it is the property of God through a coelestial and divine nature to do good unto all wherefore we are all bound as well in general and particular to imitate this our Lord who hath created and doth nourish us by doing that unto those who stand in need of the good of this world as we would that they should do unto us for that by this work we are more pleasing unto him then by any other whatsoever For as the good Father of a Family rejoyceth to see his children made much of and presents given to them so our Heavenly Lord who is the true Father of us all rejoyceth at such time as with a zeal of charity we communicate one with another whereby it is evident that the covetous man who shuts his hand when the poor ask something of him which they want constrained thereunto by necessity and that turns him another way without assisting them shall be treated in the same manner by a just judgment of God and driven down into the bottom of the sink of the night where like a frog he shal croke without ceasing being tormented by the hunger of his covetousness This being so I do advise and enjoyn you all since you have ears to hear me that you do that which the Law of the Lord obligeth you to do which is that you give of that whereof you have too much to the poor who have not wherewith to feed themselves to the end God may not be wanting to you when you shall be at the last gasp of your life Go to then let this charity be so remarkable and universal in you that the very fowls of the air may taste of your liberality And this you ought to do to keep the poor having need of what you possess in excess from being forced by their necessity to rob other men of their goods whereof you would be no less blameable then if you killed an infant in the cradle I commend also unto your remembrance that which is written in the Book of our truth touching the good you are bound to do unto the Priests that pray for you to the end they may not perish for want of the good you ought to do unto them which would be as great a sin before God as if you should cut the throat of a little white heifer when she is sucking of her Dam by the death of whom a thousand souls would die which are buried in her as in a golden Tomb in expectation of the day which is to accomplish the promise that was made unto them wherein they shall be transformed into white pearls for to dance in Heaven like unto the moats which are in the beams of the Sun Having uttered these things he added many others thereunto and delivering a world of extravagancies and fooleries he bestirred himself in such manner as was a wonder to behold so that we eight Portugals were exceedingly amazed at the extream devotion of these people and how that in lifting up their hands to Hands to Heaven they ever and anon repeated this word Taiximida that is to say So we believe In the mean time one of our fellows named Vincent Morosa hearing the auditors so often use that word Taiximida said in imitation of them Such may thy life be and that with such a grace and so setled a countenance not seeming any way to jeer him that not one in the Assembly could forbear laughing He in the mean while continued still firm and more and more confirmed seeming even to weep out of an excess of devotion Now his eyes being always fixed on the Talapicor he whensoever he chanced to look on him could not chuse but do as the rest did so that upon the conclusion of his Sermon all that heard him fell to laughing out-right The Prioress her self and all the Menigregues of her Monastery could not contain themselves in their serious humour imagining that the faces which the Portugal made and his actions were so many effects of his devotion and good meaning For if one had thought it to be otherwise and that he had not done it out of derision no question but he had been so chastised as he should never have been able to mock again When the Sermon was ended the Talapicor returned to the Pagod where he lodged being accompanied with the most honourable of all the Assembly together with the Ambassadours unto whom all the way as he went he ceased not to commend the devotion of the Portugal Look said he there is not so much as these people who live like beasts and without the knowledge of our truth but see well enough that there is nothing but what is godly in that I have preached whereunto all answered that it was as he said The day after we parted from the Town of Quanginau and continued our voyage down the river for the space of fourteen dayes during the which we saw a number of Towns and great Boroughs on either side of us at the end whereof we arrived at a City called Lechuna the chiefest of the Religion of these Gentiles and such it may be as Rome is amongst us In this City was a very sumptuous Temple where there were many remarkable edifices in the which seven and twenty Kings or Emperours of this Monarchy of Tartaria have been buried Their Tombâ— are in Chappels wonderful rich as well for the excellency of their workmanship which is of an infinite cost as for that they are within covered all over with plates of silver wherein there are divers Idols of different forms made also of silver On the North side a little part from the Temple was an inclosure worthy the observation both for its extent and the fortification thereof within it were two hundred and fourscore Monasteries as well of men as of women dedicated to certain Idols and for the service of all these Pagodes or Temples there are ordinarily as we were assured two and forty thousand Priests and Menigrepes not comprising therein those which were lodged without the inclosure for the service of these false priests We observed that in these two hundred and fourscore houses there was an infinite company of pillars of brass and upon the top of each pillar are idols of the same mâ—ttal guilt besides thosâ— which lâ—kewise were there all of silver These Idols are the Statues of them whom in their false Sect they hold for Saints and of whom they recount such fopperies as would make a man wonder to hear them For they give unto each of them a Statue more or less rich and guilded according to the degrees of vertue which they have exercised in this life And this they do expresly that the living may be incited to imitate them to the end there may be as much done unto them when they are dead In one of these Monasteries of the Invocation of Quiay Frigau that is to say The God of the moats of the Sun was a sister of the Kings the widdow of Raiâ—
brought to a Pagode whither the people flocked from all parts that day in regard of a very solemn feast that was then celebrated there This Temple or Pagode as we were told had somtime been a Pallace royal where the King then reigning was born now because the Queen his Mother died there in child-birth she commanded her self to be buried in the very same chamber where she was brought to bed wherefore to honour her death the better this Temple was dedicated to the invocation of Tauhinaret which is one of the principal Sects of the Pagans in the Kingdom of China as I will more amâ—ly declare when as I shall speak of the Labyrinth of the two and thirty laws that are in it All the buildings of this Temple together with all the gardens and walks that belong to it are suspended in the ayr upon three hundred and threescore pillars every one of the which is of one intire stone of a very great bigness These three hundred and threescore pillars are called by the names of three hundred and threescore days of the year and in each of them is a particular feast kept there with many alms gifts and bloody sacaifices accompanied with musick dancing and other sports Under this Pagode namely between those pillars are eight very fair streets inclosed on every side with grates of copper and gates for the passage of pilgrims and others that run continually to this feast as it were to a Jubilee The Chamber above where the Queen lay was made in the form of a Chappel but round and from the top to the bottom all garnished with silver the workmanship whereof was of greater cost then the matter it self In the midst of it stood a kind of Tribunal framed round like the Chamber some fifteen steps high compassed about with six graâ—es of silver on the top whereof was a great bowl and upon that a Lion of silver that with his head supported a shrine of gold three hand-bredths square wherein they said the bones of the Queen were which these blinded ignorants reverenced as a great relique Below this Tribunal in equal proportion were four bars of silver that traversed the Chamber whereon hung three and forty lamps of the same mettal in memory of the three and forty years that this Queen lived and seven lamps of gold in commamoration of seven sons that she had moreover at the entry into the Chappel just against the door were eight other bars of iron whereon also hung a very great number of silver lamps which the Chineses told us were offered by some of the Wives of the Chaems Aytaos Tutoens and Anchacys who were assistant at the death of the Queen so that in aknowledgment of that honour they sent those lamps thither afterwards without the gates of the Temple and round about six ballisters of copper that invironed it were a great many Statues of Giants fifteen foot high cast in brass all well proportioned with halberts or clubs in their hands and some of them with battle-axes on their shoulders which made so brave and majestical a shew as one could never be satisfied enough with looking on them Amongst these Statues which were in number twelve hundred as the Chineses affirmed there were four and twenty very great Serpents also of brass and under every one of them a woman seated with a sword in her hand and a silver crown on her head It was said that those four and twenty women carried the Titles of Queens because they sacrificed themselves to the death of this Queen to the end their souls might serve hers in the other life as in this their bodies had served her body a matter which the Chineses that draw their extraction from these women hold for a very great honour insomuch as they inrich the crests of their coats of arms with it round about this row of Giants was another of triumphant arches guilt all over whereon a number of silver bels hung by chains of the same mettal which moved with the air kept such a continual ringing as one could hardly hear one another for the noise they made Without these arches there were likewise at the same distance two rows of copper grates that inclosed all this huge work and among them certain pillars of the same mettal which supported Lions rampant mounted upon bowls being the arms of the Kings of China as I have related elsewhere At each corner of the Carrefour