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
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
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
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
may preuent wars which be offered by princes adiacent vnto him or anie other whatsoeuer But in especiall with the Tartarians with whom they haue had continuall wars many yeare Although at this day that the Tartarians doo feare him very much in such sort as he thinketh it best to kéepe him for his friende and doth acknowledge vnto him a certain maner of vassalage And although at this present and long time since he hath bin and is without any occasion of wars that should come vpon a sodain yet hath he the selfsame care diligēce of preuention as though he had many grieuous enimies to defend himselfe from or to offend them as you shall perceiue in this that followeth For besides that he hath in euery prouince his president counsell of war captaine generall and others ordinarie to take vp people and ordaine their campes squadrons as well by sea as by land to serue at all assaies when that occasion shall serue So likewise he hath in euery city captaines and souldiers for their particular garde defence and doo range watch to set their garde in order both day night as though their enimies were at the gates This military order they do vse and maintaine in such sort that no nation knowne may be compared vnto them Although speaking generally according vnto the relation of certaine spanish souldiers that were there and did many times sée them there be other nations that do excéed them both in valiantnesse courage and worthinesse of mind They haue at the gates of all their cities their squadrons who let the entrie and going out of any whatsoeuer except he haue licence of the iustice of that citie or towne brought them in writing the which gates they do shut and open by order and licence of their captaines which is sent vnto them euery day written in whited tables and their fine vnto it These gates are the force of all the cittie and thereon is planted all the artilerie they haue nigh vnto the which gate is ordinarily the house whereas they are sounded or made At night when they do shut their gates they do glew papers vpon the ioinings of them then they doo seale the papers with the seale that the gouernour or iudge of that cittie doth weare on his finger the which is done by himselfe or by some other in whom he hath great confidence and trust and they cannot open them againe in the morning vntill such time as it bee séene and acknowledged that it hath not béene touched since the night that it was put on So that if any haue any iourney to ride verie early in the morning he must go forth of the citie ouer night before the gates be shut and remaine in the suburbes for out of the cittie it is not possible to goe vntill the gates be open which is not till the sunne be vp ordinarily They do not vse any castles nor forts but great bulwarkes and gun bankes whereas they haue continuall watch and doo change by quarters according as wee do vse and the officers with a great number of souldiers do range throughout the city and bulworkes and commonly the captaines be naturall of those prouinces whereas they haue their charge giuen them in consideration that the loue they haue to their countrie doo binde them to fight to the death for the defence thereof And for that there should be more quietnesse and rest in the cities it is not permitted that any do weare weapons defensiues nor offensiues but onely such souldiers as haue the kings pay neither do they consent they should haue them in their houses neither vse any in trauaile by sea nor lande Besides all this the king hath in the citie of Taybin and Suntiem whereas hee is resident and in such cities lying there about a great number both of horsemen and footemen alwaies in a readinesse for to go with him into any place for the safegarde of his person in time of necessitie The souldiers of this kingdome are in two sorts and manners the one sort are such as bee and are naturals of the citie whereas they haue their charge and these be called in their language Cum in this place the sonne doth succéed the father and for lacke of an heire the king doth prouide one in the dead mans place Euery one of them hath his name written vpon the post of his doore and the place appointed whither he shal go when occasion shall serue enimies being against that cittie or towne The other sort of souldiers are strangers and are consorted for yeares or monethes to serue These be they that ordinarily make their watches musters and ioyne companies for the receit of the captaines these be called in their language Pon. These goe from one place vnto another whereas they are commanded to go One captaine and ancient hath charge of a thousand and a meaner captaine with his ancient a hundreth that doo depend vpon the other So that for to knowe the number of people that is in a great campe it is done with great ease in accounting the ensignes of a thousand men which are easily knowne Euery chiefe or petie captaine of these hath his house vpon the cittie wal and his name put on it and there he dwelleth so long as the warres indureth These captaines euery moneth do exercise their souldiers in marching and putting them in order sometime with quick spéed and other times more slower and to giue assalt and retyre as they are taught by the sound of the drum this they do vse continually in the time of peace as wel as in the time of warre Also how to vse their weapons which are ordinarie hargabuses pikes targets faunchers brushebilles holbards dagars and armour The horsemen do vse in the warres to carrie foure swords hanging at their saddell bowes and doo fight with two at once with great dexteritie and gallant to behold These do accustome to go into the wars accompanied with many seruants and familiar friends on foote all wel armed after the gallantest manner that possible they may These footemen be marueilous full of pollicie and ingenious in warlike or martiall affaires and although they haue some valor for to assalt and abide the enimie yet doo they profite themselues of policies deuises and instruments of fire of fire workes Thus do they vse as wel by land in their wars as by sea many homes of fire full of olde iron and arrowes made with powder fire worke with the which they do much harme and destroy their enimies The horsemen do fight with bowes and arrowes and lances and with two swordes as I haue saide before and some with hargabuses They cannot gouerne their horses very wel for that they haue but one péece of iron that is crosse in their mouthes that serueth for a bridle and for to make them stay they pull but one raine and with clapping their hands together and making of a noise before them They
of those later times who for to conquere strange countries did separate themselues so farre from their natural that they lost their owne countries at home But these of this kingdome being forewarned as y e prouerbe saith Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum By the hurt of another c. they haue found by experience y t to go forth of their owne kingdome to conquer others is the spoile and losse of much people and expences of great treasures besides the trauaile and care which continually they haue to sustaine that which is got with feare to be lost againe so that in the meane time whilest they were occupied in strange conquests their enimies the Tartarians and other kings borderers vnto them did trouble and inuade them doing great damage and harme And more considering that they do possesse one of the greatest best kingdomes of the world as well for riches as for fertilty by reason whereof and by the great aboundance of things that the country doth yéeld many strange nations do profite themselues from them and they haue néed of none other nation for that they haue sufficient of all things necessarie to the mainteining of humane life In consideration whereof they called a generall court of parliament whether came all vizroyes and gouernours and other principall men of all the fiftéene prouinces and there they did communicate to put remedy in this great inconuenience in the best manner possible Then after they had wel considered of the same with great care diligēce taking the iudgement particular of euery one in generall by common consent they found it requisit for their quietnes profite a thing most conuenient for the common wealth to leaue al y t they had got gained out of their owne kingdome but specially such countries as were farre off And from that day forwards not to make any wars in any place for that from thence did procéed a knowne damage a doubtfull profite and being altogether conformable they did request the king that was at that present that he would cal home al such people as he had in other kingdomes bordering there about vnder his obedience perswading him that in so doing he should remaine a mightie prince more richer more in quiet and in more securitie Then the king perceiuing the request and petition of his kingdome subiects and being fully satisfied that this perswasion was requisite to be put in execution