this day you may see diuers of them that are kept for a maruaile And because they are very rare the Chiefe Lordes there doo curiously preserue them and suffer the people to worship them which tendeth greatly to their profite by reason of the giftes and oblations which the people offer vnto them There are there also to be found Chameleons which haue fower feete and breede vpon the rockes and liue of the winde and the aire of the bignesse and likenesse of an Efte with a sharpe heade and a tayle like a sawe They are for the most parte of the colour of the skie but somewhat more duskie and greenish and if you stand to looke a while vpon them you shall see them chaunge themselues into diuers colours They dwell much vpon high rockes and trees to the ende they may take aire wherewith they are nourished Other serpentes there are that are venemous that carrie vpon the tippe of their taile a certaine little roundell like a bell which ringeth as they go so as it may be hearde It may be it was there set by nature of purpose that people should beware of them and it is founde by experience that these belles and the heades of the serpents are very good remedies against an ague and against the trembling of the hart These kindes and sortes of lande-Creatures are to be founde in these regions besides others also that are commonly to be had in other countries It resteth now that we speake somewhat touching Birdes and first of all of the Eastriche because it is bigger then all the rest These Eastriches are found in those partes of Sundi and of Batta that are towardes the Muzambi The young Eastriches doo spring out of their egges being warmed and disclosed by the eye heate of the Sunne Their feathers are vsed in steede of Ensignes and Banners in warre mingled with some plumes of the Peacocke and are fashioned in the likenesse of a shadowe against the Sunne And forasmuch as I am fallen into the speech of Peacockes I must tell you by the way that in the partes of Angola there are Peacockes brought vp priuately in a certaine woode that is compassed about with walles and the king will not suffer any other bodie to keepe those birdes but onely himselfe because they are for the Royall Ensignes as I tolde you before And it is read in auncient histories of Alexander the Great that he did also priuiledge this Birde at such time as he first saw it in Europe There are also Indie-Cockes and Hens and Geese and Duckes of all sortes both wilde and tame Partriches so many as children take them with ginnes Other birdes they haue likewise as Pheasantes which they call Gallignoles Pigeons Turtles and of these small birdes called Becca fichi an infinite number Birdes of prey as Eagles-Royall Faulcons Gerfaulcons and Sparhaukes and others great store which notwithstanding the people neuer vse to hauke withall Birdes of the sea as Pellicanes for so the Portingalles do call them white and great which swimme vnder the water and haue their throates so wide that they will swallow a whole fish at once This bird hath so good a stomacke and naturally so hot that it easily digesteth the fish that it swalloweth whole and the skinne of it is so hoat that the people of that countrey do vse to weare them and to warme their colde stomackes withall and therefore make great reckoning of them There are many white Herons and Gray Bittours that feede in the washes there and are called Royall Birdes Other Fowles there are of the likenesse of a Crane with a red bill and redde feete as bigge as Storkes and their feathers for the most part redde and white and some darke graye Goodly birdes they are to looke too and the people of the countrey doo call them Flemminges because they doo much resemble them and are good meat to eate They haue Parrattes of gray colour great and very talkatiue others of greene colour but they are little ones not so talkatiue They haue likewise certaine smal little birds which they call Birds of Musicke and yet greater thē the Canarie Birds of feather bill red some greene with their feet bill only black some all white some gray or dunne some all blacke and this kinde is more sweet in their notes then all the rest aforenamed for you woulde thinke that they talked in their singing Others there are of diuers colours but they do all sing in sundrie sorts so that the chiefe Lords of those countreyes from auncient times to this day haue continually kept them in cages and greatly esteemed them for their song Chap. 10. Of the Prouince of Sogno which is the Countrey of the Riuer Zaire and Loango THis Countrey is bounded with the Riuer Ambrize towardes the North in seauen degrees and a halfe and so trauersing the Riuer Lelunda and the Riuer Zaire it endeth at the Rockes called Barreuras Vermellias that is to say the Redde pittes which are in the borders of the Kingdome of Loango In the middest of this Prouince there is a certaine Territory called by the same name Sogno where the Gouernour of the Countrey dwelleth The chiefe Lordes that rule this Prouince are called Mani-Sogno that is Princes of Sogno and are commonly of the blood Royall The Prince that gouerneth there at this day is called Dō Diego Mani-Sogno He hath vnder his dominiō many other petty Lords other prouinces that in olde time were free and liued by themselues as the people of Mombalas situate somwhat neere to the Cittie of Congo which are now subiect to this gouernement And on the other side of the Riuer Zaire towardes the North is the Prouince of Palmar that is to say of Palmes because there is great store of Palme trees growing therein Other Lordes there are that border vpon the King of Loango who was sometime subiect to the King of Congo but in processe of time he became a free Lord and now professeth himselfe to be in amity with the king of Congo but not to be this vassall The people that are vnder these Lords in those borders are called the Bramas and they reach within land vnder the Equinoctiall line towardes the East to the boundes of Anzicana all along the Mountaines which diuide them from the Anzichi vpon the North. They are called by the people of Loango Congreamolal because they were subiect to Congo In this Countrey of Loango there are many Elephants and great store of Iuory which they doo willingly exchaunge for a little iron so that for the naile of a shippe be it neuer so small they will giue a whole Elephantes tooth The reason thereof is either because there groweth no iron in that place or els they haue not the skill to get it out of the mines where it groweth But all the iron they can get they employ for heading of their
that are of a white colour and yeeld obedience sometimes to one of these two Princes and sometimes to the other They are men of a farre greater stature then all the rest of the people in those Countries Chap. 10. The rest of the Coast of the Ocean to the redde Sea Of the Empire of Prete Gianni and the Confines thereof Of the famous Riuer Nilus and the originall spring thereof ANd now to returne to our former treatise of the coast beyond the Realme of Melinde towardes the Cape of Guarda-Fuy there are many places inhabited with Mahometans all along the sea side of colour being white Vpon this shoare there are diuers good hauens where the shippes of sundry countries doo trafficke with the foresaide marchaundises The first of these places is called Patee the seconde Braua the third Magadoxo the fourth Affion and the last is the famous Promontory and Cape of Guarda-Fuy which because it is very great and iutteth out a good way into the sea is wel knowen to all saylers that come from India and from Ormuz from Arabia Foelix It is the place and harborough where the Portingalles are wont to attend and yearely with their nauies to watch for the vesselles of the Mahometans that being laden with precious marchaundises doo saile into those partes without their licence they being the Lordes of the trafficke and trade for spicery and all other commodities that are brought from India So that euery yeare the Portingall Fleete doth take great prises of Marchauntes shippes in that place as the English and the French doo at Cape Saint Vincent After you haue compassed about the foresaid Cape of Guarda-Fuy towarde the redde sea you shall come to other Townes and hauens of the Mahometans The first of them is called Methe and another beyond that called Barbora And this is the furthest place wherein you shall finde any people with white skinnes for here the men beginne to bee all blacke Then there is Ceila Dalaca and Malaca and Carachin and all this Coast is called in that Countrey language Baragiam The people that inhabite therein are all blacke valiant in armes and apparelled from the girdle downewards with cloth of Cotton but those that are of the best account among them doo weare vppon their shoulders certaine cloakes with whoodes called Bernussi such as the olde Romanes vsed and were termed Saga Romana It aboundeth in Gold and in Iuory and in Mettalles in victuailes of all sortes Then follow the mouthes or entrances into the red Gulfe otherwise called the Redde Sea well knowen to euery man In number they are two caused by an Islande that lyeth betweene them and is called Babelmandel The one of them towards the West is fifteene miles broade and hath a deep channell and through this doo all the great shippes enter the other is a little one and contayneth in breadth but fiue miles and yet is full of shallowes and shelfes of sande and some Rockes so that the whole mouth is but thirtie myles in all The one Cape on the side of Africa is called Rosbel and the other towardes Arabia Foelix is Ara. From this place all the Westerne Coast of the said Gulfe runneth vp to Suez which is the farthest towne thereof Northwardes and is distant from these mouthes twelue hundred miles All this Gulfe both on the one side and on the other neere to the bankes is much pestered with Islettes and shelfes that are very shallow and affordeth free and safe nauigation but onely in the middest For the sea following the motion streame of the Ocean with great swiftnes doth keepe the channell and the bottome in the middle very cleane and neat by casting vp the filth and sande vpon the bankes on both sides And now forasmuch as we are to speake of the Empire of Prete Gianni who is the greattest and the richest Prince in all Africa let vs tell you in briefe that his State and Gouernement at this day reacheth from the two mouthes of the redde sea vnto the Island of Syene which is vnder the Tropike of Cancer excepting the Coastes of the said sea For about fiftie yeares ago he lost them by negligence and suffered the Turke to take them from him So that the Confines of his estate are these viz. towards the North-East and the East the greater parte of the Red Sea towards the North Aegypt towardes the West the Desertes of Nubia and towards the South the countrey of Mohenemugi so in a grosse and generall account the Empire of this Christian King may happely bee in compasse some foure thousand miles The principall Cittie where hee most remayneth and keepeth his Court is called Bel-Malechi He ruleth ouer many Prouinces that haue their seuerall Kinges His estate is very rich and aboundeth in Golde in Siluer in precious stones and in all sortes of mettalles His people are of diuers colours as white blacke and a middle colour betweene both they are of a very good stature and haue good countenances His Courtiers and Lordes are apparelled with cloth of Silke and adorned with Golde and sundry Iewelles There is among them a lawe for apparell according to the seuerall degrees of men For certaine persons there are for whome it is not lawfull to weare any other garment but such as are made of dressed skins These people are in a manner Christians For they doo obserue certaine ceremonies of the Lawe of the Hebrewes Vpon the Feast day of our Ladie in August all the Kinges and principall Lordes assemble themselues together in the Cittie aforesaid to celebrate that feast euery man bringing with him his tribute that he oweth to the King and the people comming from all partes in pilgrimage to performe this their deuotion They haue a very solemne procession and out of the Church from whence they walke they carry with them an Image of the Blessed Virgin the Mother of God which is as bigge as any common person and all of Gold This Image hath for the eyes two very rich and great Rubies all the rest of the bodie is garnished adorned with iewels and curious workes and it is carryed vpon a frame made of Golde of a wonderfull and admirable workmanshippe In this procession also there commeth abroade in publike shew Prete Gianni himselfe eyther vpon a Charriot of Gold or els vpon an Elephant all garnished and trimmed with iewelles and such rare and precious thinges and couered all ouer with cloth of Golde The multitude of people that runneth to see this Image is so great that many are stiffled in the presse and die therevpon This King is called by a corrupt terme Prete Iani for the right name is Bel-Gian Now Bel signifieth that which is chiefest perfectest and excellentest in anything and Gian is a Prince or a Lorde and is applyed to euery man that hath a Gouernement and iurisdiction and therefore Belgian is asmuch to say as
