Fernando his vncle of good memorie who came to bee king of Aragon and father of the kinges Don Alonso of Naples and Don Iohn his brother which did succeede in that of Aragon and Sicilia and Grand father to the king Don Fernando the Catholike These Ilandes stande in the thirtieth three degrees of height Northeast and Southwest from the barre of Lishebron in one hundred and fiftie Leages trauies be distant frō the Canaria at the least 80. Leages North Northwest and South Southeast The Infant caused the discouerie of them to bee knowen to Poope Martin the fifth who at that tyme was president in the Catholike Churche and too other Princes of Christendome of the which there was restrainte for certaine yeres vntil y one Gill Yannes being borne in the towne of Logos wold passe y cape Boiador being a feareful thing in the opinion of Saylers of that time who was cause from that time forward that Nauigation was continued the longer and other Captaines comming to the Riuer which is called of Golde because they brought from thence the firste that came into Portugale and it standeth vnder the Tropick of Cancer in the twentieth three degrees and a half of height and the Cape of Blanco and Ilandes of Arguin standeth in twentie where the king Don Alonso his Cosin did commaunde after that to builde a forte and beyonde the Riuer which the naturall people of the Countrey do call Obedec the Portugales do call Sauage which doeth deuide the Countries of the Moores Azeneues and the Ialofes euen vntoo the Capeverdes which is of the moste knowen places in the West Ocean in the fifteene degrees of the North side and to the Weast part of him are within one hundred Leages of Trauisim the Ilands which are called of Gill Yannez and threescore Leagues beyonde that is the Great Riuer and eighty beyond that of Nunno and in seuen degrees and two Terces the mountaine Lioa whiche was the laste time that any discouerie was made in the lyfe of this moste Christiā Infant leauing to the king his Cosin to his successours the open way for the great Nauigations and roades which his subiectes haue made and doe make by all the East Countries with great prayse and estimation of the Portugale Nation The thirde Chapter of the discouerie which was made of the coastes of Ginea in the time King Don Alonso vnto his death of the persons that the King Don Iohn his sonne sent by the Sea Mediterran wherby they myght bryng relation of the states and trades of India and of the Embassage hee sent to the kyng of Aethiopia THE Infante beyng dead it did seeme too the King Don Alonso that it woulde bee a let to him if hee shoulde vnderstande farther in these discoueries by reason he minded to conquer Tanger and Arzila other forces that were neere to the Streightes which with great courage hee gote of the Moores and for the pretence y he had of the Realmes of Castile for his Cosin the Lady Iane daughter to the Queene his sister the second wife of the king don Henry the 4. with whō hee minded to marry hee gaue the discouerie for rent to a subiect of his called Iohn Gomez dwelling in Lisbon for two thowsande fiue hundred Ducates for fiue yeeres with condition that hee shoulde bee bounde to discouer within the sayde time fiue hundred Leagues of Coaste beyond the mountayne Lioa This man which was so bound ▪ did accomplishe his ◅ande very well discouering all these Coastes which they call the Mina whiche stretch in length in the course of the East and West vntyll they came to the Cape of saint Catherin that standeth in two degrees a halfe of height towards the South side so there remaineth behinde discouered the ilandes of the Prince and of Fernando and those of Sancto Thome ▪ being vnder the lyne Equinoctiall In this time died the king Don Alonso and Don Iohn the second his sonne succeeded him who sent foorth a Captain of his called Diego de Acambina with a great number of shippes to this Conquest who caused to bee builte the Castell of saint George with consent of the Prince Caramansa Lord of that Countrey Other Captaines of his discouered the Realmes of Congo and of Beni and the rest of the same Coaste whiche is to bee vnderstoode from the North too the South vntyl they passe the famous Cape of Buena Esperanca being the first Bartholomew Dias one of the officers of his house Of some Embassadours of these blacke kniges which they sent to Portugale and particularly of those of the king of Beni the king Don Iohn had knowledge that farre within the countrey there was a mightie Prince vnto whom some of them gaue obedience and by the maners and tokens that hee declared of him it seemed that hee was a Christian whereof it came to bee agreed vppon that hee should be Prester Iohn of whom then there was knowledge of and of the trade and riches of the India by meanes of certayne religious men Spaniardes that had beene at Hierusalem and like wise of other that were come into Spaine And for to certifie him self the better of the Trade and Nauigation and Portes of the India and of the power of Prester Iohn and of his religion of whom he minded to fauour himself for the trade of the Spicerie hee sent one Peter de Covillana seruaunt of his house and also Alonso de Paiba by the way of Italie that he might bryng him a true relation of all ▪ These men went to Naples and from thence they imbarked them selues for the Rhodes and from thence to Alexandria and too Cairo which at that time was a Royall seate of the Soldans of Aegypt vntill a fewe yeeres after in the yeere a thousande fiue hundred and sixteene Selim Emperour of the Turkes ouercame and slewe in a battayle neere to Damasco the Soldan Campson Gaurio and made himselfe Lorde of all those Realmes and from thence they went too the Citie of Adem whiche standeth at the entrie of Sinus Arabicos whiche is called the redde Sea in the part of Arabia Foelix where they departed one from another The Paiba towardes Aethiopia and the Covillana towardes the India where they agreed togeather to returne and ioyne themselues againe at a certaine time in the Citie of Cairo Covillana did embarke himselfe in a small shyppe of the Moores and came to Cananor and from thence to Calicut and Soa the moste principall Portes of that Coaste of the India and hauing well enfourmed himselfe to the states Trafficke and riches thereof he returned from thence to the Mine of Zofala ▪ which is in Aethiopia aboue Aegypt in nienteene degrees of the height of the Southside betweene Musambike and the Cape of Buena Esperanca and from thence he returned too Aden and to Cairo where hee vnderstoode that Paiba his companion died a fewe dayes before in that Citie And beyng readie to
