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.
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
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
Lopez de Legaspi who afteâ—warde died in the said Ilande with the title of Adelantado a yeare after that the fathers Fryer Martin de Herrada and Fryer Geronimo Marin and their companies did enter into China So after that our Spaniardes hadde discouered the sayde Ilandes and some of them populared to the vse of his Maiestie but in especiall that of Manilla which is fiue hunâ—red leagues in circuit in the which is situated the citie of Luson and is also called Manilla and as the metropolitane of all the Iland whereas the gouernours haue ordeined their place of abiding euer since the first discouery They haue also founded in that citie a cathedrall Church and erected a bishopricke And for Bishops of the same his maiestie did ordaine the most reuerend fryer don Domingo de Salazar of the ordâ—r of preachers in whom was comprehended some holinesse good life and learning as was requisite and necessarie for that prouince and was consecrated in Madrid the yeare of 1579. At this present there be thrée monasteries of religious men in that Iland the one of the order of S. Austen and were the first that by the coÌ„mandement of his maiestie did enter into this Ilands preaching the law of the gospell which was great profit vnto those soules yet great trauaile vnto them and cost many of them their liues in dooing it the other monasterie is of barefoote Fryers of the order of S. Francis of the prouince of S. Ioseph who haue béene great examples with great profit vnto them of those portes The third are of the order of S. Dominicke or preachers who haue done their dutie in all things so well as the other These thrée orders were alonely in those Ilands for certaine yeares till now of late time haue gone thither Iesuites which haue bin a great aide and helpe vnto their religion When these Spaniardes were come vnto these Ilands they had straightwaies notice of the mightie kingdome of China as well by the relation of them of the Ilands who tolde vnto them the maruels thereof as also within a fewe daies after they did sée and vnderstand by ships that came into those ports with marchants that brought marchandise and other things of great curiositie from that kingdome did particularly declare the mightinesse and riches therof all which haue béen declared vnto you in the first thrée bookes of this historie This beeing knowen vnto the religious people of S. Austin who at that time were alone in those Ilands but in especiall vnto the prouinciall Fryer Martin de Herrada a man of great valour and wel learned in all sciences who séeing y â— great capacitie or towardnesse which the Chinos had more then those of the Ilandes in all things but in especiall in their gallantnesse discretion and wit he straightwaies had a great desire to go thether with his fellow to preach the gospell vnto those people of so good a capacitie to receiue the same who with a pretended purpose to put it in vre effect he began with great care studie to learne that language the which he learned in few daies did make therof a dictionarie TheÌ„ afterwards they did giue great intertainmeÌ„t presents vnto the marchants that came froÌ„ China for to procure them to carie theÌ„ thether many other things the which did shew their holie-zeale yea they did offer themselues to bee slaues vnto the marchants thinking by y â— means to enter in to preach but yet none of these diligences did take effect till such time as the diuine maiestie did discouer a better way as shalbe declared vnto you in this chapter following CHAP. II. A rouer of this kingdome of China called Limahon doth make himselfe strong at the sea and doth ouercome an other rouer of the same countrie called Vintoquiam THe Spaniards did enioy their new habitation of Manilla in great quietnesse vâ—ide of all care of any accideâ—t that might disquiet theÌ„ or any strange treasons of enimies for to offende them for that those Ilandes were in great quietnes and in obedience vnto the Christian king Don Phillip and in continuall traficke with the Chinos which séemed vnto them a sufficient securitie for the continuance of the quiâ—tnesse they liued in And againe for that they vnderstoode that they had a law amongst them as hath bin told you in this historie y t it was forbidden to make any wars out of their owne countrie But being in this security and quietnes vnlooked for they were beset with a mightie great Armada or fléete of ships by the rouer Limahon of whose vocation thâ—re are coÌ„tinually on y â— coast the one by reason that y e country is full of people wheras of necessitie must be many idle persons and the other principall occasion by reason of the great tyranny y t the gouernorâ— doo vse vnto the subiects This Limahon came vpon theÌ„ with intent to do theÌ„ harme as you shal vnderstand This rouer was borne in the citie of Trucheo in the prouince of Cuytan which the Portingals do cal Catim He was of mean parentage and brought vp in his youth in liberty and vice hee was by nature warlike and euill inclinâ—d He would learne no oâ—cupation but all giuen to robbe in the high waies and became so â—xpâ—rt that many came vnto him and followed that trade He made himself Captain ouer theÌ„ which were more then two thousand wâ—re so strong y t they were feared in all that prouince where as they were This being knowen vnto the king and to his councell they did straight way coÌ„mand the viceroy of the prouince wher as the rouer was that with all the haste possible he should gather together all the garrisons of his Frontyers to apprehende and take him and if it were possible to carrye him aliue vnto the Citie of Taybin if not his head The Uiceroy incontinent did gather together people necessarie and in great haste to followe him The which being knowen vnto Limahon the rouer who saw that with the people he had he was not able to make resistance against so great a number as they were and the eminent danger that was therein he called together his companies and went from thence vnto a port of the sea that was a fewe leagues from that place and did it so quickly and in such secret that before the people that dwelt therein could make any defence for that they were not accustomed to any such assaultes but liued in great quietnesse they were lordes of the port and of all such ships as were there into the which they imbarked themselues straightwaies wayed anker and departed to the sea whereas they thought to bee in more securitie than on the lande as it was true Then hee séeing himselfe lorde of all those seas beganne to robbe and spoyle all shippes that he could take as well strangers as of the naturall people by which meanes in a small time hee was prouided of mariners and
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
them the seruant of the Aytao and the interpreter yet would they not open the gate vntill such time as it was acknowledged and newe firmed by another Iudge the which being done they presently did open the gates did conduct them vnto the house of one which is to be compared to a Iudge of the court called in their language Tequisi that he might go with them to the Aytao for so it was commanded ordained Unto this Tequisi they gaue their petition that they had made without giuing the interpreter to vnderstand therof requesting him by signes some words which they had learned of the language that he woulde giue it to the Aytao to procure that hee might accept grant that which by y e same they did demand but wheÌ„ they gaue it him it caused great alteration in the interpreter for that they told the Iudge y t he was a théefe a traitor how that he had sold them to the captaine general of Machao how that hee had presented a petition in their name howe that they would go thither not to the Iland of Luzon where all their desire is to returne and this hath he done by gifts that the saide captaine general hath promised to giue him if that he do accomplish his desire The Tequisi when he heard this he forthwith departed with vs from his owne house towards the house of the Aytao which was hard by and as he went by the way he read their petition and sawe that it was different to that which the interpreter had giuen before vnto the Aytao he being present whereat he made a sâ—ay began to consider of the same as also of that which the Spaniards had said vnto him at such time as they gaue him their petition for by the signes and tokens they made as by their semblant in spéech it séemed to him that they were maruellously indigned against the interpreter but he did not wel vnderstand them for that they could not plainly declare it in their language till such time as hee found the contrarietie that was in the petitions the turbation of y e interpreter whom presently hee called vnto him and asked him what the matter was hee trembling for feare answered and saide that hée vnderstood that the father Costodio whome all the rest doo obey as their head and with whom he alonely did comunicate that it was his pleasure and gaue order to go vnto Machao and that hee was certaine that all the rest were of that opinion wherein he thought he had done well and therefore he presented that petition in asking licence whereby they might doo it liberallie with this discharge and againe the Spaniards séeing how he was terrified and how that he requested them so humblie they would not procéede any farther with their complaint wherewith the Tequisi was satisfied who said vnto the Spaniards being in the gallerie of the Aytao his house that they shoulde tarry there and hee entred in with the petition in his hand So within a while after they were commanded to enter into the hall there whereas the Iudges were and had séene the petition and comoned about the same And at their entring into the hall whereas the Aytao was there were signes made vnto them that they should knéele downe the which they did almost twenty paces before they came to the table that was before him hee had in hande the petition that Tequisi had giuen vnto him and although that he had read it before yet did he returne and looked againe vppon it and asked which were they that would go vnto Machao The father Costodio signified himselfe and frier Iohn Baptista his companion and said that they for that they were old and timorous of the sea they would go thither for that it was nearer hande and howe that the rest that were not of such yeares neither so timorous they woulde returne vnto the Iland of Luzon from whence they came and there dwell with other of their brethren and friends that were there The interpreter whose euill conscience did accuse him for the euils which he had done was so timorous that all men might sée plainly his default and without al doubt the Iustices are so right in executing the same that if their complaint had gone forwards they would haue punished him and his companion and that very cruelly but the religious Friers woulde not consent that the souldiers shoulde declare against them although their will was good but thought it a sufficient punishment to sée in what affliction the poore men were in and tooke pittie on them The Aytao was desirous to sée their Images and book which was the chiefest occasion wherefore hee sent to call them and when he saw them he receiued great content and called the Fa Costodio to come nigh vnto him and asked the signification of some of them such as séemed vnto him most strangest and being satisfied thereof hee commanded the Frier Costodio to reade on one of these bookes hée harkening vnto it with