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. LXXIV. The finding of the Xemindoo, and bringing of him to the King; with the manner of his execution and death; and other particularities concerning the same. (Book 74)

AFter that the King of Bramaa had continued peaceably in this Citie of Pegu for the space of six and twenty daies, the first thing he did was to make himself Master of the principal places of this Kingdome, which not knowing the defeat of the Xemindoo, held still for him: To this purpose, having given Commission to some Commanders for it, hee wrote to the inhabitants of those places divers courteous Letters, wherein he called them his dear children, and gave them an abolition of all that was past: He also promised them by a solemn oath, to maintain them in peace for the time to come, and alwayes to minister justice to them, without any Imposts or other oppression; but that hee would contrarily do them new favours, as to the very Bramaas which served him in the Warres. To these words hee added many o∣thers, very well accommodated to the time and his desire; for the better crediting whereof, they that were already reduced under his obedience, wrote their Letters al∣so unto them▪ wherein they made an ample relation of the Franchises and Immuni∣ties which the King had granted to them. All this, accompanied with the same which ran thereof in all parts, wrought so great an effect, as all those places rendred unto him, and put themselves under his obedience: so that in imitation of them all the o∣ther Cities, Towns, States and Provinces that were in the Kingdom did the like. For my part, I hold, that this Kingdome whereof the King of Bramaa made at this time a new Conquest, is the best, the most abundant, and richest in Gold, in Silver, and preci∣ous Stones that may be found in any part of the world. Things being thus accomplished, to the great advantage of the Bramaa, he dispatches divers Horsemen with all speed in∣to all parts, to go in quest of the Xemindoo, who (as I have already declared) had escaped from the past Battel, and was so unhappy, that he was discovered in a place named Fauleu, a league from the Town of Potem, which separates the Kingdom from Aracam: Presently whereupon, he was lead with great joy by a man of base conditi∣on, to this King of Bramaa, who in recompence thereof, gave him thirty thousand Duckats of yeerly rent. Being brought before him, bound as he was with an iron coller, and manacles, he said unto him in way of derision, Thou art welcome (King of Pegu) and maist well kisse the ground which thou seest; for I assure thee, I have set my foot on it; whereby thou mayest perceive how much I am thy Friend, since I do thee an honour which thou couldst never imagine. To these words the Xemindoo made no an∣swer; so that the King falling to jeer this miserable man anew, vvho lay before him with his face on the ground, said unto him, What means this? Art thou amazed to see me, or to see thy self in so great honour? Or what is the matter, that thou dost not an∣swer to that which I demand of thee? After this affront, the Xemindoo, whether it were

that he was troubled with his misfortunes, or ashamed of his dishonour, answered him in this sort; If the clouds of Heaven, the Sun, the Moon, and the other creatures, which cannot expresse in words that which God hath created for the service of man, and for the beautifying of the Firmament, which hides from us the rich treasures of his power, could naturally with the horrible voice of their dreadfull Thunder explain to them which now look upon me, the estate whereunto I see my self reduced before thee, and the extreme af∣fliction which my soul doth suffer, they would answer for me, and declare the cause I have to be mute in the condition wherein my sins have set me: and whereas thou canst not be Iudg of that which I say, being the party that accusest me, and the minister of the execution of thy designe, I hold my self for excused, if I do not make thee an answer, as I would do before that blessed Lord, who, how faulty soever I could be, would have pitie on me, moved with the least tear that I should shed. This said, he fell down with his face on the ground, and twice together asked for a little water: Whereupon the King of Bramaa, the more to afflict him, commanded that the Xemindoo should receive this water from the hand of a Daughter of his, (held by him as a slave) whom he exceedingly loved, and had at that time of his defeat promised to the Prince of Nautir, Son to the King of Avaa. The Princesse no sooner saw her Father lying in that manner on the ground, but she cast her self at his feet, and straitly embracing him, after shee had kissed him thrice, she said to him with her eyes all bathed in tears, O my Father, my Lord, and my King, I intreat you, for the extreme affection which I have alwayes born you, and for that also which you have at all times shewed to me, that you will be plea∣sed to lead me with you, thus imbracing you as I do, to the end that in this sad passage you may have one to comfort you with a cup of water, now that for my sins the world refuses you that respect which is due unto you. It is said, that the Father would fain have an∣swered to these words, yet could not possibly do it, so much was he oppressed with grief and anguish of minde, to see this Daughter whom he so dearly loved, in such a taking; but fell as it were in a swoun, and so continued a good vvhile; vvherewith some Lords that were there present vvere so moved, as the tears came into their eyes; vvhich observed by the King of Bramaa, and that they vvere Pegues, vvho had for∣merly been the Xemindoo's Subjects, fearing lest they should betray him in time to come, he caused their heads to be presently strucken off, saying vvith a disdainfull and fierce countenance, Seeing you have so great pitie of the Xemindoo your King, get you before and prepare a lodging for him, and there he will pay you for this affection which you testifie to have for him. After this, his wrath redoubled in such sort, as instantly he caused this very Daughter to be killed in her Fathers arms; which truly was more then a bruitish and savage cruelty, in seeking to hinder the affections which nature hath imprinted in us. Then no longer enduring the sight of the Xemindoo, he com∣manded him to be taken from thence, and to be carried to a close prison, where he passed all the night following under a sure guard.

