Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	king_n	law_n	subject_n	4,732	5	6.6515	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01864	The historie of the great and mightie kingdome of China, and the situation thereof togither with the great riches, huge citties, politike gouernement, and rare inuentions in the same. Translated out of Spanish by R. Parke.; Historia de las cosas mas notables de la China. English	González de Mendoza, Juan, 1545-1618.; Parke, Robert, fl. 1588.; Loyola, Martín Ignacio de, d. 1606.	1588 (1588)	STC 12003; ESTC S103230	345,359	419

eyes as we would say cats eyes in the which they do differ from them For it is a great maruaile to finde a man amongst them with more then twentie heares in his beard little more or lesse flat noses and their eyes very little so that when they will mocke a man or doo him any iniurie by word they will call him cats eyes Now for that the desire of the Spaniardes was nothing else but to remaine in that countrie for to bring to effect their good zeale they did gratifie the interpreter for the great fauour hee shewed them and did earnestly intreat him for to present the petition thinking thereby their desire should be vnderstood and Gods cause iustified so that they first would enter into them by the way of preaching He presented the petition when that all the Iudges were together who had great pitie and compassion ouer the Spaniardes and willed that they should come before them for that they would sée and vnderstande the roote and foundation of their will They obeyed their commandement with great ioy and when they were come into the hall one of the Iudges who was superiour ouer all the rest and a man of great authoritie did aske of them by way of the interpreter what was their pretence in that they did aske a house to dwell in the Frier Costodio did answere that he did desire it for to learne the language well by which meanes they might the better learne them to know the true God and to set them in the true way to goe and glorie with him because it was his office and his profession The Interpreter tolde all this truely the which fewe times before he had done as hath béene tolde you Then the Iudge in name of all the rest sayde that in that their demand they could not grant neyther had they any such authoritie to giue licence This being spoken the Interpreter replyed without tarrying to heare what the Spaniardes would say and said that at least wayes they would giue them licence to remaine there till such time as the Portingals did come thether for to lade their marchandice which would be within few daies with whom they would go for that they were all of one law faith The Iudge did againe aske thē if that the Portingals Spaniards were al one The father Costodio answered that in religion lawes there was no difference but the one were subiects to one king the other to another although they were kinsmen and tha● very nigh This last petition seemed to the Iudge to be more reasonable and iust than the first and that they might grant it thē with lesse difficultie although he answered them and said that he could not grant it vnto them but he would write vnto the viceroy for to grant it them For that the Portugals would bee there at the farthest within foure or fiue moneths that in the meane time he would giue them a prouision that they may go fréely abroad and none to hurt nor harme them So the next day following which was the second of August he did accomplish his word and promise and sent vnto the viceroy their petition and therewithall his iudgement and of all the rest that were there with him what they thought touching that matter The answere staied many daies after came not but in the ende there came a commandement from the viceroy vnto the gouernor of Canton in the which hee willed that the Spaniards should be sent vnto Aucheo whereas he was and that there should be carried with them all such thinges as they brought with them which was their bookes and ornaments The Iudge did straightwaies send gaue them to vnderstande of this new order because they should make themselues readie for to trauaile the which they did with great ioy and diligence as you shall vnderstand in the chapter following CHAP. VII The Spaniardes take their iourney towards Aucheo declare what happened in the way thitherwarde THe next day following which was the sixtéenth day of August the Spaniards departed frō Canton towards Aucheo to sée the viceroy with great hope and confidence that he would giue them licence for y t which they pretended But at their departure they would haue left there two Indians for to kéepe their ship or frigat but the Iudges that were present said that it was not néedefull for them to haue any such care for that they would take the care vppon them to see all thinges in good order So presently they sent certaine writing in papers and commaunded them to bee glewed vppon the hatches of their shippe in such sort that they could not bee open but they must be perceiued Then presently was brought for the Spaniardes foure barkes verie gallant and wide with verie fayre galleries and windowes and beeing imbarked they charged them verie much to make all haste possible to accomplish the commandement of the viceroy and sent with them conuenient persons for to be their guides and to giue them all thinges necessarie for their iourney They traueiled continually in a mightie riuer against the current