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Author: González de Mendoza, Juan, 1545-1618.
Title: The historie of the great and mightie kingdome of China, and the situation thereof togither with the great riches, huge citties, politike gouernement, and rare inuentions in the same. Translated out of Spanish by R. Parke.
Series: Early English books online text creation partnership. Navigations series.
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Print source: The historie of the great and mightie kingdome of China, and the situation thereof togither with the great riches, huge citties, politike gouernement, and rare inuentions in the same. Translated out of Spanish by R. Parke.
González de Mendoza, Juan, 1545-1618., Parke, Robert, fl. 1588., Loyola, Martín Ignacio de, d. 1606.
London: Printed by I. Wolfe for Edward White, and are to be sold at the little north doore of Paules, at the signe of the Gun, 1588.
Alternate titles: Historia de las cosas mas notables de la China. English
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A01864.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
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title page
The Printer, to the Christian reader.
part 1
The Historie of the mightie kingdome of China, in the which is contained, the notable things of that kingdome, touching that which is naturall.
CHAP. I. The description of the kingdome and the confines that it hath belonging.
CHAP. II. Of the temperature of the kingdome of China.
CHAP III. Of the fertilitie of this kingdome, and of such fruits and other things as it doth yeeld.
CHAP. IIII. Here I do proceed in the fertiltie of this kingdome, and of such things as it doth yeeld.
CHAP. V. Of the antiquitie of this kingdome.
CHAP. VI. The bignesse of this kingdome of China, and of such mea∣sures as they do vse in trauaile.
CHAP. VII. Of the 15. prouinces, that are in this kingdome.
CHAP. VIII. Of the cities and townes that euery one of these prouin∣ces hath in himselfe.
CHAP. IX. Of the wonderfull buildings in this kingdome, and of mightie wall or circuit in the same of 500. leagues long.
CHAP. X. Of the dispositions, countenance, with apparell and other exercises of the people of this countrie.
The history of the mighty kingdome of China, wherein shalbe declared, of the religion that is amongst the people, and of their idols that they do worship, and of other things tou∣ching that they do vse aboue nature. The second Booke.
CHAP. I. Of the number of gods that they doo worship, and of some tokens and paintings that is found amongst them that do represent a mysterie of our Christian religion.
CHAP. II. I do prosecute the religion they haue, and of the Idols they do worship.
CHAP. III. How little they doo esteeme their Idols whome they wor∣shippe.
CHAP. IIII. Of lots which they doe vse when they will doe anie thing of importance, and howe they doe inuocate or call the diuell.
CHAP V. Of the opinion they haue of the beginning of the worlde, and of the creation of man.
CHAP VI. How they hold for a certaintie, that the soule is immotall, and that he shal haue another life: in the which it shalbe punished or rewarded according vnto the workes which he doth in this world, and how they pray for the dead.
CHAP. VII. Of their temples, and of certaine manner of religious peo∣ple both men and women, and of their superiours.
CHAP. VIII. The order that they haue in burying of the dead, and the mourning apparell they haue.
CHAP. IX. Of their ceremonies that they vse in the celebrating the marriages.
CHAP. X. How that in all this mightie kingdome there is no poore folks walking in the streets nor in the tēples a begging, & the order that the king hath giuen for the maintayning of them that cannot worke.
The third booke and historie of the great and mightie kingdome of China, in the which is contay∣ned many notable things woorthie to be considered of touching morall and pollitike matters.
CHAP. I. How manie kinges hath beene in this kingdome and their names.
CHAP. II. Of the court and pallace of the king, and of the citie where as he is resident: and how that in all the kingdome there is not one that is Lord ouer subiectes by propertie.
CHAP. III. The number of such subiects as doo pay vnto the king tri∣bute in all these fifteene prouinces.
CHAP. IIII. The tribute that the king hath in these fifteene prouinces, according vnto the truest relation.
CHAP. V. Of the men of war that are in the fifteene prouinces, as wel footmen as horsemen, and of the great care they haue in the gard of the kingdome.
CHAP. VI. More of the men of war which are in al these fifteene pro∣uinces, and how many there be in euerie one of them as well horsemen as footemen.
