those officers that came with him to remaine about their ship at the waters side for their guard more for that none should doo to them any harme then for any euill suspition they had of them Al that day that the Spaniards were in their ship the countrie men came downe to the water side to sée them and that in so great number that they did woonder to sée them and on the other side they greatly reioyced to sée so many soules there ioyned togither hoping that when it should bee the will and pleasure of GOD to giue them oportunitie to baptise them all The next day following in the morning they sawe another Mandelin or Iudge comming towards their shippe accompanied with much people and with little lesse maiestie then the other had who entred into their shippe and commaunded to search both aboue and belowe to sée whether they brought any armour weapon or any other kinde of merchandize and séeing that they coulde finde nothing else but their bookes and their ornament aforesaide hée commaunded it to bée brought before him who did peruse the same péece by péece with great admiration and shewed great contentment that hee receiued to sée their bookes and Images although that which did most content him was to sée the Ara of blacke stone as was said before Then hee commanded one of the Fathers for to reade in one of the saide bookes and for to write the which was done before him with so great facilitie that the Iudge receiued great contentment to sée it Then hée asked them if that with the said letters they could write any other language that were different vnto theirs The Fathers answered yea that they coulde write any language and for a plainer proofe they wrote on a péece of paper certaine reasons in the Iudges language the which did cause him greatly to maruell and said turning his face to some of them that came with him these men are not barbarous nor of any euill condition so farre as I can see With this he departed out of their shippe and went to giue the gouernour who sent him to vnderstand of that he had séene and coulde vnderstande of the Spaniards in this his visitation who straightwayes did sende them a licence vpon a table that they shoulde come on shore and bee suffered to enter into the cittie freely at their will CHAP. IIII. The Spaniards go forth of their ship and go into the Citie vnto the christened Chinos house and are carried before another superior Iudge in common audience and manie other passe with them SO soone as they had their licence they went forth of their ship and entred in at the gate of the Cittie although with great trouble by reason of the great number of people that came to sée them as a thing neuer séene before then they went to the christened Chinos house hee that serued for their interpreter who made very much of them and giuing them to vnderstande that hée had made a true report of all that they had commanded him and did offer himselfe to do so much with the Iustices that he would procure to get licence of the gouernor for them to remaine in the countrie and to giue them a house wherein to remaine and dwel and did admonish them that at that time they should not deale for to make the Chinos Christians vntil such time as they were better knowne and coulde speake the language and then should they doo it with a great deale more ease All these promises with the falsifying of that the Spaniards spake before to the Iudges was to content the Friers as in discourse of time they did vnderstande and onely to get monie from them for that it séemed vnto him that it could not be but that they shoulde haue good stoore for that they came from a rich countrie whereas it was and againe to come about businesse of so great importance about the which they shoulde remaine there a long time as aforesaide as they afterwarde did more at large vnderstande If that interpreter had declared in fidelitie all that which they had spoken without al doubt they woulde not haue suffered them to haue come on shoare else haue put them in some prison for that they came on lande without licence and to haue shewed them the most fauour they woulde haue caused them to returne from whence they came whereas the guardes of the straight of whome we haue spoken off before woulde either in secrete or publike sinke them at the sea for that they were all greatly in hatred against them the reason was that the Aytao who is as is declared in the first booke of this historie the president of the counsell of warre and had vnderstanding howe that they passed thorough the fléete and were not séene which was a thing that they all wondred at This Aytao did forthwith make secret information of the same and founde it to bée true whereuppon hee did Iudge the Captaines to perpetuall prison where they were well whipped and did secrest all their goods for the which all their kinâ—folkes and the rest of the guards had great indignation against the Spaniards and woulde with great ease haue béene reuenged on them but that they did feare the punishment that should bee doone on them after that it shoulde bee knowne In the which they doo execute their iustice in this kingdome more then in any place in all the world In the house of this Christened Chino they dined that day as they did many more afterwarde but euery night they returned to their fregat to bed for that they durst not leaue their things alone neither to lie out of their shippe for that one of the Iudges had so commanded CHAP. V. The Spaniards are called before a Iudge who doth examine them and offer them great fauour he dooth write vnto the vizroy giuing credit vnto the persons who sendeth commission vnto a Iudge called Aytao for to examine their cause the chiefe captaine of Machao dooth accuse them in saying that they were spies and doth intreate of other strange matters VPon Saint Iohn baptist day they were called before a Iudge who as after this did vnderstand was a superiour vnto the other past but when they came whereas hee was in place of audience his ministers did straight wayes commande them to knéele downe at such time as they came in sight of the Iudge which was vnto the religious men no small torment Hee demanded of them the same that the others did and they answered in briefe that they came to preach the holy Gospell and requested him to giue them licence to execute the same and to remaine in that Cittie of Canton for to learne the China tongue whereby they might giue them to vnderstande and knowe the trueth of the heauen The interpreter did falsifie their wordes as hee had doone vnto the other Iudges and said no more but for so much that fortune and fowle weather had driuen them into that port
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.