he straightwayes set it a worke and commanded vpon great penalties that al his subiects and vassals naturall that were in any strange countries that in a time limited they should returne home to their own country and houses and likewise to the gouernours of the same countries that they should in his name abandon leaue the dominion and possession that he had of them excepting such as would of their owne good will acknowledge vassalage and giue him tribute remaine friends as vnto this day the Lechios other nations do This law was then established and is inuiolablie kept to this day in the which it is first commanded that none whatsoeuer vpon paine of death shall make or begin warre in any part without his licence Also on the said penaltie that no subiect of his shall nauigate by sea out of the kingdome without the said licence Also that whosoeuer will go from one prouince to another within the said kingdome to traficke in buying and selling shall giue suerties to returne againe in a certaine time limited vpon paine to bee disnaturalled of the country Likewise that no stranger whatsoeuer shal come in by sea nor by land without his expresse licence or of the gouernours of such ports or places whereas they shall come or ariue And this licence must be giuen with great consideration aduising the king therof Al which lawes haue béene so inuiolablie kept and obserued that it hath béene the occasion that this mightie kingdome hath not come to notice and knowledge but of late yeares All the which that is said séemeth to be true for that it is cléerely found in their histories and books of nauigations of old antiquitie whereas it is plainely séene that they did come with their shipping vnto the Indies hauing conquered al that is from China vnto the farthest part thereof Of all the which they indured possessers in great quietnes till such time as they ordeined the law of abandoning of their owne good will as aforesaid So that at this day there is great memory of them in the ilands Philippinas and on the cost of Coromande which is the cost against the kingdome of Norsinga towards the sea of Cengala whereas is a towne called vnto this day the soile of the Chinos for that they did reedifie make the same The like notice memory is there in the kingdom of Calicut wheras be many trées and fruits that the naturals of that countrie do say were brought thither by the Chinos when that they were lords and gouernours of that countrie Likewise in those dayes they were of Malaca Siam and Chapaa other of their borderers Also it is to be beléeued of y e Ilands of Iapon for that there are many tokens of the Chinos vnto this day the naturals of the country are much after the fashion of the Chinos and many particular things that do giue vs to vnderstand and some lawes that are obserued and kept in China But now in these dayes the gouernours of the sea ports do dispence with the law that forbiddeth y e going out of the kingdome by certain giftes which is giuen thē by merchants to giue them secret licence that they may go and traficke in Ilands bordering there about as vnto the Philippinas whither come euery yeare many ships ladē with merchandise of great riches of the which is brought many times into Spaine Likewise they do trauaile vnto other parts and places wheras they vnderstand they may profite themselues Yet they do not giue any such licence vntill they haue giuen suerties to returne within one whole yeare The desire of gaine hath caused them to traueile to Mexico whither came the yeare past in anno 1585. thrée merchants of China with very curious things neuer staied till they came into Spaine and into other kingdomes further off Likewise the said iudge and gouernours doo giue licence vnto strangers in the order aforesaid for to enter into their ports to buy sel but first vpon examination and charge that they should haue a great care not to demand any licence but to the same intent Then haue they their licence with a time limited and with condition that they shall not procure to goe about their cities neither to see the secrets thereof And this is giuen in writing vpon a whited table which is set vpon the fore partes of their ships that when they come to an anker in any port it may be séene of the kéepers and guards that they sinke them
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
other thinges which before hee lacked requisite for that new occupation He sacked robbed and spoyled all the townes that were vpon the coast and did verie much harme So he finding himselfe verie strong with fortie shippes well armed of those he had out of the port and other that he had taken at the sea with much people such as were without shame their handes imbrued with robberies and killing of men hee imagined with himselfe to attempt greater matters and diâ— put it in execution he assaulted great townes and did a thousand cruelties in such sort that on all that coast whereas hee was knowen he was much feared yea and in other places farther off his fame was so published abroad So he following this trade and exercise he chanced to meete with an other roouer as himselfe called Vintoquian likewise naturally borne in China who was in a port voide of any care or mistrust whereas Limahon finding opportunitie with greater courage did fight with the shippes of the other that although they were thréescore ships great and small and good souldiers therein hée did ouercome them and tooke fiue and fiftie of their ships so that Vintoquian escaped with fiue ships Then Limahon séeing himselfe with a fléete of nintie fiue shippes well armed and with many stout people in them knowing that if they were taken they should be all executed to death they therefore setting all feare a part gaue themselues to attempt new inuentions of euill not onely in robbing of great Cities but also in destroying of them CHAP. III. The king of China doth arme a fleete of shippes against the rouer Lymahon who withdraweth himselfe to Tonzuacaotican whereas he hath notice of the Philippinas THe complayntes increased euerie day more and more vnto the king and his counsell of the euils doone vnto the Chinos by this rouer Lymahon For the which commandement was giuen straightwaies vnto the Uiceroy of that prouince whereas he vsed to execute his euill that with great expedition he might be taken for to cut off this inconuenience who in few dayes did set foorth to sea one hundred and thirtie great shippes well appointed with fortie thousand men in them and one made generall ouer them all a gentle man called Omoncon for to go seeke and foâ—lowe this Rouer with expresse commandement to apprehende oâ— kill him although to the executing of the same he put both shippes and men in danger Of all this prouision Lymahon had aduertisement by some secrete friends who séeing that his enemies were many and he not able to counteruaile them neither in shippes nor men determined not to abide the comming but to retire and depart from that coast so in flying he came vnto an Ilande in secrete called Tonznacaotican which was fortie leagues from the firme land and is in the right way of nauigation to the Ilands Philippinas In this Iland was Lymahon retyred with his armie a certaine time and durst not returne to the firme land for that he knew that the kinges fléete did lie vpon the coast to defende the fame And although he did send foorth some ships a robbing yet did they not doo any thing of importance but rather camâ— flying away from the mightie power of the kinges From this Ilande they did goefoorth with some of their ships robbing and spoyling al such as they met with marchandice other things that they carried from one Ilande to an other and from the Iland vnto the firme comming from thence amongst them all they caused to take two ships of China which came froÌ„ Manilla and were bound to their owne countrie And hauing then in their power they searched them vnder hatches and found that they had rich things of golde and spanish ryalles which they had in truck of their marchandice the which they carried to the Ilandes They informed themselues in all points of the state and fertilitie of that countrie but in particular of the Spaniardes and how many there were of theÌ„ in the citie of Manilla who were not at that present aboue seuentie persons for that the rest were separated in the discouering and populing of other Ilands newly found and vnderstanding that these few did liue without any suspition of enimies and had neuer a fort nor bulwarke and the ordinance which they had although it was very good yet was it not in order to defend themselues nor offend their enemies hee determined to goe thither with all his fléete and people for to destroy and kill them and to make himselfe lorde of the saide Ilande of Manilla and other adiacent there nigh the same And there he thought himselfe to be in securitie from the power of the king which went séeking of him And so as he was determined he put it in vre with as much expedition as was possible CHAP. IIII. This rouer Limahon goeth to the Ilands Philippinas and commeth to the citie of Manilla THis Rouer Limahon determining to goe and to take the Ilands Philippinas and to make himselfe lord and