Purchas his pilgrimes. part 3 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

CHAP. II. Obseruations of China, Tartaria, and other Easterne parts of the World, taken out of FERNAM MENDEZ PINTO [ 30] his Peregrination.

§. I. MENDEZ his many miserable aduentures, his strange expedition with ANTONIO DE FARIA; diuers coasts visited, Pirats tamed, miseries suffered, glorie recouered. [ 40]

FErnam Mendez Pinto, borne at old Montemor in the Kingdome of Portugall, was placed in seruice at ten or twelue yeeres of age in Lisbon, the thirteenth of De∣cember, An. 1521. on the day of breaking the Scutchions, or publike mourning for King Emanuel. A yeere and halfe after he fled vpon occasion of a sudden ac∣cident, and got aboord a Caruile which was taken by a French Pirat, which would haue made sale of them at Larache to the Moores. But a fortnight after taking another Portugall ship comming from Saint Thome worth 40000. Duckets, they retur∣ned for France, carrying some with them for Sea seruice, the rest they set on shoare by night on the shoare of Melides, naked; which came to Santiago de Cacem, where they were relieued. [ 50] Thence he went to Setuual, and serued Francisco de Faria a Gentleman belonging to the Master of Santiago, and after that was Page to the Master himselfe. But his meanes being short hee left his seruice.

An. 1537. he went for Indiae in a Fleet of fiue ships; the Admirall was Don Pedro de Sylua, sonne of Vasco da Gama (first Discouerer of the Indies, whose bones he carried with him in the ship at his returne, which were receiued by King Iohns appointment in greater Funerall pompe, then had beene seene done to a Subiect.) They arriued at Diu the fifth of September. Thence after seuenteene dayes he went with two Foists for the Straight of Mecca, and came in sight of Curia Muria, and Abedalcuria, almost wracked with foule weather, and comming to Sacotora, watered neere the Fortresse which Francisco d' Almeida first Vice-roy of India, had [ 60] built, 1507. Hauing receiued some refreshing of the Christians there, they departed, and in the heighth of Masua tooke a ship, but fiue men being therein left of eightie; one of which was the Captaine, a Renegado of Malorquy, who for loue of a Moorish woman had denyed his Faith, and refusing to returne to Christianitie, notwithstanding all perswasions, wee bound him hand

and foot, and threw him into Sea with a great stone tyed about his necke: The ship also sunke, and little was saued.

They went to Arquico (then) in the Countrey of Preste Iohn; to deliuer a letter to Aurique Barbosa, the Factor of Antonio Sylueira, sent three yeeres before by Nuno de Cunha, who with fortie others escaped from the rebellion Xael, in which Dom Manoel de Meneses, with one hun∣dred and sixtie Portugals were taken, foure hundred thousand Duckets, and sixe Portugall Ships, which were those that Solyman Bassa A. 1538. brought with prouision for his Armada to the siege of Diu; the King of Xael hauing sent them with sixtie Portugals for a Cairo present; the rest hee bestowed as almes on Mahomets house at Mecca. I with three others, were sent some dayes iourneys into the Countrey to Barbosa, then in the Fort of Geleytor in guard of the Queene, [ 10] mother of the Preste Iohn, who welcommed them, as the nightly dew to the flowerie Garden, and as Helena to Ierusalem, so were they (said she) to her eyes.

But (to leaue those things) he went thence to Ormus, and then to Goa; there offered his seruice to Pero de Faria Captaine of Malaca, which entertained him. The occurrences of Bata, Achem, Aaru in Samatra, Queda in the continent, and his imployments in those parts, as also of Siaca, Paon, Patane, I omit.

He saith that hee was wracked at Sea comming from Aaru; of eight and twentie, fiue onely escaping, two of which the Crocodiles deuoured. Hee was taken and sold to a Moore, which carried him to Malaca. Thence Pero de Faria sent him to Patane in trade: from thence againe, imployed by Antonio de Faria to Lugor, Coia Acem a Guzarate Pirate set vpon them, tooke, and killed all, Burall and Pinto only escaping, which leaping into the Sea were reserued by a Barke, and sent to Patane. Faria afraid to return to Malaca, where he was so indebted for those goods, vowed to be reuenged of the Pirat. And by helpe of his friends armed a Iunke with fiue & fifty Souldiers, of which I and Borall (extreamely both indebted and wounded) were. From Patane we set forth in May, 1540. and to a Hauen called Bralapisaon, some sixe leagues off the firme Land, where we found a Iunke of the Lequios, bound for Siam with an Embassadour of Nautaquim de Lindau, Prince of the Ile of Tosa situate in six & thirty degrees, which seeing vs come, hasted away with all speed. Faria sent a Chinese Pilot to them with faire offers of loue and courtesie, who returned with a present, a rich Sword, and sixe and twentie Pearles in a Boxe of Gold, with this answer, [ 30] That the time would come, when they should communicate with vs in the Law of the true God of infinite mercy, who by his death had giuen life to all men, with a perpetuall inheritance in the house of the good: and hee beleeued that this should bee after the halfe of the halfe of time were past. Neither could Antonie de Faria returne any thing in recompence, they being gotten farre into the Sea.

Heere wee watered, and after coasted to search the Riuer of Pulo Cambim, which diuides the Kingdome of Champaa, from the Seniorie of Camboia in the height of nine degrees. Thither we came in the end of May, and the Pilot went vp the Riuer three leagues, to a great Towne called Catimparù, where we stayed to take in prouision twelue dayes. Faria being curious, desired to know whence that Riuer came, the originall thereof (they told him) was a Lake called Pinator, Eastward from that Sea, two hundred and sixtie leagues in the Kingdome of Quitirvan; which [ 40] Lake was compassed with high Hills, at the bottome of which, alongst the waters side, were eight and thirtie Townes, thirteene great, the rest small. One of these Great ones was named Xin∣caleu, where was a great Gold Mine, whence euery day was taken a Barre and a halfe of Gold, which in our money amounteth by the yeere to two and twentie millions of Gold. Foure Lords are sharers, and are still at warres for a singular proprietie. They said that one of these called Raiabitau, in the Court of his house in iarres, had set vp to the necke in earth six hundred Bars of Gold in poulder, as good as that of Menancabo in Samatra; and that if three hundred of our men were sent thither, with one hundred Caliuers, they would without doubt become masters there∣of. They said also that in Buaquirim, another of those Townes, was a Rocke of Diamonds, better then those of Laue, and of Taniampura in the Ile of Iaua.

[ 50] Proceeding along the Coast of Champaa, from Pullo Cambim, we came to a shelfe called Saley∣iacuu, and the next day to the Riuer Toobasoy, in the mouth whereof a Iunke passed by, to which we offered the courtesie of the Sea, and they in scorne made shew of a Negroes Buttockes, with many trumpets and other iollitie. Hence grew displeasure: in the night three Barks came to assaile vs, which we tooke, with the Captain, two Acheners, a Turke, & the Negro. This Negro confes∣sed himselfe a Christian, slaue to Gasper de Mello a Portugall, whom that dogge (he pointed to the bound Captaine) slew two yeeres since in Liampoo, with sixe and twentie Portugals besides with him in the Ship. What said Faria, is this Similau? Yea, said he, and he had thought in so small a Barke, there had not beene aboue sixe or seuen, and hee would haue bound your hands and feet, and impaled you as hee serued my master. Faria hauing serued him and his with the same [ 60] sauce, tooke the Iunke, in which was thirtie six thousand Taeis of Iapon Siluer, which make fif∣tie foure thousand Cruzados or Duckets, besides much good merchandize.

Faria proceeded alongst the Coast of Champaa, and came to the Riuer Tinacoru, by our men called Varella: into which enter the Ships of Siam and the Malaya Coast, which goe for China, and Truck for Gold, Calamba and Iuory, whereof that Kingdome hath store. Many Paraos or

small Barkes came aboord vs, and wondred to see white men with beards. They told him that if he would goe vp the Riuer to the Citie Pilaucacem, where the King resides, hee might in fiue dayes sell his goods: for great Merchants resorted thither from the Lauhos, and Pafuaas, and Gue∣os. That Riuer they said came from the Hill Moncalor, eightie leagues from that place, and be∣yond that Hill it is much larger, but shallower, in some places making shallow fields, where bred infinite store of Fowles which couer the ground, in such innumerable numbers, that two and for∣tie yeeres before they caused the Kingdome of Chintaleuhos, (which is eight dayes iourney) to be dispeopled. Beyond that Country of Birds, is another wilde and mountainous, where abide many creatures much worse then those Birds, Elephants, Rhinocerotes, Lions, Wilde-swine, Buffals, and Wilde-kine. In the midst of that Land or Kingdome (so it had beene in old time) [ 10] is a great Lake, which the Natiues call Cunebetee, others Chiammay, from which proceeds this riuer, with other three in great quantitie washing that land. That lake, as some write, containeth in circuit sixtie Iaons (each of which is three leagues) alongst which are Mines of Siluer, Copper, Tinne, and Lead, carried thence by Merchants in Cafilas, with Elephants and Badas (Rhinoce∣rotes) to the Kingdomes of Sornau, or Siam, Passiloco, Sauady, Tangù, Prom, Calaminhan, and other Kingdomes. Being asked of the weapons of those Countries, they answered, That they haue none but Poles burned, and short Crises of two spannes. They might not go vp the Riuer in lesse then two months, or two and a halfe, by reason of the force of the water, which way downe, they might dispatch in eight or ten dayes.

Faria going from thence, came to Pullo Champeiloo, an Iland not inhabited in fourteene degrees [ 20] and twentie minutes, at the entrie of the Bay of Cauchin-China: and thence hauing fitted his Ordnance to Ainam, to seeke Coia Acem: and being come to Pullo Capas, a Fleet of fortie great Iunkes, of two or three Deckes a piece was seene in the Riuer by Boralho, whom Faria had sent to discouer, and after that another seeming two thousand saile great and small, and a walled Towne of some ten thousand houses. At his returne hee saw also one Iunke in the Barre of the Riuer at anchor, which seemed of another Coast. Faria supposed this last was of that Pyrat Coia Acem, which therefore hee assailed and tooke. One of the company was a Christian of Mount Sinai, named Tome Mostangue a Merchant, whose Barke Solyman Bassa had taken A. 1538. in the Port of Iudaa, with seuen others to be victuallers for his Armada of sixtie gallies, wherewith he was sent by the Great Turke, to restore Sultan Baadur to his Kingdome of Cambaya, whereof the [ 30] Mogor had then dispossessed him, and to driue the Portugalls out of India. And when he deman∣ded of the Turkes his freight, which they had promised, they tooke his wife and his daughter, and openly rauished them before his eyes; his sonne, which cried at that spectacle, they threw into the Sea bound hand and foot: and laid himselfe in yrons, tooke away his goods, worth aboue sixe thousand Duckets. His wife and daughter died, and hee as desperate leaped one night into the Sea, at the Bar of Diu, with a sonne which there hee had▪ and got to Surat, and came thrice to Malacca in a Ship of Garcia de Saa; whence by Stephen Gama he was sent for China, with Chri∣stouan Sardinha, Factor of Maluco; whom riding at anchor in Cincapura Quiay Tayiam, Captaine of this Iunke slew with six and twentie Portugals, and saued him aliue because he was a Gunner. Faria cried out that he had heard of this Quiay Tayiam, that he had killed aboue one hundred Por∣tugals, [ 40] and spoiled them of one hundred thousand Cruzados, and that since he killed Sardinha, he caused himselfe to bee called by his name. Hee asked this Armenian where he was, hee shewed where he with sixe or seuen others were hidden in the Iunke. Faria went and opened the skut∣tle, and Taiam with his company began a new fight, killed two Portugals and seuen boyes, and wounded twentie; but in the end were slaine. Faria hasted away for feare of the Iunkes in the Riuer, and came to the Coast of Cauchin-China where he rifled this Iunke, and found in her Spi∣ces and other goods, to the value of sixtie thousand Cruzados, besides Artillery, which the Pirate had taken out of the Ships of Sardinha, Oliueyra, and Matos.

The next day hee set saile againe for Ainam, and by the way lighted on Boates fishing for Pearles, to whom they offered contract, who told them that Guamboy, a Port somewhat before, [ 50] (as in Cantan, Chinch••o, Lamau, Comhay, Sumbor, and Liampoo, and other Coast Cities) was a place of trade for strangers, and counselled him to goe thither: for there they had nothing but Pearles, which they fished for the treasure of the Sonne of the Sunne, by the command of the Tu∣tan of Comhay, supreme Gouernor of all Cauchin-China. And that the law was, that if any Barke besides the appointed entred, it should bee burnt with all the people therein. And because hee was a stranger, it was best for him to saile away before Buhaquirim the Mandarin, which was but seuen leagues thence came; who had fortie great Iunkes, with two thousand Mariners, and fiue thousand Souldiers; and did abide there the sixe moneths of fishing, from March to August both included. They much maruelled at the Portugall fashion, hauing neuer seene any such men, and suspected them theeues (they professing themselues Merchants of Siam) with gifts and [ 60] courtesie they wonne good estimation of these Fishers. One of these being asked touching Ay∣nam, answered, That it was once an absolute Kingdome gouerned by Pr••chau Gamu, who dying without an heire there arose such contentions, that in foure yeeres and a halfe there dyed sixteen Lacasaas of men, which are so many hundred thousands, whereby the Land was so dispeopled,

that the Cauchin King made himselfe master thereof, with seuen thousand Mogores, which the Tartar sent him from Tuymican, then the chiefe Citie of his Empire. Hee set ouer the same Hoyha Paguarol, who rebelled and made himselfe tributarie to the King of China, paying sixe hundred thousand Duckets, or foure hundred thousand Taeis yearely: and dying without heire, two hundred thirtie fiue yeares since, hee declared the King of China his Successour: and so it hath continued. He counselled him not to goe to Aynam; because they were Dissemblers, nor would the Monson suffer him to go to Liampoo▪ but to go to the good riuer Tanauquir, stil sounding as he went for the shoalds; there he should haue sure Anchorage, and in little space hee might sell all his goods; where yet it was not safe by reason of reasonlesse men to aduenture his goods on Land.

[ 10] To that Riuer we went, and in the mouth thereof not able to stemme the Current, two Iunks assayled vs, and their first Language was sixe and twentie Peeces of Ordnance: the Issue was, Pa∣ria tooke them both, most of their men being drowned or slaine, and found therein seuenteene Christians Prisoners, by whom hee learned that the Captayne was a Rouer which bare two names, one of a Christian, Francisco de Saa, the other of a Gentile, Necoda Xicaulem. Fiue yeares he had beene a Christian at Malaca; Garcia de Saa Captayne of the Fortresse, in his Baptisme imparting his owne name to him, who married him to a Gentlewoman of Portugall. But hee going, Anno 1534. for Chincheo in a China Iunke with twentie Portugals and his Wife, slue both her and them at Pulo Ca••an: and the next yeare took another Portugall Iunke at Chincheo, which came from Sunda, and slue ten Portugals in her, and thence-forth practised Pyracie on Chine∣ses, [ 20] (••s hee thought vs to bee) and Portugals. The goods of the two Iunkes amounted to fortie thousand Taeis, and seuenteene Bras••e Peeces. The Captayne of this place was in league with him, and shared a third of his Pyracies. Faria therefore went to another Port fortie leagues Eastward, called Mutipinan, wherein were many Merchants which came in Cafilas from the Land of the Lauhos, and Pàfuaas, and Gucos with great store of siluer. The current setting strong against vs at the Rock of Tilauinera. Wee came to Mutipinan, and learned that the Riuer was deepe, the best in that Bay; the people peaceable, that Merchants had come nine dayes before from the Kingdome of Benan in two Cafilas, each of fiue hundred Oxen, with store of Siluer, Iuory, Waxe, Benioyn, Camfire, Gold in poulder, to buy Pepper, Drugs, and pearles of Aynam; that they had not any Armada of great ships because the Wars which the Prechau (King) of the Cauchins made wereby land, that he abode at Quangepaaru, a Citie twelue dayes iourny thence; [ 30] that his Mynes yeelded him fifteene thousand Pikes of Siluer, halfe of which by Diuine Law belonged to the people, which had remitted it to him on conditon to pay no other tributes, wher∣to the ancient Prechaus had sworne to keepe it, as long as the Sun should giue light to the Earth. There hee sold a great part of his goods till newes of the Tanauquir Rouer made them afraid to come aboard: so that he was forced to set saile.

Thus after many dayes spent in this Bay of Cauchin-china; because Coia Acem and the Py∣rates which robbed Christians were in league with the Mandarines, and sold that which they had gotten in Ainan, he pursued that purpose againe, and came to Anchor in Madel a Hauen in that Iland where he encountred with Hinimilau, a Chinese Rouer which had becomne lately a Moore, and bitter enemy of Christians, of which Religion hee had also beene. Fiue Portugall [ 40] Captiue Boyes, which were aboard him, cryed out for mercy, whereby Faria mooued, sent to know what they were, which answering with stones on their heads that came in the Boat, a cruell fight followed, in which Faria remayned Victor, and seised of the Captaine with fif∣teene others left aliue. He demanded for the Portugall Boyes, who told them they were in the Prow vnder Hatches; whereupon sending to see, they found them lying on a heape with their heads off, a woman with her two children being also so serued. Faria asked why hee dealt so with the small Innocents? He answered, it was sufficient that they were children of Portugals. Being asked why he had forsaken the Christian Religion: he said, because the Portugals had re∣spected him being a Gentile, with Cap in hand saluting him Quiay Nicoda, but after hee was Christian, made little account of him; whereupon he became a Moore in Bintam, and the King [ 50] of Iantan vsed him with much honour, his Officers called him Brother, and hee sware on a Booke to become an Enemy to the Portugall and Christian Name as long as he liued, the King and Priest applauding and promising all happinesse to his soule. Seuen yeares he had beene in exe∣cution of that Oath, and had taken a Iunke of Luys de Pauia in the Riuer of Liampoo, with foure hundred Bares of Pepper, slue eighteene Portugals, besides slaues: and after that had taken at times foure ships, in which he had slaine neere three hundred persons, seuentie of them Portu∣gals, and taken fifteene or sixteen hundred Bares of Pepper and other Commodities, of which the King of Pan had halfe, to secure him and let him haue sale: in the Riuer Choaboque on the Coast of China, he had killed Ruy Lobo, his old acquaintance, with seuenteene Portugals, escaping a [ 60] wracke, and taken into his Iunke on condition to pay him two thousand Cruzados, to set him on shoare at Patane; which notwithstanding, hee slue him and the rest by the Moores counsell one night as they were asleepe. Faria would heare no further, but caused him to bee slaine and cast into the Sea. In Silke and other goods he found in the Iunke to the value of fortie thousand Taeis: the Iunke he burned, hauing none to man her.

The other Necodas or Captaynes of the Iunkes, seeing what Faria had done, consulted toge∣ther, and seeing he might also doe as much to them, sent two chiefe men to him, desiring him as King of the Sea, to giue them securitie to passe, in dispatch of their businesses before the Monson were ended, and that as his Tributaries, they would giue him twentie thousand Taeis of Siluer: to which he sware, and that no Thiefe should rob them: and with a Present receiued the Mo∣ney brought him within an houre after. A Boy which writ their Passes, gayned in thirteene dayes aboue foure thousand Taeis (besides gifts for dispatch) each Iunke giuing fiue Taeis and the lesse Barkes two. The Vice-Roy also of Ainan sent him a rich Present, with a Letter to in∣treat him to serue the Sonne of the Sunne as Admirall from Laman to Liampoo, at ten thousand Taeis annuall wages, besides (after three yeares end) further aduancement: whereto he excused [ 10] his vnworthinesse, and departed to Quangiparu, a Citie of fifteene thousand Housholds, and so coasted all alongst the Iland of Ainan seuen monethes space, till the Souldiers were wearie, and required their shares as had beene agreed; which was quieted with promise to winter at Siam, and hauing there made Money of all to giue each man his part.

With this agreement they came to an Iland, called Theaues Iland, because standing out of the Bay, it is their place to take the first of the Monson. Here at the new Moone in October wee were encountred with a cru••ll Tempest in the night, by which the foure Vessels were broken in pieces, fiue hundred eightie sixe persons drowned, of which eight and twentie Portugals; three and fiftie of vs by Gods mercie saued, Faria being one, and one and twentie other Portugals, the rest Slaues and Mariners. They spent two dayes and a halfe in Buriall of their dead, and to [ 20] get some of their prouision, which yet hauing taken Salt-water, would not last aboue fiue dayes of the fifteene they stayed there. Faria comforted them saying, that God would not permit so much euill but for a greater good; nor would haue taken from them fiue hundred thousand Cruzados, but to giue them sixe hundred thousand: God doth not punish with both hands, his mercie curing the wounds which his Iustice maketh.

