departe for Portugale hee met with two Iewes of that Realme which went to seeke after him with the king Don Iohn his order because that one of them had beene in Babylon which are called Bagodad amongest those small Riuers of the riuer Euphrates that doe run iointly with that of Tiger into Sinus Persicos hee shoulde refourme him of the Trade and Traffike of the Ilande of Armos which was in the entrie of it in twentie and niene degrees of height of the North side where hee saide that thyther came all the Spices and Riches of the India with expresse coÌ„maundement to Covillana that if hee had not 〈◊〉 Prester Iohn â—…ee shoulde not returne without knowledge of him and that with the other Iewe hee woulde sende him relation of all that hee had seene and vnderstoode in his voyage the whiche hee did very effectually and when hee had dispatched hym hee returned with the other to Adem where they dyd embarke them selues to returne to Ormos â–ª And the thinges of that Ilande beeyng noted he left him there that hee might returne by lande with the Cafilas â–ª which are Carriers that carried Spices from thence to the Cities of Alexandrie â–ª Damasco in Suria â—… that he should continue goyng vppon his iourney vntill hee came to Portugale Hee returnyng to the red Sea â–ª and wente towardes the Courte of the Emperour of Aethiopia called by his owne people Alexander of whom bee was receiued with countenance of great contentinent esteeming much the embassage because it came from a Christian Prince from the partes of Europe And although that with all speede Covillana returned yet he had not in this good hay â–ª For that within a fewe dayes died the Emperour AlexaÌ„der And Nantâ—… his brother which did succeede him kept him there by force wherewithall he loste the hope to returne anye more too Portugale â–ª And by the aduice and relation hee sente with the Iewes and with others by diuers wayes the king Don Iohn determined too sende some Shippes by the Nauigation of the 〈◊〉 of Buena Esperanca vntoo the Trade of the Spicerie of the India And because that in this time which was in the yeere of one thousande foure hundred nientie and two they begunne too discouer the Weast Indias by Christopher Coloâ—… beyng a â—…inoues â—…orne who was the first that durst take so valiaunt an enterprise â–ª in â—…ande by the commaundement of the Catholike kinges Don Fernando and Ladie Elizabe These kings for the auoyding of differences made sâ—…te to the high Bishop Alexander the sixth who then was President in the Catholike Church that it woulde please him to appoint out and confirme to them theyr discoueries And the Pope beyng informed did graunt too the kynges of Castile the conquest of the Indias Ilandes and landes that should be discouered in the West parts and to the kings of Portugales that of Affrica and the Countries of the Caste partes in equall portions so that it might bee vnderstoode the Nauigation from one hundred leagues more too the Westwarde of the Ilandes of Cape verde whereof the king Don Iohn found him selfe agreeued because he gaue him no more space or Circuite towardes the West And so it was graunted with the will and consent of the Catholike kinges other three â—…undred and sixtie leages more towardes the West The king Don Iohn not vnderstanding at that time howe hurtful it would be to his successours for the pretence of the Ilandes of Malâ—…cas and because his life is waxed shorts it fortuned not in his time this Nauigation should be begun â–ª but was reserued by a diuine prouidence for the king Don Emanuel his Cosin that shoulde succeed him in those Realmes The fourth Chapter how that the king Don Emanuel sent by the way of Cape Buena Esperanca Don Vasco â–ª de Gama with an embassage to the king of Calicut of the successe he had vntil he returned to Portugal AND although that the King Don Iohn had prepared ships for the NauigatioÌ„ of the India â–ª WheÌ„ he died yet y king Don Iohn Emanuel coulde not see forward this iourney vntil the 2. yeere of his raigne with was in the yeare 1491 when as he sent although that they of his counsell were of contrarie opinion yet theÌ„ I say he sent Don Vasco de Gama a knight of his house and other twoo captaines in three shippes with ambassadge vnto the king of Calicut too the ende be might bee in league with him and with other kings of the same coast of India to obteine of them that hee and his successors might haue the trade of the spicerie graunted vnto them Nowe you shal vnderstand that the said Don Vasco departed with these shippes leauing the king and his court and al others very sad bicause he went vpon a voiage so long so daungerous so vnknowen And hee was fyue monethes in the Sea before hee coulde get as farre as the cape of Buena Esperanca by reason in those daies the Portugales sailed not by the Bowlyng in the hye Seas in such sort as they do now but alwaies weÌ„t neere to the coast of Ginea For although that in the tyme of the king Don Iohn they had knowledge of degrees and of the Astrolobe yet the Pilots which they caried with them durst not put themselues into any gulfe as they now do which doo runne from the tyme that they departe from Lishebron towards the southwest vntil they passe the Ilands of Puerto Sancto and the Medera and from thence towardes the south southeast to the sight of the Ilands of Canaria and then south passing betweene the firme lande and the Ilands of Cape Verde and South and by East vntill they put themselues in the height of the lyne and although that the cape of Buena Esperanca do fal Southeast of them they cannot make their way good by reason that in those Seas are many leuantes which are Eastsoutheast and Southeast windes that doeth cause them to fal ouer neere too the coast of Brasil and therefore they go by the Boweling running towardes the South Southeast South and Southwest according as winde and weather do giue them leaue vntill they put themselues intoo thirtie and six degrees sometymes in sight of the Ilandes of Tristan de Acunna which lye from the West parte of the cape Buena Esperanca foure hundreth and fiftie leages and at other tymes they runne into fourtie fourtie fiue degrees vntil they â—…nde Westerly windes wherewith they returne and runne towards the East and Eastnortheast too seeke the cape When Don Vasco de Gama passed he ran towards the Northeast along the coast and bicause he would put himselfe into the Sea when hee came to the cape of the currentes or tydes for feare he should put himselfe intoo any baie or shallow place and bicause he woulde passe along the coaste with al the vanâ—…age hee could he past and had no sight of the inhabitantes of Zofala betweene the Iland of Saincte Lorence