king ouer them all but first to kill the Spaniardes which hee thought easely to be done for that there was so fewe And there he pretended to liue in securitie without feare that before he had of the kings great fléete for that it was so farre distant from the firme lande So with this determination hee departed from those Ilandes whereas hee was retyred and went to sea and sayling towardes the Ilandes Philippinas they passed in sight of the Ilandes of the Illocos which had a towne called Fernandina which was newe founded by the Captaine Iohn de Salzedo who at that instant was in the same for lieutenant to the gouernour Foure leagues from the same they met with a small galley which the said Iohn de Salzedo had sent for victuals There was in her but 25. souldiers besides y e rouers so that with the one the other they were but a fewe in number for that as they thought they did trauaile in places of great securitie and without any suspition to mâ—ete enemies So soone as Limahon had discouered the galley hee cast about towardes her and with great ease did take her and did burne and kill all that was in her and pardoned one of them This being done he did prosecute his voyage according vnto his determination and passed alongest but not in such secret but that hee was discouered by the dwellers of the towne of Fernandina who gaue notice thereof vnto the lieutenant of the gouernor aforesaide as a woonder to sée so many shippes together and a thing neuer séene before at those Ilands Likewise it caused admiration vnto him and made him to thinke and to imagine with great care what it might bee hee sawe that they did beare with the citie of Manilla and thought with himselfe that so great a fléete as that was could not goe to the place which they bare in with for any goodnesse towardes the dwellers therein who were voide of all
vpon the sunday following which was the thirde of Iuly we had sight of the land of China so that we found all our voyage from the port of Buliano from whence we departed vnto the firme land to be one hundred and fortie leagues twenty leagues before they came in the sight thereof they had sounding at thrée score and tenne and fourscore fathome and so waxed lesse and lesse vntill they came to the lande which is the best and surest token they haue to be nigh the land In al the time of their voiage the Captain Omoncon with his companie shewed such great curtesie and friendship to our men as though they had béene the owners of the saide ship and at such time as they did imbarke theÌ„selues he gaue his own cabin y t was in the sterne to y e friers and vnto Pedro Sarmiento and to Miguel de Loarcha he gaue another cabin that was very good coÌ„manded his company in the ship that they should respect them more then himselfe the which was in such sort that on a day at the beginning of their voyage the fathers founde them making of sacrifice vnto their Idols and told them that all which they did was a kinde of mockage and that they shoulde worshippe but onely one God and willed them to doo so no more Who onely in respect of them did leaue it off and not vse it after in all the voyage whereas before they did vse it euerie day manie times Besides this they woulde worshippe the images that the Friers did carrie with them and knéele vpon their knées with great shew of deuotion who nowe hauing sight of the firme lande in so short time and passed that small gulfe so quietly which was wont to bee verie perilous and full of stormes they did attribute it vnto the orations of the Friers their companions and souldiers The like curtesie was shewed vnto them by Sinsay who was the seconde person in the shippe and hée that did best vnderstande that Nauigation and voyage So as they drewe nearer the land they might discouer from the sea a verie gallant and well towred Cittie that was called Tituhul whereas the king hath continually in garrison tenne thousande souldiers and is vnder the gouernement of the prouince of Chincheo So the next day following wee came vnto a watch towre which was situated vppon a rocke at the entrie into a bay who had discouered our shippe and knew the standart or flagge to bee the kings and made a signe vnto seuen shippes which were on the other side of the point which was part of a company ordeined for to kéepe and defende the cost which were more then foure hundred Straightwayes the Captaine of the seuen shippes came foorth to knowe what we were and what chanced shalbe told you in this chapter following CHAP. XII The Captaine Omoncon is come to the prouince of Chincheo but before he doth come vnto an anker he dooth passe some trouble with another Captaine of the sea THis Captaine Omoncon when he saw that the ships did make towards him hee cast about his shippe and passed alongst by the watch towre making his way towards the towne where he was a natural subiect and nigh at hand being but two leagues from the point which being perceiued bythe generall of that bay which was in a râ—dinesse who imagined by his working that it should be some shippe of euill demeanor and their enimies without any delation hee issued forth from behind the point with thrée ships that did row with Oares verie swift and gaue them chase cutting them off from their pretence and when he came nigh vnto them hee shot at them to make them to amaine the which Omoncon would not doo for that hee supposed as afterwards hee did confesse that hee should be some man of little estimation and not the generall of the coste But as he drew nigher vnto him hee did know him by the flagge he bare on the sterne in the foist wherein he was himselfe with his souldiers straightwayes caused to amaine his sailes and tarried for him The generall did the like and stayed behinde sending a boate for to bring the captaine vnto him and to declare what he was and from whence hee came Omoncon did forthwith imbarke himself into his boate without any resistance but rather with feare that hee should be punished for that hee did flie from him The generall when hee saw him did straightwayes know him and in that the fathers did vnderstand by signes hée was verie glad of his comming and gaue him good entertainment This generall was a goodly man of person and was verie well apparelled and did sit in a chaire in the sterne of his ship the which was all couered to kéepe away the sunne hee commanded the captaine Omoncon to sit downe by him vpon the hatches without chaire or any other thing who did obey him although first hee did refuse it with great modestie as not woorthie to haue that honour which was not estéemed a little After that he was set he gaue him to vnderstand in effect of all his voyage and successe and in what extremitie he left Limahon and also howe that hee carried with him the Friers and other Spaniards which went to carrie the newes and to intreate of peace with the vizroy of Aucheo vnto whome and vnto the gouernor of Chincheo hee carried presents sent from the gouernor and generall of the fielde of the Ilands Philippinas When the generall had heard this relation he commanded the â—oate to returne and to bring them before him that hée might sée what manner of men they were of person and the vse of the apparell and likewise to satisfie himselfe of other desires that came into his mind by that which Omoncon had saide of them The fathers and their companions did obey the commandement and did imbarke themselues in the boatâ— although it were with some feare and came vnto the shippe whereas the generall receiued them with great curtesie after his fashion and shewed them a good countenance and tokens that he very much reioyced to sée them and the vse of their apparell they ware But after a while hee commanded that they shoulde bée put vnder hatches which was the occasion to augment the feare they conceiued when they were sent for and the more when they saw that they were commanded to be shut vp in a cabin with the interpreter that they brought with them This being done they were in great care howe they might vnderstand the Generals pretence and at a close doore that was before the cabin whereas they were vppon a sudden they might sée that all those that were in the shippe did arme themselues in great haste and the captaine Omoncon amongst them then they heard bases and hargubus shot with a great noise of people which did verie much alter them in such sort that they looked euery moment when they should come and cut of their heads Whilst that our
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
