haue very ill saddels so that they be al verie ill horsemen The like prouision hath the king for the sea hée hath great fléetes of ships furnished with captaines and men that doo scoure and defend the costs of the countrie with great diligence and watchings The souldiers as well by land as by sea are paid with great liberalitie and those that do aduantage themselues in valor are very much estéemed and haue great preferment and rewards When these Chinos doo take anie prisoner in the wars they doo not kill him nor giue him more punishment but to serue as a souldier in that countrie in the farthest parts from their naturall the king paying him his wages as other souldiers are paid These for that they may be knowne doo weare redde bonnets but in their other apparell they do differ nothing from the Chinos Likewise such as be condemned by iustice for criminall offences to serue in any frontier as is vsed much amongst them they also weare redde caps or bonnets and so it is declared in their sentence that they do condemne them to the red bonnet CHAP. VI. More of the men of war which are in al these fifteene prouinces and how many there be in euerie one of them as well horsemen as footemen IN the chapter past you do vnderstande what care these Chinos haue in the time of peace as well as in warre for to defend their citties and what preparations they haue generally throughout al the countrie Now lacketh to let you know particularly the number that euery prouince hath in it selfe the better to vnderstand the mightinesse therof They haue in euerie prouince in their chiefe or metropolitan citie a counsell of warre with a president and foure counsailers all the which are such as haue bin brought vp from their youth in the wars with experience of the vse of armour and weapon so that vnto them is giuen the charge for the defence of their prouince These counsellers doo ordaine captaines and prouide other officers and all necessaries for the warres and send them vnto such cities and townes whereas they sée it is néedfull And for that in the accomplishing thereof there shalbe no lacke the treasurer is commanded to deliuer vnto them whatsoeuer they do aske without any delay The number of the souldiers that euery prouince had in the yeare 1577. at such time as frier Martin de Herrada and his companie entered into China hauing no wars but great peace and quietnesse is as followeth The prouince of Paguia whereas ordinarily the king is resident hath two millions and one hundred and fiftie thousand footemen and foure hundred thousand horsemen The prouince of Santon hath one hundred and twenty thousand footemen and fortie thousand horsemen The prouince of Foquieu hath eight and fiftie thousande and nine hundred footemen and twentie two thousand foure hundred horsemen The prouince of Olam hath thrée score and sixtéene thousand footemen and twentie fiue thousande fiue hundred horsemen The prouince of Cinsay hath eightie thousand thrée hundred footemen but of horsemen verie few or none for that this prouince and the other that followe are all mountaines and ful of rockes and stones The prouince of Oquiam hath twentie thousande and sixe hundred footemen and no horsemen for the reason aforesaide The prouince of Susuan foure score and sixe thousande footemen and foure and thirtie thousande and fiue hundred horsemen The prouince of Tolanchia which is that which doth border vpon the Tartarians with whom the kings of China haue had wars as aforesaid hath two millions eight hundred thousād footmen two hundred ninty thousand horsemen are the most famous and best in all the whole kingdome for that they are brought vp in the vse of armour from their youth and many times exercised the same in times past when they had their ordinarie war with their borderers the Tartarians The prouince of Causay hath fiftie thousand footemen and twentie thousand two hundred and fiftie horsemen The prouince of Aucheo there whereas the friers were hath foure score and sixe thousand footemen and fortie eight thousand horsemen The prouince of Gonan fortie foure thousand footemen and fouretéene thousand fiue hundred horsemen The prouince of Xanton hath fiftie two thousand footemen and eightéene thousand nine hundred horsemen The prouince of Quincheu hath fortie eight thousand and seuen hundred footemen and fiftéene thousande thrée hundred horsemen The prouince of Chequeam thirty foure thousand footmen and thirtéene thousand horsemen The prouince of Saucii which is least of them all hath forty thousand footemen and sixe thousand horsemen All these people aforesaid euerie prouince is bound by an order set downe in parlement to haue in a redinesse the which is an easie thing to be done the one is for that the king doth pay them roiallie the other for that they do dwel in their owne natural countries and houses wheras they do inioy their patrimonies and goods leauing it vnto their sonnes who doo inherite the same and his office as aforesaid In the time of wars they are bounde to assist the place that hath most necessitie By this account it plainely appeareth that all these prouinces which may better be called kingdomes considering their greatnes haue fiue millions eight hundred fourtie sixe thousand fiue hundred footemen nine hundred fortie eight thousand thrée hundred fifty horsemen All the which if in valor and valiantnes might be equalled vnto our nations in Europe they were sufficient to conquer y e whole world And although they are more in number equal in policies yet in their valiantnesse courage they are far behind Their horse for the most part are little but great traueilers Yet they say within the countrie there are verie great excellent good horse I do not here declare the industrie that might with the fauour of God be vsed to win and ouercome this people for that the place serueth not for it and I haue giuen large notice thereof vnto whom I am bound And againe my profession is more to bee a meanes vnto peace then to procure any warres and if that which is my desire might be doone it is that with the word of God which is the sworde that cutteth the hearts of men wherewith I hope in the Lorde to sée it CHAP. VII Of a law amongst the Chinos that they cannot make anie wars out of their owne countrie neither go forth of the same neither can any stranger come in without licence of the king ALthough in many things that haue bin séene in this kingdome is shewed and declared the sharpe and ripe witts of these men and with what wisedome and prudence they doo gouerne their countries yet wherein they doo most manifest the same in my iudgement is in that which shalbe declared in this chapter They without all doubt séeme to excéede the Gréekes Carthagenians Romanes of whom the old ancient histories haue signified to vs also
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
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
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
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
of this booke These Tartarians haue had many times wars with them of China but at one time as you shall perceiue they got the whole kingdome of China and did possesse the same for the space of 93. yeares till such time as they of China did rebell and forced them out againe At this day they say that they are friends one with another and that is for that they bee all Gentiles and do vse all one manner of ceremonies and rites They doo differ in their clenes lawes in the which the Chinas doth excéede them very much The Tartarians are very yealow not so white and they go naked from the girdlested vpwards and they eate raw flesh and do annoint themselues with the blood of raw flesh for to make them more harder and currish by reason whereof they doo so stinke that if the aire doth come from that part where they be you shall smel them afar off by the strong sauor They haue for certainty the truth of the immortalitie of the soule although it be with error for they say that the soule doth enter into other bodies and that soule that liued well in the first bodie doth better it from poore to rich or from age to youth and if it liued euill to the contrarie in worse The sons of the Tartarians do very much obserue and kéepe the commandement in obeying their parents for that they doo wholly accomplish the same without failing any iot of their will vnder paine to be seuerly and publikelie punished They confesse one God whom they worship haue him in their houses carued or painted and euery day they doe offer vnto it incense or some other swéet smelles they do call him the high God do craue of him vnderstanding health They haue also another God which they say is son vnto the other they do call him Natigay this is their God of terestriall things They haue him likewise in their houses and euery time they go to eate they doo annoint his face with the fattest thing they haue to eate that being doone they fall to eating hauing first giuen their gods their pitance They are a kinde of people that verie seldome doo fable a lie although their liues should lie thereon and are verie obedient vnto their king but in speciall in their warres in the which euerie one doth that he is appointed to doo they are led by the sound of a drome or trumpet with the which their captaines do gouerne them with great ease by reason that they are trained vp in the same from their youth And many other things are amongst them in the which they do resemble them of China who if they did receiue the faith of our Lord Iesu Christ it is to be beléeued that the Tartarians would do the same for that they are taken for men very ducible and do imitate verie much them of China CHAP. II. Of the temperature of the kingdome of China THe temperature of this mightie kingdome is diuersly by reason that almost the whole bignesse thereof is from the South to the North in so great a length tâ—at the Iland of Aynan being néere vnto this land in 19. degrées of altitude haue notice of some prouinces that are in moâ—e then 50. degrées and yet they do vnderstand that beyond that there bée more vpon the confines of Tartaria It is a strange thing to be séene the strange and great difference betwixt the colours of the dwellers of this kingdome In Canton a mightie citie whereas the Portingales had ordinarie traficke with them of China for that it was nigh vnto Macao where as they had inhabited long since and from whence they do bring all such merchandise as is brought into Europe There is séene great diuersities in the colours of such people as doo come thither to traficke as the said Portingales do testifie Those which are borne in the citie of Canton and in al that cost are browne people like vnto them in the citie of Fez or Barberie for that all the whole countrie is in the said paralel that Barberie is in And they of the most prouinces inwards are white people some more whiter then others as they draw into the cold countrie Some are like vnto Spanyards and others more yealow like vnto the Almans yelow and red colour Finally in all this mightie kingdome to speake generally they cannot say that there is much cold or much heat for that the Geographers do conclude and say it is temperate and is vnder a temperate clime as is Italy or other temperate countries wherby may be vnderstood the fertilitie of the same which is without doubt the fortresse in all the world may compare with the Peru and Nuoua Espannia which are two kingdomes celebrated to be most fertill and for the verification you shall perceius in this Chapter next folowing wherin is declared such things as it doth yéeld and bring forth and in what quantitie And yet aboue all things according vnto the sayings of fryer Herrada prouinciall and his companions whose relation I will follow in the most part of this hystorie as witnesses of sight vnto whom we may giue certaine credite without any exception They say that the countrie is so full of youth that it séemeth the women are deliuered euerie moneth and their children when they are little are extreame faire and the countrie is so fertill and fat that it yeldeth fruit thrée or foure times in the yéere which is the occasion that all things is so good cheape that almost it séemeth they sell them for nothing CHAP III. Of the fertilitie of this kingdome and of such fruits and other things as it doth yeeld THe inhabitants in this countrie are perswaded of a truth that those which did first finde and inhabite in this lande were the Neuewes of Noe who after they had traueiled from Armenia wheras â—he Arke stayed wherin God did preserue their grandfather from the waters of the flood went séeking a land to their contentment and not finding a countrie of so great fertilitie and temperature like vnto this wherein was all things necessarie for the life of man without comparison they were compelled with the aboundance thereof for to inhabite therin vnderstanding that if they should search throughout all the world they should not finde the like and I thinke they were not deceiued according as now it is to be séene and what may be considered in the proces of this chapter of such fruits as the earth doth yéeld And although there is declared here of such as shall suffice in this worke yet is there left behind a great number more of whose properties as well of herbes and beasts which of their particulars may be made a great volume and I doo beléeue that in time there will be one set forth The great trauell and continual laboure of the inhabitants of this countrie is a great helpe vnto the goodnes and fertilitie thereof and is so much that they do neither
spare nor leaue mountaines nor vallies neither riuers but they do sow and plant all such things as they perceiue that the place wil yéeld according vnto the goodnesse thereof as orchards with fruite great fields of wheat barlie rice flaxe and hempe with many other things all which traueile vnto them is verie easie remembring with what great libertie they do inioy their goods and the great infinit number of people that there is as well for handie craftes as for to till and cultiuate the grounde In all this mightie countrie they doo not suffer vacabunds nor idle people but all such ouer and aboue that they are gréeuouslie punished they are holden for infamous neither doo they consent nor permit any of them that are naturally borne there to go out of their countries into other strange countries neither haue they any wars at this present which was the thing that in times past did consume much of their people The king dooth content himselfe onely with his owne kingdome as one that is helde the wisest in all the world Beside all this they are naturally inclined to eate and drinke wel and to make much of themselues in apparell to haue their houses well furnished with houshold stuffe and to the augmenting hereof they doo put themselues in great labor trauaile and are great dealers and trafickers al which with the fertilitie of the countrie aboue said is the occasion that iustlie it may haue the name to be the most fertilest in all the whole world This country doth yéeld all kind of herbs as doth Spaine and of many kindes mo also all manner of fruites like as in Spaine with diuers other sorts the names whereof are not yet knowne for that they do differ very much from ours but yet the one and the other are of a marueilous excellent tast as they doo say They haue thrée sorts of Orenges the one verie swéete which doth excéede sugar in their swéetnesse the other sort not so swéet as the first the third sort are somewhat sower but verie delightfull in the tast Also they haue a kinde of plummes that they doo call Lechias that are of an excéeding gallant tast and neuer hurteth any body although they should eate a great number of them It yeldeth great aboundance of great melons and of an excellent sauour and tast and verie bigge Also a kinde of russet appels that be very great of a good tast I doo not heere declare of other fruites nor of their names because I will not séeme tedious vnto the reader nor spende the time herein but will treat of other things of more importance In all parts of this kingdome there is great store of sugar which is the occasion that it is so good cheape for you shall haue a quintall of verie excellent white and good sugar when it is most déerest for the value of sixe ryals of plate There is great abundance of honie for that their delight is in hiues by reason whereof not only honie but waxe is very good cheape and there is so great quantity therof that you may lade ships yea fléetes thereof They do make great store of silke and excellent good and giue it verie perfite colours which dooth exceed very much the silke of Granada and is one of the greatest trades that is in all that kingdome The veluets damaskes sattens and other sortes of webs which is there made is of so small price that it is a wonder to speake it in especiall vnto them that doo know how their prises be in Spaine and in Italie They do sell none of their silkes there by the yard neither any other kinde of websterie though it be lynnen but by the waight wherin there is least deceit They haue great store of flaxe wherwith the common people doo apparell themselues also hempe for the cawlking of their ships and to make ropes and hasers And on their drie and tough landes although they be stonie they gather great stoore of cotton wooll They doo sowe wheate barlie rye and oates and manie other kindes of graine and the one and the other doo yeelde great increase In the marrish groundes of which there be many by reason of moyst and great aboundance of riuers that be in this countrie they doo sowe rice which is a common victuall or mantiniment vnto all people of the kingdome and vnto them that dwell neere them and they doo gather so greate aboundance that when it is most dearest you shall haue a haneg for a ryall of plate of the which and of all other graines aforesaid the countrie was woont to yéeld thrée and foure times in the yéere there increase On their high grounds that are not good to be sowne there is great store of pine trées which yéelde fruit very sauorie chestnuts greater and of better tast then commonly you shall â—inde in Spaine and yet betwixt these trees they do sow Maiz which is the ordinarie foode of the Indians of Mexico and Peru and great store of Panizo so that they doe no leaue one foote of grounde vnsowen And of trueth almost in all the whole countrie you shall not finde any ground that is barren or without profite what by the naturall vertue of the country and also by the manuring and helping of it CHAP. IIII. Here I do proceed in the fertiltie of this kingdome and of such things as it doth yeeld BEsides the fertilitie of this countrie beforesaide all the fields be verie faire to behold and yeelde maruelous odoriferous smelles by reason of the great quantitie of sweete flowers of diuers sorts It is also garnished with the greene trees that he planted by the riues sides and brookes whereof there is great quantitie And there is planted there orchards and gardens with banketing houses of great pleasure the which they doo vse verie much for their recreation and auoyding the troubles of minde The Loytias or Gentlemen doo vse to plant great forrests and thicke woods whereas doo bréed many wilde boores bucks hares and conyes and diuers other beasts of whose skins they make very excellent furres but in especiall of Martas Ceuellinas of which there is a great number There is great aboundance of muske the which they do make of a little beast that doth feede of nothing else but of a roote which is of a maruellous smell that is called Camarus as big as a mans finger They do take them beat them with blowes till they be brused all to peeces then they do put them in a place whereas they may soonest putriâ—ie but ffâ—st they do bind very fast such parts whereas the blood may run out of their brused bones all to peeces remaining within them Then after when they thinke they be putrified then they do cut out smal peeces with skinne and all and tie them vp like â—als or cods which the Portugals who doth by them do call Papos And this is the finest that is
brought out of all Indies iâ— there be no deceit vsed in it for many times they will put amongst it small peeces of lead and other things of weight There is also great store of kyne that are so little worth that you may buy a very good one for eight â—ials of plate beefes that are bought for halfe the mony one whole venison is bought for two rials great store of hogs whose flesh is as holesome and good as our mutton in Spaine There is great aboundance of goates of other beasts that are to be eaten which is the occasion that they are of little value The flying foules that doo breed about the lakes riuers are of so great quantitie that there is spent daily in small villages in that countrie many thousands and the greatest sort of them are Teales The fashion how they do breed and bring them vp shalbe declared in a chapter particularly for that which is said shal not séeme impossible They be sold by waight likewise capons and hens for so smal value that two pounds of their flesh being plucked is woorth ordinarily two Foys which is a kinde of mony like vnto the quartes of Spaine hogs flesh two pounds for a Foy and a halfe which is 6. marauadiz Likewise all other victuals after the same rate as it doth plainly appeare by the relation made by the friers There are also many herbs for medicines as very fine Reubarbe and of great quantitie and wood called Palo de china great store of Nutmegs with the which they may lade fleetes and of so lowe a price that you may buy foure hundreth for a ryall of plate and cloues sixe pound for halfe a ryall of plate and the like in pepper Synamom one roue which is 25. pound for foure ryals of plate and better cheape I do leaue to speake of many oâ—her hearbs medicinable profitable for the vse of man for that if I should write the particular vertue of euerie of them it would require a great volume Of fish both swimming and shell fish of all sorts that they haue with them is to be wondred at not onely vpon the sea coasts but also in the remote places of that kingdome by reason of the great riuers which be nauigable vnto such places Besides all this it is verie rich of mines of golde and siluer and other mettals the which gold and siluer excepted they do sell it so good cheape that a quintal of Copper yron or stéele is to be bought for eight rials of plate Golde is better cheape there then it is in Europe but siluer is more woorth There is founde great store of pearles in all this kingdome but the most part of them are not rounde by the which you may gather and vnderstande the goodnesse and fertilitie of the same And that the first that did discouer and inhabite that kingdome were not deceiued for that they founde all things necessarie vnto the preseruing of the life of man and that in aboundance for the which with iust reason the inhabitants may thinke themselues to possesse the best and fertilest kingdome in all the whole world CHAP. V. Of the antiquitie of this kingdome AS before is said this kingdome is of so ancient antiquity that there is opinion that the first that did inhabite this countrie were the Neuewes of Noe. But the light which is found in the histories of China is that from the time of Vitey who was their first king and did reduce their kingdome vnto an empire and hath and doth indure vnto the king that now rayneth as you shall vnderstand in the place where we shall make mention of the kings of that countrie whereas you shal vnderstand by iust computation that vnto this day there hath reyned naturall and vsurped to the number of 243. kings The sonne doth succeede the father in the kingdome and for want of a sonne the next kinsman doth succéed and for that they do take after the vse of the emperors of Turkie so many wiues as pleaseth them it seldome falleth out to lacke heires for that the first sonne that is borne of either of his wiues is right heire vnto the kingdome and the rest of his sonnes he doth appoint them cities where as they do dwel priuately and there they are prouided of all things necessarie for them conformable vnto their degrées with expresse commission vpon'paine of death neuer to go out of them neither to returne vnto the court except they be sent for by the king So after this conclusion all those that are kinsâ—olke vnto the king are resident and kept in a mightie and populous citie called Causi whereas those whome the king and his counsel do thinke and sâ—e to be men of great wisedome or giuen to martiall affaires they doo commande that they neuer goe forth of their houses to auoide occasions of suspition whereby might grow alterations and treasons against the king The dwelling places of these prouinces are mightie and of a huge bignesse for that within the compasse of them they haue all manner of contentment necessary for them as gardens orchards fishing ponds of diuers sorts parkes and groues in the which are all kinde of flying foules fish and beasts as are to be found in the mountaines and riuers And it is walled round about with a stone wall so that euery house of these séemeth to be a towne They giue themselues much vnto musike wherewith they doo passe away the time And for that they are giuen to pleasure and ease they are commonly corpulent and fatte verie faire conditioned and quiet liberall vnto strangers These princes in what place so euer they are the gouernours of the cities are bound to visite them euery festiuall day Likewise if they doo passe on horsebacke by their doores they must alight and walke on foote while they haue passed it and if they be borne in a litle chaire likewise to come out of the same and to walke on foote with silence till they be past And for that they shall not plead ignorance the gates of these princes houses are all painted red so that they being brought vp from their youth in this straight close and idle life it is not vnto them tedious but dooth rather reioyce in the same CHAP. VI. The bignesse of this kingdome of China and of such measures as they do vse in trauaile THis mightie kingdome which we commonly call China without knowing any cause or foundation wherefore we should so cal it Those countries neere ioyning vnto the same do call it Sangley and they in their naturall toonge do cal it Taybiner the which is to be vnderstood nothing but a kingdome and is the most biggest and populous that is mentioned in all the world as it shalbe apparant in the discourse of this hystorie and in the wonderfull things that shalbe treated of in the next chapter following All the which is taken out of the bookes and
