_The Spaniards remained certaine daies in Aucheo: they
go to visite the beautie of that citie, but in
especiall the captaine generall of the sea, who was so
affectioned vnto the ara of blacke stone they brought,
that hee did with all care and diligence procure it of
gift._
All the time that they remained in Aucheo, they did occupie themselues
in visiting of the principals of the court, amongst whom he that did
most reioice to see them was the captaine generall of the men of war of
that prouince, who after that he had intreated them very friendly and
louingly, he desired them that they would returne the next day to
uisite him, and to bring with them the ara of blacke stone, which they
had shewed vnto the viceroy, that he might see it, for that he had
praised it very much: and to bring also of their painted images. They
did obey his commandement, and came vnto him when that he was at dinner
with great maiestie. Then so soone as he had dined, he commanded that
they should enter into the hal there where he was. The interpreter when
he drew nigh vnto him did kneele down, and made signes vnto the
Spaniards to follow him and do the like; but the captaine commanded them
to arise and to couer their heads, and did very much behold the ara or
(altar stone), making a showe of great admiration to beholde it: hee
demanded of the fryers many things of great curiositie, and asked them
if they would sell him that stone, and he would giue them for it what
they would demande. The father Costodio answered, saying that they sold
nothing, and much lesse that, for that it was consecrated and dedicated
to the diuine colto (or sacrifice). The captaine replied and saide, that
if they would not sell it, that they should giue it him, and hee would
be gratefull vnto them in some other thing, that they should thinke well
of.
The father Costodio answered, that by no manner of meanes he could not
do it, for that vpon the same they did celebrate and say masse, at such
time as they did sacrifice vnto the true God. At that instant the
captaine did put his handes vppon it to feele it, and the father
Costodio made signes vnto him to take away his handes, for that he
sinned greatly therein. Then he seeing that they would not giue it him,
he tooke his leaue, saying, that they should leaue it there with him,
for that hee would looke vpon it more at leasure, promising to returne
it them againe afterwardes. The father Costodio did consent thereunto,
but first he requested him not to touch it with his handes.
So after that he had satisfied himselfe in the beholding of it, his
affection was then much more to remaine therewith: and for to
accomplish the same, not fayling of his word and promise that he had
made, hee deuised with himselfe a certaine slight and policie, and sent
for the father Costodio, who came vnto him with great content, thinking
verily that he would haue returned their ara. When he came vnto him, he
did intertaine him verie ioyfully, and said that he was vpon his iorney
to certaine warres by the commandement of the king, and that amongest
those seruants that he carried with him for his seruice, there were two
christened Chinos, which had beene captiues vnto the Portugales of the
citie of Machao, from whence they ran away, of whom he had had
vnderstanding in all thinges of the ceremonies of the Christians, and
that their comming thether was to baptise such as would receiue the
same: and hee being fully certified in many thinges touching the same,
he liked well thereof and gaue great content, and hoped to be one of
them that first should receiue the faith when the king should grant
licence for the same.
All this (as it seemed) was that they should let him haue the ara, vnto
the which he was so affectioned, as aforesaid. But the father Costodio
vsed the matter in such sort that hee got it out of his fingers, which
was no small matter. Within a few dayes after, the captaine being readie
to imbarke himselfe for to make his iourney, he sent vnto the Spaniardes
that two of them should come vnto him, and that they should bring with
them the blacke stone, for there were certaine friendes of his that
would see it.
