want of care and imprudence His Commanders presently obeyed him and without longer tarrying there each of them went straight to the place whither his Commission directed him The Chaumigrem by means of this so cunning and well dissembled a sleight rid himself in lesse then three hours of all the hundred and fifty thousand Pegues who he knew if once they came to hear of the Kings death would fall upon the thirty thousand Bramaaes that he had there with him and not leave one of them alive This done as soon as it was night turning back to the City which was not above a league from thence he seized with all speed on the deceased Kings Treasure which amounted according to report unto above thirty millions of gold besides jewells that were not to be estimated and withall he saved all the Bramaaâ—s wives and children and took as many arms and as much ammunition as he could carry away After this he set fire on all that was in the Magazines caused all the lesser Ordnance to be rived asunder and the greater which he could not use so to be cloyed Furthermore he made seven thousand Elephants that were in the country to be killed reserving only two thousand for the carriage of his treasure ammunition and baggage As for all the rest it was consumed with fire so that neither in the Palace where were chambers all seeked with gold nor in the Magazines and Arsenalls nor on the river where were two thousand rowing Vessells remained ought that was not reduced to ashes After this execution he departed in all hast an hour before day and drew directly towards Tanguu which was his own country from whence he came some fourteen years before to the conquest of the Kingdome of Pegu which in the heart of the country was distant from thence about an hundred and threescore leagues Now whereas fear commonly adds wings to the feet it made him march with such speed as he and his arrived in fifteen days at the place whither they were a going In the mean time whereas the Chaumigrem had cunningly sent away the hundred and fifty thousand Pegues as I have declared already it happened that two days after they understood how the King of Bramaa was dead Now in regard they vvere mortall enemies of that Nation sixscore thousand of them in one great body turned back in hast for to go in quest of the thirty thousand Bramaaes but when they arrived at the City they found that they were gone from thence three days before this making them to follow in pursuit of them with all the speed that possibly they could they came to a place called Guinacoutel some forty leagues from the City whence they came there they were informed that it was five days since they passed by so that dispairing of being able to execute the design which they had of cutting them in pieces they returned back to the place from whence they were parted where they consulted amongst themselves about that which they were to do and resolved in the end since they had no lawfull King and that the Land was quite freed of the Bramaaes to go to Xemin de Satan as incontinently they did who received them not only with a great deal of joy and good entertainment but promised them mighty matters and much honor by raising them to the principall commands of the Kingdome as soon as time should serve and that he was more peaceably setled Thereupon he went directly to the City of Pegu where he was received with the magnificence of a King and for such crowned in the Temple of Comquiay which is the chief of all the rest CHAP. LXXII That which arrived in the time of Xenim de Satan and an abominable â—ase that befell to Diego Suarez together with the Xemindoos expedition against Xenim de Satan and that which insued thereupon THree moneths and nine dayes had this Tyrant Xenim de Satan already peaceably possessed the city and kingdome of Pegu whenas without fearing any thing or being contradicted by none he fell to distributing the treasure and revenues of the Crown to whomsoever he pleased whereupon great scandalls insued which were the cause of divers quarrells and divisions amongst many of the Lords who for this cause and the injustice which this tyrant did them retyred into severall foraigne Countries and Kingdoms Some also went and sided with the Xemindoâ— who began at that time to be in reputation again For after he had fled from the battell onely with six horse as I have declared heretofore he got into the Kingdom of Ansedaa where as well by the efficacy of his Sermons as by the authority of his person he won so many to his devotion as assisted by the favour and forces of those Lords as adhered to him he made up an army of threescore thousand men with which he marched to Meidoo where he was very well received by those of the Country Now setting aside what he did in those parts during the space of foure moneths that he abode there I will in the mean time passe to a strange accident which in a few dayes fell out in this city that one may know what end the good fortune of the great Diego Suarez had who had been Governour of this Kingdom of Pegâ— and the recompence which the world is accustomed to make at last unto all such as serve and trust in it under the semblance of a good countenance which she shews them at first The matter past in this sort There was in this city of Pegu a Merchant called Manbagoaa a rich man and that of good reputation in the country This same resolved to marry a daughter of his to a young man the son of a worshipfull and very rich Merchant also named Manicaniandarim about that time that Diego Suarez was in the greatest height of his fortune and termed the Kings brother and in dignity above all the Princes and Lords of the Kingdom So the fathers of these young couple being agreed on this marriage and of the dowry that was to be given which by report was three hundred thousand duckats when as the day was come wherein the nuptialls were celebrated with a great deal of state and magnificence and honoured with the presence of most of the gentlemen of chiefest quality in the city it happened that Diego Suarez being come a little before Sun-set from the royall palace with a great train both of horse and foot as his manner was to be alwayes well accompanied passed by Mambogoaas door where hearing the musick and rejoycing that was in the house asked what the matter was whereunto answer being made him that Mambogoaa had married his daughter and that the wedding was kept there he presently caused the Elephant on which he was mounted to stay and sent one to tell the father of the bride that he congratulated with him for this marriage and wished a long and happy life to the new married couple to these words he
the meat with ones hand as we use to do Hereupon the Kings Daughter a marvellous fair Princesse and not above fourteen or fifteen years of age craved leave of the Queen her Mother that she and six or seven of her companions might present a certain Play before them concerning the subject in question which the Queen with the Kings consent granted her That done they withdrew into another room where they stayed a pretty while during the which they that remained in the place drove away the time at our cost by jeering aâ—d gibing at us who were much ashamed especially my â—our companions which were but novices in the Country and understood not the laâ—guage for as for me I had before seen such a like Comedy acted at Taiâ—xumaa against the Portugals As we were thus ministring matter for the Compâ—ny to laugh at us and setting the best face on it that possibly we could amidst these affronts in regard of the great pleasure which we observed the King and Queen took therein we saw the young Pâ—incesse come out of the other room disguised like a Merchant wearing a Syâ—miâ—er by her side covered all over with plates of gold and the rest of her habit answerable to the person which she represented In this equipage falling down on her knees before the King her father with the respect she owâ—d to him Most mighty Lord and King said she unto him albeit this my boldnâ—sse be worthy of great chastiâ—ement in regard of the inequalitie which it hath pleased God to put between your greatnesse and my basenesse yet the necessity whereunto I find my self reduced makes me shut my eyes against all that may happen to me thereby For being old as I am and charged with many Children which I have had by severall Wives with whom I have been married my extream poverty and the desire I have not to leave them destitute of means hath made me have recourse to my friends for help which they have granted me So that having employed the mony which they have leâ—t me in a certain Commoditie which I cannot sâ—ll in all Japan I have resolved to barter it away for any other whatsoever it be And having complained hereof to some freinds that I have at Meacoo they have assured me that your Highnesse may doe me some good Wherefore my Lord I humbly beseech you that in consideration of these white haires and feeble age as also for that I have many Children and am poor you will be pleased to assist me in my need which will be an almes very well bestowed and most agreeable to the Chenchicos which are lately arrived here in their Ship for this commoditie of mine will accommodate them better then any other in regard of the want they have continually thereof Whilest this discourse lasted the King and Queen could not forbear laughing to see that this old Merchant who had so many children and so many incommodities was the Princesse their Daughter very young and exceeding beautifull But the King forbearing a little from laughing answered her with a great deal of gravity that shee should shew some samples of the Merchandize which she had and if it were such as would accommodate us he would desire us to buy it At these words the pretended Merchant having made a very low obeysance retired into the other room again In the mean time we were so confounded with what we heard and saw as we could not tell what to think or what should be the event of it whilest the vvomen which were in the room being about three score in number for there were no other men but we five there fell to jogging one another and laughing at us Hereupon the Merchant comes in again bringing with her six fair young maids richly clad and disguised also like Merchants carrying samples of the Merchandize they had to sell They had Scymiters and Daggers by their sides all guilt with grave countenances and high looks being all of them Daughters to the greatest Lords of the Kingdom whom the Princesse had expresly chosen to act this Play with her Each of these six Damsels bare on her shoulder a fardle of green Taffats and all of them together seeming to be Merchants sons danced a Ball to the tune of two Harps and a Viol and ever and anon sung in verse with a very sweet and melodious voyce words of this substance High and mighty Lord by the riches which thou possessest we pray thee to think of our poverty we are miserable creatures in this strange Country and consequently despised by the inhabitants thereof which exposeth us to great affronts wherefore we beseech thee by that which thou art be mindfull of our poverty After that these young Merchants had finished their Dance and Song they fell all on their knees before the King and then the eldest of them having rendred him most humble thanks for the favour he did them in helping them away with their Merchandize they untied all their fardleâ— and let fall in the midst of the room a great number of woodden arms with hands the said eldest of them saying with a very good grace Since that Nature for our sins hath subjected us to so villanous a misery that our hands must of necessity smell alwayes of flesh or fish or of such other meat as wee eat with them this Merchandize will greatly accommodate us to the end that whilest we make use of one sort of hands the other may be washed The King and Queen fell heartily a laughing at this Speech vvhereas in the mean time we five were so ashamed as the King perceiving it desired us to take it in good part saying That the Princesse his Daughter had done this to no other end but for the better entertainment of us vvhom she respected as her Brothers Whereunto vve made answer That we hoped God our Master would reward his Highnesse for this honour and grace that he did us which we confess'd was very great and for such wee would publish it over all the world as long as we lived Wherewith the King Queen and Princesse shewed themselves very vvell satisfied giving us thanks vvith many complements after their manner yea and the Princesse said to us moreover If your God would take me for his servant I should endeavour the best I could to please him but I hope he will not forget me At these vvords vve prostrated our selves on our knees before her and kissing the hem of her garment vve answered her That we hoped no lesse of her and that in case shee became a Christian we should see her Queen of Portugal Whereupon the Queen her Mother and she fell a laughing Having taken leave then of the King vve returned to our lodging and the next morning as soon as it vvas day he sent for us again and questioned us very exactly about the coming of Father Belquior the intention of the Vice-Roy the Letter which I had brought from him our Ship and the
