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. XXII. The entrie of the Spaniards into the Cittie of Aucheo, and how the vizroy did entertaine and receiue them.

AFter they had trauelled more then halfe a league in the suburbs of the cittie of Aucheo, they met with a post that came from the vizroy: who brought order that they should re∣remaine in a house that was appointed for them in the said su∣burbs, and there to be lodged for that night, for that it was late, & they could not come vnto the house appointed in the cittie for them, or else peraduenture to giue content vnto many that had great desire to sée those strangers, for that they must passe tho∣rough the Cittie, and better to bee séene in the day then in the night. So soone as they were alighted, there came a gentleman to visite them, sent from the vizroy to bidde them welcome, and to know howe they did with their iourney, and also to sée that they were well prouided for that night of all things necessarie, and that in aboundance. After all the which being done, he told them that the viceroy did verie much reioyce of their comming, and for that it was late, and the Citie farre off, it was his plea∣sure that they shoulde bee lodged that night in the suburbes vn∣till the next day, then will he giue order, that they may enter into the Cittie with the authoritie conuenient vnto their per∣sons. After this Gentleman came other Captaines to visite them, and brought with them great store of conserues, wine, and fruit: which is a common custome amongst them, when that they go in the like visitation, and it is carried by their seruants in little baskets very curiously wrought, or else in barrels made of earth all guilt. Within two houres after their comming thither, there came another messenger from the viz∣roy with many men laden with Capons, Hens, Géese, Teales, gamons of Bacon and conserues of diuers sorts, and of great a∣bundance, sufficient for one hundreth men to sup that night, and for their dinner the next day.

The next day in the morning very early, there came much

people vnto their lodging, sent by the vizroy, and brought with them two rich Chaires for to carrie the fathers in, and the cur∣tines tied vp, that they might the better be seene, and for their companions verie good horses, sadled after the fashion which they doo vse. They forthwith made haste for to depart, and al∣though they made great spéed, yet were they a good houre and a halfe before they coulde come vnto the gates of the Cittie, and séemed vnto them that they had trauelled two leagues in the suburbes: the which was so well peopled, so faire houses, and many shoppes full of merchandise, that if it had not beene told them, they would not haue beléeued it to be the suburbes, but the cittie it selfe.

Before they came vnto the gates, they passed a mightie ri∣uer thrée times ouer bridges that were great and verie faire, and the riuer so déepe, that great shippes came vp the same, but their mastes stooping downe, to passe vnder the bridges. This Cittie is the richest and the best prouided that is in all the king∣dome: it is the heade Cittie of all the Prouince, verie rich and fertill, and manie townes belonging vnto it, and but eight leagues from the sea, and hath mightie riuers, wherein great shippes come vp to it as aforesaide. At the enterie of the Citie, they founde many Gentlemen that were there at the gate tarrying their comming: who after they had saluted the one the other after their fashions, without anie staying they trauelled forwardes on, thorough a great and broad stréet that went directlie vnto the vizroy his pallace: vpon both sides of the stréete, from the gate forwards was placed one by ano∣ther full of souldiers with their officers and ancient, euerie one with his weapon in his hands, as pickes, hargabuses, swords and target, all apparelled in one liuerie of silke, and a bunch of fethers vppon their crestes. They all stoode still and kept their places, and would not consent that any should crosse the way in the streete, whereas they went accompanied with the Gentlemen.

They had no leasure to tell the souldiers, but they sawe that from the gate vntil they came vnto the vizroyes pallace on both sides, which was a good way to beefull of them, and all richly apparelled and of one colour. The people that were at the windowes & in the stréete, betwixt the houses & the soldiers

were so great a number that it séemed to bee doomes day, and that all the people in the worlde were there ioyned together in that streete.

So when they came vnto the pallace which was two houres after day, the Gentlemen that were their guides did cause the Spaniardes to enter into a roome which was hard by, till such time as the gate was open, for that it is open but once a day, & so continue no longer time then the audience endureth, which is done by the Uiceroy once euerie day, and that is but a small time. But first before he doth enter into audience, there is shot off foure péeces of artilerie, with a great noyse of trompettes drommes and waites. And there is no day that passeth without audience, as our people did sée by experience so long as they were there, and were likewise informed of others. The houre being come, and the ceremony doone as aforesaide, the gates were opened, and there was in the court many souldiers, ap∣parelled in the same liuerie that those were of in the stréete. From the middest amongst them came forth a gentleman who was as it was told them, the Captaine of the garde of the vice∣roy, who came with great grauitie and authoritie towards the place whereas our people were, and after they had saluted the one the other, he made signes vnto them that they should go to∣wardes the gates of the pallace. When they were within the first court, the which was great and wrought with mightie pil∣lers, there was a great number of souldiers, & many sergeants that entred into an other great court, and mounted vp a paire of stayres that was on the one side, whereas all the people were with great silence, sauing the captaine of the garde, who went with our people till they came to the gates of the hall, whereas was the viceroy, at which gate he staied with his head discoue∣red, and made signes vnto ours that they should doo the like, and to tarrie there till such time as hee had aduised the viceroy of their comming, and he to command them to enter.