_The fryers and their companions came vnto the cittie
of Canton, they went on shore, and praised God for
that it had pleased Him to let them see their desire
fulfilled. There comes a iustice to visite them, and
hath with them great communication._
The Spaniards seeing that they were there at an anker a good while, and
that there was none that came vnto them to demand any question, they
hoisted out their boate, and went in it on shore, wheras they al kneeled
downe upon their knees, and with great deuotion did say _Te Deum
laudamus_, giuing thankes to God for that he had so myraculously brought
them into the kingdome of China, of them so much desired, without any
pilot or other humane industrie; the which being doone, they began to
walke along by the crane aforesaid, nigh unto the which were certaine
houses wheras were kept ropes and tackling belonging vnto the shippes;
so they proceeded forwards with intent to seek the gates of the citie,
the which after they had gone the space of foure hargabus shot, they
found the gate, which was verie great and sumptuous of a strong and
gallant edifice. The people of the country seeing them at their comming
a shore how they did kneele downe, and how that their manner of attire
was different from the people of the same, and not knowing from whence
they did come, did cause in them great admiration, and to ioyne togither
a great troope of people, and followed them with great desire to see the
end of their enterprize.
This great multitude of people was the occasion that they entered in at
the gates of the cittie without being discouered of the guards and posts
that were put there for that purpose, neither were they disturbed of the
entry by reason of the great throng of people and strangenesse of the
matter. So after they had gone a while in the streete, the people
increasing more and more to see them, they staied in the porch of a
great house there, where as the iustices of the sea, or water bailies,
do keepe their courts of audience; and in the meane time that they
remained there, which was a pretty while, the guardes of the gate
understood that amongst the presse and throng of the people, did enter
certaine strangers, contrary to the precept given them vpon great
penalties; they straightway, with great fear that their ouersight should
be discouered, ran and laid hands vpon the Spaniards, and carried them
backe againe and put them out of the gate of the citie, without doing
any evil or harme vnto their persons, and willed them to stay there in
that place till such time as they had given the gouernor of the cittie
to vnderstand thereof, and he to send them licence that they may enter
in againe. So after a good while that they had remained there wheras the
guards had set them, there came vnto them a man who was a Chino, called
Canguin, and could speake Portugal, who knowing them to be Christians by
their faces and attire, did aske them in the Portugal toong, what they
sought? the Spaniards answered him, that their comming into that kingdom
was for to shew and declare to them the way to heaven, and to give them
to vnderstand and know the true God, the creator of heaven and earth,
and that they would very faine talke with the gouernor to entreat
therof. This Chino by and by brought to them a man that could speak very
good Portuges, who as after they did vnderstand, both he, his wife and
children were christened; and although they were borne in China, yet did
they dwel thre years with Portugals that were inhabited in Machao, which
is twenty leagues from that cittie of Canton. This did demande the same
question of them that the other did, and wherefore they came into that
countrie? They answered him the same as they did the other; hee replied,
and asked them who was the pilot that brought them thither? they
answered, the will of God; they not knowing howe, nor from whence: but
after they had sailed at the sea certaine dayes, they came vnto that
place that according as it was given them to vnderstande, is the cittie
of Canton, of the which they have heard declared many straunge thinges.
The Chino asked how the guardes of the sea, and shippes that were in the
straight aforesaid, did let them passe? they answered that they saw no
guards nor any other that did trouble them their passage. This last
answere did cause the christian Chino greatly to admire, who being moued
with a good zeale, said vnto them, that they should returne againe vnto
the shippe, and not to come forth untill such time as he had giuen
aduice of their comming vnto the mandelines of the sea, which be
certaine iudges appointed to giue aduice of all such matters to the
governor, that he may command what is to be done therein.
So the Spaniards returned vnto the shippe, wheras they remained a good
while, and passed great heate, for that it dooth exceede in that port.
So after a while, they sawe come vnto a house which was neere vnto the
gate of the cittie, a man of great authoritie, who was brought in a
litter chaire, and much people came with him; he stayed at that house,
and from thence sent to call vnto him the religious men and all the rest
that came in their company; before them all came one that carried a
table, all whited, and thereon was written certain great letters, with
blacke ynke, the which (as after they understood) was the licence that
the gouernor of the cittie gaue them for to come a shoore, without the
which there is no stranger permitted. The fathers did straightwayes obey
it, and came forth of their shippe with more companie than they desired,
of such as came to see them, who were so many in number, that although
the sergeants and officers of the iudge that sent for them, did beate
them for to make way, yet was it a good while before they coulde come
vnto the house wheras the iudge was, although the way was but short. So
when they approched nigh, one of the sergeants bad them kneele down
before the iudge, the which they did with great humilitie without any
replication. Hee was set in a verie rich chaire with so great maiestie
that they were greatly astonyed to see it, and the more when that they
understood by the christian Chino that he was not the gouernor, neither
of the supreme iudges; hee was apparelled in a robe of silke, close from
aboue down to the foot, with the sleeues very wide, and a girdle
imbossed, and on his head a bonnet full of brooches, such as bishops doo
use on their mytres. Before him was set a table, whereon was paper and
inke, and on the one side and on the other, two rankes of men, as though
they were to guard him, yet without weapons. They had al of them in
their hands, long canes of foure fingers brode, with the which (as after
they did vnderstand), they do beat such as are offenders, vpon the
calues of their legges, with great crueltie, as hath been told you in
the first books of this historie. All these had vppon their heads a
manner of helmet, made of blacke leather, and on them great plumes of
pecocks' feathers, with brooches made of mettal, a thing vsed to be
worne in that countrie of such as are executioners or ministers of
iustice.
