that place in another Ilande called Laulo for to put themselues in a newe course different and contrary vnto that which they brought when as they came vnto that kingdome for that the Chinos had by experience prooued that in those monethes the windes were more fauorable then in other monethes and for the most part North and Northeast winds al that night they remained in that Iland and the next day following they sailed vnto another Iland which was called Chautubo not farre distant from that of Laulo This Ilande was full of little townes one of them was called Gautin which had fiue fortes of towers made of lime and stone verie thicke and strongly wrought they were all foure square and sixe fatham high and were made of purpose for to receiue into them al the people of those little townes to defend themselues from rouers and théeues that daylie come on that coast These fortes were made with battlements as we do vse with space betwixt them and for that the forme and fashion of their building did like them verie well they were desirous to sée that if within them there were anie curious matter to bée séene wherewith they bent their artilerie towards them and went a shoore But when they which had the gard◠and kéeping off did sée them comming they did shut the gates and woulde not consent that they shoulde satisfie their desire for any intreating or promises that they could make They verie much noted that although this Ilande were rockie and sandie yet was it tilled and sowed full of Rice Wheate and other séedes and graine There was in it great store of Kine and Horse and they vnderstoode that they were gouerned not by one particular man to whom they were subiect neither by any other amongst themselues nor of China but in common yet notwithstanding they liued in great peace and quietnesse for that euerie one did content himselfe with his owne Uppon sunday in the afternoone they departed from this Ilande and sailed their course all that night and the next morning they ariued at another Iland called Corchu which was twentie leagues from the port of Tansuso from whence they departed The Spaniards séeing what leasure they tooke in this their voyage they requested the Captaines to commaunde the marriners that they shoulde not enter into so many portes or harbors for that they had no certaintie of the weather and not to detract the time but to take oportunitie before that contrarie weather do come for to saile in that order it seemed more for recreation then to achiue or obtaine a voyage The Captaines answered and requested them to haue patience for that in making their iournies as they did they doo accomplish and follow the order set downe by the vizroy and Insuanto who did expressely commaunde them with great charge for to direct their Nauigation by those Ilands with great deliberation and consideration because they might in safetie and health ariue at Manilla The same day the North winde beganne to blowe verie strongly in such sort that they thought it not good to go forth of that harbor as well for that aforesaid to be commanded to the contrarie as also for that the Chinos are very searefull of the sea and men that are not accustomed to ingulfe themselues too farre neither to passe anie stormes Néere vnto this Iland there was another somewhat bigger which is called Ancon wholly dispeopled and without anie dwellers yet a better countrie and more profitable for to sowe and reape then that of Corchu The Spaniards being at an anker there vnderstood by the Chinos that in times past it was very well inhabited vnto the which ariued a great fléete belonging to the king of China by a great storme were all cast away vpon the same the which losse and destruction being vnderstood by another generall that had the guard of that cost suspecting that the dwellers thereof had done that slaughter he came to the shore and slew many of the inhabitants and caried all the rest in their ships vnto the firme lande who afterwards would neuer returne thither againe although they gaue them licence after that they vnderstoode the truth of that successe so that vnto that time it remained dispeopled and full of wilde swine of the broode that remained there at such time as they were slaine and caried away as you haue heard This Iland and the rest adioyning thereunto which are very many haue very excellent and sure ports and hauens with great store of fish These Ilands endured vntill they came vnto a little gulfe which is fiue and fortie leagues ouer and is sailed in one day and at the ende thereof is the port of Cabite which before we haue spoken off and is neere vnto Manilla So when that winde and weather serued their turne they departed from the Iland of Ancon and sailed til they came vnto another Ilande called Plon whereas they vnderstoode by a shippe that was there a fishing howe that the rouer Limahon was escaped wheras he was besieged at Pagansinan the manner and forme of the policie hee vsed therein shalbe told you in the chapter following CHAP. XXXI They haue news how that the rouer Limahon was escaped and howe that he was in an Ilande there hard by some gaue iudgement to go and set vpon him but they resolued themselues to the contrarie and follow the voyage to Manilla BEing at an anker in the Iland of Plon tarrying for a wind to followe their voyage with great desire to come thither whereas they might vnderstande what had happened vnto Limahon at the same time entred into the saide harbor a shippe with fishermen they beléeuing that hee had béene one of the Ilands they went vnto him and asked of whence they were and from whence they came and what newes they coulde say of Limahon who was knowne vnto them all either by some harme that they had receiued or else by report of others that had receiued hurt These fishermen gaue them particular and whole relation by the which they vnderstoode that Limahon was fledde and not perceiued by the Spaniards he escaped in certaine barkes the which he caused to be made very secretlie within his forte of such timber and bords as remained of his shippes that were burnt the which was brought in by night by his souldiers on that side of the fort which was next vnto the riuer and were not discouered by the Castillas which which were put there with all care and diligence to kéepe the mouth that no succour might come in to helpe them And towards the land there whereas he might escape they were with out all suspection they were so strong and did not mistrust that any such thing shoulde bee put in vre as afterwards did fal out the which was executed with so great policie and craft that when they came to vnderstande it the rouer was cleane gone and in sauegard caulking his barkes at the Ilande of
and feasted at the commaundement giuen by the Insuanto as you haue heard the third day they departed in the morning towardes Chincheo whether they were commaunded to bee carried with great spéede and good intertainement At their going foorth of the towne they were accompanied with a great number of souldiers both hargubushes and pikes and before them a great noyse of trompets drommes and hoybuckes till such time as they came vnto the riuers side whereas was a brygandine prouided and made readie in all pointes to carrie them vp the riuer all the stréetes alongest whereas they went there followed them so much people that it was innumerable and all to sée them So when they were embarked the which was done with great speede to auoyd the presse of the people there came vnto them the Captaine of the â—ortie ships of whom wee made mention in the Chapter past with thrée byrgandines one wherein he was himselfe and was marueylously well trimmed and in the other two were souldiers that did beare him companie As soone as he came vnto them hee straight wayes entred into the brygandine whereas the religious men were with three Spaniardes and brought with him great store of conserues and made them a gallant banket the which did indure so long as he was with them which was the space of rowing of two long leagues in which time their pleasure was such that they thought it but a quarter of a league From thence he departed from them and returned but left many thinges behinde him for their comfort in their iourney and made great offers with an outward showe that it was a griefe vnto him to depart from out of their companie All alongest the ryuers whereas they went was seated with villages verie gallant and fresh both on the one side and on the other Some of them did content our people verie much who asked the names howe they were called and the Captaynes answered them and sayde that those were villages that did not deserue the honour of a name but when you doo come there whereas the king is you shall see Cities that it shall be a woorthie thing to knowe their names the which townes haue thrée and foure thousande souldiers such as in Europe are estéemed for reasonable Cities At the end of the two leagues there whereas the Captaine did leaue the companie of our Spaniardes in the riuer they came vnto a great baye whereas was at an anker a fléete of more then a hundreth and fiftie shippes men of warre whose Generall was this Captaine whom we haue spoken of that did beare the Fryers and the rest companie At such time as the fléete did discouer them they began to salute them as well with great péeces of artilerie as with hargubushes and other kinde of pastimes which commonly they do vse at such times and that is doone by the commandement of their Generall At such time as they had made an ende of shooting and other pastimes then did he take his leaue of them with the ceremonie aforesaide and went out of the brygandine whereas the Fryers were and went into his owne which carryed him vnto the Admirall wherein he imbarked himselfe Our Spaniardes after his departure did trauaile vp the riuer more than thrée leagues hauing continually both on the one side and on the other verie many and faire townes and full of people In the ende of the thrée leagues they went a lande halfe a league from the Towne of Tangoa whereas straightwayes all such things as they carried with them were takeÌ„ vpon mens backs and carried it vnto the towne before them whereas they were tarying their comming for to giue them great entertaynement At their going a shore they founde prepared for the two religious men little chayres to carrie them vppon mens backes and for the souldiers and the rest of their companions was ordayned horse The fathers did refuse to be carried and would haue gone a foote for that the way was but short and pleasant full of gréene trées and againe for humilitie refusing to be carried in so rich chaires and vppon mens backes of so good a vocation as they séemed to be But Omoncon and the other Captaine would not consent thereunto saying that it was the order giuen by the Insuanto and that they could not by any meanes breake but performe in all points or else to be cruelly punished for the same I meane such captaines as had the charge for to garde beare them companie and that no excuse could serue theÌ„ and againe that it was conuenient so to be done for y t from that time the Chinos should respect them and vnderstande that they were principall persons for y t they were carried vpon mens backes as they do their Loytias The fathers obeyed their reasons and entred into the chayres were carried with eight men a péece the other their coÌ„panions with foure men a péece according vnto the order giuen by the gouernor Those that carried the chaires did it with so good a will y t there was striuing who should first lay hands to them This towne of Tangoa hath thrée thousand souldiers and is called in their language Coan at the entring in it hath many gardens orchards a stréete where through they carried the Spaniards vnto their lodging they affirmed it to be halfe a league long all the stréete whereas they went it was full of bordes stalles where on was laide all kinde of marchandice very curious and things to be eaten as fresh fish salt fish of diuers sortes great abundance of â—oule and flesh of al sorts fruits and gréene herbs in such quantitie that it was sufficient to serue such a Citie as Siuell is The presse of people was so much in the stréets that although there were many typstaues souldiers that did make way wheras they went yet could they not passe but with great difficultie So they were brought vnto the kings house which was very great marueilously wel wrought with stone brick and many halles paâ—lers and chambers but none aboue but all belowe So soone as they were afoote there was brought from the Captaine or Iustice of the towne whom they doo call Ticoan a message bidding them welcome therwith a present which was great store of capons hens teales ducks géese flesh of four or fiue sorts fresh fish wine and fruits of diuers sorts of so great quantitie that it was sufficient for two hundreth men All the which they would haue giuen for a little coole aire by reason that it was then very hoat wether againe the great number of people y t came thether to sée them did augment it the more So in the euening the two spanish souldiers weÌ„t forth into the stréets to walk abrode left the two Fryers within their lodging vnto whoÌ„ afterwards they did giue intelligence of all things that they had séene which did cause great admiratioÌ„ the wall of the towne was very
