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. X. A Treatise of China and the adioyning Regions, written by GASPAR DA CRVZ a Dominican Friar, and dedicated to SEBAS∣TIAN King of Portugall: here abbreuiated.

[ 20]

§. I. Of Camboia and the Bramenes there; the cause of his going to China: Of China and the neighbouring Regions.

I Being in Malaca building an house of my Order, and preaching, was informed that in the Kingdome of Camboia (which is subiect to the King of Siam, and ly∣eth toward the parts of China, and doth confine with Champa, whence commeth [ 30] the most precious Calambach) was great oportunitie to preach the Gospell, and to reape some fruit. Hauing leaue of my Prelate, I tooke the iourney in hand. And after the passing many troubles and hunger in the iourney, with dangers and sicknesses, I came a land, and after I had reasonably informed my selfe by a third person, conuersing with the People and with the Fathers, euen before I knew it I found all to the contrary of that which they had told, and that all were deceits of the simple Laytie, which of light matters were moo∣ued to presume of the people that which was not in them. And besides this, I found many hin∣derances for the obtayning of my desires and intent; for first, the King is a Bramene, and the Bramenes are his principall men and his fauourites, and most familiar, because they are Witches, for they are much giuen to bee pleased with witchcrafts, and they doe nothing without con∣sulting [ 40] the Witches and Bramenes that are in the Kingdome (for by this meanes they thriue) by the Deuill. And so the first thing that the King asked me, was if I were a Witch.

The Bramenes doe worship among others one God, which they call Probar missur (which they said made the Heauens and the Earth; and another God, which they call Pralocussar, this also hauing obtayned power of another which they call Praissur, for to giue this licence to Probar missur) and I shewed them, that not onely he had not made the Heauen and the Earth, but that hee had beene a very wicked man and a great sinner: wherefore these Priests said, that they would worship him no more, hauing worshipped him thitherto with their God Praput prasar metri: whereupon the hatred of the Bramenes increased towards me, and from thence forward I had disfauours of the King, which was mooued for the zeale of his God, and the God of his Bra∣menes. [ 50] There met about these matters, the Priests of the Idols, and all of their troupe, which goe for Priests, and hold themselues for religious men, and in their conuersation and life they are separated from all other people, which to my thinking is the third part of the people of the Land; the King thereof setting an hundred thousand men in the field. This religious people, or that holds it selfe for such, are exceedingly proud and vaine, and aliue they are worshipped for gods, in sort that the inferiour among them doe worship the superiour like gods, praying vn∣to them and prostrating themselues before them: and so the common people haue a great confi∣dence in them, with a great reuerence and worship: in sort that there is no person that dare con∣tradict them in any thing, and their wordes among them are held for so sacred, that in no wise they will endure to be gainsayed. Insomuch that it hapned sometimes whiles I was preaching, [ 60] many round about me hearing me very well, and satisfying themselues of that which I said vnto them; if there came any of these Priests, and said this is good, but ours is better, they would all depart and leaue me alone. Further, they being very ignorant presumed to be very wise, and the common people did hold them for such, all their knowledge being ignorances and Heathenish follies.

They make seuen and twenty Heauens, some where there is meate and drinke and faire wo∣men whether they say all liuing things doe goe, euen the Flea and the Lowse, for they say, that as they haue soules, that they must liue in the other World. And to these, they say, all doe goe that are not Religious men as they are. They place others higher, whether they say, their holy Priests doe goe that liue in the Wildernesses, and all the felicitie they giue them there, is to sit refreshing themselues with the wind. They place others yet higher, the gods of the which, they say, haue round bodies like Bowles, those which goe to these Heauens, and the honour w••ich they giue them is, to giue them round bodies as the Gods themselues haue. And euen as they make many Heauens, so they doe many Hels, for they make thirteene, to the which they goe [ 10] according to the grieuousnesse of the sinnes of euery one, eyther higher or lower.

They haue a diuision of their religious men, for some they call Massancraches, which are as supreame, which sit aboue the King: others they call Nascendeches, which are as our Bishoppes here. These sit equall with the King. Others they call Mitires, which are in the common de∣gree of Priests, which do sit vnder the King: vnder the which there are yet two degrees, which they call Chaynizes and Sazes. And all these they ascend in degree, so they doe in vanitie and pride, and are more reuerenced. Besides all this, there is another very great inconuenience, that except the Priests and all those that holds themselues for Religious men, all the rest are slaues of the King, and when the owner of the House dyeth, all that is in it returneth to the King, and let the Wife and Children hide what they can, and begin to seeke a new life: the people of the [ 20] Countrey is of such a nature, that nothing is done that the King knoweth not: and any bodie be he neuer so simple may speake with the King; wherefore euery one seeketh newes to carry vnto him, to haue an occasion for to speake with him: whereby without the Kings good will nothing can be done, and wee haue already shewed before, that hee is vnwilling to the matter of Chri∣stianitie. To these things was joyned some disorders of the Portugals, so that by all meanes I found crosses and inconueniences for to obtayne my desires and my pretence: wherefore I hauing beene in the Countrey about a yeare, and seeing I could make no fruit beside the passing of grie∣uous sicknesses, I determined to leaue this Countrey, and because they told mee many things of China, and the people of it to haue a disposition to Christianitie, and that they loued reason, I determined, seeing in this Countrey I did no good, nor baptized more then one Gentile, which I [ 30] left in the Caue, to goe to China in a ship, of China which was then in the Countrey; in which they carryed me with a very good will, giuing me the best roome in the ship, not taking any in∣terest of me; yea, they dealt very charitably with me. This name China is not the proper name of the people of this Countrey, nor of the Countrey it selfe, neither is there commonly in the Countrey notice of such a name, onely among all the people of India, and among those which dwell in the South parts, as in Malaca, Siam, Iaoa, this denomination of Chinas goeth currant, and also among those Chinas which doe traffique among vs. The proper name of the Countrey is Tame, the e. not well pronounced, but almost drowning it: and the name of the people of the Countrey is Tamgin, whence this name China doth come, which is currant a∣mong the strangers we know not, but it may be conjectured, that the people which in old time [ 40] did sayle to those parts, because they passed by the Coast of a Kingdome, which they call Cau∣chin-china, and traffique in it, and victuall, and take refreshings there for the Iourney of the Countrey that lyeth forward, which is that of China, in the which Kingdome they liue after the manner of the Chinas, and is subject to the Chinas, it s••emeth, that omitting Cauchin, from the denomination of this other Kingdome, they called all the Countrey that lyeth along China.

China is a great part of Scythia; for as Herodotus saith, Scythia extendeth it selfe vnto India, which may be vnderstood, because the Chinas did possesse many parts of India, and did conquer them of old time, whereof at this day there are some Monuments, as in the Coast of Choro∣mandell, which is towards the Coast of the Kingdome of Narsinga, on that side which we call Saint Thome, because there is a House built by the Apostle, and the Relikes of his bodie. There [ 50] is at this day a great Temple of Idols, which is a ma••ke for the Nauigators to know the Coast which is very low, the which as the men of the Countrey affirme, was made by the Chinas, of whom there remayned among them a perpetuall memory, and therefore they call it Pagode, of the Chinas, which is to say, Temple of the Chinas. And in the Kingdome of Callecut, which is the head of M••lauar, there be very ancient fruit-trees which the men of the Countrey say were planted by the Chinas, and on the shoales of Chilao, which doe runne from the Iland of Ceylan, toward the Coast of Cheromandel, is affirmed, by the men of the Countrey, a great Ar∣my of the Chinas to be cast away which came for India, which was lost, because the Chinas were but young in that Nauigation. And so the men of the Countrey say the Chinas were Lords of all Iaoa, and of Iautana, which is the Kingdome of Malaca, Siam, and of Chapaa, as it is com∣monly [ 60] affirmed in those parts: wherefore some doe affirme, many of this people to bee like the Chinas, that is, hauing small eyes, flat noses, and long faces, for the great commixture that the Chinas had with all of them, especially with them of Iaoa, which commonly are more China-like. But the King of China seeing that his Kingdome went to decay, and was in danger by

their seeking to conq••er other strange Countreyes, he with-drew himselfe with his men to his owne Kingdome, making a publike Edict vnder paine of death that none of the Countrey should sayle out of the Kindome of China: the which lasteth to this day.

The Liquos are not continued with mayne Land, but it is an Iland which standeth in the Sea of China, little more or lesse then thirtie leagues from China it selfe. In this Iland liue these people, which is a well disposed people, more to the white then browne. It is a cleanly and well attyred people; they dresse their haire like women; and tye it on the side of their head, fastened with a siluer bodkin; their grounds are plentifull of many and good waters; it is a people that sayle very seldome being in the middest of the Sea. They weare good shore Swords, they were in times past subject to the Chinas, with whom they had great conuersation, therefore are very [ 10] like the Chinas. Now this Iland remayning to the Sea from China, as we haue said, the Coast of China runneth, winding from the Prouince of Cantano, and from her Coast vnto the Coast of the Prouince of Nanquin, whether to the Portugals haue sayled, the Coast making neuer a point as the Maps doe make, the which may be seene well pointed in the Sea-cards and in the Maps made among the Portugals.

The Tartars are reckoned among the Scythians, and runne so far along China, with the which it hath continuall Warre, that commonly they affirme to haue betweene the Chinas and the Tar∣tarians, a Wall of an hundred leagues in length. And some will affirme to bee more then a hun∣dred leagues: the first Kingdome that doth confine with it on the Sea-side of India, is one that is called Cauchin-china, which hath about an hundred leagues little more or lesse a long the Sea-coast, [ 20] the Sea maketh a great entrance betweene it and the Ile Daman, which is of fiftie leagues in length, and is already of the Chinas: and in the end of this entrance this Kingdome abutteth with the Kingdome of China, and is subiect to the King of China. The people of this Kingdome in their Habit, Policie, and Gouernment, doe vse themselues like the people of China. The Countrey is much inhabited and of much people, it is also a very plentifull Countrey. They haue the same Writing that the Chinas haue, although their speech be diuers. Beyond this King∣dome of the Cauchin-chinas, lyeth another very great Kingdome, which runneth within the Land along China, which some doe call Laos, and others Siones, Maons: this by the otherside towards India, doth confine with the Kingdome of Camboia, and with the great Kingdome of Syam, and with the rich Kingdome of Pegu, with all the which Kingdomes it hath Traffique: [ 30] in sort that there remay••eth to this Kingdome towards the Sea of India, all the Coast of Pegu, vnto the ends of the Kingdome of Champaa, which doth confine with Cauchin-china. And so there remayne to these Laos toward the ••ide of the Indian Sea, the great Kingdome of Pegu, the Kingdome of Tanaçarin, and that of Quedaa, and that of Malaca, and the Kingdomes of Pa••, of Patane, of Syam, of Camboia, and of Champaa which abutteth vpon the Cauchin-chinas. This Kingdome of the Laos, or Sions Maons, was subdued by the Bramas (of the which we will speake presently) in the yeere of fiftie sixe, and among some which they brought captiue to Pegu▪ they brought some Chinas which the Laos held Captiues, as one George Mello affirmed vnto mee, which went for Captayne of the Voyage to Pegu. And though commonly there be no Warres betweene these Laos and the Chinas, because of the great Mountaynes that are betweene them, [ 40] on the which the Chinas haue good forces on that side in the Prouince of Camsi, which doth confine with these and with the Bramas: and in the forces they haue continually men in Garri∣son for the defence of those parts: there bee notwithstanding, continually assaults on the one side and of the other: whereby the Laos might haue some Chinas captiue. Before that these Laos were subdued by the Bramas, they carryed to Sion, to Camboia, and to Pegu some very good Muske and Gold, whereof is aff••rmed to be great store in that Countrey, and these people hauing Muske, makes a conjecture the great store of Muske which the Chinas haue, they get it from the many beasts tha•• are in the Confines of this Kingdome in the Prouince of Camsi, from whence they bring it.

The Muske is the flesh and bloud of certayne beasts, which they say, to be as bigge as Foxes, [ 50] the which beaten with strokes and killed, they tye the skinne with the flesh together in lumps, the which they cut after the flesh is rotten, and so they sell it, which the Portugals do call Muske Cods. And when it commeth fresh, presently it appeareth to be rotten flesh and bloud: the rest they sell loose, holding these Cods for the finer Muske. Returning to the Laos, whereof we were speaking, these be the Wares which they brought to the aboue-said Kingdomes, carrying in re∣turne Cotton-clothes and other things they had need of. This people is not very browne, they weare their haire all cut round vnderneath, and all the rest aboue ruffled, raysing it many times vpward with their hands, that it remayneth to them like a Cap, and serueth in stead of one, for they weare nothing on their heads; they goe naked from the middle vpward, and from the hips downward, they weare certayne Cotton-clothes girt about them all white: the women goe couered from the brests to the halfe legge: they haue their faces some-what like the Chinas, they [ 60] haue the same Heathenish Ceremonies that the Pegus and Siones, and the Camboias: The Priests of their Idols doe weare yellow clothes girt about as the rest of the people, and a certayne man∣ner of yellow Copes, with certayne folds and seames in which they hold their Superstitions.

Of this people I saw many in Camboia, which remayned there the yeere before by the way of Traffique, and that yeare that I was there, they came not because of the Warres, wherein (as I said) they said they were subdued by the Bramas.

These Laos came to Camboia, downe a Riuer many daies Iournie, which they say, to haue his beginning in China, as many others which runne into the Sea of India: it hath eight, fifteene, and twentie fathome water, as my selfe saw by experience in a great part of it: it passeth through many vnknowne and desart Countries of great Woods and Forrests, where there are in∣numerable Elephants, and many Buffes, of which I saw many wild in that Countrie, and Me∣rus, which is like a good Mule, and certayne beasts which in that Countrie they call Badas: of [ 10] the which the Male haue a pointlesse and blunt Horne in their fore-head, and some of the Hornes are spotted with singular colours, and others all blacke, others of a waxe colour, but they haue no vertue, but only for the Hemorroides, or Piles: and after the Elephant there is no other greater beast; the haire of it is browne and footed like an Elephant, the head like a Cow, and it hath a great lumpe of flesh that falleth vpon his head, whereof I did eate trauelling in those parts. There are also many other wilde Beastes. There bee some Thorny Trees, like Limons and Oranges, and many wilde Grapes through the Woodes. When these Laos doe re∣turne to their Countrie, going against the streame, they goe in three moneths. This Riuer cau∣seth a wonder in the Land of Camboia, worthy of reciting. Comming neere to a place which they call Chudurmuch, which is twelue leagues from the principall Citie of Camboia, it maketh [ 20] a passage to another Riuer which commeth from a great Lake, that is in the vttermost parts of Camboia, and hath Siam, on the other side: in the middest of the which his bignesse being great, yee can see no Land on neither-side, and this Riuer passeth by Loech, which is the principall Ci∣tie of Camboia, vnto Chudurmuch: the waters of this Riuer, which is also verie great, the most of them doe passe to the Riuer that commeth from the Laos, neere to Chudurmuch, and the rest doe run downe the Riuer directly to the Sea, when the great Winter floudes doe come, which happen when it raines not in the Countries of Camboia. The many waters which doe come by the Riuer that commeth from the Laos, which there they call Sistor, doe make a passage right against Chudurmuch, to the Riuer that passeth through Loech, with so great furie, that where the waters of Loech did run downward, by multitude of the other that entreth into it, they are [ 30] turned backe and run vpward with a great current: in sort that it ouerfloweth all the Countrie of Camboia, whereby all the Countrie is not trauelled in the time of these flouds, but in Boates, and they make their Houses all with high lofts, and vnderneath they are all ouerflowne, and sometimes these flouds are so high, that they are forced to make higher Roomes with Canes to keepe their houshold-stuffe in, and to lodge themselues. This Riuer runneth vpward from Iuly to September, and with the passing from the Riuer that commeth from the Laos, (or from the Riuer Sistor, which is his proper name) of so many waters to the Riuer of Loech, it doth not leaue his running to the Sea, making below verie great armes, and goeth verie high ouer-flowing many Countries downward, but not so much as aboue. The Portugals did shew mee in Loech a field, a great hill of Earth, ouer the which they affirmed that in the time of the flouds a great [ 40] ship that was made in the Countrie did passe without touching, which ship might well haue say∣led from India to Portugall.

Beyond these Laos, follow the Brames, which is a great people, and very rich of Gold and Precious stones, chiefly of Rubies. It is a proud Nation and valiant, these are now Lords of Pegu, which subdued it by force of Armes some yeares before they subdued the Laos, they are men of good complexion, and well made, they are browne. They haue Pegu and part of Ben∣gala toward the Sea of India. It is a Countrey very scarce of victuals, they apparell themselues as we said of the Laos, but that their clothes are fine, and many do weare them painted or wrought: they are also somewhat like the Chinas in the faces, they haue very rich and gallant shippings garnished with Gold, in the which they sayle in the Riuers: they vse Vessels of Gold and of [ 50] Siluer, their Houses are of Timber very well wrought, the Kingdome is very great, they haue not commonly warre with the Chinas, because of the great Mountaynes that are betweene the one and the other, and because the Chinas are well fortified on that side: notwithstanding this, sometimes there are Robbers on the one side, and the other that doe make assaults, whereby the Chinas haue some Bramas Captiues, as some Portugals which were Captiues in those parts, which saw them did affirme, and did speake with them in the great Citie of Camsi: and these slaues told them, that from thence it was not very farre to Brama, and that in Pegu, they had seene Portugals.

There followeth along the China beyond the Bramas, the Kingdome of the Patanes, which now are Lords of Bengala, and after them the Mogores. Beyond these Mogores there runneth [ 60] along the China, the Tartarians, which doe extend themselues from Mogor to the Lake Meotis and the Riuer Thanais, which is a very great Kingdome and of much and innumerable people. This people are commonly red and not white, they goe naked from the waste vpward, they eate raw flesh, and anoint themselues with the bloud of it: whereby commonly they are stin∣king and haue an ill sent.

An old man of China did affirme vnto me, that sometimes when they came against the Coun∣tries of China, if the wind stood on that side where they came, they were discerned by their smell: and when they goe to warre they carry the flesh raw vnder them for to eate, they eate it in this manner, and anoint themselues with the bloud to make themselues the more sturdie and strong, and to prouoke themselues to crueltie in the Warre: these also fight on Horse∣backe with Bowes and Arrowes, and vse short Swords. With these is the continuall Warre of the Chinas, and as I haue said the Chinas haue an hundred leagues (others saying there are more) of a Wall betweene them and the other, where are continually Garrisons of men for the defence of the entries of the Tartarians. It may bee beleeued that this Wall is not conti∣nued, but that some Mountaynes or Hils are intermixt betweene; for a Lord of Persia affir∣med [ 10] to me, that the like Workes were in some parts of Persia, with intermixing some Hils and Mountaynes.

It was affirmed to the Portugals which were Captiues, and in Prison in their Dungeons, in the yeare 1550. that some yeares there is Truce betweene the Chinas and the Tartarians: and in the same yeare the Tartarians made a great entry in China, in the which they tooke a very prin∣cipall Citie from them: but a great number of people of the Chinas comming and besieging the Citie, and not being able to enter it by force of Armes, by the Councell of a man of low degree, they had a meanes whereby they killed them and their Horses, and remayned Lords againe of the Citie. The same Portugals which afterward were set at libertie, affirmed, that all the Prisoners made great Feasts, and made a great stirre when the Tartarians made this [ 20] entry, with the hope of being set at libertie by the meanes of the Tartarians, if they did pos∣sesse China.

In the Citie of Cantan I saw many Tartarians Captiues, which haue no other captiuitie then to serue for men at Armes in other places farre from Tartarie, and they weare for a difference red Caps, in all the rest they are like the Chinas with whom they liue: they haue for their mainte∣nance a certayne stipend of the King, which they haue paid them without faile. The Chinas call them Tatos, for they cannot pronounce the Letter r. Aboue the Lake where Thanais hath his beginning, they doe confront with the skirts of high Almayne, although on the side of Europe, and betweene them and Almayne are Hils that doe diuide them: and of these people of the skirts of the Mountaines, the Chinas say that the King of China hath many men of Warre in [ 30] pay, that doe keepe the weake passages and the Wals on the side of the Tartarians: and say, they are great men with great Beards, and weare cut Hose, and Caps, and blunt Swords, and a Portugall that was carryed captiue the Land inward, told me that he heard the Chinas say, that they called these Alimenes.