from the River of Tinlau with his ill success thereupon and the succor we met withall 73 CHAP. XXII Antonio de Faria hath news of the five Portugals that were made Captives his Letter to the Mandarin of Nouday about them and his assaulting the said Town 76 CHAP. XXIII Antonio de Faria's Navigation till he came to the Port of Liampoo his arrival and gallant reception there by the Portugals 81 CHAP. XXIV Antonio de Faria departs from Liampoo for to go and seek out the Island of Calempluy the strange things that we saw and the hazard we ran in our Voyage thither 87 CHAP. XXV Our arrival at the Island of Calempluy with the description thereof what happened to Antonio de Faria in one of the Hermitages there and how we were discovered 92 CHAP. XXVI Our casting away in the gulph of Nanquin with all that befell us after this lamentable shipwrack 97 CHAP. XXVII Our arrival at the Town of Taypor where we were made Prisoners and so sent to the City of Nanquin 103 CHAP. XXVIII The Marvels of the City of Nanquin our departure from thence towards Pequin and that which happened unto us till we arrived at the Town of Sempitay 107 CHAP. XXIX Our arrival at Sempitay our encounter there with a Christian woman together with the original and foundation of the Empire of China and who they were that first peopled it 112 CHAP. XXX The foundation of the four chief Cities of China together with which of the Kings of China it was that built the wall betwixt China and Tartaria and many things that we saw as we past along 116 CHAP. XXXI The order which is observed in the moving Towns that are made upon the Rivers and that which further befell us 122 CHAP. XXXII Our arrival at the City of Pequin with our imprisonment and that which moreover happened unto us there as also the great Majesty of the Officers of their Court of Iustice. 125 CHAP. XXXIII What past between us and the Tanigores of Mercy with the great favor they did us and a brief relation of the City of Pequin where the King of China keeps his Court. 131 CHAP. XXXIV The order which is observed in the Feasts that are made in certain Inns and the state which the Chaems of the two and thirty Universities keeps with certain remarkable things in the City of Pequin 134 CHAP. XXXV The Prison of Ximanguibaleu wherein those are kept which have been condemned to serve at the reparations of the wall of Tartaria and another Inclosure called the Treasure of the dead with the revenues whereof this Prison is maintained 137 CHAP. XXXVI Of an Edifice scituated in the midst of the River wherein were the hundred and thirteen Chappels of the Kings of China and the publique Granaries established for the relief of the poor 142 CHAP. XXXVII The great number of Officers and other people which are in the King of China's Pallace with our going to Quincay to accomplish the time of our Exile and what befell us there 144 CHAP. XXXVIII A Tartar Commander enters with his Army into the Town of Quincay and that which followed thereupon with the Nauticors besieging the Castle of Nixiamcoo and the taking of it by the means of some of us Portugals 149 CHAP. XXXIX The Mitaquer departs from the Castle of Nixiamcoo and goes to the King of Tartaria's Camp before Pequin with that which we saw till we arrived there and the Mitaquers presenting us unto the King 154 CHAP. XL. The King of Tartaria's raising his siege from before Pequin for to return into his Country and that which passed until his arrival there 158 CHAP. XLI In what manner we were brought again before the King of Tartaria with our departure from that Kingdom and all that we saw and befell us in our Voyage till our arrival at the Court of the King of Chauchinchina 160 CHAP. XLII The reception of the Tartarian Embassador by the King of Chauchinchina with the said Kings going to the City of Uzanguea and his triumphal entry thereinto 167 CHAP. XLIII Our departure from the City of Uzanguea and our adventures till our arrival at the Isle of Tanixumaa with our going a shore there 170 CHAP. XLIV The great Honor which the Nautaquin Lord of the Isle did to one of us for having seen him shoot with an Harquebuse and his sending me to the King of Bungo with that which passed till my arrival at this Court 172 CHAP. XLV The great mishap which befell the King of Bungo's son with the extream danger that I was in for the same and what followed thereupon 176 CHAP. XLVI My curing the young Prince of Bungo with my return to Tanixumaa and imbarquing there for Liampoo and also that which happened to us on land after the shipwrack we suffered by the way thither 178 CHAP. XLVII The carrying of us to the Town of Pungor and presenting us to the Broquen Governor of the Kingdom with that which ensued upon it 181 CHAP. XLVIII The King of Lequios sending a cruel sentence against us to the Broquen of the Town where we were Prisoners to the end he should put it in execution and that which further happened unto us till our arrival at Liampoo 184 CHAP. XLIX My sailing from Liampoo to Malaca with the sending me by the Captain of the Fortress there to the Chaubainhaa at Martibano and all that befell us in our Voyage thither 189 CHAP. L. The Continuance of our Voyage to the Bar of Martibano and certain memorable particularities happening there 195 CHAP. LI. In what manner the Chaubinhaa rendered himself to the King of Bramaa and the cruel prâ—ceeding against the Queen of Martabano and the Ladies her attendants 201 CHAP. LII In what manner the sentence of death was executed on the person of the Chaubinhaa King of Martabano Nhay Canatoo his wife and an hundred and forty women with that which the King of Bramaa did after his return to Pegu. 205 CHAP. LIII That which passed between the Queen of Prom and the King of Bramaa together with the first assault that was given to the City and the success thereof 209 CHAP. LIV. The King of Bramaa his besieging the Fortress of Meleytay with his going from thence to Avaa and that which passed there 282 CHAP. LV. Our going with the King of Bramaa's Embassador to the Calaminham with the course which we held until we arrived at the Temple or Pagode of Tinagoogoo and a description thereof 215 CHAP. LVI The great and sumptuous Procession made in this Pagode together with their Sacrifices and other particularities 218 CHAP. LVII What we saw in the continuing of our Voyage until we arrived at the City of Timplan 223 CHAP. LVIII The Magnificent Reception of the King of Bramaa his Embassador at the City of Timplan and that which passed betwixt the Calaminham and him 226 CHAP. LIX An ample Relation of the Empire of Calaminham and of the Kingdoms of Pegu and Bramaa
then now we are through the unhappiness of our sins After we had been seven months and an half in this Country sometimes on the one side sometimes on the other from River to River and on both Coasts North and South as also in the Isle of Ainan without hearing any news of Coia Acem the Soldiers weary of so long and tedious travel assembled all together and desired Antonio de Faria to make a partition of that which had been gotten according to a promise before made to them by a note under his hand saying that thereupon they would return unto the Indiaes or where else they thought good whereby a great deal of stir arose amongst us At length it was agreed that we should go and winter in Siam where all the goods which were in the Junk should be sold and being reduced into gold division should be made of it as was desired With this accord sworn and signed by all we went and anchored in an Island called the Island of Thieves in regard it was the outermost Island of all that Bay to the end that from thence we might make our voyage with the first fair wind that should blow So having continued there twelve days with an earnest desire to effect the agreement we had made together it fortuned that by the conjunction of the new Moon in October which we had always feared there arose such a tempest of rain and wind as seemed to be no natural thing in so much that lying open to the South wind as we traverst the Coast the waves went so high that though we used all means possible to save our selves cutting down our Masts and all the dead works from poop to prow as also casting into the Sea even the most part of our merchandize reducing our great Ordnance into their places again out of which they had been toss'd and strengthening our Cables that were half rotten with ropes But all this was not able to preserve us for the night was so dark the weather so cold the sea so rough the wind so high and the storm so horrible that in these extremities nothing could deliver us but the meer mercy of God whom with continual cries and tears we called upon for help But for as much as in regard of our sins we did not deserve to receive this grace at his hands his divine justice ordained that about two hours after midnight there came such a fearful gust of wind as drove our four vessels foul one of another upon the shore where they were all broken to pieces so that four hundred and fourscore men were drowned amongst which were eight Portugals and it pleased God that the remainder being fifty three persons were saved whereof three and twenty were Portugals the rest slaves and Mariners After this lamentable shipwrack we got half naked and most of us hurt into a Marish hard by where we stay'd till the next morning and as soon as it was day we returned to the Sea side which we found all strewed with dead bodies a spectacle of that dread and horror as scarce any one of us could forbear swooning to behold it over them we stood lamenting a great while till such time an Antonio de Faria who by the mercy of God was one of those that remained alive whereof we were all very glad concealing the grief which we could not dissemble came where we were having on a scarlet coat that he had taken from one of the dead and with a joyful countenance his eyes dry and voyd of tears he made a short speech unto us wherein he remonstrated how variable and uncertain the things of this world were and therefore he desired us as Brethren that we would endevor to forget them seeing the remembrance of them was but a means to grieve us for considering the time and â—iâ—erable estate whereunto we were reduced we saw how necessary his counsel was And â—ow he hoped that God would in this desolate place present us with some good opportunity to â—ame our selves and how we might be assured that he never permitted any evil but for a greater good moreover how he firmly believed that though we had now lost five hundred thousand crowns we should ere it were long get above six hundred thousand for them This brief exhortation was heard by us all with tears and discomfort enough so we spent two days and an half there in burying the dead during which time we recovered some wet victuals and provisions to sustain us withall but they lasted not above five days of fifteen that we stayed there for by reason of their wetness they corrupted presently and did us little good After these fifteen days it pleased God who never forsakes them that truly put their trust in him miraculously to send us a remedy whereby we escaped out of that misery we were in as I will declare hereafter CHAP. XIX In what sort we escaped miraculously out of this Island our passage from thence to the River of Xingrau our incountring with a Chinese Pyrat and the agreement we made with him BEing escaped from this miserable shipwrack it was a lamentable thing to see how we walked up and down almost naked enduring such cruel cold and hunger that many of us talking one to another fell down suddenly dead with very weakness which proceeded not so much from want of victuals as from the eating of such things as were hurtful to us by reason they were all rotten and stunk so vilely that no man could endure the taste of them in his mouth But as our God is an infinite good there is no place so remote or desert where the misery of sinners can be hid from the assistance of his infinite mercy which I speak in regard that on the day when as the feast of S. Michael is celebrated as we were drowned in tears and without hope of any humane help according as it seemed to the weakness of our little faith a Kite came unexpectedly flying over our heads from behind a point which the Island made towards the South and by chance let fall a fish called a Mullet about a foot long This fish falling close by Antonio de Faria it somewhat amazed him till he perceived what it was so that having considered a little he fell on his knees and with tears pronounced these words from the bottom of his heart O Lord Iesus Christ the eternal Son of God I humbly beseech thee by the sorrows of thy sacred Passion that thou wilt not suffer us to be overwhelmed with the unbelief whereinto the misery of our weakness hath cast us for I hope and am almost assured that the same succor which thou didst send unto Daniel in the Lions den by the hand of thy Prophet Abacuc thou wilt grant us at this present out of thy infinite goodness and not only here but in every other place where a sinner shall invoke thy ayd with a firm and true faith Wherefore my Lord and