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
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
there be that bee verie curiouslie wrought and faire which may bée of such which the Captaine Artieda did sée who in a letter that hee wrote vnto king Phillip giuing him to vnderstande of the secreats of this countrie amongst which hee saide the Chinos doo vse all armour as wee doo and the artilerie which they haue is excellent good I am of that opinion for that I haue séene vessels there of huge greatnesse and better made then ours and more stronger In euerie Citie they haue certaine houses where they make their ordinance and artilerie continuallie they doo not plant them on Castles for that they haue not the vse of them in all the kingdome but vppon the gates of their cities which hath mightie great and thicke walles and déepe ditches which they doo fill with water out of the next riuer at all times when néede requireth which they account the greatest strength in all the kingdome At euerie gate of the Citie there is a Captaine with manie souldiours that keepeth watch and warde night and daie to suffer no stranger to enter in without especiall lycence of the gouernour of the Citie or towne By this that I haue alredie saide as seemeth vnto mée is apparantlie shewed and declared the antiquitie of Artilerie in this kingdome and howe that they there were the first inuenters thereof Likewise it dooth plainely appéere that there was the first inuention of printing a thing as strange as the other whose antiquitie in that kingdome shalbe shewed in the Chapter following CHAP. XVI Of the antiquitie and manner of printing of bookes vsed in this kingdome long before the vse in our Europe THe admirable inuention and the subtill ingenie of printing is such that for lacke of the vse thereof should haue béene forgotten the worthinesse of manie excellent men and of their déedes doone in the happie daies and times long past and manie in these our daies woulde not trouble themselues so much as they doo in learning to get honour and promotion or in feates of warres if that their fame should no longer continue in writing then their liues on the earth Leauing apart the woonderfull effectes of this subtile inuention least speaking thereof I shoulde be ouer tedious I will heere onelie goe about to prooue that which this Chapter dooth propounde with some ensamples whereof manie are found in their histories and likewise in ours It doth plainelie appeare by the vulgar opinion that the inuention of printing did beginne in Europe in the yeare 1458. the which was attributed vnto Toscan called Iohn Cutembergo and it was saide of trueth that the first mould wherewith they doo print was made in Maguncia from whence an Almaine called Conrado did bring the same inuention into Italie And the first booke that was printed was that which saint Austine did write intituled De ciuitate Dei wherein manie authors agrée But the Chinos doo affirme that the first beginning was in their countrie and the inuentour was a man whome they reuerence for a saint whereby it is euident that manie yeares after that they had the vse therof it was brought into Almaine by the way of Ruscia and Moscouia from whence as it is certaine they may come by lande and that some merchants that came from thence into this kingdome by the redde sea and from Arabia Felix might bring some â—ooks from whence this Iohn Cutembergo whom the histories dooth make authour had his first foundation The which béeing of a trueth as they hauâ— authoritie for the same it dooth plainelie appeare that this inuention came from them vnto vs and for the better credite heereof at this day there are found amongst them many bookes printed 500. yeares before the inuention began in Almanie of the which I haue one and I haue séene others as well in Spaine and in Italie as in the Indies The Frier Herrada and his companions when they came from the China vnto the Philippinas did bring with them manie printed bookes of diuers matters which they did buy in the Citie of Aucheo the which were printed in diuers places of the kingdome Yet the most part of them were printed in the prouince of Ochian whereas is the best print and as they did report they woulde haue brought a great number more if that the vizroy had not disturbed them for they haue great libraries and very good cheape but hée suspected that those bookes might be a meane to giue them to vnderstande the secrets of their kingdome the which they doo indeuour to kéepe close from