Pilgrimage, Book 5 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Of the Kingdome of Pegu, or Brama.
PEgu aG.B….Ben.is the Citie Royall of the Kingdome Brema, or Brama, the Nation where began the greatnesse of the late Kings. These Bramans inhabited neere the Lake Chiamay, among whome the King of Pegu had his Lieutenants or Viceroyes: One whereof (the Deputie of Tangu) about threescore and tenne yeares since, rebelled against him, and surprised the Kingdomes of Prom, Mellntay, Calam, Bacam, Mirandu, Aua, all peopled with the Bramans, trending Northwards a hundred and fiftie Leagues. He after attempted Siam with an Armie of three hundred thousand, and …ent three months in making way through the huge Woods and inaccessible Places, but atchieued not his purpose. After his returne, he assayled Pegu, and conquered it; and then returned the second time 1567, as in the former Chapter is mentioned. bN. Pime…ta lit. F.Fernandez.He subiected to his Seignorie twelue Kingdomes, which Fernandes thus rehearseth: The Kingdome of Cavelan, where are the best Rubies and Saphyres: secondly, that of Aua, the bowels whereof are filled with Mines of Copper, Lead, & Siluer: the third Bacan, enriched with Mines of Gold: Tungran, the fourth, aboundeth with Lac cHard Wax.and Lead: such is Prom, the fifth: The sixt is Iangoma, stored with Copper, Muske, Pepper, Silke, Siluer, Gold: Lauran, the seuenth, had Beioim enough to lade shippes: the eight and ninth are the Kingdomes of Trucon, Staples of China-marchandise: the tenth and eleuenth are the Diademes of Cublan, betweene Aua and China, poudered with precious stones: Siam, whence we last came, is the last of the twelue; in the inuasion whereof he armed a million and threescore thousand men (which number is short of dFredericke saith he had 2 & crowned kings at commaund, and that no King in the World was of greater power.Frederickes reckoning, except we ascribe that surplusage to Victuallers, Voluntaries, and Seruants and Attendants on the baggage:) which Armie (saith Fernandes) he tythed out of his people, taking one onelyonly of tenne. Hee so abounded with wealth, that a hundred shippes, fraughted with Rice, seemed to diminish nothing of the plentie. The Fields are said to yeeld three haruests in a yeares and of Gemmes the store is beyond estimation, and almost maketh them there short of the estimation of Gemmes; But this wealth, then wanting no store, had, when 'Fernandes writ this 1598, a contrane vicissitude, of no store, but of want, euen of those thinges which Nature exacteth, as necessarie proppes of life. Scarcely of so many millions were left seuen thousand persons, Men, Women, and Children, to participate in the Kings imprisonment or Siege in his Tower, and those feeding on mans flesh, the parents requiring of the children that life which before they had giuen, to sustaine their owne, and now layed them not in their bosomes, but in their bowels, the children became liuing Sepulchres of their scaree-dead parents. The stronger preyed vponupon the weaker: and if their flesh was eaten vp before by their owne hunger, leauing nothing but skinne and bones to the hungrie assault of these raueners, they ripped the bellie, and deuoured their inward parts, and breaking the skull, sucked out the braines raw. Yea, the weaker sexe was by the strength of famine armed with no lesse butcherly despight against whomsoeuer they could meete in the streetes of the Citie; with their kniues, which they carried about them, as harbengers to their teeth, in these inhospitall inhumane-humane banquets.
And thus did the besieged Citizens, while the King endured in his Tower no small part of like miserie, besides the indignitie, so to be by his owne vassalls straitned, and after slaughtered. But such is the iust hand of the King of Kings, who regardeth not persons, but as he sheweth MercieMercy to the mercifull, so doth he reserue Vengeance for crueltie and Tyrannie. Pardon me, Reader, if on this spectacle I cause thee, with my selfe, to stay a while and wonder. The Sunne, in his daily iourney round about this vast Globe, saw few equall (that I say no more) to this Peguan greatnesse, and yet in a small space, he that is higher then the Highest, hath abated and abased this Magnificence lower then the lowliest of his Princes.
