_Of the great closenesse that the women of this kingdome do liue
in, and with what condition they permit common women._
The principall intent that this king and his gouernors haue, as is
gathered by their lawes, is to preserue their common weale from vices;
for the which he dooth set downe great penalties, and executeth the same
without any remission; and least any should offend they vse great
vigilancie, and do iudge that the libertie and dishonestie of the women
is most preiudiciale thereunto, and is the occasion that their common
wealth falleth to decay, being neuer so well gouerned: therefore they
haue ordained many preseruatives and remedies by their lawes and
customes to preuent the same, which is the only occasion (that although
it is so long since this kingdome first began, and againe, being so
great as you may vnderstande), yet in this one point there is lesse
inconuenience or preiudice than in any other countrey of lesse
antiquitie and fewer people. So that a dishonest woman is knowen by
name, although it be in a great citie, the which is seldome seene, and a
rare thing. And the best way they haue to preuent this is, that all
people that haue daughters are commaunded by expresse order, that they
shall bring them vp (after they haue the vse of reason) in their owne
houses very close, and not be seene, but alwayes to doo something to
auoide idlenesse, for that it is the mother of all vices, whereby it may
take no roote in them. This lawe dooth comprehende married women, and is
kept in such sort that the wiues of the viceroyes and gouernours do
obserue it, yea they say that the queenes themselues doo obserue it, and
that they are alwayes spinning golde, silke, or flaxe, or doing some
other exercise with their handes, esteeming all idle persons woorthie to
be hated and contemned: so that the children being brought vp in this
manner, seeing the good example of their mothers, is the occasion that
this vertuous exercise, worthie to be imitated, is conuerted vnto a
dayly and perpetuall custome, in such sort, that they think it a
perpetuall torment to commaunde them to be idle. These ordinarie and
voluntarie exercises haue the women of this kingdome in such sort, that
it is newes and a strange thing to meete a woman in the streetes of any
citie or towne, neither at the windowes, which is a signe that they liue
honest. If it so fall out that of force they must go abroad, as to the
buriall of parents and kinsfolkes, or to visite any one being sicke, or
vpon any like occasion, then are they carried in litter chaires where
they are seene of none, as we told you before: but other superfluous
visitations or meetings of gossips are not there vsed. Albeit tendering
the conseruation of this honest crewe, and to eschewe greater euils in
the common wealth, they permit common women as a necessarie thing: yet
they do allow them in such sort, that their euill example may not be
hurtfull vnto the honest state of them which liue chast. And therefore
they do build for them houses out of the cities and townes in the
suburbes, giuing them straight commandement there to remaine in the said
houses, and not to straggle and go abroad at all. And whilst they liue
there they are prohibited, vppon paine of death, to enter into the gates
of the citie or any part thereof.
Such women as doo vse this facultie are nothing esteemed amongst them,
for they are for the most part of the basest sort, as strangers, slaues,
or such as haue beene bought of their mothers being yoonge, which is a
kinde of perpetuall bondage, yea a great crueltie which is vsed amongst
them there, and yet suffered amongst them. You shall vnderstande, that
such as are poore widowes and driuen by necessitie, cannot sustaine
themselues, may for the supplying of their want, sell their children and
binde them to perpetuall seruitude, the which is permitted in such sort,
that there are amongst them rich merchants that deale in no other thing:
and all the maiden children that they buy so bee brought vp with great
care, and taught to plaie and sing, and other things appertaining vnto
pleasure. Then after, when they are of yeares, they carrie them vnto the
houses aforesaid ordained for common women. The first day that they doo
dedicate her to this ill office, before shee is put into this common
house, they carrie her before a iudge, which the king hath ordained for
euerie house appertaining to any cittie or towne appointed to bee their
keeper, and see that there bee no euill rule kept amongst them: and this
iudge dooth place her in the house himselfe, and from that day forwards
her master hath no more to doo with her, but to go euerie moneth vnto
the iudge to recouer his tribute, which is a certaine summe set downe by
the iudge, by agreement made betweene them both, and hee appointeth
besides this the time when hee shall be paide for her, and for that was
spent in her bringing vp and teaching.
These women be very much haunted, and passe away the time maruellous
pleasantly by reason of their singing and playing, which they doo with
great cunning: and according vnto the report of the Chinos, they
apparell themselues with great curiositie, and paint themselues. They
haue amongst them many blinde women, that are free and not bonde: these
are trimmed, dressed, and painted by others that haue their sight; and
such as haue spent all their youth in these houses, can not goe foorth
so long as they liue, as is commaunded by a lawe publike, least by their
dishonest demeanure they should be an occasion of some harme and an
euill example to others. Whatsoeuer profite dooth remaine vnto these
women when they haue payed their maister, they giue vnto the iudge their
superiour, who doth keepe it faithfully and carefully, and giueth a good
account thereof euerie yeare vnto the uisitors. And afterwardes when
these women waxe olde, it is repaied vnto them againe by order of the
said iudge. But it is bestowed in such sort, that they shall not lacke,
neither haue vrgent necessitie. But if it so fall out that they should
lacke, they will giue them a stipend to maintaine them, onely for to
dresse and trimme the blinde women, or else they will put them into the
kinges hospitall, a place ordeyned for such as cannot helpe themselues.
The men children which they buy, and are solde to supplie their
necessitie, in the order aforesaide, of the women, they put to learne
some occupation, and after that they are expert therein, they doo serue
a master in the same trade for a certaine time; the which being expired,
their masters are not only bound to giue them their libertie, but also
to provide them of wiues and to marrie them, prouiding also for them
houses and necessaries wherewith they may get their liuing. Which, if
they doo not of their owne free will, they are compelled by iustice to
doo, whether they will or no. And they for a token of greatefulnesse
must come vnto their masters the first day of the yeare, and other dayes
appointed, and bring them some present. The children of these be all
free, and subiect to no bondage for the benefite doone vnto their father
for their bringing vp.