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.
full two hundred leagues which may bee made with reasonable wether in tenne dayes at the most CHAP. XXXII The captaines Chinos ariued with the Spaniardes at the citie of Manilla the Gouernor and those of the citie doo receiue them with great ioy and triumphes and after they had remained there certaine dayes they returned vnto the firme land being instructed and satisfied of many things touching our holy catholike faith with great desire to receiue the same AFter that it was knowen vnto the Gouernor of the citie of Manilla and vnto the generall of the fielde as also vnto the rest of the captaines and souldiers of the ariuall of the Spaniardes whom they with great care desired to heare of as well for the particular loue they deare vnto them as also for to vnderstand and heare the newes from that mightie kingdome of China to be declared by witnesses of so great faith and credite They altogether went foorth to receiue them with great ioye and pleasure and likewise all such captaynes and souldiers as came in their companie They were straightwaies conueighed vnto their lodginges to rest themselues of their long iourney which they had by sea for it was requisite and néedefull for the which afterwardes there was great feastes and bankets which was made by the Gouernor the generall of the field and other particular persons vnto the Chinos in recompence of that which was done vnto the Spaniards in their countrie All which feastes did giue them little content when as they did remember the flying and escape of the Rouer but in especiall Omoncon and Sinsay who continually euery moment did call vpon the generall of their fleete to make haste to shorten the time that they might depart from the firme land where giuing notice vnto the Gouernor of Chincheo of the estate of Limahon he might giue order that before he had reedified and repayred himselfe they might take him which is a thing most desired in all that kingdome The generall was verie glad and reioyced of their good intertainement and answered vnto Omoncon Sinsay saying that by reason of the great storme and foule weather past their ships had great néede of reparation and likewise the marriners to ease themselues the which being done he would with all his heart depart The generall of the fielde was verie sorrowfull and much gréeued for that the Rouer Limahon was so escaped and the more when he vnderstoode that he was suspected that hee did consent vnto his departure for which occasion if that the Captaynes had not béene verie much wearied with the long siege and euill weather which happened in that time without all doubt he would haue followed him and neuer to haue left him till he had taken or slaine him Although they were fully perswaded that Limahon was so terrified with the great perill and danger in the which he was and againe with so small number of people that rather hee would desire to put himselfe in securitie then to offende or doo any harme neyther to put himselfe in any place whereas hee might receiue damage of any of them to whom hee had doone so open wrong who were so much desirous to be reuenged who for to preuent all that might happen as after we vnderstoode hauing made readie his barkes and boates which he ordayned in his fort and put in them victualles for their iourney he departed with his small number of people vnto an Ilande farreâ—off and vnknowen there whereas he vnderstoode that none would goe to séeke him and there hee remayned a time whereas he fell sicke of a melancholicke infirmitie which grewe by an imagination that hee had to remember in what state he was at that time and howe he had séene himselfe at other times feared throughout al the kingdome of China which was an imagination sufficient for to bring him to his ende his companions were dispersed abroad so that we neuer heard more of them Now returning to our purpose after that the China Captaines had recreated them selues with the feastes and sportes that was made vnto them and taken recreation many dayes and tarryed hoping that the weather would proue fayrer to prepare themselues to depart In the same time they did intreat of many thinges in particular touching Christian religion whereof with great care they did informe themselues of our religious men and tolde them some secret things that were vnknowen vnto them of their countrie for that they were strangers So when as time and weather did serue they did take their leaue with many signes and tokens of griefe for to depart and leaue the conuersation of so good companions and did promise vnto them to procure all that was possible that the friendshippe begunne betwixt them and the Chinos should continue and perseuer for that it was a thing that did content them all Their generall himselfe did take this particular charge vnto himselfe with a determinate purpose for to declare in effect to the Gouernour of Aucheo whose priuate seruant he was the good meaning of the Castillos and what principall people they were and the ceremonies they vsed with the which hee was marueilously in loue Likewise hee would giue him to vnderstande of the flying of the Rouer Limahon how and in what manner and order it was and how that the generall of the field and the other captaines were in no fault thereof This he would do in respect that if it should so fall out that Omoncon and Sinsay for their owne credite should declare any thing against the Spaniardes that was not true that they might not be beléeued Besides all this he tolde the Gouernour certaine thinges in secret how they might with great ease purchase the friendship they pretended And amongest them all one was that hee should make a supplication vnto the catholike king in requesting him to write a letter vnto their king and sende him Embassador and such as shoulde giue vnto them the light of the Catholike and Christian faith with the which diligence â—here was no doubt that not onely the friendshippe betwixt the kinges and their subiectes shoulde bee established but also the king and all his kingdome would receiue the Catholike faith for that there are manye ceremonies vsed amongest them which doo much resemble those of our Christian religion and againe in their liuing morally they doo obserue in manie thinges the tenne commandementes of Gods lawe of the which in particular he did informe himselfe so that the greatest difficultie was in the entring in of the preaching of the holy gospell and beeing by this meanes ouer come in a short time all the whole kingdome would turne Christians And considering that in their worshipping as they doo worship all thinges in the seconde essence with great facilitie they would change their adoration and giue it vnto the first as most worthie and vnto whom it is their duties The generall did adde more thereunto and saide that he was so much affâ—ctioned
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
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
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
both of his first wife and of all the other wiues For lacke of a sonne by his first wife the first borne of the other wiues doth inherite the most part so that fewe times or neuer there is none that dieth without heyres eyther by his first wife or by the others And if it so fall out that any of these his wiues do commit adulterie the which seeldome chaunceth by reason of their kéeping in and great honestie as also it is great infamie vnto the man that doth offer any such thing then may the husband finding them togither kill them but after that first furie being past he cannot but complaine of the adulterers vnto the Iustice and although it be prooued verie apparant yet can they giue them no more punishment but beate them cruelly vppon their thyghes as is the custome and lawe of the countrie as shalbe declared vnto you in his place Then may the husband afterwardes sell his wife for a â—laue and make money of her for the dowrie he gaue her notwithstanding there be amongst them that for interest will dissemble the matter yea and will séeke oportunities and occasion Yet if such be spied or knowen they are righteously punished They say in the prouinces that be néere vnto Tartaria and in the selfe same Tartaria they doo vse a custome and manner of marriage very strange that is the vizroyes or gouernors doo limit and appoint a time when that all men and women shall méete together such as will marie or receiue the order of religion The time being accomplished all such as would be married do méete together in a citie of that prouince appointed for that purpose and when they come thether they doo present themselues before 12. auncient and principall men appointed there by the king for the same purpose who doo take a note of their names both of men and women and of what state and degrée they are and of their substance for to dowrie their wiues with whom they shalbe married Then do they number all the men and women that be there if they do find more men than women or to the contrarie more womeÌ„ than men then they cast lots do leaue the number that doth so beare in register til the next yeare y t they may be the first that shalbe married Then sixe of those ancient men do put the men in thrée parts the rich they put in one part without any consideration of gentilitie or beautie and those that are rich in a meane in an other parte and the poore in the thirde part In the meane time that these sixe men be occupied in the reparting of the men the other sixe doe repart the women in thrée parts to say in this manner the most fairest in one part and them not so faire in an other and the fowlest in an other This diuision being made theÌ„ do they marrie them in this order vnto the riche men they doo giue the fairest and they doo giue for them the prise that is appointed by the Iudges and vnto them that are not so rich they do giue them that are not so faire without paying for them anye thing at all and vnto the poore men they giue the fowlest with all that which the rich men do pay for the faire women diuiding it into equall partes Sure it is a notable thing if it bee true This being done they are all married in one daie and holpen although peraduenture not all content the marriages being doone there is great feastes made in such houses as the king hath ordeyned in euerye citie for the same purpose the which are furnished with beds and all other necessaries belonging thereunto for that the new married people may be serued of all that is néedfull for the time that the feast do indure This solemnitie beeing finished which they saye doth indure fiftie dayes these newe married people doo goe vnto their owne houses You must vnderstande that this custome of marriage is ordeyned for the coÌ„mon and poore people and not for Lords nor gentlemen who are not bound to obey this ordinaunce but to marrie whereas they like best euerie one to séeke and marrie with his equall or else by an order which the king hath set downe vnto the viceroyes and gouernors what to be done therein When that the king of China is married then dooth hee choose thirtie concubines the principallest persons in all his kingdome the which hee dooth kéepe and maintayne within his pallace so long as hee doth liue But after that hee is dead and his funerall ended as is accustomed then doth the heire or successor of the kingdome apparell these thirtie women maruelous gorgeously with many iewelles then doth hee cause them to set in an Estrado or rich pallet gallantly dressed and furnished in one of the thrée halles as shall be declared in the second chapter of the third booke with their faces couered in such sort as they may not be séene nor knowen and being set in this order then doth there enter in thirtie gentlemen of the principallest of the kingdome those whom the king left named in his testameÌ„t the which goeth by antiquitie or according vnto order set by the king and eyther of them doth take one of these Ladies by the hand and looke howe they found theÌ„ so they doo carrie them with their faces couered till they bring them home to their houses whereas they haue them for their wiues and do maintaine and kéepe them all the dayes of their liues towards the mainteyning of them the king doth leaue in his testament great reueneues and the successor in the kingdome doth accomplish and performe the same with great diligence and care In old time when that the kinges of China would marrie anie of his children or kinsfolkes he did make in his pallace a great and solemne banket to the which he did inuite all the principallest Lordes and gentlemen of his court commaunding to bring with them their sonnes and daughters who did accomplish the same striuing who should apparell their children most richest and most gallantest The banket being done the young princes do go whereas are these young Ladies euerie one placed in order according to their age and there he doth chuse his wife according to his owne will or desire and where he liketh best Likewise the infants or kings daughters doe the like in choosing their husbands amongst the young lords and gentlemen But at this time this custome is left off for that the princes and gentlemen do marry with their kinsfolkes so that it be not in the first or seconde degrée yet many times they do not kéepe the second CHAP. X. How that in all this mightie kingdome there is no poore folks walking in the streets nor in the teÌ„ples a begging the order that the king hath giuen for the maintayning of them that cannot worke MAnie things of great gouernment hath béene and shall be declared in this historie worthie to be
sort remained the kingdome in diuision a while til such time as Cuythey sonne vnto Laupy did reigne in his fathers stéede Then did there a tyrant rise vp against him called Chimbutey and slew him he by his great valour did bring the kingdome all in one as before after that it had bin in diuision 41. yeares and reigned after that alone 25. yeares his sonne named Fontey did succéede him and reigned 17. yeares And to make short of this linage there was 15. kinges and reigned 176. yeares against the last of them who was called Quioutey there did arise against him tyrannously Tzobu Of this linage there was eyght kinges who reigned 62. yeares against the last of them called Sutey there arose one called Cotey of whose lynage there was fiue kings and reigned twentie foure yeres the last of them called Otey was slaine by Dian There was of this lynage foure kings that reigned 56. yeres against the last of them rose vp Tym and there was of his race fiue kinges and reigned one and 30. yeares against the last of this house rose vp Tzuyn And there was of this linage thrée kings and reigned seuen and thirtie yeares against the last of these rose vp Touco This and all the rest of his lynage did gouerne maruelous well which was the occasion that they endured the longer time There was of them one and twentie kinges and reigned 294. yeares the last of them called Troncon did marrie with one that had béene his fathers wife called Bausa a verie faire woman hee tooke her out of a monasterie where she was a Nunne onely to marrie with her she vsed such policie that he was slaine and did gouerne the kingdome after alone one and fortie yeares The historie sayth that she was dishonest and that with extremitie and vsed the companie of the best and principallest of the realme and not content with that she married with one of base lynage one fit for her purpose because she was so vicious They say that before she did marrie she caused to be slaine the sonnes she had by her first husbande for that she had a desire that a nephew of hers should succéede her in the kingdome Then those of the kingdome perceiuing her intent and wearie of her by reason of her ill liuing sent out to seeke a bastard sonne of her husbandes who was fledde away and with a common consent they raysed him for king He was called Tautzon he caused cruell and rigorous Iustice to be done vpon his stepmother as was reason for her euilles and an example to all those of the kingdome who by a president of her ill liuing beganne to straggle there was of his lynage seuen kinges that reigned 130. yeares against the last called Concham arose Dian of this linage there were but two kinges and reigned eighteene yeares Against the second and last arose Outon and was of his linage thrée kinges and reigned but fiftéene yeares against the last there arose Outzim of this there was but two kinges and reigned nine yeares and thrée monethes there arose against the last Tozo he and his sonne reigned foure yeares with the sonne of this one Auchin did fight and slewe him in the combat and succéeded him in the kingdome hee with other two of his lynage reigned tenne yeares against the last of these arose vp one of the lynage of Vitey the first king and slewe him hee was called Zaytzon there was of this lynage seuentéene kinges and reigned with all peace and quietnesse thrée hundred and twentie yeares the last of this lynage was called Tepyna with whom did fight the gran Tartaro called Vzon who entred into China with a mightie armie and got all the kingdome and it was possessed with nine Tartare kings the which reigned 93. yeares and intreated the inhabitantes with great tyrannie and seruitude the last of these was called Tzintzoum this was more cruell vnto the Chinos then any of the rest which was the occasion that all the kingdome did ioyne together in one and did elect a king called Gombu a man of great valour and of the lynage of auncient kinges past who by his great woorthinesse and ioyning much people together did so much that hee did driue all the Tartaros out of the kingdome with the death of many thousands of them who obstinately and without Iustice did with all tyrannie kéepe that kingdome in possession there was of this lynage twelue kinges with this that now reigneth the eleuen kinges past reigned two hundreth yeares he that now possesseth the kingdome is called Boneg who by the death of his elder brother that died by a fall hee had from his horse did inherite the kingdome he is of 23. yeares of age as they saye and hath his mother aliue of whom as yet there is nothing written so that I can write nothing in particular but that they say he is a gallant gentleman and welbeloued of his subiects and a great friende vnto Iustice. He is married with a cosen of his and hath one sonne Those of his linage hath got of the Tartares many countries since they were driuen out of China the which are on the other side of the mightie wall God for his mercies sake bring them to the knowledge of his holy lawe and accomplish a prophesie that they haue amongst them by the which they are giuen to vnderstand that they shall be ruled and brought in subiection by men with great eyes and long beards a nation that shall come from countries farre off by whom they shalbe commanded which signifieth to be Christians The king of this countrie is had in so great reputation amongest his subiectes that in all the prouinces where he is not resident in the chiefe cities whereas are the vizroyes or gouernors they haue a table of gold in the which is portred the king that nowe reigneth and couered with a curtin of cloth of golde verie riche and thether goeth euerie day the Loytias which are the gentlemen men of lawe and ministers of Iustice and do by duetie reuerence vnto it as though the kinge were personally present This table and picture is discouered the first day of their feasts which they doo celebrate and is at the newe moone of euerye month on the which day all people do repaire and do reuerence vnto the picture with the same respect as they would doo if hee were present they do call the king Lorde of the worlde and sonne of heauen CHAP. II. Of the court and pallace of the king and of the citie where as he is resident and how that in all the kingdome there is not one that is Lord ouer subiectes by propertie THe habitation of this king and almost of al his predecessors hath bin and is commonly in the citie of Taybin or Suntien the occasion is as they saye for that it is néerest vnto the Trtarians with whom continually they haue had wars that they might the better put remedie in any necessitie that
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
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
