_Of a law amongst the Chinos, that they cannot make anie wars out
of their owne countrie, neither go forth of the same, neither can
any stranger come in without licence of the king._
[Sidenote: They haue no neede of other nations.]
[Sidenote: Straight lawes.]
Although in many things that haue bin seene in this kingdome is shewed
and declared the sharpe and ripe witts of these men, and with what
wisedome and prudence they doo most manifest the same (in my iudgment)
is in that which shalbe declared in this chapter. They without all doubt
seeme to exceede the Greekes, Carthagenians, and Romanes, of whom the
old ancient histories haue signified to vs, and also of those later
times; who for to conquere strange countries did separate themselues so
farre from their natural, that they lost their owne countries at home.
But these of this kingdome being forewarned (as ye prouerbe saith:)
Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum. By the hurt of another, etc.,
they haue found by experience yt to go forth of their owne kingdome to
conquer others, is the spoile and losse of much people, and expences of
great treasures, besides the trauaile and care which continually they
haue to sustaine that which is got, with feare to be lost againe: so
that in the meane time whilest they were occupied in strange conquests,
their enimies, the Tartarians and other kings borderers vnto them, did
trouble and inuade them, doing great damage and harme. And more,
considering that they do possesse one of the greatest and best kingdomes
of the world, as well for riches as for fertility, by reason whereof,
and by the great aboundance of things that the country doth yeeld, many
strange nations do profite themselues from them, and they haue need of
none other nation, for that they haue sufficient of all things
necessarie to the mainteining of humane life. In consideration whereof
they called a generall court of Parliament, whether came all vizroyes
and gouernours and other principall men of all the fifteene prouinces:
and there they did communicate, to put remedy in this great
inconuenience in the best manner possible. Then after they had wel
considered of the same with great care and diligence, taking the
iudgment particular of euery one, and in generall by common consent,
they found it requisit for their quietnes and profite, and a thing most
conuenient for the common wealth to leaue al yt they had got and gained
out of their owne kingdome, but specially such countries as were farre
off. And from that day forwards not to make any wars in any place: for
that from thence did proceed a known damage and a doubtfull profite: and
being altogether conformable, they did request the king that was at that
present that he would cal home al such people as he had in other
kingdomes bordering there about vnder his obedience, perswading him that
in so doing, he should remaine a mightie prince, more richer, more in
quiet and in more securitie. Then the king perceiuing the request and
petition of his kingdome and subiects, and being fully satisfied that
this perswasion was requisite to be put in execution: he straight wayes
set it a worke, and commanded vpon great penalties, that al his subiects
and vassals naturall that were in any strange countries, that in a time
limited, they should returne home to their owne country and houses: and
likewise to the gouernours of the same countries, that they should in
his name abandon and leaue the dominion and possession that he had of
them: excepting such as would of their owne good will acknowledge
vassalage, and giue him tribute, and remaine friends, as vnto this day
the Lechios[92] and other nations do. This law was then established and
is inuiolablie kept to this day: in the which it is first commanded that
none whatsoeuer, vpon paine of death, shall make or begin warre in any
part without his licence. Also on the said penaltie, that no subiect of
his shall nauigate by sea out of the kingdome without the said licence.
Also that whatsoeuer will go from one prouince to another within the
said kingdome, to traficke in buying and selling, shall giue sureties to
returne againe in a certaine time limited, vpon paine to bee
disnaturalled of the countrie. Likewise that no stranger whatsoeuer
shall come in by sea nor by land, without his express licence, or of the
gouernours of such ports or places whereas they shall come or ariue. And
this licence must be giuen with great consideration, aduising the king
therof. All which lawes haue beene the occasion that this mightie
kingdome hath not come to notice and knowledge but of late yeares. All
the which that is said, seemeth to be true, for that it is cleerely
found in their histories and books of nauigations of old antiquitie:
whereas it is plainely seene that they did come with the shipping vnto
the Indies, hauing conquered al that is from China, vnto the farthest
part thereof. Of all the which they indured possessors in great
quietnes, till such time as they ordeined the law of abandoning of their
owne good will, as aforesaid. So that at this day there is great memory
of them in the Ilands Philippinas and on the cost of Coromande, which is
the cost against the kingdome of Norsinga[93] towards the Sea of
Cengala;[94] whereas is a towne called vnto this day the soile of the
Chinos, for that they did reedifie and make the same. The like notice
and memory is there in the kingdom of Calicut, wheras be many trees and
fruits, that the naturals of that countrie do say, were brought thither
by the Chinos, when that they were lords and gouernours of that
countrie. Likewise in those dayes they were of Malaca, Siam, and
Chapaa,[95] and other of their borderers. Also it is to be beleeued of
ye Ilands of Iapon, for that there are many token unto the Chinos unto
this day, and the naturals of the country are much after the fashion of
the Chinos, and many particular things that do giue vs to vnderstand:
and some lawes that are obserued and kept in China. But now in these
dayes the gouernors of the sea ports do dispence with the law that
forbiddeth ye going out of the kingdome, by certaine gifts which is
giuen them by merchants to giue them secret licence, that they may go
and trafficke in ilands bordering there about, as vnto the Philippinas,
whither come euery yeare many ships laden with merchandise of great
riches, of the which is brought many times into Spaine. Likewise they do
trauaile vnto other parts and places, wheras they vnderstand they may
profite themselues. Yet they do not giue any such licence vntill they
haue giuen sureties to returne within one whole yeare.
The desire of gain hath caused them to traueile to Mexico, whither came
the yeare past in anno 1585 three merchants of China, with verie curious
things, and neuer staied till they came into Spaine and into other
kingdomes further off. Likewise the said iudge and gouernours doo giue
licence vnto strangers (in the order aforesaid) for to enter into their
ports to buy and sel, but first vpon examination and charge, that they
should haue a great care not to demand any licence but to the same
intent. Then haue they their licence with a time limited, and with
condition that they shall not procure to goe about their cities, neither
to see the secrets thereof. And this is giuen in writing vpon a whited
table, which is set vpon the fore partes of their ships, that when they
come to an anker in any port it may be seene of the keepers and guards
that they sinke them not, but let them peaceably to enter and to
trafficke in buying and selling, paying their ordinarie customes due
vnto the king.
In euery port there is a scriuener or notarie, put there by the
gouerners, that dooth set downe in memorie the day and houre that any
shippe doth enter in, in order that, whether hee be a stranger or
natural, to take in his lading and dispatch, according vnto the old
custome of those ports, the which is inuiolably kept; which is the
occasion that they do lade and dispatch in so short a time, and with so
great quietnesse, as though there were but one shippe, although many
times you shall see in one port two thousande ships small and great. In
this sort, with a bought licence, did the Portugals traficke from the
Indies in Canton, a prouince of this kingdome, and in other parts of
that kingdome, as they themselues haue declared, and likewise the
Chinos.