that having been convicted for sundry hainous crimes were also sent to the Parliament of Nanquin whâ—â—e as I have already declared is always residing a Chaem of Justice which is like to the Sovereign Title of the Vice-roy of China There is likewise a Parliament of some five and twenty Gerozemos and Ferucuas which are as those we call Judges with us and that determine all causes as well civil as criminal So as there is no appeal from their sentence unless it be unto another Court which hath power even over the King himself whereunto if one appeals it is as if he appealed to heaven To understand this the better you must know that although this Parliament and others such like which are in the principal Cities of the Realm have an absolute power from the King both over all criminal civil causes without any opposition or appeal whatsoever yet there is another Court of Justice which is called the Court of the Creator of all things whereunto it is permitted to appeal in weighty and iâ—portant matters In this Court are ordinarily assisting four twenty Menigrepos which are certain religious men very austere in their manner of living such as the Capuchins are amongst the Papists verily if they were Christians one might hope for great matters from them in regard of their marvellous abstinence sincerity There are none admitted into this rank of Judges under seventy years of age are elected thereunto by the suffrages of their chiefest Prelates most incorruptible men so just in all the causes whereof there are appeals before them as it is not possible to meet with more upright for were it against the King himself andagainst all the powers that may be imagined in the world no consideration how great soever is able to make them swerve never so little from that they think to be justice Having been imbarqued in the manner I spake of the same day at night we went lay at a great tower called Potinleu in one of the prisons whereof were mained nine days by reason of the much rain that fell then upon the conjunction of the New-moon There we happened to meet with a Russian prisoner that received as very charitably of whom demanding in the Chinese tongue which he understood as well as we what countrey-man he was and what fortune had brought him thither he told us that he was of Moscovy born in a town named Hiquegens and that some five years past being accused for the death of a man he had been condemned to a perpetual prison but as a stranger he appealed from that sentence to the tribunal of the Aytau of Batampina in the City of Pequin who was the highest of the two and thirty Admirals established in this Empire that is for every Kingdom one He added further that this Admiral by a particular Jurisdiction had absolute power over all strangers whereupon he hoped to find some relief from him intending to go and die a Christian among the Christians if he might have the good hap to be set at liberty After we had passed those nine days in this prison being reinbarqued we sayled up a great river seven days together at the end whereof we arrived at Nanquin As this City is the second of all the Empire so is it also the Capital of the three Kingdoms of Liampoo Fanius and Sambor Here we lay six weeks in prison and suffered so much pain and misery as reduced to the last extreamities we died incensibly for want of succour not able to do any thing but look up to heaven with a pitiful eye for it was our ill fortune to have all that we had stoln from us the first night we came thither This prison was so great that there were four thousand prisoners in it at that time as we were credibly informed so that one should hardly â—it down in any place without being robbed and filled â—ull of lice having layn there a month and an half as I said the Anchacy who was one of the Judges before whom our cause was to be pleaded pronounced our sentence at the Suit of the Atturny General the tenor whereof was That having seen and considered our process which the Chumbin of Taypor had sent him it appeared by the accusations laid to outcharge that we were very hainous malâ—factors though we denied many things yet in justice no credit was to be given unto us therefore that we were to be publickly whipped for to teach us to live better in time to come and that withall our two thumbs should be cut off wherewith it was evident by manifest suspicions that we used to commit robberies and other vile crimes furthermore that for the remainder of the punishment we deserved he referred us to the Aytau of Bataupina unto whom it appertained to take cognisance of such causes in regard of the Jurisdiction that he had of life and death This Sentence was pronounced in the prison where it had been better for us to have suffered death then the stripes that we received for all the ground round about us ran with blood upon our whiping so that it was almost a miracle that of the eleven which we were nine escaped alive for two of our company died three days after besides one of our servants After we had been whipped in that manner I have declared we were carried into a great Chamber that was in the prison where were a number of sick and diseased persons lying upon beds and otherways There we had presently our stripes washed and things applyed unto them whereby we were somewhat eased of our pain and that by men much like unto the fraternity of mercy among the Papists which only out of charity and for the honour of God do tend those that are sick and liberally furnish them with all things necessary Hereafter some eleven or twelve days we began to be pretily recovered and as we were lamenting our ill fortune for being so rigorously condemned to lose our thumbs it pleased God one morning when as we little dreamt ofit that we espied two men come into the chamber of a good aspect clothed in long gowns of violet coloured satin carrying white rods in their hands As soon as they arrived all the sick persons in the Chamber cried out Blessed be the Ministers of the works ofGod whereunto they answâ—red holding up their rods May it please God to give you patience in your adversity whereupon having distributed clothes and money to those that were next to them they came unto us and after they had saluted us very courteously with demonstration of being moved at our tears they asked us who we were and of what countrey as also why we were imprisoned there whereunto we answered weeping that we were strangers nativâ—s of the Kingdom of Siam and of a country called Malaca that being Merchants and well to live we had imbarqued our selves with our goods and being bound for Liampoo we had
weight measure and true account therefore take heed to what thou doest for if thou comest to sin thou shalt suffer for it eternally Upon his head he had a kind of round bonet bordered about with small sprigs of gold all enamelled violet and green and on the top of it was a little crowned Lion of gold upon a round bowl of the same mettal by which Lion crowned as I have delivered heretofore is the King signified and by the bowl the world as if by these devices they would denote that the King is the Lion crowned on the throne of the world In his right hand he held a little rod of ivory some three spans long in manner of a Scepter upon the top of the three first steps of this Tribunal stood eight Ushers with silver maces on their shoulders and below were threescore Mogors on their knees disposed into three ranks carrying halberts in their hands that were neatly damasked with gold In the vantgard of these same stood like as if they had been the Commanders or Captains of this Squadron the Statues of two Giants of a most gallant aspect and very richly attired with their swords hanging in scarfs and mighty great halberts in their hands and these the Chineses in their language call Gigaos on the two sides of this Tribunal below in the room were two very long tables at each of which sat twelve men whereof four were Presidents or Judges two Registers four Solicitors and two Conchalis which are as it were Assistants to the Court one of these Tables was for criminal and the other for civil causes and all the officers of both these Tables were apparelled in gowns of white Satin that were very long and had large slieves thereby demonstrating the latitude and purity of justice the Tables were covered with carpets of violet damask and richly bordered about with gold the Chaems table because it was of silver had no carpet on it nor any thing else but a cushion of cloth of gold and a Standith Now all these things put together as we saw them carried a wonderful shew of State and Majesty But to proceed upon the fourth ringing of a bell one of the Câ—â—chalis stood up and after a low obeysancâ— made to the Chaem with a very loud voice that he might be heard of every one he said Peace there and with all submission hearken on pain of incurring the punishment ordained by the Chaems of the Government for those that interrupt the silence of sacred Iustice. Whereupon this same sitting down again another arose and with the like reverence mounting up to the Tribunal where the Chaem sat he took the Sentences from him that held them in his hand and published them aloud one after another with so many ceremonies and compliments as he employed above an hour therein At length coming to pronounce our judgment they caused us to kneel down with our eyes fixed on the ground and our hands lifted up as if we were praying unto Heaven to the end that in all humility we might hear the publâ—cation thereof which was thus Bitau Dicabor the new Chaem of this sacred Court where justice is rendred to strangers and that by the gracious pleasure of the Son of the Sun the Lion crowned on the throne of the world unto whom are subjected all the Scepters and Crowns of the Kings that govern the earth ye are subjected under his feet by the grace and will of the most High in Heaven having viewed and considered the Appeal made to me by these nine strangers whose cause was commanded hither by the City of Nanquin by the four and twenty of austeer life I say by the oath I have taken upon my entry into the Charge which I exercise for the Aytao of Batampina the chief of two and thirty that govern all the people of this Empire that the ninth day of the seventh Moon in the fifteenth year of the reign of the Son of the Sun I was presented with the accusations which the Cumbim of Taypor sent me against them whereby he chargeth them to be theeves and robbers of other mens goods affirming that they have long practised that trade to the great offence of the Lord above who hath created all things and withall that without any fear of God they used to bathe themselves in the blood of those that with reason resisted them for which they have already been condemned to be whipt and have their thumbs cut off whereof the one hath been put in execution but when they came to have their thumbs cut off the Proctors for the poor opposing it alledged in their behalf that they were wrongfully condemned because there was no proof of that wherewith they were charged in regard whereof they required for them that in stead of judging them upon a bare shew of uncertain suspitions voluable testimonies might be produced and such as were conformable to the divine Laws and the Iustice of Heaven whereunto answer was made by that Court how justice was to give place to mercy whereupon they that undertook their cause made their complaint to the four and twenty of austeer life who both out of very just considerations and the regard they had to the little support they could have for that they were strangers and of a Nation so far distant from us as we never heard of the Country where they say they were born mercifully inclining to their lamentable cries sent them and their cause to be judged by thiâ— Court wherefore omitting the prosecution thereof here by the Kings Proctor being able to prove nothing whereof he accused them affirms only that they are worthy of death for the suspicion and jealousie they have given of themselves but in regard sacred justice that stands upon considerations which are pure and agreeable to God admits of no reasons from an adverse party if they be not made good by evident proofs I thought it not fit to allow of the Kings Proctors accusations since he could not prove what he had alledged whereupon insisting on his demand without shewing either any just causes or sufficient proof concerning that he concluded against those strangers I condemned him in twenty Taeis of silver amends to his adverse parties being altogether according to equity because the reasons alledged by him were grounded upon a bad zeal and such as were neither just nor pleasing to God whose mercy doth always incline to their side that are poor and feeble on the earth when as they invoke him with tears in their eyes â—s is daily and clearly manifested by the pitiful effects of his greatness so that having thereupon expresly commanded the Tanigores of the house of mercy to alledge whatsoever they could say on their behalf they accordâ—ngly did so within the time that was prefixed them for that purpose And so all proceedings having received their due course thâ— cause is now come to a final Iudgment wherefore every thing duly viewed and considered without regard had to any
been cast away just against the Isles of Lamau having lost all that we had and nothing left us but our miserable bodies in the case they now saw us moreover we added that being thus evil intreated by fortune arriving at the City of Taypor the Chumbin of Justice had caused us to be apprehended without any cause laying to our charge that we were thieves and vagabonds who to avoid pains-taking went begging from door to door entertaining our idle laziness with the alms that were given us unjusty whereof the Chumbin having made informations at his pleasure as being both Judg and party he had laid us in irons in the prison where for two and forty days space we had indured incredible pain and hunger and no man would hear us in our justifications as well because we had not wherewithall to give presents for to maintain our right as for that we wanted the language of the Country In conclusiâ—n we told them how in the mean time without any cognisance of the cause we had been condemned to be whipped as also to have our thumbs cut off like thieves so that we had already suffered the first punishment with so much rigour and cruelty that the marks thereof remained but two visibly upon our wretched bodies and therefore we conjured them by the charge they had to serve God in assisting the afflicted that they would not abandon us in this need the rather for that our extream poverty rendred as odious to all the world and exposed us to the induring of all affronts These two men having heard us attentively remained very pensive and amazed at our speech at length lifting up their eyes all bathed with tears to heaven and kneeling down on the ground O almighty Lord said they that governest in the highest places and whose patience is incomprehensible be thou evermore blessed for that thou art pleased to harken unto the complaints of necessitous and miserable men to the end that the great offences committed against thy divine goodness by the Ministers of Iustice may not rest unpunished as we hope that by thy holy Law they will be chastised at one time or other Whereupon they informed themselves more amply by those who were about us of what we had told them and presently sending for the Register in whose hands our sentence was they straitly commanded him that upon pain of grievous punishment he should forthwith bring them all the proceedings which had been used against us as instantly he did now the two Officers seeing there was no remedy for the whipping that we had suffâ—red presented a Petition in our behalf unto the Chaem whereunto this Answer was returned by the Court Mercy hath no place where Iustice looseth her name in regard whereof your request cannot be granted This Answer was subscribed by the Chaem and eight Conchacis that are like criminal Judges This hard proceeding much astonished these two Proctors for the poor so named from their office wheâ—efore carried with an extream desire to draw us out of this misery they presently preferred another Petition to the Soveraign Court of Justice of which I spake in the precedent Chapter where the Menigrâ—pos and Talegrepos were Judges an Assembly which in their language is called The breath of the Creator of all things In this Petition as sinners confessing all that we were accusâ—d of we had recourse to mercy vvhich sorted well for us for as soon as the Petition was presented unto them they read the Processe quite through and finding that our right was overborn for vvant of succour they instantly dispatched away two of their Court vvho with an expresse Mandate undâ—r their hands and Seals went and prohibited the Chaems Court from intermedling with this cause which they commanded away before them In obedience to this Prohibition the Chaems Court made this Decree We that are assembled in this Court of Iustice of the Lyon crowned in the throne of the world having perused the Petition presented to the four and twenty Iudges of the austere life do consent that those nine strangers be sent by way of appeal to the Court of the Aytau of Aytaus in the Citie of Pequin to the end that in mercy the sentence pronounced against them may be favourably moderated Given the seventh day of the fourth Moon in the three and twentieth year of the raign of the Son of the Sun This Decree being signed by the Chaem and the eight Conchacis was presently brought us by the two Proctors for the poor upon the Receit whereof we told them that we could but pray unto God to reward them for the good they had done us for his sake whereunto beholding us with an eye of pitie they answered May his Celestial goodness direct you in the knowledge of his works that thereby you may with patience gather the fruit of your labours as they which fear to offend his holy Name After we had past all the adversities and miseries whereof I have spoken before we were imbarqued in the company of some other thirty or forty Prisoners that were sent as we were from this Court of Justice to that other Soveraign one by way of appeal there to be either acquitted or condemned according to the crimes they had committed and the punishment they had deserved Now a day before our departure being imbarqued in a Lanteaa and chained three and three together the two Proctors for the poor came to us and first of all furnishing us with all things needful as clothes and Victuals they asked us whether we wanted any thing else for our Voyage Whereunto we answered that all we could desire of them was that they would be pleased to convert that further good they intended to us into a Letter of Recommendation unto â—he Officers of that holy Fraternity of the Citie of Pequin thereby to oblige them to maintain the right of our cause in regard as they very well knew they should otherwise be sure to be utterly abandoned of every one by reâ—son they were strangers and altogether unknown The Proctors hearing us speak in this manner Say not so replyed they for though your ignorance discharges you before God yet have you committed a great sin because the more you are abased in the world through poverty the more shall you be exalted before the eyes of his divine Majesty if you patiently bear your crosses whereunto the flesh indeed doth always oppose it self being evermore rebellious against the Spirit but as a Bird cannot fly without her wings no more can the soul meditate without works As for the Letter you require of us we will give it you most willingly knowing it will be very necessary for you to the end that the favour of good people be not wanting to you in your need This said they gâ—ve us a sack ful of Rice together with four Taeis in silver and a Coverlet to lay upon us Then having very much recommended us unto the Chifuu who was the Officer of