incredible and so nigh the one vnto the other that they séemed to be al one so in the end of foure dayes they landed at one of the cities where came so much people to sée those strangers that it séemed al the kingdom were there assembled togither were so many in number that before they could get to y e Inne wheras they should be lodged there passed more then foure houres and was in distance but a quarter of a league but when they came thither they were verie faint with the great thrust aâ—d throng of the people They stayed in this Cittie one day and the next day very early in the morning was brought vnto them horse for to trauel by land other two daies y e which was almost continually in villages townes the third day they were imbarked in a small barke wherein they passed a riuer which had but litle water y e space of two houres theÌ„ after they were shipped in a bigger barke and entred into another riuer which seemed to be an arme of the sea in the which they sailed fiue dayes and sawe sailing vp and downe the said riuer so many barks and boats that it made them to be greatly amased These riuers were as wel replenished of cities and townes as the other riuer whereof we haue spoken Al which is a helpe to beleeue that which hath béene said of the mightinesse and the great number of people that are in that mighty kingdom Concluding this riuer they entred into another but not so broade as the last but a swifter current and beset with mightie trées both on the one side and the other and were so thick that almost they could not sée the sunne thorough them and although the country very asper there alongst the riuers side yet was there many walled citties an infinite number of townes and vilages in such sort that the suburbs did almost ioyne the one vnto the other So when they were disembarked out of this riuer they trauelled by land other foure dayes and greatly maruelled to see the great fertilitie of the country and many other things more which they do passe ouer for that in the relation of y e Augustine friers it hath béene declared vnto you In the ende of those foure daies they came to a cittie ten leagues from Chiâ—cheo and were lodged in the suburbs of the same whether resorted so much people to sée them that although they did shut y e gates to defend themselues from the prease yet could they not be disturbed of the entry for y t they broke the gates climed vp the wals windowes to sée them The host of the house where as they were lodged when he saw that the people did spoile and distroy his house he requested the Spaniards to go forth into a greene fielde which was there harde by placed amongst a company of Orchards the which they did to satisfie him also to satisfie the multitude of people that were come thither only to sée them The noise of the people was so great that the gouernor feared there had bin some other matter commanded a Iudge to go examine the cause and know the truth but when that hee was certified thereof hee commaunded the Spaniards to come vnto his house for that hee was desirous and would sée them They presently did accomplish his commandement and went their way and as they passed thorough the stréete there were certaine representing a comedie but so soone as the people that were there did sée the Spaniardes they left the players all alone and followed them They entred into the gouernors house and found him with great maiestie of seruants and souldiers of his gard he entertayned them with great loue and asked them who they were and from whence they came The interpreter presently shewed the prouision they brought from the viceroy which was in summe their licence giuen by him for them to go vnto Chincheo and that none should disturbe them in their iourney But to ayde and giue them all fauor possible that which was néedefull for their iourney And when that he had read the same he saide that thereby he did vnderstand that which he desired to know how that the viceroy did command all gouernors him as one of them they should offer to do all that lay in them the which he did accomplish and shewed them great fauour and friendship The dext day following they departed out of this citie by land being giuen vnto them by the gouernor very good prouision for the way The same day they came vnto a towne that was very fresh and fiue leagues from the place they departed there they determined to tarrie all that night fearing y e passage through a citie which was but a league before suspecting that they should be as much troubled with the people as they were in the other citie the day before And although this was but a small towne yet was there so great a concourse of people that came from the villages there abouts that it caused them to depart the next morning more early than they thought and all the night they could not sléepe because of the great noyse of the people So within a while after they departed from that towne they came vnto the citie aforesaide the which for situation and gallant buildings was the fairest in all that prouince Through the midst thereof ranne a mightie riuer ouer the which were many bridges very great and most faire Here were they so oppressed with much people that came to sée them that they were detayned in the presse a good while before they could enter into the citie and after they were within they were compassed about in such sort that they could not goe to seeke to eate but were constrained to enter into a barke and go downe the riuer and shroud themselues amongst a company of trées although they did vse this policie Yet the number of people were so great that leapt into the same barke that they were readie to sinke till such time as they that had entred the barke to auoid that perill returned and lept a shoore leauing them all alone with the barkemen and marriners that did rowe who went to seeke and bring them to eate and they remained in the barke all that night So the next day in the morning before the people could come to disturbe them they rowed towards the great and huge citie of Chincheo and entred into the same vppon a sunday in the morning being the sixt day of December They remained still in the barke for their owne quietnesse and security and sent their interpreter with their prouision vnto the Gouernour that he might ordaine at his pleasure that which was therein commanded The Gouernor when he had receiued commission he said vnto the interpreter that he should tell the Spaniards that he was very glad that they were come thither in safetie and in good health and that hee should receiue
the Spaniardes many dayes alwayes traueling alongst the riuer side aforesayde where as were many townes of Indians of this nation the which indured twelue dayes iourney in all the which the Caciques gaue aduice from one towne to another out of the which they came forth and entertained the Spaniards without their bowes and arrowes and brought with them victuals and other prouision and gifts but in especiall hides and shamway skins very well dressed so that those of Flanders do nothing excéed them These people are all clothed they found that they had some light of y e holy faith for that they made signe vnto God looking vp vnto heauen and they do cal him in their language Apalito and doo acknowledge him for Lord by whose mightie hand and mercie they confesse to haue receiued life to be a natural man and al temporall goods There came many of them with their wiues children to the religious Frier that came with the captaine and souldiers of whom we haue spoken off for to crosse blesse thē of whom being demanded from whence of whom they had y e knowledge of God they answered that of thrée christians one Negro that passed that way remained there certaine daies amongst them who according to the signes tokens they gaue them should be Aluar Nunnez Cabesa de Vaca Dorantes Castillo Maldonado one Negro the which escaped out of y e fléete wherewith Panfilo de Naruaz entred into Florida after that they had bin many dayes captiue slaues they escaped came vnto these townes wheras God by them did shew many myracles in healing by the onely touching with their handes many diseases sicke persons by reason thereof they left great fame in all that countrie All this Prouince remained in peace and quietnesse by which demonstration they did accompanie and serued the Spaniardes certaine dayes trauelling alongest the riuer side aforesaide Within few dayes after they came vnto a great inhabitation of Indians where they came foorth to receiue them by newes that they had of their neighbours and brought with thē many curious thinges made of feathers of different colours and many mantles made of cotton barred with blewe and white like vnto them that are brought from China to truck for other thinges All of them as well the men as women and children were clothed with shamway skins very good and well dressed yet could the Spaniardes neuer vnderstande what nation they were for lacke of an interpreter that vnderstood their language they dealt with them by signes and they shewed vnto thē certaine stones of rich metall and being demaunded if they had of the same in their countrie they answered by the same signes that fiue dayes iourney from thence towardes the north west there was great quantitie thereof and howe that they would conduct them thether and showe it vnto them as afterwardes they did performe did beare them companie two and twentie leagues the which was all inhabited with people of the same countrie So following the saide riuer they came vnto an other inhabitance of much more people than the other past of whom they were well receiued and welcomed with many presents especially of fish for that they haue great store by reason of certaine great lakes not farre from thence wherein is bred great abundance They were amongest these people thrée dayes in the which both day and night they made before them many dances according vnto their fashion with a particular signification of great ioy They knew not how this nation was called for lack of an interpreter But yet they vnderstoode that it extended very farre and was very great Amongest this nation they found an Indian a Concho by nation who tolde and made signes that fiftéene iourneyes from thence towardes the north west there was a lake which was verie broad and nigh vnto it very great townes and in thē houses of thrée and foure stories high the people well apparelled and the countrie full of victuals and prouision who did offer himselfe to bring them thether wherat the Spaniards reioyced but left to giue the enterprise only for that they would accomplish their intent and begon voiage which was to go to the north to giue ayde vnto the two religious men aforesaide The chiefe principall thing that they noted in this prouince was that it was of a good temperature and a rich countrie great store of hunt both of foot and wing many rich metals and other particular thinges of profite From this prouince they folowed their iourney for the space of 15. daies without méeting any people they trauelled amōgst high mightie pine trées like those of Spaine at the end wherof after they had traueiled to their iudgmēts four score leagues they came vnto a small village of very few people very poore their houses made of strawe they had great quantity of déere skins as well dressed as those y t are brought out of Flanders great store of excellent white good salt They gaue them good intertainment for the space of two daies y t they remained there after the which they did beare thē companie 12. leagues vnto certaine great habitations alwayes trauelling alongst the riuer side towarde the north as aforesaide till such time as they came vnto the countrie which is called the new Mexico All alongst this riuer side was planted full of white salow trées and in some place it was foure leagues brode Likewise there was many walnut trées and peare trées like vnto those in Spaine In the ende of two dayes trauaile amongest these trées they came vnto tenne townes the which were situated alongst this riuer side on both partes besides others that appeared but farther distant It seemed vnto them to haue much people and as appeared to be more than tenne thousande soules In this Prouince they did receiue them courteously and carried them vnto their townes whereas they gaue them great store of prouision and hennes of the countrie with many other things and that with a great good will In these townes were houses of foure stories high verie well wrought and gallant chambers and most of them had steuues or hote houses for the winter They are all apparelled with cotton and of deares skinnes the manner and apparell both of the men and of the women is much like vnto the Indians of the kingdome of Mexico But that which did cause them most for to woonder was to sée both men and women to weare both bootes and shooes of very good lether with thrée sooles of neates leather a thing which they haue not séene but onely there The women go without any thing vpon their heades but their haire trimly kembed and dressed Euerie one of these townes had Caciques by whom they were gouerned as amongest the Indians in Mexico with sergeantes and officers to execute their commandement who goe through the stréetes of the towne and declare with a loude voice the will of
of the newe Mexico CHAP. XI Departing from the citie of Mexico they go vnto the port of Acapulco in the south sea whereas they doo imbarke themselues from the Ilandes Philippinas they passe by the Ilandes of theeues and do declare the rites and condition of that people FRom the citie of Mexico they go to imbarke themselues or take shipping at the port of Acapulco which is in the south sea and is eleuated from the poole nineteen degrées and ninetie leagues from the citie of Mexico in al which way there be many townes inhabited with Indians and Spaniards Being departed from this port they sayle towards the south west till they come into twelue degrées a halfe to séeke prosperous wind to serue their turne which the marriners do call Brizas and are northerly windes which are there of such continuance so fauourable that being in the moneths of Nouember December and Ianuarie they haue no néede to touch their sayles which is the occasion that they do make their voyages with so great ease So that for that for the fewe stormes that happened in that passage they do cal it the mar de Damas which is the sea of Ladies They sayle alwayes towards the west following the sunne when as she departeth from our hemispherie In this south sea they sayle fortie daies without séeing anie lande at the end whereof they came to the Ilandes of Velas which by an other name are called de los Ladrones there are seuen or eight of them they do lye north and south and are inhabited with much people in the order as you shall vnderstand These Ilands are in 12. degrées but there are different opinions of the leagues y t are betwixt the port of Acapulco those Ilands for vnto this day there is none that hath vnderstood the certâ—â—ntie thereof for that their nauigation lieth from the east vnto the west whose degrées there haue bin none y t â—uer could measure Some say this iourney hath a thousande and seuen hundred leagues others a thousand and eight hundred but the opinions of the first we vnderstand to be most certaine All these Ilands are inhabited with white people of comely faces like vnto those of Europa but not of their bodies for that they are as bigge as gyants and of so great force and strength for one of them hath taken two Spaniardes of a good stature the one by one foot and the other by the other with his handes hath lifted them both from the grounde with so great ease as though they had bin two children They go naked from top to too as well women as men yet some of them were woont to weare an aporne made of a deares skinne before them of halfe a yeard long for honesties sake but they are but a fewe in nuÌ„ber in respect of those y t weare nothing before them The weapons which they do vse be sâ—inges darts hardened in the fire and are with both the one and the other very expert throwers They do maintaine themselues with fish which they do take on the coast and of wild beasts which they do kill in the mountaines in ouertaking of them by swiftnesse of foot In these Ilands there is one the strangest custome that euer hath bin heard of or séene in all the whole world which is that vnto the young men there is a time limited for them to marrie in according vnto their custome in all which time they may fréely enter into the houses ofsuch as are married and be there with their wiues without being punished for y e same although their proper husbands should sée them they doo carrie in their handes a staffe or rodde when they do enter into the married mans house they doo leaue it standing at the doore in such sort that if any do come after they may plainly sée it which is a token that although it be her proper husband he cannot enter in till it be taken away The which custome is obserued and kept with so great rigour and force that whosoeuer is against this lawe all the rest do kill him In all these Ilands there is not as yet knowen neyther king nor lord whom the rest should obey which is the occasion that euery one do liue as he list and at his pleasure These Ilandes were woont to haue warre the one with the other when occasion did force them as it happened at such time as the Spaniardes were there in the port of the said Iland there came abord their ships to the number of two hundred small barkes or botes in the which came many of the inhabitants thereof to sell vnto them of the ships hens nuts called cocos patatas and other thinges of that Iland and to buy other such things as our people did carrie with them but in especiall yron vnto the which they are very much affectionated and vnto things of chrystall and such like of small estimation But there grew a great contention amongest them which people of what Ilande should first come vnto the shippes and was in such order that they fell vnto blowes and wounded the one the other maruellously more liker beastes than men of the which there were many slaine in the presence of the Spaniards and would neuer leaue off their contention a good while till in the end by way of peace they consented a conclusion amongest themselues but with a great noyse which was that those of one Iland should go to the larbord of the ship and those of the other Iland should go to the starbord with the which they were pacified and did buy and sel at their pleasure But at their departure from our people in recompence of their good intertainment they threw into the ship of their dartes hardened with fire with the which they did hurt many of theÌ„ that were aboue hatches yet went they not away scotfrée for that our people with their hargabushes did paye them in readie money their bold attempt These people do more estéeme yron than siluer or golde and gaue for it fruites nnames patatas fish rise ginger hennes and many gallant mattes very well wrought and all almost for nothing Thâ—se Ilandes are verie fertile and healthfull and very easie to bee conquered vnto the fayth of Christ. If that at such time as the ships doo passe that way vnto Manilla they would leaue there some religious men with souldiers to garde them till the next yeare and might be doone with small cost It is not as yet knowen what ceremonies and rites they do obserue for that there is none that doo vnderstande their language neither hath any béene on those Ilandes but onely as they haue passed by which is the occasion that they cannot be vnderstood The language which they doo vse to any mans iudgement is easie to be learned for that their pronunciation is verie plaine they call ginger asno and for to say take away your hargabush they say arrepeque