we do call holy men They likewise doo sacrifice vnto the diuell not as though they were ignorant that he is euill or condemned but that he shoulde doo them no harme neither on their bodies nor goods They haue manie strange gods of so great a number that alonely for to name them is requisite a large hystorie and not to be briefe as is pretended in this booke And therefore I will make mention but of their principals whom besides those which I haue named they haue in great reuerence The first of these they doo call Sichia who came from the kingdome of Tranthlyco which is towards the west this was the first inuenter of such religious people as they haue in their countrie both men and women and generally doth liue without marrying in perpetuall closenesse And all such as doo immitate this profession do weare no haire which number is great as hereafter you shall vnderstand and they greatly obserue that order left vnto them The next is called Quanina and was daughter vnto the king Tzonton who had thrée daughters two of them were married and the third which was Quanina hee woulde also haue married but she would neuer consent thereunto saying that she had made a vow to heauen to liue chast whereat the king her father was verie wroth and put her into a place like vnto a monasterie whereas she was made to carrie wood and water and to worke and make cleane an orcharde that was there The Chinos do tell many tales of this maide for to be laughed at saying that the apes came from the mountaines for to helpe her and how that saints did bring her water and the birds of the aire with their bylles did make cleane her orchard and that the great beastes came out of the mountaines and brought her woode Her father perceiuing that imagining that she did it by witchcraft or by some art of the diuell as it might well bee commanded to set fire on that house whereas she was then she séeing that for her cause that house was set on fire she would haue destroyed her selfe with a siluer pinne which she had to trim vp her haire but vpon a sodaine at that instant there fel a great shower of raine and did put out the fire and shee departed from thence and hid her selfe in the mountaines whereas she liued in great penance and led a holy life And her father in recompence of the great sinne and euill he committed against her was turned to a lepar and full of wormes in such sort that there was no phisition that could cure him by reason whereof hee was constrained to repaire vnto his daughter to séeke cure which being aduised of the same by reuelation of a deuine spirit then her father being certified thereof did craue pardon at her handes and did repent him verie much of that which he had done and did worshippe vnto her the which she séeing resisted her father therein and put a saint before him that he should worship it and not her and therewith shee straight waies returned vnto the mountaines whereas she died in great religion This they haue amongest them for a great saint and doe pray vnto her to get pardon for their sinnes of the heauen for that they do beleeue that she is there Besides this they haue another saint which they call Neoma and was borne in a towne called Cuchi in the prouince of Ochiam This they saye was daughter vnto a principall man of that Towne and would neuer marrie but left her owne naturall soyle and went vnto a little Iland which is right ouer against Ingoa whereas she liued a verie straight life and shewed manie false miracles· The occasion why they haue her in reputation of a saint is There was a certaine Captaine of the king of China whose name was Compo he was sent vnto a kingdome not farre from thence to make warre against the king It so chaunced that he with his nauie came to an anker at Buym and being readie to departe hee would haue wayed his ankers but by no meanes he could not mooue them being greatly amazed thereat and looking foorth he sawe this Neoma sitting on them Then the Captaine came vnto her and told her with great humilitie that hee was going to warres by commandement of the king And that if so be she were holie that she would giue him counsell what were best for him to do to whom she answered and sayd that if he would haue the victorie ouer them that hee went to conquer that he should carrie her with him He did performe that which she said and carried her with him vnto that kingdome whose inhabitantes were great Magicians and threw oyle into the sea and made it séeme that their shippes were all on fire This Neoma did worke by the same art and did vndoe that which the other did practise or imagine in such sort that their magicke did profitte them nothing neither could they doe anie harme vnto them of China The which being perceiued by them of y ◠kingdome they did yeeld themselues to be subiectes and vassales vnto the king of China The Captaine beléeued this to be a myracle yet notwithstanding he did coniure her as one of good discretion for that thinges might fall out to the contrarie and the better to certifie his opinion whereby hee might the better giue relation thereof vnto the king he said Ladie turne me this rodde the which I haue in my hand drie to become gréene and florishing and if you can so do I will worship you for a saint Then she at that instant did not onely make it gréene but also to haue an odoriferous smell The which rod hee put vpon the poope of his ship for a remembrance and for that he had a verie prosperous and good viage he did attribute it vnto her So that vnto this day they haue her in reputation of a saint and carrie her picture vpon the poope of their ships and such as be traueilers to the sea doo offer vnto her sacrifices These aforesaide they doo estéeme for their principall saints yet besides all these they haue an infinite number of carued idols which they doo place vpon alters in their tempels the quantitie of them is such that in my presence it was affirmed by frier Geronimo Martin he that entred into China and is a man of great credite woorthy to giue credite vnto that amongst many other things he was in one of their temples in the cittie of Vcheo where as hee did count one hundred and twelue idols and besides this they haue manie in the high wayes and stréetes and vppon their principall gates of the citie the which they haue in small veneration as you shall perceiue in this chapter following whereby it is plainelie to be séene in what subiection they are vnto errours and Idolatrie such as doo lacke the trueth of true Christian religion CHAP. III. How little they doo esteeme their Idols whome they worshippe
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
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
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
the coastes that as well all ships of their owne Countrie as those that doo come from other places to traficke with them may goe and come in safetie and not bee spoyled and robbed of the roauers that be there abouts In the riuers there are pynases well equipped appointed for the same purpose And the king doth out of his rentes pay all these ordinarie souldiers and that with great liberalitie The pitch wherewith they doo trimme their shippes as we haue sayde is founde in that kingdome in great aboundance it is called in their language Iapez and is made of lyme oyle of fish and a paste which they call Vname it is verie strong and suffereth no wormes which is the occasion that one of their shippes dooth twise out last one of ours yet dooth it hinder much their sayling The pumpes which they haue in their shippes are much differing from ours and are farre better they make them of many péeces with a whéele to draw water which whéele is set along the shippes sides within wherewith they do easily clense their shippes for that one man alone going in the wheele doth in a quarter of an houre cleanse a great shippe although she leake verie much Many men be borne and brought vp in these shippes and barkes as is aforesayde and neuer in all their liues haue béene on lande and doo knowe none other occupation wherewith to liue but that which they doo inherite of their fathers which is to goe in one of these shippes or barkes carrying and recarrying of merchandise from place to place or to ferrie people ouer the riuers They haue in them their wiues their children and haue like neighborhood amongst theÌ„ on the riuers as in their cities and townes of whom they stand in little néed for they do bring vp within their ships all things necessarie for their sustenance as hens duckes pigeons and other foules good to be eaten and if they do lacke any thing they haue it in victualing houses shops which they haue amongst theÌ„ on the same riuers in great abundance and of other superfluous thinges such as may bee founde in a citie they are well furnished as of many sorts of silkes amber and muske and other things more curious then needefull They haue also in their shippes pots with little orange trées and other fruits and gardins with flowers and other herbes for their recreation and in the wide shippes pooles of water wherein they haue great store of fish aliue and yet doo dayly fishe for more with nettes This kingdome is the best prouided of fish of any that is knowen by reason of the great number of these barkes as also because they haue many fisher men at Sea and in the riuers that continually fish with nettes and other engines for the same purpose and doo carrie the same fishe in infinite number aliue into their pooles fiue hundreth leagues vp into the lande by the riuers which they doo with great ease in shifting the water euerie day and doo féede them with thinges fit for the nature of the fish The chiefe and principallest time of fishing in this countrie is in three moneths of the yeare which is Februarie March and Aprill at such time as are the spring tides which do bring the fish out of the mayne sea into the riuers and there they do spawne and leaue their young then these fisher men who doo liue by that facultie doo take them and put them into their pondes and féede and nourish them in the ships till they come to bignesse to be solde Unto these fishermen repayre many barkes from diuerse partes of the Countrie to buye their fishe and doo bringe with them wicker baskets lyned with a certaine thicke paper for that purpose and annoynted with oyle so that the water can not goe out wherein they doo put their fish and do shift them euerie day and feede them as aforesaide All people doo buye of this fish although they bee verie small and leane and doo put them in their pondes which euerie one hath in his house as common vse in all that countrie is whereas in a small time they waxe great fitte to be eaten They doo féede them with a paste made of cowes doung buffes doung and pigins doong Likewise they doo throwe of these small fishes into the moâ—tes of their Cities which is the occasion that they are so full of fish But all that bréede in them do appertaine vnto the Gouernors or Iudges of the cities so that none without their expresse commandement dare fish for them These Gouernors and Iudges doo vse much to recreate themselues vppon the riuers and haue for the same purpose barkes made close chambers in them verie curiously wrought with windowes and galleries likewise hanged with rich clothes and many other thinges for their contentment and pleasure CHAP. XXII A curious order that these Chinos haue to bring vp ducks in great abundance and with small cost and of a pleasant and ingenious order of fishing which they vse THe great number of people that is in this countrie and not permitting any idle people to liue therein is the occasion that it doth stirre vp the wits of poore men being constrained thereunto by necessitie the inuenter of manye thinges to séeke new inuentions to get their liuing to relieue and supply their necessities So that many of this kingdome séeing the whole countrie so throughly inhabited tilled that there is not one foote without an owner they do take them vnto the riuers which are verie great and there they do make their dwellinges in ships and barkes as is aforesaide where they haue their whole families vnder borde to defende them from the sunne and rayne and inclinations of the heauens There they do vse the occupation that they do knowe or that which they did inherite of their father and many misteries to liue by verie strange whereof the most principall is to bring vp in some of their barkes so great quantitie of duckes that they sustaine a great part of the countrey therewith and the vse thereof is as followeth They haue cages made of canes so bigge as the vpper most holde of the barke in the which may be foure thousand duckes at once They haue in certaine places of these cages made nestes where these duckes do almost euerie day laye egges the which they take and if it be in the sommer they doo put them in buffes doong or in the doong of those duckes which is verie warme where they leaue them so many dayes as experience hath taught them that they will come foorth Then they doo take them out of the doong and do breake them one by one and take a little ducklin the which they do with so great cunning that almost none of theÌ„ doth perish which is y t which causeth great admiration vnto some that go to sée it although they bée but few for that it is an auncient custome vsed of long time in that countrie
his people and the fort and with that furie they slewe more then one hundreth Chinos and tooke prisoners seuentie women which they founde in the same trench but when that Lymahon vnderstoode the rumour he tooke himselfe straightwayes to his fort which he had made for to defend himselfe from the kinges nauie if they should happen to finde him out and there to saue his life vpon that extremitie he commaunded some of his souldiers to goe foorth and to skirmish with the Spaniardes who were verie wearie with the trauaile of all that day and with the anguish of the great heate with the burning of the ships and the trench which was intollerable for that they all burned together The Captaines séeing this and that their people were out of order neither could they bring them into any for that they were also weary although y e general of the field did succour theÌ„ in time the which did profite them much yet did they sound a retraite did withdraw themselues with the losse of fiue Spaniards and thirtie of the Indians their friends and neuer a one more hurt Then the next day following the Generall of the fielde did bring his souldiers into a square battle and began to march towards the fort with courage to assalt it if occasion did serue thereunto hee did pitch his campe within two hundreth paces of the fort and founde that the enimie did all that night fortifie himselfe verie well and in such sort that it was perilous to assalt him for that he had placed vpon his fort thrée péeces of artilerie and many bases besides others ingins of fire worke Seing this that his péeces of artilerie that hee brought were very small for to batter and little store of munition for that they had spent all at the assalt which the rouer did giue them at Manilla the Generall of the fielde and the captaines concluded amongst themselues that séeing the enimie had no ships to escape by water neither had hee any great store of victuals for that all was burnt in the ships it was the best and most surest way to besiege the fort and to remaine there in quiet vntill that hunger did constraine them either to yéeld or come to some conclusion which rather they will then to perish with hunger This determination was liked well of them all although it fell out cleane contrarie vnto their expectation for that in the space of thrée monethes that siege indured this Limahon did so much that within the fort he made certaine small barks and trimmed them in the best manner he coulde wherewith in one night hee and all his people escaped as shall bee tolde you a thing that séemed impossible and caused great admiration amongst the Spaniards and more for that his departure was such that he was not discouered neither by them on the water nor on the lande What happened in these thrée monethes I doo not here declare although some attempts were notable for that my intent is to declare what was the occasion that those religious men and their consorts did enter into the kingdome of China and to declare of that which they said they had séene for the which I haue made relation of the comming of Limahon and of all the rest which you haue heard CHAP. VIII Omoncon captain of the king of China commeth to seeke Limahon and doth meete with Spaniards IN the meane time that the siege indured at the fort as you haue vnderstood there went and came certaine vessels which brought victuals and other necessaries from the cittie of Manilla which was but fortie leagues from the mouth of that riuer of Pagasinan as hath béene tolde you It happened vppon a day that a shippe of Myguel de Loarcha wherein was Frier Martin de Herrada Prouinciall of the Augustine Friers who was come vnto the riuer Pagansinan for to sée the Generall of the fielde and in the same shippe returned vnto Manilla to hold Capitulo or court in the saide Ilande and port of Buliano Seuen leagues after they were out of the mouth of Pagasinan they mette with a shippe of Sangleyes who made for the port and thinking them to bée enimies they bore with them hauing another shippe that followed them for their defence and had no more in them but the saide prouinciall and fiue Spanyards besides the mariners This shippe of Sangley séeing that hee did beare with them woulde haue fledde but the winde woulde not permit him for that it was to him contrarie which was the occasion that the two shippes wherein the Spanyards were for that they did both saile and rowe in a small time came within Cannon shot In one of the shippes there was a Chino called Sinsay one that had béene many times at Manilla with merchandise and was a verie friend and knowne of the Spanyards and vnderstoode their language who knowing that shippe to be of China and not to be a rouer did request our people not to shoote neither to doo them any harme vntill such time as they were informed what they were in that same shippe This Sinsay went straight wayes into the fore shippes and demaunded what they were and from whence they came and bing well informed he vnderstoode that he was one of the ships of warre that was sent out by the king of China to séeke the rouer Limahon who leauing the rest of the fléet behinde came forth to séeke in those Ilands to see if he coulde discouer him to be any of them and the better to bee informed thereof they were bounde into the port of Buliano from whence they came with their two shippes from whome they woulde haue fledde thinking they had béene some of the rouers shippes Being fully perswaded the one of the other they ioyned togither with great peace and friendshippe the Spanyards straightwayes entred into their boate and went vnto the shippe of the Chinos and carried with them the aforesaid Sinsay for to be their interpreter and â—o speake vnto the Chinos In the saide shippe came a man of great authoritie who was called Omoncon who brought a commission from their king and shewed it vnto the Spanyards and vnto the father Prouinciall in the which the king and his councell did pardon all those souldiers that were with Limahon if that forthwith they would leaue him and returne vnto the kings part and likewise did promise great gifts and fauour vnto him that did either take or kill the aforesaid rouer Then did Sinsay declare vnto him of the comming of the rouer vnto the Ilands and all that happened in the siege of the Cittie as aforesaide and howe they had him besieged in the riuer of Pagansinan from whence it was not possible for him to escape The captain Omoncon reioyced very much of these newes and made many signes of great content and did embrace the Spanyards many times and gaue other tokens wherby he diâ— manifest the great pleasure he receiued and woulde therewith straight-waies
gouernor of the cittie did send and commanded that forthwith they shoulde go vnto his house for that hee had great desire to sée them the which they did more for necessitie of the time then for any good will They went forth from their lodging on foote whether it was for that the gouernors house was néere hande or else peraduenture at his commandement which they could not well vnderstande but did as the captaine that guarded them did commande In the midst of the stréete wheras was no lesse number of people then in the other wherby they entred into the Citie they met with a Loytia that came to entertaine them with great maiestie and had carried before him manie banners mase bearers and tipstaues and others which carried settes or whips which they did traile after them made fast vnto long stickes which were the executioners the which doo go alwayes making of way parting the people before the Loytias as you haue hearde The maiestie and company wherewith he came was so great that they verely did beléeue him to be the Insuanto but being certified they vnderstoode that it was one of his counsailers that came from the gouernors home to his owne house which was in the same stréet whereas hee met with them This counsailor was carried in a chaire of Iuory garnished with gold and with curtines of cloth of golde and on them the kings armes which are certaine serpents knotted togither as hath béene tolde you But when he came right against the spaniards without any staying he made a signe with his head and commanded that they should returne backe againe vnto his house which was hard by the captains did straightways obey his commandement and returned with them The counsailor entred into his house which was verie faire he had in it a faire court and therein a gallant fountaine and a garden After him entred the spaniards all alone the rest remained without in the stréet at the Loytias commandement he entertained them with verie good wordes of semblance and saide in conclusion that they were welcome into that kingdome with many other wordes of curtesie vnto the which they answered with the same curtesie with signes and by their interpreter that they carried with them This Loytia commaunded a banquet to bee brought foorth and wine to drinke hee began first both to eate and drinke Then hee commanded to call in the captaine vnto whome was giuen the charge to beare them companie and did chide with him verie sharpely and seuerely because he did carrie them on foote they coulde not vnderstande whether it were doone for a policie or of a trueth although the effectes wherewith hee did chide séemed of a trueth hee straightwayes commaunded two rich Chayres to bée brought foorth for to carrie the Fathers and to giue vnto their companions horses the which being done he willed them to go and visite the gouernor who did tary their comming and that another time at more leasure he would sée and visite them They followed their way all alongst the stréete which séemed vnto them to be more fairer then the other wherein they entered and of more fairer houses and triumphant arkes and also the shoppes that were on the one side and on the other to bee better furnished with richer thinges then the others in so ample sort that what therewith as also the great number of people which they sawe they were so amased that they were as people from themselues thinking it to be a dreame To conclude after they had gone a good while in that stréete delighting their eies with newe thinges neuer séene of them before they came into a great place whereas were many souldiers in good order with their hargabushes pickes and other armour in a redinesse apparelled all in a liuerie of silke with their ancients displayed At the end of this place was there a very faire and sumpteous pallace the gate was wrought of masons worke of stone very great full of figures or personages and aboue it a great window with an iron grate al guilt they were carried within the gates the souldiers the people which were without number remained without and coulde not be auoyded but with great difficultie When they were within the first court there came forth a man very well apparelled and of authoritie and made signes with his hande vnto them that brought the Spaniards that they should carrie them into a hal that was vpon the right hand the which was straightwayes done The hall was very great faire at the end therof there was an altar whereon was many Idols all did differ the one from the other in their fashion the altar was rich and very curiously trimmâ—d with burning lampes the aultar cloth was of cloth of gold and the fruntlet of the same After a while that they had béene there whereas the Idols were there came a seruant from the gouernor and saide vnto them in his behalfe that they shoulde sende vnto him the interpreter for that hee woulde talke with him and tell him some things that they ought to obserue if they would haue any audience of him they straightwayes commanded him to go And the gouernor said vnto him that hee should aduise the fathers and the rest of his companions that if they would talke treate of such businesse as they came for that it must be done with the same ceremonie and respect as the Nobles of that prouince do vse to talke with him which is vppon their knées as afterwards they did sée manie times vsed if not that they shoulde depart vnto the house whereas they were lodged and there to tarrie the order that shoulde bee sent from the vizroy of Aucheo The Spaniards when they hearde this message there was amongst them diuers iudgementes and opinions striuing amongst themselues a good while but yet in conclusion the religious Fathers whome the gouernour of the Ilandes had ordeined and sent as principalles in this matter and whose iudgemente they shoulde followe saide that they ought to accept the condition seeing that by no other meanes they coulde not come vnto that they pretended and not to leaue it it off for matters of small importance for that therein they make no offence vnto GOD and it may bee a meane vnto the conuerting of that mightie kingdome whome the diuell maketh reckoning to bee his owne and not nowe to leaue it off but rather to procure all meanes that may be as they had begun to do and seeing that it is no offence vnto God as aforesaide neither sent as ambassadors from the king of Spaine I doo not know to the contrarie but that wee may consent vnto the will of the Insuant and in especiall being a thing so commonly vsed in that countrie This opinion and iudgement was followed although the souldiers that were with them were of a contrarie opinion so they sent answere vnto the gouernor with the said interpreter that they will obserue their accustomed ceremonies and
