Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

1. JAPAN.

JAPAN is an aggregate body of many Ilands, separated by small Gulfs, Streights, and turn∣ings of the Sea, but taking name from Japan, the chief of all. Some reckon them to be 66. in all; others ascribe that number to so many Kingdoms into which these Ilands (be they in number more or less) use to be divided. But whatsoever the number be (the certainty whereof I can no where find) there are three only of accompt, to which the severall petit Kingdoms are now reduced: that is to say, 1. Ja∣pan specially so called, which containeth 53 Kingdoms; of which 26 are under the King of Meace, 12 under the King of Amagunce, the other 15 under other Princes of inferior note. II. Ximo, which containeth in it nine Realms, the principall whereof are those of Bungo and Figen. III. Xicoum, which comprehen∣deth four onely of these petit Signeuries.

JAPAN, the chief of all these Ilands, to which the residue may be accompted of but as Ap∣purtenances, is situate over against the streights of Anian, towards which it looketh to the North: di∣stant from New Spain on the East 150 leagues, or 450 English miles; and 60 leagues from Cantan a Province of China, opposite to it on the West. On the South it hath the vast Ocean, and those infinite sholes of Ilands which are called the Phillippinae, and the Isles neighbouring upon them. Extending in length from West to the East 200 leagues, but the breadth not proportionable thereunto: in some places not above ten leagues over, and in the broadest parts but thirty.

The Country mountainous and barren, but of a very healthy air, if not too much subject unto cold, yet in some places they have Wheat ripe in the moneth of May; but their Rice, which is their principall sustenance, they gather not before September. The surface of the Earth, clothed with woods and forrests, in which some Cedars of so tall and large a body, that one of them onely is sufficient to make a Pillar for a Church: the bowels of it stored with divers metals, and amongst others with such inexhausible mines of gold, that Paulus Venetus reporteth some of the Palaces of their Kings to be covered in this time with sheets of gold, as ours in Europe are with lead. But I find no such matter in our latter travellers. Their Fields and Medows full of Cattel, but hitherto not made acquainted with the making of Butter; their Fens much vi∣sited by wild-Ducks, as their house yards with Pigeons, Turtles, Quails, and pullen.

The People for the most part of good understanding, apt to learn, and of able memories; cunning and subtil in their dealings. Of body vigorous and strong, accustomed to bear Arms until 60 years old. Their complexion of an Olive-Colour, their beards thin, and the one half of the hair of their heads shaved off. Patient they are of pain, ambitious of glory, uncapable of suffering wrong, but can withall dissemble their resentments of it till opportunity of revenge. They reproach no man for his poverty, so it come not by his own unthrifciness, for which cause they detest all kinds of gaming, as the wayes of ill-husbandry; and generally abhorre standering, these, and swearing. Their mourning commonly is in white, as their feasts in black; their teeth they colour black also to make them beautiful; they mount on the right side of the horse, and sit, (as we are used to rise) when they entertain. In Physick they eat salt things, sharp, and raw; and in their salutations they put off their shooes. The very Antipodes of our world in customs, though not in site: and the true type or Figure of the old English Puritan, opposite to the Papist in things fit and decent, though made ridiculous many times by that opposition. In other things they do much resemble those of China, if not the more ceremonious of the two: washing their infant-children in the neerest Ri∣ver, as soon as born; and putting off their shooes when they go to meat.

The people have but one Language, but that so intermingled with the words of others nations, that it seems rather to be many languages than one. They have long used the Art of printing, which probably enough they might have from China: the Characters whereof are a kind of Brachygraphy, and signifie not only letters, but some whole words also. In matter of Religion, Gentiles, adoring antiently the Sun, Moon, and the Stars of Heaven, and giving divine honour to wild beasts, and the Stags of the Forrests: but

specially worshiping some of their deceased Priests and Princes, by the names of Fotoques, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the first of which they use to pray for goods of the other world, and to the last for Temporall blessings. The•••• Priests they call by the name of Bonzes, setled in goodly Conven••s, and endowed with very large Reve∣nues: who though divided into eleven different (if not contrary) Sects, do well enough agree in denying the providence of God, and the immortality of the soul. Of late times by the care and diligence of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christianity hath begun to take footing here; whether with such a large increase as their letters, cal∣led Epistolae Japanicae, have been pleased to tell us, I am somewhat doubtfull. They tell us there of some Kings of these Ilands whom they have converted and baptized; that within 50 miles of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they had 50 Churches, 200 at the least in all, that in the year 1587 the number of their Converts was two hundred thousand. Of this, if the one half be but true, we have great cause to praise God for it, and to give them the commendation of their pains and industry: not letting pass the memory of the first 〈◊〉〈◊〉 who was Father Xavier, one of the first foundation of this Society, (employed in this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by Ign••t••••s, the first founder of it) who landed here about the year 1556.

Rivers of note I find not any, though the Iland be generally well-watered: more memorable for two mountains in it, than for all the Rivers. One of which called Fig••noiama, is said to transcend the clouds in height; the other (but without a name) useth to cast forth dreadfull flames, like Stcilian Aetna; on the top whereof the Devill environed with a white and shining cloud, doth sometimes shew himself unto such of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as live about this hill an abstemious life, like the antient Hermits.

