_Omoncon doth disembarke himselfe with our Spaniardes
in the port of Tansuso, and are verie well receiued by
the justice, and made verie much of by the order of
the Insuanto of that prouince._
Within a little while after that the captayne of the sixe shippes
departed for Chincheo, Omoncon and his companie ariued at the port of
Tansuso,[13] hard by, vpon Wednesday, in the euening, being the fift day
of July. This Tansuso is a gallant and fresh towne, of foure thousand
householders, and hath continually a thousand souldiers in garrison; and
compassed about with a great and strong wall; and the gates fortified
with plates of yron; the foundations of all the houses are of lime and
stone, and the walles of lime and yearth, and some of bricke: their
houses within very fairely wrought, with great courts, their streetes
faire and brode, all paued. Before that Omoncon did come vnto an anker,
they sawe all the souldiers and the people of the towne were gathered
together vpon the rockes that were ioyning vnto the port, all armed
readie vnto the battaile, amongst whom there was a principall captaine,
and three more of his companions, that were sent him by the gouernor of
Chincheo, whom they do call in their language Insuanto, who had
vnderstanding of the comming of Omoncon and his companie by the ship
(aforesaid) he sent them thither before, that in his name should
entertain them and cherish them all that was possible. When the ship
entred into the port, Omoncon did salute the towne with certain peeces
of artilery, and discharged all his argubushes sixe times about, and
therewithal tooke in their saile and let anker fall. Then straightwaies
the captaine whom the Insuanto had sent came abord the ship, who had
expresse commission not to leaue the company of our people after that
they were disembarked till such time as they came whereas he was, but to
beare them companie, and to prouide them of all thinges necessarie: the
which he did accomplish.
[13] Ganhai.
[Sidenote: Ensignes to knowe the iustices.]
All these captaines and ministers of the king doo weare certaine
ensignes for to be knowen from the common people, who are not permitted
to weare any such; and they can not goe abroad in publike without the
same, neyther will they if they might, for that by them they are obeyed
and reuerenced, as well in the streetes as in any other place where they
come: all such generally be called Loytias, which is as much to say in
our language (gentlemen): the particular ensignes which they doo vse,
bee broade wastes or girdles, embossed after diuerse manners; some of
golde and siluer, some of the shell of a Turtuga or turtell, and of a
sweete wood, and other some of iuerie; the higher estates hath them
embrodered with pearles and precious stones, and their bunnets with two
long eares, and their buskins made of satten and vnshorne ueluet, as we
haue declared more at large in the first three bookes.
[Sidenote: The first landing of the fryers.]
Then after, so soone as they were come to an anker in the port, the
iustice did send them a license in writing for to come foorth of the
shippe, as a thing necessarie, for that without it the waiters or
guardes of the water side will not suffer them to put foote a land. This
licence was written vpon a borde whited, and firmed by the iustice,
whose charge it is to giue the licence. Then when they came a shoore,
there were the souldiers that were appointed by the Insuanto in a
readinesse to beare them companie, and did direct and leade them vnto
the kinges houses of the sayde citie: the like hath euerie citie almost
throughout all the kingdome, and there they did lodge them. These
houses are very great, and very wel wrought and gallant, with faire
courtes belowe, and galleries aboue: they had in them stanges[14] or
pondes of water, full of fish of sundrie sortes.
[14] Evidently from Etang, _Fr._, a pond.
The Insuanto had giuen order vnto the iustice of Tansuso, wherein he had
ordained what hee should giue them to eate, and all other things that
should be done particularly by it selfe, without lacking of any thing,
and appointed the captaine, that hee with his souldiers should not
depart from them not a iot, but alwayes to beare them company
whethersoeuer they went, and not to depart till he had farther order
from him: in accomplishing whereof they remayned with them that night in
the kings house. The iustice of the citie when that he had lodged them,
went himselfe in person to the waters side, and caused all their stuffe
to be vnladen out of the ship, and caused it to be carried with great
care and diligence vnto the fryers whereas they were.
The people of the citie did presse very much to see these strangers, so
that with the press, as also with the great heate, they were
marueilously afflicted: which being perceiued by the iustice, he gaue
order that they might bee eased of that trouble, and caused sergeants to
keepe the doore, and their yeomen to make resistance against the people.
Yet, notwithstanding, though they did not trouble them so much, they
ranged about the house and clymed vpon the walles to procure to see
them, as a rare thing, for that they came from countries so farre off,
and apparelled verie different from that they do vse or otherwise haue
seene. So when that the night was come, the iustice of the citie did
make them a banket according vnto the fashion of the countrie: and it
was in this manner following.
[Sidenote: The vse of their bankets.]
[Sidenote: Wine of a palme tree.]
