ships which they terme Giunchi To thinke that treasure can be wanting to leuie so great a number of ships soldiers and mariners many men affirme that the kings reuenues amount to 120. millions of gold which value although it may seeme impossible to him that shall make an estimate of the states of Europe with the kingdome of China yet may it finde place of beleefe if he do but call to minde first the nature and circuite of the Empire being little lesse then all Europe next the populousnes of the inhabitants accompanied with inestimable riches then tho diuersitie and plentie of mines of gold siluer iron and other sorts of mettall the vnspeakable quantitie of merchandise passing from hand to hand by so many nauigable riuers so many armes and inlets of the sea their vpland cities and maritime townes their toles customes and subsidies For he taketh the tenth of all things which the carth yeeldeth as barly rice oliues wine cotton wooll flaxe silke all kinds of mettall fruits cattle sugar hony rubarbe campher ginger woad muske and all sorts of perfumes The custome onely of salt in the citie Canto which is not of the greatest nor the best traffike yeeldeth 180. thousand crownes yeerely the tenth of rice of one small towne and the adiacent territory yeeldeth more then 100. thousand crownes By these you may coniecture of the rest He leaueth his subiects nothing saue foode and clothing He hath vnder him no Earles Lords or Nobles of any degree no nor priuate persons indowed with great wealth Wherefore sithence this empire is so huge and all the profits thereof are in his hands and at his disposition how can the former assertion of so great a yeerely reuenue to men of reason seeme any thing admirable There are two things moreouer which adde great credite to this reckoning one is that all his impositions are not paide in coine but some in haie some in rice corne prouender silke cotton wooll and such like necessaries the other is that the king of 120. millions which he receiueth disburseth againe three parts thereof And so sithence it goeth round from the king to the people it ought to seeme no woonder if the people be able to spare it againe for the princes vse at the yeeres end For as waters do cbbe as deepe as they flow so impositions easily leuied suffice for the expences of the state and the people receiue againe by those expences as much as they laide out in the beginning of the yeere The king of China feareth no neighbour but the great Cham of Tartaria all the rest acknowledge vassalage Against this enimie the ancient kings built that admirable wall so much renowmed amongst the wonders of the Orient Towards the sea he bordereth vpon the Iaponians and Castilians The distance betweene Iapan and China is diuers From Goto one of the Ilands of Iapan to the citie Liampo is threescore leagues from Cantan 297. The Ilanders of Iapan doe often spoile the sea coasts of China by their incursions descending on land and harrying the countrey more like pirats then men of war For in regard that Iapan is diuided into manie Ilands and into diuers seigniories ill agreeing amongst themselues though they excell the Chinois in armes and courage yet are they not of sufficient power to performe any action of moment against them Vpon another frontire lye the Spaniards of whom the Chinois not without good cause are verie iealous because of the situation of the Philippinae commodiously seated for the inuasion of China and the fame of their riches well knowen to the Spanish But the king of Spaine wisheth rather to plant Christianitie peaceably amongst them whereof there was once good hope that God had opened a passage thereunto For though the Chinois will suffer no stranger to enter within their dominions yet certain Iesuits zealous in the increasing of the Christian religion in a territorie so spatious as that is entered with great secrecie and danger and obtayning the fauour of certaine gouernors obtained a priuilege of naturalization especially frier Michaell Rogerius who in the yeere 1590. returned into Europe to aduise what course were best to take in this busines About the same time intelligence was brought from two friers remaining there that after diuers persecutions they were constrained to forsake the citie wherein they soiourned and had conuerted many and to make haste to sea-ward The Portugals are likewise eie-sores vnto them but by the report of the iustice and moderation of Ferdinand Andrada which he shewed in the gouernmeÌ„t of the Iland of Tamo by the traffike which they exercise in those seas they can better digest their neighbourhood then that of the Spanish This was the first Portugal that arriued in the citie of Cantan and set a land Thomas Perez Iegier for Emanuell king of Portugall But other captaines being there afterwards disimbarked behaued themselues so leudly that they occasioned the said Embassador to be taken for a spie and cast in prison where he died most miserablie the residue were entreated as enimies At last it was permitted the Portugals for traffike sake to settle a factory in Macao where againe before they had strongly fortified their colony they were coÌ„strained to submit to the limitations of the Chinois to whom in short time for their strength wisedome friendship and allians with the Castilians they became suspicious therfore they do daily more more bridle their libertie of traffike carrying so heauie a hand towards them that they would faine giue them occasion to leaue Macao of their owne wils and retire backe againe into India from whence they came The kingdome of Siam VPon the borders of China to speake nothing of Cauchinchina because we know nothing woorth relation of that territorie ioineth the countrey of Siam accounted amongst the great kingdomes of Asia It tooke his name of the citie Siam situated vpon the entrance of the riuer Menan It is also called Gorneo It stretcheth by east and west from the citie Campaa to the citie Tauai in which tract by the sea coast are conteined 500. leagues Of which the Arabians once vsurped 200. with the cities Patan Paam Ior Perca and Malaca now in the possession of the Portugals From the south towards the north it reacheth from Sinca-Pura situate in degree to the people called Gueoâ—â— in 29. degrees The lake Chiamai is distant from the sea six hundred miles the vpland circuit stretcheth from the borders of Canchinchina beyond the riuer Auan where lieth the kingdome of Chencra Besides the lake of Chiamai the riuers Menon Menam Caipumo Ana which cause greater fertilitie of graine through the whole region then a man would beleeue are all his The better part of his kingdomes are muironed with the mountaines Ana Brema and Iangoma the residue is plaine like Egypt abounding with elephants horses pepper gold and tin In the west part are huge woods tygres lions tinces and serpents It containeth these prouinces Cambaia Siam Muantai