¶ A discourse of the nauigation which the Portugales doe make to the Realmes and Prouinces of the East partes of the worlde and of the knowledge that growes by them of the great thinges which are in the Dominions of China Written by Barnardine of Escalanta of the Realme of Galisia Priest. Translated out of Spanish into English by Iohn Frampton ¶ Imprinted in London at the three Cranes in the Vine-tree by Thomas Dawson 1579. ⧠To the right woorshipfull Maister Edwarde Dier of the Court esquire Iohn Frampton wisheth encrease of woorship and of all felicitie THere was brought mee not long agoe right woorshipful Sir out of Spayne a discourse in the Spanish tongue of the Nauigation that the Portugales haue to the kingdomes and prouinces of the Eastâ—… partes of the worlde and of the intelligence of the same Portugale Nation which they nowe of late haue gotten in those partes of the greatnesse of the Dominion and politike gouernement of that Famous Countrey China And finding in the same discourse a verification by newe late and present experience of this our age and present time of many things written long agoe by Paulus Venetus which woorke of Paulus I did translate and about a yeere past dedicated to your worship I became the more desirous also to translate this into the English the rather bycause this worke seemed to haue a certaine affinitie in matter and also conteyned great varietie of thinges not conteyned in the woorke of the sayde Paulus Venetus And fynding now in England many excellent men in the Art of Nauigation as well able to endure extreame heate as extreame colde and to crosse the burnte lyne as also able to passe the colde Zone and frosen Sea and with all youth and frye of the Realme bothe infinitly abounding and also exceedingly inflamed with desire to attempte newe discoueries I the rather decreed the translation heereof and was fully perswaded that the great Almightie GOD hath wrought the one and the other to the ende that hee woulde haue his sonne Iesus that hath brought saluation vnto the worlde knowen to nations not yet discouered For what more pleasante Sacrifyce can wee offer in this life vnto our GOD then to labour in all that euer wee may to bring the Barbarous to Ciuilitie the Rude to knowledge the superstitious to the true liuely worship of his name to win them from darknesse to light froÌ„ crueltie to curtesie from vanitie to veritie from death vnto life If wee bee not borne to profite our selues but to seeke the aduauÌ„cemeÌ„t of Gods glory how commendable an enterprise is that how highly to be wished how much to be furthered which not onely encreaseth the profite of our countrey but augmenteth the nuÌ„ber of the faithful Therfore God hauing decreed to make himselfe knowen as well by our Englishe Nation in some quarters of the vnknowen worlde as he hath of late yeeres beene by the Spaniarde in West and by the Portugale in the Easte And beeyng mooued to take in hande this small translation by personnes of sundry callynges and especially by diuerse moste excellent Pilottes Maisters and towardly young Marriners muche exceedyng in knoweledge and godly lyfe many of that profession that haue been heretofore I haue other needful busines set aparte perfourmed theyr requeste And the thing that I much desired for the loue I beare to good discoueries And now dedicate the same to your woorshyp as a speciall fauourer of all good knowledges and of all enterpises tending too the glory of GOD the honour of your Prince and the publike benefite of your Countrey beseeching your woorship too take the same this my translation in good part as a poore shew of a mynde willyng to requite some parte of your bountie and benefite receiued at your handes not doubting but that this maye geue lyght to our Nation and woorke in many respectes benefite too all suche as shall by the Northeast or by the Northwest attempt discoueries of Dominions and Territories wtihin the circle Artike or with out the same to the Tropicke of Cancer â–ª And thus wishing vntoo your woorshippe the fauour of Almightie GOD with encrease of all knowledge Diuine and Humane I take my leaue and ceasse to trouble you From London this first day of October 1579. Your worships in that he may at commaundement Iohn Frampton ¶ To the excellent Lorde Don Christopher de Roias Sandouall Archbishop of Seuill Barnardine of Escalanta wisheth all honour c. MOst excellent Lord the haughtie and high purposes and the wonderfull enterprises of our Spaniardes haue beene so great that they haue not well neere suffered in all the compasse of the whole worlde any Seas any Islandes or Territories that they haue not runne vnto and whereof they haue not woone some knowledge against the opinion of the olde Philosophers and Cosmographers wherein they haue founde such diuersitie of people and so many differences of lawes and superstitioÌ„s and so many sorts of gouernmentes and such diuersitie of manners that they haue no small admiration to thinke of the same and namely of that which