wherein the Imperial Citie and Pallace of Iedo are scituated 27 daies North-East wards before they could reach the utmost point of the land of Sungaer bordering upon the Sea being come thither they passed over an Istmus of thirty three English miles broad leading into the CouÌ„try of Iezzo abounding in skins furrs of price This territorie is very great mountainous but litle inhabited The Iappaners attempted its discovery severall times but in vaine for though they entred to fro far into the Countrey yet they could never find its end nor any certainty coÌ„cerning it their provisions ordinarily failing them which inforced their fruitlesse returnes The discoverers reports of these were soe imperfect that his Majestie dispaired of any further Satisfaction the countrey being presented as desolate and unpassable though in some place inhabited with a people all over hairy wearing their Beards long like the Chinesses brutish though otherwise well shaped To consider therefore the uncertianty whether this Countrey be an Island or no wee may observe that the passage betvveene Sungaer and Iezzo is no running water but an Inlet or long Istmus of the Sea it selfe 120 English Miles long extending it selfe betvvixt Iezzo and Iapan where it bounds upon vast mountaines and deserts about the Province of Ochio so that that way being vvholly unpassable by land travellers are forced to ferry over the aforesaid Isthmus from Sungaer to Iezzo in Barkes and such shipping as they have The tvvo great Islands of Chirkock and Saykock are governed by Kings and Lords that share vvith them in the Magistracie Chirkock hath one King and three Lords Saykock being the bigger of the tvvo hath more Governours but both are accounted Provinces of this great Empire though least in extent of those whereof it is composed How many Provinces it contaynes THat great Territory which we call Iapan the inhabitants Nippon borders upon those afore mentioned Islands and strecheth to the unknovvne Countrey of Iezzo is divided into five Provinces to wit Iam Aystero Ietsengo Ietsesen Quanto Ochio the which with the Islands of Saykock Chirkock make seaven in all whose Dominions Cities and Castles are subdivided under severall Kings and Lords as the follovving specification of the Revenue of the vvhole land aboundantly shevveth An Extract of the Sealed accompts and specification of the Revenue Excepting the Emperours of the Kings Princes Dukes and Lords of Japan together vvith the names of their Countreys and Castles according to the Japans accompt in Cockyens each Cockyen being ten Carolus Guilders vvich is some Tvventy Shillings Sterling CAngano Tsiunangon King of Canga Geâ—tichu Natta hath his Residence in the Castle of Canga his Revenues amounts to 1190000. â—â—rngano Daynangon King of Surngo Toto and Mitaunca dwells in the Castle Faytâ—iâ—s hath in Revenue 700000 Ouvvarino Daynangou King of Ovvary and Mimo dwells in the Castle of Mangay and hath 700000 Sendaino Thiunangon King of Massamne and Ochio lives in the invinsible Castle of Senday and hath 640000 Satsumanon Thiunangon King of Satsumae Ossimus Fiungo and Quchio lives in Kaâ—gasima and hath 600000 Rinocaouny Daynangon King of Kimo and Ishe lives in the Castle of Wake Iamma and hath 550000 Catto Fingonocamy King of Tingo lives in the Castle of Koumamâ—tte and hath 554000 Matsendeyro Iemenofiâ— King of Tsunkisâ—n and Faccatia dwells in Foucosa and hath 510000 Matsendayro Ionocany King of the Great Province of Ietchesen lives at Ocede and hath 511100 Calto S. Kibo King of Osio dwells in the Castle of Aâ—s and hath in Revenue 430000 Assaino Taysima King of Bingo dwells in the Castle of Oky and hath 420000 Matsendeyro Nangato King of Soua dwells in the Castle of Fangy and hath 370000 Mittono Thionangon King of Fitaytâ— dwells in the Castle of Mit. and hath 360000 Nahissima Simano King of Thisien dwells in the Castle of Logtois and hath 360000 Matsendeyro Sentairo King of Ianabasoky dwells in the Castle of Tackaham hath 360000 Tâ—do Isumy King of Ianga Iche dwells in the Castle of Son hath 320000 Matsendeyro Lonuey King of Bissen dwells at Ossaiamma hath 310000 Inno Cammon the bravest of the Princes King of Totomy dwells in Savaiamma hath 300000. Fosso Covva Ietchin King of Boytes lives at Cokera and hath 300000. Oyesungi Daynsio King of Iotsengo dwells in the Castle of Gunisauvva and hath 300000. Matsendeyro Denrio King of the Province of Ietsengo lives at Formando and hath 300000. Matsendeyro Auvva Duke of Auvva dwells in the Castle Incts and hath 250000. Matsendeyro Ietchigonacamâ—â— Duke of the land of Conge dwells at Takato and hath 250000. Matsendeyro Tsiusio Duke of Ioo dwells at Mats Iamma and hath 250000. Ariama Grimba Duke of Tsirkingo dwells at Courme hath 240000. Morimo Imasack Prince of Imasaka dwells at Tsiamma and hath 200000. Tory Inganocanij Prince of Sevvano dwells at Iummengatta hath 200000. Matsendeyro Tosa Prince of Tosnacorij dwells at Tocosiamma hath 200000. Satake Okion Prince of Wano dwells at Akita and hath 200000. Matsendevro Simo Sautamy Prince of Simosa dwells at Tatebays and hath 200000. Forriwo Iamaissiro Prince of Insâ—â—o dwells at Masdaytâ— and hath 