these neuer-dying riches Lewes the eleuenth was woont to say that France was a continuall flourishing â—eadow which he did mowe as often as he list And Maximilian the Emperour termed the French king to be Pastorem ouium cum velleribus aureis which he sheared at his pleasure It is vndoubtedly true that if the kings of France were as wise and politike as they are powerfull in armes and riches the affaires of Europe would much stand at their deuotion But force and wisedome seldome keepe companie therefore the Poets fained Hercules furious Ariosto fained Orlando sottish Virgill describeth Dares to be insolent and the Graecians termed all those people Barbari which wanted arts and learning Homer bringeth in Achilles as one vnable to bridle his owne furie and Mars so vnaduised that he suffred himselfe vnawares to be caught in Vulcans net For what state can be more dreadfull or what power can seeme more terrible then the maiestie of that kingdome which is able of it selfe to feede fifteene thousand millions of people and yet hath sufficient remaining for the nourishing and maintenance of any puissant armie besides For the abundance of people and plenty of vittailes are the strongest sinewes of all kingdomes and therefore the Romaines highly prized the rusticke diuision for their numbers and prouision As touching their reuenues Lewes the eleuenth gathered a million an halfe Francis the first attained vnto three millions Henry the second to sixe Charles the ninth to seauen Henrie the third aboue tenne Lewes the twelfth left his kingdome full of golde and siluer and therefore was called Pater populi Francis the first though he managed great wars and made infinite expences left notwithstanding eight hundred thousand crownes in his treasurie but Henry the second his sonne enuying the greatnes of Charles the Emperour and coueting to surpasse him tooke vp money of euery one at 16. per centum left his sonnes indebted 30. millions of crownes and without credite amongst the merchants to the value of a farthing insomuch that Charles the ninth and Henry the third his sonnes the last more then the first were inforced to laie heauie impositions not onely on the people but also on the clergie Whereby the world may see that the riches of a prince consist not in the abundance of reuenues but in the good gouernment thereof for Francis the first made greater warres with lesse reuenues left his credite sound with the merchants and readie money to his sonne where on the contrarie Hemy made farre lesse warre and yet left the kingdome deepely indebted and the people poore and miserable With the foresaid reuenues the former kings maintained 1500. Lanciers 4500. crosbowes in report 4000. Lanciers and 6000. crosbowes continually paide which troupes of horse were accounted the strongest in all Christendome Euerie Lancier brought with him one crosbowe and an halfe so that one companie of Lanciers had another of crosbowes seruing both vnder one ensigne commonly called a Guidon and one captaine gouerned both companies consisting in the whole of 100. Lanciers and 150. crosbowes One million and three hundred thousand crownes were yeerely spent vpon these companies A Lance receiued 250. crownes a crosbowe eightie the Guidon 300. the Lieutenant 380. the Captaine 820. Charles the seuenth reduced these ordinances to perfection made the number certaine appointed their wages trained them in exercise and placed them vpon the frontiers vnder captaines lieutenants ensignes and Guidons He likewise deuided these ordinances into men at armes and archers adioined to them Targatiers Harbengers Muster-masters Pay-masters and Commisaries committing them to the charge and gouernment of the Constable Marshall and greatest Lords of his kingdome they did not much inure their naturall subiects to serue on foote for feare of mutinies and rebellions but Charles the eight considering how necessarie footemen were instituted a squadron of fiue thousand French foote that number Francis the first augmented to fiftie thousand howbeit at this day they are casheerd for their euill carriage and behauiour Lewes the eleuenth that at his pleasure he might sheare or rather fleece the people of France and make them vnapt for seruice waged the Swissers which example Francis and Henry his successors following continually hired great number of Germaines But whosoeuer he be that goeth about to make his people vnwarlike and entertaineth forreine soldiers greatly ouershooteth himselfe For by the exercise of armes and the occurrences of warres courage is increased and the commons by practise and experience will become hardy and vpon occasions of necessitie able like soldiers to maintaine their actions for as conuersing with good men makes men good so the company of soldiers makes others couragious Besides many occurrences may happen which may not be committed to the experience of strangers because they know not the situation of places neither may many matters for the weight of the busines be trusted to their fidelitie Wherefore it is very expedient that that people be entertained vnder military discipline in whose prouinces warre is like to continue either by reason of situation or other casuall accidents as it happened to France where after peace was concluded with the Spaniard and the Swiffers Almaines departed to their owne homes yet by remaining full of French soldiers all things were turned vpside downe As concerning munitions there is no kingdome wherein is greater plentie then there whereof are many one for that whereas the kingdome is deuided into many regalities and principalities as Burgundie Britaine Aniou and Normandy euery one of these strengthneth his frontiers besides the plentie of their munitions hath beene increased by the warre of the English which commanded a great part of France Secondly the scituation and nature of the places fit for fortifications as also the willingnes and readines of the people hath euen with ease ouercome the labour of these affaires For there is no nation more industrious in fortifying and more prodigall in expence vpon these workes neither are the bowels of the kingdome lesse fortified then the frontiers Beauois Trois Orleans Angiers Bourdeaux Lymosin San Florum Carcassona Soissons are not inferior to Calais Perone Narbone or other the frontiers in strength and fortification so that euery part thereof may stand in steed of a frontier to any border of the whole kingdome The kingdome of England AMongst all the Ilands of Europe England which the ancient called Britannia without all controuersie for circuit and power challengeth the chiefest prerogatiue It containeth in circuit 1800. miles diuided into two kingdomes England and Scotland The naturall strength of Scotland being barren full of mountaines lakes and woods is the cheefest cause of this diuision in so much that the armies of the Romaines could neuer bring it wholy in subiection the Emperour Seuerus lost there a great part of his armie The kings of England though they farre excell them in strength and haue ouerthrowne them in many battailes could neuer bring them vnder their iurisdiction The lakes the
