe in plight for to make their iourney that it would please them to get them a house whereas they might remaine thrée or foure monethes in the which time they might prouide them of all thinges necessarie for their voyage and possible it may so fall out that in this time they séeing their manner of liuing to bée good and to shew good examples they may let them to remaine in the countrie liberally and to learne the language and then beginne to preach and declare the right way vnto heauen All this he spake with great dissimulation for to profite himselfe for he knewe verie well that the Aytao had willed him to tell them that they could not remaine in that countrie with the pretence they had for that there was a lawe ordayned to the contrarie without expresse licence from the king the which will last of all be granted vnto the Spaniardes or Portingals for that there is a prophesie amongest theÌ„ spoken by the mouth of the diuell and estéemed amongest them for a very truth for that other thinges which he spake when that was spoken hath béene verified in the which he doth pronounce that a time shall come that they shall be subiect vnto a nation whose men shall haue great beardes and long noses and sharpe broade
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
it to carry with him that he might put it in the first church that the baptised should edifie being made christians the which would be very shortly for y t he was determined before many daies to send to Machao for two friers such as were there to be fully informed of them in thinges touching the Christian faith Then the father Costodio sayde if that which he had spoken came from his heart that hee would foorth with depart and goe with him and all his companie The Captaine answered that as then hee could not doo it till such time as the Church was built and licence had for the same of the king or vizroy the which at that time he coulde not demande for the great hast that he had to depart The father Costodio replied and said that his church being built he would promise him of his worde to sende it him and not to giue it to any other and in pledge and token of the same he should carry with him the Image of Marie Magdalene made of feathers The captaine receiued the same with great content greatlie maruelling at the subtill and fine worke wherewith it was wrought and after did so much that almost perforce he remained also with the Ara and commanded to bee brought foorth two rich péeces of Damaske and to giue them vnto the Father Costodio for to make an ornament in truck and ful satisfaction for the same but the father Costodio woulde not receiue them but was very much gréeued to sée howe that hee did remaine therewith and with the Image of feathers The Captaine did contende with him for to take the Damaske but hée would not Afterward they vnderstood that that the interpreter was bribed by a seruant of the Captaines for to alter the friers words and to offer the captayne the Ara and any thing els that hee would desire For to the contrary he durst not by any meanes to take it against the will of the fathers To conclude he did imbarke himselfe vpon his voyage and caried with him the Ara and the image with great ioy to himselfe but vnto the fathers and their companions discomfort and sorrow for that they had lost the two thinges that they so much estéemed The captayne at his departure did vse great thinges and curtesie taking his leaue of them with signes that signified he bare them great loue and good will and that it gréeued him to depart and could not carie them with him as they requested The interpreter did comfort the Spaniardes and sayd that they should not be sorrowfull that the captaine had taken those two pieces for that he was a mightie prince and that he would fauour and helpe them with the vizroy and that hee was certaine that he would accomplish that which he promised that is to become a christian for that he did beare great good will and affection vnto them in the which the interpreter did not lie for that it was told them by the seruants of the Captaine that were christened a I told you before The Frier Costodio remained so sad and sorowfull for the carrying away of the Ara and Madlin of feathers as though he had lost a great treasure and being desirous to recouer them againe he did recommend the same vnto S. Antonio de Padua who for thinges that were lost they knewe by experience to bee the onely saint for aduocate and did promise the better to obtaine their desire for to celebrate vnto him certaine masses when they should come into place fit for the same Straightwayes it so fell out that the chiefe and principall interpreter did fall out with the other that did helpe him about certaine proâ—ite that was comming to him and did threaten him that he would tell the gouernor howe that they had giuen him much siluer for to conclude the matter about the Ara for that the fathers had giuen it them more by force then any good will The interpreter fearing that hee shoulde bée for the same gréeuously punished and finding himselfe culpable in y e things that the other threatned him for he went vnto the captain who was imbarked and readie to depart tarrying onely for wether and tolde him the falling out in all points as it passed and of his threatnings who likewise fearing what might succéede or happen if it shoulde come to the vnderstanding of the Aytao of the cittie of Canton as coulde not be by any meanes excused hee called vnto him one of his seruants and commanded him to take the Ara and the Image and to carry them vnto the Fathers