wherein the Imperial Citie and Pallace of Iedo are scituated 27 daies North-East wards before they could reach the utmost point of the land of Sungaer bordering upon the Sea being come thither they passed over an Istmus of thirty three English miles broad leading into the CouÌ„try of Iezzo abounding in skins furrs of price This territorie is very great mountainous but litle inhabited The Iappaners attempted its discovery severall times but in vaine for though they entred to fro far into the Countrey yet they could never find its end nor any certainty coÌ„cerning it their provisions ordinarily failing them which inforced their fruitlesse returnes The discoverers reports of these were soe imperfect that his Majestie dispaired of any further Satisfaction the countrey being presented as desolate and unpassable though in some place inhabited with a people all over hairy wearing their Beards long like the Chinesses brutish though otherwise well shaped To consider therefore the uncertianty whether this Countrey be an Island or no wee may observe that the passage betvveene Sungaer and Iezzo is no running water but an Inlet or long Istmus of the Sea it selfe 120 English Miles long extending it selfe betvvixt Iezzo and Iapan where it bounds upon vast mountaines and deserts about the Province of Ochio so that that way being vvholly unpassable by land travellers are forced to ferry over the aforesaid Isthmus from Sungaer to Iezzo in Barkes and such shipping as they have The tvvo great Islands of Chirkock and Saykock are governed by Kings and Lords that share vvith them in the Magistracie Chirkock hath one King and three Lords Saykock being the bigger of the tvvo hath more Governours but both are accounted Provinces of this great Empire though least in extent of those whereof it is composed How many Provinces it contaynes THat great Territory which we call Iapan the inhabitants Nippon borders upon those afore mentioned Islands and strecheth to the unknovvne Countrey of Iezzo is divided into five Provinces to wit Iam Aystero Ietsengo Ietsesen Quanto Ochio the which with the Islands of Saykock Chirkock make seaven in all whose Dominions Cities and Castles are subdivided under severall Kings and Lords as the follovving specification of the Revenue of the vvhole land aboundantly shevveth An Extract of the Sealed accompts and specification of the Revenue Excepting the Emperours of the Kings Princes Dukes and Lords of Japan together vvith the names of their Countreys and Castles according to the Japans accompt in Cockyens each Cockyen being ten Carolus Guilders vvich is some Tvventy Shillings Sterling CAngano Tsiunangon King of Canga Geâ—tichu Natta hath his Residence in the Castle of Canga his Revenues amounts to 1190000. â—â—rngano Daynangon King of Surngo Toto and Mitaunca dwells in the Castle Faytâ—iâ—s hath in Revenue 700000 Ouvvarino Daynangou King of Ovvary and Mimo dwells in the Castle of Mangay and hath 700000 Sendaino Thiunangon King of Massamne and Ochio lives in the invinsible Castle of Senday and hath 640000 Satsumanon Thiunangon King of Satsumae Ossimus Fiungo and Quchio lives in Kaâ—gasima and hath 600000 Rinocaouny Daynangon King of Kimo and Ishe lives in the Castle of Wake Iamma and hath 550000 Catto Fingonocamy King of Tingo lives in the Castle of Koumamâ—tte and hath 554000 Matsendeyro Iemenofiâ— King of Tsunkisâ—n and Faccatia dwells in Foucosa and hath 510000 Matsendayro Ionocany King of the Great Province of Ietchesen lives at Ocede and hath 511100 Calto S. Kibo King of Osio dwells in the Castle of Aâ—s and hath in Revenue 430000 Assaino Taysima King of Bingo dwells in the Castle of Oky and hath 420000 Matsendeyro Nangato King of Soua dwells in the Castle of Fangy and hath 370000 Mittono Thionangon King of Fitaytâ— dwells in the Castle of Mit. and hath 360000 Nahissima Simano King of Thisien dwells in the Castle of Logtois and hath 360000 Matsendeyro Sentairo King of Ianabasoky dwells in the Castle of Tackaham hath 360000 Tâ—do Isumy King of Ianga Iche dwells in the Castle of Son hath 320000 Matsendeyro Lonuey King of Bissen dwells at Ossaiamma hath 310000 Inno Cammon the bravest of the Princes King of Totomy dwells in Savaiamma hath 300000. Fosso Covva Ietchin King of Boytes lives at Cokera and hath 300000. Oyesungi Daynsio King of Iotsengo dwells in the Castle of Gunisauvva and hath 300000. Matsendeyro Denrio King of the Province of Ietsengo lives at Formando and hath 300000. Matsendeyro Auvva Duke of Auvva dwells in the Castle Incts and hath 250000. Matsendeyro Ietchigonacamâ—â— Duke of the land of Conge dwells at Takato and hath 250000. Matsendeyro Tsiusio Duke of Ioo dwells at Mats Iamma and hath 250000. Ariama Grimba Duke of Tsirkingo dwells at Courme hath 240000. Morimo Imasack Prince of Imasaka dwells at Tsiamma and hath 200000. Tory Inganocanij Prince of Sevvano dwells at Iummengatta hath 200000. Matsendeyro Tosa Prince of Tosnacorij dwells at Tocosiamma hath 200000. Satake Okion Prince of Wano dwells at Akita and hath 200000. Matsendevro Simo Sautamy Prince of Simosa dwells at Tatebays and hath 200000. Forriwo Iamaissiro Prince of Insâ—â—o dwells at Masdaytâ— and hath 200000. Ikouma Ikinocanij Prince of Sanike dwells at Couham and hath 180000. Forivvo Iamassiro Prince of Insimo dwells at Masdayts and hath 180000. Fonda Kayokamij