part thereof but put his land-forces to the sword consisting of fourescore thousand Tartars fiue and twentie thousand Turkes and amongst them three thousand Ianizars As we said before the Circassi liue after the manner of the Swissers they endeuour not to enlarge their owne bounds but serue for wages sometime the Turke sometime the Persian somtime the Moscouite from whose dominion they are so farre disioyned that they stand in no feare of their seuerall mightines The Tartars Negayans are more to be dreaded for their sudden inrodes furious incursions then for ielousie of their forces or that they are able to raise or vndertake any voyage royall Of late times they threatned the Moscouite but their furie was appeased by sending them presents It is the best course to hazard our money rather then our forces against the thefts spoiles of these barbarous natiōs for when they haue nether city nor strong place to subdue to keepe them in subiection what can you terme the warre made against them but a labour with losse a charge without profit The great Duke is constrained to keepe great troupes of horse in Citrachan Casan and Viatca against these Nagaij as likewise a great garrison in Culagan vpon Danais against the Precopi The next bordring neighbour by Finland side is the king of Sweueland Of late times this king holding a long war against him tooke from him by force the castles of Sorenesco Pernauia the great the lesse in Liuonia on the one side whilest king Stephen cruelly vexed him with war on the other In the vttermost bounds of the Fioland Bay the Sweuian to his great charges possesseth the fortresse of Viburge maintaining therein a great garrison to resist the attempts of the Russies and the great Duke Likewise in that sea and the coast adioyning he maintaineth ships of warre as well to be readie at all assaies against the approches of this great Duke as likewise to forbid the Easterling the bringing of any munition or warlike furniture into any part of his dominions neither doth he suffer other ships to saile in those seas without a speciall placard signed with his owne hand By the benefit of this nauie and sea force the king of Sweueland wheresoeuer he findeth meanes to vse it becommeth master of the field by vertue thereof ceaseth vpon many places on the coast of Liuonia and the bordering territories but where the Dukes horse and his great numbers of footemen may stand him in steed as in the open field or places remooued from the sea there he maketh his part good enough and most commonly putteth the Sweuian to the woorst The best is nature bath placed betweene them such rough mountaines such cold such yce and such snowes that they cannot greatly endammage one another The last neighbour is the king of Poland betweene whom and the great Duke this is the difference the Moscouite hath more territories the Polonian better inhabited and more ciuill the Moscouite more subiects and more subiect the Polonian better soldiers and more couragious the Moscouites are apter to beare the shoke then to giue a charge the Polonians to charge the Moscouite is fitter to keepe a fortresse the Polonian to fight in the open field the Moscouites forces are better vnited the Polonian more considerate and better aduised the Moscouite lesse careth for want and extremities the Polonian death and the sword yea either nation is of the greater woorth when either of their princes is of greatest valour and magnanimitie as it happened when Basilius conquered the great Duchie of Smoloncke and Poloncke and the large circuite of Liuonia And againe when Stephen king of Poland in his last warre against Iohn Basilius sonne reconquered Polonck with diuers other places of good reckoning besieged the citie of Plesko and forced the Moscouite to leaue all Liuonia whereby I conclude such as is the valour and wisedome of the prince such is the force and courage of his people The Great Cham. AS our Ancestors were ignorant of the regions situated vpon the east side of the Caspian sea which they imagined to be a branch of the Ocean Euen so as yet little or nothing knoweth this Age what regions lie or what people inhabite beyond that sea the mountaines commonly called Dalanguer and Vssont Marke Paule Venetus was the first that broke the ice in describing of those countries and of him haue we receiued what we know of the Tartars For the great distance of countries the difficultie of the iournie and the inaccessible situation of places hath hindered the discouerie of those prouinces for the great Duke of Moscouie by whose dominions we may easiest trauell thither will suffer no stranger to passe thorough his kingdome the Caspian sea a passage no lesse fitting for the iournie is not frequented and by the way of Persia infinite mountaines and vast deserts diuiding both prouinces oppose themselues against vs. And to the further hinderance of this discouerie neither the great Cham neither the king of China nor the Duke of Moscouie will suffer any of their subiects to trauell out of their dominions nor any stanger to enter in vnlesse he come as an ambassador neither in this case is it lawful for him to conuerse freely or range at his pleasure They liue vnder diuers princes the principall whereof are those that weare greene on their turbants These inhabite Shamarcand and are at continuall enmitie with the Persians Next are those of Bochan Mahumetans then those of Mogor of whom you shall heare hereafter and lastly those of Cathay whereof we now intreat Neuer was there any nation vpon the face of the earth that enioyed a larger emperie then they doe or haue vndertaken haughtier exploites and I would that they had had some who might haue recommended by writing their doings to the world M. Paule Venetus writeth that this people once inhabited Ciurga and Barge prouinces situated vpon the Scythick Ocean without citie castell or house wandering like the Arabians from place to place according to the season of the yeere They acknowledged Vncham whom some interprete Prester Iohn for their soueraine Lord to whom they gaue the tenth of their cattell In processe of time they multiplied to such numbers that Vncham being iealous of their neighborhood began to lessen their number forces by sending them now hither now thither vpon most long and desperate voiages as occasion offered Which when they perceiued they assembled themselues resoluing to leaue their naturall soile and to remooue so farre from the borders of Vncham that neuer after he should haue cause to suspect their numbers this they performed After certaine yeeres they elected amongst them a king called Changis to whom for the greatnes of his glorie and victories they added the sirname of Great This Changis departing from his owne territories in the yeere of our Lord 1162. with a most fearfull armie subdued partly by force partly by the terror of his name nine prouinces At last
