The Travels and Controversies of Friar Domingo Navarrete, 1616-1686

Volume I

J.S. Cummins, J.S. Cummins

• Publisher: Hakluyt Society
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781317013419
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Early Modern History
• Index: History

Friar Domingo Navarrete, A Dominican missionary, travelled round the world and spent the best part of his life (1658-69) in China, where he became a determined opponent of the evangelical methods of the 'Jesuit mandarins'. This edition of his travels is based on all his writings, published and manuscript, but principally on the sixth book of his Tratados historicos, which gives a racy account of his travels and work in Mexico, the Philippines, Macao, China, India and Macassar, among other places. He had an observant eye, an open ear and an every-ready pen, together with a happy facility for meeting men of affairs and being at the heart of things. A doughty controversialist and a vivid writer, this enthusiastic sinophile has left a record which is not only full of human interest but throws fresh light upon the uneasy meeting of East and West in the 17th century. Much of the material is original and will be new to English readers. Dr Cummins's Introduction fills in the details of Navarrte's life, character and various writings. It also describes the missionary movement in China and gives the background to the notorious Chinese Rites controversy which markedly influenced the course of European thought. There is a full bibliography. The main pagination of this and the following volume (Second Series 119) is continuous. This is a new print-on-demand hardback edition of the volume first published in 1962.

BOOK VI: The Author’s Travels 1646–1674

CHAPTER 1

HIS VOYAGE TO NEW SPAIN

1. My holy Father St Thomas teaches that only great things are to be written, that they may be continu’d in the Memory of Men. ‘It has not been the Custom to write any but great things which are worthy to be remembered, and ought to be transmitted to Posterity’ (Lect. 2 in I Rom.). These Words have much discourag’d me from writing this Book, nevertheless the Rarity of some things, and the Novelty of others, made me resolve to take Pen in hand, and give an account of what I myself have seen. Our Oleaster says thus ‘Posterity is pleas’d to hear, not only the famous Actions of their Ancestors, but also their Dangers, Sufferings and other things of that nature, tho they be toilsome.’ And I can truly say, that ’I have compass’d the Earth and walk’d over the Sea and dry Land’. But it was not through Curiosity or Covetousness, which usually encourage many to such Undertakings. This Work was much forwarded by the superfluous spare time I had in the Island of Madagascar, where to divert it, and be less sensible of my long stay there, I made my benefit of the Words of Ecclesiastes ‘Write in time of leisure’.

2. I have read some printed Travels, and observ’d several things in them, which as being common and trivial deserve no Reflection, nor making a Mystery of, or magnifying them. I read an Account of a Journey certain Persons made from Vera Cruz to Mexico, which does so magnify the Difficulties, Hardships, Sufferings, Hunger, Cold and other Calamities, that the Author makes it sufficiently appear, he has far outdone the truth of what it really is: and if he takes such liberty to lanch out in speaking of a Road so well known, so beaten, and so common, and than which there are certainly some worse in Spain, what will he do when he writes of Travels through Places less known to, and more remote from us? I will not follow this Method, nor make a Mystery where there is none; I will endeavour not to tire the Reader with needless extolling of things, and crying up that which is ordinary and common.

3. That certain and generally receiv’d Opinion that all Men had conceiv’d (and no Man either here or there does at all question) of the rigid and most exact regular Observance of our Province of the Holy Rosary in the Philippine Islands was the motive that made me resolve to leave my Kindred, Country and Friends, and undertake so tedious a Journey, and two such long Voyages, as there are from Spain to the utmost Bounds of Asia.¹ This great Part of the World commences at those Islands. It is no small Contradiction to humane Nature, to leave ones Country, the Common Mother. ’Tis true, that to Religious all the World is their Country. Saint Gregory Nazianzus says so, ‘To me, every Land, and never an one is my Country.’ And Hugo of St Victor writes thus: ‘He is still very tender to whom his Country is sweet; he is brave who accounts all Nations his Country; he is perfect to whom the whole World is a Banishment.’ Here the Words of St Paul sute well, ‘We have here no settled City, but we seek after one to come.’ To leave Friends and Kindred is nothing in regard to our Duty to God.