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
vnto the faith of the Christians that if it were not that he should be banished and loose his countrie house and landes without all doubt he would haue béene baptised the which he could not do without loosing of all for that they haue a law in their countrie the which is obserued and kept inuiolably by the which it is forbidden that none whatsoeuer can receiue any strange religion differing from theirs vpon paine of death without the consent of the king and his counsell This law was made to take away nouelties and to liue all in one vniformitie of religion with one manner of rites and ceremonies This only was the occasion that certaine marchants of China being affectioned vnto the law of the gospell were baptised at the Philippinas and there doo dwell at this day in the citie of Manilla amongest the Spaniardes and are become verie good Christians So with these offers and with promises to be great friendes vnto the Spaniardes the Generall departed from Manilla to goe vnto the firme lande and with him the other Captaynes Omoncon and Sinsay with great hope that verie shortly they should be all of one faith So the one tooke their leaue of the other with reasons of great affection and tokens of great loue signifying that in any thing that should be offered they should finde them friendly They being departed the Spaniardes remayned verie carefull in praying vnto the diuine maiestie desiring of him to direct all thinges in this their request that it might be to his holy seruice and also to inspire the catholike maiestie of king Phillip their Lorde for to sende his Embassador vnto the king of China offering his friendship and to admonish him to receiue the faith of Christ the which according vnto the report of the Austen Fryers that entred into that countrie of whom we haue made mention manie times in this booke with their companions and also the Generall of China tolde them that there was no other means but only that for to bring their purpose to effect This counsell with all the spéede possible they put in vre and sent vnto his maiestie one of purpose and in the name of all them of those Ilandes to request him and to declare how much it did import They sent vnto him this relation with manie particular persons for to mooue his most Christian minde for to sende an Embassador as in effect hee did in that sort as hath béene tolde you in the last Chapter of the thirde Booke of this historie whereas it is declared in particular and in what estate it doth remaine vnto this day God for his mercies sake direct all thinges that it may be to his seruice and glorie and the saluation of so many soules The end of the first booke of the second part The second booke of the second part of the historie of the mightie kingdome of China In the which is contayned the voyage that was into that kingdome in the yeare 1576. by the fathers Fryer Peter de Alfaro Costodio in the Ilandes Philippinas of the order of saint Francis of the prouince of S. Ioseph and other three religious men of the same order and their miraculous entring into that kingdome and what happened vnto them for the space of seuen monthes that they there remained and what they did see and vnderstand of all the which are notable and verie rare CHAP. I. The Fryers of Saint Francis came vnto the Ilandes Philippinas and procured to passe vnto the firme lande of the kingdome of China with zeale to preach the holy gospell THe day of the visitation of our Ladie in the yeare 1578. there came out of Spaine to the Citie of Manilla in the Ilandes Philippinas the father Fryer Peter de Alfaro who went for Costodio of that prouince and fourteene more other religious persons of the same order in his companie and were sent by the king of Spaine and his royall Counsel of the Indias for to be ayders and helpers of the Austen Fryers who vntill that time had béene there alone in those Ilandes occupied in the conuerting of the people in that countrie and were the first ministers of the gospell preaching the same with great zeale vnto the profite of their soules of the which people those Fryers had baptised when the others ariued more then one hundred thousande and the rest prepared and cathecised to receiue the like Because that at the first occasion that might be giuen they might enter into the kingdome of China to preach the holy gospell The which Fryers when that they had béen there the space of one yeare occupying themselues in the same exercise in preaching and conuerting the people of that countrie In the same time they were giuen to vnderstande by the relation of the selfe same Austen Fryers as also by many marchants of China which came vnto them with marchandice of things to be wondred at of that mightie kingdome and of the infinite number of soules which the diuell had deceiued and brought vnto his seruice with false Idolatrie The which being by them well vnderstood they did burne with great zeale and desire of their saluation and to goe and preach the gospell although it were to put their persons in whatsoeuer hazarde or danger So with this their great desire they did many and diuerse times communicate with the gouernor that was there at that time for his maiestie who was called the Doctor Francisco de Sandi desiring his fauour and licence for to goe vnto China in the companie of certaine marchants of that countrie that were at that present in the port with their ships offering themselues to get their good will although it were to offer themselues to be slaues or otherwise whatsoeuer And séeing that at all such times when as they did intreat of that matter they found him but luke warme and that he did as it were but to detract the time and feed them with hope then they calling to minde that the chiefest intent and cause of their comming out of Spayne was to enter into that kingdome caused a newe desire to grow in them what with the contractation they had with the sayde Chinos as well in conuersation as in talke and finding them to be a people of great abilitie and discretion and of verie good iudgements the which did greatly content their desire they did perswade themselues that it was an easie matter to make them to vnderstande the thinges appertayning vnto God So that they determined to put other remedies in practise because that which they required with the good will of the Gouernor séemed to be a large and long matter So it happened that vpon a time intreating of this matter and hauing requested of God with great instance for to direct them the readie way which was best for his seruice and for the profite of those soules there came to the Ilandes Philippinas a Chino who according as they did vnderstand was one of the priests
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
Ilands of Iapon and it treateth of some thinges of them according vnto the truest intelligence that hath come from those parts of certaine miracles that happened in the kingdome of Cochinchina that were notable FRom the Cittie of Machao which is inhabited by Portugals and situated on the skirt of the firme lande of China in two and twentie degrées the aforesaide father Ignacio did trauell for Malaca passing by the gulfe of Aynao which is an Ilande and prouince of China and fiue leagues from the firme lande and from the Philippinas one hundreth and fourescore It is a very rich prouince and of great prouision and in the straight that is betwixt them and the firme lande there is great fishing of pearles and Aliafar and those which are there founde do in many killats excéede them that are brought from Bareu which is on y e coast of Arabia or those that are brought from Manar which is another kingdome from whence is brought many vnto that of China This prouince of Aynao is very good and strong and the people thereof very docible and well inclined From this Ilande to the kingdome of Cochinchina is fiue and twenty leagues and from Machao one hundreth and twentie fiue it is a mightie kingdome and is in sixtéene degrées of altitude and the one part therof is ioyned with the firme land of China The whole is deuided into thrée prouinces The first dooth enter forty leagues into the lande and hath in it a mightie king The second is more farther within the land and he that is Lord thereof is a king of greater power then the first and ioyning vnto the sun more towards the Septentrion is the thirde the which is more greater and of more riches whose king in respect of the other two is an Emperor and is called in their language Tunquin which doth signifie the same Unto him be subiect y e other two kings yet notwithstanding his mighitinesse and called emperour hee is subiect vnto the king of China and dooth pay him tribute and parias It is a countrie very well prouided of victuals and as good cheape as in China There is great stoare of a wood called Palo de Agnila and of another woode called Calambay and both of them are verie odoriferous Great aboundance of silke and gold and of other things very curious all these kingdomes are at a very point to be reduced vnto our faith for that the principall he whom they giue title of Emperor hath sent diuers times to Machao and vnto other parts whereas are Christians and haue requested to send them persons both learned and religious for to instruct them in the law of God for that they are all determined to receiue it and be baptised and do desire it with so great feruentnesse that in manie citties they haue the timber ready to build edifie churches and in a redinesse all other kind of necessaries for the same There was in Machao a religious man of the order of barefoote Friers of saint Francis who vnderstanding the great and good desire of this king did send him by certaine Portugal merchants that did trade into his countrie a cloth whereon was painted the day of iudgement and hell and that by an excellent workeman and also a letter wherein hee did signifie vnto him the great desire he had with some other of his companions to go into his kingdome to preach the Gospel The which being receiued by the said king and informed the signification of the picture and of the religious man that sent it him he reioyced very much with the present and did send in returne of the same an other that was very good vnto the same religious man and a letter of great curtesie did accept the offer that hee sent in his letter and did promise that all that went thither shoulde haue good entertainement and that he would presently make them a house next vnto his This religious man although hâ— had a desire to put in execution the kings will yet at that time hee coulde not by reason that he had but few companions the which the king did vnderstande and caused him to sende vnto the bishoppe of Machao thrée or foure letters requesting him to send him the saide religious men with certification that hauing them there both hee and all the rest of his kingdome woulde receiue the faith of Christ and the holy baptisme vnto the which letters they did alwaies make answere with promises that he would send them vnto him but after because they did not accomplish the same the king did complaine of him vnto certaine Portugall merchants with great griefe saying this your bishop of Machao doth greatly lye for that I haue requested him by foure letters to send me religious men for to preach the law of the gospell he consenting vnto my wil did neuer accomplish nor performe his word Unto this day they haue not accomplished this desire for the great lacke they haue of such ministers as they doo demande are requisite in those parts and cannot supply their want and necessitie except they should leaue them vnprouided that bee already baptised They doo driue them off with faire words promises that with as great breuity as is possible their desire shalbe satisfied And this was the answere that was giueÌ„ in Machao vnto certaine messengers or ambassadors that were sent by the aforesaid king for the same demand the which was required with great instance The which messengers for their comfort for his who sent theÌ„ did carry with theÌ„ al such Images as they might haue but specially that of the crosse in which form likenes as hath bin informed they haue made in y e kingdome an infinite number and set them in all their stréets high-wayes houses wheras they are worshiped reuerenced with great humilitie as well for that it is in an ensigne of Christ whose faith they do desire to receiue as also for a notable miracle which happened in that kingdome worthy to make thereof a particular mention the which I will set downe here in such sort as the ambassadors aforesaide did declare in publike before the inhabitants of Machao when as they came to demande religious men for to instruct them in the gospel There was a man naturally borne in this kingdome who for certaine occasions went forth of the same and came dwelt amongst the Portugals who séeing the Christian ceremonies and being touched with the hand of God was baptised and remained certaine yeares in the same towne giuing outwâ—rde shewes to bee a good Christian and one that feared God at the end thereof hee changed his minde and determined to returne vnto his owne countrie and there to liue according vnto that which he had learned of the Christians the which he beléeued to doo with ease without any gainesaying or contradiction Whereas when hée came thither hee did obserue all such things as a Christian was bounde to
possible they do procure the same the which is not followed for lacke of ministers as aforesaid and is no smal griefe vnto them that Christianly doo put themselues to consider how the diuel our aduersary doth carry vnto his infernal mansion those soules which séeme to bee well disposed for to inioy the benefite of God and his eternal goodnesse all the which is for lacke of ministers and not for any other default God remedie the same for his mercies sake The said father Ignacio whom as I haue said I do follow in many things of this Itinerario did tell me that as he passed by this kingdome for to go vnto Spaine he saw the deuotion of the people thereof and the great desire they had to bee Christians and how that the people were ready and bent for to receiue the holy Gospell very humble and of good vnderstanding Hee would haue tarried for to baptise them and would haue done it onely for charity and compassion séeing with what deuotion they did demand the same and the great number of soules that were condemned but hee was constrained by force to go vnto Malaca and againe it séemed vnto him that amongst so many people his smal force might do little good and that it were better for him to go vnto Spaine and to procure more companions to helpe him as he did and returned with them and with many other rewards of Pope Gregory the thirtéenth receiued and he also receiued great fauours of the king of Spaine and with great hope that his maiestie will giue his particular aide for to go thorow with this enterprise which will not be of small effect I do beléeue of a truth that in small time all that kingdome shall bee subiect vnto the Catholike saith of Rome and to be the gate whereby to enter the lawe of the Gospel into the mightie kingdome of China for that this of Cochinchina is vpon the same firme land and their language and customes are almost in one manner They are verie white people of this kingdome and are apparelled like vnto those of China their women are verie honest and shamefast and their apparell is very curius and gallant The men weare their haire dispersed and doo combe and trim it with too much care In all the countrie almost all of them are apparelled in silke for that they haue there verie much and excellent good the countrie is verie holesome and full of old folkes and children which is a sufficient proofe for the goodnesse thereof They say that they neuer had amongst them neither pestilence nor hunger which is the like as we haue said of the kingdome of China Let him that can do it in such sort that so great and infinite a number of soules that at this day are vnder the tyranny of the diuell may see them in the Christian libertie and in the other life inioy their creator CHAP. XXI In this chapter is declared of such kingdomes as are adioyning vnto that of Cochinchina and of some notable thinges in them with the rites and customes of the inhabitants NIgh vnto this kingdome of Cochinchina there is another called Champa that although it be poore of gold and siluer yet is it very rich of drugges and gallant wood and great stoare of prouision This kingdome is very great and full of people they somewhat whiter then those of Cochinchina they are as nigh as willing to become Christians as their neighbors but for the performance thereof they doo lacke that which the other doo They haue the same lawes and ceremonies as well the one as the other and are all Idolaters and doo worship the second causes in the same order as the Chinos do vnto whom likewise they do make one manner of acknowledging From this Iland you may go with ease vnto Malaca leauing on the right hand a kingdome which is called Camboia the which is great very full of people and all of them affectioned to go to sea and nauigation by reason whereof they haue an infinite number of vessels It is a very fertill country with great stoare of prouision there are Elephants in great number Abadas which is a kind of beast so big as two great buls and hath vppon his snowt a little horne At this day there is one of them at Madrid the which was brought out of the Indians to his maiesty and many do go to sée it for a strange thing and neuer the like séene in Europe whose skinne is so hard according vnto the report that no man although he be of great force and strength can passe it with a thrust Some haue saide that it is an Unicorne but I take it for the contrarie and they are of my opinion almost all those that haue béene in those partes and haue séene the true Unicorne In this kingdome there is a religious man of the order of S. Dominicke called frier Siluester whome God did carrie into those parts for to remedy the soules that are therein hee dooth imploy himselfe to learne their naturall language and to preach the holy gospell in the same tongue and hath them likewise prepared that if he had any companions for to help hym they should obtayne much fruite for the heauens he hath sent and requested for some vnto the India of Portingall but they would neuer send him anie peraduenture by some sinister information by men which the diuell doth marke as instruments for to stay and let the saluation of those soules for euer to remayne in his tirannicall power This fryer did write a letter vnto Malaca vnto fryer Martin Ignacio and vnto oâ—her religious men intirely requesting them for the loue of God to giue such order that hee might be holpen with some religious men of what order soeuer with certification that therein they shall doe great seruice vnto God and put remedie in those soules whome he dare not baptise for feare that after lacking the euangelical refreshing to water and cherish them they returne to bring forth that euill fruit of Idolatrie This petition did not take effect according to his desire for y t there was not to serue his turne nor any that was vnoccupied They vnderstood of him that brought this letter that the king of that kingdome had in great veneration the sayd father Siluestro in so ample manner as was the patriarck Ioseph in Egipt hee had in all that kingdome the seconde place and euery time that the king would speak with him he gaue him a chaire and gaue him great priuiledges and licence for to preach the holy gospell throughout all the kingdome without any contradiction and for to edifie the churches and all other thinges whatsoeuer he thought necessarie this king himselfe helping thereunto by giuing of great gifts and charitie He said also that in al y e kingdome there were erected many crosses and were had in great reuerence And for y e confirmation of the truth hereof the
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
little trauaile which is the occasion that they are nothing affectionate vnto warres and is vnderstoode with great facilitie they would receiue the gospell Nigh vnto the same there is an other little kingdome called Mana in the which there is a towne with Portingals y e which is called in their language Negapatan there is in the same a couent of the order of S. Francis whose religious fryers although they are but a few do occupie themselues in the conuerting of the naturall people thereof and it is to be beléeued that they shall reape much fruite and doo good for they haue giuen showes of the same for that about thrée yeares past the prince of that countrie was conuerted by the preaching of the same fryers who went now to receiue the holy baptisme with great and incredible ioy vnto the christians All the rest of the kingdome as it is beléeued will shortly imitate him In this Iland there are many pearls and aliofer al very good round and fine CHAP. XXV This chapter treateth of manie kingdomes of that newe worlde the rites and customes of the inhabitants and of some curious thinges THe afore saide father Martin Ignacio departed with his companions from this cost and went towards the Ilands of Nicobar wheras are many Moores gentiles al mingled the one with y e other They did not stay there but presently passed to the town of Cuylan which is inhabited with Portingals from Malaca 416. leagues This Iland is situated froÌ„ sixe vnto ten degrées vnder our pole hath in longitude thrée score and sixe leagues and nine and thirtie of latitude Of oldâ— time it was an Iland much celebrated in those partes had in great reuerence for that it is saide that there dwelt died there in times past men whose soules are in heaueÌ„ and are celebrated honored by theÌ„ of the countrie as though they were gods with many sacrifices and orations the which they do ordinarily There come from other kingdomes bordering therupon vnto this Ilande many pilgrimes but our people could neuer vnderstand the ground occasion thereof neither how they liued whom they doo hold for saints There is vpon the same Iland a very high mountaine which is called Pico de adan which father Martin did sée did heare the naturall people thereof say that it had that name for that by the same Adam went vp into heauen but what Adam it was they could not declare There is on this Pico like a monasterie the which the naturall people doo call Pagode At one time they had therein an Apes toâ—th the which they did worship for their God and therâ— came thither vnto that effect some two hundred and thrée hundred leagues It so happened in the yeare 1554. the vizroy of India called Don Pedro Mascarenas sent an army vnto this kingdome with many Portugals with intent to reduce them vnto the obedience of the king of Portugall all of that country as they were before who few yeares past did rise against them and tooke away and denied their fewter The souldiers did sack that Pagode or monastery and thinking to finde some treasure therein they broke it and beat it downe vnto the foundation and there they found the aforesaid apes tooth the which they did worship put in a chest of golde and stones and carried it vnto Goa vnto the said vizroy When that this was vnderstood and knowne to other kings their borderers and vnto him of Pegu of this losse the which of them was iudged to bee great they sent their Ambassadors to the said vizroy that they might in the name of them all demaunde the saide tooth the which they did worship to offer for the ransome thereof seuen hundred thousand ducats of gold The viceroy woulâ— haue giuen it them for that quantitie of gold which they did offer would haue done it in effect if it had not bin for the archbishop of Goa who was called Don Gaspar other religious meÌ„ who did disturbe him putting great scrupulositie laide vnto his charge the hurt that come by their Idolatrie in giuing them the same of the which he should giue a straight account vnto God The which did so much in him y t he dispatched away the embassador without any regard of the gold y t they would haue giuen him in their presence he did deliuer y e same vnto the said archbishop religious men they before their eies did break it burnt it threw the dust thereof into the sea which was not a little woonder vnto the said embassadors to sée how little they did estéeme so great a quantitie of golde and for a thing which they estéemed not but threw it into the sea with so great liberalitie This Ilande is fertile peaceable healthfull and all full of woods and there are mountaines very thicke of orenge trees siders Limas Plantanos Palmas and many synamon trées which be the best in all the world of most strength effect for y e which they go to buy for to bring it vnto Europe they giue it for a small price Likewise there is pepper but the naturall people did pull vp certaine hils that were ful of it of sinamon because they saw there came from farre to buy these two coÌ„modities fearing y t it would be an occasion y t their country would be taken from them It is a countrie of great prouision doth bring foorth mightie elephants and they say that there is many mynes of diamoÌ„ds rubies other stones y t are called girasolis In no part of this orientall Indies there was none of so good a beginning in the coÌ„uersion of the soules as was in this Iland for that certaine religious friers of the order of S. Francis did labor very much and did baptise in a few daies more than fiftie thousand soules which gaue to vnderstand that with a verie good will they did receiue the law of the gospell and had ediâ—ted many churches and fourtéene monasteries of the same religion but few yeares past a king of that kingdome being weary of certaine things which in all that Indians are very publicke he forsooke the religion faith he had receiued and did rase destroy many portingals y t where there inhabited thrusting forth all y e religious men that did baptise minister the sacraments This euill king was called Raxu Many of them y t were christened content w t the faith of Iesu Christ they had receiued detesting y t which this tirannous king had done they went dwelt in y e company of the portingals others did build a town the which is called in their language Columbo whereas is a great number of them vnto this day do indure throughout al that kingdom the crosses in token of their ancient christianitie alongst all the coast they doe vse many Galiotas or gallyes goe with them robbing and spoyling al thereaboutes The naturall
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
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.
