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
kinde of lots they doo vse in putting a great number of little stickes into a pot and vpon euerie one of them is written a letter and after that they haue tumbled and tossed them together in the pot they cause a child to put in his hand and take out one and when they haue séene the letter they séeke in a booke which they haue for that purpose the leafe that beginneth with that letter and looke what they doo finde written therein they doo interpret of it conformable vnto the thing that they cast their lots for Generally in all this country when they finde themselues in any trouble they do inuocate and call vpon the diuell with whom they do ordinarily talke euen as we do cal vpon God in our néede of him they doo demande what way and order they might take to cléere themselues thereof as they did in the presence of frier Pedro de Alfaro of the order of saint Francis in the yeare of our Lorde 1580. at such time as he came from China as may bee séene in his relation The order that they haue in inuocating or calling on the diuell is as followeth They cause a man to lie vpon the ground his face downwards then another beginneth to reade vpon a booke singing and part of them that are present do answere vnto him the rest do make a sound with little bels and tabers then within a little while after the man that lieth on the ground beginneth to make visages and iestures which is a certaine token that the diuell is entred within him then do they aske of him what they doo desire to know then he that is possessed doth answere yet for the most part they bee lies that hee dooth speake although hee doo kéepe it close yet doth hée giue diuers reasons vnto that which hee dooth answere for that alwayes they doo answere either by worde or by letters which is the remedie they haue when that the diuell will not answere by worde And when that hée doth answere by letters then do they spread a redde mantle or couerlet vpon the ground and throw thereon a certaine quantitie of rice dispersed equally in euery place vpon the couerlet then do they cause a man that cannot write to stand there with a sticke in his hand then those that are present do begin to sing and to make a sounde as at the first inuocation and within a little while the diuell doth enter into him that hath the sticke and causeth him to write vpon the rice then do they translate the letters that are there formed with the sticke and being ioyned altogether they finde answere of that they do demaunde although for the most part it falleth out as aforesaide as vnto people that do communicate with the father of all lying and so do their answeares fall out false and full of leasings If that at any time he do tell them the trueth it is not for that he dooth it by nature or with his will but to induce them vnder the colour of a truth to perseuer in their errors and they do giue credite vnto a thousand lies in this sort doo they inuocate the diuell and it is so ordinarie a thing throughout al the kingdome that there is nothing more vsed nor knowne CHAP V. Of the opinion they haue of the beginning of the worlde and of the creation of man ALthough the Chinos be generally verie ingenious and of a cléere vnderstanding yet in their owne respect they say that all other nations in the worlde be blinde except the Spaniards whom they haue knowne but of late time they haue amongst them both naturall and morall philosophie the which is read publikely amongst them and also astrologie But nowe touching the beginning of the worlde and the creation of man they haue many errors wherof some of them shalbe declared in this chapter taken out of their owne books and specially out of one that is intituled the beginning of the world They say that at the beginning the heauen the earth the water were a masse or lumpe ioyned in one And that there is one resident in heauen whom they call by name Tayn hee by his great science did separate heauen and earth the one from the other so that the heauen remained hie in the state that it is and the earth following his naturall inclination as graue and heauie did remaine whereas it is They say that this Tayn did create a man of nothing who they call Pauzon and likewise a woman who they call Pauzona This Pauzon by the power that was giuē him by Tayn did create of nothing another man who they call Tanhom with thirtéene other brothers This Tanhom was a man of great science in so ample sort that hée did giue name vnto all created things and did know by the assignement and doctrine of Tayn the vertue of them all and to apply them to heale all manner of diseases and sicknesses this Tanhom and his brethren but especially the eldest who was called Teyencom he had twelue his first begotten called Tuhucom had nine so had al the rest very many They do beléeue that the linage and generation of these did indure for more then ninty thousand yéeres And in the end conclusion of them did end all humaine nature for that it was the will of Tayn who did