Tribunal fourteen steps high that was all overlaid with fine gold Her face was very beautiful and her hands were heaved up towards Heaven at her armpits hung a many of little idols not above half a finger long filed together whereupon demanding of the Chineses what those meant they answered us That after the waters of Heaven had overflowed the earth so that all mankind was drowned by an universal Deluge God seeing that the world would be desolate and no body to inhabit it he sent the goddess Amida the chief Lady of honour to his wife Nacapirau from the Heaven of the Moon that she might repair the loss of drowned mankind and that then the goddess having set her feet on a Land from which the waters were withdrawn called Calemphuy which was the same Island whereof I have spoken heretofore in the streight of Nanquin whereof Antonio de Faria went on land she was changed all into gold and in that manner standing upright with her face looking up unto Heaven she sweat out at her armpits a great number of children namely males out of the right and females out of the left having no other place about her body whence she might bring them forth as other women of the world have who have sinned and that for a chastisement of their sin God by the order of nature hath subjected them to a misery full of corruption and filthiness for to shew how odious unto him the sin was that had been committed against him The goddess Amida having thus brought forth these creatures which they affirm were thirty three thousand three hundred thirty and three two parts of them females and the other males for so say they the world was to be repaired she remained so feeble and faint with this delivery having no body to assist her at her need that she fell down dead in the place for which cause the Moon at that time in memory of this death of hers whereat she was infinitely grieved put her self into mourning which mourning they affirm to be those black spots we ordinarily behold in her face occasioned indeed by the shadow of the earth and that when there shall be so many years ran out as the goddess Amida brought forth children which were as I have delivered thirty three thousand three hundred thirty and three then the Moon will put off her mourning and afterwards be as clear as the day With these and such like fopperies did the Chineses so turmoil us as we could not chuse but grieve to consider how much those people which otherwise are quick of apprehension and of good understanding are abused in matter of Religion with such evident and manifest untruths After we were come out of this great place where we saw all these things we went unto another Temple of religious Votaries very sumptuous and rich where they told us the Mother of the then reigning King named Nhay Camisama did abide but thereunto we were not permitted to enter because we were strangers From this place through a street arched all along we arrived at a Key called Hichario Topileu where lay a great number of vessels full of pilgrims from divers Kingdoms which came incessantly on pilgrimage to this Temple for to gain as they believe plenary indulgences which the King of China and the Chaems of the Government do grant unto them besides many priviledges and franchises throughout the whole Country where victuals are given them abundantly and for nothing I will not speak of many other Temples or Pagodes which we saw in this City whilest we were at liberty for I should never have done to make report of them all howbeit I may not omit some other particulars that I hold very fit to be related before I break off this discourse whereof the first were certain houses in several parts of this City called Laginampurs that is to say The School of the poor wherein fatherless and motherlesâ— children that are found in the streets are taught to write and read as also some trade whereby they may get their living and of these houses or schools there are about some five hundred in this City Now if it happen that any of them through some defect of nature cannot learn a trade then have they recourse to some means for to make them get their living according to each ones incommodity As for example if they be blind they make them labour in turning of handmils if they be lame of their feet they cause them to make laces riband and such like manufactures if they be lame of their hands then they make them earn their living by carrying of burdens but if they be lame both of feet and hands so that nature hath wholly deprived them of means to get their living then they shut them up in great Convents where there are a number of persons that pray for the dead amongst whom they place them and so they have their share of half the offerings that are made there the Priests having the other half if they be dumb then they are shut up in a great house where they are maintained with the amerciaments that the common sort of women as oyster-wives and such like are condemned in for their scolding and fighting one with another As for old queans that are past the trade and such of the younger sort as by the lewd exercise thereof are becomâ— diseased with the pox or other filthy sickness they are put into other houses where they are very well looked unto and furnished abundantly with all things necessary at the charge of the other women that are of the same trade who thereunto pay a certain sum monthly and that not unwillingly because they know that they shall come to be so provided for themsâ—lves by others and for the collecting of this mony there are Commissioners expresly deputed in several parts of the City There are also other houses much like unto Monasteries where a great many of young maids that are Orpâ—ans are bred up and these houses are maintained at the charge of such women as are convicted of adultery for say they it is most just that if there be one which hath lost her self by her dishonesty there should be another that should be maintained by her vertue Other places there are also where decayed old people are kept at the charge of Lawyers that plead unjust causes where the parties have no right and of Judges that for favoring one more thâ—n another and corrupted with bribes do not execute justice as they ought to do whereby one may see with how much order and policy these people govern all things In the prosecution of my discourse it will not be amiss here to deliver the marvellous order and policy which the Kings of China observe in furnishing their States abundantly with provisions and victuals for the relief of the poor people which may very well serve for an example of charity and good government to Christian Kingdoms and Commonwealths Their Chronicles
of his Pontifall History the eighteenth Chapter In vita Sexti Quinti Fernand makes a narration of certain men whom he calls Caloges and Fingaos which have their feet râ—und like unto those of Cows and hands all over hairy for the clearing of the truth whereof read Galvan in his discoveries folio 32. and 72. Gaspar de la Cruz the sâ—venth Chapter Touching the tryumphant Arches which they have in their streets together with their manner of accommoâ—ating and inriching them when as they solemnised certain Feasts read de la Cruz the seventh chapter Of the Universities which they have in China see Trigault in the third and fifth Chapters of his first Book De Artibus apud Sinas liberalibus ac Scientiis c. And in another entituled De Artibus apud Sinas mechanicis For a Confirmation of that which our Author says of the strange Ceremonies and Complements used by them at their saluting one another when they meet together by chance in the streets and in their visits read Mafeus in the sixth Book of his Indian History folio 134. beginning with these words Salutandi ritus miter plebeios c. And Mendoza in divers places of his Book declares the same Trigault in the seventh Chapter of his first Book at the title De Sinarum ritibus non nullis describes their manner of Salutations Babia in the third Part of his Pontifical History in the life of Gregory the thirteenth The History of the King of Bramaa together with his Victories and Conquests may be found in the Relations of Boterus De la Cruz in the second and fourth Chapters Mafeus and S t Romain Of the entrance of the Tartars into China and their besieging of Pequin Boterus in his Relations De la Cruz the fourth Chapter Paulus Jovius Antonius Armenius and Mathias de Micuy discourse at large That which is written of the subversion of the Provinces of Cuy and Sansii and of the dâ—leful and dreadful events ensuing thereupon Gaspar de la Cruz hath spoken of sufficiently in the 29 th Chapter of his Book As for that which Fernand says of their Gods Fatoquis Amida Xaca Gizon and Canom as also of the fooleries dreams and leasings which they recount of them and of their original and the respests and reverences they bear unto them it may be all seen in the twelfth Book of Mafeus his Indian History and in the first and fourth Chapters of his Epistles Trigault in his first and second Book Boterus in his Relaâ—ions S t Romain and many others By all this now is my Author throughly vindicated from all aspersions of falshood that may be cast upon this his Work which were it otherwise and meerly devised yet is it so full of variety and of such strange both Comick and Tragick Events as cannot chuse but delight far more then any Romance or other of that kind But being accompanyed with the truth as I have sufficiently proved it will no doubt give all the satisfaction and content that can be desired of the Reader The Contents CHAP. I. IN what manner I past my youth in the Kingdom of Portugal until my going to the Indiaes Fol. 1. CHAP. II. My Departure from Portugal for the East-Idiaes and my imbarquing there for the Straight of Mecqua 3 CHAP. III. Our travelling from Mazua by Land to the Mother of Prester John as also our re-imbarquing at the Port of Arquico and that which befell us by the encounter of three Turkish Vessels 5 CHAP. IV. A Mutiny happening in the Town of Mocaa the occasion thereof that which befell thereupon and by what means I was carryed to Ormuz as also my sailing from thence to Goa and what success I had in that Voyage 8. CHAP. V. Goncalo vas Coâ—inhoes Treaty with the Queen of Onor his assaulting of a Turkish 〈◊〉 and that which happened unto us as we were upon our return to Goa 11 CHAP. VI. What passed till such time as Pedro de Faria arrived at Malaca his receiving an Embassador from the King of Batas with his sending me to that King and that which arrived unto me in that Voyage 14 CHAP. VII What happened to me at Panaiu with the King of Batas expedition against the Tyrant of Achem and what he did after his Victory over him 18 CHAP. VIII That which past between the King of Batas and me until such time as I imbarqued for Malaca my arrival in the Kingdom of Queda and my return from thence to Malaca 21 CHAP. IX The arrival of an Embassador at the Fortress of Malaca from the King of Aaru to the Captain thereof his sending me to the said King my coming to Aaru and that which happened unto me after my departure from thence 26 CHAP. X. By what means I was carryed to the Town of Siaca and that which befell me there my going to Malaca with a Mahometan Merchant and the Tyrant of Achems Army marching against the King of Aaru CHAP. XI The death of the King of Aaru and the cruel justice that was executed on him by his Enemies the going of his Queen to Malaca and her reception there 33 CHAP. XII The Queen of Aaru's departure from Malaca her going to the King of Jantana his summoning the Tyrant of Achem to restore the Kingdom of Aaru and that which past between them thereupon 36 CHAP. XIII My departure to go to Pan that which fortuned after my arrival there with the murther of the King of Pan and the cause thereof 39 CHAP. XIV The misfortune that befell us at our entry into the River of Lugor our hiding our selves in a Wood with that which happened unto us afterwards and our return unto Malaca 42 CHAP. XV. Antonio de Faria his setting forth for the Isle of Anyan his arrival at the River of Tinacoreu and that which befell us in this Voyage 46 CHAP. XVI Antonio de Faria's arrival at the Bay of Camoy where was the fishing of Pearls for the King of China the relation made to him of the Isle of Aynan with that which happened to him by the means of a renegado Pirate and other ways 52 CHAP. XVII The information that Antonio de Faria had of the Country some passages betwixt him and the Nautarel of the Town his going to the River of Madel with his encountering a Pirate there and that which passed between them 58 CHAP. XVIII What Antonio de Faria did with the Captain of the Pirates Iunck that which past between him and the people of the Country with our casting away upon the Island of Thieves 61 CHAP. XIX In what sort we escaped miraculously out of this Island our passage from thence to the River of Xingrau our encountering with a Chinese Pirate and the agreement we made with him 65 CHAP. XX. Our encounter at Sea with eight Portugals very sorely hurt and Antonio de Faria's meeting and fighting with Coia Acem the Pirate 69 CHAP. XXI What Antonio de Faria did after his Victory his departure
his Subject with all the purity and affection which a Vassal is obliged to carry unto his Master I Angeessiry Timorraia King of Batas desiring to insinuate my self into thy friendship that thy Subjects may be inriched with the fruits of this my Country I do offer by a new Treaty to replenish the Magazins of thy King who is also mine with Gold Pepper Camfire Benjamon and Aloes upon condition that with an entire confidence thou shalt send me a safe conduct written and assigned with thine own hand by means whereof all my Lanchares and Jurupanges may navigate in safety Furthermore in favor of this new amity I do again beseech thee to succor me with some Powder and great Shot whereof thou hast but too much in thy Store-houses and therefore mayst well spare them for I had never so great need of all kind of warlike munitions as at this present This granted I shall be much indebted to thee if by thy means I may once chastise those perjured Achems the mortal and eminent Enemies of thy Malaca with whom I swear to thee I will never have peace as long as I live until such time as I have had satisfaction for the blood of my three children which call upon me for vengeance and that therewith I may asswage the sorrow of their noble Mother who having given them suck and brought them up hath seen them since miserably butchered by that cruel Tyrant of Achem in the Towns of Jacur and Lingua as thou shalt be more particularly informed by Aquarem Dabolay the Brother of those childrens desolate Mother whom I have sent unto thee for a confirmation of our new amity to the end Signior that he may treat with thee about such things as shall seem good unto thee as well for the service of God as for the good of thy people From Paniau the fifth day of the eighth Moon This Embassador received from Pedro de Faria all the honor that he could do him after their manner and as soon as he had delivered him the Letter it was translated into the Portugal out of the Malayan Tongue wherein it was written Whereupon the Embassador by his Interpreter declared the occasion of the discord which was between the Tyrant of Achem and the King of Batas proceeding from this that the Tyrant had not long before propounded unto this King of Batas who was a Gentile the imbracing of Mahometâ— Law conditionally that he would wed him to a Sister of his for which purpose he should quit his wife that was also a Gentile and married to him six and twenty years Now because the King of Batas would by no means condescend thereunto the Tyrant incited by a Cacis of his immediately denounced War against him So each of them having raised a mighty Army they fought a most bloody Battel that continued three hours and better during the which the Tyrant perceiving the advantage the Bataes had of him after he had lost a great number of his people he made his retreat into a Mountain called Cagerrendan where the Bataes held him besieged by the space of three and twenty days but because in that time many of the Kings men fell sick and that also the Tyrants Camp began to want Victuals they concluded a Peace upon condition that the Tyrant should give the King five bars of Gold which are in value two hundred thousand crowns of our mony for to pay his Soldiers and that the King should marry his eldest son to that sister of the Tyrant who had been the cause of making that War This accord being signed by either part the King returned into his Country where he was no sooner arrived but relying on this Treaty of Peace he dismist his Army and discharged all his Forces The tranquillity of this Peace lasted not above two months and an half in which time there came to the Tyrant three hundred Turks whom he had long expected from the Straight of Mecqua and for them had sent four Vessels laden with Pepper wherein also were brought a great many Cases full of Muskets and Hargebusezes together with divers Pieces both of Brass and Iron Ordnance Whereupon the first thing the Tyrant did was to joyn those three hundred Turks to some Forces he had still afoot then making as though he would go to Pacem for to take in a Captain that was revolted against him he cunningly fell upon two places named Iacur and Lingua that appâ—rtained to the King of Batas which he suddenly surprized when they within thâ—m least thought of it for the Peace newly made between them took away all the mistrust of such an attempt so as by that means it was easie for the Tyrant to render himself Master of those Fortresses Having taken them he put three of the Kings sons to death and seven hundred Ouroballones so are the noblest and the valiantâ—st of the Kingdom called This while the King of Batas much resenting and that with good cause so great a Treachery sware by the head of his god Quiay Hocombinor the principal Idol of the Gentiles sect who hold him for their god of Justice never to eat either fruit salt or any other thing that might bring the least gust to his palate before he had revenged the death of his children and drawn reason from the Tyrant for this loss protesting further that he was resolved to dye in the maintenance of so just a War To which end and the better to bring it to pass the King of Batas straightway assembled an Army of fifteen thousand men as well natives as strangers wherewithall he was assisted by some Princes his friends and to the same effect he emplored the Forces of us Christians which was the reason why he sought to contract that new amity we have spoken of before with Pedro de Faria who was very well contented with it in regard he knew that it greatly imported both the service of the King of Portugal and the conservation of the Fortress besides that by this means he hoped very much to augment the Revenue of the Customs together with his own particular and all the rest of the Portugals profit in regard of the great Trade they had in those Countries of the South After that the King of Batas Embassador had been seventeen days with us Pedro de Faria dismissed him having first granted whatsoever the King his Master had demanded and something over and above as fire-pots darts and murdering Pieces wherewith the Embassador departed from the Fortress so contented that he shed tears for joy nay it was observed that passing by the great door of the Church he turned himself towards it with his hands and eyes lift up to Heaven and then as it were praying to God Almighty Lord said he openly that in rest and great joy livest there above seated on the Treasure of thy Riches which are the spirits formed by thy Will here I promise thee if it may be thy good pleasure to give us
which the traytrous Cacis for the bar of gold he had received had left unguarded and forthwith put all the sick and hurt men that he found there to the sword amounting to the number of about fifteen hundred whereof he would not spare so much as one In the mean time the unhappy King of Aaru who thought of nothing less then the treachery of his Cacis seeing his Trench taken ran to the succoring of it being a matter that most imported him But finding himself the weaker he was constrained to quit the place so that as he was making his retreat to the Town ditch it was his ill fortune to be killed by a shot of an Haâ—quebuse from a Turk his enemy Upon this death of his ensued the loss of all the rest by reason of the great disorder it brought amongst them Whereat the Enemies exceedingly rejoycing took up the Corps of that wretched King which they found amongst the other dead bodies and having imbowelled and salted him they put him up in a Case and so sent him as a Present to the Tyrant who after many ceremonies of Justice caused him to be publiquely sawed into sundry pieces and then boiled in a great Cauldron full of Oyl and Pitch with a dreadful Publication the tenor whereof was this See here the Iustice which Sultan Laradin King of the Land of the two Seas hath caused to be executed whose will and pleasure it is that as the body of this miserable Mahometan hath been sawed in sunder and boiled here on Earth so his Soul shall suffer worse torments in Hell and that most worthily for his transgressing of the Law of Mahomet and of the perfect belief of the Musselmans of the House of Mâ—â—qua For this execution is very just and conformable to the holy Doctrine of the Book of Flowers in regard this Miscreant hath shewed himself in all his works to be so far without the fear of God as he hath incessantly from time to time betrayed the most secret and important affairs of this Kingdom to those accursed Dogs of the other end of the world who for our sins and through our negligence have with notorious Tyranny made themselves Lords of Malaca This Publication ended a fearful noise arose amongst the people who cryed out This punishment is but too little for so execrable a crime Behold truly the manner of this passage and how the loss of the Kingdom of Aaru was joyned with the death of that poor King who lived in such good correspondence with us and that in my opinion might have been succored by us with very small charge and pains if at the beginning of the War he had been assisted with that little he demanded by his Embassador Now who was in the fault hereof I will leave to the judgment of them which most it concerns to know it After that this infortunate King of Aaru had miserably ended his days as I have before related and that his whole Army was utterly defeated both the Town and the rest of the Kingdom were easily and quickly taken in Thereupon the General of the Achems repaired the Trenches and fortified them in such manner as he thought requisite for the conservation and security of all that he had gained which done he left there a Garison of eight hundred of the most couragious men of his Army who were commanded by a certain Lusan Mahometan named Sapetù de Raia and incontinently after departed with the rest of his Forces The common report was that he went to the Tyrant of Achem who received him with very much honor for the good success of this enterprize For as I have already delivered being before but Governor and Mandara of the Kingdom of Baarros he gave him the title of King so that ever after he was called Sultan of Baarros which is the proper denomination of such as are Kings amongst the Mahometans Now whilest things passed in this sort the desolate Queen remained some seven leagues from Aaru where being advertised and assured of the death of the King her husband and of the lamentable issue of the War she presently resolved to cast her self into the fire for so she had promised her husband in his life time confirming it with many and great oaths But her friends and servants to divert her from putting so desperate a design in execution used many reasons unto her so that at length overcome by their perswasions Verily said she unto them although I yield to your request yet I would have you know that neither the considerations you have propounded nor the zeal you seem to shâ—w of good and faithful Subjects were of power to turn me from so generous a determination as that is which I promised to my King my Husband and my Master if God had not inspired me with this thought that living I may better revenge his death as by his dear blood I vow unto you to labor as long as I live to do and to that end I will undergo any extremiâ—y whatsoever nay if need be turn Christian a thousand times over if by that means I may be able to compass this my desire Saying so she immediately got up on an Elephant and accompanied with a matter of seven hundred men she marched towards the Town with a purpose to set it on fire where incountring some four hundred Achems that were busie about pillaging of such goods as were yet remaining she so encouraged her people with her words and tears that they cut them all presently in pieces This execution done knowing her self too weak for to hold the Town she returned into the Wood where she sojourned twenty days during which time she made War upon the Townsmen surprising and pillaging them as often as they issued forth to get water wood or other necessaries so as they durst not stir out of the Town to provide themselves such things as they needed in which regard if she could possibly have continued this War other twenty days longer she had so famished them as they would have been constrained to render the Town But because at that time it rained continually by reason of the Climate and that the place was boggy and full of bushes as also the fruits wherewithall they nourished themselves in the Wood were all rotten so that the most part of her people fell sick and no means there to relieve them the Queen was constrained to depart to a River named Minhaçumbaa some five leagues from thence where she imbarqued her self in sixteen Vessels such as she could get which were fishermens Paroos and in them she went to Malaca with a belief that at her Arrival there she should not be denyed any thing she would ask Pedro de Faria being advertised of the Queens coming sent Alvaro de Faria his son and General of the Sea-forces to receive her with a Galley five Foists two Catures twenty Balons and three hundred men besides divers persons of the Country So she was brought to the