They were carried into a hall that was verye curiously wrought, wherein
were many torches and waxe candles light, and in the middest therof was
set for euerie one of the guests a table by himselfe, as is the vse and
fashion of that countrie (which more at large shalbe declared), euerie
table had his couering of damaske or satten very well made, the tables
were gallantly painted, without any table clothes, neither do they vse
any, for they haue no neede of them, for that they do eate all their
victualles with two little stickes made of golde and siluer, and of a
marueilous odoriferous woode, and of the length of little forkes as they
doo vse in Italy; with the which they doo feede themselues so clenly,
that although their victuals be neuer so small, yet do they let nothing
fall, neither foule their hands nor faces: they were set downe at these
tables in verie good order and in gallant chayres, in such sort that
although they were euerie one at his table by himselfe, yet they might
see and talke one with an other; they were serued with diuerse sortes of
cates, and very well dressed both of flesh and fish, as gamons of bacon,
capons, geese, whole hennes, and peeces of beefe, and at the last many
little baskets full of sweete meates made of sugar and marchpanes, all
wrought very curiously. They gaue them wine of an indifferent colour and
taste, made of the palme tree (whereof there is no other vsed in all
that countrie), our Spaniardes did vse it, as that which was made of
grapes. All the time that the supper indured, there was in the hall
great store of musicke of diuers instruments, whereon they played with
great consort, some one time and some another. The instruments which
they commonly do vse are hoybuckes,[15] cornets, trompets, lutes, such as
be vsed in Spaine, although in the fashion ther is some difference.
There was at this banket (which indured a great while), the captaine
that was ordained for their garde, and the captaine Omoncon and Sinsay.
When supper was done, they were carried into very faire chambers, wheras
were faire beddes, where they slept and eased themselues.
[15] Hautboys?
The next day following, in the morning, was brought vnto them their
ordinarie victualles, and that in abundance, as well of flesh as of
fish, fruits and wine, to be dressed vnto their owne content, and
according vnto their manner: they would take nothing for the same, for
so they were commanded by the Insuantes. This was brought vnto them
euerie day so long as they were there, and in the way when as they went
vnto Chincheo. The same day ariued a captaine of fortie ships in the
same port, and as soone as hee was a shore, hee went straightwayes vnto
the pallace for to see the strangers: who being aduertised of his
comming, came foorth and receiued him at the pallace gate, where as was
vsed betwixt them great courtesie. The captaine came with great
maiestie, with his guarde of souldiers and mase bearers before him, with
great musicke of hoybuckes, trumpets and drommes, and two whiffelers[16]
or typp staues that made roome, putting the people aside: also there
came with him two executors of iustice, or hangmen, hauing each of them
in their handes a set made of canes, which is an instrument wherewith
they doo whippe and punish offenders, and is so cruell that who soeuer
doth receiue sixtie strokes with the same, although he be a verie stout
man and strong hearted, yet it will kill him, for that hee is not able
to abide it. They doo beate them vppon the thighes and calues of the
legges, causing the offender or patient to lye downe vppon his breast or
stomacke, and commande their heades and legges to be holden. The iudges,
captaines, and loytias haue ordinarily these officers before them, for
to beate such as will not goe out of the way when as they doo passe the
streetes, and such as will not alight from their horse, or come out of
their close chayres when they doo meete with them.
[16] One who plays on a whiffle or fife.
When this captayne came vnto the pallace gate whereas the father fryers
and their companions did receiue him, he was brought on the shoulders of
eight men verie richly apparelled, and he in a chayre wrought of iuorie
and golde, who stayed not till they came into the inner chamber,
whereas he did a light from the chayre, and went straight vnder a cloth
of estate, that was there ordinarily for the same purpose, and a table
before him: there hee sate downe, and straightwaies arose vp, and
standing he did receiue the strange guests, who did curtesie vnto him
according vnto their fashion, which is to ioyne their handes together,
and to stoope with them and their heads downe to the grounde: he
gratified them againe with bowing his heade a little, and that with
great grauitie. Within a little while after, he spake vnto them with
great maiestie, bidding them welcome into his kingdome, being glad of
their comming, saying that himselfe was come to see and cherish them,
for that they should receiue no discontent, as y^e proofe shal shew.
These speeches being finished, there was brought foorth certain peeces
of blacke silke of twelue vares[17] long a peece. And his officers did
put on the fryers shoulders each of them two, which was for either
shoulder one, and was brought about their bodies and girt therewith; and
the like was done in order vnto the Spanish souldiers, and vnto Omoncon
and Sinsay, and to their interpreter. But vnto Omoncon and Sinsay was
giuen vnto either of them a branch or nosegay made of siluer, which was
set vpon their heads, which is accustomable honor that is done vnto such
as haue done some great enterprise, or such like.
[17] Yards, from Vara, _Span._
After that this ceremonie was done, they played vpon the instrumentes
afore sayde, which came with the captayne. In the meane time of their
musicke, there was brought foorth great store of conserues, marchpanes,
and thinges made of sugar, and excellent good wine; and so being on foot
standing, hee caused them to eate, and he himselfe from the chayre
whereas he sate did giue them to drinke euerie one in order, without
rising vp, which is a ceremonie and token of great fauour and of loue.
This being done, hee arose from the chayre vnder the cloth of state, and
went and sate downe in that which was brought on mens backes, and with
declining of his head a little he departed out of the hall and out of
the house, and went vnto his owne house, whereas by the counsell of
Omoncon and Sinsay within an houre after they shoulde goe and visite
him, the which they did: hee receiued them marueilously well and with
great courtesie, who maruelled at his great maiestie and authoritie, for
that Omoncon and Sinsay, when they did talke with him, were vpon their
knees, and so did al the rest: yet that which they did see afterwardes
done vnto the Insuanto and viceroy was much more.
He gaue them againe in his owne house a gallant banket, of diuerse
sortes of conserues and fruits, and excellent wine of the palme tree,
and did talke and reason with them in good sort, and was more familiar
than at his first visitation, demanding of them many thinges in
particular, and beholding their apparayle and garmentes, with showe of
great content and reioycing.