¶ A discourse of the navigation which the Portugals do make to the Realms and Provinces of the East parts of the world, and of the knowledge that grows by them of the great things which are in the Dominions of China. Written by Barnardine of Escalanta, of the Realm of Galicia Priest.  
Translated out of Spanish into English, by john Frampton.  
¶ Imprinted in London at the three Cranes in the Vine-tree, by Thomas Dawson. 1579.   

❧ To the right worshipful Master Edward Dier, of the Court esquire, john Frampton wisheth increase of worship and of all felicity.  
THere was brought me not long ago right worshipful Sir, out of Spain, a discourse in the Spanish tongue, of the Navigation that the Portugals have to the kingdoms and provinces of the East●… parts of the world, and of the intelligence of the same Portugal Nation, which they now of late have gotten in those parts of the greatness of the Dominion, and politic government of that Famous Country China: And finding in the same discourse a verification, by new, late, and present experience, of this our age and present time of many things, written long ago by Paulus Venetus, which work of Paulus I did translate, and about a year passed dedicated to your worship: I become the more desirous also to translate this into the English, & the rather because this work seemed to have a certain affinity in matter, and also contained great variety of things, not contained in the work of the said Paulus Venetus: And finding now in England many excellent men in the Art of Navigation, & as well able to endure extreme heat, as extreme cold, and to cross the burnt line, as also able to pass the cold Zone, and frozen Sea, and with all youth and fry of the Realm, both infinitely abounding: and also exceedingly inflamed with desire to attempt new discoveries, I the rather decreed the translation hereof, and was fully persuaded that the great Almighty GOD hath wrought the one and the other, to the end that he would have his son jesus that hath brought salvation unto the world, known to nations not yet discovered. For what more pleasant Sacrifice can we offer in this life, unto our GOD, then to labour in all that ever we may, to bring the Barbarous to Civility, the Rude to knowledge, the superstitious to the true & lively worship of his name, to win them from darkness to light, from cruelty to courtesy, from vanity to verity, from death unto life? If we be not borne to profit ourselves, but to seek the advancement of God's glory, how commendable an enterprise is that? how highly to be wished? how much to be furthered, which not only increaseth the profit of our country, but augmenteth the number of the faithful. Therefore God having decreed to make himself known as well by our English Nation in some quarters of the unknown world, as he hath of late years been by the Spaniarde in West: and by the Portugal in the east. And being moved to take in hand this small translation, by persons of sundry callings, and especially by diverse most excellent pilots, Masters, and towardly young Mariners, much exceeding in knowledge and godly life many of that profession that have been heretofore: I have, other needful business set apart, performed their request: And the thing that I much desired, for the love I bear to good discoveries: And now dedicated the same to your worship, as a special favourer of all good knowledges, and of all enterprises tending too the glory of GOD, the honour of your Prince, and the public benefit of your Country, beseeching your worship too take the same this my translation in good part, as a poor show of a mind willing to requited some part of your bounty and benefit received at your hands, not doubting but that this may give light to our Nation and work in many respects benefit too all such, as shall by the North-east, or by the Northwest attempt discoveries of Dominions and Territories, wtihin the circle Arctic, or with out the same to the Tropic of Cancer▪ And thus wishing unto your worship the favour of Almighty GOD with increase of all knowledge Divine and human, I take my leave and cease to trouble you.  
From London this first day of October. 1579. Your worships in that he may, at commandment. john Frampton.   

¶ To the excellent Lord, Don Christopher de Roias, Sandovall, Archbishop of seville, Barnardine of Escalanta, wisheth all honour. etc.  
MOst excellent Lord, the haughty and high purposes, and the wonderful enterprises of our Spaniards have been so great, that they have not well near suffered in all the compass of the whole world, any Seas, any Islands, or Territories, that they have not run unto; and whereof they have not won some knowledge, against the opinion of the old Philosophers, and Cosmographers: wherein they have found such diversity of people, and so many differences of laws, and superstitions, and so many sorts of governments, and such diversity of manners, that they have no small admiration to think of the same; and namely of that which they do report, of the Majesty and power of the king of China: who being a prince given to idolatry, and that way most vain; As also his subjects, in the observation of the Gentiles laws, are notwithstanding endued with so great wisdom and discretion in natural things, and in the government of their common wealths, that no other nations (be they never so politic) seem to pass them, or have therein the advantage of them, nor yet to have the like wits, for all manner of Arts▪ Which have been the causes that moves me too writ the things of this realm, (which have been known as well by relation of persons of credit that have been in it; and also of some of the natural people of that Country of China, that have been brought into Portugal) and to dedicated the same too your excellent Lordship, acknowledging myself in all things most bound unto you my Lord. I desire your lordship to accept of this little service supplied with good will, as of a poor token of my good grateful mind, which only hath been but to give all honour to your name.   
A discourse of the Navigation which the Portugals do make to the Realms and Provinces of the East parts of the world, and of the knowledge which they have of the great things that are in the Realm of China.  

¶ The first Chapter showeth of the beginning that the kingdom of Portugal had, and of the success it had from the time that the king Don john the first did conquer Ceuta in Barbary.  
Amongst many knights of the states of Almane, Flaunders, and France, which came unto the long Wars that the kings of Spain had with the Moors, which had conquered the greatest part of Spain, after the overthrow of that unfortunate king Don Rodrigo, there continued in the time of the king Don Alonso, the sixth of Castille, and Leon, which goat Toledo, the Earl Don Ramon, son to William earl of Burgundy, and Don Ramon Earl of Tolosa & S. Gill in France, & Don Henry of Vezancon his cousin, according to the opinion of some writers, as Christian Princes desirous of honour and fame that came too serve him, with many other knights in those wars that he had against Lucef Abendesim, king of the Amorabides, who at that time had passed from Africa, and had made himself Lord of the Moors of Spain which were resident in Andaluzia, and too show himself thankful to these Lords after they had showed their vali●…untnesse and virtue on their meetings and fights that they had with the Almorabides and to bind them to greater enterprises, and to allure other strange Princes, & knights also to come to his aid, he joined himself to them in marriage and affinity, Mariing the Earl Don Ramon of Burgundy with the Lady Vrraca his legitimate daughter and inheritor of his Realms, giving him the title of the Earl and Governor of Galizia, and the Earl of Tolosa, and Don Henry, with the Lady Elvira, and the Lady Tere●…, his bastard daughters which he had of Lady Ximena mwez de Guzma: giving to Don Henry certain land which the king Don Fernando his father the first king of Castille, and other kings his predecessors had gotten of the Moors in the bor●…ers of the Realms of Leon and Galizia, which were the Cities of Coimbra, Viseo, and Lanego, with the Province of Vera, and the Cities of the port Braga and Guimareus, and all that precinct which is between the two Rivers Duero and Mino●… with title of Earl of Portugal, because he should be a defender of them, making to him a firm gift of the right of the inheritance too him and too his succession descending of this Matrimony: With condition that they should be bound in knowledge of Superiority, to go to the Parliaments of Leon, (into whose precinct that Country doth fall) and at all times when the kings had wars with thee (Moors) that they should be bound to g●…e and serve them with three hundred horsemen, which was at that time all the power that might be in Portugal: and th●… they should also pay certain yearly Tribute upon pain, and that if they failed any thing of this, they should loof the state, and that it should be returned back too the kingdom of Leon.  
And although that all these burdens were set at liberty by 
Ann. 1279.  a gift that the king Don Alonso the wise made in Sevil, against the will of the Earl Don Nunon de Lara & of other knights being Spaniards, to the Infante Don Dionis, son to the Lady Beateris, his natural daughter which ●…ee had by the Lady Mayor Guillen de Gusman, and of Don Alonso the fifth king of Portugal, which married with he●… and had in dowry the Countries of Algarve which the king Don Alonso, and the holy king Don Fernando gate, always the king Don Dionis and his successors, as Catholic and true. Princes, continue●… the Wars against the Moors of Spain, finding themselves sometimes in the favour of the kings of Castille, and particularly the king Don Alonso, called thee▪ Brave, when he gave the battle near to Tarifa, until that the king Don john the famous, being the first of this name, by the battle of Aliuba●…ota, and by other subtle practise●… worthy of his name▪ he determined as a most warlike Prince to pass into Africa, & to conquer the Towns of the Sea Coast near adjoining to him on the West side, carrying with him in his company the Infant's Don Edward his 〈◊〉 son▪ and heir apparent, and Don Peter Duke of Coimbra, and Don Henry his other sons, and many other Lords & Knights of his Realm, where withal he might get the City of Ceuta, standing in the Straight, where the two Seas do meet, the Ocean and Mediterrane, and where Africa & Europa are divided, right over against Gibraltar in the distance of four leagues overthwart.   

¶ The second Chapter showeth of the diligence that the infant Don Henry did use as well to know of the Moors, of Ceuta, and the Provinces of the black people of jalofe, as also for his armed ships which he sent in the discovery of the coasts of Ginea even unto his death etc.  
HE that did best show himself for the getting of Ceuta, was Infant Don Henry with the Knights and Gentlemen of his band. And as he was a Prince 〈◊〉 religious, and desirous to augment the Christian faith, with his valiantness: So he did much endeavour to inquire of the Moors, the Proinces and Nations, nearest adjoining to them whereof he came to have knowledge, and specially of the Moors nearest adjoining to the Deserts, which they call Sahara, and of the Azeneges with the black people of jalofe, and he did it with the better will, because he would have his name spread abroad in the world, by so great an enterprise, so taken in hand, and also by sending ships in the discovery of the Coast of Ginea, whereof he had some knowledge by Geography, to the which he was affectioned. And so in returning the king his former victories to Portugal he went to be Resident in Algarue in a small Town of his own to give order for this Navigation, for the which certain Captains of his did continued there for certain years, and durst not pass from the Cape Boiador which lieth in twenty seven degrees and a half of height on the North side, East and West from the gran Canaria, in thirteen Leagues overthwart, and for to come forth of the sight of the Coast, which they leave behind them more than forty Leagues into the Sea, in the West course, with a certain point under that water which doth come forth in length of six Leagues that by reason of the Tides that runneth there, the water is so moved & in such sort, that it seemeth to leap and to seeth, which did put them in great fear, thinking that they had been shoals and then it was a new thing for them, and difficult that they had so gone from the land for to ●…bble it, wherewith all they returned without hope to pass forward, making some entrance into the habitations of the Moors that dwelled in the Sea Coast for to satisfy the infant.  
In one of these voyages they discovered in foul weather which did open unto them from the firm land, the Islands which are called Puerto sancto, and the Madera, which Islands the infant did command to inhabit, because he was certified that they were temperate and fruitful, and for that they were not inhabited with the people that were Barbarous, as the islands of Canaria wrre. The which islands▪ they had knowledge of, how that they were discovered by a French knight, called john de Betancur, which had conquered them with the licence of the Tutors of the king Don john the second of Castille, which were the queen Lady Caterin his mother, and the infant Don Fernando his uncle of good memory, who came to be king of Arragon, and father of the kings Don Alonso of Naples, and Don john his brother, which did succeed in that of Arragon, and Sicilia, and Grand father to the king Don Fernando the Catholic. These Islands stand in the thirtieth three degrees of height north-east and south-west, from the bar of Lishebron, in one hundred and fifty Leagues travies, & be distant from the Canaria, at the lest 80. leagues North Northwest, and South Southeast. The Infant caused the discovery of them to be known to poop Martin the fifth, who at that time was precedent in the Catholic Church, and too other Princes of Christendom: of the which there was restraint for certain years, until that one Gill Yannes being borne in the town of Logos would pass the cape Boiador, being a fearful thing in the opinion of Sailors of that time, who was cause from that time forward that Navigation was continued the longer, and other Captains coming to the River which is called of Gold, because they brought from thence the first that came into Portugal, and it standeth under the Tropic of Cancer, in the twentieth three degrees and a half of height and the Cape of Blanco, and Islands of Arguin standeth in twenty where the king Don Alonso, his Cousin did command after that, to build a fort, and beyond the River which the natural people of the Country do call Obedec, & the Portugals do call Savage, which doth divide the Countries of the Moors Azeneves, and the jalofes, even unto the Capeverdes, which is of the most known places in the West Ocean in the fifteen degrees of the North side, and to the West part of him are within one hundred Leagues of Travisim, the islands which are called of Gill Yannez and threescore Leagues beyond, that is the Great River and eighty beyond that of Nunno, and in seven degrees and two Terces the mountain Lioa, which was the last time that any discovery was made in the life of this most Christian Infant; leaving to the king his Cousin, & to his successors the open way for the great Navigations and roads which his subjects have made, and do make by all the East Countries with great praise and estimation of the Portugal Nation.   

The third Chapter of the discovery which was made of the coasts of Ginea in the time King Don Alonso unto his death, & of the persons that the King Don john his son sent by the Sea Mediterran, whereby they might bring relation of the states and trades of India; and of the Embassage he sent to the king of Aethiopia.  
THE Infante being dead, it did seem too the King Don Alonso, that it would be a let to him if he should understand farther in these discoveries, by reason he minded to conquer Tanger and Arzila, & other forces that were near to the straits, which with great courage he got of the Moors: and for the pretence that he had of the Realms of Castille, for his Cousin the Lady jane daughter to the Queen his sister, the second wife of the king don Henry the 4. with whom he minded to marry, he gave the discovery for rent to a subject of his called john Gomez dwelling in Lisbon, for two thousand five hundred Ducats, for five years, with condition that he should be bound to discover within the said time five hundred Leagues of Coast, beyond the mountain Lioa, This man which was so bound▪ did accomplish his ●…ande very well, discovering all these Coasts which they call the Mina, which stretch in length in the course of the East and West until they came to the Cape of saint Catherine that standeth in two degrees & a half of height, towards the South side: so there remaineth behind discovered, the islands of the Prince, and of Fernando, and those of Sancto Thome▪ being under the line Equinoctial.  
In this time died the king Don Alonso, and Don john 
Ann. 148.  the second his son succeeded him, who sent forth a Captain of his called Diego de Acambina, with a great number of ships to this Conquest, who caused to be built the Castle of saint George with consent of the Prince. Caramansa Lord of that Country. Other Captains of his, discovered the Realms of Congo, and of Beni, and the rest of the same Coast, which is to be understood from the North too the South, until they pass the famous Cape of Buena Esperanca, being the first, Bartholomew Dias one of the officers of his house. Of some Ambassadors of these black kings which they sent to Portugal, and particularly of those of the king of Beni, the king Don john had knowledge, that far within the country, there was a mighty Prince, unto whom some of them gave obedience, and by the manners and tokens that he declared of him, it seemed that he was a Christian, whereof it came to be agreed upon that he should be Prester john, of whom then there was knowledge of, and of the trade and riches of the India, by means of certain religious men Spaniards that had been at Jerusalem, and like wise of other that were come into Spain. And for to certify himself the better of the Trade and Navigation, and Ports of the India, and of the power of Prester john, and of his religion, of whom he minded to favour himself, for the trade of the Spicery, he sent one Peter de Covillana servant of his house, and also Alonso de Paiba by the way of Italy that he might bring him a true relation of all▪ These men went to Naples, and from thence they embarked themselves for the Rhodes, and from thence to Alexandria and too Cairo which at that time was a Royal seat of the Sultan's of Egypt, until a few years after, in the year a thousand 
●…nno. 1516.  five hundred and sixteen. Selim Emperor of the Turks overcame and slew in a battle near to Damascus, the Sultan, Campson Gaurio, and made himself Lord of all those Realms, and from thence they went too the City of Adem which standeth at the entry of Sinus Arabicos, which is called the red Sea, in the part of Arabia Foelix, where they departed, one from another: The Paiba towards Aethiopia, and the Covillana towards the India, where they agreed together to return and join themselves again at a certain time in the City of Cairo.  
Covillana did embark himself in a small ship of the Moors, and came to Cananor; and from thence to Calicut, and Soa, the most principal Ports of that Coast of the India, and having well informed himself to the states, Traffic, and riches thereof, he returned from thence to the Mine of Zofala▪ which is in Aethiopia, above Egypt, in nienteene degrees of the height of the Southside, between Musambike and the Cape of Buena Esperanca, and from thence he returned too Aden, and to Cairo, where he understood that, Paiba his companion died a few days before in that City.  
And being ready to depart for Portugal he met with two jews of that Realm which went to seek after him, with the king Don john his order, because that one of them had been in Babylon which are called Bagodad amongst those small Rivers of the river Euphrates that do run jointly with that of Tiger into Sinus Persicos, he should reform him of the Trade and Traffic of the Island of Armos, which was in the entry of it in twenty and nine degrees of height of the North side, where he said, that thither came all the Spices and Riches of the India, with express commandment to Covillana, that if he had not 〈◊〉 Prester john, ●…ee should not return without knowledge of him, and that with the other jew he would send him relation of all that he had seen, and understood in his voyage the which he did very effectually, and when he had dispatched him, he returned with the other to Adem, where they did embark themselves to return to Ormos'▪ And the things of that Island being noted, he left him there, that he might return by land with the Cafilas▪ which are Carriers that carried Spices from thence to the Cities of Alexandrie▪ Damascus in Suria, ●… that he should continued going upon his journey until he came to Portugal. He returning to the read Sea▪ and went towards the Court of the Emperor of Aethiopia called by his own people Alexander, of whom Bee was received with countenance of great contentinent esteeming much the embassage because it came from a Christian Prince from the parts of Europe. And although that with all speed Covillana returned, yet he had not in this good hay▪ For that within a few days died the Emperor Alexander; And Nant●… his brother which did succeed him, kept him there by force; wherewithal he lost the hope to return any more too Portugal▪ And by the advice and relation he sent with the jews, and with others by divers ways, the king Don john determined too send some Ships by the Navigation of the 〈◊〉 of Buena Esperanca unto the Trade of the Spicery of the India. 
Ann. 1492.   
And because that in this time which was in the year of one thousand four hundred ninety and two: they begun too discover the West India's by Christopher Colo●… being a ●…inoues ●…orne who was the first that durst take so valiant an enterprise▪ in ●…ande by the commandment of the Catholic kings Don Fernando and Lady Elizabe. These kings for the avoiding of differences, made s●…te to the high Bishop Alexander the sixth (who then was Precedent in the Catholic Church) that it would please him to appoint out and confirm to them their discoveries. And the Pope being informed, did grant too the kings of Castille, the conquest of the India's, Islands and lands, that should be discovered in the West parts, and to the kings of Portugals that of Africa, and the Countries of the Cast parts in equal portions: so that it might be understood the Navigation from one hundred leagues, more too the Westward of the Islands of Cape verde: whereof the king Don john found himself aggrieved, because he gave him no more space or Circuit towards the West. And so it was granted with the will and consent of the Catholic kings, other three ●…undred and sixty leagues more towards the West. The king Don john not understanding at that time, how hurtful it would be to his successors for the pretence of the Islands of Mal●…cas, and because his life is waxed shortss, it fortuned not in his time this. Navigation should be begun▪ but was reserved by a divine providence for the king Don Emanuel his Cousin that should succeed him in those Realms.   