kind of ceremony or complement which these Gentiles so much use amongst themselves And this Antonio de Faria did of purpose to the end that by the sharpness of this Letter the Mandarin might know he was displeased and resolved to execute what he had written But before I proceed any further I will only relate the two main points of the contents of the Letter which were the cause of the utter ruine of this business The first was where Antonio de Faria said that he was a Merchant stranger a Portugal by Nation that was going by way of Traffique towards the Port of Liampoo where there were also many other Merchants strangers like himself who duly payd the usual Customs without committing any manner of ill or injustice The second point was where he said that the King of Portugal his Master was allyed in a brotherly amity with the King of China by reason whereof they traded in his Country as the Chineses used to do at Malaca where they were entertained with all favor and justice duly ministred unto them Now though both these points were distastful to the Mandarin yet the last wherein he mentioned the King of Portugal to be brother to the King of China was that which put him so out of patience that without any regard at all he commanded them that brought the Letter not only to be cruelly scourged but to have their noses cut off and in that pickle he sent them back to Antonio de Faria with an answer written on a scurvy piece of torn pâ—pâ—r where these words were written Stinking carrion begotten of vile flies in the filthiest sink that â—ver was in any dungeon of a lothsom prison what hath made thy baseness so bold as that thou darest undertake to meddle with heavenly things Having caused thy Petition to be read whereby like a Lord as I am thou prayest me to have pity on thee which art but a poor wrâ—tch my greatness out of its generosity was even deigning to accept of that little thou presentedst me withall and was also inclining to grant thy request when as my ears were touched with the horrible blasphemy of thy arrogance which made thee tâ—rm thy King Brother to the son of the Sun the Lion crowned by an incredible Power in the Throne of the World under whose feet all the Diadâ—ms of those that govern the Vniverse are subjected nay all Scepters do â—â—rve but as latches to his most rich sandals as the Writers of the golden Temple do certifie under the Law of their Verities and that through the whole habitable Earth Know then that for the great Heresie thou hast uttered I have caused thy Paper to be burnt thereby representing the vile effigies of thy person which I desire to use in like manner for the enormous â—rime thou hast committed wherefore I command thee to be speedily packing that the River which bears thee may not be accursed So soon as the Interpreter had read the Letter and expounded the contents thereof all that heard it were much vexed therewith but no man was so sensible of it as Antonio de Faria who was exceedingly grieved to see himself thus wholly deprived of all hope of recovering his Prisoners wherefore after they had well considered the insolent words of the Mandarins Letter and his great discourtesie they in the end concluded to go ashoar and attaque the Town in hope that God would assist them seeing their intentions were good For this effect they instantly prepared Vessels to land with which were the â—our fishermens great Barques they had taken the night before Whereupon taking a muster of the Forces he could make for this enterprize he found the number to be three hundred whereof forty were Portugals the rest were Slaves and Mariners besides Quiay Panians men amongst whom were an hundred and threescore Harquebusiers the others were armed with Pikes and Lanceâ— he had also some Pieces of Ordnance and other things necessary for his design The next morning a little before day Antonio de Faria sailed up the River with three Junks the Lorches and the four Barques he had taken and so went and anchored at six fathom and an half of water close by the walls of the Town Then causing the sails to be taken down without any noise or discharge of Ordnance he displayed the Banner of Trade according to the fashion of China to the end that by this demonstration of peace no complement should rest unperformed although he was perswaded that nothing would prevail with the Mandarin Hereupon he sent another Messenger unto him never making shew that he had received any ill usage from him by whom with a great deal of complement he demanded the Prisoners and offered him a round sum of mony for their ransom with a promise of perpetual correspondence and amity But so far was this Dog the Mandarin from harkening thereunto that contrariwise he made the poor Chinese that carried the Letter to be hewed in pieces and so shewed him from the top of the wall to the whole Fleet the more to despight us This tragical act wholly deprived Antonio de Faria of that little hope which some had given him for the deliverance of the Prisoners hereupon the Soldiers being more incensed then before said unto him that since he had resolved to land he should no longer defer it because further delay would but give his Enemies leasure to gather more strength This counsel seeming good to him he presently imbarqued with them he had chosen for the action having first given order to his Junks to shoot continually at the Town and the Enemy wheresoever they perceived any â—tore of people assembled howbeit with this caution to forbear till they saw them together by the ears with them Having landed then about a Faulcon shot below the Rode he marched without any leâ— along the shoars side directly to the Town In the mean time a number of people appeared upon the walls with divers ensigns of different colours where these Barbarous made a mighty noisâ— Fifes Drums and Bells and withall hooting at us made us signs with their caps to approach thereby intimating the little reckoning they made of us Now by that time we were come within a Musket shot of the walls we discerned some thousand or twelve hundred men as we guessed sally out at two several gates of which some sixscore were mounted on horses or to say better on lean carrion Tits that were nothing but skin and bone wherewith they began to course up and down the field in a skirmishing manner wherein they shewed themselves so untoward as they often ran one upon another and tumbled down together which when Antonio de Faria saw he was exceeding glad and encouraging his men to the fight he stood firm attending the Enemy who continued still wheeling about us being perswaded it seems that that would suffice to skare us and make us retire to our vessels But when they perceived us remain unmoved
the goodliest things in this Country whereof the least is worth above a hundred thousand Taeis and bestowed them on thee but thou art of a humour more inclined to hunt a Hare then to retain this vvhich I novv tell thee The young Gentleman made no reply but smiling looked upon his Sisters Then the old man caused meat to be brought unto us before him and commanded us to fall to it as vve most vvillingly did whereat he took great pleasure in regard his stomack was quite gone with his sickness but his young daughters much more who with their brother did nothing but laugh to see us feed our selves with our hands for that is contrary to the custome which is observed throughout the whole Empire of China where the Inhabitants at their meat carry it to their mouthes with two little sticks made like a pair of Cizers After we had given God thanks the old man that had well observed us lifting up his hands to heaven with tears in his eyes Lord said he that livest raigning in the tranquility of thy high wisdome I laud thee in all humility for that thou permittest men that are strangers come from the farthest end of the world and without the knowledge of thy doctrine to render thee thanks and give thee praise according to their weak capacity which makes me beleeve that thou wilt accept of them with as good a will as if it were some great offering of melodious musick agreeable to thine eares Then he caused three pieces of linnen cloth and four Taeis of Silver to be given us willing us withall to passe that night in his house because it was somewhat too late for us to proceed on our journey This offer we most gladly accepted and with complements after the manner of the Country we testified our thankfulness to him wherewith himself his wife and his son rested very well satisfied CHAP. XXVII Our arrival at the Town of Taypor where we were made Prisoners and so sent to the Citie of Nanquin THe next morning by break of day parting from that place we went to a Village called Einginilau which was some four leagues from the old Gentlemans house where we remained three dayes and then continuing travelling from one place to another and from Village to Village ever declining the great Towns for fear lest the Justice of the country should call us in question in regard we were strangers in this manner we spent almost two months without receiving the least damage from any body Now there is no doubt but we might easily have got to the Câ—tie of Nanquin in that time if we had had a guide but for wâ—nt of knowing the way we wandred we knew not whither suffering much and running many hazards At length we arrived at a Village named Chaucer at such a time as they were a solemnizing a sumptuous Funeral of a very rich woman that had disinherited her kindred and left her estate to the Pagod of this Village where she was buried as we understood by the Inhabitants We were invited then to this Funeral as other poor people were and according to the custome of the Country we did eat on the grave of the deceased At the end of three dayes that we stayed there which was the time â—he funeral lasted we had six Taeis given us for an Alms conditionally that in all our Oraisons we should pray unto God for the soul of the departed Being gone from this place we continued on our journey to another Village called Guinapalir from whence we were almost two months travelling from country to country untill at last our ill fortune brought us to a Town named Taypor where by chance there was at that time a Chumbrin that is to say one of those Super-intendents of Justice that every three years are sent throughout the Provinces for to make report unto the King of all that passeth there This naughty man seeing us go begging from door to door called to us from a window where he was and would know of us who we were and of what Nation as also what obliged us to run up and down the World in that manner Having asked us these questions in the presence of three Registers and of many other persons that were gathered together to behold us we answered him that we were strangers Natives of the Kingdom of Siam who being cast away by a storm at Sea went thus travelling and begging our living to the end we might sustain our selves with the charity of good people until such time as we could arrive at Nanquin whither we were going with an intent to imbarque our selves there in some of the Merchants Lanteaas for Canton where the shipping of our Nation lay This answer we made unto the Chumbim who questionless had been well enough contented with it and would have let us go had it been for one of his Clarks for he told them that we were idle vagabonds that spent our time in begging from door to door and abusing the alms that were given us and therefore he was at no hand to let us go free for fear of incurring the punishment ordained for such as offend in that sort as is set forth in the seventh of the twelve books of the Statutes of the Realm wherefore as his faithful servant he counselled him to lay us in good and sure hold that we might be forth-coming to answer the Law The Chumbim presently followed his Clarks advice and carried himself toward us with as much barbarous cruelty as could be expected from a Pagan such as he was that lived without God or religion To which effect after he had heard a number of false witnesses who charged us with many foul crimes whereof we never so much as dreamt he caused us to be put into a deep dungeon with irons on our hands and feet and great iron collars about our necks In this miserable place we endured such hunger and were so fearfully whipped that we were in perpetual pain for six and twenty days together at the end whereof we were by the sentence of the same Chumbim sent to the Parliament of the Cheam of Nanquin because the Jurisdiction of this extended not to the condemnation of any prisoner to death We remained six and twenty days in that cruel prison whereof I spake before and I vow we thought we had been six and twenty thousand years there in regard of the great misery we suffered in it which was such as one of our companions called Ioano Roderiguez Bravo died in our arms being eaten up with lice we being no way able to help him and it was almost a miracle that the rest of us escaped alive from that filthy vermine At length one morning when we thought of nothing less loden with irons as we were and so weak that we could hardly speak we were drawn out of that prison and then being chained one to another we were imbarqued with many others to the number of thirty or forty
question betwixt them and to pay him two thousand Picos of Silver for to defray the Charges of those strangers the Tartar had entertained in this War by this means China continued for a good while quiet but the King doubting lest the Tartar might in time to come return to annoy him again resolved to build a Wall that might serve for a Bulwark to his Empire and to that end calling all his Estates together he declared his determination unto them which was presently not onely well approved of but held most necessary so that to enable him for the performance of a business so much concerning his state they gave him ten thousand Picos of Silver which amount according to our account unto fifteen Millions of Gold after the rate of fifteen hundred Ducates each Pico and moreover they entertained him two hundred and fifty thousand men to labour in the work whereof thirty thousand were appointed for Officers and all the rest for manual services Order being taken then for whatsoever was thought fit for so prodigious an enterprise they fell to it in such sort as by the report of the History all that huge Wall was in seven and twenty years quite finished from one end to the other which if credit may be given to the same Chronicle is seventy Iaos in length that is six hundred and fifteen miles after nine miles every Iao wherein that which seemed most wonderfull and most exceeding the belief of man was that seven hundred and fifty thousand men laboured incessantly for so long a time in that great work whereof the Commonalty as I delivered before furnished one third part the Priests and Isles of Aynen another third and the King assisted by the Princes Lords Chaems and Anchacys of the Kingdom the rest of the building which I have both seen and measured being thirty foot in height and ten foot in breadth where it is thickest It is made of Lime and Sand and plaistered on the outside with a kind of Bitumen which renders it so strong that no Cannon can demolish it Instead of Bulwarks it hath Sentries or Watch-towers two stages high flanked with Buttresses of Carpentry made of a certain black wood which they call Caubesy that is to say Wood of Iron because it is exceeding strong and hard every Buttress being as thick as an Hogshead and very high so that these Sentries are far stronger then if they were made of Lime and Stone Now this Wall by them termed Chaufacan which signifies Strong resistance extends in height equal to the Mountains whereunto it is joyned and that those Mountains also may serve for a Wall they are cut down very smooth and sâ—eep which renders them far stronger then the Wall it self but you must know that in all this extent of land there is no Wall but in the void spaces from Hill to Hill so that the Hills themselves make up the rest of the Wall and Fence Further it is to be noted that in this whole length of an hundred and fifteen leagues which this Fortification contains there are are but onely 5 Entries whereby the Rivers of Tartaria do pass which are derived from the impetuous Torrents that descend from these Mountains and running above five hundred leagues in the Country render themselves into the Seas of China and Cauchenchina howbeit one of these Rivers being greater then the rest disemboques by the Bay of Cuy in the Kingdom of Sournau commonly called Siam Now in all these five Passages both the King of China and the King of Tartaria keep Garrisons the Chinese in each of them entertains seven thousand men giving them great pay whereof six thousand are Horse the rest Foot being for the most part strangers as Mogores Pancrus Champaas Corosones Gizares of Persia and other different Nations bordering upon this Empire and which in consideration of the extraordinary pay they receive serve the Chineses who to speak truth are nothing couragious as being but little used to the Wars and ill provided of Arms and Artillery In all this length of Wall there are three hundred and twenty Companies each of them containing five hundred Souldiers so that there are in all one hundred and threescore thousand men besides Officers of Justice Anchacis Chaems and other such like persons necessary for the Government and entertainment of these Forces so that all joyned together make up the number of two hundred thousand which are all maintained at the Kings onely charge by reason the most of them are Malefactours condemned to the reparations and labour of the Wall as I shall more amply declare when I come to speak of the Prison destined to this purpose in the City of Pequin which is also another Edifice very remarkable wherein there are continually above thirty thousand Prisoners the most of them from eighteen to forty five years of age appointed to work in this Wall Being departed from those two Towns Pacau and Nacau we continued our course up the River and arrived at another Town called Mindoo somewhat bigger then those from whence we parted where about half a mile off was a great Lake of Salt-water and a number of Salt-houses round about it The Chineses assured us that this Lake did ebb and flow like the Sea and that it extended above two hundred leagues into the Country rendring the King of China in yearly Revenue one hundred thousand Taeis onely for the third of the Salt that was drawn out of it as also that the Town yielded him other one hundred thousand Taeis for the Silk alone that was made there not speaking at all of the Camphire Sugar Pourcelain Vermilion and Quick-silver whereof there was very great plenty moreover that some two leagues from this Town were twelve exceeding long Houses like unto Magazines where a world of people laboured in casting and purifying of Copper and the horrible din which the Hammers made there was such and so strange as if there were any thing on earth that could represent Hell this was it wherefore being desirous to understand the cause of this extraordinary noise we would needs go to see from whence it proceeded and we found that there were in each of these Houses forty Fornaces that is twenty of either side with forty huge Anvils upon every of which eight men beat in order and so swiftly as a mans eye could hardly discern the blows so as three hundred and twenty men wrought in each of these twelve Houses which in all the twelve Houses made up three thousand eight hundred and forty workmen beside a great number of other persons that laboured in other particular things whereupon we demanded how much Copper might be wrought every year in each of these Houses and they told us one hundred and ten or sixscore thousand Picos whereof the King had two thirds because the Mines were his and that the Mountain from whence it was drawn was called Corotum baga which signifies a River of Copper for that from the