Thus we walked naked, and bare-foot on the Strand & in the Wildernes, suffering hunger and cold, many of our companions dying, not so much for want of food, as the stinke and putrified vnholsomnesse thereof. In this disconsolate plight, a Sea-kite came flying from behind the South Cape of the Iland▪ and let fall from his Talons a Mullet a span long; which he taking vp with great prayse to God, and Prayer to Iesus Christ, not to consider their merits, but his merits for [ 30] them, hee caused it to bee rosted and giuen to the sicke. Looking to the place whence the Fowle came, they saw more of them flying vp and downe, and going thitherwards, discouered a Val∣ley with diuers Fruit-trees, and before they came at it, they found a Deere which a Tygre had newly killed, and with their generall cry was scarred from it, hauing begun to eate it. Wee fea∣sted with it, and with many Mullets which those Sea-kites got, and (scarred with our cries) let fall. This fishing they continued from Munday till Saturday, and then seeing a saile they hid themselues in the Woods. It was a Lantea or Barke with Oares, which came thither with thir∣tie persons to wood and water; and whiles they were disporting themselues, and had left their Barke vnmanned, Faria apprehended the occasion, and hauing instructed them, at the name of Iesus they all ranne vpon it, entred without gain-saying, and loosing the Prow put to Sea. The [ 40] Chinois seeing their Lantea taken, hasted to the shoare, but scarred with a little Iron-piece out of their Lantea, they fled to the Thickets. We presently fell to eate, what an old man was dressing for the Chinois, and after searched and found Silkes, Damaskes, Muske, and other goods worth foure thousand Cruzados, besides Rice, Sugar, Hennes, which we most esteemed for recouerie of the sicke. There was a Boy of twelue or thirteene yeares old, whom Faria asked, whence and whose the Lantea was: hee answered, it was his Fathers, from whom they had vnhappily taken is lesse then an houre, all hee had gotten in aboue thirtie yeares: hee came from a place, called Quoaman, where in bartar for Siluer he had gotten those goods, which he was going to sell to the Iunkes of Siam in the Port of Comhay: and now hee going to supply his want of water, you haue taken away his goods without feare of the Iustice of Heauen. Faria promising to vse him as his Sonne; then, said hee, [ 50] set me on shoare in that miserable Land where my true Father is, with whom I had rather dye then liue with so bad people. Much reasoning passed, and he said, they could speake well of God, but little vsed his Law: neither would he eate in three dayes space.

We determined to goe for Liampoo, two hundred and sixtie leagues Northwards from thence, and to get if we could, a better Barke, this being little, and scarsly able to brooke those New Moone-stormes on the Coast of China. At Sun-set wee set sayle, and next morning going East North-east, came to an Ile called Guintoo, where we tooke a fisher-barke with store of fresh fish, whence we tooke what we thought fit, with eight men of her, twelue to serue for the Lantea, our men being weake. They told vs that eighteene leagues thence was a good Riuer, called Xin∣guan, within which was a poore fisher-village, called Xamoy, and three leagues higher vp, a Citie [ 60] of good Trade. The next day in the euening we came to Xamoy, where a Iunke rode fitter for Farias purpose, which in the night he tooke, the men being asleepe; whom he bound, threatning to kill them all if they made any cry; and sayled presently with her to the Ile Pullo Quirim, nine leagues off, and in three dayes after to an Iland called Luxitay, where for the recouery of the

sicke hee stayed fifteene dayes. In the Iunke hee found no Merchandize but Rice, the most of which he cast into the Sea to lighten her, and fit her for our Voyage. Thence wee put forth for Liampoo, where we heard were many Portugals from Malaca, Zunda, Siam, and Patane, which vsed there to winter.

In the way we encountred, after two dayes sayling, with a Iunke of Patane, which belonged to a China Pyrate, called Quiay Panian, a great friend of the Portugals, of whom he had thirtie in his company entertayned in his pay. They not knowing vs, began with a terrible salutation of fifteene Peeces of Artillery, but by Crosses in their Banner, we knew them and made signes, by which both congratulated each other with heartiest greetings, and Quiay Panian and he joyned in league to pursue their Fortunes together. They now purposed to goe to Chincheo, and th••re [ 10] found fiue sayle of Portugals, which told them of a great Fleet of foure hundred Iunkes, with one hundred thousand men gone to the Iles of Goto, in succour of Sucan of Pontir, who had volun∣tarily subjected himselfe to the King of China, in one hundred thousand Taeis Tribute yearely. We tooke out of those fiue ships thirtie fiue Souldiers more, and proceeded on our way for Li∣ampoo. In the way we encountred a small P••raoo with eight Portugals sorely wounded, where∣of Antonio Anriquez, and Mem Taborda were, rich men of great esteeme.

These recounted to him that a Guzerate Rouer, Coia Acem, with three Iunks and foure Lanteas (in which were fiue hundred men, one hundred and fiftie of them Moores) set vpon them (ha∣uing parted seuenteene dayes agoe from Liampoo, for Malaca, purposing to goe for India, if the Monson had permitted) before the Ile Gumbor, and after some houres fight tooke them; eightie [ 20] two persons (eighteene of them Portugals) were slaine, and as many others captiued, with one hundred thousand Taeis value in their Iunke: one of the Pyrats Iunks was fired and burnt to the water. These few in the furie of the entry escaped in the little Boat which hung at sterne; they being busied in the spoyle, and the Sunne then set, could not follow, but went into the Riuer with much triumph.

Faria and Quiay Panian who had kindred at La••loo, prouided themselues there of Powder, Lead, Victuals, and other necessaries for Money, by leaue of the Mandarine, (no Countrey in the World being like China for all kind of prouisions) and there got two greater Iunkes in truck of the other, and two Lanteas, and one hundred and sixtie Mariners, so that they were in all fiue hundred persons, of which ninetie fiue were Portugals. They had one hundred & sixty Harquebus∣ses, [ 30] forty Brasse Peeces, & sixty Quintals of Powder, nine hundred pots of Powder, foure thousand Darts headed with Iron, Arrowes, and many Fire-workes, with other Weapons. Thus proui∣ded, they set forth in pursuit of Coia Acem, and by a Fisher-boat learned that he was in the Ri∣uer Tinlau, there to furnish and fit the Iunke lately taken from the Portugals, to goe with it and two others for Siam (where he was borne) about ten dayes thence. Faria sent Vicente Morosa in the Fisher-boat, with some of his company to informe himselfe more fully, which making a shew of fishing with the rest, he easily did, and brought word aboard of the easinesse of the at∣tempt. In the night they anchored, and went vp the Riuer in the morning, the enemy know∣ing nothing till they came in sight, and Faria crying out, Hey, my Masters, in the Name of Christ, [ 40] to them, to them, Santiago, off went the Ordnance, the small shot succeeded, that none now in the Iunkes durst appeare. His small Vessels (Lorche) comming from the shoare with succour were so entertayned with great shot that they could not helpe themselues, and by our small Ves∣sels were fired with the fire-po••s; in three of them two hundred persons were slaine. Out of the fourth they leaped into the water, and were most slaine by Panians men.

Coia Acem which before was not knowne, seeing his Moores ready to try the waters courte∣sie to escape those fiery enemies, armed in Buffe, with Plates fringed with Gold, cryed out aloud that he might be heard, La ••lah, ill••llah Muhamed roçolalah: what shall you Muslemans and iust men of the Law of Mahomet, suffer your selues to be conquered of so f••eble a Nation as are these Dogges, which haue no more heart then white Hens, and bearded women? to them, to them, the Booke of Flowres hath giuen promise from our Prophet to you and me, to bathe our selues in the bloud of these Cafres with∣out [ 50] Law. With these cursed words, the Deuill so animated them, that it was fearefull to see how they ranne on our Swords. Faria on the other side heartned his in the name of Christ crucified, and with a zealous feruour reached Coia Acem, such a blow with a two hand Sword on his Head-piece of Maile, that he sunke to the ground, and with another blow cut off his legges. Whereupon his men with such furie assayled Faria, not caring for thirtie Portugals which stood about him, that they gaue him two wounds, which put such spirit into our men, that in little space, eight and fortie of the Enemies lay dead vpon Coia Acem, and the rest they slue all but fiue, whom they tooke and bound, the Boyes cutting the others in quarters, and throwing them into the water with Coia Acem, and the King of Bintans chiefe Caciz, or Priest, the shedder and the drinker of Portugall bloud, as he stiled himselfe in the beginning of his Writings, for which [ 60] hee was of that cursed Sect much honoured.

Of the Enemies were slaine three hundred and eightie, of ours fortie two (eight of which were Portugals, Faria searched the Iland, and found a Village therein of fortie or fiftie houses, which Coia Acem had sacked, slaying some of the Inhabitants. Not farre off was a great house

seeming a Temple full of sicke and wounded men, ninetie sixe in number, which the Pyrat had there in cure, whom he burned, setting the house on fire in diuers places, those that sought to escape being receiued on Pikes and Launces. The Iunke which they had taken from the Portugals, sixe and twentie dayes before, Faria gaue to Mem Taborda, and Antonio Anriquez in Almes for re∣mission of his sinnes, taking their Oath to take no more but their owne. He tooke speciall care of the wounded, and caused the slaues to be set free. After all this, there remayned of cleere gaines, one hundred and thirtie thousand Taeis in Siluer, of Iapan and other goods, which that Pyrat had taken along that Coast from Sumbor to Fucheo.

[ 10]

§. II. ANTONIO FARIA his taking of Nouda a Citie in China, triumph at Liampoo; strange Voyage to Calempluy, mi∣serable shipwracke.

FAria hauing recouered his sicke men, set sayle for Liampoo, and beeing comne to the point of Micuy in sixe and twentie degrees, by a storme he was driuen vpon a Rock in the darke night, and was forced to cast out all the goods, and cut all their Masts ouer-board; and with much adoe we escaped with their helpe (two and twentie [ 20] drowned by ouer-hastinesse) to the Iunke of Mem Taborda. The second day after came two Portugals from Quiay Panians Iunke, and plained to vs their almost like misfortune (one gust ha∣uing taken away three men, and cast them a stones cast into the Sea) and the losse of the small Iunke with fiftie persons, most of which were Christians, and seuen Portugals. One of the Lan∣teas came and told of their disaduenture, the other Lantea lost, only thirteene men escaping, which the Countrey people carryed Captiues to Nouday: so that two Iunkes and a Lantea with aboue one hundred persons were lost, and in Munition and other goods, aboue two hundred thou∣sand Cruzados, the Captayne and Souldiers hauing nothing left but that on their backes. The Coast of China is subiect to these strokes more then other Countries, so that none can sayle [ 30] thereon one yeare without disasters, except at the full and change, they betake them to their Ports, which are many and good, without barred entries, except Laman and Sumbor.

Faria went and anchored before Nouday and sent some to sound, and to take some of the people to enquire of his men, who brought a Barke with eight men and two women, one of whom (hauing first sworne by the Sea, that it below, and the winds aboue should pursue him if he•• brake his Faith, and the beautie of the starres whose eyes beheld all wrong, as the Chinese requested) told him that he taking them to be Sea Rouers and Robbers, had taken them and cast them in Irons. Faria writ to the Mandarin by two of those Chinois, with a Present worth two hundred Duckets to returne his men, which returned the next day with an Answere written, that him∣selfe should come and demand Iustice at his feet, and he would doe as hee saw cause. Hee wrote [ 40] againe, offering two thousand Taeis for their Redemption, signifying that hee was a Portugall Merchant, which came to trade at Liampoo, and payd Customes without any Robbery; and that the King of Portugall his Lord was in true amitie with his Brother the King of China, and in Malaca his subjects vsed the Chinois justly. This calling the King of Portugall the King of Chi∣nas Brother, he tooke so hainously, that he caused the China Messengers to be whipped, and their eares cut, and sent them backe with a railing Answere written to Faria, which had so proudly blasphemed, calling his King the Brother of the Sonne of the Sunne, the Lion crowned with incre∣dible power in the Throne of the Vniuerse, vnder whose feet all Crownes of all that gouerne the Earth, are placed with all their Seniories, as all Writers affirme in their Histories. For this Heresie he burned his Writing with his Picture, as he would doe to himselfe, charging him presently to set sayle [ 50] and be gone. Faria enraged, resolued to assault the Towne, hauing three hundred men, (seuentie of them Portugals) with the company of Quiay Panian, for that feat.

Hauing therefore taken foure Barkes, the next morning betimes with them, three Iunkes and a Lorcha or Lantea, he went vp the Riuer, and had sixe fathomes water and an halfe anchoring by the wals. And striking sayle without salutation of Artillery, we put off our Flagge of con∣tract, after the China custome, to fulfill all complements of peace, sending new offers of loue and further satisfaction for the Prisoners. But the Mandarine full of indignation, hardly vsed the Messengers on the wall in sight of the Armada; whereupon, Faria desperate of doing any good that way leauing order with the Iunkes continually to shoot at the Enemie where they were thickest, he with his company landed without contradiction, and marched to the Towne. When we were comne within little more then a Calieuer shot of the Ditch without the wall, [ 60] there issued by two gates one thousand, or twelue hundred; about one hundred of them Horse∣men, or Hackneymen rather (for they rode on leane Iades) which began to skirmish in such dis∣ordered sort, encountring one with another, and many of them falling to the ground, that they

seemed to be of some neighbour Villages, which came more of force then with force or heart to the businesse. Faria expected them, encouraging his men, and making a signe to the Iunkes.

The Horsemen diuided themselues, and wheeled about, as if that would haue fearred vs, which seeing, without effect they joyned in one bodie or heape rather; whereat the Captayne commanded all the Caleeuers to shoot off at once, with such successe, that the former halfe of the Horsemen fell to ground. And then wee which till that time had stood still gaue the assault, crying on the name of Iesus, insomuch that they fled so confusedly, that they fell one vpon ano∣ther, and when they came to the Bridge ouer the Ditch, they thronged themselues so that none could goe forward. In this case we came on them, and slue aboue three hundred, none of them [ 10] scarsly drawing Sword to defend themselues. Wee prosecuted the victory to the gate, in which was the Mandarine with sixe hundred men▪ fairely mounted, armed with a Corslet of Crimson Veluet gilded, which we knew after to haue belonged to Tome Perez, which King Emanuel of glorious memorie had sent Embassadour to China. Hee and his began a fight with vs in the en∣trie of the gate, more valorous then the former, till a Boy of ours dismounted the Mandarine from his Horse with a Harquebusse shot thorow the breast, which caused the rest disorderly to flee, and we with them into the Towne. They casting downe their weapons ranne out at an∣other gate toward the Countrey, none remayning. Antonio Faria gathering his companie toge∣ther, marched orderly to the Chifanga, the Prison where our men were, brake vp the gates and grates, and freed his men. Then did he appoint halfe an houre to his people for spoile, himselfe going to the Mandarines house, and had 8000. Taeis of Siluer there, & fiue great boxes of Muske: [ 20] the rest he gaue to the Boyes, which was much Silke twisted, and vnwrought, Damaske, Sat∣tin, Porcelane; the sacke was so rich, that foure Barkes or Vessels in which they came, went foure times laden therewith to the Iunkes, that there was neither Boy nor Mariner which had not a Chist or Chists of pieces, besides what they had secretly. Hauing spent an houre and halfe, he seeing night now come on, set fire in ten or twelue parts of the Citie, which being built of Pine timber suddenly arose into such a flame, that it seemed a Hell. And without impediment, he embarked his company with much riches, and many faire Girles tyed by foures and fiues with Match, they crying, ours triumphing.

It was now late, yet had Faria care of the wounded, which were fiftie of them, eight Portu∣gals, [ 30] and to burie the dead, which were nine only one Portugall; and keeping good watch that night, as soone as it was day, he went to a Village on the otherside of the water, and found not one person in it, the houses still furnished with goods and prouisions, with which he laded the Iunkes: and departed for a desart Iland fifteene leagues from Liampoo, called Pullo Hinh••r, where was good water and anchorage. After wee had sayled fiue dayes betwixt the Iles Comolem and the continent, Prematà Gundel a Rouer which had done much damage to the Portugals in Pa∣tane, Sunda, Siam, taking vs for Chineses, set vpon vs with two great Iunkes, in which were two hundred fighting men besides Mariners, and grapling with the Iunke of Mem Taborda, had almost taken it, when Quiay Panian came to her succour with such a stroke on her quarter, that both sunke; the three Lorchae which Faria brought from Nouday comming in, saued most of our [ 40] men, the enemies being all drowned, and Mem Taborda freed. Meane while, Prematà Gundel had with two hookes and Iron chaines fastned himselfe to Farias Iunke, both in the poope and prow, such a cruell battell following, that in lesse then an houre most of Farias men and him∣selfe were wounded, and twice in danger of taking, when the three Lorchae, and a little Iunke which Pero Sylua had taken at Nouday, came in to his succour, so that eightie sixe Moores which had entred Farias Iunke were slaine, who had cooped our men before in the poop-roome; and thence entring the Pirats Iunke, put all therein to the sword.

This victorie cost seuenteene of ours their liues, fiue of them of the best Portugall Souldiers, besides three and fortie wounded. The prize was valued at eightie thousand Taers, the most of it Iapan Siluer, which the Pirate had taken in three Iunkes, come from Firando bound for Chin∣cheo. [ 50] In the other sunken Iunkes was said to be as much. With this prize Faria went to a little Iland, called Buncalou, foure leagues off, and stayed there eighteene dayes, making Cottages for the wounded, which there recouered health. Thence they departed, Quiay Panian going in that Iunke of the Pirate, with 20000. Taeis ouer and aboue for his part: in sixe dayes we came to the Ports of Liampoo, which are two Iles, in which the Portugals made at that time their contractation, and was a Towne of one thousand houses, and sixe or seuen Churches built by them, with Sherifs, an Auditor, Alcaides, and other Officers; the Notaries vsing to write, I, N. publike Notarie for the King our Lord, in this Citie of Liampoo, &c. as if it had beene sea∣ted betwixt Santarem and Lisbon: and such was their forwardnesse, that some houses cost three or foure thousand Cruzados, all which were razed afterwards by the Chinois; so vncer∣taine [ 60] are the things of China (which in these parts are so esteemed) so subiect to disastres and disaduentures.

When Faria was come to Portas de Liampoo, he sent Mem Taborda, and Anriques first to ac∣quaint the Townes-men what had passed, who sent Ieronymo do Rego with two Lanteas, to thanke him for the bountie shewed in the case of Coia Acem, and with refreshings; and for the

businesse at Nouday, he need not be afraid there to winter, the King of China being as they said, lately dead, and ciuill warres succeeding, thirteene competitors being in Armes to enforce their pretended right: and that the Tutan Nay, which was next person to the King in all the Go∣uernment, with meere and mixt Empire of Maiestie Regall, was besieged in the Citie of Quo∣ansy, by Prechau Muan Emperour of Cauchinas; in whose fauour it is holden for certaine, that the King of Tartaria is comming with an Armie of nine hundred thousand men: and that in this troubled estate Nouday would not be thought of, which was in comparison of many other Cities in China, lesse then Oeiras compared with Lisbon. He was sixe dayes after with great tri∣umph and glorious shewes, made of his owne Fleet, and of the many Boats, Barkes, and Citi∣zens which came to fetch him, there being three hundred men in festiuall apparell, with many Gold Chaines, and gilded Swords, till he came into the Port, in which rode in a rew, twentie six [ 10] Ships, and eightie Iunks, besides a greater number of smaller vessels, fastned one before another in two wings, making a street betwixt them, adorned with Laurell, and other greene boughes, and sweet herbs, the Ordnance thundring on both sides a congratulation. The Chinois wondred, and asked if he were Brother or neere Kinsman to their King, they receiued him in such honour: Nay, said a conceited Portugall, but his father shooed the Kings Horses, and therefore is he wor∣thie of this honour. Hereat they were more then amazed, and said, There were great Kings in the World, of which their Authours had made no mention, and the King of Portugall seemes one of them, and much to exceed the Cauchim, or the Tartar, and it were no sinne to say he may hold compare with the Sonne of the S••nne, the Lion crowned in the Throne of the World. [ 20] Others confirmed the same, alledging the great riches which the bearded men generally posses∣sed. A glorious Lantea was purposely adorned for his person in which hee went, with many Musicall Instruments of the Chinas, Malayos, Champaas, Siamites, Borneos, Lequios, and other Nations which there secured themselues vnder the Portugals, for feare of Rouers which filled those Seas.