do beléeue will be pleasant to the reader and is intituled A Commentarie of the new world in the which is contayned many curious matters as you shall perceiue after the reading thereof and is declared in substance and effect by the relation of the father that did passe and sée them all who was named fryer Martin Ignacio a religious man of the order of S. Francis who after that he had compassed the whole worlde came hither to Rome with Martin Simion bishop of the Iland of Pepper in the orientall or east Indias with whom I haue had communication diuers times and is a Chalde borne and of the citie of Niniuie in Babylon and made bishop by the patriarke of Babylon The end of this booke A Commentarie or short discourse of all such notable thinges as be betwixt Spaine till you come vnto the kingdome of China and from China vnto Spaine returning by the Orientall or east Indias after that they had almost compassed the whole world Wherein is contayned all the rites ceremonies and customes of the people the riches fertilitie and strength of many kingdomes and the description of them Made and set forth by the Author of this book as well by that which he hath seene as also by true relation that he had of the religious and barefoot Fryers of the order of Saint Francis who trauailed the same the yeare 1584. CHAP. I. A Commentarie of the new world SAint Lucas de Barrameda and the Citie of Cadiz from whence ordinarily goeth foorth all such fléetes and shippes that go vnto the occident or west Indias are distant the one from the other onely fiue leagues and in thirtie seuen degrées of altitude from whence vnto the Ilandes called the Canarias is two hundred and thirtie leagues and alwayes doo Rut to the southwest and is ordinarily sailed in eight or ten dayes The seas are rough which causeth great waues for which cause it is called the gulfe of the Ieguas These Ilands which in ancient time were called Fortunadas are at this day called by the Spaniards y e Canarias which is deriued of Canes or dogs for that there was in them at such time as the Spaniardes did discouer them great quantitie of dogges very bigge fierce and braue There are of them seuen Ilands which are called Gran Canaria Tenerife Palma Gomera Yerro Lancarote and Forte Ventura and are in altitude twentie eight degrees lacking very little and haue in them many particular thinges of which I will declare some of them in briefe In the Iland of Tenerife at the farther part therof towards the north west there is a mountain called El Pico de Tereyra which vnto the iudgement of theÌ„ who haue séene it is the highest in all the worlde and is plainely seene before you come to it thrée score leagues so that a ship going from Spaine vnto those Ilandes doth discouer that mountaine first None can ascende or go vp that mountaine but in the moneths of Iuly August for that all other moneths of the yeare there is very much snow on it although in all those Ilandes it doth neuer snowe and to mount the height thereof is three daies worke on the top of the same there is a round plaine place and being thereon at such tune as it is faire weather and the seas calme and in quiet you may sée all the seuen Ilands and euerie one of them will séeme but a small thing in respect yet some of them are distant from that more than fiftie leagues it hath as much more in coÌ„passe as that In the two monethes aforesaid they do gather in the toppe thereof all the brimstone that is brought from that Iland vnto Spaine which is much in quantitie This mountaine belongeth to the duke of Maqueda by particular gift of the king In one of these seueÌ„ Ilands aforesaid called the Hierco there is a continuall woonder which in my iudgement is one of the greatest in all the worlde and worthie to be knowen amongest all meÌ„ wherby they may exalt the mightie prouidence of God and giue him thankes for the same This Iland being the greatest amongest the seuen is a countrie very asper and vnfruitfull and so drie that there is no water to be found in all the Iland but on the sea side and that in fewe places but very farre distant from the inhabitance of that Ilande But there naturall necessitie is remedied by the diuine prouidence of heauen as aforesaide and by a strange meanes which is there is a great and mightie trée vnknowen and the like hath not beene seene in any part of all the whole world whose leaues are narrowe and long and are continually gréene like Iuie vpon the which trée is séene continually a small cloud which neuer augmenteth nor diminisheth with the occasion that the leaues continually without ceasing doth distill drops of water very cleere and fine which doth fall into certaine sesâ—ernes which the inhabitantes of the townes haue made for the conseruation thereof to remedie their necessities and to sustaine thereby not onely themselues but also their cattell and beastes and is sufficient for them all yet doo they not knowe the originall and beginning of this continuall and strange miracle One hundreth leagues distant from these Ilandes towards the right hand there is an other thing of little lesse admiration then the other y t we haue spoken of which is that many times there is séen an Iland which they cal S. Borandon Many being lost at the sea haue chaunced vpon the same Iland do say that it is a very fresh and gallant Iland with great abundance of trées and sustinence inhabited with Christian people yet can they not say of what nation or language The Spaniards many times haue gone with intent to séeke it but neuer could finde it which is y e occasion that there be diuers opinions touching the same Some doo say that it is an inchanted Iland and is seene but certaine daies assigned or appointed others say that there is no other let or impediment for the finding therof but because it is so little and is continually couered with great cloudes that there runneth from it riuers which haue so great a current that it maketh it difficult to come vnto it My opinion is if it be any thing worth y t being true that which so many haue spoken of this Iland according vnto the common opinion which they haue in all the seuen Ilands of Canaria it can not be without some great mysterie for he which can cause it to be all in a cloud the swift current of the riuers to be an impediment to the finding therof can find remedie for the inhabitants to come forth if it be so for them y t be without at the sea not to go into it yet can it not be for theÌ„ within the Iland but at some time there should haue some come soorth by
The pronunciation of their wordes is neither in the nose nor in the throte It is vnderstood that they be all Gentiles by certaine signes and tokens that our people haue seene them do and that they doo worship Idols and the diuell vnto whom they do sacrifice such as they do take in the warres of their borderers It is thought that they doo descend of the tartares by some particularities that is found amongst theÌ„ the which do draw very nigh vnto some that they do vse These Ilandes are south north with the land of Labrador which is nigh vnto the new found lande and not farre distant from the Ilande of Iapon It is knowen for a trueth that they do deale with the Tartares and that they do buy yron for to sell it vnto them The Spaniards did giue name vnto these Ilandes as they passed by the Ilandes of Ladrones which is of théeues for that they are very bolde and subtile in their sâ—ealinges in the which facultie the Egyptians that are in our Europa may go to schoole with them for the verie facultie therof I will declare vnto you one thing that happened in the presence of many Spaniardes the which did cause them greatly to maruaile which is there was a marriner commanded by the captaine of the ship to kéepe the sterneborde side not to suffer any of them to enter therein and being as one amased to sée so many Canoas that came thether the which be small barkes or botes made all of one péece one of them diued downe vnder the water till he came there whereas the marriner was vnmindfull of any such matter should happen vpon a soddaine without séeing the other he snatched his sword out of his hand went vnder the water againe therwith the marriner made a noise declared the knauerie that y e Ilander had done vnto him whervpon there were certaine souldiers y t made their hargubushes ready to shoot at him when he appeared froÌ„ vnder y e water This Ilander perceiuing it came foorth swimmed aboue the water shewing his handes made signes y t he had nothing in theÌ„ which was the occasion that they did not shoot at him So after a while that he had beene there resting of himselfe he returned and diued vnder the water againe swam so farre as he thought that the bullet of the hargubush could not reach to hurt him and finding himselfe in securitie he tooke the sword from betwixt his legges whereas he did carrie it in secret and beganne to florish with the same mocking our people whom he had so easily deceiued This kind of stealing and many others which they had done and that with great subtiltie is the occasion that they beare the names of théeues and all the Ilandes whereas they doo dwell doo beare the name thereof the which they will easily pardon if they might ordinarily finde where as they might execute their inclination CHAP. XII They depart from the Ilandes of the Ladrones and come vnto them of Luzon or Philippinas by an other name and doo declare the particular thoughts of those Ilandes FRom this Iland of Ladrones nauigating towards y e west almost two hundred leagues till they came to a mouth called of the holy ghost they straightwaies doo enter into the Archipelago which is an infinite number of Ilands almost all inhabited with their own naturall people But many conquered by the Spaniardes eyther by force of warre or friendship Four score leagues from this is the citie of Manilla which is vpon the Iland of Luzon there whereas