CHAP. XVI.
Of the Philippina's.
IT is already shewed, that those Ilands receiued this name of Philip the second, King of Spaine, and that this name sometime is in a large sense attributed to all these Ilands in those huge Seas, but more properly to those which Legaspi discouered in the yere 1564, and where the Spa∣niards haue since that time had some places of abode: Mendenao, Ten∣daya, Luzon, and their neighbours, lying farre into the Sea before Cauchin-China & Cambaia, betwixt the seuenth degree and the twentith of Norther∣ly latitude. They are a 1.1 many in number, some of them very great, rich in rice, hony, fruits, birds, beasts, fishes, gold: and enriched further with trade from China. Seuen∣tie of these Ilands are subiects or friends to the Spaniards. Of ancient time they were subiect to the Chinois, b 1.2 vntill they did voluntarily relinquish them: the cause of much ciuile warre amongst themselues, that Anarchy prouing worse to them than a Tyran∣ny, or rather the worst tyranny, euery man becomming a Tyrant, and as he had means of wit, strength and followers, preying vpon others, vsing or selling them for slaues: which their diuisions made an easie way to the Spanish Conquest.
They worshipped the Sunne and Moone, and the men and women, which in their language they called Maganitos, obseruing in their honour solemne and sumptuous feasts. In the Illocos they worshipped the Deuill, and offered to him many sacrifices in recompence of a great quantity of gold, which they said he had giuen them. Their Feasts and Sacrifices were done by women, which were Witches (of them called Hol∣goi) reuerenced amongst them as Priests. These had ordinary talke with the Deuill, and many times in publique. These wrought strange witchcrafts; they answered vn∣to all questions that were demaunded of them: (although their answers were often either lies or riddles) they used lottes as the Chinois, and were obseruers of times. If they beganne a iourney, and met with a Lizard or other worme, they would returne home, saying, the heauens prohibited their proceeding.
They haue now amongst them many Preachers and Monasteries of the Augustini∣ans, Franciscans, and Iesuitcs. But the wicked life of the Spaniards is so offensiue to the Inhabitants, that the Discourser (himselfe a Frier) telleth heereof a notable Storie. c 1.3 A certaine Ilander soone after his baptisme, died, and appeared after to many of his Countrey-men, perswading them to be baptized, as a way vnto that happines, where∣of he now had in himselfe most blessed experience: Onely they must be baptized, and obserue the Commaundements, of which the Spaniards preached to them, of whom, and of others like vnto them, there were in that happy place infinite numbers. Here ••p∣on he vanished, and some were perswaded: but others of them refused, saying; that be∣cause there were Spaniard-souldiers in glory, they would not go thither, because they would not be in their company. A like History Bartholom de las Casas d 1.4 relateth of a Westerne Indian, at the time of his death answering to a Dominicke Ftier, which counselled him to die a Christian, and so to be capable of heauen: (when hee heard there were Spaniards in heauen) he would rather be in hell with his fore fathers then in heauen with the Spaniards.
The Spaniards e 1.5 haue their Bishop and Archdecon, and besides other Religious, seuen Colledges of Iesuites. Boterus f 1.6 saith, that the King of Spaine had thought to haue made Manilla an Archibishopricke, & added three other Bishoprickes. Captaine