great attention and as one amased to sée those letters and the forme of them so farre different vnto theirs which are all in manner of caractes as hath béene told you So after that they had passed away the time a while in this hee saide that those which woulde go vnto Machao shoulde put themselues on the one side and they that woulde go vnto Luzon on the other the which being doone hee tooke his leaue of them verie louinglie and saide that hee would giue them the licence which they did aske at all times whensoeuer they woulde although hee coulde not grant it them without first to consult with the vizroy of Aucheo yet he would doo it within tenne dayes and then those which woulde go vnto Macheo might presently depart and those which would go vnto Luzo he would send them vnto Chincheo that from thence the gouernour shoulde cause them to be sent in the first passage that goeth with merchandice This Aytao was very peaceable and humaine who hauing compassion on the Spaniards for that they séemed vnto him to be good men he commanded to bee giuen to them ouer aboue the kings alowance a Hogge and Rice and other kind of victuals So here with they went vnto their lodgings with content and also the interpreter who thought that hée was new borne againe that day CHAP. XIII The Spaniards remaine certaine dayes in Canton whither came certaine Portugals from Machao at the first they feared them but afterwards they were assured by the contractation they had the one with the other that they were friendes the vizroy of Aucheo commeth to Canton and dispatcheth the Spaniards giueth them good prouision and intertainment AFter that the ten daies were past appointed by the Aytao and some more séeing that no more mention was made of them but as though they had neuer séene theÌ„ they were very sorowfull in ielousie that the captaine general of Machao
we do call holy men They likewise doo sacrifice vnto the diuell not as though they were ignorant that he is euill or condemned but that he shoulde doo them no harme neither on their bodies nor goods They haue manie strange gods of so great a number that alonely for to name them is requisite a large hystorie and not to be briefe as is pretended in this booke And therefore I will make mention but of their principals whom besides those which I haue named they haue in great reuerence The first of these they doo call Sichia who came from the kingdome of Tranthlyco which is towards the west this was the first inuenter of such religious people as they haue in their countrie both men and women and generally doth liue without marrying in perpetuall closenesse And all such as doo immitate this profession do weare no haire which number is great as hereafter you shall vnderstand and they greatly obserue that order left vnto them The next is called Quanina and was daughter vnto the king Tzonton who had thrée daughters two of them were married and the third which was Quanina hee woulde also haue married but she would neuer consent thereunto saying that she had made a vow to heauen to liue chast whereat the king her father was verie wroth and put her into a place like vnto a monasterie whereas she was made to carrie wood and water and to worke and make cleane an orcharde that was there The Chinos do tell many tales of this maide for to be laughed at saying that the apes came from the mountaines for to helpe her and how that saints did bring her water and the birds of the aire with their bylles did make cleane her orchard and that the great beastes came out of the mountaines and brought her woode Her father perceiuing that imagining that she did it by witchcraft or by some art of the diuell as it might well bee commanded to set fire on that house whereas she was then she séeing that for her cause that house was set on fire she would haue destroyed her selfe with a siluer pinne which she had to trim vp her haire but vpon a sodaine at that instant there fel a great shower of raine and did put out the fire and shee departed from thence and hid her selfe in the mountaines whereas she liued in great penance and led a holy life And her father in recompence of the great sinne and euill he committed against her was turned to a lepar and full of wormes in such sort that there was no phisition that could cure him by reason whereof hee was constrained to repaire vnto his daughter to séeke cure which being aduised of the same by reuelation of a deuine spirit then her father being certified thereof did craue pardon at her handes and did repent him verie much of that which he had done and did worshippe vnto her the which she séeing resisted her father therein and put a saint before him that he should worship it and not her and therewith shee straight waies returned vnto the mountaines whereas she died in great religion This they haue amongest them for a great saint and doe pray vnto her to get pardon for their sinnes of the heauen for that they do beleeue that she is there Besides this they haue another saint which they call Neoma and was borne in a towne called Cuchi in the prouince of Ochiam This they saye was daughter vnto a principall man of that Towne and would neuer marrie but left her owne naturall soyle and went vnto a little Iland which is right ouer against Ingoa whereas she liued a verie straight life and shewed manie false miracles· The occasion why they haue her in reputation of a saint is There was a certaine Captaine of the king of China whose name was Compo he was sent vnto a kingdome not farre from thence to make warre against the king It so chaunced that he with his nauie came to an anker at Buym and being readie to departe hee would haue wayed his ankers but by no meanes he could not mooue them being greatly amazed thereat and looking foorth he sawe this Neoma sitting on them Then the Captaine came vnto her and told her with great humilitie that hee was going to warres by commandement of the king And that if so be she were holie that she would giue him counsell what were best for him to do to whom she answered and sayd that if he would haue the victorie ouer them that hee went to conquer that he should carrie her with him He did performe that which she said and carried her with him vnto that kingdome whose inhabitantes were great Magicians and threw oyle into the sea and made it séeme that their shippes were all on fire This Neoma did worke by the same art and did vndoe that which the other did practise or imagine in such sort that their magicke did profitte them nothing neither could they doe anie harme vnto them of China The which being perceiued by them of y ◠kingdome they did yeeld themselues to be subiectes and vassales vnto the king of China The Captaine beléeued this to be a myracle yet notwithstanding he did coniure her as one of good discretion for that thinges might fall out to the contrarie and the better to certifie his opinion whereby hee might the better giue relation thereof vnto the king he said Ladie turne me this rodde the which I haue in my hand drie to become gréene and florishing and if you can so do I will worship you for a saint Then she at that instant did not onely make it gréene but also to haue an odoriferous smell The which rod hee put vpon the poope of his ship for a remembrance and for that he had a verie prosperous and good viage he did attribute it vnto her So that vnto this day they haue her in reputation of a saint and carrie her picture vpon the poope of their ships and such as be traueilers to the sea doo offer vnto her sacrifices These aforesaide they doo estéeme for their principall saints yet besides all these they haue an infinite number of carued idols which they doo place vpon alters in their tempels the quantitie of them is such that in my presence it was affirmed by frier Geronimo Martin he that entred into China and is a man of great credite woorthy to giue credite vnto that amongst many other things he was in one of their temples in the cittie of Vcheo where as hee did count one hundred and twelue idols and besides this they haue manie in the high wayes and stréetes and vppon their principall gates of the citie the which they haue in small veneration as you shall perceiue in this chapter following whereby it is plainelie to be séene in what subiection they are vnto errours and Idolatrie such as doo lacke the trueth of true Christian religion CHAP. III. How little they doo esteeme their Idols whome they worshippe
considered and in my opinion this is not the least that is contayned in this chapter which is such order as the king and his counsell hath giuen that the poore may not go a begging in the stréetes nor in the temples whereas they make orations vnto their Idols for the auoyding therof the king hath set downe an order vpon great and gréeuous penaltie to be executed vpon the saide poore if they do begge or craue in the stréetes and a greater penaltie vpon the citizens or townes men if they do giue vnto any such that beggeth but must incontinent go and complaine on them to the Iustice who is one that is called the Iustice of the poore ordayned to punish such as doo breake the lawe and is one of the principallest of the citie or towne and hath no other charge but only this And for that the townes be great and many and so full of people and an infinite nomber of villages whereas it cannot be chosen but there is many borne lame and other misfortunes so that he is not idle but alwaies occupied in giuing order to remedie the necessities of the poore without breaking of the lawe This Iudge the first day that hee doth enter into his office hee commaundeth that whatsoeuer children be borne a créeple in any part of his members or by sicknes be taken lame or by any other misfortune that incontinent their fathers or mothers doo giue the Iudge to vnderstande thereof that he may prouide for all things necessarie according vnto the ordinance and will of the king and his counsell the which is the man child or woman child being brought before him and seene the default or lacke that it hath if it be so that with the same it may exercise any occupation they giue and limit a time vnto the parents for to teach the child that occupation ordayned by the Iudge and it is such as with their lamenes they may vse without any impediment the which is accomplished without faile but if it so be that his lamenes is such that it is impossible to learne or exercise any occupation this Iudge of the poore doth commaund the father to sustaine and maintaine him in his owne house all the dayes of his life if that hee hath wherewithall if not or that hee is fatherlesse then the next rich kinsman must maintaine it if he hath none such then doth all his parents and kinsfolkes contribute and pay their partes or giue of such thinges as they haue in their houses But if it hath no parentes or they be so poore that they cannot contribute nor supply any part therof then doth the king maintaine them in verie ample manner of his owne costes in hospitalles verie sumptuous that he hath in euerie citie throughout his kingdome for the same effect and purpose in the same hospitalles are likewise maintayned all such néedie and olde men as haue spent all their youth in the wars and are not able to maintaine themselues so that to the one and the other is ministred all that is néedefull and necessarie and that with great diligence and care and for the better accomplishing of the same the Iudge doth put verie good order and dooth appoint one of the principallest of the citie or towne to be the administrator without whose licence There is not one within that hospitall that can goe foorth of the limittes for that licence is