sort remained the kingdome in diuision a while til such time as Cuythey sonne vnto Laupy did reigne in his fathers stéede Then did there a tyrant rise vp against him called Chimbutey and slew him he by his great valour did bring the kingdome all in one as before after that it had bin in diuision 41. yeares and reigned after that alone 25. yeares his sonne named Fontey did succéede him and reigned 17. yeares And to make short of this linage there was 15. kinges and reigned 176. yeares against the last of them who was called Quioutey there did arise against him tyrannously Tzobu Of this linage there was eyght kinges who reigned 62. yeares against the last of them called Sutey there arose one called Cotey of whose lynage there was fiue kings and reigned twentie foure yeres the last of them called Otey was slaine by Dian There was of this lynage foure kings that reigned 56. yeres against the last of them rose vp Tym and there was of his race fiue kinges and reigned one and 30. yeares against the last of this house rose vp Tzuyn And there was of this linage thrée kings and reigned seuen and thirtie yeares against the last of these rose vp Touco This and all the rest of his lynage did gouerne maruelous well which was the occasion that they endured the longer time There was of them one and twentie kinges and reigned 294. yeares the last of them called Troncon did marrie with one that had béene his fathers wife called Bausa a verie faire woman hee tooke her out of a monasterie where she was a Nunne onely to marrie with her she vsed such policie that he was slaine and did gouerne the kingdome after alone one and fortie yeares The historie sayth that she was dishonest and that with extremitie and vsed the companie of the best and principallest of the realme and not content with that she married with one of base lynage one fit for her purpose because she was so vicious They say that before she did marrie she caused to be slaine the sonnes she had by her first husbande for that she had a desire that a nephew of hers should succéede her in the kingdome Then those of the kingdome perceiuing her intent and wearie of her by reason of her ill liuing sent out to seeke a bastard sonne of her husbandes who was fledde away and with a common consent they raysed him for king He was called Tautzon he caused cruell and rigorous Iustice to be done vpon his stepmother as was reason for her euilles and an example to all those of the kingdome who by a president of her ill liuing beganne to straggle there was of his lynage seuen kinges that reigned 130. yeares against the last called Concham arose Dian of this linage there were but two kinges and reigned eighteene yeares Against the second and last arose Outon and was of his linage thrée kinges and reigned but fiftéene yeares against the last there arose Outzim of this there was but two kinges and reigned nine yeares and thrée monethes there arose against the last Tozo he and his sonne reigned foure yeares with the sonne of this one Auchin did fight and slewe him in the combat and succéeded him in the kingdome hee with other two of his lynage reigned tenne yeares against the last of these arose vp one of the lynage of Vitey the first king and slewe him hee was called Zaytzon there was of this lynage seuentéene kinges and reigned with all peace and quietnesse thrée hundred and twentie yeares the last of this lynage was called Tepyna with whom did fight the gran Tartaro called Vzon who entred into China with a mightie armie and got all the kingdome and it was possessed with nine Tartare kings the which reigned 93. yeares and intreated the inhabitantes with great tyrannie and seruitude the last of these was called Tzintzoum this was more cruell vnto the Chinos then any of the rest which was the occasion that all the kingdome did ioyne together in one and did elect a king called Gombu a man of great valour and of the lynage of auncient kinges past who by his great woorthinesse and ioyning much people together did so much that hee did driue all the Tartaros out of the kingdome with the death of many thousands of them who obstinately and without Iustice did with all tyrannie kéepe that kingdome in possession there was of this lynage twelue kinges with this that now reigneth the eleuen kinges past reigned two hundreth yeares he that now possesseth the kingdome is called Boneg who by the death of his elder brother that died by a fall hee had from his horse did inherite the kingdome he is of 23. yeares of age as they saye and hath his mother aliue of whom as yet there is nothing written so that I can write nothing in particular but that they say he is a gallant gentleman and welbeloued of his subiects and a great friende vnto Iustice. He is married with a cosen of his and hath one sonne Those of his linage hath got of the Tartares many countries since they were driuen out of China the which are on the other side of the mightie wall God for his mercies sake bring them to the knowledge of his holy lawe and accomplish a prophesie that they haue amongst them by the which they are giuen to vnderstand that they shall be ruled and brought in subiection by men with great eyes and long beards a nation that shall come from countries farre off by whom they shalbe commanded which signifieth to be Christians The king of this countrie is had in so great reputation amongest his subiectes that in all the prouinces where he is not resident in the chiefe cities whereas are the vizroyes or gouernors they haue a table of gold in the which is portred the king that nowe reigneth and couered with a curtin of cloth of golde verie riche and thether goeth euerie day the Loytias which are the gentlemen men of lawe and ministers of Iustice and do by duetie reuerence vnto it as though the kinge were personally present This table and picture is discouered the first day of their feasts which they doo celebrate and is at the newe moone of euerye month on the which day all people do repaire and do reuerence vnto the picture with the same respect as they would doo if hee were present they do call the king Lorde of the worlde and sonne of heauen CHAP. II. Of the court and pallace of the king and of the citie where as he is resident and how that in all the kingdome there is not one that is Lord ouer subiectes by propertie THe habitation of this king and almost of al his predecessors hath bin and is commonly in the citie of Taybin or Suntien the occasion is as they saye for that it is néerest vnto the Trtarians with whom continually they haue had wars that they might the better put remedie in any necessitie that
not but let them peaceably to enter and to traficke in buying and selling paying their ordinarie customes due vnto the king In euery port there is a scriuener or notarie put there by the gouerners that dooth set downe in memorie the day and houre that any shippe doth enter in in order that whether hée be a stranger or natural to take in his lading and dispatch according vnto the old custome of those ports the which is inuiolably kept which is the occasion that they do lade and dispatch in so short time and with so great quietnesse as though there were but one shippe although many times you shall sée in one port two thousande ships small and great In this sort with a bought licence did the Portugals traficke from the Indies in Canton a prouince of this kingdome and in other parts of that kingdome as they themselues haue declared and likewise the Chinos CHAP. VIII Of the kings royall counsell and the order they haue to knowe euerie moneth what dooth passe in all the kingdome THe king hath in the citie of Taybin wheras he is resident a royall counsell of twelue counsellers and a president chosen men throughout al the kingdome and such as haue had experience in gouernement many yeares For to be one of the counsell it is the highest and supremest dignitie that a man can come vnto for that as aforesaid in all this kingdome there is neither Prince Duke Marquesse Earle nor Lord that hath any subiectes but the king only and the prince his sonne These counsellers and the gouernors of these prouinces by them appointed bee such personages that they are respected and esteemed for the time of their continuance in the same estimation as is the other where as they haue these titles For to be one of this counsell it is not sufficient that they be expert and learned in the lawes of the countrie and in morall and naturall Philosophie and commenced in the same but they must be also expert in Astrologie and iudgements For they say he that must be of this supreme counsell by whome is gouerned all these fiftéene prouinces it is requisite that they know all this that is saide for to prognosticate what shall succéede and happen the better to prouide for all necessities that shall come These twelue doo sit in counsell ordinarily in the kinges pallace for the which there is a hall appointed maruellous richly trimmed and in the same thirtéene chayres sixe of them of golde and sixe of siluer both the one and the other of great price wrought with great curiositie yet the thirtenth is more richer for that it is of golde and set full of precious stones of great value that is placed in the middest of them vnder a canopie or cloth of estate of cloth of gold in the which is imbrodered the kinges armes and is as it is saide certaine serpentes wrought with golde wyer in this chayre the president doth sitte when the king is not in presence but if hee be there as séeldome he is then doth the president sit in the first and highest of the chaires on the right hand which be of gold in the which and in the other of siluer they bee placed according vnto their antiquitie in this sort that if the president do die then do the most auncient procéede and inherite his roome and in his chaire doth the fift person rise on the side of the golden chaires and so from the fourth vnto the fift and in this order all the rest arise in the chaires of siluer passing into the other chaires of golde This may the president doo preferring euerie one in order if any doo die without the consent of the king And if any of these chaires be voyd then doth the counsell choose an other by voices the which is done by vprightnes and he which hath the most is preferred but the chiefest in this preferment is merit and sufficiencie If he that is choosen be absent in any gouernment then doo they send for him but if hee bee present in the citie then doo they carrie him before the king giuing him to vnderstand of their election in whose power it is to accept or to make it voyde which neuer doth happen Then the king himselfe on his owne handes according vnto their custome doth make him sweare a solemne oth that he shall doo vpright iustice according vnto the lawes of the countrie and that he shall likewise doo vprighly in the choosing of viceroyes and gouernours or any other Iustices and not be led with affections nor passions neyther receiue anie bribes himself nor any other for him with many other things in this order and effect and aboue all thinges hee shall not bee partaker neyther consent to anye treason at anie time against the king but rather if that hee doo vnderstande of anie such directly or indirectly hee shall straight wayes giue the kinge to vnderstande thereof or his counsell of all that hee dooth knowe or vnderstande alwaye fauouring with his industrie and force the preseruation of peace and life of the king This oth of homage being doone they doo carrie him vnto the chaire which is on the left hande in the hall and doo giue him the possession with great solemnitie for the which certaine dayes after there is great feastes in the citie as well by them of the counsell as by the citizens and courtiers during the which time the marchants do leaue their contractions and trafickes and handicraft men their occupations If any occasion bee requisiâ—e to talke with the king there is none that speaketh with him but the president and if it so fall out that hee be sicke then the most auncient and vppermost in the golden chayres dooth talke with him at all times when néede requireth but when he talketh with him hee is on his knées and his eyes inclyned to the grounde and neuer mooueth although the talke endureth two houres He is paide with the same money that all viceroyes gouernours iustices and captaines of the kingdome are when they will talke with the president it is in the selfe same order In this royall counsell euerie moneth they doo knowe all thinges that doo happen in all the kingdome woorthie to bee aduised of and this is without falt for that those which doo gouerne the prouinces haue expresse commaundement to sende notice vnto the court of all thinges that doo happen in anye of their prouinces touching warres the estate of the countrie the kinges rents or any other thing the which is accomplished with so great care that although it bee a prouince distant fiue hundred leagues from the court yet the post doth not misse his day appointed And those which do first come do tarrie till the last or furthest off doo come and then vpon the day appointed they do all together giue their relations Those which are farre off for to be at the court so soone at the instant as those which are nigh at
the same but their mastes stooping downe to passe vnder the bridges This Cittie is the richest and the best prouided that is in all the kingdome it is the heade Cittie of all the Prouince verie rich and fertill and manie townes belonging vnto it and but eight leagues from the sea and hath mightie riuers wherein great shippes come vp to it as aforesaide At the enterie of the Citie they founde many Gentlemen that were there at the gate tarrying their comming who after they had saluted the one the other after their fashions without anie staying they trauelled forwardes on thorough a great and broad stréet that went directlie vnto the vizroy his pallace vpon both sides of the stréete from the gate forwards was placed one by another full of souldiers with their officers and ancient euerie one with his weapon in his hands as pickes hargabuses swords and target all apparelled in one liuerie of silke and a bunch of fethers vppon their crestes They all stoode still and kept their places and would not consent that any should crosse the way in the streete whereas they went accompanied with the Gentlemen They had no leasure to tell the souldiers but they sawe that from the gate vntil they came vnto the vizroyes pallace on both sides which was a good way to beefull of them and all richly apparelled and of one colour The people that were at the windowes in the stréete betwixt the houses the soldiers were so great a number that it séemed to bee doomes day and that all the people in the worlde were there ioyned together in that streete So when they came vnto the pallace which was two houres after day the Gentlemen that were their guides did cause the Spaniardes to enter into a roome which was hard by till such time as the gate was open for that it is open but once a day so continue no longer time then the audience endureth which is done by the Uiceroy once euerie day and that is but a small time But first before he doth enter into audience there is shot off foure péeces of artilerie with a great noyse of trompettes drommes and waites And there is no day that passeth without audience as our people did sée by experience so long as they were there and were likewise informed of others The houre being come and the ceremony doone as aforesaide the gates were opened and there was in the court many souldiers apparelled in the same liuerie that those were of in the stréete From the middest amongst them came forth a gentleman who was as it was told them the Captaine of the garde of the viceroy who came with great grauitie and authoritie towards the place whereas our people were and after they had saluted the one the other he made signes vnto them that they should go towardes the gates of the pallace When they were within the first court the which was great and wrought with mightie pillers there was a great number of souldiers many sergeants that entred into an other great court and mounted vp a paire of stayres that was on the one side whereas all the people were with great silence sauing the captaine of the garde who went with our people till they came to the gates of the hall whereas was the viceroy at which gate he staied with his head discouered and made signes vnto ours that they should doo the like and to tarrie there till such time as hee had aduised the viceroy of their comming and he to command them to enter CHAP. XXIII The Spaniardes haue audience of the Viceroy of Aucheo and are visited of some of the principall officers who declare vnto them certaine thinges of that citie THen straightwayes came foorth of the hall a man apparelled in a long robe of good personage and asked of the Spaniards if they would speake with the viceroy they answered yea then asked he again from whoÌ„ they came by whom they were sent they answered y t they were sent by the gouernor of Philippinas who was seruant vnto the mightiest king in all Christendome When he had this answere he returned againe into the hall and within a little while after he came forth bad theÌ„ come in but gaue them to vnderstand that in entring into the hall wheras the viceroy was y t they should kneele downe talke with him in that order till he commanded to the contrarie if they would vse this ceremony that then they should come in if not that they shold returne back againe They who were certified thereof by the gouernor of Chincheo did not stand therein but saide y t they would obserue â—he order giuen vnto them Therewith he went in who séemed to be the master of ceremonies making a signe that they should follow after him and doo that which he willed them to do At the entring in at the doore they stayed a little and then knéeled downe right oueragainst there whereas the Uiceroye sate in a chaire verie high like vnto a throne with a table before him and was in so darke a place that almost they coulde not see his face verie well On the one side of him there were some like vnto Heraldes of armes with scâ—pters in their handes and on the other side two men of a gallant comlinesse armed with Corselets made of skales of golde downe to the cafe of their legges with bowes in their handes of golde and quiuers at their backes of the same Both the one and the other were vpon their knées There was vpon the table before him paper and all thinges necessarie to write which is an ordinarie vse amongest them at all times when there is anye publike audience and on the one side of the borde a Lion made of blacke woode which was as after they vnderstoode the armes of that prouince So straightwayes hee made signes vnto them to drawe neare which they did and knéeled downe a little from the table which was whereas the master of ceremonies did will them In this sort they beganne to talke with him by their interpreter and tolde them the occasion of their comming into that Citie and kingdome and from whom and vnto whome they were sent But hee made signes vnto them that they should arise the which they did with a verye good will and did perseuer in their intent But the Uiceroye did cut them off before they coulde make an ende and asked if they had brought any letter from their king vnto the king his Lorde whome they would goe to sée and talke with but when they answered no hee straightwayes tooke his leaue of them saying that thâ—y were welcome and that they should depart vnto their lodginges and to take their ease for that afterwardes they should haue occasion to declare their mindes vnto him and hee would giue them their answere for that the king was farre of and it requireth a long time to come whereas he is but he would write vnto him and according vnto
did sée them do reuerence vnto their Idols or vnto the diuell or any other euill thing they did reprehend theÌ„ with great liberty who did not onely séeke to hurt theÌ„ for the same but did greatly reioyce to heare their reasons wherewith they did prohibite or forbid them The said frier did tell me that one day passing by an hermitage whereas dwelled an hermite who had vpon the altar in the same an Idoll for his saint before whom was there a Chino a principall man worshipping the same the said father without any feare went vnto him began to reprehende him and to spit at the Idoll caused him therewith to leaue off his worshipping whereof he was greatly amased both he all the rest of his companie to sée with what boldnes it was done and no harme done vnto him for the same eyther they supposed that y e Chino did thinke him to be a mad man or else which is most to be beléeued y t God did worke with his seruant wherby he would giue him his reward for thatwhich he had done in returning for his honor in mittigating the furie of that man to giue him vnderstanding y t he was reprehended with reason There are many Chinos conuerted to the faith as well in the Ilands Philippinas as in the citie of Machao and they baptise of them daily who giuetokens and outwarde showes to bee good christians and say that the greatest difficultie for to conuert all the whole kingdome will be in them that doo gouerne in the same for they had néede of a particular ayde and helpe of the mercie of God to bring them vnto the faith for that they are had in reuerence and obeyed as Gods vpon the earth Besides this they do giue themselues to all delightes that any humaine creature can imagine for that they put all their felicitie therein and doo it with so great extremitie that it is supposed there is no people in all the worlde that may be compared vnto them For besides that they are alwayes carried in little chayres and vpon mens shoulders which are couered with silke golde yet are they giuen much vnto bankets wherein they haue so many different sortes of meates as their appetites doo require And it is greatly to bee maruailed at that the women of this kingdome are marueilous chast and secret as any whatsoeuer and to the contrarie the men are as vicious but in especiall the Lords and Gouernors and for that our faith do reprehend with rigor and terror the excesse of these thinges it is to be beleeued that it will be a great impediment to the entrie of the gospell amongst them yet God may so touch them and in such sort that there will be no difficultie Amongest the common people there will be no such impedimeÌ„t but rather they will embrace with great content our holy law for y t it will be an occasion to cleare set them at libertie from the tyrannie of the diuell and from their Iudges and Lords who do intreate them as slaues This is the opinion of all them that haue entred into this kingdome and haue intreated of this matter with the Chinos They haue amongest them some good thinges and woorthie to be imitated and folowed of the which I will here set downe two which are thinges of great purpose to my iudgement The one is that vnto none they do giue the office to gouerne by no manner of wayes nor meanes although they be suborned by friendship but onely by his owne merites and sufficient abilitie The seconde that none can be viceroy gouernour nor Iudge of a prouince or citie in the which hee is naturall borne the which they say is done to take away the occasion of dooing any iniustice beeing carried away or led by parentes or friendshippe All other thinges of this kingdome I do remit vnto that which hath bin before declared for to passe vnto the rest the which in this Itinerario is promised to be mentioned and declared CHAP. XIX This chapter doth treate of the Ilands of Iapon and of other thinges in that kingdome THe Ilandes of Iapon are many and altogether make a mightie kingdome y t is diuided amongest many lords it is distant froÌ„ the firme land of China thrée hundred leagues in the middest betwixt both kingdoms is the prouince of Lanquin which is one of the fiftéene afore named although going froÌ„ Machao a city of the Portingals ioyning vnto Canton which is of the proper China they do make it but 250 leagues trauelling towards the north commonly they do account the same leagues froÌ„ the Ilands of Luzon or Philippinas vnto the said Ilands of Iapon whereunto they may go by noua hispania for y t it is the better surer nauigation and shorter voyage for according vnto the reckoning of the pylots that do nauigate those seas they make it no more theÌ„ 1750. leagues which is not halfe of that which the Portingals make in their nauigation These Ilands are many as afore said yet are they populared with much people who in their bodies faces differ very little froÌ„ the Chinos although not so politike by the which it séemed to be true y t which is found written in the histories of the kingdom of China saying that these Iapones in old time were Chinas that they came from that mightie kingdome vnto these Ilands wheras they do now diuell for this occasion folowing A kinsman of a king of China a man of great countenance and valour hauing conceiued within his brest for to kill the king thereby to make himselfe lorde of the countrie the better to put this in execution he gaue to vnderstand of his euill intent vnto others of his friends requesting their fauour to execute y e same promising that he would do his best This being done hauing them alwaies for his especiall friends vnto whom it seemed no difficult thing and againe moued with ambition they did promise him and for the better confirmation thereof they began to prepare souldiers to haue theÌ„ readie against y e day appointed And for y t this their pretence could not be brought to effect with such secrecie as the matter required their treason came to be discouered vnto the king at such good oportunitie y t he might very well séeke remedie for his owne safegarâ— at his pleasure vnlooked for of his kinsman the rest of his followers who were all taken with great ease Then was it determined by those of the royall councell that all the traitors should haue their throts â—ut according vnto the lawes of the countrie but when their sentence was carried vnto the king to be confirmed he vnderstanding y t they much repented were sorie for their sin and treason that they had pretended against him he determined to remedie the same with lesse damage fearing what might happeÌ„ by their deaths so y t he coÌ„manded they should not
in the Spanish tongue I haue for the increase of the knowledge of the subiectes of Englande and specially for the illuminating of the mindes of those that are to take the voyage next in hande to Iapan China and the Philippinas translated the same worke into english and committed it to print passing ouer Paulus Venetus and sir Iohn Mandeuill because they wrote long agoe of those regions which labour to say trueth I haue vndertaken at the earnest request and encouragement of my worshipfull friend Master Richard Hakluit late of Oxforde a gentleman besides his other manifolde learning and languages of singular and deepe insight in all histories of discouerie and partes of Cosmographie who also for the zeale he beareth to the honour of his countrie and countrimen brought the same first aboue two yeares since ouer into this court and at this present hath in hande a most excellent and ample collection of the sundrie trauailes and nauigations of our owne nation a matter long intended by him and seruing to the like beneficiall and honorable purpose which I hope will shortly come to light to the great contentation of the wiser sort In the meane season hauing nowe at length finished according to my poore skill and leasure this my translation I thought best to dedicate and commende the same to your worshipfull patronage as the man that I holde most worthie of the same and most able of our nation to iudge aright of the contentes thereof and to correct the errors of the author whensoeuer you shall meete with them beseeching you to accept in good part the trauaile and good meaning of the translator and so wishing vnto you health increase of knowledge with fortunate and glorious successe in your further couragious attempts I leaue you to the protection of the almightie From London the first of Ianuarie 1589. Your worships alwaies to command Robert Parke The Printer to the Christian reader WHereas good courteous Reader in this historie describing the kingdome of China with the countries there adiacent thou shalt finde many times repeated and that in some things too gloriously the zeale of certaine Spanish Friers that laboured in discouerie of the saide China and the declaration of certaine myracles but falsely reported by them to haue beene wrought togither with examples of diuerse their superstitious practises which happily may giue offence vnto some in reading thou must vnderstande that this is to be rather imputed vnto the first writer of this historie in spanish than to any fault of mine for the Spaniardes following their ambitious affections doo vsually in all their writinges extoll their owne actions euen to the setting forth of many vntruthes and incredible things as in their descriptions of the conquestes of the east and west Indies c. doth more at large appeare Notwithstanding all which our translator as it seemeth hath rather chosen to be esteemed fidus interpres in truely translating the historie as it was though conteyning some errors then to be accounted a patcher or corrupter of other mens workes But howsoeuer either our first authour or the translator haue shewed themselues affectioned sure I am that the knowledge of thiâ— kingdome will not onely be pleasant but also verie profitable to our English nation and by playing the good Bee in onely accepting herein that which is good I doubt not but the reading of this historie will bring thee great contentment and delight Vale. The Historie of the mightie kingdome of China in the which is contained the notable things of that kingdome touching that which is naturall CHAP. I. The description of the kingdome and the confines that it hath belonging THis great and mightie kingdome of China which we do meane to treat of in this Historie hath béene discouered by cléere and true notice within this tenne yeares by Spanyards that were dwellers in the Ilands Philippinas that are three hundreth leagues distant from the said kingdome Notwithstanding that long time before there was relation giuen by way of the Portingall Indias by such as dwelt in Macao and did traâ—â—ke to Canton a citie of the same kingdome of China But this was by relation so that the one nor the other could satisfie for that there was founde varietie in that which was true till the yeere of 1577. Frier Martin de Gorrada prouincial of the Augustine friers who were the first discouerers of the said Ilands Philippinas and ministred first the holy baptisme amongst them with his companions frier Hieronimo Martin Pedro Sarmiento and Myghell de Loarcha chéefe officers of the citie of Marrila in the said Ilands by the order and commandement of Guido de Labassares gouernour thereof did enter into the saide kingdome of China Led and gouerned by a captaine belonging to the king of the said kingdome called Omoncon Of the comming of this Omoncon vnto the Ilands Philippinas and of his hardines to carrie the aforesaid vnto the firme land he being commanded to the contrarie vpon paine of death and how he was receiued and great courtesie shewed and of other things verie curious you shall â—inde in the second part of this historie where as is the substance and whole relation of all that was brought vnto the king of Spaine You shall vnderstande that this mightie kingdome is the Orientalest part of all Asia and his next neighbour towards the Ponent is the kingdome of Quachinchina whereas they doo obserue in whole all the customes and rites of China The greatest part of this kingdome is watred with the great Orientall Ocean sea beginning at the Iland Aynan which is hard by Quachinchina which is 19. degrées towards the North and compassing towards the South whereas their course is Northeast And beyond Quachinchina towards the North the Bragmanes do confine which are much people and verie rich of golde siluer and pretious stones but in especiall Rubies for there are infinit They are proude and hawtie men of great corage wel made but of browne colour they haue had but few times warre with them of China in respect for that betwixt both the kingdomes there are great and mightie mountaines and rockes that doth disturbe them And harde vnto this nation ioyneth the Patanes and Mogores which is a great kingdome and warlike people whose head is the Gran Samarzan They are the true Scythas or Massagetas of whom it is affirmed that they were neuer ouercome by any other nation they are a people well proportioned and white by reason they dwel in a cold countrie Betwixt the West and the South is the Trapobana or Samatra a kingdome very rich of gold pretious stones pearles and more towards the South are the two Iauas the great and the lesse and the kingdome of the Lechios and in equall distance are the Iapones yet notwithstanding those that are more indifferent to this kingdome are the Tartarians which are on the selfe firme land or continent and are alonely deuided by a wal as shalbe declared in the 9 chapter
and 6. men may walke side by side on them they are garnished with many bulworks and towers a small distance the one from the other with their battlements faire galleries where as many times their vizroyes dooth goe to recreate themselues with the gallant sight of the mountaines and riuers with their fields so odoriferous There is betwixt the wals of their cities the mote of the same a broade space that six horsemen may ride together the like space is within betwixt the walles and the houses whereas they may walke without impediment Their wals are kept in such good reparation by reason of their great care and diligence that they séeme to be but new made yet in some cities there is founde mention of two thousand yeeres since the first foundation In euery citie the king doth ordaine a Iustice and giueth him great rents onely to visit them and make them to be renewed and repaired where as is requisite and is done vpon the kings cost for out of his rents in such cities townes is giuen them all that is néedfull to be asked The high waies in all this kingdome are made kept plaine with great care diligence and the entering into the cities and townes are very sumptuous and with great maiestie they haue thrée or foure gates bound with yron very strong Their streetes verie well paued and so broad that 15. horsemen may ride together in them and so straight that although they be very long yet you may discouer the end On both the sides are portals vnder which be their shops full of all sorts of merchandises very curious and of all occupations that you will desire In the streets a good space the one from the other are made manie triumphall arkes of extreme bewtie They are made of masons worke verie curiously painted after the fashion of the old antiquitie of Rome All their houses ordinarily haue three doores that in the middest is great the other be lesser but of a maruellous gallant propotion The king is alwayes resident in the citie of Suntien which in their language is as much to say the citie of heauen Of which citie the Chinos do declare many things which séemeth to be true for that if you do talke with many of them and at sundrie times and places yet doo they not varie the one from the other and according to their report it should be greatest in all the worlde in these dayes They who do make it to be least do affirme that to goe from gate to gate leauing the suburbs had néed of a summers day and a good horse to do it it is also called Quinsay as Marcus Paulus doth call it CHAP. IX Of the wonderfull buildings in this kingdome and of mightie wall or circuit in the same of 500. leagues long IN this kingdome in al places there be men excellent in architecture and the necessaries that they haue to build with is the best that is in the world For as it is said in the chapter past they haue a kinde of white earth of the which they make brickes of so great hardnesse and strength that for to breake them you must haue pickaxes and vse much strength and this is the cause that in all the kingdome there is mightie buildings and verie curious Putting apart the kings pallace where hee is resident in Taybin for of that you shall haue a particular chapter in all such cities that bee the heads of the prouinces is resident a vizroy or gouernour and dwelleth in the house that in euery such citie the king hath ordeined on his proper cost all the which to conclude are superbious and admirable and wrought by marueilous art and are as bigge as a great village by reason that they haue within them great gardens water ponds woods compassed about in the which as it is declared in the 4. chapter is great quantitie of hunt and flying foules Their houses commonly be verie gallant and after the manner of Rome and generallie at the doores and gates of them are planted trées in gallant order the which maketh a gallant shadow and séemeth well in the stréets All these houses are within as white as milke in such sort that it séemeth to bee burnished paper The floares are paued with square stones verie broad and smooth their seelings are of an excellent kind of timber verie well wrought and painted that it séemeth like damaske and of the colour of gold that sheweth verie well euerie one of them hath three courts and gardens full of flowers and herbes for their recreation And there is none of them but hath his fish poole furnished although it bee but small The one side of their courts is wrought verie gallant like as it is in counting houses vpon the which they haue many idols carued and wrought of diuers kinds ofmettals the other thrée parts or angles of their courts are painted with diuers things of verie great curiositie But aboue all things they are marueilous cleane not onely in their houses but also in their stréetes in the which commonly they haue thrée or foure necessarie or common places of ease verie curiously ordained and placed for that the people being troubled with their common necessitie shall not foule the streetes and therefore they haue this prouision the like is vsed in all wayes throughout the kingdome Some cities there be whose streets be nauigable as in Bruxels in Flanders Mexico in the Indians and as in Venice in Italie which is the occasion that they are better serued and prouided for that their barkes and boates doo enter laden with all kinde of victuals harde to their doores The highwayes throughout all this kingdome are the best and gallantest paued that euer hath béene discouered they are verie plaine yea vnto the mountaines and they are cut by force of labour and pickaxes and maintained with bricke and stone the which by report of them which hath séene it is one of the worthiest things that is in all the realme There are many mightie bridges and of a wonderfull making some wrought vpon boats as it is in Syuill but in especiall vpon such riuers as are broad and déepe In the citie of Fucheo there is a towre right against the house of the kings chiefe receiuer it is affirmed by those that haue séene it to surmount any building that hath béene amongst the Romanes the which is raised and founded vppon fortie pillars and euerie pillar is of one stone so bigge and so high that it is strange to tell them and doubtfull to the hearers to beléeue it for which cause I thinke it best not to declare it in particular as I do in all things where as I doo finde it difficult to be beléeued and where I haue no certaine author to verifie the truth There is in this kingdome a defence or wall that is fiue hundred leagues long and beginneth at the citie Ochyoy which is vppon the high mountaines and
