_Of the ambassage that the king of Spaine did send vnto the king of
this kingdome, and the occasions that did mooue him therevnto, as
also wherefore it was declared._
For to conclude this small historie, in the which I haue declared, in
summe, all such things as I haue vnderstoode of this kingdome of _China_
vnto this, I meane such as I might wel set forth, leauing a great number
more, of the which I haue particular note: some for that they are
vnknowne, and others for that they will cause admyration because they
haue not beene seene. And according vnto the counsell of the wise, they
should not be intreated of, vntill that time that experience dooth make
them more credible. And againe, I doo hold it for a lesse euill, to be
reprehended for breuitie (as some haue beene), then to bee prolix and
tedious in the declaring, although it bee hurtfull vnto this worke, from
the which I doo take away much that I might put in. Nowe letting all
passe, I will in this last chapter declare of the letter present, and
ambassage, wherewith the king of Spaine did sende mee in the yeare of
our Lorde one thousande one hundred and foure-score: for that in company
of other religious men of my order, I should passe from his mightie
kingdome of Mexico to China, and to present it vnto the king of that
countrie in his name: of all the which I will declare that which I doo
vnderstande and know, not exceeding the limits of fidelitie, by reason
that the ambassage was not ended, nor no conclusion in effect of that
which was pretended, but doo hope in the deuine maiestie, and with the
care and diligence that is put therein by the king of Spaine, shortlie
to haue a conclusion of that they desire, for the which the letter and
the rest was sent.
Beeing considered of by the Spaniards (such as were dwellers in the
Ilands Phillippinas, which by another name are called the Ilands of the
Ponent or West) the thinges of great valour and riches, as of golde and
silkes and many other thinges which is brought from the kingdome of
China, and out of their ports, and how those which brought it did sel it
for a small quantitie in respect as they did esteeme it, and being
certified by the saide Chinos of many other things which were in the
firme land, wherof some of them haue beene made mention in this
historie: being mooued with the conuerting of these soules, and with the
profite that might come of trafike that they might haue with the Chinos,
it was concluded by the gouernour and principals of the citie of Manila,
with the iudgement of the prouinciall of the order of Saint Augustine,
and of many other religious men that were both graue and wise, such as
were the first, that in those parts did preach the Gospell, and did
baptize a great number of the dwellers therein, and did many other
thinges, of the which I might say much, if it were to my purpose, and
that my part were not therein: so that I say it was concluded amongst
them to sende vnto the Catholike king graue personages, vnto whome
intire credite might be giuen, for to giue relation what they
vnderstoode of that kingdome, and also of the euident necessitie (that
all those ilands that were his) had for their conseruation to holde to
friendes the Chinos their borderers, whereof might growe vnto them great
benefites and profites: and likewise to request him (if it were his
pleasure) to sende an ambassador to the king of that kingdome, the
better to confirme their friendship, and to carrie with him some things
which he vsed in his countrie, which would be maruellous well esteemed
of the Chinos, and be a way vnto the preaching of the Gospel, and bee a
beginning that a farther contraction may growe betwixt the Christians
and Chinos, of the which shall follow the aforesaid profite vnto other
countries, by the great quantitie of things, as well of riches as of
other curiosities that shalbe brought from thence. After they had well
considered with great deliberation, who should be the person that they
shoulde send vpon so long a iourney, for to request his maiestie of the
aforesaid: in the ende they did agree vppon for to desire the
prouinciall of the Augustine friers, who was called Frier Dilho de
Herrera, a man of great learning and of great experience touching
matters of those ilands, for that hee was one of the first discouerers
of them: they requested him for the loue of God and the good seruice to
his maiestie, and the benefite that might come thereby vnto these
ilands, that he would take vpon him to go with this petition, for they
were fully perswaded for that he had trauailed so manie places of those
ilands, as also for his office and vocation, there was none that better
coulde put in effect their desire, and perswade with his maiestie the
great importance of that ambassage: and manie other things necessarie
touching the gouernement of those ilands. This determination was liked
well of them all, and that they had chosen well in sending of the
prouinciall, who incontinent departed from the ilands in a shippe that
was prepared for Noua Hispania, which was in the yeare of Christ 1573.
At his imbarking, hee was accompanied with the gouernour, and all those
of that citie, of whom hee was maruellouslie well beloued for his
holinesse and good condition. Desiring him with all diligence to procure
to returne, with as much breuitie as was possible, vnto those ilands,
whereas they so much loued him, and had neede of his presence.