ordinarily dwelleth the gouernor of all those Ilandes the officers of his maiestie therein is a bishop and a cathedrall church This citie standeth in fourtéen degrées a quarter and round about the same there are so many Ilandes that vnto this day there is none that euer could number them they do extend all of them northwest and southwest north south in so much that the one part stretcheth vnto the straight of Sincapura which is fiue and twentie leagues from Malaca and the other part vnto the Malucos other Ilandes whereas they gather a great number of cloues pepper ginger of the which there are great mountaines full The first that discouered these Ilands were Spaniards which came to theÌ„ in the coÌ„pany of y e famous Magellanes made no conquest of theÌ„ for that they knew better to nauigate then to conquer by reason whereof after they had discouered and passed the straight which vnto this day beareth the title of his name and came vnto the Ilande of Zubu whereas they did baptise certaine of the inhabitance and afterwards in a banket the same Ilanders did kill him and other forty of his companions which was the occasion that Sebastian de Guetaria a naturall Biskin borne for to escape with his life did put himselfe in a shippe that remained of the voyage which afterwards was named the victorie and in her and with a few people that helped him with the fauour of God he came vnto Siuell hauing compassed the whole world from the Orient vnto the Ponient a thing which caused vnto all men great admiration but in particular vnto the Emperor Charles the fift of famous memorie who after he had giuen many gifts and fauours vnto the said Sebastian de Guetaria hee gaue order that a new armie should be made ready and to returne againe in demande of the said Ilands and to discouer that new world So when all things were in a redinesse for to depart on their voyage the which was done with great breuitie they ordained for generall of all that sleete one Villa Lobos commanding him to go by the Nueua Espania This Villa Lobos arriued at the Ilands of Malucas and at those of Terrenate at other Ilands ioyning vnto them the which Ilands were laid to gage by the aforesaid Emperor vnto the crowne of Portugal In these Ilands they had great wars by meanes of the Portugals and séeing themselues with little helpe and small resistance for to go forwards with their conquest they left it off and went to the most part of them with the aforesaide Portugals vnto the India of Portugall from whence afterwards they sent them as prisoners vnto the said king of Portugall as offenders that had entred his Ilands without his licence who did not onely leaue to do them any harme but did intreat them very well and sent them vnto their owne country of Spaine gaue them al thinges necessary for their iourney and that in aboundance Then certaine yeares after Don Philip king of Spaine being very willing that the discouering shoulde go forwards which the Emperor his father had so earnestly procured sent and commanded Don Luys de Velasco who was his vizroy of the Nuoua Espania that he would ordaine an army and people for to returne and discouer the said Ilands and to sende in the said fléete for gouernor of all
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
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
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
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.
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
that it séemed a whole legion of diuels had taken holde on both sides of the shippe forcing the one against the other that it rowled in such sort that many times the halfe decke was in the water so that the marriners could not stand vpon their féete but were driuen to sustaine themselues by the ropes cavels But the religious men trusting in God whose zeale had caused them this great trouble did pray and desire him with many teares that hee would deliuer them out of the same daunger and not to giue place vnto the diuell for to disturbe them of their voyage and enterprise Those their orations and prayers did so much preuaile with certaine coniurations which they made against the diuels whoÌ„ they thought they did see visibly that after midnight the north winde ceased and began to blowe at the north east with the which the sea began to waxe calme so y t they might make their way to be east northeast for that they had intelligence that that course was the shortest cut to the firme land This winde which was so fauourable vnto theÌ„ did increase so much in two houres that the sea waxed loftie and caused them to forget the sorrowe past and constrained them for that the shippe was but small to cut their mast ouer borde and to put themselues vnto the courtesie of the sea with little hope to escape the danger But our Lorde whose zeale did mooue them to attempt that iourney did direct their voyage in such sort that the next day â—ollowing it came to be calme in such sort that they might set vp a newe mast in the place of that which was cut ouer borde in the storme and therewith to nauigate forwardes with their begunne voyage So vpon the fryday following at the breake of the day they sawe lande and thinking that it had béene the firme lande of China they gaue thankes vnto God and reioyced in such sort that they had cleane forgotten the troubles of the stormes and foule weather passed so they made towards it and came thither about noone but when they were a shore they found that it was but a small Iland and situated foure leagues from the firme lande and for that it was so nigh a farre off it séemed to be all one thing But when they came vnto this Ilande they did discouer many ships which were so many in nuÌ„ber that it séemed all the sea to be couered with theÌ„ The friers with the great desire they had for to knowe in what port they were they coÌ„manded to gouerne their ship towardes whereas they were who when they saw them could not know theÌ„ by the strangenes of their ship and sailes they did fly from them all that euer they could The which ouâ— men perceiuing could not imagine the cause thereof they were very much agréeued and sorrowfull and the more for that they could not learne nor vnderstand where they were But séeing nigh vnto them to the lewarde thrée ships they made towardes them and wheÌ„ they were somwhat nigh they put themselues as the others did In this sort they spent all the rest of the day in going from one port to an other vnto those ships for to infirme theÌ„selues where they were but all this diligence preuailed them nothing at all till it was almost sunne set they entred with their frigat into a gut vnder the shore whereas fell from a high rocke which was more than one hundreth fatham by estimation a streme of water which was as bigge as the bodies of two men together In this gut there was thrée other ships and they came to an anker in the middest amongest them the which beeing done they asked of them what countrie that was but they answered nothing nor made any semblance but looked the one vpon the other in beholding of the Spaniards they gaue great laughters In this gut they remained all that night almost amased to sée how those people were as though they were inchanted and they without any light of their desire which was to knowe wher they were So y e next day folowing which was saterday verie early in the morning they set sayle and went amongest a great sort of Ilandes alwayes bearing vnto them which they thought to be the firme lande being greatly amarueiled to sée the infinite number of shippes both great and small that they sawe some were a fishing and some vnder sayle and other some ryding at an anker The same day about noone there happened vnto them a strange miraculous thing and it was that passing through a straight that was but a quarter of a league of bredth which was betwixt the firme lande and a small Ilande in the which was continually foure score ships of warre sette there for watch and warde they passed thorough the thickest of them and were neuer seene for if they hadde without all doubt they had sonke them or slaine them their order and commission is so straight giuen them by their generalles of the sea in the which they are commanded that whatsoeuer kinde of people of strange nations that they do méete vpon the coast for to kill them or sinke them except they do bring licence from some gouernor of such Cities as be vpon the coast for that such as do meane to haue trafickâ— doo sende to demande the same leauing their ships a great way at sea This lawe for to watch and warde was made and ordayned as they do say in respect of the Iapones who did enter into certaine of their portes dissembling themselues to be Chinos being apparelled as they were and speaking their language they did vnto them great and strange hurtes and damages as is declared in the booke before this So when they were passed this straight they sayled almost sixe leagues forwardes into a verie fayre and great bay following other shippes that went before them for that it seemed that they would enter into some port and there they might informe themselues where they were which was the thing that they most desired When they had sayled about two leagues in this bay they ouertooke one of the thrée shippes and asked of the people that were within her by the interpreter they had with them whether they sayled and what lande that was which they sawe before them Then the principall that was in that ship did put himselfe into his boat the which hee had at sterne and came vnto the ship where the Spaniardes were the better to vnderstande what they did demand for they before by reason that they were somewhat farre off the one from the other could not vnderstande the Spaniards demand but by signes So when that he vnderstoode their request he answered them that it was the country of China how that he came laden with salt from the citie of Chincheo and went to make sale thereof vnto the citie of Canton which was so nigh hand that they might ariue there before night But when