Chief Cities of the whole Ilands, 1. Meaco, seated in Japan, and the chief of that Iland, for∣merly 21 miles in compass, but now by reason of their warrs, scarce a third part of it. The ordinary resi∣dence of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or three principall Magistrates, which sway the affairs of all these Ilands: o•• whom the first entituled 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hath the chief care in sacred matters; the 2d named Voo, doth preside in Civill; and the third called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 manageth the concernments of Peace and Warre. At this time it is used for the common E••p••••y of the trade of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that people not permitting Merchants to come a∣mongst them, but bringing to this place their merchandise, as the common Staple, where they are sure to meet with Chapmen to buy it of them. 2. Ossacay, a great and renowned City, conceived to be the richest in all the East; of so great trade, that every ordinary merchant is said to be worth 30000 Crowns. 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at the foot of the chill so called, and about nine miles from Meaco. An University of the B••nze••, for whose convenience and study, one of the Kings of Japan is said to have foun∣ded in this Town, and about that mountain, 3800 Convents, and to endow it with the third part of the Revenues of the Kingdom of Vorn. These Colleges or Convents now reduced to 800 onely: but still the Vniversity of such same and credit, that they give not the command or government of it unto any but the Kings sonne, or his neerest kinsman. 4. Bano••m, another of their Vniversities, where they give de∣grees; affirmed to be as big as Paris. 5. Bongo, the chief of all that Province; in which the Jesuites have a College; the Japonues learn the Portugal language, and the Europaeans that of Japan. 6. Coia, the sepulture of their Princes, or of some part of them: it being antiently ordained, that if their whole bo∣dies be not here interred, they must at least send one of their teeth. 7. Fiongo, about 18. leagues from Meaco, the subject of many great misfortunes. Destroyed in part by Nabunanga one of the Kings of this Iland, who lived Anno 1550: that which he left, terribly shattered by an Earth-quake Anno 1596. most of the ruins of it since consumed by fire. 8. Amangasaqui, five leagues from the Sea. 9. Surungo, as big as London with the Suburbs. 10 Ed••o, a much fairer than that, and the chief Seat of one of their Kings. 11. Firando, a seat-Royall also of some other King, where, in the year 1613. there was a Fa••tory established for the English Merchants. 12. Ochinofamanus, one of their most noted Havens. 13. Tosa, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 giving name to one of the Ilands.

These Ilands utterly unknown to the Antients, were first discovered by Antonio Mota, a Portugal, in the year 1542. I know Mercator taketh it for the Aure•• Chersonesus spoken of by Ptolomy; and I cannot choose but wonder at it. The situation of it so far distant from that of the Chersonese, that either Mercator must be grossely out in his conjecture; or Ptolomy as much mistaken in his informations; which no man hitherto can justly accuse him of. But passing by the improbability of Mercators fancy, we are to know, that in former times these Ilands were subject to one Prince, whom they obeyed and reverenced with great affection: which government continued, as themselves report, 1600 years in great State and Majesty. But in the end, the Dairi, (so they call their King) addicting himself wholly unto pleasures, and laying the burden of Government upon other mens shoulders, his Deputies or inferiour Officers usurped Rega•• power, plumed themselves with Eagles feathers, used in their stiles the name of Jucatas, or Kings; and in a word, left nothing but the name of Dairi, to their Lord and Soveraign. His issue to this day do enjoy that title, and but little else: the Princes bordering on Meac••, once his Royall seat, hardly al∣lowing him sufficient means to find himself victuall and Apparell; but otherwise befooling him with as glorious titles, as if he were possessed still of his antient power. Onely they let him execute the place of an Harald, in giving Arms, and selling dignities and honours; which brings him in the greatest profit he hath to trust to. Of all these Kings, he which can make himself Lord of Coquinai (which are the five Realms a∣bout Meaco) is called Prince of Tenza, and esteemed Soveraign of the rest. Which height of dignity Nabunanga before mentioned, in his time attained to; after him Faxiba, and since him Taicosuma: that sovereignty being now in a likely way to become hereditary. For Faxiba having brought under his command most of these small Kingdoms, transported the vanquished Kings, and the chief of their Nobles, out of one Countrey into another: to the end that being removed out of their own Realms, and amongst strange subjects, they should remain without means to revolt against him. A mercifull and prudent course. Having reduced into his power at least 50 of these petit Kingdoms, he divided the greatest part of the con∣quered

territories. amongst his own faithfull friends and followers: binding them to supply him with cer∣tain numbers of men upon all occasions. By which, and other politick courses, he so setled himself in those estates, that Taicosuma his sonne succeeded without opposition, who had he lived would have abolished the vain title of the Dairi; or took it to himself as he had the power; sollicited thereto by the King of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 But dying in or about the year 1607. Fere••sama his son succeeded; and may be still alive for ought I can learn.

What the Revenues of this King are, it is hard to say. I guess them to be very great, in regard he maketh two millions of Crowns yearly, of the very Rice which he reserveth to himself from his own de∣measns. The store of Gold, and pretious stones which these Islands yield, being wholly his, must needs adde much unto his Coffers. And for his power, it is said that Faxiba was able to raise so good an Army out of the estates demised by him to his faithful followers; that he resolved once on the conquest of Chi∣na and to that end had caused timber to be felled for 2000 vessels for the transporting of his Army. And had he lived a little longer, tis probable enough he might have shaken that great Kingdome, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 being so much the better Souldiers, that a small party of them would defeat a good Army of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 The fear whereof made the King of China after his decease correspond so fairly with his Suc∣cessour.

Adjoining to Japan, betwixt it and China, lyeth the Iland of COREA, extended in length from North to South: the people whereof being distressed by the Japonites, called in the Chinese, by whom delivered from their Enemies, and restored to liberty, as before was noted.