both of his first wife and of all the other wiues For lacke of a sonne by his first wife the first borne of the other wiues doth inherite the most part so that fewe times or neuer there is none that dieth without heyres eyther by his first wife or by the others And if it so fall out that any of these his wiues do commit adulterie the which seeldome chaunceth by reason of their kéeping in and great honestie as also it is great infamie vnto the man that doth offer any such thing then may the husband finding them togither kill them but after that first furie being past he cannot but complaine of the adulterers vnto the Iustice and although it be prooued verie apparant yet can they giue them no more punishment but beate them cruelly vppon their thyghes as is the custome and lawe of the countrie as shalbe declared vnto you in his place Then may the husband afterwardes sell his wife for a â—laue and make money of her for the dowrie he gaue her notwithstanding there be amongst them that for interest will dissemble the matter yea and will séeke oportunities and occasion Yet if such be spied or knowen they are righteously punished They say in the prouinces that be néere vnto Tartaria and in the selfe same Tartaria they doo vse a custome and manner of marriage very strange that is the vizroyes or gouernors doo limit and appoint a time when that all men and women shall méete together such as will marie or receiue the order of religion The time being accomplished all such as would be married do méete together in a citie of that prouince appointed for that purpose and when they come thether they doo present themselues before 12. auncient and principall men appointed there by the king for the same purpose who doo take a note of their names both of men and women and of what state and degrée they are and of their substance for to dowrie their wiues with whom they shalbe married Then do they number all the men and women that be there if they do find more men than women or to the contrarie more womeÌ„ than men then they cast lots do leaue the number that doth so beare in register til the next yeare y t they may be the first that shalbe married Then sixe of those ancient men do put the men in thrée parts the rich they put in one part without any consideration of gentilitie or beautie and those that are rich in a meane in an other parte and the poore in the thirde part In the meane time that these sixe men be occupied in the reparting of the men the other sixe doe repart the women in thrée parts to say in this manner the most fairest in one part and them not so faire in an other and the fowlest in an other This diuision being made theÌ„ do they marrie them in this order vnto the riche men they doo giue the fairest and they doo giue for them the prise that is appointed by the Iudges and vnto them that are not so rich they do giue them that are not so faire without paying for them anye thing at all and vnto the poore men they giue the fowlest with all that which the rich men do pay for the faire women diuiding it into equall partes Sure it is a notable thing if it bee true This being done they are all married in one daie and holpen although peraduenture not all content the marriages being doone there is great feastes made in such houses as the king hath ordeyned in euerye citie for the same purpose the which are furnished with beds and all other necessaries belonging thereunto for that the new married people may be serued of all that is néedfull for the time that the feast do indure This solemnitie beeing finished which they saye doth indure fiftie dayes these newe married people doo goe vnto their owne houses You must vnderstande that this custome of marriage is ordeyned for the coÌ„mon and poore people and not for Lords nor gentlemen who are not bound to obey this ordinaunce but to marrie whereas they like best euerie one to séeke and marrie with his equall or else by an order which the king hath set downe vnto the viceroyes and gouernors what to be done therein When that the king of China is married then dooth hee choose thirtie concubines the principallest persons in all his kingdome the which hee dooth kéepe and maintayne within his pallace so long as hee doth liue But after that hee is dead and his funerall ended as is accustomed then doth the heire or successor of the kingdome apparell these thirtie women maruelous gorgeously with many iewelles then doth hee cause them to set in an Estrado or rich pallet gallantly dressed and furnished in one of the thrée halles as shall be declared in the second chapter of the third booke with their faces couered in such sort as they may not be séene nor knowen and being set in this order then doth there enter in thirtie gentlemen of the principallest of the kingdome those whom the king left named in his testameÌ„t the which goeth by antiquitie or according vnto order set by the king and eyther of them doth take one of these Ladies by the hand and looke howe they found theÌ„ so they doo carrie them with their faces couered till they bring them home to their houses whereas they haue them for their wiues and do maintaine and kéepe them all the dayes of their liues towards the mainteyning of them the king doth leaue in his testament great reueneues and the successor in the kingdome doth accomplish and performe the same with great diligence and care In old time when that the kinges of China would marrie anie of his children or kinsfolkes he did make in his pallace a great and solemne banket to the which he did inuite all the principallest Lordes and gentlemen of his court commaunding to bring with them their sonnes and daughters who did accomplish the same striuing who should apparell their children most richest and most gallantest The banket being done the young princes do go whereas are these young Ladies euerie one placed in order according to their age and there he doth chuse his wife according to his owne will or desire and where he liketh best Likewise the infants or kings daughters doe the like in choosing their husbands amongst the young lords and gentlemen But at this time this custome is left off for that the princes and gentlemen do marry with their kinsfolkes so that it be not in the first or seconde degrée yet many times they do not kéepe the second CHAP. X. How that in all this mightie kingdome there is no poore folks walking in the streets nor in the teÌ„ples a begging the order that the king hath giuen for the maintayning of them that cannot worke MAnie things of great gouernment hath béene and shall be declared in this historie worthie to be
considered and in my opinion this is not the least that is contayned in this chapter which is such order as the king and his counsell hath giuen that the poore may not go a begging in the stréetes nor in the temples whereas they make orations vnto their Idols for the auoyding therof the king hath set downe an order vpon great and gréeuous penaltie to be executed vpon the saide poore if they do begge or craue in the stréetes and a greater penaltie vpon the citizens or townes men if they do giue vnto any such that beggeth but must incontinent go and complaine on them to the Iustice who is one that is called the Iustice of the poore ordayned to punish such as doo breake the lawe and is one of the principallest of the citie or towne and hath no other charge but only this And for that the townes be great and many and so full of people and an infinite nomber of villages whereas it cannot be chosen but there is many borne lame and other misfortunes so that he is not idle but alwaies occupied in giuing order to remedie the necessities of the poore without breaking of the lawe This Iudge the first day that hee doth enter into his office hee commaundeth that whatsoeuer children be borne a créeple in any part of his members or by sicknes be taken lame or by any other misfortune that incontinent their fathers or mothers doo giue the Iudge to vnderstande thereof that he may prouide for all things necessarie according vnto the ordinance and will of the king and his counsell the which is the man child or woman child being brought before him and seene the default or lacke that it hath if it be so that with the same it may exercise any occupation they giue and limit a time vnto the parents for to teach the child that occupation ordayned by the Iudge and it is such as with their lamenes they may vse without any impediment the which is accomplished without faile but if it so be that his lamenes is such that it is impossible to learne or exercise any occupation this Iudge of the poore doth commaund the father to sustaine and maintaine him in his owne house all the dayes of his life if that hee hath wherewithall if not or that hee is fatherlesse then the next rich kinsman must maintaine it if he hath none such then doth all his parents and kinsfolkes contribute and pay their partes or giue of such thinges as they haue in their houses But if it hath no parentes or they be so poore that they cannot contribute nor supply any part therof then doth the king maintaine them in verie ample manner of his owne costes in hospitalles verie sumptuous that he hath in euerie citie throughout his kingdome for the same effect and purpose in the same hospitalles are likewise maintayned all such néedie and olde men as haue spent all their youth in the wars and are not able to maintaine themselues so that to the one and the other is ministred all that is néedefull and necessarie and that with great diligence and care and for the better accomplishing of the same the Iudge doth put verie good order and dooth appoint one of the principallest of the citie or towne to be the administrator without whose licence There is not one within that hospitall that can goe foorth of the limittes for that licence is not granted vnto anie neyther doo they demaund it for that there they are prouided of all thinges necessarie so long as they doo liue as well for apparell as for victualles Besides all this the olde folkes and poore men within the hospitall doo bring vpp hennes chickens and hogges for their owne recreation and profit wherein they doo delight themselues The Iudge doth visite often times the administrator by him appointed Likewise the Iudge is visited by an other that commeth from the court by the appointment of the king and the counsell to the same effect and to visite all such hospitalles as bee in the prouinces limited in his commission and if they doo finde any that hath not executed his office in right and iustice then they doo displace them and punishe them verie rigorouslie by reason whereof all such officers haue great care of their charges and liue vprightly hauing before their eyes the straight account which they must giue and the cruell rewarde if to the contrarie The blinde folkes in this countrie are not accounted in the number of those that of necessitie are to bee maintayned by their kinsfolkes or by the king for they are constrayned to worke as to grind with a querne wheate or rice or to blowe smythes bellowes or such like occupations that they haue no néede of their sight And if it be a blind woman when the commeth vnto age she doth vse the office of women of loue of which sorâ—e there are a great number in publike places as shall bee declared in the Chapter for that purpose These haue women that doo tende vpon them and doo paint and trim them vp and they are such that with pure age did leaue that office So by this order in all this kingdome although it be great and the people infinite yet there is no poore that doo perish nor begge in the stréetes as was apparant vnto the austen and barefoote fryers and the rest that went with them into that countrie The third booke and historie of the great and mightie kingdome of China in the which is contayned many notable things woorthie to be considered of touching morall and pollitike matters CHAP. I. How manie kinges hath beene in this kingdome and their names IN the fourth Chapter of the first booke I did promise particularly to declare howe many kinges haue béene in this kingdome and their names Nowe to accomplish the same I will beginne and declare the succession of them from Vitey who was the first that did reduce the kingdome to one empire gouernment vnto him that dooth reigne at this daye remitting that which shall lacke vnto the Chapter aforesaide whereas shall be found the number of the kinges and how many yeares since the first beginning of this kingdome and the manner of the succession This Vitey was the first king of China as it appeareth by their histories where as they doo make particular mention But amongest other thinges that they do declare of the kinges person they do say that he was in height so much as seuen mesures which is accustomed in China and euerie measure is two thirdes of a Spanish vare which is by good account foure vares and two terses in length he was sixe palmes broade in the shoulders and was as valiant in his déedes as in bignesse of his bodie he had a Captaine called Lincheon who was not onely valiant but politike and of great wisedome by reason whereof with his valour and strength he did subiect vnto Vitey all the whole countrie that he doth nowe possesse and
shoulde happen or paraduenture for that the temperature or clime of that place is more healthfull then the other prouinces or the dwelling to be of more pleasure as it is giuen to vnderstand by that worde Suntien which in their language is as much to say the celestiall citie it is of such bignesse that for to crosse it ouer from gate to gate a man must traueile one whole day and haue a good horse and put good diligence or else he shal come short this is besides the subburbes which is as much more ground Amongst the Chinos is founde no varietie in the declaration of this migâ—tie city and of the great riches that is in it which is a signe to be of a truth for that they agree all in one There is so much people in it what of citizens and courtiers that it is affirmed y t vpon any vrgent occasion there may be ioyned together two hundreth thousand men and the halfe of them to bee horsemen At the entring into this citie toward the orient is situated the mightie and sumptuous pallace of the king where he remaineth ordinarily although hee hath other two the one in the midst of the citie and the other at the end towards the West This first pallace they do testifie is of such huge bignesse and so much curiositie that it is requisite to haue foure dayes at the least to view and sée it all First it is compassed about with seuen walles very huge and the space that is betwixt one wall and another doth containe ten thousand souldiers which doo watch and gard the kings house dayly there is within this pallace thrée score and ninetéene halles of a marueilous rich and and curious making wherein there are many women that doo serue the king in the place of pages and squires but the principallest to be seene in this pallace is foure halles verie rich whereas the king giueth audience vnto such ambassadours as come vnto him from other kingdomes or prouinces or vnto his owne people when they call any court of parliament which is very seldome for that he is not séene by his commons out of his owne house but by great chance and yet when they doo sée him for the most part it is by a glasse window The first of these hals is made al of mettall very curiously wrought with manie figures and the seconde haththe séeling and the floore wrought in the order of masons worke all of siluer of great valure the thirde is of fine golde wrought and inamiled verie curiously The fourth is of so great riches that it much excéedeth all the other thrée for that in it is represented the power and riches of that mightie kingdome and therfore in their language they do cal it the hall of the kings treasure and they do affirme that it deserueth to haue that name for that there is in it the greatest treasure that any king hath in all the world besides many iewels of an inestimable price and a chaire wherein he dooth sit of great maiesty made of Iuory set full of pretious stones and carbuncles of a great price that in the darkest time of the night the hall is of so great clearenesse as though there were in it manie torches or lights the wals are set full of stones of diuers sorts verie rich and of great vertue wrought verie curiously and to declare it in fewe words it is the richest and principalst thing to be séene in all the kingdome for therein is the principallest thereof In these foure halles are heard such ambassadours as are sent from other countries according vnto the estate and qualitie of the king and prouinces from whence they come so that according as they are estéemed so are they entertained into one of these foure hals If that from whence they come is from a king of small power he hath audience in the first hall if he be of a reasonable power in the second hal and in this order in the rest Within this mightie pallace the king hath all that any humane vnderstanding can desire or aske touching this life in pleasures for to recreate his person and for their quéene for that neuer or by great chance they go foorth of the same and it hath béene a customable vse amongst the kings of that countrie that it is as a thing inherited by succession neuer to go forth They say their reason why they doo keepe themselues so close not to go abroade is to conserue the mightie estate of their estade and also to auoide for being slaine by treason as many times it falleth so out for which occasion you haue had kings that in all the time of their reigne haue not gone out of their pallace but onely the day of their oath and crownation and besides this their close kéeping yet haue they tenne thousande men continually as aforesaide in garde of the pallace both day and night besides others that are in the courtes staires and halles and other places Within the gates and wals of this mightie pallace they haue gardines orchards woodes and groues whereas is all manner of hunt and foule and great pondes full of fish And to conclude they haue all manner of pleasures and delites that may be inuented or had in any banketting house in the fielde In all this kingdome there is not one that is lorde ouer any subiect or vassales as they of Turkie neither haue they any iurisdiction proper but that which is his patrimonie and moueables or that which the king doth giue them in recompence of good seruice or gouernement or for any other particular respect all the which dooth end with the person and is returned againe vnto the king except he will giue it into the sonne of him that is dead in curtesie more then by obligation or duetie giuing to vnderstande that it is to auoyd inconueniences and occasions of treasons which might grow if that there were any lords that were rich or of power not for couetousnes or any other intent Those whom he dooth put in authoritie whether they are vizroyes gouernours or captaine generals or whatsoeuer they be hée giueth vnto them large wages sufficient to sustaine them in their office in so ample sort that it is rather ouerplus vnto them then lacke for that he will not that their necessitie compell them to take presents or bribes which thing doth blinde them that they cannot do iustice vprightly and vnto him that doth receiue or take any such although it be but of smal prise he is cruelly punished CHAP. III. The number of such subiects as doo pay vnto the king tribute in all these fifteene prouinces VNderstanding the greatnesse of this kingdome of China and the infinite number of people that is therein it is an easie thing to bee beléeued the number that euery prouince hath of such as do pay tribute as is taken out of the booke that the officers haue whereby they do recouer that
hand doo send postes daily that the one may ouertake the other They do run post after the vse of Italy Spain with a horne but they were woont to haue a coller of belles the better to be heard so y t the postmasters when they do heare the horne or bels do straight waies bridle their horse to be in a readines Likewise if their iourney be to passe by water as many times it hapneth then y e boat-men do make their barks readie Then when the counsell hath taken relation of all the posts in effect the president incontinent doth giue a straight account thereof vnto the king then he or the counsell by his order if anie such néede requireth do put remedie for that that is néedfull for the time And if it be requisite to send any Iustice about the same he is straight wayes appointed and dispatched and sent in all haste and with great secrecie and this Iustice doth make inquiries in such sort that it is not knowen no not in the citie where the fault is committed And for that touching this matter it shall bee spoken of more at large in chapters following I will conclude with this that this king will haue such dominion ouer his kingdome and subiectes that although it be great with so manie Prouinces Cities and Townes yet not one Uiceroy Gouernor nor Iustice can put any man vnto death without his sentence be first confirmed by the kinge and his royall counsell except it be in the warres actually for that there in the delaying thereof may growe some perill therefore they doo permit the captaine generall or his lieftenant to behead or hang what so euer souldier that shall offende or doo anie ill thing this may they do without consentment of the king or his counsell onely with the consentment of the kinges Treasorer or of the generall of the fielde the which bee both of them graue personages and they must be both conformable in their iudgementes or els they cannot execute death CHAP. IX Ofsuch presidents and ministers as the king doth put in euerie prouice and the order that they haue in their gouenment YOu do vnderstand howe the two prouinces Paguia and Tolanchia are gouerned by the supreme counsell of the king and such ministers as they doo send to gouerne The other thirtéene prouinces that do remaine haue eyther of them a vizroy or gouernor whom the common people do call Insuanto who is continually resident and doth dwell in the metropolitane citie whereof the prouince doth commonly beare the name And although all the kinges officers and Iustices of what sort of administration they are be generally called by the name of Loytia yet euerie one hath a speciall and a particular name besides according vnto his office that he doth execute of the which and of their proper names I will giue you to vnderstand for that it doth differ from our purpose The vizeroy that is in euerie prouince principall and supreme magistrate in place of the king they do call him Comou Th◠second in dignitie is the gouernour of all the prouince and he is called Insuanto who hath verie little lesse maiestie than the viceroy then the Corregidor or gouernor that is resident in any citie where as is neither viceroy nor gouernor is called Tutuan all of this degrée Of any thing that is of importance of what citie so euer they be they do giue relation thereof vnto the higher gouernor called Insuanto and likewise this Insuanto vnto the viceroy or Comon whose charge is to giue the king to vnderstand thereof or his royall counsell by the postes that we haue spoken of before The third in dignitie is called Ponchasi this is the president or counsell of the kinges reuenewes who hath vnder him a counsell and many ministers and officers as sargents and others which do recouer the rents in euerie prouince This state dooth giue account of all his office vnto the Tutuan after that he hath paide all kind of wages and charges ordinarie and extraordinarie due to any officer of the kinges in all that prouince The fourth degrée or dignitie is called Totoc and this is captaine generall of all souldiers as well footmen as horsemen The fift is called Auchasi he is president and gouernour ouer Iustices both criminall and ciuill and doth determine with his counsell all matters in difference whatsoeuer that doo appeale vnto him from other meaner Iustices The sixt is called Aytao this is generall puruier and president of the counsell of warre whose office is to prouide souldiers when that it is requisite or necessitie demaundeth and to prouide ships munitions and victuals for any fléete that shall passe by sea as that be requisite by land and for the suppliment of garrisons in cities and coastes To this is giuen the charge to examine such strangers that do come to any prouince to knowe of whence they are and wherefore they do come and of all other thinges that after beeing knowen to giue the viceroy to vnderstande thereof and of all thinges néedfull These sixe offices or charge are of great authoritie and they that haue the execution thereof are had in great reuerence euerie one of them hath in societie or counsell tenne which are men chosen of great experience and diligence and they do help him in the exhibition and dispatch of matters touching that office When they are in place of counsell which is in the pallace of the viceroy whereas euerie office hath his place appointed garnished in very good order their sociates are diuided in two partes fiue of them do sit on the right hand of the president and fiue on the left hand those which do sit on the right hande are the most auncientes and haue the more preheminence and doo differ from the other that be on the left hande in this thing only for that they do weare wastes or girdels imbossed with gold and yealow hattes and they on the left hand haue their girdels imbossed with siluer and weare blewe hats the which girdels with gold and siluer and hats yealow and blewe there is none that is permitted to weare but onelye the counsellers Likewise these and the presidents do weare the kinges armes on their breastes and backes imbrodered with golde without the which they can not goe foorth to anie place where they must be séene neyther sitte in Iustice to determine anie thing whatsoeuer If they doo they are not onely disobedient but are seuerely punished at the time of their visitation If the President of any of these counsels doo die then one of the auncientest of the counsellers dooth succéede him in the office obseruing in all thinges the order as I haue saide in the Chapter past of the royall counsell All these Iustices generally haue a maruellous morall vertue and that is they be all very patient in hearing any complaynt although it be declared with choller and proude spéech It is the first thing that is taught
the prouinces whatsoeuer The iudge or gouernor of the first towne dooth in person go forth to méete and receiue him and giue him his welcome with great complement of words câ—remonies all the Loytias Captaines souldiers and the inhabitants of the towne doo accompanie the iudge or gouernour when that they go to receiue him But at his disembarking to come a shore they will not suffer him to set his féete vppon the ground although it be but a little way that he should go but hath at the waters side in a readinesse eight men with a chaire made of yuorie or of some other pretious thing with the curteines of veluâ—t damaske or cloth of golde which for the like oportunitie they haue in euerie cittie or principall towne appointed by the king wherein they do carrie him to his lodging Likewise they haue in euerie citie and great towne throughout all the kingdome a principall house and sufficient for to lodge such like personages It is also vsed to lodge such iudges as are sent by the king to execute his commandement when they passe by anie of such cities or townes There is in euery one of these houses a Lieutenant he hath in it maruellous and excellent houshold stuffe as hangings beddes seruants and all other necessaries not 〈◊〉 to lodge one ambassador but many if they shoulde there méete and not one to disturbe an other So as aforesaide they doo beare him company either on horsebacke or in a chaire which is the ordinarie carriage amongst them till hee come vnto this house whereas they doo leaue him with much curtesie and many ceremonies alonelie with them that waite vppon him and serue him And also a Captaine with a thousand or two thousande souldiers for to garde him continuallie and to beare him companie till hee returne againe out of the kingdome Then the next day following the iudge or gouernour that did receiue him dooth go and visite him And after that they haue demanded of him such ordinarie thinges as is vsed in such like visitations then doo they learne of his estate and of the prince that hath sent him and in summe the effect of his comming and ambassage then doo they straightwayes at the houre dispatch a post vnto the gouernour or vizroy of the prouince who is alwayes resident in the chiefe or metropolitan Citie thereof and hée at the same instant dooth dispatch another post with that message vnto the king and his roial counsel And he dooth sende order vnto the ambassador either to stay or a safe conduct for him to go vnto the place whereas hee is Likewise hée sendeth order vnto the iudge howe hée shall intreate that ambassador which is giuen according vnto the relation sent him wherein hée did vnderstande the state of the king and prince that sent him Likewise the number of souldiers y t shall beare him companie and of all other thinges néedefull for him in his iourney all the which is set downe in order and in particular as what they shall giue euery man to eate for him and his seruants and in what townes and howe hee shall be lodged His safe conduct is brought him written vppon a whited table after the fashion as we haue tolde you heere before in manie places and is with great lâ—tters wherein is contained from what king that ambassador is sent This table is borne alwayes before him wheresoeuer hee dooth go But that pasport which is sent him afterwards from the royall councell with facultie that hée may go vnto the court is after another sort for that it is written in parchment and gallantlie lymned and with the kings seale of Golde hanging at it which is neuer giuen but at such like occasion or for some prouision giuen to a vizroy Looke what is spent vppon this ambassadour in all his iourney and vppon them that doo beare him companie for all necessaries is vppon the kings cost and charges and is paide by the kinges treasurers in euerie place where as they doo go Generallie in all partes they doo make him great feastes and banquets with pastimes and presents that day that hee dooth enter into the Cittie of Taâ—bin or Paquin whereas the king is There goeth foorth to méete him without the citie all the Gentlemen of the court with the royall councel and president who according vnto the saying of the Chinos goeth forth with little lesse maiestie and companie then the king who if the ambassadour bee from a king that is mightie they giue him the right hand if not they giue him the left hand and in this sort they go ether talâ—ing with himselfe or by interpreters demaunding of him of his health and of his trauaile in comming and other thinges till hée come into the court of the pallace whereas he is lodged and there they doo leaue him with some to beare him companie and hee dooth returne vnto his house with all this company aforesaid But when they do depart from him they doo giue him power in the name of the king to make a certaine number of Loytias and to set at libertie a certaine number of prisoners such as are condemned to die and other good déeds particular Those that doo enter in this kingdome with the title of an ambassador they cannot do him any griefe for anie delight or euill that he doth although they can make good proofe thereof And for that it is of a truth you shall vnderstande the proofe by experience There was sent vnto this king one Bartholmew Perez a Portugall and his company by order of the vizroy of the India with an ambassage from the king Don Manuel of Portugall they were accused before the vizroy of the prouince of Canton by the ambassadors of the king of Malaca that were there present who were bounde vnto the court to treat of matters of their king they did testifie that the ambassage that the Portugal did bring was false and they were spies sent from the vizroy of the India for to view the fortresses of the citie that they might come afterwards and take it as they had done in many places of the India they perseuering still in the euill and mischieuous intent did will the vizroy to apprehend them and to punish them as such spies did deserue offâ—ing themselues to giue good information for the same Who after that he had well considered thereof and consulted with the Loytias of the citie and with his counsailors they commanded that they should be apprehended and put in straite prison whereas their declarations were taken with great care deceit and pollicie and by reason that in them they found contrarieties some for feare confessed much more then that which was demanded and other saide that it was of truth so that by their confessions according vnto the lawes of the countrie they were condemned to die and sent their iudgement vnto the roiall councell for to confirme the same with intent and great desire for to execute the same The