and 6. men may walke side by side on them they are garnished with many bulworks and towers a small distance the one from the other with their battlements faire galleries where as many times their vizroyes dooth goe to recreate themselues with the gallant sight of the mountaines and riuers with their fields so odoriferous There is betwixt the wals of their cities the mote of the same a broade space that six horsemen may ride together the like space is within betwixt the walles and the houses whereas they may walke without impediment Their wals are kept in such good reparation by reason of their great care and diligence that they séeme to be but new made yet in some cities there is founde mention of two thousand yeeres since the first foundation In euery citie the king doth ordaine a Iustice and giueth him great rents onely to visit them and make them to be renewed and repaired where as is requisite and is done vpon the kings cost for out of his rents in such cities townes is giuen them all that is néedfull to be asked The high waies in all this kingdome are made kept plaine with great care diligence and the entering into the cities and townes are very sumptuous and with great maiestie they haue thrée or foure gates bound with yron very strong Their streetes verie well paued and so broad that 15. horsemen may ride together in them and so straight that although they be very long yet you may discouer the end On both the sides are portals vnder which be their shops full of all sorts of merchandises very curious and of all occupations that you will desire In the streets a good space the one from the other are made manie triumphall arkes of extreme bewtie They are made of masons worke verie curiously painted after the fashion of the old antiquitie of Rome All their houses ordinarily haue three doores that in the middest is great the other be lesser but of a maruellous gallant propotion The king is alwayes resident in the citie of Suntien which in their language is as much to say the citie of heauen Of which citie the Chinos do declare many things which séemeth to be true for that if you do talke with many of them and at sundrie times and places yet doo they not varie the one from the other and according to their report it should be greatest in all the worlde in these dayes They who do make it to be least do affirme that to goe from gate to gate leauing the suburbs had néed of a summers day and a good horse to do it it is also called Quinsay as Marcus Paulus doth call it CHAP. IX Of the wonderfull buildings in this kingdome and of mightie wall or circuit in the same of 500. leagues long IN this kingdome in al places there be men excellent in architecture and the necessaries that they haue to build with is the best that is in the world For as it is said in the chapter past they haue a kinde of white earth of the which they make brickes of so great hardnesse and strength that for to breake them you must haue pickaxes and vse much strength and this is the cause that in all the kingdome there is mightie buildings and verie curious Putting apart the kings pallace where hee is resident in Taybin for of that you shall haue a particular chapter in all such cities that bee the heads of the prouinces is resident a vizroy or gouernour and dwelleth in the house that in euery such citie the king hath ordeined on his proper cost all the which to conclude are superbious and admirable and wrought by marueilous art and are as bigge as a great village by reason that they haue within them great gardens water ponds woods compassed about in the which as it is declared in the 4. chapter is great quantitie of hunt and flying foules Their houses commonly be verie gallant and after the manner of Rome and generallie at the doores and gates of them are planted trées in gallant order the which maketh a gallant shadow and séemeth well in the stréets All these houses are within as white as milke in such sort that it séemeth to bee burnished paper The floares are paued with square stones verie broad and smooth their seelings are of an excellent kind of timber verie well wrought and painted that it séemeth like damaske and of the colour of gold that sheweth verie well euerie one of them hath three courts and gardens full of flowers and herbes for their recreation And there is none of them but hath his fish poole furnished although it bee but small The one side of their courts is wrought verie gallant like as it is in counting houses vpon the which they haue many idols carued and wrought of diuers kinds ofmettals the other thrée parts or angles of their courts are painted with diuers things of verie great curiositie But aboue all things they are marueilous cleane not onely in their houses but also in their stréetes in the which commonly they haue thrée or foure necessarie or common places of ease verie curiously ordained and placed for that the people being troubled with their common necessitie shall not foule the streetes and therefore they haue this prouision the like is vsed in all wayes throughout the kingdome Some cities there be whose streets be nauigable as in Bruxels in Flanders Mexico in the Indians and as in Venice in Italie which is the occasion that they are better serued and prouided for that their barkes and boates doo enter laden with all kinde of victuals harde to their doores The highwayes throughout all this kingdome are the best and gallantest paued that euer hath béene discouered they are verie plaine yea vnto the mountaines and they are cut by force of labour and pickaxes and maintained with bricke and stone the which by report of them which hath séene it is one of the worthiest things that is in all the realme There are many mightie bridges and of a wonderfull making some wrought vpon boats as it is in Syuill but in especiall vpon such riuers as are broad and déepe In the citie of Fucheo there is a towre right against the house of the kings chiefe receiuer it is affirmed by those that haue séene it to surmount any building that hath béene amongst the Romanes the which is raised and founded vppon fortie pillars and euerie pillar is of one stone so bigge and so high that it is strange to tell them and doubtfull to the hearers to beléeue it for which cause I thinke it best not to declare it in particular as I do in all things where as I doo finde it difficult to be beléeued and where I haue no certaine author to verifie the truth There is in this kingdome a defence or wall that is fiue hundred leagues long and beginneth at the citie Ochyoy which is vppon the high mountaines and
how to rost and boyle their victuals and howe to barter and sell one thing for another They did vnderstande one another in their contradictions by knots made vpon cords for that they had not the vse of letters nor any mention thereof After that they say that a certaine woman called Hantzibon was deliuered of a son named Ocheutey who was the inuentor of many things ordained mariage to play on many diuers instruments They do affirme that he came from heauen by myracle for to do good vpon the earth for that his mother going by the way did sée the print of a mans foote putting her foote on it she was straight wayes inuironed with a lightning with whom she was conceiued and with child with this son This Ocheutey had a son called Ezoulom who was the inuenter of phisicke astrology but in especiall matters touching lawe and iudgement Hée shewed them howe to till the lande and inuented the plough and spade of this man they doo tell manie woonderfull and maruellous things but amongst them all they say that he did eate of seuen seuerall kindes of hearbes that were poyson and did him no harme he liued 400. hundred yeares his son was called Vitey the first king they had amongst them hée reduced all things to be vnder gouernement and to haue it by succession as shalbe declared in the chapter whereas I will treate of the king of this mightie kingdome that now liueth These and many other varieties and toyes they saie of the beginning of the world whereby may be vnderstood how little men may do without the fauour of God and the light of the catholike faith yea though they be of the most subtilest and finest wit that may be immagined CHAP VI. How they hold for a certaintie that the soule is immotall and that he shal haue another life in the which it shalbe punished or rewarded according vnto the workes which he doth in this world and how they pray for the dead BY that aforesaid it appeareth to be of a truth that the apostle S. Thomas did preach in China we may presume that all which wee haue séene dooth remaine printed in their hearts from his doctrine and beareth a similitude of the truth a conformity with the things of our catholike religion Now touching this that wee will treate of in this chapter of the immortalitie that they beléeue of the soule and of the rewarde or punishment which they shall haue in the other life according vnto the workes doone in company with the bodie which appeareth to be the occasion that they do not liue so euill as they might not hauing the knowledge of this truth I do hope by the power of his deuine maiestie that they wil easilie be brought vnto the true knowledge of the gospel They say and doo affirme it of a truth that the soule had his first beginning from the heauen and shall neuer haue ende for that the heauen hath giuen it an eternall essence And for the time that it is within the body that God hath ordeined if it do liue according to such lawes as they haue without doing euill or deceit vnto his neighbor thē it shalbe caried vnto heauē wheras it shal liue eternally with great ioy shalbe made an angel to the contrarie if it liue ill shall go with the diuels into darke dungeons and prisons whereas they shall suffer with them torments which neuer shall haue end They doo confesse that there is a place whither such soules as shalbe made angels doo go to make themselues cleane of al such euil as did cleaue vnto them being in the bodie and for that it should be spéedelier doone the good déeds which are done by their parents friends doo helpe them verie much So that it is very much vsed throughout al the kingdome to make orations praiers for the dead for the which they haue a day appointed in the moneth of August They do not make their offrings in their temples but in their houses the which they doo in this manner following The day appointed all such as do beare them companie vntill their sacrifices are concluded for the dead which are such as we do cal here religious men euery one hath his companion and walketh the stréets and dooth report the daies houses where they will be for that it cannot be doone altogether So when they come vnto the house whereas they must doo their offices they enter in do prepare that euery one do make oration and sacrifice according to their fashion for the dead of that house vnderstanding that by their helpe they shalbe made cleane from their euils which is an impediment that they cannot be angels nor inioy the benefite which is ordained for them in heauen One of these that is like vnto a priest dooth bring with him a taber other two little bords another a little bell Thē they do make an altar wheron they do set such idols as the dead had for their saints liuing then do they perfume them with frankēsence and storax and other swéet smels then do they put 5. or 6 tables ful of victuals for the dead for the saints then straightwayes at the sound of the taber little bords bels which is a thing more apt for to dance by as by report of them that haue heard it they begin to sing certaine songs which they haue for that purpose then doe the nouices goe vp vnto the altar and do offer in written paper those Orations which they did sing to the sound of those instruments This being done they sit down and begin anew to sing as before In the end of their prayers and songs he who doth this office doth sing a prayer and in the end thereof with a litle borde that he hath in his hand for the purpose he striketh a blow vpon the table then the other do answere in the same tune declining their heades doe take certaine painted papers and guilt papers and doe burne them before the altar In this sort they are all the night which is the time that ordinarily they do make their sacrifices the which being done the priests those that be in the house do eat the victuals that was set vpon the tables wherein they doo spend the residue of the night till it be day They say that in doing this they do purifie and make cleane the soules that they may goe become angels The commō people do beléeue of truth that the soule that liueth not well before they go into hell which shall not be before the end of the world according as they do thinke in their error in recompence of their euill life the heauens doo put them into the bodies of buffes and other beasts and those which liue well into the bodies of kings lords whereas they are very much made of well serued These and a thousande toies in like sort