I should wearie you to let you see the rest of this pompous spectacle, and more to heare their Orations preferring him before Alexander, Scipio, Annibal, Pompey, Caesar: Neither will Religion let mee goe with him to their Masse: nor doe I euer dine worse then at solemne Feasts; and others will grudge me a roome at Comedies: all which pompes, I will leaue to our Author, enlarged by the Spanish translator, Canon of the Church of Arbas, as dedicated to Manuel Seuerin de Faria. There hee stayed fiue [ 30] moneths, spending the time in Hawking, Hunting, Fishing, Feasting. Quiay Panian in this time dyed. After hee made ready to goe to the Mines of Quoangiparu. Others disswaded him by rea∣son of warres in those parts, and a famous Pyrat called Similau, told him of an Iland called Calem∣pluy, in which seuenteene Kings of China were buried with much treasures, in Vests, and Idols of Gold, and other incredible riches; which hee on no other testimonie embraced, (without con∣sulting with his friends, who not a little blamed him therefore) and went with Similau in search of this Iland, setting out May the fourteenth, 1542.

He set foorth with two Panouras, which are as it were Frigots, but somewhat higher: Iunkes he vsed not, both for secrecie, and because of the Currents which set out of the Bay of Nanquin, which great ships cannot stemme, by reason of the ouer-flowings from Tartaria and Nixibum [ 40] Flaon, in those moneths of May, Iune, and Iuly. He had with him sixe and fiftie Portugals, with a Priest, and fortie eight Mariners of Patane, and fortie two Slaues: more our Pilot Similau would not admit, fearing suspition in trauersing the Bay of Nanquin, and entry of many Riuers much i••habited. That day and night wee cleared the Iles of Angitur, and followed our voyage thorow a Sea before neuer sayled by Portugals. The first fiue dayes, we sayled with good winde, in sight of land to the entrie of the Bay of Nanquins fishings, and passed a gulfe of fortie leagues, and had sight of a high Hill called Nangafu, alongst which we ranne to the North fiue dayes; at the end whereof, Similau put into a small Riuer, the people whereof were white, of good sta∣ture, with small eyes like the Chinois, but differing in speech and behauiour. After three dayes the tempest ceasing, we set sayle East North east seuen dayes together in sight of land, and cros∣sing [ 50] another gulfe, there was a straight open to the East, called Sileupaquim, ten leagues in the mouth, within which we sayled fiue dayes in sight of many Townes and Cities very faire; and this Riuer or straight was frequented with innumerable shipping; insomuch that Faria was a∣fraid to bee discouered, and would needs against Similaus minde turne some other way. Thus out of the Bay of Nanquin (Similau telling them of a moneths worke of sayling by the Ri∣uer Sumhepadan, one hundred and seuentie leagues distant thence to the North) wee sayled fiue dayes, at the end whereof wee saw a very high H••ll called Fanius, and comming neere it, entred a goodly rode, where one thousand ships might ride at anchor. Wee sayled thence thirteene dayes along the coast, and came to the Bay of Buxipalem in 49. degrees, where wee found it som∣what cold and saw Fishes of strange shapes, some like Thornbacks, aboue foure braces or fa∣thoms [ 60] compasse, flat nosed like an Oxe; some like great Lizards, speckled blacke and greene, with three rewes of prickles on the backe, like ••ristles, three spannes long, very sharpe, the rest of the body full, but of shorter; these Fishes will contract themselues like Hedge-hogs, and looke fearefully; they haue a sharpe blacke snout with tuskes, after the manner of a Bore, two spannes

long. Other deformities and diuersities of Fishes we saw. Fifteene leagues further, we came to an another fairer Bay called Calnidan, sixe leagues in compasse set round with Hills, diuersified with Woods and Riuers, foure very great.

Similau sayd that the filth of dead Carcasses of creatures, proceeding from the ouerflowings, specially in Nouember, December, and Ianuarie, at the full of the Moone, caused the generation of such diuersitie of Fishes and Serpents in that Bay, and the former, which were not seene in o∣ther parts of that Coast. Faria asked him whence those Riuers came, and hee said that he knew not, but if it were true which was written, two of them came from a great lake called Moscum∣bia, and the other two from a Prouince of great Mountaines, which all the yeere were couered [ 10] with snow, called Alimania, and in Summer when great part of the snow was melted, they be∣came so impetuous, as wee now saw: and for that Riuer in the mouth whereof we were entred, called Paatebenam, wee were now in the name of the Lord of heauen to turne the Prow to the East, and East South-east to search againe the Bay of Nanquim, which we had left behind two hundred and sixtie leagues, all which way we had made higher then Calempluy. The second day we came to a high Mountaine called Botinafau, stored with diuers kindes of wilde beasts, which continued neere fiftie leagues and sixe-dayes sayling: and after came to another Hill as wilde as the former, called Gangitanou, and all the way forward was mountainous, and so thicke of trees that the Sunne could not pierce. Similau sayd, that in ninetie leagues space there was no habi∣tation, and in the skirts thereof liued a deformed sauage people onely by their Hunting, and [ 20] some Rice which they got in China, by exchange of wilde beasts skinnes, which hee sayd came to aboue a million yeerely. Of these Giganhos, wee saw a beardlesse youth with sixe or seuen Kine before him, to whom Similau made a signe, and hee stayed till we came to the Bankes side, and shewing him a piece of greene Taffata (which hee sayd they much esteemed) with a harsh voyce he sayd, Quiten paran faufau, words which none vnderstood. Faria commanded to giue him three or foure Conados of the taffata, and sixe Porcelanes, which he receiued with much ioy, saying, Par pacam pochy pilaca hunangue doreu, signing with his hand to the place whence hee came, and leauing his Kine, he ranne thither. He was cloathed with a Tygers skin, the hayre out∣ward, his armes, head and legges bare, with a rude pole in his hand; well shaped, seeming ten palmes or spans long, his hayre hanging on his shoulders. Within a quarter of an houre hee re∣turned [ 30] with a liue Deere on his backe, and thirteene persons with him, eight men and fiue wo∣men, with three Kine tyed in coards dancing at the sound of a Drum, giuing now and then fiue strokes on it, and other fiue with their hands, crying aloude, Cur cur hinan falem. Antonio de Fa∣ria, caused to shew them fiue or sixe pieces and many Porcelanes. All of them were cloathed in like manner, only the women had on their wrists grosse bracelets of Tin, their hayre longer then the men, and full of Flowers, and on their neckes a great neck-lace with coloured Shels, as big as Oyster-shels. The men had great poles in their hands, furred halfe way with such Pelts as they wore; they were strong set, with thicke lippes, flat noses, great open nostrils, bigge faces. Faria caused to measure them, and none of them were higher then ten spannes and a halfe, one old man nigh eleuen, the women not ten: but I suppose the most sauage [ 40] that euer yet were discouered. Faria gaue them three corges of Porcelane, a piece of greene Taffata, and a basket of Pepper; and they fell on the ground, and lifting vp their hands with their fists shut, sayd, Vumguahileu opomguapau lapan, lapan, lapan. They gaue vs the three Kine and the Deere, and after many words, in three houres conference returned with like dance as they came.

Wee followed our way fiue dayes more vp the Riuer, about fortie leagues, in which we had sight of that people, and sixteene dayes more without sight of any, at the end of which we came to the Bay of Nanquim, hoping in fiue or sixe dayes to effect our desires. Similau willed Faria not to let his Portugals be seene. And hauing sayled sixe dayes East and East North-east, we had sight of a great Citie called Sileupamor, and entred into the Port two houres within night, being [ 50] a faire Bay almost two leagues in ci••cuit, where abundance of shipping rode at anchor, seeming aboue three thousand: which made vs so afraid, that out againe we went, and crossing the Ri∣uer (which may bee about sixe or seuen leagues ouer) wee ranne alongst a great Champaine the rest of the day with purpose to get some refreshing, hauing passed thirteene hungry dayes. We came to an old building called Tanamadel, and got prouision to our mindes. This place, the Chi∣nois which wee found there, told vs▪ belonged to an Hospitall two leagues thence for entertain∣ment of the Pilgrims, which visited the Kings Sepulcher. Wee continued our voyage seuen dayes more, hauing spent two moneths and a halfe since wee came from Liampoo, and now Faria could no longer conceale his discontent, that hee had thus followed Similaus proiect, and recei∣uing of him answer little to the purpose, had stabbed him with his Dagger if others had not in∣terposed [ 60] Similau, the night following as wee rode at anchor neere the land, swam a shoare, the watch not perceiuing, which Faria hearing was so impatient, that going on shoare to seeke him, hee returned frustrate, and found of his sixe and fortie Chinais, two and thirtie fled. Full now of con••usion, it was by counsell resolued to seeke Calempluy, which could not be farre off: and the next night entred a Barke riding at anchor, and tooke fiue men sleeping therein; of whom hee

learned that Calempluy was ten leagues off, and with their helpe found it, eightie three dayes af∣ter he had set out on that enterprise.

This Iland was seated in the midst of the Riuer, and seemed to bee a league in Compasse. Hi∣ther came Faria with trouble and feare, three houres within night, anchoring about a chamber shot from it. In the morning it was agreed, first to goe about it to see what entrances it had, and what impediments might befall their designe. The Iland was all enuironed with a ••ampire of hewen Marble, sixe and twentie spannes-high, so well cut and set together, that all the wall seemed but one piece, the like whereof wee had neuer seene in India, or elsewhere: from the bot∣tome of the water to the brim, it contayned other sixe and twentie spannes. In the top was a border of the same worke round ingirting it, like a Friers girdle, of the bignesse of a rundlet [ 10] of twelue gallons, on which were set grates of Latten turned, euery sixe fathoms fastened into holes of the same Latten; in each of which was the Idoll of a woman, with a round ball in her hands, none knowing what it signified. Within these grates, was a rew of many Monsters of cast Iron, which in manner of a dance hand in hand, compassed the Ile round. Further in∣wards from those monstrous Idols, in the same ranke, was another of Arches of rich worke pleasant to behold. And all from hence inward, was a groue of dwarfe Orange-trees thicke set; in the midst whereof were builded three hundred and sixtie Hermitages, dedicated to the Gods of the yeere, whereof those Paynims haue many fabulous praises. A quarter of a league higher, on a hill to the East, were seene buildings with seuen fronts of houses like Churches, all from the top to the bottome wrought with gold, with high Towers seeming Bell-steeples; and without, two streets with Arches which encompassed these buildings, of the same worke [ 20] with the fronts; and all from the highest top of the steeple pinacles to the bottom wrought with gold; whereby we iudged it some sumptuous and rich Temple.

After this view taken, Faria resolued (though it were late) to goe on shoare, to see if he could speake with any in those Hermitages; and so (leauing sufficient guard in the Barkes) with fortie Souldiers, twentie Slaues, and foure Chinois, (which knew the place, and had beene sometimes there, and might serue vs for Interpreters) he committed the two Barkes to Father Diego Loba∣to, and entred at one of the eight Entrances; walking thorow the Orangetto-groue to an Her∣mitage, two Caliuer shots from our landing place, with the greatest silence that might bee, and with the name of Iesus in our heart and mouth. Hauing yet seene no person, he felt at the doore of the Hermitage with his Halberd, and perceiued it locked on the inside: hee bade one of the [ 30] Chinois knocke, which hauing done twice, he heard an answer within answering, Praised bee the Creator which gilded the beautious Heauens, goe about and I will know thy businesse. The Chinois went about and entring the backe ••oore, opened that where Faria stood, who with his com∣panie going in, found one man seeming aboue one hundred yeeres old, in a long Russet Damaske garment, by his presence seeming Noble (as after wee learned he was) who seeing such a troupe fell downe, trembling hand and foot. A good while it was before hee could speake, and then as∣ked what wee were, and what we sought. The Interpreter answered by Farias command, that hee was the Captaine of these strangers of Siam, who bound for the Port of Liampoo in trade of Merchandise was wracked at Sea; hee and these escaping miraculously, and therefore vowing to come to that Holy land on Pilgrimage, to praise God for deliuerance from so great a dan∣ger, [ 40] and was now come to fulfill it; and withall to demand somewhat in almes to relieue him for his returne, protesting after three yeeres to restore it double whatsoeuer hee now tooke. Hiticou (that was his name) answered, I haue well heard what thou hast said, and that damna∣ble designe whereto thy blindnesse (as the Pilot of Hell) hath drawne thee and thine associates to the bottome of the lake of night. For in stead of thankes for so great a benefit, thou commest to rob: and what I pray thee will the Diuine iustice repay thee at thy last breath! change thou thy euill pur∣pose, and (beleeue me) God will change thy punishment. Faria prayed him, hee would not bee angry, saying, hee had no other remedie of life: whereat the Hermite lifting his hands and eyes to Heauen, sayd, weeping. Blessed bee thou Lord, which sufferest on earth men, [ 50] which take for remedie of life thine offences, and for certaintie of glorie will not serue thee one day. And then turning his eyes to the companie which were rifling the Hangings and Chests, taking the siluer from amongst the bones of the deceased therein, hee fell twice from his seate with griefe; and pensiuely put Faria in minde of his last breath, of restitution, of pe∣nance perpetuall to his flesh, and liberall and discreet communicating to the poore, that the ser∣uant of night should haue nothing to accuse him in the day of account: praying him also to com∣mand his companie, to gather vp the bones of the Saints, that they should not lye contemp∣tible on the ground. Faria gaue him many good words and complements, professing him∣selfe (which hee whispered neerer) sorrie of what had passed, but if hee should not doe it, his companie had threatened to kill him. If it bee so, said the Hermit, then shall thy paine bee [ 60] lesse then these ministers of night, whom as hungry Dogs, it seemes all the siluer of the world would not satisfie.

Thus with many good words hee tooke leaue of the Hermit (hauing taken all they could get) who told him his knowledge might make his sinne more penall. Nuno Coelho praying him not to be

so angry for so small a matter, hee replyed, More small is the feare which thou hast of death, when hauing spent thy life in foule facts, thy soule shall stand as foule at the passage of this dung-hill of thy flesh. And if thou seekest more Siluer to fill thy infernall appetite, thou mayst finde in the houses ad∣ioyning enough to make it split, as well in danger of Hell for this already, saue that more burthened thou shalt descend swifter to the bottome. Pray, sayd Coelho, take all in patience, for so God hath com∣manded in his holy Law: the Hermit shaking oft his head, sayd, I now see that which I neuer thought to haue heard, Inbred wickednesse and vertue famed, the same man stealing and preaching: and turning to Faria, prayed him that hee would not suffer them to spet on the Altar, being liefer to dye a thousand times then to see it, which he promised. Hee then demanded of Hiti∣con, [ 10] what persons liued in all those houses; who answered, three hundred and sixtie Talagre∣pos onely, and fortie Menigrepos which serued them without, for their prouision, and the care of the Sicke. Hee asked if the Kings vsed to come thither: no sayd he, The King being sonne of the Sunne, can absolue all and none may condemne him. Asked of their Armes, hee sayd, To goe to Heauen, there needed not armes to offend, but patience to suffer. For the mixture of that Siluer with dead bones in the chests, hee answered, that it was the Almes which the deceased carryed with them, to prouide them of necessities in the heauen of the Moone. Asked of women with them, hee sayd, that the Bee stings those which eate the honey, and pleasures of the flesh needed not to the life of the Soule. And thus parted hee from the Hermit with embraces, with purpose to returne the next day (it being now night) to the other houses, and not taking aboard with him this Hermit, as hee was aduised, saying, his gowtie legges could carrie no tydings of vs: which yet [ 20] hee did, creeping to the next, and bidding him goe call the Bonzij.

For an houre after midnight, wee saw fires in a rew, which our Chinois told vs, were signes of our discouerie, and therefore aduised vs to haste away. Faria was awakened, and would needs a shoare with sixe men, and ranne like a mad-man from one place to another: his companie re∣quested him to haste away, and he answered, for his honour hee would first see the danger, and intreated them to stay one halfe houre, and swearing hereto, away hee goeth, and followes the sound of a Bell to an Hermitage, in which were two men in religious habits; the place was ri∣cher then the former wee had beene in. They tooke thence an Idoll of Siluer from the Altar with a myter of Gold on his head, and a wheele in his hand, and three Candlesticks of siluer with long chaynes; and taking the two Hermits with them, returned aboard the Barkes with [ 30] great haste. Of one of these, they learned that Pilau Angiroo had come to the house of the Se∣pulchers of the Kings, and cryed out to them to awaken out of their sleepe, telling them of their oath to the Goddesse Amida, of Strangers with long beards and Iron bodies, which had robbed the Saints, and would kill them all, whence followed the fires, and sending to giue no∣tice to the Cities Corpilem, and Fumbana for ayde, their Religion prohibiting them to handle any thing which might draw bloud. Faria now hauing gone downe the Riuer a great way, was much enraged for omitting such oportunitie, plucking his beard, and beating himselfe with an∣guish, till not long after his heate was cooled.

[ 40]

§. III. Their Shipwracke in which Faria and most of them were drowned; the miserable wandrings of the rest to Nanquin: their Imprisonment, sentence and appeale to Pequin; rarities obserued in those places and wayes; of the begin∣nings of the China Kingdome, and of their ad∣mirable Wall.

SEuen dayes wee sayled thorow the Bay of Nanquim, the force of the current carrying vs more speedily, and came all discontent to a Village called Susoquerim, and there [ 50] prouided our selues of victuall and instruction, and entred into a straight called Xalin∣gau, in which wee ranne in nine dayes one hundred and fortie leagues, and turning to enter the same Bay of Nanquim, which was there ten or twelue leagues wide, wee sayled with Westerly windes thirteene dayes: and being in the sight of the Mines of Conxinacau in 41. de∣grees and two thirds, there a Tufan or tempest from the South, tooke vs with windes and raines seeming more then naturall, and the winde chopped into the North North-west, the Sea go∣ing so high that (except our prouisions and Chests of plate) we threw all into the Sea, cut both our masts ouer-board, and about midnight heard a great cry in the Panura of Antonia de Faria Mercy Lord God, whereby wee imagined shee was cast away; we seconded the same cry, but heard no answer. Our Barke also the next day, split on a Rocke, and of fiue and twentie Portu∣gals, [ 60] eleuen were drowned, besides eighteene Christian boyes, and seuen China Mariners. This hapned the fifth of August, 1542.

Wee fourteene which escaped, the next day trauelled into the Land, alongst a Hill, and disco∣uered a Lake, without shew of Land, which made vs returne backe, where wee found our men

cast on shoare, to the renewing of our sorrow, and the next day buried them, that the Tigres (of which there are many) should not eate them. In this, hauing nothing but our hands to doe it, and they thirtie sixe now stinking, wee spent the most part of the day. Thence wee went Northward thorow the Woods three dayes, till wee came at a straight, without sight of any person. In swimming ouer three men and a boy were drowned, being faint, the current strong, and the water somewhat spacious: the men were two brethren Belchior and Gaspar Barbosa, and Francisco Borges Cayciro, all of Ponte de Lima, and of good account. Wee which remayned (eleuen men and three boyes) passing that obscure nights winds, raines, and cold, imitated by our disconsolate sighs, teares, and feares, saw before day a fire Eastward, and went right towards it, commending our selues to God our only hope. And trauelling along the Riuer, wee came in the euening where fiue men were making Coles, and casting our selues at their feet, desired them [ 10] to take pitie on vs, and helpe vs to some place where wee might finde reliefe. They gaue vs a little Rice and warme water, and shewed vs the way to a Village where was an Hospitall, to which wee came an houre within night, and found there foure men appointed to that charge, which vsed vs charitably.