of his manners of his Court and of other conditions appertayning to the politicke and militarie Gouernment of these people And afterward we will describe vnto you the kingdomes neere adioyning and all the regions thereaboutes towardes the South euen till you come to the Cape of Good Hope and the riuers and countries of the Ocean that is right against India and within land the kingdomes of Presbiter Iohn touching also by the way the spring and original of Nilus and the causes of his wonderful encrease which sundry fooles doe account to bee a Miracle THE SECOND BOOKE Chap. 1. Of the situation of the Royall Cittie of the Kingdome of Congo ALthough the chiefe and Royall Cittie of the Kingdome of Congo bee after a sort comprehended within the Prouince of Pemba yet notwithstāding forasmuch as the gouernement thereof and the territorie therevnto belonging which may in compasse amount to the space of twenty miles about doeth depende wholly of the king of Congo himselfe wee will place it in a seuerall regiment and intreate of it by it selfe This cittie is called San Saluatore or Saint Sauiours and in times past in that country language it was called Banza which generally signifieth the Court where the king or the Gouernour doeth ordinarily soiourne It is seated about 150. miles from the sea vpon a great and a high Mountaine being almost all of a rocke but yet hauing a veyne of iron in it whereof they haue great vse in their housing This mountaine hath in the toppe of it a great plaine very well manured and furnished with houses and villages contayning in circuite about ten miles where there doeth dwell and liue the number of a hundred thousand persons The soile is fruitfull and the ayre fresh holesome and pure there are great store of springes of indifferent good water to drinke and at certaine times doo not harme any man and of all sortes of cattell great aboundance The toppe of the mountaine is seuered and distinguished from all the rest of the hill which is about it and therefore the Portingalles doe call it The Otheiro that is to say a Viewe or a Watch Tower or a Singular height from whence you may take a sight of all the Champeigne round about Onely towardes the East and towardes the Riuer it is verye steepe and rockie For two causes did the first Princes of this Kingdome place this habitation in the foresaide Height of this Mountaine First because it lyeth in the very middest and as it were in the Center of all the Realme from whence he may presently send ayde to any part of his Kingdom that may stand in neede of reliefe secondly because it is situated in a Territory that is by Nature mounted aloft hauing a very good ayre and of greate safetie for it cannot be forced By the chiefe common high way that goeth vp to the Citie and looketh towardes the Sea being distant from thence 150. Miles as hath bene told you which way is very large and competent though it go somewhat about incompasse you shall ascende fiue Myles from the bottom to the toppe of the Mountayne At the foote thereof on the East syde there runneth a Riuer wherevnto the women doe descend by the space of a myles walke to washe their clothes In diuerse other partes thereof there are sundry valleyes planted manured neyther do they suffer any part of the countrey thereaboutes to be left vntilled or vnvsed because it is the countrey where the Court remaineth The Cittie is seated in a corner or angle of the hill towards the Southeast which Don Alfonso the first christian king did compasse about with walles and gaue vnto the Portingalles a seuerall place for themselues shut vp likewise within walles Then did he also inclose his owne pallace and the Kinges howsen with another wall and in the middest betweene these two enclosures left a great space of ground where the principal Church was built with a faire market place before it The doores and gates aswell of the lodginges of the Lords as of the Portingalles inhabitations do open on the side of the said Church For in the vppermost ende of the market place do diuers great Lords of the Court dwel and behinde the Church doeth the market place runne into a narrow street where there is also a gate and beyond that gate many houses towardes the East Without these walles which do inclose the kinges houses and the Cittie of the Portingalles there are a number of other buildinges erected by diuers Lordes euery man making his seuerall choice of the place which he thinketh most fit conuenient for his dwelling neere vnto the Court So that the greatnes of this Citie cannot well be determined or limited Beyond these walles also that thus do compasse this Citty there is a great champaigne plaine full of villages and sundry pallaces where euery Lorde possesseth as it were a whole Towne within him selfe The circuite of the Portingalles cittie contayneth about a mile and the kings housen as much The walles are very thick the gates are not shutte in the night time neyther is there any watch or ward kept therein And although that plaine doeth lie verie high aloft yet is there great aboundance of waters in it so that there is no want thereof But the Court and the Portingalles Cittie do al drinke of a certaine fountaine that springeth continually towardes the North and lyeth downe the hill as farre as a Gunne will shoote And from hence they doe fetch all their water and bring it to the Cittie in vesselles of wood of earth and of leather vpon the backes of their slaues All this plaine is very fruitfull and well manured It hath meadowes full of grasse and trees that are alwayes greene It beareth sundrie sortes of graine but the principall and beste of all is called Luco which is very like to Mustardseede but that it is somewhat bigger When it is grinded with Hand-Quernes for so they vse to doe it yeeldeth a very white meale whereof they make bread that is both white and also of a very good sauour and holesome withall neyther doth it giue place to our wheat in any sort sauing that they doe not celebrate the Sacramente with it Of these graines there now is great store ouer all the Kingdom of Congo but it is not long since that this seede was brought thether from that parte of the riuer Nilus where it falleth into the second Lake There is also a white kinde of Millet called the Mazza of Congo that is to say the Corne of Congo and another graine which they call Maiz but they make no account of it for they giue it to their hogges neyther doe they greatly esteeme of Rice The foresaid Maiz they commonly terme by the name of Mazza-Manputo that is to say the Portingalles Corne for they call a Portingall Manputo There are moreouer
the Lorde of Batta already fighting with a formall Armie But at the arriual of the king the enemies yeelded and submitted themselues to the obedience which before they performed and so he returned in triumph to the Cittie of Congo and the Prince his son with him who presently was desirous to become a Christian and was christened by the name of the first Prince of Portingall called Alfonso and with him also were christened many gentlemen and Caualieros and other of his seruantes that came with him out of his Prouince But see the Deuill once againe the vtter enemy of Christian Religion howe hee prosecuted his former intent to hinder Christianitie among these people For when hee perceyued that hee preuayled nothing by these wars he incensed the mind of the Kings second Son that hee woulde not agree to receiue the new Keligion which his Father his Mother his Brother so many other Lords had imbraced sowing his Cockle Darnel not onely in him but also in many other Lordes that fauoured him who being addicted rather to the sensualitie of the flesh then the puritie of the minde resisted the Gospel which beganne now to be preached especially in that Commaundement wherein it is forbidden that a man should haue any mo wiues but one A matter that among them was more harde and difficult to be receyued then any other Commandement whatsoeuer because they were vsed to take as many wiues as they would And thus the two brethren being diuided betweene themselues eyther of them did stiffly maintaine his seuerall opinion The eldest brother Don Alfonso did with great feruencie defende Christianitie burned all the Idoles that were within his Prouince The second brother called Mani-Pango because he was Gouernour of the Countrey of Pango did resist it mightely and had gotten the greatest part of the principall Lordes of Pango to bee on his side For there were diuers of the newe christned Lordes whose Ladies seeing themselues seperated and forlorne of their Husbande-Lordes by force of the Christian Lawe did take it as a great iniury and scorne done vnto them and blasphemed and cursed this new Religion beyond all measure These Lords vnited themselues together with others and began to plot treachery against Don Alfonso hoping that if they could ridde him out of the world the Christian Faith would vtterly cease of it selfe And therefore Mani-Pango and his complices gaue intelligence to his Father that the Prince Don Alfonso fauoured the Christian faction onely to the end that vnder the colour of his countenance and fauour they might rayse an insurrection and rebellion against him and so driue him out of his kingdome The king gaue credite to their informations and depriued his sonne of the Gouernement wherein hee was placed But the prouidence of God which reserued him for a greater matter did relieue him by the good mediation and counsell of his frendes who entreated the King his Father that he would not be moued to anger before he had examined the answeres reasons of the Prince his sonne Wherein the Kinge was especially perswaded by Mani-Sogno who as we tolde you was before christened and called Don Emanuel and by good happe was in Court at that present This man being the auncientest Courtier and Lorde of that time singularly well beloued of the king and all his people did with sound reasons and dexterity of wit procure the king to reuoke the sentence that was giuen against the Prince Don Alfonso so that the Kinge being afterwardes throughly informed both of the honest mind and actions of his sonne perceiued that the accusations plotted against him were false and malicious and therevpon restored him againe to his former gouernement with a speciall charge that hee shoulde not proceed with such rigour against the Gentiles for the propagation exaltation of the christian Religion But he being full of feruent charity and godly spirit ceased not for all that to aduance the faith of the Gospell and to put the commandements of God in execution Chap. 3. Don Iohn the first Christian King being dead Don Alfonso his sonne succeeded Of his warres against his Brother Of certaine miracles that were wrought and of the Conuersion of those people NOw together with the death of the king there was also published the succession to the Crowne of Don Alfonso being then present who in his owne person did accompanie the corps of his deade Father to the buriall withall the Lords of the Court and all the Christian Portingalles which was solemnised after the manner of Christendome with seruice and prayers for the dead and all this with such funerall pompe as was neuer seene before among those people But they which heretofore were aduersaries to this newe King doubting of their owne safetie if they should remaine in the Court vnited themselues with Mani-Pango who was nowe departed into the Prouince of his owne Gouernment and while his father liued was wholly employed in fighting against the Mozombi and certaine other people that had rebelled against him When he heard of the death of his Father and vnderstoode that his brother was already placed in the Seate Royall he tooke truce with his enemies and gathering together a great armie beganne to go in armes against his Brother and lead with him almost all the whole Realme which in deed fauoured him to the number of two hundred thousande men King Alfonso awaited his comming at the Royall Cittie with a very small number sauing that he was directed aduised and assisted by the good auncient Lord Mani-Sogno who vniting himselfe vnto him in the strength and vertue of the holy Christian Faith and making a list of all those armed frends that he had to defend him against so great an enemy found by computation that they did not amount to the number of ten thousand among which there were but about one hundred Christians naturall of that Countrey besides some few Portingalles which by chance arriued there at that time All these people were indeed too few for such an encounter and therefore not very resolute to abide any attempt but became very doubtfull and timorous by reason of the great power that Mani-Pango brought with him But the king trusting confidently in his strong faith and in the Celestiall aide and assistance comforted and strengthened his souldiers by all the meanes he could and so did the good olde Lorde his vncle who ceased not both night and day with words and deeds to encourage that smal number which they had to expect and endure the assaults of their aduersaries with all manhoode and courage assuring them that God would bee their helpe and succour Thus while they attended the procedinges of their enemies Mani-Pango and his forces set forwardes to the besieging of the Cittie with so great a noise of warlicke instrumentes and cries and shoutinges and terrible threatninges that the poore fewe which were in the Cittie aswel Christians as others fainted in
