The voyages and adventures of Fernand Mendez Pinto, a Portugal, during his travels for the space of one and twenty years in the Kingdoms of Ethiopia, China, Tartaria, Cauchinchina, Calaminham, Siam, Pegu, Japan, and a great part of the East-Indiaes with a relation and description of most of the places thereof, their religion, laws, riches, customs, and government in time of peace and war : where he five times suffered shipwrack, was sixteen times sold, and thirteen times made a slave / written originally by himself in the Portugal tongue and dedicated to the Majesty of Philip King of Spain ; done into English by H.C. Gent.

CHAP. LII. In what sort the sentence of Death was executed on the person of the Chaubainhaa, King of Martaban, Nhay Canatoo his wife, and an hundred and forty women; with that which the King of Bramaa did after his return to Pegu. (Book 52)

THese poor sufferers having been led in the order before mentioned clean through the Camp, they came at last to the place of Execution,* 1.1 where the six Ushers with a loud voyce made this Proclamation: Let all manner of people see and observe the bloody justice, which is here to be done by the living God, Lord of all truth, and our King the Soveraign of our Heads, who of his absolute power doth command that these hundred and forty Women be put to death, and thrown into the ayr, for that by their counsel and incitement their Fathers and Husbands stood out against us in this City, and at times killed twelve thousand Bramaas of the Kingdom of Tangu. Then at the ringing of a Bell all the Officers and Ministers of Justice pel-mell together with the guards, made such a cry, as was most dreadful to hear; wherupon the cruel Hangmen being ready to put the sentence of Death in execution, those poor wretches embraced one another, and shedding abundance of tears they addressed them∣selves to Nhay Canatoo, who lay at that time almost dead in the lap of an old Lady, and with their last complements one of them spake for all the rest unto her in this manner; Ex∣cellent Lady, that art as a crown of Roses upon our Heads, now that we thy humble servants are entering into those mournful Mansions where Death doth reside, comfort us we beseech thee with thy dear sight, that so we may with less grief quit these bodies full of anguish for to present our selves before that Almighty just Iudg, of whom we will for ever implore his justice for a perpetual vengeance of the wrong that is done us. Then Nhay Canatoo beholding them with a countenance more dead then alive, answered them with a feeble voyce, that could scarce be heard, Go not away so soon, my Sisters, but help me to sustain these little children. That said, she leaned down again on the bosom of that Lady, without speaking a word more, whereupon the Ministers of the Arm of Vengeance, so they term the Hangmen, layd hold on those poor women, and hanged them up all by the feet, with their heads down∣wards, upon twenty Gibbets, namely seven on each one: now so painful a death as this was, made them give strange and fearful groanes and sobs, until at length the blood stifled them all in less then an hour. In the mean time Nhay Canatoo was conducted by the four women, upon whom she leaned, directly to the Gallows whereon she and her four chil∣dren were to be hanged, and there the Rolim of Mounay, who was held amongst them for a holy man, used some speeches unto her for to encourage her the better to suffer death, whereupon she desired them to give her a little water, which being brought unto her, she filled he mouth with it, and so spurted it upon her four children, whom she held in her arms; then having kissed them many times, she said unto them weeping, O my Children, my Children, whom I have conceived anew within the interior of my Soul, how happy would I think my self if I might redeem your lives with the loss of mine own a thousand times over if it were possible! for in regard of the fear and anguish wherein I see you at this present, and wherein every one sees me also, I should receive Death with as good an heart from the hand of this cruel Enemy, as I willingly desire to see my self in the presence of the Soveraign Lord of all things, within the repose of his celestial Habitation. Then turning her to the Hangman, who was going to bind her two little boys, Good Friend, said she, be not I pray thee so voyd of pity, as to make me see my children dye, for in so doing thou wouldst com∣mit a great sin; wherefore put me first to death, and refuse me not this boon which I crave of thee for Gods sake. After she had thus spoken she took her children again in her arms, and kissing them over and over in giving them her last farewell, she yielded up the ghost in the Ladies lap upon whom she leaned, not so much as once stirring ever after, which the Hang∣man perceiving, ran presently unto her and hanged her as he had done the rest, together with her four little children, two of each side of her, and she in the middle. At this cruel and pitiful spectacle there arose from amongst all this people so great and hideous a cry, that the Earth seemed to tremble under the feet of them that stood upon it, and withall there followed such a Mutiny throughout the whole Camp, as the King was constrained to