they doe reporte of the Maiestie and power of the king of China who being a prince geuen to idolatrie and that way most vaine As also his subiectes in the obseruation of the Gentiles lawes are notwithstanding endued with so great wisedome and discretion in naturall thinges and in the gouernment of their common wealthes that no other nations bee they neuer so politike seeme to passe theÌ„ or haue therein the aduantage of them nor yet to haue the like wittes for all maner of Artes â–ª Which haue beene the causes that mooues me too write the thinges of this realme which haue beene knowen as well by relation of persons of credite that haue beene in it and also of some of the naturall people of that Countrey of China that haue been brought into Portugale and to dedicate the same too your excellent Lordship acknowledging my selfe in all thinges moste bounde vnto you my Lorde I desire your lordship to accept of this little seruice supplied with good will as of a poore token of my good gratefull minde which onely hath beene but to geue all honour to your name A discourse of the Nauigation which the Portugales doe make to the Realmes and Prouinces of the East partes of the worlde and of the knowledge which they haue of the great thinges that are in the Realme of China ¶ The first Chapter sheweth of the beginning that the kingdome of Portugale had and of the successe it had from the time that the king Don Iohn the fyrst did conquer Cevta in Barbarie AMongest many knightes of the states of Almane Flaunders and France whiche came vntoo the longe Warres that the kinges of Spayne had with the Moores which had conquered the greatest part of Spaine after the ouerthrow of that vnfortunate king Don Rodrigo there continued in the time of the king Don Alonso the sixth of Castile and Leon whiche gote Toledo
the Earle Don Ramon sonne to WilliaÌ„ earle of Burgondie and Don Ramon Earle of Tolosa S. Gill in Fraunce Don Henry of Vezancon his cosin according to the opinion of some writers as Christian Princes desirous of honour and fame that came too serue him with many other knightes in those warres that he had against Lucef Abendesim king of the Amorabides who at that time had past from Affrica and had made him selfe Lord of the Moores of Spaine which were resident in Andaluzia and too shew him selfe thankful to these Lords after they had shewed theyr valiâ—…untnesse and vertue on theyr meetinges and fightes that they had with the Almorabides and to binde them to greater enterprises and to allure other straunge Princes knightes also to come to his ayde hee ioyned him selfe to them in marriage and affinitie Mariyng the Earle Don Ramon of Burgondie with the Lady Vrraca his legittimate daughter and inheritour of his Realmes geuing hym the title of the Earle and Gouernour of Galizia and the Earle of Tolosa and Don Henrie with the Lady Elvira and the Lady Tereâ—… his bastarde daughters whiche he had of Lady Ximena muuez de Guzma geuing to Don Henry certayne lande which the king Don Fernando his father the firste king of Castile and other kinges his predecessours had gotten of the Moores in the borâ—…ers of the Realmes of Leon and Galizia which were the Cities of Coimbra Viseo and Lanego with the Prouince of Vera and the Cities of the Porte Braga and Guimareus and all that precinct which is betweene the two Riuers Duero and Minoâ—… with title of Earle of Portugale because hee shoulde be a defender of them making to him a firme gift of the right of the inheritaunce too him and too his succession descending of this Matrimonie With condition that they shoulde bee bounde in knowledge of Superioritie to go to the Parliaments of Leon into whose precinct that Countrey doeth fall and at all times when the kinges had warres with the Moores that they shoulde be bounde to gâ—…e and serue them with three hundred horsemen which was at that time all the power that might be in Portugale and thâ—… they shoulde also pay certaine yeerely Tribute vppon paine and that yf they fayled any thing of this they should loofe the state and that it shoulde be returned backe too the kingdome of Leon. And although that all these burdens were set at libertie by a gifte that the king Don Alonso the wise made in Seuil against the will of the Earle Don Nunon de Lara of other knightes beyng Spaniardes to the Infante Don Dionis sonne to the Ladie Beateris his naturall daughter which â—…ee had by the Ladie Mayor Guillen de Gusman and of Don Alonso the fifth kyng of Portugale which married with heâ—… and had in dowry the Countreis of Algarve which the kyng Don Alonso and the holy king Don Fernando gate alwayes the king Don Dionis and his successours as Catholique and true Princes continueâ—… the Warres against the Moores of Spayne finding theÌ„selues sometimes in the fauor of the kings of Castile and particularly the king Don Alonso called the â–ª Braue when he gaue the battel neere to Tarifa vntyll that the king Don Iohn the famous being the first of this name by the battel of Aliubaâ—…ota and by other subtil practiseâ—… worthie of his name â–ª hee determined as a most warlike Prince to passe into Affrica to coÌ„quer the Townes of the Sea Coast nere adioyning to him on the West side carriyng with him in his companie the Infantes Don Edward his 〈◊〉 sonne â–ª and heire apparant and Don Peter Duke of Coimbra and Don Henry his other sonnes and many other Lords Knightes of his Realme where withall hee might get the Citie of Cevta standing in the Streighte where the two Seas do meete the Ocean and Mediterrane and where Affrica Europa are deuided right ouer against Gibralter in the distaunce of foure leages ouerthwart ¶ The seconde Chapter sheweth of the diligence that the infante Don Henry did vse as well to knowe of the Moores of Cevta and the Prouinces of the blacke people of Ialofe as also for his armed ships which he