[Sidenote: Marke the Friers confession of images.]
The iudge had the interpreter to aske them of what nation they were, and
what they sought in that countrie, and who was their guide to bring them
into that port: the which being vnderstood by the religious men,
answered that they were Spaniards, and subject vnto the king Philip of
Spaine, and came thether to preach the holy gospel, and to teach them to
know the true God, creator of the heauen and earth, and to leaue off the
worshiping of their idols (who haue no more power of themselues, then
that which is giuen them by him that doth make them): the which worship
is knowne and receiued by his holie law, and declared by the mouth of
his only begotton Sonne, and confirmed with diuine tokens from heaven,
in whose guarde doth consist the saluation of all soules. And to the
last, touching who was their guide vnto that kingdome: they answered,
That it was God, vnto whose will all creature are subiect, as vnto the
true creator: all the which (as afterward it did appeare) the
interpreter did not truely interpret of the interpretation of the
Spaniards: vnderstanding, that if hee should truely interpret what they
saide, the iudge would forthwith sende them away, which would be the
occasion that he shuld get nothing of them. So that he made his
interpretation as at best seemed for his purpose, fearing (as after he
did confesse) that if he shuld declare the truth of that which the
Spaniards had said, it would haue beene verie odious to the iudge, and
afterward both vnto them and to himselfe might be the occasion of some
great euill: but to conclude, he answered and told the iudge that they
were certaine religious men, who liued in common a sharpe and asper
life, much after the manner of those of that kingdome: and that going
from the Iland of Luzon vnto the Ilands of the Illocos, in a great
storme and tempest that chanced them, the ship wherin they were was cast
away, and al their people cast away, sauing they, who escaped by vsing
great diligence, and put themselues in that small ship, which came in
company with another greater shippe, without pilot or mariner, for that
they were almost all drowned; and setting saile in the best manner they
could or knewe, being holpen and constrained by necessity, they let
their ship saile, and go whither as fortune did cary them. So after many
dangers and stormes at the sea, according to the will of the heauens
they came vnto this port, whose name as yet they knew not. The iudge
asked them where they had that Chino that they brought in their company
for an interpreter. They answered that he was in Luzon, and captiue vnto
a Spaniard: they tooke him and set him free, and hee vnderstanding that
they were bound vnto the firme land of China, which was his naturall
countrie, he requested them to carrie him thither; the which they did
with a very good will, for that they had neede of him to vtter their
desire, if neede did so require. All the which the other interpreter
fearing, that if he should tel vnto the iudge how that he was captiue
vnto the Christians, hee would bee offended, and therefore hee did
falsifie the same and saide, that comming vnto an iland to take in fresh
water, they found the boy there, where he was captiue eight yeares
before, and came thither forced with a great storme, in the which was
drowned a merchants shippe that was bound to Luzon, and he alone escaped
by swimming; and so hee came aborde the shippe in the which were the
fathers, not knowing whither they went. All these vntruthes he did
inuent for to dissemble and go forwards with his knavish pretence, and
would not declare the true intent of the friers: the which he had
decreed with himselfe how to doo before the iudge did sende to call
them. Moreouer, the iudge did aske them what they brought in their small
shippe; they answered that they brought nothing but one chest and two
little fardels of bookes, and an ornament for to say masse. This did the
interpreter declare truely vnto the iudge, for that experience might be
made thereof. So the iudge forthwith commanded that it should be brought
before him, the which being done, he caused it to be vndone, and he
perused euery thing by it selfe, the which being strange vnto him, for
that he neuer saw the like, he made signes vnto them that he receiued
great contentment in the seeing of them, but specially of the images
they brought: but that which did best please him was an ara or
sopra-altar, of a blacke stone, the which did shine so bright that they
might see themselues therein, as well as in a glasse. These friers did
bring the same with them out of the kingdom of Mexico, whereas you haue
great aboundance, but specially in the prouince of Mechuacan. So after
that hee had seene all, and sawe that it was drie, without any signe or
token that it had beene in the sea, hee called to remembrance the wordes
of the interpreter in the name of the fathers, touching the storme
wherein their shippe was cast away, and howe that they escaped by
swimming, and put themselues in that small shippe in the which they
came: and considering of the same, it seemed vnto him that they did
fable in that which they had saide: so that he did replie and asked if
it were true that which they had before declared, and howe it shoulde
bee that their bookes and other things were not wet at the sea, which
was an euident token and plainely to be vnderstood that they had fabled
and told lies, and so he belieued they did in all the rest. The
interpreter, fearing least by that argument his falshod would be
discouered, he fel in talke a while with the friers, asking and
answering things very different to that which the iudge had commanded
him. Then he with a strange and sharpe boldnes answered to the
difficulty proponed by the iudge, and said, That as all merchants at
such time as their shippes are readie to sinke and to be lost, they doo
procure first to saue such thinges as are of most estimation, forgetting
all the rest: euen so these religious men did procure with great care
and diligence to saue those books and that ornament, which is all their
treasure, and yet for all their diligences done they lost a great number
mo. All these fables and lies, after many dayes, the religious fathers
came to haue the knowledge of.