He did promise them to make all the speede possible, and in paiment of
the trauel that he did take vpon him, for the benefite and profite, he
requested them al that they would pray vnto God to giue a good voyage:
they promised him to doo it, the which they did performe with particular
care. Then did the master command to weigh ankers, and to set saile,
which was in the moneth of Nouember the same yeare: and with reasonable
wether they arriued at the new Spaine, and came vnto the cittie of
Mexico, and from thence they went and embarked themselues in the North
Seas; who with prosperous winds the 13 day of August, the yeare
following, they ariued in San Lucar Debarameda, in Spaine, and caried me
in his company. From thence, the day following, we departed from Syuel,
from whence wee departed forthwith toward Madrid, whereas his maiestie
was at that present, and we came thither the fifteenth day of September
in anno 1574, the same weeke that they had newes of the losse of the
Goleta.[132] Wee went straightwayes to kisse the kings hands, and caried
the letters which we brought from his gouernor and citie: by whom both
we and the letters were receiued with his accustomed benignitie, and did
heare the petition with great satisfaction, for that the desire was holy
and profitable, and told vs that he would command his counsell to
vnderstand in the same with a particular consideration, and with so much
breuitie as the thing required: and gaue vs thankes for the great
trauell and long iourney which we tooke vpon vs in his seruice, for to
giue him notice of the discouering of this great kingdome, and of other
things touching the Ilands Philippinas. He straightwayes commanded that
we should be prouided for of all things necessarie for our sustentation
for the time that we should there remaine, and that we should go and
giue account of all things (for the which we came thither) vnto the
counsel of the Indies, who was Don Iuan de Obando, vnto whom his
maiestie did recommend the consideration to be done with great care, and
to consult vpon the same. After that they had comuned with the roiall
counsell of the Indies touching that which should be requisite and
conuenient, which was done as it appeared in effect, for that they gaue
vs facultie in a few dayes after of all things that was requested from
the said ilands, except that which did touch the ambassage vnto the king
of China, as a thing of greater importance, and requested longer time to
consider of the same: so that they did referre it till they had a better
occasion. So that with this resolution and with fortie religious men,
and manie commissions from his maiestie touching the good gouernement of
that new kingdome, wee departed from Syuell in the moneth of Ianuarie,
the yeare following, in 1575, whereas I remained by his order and for
certaine respects. But the aforesaid prouinciall did imbarke himselfe
with his fortie religious persons, and departed in the moneth of Iuly
with a faire winde and merrie passage, till they came vnto Newe Spaine,
and from thence into the South Sea, vntill they came in sight of the
ilands: whereas the wether did alter, and they were forced by the furie
thereof to ariue at an iland inhabited with Gentiles, by whome they were
all slaine, and none escaped but onely an Indian natural of the ilands,
which wee carried from thence in our companie for Spaine. He afterwards
came vnto Manilla, and gaue them to vnderstand how they were all slaine,
and how the Gentiles did teare all the papers and commissions in peeces,
and of all that happened to them.
This beeing knowne by the gouernor, and by the rest that dwelt in the
ilands (after that they had done the rytes, with the funerall griefes,
as iustice required in such a case), they finding themselues in the same
necessitie that before they were in by reason of the losse of the
aforesaid prouinciall and his companions, and also of the letters and
prouisions sent from his maiestie, they forthwith in the same
determination did write newe letters, in requesting that which in part
the king had granted (although they had no knowledge thereof); they did
also therein write touching the ambassage that they did request for the
king of China, adding thereunto new occasions, wherby they should be
moued to do them so much fauour as to send the ambassador afore
requested, which was a thing of great importance for all those ilands.
When that these letters came in conformitie with the others before sent,
the king did ordaine for gouernor of those ilands, a gentleman, who was
called Don Gonsalo de Mercado y Ronquillo, a man of great valor and
discretion, one that had serued the king as wel in the Peru as in Mexico
with great fidelitie; who vnderstanding the earnest request wherewith
those of the ilands did aske the ambassage, and how much it did import
to haue it (as a man then elected for gouernor of those ilands, and a
matter that touched him very much), did put the king and his counsell in
memorie of the same: and in conclusion, they answered that hee should
foorthwith depart with the souldiers that were prouided for those parts,
for that it was conuenient so to be doone by reason of great necessitie
that they had of them in the said ilands; and as for the ambassage, for
that there was no such great necessitie nor haste, it should be
intreated of at more leasure, when that the counsell will aduertise
themselues of al that shalbe conuenient touching that matter, and that
they would consult and confer with his maiestie that he may, as the
right owner of them, command that which shuld be to the seruice of God
and his benefite. So with this answere the said gouernor departed.