and the firme land vntill hee came too Moscanbique which standeth in fifteene degrees of height of the South side sixe hundreth leages beyonde the cape of Buena Esperanca which place is nowe themoste principall porte that the Portugales haue in all those Seas Don Vasco taried a smal tyme in this place bicause it was then inhabited with Merchauntes of the secte of Mahoma which were come thither in the trade of merchandize and so hee ran along the coaste and touched in Mōbasa and in Melinde where he was well receiued of the king although hee were a Moore with whome hee concluded a peace and amytie in the name of the king Don Emanuel his Lord and maister And hauing well enformed and instructed himselfe of the coast of the India hee tooke experte Pilotes for the Nauigation and went along vppon his voiage passing ouer a gulfe of seuen hundreth leages in twenty and two dayes vntill hee came too the Citie of Calicut put in eleuen degrees and a quarter of the North side with greate ioy and gladnes too see himselfe at the end of his iorney And beeing at Anker without hee sent woorde too the king of his comming where hee was in a place fiue leages from the Citie who sent him woorde that hee was very glad of his comming and of his Embassadge tooke order that he shoulde passe his shippes too the Porte of Capocate a place moste sure where they might ryde at Anker by reason that it was in the Moneth of May which is in that Coūtry the coldest and hardest tyme of Winter in the yeere and when hee thought good he would aduise him to come to the Court. This region that commonly is called India is the Country with in which is conteined the two famous riuers Indus and Ganges which doo spring in the twoo mountaines Dalanguer and Nangracot so being ioyned one to thother that they are thought to be one and the people of that Country do thinke that they spring out of one common vaine and so runne into the great Ocean Seas The riuer Indus of whom al this Prouince tooke the name by the realme of Guacarate which commonly is called the west part of Cambaya and the riuer Ganges by that of Beugala towards the e◅stparts lying East and West vnder the tropike of Caucer ▪ ◅trauise of threehundreth leages from one mouth to thother from the which commeth out a point of the lande farre in to the Sea and sheweth it self very sharpe euen vntil it come to the cape Camori which lieth Noorth and South from the fountaines of these riuers in distaunce of 400. leages of length in seuen degrees and two terces of heigth of the North side And although that amongst the Princes of these Countries are but twoo differences of lawes Idolaters and Mahomets al the Coūtry is deuided in to many realmes states For although they are very warlyke and of littel fayths yet the height and sharpnes of the hilles and mountaines and the greate nūber of fearce bests which are not to be made tame the riuers the entering of the Seas do make it inuincible is the cause cause that al this region is not brought subiect to the Prince which is of most powre and principally by reason of a long tract and rowe of mountaines which the natural people of the Coūtry do cal Gates stretching from the North to the south in the length of 200. leages from one coast to thother as doeth the high mountains Apenino in Italie beginning at the west part at the riuer Caruants passing vnto the mountain called Delij very wel knowen of the sailers of that coast which standeth in xii degrees and a halfe in height of the North side where is a plaine peece of ground ouerflowen with water of sixe or ten leages as it seemeth by the bayes neere adioyning thervnto which may bee eightie leages long and the natural people of the Country do cal it Malabar where standeth the realme and Citie of Calicut this king beeing the greatest of powre of those of this prouince and therefore hee is intituled Camori which is asmuch too say as Emperour Two daies after that Don Vasco had placed his ships in the port of Capacote there came for him a seruant of the king to bring him too his presence whome they cal their Catual accompanied with 200. men of his garde who put him selfe into his iorney carying with him onely xii Portugales and one Moore called Monzaide ▪ This Monzaide was of the realme of Tunez who did him greate pleasure by reason hee was a faythful interpreter of whome he vnderstood the secrets of the land and the gouernement thereof and in the way came to receiue him another Catual of higher degree who did accompanie him vntil he came to the king who when he should receiue him put himselfe for Maiestie at the ende of a great chamber in a bed which they cal Catel appareled with a certaine kind of fine cloth made of cotton wool burnished set with roses of beaten gold and on his head a long high cap of cloth of gold of the fashion of a close mytre ful of pearles on his legges and armes he had great store of bracelets of golde and stone hee had his head lying vppon a Pillowe of plaine silke wrought with golde firisied there was leaning to the bed a Gentleman which helde a plater of golde in his handes with the leafe of Betely with which kind of leafe they vse to comfort the stomack And Don Vasco entring into the chamber there rose very neere vnto the king a man of great yeeres with whyte garments representing great honor who was his heigh Priest being the chiefe of the religious men of his gentilitie and tooke him by the hande and caried him to the kings presence who receiued him with a mery countenaunce and with a shewe of greate and seuere Maiestie without mouing himselfe more then lifting vp his head a little frō the Pillowe and when he layed down his head againe hee made signes to the high Priest that he should cause him to sit downe by the bed side ▪ And hauing spoken certaine generall woords with Don Vasco and receiued the Letter of Don Emanuel he saide that he woulde see it and woulde heare him when he was at more leysure and for that tyme he shoulde go to take his rest commaunding a Gentleman to haue care too lodge him see him wel vsed with good entertainemēt The next day Don Vasco would returne to speake with him and declare his embassadge but the Gentlemen which kept him company kept him backe declaring to him that the Embassadors which came to that Country were accustomed not too go to speake with the king but when it pleased his Maiestie to cal them but the Moore Monzaide as one which knewe wel the order that was vsed in these causes said vnto him that the most certaine order and custom of that Prince and of