The next day they asked what wee were, and whence: and wee told them, strangers of Siam , which came from the Port of Liampoo to the fishing at Nanquim, where by tempest we lost all but our battered flesh. They asked what wee intended to doe, and wee answered, to goe to Nanquim, to get passage to Cantan, or Comhay, where our Countrey-men haue trade by licence of the Aitao of Paquim, vnder the shadow of The Sonne of the Sunne, the Lion crowned in [ 20] the Throne of the World; for whose sake we desired them to let vs stay there till we had recoue∣red strength to trauell, and to giue vs some clothing to couer vs. They carried vs about the Vil∣lage, and begged some old clothes and victuals, and two Taeis in money for our reliefe, and gaue vs two Taeis of the House; and with words of much comfort to trust in God, they gaue vs a Letter of commendation to the Hospitall of Siley iacau, which was in a great Towne three leagues thence, and had better maintenance. Thither we went, and shewed our Letter from the Ouerseers of Buatendoo, in the said Village of Catihora•• to the Officers of this house, which sate then at Table in consultation, and the Scribe reading the Letter, they accommodated vs in a neat roome with fourteene Beds, a Table, and many Stooles, and Meate; and next morning examined vs, wee answering as before. They gaue charge to a Physician to cure vs, and wrote [ 30] our names in a Booke, to which we subscribed. In eighteene dayes wee all recouered, and went thence to a place called Susoanganee, fiue leagues off, and sate downe wearie at a Well, where one came to vs with a handful of Wheat eares, which he wetted in the water, and adjured vs holding the same in our hands, by these substances of bread and water, which the high Creator had made for the sustenance of man to tell the truth what we were, &c. which we did, answering as be∣fore; and he gaue leaue to his neighbours to relieue vs. They layde vs in a Church Porch, and gaue vs victuals, and the next day we begged from doore to doore foure Taeis, which well hel∣ped our wants.

Thence we went two leagues to Xiangulee, with intent to goe to Nanquim, one hundred and fortie leagues distant. Comming thither late, three boyes which were feeding Cattell, ranne [ 40] into the Towne with an out-crie of Theeues; the people running out, and so welcomming vs, that one of the boyes died with the blowes. They kept vs two dayes in a Cisterne of water vp to the waste, full of Hors-leaches, without victuals, and our hands bound; whence by a man of Suzanganee, wee were freed, reporting better things of vs. Thence wee went to Fingmilan (in the way finding good reliefe at a Gentlemans house) still auoyding Cities and Townes of note, for feare of stricter iustice, two moneths holding on our way, sometime in, sometimes out, from Village to Village, one of which was Chautir, where a woman was then buried which had made the Idoll her Heire, and we were inuited as poore men to eate at her Graue, and had sixe Taeis giuen vs to pray for her soule. At Taypor an Off••cer charged vs to be Rogues, begging against the Law, and therefore layed vs in Prison, where we continued sixe and twentie dayes, [ 50] in which Rodrigues Brauo, one of our companie died. Thence wee were sent to Nanquim, and there continued sixe weekes in a miserable Prison (in which was said to be foure thousand Pri∣soners) where two of our companie and a boy died of the whipping, and the rest hardly esca∣ped; being besides sentenced also to haue our thumbs cut off as theeues.

After this bloudy whipping, they brought vs to a house within the Prison where wee were cured, being as it were an Hospitall for the sicke, where in eleuen dayes wee were pretily well recouered, but lamenting the cutting off our thumbes according to the rigour of the Sentence which had beene giuen, one morning came in two honourable persons which were Procurers of the poore. These questioned vs of our case, and hearing the same, made a Petition to the Chaem on our behalfe, and the eight Conchacis, which are as it were Criminall Iudges; and being there delayed, they made another Petition to another Table, called Xinfau nicor pitau, where are foure [ 60] and twentie Talagrepos assistants, austere Religious men, as Capuchines amongst vs, which re∣uiew the cases of the poore, which prohibited the Chaem to proceed, and granted an appeale to the Aitau of Aitaus in Pequim to moderate the Sentence, which the two Procurers brought vs.

Wee and thirtie others were embarked, chained with long chaines, the two Procurers pro∣curing vs some clothing, and Rice, and commending vs to Chifu, the Officer or Captaine ap∣pointed to carrie vs, with a Certificate in our behalfe to procure vs almes. The Riuers being then high swollen hindred our iourney. Three dayes wee stayed at a Village called Minca••utem, where Chifu dwelt, and embarked his wife and children; wee were tyed to the seats where wee rowed, and could not haue perfect sight of the Cities, yet thus much wee obserued. Nanquim is in 39. degrees and a third, washed by the Riuer Batampina, which signifieth The flower of fish: which Riuer, as I was then told and after saw, comes from Tartaria, out of the Lake Fanostir, nine leagues from the Citie Lançame, where Tamerlane King of the Tartars resided. This Lake [ 10] is eight and twentie leagues long, and twelue broad, very deepe, and yeelds fiue Riuers; first, this of Batampina, running thorow the midst of China three hundred and sixtie leagues, and en∣tring the Bay of Nanquin in 36. degrees. The second Lechune which goeth alongst the Hills of Pancruum, & diuiding the Land of Cauchim, and Catebenan, which within the Countrey confines with the Kingdome of Champaa in 16. degrees. The third is Tauquiday, that is, The mother of waters, passing West North-west by the Kingdome of Nacataas (a Land whence China was peopled) and falls into the Sea in the Kingdome of Sornau, or Siam, by the Barre of Cuy an hun∣dred and thirtie leagues beneath Patane. The fourth Riuer is Batobasoy, which passing by the Prouince of Sansim (which was drowned An. 1556.) goeth into the Sea by the Barre of Cos∣mim in the Kingdome of Pegù. Leysacotay is the fifth, runneth Eastward to the Archipelagus (as the Chinois say) of Xinxinpou, which confineth the Moscouites, entring into a Sea innaui∣gable, [ 20] as being in 70. degrees of latitude. The Chinois affirme, that in Nanquin are eight hundred thousand housholds, foure and twentie thousand houses of Mandarines, sixtie two great market places; one hundred and thirtie shambles, each hauing eightie blockes; eight thousand streets, of which the sixe hundred principall haue grates of Latten on both sides all alongst; two thou∣sand three hundred Pagodes or Temples, one thousand of which are Monasteries of Religious per∣sons, richly built, with Towres of sixtie or seuentie Bells of Metall and Iron, which make a noise horrible to heare; thirtie Prisons great and strong, each hauing two or three thousand Pri∣soners, and an Hospitall. The houses of the Mandarines are of earth, encompassed with Walls and Ditches, with faire Bridges, and rich Arches. The principall Magistrates haue high Towers [ 30] with gilded pinacles, where are their Armories and Treasures. The Street-arches with their night shut Gates, their new and full Moone feasts, incredible fishings, their ten thousand Silke-loomes, one hundred and thirtie Gates in the strong wall, with as many Bridges ouer the ditch (a Porter, and two Halbardiers in each to see what goeth in or out) twelue Fortresses with Bul∣warkes and Towers, but without Artillerie, the value to the King three thousand Cruzados a day, or two thousand Taeis, I can but touch. The rarities of China, compared with the things seene at home, seeme doubtfull or incredible.

In the first two dayes wee saw in our iourney by the Riuer no notable Citie or Towne, but of Villages a great quantitie which seemed to be of Fisher-men and Labourers, and within Land as farre as we saw, appeared woods of Pines and other trees, Orange groues, fields of [ 40] Wheat, Rice, Millet, Panike, Barley, Rie, Pulse, Flaxe, Cotton, and Gardens with houses for the Grandes. Cattell appeared alongst the Riuer as much as in Pre••e Iohns Countrey. On the tops of Hills were seene Temples with gilded Steeples shining farre off. On the fourth day we came to a good Citie called Pocasser, twice as big as Cantan, well walled with Townes and Bulwarkes, in manner like ours, with a Hauen before the wall of two Falcon shots long, fastned with Iron grates in two rewes, with Gates for the entrance and vnlading of ships, which come thither from all parts. In the end of the Towne on a Mount stood a Castle with three Bul∣warkes and fiue Towers, in one of which the Chinois told vs, that the Father of this King held Prisoner nine yeeres a King of Tartaria, poisoned at last by his owne vassals, vnwilling to giue so much to redeeme him as was demanded. In this Citie, Chifu gaue leaue to three of vs nine, to goe (with foure Halbardiers to guard vs) and begge Almes, which in sixe or seuen streets gat the [ 50] worth of twentie Cruzados in clothes and money, besides Flesh, Rice, Fruits, and Meale; halfe of which our Guard had according to the custome. They carried vs to a Temple where was great concurse of people that day, being solemne to that Sect of Tauhinarel (one of their 32. Gentile Sects.) That House they said had beene the Kings, and that this Kings Grand-father was borne there, his Mother dying in child-birth, in honour of whose death and buriall in the same chamber he had dedicated this Temple in that Palace. All the Building with the Offices, Gar∣dens, and all the appurtenances are founded in the aire on three hundred and sixtie Pillars (each of one stone) seuen and twentie spannes high, bearing the names of the three hundred and sixtie dayes of the yeere; and in each of them is a feast with much almes, bloody Sacrifices, and [ 60] dances to the Idoll of that day and Pillar, which stands therein richly enshrined, with a Siluer Lampe before him. Beneath goe eight streets or wayes enclosed on both sides with Latten grates, with doores for the people which come to those feasts.

Ouer the house where the Queene was buried was a round Chappell all lined with Siluer, see∣ming richer in the worke then matter. In the midst was a siluer Throne of fifteene steps, round

to the top encompassed with sixe rewes of siluer grates with the tops gilded. On the highest of them was a great Globe, and thereon a Lion of siluer, bearing vp a chist of Gold three spans square, in which they said were her bones, by the blind people worshipped as great Re∣likes. There hung on foure siluer tyres which crossed the House, fortie three siluer Lampes (so many yeares she liued) and seuen of Gold in memory of her seuen Sonnes. Without at the entry were two hundred fiftie three siluer Lampes great and rich, which the Chaens and great mens Wiues presented in her honour. Without the doores were in sixe rewes round about Statues of Giants fifteene spans high, well proportioned of Brasse, with Halberds and Maces in their hands, which the Chinois said were twelue hundred. Amongst them were foure and twentie Serpents of Brasse very great, each hauing a woman sitting thereon with a Sword in her hand of [ 10] the same metall, and a siluer Crowne on the head: so many had sacrificed themselues at her death to doe her seruice in the next World. Another compasse environed that of the Giants, all of trium∣phant Arches gilded, with a great quantitie of siluer Bels hanging on siluer chaines, which by the motion of the Aire continually yeelded a strange sound. Without those Arches in the same proportion stand two rankes of Latten grates encircling the whole worke, set in spaces with Pillars of the same, and thereon Lions set on balls, which are the Armes of the Kings of China.

At the foure corners were placed foure Monsters of Brasse, one (which the Chinois call the Deuouring Serpent of the deepe Caue of the House of smoke) in the figure of a dreadfull Serpent, with seuen Serpents comming out of his brest, sported with greene and blacke with many [ 20] prickles more then a span long, quite thorow the bodie like Hedge-hogges, each hauing in his mouth a woman ouerthwart, with disheuelled haires, looking deadly. The old or great Serpent holds in his mouth a Lizard halfe out, of aboue thirty spans in length, as bigge as a Pipe, with nose and lips full of bloud, and in his hands he holds a great Elephant so forcibly, that his en∣trailes seeme to come out of his mouth; all so naturally represented, that it is most dreadful to be∣hold. The folds of his tayle were aboue twentie fathome long, enfolding therein another Mon∣ster, the second of the foure, called Tarcamparoo, which they say was the Sonne of that Serpent, which stands with both his hands in his mouth, which is as bigge as a gate, the teeth set in or∣der, and the blacke tongue hanging out aboue two fathomes. Of the two other, one was the Figure of a woman, named Nadelgau, seuenteene fathomes long, and sixe about, from whose waste [ 30] issued a beake or face aboue two fathomes, which cast smoake out of the nosthrils, and flames of fire out of the mouth, which they make therein continually, saying, shee is the Queene of the Fierie Spheare, and shall burne the Earth at the end of the World. The fourth is like a man, set cowring with cheekes puffed like ships sayles, so monstrous that a man could not endure the sight. The Chinois call him Vzanguenaboo, and say, that it is hee which makes Tempests in the Sea, and throwes downe Houses by Land, to which the people giue much Almes not to hurt their Iunkes.

The second day we went from Pocasser, and came to another Citie called Xinligau, very great, well built, walled with Tyles, ditched about; with two Castles at the end, hauing their Towres, Bul-warkes, and Draw-bridges: in the midst of each Castle was a Towre of fiue [ 40] Lofts with many workes painted, in which the Chinois said, were fifteene thousand Picos of siluer, of the Rents gathered in that Archipelago, which this Kings Grand-father there layd vp in memory of his Sonne Leuquinau, which signifieth the ioy of all, holden for a Saint, because he dyed a Religious man, and lyes there buried in the Temple of Quiay Varatel, the God of all the Fishes in the Sea, of whom they haue large Legends. In that Citie and another fiue leagues from it is made the greatest part of the Silke of that Kingdome, the waters there giuing quic∣ker colours (they say) then in other parts. The Weauers Loomes of these Silkes, which they affirme thirteene thousand, pay yearely to the King three hundred thousand Taeis. Going further vp the Riuer, wee came the next day Euening to a great Champaigne, continuing ten or twelue leagues, in which were many Kine, Horses, and Mares, pastured for the shambles [ 50] as well as other flesh, and kept by many men on Horse-backe. These Champaignes past, wee came to a Towne, called Iunquileu, walled with Tyles, but without Towres or Bul-warkes. Here wee saw a stone Monument with an Inscription, Heere lyeth Trannocem Mudeliar, Vn∣cle to the King of Malaca, who dyed before hee was reuenged of Captayne Alboquerque, the Lion of Sea Robberies. We enquiring hereof, an old Chinese said, that about fortie yeares agoe, the man there interred had come Embassadour from a King of Malaca, to sue to the Sonne of the Sunne, for succour against a Nation of a Land without name, which had comne from the end of the World, and taken Malaca, with other incredible particularities printed in a Booke which hee made thereof. Hauing spent three yeares in this Suite, and brought it to some ma∣turitie, hee sickned of the Aire one night at Supper, dyed in nine dayes, and left this [ 60] Memoriall.

Wee proceeded on our way the Riuer growing lesse, but the Countrey more peopled, scarsly a stones cast free of some House, eyther of a Pagode, or Labourer. And two leagues higher on a Hill compassed with Iron grates were two Brasse Statues standing on their feete, one of a

man, the other of a woman, both seuentie foure spans long with their hands in their mouthes, and puffed cheekes; fastned to Cast-Iron Pillars, seuen fathomes high. The Male was named Quiay Xingatalor, the woman Apancapatur. The Chinois told vs that the man was Fire-blower in Hell to torment such as in this life gaue them no Almes: the woman was the Hell-Porter, which suffered the Almes-giuers to flye by a Riuer of cold water, called Ochileuday, and hid them their from the Deuils hurting them. One of our company laughed at this Tale, where∣at a Bonzo was so offended, that hee set Chifu in rage with vs, who bound vs hand and foot, and gaue vs one hundred stripes a-piece. Twelue Priests were incensing these Mon∣sters when wee were there with Siluer-censours full of sweet Odours, Saying, as wee serue thee, helpe thou vs: another company of Priests answering: So I promise thee as a good Lord. [ 10] And thus went they on Procession about the Hill an houres space sounding certayne Bels cau∣sing a dreadfull noyse.

Hence wee passed vp the Riuer eleuen dayes, all peopled with Cities, Townes, Villages, Castles, in many places, scarsly a Calieuer shot distant one from another: and all the Land in compasse of our sight had store of great Houses, and Temples with gilded Steeples, which a∣mazed vs with the sight. Thus wee came to the Citie Sampitay, where wee stayed fiue dayes by reason of the sicknesse of Chifus Wife. There by his leaue wee went thorow the streets, a begging, the people wondering at vs, and giuing vs largely. One woman amongst others which busily questioned with vs, shewed vs a Crosse branded on her left arme, asking if we knew that signe, and wee deuoutly answering, yes▪ shee lifted vp her hands to Heauen, and sayd, [ 20] Our Father which art in Heauen, hallowed be thy Name, in Portugues, and could speake no more, but proceeded in China speech, and procured leaue to lodge vs at her House those fiue dayes: tel∣ling vs she was named Inez de Leiria, and was the Daughter of Thomas Perez, which came Embassadour to China, and by reason of a Rebellious Portugall Captayne, hee was taken as a Spye with twelue others; so beaten that fiue dyed, the other seuen sundred to diuers places, where they dyed in misery, only Vasco Caluo, being now left aliue. Her Father, she said, was banished to this Towne, and there marryed with her Mother hauing somewhat to mayntaine her, and by him made a Christian. They liued together many yeares like good Catholikes, and conuer∣ued many to the Faith of Christ, in that Citie three hundred assembled on Sundayes to her house to their holies. She shewed vs an Oratorie in which was a Crosse of wood gilded, with a Can∣dlesticke [ 30] and siluer Lampe. Wee asked her what they did, when they came there, and shee said, nothing but kneele before that Crosse, with their hands and eyes lifted to Heauen, and say, Lord Iesus Christ, as it is true that thou art the true Sonne of God, conceiued by the Holy Ghost in the wombe of the Holy Virgin Mary, for the saluation of Sinners, so pardon our sins, that wee may obtayne to see thy face in the glory of thy Kingdome, where thou sittest at the right hand of the Highest. Our Father which art in Heauen, hallowed be thy Name. In the Name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen. And so kissing the Crosse, ••hey embraced one another and went home; alway li∣uing friendly with each other. Her Father (she said) had left other Prayers written, which the Chinois had stolne away, so that now they could say no more. Whereupon we promised to leaue her other Prayers, and taught the Christians seuen times there, and Christopher Borrall writ in [ 40] China Letters the Lords Prayer, Aue Mary, Creed, Salue Regina, Tenne Commandements, and other good Prayers. Shee had giuen a Present to Chifus Wife to deale with her Husband to giue vs this leaue, and to vse vs kindly, and the Christians there gaue vs fiftie Taeis of Siluer, and Inez de Leiria other fiftie closely, de••••ring vs to remember her in our Prayers.

We continued our journey vp the Batampina, to a place called Lequimpau, of tenne or twelue thousand Houses. Neere to the wall stood a long house with thirtie Furnaces for the purifying of siluer which was taken out of a Hill fiue leagues distant, called Tuxenguim; in which Mines the Chinois told vs, there continually laboured one thousand men, and that it yeeled to the King yearely fiue thousand Pikes of siluer. We departed thence in the Euening, and the next Eue∣ning anchored betwixt two small Cities standing ouer against one another, one named Pacan, the [ 50] other Nacau, both well walled and builded. These two Cities occasion mee to recite what I haue heard often heard read in the thirteenth Chapter of the first Chronicle of the fourescore which they haue of the Kings of China; that sixe hundred thirtie nine yeares after the Floud, there was a Land, called Guantipocau, in which liued a pettie Prince, called Turban, which had by his Concubine Nancaa, three Sonnes, refusing to marry, and entring into Religion of the Idoll Gizom (still much esteemed in Iapon, China, Cauchin-china, Camboia, Siam, of which I haue seene many Temples) appointing his oldest Sonne by the said Nancaa his heire. His Mother then liuing was against this, and marryed herselfe with Silau a Priest, and slue Turban, where∣vpon Nancaa and her children fled downe the Riuer seuentie leagues, and fortified a place which [ 60] she called Pilaunera, that is, the refuge of the poore. Fiue yeares after Silau prepared a Fleet of thirtie Barkes to destroy her and all her faction, thinking that her Sons comming of age might dispossesse him. But she hauing Intelligence, hauing of men, women, and children, not aboue one thousand and three hundred persons, and but three or foure Boats not sufficient to conueigh away those few, by common consent and aduice appointed a three dayes Fast therein to begge su••cour

of God, in all which time none might eate aboue once, in paine of death. This Fast ended they cast Lots and the Lot fell on a Boy of seuen yeares old, which was also named Silau, whom after all Ceremonies ended) they bid lift vp his hands to Heauen, and tell them some remedie to these dangers. Who prophesied Victory to her ouer the Tyrant Silau, commanding her to embarke hers in her Enemies Barkes, and at the sound of the waters to runne along the Land, till God shewed where shee should found a habitation of great name, which through all times should send out his mercy with voyces and bloud of strange Nations: after which words the Boy fell downe dead.