200000. Ikouma Ikinocanij Prince of Sanike dwells at Couham and hath 180000. Forivvo Iamassiro Prince of Insimo dwells at Masdayts and hath 180000. Fonda Kayokamij Knight and Lord of Faryma dwells in Tayeno and hath 150000. Sackey Counay Knight Lord of the great Province of Wano dwells at Fakfio hath 150000. Tara sanvva Simado Knight and Lord of Fisen dwells in Lataâ—s and hath 120000. Kiongock vvakasa Knight and Lord of Wakasa dwells in Osamma and hath 120000. Fory Tango Knight and Lord of â—etchesen dwells at Kavvantisma and hath 120000. Minsio Fiongo Knight and Lord in Bingo dwells at Fâ—uâ—ke Iamma hath 120000. Sackopharra Eskibon Knight and Lord of Kooske dwells in the Castle of Tattays hath 120000. Matsendeyrâ— Tavvayts Governor of the Emperors Castle in Quana hath 110000. Oeckendyero Imysacka Knight and Lord of Simotske dwells in Oâ—tsnomio and hath 110000. Sannada Iut Knight and Lord of Sinano dwells at Koske and hath 110000. Taysibanna Finda Knight and Lord of Sickingo dwells in Imangonvva and hath 110000. Ongasaura Oucken Knight and Lord of Farima dwells at Kays and hath 100000. Indatiji Voutumij Knight and Lord of Gyo dwells in Itasima and hath 100000. Nambon Sinano Knight and Lord in the great Province of Ochio dwells at Mortiamma and hath 100000. Niwa Groysemon Knight and Lord in the great Province of Ochio dwells at Sirakovva and hath 100000. Abeno Bitchion Gouernor of the Emperors Castle Ivvatsuky in the Countrey of Moysays hath 80000. Kiongock Oenieme Knight and Lord of Tanga dwells in Tanabe and hath 70000. Makino Surnga Lord in Ietchingo dwells at Wangerecka and hath 70000. Nackangonvva Nysien Lord in Bongâ— lives in the Citie of Nangoun and hath 70000. Matsendayrâ— Comba Lord in Sinano dwells in Matsmoâ—â— hath 70000. Nayâ—â—o Samma Lord in Fitayts dwells in the Citie of
in such manner that his Majesty insensibly had the sight of them all among the rest there was a slight maid an Armorers Daughter who did so far please him and gain upon his affections that he lay with her The great Ladies of the Court seeing an Artificers Girl preferred before them all mad with jealousie and rage resolved to strangle her Childe in its birth which they cruelly performed but have hitherto kept the knowledg of so black a deed from the Emperor fearing his just indignation and revenge The Japan Chronicles write that this great Kingdom hath until this hundred years been still governed by an Hereditary Prince which they call Deyro who was in such reverence with the people that never any tumults or civil broils were raised against his Person or Authority He was esteemed so Sacred that to oppose him was judged no less criminal then to fight against the Gods both being inexpiable When any difference arose betwixt his subject-Kings so that they armed each against other there was a Generalissimo appointed to mediate their quarrels and punish if need were the offending or transgressing Prince For the Deyros themselves were esteemed so holy that they never trod upon the ground neither was the Sun or Moon ever suffered to shine upon them nothing of their Body was diminished or paired off their hair beard and nails being suffered to grow at length When they did eat their meat was still dressed in new pots and served up in new dishes They have twelve married Wives apiece who are severally honored and brought with various ceremonies to this height and state When the Deyro goes abroad he is followed with these twelve Women each in her Coach adorned with her Arms and Titles these have their Houses and Trains apart all in the Deyro's Palace built in rows six on a side very magnificent and beautified as the Coaches with their Names Arms and Titles The Concubines dwell likewise by themselves Supper is provided every evening in every one of these twelve Houses with voices and instruments though none knows who shall be honored with the Deyro's company Where the Deyro enters the banqueting and provision of the other eleven Houses is immediatly brought thither the other eleven Wives following with their Ladies and Musick to divert and make merry with her whom the Deyro thinks at present worthy of his conversation They have their Comedies likewise and such other pastimes as befit so splendid an entertainment When the Deyro is blessed with a Son the hoped Successor of that Empire a Nurse is chosen for him out of eighty of the loveliest Women of the Country young and Noble Wives to Persons of great quality and birth These Women are honored and received by the Deyro's twelve Wives and all his Women as also those nine principal Lords who are of his blood and kindred and next the inheritance in case he have no issue male with extraordinary ceremonies and feasting The following day forty are chosen out of the fourscore the which the number decreasing are entertained more honorably then before the day being spent in usual and pompous diversions the recited forty retain the Titles and Dignities of Foster-Mothers but are dismissed from further attendance though not without gifts and rich presents Ten are again chosen out of the remaining forty out of these ten three and lastly out of these three one in all which elections