Knight and Lord of Faryma dwells in Tayeno and hath 150000. Sackey Counay Knight Lord of the great Province of Wano dwells at Fakfio hath 150000. Tara sanvva Simado Knight and Lord of Fisen dwells in Lataâ—s and hath 120000. Kiongock vvakasa Knight and Lord of Wakasa dwells in Osamma and hath 120000. Fory Tango Knight and Lord of â—etchesen dwells at Kavvantisma and hath 120000. Minsio Fiongo Knight and Lord in Bingo dwells at Fâ—uâ—ke Iamma hath 120000. Sackopharra Eskibon Knight and Lord of Kooske dwells in the Castle of Tattays hath 120000. Matsendeyrâ— Tavvayts Governor of the Emperors Castle in Quana hath 110000. Oeckendyero Imysacka Knight and Lord of Simotske dwells in Oâ—tsnomio and hath 110000. Sannada Iut Knight and Lord of Sinano dwells at Koske and hath 110000. Taysibanna Finda Knight and Lord of Sickingo dwells in Imangonvva and hath 110000. Ongasaura Oucken Knight and Lord of Farima dwells at Kays and hath 100000. Indatiji Voutumij Knight and Lord of Gyo dwells in Itasima and hath 100000. Nambon Sinano Knight and Lord in the great Province of Ochio dwells at Mortiamma and hath 100000. Niwa Groysemon Knight and Lord in the great Province of Ochio dwells at Sirakovva and hath 100000. Abeno Bitchion Gouernor of the Emperors Castle Ivvatsuky in the Countrey of Moysays hath 80000. Kiongock Oenieme Knight and Lord of Tanga dwells in Tanabe and hath 70000. Makino Surnga Lord in Ietchingo dwells at Wangerecka and hath 70000. Nackangonvva Nysien Lord in Bongâ— lives in the Citie of Nangoun and hath 70000. Matsendayrâ— Comba Lord in Sinano dwells in Matsmoâ—â— hath 70000. Nayâ—â—o Samma Lord in Fitayts dwells in the Citie of
him out of his distress and misfortune they will die nay suffer the worst of tortures rather then discover their complices although in evil thinking the breach of covenants inexpiable and the dishonour of not helping their neighbour and one that hath thrust him into misery worse then any death whatsoever What Traffick and with what Nations THe Trade of this Country which is but small in respect of the vastness of it and it abounds with all sorts of Merchandise is carried on by Strangers the principal whereof are the Chinesses who from the first peopling of this Empire to this day have been constant frequenters of their yearly Marts The Spaniards and Portugals have been acquainted with this People above an hundred years the English but of late who finding but little profit and great expences abandoned this Traffick again The Siammers and Camboiders used also to arrive with a ship or two though not now so often as formerly Lastly the Netherlander got footing there where they have seated themselves fast enough and traded these forty years The principal Commodities as well those which Strangers bring as such which are of the growth of the Country are all brought to the great City of Meaco which is the Staple of the whole Empire it is here that the Merchants and Factors from every part of the Land do assemble bringing with them such things as their several Provinces do produce which they sell or change for others which they stand in need of These Merchandises are carried sometimes two or three hundred miles to and fro over hills and dales all upon horses whereof they have an incredible number The Traffick consists of all sorts of wares as well for the pride as use of man Strangers bring yearly four or five thousand Picols of Silk each Picol weighing one hundred twenty five pounds weight besides a great quantity of wrought Silks two hundred thousand Harts-skins one hundred thousand Rochvellenskins a great abundance of Hemp Cloth Cotton and red Wool Carpets to sit upon Pewter Quick-silver and all sorts of Drugs Nutmegs Peper Musk Sugar Porcelan Camphier Borax Eliphants-Teets red Coral and all sorts of small Wares which the Chineses bring thither What domestick Trading and Navigation HEre are many very rich Merchants who drive great Trades these go themselves or have Factours at Meaco where they exchange their Commodities for Silver Gold or other Wares each according to his fancy and convenience The Japanners of old had great correspondencie with them of China whose Kings sent Ambassadors yearly to each other for entertaining their alliance and the negotiation of their Subjects it happened that the Japanners who were numerous in China did mutiny and in a tumult destroy a whole City plundering ravishing and spoyling all but the Chinesses getting into a body fell upon the Japanners again and put all they could meet with to the sword The King of China hearing of these discords was no less amazed then in a wonder that so few could do so much mischief and therefore resolved to banish the Japanners for ever out of his Kingdom in memory whereof he caused a great stone Pillar to be set up with the story of their exile in letters of Gold He likewise set out a Proclamation that none of his Subjects upon paine of death should saile any more to Japan which order was then more exactly observed then at present and yet they do not directly go thither for the Chinesses under a colour of other voyages do often slip into Japan The Emperour of Iapan doth not at all obstruct their traffick permitting them to enter and leave his Countrey when they please Saying he will not reward evil for evil considering also that the reason of this