who accomplished his commande and they receiued them with great comfort and gaue great thankes vnto God for the same and S. Antonio de Padua by whose intercession they beléeued that they were restored CHAP. X. The Timpintao dooth call the Spaniards before him and dispatcheth them for to go to Canton they tooke their leaue of him and goeth from Aucheo and at their comming to Canton they are commaunded to make themselues readie to depart the kingdome THe next day following which was the thirde day of September the Timpintao did sende to call the Spaniards before him who as we haue said was deputie vnto the vizroy and he gaue them certaine dispatches in saying that there was in them all that they did aske and gaue commandement to the gouernor of Canton that he should not neglect but accomplish al things therin comprehended so that they might depart when they pleased When hee tooke his leaue of them hee did intreate them verie curteously with words of great curtesie The Spaniards departed his presence with incredible ioy beléeuing that he had agréed and granted all that they did aske and to remaine in the countrie to preach so that the next day following they made all thinges in a redinesse to take their voyage the which they finished in short time by reason of their great contentment they had with themselues as also for the good intertainement and good cheere they had by the way which was made and giuen them by the commandemeÌ„t of the Timpintao So when they came vnto Canton they went straightwayes to visite the gouernour and to giue him the dispatches which they brought who after that he had read the same he bad them welcome and saide that hee was very glad that the vizroy had shewed them so much fauour and that the same was committed to his charge for the execution of his commission that they should perswade themselues that hee would performe it according vnto his commandement without failing anie thing And for to beginne the same hee shewed vnto them a house of the kings which should be for their dwelling which was in the suburbs halfe fallen downe and there they were lodged with a commandement that they should not go foorth neither enter into the cittie without particular licence Héere they remained many dayes being deceiued of their purpose and maruelled very much that the gouernor would not giue them licence for to reedifie
a monastery neither for to enter into the cittie for to giue order in that which they beléeued was granted them by the vizroy til such time as they vnderstood what was done by their interpreters relation giuen by the Chino boy which came w t them from the Philippinas who declared to thē the truth in all things how y e the interpreters had neuer told the Iudges how that they would remain in the countrie neither made any mētion thereof but that they came thither as lost men that their request was to remaine in the country til it were faire wether or the comming of the Portugall shippes And this was that which the vizroy and his deputie had granted and no other thing But when the father Costodio and his companions who verely beléeuing that their desire woulde take effect vnderstoode the craft and wile of the interpreters and the great fashood that they had vsed they were very sadde and beganne amongst themselues to remedie the same so they determined to séeke a new interpreter one that should faithfulle and truely declare their will vnto the gouernor And although they did finde some that could doo it for that they did reasonably vnderstande the Portugall tongue yet there were none that woulde accept it for any request or giftes that they did promise them The Father Costodio séeing this and that the time appointed did passe away without doing of any thing one day hee and the rest of his companions did ioine togither entred in counsell to sée what was best to be done according vnto the necessitie in the which they were driuen There was amongst them diuers opinions for that of the father Costodio and of another religious man was that they woulde go vnto Machao which was not farre off and there would administer the sacraments and preach the holy Gospel vnto the christened Chinos and to learne the China language and to tarrie there and abide the first occasion that should bee offered or else they themselues to procure it for hauing the language it were an easie thing to doo it they should not haue néede of any interpreter neither feare to be deceiued as they had béene before And besides this they put the Portugals out of all doubt of the false opinion that the Captaine generall had published abroade of them and of other matters of like effect and purpose The other two religious men and soulders were of a contrarie opinion which was that they should returne vnto the Ilands Philippinas and not vnto Machao and saide that they had departed without licence of the gouernor and did aduenture themselues into the harme and damage that might happen vnto them by that enterprise and all for to plant the faith of Christ in that kingdome And now séeing that by the iust iudgement of God wee cannot put it in execution wee are greatly bounde to returne againe vnto him of whome we doubt not but with ease to get our pardon for the error passed representing the zeale wee had to the honour of God and the saluation of so manie soules who did incite vs to giue that great enterprise with the which we shall remaine blamelesse with them that had giuen wrong iudgement of vs and accomplish our bounden duetie and obedience which wee doo owe vnto the gouernor And in going vnto Machao wée shall runne in