the honors ceremonies and presents are successively heightned Three days after the last chosen Nurse is again highly entertained which being done the milk is pressed out of her brests into the Childes mouth which all this while is held by one of the noblest Ladies of the Court which ceremony done the Nurse is as then esteemed worthy to take that Childe into her custody being it hath tasted of her milk and substance The Ceremonies and Feasts of their Weddings Childe-bearings and those other which they celebrate yearly are performed with much state and modest pomp and are at this day in use by the Deyro who wants nothing save that the Land is governed by another the reason and history whereof we will briefly declare The Office of Chief General was formerly the first in the whole Kingdom which ordinarily was conferred upon the Deyro's second Son but having then another Son which for the Mothers sake he was willing to advance he divided this great charge betwixt them with command that they should govern each his three years by turn This took for some time until one of them having tasted the sweetness of ruling was loath to quit so splendid an employment he therefore leagues with the great Lords of the Country and settles his power so fast during his Commission that neither the commands and entreaties of his Father nor the violence of his offended Brother were able to remove him Yet this being a business of so ill and so great consequence and like to embroil the Kingdom in disorders the Deyro resolved to chastise his rebellious Son which by the assistance of his Kings and the valour of his former General he did And this was the beginning and the first intestine war that ever happened against the Deyro's State and Authority The aforesaid General being for his good service continued in his command ordered his business so well that after his Majesties death he made himself Lord of his inheritance usurping the Government of the Kingdom wholly into his hands leaving yet the Deyra's Court in its former state and greatness his Successor to his Revenue and commanding he should be used in all things with the same respect and ceremony as before These proceedings produced another War another General being chosen who having overthrown the former usurped to himself what he had condemned in his Predecessor the Soveraignity of the whole Land which occasioned a third intestine War more cruel and more destroying then the other two For now the Kings and Governors of Provinces began to set up each for himself so that the Countrey was well nigh ruined Town being against Town and City against City by these dissenting Grandees During these troubles it fell out that a bold active Fellow formerly a private Souldier thinking it best fishing in troubled waters resolved to put in for a share Having therefore got together forty or fifty Companions as desperate as himself he in a little time what with his good fortune and good conduct grew very numerous and considerable and having taken several Castles and Towns drove likewise all that stood him out of the field so that in less then three years he became absolute and Soveraign Lord of the whole Kingdom He as the other Usurpers left the Deyro in quiet possession of all he formerly enjoyed except the Government which he held himself and was afterwards by the said Deyro unable to vindicate his own right acknowledged and crowned Emperor of Japan with unimaginable pomp and magnificence This Emperor whose name was Taycko being no less prudent then brave fearing
had therefore rather hear of their faults by their trusty Servants to correct them then to be ill spoken of behind their backs and for this reason these secret Monitors are alwaies near their Lords persons especially at Feasts and publique meetings observing their words and least actions These Lords though they have their particular names yet they are ordinarily called by that of their Government or residence further every man hath three names the children a childish when they are men a more manly and being become old get others suitable to the decays of nature and age The surnames are first pronounced for being their parents were before them they think it but reasonable that their names should likewise precede When one of these Lords die ten twenty or thirty of his Vassals kill themselves to bear him company many that do so oblige themselves to it during their Lords lives for having received some more then ordinary grace and favour from him and fancying themselves better beloved then their companions they think it a shame to survive their Benefactour and therefore in return of their thanks they usually add My Lord the number of your faithful Slaves is great but what have I done to merit this honour this Body which is indeed yours I offer you again and promise it shall not live longer then yours I will not survive so worthy a Patron For confirmation of this they drink a bowl of Wine together which is solemn for no covenants thus made are to be broken Those that thus binde themselves cut their own bellies and do it as followeth They assemble their nearest kindred and going to Church they celebrate the parting feast upon