The fourth Chapter how that the king Don Emanuel, sent by the way of Cape Buena Esperanca, Don Vasco▪ de Gama with an embassage to the king of Calicut, & of the success he had until he returned to Portugal.  
AND although that the King Don john had prepared ships for the Navigation of the India▪ When he died, yet that king Don john Emanuel, could not see forward this journey until the 2. year of his reign, with was in the year 1491 when as he sent, (although that they of his counsel were of contrary opinion, yet then I say he sent Don Vasco de Gama, a knight of his house and other two captains in three ships with ambassage unto the king of Calicut, too the end be might be in league with him and with other kings of the same coast of India, to obtain of them, that he and his successors might have the trade of the spicery granted unto them. Now you shall understand that the said Don Vasco departed with these ships, leaving the king and his court and all others very sad, because he went upon a voyage, so long, so dangerous, & so unknown. And he was five months in the Sea before he could get as far as the cape of Buena Esperanca by reason in those days the Portugals sailed not by the Bowling in the high Seas, in such sort as they do now, but always went near to the coast of Ginea. For although that in the time of the king Don john, they had knowledge of degrees, and of the Astrolabe: yet the Pilots which they carried with them, durst not put themselves into any gulf as they now do, which do run from the time that they depart from Lishebron towards the south-west, until they pass the islands of Puerto Sancto and the Medera, and from thence towards the south southeast to the sight of the islands of Canaria, and then south passing between the firm land, and the islands of Cape Verde, and South and by East, until they put themselves in the height of the line, and although that the cape of Buena Esperanca do fall Southeast of them, they cannot make their way good, by reason that in those Seas are many levantes which are Eastsoutheast and Southeast winds, that doth 'cause them to fall over, near too the coast of Brasil, and therefore they go by the Boweling running towards the South Southeast, South, and south-west according as wind and weather do give them leave: until they put themselves into thirty and six degrees, sometimes in sight of the Islands of Tristan de Acunna, which lie from the West part of the cape Buena Esperanca, four hundredth and fifty leagues, and at other times they run into forty, & forty five degrees, until they ●…nde Westerly winds, wherewith they return and run towards the East, and Eastnortheast too seek the cape. When Don Vasco de Gama passed he ran towards the North-east along the coast; and because he would put himself into the Sea, when he came to the cape of the currentes or tides, for fear he should put himself into any bay, or shallow place, and because he would pass along the coast with all the van●…age he could, he past and had no sight of the inhabitants of Zofala, between the Island of Saint Lorence and the firm land, until he came too Moscanbique, which standeth in fifteen degrees of height of the South side, six hundredth leagues beyond the cape of Buena Esperanca, which place is now the moste principal port that the Portugals have in all those Seas.  
Don Vasco tarried a small time in this place because it was then inhabited with merchants of the sect of Mahoma, which were come thither in the trade of merchandise, and so he ran along the coast and touched in Mombasa and in Melinde, where he was well received of the king, although he were a Moor, with whom he concluded a peace and amity in the name of the king Don Emanuel his Lord and master. And having well informed and instructed himself of the coast of the India, he took expert Pilots for the Navigation, and went along upon his voyage, passing over a gulf of seven hundredth leagues in twenty and two days until he came too the City of Calicut put in eleven degrees and a quarter of the North side, with great joy and gladness, too see himself at the end of his journey. And being at Anchor without, he sent word too the king of his coming, where he was in a place five leagues from the City, who sent him word that he was very glad of his coming, and of his embassage; & took order that he should pass his ships too the port of Capocate, a place most sure, where they might ride at Anchor by reason that it was in the month of May, which is in that Country the coldest and hardest time of Winter in the year, and when he thought good he would advise him to come to the Court.  
This region that commonly is called India, is the Country with in which is contained the two famous rivers, Indus and Ganges, which do spring in the two mountains Dalanguer and Nangracot, so being joined one to tother, that they are thought to be one and the people of that Country do think that they spring out of one common vain, and so run into the great Ocean Seas. The river Indus of whom all this Province took the name by the realm of Guacarate which commonly is called the west part of Cambaya, and the river Ganges by that of Beugala towards the e●…stparts lying East and West, under the tropic of Caucer▪ ●…trauise of threehundreth leagues from one mouth to tother, from the which cometh out a point of the land, far in to the Sea, and showeth itself very sharp, even until it come to the cape Camori, which lieth Noorth and South, from the fountains of these rivers in distance of 400. leagues of length in seven degrees and two terces of height, of the North side. And although that amongst the Princes of these Countries are but two differences of laws, Idolaters and Mahomet's, all the Country is divided in to many realms & states. For although they are very warlike and of little faiths: yet the height and sharpness of the hills and mountains, and the great number of fierce bests which are not to be made tame; & the rivers & the entering of the Seas do make it invincible, & is the cause cause that all this region is not brought subject to the Prince which is of most power, and principally by reason of a long tract and row of mountains, which the natural people of the Country do call Gates stretching from the North to the south, in the length of 200. leagues, from one coast to tother, as doth the high mountains Apenino in Italy beginning at the west part at the river Caruants, & passing unto the mountain called Delij, very well known of the sailors of that coast, which standeth in xii. degrees and a half in height of the North side; where is a plain piece of ground overflown with water of six or ten leagues, as it seemeth by the bays near adjoining thereunto, which may be eighty leagues long, and the natural people of the Country do call it Malabar, where standeth the realm and City of Calicut: this king being the greatest of power of those of this province and therefore he is entitled Camori which is as much too say as Emperor.  
Two days after that, Don Vasco had placed his ships in the port of Capacote, there came for him a servant of the king to bring him too his presence whom they call their Catual, accompanied with 200. men of his guard, who put himself into his journey, carrying with him only xii. Portugals and one Moor called Monzaide▪ This Monzaide was of the realm of Tunez, who did him great pleasure, by reason he was a faithful interpreter: of whom he understood the secrets of the land, and the government thereof: and in the way came to receive him another Catual of higher degree, who did accompany him until he came to the king, who when he should receive him, put himself for Majesty at the end of a great chamber in a bed which they call) cattle apparelled with a certain kind of fine cloth made of cotton wool burnished, & set with roses of beaten gold, and on his head a long high cap of cloth of gold, of the fashion of a close mitre, full of pearls; & on his legs and arms he had great store of bracelets of gold and stone, he had his head lying upon a Pillow of plain silk wrought with gold firisied: & there was leaning to the bed a Gentleman which held a platter of gold in his hands with the leaf of Betely, with which kind of leaf they use to comfort the stomach. And Don Vasco entering into the chamber there rose very near unto the king, a man of great years with white garments, representing great honour, who was his heigh Priest, being the chief of the religious men of his gentility, and took him by the hand and carried him to the king's presence, who received him with a merry countenance and with a show of great and severe Majesty without moving himself more than lifting up his head a little from the Pillow, and when he laid down his head again, he made signs to the high Priest that he should 'cause him to sit down by the bed side▪ And having spoken certain general words with Don Vasco, and received the Letter of Don Emanuel, he said that he would see it, and would hear him when he was at more leisure, and for that time he should go to take his rest, commanding a Gentleman to have care too lodge him & see him well used with good entertainment. The next day Don Vasco would return to speak with him and declare his embassage, but the Gentlemen which kept him company kept him back, declaring to him that the Ambassadors which came to that Country were accustomed not too go to speak with the king, but when it pleased his Majesty to call them: but the Moor Monzaide, as one which knew well the order that was used in these causes, said unto him, that the most certain order and custom of that Prince and of the other Princes of those Countries was, too hear no man if they did not first give and present him with some present, and the more strange the Ambassador was, the longer time they caused him to tarry, and if he will be dispatched shortly that he should use that way which he had told him, giving some gift to the Officers which had most authority, and especially in business of the estate: the which he forthwith put in practice excusing himself with the King and with the nobility, that by reason of the uncertainty of the voyage and long Navigation the thing which he offered too them were not of estimation or value that he wished; but in the end, they were taken as sufficient, and were carried to the king and he was received with more familiarity and gladness than the first time, signifying too him that by the Letter of the king Don Emanuel he had understood the cause of his coming, and there upon he should speak what he would. Then Don Vasco, began with great discretion and wisdom ask the liberty, and trade of the spices and the intercourse of the trade of Merchandise from one realm to tother. The king answered with shows of gladness, that he would dispatch him well & in short tyme.  
And although that this Prince were an Idolater▪ yet he did suffer in his Towns too devil people of the sect of Mahomet, and especially in the ports of the Sea coast where came many for the trade of the spicery from Mecca and other ports of Arabia foelix as well from the red Sea, as from the Sea called Sinus Persicos, which people were much aggrieved at the embassage and pretence of Don Vasco, understanding the hurt and losses which would ensue unto them in their trades; if that the trade of merchandise should reremayne established as the king was purposed and resolved to have it.  
Whereupon they made many consultations with order too kill the Portugals and too sink their ships, but they durst not, guiding it by the most sure way, giving bribes too the Catual, who was a Gentleman that had the charge of the Portugals, that with false reasons and deceits the king might be angry and displeased with them. Yet this Gentleman used the matter so discreetly, that (although that the king was very wise, and understood well the profit that might follow by this trade, for the dispatch of the merchandise of his realm) he was persuaded too believe this Catual and too take the Portugals for spies.  
And hereupon the King commanded too call Don Vasco general of the Portugals too be called before him, & so he asked him many questions; and although he had satisfied him, of all that was demanded him; yet there was no remedy, but in fine he counseled him that he should forthwith go aboard his ships, lest he should receive any hurt of the Moors pretending that they were ready too make an insurrection against him, and promised that he would send him too his ships the answer of his embassage in a letter too the king Don Emanuel his lord and master. Wherein he said that the cause wherefore his Ambassador departed so discontent from his Country, was by reason of the old controversies that were between the Moors and the Christians, and that he would receive great contentment with his friendship and with the trade of the merchandise of his realm so that it might not be done with reproach, considering that he took the Moors for natural people of his Country, and that ordinarily they came too his ports in the trade of spicery; whereupon forthwith Don Vasco made sail towards Portugal by the same way that he went, where he arrived at the end of two years, and a few days after he departed from Lishebron, being received of the king Don Emanuel with great honour rewarding him, and his great service.   