not let to imagine newe matters against the poore fathers to haue occasion to apprehend them and imagined in his minde for to write a letter vnto the interpreters in the which hee did offer them great quantities of mony if that they would do so much as giue order that the Iudges woulde sende the religious men and Spanish souldiers that were in Canton vnto the Cittie of Machao aduertising them howe and which way they shoulde vse the matter to put it in effect and was that he should tell the Iudges that the first time when as they went to speake with the gouernor whereas they did aske and say that they would depart for the Ilands Philippinas that they did interpret it contrary for that their demand was for to go vnto Machao The interpreters straightwayes with the desire of gaine did take the charge vppon them and did vse the matter in such sort that the Iudges did sende them vnto Machao whether it were with or against their willes But God who woulde not permit those his seruantes and Christians to bee deceiued remedied the same at such time as it should haue béene put in execution in the manner as you shall vnderstande in the Chapter following CHAP. XII A Portugall of the Cittie of Macheo doth discouer the euill intent of the captaine general he giueth the Spaniards warning thereof by a letter without seale by the which they remedie the danger that was so nigh at hand they are called before the Aytao of the Cittie he declareth vnto them such matters as haue passed with him and the licence that was graunted for some of them to go vnto Machao and the other vnto Luzon BEing vnderstood by a Portugall a good Christian of the towne of Machao of such things as the captaine generall did imagine against the poore religious fathers that were in Canton and their companions the souldiers of whose holie zeale he was fully certified and being gréeued at the very soule that one Christian shoulde hurt and harme another and more in the disturbing of the saluation of soules hée determined with himselfe to giue them aduice therof with all spéed that was possible as in effect hee did by sending them a letter without anie name wherein he gaue them to vnderstand that the Captaine generall by meanes of the interpreters did pretende that they should be sent thither wheras he might apprehend them send them vnto the king of Portugall or else to doo some hurt vnto their person with some false information and willed them to be wel aduised to kéepe themselues from the deceit ordained The letter being séene and wel aduised of all that was therein contained they determined to giue notice thereof vnto a Chino a verie friende of theirs and perfite in the Portugall tongue whome diuers times they prooued by experience and founde him a very honest man and one that had doone them friendshippe who promised them that before many houres he would bring al things to light and to know whether that were true or not So with this desire he went there whereas the Iudge did sit in audience and was there as one that knew nothing vntill such time as he saw come thither one of the interpreters with a petition in his hand and presented it vnto the supreme Iudge who was the Aytao the which being read by a scriuener hée prouided that all things should be granted and doone that was therein contained This petition the Chino aforesaid saw and after that the interpreter was departed with contentment and found that in the same petition he did request in the name of the Spaniards of the Iudge to giue them leaue for to go vnto Machao which was more for their purpose then to go vnto the Ilands Philippinas which was granted by the iudge and lacking nothing but to seale or signe the petition but was delated vntill the euening by reason of certaine businesse that chanced at that present but sure it was the ordinance of God for that if it had béene signed they must néeds of force haue accomplished the same without any replication So with this certaintie he went straightwayes vnto the Spaniards to whom the interpreter had told that by petition he had asked licence for them to go to the Ilands Philippinas from whence they came but the Iudge woulde not graunt vnto that but for to go vnto Machao which was néerer hand who commanded them to accomplish the same without any replication vppon paine that they should be carried thither perforce The Spaniards asked councell of the Chino their friende what meanes might be taken to auoide the danger that the interpreter had begun to bring them in and was alredie gone to conclude the same The Chino said that he was fully perswaded that the Aytao loued them well and that he vnderstood hée did them great fauour and curtesie to graunt vnto the petition the which the interpreter did present in their name But notwithstanding for so much as it was not signed there was remedie to bee had if that they woulde present another which hee would giue them and go presently vnto the Aytao and present the same and say when they giue it him that they woulde go vnto Luzon and not vnto Machao and that he himselfe would go with them for the good will he bare vnto them if it were not for the great paine that is put vppon all them whosoeuer that shall speak for any stranger without licence of the Iustice or is called and ordained for the same So they being fully perswaded in this conclusion with the petition made all ready there entred in at the gate wheras they were a seruant to the Aytao who in the behalfe of his master came to cal the Spaniards to come before him for that he would sée and talke with them before their departure They straightwayes went forth in his cōpany and came vnto the gates of the cittie after they had gon a good wayes in the suburbs and there they were staied till such time as another came and brought their licence writtē vpon a table in such sort as in other places it hath béene told you So whē they had passed the gate they passed thorough a long stréet in the which they saw so great riches of so great curiosity that the father Costodio with great admiration said I haue béene in the principallest citties of all Flanders and Italie and in all them I haue not séene so great curiositie and riches as in this stréete alone and according vnto the report of them all hee had great reason to maruell thereat So they comming vnto the end of this stréete and in sight of another gate they sawe that the souldiers which kept and garded the same did shut them in their presence with great hast and let fall a percullis of yron before the gate and demanded to sée their licence at a window out of the saide percullis and when they had it although they saw with
of the newe Mexico CHAP. XI Departing from the citie of Mexico they go vnto the port of Acapulco in the south sea whereas they doo imbarke themselues from the Ilandes Philippinas they passe by the Ilandes of theeues and do declare the rites and condition of that people FRom the citie of Mexico they go to imbarke themselues or take shipping at the port of Acapulco which is in the south sea and is eleuated from the poole nineteen degrées and ninetie leagues from the citie of Mexico in al which way there be many townes inhabited with Indians and Spaniards Being departed from this port they sayle towards the south west till they come into twelue degrées a halfe to séeke prosperous wind to serue their turne which the marriners do call Brizas and are northerly windes which are there of such continuance so fauourable that being in the moneths of Nouember December and Ianuarie they haue no néede to touch their sayles which is the occasion that they do make their voyages with so great ease So that for that for the fewe stormes that happened in that passage they do cal it the mar de Damas which is the sea of Ladies They sayle alwayes towards the west following the sunne when as she departeth from our hemispherie In this south sea they sayle fortie daies without séeing anie lande at the end whereof they came to the Ilandes of Velas which by an other name are called de los Ladrones there are seuen or eight of them they do lye north and south and are inhabited with much people in the order as you shall vnderstand These Ilands are in 12. degrées but there are different opinions of the leagues y t are betwixt the port of Acapulco those Ilands for vnto this day there is none that hath vnderstood