not but let them peaceably to enter and to traficke in buying and selling paying their ordinarie customes due vnto the king In euery port there is a scriuener or notarie put there by the gouerners that dooth set downe in memorie the day and houre that any shippe doth enter in in order that whether hée be a stranger or natural to take in his lading and dispatch according vnto the old custome of those ports the which is inuiolably kept which is the occasion that they do lade and dispatch in so short time and with so great quietnesse as though there were but one shippe although many times you shall sée in one port two thousande ships small and great In this sort with a bought licence did the Portugals traficke from the Indies in Canton a prouince of this kingdome and in other parts of that kingdome as they themselues haue declared and likewise the Chinos CHAP. VIII Of the kings royall counsell and the order they haue to knowe euerie moneth what dooth passe in all the kingdome THe king hath in the citie of Taybin wheras he is resident a royall counsell of twelue counsellers and a president chosen men throughout al the kingdome and such as haue had experience in gouernement many yeares For to be one of the counsell it is the highest and supremest dignitie that a man can come vnto for that as aforesaid in all this kingdome there is neither Prince Duke Marquesse Earle nor Lord that hath any subiectes but the king only and the prince his sonne These counsellers and the gouernors of these prouinces by them appointed bee such personages that they are respected and esteemed for the time of their continuance in the same estimation as is the other where as they haue these titles For to be one of this counsell it is not sufficient that they be expert and learned in the lawes of the countrie and in morall and naturall Philosophie and commenced in the same but they must be also expert in Astrologie and iudgements For they say he that must be of this supreme counsell by whome is gouerned all these fiftéene prouinces it is requisite that they know all this that is saide for to prognosticate what shall succéede and happen the better to prouide for all necessities that shall come These twelue doo sit in counsell ordinarily in the kinges pallace for the which there is a hall appointed maruellous richly trimmed and in the same thirtéene chayres sixe of them of golde and sixe of siluer both the one and the other of great price wrought with great curiositie yet the thirtenth is more richer for that it is of golde and set full of precious stones of great value that is placed in the middest of them vnder a canopie or cloth of estate of cloth of gold in the which is imbrodered the kinges armes and is as it is saide certaine serpentes wrought with golde wyer in this chayre the president doth sitte when the king is not in presence but if hee be there as séeldome he is then doth the president sit in the first and highest of the chaires on the right hand which be of gold in the which and in the other of siluer they bee placed according vnto their antiquitie in this sort that if the president do die then do the most auncient procéede and inherite his roome and in his chaire doth the fift person rise on the side of the golden chaires and so from the fourth vnto the fift and in this order all the rest arise in the chaires of siluer passing into the other chaires of golde This may the president doo preferring euerie one in order if any doo die without the consent of the king And if any of these chaires be voyd then doth the counsell choose an other by voices the which is done by vprightnes and he which hath the most is preferred but the chiefest in this preferment is merit and sufficiencie If he that is choosen be absent in any gouernment then doo they send for him but if hee bee present in the citie then doo they carrie him before the king giuing him to vnderstand of their election in whose power it is to accept or to make it voyde which neuer doth happen Then the king himselfe on his owne handes according vnto their custome doth make him sweare a solemne oth that he shall doo vpright iustice according vnto the lawes of the countrie and that he shall likewise doo vprighly in the choosing of viceroyes and gouernours or any other Iustices and not be led with affections nor passions neyther receiue anie bribes himself nor any other for him with many other things in this order and effect and aboue all thinges hee shall not bee partaker neyther consent to anye treason at anie time against the king but rather if that hee doo vnderstande of anie such directly or indirectly hee shall straight wayes giue the kinge to vnderstande thereof or his counsell of all that hee dooth knowe or vnderstande alwaye fauouring with his industrie and force the preseruation of peace and life of the king This oth of homage being doone they doo carrie him vnto the chaire which is on the left hande in the hall and doo giue him the possession with great solemnitie for the which certaine dayes after there is great feastes in the citie as well by them of the counsell as by the citizens and courtiers during the which time the marchants do leaue their contractions and trafickes and handicraft men their occupations If any occasion bee requisiâ—e to talke with the king there is none that speaketh with him but the president and if it so fall out that hee be sicke then the most auncient and vppermost in the golden chayres dooth talke with him at all times when néede requireth but when he talketh with him hee is on his knées and his eyes inclyned to the grounde and neuer mooueth although the talke endureth two houres He is paide with the same money that all viceroyes gouernours iustices and captaines of the kingdome are when they will talke with the president it is in the selfe same order In this royall counsell euerie moneth they doo knowe all thinges that doo happen in all the kingdome woorthie to bee aduised of and this is without falt for that those which doo gouerne the prouinces haue expresse commaundement to sende notice vnto the court of all thinges that doo happen in anye of their prouinces touching warres the estate of the countrie the kinges rents or any other thing the which is accomplished with so great care that although it bee a prouince distant fiue hundred leagues from the court yet the post doth not misse his day appointed And those which do first come do tarrie till the last or furthest off doo come and then vpon the day appointed they do all together giue their relations Those which are farre off for to be at the court so soone at the instant as those which are nigh at
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
euery one in particular Of the antiquitie of this kingdome of China and of the beginning of the world and in what time and for whome it beganne Of the kings that haue raigned in this kingdome and the order of their succession and gouernement with their liues and customes Of the ceremonies they vse in doing sacrifice vnto their idols which they hold as gods and the names of them of their beginnings and at what time they shoulde make their sacrifices Their opinions of the immortalitie of the soule of the heauen of hell of the manner of their funerals and of their mourning apparel that euery one is bounde to weare according as he is alianced vnto the dead Of the lawes of the kingdome and when and by whom they were made and the punishment executed on those which violate the same with manie other matters touching their good gouernement and policie Manie Herbals or bookes of herbes for phisitions shewing how they should be applied to heale infirmities Many other bookes of phisicke and medicine compiled by authors of that kingdome of antiquitie and of late daies containing in them the maner how to vse the sicke and to heale them of their sicknes to make preseruatiues against all sicknesses and infirmities Of the properties of stones and mettals and of things natural that haue vertue of themselues wherefore pearles gold siluer and other mettals may serue for the vtility of man comparing with the one and the other the vtilitie of euerie thing Of the nomber and moouings of the heauens of the planets and stars and of their operations and particular influences Of such kingdomes and nations as they haue notice off and of particular things that are in them Of the life and behauiour of such men whom they holde for saints where they lead their liues and where they died and were buried The order howe to play at the tables and at the chests and how to make sports of legerdemaine and puppets Of musicke and songs and who were the inuentors thereof Of the Mathematicall sciences and of Arithmeticke and rules how to vse the same Of the effectes that the children doo make in their mothers wombs and how they are euery moneth sustained and of the good and bad times of their birth Of Architecture and all manner of buildings with the bredth and length that euerie edifice ought to haue for his proportion Of the properties of good and bad ground and tokens how to know them and what seede they will beare euery yeare Of Astrologie naturall and Iudiciarie and rules to learne the same and to cast figures to make coniectures Of Chiromancia and Phisiognomia and other signes and tokens and what euery one doth signifie The order how to write letters and how to giue euerie one his title according to the dignitie of his person How to bring vp horses and to teach them to runne and trauaile How to deuine vpon dreames and cast lottes when they beginne any iourney or take any thing in hande whose ende is doubtfull Of apparell worne in all the kingdome beginning with the King and of the ensignes or coates of armes of such as doo gouerne How to make armour and instruments of warre and howe to firme a squadron These bookes and many others that the Fryers brought out of the which as afore saide haue béene taken all such thinges as haue béene and shall be declared in this historie interpreted by persons naturally borne in China and brought vp in Philippinas with the Spaniardes that dwell there who affirme that they haue séene great libraries in Cities where they abode but especially in Auchea and Chincheo CHAP. XVIII The order that these Chinos obserue in making bankets and in celebrating their festiuall daies FOr that in some parts of this historie wee haue touched the bankets that the Chinos do make it shall not bee amisse to declare here the order they vse therein for that they are curious and differ verie much from our order and vse in their banquetting the which we haue perceiued as well by their féeding as by many other thinges Amongest these Chinos more than amongest any other people of the world are vsed bankets and feastes for they are rich and without care and also without the light of heauen albeit they do confesse and beléeue the immortalitie of the soule and the rewarde or punishment in an other worlde according vnto their workes in this life as we haue saide all that euer they can they doo giue themselues vnto the contentment of the flesh and vnto all maner pastimes wherein they liue most delicately and in verie good order Their custome is although they haue a hundred guestes yet euerie one must sit and eate at a table by himselfe Their tables be verie fine gilt and painted full of birdes and beastes and other varieties verie pleasant vnto the eye They doo not vse to put table clothes on them but onely a forefront of damaske or some other silke on euerie one of them which hangeth downe to the ground and on the foure corners they doo sette manie little baskettes curiously wrought with golde and siluer wyer full of flowers and knackes of sugar made with great curiositie as Elefantes grayhoundes hares and all other kinde of beastes and foules gylt and painted in the middest of the table they doo sette the victualles in maruelous good order as â—lesh of diuerse sortes fowle and fishes of the which they make diuerse manners of brothes passing well dressed and are serued in fine earthen dishes of great curiositie and of siluer although these they vse verie seeldome except for the viceroyes they haue no neede of table clothes nor napkins for they eate so delicately that they doo not touch the meate with their handes but with little forkes of golde or siluer with the which they eate so cleanly that although it be verie small that they eate yet will they let nothing fall they drinke often but a little at a time and therefore they vse verie little cuppes At these bankettes and feastes there are present alwayes women gesters who doo play and sing vsing manie prettie gestes to cause delight and make mirth to the guestes besides these they haue diuerse sortes of men with other instruments as tomblers and players who doo represent their Comedies verie perfectly and naturally in these bankets they spende the greatest part of the day by reason of so manie diuersities of meates that they serue in They passe many times a hundreth sundrie dishes when that the estate of the person that is inuited or of him that maketh the banket dooth require As may shew the report of the Augustine Fryers in the beginning of the second part of this historie where one doth tell of bankets that were made him by the Insuanto a Gouernor of the prouince of Chincheo and the Uiceroy of Aucheo and of the gallant deuises they had to driue away the time so long as the banket lasted Unto euerie one
And for to haue the fruition of this benefite all the yeare in the winter they must vse an artificiall helpe to giue a little warmenes vnto the doong for the bringing forth of their egs they do vse thē an other inuentiō as ingenious as the first that is this they take a great number of canes tied one by another whereon they do laye the doong then vppon that they doo lay their egges and do couer them verie well with the same this being done they put vnder the canes straw or some other like thing and set it on fire but in such sort that it dooth not burne but kéepeth a naturall heat all the time till they thinke that they are readie to be taken out Then doo they take and breake them as aforesaide so that their pultrie dooth increase in such number as though they were antes Then doo they put thē into an other cage for the same purpose wheras be old duckes brought vp for no other purpose but to couer the little ones vnder their winges and kéepe them warme and there they doo féede them euery day till such time as they can féede themselues and go abroad into the fieldes to profit themselues in the companie of the olde duckes Many times they haue in number aboue twentie thousand yet do they maintain them with a small-cost and it is in this order euerie morning they do giue them a small quantitie of boyled rice then do they open a doore of the cage which is towardes the riuer and doo put a bridge of canes that doth reach vnto the water then doo they come foorth with so great haste one vpon an other that it is a pastime to sée them All the day after they do passe the time vpon the water and in the fieldes of rice vpon the land wheras they do féede the owners of the rice doo giue vnto the owners of the duckes somewhat to let their duckes go into their fields for that they do destroy all the grasse and other wéeds in it And hurt nothing of the rice When that the euening draweth on then they of the barke do make a sound with a taber or such like y t which being heard of his duckes they throwe thēselues with great spéede into the water and swimme straight vnto their owne barke whereas their bridge is readie put for them and euerie flocke doth know his owne barke by the sounde without missing at any time although there be many flockes together For euerie barke doth vse a different sound the one from the other to the which the duckes are vsed and their eares full thereof so that they neuer fayle their owne barke This manner of liuing is greatly vsed in all that countrie and verie profitable for that it is a victuall most vsed amongst them and is esteemed as a thing of great sustentation and of small price by reason that at al times there is bréeding of them and of small cost Likewise in this Countrey they doo vse a kinde of fishing that is of no lesse industrie then the bringing vppe of these duckes and a thing to be séene The king hath in euerie Citie founded vppon the riuers houses wherein euerie yeare is brought vp many Cormorantes or sea Rauens with whome they doo fishe in those monethes that the fish dooth spawne and that is in this maner following They take the Cormorantes out of their cages and carrie them vnto the riuer side whereas they haue many barkes ordeyned for their fishing and they are halfe full of water Then they take their Cormorantes and with a corde they doo binde their mawes in such sort that no fish can fall into it then they do cast them into the riuer to fish the which they do with such good will and couetousnesse that it is a woonder to sée they throwe themselues into the water with great swiftnesse and diue whereas they do fill their throate with fish Then they come foorth and with the like hast they go vnto the barkes that are halfe ful of water and the fish which they haue taken they put in that water which is put there for that purpose that the fish may not die the which being done they returne againe vnto their fishing as they did before In this order they do indure their fishing foure houres together in such sort that the one doth not trouble the other and when y t their boates with water are ful of fish then do they vnbind them and turne them againe into the riuer for to fish for themselues for they haue neede thereof for that alwayes the day before that they will fish they kéepe thē from their ordinarie victualles which is a litle Millio that they may y e better do their office So after a while that they haue filled their bellies and recreated themselues they take them out of the water and carrie them vnto the ordinarie places whereas they art kept and euerie third day during the time of this fishing they doo take them forth for the same exercise which for them is so great pastime that they would it should indure all the yeare In these thrée monethes they do take so much fish that they do prouide the whole kingdome for all the yeare as in the chapter past it hath béene tolde you which is the occasion that they are as well prouided of fish as of any other thing so that if they please they may eate euerie day fresh fish although they are farre from the sea CHAP. XXIII Of the curtesie that the king of this mightie kingdome doth vnto the Ambassadors that come to him from anie other king prince or comonaltie WE should in the chapter following intreate of the ambassage that king Philip of Spaine with the Christian zeale that he had to sende vnto the king of this kingdome who being mooued by certaine causes and reasons did referre it till a better occasion and we do beléeue that it will be offered shortly Therefore now it shall not be from our purpose to declare in this chapter the honour and curtesie that this king doth vnto the ambassadours of kings princes or any other prouince that doth come vnto him in what sort so euer it be and for that it is of great curiositie it shall be necessarie to declare it with the circumstance wherewith it is done All such as doo enter into this kingdome with the title of ambassadour be it from a king that is a friend or enimie they are respected intreated and made of with so great care and diligence as though they came themselues in person that doo send them Unto whome besides the obseruing the law of nations which is obserued kept among all kings in the worlde in especiall that their persons shall not receiue neither incurre any danger although their ambassage bringeth discontent or harme vnto the king besides all the which there is granted vnto them great and particular priuiledges When that he doth enter into the kingdome by any of
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