The thirty Barkes came (saith the Storie) fiue dayes after without any people therein: for at a place called Catebasoy, a blacke Cloud arose ouer them, which rayned on them scalding drops, [ 10] which destroyed them all. Nancaa with teares and thankes embarked her three Sonnes and the rest, and went downe the Riuer conducted by the sound fortie seuen dayes, and then came to the place where Pequim now stands. Fiue dayes after they came aland, was the first stone layd thereof by Pequim, eldest Sonne of Nancaa, and the Citie called by his owne name. And a siluer shield hangeth on the Arch of the chiefe gate Pommicotay, and hath this inscribed, in which are fortie Warders, and in the rest ordinarily but foure. The day also of the foundation (beeing the third of August) is kept with great Solemnitie, and thereon the King vseth to shew himselfe to the people. The later Kings also haue made a Law that no Strangers, except Embassadours and Slaues should enter the Kingdome. The two other Brethren founded these two Cities, called by their owne names Pacan and Nacau, and their Mother founded Nanquin, which tooke the [ 20] name of hers.

IN the fift Booke of the chiefe places of that Empire, is written, that King Crisnagol (which reigned as we may accord our computation with theirs) about the yeare of our Lord 528. buil∣ded the wall, the people contributing ten thousand Pikes of siluer (which are fifteene Millions of Cruzados) and two hundred and fiftie thousand men (thirtie thousand Officers and the rest Labourers) which was continued seuen and twentie yeares, and then finished, being, saith that Booke the length of seuentie Iaons (euery Iaon is foure leagues and an halfe) which make three hundred and fifteene leagues. The Priests and Iles are said to contribue as many, and the King and Officers another third, so that seuen hundred and fiftie thousand men laboured therein. This [ 30] wall I haue seene and measured, being generally sixe fathomes high, and fortie spannes thicke: and foure fathomes runneth a kind of Rampire, twice as thicke as the wall strengthened with a Bituminous substance on the out-side like Potters worke; and in stead of Bulwarkes it hath hou∣ses of two lofts with beames of blacke wood, called Caubesy, that is, Iron-wood, seeming stronger then if they were of stone-worke. This wall or Chanfacau (so they call it, that is, strong resi∣stance) runneth with an equall course till it encounters with Hils, which are all Chanfred and made so that it is stronger then the wall it selfe, the wall being only in the spaces twixt Hill and Hill, the Hils themselues making vp the rest.

In all that way are but fiue entrances, caused by the Tartarian Riuers, which with impetuous force cut the Countrey aboue fiue hundred leagues entring the Sea of China, and Cauchin-china: [ 40] And one of them more forcible then the others enters the Kingdome of Sornau (commonly called Siam) by the Barre of Cuy. At euery of those fiue entrances the King of China hath one Fort and the Tartar another: in euery of the China Forts there are seuen thousand men, six thou∣sand foot, and one thousand Horse, in continuall pay; most of them Strangers, Mogors, Cham∣paas, Pancrus, Coracones, and Gizares of Persia, the Chinois being but meane Souldiers. In all the space of this wall are three hundred and twentie Regiments, each of fiue hundred men (in all one hundred & sixty thousand) besides Ministers, Commanders, and their retinue which the Chinois said, made in all two hundred thousand men, allowed by the King only sustenance, all or most of them being condemned to that seruice, and therefore receiuing no pay. And in Pe∣quim is a great and admirable Prison-house, in which are Prisoners continually for the Fabricke [ 50] of this wall of three hundred thousand men and vpwards, most of them from eighteene to fiue and fortie yeares old: whereof some are men of good qualitie, which for their ill behauiours and enormities are hither sentenced, expecting to be remoued hence to the seruice of the wall: whence they may haue returne according to the Statutes thereof made, and approoued by the Chaens, which therin dispense the Regall power with meere and mixt Empire. There are twelue of them which may pay to the King a Million of Gold for Rent.

[ 60]

§. IIII. Mindo Salt-pits: Mines of Coretumbaga, Copper-workes; Idolatry and Chri∣stianitie; China Trades, and Riuer Faires; their comming to Pequin, tryall and sentence. Rarities of Pequin.

TO returne to our Voyage, from Pacan and Nacau, wee passed vp the Riuer to Min∣doo, a greater Citie then either of the former, which on the Land side had a great [ 10] Lake of Salt-water, with great store of Salt-pits therein, which the Chinois said, did ebbe and flow like the Sea, from which it is aboue two hundred leagues distant; and that this Citie Rents to the King yearely one hundred thousand Taeis, of the thirds of the Salt, and as much more of the Silkes, Sugars, Porcelane, Camfire, Vermillion, Quick-siluer, which are there in great quantitie. Two leagues aboue this Citie were twelue long Houses, in which many men were sounding and purifying Copper, making such a noyse with the Ham∣mers that this place (if any on Earth) may resemble Hell. In each House were fortie Furnaces, twentie on a side, with fortie great Anuiles, on each whereof eight men were hammering round, with such quicknes as scarce permitted the eyes obseruance; so that in each house there were three hundred and twentie continuall Labourers, besides Workmen of other kinds. Wee asked how much Copper they might make yearely, and they answered, betwixt one hundred and ten, and one hundred and twentie thousand Pikes, of which the King had two parts, because the Mynes were his; the Hill where the Mine was, is called Coretumbaga, that is, Riuer of Copper, which in two hundred yeares (so long was since the Discouery) was not emptied.

Aboue these Houses one league neere the Riuer, wee saw on a Hill encompassed with three rewes of Iron Grates, thirtie Houses in fiue rankes, very long, with great Towres of Bels of Metall, and Cast-Iron, with gilded Pillars and carued workes, and artificiall Frontis-pieces of stone. Here we went on Land by Chifus leaue, because hee had so vowed to that Pago∣de, which is called Bigaypotim, that is, the God of one hundred and ten thousand Gods, Corchoo, Fun∣gane, [ 30] ginato ginaca, strong & great (say they) aboue all the rest: For they hold euery thing hath a particular God which made it and preserues it in its nature, & that this Bigaypotim brought forth all of them at his arme-pits, and that of him they all hold their being, as of a father by filiall vni∣on, which they call Bijaporentesay. In Pegu where I haue beene sometimes, there is a Pagode like this (there called Ginocoginana, the God of all greatnesse) whose Temple was built by the Chinois when they ruled in India, which was after their Computation accorded with ours from Anno Dom. 1013. till 1072. conquered by Oxiuagan, whose Successor seeing how much bloud was payd for so little good, voluntarily relinquished it. In those thirtie Houses stood a great quantitie of Idols of gilded wood, and as many more of Tinne, Copper, Latten, Iron, Porcelane, so many that I dare not mention the number. Wee had not gone thence sixe or seuen [ 40] leagues, when we saw a great Citie ruined with the houses and wals on the ground, seeming a league in circuit. The Chinois said, that it had beene called Cohilouzaa, that is, Flowre of the field, sometimes prosperous; and that one hundred fortie two yeares since, as is written in a Booke, na∣me Toxefalem, there came in company of Merchants from the Port of Tanaçarini, a man which wrought Miracles, in a moneths space raising vp fiue dead persons, the Bonzos saying, he was a Witch, and because they could not hold dispute with him, prouoking the people against him, saying, that if they did not kill him, God would punish them with fire from Heauen. The in∣raged multitude killed one Iohn a Weauer, where he sojourned, and his two Sonnes in Law, and his Sonne; which sought to defend him, and when they had gone about to burne him, in vaine, the fire being extinct, the Bonzos stoned him, preaching Christ vnto them, which had come [ 50] from Heauen to dye for Sinners, and to giue life to all which professed his Law with Faith and Works. They say, that the bodie was cast into the Riuer, which for the space of fiue dayes would not runne lower, and thereby many were moued to professe that Religion: and as wee doubled a point of Land, we saw a Crosse of stone on a little Hill enuironed with Trees. Chifus Wife fal∣ling into trauell (of which she dyed) we stayed there nine dayes, and did our Deuotions thereto, prostrate on the Earth. The people of the Village (called Xifangu) maruelling, came running to the place and falling on their knees, kissed the Crosse often, saying, Christo Iesu, Iesu Christo, Maria Micau, late impone Moudel, that is, was a Virgin in his Conception, Birth, and after it. They asked if they were Christians, and we affirming it, had vs to their Houses and vsed vs kindly, being all of that Weauers Posteritie and Christians. They also confirmed that which [ 60] the Chinois had told vs, and shewed vs the Booke printed of his Miracles, which they said was named Matthew Escandel, an Hungarian by Nation, an Heremite of Mount Sinay, borne at Bu∣da. That Booke tels that nine dayes after his death, the Citie Cohilouza shooke so, that the peo∣ple ranne out into the fields, and abode in Tents; to whom the Bonzos came and bid them feare nothing, for they would beseech Quiay Tiguarem, The God of the night, to command the Earth

to doe so no more, otherwise they would giue him no Almes. Thus went the Priests alone in Procession to that Idols House, and making their night-Sacrifices and Perfumes, the Earth qua∣ked about eleuen of the clocke at night, and ouerthrew the whole Citie (one only of about foure thousand Bonzos remayning aliue) into a Lake more then one hundred fathomes deepe, called after this Fiunganorsee, that is, punished from Heauen.

Hence we came to a great Citie, called Iunquilinau, very rich, with many Iunkes and Barkes, where we stayed fiue dayes, Chifu there celebrating his Wiues Exequies, and giuing vs food and rayment for her soule, freeing vs from the Oare, and giuing vs leaue to goe on Land when wee would, without our Collers, which was very great ease to vs. Thence we went vp the Riuer, still seeing on both sides many and faire Cities and Townes, and other very great populations, [ 10] strongly walled, and Fortresses alongst the water with Towres and rich Houses of their Sects, with innumerable cattell in the fields, and shipping in the Riuer, in some places fiue hundred, six hundred, yea, one thousand sayle, in which were sold all things could be named. Many Chinois affirmed, that there were as many liued in that Empire on the water, as in Cities and Townes: so many in both, that were it not for the good gouernment of their Trades, they would eate one an other. As in Duckes, one trades in buying and hatching the Egges, and selling the young; another in breeding them for sale when they are great, others in the Feathers, others in the heads, and in wares, others in the Egges, &c. none interloping the others Trade vnder paine of thirtie stripes. In Hogs, one trades in selling them together aliue, others kill them, and sell them by weight, others in Bacon, others in Pigges, others in Souse. So in fish, hee which sels fresh [ 20] may not sell salt, some sell them aliue, &c. and so in Fruits and other things. And none may change his Trade without license. They haue also along this Riuer of Batampina, in which wee went from Nanquin to Pequin, (the distance of one hundred and eightie leagues) such a number of Ingenios for Sugar, and Presses for Wines, and Oyles made of diuers sorts of Pulse and Fruits, that there are streets of them on both sides of the Riuer, of two or three leagues in length. In o∣ther parts are many huge store-houses of infinite prouisions of all sorts of flesh, in which are salted and smoked Beefe, tame and wilde Hogs, Ducks, Geese, Cranes, Bustards, Emes, Deere, Buffals, Ants, Horse, Tygres, Dogs, and all flesh which the Earth brings forth, which amuzed and am••∣zed vs exceedingly, it seeming impossible that there should bee people in the World to eate the same. Wee saw also great store of Barkes fenced at Poupe and Prow, with Reedes of Canes full [ 30] of Ducks to sell, in diuers lofts ouer one another, which goe out at foure strokes of a Drumme, sixe or seuen thousand together to feed, where they set them, at the sound of the Drumme re∣turning againe, with like exceeding crie. In the like sort they let them out to lay on the grasse. They that hatch them haue long houses with twentie Furnaces full of dung, with some hundreds of Egges couered therein, and hatched by that heate, the mouth stopped till they thinke fit time, then putting in a Capon halfe plucked and wounded on the brest, they shut it againe, and after two dayes, the Capon hath drawne them all forth, and they put them into holes pro∣uided for them.

We saw along the Riuer in some places store of Swine wild and tame kept by men on Horse∣backe, in other places tame Deere kept by Footmen, all maymed in the right foreleg, that they [ 40] should not runne away, which they doe when they are young. Wee saw Pennes full of little Dogges to sell, Barkes full of Pigges, others of Lizards, Frogs, Snakes, Snailes, all being meate with them. In these (being of small price) they may fell many kinds. Yea, the dung of men is there sold, and not the worse Merchandize, that stinke yeelding sweet wealth to some, who goe tabouring vp and downe the streets to signifie what they would buy. Two or three hundred sayle are seene sometimes fraighted with this lading in some Port of the Sea; whence the fat∣ned soyle yeelds three Haruests in a yeare.

Wee came to a Faire of China where on the water 2000. Barkes, besides small Boats which goe vp and downe and small Barkes were assembled in one place, and made a Citie with streets in the water aboue a league long, and a third part of a league broad. These Faires are principally [ 50] on the Holy day of some Pagode, whose Temple is by the waters side. In this Water-citie, by the order of the Aitao of Bitampina (who is chiefe President of the thirtie two Admirals of the thirtie two Kingdomes of this Monarchie) are sixtie Captaynes appointed; thirtie for the go∣uernment and ordering of the same in matters of Iustice, and other thirtie to guard the Mer∣chants in comming safely secured from Theeues. Ouer all these is a Chaem, which hath Mere and mixt Rule in Causes Ciuill and Criminall without Appeale. These Faires last from the new Moon to the ful, in which it is a goodly thing to see two thousand streets or ranks strait, enclosed with Barkes, most of them flourishing with Streamers and Banners, and railes painted, whereon are sold all things that can be desired, in others Mechanike Trades, & in the midst Boats going vp and downe with people to trade without any confusion or tumult. As soone as it is night, the [ 60] streets are enclosed with Cables. In euery street is ten Lanthornes lighted on the Masts (which yeelds a fairer lustre then the former sight by day) to see who goeth by and what is his businesse. In each of these streets is a Watch-bell, and when that of the Chaems sounds, all the rest answer with as strange an Object to the Eare as the former to the Eye. In euery of these Vowes are

Oratories built on Barkes with gilded Tents, where the Idoll and Priests receiue the Deuoti∣ons and Offerings of the people.

Amongst other remarkable things we saw one rew or street of aboue one hundred Barkes la∣den with Idols of gilded wood of diuers sort, which are sold to be offered in the Pagodes; and besides, feet, legs, armes, and heads, which sicke folkes offered for Deuotion. Other Barkes there are with Tents of Silke, in which Comedies and pastimes are represented. In others are sold Let∣ters of Exchange, the Priests giuing them Bils to receiue in Heauen what their folly lay downe there, with great increase (Our Scriueners would scarsly grow rich here with that Trade) others are laden with skuls of dead men, they dreaming that all the Almes of those men, whose skuls these [ 10] haue beene, shall belong to their soules, and that the Porter of Heauen seeing them come with thus many attending, will open to him as an honourable person: Others haue Cages of Birds, and call to men to set free those Captiues, which are the creatures of God, with their Almes which they which doe, let loose the Bird and bid him tell God what he hath done in his Seruice: others do the like with liuing fishes, offering their freedome to the charitable Redeemers (which themselues will not giue them; much like the sale of Indulgences) saying, they are Innocents which neuer sin∣ned, which freed by Almes are let goe in the Riuer with commendations of this their Redee∣mers Seruice to the Creator. Other Barkes carry Fidlers and Musicians to offer their Seruice: Others (the Priests) sell Hornes of sacrific••d Beasts, with promise of I know not what Feasts in Heauen: others had Tents of sorrow, Tombes and all Funerall appurtenances with Women-mour∣ners, [ 20] to be let out for Burials: others laden with Books of all sorts of Historie, and these also haue Scriueners and Proctors; others haue such as offer their seruice to fight in defence of their honour; others haue Mid-wiues, others Nurses; others carry graue men and women to comfort those that haue lost Husbands, Wiues, Children, and the like disconsolate persons: others Boyes and Girles for seruice; others offer Counsellors in Cases of Law or Learning; others Physicians: and to conclude, nothing is to bee sought on the Land which is not here to be found in this Water-citie.

Once, the cause of the greatnesse of this Kingdome of China, is this easie concourse of all parts by water and Riuers: some of which in narrow places haue bridges of stone like ours, and some made of one only stone laid ouer, sometimes of eightie, ninetie, or one hundred spannes, long, and fifteene or twentie broad. All the High-wayes haue large Causies made of good stone, [ 30] with Pillers and Arches fairely wrought inscribed with the Founders names and prayses in gol∣den Letters. In many places they haue Wels to refresh the Trauellers. And in more barren and lesse inhabited places are single women which giue free entertainment to such as haue no monie, which abuse and abomination, they call a worke of Mercie, and is prouided by the deceased for good of their soules, with Rents and mayntenance. Others haue also bequeathed in the like places, houses with Lights to see the way, and fires for Trauellers, water and Lodging. I haue in one and twentie yeares vnfortunate trauels seene a great part of Asia, and the riches of Eu∣rope, but if my testimonie be worthy credit, all together is not comparable to China alone: such are the endowments of nature in a wholsome Ayre, Soyle, Riuers, and Seas, with their Policie, Iustice, Riches and State, that they obscure all the lustres of other parts. Yet such is their [ 40] bestiall and Deuillish Idolatry, and filthy Sodomitry publikly permitted, committed, taught by their Priests as a vertue, that I cannot but grieue at their vngratitude.

Departing from this admirable Citie, we sailed vp the Riuer, till on the ninth of October, on Tuesday we came to the great Citie of Pequim, whither wee were sent by Appeale. Wee went three and three as Prisoners, and were put in a Prison called Gofania serca, where for an entrance they gaue each of vs thirtie stripes. Chifu which brought vs presented to the Aitao our Pro∣cesse signed with twelue seales from Nanquiu. The twelue Conchalis which are Criminall Iud∣ges, sent one of their company with two Notaries, and sixe or seuen Officers to the Prison where wee were, and examined vs, to whom we answered as before, and hee appointed vs to make petition to the Tanigores, of the holy Office by our Proctors, and gaue vs a Taell for [ 50] almes, with a caueat to beware of the Prisoners that they robbed vs not; and then went into ano∣ther great Roome, where he heard many Prisoners Causes, three houres together, and then cau∣sed execution to be done on seuen and twentie men, sentenced two dayes before, which all dyed with the blowes to our great terrour.

And the next day wee were collared and manicled, being much afraid that our Calempluys bu∣sinesse would come to light. After seuen dayes the Tanigores of the Hospitall of that Prison came in, to whom we with pitifull lamentation gaue the Certificate which wee brought from Nan∣quin. By their meanes the Conchalis petitioned the Chaem to reuoke the Sentence of cutting off our thumbs, seeing there was no testimonie of theft by vs committed, but only our pouer∣tie, we more needed pitie then rogour. He heard the pleading for and against vs for diuers daies, [ 60] the Prometor or Fiscall laying hard against vs that wee were theeues; but being able to proue nothing, the Chaem suspended him from his Office, and condemned him in twentie Taeis to vs, which was brought vs. And at last we were brought into a great Hall painted with diuers re∣presentations of execution of Iustice for seuerall crimes there written, very fearefull to behold: and at the end a fairer gilded roome crossed the same, where was a Tribunall with seuen steps,

compassed with three rewes of grates, Iron, Latten, and blacke Wood; inlayed with Mother of pearle, hauing a Canopie of Damaske fringed with Gold and greene Silke, and vnderneath a Chaire of Siluer for the Chaem, and a little Table before him, with three Boyes attending on their knees richly attired, with chaines of gold on their neckes; the middlemost to giue him his Penne, the other two to receiue Petitions and to present them on the Table; two other Boyes standing at his side in exceeding rich aray, the one representing Iustice, the other on the right hand Mercy, without which conioyned, the Iudge (they say) becomes a Tyrant. (The rest of the state and ceremonie I omit) wee kneeling on our knees, with our hands lifted vp, and our eyes cast downe to the ground, heard gladly our Sentence of absolution. Only we were for one yeere banished to the workes of Quansy, and eight moneths of that yeere ended to haue free pasport to goe home, or whither we would. After the Sentence pronounced, one of the Conchalys stood [ 10] vp, and fiue times demanded aloud if any could take exception against the Sentence: and all being silent, the two Boyes representing Iustice, and Mercy, touched each others Ensignes which they had in their hands, and said aloud, let them be free according to the Sentence, and presently two Chumbims tooke off our Collars and Manicles, and all our bonds. The foure moneths (the Tanigores told vs) were taken off the yeere, as the Kings almes in regard of our pouertie; for had wee beene rich, wee must haue serued the whole yeere. They gaue vs foure Taeis of almes and went to the Captaine which was to goe for Quansy to commend vs to his charitie, which vsed vs accordingly.