in the morning to the prison sent for us into the Infirmirie where they told us that our business went very well and how we might hope that our sentence would have a good issue whereupon we cast our selves at their feet and with abundance of tears desired God to reward them for the pains they had taken in our behalf Thereunto one of them replyed And we also most humbly beseech him to keep you in the knowledg of his Law wherein all the happiness of good mâ—n consists and so they caused two coverlets to be given us for to lay upon our beds in the night because the weather was cold and withall bid us that we should not stick to ask any thing we wanted for that God Almighty did not love a sparing hand in the distributing of alms for his sake A little after their departure came the Register and shewing us the Chaems order whereby the Kings Proctor was condemned to pay us twenty Taeis gave us the mony and took an acquittance under our hands for the receipt of it For which giving him a world of thanks we intreated him for his pains to take as much thereof as he pleased but he would not touch a peny saying I will not for so small a matter lose the recompence which I hope to gain from God for the consideration of you We past nine days in great fear still expecting to have our sentence pronounced when as one Saturday morning two Chumbims of Justice came to the prison for us accompanied with twenty officers by them called Huppes carrying Halberts Portisans and other arms which made them very dreadfull to the beholders These men tying us all nine together in a long iron chain lead us to the Caladigan which was the place where audience was given and where execution was done on delinquents Now how we got thither to confess the truth I am not able to relate for we were at that instant so far besides our selves as we knew not what we did or which way we went so as in that extremity all our thought was how to conform our selves to the will of God and beg of him with tears that for the merit of his sacred passion he would be pleased to receive the punishment that should be inflicted on us for the satisfaction of our sins At length after much pain and many affronts that were done us by many which followed after us with loud cries we arrived at the first Hall of the Caladigan where were four and twenty Executioners whom they call The Ministers of the arm of justice with a great many of other people that were there about their affairs Here we remained a long time till at length upon the ringing of a bell other doors were opened that stood under a great Aâ—ch of Architecture very artificially wrought and whereon were a number of rich figures On the top a monstrous Lion of silver was seen with his sore and hind feet upon a mighty great bowl made of the same mettal whereby the arms of the King of China are represented which are ordinarily placed on the Fore-front of all the Sovereign Courts where the Chaems precide who are as Vice-roys amongst us Those doors being opened as I said before all that were there present entred into a very great Hall like the Body of a Church hung from the top to the bottom with divers pictures wherein strange kinds of execution done upon pâ—rsons of all conditions after a most dreadful manner were constrained and under every picture was this inscription Such a one was executed with this kind of death for committing such a crime so that in beholding the diversity of these fearful pourtraitures one might see in it as it were a declaration of the kind of death that was ordained for each crime as also the extream rigour which the Justice there observed in such executions From this Hall we went into another room far richer and more costly for it was guilt all over so that one could not have a more pleasing object at least wise if we could have taken pleasure in any thing considering the misery we were in In the midst of this room there was a Tribunal whereunto one ascended by seven steps invironed with three rows of ballisters of iron copper and ebony the tops whereof were beautified with Mother of Pearl At the upper end of all was a cloth of State of white damask frenged about with a deep cawl frenge of green silk and gold Under this State sat the Chaem with a world of greatness and majesty he was seated in a very rich Chair of silver having before him a little table and about him three boys on their knees sumptuously apparelled with chains of gold one of the which namely he in the middle served to give the Chaem the pen wherewithall he signed The other two took the petitions that were preferred and presented them on the Table that they might be signed On the right hand in another place somewhat higher and almost equall with the Chaem stood a boy some ten or eleven years old attired in a rich robe of white Satin imbroidered with roses of gold having a chain of pearl three double about his neck and hair as long as a womans most neatly plaited with a fillet of gold all enamelled with green and powdered over with great seed pearl In his hand he held as a mark of that which he represented a little branch of roses made of silk gold thread and rich pearls very curiously intermixed And in this manner he appeared so gentile handsome and beauiful as no woman how fair soever could overmatch him this boy leaned on his elbow upon the Chaems chair and figured mercy In the like manner on the left hand was another goodly boy richly apparelled in a Coat of carnation Satin all set with roses of gold having his right arm bared up to the elbow and died with a vermilion as red as blood and in that hand holding a naked sword which seemed also to be bloody moreover on his head he wore a crown in fashion like to a Myter hung all with little razors like unto lancets wherewith Chyrurgions let men blood being thus gallantly set forth and of most beautiful presence yet he struck all that beheld him with fear in regard of that he represented which was Justice For they say that the Judg which holds the place of the King who presents God on earth ought necessarily to have those two qualities Iustice and Mercy and that he which doth not use them is a Tyrant acknowledging no Law and usurping the power that he hath The Chaem was apparelled in a long Gown of violet Satin frâ—nged with green silk and gold with a kind of sâ—apulair about his neck in the midst of which was a great plate of gold wherein an hand holding a very even pair of ballance was engraven and the inscription about it It is the nature of the Lord Almighty to observe in his justice
are comparable unto it how famous or populous soever they be Nay I will say further that one must not think it to be like to Grand Cairo in Egypt Tauris in Persia Amadaba in Cambaya Bisnagar in Narsingua Goura in Bengala Ava in Chaleu Timplan in Calaminhan Martaban and Bagou in Pegu Guimpel and Tinlau in Siammon Odia in the Kingdom of Sornau Passarvan and Dema in the Island of Iaoa Pangor in the Country of the Lequiens Vsangea in the Grand Cauchin Lancama in Tartaria and Meaco in Iappun all which Cities are the Capitals of many great Kingdoms for I dare well affirm that all those same are not to be compared to the least part of the wonderful City of Pequin much less to the greatness and magnificence of that which is most excellent in it whereby I understand her stately buildings her inward riches her excessive abundance of all that is necessary for the entertaining of life also the world of people the infinite number of Barques and Vessels that are there the Commerce the Courts of Justice the Government and the State of the Tutons Chaems Anchacys Aytaos Puchancys and Bracanons who rule whole Kingdoms and very spacious Provinces with great pentions and are ordinarily resident in this City or others for them when as by the Kings command they are sent about affairs of consequence But setting these things aside whereof yet I intend to speak more amply when time shall serve I say that this City according to that which is written of it both in the Aquesendoo before mentioned and all the Chronicles of the Kingdom of China is thirty leagues in circuit not comprehending therein the buildings of the other inclosure that is without it and is invironed with a double wall made of good strong free-stone having three hundred and threescore gates each of which hath a small Forâ— composed of two high towers with its ditches and draw-bridges and at every gate is a Register four Porters with halberds in their hands who are bound to give account of all that goes in and out These gates by the Ordinance of the Tuton are divided according to the three hundred and threescore dayes of the year so that every day in his turn hath the feast of the invocation of the Idol whereof each gate bears the name celebrated with much solemnity This great City hath also within that large inclosure of her walls as the Chineses assured us three thousand and three hundred Pagodes or Temples wherein are continually sacrificed a great number of birds and wild beasts which they hold to be more agreeable unto God then such as are kept tame in houses whereof their Priests render divers reasons to the people therewith perswading them to believe so great an abuse for an article of faith The structures of these Pagodes whereof I speak are very sumptuous especially those of the orders of the Menegrepos Conquiays and Talagrepos who are the Priests of the four Sects of Xaca Amida Gizom and Canom which surpass in antipuity the other two and thirty of that Labyrinth of the Divel who appears to them many times in divers forms for to make them give more credit to his impostures and lies The principal streets of this City are all very long and broad with fair houses of two or three stories high and inclosed at both ends with ballisters of iron and lattin the entrance into them is through lanes that cross these great streets at the ends whereof are great arches with strong gates which are shut in the night and on the top of the arches there are watch-bels Each of these streets hath its Captain and officers who walk the round in their turns and are bound every ten dayes to make report into the Town-house of all that passeth in their quarters to the end that the Punchacys or Chaems of the Government may take such order therein as reason requires Moreover this great City if credit may be given to that which the said book so often before mentioned by me records hath an hundred and twenty Canals made by the Kings and people in former times which are three fathom deep and twelve broad crossing through the whole length and bredth of the City by the means of a great number of bridges built upon arches of strong free-stone at the end whereof there are pillars with chains that reach from the one to the other and resting places for passengers to repose themselves in It is said that the bridges of these hundred twenty Canals or Aqueducts are in number eighteen hundred and that if one of them is fair and rich the other is yet more as well for the fashion as for the rest of the workmanship thereof The said Book affirms That in this City there are sixscore Piatzues or publique places in each of the which is a Fair kept every month Now during the two months time that we were at liberty in this City we saw eleven or twelve of these Fairs where were an infinite company of people both on hors-back and on foot that out of boxes hanging about their necks sold all things that well neer can be named as the Haberdashers of small wares do amongst us besides the ordinary shops of rich Merchants which were ranged very orderly in the particular streets where was to be seen a world of silk stuffs tinsels cloth of gold linnen and cotton-cloth sables ermyns musk aloes fine pourcelain gold and silver plate pearl seed pearl gold in powder and lingots and such other things of value whereat we nine Portugals were exceedingly astonished But if I should speak in particular of all the other commodities that were to be sold there as of iron steel lead copper tin latin corral cornalin crystal quicksilver vermillion ivory cloves nutmegs mace ginger tamarinds cinnamon pepper cardamone borax hony wax sanders sugar conserves acates fruit meal rice flesh venison fish pulse and herbs there was such abundance of them as it is scarce possible to express it in words The Chineses also assured us that this City hath an hundred and threescore Butchers shambles and in each of them an hundred stalls full of all kinds of flesh that the earth produceth for that these people feed on all as Veal Mutton Pork Goat the flesh of Horses Buffles Rhinocerets Tygers Lions Dogs Mules Asses Otters Shamois Bodgers and finally of all other beasts whatsoever Furthermore besides the weights which are particularly in every shambles there is not a gate in the City that hath not its scales wherein the meat is weighed again for to see if they have their due weight that have bought it to the end that by this means the people may not be deceived Besides those ordinary Shambles there is not scarce a street but hath five or six Butchers shops in it where the choicest meat is sold there are withall many Taverns where excellent fare is alwayes to be had and cellers full of gammons of bacon dried tongues poudered geese and other
of a Nation of a Country and of a Kingdom the inhabitants whereof wounded and killed one another most cruelly without any reason or cause and therefore no other judgment could be made of us but that we were the servants of the most gluttenous Serpent of the profound pit of smoak as appeared by our worke since they were no better then such as that accursed Serpent had accustomed to do so that according to the Law of the third Book of the will of the Son of the Sun called Mileterau we were to be condemned to a banishment from all commerce of people as a venemous and contagious plague so that we deserved to be confined to the Mountains of Chabaguay Sumbor or Lamau whither such as we were use to be exiled to the end they might in that place hear the wild beasts howl in the night which were of as vile a breed and nature as we From this prison we were one morning led to a place called by them Pitau Calidan wheâ—e the Anchacy sat in judgment with a majestical and dreadful greatness He was accompanied by divers Chumbims Vppes Lanteas and Cypatons besides a number of other persons there each of us had thirty lashes a piece more given us and then by publique sentence we were removed to another prison where we were in better case yet then in that out of which we came howbeit for all that we did not a little detest amongst our selves both the Fonsecas and the Madureyras but much more the divel that wrought us this mischief In this prison we continued almost two months during which time our stripes were throughly healed howbeit we were exceedingly afflicted with hunger and thirst At length it pleased God that the Chaem took compassion of us for on a certain day wherein they use to do works of charity for the dead coming to review our sentence he ordained That in regard we were strangers and of a Country so far distant from theirs as no man had any knowledge of us nor that there was any book or writing which made mention of our name and that none understood our language as also that we were accustomed and even hardned to misery and poverty which many times puts the best and most peaceable persons into disorder and therefore might well trouble such as made no profession of patience in their adversities whence it followed that our discord proceeded rather from the effects of our misery then from any inclination unto mutiny and tumult wherewith the Kings Atturny charged us and furthermore representing unto himself what great need there was of men for the ordinary service of the State and of the Officers of Iustice for which provision necessarily was to be made he thought fit that the punishment for the crimes we had committed should in the way of an alms bestowed in the Kings name be moderated and reduced to the whipping which we had twice already had upon condition nevertheless that we should be detained there as slaves for ever unless it should please the Tuton otherwise to ordain of us This sentence was pronounced against us and though we shed a many of tears to see our selves reduced unto this miserable condition wherein we were yet this seemed not so bad unto us as the former After the publication of this Decree we were presently drawn out of prison and tied three and three together then led to certain iron Forges where we past six whole months in strange labours and great necessities being in a manner quite naked without any bed to lie on and almost â—amished At last after the enduring of so many evils we fell sick of a Lethargy which was the cause in regard it was a contagious disease that they turned us out of doors for to go and seek our living until we became well again Being thus set at liberty we continued four months sick and begging the alms of good people from door to door which was given us but sparingly by reason of the great dearth that then reigned over all the Country so as we were constrained to agree better together and to promise one another by a solemn oath that we took to live lovingly for the future as good Christians should do and that every month one should be chosen from amongst us to be as it were a kind of Chief whom by the oath we had taken all the rest of us were to obey as their Superior so that none of us was to dispose of himself nor do any thing without his command or appointment and those rules were put into writing by us that they might be the better observed As indeed God gave us the grace to live ever afterward in good peace and concord though it were in great pain and extream necessity of all things We had continued a good while living in peace and tranquility according to our fore-mentioned agreement when as he whose lot it was to be our Chief that month named Christovano Boralho considering how necessary it was to seek out some relief for our miseries by all the ways that possibly we could appointed us to serve weekly two and two together some in begging up and down the Town some in getting water and dressing our meat and others in fetching wood from the Forrest both for our own use to sell. Now one day my self one Gaspar de Meyrelez being enjoyned to go to the Forrest we rose betimes in the morning went forth to perform our charge And because this Gaspar de Meyrelez was a pretty Musician playing well on a Cittern whereunto he accorded his voice which was not bad being parts that are very agreeable to those people in regard they imploy the most part of their times in the delights of the flesh they took great pleasure in hearing of him so as for that purpose they invited him very often to their sports from whence he never returned without some reward wherewith we were not a little assisted As he and I then were going to the wood and before we were out of the Town we met by fortune in one of the streets with a great many of people who full of jollity were carrying a dead corps to the grave with divers banners and other funeral pomp in the midst whereof was a Consort of musick and voices Now he that had the chief ordering of the Funeral knowing Gaspar de Meyrelez made him stay and putting a Cittern into his hands he said unto him Oblige me I pray thee by singing as loud as thou canst so as thou mayst be heard by this dead man whom we are carrying to burial for I swear unto thee that he went away very sad for that he was separated from his wife and children whom he dearly loved all his life time Gaspar de Meyrelez would fain have excused himself alledging many reasons thereupon to that end but so far was the Governour of the Funeral from accepting them that contrarily he answered him very angerly Truly if thou
of this Emperor of Caran was more remarkable in his entry then all the rest He had for his Guard about sixscore men armed with â—â—rows and Partisans damasked with gold and silver and all attired alike in violet and green After them marched on horsback twelve Ushers carrying silver Maces before whom twelve horses were led that had carnation clothes on them bordered about with gold and silver They were followed by twelve huge tall men that seemed to be Giants clothed with Tygers skins as wild men are used to be painted of them holding in his hand a great Greyhound by a silver chain Then appeared twelve little Pages mounted on white Haâ—kneys having green velvet Saddles trimmed with silver lace and frenge they were all apparelled alike in crimson sattin Cassocks lined with marterns breeches and hats of the same and great chains of gold scarf-wise about them These twelve boys were all of one equal stature so fair of face so well favoured and of so sweet a proportion of body as I believe there have never been any seen more accomplished For himself he was seated in a Chariot with three wheels on each side garnished all over with silver Round about this Pirange for so was this Chariot called there were forty foot-men in jerkâ—ns and breeches of green and red cloth laced all over with carnation silk lace having swords by their side above three fingers bâ—oad with the hilts handles and chaps of silver and hunting horns hanging in silver chains bandrick-wise about thâ—m and on their heads they wore caps with feathâ—rs in them full of silver spangles Thus was the equipage of this Ambassador so sumptuous and stately that one might very well conclude he belonged to some very rich and mighty Prince Now going one day as attendants on the Mitaquâ—r who went to visit him from the King amongst other things that we saw in his lodging we observed there for one of the greatest rarities in that Country five Chambers hung all with very rich Arras such as we have in Christendom and no question brought from thence In each of these Chambers was a Cloth of State of gold or silver tinsel and under it a Table with a Bason and Ewer of silver of a very costly fashion also a Chair of State of rich violet stuff trimmed with gold frenge and at the foot of it a Cushion of the same all upon an exceeding large foot-pace of tapestry There was also a chaâ—ingdish of silver with a perfuming pot of the same out of the whâ—ch proceeded a most delicate odour At the door of each of those five Chambers stood two Halberdiers who permitted persons of quality to enter that came thither to see them In another very great room in form like to a Gallery there was upon a very high and large foot-pace a little table placed covered with a damask table-cloth edged about with gold-frenge and upon a silver plate a napkin with a fork and a spoon of gold as also two little salt-sellers of the same mettal Now about ten or eleven paces on the one side from this table were two cupbards of plate of all kind of fashions and other vessels of great value Moreover at the four corners of this table were four cisterns about the bigness of a bushel with their kettels fastened to them with chains all of silver as also two very great candlesticks of the same with white wax candles in them but not lighted There were also at the door of the room twelve handsome Halberdiers clothed in mantles like to Irish rug with Scymitars by their sides all covered over with plates of silver which Guard as ordinarily it is with them were very haughty and rude in their answers to all that speak to them Although this Ambassadour was come thither in the way of visit as the râ—st yet the principal subject of his Ambassy was to treat of a marriage between the Emperour of Caran and a sister of the Tartar named Meica vidau that is to say a rich Saphir a Lady about some thirty years of age but very handsom and exceeding charitable to the poor whom we saw divers times in this City at the chiefest Feasts which these people use to solemnize at certain times of the year after the manner of the Gentiles Howbeit setting aside all this whereof I had not spoken but that it seemed more remarkable unto me then all the rest I will return to my former discourse as well concerning our liberty as the voyage that we made even to the Islands of the Sea of China whether the Emperour of Tartaria caused us to be conveighed to the end that such as shall come after us may attain to the knowledge of a part of those things whereof it may be they have never heard spoken until this present CHAP. XLI In what manner we were brought again before the King of Tartaria with our departure from that Kingdom and all that we saw and befell us in our voyage till our arrival at the Court of the King of Cauchinchina AFter some time had been spent in the Celebrations of certain remarkable Feasts that were made for joy of the conclusion of a marriage betwixt the Princess Meica vidau the Kings sister and the Emperour of Caran the Tarâ—ar by the advice of his Captains resolved to return anew to the Siege of Pequin which he had formerly quitted taking the ill success that he had there as a great affront to his person To this effect then he caused all the Estates of his Kingdom to be assembled and also made a league with all the Kings and Princes bordering in his Dominions whereupon considering with our selves how prejudicial this might prove to the promise had been made us for the setting of us at liberty we repaired to the Mitaquer and represented unto him many things that made for our purpose and obliged him to keep his word with us To the which he returned us this answer Certainly you have a great deal of reason for that you say and I have yet more not to refuse you that which you demand of me with so much justice wherefore I resolve to put the King in mind of you that you may enjoy your liberty and the sooner you shall be gone from hence the sooner you shall be freed from the labours which the time begins to prepare for us in the enterprise that his Majesty hath newly undertaken by the counsel of some particulars who for that they know not how to govern themselves have more need to be counselled then the earth hath need of water to produce the fruits that are sowed in her but to morrow morning I shall put the King in mind of you and your poverty and withall I shall pâ—esent unto him how you have poor fatherless child ren as you have heretofore told me to the end he may be thereby incâ—ted to cast his eyes upon you as he is accustomed to do in like cases which is none of the least marks