§. II. Cantan described; the publike and priuate buildings and Gouernment. The shipping and Husbandry of China; their contempt of the idle, and prouision for impotent [ 40] poore.

BEing to intreate of the Citie of Cantan, I giue first a warning to the Readers, that a∣mong many Noble Cities, Cantan is one lesse Noble then many of China; and farre inferiour in building then many other: although it be more populous then many; this is said by all them that saw it, and trauelled within the Land, where they saw many other. This aduice presupposed, it is to be noted, that Cantan in his compasse, is of very strong Wals, very well made, and of a good height, and to the sight they seeme almost new, beeing eighteene hundred yeares since they were made, as the Chinas did affirme: they are very cleane [ 50] without any cleft, hole, or rift, or any thing threatning ruine. They are of free stone about a mans height, and from thence vpward of brickes made of a clay like vnto that of the Porcelane Dishes, whence it causeth them to bee so strong, that I building a Chappell in Malaca, one of these (which was brought from China) could scarsly bee broken with a good Pick-axe. Iointly with this there is in this Citie and in all the rest an Officer of the King which onely hath care to ouer-see the Wals, for the which he hath a good stipend. And euery yeare when the Gouer∣nour of the Borders commeth to visit the Prouince, hee doth visit this as well as the other Offi∣cers, to know if he doth well his Office, and finding him in any fault, or negligence, hee is put from his Office, and punished. And if he standeth in need of any expence for the mending of the Walls, the Ouer-seer of the Rents is bound to giue him that which is necessarie, vnder paine, [ 60] that if the mending remayneth vndone, he shall bee well punished. For this cause the Wals of all the Cities are continually kept sound and in good reparation. These Walles are within the Citie little more then the walke of the same Citie in their height, which is the cause of beeing much more cooler. The Wals haue in compasse 12350. paces, and it hath eighty three Bulwarks.

This Citie (and so all the rest) hath on the one side the Riuer, along the which, as well this as the rest are built almost in a Valley; and on the other side they haue a Ditch full of water of a good breadth, betweene the which and the wall remayneth a good distance where there may runne together a good troupe of people, and the Earth that was taken out of the Ditch, was cast betweene it and the wall, whereby the foot of the wall remayneth a great deale higher then the other ground. Besides the ditch, notwithstanding, this wall hath a great blemish, for it hath on the contrarie side to the Riuer without the wals, and the ditch a little, Hillocke that disco∣uereth all the Citie within the wals.

This wall hath seuen gates: the entries of the which are sumptuous and high, strong and [ 10] well made, with Pinacles aboue, not square but made like steps. The other places of the wals haue no Pinacles: the wall at the entring of the gates is twelue paces thicke: the gates are all o∣uer plated with Iron, and all of them haue their draw-bridges very strong, which are alwayes vp, and are neuer let downe, but are ready against they be needfull: all the gates at the entrings haue Courts, and the Courts that are toward the side of the Suburbs, which lyeth along the Ri∣uer haue euery one three gates, one in the front and two on the sides, which remayne for the seruice of streets that lye along the wall, the wals of the Courts are almost of the height of them within: the gate which is in the front in the Court, is like vnto that of the wals within: it hath also a draw-bridge; the gates which are in the side of the Courts are small. The Courts that are on the other-side of the field where no Suburbe is, haue no more but one gate, and this not [ 20] right against that of the wals, but stand on the one side: the streets of the Citie are all drawne by a Line very straight without any manner of making a nooke or winding: all the crosse wayes are as straight as the streets: in sort that there is neyther street nor trauerse that maketh any tur∣ning. All the streets and trauerses are very well paued, the pauements going along the Houses, and lower in the middest for the course of water: the principall streets haue triumphant Ar∣ches which doe crosse them, high and very well made, which make the streets very beautifull, and enoble the Citie: the principall streets haue along the Houses close Portals, in the which and vnder the Arches many things are sold.

The Houses of them which rule the Countrey, are at the entrings very sumptuous, with high Portals, great and well wrought of Masons worke: they haue in the fore-front very great gates [ 30] like the gates of a Citie, with two Giants painted with Clubs in their hands: I saw foure in one Pagode, (which is a Temple of Idols) drawne naturally from some, which they say, the King hath to keepe his weakest passages from Tartaria. They are of great members, of about twelue or thirteene spans high. On the street side it hath right against the principall Porch a re∣ceite not very great. It hath built along the street a good wall of a good height right against the gate, that when the gate is open they that are within may not be gazed on by them that goe by the street: this gate serueth not, neither is it opened but for dispatching of matters of Iustice, and the principall of the House goe in and out at them, and others that are as honourable or more then they: at the one side of this principall gate is another very great gate, but not so big as the principall, which is for the seruice of the House, and of the Prisoners when the principall [ 40] gate is shut: and when this principall gate is shut, they set a glued Paper crosse ouer both the leaues, on which is written the name or firme of the principall of the House, and for to open it againe, an Officer of the House bringeth the same firme or marke on a playstered board to the Porter, that hee may open it, without the which token hee may not open it vnder a great punishment.

Entring by this gate, there is a great Court and almost square, which is almost a Horse-race, and it hath a Gallery little lesse then the length of the gate, which leadeth straight from the gate to a very great Table that stands at the end of the Court, the which is all paued with square stones with leanings as high as a mans waste, and it is high in the entry of the gate, and there remayneth onely one step in the end of it to the Table, and the course in the sides of the Galle∣ry [ 50] is low, that they goe downe to it by steps: this Gallery of the middest is of such respect a∣mong them, that in no wise it is lawfull for any one to passe through it, but onely some of the chiefest of the House, or others as great or greater then they: and those that goe to negotiate with the Officer of the House when they enter in at the gate, they must goe presently to one side, going downe to the Court which hath very great Trees for shaddow, and they goe vp a∣gaine by steps vnto the Table aboue-said, which is at the end of the Court, which is very great. In the end of this Table in all his length there is a step, and within the step a very great walke, all paued with square stones as the Table without it, and very high and all wrought with Ma∣sons worke: in the middest of it leaning to the wall of the front are two Chaires, with two Tables before them, a little distant the one from the other, one of them, which stands on the [ 60] left hand, serueth for the Gouernour of that house, and that of the right hand is void, for if there should come another of a higher dignitie then hee, to sit him downe. To euery one of the sides there are two spaces which runne behind this Gouernour, and are of a good breadth, hauing pla∣ced along the sides of these two spaces in euery one fiue Chaires with fiue Tables before them, and as the distance from them to the principall Gouernour is good, they remayne though behind,

in sight of the principall Gouernour. These serue for ten Assistants which are with the princi∣pall at the dispatching of waightie matters. From these Galleries inward are greate Lodgings, as well for the Gouernour of the House▪ as for the Assistants, and for all the other Ministers and Officers of the House, which are many, as we will shew in their place.

On euery side of the Court are very great Prisons and great Lodgings, as well for the Iay∣lours (which also are of great authoritie) as for the Watches that watch by night and by day, but neither these Prisons nor the Chambers of the Ministers of the••, nor the Lodgings of the chiefe of the House are seene outward, for they are serued of all things, the doores shut and haue continually their Porters. There are in Cantan foure of these Houses for foure principall Offi∣cers, and in euery Prouince in the Citie, that is, the Head of the Prouince there are fiue of these Houses: in Cantan there are but foure; for as the Gouernour of Cantan is also Gouernour of Cansi, [ 10] he is not resident in Cantan, but in a Citie that is in the Borders of one of the Prouinces, that the recourse in the Affaires of both the Prouinces may be the easier. Besides, these principall Hou∣ses of the chiefe Gouernours, there are many other in Cantan, the which though they bee not of so great Maiestie as they, they are notwithstanding very great, of other inferiour Officers, and chiefly those of the chiefe Iaylour which are very great. There is on the wals of Cantan, on the contrary side of the Riuer a high Towre all close behind, that they which are in it may not bee seene, nor gazed on from the Hillocke or Mount aforesaid, that was without the wals, and it is built in length along the wall, so that it is longer then broad, and it is all made in Galleries very sumptuous, from whence they discouer all the Citie, and the Marshes and Fields beyond the [ 20] Riuer, which serueth for the recreation of them that rule. In the other Cities are such buil∣dings which serue for recreation, many and very sumptuous, and of singular building.

The Houses of the common people in the outward shew, are not commonly very faire, but within are much to be admired; for commonly they are white as Milke, that they seeme like sleeked Paper, they are paued with square stones: along the ground, of a spanne little more or lesse, they are dyed with Vermilion, or almost blacke; the Timber is all very smooth and euen, and finely wrought and placed, that it seemeth to be all polished, or dyed, or in white, and some there is in white so faire and pleasant to the sight, waued Damaske-like, as it were Gold, and so bright that they should doe it injurie in painting it. I confesse, in truth, that I neuer saw so fine Timber as that. It hath after the House that is at the entrie, a Court with solaces of small [ 30] Trees; and Bowers with a faire little Fountayne: and then at the entring of the House where the women doe with-draw themselues, it hath a certaine manner of a Gallery open before to∣wards the Court, where they haue verie great Cubboards finely wrought, which takes the one square of the House, in the which they haue their Oratories, and Gods made of Wood, or of Clay: these Oratories are more or lesse curious according to the abilitie of euerie one: all the Houses are tiled with very good Tiles, better, and of more continuance then ours: for besides, they being well made, they are of verie good Clay: those which receiue the water are broad and short, and the vppermost that close, the other are narrower, and at the ends toward the street side, they are garnished with fine Workes made of Lime: for many yeares they haue no need to be tiled againe, for as the Clay is very good, they are not so mouldring as ours, or so rough, but [ 40] they are very smooth and warme, and beeing so well set they breed no filthinesse. There bee many Houses faire within, and very few with Lofts, the most are low Houses.

They haue in the middest of the Citie a Temple of Idols with high Towres, the wals of the which we will speake of hereafter: they haue their Mesquit with Alcoran very high with his Pinacle on the top. The Suburbes without are very great and of many Houses, in such sort that some Portugals would haue compared them in bignesse with them of Lisbon, but to mee and to others they seemed lesse, though they bee bigger and of more Houses then the Citie within the wals. It is very populous, and the people is so much, that at the entring of the gates on the Ri∣uer side yee can scarce get through. Commonly the people that goeth out and in, doe cry and make a great noyse to giue place to them that carrie burthens. And the Rulers of the Citie com∣manding [ 50] to enquire what victuals were spent euery day, it was found to spend only fiue or sixe thousand Porkes, and ten or eleuen thousand Duckes; besides which, they eate great store of Beeues and Buffes, and many Hens, and an infinite deale of fish, whereof the Markets and streets are full, and many Frogs and Shel-fish, great store of Fruits and all other Pulse. Hereby little more or lesse may be seene what people are in Cantan, and whether it may bee compared with Lisbon.

The Houses of the Suburbes are like those of the wals within; the streetes are so well and le∣uelled by Line as those within, and all for the most part paued also, and some of them are verie broad, and haue triumphant Arches, but very few. Some streets, as well without as within the wals, on the one side and the other along the Houses, haue Trees for to make shadowes. In all the streets of the Suburbs at the ends of them are gates with speciall Porters, whose Office is to [ 60] locke them euery night vnder paine of sore punishment, and euery street hath a Constable and a Iayle. He stands bound, either to yeeld the Malefactor which by night doth any harme in the street, are to pay for it; wherefore all the streets haue euery night a watch, the Neighbours di∣uiding

themselues in quarters: and they make euery night sixe quarters or watches, and for a signe that they are awake, in euery street they found a Drumme, where they haue all the night a Lanthorne with a light. The gates of the Citie are shut as soone as it is night, and on the two leaues is set a paper, with the chiefe Captaines marke on euery one of them, and they are ope∣ned with the Sunne, with a token from the same Captaine to them all, with his marke written on a white boord. Euery gate hath a Captaine, a very honest man, and euery one hath certaine Souldiers, which continually doe watch euery one of the Gates by day and by night.

In some Cities the water runneth almost thorow euery street, and on the one side and the other of the street are Tables made of stone, for the common seruice of the people: and tho∣row [ 10] all the streets are very good and well wrought Bridges to passe from one side to another: and thorow the middest of the streets is great trafficke by water that goe from one place to an∣other. In those places whereby the water entreth into the Citie, they haue made in the walls very good gates, which haue very strong Iron grates for to shut by night: and the most of the streets to the land inward are very well paued with stone, and (where is no stone) with small tyle. In all the Mountaines and Hills where there are wayes, they are very well made, cut with the Pick-axe, and paued where they are needfull. This is one of the good works of China, and it is very generall in euery place of it. Many Hills on the side of the Bramas, and of the Laos, are cut in steps, very well made; and in the height of the Hill is made a low place, very well cut; in the which is a very high Towre, which aboue doth equall with the highest of the Mountain, [ 20] which is very strong, the wall of one of the Towres was measured at the entring of the gates, and it was sixe fathome thicke and an halfe. There are on this side many of these workes, and so there may be in other places. I heard of a Gentleman of credit, called Galiote Perera, Bro∣ther to the chiefe Iustice of Arrayolos, which abode in Cansi, being Captiue, that (with the houses of these kinsmen of the King, being so many and so great) the Citie was so bigge that it seemed they occupied very little of it, and make a very little show in it: and so he had it written in a Rudder of his, whence I tooke a great deale of that which is heere spoken of: in such sort that the greatnesse of the Citie did hide in it selfe the multitude and greatnesse of these houses.

As in the Countrey there is great store of Timber and very cheape, and much Iron and cheap, [ 30] and it is very good, there are infinite number of ships and shippings; for through the Countrey are infinite Groues of Firre trees, and other trees, whereby it is easie for any one though of a little substance, to make a ship and haue shippings, and this causeth the great profit and gayne that is of them with the necessitie the Countrey hath of them: for it hath not onely a great number of Ilands alongst the coast, but also a very great coast where they Nauigate: and besides this, all China within is nauigated, and runne through Riuers which doe cut and water it all, which are many and very great. So that yee may sayle to the ends of the Land, and goe in ship∣pings. Any Captaine along the coast may in a little sp••ce ioyne two hundred, three hundred, euen to a thousand ships, if hee stand in need for to fight. And there is no small Towne along the Riuer that is not plentifull in small and great ships. Along the Citie of Cantan, more then [ 40] halfe a league off the Riuer, is so great a multitude of shipping, that it is a wonderfull thing to see them, and that which is most to wonder, is that, that this multitude neuer decreaseth nor fayleth almost all the yeere: for if thirty, forty, or an hundred goe forth one day, as many doe come in againe the next: I say, the multitude neuer to diminish nor fayle, for though some∣time there be more, some lesse, alwaies there remayneth a maruellous multitude: and that which is more, all those that goe forth, goe laden; and all that come in, come laden; carrying goods, and bringing goods: and that which sheweth much the noblenesse of the Countrey, the plentie and riches thereof is, that all these ships bringing great store of merchandise of Clothes, Silkes, prouisions and other goods, some doe goe into the Land, others come from within the Land, and nothing commeth form without China, neither goeth out of it: and that which the Por∣tugals [ 50] doe carrie, and some that they of Syam doe carrie, is so little in comparison of the great trafficke of the Countrey, that it almost remayneth as nothing, and vnperceiued; seeing that out of China there goeth no more but that which the Portugals, and they of Syam doe carrie; which is as much as though they brought nothing out of China, fiue or sixe ships comming la∣den with Silke and Porcelane: the great plentie and riches of the Countrey doth this, that it can sustayne it selfe alone: Pepper and Iuorie which is the principall that the Portugals doe carrie, a man may well liue without it, and the trafficke of merchandise that is in this Countrie, is in all the Cities within the Land, which as we haue said, are almost all built along the Riuers. The Chinas haue a common speech for to shew the noblenesse of their Kingdome, that the King of China can make a Bridge of ships from China vnto Malaca, which are neere fiue hundred [ 60] leagues, the which though it seemeth it cannot be, yet by Metaphor it signifieth the greatnesse of China, and the multitude of ships that of it selfe it can make.

The great ships they call Iunks; besides which there are ships for warre, made like great ships, to the which they make great Fore-castles and high, and likewise abafte, to fight from them: in such manner that they ouer-master their aduersaries, and because they vse no Ordnance, all

their vse is to come many together, and compassing the aduersaries ship, they boord it: and at the first on-set they cast a great deale of Lime to blinde the aduersaries, and as well from the Castles as from the tops they cast many sharpe pikes burned at the end, which serue for Top∣darts, of a very stiffe wood; they vse also great store of stone, and the chiefest they labour for, is to breake with their ships the dead workes of their aduersaries, that they may be masters o∣uer them, hauing them vnder them, and being destitute of any thing to shelter them: and as soone as they can enter, they come to the Pike or handy-blowes, for the which they haue long Pikes, and broad-pointed Swords hanging at their sides. There bee other Iunkes for lading of goods, but they are not so high as those of warre, though there bee some very great. All these ships as well of warre as of burthen vse two Oares a-head: they are very great, and foure or fiue men doe rowe euery one of them, laying them along the ship they moue them with such a [ 10] sleight, that they make the ship goe forward, and they helpe very much for to goe out and in at a barre, and setting vpon the enemies for to boord them: they call these Oares, Lioslios: in all manner of their shippings they vse the Lioslios, neither doe they vse any other manner of Oares in any kinde of shipping. There be other lesser shippings then Iunkes, somewhat long, called Bancones, they beare three Oares on a side, and rowe very well, and loade a great deale of goods: there be other lesse, called Lanteas, which haue sixe or seuen oares on a side, which doe rowe ve∣ry swift, and beare a good burthen also: and these two sorts of ships, viz. Bancones and Lanteas, because they are swift, the theeues doe commonly vse. The rowing of these Oares is standing, two men at euery Oare, euery one of his side, setting one foot forward, another backward. In the Iunkes goe foure, fiue, or sixe men at an Oare. [ 20]

They vse also certaine shippings very long, like vnto Gallies, without Oares or beake-head, which doe lade great store of goods: and they make them so long, because lading bringing a great burden they may sayle the better by the Riuers, which sometimes are not rough. They haue many other shippings of burthen, which is superfluous to tell of euery one. There be many small boats of poore people, in which are husband and wife, and children, and they haue no o∣ther dwelling but in their boat in a middle decke, for defence of the Sunne, and of the raine: as also haue the Bancones, and Lanteas, and others which wee said were like Gallies, and these deckes are in such sort, that vnder them are very good lodgings and chambers in the great ships, in these of the poore, they are much inferiour: there they breed their Pigs, their Hennes, and there they haue also their poore little Garden, and there they haue all their poore state and [ 30] harbouring. The men goe to seeke worke about the Citie to helpe to maintayne their little house; the women goe in the boats, and with a long cane that reacheth well to the bottome of the Riuer (at the end of the which is a little basket made of rods, wherewith they get shell∣fish) with their industrie, and passing of people from one side to another, they helpe to sustaine their houshold. These poore people notwithstanding doe not liue so poorely and beggarly in their apparell, as those which liue poorely in Portugall. There are other great shippings, where∣in is the stocke of them both , which haue great lodging where they may bestow a great deale of stuffe: these haue a great stocke; they haue certaine Cages made all the length of the ship with canes, in which they keepe two or three thousand Duckes, more or lesse as the vessell [ 40] is: some of these belong to Lordships, and their seruants goe in them: they feed these Duckes, as followeth.

After it is broad day, they giue them a little sodden Rice not till they haue enough, when they haue giuen ••t them, they open a doore to the Riuer where is a Bridge made of canes, and the noise they make at their going forth is wonderfull to see them goe tumbling one ouer ano∣ther, for the great abundance of them, and the time they take in going out; they feed all the day vntill night among the fields of Rice, those which are owners of the shipping doe receiue a fee of them that owe the fields, for letting them feed in them, for they doe cleanse them, eating the grasse that groweth among them. When night commeth they call with a little Ta∣ber; and though they be in sundry Barkes, euery one knowes their owne by the sound of the Ta∣ber, [ 50] and goe vnto it; and because alwaies in time some remayne without that come not in, there are euery where many flockes of wilde Duckes, and likewise of Geese. When I saw such a multitude of Duckes in euery one of these Barkes, and all of one bignesse, and thinking they could not be hatched by Duckes or Hens, for if it were so, some would haue beene bigger then some, seeing so many could not be hatched in one, two, or fifteene dayes, I was willing to know how they hatched them; and they told mee, it was in one of two sorts. In Summer, laying two or three thousand Egs in the dung, and with the heate of the weather and the dung, the Egs are hatched. In the Winter, they make a Hurdle of canes very great, vpon the which they lay this great number of Egges, vnder the which they make a slacke fire, continuing it of one sort a few dayes till the Egges be hatched. And because they are hatched in this sort, there are [ 60] so many of one bignesse, and all along the Riuer are many of these Barkes, whereby the Coun∣tries are well prouided of this food.