Chifuu which conducted us that if he did not chastise us in such manner as those gods might be well contented with the punishment inflicted on us for our mockery of them both the one and the other would assuredly torment his soul and never suffer it to go out of hell which threatning so mightily terrified this dog the Chifuu that without further delay or hearing us speak he caused us all to be bound hand and foot and commanded each of us to have an hundred lashes given him with a double cord which was immediately executed with so much rigour as we were all in a gore bloud whereby we were taught not to jeer afterwards at any thing we saw or heard At such time as we arrived here we found twelve Bonzoes upon the place who with silver censors full of perfumes of aloes and beniamin censed those two divelâ—sh Monsters and chanted out aloud Help us even as we serve thee whereunto divers other Priests answered in the name of the Idol with a great noise So I promise to do like a good Lord In this sort they went as it were in procession round about the place singing with an ill tuned voice to the sound of a great many bels that were in Steeples thereabouts In the mean time there were others that with Drums and Basins made such a dinne as I may truly say put them all together was most horrible to hear CHAP. XXIX Our Arrival at Sempitay our encounter there with a Christian woman together with the Original and Foundation of the Empire of China and who they were that first peopled it FRom this place we continued our voyage eleven days more up the river which in those parts is so peopled with Cities Towns Villages Boroughs Forts and Castles that commonly they are not a flight shot distant one from another besides a world of houses of pleasure and temples where Steeples were all guilt which made such a glorious shew as we were much amazed at it In this manner we arrived at a Town named Sempitay where we abode five days by reason the Chifuus wife that conducted us was not well Here by his permission we landed and chained together as we were we went up and down the streets craving of alms which was very liberally given us by the Inhabitants who wondering to see such men as we demanded of us what kind of people we were of what Kingdom and how our countrey was called Hereunto we answered conformably to that we had often said before namely that we were natives of the Kingdom of of Siam that going from Liampoo to Nanquin we had lost all our goods by shipwrack and that although they beheld us then in so poor a case yet we had been formeâ—ly very rich whereupon a woman who was come thither amongst the rest to see us It is very likely said she speaking to them about her that what these poor strangers have related is most true for daily experience doth shew how those that trade by sea do oftentimes make it their grave wherefore it is best and surest to travel upon the earth and to esteem of it as of that whereof it hath pleased God to frame us saying so she gave us two mazes which amounts to about sixteen pence of our mony advising us to make no more such long voyages since our lives were so short Hereupon she unbottoned one of the sleeves of a red Satin Gown she had on and baring her left arm she shewed us a crosse imprinted on it like to the mark of a slave saying Do any of you know this signe which amongst those that follow the way of truth is called a crosse or have any of you ever heard it named To this falling down on our knees we answered with tears in our eyes that we know exceeding well Then lifting up her hands she cried out Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy Name speaking these words in the Portugal tongue and because she could speak no more of our language she very earnestly desired us in Chinese to tell her whether we were Christians we replyed that we were and for proof thereof after we had kissed that arm whereon the cross was we repeated all the rest of the Lords prayer which she had left unsaid wherewith being assured that we were Christians indeed she drew aside from the rest there present and weeping said to us Come along Christians of the other end of the world with her that is your true Sister in the faith of Jesus Christ or peradventure a kinswoman to one of you by his side that begot me in this miserable exile and so going to carry us to her house the Hupes which guarded us would not suffer her saying that if we would not continue our craving of alms as the Chifuu had permitted us they would return us back to the ship but this they spake in regard of their own interest for that they were to have the moitie of what was given us as I have before declared and accordingly they made as though they would have lead us thither again which the woman perceiving I understand your meaning said she and indeed it is but reason you make the best of your places for thereby you live so opening her purse she gave them two Taeis in silver wherewith they were very well satisfied whereupon with the leave of the Chifuu she carried us home to her house and there kept us all the while we remained in that place making exceeding much of us and using us very charitably Here she shewed us an Oratory wherein she had a cross of wood guilt as also candlesticks and a lamp of silver Furthermore she told us that she was named Inez de Leyria and her Father Tome Pirez who had been great Ambassadour from Portugal to the King of China and that in regard of an insurrection with a Portugal Captain made at Canton the Chineses taking him for a Spye not for an Ambassodor as he termed himself clapped him and all his followers up in prison where by order of Justice five of them were put to torture receiving so many and such cruel stripes on their bodies as they died instantly and that the rest were all banished into several parts together with her father into this place where he married with her mother that had some means and how he made her a Christian living so seven and twenty years together and converting many Gentiles to the faith of Christ whereof there were above three hundred then abiding in that Town which every Sunday assembled in her house to say the Catechisme whereupon demanding of her what were their accustomed prayers she answered that she used no other but these which on their knees with their eyes and hands lift up to heaven they pronounced in this manner O Lord Iesus Christ as it is most true that thou art the very Son of God conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgine Mary for the salvation
who with each of them a Cenâ—er in his hand went two and two about then at the sound of a bell prostrated themselves on the ground and censed one another saying with a loud voice Let our cry come unto thee as a sweet perfume to the end thou mayest hear us For the Guard of of this Tent there were threeâ—core Halberdiers who at a little distance invironed it all about They were clothed with guilt leather and had Murrians on their heads curiously engraven all which were very agreeable and majestical objects Out of this place we entred into another division where there were four Chambers very rich and well furnished in the which were mâ—ny Gentlemen as well strangers as Tartars From thence passing on whithâ—r the Mitaquer and the young boys conducted us we arrived at the door of a great â—ow room in form like to a Church where stood six Ushers with their Maces who with a new complement to the Mitaquer caused us â—o â—nter but kept out all others In this room was the King of Tartaria accompanied with many Princes Lords and Captains amongst whom were the Kings of Pafua Mecuy Capinper Raina Benan Anchesacotay and others to the number of fourteen who in rich attire were all seated some three or four paces from the foot of the Tribunal A little more on the one side were two and thirty very fair women who playing upon divers instruments of musick made a wonderful sweet Consort The King was set on his Throne under a rich Cloth of State and had about him twelve young bâ—ys kneeling on their knees with little Maces of gold like Scepters which they carried on their shoulders close behind him was a young Lady extreamly beautiful and wonderfully richly attired with a Ventiloe in her hand wherewith she ever and anon fanned him This same was the sister of the Mitaquer our General and infinitely beloved of the King for whose sake therefore it was that he was in such credit and reputation throughout the whole Army The King was much about forty years of age full stature somewhat â—â—an and of a good aspect His beard was very short his Mustaches after the Turkish manner his eyes like to the Chineses and his countenance severe and majestical As for his vesture it was violet colour in fashion like to a Turkish Roak imbroydered with pearl upon his feet he had green Sandals wrought all over with gold pearl and great purls among it and on his head a sattin cap of the colour of his habit with a rich band of diamonds and rubies intermingled together Before we past any farther after we had gone ten or eleven steps in the room we made our complement by kissing of the ground three several times and performing other ceremonies which the Truch-men taught us In the mean time the King commanded the musick to cease and addressing himself to the Mitaquer Ask these men of the other end of the world said he unto him whether they have a King what is the name of their Country and how far distant it is from this Kingdom of China where now I am Thereupon one of ours speaking for all the rest answered That our Country was called Portugal that the King thereof was exceeding rich and mighty and that from thence to the City of Pequin was at the leâ—st three years voyage This answer much amazed the King because he did not think the world had been so large so that striking his thigh with a wand that he had in his hand and lifting up his eyes to Heaven as though he would render thanks unto God he said aloud so as eveâ—y one might hear him O Creator of all things are we able to comprehend the marvels of thy greaâ—ness we that at the best are but poor worms of the earth Fuxiquidane fuxiquidane let them approach let them approach Thereupon beckening to us with his hand he caused us to come even to the first degree of the Throne where the fourteen Kings sat and demanded of him again as a man astonished Pucau pucau that is to say how far how far whereunto he answered as before that we should be at least three years in returning to our Country Then he asked why we came not rather by Land then by Sea where so many labours and dangers were