benefites and profites and likewise to request him if it were his pleasure to sende an ambassador to y e king of that kingdome the better to confirme their friendship to carrie with him some things which be vsed in his countrie which would be maruellous well estéemed of the Chinos be a way vnto the preaching of the gospel and bee a beginning that a farther contraction may growe betwixt the Christians and the Chinos of the which shall follow the aforesaid profite vnto other countries by the great quantitie of things as well of riches as of other curiosities that shalbe brought from theÌ„ce After they had well considered with great deliberation who should be the person that they shoulde send vpon so long a iourney for to request his maiestie of the aforesaid in the ende they did agrée vppon for to desire the prouinciall of the Augustine friers who was called Frier Dilho de Herrera a man of great learning and of great experience touching matters of those Ilands for that hee was one of the first discouerers of them they requested him for the loue of God and the good seruice to his maiestie and the benefite that might come thereby vnto these Ilands that he would take vpon him to go with this petition for they were fully perswaded for that he had trauailed so manie places of those Ilands as also for his office and vocation there was none that better coulde put in effect their desire and perswade with his maiestie the great importance of that ambassage and manie other things necessarie touching the gouernement of those Ilands This determination was liked well of them all and that they had chosen well in sending of the prouinciall who incontinent departed from the Ilands in a shippe that was pepared for Noua Hispania which was in the yeare of Christ 1573. At his inbarking hee was accompanied with the gouernour and all those of that citie of whom hee was maruellouslie well beloued for his holinesse and good condition Desiring him with all diligence to procure to returne with as much breuity as was possible vnto those ilands whereas they so much loued him and had néede of his presence He did promise them to make all the spéede possible and in paiment of the trauel that he did take vpon him for the benifite profite he requested them al that they would pray vnto God to giue a good voyage they promised him to doo it the which they did performe with particular care Then did the master command to weigh ankers and to set saile which was in the moneth of Nouember the same yeare and with reasonable whether they arriued at the new Spaine and came vnto the cittie of Mexico and from thence they went and embarked themselues in the North seas who with prosperous winds the xiii day of August the yeare following they ariued in San. Lucar debarameda in Spaine and caried me in his company From thence the day following we departed from Syuel from whence wee departed forthwith toward Madrid whereas his maiestie was at that present and we came thither the fiftéenth day of September in anno 1574. the same wéeke that they had newes of the losse of the Goleta Wée went straightwayes to kisse the kings hands and caried the letters which we brought from his gouernor and citie by whom both we and the letters were receiued with his accustomed benignitie and did heare the petition with great satisfaction for that the desire was holy and profitable and told vs that he would command his counsell to vnderstand in the same with a particular consideration and with so much breuitie as the thing required and gaue vs thankes for the great trauell and long iourney which we tooke vpon vs in his seruice for to giue him notice of the discouering of this great kingdome and of other things touching the Ilands Philippinas He straightwayes commanded that we should be prouided for of all things necessarie for our sustentation for the time that we should there remaine and that we should go and giue account of all things for the which we came thither vnto the counsel of the Indies who was Don Iuan de Obando vnto whom his maiestie did recommend the consideration to be done with great care and to consult vpon the same After that they had comuned with the roiall counsell of the Indies touching that which should be requisite and conuenient which was done as it appeared in effect for that they gaue vs facultie in a few dayes after of all things that was requested from the said Ilands except that which did touch the ambassage vnto the 〈◊〉 of China as a thing of greater importance and requested lonâ—â—r time to consider of the same so that they did referre it till they â—â—d a better occasion So that with this resolution and with fortie religious men and manie commissions from his maiestie touching the good gouernement of that new kingdome wee departed from Syuell in the moneth of Ianuarie the yeare following in 1575. whereas I remained by his order and for certaine respects But the aforesaid Prouinciall did imbarke himselfe with his fortie religious persons and departed in the moneth of Iuly with a faire winde and merrie passage till they came vnto newe Spaine and from thence into the South sea vntill they came in sight of the Ilands whereas the wether did alter and they were forced by the furie thereof to ariue at an Iland inhabited with Gentiâ—es by whome they were all slaine and none escaped but onely an Indian natural of the Ilands which wee carried from thence in our companie for Spaine He afterwards came vnto Manilla and gaue them to vnderstand how they were all slaine and how the Gentiles did teare all the papers and commissions in péeces and of all that happened to them This being knowne by the gouernor and by the rest that dwelt in the Ilands after that they had done the rytes with the funerall griefes as iustice required in such a case they finding themselues in the same necessitie that before they were in by reason of the losse of the aforesaid Prouinciall and his companions and also of the letters and prouisions sent from his maiestie they forthwith in the same determination did write new letters in requesting that which in part the king had granted although they had no knowledge thereof they did also therein write touching the ambassage that they did request for the king of China adding therunto new occasions wherby they should be moued to do them so much fauour as to send the ambassador afore requested which was a thing of great importanâ—s for all those Ilands When that these letters came in conformitie with the others before sent the king did ordaine for gouernor of those Ilands a Gentleman who was called Don Gonsalo de Mercado y Ronquillo a man of great valor discretion one that had serued the king as wel in the Peru. as in Mexico with great fidelitie who
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
as you shall vnderstand in this chapter following CHAP. XXIIII The viceroy doth banket our people in his owne house two daies one after the other THe next day after that our people came into the Citie the Uiceroy did sende to inuite them to dinner to his owne house whereas he made them a great banket in the forme following At their comming vnto the pallace there came foorth a great number of Gentlemen seruantes vnto the viceroy to bid them welcome with great store of musicke and tokens of mirth Being entred into the first court they brought them into a mightie hall that was marueilously well trimmed wherein was a great number of tables set in such order as they were in the banket that was made them by the gouernour of Chincheo as hath beene tolde you although in the number and furniture did far excell the other But before they did sit down there came vnto them two captaines principall men vnto whoÌ„ the viceroy had committed the charge of the banket to doo all things in his name for that it is a custome in that kingdome that noble meÌ„ must not be present in their bankets they make So the charge was giuen vnto them to make theÌ„ be mery and to bid his guests welcome When they came vnto them they vsed great curtesie and passed away the time in gallâ—nt discourses till it was time to go to dinner that they began to bring in their victuals Then before they did sit downe the captaines did take ech of them a cup in his hande in maner of a Sorlue as they do vse and being full of wine they went together whereas they might discouer the heaueÌ„ and offered it vnto the sunne and vnto the saints of heauen adding thereunto many words of prayers but principally they did request that the comming of their newe guestes might be profitable vnto them all and that the friendship which they did pretende to establish might be for good both vnto the one and to the other This their oration and prayer being done they did spill out the wine making a great courtesie then were they straightwayes filled againe and making reuerence vnto their guestes euerie one by himselfe they set the cuppes downe vpon the tables whereas the fathers should dine whereas they were set euerie one by himselfe This being doone the first seruice was set vppon the bordes and the Captaines were set at other tables which were not so many in number nor so well furnished nor dressed as the other the dinner was famous and of manie diuersities of meates excéeding verie much that which was made them by the Gouernor of Aucheo The time which the banket indured which was verie late there was great store of musicke of diuers instrumentes as of vials gitterns and rebuckes and with them many iesters did make them merâ—y at their dinner The which being done the saide Captaines did beare their guests companie out of the pallace whereas they did anew inuite them to dinner for the next day in the same hâ—ll they obeying their request did come wheras was made vnto them a banket more famous than the first This day at the banket was present the Totoc hee whome they visited the first day came in his owne house and founde with so great maiestie Likewise there dyned with them the Captaynes that were at the first banket In this seconde banket they had as the day before verie much musicke and a Comedie that indured long with manie pretie and merrie iestes there was also a tombler who did his feates verie artificially as well in vauting in the ayre as vppon a staffe that two men did hold on their shoulders Before the comedie did beginne was tolde them by their interpreter the significâ—tion thereof that the better they might content themselues in the conceiuing whose argument was that in times past there was in that countrie manie mightie and valiant men But amongest them all there was in particular thrée brethren that did excéede all the rest that euer were in mightinesse and valiantnesse The one of them was a white man the other was ruddish or hie coloured and 〈◊〉 third blacke The ruddish being more ingenious and of better industrie did procure â—o make his white brother king the which iudgement was agréeable vnto the rest Then they altogether did take away the kingdome from him that did at that time raigne who was called Laupicono an effeminate man and verie vicious This they did represent verie gallantly with garmentes verie méete for those personages The banket and play beeing finished according as they did the day before the Captaynes did beare them companie till they were out of the pallace and from thence they went vnto their lodgings with their ordinarie companie appointed by the viceroy which was that Captaine that we haue spoken of with his souldiers who neither night nor day dooth not depart from their garde CHAP. XXV The Spaniards do carie their present vnto the viceroy who hauing receiued it by the hands of Omoncon doth seale it and sende it vnto the king our men bee forbidden to goe foorth of their houses to see any thing in the Citie and it doth intreat of other particular things THe same night our men did common amongst themselues to sée if it were good presently to giue order to put in vre the thing they came for séeing that they might treat therof with the Uiceroy he being a man that shewed vnto them so much fauour and good will So in conclusion they were all resolued that straightwayes the next daye in the morning shoulde goe vnto him Michaell de Loarcha and Peter Sarmiento and carrie vnto him the present which they brought and to haue with them to beare them company Omoncon and Sinsay and being presented to request that hee would appoint a day when they might goe and talke with him about principall matters This accorde they put in execution according vnto their determination and the two souldiers went and carried the present as it was agreed So they came vnto the pallace and hauing tarried till such time as they opened the gates of the audience which was with the ceremony spoken of in the 22. chapter it was tolde vnto the viceroy that the Castillos were there and had brought a present who incontinent saide that as then he â—ould not talke with them but that the captaine Omoncon Sinsay should enter in with the present and that they should returne vnto their lodginges for that he had a care to call them when that oportunitie did serue to intreat of all things to their pleasure They did as they were â—ommaunded and those who carried the present in did afterwarde giue our people to vnderstand all that had passed with them saying that in opening the present there was a note thereof taken before a notarie and straightwayes commanded to bee put in againe where it was taken out before the sayde notarie other witnesses the which being done
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
die but be banished for euer out of the kingdome with precise band y t they their wiues children al that should come of them should for euer liue on those Ilands that are now called Iapon which were at y t time desert without people This sentence was executed the offenders did accept the same for mercie So they were caried to y e said Ilands wheras when they saw thēselues out of their naturall countrie without any possibility euer to returne againe they ordained their cōmon wealth as a thing to last for euer directing all their lawes which were for their conseruation gouernment contrarie vnto the Chinos from whence they came But in particular they made one wherin they did prohibite for euer their descendents to haue any frindship with the Chinos did admonish them to do them all the euill that was possible which is obserued kept vnto this day inuiolable shewing thēselues their contraries in all they may euen in their apparell spéech customes for the which there is no nation so abhorred of the Chinos as is the Iapones so that they are payd their hatred with the like And although at that time the said Iapones were subiectes and tributaries vnto the king of China and so continued long time after now at this day they are not but do all harme that may be vnto those of that kingdome They haue much siluer but not so fine as that is of our Indians likewise great abundance of rice and flesh and in some parts wheate although they haue all this with many fruits and herbes other things which be their ordinary victuals yet are they not so well prouided as are their cōfines or neighbors and no default in the lande for that it is verie good and fruitefull But that the naturall people do giue themselues verie little vnto the tilling and sowing thereof for that they are more affectioned vnto the warres then vnto that and this is the reason that many times they do lack prouision and victuals which is the verie same reason that the naturall people others do report of them There be in these Ilandes thrée score sixe kingdoms or prouinces and many kings although it may be better said rulers or principals such as the Spaniardes found in the Ilands of Luzō for which cause although they be called kings yet are they not neither in their cōtractation nor rent for they haue verie little in respect of the multitude of people The king Nobunanga who died in the yeare 1583. was the most principall and greatest Lord amongst them all as well of people as of riches who was slaine by a captaine of his and punished by God by this meanes for his luciferine pride for that it did farre excéede that of Nabuchadonozor and was come vnto that point that he would haue béene worshipped for a God for the which he commanded to make a sumptuous temple and to put in it thinges that did well declare and showe his follie of the which that you may sée how farre it did extend I will declare here onely that which he did promise vnto them that did visite his temple First the rich men that came vnto the saide temple and did worshippe his picture should be more richer and those that were poore should obtaine great riches and both the one and the other that had no successors to inherite their goods should also obtaine them and also long life for to enioy the same with great peace and quietnesse The second that their life should be prolonged to 80. yeares The third that they should bee hole of all their infirmities and diseases and shall obtaine full accomplishment of all their desires with health and tranquillitie And the last he commanded that euery month they should celebrate a feast for his birth day and therein to visite his temple with certification that all those that did beléeue in him and in that which hee promised should without all doubt sée it accomplished and those which in this life were faultie and did not doo in effect his commaundement in the other they should goe the way to perdition And the better to accomplish this his will he commaunded to be put in this temple al the Idols in his kingdomes that were most worshipped such as to whom frequented most pilgrimes the which being done he presently forbad rhat not one of them all should be worshipped but he onely that was the true Fotoque and vniuersall God the author and creator of nature This foolishnesse did this proud king a little before his miserable death and many other more that I do leaue out for feare that I should be too tedious in this Itinerario There did succéed this proude king in the kingdome his sonne called Vozequixama who for that he is very yong at this day it is gouerned by a worthy captaine called Faxiuandono All men that are borne in this land are naturally inclined to warres and robberies and it is vsed ordinarily amongst themselues alwayes he that hath most power and strength doth carry away the best part and yet he doth inioy it with little securitie for that as the prouerbe saith he findeth a last for his shoo or the length of his foote is found and another commeth when he thinketh least off and carrieth away their spoile with victorie reuenging iniuries the one for the other without being requested thereunto which is the occasion that they are neuer without ciuill warres that séemeth to bée the influence of the clime of that land This and the continual exercise in armes and in robberies hath giuen them the name of warriers and do terrifie all their borderers and neighbors They vse many weapons but especially hargabusses swords and lances and are very expert in them On the firme land of China they haue done many suddaine robberies and thefts and haue gone thorough therewith at their pleasure and would haue done the like at the Ilands of Luzon vsed for the same all meanes possible but yet it fell out contrary vnto their meanings and returned their backes full euill against their wils with their hands vpon their owne heads On a time they came vnto the Illocos who with the fauour of the Spaniards whose vassals they are did desende themselues worthily that the Iapones thought it best to returne vnto their houses and to leaue their begun pretence with determination neuer to put themselues in the like perill for that they had lost many of their companie Not many yeares since there happened vnto them the like disgrace in China there went tenne thousande of them to robbe and steale and at their going on lande they did sacke a cittie with little hurt and smal resistance who with the content of that pray forgot themselues and did not preuent the harme that might chance vnto them the Chinos being offended did compasse them about in such sort that when the Iapones remembred themselues they were in
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