mats and carpets in the midst of the Plain where having well eat and drank they cut up their bellies so that the guts and entrails burst out and he that cuts himself highest as some do even to the throat is counted the bravest fellow and most esteemed If the Lord cause a wall to be built either for the King or himself his Servants often times beg they might have the honour to lie under out of a belief that what is founded upon a living mans flesh is subject to no misfortune This request being granted they go with joy unto the designed place and lying down there suffer the foundation stones to be laid upon them which with their weight immediately bruise and shiver them to pieces His Majesty hath several Castles strong and great whereof those of Osaua and Iedo are the most magnificent The Countries belonging to the Kings and great Lords are not much travelled by our Nation so that we have no knowledg of them only I am informed that they have mighty Towns and Castles None of these Cities are walled though their streets are regular every one and equally long the ends of them shut with Gates and guarded with Watchmen by night or times of danger The Country waies are marked at every miles end with stones or stakes being put up for that purpose In their Towns and Villages every street hath two Magistrates who take care for their precinct and must give an account for whatever happens in them and because none through clownishness or otherwise may approach the Lord Governour with disrespect they have Prolocutors appointed them by whose intervention all lesser matters are compassed the more difficult being reserved for the decision of the ordinary Judge Their manner of Justice THe Cities and Towns have no revenue at all each of them depending on their Lord neither have the Citizens Marchants Gentry or Commonalty any Tolls Excise or Contributions they pay likewise nothing except it be for the ground their houses stand upon which is the Lords and for that they give from forty shillings to two yearly according to the greatness of their houses Every house must finde a man upon occasion which happeneth three or four times a year though but for an hour and sometimes for half a day or so The King or Lord hath the whole product of the Land and Sea the Gentlemen and Souldiers live upon that portion their Lord assigns them out of the Country the Marchant subsists by his gaine the Citizens and Artificers by their trades and the Labourers by that portion which their Lord allows them out of the fruit of the earth What Crimes they punish most severely EVery individual from the Emperour to the meanest Gentleman hath the right of Justice over his Subjects and Servants His Majesty hath his ordinary Judges in all his Cities and Towns When a Gentleman or Souldier is condemned to die he is allowed the honour to kill himself by cutting up his belly with his own hands whereas the Citizen Marchant and meaner persons suffer by the common Executioner A Marchant how rich soever is not esteemed at all because they say He liveth by his lying making no conscience to cousen and deceive the People for his filthy lucre sake The Citizen and Artificer are likewise undervalued because they are but Servants to the Commonalty and forced to live by their labours and manufactures Neither are the Country People of more account because of the miserableness of their condition being subject to perpetual slavery and toyling But the Gentlemen and Souldiers who are numerous are honoured and feared and they do nothing being maintained and served by the Marchants by the Citizens and by the Country Labourers Every crime how small soever is punished with death especially theft although but to the value of a penny gaming and playing for money is no less hainous then murther and all other Delinquents which deserve the rigour of Justice with us in Europe undergo the same penalty here Every one suffers for his own faults except the matter be treasonable and then the Father Brothers and Sons must likewise suffer and their goods be confiscated and the Mothers Sisters and Daughters be given away and sold for slaves These confiscations are not due to the Emperour King or Lord in whose Territories they happen but are reserved under account for publick uses as building of Churches making of Bridges repairing of High-waies and the like It happened in my time that a proud fellow presented his service to a poor Gentleman demanding of him by reason of his address and parts more wages then he knew the Gentleman could give who vexed at the youths impertinencies and perceiving he jeered him replied with a composed countenance Friend you demand indeed much wages but being I think you will deserve it and that you are pleasing in my eyes I am content to receive you into my service Three daies after his Master sent him on an errand being returned he was accused for staying out so long so as no excuses would save his life being forced to pay for his insolency under this colourable pretence The Lord of Finando did lately cause three Gentlewomen of his Ladies attendants to be shut up in Chests spiked with nails on every side because one of them had had some