steede for Gouernour vnder the title of King one Don Aluaro a young man of twentie and fiue yeares of age sonne to his wife by another husband But Don-Henrico dyed shortly after the warre was ended and therevpon the saide Don Aluaro was with the common consent of them all elected King of Congo and generally obeyed of euery man And thus fayled the Royall Stocke of the auncient Kinges of Congo in the person of Don Henrico But Don Aluaro was a man of good iudgement and gouernenent and of a milde disposition so that he did presently appease all these tumults in his kingdome caused all the Portingals that by the last warres were dispearsed ouer all the countries thereaboutes to bee gathered together aswell religious persons as lay men by their meanes hee was much better confirmed in the Catholike Faith then he was before Moreouer he vsed them very courteously and cleared them of all faultes that were laide to their charge declaring vnto them by gentle discourses that they had not beene the occasion of the former troubles as euery man wold confesse and acknowledge and to that effect he determined with him selfe to write a large information touching al these accidentes to the King of Portingall and to the Bishoppe of S. Thomas which he did accordingly and dispatched certain Messengers vnto them with his letters When the Bishoppe of S. Thomas vnderstode these newes he was very glad thereof and whereas before he durst not aduenture to go into the Kingdome of Congo in the heate of all those troubles he did now presently take ship and sayled thether where he imployed himselfe wholly with all his authoritie to pacifie the former dissentions and to set downe order for all such matters as concerned the worshippe of God and the office of his Priestes And a while after hee had so done hee returned to his habitation in the Isle of Saint Thomas where by meanes of sicknes he finished his dayes And this was the third time that those partes remayned without a Bishop Nowe it came to passe that for want of Bishoppes the King and the Lordes and the people likewise began to waxe cold in the Christian Religion euery man addicting himselfe licentiously to the libertie of the flesh and especially the King who was induced therevnto by diuers yong men of his owne age that did familiarly conuerse with him Among whom there was one principall man that was both a Lorde and his kinsman called Don Francesco Bullamatare that is to say Catche-Stone This man because he was a great Lorde and wholly estranged from all instructions of Christianitie walked inordinately after his owne pleasure and did not sticke to defende openly That it was a very vaine thing to keepe but one wife and therefore it were better to returne to their former auncient custome And so by his meanes did the Deuill open a gate to the ouerthrowe and destruction of the Church of Christ in that kingdome which vntill that time with so great paine and trauaile had beene there established But afterwardes the man did so wander and stray out of the way of truth that he fell from one sinne to another and in the end quite relinquished and abandoned all true Religion Yet at the last the said Francesco dyed and was solemnely buried like a noble Lorde in the Churcb of Saint Crosses although he was notoriously suspected and spotted for his false Religion But it fell out and a maruellous case it is to confirme the righteous in their good belief to terrify the wicked that in the night time certain Spirits of the Deuill vncouered a part of the roofe of S. Crosses Church where he was enterred and with a great and horrible noyse which was heard all ouer the Cittie they drew him out of his Tombe and carryed him away And in the morning the Church doores were found shut the roofe broken and the graue without the body of the man By this extraordinarie signe the King was at the first aduertised of the great fault that hee had committed and so were the rest also that followed him in his course but notwithstanding because there was no Bishop in that kingdome to giue him good counsell and the King but a young man and vnmarried although he remained somewhat sound in the Christian Faith yet he continued still in the licentiousnes of the flesh vntill such time as God had chastized him with another seuere discipline as you shall hereafter vnderstand Chap. 5. The incursions of the people called Giachas in the kingdome of Congo Their conditions and weapons And the taking of the Royall Cittie FOr not long after there came to robbe and spoyle the Kingdome of Congo certaine nations that liue after the manner of the Arabians and of the auncient Nomades and are called Giachas Their habitation or dwelling is about the first Lake of the Riuer Nilus in a prouince of the Empyre of Moenemugi A cruell people they are and a murderous of a great stature and horrible countenance fed with mans flesh fierce in battell and valorous in courage Their weapons are Pauises or Targates Dartes and Daggers otherwise they go all naked In their fashions and dayly course of liuing they are very sauage and wilde They haue no King to gouerne them and they leade their life in the forrest vnder cabbins and cottages like shepheardes This people went wandring vp and downe destroying and putting to fire and sworde and robbing and spoiling all the countries that they passed through till they came to the Realme of Congo which they entred on that side where the Prouince of Batta lyeth Those that first came forth to make resistance against them they ouerthrew and then addressed themselues towards the Cittie of Congo where the King remained at that time in great perplexitie for this victorie that his enemies had gotten in the Countrey of Batta yet some comfort hee tooke to himselfe and went out against his aduersaries with such souldiers as he had in the same place where in times past Mani-Pango fought with the King Don Alfonso he ioyned battell with them In which encounter the King being halfe discomfited retired into the Cittie wherein when he perceyued that he could not remaine in good safetie being vtterly forsaken of the grace of God by reason of his sinnes and not hauing that confidence in him that Don Alfonso had he thought good to leaue it for a pray to his aduersaries and to betake himselfe io an Islande within the Riuer Zaire called Isola del Cauallo that is to say the Isle of Horse where hee continued with certaine Portingall Priestes and other principal Lordes of his Kingdome And thus were the Giachi become Lords and maisters of the Cittie Royall and of the whole Realme For the naturall inhabitants fled away and saued themselues in the mountains desert places but the enemies burned and wasted Cittie and Churches all and spared
is likewise called Batta In auncient time it was called Aghirimba but afterwardes the word was corrupted and it is now called Batta It was in old time a very strong and a great Kingdome voluntarily of it selfe without any war it ioyned it selfe with the kingdome of Congo peraduenture because there was some dissention among their Lords and therefore it hath more preheminence then the rest of the Prouinces of the kingdome of Congo in priuiledges and liberties For the Gouernment of Batta is alwaies assigned to one that is of the bloode of the Kings of that countrey at their choise and pleasure hauing no more respect to one then to another so that he be of the stocke and bloud Royall neyther to the eldest sonne nor to the second Neither yet goeth this Gouernement by inheritaunce but the king of Congo as is told you before doth dispose it at his own pleasure to whō he thinketh best to the end they shold not vsurpe it by way of succession or by rebellion Hee dwelleth neerer the king then any other Gouernour or Lorde of the kingdom of Congo is the secōd person therin neither may any man gainsay his arguments reasons as they may any of the rest for it is so decreede among them Nowe if the line of the king of Congo should chaunce to faile so that there were none of that blood to succeed the succession shall fall vpon the gouernour of Batta Hee that now gouerneth there is called Don Pedro Mani-Batta Sometimes he eateth at the kinges owne table but yet in a baser seat then the kinges seat is and that also not sitting but standing which is not graunted to any other Lord of Congo no nor to the sons of the king himselfe His Court and his traine is little lesse then the Court traine of the king of Congo For he hath Trompets and Drummes and other instrumentes going before him as becommeth a Prince and by the Portingalles he is commonly called the Prince of Batta because as it is said if the succession shoulde faile in the bloode of the kinges of Congo the empire of the whole kingdome must light vpon some one of this stocke Hee doth holde continuall warres with the Pagans that border vpon him and hee is able to gather together about 70. or 80. thousand fighting men And because hee doth still mayntaine warre with the people that are next him he hath liberty graunted vnto him to entertaine Arcubusiers that shall bee of his owne naturall subiectes For the king of Congo will not suffer any other Gouernour of any other Prouinces nor any of their children to haue any Arcubusiers that are borne within their Countrey but onely the Portingalles Signor Odoardo demaunding once of the King why he did not giue leaue to his other Gouernours to retaine shot about them the King aunswered that if peraduenture they should rebell against him with a thousand or two thousande Arcubusiers he should not haue any possibility to make them resistance And forasmuch as wee haue told you that the King hath graunted licence onely to the prince of Batta to entertaine Arcubusiers in his owne countrey it is fitte you should vnderstand that hee doth it vpon very necessary occasion For towardes the East of Batta beyond the mountaines of the Sunne and of Sal-Nitre vpon the bankes of the East and West of the riuer Nilus in the borders of the Empire of Mohenhe-Muge there liueth a nation which by the people of Congo are called Giaquas but in their own language they are called Agag Very fierce they are and warlicke much giuen to fight and pillage and make continuall inroades into the Countries neere adioyning and sometimes among the rest into the Prouince of Batta So that this Countrey must needes be in continuall Armes and stande vpon good guarde and maintaine Arcubusiers to defende themselues from them The Prince of Batta hath many Lordes vnder him and the naturall people of this Prouince are called Monsobos and their language is well vnderstoode by the inhabitants of Congo They are farre more rude and rusticall then the Moci-Conghi and the slaues that are brought from thence doo proue more obstinate and stubborne then those that come from other Countries Their trafficke is the same that the trafficke of the other countreyes are whereof we haue last intreated And the profite which the king receyueth from Batta amounteth to double asmuch as he receiueth out of any two of the other Prouinces before mentioned Chap. 14. Of the sixt and last Prouince called Pemba THe Prouince of Pemba is