great danger to be holden and iudged for traitors to the king and the intent wherewith wee went vnto China euery one wil construe and interpret thereon at his pleasure The resolution of these contrary opinions was by a common consent delated certaine dayes in the which they prayed vnto God to put into their hearts that which was best for his deuine seruice So in the end the father Costodio and the religious man who was of his opinion did determine to go forwards with their pretence and to go vnto Machao as aforesaid and the rest to returne vnto the Ilands with the first oportunitie they might finde but when it should come to effect one of the religious Friers that shoulde haue gone vnto Manilla was deade of an infirmitie that chanced him They staied there longer then they did think they should by reason that y e Iudges of the Cittie were occupied with the examinations of students the which is accustomed euery thrée yeares and is in that manner and order as hath béene tolde you in the proper chapter for the same the which examinations endured more then fiue and fortie dayes with great feastes and banquets without medling in any other particular businesse CHAP. XI The Father Costodio sendeth a messenger vnto Machao he he writeth vnto the bishop and vnto a priest for to bestow their almes on them for their departure The captaine generall doth vnderstand therof and commandeth them not to aid nor succour the Spaniards and other matters appertaining vnto them IN the meane time of this their examination the father Costodio did sende a messenger vnto the bishop of Machao declaring vnto him his determination and he also did write vnto the deuout priest of whome we haue made mention before and craued of them their almes wherewith they might make prouision for them that would depart for the Ilands Philippinas and how that he and his companyon would go and see his lordship This was not done so secretly but it came vnto the vnderstanding and knowledge of the captaine generall of the Portugals who with great choller went and demanded the letters of the priest those that were giuen him by the Chino threatning him that if hee did not hee woulde punish him with great rigor and banish him out of the countrie as a suspected person He answered him that of truth he had receiued certaine letters but that at the very instant hee sent them vnto the Bishoppe vnto whome they were directed about the which there was great holde and kéepe vntill it came to effect that the captaine did lay holde vppon the priest for to apprehende him but when the bishop vnderstood thereof hee with all spéed possible went to remedy the danger that might insue and to take him out of his power The captaine séeing that hee could not perseuer with his intent and purpose he made many notifications vnto the bishop requiring that he would not permit that any letters shoulde bée receiued from those religious Spaniards for that he knew by very certaine relation that they were spies and no friers and if so be that any damage should happen vnto them by their order that hée woulde lay the whole fault vppon him as a consenter and a helper The bishoppe answered that he was fully perswaded and certified that they were true religious men and seruants of God and that he with a very good will would take vpon him the burthen of any damage that should happen to the country by their meanes or vnto the king of Portugall With this the captaine was somewhat quieted but not so much but that continually hee did
of which shal be spoken more at large hereafter This kingdome towards the Orient dooth ioyne vnto the country of Peru and so running by the North sea and reacheth vnto Nombre de Dios which is a port of the saide kingdome and from thence vnto Acapulco which is a port in the kingdome of Mexico and in the South sea it reacheth vnto Panama a port of the said Peru and in the same sea it extendeth nigh vnto the straights of Magellanes and not farre from the riuer of Plata and Brasill To conclude this kingdome is so great that vnto this day they cannot find the end therof but euery day doth discouer new countries whereas all the Indians that they do finde are verie easie to bee reduced vnto the Catholike faith for that they are people very docible ingenious and of a good vnderstanding There is amongst them diuers languages and verie different climes although all generally doo vnderstande the Mexican tongue which is most common There are many prouinces inhabited by Indians and Spaniards that euery one of them is as bigge as a reasonable kingdome yet the greatest and most principall is that of Mexico whereas are many Indians and Spaniards which doo excéed all the rest in number the names of them are Honduras Guatimala Campeche Chiapa Guaiaca Mechuacan Nueua galicia Nueua Viscaya Guadiana and others mo which I leaue out because I woulde not be tedious in all the which they haue either a royall audience and gouernors or other Iustices all Spaniards The naturall people whereof neuer since they were conuerted haue béene found in any heresie nor in any thing contrarie vnto the Romish faith All these prouinces are subiect and doo acknowledge that of Mexico as the principall there whereas his maiestie hath his vizroy an inquisition an archbishop and a royall audience or court of Chancerie This Cittie of Mexico is one of the best that is in all the whole world and is situated vpon water after the manner and fashion of Uenice in Italie in all this kingdome almost you cannot know when it is winter or when it is summer for that in al the whole yeare there is smal difference