with his wings spread of pure Gold This structure was very beautiful being adorned on all sides with carved Images its angles plaited with pure Gold and the roof of it intimating the Heaven with Sun Moon and Stars There were fifty Persons all Gentlemen belonging to the Emperours clothed with long white Robes and Wax Head-pieces that carried this ambulatory Pallace Forty Gentlemen antickly dressed although armed with Europian Head-pieces and Pikes gilded at the ends went before the Deyro and these were of his Life-guard One of his principal Lords did immediately follow him armed as the other bearing in his hand a Shield stuck full of Arrows then came forty great Quirosols all covered with fine white linnen and belonging to the aforesaid Guards These were again followed by thirteen great Wax Chests carried by the Palanquyn Porters And lastly the whole procession was closed with four hundred persons all in white vestments marching six in a ranke in very good order The Deyro and his Traine were no sooner past but the evening came on and an innumerable company of people of all sorts the Stages and Houses which had been filled with Spectators had disgorged their burthens in the Streets so that the multitude was so immensly great that very many disorders happened as cutting of purses stealing murthering and robbing each other very many were stifled in the crouds and such as but once fell were sure never to rise being troden to death The noise all night was so great as if the City had been in an uproar and the insolencies grew to that heighth that many persons of quality who could not get out of the throng or were retiring to their houses were set upon and very many of them spoiled and murthered among others the Lord of Firandos Secretary saw his Servant robbed and a rich Cabinet of his taken from him before his own face whilest he himselfe had much ado to defend himself from the violence of these assaulters We were forced with our Servants to quit our stage and put our selves into the crowd because of the night and the danger to continue where we were which we durst not do without running the hazzard of being murthered the preass was so great that we were borne up by the people most of our way being but seldom able to put a foot upon the ground yet at length by Gods great blessing we got all without any considerable loss safely to our lodgings The Deyro and his Wives were lodged three daies and three nights in the Emperors Palace being served by their Majesties and their Brothers and the greatest Princes of their Court every meale consisting of one hundred and forty services This feasting being done the young Emperour gave the Deyro these following presents Three thousand Boates of Silver each of four Tayls and three Marses Two rich Sables Two hundred Iapan Gowns Three hundred pieces of wrought Sattin Twenty picols of raw Silk One great piece of Calombacq Five great Silver pots full of Musk. And ten beautiful Horses with their accoutrements The old Emperour gave him Two hundred pieces of Gold each worth fifty four Silver ones One hundred Indian gowns richly wrought Two great Silver pots full of Musk. Five Catti Calombacq Two hundred pieces of red Silk Five Silver pots full of Amber Greece And five brave Horses with their accoutrements His Secretary had given him Three hundred Boats of Silver equal with the other in worth And twenty Indian Gowns A Description of the Government Might Religion Customes Traffick and other remarkable Affairs in the Kingdom of SIAM Written in the Yeare 1636. by Joost Schouten Directour of the East-India-Company in that Countrey SIAM is a famous and potent Kingdom scituate upon the continent of Asia eighteen degrees Northern Latitude where it bordereth upon the Countries of Pegu and Ava twelve degrees it extendeth it selfe Westward to the Bengasche sea of Martavan to seven degrees where it borders upon the Kingdoms of Pay tany and Queda Southward from the Bengasche to the Patanys Ocean this Coast turns Northward to thirteen degrees making with its bowing the Gulf of Siam thence the Coast runs again Southward to twelve degrees and leaving the Sea terminates Eastward upon the Desart of Cambodia and the Kingdoms of Iangonia Tangou and Langjang to eighteen degrees even to Ava and Pegu so that the form of this Land is like an halfe Moon and containeth in its circuit four hundred and fifty Dutch miles one Dutch mile makes six English This Country which is in many places mountainous woody and moorish especially towards the Sea although for the most part even and clay and is likewise full of all sorts of Beasts and Fowls and Rivers replenished with abundance of Fish hath where it bordereth upon the Benga and Siams Seas many Islands Bays Havens and Rivers most commodious for the receipt of great and small Vessels I shall not particularize all only mention the chief River as the most frequented Haven of the whole Kingdom This River called by the name of Menam or the Mother of Waters is great wide and very long its course being not known unto them It passeth from the North Southward very swiftly through the Land of Ava and Pegu and several Provinces of Siam until that it discharge it self