doo but amongst other signes and tokens of the same he made a crosse and set it by the doore of his house wherunto he did reuerence at all times when he passed by the same with great deuotion His neighbours when as they saw that signe a thing of them neuer séene before and howe that that Christian did make particular reuerence they beganne to mocke and scorne him and the crosse and pulled it downe from the place whereas it was set did other things in dispite thereof and of him that had set it there in that place whose hatred and discourtesie was so much that they determined in their minds to burne it and to put the same in execution who at the same instance did all miraculously die I say those that would haue burnt the same the which was séene of many other who haue giuen sufficient testimony therof And within fewe dayes after all the whole linage of those dead persons did follow the same way and not one escaped This miracle being spread throughout all the kingdome the naturals thereof did set vp many crosses in all parts This they say was the principall motion that God put into their hearts for to moue them to demande for such as shoulde baptise them and preach the holy gospell Likewise a great helpe vnto the same was the declaration of the painted cloth which the aforesaid religious man did send to the king Since that time there hath gone vnto the Cittie of Machao certaine naturals of that kingdome who being affectioned vnto our faith were baptised there with the which and with the hope aforesaid they are all sustained till such time as it is y e pleasure of God to send them the remedie for their soules the which hée hath caused them to desire which cannot be long according vnto that which hath béene séene and the miracles that God doth worke the more for to kindle their desire as the myracle of the crosse before spoken off and others the which certaine Cochinchinos did declare in the Cittie of Machao in anno 1583. and happened the same yeare and was very fresh in the memorie of all those of the saide kingdome The one of them was that one of the Christians aforesaid went to visite a principall man that had the palsie and kept his bed many yeares before and conferring with his long sickenesse he told of certaine myracles such as he had vnderstanding that was done by Christ our redéemer when that he was man amongst men whome hée redéemed but in particular those which he did in the healing of the like infirmities such as he lay sicke of alonely with his deuine vertue in touching of them with any part of his garmeÌ„ts or shadow The Iudge hearing this hee had a particular faith deuotion to him that had doone these myracles that the christian had told him asked what his name was what signes tokens he had he told him that his name was Iesus of Nazareth redéemer of the worlde the sauiour and glorifier of men And the better to declare vnto him his signes he shewed to him an Image or picture that he had of his y t which was giuen him such time as he was baptised printed in paper of Iesu Christ when he ascended vp into heauen the which for lacke of Churches and other of greater volume hee should haue continually with him make his praiers thereunto This sicke man tooke it and fixed his eies thereon with so great deuotion and faith in requesting him to giue him his health that he would presently beleeue in him bée baptised At the same instant in the sight of them all he felt himselfe whole of y e infirmitie that he had suffered so many yeares before and neuer could find any humaine remedy for the same although he had prooued an infinite number He straightwayes willed the Christian to baptise him vnto whome hée gaue a great summe of monie the which hee receiued against his will and spent it in workes of mercie and with part thereof he bought a bigge barke in the which at this day he dooth passe people thorough a riuer whereas they were wont to passe great perill and danger and hee doth it for Gods sake and receiueth nothing for the same A fewe dayes after in another part of this kingdome there happened another myracle of no lesser substance then the first that is there was a Cochinchina in the said citie of Machao who did aske to bee baptised of a barefoote Frier which after y t hee had catechised sufficiently hée gaue it vnto him and after a great time that hee had béene in his company and had experience of his Christianitie deuotion he gaue him licence for to returne vnto his country with a good token that at his comming thither he would procure to augment the desire of Christianitie the which God had begunne to kindle in their brest This good new christian did procure the same with so great care that he did profite very much being holpen with the fauor of God who made him his instrument hee healed certaine infirmities in shewing vnto the patients an Image of our ladie the which he had continually about his necke and had therunto great deuotion and woulde declare to them with great zeale the Lords prayer or Pater noster His fame was so much spred abrode in all parts of this prouince wherein he dwelled that it came vnto the eares of a Mandarin or principall Iudge of the same who was many dayes in his bedde a leaper both of handes and féete and neuer coulde finde any phisition nor medecine that could giue him his health nor any other humaine remedie who being verie desirous to be healed hée sent â—or the saide Christian and asked if hée would take vppon him to heale him of that infirmitie as it was affirmed that hee had done by others of greater importance The Christian saide hée would then the Iudge did promise vnto him for the same great giftes and rewardes but hee made no account thereof but oneliâ— requested of him for reward that after hee should bee hole that he would be baptised and become a Christian the which he did accept and principally he shewed vnto him the Image that hée had of our lady saying If thou wilt beléeue in this lady that is heere ingraued and in her most holy sonne Iesus Christ the redéemer of the whole world thou shalt presently be made hole This Mandarin or Iudge did beholde the same with great attention and thought on the words which he had heard spoken And in determining with himselfe to beléeue the same at the very point that he did put it in execution he was healed of al his infirmitie a thing which caused great admiration in all that prouince These myracles and that of the crosse in a short time being knowne abrode haue caused such a desire vnto the inhabitants of that kingdome to become Christians that by all manner of meanes
aforesaid frier Ignacio did sée in Malaca a present y t the king of this kingdome of Camboia did send vnto another friend of his and amongst many things contained therin of great riches curiositie there were two crosses very great and wel made of a gallant wood very swéete and all garnished very richly with siluer and gold with their titles enamiled Nigh vnto this kingdome is that of Sian in the hight of fourtéene degrées from the pole Artike and thrée hundred leagues from Machao wheras the Portugals do go to trade It is the mother of all Idolatrie and the place from whence hath procéeded many sectes vnto Iapon China and Pegu. It is a flourishing countrie and well replenished of all such things as be requisite for to merite the name to be good There be in it maniâ— Elephants and Abadas and other beasts that are nourished in that countrie besides this it is very rich of mettals and gallant swéete woode The people of this kingdome for the most part are faint-hearted or cowards for which occasion although they are infinite in number yet are they subiect vnto the king of Pegu who ouercame them long time since in a battell as afterwards shall be declared and they doo pay him ordinarily great and heauy tributes They would be conuerted very easâ—ly vnto the faith of Iesu Christ and would leaue their Idols if they had any to preach vnto them yea would subiect themselues vnto any king or Lord that woulde fauour them and not vnto this whom now they do obey for that hee dooth intreate them tyrannously They haue amongst them many religious men after their fashion who doo liue in common and leade an asper and sharp life for the which they are had of al the rest in great veneration The penance which they do is wonderfull strange as you may iudge by some things that I will declare here amongst a great number that be tolde of them there are none of them that can marrie neither speake to any woman if by chance he do they arewithout remissioÌ„ punished by death They go alwayes barefoote very poorely apparelled do eate nothing but rice gréene herbes and this they do aske for charitie euery day going from doore to doore with their wallet at their backes alwayes with their eyes looking on the ground w t such modesty honesty that it is to be wondred at they doo not craue their charity neither take it with their hands nor do any other thing but cal or knocke stand still till such time as they giue them their answer or put some thing into their wallets It is told them for a truth that many times for penance they do put themselues starke naked in the heate of the sunne which is there very great for that y e country is in twenty sixe degrees of the Equinoctiall whereas they are much troubled there with gnats whereof there is an infinite number and is a thing that if they did passe it for Gods sake it is a kinde of martyrdome of great desert God for his mercy lighten them with his grace that this which they do smally vnto the profite of their soules may bee the occasion that after they are baptised they may deserue for the same many degrées of glory Likewise in secreat they doo great penance and doo rise vp at midnight to praie vnto their Idols and they do it in quiers as is vsed amongst vs Christians It is not permitted them any rentes nor any other kinde of contractation and if they bée séene to deale in any they are detested and hated as an heretike is amongst vs. For this kind of asper liuing the which they do according vnto the report for the loue of the heauen and that with great zeale they are respected of the common people for saints and for such they do reuerence them and do commit them vnto their praiers when they are in any trouble or infirmity These and many other things mo be declared of them in like order which may serue for to confound vs that confessing we do not obserue kéepe hauing for the same our sure reward not of humain interest but that which God hath prepared for the good in heaueÌ„ The law of the Gospell in this kingdome would bring foorth much fruite for that the people are charitable and louers of vertue and of them that haue it This experience had the father Ignacio and his companions in China at such time as they were prisoners where there were in a city certain ambassadors from the king of Syan who were bound to the court and there they vnderstood that the Spaniards were sentenced to death for entring into that country without licence they went to visite them when they saw them with their asper habites and very poore did resemble very much the habit of their religious men they had so great affection vnto them that ouer and aboue they sent theÌ„ good charity the which was two bags of rice much fish fruits they did offer to theÌ„ al the mony they would desire to ransome them in al that the Iudges would demand â—or them in recompeÌ„ce of this good wil they shewed vnto y e Spaniards they did verifie that aforesaide that they are great louers of vertue CHAP. XXII Of many other kingdomes that are in this new world and of their names and properties but in espiciall of that famous Cittie of Malaca NIgh vnto this kingdome of Syan there are two kingdomes togither the one of them is called Lugor and the other Patane they belong both vnto one king who is a Moore and of the linage Malaya yet notwithstanding the people of these kingdomes are Gentiles and doâ— vnderstande in them to haue great good will to become Christians if they had anie to preach vnto them the Gospell The lande is very rich of golde Pepper and of drugges but the people faint hearted and cowards and for little for which occasion they are more giuen vnto thinges of contentment and pleasure then vnto wars or brawlings At the ende of this kingdome is the straite of Malaca in the which there are two small kingdomes the one of them is called Paon and the other Ior the people of the first are the most traiterous that are in all the whole worlde as the Portugals haue many times experimented and those of the second kingdome sometimes they are in peace and sometimes in warre with the said Portugals They will haue peace when they do sée themselues in necessity of the same but war ordinarily These two kingdomes are halfe Moores by reason whereof it séemeth that with an euil wil they wil be reduced vnto the law of the gospel if that by the help of God they be not mollified of their hearts This straight of Malaca is vnder the Equinoctiall line and is accounted from the kingdome of Cochinchina vnto it 376. leagues this is an euill straight
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
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
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
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
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
how to rost and boyle their victuals and howe to barter and sell one thing for another They did vnderstande one another in their contradictions by knots made vpon cords for that they had not the vse of letters nor any mention thereof After that they say that a certaine woman called Hantzibon was deliuered of a son named Ocheutey who was the inuentor of many things ordained mariage to play on many diuers instruments They do affirme that he came from heauen by myracle for to do good vpon the earth for that his mother going by the way did sée the print of a mans foote putting her foote on it she was straight wayes inuironed with a lightning with whom she was conceiued and with child with this son This Ocheutey had a son called Ezoulom who was the inuenter of phisicke astrology but in especiall matters touching lawe and iudgement Hée shewed them howe to till the lande and inuented the plough and spade of this man they doo tell manie woonderfull and maruellous things but amongst them all they say that he did eate of seuen seuerall kindes of hearbes that were poyson and did him no harme he liued 400. hundred yeares his son was called Vitey the first king they had amongst them hée reduced all things to be vnder gouernement and to haue it by succession as shalbe declared in the chapter whereas I will treate of the king of this mightie kingdome that now liueth These and many other varieties and toyes they saie of the beginning of the world whereby may be vnderstood how little men may do without the fauour of God and the light of the catholike faith yea though they be of the most subtilest and finest wit that may be immagined CHAP VI. How they hold for a certaintie that the soule is immotall and that he shal haue another life in the which it shalbe punished or rewarded according vnto the workes which he doth in this world and how they pray for the dead BY that aforesaid it appeareth to be of a truth that the apostle S. Thomas did preach in China we may presume that all which wee haue séene dooth remaine printed in their hearts from his doctrine and beareth a similitude of the truth a conformity with the things of our catholike religion Now touching this that wee will treate of in this chapter of the immortalitie that they beléeue of the soule and of the rewarde or punishment which they shall haue in the other life according vnto the workes doone in company with the bodie which appeareth to be the occasion that they do not liue so euill as they might not hauing the knowledge of this truth I do hope by the power of his deuine maiestie that they wil easilie be brought vnto the true knowledge of the gospel They say and doo affirme it of a truth that the soule had his first beginning from the heauen and shall neuer haue ende for that the heauen hath giuen it an eternall essence And for the time that it is within the body that God hath ordeined if it do liue according to such lawes as they haue without doing euill or deceit vnto his neighbor thē it shalbe caried vnto heauē wheras it shal liue eternally with great ioy shalbe made an angel to the contrarie if it liue ill shall go with the diuels into darke dungeons and prisons whereas they shall suffer with them torments which neuer shall haue end They doo confesse that there is a place whither such soules as shalbe made angels doo go to make themselues cleane of al such euil as did cleaue vnto them being in the bodie and for that it should be spéedelier doone the good déeds which are done by their parents friends doo helpe them verie much So that it is very much vsed throughout al the kingdome to make orations praiers for the dead for the which they haue a day appointed in the moneth of August They do not make their offrings in their temples but in their houses the which they doo in this manner following The day appointed all such as do beare them companie vntill their sacrifices are concluded for the dead which are such as we do cal here religious men euery one hath his companion and walketh the stréets and dooth report the daies houses where they will be for that it cannot be doone altogether So when they come vnto the house whereas they must doo their offices they enter in do prepare that euery one do make oration and sacrifice according to their fashion for the dead of that house vnderstanding that by their helpe they shalbe made cleane from their euils which is an impediment that they cannot be angels nor inioy the benefite which is ordained for them in heauen One of these that is like vnto a priest dooth bring with him a taber other two little bords another a little bell Thē they do make an altar wheron they do set such idols as the dead had for their saints liuing then do they perfume them with frankēsence and storax and other swéet smels then do they put 5. or 6 tables ful of victuals for the dead for the saints then straightwayes at the sound of the taber little bords bels which is a thing more apt for to dance by as by report of them that haue heard it they begin to sing certaine songs which they haue for that purpose then doe the nouices goe vp vnto the altar and do offer in written paper those Orations which they did sing to the sound of those instruments This being done they sit down and begin anew to sing as before In the end of their prayers and songs he who doth this office doth sing a prayer and in the end thereof with a litle borde that he hath in his hand for the purpose he striketh a blow vpon the table then the other do answere in the same tune declining their heades doe take certaine painted papers and guilt papers and doe burne them before the altar In this sort they are all the night which is the time that ordinarily they do make their sacrifices the which being done the priests those that be in the house do eat the victuals that was set vpon the tables wherein they doo spend the residue of the night till it be day They say that in doing this they do purifie and make cleane the soules that they may goe become angels The commō people do beléeue of truth that the soule that liueth not well before they go into hell which shall not be before the end of the world according as they do thinke in their error in recompence of their euill life the heauens doo put them into the bodies of buffes and other beasts and those which liue well into the bodies of kings lords whereas they are very much made of well serued These and a thousande toies in like sort
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
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
tribute and it is affirmed that there are as many more such as are frée and and do pay no tribute The Loytians and ministers of iustice all sorts of souldiers both by sea and land which is an infinite number are frée and do pay nothing the number as followeth The prouince of Paguia hath two millions seuen hundred and foure thousand that doth pay tribute to the king The prouince of Santon 3. millions and 700. thousand tributers The prouince of Foquien two millions foure hundred and seuen thousand tributers The prouince of Olam two millions two hundred foure thousand tributers The prouince of Sinsay thrée millions thrée hundred foure score thousand The prouince of Susuan two millions and fiftie thousand The prouince of Tolanchia there where as the king is resident and is the biggest of them al sixe millions fourescore and ten thousand The prouince of Causay two millions thrée hundred and fiue thousand The prouince of Oquiam thrée millions and eight hundred thousand The prouince of Aucheo two millions eight hundred and foure thousand The prouince of Gonan one million and two hundred thousand The prouince of Xanton one million nine hundred fortie and foure thousand The prouince of Quicheu two millions thirtie and foure thousand The prouince of Chequeam two millions two hundred and fortiefoure thousand The prouince of Sancii which is the least of all the prouinces hath one million sixe hundred thréescore and twelue thousand tributers By this account it is found that the tribute payers are verie many and it is approoued in manie places of this historie whereas they do treate of the greatnes of this kingdome that it is the mightiest and biggest that is to bee read of in all the world God for his mercies sake bring them to the knowledge of his lawe and take them out from the tyrannie of the diuell wherein they are wrapped CHAP. IIII. The tribute that the king hath in these fifteene prouinces according vnto the truest relation ALthough this kingdome is great and very rich yet there is none that doth pay so little tribute ordinarily vnto their king as they do neither amongst Christians Moores nor gentiles that we know The extraordinary and personall seruice is very much that in some respect wee may say that they are more slaues then frée men for that they do not possesse one foote of land but they pay tribute in respect whereof as also for the great misusing of them by their gouernours will bee a great part and occasion to inuite them to receiue the lawe of the gospell and that with great facilitie to inioy the the libertie of the same The ordinarie tribute that euery one dooth pay that dooth kéepe house is two Mases euery yeare which is as much as two spanish rials of plate This tribute is verie little yet the Loytians which is a great part of the kingdome do pay none neither their gouernours nor ministers captaines nor souldiours the multitude of the people is so great and the kingdome so bigge that alonely that which they giue for expences of the king and his court is woonderfull with customes dueties portages and other rents not accounting that which is paide vnto garisons and souldiers of that kingdome neither in that which is spent