to be undergon Thereunto he replyed that there was too great an extent of land through which we were not â—ssured to pass for that it was commanded by Kings of several nations What come you to seek for then added the King and wherefore do you expose your selves to such dangers Then having rendred him a reason to this last demand with all the submission that might be he stayed a prety while without speaking and then shaking his head three or four times he addressed himselfe to an old man that was not far from him and said Certainly we must needs conclude that there is either much ambition or little justice in the Country of these people seeing they come so far to conquer other Lands To this Speech the old man named Raia Benan made no other answer but that it must â—eeds be so for men said he who have recourse unto their industry and invention to run over the Sea for to get that which God hath not given them are necessarily carried thereunto either by extream poverty or by an excess of blindness and vanity derived from much covetousness which is the cause why they renounce God and those that brought them into the world This reply of the old man was seconded with many jeering words by the other Courtiers who made great sport upon this occasion that very much pleased the King in the mean time the women fell to their musick again and so continued till the King withdrew into another Chamber in the company of these fair Musicians and that young Lady which fanned him not so much as one of those great Personages daring to enter besides Not long after one of those twelve boys that carried the Scepters before mentioned came to the Mitaquer and told him from his sister that the King commanded him not to depart away which he held for a singular favour by reason this message was delivered to him in the presence of those Kings and Lords that were in the room so that he stirred not but sent us word that we should go unto out tent with this assurance that he would take care the Son of the Sun should be mindful of us CHAP. XL. The King of Tartaria's raising of his Siege from before Pequin for to return into his Country and that which passed until his Arrival there WE had been now full three and forty dayes in this Camp during which time there past many fights and skirmishes between the besiegers and the besieged as also two assaults in the open day which were resisted by them within with an invincible courage like resolute men as they were In the mean time the King of Tartaria seeing how contrary
that instant riding of horses and not knowing what to think of this novelty sent presently for Zeimoto just as he was shooting in the Marsh but when he saw him come with his Harquebuse on his shoulder and two Chineses with him carrying the fowl he wasso mightily taken with the matter as he could not sufficiently admire it for whereas they had never seen any Gun before in that Country they could not comprehend what it might be so that for want of understanding the secret of the powder they all concluded that of necessity it must be some Sorcery Thereupon Zeimoto seeing them so astonished and the Nautaquim so contented made three shoots before them whereof the effect was such that he killâ—d one Kite and two Turtle Doves In a word then and not to lose time by endeering the matter with much Speech I will say no more but that the Nautaquim caused Zeimoto to get up on the horses croupper behind him and so accompanied with a great croud of people and four Hushers who with Battouns headed with iron went before him crying aâ—l along the streets Know all men that the Nautaquim Prince of this Island of Tanixumaâ— and Lord of our heads enjoyns and expresly commands That all persons whatsoever which inhabit the Land that lies between the two Seas do honour thiâ— Chenchicogim of the further end of the world for even at this present and for hereafter he makes him his kinsman in such manner as the Jacharons are who sit next his Person and whosoever shall not do so willingly he shall be sure to lose his head Whereunto all the people answered with a great noise We will do so for ever In this pomp Zeimoto being come to the Pallace gate the Nautaquim alighted from his horse and taking him by the hand whilest we two followed on foot a prety way after he led him into his Court where he made him sit with him at his own table and to honour him the more he would needs have him lodg there that night shewing many other favours to him afterwards and to us also for his sake Now Zeimoto conceiving that he could not better acknowledge the honour which the Nautaquim did him then by giving him his Harquebuse which he thought would be a most acceptâ—ble present unto him on a day when he came home from shooting he â—endred it unto him with a number of Pigeons and Turtle-doves which he received very kindly as a thing of great value assuring him that he esteemed of it more then of all the treasures of China and giving him withall in recompence thereof a thousand Taeis in silver he desired him to teach him how to make the powder saying that without that the Harquebuse would be of no use to him as being but a piece of unprofitable iron which Zeimoto promised him to do and accordingly performed the same Now the Nautaquim taking pleasure in nothing so much as shooting in this Harquebuse and his Subjects perceiving that they could not content him better in any thing then in this wherewith he was so much delighted they took a pattern of the said Harquebuse to make others by it the effect thereof was such that before our departure whichwas five months an half after there was six hundred of them made in the Country nay I will say more that afterwards namely the lâ—st time that the Vice-roy Don Alphonso de Noroâ—ha sent me thither with a present to the Kâ—ng of Bungo which happened in the year 1556. those of Iappon affirmed that in the City of Fucheo being the chief of that Kingdom there were above thirty thousand whereat finding my self to be much amazed for that it seemed impossible unto me that this invention should multiply in such sort certain Merchants of good credit assured me that in the whole Island of Iappon there were above three hundred thousand Harquebuses and that they alone had transported of them in the way of trade to the Country of the Lequios at â—ix several times to the number of five and twenty hundred so that by the means of that one which Zeimoto presented to the Nautaquim in acknowledgment of the honour and good offices that he had done hâ—m as I have declared beâ—ore the Country was filled with such abundance of them as at this day there is not so small an hâ—mlet but â—ath an hundred at the least for as for Cities and great Towns they have them by thousands whereby one may perceive what the inclination of this people is and how much they are naturally addicted to the wars wherein they take more delight then any other Nation that we know We had been now three and twenty dayes in the Island of Tanixumaa where very contentedly we past away the time either in fishing fowling or hunting whereunto these people of Iappon are much addicted when as a vessel belonging to the King of Bungo a 〈◊〉 in that Port in the which were divers men of quality and certain Merchants whoâ—as â—oon as â—hâ—y were landed went to wait upon the Nautaquim with their presents according to the usual 〈◊〉 of the Country Amongst them there was an ancient man very well attâ—ndâ—d and unto whom the rest carried much respect that falling on his knees before the Nautaquim presented him with a letter and a rich Courtâ—lass garnished with gold together with a box full of veâ—â—iloes which the Nautaquim received with a great deal of ceremony Then having spent some time with him in asking of certain questions he read the letter to himself and thereupon having remained a prety while as it were in suspencâ— and dismissed the bearer thereof from his presence with an express charge unto those about him to see him honourably entertained he called us unto him and commanded the Truchman that was there by to use these words unto us My good Friends I intreat you that you will hear this letter read which is sent me from my Lord and Vncle and then I will let you know what I desire of you So giving it to a Treasurer of his he commanded him to read it which instantly he did and these were the contents of it Thou right eye of my face Hyascarangoxo Nautaquim of Tanixuma I Orgemdoo who am your Father in the true love of my bowels as he from whom you have taken the name and being of your Person King of Bungo and Facataa Lord of the great House of Fiancima Tosa and Bandou Chief Soveraign of the petty Kings of the Islands of Goto and Xamanaxequa I give you to understand my Son by the words of my mouth which are spoken of your person that some dayes since certain men coming from your Country have assured me that you have in your Town three Chenchicogims of the other end of the world men that accommodate themselves very well with those of Japan are clothed in silk and usually wear swords by their sides not like Merchants that use traffique but in the quality of
suffered by the way THe King of Bungo being extreamly grieved to see the disaster of his Son turned himself to me and beholding me with a very gentle countenance Stranger said he unto me try I pray thee if thou canst assist my Son in this peril of his life for I sware unto thee if thou canst do it I will make no less esteem of thee then of him himself and will give thee whatsoever thou wilt demand of me Hereunto I answered the King that I desired his Majesty to command all those people away because the coyle that they kept confounded me and that then I would see whether his hurts were dangerous for if I found that I was able to cure them I would do it most willingly Presently the King willed every one to be gone whereupon approaching unto the Prince I perceived that he had but two hurts one on the top of his forehead which was no great matter and the other on his right hand thumb that was almost cut off So that our Lord inspiring me as it were with new courage I besought the King not to be grieved for I hoped in lesâ— then a month to render him his Son perfectly recovered Having comforâ—ed him in this manner I began to prepare my self for the dressing of the Prince but in the mean time the King was very much reprehended by the Bonâ—oes who told him that his Son would assuredly die that night and therefore it was better for him to put me to death presently then to suffer me to kill the Prince out-right adding further that if it should happen to prove so as it was very likely it would not only be a great scandal unto him but also much alienate his peoples affections from him To these speeches of the Bonzoes the King replyed that he thought they had reason for that they said and therefore he desired them to let him know how he should govern himself in this extremity You must said they stay the coming of the Bonzo Teixâ—andono and never think of any other course for we assure you in regard he is the holiest man living he will no sooner lay his hand on him but he will heal him straight as he hath healed many othâ—rs in our â—ight As the King was even resolved to follow the cursed counsel of thâ—se servants of the Divel the Prince complained that his wounds pained 〈◊〉 in such sort aâ— he was noâ—â—ble to indure it and therefore prayed any handsome remedy might be instantly applied to them whereupon the King much distracted between the opinion of the Bonzoes and the danger that his Son was in of his life together with the extream pain that he suffered desired those about him to advice him what he should resolve on in that exigent not one of them but was of the mind that it was far more expedient to have the Prince drest out of hand then to stay the time which the Bonzoes spake of This counsel being approved of the King he came again to me and making very much of me he promised me mighty matters if I could recover his Son I answered him with tears in my eyes that by the help of God I would do it and that he himself should be witness of my care therein So recommending my self to God and taking a good heart unto me for I saw there was no other way to save my life but that I prepared all things necessary to perform the cure Now because the hurt of the