_Of the curtesie that the king of this mightie kingdome doth vnto
the ambassadors that come to him from anie other king, prince, or
comonaltie._
We should in the chapter following intreate of the ambassage that king
Philip of Spaine, with the Christian zeale that he had, to sende vnto
the king of this kingdome, who being mooued by certaine causes and
reasons, did referre it till a better occasion, and we do beleeue that
it will be offered shortly. Therefore now it shall not be from our
purpose to declare in this chapter the honour and curtesie that this
king doth vnto the ambassadours of kings, princes, or any other
prouince, that doth come vnto him, in what sort soeuer it be; and for
that it is of great curiositie, it shall be necessarie to declare it
with the circumstance wherewith it is done.
All such as doo enter into this kingdome, with the title of ambassadour,
be it from a king that is a friend or enemie, they are respected,
intreated, and made of, with so great care and diligence, as though they
came themselues in person that doo send them. Unto whome, besides the
obseruing the law of nations, which is obserued and kept among all kings
in the worlde, in especiall that their persons shall not receiue neither
incurre any danger, although their ambassage bringeth discontent or
harme vnto the king; besides all the which, there is granted vnto them
great and particular priuiledges. When that he doth enter into the
kingdome, by any of the prouinces whatsoeuer, the iudge or gouernor of
the first towne dooth in person go forth to meete and receiue him, and
giue him his welcome, with great complement of words and ceremonies. All
the loytias, captaines, souldiers, and the inhabitants of the towne, doo
accompanie the iudge or gouernour, when that they go to receiue him. But
at his disembarking to come a shore, they will not suffer him to set his
feete vppon the ground (although it be but a little way that he should
go), but hath at the waters side in a readinesse eight men, with a
chaire made of yuorie, or of some other pretious thing, with the
curteines of ueluet, damaske, or cloth of golde: which for the like
oportunitie, they haue in euerie cittie or principall towne appointed by
the king, wherein they do carrie him to his lodging. Likewise they haue
in euerie citie and great towne throughout all the kingdome, a
principall house, and sufficient for to lodge such like personages. It
is also vsed to lodge such iudges as are sent by the king to execute his
commandement, when they passe by anie of such cities or townes. There is
in euery one of these houses a lieutenant, and he hath in it maruellous
and excellent household stuffe, as hangings, beddes, seruants, and all
other necessaries, not only to lodge one ambassador, but many, if they
should there meete, and not one to disturbe another. So as aforesaide,
they doo beare him company (either on horsebacke, or in a chaire, which
is the ordinarie carriage amongst them) till hee come vnto this house,
whereas they do leave him with much curtesie and many ceremonies,
alonelie with them that waite vppon him and serue him. And also a
captaine with a thousand or two thousande souldiers for to garde him
continuallie, and to beare him companie till hee returne againe out of
the kingdome.
Then the next day following, the iudge or gouernour that did receiue him
dooth go and visite him. And after that they haue demanded of him such
ordinarie thinges as is vsed in such like visitations, then doo they
learne of his estate, and of the prince that hath sent him, and in
summe, the effect of his comming and ambassage: then doo they
straightways at the houre dispatch a post vnto the gouernour or vizroy
of the prouince, who is alwayes resident in the chiefe or metropolitan
citie thereof, and hee at the same instant dooth dispatch another post
with that message vnto the king and his counsel. And he dooth sende
order vnto the ambassador, either to stay, or a safe conduct for him to
go vnto the place whereas hee is. Likewise hee sendeth order vnto the
iudge, how hee shall intreate that ambassador, which is giuen according
vnto the relation sent him, wherein he did vnderstande the state of the
king and prince that sent him. Likewise the number of souldiers yt
shall beare him companie, and of all other thinges needefull for him in
his iourney: all the which is set downe in order, and in particular, as
what they shall giue euery man to eate for him and his seruants, and in
what townes, and howe hee shall be lodged. His safe conduct is brought
him, written vppon a whited table (after the fashion as we haue tolde
you heere before in manie places), and is with great letters, wherein is
contained from what king that ambassador is sent. This table is borne
alwayes before him, wheresoeuer hee dooth go. But that pasport, which is
sent him afterwards from the royall councell, with facultie, that hee
may go vnto the court, is after another sort: for that it is written in
parchment and gallantlie lymned, and with the kings seale of golde
hanging at it, which is neuer giuen but at such like occasion, or for
some prouision giuen to a vizroy.
Looke what is spent vppon this ambassadour in all his iourney, and vppon
them that doo beare him companie for all necessaries, is vppon the kings
cost and charges, and is paide by the kinges treasurers in euerie place
whereas they doo go. Generallie in all partes, they doo make him great
feastes and banquets, with pastimes and presents, that day that hee
dooth enter into the cittie of Taibin or Paquin, whereas the king is.