The V Chapter showeth how the king Don Emanuel did sand a great fleet of ships to the India's with a knight called Pedraluarez Cabral, and how he discovered in this voyage the coast of Brasil, and of other armies of ships, which are sent after until the time he gate Malaca, and had knowledge of the realm of China.  
AND the king Don Emanuel being informed by Don Vasco de Gama, of all things which happened to him in his voyage, he determined to sand too the India thirteen sails of ships so well furnished and provided both of men and munition, that if it happened when they should come too the king of Calicut & to the rest of the Lords of those Countries, that they should be defended from their ports, that then his power & force should be showed, & that Pedraluarez Cabral, a knight of great wisdom, and valiant should go for general of the said fleet of ships, who departed from Lishebron the ninth day of March the year 1500. Too whom there happened between the Islands of Cape verde such a vehement storm, that one of the ships departed from the rest of her company, and returned back again, and with the rest he took his course and sailed far into the Sea, because he would fly away from the calms which are accustomed too be upon the coast of Ginea, and that he might with more assurance double the cape of Buena Esperanca, running towards the Southsouthwest as near as the Eastsoutheast and Southeast winds would give them leave.  
And at the end of one month running that course, they found themselves so much to leeward, by reason of the tides which run towards the Northwest, that they came to discover an other coast of firm land towards the West: and according to the judgement of the Pilots, it seemed to them that it might be distant from the coast of Ginea four hundredth and fifty leagues, in ten degrees towards the Southside, and to put them out of doubt, if it should be any great Island they ran along by the coast all one day, and finding a place for their purpose, where they might cast anchor, they caused one boat to be hoist out for to discover what land it might be: and immediately did appear unto them by the River where they were, many naked people, which did differ from those of Ginea, in colour, hair, and faces, and they procured to speak with them, and to know what people they were, but they could not, for they retired all to the mountains, and so the Portugese's  to their ships without any knowledge, and departed the same night, being forced with a storm which caused them to depart without order: and sailed along the coast towards the South, until they came into a Bay, where they harboured themselves, which they named, Puerto Segnero, and is as much to say, The sure port, or haven, which standeth in seventy Degrees and half of height, and forthwith Pedraluarez commanded to hoist out the Boats, and he went a land in them, where he caused service too be said at the foot of a Tree with great devotion of them all, giving thanks unto GOD that they had departed from that unknown Country where they were before. And the Barbarous people of that Province did not marvel too see the Portugals, as they of the other Country did: but rather, when they saw them kneel on their knees in the time of service, they kneeled down after the same manner, making the said show of prayers. At the which sight the said Pedraluarez, and all the rest of his people marveled much; and were very glad to see them offer themselves to receive their doctrine of salvation, if they had had any to instruct them, & because he could not remain there, nor let to follow his journey, he dispatched forth with the Captain Gasper de Glemos, that with his small ship he might return back too Portugal, to give news to the king Don Emanuel, of the discovery of that Country, which he had named Sancta Crus, which now is called the Brasill by the name of the Wood that is brought from thence. And when he had taken in fresh water, and saw the weather fair, he determined to depart from thence towards the Cape of Buena Esperanca, and there happened to him in the Gulf so great storms of wether, that in his sight, the Sea did swallow up four of his ships with out the escaping of any of the people of the same: and with the rest he ran many days without bearing any sail, until the sixtienth day of july he found himself only with six of his ships, a great way beyond the Cape in the Coast of Zofala, so beaten with weather and spoiled of their Masses, yards Sails, and Tackles, that they were more likely to return then to pass forth upon their voyage. But the General being a man of so great courage, did set little by all these inconveniences, & so they came to Mosambike, where they did repair themselves of the hurts which they had received in the torments of wether, as also they were better received of the king than Don Vasco de Gama, was.  
They continued from thence their voyage, touching in Quiloa, where they fell out with the king, who was a Moor, and that grieved to see any Christians in that coast. But the king of Melindes, who was their friend received them with great contentment, confirming anew the friendship and the trade that Don Vasco had agreed upon with him: and from thence they ran atwhart over the gulf, until they came to Calicut. And although they were well received of the king, yet things did hap in such sort, that Pedraluarez fell out with him, and in the end there were stain certain Portugals which were a land: and for to revenge their deaths, he set fire on all the ships that he found in the Port, shot at the City, and killed many of the people, threw down many houses and buildings▪ & so made sail towards Cochin, which was thirty. leagues distant from that place, lower in the course towards the South: where he was well received of the king, who offered to him all the Spicery which he had need of for to lad his ships. Also the king of Cana nor sent him the like word, because these Princes were enemies to the king of Calicut, who was a greater Lord than they were, and they did acknowledge unto him superiority. And because they thought that the trade with the Portugals would be profitable for them, Pedraluarez did lad his ships of as much as they could carry, wherewith he returned into Portugal by the same way that he came, which is different of that as is now used. For that they do return among an infinite number of islands of Maldivia, and those of the seven brethren running to the South south-west, south-west, and to the West south-west, having sight of many other Islands which are in those Seas. And so they come along towards the Cape of Buena Esperanca, leaving the Island of Saint Laurence North, of the side of the land. And when Pedraluarez came to Portugal, the king had sent the Captain john de Nova a Gallego borne with four ships unto the same trade of the Spicery. And from that time forward they continued more and more in the said Navigation, having always shipyes of war in those Indian Seas against the Moors of the straight of Mecha, and the rest of the Ports of Arabia, and against the king of Calicut, who came and made war with him of Cochin, for the friendship and trade he had with the Portugals, and the Captain Edward Pacheco showed himself very valiant in his defence, who was left therewith certain soldiers for that purpose, & Alonso Alburquerque the most valiant knight, and of most wisdom, of as many of the governors as have gone out of Portugal to that country. For he being captain general of the ships of war of that Sea, did conquer the City of Ormos', and many other places as well of those which are in the Coast of Arabia as of Persia: and made the king Zofadin too pay tribute who at that time was Lord of that Realm: and he burned and destroyed Calicut, and gate of the Moors the City of Goa, which is now the most principal place that the kings of Portugal have in the India, which standeth more toward the North then Calicut in the same Coast in fifteen degrees of height▪ and Malaca standeth in that famous point, in two degrees and a half of the Northside, the which Prolome and the rest of the ancient Geographers did entitle Aurea Chersonesus, in respect of the Island Samatra which is near too him, and one channel doth divide them, understanding that they were joined in one, yeven as the Morea is with the firm land.  
The longest part of this Island lieth Northwest and Southeast, and the Equinoctial Line standeth over the midst of it. And there remaineth behind towards the West near to the Cape Camorie in the same Coast the Island called Zeilan, and by Prolome named Taprobana in distance of four hundred leagues from the one to the other according to the opinion of Portugal sailors, and not by situation Geographical by reason that the course lieth East and West. Between the which there is a great bay which is called the gulf of Bengala, which is the realm that Ganges doth run through all along the coast, from the cape Canori four hundred & ten leagues towards the North-east unto the mouth of him, and from them it returneth running towards the South unto the point of Malaca, where Alonso de Alburquerque had knowledge of the Malucas, and of the rest of the Islands and Realms of that Sea, and particularly of the great Realm of China, which standeth in the same Coast, beginning his limits five hundred leagues more forward towards the West, and there remaining in the midst of this precinct, the Realms of Siam, Cambaia Champa and Guachinchina.   

¶ The sixth Chapter showeth of the description of the land of China, and the notable Provinces and Realms that are in it contained.  
THis great kingdom which the natural people of the country do call Tame; & they are called Tangis, is a Country which lieth most Easterly of all Asia, those of the India, Malaca Samatra, Sian and Pegu, and the rest of the Islands and Realms of that Sea, are called China, it is said that in respect of that Realm of Guachinchina, which is neighbour to it on the West side, and payeth Tribute keeping in all things their laws and customs, and the greatest part of it is washed over which the Easterly Ocean Seas; beginning from the Island Aynan adjoining to Guachinchina, which is in the nienteene degrees of the Northside, showing itself by the South part in the course of the East north-east gathering itself towards the North, unto a point which is most Easterly that it hath, where standeth the City of Nimpo which the Portugals do call Limpo, and from thence it returneth towards the Northwest, and to she North, making a great bay far into the land, and carrying on high upon itself, and other Coast set upon that which standeth above; and the higher Country remaining under the cold clouds of the North where the Tartars do devil, with whom they have continual wars.  
By the West part it bordereth, as it hath been delated, with the Realm of Guachinchina, and higher towards the North, which the Loas Osioens Maos, and with the Bramenes which are a multitude of people and very rich of gold & stones, and especially of Rubies.  
These are approved people, valiant, and tall of body, and sometime have war with the people of China, but it is not ordinary by reason of the great hills and sharp mountains that is between them.  
Then followeth forthwith the Patanes and Mogores, whose Realm is very great, and innumerable of people, and of such as be very warlike, they fight with Bows and Arrows on horseback, they wear Morions and other things of defence.  
The chief of that Realm is the great Samarcan, they be the true Massagetas, by whom it is affirmed that no other Nation have had them in subjection. They are a tall people well proportioned, and white for the most part, by reason they devil in a cold Country. And from them forwards you turn to meet with the Tartars, which people are tawny and not white, from the waste upward they go naked, they eat▪ raw flesh, and they anoint themselves with the blood thereof▪ because they would make themselves, to be wondered at: And therefore commonly they have such a filthy smell that when they war against the people of China, if the wind come of their side, they are discovered by the smell, they fight on horseback with Bows, Arrows, and Spears, as the Massagetas do. In all this description of the Country which hath been spoken of, without doubt it is as great or greater than Europe. There in are contained xv. Provinces, that every one of them is greater than the most kingdoms that we know. They name some of them under the name of Metropolitana, where their Governors and Precedents are resident: they are named, Canton Foquien, Chequeam, Xanton, Nanquij, Quinquij: these are bordering upon the Sea Coast, Quichen, junna, Quancij, Sujuam, Fuquam, Canslij Xianxij, Honan and Sancijs, these are in the Country within well near all these Provinces and particularly those of the Sea Coast are compassed about with Rivers very deep, large and Navigable of the fresh water, and also replenished with small Rivers and Brooks which doth maintain the Sea, with the entrance of them into it, and they run far within that Country, and because the Country is plain it semeeth as though it were overflown, but it is not.   

¶ The seventh Chapter showeth of the temperature of the Country, and the notable things that it bringeth forth.  
THe temperature of this Country is divers: by reason that it doth stretch far from the South to the North, so much that the Islands Ainan do stand in nientene degrees of height. It is also known that some Provinces do stand in fifteen degrees, and others much more above, in the borders of the Tartars: and this is well too be seen by the difference that is of the Inhabitants of Canton, and of the rest of the places of that Coast, which are base people, as those that are in Barbary, and do run the race that they do. And the rest of the people of the Provinces of the land within are white and read, as in Almanie, although that generally there is not in all of it, extreme heat, nor cold, because it is shut up within the region which the Geographers do call temperate, and it standeth under the same Climate that Spain, France, and Italy do stand in▪ whereby the fruitfulness of it may be understood, that without all doubt it is the greatest and most abundant that is known in the wide world, by reason that the natural people of the country do procure to live by their own industry, and continu all labour: not sparing Mountains, Ualleis, nor Rivers that is not all planted and set with sundry sorts of Fruits, and with great sowing of Wheat, Barley, Rise and other things according too the commodity and situation. And it is easy to them, by reason that they enjoy freely of their own substance; without any molestation of impositions and tributes. And also they do not suffer nor permit in the Country any Uacaboundes, nor idle people, nor they suffer any of the natural people of the Country to go forth of the Realm, there are an infinite number of people 〈◊〉 all kind of Arts, and offices. And because they are inclined to eat and drink well, and too make much of themselves, and to have their houses very gorgeously dressed, and repaired, they give themselves to labour, and to procure it, f●…eeing from infamy, and shunning little estimation, the things wherewith idle men are there reproached withal. This realm doth bring forth as great abundance of all kinds of fruits, and garden herbs, as Europe, and as sweet and with as good taste as those of Spain & better: for in the sweet Oranges, there is three differences of marvelous taste, and a kind of plumbs that are well near round which are called Lechias, which are of an excellent taste, without giving any loathsomeness, & without taking away the desire of the stomach, and without doing any hurt, although you eat many. Of the melons, & of a certain kind of apples, they report wonders, & their chestnuts they prefer without any comparison to be made of ours with them. They have great store of sugar, and great store of worms with breed silk, which is one of the greatest trades that is in that realm, & great store of flar to make linen cloth of divers sorts for their wearing. In the dry countries they sow Wheat and Barley, and in the moist and overflown grounds they sow Rise, and they are accustomed to gather it three or four times in the year, and so it is the most ordinary and common meat they have. The high Countries which are not good for Wheat, they set and plant with Pine apple trees, in such sort that no ground remaineth unlaboured that is able to give fruit, the rest of the fields, are most fair to the sight, and sweet by reason of the great store of Roses, and of other sweet flowers which they bring forth, and it maketh the Orchards pleasant which standeth by small brooks and rivers, and the gardens and houses of pleasure, which are spread abroad by the said fields, which they use much for their recreations. There are also certain bushy mountains and woods where doth breed great store of wild Pigs, and also Dear, Hares and Coneys, and other divers kinds of Beasts, of whose skins they have marvelous plenty of Furs, and especially of the Martirnes which are many in number of a certain kind of beasts as great as Foxes, they make the musk whereof they have great abundance they beat them with strokes until they kill them, and afterward they lay together the skin, the flesh, and the bones all to beaten, in little hillocks or Molehilles until they be all rotten, than they cut them, and in this sort they sell them to strangers. The Portugals do call them Papos, and they take it for better and more fine Musk then that which they bring from those parts in powder. The most common and ordinary cattle which they eat are Cows, Hogs Mutton, and Goats, of the which there are great abundance, in the Mountains and Meadows. The foul is so much and specially that which was brought up in great standing waters and rivers, that they accounted it a small matter to spend ordinarily every day in only one of the lest Cities of that Realm which is the Canton ten or twelve thousand ducks not accounting any other sort of birds.  
The abundance of fish, aswell of shell fish, as also of all other sorts of fish is most great, not only in the Sea caosts but also in the Provinces that are in the further most part of inland, because the rivers are all great navigable or portable by reason of the greatness. Of all kind of drugs there are great abundance and particularly of Rhubarb, and many mines of silver and gold, of the which is gathered great quantity in the rivers, and likewise of Copper, Iron & other metales, in such sort that they have great plenty of all things▪ and lack nothing that is necessary for the common use of the life of man.   

