Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/130

 owne person: the number of all together (as appeared out of a written catalogue) amounting to three hundreth thousand persons; of whom two hundreth thousand were souldiers.

The order prescribed in this whole armie was, that first they should make their entrance by the kingdome of Coray, which is almost an island, one ende whereof ioyneth vpon the maine lande of China; which though it be a seuerall kingdome of it selfe, yet is it subiect and tributarie vnto the king of China. And because this kingdom of Coray is diuided but by an arme of the sea from Iapan, Quabacondono determined to subdue the same, for that it so aboundeth with victuals, that from thence he might the easier inuade China. While all things were preparing, it was commanded, that at the chiefe port of Ximo called Nangoia, being twelue leagues distant from Firando, there should be erected a mightie great castle; where Quabacondono with all his fleet was minded to stay, till newes were brought of the successe of the aforesaid 4 gouernours or captaines. Hee appointed also another castle to bee built in Fuchinoxima, which is another island situate betweene Nangoia and Ceuxima. And he built a third castle in Ceuxima, that his passage might be the more commodious. The charge of building these castles he imposed vpon the 4 aforesaid gouernours, and commanded the other lords of Ximo their associates to assist them; all which so applyed that busines, that in 6 moneths space it was wholly finished. The castle of Nangoia was enuironed with a double wall of square and beautifull stone, with broad and deepe ditches like vnto Miacò. The innermost wall being lesse then the other two was 100 fathom square, within the compasse whereof wer so many houses built both for the lordes, and their followers, and also for marchants shoppes, and victualers houses, distinguished with broad and direct streetes, that it seemed a faire towne. But (that which was much more admirable) all the way from Miaco to Nangoia, at the ende of euery dayes iourney, all the lords and gouernours, at the commandement of Quabacondono, built each one within his iurisdiction new and stately palaces from the ground, so that for 20 dayes together he lodged euery night with all his traine in one of those palaces. And because these things were done at the very same time when the expedition into the kingdome of Coray was in the hand, all Iapan was so grieuiously oppressed (Quabacondono in the meane while being at no charge) as it