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
runneth from the West vnto East The king of that countrie which made it was called Tzintzon and it was for his defence against the Tartaries with whome he had warres so that the wall doth shut vp all the frontier of Tartaria But you must vnderstande that foure hundred leagues of the saide wall is naturall of it selfe for that they be high and mightie rockes verie nigh together but the other hundred leagues is comprehended the spaces or distance that is betwixt the rockes the which he caused to be made by mens handes of verie strong worke of stone and is of seuen fathom brode at the foote of it and seuen fathom high It beginneth at the partes of the sea in the prouince of Canton and stretcheth foorth by that of Paguia and Causay and doth firnish in the prouince of Susuan This king for to finish this wonderful worke did take of euerie thrée men one thorough his kingdome and of â—iue two who for that they trauailed in their labour so long a iourney and into different clymes although that out of those prouinces that were nearest there came great store of people yet did they almost all perish that followed that worke The making of this superbious and mightie worke was the occasion that his whole kingdome did rise vp against the king and did kill him after that he had raigned fortie yeares and also a sonne of his that was called Aguitzi The report of this wall is helde to be of a verie truth for that it is affirmed by all the Chinos that doo traficke to the Ilands Philippinas and to Canton and Machao and bee all confirmable in their declaration as witnesses because they haue seene it and it is the farthest parts of all the kingdome whereas none of vs vnto this day hath béene CHAP. X. Of the dispositions countenance with apparell and other exercises of the people of this countrie BOth men and women of this countrie are of a good disposition of their bodies well proportioned and gallant men somewhat tall they are all for the most part brode faced little eyes and â—lat noses and without bearde saue onely vppon the ball of the chinne but yet there be some that haue great eyes and goodly beardes and their faces well proporcioned yet of these sorts in respect of the others are verie few and it is to bée beléeued that these kinde of people doo procéede of some strange nation who in times past when it was lawfull to deale out of that countrie did ioyne one with another Those of the prouince of Canton which is a whot country be browne of colour like to the Moores but those that be farther within the countrie be like vnto Almaines Italians and Spanyardes white and redde and somwhat swart All of theÌ„ do suffer their nailes of their left hande to grow very long but the right hand they do cut they haue long haire estéeme it very much maintaine it with curiositie of both they make a superstition for that they say thereby they shalbe carried into heauen They do binde their haire vp to the crowne of their heade in calles of golde verie curious and with pinnes of the same The garments which the nobles and principals do vse bee of silke of different colours of the which they haue excellent good and verie persite the common and poore people doo apparell themselues with another kinde of silke more courser and with linnen serge and cotton of all the which there is great aboundance And for that the countrie for the most part is temperate they may suffer this kinde of apparell which is the heauiest that they doo vse for in all the whole kingdome they haue no cloth neither doo they suffer it to bee made although they haue great aboundance of woolles and very good cheape they do vse their coates according vnto our old vse of antiquitie with long skirts and full of plaites and a flappe ouer the brest to be made fast vnder the left side the sleeues verie bigge and wide vpon their coates they doo vse cassockes or long garments according vnto the possibilitie of either of them made according as wee do vse but only their sleeues are more wider They of royall bloode and such as are constituted vnto dignitie do differ in their apparell from the other ordinarie Gentlemen for that the first haue their garments laide on with gold and siluer downe to the waste and the others alonely garnished on the edges or hem they do vse hose verie well made and stitched shooes and buskins of veluet verie curious In the winter although it be not verie colde they haue their garments furred with beasts skins but in especiall with Martas Ceuellinas of the which they haue great aboundance as aforesaide and generally they do vse them at all times about their necks They that be not married doo differ from them that be married in that they do kirrle their haire on their foreheade and weare higher hattes Their women doo apparell themselues verie curiousâ—ie much after the fashion of Spaineâ— they vse many iewels of gold pretious stones their gownes haue wide sleeues that wherwith they do apparell themselues is of cloath of gold and siluer and diuers sorts of silkes whereof they haue great plentie as aforesaid and excellent good and good cheape and the poore folkes doo apparell themselues with veluet vnshorne veluet and serge They haue verie faire haire and doo combe it with great care and diligence as do the women of Genouay and do binde it about their heade with a broad â—ilke lace set full of pearles and pretious stones and they say it doth become them verie well they doo vse to paint themselues and in some place in excesse Amongst them they account it for gentilitie and a gallant thing to haue little féete and therefore from their youth they do swadell and binde them verie straight and do suffer it with patience for that she who hath the least féete is accounted the gallantest dame They say that the men hath induced them vnto this custome for to binde their féete so harde that almost they doo loose the forme of them and remaine halfe lame so that their going is verie ill and with great trauell which is the occasion that they goe but little abroad and fewe times doo rise vp from their worke that they do and was inuented onely for the same intent This custome hath indured manie yeares and will indure many more for that it is stablished for a law and that woman which doth breake it and not vse it with her children shalbe counted as euill yea shalbe punished for the same They are very secreat and honest in such sort that you shall not sée at any time a woman at her window nor at her doores and if her husband doo inuite any person to dinner she is neuer séene nor eateth not at the table except the gest be a kinsman or a very friende when they go abroade
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
THese miserable Idolaters doo so little estéeme their Idols that it is a great hope and confidence that at what time so euer the gospel shal haue any entry into that country straightwayes they will leaue off all their superstitions in particular in casting of lots which is a thing much vsed throughout all that kingdome also this will be a great helpe thereunto for that they are generally men of good vnderstanding and ducible and subiect vnto reason in so ample sort as is declared by that religious dominicke aforesaid he being in Canton in a temple whereas they were sacrificing vnto their Idols being mooued with great zeale to the honour of God did throw certaine of them downe to the grounde When these Idolaters did sée his boldnesse which séemed vnto them to be without reason they laide hands on him with an infernall furie with determination for to kill him then he did request of them that before they did execute it that they would heare what he would say the which his petition séemed vnto the principals that were there to bee iust and commanded all the people to withdrawe themselues and to heare what he woulde say Then he with the spirit that God did put in him said that they should aduertise themselues for that God our Lorde and creator of heauen and earth had giuen vnto them so good vnderstandings and did equall them vnto the politikest nations in all the world that they should not imploy it vnto euil neither subiect themselues to worship vnto stones and blocks of wood which haue no discourse of reason more then is giuen them by the workmen that did make them and it were more reason the idols should reuerence worship men because they haue their similitude likenesse with these words and other such like in effect they were all quieted and did not only approoue his saying to be true but did giue him great thankes excusing themselues saying that vntill that time there was none that euer did giue them to vnderstand so much neither how they did euill in doing their sacrifices and in token of gratefulnes leauing their idols on the ground and some broken all to pieces they did beare him company vnto his lodging Hereby you may vnderstand with what facilitie by the helpe of almightie God they may be reduced vnto our catholike faith opening by the light of the gospel the doore which the diuell hath kept shut by false delusions so long time although the king with all his gouernors and ministers hath great care that in all that kingdome there be none to induce nouelties neither to admit strangers or any new doctrin without license of the said king of his roial counsel vpon pain of death the which is executed with great rigor They are people very ducible and apt to bee taught and easie to bee turned from their idolatrie superstition false gods the which they haue in smal veneratiō as aforesaid With great humility they do receiue approoue corrections of their weaknes do know the vauntage that is betwixt the gospell and their rites and vanities and do receiue the same with a verie good will as it hath béene and is séene in manie Chinos that haue receiued baptisme in the Citie of Manila vpon one of the Ilands Philippinas whereas they do dwell and leaue their owne naturall countrie for to enioy that which they vnderstande to bee for the saluation of their soules So that those who haue receiued baptisme are become verie good Christians CHAP. IIII. Of lots which they doe vse when they will doe anie thing of importance and howe they doe inuocate or call the diuell THe people of this countrie do not alonely vse superstitions but they are also great Augurisers or tellers of fortunes and do beléeue in auguries as a thing most certaine and infallible but in especiall by certaine lots which they do vse at all times when they beginne any iorney or for to doe any thing of importaunce as to marie a sonne a daughter or lend anie money or buy any lands or deale w t merchandise or any other thing whose end is incertaine or doubtfull In all these matters they do vse lottes the which they do make of two sticks flat on the one side and round on the other and being tyed togither with a small thréede throwe them before their Idols But before they do throwe them they do vse great ceremonies in talke and vse amorous and gentle wordes desiring them to giue them good fortune For by them they doe vnderstand the successe to be good or euill in their iourney or any other thing that they do take in hande Likewise they do promise them if they do giue them good fortune to offer vnto them victuales frontalles or some other thing of price This being done they throwe downe their lots and if it so fall out that the flat side be vpper or one flat side and the other round they haue it for an euill signe or token Then they returne vnto their Idols and say vnto them manie iniurious words calling them dogs infamous villaines and other names like in effect After they haue vttered vnto them all iniuries at their pleasure then they beginne againe to fawne vpon them and intreat them with milde and swéet words crauing pardon of that which is past and promising to giue them more gifts then before they did if their lot do fal out wel Then in the like manner as before they do procéed and throw the lots before the idols but if it fal not out according vnto their expectation then they returne againe with vituperous and vile words but if to their desire then with great praises and promises But when that in matters of great importance it is long before their lots do fall well then they take them and throwe them to the grounde and treade vppon them or else throwe them into the sea or into the fire whereas they let them burne a while and sometimes they doo whippe them vntill such time as the lottes doo fall as they woulde haue them which is the rounde side vpwards and is a token of good successe vnto that for which they do cast their lottes Then if the lottes doo fall out vnto their content they doo make vnto them great feastes with musicke and songes of great praise and doo offer vnto them géese duckes and boyled rise But if the thing whereon they doo cast their lottes bée of importance then they doo offer vnto them a hogges heade boyled dressed with hearbes and flowers the which is estéemed aboue all other thinges and therewith a great pot with wine Of all that they doo offer they doo cut off their billes and the clawes of the fowles and the hogges snowte and do throw vpon it graines of rise and sprinkling it it with wine they set it in dishes vpon the altar and there they do eate and drinke making great feast and chéere before their idols Another
is apparelled they do set him in y e best chaier that he hath then coÌ„meth vnto him his father mother brethren sisters children who knéeling before him they do take their leaue of him shedding of many teares making of great moane euery one of theÌ„ by themselues Then after them in order commeth all his kinsfolkes friends and last of all his seruants if â—e had any who in like case do as the other before This being done they do put him into a coffin or chest made of verie swéete wood in that countrie you haue verie much they do make it very close to auoid the euil smel Then do they put him on a table with two bankes in a chamber verie gallantly dressed and hanged with the best clothes that can be gotten couering him with a white shéete hanging downe to the ground whereon is painted the dead man or woman as naturall as possible may be But first in the chamber whereas the bead bodie is or at the entrie they set a table with candles on it and full of bread fruits of diuers sorts And in this order they kéepe him aboue ground 15. daies in y t which time euery night commeth thether their priests religious men whereas they sing praiers and offer sacrifices with other ceremonies they bring with them many painted papers and do burne them in the presence of the dead bodie with a thousand superstitions witchcraftes they do hang vpon cordes which they haue for the same purpose of the same papers before him many times do shake them make a great noyse with the which they say it doth send the soule straight vnto heauen In the end of the 15. daies all which time the tables are continually furnished with victuals wine which the priests their kinsfolkes and friends that do come to visite theÌ„ do eat These ceremonies being ended they take the coffin with the dead bodie carrie him into the fields accompanied with all his kinsfolks friends with their priests religious men carrying candles in their hands wheras ordinarily they do burie theÌ„ on a mountaine in sepultures that for the same purpose in their life time they caused to be made of stone masons worke that being doone straight waies haâ—d by y e sepulture they do plant a pine trée in y e which place there be many of them they be neuer cut downe except they be ouerthrowne with the weather after they be fallen they let them lie till they consume of theÌ„selues for that they be sanctified The people y t do beare him company to the graue do go in very good order like a procession haue with them many instruments which neuer leaue playing till such time as the dead is put into the sepulcher And that burial which hath most priests musicke is most sumptuous wherin they were woont to spend great riches They sing to the sound of the instrumeÌ„ts many orations vnto their Idols and in the end they do burne vpon the sepulcher many papers whereon is painted slaues horse gold siluer silkes many other things the which they say that the dead body doth possesse in the other world whether he goeth to dwell At such time as they do put him into y e graue they doe make great bankets sports with great pastime saying of a truth that looke what soeuer they do at that time the angels saints that are in heauen doe the like vnto the soule of the dead that is there buried Their parents familiars and seruants in all this time doo weare mourning apparell the which is verie asper for that their apparell is made of a verie course wolle weare it next vnto their skins girt vnto them with cords and on their heads bunnets of the same cloth with verges brode like vnto a hat hanging downe to their eyes for father or mother they do weare it a hole yeare and some two yeares if his son be a gouernor with licence of the king he doth withdraw himself many times leauing the office he hath the which they estéeme a great point of honor haue it in greaâ— account and such as are not so much in aliance do apparell theÌ„ in died linnen certaine monethes Likewise their parents and friendes although these doo weare it but for the time of the buriall CHAP. IX Of their ceremonies that they vse in the celebrating the marriages THe people of this kingdome haue a particular care to giue state vnto their children in time before that they be ouercome or drowned in vices or lasciuious liuing The which care is the occasion that in this countrie being so great there is lesse vice vsed than in any other smaller countries whose ouer much care doth cause them many times to procure to marrie their children being verie yoong yea and to make consort before they bee borne with signes tokens making their writings and bandes for the performance of the same in publike order In all this kingdome yea and in the Ilands Philippinas it is a customable vse that the husband doth giue dowrie vnto the wife with whom he doth marrie and at such time as they doe ioyne in matrimonie the father of the bride doth make a great feast in his owne house and doth inuite to the same the father and mother kinsfolkes and friends of his sonne in lawe And the next day following the father of the bridegrome or his next parent doth the like vnto the kinsfolkes of the bride These bankets being finished the husbande doth giue vnto his wife her dowrie in the presence of them all and she doth giue it vnto her father or mother if she haue them for the paines they tooke in the bringing her vp Whereby it is to be vnderstoode that in this kingdome and in those that doe confine on it those that haue most daughters are most richest so that with the dowries their daughters do giue them they may well sustaine themselues in their necessitie and when they die they doo giue it that daughter that did giue it them that it may remaine for their children or otherwise vse it at their willes A man may marrie with so manie wiues as he can sustaine so it be not with his sister or brothers daughter and if any doo marrie in these two degrées they are punished very rigorously Of all their wiues the first is their legitimate wife and all the rest are accompted but as lemanes or concubines These married men doo liue and kéepe house with his first wife and the rest he doth put in other houses or if he be a merchant then he doth repart them in such villages or townes whereas hee doth deale in who are vnto him as seruantes in respect of the first When the father doth die the eldest sonne by his first wife doth inherite the most part of all his goods and the rest is reparted in equall partes amongest the other children
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
which being séene by the roiall councell and considering with what title they entred into that kingdome did not onely make voide the sentence and woulde not confirme the same but did send commandement vnto the vizroy to set them at libertie and to returne fréely back againe vnto the India from whence they came and that hee shoulde furnish them with all things necessarie in aboundance til they were entred into the same although in this time the ambassadors of the king of Malaca who were in the court did still perseuer in their malicious intent In which commandement although it were true all that which the foresaide ambassadors did testifie and that they for feare of death did confesse it yet it is sufficient that they entred into this kingdom the title of ambassador whereby they should receiue any harme But nowe let vs returne tâ— our purpose So after this ambassador hath refreshed himselfe of his iourny and receiued many banquets and orations of the Gentlemen of the court vpon a day appointed he goeth to speake with the king accompanied with all the Gentlemen of the court and with the president of the councell who doth giue him audiâ—nce in one of the thrée rich hals aforesaide at all times as his businesse doth require So when that all his busines is dispatched and gratified with many gifts he returneth backe againe from whence he came and looke with what curtesie they did receiue him at his comming the like they doo vnto him at his returne But if an ambassador doo come from any common wealth of the said kingdome they doo not giue him the intertainement abouesaid but cleane contrarie thereunto for that he dooth enter into the citie accompanied onely with the iustice whose charge it is to lodge him in such houses as the king hath ordeined to the same effect and to giue him all that is necessarie taking of him the summe and effect wherefore he doth come and he doth giue relation thereof vnto the president of the councell and the president doth giue the king to vnderstand therof then doo they appoint the day of audience with this condition that when he dooth go thither hée must go on foote or else on horseback without a bridle with onely a halter on his horse head in token of humility and acknowledging to be a subiect The day of his audience he commeth forth obseruing the order and condition aforesaid accompanyed with the iustice And when hée doth come into a great place which is right against the pallace of the king he staieth there till an officer of the king doth come vnto him who is master of the ceremonies and hee dooth cause him to procéede forwards and doth shew him the place whereas hee must first kneele downe with his handes ioyned togither in token of adoration or worship and all the time of this ceremonie his eies must bee fixed on that part where as they say the king is In this sort hee goeth onwards his way making in it other fiue adorations like vnto the first vntill such time as he do come into the first hall of the pallace which is at the staires heade whereas the president is set with great maiestie and doth represent the kings person who after that hee hath hearde the effect of his ambassage dooth sende them away without answering one word at that time but after that hee hath giuen the king to vnderstande hée dooth sende him answere by that iustice who hath the charge to lodge him and to prouide him of all things necessarie for the time that hée is in the court CHAP. XXIIII Of the ambassage that the king of Spaine did send vnto the king of this kingdome and the occasions that did moue him thereunto as also wherefore it was declared FOr to conclude this small historie in the which I haue declared in summe all such things as I haue vnderstoode of this kingdome of China vnto this I meane such as I might wel set forth leuing a great number more of the which I haue particular note some for that they are vnknowne and others for that they will cause admyration because they haue not béene séene And according vnto the counsell of the wise they should not be intreated of vntill that time that experience dooth make them more credible And againe I doo hold it for a lesse euill to be reprehended for breuitie as some haue béene then to bee prolix and tedious in the declaring although it bee hurtfull vnto this worke from the which I doo take away much that I might put in Nowe letting all passe I will in this last chapter declare of the letter present and ambassage wherewith the king of Spaine did sende mee in the yeare of our Lorde one thousande one hundred and fourescore for that in company of other religious men of my order I should passe from his mightie kingdome of Mexico to China and to present it vnto the king of that countrie in his name of all the which I will declare that which I doo vnderstande and know not excéeding the limits of fidelitie by reason that the ambassage was not ended nor no conclusion in effect of that which was pretended but doo hope in the deuine maiestie and with the care and diligence that is put therein by the king of Spaine shortlie to haue a conclusion of that they desire for the which the letter and the rest was sent Béeing considered of by the Spaniards such as were dwellers in the Ilands Philippinas which by another name are called the Ilands of the Ponent or West the thinges of great valour and riches as of golde and silkes and many other thinges which is brought from the kingdome of China and out of their ports and how those which brought it did sel it for a small quantitie in respect as they did estéeme it and being certified by the saide Chinos of many other things which were in the firme land wherof some of them haue béene made mention in this historie being mooued with the conuerting of these soules and with the profite that might come of traficke that they might haue with the Chinos it was concluded by the gouernour and principals of the Citie of Manila with the iudgement of the prouinciall of the order of saint Augustine and of many other religious men that were both graue wise such as were the first that in those parts did preach the Gospel and did baptise a great number of the dwellers therein and did many other thinges of the which I might say much if it were to my purpose and that my part were not therein so that I say it was concluded amongst them to sende vnto the Catholike king graue personages vnto whome intire credite might be giuen for to giue relation what they vnderstoode of that kingdome and also of the euident necessitie that all those Ilands that were his had for their conseruation to holde to friendes the Chinos their borderers whereof might growe vnto them great