The father Costodio did straightwayes accomplish his commandement, and
carried with him the ara (or altar stone), for that he durst not do
otherwise, yet they did beleeue that in giuing him some pretie or
curious thing, they should content him and quiet his mind: they carried
also with them the image of Marie Magdalen, made of feathers, which was
more woorthie than the ara (setting apart the consecration). So when
the religious fathers came wheras he was, he went foorth to meete them
more then tenne paces, with signification of great ioy: and carrying
them aside, he saide vnto them once againe, that the captiues had told
him so many things of their vertuous maner of liuing, and of other
things touching the heauen, that he had great affection vnto them, and
desired that they might remaine in the countrie for to baptise the
inhabitants therof, and that he wold be the first: but the cause
wherfore he did delay the time is for to eschew the paines that is
pronounced against all those that do receiue any law or strange
ceremonie without particular licence of the king. And for that he went
in hast to go and inhabite a certaine prouince, and that he was ready to
depart; in the which, so soone as it was possible, he would do so much
that al they should become Christians; and for as much as he tolde him
that the blacke stone (vnto the which he was affectioned) was
consecrated, that he would let him haue it to carry with him, that he
might put it in the first church that the baptised should edifie, being
made Christians: the which would be very shortly, for that he was
determined before many daies to send to Machao for two friers such as
were there, to be fully informed of them in thinges touching the
Christian faith. Then the father Costodio sayde, if that which he had
spoken came from his heart, that hee would foorthwith depart and goe
with him and all his companie.
The captaine answered that as then hee could not doo it, till such time
as the church was built, and licence had for the same of the king or
vizroy, the which at that time he coulde not demande, for the great hast
that he had to depart. The father Costodio replied and said, that his
church being built, he would promise him of his worde to sende it him,
and not to giue it to any other; and in pledge and token of the same, he
should carry with him the image of Marie Magdalene made of feathers. The
captaine receiued the same with great content: greatlie maruelling at
the subtill and fine worke wherewith it was wrought: and after did so
much, that almost perforce he remained also with the ara: and commanded
to bee brought foorth two rich peeces of damaske, and to giue them vnto
the father Costodio for to make an ornament in truck and ful
satisfaction for the same; but the father Costodio woulde not receiue
them, but was very much greeued to see howe that hee did remaine
therewith, and with the image of feathers. The captaine did contende
with him for to take the dameske, but hee would not.
Afterward they vnderstood that the interpreter was bribed by a seruant
of the captaines, for to alter the friers words and to offer the
captayne the ara, and any thing els that hee would desire. For to the
contrary he durst not by any meanes to take it against the will of the
fathers. To conclude he did imbarke himselfe vpon his voyage, and caried
with him the ara and the image, with great ioy to himselfe: but vnto the
fathers and their companions discomfort and sorrow, for they had lost
the two thinges that they so much esteemed. The captayne at his
departure did vse great thinges and curtesie, taking his leaue of them
with signes, that signified he bare them great loue and good will, and
that it greeued him to depart, and could not carie them with him as they
requested.
The interpreter did comfort the Spaniardes, and sayd that they should
not be sorrowful that the captaine had taken those two pieces; for that
he was a mightie prince, and that he would fauour and helpe them with
the vizroy, and that hee was certaine that he would accomplish that
which he promised, that is, to become a Christian, for that he did beare
great good will and affection vnto them: in the which the interpreter
did not lie, for that it was told them by the seruants of the captaine,
that were christened, as I told you before.
The frier Costodio remained so sad and sorowfull for the carrying away
of the ara and Madlin of feathers, as though he had lost a great
treasure: and being desirous to recouer them againe, he did recommend
the same vnto S. Antonio de Padua, who, for thinges that were lost, they
knew by experience to bee the onely saint for aduocate, and did promise
(the better to obtaine their desire) for to celebrate vnto him certaine
masses, when they should come into place fit for the same.
Straightwayes it so fell out that the chiefe and principall interpreter
did fall out with the other that did helpe him, about certaine profite
that was comming to him, and did threaten him that he would tell the
gouernor howe that they had giuen him much siluer for to conclude the
matter about the ara, for that the fathers had giuen it them more by
force then any good will. The interpreter fearing that hee shoulde bee
for the same greeuously punished, and finding himselfe culpable in the
things that the other threatned him for, he went vnto the captain, who
was imbarked and readie to depart, tarrying onely for wether, and tolde
him the falling out in all points as it passed, and of his threatnings:
who likewise fearing what might succeede or happen, if it shoulde come
to the vnderstanding of the aytao of the cittie of Canton, as could not
be by any meanes excused: hee called vnto him one of his seruants and
commanded him to take the ara and the image, and to carry them vnto the
fathers, who accomplished his commande, and they receiued them with
great comfort, and gaue great thankes vnto God for the same, and S.
Antonio de Padua: by whose intercession they beleeued that they were
restored.