seated in the heart and middle of the Kingdome of Congo compassed and comprised within the boundes before described whose Goueruernour is called Don Antonio Mani-Pemba seconde sonne to King Don Aluaro that dead is and brother to the king that raygneth at this present And forasmuch as his father did loue him dearely he assigned vnto him this Gouernement because he knew not what better thing to giue him sauing the Realme it selfe which in deed he would willingly haue bestowed on him for that he was more like vnto him in quality nature then his eldest son was But it would not be by reason of the lawe of the Kingdome which wold not haue yeelded therevnto This countrey is the very Center and middest of all the state of Congo and the originall of all the auncient Kings and the Territorie where they were borne and the chiefe and principall seat of all the other Prouinces and Principalities And therefore the chiefe and royall Citty of all that Empire is assigned to this Prouince whereof we will heareafter deliuer you a full information The Gouernour of Pemba dwelleth in a Territorie of the same name situate at the foote of the Scorched Mountaine along the Riuer Loze which riseth out of the Lake and runneth through the Region of Bamba into the sea The Courtiers and Lordes and seruitors belonging to the king of Congo haue their goods and possessions and reuenewes in this Prouince because it is neerest to the Court very conuenient for the conueighing of their victuailes and their other stuffe vnto the Court Some of these Lordes in that parte specially that bordereth vpon the aforesaid Prouince of Bamba haue much a doo to keep fight and defende themselues from the people of Quizama because they are neerest vnto them For this people as wee tolde you did rebell against the king of Congo and reuolted from him and doe professe that they will bee at libertie and gouerned of themselues And here will we end the first booke which consisteth of the description of the kingdome of Congo in generall and of his borders and in particular of all the sixe Prouinces thereof Now it remayneth that wee proceede forwarde to the second booke Wherein we will treate of the situation of the Cittie of Congo and of the Territorie therevnto belonging of the first christening of the king
Countries But the Portingalles told them that they were men as themselues were and professors of Christianitie And when they perceyued in how great estimation the people held them the foresaide Priest others beganne to reason with the Prince touching the Christian religion and to shew vnto them the errors of the Pagan superstition and by little and little to teach them the faith which wee professe insomuch as that which the Portingalles spake vnto them greatly pleased the Prince and so he became conuerted With this confidence and good spirit the prince of Sogno went to the Court to enforme the King of the true doctrine of the Christian Portingalles and to encourage him that he would embrace the Christian Religion which was so manifest and also so holesome for his soules health Herevpon the king commanded to call the Priest to Court to the end he might himself treat with him personally and vnderstand the truth of that which the Lord of Sogno had declared vnto him Whereof when he was fully enformed he conuerted and promised that he would become a Christian. And nowe the Portingall shippes departed from Congo and returned into Portingall and by them did the King of Congo write to the King of Portingall Don Giouanni the second with earnest request that he would send him some Priestes with all other orders and ceremonies to make him a Christian. The Priest also that remayned behind had written at large touching this busines and gaue the King ful information of all that had happened agreeable to his good pleasure And so the King tooke order for sundry religious persons to be sent vnto him accordingly with all ornaments for the Church and other seruice as Crosses and Images so that hee was throughly furnished with all thinges that were necessary and needefull for such an action In the meane while the Prince of Sogno ceased not day and night to discourse with the Portingall priest whom he kept in his owne house and at his owne table aswell that hee might learne the Christian faith himselfe as also instruct the people therein so that he began to fauour christianitie with all his power And forasmuch as the Christian Religion had nowe taken roote and begun to bud in those Countries and for that both the people also the king himselfe did continue in their earnest desire to purge themselues from that abhominable superstition he did instantly deale with the Priest that he wold proceed in the sowing dispearsing of the Christian doctrine as much as hee could And in this good affection did they wait for the Portingall shippes that shoulde bring them all prouision for baptisme and other thinges therevnto appertayning At the last the shippes of Portingall arriued with the expected prouisions which was in the yeare of our saluation 1491 and landed in the port which is in the mouth of the Riuer Zaire The Prince of Sogno with all shewe of familiar ioy accompanied with all his gentlemen ran downe to meete them and entertained the Portingalles in most courteous manner and so conducted thē to their lodgings The next day following according to the direction of the Priest that remayned behinde the Prince caused a kinde of Church to bee builded with the bodies and braunches of certayne trees which he in his owne person with the helpe of his seruantes most deuoutly had felled in the woode And when it was couered they erected therein three Altars in the worshippe and reuerence of the most holy Trinitie and there was baptised himselfe and his young sonne himselfe by the name of our Sauiour Emanuel and his child by the name of Anthonie because that Sainte is the Protector of the Cittie of Lisbone Now if any man here demande of me what names the people of these Countries had before they receyued Christianitie of a truth it will seeme incredible that I must answere them that is to say that the men and women had no proper names agreeable to reasonable Creatures but the common names of Plantes of Stones of Birdes and of Beastes But the Princes Lordes had their denominations from the places and states which they gouerned As for example the foresaid Prince which was the first Christian in Congo was called Mani-Sogno that is to say the Prince of Sogno when hee was christened was called Emanuel but at this day they haue all in generall such Christian names as they haue learned of the Portingalles After a Masse was celebrated and songe one of the Priestes that came from Portingall went vp and made a briefe Sermon in the Portingall language declaring the summe of the new Religion faith of the Gospel which they had receiued This sermon the Priest that was left behinde hauing nowe learned the Congo speech did more at large expounde to the Lords that were in the Church for the church could not possibly holde the innumerable multitude of the people that were there gathered together at the conuersion of their Prince who afterwardes came abroade vnto them and rehearsed the whole sermon with great loue and charitie mouing and exhorting them to imbrace likewise the true beliefe of the Christian doctrine When this was done all the Portingals put themselues on their way towards the Court to baptise the King who with a most feruent longing attended the same And the Gouernour of Sogno tooke order that many of his Lordes should wait vpon them with Musicke and singing and other signes of wonderfull reioysing besides diuers slaues which he gaue them to carry their stuffe commanding also the people that they should prepare all manner of victuaill to be ready in the streets for them So great was the number of people that ran and met together to beholde them as the whole Champaigne seemed to be in a manner couered with them and they all did in great-kindnes entertaine and welcome the Portingall Christians with singing and sounding of Trompets and Cimballes and other instrumentes of that Countrey And it is an admirable thing to tell you that all the streetes and high wayes that reach from the Sea to the Citty of Saint Sauiours being one hundred and fiftie miles were all cleansed and swept and aboundantly furnished with all manner of victuaile and other necessaries for the Portingals In deede they do vse in those countries when the king or the principall Lordes go abroade to cleanse their waies and make them handsome and therefore much the rather vpon this speciall occasion when the Portingals whom they reuerenced as though they had bene some of the old Heroes did purchase for their King the Iewell of Religion and saluation of his soule and generally for euery one of them the cleere knowledge of God and of eternall life Three dayes iourney from the place whence they departed they descried the kinges Courtiers that came to meet them to present them with fresh victuailes and to doe them honour and so from place to
dead is Don Aluaro father to the King that now is renewed and made another of the same bignes that the first was of in remembraunce of such a miracle For the old Crosse was in time decaied and consumed and quite fallen downe The aforesaid vision did greatly confirme the minds of the Cittizens which before were quailed and did wonderfully appall and fully terrifie the enemies when they vnderstood the news thereof Notwithstanding Mani-Pango sent vnto the King signified vnto him and to all the rest that were with him that if they did not incontinently yeelde themselues and deliuer the Cittie vnto him and create and sweare him for their King and withall abandon and relinquish their newe Christian Religion he would put them all to the edge of the sworde but if they would so do hee woulde freely pardon them Herevnto the Lordes that stood on the Kinges parte answered that they were most ready to die in defence of their Prince and of the Christian Faith But in particular the King sent him this message that he nothing feared his terrible threates but rather as his kind brother was very sory euen from his hart to see that he walked in darkenes and strayed out of the way of light that the kingdome did by law belong vnto him and was not fraudulently vsurped by him And that the Religion which he had receyued was assuredly deliuered him from God who no doubt woulde protect and maintaine him therein And withall besought him that he would estraunge himselfe from his false beliefe and worshipping of the Deuill wherein he had beene nourished and brought vp and that he wold be baptized for so hee shoulde become the childe of God and mertie the Glorie Celestiall Then the King sent to fetch his iewelles and other rich ornamentes of housholde which he had at home and the better to encourage these Lordes that tooke his part hee most graciously distributed them amongst them all wherewith they remayned very greatly satisfied and bounde themselues to prosecute his enterprise and to followe his ensigne with a most ardent courage This being done the very same night the one halfe almost of the base people that were in armes being surprised with a very great feare did secretly flie into the Campe of Pango and hauing thus reuolted gaue Mani-Pango to vnderstand that the King and all the rest of his retinue were vtterly dismaied and discouraged that euery man was deuising with himselfe how he might escape that they had none other meane to saue themselues but onely by taking the lane that leadeth downe to the Riuer which as wee haue tolde you was distant from the Cittie about the space of a mile At the end of which lane betweene the Riuer and the hill there was a little Moore about two foot deepe on the right hande and on the left hand were the mountaines and the garrisons of Pango that had besieged beset the hill so that there was none other issue for them to escape but onely by passing ouer the Moore which was in length as farre as the shotte of an Arcubuse could reach and as much in bredth and then to come to the Riuer Mani-Pango beleeuing all this that they had related vnto him sent presently to stop that passage with planting sharpe stakes in the bottome of the Moore which were couered with water to the ende that if his enemies shoulde flie in the darke of the night because they would not be seene they shoulde be all staked and taken therein All that night he with all his armie remayned in great ioy and awaited the fresh morning that he might giue the assault vpon the Cittie bethinking himselfe in the meane while what course