vnderstanding the earnest request wherâ—with those of the Ilands did aske the ambassage howe much it did import to haue it as a man then elected for gouernor of those Ilands a matter that touched him very much did put the king and his counsell in memorie of the same and in conclusion they answered that hee should foorthwith depart with the souldiers that were prouided for those parts for that it was coÌ„uenient so to be doone by reason of great necessitie that they had of them in the said Ilands and as for the ambassage for that there was no such great necessitie nor haste it should be intreated of at more leasure when that the counsell wil aduertise themselues of al that shalbe conuenient touching that matter that they would consult and confer with his maiestie that he may as the right owner of them command that which shuld be to the seruice of God and his benefite So with this answere the said gouernor departed It happened that in the moneth of August in the yeare following before that this gouernor was ariued at the Ilands there came newe letters from thence of supplications requesting with greater instance that which before at other times they had requested sending with their petition the whole relation of the entrie of Frier Martin de Herrada prouinciall of the Augustine Friers and his companions into the kingdome of China and of such things as they had seene and heard of as may be séene at large in the said declaration which is in the second part of this booke This being séene by his maiestie he was resolued to send the ambassage which so many times they haue requested this chanced at that time that he began to go vppon Portugall a time of trouble but yet a great token that it was the will of God in whose hands as the wise man saith are the hearts of kings For the appointment of one for to go on this ambassage the king did remit it vnto his roial counsel of the Indies whose president was Don Antonio de Padilla y meneses who had communicated with me diuers times touching matters of that kingdome of Mexico whereas I was alwayes resident euer since I was seuentéene yeares of age and by reason of matters that was committed vnto me out of that country was the occasion that I did vse to visit him the oftener the which large conuersation and the good wil that hée did beare me did perswade him that I could put in execution the ambassage of his maiestie for that his will was that some religious person should do it and they being fully perswaded that my good will and desire was for the saluation of those soules and in all respects willing to serue his maiestie all the which with the knowledge that I had of that large nauigation and the qualitie of that countrie and people was a great helpe to the accomplishing in effect the will of his maiestie and desire of those that dwelt in Philippina So after this charge being committed vnto me and his maiestie readâ—e to depart on his voiage for Portugal as aforesaid he did remit my dispatch vnto the lords of the royall counsell who were at that time the Liceneiado gasca de salacaâ— and doctor Gomez de Santisteuan the Licenciado Espadero The Licenciado don Diego de Zuniga the doctor Vaillo the Licenciado Euao the Licenciado Gedeon de Hinonsosa By whose commandement I depart from the court vnto Syuell where as order was giuen that all such things should be prouided that I should carrie vnto the king Whereas I was procuring the same certaine dayes and for that they were many the which I should carry it was not possible by any meanes that they should be made readie against the departure of the fléete Then the Licenciado Gasca de Salacar aforesaide who was at that present resident in the coÌ„tractation house of Syuel gaue his maiestie to vnderstand thereof who was at Badaioz occupied in matters touching the kingdome of Portugal as aforesaid and requested him to giue order what his pleasure was to be done therein who commanded that the fleete should depart and that I should stay till such time as all things were made and concluded that I shoulde carrie with me for the king of China as in ample manner as hee had commanded And when that all things were in good order that they should cause â— sâ—ippe or galeon to bée made readie wherein I should make my voyage â—or to ouertake or méete at the newe Spaine such shippes as euerie yeare dooth depart for the Ilands Philippinas which is at Christmas time this commandement was delayed vntill the beginning of Lent as well for that the thinges were manie that shoulde bée made and coulde not be dispatched in the time as also for a generall sicknesse that was amongst them in Spaine called the Cattarre or murre Then after that all thinges were in order by the commandement of the Licenciado Gasca hée deliuered vnto me the kinges letter and all other thinges The which for that they were manie and againe I haue beene tedious in this Chapter I doo not declare it for that the prudent lector may of himselfe conceiue if hee doo weigh the magnanimitie of the Catholike king that dooth sende them and the mightinesse and richnesse of him to whome it is sent of the which we haue declared enough in this small historie I would I could particularly declare it vnto you as also the copie of the letter that his maiestie did send vnto that Heathen or Gentile king a thing worthie of the author but for that it came not to effect neither had I anye licence of him that all oâ—elye might grant it and againe in place whereas I could not aske it therefore I dare not for that I will not excéede the limits of fidelitie which I owe vnto my prince But it is sufficient that the letter and the present sent by his maiestie vnto the king of that countrey was to no other intent but to procure him and all his subiects to acknowledge the true God and to exhort them to receiue our catholike faith and to giue them to vnderstand the error wherein they are and how ignorant they are of the knowledge of the true God the creator of hâ—auâ—n and earth and of all the creatures of the world visible and inuisâ—ble sauiour and redéemer of all such as with a true knowledge doo beléeue in him and obey his holy lawe declared by his worde and confirmed by his deuine tokens and other thinges in effect So being dispatched I prosecuted my iourny and order till I came vnto the kingdome of Mexico whereas I found a certaine inconuenience touching a matter néedful in that voiage whereof his maiestie in the commission he gaue me willed me to be well â—duertised and if it were néedfull to giue him notice thereof before I did passe any farther The vizroy of that kingdome who was the Earle of Coruma thought it good that I
shoulde returne vnto Lysborne whereas the king was at that instant and to giue him to vnderstand of the difficultie that was found in a meeting that the vizroy had caused to bee made of the most grauest personages of all that kingdome about the prosecuting of that ambassage With this resolution I departed from that kingdome and returned for Spaine and left the present in Mexico in the power of the kings officers till such time as order was giuen what shoulâ— be done therewith I found his maiestie in Lisborne whereas I did deliuer him the letters that were written touching the same matter and did declare vnto him my iudgement touching the meeting aforesaid who incontinent did take the â—harge vpon him to seeke occasion for to put in effect his most christâ—an intent and zâ—ale the which I doo beléeue he hath procured and will by al waies possible and that very shortly we shall sée in that kingdâ—me planted the Catholike faith and their false idolatrie banished And I hope in God it will bee very shortly for that there be within that kingdome religious men of the order of saint Augustine and barefoote friers of saint Francis and of the order of Iesus or Iesuits who are called there the fathers of Saint Paule of whom there is placâ—d fiue or sixe in the citie of Xauquin whereas the vizroy doth dwell and hath erected a couent in that citie euer since the yeare 1583. with a Church whereas they doo say masse ordinarily And it is said of a truth that they haue got license of the saide vizroy for to passe fréely thorough out all the whole kingdome of China But if it bee so you must thinke that hee did it after that he had consulted with the king and doone by his authoritie otherwise I am perswaded he durst not grant any such liceâ—se At this present dooth there go out of Spaine by the order and commandement of his maiestie and his royall counsell of the Indies a companie of religious men of the order of saint Dominicke for to aid and helpe the rest that are there to conclude this enterprise from whom can procéed nothing but that which tends to great effect by reason of their great zeale learning and the better if that they doo ioyâ—e togither in charitie as seruants to one Lord and master and as they which are boundâ— to doo all one worke By which meanes with the fauour and helpe of Almightie God putting to their diligence and industrie they shall easily conquest their hearts good willes shall frustrate the diuell from the possession that so long time he hath possessed in that kingdome and râ—duce them to their true Lord by creation and redemption It will not bee a small helpe the manie and euident tokens which the Chinos doo giue of desire of their saluation For as it is said that they haue read in their bookes that from the Occident shall come the true and perâ—ite law to diâ—ect them to heauen where they shalbe angelâ— And they séeing that those religious people which are câ—me into their kingdome doo come from the Occident they are perswaded without doubt that the law that they doo declare vnto them is the truth by which meanes shall redowne vnto them great goodnesse They are greatly affâ—ctioned vnto the commandements of the Catholike faith and vnto the catechisme which is translated into their language and is abrode in manie parts of that kingdome which is the occasion as the fathers of the companie that are in the citie Xuquien dooth write that many principal persons are conuerted vnto the catholike faith and others being holpen by the heauens and encited by the ensample of them doo demande the holy baptisme which is left vndone because they will not cause any vprore in the countrie And againe when they shall better conceiue thereof they may receiue it with more firme faith God for his mercie cause to go forwards and with his deuine fauour this good worke for his honour and glorie and exalting his holy faith and that so great and infinite a number of soules redéemed by his pretious blood might be saued and to put in the hart of christian kings to procéed forwards in that which he hath begun putting alwaies in their breasts a greater augmentation to the concluding of the same and to put apart from him all such perswasions as shoulde cause him to leaue it off which the diuell will procure by all the wayes and meanes that he may But against God and his diuine will there is neither power nor wisedome The end of the first part The second part of the historie of the mightie kingdome of China that is deuided into three parts The first containeth such thinges as the fathers frier Martin de Herrada prouinciall of the order of Saint Augustine in the Ilands Phlipinas and his companion fryer Geronimo Martin and other soldiers that went with them did see and had intelligence of in that kingdom The second containeth the miraculous voiage that was made by frier Pedro de Alfaro of the order of S. Francis and his companions vnto the said kingdome The third containeth a breefe declaration by the said frier and of frier Martin Ignacio that went out of Spaine vnto China and returned into Spaine againe by the Orientall India after that he had compassed the world Wherein is contained many notable things that hee did see and had intelligence of in the voiage The Argument of the first part Wherein is declared the cause that moued Frier Martin de Herrada and Frier Geronimo Martin and such souldiers as went in their companie for to passe from the Ilands Phillipinas vnto the kingdome of China in the yeare 1577 and of the entrie they made therein and what they did see there for the space of foure monethes and sixteeâ—e daies that they remained and of what they vnderstood of al things that happened vnto them till they returned againe vnto the Ilands from whence they went all the which are notable and strange CHAP. I. The Spaniardes departe from Mexico vnto the Ilandes Philippinas where they had intelligence of the mightie kingdome of China GOuerning in the kingdom of Mexico don Luys de Velasco who was viceroye and lieftenant in that place for the Catholike king don Phillip king of Spaine was coÌ„manded by his maiestie to prepare a great armie in the south sea and to leuie â—ouldiers necessarie for the same and to send them to discouer the Ilands of the west those which that famous captaine Magallanes did giue notice of when he did compasse the world in the ship called the Victorie The viceroy with great care and diligence did performe the kinges commandement This fléete and armie being prepared readie which was not without great cost hee caused them to depart out of the port at Christmas time in the yeare of 1564. and sent for general of the same fléete and for gouernour of that countrie which they should discouer the worthie Miguel
Lopez de Legaspi who afteâ—warde died in the said Ilande with the title of Adelantado a yeare after that the fathers Fryer Martin de Herrada and Fryer Geronimo Marin and their companies did enter into China So after that our Spaniardes hadde discouered the sayde Ilandes and some of them populared to the vse of his Maiestie but in especiall that of Manilla which is fiue hunâ—red leagues in circuit in the which is situated the citie of Luson and is also called Manilla and as the metropolitane of all the Iland whereas the gouernours haue ordeined their place of abiding euer since the first discouery They haue also founded in that citie a cathedrall Church and erected a bishopricke And for Bishops of the same his maiestie did ordaine the most reuerend fryer don Domingo de Salazar of the ordâ—r of preachers in whom was comprehended some holinesse good life and learning as was requisite and necessarie for that prouince and was consecrated in Madrid the yeare of 1579. At this present there be thrée monasteries of religious men in that Iland the one of the order of S. Austen and were the first that by the coÌ„mandement of his maiestie did enter into this Ilands preaching the law of the gospell which was great profit vnto those soules yet great trauaile vnto them and cost many of them their liues in dooing it the other monasterie is of barefoote Fryers of the order of S. Francis of the prouince of S. Ioseph who haue béene great examples with great profit vnto them of those portes The third are of the order of S. Dominicke or preachers who haue done their dutie in all things so well as the other These thrée orders were alonely in those Ilands for certaine yeares till now of late time haue gone thither Iesuites which haue bin a great aide and helpe vnto their religion When these Spaniardes were come vnto these Ilands they had straightwaies notice of the mightie kingdome of China as well by the relation of them of the Ilands who tolde vnto them the maruels thereof as also within a fewe daies after they did sée and vnderstand by ships that came into those ports with marchants that brought marchandise and other things of great curiositie from that kingdome did particularly declare the mightinesse and riches therof all which haue béen declared vnto you in the first thrée bookes of this historie This beeing knowen vnto the religious people of S. Austin who at that time were alone in those Ilands but in especiall vnto the prouinciall Fryer Martin de Herrada a man of great valour and wel learned in all sciences who séeing y â— great capacitie or towardnesse which the Chinos had more then those of the Ilandes in all things but in especiall in their gallantnesse discretion and wit he straightwaies had a great desire to go thether with his fellow to preach the gospell vnto those people of so good a capacitie to receiue the same who with a pretended purpose to put it in vre effect he began with great care studie to learne that language the which he learned in few daies did make therof a dictionarie TheÌ„ afterwards they did giue great intertainmeÌ„t presents vnto the marchants that came froÌ„ China for to procure them to carie theÌ„ thether many other things the which did shew their holie-zeale yea they did offer themselues to bee slaues vnto the marchants thinking by y â— means to enter in to preach but yet none of these diligences did take effect till such time as the diuine maiestie did discouer a better way as shalbe declared vnto you in this chapter following CHAP. II. A rouer of this kingdome of China called Limahon doth make himselfe strong at the sea and doth ouercome an other rouer of the same countrie called Vintoquiam THe Spaniards did enioy their new habitation of Manilla in great quietnesse vâ—ide of all care of any accideâ—t that might disquiet theÌ„ or any strange treasons of enimies for to offende them for that those Ilandes were in great quietnes and in obedience vnto the Christian king Don Phillip and in continuall traficke with the Chinos which séemed vnto them a sufficient securitie for the continuance of the quiâ—tnesse they liued in And againe for that they vnderstoode that they had a law amongst them as hath bin told you in this historie y t it was forbidden to make any wars out of their owne countrie But being in this security and quietnes vnlooked for they were beset with a mightie great Armada or fléete of ships by the rouer Limahon of whose vocation thâ—re are coÌ„tinually on y â— coast the one by reason that y e country is full of people wheras of necessitie must be many idle persons and the other principall occasion by reason of the great tyranny y t the gouernorâ— doo vse vnto the subiects This Limahon came vpon theÌ„ with intent to do theÌ„ harme as you shal vnderstand This rouer was borne in the citie of Trucheo in the prouince of Cuytan which the Portingals do cal Catim He was of mean parentage and brought vp in his youth in liberty and vice hee was by nature warlike and euill inclinâ—d He would learne no oâ—cupation but all giuen to robbe in the high waies and became so â—xpâ—rt that many came vnto him and followed that trade He made himself Captain ouer theÌ„ which were more then two thousand wâ—re so strong y t they were feared in all that prouince where as they were This being knowen vnto the king and to his councell they did straight way coÌ„mand the viceroy of the prouince wher as the rouer was that with all the haste possible he should gather together all the garrisons of his Frontyers to apprehende and take him and if it were possible to carrye him aliue vnto the Citie of Taybin if not his head The Uiceroy incontinent did gather together people necessarie and in great haste to followe him The which being knowen vnto Limahon the rouer who saw that with the people he had he was not able to make resistance against so great a number as they were and the eminent danger that was therein he called together his companies and went from thence vnto a port of the sea that was a fewe leagues from that place and did it so quickly and in such secret that before the people that dwelt therein could make any defence for that they were not accustomed to any such assaultes but liued in great quietnesse they were lordes of the port and of all such ships as were there into the which they imbarked themselues straightwaies wayed anker and departed to the sea whereas they thought to bee in more securitie than on the lande as it was true Then hee séeing himselfe lorde of all those seas beganne to robbe and spoyle all shippes that he could take as well strangers as of the naturall people by which meanes in a small time hee was prouided of mariners and
depart vnto the rest of the fléet And for that they looked euerie day for the death or imprisonment of the rouer the better to informe himselfe hee determined for that it was so nigh hand to go and sée the Generall of the fielde in Pagansinan and carry with him Sinsay one that was knowne both of the one and the other by whose meanes they might treate of such things that best accomplished the confirmation of the peace and friendship betwixt the Chinos the Spaniards as also of the death or imprisonment of Limahon With this resolution the one departed vnto Pagansinan whereas they ariued the same day and the others vnto Manilla whether they went for victuals CHAP. IX Omoncon is well receiued of the Generall of the field and lodged in Manilla with the gouernor whereas they doo conclude the going of the fathers of Saint Augustine to China WHen that the Generall of the field vnderstood wherfore the comming of Omoncon was hee did entertaine him with great curtesie and after that hee had giuen him to vnderstand in what extremitie he had brought the rouer which was a thing impossible for him to escape except it were with wings hee did counsell him that for the time till hee brought his purpose to effect which could not be long that he would go vnto Manilla which was not farre from thence and there to recreate and sport himselfe with the gouernor and other Spaniards that were there for that hee alone was sufficient to accomplish his preteÌ„ce without the comming thither of the kings fléete neither for to remoue out of the port whereas they were in securitie And for his going thither he should haue a shippe of his the which did row and was for to bring victuals and other prouision and he shoulde go in the company of the Captaine Pedro de Chaues that was bound vnto Manilla and promised him that within few dayes he would giue him the Rouer aliue or deade which vnto the iudgement of all men coulde not bée long Omoncon considering that this offer might come well to passe did put it straightwayes in vre did imbarke himselfe in the company of y e captain sent his ship wherin he came alone by sea because it was big drew much water the which was constrained to turne backe againe into the part from whence he went by reason of stormie windes and wether and was no impediment in the other with Ores for that hee went alongst the shoore and was shrowded with the land from the force of the wind so that in few dayes they arriued in the port of the cittie of Manilla whereas they were well receiued and feasted of the gouernor Omoncon remained ther certaine dayes after the which he séeing that the siege did long endure and that his staying might cause suspition of his death and againe that the whole fléete did tarrie his comming to his intelligence of the rouer being fully perswaded and certaine that hee coulde not escape the Spaniards hand they had him in such a straight that they would without all doubt sende him vnto the king aliue or dead as they promised him hee was determined to returne vnto China with the good newes that he had vnderstood with a determinate intent to râ—turne againe and carrie the rouer after that they had him prisoner With this resolution in the end of certaine dayes he went vnto the gouernor certifying him of his pretence whereby he might giue him license to put it in execution The gouernor did like wel of his pretence and did promise him the same the which the generall of the fielde did offer vnto him and which was so soone as the rouer should be taken prisoner or slaine to sende him vnto the king without any delay or else to put him whereas he should be foorth comming and to giue them aduertisement to send for him or come himselfe and did offer him more that for his voyage he should be prouided forthwith of all things necessarie without lacking of any thing Omoncon did giue him great thankes for the same and in recompence therof did promise vnto the gouernor for that he vnderstoode and had intelligence of the fathers of S. Augustine that his honor and his antecessor and the Adelanâ—ado Miguel Lopez de Legaspi had desired many times to sâ—â—d vnto the kingdome of China some religâ—ous men to intreat of the preaching of the Gospel and to see the wonders of that kingdome and howe that they neuer coulde put this their desire in execution for that those Chinos which came thither although they did offer them whatsoeuer they would demand fearing the punishment that should be executed on them according vnto the lawes of the kingdome he did promise him that he would carrie them with him vnto China such religious men as his honour would command and some souldiers such as would go with them hoping with the good newes that hée carried to runne in no daunger of the Law neither the vizroy of Aucheo to thinke euill thereof and for a more securitie that they should not be euill intreated hee woulde leaue with him pledges to their content The gouernor reioyced verie much at this his offer for that it was the thing that he and all those of the Ilands most desired of long time since and did straightwayes accept his offer saying that he did clearely disâ—harge him of his pledges for that he was fully satisfied of his valor and worthines and that hee would not doo the thing that should not be decent vnto his person and office The gouernor being verie ioyful of these newes did therewith sende for the prouinciall of the Augustine friers who was elected but fewe dayes past his name was Frier Alonso de Aluarado a man of a sincere life and one of them that was sent by the Emperor in the discouerie of the newe Guinea vnto whome hee declared the offer that the Captaine Omoncon had made vnto him whereat he reioyced so much that being an old man hee would himselfe haue gone thither to which the gouernor would not consent in respect of his age and other particularities but entred in counsel who were best to go and to finde one that were fitte to execute that which they had pretended which was as wée haue saide to bring in and plant in that kingdome the holie Catholike faith they determined that there shoulde go but two religious men by reason that at that time there was but a â—ewe of them and two souldiers in their companie The religious men shoulde bee Frier Martin de Herrada of Pamplona who left off the dignitie of Prouinciall and was a man of great learning and of a holy life and for the same effect had learned the China tongue and manie times for to put his desire in execution did offer himselfe to bee slaue vnto the merchants of China onely for to carrie him thither and in companie with him should go Frier Hieronimo Martin