fortifie himself in his quarter with six thousand Bramaa Horse, and thirty thousand Foot, and yet for all that be thought not himself secure enough from it, had not the night come, which onely was able to calm the furious motions of these men of war; For of seven hun∣dred thousand which were in the Camp, six hundred thousand were by Nation Pegu's, whose King was the Father of this Queen, that was thus put to death; but this Tyrant of Bramaa had so disarmed and subjected them, as they durst not so much as quich upon any occasion. Behold in what an infamous manner Nhay Canatoo finished her days, a Princess every way accomplished, wife to the Chaubainhaa King of Martabano, and the daughter of the King of Pegu, Emperor of nine Kingdoms, whose yearly Revenue amounted unto three millions of Gold. As for the infortunate King her Husband, he was the same night cast into the River with a great stone tyed about his neck, together with fifty or threescore of his chiefest Lords, who were either the Fathers, Husbands or Brothers of those hundred and forty Ladies, that were most unjustly put to such an ignominious death, amongst the which there were three, whom this King of Bramaa had demanded in marriage at such time as he was but a simple Earl, but not one of their Fathers would condescend unto it, whereby one may see how great the revolutions of time and fortune are.

* 1.2After the Tyrant of Bramaa had caused this rigorous Justice to be done, he stayed there nine whole days, during the which many of the Inhabitants of the City were also execu∣ed; At last he departed for to go to Pegu, leaving behind him Bainhaa Chaque, Lord Steward of his House, to take order for all things that might conduce to the pacifying of that Kingdom, and to provide for the repairing of what the fire had consumed, to which purpose he placed a good Garison there, and carryed with him the rest of his Army; Ioano Cayeyro followed him also with seven hundred Portugals, not above three or four re∣maining behind in the ruines of Martabano, and those too not very considerable, except it were one, named Gonçalo Falcan, a Gentleman well born, and whom these Gentiles commonly called Crisna Pacan, that is to say, Flower of Flowers, a very honorable Title amongst them, which the King of Bramaa had given him in recompence of his services: Now for as much as at my departure from Malaca, Pedro de Faria had given me a Letter directed unto him, whereby he desired him to assist me with his favor, in case I had need of it in the affair for which he sent me thither, as well for the service of the King, as for his own particular; as soon as I arrived at Martabano, where I found him resident, I de∣livered him this Letter, and withall gave him an account of the occasion that brought me thither, which was to confirm the ancient league of Peace that the Chaubainhaa had made by his Embassadors with them of Malaca, at such time as Pedro de Faria was first Gover∣nor of it, and whereof he could not chuse but have some knowledg; adding moreover, how to that effect I had brought the Chaubainhaa Letters full of great protestations of ami∣ty, and a Present of certain very rich Pieces of China. Hereupon this Gonçalo Falcan imagining that by means hereof he might insinuate himself much more into the good grace of the King of Bramaa, to whose side he turned at the siege of Martabano, quitting that of the Chaubainhaa, whom formerly he served, he went three days after the Kings depar∣ture to his said Governor, and told him that I was come thither, as Embassador from the Captain of Malaca to treat with the Chaubainhaa, unto whom the Captain sent an offer of great Forces against the King of Bramaa, in so much that they of the Country were up∣on the point of fortifying themselves in Martabano, and chasing away the Bramaas out of the Kingdom; whereunto he added so many other such like matters, that the Governor sent presently to apprehend me, and after he had put me into safe custody, he went directly to the Junck, in which I came from Malaca, and seized upon all the goods that were in her, which were worth above an hundred thousand duckets, committing the Necoda, Captain and Master of the Junck, to prison, as also all the rest that were in her, to the number of an hun∣dred threescore and four persons, wherein comprized forty rich Merchants, Malayes, Menancabo's, Mahumetans, and Gentiles, Natives of Malaca. All these were incontinent∣ly condemned to a confiscation of their goods, and to remain the Kings prisoners, as well as I, for being complices in the Treason, which the Captain of Malaca had plotted in se∣cret with the Chaubainhaa against the King of Bramaa. Having thus caused them to be put into a deep Dungeon, he made them to be so cruelly scourged, that within a month after their imprisonment, of an hundred sixty four of them, which they were, there dyed nine∣teen, either of a Lethargy, or of hunger, or thirst. As for the rest, they were put into a