CHAP. VII. 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.
CHAP. VIII. Of the kings royall counsell, and the order they haue to knowe euerie moneth what dooth passe in all the king∣dome.
CHAP. IX. Ofsuch presidents and ministers as the king doth put in euerie prouice, and the order that they haue in their go∣uenment.
CHAP. X. Here is prosecuted the manner howe they do choose their gouernors and Iustices, and howe they doo execute the same.
CHAP. XI. Of the visiters that the king doth send euery yeare to visite the inrior Iudges of his prouinces, and of the punish∣ing of such as they do find culpable.
CHAP. XII. Of their prisons they doo vse, and the order they haue in the executing of iustice vpon the culpable.
CHAP. XIII. Of the characters and letters that the Chinos do vse, and of the colleges and scholes that are in this kingdome, and of other curious things.
CHAP. XIIII. Of the examination of such whome they preferre to the degree of Loytia, which is with vs the degree of a do∣ctor: and howe they doo commence them, and howe they doo beare him companie.
CHAP. XV. How that with them they haue had the vse of Artilery long time before vs in these parts of Europe.
CHAP. XVI. Of the antiquitie and manner of printing of bookes, vsed in this kingdome, long before the vse in our Europe.
CHAP. XVII. The substance and manner of those bookes that Frier Her∣rada and his companions brought from China.
CHAP. XVIII. The order that these Chinos obserue in making bankets, and in celebrating their festiuall daies.
CHAP. XIX. How they salute one an other in this countrie, and of some part of their ceremonies.
CHAP. XX. Of the great closenesse that the women of this kingdome do liue in, and with what condition they permit com∣mon women.
CHAP. XXI. The fashion of their ships, aswell of those that passe the seas, as of those that doo roade riuers, which are manie and great: and howe they doo prouide themselues of fish for all the yeare.
CHAP. XXII. A curious order that these Chinos haue to bring vp ducks in great abundance, and with small cost: and of a plea∣sant and ingenious order of fishing which they vse.
CHAP. XXIII. 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.
CHAP. XXIIII. Of the ambassage that the king of Spaine did send vnto the king of this kingdome, and the occasions that did moue him thereunto, as also wherefore it was declared.
The second part of the histo∣rie of the mightie kingdome of China, that is deuided into three parts.
book 1
CHAP. I. The Spaniardes departe from Mexico vnto the Ilandes Philippinas, where they had intelligence of the mightie kingdome of China.
CHAP. II. A rouer of this kingdome of China called Limahon, doth make himselfe strong at the sea, and doth ouercome an other rouer of the same countrie called Vintoquiam.
CHAP. III. The king of China doth arme a fleete of shippes against the rouer Lymahon▪ who withdraweth himselfe to Tonzua∣caotican, whereas he hath notice of the Philippinas.
CHAP. IIII. This rouer Limahon goeth to the Ilands Philippinas, and commeth to the citie of Manilla.
CHAP. V. Limahon doth send 400. souldiers before for to burne the citie of Manilla, and they were resisted by other men.
CHAP. VI. The gouernour of Manilla purposeth himselfe to abide the assault of the Chinos, to whome they gaue the repulse: then Limahon returned and planted himselfe vppon the plaine nigh the riuer Pagansinan.
CHAP. VII. The Generall of the fielde called Salzedo, doth set vppon Limahon, he doth burne his fleete, and besiege his fort three moneths, from whence this Rouer dooth escape with great industrie.
CHAP. VIII. Omoncon captain of the king of China commeth to seeke Limahon, and doth meete with Spaniards.
CHAP. IX. Omoncon is well receiued of the Generall of the field, and lodged in Manilla with the gouernor, whereas they doo conclude the going of the fathers of Saint Augustine to China.
CHAP. X. Omoncon departeth with certificate, in what perplexitie he left Limahon the rouer, and doth carrie with him the Fathers of S. Augustine.
CHAP. XI. The Spaniards do depart with the captain Omoncon from the port of Buliano, and ariue at the firme lande of China.