sent in the discouerie of the coasts of Ginea euen vnto his death c. HE that did best shewe himselfe for the getting of Cevta was Infant Don Henry with the Knightes and Gentlemen of his bande And as hee was a Prince 〈◊〉 religious and destrous to augment the Christian faith with his valiauntnesse So hee did much indeuour to enquire of the Mores the Proinces and Nations nearest adioyning to them wherof hee came to haue knowledge and specially of the Moores nearest adioyning to the Desertes which they call Sahara and of the Azeneges with the blacke people of Ialofe and hee did it with the better will because hee woulde haue his name spred abroade in the world by so great an enterprise so taken in hande and also by sending shippes in the discouerie of the Coaste of Ginea whereof he had some knowledge by Geographie to the which he was affectioned And so in returning the kyng his former victories to Portugall hee went to bee Resident in Algarue in a small Towne of his owne to geue order for this Nauigation for the which certaine Captaines of his did continue there for certaine yeeres and durst not passe from the Cape Boiador which lieth in twentie seuen degrees and a half of height on the North side East and West from the gran Canaria in thirteene Leagues ouerthwarte and for to come foorth of the sight of the Coaste which they leaue behinde them more then fortie Leages into the Sea in the West course with a certaine pointe vnder that water which doeth come foorth in length of sixe Leages that by reason of the Tydes that ruÌ„neth there the water is so moued in such sort that it seemeth to leape and to seethe which did put them in great feare thinking that they had ben shouldes and then it was a newe thing for them and difficulte that they had so gone from the land for to â—…bble it wherewith all they returned without hope to passe forward making some entraunce into the habitations of the Moores that dwelt in the Sea Coaste for to satisfie the infant In one of these voyages they discouered in foule weather which did open vnto theÌ„ from the firme land the Ilandes which are called Puerto sancto and the Madera whiche Ilandes the infant dyd commaunde to inhabite because hee was certified that they were temperate and fruitfull and for that they were not inhabited with the people that were Barbarous as the Ilands of Canaria wrre The which Ilands â–ª they had knowledge of how that they were discouered by a Frenche knight called Iohn de Betancur which had conquered them with the licence of the Tutors of the king Don Iohn the seconde of Castile whiche were the queene Ladie Caterin his mother and the infant Don
the other Princes of those Countries was too heare no man if they did not first giue and present him with some present and the more straunge the Embassador was the longer tyme they caused him to tarry and if hee wil be dispatched shortly that he should vse that way which hee had tolde him giuing some gift to the Officers which had moste authoritie and especially in businesse of the estate the which he foorthwith put in practise excusing himselfe with the King and with the nobilitie that by reason of the vncertainty of the voyage and long Nauigation the thing which he offered too them were not of estimation or valewe that he wished but in the end they were taken as sufficient and were caried to the king and hee was receiued with more familiarity and gladnes then the first time signifying too him that by the Letter of the king Don Emanuel he had vnderstoode the cause of his comming and there vpon he should speake what he would Then Don Vasco begā with great discretion and wisedome asking the libertie and trade of the spices and the entercourse of the trade of Merchādize from one realme to thother The king answered with showes of gladnes that he would dispatch him wel in short tyme. And although that this Prince were an Idolater ▪ yet hee did suffer in his Townes too dwell people of the sect of Mahomet and especially in the portes of the Sea coaste where came many for the trade of the spicery from Meca and other portes of Arabia foelix as wel from the redd Sea as frō the Sea called Sinus Persicos which people were much agreeued at the Embassadge and pretence of Don Vasco vnderstanding the hurt and losses which woulde ensue vnto them in their trades if that the trade of merchaundise shoulde reremayne established as the king was purposed and resolued to haue it Wherevppon they made many consultations with order too kill the Portugales and too sinke their shippes but they durst not gyding it by the most sure way giuing bribes too the Catual who was a Gentleman that had the charge of the Portugales that with false reasons and deceites the king might bee angrie and displeased with them Yet this Gentlemā vsed the matter so discretely that although that the king was very wyse and vnderstood wel the profit that might follow by this trade for the dispatch of the merchandise of his realme hee was persuaded too beleeue this Catual and too take the Portugales for spyes And heerevppon the King commaunded too cal Don Vasco general of the Portugales too bee called before him so hee asked him many questions and although hee had satisfied him of all that was demaunded him yet there was no remedie but in fine hee counseled him that hee should foorthwith go aboord his shippes leste he should receiue any hurte of the Moores pretending that they were ready too make an insurrection against him and promised that he woulde sende him too his ships the answere of his Embassadge in a letter too the king Don Emanuel his lorde and maister Wherein hee saide that the cause wherefore his Embassadour departed so discontent from his Countrie was by reason of the olde controuersies that were betweene the Moores and the Christians and that hee woulde receiue greate contentment with his