first create the man woman of nothing for to be reuenged on certaine iniuries that they did vnto him and for euery one that he had shewed vnto them they did almost knowe so much as himselfe and would not acknowledge any superioritie as they did promise him at such time as hée did giue vnto him the secreat of all his science At that time did the heauen fall downe then did Tayn raise it vp againe and created another man vpon the earth named Lotzitzam hee had two hornes out of the which proceeded a verie swéete sauour the which swéet smell did bring forth both men and women This Lotzitzam vanished away and left behind him in the world manie men and women of whom did procéede all nations that now are in it The first that this Lotzitzam brought foorth was called Alazan and liued nine hundred yeares then did the heauen create another man called Atzion whose mother called Lutim was with childe with him onely in séeing a lyons heade in the aire he was borne in Truchin in the prouince of Santon and liued eight hundred yeares at this time was the worlde replenished with much people and did féede on nothing but on wilde hearbs and raw things then was there borne into the worlde one called Vsao who gaue them industrie to make and do many things as to vse the trées to make defence to saue them from wilde beasts which did them much harme and to kill them and make garments of their skinnes After him came one called Huntzui who did inuent the vse of fire and instructed them what they should doo and
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
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
called them all to naught from the poope of his shippe with manie reprochfull woordes saying that they came to steale the honour that hee with so great trauayle and perill had gotten Then the generall séeing that he could not goe thorough with his purpose hee determined to leaue him and therewith to cast about with his shippes and returned into the port of the baye from whence they came This brought in his shippe a sonne of Sinsay to giue occasion vnto his father for to come vnto him and likewise his owne father whome they did straightwayes put in prison and his wife and mother which is a thing commonly vsed in that countrie the children to pay for their parentes and to the contrarie the parents for the children Sinsay who feared the same woulde not goe vnto his owne house till such time as he did carrie commandement from the Uiceroy for to deliuer out of prison those that were put there without desert the which was granted by the Uiceroy with other fauours and great honour as shall bee declared vnto you CHAP. XIII Omoncon doth disembarke himselfe with our Spaniardes in the port of Tanfuso and are verie well receiued by the Iustice and made verie much of by the order of the Insuanto of that prouince WIthin a little while after that the Captayne of the sixe shippes departed for Chincheo Omoncon and his companie ariued at the port of Tanfuso hard by vpon wednesday in the euening being the fift day of Iuly This Tanfuso is a gallant and fresh towne of foure thousand housholders and hath continually a thousand souldiers in garrison and compassed about with a great and strong wall and the gates fortified with plates of yron the foundations of all the houses are of lime stone and the walles of lime and yearth and some of bricke their houses within very fairely wrought with great courts their stréetes faire and brode all paued Before that Omoncon did come vnto an anker they sawe all the souldiers and the people of the towne were gathered together vpon the rockes that were ioyning vnto the port all armed readie vnto the battaile amongst whom there was a principall captaine thrée more of his companions that were sent him by the Gouernor of Chincheo whom they do call in their language Insuanto who had vnderstaÌ„ding of the coÌ„ming of Omoncon his companie by the ship aforesaid he sent theÌ„ thither before that in his name should entertain them cherish them all that was possible When the ship entred into the port Omoncon did salute the towne with certain péeces of artilery discharged all his hargubushes sixe times about therwithal tooke in their saile and let anker fall Then straightwaies the captaine whoÌ„ the Insuanto had sent came abord the ship who had expresse coÌ„mission not to leaue the company of our people after that they were disembarked till such time as they came whereas he was but to beare them companie and to prouide them of all thinges necessarie the which he did accomplish All these captaines and ministers of the king doo weare certaine ensignes for to be knowen from the common people who are not permitted to weare any such and they can not goe abroad in publike without the same neyther will they if they might for that by them they are obeyed and reuerenced as well in the stréetes as in any other place where they come all such generally be called Loytias which is as much to say in our language Gentlemen the particular ensignes which they doo