not granted vnto anie neyther doo they demaund it for that there they are prouided of all thinges necessarie so long as they doo liue as well for apparell as for victualles Besides all this the olde folkes and poore men within the hospitall doo bring vpp hennes chickens and hogges for their owne recreation and profit wherein they doo delight themselues The Iudge doth visite often times the administrator by him appointed Likewise the Iudge is visited by an other that commeth from the court by the appointment of the king and the counsell to the same effect and to visite all such hospitalles as bee in the prouinces limited in his commission and if they doo finde any that hath not executed his office in right and iustice then they doo displace them and punishe them verie rigorouslie by reason whereof all such officers haue great care of their charges and liue vprightly hauing before their eyes the straight account which they must giue and the cruell rewarde if to the contrarie The blinde folkes in this countrie are not accounted in the number of those that of necessitie are to bee maintayned by their kinsfolkes or by the king for they are constrayned to worke as to grind with a querne wheate or rice or to blowe smythes bellowes or such like occupations that they haue no néede of their sight And if it be a blind woman when the commeth vnto age she doth vse the office of women of loue of which sorâ—e there are a great number in publike places as shall bee declared in the Chapter for that purpose These haue women that doo tende vpon them and doo paint and trim them vp and they are such that with pure age did leaue that office So by this order in all this kingdome although it be great and the people infinite yet there is no poore that doo perish nor begge in the stréetes as was apparant vnto the austen and barefoote fryers and the rest that went with them into that countrie The third booke and historie of the great and mightie kingdome of China in the which is contayned many notable things woorthie to be considered of touching morall and pollitike matters CHAP. I. How manie kinges hath beene in this kingdome and their names IN the fourth Chapter of the first booke I did promise particularly to declare howe many kinges haue béene in this kingdome and their names Nowe to accomplish the same I will beginne and declare the succession of them from Vitey who was the first that did reduce the kingdome to one empire gouernment vnto him that dooth reigne at this daye remitting that which shall lacke vnto the Chapter aforesaide whereas shall be found the number of the kinges and how many yeares since the first beginning of this kingdome and the manner of the succession This Vitey was the first king of China as it appeareth by their histories where as they doo make particular mention But amongest other thinges that they do declare of the kinges person they do say that he was in height so much as seuen mesures which is accustomed in China and euerie measure is two thirdes of a Spanish vare which is by good account foure vares and two terses in length he was sixe palmes broade in the shoulders and was as valiant in his déedes as in bignesse of his bodie he had a Captaine called Lincheon who was not onely valiant but politike and of great wisedome by reason whereof with his valour and strength he did subiect vnto Vitey all the whole countrie that he doth nowe possesse and
caused all people to feare him They do attribute that this Vitey did first inuent the vse of garmentes for to weare and the dying of all manner of colours of making of shippes hee likewise inuented the saw◠to sawe tymber but aboue all thinges he was a great Architector and an inuenter of buildinges whereof hee made verie manie and verie sumptuous which doo indure vnto this day in the remembraunce of his name he did also inuent the whéele to turne silke the which is vsed to this day in all the kingdome hee was the first that did vse to weare golde pearles and precious stones for iewelles and to weare cloth of golde siluer and silke in apparell he did repart all the people of the countrie into cities townes and villages and did ordaine occupations and commaunded that no man should vse any other but that which his father did vse without his particular licence or the gouerners of his kingdome And that shuld not be granted without great occasion for the same All of one occupation were put in stréetes by themselues the which order is vsed vnto this day throughout al the kingdome so that if you doo desire to knowe what occupation is in anye stréete it is sufficient to sée the first house thereof although it be very long for it is verie certaine that they be all of one occupation and not mingled with any other Amongst all other things he ordeyned one thing of great consideration that was no woman to be idle but to worke either in her husbands occupation or in sowing or spinning This was a law so generall amongst them that the Quéene her selfe did obserue kéepe it They saye that he was a great Astrologician and had growing in the court of his pallace a certaine hearbe the which did make a manner of demonstration when that any did passe by it whereby it did shewe if any were euill intentioned against the king Many other things they do declare which I let passe because I would not be tedious vnto the reader referring the dreames and fondnesse of these Idolaters vnto the iudgement of your discretion for vnto the discréete is sufficient to touch of euerie thing a little Hee had foure wiues and by them fiue and twentie sonnes he reygned a hundreth yeares there was betwixt this king and he which did build the great wall that was spoken of in the ninth chapter of the first booke one hundreth and sixtéene kinges all of the lynage of this Vitey All the which did raigne as appeareth by their histories two thousande two hundreth and fiftie seuen yeares I do not here declare their names because I would not be tedious although they be particularly named in their histories but here I will set downe them that I finde necessarie to bee spoken of for the succession vnto him that nowe reygneth The last king of the lynage of this woorthie Vitey was called Tzintzon this did make the mightie and great wall aforesaide finding himselfe to be greatly troubled with the king of Tartarie who did make warre vppon him in many places of his kingdome he did ordaine the making thereof and for the furnishing of the same he did take the third man of the countrie to the worke and for that manie people did die in this tedious worke by reason they went so farre from their owne houses and in diuers climes cleane contrarie vnto that where as they were bred and borne it grew that the king was hated and abhorred of all people in such sort that they did conspire his death which in effect they did accomplish and slew him after he had reigned fortie yeares and also his sonne and heyre who was called Aguizi After the death of this Tzintzon and his sonne they did ordaine for their king one that was called Auchosau a man of great valour and wisedome hee reigned twelue yeares a sonne of his did succéede him in the kingdom called Futey he reigned seuen yeares After the death of this king who died very young his wife did reigne and gouerne and was of his owne linage she did maruelously gouerne that kingdome for the space of 18 yeares and for that shee had no issue naturall of her bodie a sonne of her husbands y t he had by an other wife did succéede in the kingdome and reigned thrée and twentie yeares a son of his did succéede him called Cuntey and reigned 16. yeares eight monthes a son of his called Guntey did reigne 54. yeares a sonne of his did succéede him called Guntey and reigned thirtéene yeares his sonne called Ochantey did succéede him and reigned 25. yeares and thrée monthes his son called Coantey succéeded him reigned 13. yeares two monthes After him reigned his sonne Tzentzey 26. yeares 4. monthes then succéeded his son called Anthey and reigned no more but 6. yeares his sonne Pintatey did inherite reigned 5. yeares this Pintatey when he died was not married and therefore a brother of his did succéede him called Tzintzumy reigned but 3. yeares 7. monethes after him succéeded a younger brother called Huy hannon reigned sixe yeares his sonne called Cubum did succéede him reigned 32. yeares his son Bemthey did inherite reigned 18. yeares after him his son Vnthey reigned 13. yeares O they succéede him reigned 17. yeres his sonne called Yanthey reigned but 8. monethes and left a sonne called Antey who reigned 19. yeares whose eldest sonne called Tantey died incontinent after his father and reigned only 3. monthes his brother called Chytey reigned one yeare his son called Linthey reigned 22. yeares his sonne called Yanthey did succeede him reigned 31. yeares This Yanthey the historie saieth was a man of small wisedome which was the occasion that he was abhorred and hated of those of his kingdome A Nephew of his called Laupy did rebell against him he had two sociates for to helpe him gentlemen of the court they were two brethren verie valiant the one was called Quathy the other Tzunthey these two did procure to make Laupy king His vncle the king vnderstoode thereof and was of so litle valor discretion that he could not neither durst he put remedie in the same which caused commotions and common rumors amongst the people But in especiall there was foure tyrantes ioyned in one and all at one time they wer called Cincoan Sosoc Guansian Guanser Against these Laupy did make warre vnder colour to helpe his vncle but after a while that the warre indured he concluded and made peace with Cincoan and he married with one of his daughters who straight wayes made warre against the other thrée tyrants with the helpe of his father in lawe At this time this mightie kingdome was diuided in thrée partes and beganne the tyrannie as you shall vnderstande the one and principall part fell vnto Laupy by the death of his vncle the other to Sosoc the other vnto Cincoan his father in law In this