printing restored musicke framed the chariot deuised the laying of colours in oile the working of colours in glasse the making of tapestrie saies searges wosteds russets frisadoes and diuers sorts of linnen cloth with innumerable other small trifles all sorts of clocks and dials and the mariners compasse It is diuided into 17. prouinces viz. the Dukedomes of Brabant Limburg Lutzemburg and Guelders the Earledomes of Flanders Artois Henault Holland Zeland Namure and Zutphen the Marquisat of the sacred Empire the Seigniories of Friesland Mechlin Vtrecht Ouerissel and Groningen all territories rich plentifull and exceeding populous In them are 208. walled townes stately and magnificent besides 3230 townes hauing priuilege of walled townes and 6300. villages with parish churches It hath manie mines of lead copresse and cole and quarries of excellent good stone The Emperor Charles had an intention to erect it into a kingdome but the difficultie consisted herein that euerie of these prouinces being gouerned by peculiar customes prerogatiues and priuileges would neuer haue yeelded vnto one royall law common to all especially those that had the largest priuileges for which cause he gaue ouer his determination It is seated commodiously for all the prouinces of Europe and containeth in circuit about 1000. Italian miles The aire of later times is become much more holsome and tempelate then in times past whether it be by reason of the increase of inhabitaÌ„ts or the industry of the people who spare no charge to amend whatsoeuer is amisse The beeues of Holland FrieslaÌ„d are very great weigh some of theÌ„ 1600 pound of 16 ounces to the pound the ewes in these prouinces and some part of Flanders bring foorth three and fower lambes at a time and the kine often two calues at once It bringeth foorth great quantitie of mather very perfect woad but no great store but of flaxe and hempe great abundance Whosoeuer shall consider what commoditie they raise by their fishing and traffike only may well say that no nation thorough the whole world may compare with them for riches For Guieciardine writeth that of their he ring fishing they make yeerely 441000 pound sterling their fishing for cod 150000. pound sterling and of their fishing for salmon more then 200000 crownes which is of sterling money 60000. pound The continuall riches that groweth to the countrie of other sorts of fish takeÌ„ all the yeere is infinite The value of the principall merchandize yeerely brought in and caried out is likewise infinite the foresaid authour esteemeth it to about 14. millions one hundred and thirtie fiue thousand crownes whereof England onely bringeth to the value of fiue millions and two hundred and fiftie thousand crownes It is a woonder to see how that the inhabitants of all these prouinces especially of Brabant and Flanders vnderstand speake two or three languages and some fower or more according to their entercourse with merchants and strangers yea in Anwerpe you shall heare the women speake Dutch French Italian Spanish and English The kingdome of Spaine SInce the first time that man began to acknowledge a superior authoritie and submit himselfe to the behests of a ruler there was neuer a more spacious seigniorie then that which the Spanish enioieth at this day especially hauing vnder a colorable and defensible title embezeled the crowne of Portugall For 〈◊〉 the large and faire prouinces in Europe the goodly regions of Asia and rich countries in Africa he enioyeth in peaceable quietnes securitie being not disturbed or contested by any riuall or competitor the newe worlde in circuite more spacious then either Europe or Africke In Europe he is the sole soueraigne of Spaine holding it whole and intire a thing woorthie obseruation because for the space of these 800. yeeres before this age it neuer obeied any one prince but was dismembred and peece-meale claimed by diuers seigniors He hath very much shaked Belgia and lordeth it ouer the kingdome of Naples containing in bignes 1400. miles and retaineth Insubria otherwise called the Duchie of Millaine comprehending three hundred in circuite Of the Ilands he holdeth Maiorique Minorique and Huisa the first of three hundred miles space the second of 150. the third of eight Sicill is reported to be of 700. Sardinia 562. In Africa he holdeth the great hauen called Masalquiuir the most secure and safe harbor in the whole Mediterranean sea He hath also Oran Melilla and the rocke commonly called the Penion of Velez and without the Streights he possesseth the Canarie Ilands twelue in number and the least of seauen containing 90. miles In the right which he pretendeth to the crowne of Portugall he keepeth the woorthie places of Septa and Tangier which may rightly be surnamed the keies of the Streights yea of the Mediterranean and Atlantique Ocean without the Streights he holdeth the citie of Mazaga and by the same title in the vast Ocean he retaineth the Terceraz Porto Santo and Madera the ladie-like Iland of the Atlantique sea containing by estimation 160â— miles in compasse then the Ilands of Cape Verd seauen in number Vnder the aequinoctiall he holdeth the Iland of Saint Thomas somewhat more spacious then Madera but most plentifull in sugar and rangeth ouer that huge tract of land which tendeth from Cape Aguer to Cape Guardafu Lastly he is lord of all the traffique merchandize negociating and nauigation of the whole Ocean and of all the Ilands which nature hath as it were inameled the Ocean withall and scattered in the seas especially betweene the Cape of good Hope and promontories of Guardafu In Asia in the aforesaid right of the crowne of Portugall he ruleth the better part of the westerne coasts viz. Ormus Diu Goa and Malaca Ornius for his commodious satuation is growne so rich that it is a common prouerbe among the Arabians Si terrarum orbis quaqua patet annulus â—sset Iâ—â—ius Armusium geâ—â—â—ia decusque foret A great portion of Arabia Foelix belongeth to the principalitie of Ormus as likewise Baharem the Iland-queene within that gulfe both for the most plentifull circuite abounding in all varietie of fruites as also for the rich fishing of pearle In this sea the Portugals possesse Damain Bazam Tauaan and Goa which citie to omit Ohial Canora Cochin and Colan is of so great esteeme that it is thought to yeeld the king as great reuenue as many prouinces in Europe do their Lords and finally the Portugals hold all that sea coast which lieth betweene the citie Damain and Malepura wherein no prince except the king of Calecure challengeth one foote of land The Iland of Zeilan wherein they possesse a strong hauen and castle commonly called Columbo may rightly be called the delight of Nature and they enioy also Malaca which in those places is the bound and limite of their empire and also the key of the traffique and nauigation of the east Ocean and of all those Ilands which are so many and so spacious that in circuite of land they may be well compared to