Taeis it rose before the end of eight dayes to an hundred and threescore at which rate too the Merchants seemed to part with it very willingly Thus by the means of this unreasonable desire of gain nine Juncks which were then in the Port were in fifteen days ready to set Sail though to say the truth they were all in such disorder and so unprovided that some amongst them had no other Pilots then the Masters themselves who had but little understâ—anding in Navigation In this bad order they departed all in company together one Sunday morning notwithstanding that they had the wind the season the sea and all things else contrary not suffering themselves to be guided by reason or the consideration of the dangers which they are subject unto that commit themselves to this Element For they were so obstinate and so blinded as they would not represent any inconvenience to themselves and I my self was so infortunate that I went along with them in one of their Vessels In this manner they sailed all that same day as it were groping between the Islands and the firm Land but about midnight there arose in the dark so mighty a Storm accompanied with such horrible rain that suffering themselves to be carried at the mercy of the wind they ran upon the Sands of Gotom whereof the nine Juncks two only as it were by miracle were saved so that the other seven were lost out of which not so much as one man escaped This loss was thought to amount unto above three hundred thousand Crowns in commodities besides the greater which was of six hundred persons that left their lives there whereof there were an hundred and forty Portugals all rich men and of quality As for the other two Juncks in one of the which by good hap I was joyning in conâ—ort together they followed the course they had begun until such time as they arrived at the Island of the Lequios There we were beaten with so furious a North-east wind which inâ—reased by the conjunction of the new Moon that our vessels were seperated in such sort as we could never see one another again After dinner the wind turned to West North-west whereby the Sea was so moved and the waves rose with such fury as it was a most dreadful thing to behold whereupon our Captain named Gaspar Melo a very couragious Gentleman seeing the greatest part of the prow of the Junck to be half open and that there was niâ—e spans water in the bottom of her he resolved by the advice of all the Officers to cut down the two Masts whose weight was the cause of the opening of the Junck howbeit this could not be done with such care but that the main Mast in its â—all overwhelmed fourteen persons whereof five were Portugals which were all crushed in pieces a spectacle so lamentable to behold that it exceedingly grieved every mans heart Now forasmuch as the Storm increased more and more we were constrained to let our selves be carried at the mercy of the Sea even until Sun-set at which time the Junck made an end of splitting quite asunder whereupon our Captain and every one of us seeing the deplorable estate whereunto our sins had reduced us fell to preparing our selves for our last end Having in this sort past away half of the night about the first quarter of the watch we struck upon a Shelâ— where at the first blow the Junck broke all to pieces the event whereof was so lamentable that threescore and two men left their lives there some of which were drowned and the rest squeezed to death under the Keel of the Vessel There were but four and twenty of us besides some women that escaped from this miserable Shipwrack Now as soon as it was day we perceived by the sight of the Island of fire and of the Mountain of Taydacano that the Land where we were was the great Lequio whereupon wiâ—h tears in our eyes recommending our selves â—o God and marching up to the brest in water we swam over certain dâ—eper places and so went five dayes together in great pain not finding in all that time any thing to eat but the slime which the Sea cast up on the mud Howbeit aâ— length by the mercy of God we got to land where going into the woods we sustained our selves with a certain herb like unto Sorrel whereof there was great plenty along these Coasts which was all the nourishment that we had for three days space that we were there until at last we were espyed by a boy that was keeping of cattel who as soon as he had discovered us ran to the next Village which was some quarter of a league off for to give notice of it to the inhabitants there who presently thereupon with the sound of Drums and Cornets assembled all their Neighbours round about them so that within three or four hours they wâ—re a Company of about two hundred men whereof there were fourteen on horsback As soon as they descried us a far off they made dirâ—ctly towards us whereupon our Captain seeing the wretched estate whereunto we were reduced fell down upon his knees and began to encourage us with many good words desiâ—ing us to remember That nothing in the world could fall out without the Providence of God and therefore like good Christians we should assure our selves it was his pleasure that this should be the last hour of our lives so that we could not do better then to conform our selves to his holy will and with patience imbrace this pitiful end which came from his Almighty hand craving pardon from the bottoâ— of our hearts for all our sins past and that for himself he had such confidence in his mercy that we duly repenting us according as we were obliged by his holy Commandments he would not forget us in this our extremity Having made us this Exhortation and lifted up his hands to Heaven he cried out three times together with abundance of tears Lord have mercy upon us which words were reiterated by all the rest but with such sighs and groans of true Christians and so full of devotion and zeal that I may truly say the thing which then we feared least was that which naturally is most abhorr'd As we were in this grievous agony six horsmen came unto us and beholding us in a manner naked without arms on the ground upon ouâ— knees and two women lying as it were dead before us they were so moved with compassion that four of them turning back to the footmen which were coming on made them all to stay not suffering them to approach us Howbeit a little after they came to us again bringing with them six footmen which seemed to bâ— some of the Officers of Justice who by the commandment of the horsmen tied us three and three together and with some shew of pity bid us That we should not be afraid for that the King of the Lequios was a man greatly fearing God and
tears Whereupon turning him towards us who all this while lay prostrated on the ground with our hands lifted up as if we were worshipping God I must confess said he unto us that I have so great compassion of your misery and am so grieved to see you so poor as you are as I assure you in all verity that I had rather if it were the good pleasure of the King be like unto one of you as wretched as you are then to see my self in this office which questionless was conferred on me for my sins wherefore I would be loth to offend you but the duty of my place obliging me thereunto I must desire you as friends not to be troubled if I ask you some questions which are necessary for the good of Iustice and as touching your deliverance if God affords me life be assured you shall have it for I am most confident that the King my Masters inclination to the poor is truly Royal. These promises exceedingly contented us and to thank him for them we had recourse to our tears which we shed in abundance for our hearts were so full as we could not possibly bring forth a word to answer him The Broquen caused four Registers the two Peretandaos of the Court aforesaid and some eleven or twelve other Officers of Justice to come immediately before him Then rising on his feet he began with a severe countenance and a naked Scymitar in his hand to examine us speaking so loud as every one might hear him I Pinaquila said he Broquen of this City of Pungor by the good pleasure of him whom we all hold for the hairs of our heads King of the Nation of the Lequios and of all this Country of the two Seas where the fresh and salt waters divide the Mynes of his treasures do advise and command you by the rigour and force of my words to tell me clearly and with a clean heart what people and of what Nation you are as also where your Country is and how it is called To this demand we answered according to the truth that we were Portugals Natives of Malaca It is well added he but what adventure brought you into this Country and whither did you intend to go when as you suffered shipwrack We replied thereunto That being Merchants who make no other profession then of traffique we had imbarqued our selves in the Kingdom of China for to go from the Port of Liampoo to Tanixumaa where we had formerly been but that arriving near to the Island of Fire we were surprized by a mighty tempest so that not able to oppose the violence of the Sea we were constrained to lie at the mercy of the winds for the space of three dayes and three nights together and that at the end thereof our Junck ran her self upon the Sands of Taydican where of ninety and two persons that we were threescore and eight were drowned no more escaping of that great number but these four and twenty of us which stood before him all covered over with wounds that were saved as it were by miracle through the spâ—cial grace of God At these words standing a little in suspence By what tytle replied he did you possess so much riches and so many pieces of silk which were in your Iunck and that were worth above an hundred Taeis as I am informed Truly it is not credible that you could get so much wealth any other way then by theeving which being a great offence against God is a thing proper to the servants of the Serpent of the house of smoak and not to those of the house of the Sun where they that are just and of a pure heart do bathe themselves amidst perfumes in the great Pool of the most Almighty We answered hereunto that assuredly we were Merchants and not thieves as he was pleased to charge us because the God in whom we believed forbad us by his holy Law either to kill or to rob Hereupon the Broquen beholding them which were about him Doubtless continued he if that which these men affirm be true we may well say that they are like unto us and that their God is much better then all others as me thinks may be inferred from the truth of their words Then turning himself towards us he examined us as before with a stern countenance and the behaviour of a Judg that exerciseth his charge with integrity In this examination he bestowed almost an hour and in the last place said unto us I would fain know why those of your Country when as heretofore they took Malaca carried thereunto by extream avarice did kill our men with so little pity which is still made good by divers widdows who in these Countries have survived their husbands To this we made answer how that hapned rather by the chance of war then out of any desire of robbing which we had never used to do in any place wheresoever we came What is this you say replied he can you maintain that he that conquers doth not rob that he which useth force doth not kill that he which shews himself covetous is not a thief that which he oppresseth performs not the action of a Tyrant and lo all these are the goodly qualities which are given to you and whereof you are said to be culpable and that by the affirmation of verity it self whence it is manifest that Gods abandoning of you and permitting the waves of the Sea to swallow you up is rather a pure â—ffect of his justice then any injury that is done to you This said he arose out of the Chair where he was set and commanded the Officers to return us back to prison promising to give us audience according to the grace which it should please the King to shew us and the compassion that he would have of us wherewith we were very much afflicted and in great dispair of our lives The next day the King was advertised as well of our imprisonment as of the â—nswers we had made by the Broquens letters wherein he had intermingled something in favour of us by means whereof he did not cause us to be executed as it was said he had resolved to have done upon certain false reports which the Chineses had made to him of us In this prison we continued very near two months with much pain never hearing in all that time so much as any word spoken of that first proceeding against us Now forasmuch as the King desired to be more amply informed concerning us by other more particular inquiries then the letters of the Broquen he senâ— a certain man unto us named Randinaa for to come secretly to the prison where we were to the end that under the pretext of being a Merchantâ— stranger he might exactly learn the cause of ouâ— arrival in that place and that upon the report he should make thereof to the King he might proceed to do that which should seem just unto him Howbeit though this was closely
carried yet was it our good fortune to be advertised of it the day before his coming to us so that we had time enough to arm our selves outwardly with all the apparances of misery and affliction we could possibly devise and counterfeit which expedient next to Gods assistance stood us in more stead then any other we could have thought upon This man then came one morning well accompanied to the prison and after he had viewed us all one after another he called to him the Iurabaca who served to interpret for him Ask these men said he what is the cause that the mighty hand of God hath so abandoned them as to permit their lives through an effect of his Divine Iustice to be subjected to the judgement of men without having so much remorse of conscience as to set before their eyes the tâ—rrour of that dreadful vision which doth use to fright the soul at the last gasp of a mans life for it is to be believed that they who have done that which I observe in them have heaped sin upon sin We answered him thereunto that he had a great deal of reason for what he spake in regard it was very probable that the sins of men were the principal cause of their sufferings howbeit that God as the Soveraign Lord of all did nevertheless in that case accustome to take pity of them with sobs and tears continually called upon him and that it was also his bounty wherein all our hope was placed to the end he would be pleased to inspire the Kings heart with a will to do as justice according to our works for that we were poor strangers destitute of all favour a thing whereof men make most account in this woâ—ld That which you say replyed he is very well provided that your hearts be conformable to your words and then you are not to be found fault with for it is most certain that he which enammels all that our eyes do behold for the beautifying â—f the night and that hath likewise made whatsoever the day doth shâ—w us for the sustenance of man who are but worms of the earth will not refuse you your deliverance seeing you beg of him with so many sighs and tears wherefore I intreat you not to dissemble with me but truly to confess what I desire to understand from you at this present namely what people you are of what Nation in what part of the world you live in and how the Kingdom of your King is named whereunto you shall adde the cause that hath brought you hither and to what place you were going with so much riches which the Sea hath cast up on the shoars of Taydican whereat all the Inhabitants have so wondred as they were perswaded that you were Masters of all the Trade of China To these and other like questions which this Spie asked of us we returned him such answers as was most behoofull for us to give him wherewith he was so contented that making us many offers he promised to move the King for our deliverance In the mean time he spake not a word to us of the occasion for which he was sent but still fained himself to be a stranger and a Merchant like one of us Howbeit when he went away he carefully recommended us to the Jaylour and willed him not to let us want any thing promising to satisfie him for it to his content In acknowledgment whereof we gave him many humble thanks with tears in our eyes whereby he was greatly moved to compassion so that he gave us a Bracelet of gold that weighed thirty Duckats and also six sacks of Rice and withall desired us to excuse hâ—m for the smalness of the present he had given us After this he returned back to the King unto whom he rendred an account of all that had past with us assuring him that we were not such as the Chineses had made him to believe and offered for proof thereof to pawn his life an hundred times if need were which was the cause that the King abated much of the suspicion wherewithall they had inveighed him about our manner of lying But as he was resolving to give order for our enlargement as well upon the report of this man as in regard of the letter which the Broquen had written him there arrived at the Port a Chinese Pyrat with four Juncks unto whom the King gave his Country for a place of Retreat upon condition that he should share with him the moity of the booty which he should take by means whereof he was in great favour with the King and all them of the Country Now forasmuch as our sins would have it that this Pyrate was one of the greatest enemies the Portugals had at that time by reason of a fight that we had had with him a little before in the Port of Lamau where Laâ—cerote Pareyra born at Lyma commanded in chief and in which he had two Juncks burnt and three hundred of his men slain this dog was no sooner advertised of our imprisonment and how the King was resolved to free us but that he imbroyled the business in a strange manner and told him so many lies of us that he lacked but little of perswading him that ere long we would be the cause of the loss of his Kingdom For he assured him that it was our custom to play the Spies in a Countâ—y under pretence of trading and then to make our selves Masters of it like robbers as we were putting all to the sword that we met withall in it which wrought so powerfully with the King that he revoked all that he had resolved to have done and changing his mind he ordained that in regard of what had been told him we should each of us be dismembred into four quarters and the same set up in the publique streets that all the world might know we had deserved to be used so CHAP. XLVIII The King of the Lequios sending a cruel Sentence against us to the Broquen of the Town where we were prisoners to the end he should put it in execution and that which hapened unto us till our arrival at Liampoo AFter that this â—ruel Sentence of death had been pronounced against us the King sent a Peretanda to the Broquen of the City where we were prisoners to the end that within four dayes it should be executed upon our persons This Peretanda departed presently away and upon his arrival at the City he went and lodged himself at a certain widows house that was his sister a very honourable woman and from whom we had received much alms This same man having secretly imparted unto her the cause of his coming how he was not to return but with a good Certificate unto the King of the performance of this exâ—cuâ—ion she went strait-way and acquainted a Niece of hers with it who was daughter to the Broquen of the City in whose house lay a Portugal woman the wife of a Pilot who was a
you hither at this time certainly it is some extraordinary matter Madam answered she that which your Majesty sayes is very true and I assure my self that it will seem no less strange in your ears then it was to me to see my Neece arrive here lately with so much sorrow and grief that I am not able to express it in words The Queen having then commanded her to call her in she presently fetched her The first thing that this young Gentlewoman did was to prostrate her self before the Queen who was in her bed and so told her weeping the occasion that brought her thither and therewithall presented her with the letter which the Queen commanded her to read as accordingly she did and it is said the Queen was so moved with compassion at it that not induring to have her make an end of reading it she said many times unto her with tears in her eyes Enough enough I will hear no more of it at this time and since the business stands in the terms you speak of God and the Soul of the King my Husband for whose sake all these Ladies beg this boon of me forbid that these poor wretches should lose their lives so unjustly The false reports which the Chineses have made of them together with the miseries they have indured at Sea may serve them in stead of great punishments Wherefore rely upon me for your request and in the mean space withdraw your selves til to morrow morning betimes when we will go all three to the King my Son before it be day and then you shall read this letter to him as you have read it to me that being incited to pity he may make no difficulty to grant us that which we demand of him with so much reason This resolution taken the Queen was no sooner up the next day but carrying along with her only her chief Lady and the Gentlewoman her Neece she past through a Gallery to the Chamber of the King her Son whom she found still in bed and having rendred him an account of the occasion of her coming she commanded the Gentlewoman to read the letter as also to tell by word of mouth all that had happened in that affair which the Gentlewoman performed very exactly but not without mingling her tears with those of her Aunts as we knew afterwards In the mean time the King looking on his Mother Madam answered he unto her I must needs confess that I dream'd this night how I saw my self before a very angry Iudge who carying his hand three times to his face as if he had threatned me I promise thee said he unto me that if the blood of these strangers doth cry unto me for vengeance thou and thine shall satisfie my justice which makes me believe that assuredly this vision comes from God for whose sake I will do this alms to his praise giving them both life and liberty that so they may go where they will and moreover I will cause a vessel to be provided for them furnished with all things they shall need all at mine own charge The Queen gave thâ— King her Son thanks for this his great grace unto them and withall commanded her Lady and the Gentlewoman to kiss his feet as instantly they did and so the Queen retired to her own lodging Hereupon the King sent for the Chumbim to command him that the Sentence against us might be revoked telling him all that had past as well concerning his dream as the request the Queen his Mother had made unto him which he had granted her Then the Officers of Justice commending the King much for this action revoking the former drew up another Sentence in favour of us which contained words to this effect Broquen of my City of Pungor I the Lord of seven Generations and of the hairs of thy head do send thee the smiles of my mouth that thy reputation may be thereby augmented Considering the information which the Chineses had given me of the pernicious manner of living of thâ—se strangers assuring me by a solemn oath and upon the faith they owe unto their Gods that infallibly they were Pyrats and robbers who used no other trade then to steal away othermens goods and bathâ—e heir hands in the blood of those that would defend their own according to reason as they said was manifest to all the world which they have run over not leaving any Island Port of the Sea River nor Land that they have not invaded with fire and sword committing such enormous and horrible crimes as for fear of offending God I may not mention All which things have at first sight seemed unto me most worthy to be punished in justice according to the Laws of my Kingdom wherefore I sent their Proces to the principal officers of my Crown who all with one common consent swore unto me that these strangers deserved not only one but many deathâ— if it were possible so that relying upon their advice I wrote unto Nhay Peretanda that he should enjoyn thee from me not to fail within four dayes to put that Sentence of mine in execution Now forasmuch as the chiefest Dames of your City whom I hold for my kinswomen have been Suiters unto me since that I would be pleased to bestow their lives upon them by way of an alms alledging many reasons in their letters to that purpose whereby I might be induced not to deny but rather to accord them that grace the fear which I have least their cries should in case of refusal arrive at the highest of the Heavens where that Lord liveth raigning whose property it is to have pity on the tears which are truly shed by those that have a right zeal to his holy Law hath wrought so with me that freeing my self from that blind passion whereunto the flesh rendred me inclined I would not let my choller prevail over the blood of those wretches For which reasons I command thee that as soon as this fair Gentlewoman who is of noble extraction and my kinswoman shall present thee these letters signed with my hand wherewith I confess I am well contented in regard of the persons that have made this Suite unto me thou go unto the prison whither thou hast committed these strangers and that without all delay thou set them at liberty as also that thou furnish them with a vessel at my charge giving them moreover such alms as the Law of the Lord commandeth thee to bestow on them and that too with a liberal hand whereupon thou shalt tell them that they may go away without seeing my Person for which I will dispense with them as well because that labour would be to no purpose as for that performing as I do the Office of a King it is not fit for me to behold men who have a great knowledge of God and yet seem to make little account of his Law in that they accustom themselves to rob others of their goods Given at Bintor in the third