in the which they did sée many thinges woorthie to be noted for the space of foure daies that their iourney indured There was alongest the riuer side manie Cities and townes verie great which were so many in number that they could not make any memorie of them by reason that they passed manie of them by night To obserue the tides and to auoid the heate which was great vppon the water Alongest the riuer side whereas it was not inhabited was full of corne fieldes whereas they sawe them go to plough with many Bufalos much different vnto the vse of Spaine for that one alonely buffe did drawe the plough with one vpon his backe who did gouerne and guide him with great ease whether hee would they should go with a corde made fast to a ring at his nose which serued in steede of a bridle They sawe also flockes of géese in the which were more then ●●entie thousand with whom they did weede and tooke away the grasse which did growe amongst the rice and other graine and seedes driuing them in the middest of their fieldes it seemed that they had the vse of reason considering how they did separate and make a distinction betwixt the good seede and the bad and the great care they had to feede and do no harme neither to plucke vp the good plant which was a thing that they wondred at aboue all the rest All the countrie is verie populous and the townes one so néere an other that it may better be sayde to be all one towne and not manie and might with more propertie be called the Citie of China and not the kingdome of China In all the whole countrie there is not one foot of ground vnoccupied by reason of the great abundance of peo-people that there is and they permit amongest them no idle people as more at large it hath béene declared vnto

vnto the faith of the Christians that if it were not that he should be banished and loose his countrie house and landes without all doubt he would haue béene baptised the which he could not do without loosing of all for that they haue a law in their countrie the which is obserued and kept inuiolably by the which it is forbidden that none whatsoeuer can receiue any strange religion differing from theirs vpon paine of death without the consent of the king and his counsell This law was made to take away nouelties and to liue all in one vniformitie of religion with one manner of rites and ceremonies This only was the occasion that certaine marchants of China being affectioned vnto the law of the gospell were baptised at the Philippinas and there doo dwell at this day in the citie of Manilla amongest the Spaniardes and are become verie good Christians So with these offers and with promises to be great friendes vnto the Spaniardes the Generall departed from Manilla to goe vnto the firme lande and with him the other Captaynes Omoncon and Sinsay with great hope that verie shortly they should be all of one faith So the one tooke their leaue of the other with reasons of great affection and tokens of great loue signifying that in any thing that should be offered they should finde them friendly They being departed the Spaniardes remayned verie carefull in praying vnto the diuine maiestie desiring of him to direct all thinges in this their request that it might be to his holy seruice and also to inspire the catholike maiestie of king Phillip their Lorde for to sende his Embassador vnto the king of China offering his friendship and to admonish him to receiue the faith of Christ the which according vnto the report of the Austen Fryers that entred into that countrie of whom we haue made mention manie times in this booke with their companions and also the Generall of China tolde them that there was no other means but only that for to bring their purpose to effect This counsell with all the spéede possible they put in vre and sent vnto his maiestie one of purpose and in the name of all them of those Ilandes to request him and to declare how much it did import They sent vnto him this relation with manie particular persons for to mooue his most Christian minde for to sende an Embassador as in effect hee did in that sort as hath béene tolde you in the last Chapter of the thirde Booke of this historie whereas it is declared in particular and in what estate it doth remaine vnto this day God for his mercies sake direct all thinges that it may be to his seruice and glorie and the saluation of so many soules The end of the first booke of the second part The second booke of the second part of the historie of the mightie kingdome of China In the which is contayned the voyage that was into that kingdome in the yeare 1576. by the fathers Fryer Peter de Alfaro Costodio in the Ilandes Philippinas of the order of saint Francis of the prouince of S. Ioseph and other three religious men of the same order and their miraculous entring into that kingdome and what happened vnto them for the space of seuen monthes that they there remained and what they did see and vnderstand of all the which are notable and verie rare CHAP. I. The Fryers of Saint Francis came vnto the Ilandes Philippinas and procured to passe vnto the firme lande of the kingdome of China with zeale to preach the holy gospell THe day of the visitation of our Ladie in the yeare 1578. there came out of Spaine to the Citie of Manilla in the Ilandes Philippinas the father Fryer Peter de Alfaro who went for Costodio of that prouince and fourteene more other religious persons of the same order in his