is apparelled they do set him in y e best chaier that he hath then coÌ„meth vnto him his father mother brethren sisters children who knéeling before him they do take their leaue of him shedding of many teares making of great moane euery one of theÌ„ by themselues Then after them in order commeth all his kinsfolkes friends and last of all his seruants if â—e had any who in like case do as the other before This being done they do put him into a coffin or chest made of verie swéete wood in that countrie you haue verie much they do make it very close to auoid the euil smel Then do they put him on a table with two bankes in a chamber verie gallantly dressed and hanged with the best clothes that can be gotten couering him with a white shéete hanging downe to the ground whereon is painted the dead man or woman as naturall as possible may be But first in the chamber whereas the bead bodie is or at the entrie they set a table with candles on it and full of bread fruits of diuers sorts And in this order they kéepe him aboue ground 15. daies in y t which time euery night commeth thether their priests religious men whereas they sing praiers and offer sacrifices with other ceremonies they bring with them many painted papers and do burne them in the presence of the dead bodie with a thousand superstitions witchcraftes they do hang vpon cordes which they haue for the same purpose of the same papers before him many times do shake them make a great noyse with the which they say it doth send the soule straight vnto heauen In the end of the 15. daies all which time the tables are continually furnished with victuals wine which the priests their kinsfolkes and friends that do come to visite theÌ„ do eat These ceremonies being ended they take the coffin with the dead bodie carrie him into the fields accompanied with all his kinsfolks friends with their priests religious men carrying candles in their hands wheras ordinarily they do burie theÌ„ on a mountaine in sepultures that for the same purpose in their life time they caused to be made of stone masons worke that being doone straight waies haâ—d by y e sepulture they do plant a pine trée in y e which place there be many of them they be neuer cut downe except they be ouerthrowne with the weather after they be fallen they let them lie till they consume of theÌ„selues for that they be sanctified The people y t do beare him company to the graue do go in very good order like a procession haue with them many instruments which neuer leaue playing till such time as the dead is put into the sepulcher And that burial which hath most priests musicke is most sumptuous wherin they were woont to spend great riches They sing to the sound of the instrumeÌ„ts many orations vnto their Idols and in the end they do burne vpon the sepulcher many papers whereon is painted slaues horse gold siluer silkes many other things the which they say that the dead body doth possesse in the other world whether he goeth to dwell At such time as they do put him into y e graue they doe make great bankets sports with great pastime saying of a truth that looke what soeuer they do at that time the angels saints that are in heauen doe the like vnto the soule of the dead that is there buried Their parents familiars and seruants in all this time doo weare mourning apparell the which is verie asper for that their apparell is made of a verie course wolle weare it next vnto their skins girt vnto them with cords and on their heads bunnets of the same cloth with verges brode like vnto a hat hanging downe to their eyes for father or mother they do weare it a hole yeare and some two yeares if his son be a gouernor with licence of the king he doth withdraw himself many times leauing the office he hath the which they estéeme a great point of honor haue it in greaâ— account and such as are not so much in aliance do apparell theÌ„ in died linnen certaine monethes Likewise their parents and friendes although these doo weare it but for the time of the buriall CHAP. IX Of their ceremonies that they vse in the celebrating the marriages THe people of this kingdome haue a particular care to giue state vnto their children in time before that they be ouercome or drowned in vices or lasciuious liuing The which care is the occasion that in this countrie being so great there is lesse vice vsed than in any other smaller countries whose ouer much care doth cause them many times to procure to marrie their children being verie yoong yea and to make consort before they bee borne with signes tokens making their writings and bandes for the performance of the same in publike order In all this kingdome yea and in the Ilands Philippinas it is a customable vse that the husband doth giue dowrie vnto the wife with whom he doth marrie and at such time as they doe ioyne in matrimonie the father of the bride doth make a great feast in his owne house and doth inuite to the same the father and mother kinsfolkes and friends of his sonne in lawe And the next day following the father of the bridegrome or his next parent doth the like vnto the kinsfolkes of the bride These bankets being finished the husbande doth giue vnto his wife her dowrie in the presence of them all and she doth giue it vnto her father or mother if she haue them for the paines they tooke in the bringing her vp Whereby it is to be vnderstoode that in this kingdome and in those that doe confine on it those that haue most daughters are most richest so that with the dowries their daughters do giue them they may well sustaine themselues in their necessitie and when they die they doo giue it that daughter that did giue it them that it may remaine for their children or otherwise vse it at their willes A man may marrie with so manie wiues as he can sustaine so it be not with his sister or brothers daughter and if any doo marrie in these two degrées they are punished very rigorously Of all their wiues the first is their legitimate wife and all the rest are accompted but as lemanes or concubines These married men doo liue and kéepe house with his first wife and the rest he doth put in other houses or if he be a merchant then he doth repart them in such villages or townes whereas hee doth deale in who are vnto him as seruantes in respect of the first When the father doth die the eldest sonne by his first wife doth inherite the most part of all his goods and the rest is reparted in equall partes amongest the other children
feare least they should giue occasion to be complained of And againe that their enimies may not this way take any aduantage When that any of these ten neighbours doth remooue into an other stréete or into any other citie or towne to dwell or will make any long iorney hee is bound to ring a bell or play on a coper kettle amongest all the neighbours for the space of ten dayes before he doth remooue or depart and to aduise them all of his departure and whether for that if he do owe any thing or any thing be lent that they may come and demaund it before their departure because that none shall loose y t which is theirs And if it so fall out that any shall depart without vsing this diligence the Iustice doth compell the rest of his neighbours y t are written on the signe to pay his debt because they did not aduise the Iustice or his creditors before his departure Such as do owe money or debts and will not paye proouing the debt they doo execute their goods if they haue none they put them in prison and limit a time for him to pay the same But if it passe and the debt not paide nor his creditor contented For the first time they doo whippe them moderately and do appoint him the second time limited for to pay y e same if he do then misse they do whip him more cruelly and doo appoint him on other time and so doo prosecute the same till he die with punishments which is y e occasion y t euery one doth pay that he oweth or procure amongst his friends to pay or else giue himselfe for a slaue vnto his creditor to shun the trouble of the prison and the paine of whippings which is a thing not to be suffered These Iudges do vse two maner of torments to make them to confesse the truth when by fayre meanes they can not or by pollicie the which first is procured with great care and diligence the one is on their féete and the other on their hands and is so terrible that it cannot be suffered but of force they do confesse that which the Iudge doth pretende to know yet doo they execute none of them except first they haue good information or at the least Semiplena or else so many indicions that it is a sufficient information for the same The tormentes on the hands is giuen with two stickes as bigge as two fingers and a span long turned round and full of hooles in all places wherin are put cordes to pull in out their fingers of both their hands are put into the cordes and little and little they do pinch them till in the end they do breake them at the iointes with an incredible paine vnto them that doo suffer it and y t causeth them to giue great shrikes and groanes that will mooue any man to compassion And if it so come to passe that by this cruell torment they will not confesse and that the Iudge do vnderstand by witnesse and by indicions that hee is faultie and culpable then dooth he commaund to giue him the torment of the feete which is a great deale more cruell than that of the handes and is in this sort they take two péeces of woode foure square of foure spannes long and one spanne broade and are ioyned together with a ginne and hooles boored thorough and put thorough them cordes and in the middest of these bordes they doo put the whole foote and straine the cordes and with a mallet they do stryke vpon the cordes wherewith they do breake all the bones and cause them to suffer more paine and griefe than with the torment of the handes At the executing of these torments the supreme Iudges are alwaies present the which seeldome times doth happen for that such as be culpable will sooner confesse than suffer those torments desiring rather to die some other death that is not so cruell than to suffer the paines of this torment The prisons that they haue are no lesse cruell and rigorous as you shall vnderstand in a chapter by it selfe hereafter CHAP. XI Of the visiters that the king doth send euery yeare to visite the inâ—â—rior Iudges of his prouinces and of the punishing of such as they do find culpable IT is to be woondred at the great and vigilant care that this heathen prince hath in that his ministers and Iudges as wel viceroyes gouernors presidents as anie other officers should execute their offices well and vprightly as they ought to doo for in the end of thrée yeares that their gouernmeÌ„t doth indure they do take of theÌ„ in residence straight account by the Iudges thereof who bee called Chaenes Likewise they doo dispatch euerie yeare in great secrecie into euerie prouince other Iudges and visitors that be called Leachis the which are persons of great confidence and prooued by experience of long time to be of good life good customes and haue done good seruice in the administring of iustice vprightly These as they trauaile do inquire in euerie citie and towne that they come in not being knowen and in verie â—â—cret manner all griefes and iniustice that is done in that prouince which is the occasion that euerie one dooth liue as the prouerbe sayth with their face discouered These do carrie from the king so great authoritie in their commissions giuen them that without returning to the court if they finde any delict culpable they may apprehend the Iudges and punish them suspend and repriue and do any thing touching their commission at their owne pleasure so that it be not to take away the life of any man This as it is said none can do without the consent of the king And because they should execute their office the better in this visitation and with Iustice and equitie they do make them to sweare to be loyall true and secret The which oth is executed in this order they doo giue him to drinke thrée times of a certaine beuerage which they doo vse that is the confirming of their oth And for that their departure should be with more secrecie the counsell doth commaund their secretaries to make their prouisions leauing in blank a space for his name that shal haue the prouision and for the name of the prouince whether he shall goe declaring nothing but that which is their ordinarie that wheresoeuer the Loytia or Iudge being so dispatched shall come that they shall obey him as the king himselfe But when soeuer it is in secret determined who shall goe â—hen doth the president of the counsel command the prouision to be sealed then he himselfe doth write his name in and the prouince whether he doth goe And therewithall hee dooth depart from the court in great secrecie and vnknowen of any who it is nor whether he doth go nor wherefore Then when he doth come to the prouince citie or town whether he is sent hee dooth with like secrecie make his inquirie how
benefites and profites and likewise to request him if it were his pleasure to sende an ambassador to y e king of that kingdome the better to confirme their friendship to carrie with him some things which be vsed in his countrie which would be maruellous well estéemed of the Chinos be a way vnto the preaching of the gospel and bee a beginning that a farther contraction may growe betwixt the Christians and the Chinos of the which shall follow the aforesaid profite vnto other countries by the great quantitie of things as well of riches as of other curiosities that shalbe brought from theÌ„ce After they had well considered with great deliberation who should be the person that they shoulde send vpon so long a iourney for to request his maiestie of the aforesaid in the ende they did agrée vppon for to desire the prouinciall of the Augustine friers who was called Frier Dilho de Herrera a man of great learning and of great experience touching matters of those Ilands for that hee was one of the first discouerers of them they requested him for the loue of God and the good seruice to his maiestie and the benefite that might come thereby vnto these Ilands that he would take vpon him to go with this petition for they were fully perswaded for that he had trauailed so manie places of those Ilands as also for his office and vocation there was none that better coulde put in effect their desire and perswade with his maiestie the great importance of that ambassage and manie other things necessarie touching the gouernement of those Ilands This determination was liked well of them all and that they had chosen well in sending of the prouinciall who incontinent departed from the Ilands in a shippe that was pepared for Noua Hispania which was in the yeare of Christ 1573. At his inbarking hee was accompanied with the gouernour and all those of that citie of whom hee was maruellouslie well beloued for his holinesse and good condition Desiring him with all diligence to procure to returne with as much breuity as was possible vnto those ilands whereas they so much loued him and had néede of his presence He did promise them to make all the spéede possible and in paiment of the trauel that he did take vpon him for the benifite profite he requested them al that they would pray vnto God to giue a good voyage they promised him to doo it the which they did performe with particular care Then did the master command to weigh ankers and to set saile which was in the moneth of Nouember the same yeare and with reasonable whether they arriued at the new Spaine and came vnto the cittie of Mexico and from thence they went and embarked themselues in the North seas who with prosperous winds the xiii day of August the yeare following they ariued in San. Lucar debarameda in Spaine and caried me in his company From thence the day following we departed from Syuel from whence wee departed forthwith toward Madrid whereas his maiestie was at that present and we came thither the fiftéenth day of September in anno 1574. the same wéeke that they had newes of the losse of the Goleta Wée went straightwayes to kisse the kings hands and caried the letters which we brought from his gouernor and citie by whom both we and the letters were receiued with his accustomed benignitie and did heare the petition with great satisfaction for that the desire was holy and profitable and told vs that he would command his counsell to vnderstand in the same with a particular consideration and with so much breuitie as the thing required and gaue vs thankes for the great