miserable Shallop without Sails or Oars, wherein they were exposed down the River: Being delivered in this sort to the mercy of Fortune, they were cast by the wind into a de∣sart Island, called Pulho Canuida, seated twenty leagues within the Sea of this Bar, where they furnished themselves with some Sea-fish, and such fruits as they found in the woods, and in this necessity making a kind of sail of the clothes they had, and with two Oars, which it may be they met withall there, or made themselves, they took their course all along by the Coast of Iunçalan, and from thence to another place, wherein they employed the space of two months, arriving at length at the River of Parles in the Kingdom of Qu••da, where they all dyed of certain Impostumes, which rose in their throats like unto Carbuncles, two onely excepted, who came to Malaca, and recounted to Pedro de Faria the whole success of this sad Voyage, and how that I was condemned to dye, as indeed I ex∣pected every hour to be led to execution, when as it pleased God to deliver me miraculous∣ly; for as soon as the Necoda and the Merchants were banished in the manner that I have declared, I was committed to another prison farther off, where I remained six and thirty days laden with chains and irons in a most cruel and insupportable manner; During all that time the Traytor Gonçalo exhibited against me dayly new and false allegations, wherein he charged me with a world of things, which I never so much as thought of, and that to no other intent but to procure my death, that so he might rob me, as he had done all the rest that were in the Junck: To which end, having questioned me three several times in Judgment, I never answered any thing to his Interrogatories that was to purpose, whereat he and other of my Enemies were much enraged, saying, that I did it out of pride, and in contempt of Justice, so that for a punishment thereof they caused me to be openly whipped, and a great deal of lacre, which is like unto hard wax, to be dropped scalding hot upon me, whereof the pain was such, as it had almost killed me, and indeed all that were by, held me for a dead man. Now because for the most part I knew not what I spake, but talked like a desperate man, I happened three or four times to say, that for to rob me of my goods I had all these false accusations put upon me, but that Captain Ioano Cayeyro, who was at Pegu, would ere it were long acquaint the King with this cruel usage of me, which was the cause of saving my life; for even as this wicked Governor was going to have the sentence executed, which was given against me, some of his friends counselled him to forbear, saying, that if he put me to death, no doubt but that all the Portugals, which were at Pegu, would complain of him to the King, and tell him, that for to rob me of an hundred thousand duckets, which I had there in Commodities, appertaining to the Captain of Malaca, he had most unjustly taken away my life: And that this being so, the King would demand an account of him of all those Commodities, or of the Mony for them, and that if he rendered him even all that he had taken from me, yet would not that con∣tent him, imagining still there was somewhat more, whereby he would so put himself out of the good grace of the King, as he would never recover it again, which would be the cause of the utter overthrown both of himself and his children, besides the dishonor that would redound to him over and above. This dog the Governor Bainbaa Chaque, fear∣ing lest that should come to pass which they ••ad said, desisted from his former obstinacy, and correcting the sentence he had given, he ordained, That I should not dye, but that my goods should be confiscated, and my self arrested for the Kings prisoner; As indeed so soon as I was healed of the hurts, which the burning of the lacre, and the stripes of the whips had made upon me, I was conducted in chains to Pegu, and there as a prisoner was put in∣to the hands of a Bramaa, Treasurer to the King, named Diosoray, who had also in his custody eight other Portugals, whose sins had procured them the same misfortune, which mine had caused unto me; for it was now full six months since these poor wretches had been in his power, being taken in the ship of Don Anrique Deca of Cananor, which by a tempest was cast on that Coast. Now seeing that hitherto I have discoursed of the success of my Voyage to Martabano, and of the benefit that redounded to me by my going thither for the service of the King, which was no other then the loss of my goods, and the impri∣sonment of my person; before I engage my self further in these relations, I am resolved to intreat of the divers Fortunes, which I ran in that Kingdom for the space of two years and an half that I travelled therein, being the time of my Captivity, as also of the several Count••••es through which I was carryed by my crosses and mishaps, as holding it altogether necessary for the declaration of that which I am going on withall. I say then, that after