leagues in length and 100. in bredth euen from the south Ocean to Andi in the east The mercilesse furie of the waters in some places standing and moorish in other running haue gainesaid and put a period to their further progresses when without any colorable or iust cause they inuade their confining neighbours They most ridiculously pretend that in the vniuersall deluge mankind was preserued in their countrey and so by tradition haue been nuzzeled in the true ancient religion which as they say they are bound in conscience to sowe and disperse in the mindes of all men either by faire meanes or foule Their chiefe gods are Viracoca that is to say the Creator of all things and the Sunne Inga Pacacuti who instructed them in their superstitions when he had beautified the temples with offrings and sacrifice assigned none to the temple of Viracoca alleaging that forasmuch as he is the maker of all things he needeth not any thing Amongst other memorable ordinances by him instituted in the winning of countries one was that the conquered land should be diuided into three parts the first dedicated to the gods and maintenance of the charge of their ceremonies the second and greatest portion was giuen to Inga therewith to maintaine his estate the expences of his court parents barons and garrisons the third was distributed amongst the soldiers no man could claime propertie in any thing to say this is mine but by the fauour and sufferance of Inga neither might that descend by inheritance The landes belonging to the people and comminaltie were yeerely limited and so much allotted to euery man as might be thought sufficient for the sustentation of his family some yeeres more some lesse without exaction of any rent in liew whereof they conditioned to manure the lands of Inga and the gods the increase they stored in most ample garners thereunto appointed from whence in time of scarcitie it was shared amongst the people the like they did with their cattel diuiding them by head which point of gouernment in mine opinion farre exceedeth either the partitions of Lyeurgus or the Agragrian lawes of the Romaines Besides merchandize incredible treasures of gold and siluer are transported out of Noua Hispania and Peru of those treasures commonly Peru yeeldeth two parts and Noua Hispania the third which is more rich in commodities then Mexico Amongst the rest it giueth Cochinella a merchandize of inestimable value and infinite store of Hides The Ilands affoord plentie of hides cotten wooll sugar cannafistula hard waxe and pearles Amongst these riches and treasures of Peru two things are woonderfull one that in the siluer mines which were discouered in Potosie in the yeere 1545. there is and hath beene found so huge a masse of Bullion that the fift part which is the kings in the space of fortie yeeres amounted to one hundred and eleuen millions of Pezoes neither yet did two third parts pay their due to his maiestie The other is the quick-siluer mines in Guancaualcan found in the yeere 1567. out of which the king hath receiued 40000. Pezoes all charges defraied It is a strange thing to note that whereas mother Nature hath interlaced so riotously her golden and siluer veines in the bosome and wombe of Peru it hath bestowed no such blessing vpon her neerest daughter Brasile but in stead thereof hath inriched her with a most temperate and holsome aire with many pleasant springs and large riuers not without sufficiencie of wood she hath diuided the land into fruitefull plaines and delightsome hils clothed it with the beautie of continuall greenenesse abounding about beliefe with sugar-canes which the Portugals there planted and now transport in infinite numbers into forreine regions The Philippinae may well be termed the appendances to this new world and although in respect of their site by reason of their proximitie they may be thought a part of Asia yet the discouerers thereof trauelled through new Spaine before they could discouer them of which Ilands more then 40. are subiect to this soueraigntie and by them haue been reduced to a ciuill kinde of life and policie Now bauing generally run ouer the spacions I will not say boundlesse members of this empire let vs diuide the discourse thereof as much as concernes the strength and policie into fower particulars the first whereof shall intreate of his pieces in Europe the second of his dominions in the newe world the third of his territories of the west and south coast of Africke the fourth of his principalities in India and Asia The prouinces which he hath in Europe are of the most puissant powerfull sort that are comprehēded in this limitation Spaine it selfe hath bin alway acknowledged for so wealthy so puissant and so spacious a kingdome that not without good cause it may challenge the primacie of all the prouinces and of the continent if not in any consideration else yet in regarde that the Romaines Carthaginians continued so long and so cruell wars for the possession and royalty thereof The Gothes and Vandals when they had with the streames of their ouerflowing multitudes swarmed ouer the greatest part of the Romaine empire here sat them downe and made it the place of their inhabitation Trebellius Pollio termeth it and France the iointes and sinewes of the Romaine empire Constantine when he diuided the empire preferred it before Italie And in the diuision when England France Spaine and Italie fel to his lot he little esteeming the last and voluntarily leauing it to his competitor contented himselfe with the three formost Who knoweth not that the kingdome of Naples is the flower of the Italian prouinces Who seeth not that nature hath confined and heaped into this territorie as if it were into her closet all those delightfull happinesses which with her owne hands she hath here and there scattered and dispersed through the other of the European prouinces What can we say otherwise of the Duchie of Millaine And for Sicil it may be compared to any yea it surpasseth all the Ilands of the Mediterranean for fertilnes for the concourse of merchants for artizans singular for populous townes and for stately edifices The gouernment of Spaine is absolute and kingly in their regiment we may see that they haue attained to such perfection of aduisednes that all things are purposely discussed and questioned in seuerall counsels before they are put in execution Where the graue and considerate counsels of Fabius are receiued when the rash and headie precepts of Marcellus are reiected Innouations and change of ancient customes are auoided in regard whereof Innocent the eight was woont to say that the Spaniard was so compleat in gouernment that in this respect he neuer erred or miscarried and by this policie he gouerneth nations different in natures and dissonant in lawes and fashions Castilians Arragons Biskaines Portuguezes Italians Dutchmen Indians Christians and Gentils with such peaceable vnion as if they were his owne naturall subiects And whereas some obiect that this