trauell and long iourney which we tooke vpon vs in his seruice for to giue him notice of the discouering of this great kingdome and of other things touching the Ilands Philippinas He straightwayes commanded that we should be prouided for of all things necessarie for our sustentation for the time that we should there remaine and that we should go and giue account of all things for the which we came thither vnto the counsel of the Indies who was Don Iuan de Obando vnto whom his maiestie did recommend the consideration to be done with great care and to consult vpon the same After that they had comuned with the roiall counsell of the Indies touching that which should be requisite and conuenient which was done as it appeared in effect for that they gaue vs facultie in a few dayes after of all things that was requested from the said Ilands except that which did touch the ambassage vnto the 〈◊〉 of China as a thing of greater importance and requested lonâ—â—r time to consider of the same so that they did referre it till they â—â—d a better occasion So that with this resolution and with fortie religious men and manie commissions from his maiestie touching the good gouernement of that new kingdome wee departed from Syuell in the moneth of Ianuarie the yeare following in 1575. whereas I remained by his order and for certaine respects But the aforesaid Prouinciall did imbarke himselfe with his fortie religious persons and departed in the moneth of Iuly with a faire winde and merrie passage till they came vnto newe Spaine and from thence into the South sea vntill they came in sight of the Ilands whereas the wether did alter and they were forced by the furie thereof to ariue at an Iland inhabited with Gentiâ—es by whome they were all slaine and none escaped but onely an Indian natural of the Ilands which wee carried from thence in our companie for Spaine He afterwards came vnto Manilla and gaue them to vnderstand how they were all slaine and how the Gentiles did teare all the papers and commissions in péeces and of all that happened to them This being knowne by the gouernor and by the rest that dwelt in the Ilands after that they had done the rytes with the funerall griefes as iustice required in such a case they finding themselues in the same necessitie that before they were in by reason of the losse of the aforesaid Prouinciall and his companions and also of the letters and prouisions sent from his maiestie they forthwith in the same determination did write new letters in requesting that which in part the king had granted although they had no knowledge thereof they did also therein write touching the ambassage that they did request for the king of China adding therunto new occasions wherby they should be moued to do them so much fauour as to send the ambassador afore requested which was a thing of great importanâ—s for all those Ilands When that these letters came in conformitie with the others before sent the king did ordaine for gouernor of those Ilands a Gentleman who was called Don Gonsalo de Mercado y Ronquillo a man of great valor discretion one that had serued the king as wel in the Peru. as in Mexico with great fidelitie who
gouernor of the cittie did send and commanded that forthwith they shoulde go vnto his house for that hee had great desire to sée them the which they did more for necessitie of the time then for any good will They went forth from their lodging on foote whether it was for that the gouernors house was néere hande or else peraduenture at his commandement which they could not well vnderstande but did as the captaine that guarded them did commande In the midst of the stréete wheras was no lesse number of people then in the other wherby they entred into the Citie they met with a Loytia that came to entertaine them with great maiestie and had carried before him manie banners mase bearers and tipstaues and others which carried settes or whips which they did traile after them made fast vnto long stickes which were the executioners the which doo go alwayes making of way parting the people before the Loytias as you haue hearde The maiestie and company wherewith he came was so great that they verely did beléeue him to be the Insuanto but being certified they vnderstoode that it was one of his counsailers that came from the gouernors home to his owne house which was in the same stréet whereas hee met with them This counsailor was carried in a chaire of Iuory garnished with gold and with curtines of cloth of golde and on them the kings armes which are certaine serpents knotted togither as hath béene tolde you But when he came right against the spaniards without any staying he made a signe with his head and commanded that they should returne backe againe vnto his house which was hard by the captains did straightways obey his commandement and returned with them The counsailor entred into his house which was verie faire he had in it a faire court and therein a gallant fountaine and a garden After him entred the spaniards all alone the rest remained without in the stréet at the Loytias commandement he entertained them with verie good wordes of semblance and saide in conclusion that they were welcome into that kingdome with many other wordes of curtesie vnto the which they answered with the same curtesie with signes and by their interpreter that they carried with them This Loytia commaunded a banquet to bee brought foorth and wine to drinke hee began first both to eate and drinke Then hee commanded to call in the captaine vnto whome was giuen the charge to beare them companie and did chide with him verie sharpely and seuerely because he did carrie them on foote they coulde not vnderstande whether it were doone for a policie or of a trueth although the effectes wherewith hee did chide séemed of a trueth hee straightwayes commaunded two rich Chayres to bée brought foorth for to carrie the Fathers and to giue vnto their companions horses the which being done he willed them to go and visite the gouernor who did tary their comming and that another time at more leasure he would sée and visite them They followed their way all alongst the stréete which séemed vnto them to be more fairer then the other wherein they entered and of more fairer houses and triumphant arkes and also the shoppes that were on the one side and on the other to bee better furnished with richer thinges then the others in so ample sort that what therewith as also the great number of people which they sawe they were so amased that they were as people from themselues thinking it to be a dreame To conclude after they had gone a good while in that stréete delighting their eies with newe thinges neuer séene of them before they came into a great place whereas were many souldiers in good order with their hargabushes pickes and other armour in a redinesse apparelled all in a liuerie of silke with their ancients displayed At the end of this place was there a very faire and sumpteous pallace the gate was wrought of masons worke of stone very great full of figures or personages and aboue it a great window with an iron grate al guilt they were carried within the gates the souldiers the people which were without number remained without and coulde not be auoyded but with great difficultie When they were within the first court there came forth a man very well apparelled and of authoritie and made signes with his hande vnto them that brought the Spaniards that they should carrie them into a hal that was vpon the right hand the which was straightwayes done The hall was very great faire at the end therof there was an altar whereon was many Idols all did differ the one from the other in their fashion the altar was rich and very curiously trimmâ—d with burning lampes the aultar cloth was of cloth of gold and the fruntlet of the same After a while that they had béene there whereas the Idols were there came a seruant from the gouernor and saide vnto them in his behalfe that they shoulde sende vnto him the interpreter for that hee woulde talke with him and tell him some things that they ought to obserue if they would haue any audience of him they straightwayes commanded him to go And the gouernor said vnto him that hee should aduise the fathers and the rest of his companions that if they would talke treate of such businesse as they came for that it must be done with the same ceremonie and respect as the Nobles of that prouince do vse to talke with him which is vppon their knées as afterwards they did sée manie times vsed if not that they shoulde depart vnto the house whereas they were lodged and there to tarrie the order that shoulde bee sent from the vizroy of Aucheo The Spaniards when they hearde this message there was amongst them diuers iudgementes and opinions striuing amongst themselues a good while but yet in conclusion the religious Fathers whome the gouernour of the Ilandes had ordeined and sent as principalles in this matter and whose iudgemente they shoulde followe saide that they ought to accept the condition seeing that by no other meanes they coulde not come vnto that they pretended and not to leaue it it off for matters of small importance for that therein they make no offence vnto GOD and it may bee a meane vnto the conuerting of that mightie kingdome whome the diuell maketh reckoning to bee his owne and not nowe to leaue it off but rather to procure all meanes that may be as they had begun to do and seeing that it is no offence vnto God as aforesaide neither sent as ambassadors from the king of Spaine I doo not know to the contrarie but that wee may consent vnto the will of the Insuant and in especiall being a thing so commonly vsed in that countrie This opinion and iudgement was followed although the souldiers that were with them were of a contrarie opinion so they sent answere vnto the gouernor with the said interpreter that they will obserue their accustomed ceremonies and
apparell themselues in Chinos apparell without being knowne and came vnto a gate of the Cittie whereas the souldiers that had the charge thereof were voide of all suspition of any enimies that woulde come which was the occasion that their armor and weapon was not all in a redinesse And within a little while after that followed two thousand that did disembarke themselues in a secreat and vnknowne place and came in verie secret order because they would not be discouered and did beset that gate of the cittie whereas their companions were which they sent before who so soone as they saw them nigh at hande drewe out their weapons the which they caried hid vnder their apparell and set vpon the souldiers that were voide of feare and vnarmed with so great furie and force that they being amased were easilie slaine so that they were lordes of the gate whereas they left verie good guard and followed their victorie and made themselues lordes of the Cittie without any daunger vnto their persons and did possesse the same certaine dayes and did sacke the same in spite of them all with great harme and losse vnto the inhabitants thereof vntill such time as the vizroy of Aucheo did lâ—uie an armie togither of thrée score and tenne thousande men and went vpon them with courage for to bée reuenged on the iniurie receiued with the death of all the Iapones but they séeing that they coulde not defend themselues against so manie in one night they left the Cittie and went vnto their shippes whereas they had left them in verie good order and carried with them the spoile of the Cittie leauing it beaten downe and dispopulared the greater part thereof in which sort the Spaniards founde it and the iniurie receiued so fresh in their minds as though it had béene doone the day before In this Citie they were lodged in the kings house the which was of verie great faire buildings there was giuen them to dine and suppe in very good order and with aboundance So soone as they came thither the Friers remained in their lodgings but Pedro Sarmiento and Miguel de Loarcha went to visite the gouernor vsing the spanish curtesie with him and he receiued them with great ioy and curtesie After they had taken their leaue and returned vnto their lodgings the gouernor sent to visite them El Tyu who is the auncientest of his counsaile who was with them a good while verie friendly and offered his seruice in all thinges that were néedfull and so departed to his house maruellously well accompanied The gouernor sent vnto the two souldiers that went to visite him eâ—h of them two péeces of silke At their departure from this Cittie trauelling towards Aucheo they passed ouer a mightie great ryuer by a bridge all made of stone the goodliest and greatest that euer they had séene whose greatnesse did cause wonderful admiration so that they stayed and did measure it from one end to another that it might be put amongst the wonders of that country which they tooke a note of They found that it was one thousand and thrée hundred foote long and that the least stone wherewith it was built was ofseuentéene foote and many of two and twentie foote long and eight foote broad and séemed vnto them a thing impossible to be brought thither by mans art for that all round about so farre as they could sée was plaine ground without any mountaines by which they iudged them to be brought from farre When they were passed that bridge they trauelled al the rest of the day till night vpon a causie that was very broad and plaine and on both sides many victualling houses and the fieldes sowed with Rice wheate and other séeds and so full of people as in the stréetes of a good towne or cittie So when they came into the suburbes of the citie of Aucheo they founde order and commandement from the vizroy what should be done as more at large shalbe declared vnto you in the chapter following CHAP. XXII The entrie of the Spaniards into the Cittie of Aucheo and how the vizroy did entertaine and receiue them AFter they had trauelled more then halfe a league in the suburbs of the cittie of Aucheo they met with a post that came from the vizroy who brought order that they should reremaine in a house that was appointed for them in the said suburbs and there to be lodged for that night for that it was late they could not come vnto the house appointed in the cittie for them or else peraduenture to giue content vnto many that had great desire to sée those strangers for that they must passe thorough the Cittie and better to bee séene in the day then in the night So soone as they were alighted there came a gentleman to visite them sent from the vizroy to bidde them welcome and to know howe they did with their iourney and also to sée that they were well prouided for that night of all things necessarie and that in aboundance After all the which being done he told them that the viceroy did verie much reioyce of their comming and for that it was late and the Citie farre off it was his pleasure that they shoulde bee lodged that night in the suburbes vntill the next day then will he giue order that they may enter into the Cittie with the authoritie conuenient vnto their persons After this Gentleman came other Captaines to visite them and brought with them great store of conserues wine and fruit which is a common custome amongst them when that they go in the like visitation and it is carried by their seruants in little baskets very curiously wrought or else in barrels made of earth all guilt Within two houres after their comming thither there came another messenger from the vizroy with many men laden with Capons Hens Géese Teales gamons of Bacon and conserues of diuers sorts and of great abundance sufficient for one hundreth men to sup that night and for their dinner the next day The next day in the morning very early there came much people vnto their lodging sent by the vizroy and brought with them two rich Chaires for to carrie the fathers in and the curtines tied vp that they might the better be seene and for their companions verie good horses sadled after the fashion which they doo vse They forthwith made haste for to depart and although they made great spéed yet were they a good houre and a halfe before they coulde come vnto the gates of the Cittie and séemed vnto them that they had trauelled two leagues in the suburbes the which was so well peopled so faire houses and many shoppes full of merchandise that if it had not beene told them they would not haue beléeued it to be the suburbes but the cittie it selfe Before they came vnto the gates they passed a mightie riuer thrée times ouer bridges that were great and verie faire and the riuer so déepe that great shippes came vp