preache the Gospell too these people but by reason that it is not permitted vntoo straungers too stay manie dayes in this Countrey they were compelled too returne foorthwith without yelding that fruite whiche they desired notwithstanding they found thē very apt to be caught and willing to learne and easie to be reformed of theyr false Idolatrie and with al humilitie they receiue it and acknowledged the corrections of theyr filthines He that first began this Catholike woorke was Maister Frauncis Xauierre one of the seuen Religious men of the firste confirmation of the saide companie and was the first that came intoo Portingal and that past intoo India and from thence to China But before he began to execute his Catholyke desire he died in Canton and was brought from thence too Goa where his body lyeth buried in the Colledge of Saincte Paule of the same Religion The Religious Dominike declareth that throwing downe certaine stones vpon the ground which they did woorshippe they came vnto him with such rage as if they woulde haue killed him but he pacified them foorthwith in geuing them to vnderstand theyr little constancie their vaine Idolatrie and as they are of excellent witt they forthwith fell in to the matter and thought well of his iudgement saying that no man had euer taught them the like vntill that time And with the selfe same excuse they excused them selues withall when he did reprehende them of the filthie sinne not too bee named vntoo the which they are much giuen thinking that they do not euil therein But the greatest difficultie that these religious men founde was that the gouerners and ordinary Iudges do attende with great care that no newe thing be taught amongst them without order licence of theyr king and as they are rigorous and readie to chasten no man darre to bee a Christian without licence although that they vnderstand it to be conuenient for theyr saluation therefore it doth import with expedition that these inconueniēces be taken away and that there be sent an Embassador too this greate Prince And in that Embassadge might go learned men and Religious that should giue them to vnderstande the darkenes wherein they liue and too perswade them to bee Christians and that he shoulde permit thē too preach the Gospel throughout al his Realme and howe that it is not hurteful too take from him his Lordshippe and gouernement but rather fauorable wherby his subiects may obey him the better This wil be easily obteined of him otherwaies for to attempte it by way of conquest it will be so harde a matter as it may bee vnderstoode by his power and greatnes and by that which is conteined in a Chapter of the relatiō that the Captaine Artieda gaue to his Maiestie who was present at the cōquest of the West Ilandes with are called Philippinas treating of this realme which worde for worde speaketh as foloweth There are also to the Northwarde of these Ilāds the firme lād which they cal China It is a great Countrie insomuch that it is certainely knowen that it bordereth with Tartaria for the people that trade thither say that they haue ware with them They are a people very politike they worke Iron with percers of steele I haue seene golde and siluer wrought so well with Iron as coulde bee in the worlde and in this sorte they woorke thinges of timber and all other thinges They saye that the Portingales are good people and that they haue a littel light of the world but in comparison too them they see but with one eye They spin golde as they doo in Milan and weaue Damaske and other silkes with it They haue all kind of armour as wee haue and artillery Iudging it by certaine vesselles that I haue seene come from thence that it is plaine and better cast thē our is They haue so good gouernment that they say they make neither Gouernor nor Captaine which is not a greate Astronomer And first they shal pronosticate the tyme and chaunce that is too come and it shall be prooued and seene to fall out true that hee may preuent any thing that is to come In euery Citie and Prouince there are garrisons of men of warre they goe wel apparelled they are as whyte as we are and weare there beards long The womē are very faire although that all of them haue little eyes they weare their coates and gownes so long that they touche the grounde and they make their heare red with collours and it is saide that they painte theyr faces They say this king is of so great powre that hee doeth bring into the fielde three hundreth thousande men and twoo hundreth thousande of them horsemen In thinges that are painted ▪ I haue seene brought from thence wherein are painted on horsebacke armed men with harnesse and salets and lances The countrie is so good and so well furnished with vittaile that it is thought to be the best most fertile soyle of the world The Moores that I haue spoken withall doo affirme that they bee not so warrelike as wee are They haue Mouldes and haue printed bookes tyme out of mynde If it please your Maiestie that this Country bee seene with the sight of the eyes I doo offer my self therevnto geuing mee twoo Shippes of two hundreth and fiftie tōnes a peece little more or lesse and 40. Souldiers in euery shippe and the Artillarie Munition and Uittaile sufficient and necessarie with Gods healpe carying some order of Embassadge to the Lorde of the Countrie to enter in with my person and too returne all along the coast by the newe Spayne And too see the order they haue as well for the trade with in the lande as for all the reste if that will please your Maiestie And in that which this Captaine saith that the king doth bring three hundreth thousande men intoo the fielde besides the garrisons that he hath ordinarily in the Cities townes that doo border neerest other Princes in this my opinion remaineth verefied And although they be not so warrelyke as wee are as the Moores haue declared I knowe not what powre were sufficient for so great a number of horsmen and against people so wel armed the Artillarie being so common to them as it is to vs And seeing there is required that there shoulde passe thither so greate a nauigation and seeing this great Countrie doth fal within the compas of the conquest of our Catholike king it wil be a thing of importaunce that his Maiestie doo commaunde too ordeine this Embassadge with the good will of his holynes whereby this Prince may reduce it to the gouernment of the holy Catholike Churche whereof may growe greate effectes in the increasing of the Christian Religion And this is very easie to be done seeing that our Spayniardes are become so neere neighbors to that realme and the Nauigation soo neere and certaine as here in it is declared There is in the new Spayne in the South part thereof