shoulde returne vnto Lysborne whereas the king was at that instant and to giue him to vnderstand of the difficultie that was found in a meeting that the vizroy had caused to bee made of the most grauest personages of all that kingdome about the prosecuting of that ambassage With this resolution I departed from that kingdome and returned for Spaine and left the present in Mexico in the power of the kings officers till such time as order was giuen what shoulâ— be done therewith I found his maiestie in Lisborne whereas I did deliuer him the letters that were written touching the same matter and did declare vnto him my iudgement touching the meeting aforesaid who incontinent did take the â—harge vpon him to seeke occasion for to put in effect his most christâ—an intent and zâ—ale the which I doo beléeue he hath procured and will by al waies possible and that very shortly we shall sée in that kingdâ—me planted the Catholike faith and their false idolatrie banished And I hope in God it will bee very shortly for that there be within that kingdome religious men of the order of saint Augustine and barefoote friers of saint Francis and of the order of Iesus or Iesuits who are called there the fathers of Saint Paule of whom there is placâ—d fiue or sixe in the citie of Xauquin whereas the vizroy doth dwell and hath erected a couent in that citie euer since the yeare 1583. with a Church whereas they doo say masse ordinarily And it is said of a truth that they haue got license of the saide vizroy for to passe fréely thorough out all the whole kingdome of China But if it bee so you must thinke that hee did it after that he had consulted with the king and doone by his authoritie otherwise I am perswaded he durst not grant any such liceâ—se At this present dooth there go out of Spaine by the order and commandement of his maiestie and his royall counsell of the Indies a companie of religious men of the order of saint Dominicke for to aid and helpe the rest that are there to conclude this enterprise from whom can procéed nothing but that which tends to great effect by reason of their great zeale learning and the better if that they doo ioyâ—e togither in charitie as seruants to one Lord and master and as they which are boundâ— to doo all one worke By which meanes with the fauour and helpe of Almightie God putting to their diligence and industrie they shall easily conquest their hearts good willes shall frustrate the diuell from the possession that so long time he hath possessed in that kingdome and râ—duce them to their true Lord by creation and redemption It will not bee a small helpe the manie and euident tokens which the Chinos doo giue of desire of their saluation For as it is said that they haue read in their bookes that from the Occident shall come the true and perâ—ite law to diâ—ect them to heauen where they shalbe angelâ— And they séeing that those religious people which are câ—me into their kingdome doo come from the Occident they are perswaded without doubt that the law that they doo declare vnto them is the truth by which meanes shall redowne vnto them great goodnesse They are greatly affâ—ctioned vnto the commandements of the Catholike faith and vnto the catechisme which is translated into their language and is abrode in manie parts of that kingdome which is the occasion as the fathers of the companie that are in the citie Xuquien dooth write that many principal persons are conuerted vnto the catholike faith and others being holpen by the heauens and encited by the ensample of them doo demande the holy baptisme which is left vndone because they will not cause any vprore in the countrie And againe when they shall better conceiue thereof they may receiue it with more firme faith God for his mercie cause to go forwards and with his deuine fauour this good worke for his honour and glorie and exalting his holy faith and that so great and infinite a number of soules redéemed by his pretious blood might be saued and to put in the hart of christian kings to procéed forwards in that which he hath begun putting alwaies in their breasts a greater augmentation to the concluding of the same and to put apart from him all such perswasions as shoulde cause him to leaue it off which the diuell will procure by all the wayes and meanes that he may But against God and his diuine will there is neither power nor wisedome The end of the first part The second part of the historie of the mightie kingdome of China that is deuided into three parts The first containeth such thinges as the fathers frier Martin de Herrada prouinciall of the order of Saint Augustine in the Ilands Phlipinas and his companion fryer Geronimo Martin and other soldiers that went with them did see and had intelligence of in that kingdom The second containeth the miraculous voiage that was made by frier Pedro de Alfaro of the order of S. Francis and his companions vnto the said kingdome The third containeth a breefe declaration by the said frier and of frier Martin Ignacio that went out of Spaine vnto China and returned into Spaine againe by the Orientall India after that he had compassed the world Wherein is contained many notable things that hee did see and had intelligence of in the voiage The Argument of the first part Wherein is declared the cause that moued Frier Martin de Herrada and Frier Geronimo Martin and such souldiers as went in their companie for to passe from the Ilands Phillipinas vnto the kingdome of China in the yeare 1577 and of the entrie they made therein and what they did see there for the space of foure monethes and sixteeâ—e daies that they remained and of what they vnderstood of al things that happened vnto them till they returned againe vnto the Ilands from whence they went all the which are notable and strange CHAP. I. The Spaniardes departe from Mexico vnto the Ilandes Philippinas where they had intelligence of the mightie kingdome of China GOuerning in the kingdom of Mexico don Luys de Velasco who was viceroye and lieftenant in that place for the Catholike king don Phillip king of Spaine was coÌ„manded by his maiestie to prepare a great armie in the south sea and to leuie â—ouldiers necessarie for the same and to send them to discouer the Ilands of the west those which that famous captaine Magallanes did giue notice of when he did compasse the world in the ship called the Victorie The viceroy with great care and diligence did performe the kinges commandement This fléete and armie being prepared readie which was not without great cost hee caused them to depart out of the port at Christmas time in the yeare of 1564. and sent for general of the same fléete and for gouernour of that countrie which they should discouer the worthie Miguel
called them all to naught from the poope of his shippe with manie reprochfull woordes saying that they came to steale the honour that hee with so great trauayle and perill had gotten Then the generall séeing that he could not goe thorough with his purpose hee determined to leaue him and therewith to cast about with his shippes and returned into the port of the baye from whence they came This brought in his shippe a sonne of Sinsay to giue occasion vnto his father for to come vnto him and likewise his owne father whome they did straightwayes put in prison and his wife and mother which is a thing commonly vsed in that countrie the children to pay for their parentes and to the contrarie the parents for the children Sinsay who feared the same woulde not goe vnto his owne house till such time as he did carrie commandement from the Uiceroy for to deliuer out of prison those that were put there without desert the which was granted by the Uiceroy with other fauours and great honour as shall bee declared vnto you CHAP. XIII Omoncon doth disembarke himselfe with our Spaniardes in the port of Tanfuso and are verie well receiued by the Iustice and made verie much of by the order of the Insuanto of that prouince WIthin a little while after that the Captayne of the sixe shippes departed for Chincheo Omoncon and his companie ariued at the port of Tanfuso hard by vpon wednesday in the euening being the fift day of Iuly This Tanfuso is a gallant and fresh towne of foure thousand housholders and hath continually a thousand souldiers in garrison and compassed about with a great and strong wall and the gates fortified with plates of yron the foundations of all the houses are of lime stone and the walles of lime and yearth and some of bricke their houses within very fairely wrought with great courts their stréetes faire and brode all paued Before that Omoncon did come vnto an anker they sawe all the souldiers and the people of the towne were gathered together vpon the rockes that were ioyning vnto the port all armed readie vnto the battaile amongst whom there was a principall captaine thrée more of his companions that were sent him by the Gouernor of Chincheo whom they do call in their language Insuanto who had vnderstaÌ„ding of the coÌ„ming of Omoncon his companie by the ship aforesaid he sent theÌ„ thither before that in his name should entertain them cherish them all that was possible When the ship entred into the port Omoncon did salute the towne with certain péeces of artilery discharged all his hargubushes sixe times about therwithal tooke in their saile and let anker fall Then straightwaies the captaine whoÌ„ the Insuanto had sent came abord the ship who had expresse coÌ„mission not to leaue the company of our people after that they were disembarked till such time as they came whereas he was but to beare them companie and to prouide them of all thinges necessarie the which he did accomplish All these captaines and ministers of the king doo weare certaine ensignes for to be knowen from the common people who are not permitted to weare any such and they can not goe abroad in publike without the same neyther will they if they might for that by them they are obeyed and reuerenced as well in the stréetes as in any other place where they come all such generally be called Loytias which is as much to say in our language Gentlemen the particular ensignes which they doo vse bee broade wastes or girdles embossed after diuerse manners some of golde and siluer some of the shell of a Turtuga or Turtell and of a swéete wood and other some of Iuerie the higher estates hath them embrodered with pearles and precious stones and their bunnets with two long eares and their buskins made of satten and vnshorne veluet as we haue declared more at large in the first thrée bookes Then after so soone as they were come to an anker in the port the Iustice did send them a license in writing for to come foorth of the shippe as a thing necessarie for that without it the waiters or guardes of the water side will not suffer them to put foote a land This licence was written vpon a borde whited and firmed by the Iustice whose charge it is to giue the licence Then when they came a shoore there were the souldiers that were appointed by the Insuanto in a readinesse to beare them companie and did direct and leade them vnto the kinges houses of the sayde Citie the like hath euerie Citie almost thoroughout all the kingdome there they did lodge them These houses are very great and very wel wrought and gallant with faire courtes belowe and galleries aboue they had in them stanges or pondes of water full of fish of sundrie sortes The Insuanto had giuen order vnto the Iustice of Tansuso wherein he had ordained what hee should giue them to eate and all other things that should be done particularly by it selfe without lacking ofany thing and appointed the Captaine that he with his souldiers should not depart from them not a iot but alwaies to beare them company whethersoeuer they went and not to depart till he had farther order from him in accomplishing whereof they remayned with them that night in the kings house The Iustice of the citie when that he had lodged them went himselfe in person to the waters side and caused all their stuffe to be vnladen out of the ship and caused it to be carried with great care and diligence vnto the Fryers whereas they were The people of the citie did presse very much to sée these strangers so that with the presse as also with the great heate they were marueilously afflicted which being perceiued by the Iustice he gaue order that they might bee eased of that trouble caused sergeants to kéepe the doore and their yeomen to make resistance against the people Yet notwithstanding though they did not trouble them so much they ranged round about the house and clymed vpon the walles to procure to sée them as a rare thing for that they came from countries so farre off and apparelled verie different from that they do vse or otherwise haue séene So when that the night was come the Iustice of the citie did make them a banket according vnto the fashion of the countrie and it was in this manner following They were carried into a hall that was verye curiously wrought wherein were many torches and waxe candles light and in the middest therof was set for euerie one of the guests a table by himselfe as is the vse fashion of that countrie which more at large shalbe deâ—lared euerie table had his couering of damaske or satten very well made the tables were gallantly painted without any table clothes neither do they vse any for they haue no néede of them for that they do eate all their victualles with
his commandement he would make them answere And therwith he tooke the letter and the memoriall of the present and commanded in his presence to put about the neckes of the Friers in manner of a scarfe to eyther of them sixe péeces of silke and vnto the souldiers their companions and vnto Omoncon and Sinsay each of them foure péeces and to euerye one of their seruantes two a péece and to giue vnto the two Fryers and the souldiers Omoncon and Sinsay euerie one of them two branches of siluer which is a thing vsed in that countrie vnto them that haue doone some woorthie déede as hath béene tolde you before So with the silke about their neckes and with the branches in their hands they returned out of the hall downe the staires the way they came and so through the court into the stréetes from whence they sawe them shut the court gate with so great a noyse as when they did open it From thence at the request of Omoncon Sinsay they went vnto the house of Totoc who is the Captaine generall of all the men of warre vnto the house of Cagnitoâ— who is y e chiefe standerd bearer their houses were nigh the one the other very faire great They found theÌ„ with as great maiestie as the viceroy and in the same order with a table before them had on ech side of theÌ„ armed souldiers knéeling on their knées Yet did they not vse our men with the curtesie that the viceroy vsed to cause them to stand vp which was the occasion that straightwayes they made a showe that they would depart and be gone complayning of Omoncon Sinsay for that they did carrie them thether and tolde them with anger that the gouernour of Manilla did intreate them in a different sort who was there resident for the mightiest prince in all the worlde and they but easie marchants neither was their going thether to be equalled vnto the benefite that they camâ— thether for This discontent the which they receiued was the occasion that they would nâ—t go to make any more visitations although the sayde Omoncon and Sinsay for their owne interest would haue carried them to the houses of other officers and gentlemen of the court But they made signes vnto those that were their guides to direct their way vnto their lodgings for that they would goe to eate somewhat and to take their ease the which was ordayned in a great house of the kinges there whereas ordinarily the Iudges doo sit to heare matters of Iustice. So at their comming thether they founde all their stuffe in good order and their dinner marueilous well prouided and the whole house hanged and trimmed as though it had béene for the kings owne person with many wayting men and souldiers those which did gard them both day and night and hanging at the doore two tables or bordes commanded by the viceroy wheron was written who they were that were there lodged and from whence they came and wherefore and that none whosoeuer should be so hardie as to offer them any wrong or disturbance vpon paine to be for the same offence seuerely punished In this house they were more in quiet than in anie other place whereas they had béen neyther did the people giue them so much trouble by reason of the great care which the Iudges had in putting order for the same by the commandemeÌ„t of the viceroy yet was it the greatest towne and most populed of all that prouince although in other prouinces there be that be much bigger and is affirmed that the Citie of Taybin or Suntiem there whereas the king and his court is resident hath thrée hundreth thousande housholds and yet there is a bigger Citie in the kingdome called Lanchin which requireth thrée dayes to go from one gate to an other and is in compasse more then seuentie leagues the which is not far distant from Canton that which the Portingalles hath great notice of But of certaine there is very much spoken of the mightinesse of this Citie and I my selfe haue heard reported and affirmed to bee of a trueth by men of authoritie that haue béene in the Citie of Canton religious Fryers of the order of Iesus or Iesuites to whom ought to be giuen credite This Citie of Aucheo hath a verie faire and strong wall made of stone which is fiue fadam high and foure fadam brode the which was measured many times by our people for that they had a gate out of their lodging that did open to the same This wall is all couered ouer with tiles to defende the rayne water for hurting of it which could not to the contrarie but receiue damage for that there is no lyme vsed in the whole wall They haue not one castle in all this Citie neyther is there any vsed in all that kingdome for all their force and strength is in their gates the which be made very strong with a double wall within verie broade betwixt the which are continually many souldiers such as do keepe watch and ward both day and night Upon these gates they haue much ordinance but verie ill wrought I meane such as were séene by our men yet they do say that in other places they haue excellent good and verie curiously wrought The whole wall is full of bartilmentes and theron written the names of such souldiers as are bound to repayre thether in the time of necessitie At euerie hundreth paces they haue lodginges the which are very huge and great there whereas in the time of necessitie doo remaine and dwell their Captaynes so long as their troubles doo indure all the wall is fortified with two great mots or ditches the one within and the other without the which they doo fill at all times when they please by sluces which they haue from the riuer for the same purpose and doo serue of water almost all the houses in the Citie whereas they haue their stanges for the most part full of fish This mightie Citie is situated in a great plaine and compassed round about with mightie rockes and mountaines which is the occasion that it is not so healthfull and the inhabitants saye that it is by reason of the mountaines and many times it is ouerflowen in the winter by spring tides froÌ„ the riuer And in that yeare that this doth happen it doth destroy and ruinate a great part of the city as it was at that time when our people did sée it for y t in the winter before they were troubled with these great tides which did them much harme Now to returne to our purpose you shall vnderstand that in the kinges house aforesaide our people remained all the time that they were in this Citie wheras they were made much of and visited by the principall of the same but in especiall of the viceroy who the verie same day diâ— send to inuite them for the next day following who made vnto them a famous banket
he sealed it vp and sent it vnto the Citie of Taybin vnto the king and his counsell and therewith that which the Gouernour of Chincheo did sende him as shall be tolde you for that they haue a rigorous lawe in that kingdome that dooth prohibite all such as haue any office of gouernement to receiue any present of what qualitie so euer it be without lycence of the king or of his counsell vpon paine to be depriued of bearing anie office all the dayes of their liues and to bee banished and condemned to weare red bonnets as wee haue declared the effect thereof This is conformable vnto that which the gouernor of Chincheo did in the presence of our people at such time as they went to take their leaue of him for to goe vnto Aucheo which was that in their presence they commanded to take foorth all that they brought him in present and shewing it vnto them péece by peece He asked if it were that which they had brought and they aunswered that it was the same although it was with troubled mindes beléeuing that it was to checke them because it was so small in respect of their mightinesse he asked them if there lacked any thing they answered no then straightwayes he commanded to put it againe whereas it was taken out in their presence and before a notarie and witnesses the which being doone was mailed and sealed and so sent vnto the viceroy of Aucheo in their companie and saide that hee could not receiue it without the licence aforesaid So our souldiers séeing that they could not be suffered to enter in with the present they tooke it for a great discourtesie and disfauour and therewith departed vnto their lodging to giue the fathers to vnderstande thereof who liked not well thereof but yet they concluded amongest themselues to suffer for a while and to commit vnto God the direction thereof as it best may be for his holy seruice The next day following the viceroy did send to visite them and to aske of them a sword a hargubush and a â—laske for that he would cause others to be made by them the which they did send and afterwardes vnderstood that they had counterfeited the same although not in so perfect manner Then after a time our people seeing that their beeing in that citie séemed to be long and like to be longer they did procure to driue away the time in the best manner they could and went abroad into the citie and did by eyther of them that which they thought best Whereof they found great abundance and of so small price that they bought it almost for nothing They bought many bookes that did intreat of diuerse matters which they brought with them to the Ilands as appeareth more at large in the chapter for the same The next day they went to sée the gates of the Citie and all such curious thinges as were to be séene so farre as they could learne or vnderstande which were many But amongst them all they sawe a sumptuous temple of their Idolles in whose chiefe chappell they counted one hundred and eleuen Idols besides a great number more that were in other particular chappels all were of carued worke verie well proportioned and gilted but in especiall thrée of them that were placed in the middest of all the rest the one had thrée heads procéeding out of one bodie the one looking on the other in full face The second was the forme of a woman with a childe in her armes the third of a man apparelled after the forme and fashion that the Christians doo paint the Apostles Of all the rest some had foure armes and some had sixe and other eight and other some marueilous deformed monsters Before them they had burning lamps and many swéete parfumes and smelles but in especiall before the thrée aboue specified But when that the viceroy did vnderstande that our people did go viewing the Citie gates and temples and perceiueth that they that gaue him the notice did suspect it that it was to some ill intent therewith he straightwayes commanded that they should not goe â—oorth out of their lodging without â—is licence and likewise commanded the Captaine that was their garde not to consent thereunto as he had done and likewise that none should carrie them any thing for to sell for he that did it should be punished with whipping Yet notwithstanding they had euerie day verie sufficient necessaries for their personages in such ample wise that there did alwayes remaine and not lacke In this closenesse and kéeping in they suffered many dayes with much sadnesse and oppressed with melancholick humors to sée that their purpose wherefore they went thether séemed to be long and euerie day was worse worse Yet noâ—withstanding they did passe it ouer in the best wise they could in coÌ„mitting it with heartie zeale vnto God for whose honor and glorie they did attempt that voyage prayed vnto him for to mooue their hearts to consent that the religious fathers might remaine in that countrie for to learne the language as they had begun many daies before by which meanes their soules might be saued and clearely deliuered from the tyrannie of the diuell who of truth had them in possession So after many dayes that they had remained in that close estate as aforesaide they determined for to goe and talke with the viceroy and to bee fully resolued either to tarry or returne from whence they came They straightwayes did put it in vre and what ensued thereof you shall vnderstande in the chapter following CHAP. XXVI The Spaniardes talke with the Viceroy and not being suffered they do write to him a letter and he doth answere it by word of mouth with other particular matters IT hath béen declared vnto you that the same day y t the Spaniardes did talke with the viceroy he asked them if they had brought any letter for their king they answered no he tolde them that he would write vnto the court and hauing answere they should be fully satisfied of their pretence and demaund But they séeing that his aunswere was long a comming and great delaye made therein and that they had them as halfe prisoners they determined to go and speake with the viceroy to be fully satisfied of his determinate will pretence and to haue some order eyther to goe vnto the court or to remaine in that citie or else to returne vnto the Ilands and there to tarrie the time till it pleased God to open a gate in that kingdome wherein might enter his holy gospell With this their pretended purpose they did perswade with their captaine to permit them so much libertie as for to go and speake with the viceroy who for that hee bare them loue and good will did consent therevnto So they went but when they came thether they that kept the gates would not consent y t they should enter which was the occasion that they returned vnto their lodgings verie sad and sorrowfull
which is called the Cape of San Anton they doo put two hundreth and fiue and twenty leagues of Longitude and of Latitude sixe and thirty it is inhabited with Spaniards who conuerted all the rest vnto the faith of Christ there is in it a bishop and monasteries of religious Friers When that any ships do go vnto Noua Espania they haue sight of them likewise when they do returne all those which do come from the Peru do enter into the foresaid port of the Hauana which is a very good port and sure and there is to be had all kind of prouision necessary and belonging vnto the fleetes and ships some which the Ilande dooth yéeld it selfe and other some brought from other places but in particular there is great store of very good timber as wel for the repairing of ships as for other thinges with the which they do ordinarily balest their ships that come for Spaine The kinges maiesty hath in this a gouernor and a captaine with very good souldiers for the defence therof and of a fort which is in the same harbor the best that is in all the Ilands This Iland of Cuba was discouered in the yeare 1511. and was in it being of the bignesse aforesaid a great number of naturall people and now but a very fewe it hath a riuer wherein is very much gold according vnto the opinion of the natural people and was tolde by the fathers vnto their children the which was cast into that riuer by the natural people in this order following There was a Casique called Hatuey who for feare that hée had of the Spaniards came from the Iland Hispaniola vnto this Iland with many of his people and brought al their riches with much golde amongst them who by the relation of other Indians of Santo Domingo wheras he had béen king vnderstood that the Spanyardes were comming vnto that Iland whereupon he gathered togither all his people and many of that Iland and made a parley vnto them saying It is said of a certeintie that the Christians doo come into this Iland and you doo well vnderstand by experience what they haue done by the people of the kingdome of Aytim which was the Iland Hispaniola the like will they doo here by vs but doo you know wherfore they doo it they answered and saide because they were of their owne nature cruel The Casique saide no that they did it not therefore but because they had a God whom they did worship because they will haue him from vs they doo kil vs and in saying these words he tooke forth a basket with golde iewels which he brought thither in secret and shewed it vnto thē saying this is their God that I spake off let vs make vnto them Ateytos the which are sports and dances and possible we shall please them then wil they command their people not to do vs any harme For y e accomplishing furnishing of the same euery one of them brought that which they had in their houses made therof a great mountaine of wheate and danced rounde about the same till they were werie then the Casique saide I haue thought with my self whilest we were dancing that howsoeuer it be these that do come wil kil vs for whether we do kéep our treasure or giue it vnto them with couetousnes to séeke more from vs we shall die therefore let vs throw it into this riuer the which they did with a common consent and good will From thir point or cape of Sant Anton they saile to the port of San Iuan de Lua which is on the firme land of Mexico two hundreth and thirtie leagues from the said point in all that bay there is great fishing but in especial of one kind of fish which is called Mero the which are so easie to be taken that in one day they may lade not shippes but whole fléetes and many times it happeneth that they bring so many to their ships that that they throw them again into the sea for lack of salt to salt them with They passe in sight of an Iland called Campeche the which is a gallant fresh country nigh vnto the kingdom of Mexico in it is great store of victuals but specially hony and waxe and is thrée hundreth leagues compasse al the people of that Iland are conuerted vnto the law of our Lord Iesus Christ. There is in it a bishop and a cathedrall Church a gouernor for his maiestie and monasteries of Friers Within few dayes after they depart from this Ilande and come vnto the port of saint Iohn de Lua in the which by reason that it hath many flats it is requisite to be carefull for to enter into it his maiestie hath in it a fort which is good and strong Fiue leagues from this port is the Cittie of the Vera Cruz whereas is the whole trade traficke and there is resident the kings officers it is a hot country by reason that it is in ninetéene degrées but well replenished of all kinde of victuals it was wont to be vnholesome but now they say it is not so much they know not what shoulde bee the occasion whether it bee by the moouings of the heauens or by the good gouernement and discretion of them that do dwel in it This cittie is from the citie of Mexico y e which is metropolitā of al that kingdom and by whom al the rest is gouerned seuentie leagues al y e way inhabited ful of townes both of Indians Spaniards so great store of prouision y t it seemeth to be y e land of promission It is mauellous temperate in such sort that almost throughout al the whole yeare it is neither whot nor cold neither dooth night excéede the day nor the day the night but a very little by reason that it is almost vnder the Equinoctiall line The mightinesse of this kingdome and some particularities you shall vnderstand of in the Chapter following CHAP. V. Of the bignesse of the kingdome of Mexico and of some particular and notable things that are in it THis kingdome of Mexico is the firme land on the one side it hath the North sea and on the other side the South sea it is not possible to declare the bredth and length thereof for that vnto this day it is not all discouered Euery day they doo finde and discouer new countries as in the yeare of fourescore and thrée you may perceiue by the entry which was made by Antonio de Espeio who with his companions did discouer a countrie in the which they found fiftéene prouinces al ful of townes which were full of houses of foure and fiue stories high the which they did name Nueuo Mexico for that it doth resemble the old Mexico in many thinges It is towards the North and they do beleeue that that way by inhabited place they may come vnto that country which is called of the Labrador
day and carrie them vnto his mansion or dwelling All this kingdome is so fertile as well for the ordinarie watring as also for the temperature of the heauen that almost all the whole yeare they do gather fruits but in especiall of wheat and rice so that both the one and the other are very good cheape that our people in the discourse of their trauaile or pilgrymage did buy one pyco of rice or of wheate meale which is fiue rouâ—s of Spaine for one ryall and a halfe according vnto this rate al other thinges beare their prices as hath béene before declared They say that in this countrie there be many elephants lyons tygres ownses other brute breastes of the which these friers sawe verie few aliue but many skins of them which is a signe that it is of truth There are many beasts whereof come the muske the which are of the tygres like vnto a litle dogge the which they do kill put them vnder the ground certaine dayes and after that it is putrified rotten the flesh and bloud is conuerted into that swéete powder There be also many cyuet cats little worth a great number of horse although those which the said friers did sée were litle yet is it a common voice fame that in some of the fiftéene prouinces there are very good but they were not there so that they can not say they had seene theÌ„ But the hens géese duckes and other poultrie that are in all partes of this kingdome are without number which is the occasion that they are of small estimation the abundance of fish ia no lesse as well of the sea as of the riuers in the which they are conformable All they that do declare of the thinges of this countrie and the small price that it is solde for is such that the saide Frier doth affirme and others that haue bin in that kingdome that for the value of sixe marauadies which is a pennie may four companions eat very wel of flesh fish rice and fruits and drinke good wine of that countrie In all this kingdome there are many mynes both of gold and siluer and all verie rich but the king will not let them be labored but with great lymitation saying that which is in those mynes be in his house and that they should procure to bring it from other kingdomes yet notwithstanding the abundance is so great both of the one and the other and so coÌ„mon that there is no man although he be of an occupation but hee hath in his house things both of gold and siluer and other very rich iewels They do estéeme for his value more the siluer than the golde and they say the cause is for that the prices of golde are variable as in Italie but the siluer is alwaies at one sâ—aye and price There are great store of pearles but in especiall in the Iland of Aynao and great abundance of quickesiluer copper yron steele laton tyn lead salt peter brimstone and other things which were woont to beautifie a kingdome but aboue all there is very much muske and amber gryce The king of this kingdome besides the great rent the which he hath it is saide that he hath great treasories in all the principall cities those which are the head cities of the prouinces for the confirmance thereof it was affirmed vnto the saide fryer for a verie certaintie that in the citie of Canton all the money that hath entred into the same for y e space of fiue hundred yeres as well by way of the Portingals as by those of the kingdom of Cyan and others their borderers and all the tributes of that prouince is altogether in the kings treasure house of that citie which amounteth vnto by good account many more millions than may be well numbred for to giue credite thereunto It is as common for the people of this countrie to weare silke as in Europe to weare lynnen yea they do make their shooes thereof some of satten and many times of cloth of golde of verie gallant colours the cause is by reason of the great abundance that they haue therof and is of so great quantitie that it is carried from the Citie of Canton vnto the Protingall Indians more than thrée thousand kintals euery yeare besides a great quantitie which is carried vnto Iapon and ordinarily more than â—iftéene ships laden for the Ilandes of Luzon The Sianes and other nations doo also carrie away a great quantitie and although there are carried away ordinarily as afore saide yet there remaineth so great quantity in that kingdome that many fleetes may be laden therewith There is also great store of â—laxe cotton and other kinde of webstrie and also good cheape that the aforesaide Fryer dooth affirme that he hath seene solde a canga which is fiftéene fadam for foure ryals of plate The fine earthen dishes that are in this countrie cannot be declared without many wordes But that which is brought from thence into Spaine is verie course although vnto them that hath not séene the finer sort it seemeth excellent good but they haue such with them that a cubbaâ—d thereof amongest vs would be esteemed as though it were of golde The finest cannot be brought foorth of the kingdome vpon paine of death neyther can any haue the vse therof but onely the Loytias which be there gentlemen as hath béen tolde you There is great quantitie of sugar honie and waxe and verie good cheape as aforesaide And in conclusion I say that they liue with so great abundance that all things do flow so that they lacke nothing necessarie for their bodies but for their soules which is the principallest they do lack as you haue vnderstoode in the discourse of this historie God remedie the same at his pleasure The rent which the king of this kingdome hath is declared vnto you in a proper chapter of it selfe so that in this I will declare that which the sayde fryer tolde me and is onely of one riuer which is called the riuer of the salt and is in the prouince of Canton and is worth vnto him euerie yeare a million and a halfe And although the ordinarie rent the which he hath euery yeare dooth exceede the greatest king that is nowe knowen in all the world in quantitie yet in his treasories which be gathered together and kept if it be true that the Chinos do say in euery principall citie of these fiftéene prouinces is more than a great number of kings togither haue or can procure no nor come nigh vnto it by a great deale All the cities and townes of this kingdome are walled about with stone walles and at euerie fiftéene paces a bulwarke and without the wall commonly all of them haue a riuer or else a great déepe moote wherein they may bring water at all times with the which they are very strong they doo vse no fortes neyther haue they any but