[ 20]

PEquin may be called the Mother Citie of the Worlds Monarchie for the wealth, gouern∣ment, greatnesse, iustice, prouisions. It stands in the height of 41. degrees to the North; it contayneth in circuit, as the Chinois (and as I after heard read in a little Booke written of the greatnesse thereof, called Aquesendoo, which I brought with mee into this Kingdome) thirtie leagues, ten in length, and fiue in bredth, all which space is enuironed with two Walls, and in∣numerable Towers and Bulwarkes. Without is a larger space, which they say, was anciently peopled, which now hath but Hamlets, and scattered Houses, and Garden-houses (of which sixteene hundred are of principall note, in which are the sixteene hundred Proctors for the six∣teene hundred Cities and Townes of note, of the two and thirtie Kingdomes of this Monar∣chie, which reside there three yeeres for the said Townes. Without this circuit or wall, there [ 30] are in the space of three leagues broad, and seuen long, foure and twentie thousand Sepulchres of Mandarines, with their little gilded Chappels, encompassed with grates of Iron and Latten, with rich Arches at their entries. Neere to them are Gardens, Groues, Tankes, Fountaines; the walls lined within with fine Porcelane, adorned also with Lions and Pinacles of diuers pain∣tings. There are in that space fiue hundred Lodgings, called Houses of the Sonne of the Sunne, for entertainment of Souldiers maimed in the Kings warres (besides many others for the old and sicke) euery of which receiue their monethly allowance, and haue in them as they said two hundred men, in all one hundred thousand. Wee saw another street very long, where liued foure and twentie thousand Rowers for the Kings shipping: and another aboue a league long, where liued fourteene thousand Tauerners for prouision for the Court; and another where were [ 40] infinite Curtesans freed from tribute (which those of the Citie pay) for seruice of the Court, many running from their husbands, and here protected by the Tutan of the Court, which is su∣preme in cases of the Kings house.

In that compasse also liue the Landerers of the Citie, which were, as they told vs, aboue one hundred thousand, there being many Tankes or Ponds compassed with stone and Riuers. There are therein, as that Booke sayth, thirteene hundred Noble houses of Religious men and women, which professe the foure chiefe Sects of the two and thirtie which are in that Kingdome: some of which, they say, haue aboue one thousand persons within them besides seruitors. There are other houses store with great walls in which are Gardens, and Groues with game for hunting; and are as it were the Halls of Companies where many resort to see Playes, and the great men [ 50] make their feasts there with incredible costs. Some of these houses cost aboue a million, main∣tayned by Companies of rich Merchants, which are said to gaine much thereby. And when any will make a feast, he goeth to the Xipatom of the house, who sheweth him a Booke wherein is contayned the order of feasts and seruices (which Booke I haue seene and heard read) of all sorts, and of what prices they are, whether Sacred to their Idols, or Secular, (of which our Au∣thour hath a large Chapter, here omitted.)

Now for Pequin, it hath three hundred and sixtie Gates, each hauing a Castlet with two Towers, and a Draw-bridge, a Notarie, and foure Warders, to take notice of those which goe in and out, and an Idoll proper according to the dayes of the yeere, euery of which is festiuall in one of them. The Chinois reported that there are therein three thousand eight hundred Temples or Pagodes, in which are continually sacrificed birds and wilde beasts, which they say, are more [ 60] acceptable then tame: those especially very faire which are of the Menigrepos, and Conquiais, and Talagrepos, the Priests of the foure chiefe Sects, of Xaca, Amida, Gizon, and Canom. The streets are long and large, the houses faire, of one or two lofts, encompassed with Iron and Lat∣ten

grates, and at the streets end are triumphall arches, closed at night; in the chiefe are Watch∣bells. Euery street hath a Captaine and foure Quarter-masters or Corporals, which euery ten dayes acquaint the Lonchacys or Chaems with occurrents. That Booke reports of one hundred and twentie water-passages, sixe fathome deepe of water, and twelue wide, with many stone bridges, which are said to be eighteene hundred rich and faire, with arches, pillars, and chaines: it tels also of one hundred and twentie Market-places, each of which haue their monethly Faires, (which make some foure faires a day thorow the yeere) of which we saw ten or twelue in our two moneths free abode, very full of horse-men and foot-men with all commodities to be sold. There are one hundred and sixtie Shambles, each hauing one hundred blockes for Flesh of all sorts, the price set downe on euery blocke, and besides the shop-weights, are weights at [ 10] euery Gate to examine the weight againe. And besides those generall shambles, euery street hath fiue or sixe shops which sell all kinde of Flesh: houses also for Poultrie, and for Bacon, and hanged Beefe.

§. V. Foure Buildings incredibly admirable in Pequin, and diuers of their superstitions: their Hospitals and prouisions for the Poore. The Kings reuenues [ 20] and Court; their Sects.

BVt nothing seemed to me more admirable, then the Prison, called Xinanguibaleu, that is, the Prison of the exiled, whose compasse contayneth about two leagues square, as well in length as breadth, walled high and ditched deepe, with draw-bridges hanged on Iron cast pillars very great. It hath a high arch with two towers, whereon are six great watch-Bels, at the sound whereof the rest within answer, which are sayd to bee one hundred. In this Prison are continually three hundred thousand men from sixteene to fiftie yeers of age, all con∣demned to banishment, for the fabrike of the wall betwixt Tartaria and China; whom the King findes maintainance onely, without other pay. After they haue serued sixe yeares they may goe [ 30] out freely, the King freely remitting their sentence in satisfaction of their labour. And if in the meane time, they kill an enemie, or haue beene thrice wounded in sallies, or performe any worthy exploit, he is also freed. There are two hundred & ten thousand employed in that ser∣uice, of which yeerly in those that dye, are maimed or freed, one third part is set off, and supplyed from that Prison, which was builded by Goxiley the successor of Crisnagol, the founder of the wall, brought thither from all parts of the Realme, and sent to the Chaem of the wall at his appoint∣ment. These prisoners are sent from other prisons, being loose, saue that they weare at their necke, a board of a spanne long and foure fingers broad, inscribed with their name, and sentence of exile, such a time. In this Prison are two Faires yeerely, one of which wee saw, kept in Iuly [ 40] and Ianuarie, franke and free without payment of tolls; to which are thought to assemble three millions of persons: the Prisoners being meane-while shut vp. The Prison hath three Townes, as it were, with streets and Officers, besides the Chaems lodgings, fit to entertaine a King. There are also all necessaries sold. Their are groues, and tankes of water for washing, Hospitals also and twelue Monasteries, with rich houses, wanting nothing that a rich and noble Citie should haue: the Prisoners hauing their Wiues and Children with them, the King allowing a competent house for them.

Another building about as great as that, was the Muxiparan, or treasure of the Dead, compas∣sed with a strong wall and ditch, with many stone Towers and painted pinacles: the wall on the top in stead of battlements, was compassed with Iron grates, close to which were set great store of Idols of different figures, of Men, Serpents, Horses, Oxen, Elephants, Fishes, Snakes, [ 50] monstrous formes of Wormes, and creatures neuer seene; all of Brasse and cast Iron, and some of Tinne, and Copper; a sight more admirable to the view, then can be imagined. Passing by a bridge ouer the ditch, wee came to a great Hill, at the first entrie all enuironed with thicke grates of Latten, floored with stones white and blacke, so shining that a man might see himselfe therein, as in a glasse. In the midst of that Hill stood a marble pillar of sixe and thirtie spannes high, all seeming to bee but one stone; on the top whereof stood an Idoll of siluer with a womans face, with both hands griping a Serpent spotted with blacke and white. And further, before the gate (which stood betwixt two high towers, borne vpon foure and twentie bigge stone pillars) stood two figures of men with Iron maces or battle Axes, in their hands, as guarding the passage, one hundred and fortie spannes high, with dreadfull countenances, called Xixipitau Xalican, that is, [ 60] the Blowers of the House of Smoake. At the entrie of the gate, stood twelue Halberdiers, and two Notaries at a table, which writ downe all that en••red. After wee were entred, we came into a large street set on both sides with rich Arches, with infinite bells of Latten hanging thereon, by latten chaynes, by the moouing of the ayre yeelding a great sound. The street was almost halfe

a league long, and within those arches were two rankes of houses, like as it were great Churches with gilded pinacles, and painted inuentions, in number as the Chinois affirmed three thousand, all from the bottome to the roofe full of Sculls of dead men. Behind those houses was a hill of Bones, reaching to the roofes of the houses, of the same length of halfe a league and very broad. Wee asked the Chinois, if any account were kept thereof, and they answered, that the Talagre∣pos which had the gouernment of those houses, had registers for them all, and that euery house yeelded two thousand Taeis rent, left thereto by the deceased for their soules discharge, the King hauing therof the fourth part, and the Talagrepos the rest for expences of the Fabrike; the Kings fourth part was spent on the exiled Prisoners of Xinamguibaleu.

Wee walked thorow the street, and in the midst saw a great hill round encompassed, with two rewes of Latten grates; in the midst whereof was a brazen Serpent, aboue thirtie fathoms in her [ 10] circles, well proportioned, notwithstanding that incredible massinesse. This monstrous Snake which the Chinois call the Serpent deuourer of the House of smoake, had set in his head, a Ball or Bullet of cast Iron of two and fiftie spannes circumference. Aboue twentie paces further, was the figure of a Man in brasse, of Giantly limbes and proportion, who sustained with both his hands another bullet, which (eying the Serpent with an angry visage) made as though he threw it at him. Round about that figure, were many smal gilded Idols on their knees, with hands lifted vp to him as in admiration: and in foure wyres of Iron enuironing, were one hundred and sixtie two siluer Candlestickes, each hauing sixe, seuen, and ten nosles. This Idoll gaue name to the whole Fabrike, and was called Muchiparom, who was, sayth the Chinois, the Treasurer of all the bones of the dead, and that Serpent comming to rob them, hee threw that bullet in his hands, [ 20] and made her flee to the darke bottome of the house of smoake, where God had cast her for her badnesse: And that three thousand yeeres before hee made the former throw, and that three thousand yeeres after, he shall make another, and so each three thousand yeeres another, till the fifth which shall kill her: after which all these bones shall returne to their bodyes, to remayne alway in the house of the Moone. This their Bonzos preach, and that those soules shall bee hap∣pie, whose bones are thither brought, so that no day passeth in which two thousand bones are not brought thither. And they which are too farre distant to haue their bones brought, send a Tooth or two, which with their almes will doe as much good as the whole: so that I suppose there are teeth enough in those houses to lade many ships.

A third building wee saw without the walls, sumptuous and rich, named Nacapirau, which [ 30] signifieth, The Queene of Heauen; which they meane not of the Virgin Marie, but thinke that as temporall Kings are married, so also is the Heauenly, and that the Children which hee get∣teth of Nacapirau, are the Starres; and when the starres seeme to shoute or fall in the ayre, that then one of those Children dye, all his brethren weeping so many teares, that the Clouds are therewith filled, and water the earth, and make it fruitfull, as being the almes which God giues for the soule of the deceased. Wee saw heere one hundred and fortie Monasteries, of their wic∣kedly Religious men and women; in euery of which, were sayd to bee foure hundred persons, which come to sixe and fiftie thousand; besides seruitours, which haue not yet vowed the pro∣fession, as those within, who goe in sacred habite of red with greene stoles, their beards and heads shauen, with beades about their neckes, for their prayers, but aske no almes, hauing sustenance of [ 40] their owne proper. In this Edifice of Nacapirau, the Tartarian King lodged, Anno 1544. when hee layd siege to this Citie, as shall after bee deliuered; wherein for a diuellish and bloudie Sacri∣fice, he commanded 30000. persons to be slaine: fifteen thousand of which were Women, or girles rather, the Daughters of the chiefe men of the Kingdome, and Religions, professed of the Sects of Quiay Figrau, God of the Motes of the Sunne, and of Quiay Niuandel, God of the Battells, and of Compouitau, and of foure others, Quiay Mit••••, Quiay Colompom, Quiay Muhelee, and Muhee Lacasaa, whose fiue Sects, are the chiefe of the two and thirtie. Within this building wee saw diuers memorable things. One was a Wall against the other, almost a league compasse, borne vp with stone arches, and in stead of battlements, arounded with Latten grates, and at euery sixe [ 50] fathoms, Iron workes on pillers of Brasse fastened one to another, whereon by chaynes hung in∣numerable bells, making a continuall strange noyse, with the motion of the ayre.

At the great Gate of this second wall, in terrible shapes, stood the two Porters of Hell (as they call them) Bacharom and Qugifau, with Iron Maces in their hands, terrible to looke on. Passing vnder an Iron chayne, fastened to the brests of these Diuels, wee came into a faire street long and wide, compassed with painted arches, on the top whereof were two rankes of Idols all that length, in which were aboue fiue thousand Images, wee knew not of what matter, being all gilded, with Myters on their heads of diuers inuentions. At the end of this street, was a great square Hill set with blacke and white shining stones, the whole square compassed with foure rewes of Giants of mettall, each of fifteene spannes, with Halberds in their hands, and gilded [ 60] beards. At the end of all stood Quiay Huiaon, God of the Raine, set vp against a bastion or bor∣der, seuentie spannes long, and his head so high, that it reached to the battlements of the tower, (which were aboue twelue fathoms) by his mouth, eyes, nostrils, and brests, casting out water, which the people below gathered as a great relique. This water came from the top of the tower

by secret pipes. Wee passed vnder his legges, which stood as a great portall, and came to a large house like a Church, with three Iles on marble pillars, and on the walls on both sides, many I∣dols great and small of diuers figures, all gilded, set on their bases in good order. At the end of this house on a round of fifteene steps, stood an Altar made in fashion of a Throne, and thereon the Image of Nacapirau, like a goodly woman, with her hayre loose, and her hands lifted to hea∣uen, all of gold so burnished, that it dazeled the eyes. About that tribunall in the foure first steps, stood twelue Kings of China crowned in siluer. And beneath, were three rewes of gilded Idols on their knees, with their hands lifted vp, many siluer Candle-sticks hanging about them. Go∣ing thence, wee came to another street of arches like the former; and from thence by two o∣thers [ 10] of rich buildings, to a great hill, in which were eightie two Bells of mettall very great, hanging by chaynes from Iron beames sustained with Iron Columnes. Thence wee went to a strong Gate 'twixt foure towers, in which stood a Chifu with thirtie Halberdiers, and two Notaries, which tooke the names of all passengers, to whom wee gaue thirtie Reis for entrance.

The fourth remarkable and famous building, was in the Riuer of Batampina, in an Iland about a league in compasse, walled round with stone eight and thirtie spannes aboue water, within fil∣led with earth, round encompassed with two rewes of Latten grates; the vttermost sixe spannes high for people to leane on, the inner of nine, holding siluer Lions with balls, the Armes of the China Kings. Within these grates in good order, were placed one hundred and thirteene Chap∣pels, [ 20] in manner of round Bulwarkes; in each of them, was an alabaster Sepulcher seated on the heads of two siluer Serpents, with faces of women and three hornes on their heads. In euery of them were thirteen Candlesticks of siluer, with seuen lights in each burning. In the midst of a spa∣cious place compassed with three rewes of grates, with two rankes of Idols, stood a high Tower with fiue steeples of diuers paintings, and on their tops, Lions of siluer; in which tower the Chinois sayd, were the bones of the one hundred and thirteene Kings, worshipped by them for great reliques. These bones say they, euery New Moone, feast one with another, whereup∣on the vulgar at those times, offer to them infinite store of Fowles of all sorts, Rice, Kine, Hogges, Sugar, Honey, and other prouision; which the Priests receiue, and deceiue them in recompence, with as it were Iubilees, of plenarie Indulgences, and remission of sinnes as they [ 30] beleeue.

In this Tower wee saw a rich house all lined with siluer plates, from the top to the bottome, in which stood those one hundred and thirteene Kings statues, and the bones of each King in his owne statue; and they say, that by night these Kings communicate and passe the time together, which none may see but the Cabizondos, (a higher degree of Bonzos, as that of Cardinals with vs) which fables they beleeue for very certaintie. In this great circuit wee told three hundred and fortie Bells of mettall and cast Iron, in seuenteene places, by twentie in a place, which all sound on those New-moone feasts abouesayd. Neere to that tower, in a rich Chappell built on seuen and thirtie columnes of stone, stood the Image of Amida made of siluer, with the hayres of gold, on a Throne of foureteene steps, all wrought with gold, the hands eleuated to Heauen: [ 40] beneath her shoulders, hung (like lines of beades) many little Idols, as big as the middle finger: and the secret parts were couered with two great Oyster-pearles, garnished with gold: They being demanded the meaning of this mysterie, sayd, that after the generall Floud in which all mankinde was drowned, God sent Amida from the Heauen of the Moone, (being great Cham∣berlaine to Nacapirau his wife) to restore the destroyed world; who setting heere feete in Ca∣lempluy before mentioned, being lately freed of the waters, shee turned it into gold, and there standing on her feet with her face in heauen, a great quantitie of Creatures issued from downe her arme; downe her right hand Males, and Females downe the left; hauing no other place in her bodie whence to bring them foorth, as other women of the world, whom for sinne God hath subiected to filthinesse of corruption, to shew how filthy sinne is. After shee had finished [ 50] this trauell or child-birth of 33333. Creatures, (as they number) one third part Males, and two parts Females; shee remayned so weake, hauing no bodie to prouide her any thing, that with dizzinesse shee fell to the ground dead without recouerie. Whereat the Moone in condoling her death couered her selfe with sorrow, which are those shadowes wee see from the earth; which say they, shall remaine so many yeers as she produced Creatures (33333) & then the Moone shall put off her maske of sorrow, and the night shall bee after as cleere as the day. Such and other like mad stuffe did they tell, which might make one wonder, and more to weepe, that the Deuill should gull them with such manifest lyes, being otherwise so vnderstanding a people.

From this Hill we went to another Temple of Nuns, sumptuous and rich, in which they told vs was the Mother of this King, Nhay Camisama, but would not let vs enter being strangers. [ 60] Thence by a street of Arches, wee went to a hauen called Hicharioo Topileu, where was store of strange shipping of diuers Kingdomes, which come continually to that Temple for a plenarie Iubilee, which the King with many priuiledges hath granted them, and dyet on free cost. To speake of other Temples and matters of China, which wee saw in our two moneths libertie were infinite.

The King of China most resideth at Pequin, for so he sweareth at his Coronation. There are certaine streets seuered in this Citie by themselues, wherein are houses called Lag nampur, that is, The Schoole of the poore, in which Orphans which know no father are taught to write and reade, and mechanike trades to earne their liuings. Of these Houses they haue aboue two hun∣dred, and as many more of poore Nurses which giue sucke to Children, exposed or cast foorth by their Parents (which are punished if they bee knowne) and after they are weaned, are commit∣ted to the former houses. And if any by naturall defect are vnable to learne a Trade, they apply him to that whereto he is able, as those that are blind to Mills, two to grind, and one to ••ift; and so in other cases. Besides, no Trades-man may keepe shop without licence, which is not granted but with imposing on them some of these poorer. The Miller is to giue meate and drinke to each of those blinde persons, and clothes, and fifteene shillings yeerely, which when hee dieth [ 10] he may giue for his soule, that no poore should perish, according to the fourth precept of Ami∣da. For Creeples which cannot goe, they place them with makers of Frailes, Baskets, and o∣ther handiworkes: and those which cannot vse their hands haue great Hampers giuen them, and Baskets to serue for Porters to carrie what men buy, from the Markets to their houses; such as haue neither hands nor feet to vse, are placed in great houses like Monasteries, where are ma∣ny mercenary women which pray for the dead, halfe of the Offerings remayning to them, the other halfe to the Priests. If they be dumbe, they place them in a house like an Hospitall, where they are sustayned with the Fines imposed on Regraters and scolding women. For common women which are diseased they haue other houses, where they are cured and prouided for, at the costs of other common women, each paying a monethly fee. The Dowries or Ioynters of con∣uicted [ 20] Adulteresses are bestowed on the Hospitals of female Orphans, that honestie may gaine by dishonesties losse. Other honest poore men are maintayned in other streets, at the charges of Sollicitors and Lawyers which maintayne vniust Suits, and of partiall bribed Iudges.