was a monster of brass of so strange and unmeasurable an heighth and so deformed to behold as it is not possible almost for a man to imagine so that I think it best not to speak of them the rather for that I confess I am not able in words to express the form wherein I saw their prodigies Howbeit as it is reasonable to conceal these things without giving some knowledg of them I will say as much as my weak understanding is able to deliver One of these Monsters which is on the right hand as one comes into the Carrefour whom the Chineses call the Serjeant Gluttom of the hollow or profound house of smoak and that by their histories is held to be Lucifer is represented under the figure of a Serpent of an excessive heighth with most hideous and deformed adders coming out of his stomack covered all over with green and black scares and a number of prickles on their backs above a span long like unto Porcupins quils each of these Adders had a woman between his jaws with her hair all dishevelled and standing an end as one affrighted The monster carried also in his mouth which was unmeasurable great a Vizard that was above thirty foot long and as big as a tun with his nostrils chaps so full of blood that all the rest of his body was besmeared with it this Vizard held a great Eliphant between his paws and seemed to gripe him so hard as his very guts came out of his throat and all this was done so proportionably and to the life that it made a man tremble to behold such a deformed figure and which was scarce possible for one to imagine His tail might be some twenty fathom long was entortilled about such another Monster that was the second of the four whereof I spake in the figure of a man being an hundred foot high and by the Chineses called Turcamparoo who they say was the son of that Serpent besides that he was very ugly he stood with both his hands in his mouth that was as big as a great gate with a row of horrible teeth and a foul black tongue hanging out two fathom long most dreadfull to behold As for the other two Monsters one was in the form of a woman named by the Chineses Magdelgau seventeen fathom high and six thick This same about the girdlesteed before had a face made proportionable to her body above two fathom broad and she breathed out of her mouth and nostrils great â—â—akes not of artificial but true fire which
of it a Cushion of the same In this Chair he sate him down and heard Masse which was celebrated vvith a great deal of Ceremonie and a marvellous consort both of Voyces and Instruments Masse being ended the Sermon followed that was made by Estevano Nogueyra an ancient man and Curate of the place vvho to speak the truth through discontinuance of preaching was but little verst in Pulpit matters and illiterate vvithall howbeit desiring to shew himself that day a learned man in so remarkable a solemnity he laboured to make demonstration of his best Rhetorick To which effect he grounded all his Sermon on the Prayses of Antonio de Faria and that in words so ill placed and so far from his Text as our Captain was much ashamed at it wherefore some of his friends pluckt him three or four times by the Surplis for to make him give over wherewith being neâ—led he turned him about to those that would have had him leave off I will not said he unto them but will rather say more for I speake nothing but that which is as true as Gospel in regard whereof let me alone I pray you for I have made a vow to God never to desist from commending this noble Captain as he more then deserves at my hands for saving me seven thousand Duckats venture that Mem Taborda had of mine in his Iunk and was taken from him by that dog Coia Acem for which let the soul of so cursed a rogue and wicked Devil be tormented in Hell for ever and ever whereunto say all with me Amen This Conclusion provoked all the Assembly so to laugh that we could not hear one another in the Church for the noise that was made there This tumult over there came out of the Vestry six little Boyes attired like Angels with Instruments of Musick in their hands guilt all over and then the same Priest falling on his knees before the Altar of our Lady and lifting up his hands began to sing aloud these words Virgin you are a Rose whâ—reunto the little Boyes answered very melodiously with their Instruments all being performed with such harmony and devotion as it drew tears from most of the Assistants Masse being finished the four principal Governours of the Town namely Mateus de Brito Lançarote Pereyra Ieronimo de Rego and Tristan de Gaa came unto Antonio de Faria and bâ—ing accompanied with all the Portugals which were above a thousand in number they conducted him into a great place before the Town Hall that was compassed about with a small thick wood of Chesnut Trees all full of Fruit just as they grew adorned above with Standards and Banners of Silk and strewed below with Flower de luces and Red and White Roses whereof there is great abundance in China In this Wood were three long Tables set under a goodly spacious Arbor that was covered over with Myrtle and round about were divers Conduits of Water which ran from one to the other by certain Inventions of the Chineses that were so subtile as one could not possibly discern the secret For by the means of a kinde of Bellows like unto that of an Organ that was joyned to the principall Conduit the water rebounded up so high that when it came to descend again it fell as small as dew so that with one onely pot full of water they could gently moisten that great place before these three Tables were three Court-cup-boards placed upon the which was a great deal of very fine Pourcelain and six huge Vessels of Gold that the Chinese Merchants had borrowed of the Mandarins of the Town of Liampoo For in that Country Persons of quality are served all in Gold Silver being for those of meaner condition They brought likewise divers other pieces all of Gold as great Basons Saltsellers and Cups After they were dismissed which were not for the Banquet there onely remained those that were invited being fourscore in number besides fiftie of Antonio de Faria's Souldiers These being set at Table were served by young Wenches very beautiful and finely apparrelled according to the manner of the Mandarins At every course that was served up they sung very melodiously to the tune of certain Instruments vvhereon some of their companions played As for Antonio de Faria he was served by eight Maidens the Daughters of worthy Merchants exceeding fair and comely whom their Fathers had brought thither for that purpose at the request of Mateus de Brito and Tristan de Gaa They were attired like Mermaids and carried the meat to the Table dancing to the sound of divers Instruments a marvellous thing to behold and vvherewithal the Portugals vvere so mightily taken as they could not sufficiently commend the excellent Order and Gentilenesse of these Magnificencies by which their eyes and eares were so charmed Remarkable it was also that at every health the Trumpets Hoboys and Drums plaid their parts In this sort the Banquet continued two hours during vvhich there vvas alvvayes one device or other after the Portugal or Chinese fashion I vvill not stand here to recount the delicacy or abundance of the meats that vvere served up in it for it would be a matter not onely superfluous but even infinite to recite every thing in particular After they were risen from Table they went all to another great place that vvas invironed vvith Scaffolds all hung with Silk and full of People where ten Bulls and five vvild Horses were baited being accompanied with the sound of Trumpets Fifes and Drums in sequel vvhereof divers Mummeâ—ies of several Inventions were represented Now because it was late Antonio de Faria vvould have imbarqued himself again for to have returned unto his Ships but they of the Town would by no means suffer him for they had prepared the Houses of Tristan de Gaa and Mateus de Brito for his lodging having caused a Gallerie to be built from the one to the other for that purpose There was he lodged very commodiously during the space of five Months that he abode in that place alwaies entertained with new sports and delights of Fishing Hunting Hawking Comedies and Masques as also with sumptuous Feasts as vvell on Sundayes and Holydayes as other Dayes of the Week so that we passed these five Months in such pleasure as at our departure we did not thinke vve had been there five dayes This term expired Antonio de Faria made preparation of Vessels and Men for his Voyage to the Mines of Quoaniaparâ— for in regard the season was then proper for it he resolved to be gone as soon as possibly he could but in the mean time it happened that Quiay Panian fell into a dangerous sickness whereof not long after he died to the extream grief of Antonio de Faria vvho exceedingly affected him for many good qualities that were in him worthy of his friendship and therefore he caused him to be honourably buried as the last dutie that he could do to his Friend After the the death of Quiay
requisite for the purging of him from so enormous a crime Hereunto the Hermit answered Pleaseth the Lord who living reigneth above the beauty of the stars that the knowledge which by this discourse thou shewest to have be not prejudiciall unto thee For I be assured that he who knows these things and doth them not runs a far greater danger than he that sins through ignorance Then one of ours named Nuno Coelho who would needs have an oar in our talk told him that he was not to be angry for a matter of so small importance whereunto the Hermit beholding him with so stern a countenance answered Certainly the fear which thou hast of death is yet lesse since thou imployest thy selfe in actions as infamous and black as the soul that is in thy body and for my part I cannot but be perswaded that all thy ambition is wholly placed upon money as but too well appears by the the thirst of thy insatiable avarice whereby thou wilt make an end of heaping up the measure of thine infernal appetite Continue then thy theeveries for seeing then thou must go to hell for that which thou hast already taken out of this holy house thou shalt also go thither for those things which thou shalt steal otherwise so the heavier the burden shall be that thou bearest the sooner shalt thou be precipitated into the bottom of hell where already thy wicked works have prepared thee an everlasting abode Hereupon Nuno de Coelho prayed him to take all things patiently affirming that the Law of God commanded him so to do Then the Hermit lift up his hand by way of admiration and as it were smiling at what the souldier had said Truly answered he I am come to see that