in repairing of walles of particular cities and in men of warre at sea and camps by land to gouernours and iustices which doth not enter into this account The rent which remaineth vnto the king ordinarily is this that followeth and is taken with great regard out of the booke of his excheker Yet the Chinos do say that it is much lesse thē that they do pay at this time for that this is of old antiquitie when as the tributes were lesse the tributes as followeth Of pure golde from seuentéene to two and twentie killates they giue him foure millions and two hundred fiftiesixe thousand and nine hundred Taes euerie one is worth ten rials and foure and twentie marauadies spanish mony Of fine siluer thrée millions one hundred fifty thrée thousand two hundred and ninetéene Taes The mines of pearles whereof you haue many in this kingdome although they are not verie round is woorth vnto him commonly two millions sixe hundred thirtie thousand Taes Ofprecious stones of all sorts as they come from the mines one million foure hundred thrée score and ten thousand Taes Of muske and amber one million and thirtie fiue thousande Taes Of earthen dishes and vessell fourescore thousand taes Besides all this the king doth put forth verie much ground to his subiects and they do pay him with part of the croppe that they gather or with the cattle that they bring vp on y e same grounde The quantitie that they pay him is as followeth Of cleane rice which is a common victuall throughout all the kingdome of the countries adioyning to them they paie him thréescore millions one hundred thrée score eleuen thousand eight hundred thirtie and two hanegges Of barley twentie nine millions thrée hundred foure score and eleuen thousand nine hundred fourescore two hanegges Of wheat like vnto that in Spaine thirtie thrée millions one hundred twentie thousand and two hundred hanegges Of salt twentie fiue millions thrée hundred and fortie thousand foure hundred hanegges which is made in his owne salt pits and is of a great rent Of wheat called Mayz twentie millions two hundred and fiftie thousand hanegs Of Millio twentie foure millions of hanegges Of Panizo fourtéene millions and two hundred thousande hanegges Of other different graine and séeds fortie millions and two thousand hanegges They doo pay him in péeces of silke of fourtéene vares long the péece two hundred fiue thousand and fiue hundred ninetie péeces Of raw silke in bundles fiue hundred and fortie thousande pounds Of cotton wooll thrée hundred thousand pounds Of mantles wrought of all colours eight hundred thousand foure hundred mantles of Chimantas Made of rawe silke that waieth twelue pound a péece thrée hundred thousand sixe hundred and eightie of them Ofmantles made of cotton of fourty vares sixe hundred seuenty eight thousand eight hundred and seuentie Of Chimantas of cotton thrée hundred foure thousand sixe hundred forty eight All this aforesaide is for expenses of the court which is great The Chinos y t come vnto the Philippinas do affirme the same do not differ in the report which is a signe to be true likewise they do receiue of it in his tresurie whereas is many millions cannot be otherwise considering his great rents CHAP. V. Of the men of war that are in the fifteene prouinces as wel footmen as horsemen and of the great care they haue in the gard of the kingdome LOoke what care and diligence this mightie king hath that iustice should be ministred with right equitie so likewise yea much more he hath touching matters that
hand doo send postes daily that the one may ouertake the other They do run post after the vse of Italy Spain with a horne but they were woont to haue a coller of belles the better to be heard so y t the postmasters when they do heare the horne or bels do straight waies bridle their horse to be in a readines Likewise if their iourney be to passe by water as many times it hapneth then y e boat-men do make their barks readie Then when the counsell hath taken relation of all the posts in effect the president incontinent doth giue a straight account thereof vnto the king then he or the counsell by his order if anie such néede requireth do put remedie for that that is néedfull for the time And if it be requisite to send any Iustice about the same he is straight wayes appointed and dispatched and sent in all haste and with great secrecie and this Iustice doth make inquiries in such sort that it is not knowen no not in the citie where the fault is committed And for that touching this matter it shall bee spoken of more at large in chapters following I will conclude with this that this king will haue such dominion ouer his kingdome and subiectes that although it be great with so manie Prouinces Cities and Townes yet not one Uiceroy Gouernor nor Iustice can put any man vnto death without his sentence be first confirmed by the kinge and his royall counsell except it be in the warres actually for that there in the delaying thereof may growe some perill therefore they doo permit the captaine generall or his lieftenant to behead or hang what so euer souldier that shall offende or doo anie ill thing this may they do without consentment of the king or his counsell onely with the consentment of the kinges Treasorer or of the generall of the fielde the which bee both of them graue personages and they must be both conformable in their iudgementes or els they cannot execute death CHAP. IX Ofsuch presidents and ministers as the king doth put in euerie prouice and the order that they haue in their gouenment YOu do vnderstand howe the two prouinces Paguia and Tolanchia are gouerned by the supreme counsell of the king and such ministers as they doo send to gouerne The other thirtéene prouinces that do remaine haue eyther of them a vizroy or gouernor whom the common people do call Insuanto who is continually resident and doth dwell in the metropolitane citie whereof the prouince doth commonly beare the name And although all the kinges officers and Iustices of what sort of administration they are be generally called by the name of Loytia yet euerie one hath a speciall and a particular name besides according vnto his office that he doth execute of the which and of their proper names I will giue you to vnderstand for that it doth differ from our purpose The vizeroy that is in euerie prouince principall and supreme magistrate in place of the king they do call him Comou Th◠second in dignitie is the gouernour of all the prouince and he is called Insuanto who hath verie little lesse maiestie than the viceroy then the Corregidor or gouernor that is resident in any citie where as is neither viceroy nor gouernor is called Tutuan all of this degrée Of any thing that is of importance of what citie so euer they be they do giue relation thereof vnto the higher gouernor called Insuanto and likewise this Insuanto vnto the viceroy or Comon whose charge is to giue the king to vnderstand thereof or his royall counsell by the postes that we haue spoken of before The third in dignitie is called Ponchasi this is the president or counsell of the kinges reuenewes who hath vnder him a counsell and many ministers and officers as sargents and others which do recouer the rents in euerie prouince This state dooth giue account of all his office vnto the Tutuan after that he hath paide all kind of wages and charges ordinarie and extraordinarie due to any officer of the kinges in all that prouince The fourth degrée or dignitie is called Totoc and this is captaine generall of all souldiers as well footmen as horsemen The fift is called Auchasi he is president and gouernour ouer Iustices both criminall and ciuill and doth determine with his counsell all matters in difference whatsoeuer that doo appeale vnto him from other meaner Iustices The sixt is called Aytao this is generall puruier and president of the counsell of warre whose office is to prouide souldiers when that it is requisite or necessitie demaundeth and to prouide ships munitions and victuals for any fléete that shall passe by sea as that be requisite by land and for the suppliment of garrisons in cities and coastes To this is giuen the charge to examine such strangers that do come to any prouince to knowe of whence they are and wherefore they do come and of all other thinges that after beeing knowen to giue the viceroy to vnderstande thereof and of all thinges néedfull These sixe offices or charge are of great authoritie and they that haue the execution thereof are had in great reuerence euerie one of them hath in societie or counsell tenne which are men chosen of great experience and diligence and they do help him in the exhibition and dispatch of matters touching that office When they are in place of counsell which is in the pallace of the viceroy whereas euerie office hath his place appointed garnished in very good order their sociates are diuided in two partes fiue of them do sit on the right hand of the president and fiue on the left hand those which do sit on the right hande are the most auncientes and haue the more preheminence and doo differ from the other that be on the left hande in this thing only for that they do weare wastes or girdels imbossed with gold and yealow hattes and they on the left hand haue their girdels imbossed with siluer and weare blewe hats the which girdels with gold and siluer and hats yealow and blewe there is none that is permitted to weare but onelye the counsellers Likewise these and the presidents do weare the kinges armes on their breastes and backes imbrodered with golde without the which they can not goe foorth to anie place where they must be séene neyther sitte in Iustice to determine anie thing whatsoeuer If they doo they are not onely disobedient but are seuerely punished at the time of their visitation If the President of any of these counsels doo die then one of the auncientest of the counsellers dooth succéede him in the office obseruing in all thinges the order as I haue saide in the Chapter past of the royall counsell All these Iustices generally haue a maruellous morall vertue and that is they be all very patient in hearing any complaynt although it be declared with choller and proude spéech It is the first thing that is taught
the viceroy or gouernour doth vse himselfe in his gouernment and how all other officers do execute their offices without knowing from whence he came nor whether he will neither what he doth pretend So after that hee hath passed thoroughout all the prouince and is fullie certified of all his desire then doth hee goe vnto the chiefe or metropolitane citie whereas are resident all those Iudges against whom hee hath made his visitation and there he dooth remaine and abide till such time as the Tutam or viceroy doth make a generall counsell which is once a month at the least and at such time as they are in their counsell hall and peraduenture without thought of any such Iudge that should come then this Uisitor doth goe vnto the doore and sayth vnto the porter goe and tell them of the councell that here is a Uiâ—itor that must and will come in to notifie vnto them a commandement from the king then the viceroy vnderstanding by these words what he might be doth commaund the doores to be open and doth himselfe and the rest that are with him rise vp from their seates and doth goe and receiue him as their superiour Iudge who doth enter with his prouision open in his handes which dooth not cause a small feare amongest them all but in especiall vnto suche as their owne conscience doth accuse them he doth read his prouision in the presence of them all and at the instant of the conclusion the viceroy doth arise from his place and dooth vnto him great reuerence and complementes and so doo all the rest acknowledging their duties Then dooth this Uisitor place himselfe in the principallest seate of counsell and maketh his oration as the common vse is amongst them wherein he doth giue them to vnderstande the cause of his comming and with what care and diligence he did vse in his visitation to search out the trueth of matters after which with well pondred wordes he doth laude and prayse all such as haue well executed their offices and according thereunto he doth straight waies place them in their counsels in the higher seates and promising them to giue the king his counsell large account of their good seruice that they might bee rewarded according as they do deserue Likewise he doth sharply reprehende all such as haue neglected their bounden dueties Then doth he read there before them all the sentence pronounced against them declaring in summe all such thinges wherein he hath found them culpable which hath caused him to pronounce that sentence against them the which although it be neuer so rigorous it is foorthwith executed without any replication or appellation for from these visitors there is no appellation All such as shalbe punished or reprehended thâ—y do first take away from them the ensignes of Iustice which be as I haue told you the girdle bonnet or narrowe brimd hat with the which they can neither punish nor hurt him and if that any wil absolutely do it he shall for the same be depriued of his office and loose his head So being cleare of these things then do they execute the rigour of the sentence pronounced against the malefactor But if there be any doubt in the sentence giuen then doth he straight waies vppon the same doubt ordaine nine Iudges to sit vpon it admonishing them with the present before their eyes to vse well their offices wherewith hee doth charge them in the name of the king Many times these visitors do carrie power for to reward all such as doo well execute their offices in giuing theÌ„ roomes and offices of greater honor so that the present and knowen reward which is done vnto the good and the rigorous punishment for the malefactors is the occasion that this mighty kingdome is one of the best ruled and gouerned of any that is at this time knowen in all the world waying the gouernment of the one as in many places of this historie it is expressed and ioyne it vnto the long and great experience which we haue had in the other and then you will say as I say Many times these visitors do visite the colleges and schooles such as the king hath ordained of his owne cost in euerie prouince as in the processe of this booke you shall vnderstand do examine the schoollers of the same animating them to promotion all such as doo profite themselues in their studies and do whip and put in prison yea and thrust them out of the schooles all such as are to the contrarie Of all the which and of their commencing and rewardes which is giuen vnto such as they do find sufficient shall be at large declared vnto you in a particular chapter for the same CHAP. XII Of their prisons they doo vse and the order they haue in the executing of iustice vpon the culpable EUen as the iudges and ministers are seuere and cruell in punishing euen so they are in putting them in prisons the which are as terrible and as cruell with the which they doo kéepe in peace and iustice this mightie kingdome and as there is much people so haue they many prisons and verie great There are in euery principal citie throughout al these prouinces thirtéene prisons inclosed coÌ„passed about with high wals and of so great largenesse within that besides the lodgings of the kéeper and his officers and for a garison of souldiours that are there continually there are fish ponds gardeines courts whereas the prisoners do walke and recreate themselues all the day such as are in for small matters Likewise there are victualling houses and shops whereas is solde all manner of such things as the prisoners doo make for to sustaine themselues which if they did not vse their whole substance were not sufficient for their maintenance the time is so long that they lie there although it be for a small matter the occasion is for that the iudges take deliberation in their sentences and againe their cities are great and ful of other matters Likewise they are slowe in the execution of any sentence So that many times it doth fall out that men being condemned to die doo remaine so long in prison after their condemnation that they die with pure age or some other sicknesse or infirmitie or by the crueltie of the straight and asper prison Of these thirtéene prisons aforesaide alwayes foure of them are occupied with prisoners condemned vnto death and in euerie one of them there is a captaine ouer one hundred souldiers which are reparted and dooth kéepe watch and warde day and night euery one of these condemned prisoners hath a bord tied about his necke that hangeth downe vnto his knées a third of a yarde brode it is made white with a certaine whiting and written vpon it the occasion wherefore he was condemned to die The kéeper of the prison hath a booke wherein is written all the names of them that are condemned and the occasion wheâ—fore for to be accountable of
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
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
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
called them all to naught from the poope of his shippe with manie reprochfull woordes saying that they came to steale the honour that hee with so great trauayle and perill had gotten Then the generall séeing that he could not goe thorough with his purpose hee determined to leaue him and therewith to cast about with his shippes and returned into the port of the baye from whence they came This brought in his shippe a sonne of Sinsay to giue occasion vnto his father for to come vnto him and likewise his owne father whome they did straightwayes put in prison and his wife and mother which is a thing commonly vsed in that countrie the children to pay for their parentes and to the contrarie the parents for the children Sinsay who feared the same woulde not goe vnto his owne house till such time as he did carrie commandement from the Uiceroy for to deliuer out of prison those that were put there without desert the which was granted by the Uiceroy with other fauours and great honour as shall bee declared vnto you CHAP. XIII Omoncon doth disembarke himselfe with our Spaniardes in the port of Tanfuso and are verie well receiued by the Iustice and made verie much of by the order of the Insuanto of that prouince WIthin a little while after that the Captayne of the sixe shippes departed for Chincheo Omoncon and his companie ariued at the port of Tanfuso hard by vpon wednesday in the euening being the fift day of Iuly This Tanfuso is a gallant and fresh towne of foure thousand housholders and hath continually a thousand souldiers in garrison and compassed about with a great and strong wall and the gates fortified with plates of yron the foundations of all the houses are of lime stone and the walles of lime and yearth and some of bricke their houses within very fairely wrought with great courts their stréetes faire and brode all paued Before that Omoncon did come vnto an anker they sawe all the souldiers and the people of the towne were gathered together vpon the rockes that were ioyning vnto the port all armed readie vnto the battaile amongst whom there was a principall captaine thrée more of his companions that were sent him by the Gouernor of Chincheo whom they do call in their language Insuanto who had vnderstaÌ„ding of the coÌ„ming of Omoncon his companie by the ship aforesaid he sent theÌ„ thither before that in his name should entertain them cherish them all that was possible When the ship entred into the port Omoncon did salute the towne with certain péeces of artilery discharged all his hargubushes sixe times about therwithal tooke in their saile and let anker fall Then straightwaies the captaine whoÌ„ the Insuanto had sent came abord the ship who had expresse coÌ„mission not to leaue the company of our people after that they were disembarked till such time as they came whereas he was but to beare them companie and to prouide them of all thinges necessarie the which he did accomplish All these captaines and ministers of the king doo weare certaine ensignes for to be knowen from the common people who are not permitted to weare any such and they can not goe abroad in publike without the same neyther will they if they might for that by them they are obeyed and reuerenced as well in the stréetes as in any other place where they come all such generally be called Loytias which is as much to say in our language Gentlemen the particular ensignes which they doo vse bee broade wastes or girdles embossed after diuerse manners some of golde and siluer some of the shell of a Turtuga or Turtell and of a swéete wood and other some of Iuerie the higher estates hath them embrodered with pearles and precious stones and their bunnets with two long eares and their buskins made of satten and vnshorne veluet as we haue declared more at large in the first thrée bookes Then after so soone as they were come to an anker in the port the Iustice did send them a license in writing for to come foorth of the shippe as a thing necessarie for that without it the waiters or guardes of the water side will not suffer them to put foote a land This licence was written vpon a borde whited and firmed by the Iustice whose charge it is to giue the licence Then when they came a shoore there were the souldiers that were appointed by the Insuanto in a readinesse to beare them companie and did direct and leade them vnto the kinges houses of the sayde Citie the like hath euerie Citie almost thoroughout all the kingdome there they did lodge them These houses are very great and very wel wrought and gallant with faire courtes belowe and galleries aboue they had in them stanges or pondes of water full of fish of sundrie sortes The Insuanto had giuen order vnto the Iustice of Tansuso wherein he had ordained what hee should giue them to eate and all other things that should be done particularly by it selfe without lacking ofany thing and appointed the Captaine that he with his souldiers should not depart from them not a iot but alwaies to beare them company whethersoeuer they went and not to depart till he had farther order from him in accomplishing whereof they remayned with them that night in the kings house The Iustice of the citie when that he had lodged them went himselfe in person to the waters side and caused all their stuffe to be vnladen out of the ship and caused it to be carried with great care and diligence vnto the Fryers whereas they were The people of the citie did presse very much to sée these strangers so that with the presse as also with the great heate they were marueilously afflicted which being perceiued by the Iustice he gaue order that they might bee eased of that trouble caused sergeants to kéepe the doore and their yeomen to make resistance against the people Yet notwithstanding though they did not trouble them so much they ranged round about the house and clymed vpon the walles to procure to sée them as a rare thing for that they came from countries so farre off and apparelled verie different from that they do vse or otherwise haue séene So when that the night was come the Iustice of the citie did make them a banket according vnto the fashion of the countrie and it was in this manner following They were carried into a hall that was verye curiously wrought wherein were many torches and waxe candles light and in the middest therof was set for euerie one of the guests a table by himselfe as is the vse fashion of that countrie which more at large shalbe deâ—lared euerie table had his couering of damaske or satten very well made the tables were gallantly painted without any table clothes neither do they vse any for they haue no néede of them for that they do eate all their victualles with