There are some ships wherein the Rulers doe sayle, which haue very high lodgings, and with∣in houses very well made, gilt, rich, and very sumptuous: and on the one side, and the other

they haue great windowes with their Nets wouen of Silke, and very fine small rods set before them, that they within seeing all them without, may not bee seene of them. Toward the side of the Laos and the Bramaes, are continually watches and wards in the Riuers in many ships, e∣uen a whole moneths Iourney in length vnto the Citie of Cansi: these ships are in the places where the Riuers make any armes, because of the many theeues which commonly are in these parts, being the vttermost of the Kingdome: and because the Riuers haue many armes, many ships are placed in those parts: in euery place where these shippings are, there bee two small ships, which continually doe goe night and day from one watch to another, because they are ve∣ry swift, and those of the great ships doe diuide themselues into watches at their quarters, for [ 10] to watch as well in the small as in the great ones. The ships of passage goe alwaies a great num∣ber together, that they may defend themselues, one another, while the ships of warre, and the watches do come to them, and at the watch where they make night, there they stay til the mor∣ning, and by the small boats they are deliuered safe to the next watch forward, and so from watch to watch they are accompanied of the small vessels till they bee set in safetie. From the Citie of Doncheo, that is, where the Gouernour of Consi and Cantan is resident, vnto the bounds of the Prouince of Cansi, which are places more dangerous, are continually Armadas of fortie or fiftie ships. All these watches are paid of the common Rents of the Kingdome.

China is almost all a well husbanded Countrey: for as the Countrey is well inhabited, and people in abundance, and the men spenders, and vsing themselues very deliciously in eating and [ 20] drinking, and apparell, and in the other seruices of their houses, especially that they are great eaters, euery one laboureth to get a liuing, and euery one seeketh wayes to earne their food, and how to maintayne their great expences. A great helpe to this is the idle people to bee much abhorred in this Countrey, and are very odious vnto the rest, and that laboureth not shall not eate, for commonly there is none that doe giue almes to the Poore; wherefore, if any poore did aske almes of a Portugal and he did giue it him, the Chinas did laugh at them, and in mockage said: why giuest thou almes to thi•• which is a Knaue, let him goe and earne it: onely some Ie∣sters haue some reward, going to some high place gather the people, and telleth them some fables to get something. The Fathers and Priests of their Idols are commonly abhorred and not estee∣med, because they hold them for idle people, and the Rulers for any light fault doe not spare [ 30] them, but giue them many stripes. Wherefore, a Ruler whipping once before a Portugal a Priest of theirs; and he asking him wherefore he did vse their Priests so ill, and held them in so little esteeme, answered him: these are idle and wretched Knaues. One day, I, and certayne Portugals entring into the house of the Ouer-seer of the goods, about the deliuerie of certayne Portugals that were in prison, because the matter belonged to him, for the great profit that came thereof to the King, much people came in with vs to see vs, among the which there was a Priest: as∣soone as the Ruler said, Set them downe, all of them ran away in great haste, the Priest running as all the rest, for feare of the whip.

Euery one laboureth to seeke a liuing; for that which hee earneth hee enjoyeth freely, and spends it as he will, and that which is left him at his death remaynes to his children and grand∣children, [ 40] paying onely duties Royall, aswell of the fruits that they gather, as of the goods they deale in, which are not heauie. The greatest Tribute they haue, is euery married man, or that hath house by himselfe, p••yeth for euery person in his house two Mazes, which are sixtie Reys. From Champaa, which as we said, doth confine with Cauchinchina vnto India, are many vnpro∣fitable grounds, and made Wildernesses and Woods, and the men are generally little curious to get or gather together, for they neuer gayne or get so much but it is tyrannized from them, that which they haue is onely theirs as long as the King listeth, and no more. In such sort that as soone as the King knoweth that any of their officers hath much money, hee commandeth him to bee pu•• in prison, and they vse him so hardly, that they make him cast all that hee hath gotten: wherefore there are many in those parts, that if they get any thing or money one day or one [ 50] weeke, they will not labour till they consume all that they haue earned in eating and drinking, and they doe it because if any tyrannie should chance to come, they may finde nothing to take from them. From hence it commeth, as I say, that they haue in India many grounds in diuers places vnprofitable; which is not so in China, for euery one enioyeth the fruits of his labour.

Hence it commeth that all the ground that in China can yeeld any kinde of fruit receiuing seede, is husbanded. The high places which are not so good for Corne, haue very faire Groues of Pine Trees, sowing also betweene them some Pulse where it may be: in the drie Lands and stiffe they sow Wheate and Pulse: in the Marshes which are ouerflowed, which are many and very long, they sow Rice: and some of these Marshes doe yeeld two or three Crops a yeere. Onely the Mountaynes that are high and beaten with the weather, and are not fit to plant any thing, [ 60] remayne vnprofitable. There is nothing lost in the Countrey bee it neuer so v••le: for the bones, as well of Dogs as of other Beasts, they doe vse, making toyes, and with workes in stead of Iuo∣rie, they set them in Tables, Beds, and otherfaire things: they lose not a Ragge of any qualitie, for as well of the fine as of the course, that are not of Wool••, they make fine and course Paper, and they make Paper of barkes of Trees, and of Canes, and of silken Ragges, and in the Paper

made of silke they write: the rest serueth for to roll betweene the pieces of silke: euen the dung or men yeelds profit, and is bought for mony or in change of herbs, and they carry it from the houses: in sort that they giue money or money worth, to suffer them to cleanse their houses of office, though it smelleth euill through the Citie: when they carry it on their backs, they carry it in Tubs very cleane without, and although they goe vncouered, notwithstanding it shew∣eth the cleanlinesse of the Countrey and Cities. In some Cities these Tubs vse to goe couered not to annoy.

They vse in all things more slight then force, whereby they plow with one Oxe, making the Plough in such fashion that it cutteth well the Earth, though the furrowes are not so bigge as among vs. A ship be it neuer so bigge, and haue it neuer so great a leake, the Pomps are made by such a slight, that one man alone sitting mouing his feet as one that goeth vp a paire of stayres, [ 10] in a very little space he pomps it out: these pomps are of many pieces as a water wheele, laid a∣long the side of the ship betweene rib and rib, euery piece hauing a piece of wood of halfe a yard little more or lesse, one quarter well wrought: in the middest of this piece of wood is a square little boord, almost of a hand breadth, and they joyne one piece into another in such manner as it may double well, the joynts which are all very close, whereby this manner of pompe doth run, is within of the breadth of the little boardes of euery one of the pieces, for they are all equall: and this manner of pompe bringeth so much water as may contayne betweene the two little boardes. The Chinas vse also Puppets, with the which they make representations. They bring vp Nightingales in Cages which sing all the yeere, and are vsed to Puppet representa∣tions [ 20] also.

It is a thing worth the noting, that the blinde haue a labour appointed them for to get their food, which is to serue in a Horse-Mill like Horses grinding Corne: and commonly where is a horse-mill there are two, because two going together, they may recreate themselues in talking one with another, as I saw them going about with Fannes in their hands cooling themselues, and talking very friendly. The blinde Women are the common Women, and they haue Nurces that doe dresse them and paint them with Vermillion and Ceruse, and receiue the wages of their euill vse. The lame and the creeple which either haue no kindred within a certayne degree, or if they haue them and they doe not prouide for them that which is necessarie, or are not able to helpe them, they make their Petition to the Ouer-seer of the goods of the King, and his kindred [ 30] being examined by his Officers, if among them are any that can maintayne them, they doe binde the neerest to take them to them their charge and maintayne them, and if their kindred bee not able to maintayned them, or if they haue no kindred in the Countrey, the Ouer-seer of the goods commandeth they be receiued into the Kings Hospitall: for the King hath in all the Cities great Hospitals which haue many lodgings within a great inclosure. And the Officers of the Hospitals are bound to administer to those that are bedred all things necessarie, for the which there are sufficient Rents appointed out of the Kings Exchequor. The lame that keepe not their bed, haue euery moneth a certayne quantitie of Rice, with the which, and with some Hens or a Pigge, which they bring vp in the Hospitall, they haue sufficient to maintayne themselues, and a••l these things are very well paid without faile: and because commonly those which are recei∣ued [ 40] into these Hospitals are incurable, they receiue them for life: and all those which are recei∣ued by commandement of the Ouer-seer, are enrolled, and euery yeere the Officers of the Ho∣spitall doe yeeld account of the expenses, and of the prouision of the poore sicke, and if any fault or negligence bee found in them of that which they are bound to doe, without remission they are well punished for it.

§. III. [ 50] Of their mechanicall Trades, Merchandises and Moneyes: their prouisions of Flesh and Fish; the persons and attyre of Men and Women: their Feasts.

THere are in this Countrey many workmen of all Trades, and great abundance of all things necessarie for the common vse, and so it is requisite, for the people is infinite. And because shooes are the thing that most is spent, there are more workmen of Shoo-makers then of any other Trade. In Cantan are two particular streets of Shoo-makers very long, one where they sell rich shooes, and of silke, another where they sell com∣mon shooes of leather: and besides these two streets, there are many workmen scattered about [ 60] the Citie. The rich Bootes and Shooes, are couered with coloured silke, embroydered ouer with twist, of very fine workes, and there be Bootes from ten Crownes, to one Crowne price, and shooes of two Crownes and thence downward, and in some places are shooes of three pence. So that the rich and the very poore may weare shooes: and the rich as they list: the shooes of

three pence, or of a Riall, are of straw, and I say of three pence, for there is money that an∣swereth our three pence. There bee many rich husband-men, that let men by the wayes with many of these strawen shooes for the poore Trauellers (and it is no wonder to haue this charitie among these Infidels, for in the parts of the India are many rich Gentils which haue very great houses, wherein they spend continually much Rice, giuing foode to all the poore of what qua∣litie soeuer, that will come thither 〈◊〉〈◊〉: and by the wayes they haue men set to giue drinke to the poore Trauellers. There be also many Carpenters, and very good workmen of all man∣ner of worke. They haue continually many boxes made of many sorts, some varnished with a very fai••e varnish, others painted, othe•••• ••yned with leather, and likewise of other sorts. They haue continually a great number of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 made, some of very faire white wood, and other [ 10] fairely gilt and siluered, very finely wrought.

They haue also C••••ites wherein the Rulers are carried on mens backs through the Citie, which are very rich, of a great price and very faire: they haue another manner of Chaires, which are high, very rich and pleasant all close, with a little window on each side very faire with a net made of Iuorie, or of Bone, or of Wood, through the which they that goe within doe see on the one side, and on the other of the street without being seene: these serue for to carry the Wo∣men about the Citie when they goe abroad. The feare is of the height of one of our Chaires, where they goe sitting with their leg•• at length. There be many of these Chaires very rich, and of a great price: and there are some plaine, and haue Pinacles on the top•• very faire: there are also many bed-steads very pleasant and very rich, all close round about, of wood finely wrought. [ 20] I being in Cantan there was a rich one made wrought with Iuorie, and of a sweet wood, which they call Cayolaque, and of Sandalam, that was prized at foure hundred Crownes, and of little Boxes gilt, and Maundes, and Baskets, D••sks, and Tables, all as well gi••t as with Siluer is without number: Gold-smiths, Siluer-smithes, Copper smiths, Iron-smiths, and of all other Trades there be many and perfect Workmen▪ and great abundance of things of euery Trade, and very perfect. They vse infinite Vessels of Latten: and from China they furnish all Ia••a and Siam, with these Vessels, which in India they call Bategarin, and they are in euery kind very perfect. They vse Skillets, and Chasing-dishes, and other Vessels of cast Iron, and not only they doe cast these Vessels of Iron, but after they are broken they buy them againe for to re-cast them. There [ 30] are many Merchants of pieces and Clothes of Silke, because they spend many in the same Coun∣trie, and in Siam, and there are pieces of Damaske and Taffata among themselues so rich, that they bring them not to vs, because they giue them not for them what they are worth within the Land: they sell also great store of fine and course Serge of sundry colours. There are many Merchants of white and dyed Linnen cloth, for it is that which is most spent in the Countrie. They gaue me a piece of Linnen cloth of about ten cubits, which was valued at tenne Crownes, there is both fine and course as euery one will haue it.

And howsoeuer the Porcelane which is vsed in all the Countrie of China, and in all India is of common Clay; notwithstanding, there is very much course Porcelane, and other very fine, and there is some that is lawfull to be sold commonly, for the Rulers onely vse it because it is red and [ 40] greene, and gilt, and yellow: some of this is sold but very little, and that secretly. And because there are many opinions among the Portugals which haue not beene in China, about where this Porcelane is made, and touching the substance whereof it is made, some saying, that of Oysters snels, others of dung rotten of a long time, because they were not enformed of the truth, I thought it conuenient to tell here the substance whereof it is made, according to the truth of them that saw it. The substance of the Porcelane is a white and soft stone, and some is redde, which is not so fine, or in better speaking, it is a hard clay, the which after well beating and grinding it and laying in Cisternes of water (which they haue very well made of free-stone and some playstered, and they are very cleane) and after it is stirred in the water, of the Creame that remayneth on the top they make the very fine Porcelane: and so the lower the courser, and [ 50] of the dreg•• they make the coursest and base, which the poore people of China doe vse. They make them first as the potters doe any other vessell; after they are made, they drie them in the Sunne, and then paint them as they list with Azure, which is so fine as we see: after these Pi∣ctures are drie, they lay on the Glasse, and then harden them.

The principall streets of the Merchants, are the most principall streets, which haue couerts on the one side and on the other: notwithstanding, the chiefest sale of the Porcelane is in the Gates of the Cities, and euery Merchant hath at his doore written in a Table all that is sold within his shop: those which sell simples for medicines, haue at their doores tyed and hang∣ing in a string, a piece of euery thing. There is in China great store of Rubarbe, but it is not brought to Cantan, but sodden, there is none found raw. As the goods of China are very great [ 60] and many, so the rents which the King of China hath in euery part of his Kingdome are very great. Some China Merchants did affirme that Cantan did yeeld euery yeere to the King three thousand Picos of Siluer, and euery three Picos make one Baar, euery Baar hath foure Kintals, euery Kintall hath foure x Arrobas: so that one Baar is sixteene Quarters, and three thousand Picos, making one thousand Baars, by consequence, one thousand Baars make y sixteene thou∣sand

Quarters; and wee speake of weight, for in China is no money of Gold or Siluer, but one∣ly of Brasse, the Gold and Siluer goeth by weight. But these as they are popular people, though occupied in the trafficke of the Countrie, it seemes they know not well the trueth of this, and that the summe is greater which is collected of the rents Royall, for the Countrie is very great, and the merchandise many and very substantiall. I was informed by meanes of the Rulers, which is a more certaine information, because the rents doe passe thorow their hands, that the rent of the Salt in Cantan did yeeld alone to the King 300. Picos of Siluer, which doe make 100▪ Baars, which are 400. Kintals, that are 1600. quarters of Siluer.

Euery one hath a paire of scales and weights in his house, which all are exceedingly per∣fect. The weights that they commonly haue, are from ten crownes to one, and from ten Tan∣gas [ 10] to one, one Tanga is nine pence. By the name of their Countrie▪ the lesser great weight is of one Tael, one Tael is sixe Mazes, one Maez is the same that a Tanga: of the small weights, the smallest is one Conderin, ten Conderins make one Tanga, or one Maez: one Conderin hath ten Caxos; and because the common that goeth in stead of money is Siluer by weight, euery one hath weights of his owne, as abouesaid: for one laboureth by all the meanes hee can to de∣ceiue the other, none doe trust the scales and weights of the other, and euery one that goeth to buy in the Market, carrieth a weight and balance, and broken Siluer, and the balance is a little beame of Iuorie with a weight hanging at the one end with a string, and on the other end a little scale, and the string of the weight runneth along by the beames, which hath his markes from one Conderin to ten, or of one Maez vnto ten. These scales serue for to buy by retale, for [ 20] to buy by grosse they haue perfect scales very curious and fine, with very perfect weights. They carrie the Siluer commonly full of mixture, and because they encrease it with the mixture, from hence it commeth that he which will make good markets in the Countrie of China, and that it may be cheape, carrieth Siluer rather then goods, for by the encrease which the Chinas make of the Siluer with the mixture, they giue the merchandise good and cheape for the Siluer. The Merchants are commonly false and lyars.

There is great abundance of Rice in all the Countrie, for there are many marishes, which yeeld two or three crops euery yeere. There is also much and very good Wheat, whereof they make very good Bread, which they learned to make of the Portugals; their vse before were Cakes of the same Wheat. There be many French Beanes, and other Pulse: there is great store [ 30] of Beefe, and Buffes flesh, which is like Beefe: there are many Hens, Geese, and innumerable Duckes: there are infinite Swine, which is the flesh they most loue: they make of the Hogs many singular flitches, whereof the Portugals carrie an infinite number to the India, when they goe thither by way of trafficke. The Chinas doe esteeme the Porke so much, that they giue it to the sicke. They eate Frogs also, which are sold in great Tubs full of water at the gates, and they that sell them are bound to flay them. All flesh is sold by weight aliue, except Beefe, and Buffes flesh, and Porke, which commonly is sold by the pound, except if they doe buy it whole, for then they are to weigh it whole: and that it may weigh the more, they fill it first wi••h meat and drinke: the Hens to make them weigh the more, they fill them likewise with water, and their crops full of sand and other things. The pound of the Hen, Goose, Ducke, and Frogs, is [ 40] all at one price; the Porke, Beefe, and Buffes flesh is worth lesse, and all at one price. The fish is exceeding much, and all very good, and it neuer wanteth in the markets: there be many Crabs, and Oysters, and other shell-fish, and all is very good: and of all these things the markets are full. The Markets are commonly at the gates of the Cities, and vnder the triumphant Arches which are in the large and principall streets, as we said before, and along the Portals of the same streets: but not to sell here flesh or fish, for there be particular streets, excepting quicke flesh, which is sold euery where.

There are many Garden-herbes, sc. Turneps, Radish, Cabage, and all smelling Herbs, Gar∣leeke, Onions, and other herbes in great abundance. There are also many fruits, scil. Peaches, Damsons, and another manner of Plummes which wee haue not, with long, round, and sharpe [ 50] stones at both ends, and of these they make Prunes: There are many Nuts, and very good, and many Chesnuts both small and great. There is a kinde of Apples that in the colour and rinde are like gray Peares, but in smell and taste better then they. There is a fruit whereof there are many Orchards, it groweth on great and large boughed trees, it is a fruit as bigge as a Plumme round and a little bigger, they cast the huske, and it is very singular and rare fruit, none can haue his fill of it, for alwaies it leaueth a desire of more, though they eate neuer so much, and doth no hurt. Of this fruit there is another kinde smaller, but the biggest is the best, they are called Lechias. There are Oranges, Figs, and many other fruits, which were to long to recite. And though there be particular streets of Victualling houses, yet there is through all the Citie almost in euery street of these houses. In these Victualling houses is great store of meate dressed. Ma∣ny [ 60] Geese, Hennes, and Duckes roasted and sod, and store of other flesh and fish dressed: I saw at one doore hanging, a whole Hog roasted, and let one aske where he will, for all is very cleanly dressed: the showe of all the meate that is dressed is at the doore, almost inciting them that passe. At the doore is a vessell full of Rice, well coloured and dressed, and because the matters

of Iustice are commonly almost from ten of the clocke forward, and many haue their houses farre because the Citie is very great, or because they which come from out of Towne with busi∣nesse, as well Inhabitants as Strangers doe eate in these houses. When any man meeteth any acquaintance of his that commeth from abroad, or that he hath not seene him a long time, salu∣ting one another, he asketh him presently if he hath dined, and if he answereth no, he carrieth him to one of these houses, and there they eate and drinke priuily, for there is great store of Wine, and better then in any place of India, which they make of confections: if he answereth that he hath dined alreadie, he carrieth him where they haue onely Wine and Shell-fish, where∣with they drinke, of which houses there are also many, and there he doth feast him.