Being then actually Professor of Philosophy in the famous and renowned College of St Gregory in Valladolid (known to all the World for the many Lights that have issued thence), I set forwards upon my Journey on the 26th of January, 1646.¹ Little remarkable happened then, tho there wanted not some Trials to test us. The Author of the Book that treats of the conversion of the Gentiles says, the first thing a Missioner is to arm and provide himself with is Patience, and truly he is much in the right.² So many Provocations occur every moment, that if this Vertue be wanting, the bravest and most resolv’d Spirit will soon dismay.

4. The second Night we lay at Salamanca; the Scholars were at variance and that Night one of them was kill’d. I look upon it as most certain, that no Scholar has dy’d a violent Death in China these 2000 Years, tho there are above three Millions of them in that Kingdom. 〈I praise the quietness, the modesty, and the composure of the Students of China; I contemn the restlessness of ours here in Europe; and things are such that many have been confounded to compare the great Advantage that these, though Heathen, have over ours, whose duty and obligations are so great. [C 625]〉 In this place I might write of the Leudness and Debauchery of the European Students. If that were observed in Europe which is in China, many Mischiefs would be prevented.³ That Murder in Salamanca caus’d Trouble; some fled, others absconded; the dead Man was bury’d and I saw him in the Church of our Lady of the Meadow.

5. Two or three days we travell’d in Rain and Cold and all the Comfort we had the last Night was to lie upon the Stones. On the first of February we set out from Plasencia, to lie that Night at a lone Inn, call’d Venta de la Serrana. We soon met with a cavalry Trooper, who began to molest us; he committed Barbarities in the Inn, abus’d the Innkeeper and his Wife, and much worse two poor Youths that were there because at eleven at night they would not wash their Hands and Faces; he turn’d them out of doors, the Ground being then cover’d with Snow. The Fellow did such things, as a wild Arab would not have been guilty of, and there was no possibility of bringing him to hear Reason. God mortify’d him a little, or else neither I nor my Companions had far’d well. After this two other Religious came the same way, they had a little betwixt them, and barely as much Money as would serve them to Sevil; they met with two Souldiers, who took all from them. These Workmen of the Lord begin to suffer before they preach in China or Japan. When I travel’d in so much Safety among Infidels, as I shall show hereafter, I call’d to mind these Passages, and reflected on them by myself: in short, ‘A Man’s own Folk are his Enemies.’ 〈I ever lik’d the Tartars and Chinese Souldiers, tho’ Heathens, infinitely more than those of our Country … they look’d to me more like Christians and very religious Gentlemen than Infidels. Among many other things excellent in the Chinese Government, one is, their great care in scouring the Highways from Vagabonds and Robbers. As soon as ever there is the least Rumour of Thieves being abroad in any part of the Country, immediate notice is given to the next Town, thence it is carry’d to the City, and if requisite to the Metropolis, when they instantly send out Officers and Souldiers, who using the utmost diligence, never return home without their Prisoners. This is the Duty of those that have the Power of Government, as St Thomas says.¹ [T 13; 29]〉

6. Being about to cross the River Guadiana, we met two Watermen with each of them his Sword and Pistol; they freely offer’d us our Passage, but when halfway over they gave us to understand, that as for ourselves the Passage was gratis, but each Beast was to pay a Piece of Eight. There was no Appeal from them, nor any Writ of Error to be brought. We had recourse to Intreaties and Tears, through which God softn’d their Hearts, and it was brought about that they should be satisfy’d with half a piece of Eight a Head. At Villanueva nobody would give us a Lodging, they were so kept under by the Souldiers. Yet coming one Evening in China with a great number of Passengers to a Village where Lodgings were scarce, the Landlord of one of them, turning away his own Countrymen, entertain’d me and three Servants I had with me. And I then remembered what happen’d at Villanueva. See how well these two Passages compare! Having spent the Night uneasily enough, next day we went to dinner to a reasonable good Town. As we came to the Inn, the Innkeeper came out to meet us very gravely, and with tokens of great Admiration, ask’d, ‘Fathers, Sirs, whence came ye?’ We satisfy’d his Curiosity, and he clapping his hands together, said ‘Blessed be God, I have gone out of my House three times, and return’d home every time beaten, robb’d, and stript, and yet your Reverences and those Gentlemen come safe and sound in all respects. Blessed be God.’ And we too gave God thanks, and had compassion upon him.

