A.D. 



1590. 



Cotton zvooll, 

 whereof Cali- 

 cut-cloth is 



Three 

 qualities of 

 porcellan. 



Plants. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



that there were so much gossipine or cotton-wool in 

 China ; whereof such variety of clothes are made like 

 unto linnen ; which we our selves do so often use, & 

 which also is conveied by sea into so many regions ? 

 Let us now intreat of that earthen or pliable matter 

 commonly called porcellan, which is pure white, & is to 

 be esteemed the best stuffe of that kind in the whole 

 world : wherof vessels of all kinds are very curiously 

 framed. I say, it is the best earthen matter in all the 

 world, for three qualities ; namely, the cleannesse, the 

 beauty, & the strength thereof. There is indeed other 

 matter to be found more glorious, and more costly, but 

 none so free from uncleannes, and so durable : this I 

 adde, in regard of glasse, which indeed is immaculate 

 and cleane, but may easily be broken in pieces. This 

 matter is digged, not thorowout the whole region of 

 China, but onely in one of the fifteene provinces called 

 Quiansi, wherein continually very many artificers are 

 imployed about the same matter : neither doe they onely 

 frame thereof smaller vessels, as dishes, platters, salt- 

 sellers, ewers, and such like, but also certaine huge 

 tunnes, and vessels of great quantity, being very finely 

 and cunningly wrought, which, by reason of the danger 

 and difficulty of carriage, are not transported out of the 

 realme, but are used onely within it, and especially in 

 the kings court. The beauty of this matter is much 

 augmented by variety of picture, which is layed in certaine 

 colours upon it, while it is yet new, golde also being 

 added thereunto, which maketh the foresayd vessels to 

 appeare most beautifull. It is wonderfull how highly the 

 Portugals do esteeme thereof, seeing they do, with great 

 difficulty, transport the same, not onely to us of Japon 

 and into India, but also into sundry provinces of Europe. 

 Unto the marchandize above-mentioned may be added 

 divers and sundry plants, the rootes whereof be right 

 holesome for mens bodies, and very medicinable, which 

 are brought unto our lies of Japon, and unto many 

 other Hands, amongst the which that wood may be 



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