that hee was entred into the spanish ship saw the friers the rest that were in their cōpanie saw that their apparell spéech was strange vnto him he asked of them what they were and from whence they came whether they went and when y e he vnderstood y t they were Castillos of the Ilands Philippinas came frō the said Ilands were bound vnto China with intent to preach the holy gospell he asked thē whose licence they had to conduct them vnto the firme lande But when he vnderstood that they had none hee asked them howe they passed and escaped the fléete of ships that was in the straight aforesayde The Spaniards answered that they found no impediment nor let So he being greatlie amazed as well of the one as of the other entred into his owne boate and with great furie departed from their shippe and went into his owne but at his departure the Spaniards did request him that he would conduct them vnto the cittie who gaue them to vnderstande by signes that he woulde although he feared the rigorous punishment that in that kingdome is executed vppon all such as doo bring into the same any man of a strange nation as hath béene tolde you in the first part of this historie So hee fearing that if hée shoulde enter with him into the port the fault would be imputed vnto him therefore at such time as hee came within halfe a league of the riuers mouth he cast about his shippe and sailed to sea and went so farre that in a short time the Spaniards had lost the sight of them who when they saw that they had no guide they followed the course of another shippe that they had discouered before the other did cast about to sea for which occasion the other two ships that wee spake off before were departed So a little before the sunne-set they discouered the mouth and entrie of a great and mightie brode riuer out of the which came two great streames or armes and in them many ships entering in and going forth and considering how they had the winde which serued them well they entered into the same but when they had sailed forwards a quarter of a league they discouered so great a multitude of barkes that it seemed vnto them a groue or some inhabited place and as wee drewe nigh vnto them they not knowing our shippe all began to flie and run away with so great noise as though they should haue béene all set on fire or smoke in that place The Spaniards séeing that they were the occasion of this feare amongst them they withdrew themselues into the middest of the riuer whereas they strooke saile and came to an anker there they did ride all that night and it was in such a place that none of al the other barks and boates came nigh them by a great way The next day following which was sunday the one twentith day of Iune they weighed anker and went vnder their foresaile vp that arme of the riuer the which within a little while they had sailed did ioine with the other arme aforesaide and was in that place of so great widenesse that it séemed to bée a sea there sailed in and out many shippes barkes and boates of whome the Spaniards demaunded how farre the port was off from that place but they answered nothing at all but with great laughter and wonder to sée the Spaniards and their kind of attyre they departed But when they had sailed two leagues vp the riuer they discouered a high towre and very faire vnder the which were at an anker a great number of shippes thither they sailed right on So when as they came right ouer against the towre they saw on shore a great mighty crane to discharge merchandize withall whereat lay many ships but when they came to the point fearing that some ordinance would be shot at them they strooke all their sailes according vnto the vse custome in y e ports of Spaine They after a while that they had remained in that sort saw that neither the towre nor y e ships did make any motion towards them they turned and hoised vp againe their sailes and went wheras al the ships were when they came amongst them they let fall their anker wheras they did ride looking when they would come to demand of them any thing CHAP. III. The Friers and their companions came vnto the Cittie of Canton they went on shore and praised God for that it had pleased him to let thē see their desire fulfilled There comes a Iustice to visite them and hath with them great communication THe Spaniards séeing that they were there at an anker a good while that there was none that came vnto them to demand any questiō they hoised out their boate went in it on shore wheras they al knéeled downe vpon their knées and with great deuotion did say Te Deum laudamus giuing thankes to God for that he had so myraculously brought them into y e kingdome of China of them so much desired without any Pilot or other humane industrie the which being doone they began to walke along by the crane aforesaid nigh vnto the which were certaine houses whereas were kept ropes and tackling belonging vnto the shippes so they procéeded forwards with intent to séeke the gates of the Citie the which after they had gone the space of foure hargabus shot they found the gate which was verie great and sumptuous of a strong and gallant edifice The people of the country séeing them at their comming a shore how they did knéele downe and how that their manner of attire was different from the people of the same not knowing from whence they did come did cause in them great admiration and to ioyne togither a great troope of people and followed them with great desire to sée the end of their enterprise This great multitude of people was the occasion that they entred in at the gates of the Cittie without being discouered of the guards ports that were put there for that purpose neither were they disturbed of the entry by reason of the great throng of people and strangenesse of the matter So after they had gone a while in the stréete the people increasing more and more to sée them they staied in the porch of a great house there where as the iustices of the sea or water bailies do kéepe their courts of audience and in the meane time that they remained there which was a pretty while the guardes of the gate vnderstood that amongst y e presse throng of the people did enter certaine strangers contrary to the precept giuen them vpon great penalties they straightway with great feare that their ouersight should be discouered ran laid hands vpon y e Spaniards carried them backe againe put them out of the gate of the citie without doing any euil or harme vnto their persons willed them to stay
you and the countrie beeing fertile is the occasion that they haue all thinges in great abundance and at a lowe price Now to returne to their voyage the which they made verie well and with great recreation as well in the townes alongst the riuer side as vpon the riuer whereas they were cherished with great care in the end of foure dayes which was the twentith day of August they entred into the suburbes of the Citie of Aucheo but so late that they were constrayned to remaine there till the next day whereas they found all thinges necessarie and in good order aswell for their bedding as for their supper to passe away the night The next day very early in the morning he that was their conduct and guide made great haste for to goe and sée what the viceroy would command They trauailed through a great and long stréete which séemed vnto them to be more than a league and thought that they had gone through the citie So when they had passed that street they came vnto the gate of the citie and there they vnderstoode that the rest which they had gone and passed was the suburbes The mightinesse of this citie and the great admiration they had with the multitude of people a wonderfull great bridge the which they passed with many other thinges of the which they made mention we do let passe for that it is declared vnto you more at large in the relation giuen by the Augustin friers in the booke before this at their entrie into the sayd citie So when they came to the pallace of the viceroy he was not stirring neither was the gate open for as it hath béene tolde you it is open but once a day Their guide séeing that it would be somewhat long before that they would open it he carried the Spaniardes into a court of an other house which was ioyning vnto that of the viceroy In the meane while they were there came all the Iudges to sit in audience but when they vnderstoode of the comming of the strangers they commanded that they should be brought before them who greatly marueiled at the aspernesse of their apparell and not at any other thing for that they had séene there before the Austin fryers Straightwayes the gate of the pallace was open with great noyse of artilerie and musicall instruments as trumpets bagpipes sackebuttes and hoybukes with such a noyse that it séemed the whole citie would sincke At the entrie in the first court there were many souldiers armed and had hargubushes and lances and in a very good order In an other court more within which was very great railed round about with timber painted blacke and blew which a far off séemed to be yron and was in height a mans stature there they sawe also many other souldiers placed in the same order and in liuerie as the others were but they séemed to be men of a gallanter disposition When they came into this court there was brought vnto them a commandement from the viceroy in the which they were commanded to returne and come thether againe in the after noone for that he could not speake with theÌ„ before by reason of certaine businesse he had with the Lords of the counsell which could not be deferred With this answere they departed out of the pallace and returned againe in the after noone as they were commanded and into the same court aforesaide out of y e which they were carried into a mightie great hall very richly hanged and adorned at the ende thereof was thrée doores that in the middest was great but the other two but small the which did correspond vnto other thrée doores that were in an other hall more within wherein was the viceroy right ouer against the doore in the middest in at y t which there is none permitted to enter nor go foorth Hee was set in a marueilous rich chayre wrought with iuorie and gold vnder a canopie or cloth of state all of cloth of gold in the middest was embrodered the kings armes which were as we haue said cerâ—aine serpents woond in a knot together He had also before him a table whereon were two candles burning for y t it was somewhat late and a standish with paper Right before the viceroy the wall was verie white whereon was painted a fearce dragon who did throwe out fire at his mouth nose and eyes a picture as was giuen them to vnderstand that all the Iudges of that countrie coÌ„monly hath it painted before their tribunall seates whereas they sit in Iustice and is there to the intent to signifie vnto the Iustice the fearcenesse that he should haue sitting in that seat to do Iustice vprightly without feare or respect to any The order they haue in giuing audience is with the ceremonies in all points as it hath béene shewed you in the relation of the fathers of S. Augustin All people when they talke with the viceroy are knéeling on their knées although they be Iudges or Loytias as the Fryers did sée them many times This day they séeing that the Spaniardes remained looking alwaies when they should be coÌ„manded to enter in the viceroy gaue audience vnto y e scriueners or notaries to certifie him selfe if they did their offices well commanded fiftie of them at that present to be sotted or beaten for that they were found culpable in their detayning of matters and others the like for that they had receiued gifts bribes of their clyents the whâ—ch is prohibited and forbidden vnder gréeueous penalties for that the king doth giue vnto theÌ„ all sufficient stipend for their maintenance for that they should not incroch nor demand any thing of their clyentes The sets or stripes which were giuen them were with great crueltie and executed with certaine caâ—es and in that order as in other places it hath béene told you The viceroyes gard were in number more than two thousand men placed all on a ranke all apparelled in one liuery of silke on their heads helmets of yron very bright glystering and euerie one his plume of feathers These souldiers made a lane from the gate of the hall there whereas the viceroy was vnto the principal gate of the pallace wheras they did first enter Those which were in the hals vpon the staires had swords girt vnto theÌ„ they in the courtes had lances and betwixt euery one of them a hargubusher All this gard as was giuen them to vnderstand were Tartaros and not Chinos but the reason wherefore they could not learne although they did inquire it with diligence CHAP. VIII The Spaniards are brought before the viceroy he asketh of them certaine questions and doth remit them vnto the Timpintao his deputie who receiueth them well and giueth them good speeches AT that present came forth a seruant of the viceroyes a maÌ„ of authoritie and made signe vnto the Spaniards to enter into the hall instructing them that at the first entry they should knéele downe