7. As we came to Berlanga, we saw a Troop of Horse marching along another Street: The Captain was a Man of a graceful Presence. The Chaplain rode with his Mass-gear before him; but the Captain’s Mistress, veil’d, follow’dthe Chaplain upon another Horse. Now I like it very well that there should be publick Prayers in time of War to implore the Divine assistance, without which no Victory can be obtain’d but, ‘One praying, and another cursing, whose voice will God hear? One building and another pulling down, what does it avail, but mere labour?’ Why should God hear the voice of Priests, and not the crys of open and scandalous Sins? If the Soldiers with their wickedness pull down all that the Servants of God build with their Prayers, what can we expect, or what can follow, but labour, toil, and weariness? Some say, it cannot be remedy’d, or that the redressing of it will cause greater inconveniences. It is a great misfortune that Chineses, Mogols, and others can remedy it, and in our Countrys we cannot. Ferdinand the First and St Pius the Fifth were us’d to say, ‘Let Justice be done, and let the World perish’; what a happy end it would have if this were so. There is no doubt, but the Spanish Nation is more fierce and unruly than some others. There are instances of this truth: it is but a few years since two Soldiers short of Badajoz met a Father and his Son, who carry’d a little Saffron to sell; they took it away and resolv’d to take their Lives also; the Son pray’d them to kill him and spare his Father to be a comfort to his Mother and Brethren. The Father desir’d them to be satisfy’d with his life, and to let go his Son, that he might maintain his Mother and Brethren. They would not compound but inhumanly butcher’d both the Father and the Son. One of them paid for it with his life, and confess’d what has been said and the other fled. If such an account were sent from the Mogol’s Country, Siam, Japan, or China, should we find ever a Man amongst us that would not abhor such Nations and rail at them, saying, ‘they were Barbarians, Pagans, and had no fear of God.’ Then let them be very well assur’d that these and the like Barbarities are to be found among us, but are not there in those other countries.