There goeth foorth to meete him without the citie, all the gentlemen of
the court, with the royall councel and president, who, according vnto
the saying of the Chinos, goeth forth with little lesse maiestie and
companie than the king: who, if the ambassadour be from a king that is
mightie, they giue him the right hand, if not they giue him the left
hand: and in this sort they go, ether talking with himselfe, or, by
interpreters, demaunding of him of his health, and of his trauail in
comming, and other thinges, till hee come into the court of the pallace,
whereas he is lodged; and there they doo leaue him, with some to beare
him companie, and hee dooth returne vnto his house with all this company
aforesaid. But when they do depart from him, they doo giue him power in
the name of the king, to make a certaine number of loytias, and to set
at libertie a certaine number of prisoners, such as are condemned to
die, and other good deeds particular.
Those that doo enter in this kingdome with the title of an ambassador,
they cannot do him any griefe, for anie delight or euill that he doth,
although they can make good proofe thereof. And for that it is of a
truth, you shall vnderstande the proofe by experience. There was sent
vnto this king, one Bartholomew Perez, a Portugall, and his company, by
order of the vizroy of the India, with an ambassage from the king Don
Manuel of Portugall, and they were accused before the vizroy of the
prouince of Canton, by the ambassadors of the king of Malaca, that were
there present, who were bounde vnto the court to treat of matters of
their king; they did testifie that the ambassage that the Portugall did
bring was false, and they were spies sent from the vizroy of the India
for to view the fortresses of the citie, that they might come afterwards
and take it, as they had done in many places of the India: they
perseuering still in the euill and mischieuous intent, did will the
vizroy to apprehend them, and to punish them as such spies did deserue,
offering themselues to giue good information for the same.
Who, after that he had well considered thereof, and consulted with the
loytias of the citie, and with his counsailors, they commanded that they
should be apprehended and put in straite prison, whereas their
declarations were taken with great care, deceit, and pollicie: and by
reason that in them they found contrarieties: some for feare confessed
much more then that which was demanded, and other saide that it was of
truth; so that by their confessions, according vnto the lawes of the
countrie, they were condemned to die, and sent their iudgment vnto the
roiall councell for to confirme the same, with intent and great desire
for to execute the same. The which being seene by the roiall councell,
and considering with what title they entred into that kingdome, did not
onely make voide the sentence and would not confirme the same, but did
send commandement vnto the vizroy to set them at libertie, and to
returne freely back againe vnto the India from whence they came, and
that hee shoulde furnish them with all things necessarie in aboundance,
til they were entred into the same, although in this time the
ambassadors of the king of Malaca, who were in the court, did still
perseuer in their malicious intent.
In which commandement, although it were true all that which the
foresaide ambassadors did testifie, and that they for feare of death did
confesse it, yet it is sufficient that they entred into his kingdom with
the title of ambassador, whereby they should receiue any harme. But now
let vs returne to our purpose. So after this ambassador hath refreshed
himselfe of his iourny, and receiued many banquets and orations of the
gentlemen of the court: vpon a day appointed he goeth to speake with the
king, accompanied with all the gentlemen of the court, and with the
president of the councell, who doth giue him audience in one of the
three rich hals aforesaide, at all times as his businesse doth require.
So when that all his busines is dispatched and gratified with many
gifts, he returneth backe againe from whence he came; and looke with
what curtesie they did receiue him at his comming, the like they doo
vnto him at his returne.
But if an ambassador doo come from any common wealth of the said
kingdome, they do not giue him the intertainement abouesaid, but cleane
contrarie thereunto, for that he dooth enter into the citie, accompanied
onely with the iustice, whose charge it is to lodge him in such houses
as the king hath ordeined to the same effect, and to giue him all that
is necessarie, takeing of him the summe and effect wherefore he doth
come: and he doth giue relation thereof vnto the president of the
councell, and the president doth giue the king to vnderstand therof:
then doo they appoint the day of audience, with this condition, that
when he dooth go thither, hee must go on foote, or else on horse back
without a bridle, with onely a halter on his horse head, in token of
humility, and acknowledging to be a subject. The day of his audience, he
commeth forth obseruing the order and condition aforesaid, accompanyed
with the iustice. And when hee doth come into a great place, which is
right against the pallace of the king, he staieth there till an officer
of the king doth come vnto him (who is master of the ceremonies), and
hee dooth cause him to proceede forwards, and dooth shew him the place
whereas hee must first kneele downe, with his handes ioyned togither in
token of adoration or worship: and all the time of this ceremonie, his
eis must bee fixed on that part where as they say the king is. In this
sort hee goeth onwards his way, making in it other fine adorations like
vnto the first, vntill such time as he do come into the first hall of
the pallace, which is at the staires heade, whereas the president is set
with great majestie, and doth represent the kings person: who after that
hee hath hearde the effect of his ambassage, dooth sende them away
without answering one word at that time; but after that hee hath giuen
the king to vnderstande, hee dooth sende him answere by that iustice,
who hath the charge to lodge him, and to prouide him of all things
necessarie for the time that hee is in the court.