City was pillaged demolished and burnt there was seen in the morning upon the hill where the King was one and twenty pair of Gallows twenty of the which were of an equal height and the other a little lower erected on pillars of stone and guarded by an hundred Bramaa Horsmen There were also round about the place very large Trenches where a great many Banners spotted with drops of bloods were planted As this Novelty promised somewhat which no man had heard of before six of us Portugals ran thither to learn what the matter might be and as we were going along we heard a great noise made by the men of War from the Camp whereupon we saw come out of the Kings Quarter a number of Horsmen who with Lances in their hands prepared a great Street and cried out aloud Let no man upon pain of death appear in Armes nor utter that with his mouth which he thinks in his heart A pretty way off from these Horse was the Xemimbrum with an hundred armed Elephants and a good many Foot after them went fifteen hundred Bramaas on Horsback cast into four Orders of Files each of them six in a rank whereof the Talanagybras Viceroy of Tangu was Commander Then marched the Chauseroo Siammon with three thousand Siammes armed with Harquebuses and Lances all in one Battalion In the midst of these was an hundred and twenty women tyed and bound four and four together and accompanied with Talagrepos men of great Austerity and are such as the Capachins amongst us who laboured all they might to comfort them in this last act of life Behind them were twelve Ushers with Maces that went before Nhay Canatoo Daughter to the King of Pegu from whom this Bramaa Tyrant had usurped his Kingdom and wife to the Chaubainhaa with four children of hers which were carried by so many Horsmen all these sufferers were the wives or daughters of the principal Commanders that the Chaubainhaa had with him in the City upon whom in the way of a strange revenge this Bramaa Tyrant desired to wreak his spight and the hatred that he had alwayes born unto women The most of these poor wretches were between seventeen and five and twenty years of age all of them very white and fair with bright auborn hair but so weak in body that oftentimes they fell down in a swoon out of which certain women upon whom they leaned endeavoured still to bring them again presenting them Comfits and other such things fit for that purpose but they would take none of them for that they were as I have said so feeble and benummed as they could scarce hear what the Talegrâ—pes spake unto them only they now and then lifted up their hands to Heaven After this Princess marched threescore Grepos in two Files praying with their looks fixed on the ground and their eyes watered with tears saying ever and anon in a doleful tone Thou which holdest thy Being of none but thy self so justifie our works that they may be agreeable to thy Iustice. Whereunto others answered weeping Grant Lord that it may be so that through our fault we lose not the rich gifts of thy promises After these Grepos followed a procession of three or four hundred little children quite naked from the Girdle-sted downwards having in their hands great white wax lights and cords about their necks These like the others with a sad and lamentable voice which moved every one to compassion uttered these words We most humbly beseech thee O Lord to give ear unto our cries and groans and shew mercy to these thy Captives that with a full rejoycing they may have a part of the graces and benefits of thy rich treasures and much more they said to that purpose in â—avour of these poor sufferers Behind this Procession was another Guard of Footmen all Bramaas and armed with Lances Arrows and some Harquebuses As for the Rear-ward it consisted of an hundred Elephants like to them that marched first of all so that the number of the men of War that assisted at this Execution as well for the Guard as for the Pomp thereof was ten thousand Foot and two thousand Horse besides the two hundred Elephants and a world of other people both Strangers and Natives that came thither to behold the end of so mournful and lamentable and action CHAP. LII In what sort the sentence of Death was executed on the person of the Chaubainhaa King of Martaban Nhay Canatoo his wife and an hundred and forty women with that which the King of Bramaa did after his return to Pegu. THese poor sufferers having been led in the order before mentioned clean through the Camp they came at last to the place of Execution where the six Ushers with a loud voyce made this Proclamation Let all manner of people see and observe the bloody justice which is here to be done by the living God Lord of all truth and our King the Soveraign of our Heads who of his absolute power doth command that these hundred and forty Women be put to death and thrown into the ayr for that by their counsel and incitement their Fathers and Husbands stood out against us in this City and at times killed twelve thousand Bramaas of the Kingdom of Tangu Then at the ringing of a Bell all the Officers and Ministers of Justice pel-mell together with the guards made such a cry as was most dreadful to hear wherupon the cruel Hangmen being ready to put the sentence of Death in execution those poor wretches embraced one another and shedding abundance of tears they addressed themselves to Nhay Canatoo who lay at that time almost dead in the lap of an old Lady and with their last complements one of them spake for all the rest unto her in this manner Excellent Lady that art as a crown of Roses upon our Heads now that we thy humble servants are entering into those mournful Mansions where Death doth reside comfort us we beseech thee with thy dear sight that so we may with less grief quit these bodies full of anguish for to present our selves before that Almighty just Iudg of whom we will for ever implore his justice for a perpetual vengeance of the wrong that is done us Then Nhay Canatoo beholding them with a countenance more dead then alive answered them with a feeble voyce that could scarce be heard Go not away so soon my Sisters but help me to sustain these little children That said she leaned down again on the bosom of that Lady without speaking a word more whereupon the Ministers of the Arm of Vengeance so they term the Hangmen layd hold on those poor women and hanged them up all by the feet with their heads downwards upon twenty Gibbets namely seven on each one now so painful a death as this was made them give strange and fearful groanes and sobs until at length the blood stifled them all in less then an hour In the mean time Nhay Canatoo was conducted
it had pleased him to shew me the grace that I had been so too that so I might not have offended him as I have done since for seeing my self continually pressed by thâ—se Gentiles to follow their pernicious errors I withstood them a long time but whereas the flesh is fraile being very poor far from my country and without hope of liberty my sins made me at their intreaties to yeeld to that which they desired of me with so much importunity by reason whereof this Kingâ— Father did me many great favours and being sent for yesterday from a place where I was to look unto two of the chiefest Gentlemen of this country it pleased God that I fell into the hands of these dogs to the end I should no longer be one for which the Lord be blessed for evermore This mans discourse exceedingly astonished us and as much as the novelty of so strange an accident required so that having comforted him as well as we could in such termes as we thought were necessaty for the time wherein we were we asked him whether he would go with us to Zunda and from thence to Malaca where God might shew him the grace to die in his service like a good Christian. Whereunto having made answer that he desired nothing more and that he had never had other design we gave him another habit because he was cloathed like a Pagan and kept him alwayes with us as long as the siege lasted CHAP. XLV The death of the King of Demaa by a very strange accident and that which arrived thereupon TO come again now to our history you are to understand that the Pangueyran of Pata King of Demaa being certified by some of the enemies whom his men had taken prisoners of the piteous estate whereunto the besieged were reduced the most part of them dead their ammunition failing and their King dangerously hurt all these things together carried him more ardently then ever to the assault which he had purposed with himself to give to the besieged Town He resolved then to scale it in plain day and to assault it with more violence then before so that instantly great preparations were made over all the Camp where divers Serjeants at Armes on horseback and carrying Maces on their shoulders went proclaiming aloud after the men of war had been made to assemble together with the sound of trumpets The Pangueyran of Pata by the power of him who hath created all things Lord of the Lands which inviron the Seas being willing to discover unto all in generall the secret of his soul doth let you know that nine daies hence he will have you be in a readiness to the end that with the courages of Tygers and redoubled forces you assist him in the assault which he intends to give unto the Town for a recompence whereof he liberally promiseth to do great favours as well in money as in honorable and remarkable titles those to the five souldiers which fiâ—st of all shall plant colours on the enemies walls or that shall perform actions which shall be agreeable to him Whereas contrarily they which do not carry themselves valiantly in this enterprise conformably to his pleasure shall be executed by the way of justice without any regard had to their condition This Ordinance of the Kings full of menaces being published over every part of the Camp put them into such an alarm as the Commanders began incontinently to make themselves ready and to provide all things necessary for this assault without scarce taking any rest either day or night making withall so great a noyse by intermingling their hues and cries with the sounds of drums and other instruments of war as it could not be heard without much terror In the mean time whereas of the nine daies destined for the purpose aforesaid seven were already pâ—st so as there rested no more but two at the end whereof an assault was to be given to the Towne one morning as the Pangueyran sate in Councell to resolve of the â—ffairs of this siege with the principall Lords of his Army as also of the means of the time and places whereby they were to assault the Town and of other necessary things it was said that from the diversity of opinions which the one and the other had there arose so great a contention amongst them as the King was constrained to take every ones advice in writing During this time whereas he had alwayes neer about him a young Page who carried Bethel an herb whose leaves are like unto Plantain which these Pagans are accustomed to chaw because it makes them have a sweet breath and also purges the humours of the stomack he asked this Page then for some of it who at first seemed not to hear him being much about twelve or thirteen years old for I hold it fit to make mention of his age in regard of that I am to say of him hereafter Now to return to the Pangueyran as he vvas continuing his discourse vvith his Councell of War thorough much speaking and somevvhat in choler his mouth became dry so that he asked the Page again for some Bethel which he ordinarily carried in a little box of gold but he heard him no more this second time then he had done the first insomuch as the King having asked him for some the third time one of the Lords that vvas neere to the Page pulled him by the sleeve and bid him give the King some Bethel vvhich immediately he did and falling on his knees he presented him vvith the box vvhich he had in his hands the King then took tvvo or three leaves of it as he used to do and vvithout being othervvise angry giving him a light touch vvith his hand on the head art thou deaf said he unto him that thou couldst not hear me and thereupon re-entred into discourse vvith them of his Councell Novv because these Iaoas are the most punctillious and perfidious Nation of the vvorld and that vvithall they of this country hold it for the greatest affront that can be done thena vvhen one gives them a touch on the head this young Page imagining that the King had touched him so out of a mark of so great a contempt as he should thereby be made infamous for ever though indeed none of the company took notice of it he went aside weeping and sobbing by himself and in the end resolved to revenge the injury which the King had done him so that drawing out a little knife which he wore at his girdle he stabbed the King with it into the midst of the left pap and so because the blow was mortall the King fell instantly down on the ground not able to say any more then these two or three words I am dead wherewithall those of the Councell were so frighted as it is not possible to expresse it After that this emotion was a little calmed they fell first unto looking to the King to see if some remedy might
his left a custome vvhich they alvvays observe in such a like ceremony Then Oya Passilico who was the highest in dignity in the Kingdome falling on his knees before this new King said unto him with tears in his eyes and so loud that every one might hear him Blessed child that in so tender an age doest hold from the good influence of thy Star the happinesse to be chosen by heaven there above for Governour of this Eâ—pire of Sornau see how God puts it into thy hand by me who am thy vassall to the end thou mayest take thy first oath whereby thou doest protest to hold it with obedience from his divine will as also to observe justice equally to all the people without having any regard to persons whether it be in chastising or recompencing the great or small the mighty or the humble that so in time to come thou mayest not be reproached for not having accomplished that which thou hast sworn in this solemn action For if it shall happen that humane considerations shall make thee swarve from that which for thy justification thou art obliged to do before so just a Lord thou shalt be greatly punished for it in the profound pit of the house of smoke the burning lake of insupportable stench where the wicked and damned howl continually with a sadnesse of obscure night in their entrails And to the end thou mayest oblige thy selfe to the charge which thou takest upon thee say now Xamxaimpom which is as much as to say amongst us Amen The Passilico having finished his speech the young Prince said weeping Xamxaimpom which so mightily moved all the Assembly of the people as there was nothing heard for a good while together but sighing and wailing At length after that this noyse was appeased the Passilico proceeding on with his discourse in looking on the young King This Sword said he unto him which thou holdest naked in thy hand is given thee as a Scepter of Soveraign power upon earth for the subduing of the rebellious which is also to say that thou art truly obliged to be the support of the feeble and poor to the end that they which grow lofty with their power may not overthrow them with the puffe of their pride which the Lord doth as much abhor as he doth the mouth of him that blasphemeth against a little infant which hath never sinned And that thou mayest in all things satisfie the fair enaâ—elling of the stars of heaven which is the perfect just and good God whose power is admirable over all things of the world say once again Xamxaimpom whereunto the Prince answered twice weeping Maxinau Maxinau that is to say I promise so to do After this the Passilico having instructed him in divers other such like things the young Prince answered seven times Xamxaimpom and so the ceremony of his Coronation was finished onely there came first a Talagrepo of a soveraign dignity above all the other Priests named Quiay Ponuedea who it was said was above an hundred years old This same prostrating himself at the feet of the Prince gave him an oath upon a golden bason full of rice and that done they put him into it after they had created him thus anew for time would not permit them to hold him there longer in regard the King his Father was at the point of death besides there was so universall a mourning amongst the people that in every place there was nothing heard but lamentations and wailing CHAP. XLVIII The lamentable death of the King of Siam with certain illustrious and memorable things done by him during his life 〈◊〉 many other accidents that arrived in this Kingdome WHenas the day and the night following had been spent in the manner that I have related the next morning about eight of the clock the infortunate King yeelded up the Ghost in the presence of the most part of the Lords of his Kingdome for the which all the people made so great demonstrations of mourning as every where there was nothing but wailing and weeping Now forasmuch as this Prince had lived in the reputation of being charitable to the poor liberall in his benefits and recompences pitifull and gentle toward every one and above all incorrupt in doing of justice and chastising the wicked his subjects spake so amply thereof in their lamentations as if all that they said of it was true we are to believe that there was never a better King then he either amongst these Pagans or in all the countries of the world Howbeit whereas I cannot assure that those things which they affirmed in their complaints were true because I did not see them I will only insist upon those which past concerning him in the time whilest I was trading in this Kingdome whereof I will report three or four amongst many others which I have seen him do from the year 1540. untill 1545. The first was that in the year 1540. Pedro de Faria being Governour of Malaca King Ioanâ— the Iohn the third of glorious memory wrote him a letter whereby above all things he recommended unto him his using all possible means for the redeeming of a certain Domingos de Seixas who for the space of three and twenty years had been a slave in the Kingdome of Siam adding that the doing thereof would be very important for Gods service and his in regard he was informed that from him rather then from any other he might be certified of the great things which were recounted to him of this Kingdome and in case he could redeem this Christian that he should send him incontinently to Don Garcia the Vice-Roy of the Indiaes to whom he had also written that he should imbarque him in the ship which was to part that year for to returne into Portugal Pedro de Faria had no sooner received this letter but seeing with how much care the King his Master recommended this affair unto him he sent us his Ambassador to Siam one Francisco de Crasto a noble and very rich man to the end he should treat about the ransome of this Domingos de Seixas and other sixteen Portugals which were also slaves there as well as he According to this Commission Francisco de Castro came to the City of Odiaa whilest I was there where he delivered his letter to the King of Siam who gave him a very good reception and after he had read it and questioned him concerning many new and curious things he answered him presently which was a thing he did not usually do to any Ambassador his answer contained this much As for Domingos de Seixas whom the Captain of Malaca sends to me for advertising me that I shall do the King of Portugal a great pleasure in releasing him I do most willingly grant to do it as also to deliver all the rest that are with him Whereupon Francisco de Crasto having had this dispatch from the King gave him most humble thanks for it and prostrated himself three severall times