After the death of that Braman Conqueror, his sonne, in the second monethmonth of his succeeding Raigne, hearing that thé King of Aua, his tributarie and vncle, was plotting some conspiracie, he committed to prison fortie of his Nobles, partners in that new Prolect, and bringing them all, with their Parents, Wiues, Children, Friends, and Acquaintance into a Wood, set eThere were destroyed by this flame and execution 4000 persons. Arthus pag.326. & Caspar Balby, c.37. hath the same number, saying, That all the Citizens of Pegu were inioyned to be present at the execution. He cals the place not-a-Wood, but a Prison. He was then at Pegu.fire thereon, commaunding to cut them in pieces, whosoeuer escaped out of the flame. This kindled another fire in the hearts of his discontented subiects, which was not quenched, but with his ouerthrow. He warred on his vncle, the King of Aua, with no great aduantage, till they both agreeing to trie it by single Combat on Elephants, Pegu obtained the Conquest. In the meane time the Siamite with an Armle marched to the borders of Pegu, diuulging rumours. That he came to succour his Lord against the Avan Rebell. The King enraged hereat, sent presently part of his forces to take him, and present him captiue: but the souldiors refused to follow the Generall in this Enterprise, and returned to their owne houses. The King, after his returne, sent to Siam, by faire speeches to persuade him to come to him: He refused his presence, but denied not his wonted Tributes. Hereupon the King, after two yeares prouision for the Warre, made that vnhappie Expedition in the former Chapter mentioned. And there the waters taking part with the Siamite, he tried once and againe the like fortunes of warre. He sent his brother the King of Iangoina, and his owne sonne twice; which did much harme to the Si… mites, and receiued no little themselues; neuer returning without losse of halfe their armie, and of his owne soune, in the last inuasion slaine with a shot. Relentlesse hee (inflamed rather with his losses) determined another Expedition in his owne person; and therefore laid vp store of prouision in barnes at Martauan, Murmulan, Tauay, and Tànassarin, three yeares together, purposing then to employ all the Peguans in this enterprise. But they weary of forren calamities, fI… piscator sapi….hidde themselues in woods and wildernesses, and some turned Talopores: so they call their religious persons. Many sold themselues slaues. The King persisting, in his person gaue order to his vncle Ximibegus, to take a muster of all the people, and to entertaine halfe of them for the warres. But he missing so many, which had by those new courses preuented this seruice, acquainteth the King therewith; who enioyneth the late professed Talopoyes to resigne their habite, the yong men to be compelled to warfare, the old men to be exiled to the Bramans, where after he caused them to be exchanged for horses. He caused all the Peguans also to be branded in the right hand, that they might be knowne. This made them entertaine thoughts of rebellion, which was first practised by the Colmians, who set a new King ouer them.
The Peguan sent an Armie against them, with charge to burne or bring away all they could finde among them, which they did, together with many of the people of both Sexes, which he (after his manner) setting Wood about them burned. And when the rest (not able to Warre against their King and famine at once,) submitted themselues, with gThe cruell tyranny of the K. of Pegu.exquisite torments he slew them all. He then sent to his sonne, the King of Aua, to transplant those people of eueryevery Age & Sexe, to people these forlorne Desolations of Pegu. They, vnacquainted with this aire, brake forth in diseases, wherewith they infected also the naturall Inhabitants: which plague made such hauock, that many in impatience cast themselues into the Riuer. The Murmulans with helpe of the Siamites seised on their Castle, whom the King besieged a yeere together, and then was forced from thence by the Siamites sudden irruption, with losse of the most of his people: the horses, Elephants, & country it selfe remaining their recompence. And the Peguan Captaines also, fearing their Maisters tyranny, became subiects to the Siamite, whose whole families this tyrant with fire & water destroyed, so that all the tract from Pegu to Martaua and Murmulan was made a Wildernes. These things done, hee sent for his yonger sonne, the King of Pr…m, and commanded him to the siege of Murmulan: who, vtterly mis…king the attempt, conuaied himselfe in the night homewards, with purpose of rebellion.