tribute and it is affirmed that there are as many more such as are frée and and do pay no tribute The Loytians and ministers of iustice all sorts of souldiers both by sea and land which is an infinite number are frée and do pay nothing the number as followeth The prouince of Paguia hath two millions seuen hundred and foure thousand that doth pay tribute to the king The prouince of Santon 3. millions and 700. thousand tributers The prouince of Foquien two millions foure hundred and seuen thousand tributers The prouince of Olam two millions two hundred foure thousand tributers The prouince of Sinsay thrée millions thrée hundred foure score thousand The prouince of Susuan two millions and fiftie thousand The prouince of Tolanchia there where as the king is resident and is the biggest of them al sixe millions fourescore and ten thousand The prouince of Causay two millions thrée hundred and fiue thousand The prouince of Oquiam thrée millions and eight hundred thousand The prouince of Aucheo two millions eight hundred and foure thousand The prouince of Gonan one million and two hundred thousand The prouince of Xanton one million nine hundred fortie and foure thousand The prouince of Quicheu two millions thirtie and foure thousand The prouince of Chequeam two millions two hundred and fortiefoure thousand The prouince of Sancii which is the least of all the prouinces hath one million sixe hundred thréescore and twelue thousand tributers By this account it is found that the tribute payers are verie many and it is approoued in manie places of this historie whereas they do treate of the greatnes of this kingdome that it is the mightiest and biggest that is to bee read of in all the world God for his mercies sake bring them to the knowledge of his lawe and take them out from the tyrannie of the diuell wherein they are wrapped CHAP. IIII. The tribute that the king hath in these fifteene prouinces according vnto the truest relation ALthough this kingdome is great and very rich yet there is none that doth pay so little tribute ordinarily vnto their king as they do neither amongst Christians Moores nor gentiles that we know The extraordinary and personall seruice is very much that in some respect wee may say that they are more slaues then frée men for that they do not possesse one foote of land but they pay tribute in respect whereof as also for the great misusing of them by their gouernours will bee a great part and occasion to inuite them to receiue the lawe of the gospell and that with great facilitie to inioy the the libertie of the same The ordinarie tribute that euery one dooth pay that dooth kéepe house is two Mases euery yeare which is as much as two spanish rials of plate This tribute is verie little yet the Loytians which is a great part of the kingdome do pay none neither their gouernours nor ministers captaines nor souldiours the multitude of the people is so great and the kingdome so bigge that alonely that which they giue for expences of the king and his court is woonderfull with customes dueties portages and other rents not accounting that which is paide vnto garisons and souldiers of that kingdome neither in that which is spent in repairing of walles of particular cities and in men of warre at sea and camps by land to gouernours and iustices which doth not enter into this account The rent which remaineth vnto the king ordinarily is this that followeth and is taken with great regard out of the booke of his excheker Yet the Chinos do say that it is much lesse thē that they do pay at this time for that this is of old antiquitie when as the tributes were lesse the tributes as followeth Of pure golde from seuentéene to two and twentie killates they giue him foure millions and two hundred fiftiesixe thousand and nine hundred Taes euerie one is worth ten rials and foure and twentie marauadies spanish mony Of fine siluer thrée millions one hundred fifty thrée thousand two hundred and ninetéene Taes The mines of pearles whereof you haue many in this kingdome although they are not verie round is woorth vnto him commonly two millions sixe hundred thirtie thousand Taes Ofprecious stones of all sorts as they come from the mines one million foure hundred thrée score and ten thousand Taes Of muske and amber one million and thirtie fiue thousande Taes Of earthen dishes and vessell fourescore thousand taes Besides all this the king doth put forth verie much ground to his subiects and they do pay him with part of the croppe that they gather or with the cattle that they bring vp on y e same grounde The quantitie that they pay him is as followeth Of cleane rice which is a common victuall throughout all the kingdome of the countries adioyning to them they paie him thréescore millions one hundred thrée score eleuen thousand eight hundred thirtie and two hanegges Of barley twentie nine millions thrée hundred foure score and eleuen thousand nine hundred fourescore two hanegges Of wheat like vnto that in Spaine thirtie thrée millions one hundred twentie thousand and two hundred hanegges Of salt twentie fiue millions thrée hundred and fortie thousand foure hundred hanegges which is made in his owne salt pits and is of a great rent Of wheat called Mayz twentie millions two hundred and fiftie thousand hanegs Of Millio twentie foure millions of hanegges Of Panizo fourtéene millions and two hundred thousande hanegges Of other different graine and séeds fortie millions and two thousand hanegges They doo pay him in péeces of silke of fourtéene vares long the péece two hundred fiue thousand and fiue hundred ninetie péeces Of raw silke in bundles fiue hundred and fortie thousande pounds Of cotton wooll thrée hundred thousand pounds Of mantles wrought of all colours eight hundred thousand foure hundred mantles of Chimantas Made of rawe silke that waieth twelue pound a péece thrée hundred thousand sixe hundred and eightie of them Ofmantles made of cotton of fourty vares sixe hundred seuenty eight thousand eight hundred and seuentie Of Chimantas of cotton thrée hundred foure thousand sixe hundred forty eight All this aforesaide is for expenses of the court which is great The Chinos y t come vnto the Philippinas do affirme the same do not differ in the report which is a signe to be true likewise they do receiue of it in his tresurie whereas is many millions cannot be otherwise considering his great rents CHAP. V. Of the men of war that are in the fifteene prouinces as wel footmen as horsemen and of the great care they haue in the gard of the kingdome LOoke what care and diligence this mightie king hath that iustice should be ministred with right equitie so likewise yea much more he hath touching matters that
the viceroy or gouernour doth vse himselfe in his gouernment and how all other officers do execute their offices without knowing from whence he came nor whether he will neither what he doth pretend So after that hee hath passed thoroughout all the prouince and is fullie certified of all his desire then doth hee goe vnto the chiefe or metropolitane citie whereas are resident all those Iudges against whom hee hath made his visitation and there he dooth remaine and abide till such time as the Tutam or viceroy doth make a generall counsell which is once a month at the least and at such time as they are in their counsell hall and peraduenture without thought of any such Iudge that should come then this Uisitor doth goe vnto the doore and sayth vnto the porter goe and tell them of the councell that here is a Uiâ—itor that must and will come in to notifie vnto them a commandement from the king then the viceroy vnderstanding by these words what he might be doth commaund the doores to be open and doth himselfe and the rest that are with him rise vp from their seates and doth goe and receiue him as their superiour Iudge who doth enter with his prouision open in his handes which dooth not cause a small feare amongest them all but in especiall vnto suche as their owne conscience doth accuse them he doth read his prouision in the presence of them all and at the instant of the conclusion the viceroy doth arise from his place and dooth vnto him great reuerence and complementes and so doo all the rest acknowledging their duties Then dooth this Uisitor place himselfe in the principallest seate of counsell and maketh his oration as the common vse is amongst them wherein he doth giue them to vnderstande the cause of his comming and with what care and diligence he did vse in his visitation to search out the trueth of matters after which with well pondred wordes he doth laude and prayse all such as haue well executed their offices and according thereunto he doth straight waies place them in their counsels in the higher seates and promising them to giue the king his counsell large account of their good seruice that they might bee rewarded according as they do deserue Likewise he doth sharply reprehende all such as haue neglected their bounden dueties Then doth he read there before them all the sentence pronounced against them declaring in summe all such thinges wherein he hath found them culpable which hath caused him to pronounce that sentence against them the which although it be neuer so rigorous it is foorthwith executed without any replication or appellation for from these visitors there is no appellation All such as shalbe punished or reprehended thâ—y do first take away from them the ensignes of Iustice which be as I haue told you the girdle bonnet or narrowe brimd hat with the which they can neither punish nor hurt him and if that any wil absolutely do it he shall for the same be depriued of his office and loose his head So being cleare of these things then do they execute the rigour of the sentence pronounced against the malefactor But if there be any doubt in the sentence giuen then doth he straight waies vppon the same doubt ordaine nine Iudges to sit vpon it admonishing them with the present before their eyes to vse well their offices wherewith hee doth charge them in the name of the king Many times these visitors do carrie power for to reward all such as doo well execute their offices in giuing theÌ„ roomes and offices of greater honor so that the present and knowen reward which is done vnto the good and the rigorous punishment for the malefactors is the occasion that this mighty kingdome is one of the best ruled and gouerned of any that is at this time knowen in all the world waying the gouernment of the one as in many places of this historie it is expressed and ioyne it vnto the long and great experience which we haue had in the other and then you will say as I say Many times these visitors do visite the colleges and schooles such as the king hath ordained of his owne cost in euerie prouince as in the processe of this booke you shall vnderstand do examine the schoollers of the same animating them to promotion all such as doo profite themselues in their studies and do whip and put in prison yea and thrust them out of the schooles all such as are to the contrarie Of all the which and of their commencing and rewardes which is giuen vnto such as they do find sufficient shall be at large declared vnto you in a particular chapter for the same CHAP. XII Of their prisons they doo vse and the order they haue in the executing of iustice vpon the culpable EUen as the iudges and ministers are seuere and cruell in punishing euen so they are in putting them in prisons the which are as terrible and as cruell with the which they doo kéepe in peace and iustice this mightie kingdome and as there is much people so haue they many prisons and verie great There are in euery principal citie throughout al these prouinces thirtéene prisons inclosed coÌ„passed about with high wals and of so great largenesse within that besides the lodgings of the kéeper and his officers and for a garison of souldiours that are there continually there are fish ponds gardeines courts whereas the prisoners do walke and recreate themselues all the day such as are in for small matters Likewise there are victualling houses and shops whereas is solde all manner of such things as the prisoners doo make for to sustaine themselues which if they did not vse their whole substance were not sufficient for their maintenance the time is so long that they lie there although it be for a small matter the occasion is for that the iudges take deliberation in their sentences and againe their cities are great and ful of other matters Likewise they are slowe in the execution of any sentence So that many times it doth fall out that men being condemned to die doo remaine so long in prison after their condemnation that they die with pure age or some other sicknesse or infirmitie or by the crueltie of the straight and asper prison Of these thirtéene prisons aforesaide alwayes foure of them are occupied with prisoners condemned vnto death and in euerie one of them there is a captaine ouer one hundred souldiers which are reparted and dooth kéepe watch and warde day and night euery one of these condemned prisoners hath a bord tied about his necke that hangeth downe vnto his knées a third of a yarde brode it is made white with a certaine whiting and written vpon it the occasion wherefore he was condemned to die The kéeper of the prison hath a booke wherein is written all the names of them that are condemned and the occasion wheâ—fore for to be accountable of