vse bee broade wastes or girdles embossed after diuerse manners some of golde and siluer some of the shell of a Turtuga or Turtell and of a swéete wood and other some of Iuerie the higher estates hath them embrodered with pearles and precious stones and their bunnets with two long eares and their buskins made of satten and vnshorne veluet as we haue declared more at large in the first thrée bookes Then after so soone as they were come to an anker in the port the Iustice did send them a license in writing for to come foorth of the shippe as a thing necessarie for that without it the waiters or guardes of the water side will not suffer them to put foote a land This licence was written vpon a borde whited and firmed by the Iustice whose charge it is to giue the licence Then when they came a shoore there were the souldiers that were appointed by the Insuanto in a readinesse to beare them companie and did direct and leade them vnto the kinges houses of the sayde Citie the like hath euerie Citie almost thoroughout all the kingdome there they did lodge them These houses are very great and very wel wrought and gallant with faire courtes belowe and galleries aboue they had in them stanges or pondes of water full of fish of sundrie sortes The Insuanto had giuen order vnto the Iustice of Tansuso wherein he had ordained what hee should giue them to eate and all other things that should be done particularly by it selfe without lacking ofany thing and appointed the Captaine that he with his souldiers should not depart from them not a iot but alwaies to beare them company whethersoeuer they went and not to depart till he had farther order from him in accomplishing whereof they remayned with them that night in the kings house The Iustice of the citie when that he had lodged them went himselfe in person to the waters side and caused all their stuffe to be vnladen out of the ship and caused it to be carried with great care and diligence vnto the Fryers whereas they were The people of the citie did presse very much to sée these strangers so that with the presse as also with the great heate they were marueilously afflicted which being perceiued by the Iustice he gaue order that they might bee eased of that trouble caused sergeants to kéepe the doore and their yeomen to make resistance against the people Yet notwithstanding though they did not trouble them so much they ranged round about the house and clymed vpon the walles to procure to sée them as a rare thing for that they came from countries so farre off and apparelled verie different from that they do vse or otherwise haue séene So when that the night was come the Iustice of the citie did make them a banket according vnto the fashion of the countrie and it was in this manner following They were carried into a hall that was verye curiously wrought wherein were many torches and waxe candles light and in the middest therof was set for euerie one of the guests a table by himselfe as is the vse fashion of that countrie which more at large shalbe deâ—lared euerie table had his couering of damaske or satten very well made the tables were gallantly painted without any table clothes neither do they vse any for they haue no néede of them for that they do eate all their victualles with
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
presently gaue it a newe master in selling it vnto a gold-smith for as much as it was woorth who did melt it and made things thereof according to his trade yet they not being content therewith and that it séemed vnto them that those fathers could not but bring with them much riches they inquired of the China boy whom they brought to bee their interpreter with faire words to know if they had any gâ—lde or siluer or pretious stones or any other thing of valure but when they vnderstoode that they brought none of those things but onely their bookes and some other ornaments to say masse they straightwayes imagined in their mindes and that with great care and diligence to procure some way to get from them the other Challice which they had seene and the better to put it in execution they repeated againe vnto the Friers that which before hath beene tolde you augmenting thereunto many wordes and reasons affirming that they had spent vpon them in giuing them to eate twelue Taes more then y e Challice which they had giuen them did weigh or amount to which was twelue ducats of Spaine hauing before giuen them to vnderstaÌ„d at such time as they did eate that they did it of almes and for Gods sake and with so great content that many times it happened when they sawe that the Spaniards woulde not eate any dainty thing but would féede and content themselues with base victuals he would say vnto them that they shoulde eate without any griefe or care that when it should so fall out that his substance did saile him hee woulde then pawne one of his sonnes to buy victuals The father Costodio plainly séeing and vnderstanding that their intent purpose was wholly grouÌ„ded for to get from him