Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/135

 warre, subdued by litle and litle all Iapan vnto me: but Augustine in so short a time and with so small forces, hath boldely set his foote in a forren region, and with most glorious victory hath subdued the mightie kingdome of Coray. Wherefore (quoth he) I will reward him with many kinndomes, and wil make him next vnto my selfe the greatest Prince in all Iapan. Hee added farther, that now his owne sonne seemed to bee risen from the death; and that whosoeuer durst either disgrace or extenuate the deedes of Augustine, he would grieuously punish him, not respecting whether hee did it vpon reason or malice. By this speach the name and report of Augustine grew so honourable amongst all men, that those which most enuied his estate, durst not speake one ill worde of him, but highly commended him before Quabacondono.

This kingdome of Coray extendeth in length about 100. and in bredth 60 leagues. And albeit the inhabitants in nation, language, and strength of body (which maketh the people of China to dread them) be different from the Chinians, yet because they pay tribute to the king of China, and exercise traffique with his subiects, they doe after a sort imitate the Lawes, apparell, customes, and gouernement of the Chinians. They border on one side vpon the Tartars, and other nations, with whom sometimes they haue peace, and sometimes warre: but with the Chinians they haue continuall peace. They are speciall good bow-men; but at other weapons, because they haue but few, and those bad, they are nothing so skilfull. Wherefore they are not comparable to the Iaponians, who by reason of their warres are continually exercised in armes, and are by nature more couragious and valiant, being furnished with yron-peeces, with lances, and with excellent swordes.

Onely in shipping they are inferiour to the Corayans and Chinians, by reason of the hugenesse of their Ships which they vse vpon the sea. Wherefore, if they were to ioyne battels by sea, there is no doubt but that both the foresayde Nations would be too hard for them. But now because they knewe nothing of the comming of the Iaponian armie, or for that they doubted that their sea-forces were the stronger, or els because God was determined to punish them, he suffered them to be destitute of all the defence of their shipping, so that the Iaponians without any resistance landed vpon their dominions.