fire was put to all that infinite number of Idolls just in the manner as they stood in the Barques and this was accompanied with so horrible a din of cries great Ordnance Harquebuzes Drums Bells Cornets and other different kinds of noyse as it was impossible to hear it without trembling This ceremony lasted not above an hour for whereas all these figures were made of combustible stuffe and the Vessells filled with pitch and rozen so dreadfull a flame ensued presently thereupon as one might well have said that it was a very pourtraiture of hell so that in an instant the Vessells and all that vvere in them vvere seen to be reduced to nothing Whenas this and many other very lively inventions which had cost a great deal of money vvere finished all the inhabitants vvhich vvere come thronging thither and vvhereof the number seemed to be infinite retired back to their houses where they remained with their doors and windows shut not one appearing in the streets for the space of ten daies during which time all places were unfrequented and none were seen stirring but some poor people who in the night went up and down begging with strange lamentations At the end of the ten daies wherein they had shut themselves up so they opened their doors and windows and their Pagodes or Temples were adorned with many Ensigns of rejoycing together with a world of hangings standards and banners of silk Hereupon there went through all the streets certain men on horseback apparelled in vvhite Damask who at the sound of very harmonious instruments cried aloud with tears in their eys Ye sad inhabitants of this Kingdomâ— of Siam hearken hearken to that which is made known to you from God and with humble and pure hearts praise ye all his holy name for the effects of his divine justice are great withall laying aside your mourning come forth of your aâ—odes wherein you are shut up and sing the praises of the goodnesse of your God since he hath been pleased to give you a new King who fears him and is a friend of the poor This Proclamation being made all the Assistants with their faces prostrated on the ground and their hands lifted up as people that rendred thanks to God answered aloud weeping We make the Angells of heaven our Attorneys to the end they may continually praise the Lord for us After this all the inhabitants of the City coming out of their houses and thinking of nothing but dancing and rejoycing went to the Temple of Quiay Fanarel that is to say the God of the joyfull where they offered sweet perfumes and the poorest sort fruits pullen and rice for the entertainment of the Priests The same day the nevv King shewed himself over all the City with a great deal of pomp and Majesty in regard whereof the people made great demonstrations of joy and gladnesse And forasmuch as the King was but nine years old it was ordained by the four and twenty Bracà loâ—s of the Government that the Queen his mother should be the Protector or Regent of him and that she should beare rule over all the Officers of the Crown Things past thus for the space of four moneths and an half during the which there was no manner of disorder but all was peaceable in the Kingdome howbeit at the end of that time the Queen coming to be delivered of a Son which she had had by her Purveyor being displeased with the bad report that went of her she resolved with her self to satisfie her desire which was to marry with the Father of this new Son for that she was desperately in love with him And further she wickedly enterprised to make away the new King her lawfull child to the end that by this means the Crown might passe to the bastard by right of inheritance Now to execute this horrible design of hers she made shew that the excesse of her affection to the young King her Son kept her always in fear left some attempt should be made upon his life so that one day having caused all the Councell of the State to be assembled the represented unto them that having but this only pearl enchaced in her heart she desired to keep it from being plucked from thence by some disaster for which effect she thought it requisite as well to secure her from her apprehensions as to prevent the great mischiefs which carelessenesse is wont to bring in such like cases that there should be a guard set about the Palace and the person of the King This affair was immediately debated in the Councell and accorded to the Queen in regard the matter seemed good of it self The Queen seeing then that her design had succeeded so well took instantly for the guard of the Palace and the person of her Son such as she judged were proper for the executing of her damnable enterprise and in whom she most confided She ordained a guard then of two thousand foot and five hundred horse besides the ordinary guard of her house which were six hundred Cauehins and Lequios and thereof she made Captain one called Tileubacus the cozen of the same Purveyor by whom she had had a child to the end that by this mans favour she might dispose of things as she pleased and the more easily bring to passe her pernicious design Whereupon relying on the great forces which she had already on her party she began to revenge her self upon some of the great ones of the Kingdome because she knew they despised her and held her not in that esteem she desired The two first whom she caused to be laid hands on were two Deputies of the Government making use of this pretext that they held secret intelligence with the King of Chiamway and were to give him an entry into the Kingdome thorough their lands so that under colour of justice she caused them to be both executed and confiscated their estates whereof she gave the one to her Favorite and the other to a brother-in-law of his who it was said had been a Smith But in regard this execution had been done precipitously and without any proof the greatest part of the Lords of the Kingdom murmured against the Queen for it representing unto her the merit of them whom she had put to death the services they had rendred to the Crown the qualitie of the persons and the nobility and antiquity of their extractions as being of the bloud royall and lineally descended from the Kings of Siam howbeit she made no reckoning thereof but contrarily a little after making show as if she had not been well she in a full Councill renounced her regency and conferred it on Vquumcheuiraa her Favorite to the end that by this means bearing rule over all others he might dispose of the affairs of the kingdom at his pleasure and give the most important charges thereof to such as would be of his party which he thought to be the most assured way for him to usurp this Crown and make
added many others by way of complement yea and made him many offers if he would make use of him wherewith the old father of the bride finding himself so exceedingly honored as not knowing how to acknowledge it in regard the person who did him so much honor was no lesse then the King himself in greatnesse and dignity the desire which he had to satisfie this obligation in part if he could not wholly do it made him go and take his daughter by the hand accompanied with many Ladies of quality and so leading her to the street door where Diego Suarez was he prostrated himself on the ground with a great deal of respect and with many complements after his manner thanked him for the favour and honor that he had done him Thereupon the new married bride having taken from off her finger a rich ring presented it on her knees by her fathers expresse commandement to Diego Suarez but he that naturally was sensuall and lascivious instead of using civility whereunto the Laws of generosity and friendship obliged him having taken the ring which the maid presented unto him he reached out his hand and plucked her to him by force saying God forbid that so fair a maid as you should fall into any other hands but mine whereupon the poor old man seeing Diego Suarez hale his daughter so rudely lifting up both his hands to heaven with his knees on the ground and tears in his eys My Lord said he unto him I humbly beseech thee for the love and respect of the great God whom thou adorest and which was conceived without any spot of sin in the Virgins womb as I confesse and believe according to that which I have heard thereof that thou wilt not forcibly take away my daughter for if thou doest so I shall assuredly die with griefe and displeasure at it but if thou desire of me that I should give thee her dowry together with all that is in my house and that I deliver up my self unto thee for thy slave I will instantly do it provided thou wilt permit that her husband may possesse her for I have no other good in the world but â—â—e nor will I have any other as long as I live Whereupon offering to lay hold on his daughter Diego Suarez making no answer to him turned himself about to the Captain of his guard who was a Turk by Nation and said unto him kill this dog The Turk presently drew out his Scymitar to kill the poor old man but he suddainly fled away leaving his daughter with her hair all about her ears in Diego Suarez his hands In the mean time the Bridegroom came running to this tumult with his cheeks all bedeawed with tears but he was scarcely arrived there whenas these Barbarians slew him and his Father too with six or seven other of his kinsmen Whilest this past so the women made such fearfull cries in the house as terrified all those that heard them so that even the earth and the ayr seemed to tremble at it or to say better they demanded vengeance of God for the little respect which was had to his divine justice and for so great a violence as this was and truly if I do not more amply report the particularities of so black and so abhominable an action I desire to be excused in regard I passe them by for the honor of the Portugal Nation Wherefore it shall suffice me to say that this poor Maid seeing her self upon the point to be forced strangled her self with a string that she wore about her middle for a girdle which she chose rather to do then suffer this sensuall and bruitish man to carry her away with him by force but he was therewith so displeased as he was heard to say that he repented him more for that he had not enjoyed her then for using her in that sort as he did Now from the day of this abhorred act till four years after the good old man the Father of the Bride was never seen to go out of his house but at length to give a greater demonstration of his sorrow and to shew his extreme resentment of the matter he covered himself with an old tattered mat and in that sad equipage went up and downe begging an alms of his very slaves never eating any thing but lying all along naked and his face fixed on the ground Thus continued he in so sad a manner of life untill in the end he saw that the season invited him to have recourse unto justice which he demanded in this sort perceiving that in the Kingdome there was another King other Governors and other Jurisdiction alterations which time ordinarily produceth in every country and in all kind of affairs he went out of his house in the wretched fashion he had so long used having a big cord about his neck and a white beard reaching almost down to his girdle and got him into the midst of a great place where stood a Temple called Quiay Fantareâ— that is to say the God of the afflicted there he took the idoll from off the Altar and holding it in his armes he returned out of the Temple to the said great place where having cried out aloud three times to draw the people together as accordingly they came flocking in unto him he said with teares in his eys O ye people ye people who with a cleane and peaceable heart make profession of the truth of this God of the afflicted which you see here in my armes come forth like lightning in a dark and rainy night and joyn with me in crying so loud that our cryes may pierce the heavens to the end the pitifull ear of the Lord may be drawn to hear our heavy lamentations and by them he may know the reason we have to demand justice against this accursed stranger as the most wicked man that ever was born into the world for this abhominable wretch hath not been contented with spoiling us of our goods but hath also dishonored our families wherefore whosoever shall not with me accompany the God which I hold in my hands and water with my tears in detesting so horrible a crime let the gluttonous Serpent of the profound pit of smoke abridge his dayes miserably and tear his body in pieces at midnight This old mans words so mightily terrified the Assistants and made so deep an impression in their minds that in a short time fifty thousand persons assembled in that place with so much fury and desire of revenge as was wonderfull to behold Thus the number of the people still more and more increasing they ran thronging strait to the Kings Palace with so horrible a noyse as struck terror into all that heard them In this disorder being arrived at the outward Court of the Palace they cried out six or seven times with a dreadfull tone O King come out of the place wherein thou art shut up to hearken to the voice of thy God who demands justice of thee
by the mouth of thy poor people At these cries the King put forth his head out of the window and affrighted with so strange an accident would needs know of them what they would have whereunto they all answered unanimously with such loud cries as seemed to pierce the heavens Iustice justice against a wicked infidell who to spoil us of our goods hath killed our fathers our children our brothers and our kinsmen The King having thereupon inquired of them who it was it is answered they an accursed thief participating with the works of the Serpent who in the fields of delight abused the first man that God created Is it possible said he unto them that there should be any such thing as you tell me whereunto they all replied This same is the most accursed man that ever was born on the earth and is so out of his wicked nature and inclination wherefore we all of us beseech thee in the name of this God of the afflicted that his veins may be as much emptied of his bloud as hell is filled with his wicked works At these words the King turning towards them that were about him What do you think hereof said he unto them What am I to do and how am I to carry my self in so strange and extraordinary a matter To which they all answered My Lord if thou wilt not hearken to that which this God of the afflicted comes to demand of thee it is to be feared that he will take care no longer to aid thâ—e and will refuse to support thee in thy dignity Then the King turning himself again to the multitude that were below in the Court bad them go to the place where the great Market was kept and he would give order that the man whom they required should be delivered unto them to be disposed of at their pleasure Whereupon having sent for the Chirca of justice who is as the Soveraign Superintendent thereof above all others he commanded him to go and apprehend Diego Suarez and deliver him bound hand and foot to the people that they might do justice upon him for he feared if he did otherwise that God vvould execute it upon him The Chirca of Justice vvent immediately to Diego Suarez his house and told him tsiat the King had sent for him he in the mean time was so troubled to see the Chirca come for him that he remained a pretty while not able to answer him as a man that was always besides himself and had lost his understanding but at length being somewhat come to himself again He earnestly desired him to dispense with him at this time for going with him in regard of a great pain that he had in his head and that in acknowledgement of so good an office he would give him forty â—isses of gold Whereunto the Chirca replied The offer which thou makest me is too little for me to take upon me that great pain which thou sâ—yest thou hast in thy head wherefore thou must go along with me either by fair means or by force since thou obligest me to tell thee the truth Diego Suarez then seeing that there was no means to excuse him would have taken along with him six or seven of his servants and the Chirca not permitting it I must said he unto him fulfill the Kings command which is that thou shalt come alone and not with six or seven men for the time is now past wherein thou wert wont to go so well accompanied as I have oftentimes seen thee do all thy support is gone by the death of the Tyrant of Bramaa who was the quill wherewith thou blowedst up thy self to an unsupportable pride as is apparent by the wicked actions which thou hast committed which at this present accuse thee before the justice of God This said he took him by the hand and led him along with him invironed with a guard of three hundred men whereat we remained very much dismayed Thus marching from one street to another he arrived in the end at the Bazor which was a publike place where all kind of wares was sold but as he was going thither he met by chance with Balthazar Suarez his son who came from a Merchants house whither his Father had sent him that morning to receive some money that was owing to him The Son seeing his Father in this plight alighted presently from his horse and casting himself at his feet What means this my Lord said he unto him with tears in his eys and whence cemes it that you are led along in this sort Ask it of my sins answered Diego Suarez and they will tell thee for I protest unto thee my Son that in the case I am in all things seem dreams unto me Thereupon imbracing one another and mingling their tears together they continued so untill such time as the Chirca commanded Balthazar Suarez to get him gone which he would not do being loth to part from his father but the Ministers of justice haled him away by force and pushed him so rudely as he fell and broke his head yea and withall they gave him many blows besides whereat his Father fell into a swoun Being come again to himself he craved a little water which he had no sooner taken but lifting up his hands to heaven he said with tears in his eys Si iniquitates observabâ—ris Domine Domine quis sustinebit But O Lord added he out of the great confidence I have in the infinite price of thy precious bloud which thou hast shed for me upon the crosse I may say with more assurance Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo Thus altogether desolated as he was in this last affliction when he was come in sight of the place whither the King had commanded him to be conducted it is said that perceiving so many people he remained so exceedingly dismayed that turning himself to a Portugal who was permitted to accompany him Iesus said he unto him have all these accused me to the King whereunto the Chirca made him this answer It is no longer time for thee to think of this for thou hast wit enough to know that the people aâ—e of so unruly a humour that they always follow evill whereunto they are naturally inclined It is not that replied Diego Suarez with tears in his eys for I know that if there be any unrulinesse in them it proceeds from my sins Thou seest thereby said the Chirca that this is the ordinary recompence which the world is accustomed to give to them who during their life have lost the memory of the divine justice as thou hast done and God gâ—ve thee the grace that in this little time thou hast to live thou mayest repent thee of the faults thou committed which possibly may avail thee more then all the gold that thou leavest behind thee for an inheritance to him who peradventure is the cause of thy death Here Diego Suarez falling down on his knees and lifting up his eyes to
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
lodging for him and there he will pay you for this affection which you testifie to have for him After this his wrath redoubled in such sort as instantly he caused this very Daughter to be killed in her Fathers arms which truly was more then a bruitish and savage cruelty in seeking to hinder the affections which nature hath imprinted in us Then no longer enduring the sight of the Xemindoo he commanded him to be taken from thence and to be carried to a close prison where he passed all the night following under a sure guard The next morning Proclamation was made over all the City for the people to be present at the death of the unhappy Xemindoo now the chiefest reason why the Bramaa did this was that the inhabitants seeing him dead might for ever lose all hope of having him for their King as all generally desired for whereas he was their Countryman and the Bramaa a Stranger they were in extreame fear least the Bramaa should become in time like unto him whom Xâ—min de Satan slew and that had been during his raign a mortall enemy to the Pâ—gues intreating them with such extraordinary cruelty as their scarcely passed a day wherein he did not execute hundreds of them and all for matters of small importance and which deserved no punishment had they been proceeded against by the waies of true Justice About ten of the clock the unfortunate Xemindoo was drawn out of the dungeon where he was in the manner ensuing Before him marched through the Streets by which he was to passe forty men on horseback with lances in their hands to prepare and clear the waies there were as many behind as before him which carried naked swords crying aloud to the people whereof the number was infinite to make roome After them followed about fifteen hundred harquebusiers with their matches lighted next to these last which they of the country use to call the avant coureurs of the Kings wrath went an hundred and threescore elephants armed with their Castles and covered with silk tapestry marching by five and five in a rank after them rode in the same order by five in a rank fifteen men on horseback which carried black ensignes all bloudy crying aloud as it were by way of Proclamation Let those miserable wretches which are the slaves of hunger and are continually persecuted by the disgrace of fortune hearken to the cry of the arm of wrath executed on them that have offended their King to the end that the astonishment of the pain which is ordained them for it may be deeply imprinted in their memory Behind these same were other fifteen clothed with a kind of bloudy garment which rendred them dreadfull and of a bad aspect who at the sound of five Bellâ— which they rung in haste said with so lamentable a voice as they that heard them were moved to weep This rigorous Iustice is done by the living God the Lord of all truth of whose holy body the hairs of our heads are the feet It is he that will have the Xemindoo put to death for usurping the Estates of the great King of Bramaa Lord of Tanguu These Proclamations were answered by a troupe of people which marched thronging before with such loud cryes as made one tremble to hear them saying these words Let him die without having pity on him that hath committed such an offence These were followed by a company of five hundred Bramaa horse and after them came another of foot whereof some held naked swords and buckleâ—s in their hands and the rest were armed with corselets and coats of maile In the midst of thâ—se came the poor patient mounted on a lean ill-favored jade and the hangman on the crupper behind him holding him up under both the armes This miserable Prince was so poorly clad that his naked skinne was every where seen withall in an exceeding derision of his person they had set upon his head a Crowne of straw like unto an Urinall case which Crowne was garnished with muscle-shells fastned together with blew thred and round about his yron coller were a number of onions tyed Howbeit though he was reduced to so deplorable an estate and that his face was scarce like to that of a living man yet lest he not for all that from having something of I know not what in his eyes which manifested the condition of a King There was besides observed in him a majesticall sweetnesse which drew tears from all that beheld him About this guard which accompanied him there was another of above a thousand horse men intermingled with many armed elephants Passing thus thorow the twelve principall streets of the City where there was a world of people he arrived at last at a certain street called Cabam Bainhaa out of which he went but two and twenty days before to go and fight with the Bramaa in such pomp and greatnesse as by the report of them that saw it and of which number I was one it was without doubt one of the most marvellous sights that ever hath been seen in the world whereof notwithstanding I will make no mention here either in regard I cannot promise to recount rightly how all past or for that I fear some will receive these truths for lies neverthelesse mine eyes having been the witnesses of these two successes if I do not speak of the greatnesse of the first I will at leastwise declare the miseries of the second to the end that by these two so different accidents happening in so short a time one may learn what little assurance is to be put in the prosperities of the earth and in all the goods which are given us by inconstant and deceitful Fortune Whenas the poor Patient had past that street of Cabam Bainhaâ— he arrived at a place where Gonçalo Pacheco our Captain was with above an hundred Portugals in his Company amongst the vvhich there was one of a very base birth and of a minde yet more vile vvho having been robbed of his goods some yeers before as he said at such time as the Patient raigned and complained to him of those who had done it he vvould not vouchsafe to give him audience so that thinking to be revenged on him for it now vvith extravagant and unseemly speech as soon as this poor Prince came where Gonçalo Pacheco was with all the other Portugals the witlesse fellow said aloud to him that all might hear him O Robber Xemindoo remember how when I complained to thee of those that had robbed me of my goods thou wouldst not do me justice but I hope that now thou shalt satisfie what thy works deserve for I will at supper eat a piece of that flesh of thine whereunto I will invite two dogs that I have at home The sad Patient having heard the vvords of this hair-brain'd fellow lifted up his eyes to heaven and after he had continued a while pensive turning himself vvith a severe countenance towards him that uttered them Friend
