_They haue notice of certaine kingdomes borderers vnto
these Ilands of Iapon, and it treateth of some thinges
of them, according vnto the truest intelligence that
hath come from those parts, and of certaine miracles
that happened in the kingdome of Cochinchina, that
were notable._
[Sidenote: Great fishing of pearles.]
From the cittie of Machao, which is inhabited by Portugals, and situated
on the skirt of the firme lande of China, in two and twentie degrees,
the aforesaide father Ignacio did trauell for Malaca, passing by the
gulfe of Aynao, which is an ilande and prouince of China, and fiue
leagues from the firme lande, and from the Philippinas one hundreth and
foure score. It is a very rich prouince and of great prouision, and in
the straight that is betwixt them and the firme lande, there is great
fishing of pearles and aliafar,[88] and those which are there founde do
in many killats[89] exceede them that are brought from Baren, which is on
the coast of Arabia, or those that are brought from Manar, which is
another kingdome from whence is brought many vnto that of China.
[88] More correctly _aljofar_, a corruption from the Arabic "seed
pearls".
[89] From the Spanish _quilate_, a carat.
[Sidenote: Parias is a duetie for the kinges owne person.]
This prouince of Aynao is very good and strong, and the people thereof
very docible and well inclined. From this ilande to the kingdome of
Cochinchina, is fiue and twenty leagues, and from Machao, one hundreth
and twentie fiue: it is a mightie kingdome, and is in sixteene degrees
of altitude, and the one part therof is ioyned with the firme land of
China. The whole is deuided into three prouinces. The first dooth enter
forty leagues into the lande, and hath in it a mightie king. The second
is more farther within the land, and he that is lord thereof is a king
of greater power than the first; and ioyning vnto the sun, more towards
the Septentrion, is the thirde, the which is more greater and of more
riches, whose king in respect of the other two is an emperor, and is
called in their language Tunquin, which doth signifie the same. Unto him
be subiect the other two kings: yet notwithstanding his mightinesse, and
called emperour, hee is subiect vnto the king of China, and dooth pay
him tribute and parias.[90] It is a countrie well prouided of victuals,
and as good cheape as in China. There is great stoare of a wood called
palo de Aguila, and of another woode called Calambay, and both of them
are verie odoriferous.[91]
[90] Spanish. An acknowledgment or tribute from one prince to another.
[91] The following is from a notice by the late T. H. Colebrooke, Esq.,
appended to a paper by Dr. Roxburgh, which will appear in the
forthcoming part of the "Linnæan Transactions." "It may be remarked by
the way, that the Portuguese _pao de aguila_, as noticed by Rumphius, is
an undoubted corruption, either of the Arabic _aghaluji_, or of the
Latin _agallochum_, and it is from a ludicrous mistake, that from this
corruption has grown the name of lignum aquilæ, whence the genus of this
plant now receives a botanic appellation, and which many authors have
vainly attempted to distinguish from the lignum aloes and Calambac. The
latter is a Malay name of the aloe wood, derived, according to the
conjecture of Rumphius, from the Chinese Kilam."
[Sidenote: Aboundance of silke and gold.]
Great aboundance of silke and gold, and of other things very curious:
all these kingdomes are at a very point to be reduced vnto our faith,
for that the principall (he whom they giue title of emperor) hath sent
diuers times to Machao, and vnto other parts whereas are Christians, and
haue requested to send them persons both learned and religious, for to
instruct them in the law of God, for that they are all determined to
receiue it and be baptised: and doo desire it with so great
feruentnesse, that in manie citties they haue the timber ready to build
and edifie churches, and in a redinesse all other kind of necessaries
for the same.
There was in Machao a religious man of the order of barefoote friars of
S. Francis, who, vnderstanding the great and good desire of this king,
did sende him by certaine Portugal merchants that did trade into his
countrie, a cloth whereon was painted the day of iudgement and hell, and
that by an excellent workeman; and also a letter, wherein hee did
signifie vnto him the great desire he had with some other of his
companions to go into his kingdome to preach the gospel. The which being
receiued by the said king, and informed the signification of the
picture, and of the religious man that sent it him, he reioyced very
much with the present; and did send in returne of the same an other that
was very good, vnto the same religious man, and a letter of great
curtesie, and did accept the offer that hee sent in his letter, and did
promise that all that went thither shoulde haue good entertainement, and
that he would presently make them a house next vnto his.
This religious man, although he had a desire to put in execution the
kings will, yet at that time hee coulde not, by reason that he had but
few companions: the which the king did vnderstande, and caused him to
sende vnto the bishoppe of Machao three or foure letters, requesting him
to send him the saide religious men, with certification that hauing them
there, both hee and all the rest of his kingdome woulde receiue the
faith of Christ and the holy baptisme: vnto the which letters they did
alwaies make answere with promises that he would send them vnto him: but
after, because they did not accomplish the same, the king did complaine
of him vnto certaine Portugall merchants with great griefe, saying, this
your bishop of Machao doth greatly lye; for that I haue requested him by
foure letters to send me religious men for to preach the law of the
gospell, and he consenting vnto my wil, did neuer accomplish nor
performe his word. Unto this day they haue not accomplished this desire,
for the great lacke they haue of such ministers as they doo demande, and
are requisite in those parts, and cannot supply their want and
necessitie, except they should leaue them vnprouided that bee already
baptised. They doo driue them off with faire words and promises, that
with as great breuitie as is possible, their desire shal be satisfied.