CHAP. XII. The Captaine Omoncon is come to the prouince of Chin∣cheo, but before he doth come vnto an anker, he dooth passe some trouble with another Captaine of the sea.
CHAP. XIII. Omoncon doth disembarke himselfe with our Spaniardes in the port of Tanfuso, and are verie well receiued by the Iustice, and made verie much of by the order of the In∣suanto of that prouince.
CHAP. XIIII. The Spaniardes depart from Tansuso to visite the Gouer∣nour of Chincheo, who awaited their comming: where they sawe notable thinges by the way.
CHAP. XV. The Spaniardes doo prosecute their iourney to Chincheo, and seeth many notable thinges by the way.
CHAP. XVI. Our Spaniardes ariued at the Citie of Chincheo, whereas they were receiued and lodged, and what they sawe in that Citie.
CHAP. XVII. The gouernor of Chincheo doth call the Spaniards before him, and sheweth vnto them the ceremonies that they must vse to haue aundience.
CHAP. XVIII. The Spaniards haue a louing and fauorable audience of the gouernor of Chincheo, to whom they do giue the letters they brought from the Ilands Philippinas.
CHAP. XIX. The Spaniards are visited by the principals of Chincheo, the gouernor did send for Pedro de Sarmiento and My∣guel de loarcha, and giueth them particular audience, and doth wel informe himselfe of all things touching Li∣mahon the rouer.
CHAP. XX. The gouernor doth banquet the Spaniards, and afterwards make all thinges in a redinesse for to go vnto Aucheo▪ whereas the vizroy tarieth their comming.
CHAP. XXI. The Spaniards departe from the Cittie of Chincheo, and commeth to that of Aucheo, whereas the vizroy did tar∣rie their comming.
CHAP. XXII. The entrie of the Spaniards into the Cittie of Aucheo, and how the vizroy did entertaine and receiue them.
CHAP. XXIII. The Spaniardes haue audience of the Viceroy of Aucheo, and are visited of some of the principall officers, who de∣clare vnto them certaine thinges of that citie.
CHAP. XXIIII. The viceroy doth banket our people in his owne house two daies one after the other.
CHAP. XXV. The Spaniards do carie their present vnto the viceroy, who hauing receiued it by the hands of Omoncon doth seale it and sende it vnto the king: our men bee forbidden to goe foorth of their houses to see any thing in the Citie: and it doth intreat of other particular things.
CHAP. XXVI. The Spaniardes talke with the Viceroy, and not being suf∣fered, they do write to him a letter, and he doth answere it by word of mouth, with other particular matters.
CHAP. XXVII. There came newes vnto Aucheo that there was a rouer vp∣on the coast of Chincheo, which did much harme, and had sacked a towne. The viceroy doth suspect him to be Limahon, and how that our people with Omoncon and Sinsay, had not declared vnto him the truth.
CHAP. XXVIII. The Gouernors of e prouince do assemble together, to intreat of the Spaniardes busines, and are resolued, that they should returne vnto the Ilandes. They do see many curious thinges before their departure.
CHAP. XXIX. The Spaniards departe from Aucheo, and come vnto Chincheo, wheras the Insuanto was: he commanded thē to depart vnto the port of Tansuso, whither he went him∣self for to dispatch them: at whose departure, he sheweth great fauor and maketh them great feastes.
CHAP. XXX. The Spaniardes departe from the port of Tansuso to∣wards the Ilandes Philippinas, and euery day they doo harbor themselues in Ilands by the way, declaring what they saw in them.
CHAP. XXXI. They haue news how that the rouer Limahon was escaped, and howe that he was in an Ilande there hard by: some gaue iudgement to go and set vpon him, but they resol∣ued themselues to the contrarie, and follow the voyage to Manilla.
CHAP. XXXII. The captaines Chinos ariued with the Spaniardes at the ci∣tie of Manilla, the Gouernor and those of the citie doo receiue them with great ioy and triumphes, and after they had remained there certaine dayes, they returned vnto the firme land, being instructed and satisfied of ma∣ny things touching our holy catholike faith, with great desire to receiue the same.