by three mouthes into the Sea of Siam it partaketh of the nature of those famous Rivers Ganges and Nilus flowing once a year so high that it covereth most part of the Countrey making it incredibly fruitful and destroying by this innundation which continueth four or five moneths all obnoxious vermin and creatures The greatest mouth of this River is that which lies most Eastward thirteen degrees and a half Northern latitude and in the middle of the inlet there is a great flat or sand a mile long that crosses the entry of the River five or six foot deep at low water but at heighth is fifteen or sixteen and in the Winter moneths when the the floods are great there is ordinarily seventeen or eighteen foot and more great Ships that go deep are forced to anker at four five or six fathoms water without this banck the ground being clay and good but those that pass this flat at high water enter the River without any more danger of runing on ground till they come to the Town of Banckock six Dutch miles upwards then the River grows narrower and more shallow Ships drawing eleven or twelve foot water being scarceable to mount to the City of India where they are sometimes forced to stay till the moneths of September October and November for water to return The Country is generally well peopled especially the lower part of it being full of Villages and Towns the principal whereof are Iudica Picelouck Sourckelouk Capheng Soutcethay Kephinpet Conseywan Pytsyay Pitsidi Lydure Tenou Mormelon Martenayo Lygor Bordelong Tannassary Banckock Pypry Rapry Mergy and several other all which are governments and heads of Provinces besides these there are many Cities and Burroughs full
gilded Cabinets and Tents each in their Barges apart lastly the Gentry Courtiers Guards and other Attendants follovv the vvhole amounting to five or six and tvventy thousand persons The River is bordered on both sides vvith Boats and an infinite number of People vvho reverence and adore their King in his passage vvith bended heads and folded hands The Dominion and Revenue of the Crovvn is great amounting yearly to many Millions arising out of in-land Commodities as Rice Sappang Tin Lead Salt-peter as also the profits of the Sand and Mountain Gold which are only sold by the Kings Factors to forraign Merchants He hath also his Customs for outlandish Wares his Tributes and Presents from Subject-Princes and Governours of Cities and Provinces who know how much they must contribute as also the profits of his Traffick with Chormandel and China add to these the inland trade carried on by his Factours in the City Iudica or elsewhere and his Majesty of Siam will be found to be one of the richest Princes of India There are several Officers appointed for the receipt of incomes who must account every year and that exactly Most of these monies are expended in building and repairing of Temples in rewarding of merits and defraying the publick charges of the Kingdom the residue being brought into the Treasury which is esteemed rich and great The Laws and Customes of Siam are strange though orderly in the succession of their Princes when the King dies it is not his Son but his Brother who is Heir to the Crown but in case he have no Brother then indeed his Son steps in by course whose Brothers do succeed successively lastly all the Sons of the eldest Brother who hath reigned follow by turns the Daughters being wholly excluded any pretence to the Government But this order is not alwaies observed the Scepter being sometimes usurped by him of the family who is most powerful and most gracious with the people which is the present Kings case who having raised himself before his turn caused all his Competitors and their Adherents to be slain to the end he might peaceably enjoy what he had unjustly got and leave the Crown to his Brother or Children after him The ordinary Justice both Criminal and Civil is administred through the Kingdom according to their ancient Customes and Laws by Officers purposely appointed But in the City of Judica they have besides the ordinary Courts of Judicature a Colledge of twelve Councellours with one principal President which doth definitively decide all Appeals and other businesses whether Criminal or Civil It is indeed permitted though with extraordinary expence and cost to appeal to the King and his Council who ordinarily confirm and cause the former sentence to be put in execution In this and lesser Courts all Civil disputes are brought in by Lawyers and the cause being pleaded and witnesses examined on both sides before the Commissioners the Secretary makes an extract of the whole which being writ in a Book it is signed by both Plantiff and Defendant or others deputed by them that done the Book is sealed up and kept by the Judge till next Sessions at which time it is again opened in the presence of both parties and their debates heard noted and sealed as before So that the Lawyers by their several exceptions demurs and practices do very often delay and keepe up the parties for many years until at length after much sollicitings and expence the cause is anew opened and examined and finally adjudged and ended by a full Colledge