countrie to make a difference in the qualitie of the guestes by the nâ—mber of the tables All these were placed in circle or compasse as aforesaide that they might see one another In the midest betwixt them there was a round compasse wheras was represented a comedie with much pastime and indured all the dinnner time and a good while after There was also great store of verie good and excellent musicke accompanied with gallant voyces also iesters with puppets and other thinges of great pastime to driue the time away On the first table was set to euery one of the guestes little baskets wrought with golde and siluer wyre full of swéete meates made of sugar as Marchpanes Castels Pitchers Pots Dishes Dogges Bulles Elephants and other things verie curious and all guilt besides this there were many dishes full of flesh as Capons Hennes Géese Teales gamons of Bacon peeces of Béefe and other sortes of flesh wherewith all the tables were replenished sauing that whereat they did sit to dine which was replenished with victuals that was dressed for all the other was rawe and was of so great aboundance that there was at times more then fiftie dishes and they were serued with great curiositie They had wine of diuers sortes and of that which they doo make in that countrie of the Palme trée but of so great excellencie that they founde no lacke of that which was made of Grapes The dinner endured foure houres and according vnto the aboundance and diuersitie they had in victuals it might haue indured eight houres for it was in so good order that it might haue béene giuen vnto any prince in the world Their seruants and slaues that they brought with them at the same time did dine in another hal nigh vnto the same with so great abundance as their masters When dinner was done the gouernor commanded the people to come vnto him with whom he did talke and comon with great friendship and good conuersation and would not consent that they shoulde kneele downe neither to bee bare headed So after that hee had made vnto them tokens of friendshippe and deteined them a while in demaunding of many thinges lastly he told them that there was an order come from the vizroy of Aucheo that they shuld go thither with great spéede so that it did require that they shoulde depart the next day following for the which they were verie glad and ioyfull for that they had great desire the one to sée the other and againe with him they might treate and comon tguching their comming into that countrie and for what intent and for all other things néedfull for that he was a man fit for their purpose and one welbeloued of the king So hee tooke his leaue of vs with great friendship and curtesie who did surrender the same after our custome putting of our cappes and making reuerence for the which hee made shewe that it greatly contented him At their going foorth out of the hall they found the captaine that did dine with them and with him many other Gentlemen that tarried their comming for to beare them company vnto their lodging going before them many seruants that did carie the raw meate that was vpon the other tables ouer and aboue that which they did eate on the which was done for great maieâ—tie and a ceremony verie much vsed in that kingdom so many times as they do make any banquet So when they came vnto their lodging they founde that the Insuanto had sent them a very good present in the which was for euery one of them foure péeces of silke and counting chestes with other thinges and certaine painted mantels for the seruants and slaues So after they had taken their leaue of the captaines and Gentlemen that did beare them companie home they beganne with great ioy to put all thinges in order for their iourney the next day following CHAP. XXI The Spaniards departe from the Cittie of Chincheo and commeth to that of Aucheo whereas the vizroy did tarrie their comming THe next day in the morning before that the Spaniards were stirring there was within the house all thinges necessary for their iourney as well of litter chaires as of horses and men for to carrie them and their stuffe the which they did with so good a will as aforesaid that they did fall out and striue amongst themselues who should be the first that should receiue their burthen So all things being in good order they departed hauing in their companie the same captaine and souldiers that vnto that time had béene their guard vntil they came vnto the cittie of Aucheo whereas the vizroy was This iourney was vnto them ioyfull as well for to entreate of matters touching their comming and to be resolued what they shuld do as also to depart out of Chincheo whereas they passed much trouble by reason of the great number of people that came for to sée them who neuer would be satisfied and y t was in such extremity that some dayes at tenne of the clocke in the night the stréete round about their lodging were full of people and onely to sée them which caused great trouble and heate with their rumor presse amongst them This day by reason they vnderstood that they should depart the prease and multitude of the people was so great that although they had tip staues before them to beate the people away and to make roome yet was it almost night before they could get out of the citie so that they were constrained to remaine in a towne there hard by all that night where as by the commandement of the gouernour they were verie well lodged and their supper made readie in verie good order as it was in seauen dayes together till such time as they came vnto Aucheo without taking for the same or for anie other thing necessarie for their sustentation anie price or value There went continuallie before them a Post with a prouision from the gouernour written in a great borde wherein was declared who they were and from whence they came and commanding that there should bee prouided for them all things necessarie in abundance vppon the kings cost which was the occasion that so much people came for to sée them that in the high waies they were many times disturbed so with great trouble the thirde day they came vnto a citie which was called Megoa which was sometimes the head gouernement the which was offortie thousand housholds but a great part thereof was dispeopled the occasion thereof they tolde vs and was that about thirtie yeares past the Iapones who brought for their guides thrée Chinos who doo nowe dwell in Manilla and are become Christians and came vpon that cittie to reuenge themselues of an iniurie that was done vnto them the which they put in execution with so great secrecie and policie that they made themselues lords of the citie without any daunger or hurt vnto themselues for that fiftie Iapones men fit for that purpose did
his commandement he would make them answere And therwith he tooke the letter and the memoriall of the present and commanded in his presence to put about the neckes of the Friers in manner of a scarfe to eyther of them sixe péeces of silke and vnto the souldiers their companions and vnto Omoncon and Sinsay each of them foure péeces and to euerye one of their seruantes two a péece and to giue vnto the two Fryers and the souldiers Omoncon and Sinsay euerie one of them two branches of siluer which is a thing vsed in that countrie vnto them that haue doone some woorthie déede as hath béene tolde you before So with the silke about their neckes and with the branches in their hands they returned out of the hall downe the staires the way they came and so through the court into the stréetes from whence they sawe them shut the court gate with so great a noyse as when they did open it From thence at the request of Omoncon Sinsay they went vnto the house of Totoc who is the Captaine generall of all the men of warre vnto the house of Cagnitoâ— who is y e chiefe standerd bearer their houses were nigh the one the other very faire great They found theÌ„ with as great maiestie as the viceroy and in the same order with a table before them had on ech side of theÌ„ armed souldiers knéeling on their knées Yet did they not vse our men with the curtesie that the viceroy vsed to cause them to stand vp which was the occasion that straightwayes they made a showe that they would depart and be gone complayning of Omoncon Sinsay for that they did carrie them thether and tolde them with anger that the gouernour of Manilla did intreate them in a different sort who was there resident for the mightiest prince in all the worlde and they but easie marchants neither was their going thether to be equalled vnto the benefite that they camâ— thether for This discontent the which they receiued was the occasion that they would nâ—t go to make any more visitations although the sayde Omoncon and Sinsay for their owne interest would haue carried them to the houses of other officers and gentlemen of the court But they made signes vnto those that were their guides to direct their way vnto their lodgings for that they would goe to eate somewhat and to take their ease the which was ordayned in a great house of the kinges there whereas ordinarily the Iudges doo sit to heare matters of Iustice. So at their comming thether they founde all their stuffe in good order and their dinner marueilous well prouided and the whole house hanged and trimmed as though it had béene for the kings owne person with many wayting men and souldiers those which did gard them both day and night and hanging at the doore two tables or bordes commanded by the viceroy wheron was written who they were that were there lodged and from whence they came and wherefore and that none whosoeuer should be so hardie as to offer them any wrong or disturbance vpon paine to be for the same offence seuerely punished In this house they were more in quiet than in anie other place whereas they had béen neyther did the people giue them so much trouble by reason of the great care which the Iudges had in putting order for the same by the commandemeÌ„t of the viceroy yet was it the greatest towne and most populed of all that prouince although in other prouinces there be that be much bigger and is affirmed that the Citie of Taybin or Suntiem there whereas the king and his court is resident hath thrée hundreth thousande housholds and yet there is a bigger Citie in the kingdome called Lanchin which requireth thrée dayes to go from one gate to an other and is in compasse more then seuentie leagues the which is not far distant from Canton that which the Portingalles hath great notice of But of certaine there is very much spoken of the mightinesse of this Citie and I my selfe haue heard reported and affirmed to bee of a trueth by men of authoritie that haue béene in the Citie of Canton religious Fryers of the order of Iesus or Iesuites to whom ought to be giuen credite This Citie of Aucheo hath a verie faire and strong wall made of stone which is fiue fadam high and foure fadam brode the which was measured many times by our people for that they had a gate out of their lodging that did open to the same This wall is all couered ouer with tiles to defende the rayne water for hurting of it which could not to the contrarie but receiue damage for that there is no lyme vsed in the whole wall They haue not one castle in all this Citie neyther is there any vsed in all that kingdome for all their force and strength is in their gates the which be made very strong with a double wall within verie broade betwixt the which are continually many souldiers such as do keepe watch and ward both day and night Upon these gates they haue much ordinance but verie ill wrought I meane such as were séene by our men yet they do say that in other places they haue excellent good and verie curiously wrought The whole wall is full of bartilmentes and theron written the names of such souldiers as are bound to repayre thether in the time of necessitie At euerie hundreth paces they haue lodginges the which are very huge and great there whereas in the time of necessitie doo remaine and dwell their Captaynes so long as their troubles doo indure all the wall is fortified with two great mots or ditches the one within and the other without the which they doo fill at all times when they please by sluces which they haue from the riuer for the same purpose and doo serue of water almost all the houses in the Citie whereas they haue their stanges for the most part full of fish This mightie Citie is situated in a great plaine and compassed round about with mightie rockes and mountaines which is the occasion that it is not so healthfull and the inhabitants saye that it is by reason of the mountaines and many times it is ouerflowen in the winter by spring tides froÌ„ the riuer And in that yeare that this doth happen it doth destroy and ruinate a great part of the city as it was at that time when our people did sée it for y t in the winter before they were troubled with these great tides which did them much harme Now to returne to our purpose you shall vnderstand that in the kinges house aforesaide our people remained all the time that they were in this Citie wheras they were made much of and visited by the principall of the same but in especiall of the viceroy who the verie same day diâ— send to inuite them for the next day following who made vnto them a famous banket
he sealed it vp and sent it vnto the Citie of Taybin vnto the king and his counsell and therewith that which the Gouernour of Chincheo did sende him as shall be tolde you for that they haue a rigorous lawe in that kingdome that dooth prohibite all such as haue any office of gouernement to receiue any present of what qualitie so euer it be without lycence of the king or of his counsell vpon paine to be depriued of bearing anie office all the dayes of their liues and to bee banished and condemned to weare red bonnets as wee haue declared the effect thereof This is conformable vnto that which the gouernor of Chincheo did in the presence of our people at such time as they went to take their leaue of him for to goe vnto Aucheo which was that in their presence they commanded to take foorth all that they brought him in present and shewing it vnto them péece by peece He asked if it were that which they had brought and they aunswered that it was the same although it was with troubled mindes beléeuing that it was to checke them because it was so small in respect of their mightinesse he asked them if there lacked any thing they answered no then straightwayes he commanded to put it againe whereas it was taken out in their presence and before a notarie and witnesses the which being doone was mailed and sealed and so sent vnto the viceroy of Aucheo in their companie and saide that hee could not receiue it without the licence aforesaid So our souldiers séeing that they could not be suffered to enter in with the present they tooke it for a great discourtesie and disfauour and therewith departed vnto their lodging to giue the fathers to vnderstande thereof who liked not well thereof but yet they concluded amongest themselues to suffer for a while and to commit vnto God the direction thereof as it best may be for his holy seruice The next day following the viceroy did send to visite them and to aske of them a sword a hargubush and a â—laske for that he would cause others to be made by them the which they did send and afterwardes vnderstood that they had counterfeited the same although not in so perfect manner Then after a time our people seeing that their beeing in that citie séemed to be long and like to be longer they did procure to driue away the time in the best manner they could and went abroad into the citie and did by eyther of them that which they thought best Whereof they found great abundance and of so small price that they bought it almost for nothing They bought many bookes that did intreat of diuerse matters which they brought with them to the Ilands as appeareth more at large in the chapter for the same The next day they went to sée the gates of the Citie and all such curious thinges as were to be séene so farre as they could learne or vnderstande which were many But amongst them all they sawe a sumptuous temple of their Idolles in whose chiefe chappell they counted one hundred and eleuen Idols besides a great number more that were in other particular chappels all were of carued worke verie well proportioned and gilted but in especiall thrée of them that were placed in the middest of all the rest the one had thrée heads procéeding out of one bodie the one looking on the other in full face The second was the forme of a woman with a childe in her armes the third of a man apparelled after the forme and fashion that the Christians doo paint the Apostles Of all the rest some had foure armes and some had sixe and other eight and other some marueilous deformed monsters Before them they had burning lamps and many swéete parfumes and smelles but in especiall before the thrée aboue specified But when that the viceroy did vnderstande that our people did go viewing the Citie gates and temples and perceiueth that they that gaue him the notice did suspect it that it was to some ill intent therewith he straightwayes commanded that they should not goe â—oorth out of their lodging without â—is licence and likewise commanded the Captaine that was their garde not to consent thereunto as he had done and likewise that none should carrie them any thing for to sell for he that did it should be punished with whipping Yet notwithstanding they had euerie day verie sufficient necessaries for their personages in such ample wise that there did alwayes remaine and not lacke In this closenesse and kéeping in they suffered many dayes with much sadnesse and oppressed with melancholick humors to sée that their purpose wherefore they went thether séemed to be long and euerie day was worse worse Yet noâ—withstanding they did passe it ouer in the best wise they could in coÌ„mitting it with heartie zeale vnto God for whose honor and glorie they did attempt that voyage prayed vnto him for to mooue their hearts to consent that the religious fathers might remaine in that countrie for to learne the language as they had begun many daies before by which meanes their soules might be saued and clearely deliuered from the tyrannie of the diuell who of truth had them in possession So after many dayes that they had remained in that close estate as aforesaide they determined for to goe and talke with the viceroy and to bee fully resolued either to tarry or returne from whence they came They straightwayes did put it in vre and what ensued thereof you shall vnderstande in the chapter following CHAP. XXVI The Spaniardes talke with the Viceroy and not being suffered they do write to him a letter and he doth answere it by word of mouth with other particular matters IT hath béen declared vnto you that the same day y t the Spaniardes did talke with the viceroy he asked them if they had brought any letter for their king they answered no he tolde them that he would write vnto the court and hauing answere they should be fully satisfied of their pretence and demaund But they séeing that his aunswere was long a comming and great delaye made therein and that they had them as halfe prisoners they determined to go and speake with the viceroy to be fully satisfied of his determinate will pretence and to haue some order eyther to goe vnto the court or to remaine in that citie or else to returne vnto the Ilands and there to tarrie the time till it pleased God to open a gate in that kingdome wherein might enter his holy gospell With this their pretended purpose they did perswade with their captaine to permit them so much libertie as for to go and speake with the viceroy who for that hee bare them loue and good will did consent therevnto So they went but when they came thether they that kept the gates would not consent y t they should enter which was the occasion that they returned vnto their lodgings verie sad and sorrowfull