The second booke of the se∣cond part of the historie of the mightie king∣dome of China, In the which is contayned the voyage that was into that kingdome in the yeare 1576. by the fa∣thers Fryer Peter de Alfaro Costodio in the Ilandes Philippi∣nas of the order of saint Francis of the prouince of S. Ioseph, and other three religious men of the same order, and their miracu∣lous entring into that kingdome, and what happened vnto them for the space of seuen monthes that they there remained, and what they did see and vnder∣stand of: all the which are notable and verie rare.
CHAP. I. The Fryers of Saint Francis came vnto the Ilandes Philip∣pinas, and procured to passe vnto the firme lande of the kingdome of China, with zeale to preach the holy gos∣pell.
CHAP. II. The Fryers and their companions depart from the port of Illocos, after they had committed vnto God the directi∣on of their voyage. They passe great daungers and trou∣bles, & do ouercome them all with the confidence they haue in God, and came vnto the kingdome of China mi∣raculously.
CHAP. III. The Friers and their companions came vnto the Cittie of Canton, they went on shore, and praised God for that it had pleased him to let thē see their desire fulfilled. There comes a Iustice to visite them, and hath with them great communication.
CHAP. IIII. The Spaniards go forth of their ship, and go into the Citie, vnto the christened Chinos house, and are carried before another superior Iudge in common audience, and manie other passe with them.
CHAP. V. The Spaniards are called before a Iudge, who doth examine them, and offer them great fauour: he dooth write vnto the vizroy, giuing credit vnto the persons, who sendeth commission vnto a Iudge called Aytao, for to examine their cause: the chiefe captaine of Machao dooth accuse them, in saying that they were spies, and doth intreate of other strange matters.
CHAP. VI. The Spaniards seing themselues in great necessitie, hauing not to maintaine themselues, they go into the streetes to aske almes, the gouernor vnderstanding thereof cōman∣deth to giue them a stipend out of the kings treasure, the interpreter goeth forwardes with his couetousnes & de∣ceit: they be carried before the Iudges of the citie, with whō they do intreat of diuers matters: they do aduise the the viceroy of al, who cōmandeth to send thē to Aucheo.
CHAP. VII. The Spaniardes take their iourney towards Aucheo, & de∣clare what happened in the way thitherwarde.
CHAP. VIII. The Spaniards are brought before the viceroy: he asketh of them certaine questions, and doth remit them vnto the Timpintao his deputie, who receiueth them well, and giueth them good speeches.
CHAP. IX. The Spaniards remained certaine daies in Aucheo: they go to visite the beautie of that citie, but in especiall the cap∣taine generall of the sea, who was so affectioned vnto the Ara of blacke stone they brought, that hee did with all care and diligence procure it of gift.
CHAP. X. The Timpintao dooth call the Spaniards before him, and dispatcheth them for to go to Canton: they tooke their leaue of him, and goeth from Aucheo: and at their com∣ming to Canton, they are commaunded to make them∣selues readie to depart the kingdome.
CHAP. XI. The Father Costodio sendeth a messenger vnto Machao he he writeth vnto the bishop and vnto a priest for to bestow their almes on them for their departure. The captaine generall doth vnderstand therof, and commandeth them not to aid nor succour the Spaniards, and other matters appertaining vnto them.
CHAP. XII. A Portugall of the Cittie of Macheo doth discouer the euill intent of the captaine general: he giueth the Spaniards warning thereof by a letter without seale, by the which they remedie the danger that was so nigh at hand: they are called before the Aytao of the Cittie, & he declareth vnto them such matters as haue passed with him, and the licence that was graunted for some of them to go vnto Machao, and the other vnto Luzon.
CHAP. XIII. The Spaniards remaine certaine dayes in Canton, whither came certaine Portugals from Machao: at the first they feared them, but afterwards they were assured by the contractation they had the one with the other, that they were friendes: the vizroy of Aucheo commeth to Can∣ton, and dispatcheth the Spaniards, & giueth them good prouision and intertainment.
CHAP. XIIII. They that were determined to go vnto Luzon, doo depart for the cittie of Chincheo: in which voyage they see ma∣ny riuers and townes: and other particular things.