betwixt the daies and the nights by reason of the temperature of the countrie the fieldes are gréene almost all the whole yeare and trées beare fruit also almost all the whole yeare for when it is winter in Europa then doo their fall dewes from heauen which dooth cause all things to budde and flowre and in the summer it doth ordinarily raine but especially in the monethes of Iune Iuly August and September in the which monethes it is a maruel when it raineth not euery day and it is to bee wondred at for that almost it neuer rayneth but from noone forwards and neuer passeth midnight so that it neuer troubleth them that doo trauell by the way for that they may beginne their iourney at midnight and trauell vntill the next day at noone It raineth vnreasonably and with so great furie and force that the time that it dooth indure it is requisite to flie from the showers for that many times they are so hurtfull that one sole shower taketh away the life of a man Almost all the whole yeare in this kingdome they do sowe and gather as wel wheaâ—e wherof they haue great abundance as Maiz which is the ordinary sustentation of al the Indians blacke moores horse of the which they haue great abundance very gallant good both to y e eye indéed as in any kingdom in al the whole world that is knowne vnto this day The brood of them was carried out of Spaine thither when first they did discouer that country for that effect were chosen the best that could bee found and for that they doo eate all the whole yeare greene grasse Maiz which is wheat of y e Indians is the occasion that they do deserue to haue the praise aboue all other In fine this kingdome is one of y e fertilest of victuals of al that euer we haue heard off and of riches for that there is in it an infinite number of siluer mines out of the which is taken great abundance as it is to be séene euery yeare when as the shippes doo come vnto Syuell It is vnder the Torrida Zona yet notwithstanding it is of the temperature as I haue said contrarie vnto the opinion of ancient Philosophers who said that it was not inhabited But now to excuse them it shal not be from our purpose to declare the cause wherefore they were deceiued and is that in the foure monethes aforesaide wherein the sunne hath his most force it doth continually rayne which is the occasion that the country is so temperate and besides this God doth prouide that it is visited with fresh windes which come both out from the South and North sea and is so ordinarie a thing that it is a maruell to see it calme by reason whereof the whole kingdome is of that propertie and although the sunne be very strong and causeth great heate yet putting himselfe vnder any shadowe although it bee but little they straightwayes feele a fresh and comfortable winde by reason of the temperature of the heauen in the manner aforesaid The inhabitants of this kingdome throughout al the whole yeare néede not to augment nor diminish their apparell neither their beddes Also the aire and clime is so holesome that you may lie and sléepe in the fieldes without any thing vppon you as in any house be it neuer so well hanged and close All that is discouered of this kingdome except it be the lande of the Chichimecos which is a kind of Indians that liueth as the Alarbes do in Africa without any house or towne all the rest I say are in peace and quietnes baptised and doctrined and furnished with many monasteries of diuers orders of religious men as of the order of S. Dominicke of S. Francis of S. Austen of Iesuits besides a great number of priests that are reparted in al parts of that kingdome so that the one and the other are continually occupied in doctrining of the naturall people and other Spaniards that are in that kingdome of whome although they be but a few in respect of the Indians yet do they surmount in number more then fiftie thousand In the principall citie of this kingdome which is that of Mexico as aforesaid there is a vniuersitie and in it be many schooles whereas is red any facultie as is in Salamanca that by men of great sufficiencie whose trauel is gratified with great rentes honor There bee also in it many great hospitals as well of Spaniards as of Indians wheras the sicke men are cured with great charitie comfort for that euery one of them haue great rents and reuenues I do not intreat of the Churches and monasteries both of Friers and Nunnes which are in that cittie nor of other particular thinges for that thereof
guarde them in the which they sawe so manie curious thinges and of so great riches that they iudged it to bée the best countrie in all the world So when they came vnto the citty with so small trouble and werinesse by reason of their long iourney and euill intreatings by the souldiers they were presently carried as might be sayde from Herode to Pylate and escaped not one day but they were carried to the publike audience or else before some particular Iudge This citie was very fresh both within and without and full of many orchards whereas were an infinite number of fruite with gardens stanges of water and other thinges of great recreation This citie is thrée times so bigge as Siuell and compassed about with a mightie strong wall their houses are very great and well wrought their stréetes are excéeding faire brode and long and so straight that from the one end vnto the other they may sée a man In equall distance the one from the other there are built many triumphall arkes which is an ordinarie and common thing vsed in the cities of that kingdome vpon their gates there are little towers wheron is planted