The King of Siam not ignorant of this Peguan estate, inuaded the countrey in haruest-time, and therefore that, which they could, they conuayed into barnes, the rest was fired. He proceeded and laide siege to Pegu: in which at that time were a hundred and fifty thousand men, and three thousand peeces of ordinance, a thousand whereof were Brasse: but (as is said) for feare of the Portugales, which were said to hauehave entred into Siam by the way of Camboia he departed, leauing Famine behinde as Lieutenant of his Warres, which caused the Forrenners, then in Pegu for the defence thereof, to get them to their owne homes. Those few which remained, liued with prouision from Tangu. The King sent to his Deputy in Tangu, to come to him with all the Inhabitants of the Countrey and their store, leauing his Wife, and some few to guard the Citie. He answered that he would send halfe, and to demaund all were vnreasonable. The King sends foure Noble men with Souldiours to force him hereunto. But he slayeth the leaders, and seiseth on their followers. Thus the Famine encreasing, and the people eating one another, the King numbreth the Citizens, among whom he findeth seuen thousand Siamites, whom he commanded to be slaine, not leauing aboue thirty thousand of all sorts in the Citie. His sonne, the King of Prom, which had now stood out three yeares, began to relent and sue for pardon, with promise to bring the Promans (to the number of fifty thousand) to the Citie, whereat his Father reioiced, and sealed his pardon which hee sent him with many gifts. hIudas cannot be secure, till he hang himselfe,But his chiefe counsellor, authour of this rebellion, fearing all the blame would bee laide on him, poisoned the Prince: himselfe, aspiring to the Kingdome, was within one weeke destroyed: and the Nobles, eueryevery man seeking to seise the state to himselfe, caused that of those fiftie thousand, within two moneths space, whiles eueryevery weeke they had a new Prince, scarse remained fiftie men fit for Warre, which departed to Pegu, three or foure in a Ship, leauing their Countrey to the habitation of wilde beasts.
The Natiues of Pegu are not quite extinct, but many of them are fledde into other Kingdomes; of whom, and of the Bramans, Iangoma numbreth a hundred and twenty thousand: Oracan, twentie thousand: Siam, a hundred thousand: and the King of Iangoma is able (they say) to arme a million of men.
The Talapoyes perswaded the Iangoman to depose his brother of Pegu. Hee alledged his oath vntounto his Father, while he liued. They reply, that no oath might prohibite, if he placed his brother in a Vahat (or golden Throne) to be adored for a God. And partly with this (I may not call it) reason: and partly, as Xerxos alleadged for himselfe, because that his elder brother was borne before his Father was King, and because his mother was the former King of Pegu's daughter, he perswaded himselfe that it was lawfull.
And thus vvas the state of this mightie Kingdome in the yeare 1598, brought to one Citie, which also was now become a withered carkasse, and well neare the Sepulchre of it selfe, and (as mischiefes come not alone) beseeged by Mogus, King of Orracan.
Andreas iA Boues.Boues (in his Letters the 28. of March, 1600.) thus finisheth this Tragedie. When the King of Pegu saw himselfe in such streites, besieged by the Kings of Orracan, or Arracan, and Tangu, he yeelded himselfe to the King of Tangu: vvho dealt treacherously with him, and cut off his head, as hee did to the Queene likewise, and the Prince. Hee then hasted to the Tower of Pegu, vvhere he found as much gold and Iewels as laded six hundred Elephants, and as many Horses, besides siluer and other mettalls of smaller price. The King of Arracan then absent, and angry that the King of Tangu (contrarie to promise) had seised all the treasure to himselfe, he purposed to inuade his kingdome, and to that intent, had the aide of many Portugales (amongst whom this Iesuite was one) who saw the wayes and fieldes, lately so fertile, now full strewed with dead mens bones and Skulles, and in the Riuers all passage of Ships hindered by the Carkasses of men. The King of Arracan found in the towne aforesaid, three millions of siluer, with the Artillerie: and then remained Lord of Pegu. Bnt the Kings of Siam and Iangoma preuented his enterprise for Tangu, vvhichwhich they inuaded to depriue him of his treasures. The King of Siam twice assailed Martauan with repulse, vvherevpon, hee caused two of his cowardly Captaines kA cruell punishment of Cowards.to bee cast into Cauldrons of scaulding Oile: and the third time conquered that kingdome.
