MONGST other coũtryes which were vnknowne to vs of Europe vntill in this later age they were diſcouered by the Spaniardes & Portugalls, one is Iapone, vnder which name be conteyned diuers Ilandes lying in the eaſt Ocean of the great Kindome of China, a chiefe prouince of Aſia, from whence the neareſt of them is diſtant ſome nineſcore English miles, and about foure hundred and fifty from Noua Eſpaña a principall part of the Weſt Indies, conquered and inhabited by the Spainiſh Nation. Theſe Ilandes are deuided one from the other by litle crikes of armes of the ſea; and amongſt them there be three which do farre exceed the rest, vnto the which the others are ſubiect, and in a manner do adhere. The greateſt of theſe three, which is called Niphon, doth lye from Eaſt to Weſt, and is 700. miles in length and 180. in breadth, and it deuided into three & fifty little Kingdomes of Prouinces, and therein is the noble Citty of Meaco the chiefe and head of all Iapone. The ſecond called Ximo extendeth it ſelfe from North to South, and hath in it nine Kingdomes. The third Scicoco, is deiuded into four Prouinces, and lyeth Eaſtward from the ſecond. All theſe Ilandes be for the moſt part full of hilles and mountaines, much ſubiest vnto could and raine, whereupon it proceeedeth that for the moſt part they be nothing fertile, rather ſubiect vnto barrennes. They yeeld no wheate nor rye, nor any ſuch like graine, at least but very ſmall: the chiefe thinge they beare is rice, which they bring forth in great aboundance: they haue the ſame kind of birdes and beaſtes that we of Europe, both wild and tame, though the Inhabitantes ſeldome eate the fleſh of any vnleſſe at ſometimes it be of Veniſon. Theyr common fare is hearbes, and fiſh, and ryce, of the which they alſo make a kind of wine, although theyr ordinary drinke be warme water into the which in feaſtes and banquets they put a certaine ponder much eſteemed of them, the which is called Cha. Theyr buildinges for the moſt part be of wood, partly becauſe they haue but little ſtore of ſtone, and wood in great aboundance, eſpecially Cedar; and partly by reaſon the country is much ſubiect vnto earth-quakes, yet be there many goodly houſes and stately pallaces of excellent workemanſhippe and rare Architecture.
The people are more ſwarty of complexion then the Spaniardes be, almost like the tawny Mores, and ſomething leſſe of ſtature commonly then thoſe of our nation be. They are for the moſt part of pregnant liuely wittes, of exceeding memory, of stoute couragious mindes, and wonderfull patience in occaſions of aduerſity. Commonly they be haughty and high minded, very deſirous of honour and eſtimation. They do contemne all other Nations in the world in compariſon of themſelues, from whence proceedeth the ſmall account they make of any strangers that come into theyr country. Pouerty doth not with them diminiſh Nobility, nor Gentility nor wealth gaine or increaſe it. The better ſort do vſe great cerimonies of honour and courteſy one towardes another: yea the common people as tradeſmen and artificers muſt be vſed with reſpect, or elſe you ſhall obteyne nothing at theyr handes: neyther will they put vp iniury at any man without complete reuenge. They are very carefull not to ſhew feare or cowardize in any caſe: they stand much vpon theyr grauity, and therefore they carry thẽſelues alwaies very ſoberly & after a ſtayed manner: in ſo much that it is held a wondrous inciuility for any to make any great noyſe, as ſhouting, hollowing, or the like, whether it be in publike or priuate, at home or abroad. To bring vp theyr children to hardnes, as ſoone as they be new borne they waſh them in ſome riuer, and when they be weaned from the nurſe, they take them from theyr mothers, & bring them vp most commonly in exerciſe of hunting & the like: when they come to a certaine age they change the former & faſhion of their apparrel, vſing therein very many cerimonies.