prohibition on the other side came not through any fault of the Chinesses but by the disorders of his own People Since the Iapanners have been banished out of China they used to sail to Tayouan where the Chinesses brought them their Merchandises but that being discovered by the Court of China they were prohibited this Traffick likewise Many years after the Iapanners obtained leave to return to Tayouan as also to go to Touckien Cambodia and Sian which negotiation was again disturbed upon this consideration that the Emperour of Iapan would neither offend nor be offended by any Strangers which had already happened by the extortions of the Governours of Sian and Tayouan and therefore none of his Subjects should any more traffick or deal with Strangers out of their own Country Another reason was because he would have no Arms transported out of his Empire which could not be hindred by no way but this insomuch that two Chinesses Father and Son were both crucified at Finando for endeavouring to convey some away in private and five Iapanners who had sold them the said Arms without knowing their design were beheaded But the chief cause of this inhabition is least the Natives of this Country travelling into strange places might be converted to the Christian Religion and upon their returne infuse those forraigne principles into their Country-Men which they have endeavoured to suppress with so much blood and violence The Profits amounting thence NEither the Emperour nor his subordinate Kings or Lords do gain any thing at all by the Commerce of their Subjects the Merchants onely profit by it although the gaine be not extraordinary by reason of the greatness of the Country the charge of transport and the multitudes of people which must live by it Their correspondency with Strangers THe Iapanners hold no correspondency at all abroad having never yet sent their Ambassadours into any forraigne Countries except China which they have also long discontinued The King of Spain the Pope and the King of Siam have sent several extraordinary Ambassadours to this Court which were indeed honourably received and feasted though never any returns made again by this Prince The Commodities which Japan yeildeth THere is nothing necessary for the use of Man but this Country doth abundantly produce as Silver Gold Brass Iron Tin and Lead in great quantity also Cotton Hemp Silk Filoselle Harts-skins Wooden Manufactures Drugs and whatever can be required to feed and cloath its innumerable inhabitants Their Mint Measures and VVeights THe Iapanners have one Language one fashion in their Clothes one Mint and one Weight they have indeed besides their Gold and Silver Coins a sort of Copper Monies which they call Casies and is of differing value in many of the Kingdoms but his Majesty hath resolved to re-coin these Casies into one fashion to which end he hath ordered all the old ones to be called in and bought them of their owners at their full worth and price where with his Officers have been busied these four years They have three sorts of Gold coin the first and greatest weigheth six Royals and is worth forty six Tayles each Tayle being valued at fifty seven Stivers or Pennies the second sort is worth six Tayles and one half and the third
of people which I omit as superfluous The City of Iudica the Metropolis of the Kingdom and seat of the King and his chiefest Nobles is scituate upon the River Menam in a little round Island encompassed with a thick stone wall about six English miles round the Suburbs are on the other side of the River closely builded and full of Temples and Cloysters lying in a flat and fruitful Country The Streets of the walled Town are many of them large straight and regular with channels running through them although for the most part of small narrow Lanes Ditches and Creekes most confusedly placed the Citizens have an incredible number of small Boats or Prawes which come to their very doors especially at floods and high water The building of the Houses is according to the Indian fashion slight and covered with Tiles but the City is beautified with more then three hundred faire Temples and Cloysters all curiously builded and adorned with many gilded Towers Pyramids and Pictures without number The Kings Palace is seated upon the River resembling a little Town apart great and magnificent many of its Buildings and Towers being entirely gilded This royal and admirable City is perfectly well seated and populous to a wonder being frequented by all Nations and is likewise impregnable as not to be besieged but six moneths in a year by reason of the innundations of the River which covers the Countrey round with its overflowings The Soveraignity and Government of Siam is in the King a Prince of a Noble and ancient family who hath been in possession of this Kingdom and the neighbouring Provinces many hundred of years this Prince is absolute in his Dominions disposing of War and Peace Alliances Justice Pardons and Remissions c. at his pleasure He maketh Laws without any advise or consent of his Council or Lords his will being the rule he walks by unlesse his goodnesse descend sometimes to counsel with his Mandoryns them of his Council these sometimes deliberate upon his Majesties propositions and present their result to him by way of humble supplication which he confirms changes