not let to imagine newe matters against the poore fathers to haue occasion to apprehend them and imagined in his minde for to write a letter vnto the interpreters in the which hee did offer them great quantities of mony if that they would do so much as giue order that the Iudges woulde sende the religious men and Spanish souldiers that were in Canton vnto the Cittie of Machao aduertising them howe and which way they shoulde vse the matter to put it in effect and was that he should tell the Iudges that the first time when as they went to speake with the gouernor whereas they did aske and say that they would depart for the Ilands Philippinas that they did interpret it contrary for that their demand was for to go vnto Machao The interpreters straightwayes with the desire of gaine did take the charge vppon them and did vse the matter in such sort that the Iudges did sende them vnto Machao whether it were with or against their willes But God who woulde not permit those his seruantes and Christians to bee deceiued remedied the same at such time as it should haue béene put in execution in the manner as you shall vnderstande in the Chapter following CHAP. XII A Portugall of the Cittie of Macheo doth discouer the euill intent of the captaine general he giueth the Spaniards warning thereof by a letter without seale by the which they remedie the danger that was so nigh at hand they are called before the Aytao of the Cittie he declareth vnto them such matters as haue passed with him and the licence that was graunted for some of them to go vnto Machao and the other vnto Luzon BEing vnderstood by a Portugall a good Christian of the towne of Machao of such things as the captaine generall did imagine against the poore religious fathers that were in Canton and their companions the souldiers of whose holie zeale he was fully certified and being gréeued at the very soule that one Christian shoulde hurt and harme another and more in the disturbing of the saluation of soules hée determined with himselfe to giue them aduice therof with all spéed that was possible as in effect hee did by sending them a letter without anie name wherein he gaue them to vnderstand that the Captaine generall by meanes of the interpreters did pretende that they should be sent thither wheras he might apprehend them send them vnto the king of Portugall or else to doo some hurt vnto their person with some false information and willed them to be wel aduised to kéepe themselues from the deceit ordained The letter being séene and wel aduised of all that was therein contained they determined to giue notice thereof vnto a Chino a verie friende of theirs and perfite in the Portugall tongue whome diuers times they prooued by experience and founde him a very honest man and one that had doone them friendshippe who promised them that before many houres he would bring al things to light and to know whether that were true or not So with this desire he went there whereas the Iudge did sit in audience and was there as one that knew nothing vntill such time as he saw come thither one of the interpreters with a petition in his hand and presented it vnto the supreme Iudge who was the Aytao the which being read by a scriuener hée prouided that all things should be granted and doone that was therein contained This petition the Chino aforesaid saw and after that the interpreter was departed with contentment and found that in the same petition he did request in the name of the Spaniards of the Iudge to giue them leaue for to go vnto Machao which was more for their purpose then to go vnto the Ilands Philippinas which was granted by the iudge and lacking nothing but to seale or signe the petition but was delated vntill the euening by reason of certaine businesse that chanced at that present but sure it was the ordinance of God for that if it had béene signed they must néeds of force haue accomplished the same without any replication So with this certaintie he went straightwayes vnto the Spaniards to whom the interpreter had told that by petition he had asked licence for them to go to the Ilands Philippinas from whence they came but the Iudge woulde not graunt vnto that but for to go vnto Machao which was néerer hand who commanded them to accomplish the same without any replication vppon paine that they should be carried thither perforce The Spaniards asked councell of the Chino their friende what meanes might be taken to auoide the danger that the interpreter had begun to bring them in and was alredie gone to conclude the same The Chino said that he was fully perswaded that the Aytao loued them well and that he vnderstood hée did them great fauour and curtesie to graunt vnto the petition the which the interpreter did present in their name But notwithstanding for so much as it was not signed there was remedie to bee had if that they woulde present another which hee would giue them and go presently vnto the Aytao and present the same and say when they giue it him that they woulde go vnto Luzon and not vnto Machao and that he himselfe would go with them for the good will he bare vnto them if it were not for the great paine that is put vppon all them whosoeuer that shall speak for any stranger without licence of the Iustice or is called and ordained for the same So they being fully perswaded in this conclusion with the petition made all ready there entred in at the gate wheras they were a seruant to the Aytao who in the behalfe of his master came to cal the Spaniards to come before him for that he would sée and talke with them before their departure They straightwayes went forth in his cōpany and came vnto the gates of the cittie after they had gon a good wayes in the suburbs and there they were staied till such time as another came and brought their licence writtē vpon a table in such sort as in other places it hath béene told you So whē they had passed the gate they passed thorough a long stréet in the which they saw so great riches of so great curiosity that the father Costodio with great admiration said I haue béene in the principallest citties of all Flanders and Italie and in all them I haue not séene so great curiositie and riches as in this stréete alone and according vnto the report of them all hee had great reason to maruell thereat So they comming vnto the end of this stréete and in sight of another gate they sawe that the souldiers which kept and garded the same did shut them in their presence with great hast and let fall a percullis of yron before the gate and demanded to sée their licence at a window out of the saide percullis and when they had it although they saw with
of which shal be spoken more at large hereafter This kingdome towards the Orient dooth ioyne vnto the country of Peru and so running by the North sea and reacheth vnto Nombre de Dios which is a port of the saide kingdome and from thence vnto Acapulco which is a port in the kingdome of Mexico and in the South sea it reacheth vnto Panama a port of the said Peru and in the same sea it extendeth nigh vnto the straights of Magellanes and not farre from the riuer of Plata and Brasill To conclude this kingdome is so great that vnto this day they cannot find the end therof but euery day doth discouer new countries whereas all the Indians that they do finde are verie easie to bee reduced vnto the Catholike faith for that they are people very docible ingenious and of a good vnderstanding There is amongst them diuers languages and verie different climes although all generally doo vnderstande the Mexican tongue which is most common There are many prouinces inhabited by Indians and Spaniards that euery one of them is as bigge as a reasonable kingdome yet the greatest and most principall is that of Mexico whereas are many Indians and Spaniards which doo excéed all the rest in number the names of them are Honduras Guatimala Campeche Chiapa Guaiaca Mechuacan Nueua galicia Nueua Viscaya Guadiana and others mo which I leaue out because I woulde not be tedious in all the which they haue either a royall audience and gouernors or other Iustices all Spaniards The naturall people whereof neuer since they were conuerted haue béene found in any heresie nor in any thing contrarie vnto the Romish faith All these prouinces are subiect and doo acknowledge that of Mexico as the principall there whereas his maiestie hath his vizroy an inquisition an archbishop and a royall audience or court of Chancerie This Cittie of Mexico is one of the best that is in all the whole world and is situated vpon water after the manner and fashion of Uenice in Italie in all this kingdome almost you cannot know when it is winter or when it is summer for that in al the whole yeare there is smal difference betwixt the daies and the nights by reason of the temperature of the countrie the fieldes are gréene almost all the whole yeare and trées beare fruit also almost all the whole yeare for when it is winter in Europa then doo their fall dewes from heauen which dooth cause all things to budde and flowre and in the summer it doth ordinarily raine but especially in the monethes of Iune Iuly August and September in the which monethes it is a maruel when it raineth not euery day and it is to bee wondred at for that almost it neuer rayneth but from noone forwards and neuer passeth midnight so that it neuer troubleth them that doo trauell by the way for that they may beginne their iourney at midnight and trauell vntill the next day at noone It raineth vnreasonably and with so great furie and force that the time that it dooth indure it is requisite to flie from the showers for that many times they are so hurtfull that one sole shower taketh away the life of a man Almost all the whole yeare in this kingdome they do sowe and gather as wel wheaâ—e wherof they haue great abundance as Maiz which is the ordinary sustentation of al the Indians blacke moores horse of the which they haue great abundance very gallant good both to y e eye indéed as in any kingdom in al the whole world that is knowne vnto this day The brood of them was carried out of Spaine thither when first they did discouer that country for that effect were chosen the best that could bee found and for that they doo eate all the whole yeare greene grasse Maiz which is wheat of y e Indians is the occasion that they do deserue to haue the praise aboue all other In fine this kingdome is one of y e fertilest of victuals of al that euer we haue heard off and of riches for that there is in it an infinite number of siluer mines out of the which is taken great abundance as it is to be séene euery yeare when as the shippes doo come vnto Syuell It is vnder the Torrida Zona yet notwithstanding it is of the temperature as I haue said contrarie vnto the opinion of ancient Philosophers who said that it was not inhabited But now to excuse them it shal not be from our purpose to declare the cause wherefore they were deceiued and is that in the foure monethes aforesaide wherein the sunne hath his most force it doth continually rayne which is the occasion that the country is so temperate and besides this God doth prouide that it is visited with fresh windes which come both out from the South and North sea and is so ordinarie a thing that it is a maruell to see it calme by reason whereof the whole kingdome is of that propertie and although the sunne be very strong and causeth great heate yet putting himselfe vnder any shadowe although it bee but little they straightwayes feele a fresh and comfortable winde by reason of the temperature of the heauen in the manner aforesaid The inhabitants of this kingdome throughout al the whole yeare néede not to augment nor diminish their apparell neither their beddes Also the aire and clime is so holesome that you may lie and sléepe in the fieldes without any thing vppon you as in any house be it neuer so well hanged and close All that is discouered of this kingdome except it be the lande of the Chichimecos which is a kind of Indians that liueth as the Alarbes do in Africa without any house or towne all the rest I say are in peace and quietnes baptised and doctrined and furnished with many monasteries of diuers orders of religious men as of the order of S. Dominicke of S. Francis of S. Austen of Iesuits besides a great number of priests that are reparted in al parts of that kingdome so that the one and the other are continually occupied in doctrining of the naturall people and other Spaniards that are in that kingdome of whome although they be but a few in respect of the Indians yet do they surmount in number more then fiftie thousand In the principall citie of this kingdome which is that of Mexico as aforesaid there is a vniuersitie and in it be many schooles whereas is red any facultie as is in Salamanca that by men of great sufficiencie whose trauel is gratified with great rentes honor There bee also in it many great hospitals as well of Spaniards as of Indians wheras the sicke men are cured with great charitie comfort for that euery one of them haue great rents and reuenues I do not intreat of the Churches and monasteries both of Friers and Nunnes which are in that cittie nor of other particular thinges for that thereof
guarde them in the which they sawe so manie curious thinges and of so great riches that they iudged it to bée the best countrie in all the world So when they came vnto the citty with so small trouble and werinesse by reason of their long iourney and euill intreatings by the souldiers they were presently carried as might be sayde from Herode to Pylate and escaped not one day but they were carried to the publike audience or else before some particular Iudge This citie was very fresh both within and without and full of many orchards whereas were an infinite number of fruite with gardens stanges of water and other thinges of great recreation This citie is thrée times so bigge as Siuell and compassed about with a mightie strong wall their houses are very great and well wrought their stréetes are excéeding faire brode and long and so straight that from the one end vnto the other they may sée a man In equall distance the one from the other there are built many triumphall arkes which is an ordinarie and common thing vsed in the cities of that kingdome vpon their gates there are little towers wheron is planted all the artilerie that they haue for the defence of the citie as hath béen said all the which is inuironed and compassed about with a riuer which is great and faire on the which is ordinarily sayling an infinite number of barkes and brigandines and is of so great depth they may come lye harde vnto the wall yea ships of great burden On the one side of the citie there is a little Iland of great recreation vnto the which they do passe by a very faire bridge the one halfe made of stone and the other of timber and is of so great a length that on the part that is made of stone the father fryer Ignacio did tell thirtie Innes or victualing houses wheras was to be bought not only flesh and fish but also great store of marchandice of great estimation and valure as amber musk e péeces of silke and cloth of golde CHAP. XVI The Spaniardes are sent vnto the citie of Hucheofu doo declare what happened there vnto them FRom the citie of Saucheofu they were sent vnto Hucheofu the which is more principall and great than the first alwayes hauing with them in companie and garde the number of souldiers aforesaid sometimes they trauailed by lande and sometimes by water whereas they saw so many rich thinges which in respect to them all that they had séene vnto that time was nothing Of the which although I haue had particular relation of many of them I leaue off heere the declaring thereof for that of an Itinerario or commentarie I will not make a historie But principally for that many of them doo séeme to be incredible and will be more vnto those that haue not had any notice of the mightinesse of this kingdome In the discourse of this their iourney the cities and townes they sawe were many and verie bigge and all compassed with strong walles and at one of them there was a mightie riuer on the which was edified more than fiue hundreth engynes or whéeles and they were made with so much art that alonely with the violence of the streame of the riuer that dooth force them they water all the groundes there abouts for the space of two leagues and more without any other helpe or humaine force In this citie they were certaine daies in visiting and complementes after the which they were commaunded to goe vnto Canton of the which in the two relations before is made particular mention So when they came vnto the Citie they were carried vnto the prison of the Thequixi which is whereas are put such as are condemned to die the which they plainely perceiued There they remayned verie manie dayes and the most part of them were carried vnto the tribunall seate of the Iudges in companie with others that were condemned to die At this time there was in the citie the Tutan who was the viceroye of the prouince and the Chacu who is the generall visitor and that was at such time as was doone great Iustice for to cleare the prisons whereas were thousandes of men and some that had béene there more than tenne yeares There was some day at that time that in the presence of our people