all the artilerie that they haue for the defence of the citie as hath béen said all the which is inuironed and compassed about with a riuer which is great and faire on the which is ordinarily sayling an infinite number of barkes and brigandines and is of so great depth they may come lye harde vnto the wall yea ships of great burden On the one side of the citie there is a little Iland of great recreation vnto the which they do passe by a very faire bridge the one halfe made of stone and the other of timber and is of so great a length that on the part that is made of stone the father fryer Ignacio did tell thirtie Innes or victualing houses wheras was to be bought not only flesh and fish but also great store of marchandice of great estimation and valure as amber musk e péeces of silke and cloth of golde CHAP. XVI The Spaniardes are sent vnto the citie of Hucheofu doo declare what happened there vnto them FRom the citie of Saucheofu they were sent vnto Hucheofu the which is more principall and great than the first alwayes hauing with them in companie and garde the number of souldiers aforesaid sometimes they trauailed by lande and sometimes by water whereas they saw so many rich thinges which in respect to them all that they had séene vnto that time was nothing Of the which although I haue had particular relation of many of them I leaue off heere the declaring thereof for that of an Itinerario or commentarie I will not make a historie But principally for that many of them doo séeme to be incredible and will be more vnto those that haue not had any notice of the mightinesse of this kingdome In the discourse of this their iourney the cities and townes they sawe were many and verie bigge and all compassed with strong walles and at one of them there was a mightie riuer on the which was edified more than fiue hundreth engynes or whéeles and they were made with so much art that alonely with the violence of the streame of the riuer that dooth force them they water all the groundes there abouts for the space of two leagues and more without any other helpe or humaine force In this citie they were certaine daies in visiting and complementes after the which they were commaunded to goe vnto Canton of the which in the two relations before is made particular mention So when they came vnto the Citie they were carried vnto the prison of the Thequixi which is whereas are put such as are condemned to die the which they plainely perceiued There they remayned verie manie dayes and the most part of them were carried vnto the tribunall seate of the Iudges in companie with others that were condemned to die At this time there was in the citie the Tutan who was the viceroye of the prouince and the Chacu who is the generall visitor and that was at such time as was doone great Iustice for to cleare the prisons whereas were thousandes of men and some that had béene there more than tenne yeares There was some day at that time that in the presence of our people were brought foorth to be iudged two thousand prisoners some to the death and others to be whipped and other to be banished with other kinde of penalties according vnto the disposition rigor of their lawes That day wherein they make capitall audience they vse particular ceremonies as shooting of certaine péeces of artilerie and to shut the gates of the citie not permitting anie to enter in neither go foorth till such time as that act and Iustice be finished and many other things as hath béene declared in the first part of this historie The Spaniards being in the citie at this time of so great calamitie it so fell out that the same time there was a gentleman of Portingall called Arias Gonsalo de Miranda chiefe captaine of the citie of Machao very deuout vnto religious men and a friende vnto Spaniardes who vnderstanding the great trouble and danger wherein they were hee tooke order by all meanes possible to set them at libertie and had so great care therein that hee went through with his intent in such sort that they were deliuered out of pryson and from the great feare in which they were and all by the intercession of this gentleman who did vse so good persuasions for the loue he did bears vnto them that he made voyde the euill opinion they had against them and with compulsion to reuoke the rigorous sentence of death pronounced against them I do not here in particular treate of such thinges as happened vnto these religious men the seruants of God as well in the prison as on their iourney for that they were many and to declare them is requisite a long time and to make a new historie And although in the bookes before haue béen declared the riches of that kingdome and all thinges in particular yet for the better certification I thought it good and not without purpose to declare in the chapter following some of thâ—se which the father fryer Martin Ignatio did communicate with me vsing in the treating thereof so much breuitie that it shall séeme rather an Epilogo then a new relation And for a more verification of the truth whereby better credite may be giuen thervnto séeing that the persons who did sée it doo agrée in that which shall be here declared and againe for that the saide father and his companions did sée more thinges than the others whose relations be alreadie set downe The occasion wherefore they put confidence in them and to let them sée and vnderstand many secretes was for that they were sentenced and condemned to die for without all doubt if they had vnderstood that they should haue returned out of