companie and were sent by the king of Spaine and his royall Counsel of the Indias for to be ayders and helpers of the Austen Fryers who vntill that time had béene there alone in those Ilandes occupied in the conuerting of the people in that countrie and were the first ministers of the gospell preaching the same with great zeale vnto the profite of their soules of the which people those Fryers had baptised when the others ariued more then one hundred thousande and the rest prepared and cathecised to receiue the like Because that at the first occasion that might be giuen they might enter into the kingdome of China to preach the holy gospell The which Fryers when that they had béen there the space of one yeare occupying themselues in the same exercise in preaching and conuerting the people of that countrie In the same time they were giuen to vnderstande by the relation of the selfe same Austen Fryers as also by many marchants of China which came vnto them with marchandice of things to be wondred at of that mightie kingdome and of the infinite number of soules which the diuell had deceiued and brought vnto his seruice with false Idolatrie The which being by them well vnderstood they did burne with great zeale and desire of their saluation and to goe and preach the gospell although it were to put their persons in whatsoeuer hazarde or danger So with this their great desire they did many and diuerse times communicate with the gouernor that was there at that time for his maiestie who was called the Doctor Francisco de Sandi desiring his fauour and licence for to goe vnto China in the companie of certaine marchants of that countrie that were at that present in the port with their ships offering themselues to get their good will although it were to offer themselues to be slaues or otherwise whatsoeuer And séeing that at all such times when as they did intreat of that matter they found him but luke warme and that he did as it were but to detract the time and feed them with hope then they calling to minde that the chiefest intent and cause of their comming out of Spayne was to enter into that kingdome caused a newe desire to grow in them what with the contractation they had with the sayde Chinos as well in conuersation as in talke and finding them to be a people of great abilitie and discretion and of verie good iudgements the which did greatly content their desire they did perswade themselues that it was an easie matter to make them to vnderstande the thinges appertayning vnto God So that they determined to put other remedies in practise because that which they required with the good will of the Gouernor séemed to be a large and long matter So it happened that vpon a time intreating of this matter and hauing requested of God with great instance for to direct them the readie way which was best for his seruice and for the profite of those soules there came to the Ilandes Philippinas a Chino who according as they did vnderstand was one of the priests

little trauaile which is the occasion that they are nothing affectionate vnto warres and is vnderstoode with great facilitie they would receiue the gospell Nigh vnto the same there is an other little kingdome called Mana in the which there is a towne with Portingals y e which is called in their language Negapatan there is in the same a couent of the order of S. Francis whose religious fryers although they are but a few do occupie themselues in the conuerting of the naturall people thereof and it is to be beléeued that they shall reape much fruite and doo good for they haue giuen showes of the same for that about thrée yeares past the prince of that countrie was conuerted by the preaching of the same fryers who went now to receiue the holy baptisme with great and incredible ioy vnto the christians All the rest of the kingdome as it is beléeued will shortly imitate him In this Iland there are many pearls and aliofer al very good round and fine CHAP. XXV This chapter treateth of manie kingdomes of that newe worlde the rites and customes of the inhabitants and of some curious thinges THe afore saide father Martin Ignacio departed with his companions from this cost and went towards the Ilands of Nicobar wheras are many Moores gentiles al mingled the one with y e other They did not stay there but presently passed to the town of Cuylan which is inhabited with Portingals from Malaca 416. leagues This Iland is situated frō sixe vnto ten degrées vnder our pole hath in longitude thrée score and sixe leagues and nine and thirtie of latitude Of old● time it was an Iland much celebrated in those partes had in great reuerence for that it is saide that there dwelt died there in times past men whose soules are in heauē and are celebrated honored by thē of the countrie as though they were gods with many sacrifices and orations the which they do ordinarily There come from other kingdomes bordering therupon vnto this Ilande many pilgrimes but our people could neuer vnderstand the ground occasion thereof neither how they liued whom they doo hold for saints There is vpon the same Iland a very high mountaine which is called Pico de adan which father Martin did sée did heare the naturall people thereof say that it had that name for that by the same Adam went vp into heauen but what Adam it was they could not declare There is on this Pico like a monasterie the which the naturall people doo call Pagode At one time they had