doo but amongst other signes and tokens of the same he made a crosse and set it by the doore of his house wherunto he did reuerence at all times when he passed by the same with great deuotion His neighbours when as they saw that signe a thing of them neuer séene before and howe that that Christian did make particular reuerence they beganne to mocke and scorne him and the crosse and pulled it downe from the place whereas it was set did other things in dispite thereof and of him that had set it there in that place whose hatred and discourtesie was so much that they determined in their minds to burne it and to put the same in execution who at the same instance did all miraculously die I say those that would haue burnt the same the which was séene of many other who haue giuen sufficient testimony therof And within fewe dayes after all the whole linage of those dead persons did follow the same way and not one escaped This miracle being spread throughout all the kingdome the naturals thereof did set vp many crosses in all parts This they say was the principall motion that God put into their hearts for to moue them to demande for such as shoulde baptise them and preach the holy gospell Likewise a great helpe vnto the same was the declaration of the painted cloth which the aforesaid religious man did send to the king Since that time there hath gone vnto the Cittie of Machao certaine naturals of that kingdome who being affectioned vnto our faith were baptised there with the which and with the hope aforesaid they are all sustained till such time as it is y e pleasure of God to send them the remedie for their soules the which hée hath caused them to desire which cannot be long according vnto that which hath béene séene and the miracles that God doth worke the more for to kindle their desire as the myracle of the crosse before spoken off and others the which certaine Cochinchinos did declare in the Cittie of Machao in anno 1583. and happened the same yeare and was very fresh in the memorie of all those of the saide kingdome The one of them was that one of the Christians aforesaid went to visite a principall man that had the palsie and kept his bed many yeares before and conferring with his long sickenesse he told of certaine myracles such as he had vnderstanding that was done by Christ our redéemer when that he was man amongst men whome hée redéemed but in particular those which he did in the healing of the like infirmities such as he lay sicke of alonely with his deuine vertue in touching of them with any part of his garmeÌ„ts or shadow The Iudge hearing this hee had a particular faith deuotion to him that had doone these myracles that the christian had told him asked what his name was what signes tokens he had he told him that his name was Iesus of Nazareth redéemer of the worlde the sauiour and glorifier of men And the better to declare vnto him his signes he shewed to him an Image or picture that he had of his y t which was giuen him such time as he was baptised printed in paper of Iesu Christ when he ascended vp into heauen the which for lacke of Churches and other of greater volume hee should haue continually with him make his praiers thereunto This sicke man tooke it and fixed his eies thereon with so great deuotion and faith in requesting him to giue him his health that he would presently beleeue in him bée baptised At the same instant in the sight of them all he felt himselfe whole of y e infirmitie that he had suffered so many yeares before and neuer could find any humaine remedy for the same although he had prooued an infinite number He straightwayes willed the Christian to baptise him vnto whome hée gaue a great summe of monie the which hee receiued against his will and spent it in workes of mercie and with part thereof he bought a bigge barke in the which at this day he dooth passe people thorough a riuer whereas they were wont to passe great perill and danger and hee doth it for Gods sake and receiueth nothing for the same A fewe dayes after in another part of this kingdome there happened another myracle of no lesser substance then the first that is there was a Cochinchina in the said citie of Machao who did aske to bee baptised of a barefoote Frier which after y t hee had catechised sufficiently hée gaue it vnto him and after a great time that hee had béene in his company and had experience of his Christianitie deuotion he gaue him licence for to returne vnto his country with a good token that at his comming thither he would procure to augment the desire of Christianitie the which God had begunne to kindle in their brest This good new christian did procure the same with so great care that he did profite very much being holpen with the fauor of God who made him his instrument hee healed certaine infirmities in shewing vnto the patients an Image of our ladie the which he had continually about his necke and had therunto great deuotion and woulde declare to them with great zeale the Lords prayer or Pater noster His fame was so much spred abrode in all parts of this prouince wherein he dwelled that it came vnto the eares of a Mandarin or principall Iudge of the same who was many dayes in his bedde a leaper both of handes and féete and neuer coulde finde any phisition nor medecine that could giue him his health nor any other humaine remedie who being verie desirous to be healed hée sent â—or the saide Christian and asked if hée would take vppon him to heale him of that infirmitie as it was affirmed that hee had done by others of greater importance The Christian saide hée would then the Iudge did promise vnto him for the same great giftes and rewardes but hee made no account thereof but oneliâ— requested of him for reward that after hee should bee hole that he would be baptised and become a Christian the which he did accept and principally he shewed vnto him the Image that hée had of our lady saying If thou wilt beléeue in this lady that is heere ingraued and in her most holy sonne Iesus Christ the redéemer of the whole world thou shalt presently be made hole This Mandarin or Iudge did beholde the same with great attention and thought on the words which he had heard spoken And in determining with himselfe to beléeue the same at the very point that he did put it in execution he was healed of al his infirmitie a thing which caused great admiration in all that prouince These myracles and that of the crosse in a short time being knowne abrode haue caused such a desire vnto the inhabitants of that kingdome to become Christians that by all manner of meanes
aforesaid frier Ignacio did sée in Malaca a present y t the king of this kingdome of Camboia did send vnto another friend of his and amongst many things contained therin of great riches curiositie there were two crosses very great and wel made of a gallant wood very swéete and all garnished very richly with siluer and gold with their titles enamiled Nigh vnto this kingdome is that of Sian in the hight of fourtéene degrées from the pole Artike and thrée hundred leagues from Machao wheras the Portugals do go to trade It is the mother of all Idolatrie and the place from whence hath procéeded many sectes vnto Iapon China and Pegu. It is a flourishing countrie and well replenished of all such things as be requisite for to merite the name to be good There be in it maniâ— Elephants and Abadas and other beasts that are nourished in that countrie besides this it is very rich of mettals and gallant swéete woode The people of this kingdome for the most part are faint-hearted or cowards for which occasion although they are infinite in number yet are they subiect vnto the king of Pegu who ouercame them long time since in a battell as afterwards shall be declared and they doo pay him ordinarily great and heauy tributes They would be conuerted very easâ—ly vnto the faith of Iesu Christ and would leaue their Idols if they had any to preach vnto them yea would subiect themselues vnto any king or Lord that woulde fauour them and not vnto this whom now they do obey for that hee dooth intreate them tyrannously They haue amongst them many religious men after their fashion who doo liue in common and leade an asper and sharp life for the which they are had of al the rest in great veneration The penance which they do is wonderfull strange as you may iudge by some things that I will declare here amongst a great number that be tolde of them there are none of them that can marrie neither speake to any woman if by chance he do they arewithout remissioÌ„ punished by death They go alwayes barefoote very poorely apparelled do eate nothing but rice gréene herbes and this they do aske for charitie euery day going from doore to doore with their wallet at their backes alwayes with their eyes looking on the ground w t such modesty honesty that it is to be wondred at they doo not craue their charity neither take it with their hands nor do any other thing but cal or knocke stand still till such time as they giue them their answer or put some thing into their wallets It is told them for a truth that many times for penance they do put themselues starke naked in the heate of the sunne which is there very great for that y e country is in twenty sixe degrees of the Equinoctiall whereas they are much troubled there with gnats whereof there is an infinite number and is a thing that if they did passe it for Gods sake it is a kinde of martyrdome of great desert God for his mercy lighten them with his grace that this which they do smally vnto the profite of their soules may bee the occasion that after they are baptised they may deserue for the same many degrées of glory Likewise in secreat they doo great penance and doo rise vp at midnight to praie vnto their Idols and they do it in quiers as is vsed amongst vs Christians It is not permitted them any rentes nor any other kinde of contractation and if they bée séene to deale in any they are detested and hated as an heretike is amongst vs. For this kind of asper liuing the which they do according vnto the report for the loue of the heauen and that with great zeale they are respected of the common people for saints and for such they do reuerence them and do commit them vnto their praiers when they are in any trouble or infirmity These and many other things mo be declared of them in like order which may serue for to confound vs that confessing we do not obserue kéepe hauing for the same our sure reward not of humain interest but that which God hath prepared for the good in heaueÌ„ The law of the Gospell in this kingdome would bring foorth much fruite for that the people are charitable and louers of vertue and of them that haue it This experience had the father Ignacio and his companions in China at such time as they were prisoners where there were in a city certain ambassadors from the king of Syan who were bound to the court and there they vnderstood that the Spaniards were sentenced to death for entring into that country without licence they went to visite them when they saw them with their asper habites and very poore did resemble very much the habit of their religious men they had so great affection vnto them that ouer and aboue they sent theÌ„ good charity the which was two bags of rice much fish fruits they did offer to theÌ„ al the mony they would desire to ransome them in al that the Iudges would demand â—or them in recompeÌ„ce of this good wil they shewed vnto y e Spaniards they did verifie that aforesaide that they are great louers of vertue CHAP. XXII Of many other kingdomes that are in this new world and of their names and properties but in espiciall of that famous Cittie of Malaca NIgh vnto this kingdome of Syan there are two kingdomes togither the one of them is called Lugor and the other Patane they belong both vnto one king who is a Moore and of the linage Malaya yet notwithstanding the people of these kingdomes are Gentiles and doâ— vnderstande in them to haue great good will to become Christians if they had anie to preach vnto them the Gospell The lande is very rich of golde Pepper and of drugges but the people faint hearted and cowards and for little for which occasion they are more giuen vnto thinges of contentment and pleasure then vnto wars or brawlings At the ende of this kingdome is the straite of Malaca in the which there are two small kingdomes the one of them is called Paon and the other Ior the people of the first are the most traiterous that are in all the whole worlde as the Portugals haue many times experimented and those of the second kingdome sometimes they are in peace and sometimes in warre with the said Portugals They will haue peace when they do sée themselues in necessity of the same but war ordinarily These two kingdomes are halfe Moores by reason whereof it séemeth that with an euil wil they wil be reduced vnto the law of the gospel if that by the help of God they be not mollified of their hearts This straight of Malaca is vnder the Equinoctiall line and is accounted from the kingdome of Cochinchina vnto it 376. leagues this is an euill straight
and very dangerous for ships that passe thorough it for very few times it is without stormes or some other greater danger as it happened vnto a verie great shippe in the mouth of the straight in the presence of Frier Martin Ignacio the which in verie little space was swallowed vp with the sea in it more theÌ„ thrée hundred thousand ducats in merchandice that was within her although the successe thereof our people did attribute it more vnto the iust iudgement of God than vnto the storme for that according as they were informed they had committed grieuous offences at the time when she sanke for being very nigh with his shippe in the which he went and many other more they felt not neither had any suspition of any danger From this straight to go vnto Malaca you coast alongest the sea fiue and twentie leagues all which coast is full of great mightie and thicke woods by reason whereof as also for that it is not inhabited there are many tygers elephants and mightie great lysards and other furious beastes The citie of Malaca in our pole articke is eleuated from the equinoctiall onely one degrée of ancient time it was the most principallest citie of all these kingdomes and resident therein a mightie king a Moore but after it was conquered by the Portingals who in these wars did wonderfull things of great force courage they did driue foorth all the Moores out of the same and out of all the borders and made of their Mezquita or temple which was a singular péece of worke a high church as it doth remaine vnto this day there are also thrée monasteries of religious men one of S. Dominicke an other of S. Francis and the third of the companie of Iesus or Iesuites It is a verie temperate countrie being so nigh the equinoctiall line the reason is for that euery wéeke ordinarily it rayneth thrée or foure times which is the greatest cause of health in all that countrie and thereby is made woonderfull fruitfull and with great abundance of prouision but particularly of fruites for there is great store and some sortes neuer séene in Europe amongst the which there is one y t is called in the Malaca tongue Durion and is so good that I haue heard it affirmed by manie that haue gone about the worlde that it doth excéede in sauour all others that euer they had séene or tasted it is in forme like vnto a mellon whose ryne is somewhat harde and hath vpon it little white prickes which séemeth like haire and within the fruite be partitions which be of the colour like vnto maniar blanco and of so good sauour and tast as it Some do say that haue séene it that it séemeth to be y t wherwith Adam did transgresse being carried away by the singular sauour The leaues which this trée yéeldeth are so bigge that a man may couer himselfe with one of them which mee thinketh is but coniecture or defining but there is Cannafistola for to lade fléetes very bigge and good and of a singular effect one of the notablest things in this kingdome is a maruellous trée of an admirable vertue the which putteth foorth so many rootes of so contrarie vertue that those which grow towards the orient be good against poyson agues and many infirmities that do war against humaine life those rootes that growe â—owards the west be ranke poyson in effect all cleane contrarie vnto the first So that it seemeth here to be founde two contraries in one subiect a thing which in philosophie they were woont to count impossible This citie is of great contractation for that there come thether all the kingdomes that we haue spoken of and from many other more that are nigh thereabouts but in particular a great number of great ships from the Indians Canton Chincheo and froÌ„ many other places likewise the Iapones carry thether their siluer to sell those of the kingdome of Syan carry many things very curious but especially cloues and pepper of the Iland Malucas and those of Burneo bring much sanders nutmegs and those of Iaba Pegu bring the wood of aguila and those from Cochinchina Cham bring great store of wrought silke drogges and spicerie and those of Samatra or Trapouana much golde and wrought things fine cloth of Vengalas Coromandel All these and other thinges make this citie famous and plentifull as also very much enlarged of the Portingals that go thether ordinarily euery yeare and traficke there CHAP. XXIII Of some kingdomes of the newe worlde and of particular things that haue beene seene in them and treateth of the citie and riuer of Ganies OUer against this famous citie of which so many thinges may be spoken of is that mightie kingdome and Iland of Samatra called by the ancieÌ„t cosmogrosers Trapouana which is as some say the Iland of Ophir whether y e fléet went which king Salomon sent of which there is particular mention made in the scripture in the third booke of the kings cap. 9. 10. and in the Paralipomenon cap. 9. that went returned againe ladeÌ„ with gold rich tymber for to adorne the temple of Ierusalem and of many other curious things whose memorie doth remain vnto this day amongst the naturall people although diffusedly But not so much as those that haue it out of the holy scripture neither so true This Iland is vnder the equinoctial line so that the one halfe doth extend vnto the pole artick the other halfe vnto the poole antarticke It hath in longitude 230. leagues and in latitude three score seuen leagues and is so nigh vnto Malaca that in some parts it is lesse than ten leagues In this kingdom there are many lords rulers yet he y t hath the greatest part thereof is a Moore and is called Achan it is one of the richest Ilands in al the world for y t it hath many mynes of fine golde of the which although there is a law y t they cannot take out of theÌ„ more than is necessarie yet there is great abundance carried from thence to Malaca Turkie and many other places There is gathered vpon this Iland great abundance of pepper and beniewyn of Boninas in great quantity out of whose trées whereof there is great woods there come foorth so swéet a smel that it seemeth an earthly paradice and was wont to be smelled twenty leagues at sea for which respect the ships that saile that way do come so nigh the lande as they may to haue the comfort of that smell There is also much Camphora and all kinde of spices by reason wherof there commeth vnto this kingdome to traficke many Turkes that come in ships and foystes out of the red sea Also there doth traficke thether those of the kingdom of Sunda Iaua the great and Ambayno and others that are there nigh vnto them Unto this Iland came certaine Portingals to buy and sell whereas they were
all slaine and some for the profession of the faith for the which they are holden for martyrs of Iesu Christ by the opinion of christians that doo dwell nigh when they vnderstood y e cause The most part of this kingdome are Moores therefore they do abhor the christians do make with them all the warrâ— they can but in especiall with them that dwell in Malaca whom many times they haue put in great danger of their liues and losse of their goods Running froÌ„ this kingdome of Malaca by the north northwest cost is the mightie kingdome of Pegu the which is in bignes greater theÌ„ Samatra equall in riches especially of pearls and al sorts of stones very fine christall there is great store of prouision and an infinite number of people and the king thereof is mightie to whoÌ„ as we haue said y e king of Cyan doth pay tribute because he ouercame him in a battaile which he had w t him in the yeare 1568. according vnto the common opinion the occasion was that vnderstanding how that the saide king of Syan had in his power a white Elephant whome those of the kingdome of Pegu do worship for God the king sent to buy the same and to giue for it so much as he would estéeme or value it but he vtterly denied the same and saide that he would not let him haue it for all that he had in his kingdom the which caused so great anger vnto the king that hee called together all the souldiers that he could make with determination to get by force of armes that which he could not by faire meanes and great ritches in the which he did so great diligence that in a fewe dayes hee had ioyned together an armie of a million and sixe hundreth thousande of men of warre with whome hee departed vnto the saide kingdome of Syan which was from his kingdome two hundreth leagues and did not onely performe his pretence in bringing away the white Elephant but did also make the king tributarie as he is vnto this day as hath bin declared vnto you The rites of the people and priestes of this countrie doo resemble much those of the kingdome of Syan they haue amongst them many monasteries of men that liue honestly solitarie with great penance and people verie apt to receiue the holy gospell For ouer and aboue that they are docible and of a good vnderstanding they are men which do studie philosophie and are well inclyned and charitable and haue a particular affection vnto vertue and vnto such as they do knowe that haue vertue and very friendly to remedie the necessitie of their poore neighbours Going from this kingdome towardes the north is the kingdome of Arracon verie plentifull of prouision but few things of contractation or marchandice which is the occasion that it is not well knowen to the Spaniardes for that they haue not gone thether They doo vnderstand of the naturall people and of their customes that they are very apt to receiue the holie gospell From this kingdome alongst the same coast you came vnto the kingdome of Vangala through the which doth passe the riuer Ganges one of the foure that comme foorth of paradice terrenall the which being vnderstood by a certaine king of this kingdome he determined to cause some to ascend vp that riuer till such time as he had found the head spring or head thereof and therewith paradice for the which effect he commanded to be made diuers â—ortes of barkes both small and great and sent in them vp the riuer certaine men of whose diligence hee had long experience were prouided with victuals for many daies and gaue commandement that presently after that theyhad discouered that which hee desired that they should returne with great spéede far to giue him particular and true relation with pretence foorthwith to go himselfe to inioy the things which he thought necessarie to be séene and woorthie to be desired of his trauaile and in a place so delightfull These men did nauigate vp the riuer many monethes and came vnto a place whereas the water came foorth so softly and with so small noyse which gaue them to vnderstande that they were not farre from the first head thereof which should be paradice that which they went to séeke They gaue to vnderstand that in this place after they had séene so many tokens comforted themselues with maruellous swéete smels and aires of great delight they thought verily that they had bin in the paradice terrenall And more when as they came vnto that place where as the riuer did runne so peaceable and the ayre so delicate and swéet there entred into the hearts of them all so great and extraordinarie ioy that they séemed to be in the true paradice and forgot all the trauaile that they had passed for to come thether and of any other thing that did signifie paine or griefe But when they did intend to go forwardes with this their pretence and intent and thereunto did put all diligence possible they found by experience that all their trauaile was in vaine and howe that they remained alwaies in one place and coulde not vnderstand from whence did come or procéede that contradiction they could not find in the waters by reason of the peaceablenesse thereof This experience being done attributing it vnto a miserie because they could not get a shore they returned backe againe by the same riuer till they came to their owne kingdome wheras they arriued in a very short time and gaue their king to vnderstand who sent them all as afore saide and many other thinges more the which I do leaue out for that I do take it apocripha They hold it for a certaintie that the riuers Eufrates and Tygris are not far from this riuer Ganges and it séemeth to be true for both of them doo discharge their currents or water into the Persian sea the which is not farre distant from this kingdome The people of this kingdome haue this riuer in great reuerence which is the occasion that they neuer enter into the same but with great respect and feare And when they doo washe or bath themselues in it they haue it for a certainetie that they remaine cleare from all their sinnes Likewise this kingdome with great ease might be conuerted vnto the catholike faith as it séemeth for that they haue amongst them many morall rites ceremonies and vertues CHAP. XXIIII Of the kingdome of Coromandel and others his borderers and of the citie of Salamina whereas was and died the glorious Apostle S. Thomas and of the power and riches of the king of this kingdome the order of their buryinges and other thinges of great curiositie RUnning alongest the coast from Vengala is the kingdome of Masulapatar and certaine other kingdomes nigh vnto the same they be all Gentiles as the rest of their borderers yet it is vnderstood with great facilitie they would leaue their opinions It is
a kingdome that hath great abundance of prouision and lacke of things of contractation or marchandice which is the occasion that they are little knowen Trauailing a little forwardes is the kingdome of Coromandel whose chiefe citie is called Calamina and nowe vulgarly Malipur and is there whereas was martyred the happie Apostle S. Thomas And they say that at this day there remaineth some of his relickes by whom God did many myracles The naturall people therefore haue a particular memory vntill this day of that saint This citie at this day is populared with Portingals and with the naturall people there is in it a church wherein is comprehended the house whereas was and died the holy Apostle this countrie belongeth vnto the king of Visnaga who although he be a Gentile he hath great reuerence and respect vnto the house of the holy Apostle and for particular deuotion he doth giue euerie yeare a certaine charitie There is in this citie two couentes of religious men the one of the companie of Iesus and the other of the order of S. Francis From this citie of Calamina to that of Visnaga there wheras the king is it is fiue and thirtie leagues by land This king is mightie and his kingdome very great and full of people and hath great rentes They say that onely the rent he hath of fine gold is worth vnto him thrée millions of the which he spendeth but one onely and doth keepe euerie yeare two millions in his treasorie the which according vnto the report fame is at this day with many millions He hath twelue principall or chiefe captaines and euerie one of them hath the gouernement of an infinite number of people hath great rent for the same for he that hath least rent hath sixe hundred thousand ducats yearely Euerie one of them are bound to giue the king to eate and all the people of his house one month in the yeare so that by this account the twelue captaines which are the lordes of the kingdome and as wee might say dukes doo beare his cost all the whole yeare The million the which he doth spend is in giftes and in extraordinarie thinges The king hath in his house what with wiues seruants and slaues nigh about fourtéene thousand persons and in his stable ordinarily a thousand horse and for his seruice and garde eight hundreth Elephants of whoÌ„ he doth spend euerie day eight hundreth ducats The garde of his person is â—oure thousand horsemen to whoÌ„ he giueth great wages He hath also in his house thrée hundreth wiues besides a great number of concubines they goe all gallantly apparelled and with rich iewels of the which there are of great estimation in y e kingdome they do almost euerie three daies change newe colors of apparell They do ordinarily vse colors of precious stones such as are called in spaine ojo de gato cats eies They haue great store of saphires pearles diamonds rubies many other stones y t are in that kingdome in great abundance Amongest all these wiues there is one that is as legitimate whose children doo inherite and if it so fall out that she is barren the first that is borne of any of y e other doth inherite which is the occasion that they neuer lacke a successor in that kingdome When the king of this kingdome doth die they do carrie him foorth into a mightie fielde with great sadnesse and mourning apparell and there in the presence of those twelue péeres a fore saide they do burne his bodie with wood of Sandalo which is of a great smell with the which they do make a great fire After that the bodie of the king is burned and consumed they throwe into the same the wiues that hee best loued with seruants and slaues those that he most estéemed in his life time the which they do with so great content that euery one dooth procure to be the first for to enter into the fire and they that are last do thinke themselues vnhappie All these do say that they go to serue the king in the other life whereas they shalbe with great ioy This is the occasion that they goe with so good a will to die and carrie with them the most richest and festiuall apparell they haue Of this is gathered that they do beléeue the immortalitie of the soule for that they doo confesse there is an other life and that thither they do returne and liue for euer without ende They are people that would be conuerted with the like facilitie vnto the holy gospell as their neighbours if there went any thether to preach Thrée score and tenne leagues from this citie there is a Pagode or temple of Idols whereas is a rich faire euery yeare it is a very sumptuous building and edified in a place so high that it may be séene many leagues before you come vnto it It hath ordinarily foure thousande men of garde who are paide with the rent of the temple the which is rich and verye good There is nigh vnto the same many mynes of golde and precious stones and that is taken out of them is rent vnto the temple There is in it a prâ—est of the Idolles whom they call in their language brama and is as the high priest in that countrie All the people of the land do come vnto him to vnderstand the doubtes of their manner of liuing and he doth dispence with them in many things that be prohibited by their lawes y e which he may do according vnto the sayd lawes and manie times he doth dispence with certaine of theÌ„ But here one to be laughed at which is that when a woman cannot suffer the condition of her husbande or is wearie of him for other occasions she goeth vnto this Brama and giuing vnto him a péece of golde which may be to the value of a ducat in Spaine he doth vnmarry theÌ„ and setteth her at libertie that she may marry with an other or with many if she please in token of this she is giuen a marke with an yron vpon her right shoulder so that with that alone she remaineth at libertie and her husband cannot do vnto her any harme for the same neither compell her to returne againe to his company There are in this kingdome many mynes of verie fine diamonds and are had in great estimation and very well knowen in Europe There hath béene found in them a stone so fine and of so great value that but few yeares past the king did sell the same vnto an other mightie king his borderer called Odialcan for a million of golde besides other thinges of value that hee gaue him ouer and aboue It is a healthfull countrie with very goâ—d and fresh ayres rich of prouisions and of all other necessaries not only for the humaine life but also for curiositie and delightes that be therein It is in fourtéene degrées towardes the pole artico All the people therein are faint hearted and cowards and for
hystories of the said Chinos whereas they do make mention of the mightinesse thereof and of the 15. prouinces that are comprehended in the same The which bookes and hystories were brought vnto the citie of Manilla printed and set forth in China and were translated into the spanish toong by interpreters of the saide nations And for that they were baptised and became Christians they remaine as dwellers amongest vs in these Ilandes the better to obserue and keepe the lawes of baptisme and to flie the paine punishment the which they should receiue for dooing the same for that they turned Christians and receiued the faith without the license of the king and counsell which is forbidden vppon paine of death and is executed with great violence and without remission This mightie kingdome is in circuit or compasse about 69516. Die which is a kind of measure that they do vse which being reduced into the spanish account is almost 3000. leagues and in length 1800. leagues this is to be vnderstood the whole 15. prouinces the which are garnished with many cities and townes besides a great number of villages as you may plainely see in the chapter following By the said booke it is found that the Chinos haue amongst them but only three kind of measures the which in their language are called Lii Pu and Icham which is as much to say or in effect as a forlong league or iorney the measure which is called Lii hath so much space as a mans voice in a plaine grounde may bee hearde in a quiet day halowing or whoping with all the force and strength he may and ten of these Liis maketh a Pu which is a great spanish league and ten Pus maketh a dayes iourney which is called Icham which maketh 12. long leagues By the which account it is founde that this kingdome hath the number of leagues as aâ—ore is saide Yet by the account of other bookes they do finde it bigger and of more leagues Yet frier Martin de Herrada prouinciall of the austen friers in the Ilands Philippinas who is an excellent Geometrician and Cosmographer did cast the account with great diligence by their owne descriptions and doth finde it to amount vnto the sum aforesaid to be 1800. leagues long and 3000. leagues in compasse beginning at the prouince of Olam which is that towards the South and nearest vnto Malacia and so alongst the countrie towards the North east for the space of 600. leagues CHAP. VII Of the 15. prouinces that are in this kingdome THis mightie kingdome is deuided into fiftéene prouinces that euery one of them is bigger then the greatest kingdome that we doo vndâ—rstand to be in all Europe Some doo esteeme those cities to be metropolitans where as is resident the gouernors presidents or viz Rées which in their natural toong are called Cochin of the prouinces two of them which are called Tolanchia and Paguia are gouerned by the king in person with his royall counsel The occasion why the king is alwayes resident or abiding in one of these two prouinces which are two of the mightiest and most popularst of people is not for that in them he is most at his content or receiue more pleasure in them then in any of the other but onely for that they doo conâ—ine vpon the kingdome of Tartaria with whom in times past they had ordinary and continuall wars and for that the king might with more ease put remedie in such harmes receiued and defend with better oportunitie the rage of his enimie he did ordaine and situate his pallace and court in them two And for that it hath béene of antiquitie many yeeres past it hath remained hitherto and appeareth to continue still the habitation of the kings of that kingdome as by desert for the excellencie of the clime and aboundance of all things necessarie The names of the fiftéene prouinces are as followeth Pagâ—ia Foquiem Olam Sinsay Sisuam Tolanchia Cansay Oquiam Aucheo Honan Xanton Quicheâ— Chequeam Susuam and Saxij Almost all these prouinces but in particular tenne of them which are alongst the sea costs are full of déepe riuers of swéete water and nauigable vpon whose branches are situated many cities and townes whereof you may not onely haue the number of them but also their names for that these Chinos are so curious people that in their books are named besides the cities and townes the banketing houses and houses of pleasure which the gentlemen haue for their recreation And for that it will be more trouble then profite to inlarge any further in this matter I will refer it vnto the next chapter where I will intreate of the cities and townes that either of these prouinces hath and passe ouer all the rest as not necessarie for our intent is to set forth the bignes of this kingdome CHAP. VIII Of the cities and townes that euery one of these prouinces hath in himselfe THese fiftéene prouinces which with better truth might be called kingdomes according vnto the greatnes of them as you may perceiue by the number of cities and townes that each of them hath besides villages the which if I should adde herevnto would be an infinite number The number of cities townes that euery prouince hath First the prouince of Paguia where as ordinarily the king and his counsel is resident hath 47. cities and 150. townes Canton hath 37. cities and 190. townes Foquien hath 33. cities and 99. townes Olam hath 90. cities and 130. townes Synsay hath 38. cities and 124. townes Sisuan hath 44. cities and 150. townes Tolanchia hath 51. cities and 123. townes Cansay hath 24. cities and 112. townes Ochian hath 19. cities and 74. townes Aucheo hath 25. cities and 29. townes Honan hath 20. cities and 102. townes Xaton hath 37. cities and 78. townes Quicheu hath 45. cities and 113. townes Chequeam hath 39. cities and 95. townes Susuan hath 42. cities and 105. townes By which account appeareth to be 591. cities and 1593. townes beside villages and houses of pleasure which are an infinite number by the which you may consider that this kingdome doth deserue to be called great and compared with the best and principalâ—t that is heaâ—d of in al the whole world The Chinos doe vse in their pronunciation to terme their cities with this sylable Fu that is as much to say citie as Taybin fu Canton fu and their townes with this sylable Cheu They haue some villages that are so great that it lacketh but onely the name of a towne All their cities for the most part are situated by the riuers sides such as are nauigable the cities are moted rounde about which make them to bee verie strong not only the cities but townes are walled round about with high and strong wals of stone one faddome high and all the rest is of bricke but of so hard a substance that it is not to be broken almost with pickaxes Some cities hath their wals so broad that 4.