[ 10] There is also in Cantan along the wall on the outside, a street of Victualling houses, in the which they sell Dogs cut in quarters, roasted, boiled, and raw, with the heads pulled, and their eares; for they scald them all like Pigs, it is a meate which the base people doe eate, and they sell them aliue about the Citie in Cages: through euery street they sell flesh, fish, herbes, fruit, and all things necessarie, crying that which they sell. In the end of Februarie, in March, and part of Aprill, when the great flowings are, there commeth great store of fish from the Sea to spawne, in the mouthes of the Riuers along the Sea, whereby there breedeth infinite small fish of many sorts in the pooles of the Riuers. Of these spawnes in these times all the Fishers along the Sea coast doe meet in their boats, and there meet so many that they couer the Sea, and lie neere the pooles. And these Fishers doe take great quantitie of this small fish, and cast it in Ci∣sternes which they haue made with stakes, and a very thicke Net made of wyer, where they doe [ 20] feed them, to the end of the fishing time: and at this time there are wont to come a great num∣ber of Barkes from all places of China within the Land (for I said alreadie that all China is sailed by Riuers, for it is all cut and watered with great Riuers) and these Barkes doe bring a great many baskets within and without, which are all lined with oyled paper, that it may hold wa∣ter, and euery one of these Barkes doe buy the fish they haue need of. Then they carrie this fish in these baskets through all the Countrie inward, changing euery day the water, and all men of any possibilitie, within their grounds and inclosures haue great store of fish in ponds, for the which they buy the baskets they haue need, they feed this fish in the ponds in a very short time with Cow dung and Buffes dung, wherewith it groweth very fast. In all the ditches of the Ci∣ties likewise they breed great store of fish in the same sort, of which the Rulers are serued. In [ 30] all the Cities which I said alreadie, are built along the Riuers. The King hath many Sea Crowes in Coopes, in which they breed, with the which they make Royall fishings many times: all the Barkes that are bound to goe a fishing with these Cormorants, doe meet and set round in the Riuer, those that haue charge of the birds, doe tye them about the crops, that they cannot swal∣low them, and they cast them to fish in the Riuer. They fish till they fill their crops of middle fish, and if it be great, they bring it in the beake, and come to the Barke, where they cast all the fish they haue fished, forcing them to cast it: and in this manner they fish the quantitie they will, till they haue to their contentment: after they haue fished for the Barke they vntye them, and let them goe fish for themselues: after they be full, they come to the Boats, and are put in the [ 40] Coops: these birds doe fish very much. The King doth giue for a fauour to the Rulers one or two of these Barkes, according as the person is of qualitie for the maintayning of his house with fresh fish.

Though that the Chinas commonly are ill-fauoured, hauing their faces and noses flat, and are beardlesse, with some few haires in the points of the chinne: some notwithstanding there are which haue very good faces, and well proportioned, with great eyes, their beards well set, and their noses well shapen: but these are few, and it may be they are of other Nations. They weare long Coats commonly with plaites after our good ancient vse: with a flappe ouer the breast to tye on the side, and all in generall haue very long sleeues to their coats, they weare commonly blacke Coats of Linnen, or of very fine Serge or course of diuers colours, some weare them of Silk, many doe vse them on the Feast dayes of Silke: the Rulers weare commonly fine Serge, and on [ 50] their Feasts they vse very fine Silkes, chiefly crimson, which none in the Countrie may weare but they: the poore people weare commonly Coats of white Linnen, because it costs but little: on their head they weare a high Cap made of very fine twigs, and it is round interwouen with blacke Silke, and very well made, they vse their Stockins whole footed, which are very well made and stiched, and they weare Boots or Shooes, as the curiositie or abilitie of euery one is, either of Silke or of Leather: in Winter they weare Stockins of Felt, either fine or course, but the cloth is made of Felt: they vse also in Winter their garments lined with Martines, chiefly about the necke: they vse quilted Iackets, and some doe vse them of Felt in Winter vnder their Coats.

They vse long haire like women, which they weare finely combed, and they combe it many [ 60] times a day, they weare it tyed on the crowne of the head, and through the knot thrust through with a long small Siluer pin: those which are not married, to wit, the yong Bachelors doe weare for a deuise a fillet or ribband dresse very well made, their Cap remayning aboue it, that it may be seene: they haue a superstition in their haire, therefore they weare it so long, holding that

by it they shall be carried to Heauen. The common Priests doe keepe their haire, but are shauen, for they say they neede no helpe to carrie them to Heauen. Yet among them are some Priests of the Temple of the Idols, which among the Chinas are more reuerenced then the rest; these doe weare haire on the top of the head fastned with a stick, very curiously wrought like a close hand, varnished with a very fine varnish, which they call Acharan: and these Priests doe weare black coates, the other wearing a white coate.

The Chinaes are very curteous men; the common curtesie is, the left hand close, they in∣close it within the right hand, and they bring them very oft to their brest, shewing they haue one another inclosed in their heart▪ and to this motion of the hands, they joyne wordes of cur∣tesie, though the wordes of the common sort is to say one to another, Chifan mesan, which is to say, Haue yee eaten or no, for all their good in this world is resolued in eating. The particular [ 10] curtesies betweene men of sort which haue not seene one another a long while, are the armes bowed and the fingers clasped one within another, they stoope and speake with wordes of great curtesie, euery one labouring to giue the hand to the other to make him rise: and the more hono∣rable they are the longer they stand in these curtesies. The honorable and noble People doe vse also many curtesies at the Table, the one giuing drinke to the other, and euery one laboureth to giue the hand to the other in their drinking, for at the table there is no other seruice but that of drinking. If there come any Ghest newly to his friends house, or his kinsman, if the Master of the house be not apparelled in holy day clothes, when the Ghest commeth in, he maketh no ac∣count of him nor any mention, till he commandeth to bring his festiuall apparell, and after he is so apparelled hee goeth to the Ghest, and receiueth him with many complements and curtesies. [ 20] For they hold it not conuenient, that a new-come Ghest and of reuerence bee receiued with common apparell, but clothed in feast-like apparell, for in this he sheweth him that his entring into his house is a feast day to him.

Whatsoeuer person or persons come to any mans house of qualitie, hee hath a custome to offer him in a fine basket one Porcelane, or as many as the persons are, with a kinde of drinke which they call Cha, which is somewhat bitter, red, and medicinall, which they are wont to make of a certayne concoction of herbes somewhat bitter: with this they welcome commonly all man∣ner of persons that they doe respect, be they strangers or be they not; to me they offered it ma∣ny times. The Chinaes are great eaters, and they vse many dainties, they eate at one table Fish and Flesh, and the base people dresse it sometime all together. The dainties which are to bee ea∣ten [ 30] at one table, are set all together on the board, that euery one may eate where hee liketh best. It is a cleanly and neat people. The common people hath some grosse things.

Certayne noble Portugals went to shew me on a day in Cantan a banquet, which a rich Mer∣chant made, which was worth the sight. The house where it was made, was with a loft, and very faire, with many faire windowes and casements, and all of it was a mirror: the Tables were set in three places of the house, for euery Ghest enuited a Table and a Chaire very faire and gilt, or with siluer, and euery Table had before it a cloth of Damaske downe to the ground. On the Tables was neither cloth nor napkins, as well because the Tables were very fine, as because they eate so cleanly that they need none of these things: the fruit was set along the edges of e∣uery Table, all set in order, which was, rosted Chesnuts and peeled, and Nuts cracked and sha∣led, [ 40] and sugar Canes cleane and cut in slices, and the fruit we spake of before, called Lichias, great and small, but they were dried. All the fruit was set in small heapes like Turrets very well made, crossed betweene with certayne small sticks very neat: whereby all the Tables round a∣bout with these little Turrets were very fairly adorned. Presently after the fruit, were all the seruices placed in fine Porcelan dishes, all very well dressed and neatly carued, and euery thing set in good order, and although the dishes were set one ouer another, all were so finely set, in such sort that he which sate at the Table might eate what he would, without any need of stirring or remouing any of them: and presently there were two small sticks very fine and gilt for to eate with, holding them betweene the fingers: they vse them in stead of a paire of Pincers, so that they touch nothing of that which is on the board with their hand; yea, though they eate a dish [ 50] of Rice, they doe it with those sticks, without any graine of the Rice falling: and because they eate so cleanly, not touching with the hand their meate, they haue no need of cloth or napkins: all comes carued and well ordered to the Table. They haue also a very small Porcelan cup gilt, which holdeth a mouth full of wine, and onely for this there is a Waighter at the Table: they drinke so little that at euery bit they must haue the cup, and therefore it is so small. There are some Chinaes that weare very long nailes, of halfe a quarter, and a quarter long, which they keepe very cleane, and these nailes doe serue them in stead of the sticks for to eate withall.

The Chinaes doe vse on their birth dayes to make great feasts, continuing yet in them the cu∣stome [ 60] of the old Gentiles. In these Feasts are wont to meet all the Kinsmen and Friends, and all doe helpe him to beare the charges of the Feasts, with sending him Presents, that when they doe celebrate their birth dayes they may pay them in the same sort: and because they haue these helpes, they make great expence and solemnitie. The feast lasteth all night long, for all the

Gentiles as they walke in darknesse liuing without the knowledge of God, so all their feasts through all places of India and in China, are made by night. In these feasts is great abun∣dance of meate and great store of wine, all the night they spend in ea••ing and drinking, and musicke playing on diuers instruments. Their Priests offer their sacrifices to their Gods, apparelled very richly. They apparell themselues in diuers sorts of garments, and the Priests doe sing their songs in a very tunable voice: among these sacrifices, playing and singing, the Tables are alwayes furnished with sundrie meates, euery one taking what hee liketh best. The Priests when they haue sung as all the rest, doe make at their doore triumphant Arches very well made of Paper, and Scaffolds with diuers representations of Figures and [ 10] Statues, and certayne high Trees and hanging on the broken Boughes, very well wrought and painted, many lights, and in euery place many Lanthornes very faire and well made all with lights.

In the generall Feasts of all the Towne and People, chiefly on the first day of the yeere, all the streets and doores are very richly dressed, and chiefly they doe indeauour and labour to deck the triumphall Arches, couering them with many clothes of Damaske and of other silke, with many Lanthornes. There is much playing of sundrie Instruments, and singing, and ioyntly with this great store of meate of sundrie kindes, and great abundance of Wine. They vse many times representations by Actors, which doe represent very well and to the life, the A∣ctors hauing very good apparell and well ordered, and fitting as is requisite for the person hee [ 20] representeth; and they that represent a Womans part, besides the apparell that is requisite for the part hee representeth, they are painted with Stibium and Ceruse. Those which vnder∣stands them not what they represent, are sometimes wearied, but they that vnderstand them doe delight very much to heare them: and one whole night, and two, and some time three, they are continually busied in representations one after another. While these representations doe last, there must bee a Table set with great store of meate and drinke. They haue in these Actions two great inconueniences or blemishes, the one is, that if one be to represent two parts, and is to change his attyre, he doth it before all the Beholders: the other is, that the Represen∣ter as well as hee that speaketh alone, doe speake in a very high voyce almost singing. Some∣time they goe to the ships to play, that the Portugals may giue them money.

[ 30] The Instruments they vse for to play on, are certayne Bandoraes like ours, though not so well made, with their Pinnes to tune them, and there bee some like Gitternes which are smaller, and other like a Viall de gamba, which are lesse: they vse also Dulcimeres and Re∣beckes, and of a certayne kinde of Hob••yse, resembling our vse. They vse a certayne manner of Instrument that hath many wyer strings; they play on them with their nayles, which for that purpose they weare; they haue a great sound and make a good harmonie: they play ma∣ny Instruments together sometimes, consorted in foure voyces which make a very good con∣sonancy. It hapned one night by Moone-shine, that I and certayne Portugals sitting at the doore of our lodging, a few young men passing the time came along the Riuer, playing on di∣uers Instruments; and wee being glad to heare the musick, sent for them to come neere where [ 40] wee were, and that wee would inuite them, they as gallant youthes came neere with the Boate and beganne to tune their Instruments, in such sort that wee were glad to see them fit themselues that they might make no discord: and beginning to sound, they began not altoge∣ther, but the one tarried for to enter with the other, making many diuisions in the processe of the musick, some staying, others playing: and the most times they played all together in foure parts. The parts were two small Bandoraes for the Tenor, a great one for counter-Tenor, and an Instrument called Crano followed the rest, and sometime a Rebecke, sometime a Dulci∣mere for a Treble. And they vsed a good policy, that wee might remayne the more desirous, they played but two straines.

It is not lawfull for any man in all the Countrey to carry any manner of weapon, no not a knife, therefore when one quarrels with another they goe to buffets and pulling by the haire: [ 50] onely the Souldiers and Ministers of the Captaines of warre doe weare swords on their hangers. When any man dyeth that hath House, Kindred, and Children, after hee hath giuen vp the ghost, they wash the Coarse and put on his best apparell, and his Cap on his head, and set him on a Chaire, and then commeth his Wife and kneeleth downe before him, and with ma∣ny teares and lamentable wordes shee taketh her leaue of him: and after the Wife comes the Children in their order doing the like, and after the Children the rest of the Kindred, and all the rest of the House, and his Friends. The ceremonies ended, they put him in a Coffin made for him of Camfiere wood, which is preseruatiue for dead bodies, and smelleth well, they close it and pitch it well that no smell may come out of it; they set it vpon two little formes, and cast ouer it a cloath to couer the Coffin downe to the ground, whereon the picture of the [ 60] man deceased is pictured. They make a little house before the Coffin of white raw cloath, with a Portall right against the Coarse, where a Table is set with candle-sticks and candles lighted, and set thereon bread and all the fruits of the Countrey. And all this they doe of superstition for a ceremonie, and there they keepe the Coarse eight or fifteene dayes, in the

which their Priests of their Gods come continually by night to offer their Sacrifices, and to pray their Heathenish inuentions. There they bring many Pictures of men and women, and burne them with many ceremonies. Finally they hang some Pictures of men and women in paper hanging on coards, and with great praying and moouing these pictures by the coards, with great crying and showting, they say, to send the dead man to Heauen. All day and all night while they are in these ceremonies, there is a Table set with great store of meate and drinke. These ceremonies ended, they take the Coffin and set it in a Field where the dead are, and there it consumes with time. Their mourning which they vse is the sharpest that euer I saw, for they weare Coats after the common sort, of verie course wooll next the flesh, and girt with great coards, and on their head a Cappe of the same cloath, made like the Caps that are [ 10] vsed in the Countrey, sauing that these haue certaine flappes that fall ouer their eyes. Not∣withstanding, that as they are nearest in kindred so they weare the rougher mourning weed. The rest weare raw cloath, and not so course. For Father or Mother, they mourne three yeeres: and if he bee Louthia, as soone as hee heareth the newes presently he leaueth the office he serueth, and goeth to mourne to his owne house for three yeeres, which being ended he goeth to the Court to demand his office.

The Women commonly, excepting those of the Sea coast, and the Mountayners, are very white and fine women, some hauing their noses and eyes well proportioned. From their child-hood they wrap their feete in cloathes, that they may remayne small, and they doe it for the China's doe holde them for finer women that haue small Noses and Feete. This is vsed [ 20] yet among the noble people, and not among the basest. They weare their hayre very well combed, close and tyed to the crowne of the head, and bound from the rootes to the toppes with a long lace very well placed. And the lace is garnished with Iewels and peeces of Gold round about. They vse long Coats like the Portugall women, which haue the waste in the same manner that they haue. They weare vpper-bodies with long sleeues, they spend com∣monly more Silke in their garments then their husbands: but in their common apparell they are cloathed in white Linnen-cloath. They make curtesies as our women doe, but they make three together and very hastely. They vse painting their faces with Vermilion and white Ce∣ruse very well set. They commonly keepe themselues close, so that through all the Citie of Cantan there appeareth not a woman, but some light huswiues, and base women. And when [ 30] they goe abroad they are not seene, for they goe in close Chayres, (whereof wee spake before) neither when any bodie commeth into the house doth hee see them, except for cu∣riositie they chance vnder the doore-cloath, to looke on them that come in when they are strange people.

Commonly the men haue one Wife, which they buy for their money more or lesse, accor∣ding as they are, of their Fathers and Mothers. Yet may euery one haue as many wiues as hee is able to maintaine: but one is the principall with whom they liue, and the other he lodgeth in sundry houses And if hee hath dealings in diuers Countries hee hath in euery one a wife and house with entertainement. If the wife committeth adulterie, and the husband accuseth her and the adulterer, both suffer death. And if the husband doe suffer the wife to play the adulte∣resse, [ 40] hee is grieuously punished. I being in Cantan, saw a Marchant of China goe from Iustice to Iustice, verie sharpely handled for suffering his wife to play the adulteresse. The common wo∣men are in no wise permitted to dwell within the walls. And in the Suburbes without they haue their proper streets where they dwell, out of the which they may not liue: All the com∣mon women are slaues, they bring them vp for that purpose from their child-hood, they buy them of their mothers, and teach them to play on an Instrument of musique, and to sing. And those that can best doe this, because they gaine most, are worth more. And those which cannot doe that, are worth lesse. The masters either carrie them vnto the men, or sell them to them: and when they are to beset in the street of the common women, they are written by an Officer of the King in a Booke, and the Master is bound to come euerie yeere with a certaine fee to this [ 50] Officer, they are bound to answer their Master so much euerie moneth. When they are old, with Paynting they make them seeme young. And after they are not for that trade, they are al∣together free, without any obligation either to Master or any bodie, and then they feed vpon that which they haue gottten.

I spake so particularly of this matter, for to come to say that in this Countrey of China is no greater captiuitie then this of these Wenches. And let no man say, or affirme any other thing, for about the examining of it I laboured somewhat in Cantan, because some Portugals would af∣firme it otherwise. The captiuitie in this Countrey is in manner following. If any woman by the death of her husband remayneth a widdow, and hath nothing to maintayne her selfe with, neither the children that are left her are such as are able to get their liuing, neither hath shee any [ 60] thing to giue her children; this Woman in this necessitie, commeth to a rich man, and agreeth with him for six or seuen Crownes, for a Sonne or a Daughter, and the price receiued shee deli∣uereth it; if it be a Daughter, shee serueth as abouesaid for a common Woman, and is brought vp for that purpose: if it be a Sonne, hee serueth his Master some time. And when hee is of age to

marrie, the Master giueth him a Wife, and all the Children that are borne to him remayne free, and without any Obligation: notwithstanding, this Seruant is bound to giue his Master so much by the yeere, hauing a house by himselfe: for when he marrieth they giue him a house and he la∣boureth, either at some Trade, or by his industrie for to earne his liuing. And no man may sell a∣ny of these Slaues to the Portugals, hauing great penalties for it. The Women, as by being com∣mon, they looke for great profit of them, in no wise they will sell them, besides the running in∣to great penalties also. And all those which commonly are sold to the Portugals are stollen, they carry them deceiued, and secretly to the Portugals, and so they sell them: and if they were perceiued or taken in these stealths, they would bee condemned in the vtmost punishment. The [ 10] Lawes of China giue authoritie to the Women for to sell their Children, and not to the Men, for as the Men are bound to get a liuing for himselfe and for his Children, if hee want the reme∣die, they hold that hee is in the fault of that. And that Man may the better labour for their li∣uing and their Childrens. So farre is China from hauing Slaues that altogether should bee cap∣tiues, that neither those which they take in warre are slaues: onely they are bound to the King, and are placed for Souldiers in places farre from their Countries where they were taken, eating of the wages they haue of the King. These doe weare for a deuice a red cap, as I saw the Tartari∣ans weare in Cantan, which had beene taken in the warres.

[ 20]

§. IIII. Of their Louthias, Mandarines or Magistrates, their creation, priuiledges, maintenance; Of Prisons and Tortures; of the King and of Embassadors.

