_The captaines Chinos ariued with the Spaniardes at
the citie of Manilla; the gouernor and those of the
citie doo receiue them with great ioy and triumphes,
and after they had remained there certaine dayes, they
returned vnto the firme land, being instructed and
satisfied of many things touching our holy Catholike
faith, with great desire to receiue the same._
After that it was knowen vnto the gouernor of the citie of Manilla and
vnto the generall of the fielde, as also vnto the rest of the captaines
and souldiers, of the ariuall of the Spaniardes, whom they with great
care desired to heare of; as well for the particular loue they beare
vnto them, as also for to vnderstand and heare the newes from that
mightie kingdome of China, to be declared by witnesses of so great faith
and credite, they altogether went foorth to receiue them with great ioye
and pleasure, and likewise all such captaynes and souldiers as came in
their companie.
They were straightwaies conueighed vnto their lodginges to rest
themselues of their long iourney which they had by sea, for it was
requisite and needefull: for the which afterwardes there was great
feastes and bankets, which was made by the gouernor, the generall of the
field, and other particular persons, vnto the Chinos, in recompence of
that which was done vnto the Spaniards in their countrie.
All which feastes did giue them little content when as they did remember
the flying and escape of the rouer; but in especiall Omoncon and Sinsay,
who continually and euery moment did call vpon the generall of their
fleete to make haste and to shorten the time that they might depart from
the firme land, where giuing notice vnto the gouernor of Chincheo of the
estate of Limahon, he might giue order that before he had reedified and
repayred himselfe they might take him (which is a thing most desired in
all that kingdome). The generall was verie glad and reioyced of their
good intertainment, and answered vnto Omoncon and Sinsay, saying that by
reason of the great storme and foule weather past, their ships had great
neede of reparation, and likewise the mariners to ease themselues, the
which being done he would with all his heart depart.
The generall of the fielde was verie sorrowfull and much greeued for
that the rouer Limahon was so escaped, and the more when he vnderstoode
that he was suspected that hee did consent vnto his departure: for which
occasion, if that the captaynes had not beene verie much wearied with
the long siege, and euill weather which happened in that time, without
all doubt he would haue followed him, and neuer to haue left him till he
had taken or slaine him.
Although they were fully perswaded that Limahon was so terrified with
the great perill and danger in the which he was, and againe with so
small number of people, that rather hee would desire to put himselfe in
securitie then to offende or doo any harme, neyther to put himselfe in
any place whereas hee might receiue damage of any of them to whom hee
had doone so open wrong (who were so much desirous to be reuenged), who
for to preuent all that might happen (as after we vnderstoode), hauing
made readie his barkes and boates which he ordayned in his fort, and put
in them victualles for their iourney, he departed with his small number
of people vnto an ilande farre off and unknowen, there whereas he
vnderstoode that none would goe to seeke him, and there hee remayned a
time whereas he fell sicke of a melancholike infirmitie, which grewe by
an imagination that hee had to remember in what state he was at that
time, and howe he had seene himselfe at other times feared throughout al
the kingdome of China, which was an imagination sufficient for to bring
him to his ende: his companions were dispersed abroad, so that we neuer
heard more of them.
Now returning to our purpose, after that the China captaines had
recreated them selues with the feastes and sportes that was made vnto
them, and taken recreation many dayes, and tarryed, hoping that the
weather would proue fayrer to prepare themselues to depart. In the same
time they did intreat of many thinges in particular touching Christian
religion, whereof with great care they did informe themselues of our
religious men, and tolde them some secret things that were unknowen vnto
them of their countrie, for that they were strangers.
So when as time and weather did serue, they did take their leaue, with
many signes and tokens of griefe for to depart and leaue the
conuersation of so good companions, and did promise vnto them to procure
all that was possible that the friendshippe begunne betwixt them and the
Chinos should continue and perseuer, for that it was a thing that did
content them all.