exceedeth not 25. thousand dukets Only the dukes of Curland and Regimount exceede this meane For although they are feodaries of the kingdome acknowledge the king as their superior yet are they not as liuing members of the state they come not to the diets of the kingdome they haue not their voices in the election of the prince neither are they accounted as naturall Lords of the kingdome but for strangers as in truth they are the duke of Curlan being of the house of Ketleri and the duke of Regimount of the family of Brandenburge All Prussia did belong to the Dutch Knights who had their Great Master resident there who when he was not able to withstand the forces of the Polonians yeelded himselfe feodarie to king Cassimere afterwards when Albert of Brandenburge their Great Master became a Protestant he was created Duke of Prussia and the countrey diuided into two parts the one regall immediately holden of the crowne the other Ducall allotted to Albert and his successors to hold by fealtie In the kings partition stand Marieburge Torouia Gulma Varnia and Danske in the Duchie which yeeldeth 120. thousand ducats yeerely the chiefe towne is Regimont the Germans call it Conningsburgh and there the Duke keepeth his court The gouernment of Polonia representeth rather an Aristocracie then a kingdome because the nobility who haue great authoritie in the diets of the kingdome choose the king and at their pleasure limite him his authoritie They haue neither law nor statute nor forme of gouernment written but by custome from the death of one prince to the election of an other the supreme authoritie resteth in the Archbishop of Gesne who is president of the counsels appointeth the diets ruleth the Senate and proclaimeth the new elected king Before king Stephen erected new Bishops Palatines and Castellanes in Liuonia few other besides the Archbishop of Leopolis and his 13. Suffragans 28. Palatines and thirtie of the chiefest Castellanes were present at the election of the newe king In the time of their diets these men assemble in a place neere vnto the Senate house where they choose two marshals by whom but with a tribunelike authoritie they signifie vnto the councell what their requests are Not long since their authoritie and reputation grew so mightie that they now carie themselues as heads gouernors rather then officers ministers of the publike decrees of the estates There was one of the councel that after the maner of Clodius refused his Senators place to become one of these officers When a new king is to be chosen these men do more and more limit his authoritie not suffring it to stretch one iot farther then accustomed But although the crowne of Poland be at the disposition of the nobilitie yet was it neuer heard that they reiected or ouerslipped the kings successor or transferred the kingdome into any other line more then once when deposing Ladislaus whom notwithstanding they afterward restored they elected Weneslaus the Bohemian Likewise they haue alwaies a regard to the kings daughters as of Hedinge maried by them to Iagello and in our times of Anne giuen in mariage to king Stephen It was no smal cause of the aduancement of Sigismund the third to the crowne of Polonia that he was the sonne of Katherine sister to Sigismund the emperor and of the foresaid Anne And although the kingly authoritie be electiue yet after he is chosen his power is absolute in manie things as to call the diets to appoint the times and place at his pleasure to choose laie councellors and nominate the bishops and whom he will haue to be of the priuie councell he is absolute disposer of the reuenue of the crowne and Lord of those which hold of him immediate but ouer the tenants of the nobilitie he hath no iurisdiction he is absolute establisher of the decrees of the diets and soueraigne Iudge of the nobles in criminall causes it is in his power to reward and aduance whom pleaseth him to speake in a word such as is his valor dexteritie and wisedome such is his power authoritie and gouernment As the Polanders say the decrees of the king indure but three daies they conuerse with him not as cosins as in France but as brethren And as the king hath absolute authoritie ouer them which immediately hold of him so the nobilitie dispose absolutely of their vassals vpon euerie of whom they exercise more then kingly authoritie in manner as vpon slaues In establishing their kingdome they haue done one thing woorthie the noting which is that as the Romanes increased their names and dominion by communicating the lawes and honors of Italy and the citie of Rome to other cities yea whole prouinces so the kings of Polonia haue enlarged vnited and strengthened their estate by participating the priuileges of the Polish nobilitie to those prouinces which either they haue conquered by armes or otherwaies purchased gracing the nobles thereof with fauours equall to any bestowed on the Polish nobilitie By this equallyzing king Ladislaus strongly vnited Russia and Podalia to Poland Sigismund Augustus Lithuania Stephen Liuonia for equalitie in offices promotions knitteth affections in peace and warre The force of this kingdome as of others consisteth in graine coine footemen horsemen armour and munition Of graine we haue spoken alreadie In coine it is not verie rich for excepting Danske they haue neuer a mart towne woorthie estimation and the wares that are brought from Prussia Liuonia do not inrich the kingdome with ready money yea they do hardly suffice to barter with the English Flemmish for cloth silks wools or with the Spanish and Portugals for sugars spices fruits Maluesâ—ies For when the countrie is not giuen to traffike nor the cities to buy sell nor the people to labour and the nobilitie is very gallant prodigall in expences spending more then their reuenues in diet and apparell and the seasoning of their meates for the Polanders vse more spices then any other nation and their wine their silke and the greatest part of their woollen cloth is brought from forren nations how can the kingdome be rich in siluer For in transporting of rich ware and returning of little consisteth the wealth of euery kingdome gathering together by venting home-bred commodities the coine of forren countries and keeping it once brought in from passing abroad againe In this practise consisteth the wealth of Naples and Millan for Naples sendeth to sea great store of corne wine oile silke woad horses fruits and such like which bring in huge masses of forren coine Millan supplieth the want of other prouinces with corne rice clothes iron works and wares of all sorts and returneth little againe If the kingdome of Naples and Sicill were as well stored with artificiall workmanship as they are prouided with corne and wealth no other kingdome could compare with them To returne to Poland notwithstanding their riches are not so small as some thinke they are for the reuenues of