EVery one that in China hath any office, command or dignitie by the King, is called Louthia, which is to say with vs Sen̄or. How this Title is giuen him, we will in his place make mention of it. There are in euery Prouince of China one thousand Lou∣thias, or according to others three thousand, besides those that are resident in the [ 30] Court, by whom are ordayned all matters of the Kingdome, and to whom come all the waigh∣tie matters of all the Realme. And because they are to dispatch with the King; and conuerse with him within doores, and it is not lawfull for other to conuerse with them, neither doe other see them, and they haue entrance where the Wiues of the King are, which are many, they are com∣monly Eunuchs. In euery Prouince are fiue, which among the rest are most principall, which haue a very great authoritie and majestie in their persons, and are greatly reuerenced and hono∣red, not onely of the common people, but also of all the other Lothyas.

The principall of the fiue is the Gouernour, which in their language is called Tutom, to this come all matters both great and small of all the Prouince, and for the authoritie and majestie of [ 40] his person he is not resident where the other Lothyas, that hee may not bee frequented of them, and so he may be more esteemed and feared. To these come all the Rents of the Prouinces except the ordinarie expences, and by him as well the businesses as the Rents that are gathered, and all that hapneth in the Prouinces are referred and sent to the Court. The second dignitie of the Prouinces, is the Ouer-seers of the goods, which in their language is called Ponchassi: this hath the care to send to recouer through all the Prouince the Rents thereof, for the which hee hath many Lothyas vnder his iurisdiction, which are particular Officers for the businesses and recoue∣ries of the goods. This prouideth all the ordinarie charges of the Prouince, and with that which remayneth he resorteth to the Tutom, that he may send it to the Court, this may enter-meddle in graue matters of the other Officers inferiour, and hath authoritie ouer them. Likewise, all the [ 50] matters and affaires of the Prouince resort vnto him, to bee referred by him to the Tutom. Ano∣ther chiefe dignitie vnder this is the chiefe Iustice, which in their language is called Anchasi, and though there be many other Officers of Iustice, this is aboue all, and by him are the dispat∣ches distributed to the rest, and all matters of Iustice resort vnto him, as one that hath authori∣tie of the other inferiour. Another dignitie vnder this is the chiefe Captaine, who in their tongue is called Aitao. To this Aitao pertayneth to command to prepare the men of warre, and all that is necessarie of shipping, and victuals, and all other prouision against Enemies and against Theeues: to this belong also the businesses of strangers in cases which belong not to the goods. The fift and last of the great dignities, is of the chiefe Captaine which putteth in execution the matters of warre, and is resident in the Armies which the Aitao, being a land, doth ordayne: [ 60] when it is necessarie besides the putting matters in execution and order, if the matter require his presence, he goeth in person: and so important may the matter be that the Aitao will goe. This is called in the Countrie language Inthissi. In the house of euery one of these, except the Luthissi, which is the inferiour of the fiue, are other ten which are as Assistants, and are also of great au∣thoritie, fiue of these doe sit at the right hand of the Principal in fiue chaires, recited before when

we spake of the buildings, and fiue doe sit on the left hand: these in matters of importance are at the dispatching with the principall of the house, and the Principall dying or by any other meanes wanting, one of these according to his antiquitie remayneth in his stead: and if it be ne∣cessary to goe through the Prouince about some matter of importance, that appertayneth to the dignitie in whose house they assist, one of these doe goe with all the authoritie of the Principall. The fiue that sit on the right hand, haue a greater degree and dignitie then the fiue on the left hand. And as the dignitie consisteth in their Girdles and Canopies, those of the right hand weare Girdles of gold and Canopies of yellow, and those of the left hand weare Girdles of siluer and Canopies of blew, or of changeable colour. The Girdles are little lesse then three fingers broad, and an inch thick, and all about of gold or of siluer very well wrought made of peeces. The Ca∣nopies [ 10] are very large and faire, which an Officer doth beare vpon a staffe a fathom long, of a Cloue tree very faire, and they are lined with silke.

Besides these Assistants and the fiue Principall, there is among the inferiour one of greater dig∣nitie, which is the chiefe Iaylor, whom they call Taissu, which haue very great hou••es of great receipts, where they haue great prisons, but neither this nor any that are vnder may weare girdle of gold nor siluer, nor a yellow Canopie, except hee bee an Officer or Captaine of men of warre, that for fauour of a Gentleman may haue a yellow Canopie: the rest weare girdles of Tartaru∣ga, or of other matter made like them of gold or siluer, and their Canopies are of changeable stuffe or blew, and all these Inferiour doe speake to the Superiour, when they are before them on their knees, and doe kneele as long as they are with them, except the Taissu, who when he com∣meth [ 20] in kneeleth and riseth vp presently, and is alwayes standing. Euery one of the great ones haue many inferiour Officers vnder his iurisdiction, for the matters and businesses necessary to the Office of euery one, all which as they are the Kings officers haue the Title of Lothias and their badges or signes. The fiue Principall with their Assistants doe weare for a Badge the Kings Armes on their brests, and on their backs, which are certayne Serpents wouen with gold thred.

Euery yeere there is one sent to euery Prouince as a Iustice, which is called Chaen, which commeth to take account of all the Lothias, great and small, and examineth all the Students and chooseth Louthias, and visiteth the Prisons, and all that is necessary to be seene and prouided for in all the Prouince. He vseth all meanes to spie out their briberie and injustice, and hath power [ 30] to displace or preferre. When this entreth newly into this Citie, it is not lawfull for any to worke, they shut their doores and no body walketh through the street, and to preserue his wor∣ship and authoritie they will not boldly communicate in sight of the people, and many Officers with Banners displayed of crimson silke, and all the Louthias both great and small are bound to goe and meet him. The same entertainment is vsed to euery one of the fiue, when hee commeth newly to the Prouince where hee is to administer his office. There bee other dignities aboue all these, which are called Quinchais, which is to say, a Plate or Seale of gold: which are not sent but about very serious matters and of great importance, for the Kingdome, or the King. Euery Lothia of what qualitie soeuer hee bee, high or low, hath for a signe or badge, besides the aboue∣said, a high Cap and round with certayne eares a-crosse, made of small twigges wouen [ 40] with twist.

All the Offices are giuen from three to three yeeres, and none is giuen for longer time, and all giuen to men that are not borne in that part of the Land, because they may not be mooued by affection in matters of Iustice that belong to their offices, and also because they may not become mightie, thereby to preuent insurrections. The offices are distributed by the King with the counsell of the Eunuchs. And because the Eunuchs are those with whose counsell the offices are d••stributed, they are many times mightily bribed.

The Chaens which the King doth send euery three yeeres, commonly are sound men, and bring commonly more authoritie then the rest. And these (besides the yeerly Chaen) are sent the third yeere, when euery Officer endeth his office. After that the Chaens haue taken the ac∣counts [ 50] of the Lothyas, they visit the Prisons and giue audience to the Prisoners. After this hee with the other principall Lothias doe visit the Schollers, and all those that hee findeth to haue studied well, he fauoureth and giueth them good hopes, and those which haue not studied well, if hee see they haue abilitie for it, he commandeth them to bee whipped. And if already they haue beene whipped and haue not amended, he commands them to bee put some dayes in prison, besides the whipping of them, that with these punishments from thence forward they may haue a better care. If hee findeth that they neither learne, nor haue abilitie, hee thrusts them out of the Schooles.

This doe onely the Louthias which come euery three yeeres, after they haue dispatched the businesses of the Prouince, hee busieth himselfe in making Louthias: which hee maketh in forme following. He commandeth to come to the principall Citie of the Prouince, all the Students [ 60] that haue well studied, from all the Cities of the Prouince, and from all the great Townes, where the King hath Schoole-masters of free Schooles, maintayned at his charge (for the Students did learne the Lawes of the Realme, maintayned at their fathers charge.) And all the principall

Louthias of the Prouince assembled with Chaen, there examine very well euery one of the Stu∣dents, demanding of him many things concerning their Lawes: and if he answereth to all well, they command him to be put apart, and if he be not yet well instructed, eyther they send him to learne more, and if it be through his default, eyther they whip him, or being whipped they send him to Prison, as the Portugals saw many in Prison for that fault, where they were in Pri∣son also. After the Examination ended, the Chaen riseth vp, and all the Louthias with great Ceremonies, Feasts, Musickes, and Playings, they giue the degree to euery one of them they found sufficient, which is to giue him the Title of Louthi••. And after the passing many dayes in Feasts, and Banquets, they send them to the Court to receiue the Badges of Louthias, which are Caps with eares, broad Girdles and Canopies, and there they stay the distribution of Offices. So [ 10] that in this manner they make the Louthias, which in the Countrey are to administer Iustice. The Louthias for war are made by Chiualries and famous Deeds which they did in war. So that in these Countries men are much honoured by their Learning, or by their Chiualrie, and yet more for their Learning, because of the Learned doe commonly come the fiue principall Louthias and the Assistants.

Notwithstanding, there are many Louthias, which are made for simple fauours, either for do∣ing some particular seruice to the King, or to the Realme, or in some Towne, or hauing some par∣ticular fauour or qualitie. As they did to a young man of China, because the Portugals beeing in Prison, he serued for an Interpreter, whereby the Louthias gaue him the title and badges of Lou∣thia, [ 20] because he could speake Portugall. But these and such other doe not commonly serue Offi∣ces of the King, but enjoy onely the Liberties of Louthias: as the Gentlemen Portugals haue their Liberties which some enioy by fauour of the King. And these Louthias haue great Liberties in the Countrey: for none can doe him any injurie without punishment, neither can they bee im∣prisoned but for hainous faults, and they may imprison any that doe wrong them, and many o∣ther Liberties. And though there were some Portugals that reported without any certaintie that the Chinaes did studie naturall Philosophie, the truth is that there is no other Studies nor Vniuersities in it nor particular, but onely the Schooles Royall of the Lawes of the Kingdome. The truth is that some are found that haue knowledge of the courses of Heauen, whereby they know the Eclypses of the Sunne and of the Moone. But these if they know it by any Wri∣tings that are found among them, they teach it to some person, or persons in particular, but of [ 30] this there are no Schooles.

The Chinas haue no certaine Letters in their Writing, for all that they write is by Chara∣cters. Their lines are not ouerthwart as in the Writings of all other Nations, but are written vp and downe.

When the Louthias are dispatched at the Court with Offices for the Prouinces, where they goe to gouerne, they depart carrying nothing of their owne more then the Apparell they are to weare, and some few Seruants to serue him, euen when they haue no Offices, neither need they carry any prouision for the Iourney, nor carriage or shipping at their owne charge: for through all the wayes where he goeth are prouisions, aswell of shipping as of necessarie carriage, and ne∣cessary food for all the Kings Officers, which are prouided of the Royall Rents. In all the Ci∣ties [ 40] and great Townes, the King hath many good and Noble Houses for the Louthias both great and small to lodge in, and all those which by any meanes are the Kings, haue sufficient Rents for the maintenance of euery person that shall dwell in the House according to his degree. And that which is to be giuen to euery one for his Expences is alreadie limited. Wherefore he that may lodge there being come, the Officer of the House commeth to him, and asketh him if hee will haue his ordinary in money, or in things necessarie for prouision, and that which hee doth de∣mand, as farre as the money doth extend, hee is to giue him, very well and cleanly drest, either Flesh, Fish, Duckes, or Hennes, or what he will. And any Louthia that doth lodge there, may command the Hoast of the House to be whipped, if he serue him not to his will. And if any Lou∣thia [ 50] will goe to lodge at the House of any acquaintance of his, hee taketh the Money, which the inferiour Louthias doe also sometimes, either to spare some Money, or to bee merry at their wils more freely. And in the prouisions of these Houses there is no want any wayes, for the Ponchasis haue the charge to giue them sufficient prouision that it doe not want. And at the yeares end account is taken of the Officers of the House of the Expenses he made.

By the wayes at euery League, and at euery two leagues are Houses which onely haue Beds, and Chaires for the Trauellers to rest and ease themselues. And some of those that haue care of these Houses, haue prouision for to giue Wine to the guests: others giue nothing but Chua. Af∣ter the Louthias come to the Citie where they are to be resident and execute his Office, they find the Houses, where they are to lodge according to the Offices they haue great or small, greater [ 60] or smaller. In these Houses they find all the Seruants necessary, Scriueners, Porters, and all o∣ther Ministers necessary for their Offices. For these are continually in the houses, for to minister at all times all the Offices of the Houses where they serue. And euery Officer according to his House and person hath his prouision necessary for his meate, drinke, and his apparell (limited so that it sufficeth him well) which is payed to him without faile, euery moneth.

When the Louthias are old and wearied in the charges and Offices of the Kingdome, they are lodged in their owne Countries or where they will, and the King alloweth them euery moneth so much according to their qualitie for their maintenance till they dye. And because the Or∣dinaries of the Louthias are commonly sufficient, and with some abundance, they may alwayes spare some thing to leaue their Wiues and Children. Before the inferiour Ministers these Offi∣cers doe all things of their Offices and matters of Iustice, for they are present at all things, to preuent Bribes and partialitie. Whiles the Louthia is sitting in the chaire to heare the parties and dispatching of matters, the Porters, Scriueners, Sergeants and other Ministers are at the doore: and when any person commeth with any matter, one of the Porters with a high voice that hee may be heard where the Louthias sitteth (for it is farre off) telleth who and wherefore he com∣meth. [ 10] And none speaketh to the Louthias but vpon both their knees on the ground, and common∣ly they speake a prettie space distant from him. And from thence with a high voyce well vn∣derstood, he propoundeth his case, or sheweth him his Petition written in Paper, and lifting vp the hand desireth him to receiue it, and to shew him Iustice; to whom a Minister runneth, the Louthia making a signe to him, and presenteth it vnto him. After the Louthia readeth it, he ey∣ther dispatcheth him of that which he asketh, writing at the foote of the Petition with redde Inke, or remitteth the party to an inferiour Officer to be dispatched. So I saw it done to a Pe∣tition which a woman presented to the Ponchasi.

The promptnesse and readinesse wherewith the Louthias are serued, and how feared they are, cannot be written with the Pen, nor expressed with the Tongue, but it must be seene with the [ 20] eye for to know what it is. All doe their messages running and with great speed, not onely the Scriueners and Sergeants, and other Ministers, but also the Inferiour Louthias to the Superiour. And if any fayleth neuer so little of his diligence and accustomed speed, or committeth the lesse negligence in the World before the Louthia, hee hath not any remission, but immediately they put a little flagge in his hand, and he must hold it in his hand kneeling vntill the parties be dis∣patched: and then the Louthia commandeth to giue him the stripes that he thinke good: and the stripes are such as hereafter we will speake of. Whereby all the Ministers in the Houses of the Louthias are playstered or marked with the stripes, so that already among themselues they hold it a disgrace not to be marked with the stripes, because it is a thing generally common among them. And when the Louthia waxeth angry or is moued at any thing, it is a wonder to see the [ 30] trouble and feare that is in all the standers by.

I being in the House of the Ponchasi with certayne Portugals, intreating for the deliuerance of certayne Portugals that were Captiues, and imprisoned in the Iayle, for the which wee car∣ried him eight Ounces of Ambar (which at that time was much esteemed of them, and now by carrying so much it is not so much esteemed) we not being willing to giue him the Ambar, with∣out giuing vs both the Portugals, he tooke an occasion for to terrifie vs, to waxe angry against the youth, seruant of a Portugall which was in our company and was our Interpretour. Wherefore he rose out of the Chaire and became red as bloud, and his eyes were inflamed, and set one foote forward, putting his thumbes vnder his Girdle, looking to the standers by with a terrible coun∣tenance: stepping forward, lift vp his foot and stampt on the ground with it, and said with a [ 40] terrible voyce. Taa, which is to say, Whippe. It was a wonderfull thing to see in how little space they tooke the youth, tyed his hands behind with a Cord, and laid him on his belly with his thighes bare, and two Beadles placed them selues on each side one, with one foote forward, and their Whip readie for to giue him the stripes that they should bee commanded to giue him. Certainly it was all done in a moment. The Merchants that came in our fauour were troubled, and stood aside shaking with feare. At this time one of the Prisoners said, Sirs, be not afraid, for he cannot whip that youth. And in truth we knew it was so, for according to their Lawes there was no fault, whereby he might command him to be whipped, and there was a penaltie if hee did it. The Louthia hearing the voyce of the Prisoner, commanded to carry him with speed to the Iayle againe. And the Louthia did this for nothing else but to make vs afraid, that wee [ 50] should giue him the Ambar for one of the Prisoners, for he could not giue vs the other, because he was alreadie adjudged to dye, and the sentence confirmed by the King, which was irreuocable, and he was willing to haue the Ambar, for he hoped to haue of the King a greater Reward then to be Ponchasi for the Ambar. For he did eate it for to sustayne life, and many dayes were past since they had demanded it of the Portugals, but as they knew not the name we vsed for it, they neuer vnderstood one another till that the yeare after they had for the Aitao of Cantan a little for the deliuery of a Portugall: whereby he was aduanced to Ponchasi. And this would also haue for the same effect the Ambar at our hands for to be aduanced.

Notwithstanding, we seeing our selues tyed and without an Interpretour by whom to speake, and the youth in disposition of whipping, we gaue him the Ambar. There came presently a Cha∣sing-dish [ 60] for to proue it, and the Prisoner cast a little in the fire, and seeing the smoake ascend right vp, he was contented, and scattering the smoake hee set his Nose ouer it and said, Haoa, which is to say, it is very good. And commanded presently to deliuer vs the Prisoner free. It was wonderfull to see with what speed it was weighed, and the pieces told and put in a Paper,

and noted by the Scriuener before them all the number of the pieces, and the waight that was there. And after that Paper another, all glued presently. And after that another. And in the third, the Panchasi set his Marke with Red Letters, and what was contayned within. And at the same instant came a little Boxe, and being put in it was presently stopped, and vpon the co∣uer a Paper glued, and vpon it the Marke of the Ponchasi: and presently came an inferiour Lou∣thia Captayne of the Army with his Souldiers, and all afarre off kneeled downe, and said at e∣uery word Quoo, which is to say, Yes, enclining their heads and hands to the ground. And recei∣uing his message, presently as he came running, so he returned running with the Boxe to take shipping for to carrie the Ambar to the Tutaen, to bee sent from him to the King. All this that I [ 10] haue spoken was done in a trice before wee stirred from the place where wee were. This was also desirous to haue the Ambar of vs before the Louthia of that seate did come, which was loo∣ked for euery day to come a new: for this was onely a Lieutenant.

When any Louthia that is not of the fiue, neither the Chaen, neither very inferiour, but as they say of the meaner sort, goeth abroad into the Citie, he hath before him a good space two Ministers with two Maces that seeme to be of siluer, vpon long staues, made almost after our fashion, and the one goeth on the one side the street, the other on the other-side. After these a little distant, goe other two, each with a straight Cane, or Pole in his hand. After these goe o∣ther two in the same distance with two Canes trayling along the Pauements, which are the In∣struments of Iustice wherewith they doe whip. After these goe other two with two Tables [ 20] like two Targets bowed and playstered, whereon is written the Title of the Officer that passeth. The formost signifie in their Maces, that he which passeth is in his Office in the Kings place. And the two straight Rods, the right of Iustice which he ought to doe. Those which carrie the Instru∣ments of whipping, doe carrie for a signe certayne long Red Laces, with two great round Tassels at the ends. And all doe carrie very gallant Plumes very well made of the points of a Peacocks tayle. And those that goe before doe now and then say with a loud voyce Huuph, which is to say, Giue place, or beware. While these doe passe it is not lawfull in any wise for any one to crosse, or goe in the middle of the street, vnder paine of being whipped without any remission.

It chanced two Portugals went through the middest of a street in Cantan walking, and behind them came an inferiour Louthia, which had but foure Ministers, which came crying according to [ 30] their custome they should giue place. The Portugals either gaue no heed or made no regard of those that came: wherefore a Minister comming, gaue a great thrust to the one of them, and the Portugall answered him with a boxe on the eare; and being bound with his hands behind him, was to goe to Prison. It was necessary for the Portugall to come to the Louthia, and pacifie him with faire words, and he made an end of pacifying him with fourteene Crownes that hee gaue him. After the Ministers commeth the Louthia in a rich Chaire gilt and very faire, on foure mens backes. These Chaires are great and sumptuous, and the Louthia goeth compassed with all the Scriueners and other his Ministers. And all of them while hee goeth by the street, goe al∣wayes running. And the Louthia weareth a long blacke Coate of fine Searge with long sleeues, which is the common wearing: he carrieth the armes a crosse like a Frier, and his eyes low with∣out [ 40] looking to any side: for euen with their eyes they will not communicate with the common people, for to preserue their authoritie the more with them, that may be more feared.