The VIII. Chapter showeth of the greatness of the Cities, Temples and buildings that are in it, & that be in all the Country of China.  
THere are in this realm many Cities & very populous, insomuch that in a Card Geographical made by the said people of China, which was brought into Portugal to the power of john de Barros a most learned historian of that Nation, there came marked two hundredth forty four famous Cities, and they are numbered and noted out with this syllable fu, which is as much to say, as a city like to Canton fu●… Panquim fu: and the Towns (which are very many in number) with this syllable che●…. The villages are innumerable, & of great husbandry, and some of them are of more than three thousand inhabitants and the difference which they have, is that they be not compassed about with walls as the towns are. All the Cities for the most part are set & planted by great rivers which are navigable and compassed about with deep and broad marish grounds which do make them most strong. The walls are made of great stones the height of a man, & from thence upwards of brick made of the same clay that the earthen dishes that they bring from thence is made of; which is so strong, that with great difficulty it can be broken with Pikaxkes. In some Cities they are very heigh and broad, in such sort that there may march four or six men in a rank or front upon them. They are beawtified with many Bulwarks and Towers from one side to tother, covered with most fair and beautiful coverings and compassed about with galleries, where their Governors and Ministers are accustomed to go too recreate themselves with the sight of the fields and Rivers & of other great buildings which from thence are discovered. And there is a certain space of ground between the walls and the marish ground, upon which vi. men on horseback may march: and in the innermost part of the walls on tother side there is as much more void ground unto the houses, that they may pass the watch without any imp●…ment, the walls are so whole & without clift or rift or show thereof, as if they were but then new made: and yet having in many City's memory of two thousand years since that they were made: and the cause thereof is that in every City and town the king hath an Officer with great wages which doth not occupy himself specially in any thing, other than in continual surveying of them, and to 'cause them too be renewed. And therefore they have order that he which is Treasurer and receiver of the King's rents in such Cities and in the like places, doth give too him all that is necessary and needful for the repairing of them. This is so precise a matter that the like officers are visited and chastened if they have not fulfilled all things which they are bound unto in their office. The entrance of these Cities are sumptuous, and of great show and Majesty▪ with three and four gates most strong, and all things too them appertaining, of Iron.  
The streets are well paved with stone, and stand right without declining too one side more than too the other: where you may see from one gate too tother, and in the most of them may pass in a front ten and fifteen men on horseback one by the other, and yet there remaineth in one side and tother great windows, and stawles for the service of them that keep shops of merchandise: they be so broad that there is buil●… in them triumphant Arches of great beauty and show, whereby the Cities be much detked and adorned: and the said Arches are set some upon timber and other upon free stone, which are much painted with gallant shows covered with Tiles, made of the earth, which the fine white dishes are made of. And by reason the streets are so broad they make them with three gates and those which are in the midst are greater than those which are at the ends. The Arches are so broad & so far out into the streets and so made that the people are defended from the rain & the Sun: and under them is sold much fruit and other fine trinckes, and jewels of all sorts.  
The houses where the king's Officers are resident in, are sumptuous and of a strange building, and so broad that some of them have more room than is in a good Town. And the cause thereof is the great gardens and parks which are compassed about that is within them, wherein is great store of dear and of other game of divers sorts, and all kind of wild fowl.  
In Towns that are near the Sea coast, all the houses for the most part be low, and within the land they raise their Chambers aloft; & of fair buildings. They have generally at their doors trees of beauty set in a row, one by an other in order, which are set with equal distance, and by line, which are green all the year, because they should yield them shadow and also beautify the streets.  
There are in that Country some Cities in which the Barks may sail with in them like as in the town of Brudges in Flanders: in the which river do Barks pass laden with all kind of victuals and merchandise, and the streets stand on both sides of the Channels where they sail and come to the Wharfes and Bridges of goodly building & specially at the going out of the Cities, for to pass the fens and the rivers. When they be so great and deep that none can go over them, they make bridges upon many boats or barks after the fashion of the bridge of Sevil tied with strong chains, and when the fresh waters are very great, they undo them, & then they take barks which they ro we with oars, and do use them to pass the people and all other things they have to pass at the king's cost, this order is in all the Country, although it be in places not inhabited.  
In the hills & mountains where people commonly do journey, there are made Cause is that are highest in the midst 
●…ausies very ●…otable.  and well repaired, which is one of the most notable buildings for common use that is in all China. The villages are for the most part all compassed about with trees, which do hide them because the houses be low, unless it be the houses of some rich farmers, whose housen are very high & decked with towers, & which are to be discovered far of, by many parts, because the Country is much replenished with villages and houses of pleasure, of great recreation, where they have gardens & parks of dear and wildfowl, and ponds of fish of all sorts. And by reason they are blind in Religion and without light of the knowledge of the true God, and of feeling of everlasting life, they endeavour the rather to pass the temporal life with great ease and contentment, reposing their chief felicity in things temporal and in things of most pleasure in this life.  
There are many other buildings of great admiration in those cities, & specially in the province of Fucheo; & certain Portugal's with were carried prisoners thither, do affirm that they saw a tower before the house of the king's Treasurer in that Province, built upon 40. whole Arches, and every pillar of the Arches had in length forty pawnnes, & in compass xii. and the rest of the building was so sumptuous and fair that therewith they were amazed, and it seemed too them that in respect of that, all was little which they could see in all Europe.  
And because you may better understand the majesty of this Empire and the riches and greatness of it, the Portugals do make particular relation of the City of Canton, which is one of the lest of that realm: of the which City they have most knowledge, by reason of the ordinary trade of shipping that they have too that place and port with their merchandise, which in respect of the rest is as the City of Cadiz in respect of the rest of the great Cities of Spain: and they say that this City of Canton standeth before the Island called Ainan in the same ooast in twenty seven degrees scarce of height of the North side in a plain fair field, and delectable to the sight; for the trees and fruits that it hath, and all kind of husbandry being placed among the small rivers, being branches of a great river which goe●…h spreading in breath two hundredth paces, and in depth from three to seven fathom, and by the sides of these rivers are planted many small villages & fair houses of great pleasure; until you come to the sea which is near unto it. At the entry in towards the City, are certain islands inhabited with husbandmen, with only do live by husbandry▪ It is compassed about on the part & side where the river is not with a broad deep ditch or trench▪ whereunto cometh great store of water which maketh it strong, & it is navigable, the walls are built with stone, lime, and brick, upon the face of the earth without any foundation▪ but filled up full of earth and broad. There are in the walls eighty three bulwarks. john de Barros doth say that they are ninety of a great show, and compassed about with galleries, which do beautify the City very much, it hath in circuit twelve thousand three hundredth and fifty paces, besides the suburbs which are great and much inhabited, the walls are hole and sound, although that they do affirm that it is one thousand eight hundredth years they were built by reason of the great care they have too repair them. The good fashion that the streets have, do cause the City to show very fair, by reason they are long and strait. And the said City hath seven gates, and they are seen from the one to tother, by reason the streets are so broad, that ten men on horseback may pass in front one by an other, and there remaineth at the one side and tother, shops where they sell merchandise and all kind of victuals. The said streets are very well paved, high by the sides, and low by the midst, that the water may avoid away and being so long they have throughout great number of triumphant Arches made very sumptuous as before is declared. At the going forth of the gates to go over the marish ground, there are Bridges of free stone, very broad where is sold many things too be eaten, and others.  
The houses where the Presideuts are lodged, that do gonerne this Province, are the king's houses, and are of great Majesty, and do occupy much room with the courts, and gardens and great houses where the Counsels do sit, and determine causes, and do provide things for the Government of the rest of the Cities, and those for the estate of the wars and for the king's rents.  
This Province and that of Cansie by reason they be lest; & the rest are provided with one only Governor which they call Tutam, & is as much to say among us as viceroy: & for this cause he is Resident in a City called Doucheo, which is in the borders and precinet of them both. The ordinary & common houses of this City are in outward show of small beauty because they are low, by reason of the heat which is great in that place, but within they are very beautiful & goodly to be seen; because they are made as white as milk in such sort that it seemeth as if they were set forth with shining paper burnished: and the floors of the ground are made of stones four square.  
The timber that these houses are made of is smooth 
Timber died  very equal and well wrought, died with certain waters which showeth as if it were the colour of Damask well near of the colour of gold, and it hath a beautiful show, and in all houses at the entry in at the door, and in the pavement or court are flowers set, and green things for their recreation, and a small pond with fish, and a linen cloth four square according too the measure of the court or Pavement that is wichin the door wrought all upon as though they were counting houses, & upon them are set many Idols of their gentility made of clay or of wood more or less very curinus, according too the ability of every one. In all the other square places, or lodgings they have things painted and divers other curiosities. The roofs of the housen are very well built and covered with tiles, made of the same clay that the Porcelanas are made of, those which receive the wa●… are broad and short, and those which lie upon and do shut the canals are narrow and long. In the ends towards the streets the tiles are garnished with very fine things and gallant made of lime, and they have no need too tile them 
tile not gathering filth.  anew in many years: For the tiles be not brittle as ours are, nor sharp but smooth that they do not breed any filthy thing.  
At the gates they have trees set, which serveth them for shadow, and it beawtifieth the streets. There are in the City many Temples of their Idolatry, very great and sumptuous; and chiefly one that is in the midst of the City with many Towers and Pinnacles, which do show over all the City. At one side of the part of the River there is a great Tower hard by the wall, and thither goeth the 
A Tower.  presidents and other Officers too make merry, and to see the City, the fields and the Rivers. The suburbs that it hath are very great by mean of the trade of the Sea, and by reason that the most part all the strangers and men of trade and of business do lodge in them.  
They have also the streets very broad with some triumphant Arches, as well in them, as within the City, there be a great number of places for men too lodge in, and Uittailing houses, where they have meat dressed, whereas is great plenty of flesh and fish, aswell shellfish as other fish, and fruits and wines made with confections of great delicateness, that it bringeth great admiration to note it, and it is all needful, according too the great trade of buying and selling that is there. They do affirm that making enquirte of the things which ordinarily is eaten, everyday it was found that there was from five too six thousand ●…ogges, and from ten to eleven thousand ducks, besides a great number of kine, and an infinite number of other Birds and hens and also Coneys and fish, aswell shellfish as other fish, and fruits and frogs, and also dogs, which they stay and skin or scald like Pigs, and the base and poor people do eat them, so as easily they do confess that this City of Canton is much greater than th●…r Lishebron the ●…hiefe City of Portugal, which is esteemed and taken for one of the greatest Cities of Europe.   

The IX. Chapter showeth of the countenance and apparel of the People, and their conditions and manners.  
ALL the people of the China generally have broad faces, small eyes, plain noses with very little hair in their beards; and some there are that have their faces well made and proportioned, with great eyes, & with their beards well set: but there are few of these. It is though●… that those comelier sort did descend of strange people that in old time matched themselves with them, when they went forth of the realm and were conversant with other people. In Canton and all other places of that coast, they are tawny like unto those of Fetz, and Marruecoes, but all within the land are of the colour like to the people of Spain, Italy, and Flanders, white and read & of good growth. The noble people of the land, and those that serve in the wars, do apparel themselves with silks of divers colours, and the poorer sort of people with black, and with serge, linen cloth, and cotton wool, died, because they make no woollen clotheses, although they have great store of wools. They have their coats made of such fashion as other were in old time, with many pleits, long fawles, & broad sleeves, and they make them fast upon the left side, and do guard their said apparel with that that their garments are made of, according to the degree and ability of every one of them. They that be of the blood Royal, and also such as be placed in the chief offices at honour and au●…toritie, differ from all other in apparel: for they go all beset with gold and silver round about their wastes, and all other Gentlemen do carry their ears garnished therewith. Their hoses are very well made and stitched, and their Boots and shoes are made of silk very curious and fine. In the winter season they fur●…e their apparel with furs of beasts, as of Marterns and Sables, and do bring them ordinarily about their necks. They suffer their hear to grow long, wherein they have great superstition, saying that they shallbe carried thereby to heaven: and they colour it like as women do, and do gather it together in the highest part of the head with a string, wherein they put through a nail of silver. Those that are not married are different from them that are: wherefore they wear their hear curled upon their forehead, & wear on their head certain high coyves, & round, made of small sticks very fine, and wrought upon with black silk. The women are commonly very fair, except those that are dwelling at the Sea coast, of the part that is towards the south, and those that dwell in the hills and mountains: the rest are very white and fair in their fashion, & some with goodly eyes, and their noses very slender and comely. All are apparelled with silk, & the poorest sort with serge and linen cloth. The coats with they use, be of the fashion of them that are here, and the Petty coats with broad sleeves. They dress their hear with most great care, they carry it gathered together on the higher part of the head, fast bound with a broad lace of silk garnished with stones & pieces of gold. They paint themselves with the like curiosity as they do in Spain: & they hold it for a gallant thing, to have their feet very little, & therefore from the time that they be little children, they bind their feet very much with clotheses, for because that such as have little feet are much esteemed. They live very closely in there houses, for they are little seen, their husband's wills is that they should so do, for they are very iealowse. When they go forth of their houses, they are carried in chairs with courtines compassed about, with servants and familiar friends that do carry them, and that do accompany them, in such sort that none are seen by the streets, but people of low and base degree. The men do buy the women when they marry them, and pay for them to their fathers, much or little money, according to their degrees. And although that it be lawful for them to have as many as they can maintain, yet they dwell with one alone which is the chiefest in reputation, and the rest they lodge in divers houses. And if they be men of trade and merchants that are traders, they do place them in such Towns where their business & trade lieth. They do not suffer within the Cities, that any common women should inhabit, but in the suburbs where is appointed unto them public streets for their habitation. All these for the most part are slaves bought from the power of their mothers when they were children, for because it is permitted by law unto widows that do remain poor, when they have not where withal to sustain them to sell their children for their relief: being oppressed with necessities, they go to rich merchants and offer their daughters that they may buy them. The which merchants moved with covetousness do teach these young maids too play of the Uirginalles and Gittorns and other such instruments: and after growing to ripe years, they put them into the streets too raise a gain of their whoredoms. There is an account taken by an Officer of the Kings, which is appointed for this cause; unto whom the master of these maids doth pay so much by the year, after the manner of tribute, and they to their masters every month as much as they do agreed upon: and those which do play of the Instruments and sing well, be more esteemed & of greater price. When they are old they make them look young again, with ointments oils, waters, and with colours, and when they are old and of no more profit, they remain free without any longer bondage unto their masters, or any else, maintaining themselves of that which they have gotten in their youth, with their naughty trade. And the boys do serve all kind of service in their houses, until they be of years to marry, & then their masters are bound to seek then wives, and to provide them houses, and to give them trade or order how they may get their living, and these servants must give their masters every year so much in knowledge of their bondage, but the children of these slaves remain free. They do celebrated all their holy days in the night, and principally at the time of the new Moans, as people that walk in darkness, with great shows and many inventions, and with much Music. And specially they do solemnize the first day of the year, which is amongst them at the time of the new Moon of March: and therefore they trim and deck up their houses and doors with many carpets and clotheses of silk, and of divers kinds of roses and flowers planting in all the streets trees most high with their bows cut off, whereupon they hung many lights, and also of the triumphant Arches which in these days they deck with bows, paint them, and hung them with clotheses of Damask, & other divers silks. The Priests do assist in these holy days being richly apparelled, and do offer sacrifices too their Idols, singing according too their fashion, and they are all joyful with the music, they sing very unlike one another in their voices, and divers kind of instruments like too Gittorns, Viols, and Uioles of the bow, Claricordes & Flutes. And although they be not of the self-same making as ours are here, yet they are much like to them, and are very curious, & their voices do agreed with the Instruments marvelously, & they make a marvelous accord in the sound. They have many shows or plays very pleasant of great entertainment for such as do understand them, they do them very naturally with great preparation; and very like to the matter, which they do present them for. And all the time that these festival days do continue, they have their tables set full of meat of divers sorts, as well of flesh, as of fish, and of all kind of fruits, and of most rich wines of marvelous taste, and they and their Priests do nothing else but eat & drink at discretion until they can not stand: and in that point neither the flemings nor Almans do pass them.  
In the principal days or feasts that every one doth keep as in the day of his birth, they do convite their kinsfolks and friends, and bid one another, and they sand delicates and things too help them make their feasts. There are great expenses in these banquets, and those which make them for their pastimes, they spend frankly their goods in them, they are served with marvelous policy, and with strange order, and if there be one hundredth guests, every one eateth alone, or by two and two, upon little tables most gallant, so gilded, and painted with wildfowl, dear, and all other sorts of birds that they cover no table with clotheses, but only compasseth the table with a border or a frontal of Damask in every one that reacheth to the ground, in the ends & sides. Round about the tables they put many little baskets very curious decked with flowers with divers different fruits, and in the midst the meat very orderly, and prepared as well of flesh as fish, broths of divers sorts served in rich dishes made of fine white clay called Porcelanas, or of silver. They eat very cleanly, for they touch not their meat with their hands, but with small sticks gilded that they hold between their fingers, and with forks of silver: they drink many times, but little in quantity, & they drink it out of little cups made of the white fine earth that the Porcelanas are made of, too the end that they would drink very little at a time. Women do help to serve in the meat and drink, and too wait at their tables: and when the tabels are served the said women do the office of jesters too make them merry and joyful. They have musicians in all these banquets and players upon divers Instruments, dancers and representers of comedies, wherewith they be recreated as people without care, and without light of the glory of heaven, not directing too any other end but too the contentment and felicity of this world, whereof they enjoy the full. The Lords and the people of estimation are served with much more Majesty and curiosity, for they give to them at every time they change their meat, clean napkins, knives, forks, and spoons. They use great courtesies, and good behaviour one with tother in their quaffing and drinking making much one of an other. And they are so ielowse, that they suffer not their wives to eat with them in these feasts and assemblies: but they agreed and eat together in some other place apart from them: and there goeth no man into the place where they are but certain blind men that are musicians to make them merry. They use a certain courtesy at their meeting very strange, they shut their left hand and cover it with the right, and hold them up many times upon their breast, in token that they have them fast shut up in their hearts, and to this moving of hands they add unto words of courtesy. And amongst the common people that which they commonly speak when they meet any strange friends, that have not seen one the other many days before is, that they do ask them, if they have eaten? and if they do answer, they have not, they carry them to the vittailling houses, and make them great cheer, and do banquet them at their discretion: For as I have said, in all places and streets, as well within the city as without, there are a great number of vittailing houses, where they cell meat and drink abundantly of many sorts of meats: and if they say that they have eaten, they carry them to other houses, where only they are served with Conserua and fruits and shellfish, and sundry sorts of wines, wherewithal they banquet and recreate themselves. And if there come any guests, newly forth of any other place to their houses, if they find them not with their best apparel that they use to wear at a festival time, they speak not unto them, nor make any reckoning of them, until they come in the most rich apparel they have, and in appareling themselves so, they receive them with great mirth & gladness, & great courtesy. For they have an opinion that it is not lawful, nor that they are not bound too receive any guests, which wear their common apparel, but such as do come with their festival apparel, and the best they have, too show them that they have caused with their coming, great feasts and gladness in their houses. They use too make very much of them at their coming, and their kinsefolk, neighbours and friends come too see them, and carry them a water made of certain herbs sodden that is somewhat bitter and of a red colour which is very healthful, and such as they use, ordinarily for too preserve them in health. All people in general give themselves too labour, aswell in tilling the fields ' as in other sciences and arts, and in the trade of merchandise, not permitting any idle men. Neither is there 
●…o Beggars.  any poor people that do beg among them, nor they give them any alms, for they will that all get their living with their labour. And therefore they have this order if there be any that are lame, & cripple, or of grievous diseases, and have of their kindred that are able to sustain them, and do it not, the chief Treasurer of the king and other Officers in that place do force them too do it, and so they give them what they have need of, according too the ability that every one hath: and if they have no kinse folks that are of wealth, than they command to prove the same before their Officers or Ministers of justices, that they may command them to be received into Hospitals that the king hath to this end in every place, with ordinary Officers that do minister and give to every one what they have need of abundantly, which cost proceedeth of his rents, and for the most part all these are incurable until they die, they have their names set down in their rolls and they themselves & the chief Treasurer, & keeper of the accounts of the king's rents do visit the officers and do take account of the charges and provision of the sick people. And if they found that they have not done their duties as they are bound too do in serving and cherishing them, they are chastened without any forgiveness. And for the blind men being poor, they ordain that they labour and work, and get their meat in grinding of wheat and Rise in mills, in place of moils. And the blind women which are strumpets they appoint other women too govern▪ trim, and deck them, which have their sight, and have left this kind of naughty living. They are all very ingenious & fine of wit too do any thing with their hands and chiefly they which use too paint pictures; for they are marvelous painters of all kind of birds, as it is well seen by the bedde●…, tables, windows targets and other like which they bring from thence to Portugal, and very quick of natural understanding, & to find out all kind of arts▪ They have many Co●…thes, and Wagons, carried with horses. They use abroad in Towns and villages Wagons that are carried under sail with the wind, and they govern them as easily as barks in the water. I saw many Portugese's that did affirm this which had been in that Country, and it proveth to be so, for in some linen clotheses are painted, which they bring from thence that I saw in Lishebron there cometh painted the fashion that they are of. They have such discretion and cunning in the trade of merchandise, that such as ●…oo use it, are commonly false liars, and full of mischief, for they do not endeavour any thing, so much as too deceive them with whom they trade, as people without consciente, & clothed in deceit. There are many that go ranging from Province to Province with their merchandise carrying from one to another, the things which they want, and go down to the ports of the Sea to sell to strangers of the Islands and Realms near adjoining too them. Others there are which live continually in the Cities and Towns, where they have great lodges in the public streets under those Arches, and at the gate a table set, wherein they have written all the merchandise they have. That which commonly they sell, is cloth of gold & pieces of silk of divers sorts, and very curious, whereof are many crimsons, Damasks and Taffetas, of so high a price, that the Portugeses dare not give for them that which they are worth, although it be a merchandese that most of all others they buy to carry to Malaca, and to other parts and realms of that Sea coast, and to the India, and too Portugal. Their merchants of lower degree▪ do sell f●…e & course ●…erge, of all colours and pieces of linen cloth, and cotton wool, whereof the poor people do apparel themselves. They which have simple medicines have their sign set at their doors. Within the land is great store of Ru●…arhe, but it is brought to Canton sudden, & not raw. They sell the Porcelanas which is the five dishes made of white clay at the gates of the City, there are of divers sorts: those which are most fine, are not commonly sold, nor they are not brought in to these parts: for the governors, and precedents, and Lords are served with them, they are red, green, gilded, some yellow, they are made of a white soft stone, and some are read, but the read is not so good, because it is of a more strong and base clay the which being ground is laid in certain ponds of water which they have made of free stone, and some▪ l●…ked upon but very clean: and after they have it well wet and turned two and fro in the water, of the cream or skim that remains upon the water they make those which are most fine, and the lower they go, so much the more course, and of that which remaineth lowest, they make the grossest or coarsest, whereof the common people are served, and they are fashioned even in the sort and manner as our earthen dishes are made here, and they dry them in the son, and after they paint them, as they list, with the ink of Anil which is fine, as by them you may perceive, and when they are dry they glaze them, and they bake them. In the Province called Saxij are made the best: and the greatest Fair and sale of them, where they are most sold, is in Liampo, which is a City of the same Province. The artificers and craftsmen are dwelling in the open places and streets as they are here. There are goldsmiths that work upon gold and silver curiously, and marvelous gilders and gravers of gold which have great shops full of counting houses and painted & garnished Chests, and many Chairs gilded with gold, & some with silver of such as they carry their governors and other chief Officers of their common wealths on their shoulders, which are very rich, and of great price, and specially one sort of them which are made very high, and covered with windows made with a lattesse of ivory, that they which are within may see those that are without, & they not seen. These do serve to carry women when they pass in the City. They have many rich beds, tables, stools, small chests so gilded and curiously wrought and painted with gold, and other materials, that it is wondered to our great artificers that we have here. I ●…ad in my custody a small counting chest, and I showed it in Lishebron where I bought it, and in Sevil unto the most curious men, and of most knowledge in all arts that were in those Cities at that present, & with great admiration they said to me, that in all Europe was none that would take upon them to make the like nor understand the work that was in it. There are many workmen of latin which do work an infinite number of all sorts of vessels, of the which they serve and provide all the Islands of those Seas and of other vessels of Iron whereof they are great and cunning artificers; and they melt them according as they melt the latten in Norwey, but it is more like too glass, for it breaketh easily. There are more shoemakers then of any other science, because it is a thing that is much used and spent. In the City of Canton there are two great streets of them without any other person of any other occupation that dwell amongst them, but there are many scattered abroad in other places of the City. In one of these streets are sold rich stuff, wherewith they make boots and shoes that are covered without with silk of colours with rich strings, which is made very gallantly. There are Boots of ten Ducats price; and of a Ducat according to their goodness, and shoes of two Ducats and so downward, unto a marvedi which is the vi. part of a penny, and are of straw, that the rich and poor may wear every one as he listeth and as their ability serveth. In all other arts, there are a great number of craftsmen very curious and of all things great abundance. And they are so given too their own profit, that of dogs bones and of other beasts, they serve themselves therewith in steed of ivory, and of old rags and rinds of trees, and of canes they make paper and of small pieces of silk: of this they serve themselves too write upon, and the rest for too roll pieces of Damask and Taffetas and other silks in. They buy the dung of the houses for their ground in the fields and especially for their garden herbs. They bring up birds too sing, and they teach them too make visages; they apparel themselves of divers fashions. They make all these inventions and many other too get money, wherewithal too pass their life. The money that is among them is of copper, but that which most runneth amongst them is gold and silver, which is changed for the value in weight, as it is in the Peru. All of them bring their Balance and broken silver too buy meat, and the rest of the things which they have need of. And when they buy any thing of great quantity, they have Balances in their houses, and great weights made just and marked. They bring their silver commonly full of dross, too make it increase, which is the cause that although they have many mines, they carry it as merchandise from japaon, and much gold out of the Islands called Lechios. These Islands are one hundredth leagues more towards the East from the City of Chincheo which is in the Province of Foquiem. The first Island standeth in xxv. degrees of height, and there are many other following in the course of the East north-east, towards the North; they are all fruitful, and temperate and of marvelous good waters: the people that devil on them are more white than tawny, and well appareled and use armour. They were subject in the old time too the people of China, and therefore they are much of their manners: but now they are of themselves; and being in the midst of the Sea, yet they give themselves little too navigation. Of the fruits that the people of the China do gather and the merchandise which they trade, in they pay too the King a tribute very easy. The greatest burden they have, is that they which keep houses by themselves do pay for every person of their household the value of three score marvedis which is here xi. pence. And with this all their goods and lands are free too do with them what they list, and too leave them to their children, and children's children after their deaths, which is the cause that they labour so much as they do too increase them.   