two the which being interpreted christianly may be vnderstoode to be the mysterie of the holy trinitie that wee that are christians doo worship and is part of our faith the which with other things séemeth somwhat to be respondent to our holy sacred and christian religion so that of verie truth we may presume that saint Thomas the Apostle did preach in this kingdome who as it is declared in the lesson on his day After that he had receiued the holy ghost and preached the holy gospel vnto the Parthes Medes Persas Brachmanes and other nations he went into the Iudias whereas he was martyred in the citie of Calamina for his faith and holy gospel that he preached It is verified that when this glorious apostle did passe into the Indies hee trauelled through this kingdome of China where as it appeareth he did preach the holy gospel and mysterie aforesaid of the holy trinitie whose picture in the manner aforesaid doth indure vnto this day although those people by the great and long blindnesse which they are in with their errors and idolatrie doo not perfectly knowe what that figure with thrée heads doth represent or signifie The better for to beléeue that which is said or at least to vnderstande that it is so is that it is found in the writings of the Armenians that amongst them are in reputation and of great authoritie there it saith that this glorious apostle did passe through this kingdome of China when he went into the Indies where he was martyred that he did preach there the holy gospell although it did profite verie little for that the people were out of order and occupied in their warres and therefore this Apostle did passe into the Indies and left some of the countrie although but a few baptised and instructed that when it should please God they might haue occasion to perseuer in that which was taught them They haue also amongst them as it is said certaine pictures after the fashion and with the ensignes of the twelue apostles which is a helpe to the verifying of that aforesaide although if you doo aske of the people who they are they doo answere that they were men and great philosophers that did liue vertuouslie and therfore they are made angels in heauen They doo also vse amongst them the picture of a woman verie faire with a man childe in her armes whereof they say shée was deliuered and yet remained a virgine and was daughter vnto a mightie king they doo reuerence her verie much and do make prayer vnto her more then this they cannot say of this mysterie but that she liued a holy life and neuer sinned Frier Gaspar de la Cruz a Portugall of the order of saint Dominicke was in the citie of Canton where he did write many things of this kingdome and with great attention whom I do follow in many things in the proces of this hystorie and he saith that he being vpon a small Iland that was in the middest of a mightie riuer there was a house in manner of a monastery of religious people of that country and being in it he saw certaine curious things of great antiquitie amongst them he saw a chappel like vnto an oratorie or place of prayer verie well made and curiouslie dressed it had certaine staires to mount into it and compassed about with gilte grates and was made fast and looking vpon the altar the which was couered with a cloth verie rich hee sawe in the midedst of the same an image of a woman of a meruailous perfection with a childe hauing his armes about hir necke and there was burning before her a lampe he being amased at this sight he did demande the signification but there was none that could declare more thereof then that which is saide before Of this which hath ben said it is easily to be beléeued how that the apostle S. Thomas did preach in this kingdom for that it is séene these people haue conserued these traditions many yeares past and doo conserue the same which is a signe token that they had some notice of the true God whose shadows they do represent There is amongst them many errors and without anie foundation and is not of them to be séene nor perceiued til such time as by faith they shall knowe the right God as may bee séene in the chapters where we shall speake of these matters CHAP. II. I do prosecute the religion they haue and of the Idols they do worship OUer and aboue that which is saiâ—e these Idolaters and blind people being men so prudent wise in the gouernement of their common wealth and so subtill and ingenious in all arts yet they do vse many other things of so great blindnes and so impertinent that it doth make them to woonder which attentiuelie doo fall in the consideration yet is it not much to be meruailed at considering that they are without the cléere light of the true Christian religion without the which the subtilest and delicatest vnderstandings are lost and ouerthrowne Generally amongst them they doo vnderstand that the heauen is the creator of all things visible and inuisible and therefore they do make a shew of it in the first caract or letter of the crosse row that the heauen hath a gouernour to rule all such things as are comprehended there aboue whom they call Laocon Tzautey which is to be vnderstood in their language the gouernour of the great and mightie God this they do worship as the principall next vnto the sun They say that this gouernour was not begotten but is eternal and hath no body but is a spirit Likewise they do say that with this there is another of the same nature whom they call Causay and is like wise a spirit and vnto this is giuen power of the lower heauen in whose power dependeth the life and death of man This Causay hath thrée subiectes whom he doth commande and they say they bee likewise spirites and they doo aide and helpe him in things touching his gouernement They are called Tauquam Teyquam Tzuiquam either of them hath distinct power the one ouer the other they say that Tauquam hath charge ouer the raine to prouoke water for the earth and Teyquam ouer humane nature to bring forth mankinde ouer warres sowing the ground and fruites And Tzuiquam ouer the seas and all nauigators They doo sacrifice vnto them and doo craue of them such things as they haue vnder their charge and gouernement for the which they do offer them victuals swéete smels frontals and carpets for their altars likewise they promise many vowes and represent plaies and comedies before their Idols the which they do verie naturallie Besides this they haue for saints such men as haue surmounted other in wisedome in valour in industrie or in leading a solitarie or asper life or such as haue liued without doing euill to any And in their language they cal them Pausaos which be such as
caused all people to feare him They do attribute that this Vitey did first inuent the vse of garmentes for to weare and the dying of all manner of colours of making of shippes hee likewise inuented the saw◠to sawe tymber but aboue all thinges he was a great Architector and an inuenter of buildinges whereof hee made verie manie and verie sumptuous which doo indure vnto this day in the remembraunce of his name he did also inuent the whéele to turne silke the which is vsed to this day in all the kingdome hee was the first that did vse to weare golde pearles and precious stones for iewelles and to weare cloth of golde siluer and silke in apparell he did repart all the people of the countrie into cities townes and villages and did ordaine occupations and commaunded that no man should vse any other but that which his father did vse without his particular licence or the gouerners of his kingdome And that shuld not be granted without great occasion for the same All of one occupation were put in stréetes by themselues the which order is vsed vnto this day throughout al the kingdome so that if you doo desire to knowe what occupation is in anye stréete it is sufficient to sée the first house thereof although it be very long for it is verie certaine that they be all of one occupation and not mingled with any other Amongst all other things he ordeyned one thing of great consideration that was no woman to be idle but to worke either in her husbands occupation or in sowing or spinning This was a law so generall amongst them that the Quéene her selfe did obserue kéepe it They saye that he was a great Astrologician and had growing in the court of his pallace a certaine hearbe the which did make a manner of demonstration when that any did passe by it whereby it did shewe if any were euill intentioned against the king Many other things they do declare which I let passe because I would not be tedious vnto the reader referring the dreames and fondnesse of these Idolaters vnto the iudgement of your discretion for vnto the discréete is sufficient to touch of euerie thing a little Hee had foure wiues and by them fiue and twentie sonnes he reygned a hundreth yeares there was betwixt this king and he which did build the great wall that was spoken of in the ninth chapter of the first booke one hundreth and sixtéene kinges all of the lynage of this Vitey All the which did raigne as appeareth by their histories two thousande two hundreth and fiftie seuen yeares I do not here declare their names because I would not be tedious although they be particularly named in their histories but here I will set downe them that I finde necessarie to bee spoken of for the succession vnto him that nowe reygneth The last king of the lynage of this woorthie Vitey was called Tzintzon this did make the mightie and great wall aforesaide finding himselfe to be greatly troubled with the king of Tartarie who did make warre vppon him in many places of his kingdome he did ordaine the making thereof and for the furnishing of the same he did take the third man of the countrie to the worke and for that manie people did die in this tedious worke by reason they went so farre from their owne houses and in diuers climes cleane contrarie vnto that where as they were bred and borne it grew that the king was hated and abhorred of all people in such sort that they did conspire his death which in effect they did accomplish and slew him after he had reigned fortie yeares and also his sonne and heyre who was called Aguizi After the death of this Tzintzon and his sonne they did ordaine for their king one that was called Auchosau a man of great valour and wisedome hee reigned twelue yeares a sonne of his did succéede him in the kingdom called Futey he reigned seuen yeares After the death of this king who died very young his wife did reigne and gouerne and was of his owne linage she did maruelously gouerne that kingdome for the space of 18 yeares and for that shee had no issue naturall of her bodie a sonne of her husbands y t he had by an other wife did succéede in the kingdome and reigned thrée and twentie yeares a son of his did succéede him called Cuntey and reigned 16. yeares eight monthes a son of his called Guntey did reigne 54. yeares a sonne of his did succéede him called Guntey and reigned thirtéene yeares his sonne called Ochantey did succéede him and reigned 25. yeares and thrée monthes his son called Coantey succéeded him reigned 13. yeares two monthes After him reigned his sonne Tzentzey 26. yeares 4. monthes then succéeded his son called Anthey and reigned no more but 6. yeares his sonne Pintatey did inherite reigned 5. yeares this Pintatey when he died was not married and therefore a brother of his did succéede him called Tzintzumy reigned but 3. yeares 7. monethes after him succéeded a younger brother called Huy hannon reigned sixe yeares his sonne called Cubum did succéede him reigned 32. yeares his son Bemthey did inherite reigned 18. yeares after him his son Vnthey reigned 13. yeares O they succéede him reigned 17. yeres his sonne called Yanthey reigned but 8. monethes and left a sonne called Antey who reigned 19. yeares whose eldest sonne called Tantey died incontinent after his father and reigned only 3. monthes his brother called Chytey reigned one yeare his son called Linthey reigned 22. yeares his sonne called Yanthey did succeede him reigned 31. yeares This Yanthey the historie saieth was a man of small wisedome which was the occasion that he was abhorred and hated of those of his kingdome A Nephew of his called Laupy did rebell against him he had two sociates for to helpe him gentlemen of the court they were two brethren verie valiant the one was called Quathy the other Tzunthey these two did procure to make Laupy king His vncle the king vnderstoode thereof and was of so litle valor discretion that he could not neither durst he put remedie in the same which caused commotions and common rumors amongst the people But in especiall there was foure tyrantes ioyned in one and all at one time they wer called Cincoan Sosoc Guansian Guanser Against these Laupy did make warre vnder colour to helpe his vncle but after a while that the warre indured he concluded and made peace with Cincoan and he married with one of his daughters who straight wayes made warre against the other thrée tyrants with the helpe of his father in lawe At this time this mightie kingdome was diuided in thrée partes and beganne the tyrannie as you shall vnderstande the one and principall part fell vnto Laupy by the death of his vncle the other to Sosoc the other vnto Cincoan his father in law In this
may preuent wars which be offered by princes adiacent vnto him or anie other whatsoeuer But in especiall with the Tartarians with whom they haue had continuall wars many yeare Although at this day that the Tartarians doo feare him very much in such sort as he thinketh it best to kéepe him for his friende and doth acknowledge vnto him a certain maner of vassalage And although at this present and long time since he hath bin and is without any occasion of wars that should come vpon a sodain yet hath he the selfsame care diligēce of preuention as though he had many grieuous enimies to defend himselfe from or to offend them as you shall perceiue in this that followeth For besides that he hath in euery prouince his president counsell of war captaine generall and others ordinarie to take vp people and ordaine their campes squadrons as well by sea as by land to serue at all assaies when that occasion shall serue So likewise he hath in euery city captaines and souldiers for their particular garde defence and doo range watch to set their garde in order both day night as though their enimies were at the gates This military order they do vse and maintaine in such sort that no nation knowne may be compared vnto them Although speaking generally according vnto the relation of certaine spanish souldiers that were there and did many times sée them there be other nations that do excéed them both in valiantnesse courage and worthinesse of mind They haue at the gates of all their cities their squadrons who let the entrie and going out of any whatsoeuer except he haue licence of the iustice of that citie or towne brought them in writing the which gates they do shut and open by order and licence of their captaines which is sent vnto them euery day written in whited tables and their fine vnto it These gates are the force of all the cittie and thereon is planted all the artilerie they haue nigh vnto the which gate is ordinarily the house whereas they are sounded or made At night when they do shut their gates they do glew papers vpon the ioinings of them then they doo seale the papers with the seale that the gouernour or iudge of that cittie doth weare on his finger the which is done by himselfe or by some other in whom he hath great confidence and trust and they cannot open them againe in the morning vntill such time as it bee séene and acknowledged that it hath not béene touched since the night that it was put on So that if any haue any iourney to ride verie early in the morning he must go forth of the citie ouer night before the gates be shut and remaine in the suburbes for out of the cittie it is not possible to goe vntill the gates be open which is not till the sunne be vp ordinarily They do not vse any castles nor forts but great bulwarkes and gun bankes whereas they haue continuall watch and doo change by quarters according as wee do vse and the officers with a great number of souldiers do range throughout the city and bulworkes and commonly the captaines be naturall of those prouinces whereas they haue their charge giuen them in consideration that the loue they haue to their countrie doo binde them to fight to the death for the defence thereof And for that there should be more quietnesse and rest in the cities it is not permitted that any do weare weapons defensiues nor offensiues but onely such souldiers as haue the kings pay neither do they consent they should haue them in their houses neither vse any in trauaile by sea nor lande Besides all this the king hath in the citie of Taybin and Suntiem whereas hee is resident and in such cities lying there about a great number both of horsemen and footemen alwaies in a readinesse for to go with him into any place for the safegarde of his person in time of necessitie The souldiers of this kingdome are in two sorts and manners the one sort are such as bee and are naturals of the citie whereas they haue their charge and these be called in their language Cum in this place the sonne doth succéed the father and for lacke of an heire the king doth prouide one in the dead mans place Euery one of them hath his name written vpon the post of his doore and the place appointed whither he shal go when occasion shall serue enimies being against that cittie or towne The other sort of souldiers are strangers and are consorted for yeares or monethes to serue These be they that ordinarily make their watches musters and ioyne companies for the receit of the captaines these be called in their language Pon. These goe from one place vnto another whereas they are commanded to go One captaine and ancient hath charge of a thousand and a meaner captaine with his ancient a hundreth that doo depend vpon the other So that for to knowe the number of people that is in a great campe it is done with great ease in accounting the ensignes of a thousand men which are easily knowne Euery chiefe or petie captaine of these hath his house vpon the cittie wal and his name put on it and there he dwelleth so long as the warres indureth These captaines euery moneth do exercise their souldiers in marching and putting them in order sometime with quick spéed and other times more slower and to giue assalt and retyre as they are taught by the sound of the drum this they do vse continually in the time of peace as wel as in the time of warre Also how to vse their weapons which are ordinarie hargabuses pikes targets faunchers brushebilles holbards dagars and armour The horsemen do vse in the warres to carrie foure swords hanging at their saddell bowes and doo fight with two at once with great dexteritie and gallant to behold These do accustome to go into the wars accompanied with many seruants and familiar friends on foote all wel armed after the gallantest manner that possible they may These footemen be marueilous full of pollicie and ingenious in warlike or martiall affaires and although they haue some valor for to assalt and abide the enimie yet doo they profite themselues of policies deuises and instruments of fire of fire workes Thus do they vse as wel by land in their wars as by sea many homes of fire full of olde iron and arrowes made with powder fire worke with the which they do much harme and destroy their enimies The horsemen do fight with bowes and arrowes and lances and with two swordes as I haue saide before and some with hargabuses They cannot gouerne their horses very wel for that they haue but one péece of iron that is crosse in their mouthes that serueth for a bridle and for to make them stay they pull but one raine and with clapping their hands together and making of a noise before them They
of those later times who for to conquere strange countries did separate themselues so farre from their natural that they lost their owne countries at home But these of this kingdome being forewarned as y e prouerbe saith Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum By the hurt of another c. they haue found by experience y t to go forth of their owne kingdome to conquer others is the spoile and losse of much people and expences of great treasures besides the trauaile and care which continually they haue to sustaine that which is got with feare to be lost againe so that in the meane time whilest they were occupied in strange conquests their enimies the Tartarians and other kings borderers vnto them did trouble and inuade them doing great damage and harme And more considering that they do possesse one of the greatest best kingdomes of the world as well for riches as for fertilty by reason whereof and by the great aboundance of things that the country doth yéeld many strange nations do profite themselues from them and they haue néed of none other nation for that they haue sufficient of all things necessarie to the mainteining of humane life In consideration whereof they called a generall court of parliament whether came all vizroyes and gouernours and other principall men of all the fiftéene prouinces and there they did communicate to put remedy in this great inconuenience in the best manner possible Then after they had wel considered of the same with great care diligēce taking the iudgement particular of euery one in generall by common consent they found it requisit for their quietnes profite a thing most conuenient for the common wealth to leaue al y t they had got gained out of their owne kingdome but specially such countries as were farre off And from that day forwards not to make any wars in any place for that from thence did procéed a knowne damage a doubtfull profite and being altogether conformable they did request the king that was at that present that he would cal home al such people as he had in other kingdomes bordering there about vnder his obedience perswading him that in so doing he should remaine a mightie prince more richer more in quiet and in more securitie Then the king perceiuing the request and petition of his kingdome subiects and being fully satisfied that this perswasion was requisite to be put in execution he straightwayes set it a worke and commanded vpon great penalties that al his subiects and vassals naturall that were in any strange countries that in a time limited they should returne home to their own country and houses and likewise to the gouernours of the same countries that they should in his name abandon leaue the dominion and possession that he had of them excepting such as would of their owne good will acknowledge vassalage and giue him tribute remaine friends as vnto this day the Lechios other nations do This law was then established and is inuiolablie kept to this day in the which it is first commanded that none whatsoeuer vpon paine of death shall make or begin warre in any part without his licence Also on the said penaltie that no subiect of his shall nauigate by sea out of the kingdome without the said licence Also that whosoeuer will go from one prouince to another within the said kingdome to traficke in buying and selling shall giue suerties to returne againe in a certaine time limited vpon paine to bee disnaturalled of the country Likewise that no stranger whatsoeuer shal come in by sea nor by land without his expresse licence or of the gouernours of such ports or places whereas they shall come or ariue And this licence must be giuen with great consideration aduising the king therof Al which lawes haue béene so inuiolablie kept and obserued that it hath béene the occasion that this mightie kingdome hath not come to notice and knowledge but of late yeares All the which that is said séemeth to be true for that it is cléerely found in their histories and books of nauigations of old antiquitie whereas it is plainely séene that they did come with their shipping vnto the Indies hauing conquered al that is from China vnto the farthest part thereof Of all the which they indured possessers in great quietnes till such time as they ordeined the law of abandoning of their owne good will as aforesaid So that at this day there is great memory of them in the ilands Philippinas and on the cost of Coromande which is the cost against the kingdome of Norsinga towards the sea of Cengala whereas is a towne called vnto this day the soile of the Chinos for that they did reedifie make the same The like notice memory is there in the kingdom of Calicut wheras be many trées and fruits that the naturals of that countrie do say were brought thither by the Chinos when that they were lords and gouernours of that countrie Likewise in those dayes they were of Malaca Siam and Chapaa other of their borderers Also it is to be beléeued of y e Ilands of Iapon for that there are many tokens of the Chinos vnto this day the naturals of the country are much after the fashion of the Chinos and many particular things that do giue vs to vnderstand and some lawes that are obserued and kept in China But now in these dayes the gouernours of the sea ports do dispence with the law that forbiddeth y e going out of the kingdome by certain giftes which is giuen thē by merchants to giue them secret licence that they may go and traficke in Ilands bordering there about as vnto the Philippinas whither come euery yeare many ships ladē with merchandise of great riches of the which is brought many times into Spaine Likewise they do trauaile vnto other parts and places wheras they vnderstand they may profite themselues Yet they do not giue any such licence vntill they haue giuen suerties to returne within one whole yeare The desire of gaine hath caused them to traueile to Mexico whither came the yeare past in anno 1585. thrée merchants of China with very curious things neuer staied till they came into Spaine and into other kingdomes further off Likewise the said iudge and gouernours doo giue licence vnto strangers in the order aforesaid for to enter into their ports to buy sel but first vpon examination and charge that they should haue a great care not to demand any licence but to the same intent Then haue they their licence with a time limited and with condition that they shall not procure to goe about their cities neither to see the secrets thereof And this is giuen in writing vpon a whited table which is set vpon the fore partes of their ships that when they come to an anker in any port it may be séene of the kéepers and guards that they sinke them
there be that bee verie curiouslie wrought and faire which may bée of such which the Captaine Artieda did sée who in a letter that hee wrote vnto king Phillip giuing him to vnderstande of the secreats of this countrie amongst which hee saide the Chinos doo vse all armour as wee doo and the artilerie which they haue is excellent good I am of that opinion for that I haue séene vessels there of huge greatnesse and better made then ours and more stronger In euerie Citie they haue certaine houses where they make their ordinance and artilerie continuallie they doo not plant them on Castles for that they haue not the vse of them in all the kingdome but vppon the gates of their cities which hath mightie great and thicke walles and déepe ditches which they doo fill with water out of the next riuer at all times when néede requireth which they account the greatest strength in all the kingdome At euerie gate of the Citie there is a Captaine with manie souldiours that keepeth watch and warde night and daie to suffer no stranger to enter in without especiall lycence of the gouernour of the Citie or towne By this that I haue alredie saide as seemeth vnto mée is apparantlie shewed and declared the antiquitie of Artilerie in this kingdome and howe that they there were the first inuenters thereof Likewise it dooth plainely appéere that there was the first inuention of printing a thing as strange as the other whose antiquitie in that kingdome shalbe shewed in the Chapter following CHAP. XVI Of the antiquitie and manner of printing of bookes vsed in this kingdome long before the vse in our Europe THe admirable inuention and the subtill ingenie of printing is such that for lacke of the vse thereof should haue béene forgotten the worthinesse of manie excellent men and of their déedes doone in the happie daies and times long past and manie in these our daies woulde not trouble themselues so much as they doo in learning to get honour and promotion or in feates of warres if that their fame should no longer continue in writing then their liues on the earth Leauing apart the woonderfull effectes of this subtile inuention least speaking thereof I shoulde be ouer tedious I will heere onelie goe about to prooue that which this Chapter dooth propounde with some ensamples whereof manie are found in their histories and likewise in ours It doth plainelie appeare by the vulgar opinion that the inuention of printing did beginne in Europe in the yeare 1458. the which was attributed vnto Toscan called Iohn Cutembergo and it was saide of trueth that the first mould wherewith they doo print was made in Maguncia from whence an Almaine called Conrado did bring the same inuention into Italie And the first booke that was printed was that which saint Austine did write intituled De ciuitate Dei wherein manie authors agrée But the Chinos doo affirme that the first beginning was in their countrie and the inuentour was a man whome they reuerence for a saint whereby it is euident that manie yeares after that they had the vse therof it was brought into Almaine by the way of Ruscia and Moscouia from whence as it is certaine they may come by lande and that some merchants that came from thence into this kingdome by the redde sea and from Arabia Felix might bring some â—ooks from whence this Iohn Cutembergo whom the histories dooth make authour had his first foundation The which béeing of a trueth as they hauâ— authoritie for the same it dooth plainelie appeare that this inuention came from them vnto vs and for the better credite heereof at this day there are found amongst them many bookes printed 500. yeares before the inuention began in Almanie of the which I haue one and I haue séene others as well in Spaine and in Italie as in the Indies The Frier Herrada and his companions when they came from the China vnto the Philippinas did bring with them manie printed bookes of diuers matters which they did buy in the Citie of Aucheo the which were printed in diuers places of the kingdome Yet the most part of them were printed in the prouince of Ochian whereas is the best print and as they did report they woulde haue brought a great number more if that the vizroy had not disturbed them for they haue great libraries and very good cheape but hée suspected that those bookes might be a meane to giue them to vnderstande the secrets of their kingdome the which they doo indeuour to kéepe close from strangers The vizroy vsed a policie and sent them word how that he was certified that they went about buying of bookes for to carry them into their countrie and howe they shoulde not spende their many on them for hée woulde giue them for nothing so manie bookes as they woulde haue which afterward hée did not performe possible for the reason aforesaide or else he did forget his promise At such time as this commandement came vnto them they had bought a good number out of the which are taken the most things that wée haue put in this small historie for to giue a briefe notice of them and of that kingdome till such time as by a true certificate the experience of manie shall cause more credite thereunto for that vnto this day by reason of the small notice wée haue we cannot with so great authoritie make it so credible as wee hope that time hereafter will doo The which hath mooued mee yea and constrained me to leaue to intreat of manie things which in those parts are to bée credited yea and are most true and for the same I haue béene blamed and reprehended by such as haue had perfite notice thereof And nowe for that I will not go from my purpose you shall vnderstand in the Chapter following whereof these bookes that they brought doo intreat that the better you may giue credite vnto the curiositie and policie of that kingdome as in manie places I haue declared and hereafter will declare CHAP. XVII The substance and manner of those bookes that Frier Herrada and his companions brought from China THey brought with them a great number of bookes as wée haue said that did intreate of diuers matters as you shall perceiue in the sequele Of the description of all the whole kingdome of China and the placing of the 15. prouinces and the length and bredth of euerie one of them and of other kingdomes bordering vppon them Of all tributes and rentes belonging vnto the king and of all the orders of his royall pallace and of his ordinarie pensions that hee giueth and the names of all officers in his house and how far euery office doth extend How many tributaries euerie prouince hath and the number of such as are frée from tribute and the order and time how and when they are to be recouered For the making of ships of all sorts and the order of nauigation with the altitudes of euery port and the quantitie of
small stature as they for the most part bee in all that prouince hee alighted and came vnto the fathers and his companions who likewise did alight from their little chayres and did salute the one the other with great courtesie And the Captayne tolde them how that the Gouernour did sende him with those souldiers for to receiue him and to beare him companie and howe that hee was in the Citie tarrying their comming with great desire to sée them and commaunded that with all spéede possible they should shorten the way The Captaine came verie well apparelled with a chayne of golde about his necke a man of a good audacitie and vnderstanding Harde vnto his stirryp hee had a page that went with him and carried a great Tira sol made of silke that did shadowe him all ouer The bunnet that this Captaine did weare was like vnto them that before they had séene others weare hee had before him great musicke of trompets and hoybukes wheron they played in great concorde This Captaine with his foure hundreth souldiers did continually garde them till they came vnto the Citie of Chincheo and neuer departed from them a iot the which was done more for pompe and to showe their maiestie then of necessitie for that although the people are infinite without number yet do they weare no weapons for that they are commanded by the lawe of the countrie to the contrarie vpon paine of death of what state or degrée so euer he be but onely the souldiers such as are in euerie towne for the gard thereof and the garrisons that the king hath continually readie to come foorth when that any occasion shall serue In this hie way continually there went and came manye packe horses laden with mâ—rchandice and other thinges but the most parte of them were Mules The hie wayes are verie brode that twentie men may ride together on a ranke and one not hinder an other and are all paued with great stones and they say that the wayes thoroughout all the other Prouinces be in the same order and was done by a king of that countrie who spent vpon the same a great part of his treasure And it séemeth to be true for that our Spaniards traueling in that countrie ouer high and mightie mountaines yet did they finde the waies plaine in such sort as hath béene told you CHAP. XVI Our Spaniardes ariued at the Citie of Chincheo whereas they were receiued and lodged and what they sawe in that Citie VPon a Saterday being the eleuenth of Iuly came our Spaniards vnto the citie of Chincheo four houres before it was night This citie is of the common sorte in that kingdome and may haue seuentie thousande housholdes It is of great traficke and well prouided of all things for that the sea is but two leagues from it it hath a mightie riuer running alongest by it downe into the sea by which is brought by water and carried downe all kinde of marchandice There is a bridge ouer the sayde riuer which is supposed to bee the fayrest that is in all the worlde it hath a drawe bridge to serue in time of warres or for any other necessitie the bridge is eight hundreth paces long and all wrought with stones of two and twentie foote long and fiue foote broade a thing greatly to bee marueiled at at the entrie thereof there were manie armed souldiers readie to fight who when they came within hargubush shoote did salute them in verie good order There was nigh vnto the sayde bridge in the riuer riding at an anker more than a thousande shippes of all sortes and so great a number of boates and barkes that all the riuer was couered and euerie one full of people that had entred into them for to sée the Castillas for so they did call the Spaniardes in that countrie for the stréetes in the suburbes nor in the Citie could not hold them the number was so great yet their streets are as broade as our ordinarie streetes in anye Citie in all Spaine This Citie is compassed with a strong wall made of stone and is seuen fadam hie and foure fadam broade and vpon the gates many towers wherein is placed their artilerie which is all their strength for that they doo not vse in their kingdome strong castels as they doo in Europe The houses of the Citie are all built after one sorte and fashion but faire and not verie hie by reason of the earth quakes which are ordinarily in that countrie All the stréetes but especially that wherein they passed at their comming thether haue on the one side and on the other sheddes vnder the which are shoppes full of riche marchandice and of great value and verie curious They haue in equal distance the one from the other many triumphant arches which doo set out the stréetes verie much and is vsed in euerie principall streete thorough out all the kingdome in the which they haue excellent market places whereas is to bee bought all thinges that you will desire to be eaten as well of fish as of fleshe fruites herbes comfits conserues and all thinges so good cheape that it is almost bought for nothing Their victualles are verie good and of great substance their hogges flesh whereon they doo féede much is so holsome and good as the mutton in Spaine The fruites that wee did sée some were like vnto them we haue in Spaine and others neuer the like séene by vs afore but of an excellent taste and sauour But in especiall one kinde of fruite which is bigger than a muske million but of the same fashion but of maruellous excellent and precious victuall and pleasant to be eaten a kinde of plummes that is of a gallant taste and neuer hurteth anie bodie although they eate neuer so manie a thing prooued by our Spaniardes many times The stréete that they came in at was so full of people that if a graine of wheate had béene throwne amongest them it would scarce haue fallen to the grounde And although they were carried in little chayres vpon mens backes and the Captaine of whome we speake of before them making way yet were they a great while before they could passe the stréete and be brought vnto a great house which was a couent wherein dwelt religious men of that countrie thether they were brought and lodged beeing verie wearie of the presse of people that did trouble them verie much with desire to take their ease CHAP. XVII The gouernor of Chincheo doth call the Spaniards before him and sheweth vnto them the ceremonies that they must vse to haue aundience THe same day that they came into the cittie as aforesaide was a good while before night with more desire to take rest and ease themselues of their iourney and of the trauell they had in the stréets by reason of the great number of people that came to sée them then to make any visitation that night but the Insuanto or