When any of the foure Louthias goeth abroad, except the Tutan, or the yearely Chaen, they goe accompanied with many Ministers, and sixe Officers doe carrie them on their backes, and they leade a spare Horse with a faire Saddle, and a cloth of Silke ouer it; the Chaire wherein they goe is more sumptuous and richer, they carrie before foure, fiue, or sixe Maces, and two or three Instruments and more Ministers.

When the Chaen that commeth euery three yeeres commeth into the Citie, or for forme im∣portant affaires goeth abroad, or some Quinchay, they shut vp all the doores in the streets where he passeth, and none doth worke, nor is any seene in the street when hee passeth. The shops are [ 50] shut vp, and euery thing of sale is out of sight. The Officers with coards along the street, doe make three lanes, where the triumphing Arches are made in three Arches: and through the middest passeth the Louthia onely, and the Officers on the two sides. And it is not lawfull for any to passe through the middle: they are accompanied of many inferiour Louthias that goe on foot. And on the one side of the street, and the other are many armed men and others with Ban∣ners of red Silke aduanced, all standing in good order. In the Court of the house where he is to goe in, are many Kettle-drummes set vpon high stakes to be well played vpon, which are coue∣red downe to the ground with clothes of Silke quartered. After these are many placed in order, with Flags of Silke on high. After these in the same order, are many with Trumpets, and all are in great silence. As soone as the Louthia appeareth they all sound their Instruments in order: [ 60] the sound of the Instruments ended, they remayne all in so great a silence, as if there were no bodie in the Court, being a great multitude of people. The people as they come in, doe place themselues on the sides, the middest betweene the Instruments remayning voide, whereby the Louthia passeth. Before these Louthias goe commonly many inferiour Louthias, of those that carrie Maces when they goe abroad. There are also in this Court many men at Armes with

long gilt Lances, and with very faire Armours. This is all in the first Court. In the second, a∣long the Gallerie (whereof wee spake aboue, when wee treated of the houses of the great men, that onely the Louthias passe through them) on the one side and the other are many inferiour Louthias with Head-pieces on their heads, some gilt, some with Siluer, and with Swords han∣ging at their belts, and with Coats and Cassocks made in fashion of Frockes with studs of Gold and Siluer, that it seemeth set vpon plates, but it is a very fine worke made vpon very single Silke, which serueth onely for brauerie and ornament. Some vse on their heads white Head-pieces garnished with Gold, but are of a very fine leafe and thinne, that seeming an Armour, are not. In this manner also are the Louthias inferiours, which doe enuiron the superiour Louthia. The Chaires where these doe goe are very rich and of great price, and very sumptuous. The Tables whereon is written the titles of dignitie of these Great men are written with letters of [ 10] Siluer. And when any of these doth enter newly in any Citie with these feasts and enternayn∣ments, all the Louthias, great and small, receiue him at a house (where hee landeth very rich and noble) and from thence they accompanie him vnto his lodging, and being lodged, all doe take their leaue with many curtesies. In these receiuings they vse no sumptuous apparell. The great men (when most) weare Coats of red Silke. In their owne feasts in their houses, and secretly one with another, and in banquets they vse crimson Silke, and all the brauerie in their apparell, and in rich attires.

Whensoeuer by way of inquirie or examination any Witnesses are demanded, the Louthias doe it in publicke before the Officers and ministers of his Office, and before all the rest that by any meanes chance to be there present, and this because no falshood may be vsed, nor any sleight [ 20] in the manner of inquiring: and by consequence in writing. And first they examine the Wit∣nesses seuerally, and if they doe agree, they ioyne them, and examine the one before the other, till they bring them to altercations and quarrelling by words, that by the words the one spea∣keth to the other they may come to the knowledge of the truth. And if by this meanes they doe not comprehend the truth, they giue them many stripes and tortures that by one meanes or other they may know the truth of the matter they enquire or examine: they vse no Oath, for they esteeme nothing of their Gods. They haue notwithstanding a respect in the witnessing the persons of qualitie, and of whom is presumed that they will not easily lye. When they exa∣mine any matter of great weight, or a graue person, then they write themselues, the pro∣cesse of the examination. It chanceth sometimes that some of the Louthias for a great bribe, [ 30] or for great friendship let some Prisoner loose, and put another in his place, for there neuer wanteth one naughtipacke that will put himselfe in danger of stripes, or death for interest, or they bring him in by deceit, deceiuing him with words, and making the matter light vnto him, and giuing him some interest, they name him as the Prisoner they will let loose, that the faults and punishments of the guiltie may fall vpon the innocent. And when sometime in this sort they cannot let the guiltie person loose, they labour to bribe all the Officers to giue him for dead among those that die in the prisons. But these inuentions are not vsed but where the bribes are great, or the adherents very great and mightie. And for to eschew the inconueniences which sometime fall out, when any are imprisoned for weightie matters, or the Prisoners haue great aduersaries, they set downe all the markes of the Prisoners, and cause them to be set at the foot [ 40] of the writing, that so they may not vse any of the malices abouesaid.

With how much pietie and leasure they kill, with so much crueltie and speed they whip, for in this case they forgiue none. The stripes are such that with reason it might be a sufficient pu∣nishment for to amend, for the canes wherewith they whip are plaited below about foure fingers broad, and goe straightning vpward vnto the end, where the Beadles hold them: and they are al∣most a finger thicke (for in those parts are canes as big as a mans leg. And because in Portugall are many witnesses of knowledge of the same, I dare simply affirme it, and they are of eighty or ninety spans long.) And their whips are made of these canes of the height of a middle statured man to the breasts. They giue the stripes on the hammes of the mans legs, being layd on his breast, and his legs layd along, and his hands tyed behind. And the Beadles butchering, as they [ 50] are commanded, the Louthias are altogether voide of compassion, talking one with another, ea∣ting and drinking, and picking their teeth. The crueltie is such, that the Court is full of bloud: and when they haue made an end of whipping them, they carrie them not, but like Butchers with much crueltie they draw them by one leg to the Prison. And when the Beadles are whip∣ping, they tell with a loude voyce the stripes. If the miserable Prisoners which are in the Pr∣son for grieuous faults at the time that this correction is to bee done can get a piece of a coard, wherewith they may hang themselues, they goe to buffets who shall hang himselfe first, that that the butcherie of the stripes be not executed on them. And the Portugals affirmed, which were in Prison, that in one day fortie Prisoners did hang themselues in the Prison where they [ 60] were, to escape the stripes they were rather willing to lose their liues. And they affirmed, that the coard was very short, that scarsely there was so much as to come about the necke to tye it, and on a sticke which they stucke in the wall, and because the sticke was very lowe, they pulled one another till they were choaked, going to buffets who should hang himselfe first. When any

doth kill himselfe, or dieth in the Prison, it is the order in China to cast him in the house of of∣fice, and there to be three dayes, where the Rats doe eate him vp. And sometimes the Chinaes Prisoners doe eate of them with hunger.

Euery Citie that is the Head of the Prouince, hath thirteene Dungeons, and in sixe of them are the men condemned to death: there are in Cantan vpward of fifteene thousand Prisoners. There are in euery Dungeon onely for the condemned to death, one hundred and twenty men that serue for watches, and haue a Louthia ouer them as their Captaine, or Gentleman of the round. There be two sorts of tortures, one for the hands, another for the feet, which are nip∣ped by certaine stickes to the bruising or breaking of the fingers or toes with cruell paines.

The King hath as many wiues as he listeth: and within doores all the seruice is almost of [ 10] women: whereof he hath a great multitude: and likewise great store of Eunuches, and there is no other people within the house. The first son that is borne vnto him of any of his wiues suc∣ceedeth in the Kingdome. The rest he marrieth, and at such time as he marrieth them they are lodged in some of the Cities that he best liketh; where they are well prouided of all things ne∣cessarie for their maintenance, as sonnes to the King. But they neuer see the Kings face any more after they are married.

All the Embassadours that come to China, with Embassages from Kings or Princss, receiue of the King great rewards and fauours, and they giue him Cap and signes of Lothia, whereby he hath great priuiledges in the Countrey. They may whip and punish the Chinaes themselues, so that they touch not any Louthia small or great: for to meddle with these would breed great [ 20] inconueniences. This was the cause that Fernando Perez of Adrade going for Embassadour to China, that the Chinaes did rise against him, and hee escaped with his hands on his head, losing some ships: because hauing done vnaccustomed Iustice in China, and vpon the Chinaes, and they forbearing him, he would stretch his hand to the Louthias. The goods of the Embassadour, and of his is free from customes, and to him and to his they giue lodgings to dwell in, and all things necessarie while they are in the Countrie. No man, no not a Louthia may disturbe him in any thing, nor any thing of his. One Lothia would haue whipped one of Siam, for hauing carried a message to the Prison to certaine Portugals that were in Prison. One of the Officers said vn∣to him that was present, that he was of Siam of the Embassage, wherefore being satisfied there∣with he let him goe in peace, desiring him he would not doe so againe.

[ 30] With the Chinaes being so great as at the beginning we said and declared, the King hath such meanes and industrie in the gouernement thereof, that euery moneth he knoweth all that passeth through all the Realme, and he knoweth it in this manner. All matters of Iustice and of Warre, and all annuities with all that is worth the knowing in euery one of the Prouinces is referred by the Louthias, and by other persons to the Ponchasi, and the Ponchasi maketh a relation of all by writing to the Tutan. The Tutan is bound to send a Post euery moneth to the Court, which carrieth the information in writing to the King of all things that passed in that moneth. They count their moneths by the Moones, and they are to be dispatched in such sort, that at the be∣ginning of euery Moone the Posts from all the Prouinces are to bee at the Court, that the first day of the Moone it may be presented to the King, as relations of all things happened in euery [ 40] Prouince. And although some Prouinces are farre distant from the Court, that the Posts cannot come within a moneth to the Court: notwithstanding in such manner they agree that euery Moone the King is to haue the relation of euery Prouince, though the one be of more time then another, because of the one Prouince being farre and the other neere.

The manner of the Posts is as among vs, they carrie a Horne which they winde when they come neere to any Towne, that they may haue a Horse ready in euery Towne within a certaine distance. They are bound when they heare the Horne to haue a Horse ready for him, which is done with such diligence as all the other seruices of the Officers. And where hee is to passe a Foord, as soone as he windeth his Horne with great speed they carrie him a Boat, as I saw once going to the Citie of Cantan, in a Towne that was in the way, called Caaman. Sometimes it [ 50] hapneth by the malice of some Louthias, when they haue any interest in it, to keepe some things concealed that the King knoweth not: but woe to them if the King come to know it, for they are grieuously punished, as wee shall see in a case hereafter following. Being in India, and also in China, I was enformed that sometimes the King of China doth send some men of great confi∣dence disguised through diuers parts of China, that they might see how his Officers did serue him. And if there were any nouelties or changes whereof they made him not priuie, or some things that were necessarie to prouide.

[ 60]

§ V. Of the Portugall commerce with the Chinois; of the seuere Iustice executed vpon certaine Magistrates, for wrongs done to the Portugals.

BEcause we spake many times before of Portugals, captiues in China, it will bee a conue∣nient thing that the causes of their Captiuitie be knowne, where many notable things will be shewed. Yee are to know, that from the yeere 1554. hitherto, the businesses in China are done very quietly and without danger: and since that time till this day, there hath not one ship beene lost but by some mischance: hauing lost in times past many. Be∣cause as the Portugals and the Chinaes were almost at warres, when the Armies came vpon them, [ 10] they weighed anchor and put for the Sea, and lay in places vnsheltered from tempests, whereby the stormes comming, many were lost vpon the coast, or vpon some shelues. But from the yeere 1554. hitherto, Lionell of Sosa, borne in Algarue, being chiefe Captaine, and married in Chaull, made a couenant with the Chinaes that they would pay their duties, and that they should suf∣fer them to doe their businesses in their Ports. And since that time they doe them in Cantan, which is the first part of China: and thither the Chinaes doe resort with their Silkes and Muske, which are the principall goods the Portugals doe buy in China. There they haue sure Hauens, where they are quiet without danger, or any one disquieting them, and so the Chinaes doe now make their merchandise well: and now both great and small are glad with the trafficke of the Portugals, and the fame of them runneth through all China. Whereby some of the principall [ 20] of the Court came to Cantan onely to see them hauing heard the fame of them. Before the time aforesaid, and after the rising which Fernando Perez of Andrade did cause, the businesses were done with great trouble, they suffered not a Portugall in the Countrey, and for great hatred and loathing called them Facui, that is to say, Men of the Deuill.

Now they hold not commerce with them vnder the name of Portugals, neither went this name to the Court when they agreed to pay customes: but vnder the name of Fangin, which is to say, People of another Coast. Note also, that the law in China is that no man of China doe sayle out of the Realme in paine of death. Onely it is lawfull for him to sayle along the coast of the same China. And yet along the coast, nor from one place to another in China it selfe it is lawfull to goe without a certificate of the Louthias of the Countrey whence they depart: in [ 30] which is set downe, whither they goe, and wherefore, and the markes of his person, and his age. If he carrieth not this certificate he is banished to the Frontiers. The Merchant that car∣rieth goods carrieth a certificate of the goods hee carrieth, and how hee payed duties for them. In euery Custome-house that is in euery Prouince hee payeth certaine duties, and not paying them he loseth the goods, and is banished to the frontier parts. Notwithstanding the abouesaid lawes some Chinaes doe not leaue going out of China to trafficke, but these neuer returne againe to China. Of these some liue in Mallaca, others in Siam, others in Patane, and so in diuers pla∣ces of the South some of these that goe out without licence are scattered. Whereby some of these which liue already out of China doe returne againe in their ships vnto China, vnder the pro∣tection of some Portugall: and when they are to dispatch the duties of their ships they take [ 40] some Portugall their friend to whom they giue some bribe, that he may dispatch it in his name and pay the duties. Some Chinaes desiring to get their liuing, doe goe very secretly in these ships of the Chinaes to trafficke abroad, and returne very secretly, that it bee not knowne, no not to his kindred, that it bee not spread abroad, and they incurre the penalty that the like doe incurre. This law was made because the King of China found that the much communication of the strangers might be the cause of some risings. And because many Chinaes with an excuse of sayling abroad became theeues and robbed the Countries along the Sea coast, and yet for all this diligence there are many Chinaes robbers along the Sea coast.

These Chinaes that liue out of China, and doe goe thither with the Portugals, since the offence [ 50] of Fernando Perez of Andrada did direct the Portugals to begin to goe to traffick to Liampo; for in those parts are no walled Cities nor Villages, but many and great Townes along the coast, of poore people, which were very glad of the Portugals, and sold them their prouision whereof they made their gayne. In these Townes were these Merchants of China which came with the Portugals, and because they were acquainted, for their sake the Portugals were better enter∣tayned. And as these Chinaes which were among the Portugals and the Countrey Mer∣chants in their buyings and sellings, they reaped a great profit thereby. The inferiour Louthias of the Sea coast receiued also great profit of this trafficke, for they receiued great bribes of the one and of the other, to giue them leaue to trafficke, to carrie and recarrie their goods. So that this trafficke was among them a long while concealed from the King, and from the superi∣our [ 60] Louthias of the Prouince. After these matters had for some space beene done secretly in Liampoo, the Portugals went by little and little forward, and began to goe and make their mer∣chandise to Chincheo, and to the Ilands of Cantan. And other Louthias permitted them already in euery place for the bribes sake, whereby some Portugals came to trafficke beyond Namqui,

which is very farre from Cantan, without the King being witting, or hauing knowledge of this trafficke. The matters fell out in such sort, that the Portugals wintered in the Ilands of Liampoo.

Some Chinaes that were among the Portugals, and some Portugals with them, came to disor∣der themselues in such manner that they made great stealths and robberies and killed some of the people. These euils encreased so much that the clamour of the iniured was so great, that it came not onely to the superiour Louthias of the Prouince, but also to the King. Who commanded presently to make a very great Armada in the Prouince of Fuquen, to driue the theeues from all the coast, especially those that were about Liampoo, and all the Merchants as well Portugals as Chinaes were reputed in this number of theeues. Being ready they went forth along the coast [ 10] of the Sea. And because the windes serued them not for to goe for Liampoo, they went to the coast of Chincheo, where finding some sh••p•• of Portugals, they began to fight with them, and in no wise did they permit any wares to come to the Portugals; who stayed many dayes there (fighting sometimes) to see if they could haue any remedie for to dispatch their businesses. But seeing they had no remedy, they determined to goe without it. The Captaynes of the Armie knowing this, sent a message to them very secretly by night, that if they would that any goods should come to them, that they should send them something. The Portugals very glad with this message, prepared a great and sumptuous present, and sent it them by night because they were so aduised. From thence-forward came many goods vnto them, the Louthias making as though they tooke no heed thereof, dissembling with the Merchants. And so were the businesses ended [ 20] that yeere, which was the yeere 1548.

The yeare following, which was 1549. there was a straighter watch vpon the Coast by the Captaynes of the Armada, and greater vigilancie in the Ports and entrances of China, in such sort that neyther goods nor victuals came to the Portugals: but for all the vigilancie and wat∣ching there was, (as the Ilands along the Coast are many, for they all runne in a rew along the China) the Armies could not haue so much vigilancie, that some wares were not brought se∣cretly to the Portugals. But they were not so many that they could make vp the ships ladings, and the vttering those goods which they had brought to China. Wherefore leauing the goods which they had not vttered in two ships of China, of such Chinaes as were alreadie dismem∣bred from China, and Traffique abroad vnder the shadow of the Portugals, (in the which they [ 30] left thirtie Portugals in charge with the ships and with the goods) that they might defend the ships, and in some Port of China where best they could they should sell the goods that remay∣ned in change for some Wares of China, and hauing ordayned this they departed for India.

As the people of the Armie of the Chinaes saw the two ships remayne alone, the other ships being gone, they came vpon them, being induced by some Merchants of the Countrey, which discouered to them the great store of goods that remayned in those Vessels, and the few Portu∣gals that remayned to keepe them. Then they layd an ambush for them, dressing some Chinaes ashoare, which being in armes made as though they would set vpon the ships to fight with them, because they were close to the Land, that the Portugals being prouoked, should come out of the ships to fight with them, & so the ships might remaine without defence to them of the Armada, [ 40] which lay watching in an ambush, & did accordingly set vpon the two Vessels with great furie & celeritie, and slaying some Portugals that were in the ships, and wounding others they tooke the ships. The chiefe Captayn which is the Luthissi, remayned so glorious, that he vsed great crueltie on some Chinaes that hee tooke with the Portugals. Hee laboured to perswade foure Portugals which had more apparance in their persons then the rest, that they should say, they were Kings of Malaca, he perswaded them in the end, because hee promised to vse them better then the rest, and therewith he prouoked them. And finding among the cloathes that hee tooke a Gowne and a Cap, and asking of one of those Chinaes, that were taken with the Portugals what habit that was, they put in his head, that it was the habit of the Kings of Malaca, wherefore he com∣manded presently to make three Gownes by that patterne, and three Caps, and so he apparelled [ 50] them all foure in one sort, to make his fayning true, and his victory more glorious. To this was joyned the couetousnesse of the Luthissi to see if hee could detayne the many goods that hee had taken in ships.

And to doe this more safely, not to be taken in a lye, he did great executions vpon the Chi∣naes which he tooke with the Portugals, and killing some of them determined to kill the rest. These things comming to the eares of the Aitao, which was his superior, he disliked greatly that which hee had done, and sent to him presently that hee should kill no more of those which re∣mayned, but that he should come to him presently bringing with him all the prize as well of the men that were yet aliue, as of the goods. The Luthissi ordering his Iourney for to goe to the Ai∣tao, as he was commanded, he commanded foure Chaires to be giuen to them, to whom hee had [ 60] giuen title of Kings, to be carried in them with more honour. And the other Portugals were carried in Coopes with their heads out fast by the neckes betweene the boards that they could not pull them in, but hauing some wounds in their heads, they went bare headed to the Sunne and to the Dew, and were carried on mens shoulders. The Luthissi went with this Prize through the Countrey with great Majestie, he carried before him foure Banners displayed, on the which

were written the names of the foure Kings of Malaca. And when he entred into the Townes, he entred with great noyse and Majestie, with sound of Trumpets, and with Cryers which went crying the great victorie, the Luthisi (naming him) had gotten of the foure great Kings of Malaca. And all the great men of the Townes went to receiue him with great Feasts and Ho∣nours, all the Townes running to see the new Victorie.