natural people of the countrey doe call Tame they are called Tangis is a Countrey which lyeth moste Easterly of all Asia those of the India Malaca Samatra Sian and Pegu and the rest of the Ilandes and Realmes of that Sea are called China it is sayde that in respect of that Realme of Guachinchina which is neighbour to it on the West side and payeth Tribute keeping in all things theyr lawes and customes and the greattest part of it is washt ouer which the Easterly Ocean Seas begin ning from the Ilande Aynan adioyning to Guachinchina which is in the nienteene degrees of the Northside shewing it selfe by the South part in the course of the East Northeast gathering it selfe towardes the North vnto a point which is most Easterly that it hath where standeth the Citie of Nimpo which the Portugales doe call Limpo and from thence it returneth towardes the Northwest and to she North making a great bay farre into the lande and carriyng on high vpon it selfe and other Coaste set vpon that which standeth aboue and the higher Countrey remaining vnder the colde clowdes of the North where the Tartars doe dwell with whom they haue continuall warres By the West part it bordereth as it hath beene delated with the Realme of Guachinchina and higher towardes the North which the Loas Osioens Maos and with the Bramenes which are a multitude of people and very rich of golde stones and especially of Rubies These are approued people valiant and tall of body and sometime haue warre with the people of China but it is not ordinarie by reason of the great hilles and sharp mountaines that is betweene them Then followeth foorthwith the Patanes and Mogores whose Realme is very great and innumerable of people and of suche as be very warlike they fight with Bowes and Arrowes on horsebacke they weare Murrions and other things of defence The chiefe of that Realme is the great Samarcan they be the true Massagetas by whom it is affirmed that no other Nation haue had them in subiection They are a tall people wel proporcioned and white for the most part by reason they dwell in a colde Countrey And from them forwardes you turne to meete with the Tartares which people are tawnie and not white from the waste vpward they goe naked they eate â–ª rawe fleshe and they annoint them selues with the blood thereof â–ª because they would make themselues to be wondred at And therefore commonly they haue such a filthie smel that when they warre against the people of China yf the winde come of theyr side they are discouered by the smell they fight on horsbacke with Bowes Arrowes and Speares as the Massagetas do In all this description of the Countrey which hath beene spoken of without doubt it is as great or greater than Europe There in are conteyned xv Prouinces that euerie one of them is greater then the most kingdomes that wee know They name some of theÌ„ vnder the name of Metropolitana where theyr Gouernours and Presidents are resident they are named CaÌ„ton Foquien Chequeam Xanton Nanquij Quinquij these are bordering vppon the Sea Coaste Quichen Iunna Quancij Sujuam Fuquam Canslij Xianxij Honan and Sancij these are in the Countrey within wel neere all these Prouinces and particularly those of the Sea Coaste are compassed about with Riuers verye deepe large and Nauigable of the fiesh water and also replenished with small Riuers and Brookes whiche doeth maintayne the Sea with the entraunce of them into it and they runne fatre within that Countrey and because the Countrey is plaine it semeeth as though it were ouerflowen but it is not ¶ The seuenth Chapter sheweth of the temperature of the Countrey and the notable thinges that it bringeth foorth THe temperature of this Countrey is diuers by reason that it doth stretch far froÌ„ the South to the North so much that the Ilandes Ainan doe stand in nientene degrees of height It is also knowen that some Prouinces doe stande in fifteene degrees and others muche more aboue in the borders of the Tartares and this is well too be seene by the difference that is of the Inhabitauntes of Canton and of the reste of the places of that Coaste which are base people as those that are in Barbarie and doo runne the race that they doe And the rest of the people of the Prouinces of the lande within are white and red as in Almanie although that generally there is not in all of it extreme heate nor cold because it is shut vp within the region which the Geographers do cal temperate and it standeth vnder the same Climate that Spayne France and Italie doe stand in â–ª whereby the fruitfulnesse of it may be vnderstood that without all doubt it is the greatest and most abundaunt that is knowen in the wide worlde by reason that the naturall people of the countrey do procure to liue by their owne industrie and continu all labour not sparing Mountaines Ualleis nor Riuers that is not all planted and set with sundrie sortes of Fruites and with great sowing of Wheate Barley Rise and other thinges according too the commoditie and situation And it is easie to them by reason that they inioy freely of their owne substance without any molestation of impositions and tributes And also they doe not suffer nor permit in the Countrey any Uacaboundes nor idle people nor they suffer any of the naturall people of the Countrey to goe foorth of the Realme there are an infinit number of people 〈◊〉 all kinde of Artes and offices And because they are inclined to eate and drinke well and too make muche of themselues and to haue their houses very gorgeously dreste and repaired they geue them selues to labour and to procure it fâ—…eeing from infamie and shunning little estimation the thinges wherewith idle men are there reproched withall This realme doth bring forth as great abundance of al kinds of fruites and garden hearbes as Europe and as sweete and with as good tast as those of Spaine better for in the sweete Orenges there is three differences of marueilous tast and a kinde of plumbes that are wel neere round which are called Lechias which are of an excellent taste without geuing any lothsomnes without taking away the desire of the stomack and without doing any hurt although you eate many Of the mellons of a certaine kind of aples they report wonders their chestnuts they prefer without any coÌ„parison to be made of ours with them They haue great store of sugar and great store of wormes with breede silke which is one of the greatest trades y is in that realme great store of flar to make linneÌ„ cloth of diuers sorts for their wearing In y dry couÌ„tries they sow Wheate and Barley and in the moyste and ouerflowen groundes they sowe Ryse and they are accustomed to gather it three or foure times in the yeere and so it is the moste ordinarie and common meate they haue The high