might be most easie and conuenient for him to attempt the same But Don Alfonso on the other side hauing confessed himselfe and consulted with all the most faithful and loyall frendes that hee had expected his enemie who assuring himselfe of the victorie and hauing now granted all the Cittizens goodes and all the states and Gouernementes of the kingdome to his great Lords about him very earely in the morning with a furious violence gaue assault to the Cittie on that side which is towardes the North where the great and wide plaine restrayning it selfe into a narrow straite entreth as it were into a rounde circle naturally compassed about with certaine hilles and then maketh a large way as broade as a man maye shoote with a Gunne vntill you come to the site or place where the Cittie standeth which is a little plaine of two miles compasse wherein as it hath beene tolde you the Cittie and the Church and the Lordes houses and the kings court are situate In this place did Don Alfonso with those few that he had with him settle himselfe against the Pagans and against his Enemie Brother who before hee coulde confront the Kinge was vtterly discomfited dispearsed and put to flight Wherevppon the king perceyuing that he was ouerthrowne and driuen to runne away was wonderfully amazed not knowing himselfe how this matter came to passe seeing that he had not ioyned battel nor fought with his enemies and therefore must needes thinke that it so fell out by some hidden and secreate meanes to him vnknowne Notwithstanding the day following Mani-Pango returned to the assault in the same place but hee was in the same manner once again discomfited and constrained to flie whereby hee knew assuredly that this his losse and ouerthrow was not occasioned by the valour of his enemies but onely by some miracle So that the people of the Cittie mocking and scorning those Idolaters and taking stomacke vnto them for these two victories thus happened beganne nowe to make no reconing of them and woulde with all violence haue runne vpon them To whome their aduersaries made this aunswere Tush you are not the men that haue thus vanquished vs but it was a certaine faire Lady all in white which with her admirable brightnesse had blindeded vs and a Knight riding vppon a white palfrey that had a redde Crosse vppon his breast and hee it was that fought against vs and turned vs to flight Which when the King vnderstoode he sent to tell his brother that of those two the one was a Virgin the Mother of Christ whose faith he had embraced and the other was S. Iames who both were sent from God to succour and relieue him and that if he also would become a Christian they would likewise shew great grace and fauour vnto him But Mani-Pango would not accept of this message but all the night following did put himselfe in a readinesse to besiege the Cittie vpon both sides at once the one with one part of his Armie at the straite aboue mentioned and the other with another parte of his people himselfe in his owne person compassing about by the lane that ascendeth from the riuer and so in a place vtterly vnprouided of eyther watch or ward he
required the water of Holy Baptisme at his hands neyther would they suffer him to passe vntill hee had giuen it them so that to satisfie their desires hee was greatly stayed in his viage and was faine to carry water with him in certaine vesselles and salte and other prouision necessary for that action But I will leaue to report vnto you all the welcome and entertainment that was made vnto him in euery place where he came and the liuely ioy that generally and particularly was shewed for the comming of this Bishoppe And now I will tell you that hee arriued at the Cittie of Saint Sauiours where hee was met by the Priestes and by the king and by all the Court and so in procession entred into the Church after due thanks giuen to God hee was conducted to his lodging that was assigned vnto him by the king And then presently he beganne to reforme reduce to good order the Church it selfe and the Friers and Priestes that dwell therein ordayning the saide Church to bee the Cathedrall Church of Saint Crosses which at that time had belonging vnto it twentie and eyght Cannons with their Chaplens and a Mayster of the Chappell with Singers and Organs and Belles and all other furniture meete to execute diuine seruice But this Bishoppe who laboured in the Lords Vineyard sometimes in Congo and sometimes in the Isle of Saint Thomas going and comming continually by shippe the space of twentie daies and still leauing behinde him his Vicars in the place where he himselfe was absent at the last dyed was buried in the Island of S. Thomas After this Bishoppe succeeded another Bishoppe in Congo being a Negro and descended of the blood Royall who before had beene sent by King Alfonso first into Portingall and afterwardes to Rome where hee learned the Latine tongue and the Christian Religion but being returned into Portingall and landed out of his shippe to goe and enter vppon his Bishopricke of S. Sauiours hee dyed by the way wherevpon the kingdome remained without a Pastor for the space of diuers yeares Don Piedro also the King aforesaide dyed likewise without children and there succeeded him his brother called Don Francesco who in like manner lasted but a while and then was created the fift King named Don Diego who was next of all the race Royall A man of haughtie courage and magnificall and wittie of a very good disposition wise in counsell and aboue all other qualities a maintayner of Christian Faith and in briefe so great a warriour he was that in few yeares hee conquered all the countries adioyning He loued the Portingals very much so that he forsooke the vsuall garmentes of his owne naturall countrey attyred himselfe after the Portingall fashion He was very sumptuous aswell in his apparell as also in the ornaments and furniture of his pallace he was besides very courteous and liberall and woulde bestowe largely both vpon his owne subiectes and also vpon the Portingalles With great cost woulde hee prouide and buy such stuffe as pleased him and woulde often say that Rare thinges shoulde not bee in the handes of any but onely of Kinges He vsed to weare one suite of apparel but once or twice and then he would giue it away to his followers Wherevpon the Portingalles perceyuing that he did so greatly esteeme cloth of gold and Arras such other costly houshold stuffe they brought great store therof out of Portingall so that at that time Arras-hangings and cloth of gold and of silke and such like Lordly furniture beganne to bee of great estimation in that kingdome In the time of this King there was a thirde Bishop of Saint Thomas and Congo by nation a Portingall who with the vsuall ceremonies was entertayned both by the way and also in the Court at Saint Sauiours And nowe the Deuill the common enemie of Christian Religion being much grieued with the happie successe and promoting of the Catholike Faith beganne to sowe his Darnell of diuision betweene the Friers and Priestes and their new Bishoppe which sprung vp and arose from the long libertie wherein they had nowe liued so many yeares without a Pastor so that euery man esteemed himselfe not onely to be as good as the Bishoppe but also to be a farre better man then he was and therefore would yeeld no obedience to their Prelate in such sort that there was raysed among them so great a discord dissention as it wrought a grieuous scandale and wicked example among the people But the king like a good Catholike and a faithfull did alwayes maintaine the Bishops part and to cut of these troubles and stirres he sent some of these Priests to prison into Portingal and others into the Isle of Saint Thomas and some others went away with all their substaunce of their owne accorde and by these meanes the doctrine of these ministers in steede of encreasing did greatly diminish through their owne default Neyther was our common aduersaries herewithal contented but woulde needes proceed further by setting discorde betweene Kinges and subiectes For after the death of this King there started vp three Princes at once to challenge the succession The first was the Kinges sonne whom fewe of them fauoured because they desired to haue another so that he was slaine incontinently The two other that remayned were of the bloud Royall One of them was created King by his fauourites and followers with the good lyking of the greater parte of the people but vtterly against the mindes of the Portingalles and certayne of the Lordes who aymed and endeauoured to set vp the other Insomuch as the foresaide Lordes together with the Portingalles went into the Church to kill the King elected making this reckoning with themselues that if they slewe him the other must of necessitie bee made King But at that very selfe same time those of the contrary faction had slaine the King that was already made by the Portingalles perswading themselues assuredly that he being dead there would bee no difficultie for them to obtaine the state for their King because there was none other least that by law could challenge the Scepter Royall And thus in an houre and in two seuerall places were these two Kinges murthered at once In these conspiracies and slaughters when the people saw that there were no lawfull persons leaft to enioy the Royall Crowne they laide all the blame vpon the Portingals who were the causers of all these mischiefes and therevpon they turned themselues against them and slew as many of them as they could finde Onely they spared the Priests and would not touch them nor any other that dwelt in other places Seeing therefore as before is saide that there was none of the blood Royal leaft to be placed in the Gouernment they made choice of one Don Henrico Brother to Don Diego the King deceased And this Henrico going to warre against the Anzichi leaft behinde him in his
vpon him by the hand of God for the punishment of the sinnes which he had committed against Religion had acknowledged his errour and became a good Christian cherishing the Portingals whom he called his Sonnes and doing them all the pleasure hee could Especially and aboue all thinges hee ceased not still to sende new Embassadours into Portingall with earnest request that he might haue moe Priestes and such as were skilful in the holy Scriptures to maintaine the Catholike Faith which was now almost vtterly forgotten in that Realme onely for want of religious persons that shoulde teach the people and administer the Sacramentes and not for any fault of their good willes for they were meruellously well inclined and affected to the Holy Faith After that the aforesaid Captaine was arriued in Portingall and had presented the requestes of the King of Congo to his King who was also but a young man he had none other aunswere from him but wordes and promises that he would haue a care of the matter that was demanded but in the meane while hee prouided neyther Priests nor Diuines to be sent for Congo Wherevpon the King of Congo dispatched againe another principall Embassadour being his kinseman called Don Sebastiano Aluarez together with a Portingall to beare him company and entreate for moe Priestes and withall to redeeme certaine slaues borne in Congo that were in the Isle of S. Thomas and in Portingall and were sold vpon meere necessitie as wee haue tolde you before Some of them woulde needes remaine still in voluntarie seruitude and many were raunsomed and brought home into their Countrey By whose good labour and meanes and especially by the paineful industrie of such as were Lords borne of noble bloud for some there were of that dignitie among them the King of Congo restored the Christian Religion which was almost lost and some of them he vsed for Counsellours and Officers of the Realme as men that were well practised and experienced in the worlde by reason of this their long captiuitie To this Embassadour the King gaue a gracious aunswere and tolde him that hee should bee satisfyed according to his request But yet for all that hee was faine to returne home agayne into Congo without any Priestes or Religious persons to go with him Three yeares after the King Don Sebastiano dispatched a certaine Bishoppe called Don Antonio de gli Oua being a Castilian borne principally to the Islande of S. Thomas but withall he gaue him also a commission to visite the kingdome of Congo who being arriued at S. Thomas fell at iarre with the Captayne there and so sayled into Congo where hee was also persecuted by the saide Captaine and his frendes that hee had there For they informed the King that