friendship and with the trade of the merchaundyse of his realme so that it might not bee done with reproch considering that he tooke the Moores for natural people of his Country and that ordinarily they came too his portes in the trade of spicery wherevppon foorthwith Don Vasco made sayle towardes Portugal by the same way that hee went where he arryued at the end of twoo yeeres and a fewe dayes after he departed from Lishebron beeing receiued of the king Don Emanuel with great honor rewarding him and his greate seruice The V. Chapter sheweth howe the king Don Emanuel did send a greate fleet of shippes to the Indias with a knight called Pedraluarez Cabral and howe hee discouered in this voyage the coast of Brasil and of other armies of ships which are sent after vntil the tyme he gate Malaca and had knowledge of the realme of China AND the king Don Emanuel being enformed by Don Vasco de Gama of all thinges which happened to him in his voyage he determined to send too the India thirteene sayles of shippes so well furnished and prouided both of men and munition that if it happened when they should come too the king of Calicut to the rest of the Lords of those Coūtries that they should be defended frō their ports that thē his powre force should be shewed that Pedraluarez Cabral a knight of great wisedom and valiant shoulde go for general of the saide fleete of shippes who departed from Lishebron the nienth day of Marche the yeere 1500. Too whome there happened betweene the Ilandes of Cape verde such a vehement storme that one of the ships departed from the reste of her company and returned backe againe and with the rest he toke his course and sailed farre intoo the Sea bicause hee woulde flye away from the calmes which are accustomed too bee vppon the coast of Ginea and that he might with more assurance double the cape of Buena Esperanca running towards the Southsouthwest as neere as the Eastsoutheast and Southeast winds would giue them leaue And at the end of one Moneth rūning that course they foūd themselues so much to leewarde by reason of the tydes which runne towardes the Northwest that they came to discouer an other coast of firme land towardes the West and according to the iudgement of the Pilots it seemed to them that it might be distant from the coast of Ginea foure hundreth and fiftie leags in ten degrees towards the Southside and to put them out of doubt if it should be any great Ilande they ranne along by the coast all one day and finding a place for their purpose where they might cast ankor they caused one boate to be hoysed out for to discouer what lande it might bee and immediatly did appeare vnto them by the Riuer where they were many naked people which did differ from those of Ginea in colour haire and faces and they procured to speake with thē and to knowe what people they were but they could not for they retired all to the mountaynes and so the Portingales returned to their shippes without any knowledge and departed the same night being forced with a storme which caused them to departe without order and sayled along the coast towardes the South vntill they came into a Bay where they harbored them selues which they named Puerto Segnero and is asmuch to say The sure porte or hauen which standeth in seuentie Degrees and halfe of height and forthwith Pedraluarez commaunded to hoyse out the Boates and he went a lande in them where he caused seruice too bee sayde at the foote of a Tree with great deuotion of them all geuing thankes vnto GOD that
they had departed from that vnknowen Countrey where they were before And the Barbarous people of that Prouince did not maruayle too see the Portugales as they of the other Coūtrey did but rather whē they sawe them kneele on their knees in the time of seruice they kneled downe after the same maner making the sayde shewe of prayers At the which sight the sayde Pedraluarez and all the rest of his people marueiled muche and were very glad to see them offer themselues to receyue their doctrin of saluation if they had had any to instruct them because he coulde not remaine there nor let to follow his iourney he dispatched foorth with the Captaine Gasper de Glemos that with his small shyp hee might returne backe too Portugale to geue newes to the king Don Emanuel of the discouerie of that Countrey which he had named Sancta Crus whiche nowe is called the Brasill by the name of the Woode that is brought from thence And when he had taken in fresh water and sawe the weather fayre hee determined to departe from thence towardes the Cape of Buena Esperanca and there hapned to him in the Goulfe so great stormes of wether that in his sight the Sea did swallowe vp foure of his ships with out the escaping of any of the people of the same and with the rest hee ran many dayes without bearyng any sayle vntil the sixtienth day of Iuly he found him selfe onely with sixe of his shippes a great way beyonde the Cape in the Coast of Zofala so beaten with weather and spoyled of theyr Masses yards Sayles and Tackles that they were more likely to returne then to passe foorth vppon their voyage But the General beyng a man of so great courage did set little by all these inconueniences so they came to Mosambike where they did repayre them selues of the hurtes whiche they had receiued in the tormentes of wether as also they were better receiued of the king then Don Vasco de Gama was They continued frō thence their voiage touching in Quiloa where they fel out with the king who was a Moore and that greeued to see any Christians in that coast But the king of Melindes who was their friend receiued them with great contentment confirmyng anew the friendship and the trade that Don Vasco had agreed vpon with him and from thence they ran at whart ouer the gulfe vntill they came to Calicut And although they were well receiued of the king yet