But in Criminal matters as injuries robberies murther treason or the like the guilty or suspected person is apprehended imprisoned and examined if he deny the fault against witnesses or great presumptions he is forced by torture to confession all which being noted in a Book and presented to the Judges they immediatly proceed to Sentence and Execution except in Capitall crimes such being reserved for the Kings pleasure who either pardons banishes or causes the condemned person to be put to death according to the sentence Offences are ordinarily punished as they are more or less heynous with cashiering banishments into Desarts slavery confiscations mutilation of hand or foot burning in oyl quartering and other severe executions Where the case is doubtfull no witnesses appearing nor no strong presumptions against the accused so that the Judge knows not how or what to do he then permits both parties to try it out by common purgation either by ducking under water holding their hands in boyling oyl to go bare-foot upon hot coales or to eat a mess of charmed rice this conjured mess being made up into balls is given them by the Priest with much ceremony and he that can swallow it without casting it up again and behaves himself in this and the other trials with most courage is esteemed most innocent and acquitted whilest the other whether accusor or accused is most severely punished according to the nature of the crime The Kings power and military force by water and land consists most of his own Vassals and Natives he hath indeed some few Strangers as Moors Malayers and some five hundred Iapanners the most esteemed for their courage and fidelity although the Prince now reigning drove them out of his Country but they are now crept in again so that most of his forces are Siammers who must serve without pay and be alwaies in a readiness the hundredth fiftieth twentieth tenth or fifth man being levied according to the Kings pleasure and occasions Besides these the Grandees have ordinarily some hundreds of men in their service who wait upon them in the field so that his Majesty can raise an Army when he thinks good of two or three thousand men with two or three hundred Elephants Victuals Ammunition and other warlike Instruments for all this his Armies seldom exceed one hundred thousand men and not ordinarily forty or fifty thousand as his affairs require either for offensive or defensive His foot are in reasonable good order though merely armed with Bows and Arrows Shields Swords Pikes and a few Guns the horse are not better though generally armed with Swords Shields Bows and Lances Most of their force consists in some hundreds of tramed Elephants each of them furnished vvith three armed men and they have a good quantity of Cannons but do not well know how to use them At sea his Majesty hath several Gallies and Frigots vvell provided vvith great Guns though the Seamen and Mariners are but pitiful The Pravvs vvherevvith the Siammers can stoutly scuffle are vvithout number but ill ordered and armed and yet sufficient to deal vvith their neighbouring enemies as unskilful as they are though far short of our Europian Vessels and Mariners either to fight or sail These Mariners especially vvhen their Princes have been brave have conquered many of the neighbouring Kingdoms and Provinces but being all human things they have their vicissitudes these victories did but follovv the fortune of their favorites There
hath of old been great vvars betvvixt them of Pegu and Siam vvith various success the King of Pegu pretending to the Monarchy of the neighbouring Kingdoms vvhich he hath formerly had and as yet possesseth in part so that the borders of these Kingdoms are quite ruined and unpeopled and these Princes of late years content vvith inroads and sudden invasions vvith small flying Armies of tvventy or thirty thousand men vvhich they have ordinarily for defence of the frontiers The Siammers have had likevvise vvars against other Princes as the Kings of Jangoma Tangou Langhs-jaâ—ghâ— and lastly against the King of Siam and stoutly defended himself against those great Armies which were sent to reduce him of late the Kingdom hath been in peace until the usurpation of the last deceased King who having destroyed the true Heirs and possessed the Government contrary to order was likewise himself slain together with his Brothers and the Crown seized upon by another of the blood who after several civil and forraign broils enjoyed it peaceably and governs at present with great reputation and honour continuing still his wars with them of Pegu and the Rebel Cambodian This Prince as well as his Predecessors is kinde to Strangers but respects and esteems the Netherlanders more then the Portugals which the late King sufficiently testified when upon the taking of a Holland Yacht in the River Anno 1624. the Spanish Gally of Don Ferdinando de Silva was violently seized upon by his command and restitution and satisfaction made to our Company hereupon he was forced into a war with them of Manhila and suffered much in his China voyages which was well recompensed by the seasonable assistance of six Dutch men of war which were lent him