onely ouer the gates of the Cities towers as hath béene declared and in them is put all the artilerie the which is for the defence of that citie or towne They vse many sortes of weapons but in especiall hargabushes bowes lances of thrée or foure manners swords like vnto faunchers with them targets All the souldiers when they go to fight they weare long garments down to their knées very wel stuffed with cotton wooll the which doth resist the thrust of a lance or a stabbe all such souldiers as haue the kings ryall pay weare in token thereof red and yellowe hats of the which there is so great a number as well horsemen as foot men that almost it is impossible to number them And it is a coÌ„mon opinion of all them that haue bin in this kingdome and haue séene them that all Spaine France and the great Turke hath not so many as this kingdome hath They haue amongst them captaines of ten souldiers some of a hundreth souldiers some of a thousand of ten thousand of twentie thousand in this sort to a hundred thousand The number of souldiers y t these captains do leade are knowen by certain ensignes that they beare They muster and make show of their people euery new moone the same day they do pay theÌ„ royally their pay must be in siluer in no other money It is saide by such as haue seene this pay but especially the aforesaid father fryer Ignacio that they giue them a péece of siluer which may weigh so much as a ryall and halfe of Spaine and is as much worth there as foure crownes amongest vs in respect of the value of all things But both in the one and in the other kingdom that day that they do receiue their pay euery one must make a show of some act in armes the which is done in the presence of viewers or mustermasters and such as are found that doe not his exercise with dexteritie they are reprehended and cruelly punished they doo skirmish with great consort and in that which toucheth obedience to their captaines vnto the ensignes the which they do vse in their wars they may compare with all nations of the world CHAP. XVIII This chapter doth treat of certaine rites ceremonies and other signes tokens which be found and do show that they haue had notice of the holy law of the gospell SUch ceremonies as vnto this day haue bin séene amongst the people of this kingdom are gentilicas without any mixture with the Moores nor with any other sect yet there is found amongst theÌ„ that is a sufficient iâ—dition that they haue had in some time past some particular notice of the euangelicall law as is plainly séene by certaine pictures which haue béene found and séene amongest them whereof we haue made particular mention the which they beléeue was knowen by the preaching of the Apostle S. Thomas who passed through this kingdome when as he went vnto the Indians from thence to the city of Salamina which in their language is called Malipur whereas he was martyred for the name faith of Iesus Christ of whoÌ„ at this day they do remember in that kingdome by the traditioÌ„ of their antecessors who said that many yeares past there was in that kingdome a man that did preach vnto them a new law whereby they might goe vnto heauen who after that hee had preached certaine daies saw little fruit thereof for that they were all occupied in ciuill wars he departed from thence vnto the Indians But first he left certaine disciples behind him that were baptised and well instructed in matters of faith that they might preach vnto them wheÌ„ as occasion did serue for the same In many places they do worship the diuell only for y t he should do them no harme and so the said fryer did tell me for that heâ— was diuers times in presence wheÌ„ as they did obsequies of certaine Chinos that lay a dying and he saw that they had painted before y e dead man a furious diuell hauing in his left hand the sunne and in his right hande a dagger with the which he made a show as though he would strike him This picture was put before him at the point that hee should yeelde vp the ghost strengthening him that he should put great trust thereon And as the fryer did demand of them what reason they had to do the same some of them answered and saide because the diuell should do no harme vnto the dead man in the other world they put his picture before him that he might knowe him and take him for his friend That which is vnderstood of these Chinos is that although they haue amongst them many errors of the Gentiles yet with great ease they would be reduced vnto our faith if they might haue libertie for to preach and they to receiue it When as the sunne and the moone is in eclypse they beléeue verily that the prince of the heauen will destroye them and for verye feare they put them selues in that colour the people generally doo worshippe vnto them and beléeue verily that the sunne is a man and the moone a woman And therefore when as they beginne to bee eclypsed they make great sacrifices and inuocations vnto the prince afore said dâ—siring him not to kill nor destroy them for the great necessitie they haue of them All generally beléeue the immortalitie of the soule and that in the other world they shall be rewarded or punished according as they liued in this worlde in coÌ„pany of y e bodie And therfore they do vse to make in the fields sepulchres wherin they command theÌ„selues to be buried after they be dead When they should be buried they command to kill all their seruants or their wiues those that best he loued in his life saying y t they do it that they should go with them to serue them in the other world wheras they beléeue they shall liue eternally die no more They put with them into their sepulchres things to