or rejects as he thinks good He disposes Soveraignity of all the Dignities and great Offices of his Kingdom without respect of persons noble or otherwise except some of the Antientest and greatest Families to such as have or may serve him well whom he againe deprives of their honours for small faults so that they are all his Slaves and Vassals which the Great ones esteem an honour and put in their titles The King thus soveraignly disposing of all things doth notwithstanding nothing without some appearance of reason and conformity to the Laws of the Kingdom which however antient he by his usurped prerogative and power doth interpret and bow to his Arbitrary will and pleasure His Majesties Court and Train is exceeding great and glorious He seldom shews himselfe to the People and very sparingly to his Grandees and Officers of the Kingdom which happens at certain appointed times and daies when he gives them Audience he is richly clothed and crowned sitting upon a golden Throne at whose feet his Gentlemen and Attendants reverently kneel accompanied with three hundred armed Souldiers of his Lifeguard All as well Strangers as Subjects who have audience of his Majesty whilest they are in his presence must continually kneele with folded hands and heads hanging down when they speak to him it must be in this humble posture loading him with titles and praises his Answers are esteemed Oracles and his commands unchangeable so that he lives happy in all imaginable worldly pleasures having many magnificent Houses up and down the Kingdom as also other places Tents and Pavilions He eateth highly but his drink is simple water or Coco all strong drinks being prohibited by the Clergy and the Laws and esteemed scandalous His Majesty goeth ordinarily by water with eight or ten very costly and fine Barges each with eighty or a hundred rowers he sits under a gilded Pavilion upon a Throne accompanied with his Courtiers and other Barges to the number of three or four hundred with his Train and Guards waiting upon him most of the great Ones follow the Court at such times each in his rich gilded Barge or Praw so that the whole train of them is twelve or fourteen hundred and sometimes more When he goes by land he is mounted upon a gilded seat and carried upon mens shoulders the train being ordinarily the same all marching in order and great silence no body is seen in his way or sight but upon their knees with folded hands and bowed heads and bodies this reverence better becoming a celestial Diety then an earthly Majesty Once every year about the moneth of October the King of Siam shews himself by water and land in state to his people going to the principal Temple of the Gods to offer there for the welfare of his Person and Kingdom the manner follows When he goes by land the procession is led by two hundred Elephants each attended vvith three armed men these are follovved by many Musitians vvith Gomnies Pipes and Drums and a thousand men richly armed and provided vvith Banners Then march the great Lords of the Kingdom on horse-back many of them vvearing Crovvns of Gold upon their heads and every one vvaited upon by sixty eighty or an hundred men on foot Tvvo hundred Iapan Souldiers follovv these vvith bright Arms and rich Colours and much noise of Instruments then comes the Lifeguard vvith the King's Horses and Elephants richly adorned vvith pretious Stones and Gold furniture vvhich is follovved by many Servants loaden vvith fruits and presents for the Sacrifice accompanied vvith a svvet consort of Musick These are again follovved by many of the great Ones on foot vvith folded hands as also some Crovvned Grandees vvhereof one carrieth the gilded Standard and the other the Svvord of Justice his Majesty follovvs next in person in his royal Robes sitting upon an Elephant or else a gilded Throne carried upon mens shoulders and vvaited upon by many Lords and Courtiers the Prince or Heir of the Kingdom follovveth him and then in order the Kings Wives and Concubins seated upon Elephants in little enclosed Cabinets lastly the ordinary Courtiers follovv the vvhole provision consisting of fifteen or sixteen thousand persons having its rear brought up by six hundred armed men But if the King go by vvater then tvvo hundred Lords each in his Barge seated in a gilded Cabinet vvith eighty or ninety Rovvers lead the van these are follovved by ten extraordinary rich figured Pravvs or Barges the vvhich as also the Oars are all gilded each having ninety or an hundred Watermen The King is in the richest of them sitting like an Idol upon a golden Throne vvith his Lords in their humblest posture at his feet the royal Banner is borne by one of these Grandees at the head of the Barge in state The King's Brother follovveth next vvith his Train and after him his Majesties Wives and Concubins in