things did happe in such sort that Pedraluarez fell out with him and in the ende there were staine certaine Portugales whiche were a land and for to reuenge their deathes he set fire on al the shippes that he found in the Port shot at the Citie and killed many of the people threw down many houses and buildinges ▪ so made sayle towardes Cochin which was xxx leages distant from that place lower in y course towards the South where he was well receiued of the king who offered to him all the Spicerie which he had neede of for to lade his shippes Also the king of Cana nor sent him the like worde because these Princes were enimies to the king of Calicut who was a greater Lorde than they were and they did acknowledge vnto hym superioritie And because they thought that the trade with the Portugales woulde bee profitable for them Pedraluarez did lade his shippes of as muche as they coulde carry wherewith he returned into Portugale by the same way that hee came which is different of that as is nowe vsed For that they do returne among an infinite number of Ilands of Maldiuia and those of the seuen brethren running to the South southwest Southwest and to the West Southwest hauing sight of many other Ilandes which are in those Seas And so they come along towardes the Cape of Buena Esperanca leauing the Ilande of Saint Laurence North of the side of the land And when Pedraluarez came to Portugale the king had sente the Captaine Iohn de Noua a Gallego borne with foure shippes vnto the same trade of the Spicerie And from that time forwarde they continued more and more in the saide Nauigation hauing alwayes shipyes of warre in those Indian Seas against the Moores of the streight of Mecha and the rest of the Ports of Arabia and against the king of Calicut who came and made warre with him of Cochin for the frendship and trade hee had with the Portugales and the Captaine Edward Pacheco shewed himselfe very valiant in his defence who was left therewith certaine souldiers for that purpose Alonso Alburquerque the most valiant knight and of most wisedome of as many of the gouernours as haue gone out of Portugale to that countrey For he being captaine general of the shippes of warre of that Sea did conquer the Citie of Ormos and many other places as well of those which are in the Coaste of Arabia as of Persia and made the king Zofadin too pay tribute who at that time was Lorde of that Realme and he burned and destroyed Calicut and gate of the Moores the Citie of Goa which is now the most principal place that the kinges of Portugale haue in the India whiche standeth more towarde the North then Calicut in the same Coast in fifteene degrees of height ▪ and Malaca standeth in that famous point in two degrees and a halfe of the Northside the whiche Prolome and the rest of the ancient Geographers did intitle Aurea Chersonesus in respect of the Ilande Samatra which is neere too him and one chanel doth deuide them vnderstanding that they were ioyned in one yeuen as the Morea is with the firm lande The longest part of this Ilande lyeth Northweast and Southeast and the Equinoctiall Line standeth ouer the middest of it And there remayneth behinde towardes the Weast neere to the Cape Camorie in the same Coaste the Ilande called Zeilan and by Prolome named Taprobana in distaunce of foure hundred leages from the one to the other according to the opinion of Portugale sailers and not by situation Geographicall by reason that the course lyeth East and West Betwene the which there is a great bay which is called the gulfe of Bengala which is the realme that Ganges doth run through al alōg the coast frō the cape Canori foure hundred ten leages towards the Northeast vnto the mouth of him and from them it returneth running towardes the South vnto the poynt of Malaca where Alonso de Alburquerque had knowledge of the Malucas and of the rest of the Ilandes and Realmes of that Sea and particularly of the great Realme of China which standeth in the same Coaste beginning his limits fiue hundred leages more forwarde towardes the West and there remaining in the middest of this precinct the Realmes of Siam Cambaia Champa and Guachinchina ¶ The sixth Chapter sheweth of the discription of the lande of China and the notable Prouinces and Realmes that are in it conteyned THis great kingdome whiche the
Emperours verie seldome times they lacke successours The first child that is born of any of his diuerse wiues is of force inheritor of the Realme to the rest of the children after they are maried there is appointed to them Cities wherein they shall liue priuately where they are prouided of all thinges that are needfull for them according to their degrees with expresse commandement that they go not forth of them nor euermore after to come at the Court vpon paine of losse of theyr liues And when in olde time the kings maried their sonnes they made a solemne banquet vnto all the knightes and principall Lordes of his Court and did commaunde to carie with them their sonnes and daughters richly apparaled and trimmed and in this congregation came the Princes where all the Ladies were ioyned in companie and there they choose for their wiues such as to them seemed best and fayrest and the yong women did the like of the yong men but nowe they marie themselues with those of theyr owne kindred This same selfe rigor that is vsed of shetting them vp all the rest of the kinges kindred doe suffer the like being resident for the most part in the Citie of Cansi with commandement that some do neuer go forth of their houses too auoyde all manner of occasion and suspicion of alteration The dwelling houses where these Princes dwell are verie great for within them they haue all the pleasure and contentmēt that is to be thought aswell of Gardens Orchards Pondes of fish of diuerse sortes as also of Parks where they haue diuerse kinde