Thus hauehave you heard of the power and subuersion of this great Monarchy: so much the more lamentable, because their fall was from such a height. The Countrey is so fertile, that at what time so euer Corne bee put into the ground, the paiment is good vvith increase. I hauehave seene vvich mine eyes (saith Caesar Frederike) that they hauehave eaten Serpents, Scorpions, all manner of Hearbes and grasse. Such fertilitie, and such stomackes, as they make credible the reports of their huge Armies, so doe they make more terrible the reports of their desolations. This that I speake of their diet, I vnderstand not of their extremitie and Famine, but ordinarily. Mr. Fitch saith the same, that they eate Rootes, Hearbes, Leaues, Dogges, Cats, Rats, and Snakes, they refuse almost nothing.
It is aboue a hundred yeares since Vertomannus was there, who in company of a Persian Marchant went to visit the King, who then had warres in Aua. They went in a Boate all of one peece of Wood, fifteene or sixteene paces long. The Oares were Canes, and the Mast was one Cane as bigge as a Herring-Barrell. The King wore as many Iewels as vvere worth a great Citie, which made him in the night time to shine as the Sunne. Hee had then a sacrifice to doe to the Diuell, and the next day the Persian presented him with rich Coralls, vvhichwhich hee tooke in so good worth, that hee gaue him as many Rubies as were vvorth a hundred thousand ducats.
The King, that liued when Maister Fitch l1588. M.R. Fitch. Cas. Fred.was there, had one Wife, and three hundred Concubines: of whom hee was said to hauehave fourescore and ten Children. Hee sate in iudgement almost eueryevery day. They vse no speech in their sutes, but giuegive vp their Supplications, written in the Leaues of a Tree with the point of an Iron bigger then a bodkin. These Leaues are of an Elne long, and two inches broad: they are also double. Hee which giueth in his Supplication standeth a little off, with a present: which, if the King granteth his request, he accepteth; if not, hee returneth vvith his present.
Pegu is (or at least in a more vnhappy tense, when they were there, was) a Cittie great, strong, and very faire, with walls of stone, and great ditches round about it, with many Crocodiles in them. There are two townes; the olde, in which the Merchants abide, and the houses are made of Canes called Bambos: and the new, for the King and his Nobilitie. The Citie is square with faire walles, hauing in each square fiue Gates, besides many Turrets for Centinels to watch, made of Wood, and gilded very faire. The streetes are straight as a Line from one Gate to another: and so broad, that ten or twelue men may ride a-front through them. On both sides at eueryevery mans doore is set a Coco-tree, yeelding a faire shew, and comfortable shadow, that a man might walke in the shade all day. The Houses are made of Wood, and couered with Tiles. The Kings house is in the middest, walled and ditched about: and the houses within of wood sumptuously wrought and gilded. And the house wherein his Pagode or Idoll standeth, is couered with Tiles of siluer, and all the walles are gilded with Gold. Within the first Gate of the Kings House was a large roome, on both sides whereof were houses made for the Kings Elephants. Among the rest hee had foure white Elephants, a thing rare in Nature, but more precious in his estimation. For this is part of his Royall Title, The King of the White Elephants. And if any other hath any bee will seeke by fauour or force to hauehave the same, which (some mLinscot…say) was the cause of the quarrell betwixt him and the King of Siam. Great seruice was done vntounto them. EueryEvery one of these white Elephants stood in an house gilded with Gold, and were fed in vessels of siluer gilt. One of them, as hee went eueryevery day to the Riuer to bee washed, passed vnderunder a Canopie of Cloth of Golde or Silke, carried by six or eight men; as many going before playing on Drummes or other Instruments. At his comming out of the Riuer, a Gentleman washed his feete in a Siluer Bason. There were of blacke Elephants nine Cubits high. The King was said to hauehave aboue fiue thousand Elephants of Warre. There was about a mile from Pegu, a place builded vvith a faire Court i… it, to take wilde Elephants in a Groue: which they doe by the Female Elephants, trained to this purpose, and annointed with a certaine Oyle, which causeth the wilde Elephant to follow her. nR. Fitch. 28.cal. Balbye c. 38.When the Hunts men hauehave brought the Elephant neere to the Citie, they send vvord thereof, and many horse-men and foote-men come out and cause the Female to take a streight way, which leadeth to the place where shee en…reth, and he after her… for it is like a Wood. When they are in, the Gate is shutte, and they get out the Female. The wilde one seeing himselfe alone, weepeth, and runneth against the walles which are made of strong Trees: some of them breake their teeth therewith. Then they prick him with sha…pe Canes, and cause him to goe into a strait house, and there fasten him with a rope, and let him fast three or foure daies, and then bring a Female to him, with meate and drinke, within few daies taming him. When they goe into the Warres, they set a frame of wood vponupon their backes (bound with great Cordes) wherein sit foure or six men, which fight with Gunnes, Darts, Arrowes, and other weapons. All Authors agree, that no beast commeth so neere the reason of a man as the Elephant, yea they seeme to goe before some men in conceit, haughtinesse, desire of glory, thankefulnes, &c.
