perswaded, that the same region, of all others, most aboundeth with marchandise:  which notwithstanding is to be vnderstood of the Orientall regions:  albeit there are some kindes of marchandise, wherewith the land of China is better stored then any other kingdom. [Sidenote:  Great abundance of gold in China.] This region affordeth especially sundry kinds of mettals, of which the chiefe, both in excellencie and in abundance, is gold, whereof so many Pezoes are brought from China to India, and to our countrey of Iapon, 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 loaues, were brought vnto vs for marchandise:  and one of these loaues 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 vpon their seruants backes.  Neither are these golden loaues onely bought by the Portugals, but also great plentie of gold-twine and leaues of gold:  for the Chinians can very cunningly beate and extenuate gold into plates and leaues. [Sidenote:  Great store of siluer.] There is also great store of siluer, whereof (that I may omit other arguments) it is no small demonstration, that euery yeere there are brought into the citie commonly called Cantam by the Portugal marchants to buie wares, at the least 400 Sestertium thereof, and yet nothing in a maner is conueied out of the Chinian kingdom:  because the people of China abounding with all necessaries, are not greatly inquisitiue or desirous of any marchandise from other kingdomes.  I doe here omit the Siluer mines whereof there are great numbers in China, albeit there is much circumspection vsed in digging the siluer thereout:  for the king standeth much in feare least it may bee an occasion to stirre vp the couetous and greedie humour of many.  Nowe their siluer which they put to vses is for the most part passing fine, and purified from all drosse, and therefore in trying it they vse great diligence.  What should I speake of their iron, copper, lead, tinne, and other mettals, and also of their quick-siluer.  Of all which in the realme of China there is great abundance, and from thence they are transported into diuers countreys.  Hereunto may bee added the wonderfull store of pearles, which, at the Ile of Hainan, are found in shell-fishes taken very cunningly by certaine Diuers, and doe much enlarge the kings reuenues. [Sidenote:  Great store of silke in China.] But now let vs proceed vnto the Silke or Bombycine fleece, whereof there is great plentie in China:  so that euen as the husbandmen labour in manuring the earth, and in sowing of Rice; so likewise the women doe employ a great part of their time in preseruing of silke-wormes, and in keeming and weauing of Silke.  Hence it is that euery yeere the King and Queene with great solemnitie come foorth into a publique place, the one of them touching