The historie of the great and mightie kingdome of China, and the situation thereof togither with the great riches, huge citties, politike gouernement, and rare inuentions in the same. Translated out of Spanish by R. Parke.

CHAP. XI. The Spaniards do depart with the captain Omoncon from the port of Buliano, and ariue at the firme lande of China.

THe desire was so much of this father frier Martin de Her∣rada to be in China, as well for to preach in it the holy go∣spel, as also for to sée the wonders that haue béene reported to be in that countrie: that although he was dispatched by the gouernor and generall of the fielde, yet hee thought that their voyage would be interrupted: and therefore to see himselfe frée from this feare and suspition, so soone as he came vnto the port of Buliano to the captaine Omoncon, hee requested him with great vehemencie, that he would straightwayes set saile, for that the winde serued well for their purpose. Then O∣moncon, who desired no other thing, but thought euery houre that he tarried to be a whole yeare, commanded forthwith the

mariners to make all thinges in a redinesse to set saile, and to bring home all their ankers, and ride apicke, r••die to depart af∣ter midnight: the which was done as hee had commanded. So vppon a sunday at the breake of day, being 25. of Iune, they tooke a Spaniard souldier into their company, who was called Iohn de Triana, and vsed him in their seruice, for that hee was a mariner. So at the same time after they had praied vnto God to direct their voyage,* 1.1 they set saile with a prosperous winde: there was with the Friers, souldiers and men of seruice, twen∣tie persons besides the Chinos that were captiues, and the people of the Captaine Omoncon. They were not so soone off from the coste, but the winde abated and they remained becal∣med certaine dayes: but afterwards they had a lustie gale, that carried them forwards. The Chino•• doo gouerne their ships by a compasse deuided into twelue partes,* 1.2 and doo vse no sea cardes, but a briefe description or Ruter wherewith they doo nauigate or saile: and commonly for the most part they neuer go out of the sight of land. They maruelled very much when that it was told them, that comming from Mexico vnto Phi∣lippinas, they were thrée monethes at the sea and neuer sawe land. So it pleased God, that although it was verie calme and little winde stirring, that we made but little way, yet vpon the sunday following, which was the thirde of Iuly, we had sight of the land of China: so that we found all our voyage from the port of Buliano, from whence we departed, vnto the firme land to be one hundred and fortie leagues, & twenty leagues before they came in the sight thereof, they had sounding at thrée score and tenne, and fourscore fathome, and so waxed lesse and lesse vntill they came to the lande: which is the best and surest to∣ken they haue to be nigh the land. In al the time of their voiage the Captain Omoncon with his companie shewed such great curtesie and friendship to our men, as though they had béene the owners of the saide ship: and at such time as they did imbarke thēselues he gaue his own cabin y^t was in the sterne to y^e friers, and vnto Pedro Sarmiento and to Miguel de Loarcha, he gaue another cabin that was very good, & cōmanded his company in the ship that they should respect them more then himselfe: the which was in such sort, that on a day at the beginning of their voyage, the fathers founde them making of sacrifice vnto

their Idols, and told them that all which they did was a kinde of mockage, and that they shoulde worshippe but onely one God: and willed them to doo so no more. Who onely in respect of them did leaue it off, and not vse it after in all the voyage: whereas before they did vse it euerie day manie times.* 1.3 Besides this, they woulde worshippe the images that the Friers did carrie with them, and knéele vpon their knées with great shew of deuotion: who nowe hauing sight of the firme lande, in so short time, and passed that small gulfe so quietly, which was wont to bee verie perilous and full of stormes: they did attri∣bute it vnto the orations of the Friers, their companions and souldiers. The like curtesie was shewed vnto them by Sinsay, who was the seconde person in the shippe, and hée that did best vnderstande that Nauigation and voyage. So as they drewe nearer the land, they might discouer from the sea a verie gal∣lant and well towred Cittie, that was called Tituhul, where∣as the king hath continually in garrison tenne thousande soul∣diers, and is vnder the gouernement of the prouince of Chin∣cheo. So the next day following, wee came vnto a watch towre, which was situated vppon a rocke at the entrie into a bay, who had discouered our shippe, and knew the standart or flagge to bee the kings: and made a signe vnto seuen shippes which were on the other side of the point, which was part of a company ordeined for to kéepe and defende the cost, which were more then foure hundred. Straightwayes the Captaine of the seuen shippes came foorth to knowe what we were: and what chanced shalbe told you in this chapter following.

Notes

• * 1.1

  They depar∣ted towards China.
• * 1.2

  Their com∣passes diui∣ded into 12. parts.
• * 1.3

  They leaue the worshi∣ping of one Idol to wor∣ship another.