right hand thumb was most dangerous I begun with that and give it seven stitches whereas peradventure if a Chirurgion had drest him he would have given it fewer as for that of the forehead I gave it but four in regard it was much slighter then the other that done I applyed to them tow wet in the whites of eggs and so bound them up very close as I had seen others done in the Indiaes Five days after I cut the stitches and continued dressing him as before until that at the end of twenty days it pleaâ—â—d God he was throughly cured without any other inconvenience remaining to him then a little weakness in his thumb For this cause after that time the Kâ—ng and all his Lords did me much honour the Queen also and the Princesses her daughters presented me with a great many Sutes of silks and the chiefest of the Court with Cymitars and other things bâ—sides all which the King gave me six hundred Taeis so that after this sort I received in recompence of this my cure above fifteen hundred Duckets that I carried with me from this place After things were past in this manner being advertised by letters from my two Companions at Tanixumaa that the Chinese Pirate with whom we came thither was preparing for his return to China I besought the King of Bungo to give me leave to go back which he readily granted me and with much acknowledgement of the curing of his Son he willed a Funce to be made ready for me furnished with all things necessary wherein commanded a man of quality that was attended by twenty of the Kings servants with whom I departed one Saturday morning from the City of Fucheo and the Friday following about Sun-set I arrived at Tanixumaa where I found my two Comrades who received me with much joy Here we continued fifteen days longer till such time as the Junck was quite ready and then we set Sail for Liampoo which is a Sea-port of the Kingdom of China whereof I have spoken at large heretofore and where at that time the Portugals traded Having continued our voyage with a prosperous wind it pleased God that we arrived safe at our desired Port where it is not to be believed how much we were welcome by the Inhabitants of the place Now because it seemed strange unto them that we had voluntarily submitted our selves in that sort to the bad faith of the Chineses they asked of us from what Country we came and where it was that we imbarqued our selves with them whereupon we freely declared unto them the truth of all and gave them an account of our Voyage as also of the new Land of Iapon that we had discovered the great abundance of silver that was there and the exceeding profit that might be made by carrying the commodities of China thither wherewith they were wonderfully contented and instantly ordained a general Procession to be made by way of thanksgiving unto God for so great a blessing But withall covetousness began in such sort to seize upon the hearts of most of the Inhabitants every one striving to be the foremost in this voyage as they came to divide themselves into troops and to make several parties so that even with weapons in their hands they went thronging to buy up the commodities of that Country which made the Chinese Merchants upon the sight of our unruly avarice set so high a price upon their wares that whereas a Pico of silk was at first not worth forty
by the four women upon whom she leaned directly to the Gallows whereon she and her four children were to be hanged and there the Rolim of Mounay who was held amongst them for a holy man used some speeches unto her for to encourage her the better to suffer death whereupon she desired them to give her a little water which being brought unto her she filled he mouth with it and so spurted it upon her four children whom she held in her arms then having kissed them many times she said unto them weeping O my Children my Children whom I have conceived anew within the interior of my Soul how happy would I think my self if I might redeem your lives with the loss of mine own a thousand times over if it were possible for in regard of the fear and anguish wherein I see you at this present and wherein every one sees me also I should receive Death with as good an heart from the hand of this cruel Enemy as I willingly desire to see my self in the presence of the Soveraign Lord of all things within the repose of his celestial Habitation Then turning her to the Hangman who was going to bind her two little boys Good Friend said she be not I pray thee so voyd of pity as to make me see my children dye for in so doing thou wouldst commit a great sin wherefore put me first to death and refuse me not this boon which I crave of thee for Gods sake After she had thus spoken she took her children again in her arms and kissing them over and over in giving them her last farewell she yielded up the ghost in the Ladies lap upon whom she leaned not so much as once stirring ever after which the Hangman perceiving ran presently unto her and hanged her as he had done the rest together with her four little children two of each side of her and she in the middle At this cruel and pitiful spectacle there arose from amongst all this people so great and hideous a cry that the Earth seemed to tremble under the feet of them that stood upon it and withall there followed such a Mutiny throughout the whole Camp as the King was constrained to fortifie himself in his quarter with six thousand Bramaa Horse and thirty thousand Foot and yet for all that be thought not himself secure enough from it had not the night come which onely was able to calm the furious motions of these men of war For of seven hundred thousand which were in the Camp six hundred thousand were by Nation Pegu's whose King was the Father of this Queen that was thus put to death but this Tyrant of Bramaa had so disarmed and subjected them as they durst not so much as quich upon any occasion Behold in what an infamous manner Nhay Canatoo finished her days a Princess every way accomplished wife to the Chaubainhaa King of Martabano and the daughter of the King of Pegu Emperor of nine Kingdoms whose yearly Revenue amounted unto three millions of Gold As for the infortunate King her Husband he was the same night cast into the River with a great stone tyed about his neck together with fifty or threescore of his chiefest Lords who were either the Fathers Husbands or Brothers of those hundred and forty Ladies that were most unjustly put to such an ignominious death amongst the which there were three whom this King of Bramaa had demanded in marriage at such time as he was but a simple Earl but not one of their Fathers would condescend unto it whereby one may see how great the revolutions of time and fortune are After the Tyrant of Bramaa had caused this rigorous Justice to be done he stayed there nine whole days during the which many of the Inhabitants of the City were also execued At last he departed for to go to Pegu leaving behind him Bainhaa Chaque Lord Steward of his House to take order for all things that might conduce to the pacifying of that Kingdom and to provide for the repairing of what the fire had consumed to which purpose he placed a good Garison there and carryed with him the rest of his Army Ioano Cayeyro followed him also with seven hundred Portugals not above three or four remaining behind in the ruines of Martabano and those too not very considerable except it were one named Gonçalo Falcan a Gentleman well born and whom these Gentiles commonly called Crisna Pacan that is to say Flower of Flowers a very honorable Title amongst them which the King of Bramaa had given him in recompence of his services Now for as much as at my departure from Malaca Pedro de Faria had given me a Letter directed unto him whereby he desired him to assist me with his favor in case I had need of it in the affair for which he sent me thither as well for the service of the King as for his own particular as soon as I arrived at Martabano where I found him resident I delivered him this Letter and withall gave him an account of the occasion that brought me thither which was to confirm the ancient league of Peace that the Chaubainhaa had made by his Embassadors with them of Malaca at such time as Pedro de Faria was first Governor of it and whereof he could not chuse but have some knowledg adding moreover how to that effect I had brought the Chaubainhaa Letters full of great protestations of amity and a Present of certain very rich Pieces of China Hereupon this Gonçalo Falcan imagining that by means hereof he might insinuate himself much more into the good grace of the King of Bramaa to whose side he turned at the siege of Martabano quitting that of the Chaubainhaa whom formerly he served he went three days after the Kings departure to his said Governor and told him that I was come thither as Embassador from the Captain of Malaca to treat with the Chaubainhaa unto whom the Captain sent an offer of great Forces against the King of Bramaa in so much that they of the Country were upon the point of fortifying themselves in Martabano and chasing away the Bramaas out of the Kingdom whereunto he added so many other such like matters that the Governor sent presently to apprehend me and after he had put me into safe custody he went directly to the Junck in which I came from Malaca and seized upon all the goods that were in her which were worth above an hundred thousand duckets committing the Necoda Captain and Master of the Junck to prison as also all the rest that were in her to the number of an hundred threescore and four persons wherein comprized forty rich Merchants Malayes Menancabo's Mahumetans and Gentiles Natives of Malaca All these were incontinently condemned to a confiscation of their goods and to remain the Kings prisoners as well as I for being complices in the Treason which the Captain of Malaca had plotted in secret with the Chaubainhaa against the King of Bramaa Having
which I know very well and which you have never heard spoken nor read of in your Books I will declare the matter unto you as it past according as it is truly delivered by our Histories Know then that it now seven thousand three hundred and twenty Moons which make six hundred and ten years after the supputation of other Nations since the time that an holy Calaminham named Xixivarem Melentay commanding over the Monarchy of the six and twenty Kingdoms of this Crown waged wars with the Siamon Emperour of the Mountains of the Earth insomuch that there assembled what on the one part and the other threescore and two Kings who putting themselves into the Field fought so cruel and bloody a battail as it endured from an hour before day till night and there was slain on both sides sixteen Laquesaas of men each of which makes an hundred thousand At length the victory remaining to our Calaminham without any more resting alive of his Forces then two hundred and thirty thousand he ruâ—ned in four months space all the enemies Countries with such a destruction of people as if credit may be given to our Histories or to what any other besides have assured there died fifty Laquesaas of persons This battail was fought in the first of the said seven thousand three hundred and twenty Moons in the renowned Field Vitau where Quiay Nivandel appeared to the Calaminham sitting in a Chair of wood who acquired unto himself in this place a greater and more famous Title of honour then all the other Gods of the Mons and Siammes in regard whereof so often as they that inhabit the earth desire to make oath of things which pass the belief of men they use for the more authorizing thereof to swear by the holy Quiay Nivandel God of Battails of the field Vitau Now in a great City named Sarocatam where five hundred thousand persons were slain all these Gods which here you see before you were made prisoners in despight of the Kings that believed in them and the Priests that served them with perfumes in their sacrifices Thus by reason of so glorious a victory all those people became subject to us and tributaries to the Crown of the Calaminham who at this day holds the Scepter of this Monarchy whereunto he was not raised but with much labour and the shedding of a world of blood during the threescore and four rebellions made by the said people since that time until this present who not able to endure the captivity of