abundance whereof it is easie to make their Shippes and Barkes with verie little cost The greatest shippes they haue are called Iuncos which are verie great and are made for the warres with Castels very high in the poope prore like to the Shippes of Leuant There are so manie of these ▪ that it is easie for any generall of the Sea to ioyne together in little time a nauie from fiue hundreth to a thousande of them of the same making and greatnesse They haue others for loading but they are lower of poope and prore Other smaller Shippes they haue which they call Bancoens which doe carie three great Oares in euerie side with foure or sixe men to euerie Oare and such serueth them much for to go in and come forth of the barde hauens And others there are called Lanteas that row with seuen or eight Oares These two sortes of small Shippes although they bee for lading yet the Pirates and theeues vse them for there are manie in all these coasts and Ilands by reason they saile well Also they vse other small shippes that are long like to Gallies wherein they lade great store of marchandize to carie vp and downe by the riuers within the lande these drawe little water after the fashion of Flanders Hoyes There are an other sort of small Shippes and Barkes different to these and such great numbers bee of them that is wonderfull but the relation thereof is knowne notoriously and all serueth to carie marchandize from one place to another within the saide realme bicause it is forbidden that any man shall go foorth of it for any forraine place although that in olde time they sayled much abroade and conquering the Ilandes and Realmes of that Sea vntill they came to the India and at this day there is memorie of them in the coast of Coromandell which is ouer against the Realme of Narsinga on the side of the Sea of Bengala where Saint Thomas built his house where by report remaynes to this day the reliques of his bodie There is a great Temple of Idolles which serueth for a marke to such as do saile in that Sea coast which is lowe as Holland is and is called the coast of the Chinas bycause the people of Chinas built it in times past And in the realm of Calicut be trees of fruite which haue bene there of long time and the naturall borne people of the Countrey ◅o say that their Nation planted them And in the Shouldes of Chiloa which doth extende vnto the Iland of Ceilam towards the west part of Coromādel it is affirmed by those of the land that there was lost a great fleete of their Shippes which came vpon the India ▪ by meane they were not perfect in the nauigation of those Seas And it is also sayd that they were Lordes of Laoa and of the Realmes of Malaca Siā and Chapaa as commonly it is affirmed And it semeth to be so by reason that all the people of these Realmes are in maners and conditions like to those of the China But in this point as it seemeth they had more wisdome then the Grekes Oarthaginenses and Romaines the which for to conquer other straunge Countreys farre off went so farre from their owne that they came to lose their owne Countreys at home And considering this they woulde not so experiment their harmes and hurts any longer but seeing how the India did consume them much people also great riches of their owne Realme and that they were much troubled and tired of their neighbours at such time as they went abroade conquering other kings landes and hauing in their owne Countrey golde siluer and all other metall and much naturall riches of their owne Country and such great store of marchandize that all other forraine nations did profite by and themselues not profite of the benefites of any other Countrey Al the gouernours of these Prouinces determined to consult hereabout and to bee humble sutors to their owne king which at that time wast o yeeld a remedie in this case Who did establish by law and at this day it is kept verie precisely that no subiect of his should sayle forth of his Realme vpon paine of his life and that neither by Sea nor lande no straunger should come to his lande without the expresse licence of the gouernours of the Countrey where they ariue With this order and maner the Portingales which go thither doe nowe trade And when the naturall people of the Countrey will go from one Prouince to another they giue sureties to returne within a certaine time which is appointed them And they suffer them not to carie with them any shippes aboue the burthen of one hundreth tonnes or one hundreth and fiftie bicause they should not go farre of And to the ende the shippes of the realme other strange ships that come thither in the trade of marchandize may go safe come safe for that purpose the king hath great shippes armed and warlike which runne by all these coastes and Ilandes to seeke out theeues and pirots and within the Riuers they haue for this purpose many smal armed shippes verie good of sayle and especially those that runne by the Prouince of Cansi which standeth right ouer against the Laos and the Bramenez their enemies and also by other prouinces where need is for to assure in safety such as are traders with their goodes and marchandizes And bicause they may haue good dispatch in the ports they haue established by law of the realme that the first ship which shall come in shall first be laden and dispatched and the rest as they come in by their order They carie in all these shippes galleries verie curious in the poope ouer the helme and by imitation whereof the Portingales doe vse the like now in their galleons ships that go for the India And also they vse a kind of Bitumen or pitch which they learned of them which they call the pitch that is made of lime and oyle of fishe and common sort of pitch made very smal and so incorporate which is put betweene the sides of the shippes and an other newe lining of boordes that is made vpon the olde vnto the place where the waters do ordinarily come which is as much to say the lading marke when they are laden and after that in place of pitch they turne to couer the newe liuing with the said newe kinde of pitch which is so profitable to the boorde or table that neuer after entereth into it any worme and within short time it is made so hard with the water as a stone And with this the ships of China endure a long time in such sort that they haue put to some of their shippes called Iuncos the same kinde of pitch foure or fiue times that their side is as hard as a wall but they remaine with this kinde of fortification verie heauy to go with the saile They vse