these actions and while time passeth the neighbouring nations prouide if not infest for their owne safetie yea most commonly by losse of time proceedeth the losse of victorious opportunitie He that hath ouercome his enimie standeth oftentimes in feare of his friend yea of such as haue bin fellowes partners with him in all his fortunes so that to secure himselfe of these such like infinite casualties he is constrained euen in the course of victory to sound the retraict surcease his designements Againe continuall victory make leaders insolent soldiers mutinous refusing to passe forward at the command of their generall as it happened to Alexander Lucullus Great enterprises euen brought to their wished ende enrich the purses of certaine priuate men but leaue the Princes cofers emptie who neuerthelesse must be at the charge to maintaine continuall companies and keepe them in continuall pay without which course the cashed soldier is euer readie to follow any faction whensoeuer it shall be offered Moreouer this numberlesse armie which Marhumedius led against the king of Cambaia did not only waste the regions where through it passed and encamped but likewise by deuouring all things that the face of the earth yeelded bereaued itselfe of the meanes which nature in measure affoorded to euerie one to maintaine his life and so it often happeneth that those armies which in apprehension seeme inuincible for their hugenes are most commonly ouerthrowen by famine the forerunner of pestilence For proofe hereof we haue seene the inundations of Attila Tamerlan and those barbarous nations stand on foote but a little space whereas the Grecians Macedonians Carthaginians Romanes Spaniards and English haue done great matters with meane armies For things that are moderate last and indure as small riuers which what they cannot doe in one yeere in two or more they finally accomplish whereas immoderate and violent are like vnto Torrents making more noise and furie then hurt or hinderance violently comming and violently carrying themselues away Therefore against such mightie impressions the surest safetie is to draw the warre out in length and onely to stand vpon the defensiue for let such armies rest assured that they cannot so long hold out but they will wauer either for want of prouision scarcitie of coine infection of the aire or infirmities of their owne bodies The other thing is that prosperitie blindeth the winner making him carelesse aduersitie ripeneth the looser and maketh him warie and industrious so fortune changing her copie the affaires of the winner decline and the good successe of the looser groweth euerie day better then other Besides conquests are not perfected but by processe of time and in processe of time old age creepeth vpon the persons of Princes and how fit a crasie bodie and a vigorous spirit nummed with olde age is for the consummation of a conquered estate the liues of Iulius Caesar and Charles the fift may stand for examples Lastly to answere those who vnlesse they be ere witnesses will neuer be answered let them know that nothing so much hindereth the inuasiue ambition of this prince as the nature of places For Caucasus stretching it selfe into a thousand branches in those parts incompasseth whole kingdomes with some parcels thereof by some it runneth by the sides to others it is more defensiue then any artificiall rampire sometime it wholy shutteth vp passages sometime it meaketh them inaccessible These difficulties are more iniurious to the Mogor then to any other Prince because the strength and sinewes of his forces consist in horse which as they are of great consequence in Campania so amongst hils and rocks they are of no seruice Of this qualitie are the frontires of Persia and the kingdome of Sablestan on euerie side heâ—d in with that part of Caucasus which the Grecians call Paropanise Segestan is likewise so inuironed that the riuer Il-mento were it not for searching out infinite windings and turnings through naturall vallies could hardly finde passage to pay his tribute to the famous Ganges In Cambaia it selfe where the Mogors are of such fearefull puissance liue the Resbuti not dreading them one whit by reason of the strength of the mountaines These Resbuti are the remainder of the Gentiles that betooke themselues to the mountaines betweene Cambaia and Diu when the Mahumetans first entred these countries and since that day by strong hand they haue preserued their libertie infesting verie often the plaine countrey with their incursions Other prouinces there are vtterly barren not onely wanting water but all necessaries else of this kinde is Dolcinda vpon the skirts of Cambaia thorough which it is impossible to lead an armie To these discommodities you may adde the losse of time which Princes being lords of ample and spacious dominions are constrained to make in their voiages For the better part of sommer is spent before they can arriue at their rendeuous with their horses halfe dead through trauell and the armie halfe in halfe in number and courage diminished yea winter ouertaketh them commodious for their enimies and disaduantagious for them For they must lie in the field and open aire amongst mire frosts their enimies vnder a warme roofe holesome harbour Whereupon wise princes which haue beene to make long land-iourneies through diuers prouinces of diuers natures for feare of such like discommodities haue thought it best to prouide shipping and to vse the oportunitie of riuers or sea as did Caesar Germanicus in the warre of Germanie after he perceiued that in the protracting of time which was requisite for the marching of his armie the greater part of his men and horses were idlie consumed by infirmities labour and the length of iourneies But the Mogor is vtterly destitute of this aduantage vpon one side he hath no hauen on an other the Portugals are his iealous neighbours who with two castles of great strength at Din and Damain haue shut vp the whole gulfe of the Cambaiaâ— sea Finally the puissance of their neighbours hath beene as great a controule to their furious inuasions as any other naturall cause viz. the king of Barma who is nothing inferior in power and riches for he is lord of so many kingdomes and so fierce and warlike a people and can bring such swarmes into the field that he is fearelesse of any his Tartarian neighbours And as the Mogor ruleth fare and wide betweene Ganges and Indus so doth this king betweene Ganges and Siam As the one deuiseth to offend so by little and little the other waxeth wise to defend For by nature man is more prone to procure his owne safety then ready by wrong to oppresse others being alwaies more carefull to conserue then forward to destroy It cannot be expressed how ful of subtiltie shifts deuises industrie man is to defend him and his for he vseth for his owne safegard not that only which is properly defeÌ„siue but euen that also which may be any way offensiue Neither euer was there any instrument inuented for