hee was an ambitious man of a haughtie spirite and very obstinate thereby did vtterly discredite him with the King and all his Court Wherevpon being induced therevnto by these accusations the King forbad him at the first to enter within his Realme but afterwardes he receyued him with great honour and sent his sonne to entertain him and to accompany him to the Cittie There he stayed about eyght monethes and then departed againe somewhat before the King of Portingall passed into Africa and leaft behinde him in Congo two Friars and fower Priestes The Bishoppe being thus gone the King ouerthrowen in Africa there was exalted to the Crowne of Portingall Don Henrico the Cardinall to whome the King of Congo did write with great instaunce and earnest request that he would send him some religious personnes and Preachers but he could obtaine nothing at his handes because the Cardinall liued but a short time in that Gouernement After Don Henrico succeeded Phillip King of Castile who sent aduertisementes to the Captain of Saint Thomas that he was inuested in the Crowne of Portingall and letters also to the King of Congo to the same effect Wherevpon the Captaine did presently dispatch one Sebastiano di Costa that with the title of Embassadour shoulde carry these newes and letters vnto the saide King When these letters were presented and all complementes performed the king of Congo returned him againe to the Court to king Phillip with answere of his letters and therein proffered to discouer vnto him the mettall mines which heretofore had beene concealed from all the other kinges his predecessors and withal sent him diuers trialles of them Beseeching him especially with all affectionate entreatie that as soone as possiblie he could hee woulde furnish him with some store of Priestes declaring also vnto him the miserable state and condition whereinto his people were fallen by reason of the troubles that had happened about the Christian Religion But Costa died by the way the vessell wherein he sayled being cast away vpon the shore of Portingall and euery man drowned that was in it and the naughtie newes were knowen by the contentes of the Letters that were found in a little chest which was driuen on land by the waues of the sea by a briefe note of such Commissions as he had in charge to deliuer to the king When the king of Congo hearde of this accident hee did not cease but still continued and perseuered in his godly purpose woulde not suffer Christianitie to bee vtterly extinguiwed in his Kingdome as it was very likely to be And therefore he determined yet once again to send a new Embassadour of his owne to the King of Spaine But forasmuch as there arose some difficulties and differences among some Lordes of the Court that desired this honour the king because he woulde not displease any of them by preferring one of them before another made choice of one Odoardo Lopez a Portingall borne from whose mouth Pigafetta tooke this present report and put it in writing This man had dwelt now a good time in those Regions and was well experienced in the affaires of the worlde and being by good chaunce at that time in the Court he was thus emploied with the good fauour and countenance of the king who deliuered vnto him in writing very ample instructions for all matters whereof hee was to treate as well with his Catholike Maiestie in Spaine as also with his Holinesse at Rome together with very earnest letters of credence and authoritie and commoditie to them both and safe conductes and exemptions in all liberties both within and without besides his effectuall recommendations of him to all other Christian Princes with all such other priuileges and declarations that might shew how dearly the king esteemed his person as to an Embassadour in such causes appertaineth The summe of his Embassage was this That he should present his Letters to the King Don Phillip and at large discourse vnto him the state wherein the kingdome of Congo stoode touching matter of Religion by the reason of the former warres and scarcitie of Priestes and therevpon request his Maiestie to prouide
him a competent number of Confessors and Preachers that might bee sufficient to maintaine the Gospell in those remote Countries being but lately conuerted to Christianitie Moreouer that he should shew vnto him the sundrie trialles of Mettalles which hee had made and many other matters which were worthie to bee knowen and withall that he should proffer vnto him in his name free liberal trafficke of them which heretofore was euer denyed to his Predecessors Touching the Pope That he should likewise on his behalfe kisse his feete deliuer vnto him his letters and recount the miserable trouble and detriment that his people had suffered for the Christian Faith That he shold recōmend those poor soules to his Holines beseech him as the Vniuersal Father of all Christians to haue compassion vpon so many faithful persons who because they had no Priestes to deliuer the holy Faith vnto them and to administer the wholesome Sacramentes were by little and little falling into euerlasting perdition And being thus dispatched he departed from the Court and went about certaine seruices for the King wherein he spent about eyght Monethes So that in Ianuary being then Sommer time in Congo he embarked himselfe in a vessell of a hundred Tunne burthen which was bound with her lading for Lisbone Now as he sayled he came to the sea of the Islands of Cape Verde where the vessell being somewhat olde began to take in much water at a leake that was open in the foreship So that the wind blowing very lustely and strongely before and the Saylers being not able eyther to reach the Islandes aforesaid or to gayne the firme lande of Africa much lesse though they woulde neuer so fayne to follow on their voyage by sayling on with the halfe ship and to straine the vessel that leaked so much the Pilot thought it better to turne his course and taking the wind in the poope to goe saue themselues in the Islandes of Noua Hispania And so after terrible stormes and extreame dangers of drowning and of perishing with hunger for want of all kinde of meate they arriued with much adoo at a little Islande called Cubagoa and situate ouer against the Isle of Saynt Margarete where they fish for Pearles From thence when they had in some haste amended their shippe and somewhat refreshed themselues they sayled with a short cut to the firme lande and tooke hauen in a Porte called Cumana or as it is called by another name The new kingdome of Granado in the West Indies This battered and wetherbeaten vessell was no sooner arriued in this safe harbour but it sunke presently to the bottome but the persons that were in her were all saued although afterwardes they fell sicke to the death by reason of the great griefe which they had endured in hunger in thirst and in want of all other sustenance and chiefly by the horrible stormes of that tempestuous Ocean While the foresaide Embassadour endeauoured in this place to recouer his former health the company of shippes which is called La Flotta that is to say the Fleete and vseth euery yeare to sayle from the coast for Castile departed from thence so that he was constrayned to stay for a new Nauie and so consumed a whole yeare and a halfe without doing any good In this meane time the King of Congo hauing neuer receyued any tydinges of this his Embassadour Odoardo but accounting him for dead and not knowing that he was driuen by tempest into the West Indies continued still constant in his former purpose to procure some remedy for Christianitie in his kingdome And therefore hee sent another Embassadour with the selfe same commandements called Don Piedro Antonio the seconde person in all his Realme and with him one Gasparo Diaz a Portingall borne a principall man and very rich and an auncient inhabitant in that Countrey to the ende that hee shoulde accompany the saide Don Piedro and suffer him to want nothing and in any case ioyne his good helpe to procure that the request which he hoped to obtain of the king of Spaine might be fully effected with a further expresse commandement that if they did meete with the saide Signor Odoardo they should deale in their businesse with his aduise counsell But an infortunate end had this Embassadour for he was taken at sea by Englishmen and his shippe also which being drawen towardes Englande when it was neere vnto the Coast by great misfortune it ranne athwart the shoare ane there Don Piedro Antonio his sonne were both drowned but the Portingal and some fewe others with him escaped and arriued in Spaine at such time as the said Odoardo was come to the Court had entred vppon the charge of his Embassage And therefore this Gasparo wrote to Odoardo that hee was minded to returne home into Congo and not to goe to the Court at all whether it were for the death of the Cardinall or for any other respect I cannot tell but home he returned in deed as he said he would In the time that our Signor Odoardo remained in the West India which is situate vnder the same skie and vnder the same climate and of the same temperature of ayre that Congo is subiect vnto hee noted that the colour of the skinnes of the inhabitants in both countries was farre different For in Congo they are generally and for the most parte blacke and in India almost white that is to say of a middle colour betweene white and blacke which the Spaniardes call Mulato Browne or Darke-Tawney Whereby he would signifie that it is not caused by the Sunne as it hath beene recorded of long time but that it commeth of nature it selfe who worketh it by some secreat reason which neuer yet to this day eyther by auncient Philosopher or new writer hath beene fully set downe or vnderstoode When he had recouered his health he sayled to the Porte of the Cittie of San Domingo in the Island of Hispaniola that there at the first passage he might take some shippe that went towardes Castilia and by good chaunce he found a Portingall vessell among the rest of the Nauie which was minded to ioyne with the Fleete of shippes that passed from the firme lande to Castilia and so to goe in good companie and better safetie All these shippes being thus vnited together they arriued by the helpe of a very good winde at Terzera which is one of the Islandes called Azores that is to say the Sparre-Haukes and from thence to San Lucar di Barameda which is a hauen in the mouth of the Riuer Guadalchibir and so to Siuile from whence he tooke his iourney into Portingall to see his frendes and to furnish himselfe with all thinges necessarie for his businesse and at the last hee rode to the Court which was at that time in Madrill There hee was courteously entertained by his Catholike Maiestie to whom he propounded the contents of