The next morning, Proclamation was made over all the City, for the people to be present at the death of the unhappy Xemindoo; now, the chiefest reason why the Bramaa did this, was, that the inhabitants seeing him dead, might for ever lose all hope of having him for their King, as all generally desired; for whereas he was their Coun∣tryman, and the Bramaa a Stranger, they were in extreame fear, least the Bramaa should become in time like unto him whom X••min de Satan slew, and that had been during his raign a mortall enemy to the P••gues; intreating them with such extraordi∣nary cruelty, as their scarcely passed a day, wherein he did not execute hundreds of them; and all for matters of small importance, and which deserved no punishment, had they been proceeded against, by the waies of true Justice. About ten of the clock, the unfortunate Xemindoo was drawn out of the dungeon where he was, in the manner ensuing. Before him marched through the Streets, by which he was to passe, forty men on horseback with lances in their hands, to prepare and clear the waies; there were as many behind as before him, which carried naked swords, crying aloud to the people, whereof the number was infinite, to make roome: After them follow∣ed about fifteen hundred harquebusiers with their matches lighted; next to these last, which they of the country use to call, the avant coureurs of the Kings wrath, went an hundred and threescore elephants armed with their Castles, and covered with silk ta∣pestry,

marching by five and five in a rank; after them rode in the same order by five in a rank, fifteen men on horseback, which carried black ensignes all bloudy; crying aloud, as it were by way of Proclamation; Let those miserable wretches, which are the slaves of hunger, and are continually persecuted by the disgrace of fortune, hearken to the cry of the arm of wrath, executed on them that have offended their King, to the end that the astonishment of the pain, which is ordained them for it, may be deeply imprinted in their memory. Behind these same were other fifteen, clothed with a kind of bloudy garment, which rendred them dreadfull and of a bad aspect; who at the sound of five Bell••, which they rung in haste, said with so lamentable a voice, as they that heard them were moved to weep: This rigorous Iustice is done by the living God, the Lord of all truth, of whose holy body, the hairs of our heads are the feet; It is he that will have the Xemindoo put to death, for usurping the Estates of the great King of Bramaa, Lord of Tanguu. These Proclamations were answered by a troupe of people, which marched thronging before with such loud cryes, as made one tremble to hear them, saying these words; Let him die without having pity on him, that hath committed such an of∣fence: These were followed by a company of five hundred Bramaa horse, and after them came another of foot, whereof some held naked swords and buckle••s in their hands, and the rest were armed with corselets, and coats of maile; In the midst of th••se, came the poor patient, mounted on a lean ill-favored jade, and the hangman on the crupper behind him, holding him up under both the armes. This miserable Prince was so poorly clad, that his naked skinne was every where seen; withall, in an exceeding derision of his person, they had set upon his head a Crowne of straw, like unto an Urinall case; which Crowne was garnished with muscle-shells, fastned toge∣ther with blew thred; and round about his yron coller were a number of onions tyed: Howbeit, though he was reduced to so deplorable an estate, and that his face was scarce like to that of a living man, yet lest he not for all that, from having something of I know not what in his eyes, which manifested the condition of a King. There was besides observed in him, a majesticall sweetnesse, which drew tears from all that beheld him. About this guard which accompanied him, there was another of above a thousand horse men, intermingled with many armed elephants; Passing thus tho∣row the twelve principall streets of the City, where there was a world of people, he arrived at last at a certain street called Cabam Bainhaa, out of which he went but two and twenty days before, to go and fight with the Bramaa, in such pomp and greatnesse, as by the report of them that saw it, and of which number I was one, it was without doubt, one of the most marvellous sights that ever hath been seen in the world; whereof notwithstanding I will make no mention here, either in regard I cannot promise to recount rightly how all past, or for that I fear some will receive these truths for lies; neverthelesse mine eyes having been the witnesses of these two successes, if I do not speak of the greatnesse of the first, I will at leastwise declare the miseries of the second, to the end that by these two so different accidents, happening in so short a time, one may learn what little assurance is to be put in the prosperities of the earth, and in all the goods which are given us by inconstant and deceitful Fortune. Whenas the poor Pati∣ent had past that street of Cabam Bainha••, he arrived at a place where Gonçalo Pacheco our Captain was, with above an hundred Portugals in his Company; amongst the vvhich there was one of a very base birth, and of a minde yet more vile, vvho having been robbed of his goods some yeers before, as he said, at such time as the Patient raign∣ed, and complained to him of those who had done it, he vvould not vouchsafe to give him audience; so that thinking to be revenged on him for it now, vvith extravagant and unseemly speech; as soon as this poor Prince came where Gonçalo Pacheco was, with all the other Portugals, the witlesse fellow said aloud to him, that all might hear him O Robber Xemindoo, remember how when I complained to thee of those that had robbed me of my goods, thou wouldst not do me justice; but I hope that now thou shalt sa∣tisfie what thy works deserve: for I will at supper eat a piece of that flesh of thine, where∣unto I will invite two dogs that I have at home. The sad Patient having heard the vvords of this hair-brain'd fellow, lifted up his eyes to heaven, and after he had continued a while pensive, turning himself vvith a severe countenance towards him that uttered them, Friend, said he unto him, I pray thee, by the great goodness of that