their gods for that to say the truth it is a mighty affront unto them they do still in memory of so unhappy a success continue making great demonstrations of sorrow for it renewing every year the vow they have made not to celebrate any Feast nor to rejoyce in any kind of sort whatsoever until they have provided for the deliverance of these prisoners which also is the cause that no Lamps are seen in their Temples and that they are resolved to light up none during the captivity of their Idols Some of us seeming to doubt the verity hereof because it seemed strange unto them the Grepo swore that it was most true and that also there had been killed at sundry times about the deliverance of these Gods whom there we saw captive above three millions of men besides those that fell in precedent Battails whereby one may clearly see in what a strange manner the Devil keeps these poor blinded wretches subjected unto him and with how much abuse and extravagancy he precipitates them into hell When we had well observed all the singularities of this Temple we went to see another called Vrpanesendoo to speak of which I desire to be excused that I may not be forced to treat of infamous and abominable matters wherefore omitting the great abundance of riches and other things which we saw there it shall suffice me to say that this Temple is served by none but women who are all of them the daughters of Princes and of the principal Lords of the Kingdom which dedicates them from their infancy to offer up their honour in sacrifice there Now this filthy and sensual sacrifice is performed with so great charge that many of them bestow above ten thousand Duckets in it besides the offerings which are made to this Idol Vrpanesendoo to whom they sacrifice their honour This Idol is in a Chappel that is round and guilt all over it is made of silver and set upon a Tribunal in form of an Altar invironed over-head with a great number of Candlesticks which are all of silver likewise every light in them having six wieks Round about this Tribunal are many other Idols guilded over of very comely and well-favoured women who with their knees on the ground and hands lifted up adore this Idol These same as the Priests told us are the holy souls of certain young Ladies which finished their dayes there to the great honour of their parents who made more esteem of that then of all the King could give them They assured us that the Revenue belonging to the Idol was three hundred thousand Duckets by the year besides the offerings and rich ornaments of their abominable sacrifices which was yet worth more In this Diabolical Temple were shut up within many religious houses that we saw above five thousand women being all of them old and for the most part exceeding rich so that coming to dy they make a donation of all their wealth to the Pagode wherefore it is no marvel if it have the revenue I spoke of From this place we went to see the companies of the strangers which came thither in pilgrimage in the manner that I have declared These Companies were forty and six in number every one of an hundred two hundred three hundred four hundred or five hundred persons nay some of them were more and were all lodged along by the river as if it had been a Camp Amidst these troops of strangers we met by chance with a Portugal woman whereat we wondred more then at all we had seen before so that desiring to know of her the reason of so strange an accident she told us with tears who she was what occasion had brought her thither and how she was at that instant the wife of one of those Pilgrims to whom she had been married three or four and twenty years whereunto she further added that not daring to go and live amongst Christians because of her sin she continued still in her wickedness but that she hoped God would at length be pleased to bring her into some Country where before she ended her dayes she might repent her of her life past and that although we found her in the company of people devoted to the service of the Devil yet she left not for all that to be still a true Christian we remained much amazed at so strange a relation and not a little sorrowful also to see and understand to what a point of
so much harmony as we were not a little delighted therewith some also bestowed themselves in making of curious Needle-works and Gold-strings some in other things whilest their companions gathered fruit to eat and all this was done so quietly and with such order and good behavior as made us admire it At our going out of this Garden where the Monvagaruu would needs have the Embassador to stay awhile that he might there observe something worthy to entertain his King with at his return to Pegu we went into a very great Antichamber where many Commanders and Lords were sitting as also some great Princes who received the Embassador with new ceremonies and complements and yet not one of them stirred from his place Through this Antichamber we came to a door where there were six Gentlemen Ushers with Silver Maces by which we entered into another room very richly furnished in this was the Calaminhan seated on a most majestical Throne encompassed with three rows of Ballisters of Silver At the foot of the degrees of his Throne sat twelve women that were exceeding beautiful and most richly apparelled playing on divers sorts of Instruments whereunto they accorded their voyces On the top of the Throne and not far from his person were twelve young Damsels about nine or ten years old all of them on their knees round about him and carrying Maces of Gold in the fashion of Scepters amongst them there was also another that stood on her feet and fanned him Below all along the whole length of the room were a great many of old men wearing Myters of Gold on their heads and long Robes of Sattin and Damask curiously embroidered every one having Silver Maces on their shoulders and ranked in order on either side against the walls Over all the rest of the room were sitting upon rich Persian Carpets about two hundred young Ladies as we could guess that were wonderful fair and exceeding well favored Thus did this room both for the marvelous structure of it and for the excellent order that was observed therein represent so great and extraordinary a Majesty as we heard the Embassador say afterwards talking of it that if God would grant him the grace to return to Pegu he would never speak of it to the King as well for fear of grieving him as of being taken for a man that reports things which seem altogether incredible As soon as the Embassador was entâ—red into the room where the Calaminhan was accompanyed with the four Princes that conducted him he prostrated himself five times on the ground without so much as daring to behold the Calaminhan in sign of the great respect he carryed towards him which the Monvagaruu perceiving willed him to advance forward so that being arrived neer to the first degree of his Throne with his face still bending downward he said to the Calaminhan with so loud a voyce as every one might hear him The Clouds of the Ayr which recreate the fruits whereof we eat have published over the whole Monarchy of the World the great Majesty of thy Power which hath caused my King desiring to be honored with thy amity as with a rich pearl to send me for that purpose and to tell thee from him that thou shalt much oblige him if thou pleasest to accept of him for thy true Brother with the honorable obedience which he will always render to thee as to him that is the elder as thou art And for that end it is that he sends thee this Letter which is the jewel of all his treasure that he prizes most and wherein his eyes take mâ—re pleasure for the honor and contentment they receive by it then in being Lord of the Kings of Avaa and of all the precious stone of the mountain of Falent of Jatir and Pontau Hereunto the Calaminhan made him this answer following and that with a grave and severe countenance For my part I accept of this new amity thereby to give full satisfaction to thy King as to a son newly born of my intrals Then began the women to play on Instruments of Musick and six of them danced with little children for the space of three or four credoâ—s After that other six little girls danced with six of the oldest men that were in the room which seemed to us a very pretty fantasticalness This dance ended there was a very fine Comedy represented by twelve Ladies exceeding beautiful and gorgeously attired wherein appeared on the Stage a great Sea-monster holding in his mouth the daughter of a King whom the fish swallowed up before them all which the twelve Ladies seeing went in all haste weeping to an Hermitage that was at the foot of a Mountain from whence they returned with an Hermit who made earnest supplications to Quiay Patureu God of the Sea that he would bring this Monster to the shore so as they might come to bury the Damsel according to her quality The Hermit was answered by Quiay Patureu That the twelve Ladies should change their lamentations and complaints into so many consorts of musick that were agreeable to his ears and he would then command the Sea to cast the fish upon the strand to be done withall as they thought good whereupon comes on the Stage six little Boys with wings and crowns of Gold upon their heads in the same manner as we use to paint Angels and naked all over who falling on their knees before the Ladies presented them with three Harps and three Viols saying that Quiay Patureu sâ—nt them these Instruments from the Heaven of the Moon therewith to cast the Monster of the Sea into a sleep that so they might have their desire on him whereupon the twelve Ladies took them out of the hands of the little Boys and began to play upon them tuning them unto their voyces with so lamentable and sad a tone and such abundance of tears that it drew some from the eyes of divers Lords that were in the room Having continued their musick about half a quarter of an hour they saw the Monster coming out of the Sea and by little and little as it were astonished making to the shore where these fair Musicians were all which was performed so properly and to the liâ—e that the Assistants could hardly imagine it to be a Fable and a matter devised for pleasure but a very truth besides the Scean was set forth with a world of state and riches Then one of the twelve Ladies drawing out a Poignard all set with precious stones which she wore by her side ripped up the fish and out of the belly of it drew the Infanta alive which presently went and danced to the tune of their Instruments and so went and kissed the Calaminhans hand who received her very graciously and made her sit down by him It was said that this young Lady was his Niepce the Daughter of a Brother of his as for the other twelve they were all the Daughters of Princes and of the greatest Lords of