said he unto him I pray thee by the great goodness of that God in whom thou believest to pardon me that for which thou accusest me and to remember that it is not the part of a Christian in this painful estate wherein I see my self at this present to put me in mind of that which I have done heretofore for besides that thou canst not thereby recover the loss which thou sayest thou hast sustained it will but serve to afflict and trouble me the more Pacheco having heard what this fellow said commanded him to hold his peace which immediately he did whereupon the Xemindoo with a grave countenance made shew that this action pleased him so that seeming to be more quiet it made him to acknowledge that with his mouth which he could not otherwise requite I must confess said he unto him that I could wish if God would permit it I might have one hour longer of life to profess the excellency of the faith wherein you Portugals live for as I have heretofore heard it said your God alone is true and all other gods are lyers The Hangman had no sooner heard these words but he gave him so great a buffet on the face that his nose ran out with bloud so that the poor Patient stooping with his handsâ—downward Brother said he unto him suffer me to save this bloud to the end thou maist not want some to fry my flesh withall So passing on in the same order as before he finally arrived at the place where he was to be executed with so little life as he scarcely thought of any thing When he was amounted on a great Scaffold which had been expresly erected for him the Chirca of Justice fell to reading of his Sentence from an high Seate where he was placed the contents whereof were in few words these The living God of our heads Lord of the Crown of the Kings of Avaa commands that the perfidious Xemindoo be executed as the Perturbator of the people of the earth and the mortal enemy of the Bramaa Nation This said he made a sign with his hand and instantly the Hangman cut off his head at one blow shewing it to all the people vvhich vvere there vvithout number and divided his body into eight quarters setting his bovvels and other interior parts vvhich vvere put together in a place by themselves then covering all vvith a yellovv cloth vvhich is a mark of mourning amongst them they vvere left there till the going dovvn of the Sun at vvhich time they vvere burnt in the manner ensuing The eight quarters of the Xemindooes body vvere exposed from mid-day till three of Clock in the afternoon to the view of all the people whereof there was an infinite company there for every one came thronging thither as well to avoid the punishment wherewith they had been threatned as to gain in so doing the Plenary indulgence called by them Axiperan which their Priests gave them of their sins without restitution of any thing of all the Theeveries by them formerly committed After then that the tumult was appeased and that certain men on horseback had imposed silence on the people by making certain publications whereby the Transgressors therein were threatned with terrible punishments a bell was heard to toll five several times upon this signal twelve men clothed in black robes spotted all over with bloud having their faces covered and bearing silver Maces on their shoulders came out of a house of wood made expresly for that purpose and distant some five or six paces from the Scaffold after them followed twelve Priests which they call Talagrepos being as I have said the most eminent Dignities amongst these Pagans and held by them as Saints then appeared the Xemin Pocasser the King of Bramaaes Uncle who seemed to be near an hundred years old and was as the rest all in mourning and invironed with twelve little boyes richly apparelled carrying on their shoulders Courtelasses curiously Damasked After that the Xemin had with a great deal of Ceremonie prostrated himselfe three times on the ground in way of extraordinary reverence O holy flesh said he which art more to be â—steâ—med then all the Kingdomes of Avaa thou orient Pearle of as many Carats as there be Atomes in the beams of the Sun whom God hath placed in an height of Honour with a Scepter of Soveraign power above that of Kings I that am the least of thy meiny and so unlike thee through my baseness as I can scarcely see my self so little I am do most humbly beseâ—ch thee O thou Lord of my head by the fresh Meadow where thy soul doth now recreat thy self to hear that with thy sorrowful ears which my mouth sayes to thee in publick to the end thou maist remain satisfied for the offence which hath been done thee in this world Oretanan Chaumigrem thy brother Prince of Savady and Tanguu sends to intreat thee by me thy slave that before he departs out of this life thou wilt pardon him that which is past if he have given thee any discontent and withall that thou wilt take possession of all his Kingdomes because he doth even now yeild them up unto thee without reserving the least part thereof for himself withall he protests unto thee by me thy vassal that he makes this reconciliation with thee voluntarily to the end that the complaints which thou maiest prefer against him there above in heaven may not be heard of God Moreover for a punishment of the displeasure he hath done thee he offers to be for thee during this pilgrimage of life the Captain and Guardian of this thy Kingdome of Pegu for which he does thee homage with an oath to accomplish alwaies upon earth whatsoever thou shalt command him from heaven above upon condition that thou wilt bestow the profit which shall arise thereof upon him at an almes for his entertainment for he knowes very well that otherwise he should not be permitted to possess the Kingdome neither would the Menigrepos ever consent thereunto nor at the hour of death give him absolution for so great a sinne Upon these words one of the Priests that was present and that seemed to have more authoritie then all the rest made him answer as if the deceased himself had spoken Since I see O my Sonne that thou doest now confesse thy past faults and cravest pardon of me for them in this publick assembly I do grant it thee with all my hearâ— and it pleases me to leave thee in this Kingdome for the pastor of this my flock on condition that thou dost not violate the faith thou hast given me by this oath which would be as great an offence as if thou shouldst now come to lay hands on me without the permission of Heaven All the people having heard these words answered thereunto with joyfull voices Perform so much my Lord my Lord. After this the Priest being got into the pulpit began to speak thus to the assistants Present me with part
the present in regard the affaires of my State are such as thou maiest peradventure have heard Wherefore I earnestly intreat thee since God hath brought thee hither that thou wilt repose thee a while from the travel which thou hast endured for his service And as for that which the Vice-Roy hath written to me touching the businesse which I sent to him about by Antonio Ferreyra I still avow it but the Affaires of the present time are reduced to that passe as I am much afraid if my subjects see any change in me that they will approve of the Bonzoes counsel Besides I make no question but the Christians which are here have told thee the great danger I run in this Country by reason of the mutinies that â—ave past here during the which I have been in as great jeopardy as any other so that for the safety of my person I have been inforced to execute in one morning thirteen of the Principallest Lords of my Kingdome together with sixteen thousand persons of their faction and league besides as many more which I have banished Bat if it ever happens that God shall grant me that which my soul desires of him I shall hold it a small matter to consent to what the Vice-Roy advises me by his Letter Hereunto the Father replied That he was greatly satisfied with his holy resolution but he was to remember that his life was not in the hands of men because they were mortall and that if he should chance to die before he effected it what would then become of his soul To which he answered smiling God knows The Father seeing that he could receive no other satisfaction from the King at that present but good words without making any conclusion on a matter that was so important for him dissembled with him and changing discourse talked to him of other things wherein he knew he took more pleasure So having spent the most part of the night with the Father in questioning him about divers novelties whereunto he was much affected he dismissed him in very plausible termes with hope that he would become a Christian but not so soon a thing which was then well enough understood and that sufficiently discovered his intention The next day about two a clock in the afternone the Father went to see the King again and setting aside his kind welcoming of him this Prince never answeed him to purpose and within a while after returned to his Fortresse of Osquy from whence he sent to desire him to continue abiding where he was and to come some times and see him for that he took extream pleasure in talking with him of the great things of God and perfection of his Law In the mean space above two months and an half past away without giving in all that time any other fruit of himself then certain kind of hopes accompanied ever and anon with some excuses which did not much content the Father so that he thought it requisite for him to return to Goa as well for the discharging of the duty of his charge there as for many other reasons that moved him thereunto Being resolved then for our departure I went to the Fortresse of Osquy to the King to demand an answer of the Letter I brought him from the Vice-Roy of the Indiaes which he presently gave me having made it ready against my coming and in exchange of the Present he had received he sent him very rich Armes together with two Scymitars garnished with gold an hundred Ventiloes of the Country of the Lequios In the Letter which he himself had written were these words contained Lord Vice-Roy of honorable Majestie that art seated in the Throne of those which render Iustice by the power of the Scepter I Yaretandono King of Bungo give thee to understand that Ferdinand Mendez Pinto is come to me with a Letter from thy Royall Lordship and a present of Armes and other peeces very agreeable to my desire and which I very much esteem for that they are of a Country in the other end of the world which we call Chenchicogim where through the power of great Armies composed of divers Nations raignes the Crowned Lion of Portugal whose servant and subject I do by these presents declare my self to be Wherefore I pray thee that as long as the Sun shall not swerve from the effect for which God hath created him nor the waters of the sea cease from rising and falling on the shoares side thou wilt not forget this homage which hereby I make to your King whom I acknowledg for my elder Brother to the end that thereby this my obedience may remain the more honorable as I am confident it shall alwaies be And I desire thou wilt daign to accept of these Armes which I send thee as a gage and assurance of my faith From this my Fortresse of Osquy the ninth Mamocos of the third Moon in the thirtie and seventh year of our age With this Letter and his present I returned to our ship which rode at anchor some two leagues off in the Port of Zequa where I found Father Belquior and all the rest of our company already imbarqued and from thence we set sail the day after being the fourteenth of November One thousand five hundred fifty and six CHAP. LXXXI What past after our departure from Zequa till my arrivall in the Indiaes and from thence into the Kingdome of Portugal FRom this Port of Zequa we continued our course with Northerly vvinds which were favourable unto us in this season and on the fourth of December vve arrived at the Port of Lampacau vvhere we met with six Portugal ships vvhereof was Generall a certain Merchant called Francisco Martinez the creature of Francisco Barreto at that time Governour of the State of the Indiaes in the place of Don Pedro Mascarenhas And because that then the season for Navigation into India was almost past our Captain Don Francisco Mascarenhas stayed no longer there then was necessary for providing of victuall We departed then from this Port of Lampacau a little before Christmasse and arrived at Goa the seventeenth of February The first thing I did there was to go to Francisco Barreto unto whom I gave an account of the Letter which I brought from the King of Iapan but he having referred it to the day following I failed not to deliver it to him the next morning together with the Arms the Scymitars and the other Presents which that Pagan King had sent Whereupon after he had seen all at leasure addressing himself unto me I assure you said he unto me that I prize these Arms which you have brought me as much as the Government of India for I hope that by the means of this Present and this Letter from the King of Japan I shall render my self agreeable to the King our Soveraign Lord that I shall be delivered from the fortune of Lisbon where almost all of us that govern this State do go and land for our
sins Then in acknowledgment of this Voyage and the great expence I had been at he made me many large offers which I would by no means accept of at that time Neverthelesse I was well contented to justifie before him by attestations and acts past expresly for it how many times I had been made a slave for the service of the King our Master and how many times also I had been robbed of my Merchandize for I imagined that this would suffice to keep me at my return into my Country from being refused that which I believed was due to me for my services as indeed the Vice-Roy past me an Act of all these things adding thereunto the Certificates which I presented unto him withall he gave me a Letter addrest to the King wherein he made so honourable a mention of me and my Services that relying on these hopes grounded as they were on such apparant reasons as I had on my side I imbarqued my self for to return into the Kingdom of Portugal so contented with the Papers which I carried along with me that I counted them the best part of my estate at leastwise I beleeved so because I was perswaded that I should no sooner ask a recompence for so many services but wont it be presently granted me Upon this hope being put to sea it pleased our Lord that I arrived safely at the Citie of Lisbon the two and twentieth day of September in the Year One thousand five hundred fifty and eight at such time as the Kingdome was governed by Madam KATHERINA our Queen of happy memory Having delivered her the Letter then from the Vice-Roy of the Indiaes I told her by word of mouth all that I thought was important for the good of my businesse vvhereupon she referred mee to the Minister of her State who had the charge of dealing in her Affairs At first he gave me very good words but far better hopes as indeed I held them for most assured hearing what he said unto me But in stead of letting me see the effect thereof he kept me these miserable papers of mine four years and an half at the end of which all the fruit I reaped thereby was no other then the labor and pains which to no purpose I had imployed in these vain sollicitations and which had been more grievous unto me then all the troubles I had suffered during my voyages Wherefore seeing of what little profit all my past services were unto me notwithstanding all the suit I could make I resolved to retire my self and remain within the terms of my miserie which I had brought along with me and gotten by the means of many misfortunes which was all that was resting to me of the time and wealth which I had bestowed in the service of this Kingdome leaving the judgment of this processe to the divine Justice I put this design of mine then in execution not a little grieved that I had not done it sooner because I might thereby peradventure have saved a good peece of mony For a conclusion behold what the services have been which I have done for the space of one and twenty years during which time I was thirteen times a slave and sold sixteen times by reason of the unlucky events of so long and painfull a voyage whereof I have made mention amply enough in this Book But although this be so yet do I not leave to beleeve that the cause why I remained without the recompence whereunto I pretented for so many services and travels rather proceeded from the Divine providence which permitted it to be so for my sins then from the negligence and fault of him whom the duty of his charge seemed to oblige to do me right For it being true that in all the Kings of this Kingdome who are the lively source from whence all recompence do â—low though many times they ranne thorow pipes more affectionate then reasonable there is alwaies found an holy and acknowledging zeal accompanied with a very ample and great desire not only to recompence those which serve them but also to confer great estates on them which render them no service at all whereby it is evident that if I and others have not been satisfied the same happens by the only fault of the pipes and not of the source or rather it is a work of the Divine Justice which cannot fail and which disposeth of all things for the best and as iâ— most necessary for us in regard whereof I render infinite thanks to the King of Heaven whose pleasure it hath been that his divine will should be this way accomplished and do not complain of the Kings of the earth since my sinâ— have made me unworthy of meriting more FINIS ERRATA PAg 4. l. 17. read first Vice-Roy p. 10. l. 36. r. victual and ammunition p. 21. l. ult r. of a Pagan p. 60. l. ult r. shrewd p 77. l. 33. r. speech p. 80. l. 30. r. lands aside p. 83. l. 7. r. equalled p. 95. l. 8. r. remorse of conscience l. 49. for deserved r. demanded p. 100. l. 28. r. poor folks p. 103. l. 33. for Châ—ucer r. Chauâ—â—r p. 104. l. 48. for as r. us p. 111. l. 20. r. picos oâ— silver p. 121. l. 10. for levied r. lived p. 123. l. 8. r. render p. 124. l. 44. r. many light p. 125. l. 3. r. canals l. 12. r. praises p. 127. l. 1â— r. conservatâ—on p. 128. l. 19. r. allegations p. 129. l. 1. for constrained r. painâ—ed p. 130. l. â— r. standish l. 17. for ye are r. yea are l. â—2 r. valuable l. 40 r. who being able p. 132. l. ult r. Paquin p. 1â—3 l. 19. r. baâ—â—sters p 13â— l. 30. r. Ushers l. 44 for rightly r. richly p. 136 l. 12. r. remarkable l. 48. r. antiquitie p. 137. l. 10. r. Pâ—aâ—â—aes l. 46. r. so extravagant p. 138. l. 5. r. Exiles l. 9. r abutting on p. 139. l. 1. r. pâ—enary p. 141. l. 23. r. aâ—ches or vaults p. 142. l. 15. for entertained r. â—nfolded p. 144. l. 25. for love r. lone p. 149. l. 2â— for stâ—atagems r. strangenâ—sse p. 150. l. 21. r. breaking p. 155. l. 16. r. Nixâ—aticoo p. 155. r obliged to hold p. 163. l. 13. r. at their pleasure p. 241. l. 1. r. Timplan l. 46. r. this Prince l. 47 â— leagues in bredâ—h p. 242. l. 21. r. reputation p. 244. l. ult for undivided r. undiscovered p. 248. l. 4â—â— r. â—logâ—e p. 243. r. savages §. 1. §. 1. §. 2. §. 1. §. 2. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 4. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. 1. §. 2. §. ◠§. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 4. §. 5. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 4. â— 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 4. § 5. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 4. §. 1. §. 2. § 3. §. 4. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 4. §. 5. §. 1 §. 2 §. 3. §. 4. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 2. Sect. 3. Sect. 1. Sect. 2. Sect. 2. §. 4. §. 1. §. 2 §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 2. §. 2. §. 2. §. 3 §. 2 §. 2. §. 3 §. 1. §. 2 sect 1. §. 1 §. 2 §. 3. §. 1. §. 2 §. 1. §. 2 §. 3 §. 4 §. 5. §. 1 §. 2. §. 1 §. 2. §. 1 §. 2. §. 1 §. 1. §. 2. §. 1 §. 2. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. § 1 §. 2. §. 3. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. §. 1 §. 2. § 1. §. 2. §. 1. §. 2. §. 1. §. 2. §. 1 §. 2. §. 1. §. 2. §. 1. §. 1. §. 2. §. 1. §. 1. §. 1. §. 2. §. 1. §. 1. §. 3. §. 4. §. 1. §. 2. §. 1. §. 2. §. 1. §. 2. §. 1. §. 2. §. 1. §. 2. §. 2. §. 1. §. 2. §. 1. §. 2. §. 3. Sect. 1. Sect. 2. Sect. 1. Sect. 1. Sect. 1.