I never thought to see or hear namely evil actions disguised with a specious pretext of vertue which makes me believe that thy blindnesse is exceeding great since trusting to good words thou spendest thy life so wickedly wherefore it is not possible thou shouldest ever come to Heaven or give any account to God at the last day as of necessity they must do Saying so he turned him to Antonio de Faria without attending further answer from him and earnestly desired him not to suffer his company to spit upon and prophane the altar which he vowed was more grievous to him then the induring of a thousand deaths whereupon to satisfie him he presently commanded the forbearance of it wherewith the Hermit was somewhat comforted Now because it grew late Antonio de Faria resolved to leave the place but before he departed he held it necessary to inform himself of certain other particulars whereof he stood in some doubt so that he deserved of the Hermit how many persons there might be in all those Hermitages whereunto Hiticon answered that there were about three hundred and threescore Talagrepos besides forty Menigrepos appointed to furnish them with things requisite for their maintenance and to attend them when they were sick moreover he asked him whether the King of China came not somtimes thither he told him No for said he the King cannot be condemned by any body he is the son of the Sun but contrarily he had power to absolve every one Then he enquired of him if there were any arms in their Hermitages O no answered the Hermit for all such as pretend to go to heaven have more need of patience to indure injuries then of arms to revenge themselves Being also desirous to know of him the cause why so much silver was mingled with the bones of the dead This silver replied the Hermit comes of the alms that the deceased carry with them out of this into the other life for to serve them at their need in the heaven of the Moon where they live eternally In conclusion having demanded of him whither they had any women he said That they which would maintain the life of their souls ought not to taste the pleasures of the flesh seeing experience made it apparent that the Bee which nourisheth her self in an hony-comb dâ—th often sting such as offer to meddle with that sweetness After Antonio de Faria had propounded all these questions he took his leave of him and so went directly to his ships with an intention to return again the next day for to set upon the other Hermitages where as he had been told was great abundance of silver and certain Idols of gold but our sins would not permit us to see the effect of a business which we had been two months and an halfe a purchasing with so much labor and danger of our lives as I will deliver hereafter At the clearing up of the day Antonio de Faria and all of us being embarqued we went and anchored on the other side of the Island about a faulcon shot from it with an intent as I have before declared to go a shore again the next morning and set upon the Chappels where the Kings of China were interred that so we might the more commodiously lade our two vessels with such treasures which peradventure might have succeeded according to our desires if the business had been well carried and that Antonio de Faria had followed the counsel was given him which was that since we had not been as yet discovered that he should have carried the Hermit away with him to the end he might not acquaint the House of the Bonzos with what we had done howbeit he would never hearken to it saying that we were to fear nothing that way by reason the Hermit was so old and his legs so swoln with the gout as he was not able to stand much less to go But it fell out clean contrary to his expectation for the Hermit no sooner saw us imbarqued as we understood afterwards but he presently crawled as well as he could to the next Hermitage which was not above a flight shoot from his and giving intelligence of all that had past he bad his companion because himself was not able to go away with all speed to the Bonzoâ—s house to acquaint them with it which the other instantly performed so that about midnight we saw a great many of fires lighted on the top of the wall of the Temple where the Kings were buried being kindled to serve for a signal to the Countrey about of some extraordinary danger towards This made us ask of our Chineses what they might mean who answered that assuredly we were discovered in regard wherof they advised us without any longer stay to set sail immediatly Herewith they acquainted Antonio de Faria who was fast asleep but he straightway arose and leaving his anchor in the sea rowed directly afraid as he was to the Island for to learn what was done there Being arrived near to the Key he heard many bels ringing in each Hermitage together with a noise of men talking whereupon the Chineses that accompanied him said Sir never stand to hear or see more but retire we beseech you as fast as
proceeded as they told us from her head where fire was continually kept that in like manner came out of the said face below By this Figure these Idolaters would demonstrate that she was the Queen of the fiery sphear which according to their belief is to burn the earth at the end of the World The fourth Monster was a man set stooping which with great swoln cheeks as big as the main sail of a Ship seemed to blow extreamly this Monster was also of an unmeasurable height anâ— of such an hideous and gastly aspect that a man could hardly endure the sight of it the Chineses called it Vzanguenaboo and said that it was he which raised Tempests upon the Sea and demolished Buildings in regard whereof the people offred many things unto him to the end he should do them no harm and many presented him with a piece of money yearly that he might not drown their Junks nor do any of theirs hurt that went by Sea I will omit many other abuses which their blindness makes them beleeve and which they hold to be so true as there is not one of them but would endure a thousand deaths for the maintenance thereof The next day being gone from the Town of Pocasser we arrived at another fair and great Town called Xinligau there we saw many Buildings inclosed with walls of Brick and deep ditches about them and at one end of the Town two Castles very well fortified with Towers and Bulwarks after our fashion at the gates were draw Bridges suspended in the air with great Iron chains and in the midst of them a Tower five Stories high very curiously painted with several Pictures the Chineses assured us that in those two Castles there was as much Treasure as amounted to fifteen thousand pieces of silver which was the revenue of all this Archipelage and laid up in this place by the Kings Grandfather now raigning in Memorial of a Son of his that was born here and named Leuquinau that is to say The joy of all those of the Country repute him for a Saint because he ended his dayes in Religion where also he was buried in a Temple dedicated to Quiay Varatel the God of all the Fishes of the Sea of whom these miserable Ignorants recount a world of Fooleries as also the Laws he invented and the precepts which he left them being able to astonish a man as I will more amply declare when time shall serve In this Town and in another five leagues higher the most part of the Silks of this Kingdome are dyed because they hold that the waters of these places make the colours far more lively then those of any other part and these Dyers which are said to be thirteen thousand pay unto the King yearly three hundred thousand Taeis Continuing our course up the River the day after about evening we arrived at certain great plains where were great store of Catâ—le as Horses Mares Colts and Cows guarded by men on Horsback that make sale of them to Butchers who afterwards retail them indifferently as any other flesh Having past these plains containing some ten or eleven Leagues we came to a Town called Iunquileu walled with Brick but without Battlements Bulwarks or Towers as others had whereâ—f I have spoken before at the end of the Suburbs of this Town we saw divers houses built in the water upon great Piles in the form of Magazines Before the gate of a little street stood a Tombe made of stone invironed with an Iron grate painted red and green and over it a steeple framed of pieces of very fine Pourcelain sustained by four pillars of curious stone upon the top of the Tombe were five Globes and two others that seemed to be of cast iron and on the one side thereof were graven in Letters of gold and in the Chinese language words of this substance Here lyes Trannocem Mudeliar Vncle to the King of Malaca whom death took out of the World before he could be revenged of Captain Alphonso Albuquerque the Lyon of the robberies of the Sea We were much amazed to behold this Inscription there wherefore enquiring what it might mean a Chinese that seemed more honourable then the rest told us that about some fortie years before this man which lay buried there came thither as Embassador from a Prince that stiled himself King of Malaca to demand succour from the son of the Sun against men of a Country that hath no name which came by Sea from the end of the World and had taken Malaca from him this man recounted many other incredible things concerning this matter whereof mention is made in a printed Book thereof as also that this Embassador having continued three years at the Kings Court suing for this succour just as it was granted him and that preparations for it were a making it was his ill fortune to be surprised one night at Supper with an Apoplexie whereof he dyed at the end of nine dayes so that extreamly afflicted to see himself carried away by a suddain death before he had accomplished his business he expressed his earnest desire of revenge by the Inscription which he caused to be graven on his tombe that posterity might know wherefore he was come thither Afterwards we departed from this place and continued our voyage up the river which thereabouts is not so large as towards the City of Nanquin but the Country is here better peopled with Villages Boroughs and Gardens then any other place for every stones cast we met still with some Pagode Mansion of pleasure or Countrey house Passing on about some two leagues further we arrived at a place encompassed with great iron gates in the midst whereof stood two mighty Statues of brass upright sustained by pillars of cast mettal of the bigness of a bushel and seven fathom high the one of a man and the other of a woman both of them seventy four spans in heighth having their hands in their mouths their cheeks horribly blown out and their eyes so staring as they affrighted all that looked on them That which represented a man was called Quiay Xingatalor and the other in the form of a woman was named Apancapatur Having demanded of the Chineses the explication of these figures they told us that the male was he which with those mighty swoln cheeks blew the fire of hell for to torment all those miserable wretches that would not liberally bestow alms in this life and for the other monster that she was Porter of hell gate where she would take notice of those that did her good in this world and letting them fly away into a river of very cold water called Ochilenday would keep them hid there from being tormented by the Divels as other damned were Upon this Speech one of our company could not forbear laughing at such a ridiculous and diabolical foolery which three of their Priests or Banzoes then present observing they were so exceedingly offended therewith as they perswaded the