age accounted amongst them for an holy personage very knowing in the customes and lawes of those Sects of the Gentiles and above all exceeding charitable to the poor With this election the King and all the great ones of the Court remained very well satisfied The King then speedily dispatched away the Chaumigrem his foster-brother to whom he gave thereupon the title of Coutalanhaa which signifies the Kings brother to the end he might be the more honorably qualified with an hundred Lauleas wherein was the Flower of all the Bramaâ— Nobility together with the nine Electors for to go and fetch him which had been newly chosen to the dignity of Roolim And having brought him nine dayes after with a great deal of respect and honor to a place called Tagalaa some five leagues from the Isle of Mounay the King met him with all the great men of the Court besides a world of other people and above two thousand vessells with oars When he was come in this equipage where the new Roolim vvas he prostrated himself before him and kissing the ground three times O thou holy pearl said he unto him which art in the midst of the Sun breath forth upon me by an agreeable inspiration of the Lord of uncreated power that I may not dread upon earth the insupportable yoke of mine enemies At these vvords the nevv Roolim putting forth his hand to raise him from the ground spake thus unto him Labour my Son that thy works may be pleasing to God and I will pray for thee without ceasing Hereupon the King rising up the Roolim made him sit dovvn by him and stroked him three times vvith his hand on the head vvhich the King took for the greatest honor he could do him then having said something unto him vvhiâ—h vve could not hear for that vve vvere a little too far off he blovved three times on the Kings head vvhilest he vvas on his knees again before him and all the people laid flat on the earth This done he parted from that place amidst the applauses that vvere given him from all parts and the sound of bells and instruments of musick and imbarqued himself in the Kings Laulea where he was seated in a rich chair of gold set with precious stones and the King at his feet which was also taken for a great honor done him by the Roolim round about and a little distant from him were twelve little boys attired in yellow sattin with scarfes of silver Tinsell golden Maces and Scepters in their hands All along the sides of the vessell instead of Mariners stood the Lords of the Kingdom with guilt oars by them and as well in the Poop as the Prow were two Quires of young striplings apparrelled in carnation sattin and having divers sorts of instruments in their hands to the tune whereof they sung the praises of God Some of our company observed that one of their songs said thus Children of a pure heart praise this admirable and divine Lord for as â—or me being a sinner I am not worthy to do it and if that too be not permitted unto you let your eys weep before his feet that so you may render your selves agreeable unto him In the same manner they sung many other songs to the tune of their instruments and with so much ardor and zeal as if they had been Christians it would have been able to have stirred up the devotion of them that heard them After that the Rooliâ— was in this sumptuous â—ort arrived at the City of Martabano he did not go to Land as it had been resolved because it was night for it was not lawfull for him at any hand to touch the ground with his feet in regard of the great dignity of his person but stayed till the next morning at which time the King disimbarqued him first of all upon his own shoulders and so too did the Princes and great Lordsof the Kingdom carry him alternatively to the Pagodâ— of Quiay Ponuedea as being the greatest and most sumptuous of the whole City in the midst whereof was a Theater richly set forth of yellow sattin which is the livery of that soveraign dignity There out of a new ceremony being laid all along upon a â—ittle bed of gold he made as though he were dead and then at the sound of a bell which gave three toles the Bonzes prostrated themselves all with their faces on the ground for the space of half an hour during which time all the assistants for a sign of sadnesse held their hands before their eys in saying aloud Lord recall this thy servant to a new life to the end we may have one to pray for us Instantly thereupon they took him from thence and put him into a Tomb adorned with the same livery then chanting out certain I know not what very sorrowfull words with tears in their eys they left him after they had surrounded the Temple thrice in a grave made expresly for that purpose covered over with a cloth of black velvet and inviâ—oned about with dead mens heads This done they said certain prayers after their manner weeping which very much moved the King and then all the throng of people that made a strange noyse being commanded to silence they gave three toles with a great bell for a sign to all the rest of the bells in the City to answer them as they did with so horrible and dreadfull a din that the earth even trembled therewith After the ceasing of this noyse two Talagrepos men of great reputation amongst them and very well versed in their Laws went up into two Pulpits prepared expresly for them and that were hung with rich Turky Carpets where they entertained their Auditors with the subject of this ceremony and gave them the explication of every thing making an ample relation unto them of the life and death of the deceased Roolim and of the election of this same together with the excellent qualities with which he was indued for to be raised to so high a charge whereunto he was called by a particular grace of God to this they added many other things wherewith the people were exceedingly satisfied and contented then the same bell having tolled three times more the two Priests descended from their Pulpits which together with all their furniture were presently burned with another new kind of ceremony whereof I will forbear here making a relation because it seems unnecessary to me to lose time in these superfluities having said but too much already thereof After all things were peaceable and quiet and that for the space of five or six Credoes nothing had been spoken there appeared coming from the next Temple which was about a flight shot off a very rich and sumptuous Procession of little children attired all in white taffets for a mark of their innocency and purenesse they had about their necks a number of jewells chains of gold upon their legs in form of bracelets white wax lights in their hands and
added many others by way of complement yea and made him many offers if he would make use of him wherewith the old father of the bride finding himself so exceedingly honored as not knowing how to acknowledge it in regard the person who did him so much honor was no lesse then the King himself in greatnesse and dignity the desire which he had to satisfie this obligation in part if he could not wholly do it made him go and take his daughter by the hand accompanied with many Ladies of quality and so leading her to the street door where Diego Suarez was he prostrated himself on the ground with a great deal of respect and with many complements after his manner thanked him for the favour and honor that he had done him Thereupon the new married bride having taken from off her finger a rich ring presented it on her knees by her fathers expresse commandement to Diego Suarez but he that naturally was sensuall and lascivious instead of using civility whereunto the Laws of generosity and friendship obliged him having taken the ring which the maid presented unto him he reached out his hand and plucked her to him by force saying God forbid that so fair a maid as you should fall into any other hands but mine whereupon the poor old man seeing Diego Suarez hale his daughter so rudely lifting up both his hands to heaven with his knees on the ground and tears in his eys My Lord said he unto him I humbly beseech thee for the love and respect of the great God whom thou adorest and which was conceived without any spot of sin in the Virgins womb as I confesse and believe according to that which I have heard thereof that thou wilt not forcibly take away my daughter for if thou doest so I shall assuredly die with griefe and displeasure at it but if thou desire of me that I should give thee her dowry together with all that is in my house and that I deliver up my self unto thee for thy slave I will instantly do it provided thou wilt permit that her husband may possesse her for I have no other good in the world but â—â—e nor will I have any other as long as I live Whereupon offering to lay hold on his daughter Diego Suarez making no answer to him turned himself about to the Captain of his guard who was a Turk by Nation and said unto him kill this dog The Turk presently drew out his Scymitar to kill the poor old man but he suddainly fled away leaving his daughter with her hair all about her ears in Diego Suarez his hands In the mean time the Bridegroom came running to this tumult with his cheeks all bedeawed with tears but he was scarcely arrived there whenas these Barbarians slew him and his Father too with six or seven other of his kinsmen Whilest this past so the women made such fearfull cries in the house as terrified all those that heard them so that even the earth and the ayr seemed to tremble at it or to say better they demanded vengeance of God for the little respect which was had to his divine justice and for so great a violence as this was and truly if I do not more amply report the particularities of so black and so abhominable an action I desire to be excused in regard I passe them by for the honor of the Portugal Nation Wherefore it shall suffice me to say that this poor Maid seeing her self upon the point to be forced strangled her self with a string that she wore about her middle for a girdle which she chose rather to do then suffer this sensuall and bruitish man to carry her away with him by force but he was therewith so displeased as he was heard to say that he repented him more for that he had not enjoyed her then for using her in that sort as he did Now from the day of this abhorred act till four years after the good old man the Father of the Bride was never seen to go out of his house but at length to give a greater demonstration of his sorrow and to shew his extreme resentment of the matter he covered himself with an old tattered mat and in that sad equipage went up and downe begging an alms of his very slaves never eating any thing but lying all along naked and his face fixed on the ground Thus continued he in so sad a manner of life untill in the end he saw that the season invited him to have recourse unto justice which he demanded in this sort perceiving that in the Kingdome there was another King other Governors and other Jurisdiction alterations which time ordinarily produceth in every country and in all kind of affairs he went out of his house in the wretched fashion he had so long used having a big cord about his neck and a white beard reaching almost down to his girdle and got him into the midst of a great place where stood a Temple called Quiay Fantareâ— that is to say the God of the afflicted there he took the idoll from off the Altar and holding it in his armes he returned out of the Temple to the said great place where having cried out aloud three times to draw the people together as accordingly they came flocking in unto him he said with teares in his eys O ye people ye people who with a cleane and peaceable heart make profession of the truth of this God of the afflicted which you see here in my armes come forth like lightning in a dark and rainy night and joyn with me in crying so loud that our cryes may pierce the heavens to the end the pitifull ear of the Lord may be drawn to hear our heavy lamentations and by them he may know the reason we have to demand justice against this accursed stranger as the most wicked man that ever was born into the world for this abhominable wretch hath not been contented with spoiling us of our goods but hath also dishonored our families wherefore whosoever shall not with me accompany the God which I hold in my hands and water with my tears in detesting so horrible a crime let the gluttonous Serpent of the profound pit of smoke abridge his dayes miserably and tear his body in pieces at midnight This old mans words so mightily terrified the Assistants and made so deep an impression in their minds that in a short time fifty thousand persons assembled in that place with so much fury and desire of revenge as was wonderfull to behold Thus the number of the people still more and more increasing they ran thronging strait to the Kings Palace with so horrible a noyse as struck terror into all that heard them In this disorder being arrived at the outward Court of the Palace they cried out six or seven times with a dreadfull tone O King come out of the place wherein thou art shut up to hearken to the voice of thy God who demands justice of thee