of deare and foule such as may be had in Mountaines and Riuers all compassed about with walles which maketh more compasse than a great towne And as they vnderstand in nothing else but in making much of them selues they are commonly fat of good conditions peaceable and liberall with straungers They giue themselues much to Musicke wherewithall they passe the time and in other quiet exercises The gouernours and the kings officers are bound to visite them in all their festiuall dayes and if they ride along by their doores on horse backe they alight downe and if they be caried in Chaires they descend downe also and they passe by making little noyse as men that make no shew of their authoritie nor ordinarie pompe as they are accustomed to doe And for this cause they haue their gates of these houses painted with red oker bycause they shal be knowne There is not in all this Realme any Lorde that hath subiects or iuristdiction or other title than of an Off◅eer which is the most honourable title they haue and it doth signifie in their language as much as if we in our language should say Lord and knight It is gotten by studie and sufficiencie in the lawes of the Realme and by worthinesse in the field and by particular seruice made too the king or to the common wealth Those with are chosē for the lawes of y realm ▪ for men of warre are extolled according to the desertes that euerie one doe ▪ vntill they come to bee Presidents and gouernours of the Prouinces and ▪ generall Captaines in the Sea ▪ and in the lande and they are occupied also in other offices of the house and Court of this Prince and to be of the kings councell which is the highest office that is Those which they make sufficient in learning they choose in this maner The king doth sende euerie three yeares a Chaen which is as one should say a Iudge of residence to euerie Prouince that hee may visite the gouernours and officers thereof And this visitation being ended hee dooth commaund that in the chiefe Citie there be ioyned the most learned studentes of the most Cities of that iurisdiction with the most learned lawiers and of most authoritie they are all examined and such as they fynde sufficient they doe graduate with much solemnitie and with great ceremonies making themselues merie in these feastes certaine dayes with much musicke daunces Comedies and banquets where withall hee sendeth them to the Court that they may receyue the signes of men of lawe which are certaine Coyfes with eares and also hat◅es and broade and long gyrdles and there they remaine vntill their letters patients of their Offices be giuen them And such as are made for the warres first they choose the Captaines generall exalting the valtauntest souldiers with honourable profitable roomes for they do not let to esteeme all such as doe valiantly and to rewarde them with great liberalitie increasing theyr giftes according to theyr deserts The rest of the Offices are giuen by the king himsefe but these rise no higher in degree but to haue this title of Captaine generall for to enioy many liberties freedomes and gaine which is an ordinarie thing to such This Prince seldome or neuer goeth forth of his Palace for the conseruation of his greatnes and the authoritie of his estate but when hee goeth to the warres or do remoue with his court And he hath within the compasse of his house all the pleasures and pastimes that may bee deuised for the content of mankinde and the lodginges of his sonnes and kinsfolkes are so great as it is before sayd whereof the Maiestie and greatnesse of his house may be imagined And that it is not to bee marueyled that it is so great as some doe say the Citie of Paquin is where he is resident for the most part by reason of the greate warres hee hath with the Tartarres that in one day from Sunne to Sunne a man cannot ride from one gate to another And besides his Palace the houses are verie great which apperteine to those of his Counsell and the rest of his gouernours and captaynes and of manie other men of lawe that are alwayes resident in the court The same is sayde by the Citie of Manquin where in olde time the kinges were accustomed to dwell and haue theyr Courte by reason it was set in a fruitfull soyle freshe and calme And in remembraunce that he hath beene continually resident there they haue in that Citie in the house of the treasurer of the kings rentes in that Prouince a table of Golde wherein is written the name of the king that then reigned couered with a riche Curteine and they goe to it and reuerence it as though it were the king himselfe And so all the Officers and Lawyers and chiefe Gouernours are bounde to drawe the Curteine aside in all festiuall dayes that is in the time of the newe Moones which amongest them is the first day of the Moneth And in the rest of the Prouinces there are other Tables like to this but they go not to them to make anie reuerence but when they doe discouer them whereby you may vnderstand◅ the veneration that they giue to their prince And they giue him title of the Lorde of the worlde and the Sonne of heauen The seruants and suche