Fosio Mimasacka 10000. Sango Wake Sakea 10000. Tonda Inaba 10000. Samnanda Nyki 10000. Ikenday Ietseses 10000. Miangi Simsen 10000. Iton Tangow 10000. Tonda Nayki 10000. All hitherto comes to 18395000 Here follow 's the Emperours Counsellors who receive their Sallary out of his Majesties Revenues whose Lordshipps wee likewise omit for brevityes sake and shall onely mention their names and Salleryes Doyno Doydonno President 150000. Sackey Outadono Chancelor 120000. Nangay Sywodonno 100000. Sackay Samikodonno 90000 Ando Oukiondonno 60000 Inâ—sâ— Cawaytsdo 50000 Inabe Tangedonne 40000 Sackay Auwado 30000 Sakay IamessicodoÌ„no 30000 Nayda Ingado 20000 Tsitia Winbondonno 20000 Misson Oukiedonno 20000 Metsendeyro Iemoudonno 20000. Iammanguyts Tassimandanno 20000. Matsendeyâ— Iurdonno 20000. Abe acoungo Donno 15000. Auwe Iamon Oukerodonno 15000. Ciongock SiensendoÌ„ne 15000. Itacaura Nistenda 15000. Nacsie Iucdonno 15000. Akimouta Taysionadonno 15000. Forita Cangadonna 15000. Miura Symadonne 10000. Maynda Gonoske donne 10000. Missona Iamacta 10000. Fory Itsuocamij 10000. Mury Oemonoskedonno 10000. Fondo Saniadonno 10000. The Totall 19345000. Moreouer his Majesty spends in his owne and his Sons Table and cloths together with his Wives and their Table Cloths foure Millions of Guilders yearly which in Sterling Moneys is 400000. His Majesties life guard being all persons of quallitie receive in pay and pensions yearly 500000. All these vast Expences amount to 283 Millions 450 thousand Guilders or 28345000 sterling monie What qualitie authority the supreame Magistrate hath THe supreame Magistrate in Japan is stiled Emperor in respect of the Kings Princes that are under his Obedience He is Soveraign Lord and Ovvner of the whole land and hath povver as it happened severall times during my residence there to banish and punish with death at pleasure his offending Kings and Lords and to give avvay their Commands and Treasures to those he fancies more deserving then they His dwelling place magnificence Traine The Imperial Citie of Iedo where his Maiesty resides is very great his Pallace coÌ„taynes in circuit six English miles being encoÌ„passed with three Moats and three Counterscharpes These Ditches are very deep being bordered on both sides vvith high and strong Stone vvalls strangely angular The first circumference entring into the second the second into the third and this againe into the second and first so odly that it is impossible by reason of the multiplicity of the poynts vvorkes to remember the fashion of the whole and it is not permitted to take the plaine thereof Such as enter must goe through a passage of three or foure hundred paces fortified with Eight or Nyne huge gates not right over each other but ansvvering the points and halfe circles in the mentioned vvalles betvvixt every tvvo ports there is a large plaine guarded with a Company of Souldiers and those being past several heights with broad stone Stairs and Walls which being likewise surmounted several great Plains bordered with large Galleries against the Sun and Rain do present themselves to the common view The Streets in the Castle are extraordinary large built on each side with goodly Pallaces belonging to the Lords of the Kingdom The Castle Gates are very strong and covered on both sides with iron Bars of an inch thick crossing each other and fastened with Bolts of the same every Gate hath his House large enough to contain two or three hundred Souldiers and defensible upon occasion within in the midst of the first circumference standeth his Majesties Pallace it is great and consisteth of several dwellings beautified with Woods to the envy of Nature full of Ponds Rivers Gardens Plains Courts places to Pickeer and Sport in and moreover contains all the dwellings of his Women The second Circumference is inhabited by the next Princes of the blood and those of the Council And the third is possessed with the proud Pallaces and dwellings of the severall Kings and principal Dukes and Lords of Japan The Cheifs of Lesser note have their Houses without the third Round each adorned according to the Dignity and Riches of the Owners all almost gilt so that this goodly Edifice appears at a distance not unlike a Mountain of Gold for all the Lords none excepted rack themselves to please his Majesty by beautifying his Castle and their own Habitations which their lawful Wives and Children do likewise enjoy after their decease continuing always under the Emperors eye as Hostages of their fidelity This City of Iedo is nine English Miles long and six broad and is as closely built as any City in Europe The Court how great soever is dayly crowded with multitudes of Nobles who with their numerous Trains with Horses and Palanquins make the Streets too narrow for their passage When the Emperor goeth abroad sometimes on Horse-back and sometimes carried in a Pallanquin open on every side he is ordinarily accompanied with these Lords who are called his Majesties Companions being all of them of high State and Revenues though without Lands or other Office save their attendance They are Persons extraordinarily qualified some in Musick and Singing others in Physick Writing Painting Elocution and the like These are followed by the Life-Guard all Persons of quality and choice being the natural Sons of Kings and Princes begot on their Concubines and uncapable of succession and the Brothers Cosins and Kindred of great Lords which by reason of their many Women are very numerous I will give you one example The Emperors Uncle King of Mito now fifty four years old hath as many Sons as he hath years and many more Daughters whose number is unknown After these follows part of the second Life-Guard which consisting of some thousands is so divided that half goes a Cannon shot before his Majesty and the other half follows at the