And this was the answere that was giuen in Machao vnto certaine
messengers or ambassadors that were sent by the aforesaid king, for the
same demand, the which was required with great instance. The which
messengers for their comfort, and for his who sent them, did carry with
them al such images as they might haue, but specially that of the
crosse, in which form and likenes (as hath bin informed) they haue made
in the kingdome an infinite number, and set them in all their streets,
highwayes, and houses, whereas they are worshiped and reuerenced with
great humilitie, as well for that it is in an ensigne of Christ, whose
faith they do desire to receiue, as also for a notable miracle which
happened in that kingdome worthy to make thereof a particular mention,
the which I will set downe here, in such sort as the ambassadors
aforesaide did declare in publike before the inhabitants of Machao,
when as they came to demande religious men for to instruct them in the
gospel.
[Sidenote: A myracle.]
There was a man naturally borne in this kingdome, who, for certaine
occasions went forth of the same, and came and dwelt amongst the
Portugals, who, seeing the Christian ceremonies, and being touched with
the hand of God, was baptised, and remained certain yeares in the same
towne, giuing outwarde shewes to bee a good Christian, and one that
feared God; at the end thereof he changed his minde, and determined to
returne vnto his owne countrie, and there to liue according vnto that
which he had learned of the Christians, the which he beleeued to doo
with ease, without any gaine-saying or contradiction. Whereas when hee
came thither, hee did obserue all such things as a Christian was bounde
to doo: but amongst other signes and tokens of the same, he made a
crosse and set it by the door of his house, whereunto he did reuerence
at all times, when he passed by the same, with great devotion. His
neighbours when as they saw that signe, a thing of them neuer seene
before, and howe that that Christian did make particular reuerence, they
beganne to mocke and scorne him and the crosse, and pulled it downe from
the place whereas it was set, and did other things in dispite thereof,
and of him that had set it there in that place, whose hatred and
discourtesie was so much that they determined in their minds to burne
it, and to put the same in execution, who, at the same instance, did all
miraculously die; I say those that would haue burnt the same, the which
was seene of many other, who haue giuen sufficient testimony thereof.
And within fewe dayes after, all the whole linage of those dead persons
did follow the same way, and not one escaped. This miracle being spread
throughout all the kingdome, the naturals thereof did set vp many
crosses in all parts.
[Sidenote: Another myracle.]
This they say was the principall motion that God put into their hearts
for to moue them to demande for such as shoulde baptise them, and preach
the holy gospell. Likewise, a great helpe vnto the same was the
declaration of the painted cloth, which the aforesaid religious man did
send to the king. Since that time, there hath gone vnto the cittie of
Machao certaine naturals of that kingdome, who, being affectioned vnto
our faith, were baptised there: with the which, and with the hope
aforesaid, they are all sustained, till such time as it is the pleasure
of God to send them the remedie for their soules, the which hee hath
caused them to desire, which cannot be long, according vnto that which
hath beene seene, and the miracles that God doth worke, the more for to
kindle their desire, as the myracle of the crosse before spoken off, and
others the which certaine Cochinchinos did declare in the cittie of
Machao, in anno 1583, and happened the same yeare, and was very fresh in
the memorie of all those of the saide kingdome. The one of them was,
that one of the Christians aforesaid went to visite a principall man
that had the palsie, and kept his bed many yeares before: and conferring
with his long sicknesse, he told of certaine myracles, such as he had
vnderstanding that was done by Christ our Redeemer, when that he was man
amongst men whome hee redeemed: but in particular those which he did in
the healing of the like infirmities, such as he lay sicke of: alonely
with his deuine vertue, in touching of them with any part of his
garments or shadow. The iudge hearing this, hee had a particular faith
and devotion to him that had doone these myracles that the Christian had
told him, and asked what his name was, and what signes and tokens he
had: he told him that his name was Jesus of Nazareth, Redeemer of the
worlde, the Sauiour and glorifier of men. And the better to declare vnto
him his signes, he shewed to him an image or picture that he had of his,
the which was giuen him such time as he was baptised, printed in paper:
and of Iesu Christ when he ascended vp into heauen, the which, for lacke
of churches and other of greater volume, hee should haue continually
with him, and make his praiers thereunto. This sicke man tooke it, and
fixed his eies thereon with so great deuotion and faith, in requesting
him to giue him his health, and that he would presently beleeue in him
and bee baptised. At the same instant, in the sight of them all, he felt
himselfe whole of the infirmitie that he had suffered so many yeares
before, and neuer could find any humaine remedy for the same, although
he had prooued an infinite number. He straightwayes willed the Christian
to baptise him, vnto whome hee gaue a great summe of monie, the which
hee receiued against his will, and spent it in workes of mercie; and
with part thereof he bought a bigge barke, in the which at this day he
dooth passe people thorough a riuer, whereas they were wont to passe
great perill and danger, and hee doth it for Gods sake, and receiueth
nothing for the same.