Pacquin wherein the king keepeth his court is situated in 48. degrees The Empire is diuided into fifteene prouinces sixe maritime Cantan Foquem Chiqueuan Pantora Nanquij the rest inland Quichiu Iuana Quancij Suiuam Fuquam Cansij Xianxij Nonam Sancij The prouinces of Quinci Cantan and Foquem are diuided from the vplandish with mountaines like the Alpes but not aboue two daies iourney asunder Thomas Perez the king of Portugals ambassador made fower moneths iourney from Cantan to Nanquij alwaies bearing northerly It is not so spacious but it is as fertil for it yeeldeth not only what is fitting for humane life but whatsoeuer the delicate and effeminate appetite of man may lust after Many plants yeeld fruit twice or thrice a yeere and that not onely by the temperature of the aire but by the number of riuers and plentie of waters which doe both cause traffike through euery corner of the region and so water it on all sides that it resembleth a most pleasant and delectable garden plot Of this plentie there are two causes one the prodigall expences of the king in digging of trenches through the whole land sometime cutting through rockie mountaines sometime damming vp deepe vallies to make them leuell with high mountaines to draine the waters of lakes and marishes the other for that the whole region is situated vnder the temperatre Zone and in no place either by nature or mans industrie wanteth moisture so that all creatures taking nourishment of heate and moisture must needes here wonderously prosper In no place plants may take larger scope to spread their branches nor cattell larger walkes to wander in then in this countrie The last reason is for that the idle are neither seuerely punished nor altogether tolerated euery one is forced to doe somewhat no foote of land is left vnhusbanded nor dram of stuffe cast away vnwrought Amongst all admirables one thing is woorthie consideration that in Cantan they keepe fower thousand whales to grinde corne and rice In China euery one is set about somewhat according to his yeeres and strength one laboureth with his hand one with his foote one with his eie another must be dooing with his toong those onelie who are impotēt in their limes haue no friends liuing to succour them are prouided for in hospitals That none may excuse themselues in saying he can do nothing euery one is bound to learne his fathers occupation which is the reason that the children borne as it were tradesmen learne their fathers occupations before they perceiue it becomming in time most artificiall mechaniques He that can not liue at lande seeketh his maintenance at sea for that is no lesse inhabited then the land yea infinite housholds liue vpon the riuers in boats without comming to land for a long season Some of these liue by ferrying ouer people some by transporting passengers and their merchandise others keepe shops other vessels of lodgings for merchants and trauellers Whatsoeuer is needfull for clothing for foode or nourishment delight or case of a ciuill life is to be found in the midst of great riuers Many nourish all sorts of poultrie especially ducks in their vessels To hatch the egges and nourish the yoong ones they vse not the dams as we do but an artificiall heate in a manner as they do in Egypt especially at Cair All night he keepeth them in his boat at morning sendeth them to feede in the fields sowed with rice whence all day long hauing fed vpon the weeds to the great good of the husbandman they returne towards euening to their cages at the sound of a little bell or cimball Many liue by carrying fish both salt and fresh into the high countries for in the spring when the riuers rise through thawes and land-flouds so incomparable quantities of sea fish do abound in the hauens or creekes that the fishermen depart rather wearied then wanting This fish the skippers buy for a small matter of the fishermen and keeking them aliue in certaine vessels made for the purpose they transport them into prouinces farre remote from the sea There they are sold and preserued in pooles and stewes neere cities and great townes to serue the markets and tables of the Chinois all the yeere long Because it is forbidden any inhabitant to passe out of the land without leaue and therewith neither but for a time limited it must needs be that by the daily increase of people the countrey be euen pestered with inhabitation It hath beene obserued amongst themselues that for euery fiue that haue died seauen haue beene borne The climate is so temperate and the aire so wholesome that in mans memorie any vniuersall pestilence hath not beene knowen to infest the countrey Notwithstanding least any man should thinke this people to enioy all sweetes without some mixture of sower you must note that their earthquakes are more dreadfull to them then any pestilence to vs for whole cities haue beene swallowed and prouinces made desart by this punishment They choke vp the course of ancient chanels and make new where were neuer any before they lay mountaines leuell with the ground making hauocke of the people In the yeere 1555. a deluge breaking out of the bowels of the earth deuoured 180. miles of firme land with the townes and villages standing thereupon those which scaped the floud lightning and fire from heauen destroied There are saide to be in China 150. cities 235. great townes 1154. castles and 420. boroughes without wals wherein soldiers are quartered of villages and hamlets some of them conteining a thousand housholds the number is infinite for the countrey is so couered with habitation that all China seemeth but as one towne They haue two metrapolitan cities Nanquin and Panquin In Nanquin towards the north the king keepeth his court Vnder the iurisdiction of the one are seuen prouinces vnder the other eight Both of them are so spacious that it is a daies iourney for a horseman to ride from one end to the other Of the number of inhabitants no certainty can be produced but according to manuscript relations and report of trauellers it is said that the kingdome containeth 70. millions of liuing soules This is an admirable report and not to be beleeued if it be compared with the prouinces of Christendome but surely something aboue conceite is to be credited to these spacious populous and barbarous nations Let vs set the largenes of their prouinces the circuite of their cities their plentie and aboundance of all things and in all places either prospering by nature or mans industrie with their numbers and inhabitation and we shall finde a countrey like inough to affoord such a reckoning cities and dwellings able to containe them and nourishment sufficient to maintaine them Italy exceedeth not nine millions Germany excluding the Swissers and Netherlands not ten and with the foresaid prouinces not aboue fifteene which number peraduenture France may reach vnto Spaine is farre inferior to Italy Sicilie hath but