same distance However the number of these Souldiers be great yet there is not one of them which hath not passed Examination and found to be thus qualified They must be active of body ready in the use of all sorts of Arms and somewhat knowing in their Studies especially well exercised and trained which they are to a wonder for when his Maiesty moves they go along Horse and Foot clothed all in black Silk and ranked before behinde and on each side of him They march in such comely order that never a one is observed to go out of his place and with such silence that they neither speak nor make any the least noise Neither indeed do the Citizens move their lips when the Emperor passeth nothing being then heard but the ruffling of Men and Horses The ways and streets are at such times made very clean strewed with sand and sprinkled with water No doors are shut and yet no body dares look out either at them or at the windows or so much as stand in their shops to see the Emperor pass all must keep within doors unless such who will kneel upon mats before them When his Maiesty goes on progress to Miako sometimes the imperial City which happens once every five
had therefore rather hear of their faults by their trusty Servants to correct them then to be ill spoken of behind their backs and for this reason these secret Monitors are alwaies near their Lords persons especially at Feasts and publique meetings observing their words and least actions These Lords though they have their particular names yet they are ordinarily called by that of their Government or residence further every man hath three names the children a childish when they are men a more manly and being become old get others suitable to the decays of nature and age The surnames are first pronounced for being their parents were before them they think it but reasonable that their names should likewise precede When one of these Lords die ten twenty or thirty of his Vassals kill themselves to bear him company many that do so oblige themselves to it during their Lords lives for having received some more then ordinary grace and favour from him and fancying themselves better beloved then their companions they think it a shame to survive their Benefactour and therefore in return of their thanks they usually add My Lord the number of your faithful Slaves is great but what have I done to merit this honour this Body which is indeed yours I offer you again and promise it shall not live longer then yours I will not survive so worthy a Patron For confirmation of this they drink a bowl of Wine together which is solemn for no covenants thus made are to be broken Those that thus binde themselves cut their own bellies and do it as followeth They assemble their nearest kindred and going to Church they celebrate the parting feast upon mats and carpets in the midst of the Plain where having well eat and drank they cut up their bellies so that the guts and entrails burst out and he that cuts himself highest as some do even to the throat is counted the bravest fellow and most esteemed If the Lord cause a wall to be built either for the King or himself his Servants often times beg they might have the honour to lie under out of a belief that what is founded upon a living mans flesh is subject to no misfortune This request being granted they go with joy unto the designed place and lying down there suffer the foundation stones to be laid upon them which with their weight immediately bruise and shiver them to pieces His Majesty hath several Castles strong and great whereof those of Osaua and Iedo are the most magnificent The Countries belonging to the Kings and great Lords are not much travelled by our Nation so that we have no knowledg of them only I am informed that they have mighty Towns and Castles None of these Cities are walled though their streets are regular every one and equally long the ends of them shut with Gates and guarded with Watchmen by night or times of danger The Country waies are marked at every miles end with stones or stakes being put up for that purpose In their Towns and Villages every street hath two Magistrates who take care for their precinct and must give an account for whatever happens in them and because none through clownishness or otherwise may approach the Lord Governour with disrespect they have Prolocutors appointed them by whose intervention all lesser matters are compassed the more difficult being reserved for the decision of the ordinary Judge Their manner of Justice THe Cities and Towns have no revenue at all each of them depending on their Lord neither have the Citizens Marchants Gentry or Commonalty any Tolls Excise or Contributions they pay likewise nothing except it be for the ground their houses stand upon which is the Lords and for that they give from forty shillings to two yearly according to the greatness of their houses Every house must finde a man upon occasion which happeneth three or four times a year though but for an hour and sometimes for half a day or so The King or Lord hath the whole product of the Land and Sea the Gentlemen and Souldiers live upon that portion their Lord assigns them out of the Country the Marchant subsists by his gaine the Citizens and Artificers by their trades and the Labourers by that portion which their Lord allows them out of the fruit of the