following where the order howe they doo giue them the title Loytia shall bée spoken off and is amongst vs after the fashion of procéeding or commencing doctor Unto the Colleges as well Maiors as Minors the king dooth sende euerie yéere Uisâ—ters for to sée and vnderstande howe the studentes doo profite and what the masters bée with other matters touching their good gouernement In their vsitation they doo honour in wordes those whome they finde of abilitie animating them to perseuer in the same and doo put in prison and punish such as they knowe to haue abilitie and doo not profite themselues thereof and such as haue none nor will not learne they put out of the Colleges that others may occupie their places that better will imploy themselues They haue great abundance of paper the which is made of the filme of canes and with great facilitie it is verie good cheape their printed bookes are made thereof the most part of it can be written but on the one side for that it is so thinne they doo not write with pennes as wée doo made of quilles but with pennes made of canes and at the ende like a fine brush like vnto a painters pensill and although this bée their order yet haue they amongst them excellent Scriueners that grow thereby to bée verie rich When they write letters vnto anie principall person they gilde the margent of the paper and limbe it and they put the letter written into a purse made of the same paper all guilt and painted the which they shut and seale so that the letter is onely contained therein This they doo vse verie much that although one go to visite another in person yet they doo carrie a letter written in their sléeues and possible there shall not bee written in the same tenne letters and that signifieth that they doo come to kisse their handes these things are to bée solde at the bookebinders of all sortes as well for principall persons and men of authoritie as for others of meaner estate for to desire reprehend or discommende and to concluâ—e for all thinges that they will desire or haue néede of yea if it bée to defie anie bodie so that the buyer hath no more to doo but to close it vp and seale it so sende it whither his pleasure is These and manie other curiosities they doo vse as you haue heard and shall heare in the discourse of this small hystorie or at the least somewhat touched for that the breuitie that I doo pretend and will vse will not permit that I shoulde enter so farre for to declare at large but to be briefe in that I shall declare CHAP. XIIII Of the examination of such whome they preferre to the degree of Loytia which is with vs the degree of a doctor and howe they doo commence them and howe they doo beare him companie THese Uisitours of whome wee haue spoken the king and his counsaile doo sende them to viâ—ite his prouinces and amongest the greatest things that are giuen them in charge is the visitation of the Colledges and schooles which the king hath in all the principall citties as is saide the which visitour hath a particular authoritie for to commence or graduate such students as haue finished their course and are of abilitie and sufficiencie to perfourme the same They doo make them Gentlemen if they bée capable of anie charge of iustice or gouernement And for that the vse of their ceremonies is a thing woorthie to bée knowne I will heere declare the same order which Frier Martin de Herrada and his companions did sée in the citie of Aucheo at the time of their commencement At such time as the visitor hath concluded the visitation of his prouince and hath punished the malifactours and rewarded the good in the metropolitane cities hée dooth straight wayes cause proclamation to bee made that all students and scholers that doo finde themselues sufficient and haue a corage to be examined to take the degrée of Loytia the which although amongst them is vnderstoode to bee made a gentleman yet amongst vs is a doctour The day appointed being come they are all presented before the visitour who taketh all their names in a scrowle and appointeth another day for their examination This day for honour of the feast the visitor dooth inuite all the learned Loytias that are in the citie who ioyntly with him do make the examination with great rigour alwayes putting forwardes and preferring those that are skilfull in the lawes of the countrey by which they do gouerne all other faculties whatsoeuer and that they be therewithall good and vertuous And all those that they doo finde with these properties they do write their names in an other scrowle and doo appoint the day of commencement the which is done with great ceremonies and much people in whose presence the visitor in the name of the king doth giue vnto them the ensignes of degrée and dignitie to be a Loytia that is a waste or girdle bossed with gold or siluer and a hat with certaine thinges on it as shall be shewed you in the chapter following which is a signe and token that doth make the difference from the vulgar people without the which none can shewe himselfe in publike And although al be called Loytias I meane those that come to it by letters or learning and others by the warres and others by a gift of the king yet they differ the one from the other in estimation For that those of the royall counsell viceroyes gouernors and visitors are made Loytias by disputation in learning And the generall Captaines Maiors Bailifes and Testators are a gift of the kinges in recompence of some good seruice that they haue done These haue no more preheminence but onely that they haue the benefite of their priuileges and haue the dignitie of that vocation but these are neuer preferred to greater honours as the other Loytias are of these you haue in euery citie very many There be others likewise of great estimation and are put in the second degrée and are those that are made by desert in the warres and are elect and chosen by the generals by authoritie of the king for some act or worthie déede done in the wars by force of armes or such like approued by witnesse of great credite vnto whom besides the title and honour giuen vnto them they doo giue them great liuings for that no valiant or worthie déede but is had in estimation and gratified with great liberalitie which is the occasion that those which are meane souldiors are animated to imitate those that be most principall and valiant According vnto my promise I will here with as much breuitie as may bee declare vnto you the order of their commencements and how they do accompanie them after that they are made Loytias for that it is a thing worth the hearing The day appointed being come for to commence or giue degrées all the Loytias with the visitor doo
he sealed it vp and sent it vnto the Citie of Taybin vnto the king and his counsell and therewith that which the Gouernour of Chincheo did sende him as shall be tolde you for that they haue a rigorous lawe in that kingdome that dooth prohibite all such as haue any office of gouernement to receiue any present of what qualitie so euer it be without lycence of the king or of his counsell vpon paine to be depriued of bearing anie office all the dayes of their liues and to bee banished and condemned to weare red bonnets as wee haue declared the effect thereof This is conformable vnto that which the gouernor of Chincheo did in the presence of our people at such time as they went to take their leaue of him for to goe vnto Aucheo which was that in their presence they commanded to take foorth all that they brought him in present and shewing it vnto them péece by peece He asked if it were that which they had brought and they aunswered that it was the same although it was with troubled mindes beléeuing that it was to checke them because it was so small in respect of their mightinesse he asked them if there lacked any thing they answered no then straightwayes he commanded to put it againe whereas it was taken out in their presence and before a notarie and witnesses the which being doone was mailed and sealed and so sent vnto the viceroy of Aucheo in their companie and saide that hee could not receiue it without the licence aforesaid So our souldiers séeing that they could not be suffered to enter in with the present they tooke it for a great discourtesie and disfauour and therewith departed vnto their lodging to giue the fathers to vnderstande thereof who liked not well thereof but yet they concluded amongest themselues to suffer for a while and to commit vnto God the direction thereof as it best may be for his holy seruice The next day following the viceroy did send to visite them and to aske of them a sword a hargubush and a â—laske for that he would cause others to be made by them the which they did send and afterwardes vnderstood that they had counterfeited the same although not in so perfect manner Then after a time our people seeing that their beeing in that citie séemed to be long and like to be longer they did procure to driue away the time in the best manner they could and went abroad into the citie and did by eyther of them that which they thought best Whereof they found great abundance and of so small price that they bought it almost for nothing They bought many bookes that did intreat of diuerse matters which they brought with them to the Ilands as appeareth more at large in the chapter for the same The next day they went to sée the gates of the Citie and all such curious thinges as were to be séene so farre as they could learne or vnderstande which were many But amongst them all they sawe a sumptuous temple of their Idolles in whose chiefe chappell they counted one hundred and eleuen Idols besides a great number more that were in other particular chappels all were of carued worke verie well proportioned and gilted but in especiall thrée of them that were placed in the middest of all the rest the one had thrée heads procéeding out of one bodie the one looking on the other in full face The second was the forme of a woman with a childe in her armes the third of a man apparelled after the forme and fashion that the Christians doo paint the Apostles Of all the rest some had foure armes and some had sixe and other eight and other some marueilous deformed monsters Before them they had burning lamps and many swéete parfumes and smelles but in especiall before the thrée aboue specified But when that the viceroy did vnderstande that our people did go viewing the Citie gates and temples and perceiueth that they that gaue him the notice did suspect it that it was to some ill intent therewith he straightwayes commanded that they should not goe â—oorth out of their lodging without â—is licence and likewise commanded the Captaine that was their garde not to consent thereunto as he had done and likewise that none should carrie them any thing for to sell for he that did it should be punished with whipping Yet notwithstanding they had euerie day verie sufficient necessaries for their personages in such ample wise that there did alwayes remaine and not lacke In this closenesse and kéeping in they suffered many dayes with much sadnesse and oppressed with melancholick humors to sée that their purpose wherefore they went thether séemed to be long and euerie day was worse worse Yet noâ—withstanding they did passe it ouer in the best wise they could in coÌ„mitting it with heartie zeale vnto God for whose honor and glorie they did attempt that voyage prayed vnto him for to mooue their hearts to consent that the religious