God in whom thou believest, to pardon me that for which thou accusest me, and to remem∣ber that it is not the part of a Christian, in this painful estate wherein I see my self at this present, to put me in mind of that which I have done heretofore; for besides that, thou canst not thereby recover the loss which thou sayest thou hast sustained, it will but serve to afflict and trouble me the more. Pacheco having heard what this fellow said, comman∣ded him to hold his peace, which immediately he did; whereupon the Xemindoo with a grave countenance made shew that this action pleased him, so that seeming to be more quiet, it made him to acknowledge that with his mouth, which he could not o∣therwise requite, I must confess, said he unto him, that I could wish, if God would permit it, I might have one hour longer of life to profess the excellency of the faith wherein you Portugals live; for, as I have heretofore heard it said, your God alone is true, and all other gods are lyers. The Hangman had no sooner heard these words, but he gave him so great a buffet on the face, that his nose ran out with bloud, so that the poor Patient stooping with his hands••downward, Brother (said he unto him) suffer me to save this bloud, to the end thou maist not want some to fry my flesh withall. So passing on in the same order as before, he finally arrived at the place where he was to be executed, with so little life as he scarcely thought of any thing: When he was amounted on a great Scaffold, which had been expresly erected for him, the Chirca of Justice fell to reading of his Sentence from an high Seate, where he was placed; the contents where∣of were in few words these; The living God of our heads, Lord of the Crown of the Kings of Avaa, commands, that the perfidious Xemindoo be executed as the Perturbator of the people of the earth, and the mortal enemy of the Bramaa Nation. This said, he made a sign with his hand, and instantly the Hangman cut off his head at one blow, shewing it to all the people, vvhich vvere there vvithout number, and divided his body into eight quarters, setting his bovvels and other interior parts vvhich vvere put together, in a place by themselves; then covering all vvith a yellovv cloth, vvhich is a mark of mourning amongst them, they vvere left there till the going dovvn of the Sun, at vvhich time they vvere burnt in the manner ensuing.

