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. XVI. Our Spaniardes ariued at the Citie of Chincheo, whereas they were receiued and lodged, and what they sawe in that Citie.

VPon a Saterday being the eleuenth of Iuly came our Spaniards vnto the citie of Chincheo four houres before it was night. This citie is of the common sorte in that king∣dome, and may haue seuentie thousande housholdes. It is of great traficke and well prouided of all things,* 1.1 for that the sea is but two leagues from it: it hath a mightie riuer run∣ning alongest by it downe into the sea, by which is brought by water and carried downe all kinde of marchandice. There is a bridge ouer the sayde riuer, which is supposed to bee the fayrest that is in all the worlde: it hath a drawe bridge to serue in time of warres or for any other necessitie: the bridge is eight hundreth paces long, and all wrought with stones of two and twentie foote long, and fiue foote broade, a thing great∣ly to bee marueiled at: at the entrie thereof there were manie armed souldiers readie to fight, who when they came within hargubush shoote did salute them in verie good order. There was nigh vnto the sayde bridge in the riuer riding at an an∣ker more than a thousande shippes of all sortes,* 1.2 and so great a number of boates and barkes that all the riuer was couered, and euerie one full of people that had entred into them for to sée the Castillas, for so they did call the Spaniardes in that countrie, for the stréetes in the suburbes nor in the Citie could not hold them, the number was so great, yet their streets are as broade as our ordinarie streetes in anye Citie in all Spaine.

This Citie is compassed with a strong wall, made of stone, and is seuen fadam hie, and foure fadam broade, and vpon the

gates many towers wherein is placed their artilerie,* 1.3 which is all their strength, for that they doo not vse in their kingdome strong castels as they doo in Europe. The houses of the Citie are all built after one sorte and fashion, but faire, and not ve∣rie hie,* 1.4 by reason of the earth quakes which are ordinarily in that countrie.

All the stréetes (but especially that wherein they passed at their comming thether) haue on the one side and on the other, sheddes,* 1.5 vnder the which are shoppes, full of riche marchan∣dice and of great value and verie curious. They haue in e∣qual distance the one from the other, many triumphant arches which doo set out the stréetes verie much, and is vsed in eue∣rie principall streete thorough out all the kingdome,* 1.6 in the which they haue excellent market places, whereas is to bee bought all thinges that you will desire to be eaten, as well of fish as of fleshe, fruites, herbes, comfits, conserues, and all thinges so good cheape, that it is almost bought for nothing. Their victualles are verie good and of great substance, their hogges flesh whereon they doo féede much, is so holsome and good as the mutton in Spaine. The fruites that wee did sée, some were like vnto them we haue in Spaine, and others ne∣uer the like séene by vs afore, but of an excellent taste and sauour. But in especiall one kinde of fruite which is bigger than a muske million, but of the same fashion, but of maruel∣lous excellent and precious victuall and pleasant to be eaten, a kinde of plummes that is of a gallant taste, and neuer hurteth anie bodie although they eate neuer so manie, a thing prooued by our Spaniardes many times. The stréete that they came in at, was so full of people, that if a graine of wheate had béene throwne amongest them, it would scarce haue fallen to the grounde. And although they were carried in little chayres vp∣on mens backes, and the Captaine (of whome we speake of) before them making way: yet were they a great while before they could passe the stréete, and be brought vnto a great house, which was a couent, wherein dwelt religious men of that countrie, thether they were brought and lodged, beeing verie wearie of the presse of people that did trouble them verie much with desire to take their ease.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chincheo hath seuentie thousand housholds.
• * 1.2

  A thousand ships in one riuer.
• * 1.3

  They haue no vse of castles.
• * 1.4

  Earth quaks in this coun∣trey.
• * 1.5

  Rich mar∣chandice.
• * 1.6

  Triumphant arches.