away towards the Court crying along in the streets that the strangers Harquebuse had killed the Prince At these sad news the people flocked in all haste with weapons and great cries to the house where I was Now God knows whether I was not a little amazed when coming to awake I saw this tumult as also the young Prince lying along upon the floor by me weltring in his own blood without stirring either hand or foot All that I could do then was to imbrace him in my arms so besides my self as I knew not where I was In the mean time behold the King comes in a Chair carried upon four mens shoulders and so sad and pale as he seemed more dead then alive after him followed the Queen on foot leaning upon two Ladies with her two daughters and a many of women all weeping As soon as they were entred into the Chamber and beheld the young Prince extended on the ground as if he had been dead imbraced in my arms and both of us wallowing in blood they all concluded that I had killed him so that two of the Company drawing out their Scymitars would have slain me which the King perceiving Stay stay cried he let us know first how the matter goes for I fear it comes further off and that this fellow here hath been corrupted by some of those Traitors kinred whom I caused to be last executed Thereupon commanding the two young Gentlemen to be called which had accompanied the Prince his Son thither he questioned them very exactly Their answer was that my Harquebuse with the inchantments in it had killed him This deposition served but to incense the Assistants the more who in a rage addressing themselves to the King What need Sir have you to hear more cried they here is but too much let him be put to a cruel death Therewith they sent in all hast for the Iarabuca who was my Interpreter to them now for that upon the arrival of this disaster he was out of extream fear fled away they brought him straightly bound to the King but before they fell to examining of him they mightily threatned him in case he did not confess the truth whereunto he answered trembling and with tears in his eyes that he would reveal all that he knew In the mean time being on my knees with my hands bound a Bonzo that was President of their Justice having his arms bared up to his shoulders and a Poynard in his hand dipped in the blood of the young Prince said thus unto me I conjure thee thou Son of some Divel and culpable of the same crime for which they are damned that inhabit in the house of smoak where they lye buried in the obscure and deep pit of the Center of the earth that thou confess unto me with a voice so loud that every one may hear thee for what cause thou hast with these sorceries and inchantments killed this young innocent whom we hold for the hairs and principal ornament of our heads To this demand I knew not what to answer upon the suddain for that I was so far besides my self as if one had taken away my life I believe I should not have felt it which the President perceiving and beholding me with a terrible countenance Seest thou not continued he that if thou doest not answer to the questions I ask thee that thou mayst hold thy self for condemned to a death of blood of fire of water and of the blasts of the wind for thou shalt be dismembred into the air like the feathers of dead fowl which the wind carries from one place to another separated from the body with which they were joyned whilest they lived This said he gave me a great kick with his fooâ— for to rowse up my spirits and cried out again Speak confess who they are that have corrupted thee What sum of mony have they given thee how are they called and where are they at this present At these words being somewhat come again to my self I answered him that God knew my innocence and that I took him for witness thereof But he not contented with what he had done began to menace me more then before and set before my eyes an infinite of torments and terrible things wherein a long time being spent it pleâ—sed God at length that the young Prince came to himself who no sooner saw the King his Father as also his Mother and Sisters dissolved into tears but that he desired them not to weep and that if he chanced to die they would attribute his death to none but himself who was the only cause thereof conjuring them moreover by the blood wherein they beheld him weltring to cause me to be unbound without all delay if they desired not to make him die anew The King much amazed with this language commanded the Manacles to be taken off which they had put upon me whereupon came in four Bonzoes to apply remedies unto him but when they saw in what manner he was wounded that his thumb hung in a sort but by the skin they were so troubled aâ— it as they knew not what to do which the poor Prince observing Away away said he send hence these divels and let others come that have more heart to judg of my hurt since it hath pleased God to send it me Therewith the four Bonzoes were sent away and other four came in their stead who likewise wanted the courage to dress him which the King perceiving was so much troubled as he knew not what to do howbeit he resolved at length to be advised therein by them that were about him who counselled him to send for a Bonzo called Teixâ—andono a man of great reputation amongst them and that lived then at the City of Facataa some seventy leagues from that place but the wounded Prince not able to brook these delayes I knâ—w not answered he what you mean by this counsel which you give my Father seeing me in the deplorable estate wherein I am for whereas I ought to have been drâ—st already you would have me stay for an old rotten man who cannot be here until one hath made a journy of an hundred and forty leagues both in going and coming so that it must be a month at least before he can arrive wherefore speak no more of it but if you desire to do me a pleasure free this Stranger a little from the fear you have put him in and clear the room of all this throng he that you believe hath hurt me will help me as he may for I had rather die under the hands of this poor wretch that hath wept so much for me then be touched by the Bonzo of Facaâ—aâ— who at the age he is of of ninety and two years can see no further then his nose CHAP. XLVI My curing the young Prince of Bungo with my return to Tanixuâ—â—a and imbarquing there for Liampoo and also that which hapened to us on land after the shipwrack we
suffered by the way THe King of Bungo being extreamly grieved to see the disaster of his Son turned himself to me and beholding me with a very gentle countenance Stranger said he unto me try I pray thee if thou canst assist my Son in this peril of his life for I sware unto thee if thou canst do it I will make no less esteem of thee then of him himself and will give thee whatsoever thou wilt demand of me Hereunto I answered the King that I desired his Majesty to command all those people away because the coyle that they kept confounded me and that then I would see whether his hurts were dangerous for if I found that I was able to cure them I would do it most willingly Presently the King willed every one to be gone whereupon approaching unto the Prince I perceived that he had but two hurts one on the top of his forehead which was no great matter and the other on his right hand thumb that was almost cut off So that our Lord inspiring me as it were with new courage I besought the King not to be grieved for I hoped in lesâ— then a month to render him his Son perfectly recovered Having comforâ—ed him in this manner I began to prepare my self for the dressing of the Prince but in the mean time the King was very much reprehended by the Bonâ—oes who told him that his Son would assuredly die that night and therefore it was better for him to put me to death presently then to suffer me to kill the Prince out-right adding further that if it should happen to prove so as it was very likely it would not only be a great scandal unto him but also much alienate his peoples affections from him To these speeches of the Bonzoes the King replyed that he thought they had reason for that they said and therefore he desired them to let him know how he should govern himself in this extremity You must said they stay the coming of the Bonzo Teixâ—andono and never think of any other course for we assure you in regard he is the holiest man living he will no sooner lay his hand on him but he will heal him straight as he hath healed many othâ—rs in our â—ight As the King was even resolved to follow the cursed counsel of thâ—se servants of the Divel the Prince complained that his wounds pained 〈◊〉 in such sort aâ— he was noâ—â—ble to indure it and therefore prayed any handsome remedy might be instantly applied to them whereupon the King much distracted between the opinion of the Bonzoes and the danger that his Son was in of his life together with the extream pain that he suffered desired those about him to advice him what he should resolve on in that exigent not one of them but was of the mind that it was far more expedient to have the Prince drest out of hand then to stay the time which the Bonzoes spake of This counsel being approved of the King he came again to me and making very much of me he promised me mighty matters if I could recover his Son I answered him with tears in my eyes that by the help of God I would do it and that he himself should be witness of my care therein So recommending my self to God and taking a good heart unto me for I saw there was no other way to save my life but that I prepared all things necessary to perform the cure Now because the hurt of the right hand thumb was most dangerous I begun with that and give it seven stitches whereas peradventure if a Chirurgion had drest him he would have given it fewer as for that of the forehead I gave it but