twoo portes or hauens the one is called Acapulco which standeth in xvii degrees a half of heigth which wil holde many shippes although they bee greate and thother is called the Puerto de Naâ—…edad which hath the entry in of it very lowe and standeth in nynetiene degrees and a terce large From these portes do goe foorth the shippes that doo sayle too the Philippinas and they goe too put themselues in the heighth that the course of the Iland is in for the tyme when they goo foorth vpon this Nauigation which is in the ende of October the windes are alwaies Northerly in that coast vntil the end of April Wherewithal they goe with the winde in theyr poope running west and from the ende of April vntil the ende of October they turne too blowe at West Southwest which serueth them too returne rising vpp intoo a higher degree that they lack no height They met at their going with the Ilands called Barbudos for they were so named for bicause such as do inhabite there do let their beards grow long These people are apparelled with mattes made of the bowes of date trees very fine and they haue no weapons nor warre with any CouÌ„trie and theyr vittaile are Cocos and rottes and fishe they haue hennes lyke to those of Spaine more towards the west They turne meete with the Ilands which they cal of the theeues which be xiii and they lye in length North and South the greatest may bee little greater then fourtie leages They are al wel neere after one fashion and trade The weapoÌ„s they haue he sâ—…ings roddes dryed with the fire which doo serue them in place of lances They shootte so farre with the sâ—…ings that no hargubuse can shoott fo far They liue with Ryce and fish Cocos rootes there are in theÌ„ great quaÌ„titie of Ginger so beyonde that more towardes the West they fal with the Ilandes of the Philippinas which are many The IlaÌ„d of Mindanas which is the firste of the South side it beginneth in fiue degrees in the height of the North and it lyeth out shewing it selfe in length as the rest do which stande as a company of trees in the Northnorthwest course vntil you come into xiii degrees and a terce where you meete with the Iland of Luzon This Iland is in length out vnto the nynetiene degree in the same course there is in it three places inhabited with Moores they know not perfectly of what secte they are of but they giue reuerence to Mahoma they eate no porke They haue many riuers wherein they gather golde it is distant from this firme land of China lesse then one hundreth leages and from the Cytie of Canton which falleth too the North part of it one hundreth thirtie little more Our Spaniards are in possession of the said Iland and by reason the trade is greate from it too the firme land and for the curious things that are come froÌ„ thence to the new Spayne and from thence too his maiestie now they cal him China Ann. 1279. Ann. 148 â–ª â—…nno 1516. Ann. 1492. â—…ausies very â—…otable Timber died Tyle not gathering filth A Tower. â—…o Beggers 〈◊〉 descripâ—… of the seâ—… all sorts of 〈◊〉 barkes 〈◊〉 gallies The coast of China is low like as Flaun ders coast is Shouldes anâ—… flats perilous to strange fleetes A pollitike â—…aw that purâ—…haseth insiâ—…ute benesites The kings nauie to cleare the coastes froÌ„ enemies and pirots dispath at thâ—… portes Galleries A pitch of lime and oyle of fishe This pitch is defensiue against the wormes DiscoÌ„moditie of the pitch Pumpes artificial Barkes innumerable Multitudes of families alwayes liuing on the water They breede â—…oultrie and â—…oule in the Barkes Gardens Water foule Rosiers Rewardes The foule returne by noise of the drum Egges hatched by 〈◊〉 perate heaâ—… of dâ—…urg a also by warmth of fire The politik increase aâ—… breeding oâ—… fishe â—…acrowes to 〈◊〉 fish with Astraungâ—… thing worâ—… the noting â—…traunge efâ—…ct in their riting â—…ree scholes The lawes â—…aught in Schooles Astronomers A not able â—…all Visitours of Schooles Ample houses with Princely pleasures Painted gates Graduating Choise of the Captaines Rare coÌ„ming of the king abroade Betwene gate 〈◊〉 than a dâ—… iourney 〈◊〉 horsebacâ—… A table oâ—… golde The kings title An arguâ—… of a largâ—… dominion 〈◊〉 officers prouince AL that is written of the great lordship of China in this woorke I haue gathered my selfe with great diligence and care of men worthie of faith Portingals that haue bene there with merchauÌ„dise of other buzines as also of the saide people of China which haue come too Spayne of whome I tooke that which I thought to be certaine most meete for this shorte discourse â–ª The 〈◊〉 of the Chapters 〈◊〉 are conteyned in this Booke THe first Chapter sheweth of the beginning that the kingdome of Portingale had and of the successe it had vntil that the king Don Iohn the first conquered Ceuta in Barbarie The second Chapter sheweth of the diligence that the Infant Don Henry did make to come to the knowledge of the Moores of Ceuta and of the Prouince of the Negros of Iolofe and of the armed shippes which he sent in the discouerie of the coast of Ginnea euen to his death The third chap. sheweth of the discouerie of the coast of Ginnea in the time of king Don Alonso eueÌ„ vnto his death and of the persons which king Don Iohn his sonne sent by the Mediterrane Sea that they might bring him relation of the state and trade of India and of the Embassage hee sent to the king of Aethiopia The fourth Chapter sheweth howe the king Don Emanuel sent by the nauigation of the cape of Buena Esperanca Don Vasco de Gama with an Embassage to the king of Calicute and of the successe he had vntill hee returned too Portingale The fifth Chapter sheweth how the king Don Emanuel sent an other great army vnto the India with Pedraluarez Cabral and how he discouered in this voyage the coast of Brasil as also of the rest of the shippes that continually went vntil they gat Malaca and so had knowledge of the coast of China The sixth Chapter sheweth of the description of the Countrey of China and of the Prouinces and notable Realmes that are conteyned in it The seuenth Chapter sheweth of the temperature of the land and the notable things that it bringeth forth The viij Chapter sheweth of the greatnes of the cities and temples buildings that are in all the Countrey of China The nienth Chapter sheweth of their faces apparel and conditions of this people The tenth Chapter sheweth of the nauigation the Chinas do make in the Sea and in the Riuers The eleuenth Chapter sheweth of the letters figures of the Chinas and of their studies ingenerall The xij Chapter sheweth how that of this great realme of China is King and lorde one onely Prince and of his counsaile and Maiestie and of his house and Court. The xiij Chapter sheweth of the Presidents and Ministers that are in euerie Prouince and the order which they haue in the gouernment of them The xiiij Chapter sheweth of the gouernment and preuention that the king hath and doth for the successe of his warres The xv Chapter sheweth of the Religion and Rites they haue and the Ceremonies they vse The xvj Chapter sheweth of the order that may be had whereby these people might become Christians and of the nauigation which is made from the newe Spaine vnto the Ilandes of the west partes called Philippinas Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson dwelling at the three Cranes in the Vine-tree 1579.