and almost without any hope to bring their matter to passe for the which they went thether for that it séemed vnto them although they did plainely declare vnto them their pretence yet did they worke in such order for to cause them to depart In this order they remained in the citie certaine daies and for to conclude either to stay there or depart the kingdome they were resolute and determined to write a letter vnto the viceroy and therein to giue him to vnderstand particularly that their comming thether into y e countrie was to intreat that betwixt theÌ„ the Castillos there should be peace friendship and being concluded that their souldiers should with that newes depart vnto the Ilandes from whence they came to giue the gouernor to vnderstand therof they to remaine in that countrie preaching y e holy gospell They could finde none that would write this letter for them although they would haue payed them very well for their paines Till in the end by great request and prayings the captaine Omoncon did write it for them and straightwaies departed vnto the citie of Ampin that was not farre off making an excuse for to go sée the visitor of the prouince whom they doo call Sadin he would very faine haue carried with him two of our people y t he might haue séene them but none would go with him This iourney which Omoncon made hee did it to put away the suspition they might conceiue that he did write the letter if that peraduenture the viceroy would take it in ill part Their letter being written they found great difficulty in the sending the same for that there was nâ—ne that would carie it neyther would they consent that our men should enter into the pallace to deliuer it But in conclusion what with requestes and giftes they perswaded their Captayne of their gard to carrie it who did deliuer the same vnto the viceroye in name of the Castillos saying that hee tooke it of them to bring it vnto him for that they did certifie him that it was a thing that did import verie much Hauing read the letter hee answered that he would giue the king to vnderstande thereof as he saide at the first time And in that touching the Fryers remayning in that countrie to preach at that time hee could make them no answere for that in such matters it was first requisite to haue the good will of the Royall Counsell Yet would hee make answere vnto the letter they brought from the Gouernour of Manilla and that they might depart and returne againe at such time as they brought Limahon prisoner or dead the which being done then shall the friendshippe be concluded which they doo pretende and to remaine and preach at their will With this answere they remained without all hope to remayne there and did incontinent prepare themselues for to depart from Manilla and bought manie bookes to carie with them wherein was comprehended all the secrets of that kingdome By reason whereof they might giue large notice vnto the royall maiestie of king Phillip The which being vnderstoode by the Uiceroy who had set spies to watch their doings did sende them worde that they should not trouble themselues in the buying of bookes for that hee would giue them fréely all such bookes as they would desire to haue the which afterwardes he did not accomplish whether it was for forgetfulnesse or other occasion as wee haue more at large declared vnto you we know not yet did the Uiceroy send and demanded to sée some of those bookes that the Fryers had bought who after that he had séene them did returne them again and requested of them some writing of their owne handes who did accoÌ„plish his request and sent them written in spanish and in their owne language the Lords prayer the aue maria and the ten commandements who according vnto the relation of him that did carrie the same saide that after hee had reade it he made showes that he receiued great content therewith and said that all which was there written was good In the time that they stayed in this Citie amongst all other things that they vnderstoode to driue away the time was one it was giuen them to vnderstande that in one of the prisons there was a Portingale prisoner who was taken in a shippe of the Iapones with others of his nation who were all dead in the prison and none left aliue but he alone Our people being verie desirous for to see him and to learne of him some secrets of that countrie for that he had béene there a great while they did procure to talke with him asking licence of the supreme Iudge and lieutenant vnto the viceroy who did not onely refuse to grant it them but did make diligent inquirie who they were that did giue them to vnderstande thereof for to punish them which without all doubt should be executed with sharpe and seuere punishment Yet our people would neuer tell them of whom they had it although it was demanded of them diuerse times and with great intreatie They had so great desire to know it that they did vse all meanes possible as it appeared in the boldnesse of their demandes CHAP. XXVII There came newes vnto Aucheo that there was a rouer vpon the coast of Chincheo which did much harme and had sacked a towne The viceroy doth suspect him to be Limahon and how that our people with Omoncon and Sinsay had not declared vnto him the truth THe Spaniards remained in the Citie of Aucheo twentie days in the order as hath béen told you without any hope that the religious fathers should remaine in that countrie for to preach the holy gospell which was the principall occasion of their going into that kingdome Upon a suddaine there came newes vnto the citie that the rouer Limahon was vpon the coast of Chincheo vsing his olde accustomed cruelties and how that he had spoiled and robbed a towne vpon the sea coast This newes was throughout all the citie and appeared to be true touching the effect of the dead yet false touching the person for that the rouer was called Taocay an enimie and contrarie vnto Limahon but a friend vnto Vintoquian of whom we haue spoken of But thereupon the viceroy and all them of the citie were conformable in the suspition that they had receiued which was that our people were come into that kingdome vpon some euill pretence and to sée the secrets thereof to some euil end which was the occasion y t froÌ„ that time forwards they shewed them not so good countenance as they did before These newes was not so soone come but straightwayes the viceroy did sende for Omoncon who was then returned from his visiting and Sinsay vnto whom he had done courtesie and giuen them the title of Loytias and captaynes and he did reprehende them verie sharpely for that they had brought ouer people thether and sayde that they had tolde him a lye in
to them y e holy gospell which was the right way vnto the saluation of their soule Unto all the which they gaue attentiue eare although with little desire to see the experience as appeared for that the chiefest matter in effect they did let passe and asked of them in what order they left the rouer Limahon and whether hée might escape or not and other questions touching the same matter which endured a good while without touching of anie other matter in effect The Spaniards answered as they thought and supposed that at that time it could not be but that he was either taken prisoner or slaine Then did the Insuanto conclude his spéech in saying vnto them that they should returne vnto their owne country to the Ilands and at such time as they did bring Limahon they woulde conclude all things touching the friendship they requested as also for the preaching of the gospell So with this last resolution they tooke their leaue and went vnto their lodging with pretence not to speake more of that matter for that they sawe it booted not after they had giuen their censure and againe as they vnderstood it was by speciall order from the king and his counsaile and therewith they beganne to put all thinges in good order for their departure the which they greatly desired for that they saw little fruite to procéede of their great labour and trauell as also to sée themselues cleare of that manner of prison in the which they were not to go forth of their lodgings without expresse licence So from that day forwards they did procure with all haste for to depart and gaue the vizroy to vnderstande thereof who answered them and saide that they should comfort themselues and receiue ioy and pleasure and that he would dispatch them so soone as the visitor of that prouince was come to Aucheo which would bee within tenne dayes for that hee had written vnto him that he should not dispatch them vntil his comming for that he would sée them From that day forwards hee commaunded that sometimes they should let them to go forth abrode to recreate themselues and that they should shew vnto them some particular pleasure or friendship So one of them was carried to sée the mustering of their men of warre which they haue in a common custome throughout all the kingdome to doo it the first day of â—he newe moone and is sure a thing to be séene and they do it in the field which is ioyning vnto the wals of the citie in this manner following There were ioyned togither litle more or lesse then 20. thousand souldiers pickemen and hargabus shot who were so expert that at the sounde of the drum or trumpet they straightwayes put themselues in battle aray and at another sound in a squadron and at another the shot doo deuide themselues from the rest and discharge their péeces with very gallant and good order and with a trice put themselues againe into their places or standings this being doone the picke men came foorth and gaue the assalt altogether with so good order consort that it séemed vnto the Spaniards that they did excéed al the warlike orders vsed in all the world and if it were so that their stomaâ—ks and hardinesse were equall vnto their dexteritie and number of people it were an easie thing for them to conquer the dominion of all the world If it so chance that any souldier should lacke in his office not repaire to his place appointed he is straightwayes punished very cruelly which is the occasion that euerie one of them hath a care vnto his charge This their musâ—â—r endured foure houres and it was certifiâ—d vnto the Spainiards that the same day and houre it is done in oll citties and townes throughout all the whole kingdome although they are without suspection of enimies Fiue and twentie dayes after that the Insuanto had giuen the resolute answere vnto the Spaniards came the visitor thither and the whole citie went forth to receiue him who entred in with so great maiestie that if they had not knowne who hée was they could not haue béene perswaded but that he had beene the king So the next day following the Spaniards went to visite him for dueties sake as also for that he had a desire to sée them They found him in his lodging where he began to make visitation of the cittie In their courtes were an infinite number of people which came thither with petitions and complaintes but in the halles within there was none but his seruants and sergeants When that any came for to present his petition the porter that was at the entrie made a great noise in manner of an .o. est for that it was a good way from the place whereas the visitor did sit then commeth forth straightwayes one of his pages and taketh the petition and carrieth it in vnto him At this time it was told him how that the Castillas were there hee commaunded that they should enter and talked with them a few words but with great curtesie and all was touching the imprisonment of Limahon without making any mention of their departure or tarrying So after a while that he had beholded them and their apparel hee tooke his leaue of them saying that by reason of the great businesse he had in that visitation he could not shewe them any curtesie neither to vnderstande of them what their request and desire was but gaue them great thankes for their curtesie shewed in that they woulde come to visite him Hee was set in the same visitation after the same manner and order as they founde the gouernor of Chincheo and the vizroy with a table before him with paper ynke and other thinges readie to write the which according as it was giuen them to vnderstand is a common vse in all y e kingdome vsed with al Iudges whether it be for sentence of death or other matters of iustice as hath béene told you many times before Thrée dayes after the visitor was come thither the Insuanto departed for his owne house with order that with all spéede possible he should ordaine shippes wherin the Castillias should returne vnto the Philippinas Likewise the same day all those that were there assembled by the order of the vizroy departed vnto their owne houses And the Spaniards were commanded for to sâ—ay vntill the full of the moone which should bee the twentith of August and that day they shoulde take their leaue of them for on that day amongst them it is holden for good to beginne any thing whatsoeuer Wherein they doo vse great superstition and doo make many banquets as vppon newyeares day as hath béene tolde diffusedly The day before y e departure of y e Spaniards there came some in behalfe of the vizroy to inuite them and made them banquet in the order and fashion as at the first although this for that it was at their departure was more sumptuous wherein was
that hee was entred into the spanish ship saw the friers the rest that were in their cōpanie saw that their apparell spéech was strange vnto him he asked of them what they were and from whence they came whether they went and when y e he vnderstood y t they were Castillos of the Ilands Philippinas came frō the said Ilands were bound vnto China with intent to preach the holy gospell he asked thē whose licence they had to conduct them vnto the firme lande But when he vnderstood that they had none hee asked them howe they passed and escaped the fléete of ships that was in the straight aforesayde The Spaniards answered that they found no impediment nor let So he being greatlie amazed as well of the one as of the other entred into his owne boate and with great furie departed from their shippe and went into his owne but at his departure the Spaniards did request him that he would conduct them vnto the cittie who gaue them to vnderstande by signes that he woulde although he feared the rigorous punishment that in that kingdome is executed vppon all such as doo bring into the same any man of a strange nation as hath béene tolde you in the first part of this historie So hee fearing that if hée shoulde enter with him into the port the fault would be imputed vnto him therefore at such time as hee came within halfe a league of the riuers mouth he cast about his shippe and sailed to sea and went so farre that in a short time the Spaniards had lost the sight of them who when they saw that they had no guide they followed the course of another shippe that they had discouered before the other did cast about to sea for which occasion the other two ships that wee spake off before were departed So a little before the sunne-set they discouered the mouth and entrie of a great and mightie brode riuer out of the which came two great streames or armes and in them many ships entering in and going forth and considering how they had the winde which serued them well they entered into the same but when they had sailed forwards a quarter of a league they discouered so great a multitude of barkes that it seemed vnto them a groue or some inhabited place and as wee drewe nigh vnto them they not knowing our shippe all began to flie and run away with so great noise as though they should haue béene all set on fire or smoke in that place The Spaniards séeing that they were the occasion of this feare amongst them they withdrew themselues into the middest of the riuer whereas they strooke saile and came to an anker there they did ride all that night and it was in such a place that none of al the other barks and boates came nigh them by a great way The next day following which was sunday the one twentith day of Iune they weighed anker and went vnder their foresaile vp that arme of the riuer the which within a little while they had sailed did ioine with the other arme aforesaide and was in that place of so great widenesse that it séemed to bée a sea there sailed in and out many shippes barkes and boates of whome the Spaniards demaunded how farre the port was off from that place but they answered nothing at all but with great laughter and wonder to sée the Spaniards and their kind of attyre they departed But when they had sailed two leagues vp the riuer they discouered a high towre and very faire vnder the which were at an anker a great number of shippes thither they sailed right on So when as they came right ouer against the towre they saw on shore a great mighty crane to discharge merchandize withall whereat lay many ships but when they came to the point fearing that some ordinance would be shot at them they strooke all their sailes according vnto the vse custome in y e ports of Spaine They after a while that they had remained in that sort saw that neither the towre nor y e ships did make any motion towards them they turned and hoised vp againe their sailes and went wheras al the ships were when they came amongst them they let fall their anker wheras they did ride looking when they would come to demand of them any thing CHAP. III. The Friers and their companions came vnto the Cittie of Canton they went on shore and praised God for that it had pleased him to let thē see their desire fulfilled There comes a Iustice to visite them and hath with them great communication THe Spaniards séeing that they were there at an anker a good while that there was none that came vnto them to demand any questiō they hoised out their boate went in it on shore wheras they al knéeled downe vpon their knées and with great deuotion did say Te Deum laudamus giuing thankes to God for that he had so myraculously brought them into y e kingdome of China of them so much desired without any Pilot or other humane industrie the which being doone they began to walke along by the crane aforesaid nigh vnto the which were certaine houses whereas were kept ropes and tackling belonging vnto the shippes so they procéeded forwards with intent to séeke the gates of the Citie the which after they had gone the space of foure hargabus shot they found the gate which was verie great and sumptuous of a strong and gallant edifice The people of the country séeing them at their comming a shore how they did knéele downe and how that their manner of attire was different from the people of the same not knowing from whence they did come did cause in them great admiration and to ioyne togither a great troope of people and followed them with great desire to sée the end of their enterprise This great multitude of people was the occasion that they entred in at the gates of the Cittie without being discouered of the guards ports that were put there for that purpose neither were they disturbed of the entry by reason of the great throng of people and strangenesse of the matter So after they had gone a while in the stréete the people increasing more and more to sée them they staied in the porch of a great house there where as the iustices of the sea or water bailies do kéepe their courts of audience and in the meane time that they remained there which was a pretty while the guardes of the gate vnderstood that amongst y e presse throng of the people did enter certaine strangers contrary to the precept giuen them vpon great penalties they straightway with great feare that their ouersight should be discouered ran laid hands vpon y e Spaniards carried them backe againe put them out of the gate of the citie without doing any euil or harme vnto their persons willed them to stay
him that presented the same and the innocencie of them that were therein complained of he sent commanded the gouernor of Canton for to giue them good intertainment and not to permit any harme or hurt to be done vnto theÌ„ that he should send them vnto the city of Aucheo for that he would sée them for that it was tolde him that they seemed to be holy men and although that they had their apparell in tho same forme of the Austin friers whom he had séene yet their garments were of an other colour and more asper The chiefe captaine séeing that his intent fell not out well with the Iudges of China he commanded to bee proclaymed publicke in Machao that none should write vnto them nor coÌ„municate with them vpon paine of banishment and to pay two thousande ducats All this was not sufficient for to coole the mindes of some deuout persons of the religion of the glorious saint Francis but were rather incyted to offer their fauour helpe séeing they had néede thereof but in particular the bishop did helpe them alwaies with his almes and also an honorable priest called Andres Cotino who making small account of the proclamation did write vnto them diuerse times although secretly and sent their letters with almes and many exhortations to procéed forward with their holy zeale intent Besides this they sent vnto theÌ„ a spaniard called Pedro Quintero who had dwâ—lt there many yeares amongest the Portingals and hauing oportunitie they sent him many times with comfortable things and letters but not signed for if happily they should be met with all they might denie them to be theirs Now returning to our purpose the interpreter with desire to be payd of that which hee saide he had spent and laide out did bring the messenger that he promised them to go vnto Machao to carrie their letters vnto such religious men as they knewe in the which he craued their almes and helpe for to pay their interpreter and praying them for the loue of God to sende them likewise so much as should redéeme their challice who at this time knew not how it was solde and broken This messenger went with all diligence and secrecie and returned with the like brought with him that which they sent for other iunkets of great coÌ„tent the which came in very good season for that one of the sayde friers called frier Sebastian of S. Francis was very sick of a strong ague wherof in few daies after he died very wel with a strange desire to suffer martyrdome for Gods sake When this messenger came there was come thither the Aytao who is Iudge of the strangers and was without the citie vnto whom was coÌ„mited the examination of the Spaniards who after that he had concluded other matters coÌ„manded them to be brought afore him with great loue genâ—lenesse for so the viceroy of Aucheo had commanded him CHAP. VI. The Spaniards seing themselues in great necessitie hauing not to maintaine themselues they go into the streetes to aske almes the gouernor vnderstanding thereof coÌ„mandeth to giue them a stipend out of the kings treasure the interpreter goeth forwardes with his couetousnes deceit they be carried before the Iudges of the citie with whoÌ„ they do intreat of diuers matters they do aduise the the viceroy of al who coÌ„mandeth to send theÌ„ to Aucheo BEcause they would not sée themselues in the like danger with the interpreter as y t which was past they would not go any more to eate at his house but rather to giue an example vnto those of the citie they went foorth euery day by two and two to aske almes and although they were infidels yet they gaue them with great contentment and ioie because it was a rare thing in that kingdome to sée them begge in the stréetes by reason as hath béene tolde you that they haue no poore folk neither are they permitted if there be any to aske in y e streetes nor in their temples When that the Gouernor vnderstoode thereof and how that they did it for pure necessitie and had no other waies to maintaine themselues hee commanded to be giuen them euerie day a certaine stipend vpon the kinges cost the which was with so great abundance that mainteining the souldiers that came with them and all the rest yet had they to spare for that their stipende was giuen theÌ„ in money which was sixe Mayesses of siluer whereof they had to spare for that all thinges in that countrie is so good cheape as hath béen told you in many places Their interpreter séeing the good newes that was brought from Machao for the Spaniardes by a bill that a certayne deuout man had sent him in secret whereupon would be giuen vnto him all that was néedefull with protestation to pay all that should be giuen vnto them although it should amount vnto a great summe with the which hee wrote a letter vnto the Fryer Costodio of great comfort in strengthening him and all the rest to perseuer in their intent which God had put in their mindes for the saluation of those soules the Interpreter I say beganne to imagine that for to profite himselfe it was conuenient for to delate and detract the departure of the Spaniardes and did exact vpon them euery day in the buying of their victuals the halfe of the money that was giuen them So vpon a day he came verie much out of order and fayned that the Aytao had commanded that they should foorthwith depart out of the kingdome but yet notwithstanding he would present a petition in their name saying that for as much as time did not serue them to nauigate neither was their shippe in plight for to make their iourney that it would please them to get them a house whereas they might remaine thrée or foure monethes in the which time they might prouide them of all thinges necessarie for their voyage and possible it may so fall out that in this time they séeing their manner of liuing to bée good and to shew good examples they may let them to remaine in the countrie liberally and to learne the language and then beginne to preach and declare the right way vnto heauen All this he spake with great dissimulation for to profite himselfe for he knewe verie well that the Aytao had willed him to tell them that they could not remaine in that countrie with the pretence they had for that there was a lawe ordayned to the contrarie without expresse licence from the king the which will last of all be granted vnto the Spaniardes or Portingals for that there is a prophesie amongest theÌ„ spoken by the mouth of the diuell and estéemed amongest them for a very truth for that other thinges which he spake when that was spoken hath béene verified in the which he doth pronounce that a time shall come that they shall be subiect vnto a nation whose men shall haue great beardes and long noses and sharpe broade
eyes as we would say cats eyes in the which they do differ from them For it is a great maruaile to finde a man amongst them with more then twentie heares in his beard little more or lesse flat noses and their eyes very little so that when they will mocke a man or doo him any iniurie by word they will call him cats eyes Now for that the desire of the Spaniardes was nothing else but to remaine in that countrie for to bring to effect their good zeale they did gratifie the interpreter for the great fauour hee shewed them and did earnestly intreat him for to present the petition thinking thereby their desire should be vnderstood and Gods cause iustified so that they first would enter into them by the way of preaching He presented the petition when that all the Iudges were together who had great pitie and compassion ouer the Spaniardes and willed that they should come before them for that they would sée and vnderstande the roote and foundation of their will They obeyed their commandement with great ioy and when they were come into the hall one of the Iudges who was superiour ouer all the rest and a man of great authoritie did aske of them by way of the interpreter what was their pretence in that they did aske a house to dwell in the Frier Costodio did answere that he did desire it for to learne the language well by which meanes they might the better learne them to know the true God and to set them in the true way to goe and glorie with him because it was his office and his profession The Interpreter tolde all this truely the which fewe times before he had done as hath béene tolde you Then the Iudge in name of all the rest sayde that in that their demand they could not grant neyther had they any such authoritie to giue licence This being spoken the Interpreter replyed without tarrying to heare what the Spaniardes would say and said that at least wayes they would giue them licence to remaine there till such time as the Portingals did come thether for to lade their marchandice which would be within few daies with whom they would go for that they were all of one law faith The Iudge did againe aske theÌ„ if that the Portingals Spaniards were al one The father Costodio answered that in religion lawes there was no difference but the one were subiects to one king the other to another although they were kinsmen and thaâ— very nigh This last petition seemed to the Iudge to be more reasonable and iust than the first and that they might grant it theÌ„ with lesse difficultie although he answered them and said that he could not grant it vnto them but he would write vnto the viceroy for to grant it them For that the Portugals would bee there at the farthest within foure or fiue moneths that in the meane time he would giue them a prouision that they may go fréely abroad and none to hurt nor harme them So the next day following which was the second of August he did accomplish his word and promise and sent vnto the viceroy their petition and therewithall his iudgement and of all the rest that were there with him what they thought touching that matter The answere staied many daies after came not but in the ende there came a commandement from the viceroy vnto the gouernor of Canton in the which hee willed that the Spaniards should be sent vnto Aucheo whereas he was and that there should be carried with them all such thinges as they brought with them which was their bookes and ornaments The Iudge did straightwaies send gaue them to vnderstande of this new order because they should make themselues readie for to trauaile the which they did with great ioy and diligence as you shall vnderstand in the chapter following CHAP. VII The Spaniardes take their iourney towards Aucheo declare what happened in the way thitherwarde THe next day following which was the sixtéenth day of August the Spaniards departed froÌ„ Canton towards Aucheo to sée the viceroy with great hope and confidence that he would giue them licence for y t which they pretended But at their departure they would haue left there two Indians for to kéepe their ship or frigat but the Iudges that were present said that it was not néedefull for them to haue any such care for that they would take the care vppon them to see all thinges in good order So presently they sent certaine writing in papers and commaunded them to bee glewed vppon the hatches of their shippe in such sort that they could not bee open but they must be perceiued Then presently was brought for the Spaniardes foure barkes verie gallant and wide with verie fayre galleries and windowes and beeing imbarked they charged them verie much to make all haste possible to accomplish the commandement of the viceroy and sent with them conuenient persons for to be their guides and to giue them all thinges necessarie for their iourney They traueiled continually in a mightie riuer against the current in the which they did sée many thinges woorthie to be noted for the space of foure daies that their iourney indured There was alongest the riuer side manie Cities and townes verie great which were so many in number that they could not make any memorie of them by reason that they passed manie of them by night To obserue the tides and to auoid the heate which was great vppon the water Alongest the riuer side whereas it was not inhabited was full of corne fieldes whereas they sawe them go to plough with many Bufalos much different vnto the vse of Spaine for that one alonely buffe did drawe the plough with one vpon his backe who did gouerne and guide him with great ease whether hee would they should go with a corde made fast to a ring at his nose which serued in steede of a bridle They sawe also flockes of géese in the which were more then â—â—entie thousand with whom they did weede and tooke away the grasse which did growe amongst the rice and other graine and seedes driuing them in the middest of their fieldes it seemed that they had the vse of reason considering how they did separate and make a distinction betwixt the good seede and the bad and the great care they had to feede and do no harme neither to plucke vp the good plant which was a thing that they wondred at aboue all the rest All the countrie is verie populous and the townes one so néere an other that it may better be sayde to be all one towne and not manie and might with more propertie be called the Citie of China and not the kingdome of China In all the whole countrie there is not one foot of ground vnoccupied by reason of the great abundance of peo-people that there is and they permit amongest them no idle people as more at large it hath béene declared vnto