four in regard it was much slighter then the other that done I applyed to them tow wet in the whites of eggs and so bound them up very close as I had seen others done in the Indiaes Five days after I cut the stitches and continued dressing him as before until that at the end of twenty days it pleaâ—â—d God he was throughly cured without any other inconvenience remaining to him then a little weakness in his thumb For this cause after that time the Kâ—ng and all his Lords did me much honour the Queen also and the Princesses her daughters presented me with a great many Sutes of silks and the chiefest of the Court with Cymitars and other things bâ—sides all which the King gave me six hundred Taeis so that after this sort I received in recompence of this my cure above fifteen hundred Duckets that I carried with me from this place After things were past in this manner being advertised by letters from my two Companions at Tanixumaa that the Chinese Pirate with whom we came thither was preparing for his return to China I besought the King of Bungo to give me leave to go back which he readily granted me and with much acknowledgement of the curing of his Son he willed a Funce to be made ready for me furnished with all things necessary wherein commanded a man of quality that was attended by twenty of the Kings servants with whom I departed one Saturday morning from the City of Fucheo and the Friday following about Sun-set I arrived at Tanixumaa where I found my two Comrades who received me with much joy Here we continued fifteen days longer till such time as the Junck was quite ready and then we set Sail for Liampoo which is a Sea-port of the Kingdom of China whereof I have spoken at large heretofore and where at that time the Portugals traded Having continued our voyage with a prosperous wind it pleased God that we arrived safe at our desired Port where it is not to be believed how much we were welcome by the Inhabitants of the place Now because it seemed strange unto them that we had voluntarily submitted our selves in that sort to the bad faith of the Chineses they asked of us from what Country we came and where it was that we imbarqued our selves with them whereupon we freely declared unto them the truth of all and gave them an account of our Voyage as also of the new Land of Iapon that we had discovered the great abundance of silver that was there and the exceeding profit that might be made by carrying the commodities of China thither wherewith they were wonderfully contented and instantly ordained a general Procession to be made by way of thanksgiving unto God for so great a blessing But withall covetousness began in such sort to seize upon the hearts of most of the Inhabitants every one striving to be the foremost in this voyage as they came to divide themselves into troops and to make several parties so that even with weapons in their hands they went thronging to buy up the commodities of that Country which made the Chinese Merchants upon the sight of our unruly avarice set so high a price upon their wares that whereas a Pico of silk was at first not worth forty
by the four women upon whom she leaned directly to the Gallows whereon she and her four children were to be hanged and there the Rolim of Mounay who was held amongst them for a holy man used some speeches unto her for to encourage her the better to suffer death whereupon she desired them to give her a little water which being brought unto her she filled he mouth with it and so spurted it upon her four children whom she held in her arms then having kissed them many times she said unto them weeping O my Children my Children whom I have conceived anew within the interior of my Soul how happy would I think my self if I might redeem your lives with the loss of mine own a thousand times over if it were possible for in regard of the fear and anguish wherein I see you at this present and wherein every one sees me also I should receive Death with as good an heart from the hand of this cruel Enemy as I willingly desire to see my self in the presence of the Soveraign Lord of all things within the repose of his celestial Habitation Then turning her to the Hangman who was going to bind her two little boys Good Friend said she be not I pray thee so voyd of pity as to make me see my children dye for in so doing thou wouldst commit a great sin wherefore put me first to death and refuse me not this boon which I crave of thee for Gods sake After she had thus spoken she took her children again in her arms and kissing them over and over in giving them her last farewell she yielded up the ghost in the Ladies lap upon whom she leaned not so much as once stirring ever after which the Hangman perceiving ran presently unto her and hanged her as he had done the rest together with her four little children two of each side of her and she in the middle At this cruel and pitiful spectacle there arose from amongst all this people so great and hideous a cry that the Earth seemed to tremble under the feet of them that stood upon it and withall there followed such a Mutiny throughout the whole Camp as the King was constrained to fortifie himself in his quarter with six thousand Bramaa Horse and thirty thousand Foot and yet for all that be thought not himself secure enough from it had not the night come which onely was able to calm the furious motions of these men of war For of seven hundred thousand which were in the Camp six hundred thousand were by Nation Pegu's whose King was the Father of this Queen that was thus put to death but this Tyrant of Bramaa had so disarmed and subjected them as they durst not so much as quich upon any occasion Behold in what an infamous manner Nhay Canatoo finished her days a Princess every way accomplished wife to the Chaubainhaa King of Martabano and the daughter of the King of Pegu Emperor of nine Kingdoms whose yearly Revenue amounted unto three millions of Gold As for the infortunate King her Husband he was the same night cast into the River with a great stone tyed about his neck together with fifty or threescore of his chiefest Lords who were either the Fathers Husbands or Brothers of those hundred and forty Ladies that were most unjustly put to such an ignominious death amongst the which there were three whom this King of Bramaa had demanded in marriage at such time as he was but a simple Earl but not one of their Fathers would condescend unto it whereby one may see how great the revolutions of time and fortune are After the Tyrant of Bramaa had caused this rigorous Justice to be done he stayed there nine whole days during the which many of the Inhabitants of the City were also execued At last he departed for to go to Pegu leaving behind him Bainhaa Chaque Lord Steward of his House to take order for all things that might conduce to the pacifying of that Kingdom and to provide for the repairing of what the fire had consumed to which purpose he placed a good Garison there and carryed with him the rest of his Army Ioano Cayeyro followed him also with seven hundred Portugals not above three or four remaining behind in the ruines of Martabano and those too not very considerable except it were one named Gonçalo Falcan a Gentleman well born and whom these Gentiles commonly called Crisna Pacan that is to say Flower of Flowers a very honorable Title amongst them which the King of Bramaa had given him in recompence of his services Now for as much as at my departure from Malaca Pedro de Faria had given me a Letter directed unto him whereby he desired him to assist me with his favor in case I had need of it in the affair for which he sent me thither as well for the service of the King as for his own particular as soon as I arrived at Martabano where I found him resident I delivered him this Letter and withall gave him an account of the occasion that brought me thither which was to confirm the ancient league of Peace that the Chaubainhaa had made by his Embassadors with them of Malaca at such time as Pedro de Faria was first Governor of it and whereof he could not chuse but have some knowledg adding moreover how to that effect I had brought the Chaubainhaa Letters full of great protestations of amity and a Present of certain very rich Pieces of China Hereupon this Gonçalo Falcan imagining that by means hereof he might insinuate himself much more into the good grace of the King of Bramaa to whose side he turned at the siege of Martabano quitting that of the Chaubainhaa whom formerly he served he went three days after the Kings departure to his said Governor and told him that I was come thither as Embassador from the Captain of Malaca to treat with the Chaubainhaa unto whom the Captain sent an offer of great Forces against the King of Bramaa in so much that they of the Country were upon the point of fortifying themselves in Martabano and chasing away the Bramaas out of the Kingdom whereunto he added so many other such like matters that the Governor sent presently to apprehend me and after he had put me into safe custody he went directly to the Junck in which I came from Malaca and seized upon all the goods that were in her which were worth above an hundred thousand duckets committing the Necoda Captain and Master of the Junck to prison as also all the rest that were in her to the number of an hundred threescore and four persons wherein comprized forty rich Merchants Malayes Menancabo's Mahumetans and Gentiles Natives of Malaca All these were incontinently condemned to a confiscation of their goods and to remain the Kings prisoners as well as I for being complices in the Treason which the Captain of Malaca had plotted in secret with the Chaubainhaa against the King of Bramaa Having