fathers might remaine in that countrie for to learne the language as they had begun many daies before by which meanes their soules might be saued and clearely deliuered from the tyrannie of the diuell who of truth had them in possession So after many dayes that they had remained in that close estate as aforesaide they determined for to goe and talke with the viceroy and to bee fully resolued either to tarry or returne from whence they came They straightwayes did put it in vre and what ensued thereof you shall vnderstande in the chapter following CHAP. XXVI The Spaniardes talke with the Viceroy and not being suffered they do write to him a letter and he doth answere it by word of mouth with other particular matters IT hath béen declared vnto you that the same day y t the Spaniardes did talke with the viceroy he asked them if they had brought any letter for their king they answered no he tolde them that he would write vnto the court and hauing answere they should be fully satisfied of their pretence and demaund But they séeing that his aunswere was long a comming and great delaye made therein and that they had them as halfe prisoners they determined to go and speake with the viceroy to be fully satisfied of his determinate will pretence and to haue some order eyther to goe vnto the court or to remaine in that citie or else to returne vnto the Ilands and there to tarrie the time till it pleased God to open a gate in that kingdome wherein might enter his holy gospell With this their pretended purpose they did perswade with their captaine to permit them so much libertie as for to go and speake with the viceroy who for that hee bare them loue and good will did consent therevnto So they went but when they came thether they that kept the gates would not consent y t they should enter which was the occasion that they returned vnto their lodgings verie sad and sorrowfull
and almost without any hope to bring their matter to passe for the which they went thether for that it séemed vnto them although they did plainely declare vnto them their pretence yet did they worke in such order for to cause them to depart In this order they remained in the citie certaine daies and for to conclude either to stay there or depart the kingdome they were resolute and determined to write a letter vnto the viceroy and therein to giue him to vnderstand particularly that their comming thether into y e countrie was to intreat that betwixt theÌ„ the Castillos there should be peace friendship and being concluded that their souldiers should with that newes depart vnto the Ilandes from whence they came to giue the gouernor to vnderstand therof they to remaine in that countrie preaching y e holy gospell They could finde none that would write this letter for them although they would haue payed them very well for their paines Till in the end by great request and prayings the captaine Omoncon did write it for them and straightwaies departed vnto the citie of Ampin that was not farre off making an excuse for to go sée the visitor of the prouince whom they doo call Sadin he would very faine haue carried with him two of our people y t he might haue séene them but none would go with him This iourney which Omoncon made hee did it to put away the suspition they might conceiue that he did write the letter if that peraduenture the viceroy would take it in ill part Their letter being written they found great difficulty in the sending the same for that there was nâ—ne that would carie it neyther would they consent that our men should enter into the pallace to deliuer it But in conclusion what with requestes and giftes they perswaded their Captayne of their gard to carrie it who did deliuer the same vnto the viceroye in name of the Castillos saying that hee tooke it of them to bring it vnto him for that they did certifie him that it was a thing that did import verie much Hauing read the letter hee answered that he would giue the king to vnderstande thereof as he saide at the first time And in that touching the Fryers remayning in that countrie to preach at that time hee could make them no answere for that in such matters it was first requisite to haue the good will of the Royall Counsell Yet would hee make answere vnto the letter they brought from the Gouernour of Manilla and that they might depart and returne againe at such time as they brought Limahon prisoner or dead the which being done then shall the friendshippe be concluded which they doo pretende and to remaine and preach at their will With this answere they remained without all hope to remayne there and did incontinent prepare themselues for to depart from Manilla and bought manie bookes to carie with them wherein was comprehended all the secrets of that kingdome By reason whereof they might giue large notice vnto the royall maiestie of king Phillip The which being vnderstoode by the Uiceroy who had set spies to watch their doings did sende them worde that they should not trouble themselues in the buying of bookes for that hee would giue them fréely all such bookes as they would desire to haue the which afterwardes he did not accomplish whether it was for forgetfulnesse or other occasion as wee haue more at large declared vnto you we know not yet did the Uiceroy send and demanded to sée some of those bookes that the Fryers had bought who after that he had séene them did returne them again and requested of them some writing of their owne handes who did accoÌ„plish his request and sent them written in spanish and in their owne language the Lords prayer the aue maria and the ten commandements who according vnto the relation of him that did carrie the same saide that after hee had reade it he made showes that he receiued great content therewith and said that all which was there written was good In the time that they stayed in this Citie amongst all other things that they vnderstoode to driue away the time was one it was giuen them to vnderstande that in one of the prisons there was a Portingale prisoner who was taken in a shippe of the Iapones with others of his nation who were all dead in the prison and none left aliue but he alone Our people being verie desirous for to see him and to learne of him some secrets of that countrie for that he had béene there a great while they did procure to talke with him asking licence of the supreme Iudge and lieutenant vnto the viceroy who did not onely refuse to grant it them but did make diligent inquirie who they were that did giue them to vnderstande thereof for to punish them which without all doubt should be executed with sharpe and seuere punishment Yet our people would neuer tell them of whom they had it although it was demanded of them diuerse times and with great intreatie They had so great desire to know it that they did vse all meanes possible as it appeared in the boldnesse of their demandes CHAP. XXVII There came newes vnto Aucheo that there was a rouer vpon the coast of Chincheo which did much harme and had sacked a towne The viceroy doth suspect him to be Limahon and how that our people with Omoncon and Sinsay had not declared vnto him the truth THe Spaniards remained in the Citie of Aucheo twentie days in the order as hath béen told you without any hope that the religious fathers should remaine in that countrie for to preach the holy gospell which was the principall occasion of their going into that kingdome Upon a suddaine there came newes vnto the citie that the rouer Limahon was vpon the coast of Chincheo vsing his olde accustomed cruelties and how that he had spoiled and robbed a towne vpon the sea coast This newes was throughout all the citie and appeared to be true touching the effect of the dead yet false touching the person for that the rouer was called Taocay an enimie and contrarie vnto Limahon but a friend vnto Vintoquian of whom we haue spoken of But thereupon the viceroy and all them of the citie were conformable in the suspition that they had receiued which was that our people were come into that kingdome vpon some euill pretence and to sée the secrets thereof to some euil end which was the occasion y t froÌ„ that time forwards they shewed them not so good countenance as they did before These newes was not so soone come but straightwayes the viceroy did sende for Omoncon who was then returned from his visiting and Sinsay vnto whom he had done courtesie and giuen them the title of Loytias and captaynes and he did reprehende them verie sharpely for that they had brought ouer people thether and sayde that they had tolde him a lye in
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
there in that place till such time as they had giuen y e gouernor of the Cittie to vnderstand thereof he to send theÌ„ licence that they may enter in againe So after a good while that they had remained there wheras the guards had set them there came vnto theÌ„ a man who was a Chino called Canguin and could speake Portugal who knowing them to be Christians by their faces attire did aske them in the Portingal toong what they sought y e Spaniards answered him that their comming into that kingdom was for to shew declare to them the way to heauen to giue theÌ„ to vnderstand know y e true God the creator of heauen earth and that they would very faine talke with the gouernor to intreat therof This Chino by by brought to theÌ„ a man that could speak very good Portuges who as after they did vnderstaÌ„d both he his wife childreÌ„ were christened and although they were borne in China yet did they dwel 3. years with Portugals that were inhabited in Machao which is twenty leagues from that cittie of Canton This did demande the same question of them that the other did wherefore they came into that countrie they answered him the same as they did the other hee replied and asked them who was the Pilot that brought them thither they answered the will of God they not knowing howe nor from whence But after they had sailed at the sea certaine dayes they came vnto that place that according as it was giuen them to vnderstande is the cittie of Canton of the which they haue heard declared many straunge thinges the Chino asked howe the guardes of the sea and shippes that were in the straight aforesaid did let them passe they answered that they saw no guards nor any other that did trouble them their passage This last answere did cause the Christian Chino greatly to admire who being mooued with a good zeale said vnto them that they should returne againe vnto the shippe and not to come forth vntill such time as he had giuen aduice of their comming vnto the Mandelines of the sea which be certaine iudges appointed to giue aduice of all such matters to the gouernor that he may command what is to be done therein So the Spaniards returned vnto the shippe whereas they remained a good while and passed great heate for that it dooth excéede in that port So after a while they sawe come vnto a house which was néere vnto the gate of the Cittie a man of great authoritie who was brought in a litter Chaire much people came with him he stayed at that house and from thence sent to call vnto him the religious men and all the rest that came in their company before them all came one that carried a table all whited and thereon was written certaine great letters with blacke ynke the which as after they vnderstood was the licence that the gouernor of the cittie gaue them for to come a shoore without the which there is no stranger permitted The fathers did straightwayes obey it and came forth of their shippe with more companie then they desired of such as came to sée them who were so many in number that although the