strangers The vizroy vsed a policie and sent them word how that he was certified that they went about buying of bookes for to carry them into their countrie and howe they shoulde not spende their many on them for hée woulde giue them for nothing so manie bookes as they woulde haue which afterward hée did not performe possible for the reason aforesaide or else he did forget his promise At such time as this commandement came vnto them they had bought a good number out of the which are taken the most things that wée haue put in this small historie for to giue a briefe notice of them and of that kingdome till such time as by a true certificate the experience of manie shall cause more credite thereunto for that vnto this day by reason of the small notice wée haue we cannot with so great authoritie make it so credible as wee hope that time hereafter will doo The which hath mooued mee yea and constrained me to leaue to intreat of manie things which in those parts are to bée credited yea and are most true and for the same I haue béene blamed and reprehended by such as haue had perfite notice thereof And nowe for that I will not go from my purpose you shall vnderstand in the Chapter following whereof these bookes that they brought doo intreat that the better you may giue credite vnto the curiositie and policie of that kingdome as in manie places I haue declared and hereafter will declare CHAP. XVII The substance and manner of those bookes that Frier Herrada and his companions brought from China THey brought with them a great number of bookes as wée haue said that did intreate of diuers matters as you shall perceiue in the sequele Of the description of all the whole kingdome of China and the placing of the 15. prouinces and the length and bredth of euerie one of them and of other kingdomes bordering vppon them Of all tributes and rentes belonging vnto the king and of all the orders of his royall pallace and of his ordinarie pensions that hee giueth and the names of all officers in his house and how far euery office doth extend How many tributaries euerie prouince hath and the number of such as are frée from tribute and the order and time how and when they are to be recouered For the making of ships of all sorts and the order of nauigation with the altitudes of euery port and the quantitie of
presently gaue it a newe master in selling it vnto a gold-smith for as much as it was woorth who did melt it and made things thereof according to his trade yet they not being content therewith and that it séemed vnto them that those fathers could not but bring with them much riches they inquired of the China boy whom they brought to bee their interpreter with faire words to know if they had any gâ—lde or siluer or pretious stones or any other thing of valure but when they vnderstoode that they brought none of those things but onely their bookes and some other ornaments to say masse they straightwayes imagined in their mindes and that with great care and diligence to procure some way to get from them the other Challice which they had seene and the better to put it in execution they repeated againe vnto the Friers that which before hath beene tolde you augmenting thereunto many wordes and reasons affirming that they had spent vpon them in giuing them to eate twelue Taes more then y e Challice which they had giuen them did weigh or amount to which was twelue ducats of Spaine hauing before giuen them to vnderstaÌ„d at such time as they did eate that they did it of almes and for Gods sake and with so great content that many times it happened when they sawe that the Spaniards woulde not eate any dainty thing but would féede and content themselues with base victuals he would say vnto them that they shoulde eate without any griefe or care that when it should so fall out that his substance did saile him hee woulde then pawne one of his sonnes to buy victuals The father Costodio plainly séeing and vnderstanding that their intent purpose was wholly grouÌ„ded for to get from him y e other challice he answered that he had not for to giue them how that he had giuen the other challice in pawn of that which they had spent in victuals and for their trauell that they had taken for them The interpreter did replie saying that if they had nothing that they shoulde séeke it séeing that they ought it for their victuals which they had eaten and that it was the vse of that countrie that when any man did owe any thing hath not for to pay the same for to sell their children or else to