two little stickes made of golde and siluer and of a marueilous odiferous woode and of the length of little forkes as they doo vse in Italy with the which they doo féede themselues so clenly that although their victuals be neuer so small yet do they let nothing fall neither foule their hands nor faces they were set downe at these tables in verie good order and in gallant chayres in such sort that although they were euerie one at his table by himselfe yet they might see and talke one with an other they were serued with diuerse sortes of cates and very well dressed both of flesh and fish as gamons of bacon capons géese whole hennes and péeces of beefe and at the last many little baskets full of swéete meates made of suger and marchpanes all wrought very curiously They gaue them wine of an indifferent colour and taste made of the palme trée whereof there is no other vsed in all that countrie our Spaniardes did vse it as that which was made of grapes All the time that the supper indured there was in the hall great store of musicke of diuers instruments whereon they played with great consort some one time and some an other The instruments which they commonly do vse are hoybuckes cornets trompets lutes such as be vsed in Spaine although in the fashion ther is some difference There was at this banket which indured a great while the captaine that was ordained for their garde and the captaine Omoncon and Sinsay When supper was done they were carried into very faire chambers wheras were faire beddes where they slept and eased themselues The next day following in the morning was brought vnto them their ordinarie victualles and that in abundance as weâ—l of flesh as of fish fruits and wine to be dressed vnto their owne content and according vnto their manner they would take nothing for the same for so they were commanded by the Insuantes This was brought vnto them euerie day so long as they were there and in the way when as they went vnto Chincheo The same day ariued a Captaine of fortie ships in the same port and so soone as hee was a shore hee went straightwayes vnto the pallace for to sée the strangers who being aduertised of his comming came foorth and receiued him at the pallace gate where as was vsed betwixt them great courtesie The Captayne came with great maiestie with his guarde of Souldiers and mase bearers before him with great musicke of hoybuckes trumpets and drommes and two whiffelers or typp staues that made roome putting the people aside also there came with him two executors of Iustice or hangmen hauing each of them in their handes a set made of canes which is an instrument wherewith they doo whippe and punish offenders and is so cruell that who soeuer doth receiue sixtie strokes with the same although he be a verie stout man and strong hearted yet it will kill him for that hee is not able to abide it They doo beate them vppon the â—highes and calues of the legges causing the offender or patient to lye downe vppon his breast or stomacke and commande their heades and legges to be holden The Iudges Captaines and Loytias haue ordinarily these officers before them for to beate such as will not goe out of the way when as they doo passe the stréetes and such as will not alight from their horse or come out of their close chayres when they doo méete with them When this Captayne came vnto the Pallace gate whereas the father Fryers and their companions did receiue him he was brought on the shoulders of eight men very richly apparelled and he in a chayre wrought of Iuorie and golde who stayed not till they came into the inner chamber whereas he did a light from the chayre and went straight vnder a cloth of estate that was there ordinarily for the same purpose and a table before him there hee sate downe and straightwaies arose vp and standing he did receiue the strange guests who did curtesie vnto him according vnto their fashion which is to ioyne their handes together and to stoope with them and their heads downe to the grounde he gratified them againe with bowing his heade a little and that with great grauitie Within a little while after he spake vnto them with great maiestie bidding them welcome into his kingdome being glad of their coÌ„ming saying that himselfe was come to sée cherish theÌ„ for that they should receiue no discontent as y e proofe shal shew These spéeches being finished there was brought foorth certain péeces of blacke silke of twelue vares long a péece And his officers did put on the Fryers shoulders each of them two which was for either shoulder one and was brought about their bodies girt therewith the like was done in order vnto the spanish souldiers and vnto Omoncon and Sinsay and to their interpreter But vnto Omoncon and Sinsay was giuen vnto either of them a branch or nosegay made of siluer which was set vpon their heads which is accustomable honor that is done vnto such as haue done some great enterprise or such like After that this ceremonie was done they played vpon the instrumentes afore sayde which came with the Captaine In the meane time of their musicke there was brought foorth great store of conserues marchpanes and thinges made of suger and excellent good wine and so being on foot standing hee caused them to eate and he himselfe from the chayre whereas he sate did giue them to drinke euerie one in order without rising vp which is a ceremonie and token of great fauour and of loue This being done hee arose from the chayre vnder the cloth of state and went and sate downe in that which was brought on mens backes and with declining of his head a little he departed out of the hall and out of the house and went vnto his owne house whereas by the counsell of Omoncon and Sinsay within an houre after they shoulde goe and visite him the which they did hee receiued them marueilously well and with great courtesie who maruelled at his great maiestie and authoritie for that Omoncon and Sinsay when they did talke with him were vpon their knees and so did al the rest yet that which they did see afterwardes done vnto the Insuanto and viceroy was much more He gaue them againe in his owne house a gallant banket of diuerse sortes of conserues and fruits and excellent wine of the palme trée and did talke and reason with them in good sort and was more familiar than at his first visitation demanding of them many thinges in particular and beholding their apparayle and garmentes with showe of great content and reioycing CHAP. XIIII The Spaniardes depart from Tansuso to visite the Gouernour of Chincheo who awaited their comming where they sawe notable thinges by the way AFter that the fathers with their companions had remayned two dayes in the port of Tansuso whereas they were marueilously well entertayned
brode wrought with lyme and stone full of loope holes and watch towers And as they passed through the stréetes there came foorth of a house a very honest man as it séemed who was very well apparelled stayed them for that in the same house there were certaine dames principall personages that did sée them a farre off and not content therewith they did request them with great courtesie for to enter into the house that they might the better sée theÌ„ the which they did straightwaies accomplish and entring in they were brought into a court whereas was set chayres for them to sit downe and the Ladies were there a little froÌ„ them beholding them with great honestie and grauitie Then a little after they sent them a banket with marchpanes and sweet meats made of sugar which they did eate without any curiositie dronke after the same The banket being done they made signes and tokens vnto theÌ„ that they receiued great content with their sight and that they might depart when y t their peasure was the which they did after y t they had made great curtesies with thankes for their friendship receiued of both parts So after they had taken their leaue they went to see a house of pleasure y t was hard by y e town wall wrought vpon the water with verie faire galleries open lodges for to banket in made of masons worke therin many tables finely painted round about it sesterns of water wherin was store of fish ioyning vnto theÌ„ tables of very faire alabaster all of one stone and the least of them was of eight spannes long and rounde about them were brookes of running water that gaue a pleasaunt sounde in the meane time they were banketting and nigh thereunto many gardynes full of all sortes of flowers And a little from that place they sawe a bridge all of Masons worke and the stones verie well wrought and of a mightie biggnesse they measured some of them that were twentie and two and twentie foote long and fiue foote brode and séemed vnto them that it was a thing impossible to be layde there by mans handes Of this bignesse yea and bigger they did sée layde vppon manie other bridges in the discourse of their voyage going to Chincheo and Auâ—heo In this towne they tarried and rested themselues all that night marueiling verie much at that which they had seene The next day in the morning when they were vp and readie they found in the house all thinges in a readinesse and in verie good order for their departure as well their little chayres and horse as for men to carrie their stuffe and apparell which did not a little make them to marueile how that euerie one of theÌ„ with a waster vpon their shoulders did deuide their burden in two partes sixe roues before and sixe roues behinde and did trauaile with the same with so great ease and swiftnes that the horse could not indure with them They went vnto the Ticoan his house he who sent them the present ouer night to giue him thankes for his courtesie and to take their leaue of him They found him with great maiestie but yet gaue them great good entertainment and craued pardon at their hands if that he did not giue them the entertainement and courtesie as they deserued He did likewise put vpon each of them two péeces of silke in the same order as the gouernour of Tansuso did So when they had surrendred vnto him thankes they tooke their leaue and departed from Chincheo whereas was the Insuanto or gouernor by whose order was showed vnto them all the courtesie as you haue hearde CHAP. XV. The Spaniardes doo prosecute their iourney to Chincheo and seeth many notable thinges by the way FRom this towne of Tangoa vnto Chincheo is thirteene leagues and so plaine way that it giueth great content to trauaile it in all the waye they could not see one spanne of ground but was tilled and occupied The like they doo saye is of all the grounde that is in the whole kingdome it is full of people and the townes one so néere to an other that almost you can not iudge them to bee manie townes but one for that there was but a quarter of a league distant one towne from an other and it was tolde vnto them that in all the Prouinces of the kingdome it is populared in the same order All their ground they till is watered which is the occasion of the frutefulnesse thereof so that they doo gather fruite all the yeare long and our Spaniardes did sée in all places whereas they came that they were gathering of rice some newe sprong vp some with eares and some rype They doo plough and till their ground with kine Bufalos and bulles which are verie tame and although they be great yet be their hornes but of a spanne long and turning backwards to the tayle in such sort that they can not do any hurt or harme with them they do gouerne them with a corde that is made fast to a ring that is in their nose and in like sort do they gouerne the Bufanos They doo féede them commonly in the fieldes of rice for that they haue no other grasinges and all the time that they are féeding a boy doth ride on euerie one of them to disturbe them that they doo no harme therein But to eate the wéedes and grasse that doo grow in the rice In this prouince and all the rest of the fiftéene in that kingdome they gather much wheate and excellent good barley péese Borona Millo Frysoles Lantesas Chiches and other kindes of graines and séedes whereof is great abundance and good cheape But the chiefest thing that they do gather and a victuall that is most vsed amongest them and the borderers there aboutes is rice All the hie waies are couered with the shadowe of verie faire orchardes which do garnish it verie much and they are planted in verie good order and amongest thâ—m there are shoppes whereas is solde all manner of fruites to the comfort of all such as doo trauaile by the way which is an infinite number some on foote some on horsebacke and others in little chayres Their waters by the hie waies are verie good and light although the wether at that time was verie hoat especially at noone time yet was the water of their welles and fountaynes verie coole The same day when they had trauayled halfe way they saw a farre off comming marching towardes them in verye good order a squadron of souldiers which at the first caused them to maruaile and to be a fraide till such time as they drewe nigher it was tolde vnto them that it was the Captayne of the garde vnto the Insuanto or Gouernour of Chincheo who came by his order to receiue them with foure hundred souldiers verie well armed with pickes and hargubushes and well apparelled So soone as the Captaine came vnto them he was mounted on a bay horse but of
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
best manner they could or knewe being holpen and constrained by necessitie they let their ship saile and go whither as fortune did cary them So after many dangers and stormes at the sea according to the will of the heauens they came vnto this port whose name as yet they knew not The Iudge asked them where they had that Chino that they brought in their company for an interpreter They answered that he was in Luzon captiue vnto a Spaniard they tooke him and set him frée and hée vnderstanding that they were bound vnto the firme land of China which was his naturall countrie he requested them to carrie him thither the which they did with a very good will for that they had neede of him to vtter their desire if néede did so require All the which the other interpreter fearing that if he should tel vnto y e Iudge how that he was captiue vnto the Christians hée woulde bée offended and therefore hee did falsifie the same and saide that comming vnto an Iland to take in fresh water they found the boy there where he was captiue eight yeares before and came thither forced with a great storme in the which was drowned a merchants shippe that was bound to Luzon and he alone escaped by swimming and so hee came aborde the shippe in the which were the fathers not knowing whither they went All these vntruthes he did inuent for to dissemble and go forwards with his knauish pretence and would not declare the true intent of the Friers the which he had decréed with himselfe how to doo before the Iudge did sende to call them Moreouer the Iudge did aske them what they brought in their small shippe they answered that they brought nothing but one chest and two little fardels of bookes and an ornament for to say masse This did the interpreter declare truely vnto the Iudge for that experience might be made thereof So the Iudge forthwith commanded that it should be brought before him the which being done he caused it to be vndone and he perused euery thing by it selfe the which being strange vnto him for that he neuer saw the like he made signes vnto them that he receiued great contentment in the séeing of thē but specially of the Images they brought but that which did best please him was an Ara or sopre-altar of a blacke stone the which did shine so bright that they might sée themselues therein as well as in a glasse These Friers did bring the same with them out of the kingdome of Mexico whereas you haue great aboundance but specially in the prouince of Mechuacan So after that hee had seene all and sawe that it was drie without any signe or token that it had béene in the sea hée called to remembrance the wordes of the interpreter in the name of the fathers touching the storme wherein their shippe was cast away and howe that they escaped by swimming and put themselues in that small shippe in the which they came and considering of the same it séemed vnto him that they did fable in that which they had saide so that he did replie and asked if it were true that which they had before declared and howe it shoulde bee that their bookes and other things were not wet at the sea which was an euident token and plainely to be vnderstood that they had fabled and told lies and so he beléeued they did in all the rest The interpreter fearing least by that argumēt his falshod would be discouered he fel in talke a while w t the Friers asking answering things very different to that which y e Iudge had cōmanded him Thē he w t a strange sharpe boldnes answered to y e difficulty proponed by y e Iudge said That as all merchants at such time as their shippes are readie to sinke and to be lost they doo procure first to saue such thinges as are of most estimation forgetting all the rest euen so these religious men did procure with great care and diligence to saue those books and that ornament which is all their treasure and yet for all their diligences done they lost a great number mo All these fables and lies after many dayes the religious fathers came to haue the knowledge of The Iudge did aske them if they brought any armor or weapons in their shippe they answered that they were no men to bring them neither according vnto their profession they coulde not weare nor vse them for that they were religious and professed other matters contrary vnto the vse of armor or weapon promising and auowing vnto God perpetuall pouertie and chastitie and vnto their superior prelates obedience all the dayes of their liues The Iudge returned and asked them if they had any monie and where withall they did eate and apparell themselues and bought those bookes and ornaments they answered that all that which they had was giuen them by secular Christians for Gods sake whome they did serue for that they should pray for them and for the saluation of their soules The Iudge when he heard this was greatly astonied for that the interpreter did declare the truth and made signes that he receiued griefe and had pittie on them although he gaue not full credite to that which he heard but said that he would go aborde their shippe to sée if they did say the truth in not bringing anie armor or weapon neither siluer nor merchandize This did hée straightwayes put in vre and commaunded them that brought him in the litter Chaire vppon their shoulders to go thitherward all those people did beare him companie as also a great number that were there ioyned togither to heare the examination of those strangers and also the Spaniards he commanded to go next vnto him So when that he was in their shippe set in his Chaire his ministers beganne to search the shippe in all places both aboue and below and could finde nothing but a little Rice which was left of tha◠which they brought with them they gaue y e Iudge to vnderstande thereof who looking vpon the Spaniards said that all they that were in the shippe might heare him these do speake the truth and they doo seeme vnto me to bee good people and without any superstition and without all doubt they doo come and will be after the manner of our religious men according as is to be séene in the vniformitie of their aprarell as also in their heads and beardes Then he beganne to demaunde of them certaine thinges more of curiositie then of suspection who answered him casting vp their eies vnto heauen for that their talke was thereof they saw that the Iudge did greatly reioyce and had pleasure therein for that it séemed that they had the heauens for their God as they haue by reason they did so much looke vpwards After this the Iudge came foorth of the shippe but the religious men remained behind at his commandement with his companions and likewise hee commaunded certaine of
him that presented the same and the innocencie of them that were therein complained of he sent commanded the gouernor of Canton for to giue them good intertainment and not to permit any harme or hurt to be done vnto theÌ„ that he should send them vnto the city of Aucheo for that he would sée them for that it was tolde him that they seemed to be holy men and although that they had their apparell in tho same forme of the Austin friers whom he had séene yet their garments were of an other colour and more asper The chiefe captaine séeing that his intent fell not out well with the Iudges of China he commanded to bee proclaymed publicke in Machao that none should write vnto them nor coÌ„municate with them vpon paine of banishment and to pay two thousande ducats All this was not sufficient for to coole the mindes of some deuout persons of the religion of the glorious saint Francis but were rather incyted to offer their fauour helpe séeing they had néede thereof but in particular the bishop did helpe them alwaies with his almes and also an honorable priest called Andres Cotino who making small account of the proclamation did write vnto them diuerse times although secretly and sent their letters with almes and many exhortations to procéed forward with their holy zeale intent Besides this they sent vnto theÌ„ a spaniard called Pedro Quintero who had dwâ—lt there many yeares amongest the Portingals and hauing oportunitie they sent him many times with comfortable things and letters but not signed for if happily they should be met with all they might denie them to be theirs Now returning to our purpose the interpreter with desire to be payd of that which hee saide he had spent and laide out did bring the messenger that he promised them to go vnto Machao to carrie their letters vnto such religious men as they knewe in the which he craued their almes and helpe for to pay their interpreter and praying them for the loue of God to sende them likewise so much as should redéeme their challice who at this time knew not how it was solde and broken This messenger went with all diligence and secrecie and returned with the like brought with him that which they sent for other iunkets of great coÌ„tent the which came in very good season for that one of the sayde friers called frier Sebastian of S. Francis was very sick of a strong ague wherof in few daies after he died very wel with a strange desire to suffer martyrdome for Gods sake When this messenger came there was come thither the Aytao who is Iudge of the strangers and was without the citie vnto whom was coÌ„mited the examination of the Spaniards who after that he had concluded other matters coÌ„manded them to be brought afore him with great loue genâ—lenesse for so the viceroy of Aucheo had commanded him CHAP. VI. The Spaniards seing themselues in great necessitie hauing not to maintaine themselues they go into the streetes to aske almes the gouernor vnderstanding thereof coÌ„mandeth to giue them a stipend out of the kings treasure the interpreter goeth forwardes with his couetousnes deceit they be carried before the Iudges of the citie with whoÌ„ they do intreat of diuers matters they do aduise the the viceroy of al who coÌ„mandeth to send theÌ„ to Aucheo BEcause they would not sée themselues in the like danger with the interpreter as y t which was past they would not go any more to eate at his house but rather to giue an example vnto those of the citie they went foorth euery day by two and two to aske almes and although they were infidels yet they gaue them with great contentment and ioie because it was a rare thing in that kingdome to sée them begge in the stréetes by reason as hath béene tolde you that they haue no poore folk neither are they permitted if there be any to aske in y e streetes nor in their temples When that the Gouernor vnderstoode thereof and how that they did it for pure necessitie and had no other waies to maintaine themselues hee commanded to be giuen them euerie day a certaine stipend vpon the kinges cost the which was with so great abundance that mainteining the souldiers that came with them and all the rest yet had they to spare for that their stipende was giuen theÌ„ in money which was sixe Mayesses of siluer whereof they had to spare for that all thinges in that countrie is so good cheape as hath béen told you in many places Their interpreter séeing the good newes that was brought from Machao for the Spaniardes by a bill that a certayne deuout man had sent him in secret whereupon would be giuen vnto him all that was néedefull with protestation to pay all that should be giuen vnto them although it should amount vnto a great summe with the which hee wrote a letter vnto the Fryer Costodio of great comfort in strengthening him and all the rest to perseuer in their intent which God had put in their mindes for the saluation of those soules the Interpreter I say beganne to imagine that for to profite himselfe it was conuenient for to delate and detract the departure of the Spaniardes and did exact vpon them euery day in the buying of their victuals the halfe of the money that was giuen them So vpon a day he came verie much out of order and fayned that the Aytao had commanded that they should foorthwith depart out of the kingdome but yet notwithstanding he would present a petition in their name saying that for as much as time did not serue them to nauigate neither was their shippe in plight for to make their iourney that it would please them to get them a house whereas they might remaine thrée or foure monethes in the which time they might prouide them of all thinges necessarie for their voyage and possible it may so fall out that in this time they séeing their manner of liuing to bée good and to shew good examples they may let them to remaine in the countrie liberally and to learne the language and then beginne to preach and declare the right way vnto heauen All this he spake with great dissimulation for to profite himselfe for he knewe verie well that the Aytao had willed him to tell them that they could not remaine in that countrie with the pretence they had for that there was a lawe ordayned to the contrarie without expresse licence from the king the which will last of all be granted vnto the Spaniardes or Portingals for that there is a prophesie amongest theÌ„ spoken by the mouth of the diuell and estéemed amongest them for a very truth for that other thinges which he spake when that was spoken hath béene verified in the which he doth pronounce that a time shall come that they shall be subiect vnto a nation whose men shall haue great beardes and long noses and sharpe broade
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