The Peguans are beardlesse: and carrie pinsers about them to plucke out the haires if any growe. They blacke their Teeth, for they say a Dogge hath white teeth. The men of Pegu, Aua, Iangoma and Brama weare balles in their yards, which they put in the skinne beeing cut, and vveare, for eueryevery Childe one, till they hauehave three, and may take them out at pleasure: the least is as bigge as any Wall-out: the biggest as bigge as a little Hennes Egge. They were inuented to preuent Sodomy, which they vse more then any people in the world: Abusing the Male-Sexe, causeth the women also to weare scant clothes, that as they goe, their thigh is seene bare, to prouoke men to lust. If the King giuegive any one of his Balles, it is a great iewell accounted: they heale the place in six or eight daies. The Bramas that are of the kings bloud pricke some part of their skinne, and put therein a blacke colour, which lasteth alway. If any Marchants resort thither, he shall hauehave many Maides (saith oLins…Linschoten) offered him by their parents to take his choise, and hauing agreed with the parents he may, for the time of his abode, vse her as his slaue, or his Concubine, without any discredit to her. Yea, if hee come againe, after shee is married, hee may, for the time hee stayeth there, demaund her in like sort to his vse. And vvhen a man marrieth, hee vvill request some of his friendes to lye the first night vvith his Bride. There are also among them that sowe vp the priuie part of their. Daughters, leauing onelyonly passage for Vrine: which, when they marry passe vnderunder the Surgeons hand for remedy. Caspar Balby, and Got. Arthus, tell of another custome of their Virgins, if that name may be giuen them. For saith he, pHistor.Indiae Orien.pag.313.Virgines in hoc regno omuinò nulla…reperire l…cet: Puellae eni… emues statim à pueritia sua medicamentū quoddam vsurpant, quo muliebria disten duntur & apertae continontur: idque propter globul…s quos in virg…s vir… gestant: illis enim admittendis virgines arctiores nullo modo sufficerent. If a man be bankerupt the Creditor may sell his wife and Children. Their money is called Ganza, and is made of Copper and Leade, which eueryevery man may stampe that will. Gold and Siluer is marchandise and not money. The tides of the Sea betweene Martauan and Pegu by Caesar Fredericke qCas.Fred.are reputed the greatest wonder which he saw in his trauels: being so violent, that the ayre is filled with noise, and the earth quaketh at the approch of this watery element, shooting the botes that passe therewith as arrowes, which at a high water they suffer not to anker in the Chanell, which would betray them to the deuouring iawes of the returning tide, but draw them toward some banke, where they rest in the ebbe on dry land, as high from the Chanels bottome as any house top. And if they arriue not at their certaine Stations, they must backe againe whence they came, no place else being able to secure them. And when it encreaseth againe, it giueth them three calls or salutations: the first waue washeth ouer the barke from Stemme to sterne: the second, is not so furious: the third, raiseth the Anker. In Negrais in Pegu rR.Fitch.diuers people dwell in boates which they call Paroes; the country being full of Riuers, in which they goe too and fro with their Families: as strange is the dwelling here on the land; their houses being set on high Posts, and their going vp on Ladders for feare of Tygers. From hence to Pegu, is ten daies iourney by the Riuers, in which way is Cosmon and Medon, where their markets (are as their dwellings) vponupon the water in Boates, with a great Sombrero, like a Cart-wheele, to keepe off the Sunne, made of Coco-Leaues.