sergeants and officers of the iudge that sent for them did beate them for to make way yet was it a good while before they coulde come vnto the house whereas the iudge was although the way was but short So when they approched nigh one of â—he sergeants bad them knéele down before the iudge the which they did with great humilitie without any replication Hee was set in a verie rich Chaire with so great maiestie that they were greatly astonyed to sée it and the more when that they vnderstood by the christian Chino that he was not the gouernor neither of the supreme iudges hee was apparelled in a robe of silke close from aboue down to the foote with the sleeues very wide and a girdle imbossed and on his head a bonnet full brooches such as bishops doo vse on their mytres Before him was set a table whereon was paper and inke and on the one side and the other two rankes of men as though they were to guard him yet without weapons They had al of them in their hands long canes of foure fingers brode with the which as after they did vnderstand they do beat suâ—h as are offeÌ„ders vpon the calues of their legges with great crueltie as hath beene told you in the first bookes of this historie All these had vppon their heads a manner of helmet made of blacke leather and on them great plumes of Pecocks feathers with brooches made of mettal a thing vsed to be worne in that countrie of such as are executioners or ministers of iustice The iudge bad the interpreter to aske them of what nation they were and what they sought in that countrie and who was their guide to bring them into that port the which being vnderstoode by the religious men answered that they were Spaniards and subiect vnto the king Philip of Spaine and came thither to preach the holy gospel and to teach them to know the true God creator of the heauen and earth and to leaue off the worshiping of their Idols who haue no more power of themselues then that which is giuen them by him that doth make them the which worship is knowne and receiued by his holie law and declared by the mouth of his only begotten sonne and confirmed with diuine tokens from heauen in whose guarde doth consist the saluation of all soules And to the last touching who was their guide vnto that kingdome they answered that it was God vnto whose will all creature are subiect as vnto the true creator all the which as afterward it did appeare the interpreter did not truely interpret of the interpretation of the Spaniards vnderstanding that if hee should truely interpret what they saide the Iudge would forthwith sende them away which would be the occasion that he shuld get nothing of them So that he made his interpretatioÌ„ as it best séemed for his purpose fearing as after he did confesse that if he shuâ—d declaâ—e the truth of that which the Spaniards had said it would haue been verie odious to the Iudge afterward both vnto them and to himselfe might be the occasion of some great euill but to conclude he answered and told the Iudge that they were certaine religious men who liued in common a sharpe and asper life much after the manner of those of that kingdome and that going from the Iland of Luzon vnto the Ilands of the Illocos in a great storme and tempest that chanced them the ship wherin they were was cast away and al their people cast away sauing they who escaped by vsing great diligence and put themselues in that small ship which came in company with another greater shippe without Pilot or mariner for that they were almost all drowned and setting saile in the
best manner they could or knewe being holpen and constrained by necessitie they let their ship saile and go whither as fortune did cary them So after many dangers and stormes at the sea according to the will of the heauens they came vnto this port whose name as yet they knew not The Iudge asked them where they had that Chino that they brought in their company for an interpreter They answered that he was in Luzon captiue vnto a Spaniard they tooke him and set him frée and hée vnderstanding that they were bound vnto the firme land of China which was his naturall countrie he requested them to carrie him thither the which they did with a very good will for that they had neede of him to vtter their desire if néede did so require All the which the other interpreter fearing that if he should tel vnto y e Iudge how that he was captiue vnto the Christians hée woulde bée offended and therefore hee did falsifie the same and saide that comming vnto an Iland to take in fresh water they found the boy there where he was captiue eight yeares before and came thither forced with a great storme in the which was drowned a merchants shippe that was bound to Luzon and he alone escaped by swimming and so hee came aborde the shippe in the which were the fathers not knowing whither they went All these vntruthes he did inuent for to dissemble and go forwards with his knauish pretence and would not declare the true intent of the Friers the which he had decréed with himselfe how to doo before the Iudge did sende to call them Moreouer the Iudge did aske them what they brought in their small shippe they answered that they brought nothing but one chest and two little fardels of bookes and an ornament for to say masse This did the interpreter declare truely vnto the Iudge for that experience might be made thereof So the Iudge forthwith commanded that it should be brought before him the which being done he caused it to be vndone and he perused euery thing by it selfe the which being strange vnto him for that he neuer saw the like he made signes vnto them that he receiued great contentment in the séeing of thē but specially of the Images they brought but that which did best please him was an Ara or sopre-altar of a blacke stone the which did shine so bright that they might sée themselues therein as well as in a glasse These Friers did bring the same with them out of the kingdome of Mexico whereas you haue great aboundance but specially in the prouince of Mechuacan So after that hee had seene all and sawe that it was drie without any signe or token that it had béene in the sea hée called to remembrance the wordes of the interpreter in the name of the fathers touching the storme wherein their shippe was cast away and howe that they escaped by swimming and put themselues in that small shippe in the which they came and considering of the same it séemed vnto him that they did fable in that which they had saide so that he did replie and asked if it were true that which they had before declared and howe it shoulde bee that their bookes and other things were not wet at the sea which was an euident token and plainely to be vnderstood that they had fabled and told lies and so he beléeued they did in all the rest The interpreter fearing least by that argumēt his falshod would be discouered he fel in talke a while w t the Friers asking answering things very different to that which y e Iudge had cōmanded him Thē he w t a strange sharpe boldnes answered to y e difficulty proponed by y e Iudge said That as all merchants at such time as their shippes are readie to sinke and to be lost they doo procure first to saue such thinges as are of most estimation forgetting all the rest euen so these religious men did procure with great care and diligence to saue those books and that ornament which is all their treasure and yet for all their diligences done they lost a great number mo All these fables and lies after many dayes the religious fathers came to haue the knowledge of The Iudge did aske them if they brought any armor or weapons in their shippe they answered that they were no men to bring them neither according vnto their profession they coulde not weare nor vse them for that they were religious and professed other matters contrary vnto the vse of armor or weapon promising and auowing vnto God perpetuall pouertie and chastitie and vnto their superior prelates obedience all the dayes of their liues The Iudge returned and asked them if they had any monie and where withall they did eate and apparell themselues and bought those bookes and ornaments they answered that all that which they had was giuen them by secular Christians for Gods sake whome they did serue for that they should pray for them and for the saluation of their soules The Iudge when he heard this was greatly astonied for that the interpreter did declare the truth and made signes that he receiued griefe and had pittie on them although he gaue not full credite to that which he heard but said that he would go aborde their shippe to sée if they did say the truth in not bringing anie armor or weapon neither siluer nor merchandize This did hée straightwayes put in vre and commaunded them that brought him in the litter Chaire vppon their shoulders to go thitherward all those people did beare him companie as also a great number that were there ioyned togither to heare the examination of those strangers and also the Spaniards he commanded to go next vnto him So when that he was in their shippe set in his Chaire his ministers beganne to search the shippe in all places both aboue and below and could finde nothing but a little Rice which was left of tha◠which they brought with them they gaue y e Iudge to vnderstande thereof who looking vpon the Spaniards said that all they that were in the shippe might heare him these do speake the truth and they doo seeme vnto me to bee good people and without any superstition and without all doubt they doo come and will be after the manner of our religious men according as is to be séene in the vniformitie of their aprarell as also in their heads and beardes Then he beganne to demaunde of them certaine thinges more of curiositie then of suspection who answered him casting vp their eies vnto heauen for that their talke was thereof they saw that the Iudge did greatly reioyce and had pleasure therein for that it séemed that they had the heauens for their God as they haue by reason they did so much looke vpwards After this the Iudge came foorth of the shippe but the religious men remained behind at his commandement with his companions and likewise hee commaunded certaine of