For the prouision of the poore I haue further heard read out of their Chronicles that Chansi∣ran Punagor, Great Grandfather of the King now reigning, desiring to doe God seruice (being blinde after a sicknesse which he had) ordayned that in euery Citie there should be store-houses of Wheat and Rice, that if any dearth should happen, there might be a yeeres prouision, and the poore should not perish: and to this purpose he applyed the tenth part of the Kings Customes. They say, that God recompenced this his charitie with restitution of his sight, which conti∣nued [ 30] fourteene yeeres after till his death. This is still obserued, and the number of those Store-houses is said to be fourteene thousand. At Haruest the old is diuided to the Inhabitants as they haue need, which after two moneths are to lay in as much new, and sixe in the hundred more, that the store be not diminished. But if the yeere proue barren, it is diuided to them without gaine: and that which is giuen to the poore which haue not to satisfie, is paid out of the Kings Rents of that place, as the Kings Almes. And all the rest of the Royall reuenues are diuided into three parts; one for maintenance of the Kings estate, and for the gouernment of the King∣dome; the second for the defence of the Countrey, for Ports, Fleets, and the like; the third is put vp in the Treasurie at Pequin, with which the King by ordinary power may not meddle, being deputed for defence of the Kingdome against the Tartars, and other warres with confi∣ning [ 40] Kings; this part of the treasure is called Chidampur, that is, The wall of the Kingdome. For they say, that if such occasions happen, the King shall not lay tribute whiles that lasteth, not shall the people be vexed, as in other Countries, where such prouidence is not vsed.

Indeed I feare to particularize all that we saw in this Citie, lest the Reader should doubt▪ or mutter at the raritie, measuring things by that little they haue seene, and iudging by their owne curtalled conceits the truth of those things which mine eyes haue seene. But high capacities, haughtie spirits, and large vnderstandings, that measure not other states by the miseries and meannesse before their eyes, will perhaps be willing to heare things so rare; which I hold the more pardonable in others to doubt of, forasmuch as I verily confesse, that I my selfe which be∣held them with mine eyes, am often amazed, when with my selfe I recount the greatnesses of [ 50] Pequim, in the admirable estate of that Gentile King, in the splendor of the Chaens of Iustice, and of the Anchacys of gouernment, in the terror and dread caused in all by their Officers, in the sumptuousnesse of the Houses and Temples of their Idols; and of all the rest therein. For only in the Citie Minapau which stands within the wall of the Kings Palace are 100000. Eunuchs, and 30000. women, 12000. men for his Guard, and 12. Tutans, which is the greatest dignitie, and commonly called the Sun-beames, as the King is called, the Sonne of the Sunne, whose per∣son they represent. Beneath these 12. are 40. Chaens as Vice-royes, besides the inferiour dig∣nities, as Anchacys, Aytaos, Ponchacys, Lauteaas, and Chumbins, all which in the Court are aboue 500. and none of them haue lesse then 200. men depending, the greater part of which are Mogores, Persians, Coraçons, Moens, Calaminhans, Tartars, Cauchins, and some Bramaas; the [ 60] Naturals being little esteemed as effeminate, and wanting valour, how wittie soeuer in Arts and husbandrie. The women are white, chaste, more giuen to labour then the men.

The earth is fertile, which their ingratitude rather ascribes to the merit of their King, then the prouidence of God. Some Priests also barter with them vpon Bills of exchange to bee re∣payed

an hundred for one in Heauen, which Letters they call Cuchimiocos. Other Priests are of another Sect, called Naustolins, which denye the Soules immortalitie, and therefore teach to take their pleasures in this life. Another Sect is called Trimecau, which holds, that a man shall so long lie in his Graue as hee hath liued aboue ground; after which, by the prayers of their Priests, the Soule shall returne into another creature seuen dayes, and then seeke for the old bo∣die left in the Graue, to carrie it to the Heauen of the Moone, where it shall sleepe many yeeres, till it be conuerted into a Starre, and there remayne fixed for euer. Another beastly Sect, cal∣led Gizom, holds that Beasts onely shall enioy Heauen, in recompence of their penance and tra∣uels here sustayned, and not Men which follow their lusts, except they leaue to Priests at their death, to pray for them.

[ 10]

§. VI. Their remoue to Quansy, quarrels, miseries; Tartarian huge Armie, and losse at the siege of Pequim, reported. Quansy taken, and Nixianco: MENDEZ his exploit. Their entertaynment by the Tartar King, and going to Cauchinchina with his Embassadours, with many Tartarian obseruations.

[ 20]

AFter we had two moneths and a halfe gone vp and downe in the Citie of Pequim, on Saturday the thirteenth of Ianuary, 1544. they carried vs to Quansy to fulfill our Sentence, where we were brought before the Chaem, who made vs of his Guard of eightie Halbarders allowed him by the King, which made vs thankfull to God, being a place of little labour and more maintenance and liberty. But after a moneth, the Deuill sowed strife betwixt two of our companie, which in reasoning about the Families of the Madureyras, and the Fonsecas, whether were more eminent, grew to heate, thence to brauing words, and af∣ter to blowes and wounds, not onely of those two, but by part takings of fiue of the rest. The Chaem and Anchacys sentenced vs to thirtie blowes a man, which made vs more bloudy then [ 30] our wounds. Then they carried vs to a prison, where we lay in Irons sixe and forty dayes. Af∣ter which we were brought to the Barre, and receiued other thirty stripes, and remoued to ano∣ther prison, where we stayed two moneths, then remoued to certaine Iron-works fiue moneths, much pinched in backe and belly, and being diseased with a contagious sicknesse, they sent vs forth to begge, which wee did foure moneths. In this miserie wee sware to each other to liue Christianly and louingly, and that each moneth one should bee chiefe, whom all the rest should obey, whereby wee after liued in peace.

Christouan Borralho the chiefe for that moneth, distributed vs by couples to take their turnes weekely to begge, two to fetch water, and make ready what we got, two to get wood. I and Gaspar de Meyrelez went one morning to the Wood, and Meyrelez being Musicall played on his [ 40] Viall, and sung; a thing pleasing to that people, which spend much time in pastime and ban∣quets, and profitable to vs in procuring almes. As wee went, wee met with a Funerall pompe with Musicke in the midst: one of which Musicians knowing Meyrelez, prayed him to play and sing as loud as he could, that this dead man wee now carrie to buriall may heare thee, to com∣fort him in leauing his wife and children, whereto he was much affected. Hee modestly refu∣sing, the other angerly answered, and others intreated, and almost forced him to goe with them to the burning Buriall after their custome. I thus left alone, went and got my bundle of wood on my backe. In the way homeward I met in the way an old man, clothed in blacke Damaske furred with white Lambe, who hauing shewed mee a siluer Crosse, told me, that he was a poore Portugall, Vasco Caluo, which seuen and twentie yeeres since was captiued with Tomé Pirez, [ 50] whom Lope So••rez had sent Embassadour to China, which had a miserable successe by reason of a Portugall Captaine. Hee brought me to his house, and told me the storie of his and his fellowes aduentures, and I ours to him: and at his request I fetched the rest of our companie to his poore house. Hee brought vs to another roome, where his wife was, with her two little sonnes, and two small daughters. Shee entertayned vs louingly, and shewed vs her Closet with an Altar, and a Crosse thereon, secretly kept; shee also and her children said a Portugall Prayer, with the Pater noster, Creed, and Aue Maria, to our great ioy.

Eight moneths being spent in this our miserie and beggerie, on Wednesday the thirteenth of Iuly, a great tumult and crie arose amongst the people, by reason of newes of the Tartarian [ 60] King his comming to Pequin, with a greater power then euer any King had in the World; that there were in his Armie 1800000. men, 600000. of which were Horse-men, which had comne by Land from La••çame, and Fanistir, and Mecuy, with 80000. Badas to carrie their prouision. Twelue hundred thousand Foot-men had comne in sixteene thousand Laulees and Ia••gas downe the Batampina. And because the King of China durst not resist so great a power, hee was gon••

to Nanquim. Moreouer it was said that in the Pinall of Manicataron, a league and halfe off was lodged one Nauticor, a Tartarian Captaine with 70000. Horse, who within few houres would bee at that Citie. This newes much terrified vs, and the next morning the Enemie appeared with Colours quartered greene and white in seuen battels, neere to a Pagode called Petilau Na∣meioo, a little from the walls. From that Pagode they came with sound of Instruments of warre in one grosse Sq••adron like a halfe Moone, and encircled the Citie: and being within Ca∣liuer shot, they made a shout as if Heauen and Earth would haue gone together, and scaling it with two thousand Ladders which they brought with them, assaulted it in all places they could very resolutely, and at last brake into the gates by certaine deuices of great Iron Presses, and slue the Chaem with many Mandarines, putting the Citie to the sword, sacke, and fire; killing, [ 10] as was thought, 60000. persons, and after stay of seuen dayes there, went for Pequim, where their King was.

Two dayes after they were gone, they came to a Castle called Nixiamcoo, which he besieged. Nauticor called the seuentie Captaines to consultation, and agreed to ma••e ready fiue hundred Ladders that night for the next dayes assault. The next day their Palinguindoens (so they call their Martiall Instruments) sounded, and fourteene battalions marched, and gaue assault with great cries, scaling the walls, and fighting furiously; the besieged also defending themselues cou∣ragiously, and in two houres killing three thousand Tartars, the rest fleeing; many wounded with poisoned Arrowes, whereof they died. A Counsell of Warre was hereupon called, one of them being the man which had vs in custodie; who returning with two Captains of his acquaintance [ 20] to supper, in their discourse of that misfortune they cast eyes vpon vs there prisoners, and que∣stioned of what Nation we were, and whether our Kings vsed to warre, and whether any of vs knew any Stratagem to get that Castle, promising our freedome if we could effect it. To wh•••• we answered accordingly, and George Mendez vndertooke the designe against our likings fearing his disabilitie, and our further danger. One of these Captaines told the Mitaquer (Nauticor) hereof, who sent to Tileymay the Captaine which had charge of vs, to bring vs to him. He gaue vs a graue welcome (being now in counsell with the seuenty Coronels, two houres after mid∣night, and first made vs to eate, hauing taken off part of our Irons; and then made large promi∣ses to George Mendez if he could doe as he had said; to which he answered, that hee could an∣swere nothing till he saw it, and then he would tell him the way to take it. Wee were remo∣ued [ 30] to a Tent adioyning, and there guarded, full of feare lest this vndertaking would cost our liues with a People so cruell. The next day George Mendez and two others of our companie were carried with a band of Horse-men about the Castle to view it, and then brought to the Mitaquer, to whom he professeth great facilitie of effecting his purpose: which so contented him, that he sware by the Rice he eate to present vs to the King, and to fulfill his promises, pre∣sently taking off the remainder of our Irons. Hee made vs to eate neere him, and did vs other honour. After which, George Mendez as Camp-master appointed store of Chists, Boxes, and matterials to fill vp the ditch, and three hundred large scaling Ladders able to hold each three Souldiers, against the next morning to be made ready two hours before day. All this was happily effected, the ditch filled, and Mendez with two others of vs first scaled the wall, and set vp the [ 40] Tartars Colours; fiue thousand Tartars gallantly seconding, so that with a hote skirmish the be∣sieged were all slaine, and the Castle taken; the gates opened to the Mitaquer, who with great ceremonies tooke thereof possession. He caused George Mendez and the rest of vs to eate neere him, razed the Castle, and taking Mendez with him on horse-backe returned to his Tent, gi∣uing him 1000. Taeis, and each of vs 100. the cause of much emulation in some of our com∣panie, who by his meanes had obtayned libertie. Thence the Mitaquer marched by places de∣solate, to a good Towne by the Riuers side, called Lautimey, the people whereof were fled; the Towne these barbarians fired, as they did other places where they came. The next day they burned Bunxay, a sowne field of aboue sixe leagues circuit, most Wheat; and came to the Hill Pommitay, and the next day to the Riuer Palemzitau, within two leagues of the Kings Campe. [ 50] Guijay Paran sonne of the King of Persia, at the Castle of Lautir, by the Kings appointment stayed for him; to whom Mitaquer on his knees deliuered his Scimitar, hauing first kissed the ground fiue times. Hee welcomed him with honourable termes, and after that, stepping backe two or three paces with a new ceremonie, and with a voyce high and seuere (as he which repre∣sented the Kings person) said, He, whose rich border of his garment my mouth continually kisseth, whose great power ruleth ouer others by Land, and on the Iles of the Sea, sends to tell thee by mee his Slaue, that thy honourable comming is as welcome to his presence as the sweet Summer morning, where∣in the bathing of cold water most delights the flesh: and that without delay thou hastenest to heare his voice, mounted on this Horse richly furnished out of his Treasurie with mee, that thou mayest be equall in honour with the principall of his Court, and they which see thee thus honoured may know that thou art [ 60] a strong member, whose valour deserues this reward.

Thus with great state and pompe they went to the King: and fifteene dayes after he brought vs to the Tents of the King well horsed, then in the sumptuous House of Nacapirau. When he came to the Trenches, hee descended from his Litter (wee from our Horses) and asked leaue of

Nautaran to enter, which granted, he againe went to his Litter, and we followed on foot: at the next passage he descended, and went in leauing vs to expect him. An houre after he retur∣ned with foure faire Boyes gallantly arayed in greene and white, with their golden Xor••as on their feet, to whom all the people rose vp, and drawing their Scimitars laid them on the ground, saying three times, A hundred thousand yeeres liue the Lord of our heads. Wee lying prostrate with our faces on the ground, one of the Boyes said to vs with a loude voice, Reioyce yee men of the Worlds end, for the houre of your desire is comne, in which the libertie which the Mitaquer pro∣mised you in the Castle of Nixianco, shall bee granted you. Lift vp your heads from the ground, and your hands to Heauen, giuing thankes to the Lord which made the Stars. Wee answered as wee were [ 10] taught, Let it bee our fortune that his foot tread on our heads: the Boy answered, The Lord grant your request.

These foure Boyes with Mitaquer guided vs on thorow a Gallerie standing on sixe and twen∣tie Pillars of Brasse, from which wee entred a great Hall of timber, in which stood Mogores, Persians, Berdios, Calaminhans, and Bramas: thence wee came to another Hall, called Tigihipau, where were great store of armed men in fiue files quite thorow the Hall, their Swords garnished with Gold. There Mitaquer performed some ceremonies, swearing on the Maces which the foure Boyes carried, kneeling and kissing the ground three times. Then we passed another gate, and came to a square great Hall like the Cloister of a Monasterie, in which stood foure files of brazen Images like Sauages with Maces and Crownes, seu••n and twentie spannes high, and sixe broad, which the Tartars said were the three hundred and sixty Gods which made the dayes of [ 30] the yeere; which the Tartar King had taken out of a Temple, called Angicamoy, in the Citie Xipatom, in a Chappell of the Sepulchres of the Kings of China, to carrie home in triumph. In this Hill was a Garden of strange herbs and flowers, and therein a Tent vpon twelue turned posts of Camphire wood, in which was a Throne all garnished with much curiositie of Gold and Siluer workes, representing very liuely the Sunne, Moone, Starres, Cloudes. In the midst of the Throne stood a siluer great Statue, called Abicaunilancor, that is, God of the health of Kings, (taken also from Angicamoy) about which stood foure and thirtie Idols as big as children about sixe yeeres old, in two rankes set on their knees and hands lifted vp as in veneration. At the entrie of the Tent were foure Boyes gorgeously arayed which went about it with Censers, and [ 30] at the sound of a Bell prostrated themselues on the ground, and censing, said, Let our crie come vnto thee as a sweet sauour that thou mayest heare vs. That Tent was guarded by sixtie Halbarders, standing a pretie distance from it round about. Beyond that Hill wee entred another place, where were foure rich roomes, in which were many great persons.

Thence we followed Mitaquer and the Boyes vnto a great Hall like a Church, where stood sixe Porters with Maces, which with new ceremonie let vs in. Here was the King of Tartars, accompanied with his Grandes, among which were the Kings of Pafua, Mecuy, Capimper, Raia Benam, and the Anchesacotay, and other Kings to the number of fourteene, all in rich attire, placed at the foot of the Throne, two or three paces distant; and a little further off stood two and thirtie faire women, playing on diuers Instruments. The King sate on the Throne, encom∣passed [ 40] with twelue Boyes on their knees, with small Scepters of gold on their shoulders; a∣mongst which was a faire Damsell which euer and anone fanned the King. This was the sister of Mitaquer, who by her meanes enioyed that grace and respect in the Armie. The King was about fortie yeeres old, tall, not fleshy, well set; his beard short with Mostachos like the Turks, his eyes somewhat small, his countenance seuere; clothed in a shining reddish vesture set with Pearles; on his feet certaine Slippers greene wrought with Gold and Pearles; and on his head a kind of Sallet with a border of Diamonds and Rubies. Before we came at him by ten or twelue paces, we made our courtesie, three times kissing the ground, with other ceremonies which wee were taught. The King commanded the Musike to cease, and bid Mitaquer aske this Nation of the end of the world, i•• they haue a King, and how their Land is called, and how farre it is from [ 50] China. One of vs answered for the rest, that our Land was called Portugall, our King was great and mightie, and from thence to Pequin was about three yeeres Voyage; whereat he much mar∣uelled, as not thinking the World so great; and s••riking on his thigh said aloud with eyes to Heauen, O Creator of all things, which of vs poore Pismires on the Earth may be able to comprehend the maruels of thy greatnesse? And signing with his hand he made vs come neerer to the steps of the Throne where the fourteene Kings were placed, and demanded vs againe, how faire? and when we said, three yeeres; he asked, why we came rather by Sea then by Land? wee answe∣red, that the diuersitie of States and Kings in the way hindred. He asked, What doe you seeke with so farre trauels and great troubles? wee gaue as good reason as we could; whereat he sha∣king his head, said to the King of Benan, an old man, th••t it seemed that our Countrey had much [ 60] Couetousnesse, and little Iustice; so, said the other, it appeares; for those men which flie on the top of all waters, by wit and industrie to get that which God hath not giuen them, either pouerty forceth to forsake their Countrey, or vanitie and blindnesse caused by couetousnesse, makes them forget God and their Fathers. After this, the women began againe to play and the King retired himselfe into a house alone with his women which played, and the Damsell

that fanned. One of the twelue Scepter-boyes told Mitaquer from his Sister, that the King commanded hee should not goe away, which he tooke for a great grace, and wee returned to our Tents.

Fortie and three d••yes after we came to the Campe Royall (in which space were many fights betwixt the besiegers and besieged, two assaults by scaling with the Tartars losse) the Tartarian called a Councell, where were assembled seuen and twentie Kings, and many great men and Captaines, which agreed that seeing Winter was now comming, and the waters of both Riuers had risen and filled the Trenches, and many were sicke (foure or fiue thousand dying daily) that it was best to rayse the siege. The King therefore embarked the Foot-men with the munitions, fired the Tents, and went away with 300000. Horse by land, and 20000. Badas, 450000. men [ 10] being found by accounts, to haue dyed in this expedition, most of sicknesse, 300000. Horses and 60000. Badas, for want of prouisions the two last moneths and a halfe of this Siege (which endured sixe moneths and a halfe.) Besides, 300000. had runne to the Chinois, wonne by their great pay. Hee lodged the first night of his departure at a Riuer called Quaytragum; the next day he came to Guijampee, which hee found wholly forsaken; thence to Liampew, and after se∣uenteene dayes (eight leagues a day) he came to Guauxitim, and forced it, committing therein cruell slaughters, to prouide his Armie of necessaries by the spoyle thereof. The next day hee came to Caixilo, which he medled not with being great and strong, hauing therein 50000. men, of which 10000. were Mogores, Cauchims, and Champaas, better Souldiers then the Chinois. Thence hee passed to the walls of Singrachirou, and the next day to Xipator, and then sent away [ 20] most of his Souldiers, spending seuen dayes in the pay, and execution of Iustice on Prisoners. Thence discontent, hee went to Lançame by water, (with onely one hundred and twentie Laulees, in which were some ten or twelue thousand men) where sixe dayes after hee arriued in the night without any pompe.