therein an Apes to●th the which they did worship for their God and ther● came thither vnto that effect some two hundred and thrée hundred leagues It so happened in the yeare 1554. the vizroy of India called Don Pedro Mascarenas sent an army vnto this kingdome with many Portugals with intent to reduce them vnto the obedience of the king of Portugall all of that country as they were before who few yeares past did rise against them and tooke away and denied their fewter The souldiers did sack that Pagode or monastery and thinking to finde some treasure therein they broke it and beat it downe vnto the foundation and there they found the aforesaid apes tooth the which they did worship put in a chest of golde and stones and carried it vnto Goa vnto the said vizroy When that this was vnderstood and knowne to other kings their borderers and vnto him of Pegu of this losse the which of them was iudged to bee great they sent their Ambassadors to the said vizroy that they might in the name of them all demaunde the saide tooth the which they did worship to offer for the ransome thereof seuen hundred thousand ducats of gold The viceroy woul● haue giuen it them for that quantitie of gold which they did offer would haue done it in effect if it had not bin for the archbishop of Goa who was called Don Gaspar other religious mē who did disturbe him putting great scrupulositie laide vnto his charge the hurt that come by their Idolatrie in giuing them the same of the which he should giue a straight account vnto God The which did so much in him y t he dispatched away the embassador without any regard of the gold y t they would haue giuen him in their presence he did deliuer y e same vnto the said archbishop religious men they before their eies did break it burnt it threw the dust thereof into the sea which was not a little woonder vnto the said embassadors to sée how little they did estéeme so great a quantitie of golde and for a thing which they estéemed not but threw it into the sea with so great liberalitie This Ilande is fertile peaceable healthfull and all full of woods and there are mountaines very thicke of orenge trees siders Limas Plantanos Palmas and many synamon trées which be the best in all the world of most strength effect for y e which they go to buy for to bring it vnto Europe they giue it for a small price Likewise there is pepper but the naturall people did pull vp certaine hils that were ful of it of sinamon because they saw there came from farre to buy these two cōmodities fearing y t it would be an occasion y t their country would be taken from them It is a countrie of great prouision doth bring foorth mightie elephants and they say that there is many mynes of diamōds rubies other stones y t are called girasolis In no part of this orientall Indies there was none of so good a beginning in the cōuersion of the soules as was in this Iland for that certaine religious friers of the order of S. Francis did labor very much and did baptise in a few daies more than fiftie thousand soules which gaue to vnderstand that with a verie good will they did receiue the law of the gospell and had edi●ted many churches and fourtéene monasteries of the same religion but few yeares past a king of that kingdome being weary of certaine things which in all that Indians are very publicke he forsooke the religion faith he had receiued and did rase destroy many portingals y t where there inhabited thrusting forth all y e religious men that did baptise minister the sacraments This euill king was called Raxu Many of them y t were christened content w t the faith of Iesu Christ they had receiued detesting y t which this tirannous king had done they went dwelt in y e company of the portingals others did build a town the which is called in their language Columbo whereas is a great number of them vnto this day do indure throughout al that kingdom the crosses in token of their ancient christianitie alongst all the coast they doe vse many Galiotas or gallyes goe with them robbing and spoyling al thereaboutes The naturall

full two hundred leagues which may bee made with reasonable wether in tenne dayes at the most CHAP. XXXII The captaines Chinos ariued with the Spaniardes at the citie of Manilla the Gouernor and those of the citie doo receiue them with great ioy and triumphes and after they had remained there certaine dayes they returned vnto the firme land being instructed and satisfied of many things touching our holy catholike faith with great desire to receiue the same AFter that it was knowen vnto the Gouernor of the citie of Manilla and vnto the generall of the fielde as also vnto the rest of the captaines and souldiers of the ariuall of the Spaniardes whom they with great care desired to heare of as well for the particular loue they deare vnto them as also for to vnderstand and heare the newes from that mightie kingdome of China to be declared by witnesses of so great faith and credite They altogether went foorth to receiue them with great ioye and pleasure and likewise all such captaynes and souldiers as came in their companie They were straightwaies conueighed vnto their lodginges to rest themselues of their long iourney which they had by sea for it was requisite and néedefull for the which afterwardes there was great feastes and bankets which was made by the Gouernor the generall of the field and other particular persons vnto the Chinos in recompence of that which