be eaten great riches beléeuing that they do carry the same into the other world there to serue their necessities In this error were the Indians of the Peru of old antiquity as y e Spaniards haue séene by experience There is in this kingdom many vniuersities colleges wherein is taught philosophie both naturall morall and the lawes of the countrie for to learne to gouerne by theÌ„ vnto the which the king doth send ordinarily visitors to sée vnderstand the order that is amongst them to reward or punish the students according vnto the desert of eyther of them They are greatly ashamed when they sée any euil thing committed although they bee not punished for the same and aâ—â— people that do permit with ease correction as the father Ignacio and his companions did sée by experience who going alwayes as condemned men to die yet at all times when they
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
people doo say that with a good will they would againe returne and receiue the law of the gospell if they had it there preached From this Iland after they had passed a little gulfe they came vpon the coast of a kingdome called Tutucuriu and ran all alongest the cost of the same running from the cape of Comerin to Cuylan Here there is a Pagode or temple of their gods very great and rich thether come all the Gentiles of that kingdom at certain feasts in y e yeare with great deuotion there is in is it a triumphant chariot so great that 20. horse cannot mooue it they bring it foorth in publike vpō their festiual daies is carried by elephants by an infinite number of men who voluntarily do hale and pull at certaine roapes y t are made fast therunto Upon the highest of this chariot is made a tabernacle very richly adorned and within the same an Idol whom they do worship then immediatly vnder the same are y e kings wiues that go singing They doo bring it forth with much musick◠reioysings do carry it a good way in procession and amongest many thinges of honor that they doo vnto it they do vse one so brute and beastly as the reader may well iudge thereof which is that many of them doo cut péeces of their owne fleshe and doo throwe it vnto the Idoll and the other not contented with this doo throwe them selues on the grounde that the chariot may passe ouer them and there they remaine all to péeces Those that do die in this sort they account them for great saints and are had in singular veneration Many other maners and fashions of idolatrie is declared of this kingdome and more beastly than this we haue spokē of the which I let passe because I would not be tedious in this Itinerario All the people of this kingdom be very bad and ill inclined for which cause y e fathers of the company of Iesus that are in certaine townes nigh vnto the same cannot as yet bring them out of their errors although they haue put therein great care and diligence Upon the same cost a litle distant from this kingdom there is a towne of Portingals called Coulan and 25. leagues further a citie which is called Cochin in the which there are religious men of S. Francis of S. Dominicke of S. Austin of the companie of Iesus who haue there a very good studie or seminarie whereas they do bring foorth much fruite Nigh vnto this citie is Santo Tome whereas are many baptised and good christians very abstinent and chast vnto whom the patriarkes of Babylon doo prouide them of bishops the authoritie where with they do it is not knowen nor whence they haue it for that as I do vnderstand the seat apostolicke did neuer giue it them About the same matter at this present there is in Rome a bishop of this kingdome and one of the kingdome of Pimienta with whom I haue talked diuers times and is come thether to giue his obedience vnto the Pope and to knowe of him the order that his pleasure is should be obserued in receiuing of those bishops which come thether by the cōmandement of the patriarke In this kingdome there are many kings but the principallest of them is he of Cochin and next vnto him he of Coulan nigh vnto them are many petie kings as is hee of Mangate Cranganor and are all Gentils although amongst them there are mixed many Moores There hath bin found in this kingdome certaine Iewes that haue gone frō Palestina those parts There is in this countrie vniuersally a lawe verie strange and little heard of which is that the sonnes doo not inherite after their fathers but his brothers sonne and the reason they giue for the same is for y t they haue no certaintie of their children for that they haue no wiues proper nor appointed to thēselues I promise you it séemeth to me their reason to be as barbarous as their law for that the like inconuenience doth folow their brothers children They haue many rites blindnes amongst thē but one aboue all the rest which is y t in certaine feastes amongst them they do vse bathes after that they are bathed they say that they remaine frée cleare from all their sinnes They haue many augorismes of whom I will not intreat for that they are not worthy of memorie In this country is gathered most of the pepper that is brought into Europe for which cause this kingdome is called that of the Pimienta CHAP. XXVI The chapter doth treate of many kingdomes of the newe world and of the particular and curious things of them THe aforesaid father went from Cochin to the kingdome of Cananor passed by Tanaor Calicut which is called of the naturall people Malabar they are litle kingdomes but in them much people In that of Cananor there are inhabited many Portingals and religious mē of the order of S. Francis it is a countrie in all things