the other Princes of those Countries was too heare no man if they did not first giue and present him with some present and the more straunge the Embassador was the longer tyme they caused him to tarry and if hee wil be dispatched shortly that he should vse that way which hee had tolde him giuing some gift to the Officers which had moste authoritie and especially in businesse of the estate the which he foorthwith put in practise excusing himselfe with the King and with the nobilitie that by reason of the vncertainty of the voyage and long Nauigation the thing which he offered too them were not of estimation or valewe that he wished but in the end they were taken as sufficient and were caried to the king and hee was receiued with more familiarity and gladnes then the first time signifying too him that by the Letter of the king Don Emanuel he had vnderstoode the cause of his comming and there vpon he should speake what he would Then Don Vasco begā with great discretion and wisedome asking the libertie and trade of the spices and the entercourse of the trade of Merchādize from one realme to thother The king answered with showes of gladnes that he would dispatch him wel in short tyme. And although that this Prince were an Idolater ▪ yet hee did suffer in his Townes too dwell people of the sect of Mahomet and especially in the portes of the Sea coaste where came many for the trade of the spicery from Meca and other portes of Arabia foelix as wel from the redd Sea as frō the Sea called Sinus Persicos which people were much agreeued at the Embassadge and pretence of Don Vasco vnderstanding the hurt and losses which woulde ensue vnto them in their trades if that the trade of merchaundise shoulde reremayne established as the king was purposed and resolued to haue it Wherevppon they made many consultations with order too kill the Portugales and too sinke their shippes but they durst not gyding it by the most sure way giuing bribes too the Catual who was a Gentleman that had the charge of the Portugales that with false reasons and deceites the king might bee angrie and displeased with them Yet this Gentlemā vsed the matter so discretely that although that the king was very wyse and vnderstood wel the profit that might follow by this trade for the dispatch of the merchandise of his realme hee was persuaded too beleeue this Catual and too take the Portugales for spyes And heerevppon the King commaunded too cal Don Vasco general of the Portugales too bee called before him so hee asked him many questions and although hee had satisfied him of all that was demaunded him yet there was no remedie but in fine hee counseled him that hee should foorthwith go aboord his shippes leste he should receiue any hurte of the Moores pretending that they were ready too make an insurrection against him and promised that he woulde sende him too his ships the answere of his Embassadge in a letter too the king Don Emanuel his lorde and maister Wherein hee saide that the cause wherefore his Embassadour departed so discontent from his Countrie was by reason of the olde controuersies that were betweene the Moores and the Christians and that hee woulde receiue greate contentment with his friendship and with the trade of the merchaundyse of his realme so that it might not bee done with reproch considering that he tooke the Moores for natural people of his Country and that ordinarily they came too his portes in the trade of spicery wherevppon foorthwith Don Vasco made sayle towardes Portugal by the same way that hee went where he arryued at the end of twoo yeeres and a fewe dayes after he departed from Lishebron beeing receiued of the king Don Emanuel with great honor rewarding him and his greate seruice The V. Chapter sheweth howe the king Don Emanuel did send a greate fleet of shippes to the Indias with a knight called Pedraluarez Cabral and howe hee discouered in this voyage the coast of Brasil and of other armies of ships which are sent after vntil the tyme he gate Malaca and had knowledge of the realme of China AND the king Don Emanuel being enformed by Don Vasco de Gama of all thinges which happened to him in his voyage he determined to send too the India thirteene sayles of shippes so well furnished and prouided both of men and munition that if it happened when they should come too the king of Calicut to the rest of the Lords of those Coūtries that they should be defended frō their ports that thē his powre force should be shewed that Pedraluarez Cabral a knight of great wisedom and valiant shoulde go for general of the saide fleete of shippes who departed from Lishebron the nienth day of Marche the yeere 1500. Too whome there happened betweene the Ilandes of Cape verde such a vehement storme that one of the ships departed from the reste of her company and returned backe againe and with the rest he toke his course and sailed farre intoo the Sea bicause hee woulde flye away from the calmes which are accustomed too bee vppon the coast of Ginea and that he might with more assurance double the cape of Buena Esperanca running towards the Southsouthwest as neere as the Eastsoutheast and Southeast winds would giue them leaue And at the end of one Moneth rūning that course they foūd themselues so much to leewarde by reason of the tydes which runne towardes the Northwest that they came to discouer an other coast of firme land towardes the West and according to the iudgement of the Pilots it seemed to them that it might be distant from the coast of Ginea foure hundreth and fiftie leags in ten degrees towards the Southside and to put them out of doubt if it should be any great Ilande they ranne along by the coast all one day and finding a place for their purpose where they might cast ankor they caused one boate to be hoysed out for to discouer what lande it might bee and immediatly did appeare vnto them by the Riuer where they were many naked people which did differ from those of Ginea in colour haire and faces and they procured to speake with thē and to knowe what people they were but they could not for they retired all to the mountaynes and so the Portingales returned to their shippes without any knowledge and departed the same night being forced with a storme which caused them to departe without order and sayled along the coast towardes the South vntill they came into a Bay where they harbored them selues which they named Puerto Segnero and is asmuch to say The sure porte or hauen which standeth in seuentie Degrees and halfe of height and forthwith Pedraluarez commaunded to hoyse out the Boates and he went a lande in them where he caused seruice too bee sayde at the foote of a Tree with great deuotion of them all geuing thankes vnto GOD that