When the Luthisi came with all his pompe and glory where the Aitao was, after the giuing him particular account of all things passed and of his victory, he manifested to him his pretence and agreed with him to diuide the goods betweene them both, and that he should continue the fayning of the Kings of Malaca, that both might receiue of the King Honours and Rewards. This being set downe they both agreed that to keepe this in secret, the Luthisi should go forward in that which he had begun, to wit, he should slay all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chinas, that came there captiue. And [ 10] presently they commanded presently to put it in effect, and so they slue ninetie and odde Chi∣nas, among whom were some young youths slaine. They left notwithstanding three or foure youthes and one man, that by them (bringing them to their owne hand) they might certifie the King all that they would, that was to make of the Portugals Theeues, and conceale the goods which they tooke: certifying also by these that those foure were Kings of Malaca. And the Portugals not hauing the Language of the Countrey, neither had any person to intreate for or fauour them would perish: and they being mightie would make their owne Tale good, follow∣ing the end by them intended. And for this cause they slue not the Portugals, but left them a∣liue, for the greater triumph of the victorie.

These Lothias could not doe this so secretly, but many of those which they slue had kindred in [ 20] the Countrey, which did grieue at the death of theirs. Whereby, as well by these, as by some Louthias that were zealous of Iustice, and would not giue consent in so great euils and fraudulent dealings, this matter came to the Kings eares, and hee was informed how the Portugals were Merchants which came to traffique with their Merchandize to China, and they were no theeues, and how they had falsly giuen the Title of Kings to foure of them, to the end the King should shew great fauours, and doe them great honours; and how they had vsurped great store of goods: and that for to conceale these euils, they killed men and children without fault.

As soone as the King was informed of all aboue said, hee dispatched present from the Court a Quinchay, (of whom we spake before, that is to say plate of Gold) And with him he sent other [ 30] two men of great authoritie also, of the which the one had beene Panchasi, the other Anchasi, these two as Inquisitors and Examiners of this matter: Commanding and commending to the Chaen which that yeare went to visit the Prouince of Fuquen, and to the Panchasi and Anchasi, of the same Prouince, their ayde and assistance to the Quinchay, and the two Inquisitors in all things necessary for them in these businesses. The two that came with the Quinchay, as Inqui∣sitors, went presently to certayne great Houses which had in the middest a great Court, and on the one side of the Court were certayne great and faire Lodgings, and on the other side others in the same sort. Each of the Inquisitors entred in one of these Houses aforesaid. The Prisoners were presently brought, and were presented to the one of them, who for courtesie remitted them to the other, that he should examine them first, with many words of courtesie. The other sent [ 40] them againe with great thankfulnesse. So they were sundry times carried from one to another, each of them willing to giue the hand to the other of beginning first, till that one of them yeel∣ded and began. And as the matter was of great import and much commended to them, all that the guiltie and the accusers did speake these Officers did write with their owne hands. The Por∣tugals had for a great Enemy a China man and Pilot of one of the shippes that were taken, and a China youth which was a Christian, which from a childe was brought vp among the Portugals: for they were both made of the part of the contrarie Louthias, mooued by gifts and promises: the Louthias being alreadie deposed of their Offices, and held for guiltie, for the which they were accused before the King.

But though they were thus handled, they were so mightie and so fauoured, that they could [ 50] take from the Portugals a China youth that serued them for an Interpreter, which vpon their Petition was againe deliuered them. They examined them in this order, the accused were first brought and examined by one of these Officers, and they carried them to the other to bee exa∣mined againe. And while the other was re-examining the accused, the accusers were brought to him that examined first. And as well the accused as the Accusers were all examined by both the Officers, that afterward they both seeing the confessions of the one and the other, they might see if they did agree. And first they examined euery one by himselfe. Afterward they exami∣ned them altogeter, for to see if the one did contrary the other, or did contend and reprehend one another, that so by little and little they might gather the truth of the case. In these Exa∣minations the two were contrary, to wit, the Pilot, and the Christian China youth, and had many [ 60] stripes, because they agreed in some things. The Louthias did alwayes shew themselues glad to heare the Portugals in their defence, who alleadged in their defence, that if they would know who they were, and how they were Merchants and not Theeues, they should send to enquire of them along the Coast of Chincheo, that there they should know the truth▪ which they might

know of the Merchants of the Countrey, with whom a great many yeares agoe they had dealt, and that they might know that they were no Kings, for Kings do not abase themselues so much as to come with so few men to play the Marchants, and if before they said the contrary, it was by the deceit of the Luthisi, and to receiue better vsage of him in their persons.

Hauing this information of the Portugals, presently with the opinion of the Quinchay and the other Officers, they went to Chincheo both of them, to enquire of the trueth of that which the Portugals had told them; and discouering there the truth of the Portugals matter, and the lies of the Luthissi, and of the Aitao, they dispatched presently a Post; wherein they commanded to put the Luthissi and the Aitao in Prison, and in good safeguard. Wherefore from thence forward [ 10] all men began to fauour them very much. If notwithstanding this examination had bin made in Liampoo, as it was in Chincheo, the Portugals could not haue chosen but haue past it ill, according to the greatnesse of the euils they had done there. After the Louthias returned from Chincheo, they commanded to bring the Portugals before them, and comforted them very much, shewing them great good-will, and saying to them, that they knew already they were no theeues, but were honest men: and they examined againe as well they as their aduersaries, to see if they contra∣dicted themselues in any thing of that which before they had spoken. In these later re-examina∣tions the Pilot of China, which before had shewed himselfe against the Portugals, and had beene on the Louthias side, seeing that the Louthias were already in Prison, and that now they could doe them no good, and that the Portugals were already fauoured, and that the trueth was already [ 20] knowne, he gainsaid himselfe of all that he had said, and said that it was true that the Portugals were no theeues nor Kings, but Merchants, and very good men, and discouered the goods which the Luthissi had taken when he surprised the Portugals. And that till then he had said to the con∣trary, was for the great promises which the Louthias promised him, and for the great threats they vsed to him if he did it not. But seeing they were already in Prison, and he knew they could doe him no hurt, he would now speake the truth. They then commanded to torment him, and whip him very sore, to see if he would gainsay himselfe, but he still continued in the same confession.

All the examinations and diligences necessarie in this business ended, the Quinchay willing to depart for the Court with his companie, would first see the Portugals, and giue a sight of him∣selfe to the Citie. The sight was of great Maiestie in the manner hee went abroad in the Citie, [ 30] for he went accompanied with all the great men of it, and with many men in Armes and many Ancients displayed and very faire, and with many Trumpets and Kettle-drummes, and ma∣ny other things which in such pompes are vsed. And accompanied in this manner, hee went to certaine noble and gallant houses. And all the great men taking their leaue of him, hee com∣manded the Portugals to come neere him, and after a few words he dismissed them: for this was not but onely to see them. Before these Louthias departed they commanded the Louthias of the Countrey, and the Iaylors, that all of them should fauour the Portugals, and giue them good en∣tertaynment, and should command to giue them all things necessarie for their persons. And commanded euery one to set his name in a piece of Paper, because that while they were at the Court, and their matters were dispatching, they should not craftily make some missing. And [ 40] they commanded to keepe the Luthissi in good safety, and the Aitao, and that they should not let them communicate with any person. Being gone from the Citie, they lodged in a small Towne, where they set in order all the Papers, and ingrossing onely that which was necessarie. And because the Papers were many, and were much to write, they helped themselues with three men. And hauing ingrossed all that they were to carrie to the Court, they burned all the rest. And because these three men which they tooke for helpers should not spread abroad any thing of that which they had seene, or heard, or written, they left them shut vp with great vigilan∣cie, that none should speake with them, commanding to giue them all things necessarie very abundantly vntill the Kings Sentence came from Court, and were declared. The Papers being presented in Court, and all seene by the King and by his Officers, he pronounced the Sentence [ 50] in manner and forme following.

Pimpu by commandement of the King. Because Chaipuu, Huchin Tutan without my commande∣ment, or making mee priuie thereto, after the taking of so much people, commanded them to bee slayne: I being willing to prouide therein with Iustice, sent first to know the trueth by Quinsituam, my Quin∣chei, who taking with him the Louthias which I sent to examine the trueth of the Portugals, and also of the Aitao and Luthissi, which had informed mee, that the Portugals were theeues, and that they came to all the coast of my Dominion to robbe and to murther. And the trueth of all being knowne, they are come from doing that which I commanded them. And the Papers being seene by my Pimpu, and by the great Louthias of my Court, and well examined by them, they came to giue mee account of all. And likewise I commanded them to be perused by Ahimpu, and Altu Chaen, and by Athaylissi [ 60] Chuquin, whom I commanded to ouersee those Papers very well, because the matters were of great weight; wherein I would prouide with Iustice. Which thus being seene and perused by them all, it was manifest that the Portugals came many yeeres before to the coast of Chincheo to doe their affaires, which was not conuenient they should doe in the manner they did it, but in my Markets, as was alwaies the custome in all my Ports. These men of whom hitherto I knew not: I know now that the people of

Chincheo went to their ships about their affaires, whereby I know already that they are Merchants and not theeues, as they had written to me they were.

And I doe not blame Merchants to helpe Merchants, but I put great fault in my Louthias of Chin∣cheo: because that when any ship came to my Ports, they should haue knowne if they were Merchants, and if they would pay their duties, and if they would pay them, to write presently vnto mee. If they had done so▪ so much euill had not beene done. Or when they were taken, if they had let mee know it, I had commanded to set them at libertie. And although it bee a custome in my Ports the ships that come vnto them to be measured by cubits for to pay their duties: these being very farre off, it was not necessarie but to let them doe their businesses, and goe for their Countries. Besides this my Pontoos which knew these men to be Merchants did not tell it mee, but concealed it from mee, whereby they were the cause of many people being taken and slaine. And those that remayned aliue as they could not speake, did looke [ 10] toward Heauen, and demanded from their hearts iustice of Heauen (they know no other God su∣preme out the Heauen.) Besides these things I know that the Aitao, and the Luthissi did so much euill for couetousnesse of the many goods which they tooke from the Portugals, hauing no regard whe∣ther those which they tooke, and tooke the goods from, were good or euill men. Likewise the Louthias a∣long the Sea coast knew these men to be Merchants, and certified mee not. And all of them, as disloyall, were the cause of so much euill. I knew more by my Quinchey, that the Aitao, and the Luthissi had Letters, by the which they knew that the Portugals were no theeues but Merchants, and knowing this they were not contented with the taking of them, but they wrote many lyes vnto mee, and were not con∣tented with killing of the men, but killed children also, cutting off the feet of some, of others the hands, and at last the heads of them all: writing vnto mee they had taken and slayne Kings of Mallaca. Which [ 20] case I beleeuing to be true, grieue in my heart.

And because hitherto so many cruelties haue beene vsed without my commandement, from hence for∣ward I command they be not done. Besides this the Portugals resisted my Armie, being better to haue let themselues beene taken, then to kill my people. Moreouer, it is long since they came to the coast of our Dominion about their affaires in manner of theeues, and not as Merchants: wherefore if they had beene naturall as they are strangers they had incurred paine of death & losse of goods, wherfore they are not with∣out fault. The Tutan by whose commandement those men were sla••ne, said that by this deed I should make him greater; and the people that he commanded to be slayne after they had no heads, their hearts, (that is their soules and their bloud) required iustice of Heauen. I seeing so great euils to be done, my eyes could not indure the sight of the Papers without teares, and great griefe of my heart. I know [ 30] not, my Louthias seeing they tooke this people, wherefore they let it not goe, that I might not come to know so many cruelties and so great. Wherefore seeing all these things, I doe create Senfuu chiefe Louthia, because hee did his dutie in his charge, and told mee trueth. I create also chiefe Louthia Quinchio, because hee wrote the trueth to mee of the Pontoos which went to doe their merchandise in secret with the Portugals to the Sea. Those which are euill I will make them baser then they which sowe Rice.

Likewise because Pachou did trafficke with the Portugals, and for bribes did permit the Merchants of the Countrey to trafficke with the Portugals, and yet doing these things, wrote vnto mee that the Por∣tugals were theeues and that they came to my Dominions onely to steale. And the same hee said also to my Louthias (which presently answered, that he lyed, for they knew already the contrarie.) And there∣fore [ 40] such a one, and such a one, (he nameth ten Louthias.) It is nothing that all you be banished to red Caps x, to the which I condemne you: but you deserue to be made baser as I doe make you. Chaen for taking these men thou sayedst thou shouldest be greater, and being in the doing of so much euill thou sayedst thou didst not feare mee: such a one, and such a one (he nameth nine) for the taking of these men yee say, I would make you great, and without any feare of mee yee all lyed, such a one, and such a one (he nameth many.) I know also yee tooke bribes. But because you did so, I make you base, (he de∣priueth them of the dignitie of Lothias.)

Such a one, and such a one (he nameth many. If the Aitao and the Luthissi would kill so many people, wherefore did you suffer it? But seeing that in consenting you were accessarie with them in their death, all are in the same fault. Chifuu, and Chanchifuu, were also agreeing to the will of the Aitao [ 50] and the Luthissi, and were with them in the slaughter, as well those that were as those that were not in fault. Wherefore I condemne you all to red Caps. Lupuu let him haue a good heart, because the Tutan being willing to kill this people, he said that he should let mee first know it. To him I will doe no harme, but good, as he deserueth, and I command that he remayne Louthia. Sanchi I make my Anchassi of the Citie of Cansi. The Antexio I command to be deposed of his honour. Assaon seeing hee can speake with the Portugals, let him haue honour and ordinarie, and he shall be carried to Chaquean, where hee was borne. (This is the youth with whom the Portugals did defend themselues, seruing them for Interpreter, they gaue him title of Louthia, and mayntenance.) Chinque Head of the Mer∣chants that went to the Sea to trafficke with the Portugals, and deceiued them, bringing great store of [ 60] goods a land, it shall be demanded of him, and set in good safeguard for the mayntenance and expences of the Portugals, and I condemne him and his foure Companions to red Caps, and they shall bee banished whither my Louthias shall thinke good.

To the rest guilty and imprisoned for this matter, I command my Louthias to giue to euery one the

punishment he deserueth. I command the Chaen to bring me hither the Tutan that his faults being per∣used by the great men of my Court, I may command to doe iustice on him as I shall thinke good. (This Tutan was also a consenter in the wickednesse of the Aitao and the Luthissi: for the Luthissi, and the Aitao made him partaker, and gaue him part of the booties which they tooke from the Portugals, that as the head he should hold for good that which they did: for in truth they durst not haue done that which they did if he had not giuen consent, and agreed with their opinion. This hearing what was judged against him, hung himselfe, saying, that seeing the Heauen had made him whole, that no man should take away his head. The Pontoos which yet are in Prison, shall be examined againe, and shall presently be dispatched. Chuichum shall presently be depriued from [ 10] being a Louthia, without being heard any more. Chibee, head of sixe and twenty, I command that hee and his be all set at libertie, for I find but little fault in them. Those which owe any money it shall bee recouered of them presently. Famichin, and Tomicher shall dye, if my Louthias doe thinke it ex∣pedient; if not let them doe as they thinke best. Alfonso of Paiua, and Peter of Cea (these were Por∣tugals) Antonie and Francisco (these were slaues) finding them to be guilty of killing some men of my Armie, shall with the Luthissi and Aitao be put in Prison, where according to the custome of my King∣dome, they all shall dye at leisure. The other Portugals that are aliue with all their Seruants which are in all fiftie one, I command them to be carried to my Citie of Cansi, where I command they be well in∣treated, seeing my heart is so good towards them that for their sake I punish in this sort the people of my Countrey, and deale so well with them; for it is my custome to doe Iustice to all men. The Louthias of the [ 20] Armada, finding they are in little fault, I command they bee set free (I deale in this sort with all men, that my Louthias may see that all that which I doe, I doe it with a good zeale.) All these things I com∣mand to be done with speed. Hitherto the sentence of the King.

The Portugals that were freed by the sentence, when they carried them whither the King commanded, found by the way all things necessary in great abundance, in the Houses aboue∣said, that the King had in euery Towne for the Louthias when they trauell. They carried them in seates of Chaires made of Canes on mens backes, and they were in charge of in∣feriour Louthias, which caused them to haue all things necessarie through all places where they came, till they were deliuered to the Louthias of the Citie of Cansi. From that time they had no more of the King euery moneth but one Foon of Rice (which is a measure as much as a man [ 30] can beare on his backe) the rest they had need of, euery one did seeke by his owne industry. Af∣terward they dispersed them againe by two and two, and three and three through diuers pla∣ces, to preuent that in time they should not become mightie joyning themselues with others.

Those that were condemned to death, were presently put in Prison of the condemned. And Alfonso of Paiua had a meanes to giue the Portugals to vnderstand that were free, that for his welcome they had giuen him presently fortie stripes and intreated him very euill, shewing him∣selfe comforted in the Lord. Those which were at libertie, now some and then some, came to the ships of the Portugals, by the industrie of some Chinas, which brought them very secretly for the great gifts they receiued of the Merchants of Portugall, which made their Merchandize in the Citie of Cantan.

[ 40]

§. VI. Of the Religion in China; difficultie of bringing in Christianitie. Terrible Earth-quakes and Tempests in China.

IN the Citie of Cantan in the middest of the Riuer which is of fresh water and very [ 50] broad, is a little Ile, in the which is a manner of a Monasterie of their Priests; and within this Monasterie I saw an Oratorie high from the ground very well made, with certayne gilt steps before it, made of carued worke; in which was a woman ve∣ry well made with a childe about her necke, and it had a Lampe burning before it. I suspecting that to bee some shew of Christianitie, demanded of some Lay-men, and some of the Idoll Priests which were there, what that woman signified, and none could tell it mee, nor giue mee any reason of it. It might well be the Image of our Ladie, made by the ancient Christians, that Saint Thomas left there, or by their occasion made, but the conclusion is, that all is forgotten: it imght also be some Gentiles Image. The greatest God they haue is the Heauen, the letter that signifieth it, is the principall and the first of all the Letters. They worship the Sun, the Moone, [ 60] and the Starres, and all the Images they make without any respect. They haue, notwithstanding, Images of Louthias, which they worship for hauing beene famous in some one thing or other. And likewise Statues and Images of some Priests, of the Idols, and some of other men for some respects particular to them. And not only worship they these Images, but whatsoeuer stone they erect on the Altars in their Temples.

They call commonly these Gods Omittoffois, they offer them Incense, Benjamin, Ciuet, and another Wood which they call Cayo, Laque, and other smelling things. They offer them likewise Ocha, whereof is mention made afore. Euery one hath a place to pray, and at the en∣tries behind the doores of the Houses, in the which they haue their carued Idols: to the which euery day in the Morning and at Euening they offer Incense and other perfumes. They haue in many places (as well in the Townes as out of them) Temples of Idols. In all the ships they sayle in, they make presently a place for to worship in, where they carrie their Idols.

In all things they are to enterprize either Iournies by Sea or by land, they vse Lots & cast them before their Gods. The Lots are two sticks made like halfe a Nut-shell, flat on the one side, and round on the other: and as bigge againe as an halfe Nut, and joyned with a string. And when [ 10] they will cast Lots, they speak first with their God, perswading him with words, and promising him some Offring if he giue him a good Lot, & in it shew him his good Voyage or good successe of his busines. And after many words they cast the Lots. And if both the flats sides fal vpward, or one vp another downe, they hold it for an euill Lot, and turne them toward their Gods very melancholy, they call them Dogs, with many other reproaches. After they are wearie of rating them, they soothe them againe with faire milde words, and aske pardon, saying, that the Melan∣choly of not giuing them a good Lot, caused them to doe them injurie, and speake injurious words vnto him: but that they will pardon them and giue them a good Lot; and they promise to offer him more such a thing (because the promises are the better for them that promise them, they make many and great promises and offerings) and so they cast Lots so many times till [ 20] they fall both on the flat sides which they hold for a good Lot, then remayning well contented, they offer to their Gods that which they promised. It happeneth many times when they cast Lots about any weighty matter, if the Lot fall not out good, or launching a ship to the Sea it goeth not well, and some euill came to it, they runne to their Gods and cast them in the water, and put them in the flame of the fire sometimes, and let them scorch a little, and spurning them often, and tread them vnder foot, and giue them rayling words, till their businesse be ended, and then they carrie them with playing and feasts, and giue them their Offerings.