trauell out of India to Europe are constrained of necessitie to touch at Mozambique to furnish themselues with victuailes This Island when the Portingalles discouered India was the first place where they learned the language of the Indians prouided themselues of Pilots to direct them in their course The people of this kingdome are Gentiles Rusticall and rude they be of colour blacke They go all naked They are valiaunt and stronge Archers and cunning Fishers with all kinde of hookes As you go on forwardes vpon the foresaide coasts there is another Islande called Quiloa in quantitie not great but in excellency singular For it is situate in a very coole and fresh ayre It is replenished with trees that are alwaies greene and affordeth all varietie of victuailes It lyeth at the mouth of the Riuer Coauo which springeth out of the same Lake from whence Nilus floweth and so runneth about sixtie miles in length till it commeth neere to the sea and there it hath a mightie streame and in the very mouth of it maketh a great Islande which is peopled with Mahometans and Idolaters and a little beyonde that towardes the Coast on the West you may see the said Island of Quiloa This Islande is inhabited with Mahometans also which are of colour something whitish They are well apparelled trimly adorned with cloth of silke and Cotton Their women do vse ornaments of Gold and Iewelles about their handes and their neckes and haue good store of houshold stuffe made of siluer They are not altogether so black as the men are and in their limmes they are very well proportioned Their houses are made of Stone and Lime Timber very well wrought and of good architecture with gardens and orchardes full of hearbes and sundry fruites Of this Islande the whole Kingdome tooke the name which vppon the Coast extendeth it selfe from Capo Delgado the Cape Delicate that bordereth Mozambique Quiloa is situate in nine degrees towards the South from thence it runneth out vnto the aforesaide Riuer of Coauo In olde time the Kingdome of Quiloa was the chiefest of all the Principalities there adioyning and stoode neere to the sea but when the Portingalles arriued in those countries the King trusted so much to himselfe that he thought he was able with his owne forces not onely to defend himselfe against them but also to driue them from those places which they had already surprised Howbeit the matter fell out quite contrary For when it came to weapons hee was vtterly ouerthrowen and discomfited by the Portingals and so fled away But they tooke and possessed the Island and enriched themselues with the great spoyles and booties that they found therein They erected there also a Fortresse which was afterwarde pulled downe by the commandement of the King of Portingall because hee thought it not necessary considering that there were others sufficient enough for that Coast. And here we may not leaue behinde vs the Isle of S. Laurence so called by the Portingalles because they did first discouer it vpon that Martyrs feast day It is so great that it contayneth in length almost a thousande miles and standeth right ouer against the coast which we haue described beginning directly at the mouthes of the Riuer Magnice which are in twenty and sixe degrees of the South and so going forwardes to the North it endeth right against the mouthes of Cuama in the kingdome of Quiloa Between this Island and the firme lande there is as it were a channell which at the entrie Westwarde is three hundred and fortie miles broade in the middest where it is narrowest ouer against the Islande of Mozambiche an hundred and seuentie miles and for the rest it enlargeth it selfe very much towards India and contayneth many Isles within it The ships that go from Spaine into India or returne from India to Spaine doo alwayes for the most parte passe and saile in and through this channell if by time or weather they be not forced to the contrary And surely this Islande deserueth to be inhabited with a better people because it is furnished with singular commodities For it hath many safe sure hauens It is watred with sundry Riuers that cause the earth to bring forth fruits of diuers kinds as Pulse and Ryce and other graine Oranges Limons Citrons and such like fruite Flesh of all sorts as Hennes c. and venison as wilde Boare and Deere and such like all this of a very good tast and relish because the soyle is very fat their fish also is exceeding good The inhabitants are Pagans with some of the sect of Mahomet among them They are of the colour which the Spaniardes call Mulato betweene blacke and white Very warlicke they are giuen to their weapons which are bowes and arrows and dartes of very light wood strengthned with Iron whereof they make the heads of their dartes which are crooked like hookes and these they wil cast and throw most slightly and cunningly They vse also Targattes and Iackes that are made of certain beasts-skins wherewith they saue themselues in fight from the blowes of their enemies This Islande is deuided among seueral Princes that are at enmitie one with another for they are in continuall warres and persecute one another with Armes There are diuers mynes of Gold of Siluer of Copper of Iron and of other Mettalles The sauage people doo not vse to saile out of the Island but onely from one side to the other they goe coasting along the shoares with certaine barks that are made but of one stocke of a tree which they hollowe for that purpose The most part of them doo not willingly entertaine straungers neyther will they consent that they shoulde trafficke or conuerse with them Notwithstanding in certaine portes the Portingalles do vse to trade with the Islanders for Amber Waxe Siluer Copper Ryse and such other thinges but they neuer come vpon the lande In the channell before mentioned there are diuers Islandes some greater and some lesse inhabited with Mahometans The chiefe of them is the Isle of Saint Christopher and then of Santo Spirito another called Magliaglie and so the rest as the Isles of Comoro Anzoame Maiotto and some other But let vs returne to the sea side and prosecute the Coast of the kingdome of Quiloa where we leaft Next vnto it is the kingdome of Mombaza in the height of three degrees and a halfe towardes the South which taketh the name from an Islande inhabited with Mahometans which is also called Mombaza where there is a fayre Cittie with houses that haue many Sollers furnished with pictures both grauen and painted The king thereof is a Mahometan who taking vpon him to resist the Portingalles receyued the same successe that happened to the king of Quiloa so that the city was ransacked spoyled by his enemies who found therein good store of Gold and Siluer and Pearle and Cloth of Cotton
to such an excessiue compasse and widenes that it is a wonder as may be seene in the discourse touching the Cape of Good-Hope and all these kingdomes of Congo and the Countreyes there adioyning where there are Lakes of so extraordinarie a bignesse that in the languages of those Regions they are not called Lakes but Seas And thus you see how the Riuer Nilus in the times and seasons before mentioned on the one side doeth runne most furiously from those Countries into the North to water Aegypt and the Riuer Zaire and the Riuer Nigir on the other side Westwarde and Eastwarde and towardes the South other huge and monstrous Riuers which at certaine determined and limited times doo neuer faile to encrease as Nilus doeth And this is the effect of them which is ordinarily seene euery yeare especially in Cairo and ouer all Aegypt where Nilus beginneth to ryse about the ende of Iune and continueth his rising till the twentith of September as I haue seene my selfe But the occasion and cause of this encrease hath beene vntill this present time very secret and obscure and although the ancient writers beginning euen at Homere haue after a sorte and in generall tearmes leaft in writing that Nilus doeth increase by raine yet haue they not so distinctly and plainely discoursed thereof as Signor Odoardo hath done and testified the same by his owne view and knowledge For some there were that haue assigned the cause of this ouerflowing to bee the raine that commeth from the Mountaines of the Moone Others haue attributed it to the snowes that are melted in those Mountaines yet Nilus doth not swell or ryse any thing neere to the Mountaines of the Moone but a great way from them towards the North and besides that the season of winter doeth rather breed Snow then yeeld any heate to melt it And now that I haue with good diligence enquired of Signor Odoardo these matters aboue written vpon such pointes as I had before plotted to my selfe and hee also propounding the rest vnto mee of his owne meere motion like a man of high conceite as in truth he is and satisfying me with such aunsweres as are set downe in this discourse yet I doo assure my selfe that euery man will not rest fully contented and satisfyed herewith especially such as are curious and practised in matters of the worlde and skilfull in the Sciences The Geographer woulde peraduenture desire to vnderstand more and the Phisician and the maister of Mineralles and the Historiographer and the Marchaunt and the Marriner and the Preacher and some others that are different from these in respect of their profession But Signor Odoardo hath promised with as much speed as possible he may to returne to Rome from Congo whether he sayled presently after he had finished this treatise which was in May 1589. with very ample informations and further instructions for the supplying of that which here wanteth touching Nilus and his originall and such other matter In the meane time that little which is contayned in these few leaues is not very little But yet if perhaps there be any thing found therein that may be eyther profitable or straunge or delightfull or fit to passe away the time and to driue away Melancholie let it bee wholly ascribed to the right noble and Reuerend Father my Lorde Antonie Migliore Bishop of San Marco and Commendador of Santo Spirito who was the authour of this worke to be published for the common benefit FINIS A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS CONtayned in the first Booke of The Report of the Kingdome of Congo THe iourney by Sea from Lisbone to the Kingdome of Congo Chap. I. fol. 1. Of the temperature of the ayre of the kingdome of Congo and whether it bee very colde or hot whether the men bee white or blacke Whether are more or lesse blacke they that dwell in the hilles or those that dwell in the plaines Of the winds and the raines and the snowes in those quarters and of what stature and semblaunce the men of that Countrey are Chapter II. fol. 13. Whether the children which are begotten by Portingalles being of a white skinne and borne in those Countries by the women of Congo be blacke or white or tawney like a wilde Oliue whom the Portingalles call Mulati Chap. III. fol 18. Of the circuite of the kingdome of Congo and of the borders and confines thereof And first of the Westerne Coast. Chap. IIII. fol. 20. Of the North coast of the Kingdome of Congo and the confines thereof Chap. V. fol. 30. Of the East coast of the Kingdome of Congo and the Confines thereof Chap. VI. fol. 38 Of the Confines of the Kingdome of Congo towardes the South Chap. VII fol. 43. Of the circuite of the Kingdome of Congo possessed by the King that now is according to the foure borders aboue described Chap. VIII fol. 58. The sixe Prouinces of the Kingdome of Congo and first of the Prouince of Bamba Chap. IX fol. 60. Of the Prouince of Sogno which is the Countrey of the Riuer Zaire and Loango Chap. X. fol. 94. Of the third Prouince ealled Sundi Chap. XI fol. 96. Of the fourth Prouince called Pango Chap. XII fol. 99. Of the fifth Prouince called Batta Chap. XIII fol. 100. Of the sixt and last Prouince called Pemba Chap. XIIII fol. 104 A Table of the Chapters contayned in the seconde Booke OF the situation of the Royall Cittie of the Kingdome of Congo Chap. 1. fol. 107 Of the Originall beginning of Christendome in the Kingdome of Congo and how the Portingalles obtayned this trafficke Chap. II. fol. 118. Don Iohn the first Christian King being dead Don Alfonso his sonne succeeded Of his warres against his brother Of certaine miracles that were wrought and of the conuersion of those people Chap. III. fol. 133. The death of King Don Alfonso and the succession of Don Piedro How the Island of S. Thomas was first inhabited of the Bishop that was sent thether Other great accidentes that happened by occasion of Religion The death of two Kinges by the conspiracie of the Portingalles and the Lords of Congo How the Kings lineage was quite extinguished The banishment of the Portingals Chap. IIII. fol. 150. The incursions of the people challed Giachas in the Kingdome of Congo Their conditions and weapons And the taking of the Royall Cittie Chap. V. fol. 159. The King of Portingall sendeth ayde and an Embassadour to the King of Congo The knowledge of the Mettall Mines which abound in Congo is denyed the King of Portingall At the same time the King of Congo dispatcheth Embassadours to the King of Spaine to request Priestes of him and what befell vnto them He sendeth diuers proofes of the mettalles The vowe of Odoardo Lopes Chap. VI. fol. 163 Of the Court of the King of Congo Of the apparell of that people before they became Christians and after Of the Kinges Table and manner of his Court Chap. VII fol. 177 Of the