a monastery neither for to enter into the cittie for to giue order in that which they beléeued was granted them by the vizroy til such time as they vnderstood what was done by their interpreters relation giuen by the Chino boy which came w t them from the Philippinas who declared to thē the truth in all things how y e the interpreters had neuer told the Iudges how that they would remain in the countrie neither made any mētion thereof but that they came thither as lost men that their request was to remaine in the country til it were faire wether or the comming of the Portugall shippes And this was that which the vizroy and his deputie had granted and no other thing But when the father Costodio and his companions who verely beléeuing that their desire woulde take effect vnderstoode the craft and wile of the interpreters and the great fashood that they had vsed they were very sadde and beganne amongst themselues to remedie the same so they determined to séeke a new interpreter one that should faithfulle and truely declare their will vnto the gouernor And although they did finde some that could doo it for that they did reasonably vnderstande the Portugall tongue yet there were none that woulde accept it for any request or giftes that they did promise them The Father Costodio séeing this and that the time appointed did passe away without doing of any thing one day hee and the rest of his companions did ioine togither entred in counsell to sée what was best to be done according vnto the necessitie in the which they were driuen There was amongst them diuers opinions for that of the father Costodio and of another religious man was that they woulde go vnto Machao which was not farre off and there would administer the sacraments and preach the holy Gospel vnto the christened Chinos and to learne the China language and to tarrie there and abide the first occasion that should bee offered or else they themselues to procure it for hauing the language it were an easie thing to doo it they should not haue néede of any interpreter neither feare to be deceiued as they had béene before And besides this they put the Portugals out of all doubt of the false opinion that the Captaine generall had published abroade of them and of other matters of like effect and purpose The other two religious men and soulders were of a contrarie opinion which was that they should returne vnto the Ilands Philippinas and not vnto Machao and saide that they had departed without licence of the gouernor and did aduenture themselues into the harme and damage that might happen vnto them by that enterprise and all for to plant the faith of Christ in that kingdome And now séeing that by the iust iudgement of God wee cannot put it in execution wee are greatly bounde to returne againe vnto him of whome we doubt not but with ease to get our pardon for the error passed representing the zeale wee had to the honour of God and the saluation of so manie soules who did incite vs to giue that great enterprise with the which we shall remaine blamelesse with them that had giuen wrong iudgement of vs and accomplish our bounden duetie and obedience which wee doo owe vnto the gouernor And in going vnto Machao wée shall runne in great danger to be holden and iudged for traitors to the king and the intent wherewith wee went vnto China euery one wil construe and interpret thereon at his pleasure The resolution of these contrary opinions was by a common consent delated certaine dayes in the which they prayed vnto God to put into their hearts that which was best for his deuine seruice So in the end the father Costodio and the religious man who was of his opinion did determine to go forwards with their pretence and to go vnto Machao as aforesaid and the rest to returne vnto the Ilands with the first oportunitie they might finde but when it should come to effect one of the religious Friers that shoulde haue gone vnto Manilla was deade of an infirmitie that chanced him They staied there longer then they did think they should by reason that y e Iudges of the Cittie were occupied with the examinations of students the which is accustomed euery thrée yeares and is in that manner and order as hath béene tolde you in the proper chapter for the same the which examinations endured more then fiue and fortie dayes with great feastes and banquets without medling in any other particular businesse CHAP. XI The Father Costodio sendeth a messenger vnto Machao he he writeth vnto the bishop and vnto a priest for to bestow their almes on them for their departure The captaine generall doth vnderstand therof and commandeth them not to aid nor succour the Spaniards and other matters appertaining vnto them IN the meane time of this their examination the father Costodio did sende a messenger vnto the bishop of Machao declaring vnto him his determination and he also did write vnto the deuout priest of whome we haue made mention before and craued of them their almes wherewith they might make prouision for them that would depart for the Ilands Philippinas and how that he and his companyon would go and see his lordship This was not done so secretly but it came vnto the vnderstanding and knowledge of the captaine generall of the Portugals who with great choller went and demanded the letters of the priest those that were giuen him by the Chino threatning him that if hee did not hee woulde punish him with great rigor and banish him out of the countrie as a suspected person He answered him that of truth he had receiued certaine letters but that at the very instant hee sent them vnto the Bishoppe vnto whome they were directed about the which there was great holde and kéepe vntill it came to effect that the captaine did lay holde vppon the priest for to apprehende him but when the bishop vnderstood thereof hee with all spéed possible went to remedy the danger that might insue and to take him out of his power The captaine séeing that hee could not perseuer with his intent and purpose he made many notifications vnto the bishop requiring that he would not permit that any letters shoulde bée receiued from those religious Spaniards for that he knew by very certaine relation that they were spies and no friers and if so be that any damage should happen vnto them by their order that hée woulde lay the whole fault vppon him as a consenter and a helper The bishoppe answered that he was fully perswaded and certified that they were true religious men and seruants of God and that he with a very good will would take vpon him the burthen of any damage that should happen to the country by their meanes or vnto the king of Portugall With this the captaine was somewhat quieted but not so much but that continually hee did
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
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
there is written a large historie and my intent is to declare by way of a comentary that which the said father Costodio Frier Martin Ignacio did comon with me by word of mouth and that I saw written and vnderstood of him at his returne from trauelling almost the whole world and of other things that I my selfe haue experimented in certaine parts of it so that this my discourse may more properly be called an Epitome or Itinerario then a historie In this kingdome there are bred and brought vp more cattell then in any other parts knowne in all the world as wel for the good climate and temperature of the heauen as also for the fertility of the country The kine and shéepe many times bring foorth twise a yeare and the goates ordinarily thrise a yeare so that because they haue many fields in that countrie and much people that doo giue themselues vnto that kinde of gâ—ttings as grasiers is the occasion that there is so great abundance and solde for a small price and manie times it happeneth that the bringers vp of them doo kill tenne thousand head of them onely to profite themselues with the skinnes in sending of them into Spaine and leaue the flesh in the fieldes to féede the foules of the ayre without making any more account thereof There is great aboundance of many sorts of fruites some of them very different from those which are gathered in our Europa the most part of them but amongst all notable things which are to be considered off in that kingdome which are manie one of them is a plant called Magâ—ey and an ordinarie thing in all those prouinces townes of the which they make so many things for the seruice and vtilitie of them that do dwel therin that it is hard to be beléeued of them that haue not séene it although in al places you haue many witnesses to it They take out of this plant wine which is that which the Indians doo drinke ordinarily and the Negros also excellent good vineger honie a kinde of thride or yarne wherewith they doo make mantels to apparel the naturals and for to sow the same apparell the leafe haue certaine pricks whereof they do make needels wherewith they sow their apparel their shooes and slippers The leaues of that plaint ouer and aboue that they are medicinal they do serue to couer there in the place of tyles and being dipped in the water they make thereof a certaine thing like hempe which serueth for many thinges and make thereof repasse and the trunke of this plant is so bigge and strong that it serueth for ioystes and beames whereon they doo build their houses which commonly is couered with strawe or else with brode leaues of trées as is that of this plant All this although it séemeth much yet in respect it is nothing considering y e great profite that is made of this plant as shalbe declared vnto you when we come to intreat of the Ilands Philippinas where as there is great aboundance of them as I refer it vnto the iudgment of the reader CHAP. VI. This Chapter doth prosecute in the things of the kingdom of Mexico THe Indians of this kingdome are maruellous ingenious and doo sée nothing but they imitate the same whereof commeth that they are very good singers and plaiers vpon all sorts of instruments yet their voices doo heale them nothing They are very much affectioned vnto matters touching ceremonies of the Church and giuen vnto the deuine culto and therein they doo very much excéede the Spaniards In euery towne there are singers appointed which repaire euery day vnto the Church to celebrate the offices vnto our Lady the which they do with great consort and deuotion Touching the dressing and adorning of a church with flowers and other curiosities they are maruellous politike they are reasonable good painters in some places they make images of the feathers of small birdes which they call in their language Cinsones which haue no féete and féede of nothing else but of the dewe that falleth from heauen and is a thing greatly to be séene and was wont in Spaine to cause great admiration but in especiall vnto such as were famous painters to sée with what curiositie and subtiltie they did make their pictures in applying euery colour of the feathers in his place They are people of great charitie but in especiall vnto the Ecclesiasticals which is the occasion that one of them may trauell from sea to sea which is more then fiue hundred leagues without the spending of one riall of plate in victuals or in any other thing for that the naturals doo giue it them with great good will and affection for the which in all their common places of resort which is an Inne for strangers they haue men appointed for to prouide for all Ecclesiastical men that doo trauel of all that they haue néede and likewise vnto the common people for their money They doo not onely receiue great content with them but they themselues doo go and request them to come vnto their townes at the entrie whereof they make them great entertainement they go all foorth of the towne both small and great in procession and manie times more then halfe a league with the sounde of trumpets flutes and hoybuckes The principallest amongst them go forth with bowes and nosegayes in their hands of the which they doo make a present vnto such religious as they doo receiue and sometimes they cast them more flowers then they woulde willingly they shoulde Generally they doo reuerence all Ecclesiasticals but in particular those of such religious houses which in that kingdome were the first that did conuert them and baptise them they do it in such sort that if the religious man will for any offence punish or whippe any of them they do it with such facilitie as a master of a schoole doth beate his schollers that he doth learne This great reuerence and subiection was planted amongst them by the worthy captaine Hernando Cortes marques del Valle hee who in the name of the Emperor Charles the fift of famous memorie did get and made conquest of that mightie kingdome He who amongst other vertues that be spoken of him and doo indure vnto this day in the memory of the naturall people of that countrie as I do beléeue his soule is mounted many degrées in glory for the same hee had one that surmounted the other in excellency which was that he had great reuerence and respect vnto priestes but in especial vnto religious men his will was that the same should bée vsed amongst the Indians at all times when hee did talke with any religious person he did it with so great humilitie and respect as the seruant vnto his master If he did at any time méete with any of them in the stréete he being on foote a good space before hée came vnto them hée woulde put off his cappe and when hee
came vnto them hee would kisse their handes and if hee were on horsebacke hee had the like preuention and woulde alight and doo the like By whose example the naturall people of that countrie doo remaine with the same custome and is obserued and kept in all that countrie vnto this day and with so great deuotion that in what towne so euer that any Ecclesiasticall or religious man doth enter the first that doth sée them before they enter therein doo runne vnto the Church and ring the bell which is a token knowne amongst them all that a religious man is comming so that foorthwith all the women go forth into the stréete whereas they do passe with their children in their armes and bringe them before the religious men that they should blesse them although he be on horseback and do passe a long thorow the towne In all this countrie there is great aboundance of victuals and fruit that the mony being of so small estimation by reason they haue so much a ryall of plate is no more woorth there then a Quartillo in Spaine you shall buy there a verie â—â—ire heafor for twelue rials of plate and fiftie thousand if you will at the same price and a calfe for sixe or eight rials of plate a whole shéepe for foure rials and two hennes such as you haue in Spaine for one riall and of Ginny hennes otherwise called Turkey cockes and in Spanish Pauos you shall haue an hundred thousande if you please for a riall and a halfe of plate a péece and after this rate all other sortes of victuals whatsoeuer you will buy although they be neuer so good wine and oyle is very deare for that it is brought out of Spaine not for that the countrie will not yéeld thereof and that in great aboundance as hath béene séene by experience but they wil not consent to it for diuers respectes There be thorough out all the whole kingdome many hearbes that are medicinall and the Indians very much experimented in them and do always cure with them in such sort that almost there is no infirmitie but they haue a remedy for the same and do minister it by reason whereof they do liue very healthfull and do die verie seldome but of leanenes or when the radicall moistnesse is consumed They vse little lettings of bloode and lesse of compounded purgations for that they haue amongst them other simples which they bring out of the fielde wherewith they do euacuate their humors applying them vnto the pacient They bee for little trauell and doo passe with little meate and verie seldome sléepe but on a matte vpon the ground but the most part in the fields in the open aire which as wee haue saide hurteth not neither themselues nor yet the Spaniards But now to speake in few words that which requireth a great discourse many words and yet notwithstanding not expresse well that which might be said of this mightie kingdome I will conclude in comparing it vnto the most greatest and richest of all that is now knowne in all the world except that of China of the which in this historie hath béene mentioned so many thinges and shall be more spoken off when as we shall come to intreate of it for that wée will intreat of the new Mexico as I haue promised in the fift Chapter and because it is a new thing I do beléeue it wil be of great content CHAP. VII Of the new Mexico and the discouering thereof and what they do know of it IN the said Chapter I said that in the yeare 1583. there was discouered fifteene prouinces the which the discouerers therof doo call the newe Mexico vppon the firme lande of Nueua Espania and I did promise to giue notice of the discouering thereof the which I will do with as much breuitie as is possible for that if I shoulde difusely declare all that they did see and knowe it were requisite to make of it a newe historie the substance thereof is that in the yeare of our Lord 1581 hauing notice there of a religious man of the order of saint Francis who was called Frier Austen Ruyz who dwelt in the valley of saint Bartholmew by the relation of certaine Indians called Conchos who did communicate with others their neighbors called Pasaguates who said that towards the parts of the North trauelling continually by lande there were certaine Ilandes very great and neuer knowne nor discouered by the Spaniards who being remoued with great zeale of charitiâ— for the saluation of those soules did aske licence of the Counte of Corunnia Uizroy of the saide Nueua Espania and of his owne superious for to go togither and to procure to learne their language and knowing it necessarie to baptise and preach vnto them the holie Euangelist hauing obtained the licence of the aforesaide persons taking with him other two companions of the same order with eight other souldiers who of their owne good wil would beare them company he departed to put in execution his Christian zeale and intent who after a few dayes that they had trauelled they came into a prouince which was called of y e Tiguas distant from the mines of saint Bartholmew from whence they began their iourney two hundred and fiftie leagues towardes the North in the which by a certaine occasion the naturall people thereof did kill one of the Friers companions who as also the souldiers that went with him séeing and perceiuing the successe and likewise fearing that thereof might happen some other greater danger they determined with a common consent to returne vnto the mines from whence they departed with consideration that the company which went with him were very fewe to make resistance against such successes as might happen being so farre distant from the dwellings of the Spaniards and from their necessarie succour The two religious men which remained did not onely refuse their determination but rather séeing good occasion to put their good desire in execution and so much ripe Mies or dainties for the Lordes table and séeing they could not perswade y e souldiers to procéed forwards in the discouering thereof they alone remained in the said prouince with their Indian boyes and a Mestizo that they carried with them thinking that although they did remaine alone yet were they there in securitie by reason of the great affabilitie and loue wherewith the naturall people did intreat them So when the eight souldiers came vnto the place that they desired they straight wayes sent the newes of al that happened vnto the Cittie of Mexico vnto the vizroy which is distant from the mines of Saint Barbora one hundred and thrée score leagues But the Friers of S. Francis were very much agréeued for the remaining there of their brethren and fearing least they should be slaine for that they were there alone they began to moue the hearts minds of other souldiers that were in the company of another religious Frier of that order called
the Spaniardes many dayes alwayes traueling alongst the riuer side aforesayde where as were many townes of Indians of this nation the which indured twelue dayes iourney in all the which the Caciques gaue aduice from one towne to another out of the which they came forth and entertained the Spaniards without their bowes and arrowes and brought with them victuals and other prouision and gifts but in especiall hides and shamway skins very well dressed so that those of Flanders do nothing excéed them These people are all clothed they found that they had some light of y e holy faith for that they made signe vnto God looking vp vnto heauen and they do cal him in their language Apalito and doo acknowledge him for Lord by whose mightie hand and mercie they confesse to haue receiued life to be a natural man and al temporall goods There came many of them with their wiues children to the religious Frier that came with the captaine and souldiers of whom we haue spoken off for to crosse blesse thē of whom being demanded from whence of whom they had y e knowledge of God they answered that of thrée christians one Negro that passed that way remained there certaine daies amongst them who according to the signes tokens they gaue them should be Aluar Nunnez Cabesa de Vaca Dorantes Castillo Maldonado one Negro the which escaped out of y e fléete wherewith Panfilo de Naruaz entred into Florida after that they had bin many dayes captiue slaues they escaped came vnto these townes wheras God by them did shew many myracles in healing by the onely touching with their handes many diseases sicke persons by reason thereof they left great fame in all that countrie All this Prouince remained in peace and quietnesse by which demonstration they did accompanie and serued the Spaniardes certaine dayes trauelling alongest the riuer side aforesaide Within few dayes after they came vnto a great inhabitation of Indians where they came foorth to receiue them by newes that they had of their neighbours and brought with thē many curious thinges made of feathers of different colours and many mantles made of cotton barred with blewe and white like vnto them that are brought from China to truck for other thinges All of them as well the men as women and children were clothed with shamway skins very good and well dressed yet could the Spaniardes neuer vnderstande what nation they were for lacke of an interpreter that vnderstood their language they dealt with them by signes and they shewed vnto thē certaine stones of rich metall and being demaunded if they had of the same in their countrie they answered by the same signes that fiue dayes iourney from thence towardes the north west there was great quantitie thereof and howe that they would conduct them thether and showe it vnto them as afterwardes they did performe did beare them companie two and twentie leagues the which was all inhabited with people of the same countrie So following the saide riuer they came vnto an other inhabitance of much more people than the other past of whom they were well receiued and welcomed with many presents especially of fish for that they haue great store by reason of certaine great lakes not farre from thence wherein is bred great abundance They were amongest these people thrée dayes in the which both day and night they made before them many dances according vnto their fashion with a particular signification of great ioy They knew not how this nation was called for lack of an interpreter But yet they vnderstoode that it extended very farre and was very great Amongest this nation they found an Indian a Concho by nation who tolde and made signes that fiftéene iourneyes from thence towardes the north west there was a lake which was verie broad and nigh vnto it very great townes and in thē houses of thrée and foure stories high the people well apparelled and the countrie full of victuals and prouision who did offer himselfe to bring them thether wherat the Spaniards reioyced but left to giue the enterprise only for that they would accomplish their intent and begon voiage which was to go to the north to giue ayde vnto the two religious men aforesaide The chiefe principall thing that they noted in this prouince was that it was of a good temperature and a rich countrie great store of hunt both of foot and wing many rich metals and other particular thinges of profite From this prouince they folowed their iourney for the space of 15. daies without méeting any people they trauelled amōgst high mightie pine trées like those of Spaine at the end wherof after they had traueiled to their iudgmēts four score leagues they came vnto a small village of very few people very poore their houses made of strawe they had great quantity of déere skins as well dressed as those y t are brought out of Flanders great store of excellent white good salt They gaue them good intertainment for the space of two daies y t they remained there after the which they did beare thē companie 12. leagues vnto certaine great habitations alwayes trauelling alongst the riuer side towarde the north as aforesaide till such time as they came vnto the countrie which is called the new Mexico All alongst this riuer side was planted full of white salow trées and in some place it was foure leagues brode Likewise there was many walnut trées and peare trées like vnto those in Spaine In the ende of two dayes trauaile amongest these trées they came vnto tenne townes the which were situated alongst this riuer side on both partes besides others that appeared but farther distant It seemed vnto them to haue much people and as appeared to be more than tenne thousande soules In this Prouince they did receiue them courteously and carried them vnto their townes whereas they gaue them great store of prouision and hennes of the countrie with many other things and that with a great good will In these townes were houses of foure stories high verie well wrought and gallant chambers and most of them had steuues or hote houses for the winter They are all apparelled with cotton and of deares skinnes the manner and apparell both of the men and of the women is much like vnto the Indians of the kingdome of Mexico But that which did cause them most for to woonder was to sée both men and women to weare both bootes and shooes of very good lether with thrée sooles of neates leather a thing which they haue not séene but onely there The women go without any thing vpon their heades but their haire trimly kembed and dressed Euerie one of these townes had Caciques by whom they were gouerned as amongest the Indians in Mexico with sergeantes and officers to execute their commandement who goe through the stréetes of the towne and declare with a loude voice the will of