the certâ—â—ntie thereof for that their nauigation lieth from the east vnto the west whose degrées there haue bin none y t â—uer could measure Some say this iourney hath a thousande and seuen hundred leagues others a thousand and eight hundred but the opinions of the first we vnderstand to be most certaine All these Ilands are inhabited with white people of comely faces like vnto those of Europa but not of their bodies for that they are as bigge as gyants and of so great force and strength for one of them hath taken two Spaniardes of a good stature the one by one foot and the other by the other with his handes hath lifted them both from the grounde with so great ease as though they had bin two children They go naked from top to too as well women as men yet some of them were woont to weare an aporne made of a deares skinne before them of halfe a yeard long for honesties sake but they are but a fewe in nuÌ„ber in respect of those y t weare nothing before them The weapons which they do vse be sâ—inges darts hardened in the fire and are with both the one and the other very expert throwers They do maintaine themselues with fish which they do take on the coast and of wild beasts which they do kill in the mountaines in ouertaking of them by swiftnesse of foot In these Ilands there is one the strangest custome that euer hath bin heard of or séene in all the whole world which is that vnto the young men there is a time limited for them to marrie in according vnto their custome in all which time they may fréely enter into the houses ofsuch as are married and be there with their wiues without being punished for y e same although their proper husbands should sée them they doo carrie in their handes a staffe or rodde when they do enter into the married mans house they doo leaue it standing at the doore in such sort that if any do come after they may plainly sée it which is a token that although it be her proper husband he cannot enter in till it be taken away The which custome is obserued and kept with so great rigour and force that whosoeuer is against this lawe all the rest do kill him In all these Ilands there is not as yet knowen neyther king nor lord whom the rest should obey which is the occasion that euery one do liue as he list and at his pleasure These Ilandes were woont to haue warre the one with the other when occasion did force them as it happened at such time as the Spaniardes were there in the port of the said Iland there came abord their ships to the number of two hundred small barkes or botes in the which came many of the inhabitants thereof to sell vnto them of the ships hens nuts called cocos patatas and other thinges of that Iland and to buy other such things as our people did carrie with them but in especiall yron vnto the which they are very much affectionated and vnto things of chrystall and such like of small estimation But there grew a great contention amongest them which people of what Ilande should first come vnto the shippes and was in such order that they fell vnto blowes and wounded the one the other maruellously more liker beastes than men of the which there were many slaine in the presence of the Spaniards and would neuer leaue off their contention a good while till in the end by way of peace they consented a conclusion amongest themselues but with a great noyse which was that those of one Iland should go to the larbord of the ship and those of the other Iland should go to the starbord with the which they were pacified and did buy and sel at their pleasure But at their departure from our people in recompence of their good intertainment they threw into the ship of their dartes hardened with fire with the which they did hurt many of theÌ„ that were aboue hatches yet went they not away scotfrée for that our people with their hargabushes did paye them in readie money their bold attempt These people do more estéeme yron than siluer or golde and gaue for it fruites nnames patatas fish rise ginger hennes and many gallant mattes very well wrought and all almost for nothing Thâ—se Ilandes are verie fertile and healthfull and very easie to bee conquered vnto the fayth of Christ. If that at such time as the ships doo passe that way vnto Manilla they would leaue there some religious men with souldiers to garde them till the next yeare and might be doone with small cost It is not as yet knowen what ceremonies and rites they do obserue for that there is none that doo vnderstande their language neither hath any béene on those Ilandes but onely as they haue passed by which is the occasion that they cannot be vnderstood The language which they doo vse to any mans iudgement is easie to be learned for that their pronunciation is verie plaine they call ginger asno and for to say take away your hargabush they say arrepeque
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—
that case that they were constrained to yéelde vnto their enimies who at their willes did repay themselues very well of the iniurie receiued and a very good warning vnto all those that shall heare thereof to slie from putting themselues into the like trance so the Chinos were very wel reuenged of the iniury by them receiued The faith of Christ is very well planted in some of these Ilands by the good diligence and trauell of the fathers and Iesuites but in particular by that which was doone by master Francisco Xabier one of the tenne companions of the father Ignacio de Loyola founder of the saide religion hee trauelled with great zeale in the conuerting of the saide Ilands and that which was a great helpe vnto the same was his holy doctrine and apostolike life as vnto this day the Iapones doo confesse attributing vnto him next vnto God the goodnesse that hath come vnto them by receiuing the baptisme whome the fathers of that companie haue followed in all pointes such as remained after his death as also such as haue gone thither since that time So that vnto them may bee attributed the thankes for the mollifying of such adamantine hearts as are those of y e natural people of these Ilandes whose wittes although they be good and subtill are naturally knowne to be inclined vnto warres robberies and doing of euill and at this day being Christians they do followe their euill inclinations yet notwithstanding by the good doctrine and ensample of the saide fathers they are much better Christians then those of the Orientall or East Indians I do not set downe here the number of those that are baptised in these Ilands for that there are therein diuers opinions as also for that the fathers of the name of Iesus or Iesuits doo distinctly declare in their letters The Portugals say that in respect of the number of people that are to bée conuerted the number that are baptised are very fewe and that there are many that are not for lacke of ministers and preachers the which may easily be remedied in commaunding to go thither more religious men of other orders for to aide and helpe the saide Iesuites the which shoulde be vnto them a particular content and comfort as I doo beléeue as hath béene seene by experience in all partes of the Indians whereas haue come religious men vnto places of their doctrine for that the quantitie of people is so great that are in these Ilandes that although there shoulde go thither many laborers of the Gospell and all the orders of religious men the one shoulde not be a let or hinderance vnto the other and they shoulde all of them finde enough to occupie themselues especially if that the successor of Nobunanga were conuerted with his subiectes All the men of these Ilands are well set and well proportioned and go well apparelled although not in so good order as those of China they liue verie healthfully and long by reason that they doo vse verie fewe diuersities of meates they doo not suffer amongst them any Phisitians and doo not cure themselues but with simples They haue amongst them many priests of their Idols whom they do call Bonsos of the which there be great couents Likewise they haue amongst them great witches who do ordinarily talke with the diuell and are not a small impediment for thē to receiue the lawe of God in that kingdome The women or wiues of these Iapones do kéepe themselues very close and very seldome go forth of their houses in the which they do resemble those of China much as hath béene said yet haue they many wiues for that by their lawes it is lawfull for them to haue as they please can sustaine yet are they so prudent that they do restraine themselues and liue in great peace Both men-seruants and women-seruants do serue their masters as though they were slaues they may kill them at their pleasure without incurring any penalty of their lawes a thing far different from any good policie Many other things more could I declare of this kingdome the which I do let passe for the reason aforesaid and againe for that the fathers of the company of Iesus haue intreated thereof at large and vere truely Not farre from these Ilands of Iapon they haue discouered of late certaine Ilandes which are called of the Amazones for that they are all inhabited by women whose ordinary weapons are bowes and arrowes and are very expert in the same they haue