There he stayed sixe and twentie dayes, till all his companie were come both of horse and foot, after which hee went to a greater Citie called Tuymican, where he was personally visited by confining Princes and Ambassadours from remoter Kings, Xatamas of Persia, Siammom Emperour of the Gueos, which within the Countrey confine with Brama of Tangu, the Calaminhan Lord of the brute force of Elephants, the Sornau of Odiaa, (intituled King of Siam) whose Segniorie comprehendeth seuen hundred leagues of coast, from Tanauçarim to Champaa, containing seuen∣teen [ 30] Kingdomes; the King of the Mogores whose Kingdome lyes within land, betwixt Corazan neere Persia, and the Kingdome of Dely and Chitor, and an Emperour called Caran, whose Segni∣orie confineth within the Mountaines of Goncalidan, with a Nation which the Naturals call Moscoby, of whom wee saw some in this Citie, ruddie, of bigge stature, with shooes, and furred cloathes, hauing some latine words, but seeming rather for ought wee obserued Idolaters then Christians, and much giuen to vnnaturall lust. To the Ambassadour of that Prince Caran, better entertainment was giuen then to all the rest. Hee brought with him one hundred and twentie men of his guard, with Arrowes and gilded quiuers, all cloathed in Shamois skinnes murrie and greene; and twelue Porters on horsebacke with Maces of Siluer, leading twelue Horses in their right hands with rich embroidered Furnitures. After whom followed twelue men of high [ 40] and Giant-like stature, cloathed Sauage-like in Tygers skinnes, leading great Grey-hounds in chaynes and collers of Siluer, muzled. Then came twelue Boyes, faire and well proportioned of equall stature in gallant array, & next them Leixigau the Ambassador himselfe, in a Chariot (they call it a Pirange) with three wheeles on a side, garnished with Siluer and a Chayre of the same, attended with fortie Foot-men in murrie and greene, yeelding a goodly sight, all things mani∣festing the greatnesse of his Lord. Wee were one day in his lodging with Mitaquer, who was sent to visit him, where amongst other strange things, we saw fiue roomes hanged with Tape∣strie of Frogges very rich, like that vsed amongst vs, as if they had come from one place; the Canopies, Siluer-tables, Furniture and State, all rich. This Ambassadour came not only to wel∣come home the Tartar, but to treate also of a Marriage for his Lord, with one of the Tartars Si∣sters, [ 50] named Meica Vidau, a woman of thirtie yeeres, very charitable to the poore, whom wee haue often seene in their Festiuall dayes.

Mitaquer at our request mentioned vs to the King, who sayd, he would send vs with his Am∣bassador shortly to Cauchenchina; and caused vs to be brought againe to his presence with great ceremonie of State and Maiestie as before at Pequim, where hee questioned vs, if we would serue him, which we excused saying, we had Wiues and Children in our owne Countrey; and asking George Mendez, hee accepted. Eight of vs were commended to the Ambassadour which was to goe to Vzanguee in Cauchenchina & we went in the same Barke. We set forth from Tuymican the ninth of May, and came to a Schoole or Vniuersitie called Guatipamor, where wee lodged in a Temple (or Monasterie) called Naypatim. Next morning wee followed our voyage downe the [ 60] Riuer, and two houres within night came to Puxanguim, a small Citie, well fortified with Towers and Bulwarks after our fashion, with store of Artillerie of wood, like the Pumps of ships, the stocks where the Barrels were fastned being plated with Iron, and carrying a bullet as bigge as a Falcon: which inuention they say, they receiued of a people called Alimanis, of a land

named Muscoo, which by a great and deepe lake of salt water, came thither with nine Barkes of oates, in companie of a Lady, which was sayd to bee exiled out of her Countrey by a King of Denmarke. The next day wee came to Linxau, and fiue dayes after we continuing our course downe the Riuer, came to Singuafatur, a huge Temple, more then a league in compasse; in which space were built one hundred and sixtie foure large and long houses full of Skuls, the other bones lying without in great piles. On a Hill compassed with nine grates of Iron, was standing against a strong stone wall, a monstrous statue of Iron thirtie braces high, and six broad, in both his hands holding a bullet sixe and thirtie spannes about, of cast Iron also. (This to wound the Serpent which came to robbe them) himselfe being hee which should one day restore the flesh to their owne bones, if they gaue Almes, otherwise to the most vnable and putrid: his name Pachina∣rau [ 10] Dubeculem Pinanfaque, who 74000. yeeres agoe, was borne of a Tortoyse named Migania, and of a Sea-horse one hundred and thirtie braces long, named Tibremoucan. The Ambassadours told vs, that of his Confraternities, there arose to him of annuall rents aboue 200000. Taeis, and as much more of the Sepulchers of the Nobles, which were by themselues; that there belonged to him twelue thousand Priests preying on him, and praying for the dead, who might not with∣out their Superiours licence depart out of that Circuit. These Priests once a yeare may defile themselues in fornication within that Circuit; without, as oft as they will, without sinne, the Chisangues permitting egresse. There are many women also enclosed, who by their Libangús or Prioresses leaue, permit themselues to those Priests.

The second day after, wee came to a great Citie on the Riuer side called Quanginau, where the [ 20] Ambassadours stayed three dayes for prouision, and by reason of a Feast at the entrance of Tala∣picor of Lechune, who is there as a Pope: who had priuiledged these inhabitants to be all Priest••, authorised to Sacrifice and giue Bills of exchange for money to bee repayed in Heauen. He gaue the Ambassadour grace to legitimate in his Countrey for money, and to giue ty••les of Honour; which hee recompenced, giuing to the Priests all that he could make, and two thousand Taeis the King had giuen vs, for whith he gaue vs fifteene in the hundred. Foure dayes wee passed downe the Riuer to Lechune, the mother Citie of that false Religion of Gentilitie, as Rome is with vs, wherein is a sumptuous Temple, in which are seuen and twentie Tartar Emperours buried in rich Chappels lyned with Siluer, hauing abundance of siluer Idols. On the North-side a little from the Temple, was a notable strong great wall, within which were built two hundred and [ 30] eightie Monasteries, of men and women; in which were sayd to bee two and fortie thousand re∣ligious professed, besides seruitours. In those Houses are many Brazen pillars with Idols of their Saints thereon, so much more gilded as esteemed. In one of them was the Kings Sister a widow, which had beene wife of Raia Benan, Prince of Pafua, after whose death shee entred Religion with sixe thousand women. The Ambassadour visited her, and kissed her foot as a Saint.

Departing thence downe the Riuer fiue dayes, wee came to a great Citie called Rendacalem, in the confines of Tartaria. And thence forwasds began the Segniorie of Xinaleygrau, thorow which wee trauelled foure dayes, and then came to a Towne called Voulem, where the Ambas∣sadours were well receiued, and prouided of Pylots for those Riuers; which wee descended se∣uen dayes without seeing any thing of note, and then came to a straight called Quatanqur, into [ 40] which the Pylots entred to escape a Pyrat, which had spoyled the most part of the Countrey. Thus wee came to the Lake Singapamor, called by the Naturals Cunebetee, and sayd to contayne sixe and thirtie leagues in Circuit. Foure Riuers runne thence, Ventraw Eastward thorow Siam, entring the Sea by the barre of Chiatabu, in twentie sixe degrees; Iangumaa Southwards by the Laos and Gueos, and part of Dābambu enter the Sea at Martauan, in the Kingdome of Pegu; Pumfileu runnes thorow all Capimper and Sacotay, and all the Empire of Monginoco, with part of Meleytay and Souady, and so to the barre of Cosmim, neere Arracan. Of the fourth Riuer the Ambassadours could giue vs no instructions, but some thought it to bee Ganges. In seuen dayes more, wee came to a place called Caleypute, where they threw stones at vs, and would not suffer [ 50] vs to land. Thence we sayled by another larger Riuer nine dayes, and came to Tarem a good Towne, subiect to the Cauchim, where we were well receiued: and in seuen dayes more came to a good Citie called Xolor. There were Siluer mines, in which one thousand men were at worke, whence they sayd was yeerely taken sixe thousand Pikes, which makes eight thousand Q••intals of ours. Thence wee went other fiue dayes by that great Riuer, the Countrey being well peo∣pled, and came to the Citie Manaquileu at the foot of the Hills Comhay in the borders of China, and Cauchim; thence to Tinamquaxy. Thence they sent their foure Barkes to Huzamguee, the chiefe Citie of Cauchim, and went by Land to Panaugrem, where the King was.

Their entertainment there and iourney thence to Iapan, I omit, with their following long Pilgrimage in that Easterne world; wherein I am afraid to wander in places and affaires so vncouth. Wearie al∣readie [ 60] of things so strange, and therefore vncertaine, I will passe to other Authors; and first to the Philippina's and Spanish Commerce of China. The Voyage of Legaspi, is taken out of a Latine Ma∣nuscript, the rest out of Mendoza, his Spanish discourse of China, and certayne Friars which went thi∣ther; the two Letters except, borrowed of an Italian Author.

Notes

• See of Gama tom. 1. pag. 26. Straight of Mecca or the Red Sea. Portugall For∣tresse in Soca∣tora before the Arabs Con∣quest.

  A Martyr of Mahomet. Mar∣tyrem non poena sed causa.
• Xael or Ia••l in∣surrection.
• Bralapisaon.
• Tosa. Span Lossa.
• A strange an∣swere.
• Pullo Cambim.
• Catimparù.
• Lake Pinator. Quitiruan.
• Xincaleu.
• 22. Millions Duckets. Gold mines, & iron minds.
• Rocke of Dia∣monds.
• Similau a Pi∣rate taken.
• Tinacoreu, or Taurlachim, or Varella Truck for gold.
• Pilaucacem.
• Bird-wonder.
• Cunebetee, or Chiammay.
• Pullo Champei∣loo.
• Gauias.
• Quiay Taiam, a Pirate.
• Thomas Ma∣stangue his ad∣uentures.
• Pearle-fishers.
• Guamboy, and other Coast Cities of China, Sonne of the Sunne, title of the King of China.
• Aynam or Hai∣nam, a great Iland S. from China.
• Tanauquir.
• Xicaulem ano∣ther Pyrate.
• A Renegado China Robber.
• Mutipinan.
• Benan.
• Quangepaaru.
• Hinimilau an Ethnike-Chri∣stian••Moore Pyrate.
• Quangiparu.
• ••lha d••s ladro∣nes.
• Miserable wracke, and their fort∣nights mise∣ries.
• Reliefe almost miraculous.
• Milhano. Wonderfull prouision.
• Admirable escape.
• Quoaman.
• Comhay.
• New Moone. Tempests in China. Guintoo.
• Pullo Quirim.
• Quiay Panian a China Pyrate▪
• Chincheo.
• Goto.
• Newes of Coia Acem.
• Lailoo.
• Opima spolia. Coia Acem slaine.
• The Caciz ha∣tred of Chri∣stians.
• Faria wracked the second time.
• Violent wind.
• Nouday.
• China perillous Coast.
• Nouday assaul∣ted.
• Thomas Perez.
• The Mandarine slaine.
• Prisoners loo∣sed.

  The Towne sacked.
• Comolem Ilands. Premata Gun∣del a Pirate.
• Another sea∣fight.

  Panians Iunke, and another sunke.

  Farias victorie.
• 120000 Cru∣zados.
• Buncalon.
• Liampoo, a Por∣tugall Towne on the coast of China, seuen leagues from Liampoo.
• Ciuill warres in ••hina. Fabu∣lous ••umour. Quouasy.
• Farias triumph
• Calempluy.
• Currents in in the Bay of Nanquin.
• Angitur.
• Nanganfu.
• Sileupaquim.
• Bay of Nan∣quin.
• Buxipalem.
• Strange Fishes
• Calnidan.
• Moscumbia.
• Alimania.
• A leste & à lessueste.
• Paatebenam.
• Botinafau.
• Gangitanou.
• Giants.
• Their wilde dance.
• A Corge is 20.
• Sileupamor.
• Tanamadel.
• The wonder∣full wall.
• Statues.
• 360. Hermita∣ges.
• Steples-pina∣cles.
• He goeth on land.
• Iesus made a patron of theeues.
• He enters an Hermitage.
• The speech betwixt Faria and an Hermit
• Absolons vowes
• Compleat hy∣pocrisie.
• The Hermita∣ges, Hermits & attendants▪ as Lay bre∣thren.

  Papall power.
• They are dis∣couered.
• Xalingau.
• Conxinacau.
• Faria drow∣ned, and ••oth the Barkes wr••cked
• Foure other drowned.
• An Hospitall.
• Malaca is said to stand in the Kingdome of Siam, though now not yeel∣ding subie∣ction.
• Siley iacau.
• Suzanganee Strange oath.
• Xiangulee hard vsage.
• Chautir.
• Taypor.
• Nanquim.
• Talagrepos.
• The Iesuites place this Ci∣tie in 32. and in other places they likewise disagree in their calcula∣tion. The rea∣son I suppose is, that P••nto neuer obser∣ued the height by Inst••ument, nor perhaps had skill there∣by: this he con∣fesseth, cap 105. pag. 222. but followed the Maps which at his returne he saw, which haue placed Nanquin in that height, falsly, as I con∣ceiue to keepe others from the true know∣ledge of these parts; a thing vsuall in the old Maps of the East and West parts of the World: and sometimes they did gra∣duate places falsly of igno∣rance.

  Nanquin descri∣bed: See of it in Pantoia.

  Their iourney by water from Nanquin to Pe∣quin.
• This gilding perhaps is but a kind of earth which the Chi∣nois haue, loo∣king like gold▪ Pocasser.

  The Tartar Prisoner.
• A pensile Pa∣lace.

  360. Pillars to the 360. dayes of the yeere.
• Queens siluer Chappell, and the riches and 〈…〉〈…〉
• The Iesuits say his armes are golden Dra∣gons.

  Monstrous sta∣tues.
• Xinligau.
• Leuquinau. God of Sea fish.

  Silke-loomes.
• Huge pastures.
• Iunquileu.
• Alboquerque. See tom. 1. lib. 2. pag. 32.
• The Spanish hath, the Palsy, and it seemes a kind of Palsie gotten by stroke or bla∣sting of the Aire.
• Two mon∣strous statues and their de∣uotions.
• Frequen••ie of China people.
• Sampitay.
• See Maff. l. 6. these Portugall Rebels had possessed Ta∣mus, and raised a Fort in the Iland, whence followed that out rage to Pe∣rez after foure moneths tra∣uell from Can∣ton to the Court. Lopez Soarez which sent Peirez to China, went Vice-roy, A. 1515.

  China Christi∣ans and Chri∣stianitie.
• Loquimpau, Mynes of Tux∣enguim.
• 1000. Picoes is a Million of Taeis.

  Pacan and Na∣cau.
• China Chroni∣cles and Le∣gends.
• Beginning of th•• 〈…〉〈…〉
• Legend of Pe∣quim.
• No stranger may enter Chi∣na.
• The wall of China.
• Seis brasas dalto & quarenta pal∣mos de largo.
• V••ion todas chanfradas ao picao.
• Fiue Riuers interrupting the wall.
• Wall-forts.
• Thus in Spaine, Malefactors a•• sentenced to the Gallies, or Garrisons of Oran, Penon, &c Huge Prison. Chaens of the wall.
• Mindoo.
• The customes 300000. Cru∣zados.
• 3840. Ham∣mer-men. A Pico is 1000. Taeis.
• Bigaypotim.
• China ruled o∣uer India.
• Cohilouzaa.
• A Christian martyred. Lucena hath this storie.
• A Crosse.
• Mat. Escandel an Hungarian.
• Earthquake. The China Pluto.
• Iunquil••nau.
• Sem colares, nem algemas.
• How such infi∣nite numbers liue.
• Sugar-houses. Infinite proui∣sions and store houses.
• Pastures of beasts.
• Dogs for meat.
• Moueable Ci∣ties on the water.
• Beauties and glories of this Riuer-Citie.
• Bridges, and high-wayes admirable.
• Fil••hy charity.
• The Authors opinion. Pequim.
• Their hard vsage.
• Their Cause heard.

  The Fiscall (set on worke it seemes by the Iudge which had sen••enced them) puni∣shed.
• Tribunal and pompe.
• Quansy works.
• The Kings alm••s.
• Description of Paquim, or as the Chinois call it Pequim.

  Aquesendoo a Booke written of Pequin. 1600. houses for Deputies.
• 24000. sepul∣chers.
• Hospitals 500.
• 24000. Barge∣men.
• 14000. Pur∣ueyors. Curtesan street.
• 100000. Lan∣derers. 1300. Mona∣steries.
• By letting the houses to other men.
• 360. Gates and Castles.
• 3800. Temples
• Foure chiefe Sects.
• 120. Riuerets, 1800. Bridges. 120. Market-places.
• 160. Shambles
• Prison of the exiled, to the Tartarian wall, almost eight leagues com∣passe.
• Or 18. to 45.
• Multitudes of Prisoners and men employed in the wall.
• Before hee sayd 200000.
• Huge Faires.
• Another ad∣mirable Fa∣brike.
• Terreyro, and so after.
• Fire-blowers of Hell.
• 3000 H••uses full of skuls.
• China Charnel or Purgatorie.
• The Deuils banner tryum∣phant in stu∣pendious Ser∣pents; then which neither figure nor creature hath beene more a∣bused to super∣stition as glo∣rying of that his conquest, Gen. 3. though a stronger then he repre••ented by the brazen Serpent, Ioh. 3. hath taken the old Serpent and led captiu••tie captiue, and brake the Ser∣pents head, which heere seemes inten∣ded with Eth∣n••ke vanitie.
• The third strange Aedi∣fice of Nacapi∣rau the Iuno of China.

  140. Monaste∣ries.
• Tartarian cru∣eltie.
• Nunnes sacred to diuers Gods
• The Porters of Hell.
• Iupiter or God of Rayne.
• Encostado à bumbordāo.
• Golden statue of Nacapirau.
• The fourth glorious Edi∣fice.
• 113. Chappels, and their con∣tents 1469. Candle∣stickes.
• Indulgences.
• Rich siluer Temple.
• Lady Amidas I∣mage.
• Amida Cham∣berl••ine to Nu∣capirau, as ••ris to Iuno: a tale perhaps d••ui∣sed from that Raine bow co∣uenant, Gen. 9.15. as that which follow∣eth from Gen. 3.16.
• A Nunnerie.
• Hospitals for children.
• How the poore children are placed to Trades.
• Span. Aminto.
• Prouisi••ns for all sorts of poore.
• Prouision a∣gainst sterility, and for the poore. See sup. cap. 4. §. 6.
• Royall reue∣nue how dispo∣sed.

  The Iesuites al∣so say, the King cannot at pleasure di∣spense it.
• Not to com∣pare China with what we see here.

  Admiranda Pe∣quini.
• Minapau the Kings Palace: the number of Eunuches perhaps is mistaken by the Printer: the Span. hath 10000. one ci∣pher l••sse. Yet Pantoia saith, that yeere when hee writ, were chosen 3000. out of 20000. and in the Palace were 16000. Eunuchs.
• Sects in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cuchimiocos. Naustolins. Trim••cha••.
• Gizom.
• Quansy▪
• Portugals quar∣rell.
• Paritie a peace-breake••.
• Musick for the comfort of the dead.
• Vasco Caluo. See the former note §. 3.
• Newes of the Ta••tari••n Ar∣mie, and siege of P••quim.
• 〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• Lançame.
• Nauticor com∣meth to Q••ansy.
• The Citie ta∣ken.
• Nixiamco a China Castle assaulted.
• The Tartars losse.
• Mendez his vndertaking.
• The Castle taken.
• Lautimey.
• State of the Tartarian Campe and Tent Royall.
• The Guard••▪
• Xipatom.
• Curious Throne.
• The Tartar King.

  His State.
• His person.
• Tartars loss••. Consultation.
• Si••ge of Pe∣quim breakes vp.
• The Kings re∣turne into Tar∣taria.
• Lançame.
• Tuymican.
• The Mogor is now much al∣tered, & since that time Lord of India,
• Caran.
• A Marriage treated on be∣twixt the Caran and Tartar.
• They depart from Tartaria.
• Vzanguee.
• An Vniuersi••ie.
• Puxanguim.
• Guns of wood.
• Linxau. Singuaf••tur Temple and superstitions.
• Monkes and Nuns, ch••ste in the Deuils name.
• Quanginau.
• A Gentile Pope
• Lechune.
• Idols.
• Monasteries.
• Rendacalem.
• Xeinaleygrau.
• Singapamor Lake, or Cuna∣betee. Vent••••u. Chiabata. Ianguma. Pumfileu.
• Caleypute. Tarem.
• Xolor.
• Comhay.
• Huzamguee.