The tenth Chapter showeth of the navigation that the people of China have in the Seas, and also in the fresh Rivers.  
THere are in this Realm an infinite number of Ships and Barks, wherein they sail by the Islands and coasts of the same, which are large, and by those great rivers, which do run through many parts of the same, in such sort as it is thought there do devil few less people on the water than on the land, the great store of timber that they have do help them much thereunto, and the minerals of iron, and other necessary things for the art of navigation, by the abundance whereof it is easy to make their Ships and Barks with very little cost. The greatest ships they have, are called juncos, which are very 
〈◊〉 descrip●… of the se●… all sorts of 〈◊〉, barks, 〈◊〉 galleys.  great, and are made for the wars, with Castles very high in the poop & prore like to the Ships of Levant. There are so many of these▪ that it is easy for any general of the Sea to join together in little time a navy from five hundredth to a thousand of them, of the same making and greatness. They have others for loading, but they are lower of poop and prore. Other smaller Ships they have, which they call Bancoens, which do carry three great Oars in every side, with four or six men to every Oar, and such serveth them much, for to go in, and come forth of the bard, havens. And others there are called Lanteas, that row with seven or eight Oars. These two sorts of small Ships (although they be for lading) yet the Pirates and thieves use them, for there are many in all these coasts, and islands, by reason they sail well. Also they use other small ships, that are long like to Galleys, wherein they lad great store of merchandise, to carry up and down by the rivers within the land: these draw little water after the fashion of Flanders Hoys. There are an other sort of small Ships and Barks, different to these, and such great numbers be of them that is wonderful, but the relation thereof is known notoriously, and all serveth to carry merchandise from one place to another within the said realm, because it is forbidden that any man shall go forth of it for any foreign place, although that in old time they sailed much abroad, and conquering the Islands and Realms of that Sea, until they came to the India, and at this day there is memory of them in the coast of Coromandell, which is over against the Realm of Narsinga, on the side of the Sea of Bengala, where Saint Thomas built his house, where by report remains to this day the relics of his body.  
There is a great Temple of Idols, which serveth for a mark to such as do sail in that Sea coast, which is low 
The coast of China is low like as Flaun dear coast is. shoals an●… flats perilous to strange fleets.  as Holland is, and is called the coast of the Chinese, because the people of Chinese built it in times past. And in the realm of Calicut be trees of fruit, which have been there of long time, and the natural borne people of the Country ●…o say, that their Nation planted them. And in the shoals of Chiloa, which doth extend unto the Island of Ceilam towards the west part of Coromandel, it is affirmed by those of the land, that there was lost a great fleet of their Ships which came upon the India▪ by mean they were not perfect in the navigation of those Seas. And it is also said that they were Lords of Laoa, and of the Realms of Malaca, Sian, and Chapaa, as commonly it is affirmed. And it seemeth to be so, by reason that all the people of these Realms are in manners and conditions like to those of the China. But in this point as it seemeth they had more wisdom than the Greeks, Oarthaginenses, and romans, the which for to conquer other strange countries far off, went so far from their own, that they came to loose their own Countries at home. And considering this, they would not so experiment their harms and hurts any longer: but seeing how the India did consume them much people, & also great riches of their own Realm, and that they were much troubled and tired of their neighbours, at such time as they went abroad conquering other king's lands, and having in their own Country gold, silver, and all other metal, and much natural riches of their own Country, and such great store of merchandise, that all other foreign nations did profit by, and themselves not profit of the benefits of any other Country. All the governors of these Provinces, determined to consult hereabout, 
A politic ●…aw that pur●…haseth insi●…ute benesites.  and to be humble suitors to their own king, which at that time wast, oh yield a remedy in this case. Who did establish by law, and at this day it is kept very precisely, that no subject of his should sail forth of his Realm upon pain of his life: and that neither by Sea nor land, no stranger should come to his land, without the express licence of the governors of the Country where they arrive. With this order and manner the Portugese's which go thither do now trade. And when the natural people of the Country will go from one Province to another, they give sureties to return within a certain time which is appointed them. And they suffer them not to carry with them any ships above the burden of one hundredth tons, or one hundredth and fifty, because they should not go far of. And to the end the ships of the realm, & other strange ships that come thither in the trade of merchandise, may go safe & come safe; for that purpose the king hath great ships armed and warlike, which 
The king's navy to clear the coasts from enemies and pirates'.  run by all these coasts and Islands, to seek out thieves and pirates', and within the Rivers they have for this purpose many small armed ships very good of sail: and especially those that run by the Province of Cansi, which standeth right over against the Laos, and the Bramenez their enemies, and also by other provinces where need is, for to assure in safety such as are traders with their goods and merchandises. And because they may have good dispatch in the ports, they have established by law of the realm, that the first ship 
dispath at th●… ports.  which shall come in, shall first be laden and dispatched, and the rest as they come in by their order. They carry in all 
Galleries.  these ships galleries very curious in the poop over the helm, and by imitation whereof the Portugese's do use the like now in their galleons & ships that go for the India. And 
A pitch of lime and oil of fish.  also they use a kind of Bitumen or pitch, which they learned of them, which they call the pitch that is made of lime and oil of fish, and common sort of pitch, made very small and so incorporate, which is put between the sides of the ships, and an other new lining of boards, that is made upon the old, unto the place where the waters do ordinarily come, which is as much to say, the lading mark, when they are laden: and after that in place of pitch they turn to cover the new living with the said new kind of pitch, which is 
This pitch is defensive against the worms.  so profitable to the board or table, that never after entereth into it any worm, and within short time it is made so hard with the water as a stone. And with this the ships of China endure a long time, in such sort that they have put to some of their ships called juncos, the same kind of pitch four or five times, that their side is as hard as a wall, but they remain with this kind of fortification very heavy to go with 
Discommodity of the pitch. Pumps artificial.  the sail. They use a certain kind of pumps made of many pieces, like to Anorias of Spain, put a long by the ships sides within, so artificially, that one man sitting and moving his feet continually as one that goeth up a pair of stairs, pumpeth a great ship in little time, although she make very much water.  
The great store of Barks that are for service in Rivers, 
Barks innumerable. Multitudes of families always living on the water.  are innumerable, and it is to the Barkemen an inheritante and continual habitation. They carry in them their wives and children in one side of them, coveved like a house, and in the other side they have made a place for the ease of their passengers. And as the Rivers are very great, and broad, and navigable, there are in them continually many Barks, like to victualing houses▪ where is to be had meat and drink very delicious: and there are like wise to be sold all five sorts of merchandise that are to be found in the great Cities. Also there are many poor people of the villages which are sitting at the rivers sides, they devil also in Barks in the water, without having any other place to go unto, the men their wives and children, they bring their coverings for to defend them from the rain and from the Sun, and they breed in them hens, Geese, Pigeons, 
They breed ●…oultrie and ●…oule in the Barks. Gardens.  and in the outside they make a little Garden, wherein they plant flowers, and some garden herbs. These get their living in going to work in the Country in the small villages at all kind of work. And the women they pass over by Bark the way fairing men, if any come, and they also go up and down the River with great long canes, & certain small baskets made of twigs tied at the end, where withal they catch shell fish, for to sustain themselves. In other greater Barks goeth people of wealth, and some Barks do appertain to rich men, where their servants are, they have in them certain great cages made of Canes as long as the Bark, wherein they are accustomed to bring up three or four thousand Ducks, which they feed in this manner, when it is day they give them sod Kise, not so much as may 
Water foul.  fill them, and immediately they set open the door where they are, that they may cast themselves into the River, by a door that is made of the same Canes: And it is a marvelous thing to see, the haste how they go out one upon another, until they come a land, where they go feeding all the day 
Rosiers. Rewards.  until night, in the places where Roses do grow. The owners of the Roses do give to the Barkemen rewards, because they make clean the places where the Roses grow of the grass that grows among them, & at night they make 
The foul return by noise of the drum.  a sign or noise with a small drum, and then they come all home. And although there are diverse Barks together, they know to which Bark they should go▪ by reason of the sound, and they return into the same Bark with the like fury they went forth. And because there may be moved some question after what sort they raise and breed such great multitudes of Ducks and water foul, you shall understand that 
Eggs hatched by 〈◊〉 perate hea●… of d●…urg, a also by warmth of fire.  in the Summer time they put two or three thousand eggs into dung, and with continual warmth, and gentle heat thereof and with the time, there cometh forth this brood, as the Chickens do in grand Cairo in Egypt: and in the Winter they make a great hearth, upon the which they put a great number of eggs, and underneath they make a soft, mtid●…, and gentle fire, and so it continueth in one sort for certain days, until these broods come forth: and this is the cause that there are such multitudes of them. The Barks of these fishers, as well in the Sea as in the Rivers, are innumerable, for the which cause it is manifest, that it is the best provided Country of fish that is in the whole world For as I have said, although it be 500 leagues within the land, they eat every day fresh fish of the Sea. And for because this should not seem incredible, I will refer me to the 
The politic increase a●… breeding o●… fish.  order that they have therefore every year in the month of February and March, & part of April, when the great Freshes do come. The fish of the Sea do come to cast their spawn, or eggs, at the going forth of the Rivers, which is the cause that there doth breed great store of small fish in the creeks thereof, to which places all the fishermen do come that devil along the coast, with their Barks and nets with them, they fish of this fish, and they cast them into certain ponds, which they make in the water after the manner of a round circle, upon great rods and course nets, where they live and are sustained until the fishing be done, which dureth certain days. In this time there they use too come down a great multitude of Barks of all the Provinces of the China, of the innermost part of the land, in the which Barks they bring many Baskets made of twigs, and lined with Paper laid upon with Oil, that the water may not come forth, and every one of these do buy the Fish that they have need of, according to the baskets that they do bring, and forth with they return again into the land, moving them every day into other water, for too cell them where best they may be paid for them. And all men that are of ability do buy of these baskets for the storing of their ponds, which they have at their houses, and places of their inheritances. And they are made to grow and increase in short time with the dung of Cows. And in all the ditches of the Cities there is cast in, and do breed after this sort great quantity, the which the governors and officers of the King do enjoy: whereby is understood the marvelous industry which they use for to enjoy the great abundance thereof. And the king hath for these fishings in all the cities which are built upon the rivers sides, 
●…acrowes to 〈◊〉 fish with.  many sea Ravens, or Cormorants put into cubs, where they breed and multiply: with the which Cormorantes there is made a great fishing. And the Barks that are appointed for this fishing do come together, and are put in compass in the midst of the River, and they do bind fast the gorges or maws of these birds, because the fish should not descend down to the guts, and they cast them out to fish, and to swallow down until they fill their maws of small fishes, and if they meet with any great one, they take him out of his bill, wherewith all they return into the Bark to cast out all he hath taken. After this sort they continued their fishing until they have what they will, and then they unlose them, and do return them to their places, that they may fill themselves at their own will, and so they put them into their cubs as before. Some part of these fishes the king doth give to his officers, and the rest is distributed for the provision of the Cities for to increase his revenues. The Barks wherein the governors and the officers do sail in, have their coverings high, and their cabans very well wrought, and gilded both without and within, with their windows, & casementes adorned with fine shows. And the Barks of the officers of lower degree, are well near built after the same manner, and with as much gallantness. There are so many Barks of the one sort and of the other, that they say commonly that their King may make a bridge upon Barks, 
Astraung●… thing wor●… the noting  that will reach from China to Malaca, which is five hundredth leagues distant.   