aforesaide had knowledge howe that his craft and subtiltie was discouered thereupon to begin frame some other procuring for an instrument in the performing of the same some Iudge or some other person of power and authoritie So they being with this care discontent there came vnto the cittie of Canton foure Portugals to buy sell merchandice with a safe conduct which they had for y e same which was y e occasion y t their sorow trouble increased suspecting what might happen conformable to y e aduise which they had from thence but for y t they did comon visit theÌ„ many times w t intent to discouer their minds the one vnto the other they presently did forget the euill suspection that they had of them and not onely that but they did giue them great almes and charitie helping and aiding them in all things as it was méete and reason amongst Christians So being void of their first care they put all their diligence and care in their departure and seeing that there was no mention made thereof by reason that the Iudges were occupied in mustering the souldiers of that circuit in a great and mightie field whereas they were trained vp in Military exercises some shooting in bowes some with hargabushes tossing the pike running of horses and many other exercises mo and after that they had many different proofes as well of thinges past as at that present they ordained Captaines such as were aduanced aboue all the rest and most worthy all which being finished the Spaniards determined to put the Aytao in remembrance of his promise the better y t they might doo it and with most breuitie they ordained a petition and went with the same vnto the house of the Aytao therewith to aske licence to put it in vre The first Iudge they met withall was the Tequisi aforesaid who made signes that they should come vnto him and asked of them what they would haue The father Costodio answered nothing but onely to present that petition vnto the Aytao to put him in minde of their departure the Tequisi did take the petition promising them to giue it vnto him presently the which he did accomplish in a short space So being read by the Aytao he made answere by the same petition that he had a particular care of them and tarried onely for order from the vizroy which could not tarrie long the receiuing whereof hée woulde aduertise them the which hee did accomplish in fewe dayes which came with great content vnto the Spaniards for that he commanded that they should be sent away in verie good order and to giue them all that was néedfull for their iourney and that in aboundance The same day that this commission came there came also newes that the vizroy would come vnto the cittie of Canton and that within few dayes hee would bée there the which did so much trouble the Aytao the rest of the Iudges that day night they neuer rested but were occupied in the preparing al things necessary to receiue him which were so many with so great maiestie as though the king in person should come thither with great and mighty triumphall arkes rich hangings with other things the which I do not here make mention of although they were very curious because I would not be tedious for that I haue a great desire to conclude this little historie and if I should declare all that passed therin it were requisite for the same alone to make a great volume Foure dayes after the comming of the vizroy by his order there was giuen both to the one to the other a prouision in the which he commanded all Iudges and gouernors to receiue the Spaniards into their iurisdictions whereas they should passe not to permit any to do them harme or iniury but to giue them frée passage with securitie till such time as they should come to y e place appointed in y e said prouision which was vnto Machao vnto Luzon and iointly therewith he commanded two captaines to beare them company til such time as they had brought them out of all danger And to giue vnto them that went vnto Machao which was thrée daies iourney sufficient prouision requisite for fiue dayes and to them that went to Luzon their prouision for forty dayes although the voyage is to be made in fifteene dayes in twentie dayes at the most He also commanded them that had the charge to carry them that they shoulde haue a special care vnto their healthes in trauelling not too fast but little and little Likewise the Aytao gaue order vnto the interpreters for to sell the frigat in the which the fathers came thither and to giue vnto them the price that shoulde bee made thereof to bestow it at their pleasure the whiâ—h they did but kept still the halfe of that which they solde it â—orâ— and with manyother things mâ— which by the commandemeÌ„t of the vizroy was giuen them for their iourney and thought it well bestowed on them for to sée theÌ„selues free of their lyings crafts At the departure of the Father Costodio one of the souldiers mind was altred who was called Pedro de Villa roel and was very desirous to go with him vnto Machao the which hâ—e did accomplish by apparelling himself in the habite of a Portugal because he had no licence to go otherwise So all things being in a redinesse for their iourney they tooke their leaue the one of the other in shedding many teares with the griefe of minde The Father Costodio and his companions came safely and in health to Machao in foure dayes as himselfe did afterwards write thereof and were very well receiued of the Bishop and of all the rest and within fewe dayes after they gaue them a place for to build a monasterie wherein he and his companion might liue and all such as should take the habite of that order They came thither the fiftéenth of Nouember And those which went vnto Luzon departed out of the cittie of Canton in a great barke of the which there are many in all that kingdome very well tilted and dressed with many roomes and galeries and painted windowes as hath béene told you in the which they were very much made of by the patron of the said barke and of the passengers which were many and went vnto diuers partes with merchandice some thinges that they saw by the way till they came vnto Chincheo shal be told you in the chapter following CHAP. XIIII They that were determined to go vnto Luzon doo depart for the cittie of Chincheo in which voyage they see many riuers and townes and other particular things THe Spaniards depart out of the riuer of Canton after they had sailed by sea y e space of three leagues they entred into another mighty riuer in y e which they trauelled four daies And sure the great number of citties and townes that they saw alongst the riuers side is
incredible and so nigh the one vnto the other that they séemed to be al one so in the end of foure dayes they landed at one of the cities where came so much people to sée those strangers that it séemed al the kingdom were there assembled togither were so many in number that before they could get to y e Inne wheras they should be lodged there passed more then foure houres and was in distance but a quarter of a league but when they came thither they were verie faint with the great thrust aâ—d throng of the people They stayed in this Cittie one day and the next day very early in the morning was brought vnto them horse for to trauel by land other two daies y e which was almost continually in villages townes the third day they were imbarked in a small barke wherein they passed a riuer which had but litle water y e space of two houres theÌ„ after they were shipped in a bigger barke and entred into another riuer which seemed to be an arme of the sea in the which they sailed fiue dayes and sawe sailing vp and downe the said riuer so many barks and boats that it made them to be greatly amased These riuers were as wel replenished of cities and townes as the other riuer whereof we haue spoken Al which is a helpe to beleeue that which hath béene said of the mightinesse and the great number of people that are in that mighty kingdom Concluding this riuer they entred into another but not so broade as the last but a swifter current and beset with mightie trées both on the one side and the other and were so thick that almost they could not sée the sunne thorough them and although the country very asper there alongst the riuers side yet was there many walled citties an infinite number of townes and vilages in such sort that the suburbs did almost ioyne the one vnto the other So when they were disembarked out of this riuer they trauelled by land other foure dayes and greatly maruelled to see the great fertilitie of the country and many other things more which they do passe ouer for that in the relation of y e Augustine friers it hath béene declared vnto you In the ende of those foure daies they came to a cittie ten leagues from Chiâ—cheo and were lodged in the suburbs of the same whether resorted so much people to sée them that although they did shut y e gates to defend themselues from the prease yet could they not be disturbed of the entry for y t they broke the gates climed vp the wals windowes to sée them The host of the house where as they were lodged when he saw that the people did spoile and distroy his house he requested the Spaniards to go forth into a greene fielde which was there harde by placed amongst a company of Orchards the which they did to satisfie him also to satisfie the multitude of people that were come thither only to sée them The noise of the people was so great that the gouernor feared there had bin some other matter commanded a Iudge to go examine the cause and know the truth but when that hee was certified thereof hee commaunded the Spaniards to come vnto his house for that hee was desirous and would sée them They presently did accomplish his commandement and went their way and as they passed thorough the stréete there were certaine representing a comedie but so soone as the people that were there did sée the Spaniardes they left the players all alone and followed them They entred into the gouernors house and found him with great maiestie of seruants and souldiers of his gard he entertayned them with great loue and asked them who they were and from whence they came The interpreter presently shewed the prouision they brought from the viceroy which was in summe their licence giuen by him for them to go vnto Chincheo and that none should disturbe them in their iourney But to ayde and giue them all fauor possible that which was néedefull for their iourney And when that he had read the same he saide that thereby he did vnderstand that which he desired to know how that the viceroy did command all gouernors him as one of them they should offer to do all that lay in them the which he did accomplish and shewed them great fauour and friendship The dext day following they departed out of this citie by land being giuen vnto them by the gouernor very good prouision for the way The same day they came vnto a towne that was very fresh and fiue leagues from the place they departed there they determined to tarrie all that night fearing y e passage through a citie which was but a league before suspecting that they should be as much troubled with the people as they were in the other citie the day before And although this was but a small towne yet was there so great a concourse of people that came from the villages there abouts that it caused them to depart the next morning more early than they thought and all the night they could not sléepe because of the great noyse of the people So within a while after they departed from that towne they came vnto the citie aforesaide the which for situation and gallant buildings was the fairest in all that prouince Through the midst thereof ranne a mightie riuer ouer the which were many bridges very great and most faire Here were they so oppressed with much people that came to sée them that they were detayned in the presse a good while before they could enter into the citie and after they were within they were compassed about in such sort that they could not goe to seeke to eate but were constrained to enter into a barke and go downe the riuer and shroud themselues amongst a company of trées although they did vse this policie Yet the number of people were so great that leapt into the same barke that they were readie to sinke till such time as they that had entred the barke to auoid that perill returned and lept a shoore leauing them all alone with the barkemen and marriners that did rowe who went to seeke and bring them to eate and they remained in the barke all that night So the next day in the morning before the people could come to disturbe them they rowed towards the great and huge citie of Chincheo and entred into the same vppon a sunday in the morning being the sixt day of December They remained still in the barke for their owne quietnesse and security and sent their interpreter with their prouision vnto the Gouernour that he might ordaine at his pleasure that which was therein commanded The Gouernor when he had receiued commission he said vnto the interpreter that he should tell the Spaniards that he was very glad that they were come thither in safetie and in good health and that hee should receiue
do beléeue will be pleasant to the reader and is intituled A Commentarie of the new world in the which is contayned many curious matters as you shall perceiue after the reading thereof and is declared in substance and effect by the relation of the father that did passe and sée them all who was named fryer Martin Ignacio a religious man of the order of S. Francis who after that he had compassed the whole worlde came hither to Rome with Martin Simion bishop of the Iland of Pepper in the orientall or east Indias with whom I haue had communication diuers times and is a Chalde borne and of the citie of Niniuie in Babylon and made bishop by the patriarke of Babylon The end of this booke A Commentarie or short discourse of all such notable thinges as be betwixt Spaine till you come vnto the kingdome of China and from China vnto Spaine returning by the Orientall or east Indias after that they had almost compassed the whole world Wherein is contayned all the rites ceremonies and customes of the people the riches fertilitie and strength of many kingdomes and the description of them Made and set forth by the Author of this book as well by that which he hath seene as also by true relation that he had of the religious and barefoot Fryers of the order of Saint Francis who trauailed the same the yeare 1584. CHAP. I. A Commentarie of the new world SAint Lucas de Barrameda and the Citie of Cadiz from whence ordinarily goeth foorth all such fléetes and shippes that go vnto the occident or west Indias are distant the one from the other onely fiue leagues and in thirtie seuen degrées of altitude from whence vnto the Ilandes called the Canarias is two hundred and thirtie leagues and alwayes doo Rut to the southwest and is ordinarily sailed in eight or ten dayes The seas are rough which causeth great waues for which cause it is called the gulfe of the Ieguas These Ilands which in ancient time were called Fortunadas are at this day called by the Spaniards y e Canarias which is deriued of Canes or dogs for that there was in them at such time as the Spaniardes did discouer them great quantitie of dogges very bigge fierce and braue There are of them seuen Ilands which are called Gran Canaria Tenerife Palma Gomera Yerro Lancarote and Forte Ventura and are in altitude twentie eight degrees lacking very little and haue in them many particular thinges of which I will declare some of them in briefe In the Iland of Tenerife at the farther part therof towards the north west there is a mountain called El Pico de Tereyra which vnto the iudgement of theÌ„ who haue séene it is the highest in all the worlde and is plainely seene before you come to it thrée score leagues so that a ship going from Spaine vnto those Ilandes doth discouer that mountaine first None can ascende or go vp that mountaine but in the moneths of Iuly August for that all other moneths of the yeare there is very much snow on it although in all those Ilandes it doth neuer snowe and to mount the height thereof is three daies worke on the top of the same there is a round plaine place and being thereon at such tune as it is faire weather and the seas calme and in quiet you may sée all the seuen Ilands and euerie one of them will séeme but a small thing in respect yet some of them are distant from that more than fiftie leagues it hath as much more in coÌ„passe as that In the two monethes aforesaid they do gather in the toppe thereof all the brimstone that is brought from that Iland vnto Spaine which is much in quantitie This mountaine belongeth to the duke of Maqueda by particular gift of the king In one of these seueÌ„ Ilands aforesaid called the Hierco there is a continuall woonder which in my iudgement is one of the greatest in all the worlde and worthie to be knowen amongest all meÌ„ wherby they may exalt the mightie prouidence of God and giue him thankes for the same This Iland being the greatest amongest the seuen is a countrie very asper and vnfruitfull and so drie that there is no water to be found in all the Iland but on the sea side and that in fewe places but very farre distant from the inhabitance of that Ilande But there naturall necessitie is remedied by the diuine prouidence of heauen as aforesaide and by a strange meanes which is there is a great and mightie trée vnknowen and the like hath not beene seene in any part of all the whole world whose leaues are narrowe and long and are continually gréene like Iuie vpon the which trée is séene continually a small cloud which neuer augmenteth nor diminisheth with the occasion that the leaues continually without ceasing doth distill drops of water very cleere and fine which doth fall into certaine sesâ—ernes which the inhabitantes of the townes haue made for the conseruation thereof to remedie their necessities and to sustaine thereby not onely themselues but also their cattell and beastes and is sufficient for them all yet doo they not knowe the originall and beginning of this continuall and strange miracle One hundreth leagues distant from these Ilandes towards the right hand there is an other thing of little lesse admiration then the other y t we haue spoken of which is that many times there is séen an Iland which they cal S. Borandon Many being lost at the sea haue chaunced vpon the same Iland do say that it is a very fresh and gallant Iland with great abundance of trées and sustinence inhabited with Christian people yet can they not say of what nation or language The Spaniards many times haue gone with intent to séeke it but neuer could finde it which is y e occasion that there be diuers opinions touching the same Some doo say that it is an inchanted Iland and is seene but certaine daies assigned or appointed others say that there is no other let or impediment for the finding therof but because it is so little and is continually couered with great cloudes that there runneth from it riuers which haue so great a current that it maketh it difficult to come vnto it My opinion is if it be any thing worth y t being true that which so many haue spoken of this Iland according vnto the common opinion which they haue in all the seuen Ilands of Canaria it can not be without some great mysterie for he which can cause it to be all in a cloud the swift current of the riuers to be an impediment to the finding therof can find remedie for the inhabitants to come forth if it be so for them y t be without at the sea not to go into it yet can it not be for theÌ„ within the Iland but at some time there should haue some come soorth by
of which shal be spoken more at large hereafter This kingdome towards the Orient dooth ioyne vnto the country of Peru and so running by the North sea and reacheth vnto Nombre de Dios which is a port of the saide kingdome and from thence vnto Acapulco which is a port in the kingdome of Mexico and in the South sea it reacheth vnto Panama a port of the said Peru and in the same sea it extendeth nigh vnto the straights of Magellanes and not farre from the riuer of Plata and Brasill To conclude this kingdome is so great that vnto this day they cannot find the end therof but euery day doth discouer new countries whereas all the Indians that they do finde are verie easie to bee reduced vnto the Catholike faith for that they are people very docible ingenious and of a good vnderstanding There is amongst them diuers languages and verie different climes although all generally doo vnderstande the Mexican tongue which is most common There are many prouinces inhabited by Indians and Spaniards that euery one of them is as bigge as a reasonable kingdome yet the greatest and most principall is that of Mexico whereas are many Indians and Spaniards which doo excéed all the rest in number the names of them are Honduras Guatimala Campeche Chiapa Guaiaca Mechuacan Nueua galicia Nueua Viscaya Guadiana and others mo which I leaue out because I woulde not be tedious in all the which they haue either a royall audience and gouernors or other Iustices all Spaniards The naturall people whereof neuer since they were conuerted haue béene found in any heresie nor in any thing contrarie vnto the Romish faith All these prouinces are subiect and doo acknowledge that of Mexico as the principall there whereas his maiestie hath his vizroy an inquisition an archbishop and a royall audience or court of Chancerie This Cittie of Mexico is one of the best that is in all the whole world and is situated vpon water after the manner and fashion of Uenice in Italie in all this kingdome almost you cannot know when it is winter or when it is summer for that in al the whole yeare there is smal difference betwixt the daies and the nights by reason of the temperature of the countrie the fieldes are gréene almost all the whole yeare and trées beare fruit also almost all the whole yeare for when it is winter in Europa then doo their fall dewes from heauen which dooth cause all things to budde and flowre and in the summer it doth ordinarily raine but especially in the monethes of Iune Iuly August and September in the which monethes it is a maruel when it raineth not euery day and it is to bee wondred at for that almost it neuer rayneth but from noone forwards and neuer passeth midnight so that it neuer troubleth them that doo trauell by the way for that they may beginne their iourney at midnight and trauell vntill the next day at noone It raineth vnreasonably and with so great furie and force that the time that it dooth indure it is requisite to flie from the showers for that many times they are so hurtfull that one sole shower taketh away the life of a man Almost all the whole yeare in this kingdome they do sowe and gather as wel wheaâ—e wherof they haue great abundance as Maiz which is the ordinary sustentation of al the Indians blacke moores horse of the which they haue great abundance very gallant good both to y e eye indéed as in any kingdom in al the whole world that is knowne vnto this day The brood of them was carried out of Spaine thither when first they did discouer that country for that effect were chosen the best that could bee found and for that they doo eate all the whole yeare greene grasse Maiz which is wheat of y e Indians is the occasion that they do deserue to haue the praise aboue all other In fine this kingdome is one of y e fertilest of victuals of al that euer we haue heard off and of riches for that there is in it an infinite number of siluer mines out of the which is taken great abundance as it is to be séene euery yeare when as the shippes doo come vnto Syuell It is vnder the Torrida Zona yet notwithstanding it is of the temperature as I haue said contrarie vnto the opinion of ancient Philosophers who said that it was not inhabited But now to excuse them it shal not be from our purpose to declare the cause wherefore they were deceiued and is that in the foure monethes aforesaide wherein the sunne hath his most force it doth continually rayne which is the occasion that the country is so temperate and besides this God doth prouide that it is visited with fresh windes which come both out from the South and North sea and is so ordinarie a thing that it is a maruell to see it calme by reason whereof the whole kingdome is of that propertie and although the sunne be very strong and causeth great heate yet putting himselfe vnder any shadowe although it bee but little they straightwayes feele a fresh and comfortable winde by reason of the temperature of the heauen in the manner aforesaid The inhabitants of this kingdome throughout al the whole yeare néede not to augment nor diminish their apparell neither their beddes Also the aire and clime is so holesome that you may lie and sléepe in the fieldes without any thing vppon you as in any house be it neuer so well hanged and close All that is discouered of this kingdome except it be the lande of the Chichimecos which is a kind of Indians that liueth as the Alarbes do in Africa without any house or towne all the rest I say are in peace and quietnes baptised and doctrined and furnished with many monasteries of diuers orders of religious men as of the order of S. Dominicke of S. Francis of S. Austen of Iesuits besides a great number of priests that are reparted in al parts of that kingdome so that the one and the other are continually occupied in doctrining of the naturall people and other Spaniards that are in that kingdome of whome although they be but a few in respect of the Indians yet do they surmount in number more then fiftie thousand In the principall citie of this kingdome which is that of Mexico as aforesaid there is a vniuersitie and in it be many schooles whereas is red any facultie as is in Salamanca that by men of great sufficiencie whose trauel is gratified with great rentes honor There bee also in it many great hospitals as well of Spaniards as of Indians wheras the sicke men are cured with great charitie comfort for that euery one of them haue great rents and reuenues I do not intreat of the Churches and monasteries both of Friers and Nunnes which are in that cittie nor of other particular thinges for that thereof
rich metals which shewed to haue much siluer Amongst these Indians they had great notice and knowledge of the lake aforesaid they were conformable vnto the other in that touching the great riches abundance of gold The captaine hauing great confidence in this people and of their good dispositions he determined after certaine daies y t he had bin there to leaue fiue of his companions and the rest of the Indians his friends that they might returne vnto the prouince of Zuny with all their bagage and hee himselfe with the other four that remained would go more at quiet to discouer certaine very rich mynes of the which he had true notice So according vnto his determination he departed with the guides he had and hauing trauelled toward the northwest fiue forty leagues he came vnto the saide mynes and tooke out of the same with his owne hands rich metals and very much siluer the mynes had a great brode veine it was vpon a rocke whereas they might go vp to it with great ease for that there was a way open to y t effect nigh therunto were certain townes of Indians amongst the mountaines who shewed friendship vnto them and came foorth to receiue them with crosses in their hands other signes and tokens of peace nigh vnto the same they saw two reasonable riuers vppon whose hankes there were many vines full of excellent good grapes great walnut trées and very much flaxe like vnto that of Spaine and it was tolde them by signes that on the other side of the saide mountaines there was a riuer of 8. leagues brode But they could not vnderstand how nigh it was yet did they make demonstration that it did run his course towards the north sea and vpon both sides thereof was situated many townes and of so huge bignes that in comparison those wherein they were were but suburbes in respect So after the Captaine had taken all this relation hee departed towardes the prouince of Zuny whither he had coÌ„manded his other companions to goe and at their comming thether in health which was by an other excellent way he found therwith his oâ—her fiue companions the father Fryer Bernardino with the souldiers that were determined to returne backe agayne as aforesayde for as yet they were not departed from thence for certayne occasions Unto whom the naturals of the countrie had giuen good intertaynement and all thinges necessarie and that in abundance and afterwardes did the like vnto the sayde Captaine and vnto them that came with him and went foorth to receiue him with demonstration of great ioy and gaue them great store of prouision for their iourney pretended requesting him to returne againe with breuitie and to bring with him many Castillas for so they doo call the Spaniardes and they would giue them all to eate for the which the better to accomplish the same they had sowed that yeare more wheate and other graine then they had done in any other yeare past At this present the sayde religious Fryer and the rest of the souldiers did ratifie their first determination aforesaide and concluded to returne vnto the Prouince from whence they came with the pretence before spoken of and there ioyned with him in that iourney Gregorio Hernandez who was standert bearer in that attempt So when they were departed the captain who remained but with eight souldiers did fully resolue himselfe to prosecute his begun pretence to take his course vp alongst the north riuer which being but in execution and hauing trauelled about 60. leagues towards the prouince of Quires aforesaid 12. leagues froÌ„ thence towards the orient they came vnto a prouince called Gubates whereas the Indians receiued them with peace and gaue theÌ„ great store of prouision and also notice that not far froÌ„ thence there were certaine rich mynes the which they founde and tooke out of them glystering metale and very good with the which they returned to the towne from whence they departed They iudged this prouince to haue nigh vpon fiue twentie thousande soules all well apparelled with painted mantles of cotton shamwayes skins very well dressed There are many mountaynes and woodes of pine ceder trées and their houses of foure and fiue stories hie Héere had they notice of an other prouince that was but one daies iourney froÌ„ thence which was called of the Tamos in the which was more thaÌ„ fortie thousand soules but when they came thether the inhabitants would not giue them any victuals neyther permit theÌ„ to enter into their townes for the which to auoyde the danger wherin they were being but a few souldiers as aforesaid and some of them sicke they determined to depart thence towardes the countrie of christians the which they put in execution the beginning of Iuly in the yere 1583. and were conducted by an Indian that went with them who carried them by a contrarie way and different from that they came downe alongest the riuer side which they called of the Vacas By reason that there was great store of kine all alongest the same By the which they trauelled one hundred and twentie leagues From thence they came vnto the riuer of the Conchas there whereas they first entred and from thence vnto the vale of S. Bartolmew from whence they departed to begin this discouerie And when they came thether they vnderstood that many dayes before were arriued there in health frier Bernardino Beltran and his companions were gonefrom thence vnto the village of Guadiana In this towne the captaine Antonio de Espeio made a certaine true information of all this aforesaide the which presently he sent vnto the Earle of Corunnia viceroy of that kingdome and he sent it vnto his maiestie and vnto the Lords of the royall counsell of the Indians that therin they might ordaine that which séemed them best the which they haue done with great care I beséech the Lord God if it be his pleasure that it may go forwardes in such order that so many soules redéemed by his precious bloud be not condemned whose wits vnderstanding do farre excéed those of Mexico Peru as by y e information of those y t haue delt with theÌ„ appeareth wherby we may presume that with great facilitie they will imbrace the law of the gospell and leaue the Idolatrie that the most part of them do vse which God for his mercies sake permit so it may be for his glorie and exalting of the catholike faith I haue bin tedious in this relation more than a commentarie doth require but I haue doone it by reason it is a newe thing and little abrode as yet and it séemeth to mee not to giue discontent vnto the reader And now me thinketh it shall bee well that I doo returne vnto my matter first begunne and to procéede and go forwardes in the voyage and description of the new worlde returning vnto the citie of Mexico there where as I did digresse for to declare the discouerie
vnderstand but straightwaies they were carried out of the temple and brought by the souldiers before a iudge who was the chiefe and principall of all the sea of that prouince and was sixe leagues from the place in a Cittie called Quixue the way thither was very plaine and brode and paued and vpon both sides there were fields both of corne and flowers So with the helpe of God the Spaniards came before the presence of this general in eight days although it was with great trauell by reason they had neither force nor strength for to trauell for that they had lost it with the heauie and sorowfull newes as aforesaid Yet notwithstanding at their comming to the citty Quixue the souldiers had them in continuall guard and kéeping till the next day following then they were carried before the generall where he was in a very great faire house the which had two couâ—ts one of them was next vnto the doore of the stréete and the other was towards the farther partes of the house both of them were railed round about in manner of grates they were planted full of diuers sortes of great trées wherein did féed a great number of déere and other wilde beasts but yet as tame as sheepe Right ouer against the inwarde court there was a gallerie whereon was many soulidiers which did guarde and keeâ—e the person of the generall who was in a mightie great and gallant hall set in an Iuorie chaire with great maiestie Before they entred into the seconde court there was discharged within both artilerie and habagus shot and played vpon a drum which was as bigge as those which they vse in Spaine that being doone there was a great sounde of hoybuckes and trumpets and of many other instruments the which being doone they straightwayes opened the gates of the innermost court whereas the gallerie was aforesaide from whence they might sée the throne whereas the generall was set There was before him a table whereon was paper and other necessaries for to write a thing commonly vsed in all that countrie the souldiers that were his guarde were all in one liuerie of silke were in so gallant consort had so great sylence which made the Spaniards greatly to maruell The first order was of the hargabushes and the seconde were pikes and betwixt the one and the other was placed a sworde and a target there might be about foure hundred souldiers Behinde them were placed the officers of iustice or executioners with their instruments for to whippe and punish offenders and in the midst of them were the scriueners and proctors About thirtie paces more or lesse from the chaire where the generall was set was placed certaine Gentlemen and to the number of a dosen pages bare headed verie gallantlie apparelled in silke and golde In the middest amongst these souldiers were the Spaniards carried and before them such tokens and shewes as they doo vse when as they doo present before the Iudges such as bee condemned vnto death A good way before they came nigh vnto the place whereas the general was they caused them to knéele downe at which instant there was brought foorth certaine Chinos that were prisoners to be iudged and so soone as their inditement was read and iudgement giuen the executioners did execute the rigour of the sentence in the presence of the Spaniards first pulling off their apparell and then making fast their hands and féete verie fast with cordes in such sort that they shriked that the noise reached vnto heauens they kept them so bounde vntill they sawe farther what the Iudge woulde commaunde who when hee had heard his inditement if hee woulde that hee should bée whipped hée striketh a blow with his hand vppon the table that is before him then the executioners doo strike fiue blowes vppon the calues of the legges of the offender with a broad cane in the order as hath béene saide and is so cruell that none can suffer fiftie of them but he dieth The blowe being giuen vppon the table by the generall straightwayes one of the proctors maketh a crie or noise where at presently commeth the executioner for to execute his office And if the offender dooth deserue more then the Iudge dooth strike another blowe vppon the table then is there giuen him other fiue blowes and in this sort dooth the Iudge so manie times as his offence dooth deserue At the lamentations and shrikes that these miserable offenders doo giue the Iudges shewe no more signe of pittie then if they were stroken vppon a stone So the audience being concluded and doone with the naturals of the countrie the generall commaunded that the Spanyardes shoulde come a little nearer and looked and searched their garments and all the rest as also their Breuiarios books that being done they were informed by those that brought them how and in what order they were apprehended and of all other thinges touching their comming into that kingdome vnderstanding thereof hee commaunded them to be carried vnto prison where they were put in sure holde and with great watch and guard for certaine dayes in the which time they passed incredible trouble as well of hunger as of thirst and heat which was the occasion that the most part of them fell sicke of agues and of the laske So after these dayes that they were in prison they were carried once againe to the audience and many other more were brought forth to be visited all people beléeuing that the Spaniards should no more returne but bee executed for the which they receiued great coÌ„tent to be cleared by one death of so many as dayly they had before their eyes In the conclusion of this audience the generall did decrée that they should be carried by sea vnto the Cittie of Canton whereas was the vizroy of that prouince and he to commande them to be executed or punished according as hee thought best according vnto the penalty put vppon whatsoeuer straunger that should enter into that kingdome without licence as they did enter But when they saw that they were carried out of the prison vnto the sea they verelie beléeued that it was to drowne them therin for the which hauing a newe confessed themselues and commended themselues vnto God they did animate one another with the representation of the reward which was prepared for them but when they came vnto the barre whereas they should imbarke themselues vppon a suddaine the sea beganne to waxe verie loftie and troublesome that it séemed almost a myracle and it increased in such sort that the souldiers and mariners said that neuer before they had séene the like torment the which endured the space of tenne dayes the which was the occasion that they did not imbarke themselues and that the generall did change his pretence and determined that they shoulde be carried by lande vnto the great Cittie of Saucheo Fu the which was presently put in vre they were manie dayes on this iourney with fiftie souldiers that did