become slaues vnto their creditor they demanded the other Challice that remained for that the other which they had giuen theÌ„ did weigh but sixtéene Taes which was but a small matter in respect of their desert onely for their trauel in their enterpretations This Frier Costodio did pacifie them in the best maner hee coulde promising to pay both the one and the other hauing oportunitie for the same and that they woulde procure it with as great care as was possible and requesting him for to keepe the Challice that he had giuen him in pawne in great veneration for that hee did estéeme it much more for the consecration and dedication vnto the deuine Colto then for the value of that it wayed and more promised him vpon his word to write vnto the Portugals that were in Machao signifying vnto theÌ„ their necessitie and to demande their almes charity and looke whatsoeuer they did send them being little or much should bee giuen him Then the interpreter who had his eyes fixed vppon gaine saide that they shoulde forthwith write and that hee woulde giue him a messenger for to carrie the letter and to bring answere of the same as hee had doone the like not many dayes before The Father Costodio did write vnto the Bishoppe that was in Machao giuing him to vnderstande of his comming and of his companions vnto the Cittie of Canton and howe that his comming thither was onelie to procure for to preach the holy Gospel and for to conuert and turne to God those blind Idolaters The which letter being receiued by the bishop he made answere praysing their intent and purpose animating them with godly wordes of exhortation and therewith did sende and demand the copie of such authortie as they brought from the holy father touching that the which they pretended This hee did for that all the sayde countrie vnto the lande of Iapon was committed vnto him by the holy father Unto this letter the father Costodio answered that hauing oportunitie he would obey his commandement and shew vnto him the facultie he brought and also would him selfe in person go thether for to kisse his handes and to satisfie all the inhabitants of that towne for that it was giuen him to vnderstande that they reported euill of them and sayde that they were vacabondes and lost men and not true religious men neither sacerdotes nor priestes and how that they had requested certaine Chinos which at that time came vnto Machao that at their returne againe vnto Canton they should tell the Iudges and aduertise them with good aduisement how that there were cerâ—â—ine Castillos come into their Citie whom they did certainely know not to be of their nation but of an other and subiectes vnto a different strange king whom they did beléeue to come thether for some ill intent and purpose in counterfeit attire and came for spyes from the Castillos of Luzon and that they did beléeue that after them did come some armie to do hurt in some part of that countrie and that they should preuent it in time for that if so be that any thing should happen the fault should not be imputed vnto them All this the Portingales did as afterwarde they did plainely vnderstande for feare that the Castillos shoulde take from them their contractation and gaine which they had in that city by which occasion their intent did so procéede forward that they did certifie the Chinos that the chiefe Captaine of Machao who was put there by the king of Portingall had presented a petition vnto a Citie that was ioyning to Canton aduertising the Iudges of that before spoken of and protesting that iâ— any harme or damage should come to that country in admitting the Castillos that it should not be imputed vnto them But the Iudge vnderstanding their euill intent and that their accusations were more vppon malice and enuie then of any trueth he answered vnto the same that he was particularly informed of those religious persons against whom they did complaine howe that they were men of whom they néeded not to feare and without any suspition as it did plainely appeare when they did visite their ship wherein they came where they found nothing but onely a fewe bookes and some other thinges which did more signifie deuotion than to make any warre This Iudge notwithstanding the answere he made for that afterwards the chiefe captaine should not raise vp some inuention tooke the originall petition and sent it with great securitie vnto y e viceroy of the prouince of Aucheo that he might sée peruse it who when that he had easily perceiued it and vnderstood the intent of