description therof PaÌ„go the chief town of this Prouince Don Francisco chiefe Gouernour of Pango The fift Prouince Batta the description thereof Batta the chiefe towne of all Batta The Preeminence of the Gouernour of Batta Don Pedro chiefe Gouernour of Batta The K. of CoÌ„go wil not suffer any natural borne subiect in Congo to haue an Arcubuse The reason why the K. of Congo permitteth Mani-Batta to haue Arcubusiers in his Prouince The Giacâ—â—â— The conditions of the people of Batta Their traffick The sixt Prouince Pemba and the situation thereof Don Antonio cheife Gouernor of Pemba The chiefe Cittie of all Congo is situate in this prouince of PeÌ„ba The Courtiers c. dwel for the most part in Pemba Conclusion of this booke The contents of the seconde booke The Territory of the chiefest Cittie in all Congo contayneth in compasse 20. miles about The chief Citty called San-Saluadore The situation of the Citty The mountaine wherevpon it standeth The soile the ayre the waters and the cattell The Otheiro The reason why they built in this place Fiue miles froÌ„ the bottome of the hill to the toppe A riuer at the hill foote The particucular situation of the Cittie A seuerall place for the Portingalles The principall Church and market place Good store of water The plaine very fruitfull Seuerall sortes of graine Luco White Milles called the Mazza of Congo Maiz Diuers kinds of trees bearing fruit Banana Diuers kindes of Palme-trees The oyle of Palme The bread of Palme The fruit of the Palme The wine and Vineger of Palme Great store of stone to build with all Lime timber and cattel to carry and draw Want of workmen to build Stuffe for building ships housing Hearbs and fruites The first trafficke of the Portingalles into Congo Mani Sogno the K. vncle entertaineth the Portingals Mani-Sogno conuerted become a Christian. The King of Congo promiseth to becom a Christian. The K. of Portingall sendeth Priestes to the K. of Congo to instruct him Mani-Sogno promoteth the Christian Religion The ships returne from Portingall 1491. Mani-Sogno his traine entertayneth the Portingals Mani-Sogno buildeth a Church Mani Sogno his sonne baptized What names the people of Congo had before they were christened A sermon coÌ„tayning the summe of Christian Religion Mani Sogno rehearseth the Sermon to his people The Portingals go to the Court to baptise the king The Courtiers of Congo meet the Portingals The king him selfe recceyueth them The Portingal Embassadour declareth his Embassage The K. reioyceth at the Embassage The people reioyce at it The K. vieweth the Presents sent vnto him by the K. of Portingall Consultation among the Portingals for the Christening of the K. for the building of a Church An insurrection raised by the Deuill to hinder the progresse of Christian Religion Mani-Sundi goeth against the rebelles The K. buildeth in haste a Church of timber The K. Q. of Congo Christened The Church of S. Saviours The Latine historie of the Indies doth report amisse of this rebellion Diuers Lordes baptised The K. goeth in person against the rebels and discomfiteth theÌ„ Mani-Sundi christened and many other with him Mani-Pango resisteth the Gospell Mani-Pango and his complices accuse Mani-Sundi to his father The K. depriueth Mani-Sundi of his gouernment Mani-Sogno maketh intercession for his brother Mani-Sundi restored The funerall of K. Iohn celebrated by K. Alfonso Mani-Pango rebelleth against his brother The Kinges power both slender and timorous The king to his souldiers The Kinges Souldiers depart from him Mani-Sogno meeteth with them The Fugitiues returne and aske the King forgiuenes The K. giueth thankes to God The King erecteth a Crosse of a great length A vision appeared to him The Armes of the King of Congo The proude message of Mani-Pango to the King The Kinges answere The King rewardeth his followers Certain timorous fugitiues runne to the Campe of Mani-Pango A stratagem of Mani-PaÌ„go Mani-Pango assaulteth the Cittie Mani-Pango discomfited without any fight Mani-Pango the seconde time discomfited in like manner Mani-Pango assaulteth the Cittieon both sides at once The stratagem of Mani-Pango turneth to his owne destruction The death of Mani-Pango The Rebelles yeeld to the kings mercie The building of the Church called Saint Crosses K. Alfonso dispatcheth the Portingal Embassadour mother of his owne into Portingall The K. commandeth all Idolles to be brought in all other things that are contrary to Christian Religion Their deuout worshipping of Idols Witches The K. burned all the Idols The king commandeth euery Lorde to build a Church in the Cittie of his owne gouernment The K. buildeth 3. Churches One to Saint Sauiour The second to our Ladie of Helpe The third to S. Iames The ships returne from Portingall with Friers Priestes King Alfonso dyeth Don Piedro succeedeth him The Isle of S. Thomas beginneth to be inhabited The King of Portingall sendeth one to be Bishop of the Isle of S. Thomas and of Congo The entertainment of the Bishop in Congo The Bishoppe foundeth the Cathedrall Church of S. Crosses The Bishop dyeth The second B. dyeth The K. Don Piedro dyeth Don Francesco succeedeth dyeth Don Diego the fift King The K. Diego very sumptuous The third B. of S. Thomas of Congo Dissention betweene the Friers and Priests the new Bishop After the death of K. Diego three Princes at once challenge the Kingdom and all three slaine The Portingalles slaine dispearsed Don Henrico created king K. Henrico dieth Don Aluaro succeedeth and so the stocke of of the ancient Kings of Congo ceased K. Aluaro restoreth the Portingals The B. of S. Thomas returneth into Congo The B. of S. Thomas dieth K. Aluaro liueth licentiously Francesco Bulla Matare an ill companion counsellour to the King Bullamatare dyeth What people the Giachas are Their conditions weapons The Giachas spoile the prouince of Batta The Giachas come to the Royall Cittie of Congo K. Aluaro flieth into the Isle of Horses The Giachas surprise the Cittie and rule ouer all the kingdom The King those that followed him plagued with an extreame famine Many of the bloud Royall sold for slaues to the Portingalles King Aluaro falleth into a Dropsie K. Aluaro sendeth to the K. of Portingall for succor Don Sebastian the King of Portingal sendeth succour vnto him Francesco di Gouea restoreth the King and driueth the Giachas out of Congo Francesco di Gouea after foure yeares returneth into Portingal with letters for mo Priestes The K. becommeth a good Christian marieth The K. of Portingal sendeth to make search in Congo for mettal Mines Francesco Barbuto disswadeth the King from making the search auoydeth it by pollicy The inconuenience of not suffering the mettall mines to be digged melted The K. sendeth new Embassadours into Portingall for mo priests The Portingal K. delayeth to send mo Priestes The King of Congo sendeth Don Sebastiano Aluarez to entreat for Priestes to redeeme certaine of his nobilitie that were in
their harts and failed in their courage and came and presented themselues before the king saying that hee had not power enough to resist so power-full an enemie and therefore they thought it better for him to growe to some concorde and composition and to abandon the new Religion which hee had lately begun to professe to the ende hee might not fall into the handes of his cruell aduersaries But the king being resolute and full of religious constancie reproued their cowardise and called them dastardes and base people and willed them if they had any mind or desire to forsake him go to the enemie that they should so doe As for himselfe and those few that would follow him hee did not doubt but assuredly trust though not with the possibilitie or strength of man yet with the fauour of God to vanquish and ouercome that innumerable multitude And therefore he would not request them eyther to ioyne with him or to put their liues in hazarde against his aduersaries for his sake but onely they might rest themselues and expect the issue that shoulde followe thereon But they for all this speech became neuer a whit the more couragious but rather waxed more timorous were vtterly determined to forsake the king and to saue themselues Now they were scarse out of the Cittie and on their way homewardes when by great good fortune they met with the good old Lord Mani-Sogno who with some few of his followers had beene abroade to surueigh the enemies Campe and to make prouision for such thinges as were necessary in such an action To him they declared all that they had before declared to the King That they thought it to bee a point of expresse madnesse to put their liues and goods in daunger with so fewe people against an infinite multitude and that without all doubt it were a safer way to compounde with the enemie and so saue themselues The good Lorde with great pietie and Christian valour aunswered them that they should not so quickly fall into dispaire but as the king had tould them before they should looke vpon Iesus Christ the Sauiour of the worlde whose faith and religion they had so lately and with so great zeale gayned and purchased who also most assuredly and vndoubtedly would succour and defend those that were his And so entreated them that they woulde not like rash headed people chaunge their mindes from that holy doctrine which they had with such feruency of late receyued adding moreouer that they had not to fight with a straunge nation nor with a people that came from farre Countries but with their owne kinsmen and countreymen so that they might alwaies haue opportunity if need so require to yeelde themselues and in all frendship and kindnesse to bee embraced Behold I pray you saith Mani-Sogno mine age now arriued to a hundred yeares and yet I beare armes for the zeale and defence of the Religion that I haue entred and for the homage and honour that I owe to my king And you that are in the flower of your yeares do you shew your selues to be so base and feareful and vnfaithfull to your owne narurall king If algates you be not minded to fight your selues yet incourage your vassals and subiects and doo not dismay them Let vs expect the first encounter of the enemie and therevpon we shall not want fit occasion to take some other course and prouide for our safetie With these comfortable wordes the Lords recouered their spirites that were quailed and returned backe with him to seeke the king who was in the Church at his prayers beseeching God to sende him helpe and succour They waited for him vntill he came forth and then kneeled downe vpon their knees before him requesting pardon for their fault and want of dutie which they had shewed vnto him being their Prince in that they would haue forsaken him when he was in this extreame daunger and promising that they would put on a new and constant courage for the defence of him and of the law and religion which they had receyued and that they would fight for the same euen vntill death But the king who perceyued well that this comfort and helpe came from God himselfe first gaue him hartie thanks secretly from the bottome of his hart and vowed that he would sacrifice himselfe for the maintenance of his faith and Gospell And then with a cheerefull countenance he saide I doe beleeue Lord that thy greatnes is infinite and that thou canst doo all thinges and canst make of little much and of much little whensoeuer it pleaseth thee Neyther do I any thing doubt but that thou wilt yeeld aide to this my weakenes and assist the same with thine inuincible force so that through thy gracious fauour with these few and weake persons I shall become the conquerour not onely of this armie but also of a farre greater if it should come against me And I promise thee O my God besides that which I haue already spoken that I will all the dayes of my life promote and exalt thy true faith thy holy name and thy most holesome doctrine In testimony and memory of which his confession he did presently cause a Crosse to bee planted erected in the middest of the market place right against the Church which his father had builded This Crosse was of a wonderful length for it was fourescore span long and the Crosse-barre in proportion aunswerable therevnto Nowe the eternall God who knew the faith from whence this vow of the good king did proceed vouchsafed to comfort him with a celestiall vision which was a very cleere and admirable light At the shining whereof hee cast himselfe vpon his knees and wept and lifted vp his handes and eyes to heauen but spake not a word for that hee was ouercome with teares and sighes and wholly rauished in spirite But that which he himselfe saw was seene of no body els neyther woulde hee euer publish the same to any man All those that were in his company did euen as he did and for a while lost the sight of their eyes and by reason of that miraculous light remayned in a traunce At the last euery man lifted vp his eyes and perceyued that there were imprinted on him fiue Swordes very bright and cleere which for the space almost of an houre continued vnmoueable as it were in a circle but all they could neyther vnderstand nor expounde what was the meaning thereof The fiue Swordes the King tooke for his armes as is to be seene in his Signet Royall which hath beene vsed euer sithence that time yea euen by the Kinge that nowe liueth and raigneth The Crosse also that was thus planted by vowe is to be seene in the same place wherein it was erected at the front of the Church which Church was called Saint Crosses of the Crosse there planted and of the miracle that there appeared This Crosse the last King that