this King of Bramaa was departed from the City of Martabano, as I have related before, he journeyed so long that at length he came to Pegu, where, before he dismissed his Com∣manders, he caused a Muster to be made of his Army, and found that of seven hundred thousand men, which he had carryed along with him to the besieging of the Chaubainhaa, there was fourscore and six thousand of them wanting: And for as much as he had about that time some inckling how the King of Avaa, confederated with the Savadis and Chaleus, would give entry unto the Sianmon (whose Country borders on the West and Northwest side on the Calaminban, Emperor of the indomptable Forces of the Elephants of the Earth, as I will shew hereafter when I speak of him) to the end he might win from this Bramaa the chiefest strengths of his Kingdom, he like a good Captain as he was, and very cunning in matter of War, before he passed on further, caused men to be levyed, with whom, as also with all other necessary things he furnished those principal Fortresses from whence his greatest fear proceeded. Then having resolved to go and besiege the City of Prom, he retained the Army, which he had already a foot, and made new and great pre∣parations throughout the Kingdom, using such diligence therein, as in six months time he had got together the number of nine hundred thousand men, whom he imba••qued in twelve thousand rowing Vessels, whereof two thousand were Seroos, Laulers, Caturos, and Foists. Now all this great Fleet set forth from Pegu the ninth day of March, 1545. and going up the River of Ansedaa, it went to Danapluu, where it was furnished with all such provisions as was necessary. From this place following on their way through a great River of fresh water, called Picau Malacou, which was above a league broad, at length upon the thirteenth of April they came within view of Prom. There, by some whom they took that night, they learned, that the King was dead, and how he had left for his succes∣sor to the Kingdom a son of his of thirteen years of age, whom the King his Father be∣fore he dyed had marryed to his wives sister, the Aunt of the said young Prince, and Daugh∣ter to the King of Avaa. This young King was no sooner advertised of the King of Bramaa his coming to besiege him in his City of Prom, but he sent presently away to the King his Father-in-law for succor, which he instantly granted, and to that end speedily raised an Ar∣my of 30000 Mons, Tarces, and Chalems, choyce men and trained up in the Wars, of whom he made a son of his, and brother to the Queen, General. In the mean time the Bramaa, having intelligence thereof, used all possible diligence for to besiege the City before so great a succor might arrive. To which purpose, having landed his Army in a plain, called Mei∣gavotau, some two leagues below the City, he continued there five days in making ready such preparations as were needful; Having given order for all things, he caused his Army to march one morning before day directly to the City, with the sound of Drums, Fifes, and other such instruments of War; where being arrived about noon without any oppositi∣on, he began presently to settle his Camp, so that before it was night, the whole City was environed with Trenches▪ and very great Ditches, as also with six rows of Cannons, and other Pieces of Ordnance.

Notes

• * 1.1

  § 1.
• * 1.2

  §. 2.