their right brest drie the better to exercise their bow Unto these Ilands in certaine monethes euery yeare goeth certaine shippes from Iapones with merchandice and they bring from thence such as they haue there in the which time the men do deale with the Amazones as with their own proper wiues for to avoide dangers that might happen amongst themselues they deale in this order following After that their shippes are aryued there goeth on shore two messengers for to giue aduice vnto the quéene of their arriuall and of the number of men that are in their shippes who dooth appoint a day when they shall all come on shoare the which day shee doth carrie to the waters side the like number of women as they bee of men but the saide women doo first come thither before the men doo disembarke themselues and euery one of them dooth carry in their hande a paire of shooes or a paire of slippers and on them their owne seuerall marke and do leaue them on the sands at the waters side without any confort or order and presently departe from thence Then the men come on shoare and euery one take the first paire of shooes that he commeth vnto and put them on then presently the women come forth and euery one of them carryeth with her him who hath fallen vnto her by lot to put on her shooes and maketh him her guest without any other particularitie although it chanceth vnto the most vilest of them all to méete with the quéenes shooes or otherwise to the contrarie So when the monethes are expired set downe by the quéene in the which are permitted the men aforesaid they doo depart euerie one leauing with his hostis his name and the towne where hee dwelleth for that if it so fall out that they bee with child and be deliuered of a sonne that hee may bee carried the yeare following vnto his father but the daughters do remaine with them This is very doubtfull to bee beléeued although I haue bin certified by religious men that haue talked with persons that within these two yeares haue béene at the saide Ilands haue séene the said women and that which causeth me more to stand in doubt is for that the fathers of the companie that dwell at the Iapones haue not in their letters made any particular mention of them therefore let euery one giue credite to this as liketh him best CHAP. XX. They haue notice of certaine kingdomes borderers vnto these
So that after the aforesaid father frier Martin Ignacio had made his account of all that he had trauelled from the time he departed from Siuel til he returned vnto Lysborne in compassing the world he found that it was nine thousand and forty leagues by sea by lande besides many other leagues that he trauelled in China and in other parts of the which hee dooth make no account All these leagues are full of mightie kingdomes and al or the most part of them are subiect vnto the tyranny of lucyfer God for his infinite mercy conuert them and take pittie on them as hee did when that he came from heauen vppon the earth to die for all put into the heart of the king of Spaine that amongst other good workes the which with his most Christian zeale dooth intend and do for to procure this which will bee so much vnto the glory of God and great desert of honor vnto himselfe the which he may do very commodiously being as he is at this day Lord of all the Indies and of the biggest part of all that newe world This petition is worthy that all we Christians doo desire of God for that his holy name in all the world may be praised and exalted and the sonnes of Adam who for their sinnes are so dispersed and forgotten of God and first beginning they may go and inioy the happy and glorious kingdome for the which they were created FINIS Excellent â—lummes Excellent white sugar good cheape Honie wax Excellent good silke Great store of flaxe and hempe CottoÌ„ wool wheat and barlie rie oates Great abundance of rice Chestnuts All kind of beasts Excellent furres Muske Great store of buffes Deere hogs and goates Great store of wildfoule Foule soâ—de by waight A penie Reubarbe and other medicinall hearbs Foure hundred of Nutmegs for sixe pence Cloues sixe pound for 3 pence the like of pepper Sinamom 25. pound for two shilings Mines of gold and siluer other mettals Iron and steele 4. shilling a quintal Siluer is more worth then gold Great store of pearles 243. kings The mightie city of Causie The China is in compas 3000. leagues and 1800. â—eagues long The mightie citie called Suntien or Quinsay A wal of 500 leagues long Great abundance of wool and good cheape Shooes and bus kines of veluet Great abundance of Marters furres An il vse and custome A good custome to auoid inconueniences Ingenious people WagoÌ„s with sailes Cloth of gold tissue silke Porâ—â—an All occupations bee in streetes by themselues The son inherits his fathers occupation A strange image A mysterie of the trinitie S. Thomas preached in this kingdome The martyrdome of saint Thomas A false myracle They cast lottes They throw their gods vnder their feete A hogs head for a sacrifice Another kind of lots Inuocation to the diuell The diuell telleth lies Strange opinions Marueilous barieties The first inuention of â—â—re Strange opinions The inuention of plough and spade The first king of China The soule is immortall Strange ob sequies They make their sacrifices in the night Great superstition Gallant colours for religious men Gallant bels The eldest sonne is prohibited to take orders A straung kindof buriall They that haue most daughters are most richest They may marrie with many wiues Honest women A straung kind of marriage A good order to auoid idle people I would the like were with vs. A very good order A mirror for vs to looke vpon Vitey the first king of China Which is foure yeardes quarter and halfe The first inuention of garments and dying oâ— colours No women to be idle A strange kind of hâ—â—rb A citie of a daies iourney long Foure curious halles Punished for taking bribes The rent of the king Puregold Fine siluer Pearles Precious stones Muske and amber Rice Barley Wheate Salt Mayz Millo Panizo Other graine Peeces of silke Raw silke Cotton wool Mantels Great care for to defend their countrie Uerie ill horsemen The number of souldiers in all China The souldier is roially paid The number of footemen horsemen They haue no neede of other nations Straight lawes Councellers must be expert in sciences Euery prouince hath his viceroy Captaine generall A very good propertie of Iustices A very good order A very good consideration An occasion of amitie betwixt neighbours Cruell tormentes A more cruelâ— torment A great care to do true Iustice. Ceremonies in performing of their oth Thirteene prisons in euery great cittie Uictualing houses in the prisons and shops Adulterie is death Paper made of the filme of canes Pens made of canes Any good thing gratified The order of their commencement in schooles The first inuenting of armor Artilerie 1300. yeares before vs. A strange kind of courtesie Where Limahon was bornâ— One rouer robbed an other One hundred and thirtie great ships of warre with fortie thousand men They do more estâ—eme honoâ— than losse of ships or men A good praise of others The captaine generall of the king of China Omoncon promiseth to carrie the friers vnto China A good pretence The Friers names that weÌ„t to China A token that fine cloath is esteemed They departed towards China Their compasses diuided into 12. parts They leaue the worshiping of one Idol to worship another They call the Spaniards Castillias Ensignes to knowe the Iustices â—e first lanâ—ing of the Fryers The vse of their bankets Wine of a palme tree A thing to keepe away the sunne The people of the countrie weare no weapons but the souldiers Chincheo hath seuentie thousand housholds A thousand ships in one riuer They haue no vse of castles Earth quaks in this countrey Rich marchandice Triumphant arches Great maiâ—stie He offered 500. shippes of warre Note the spaniards â—nsolencie A citie of three hundred thousand housholds A city bigger theÌ„ the other and requireth three daies to go from one gate to an other Seuentie leagues compasse The wall of the Citie is fiue fadam high fourâ— broad The citie double mooted A strange â—eremonie Comedies vsed amongest them Tomblers The argument of theâ—â— comedie All things good cheape 111. Idols in one chappell People in great subiecâ—ion Suspition of euill The vse of their mustering Souldiers are punished Their mustering is one throughout the whole kingdome SuperstitioÌ„ To keepe away the sun Sâ—range sacrifices Mine kine and horse The Chinos are fearefull of the sea From the Philippinas to the China is two hundred leagues The papists and â—hâ— Infidels â—eremoniâ—s much alike The Spaniards rise at thei midnight mattens and whip themselues They were in great perill The Friers vsed certaine coniurations for that S. Antonie was a sleepe Marke the Friers conâ—fession of Images The Chinos most vpright in all their iudgements and in execution of iustice The vizroies commission A sacred thing no doubt of it A prophesie Canarias Fortunadas The names of the Canarias Much snow Great quantitie of brimstone Thedropping from a tree doth seruethe whole Iland with water Opinions of this Iland