The iudge did aske them if they brought any armor or weapons in their
shippe? they answered that they were no men to bring them, neither
according vnto their profession, they could not wear nor use them, for
that they were religious, and professed other matters contrary vnto the
vse of armor or weapon, promising and auowing unto God perpetual
povertie and chastitie, and vnto their superior prelates obedience all
the dayes of their liues. The iudge returned and asked them if they had
any monie, and where withall they did eate and apparell themselues, and
bought those bookes and ornaments? they answered, that all that which
they had was giuen them by secular christians for God's sake whome they
did serue, for that they should pray for them, and for the saluation of
their soules.
The iudge, when he heard this, was greatly astonied, for that the
interpreter did declare the truth, and made signes that he recieued
griefe and had pittie on them, although he gaue not full credite to that
which he heard, but said that he would go aborde their shippe, to see if
they did say the truth, in not bringing anie armor or weapon, neither
silver nor merchandize. This did hee straightwayes put in ure, and
commaunded them that brought him in the litter chaire vpon their
shoulders to go thitherward. All those people did beare him companie, as
also a great number that were there ioyned togither to heare the
examination of those strangers, and also the Spaniards he commanded to
go next vnto him.
So that when he was in their shippe, set in his chaire, his ministers
began to search the shippe in all places, both aboue and below, and
could finde nothing but a little rice, which was left of that which they
brought with them: they gaue the iudge to vnderstand thereof, who
looking vpon the Spaniards, said that all they that were in the shippe
might heare him. These do speak the truth, and they doo seeme vnto me to
bee good people, and without any superstition, and without all doubte
they doo come and will be after the manner of our religious men,
according as is to be seene in the vniformitie of their apparell, as
also in their heads and beardes. Then he beganne to demaunde of them
certaine thinges, more of curiositie then of suspection; who answered
him, casting up their eies vnto heauen, (for that their talke was
thereof), and they saw that the iudge did greatly reioyce and had
pleasure therein, for that it seemed that they had the heauens for their
God, as they haue, by reason they did so much looke upwards. After this
the iudge came foorth of the shippe, but the religious men remained
behind at his commandment with his companions; and likewise hee
commaunded certaine of those officers that came with him, to remaine
about their ship at the water's side, for their guard, more for that
none should doo to them any harme, then for any euil suspition they had
of them.
Al that day that the Spaniards were in their ship the countrie men came
downe to the water side to see them, and that in so great number that
they did woonder to see them; and on the other side they were greatly
reioyced to see so many soules there ioyned togither, hoping that when
it should bee the will and pleasure of God to giue them oportunitie, to
baptise them all.
The next day following, in the morning, they sawe another mandelin or
judge, comming towards their shippe, accompanied with much people, and
with little less maiestie than the other had, who entered into their
shippe and commaunded to search both aboue and belowe, to see whether
they brought any armour, weapon, or any other kinde of merchandize; and
seeing that they could finde nothing else but their bookes and their
ornament aforesaide, he commaunded it to be brought before him, who did
peruse the same peece by peece with great admiration, and shewed great
contentment that hee received to see their bookes and images, although
that which did most content him was to see the ara of blacke stone, as
was said before. Then hee commanded one of the fathers for to reade in
one of the said bookes, and for to write, the which was done before him
with so great facilitie, that the judge receiued great contentment to
see it. Then hee asked them if that with the said letters they could
write any other language that were different vnto theirs. The fathers
answered yea, that they coulde write any language; and for a plainer
proofe they wrote on a piece of paper, certaine reasons in the iudges
language, the which did cause him greatly to maruell, and said (turning
his face to some of them that came with him), these men are not
barbarous, nor of any euill condition, so farre as I can see.
With this he departed out of their shippe, and went to giue the
gouernour (who sent him), to vnderstand of that he had seene and coulde
vnderstande of the Spaniards in this his visitation, who straightwayes
did sende them a licence vpon a table, that they shoulde come on shore,
and be suffered to enter into the cittie freely at their will.