ad. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1590. 



are some kindes of marchandise, wherewith the land of 

 China is better stored then any other kingdom. This 

 region afrbrdeth especially sundry kinds of mettals, of 

 which the chiefe, both in excellencie & in abundance, 

 Great abun- i s gold, whereof so many Pezoes are brought from China 

 dance of gold tQ i n ^ an j to our COU ntrey of Japon, that I heard say, 

 that in one and the same ship, this present yeere, 2000 

 such pieces consisting of massie gold, as the Portugals 

 commonly call golden loaves, were brought unto us for 

 marchandise : and one of these loaves is worth almost 

 100 duckats. Hence it is that in the kingdom of China 

 so many things are adorned with gold, as for example, 

 beds, tables, pictures, images, litters wherein nice and 

 daintie dames are caried upon their servaunts backes. 

 Neither are these golden loaves onely bought by the 

 Portugals, but also great plentie of gold-twine and leaves 

 of gold : for the Chinians can very cunningly beate and 

 Great store of extenuate gold into plates and leaves. There is also great 

 store of silver, whereof (that I may omit other arguments) 

 it is no small demonstration, that every yeere there are 

 brought into the citie commonly called Cantam by the 

 Portugal marchants to buie wares, at the least 400 Ses- 

 tertium thereof, and yet nothing in a maner is conveied 

 out of the Chinian kingdom : because the people of China 

 abounding with all necessaries, are not greatly inquisitive 

 or desirous of any marchandise from other kingdomes. 

 I doe here omit the Silver mines whereof there are great 

 numbers in China, albeit there is much circumspection 

 used in digging the silver thereout : for the king standeth 

 much in feare least it may bee an occasion to stirre up 

 the covetous and greedie humour of many. Nowe their 

 silver which they put to uses is for the most part passing 

 fine, and purified from all drosse, and therefore in trying 

 it they use great diligence. What should 1 speake of 

 their iron, copper, lead, tinne, and other mettals, and also 

 of their quick-silver ? Of all which in the realme of 

 China there is great abundance, and from thence they are 

 transported into divers countreys. Hereunto may bee 



354 