It happened that in the moneth of August, in the yeare following, before
that this gouernor was ariued at the ilands, there came newe letters
from thence of supplications, requesting with greater instance, that
which before at other times they had requested, sending with their
petition the whole relation of the entrie of Frier Martin de Herreda,
prouinciall of the Augustine friers and his companions, into the
kingdome of China, and of such things as they had seene and heard of (as
may be seene at large in the said declaration, which is in the second
parte of this booke). This being seene by his maiestie, he was resolued
to send the ambassage which so many times they haue requested; this
chanced at that time that he began to go vppon Portugall, a time of
trouble, but yet a great token that it was the will of God, in whose
hands (as the wise man saith) are the hearts of kings. For the
appointment of one for to go on this ambassage, the king did remit it
vnto his roial counsel of the Indies, whose president was Don Antonio de
Padilla y Meneses, who had communicated with me diuers times, touching
matters of that kingdome and of Mexico, whereas I was alwayes resident
euer since I was seuenteene yeares of age, and by reason of matters that
was committed vnto me out of that country, was the occasion that I did
vse to visit him the oftener: the which large conuersation and the good
wil that hee did beare me, did perswade him that I could put in
execution the ambassage of his maiestie, for that his will was that some
religious person should do it: and they being fully perswaded that my
good will and desire was for the saluation of those soules, and in all
respects willing to serue his maiestie: all the which, with the
knowledge that I had of that large nauigation,[133] and the qualitie of
that countrie and people, was a great helpe to the accomplishing in
effect the will of his maiestie, and desire of those that dwelt in
Philippina.
So after this charge being committed vnto me, and his maiestie readie to
depart on his voiage for Portugal as aforesaid, he did remit my dispatch
vnto the lords of the royall counsell, who were at that time the
Licenciado Gasca de Salacar, and Doctor Gomez de Santisteuan, the
Licenciado Espadero, the Licenciado Don Diego de Zuniga, the Doctor
Vaillo, the Licenciado Eua, the Licenciado Gedeon de Hinonsosa. By whose
commandement I depart from the court vnto Syuell, where as order was
giuen that all such things should be prouided that I should carrie vnto
the king. Whereas I was procuring the same certaine dayes, and for that
they were many the which I should carrie, it was not possible by any
meanes that they should be made readie against the departure of the
fleete. Then the Licenciado Gasca de Salacar aforesaide, who was at that
present resident in the contractation house of Syuel, gaue his maiestie
to vnderstand thereof, who was at Badaioz occupied in matters touching
the kingdome of Portugal as aforesaid, and requested him to giue order
what his pleasure was to be done therein: who commanded that the fleete
should depart, and that I should stay till such time as all things were
made and concluded that I shoulde carrie with me for the king of China,
as in ample manner as hee had commanded. And when that all things were
in good order, that they should cause a shippe or galoon to bee made
readie, wherein I should made my voyage, for to ouertake or meete at the
Newe Spaine such shippes as euerie yeare dooth depart for the Ilands
Philippinas, which is at Christmas time: this commandement was delayed
vntill the beginning of Lent, as well for that the thinges were manie
that shoulde bee made, and coulde not be dispatched in the time, as also
for a generall sicknesse that was amongst them in Spaine, called the
cattarre or murre. Then after that all thinges were in order, by the
commandement of the Licenciado Gasca, hee deliuered vnto me the kinges
letter, and all other thinges. The which, for that they were manie, and
againe I haue beene tedious in this chapter, I doo not declare it; for
that the prudent lector may of himselfe conceiue, if hee doo weigh the
magnanimitie of the Catholike king that dooth sende them, and the
mightinesse and richnesse of him to whome it is sent, of the which we
haue declared enough in this small historie. I would I could
particularly declare it vnto you, as also the copie of the letter that
his maiestie did send vnto that Heathen or Gentile king, a thing worthie
of the author: but for that it came not to effect, neither had I anye
licence of him that all onelye might grant it: and againe, in place
whereas I could not aske it, therefore I dare not, for that I will not
excede the limits of fidelitie which I owe vnto my prince. But it is
sufficient that the letter and the present sent by his maiestie vnto the
king of that countrey was to no other intent, but to procure him and all
his subiects to acknowledge the true God, and to exhort them to receiue
our Catholike faith, and to giue them to vnderstand the error wherein
they are, and how ignorant they are of the knowledge of the true God,
the creator of heauen and earth, and of all the creatures of the world
visible and invisible, Sauiour and redeemer of all such as with a true
knowledge doo beleeue in him and obey his holy lawe, declared by his
worde, and confirmed by his deuine tokens, and other thinges in effect.