to be employed against his Rebels of Patany The King hath more then three thousand tame Elephants in several parts of his Kingdom each attended by two or three men wherein much of his greatness doth consist for these Beasts are very much esteemed in India especially when trained up to the wars the rest are employed to carry Ordinances Tents and Provisions to the Camp These creatures being great very strong and strangely docible are taken in several parts of the Country and disciplined as followeth A Troop of fifteen or twenty tame she Elephants which were taken when they were young are driven into the Wilderness with two or three fellows to observe them the wilde ones upon sight of them associate with them one or two at once which are driven with the rest insensibly into a great square building with high stone walls and encompassed on the outside with trees which cover them as soon as these Beasts are decoyed in a great turn pike is shut behinde them and gates to hinder their return when they are entred further into the square place the tame Elephants being brought up to it by their teachers upon notice from them slip away through other gates for the purpose so that the wilde ones being left alone are out of other little squares whereof one is in the middle vexed and tormented with all manner of inventions to make them angry and furious the above mentioned squares are made of great thick posts well nigh two fathoms high but so far distant from each other that a man may creep betwixt them so that when the Elephant with his running turning and winding seeks to revenge himself upon his tormenters they save themselves behinde these posts at length when the beast is weary and sufficiently tormented thee is a great door opened into which he runs to save himself which is immediatly shut upon him and he restrained to a narrower prison and is there bound to two or three tame Elephants placed for the purpose this done they are led into a covered house where cross planks being contrived under the wilde ones belly they are hoyssed up with pullies and left as it were half hanging for some time so that with this invention and help of the tame ones they are wholly tamed in three or four moneths and rendred supple and useful The Court is for the most part present Galleries being builded for the Spectatours at the taking and tormenting of the Elephants which is most pleasant to behold These Beasts are sometimes taken in the open fields being environed with tame ones and caught in snares and jins but this way is dangerous although often practised and both shew how fabulously Writers have informed the World in this particular A white Elephant esteemed by the Indians a wonder in Nature hath been found in Siam and no other known Land it is esteemed by the inhabitants as the Prince of the Elephants and hath been so treated by the Kings of this Country who have had of them in the Palaces many times and caused them to be served in state often visited them and honoured their Vassals with more then ordinary respect These white Elephants have formerly occasioned great wars betwixt the Siammers and their Neighbours and some sixty years since against the King of Pegu who proving victorious did not only take the white Elephant prisoner but obliged the King of Siam to become his Tributary which yoke the following Princes did not only cast off but gloriously revenge their Predecessours misfortunes During my first residence in Siam the then King took two young white Elephants but both died shortly after to his great grief This Nation believes somewhat more then humain natue of this creature alledging they do not only respect him for his whiteness but for his divine understanding which appears in his pride and glorying when he is treated in state and of his melancholy and sorrow when those honours are denied him or that the black Elephant refuses him his obeissance The Siammers as also the Neighbouring Nations are all Idolaters and Heathens so that they have every where great and little Temples and Cloysters for the service of their Gods and the dwellings of their Priests These Edifices are builded of Wood and Stone very Artificial and sumptuous with guilded Towers and Pyramids each of the Temples and Cloysters being filled with an incredible number of Idols of divers materials and greatness gilded adorned and beautified very rich and admirable some of the Idols are four six eight and ten fathoms long amongst the rest there is one of an unimaginable greatness being one hundred and twenty foot high In these Temples and Cloysters there are many Priests and religious Men disciplined and very obedient to their superiours being all subject to the Arch Flamin or Prior of the great Temple of Iudica whose spiritual power is vastly great though subordinate to the Kings All the Clergy whereof there are in Iudica alone at least thirty thousand are clothed without any remarkale difference in yellow linnen clothes having their heads all shorn The learnedst amongst these are professed Priests out of which the Regents of their Temples are chosen who are held in great esteem and reverence by the People preaching teaching and offering