8. We came to Cantillana, our Supper there was light, our Breakfast next morning none at all, for our Viaticum was quite spent. At the passage of the River [Guadalquivir] we gave no notice of our condition, till we were over, and this contrivance stood us in good stead. I told the Waterman how things were with us and we could not pay; a Companion of his was offended at it; but the first of them who seem’d to be more courteous and pliable, said to him, ‘These Fathers have it not, what can we do to them?’ There are many Passage-Boats in China, and some over deep and wide Rivers, but there is no obligation of paying at any of them; they ask something as free Gift, and none give but such as please. We made hast to get to Dinner to Sevil; by the help of God we got thither, hungry enough. We continued but a few days in Sevil, and kept for the most part indoors for ‘A Monk out of his Cell is like a Fish out of the Water’. There our Vicar gather’d some Alms.¹ At San Lucar we got some more, and his excellency the Duke of Medinaceli reliev’d us according to his Generosity, and the particular affection he bears our Order.² We had need enough of all this, for tho his Majesty supplys us bountifully, and orders we should have decent accommodation in his Ships, nevertheless we are at incredible expence to get some little hole, where we may be by ourselves, and free from the noise of the Sailors. The Gunroom Cabin cost us two thousand Pieces of Eight. Who would imagin it? Where shall we find this sum if we do not beg and pinch ourselves for it? They kept us seventeen days aboard in the River of San Lucar, spending our Provision, melting with heat and eaten up with Flies and Mice. Every day they sounded the Bar, and Orders came from the Council to put to sea; but still they did it not, ‘for want of Water’. A good Clergyman of Saldana, who had experience in Sea-affairs, came to me one day, and said: ‘Father, your Reverence may assure your Self, that till the admiral has his Wine, there will not be Water enough to carry out the Ships.’ He prov’d a Prophet. As soon as ever he had got 6000 Jars of Wine he wanted, the Water rose wonderfully, so that we got to Sea to the great Satisfaction of us all!³ ‘The Councill,’ added that good Clergy-man, ‘is very sensible of these contrivances, and that is the reason they send such positive Orders, tho they, in truth, avail but little.’ These men are the cause that very much of the King’s Revenue is wasted, and Passengers consume their Provision; and what is worst of all, these delays upon their private account sometimes endanger a Fleet. Allowance was then given for Officers and the Seamen to ship a certain quantity of Wine. Don John de Mantilla, one of the Directors of the Trade, went aboard, I waited upon him, as being my Countryman and Friend. He examin’d the crew upon Oath, whether they had sufficient Stowage free to carry the allowance of Wine that was made them.¹ They swore they had. D. John said to me, ‘I am satisfy’d they do lie, but I do my duty.’ The Admiral [Don Juan de Urbina] took up all the ship; even the Gunners made their complaint to us, that the Cabin of the Gun-room was taken from them, to sell it to us; they had as little mind to part with it, as we to give 2000 Pieces of Eight for it.² We put to Sea in June [on 12th] and had we sail’d as they did before the Flood, it had certainly been a great diversion, tho there are some of another opinion.³ Our Method was, at break of day we sang the Te Deum. After Sun-rising, having first consulted the Master, four or five Masses were said, and all the Crew resorted to them; in the Afternoon the Salve Regina and Litany of our Lady was sang, then the Rosary was said by Gangs, some miraculous Stories were read, and there was some discourse of Religious Matters. On Sundays and Holidays there was a Sermon. An hour after the Angelas Domini, a Man went out at the Hatch (for he was continually almost under Deck) and having rang a little Bell, in the saddest and most doleful voice that ever I heard, said, ‘Death is certain, the Hour uncertain, the Judg severe. Wo unto thee who art slothful! Do that thou couldst wish thou hadst done when thou diest.’ He rang the Bell again, and praying for the Souls departed, withdrew, and all the Crew repenting for their Sins went to rest in the deepest Silence.¹ During the Voyage there was frequent confessing and communicating, little Gaming, scarce any Swearing, save only the Master who transgress’d in this Particular;² he certainly fasted every Saturday upon Bread and Water. The Purser, a Man of Palencia, us’d to say to him, ‘What are you the better for Fasting when you swear every moment?’ Honest Lazaro Beato, that was his Name, answer’d, ‘And what would become of me, if I did not fast?’ A Pilot’s Employment is provoking; but I have observed aboard Portuguese, French and Dutch Ships, that their Masters command with more ease and calmness than ours, nor are they so severe towards the Steersmen as with us. 〈We carry’d along with us a great number of Authentick Copies (of the Decree of the Holy Congregation of Propaganda Fide issued on 12 September 1645). This Decree was set forth at the instance of Friar John Baptist de Morales, a Religious of our Province of the Holy Rosary in the Philippine Islands, a spiritual son of the Monastery of St Paul in the City of Ecija, a great Missioner in China, of known Virtue, and very Zealous for the good of Souls.³ He having preach’d the Gospel some years in that Empire and together with the Religious of the Order of our Holy Father St Francis, who preach’d our Holy Faith there, he observ’d some considerable Points which demand’d resolution, but which they could not resolve themselves; by express Command from his Superiors, he sail’d from Macao to Persia, whence he travel’d by Land, and came to Rome, where he fairly propos’d the Doubts, which his Holiness, Pope Urban the 8th, had already by another way receiv’d an account of, as he plainly told the said Father, when he kiss’d his foot, ordering those Doubts to be laid before the Holy Inquisition. [T459]〉

9. We were once talking of the disorders there had been in the West-Indies, about ...