* 1.1The eight quarters of the Xemindooes body vvere exposed from mid-day till three of Clock in the afternoon to the view of all the people, whereof there was an infinite company there, for every one came thronging thither, as well to avoid the punish∣ment wherewith they had been threatned, as to gain in so doing, the Plenary indul∣gence called by them Axiperan, which their Priests gave them of their sins, without restitution of any thing of all the Theeveries by them formerly committed. After then, that the tumult was appeased, and that certain men on horseback had imposed silence on the people by making certain publications, whereby the Transgressors therein were threatned with terrible punishments, a bell was heard to toll five several times; up∣on this signal twelve men clothed in black robes, spotted all over with bloud, having their faces covered, and bearing silver Maces on their shoulders, came out of a house of wood, made expresly for that purpose, and distant some five or six paces from the Scaffold; after them followed twelve Priests, which they call Talagrepos, being, as I have said, the most eminent Dignities amongst these Pagans, and held by them as Saints; then appeared the Xemin Pocasser, the King of Bramaaes Uncle, who seem∣ed to be near an hundred years old, and was as the rest, all in mourning, and inviron∣ed with twelve little boyes richly apparelled, carrying on their shoulders Courtelasses curiously Damasked. After that the Xemin had with a great deal of Ceremonie pro∣strated himselfe three times on the ground, in way of extraordinary reverence; O holy flesh (said he) which art more to be ••ste••med then all the Kingdomes of Avaa, thou o∣rient Pearle of as many Carats as there be Atomes in the beams of the Sun, whom God hath placed in an height of Honour, with a Scepter of Soveraign power above that of Kings, I that am the least of thy meiny, and so unlike thee through my baseness, as I can scarcely see my self, so little I am, do most humbly bese••ch thee, O thou Lord of my head, by the fresh Meadow where thy soul doth now recreat thy self, to hear that with thy sorrowful ears which my mouth sayes to thee in publick, to the end thou maist remain satisfied for the of∣fence which hath been done thee in this world. Oretanan Chaumigrem, thy brother, Prince of Savady and Tanguu, sends to intreat thee by me thy slave, that before he departs out of

this life thou wilt pardon him that which is past if he have given thee any discontent, and withall that thou wilt take possession of all his Kingdomes, because he doth even now yeild them up unto thee, without reserving the least part thereof for himself; withall he protests unto thee by me thy vassal, that he makes this reconciliation with thee voluntari∣ly, to the end that the complaints which thou maiest prefer against him there above in heaven, may not be heard of God: Moreover, for a punishment of the displeasure he hath done thee, he offers to be for thee during this pilgrimage of life, the Captain and Guardian of this thy Kingdome of Pegu, for which he does thee homage, with an oath to accomplish alwaies upon earth whatsoever thou shalt command him from heaven above; upon conditi∣on that thou wilt bestow the profit which shall arise thereof upon him at an almes for his en∣tertainment; for he knowes very well, that otherwise he should not be permitted to possess the Kingdome, neither would the Menigrepos ever consent thereunto, nor at the hour of death give him absolution for so great a sinne. Upon these words, one of the Priests that was present, and that seemed to have more authoritie then all the rest, made him an∣swer, as if the deceased himself had spoken; Since I see, O my Sonne, that thou do∣est now confesse thy past faults, and cravest pardon of me for them in this publick assem∣bly, I do grant it thee with all my hear••; and it pleases me to leave thee in this Kingdome for the pastor of this my flock, on condition that thou dost not violate the faith thou hast given me by this oath; which would be as great an offence, as if thou shouldst now come to lay hands on me without the permission of Heaven. All the people having heard these words, answered thereunto with joyfull voices; Perform so much, my Lord, my Lord. After this, the Priest being got into the pulpit, began to speak thus to the assistants; Present me with part of the teares of your eyes for the entertainment of my soul, because of the good newes I now bring you, which is, that by the wil of God this Country is setled on our King Chaumigrem, without being tyed to make any restitution thereof, for which you have all of you good cause to rejoyce, like good and faithfull servants as you are. He had scarcely made an end of speaking thus, when as all those of the assembly clapping their hands, gave great demonstrations of joy, and cryed out in a way of thanksgiving, Be thou praised, O Lord. All this ceremony ended, the Priests full of devotion and zeal immediately took all the parts of this poor King, dismembred in that sort, and with great veneration carried them to a place below, where a great fire was kindled of Sandal, Aloes, and Benjamin, which cost a great deal; then three of them taking up of the body of the deceased, with the bowels, and all the rest, threw it into it, and afterwads with a strange ceremony offered many sacrifices unto him, whereof the most part were of sheep. The body burned all that night untill the next mo••ning, and the ashes thereof was put into a silver urne, wherein, with a very solemn assembly of a∣bove ten thousand Priests, it was carried to a Temple, called The God of thousand Gods, and there was buried in a rich tomb within a Chappel guilt all over. Behold what was the end of the great and mighty Xemindoo King of Pegu, unto whom his subjects bore so great respect and honour, during the time of his raign, which was so flourishing, that it seemed there was no other Monarch greater then he on the earth; but such is the course of all the world.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sect. 2.