as serue in his house are gelded men by reason of the number of wiues they haue and so are the most part of his chiefe Counsaile bycause that with more assurance they may go in to him consult with him in the businesse of the gouernment of his Realme and estate of his warres and no others doe speake with him but those His Realme is so large and long that for to goe by iourneys from the Citie of Canton to his Court is foure or fiue monethes iourney and yet there are other Cities further Hee hath knowledge euerie Moneth and relation of all thinges that doe happen in euerie Prouince aswell touching the state warres and rentes as of al other successes with ordinarie postes that the Gouernours do dispatch to him for this effect The same order of the poste is as we haue among vs Barros doth write that they runne with collers of Belles and others that haue beene in that Countrey say they vse to blowe with a horne to aske horses and to giue knowledge to Barkes to passe Riuers The Embassadours of Princes beeing his friendes or enemies are receiued with greate veneration they lodge them and prouide them of all things needful with great liberalitie and when they come where the king is al the Lords and knights of the Court go forth to receiue them they giue them great gifts and presents and honor them with the title of Lawiers Some kings being farre of from him as the king of Aua Siam Melitij Bacham Chabam Varagu which fell to the north partes of Pegu and do acknowledge him obedience in remembrance that in olde time they were his subiectes they send him ordinarily their Embassadors with some present for the great iourney they haue to this kings Court they alwayes send with the embassage foure or fiue persons euerie one with like authoritie that if it happe some of them to die in the way or vntill they be dispatched from thence and if they die not of anie disease they alwayes poyson one or two of thē in some banket vnto whom they make verie sumptuous Sepulchres with Epitaphs conteining what they were and the cause of their comming and by what prince they were sent and this is for to continue the memorie and greatnesse of the renowne of his Realme The Embassadors of the rest of the Princes are so priueleged in such sort that those of his counsaile hauing condemned too death one Bartholomew Perez and all the rest of his companie that was sent to this coūtrie by the gouernour of the India as Embassadour of the king Don Emanuel of Portingal surmising that their embassage was false and that they were spies by reason of a certaine relation giuen against them by the embassadors of the king of Malaca and the king himself vnderstanding of the matter did commaund that their Embassage being false or true it was sufficient that there should be no hurt done to their persones seeing they were entred within the realme with the title of Embassadors Other there are that come for some common weales which are Lordes that do owe obedience to him they make no enterteynment to such but vse them with a strange kind of Ceremonie When they say to them that they shall go to see the king they appoint them the day and houre and they cause them to goe on foote or on horsebacke with bridles of strawe for humilitie And in comming too a great place that is before the kings house they stay vntill there come vnto them an Officer of the kings who doth the office of the maister of Ceremonies and doe commaunde them to passe forwarde And at a certaine place they kneele downe hold vp both theyr hands togither as though they prayed to God they beholde one quarter part of the houses of the kings palace where they tel them that the king is at times in equall space they make other fiue times their prayers and without turning their shoulders they returne backewarde with the like Ceremonies and this being done they send them away This say they is to go to see the king If they giue them licence to say what they will they remaine in the last prayers on their knees vntill there come to them an other officer which is the Secretarie that writeth downe all that they aske and with saying to them that they will consult of it with the Lord of the world they are sent away for that time vntill they bee dispatched with the determination and opinion of his chiefe Counsaile The XIII Chapter sheweth of the Presidentes and Officers which are in euery Prouince and the order which they haue in the Gouernment of them THE King doth prouide Officers for the Gouernment of euery Prouince besides ordinarie Iudges which are in some prouince more thē three thousande as also fiue Presidents and euery one of them hath his iurisdiction by himself of diuers causes the chief of them is called the Tutan which is a Uiceroy or gouerner of al the Prouince vntoo whome they come generally with the knowledge of al great griefes and smal offences And al the penalties thereof the ordinary charges being taken away he sendeth to the court and with the relation of al the newes that doeth happen euery moneth His aurtoritie and maiestie is so great that he is not resident where the rest of the Lawyers are bicause hee wil not be visited and frequented of them The second in dignitie is the Ponchasi which is asmuch too say as the chiefe gatherer of the kings rents and President of the Counsel of the kings reuenues This office executeth he without the coū sel of any Lawyers There are many other officers that doo serue to recouer the kings rentes with the which they come to the Tutan as afore saide and it is at his charge too commaunde too pay al mens wages ordinary and extraordinary charges to take accompt of them as head Gouerner of al inferiour Officers The thirde in dignitie is the Anchasi which is the President of the ciuil and criminal Iustice who doth see and determine withal his hearers and Officers all wightes and buzines which goe in degree of appellation to his tribunal frō the rest of the ordinary Iudges of that Prouince all other thinges which are conuenient for the good gouernmēt expedition of iustice The fourth is the Aytao who is the purueiour general and President of the Counsell of warres too whome doth aperteine the liuing of men and prouiding of shippes vittailes and munitions for the ships of warre that goe to the Sea and for armes by lande and for ordinary garisons of the cities and frontier Townes and to know what straungers do come and from whence they come and what they wil. The fifth is the Luytisi which is the Captaine general that doth put in execution that which is ordeined by the Aytao and those of his councel And whē there is giuen occasion of any warres of