_Our Spaniardes arived at the citie of Chincheo,
whereas they were received and lodged, and what they
sawe in that citie._
[Sidenote: Chincheo hath seuentie thousand housholds.]
[Sidenote: A thousand ships in one riuer.]
Vpon a Saterday, being the eleuenth of July, came our Spaniards vnto the
citie of Chincheo, four houres before it was night. This citie is of the
common sorte in that kingdome, and may haue seuentie thousande
householdes. It is of great traficke, and well prouided of all things,
for that the sea is but two leagues from it: it hath a mightie riuer
running alongest by it, downe into the sea, by which is brought by water
and carried downe all kinde of marchandice. There is a bridge ouer the
sayde riuer, which is supposed to bee the fayrest that is in all the
worlde; it hath a drawe bridge to serue in time of warres, or for any
other necessitie: the bridge is eight hundreth paces long, and all
wrought with stones of two and twentie foote long, and five foote
broade, a thing greatly to bee marueiled at. At the entrie thereof,
there were manie armed souldiers readie to fight, who, when they came
within hargubush-shoote, did salute them in verie good order. There was
nigh vnto the sayde bridge, in the riuer, riding at an anker, more than
a thousande shippes of all sortes, and so great a number of boates and
barkes, that all the riuer was couered, and euerie one full of people,
that had entred into them for to see the Castillas, for so they did call
the Spaniardes in that countrie, for the streetes in the suburbes nor in
the citie could not hold them, the number was so great; yet their
streets are as broade as our ordinarie streetes in anye citie in all
Spaine.
[Sidenote: They haue no vse of castles.]
[Sidenote: Earth quake in this countrey.]
This citie is compassed with a strong wall, made of stone, and is seuen
fadam hie, and foure fadam broade, and vpon the gates many towers,
wherein is placed their artilerie, which is all their strength, for that
they doo not vse in their kingdome strong castels as they doo in Europe.
The houses of the citie are all built after one sorte and fashion, but
faire, and not verie hie, by reason of the earth quakes, which are
ordinarily in that countrie.
[Sidenote: Rich marchandice.]
[Sidenote: Triumphant arches.]
All the streetes (but especially that wherein they passed at their
comming thether), have, on the one side and on the other, sheddes, vnder
the which are shoppes, full of riche marchandice, and of great value,
and verie curious. They have, in equal distance the one from the other,
many triumphant arches, which doo set out the streetes verie much, and
is vsed in euerie principall streete thoroughout all the kingdome, in
the which they have excellent market-places, whereas is to bee bought
all things that you will desire to be eaten, as well of fish as of
fleshe, fruites, herbes, comfits, conserues, and all thinges so good
cheape, that it is almost bought for nothing.
Their victualles are verie good, and of great substance; their hogges
flesh, whereon they doo feede much, is so holsome and good as the mutton
in Spaine. The fruites that wee did see, some were like vnto them we
haue in Spaine and others neuer the like seene by vs afore, but of an
excellent taste and sauour. But in especiall one kinde of fruite, which
is bigger than a muske million, but of the same fashion, but of
maruellous, excellent, and precious victuall, and pleasant to be eaten;
a kinde of plummes, that is of a gallant taste, and neuer hurteth anie
bodie, although they eate neuer so manie, a thing prooued by our
Spaniardes manie times. The streete that they came in at was so full of
people, that if a graine of wheate had beene throwne amongst them, it
would scarce haue fallen to the grounde, and although they were carried
in little chayres, vpon men's backes, and the captaine (of whom we
speake of) before them making way, yet were they a great while before
they could passe the streete, and be brought vnto a great house, which
was a couent, wherein dwelt religious men of that countrie: thether they
were brought and lodged, beeing verie wearie of the presse of people,
that did trouble them verie much, with desire to take their ease.