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.

[ 20]

Two Letters taken out of BARTOLOME LEONARDO DE ARGENSOLA his Treatise, called Conquista de las Islas Malucas, Printed at Madrid, 1609. pagg. 336.337. mentioning the comming of two English ships to China: which seeme to bee two ships of the fleet of * 1.1 BENIAMIN WOOD: The former written by the Visitor of Chincheo in China, vnto the Gouernor of the Philippinas, Don PEDRO DE ACVNNA.

TO the grand Captaine of Luzon. Because wee haue vnderstood, that the Chineses,* 1.2 which went [ 30] to trade and trafficke into the Kingdome of Luzon, haue beene slaine by the Spaniards, wee haue made inquisition of the cause of these slaughters, and haue besought the King to doe iustice on him, that hath beene the cause of so great mischiefe, to procure a remedie for the time to come, and that the Mer∣chants may liue in peace and safety. In the yeeres past, before I came hither to be Visitour, a certaine Sangley, called Tioneg, with three Mandarines or Iudges hauing the Kings Passe,* 1.3 came to Cabit in Luzon, to seeke Gold and Siluer: which was all lyes: because he found neither Gold nor Siluer. And therefore I besought the King, that he would punish this deceiuer Tioneg, that the good iustice that is vsed in China might be knowne. In the time of the former Vice-roy, and Capado, Tioneg and his companion Yanlion deliuered this vntruth. I afterward besought the King, that hee would cause all [ 40] the Papers of the cause of Tioneg to be coppied out, and that he would send for the said Tioneg with his processes before himselfe: And I my selfe saw the said Papers, and caused it to appeare that all was but lyes which the said Tioneg had said. I wrote vnto the King, saying, That by reason of the lyes which Tioneg had made, the Castillians suspected that wee sought to make warre vpon them: and that therefore they had slayne aboue thirtie thousand Chineses in Luzon.* 1.4 The King did that which I besought him. And so he chastised the said Yanlion, commanding him to bee put to death. And hee commanded Tionegs head to be cut off, and to be put in a Cage. The people of China which were slayne in Luzon, were in no fault. And I with others negotiated this businesse with the King, that I might know his pleasure in this affaire: and in another matter, which was this:* 1.5 That there came two English ships to these coasts of Chincheo; a thing very dangerous for China: That the King might consider what was to bee done in these two matters of so great importance. Likewise wee wrote vnto [ 50] the King, that he would command the two Sangleys to be punished, which shewed the Hauen to the Eng∣lishmen. And after wee had written these things aforesaid to the King, he answered vs th••t wee should learne, wherefore the English ships came vnto China? whether they came to robbe or no? That they should dispatch from thence a Messenger immediatly to Luzon: and that they should signifie to them of Luzon, that they should not giue credite to the base and lying people of China: And that forthwith they should put to death those two Sangleyes, which shewed the Hauen to the Englishmen.* 1.6 And touching the rest that wee wrote vnto him, wee should doe as wee thought best. After wee had receiued this or∣der, the Vice-roy, the Capado, and I sent this message to the Gouernour of Luzon: That his Lordship might know the greatnesse of the King of China. Seeing hee is so mightie, that hee gouerneth all that the Moone and Sunne doe shine vpon. And also that the Gouernour of Luzon may know the great [ 60] wisedome wherewith this mighty Kingdome is gouerned. Which Kingdome this long while none durst attempt to offend. And albeit the Iaponians haue pretended to disquiet Corea, which is vnder the Go∣uernment of China: yet they could not obtayne their purpose: but they were driuen out of it: And Corea hath remayned in great peace and safety, as at this day they of Luzon doe well vnderstand.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See sup. l. 3. c. 1. §. 2.
• * 1.2

  I found this translat. with Master H. Luzon.
• * 1.3

  Tioneg.
• * 1.4

  30000. Chineses slaine in the Philippinas.
• * 1.5

  Two English ships on the coast of Chin∣cheo i•• China. Iealousie of Strangers.
• * 1.6

  Danger of bringing ships to a China Ha∣uen.

  China ambi∣tion.

  Ia••onian at∣tempt.

  Corea is vnder China.