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
saying that Limahon was besieged in such sort that hee coulde not escape neither had the Castillos burnt his shippes and howe that all was but a made matter amongest themselues and howe that the Captaines which they brought and sayde that they had taken from Limahon they had robbed from other places with other wordes in the same order and said that the Spaniardes were spyes that came to discouer the secretes and strength of the kingdome and how that they had brought them thether by force of giftes that they had giuen them They answered him with great humilitie in saying that in all that which they had sayd they did speake the trueth that it should appeare at such time as the newes of the rouer should be better knowen the which if it shall appeare to be contrary they were there readie for to suffer whatsoeuer punishment y t shold be giuen them The viceroy being somewhat satisfied with this their iustification bad them to depart remitting all things vnto time for the true declaration thereof Then Omoncon and Sinsay came straightwayes to giue y e Spaniards to vnderstand of all that had passed with the viceroy what they vnderstoode of him which caused in theÌ„ so great feare y t for the time which it indured which was till such time as they vnderstoode the truth as aforesaide they paied very well for their feasts bankets the which they had made them All this happened in the time that Omoncon Sinsay were at variance and spake many iniurious words the one of y e other discouering their intents deuises whereby it plainely appeared that in al y t which they had tolde vnto the viceroy they lied but in especiall Omoncon Sinsay did dissemble for hee sayde and tolde vnto all people that by his order and industrie our people did fire the shippes of Lymahon and besieged him with other spéeches in the like sort yet twentie daies before his comming thether all was ended and doone as appeared The occasion of their enimitie and falling out was for that the viceroy had giuen vnto Omoncon a title and charge of more honor then vnto Sinsay hauing made betwixt them a consort that the reward or dignitie should be equally deuided betwixt them and that the one should speake of the other the best they could because the viceroy should do them friendship This condition and consort as appeareth was euill performed by Omoncon being addicted vnto selfe loue and séemed vnto him that Sinsay did not deserue so much as he did for that hee was a base man and of the sea and he of the more nobilitie and had the office of a captaine All this which I haue said was the occasion y t the truth came to light betwixt them and to cause the viceroye to suspect that as they lyed in this they might also fable in the burning of the ships and besieging of Limahon CHAP. XXVIII The Gouernors of â—â—e prouince do assemble together to intreat of the Spaniardes busines and are resolued that they should returne vnto the Ilandes They do see many curious thinges before their departure WIth this griefe and care remained the Spaniards certaine daies kept close in their lodgings and were not visited so often as they were wheÌ„ they first came thether which did augment verie much their feare till such time as they vnderstoode that the viceroy eyther of his owne good will or else by some particular order from the king his counsell had called together all the gouernours of that prouince of Aucheo to intreat of matters touching LimahoÌ„ as also in particular why wherefore the Spaniards came thether to resolue theÌ„selues wholly in all things requisite for the same So when that they were all come together which was in a short time amongst them the Gouernor of Chincheo who by an other name was called Insuanto they had particular méetings together with the Uiceroye in the which they were all agréed to haue a generall méeting whereunto should bee called the Castillos and to demande of them in publike audience the cause of their comming although notwithstanding they had giuen to vnderstand thereof vnto the Insuanto and vizroy and being hearde to giue them their answere according as they had determined for the which vppon a day appointed they met all togither but not the vizroy in the house of the Cagontoc and commanded to come before them the Castillas who did accomplish their request with a great good will for that they vnderstoode that they were called to entreat of their matter either to tarry or depart So when they came thither they were commanded to enter into a mighty hall whereas they were all set in verie rich chaires with great grauitie and maiestie The Insuanto séemed to bée the chiefest amongst them but whether it was for that hée was the principallest next vnto the vizroy or as it was tolde them for that it was he that sent Omoncon in the chase of the rouer Limahon they knew not but so soone as they were entred into the hall they were commanded to drawe nigh there whereas they were all placed without bidding them to sit downe neither did they vse any particular circumstances or curtesie The Insuanto tooke vpon him the charge and demanded of the Spaniards by meanes of the interpreter what was the occasion of their comming into that country and to declare their pretence for that they would giue vnto them the resolute will of the vizroy at whose commandement they were called and there assembled togither The Spaniards answered vnto their request and said that their comming thither was to treat with them peace and friendship by the order of the gouernor of y e Philippinas who had his authority from the king of Spaine with a particular charge euer since the said Ilands were discouered who in all thinges that possible hath béene haue shewed themselues not onely in words but in déedes as vnto this day the gouernor dooth accomplish the same in ransoming all such Chinos as they can finde or come vnto their powers and send them home frée into their countrie with giftes and not in this only but in other matters which is not vnknowne vnto them and more that which lastly had happened in the destruction of the fléete and the besieging of the rouer Limahon with which newes they came â—hither to intreate and conclude betwéene them and the Castillias a perpetuall friendship this was the principall occasion of their comming the which if they coulde bring it to passe as a thing that did accomplish both the one and the other they would with y e same news send word with the souldiers who came with them for the same effect vnto the gouernor of Manilla who sent vs thither for that he might send the good successe thereof to the king of Spaine and there to remaine in such place as they woulde appoint them to studie the learning of the language and to preach declare
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
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
religious men of that kingdome of the which priestes there are a great number in euerie towne this priest went diuerse times vnto the monasterie of the Fryers and did common with them of the creation of the worlde and other things which did open the way that they might declare vnto him thinges appertayning vnto God vnto the which he did harken with great good will And after that hee had declared vnto them in particular the mightinesse and secretes of this mightie kingdome of China whose conuersion they so greatly desired he very inquisitiuely asked of them matters touching the Christian faith of whome within a fewe dayes after he desired to be baptised for that he would be a Christian being instructed before in many matters touching our catholike faith Our religious men did accomplish his desire the which was an incredible ioy vnto all the dwellers of the Citie and a content vnto himselfe So after that he was made a Christian hee remayned in the monasterie amongest the other but yet would he neuer eate any other thing but colde herbes and he séeing that all the religious men did arise vp at midnight to mattens and discipline themselues spending the greatest part of the night in prayer before the holy sacrament hee did not faile one point but did imitate them in all their dooings with outwarde showes of a verie good will All the which did incyte the Fryer Costodio and al the rest of his companions to put in execution their great desire they had according as it hath beene tolde you Whereupon he went once againe vnto the gouernour to intreat him by faire meanes that which before they had comoned with him of and that he would procure some order or meanes that those religious men might go to the kingdome of China to preach the lawe of God offering himselfe to be one of them with protestation that if he would not giue them leaue they would procure to goe without it with that authoritie the which hee had of God and of his superiors for to teach and instruct these poore Infidels their neighbors and this should be done with the first oportunitie they might finde or haue But neither this nor yet the example of that good Chino which was newe christened was sufficient to perswade the gouernor to consent vnto their request but peseuering in his first opinion he answered and said that it was too timely and that the friendship which they had with y e Chinos as yet was very small And how that the fathers of S. Austen had manie times attempted the entrie into that kingdome and yet neuer could obtaine their desire And howe that the Chinos that did carrie them did deceiue them and left them in certaine Ilands till such time as they heard farther newes of the Rouer Limahon and of the returne of the Captaine Omoncon who did carrie them with the good newes of the straight siege in the which they had the rouer and yet for all that they commanded them to returne from Aucheo without giuing them anie licence to remaine in the countrie to preach the holy gospell and nowe to attempt the same was but to giue occasion vnto the Chinos euerie day to mocke and make a iest of the Spaniardes and willed them to staye till such time as it were the will of God to giue way vnto the same which could not be long This Fryer Costodio vnderstanding the answere of the Gouernour perseuering still in his first opinion and did not goe about to séeke any meanes to accomplish their desire for the entring into the firme lande hee straightwayes beganne secretly to procure by all meanes possible to attempt and accomplish that iourney although it were without the order and consent of the Gouernour when that it might not be doone otherwise the which incontinent they beganne to put in vre for that the Fryer Costodio and Fryer Steuen Ortiz who was a religious man that for the great desire he had did learne the China tongue and at that time did speake it resonablie they both together did giue to vnderstande of their desire and pretence vnto a deuout souldier of their religion and one that they made great account of who was called Iohn Dias Pardo who often times had made manifest vnto them and saide thae he had a great desire to doo some especiall seruice vnto God although it were to hazarde his life in the same who at that instant did accomplish his desire and did promise them to beare them companie vnto the death So with this conformitie they went straightwayes altogether to speake with a Captaine of China that was in the same port in a shippe of his owne who many times did repayre vnto their couent to aske of them thinges appertayning vnto God and the heauens with showe of a very good vnderstanding who vnto their iudgement did consent and accept all with great pleasure and delight Unto this captayne they did giue to vnderstande the effect of all their desire requesting him of his ayde and helpe in the prosecuting of the same Who straightwayes did offer himselfe to accomplish their request and to carrie them vnto China so as they woulde then giue him some thing for to bestowe amongest his marriners The souldier Iohn Diaz Pardo did promise to giue them all that they would aske and gaue them in earnest certaine ryalles of plate And for that all thinges shoulde bée doone in good order and in such sort that the Gouernour nor any other shoulde haue any suspition or knowledge it was ordayned amongest them that the Captaine of China should with all spéede dispatch himselfe and depart to the port of Bindoro which is twentie leagues from the citie of Manilla and there to tarrie for them and to carrie in his companie the Chino that was new baptised as aforesaid The captaine made haste dispatched himselfe and departed vnto the port appointed within a fewe dayes after the father Costodio and his company with the souldier his friend did followe thē But when they came thether they found the captaine Chino in an other mind in such sort that neither gifts nor faire intreatie was sufficient to perswad him to performe that which he had promised in Manilla but returned vnto them their earnest before receiued affirming that for any thing in al y e world he would not carrie them for that he knowe very well if hee should so doo it would cost him his life and goods The newe baptised religious Chino séeing that wept bitterly with discontentment to sée how the diuell had changed the minde of the Captaine for that in that kingdome the holie gospell should not be preached The father Costodio did resolue himselue to returne vnto Manilla and there to abide a better oportunitie as in effect they did whereas they remayned certayne dayes till such time it happened as followeth Upon a day the Gouernour sent and called vnto him the father Costodio and requested of him that
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
of S. Austin When the Spaniardes went first vnto this Ilande according vnto y e report of the reuerende father de Las Casas bishop of Chiapa was in the yeare 1509. This Iland was so full of trées and fruite that they gaue it the name of the Guertas and there were in it sixe hundreth thousande Indios of the which at this day there remaineth not one From this Ilande vnto the Ilande of Santo Domingo is foure score leagues I say from one port vnto an other and from poynt to point but twelue leagues They doo ordinarilie go from one port to an other in thrée dayes but to returne they are more than a moneth for because the winde is contrarie CHAP. III. Of the Iland of Santo Domingo called Hispaniola and of their properties THe Iland Hispaniola which by an other name is called Santo domingo by reason that it was discouered as that day it is in eightéene degrées and was the first that was discouered in the Indias by the captaine Christopher Colon worthie of immortall memorie it was inhabited in the yeare of 1492. This Iland is in compasse more than sixe hundreth leagues it is diuided into fiue kingdomes the one of theÌ„ is now called the Vega which at the time that it was discouered was called Neagua it hath foure score leagues in compasse and stretcheth all of them from the north vnto the south out of the which sea as doth testifie the reuerende of Ciapa in his booke doth enter onely into the kingdome thirtie thousand riuers and running brookes twelue of them as great as Ebro Duero Guadalquiuir in Spaine The foresaide bishop doth also speake of an other maruaile which is that the most part of these riuers those which do distil and run from the mountaines which is towardes the west are very rich of gold and some of it very fine as is that which is takeÌ„ out of the mynes of Cibao which is very well knowen in that kingdome also in spaine by reason of the great perfectioÌ„ therof out of y e which myne haâ—h béene taken out a péece of virgin golde so bigge as a twopennie wheaten loafe and did weigh three thousand and sixe hundred Castillianos the which was sonke and lost in the sea in carrying of it into Spaine as doth testifie the aforesaid reuerend bishop In this Ilande there is greater quantitie of cattell than in the other Iland of Puerto rico there is made much sugar and gathered much ginger and Cannafistula and also manie sortes of fruits such as is in Spaine as others different of the countrie that in abundance there are also great store of hogs whose fleshe is as holesome and as sauorie as is mutton in Spaine and is verie good cheape a heyfor is bought for eight ryalles of plate and all other thinges of that countrie after the rate although that the marchandice of Spaine is verie deere It is a countrie of verie much golde if there were people for to take it out and manie pearles In all this Ilande they gather no wheate but in the bishopricke of Palensuela although in many other places the ground would yéeld it very well if they would sowe it But nature which was woont to supplie necessities dooth accomplish the lacke of wheate to giue them in stéede thereof a roote which dooth growe in that Ilande in great quantitie abundance and dooth serue them for bread as it did vnto the naturall people of that countrie when the Spaniards went thither It is white and is called Casaue the which being grinded brought into meale they doo make bread thereof for their sustinence the which although it is not so good as that which is made of wheat meale yet may they passe therwith and sustaine themselues This countrie is verie hoat by reason whereof their victuals are of small substance The principall citie of that Ilande is called Santo Domingo for the reason abouesaid in the which is an arch-bishop a royall audience or chauncerie this Citie is built on the sea side and hath to it a great riuer the which dooth serue them for their port or hauenâ— and is verie secure There is in it thrée monasteries of religious friers and two of Nunnes In this Ilande as saith the reuerende bishop of Chiapa in his booke there were wheÌ„ as the Spaniards came first thether thrée millions of men naturall Indians of the which at this day there is not two hundred left and yet the most part of them be sonnes vnto Spaniardes and blacke mores borne of the Indians women All their sugar milles and other places are inhabited with negros of the which there may be in that Ilande about twelue thousand It is a holsome countrie vnto theÌ„ that dwell therein The sea is ful of whales and that in abundance which are séene by such as do come in their ships many times they are in feare of them But aboue all other there is an infinit nuÌ„ber of great fishes called Tiburones are in great skule they are marueilously affected vnto humaine flesh wil folow a shippe fiue hundred leagues without leauing of it one day Many times they haue taken of the fishes and do finde in their bellies all such filth as hath béene throwne out of their shippe in many dayes sailing and whole shéepes heads with hornes and all If they chance to finde a man in the waters side he wil eate him all if not all that he doth fasten on he doth sheare it cleane away be it a legge or an arme or half his body as many times it hath béene séene and they doo it very quickly for that they haue many rowes of téeth in their heads which be as sharpe as Rasers CHAP. IIII. Of the way and the Ilandes that are betwixt this Iland of Santo Domingo and the kingdome of Mexico THe first Ilande that is after you are departed from Santo Domingo is that which ordinarily is called Nauala the which is one hundred and twelue leagues from y e cittie of Santo domingo and is seuentéene degrees and is but a small Iland and nigh vnto that is another which is called Iamayca of fiftie leagues in Longitude and fourtéene in Latitude there was wont to be about them many Vracanes which are spowts of water with many blustering winds This word Vracan in the Indian tongue of those Ilands is as much to say as the ioyning of all the foure principall winds togither the one forcing against the other the which ordinarily dooth blow vppon this coste in the monethes of August September and October by reason whereof such fléetes as are bound vnto the Indies doo procure to passe that coast before these thrée monethes or after for that by experience they haue lost many ships in those times From this Iland they go vnto the Ilande of Cuba which is in twenty degrées in the which is the port of Hauana