earth What Crimes they punish most severely EVery individual from the Emperour to the meanest Gentleman hath the right of Justice over his Subjects and Servants His Majesty hath his ordinary Judges in all his Cities and Towns When a Gentleman or Souldier is condemned to die he is allowed the honour to kill himself by cutting up his belly with his own hands whereas the Citizen Marchant and meaner persons suffer by the common Executioner A Marchant how rich soever is not esteemed at all because they say He liveth by his lying making no conscience to cousen and deceive the People for his filthy lucre sake The Citizen and Artificer are likewise undervalued because they are but Servants to the Commonalty and forced to live by their labours and manufactures Neither are the Country People of more account because of the miserableness of their condition being subject to perpetual slavery and toyling But the Gentlemen and Souldiers who are numerous are honoured and feared and they do nothing being maintained and served by the Marchants by the Citizens and by the Country Labourers Every crime how small soever is punished with death especially theft although but to the value of a penny gaming and playing for money is no less hainous then murther and all other Delinquents which deserve the rigour of Justice with us in Europe undergo the same penalty here Every one suffers for his own faults except the matter be treasonable and then the Father Brothers and Sons must likewise suffer and their goods be confiscated and the Mothers Sisters and Daughters be given away and sold for slaves These confiscations are not due to the Emperour King or Lord in whose Territories they happen but are reserved under account for publick uses as building of Churches making of Bridges repairing of High-waies and the like It happened in my time that a proud fellow presented his service to a poor Gentleman demanding of him by reason of his address and parts more wages then he knew the Gentleman could give who vexed at the youths impertinencies and perceiving he jeered him replied with a composed countenance Friend you demand indeed much wages but being I think you will deserve it and that you are pleasing in my eyes I am content to receive you into my service Three daies after his Master sent him on an errand being returned he was accused for staying out so long so as no excuses would save his life being forced to pay for his insolency under this colourable pretence The Lord of Finando did lately cause three Gentlewomen of his Ladies attendants to be shut up in Chests spiked with nails on every side because one of them had had some
fear of shame or punishment A man may keep as many Concubins as he pleases besides his Wife though they are in some subordinacy to her whose Children onely inherit the other being contented with small portions for their subsistence Great mens goods are divided after their deaths into three parts one part for the King the second for the Priests and their Funerals and the third for their Children The common People have other Customs the Bridgroom buyeth his Bride for a sum of monies of her Father or Friends whereupon the marriage is made and concluded with a little feasting but they may divorce like the great Ones at pleasure and marry again with the same liberty The Children deal their deceased parents goods equally except some little advantages for the eldest Son They have many other Customs in marriage and succession too long and tedious to write As for their Children they send them to school at five or six years old where they are taught to write and read and rendered fit for Trades and other employments some are continued in their studies by the Priests their Masters until they are called to Offices and advancements in the State and then they cast off the yellow frock others continue there out of hopes of being one day Heads of Temples and Schools or sharing in the Priesthood The Siammers who live in Towns and populous places are either Courtiers Officers Merchants Watermen Fishermen Tradesmen or Artificers each one containing himself in his vocation The Country people brew till plant and bring up fwarms of Cattel as Horses Kine Swine Deer and domestick Fowl as Geefe Peacocks Ducks Hens Pigeons and other tame creatures insomuch that provision is very cheap notwithstanding the abundance of at which is sent into the neighbouring Provinces for their supply and use They have Brick Lime Wood and all materials for building of Churches Forts Houses Ships Prawes Jonks and other vessels in great quantities The divers Towns of this Countrey have their several Trafficks and Commerce in the chief City the trading is very good and free in its course the principal commodities are Choromandes and Sura vestments all manner of China wares Jewels Gold Benjamin Gumlack Wax Sappang Agerwood Tin and Lead c. as also vast numbers of Harts-skins one hundred and fifty thousand of these creatures being caught yearly in this Countrey and fold with much profit to the Japanners They drive a great trade with all eating provisions especially Rice many thousand Tuns being transported yearly by forraigners This City by reason of its great traffick is frequented by several Nations as the Indians the more Western Asiaticks European Moors and Christian Merchants The King himself