that other succors came to joyn with them as indeed the report went that fourscore thousand all Mons by Nation and led by the King of Avaa were on their way thither With this resolution the Tyrant of Bramaa set forth towards Meleytay with an Army of three hundred thousand men namely two hundred thousand by Land alongst the Rivers side whereof the Chaumigrem his Foster-brother was Commander in chief and the other hundred thousand under his own conduct being all choyce men and imbarqued in two thousand Seroos Being come within sight of Meleytay the Avaas desiring to shew that the resolution wherewith they were come thither was of far more power with them then any fear they could have and that also their Enemies might not receive any benefit by their Fleet which lay on the River and do them an affront besides by taking of it they set all theâ—â— Vessels on fire and burnt them every one Then without any dread of that which the flesh doth naturally most fear they got all into the field and ranged themselves into four Battalions in three of which whereof each one made ten thousand men were the thirty thousand Mons and in the the other that were somewhat bigger were all the Mariners of the four hundred Vessels they had burnt These same they placed in the Vaunt-guard with an intention that they should weary the Enemies with whom they made a cruel fight which lasted about half an hour wherein all these Mariners were cut in pieces presently after them the thirty thousand Mons close compacted together in three Battalions presented themselves and with wonderful violence set upon their Enemies between whom and them followed so extraordinary and cruel a battel as not longer to insist upon it nor to recount in particular how things past which also I cannot well do it shall suffice me to say that of the thirty thousand Mons eight hundred only escaped out of it who being routed made their retreat into the Fortress of Meleytay but that which was most memorable herein was that of the King of Bramaas two hundred thousand men an hundred and fifteen thousand lay dead in field and all the rest for the most part were wounded In the mean time the Tyrant which came along on the River in the two thousand Seroos arrived at the place of Battel where beholding the strange massacre which the Mons had made of his people he became so enraged at it that dis-imbarquing his Forces he instantly layd siege unto the Fortress with a purpose as he said to take all those eight hundred that were in it alive This siege continued seven whole days together during the which those without gave five assaults to it and the besieged defended themselves always very valiantly howbeit seeing that the last hour of their life was come and that they could no longer hold that place for their King as they had hoped they might by reason of the fresh Forces which the King of Bramaa had landed like couragious men as they were they resolved to dye in the field as their companions had done and valiantly revenge their deaths with that of their Enemies whereunto they were the more willingly carryed because they perceived well that if they continued still in the place they should never make use of their valor as they desired to do for that the Tyrants Ordnance would by little and little consume them This resolution taken they under the favor of a very dark and rainy night sallyed forth and first of all fell upon the two first Courts of guard that were on the Lands side cutting all in pieces that they met withall Then following their design they passed on like desperate men and whether they did it either to shew that they regarded not death which threatened them or for the desire they had to gain honor so it was that they behaved themselves so couragiously and pressed the Tyrant so neer as they forced him to leap into the River and swim for his life in so much that all the Camp was in disorder and broken through in I know not how many places with the death of above twelve thousand men amongst whom were fifteen hundred Bramaas two thousand strangers of divers Nations and all the rest Pegu's This â—ight last not above half an hour in which time the eight hundred Mons were all slain there being not so much as one of them that would yield upon any composition whatsoever Hereupon the Tyrant of Bramaa seeing the fight ended and all things quiet went and reassembled his Forces together and so entered into the Fortress of Meleytay where he presently commanded the Xemims head to be cut off saying that he was the sole cause of that disaster and that he who had been a Traytor to his King could not be faithful unto him behold the recompence which this Tyrant made him for delivering up the City of Prom unto him howsoever it justly belonged unto him for a punishment of his perfidiousness that carryed him to betray his King and his own Country into the power of his Enemies After this they fell to dressing of the hurt men which were in very great number We pâ—st all this night with much apprehension always keeping good watch and the next morning as soon as it was day the first thing that we did was to rid away the dead bodies which were in so great number all over the Camp that the ground was quite covered with them After this we took a view of those that were killed as well on the one as the other party and we found that on the Bramaas side there were an hundred and fourscore thousand and on the Prince of Avaas forty and two thousand wherein were comprized the thirty thousand Mons. That done after the Tyrant had fortified the City of Prom as also the Fort of Meleytay and made two other Forts upon the bank of the River in such places as he judged to be most important for the safety of that Kingdom he went up the River of Queitor in a thousand rowing Serâ—os wherein were imbarqued seventy thousand men In this Voyage his intention was to go in his own person for to observe the Kingdom of Avaa and to see the City himself the better to consider the strength of it and thereby judg what Forces he should bring for to take it So he proceeded still on for the space of eight and twenty days and during that time passed by many goodly places which within the Kingdom of Chaleu and Iacuçalaon were upon the bank of the River At length he arrived at the City of Avaa the thirteenth of October the same year a thousand five hundred forty and five Being come to the Port he remained there thirteen days and that while burned between two and three thousand Vessels that he found there Moreover he set fire on many Villages thereabout which cost him not so little but that he lost in all these degasts eight thousand of
the apprehension and visions of this last end troubled us more then death it self wherewith we imagined our selves to be already ensnared At the end of seventeen daies that this painfull and sad voyage had lasted God shewed us so much grace that during the obscurity of a very rainy night we discovered a certain light little more then a Faulcon shot before us the fear we were in at the first that we were neer some Town made us to stand still for a good space without knowing what to resolve upon untill we observed that this light seemed to move whereby we conjectured that it was some Vessell which went from one port to another as indeed half an hour after we perceived one wherein there were nine persons who approaching to the bank of the river neer to the place where we were landed all in a Creek that was there in the form of an Haven and presently making a fire they began to prepare their supper which was no sooner ready but they fell to eating with great demonstrations of mirth wherein they bestowed a pretty good time At length when they were well replenished with meat and drink it happened that all nine of them amongst whom there were three women fell fast asleep whereupon seeing that we could not find a more favourable occasion to make our benefit of this adventure we went all eight of us very softly into the barque that stuck half in the Ouze and was tyed fast to a great stake which pushing forth with our shoulders we set aflote and then imbarquing our selves in it with all speed we began to row down the river with as little noyse as possibly we could make Now in regard the current of the water and the wind were both very favourable unto us we found our selves the next morning above ten leagues from the place vvhence vve parted namely neer to a Pagode called Quiay Hinarel that is to say the God of Rice vvhere vve met but only vvith one man and seven and thirty vvomen the most of them old and Religionaries of this Temple vvho received us vvith a great deal of charity although in my opinion they did it rather out of fear of us then any vvill that they had to do â—s good Having questioned them about many things vvhich served for our purpose they could give us no pertinent ansvver thereunto alledging still that they vvere but poor vvomen vvho upon a solemn vovv had renounced all things in the vvorld and confined themselves into this inclosure vvhere they bestovved all their time in continuall prayer to Quiay Ponuedea vvhich moves the clouds of heaven that he vvould be pleased to give them rain vvhereby their grounds might be made fruitfull to produce them abandance of Rice In this place vve spent all the day in caulking our barque and furnishing our selves at these religious vvomens cost vvith Rice Sugar French Beans Onyons and some smoak-dried flesh vvherevvith they vvere sufficiently provided Being parted from hence about an hour vvithin night vve continued our course vvith our Oars and Sails for seven vvhole days together vvithout so much as once daring to touch the Land so much vvere vve in fear of some disaster that might easily arrive to us from those places vvhich vve savv all alongst the river But as it is impossible to avoid that here belovv vvhich is determined there above just at the instant as vve vvere continuing on our course all confused as vve vvere and in a perpetuall alarm by reason of the danger that vvas alvvays present before our eys as vvell for that vvhich vve savv as for that vve vvere in doubt of our ill hap vvould have it that an hour before day as vve past thorough the mouth of a Channell three Paraos of Pyrats assaulted us vvith such violence and vvith so many different sorts of Dâ—rts vvhich they showred upon us that within less then two Credoes they had killed three of our companions as for us five that remained vve cast our selves into the Sea all bloudy as we vvere vvith the vvounds vvhich vve had received vvhereof tvvo others died a little after When as vve vvere got ashore vve hid our selves in the vvoods vvhere vve past all that day in lamenting our present mishap after so many fortunes as vve had run thorough before time Thus vvounded as vve vvere parting from thence in more hope of death then life vve proceeded on our vvay by Land vvith so much pain and irresolution concerning vvhat vve vvere to do as vve fell many times a vveeping vvithout being able to comfort one another in regard of the small likelyhood there vvas of saving our lives by any humane means As vve vvere reduced to this deplorable estate vvith tvvo of our companions ready to die it pleased our Lord vvhose succour doth ordinarily supply our defects that in a place vvhere vve found our selves upon the bank of the vvater there chanced to pass by a Vessell vvherein there vvas a Christian vvoman named Violenta vvho vvas married to a Pagan to vvhom this Vessell appertained vvhich he had laden vvith Cotton Wooll to sell off at Cosmin this vvoman no sooner perceived us but moved vvith pity at the sight of us Iesus cried she these are Christians which I behold that said she caused the Vessell vvherein she vvas to come to the shore and leaping on Land together vvith her husband they fell both of them to imbracing us vvith tears in their eys and then made us to be imbarqued vvith them presently whereupon this vertuous Dame took a care to have our vvounds drest and provided us of cloaths the best that she could rendring us many other good offices of a true and charitable Christian Then setting aside all fear vve parted from this place vvith all speed five days after thorough Gods grace vve arrived safely at the Tovvn of Cosmin vvhich is a part of the Sea in the Kingdome of Pâ—gu vvhere in the house of this good Christian vvoman vve vvere as vvel looked unto that in a short time vve found our selves thoroughly cured of all our hurts Now vvhereas there is never any vvant in the grace which God doth to his creatures it pleased him that at that very time vve met in this Port vvith a ship vvhereof Luis de Montorrayo vvas Master vvho vvas upon the point of setting sail for Bengala so that after we had taken our leave of our Hostess to whom we rendred many thanks for all the benefits vvhich we had received of her we imbarqued our selves with the said Luis de Montarroyo who likewise intreated us exceeding well and furnished us abundantly with all that was necessary for us At our arrivall at the Port of Chaâ—igan in the Kingdome of Bengala where there was at that time many Portugals I instantly imbarqued my self in the foist of a certain Merchant called Fâ—rnando Caldeyra who was bound for Goa where it pleased God I arrived in good health There I found Pedro de Faria who had been