by the mouth of thy poor people At these cries the King put forth his head out of the window and affrighted with so strange an accident would needs know of them what they would have whereunto they all answered unanimously with such loud cries as seemed to pierce the heavens Iustice justice against a wicked infidell who to spoil us of our goods hath killed our fathers our children our brothers and our kinsmen The King having thereupon inquired of them who it was it is answered they an accursed thief participating with the works of the Serpent who in the fields of delight abused the first man that God created Is it possible said he unto them that there should be any such thing as you tell me whereunto they all replied This same is the most accursed man that ever was born on the earth and is so out of his wicked nature and inclination wherefore we all of us beseech thee in the name of this God of the afflicted that his veins may be as much emptied of his bloud as hell is filled with his wicked works At these words the King turning towards them that were about him What do you think hereof said he unto them What am I to do and how am I to carry my self in so strange and extraordinary a matter To which they all answered My Lord if thou wilt not hearken to that which this God of the afflicted comes to demand of thee it is to be feared that he will take care no longer to aid thâ—e and will refuse to support thee in thy dignity Then the King turning himself again to the multitude that were below in the Court bad them go to the place where the great Market was kept and he would give order that the man whom they required should be delivered unto them to be disposed of at their pleasure Whereupon having sent for the Chirca of justice who is as the Soveraign Superintendent thereof above all others he commanded him to go and apprehend Diego Suarez and deliver him bound hand and foot to the people that they might do justice upon him for he feared if he did otherwise that God vvould execute it upon him The Chirca of Justice vvent immediately to Diego Suarez his house and told him tsiat the King had sent for him he in the mean time was so troubled to see the Chirca come for him that he remained a pretty while not able to answer him as a man that was always besides himself and had lost his understanding but at length being somewhat come to himself again He earnestly desired him to dispense with him at this time for going with him in regard of a great pain that he had in his head and that in acknowledgement of so good an office he would give him forty â—isses of gold Whereunto the Chirca replied The offer which thou makest me is too little for me to take upon me that great pain which thou sâ—yest thou hast in thy head wherefore thou must go along with me either by fair means or by force since thou obligest me to tell thee the truth Diego Suarez then seeing that there was no means to excuse him would have taken along with him six or seven of his servants and the Chirca not permitting it I must said he unto him fulfill the Kings command which is that thou shalt come alone and not with six or seven men for the time is now past wherein thou wert wont to go so well accompanied as I have oftentimes seen thee do all thy support is gone by the death of the Tyrant of Bramaa who was the quill wherewith thou blowedst up thy self to an unsupportable pride as is apparent by the wicked actions which thou hast committed which at this present accuse thee before the justice of God This said he took him by the hand and led him along with him invironed with a guard of three hundred men whereat we remained very much dismayed Thus marching from one street to another he arrived in the end at the Bazor which was a publike place where all kind of wares was sold but as he was going thither he met by chance with Balthazar Suarez his son who came from a Merchants house whither his Father had sent him that morning to receive some money that was owing to him The Son seeing his Father in this plight alighted presently from his horse and casting himself at his feet What means this my Lord said he unto him with tears in his eys and whence cemes it that you are led along in this sort Ask it of my sins answered Diego Suarez and they will tell thee for I protest unto thee my Son that in the case I am in all things seem dreams unto me Thereupon imbracing one another and mingling their tears together they continued so untill such time as the Chirca commanded Balthazar Suarez to get him gone which he would not do being loth to part from his father but the Ministers of justice haled him away by force and pushed him so rudely as he fell and broke his head yea and withall they gave him many blows besides whereat his Father fell into a swoun Being come again to himself he craved a little water which he had no sooner taken but lifting up his hands to heaven he said with tears in his eys Si iniquitates observabâ—ris Domine Domine quis sustinebit But O Lord added he out of the great confidence I have in the infinite price of thy precious bloud which thou hast shed for me upon the crosse I may say with more assurance Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo Thus altogether desolated as he was in this last affliction when he was come in sight of the place whither the King had commanded him to be conducted it is said that perceiving so many people he remained so exceedingly dismayed that turning himself to a Portugal who was permitted to accompany him Iesus said he unto him have all these accused me to the King whereunto the Chirca made him this answer It is no longer time for thee to think of this for thou hast wit enough to know that the people aâ—e of so unruly a humour that they always follow evill whereunto they are naturally inclined It is not that replied Diego Suarez with tears in his eys for I know that if there be any unrulinesse in them it proceeds from my sins Thou seest thereby said the Chirca that this is the ordinary recompence which the world is accustomed to give to them who during their life have lost the memory of the divine justice as thou hast done and God gâ—ve thee the grace that in this little time thou hast to live thou mayest repent thee of the faults thou committed which possibly may avail thee more then all the gold that thou leavest behind thee for an inheritance to him who peradventure is the cause of thy death Here Diego Suarez falling down on his knees and lifting up his eyes to
and untunably and the Grepo Capizondo set on his head a rich Crown of gold and precious stones of the fashion of a Miter wherewith the King made his entry into the City with a great deal of state and tryumph causing to march before him all the spoile of the elephants and chariots as also the statue of the Xemindoo whom he had vanquished bound with a great yron chain and forty Colours trayled on the ground As for him he was seated on a very mighty elephant harnessed with gold and invironed with forty Serjeants at armes bearing Maces there marched likewise all the great Lords and Commanders on foot with their Scymitars covered with plates of gold which they carried on their shouldiers and three thousand fighting elephants with their Castles of divers inventions besides a world of other people as well foot as horse which followed him without number CHAP. LXXIV The finding of the Xemindoo and bringing of him to the King with the manner of his execution and death and other particularities concerning the same AFter that the King of Bramaa had continued peaceably in this Citie of Pegu for the space of six and twenty daies the first thing he did was to make himself Master of the principal places of this Kingdome which not knowing the defeat of the Xemindoo held still for him To this purpose having given Commission to some Commanders for it hee wrote to the inhabitants of those places divers courteous Letters wherein he called them his dear children and gave them an abolition of all that was past He also promised them by a solemn oath to maintain them in peace for the time to come and alwayes to minister justice to them without any Imposts or other oppression but that hee would contrarily do them new favours as to the very Bramaas which served him in the Warres To these words hee added many others very well accommodated to the time and his desire for the better crediting whereof they that were already reduced under his obedience wrote their Letters also unto them wherein they made an ample relation of the Franchises and Immunities which the King had granted to them All this accompanied with the same which ran thereof in all parts wrought so great an effect as all those places rendred unto him and put themselves under his obedience so that in imitation of them all the other Cities Towns States and Provinces that were in the Kingdom did the like For my part I hold that this Kingdome whereof the King of Bramaa made at this time a new Conquest is the best the most abundant and richest in Gold in Silver and precious Stones that may be found in any part of the world Things being thus accomplished to the great advantage of the Bramaa he dispatches divers Horsemen with all speed into all parts to go in quest of the Xemindoo who as I have already declared had escaped from the past Battel and was so unhappy that he was discovered in a place named Fauleu a league from the Town of Potem which separates the Kingdom from Aracam Presently whereupon he was lead with great joy by a man of base condition to this King of Bramaa who in recompence thereof gave him thirty thousand Duckats of yeerly rent Being brought before him bound as he was with an iron coller and manacles he said unto him in way of derision Thou art welcome King of Pegu and maist well kisse the ground which thou seest for I assure thee I have set my foot on it whereby thou mayest perceive how much I am thy Friend since I do thee an honour which thou couldst never imagine To these words the Xemindoo made no answer so that the King falling to jeer this miserable man anew vvho lay before him with his face on the ground said unto him What means this Art thou amazed to see me or to see thy self in so great honour Or what is the matter that thou dost not answer to that which I demand of thee After this affront the Xemindoo whether it were that he was troubled with his misfortunes or ashamed of his dishonour answered him in this sort If the clouds of Heaven the Sun the Moon and the other creatures which cannot expresse in words that which God hath created for the service of man and for the beautifying of the Firmament which hides from us the rich treasures of his power could naturally with the horrible voice of their dreadfull Thunder explain to them which now look upon me the estate whereunto I see my self reduced before thee and the extreme affliction which my soul doth suffer they would answer for me and declare the cause I have to be mute in the condition wherein my sins have set me and whereas thou canst not be Iudg of that which I say being the party that accusest me and the minister of the execution of thy designe I hold my self for excused if I do not make thee an answer as I would do before that blessed Lord who how faulty soever I could be would have pitie on me moved with the least tear that I should shed This said he fell down with his face on the ground and twice together asked for a little water Whereupon the King of Bramaa the more to afflict him commanded that the Xemindoo should receive this water from the hand of a Daughter of his held by him as a slave whom he exceedingly loved and had at that time of his defeat promised to the Prince of Nautir Son to the King of Avaa The Princesse no sooner saw her Father lying in that manner on the ground but she cast her self at his feet and straitly embracing him after shee had kissed him thrice she said to him with her eyes all bathed in tears O my Father my Lord and my King I intreat you for the extreme affection which I have alwayes born you and for that also which you have at all times shewed to me that you will be pleased to lead me with you thus imbracing you as I do to the end that in this sad passage you may have one to comfort you with a cup of water now that for my sins the world refuses you that respect which is due unto you It is said that the Father would fain have answered to these words yet could not possibly do it so much was he oppressed with grief and anguish of minde to see this Daughter whom he so dearly loved in such a taking but fell as it were in a swoun and so continued a good vvhile vvherewith some Lords that were there present vvere so moved as the tears came into their eyes vvhich observed by the King of Bramaa and that they vvere Pegues vvho had formerly been the Xemindoo's Subjects fearing lest they should betray him in time to come he caused their heads to be presently strucken off saying vvith a disdainfull and fierce countenance Seeing you have so great pitie of the Xemindoo your King get you before and prepare a