is also a Merchant and hath his own Ships and Factours trading to Choromandel and China being for that cause more favoured and priviledged then any other Prince he likewise trafficks to Pegu Ava Jongoma Langs-jang and other places besides his negotiations at home all which bring him incredible profit and no small disturbance to private Merchants all which do certainly manifest the great trade that is carried on in this Countrey The Monies currant is of very fine silver of a round figure and impressed with the Kings picture the kindes are a Ticlas a Mase and a Fong worth thirty pence seven pence half penny and four pence English or near upon They reckon ordinarily by Cattys each being twenty Tayls or forty eight Royals of eight and it is with this and no other coyn that they handle and trade with save that there is a lesser called Schulpkens or little Sheels wherof eight or nine thousand go to a Fong being brought out of Manilha Borneo and Lequeo very useful for poor people Before the coming of the Netherlanders into the Indiaes the Portugals had great correspondence and amity with this Kingdom being in such esteem and honour by the King that the Embassadours sent from their Vice-Roys Governours and Bishops of Malacca in India were not only well received by his Majesty but richly presented by him and many of the residing Portugals in this Country advanced to great Offices and preferments they had not only the free exercise of their Religion but their chief Priest had also a monethly pension allowed him for his more splendid subsistence thus they prospered here for many years until the Dutch Company got footing amongst them and gained upon them from time to time by taking their Ships and interrupting their trade with Santhome and Nevagatain insomuch that they are at present very low and out of credit occasioned more particularly by their taking of a Dutch Yacht by a Spanish Gally in the River of Siam which the King took so highly that he revenged it with his Arms which produced a war between him and Manilha and however the Portugals seemed unconcerned in this quarrel yet they wholly lost their credit at Court insomuch that the Bishop of Malaccas Vicar their chief Resident there is debarred of his usual access to his Majesty and his Ministers whereas in former times they were esteemed the onely and chief Merchants of the whole Kingdom This breach and difference between these two Nations was fomented by the Dutch and increased by several acts of hostility on the Portugals side who took many of his Majesties Ships and Vassals at Sea in revenge whereof the Portugal Vessels were seized on in India and all the present Portugals natives clapt up in prison who were after two years restraint upon a fictitious embassie restored to their liberty but this practice coming to light occasioned the seisure of a Castilian and a Portugal Vessel in the Havens of Ligoor and Tanaslary the men whereof were not released till after a two years restraint but then indeed returned with his Majesties Letters to the Governours of Manilha and Malacca with invitations of their former peace and traffick where it is probable they may return but questionable whether they shall ever recover their former credit and authority It is more then thirty years since the Netherlanders came first to Siam and were admitted of by his Majesty so that the Company have judged it necessary for the cherishing their traffick and alliance with so mighty a Prince to settle there to which end they builded a house or lodge of wood in the City of India where they trade in in land commodities and selling of clothes as also buying of Harts-skins Sappang c. which are sent yearly to Japan the Company indeed hath not profited much by reason of several misfortunes by this traffick but they have gained more reputation then any Europians besides by the great friendship and correspondence which is betwixt them and the King and also have had the benefit of transporting great quantities of all sorts of provisions in Batamia which friendship notwithstanding the several successions of the Princes disturbing the Companies Cantore and Servants is yet sufficiently conserved and continued and ought in my opinion to be cherished as absolutely necessary for the good and welfare of our Company as also in regard of the Kings civil usage of us and his aversion to the Spaniards our common enemy finally our factory established there in the year 1633. and trading during my four years direction are so much corrected and increased that the Company hath remarkably gained by them with probability with good mannagement of more signal advantages To which end the General and Councel of India caused in Anno 1634. a stone lodge with fit pack-houses pleasant apartements and a commodious landing place to be builded on the borders of the River Menam being one of the convenientest and best scituated of any that is unfortified in all the Indiaes And thus much we found good to discover of the customes and manners of the Kingdom of Siam being my observations during my eight years residence in the chief City of the Country I have followed the exact rules of truth according to my best knowledge and diligence in this short relation remitting the curious to the more large and more particular discourses of better and more exact judgements FINIS