The xi. Chapter, showeth of the letters, ciphers, and figures of the people of China, and of their studies in general.  
THe people of China have non number of letters in their A B C, for all that they writ is by figures, signifying the heaven which they call Guant, by one only figure which is this. And the king which they call Bontai, which is this. And in like order the earth, the Sea, and the rest of the elements, and names, using more than five thousand ciphers or figures, different one from the other, which they make very readily. I saw a China do it, and I requested him to writ certain names, and he showed to me the numbers that they do accounted withal, and they were easy to understand, and to sum and rest any manner of account by Arithmetic by them as well as by those of our ciphers: they make the lines throughout both above and beneath, very equal and which great order, beginning contrary to us. After the self same order they have in their impression which they used many years before it was used in Europe. Of their printed books which doth treat of their Histories, there were two of those books in the power of the most excellent Queen of Portugal, the Lady Katherine that now liveth. And that which seemeth most to be marveled at, is, that they speaking different languages in the most part of their Provinces, and the one understand not the other by speech, more than the Gascoines do understand the Valencianos, yet generally they understand one another by writing, for one manner of figure or cipher doth serve every one of them, and to signify to them any manner 
●…traunge ef●…ct in their riting.  of name. And although they declare one to another of them any word that is strange, yet they understand that it is the self same thing, because they see plainly that it doth signify a City which is this, and some do call it Leombi, and others Furio, the one and the other do understand that it is to be un▪ derstoode a City, and the like followeth in all other names. And in this sort they talk one with another in writing, those of Lapaon, and Islands of the Lechios, and the Realm of Guachinchina, without understanding any word the one with another when they speak. In all Cities the king hath general 
●…ree schools.  Schools at his own cost, and to them do come an infinite number of Scholars to be taught. A Friar named Gaspar de la Cruz, being a religious man of Portugal, of the order of Saint Dominicke, that was in that Country in the City of Canton, and that wrote plentifully the things he saw, and that which happened to him in the voyage, sayeth, that they teach in these their Schools only the laws of the 
The laws ●…aught in Schools. Astronomers  Realm and no other science. But there be some learned men that have knowledge of the course of the heavens, whereby they know the Eclipses of the Sun and of the Moon, and these teach to particular parsons, of their own free wil And john de Barros doth say, that beside the teaching of their own laws, they also teach natural Philosophy, and that they be great Astrologers, which he knoweth by relation of others, and by a book they brought him from thence of the situation of the Country, with a Commentary upon the same after the manner of an Itinerary, with a Map or 
A not able ●…all.  Card Geographical, made by the said people of the China, wherein is mention made of one wall, which beginneth from the City of Ocoioy, and standeth between two very high mountains, even like unto a way, passage or gate that passeth through that whole Region, which doth run from forty three to forty slew degrees from the West to the East, and until it meet with another great hill which runneth out into the Easterly Seas, after the manner of a head land, or Cape, and seemeth to be in length more than two hundredth leagues, which the kings in times past did command too build, for to defend the incursions of the Tartars from his Country, their ancient mortal enemies. And all those Mountains, Rivers, Cities, and Towns, with their names, which Card or Map did answer well to the book, after the manner as they use there, is after three sorts, that is by stature, league, and journey, and we use the like. And the first and lest distance they call Lij, which have so much space as in a plain ground, and a calm day the voice of a man may be heard, and ten of these Li●…s do make one Pu, which do answer little more than a league of ours of Spain, and ten Pues do make a days journey, which they call Ichan. And it is not to be marveled that they do not situate the distance of the land with degrees answering too the celestial Orb, seeing that at the time of Ptolemy it was not used of the Geographers, notwithstanding that he saith they have this use in their Oroscopos when they use their Astrology.  
The king doth send to these Scholars every year visitors 
visitors of Schools.  to examine the students, to see and understand if they profit in learning. And those which are able and learn well, they honour with words of commendation, and do animate them that they go forward in their study, offering them to increase their livings: and those which do not profit in learning, they command to be put into Prison, and they whip them: and when they are altogether unprofitable, they dispatch them away every three years. The visitors use this kind of examination, when they come to take residence of the judges, and the kings Officers: and they bring power and authority to graduate such as are able men, and of sufficient knowledge in the law, which is to make them sufficient for to serve the king in Offec●…s and governments, as it is more at large declared in an other Chapter following.   

The xii. Chapter showeth how that of all this great Realm of China one only Prince is King and Lord: and of his Council and Majesty, of his house, and Court.  
ALL this great Realm is subject to one only king and monarch which doth govern & reign in it. And there doth succeed in the Realm from fathers to sons, and for lack of them it goeth to the next in kindred: but, as they marry many wives, according to the manner of the Turkish Emperors, very seldom times they lack successors. The first child that is born of any of his diverse wives is of force inheritor of the Realm: & to the rest of the children after they are married, there is appointed to them Cities, wherein they shall live privately, where they are provided of all things that are needful for them, according to their degrees, with express commandment that they go not forth of them, nor evermore after to come at the Court, upon pain of loss of their lives. And when in old time the kings married their sons, they made a solemn banquet unto all the knights and principal Lords of his Court, and did command to carry with them their sons and daughters richly apparaled, and trimmed; and in this congregation came the Princes, where all the Ladies were joined in company, and there they choose for their wives such as to them seemed best and fairest, and the young women did the like of the young men, but now they marry themselves with those of their own kindred. This same self rigour that is used of shetting them up, all the rest of the kings kindred do suffer the like, being resident for the most part in the City of Cansi, with commandment that some do never go forth of their houses too avoid all manner of occasion and suspicion, of alteration.  
The dwelling houses where these Princes devil are very 
Ample houses with Princely pleasures.  great, for within them they have all the pleasure and contentment that is to be thought, aswell of Gardens, Orchards, Ponds of fish of diverse sorts, as also of Parks, where they have diverse kind of dear and foul, such as may be had in Mountains and Rivers, all compassed about with walls, which maketh more compass than a great town. And as they understand in nothing else but in making much of themselves: they are commonly fat, of good conditions, peaceable, and liberal with strangers. They give themselves much to Music, wherewithal they pass the time, and in other quiet exercises. The governors and the king's officers are bound to visit them in all their festival days, and if they ride along by their doors on horse back, they alight down, and if they be carried in Chairs they descend down also, and they pass by making little noise, as men that make no show of their authority, nor ordinary pomp as they are accustomed to do. And for this cause they have their gates of these houses painted with read ochre, because they shall be known. There is not in all this Realm any Lord that hath subjects, or iuristdiction, or other title, than of an Off●…eer, which is the most honourable title they have, and it doth signify in their language, as much as if we in our language should say Lord and knight. It is gotten by study, and sufficiency in the laws of the Realm, and by worthiness in the field, and by particular service made too the king, or to the common 
Painted gates.  wealth. Those with are choose for the laws of the realm▪ & for men of war, are extolled according to the deserts that every one do▪ until they come to be Precedents and governors of the Provinces, and▪ general Captains in the Sea▪ and in the land: and they are occupied also in other offices of the house and Court of this Prince, and to be of the king's council, which is the highest office that is. Those which they make sufficient in learning, they choose in this manner. The king doth send every three years a Chaen, which is as one should say a judge of residence to every Province, that he may visit the governors and officers thereof. And this visitation being ended, he doth command that in the chief City there be joined the most learned students of the most Cities of that jurisdiction, & with the most learned lawyers, and of most authority, they are all examined, and such as 
Graduating.  they find sufficient, they do graduate with much solemnity, and with great ceremonies, making themselves merry in these feasts certain days with much music, dances, Comedies and banquets: where withal he sendeth them to the Court, that they may receive the signs of men of law, which are certain Coifs with ears, and also hat●…es, and broad and long girdles, and there they remain until their letters patients of their Offices be given them. And such as 
Choice of the Captains.  are made for the wars, first they choose the captains general, exalting the valtauntest soldiers with honourable & profitable rooms: for they do not let to esteem all such as do valiantly, and to reward them with great liberality, increasing their gifts according to their deserts. The rest of the Offices are given by the king himself, but these rise no higher in degree, but to have this title of Captain general, for to enjoy many liberties, freedoms and gain, which is an ordinary thing to such.  
This Prince seldom or never goeth forth of his Palace, for the conservation of his greatness, and the authority of his estate, but when he goeth to the wars, or do remove 
Rare coming of the king abroad.  with his Court. And he hath within the compass of his house all the pleasures and pastimes that may be devised for the content of mankind, and the lodgings of his sons and kinsfolks are so great, as it is before said, whereof the Majesty and greatness of his house may be imagined. And that it is not to be marveled that it is so great, as some do say the City of Paquin is, where he is resident for the most part, by reason of the great wars he hath with the Tartarres, that in one day from Sun to Sun, a man cannot ride 
Between & gate 〈◊〉 than a d●… journey 〈◊〉 horsebac●…  from one gate to another. And besides his Palace, the houses are very great which appertain to those of his Counsel, and the rest of his governors and captains, and of many other men of law, that are always resident in the Court. The same is said by the City of Manquin, where in old time the kings were accustomed to devil and have their Court, by reason it was set in a fruitful soil, fresh and calm. And in remembrance that he hath been continually resident there, they have in that City in the house of the treasurer of the king's rents in that Province a table of Gold, 
A table o●… gold.  wherein is written the name of the king that then reigned, covered with a rich Curtain, and they go to it and reverence it, as though it were the king himself. And so all the Officers and Lawyers, and chief Governors are bound to draw the Curtain aside in all festival days, that is, in the time of the new Moons, which amongst them is the first day of the month. And in the rest of the Provinces, there are other Tables like to this, but they go not to them to make any reverence, but when they do discover them: whereby you may vnderstand●… the veneration that they give 
The king's title.  to their prince. And they give him title of the Lord of the world, and the Son of heaven. The servants and such as serve in his house are gelded men, by reason of the number of wives they have, and so are the most part of his chief Counsel because that with more assurance they may go in to him, & consult with him in the business of the government of his Realm, and estate of his wars: and no others do speak with him but those. His Realm is so large and long, that for to go by journeys from the City of Canton, 
An argu●… of a larg●… dominion.  to his Court, is four or five months journey: and yet there are other Cities further. He hath knowledge every month, and relation of all things that do happen in every Province, aswell touching the state, wars, and rents, as of all other successes, with ordinary posts that the Governors do dispatch to him for this effect. The same order of the post is as we have among us. Barros doth writ, that they run with collars of Bells, and others that have been in that Country say, they use to blow with a horn to ask horses, and to give knowledge to Barks to pass Rivers. The Ambassadors of Princes being his friends or enemies, are received with great veneration: they lodge them, and provide them of all things needful with great liberality: and when they come where the king is, all the Lords and knights of the Court go forth to receive them, & they give them great gifts and presents, and honour them with the title of Lawyers. Some kings being far of from him, as the king of Ava, Siam, Melitij, Bacham, Chabam, Varagu, which fell to the north parts of Pegu, and do acknowledge him obedience, in remembrance that in old time they were his subjects, they sand him ordinarily their Ambassadors with some present, & for the great journey they have to this king's Court, they always sand with the embassage four or five persons, every one with like authority, that if it hap some of them to die in the way, or until they be dispatched from thence: and if they die not of any disease, they always poison one or two of them in some banquet, unto whom they make very sumptuous Sepulchres, with Epitaphs containing what they were, and the cause of their coming, and by what prince they were sent: and this is for to continued the memory and greatness of the renown of his Realm. The Ambassadors of the rest of the Princes are so privileged in such sort, that those of his counsel having condemned too death one Bartholomew Perez, and all the rest of his company that was sent to this country, by the governor of the India as Ambassador of the king Don Emanuel of Portugal, surmising that their embassage was false, and that they were spies, by reason of a certain relation given against them by the ambassadors of the king of Malaca, and the king himself understanding of the matter, did command, that their Embassage being false or true, it was sufficient that there should be no hurt done to their persons, seeing they were entered within the realm with the title of Ambassadors. Other there are that come for some common weals, which are Lords that do own obedience to him: they make no entertainment to such, but use them with a strange kind of Ceremony. When they say to them that they shall go to see the king, they appoint them the day and hour, and they 'cause them to go on foot, or on horseback, with bridles of straw for humility. And in coming too a great place that is before the king's house, they stay until there come unto them an Officer of the kings, who doth the office of the master of Ceremonies, and do command them to pass forward. And at a certain place they kneel down, & hold up both their hands together, as though they prayed to God, & they behold one quarter part of the houses of the king's palace, where they tell them that the king is, & at times in equal space, they make other five times their prayers, and without turning their shoulders, they return backward with the like Ceremonies: and this being done, they sand them away. This say they, is to go to see the king. If they give them licence to say what they will, they remain in the last prayers on their knees, until there come to them an other officer which is the Secretary that writeth down all that they ask, and with saying to them that they will consult of it with the Lord of the world, they are sent away for that time, until they be dispatched with the determination and opinion of his chief Counsel.   