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
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
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—
did sée them do reuerence vnto their Idols or vnto the diuell or any other euill thing they did reprehend theÌ„ with great liberty who did not onely séeke to hurt theÌ„ for the same but did greatly reioyce to heare their reasons wherewith they did prohibite or forbid them The said frier did tell me that one day passing by an hermitage whereas dwelled an hermite who had vpon the altar in the same an Idoll for his saint before whom was there a Chino a principall man worshipping the same the said father without any feare went vnto him began to reprehende him and to spit at the Idoll caused him therewith to leaue off his worshipping whereof he was greatly amased both he all the rest of his companie to sée with what boldnes it was done and no harme done vnto him for the same eyther they supposed that y e Chino did thinke him to be a mad man or else which is most to be beléeued y t God did worke with his seruant wherby he would giue him his reward for thatwhich he had done in returning for his honor in mittigating the furie of that man to giue him vnderstanding y t he was reprehended with reason There are many Chinos conuerted to the faith as well in the Ilands Philippinas as in the citie of Machao and they baptise of them daily who giuetokens and outwarde showes to bee good christians and say that the greatest difficultie for to conuert all the whole kingdome will be in them that doo gouerne in the same for they had néede of a particular ayde and helpe of the mercie of God to bring them vnto the faith for that they are had in reuerence and obeyed as Gods vpon the earth Besides this they do giue themselues to all delightes that any humaine creature can imagine for that they put all their felicitie therein and doo it with so great extremitie that it is supposed there is no people in all the worlde that may be compared vnto them For besides that they are alwayes carried in little chayres and vpon mens shoulders which are couered with silke golde yet are they giuen much vnto bankets wherein they haue so many different sortes of meates as their appetites doo require And it is greatly to bee maruailed at that the women of this kingdome are marueilous chast and secret as any whatsoeuer and to the contrarie the men are as vicious but in especiall the Lords and Gouernors and for that our faith do reprehend with rigor and terror the excesse of these thinges it is to be beleeued that it will be a great impediment to the entrie of the gospell amongst them yet God may so touch them and in such sort that there will be no difficultie Amongest the common people there will be no such impedimeÌ„t but rather they will embrace with great content our holy law for y t it will be an occasion to cleare set them at libertie from the tyrannie of the diuell and from their Iudges and Lords who do intreate them as slaues This is the opinion of all them that haue entred into this kingdome and haue intreated of this matter with the Chinos They haue amongest them some good thinges and woorthie to be imitated and folowed of the which I will here set downe two which are thinges of great purpose to my iudgement The one is that vnto none they do giue the office to gouerne by no manner of wayes nor meanes although they be suborned by friendship but onely by his owne merites and sufficient abilitie The seconde that none can be viceroy gouernour nor Iudge of a prouince or citie in the which hee is naturall borne the which they say is done to take away the occasion of dooing any iniustice beeing carried away or led by parentes or friendshippe All other thinges of this kingdome I do remit vnto that which hath bin before declared for to passe vnto the rest the which in this Itinerario is promised to be mentioned and declared CHAP. XIX This chapter doth treate of the Ilands of Iapon and of other thinges in that kingdome THe Ilandes of Iapon are many and altogether make a mightie kingdome y t is diuided amongest many lords it is distant froÌ„ the firme land of China thrée hundred leagues in the middest betwixt both kingdoms is the prouince of Lanquin which is one of the fiftéene afore named although going froÌ„ Machao a city of the Portingals ioyning vnto Canton which is of the proper China they do make it but 250 leagues trauelling towards the north commonly they do account the same leagues froÌ„ the Ilands of Luzon or Philippinas vnto the said Ilands of Iapon whereunto they may go by noua hispania for y t it is the better surer nauigation and shorter voyage for according vnto the reckoning of the pylots that do nauigate those seas they make it no more theÌ„ 1750. leagues which is not halfe of that which the Portingals make in their nauigation These Ilands are many as afore said yet are they populared with much people who in their bodies faces differ very little froÌ„ the Chinos although not so politike by the which it séemed to be true y t which is found written in the histories of the kingdom of China saying that these Iapones in old time were Chinas that they came from that mightie kingdome vnto these Ilands wheras they do now diuell for this occasion folowing A kinsman of a king of China a man of great countenance and valour hauing conceiued within his brest for to kill the king thereby to make himselfe lorde of the countrie the better to put this in execution he gaue to vnderstand of his euill intent vnto others of his friends requesting their fauour to execute y e same promising that he would do his best This being done hauing them alwaies for his especiall friends vnto whom it seemed no difficult thing and againe moued with ambition they did promise him and for the better confirmation thereof they began to prepare souldiers to haue theÌ„ readie against y e day appointed And for y t this their pretence could not be brought to effect with such secrecie as the matter required their treason came to be discouered vnto the king at such good oportunitie y t he might very well séeke remedie for his owne safegarâ— at his pleasure vnlooked for of his kinsman the rest of his followers who were all taken with great ease Then was it determined by those of the royall councell that all the traitors should haue their throts â—ut according vnto the lawes of the countrie but when their sentence was carried vnto the king to be confirmed he vnderstanding y t they much repented were sorie for their sin and treason that they had pretended against him he determined to remedie the same with lesse damage fearing what might happeÌ„ by their deaths so y t he coÌ„manded they should not
a kingdome that hath great abundance of prouision and lacke of things of contractation or marchandice which is the occasion that they are little knowen Trauailing a little forwardes is the kingdome of Coromandel whose chiefe citie is called Calamina and nowe vulgarly Malipur and is there whereas was martyred the happie Apostle S. Thomas And they say that at this day there remaineth some of his relickes by whom God did many myracles The naturall people therefore haue a particular memory vntill this day of that saint This citie at this day is populared with Portingals and with the naturall people there is in it a church wherein is comprehended the house whereas was and died the holy Apostle this countrie belongeth vnto the king of Visnaga who although he be a Gentile he hath great reuerence and respect vnto the house of the holy Apostle and for particular deuotion he doth giue euerie yeare a certaine charitie There is in this citie two couentes of religious men the one of the companie of Iesus and the other of the order of S. Francis From this citie of Calamina to that of Visnaga there wheras the king is it is fiue and thirtie leagues by land This king is mightie and his kingdome very great and full of people and hath great rentes They say that onely the rent he hath of fine gold is worth vnto him thrée millions of the which he spendeth but one onely and doth keepe euerie yeare two millions in his treasorie the which according vnto the report fame is at this day with many millions He hath twelue principall or chiefe captaines and euerie one of them hath the gouernement of an infinite number of people hath great rent for the same for he that hath least rent hath sixe hundred thousand ducats yearely Euerie one of them are bound to giue the king to eate and all the people of his house one month in the yeare so that by this account the twelue captaines which are the lordes of the kingdome and as wee might say dukes doo beare his cost all the whole yeare The million the which he doth spend is in giftes and in extraordinarie thinges The king hath in his house what with wiues seruants and slaues nigh about fourtéene thousand persons and in his stable ordinarily a thousand horse and for his seruice and garde eight hundreth Elephants of whoÌ„ he doth spend euerie day eight hundreth ducats The garde of his person is â—oure thousand horsemen to whoÌ„ he giueth great wages He hath also in his house thrée hundreth wiues besides a great number of concubines they goe all gallantly apparelled and with rich iewels of the which there are of great estimation in y e kingdome they do almost euerie three daies change newe colors of apparell They do ordinarily vse colors of precious stones such as are called in spaine ojo de gato cats eies They haue great store of saphires pearles diamonds rubies many other stones y t are in that kingdome in great abundance Amongest all these wiues there is one that is as legitimate whose children doo inherite and if it so fall out that she is barren the first that is borne of any of y e other doth inherite which is the occasion that they neuer lacke a successor in that kingdome When the king of this kingdome doth die they do carrie him foorth into a mightie fielde with great sadnesse and mourning apparell and there in the presence of those twelue péeres a fore saide they do burne his bodie with wood of Sandalo which is of a great smell with the which they do make a great fire After that the bodie of the king is burned and consumed they throwe into the same the wiues that hee best loued with seruants and slaues those that he most estéemed in his life time the which they do with so great content that euery one dooth procure to be the first for to enter into the fire and they that are last do thinke themselues vnhappie All these do say that they go to serue the king in the other life whereas they shalbe with great ioy This is the occasion that they goe with so good a will to die and carrie with them the most richest and festiuall apparell they haue Of this is gathered that they do beléeue the immortalitie of the soule for that they doo confesse there is an other life and that thither they do returne and liue for euer without ende They are people that would be conuerted with the like facilitie vnto the holy gospell as their neighbours if there went any thether to preach Thrée score and tenne leagues from this citie there is a Pagode or temple of Idols whereas is a rich faire euery yeare it is a very sumptuous building and edified in a place so high that it may be séene many leagues before you come vnto it It hath ordinarily foure thousande men of garde who are paide with the rent of the temple the which is rich and verye good There is nigh vnto the same many mynes of golde and precious stones and that is taken out of them is rent vnto the temple There is in it a prâ—est of the Idolles whom they call in their language brama and is as the high priest in that countrie All the people of the land do come vnto him to vnderstand the doubtes of their manner of liuing and he doth dispence with them in many things that be prohibited by their lawes y e which he may do according vnto the sayd lawes and manie times he doth dispence with certaine of theÌ„ But here one to be laughed at which is that when a woman cannot suffer the condition of her husbande or is wearie of him for other occasions she goeth vnto this Brama and giuing vnto him a péece of golde which may be to the value of a ducat in Spaine he doth vnmarry theÌ„ and setteth her at libertie that she may marry with an other or with many if she please in token of this she is giuen a marke with an yron vpon her right shoulder so that with that alone she remaineth at libertie and her husband cannot do vnto her any harme for the same neither compell her to returne againe to his company There are in this kingdome many mynes of verie fine diamonds and are had in great estimation and very well knowen in Europe There hath béene found in them a stone so fine and of so great value that but few yeares past the king did sell the same vnto an other mightie king his borderer called Odialcan for a million of golde besides other thinges of value that hee gaue him ouer and aboue It is a healthfull countrie with very goâ—d and fresh ayres rich of prouisions and of all other necessaries not only for the humaine life but also for curiositie and delightes that be therein It is in fourtéene degrées towardes the pole artico All the people therein are faint hearted and cowards and for
three townes are inhabited with Portugals and the farthest is the prouince of Cambaya subiect vnto the grand Tartar or Mogor by an other name Two and fortâ—e leagues beyond that is the cittie called Diu whereas is a very faire and good fortresse of Portugals with a very great hauen and sure whose name doth extend thoroughout all Turkey Two hundred and seuentie leagues beyond that is the Citie of Oromuz on the â—oast of Persia and in the same hath y e saide Portugals an other fortresse much better then that of Diu and more inexpugnable it is the biggest in al the Indians but not of so great name as that of Diu. In this cittie of Oromuz they gather nothing else but salt and that in great aboundance yet notwithstanding it is replenished of all that may be imagined for that there is brought thither from Persia and Arabia great prouision and many other curiosities They say that from this place they may easily go to Uenice taking their way to Aleph and to Tripoli in Soria All this coast of the Indias vnto Persia is inhabited with many and mightie kingdomes in the which there an infinite number of people one of them is that of Odialon the which is very rich and of much people and all Moores Nigh vnto this is another called Disamaluco harde by the kingdome of the great Tartar which in their language is called Mogor the which next vnto that of China I doo thinke is the greatest in all the world as may be collected in that which is declared of the mightinesse thereof both in ancient and latter histories On the other side of Oromuz is the kingdome of Persia whose king is Xactamas or Ismael Sophi great Soldan of Egypt descending by lyneall desent from the Soldan Campson Gaurio whom Selim Emperor of the Tartaros did ouercome in battell nigh vnto Damasco in the yeare 1516. All those of this kingdome are Moores although they the Turkes are as the Christians and heretikes for that the Persians do follow the interpretation of the lawe of Mahomet of certaine Alieâ— or doctors And the Turkes go a different way and do follow others This contractation and different interpretation of the lawe is the occasion that betwixt the one and the other there is ordinarily cruell warres and it is the great mercy of God for that the Turke may not haue any space to come and do euil vnto his Christians or if he do come he shalbe ouertaken with the Persians his enimy the Sophi and intrapped with all the euill they can do vnto him who that although he be a Moore and of the sect of Mahomet yet he is a friend vnto Christians CHAP. XXVII Of other kingdomes and notable things that are vntill you come into Spaine and to conclude the compassing of the world NEere vnto the straite of Oromuz is Arabia Felix where as all the inhabitants are of the sect of Mahomet and doo follow the same interpretatioÌ„ that the Sophi doth So running a long by Arabia you come straight vnto the red sea or Arabico the which hath foure hundred and fiftie leagues of Longitude and in some partes it is of a mightie depth the water thereof seemeth to bee red although taking it out thereof it is white the cause thereof is for that the ground vnder the water is of the same colour By reason whereof when as the sun doth shine thereon it séemeth red and thereby it hath got the name the which it hath vnto this day By this sea and by that of Basora the great Turk doth carrie much spiceriâ— silkes and cloth of golde and all riches out of the Orientall Indias the which may easily be disturbed but the way how is not for this place nor time On the other side is the land of Abexin which is that of Prester Iohn a kingdome although it is very great yet it extendeth very litle on this coast From this kingdome or poynt going to the southwest is six hundreth leagues to Mazaubique whereas there is inhabitance of Portingals All this coast is blacke people gentiles and Idolaters and is in fiftéene degrées in altitude towardes the south and in the same maner are all the rest that are inhabited from Mazaubique vnto the cape of Buena Esperansa They are without memorie of the preaching of the gospel if that God for his mercy doe not take pitie on them and put into the heartes of some to goe thither and to procure the remedie of so infinite number of soules So after the sayd father had informed himselfe of all that is sayde and of many other thinges more which is left out for to euitate tediousnes till such time as of them may bee made a particular historie hee departed from Goa and Cochin towardes Portingall and passed by the Ilandes of Maldiuia which are many all are inhabited with Moores nigh vnto the which they doe enter the poole Antartico crossing the equinoctiall from the coast of Arabia from thence they sayled with a faire winde till they came right against the Iland of sainct Lorenso which is very great for that it hath two hundreth seuentie and fiue leagues of longitude and fourescore and tenne of latitude All inhabited with much people very quiet and ciuill the faith of Christ was neuer preached amongest them yet I doe beleue that if it were they would quietly receiue the same Passing from this Ilande they came vnto the Cape of Buena Esperansa y t which is another very good Iland whose inhabitants and dwellers are much like to those of saint Lorenso it is in the temperate Zona nigh vnto the straights of Magellanes This Cape of Buena Esperansa is called by another name the Cape Tormentorio it is fiue and thirtie degrées large from the pole Antartico And from Cochin vnto this Cape they put one thousand thrée hundred fiftie and eight leagues that way which they do ordinarliy Nauigate When they doo passe by this cape they were wont to haue great and strong winds They go from thence to the Iland of S. Elena which is beyond the Cape forwards fiue hundred and seuentie leagues It is not inhabited with people but ful of swine goats and great aboundance of partriges and in all the coast is great store of fish the which is taken with great ease it is but a little Iland and hath circuit no more then fiue lâ—â—gues From this Ilande they do Nauigate foure hundred leagâ—es vntill they come vnder the Equinoctial vpon the coast of Guinea returning vnto the pole Artike in foure and forty degrées in altitude which was almost at the same place from whence he departed at his going foorth after hee compassed the world They passed in sight of the lande and from thence they sailed forwards and sawe other land vntill they came vnto Lisborne hauing after they had crossed the equinoctiall sayled a thousand foure hundred and fifty leagues
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