Their generall himself did take this particular charge vnto himselfe,
with a determinate purpose for to declare in effect to the gouernour of
Aucheo (whose private seruant he was) the good meaning of the Castillos;
and what principall people they were, and the ceremonies they vsed, with
the which hee was marueilously in love. Likewise hee would giue him to
vnderstande of the flying of the rouer Limahon, how and in what manner
and order it was, and how that the generall of the field and the other
captaines were in no fault thereof. This he would do, in respect that if
it should so fall out that Omoncon and Sinsay, for their owne credite,
should declare any thing against the Spaniardes that was not true, that
they might not be beleeued.
[Sidenote: The Papists and the Infidels ceremonies much alike.]
Besides all this he tolde the gouernour certaine thinges in secret, how
they might with great ease purchase the friendship they pretended. And
amongest them all, one was, that hee should make a supplication vnto the
Catholike king in requesting him to write a letter vnto their king, and
sende him embassador, and such as shoulde giue vnto them the light of
the Catholike and Christian faith, with the which diligence there was no
doubt that not onely the friendshippe betwixt the kinges and their
subiectes shoulde bee established, but also the king and all his
kingdome would receiue the Catholike faith, for that there are manye
ceremonies vsed amongest them which doo much resemble those of our
Christian religion; and againe in their liuing morally, they doo obserue
in manie thinges the Tenne Commandements of Gods lawe, of the which in
particular he did informe himselfe: so that the greatest difficultie was
in the entring in of the preaching of the holy gospell, and beeing by
this meanes ouer come, in a short time all the whole kingdome would
turne Christians. And considering that in their worshipping, as they doo
worship all thinges in the seconde essence, with great facilitie they
would change their adoration and giue it vnto the first, as most
worthie, and vnto whom it is their duties. The generall did adde more
thereunto, and saide that he was so much affectioned vnto the faith of
the Christians, that if it were not that he should be banished and loose
his countrie, house and landes, without all doubt he would haue beene
baptised: the which he could not doo without loosing of all, for that
they haue a law in their countrie, the which is obserued and kept
inuiolably, by the which it is forbidden that none whatsoeuer can
receiue any strange religion differing from theirs vpon paine of death,
without the consent of the king and his counsell.
This law was made to take away nouelties, and to liue all in one
vniformitie of religion, with one manner of rites and ceremonies.
This only was the occasion that certaine marchants of China, being
affectioned vnto the law of the gospell, were baptised at the
Philippinas, and there do dwell at this day in the citie of Manilla
amongest the Spaniardes, and are become verie good Christians. So with
these offers, and with promises to be great friendes vnto the
Spaniardes, the generall departed from Manilla to goe vnto the firme
lande, and with him the other captaynes Omoncon and Sinsay, with great
hope that verie shortly they should be all of one faith. So the one
tooke their leaue of the other with reasons of great affection and
tokens of great loue, signifying that in any thing that should be
offered they should finde them friendly.
They being departed, the Spaniardes remayned verie carefull in praying
vnto the diuine maiestie, desiring of Him to direct all thinges in this
their request, that it might be to his holy seruice, and also to inspire
the Catholike maiestie of King Phillip their lorde for to sende his
embassador vnto the king of China, offering his friendship, and to
admonish him to receiue the faith of Christ, the which according vnto
the report of the Austen fryers that entred into that countrie (of whom
we haue made mention manie times in this booke with their companions),
and also the generall of China tolde them that there was no other means
but only that for to bring their purpose to effect.
This counsell with all the speede possible they put in vre, and sent
vnto his maiestie one of purpose, and in the name of all them of those
ilandes to request him, and to declare how much it did import. They sent
vnto him this relation, with manie particular persons, for to mooue his
most Christian minde for to sende an embassador, as in effect hee did,
in that sort as hath beene tolde you in the last chapter of the thirde
booke of this historie, whereas it is declared in particular, and in
what estate it doth remaine vnto this day. God for his mercies sake
direct all thinges, that it may be to his seruice and glorie, and the
saluation of so many soules.