The XIII. Chapter showeth of the presidents and Officers, which are in every Province, and the order which they have in the Government of them.  
THE King doth provide Officers for the Government of every Province, besides ordinary judges, which are in some province more than three 
〈◊〉. officer's province.  thousand; as also five Precedents; and every one of them hath his jurisdiction by himself, of divers causes: the chief of them is called the Tutan, which is a viceroy or governor of all the Province, unto whom they come generally with the knowledge of all great griefs and small offences. And all the penalties thereof, the ordinary charges being taken away, he sendeth to the court, and with the relation of all the news that doth happen every month. His aurtoritie and majesty is so great, that he is not resident where the rest of the Lawyers are, because he will not be visited and frequented of them. The second in dignity is the Ponchasi, which is as much too say, as the chief gatherer of the king's rents, and Precedent of the Counsel of the king's revenues. This office executeth he without the coum sell of any Lawyers. There are many other officers that do serve to recover the king's rents with the which they come to the Tutan as afore said, and it is at his charge too command too pay all men's wages, ordinary and extraordinary charges, & to take account of them, as head governor of all inferior Officers. The third in dignity is the Anchasi, which is the Precedent of the civil and criminal justice who doth see and determine withal his hearers and Officers all wights and buzines, which go in degree of appellation to his tribunal from the rest of the ordinary judges of that Province, & all other things which are convenient for the good government & expedition of justice. The fourth is the Aytao, who is the purveyor general, and Precedent of the Counsel of wars, too whom doth aperteine the living of men and providing of ships, victuals, and munitions for the ships of war, that go to the Sea, and for arms by land and for ordinary garrisons of the cities and frontier Towns, and to know what strangers do come, and from whence they come and what they wil The fifth is the Luytisi, which is the Captain general that doth put in execution that which is ordained by the Aytao and those of his council. And when there is given occasion of any wars of importance with any mighty Prince, then goeth this Precedent in person too rule or govern in them. All these Officers are of great authority, and such as are officers under them, are well taken & of great estimation. Every one of them, except the Luytisi, have ten hearers or judges in his council, which do assist him, ordinarily for the dispatching of his buzines, which are men of great authority and estimation: and when they be in council, five of them do sit of the right side of the Precedent, and five of the left. Those that sit on the right side be of more pre-eminence than the other five, in that they wear girdelles of gold, and yellow hats: and they of the left side, do wear girdles of silver, and their hats are blue. And it is not permitted that any other judges of the Law wear these girdles of gold and silver and hats of these colours, unless they be such as are captains or other officers of the men of war. And if by chance the Precedent die, there doth succeed in his place the most ancient judge next too him. And when there is any need to go to visit the Province, there goeth one of them with the authority that every one of them have too put order in the thing that is convenient to be reformed. These Precedents and the other judges do bring in their shoulders and breasts the king's arms, and they are a certain kind of serpents woeven with thread of gold. They have many other inferior officers: and although they be but Lawyers they always speak too them kneeling on their knees, except only the head keeper of the prisons which is an office amongst them of much estimation. This man when he cometh in kneeleth down, & riseth up again when he speaketh to them. And when these judges come newly too the provinces, there go forth to receive them all the men of the war with many banners and other soldierlike shows, and all the rest of the lawyers and officers with great mirth and joy. They have on these days all the streets very much decked with divers sorts of silks, and with bows & branches and with divers sorts of flowers of most sweet smell, and they accompany them unto the streets where they must lodge with much music and divers sorts of instruments, Likewise the king doth command to provide with the opinion of all his counsel all the rest of the ordinary Officers of the Cities and Towns of his Realm, with consideration that they be not of the said Country whether they shall go to minister justice, that they be not moved by affection too do what they aught not, nor behave themselves with insolency, nor yet that they be not made mighty, with the authority in commanding, in such sort that they may 'cause some insurrection and alteration. This Lawyers nor the rest of the officers that are appointed too them, of these supreme offices, do make any manner of preparation when they departed from the Court too the place of their govermentes, but only of apparel and a few servants that serveth them, for in all places where they shall pass through, the King hath at his cost, houses appointed and officers, that shall lodge and serve them with all things necessary, and do provide for them Horses, and barks if they have need of them. And for their meat it is appointed what shall be given to every one of them, according to his degree and office. And this liberality they use with all the rest of the Lawyers, generally although they go not provided of offices. At such time as they come, they ask them if they will have their stipend that is appointed for them, in meat or money: if they will have it in meat, they serve them very daintily, as too men that have authority to command too whip those Officers if they do not their duties. And when they will lodge in the house of some of their acquaintance or friends because they will be at more liberty too be merry, than they give them that portion as is appointed too them in money. All these houses are very well provided for, by such as have the charge of them: it toucheth the Ponchasi of the Province, for that he must take account of such as are officers, of the expenses that is made of all these vittailing & lodging houses. In all these houses they lodge all the ordinary officers that they may exercise their Offices, as Notaries, sergeant, porters, even unto the executors of justice, unto whom the king doth give meat & wages sufficiently and are paid every month, because they should not carry nor take any bribes of any person. And for this they have an order that none of these Lawyers can provide or command any thing in justice, but that it must pass before all these officers, and in public audience which is done in this manner. The judge is set down in his tribunal, and at the entry in of the hall stand the porters which declare with loud voice the persons name that cometh in to ask justice, and what he demandeth: who falleth down on his knees a good way from the judge, & doth propound with a loud voice his cause, or telleth them by writing what he would have. And this petition one of the Notaries doth take and read with aloud voice: and being seen and heard, he doth provide and command justice to be done thereupon, and doth sign it with his own hand with read Ink, and if he do not so, than he doth remit too an other inferior judge that he may do it. This manner of order is kept so precisly that by no means they can be bribed, unless the officers should understand it, and as they shall be by them absolved or condemned in their residences they fear them, all these are very presise too execute that which they are commanded as well Notaries as Sergeants and the rest. And if any of them do make any fault in their office, even at the very hour there is put in their hands a little banner, and so do hold it in their hands kneeling until all buzines at that audience be dispatched and concluded. And forthwith the Lawyer doth command the executioner that he give him as many whips as too him seemeth good, which are such as hereafter shall be declared: in such source that all those Officers go always for the most part with plasters and marks, and this is so ordinary among them, that they take it for no shame too go in that sort: When one of these judges do walk in the City, he goeth accompanied with these ministers. Officers, & other people among them▪ and there goeth before him eight Officers by both sides of the streets: the two foremost go with maces of silver made as ours are, put into certain long staves, and they signify that these judges and Lawyers are in their office in place of the King: the other two that follow, do carry two long canes in their hands on high; which do represent the true and rightful justice they aught too do: and tother two that follow after these do carry other two canes, haling them upon the ground, and knit to them certain long read girdles, and in the point of them certain tenrils which are the instruments of justice where with all they whip. And the two porters go with certain tables listed up after the fashion and making of a target: wherein is written the name of the justice, and the charge and Office that he hath: and those that go before these do bid with a loud voice, that they give place, because it is not permitted that any man of what degree soever he be should pass athwart the street nor walk, as long as these judges pass, upon pain too be whipped without remission that should do against it. This Prince hath so great care, that his judges & Officers as well the Governors as Precedents & all the rest should use their offices well, as they aught to do, that although he do sand from three years, to three years officers which are called Chaenes to take account of the judges, yet besides that, from vi. Months to vi. Months, or from year too year, he doth dispatch with all secret other extraordinary judges which are called Leachis, & are men that he hath great trust in, and those that are very familiar with him, that they may visit those Provinces with so great jurisdiction and authority, that without returning too him, they may chasten all manner of offices be they never so great, and put out of office all judges & Officers at their wil And because they should execut●… this with more justice, there is taken of them an oath of their faithfulness and secrecy, giving them to drink three times of the wine, they use commonly to drink of, which is the manner of their oath. And because he may go with more secrecy, the Secretaries do make the letters patents without any name of him that shall go, nor whether he shall go more then to show in the letters patents that in what place soever that Lawyer shall come and present those letters patents, ●…e be obeyed as the king himself, unto whom he showeth by word of mouth in secret, the Province whether he shall go. And so he departeth unknown without knowing unto any other whether he shall go. And in coming too the place he seeth, and understandeth all things that are used there, and no man knoweth what he is, nor what he pretendeth, and in what source all officers do minister Justice. And this not giving knowledge of any thing what his coming is, he stayeth until a day that the Precedents do join together with the Tutam, too make a general consultation which is once every month. Then he goeth in to present his letters patents, & presently they arise every one of them and go aside with great humility to hear judgement against themselves, and forthwith they are executed. And if there be any suspension, than he doth provide in their places other new officers: and if he find that they have served well, he doth honour them much & doth remove them to better places & of more trust. These are wont too visit the Schools & examine the Students: and such as do not learn, he commandeth them too be whipped and too be put in prison, and the unprofitable are put out of their places, & such as are virtuous he offereth them favour and promiseth them hope of exhibition. There is an other office or dignity above all these, which is that of the Quinchai, and is as much to say the cell of gold. This man goeth not out of the court, but when any great matter doth concern the king, & of the good government, and quietness of the whole realm. In all causes as well civil as criminal, the judges do proceed orderly in their causes, and do make their acts and do examine the witnesses in public before their officers and ministers, because there shall be no falsehood nor deceit used in the as king of that which they know, nor in writing thereof. They examine every witness by himself, and if they do agreed in their declarations and depositions they put them aside, and do ask th'one and tother, until they come to differ among themselves, because by reason that th'one and tother do allege they may come to declare the truth the better. And when they can not understand the certainty, they whip them, and give them torment in such sort, that by one way or other, they may declare the truth effectually. They have great respect in these causes too men of estimation of whom they presume that they are not persons that will lie. In causes of great importance and that doth touch grave persons, the judges do not trust their Notaries too write the informations, but they with their hands do set down all the acts. Of such as are prisoners for debt, there is a time appointed wherein they shall pay them, and if they perform not, they command that there be given too them many whips, and they turn and command a new. Another time, and if they pay not, they return too whip them again: and in this sort they proceeded with them until they die with stripes, if their kinsfolks do not pay for them. When any dweller will pass to another habitation in some other street then where he dwelled before, or go too some other Town, they have a custom too ring upon an empty Basin by all the neighbours with a common crier which shall say that such a person doth remove, and too what place, that if he own any thing, that they come to demand it before be departed, because no person should lose any thing dew too them: if this person do absent himself without making this diligence, the justices do compel all his neighbours too pay all the debts that he own, because they were so negligent and did not advise the justice of his removing. Those which are Prisoners for theft or murder, are kept perpetually in the prisons, until they die by whipping, or by hunger or cold. For although they be condemned too death, they do execute the judgement with such deliberation, that many years after they come to die for necessity, as before is declared, or of their natural death. And for this cause there are a great number of prisoners in every City and Town. And it is affirmed that only in the City of Canton are accustomed too be more than 15. thousand. And by reason there are many people, and there is little alms given, the poor people do give themselves to steal. There is in this City and in all the rest which are of the Metrapolitan xiii. Prisons, and in every one of them a wall of a great circuit very heigh, & so large, that they have within them lodges for the head keeper, and his officers, and for the soldiers of the watch, and ordinarily there are gardens, and streets and courts within, where the prisoners do walk by day, and there are many victualing houses, where they dress meat, and do hire beds, and tailors shops; and other arts, that the prisoners do use, too sustain and maintain themselves. Of these thirtiene prisons there are always occupied six of them with men, which are condemned too death, and in every one of them are a hundredth soldiers and more with their Captain, too keep the said prison. Every offender doth bring hanging at his neck a board which cometh too his knees and a span broad, wherein is written the fact wherefore he was condemned, they go with fetters, but in the day time they are taken of, by reason they may work too get wherewithal to sustain them, over & above that which the king doth give them, which is a certain measure of Rice every day, unto such as are condemned too die, they shut them up in the night in certain lodges, which are near too the courts, and they make them lie upon their backs, and upon them do run certain Iron chains passed through certain collars that are between prison and prison: wherewith they are so fast made, that they can not escape. And they lay upon them certain coverings made of timber, that there remaineth to them no more space but their length and breadth which is a most painful imprisonment. They never execute the judgement that is given upon them, that are condemned too die, but when the Chaenes and Leuchis do go too take residence & do make a secret visitation. Then these judges do ask for the rolls of them that are condemned & the causes. And although that their sentences are confirmed by the king and of those of his chief Council, they return too see again their facts, with the rest of the Lawyers that do govern: and being seen, they chose among vi. or viii. of those that do seem too them too be most culpable. And they command the head keeper of the prisons, that he give order too carry them too suffer execution. And this being done they turn too see again anew the facts, that by any means or ways they may suspend the execution of some of them. And if they find any not so worthy of death as the rest, they command that he be put aside from the rest, and that there be shot of iii▪ pieces of ordinance which is a sign or token that they take out of the prison such as shall die. They turn to consult again to see if they can deliver any other, & when they come not, than they command to shootte of other three pieces, that they may be carried out to the fields: and before they go forth of council they return too see their causes a new. In this time they are set upon a heap of ashes and they give them meat, tarrying for the last resolution, wherein they are accustomed to deliver or relieve some. And because execution should be made in such as do remain, they command too shoot of other three pieces of ordinance, which is a sign that they should dispatch them: forth with there are ●…oung all the Bells, and there is through all the City a great rumour, as though they were all amazed, because it is a thing which is seldom times done. In these days they shut up their shops, and no body do work, nor they cell any thing until ●…unne set, which is when they take the bodies after execution done upon them out of the fields for to bury them. And from that time they do any buzines, and do open their shops. Also these judges of residence do see the roull of the thieves which still remain in prison & in recompense of correction they command them always too be whipped. And they use in this cause so much rigour, choler, and haste, as they use charity and clemency with such as they put too death, for there is no fact so much abhorred as that is. The whips they give them are most cruel & they give them upon the calves of their legs, their shoulders turned down ward and their hands tied behind them with canes as broad as a hand, and of thickness of one finger which they keep in water, that they may work the greater effect, in such sort that at the first struck the blood cometh out, and the executioners do whip them together, one upon one leg and tother upon the other and they do it with such dexterity and cunning, that of only two stripes, I know not who is able too suffer them: and of fifty or sixty it happeneth that there die many, because their sinews are all loosed and undone. Some Portugese's do affirm that had been in those prisons, that there died every year more than two thousand men of these whippings, & some fell made of them, and of hunger and cold with they suffered. The said judges are present, when they whip them: and all the time that it endureth, they are occupied in eating and drinking and in pastimes without any manner of grief therefore, and by reason it happeneth that sometimes some of these Lawyers being bryved with great gifts or friendship are accustomed too see at liberty some of these prisoners, and put others in their places, for there never lacketh some miserable people that for a little gain will put the watch and counterwatch. All these captains are of the same Provinces because the love of their Country may 'cause them to serve truly, and 'cause them to labour the more to defend them. And because there may be more quietness, it is not permitted that any man shall carry any weapon, to offend, nor too defend, but only such as are men of war. And besides these, there are in the frontier towns & forts which they have, in the confines of the Laos, and Bramenes, and Tartarres, and Massagetas, ordinary garrisons for the defence of them, and of the number which have been spoken of, was within the compass of 200▪ leagues, but this is done with advantage, by reason that in all parts of the Country is great habitation, & having captains which do give them assaults, they come as many to the defence as is needful, until the king come with his great power, which he hath always in a readiness, of many footmen and horsemen for his guard and majesty, and to bridle the coming in of his enemies. And for this cause he is always resident in the City of Paquin, because it is a place that standeth most commodiously for the succour of all his towns, that are next bordering upon any foreign Prince. The people of China are very prompt of wit, and stout in all the feats that doth appertain to the wars. And although they are stout men, and of great courage for to abide, and to give battle to the enemy, yet they always use strange policies, and all kind of fire works in their battles, both by sea and land, in such sort that there was nothing that did 'cause the Portingales ●…o marvel so much when they went thither the first time, as to see that they used Artillery. Whereof they came to understand that they had artillery among them many years before it was used in Europe▪ And it appeareth to be so, because that in the Realm of Pegu, whether they came in old time, and where in their conquests, and in their fortifications, amongst other things they left their Artillery, & where there is found at this day, Bells and Guns of metal, which they made. They use also of all kind of armour, and the most principal Gentlemen of the Country do carry four swords with them, and fight with two of them together, with great running.  
They enter into the wars compassed about with many servants and familiar friends, which are footmen, well armed, and very gallant, for it is so permitted to all soldiers, and men of war. And by reason this king is so mighty and rich, they which serve are paid at their time without any delay, & with great liberality. And all such as show themselves valiant, are highly esteemed, and rewarded with great gifts. The Tartarres and other enemies which they take prisoners in their wars, they use them with no other captivity, then to place them to serve for men of war in other frontiers of theirs, which do border over against other Princes, and they are paid as he doth pay the rest of his subjects, and these wear certain read hats, and the rest of their apparel even after the fashion of the said people of China▪ The faced hats all people do wear, which are judged for an●…e offence to serve in any town that doth border over against any other Prince, as those which go to Oran, or Melilla, and so they say in their judgements that they banish them to wear read hats. This Prince is served with some Soldiers which are by nature of the high mountains of Russia, which are a free people, and live after the manner of warriors, like to the Esquizaros, which are mighty men, and with read hair, & great beards, and they wear cut hose like to the Tudesos, and broad swords, & they are called Alimenes, whom some do think that they are Almains, but if it were so, there would have been knowledge of this great Realm long before. Likewise he is served of other tall men of twelve or thirteen pawmes of height, and they do assist them in the defence of the towns that stand in greatest danger, of whom we can not understand of what region they are, and they make so great account of their own wisdom, after the manner of the greeks, that they say that they are those which have two eyes, and the people of Europe but one▪ and that all the rest of other Nations are stark blind.   