other plaine they haue it for an euill signe and they returne against the Idolles and they speake to them shamefull and dishonest wordes calling them dishonest dogges And when they be weary of calling them so any longer then they turne againe with faire and sweete wordes and aske them pardon of that which they haue sayde and desire them too giue them good fortune promising them more then before they had offered them wherevpon they turne to cast anewe and by this order they proceede praysing them and setting naught by them And when they tarrie long and if it bee a matter of importaunce they runne to them and take them and cast them into the Sea and sometimes into the fire suffering them to burne a little and they whippe them and spurne at them with their feete vntill it happe to them as they desire that is the rounde partes of these stickes to fall vpward And then they worship and prayse them with much Musicke and songs and cary to them offerings of Hennes Duckes and Rice all drest and a Pigges heade sodden which they much esteeme and a great iarre of Wine and of all this they set some part of it vpon the Altar in a Platter wherein is the toppes or poyntes of the Pigges eares and snout and the nayles of Duckes and Hennes and a fewe granes of the Rice and some droppes of wine and all the rest they themselues eate before the Idols with much mirth and ioy When there dieth any maried man that hath a wife and children and familie immediately after he is dead they apparell him with the best apparell he had and they set him on a Chaire and there commeth to him his wife and doth put herselfe vpon her knees before him to take her leaue of him with many teares and pitiful words she speaketh and consequently his children and kinssolkes after the like order and and all the rest of his householde following And this ceremonie beeing done they put him in to a coffin made of the wood of Canfora which is conseruatiue and of sweete smel well made fast in all poynts bycause hee shoulde not smell After this they put him into a Chamber which is hanged with white hangings of linnen cloth vpon two bankes and do couer him with a cloth euen to the ground where in is shaped and formed the dead man very naturally made And in another place of the house without or in the gate house comming in they doo put for ceremonie a Table with candles lighted therevpon all full of bread and of sundrie sortes of fruites And in this sort they keepe him xv dayes in the which time there do come at the night season Priestes continually to offer vp their sacrifices and to pray theyr owne inuentions after the maner of Gentiles They bring many Papers painted and with certaine ceremonies they make they burne some of them there and the rest they hang vp in cordes athwart for this cause and they cast them togither making noyse that they sende the deade men to heauen All their superstitions done they take the coffi◅ and carie him to the field where the rest of the dead bodies are wherein time they are consumed In all these dayes there are in the house the Tabels set with manie kinde of meates that the priestes may eate and drinke and their friendes and acquaintaunce that do visite them The mourning apparell which they vse is most sharpe bycause they bring their clothes made of most course wooll nearest to the fleshe girte with hard coards and on theyr heades certaine nightcappes of the sayde cloth with edges like to hattes which falleth downe vppon their eares They ◅eare this for father or mother two or three yeares And if they haue any Sonne that is a Lawyer he doth let the exer◅se of his office which hee hath and d◅h retire himselfe all this time vntill he hath done and then he returneth a fresh to the court to do as he did before But those that are not so nere in kindred do apparell them selues with rawe linnen cloth not verie course They doe easily beleeue lyes and feigned fables or tales that men be conuerted into beasts and beasts into men and other ignorant toyes like too these It is not knowne certainly that any haue preached to them the Gospel vntill the Portingales came thither more thā in the coast of Molea which is the India of the side of the sea of Bengala which they cal now S. Thomas Thither came an Armeniā on pilgrimage did affirme to the Portingals y at that time were there resident that in the publike wrytings which the Armenians had there was relation and memorie that before this glorious Apostle did suffer martyrdome hee past to the China and there did preache the Gospell And bycause hee wrought little fruite in them hee returned to Molea leauing some Disciples that hee had conuerted in that Countrey Of the which there is no knowledge founde amongest them more then this religious man hath declared and sayde that hee had beene in Canton and from thence past to a small Ilande that standeth in the middest of the Riuer before the Citie where there is a Monasterie of those Priestes gathered togither and therein he sawe a Chappell built high from the grounde verie well made with certaine windowes gilded wherein was the Image of a woman marueylously well made with a Childe at her necke and had before it the signe of a Lampe burning and suspecting if it might bee anie rase of Christianitie he did aske of those Priestes and of other people that were there what that Image did signifie and no bodie coulde tell him nor giue him any reason thereof and so it coulde not bee determined if by chance it were the Image of our Ladie that the Disciples of Saint Thomas did set there ▪ There is not in all this Realme anie Iewes nor rase of them And it may be well vnderstood seeing that the most meate they eate is Porke fleshe Neither yet is there anie Moores although there are some that haue discended of them that are arriued thither from the Realme of Samarean by trade of Merchandice and of such as were conuerted of the Countrey but the most part of them dyed by iustice These which are now are discended of such as were vanished for great no offence into diuerse Prouinces therefore there are some in Canton and others in Cansi but as nowe they are few and the children childrens children of those which were vanished and borne of women of the Countrey of China all of them do eate ◅orke and drinke wine and there is no man of remembrance of the sect of Mahoma The xvi Chapter sheweth of the order that may be had wherby these people may turne to be Christians and of the nauigation that is made from the newe Spaine vntoo the Ilande of the West partes called the Philippinas OF some religious men called Iesuites it hath beene vnderstoode that they beganne too