foaming with poyson make horrible cries and be delivered into the burning jawes of the dragon of discord whom the true Lord of all the Gods hath cursed for ever whereas contrarily to those that shall be so happy as to obey this Proclamation as his holy brethren and allies shall be granted in this life a perpetuall peace accompanied with a great deale of wealth and riches and after their death their souls shall be no lesse pure and agreeable to God then those of the Saints which goe dancing amidst the beams of the Sun in the celestiall repose of the Lord Almighty This publication made the musick began to play again with a great noise as before which made such an impression in the hearts of them that heard it as in seven nights that it continâ—ed above threescore thousand persons went and rendred themselves to the Xemindoo for most of them which heard those words gave as much credit thereunto as if an Angell from heaven had spoken them In the meane time the besieged Tyrant seeing that these secret Proclamations of the enemy were so prejudiciall unto him as they could not chuse but turn to his utter ruine brake the truce at twelve dayes end and deliberated with his Councell what he should do who advised him by no means to suffer h mself to remaine any longer besieged for feare left the inhabitants should mutinie and fall from him to the enemy and that the best and surest way was to fight with the Xemindoo in the open field before he grew to any further strength This resolution being approved of by Zenim de Satan he prepared himself for the execution of it to which effect he two dayes after before it was day sallied out at five gates of the city with fourscore thousand men which then he had and charged the enemies with strange fury They then in the meane time who alwayes stood upon their guard received them with a great deale of courage whereupon insued so cruell a conflict between them that in lesse then halfe an houre for so long lasted the heat of the fight there fell on both sides above forty thousand men but at the end of that time the new King Zenim was born from his Elephant by an harquebuze shot discharged at him by a Portugall named Gonçalo Nâ—to which caused all the rest to render themselves and the city likewise upon condition that the inhabitants should have their goods and lives saved By this means the Xemindoo entred peaceably into it and the very same day which was a Saturday the three and twentieth of February a thousand five hundred fifty and one he caused himself to be crowned King of Pegu in the greatest Temple of the city As for Gonçalo Nâ—to he gave him in recompence for killing the Tyrant twenty Bisses of gold which are ten thousand Duckats and to the other Portugalls being eighty in number he gave five thousand Duckats besides the honors and prsviledges which they had in the country he also exempted them for three years from paying any custome for their merchandize which was afterwards very exactly observed CHAP. LXXIII That which the Xemindoo did after he was Crowned King of Pegu with the Chaumigrems the King of Bramaaes Foster-Brothers coming against him with a great Army and divers other memorable things THe Xemindoo seeing himself Crowned King of Pegu and peaceable Lord of all the kingdome began to have thoughts far different from those which Xemin de Satan had had being raised to the same dignity of King for the first and principal thing wherein he imployed himself with all his endeavour was to maintain his Kingdome in peace and to cause Justice to flourish as indeed he established it with so much integritie as no man how great so ever he was durst wrong a lesser then himself withall in that which concerned the government of the Kingdome he proceeded with so much vertue and equity as it filled the strangers that were there with admiration so that one could not without marvel consider the peace the quiet and union of the wills of the people during the happy and peaceable estate of this Kingdome which continued the space of a year and better at the end whereof the Chaumigrem foster-brother to the same King of Bramaa whom Xemin de Satan had slaine as I have before declared having received advertisement that by reason of the rebellions and warres which since his departure from thence had happened in the Kingdome of Pegu the principall men of the State there had lost their lives and the Xemindoo who then raigned was unprovided of all things necessary for his defence he resolved once again to adventure upon the same enterprise which had formerly been undertaken by his late King With this design he entertained into his pay a mighty Army of strangers unto whom he gave a Tincall of gold by the month which is five dackets of our mony when as he had prepared all things in a readinesse he departed from Tanguu the place of his birth On the ninth day of March a thousand five hundred fifty and two with an Army of three hundred thousand men whereof only fifty thousand were Bramaas and all the rest Mons Chaleus Calaminhams Sauâ—nis Pamâ—rus and Auaas In the mean time the Xemindoo the new King of Pegu having certain intelligence of these great forces which were coming to fall upon him made preparation to go and meet them with a design to give them battle for which effect he assembled in the same City where he was a huge Army of nine hundred thousand men which were all Pegues by nation and consequently of a weake constitution and lesse warlick then all the others whereof I have spoken and on Tueseday the fourth of April about noone having received advice that the enemies Army was incamped all along the river of Meleytay some twelve leagues from thence he used such expedition as the same day and the next night all his Souldiers were put into battle array for whereas they had prepared every thing long before and had also been trayned by their Capt. there needed no great ado to bring them into order The day ensueing all these men of warre begun about nine of the clock in the morning to march at the sound of an infinite company of warlick instruments and went and lodged that night some two leagues from thence neer to the river Potarâ—u The next day an hour before Sun-set the Bramaa Chaumigrem appeared with so great a body of men as it took up the extent of a league and an half of ground his Army being composed of seaventy thousand horse of two hundred and thirty thousand foot and six thousand fighting elephants besides as many more which carried the baggage and victuals and in regard it was almost night he thought fit to lodge himself all along by the mountain that he might be in the greater safety Thus the night past with a good guard and a strange noise that was made on
satisfied with the death which they have received in this last battell by your hands Behold how I earnestly intreat you as children that you are of my bowels that having regard to my good intention you will not kindle this fire wherein my soul will be burnt since you see well enough how reasonable that is which I desire of you and how unjust it would be for you to refuse it me Neverthelesse to the end you may not remain altogether without recompense I do here promise you to contribute thereunto all that shall seem reasonable to you and to supply this default in part with my own goods with my Person with my Kingdom and with my State Hereupon the Commanders of those six Nations hearing the Kings justification and the promise which hee made them yeelded to agree unto whatsoever he would do howbeit they prayed him above all things to have regard unto souldiers pretensions who were not at any hand to be discontented but greatly to be made account of Whereunto the King replyed That they had reason and that in all things he would endeavour to conform himself to whatsoever they should judg reasonable In the mean time to avoid disputes which might ensue hereupon it was concluded that they should referr themselves to Arbitrators for which effect the Mutiners were to name three on their side and the King three others on his which made six in all whereof three were to be Religious men and the rest Strangers that so the judgment might be given with lesse suspicion This resolution being taken between them they agreed together that the three Religious men should be the Menigrepos of a Pagode that was named Quiay Hifaron that is to say the God of Povertie and that for the other three Strangers the King and the Mutiners should cast lots to see who should chuse one or two of them on his side This Election being fallen to the King he made a choice of two Portugals of an hundred and forty that were then in the Citie whereof the one was Gonçalo Pacheco the King our Masters Factor for Lacre a worthie man and of a good conscience and the other a worshipful Merchant named Nuno Fernandez Teixeyra whom the King held in good esteem as having known him in the life time of the deceased King By the same means the Commanders of the Mutiners elected another stranger whose name I do not know Things thus concluded the Judges destined for the resolution of this Affair were sent for because the King was not