So being dispatched, I prosecuted my iourny, and order, till I came vnto
the kingdome of Mexico, whereas I found a certaine inconuenience
touching a matter needful in that voiage, whereof his maiestie, in the
commission he gaue me, willed me to be well aduertised, and, if it were
needfull, to giue him notice thereof before I did passe any farther.
The vizroy of that kingdome, who was the Earle of Couma,[134] thought it
good that I shoulde returne vnto Lysborne, whereas the king was at that
instant, and to giue him to vnderstand of the difficultie that was
found, in a meeting that the vizroy had caused to bee made of the most
grauest personages of all that kingdome, about the prosecuting of that
ambassage.
With this resolution, I departed from that kingdome, and returned to
Spaine, and left the present in Mexico, in the power of the kings
officers, till such time as order was giuen what should be done
therewith.
I found his maiestie in Lisborne, whereas I did deliuer him the letters
that were written touching the same matter, and did declare vnto him my
iudgement touching the meeting aforesaid: who incontinent did take the
charge vpon him to seeke occasion, for to put in effect his most
Christian intent and zeale; the which I doo beleeue he had procured, and
will by al waies possible: and that very shortly we shall see in that
kingdome planted the Catholike faith, and their false idolatrie
banished. And I hope in God it will bee very shortly, for that there be
within that kingdome religious men, of the order of Saint Augustine, and
barefoote friers of Saint Francis, and of the order of Jesus, or
Jesuits, who are called there the fathers of Saint Paule: of whom there
is placed fiue or sixe in the citie of Xanquin, whereas the vizroy doth
dwell, and hath erected a couent in that citie ever since the year 1583,
with a church, whereas they doo say masse ordinarily. And it is said, of
a truth, that they haue got license of the saide vizroy for to passe
freely thorough out all the whole kingdome of China. But if it bee so,
you must thinke that hee did it after that he had consulted with the
king, and doone by his authoritie: otherwise I am perswaded he durst not
grant any such license.
At this present dooth there go out of Spaine, by the order and
commandement of his maiestie and his royall counsell of the Indies, a
companie of religious men, of the order of Saint Dominicke, for to aid
and helpe the rest that are there to conclude this enterprise, from whom
can proceed nothing but that which tends to great effect, by reason of
their great zeale and learning, and the better if that they doo ioyne
together in charitie as seruants to one Lord and master, and as they
which are bounde to doo all one worke. By which meanes, with the fauour
and helpe of Almightie God, putting to their diligence and industrie,
they shall easily conquest their hearts and good willes, and shall
frustrate the diuell from the possession that so long time he hath
possessed in that kingdome, and reduce them to their true Lord by
creation and redemption. It will not bee a small helpe, the manie and
evident tokens which the Chinos doo giue of desire of their saluation;
for as it is said that they haue read in their bookes, that from the
occident shall come the true and perfite law to direct them to heaven,
where they shalbe angels. And they, seeing that those religious people
which are come into their kingdome, doo come from the occident, they are
perswaded, without doubt, that the law that they doo declare vnto them
is the truth; by which meanes shall redowne vnto them great goodnesse.
They are greatly affectioned vnto the commandements of the Catholike
faith, and vnto the catechisme, which is translated into their language,
and is abrode in manie parts of that kingdome, which is the occasion (as
the fathers of the companie that are in the citie Xuquien dooth write)
that many principal persons are conuerted vnto the Catholike faith, and
others, being holpen by the heauens, and encited by the ensample of
them, doo demande the holy baptisme, which is left undone because they
will not cause any vprore in the countrie. And againe, when they shall
better conceiue thereof, they may receiue it with more firme faith.
God, for his mercie, cause to go forwards, and with his diuine fauour,
this good worke, for his honour and glorie, and exalting his holy faith;
and that so great and infinite a number of soules, redeemed by his
pretious blood, might be saued, and to put in the hart of Christian
kings to proceed forwards in that which he hath begun: putting alwaies
in their breasts a greater augmentation, to the concluding of the same,
and to put apart from him all such perswasions as shoulde cause him to
leaue it off, which the diuell will procure by all the wayes and meanes
that he may. But against God and his diuine will there is neither power
nor wisedome.