you and the countrie beeing fertile is the occasion that they haue all thinges in great abundance and at a lowe price Now to returne to their voyage the which they made verie well and with great recreation as well in the townes alongst the riuer side as vpon the riuer whereas they were cherished with great care in the end of foure dayes which was the twentith day of August they entred into the suburbes of the Citie of Aucheo but so late that they were constrayned to remaine there till the next day whereas they found all thinges necessarie and in good order aswell for their bedding as for their supper to passe away the night The next day very early in the morning he that was their conduct and guide made great haste for to goe and sée what the viceroy would command They trauailed through a great and long stréete which séemed vnto them to be more than a league and thought that they had gone through the citie So when they had passed that street they came vnto the gate of the citie and there they vnderstoode that the rest which they had gone and passed was the suburbes The mightinesse of this citie and the great admiration they had with the multitude of people a wonderfull great bridge the which they passed with many other thinges of the which they made mention we do let passe for that it is declared vnto you more at large in the relation giuen by the Augustin friers in the booke before this at their entrie into the sayd citie So when they came to the pallace of the viceroy he was not stirring neither was the gate open for as it hath béene tolde you it is open but once a day Their guide séeing that it would be somewhat long before that they would open it he carried the Spaniardes into a court of an other house which was ioyning vnto that of the viceroy In the meane while they were there came all the Iudges to sit in audience but when they vnderstoode of the comming of the strangers they commanded that they should be brought before them who greatly marueiled at the aspernesse of their apparell and not at any other thing for that they had séene there before the Austin fryers Straightwayes the gate of the pallace was open with great noyse of artilerie and musicall instruments as trumpets bagpipes sackebuttes and hoybukes with such a noyse that it séemed the whole citie would sincke At the entrie in the first court there were many souldiers armed and had hargubushes and lances and in a very good order In an other court more within which was very great railed round about with timber painted blacke and blew which a far off séemed to be yron and was in height a mans stature there they sawe also many other souldiers placed in the same order and in liuerie as the others were but they séemed to be men of a gallanter disposition When they came into this court there was brought vnto them a commandement from the viceroy in the which they were commanded to returne and come thether againe in the after noone for that he could not speake with theÌ„ before by reason of certaine businesse he had with the Lords of the counsell which could not be deferred With this answere they departed out of the pallace and returned againe in the after noone as they were commanded and into the same court aforesaide out of y e which they were carried into a mightie great hall very richly hanged and adorned at the ende thereof was thrée doores that in the middest was great but the other two but small the which did correspond vnto other thrée doores that were in an other hall more within wherein was the viceroy right ouer against the doore in the middest in at y t which there is none permitted to enter nor go foorth Hee was set in a marueilous rich chayre wrought with iuorie and gold vnder a canopie or cloth of state all of cloth of gold in the middest was embrodered the kings armes which were as we haue said cerâ—aine serpents woond in a knot together He had also before him a table whereon were two candles burning for y t it was somewhat late and a standish with paper Right before the viceroy the wall was verie white whereon was painted a fearce dragon who did throwe out fire at his mouth nose and eyes a picture as was giuen them to vnderstand that all the Iudges of that countrie coÌ„monly hath it painted before their tribunall seates whereas they sit in Iustice and is there to the intent to signifie vnto the Iustice the fearcenesse that he should haue sitting in that seat to do Iustice vprightly without feare or respect to any The order they haue in giuing audience is with the ceremonies in all points as it hath béene shewed you in the relation of the fathers of S. Augustin All people when they talke with the viceroy are knéeling on their knées although they be Iudges or Loytias as the Fryers did sée them many times This day they séeing that the Spaniardes remained looking alwaies when they should be coÌ„manded to enter in the viceroy gaue audience vnto y e scriueners or notaries to certifie him selfe if they did their offices well commanded fiftie of them at that present to be sotted or beaten for that they were found culpable in their detayning of matters and others the like for that they had receiued gifts bribes of their clyents the whâ—ch is prohibited and forbidden vnder gréeueous penalties for that the king doth giue vnto theÌ„ all sufficient stipend for their maintenance for that they should not incroch nor demand any thing of their clyentes The sets or stripes which were giuen them were with great crueltie and executed with certaine caâ—es and in that order as in other places it hath béene told you The viceroyes gard were in number more than two thousand men placed all on a ranke all apparelled in one liuery of silke on their heads helmets of yron very bright glystering and euerie one his plume of feathers These souldiers made a lane from the gate of the hall there whereas the viceroy was vnto the principal gate of the pallace wheras they did first enter Those which were in the hals vpon the staires had swords girt vnto theÌ„ they in the courtes had lances and betwixt euery one of them a hargubusher All this gard as was giuen them to vnderstand were Tartaros and not Chinos but the reason wherefore they could not learne although they did inquire it with diligence CHAP. VIII The Spaniards are brought before the viceroy he asketh of them certaine questions and doth remit them vnto the Timpintao his deputie who receiueth them well and giueth them good speeches AT that present came forth a seruant of the viceroyes a maÌ„ of authoritie and made signe vnto the Spaniards to enter into the hall instructing them that at the first entry they should knéele downe
of S. Austin When the Spaniardes went first vnto this Ilande according vnto y e report of the reuerende father de Las Casas bishop of Chiapa was in the yeare 1509. This Iland was so full of trées and fruite that they gaue it the name of the Guertas and there were in it sixe hundreth thousande Indios of the which at this day there remaineth not one From this Ilande vnto the Ilande of Santo Domingo is foure score leagues I say from one port vnto an other and from poynt to point but twelue leagues They doo ordinarilie go from one port to an other in thrée dayes but to returne they are more than a moneth for because the winde is contrarie CHAP. III. Of the Iland of Santo Domingo called Hispaniola and of their properties THe Iland Hispaniola which by an other name is called Santo domingo by reason that it was discouered as that day it is in eightéene degrées and was the first that was discouered in the Indias by the captaine Christopher Colon worthie of immortall memorie it was inhabited in the yeare of 1492. This Iland is in compasse more than sixe hundreth leagues it is diuided into fiue kingdomes the one of theÌ„ is now called the Vega which at the time that it was discouered was called Neagua it hath foure score leagues in compasse and stretcheth all of them from the north vnto the south out of the which sea as doth testifie the reuerende of Ciapa in his booke doth enter onely into the kingdome thirtie thousand riuers and running brookes twelue of them as great as Ebro Duero Guadalquiuir in Spaine The foresaide bishop doth also speake of an other maruaile which is that the most part of these riuers those which do distil and run from the mountaines which is towardes the west are very rich of gold and some of it very fine as is that which is takeÌ„ out of the mynes of Cibao which is very well knowen in that kingdome also in spaine by reason of the great perfectioÌ„ therof out of y e which myne haâ—h béene taken out a péece of virgin golde so bigge as a twopennie wheaten loafe and did weigh three thousand and sixe hundred Castillianos the which was sonke and lost in the sea in carrying of it into Spaine as doth testifie the aforesaid reuerend bishop In this Ilande there is greater quantitie of cattell than in the other Iland of Puerto rico there is made much sugar and gathered much ginger and Cannafistula and also manie sortes of fruits such as is in Spaine as others different of the countrie that in abundance there are also great store of hogs whose fleshe is as holesome and as sauorie as is mutton in Spaine and is verie good cheape a heyfor is bought for eight ryalles of plate and all other thinges of that countrie after the rate although that the marchandice of Spaine is verie deere It is a countrie of verie much golde if there were people for to take it out and manie pearles In all this Ilande they gather no wheate but in the bishopricke of Palensuela although in many other places the ground would yéeld it very well if they would sowe it But nature which was woont to supplie necessities dooth accomplish the lacke of wheate to giue them in stéede thereof a roote which dooth growe in that Ilande in great quantitie abundance and dooth serue them for bread as it did vnto the naturall people of that countrie when the Spaniards went thither It is white and is called Casaue the which being grinded brought into meale they doo make bread thereof for their sustinence the which although it is not so good as that which is made of wheat meale yet may they passe therwith and sustaine themselues This countrie is verie hoat by reason whereof their victuals are of small substance The principall citie of that Ilande is called Santo Domingo for the reason abouesaid in the which is an arch-bishop a royall audience or chauncerie this Citie is built on the sea side and hath to it a great riuer the which dooth serue them for their port or hauenâ— and is verie secure There is in it thrée monasteries of religious friers and two of Nunnes In this Ilande as saith the reuerende bishop of Chiapa in his booke there were wheÌ„ as the Spaniards came first thether thrée millions of men naturall Indians of the which at this day there is not two hundred left and yet the most part of them be sonnes vnto Spaniardes and blacke mores borne of the Indians women All their sugar milles and other places are inhabited with negros of the which there may be in that Ilande about twelue thousand It is a holsome countrie vnto theÌ„ that dwell therein The sea is ful of whales and that in abundance which are séene by such as do come in their ships many times they are in feare of them But aboue all other there is an infinit nuÌ„ber of great fishes called Tiburones are in great skule they are marueilously affected vnto humaine flesh wil folow a shippe fiue hundred leagues without leauing of it one day Many times they haue taken of the fishes and do finde in their bellies all such filth as hath béene throwne out of their shippe in many dayes sailing and whole shéepes heads with hornes and all If they chance to finde a man in the waters side he wil eate him all if not all that he doth fasten on he doth sheare it cleane away be it a legge or an arme or half his body as many times it hath béene séene and they doo it very quickly for that they haue many rowes of téeth in their heads which be as sharpe as Rasers CHAP. IIII. Of the way and the Ilandes that are betwixt this Iland of Santo Domingo and the kingdome of Mexico THe first Ilande that is after you are departed from Santo Domingo is that which ordinarily is called Nauala the which is one hundred and twelue leagues from y e cittie of Santo domingo and is seuentéene degrees and is but a small Iland and nigh vnto that is another which is called Iamayca of fiftie leagues in Longitude and fourtéene in Latitude there was wont to be about them many Vracanes which are spowts of water with many blustering winds This word Vracan in the Indian tongue of those Ilands is as much to say as the ioyning of all the foure principall winds togither the one forcing against the other the which ordinarily dooth blow vppon this coste in the monethes of August September and October by reason whereof such fléetes as are bound vnto the Indies doo procure to passe that coast before these thrée monethes or after for that by experience they haue lost many ships in those times From this Iland they go vnto the Ilande of Cuba which is in twenty degrées in the which is the port of Hauana