A fewe dayes after, in another part of this kingdome, there happened
another myracle of no lesser substance then the first, that is, there
was a Cochinchina in the said citie of Machao, who did aske to bee
baptised of a barefoote frier, which after that hee had catechised
sufficiently, hee gaue it vnto him: and after a great time that hee had
beene in his company, and had experience of his Christianitie and
deuotion, he gaue him licence for to returne vnto his country, with a
good token, that at his comming thither he would procure to augment the
desire of Christianitie, the which God had begunne to kindle in their
brest. This good neu Christian did procure the same with so great care,
that he did profite very much (being holpen with the fauor of God, who
made him his instrument), hee healed certaine infirmities, in shewing
vnto the patients an image of our ladie, the which he had continually
about his necke, and had therunto great deuotion, and woulde declare to
them with great zeale the Lords Prayer or Pater Noster. His fame was so
much spread abrode in all parts of this prouince, wherein he dwelled,
that it came vnto the ears of a mandarin, or principall iudge of the
same, who was many dayes in his bedde a leaper, both of handes and
feete, and neuer coulde finde any phisition nor medecine that could giue
him his health, nor any other humaine remedie: who being verie desirous
to bee healed, hee sent for the saide Christian, and asked if hee would
take vppon him to heale him of that infirmitie, as it was affirmed that
hee had done by others of greater importance. The Christian saide hee
would; then the iudge did promise vnto him for the same great giftes and
rewardes, but hee made no account thereof, but onelie requested of him
for reward, that after hee should bee hole, that he would be baptised
and become a Christian: the which he did accept, and principally he
shewed vnto him the image that hee had of our lady, saying: If thou wilt
beleeue in this lady, that is heere ingraued, and in her most holy sonne
Iesus Christ, the Redeemer of the whole world, thou shalt presently be
made hole. This mandarin or iudge did beholde the same with great
attention, and thought on the words which he had heard spoken, and in
determining with himselfe to beleeue the same, at the very point that he
did put it in execution, he was healed of al his infirmitie, a thing
which caused great admiration in all that prouince.
These myracles and that of the crosse, in a short time being knowne
abrode, haue caused such a desire vnto the inhabitants of that kingdome
to become Christians, that by all manner of meanes possible they do
procure the same: the which is not followed for lacke of ministers, as
aforesaid, and is no smal griefe vnto them that Christianly doo put
themselues to consider how the diuel our aduersary doth carry vnto his
infernal mansion those soules which seeme to bee well disposed for to
enioy the benefite of God, and his eternal goodnesse: all the which is
for lacke of ministers, and not for any other default. God remedie the
same for his mercies sake.
The said father Ignacio (whom, as I haue said, I do follow in many
things of this itinerario) did tell me, that as he passed by this
kingdome for to go vnto Spaine, he saw the deuotion of the people
thereof, and the great desire they had to bee Christians, and how that
the people were ready and bent for to receiue the holy gospell, very
humble and of good vnderstanding. Hee would haue tarried for to baptise
them, and would haue done it onely for charity and compassion, seeing
with what deuotion they did demand the same, and the great number of
soules that were condemned; but hee was constrained by force to go vnto
Malaca, and againe it seemed vnto him, that amongst so many people his
smal force might do little good: and that it were better for him to go
vnto Spaine, and to procure more companions to helpe him, as he did, and
returned with him, and with many other rewards, of Pope Gregory the
thirteenth receiued: and he also receiued great fauours of the king of
Spaine, and with great hope, that his maiestie will giue his particular
aide, for to go thorow with this enterprise, which will not be of small
effect. I do beleeue of a truth, that in small time all that kingdome
shall be subiect vnto the Catholike faith of Rome, and to be the gate
whereby to enter the lawe of the gospell into the mightie kingdome of
China, for that this of Cochinchina is vpon the same firme land, and
their language and customes are almost in one manner.
[Sidenote: Their womenn are honest and shamefast.]
They are verie white people of this kingdome, and are apparelled like
vnto those of China: their women are verie honest and shamefast, and
their apparell is very curious and gallant. The men weare their haire
dispersed, and doo combe and trim it with too much care. In all the
countrie almost, all of them are apparelled in silke, for that they haue
there verie much, and excellent good: the countrie is verie holesome,
and full of old folkes and children, which is a sufficient proofe for
the goodnesse thereof.
[Sidenote: They neuer had plague, pestilence, nor hunger.]
They say that they neuer had amongst them neither pestilence nor
hunger, which is the like as we haue said of the kingdome of China.
Let him that can, do it in such sort that so great and infinite number
of soules that at this day are vnder the tyranny of the diuell, may see
them in the Christian libertie, and in the other life inioy their
creator.