was done vnto the Spaniards in their countrie All which feastes did giue them little content when as they did remember the flying and escape of the Rouer but in especiall Omoncon and Sinsay who continually euery moment did call vpon the generall of their fleete to make haste to shorten the time that they might depart from the firme land where giuing notice vnto the Gouernor of Chincheo of the estate of Limahon he might giue order that before he had reedified and repayred himselfe they might take him which is a thing most desired in all that kingdome The generall was verie glad and reioyced of their good intertainement and answered vnto Omoncon Sinsay saying that by reason of the great storme and foule weather past their ships had great néede of reparation and likewise the marriners to ease themselues the which being done he would with all his heart depart The generall of the fielde was verie sorrowfull and much gréeued for that the Rouer Limahon was so escaped and the more when he vnderstoode that he was suspected that hee did consent vnto his departure for which occasion if that the Captaynes had not béene verie much wearied with the long siege and euill weather which happened in that time without all doubt he would haue followed him and neuer to haue left him till he had taken or slaine him Although they were fully perswaded that Limahon was so terrified with the great perill and danger in the which he was and againe with so small number of people that rather hee would desire to put himselfe in securitie then to offende or doo any harme neyther to put himselfe in any place whereas hee might receiue damage of any of them to whom hee had doone so open wrong who were so much desirous to be reuenged who for to preuent all that might happen as after we vnderstoode hauing made readie his barkes and boates which he ordayned in his fort and put in them victualles for their iourney he departed with his small number of people vnto an Ilande farre●off and vnknowen there whereas he vnderstoode that none would goe to séeke him and there hee remayned a time whereas he fell sicke of a melancholicke infirmitie which grewe by an imagination that hee had to remember in what state he was at that time and howe he had séene himselfe at other times feared throughout al the kingdome of China which was an imagination sufficient for to bring him to his ende his companions were dispersed abroad so that we neuer heard more of them Now returning to our purpose after that the China Captaines had recreated them selues with the feastes and sportes that was made vnto them and taken recreation many dayes and tarryed hoping that the weather would proue fayrer to prepare themselues to depart In the same time they did intreat of many thinges in particular touching Christian religion whereof with great care they did informe themselues of our religious men and tolde them some secret things that were vnknowen vnto them of their countrie for that they were strangers So when as time and weather did serue they did take their leaue with many signes and tokens of griefe for to depart and leaue the conuersation of so good companions and did promise vnto them to procure all that was possible that the friendshippe begunne betwixt them and the Chinos should continue and perseuer for that it was a thing that did content them all Their generall himselfe did take this particular charge vnto himselfe with a determinate purpose for to declare in effect to the Gouernour of Aucheo whose priuate seruant he was the good meaning of the Castillos and what principall people they were and the ceremonies they vsed with the which hee was marueilously in loue Likewise hee would giue him to vnderstande of the flying of the Rouer Limahon how and in what manner and order it was and how that the generall of the field and the other captaines were in no fault thereof This he would do in respect that if it should so fall out that Omoncon and Sinsay for their owne credite should declare any thing against the Spaniardes that was not true that they might not be beléeued Besides all this he tolde the Gouernour certaine thinges in secret how they might with great ease purchase the friendship they pretended And amongest them all one was that hee should make a supplication vnto the catholike king in requesting him to write a letter vnto their king and sende him Embassador and such as shoulde giue vnto them the light of the Catholike and Christian faith with the which diligence ●here was no doubt that not onely the friendshippe betwixt the kinges and their subiectes shoulde bee established but also the king and all his kingdome would receiue the Catholike faith for that there are manye ceremonies vsed amongest them which doo much resemble those of our Christian religion and againe in their liuing morally they doo obserue in manie thinges the tenne commandementes of Gods lawe of the which in particular he did informe himselfe so that the greatest difficultie was in the entring in of the preaching of the holy gospell and beeing by this meanes ouer come in a short time all the whole kingdome would turne Christians And considering that in their worshipping as they doo worship all thinges in the seconde essence with great facilitie they would change their adoration and giue it vnto the first as most worthie and vnto whom it is their duties The generall did adde more thereunto and saide that he was so much aff●ctioned