The xv. Chapter showeth of the religion, laws, and ceremonies which they have and use.  
IT is greatly to consider, that the Chinese being so wise in their government of their common weals, & of so subtle a wit for all arts, that they are so false of understanding, and so barbarous and blind in the worshipping of their false & vain idolatry. For they have no manner of knowledge of the true God, more than they imagine that all things which are created, doth depend from above, from whence do come the conservation and government of them all, without knowing particularly who is the author, attributing it to the heaven itself, which they hold for the greatest of their Gods, and so they signify it with the first figure of their ABC. They worship the Moon, the Sun, and Stars, and all other Images which they make without respect, and some figures or shapes of Lawyers, and of the priests of their Idols which they were most affectioned to, in some principal service they had done. And likewise they worship any manner of stones that they set upon their Altars, where they do make their Sacrifices, and also the Devil which they paint after the same shape and manner as we do among us. The common sort of people do say that they worship him, for because the good people, he maketh Devils, and the evil people he converteth into Cows, and other kind of beasts. The men of most knowledge and that be most politic, they say they worship him & regard him, because he should do them no hurt. They have in all cities and places of habitation, and also in the fields, a great number of sumptuous Temples, and of goodly buildings, which are of great Majesty. There are two sorts of Priests, and they are contrary the one to the other in manners: the one sort goeth all shaven, and apparelled in white, and with certain high caps made of felt somewhat piked before. These sort live in common together, and have their chambers and lodgings after the manner of our Friars. The others do wear their hair long, and divided in the highest part of their head with a strike very curiously varnished with black, after the fashion of a hand closed together. They apparel themselves with silk or black Serge as all the rest of them do use: they devil every one of them by themselves: they assist in the service of the Temples, and in the festival days and burying. The one and the other are not married, but they are evil livers, and therefore they are not esteemed among the people, and they are punished with stripes amongst the judges for a small occasion. These people do offer in the Mornings and Evenings in their Temples, Incense, Benjamin, the wood of the Eagle, and other things of different and sweet smells. And the place of prayer which they use in their house, is generally at the entry in of their gates, where their Idols stand. When they launch their ships into the Sea at the first making, the Priests go appareled with long garments, being very rich of silk to make their Sacrifices in the poops of them, where the place of prayer is, and they offer painted figures, and they cut and burn them before their Idols with certain ceremonies that they make, & sing songs with an unorderly tune, sounding certain little bells. And they worship the Devil, where they have him painted in the fore part of the Ship, because as they say, he should do no hurt to the Ships. In all this discourse they are eating and drinking at discretion. When they pretend to go upon any journey either by Sea or land, or begin any business that seem difficult or hard, they use lots, and cast them before their Idols. These are made of two sticks, after the fashion of two half nuts, round at the one side, and the other side plain. And before they be cast, they return to their Idols with fair words, beseeching them to give good chance, and fortune: for by them they think doth come good success, or evil to them. And if it hap as they desire, than they will make too them great offerings: and with this they are cast, and if they fall with the plain side upward, or the one side round, and the other plain, they have it for an evil sign: and they return against the Idols, and they speak to them shameful and dishonest words, calling them dishonest dogs. And when they be weary of calling them so any longer, than they turn again with fair and sweet words, and ask them pardon of that which they have said, and desire them too give them good fortune, promising them more than before they had offered them: whereupon they turn to cast anew, and by this order they proceed praising them, and setting nought by them. And when they tarry long, and if it be a matter of importance, they run to them, and take them, and cast them into the Sea, and sometimes into the fire, suffering them to burn a little, and they whip them, and spurn at them with their feet, until it hap to them as they desire, that is, the round parts of these sticks to fall upward. And then they worship and praise them with much Music and songs, and carry to them offerings, of Hens, Ducks, and Rice, all dressed, and a pigs head sodden, which they much esteem, and a great jar of Wine, and of all this they set some part of it upon the Altar in a Platter wherein is the tops or points of the pigs ears and snout, and the nails of Ducks and Hens, and a few grains of the Rice, and some drops of wine, and all the rest they themselves eat before the Idols, with much mirth and joy. When there dieth any married man that hath a wife and children and family, immediately after he is dead they apparel him with the best apparel he had, and they set him on a Chair, and there cometh to him his wife, and doth put herself upon her knees before him, to take her leave of him with many tears, and pitiful words she speaketh, and consequently his children and kinsfolks after the like order, and and all the rest of his household following. And this ceremony being done, they put him in to a coffin made of the wood of Canfora, which is conservative and of sweet smell, well made fast in all points, because he should not smell. After this they put him into a Chamber, which is hanged with white hangings of linen cloth upon two banks, and do cover him with a cloth even to the ground, where in is shaped and formed the dead man, very naturally made. And in another place of the house without, or in the gate house coming in, they do put for ceremony a Table with candles lighted thereupon, all full of bread, and of sundry sorts of fruits. And in this sort they keep him xv. days, in the which time there do come at the night season Priests continually to offer up their sacrifices, and to pray their own inventions after the manner of Gentiles. They bring many Papers painted, and with certain ceremonies they make, they burn some of them there, and the rest they hung up in cords athwart for this cause, and they cast them together, making noise that they send the dead men to heaven. All their superstitions done, they take the coffi●…, and carry him to the field, where the rest of the dead bodies are, wherein time they are consumed. In all these days there are in the house the Tabels set with many kind of meats, that the priests may eat and drink, and their friends and acquaintance that do visit them.  
The mourning apparel which they use, is most sharp, because they bring their clotheses made of most course wool, nearest to the flesh, girt with hard chords, and on their heads certain nightcappes of the said cloth, with edges like to hats, which falleth down upon their ears. They ●…eare this for father or mother two or three years. And if they have any Son that is a Lawyer, he doth let the exer●…se of his office which he hath, and d●…h retire himself all this time until he hath done, and then he returneth a fresh to the court, to do as he did before. But those that are not so near in kindred, do apparel themselves with raw linen cloth, not very course. They do easily believe lies and feigned fables or tales, that men be converted into beasts, and beasts into men, and other ignorant toys like too these. It is not known certainly that any have preached to them the Gospel until the Portugese's came thither, more than in the coast of Molea, which is the India, of the side of the sea of Bengala, which they call now S. Thomas. Thither came an Armenian on pilgrimage, & did affirm to the Portugeses, that at that time were there resident, that in the public writings, which the Armenians had, there was relation and memory that before this glorious Apostle did suffer martyrdom, he passed to the China, and there did preach the Gospel. And because he wrought little fruit in them, he returned to Molea, leaving some Disciples that he had converted in that Country. Of the which there is no knowledge found amongst them, more than this religious man hath declared, and said: that he had been in Canton, and from thence past to a small Island that standeth in the midst of the River before the City, where there is a Monastery of those Priests gathered together, and therein he saw a Chapel, built high from the ground, very well made with certain windows gilded, wherein was the Image of a woman marvelously well made, with a Child at her neck, and had before it the sign of a Lamp burning, and suspecting if it might be any race of Christianity, he did ask of those Priests, and of other people that were there, what that Image did signify: and no body could tell him, nor give him any reason thereof, and so it could not be determined, if by chance it were the Image of our Lady that the Disciples of Saint Thomas did set there▪  
There is not in all this Realm any jews, nor raze of them. And it may be well understood, seeing that the most meat they eat is Pork flesh. Neither yet is there any Moors, although there are some that have descended of them that are arrived thither from the Realm of Samarean, by trade of Merchandise, and of such as were converted of the Country, but the most part of them died by justice. These which are now, are descended of such as were vanished for great no offence into diverse Provinces, & therefore there are some in Canton, and others in Cansi, but as now they are few, and the children & children's children of those which were vanished, and borne of women of the Country of China, all of them do eat ●…orke, and drink wine, and there is no man of remembrance of the sect of Mahoma.   

The xuj. Chapter showeth of the order that may be had, whereby these people may turn to be Christians, and of the navigation that is made from the new Spain, unto the Island of the West parts, called the Philippinas.  
OF some religious men called Jesuits, it hath been understood that they began too preach the Gospel too these people, but by reason that it is not permitted unto strangers too stay many days in this Country, they were compelled too return forthwith without yielding that fruit which they desired, notwithstanding they found them very apt to be caught, and willing to learn, and easy to be reformed of their false Idolatry, and with all humility they receive it, and acknowledged the corrections of their filthiness. He that first began this Catholic work, was Master Francis Xavierre, one of the seven Religious men of the first confirmation of the said company, and was the first that came into Portugal, and that past into India, and from thence to China. But before he began to execute his catholic desire, he died in Canton, and was brought from thence too Goa, where his body lieth buried in the College of Saint Paul, of the same Religion. The Religious Dominike declareth that throwing down certain stones upon the ground which they did worship, they came unto him with such rage as if they would have killed him, but he pacified them forthwith in giving them to understand their little constancy & their vain Idolatry, and as they are of excellent wit, they forthwith fell in to the matter, and thought well of his judgement saying, that no man had ever taught them the like, until that time. And with the self same excuse they excused themselves withal, when he did reprehend them of the filthy sin not too be named, unto the which they are much given, thinking that they do not evil therein. But the greatest difficulty that these religious men found, was, that the governors and ordinary judges do attend with great care that no new thing be taught amongst them without order & licence of their king, and as they are rigorous and ready to chasten, no man dare to be a Christian without licence, although that they understand it to be convenient for their salvation: & therefore it doth import with expedition that these inconveniences be taken away, and that there be sent an Ambassador too this great Prince. And in that embassage might go learned men, and Religious, that should give them to understand the darkness wherein they live, and too persuade them to be Christians, and that he should permit them too preach the Gospel throughout all his Realm, and how that it is not hurtful too take from him his Lordship and government but rather favourable, whereby his subjects may obey him the better. This will be easily obtained of him, & otherways for to attempt it by way of conquest, it will be so hard a matter as it may be understood by his power and greatness, and by that which is contained in a Chapter of the relation that the Captain Artieda gave to his Majesty who was present at the conquest of the West Islands with are called Philippinas, treating of this realm which word for word speaketh as followeth. There are also to the Northward of these islands the firm land which they call China. It is a great Country, insomuch that it is certainly known that it bordereth with Tartary, for the people that trade thither, say that they have ware with them. They are a people very politic, they work Iron with percers of steel. I have seen gold and silver wrought so well with Iron as could be in the world, and in this sort they work things of timber and all other things. They say that the Portugese's, are good people, and that they have a little light of the world, but in comparison too them they see but with one eye. They spin gold as they do in Milan, and weave Damask and other silks with it. They have all kind of armour as we have, and artillery judging it by certain vessels that I have seen come from thence, that it is plain and better cast than our is. They have so good government, that they say they make neither Governor nor Captain which is not a great Astronomer. And first they shall prognosticate the time and chance that is too come, and it shall be proved and seen to fall out true, that he may prevent any thing that is to come. In every City and Province, there are garrisons of men of war, they go well appareled: they are as white as we are, and wear there beards long. The women are very fair, although that all of them have little eyes, they wear their coats and gowns so long that they touch the ground, and they make their hear read with colours, and it is said that they paint their faces. They say this king is of so great power, that he doth bring into the field three hundredth thousand men, and two hundredth thousand of them horsemen. In things that are painted▪ I have seen brought from thence wherein are painted on horseback armed men with harness and salads and lances. The country is so good and so well furnished with victual, that it is thought to be the best & most fertile soil of the world: The Moors that I have spoken withal do affirm that they be not so warlike as we are.  
They have Moulds and have printed books time out of mind. If it please your Majesty, that this Country be seen with the sight of the eyes: I do offer myself thereunto, giving me two Ships of two hundredth and fifty tons a piece, little more or less, and 40. Soldiers in every ship and the Artillery, Munition, and Uittaile, sufficient and necessary, with Gods help carrying some order of embassage to the Lord of the Country to enter in with my person, and too return all along the coast by the new Spain. And too see the order they have as well for the trade with in the land as for all the rest if that will please your Majesty.  
And in that which this Captain saith that the king doth bring three hundredth thousand men into the field, besides the garrisons that he hath ordinarily in the Cities, & towns that do border nearest other Princes in this my opinion remaineth verified. And although they be not so warlike as we are, as the Moors have declared, I know not what power were sufficient for so great a number of horsemen, and against people so well armed, the Artillery being so common to them as it is to us. And seeing there is required that there should pass thither, so great a navigation, and seeing this great Country doth fall within the compass of the conquest of our Catholic king, it will be a thing of importance that his Majesty do command too ordain this embassage with the good will of his holiness, whereby this Prince may reduce it to the government of the holy Catholic Church, whereof may grow great effects in the increasing of the Christian Religion. And this is very easy to be done, seeing that our Spayniardes are become so near neighbours to that realm and the Navigation so near and certain as here in it is declared. There is in the new Spain in the South part thereof two ports or havens: the one is called Acapulco, which standeth in xvii. degrees, & a half of height which will hold many ships although they be great, and tother is called the Puerto de Na●…edad, which hath the entry in of it very low, and standeth in nynetiene degrees and a terce large. From these ports do go forth the ships that do sail too the Philippinas, and they go too put themselves in the height that the course of the Island is in, for the time when they go forth upon this Navigation which is in the end of October the winds are always Northerly in that coast until the end of April: Wherewithal they go with the wind in their poop running west, and from the end of April until the end of October they turn too blow at West south-west, which serveth them too return, rising up into a higher degree that they lack no height. They met at their going with the islands called Barbudos, for they were so named, for because such as do inhabit there, do let their beards grow long. These people are appareled with mats made of the bows of date trees very fine, and they have no weapons nor war with any Country, and their victual are Cocos, and rots and fish, & they have hens like to those of Spain, more towards the west. They turn & meet with the islands which they call of the thieves which be xiii. and they lie in length North and South, the greatest may be little greater than forty leagues. They are all well near after one fashion and trade. The weapons they have he s●…ings, & rods dried with the fire which do serve them in place of lances. They shootte so far with the s●…ings that no hargubuse can shoott fo far. They live with Rice and fish, Cocos & roots, there are in them great quantity of Ginger, & so beyond that more towards the West, they fall with the Islands of the Philippinas which are many. The Island of Mindanas which is the first of the South side: it beginneth in five degrees in the height of the North: and it lieth out showing itself in length as the rest do, which stand as a company of trees in the North-northwester course, until you come into xiii. degrees and a terce, where you meet with the Island of Luzon. This Island is in length out unto the nynetiene degree in the same course, there is in it three places inhabited with Moors, they know not perfectly of what sect they are of, but they give reverence to Mahoma: they eat no pork. They have many rivers wherein they gather gold: & it is distant from this firm land of China less than one hundredth leagues, and from the City of Canton which falleth too the North part of it: one hundredth & thirty, & little more. Our Spaniards are in possession of the said Island, and by reason the trade is great from it too the firm land and for the curious things that are come from thence to the new Spain, and from thence too his majesty now they call him China.   

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

ALL that is written of the great lordship of China in this work, I have gathered myself with great diligence and care of men worthy of faith; Portugeses, that have been there with merchandise, & of other buzines; as also of the said people of China, which have come too Spain: of whom I took that which I thought to be certain, & most meet for this short discourse▪   

The 〈◊〉 of the Chapters 〈◊〉 are contained in this Book.  
THe first Chapter showeth of the beginning that the kingdom of Portugal had, and of the success it had until that the king Don john the first conquered Ceuta in Barbary.  
The second Chapter showeth of the diligence that the Infant Don Henry did make to come to the knowledge of the Moors of Ceuta, and of the Province of the Negroes of jolofe, and of the armed ships which he sent in the discovery of the coast of Ginnea, even to his death.  
The third chap. showeth of the discovery of the coast of Ginnea, in the time of king Don Alonso even unto his death: and of the persons which king Don john his son sent by the Mediterrane Sea, that they might bring him relation of the state and trade of India, and of the Embassage he sent to the king of Aethiopia.  
The fourth Chapter showeth how the king Don Emanuel sent by the navigation of the cape of Buena Esperanca Don Vasco de Gama with an Embassage to the king of Calicute, and of the success he had until he returned too Portugal.  
The fifth Chapter showeth how the king Don Emanuel sent an other great army unto the India, with Pedraluarez Cabral, and how he discovered in this voyage the coast of Brasil, as also of the rest of the ships, that continually went until they got Malaca, and so had knowledge of the coast of China.  
The sixth Chapter showeth of the description of the Country of China, and of the Provinces and notable Realms that are contained in it.  
The seventh Chapter showeth of the temperature of the land, and the notable things that it bringeth forth.  
The viij. Chapter showeth of the greatness of the cities, and temples, & buildings, that are in all the Country of China.  
The ninth Chapter showeth of their faces, apparel, and conditions of this people.  
The tenth Chapter showeth of the navigation the Chinese do make in the Sea, and in the Rivers.  
The eleventh Chapter showeth of the letters, & figures of the Chinese, and of their studies in general.  
The xij. Chapter showeth how that of this great realm of China is King and lord one only Prince, and of his counsel and Majesty, and of his house and Court.  
The xiij. Chapter showeth of the Precedents and Ministers that are in every Province, and the order which they have in the government of them,  
The xiv. Chapter showeth of the government and prevention that the king hath and doth for the success of his wars.  
The xv. Chapter showeth of the Religion and Rites they have, and the Ceremonies they use.  
The xuj. Chapter showeth of the order that may be had, whereby these people might become christian's, and of the navigation which is made from the new Spain, unto the Islands of the west parts called Philippinas.   

Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson, dwelling at the three Cranes in the Vine-tree. 1579.