They hold for a great Offering a Hogges head boyled: they offer Hennes, Geese, Duckes and Rice all drest, and a great pot of Wine. After they present it all to the Gods, they set his por∣tion apart, which is, to put in a Dish, the small points of the Hogs eare, the bils, and the points [ 30] of the clawes of the Hennes, Geese, and Duckes, a few cornes of Rice very few, and put in with great heed, three or foure drops of Wine very heedfully, that there fall not many drops from the Pot. These things so set in a Bason that they set them on the Altar to their Gods for to eate, and they set themselues there before the Gods to eate all that which they bring.

They worship the Deuill also, which they paint after our fashion: and say that they worship him because he maketh those which are good, Deuils; and the euill, he maketh Buffes, or Kine, or other beasts. And they say that the Deuill hath a Master that teacheth him his Knaueries: these things say the base people: the better sort say they worship him because hee shall doe them no hurt.

When they will launch any new ship to the Sea, their Priests being called by them come in∣to [ 40] the ships to doe their Sacrifices with long side Garments of Silke. They set about the shippe many flags of Silke, they paint in the prow of the ship the Deuill, to the which they make ma∣ny reuerences and Offerings, and say they doe it because the Deuill shall doe no hurt to the ship. They offer to the Gods Papers with diuers Images painted, and other of sundry kinde of cut∣tings, and they burne them all before the Idols with certayne Ceremonies and well tuned Songs, and while their singing doth last, they ring certayne small Bels, and among all they vse great store of eating and drinking.

In this Countrey are two manner of Priests, the one that haue their head all shauen, these weare on their heads certayne course Caps like vnto Canopie cloth, they are high, and flat be∣hind (higher before then behind a hand breadth) made like a Mitre with Pinacles: their wea∣ring [ 50] is white Coates after the Lay-mens fashion. These liue in Monasteries, they haue dining places, and Cels, and many pleasures within their wals. There be others whom commonly the people doe vse for their Burials and Sacrifices, these weare their haire, and blacke silke Coates, or of Searge or Linnen, and long like the Lay-men, hauing for a token their haire made fast in the Crowne of the head with a sticke very well made like a closed hand, varnished blacke. None of these Priests haue Wiues, but they liue wickedly and filthily.

The first day of the yeare, which is in the new Moone of March, they make through all the Land great Feasts, they visit one another, the chiefe principally doe make great Banquets. How much these people are curious in the rule and gouernment of the Countrey, and in their common Traffique, so much they are beastly in their Gentilities, in the vsage of their Gods and Idola∣tries. [ 60] For besides that which is said, they haue many Gentilicall Lyes, of men that were turned into Dogges, and afterward into men, and of Snakes that were conuerted into men, and many other ignorances.

I entred one day into a Temple and came to an Altar▪ where were certaine stones set vp

which they worshipped, and trusting in the little estimation they held their Gods in, and in be∣ing men that would be satisfied with reason, I threw the stones downe to the ground, whereat some ranne very fiercely at me and angry, asking me wherefore I had done that, I went mildly to them, and smiling, said to them, because they were so inconsiderate that they worshipped those stones. They asked me wherefore should they not adore them? and I shewed them how they were better then they, seeing they had the vse of reason, feete, hands, and eyes, where∣with they did diuers things that the stones could not doe, and that seeing they were better they should not abase and esteeme so little of themselues as to worship things so vile they being so no∣ble. They answered me that I had reason, and went out with me in company, leauing the stones on the ground: so that there is likelihood and shew of their becomming Christians. And it ma∣keth [ 10] also much to this purpose, their not making any difference of meate, as all the people of India doth. And seeing that among all the meates they esteeme the Porke most, it is almost im∣possible for them to become Turkes.

Notwithstanding, there are two verie great inconueniences to make any Christians in this Countrey. The one is, that in no wise they will permit any noueltie in the Countrey, as in some sort it may bee seene in the matter of the Moores. So that whatsoeuer noueltie that is in the Countrey, the Louthias take order presently how to represse it, and it goeth no further. Whence it happened in Cantan, because they saw a Portugall measure the entries of the Gates, they set presently Watches that none should come in without licence, nor goe vpon the Walls. [ 20] The second is, that no strange person may enter into China without leaue of the Louthias, nor be in Cantan, which doe giue him a certaine time to bee in Cantan. The time of the licence ended, presently they labour to haue them depart. Wherefore because I and those which were with me were one moneth longer in Cantan, they set vp written bords that none should keepe nor harbour vs in their houses, vnder payne of so much, till wee held it our best cheape to goe to the Ships. To the abouesaid is ioyned the common people to bee greatly in feare of the Louthias, wherefore none of them durst become a Christian without their licence, or at the least many would not doe it. Therefore as a man cannot be seeled in the Countrey, hee cannot continue Preaching, and by consequence he cannot fructifie and preserue the fruit. There was notwith∣standing one way how to Preach freely, and fruit might be made in the Countrey, without any dogge barking at the Preacher, nor any Louthia doe him hurt any way: which is, if hee haue a [ 30] licence for it of the King: And it might bee obtayned of a solemne Embassage were sent with a so∣lemne present to the King of China, in the name of the King of Portugall, religious men going with the Ambassadour to obtayne the licence to goe about the Countrey, shewing themselues to bee men with∣out Armes. And how our Law is no preiudice to his Dominion and Gouernement, but a great helpe that all might obey him and keepe his Lawes. This onely remedie there is in China, to reape any fruit, and not any other (speaking humanely.) And without this it is impossible for any Religious men to Preach or fructifie, and because I had not this remedie, hauing the abouesaid inconueniences, I came away from China, and therefore neither I, nor they of the company of IESVS which enterprised alrea∣die this businesse sundry times, could fructifie in China.

[ 40] This people hath besides the ignorances abouesaid, that filthy abomination, that they refraine no sexe among them. Notwithstanding, I Preaching sometimes, as well publike as priuately against this vice, they were glad to heare mee, saying, that I had reason in that which I sayd, but but that they neuer had had any that told them that was a sinne, nor any thing euill done. It seemeth that because this sinne is common among them, God was willing to send them a grie∣uous punishment in some places of the earth, the which was common in all China. I being in the Citie of Cantan, and being willing to know of a rich China Marchant the euils that had happe∣ned in the Countrey, and hee not able to tell it me by word of mouth, gaue me a Letter which they had written vnto him of what had happened: saying to me, that I should translate it and giue it him againe: but not trusting me hee translated it presently, and remayning with the [ 50] copie gaue me the principall, which I translated into Portugall with the helpe of one that could speake our language and theirs, the tenour of the Letter is this.

The principall Louthias of Sanxi and of Sauiton, wrote vnto the King, saying, that in those Prouinces the earth did shake terribly, and the dayes waxed darke like night (hee saith not how long) a South-sayer told them all that should happen. In the yeere before in the moneth of Sep∣tember, the earth opened in many places, and vnder it were heard great noyses like the sound of Bells, there followed a great winde with much rayne, and the winde ranne about all the Compasse. This winde is called in China, Tufaune, and many yeeres it bloweth but once a yeere, and it is so raging, that it driueth a Ship vnder sayle on the Land a great space, and the men can∣not keepe their feete, not leauing and holding one by another, and it doth things worthie admi∣ration [ 60] and incredible. In the yeere that I was in China, in the part where the Portugals were, they shewed the Boat of a Ship of a good bignesse, and the place where it was a land (that this winde ca••rayed it, might bee a great stones cast from the water) and many did affirme it to mee, that the winde had such force, that it carryed it tumbling till it blew it into the Sea. And all the houses the Portugals had made of timber, and couered with strawe, which were many and

were built vpon great stakes, and not very high, it threw them all downe breaking the stakes. And one house being fastened with foure Cables, where many Portugals retired themselues, at the last fell also, and onely one that was sheltered with a high place escaped that it fell not. To blow downe these houses was nothing, for it doth many other things incredible. This winde is almost euerie yeere in China, the which within twentie foure houres that it raigneth, it run∣neth about all the points of the Compasse. With this winde, and the Lands being shaken with the Earthquakes, many Cities fell and were made desolate, in the which dyed innume∣rable people.

In a Citie called Vinyanfuu, in this day was a great Earthquake. And on the west side a great Fire burst out, that swallowed vp all the Citie, in the which, innumerable people perished, esca∣ping [ 10] in one place two, in another three, and so some of the Mogores escaped. In another Citie neere to this, there happened the same, but in this none escaped. In a Citie called Leuchimen, the Riuer increased in such sort, that it ouer-flowed the Citie, where infinite people were drowned. In a Citie called Hien, was an Earthquake, with the which many hou∣ses fell, which slew neere eight thousand soules. In Puchio, the house of the Kings kinsman fell and slew all that were in the house, except a Childe of seuen or eight yeeres old his sonne, (which was carryed to the King) and day and night was a noyse heard vnder the earth, like the sound of Bells.

In a Countrey called Cochue, with fire from Heauen and with many waters of a Floud, many perished, and the land remayned vnable to bee cultiuated againe. In a Countrey called [ 20] Enchinoen, at midnight the houses fell, and the Citie remayned desolate and ruined, where perished neere one hundred thousand soules. In a Citie called Inchumen, in one day and a night, the Riuer did flow and ebbe ten times, and with the great floud many people perished. Hitherto the translation of the Letter: that which followeth, was heard by word of mouth of the Portugals that were in the Port of Cantan in the moneth of May, and I receiued the Letter in September.

In a Citie called Sanxi, from midnight till fiue of the clocke in the morning, the earth shooke three times, the eighteenth of Ianuarie, 1556. and the next day after, from midnight till noone, happened the same: the next day following, the twentie of the sayd moneth, the earth shooke mightily after midnight with great Thunder and Lightnings, and all the Prouince was burnt, [ 30] and all the people thereof, and all the Suburbes, Townes, and Cities: they say it is from bound to bound, fiftie or sixtie leagues, that there was not one saued but a Childe, sonne to a kins∣man of the King, which was carried to the King. And the third of Februarie in the same yeere, in the Citie of Panquin where the King is, fell a shower of rayne like bloud. These newes brought one of China that came to Cantan, from a Citie neere to Sanxi, to giue newes to a Lou∣thia that hee should resort to his owne house, and said, that the Citie where he was a dweller was ouerflowne, and that he knew not whether it would perish with the rest. That which ought to bee held for truth, is, that in three Prouinces which commonly are sayd to be destroyed, there was no more destruction then of those places whereof the Letter maketh mention, or little more. The agreeing in the Childe, sheweth that the Towne whereof the Letter maketh mention with [ 40] the childe, was in the Prouince of Sanxi. This hath more apparance of truth, because the Let∣ter was written from the Court, then to say that all the three Prouinces perished.

After the happening of the things abouesaid: the same yeere in the Prouince of Cantan, a wo∣man which went to the Panchasi, told him that the Prouince of Cansi would bee destroyed with power from Heauen, the which after shee was well whipt, was imprisoned: but in the moneth of May of the same yeere, there fell great store of rayne verie hot, with the which the earth seemed to burne, and many people perished with the great heate: but the Prouince perish∣ed not altogether: wherefore this woman was carried to the King, which was in prison in the place where the Portugals were, which told this.

Reader, forasmuch as this Author hath often mentioned, and related also the storie of certaine Por∣tugals, [ 50] Prisoners in China (one of which hee nameth Galotte Perera) from whom hee receiued great part of his China intelligence: I haue thought good to adde hither Pereras relations, translated long since out of Italian, and published by R. Willes; hauing abbreuiated some things in the Frier, that you might rather haue them at the first hand from this Gentleman which saw them: but abbreuiated to preuent tediousnesse.

[ 60]

Notes

• Camboia. Siam. Champa.
• King of Cam∣boia a Bramene.
• Probar missur.
• Pralocussur.
• Praput prasar mitri.
• Men aliue worshipped.
• Twenty seuen Heauens.
• Thirteene Hels.
• Massanchraches. Nassendeches. Mitires.
• As this word Tame in English
• The Tartars ra∣ther set forth fleets from Chi∣na to these Ex∣ploits as in Po∣lo you reade.
• Liquos an Iland
• Cauchin china. Daman an Iland.
• Laos, or Siones Maons.
• 1559.
• Muske what it is.
• Riuer of the Laos.

  Merus are a kind of wild Asses.

  Badas are the Rhinocerores: by the fore∣head vnder∣stand the face; for the horne is lower then the fore-head. Chudurmuch.
• Loe••h.
• Sistor.
• Strange ouer∣uer-flow, a fresh Riuer running vp without Sea-force.
• The Brames.
• The Patanes.
• Wall of China.
• Tartarian rodes into China.
• See Pinto.
• Here fol∣lowed the diui∣sion of the Countrey into shires or King∣domes, with their Cities, &c. which wee referre to later and better In∣telligence.
• The wals of Cantan.
• The Riuer and Town-ditch.
• The Gates.
• Draw-bridges.
• Gate-courts▪
• Strait streets and paued.
• Houses of Ma∣gistrates.
• Or little Court.
• Sanctitie of Courts, and re∣uerence of high Magi∣strates.
• Great Prisons.
• Priuate houses.
• Temple and Mesquit. Suburbes.
• Store of peo∣ple.
• Victuals.
• Suburbes.
• Suburb-gates.
• Watche••.
• Here followed much of other Cities: but be∣cause the Au∣thor saw them not, but recei∣ued his intelli∣gence from Pe∣rera I, referre you to him. Other China Cities.

  High-wayes.
• Galiote Perera.
• Which is therefore here omitted.
• Store of ship∣ping.
• Riches of Chi∣na in it selfe.
• Prouerb.
• Iunkes for war and for trade▪ Ship-fights, No Ordnance.
• Sudibusve prae∣ustis.
• They vse Oares.
• Small ships.
• A kinde of Gallies.
• Dwelling in ships.
• The hus∣b••nds mer∣ch••ndise, and the wiues hus∣w••••••ry.
• Duck-weeders
• Artificiall broods.
• See an exam∣ple in Pan••oia, o•• this mag∣nificence.
• Ships for guard.
• Fleet••.
• Industry cause of plentie.
• Idlenesse ha∣ted.
• Almes deri∣ded.
• Idle Idoll-Priests punish∣ed with vniust iustice of pro∣fane busie Ru∣lers, which made their soules the least and worst part of themselues, and a God of their goods.
• that is 9d. Tyrannie growes poore by seeking to grow rich.
• Thriftie hus∣bandrie.
• Nothing lost.
• Paper of diuers matters.
• Neat filth.
• Pomps which goe by the feet.
• Puppet playes.
• Prouision for impotent per∣sons. See of th••se things Pinto.
• Shoomakers.
• Almes not almes the fruit of v••in glorie not of mercy.
• Chaires.
• Silkes.
• Porcelane.
• Fables of it.
• How it is made
• Merchants Tables. Rhubarbe. Kings Cu∣stomes.
• x

  Or Quarters.
• y

  Whi••h a∣mounteth to 400000. pound weight of Sil∣uer.
• Which is 40000. pound weight of Sil∣uer.
• Very Mer∣chants. Victuals.
• Porke store.
• Frogs.
• Markets.
• Herbs.
• Fruits.
• Lechias.
• Victualling houses.
• Encere••••do.
• Dogs flesh.
• Fishing with Cormorants.
• Their persons.
• The Attire of the men.
• Long haire.
• Courtesie.
• Cha drinke.
• Great eaters.
• Feasts.
• Birth-dayes.
• Night feasts
• New yeeres day.
• Comedies.
• Inst••uments▪
• Armes and quarrels.
• Funerall rites▪
• Mourning.
• China womens customes and cloathes. I haue many China Pictures which repre∣sent the wo∣men either with their feet wrapped vp, or else very small; their eyes also and no••es lit∣tle, &c. of the rest, as in the Map is seene.
• Womens reti∣rednesse.
• Marriage.
• Adulterie.
• Witaldrie.
• Harlots.
• The bondage or slauerie of some in China.
• Sir, Master, or Lord.
• Louthias of the Court Eu∣nuchs.
• The Tutom; Lieutenant, Deputie or Vice-roy.
• The Ponchassi or Treasurer.
• The Anchasi or chiefe Iustice.
• The Aitao or chiefe Cap∣taine.
• His Lieute∣nan••, the Lu∣thissi.

  Each haue ten Assistants.
• Ensignes of dignitie, girdle and canopie.
• The Taissu or Sheriffe.
• The Chaen or Iudge of the Circuit, or Visitor.
• The Quinchais, Commissio∣ners extraor∣dinarie.
• The third yeeres Vi∣sitor.
• Commence∣ment or Act. Of this see more in the following Re∣lations of the Iesuits.
• Other sorts of Louthias.
• Their Priui∣ledges.
• Publike Offi∣cers wholly maintayned of the publike.
• Houses for Officers.
• Publike Innes.
• Inferiour Offi∣cers.
• Rest in age with dignitie.
• Reuerence.
• Nimia seueritas parit contentum.
• Taa.
• Manner of their pomp•• in the street.
• Pompe of the greater Offi∣cers.
• Chaen and Quinchays splendour.
• Noyse and si∣lence.
• Manner of inquisition.
• No Oathes.
• Bribe-trickes.
• Cane-whip∣ping. Much is here written of Prisons, and Executions, which I haue omitted.
• Huge Reeds, or Canes.
• Miserable eua∣sion of misery.
• Store of free-people, and therefore store of bond, by ab∣used libertie and store.
• The King his wiues, chil∣dren and ser∣uants.
• Embassadours priuiledges.
• Lopo Soarez was sent Vice-roy, An. 1515. and sent this Perez with a fleet to China, and therein Thomas Perez Embassadour, who were well entertayned there. But some Portugals vsurping Ta∣mus, a China-Iland, and ex∣ercising all outrages, cau∣sed T. Perez af∣ter 4. moneths trauell from Cantan to the Court to bee taken for a Spie, and sent backe to Can∣tan, where hee died in Prison among male-factors. See Maffaeus l. 5 & 6 who seemeth to disagree: or else his peo∣ples act was a••cribed vnto him. For hee had left 6. ships there, when he went to Canton.
• Disguised In∣telligencers.
• Portugals cal∣led Fancui, and hated.

  Name-policy.
• Lawes of Na∣uigation.
• Couetise law∣lesse.
• China Pirats.
• Liampo.
• Chincheo.
• Namqui, or Nanquin.
• Disorders of outragious Chinois, and in∣solent Portu∣gals.
• Briberie.
• Mountayne Mouse-birth.
• Spectatum ad∣miss risum te∣neatis amici?
• Pillory Coops.
• Damnable va∣nitie.
• The Kings Iustice.
• Manner of ex∣amination.
• When theeues fall out—
• The Quinchays magnificent ostentation.
• Cautelous in∣dustrie.
• It is here abridged. The Kings Sentence.
• In China and Siam they pay Custome by measuring the ship f••om poop to prow how many cubits it is o••.
• Pontoos are Sea-watches.
• Butcherly in∣solence.
• Said in his heart, or con••ceited himself.
• Senfu and o∣thers rewar∣ded.
• x

  Red Caps are the ensigne of men con∣demned to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the King in his frontiers against the E∣nemie.
• The Tutan by hanging him∣selfe preuents the Hangman, or proued the Hangman ra∣ther.
• What became of the Portu∣gals.
• Heauen first both God and Character.
• Omittoffois and their offerings.
• A Perfume so called.
• Lots.
• Cruell men to their foolish Gods.
• Offerings.
• The Deuill worshipped.
• Paper Offe∣rings.
• Two sorts of Pri••sts. Monkes.
• Seculars.
• Feasts.
• Traditionall Fables.
• No noueltie.
• Prouisions a∣gainst stay of Strangers.
• Notes
• Chinois Sodo∣mites.
• Plagues hap∣ning in China
• Tuson a terri∣ble tempest.
• Vinyanfu, swal∣lowed vp.
• Another Citie qui••e perished. Leuchimen. Hien.
• Puchio.
• Cochue.
• Enchinoen.
• Inchumen.
• Sanxi.
• Bloudie show∣er.