were brought foorth to be iudged two thousand prisoners some to the death and others to be whipped and other to be banished with other kinde of penalties according vnto the disposition rigor of their lawes That day wherein they make capitall audience they vse particular ceremonies as shooting of certaine péeces of artilerie and to shut the gates of the citie not permitting anie to enter in neither go foorth till such time as that act and Iustice be finished and many other things as hath béene declared in the first part of this historie The Spaniards being in the citie at this time of so great calamitie it so fell out that the same time there was a gentleman of Portingall called Arias Gonsalo de Miranda chiefe captaine of the citie of Machao very deuout vnto religious men and a friende vnto Spaniardes who vnderstanding the great trouble and danger wherein they were hee tooke order by all meanes possible to set them at libertie and had so great care therein that hee went through with his intent in such sort that they were deliuered out of pryson and from the great feare in which they were and all by the intercession of this gentleman who did vse so good persuasions for the loue he did bears vnto them that he made voyde the euill opinion they had against them and with compulsion to reuoke the rigorous sentence of death pronounced against them I do not here in particular treate of such thinges as happened vnto these religious men the seruants of God as well in the prison as on their iourney for that they were many and to declare them is requisite a long time and to make a new historie And although in the bookes before haue béen declared the riches of that kingdome and all thinges in particular yet for the better certification I thought it good and not without purpose to declare in the chapter following some of thâ—se which the father fryer Martin Ignatio did communicate with me vsing in the treating thereof so much breuitie that it shall séeme rather an Epilogo then a new relation And for a more verification of the truth whereby better credite may be giuen thervnto séeing that the persons who did sée it doo agrée in that which shall be here declared and againe for that the saide father and his companions did sée more thinges than the others whose relations be alreadie set downe The occasion wherefore they put confidence in them and to let them sée and vnderstand many secretes was for that they were sentenced and condemned to die for without all doubt if they had vnderstood that they should haue returned out of
a kingdome that hath great abundance of prouision and lacke of things of contractation or marchandice which is the occasion that they are little knowen Trauailing a little forwardes is the kingdome of Coromandel whose chiefe citie is called Calamina and nowe vulgarly Malipur and is there whereas was martyred the happie Apostle S. Thomas And they say that at this day there remaineth some of his relickes by whom God did many myracles The naturall people therefore haue a particular memory vntill this day of that saint This citie at this day is populared with Portingals and with the naturall people there is in it a church wherein is comprehended the house whereas was and died the holy Apostle this countrie belongeth vnto the king of Visnaga who although he be a Gentile he hath great reuerence and respect vnto the house of the holy Apostle and for particular deuotion he doth giue euerie yeare a certaine charitie There is in this citie two couentes of religious men the one of the companie of Iesus and the other of the order of S. Francis From this citie of Calamina to that of Visnaga there wheras the king is it is fiue and thirtie leagues by land This king is mightie and his kingdome very great and full of people and hath great rentes They say that onely the rent he hath of fine gold is worth vnto him thrée millions of the which he spendeth but one onely and doth keepe euerie yeare two millions in his treasorie the which according vnto the report fame is at this day with many millions He hath twelue principall or chiefe captaines and euerie one of them hath the gouernement of an infinite number of people hath great rent for the same for he that hath least rent hath sixe hundred thousand ducats yearely Euerie one of them are bound to giue the king to eate and all the people of his house one month in the yeare so that by this account the twelue captaines which are the lordes of the kingdome and as wee might say dukes doo beare his cost all the whole yeare The million the which he doth spend is in giftes and in extraordinarie thinges The king hath in his house what with wiues seruants and slaues nigh about fourtéene thousand persons and in his stable ordinarily a thousand horse and for his seruice and garde eight hundreth Elephants of whoÌ„ he doth spend euerie day eight hundreth ducats The garde of his person is â—oure thousand horsemen to whoÌ„ he giueth great wages He hath also in his house thrée hundreth wiues besides a great number of concubines they goe all gallantly apparelled and with rich iewels of the which there are of great estimation in y e kingdome they do almost euerie three daies change newe colors of apparell They do ordinarily vse colors of precious stones such as are called in spaine ojo de gato cats eies They haue great store of saphires pearles diamonds rubies many other stones y t are in that kingdome in great abundance Amongest all these wiues there is one that is as legitimate whose children doo inherite and if it so fall out that she is barren the first that is borne of any of y e other doth inherite which is the occasion that they neuer lacke a successor in that kingdome When the king of this kingdome doth die they do carrie him foorth into a mightie fielde with great sadnesse and mourning apparell and there in the presence of those twelue péeres a fore saide they do burne his bodie with wood of Sandalo which is of a great smell with the which they do make a great fire After that the bodie of the king is burned and consumed they throwe into the same the wiues that hee best loued with seruants and slaues those that he most estéemed in his life time the which they do with so great content that euery one dooth procure to be the first for to enter into the fire and they that are last do thinke themselues vnhappie All these do say that they go to serue the king in the other life whereas they shalbe with great ioy This is the occasion that they goe with so good a will to die and carrie with them the most richest and festiuall apparell they haue Of this is gathered that they do beléeue the immortalitie of the soule for that they doo confesse there is an other life and that thither they do returne and liue for euer without ende They are people that would be conuerted with the like facilitie vnto the holy gospell as their neighbours if there went any thether to preach Thrée score and tenne leagues from this citie there is a Pagode or temple of Idols whereas is a rich faire euery yeare it is a very sumptuous building and edified in a place so high that it may be séene many leagues before you come vnto it It hath ordinarily foure thousande men of garde who are paide with the rent of the temple the which is rich and verye good There is nigh vnto the same many mynes of golde and precious stones and that is taken out of them is rent vnto the temple There is in it a prâ—est of the Idolles whom they call in their language brama and is as the high priest in that countrie All the people of the land do come vnto him to vnderstand the doubtes of their manner of liuing and he doth dispence with them in many things that be prohibited by their lawes y e which he may do according vnto the sayd lawes and manie times he doth dispence with certaine of theÌ„ But here one to be laughed at which is that when a woman cannot suffer the condition of her husbande or is wearie of him for other occasions she goeth vnto this Brama and giuing vnto him a péece of golde which may be to the value of a ducat in Spaine he doth vnmarry theÌ„ and setteth her at libertie that she may marry with an other or with many if she please in token of this she is giuen a marke with an yron vpon her right shoulder so that with that alone she remaineth at libertie and her husband cannot do vnto her any harme for the same neither compell her to returne againe to his company There are in this kingdome many mynes of verie fine diamonds and are had in great estimation and very well knowen in Europe There hath béene found in them a stone so fine and of so great value that but few yeares past the king did sell the same vnto an other mightie king his borderer called Odialcan for a million of golde besides other thinges of value that hee gaue him ouer and aboue It is a healthfull countrie with very goâ—d and fresh ayres rich of prouisions and of all other necessaries not only for the humaine life but also for curiositie and delightes that be therein It is in fourtéene degrées towardes the pole artico All the people therein are faint hearted and cowards and for
aforesaide had knowledge howe that his craft and subtiltie was discouered thereupon to begin frame some other procuring for an instrument in the performing of the same some Iudge or some other person of power and authoritie So they being with this care discontent there came vnto the cittie of Canton foure Portugals to buy sell merchandice with a safe conduct which they had for y e same which was y e occasion y t their sorow trouble increased suspecting what might happen conformable to y e aduise which they had from thence but for y t they did comon visit theÌ„ many times w t intent to discouer their minds the one vnto the other they presently did forget the euill suspection that they had of them and not onely that but they did giue them great almes and charitie helping and aiding them in all things as it was méete and reason amongst Christians So being void of their first care they put all their diligence and care in their departure and seeing that there was no mention made thereof by reason that the Iudges were occupied in mustering the souldiers of that circuit in a great and mightie field whereas they were trained vp in Military exercises some shooting in bowes some with hargabushes tossing the pike running of horses and many other exercises mo and after that they had many different proofes as well of thinges past as at that present they ordained Captaines such as were aduanced aboue all the rest and most worthy all which being finished the Spaniards determined to put the Aytao in remembrance of his promise the better y t they might doo it and with most breuitie they ordained a petition and went with the same vnto the house of the Aytao therewith to aske licence to put it in vre The first Iudge they met withall was the Tequisi aforesaid who made signes that they should come vnto him and asked of them what they would haue The father Costodio answered nothing but onely to present that petition vnto the Aytao to put him in minde of their departure the Tequisi did take the petition promising them to giue it vnto him presently the which he did accomplish in a short space So being read by the Aytao he made answere by the same petition that he had a particular care of them and tarried onely for order from the vizroy which could not tarrie long the receiuing whereof hée woulde aduertise them the which hee did accomplish in fewe dayes which came with great content vnto the Spaniards for that he commanded that they should be sent away in verie good order and to giue them all that was néedfull for their iourney and that in aboundance The same day that this commission came there came also newes that the vizroy would come vnto the cittie of Canton and that within few dayes hee would bée there the which did so much trouble the Aytao the rest of the Iudges that day night they neuer rested but were occupied in the preparing al things necessary to receiue him which were so many with so great maiestie as though the king in person should come thither with great and mighty triumphall arkes rich hangings with other things the which I do not here make mention of although they were very curious because I would not be tedious for that I haue a great desire to conclude this little historie and if I should declare all that passed therin it were requisite for the same alone to make a great volume Foure dayes after the comming of the vizroy by his order there was giuen both to the one to the other a prouision in the which he commanded all Iudges and gouernors to receiue the Spaniards into their iurisdictions whereas they should passe not to permit any to do them harme or iniury but to giue them frée passage with securitie till such time as they should come to y e place appointed in y e said prouision which was vnto Machao vnto Luzon and iointly therewith he commanded two captaines to beare them company til such time as they had brought them out of all danger And to giue vnto them that went vnto Machao which was thrée daies iourney sufficient prouision requisite for fiue dayes and to them that went to Luzon their prouision for forty dayes although the voyage is to be made in fifteene dayes in twentie dayes at the most He also commanded them that had the charge to carry them that they shoulde haue a special care vnto their healthes in trauelling not too fast but little and little Likewise the Aytao gaue order vnto the interpreters for to sell the frigat in the which the fathers came thither and to giue vnto them the price that shoulde bee made thereof to bestow it at their pleasure the whiâ—h they did but kept still the halfe of that which they solde it â—orâ— and with manyother things mâ— which by the commandemeÌ„t of the vizroy was giuen them for their iourney and thought it well bestowed on them for to sée theÌ„selues free of their lyings crafts At the departure of the Father Costodio one of the souldiers mind was altred who was called Pedro de Villa roel and was very desirous to go with him vnto Machao the which hâ—e did accomplish by apparelling himself in the habite of a Portugal because he had no licence to go otherwise So all things being in a redinesse for their iourney they tooke their leaue the one of the other in shedding many teares with the griefe of minde The Father Costodio and his companions came safely and in health to Machao in foure dayes as himselfe did afterwards write thereof and were very well receiued of the Bishop and of all the rest and within fewe dayes after they gaue them a place for to build a monasterie wherein he and his companion might liue and all such as should take the habite of that order They came thither the fiftéenth of Nouember And those which went vnto Luzon departed out of the cittie of Canton in a great barke of the which there are many in all that kingdome very well tilted and dressed with many roomes and galeries and painted windowes as hath béene told you in the which they were very much made of by the patron of the said barke and of the passengers which were many and went vnto diuers partes with merchandice some thinges that they saw by the way till they came vnto Chincheo shal be told you in the chapter following CHAP. XIIII They that were determined to go vnto Luzon doo depart for the cittie of Chincheo in which voyage they see many riuers and townes and other particular things THe Spaniards depart out of the riuer of Canton after they had sailed by sea y e space of three leagues they entred into another mighty riuer in y e which they trauelled four daies And sure the great number of citties and townes that they saw alongst the riuers side is