like vnto Cochin for which cause and for that they obserue kéepe one maner of customs rites I remit the touching of this kingdome to the other aforesaide Then forwards on there are other two small kingdoms the one is called Barcelor the other Mangalor there be in them some christians it is a good countrie rich and hath it for certaine that within a little time they will be all baptised From this kingdome they went vnto Goa a principall citie and inhabited with Portingals is as the metropolitane of all those kingdomes it is in fiftéen degrées of height and is set from Cochin vnto it a hundreth leagues this citie is situated in a little Iland compassed round about with water and in compasse but onely foure leagues and is deuided from the firme land of Odialcan by a mightie riuer It is a good countrie peaceable and doth inioy a very faire and pleasant riuer In this Citie ordinarily is resident the viceroy of the India and the archbishoppe there are many Churches and couents besides the high church there are fourtéene parish churches besides fiftéen hermitages that are within and without the citie there be four couents all very sumptuous of S. Dominicke of S. Austin of saint Francis and of the company of Iesus And without the cittie there is another of Recoletos Franciscanos reformed Francis friers Nigh vnto this Iland are those of Salcete and Barde◠there whereas the religious men of saint Francis and the companie of Iesus haue certaine christian townes Few yeares past the Gentiles of Sancete did kill certaine fathers of the company of Iesus in abhorring the faith who died with great spirite and strength so that I beleeue they went into ioy with God Beyonde Goa on the same coast towardes the North is in eightéene degrées and a halfe from y e towne of Chaul beyond that Basayn nigh thereunto Damaun all these
Camelles The Iland called Desseada The Iland Dominica They which did eatefriers flesh did die madde Much kine sugar ginger wheat and gold Of sixe hundred thousand Indians there remaineth none The Iland Hispaniola or Santo Domingo Mightie riuers in spain A peece of virgin gold so bigge as a two pennie wheaten loaf Cannafistola Gold and pearles Bread of a roote called Casaue Of three millions of men not two hundred left Tiburones The Ilande of Nauala The Iland of Iamayca Uracans The Iland of Cuba anâ— the port Hauana The Spaniâ—rds God is â—old The Indians throwe all their gold and iewels into the riuer The port of saint Iohn de Lua The Iland of Campeche Hony waxâ— The Citie of Vera Cruz The kingdome of Mexico New Mexico Peru. Nombre de Dios. Acapulo Panama The straites of Magellanes It rayneth almost euery day The best horses in all the world An infinite number of siluer mines An Uniuersitie in Mexico A strange kind of tree Properties of the Indians Pictures made of fethers Hernando Cortes Medicinall hearbes They vse no compounds New Mexico The prouince of Tiguas The prouince of Conchas Great store of Conies Hares and venison Passaguates Mines of siluer Tobosos Iumanos Good salt Houses of 4. tories high They worship the diuel ich metals Rich metals The sea of Ladies White people as bigge as gyants without king or gouernor Iron more esteemed than siluer or gold Archipelago The Iland of Luzon and citie of Manilla Geeat mountains of pepper cloues and ginger The diueâ—â— was worshiped Vitches The Indians would not go into heauen because there were spanish souldiers Siuit Honie Sinamum Linseed Oile Cloues Saffron Pepper Nutmegs Cotton and Silke Powder Saltpeter Iron Steele Quicksiluer Brasse Copper Sixe months trauaile from Ierusalem vnto China Great ditches lakes A mightie lake More ships in one port than in all Spaine They neuer had the plague Mynes of golde siluer Siluer for his value more esteemeâ— than gold Amber gryce Wonderfull treasure Fleetes may be laden with silke Sugar ho ny and waxe A riuer that yeeldeth a million and a halfe euery yeare in salâ— All cities are walled They vse hargabushes bowes and lances Englande France Spaine and the Turke hath not so many souldiers as this kingdome Captaines of few and many souldiers Salamina where S. Thomas was martred Giuen to delightes Their womeÌ„ are chast but their men are vicious Iapon is 300 leagues from China The first inhabiting of the Iapon In the Iapones are 66. kingdomes A luciferine pride Many wâ—â—ches Ilands of Amazones A strange custome Great fishing of Pearles â—arias is a â—uetie for the â—inges owne â—erson Aboundance â—f silk gold A myracle Another myracle Their womeÌ„ are honest shamefast They neuer had plague pestilence nor hunger The kingdome of Champa Rich of drugs The kingdome of Câ—mboia The kingdome of Sian The mother of Idolatrie Faint hearted people The kingdome of Lugor and that of Patone Gold pepper and drugs The kingdomes of Paon and Ior. The straight of Malaca is vnder the lâ—ne A daintâ—e kind of meaâ— A tree of a wonderfull eâ—fâ—et Two contraries in one subiect The Iland of Samatra supposed to be the Iland of Ophir The richest Iland in the world An armie of a million and sixe hundred thousand meÌ„ The kingdome of Arracon The kingdome of Vangala A strange custome A diamond sold for a million of gold â—landes of Nicobar Anapes tooth for their God â— brutish vse The kingdome of Cananor Tanaor and Calicâ—t Ilandes Salcete Bardes The towns of Chaul Basayn Damaun Cambaya The cittie of Diu. The cittie of Oromuz Odialon Mogor Persia. Arabia Felix The red sea The lande of Abexin that of Prester Iohn Mazaubique The Ilands of Maldiuia The Ilandâ— of S. Lorenso The Cape oâ— Buena Esperansa The Ilandâ— of S. Elena Guinea