guarde them in the which they sawe so manie curious thinges and of so great riches that they iudged it to bée the best countrie in all the world So when they came vnto the citty with so small trouble and werinesse by reason of their long iourney and euill intreatings by the souldiers they were presently carried as might be sayde from Herode to Pylate and escaped not one day but they were carried to the publike audience or else before some particular Iudge This citie was very fresh both within and without and full of many orchards whereas were an infinite number of fruite with gardens stanges of water and other thinges of great recreation This citie is thrée times so bigge as Siuell and compassed about with a mightie strong wall their houses are very great and well wrought their stréetes are excéeding faire brode and long and so straight that from the one end vnto the other they may sée a man In equall distance the one from the other there are built many triumphall arkes which is an ordinarie and common thing vsed in the cities of that kingdome vpon their gates there are little towers wheron is planted all the artilerie that they haue for the defence of the citie as hath béen said all the which is inuironed and compassed about with a riuer which is great and faire on the which is ordinarily sayling an infinite number of barkes and brigandines and is of so great depth they may come lye harde vnto the wall yea ships of great burden On the one side of the citie there is a little Iland of great recreation vnto the which they do passe by a very faire bridge the one halfe made of stone and the other of timber and is of so great a length that on the part that is made of stone the father fryer Ignacio did tell thirtie Innes or victualing houses wheras was to be bought not only flesh and fish but also great store of marchandice of great estimation and valure as amber musk e péeces of silke and cloth of golde CHAP. XVI The Spaniardes are sent vnto the citie of Hucheofu doo declare what happened there vnto them FRom the citie of Saucheofu they were sent vnto Hucheofu the which is more principall and great than the first alwayes hauing with them in companie and garde the number of souldiers aforesaid sometimes they trauailed by lande and sometimes by water whereas they saw so many rich thinges which in respect to them all that they had séene vnto that time was nothing Of the which although I haue had particular relation of many of them I leaue off heere the declaring thereof for that of an Itinerario or commentarie I will not make a historie But principally for that many of them doo séeme to be incredible and will be more vnto those that haue not had any notice of the mightinesse of this kingdome In the discourse of this their iourney the cities and townes they sawe were many and verie bigge and all compassed with strong walles and at one of them there was a mightie riuer on the which was edified more than fiue hundreth engynes or whéeles and they were made with so much art that alonely with the violence of the streame of the riuer that dooth force them they water all the groundes there abouts for the space of two leagues and more without any other helpe or humaine force In this citie they were certaine daies in visiting and complementes after the which they were commaunded to goe vnto Canton of the which in the two relations before is made particular mention So when they came vnto the Citie they were carried vnto the prison of the Thequixi which is whereas are put such as are condemned to die the which they plainely perceiued There they remayned verie manie dayes and the most part of them were carried vnto the tribunall seate of the Iudges in companie with others that were condemned to die At this time there was in the citie the Tutan who was the viceroye of the prouince and the Chacu who is the generall visitor and that was at such time as was doone great Iustice for to cleare the prisons whereas were thousandes of men and some that had béene there more than tenne yeares There was some day at that time that in the presence of our people were brought foorth to be iudged two thousand prisoners some to the death and others to be whipped and other to be banished with other kinde of penalties according vnto the disposition rigor of their lawes That day wherein they make capitall audience they vse particular ceremonies as shooting of certaine péeces of artilerie and to shut the gates of the citie not permitting anie to enter in neither go foorth till such time as that act and Iustice be finished and many other things as hath béene declared in the first part of this historie The Spaniards being in the citie at this time of so great calamitie it so fell out that the same time there was a gentleman of Portingall called Arias Gonsalo de Miranda chiefe captaine of the citie of Machao very deuout vnto religious men and a friende vnto Spaniardes who vnderstanding the great trouble and danger wherein they were hee tooke order by all meanes possible to set them at libertie and had so great care therein that hee went through with his intent in such sort that they were deliuered out of pryson and from the great feare in which they were and all by the intercession of this gentleman who did vse so good persuasions for the loue he did bears vnto them that he made voyde the euill opinion they had against them and with compulsion to reuoke the rigorous sentence of death pronounced against them I do not here in particular treate of such thinges as happened vnto these religious men the seruants of God as well in the prison as on their iourney for that they were many and to declare them is requisite a long time and to make a new historie And although in the bookes before haue béen declared the riches of that kingdome and all thinges in particular yet for the better certification I thought it good and not without purpose to declare in the chapter following some of thâ—se which the father fryer Martin Ignatio did communicate with me vsing in the treating thereof so much breuitie that it shall séeme rather an Epilogo then a new relation And for a more verification of the truth whereby better credite may be giuen thervnto séeing that the persons who did sée it doo agrée in that which shall be here declared and againe for that the saide father and his companions did sée more thinges than the others whose relations be alreadie set downe The occasion wherefore they put confidence in them and to let them sée and vnderstand many secretes was for that they were sentenced and condemned to die for without all doubt if they had vnderstood that they should haue returned out of
the kingdom they should neuer haue séene them for they haue great care that any other nations should know their secrets their manner of gouernâ—ment and liuing CHAP. XVII Here it doth intreat of the mightinesse goodnesse riches and fortitude of the kingdome of China THis kingdome is vnder the tropike of Capricorne and stretched foorth on the sea coast south west and northeast more than fiue hundreth leagues it hath on the partes south west the kingdome of Cochinchina and on the north east it dooth confine on Tartaria a kingdome which dooth compasse the most part of the lande on the other part to the northwest there is an other mightie kingdome of white people which is beyonde the kingdome of Persia it is called Catay there be in it Christians and the king thereof is called Manuell It is sayd of a truth that from the furthest part of this kingdome vnto Ierusalem is sixe moneths trauaile by lande the which they vnderstoode by certaine Indians which came from that kingdome by Persia whose testimonials were made in Ierusalem sixe moneths before wherein was declared how that they had trauelled by Arabia felix and passed the red sea The other fourth part of this kingdome is compassed with a verie asper and high mountaine which is fiue hundreth leagues vpon a right line but nature had left certaine places open towards the northwest which might be fourscore leagues little more or lesse towards the sea of Iapon which is towards the Septentrion The great riches of this countrie and the great number of people that be therein did supplie the same as in the first part of this historie is more at large declared And for that the king of this countrie séeing himselfe oppressed and troubled by the mightie Tartaro seemed that easily he might defende himselfe from him in shutting vp of those gates which nature had left open betwixt the mountaines he did shut it vp with the death of many thousande of people for that hee vsed therein great tyrannie which afterwardes was the occasion of his owne death This mountaine with the supply by man is the famous wall of the kingdom of China that is of fiue hundred leagues long yet you must vnderstande it in the manner aforesaide the better to giue credite thereunto for alonely fâ—ure score leagues were made by mans handes with great industrie and there is vpon it an infinite number of bulwarkes which maketh it the more fayrer and stronger But yet not so strong as is the other four hundreth and twentie leagues which were made by nature Nigh vnto the same there is a great desert full of ditches and lakes of water which is the occasion that this kingdome hath béene conserued for more than two thousand yeares as doth appeare by their owne histories which they holde to bee verie true All is imparted into fiftéene prouinces with that of Aynao and euerie one of them hath a principall Citie of the which it beareth the name In the middest of this kingdome there is a great lake out of the which proceedeth many great and mightie riuers which runne through all the kingdome and are so big that there sayleth vp and downe in them barkes sregats brigandines and many other vessels of an other kinde of making This great abundance of water is the occasion that it is so sertile and so well prouided of all thinges and againe the most part of their cities and townes are situated on the riuers side so that by them the one prouince doth communicate with an other carrying the one vnto the other great store of marchandice and other thinges of great curiositie and is done with little cost for that all things are done very good cheape This sea cost of this kingdome is the biggest and the best that is knowen in all the world there is vpoÌ„ it fiue prouinces which be these of Canton Chincheo Liampon Nanquin and that of Paquian which is the furthest towardes the northwest in the which is resident the king and his counsel with all his court ordinarily and the most part of the men of warre that it hath for that this prouince doth confine vpon the Tartaros their enimies Some will say that the kings ordinarie dwelling there is for that it is the best and most fertilest of all the kingdome But I beleeue according to the saying of some of the Chinos that he doth it not but because it is so nigh vnto Tartaria and to finde himselfe there whereas hee may supply all necessities which might happen vpon a soddaine by his enimies In these riuers there are certaine Ilandes the which are very profitable vnto all the kingdome for that there is nourished brought vp in them great store of deare hogges and other beasts which is the occasion that the cities are so well prouided and serued But one of the things which causeth most admiration to theÌ„ that go to this kingdome is to see so infinite a number of ships and barkes that be in euerie port thereof and are so many that there hath béene a man in the citie of Machao that hath layde a wager that alonely in the riuer of Canton there be more ships and vessels than in all the cost of Spaine One thing I may affirme that I haue heard declared by persons of great credite that haue béene in that kingdome but in especiall of the father Ignacio whom I do follow in this Itinerario that it is an easie thing in any one of these fiue prouinces that be vpon the sea cost to ioyne together a thousande ships of warre and all of them as they say in Spaine dedicated for that purpose The occasion why there be so many is alreadie declared in his proper chapter There are diuers opinions touching the greatnesse of this kingdome but the most are conformable with the father fryer Martin de Herrada who like a good Geomatrician and Mathematician went nighest the pricke This opinion is declared in the first part of this historie whereunto I referre me and in that which toucheth in particular things of that kingdom for that it is there declared at large as it was taken out of their bookes But one thing I cannot let passe but declare for that it séemeth woorthie to make thereof a particular memorie and I vnderstood it by the mouth of the said father Ignacio which is that he doth affirme it to bee certaine true approued that euery day in the yeare one with an other besides wars and the plague the which in this countrio they remember not to haue any neither do they find written in their histories for 2000. yeares neither by famin nor any other accidentall occasions to consume the people yet doth there die many thousands of people both smal great in al the fiftéen prouinces of this kingdome which is no small griefe vnto theÌ„ who with a christian zeale doth consider this heauie tribute of so many soules that the diuell doth recouer eueriâ—
onely ouer the gates of the Cities towers as hath béene declared and in them is put all the artilerie the which is for the defence of that citie or towne They vse many sortes of weapons but in especiall hargabushes bowes lances of thrée or foure manners swords like vnto faunchers with them targets All the souldiers when they go to fight they weare long garments down to their knées very wel stuffed with cotton wooll the which doth resist the thrust of a lance or a stabbe all such souldiers as haue the kings ryall pay weare in token thereof red and yellowe hats of the which there is so great a number as well horsemen as foot men that almost it is impossible to number them And it is a coÌ„mon opinion of all them that haue bin in this kingdome and haue séene them that all Spaine France and the great Turke hath not so many as this kingdome hath They haue amongst them captaines of ten souldiers some of a hundreth souldiers some of a thousand of ten thousand of twentie thousand in this sort to a hundred thousand The number of souldiers y t these captains do leade are knowen by certain ensignes that they beare They muster and make show of their people euery new moone the same day they do pay theÌ„ royally their pay must be in siluer in no other money It is saide by such as haue seene this pay but especially the aforesaid father fryer Ignacio that they giue them a péece of siluer which may weigh so much as a ryall and halfe of Spaine and is as much worth there as foure crownes amongest vs in respect of the value of all things But both in the one and in the other kingdom that day that they do receiue their pay euery one must make a show of some act in armes the which is done in the presence of viewers or mustermasters and such as are found that doe not his exercise with dexteritie they are reprehended and cruelly punished they doo skirmish with great consort and in that which toucheth obedience to their captaines vnto the ensignes the which they do vse in their wars they may compare with all nations of the world CHAP. XVIII This chapter doth treat of certaine rites ceremonies and other signes tokens which be found and do show that they haue had notice of the holy law of the gospell SUch ceremonies as vnto this day haue bin séene amongst the people of this kingdom are gentilicas without any mixture with the Moores nor with any other sect yet there is found amongst theÌ„ that is a sufficient iâ—dition that they haue had in some time past some particular notice of the euangelicall law as is plainly séene by certaine pictures which haue béene found and séene amongest them whereof we haue made particular mention the which they beléeue was knowen by the preaching of the Apostle S. Thomas who passed through this kingdome when as he went vnto the Indians from thence to the city of Salamina which in their language is called Malipur whereas he was martyred for the name faith of Iesus Christ of whoÌ„ at this day they do remember in that kingdome by the traditioÌ„ of their antecessors who said that many yeares past there was in that kingdome a man that did preach vnto them a new law whereby they might goe vnto heauen who after that hee had preached certaine daies saw little fruit thereof for that they were all occupied in ciuill wars he departed from thence vnto the Indians But first he left certaine disciples behind him that were baptised and well instructed in matters of faith that they might preach vnto them wheÌ„ as occasion did serue for the same In many places they do worship the diuell only for y t he should do them no harme and so the said fryer did tell me for that heâ— was diuers times in presence wheÌ„ as they did obsequies of certaine Chinos that lay a dying and he saw that they had painted before y e dead man a furious diuell hauing in his left hand the sunne and in his right hande a dagger with the which he made a show as though he would strike him This picture was put before him at the point that hee should yeelde vp the ghost strengthening him that he should put great trust thereon And as the fryer did demand of them what reason they had to do the same some of them answered and saide because the diuell should do no harme vnto the dead man in the other world they put his picture before him that he might knowe him and take him for his friend That which is vnderstood of these Chinos is that although they haue amongst them many errors of the Gentiles yet with great ease they would be reduced vnto our faith if they might haue libertie for to preach and they to receiue it When as the sunne and the moone is in eclypse they beléeue verily that the prince of the heauen will destroye them and for verye feare they put them selues in that colour the people generally doo worshippe vnto them and beléeue verily that the sunne is a man and the moone a woman And therefore when as they beginne to bee eclypsed they make great sacrifices and inuocations vnto the prince afore said dâ—siring him not to kill nor destroy them for the great necessitie they haue of them All generally beléeue the immortalitie of the soule and that in the other world they shall be rewarded or punished according as they liued in this worlde in coÌ„pany of y e bodie And therfore they do vse to make in the fields sepulchres wherin they command theÌ„selues to be buried after they be dead When they should be buried they command to kill all their seruants or their wiues those that best he loued in his life saying y t they do it that they should go with them to serue them in the other world wheras they beléeue they shall liue eternally die no more They put with them into their sepulchres things to be eaten great riches beléeuing that they do carry the same into the other world there to serue their necessities In this error were the Indians of the Peru of old antiquity as y e Spaniards haue séene by experience There is in this kingdom many vniuersities colleges wherein is taught philosophie both naturall morall and the lawes of the countrie for to learne to gouerne by theÌ„ vnto the which the king doth send ordinarily visitors to sée vnderstand the order that is amongst them to reward or punish the students according vnto the desert of eyther of them They are greatly ashamed when they sée any euil thing committed although they bee not punished for the same and aâ—â— people that do permit with ease correction as the father Ignacio and his companions did sée by experience who going alwayes as condemned men to die yet at all times when they
people doo say that with a good will they would againe returne and receiue the law of the gospell if they had it there preached From this Iland after they had passed a little gulfe they came vpon the coast of a kingdome called Tutucuriu and ran all alongest the cost of the same running from the cape of Comerin to Cuylan Here there is a Pagode or temple of their gods very great and rich thether come all the Gentiles of that kingdom at certain feasts in y e yeare with great deuotion there is in is it a triumphant chariot so great that 20. horse cannot mooue it they bring it foorth in publike vpō their festiual daies is carried by elephants by an infinite number of men who voluntarily do hale and pull at certaine roapes y t are made fast therunto Upon the highest of this chariot is made a tabernacle very richly adorned and within the same an Idol whom they do worship then immediatly vnder the same are y e kings wiues that go singing They doo bring it forth with much musick◠reioysings do carry it a good way in procession and amongest many thinges of honor that they doo vnto it they do vse one so brute and beastly as the reader may well iudge thereof which is that many of them doo cut péeces of their owne fleshe and doo throwe it vnto the Idoll and the other not contented with this doo throwe them selues on the grounde that the chariot may passe ouer them and there they remaine all to péeces Those that do die in this sort they account them for great saints and are had in singular veneration Many other maners and fashions of idolatrie is declared of this kingdome and more beastly than this we haue spokē of the which I let passe because I would not be tedious in this Itinerario All the people of this kingdom be very bad and ill inclined for which cause y e fathers of the company of Iesus that are in certaine townes nigh vnto the same cannot as yet bring them out of their errors although they haue put therein great care and diligence Upon the same cost a litle distant from this kingdom there is a towne of Portingals called Coulan and 25. leagues further a citie which is called Cochin in the which there are religious men of S. Francis of S. Dominicke of S. Austin of the companie of Iesus who haue there a very good studie or seminarie whereas they do bring foorth much fruite Nigh vnto this citie is Santo Tome whereas are many baptised and good christians very abstinent and chast vnto whom the patriarkes of Babylon doo prouide them of bishops the authoritie where with they do it is not knowen nor whence they haue it for that as I do vnderstand the seat apostolicke did neuer giue it them About the same matter at this present there is in Rome a bishop of this kingdome and one of the kingdome of Pimienta with whom I haue talked diuers times and is come thether to giue his obedience vnto the Pope and to knowe of him the order that his pleasure is should be obserued in receiuing of those bishops which come thether by the cōmandement of the patriarke In this kingdome there are many kings but the principallest of them is he of Cochin and next vnto him he of Coulan nigh vnto them are many petie kings as is hee of Mangate Cranganor and are all Gentils although amongst them there are mixed many Moores There hath bin found in this kingdome certaine Iewes that haue gone frō Palestina those parts There is in this countrie vniuersally a lawe verie strange and little heard of which is that the sonnes doo not inherite after their fathers but his brothers sonne and the reason they giue for the same is for y t they haue no certaintie of their children for that they haue no wiues proper nor appointed to thēselues I promise you it séemeth to me their reason to be as barbarous as their law for that the like inconuenience doth folow their brothers children They haue many rites blindnes amongst thē but one aboue all the rest which is y t in certaine feastes amongst them they do vse bathes after that they are bathed they say that they remaine frée cleare from all their sinnes They haue many augorismes of whom I will not intreat for that they are not worthy of memorie In this country is gathered most of the pepper that is brought into Europe for which cause this kingdome is called that of the Pimienta CHAP. XXVI The chapter doth treate of many kingdomes of the newe world and of the particular and curious things of them THe aforesaid father went from Cochin to the kingdome of Cananor passed by Tanaor Calicut which is called of the naturall people Malabar they are litle kingdomes but in them much people In that of Cananor there are inhabited many Portingals and religious mē of the order of S. Francis it is a countrie in all things like vnto Cochin for which cause and for that they obserue kéepe one maner of customs rites I remit the touching of this kingdome to the other aforesaide Then forwards on there are other two small kingdoms the one is called Barcelor the other Mangalor there be in them some christians it is a good countrie rich and hath it for certaine that within a little time they will be all baptised From this kingdome they went vnto Goa a principall citie and inhabited with Portingals is as the metropolitane of all those kingdomes it is in fiftéen degrées of height and is set from Cochin vnto it a hundreth leagues this citie is situated in a little Iland compassed round about with water and in compasse but onely foure leagues and is deuided from the firme land of Odialcan by a mightie riuer It is a good countrie peaceable and doth inioy a very faire and pleasant riuer In this Citie ordinarily is resident the viceroy of the India and the archbishoppe there are many Churches and couents besides the high church there are fourtéene parish churches besides fiftéen hermitages that are within and without the citie there be four couents all very sumptuous of S. Dominicke of S. Austin of saint Francis and of the company of Iesus And without the cittie there is another of Recoletos Franciscanos reformed Francis friers Nigh vnto this Iland are those of Salcete and Barde◠there whereas the religious men of saint Francis and the companie of Iesus haue certaine christian townes Few yeares past the Gentiles of Sancete did kill certaine fathers of the company of Iesus in abhorring the faith who died with great spirite and strength so that I beleeue they went into ioy with God Beyonde Goa on the same coast towardes the North is in eightéene degrées and a halfe from y e towne of Chaul beyond that Basayn nigh thereunto Damaun all these
So that after the aforesaid father frier Martin Ignacio had made his account of all that he had trauelled from the time he departed from Siuel til he returned vnto Lysborne in compassing the world he found that it was nine thousand and forty leagues by sea by lande besides many other leagues that he trauelled in China and in other parts of the which hee dooth make no account All these leagues are full of mightie kingdomes and al or the most part of them are subiect vnto the tyranny of lucyfer God for his infinite mercy conuert them and take pittie on them as hee did when that he came from heauen vppon the earth to die for all put into the heart of the king of Spaine that amongst other good workes the which with his most Christian zeale dooth intend and do for to procure this which will bee so much vnto the glory of God and great desert of honor vnto himselfe the which he may do very commodiously being as he is at this day Lord of all the Indies and of the biggest part of all that newe world This petition is worthy that all we Christians doo desire of God for that his holy name in all the world may be praised and exalted and the sonnes of Adam who for their sinnes are so dispersed and forgotten of God and first beginning they may go and inioy the happy and glorious kingdome for the which they were created FINIS Excellent â—lummes Excellent white sugar good cheape Honie wax Excellent good silke Great store of flaxe and hempe CottoÌ„ wool wheat and barlie rie oates Great abundance of rice Chestnuts All kind of beasts Excellent furres Muske Great store of buffes Deere hogs and goates Great store of wildfoule Foule soâ—de by waight A penie Reubarbe and other medicinall hearbs Foure hundred of Nutmegs for sixe pence Cloues sixe pound for 3 pence the like of pepper Sinamom 25. pound for two shilings Mines of gold and siluer other mettals Iron and steele 4. shilling a quintal Siluer is more worth then gold Great store of pearles 243. kings The mightie city of Causie The China is in compas 3000. leagues and 1800. â—eagues long The mightie citie called Suntien or Quinsay A wal of 500 leagues long Great abundance of wool and good cheape Shooes and bus kines of veluet Great abundance of Marters furres An il vse and custome A good custome to auoid inconueniences Ingenious people WagoÌ„s with sailes Cloth of gold tissue silke Porâ—â—an All occupations bee in streetes by themselues The son inherits his fathers occupation A strange image A mysterie of the trinitie S. Thomas preached in this kingdome The martyrdome of saint Thomas A false myracle They cast lottes They throw their gods vnder their feete A hogs head for a sacrifice Another kind of lots Inuocation to the diuell The diuell telleth lies Strange opinions Marueilous barieties The first inuention of â—â—re Strange opinions The inuention of plough and spade The first king of China The soule is immortall Strange ob sequies They make their sacrifices in the night Great superstition Gallant colours for religious men Gallant bels The eldest sonne is prohibited to take orders A straung kindof buriall They that haue most daughters are most richest They may marrie with many wiues Honest women A straung kind of marriage A good order to auoid idle people I would the like were with vs. A very good order A mirror for vs to looke vpon Vitey the first king of China Which is foure yeardes quarter and halfe The first inuention of garments and dying oâ— colours No women to be idle A strange kind of hâ—â—rb A citie of a daies iourney long Foure curious halles Punished for taking bribes The rent of the king Puregold Fine siluer Pearles Precious stones Muske and amber Rice Barley Wheate Salt Mayz Millo Panizo Other graine Peeces of silke Raw silke Cotton wool Mantels Great care for to defend their countrie Uerie ill horsemen The number of souldiers in all China The souldier is roially paid The number of footemen horsemen They haue no neede of other nations Straight lawes Councellers must be expert in sciences Euery prouince hath his viceroy Captaine generall A very good propertie of Iustices A very good order A very good consideration An occasion of amitie betwixt neighbours Cruell tormentes A more cruelâ— torment A great care to do true Iustice. Ceremonies in performing of their oth Thirteene prisons in euery great cittie Uictualing houses in the prisons and shops Adulterie is death Paper made of the filme of canes Pens made of canes Any good thing gratified The order of their commencement in schooles The first inuenting of armor Artilerie 1300. yeares before vs. A strange kind of courtesie Where Limahon was bornâ— One rouer robbed an other One hundred and thirtie great ships of warre with fortie thousand men They do more estâ—eme honoâ— than losse of ships or men A good praise of others The captaine generall of the king of China Omoncon promiseth to carrie the friers vnto China A good pretence The Friers names that weÌ„t to China A token that fine cloath is esteemed They departed towards China Their compasses diuided into 12. parts They leaue the worshiping of one Idol to worship another They call the Spaniards Castillias Ensignes to knowe the Iustices â—e first lanâ—ing of the Fryers The vse of their bankets Wine of a palme tree A thing to keepe away the sunne The people of the countrie weare no weapons but the souldiers Chincheo hath seuentie thousand housholds A thousand ships in one riuer They haue no vse of castles Earth quaks in this countrey Rich marchandice Triumphant arches Great maiâ—stie He offered 500. shippes of warre Note the spaniards â—nsolencie A citie of three hundred thousand housholds A city bigger theÌ„ the other and requireth three daies to go from one gate to an other Seuentie leagues compasse The wall of the Citie is fiue fadam high fourâ— broad The citie double mooted A strange â—eremonie Comedies vsed amongest them Tomblers The argument of theâ—â— comedie All things good cheape 111. Idols in one chappell People in great subiecâ—ion Suspition of euill The vse of their mustering Souldiers are punished Their mustering is one throughout the whole kingdome SuperstitioÌ„ To keepe away the sun Sâ—range sacrifices Mine kine and horse The Chinos are fearefull of the sea From the Philippinas to the China is two hundred leagues The papists and â—hâ— Infidels â—eremoniâ—s much alike The Spaniards rise at thei midnight mattens and whip themselues They were in great perill The Friers vsed certaine coniurations for that S. Antonie was a sleepe Marke the Friers conâ—fession of Images The Chinos most vpright in all their iudgements and in execution of iustice The vizroies commission A sacred thing no doubt of it A prophesie Canarias Fortunadas The names of the Canarias Much snow Great quantitie of brimstone Thedropping from a tree doth seruethe whole Iland with water Opinions of this Iland
Camelles The Iland called Desseada The Iland Dominica They which did eatefriers flesh did die madde Much kine sugar ginger wheat and gold Of sixe hundred thousand Indians there remaineth none The Iland Hispaniola or Santo Domingo Mightie riuers in spain A peece of virgin gold so bigge as a two pennie wheaten loaf Cannafistola Gold and pearles Bread of a roote called Casaue Of three millions of men not two hundred left Tiburones The Ilande of Nauala The Iland of Iamayca Uracans The Iland of Cuba anâ— the port Hauana The Spaniâ—rds God is â—old The Indians throwe all their gold and iewels into the riuer The port of saint Iohn de Lua The Iland of Campeche Hony waxâ— The Citie of Vera Cruz The kingdome of Mexico New Mexico Peru. Nombre de Dios. Acapulo Panama The straites of Magellanes It rayneth almost euery day The best horses in all the world An infinite number of siluer mines An Uniuersitie in Mexico A strange kind of tree Properties of the Indians Pictures made of fethers Hernando Cortes Medicinall hearbes They vse no compounds New Mexico The prouince of Tiguas The prouince of Conchas Great store of Conies Hares and venison Passaguates Mines of siluer Tobosos Iumanos Good salt Houses of 4. tories high They worship the diuel ich metals Rich metals The sea of Ladies White people as bigge as gyants without king or gouernor Iron more esteemed than siluer or gold Archipelago The Iland of Luzon and citie of Manilla Geeat mountains of pepper cloues and ginger The diueâ—â— was worshiped Vitches The Indians would not go into heauen because there were spanish souldiers Siuit Honie Sinamum Linseed Oile Cloues Saffron Pepper Nutmegs Cotton and Silke Powder Saltpeter Iron Steele Quicksiluer Brasse Copper Sixe months trauaile from Ierusalem vnto China Great ditches lakes A mightie lake More ships in one port than in all Spaine They neuer had the plague Mynes of golde siluer Siluer for his value more esteemeâ— than gold Amber gryce Wonderfull treasure Fleetes may be laden with silke Sugar ho ny and waxe A riuer that yeeldeth a million and a halfe euery yeare in salâ— All cities are walled They vse hargabushes bowes and lances Englande France Spaine and the Turke hath not so many souldiers as this kingdome Captaines of few and many souldiers Salamina where S. Thomas was martred Giuen to delightes Their womeÌ„ are chast but their men are vicious Iapon is 300 leagues from China The first inhabiting of the Iapon In the Iapones are 66. kingdomes A luciferine pride Many wâ—â—ches Ilands of Amazones A strange custome Great fishing of Pearles â—arias is a â—uetie for the â—inges owne â—erson Aboundance â—f silk gold A myracle Another myracle Their womeÌ„ are honest shamefast They neuer had plague pestilence nor hunger The kingdome of Champa Rich of drugs The kingdome of Câ—mboia The kingdome of Sian The mother of Idolatrie Faint hearted people The kingdome of Lugor and that of Patone Gold pepper and drugs The kingdomes of Paon and Ior. The straight of Malaca is vnder the lâ—ne A daintâ—e kind of meaâ— A tree of a wonderfull eâ—fâ—et Two contraries in one subiect The Iland of Samatra supposed to be the Iland of Ophir The richest Iland in the world An armie of a million and sixe hundred thousand meÌ„ The kingdome of Arracon The kingdome of Vangala A strange custome A diamond sold for a million of gold â—landes of Nicobar Anapes tooth for their God â— brutish vse The kingdome of Cananor Tanaor and Calicâ—t Ilandes Salcete Bardes The towns of Chaul Basayn Damaun Cambaya The cittie of Diu. The cittie of Oromuz Odialon Mogor Persia. Arabia Felix The red sea The lande of Abexin that of Prester Iohn Mazaubique The Ilands of Maldiuia The Ilandâ— of S. Lorenso The Cape oâ— Buena Esperansa The Ilandâ— of S. Elena Guinea