willing to stirre out of the place where he was untill the matter was determined to the end he might dismisse them all peaceably before he entred into the Citie for fear lest if they entered with him they should not keep their word For this purpose then the King about midnight sent a Bramaa on horseback to the Portugals quarter who vvere in no lesse fear then the Pegues of being plundered and killed After that the Bramaa vvas come into the Citie and that hee had asked aloud for so they use to do vvhen they come from the King vvhere the Captain of the Portugals vvas he vvas presently conducted to his Lodging vvhere being arrived It is a thing said he to the Captain as proper to the nature of that Lord above who hath created the firmament and the whole heavens to make good men for the conversion of the wicked as it is ordinary with the pernicious Dragon to nourish in his bosome spirits of commotion and tumult to bring disorder unto the peace which conserves us in the holy Law of the Lord. I mean hereby continued he that amongst all those of your Nation there is one wicked man found vomiting out of his infernall stomack flames of discord and sedition by means wherof he hath caused the three strange Nations of the Chalons Meleytes and Savadis to mutinie in the King my Masters Army whereupon hath ensued so great a mischief that besides almost the utter ruine of the Camp three thousand Bramaaes have been slain and the King himself hath been in such danger as he was fain to retire into a Fort where hee hath remained three dayes and still is there not daring to come out because he cannot put any trust in those strangers Howbeit for a remedy of so great unquietnesse it hath pleased God who is the true Father of concord to inspire the Kings heart with patience to endure this injurie being prudent as he is to the end hee may by that means pacifie the tumult and rebellion of these three turbulent Nations who inhabit the most desert parts of the mountains of Mons and are the most accursed of God amongst all people Now to make an entry into this peace and union a Treaty hath been had between the King and the Commanders of the Mutiners whereby it hath been concluded on either part with an Oath That to exempt this Citie from the plundering which had been promised to the Souldiers the King shall give them out of his own estate as much as six men deputed for that purpose shall award of which number there are already four so that to make up the whole six there wants none but thee whom the King hath chosen for him and another Portugal whose name is written in this paper whereby thou shalt be ascertained of that which I have said unto thee Thereupon he delivered a Letter unto him from the King of Bramaa which Gonçalo Pacheco received upon his knees and laid upon his head with exterior complements so full of civilitie and courtesie as the Bramaa remained very much contented and satisfied therewith and said unto him Surely the King my Master must needs have a great knowledg of thee in that hee hath chosen thee for a Iudg of his Honour and Estate Hereupon Gonçalo Pacheco read the Letter aloud before all the Portugals who heard it standing with their hats in their hands The contents of it were to this effect Captain Gonçalo Pacheco my dear Friend and that appears before my eyes like a precious Pearl as being no lesse vertuous in the tranquillitie of thy life then the holyest Menigrepos which live in the Deserts I the ancient Chaumigrem and new King of fourteen States which God hath now put into my hands by the death of the holy King my Master do send thee a smile of my mouth to the end thou mayest be as agreeable to me as those whom I cause to sit at my table in a day of joy and feasting Know then that I have thought good to take thee for a Iudg of the Affair that is in question and therefore have sent for thee together with my good Friend Nuno Fernandez Teixeyra to come presently unto me for to give an end to this businesse which I wholly commit unto your trust And for so much as concerns the security of your persons in regard of the fear you may be in of the late Mutinie I do engage my word and swear to you by the
on the Kings Army which was ready to receive them in battel array as having been advertised of their design there ensued so dreadfull and furious a fight betwixt them as it lasted two hours within day but at length the conflict ended with the death of seven and thirty thousand men amongst the which the ten thousand Mutiners were slain not one of them deigning to save himself upon any termes whatsoever In the mean time the death of his men greatly afflicted the King who after this punishment of the rebels retyring to the town the first thing he did was to provide for the curing of the hurt men wherein he spent a good time in regard they were very many and whereof a great number died afterwards CHAP. LXXVI Our passing from the Town of Fucheo to the Port of Hiamangoo and that which befell us there together with my departure from Malaca and arrival at Goa After that this revolt had taken an end by the death of so many men on the one and the other side we few Portugals that remained as soon as time would permit us got to the port of the town where seeing the Country desolated the merchants fled away and the King resolved to leave the town we lost all hope of selling our comodities yea and of being safe in this harbour which made us set sail and go ninety leagues further to another Port called Hiamangoo which is in the bay of Canguexumaa there vve sojourned tvvo months and an half not able to sell any thing at all because the country vvas so full of Chinese comodities as they fell above half in half in the price for there vvas not a Port or Read in all this Iland of Iapan vvhere there were not thirty or forty Iuncks at anchor and in some places above an hundred so that in the same very year at least two thousand merchants ships came from China to Iapan Now most of this merchandise consisted in Silk which was given at so cheap a rate that the peece of Silk which at that time was worth an hundred Taies in China was sold in Iapan for eight and twenty or thirty at the most and that too with much adoe besides the prices of all other commodities were so low as holding our selves utterly undone we knew not what resolution or counsell to take But whereas the Lord doth dispose of things according to his good pleasure by waies which surpasse our understanding he permitted for reasons only known to himself that on the new moon in December being the fifth day of the month there arose so furious a tempest of wind and rain as all those vessels saving a few perished in it so that the losse caused by this storm amounted unto a thousand nine hundred and seventy two Iuncks amongst the which were six and twenty Portugals ships wherein five hundred and two of our nation were drowned besides a thousand Christians of other Countries and eight hundred thousand duckets worth of goods cast away Of Chinese vessels according to report there were a thousand nine hundred thirty and six lost together with above tvvo millions of gold and an hundred and threescore thousand persons Now from so miserable a ship-wrack not above ten or eleven ships escaped of which number was that wherein I was imbarqued and that almost by miracle by reason whereof these same sold their commodities at what price they would As for us after we had uttered 〈◊〉 and prepared our selves for our departure we put to sea on a twelfth day in the morning and although we were well enough contented in regard of the profit we had made yet were we not a little sad to see things fall out so to the cost of so many lives and riches both of those of our nation and of strangers But when we had weighed anchor and hoisted our sailes for the prosecution of our course the ties of our main sail brake by which means the sail yard falling down upon the of the ship brake all to peices so that we were constrained by this accident to recover the port again and to send a shallop on shore to seek for a sail yard and shipwrights to fit it for us To this effect we sent a present to the Captain of the place that he might suddenly give us necessary succor as accordingly he did so that the very same day the ship was put into her former estate and better then before Neverthelesse as we were weighing anchor again the cable of our anchor broke and because we had but one more in the ship we were forced to indeavor all that we might for the recovery thereof by reason of the great need we stood in of it now to do this we sent to land for such as could dive who in consideration of ten duckets that we gave them fell to diving into the sea where they found our anchor in six and tvventy fathome depth so that by the means which we fastned unto it vve hoysted it up though vvith a great deal of labour vvherein vve all of us bestovved our selves and spent the most part of the night As soon as it vvas day vve set saile and parting from this river of Hiamangoo it pleased God that in fourteen daies vvith a good vvind vve arrived at Chincheo vvhich is one of the most renovvned and richest Ports of the Kingdome of China there vve vvere advertised that at the entrance of this river there lay at that time a famous Pirate called Cheopocheca vvith a mighty fleet vvhich put us into such a fear that in all hast vve got avvay to Lamau vvhere vve made some provision of victuals vvhich lasted us untill our arrivall at Malaca Having stayed some time at Malaca for the dispatch of certain affaires that I had there I imbarqued my self for Goa vvith an intent of length to return into Portugal if I could meet vvith shipping ready to depart from thence at that time but some fevv daies after my arrivall there it happened that a Portugal named Antonio Ferreyra brought a present of very rich peeces to the Vice-Roy Don Pedro Mascarenhas which the King of Bungo sent him from Iapan to getherwith a letter whereof the contents were these Illustrious Lord and of great majesty Vice-Roy of the limits of the Indiaes the dreadfull Lion in the flouds of the sea by the force of thy ships and artillerie I Yacatauandono King of Bungo Facata◠Omangucha and the Countries of the two seas Lord of the petty Kings of the Ilands of Tosa Xemenarequa and Miaygimaa do give thee to understand by this my letter that Father Francisco Xavier having been not long since in this Country preaching to them of Omangucha the new law of the Creator of all things I secretly promised to him that at his return into my Kingdome I would receive from his hand the name and water of holy Baptism howsoever the noveltie of so unexpected a thing might put me into bad terms with my subjects Whereupon he also