person foure religious men did offer themselues to goe and after they had confessed themselues they tooke their leaue of their companions and carried euery one of them a crosse in his hande and his breuiarie without any other thing else So when they came before the captaine they founde him more meeker and milder then they thought to haue done surely a worke done by God in recompence of the great perill that those his seruants did put themselues in to doo his seruice and commandement He asked of them from whence they came and wherefore with many other questions in effect but when that hee was certified of the truth hee commanded them to returne againe vnto their barke without doing vnto them anie other harme yet with a straite precept that they should not go forth without his expresse licence So with this commandement they remained in their barke thrée dayes guarded with many barkes and souldiers and the last of them the Captaine sent for two of the religious men and when they came before him he commanded them to be carried before a Iustice a friend of his there hard by These Iustices did talke with them with so great grauitie and signes of cruelty that euery time they came before them they thought verely that forthwith they would command them to be carried to be executed and without all doubt either they had wil to do it or else to put them in great feare of death for that it was plainely seene in diuers things they commanded but especially in one day there came vnto them a Iudge with many armed men and compassed their barke round about with a great number of Brigandines with plaine signes to giue theÌ„ assalt or else to sinke them but within a little while they were all in quiet and the Iudge entred into a shippe that was thereby at anker and being set in a rich chaire guarded with many souldiers about him hée commanded the rest that were in the Brigandines forthwith to go to visite and search their barke and sent with them an interpreter one of Chincheo who did a little vnderstande the Portugall tongue These souldiers carried in their handes blacke banners and other heauie and sorowfull signes which is vsed in that kingdome when at any time they doo execute anie person So after they had made their vâ—sitation although they founde in their barke not anie prohibited thing but oneâ—y the match which I haue spoken off they commaunded that they shoulde forâ—hâ—ith hée imbarked two and two into the Brigandines whereas the armed souldiers were who did direct their foreshippes towardes a towre which was a prison wherein was put all such sheeues as were taken vpon the coast out of the which there commeth none â—â—rth but vnto execution But when the Indians of the Ilands saw it they wept bitterly which mooued the Spaniards vnto great compassion although they were themselues in the same trance and perill and as nigh their death made no other reckoning insomuch that two of the religious men séeing them so nigh â—he towre although when as they were farre off they made shewe as though they cared not for it yet at that time they were so farre from all reason and vnderstanding that al y e night one of them knewe not what he did without any knowledge of the people wherin he was but lay as a deade man and the other with pure imagination melancholike humor fel into a great infirmitie whereof within a few dayes after he died in the cittie of Canton but in conclusion the stowtest of them all had feare enough would haue giuen his life for a small matter for that he was without all hopeâ— and thought verely that they carried them vnto execution which was the occasion that a Spaniard one of them that went with pretence to be a frier the habite on hauing in his power â— thousand sixe hundred rials of plate he threw them into the sea saying seeing that I am going to dye I wil that it be in the habite of saint Francis with the pouerty in which the glorious saint liued and died for to follow him in his steps aright With this feare aforesaid they were carried towards the tower but when they came nigh to it there followed after the souldiers that carried them a skiffe with many oares in great hast called a loud vnto theÌ„ saying y t the captaine general commanded y t they should bring back againe those prisoners to his shippe the which forthwith they accomplished after he had demanded of them certain questions he commanded to carry them to the said tower the which was done as they could perceiue for to put them in more feare So after they had feared scared them with this rigorous teÌ„tation The saide captaine himselfe went into one of y e Brigandines went with them on land whereas presently when he came on shoare hee carryed the Spaniards into a temple of their Idols vnto whome hee did his accustomed reuerence yet the religious men although they were with great feare of death as afore saide they woulde not imitate him but turned their faces from their Idols and did spit at them giuing the captain to vnderstand by signes that he should not worshippe them for that they had no more goodnesse in them then was giuen by man so that by good reason to the contrary those Idols should giue reuerence vnto men because they made them and to whome they ought to giue their true worship is vnto the true God the creator of heauen and earth By this act it is plainely to bee séene the gift of strength the which the holy Ghost doth giue vnto his baptized Christians as in these religious men that were at deathes doore yet had they strength and spirit for to resist and reprehende them that could take away their liues The captaine although he made a shew that he was offended with that which hee had séene them do yet hee did them no harme but presently brought them out of the temple and commanded the souldiers to remaine there and guard them all that night the which they passed lying vpon the grounde and yet thought themselues happie and gaue thankes to God for that hee had deliuered them from the death that was so nigh vnto them CHAP. XV. Here hee doth prosecute in things which the saide fathers did see and vnderstand the second time they entred into the kingdome of China and of the troubles they passed THe next day in the morning the Priest of the Idols did open the temple whereas presently they put in the Spanish religious men who sawe him and his ministers lighting of little candels and making perfumes vnto their Idols with manie superstitious ceremonies the which being done they cast certaine lottes a thing much vsed amongst them as they vnderstoode it was done for to consult with the diuel who was within those Idols to know what they should do with them yet this they could not perfectly
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—
and very dangerous for ships that passe thorough it for very few times it is without stormes or some other greater danger as it happened vnto a verie great shippe in the mouth of the straight in the presence of Frier Martin Ignacio the which in verie little space was swallowed vp with the sea in it more theÌ„ thrée hundred thousand ducats in merchandice that was within her although the successe thereof our people did attribute it more vnto the iust iudgement of God than vnto the storme for that according as they were informed they had committed grieuous offences at the time when she sanke for being very nigh with his shippe in the which he went and many other more they felt not neither had any suspition of any danger From this straight to go vnto Malaca you coast alongest the sea fiue and twentie leagues all which coast is full of great mightie and thicke woods by reason whereof as also for that it is not inhabited there are many tygers elephants and mightie great lysards and other furious beastes The citie of Malaca in our pole articke is eleuated from the equinoctiall onely one degrée of ancient time it was the most principallest citie of all these kingdomes and resident therein a mightie king a Moore but after it was conquered by the Portingals who in these wars did wonderfull things of great force courage they did driue foorth all the Moores out of the same and out of all the borders and made of their Mezquita or temple which was a singular péece of worke a high church as it doth remaine vnto this day there are also thrée monasteries of religious men one of S. Dominicke an other of S. Francis and the third of the companie of Iesus or Iesuites It is a verie temperate countrie being so nigh the equinoctiall line the reason is for that euery wéeke ordinarily it rayneth thrée or foure times which is the greatest cause of health in all that countrie and thereby is made woonderfull fruitfull and with great abundance of prouision but particularly of fruites for there is great store and some sortes neuer séene in Europe amongst the which there is one y t is called in the Malaca tongue Durion and is so good that I haue heard it affirmed by manie that haue gone about the worlde that it doth excéede in sauour all others that euer they had séene or tasted it is in forme like vnto a mellon whose ryne is somewhat harde and hath vpon it little white prickes which séemeth like haire and within the fruite be partitions which be of the colour like vnto maniar blanco and of so good sauour and tast as it Some do say that haue séene it that it séemeth to be y t wherwith Adam did transgresse being carried away by the singular sauour The leaues which this trée yéeldeth are so bigge that a man may couer himselfe with one of them which mee thinketh is but coniecture or defining but there is Cannafistola for to lade fléetes very bigge and good and of a singular effect one of the notablest things in this kingdome is a maruellous trée of an admirable vertue the which putteth foorth so many rootes of so contrarie vertue that those which grow towards the orient be good against poyson agues and many infirmities that do war against humaine life those rootes that growe â—owards the west be ranke poyson in effect all cleane contrarie vnto the first So that it seemeth here to be founde two contraries in one subiect a thing which in philosophie they were woont to count impossible This citie is of great contractation for that there come thether all the kingdomes that we haue spoken of and from many other more that are nigh thereabouts but in particular a great number of great ships from the Indians Canton Chincheo and froÌ„ many other places likewise the Iapones carry thether their siluer to sell those of the kingdome of Syan carry many things very curious but especially cloues and pepper of the Iland Malucas and those of Burneo bring much sanders nutmegs and those of Iaba Pegu bring the wood of aguila and those from Cochinchina Cham bring great store of wrought silke drogges and spicerie and those of Samatra or Trapouana much golde and wrought things fine cloth of Vengalas Coromandel All these and other thinges make this citie famous and plentifull as also very much enlarged of the Portingals that go thether ordinarily euery yeare and traficke there CHAP. XXIII Of some kingdomes of the newe worlde and of particular things that haue beene seene in them and treateth of the citie and riuer of Ganies OUer against this famous citie of which so many thinges may be spoken of is that mightie kingdome and Iland of Samatra called by the ancieÌ„t cosmogrosers Trapouana which is as some say the Iland of Ophir whether y e fléet went which king Salomon sent of which there is particular mention made in the scripture in the third booke of the kings cap. 9. 10. and in the Paralipomenon cap. 9. that went returned againe ladeÌ„ with gold rich tymber for to adorne the temple of Ierusalem and of many other curious things whose memorie doth remain vnto this day amongst the naturall people although diffusedly But not so much as those that haue it out of the holy scripture neither so true This Iland is vnder the equinoctial line so that the one halfe doth extend vnto the pole artick the other halfe vnto the poole antarticke It hath in longitude 230. leagues and in latitude three score seuen leagues and is so nigh vnto Malaca that in some parts it is lesse than ten leagues In this kingdom there are many lords rulers yet he y t hath the greatest part thereof is a Moore and is called Achan it is one of the richest Ilands in al the world for y t it hath many mynes of fine golde of the which although there is a law y t they cannot take out of theÌ„ more than is necessarie yet there is great abundance carried from thence to Malaca Turkie and many other places There is gathered vpon this Iland great abundance of pepper and beniewyn of Boninas in great quantity out of whose trées whereof there is great woods there come foorth so swéet a smel that it seemeth an earthly paradice and was wont to be smelled twenty leagues at sea for which respect the ships that saile that way do come so nigh the lande as they may to haue the comfort of that smell There is also much Camphora and all kinde of spices by reason wherof there commeth vnto this kingdome to traficke many Turkes that come in ships and foystes out of the red sea Also there doth traficke thether those of the kingdom of Sunda Iaua the great and Ambayno and others that are there nigh vnto them Unto this Iland came certaine Portingals to buy and sell whereas they were
people doo say that with a good will they would againe returne and receiue the law of the gospell if they had it there preached From this Iland after they had passed a little gulfe they came vpon the coast of a kingdome called Tutucuriu and ran all alongest the cost of the same running from the cape of Comerin to Cuylan Here there is a Pagode or temple of their gods very great and rich thether come all the Gentiles of that kingdom at certain feasts in y e yeare with great deuotion there is in is it a triumphant chariot so great that 20. horse cannot mooue it they bring it foorth in publike vpō their festiual daies is carried by elephants by an infinite number of men who voluntarily do hale and pull at certaine roapes y t are made fast therunto Upon the highest of this chariot is made a tabernacle very richly adorned and within the same an Idol whom they do worship then immediatly vnder the same are y e kings wiues that go singing They doo bring it forth with much musick◠reioysings do carry it a good way in procession and amongest many thinges of honor that they doo vnto it they do vse one so brute and beastly as the reader may well iudge thereof which is that many of them doo cut péeces of their owne fleshe and doo throwe it vnto the Idoll and the other not contented with this doo throwe them selues on the grounde that the chariot may passe ouer them and there they remaine all to péeces Those that do die in this sort they account them for great saints and are had in singular veneration Many other maners and fashions of idolatrie is declared of this kingdome and more beastly than this we haue spokē of the which I let passe because I would not be tedious in this Itinerario All the people of this kingdom be very bad and ill inclined for which cause y e fathers of the company of Iesus that are in certaine townes nigh vnto the same cannot as yet bring them out of their errors although they haue put therein great care and diligence Upon the same cost a litle distant from this kingdom there is a towne of Portingals called Coulan and 25. leagues further a citie which is called Cochin in the which there are religious men of S. Francis of S. Dominicke of S. Austin of the companie of Iesus who haue there a very good studie or seminarie whereas they do bring foorth much fruite Nigh vnto this citie is Santo Tome whereas are many baptised and good christians very abstinent and chast vnto whom the patriarkes of Babylon doo prouide them of bishops the authoritie where with they do it is not knowen nor whence they haue it for that as I do vnderstand the seat apostolicke did neuer giue it them About the same matter at this present there is in Rome a bishop of this kingdome and one of the kingdome of Pimienta with whom I haue talked diuers times and is come thether to giue his obedience vnto the Pope and to knowe of him the order that his pleasure is should be obserued in receiuing of those bishops which come thether by the cōmandement of the patriarke In this kingdome there are many kings but the principallest of them is he of Cochin and next vnto him he of Coulan nigh vnto them are many petie kings as is hee of Mangate Cranganor and are all Gentils although amongst them there are mixed many Moores There hath bin found in this kingdome certaine Iewes that haue gone frō Palestina those parts There is in this countrie vniuersally a lawe verie strange and little heard of which is that the sonnes doo not inherite after their fathers but his brothers sonne and the reason they giue for the same is for y t they haue no certaintie of their children for that they haue no wiues proper nor appointed to thēselues I promise you it séemeth to me their reason to be as barbarous as their law for that the like inconuenience doth folow their brothers children They haue many rites blindnes amongst thē but one aboue all the rest which is y t in certaine feastes amongst them they do vse bathes after that they are bathed they say that they remaine frée cleare from all their sinnes They haue many augorismes of whom I will not intreat for that they are not worthy of memorie In this country is gathered most of the pepper that is brought into Europe for which cause this kingdome is called that of the Pimienta CHAP. XXVI The chapter doth treate of many kingdomes of the newe world and of the particular and curious things of them THe aforesaid father went from Cochin to the kingdome of Cananor passed by Tanaor Calicut which is called of the naturall people Malabar they are litle kingdomes but in them much people In that of Cananor there are inhabited many Portingals and religious mē of the order of S. Francis it is a countrie in all things like vnto Cochin for which cause and for that they obserue kéepe one maner of customs rites I remit the touching of this kingdome to the other aforesaide Then forwards on there are other two small kingdoms the one is called Barcelor the other Mangalor there be in them some christians it is a good countrie rich and hath it for certaine that within a little time they will be all baptised From this kingdome they went vnto Goa a principall citie and inhabited with Portingals is as the metropolitane of all those kingdomes it is in fiftéen degrées of height and is set from Cochin vnto it a hundreth leagues this citie is situated in a little Iland compassed round about with water and in compasse but onely foure leagues and is deuided from the firme land of Odialcan by a mightie riuer It is a good countrie peaceable and doth inioy a very faire and pleasant riuer In this Citie ordinarily is resident the viceroy of the India and the archbishoppe there are many Churches and couents besides the high church there are fourtéene parish churches besides fiftéen hermitages that are within and without the citie there be four couents all very sumptuous of S. Dominicke of S. Austin of saint Francis and of the company of Iesus And without the cittie there is another of Recoletos Franciscanos reformed Francis friers Nigh vnto this Iland are those of Salcete and Barde◠there whereas the religious men of saint Francis and the companie of Iesus haue certaine christian townes Few yeares past the Gentiles of Sancete did kill certaine fathers of the company of Iesus in abhorring the faith who died with great spirite and strength so that I beleeue they went into ioy with God Beyonde Goa on the same coast towardes the North is in eightéene degrées and a halfe from y e towne of Chaul beyond that Basayn nigh thereunto Damaun all these
enter into the royall hall whereas they were examined al richly apparelled and being assembled then do enter in al those that shal receiue degrées galantly apparelled without any vpper garment and before euerie one of them go the Padrines and after them the Graduates with garments very finely made riding on Gennets very sumptuously couered with cloth of gold and silke that do carie the ensignes that shalbe giuen vnto him the which hee dooth demande of the visitor knéeling vpon his knées with great humilitie Who first sweare them that in all offices committed vnto them they shall with all care and diligence doo iustice equallie vnto all men and that they shall not receiue â—anie bribes or presents whatsoeuer that they shall be true and loyall vnto the king and that they shall not conspire in any confederacie or treason against him and manie other things which ceremonies he standeth long about This oth being taken the visitor who presenteth the kings person dooth put on them the ensignes aforesaide with the facultie belonging thereunto and then hée and all the Loytias imbrace them presently This doone they depart out of the hal in verie decent order at which instant all the belles in the citie are rong and great store of ordinance and artilerie discharged which continueth a good space Then they carrie these newe Loytias throughout the citie accompanied with a multitude of people in manner following There go first before them many souldiers marching in good order with drommes and trompets and other musicall instruments verie melodious after them are borne many Maces then follow all the Loytias some on horsebacke and some are carried in litter chaires in most gallant order after which follow the Padrines Then the new commenced Loytias with out any vpper garment as before is saide all mounted vppon white horses verie richly couered with cloth of Golâ—e hauing euerie one of them a tippet of taffeta vpon his shoulder and on his head a hat with two small tippets hanging downe behinde much after the fashion of those that hang on the bishops miter this is permitted vnto none but vnto those of their orders abouesaide vpon their hats they haue two branches of golde or of siluer and guilt made like vnto a bunch of fethers Before euerie one of them are carried sixe frames couered with â—atten and euerie one is carried by foure men in these frames are written in letters of golde their disputation facultie and title giuen them for the same and their armes with manie other things which I omit for breuitie sake because this marching and passing holdeth eight houres togither The Citizens there kéepe this day festiuall and do ordeine manie dances and sportes And the better sort doo celebrate three or foure daies after banquetting the newe made Loytia and giuing him ioy of his newe preferment euerie man seeking his good will and fauour From this day forwards hée is of abilitie to take vppon him any office and gouernement whatsoeuer and therefore straight wayes he goeth vnto the court to procure the same and carrieth with him the ensignes of his commencement and is apparelled so that he may be knowne wherefore they doo him great honour in the way as hee goeth and lodge him in such houses as the king hath appointed in euerie towne for such as they be When he commeth to the court hee goeth and dooth his duetie vnto the president and vnto the rest of the royall counsell who euerie one a part doo giue him ioy of his new dignitie and with many words of great curtesie praise promise him as occasion shall serue to prouide him a place as they by their examination doo vnderstande his abilitie and againe as they see his discréete dealing and care in such matters as they do giue him in charge so will they preferre him to better dignitie and honour So the next day following they register him in their booke of memorie which is alwayes in the counsell chamber and they remaine there waiting and seruing them vntill they haue prouided them of some gouernement which is not long after for that the kingdome is great with manie prouinces and Citties as by this historie you shal vnderstand CHAP. XV. How that with them they haue had the vse of Artilery long time before vs in these parts of Europe AMongst many things worthie to bée considered which haue béene and shalbe declared in this historie amongst manie other which of purpose I omit because I would not be tedious vnto the reader no one thing did cause so much admiracion vnto the Portugals when that they did first traficke in Canton neither vnto our Spaniards who long time after went vnto the Philippinas as to finde in this kingdome Artilerie And wee finde by good account taken out of their histories that they had the vse thereof long time before vs in Europe It is said that the first beginning was in the yeare 1330. by the industrie of an Almane yet howe he was called there is no historie that dooth make mention but the Chinos saie and it is euidently séene that this Almaine dooth not deserue the name of the first inuentor but of the discouerer for that they were the first inuentors and from them hath the vse therof béene transported vnto other kingdomes where it is nowe vsed The Chinos saie that their first king called Vitey did first inuent the same and that he was taught the manner how to make them by a spirite that came out of the earth for to defende himselfe and his kingdome from the Tartares that did much molest him with warres for according vnto the tokens giuen him as it dooth appeare in their histories and the industrie for the same it appeareth that it was some spirit enimie vnto mankind onely for to destroy them as in these daies the experience thereof is apparant vnto vs. All the which carieth a similitude of the trueth for that this king was a great sorcerer inchanter as you may well vnderstande by the herbe that he had growing in y e court of his pallace whereof before I haue told you And if this be not credible because so many yeres are past since this kings raigne yet it is of truth y t when these Chinos went to the kingdom of Pergu to coÌ„quest y e east Indies more then 1500. yeares since they caried with them y e like instruments of warre which did serue them in their conquest the which conquest being ended they left behind them certaine péeces of artilerie which were found afterwards by the Portugals wheron were grauen the armes of China and in what yeare they were made agréeing iust with the time of the conquest Such Artilerie as the Frier Gerrada and his companions did sée at their being there they say it was of antiquitie and very ill wrought and was for the most part péeces to shoote stones or murderers but it was giuen them to vnderstande that in other prouinces of the kingdome
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