y e other challice he answered that he had not for to giue them how that he had giuen the other challice in pawn of that which they had spent in victuals and for their trauell that they had taken for them The interpreter did replie saying that if they had nothing that they shoulde séeke it séeing that they ought it for their victuals which they had eaten and that it was the vse of that countrie that when any man did owe any thing hath not for to pay the same for to sell their children or else to become slaues vnto their creditor they demanded the other Challice that remained for that the other which they had giuen theÌ„ did weigh but sixtéene Taes which was but a small matter in respect of their desert onely for their trauel in their enterpretations This Frier Costodio did pacifie them in the best maner hee coulde promising to pay both the one and the other hauing oportunitie for the same and that they woulde procure it with as great care as was possible and requesting him for to keepe the Challice that he had giuen him in pawne in great veneration for that hee did estéeme it much more for the consecration and dedication vnto the deuine Colto then for the value of that it wayed and more promised him vpon his word to write vnto the Portugals that were in Machao signifying vnto theÌ„ their necessitie and to demande their almes charity and looke whatsoeuer they did send them being little or much should bee giuen him Then the interpreter who had his eyes fixed vppon gaine saide that they shoulde forthwith write and that hee woulde giue him a messenger for to carrie the letter and to bring answere of the same as hee had doone the like not many dayes before The Father Costodio did write vnto the Bishoppe that was in Machao giuing him to vnderstande of his comming and of his companions vnto the Cittie of Canton and howe that his comming thither was onelie to procure for to preach the holy Gospel and for to conuert and turne to God those blind Idolaters The which letter being receiued by the bishop he made answere praysing their intent and purpose animating them with godly wordes of exhortation and therewith did sende and demand the copie of such authortie as they brought from the holy father touching that the which they pretended This hee did for that all the sayde countrie vnto the lande of Iapon was committed vnto him by the holy father Unto this letter the father Costodio answered that hauing oportunitie he would obey his commandement and shew vnto him the facultie he brought and also would him selfe in person go thether for to kisse his handes and to satisfie all the inhabitants of that towne for that it was giuen him to vnderstande that they reported euill of them and sayde that they were vacabondes and lost men and not true religious men neither sacerdotes nor priestes and how that they had requested certaine Chinos which at that time came vnto Machao that at their returne againe vnto Canton they should tell the Iudges and aduertise them with good aduisement how that there were cerâ—â—ine Castillos come into their Citie whom they did certainely know not to be of their nation but of an other and subiectes vnto a different strange king whom they did beléeue to come thether for some ill intent and purpose in counterfeit attire and came for spyes from the Castillos of Luzon and that they did beléeue that after them did come some armie to do hurt in some part of that countrie and that they should preuent it in time for that if so be that any thing should happen the fault should not be imputed vnto them All this the Portingales did as afterwarde they did plainely vnderstande for feare that the Castillos shoulde take from them their contractation and gaine which they had in that city by which occasion their intent did so procéede forward that they did certifie the Chinos that the chiefe Captaine of Machao who was put there by the king of Portingall had presented a petition vnto a Citie that was ioyning to Canton aduertising the Iudges of that before spoken of and protesting that iâ— any harme or damage should come to that country in admitting the Castillos that it should not be imputed vnto them But the Iudge vnderstanding their euill intent and that their accusations were more vppon malice and enuie then of any trueth he answered vnto the same that he was particularly informed of those religious persons against whom they did complaine howe that they were men of whom they néeded not to feare and without any suspition as it did plainely appeare when they did visite their ship wherein they came where they found nothing but onely a fewe bookes and some other thinges which did more signifie deuotion than to make any warre This Iudge notwithstanding the answere he made for that afterwards the chiefe captaine should not raise vp some inuention tooke the originall petition and sent it with great securitie vnto y e viceroy of the prouince of Aucheo that he might sée peruse it who when that he had easily perceiued it and vnderstood the intent of