CHAP. XV. The Spaniardes depart from China and go to Luzon, they do passe some stormes at the sea: the marriners doo call vpon the diuell, by lots: the religious men do reprehend them: in the end they come to their desired port, where∣as they are receiued with much ioy.
A Commentarie or short discourse of all such notable thinges as be betwixt Spaine till you come vnto the kingdome of China, and from China vnto Spaine, returning by the Orientall or east Indias, after that they had almost compassed the whole world. Wherein is con∣tayned all the rites, ceremonies and customes of the people, the riches, fertilitie and strength of many kingdomes: and the descrip∣tion of them.
CHAP. I. A Commentarie of the new world.
CHAP. II. They do depart from the Ilands of Canaria for the Ilande of Santo Domingo otherwise called Hispaniola, and do declare of certaine things in the way thitherward.
CHAP. III. Of the Iland of Santo Domingo called Hispaniola and of their properties.
CHAP. IIII. Of the way and the Ilandes that are betwixt this Iland of Santo Domingo, and the kingdome of Mexico.
CHAP. V. Of the bignesse of the kingdome of Mexico, and of some particular and notable things that are in it.
CHAP. VI. This Chapter doth prosecute in the things of the kingdom of Mexico.
CHAP. VII. Of the new Mexico, and the discouering thereof, and what they do know of it.
CHAP. VIII. Here he doth prosecute the discouering of the new Mexico
CHAP. IX. Still doth hee prosecute the new Mexico, and declareth of such things as were there seene.
CHAP. X. Still doth he prosecute the discouery of the new Mexico.
CHAP. XI. Departing from the citie of Mexico, they go vnto the port of Acapulco in the south sea, whereas they doo imbarke themselues from the Ilandes Philippinas, they passe by the Ilandes of theeues, and do declare the rites and con∣dition of that people.
CHAP. XII. They depart from the Ilandes of the Ladrones, and come vnto them of Luzon, or Philippinas by an other name, and doo declare the particular thoughts of those Ilandes.
CHAP. XIII. Here is declared of some notable things that are, and haue beene seene in these Ilands Philippinas.
CHAP. XIIII. The barefoote Friers depart from the Iland of Luzon, vnto China, and is declared such as was there seene.
CHAP. XV. Here hee doth prosecute in things which the saide fathers did see, and vnderstand, the second time they entred into the kingdome of China, and of the troubles they passed.
CHAP. XVI. The Spaniardes are sent vnto the citie of Hucheofu, & doo declare what happened there vnto them.
CHAP. XVII. Here it doth intreat of the mightinesse, goodnesse, riches, and fortitude of the kingdome of China.
CHAP. XVIII. This chapter doth treat of certaine rites & ceremonies, and other signes & tokens which be found, and do show that they haue had notice of the holy law of the gospell.
CHAP. XIX. This chapter doth treate of the Ilands of Iapon, and of o∣ther thinges in that kingdome.
CHAP. XX. 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, & of certaine miracles that hap∣pened in the kingdome of Cochinchina, that were no∣table.
CHAP. XXI. In this chapter is declared of such kingdomes as are adioy∣ning vnto that of Cochinchina, and of some notable thinges in them, with the rites and customes of the in∣habitants.
CHAP. XXII. Of many other kingdomes that are in this new world, and of their names and properties, but in espiciall, of that fa∣mous Cittie of Malaca.
CHAP. XXIII. Of some kingdomes of the newe worlde, and of particular things that haue beene seene in them, and treateth of the citie and riuer of Ganies.
CHAP. XXIIII. Of the kingdome of Coromandel and others his borde∣rers, and of the citie of Salamina, whereas was and died the glorious Apostle S. Thomas, and of the power and riches of the king of this kingdome, & the order of their buryinges, and other thinges of great curiositie.
CHAP. XXV. This chapter treateth of manie kingdomes of that newe worlde, the rites and customes of the inhabitants, and of some curious thinges.
CHAP. XXVI. The chapter doth treate of many kingdomes of the newe world, and of the particular and curious things of them.
CHAP. XXVII. Of other kingdomes and notable things that are vntill you come into Spaine, and to conclude, the compassing of the world.