any of these things the Mandarines take themselves large shares of them and if the better sort of people sacrifice such as are the heads of families it is divided among the kindred The ordinary sort of people after they have made their offering which is comonly boyled before hand take up every thing againe then having dressed it anew according to their fancy they make a feast with it where it is all eaten They sacrifice many other things as Banners and Umbrellas all of silk severall figures moulded in gold or silver or else made of Orpine or base gold great summes of mony made of cut paper All these things are to be sold ready made in the market places at the shops of severall Artificers and after they are sacrificed they burn them all Every man offereth sacrifice without any difference they having no determinate ministers appointed for this act neither indeed have they for other things as for offices or Divine service Burialls to sing and officiate at them with any exactnesse It belongeth only to the king to sacrifice to Heaven the Earth Sunne Moone Planets and Starres and if any others should do it in publick he were guilty of a great crime For this end they have two most famous Temples at the two Courts where the King sacrificeth at the foure seasons of the year Spring Summer Antumne and Winter going thither himselfe in person and if he cannot go he sendeth some other to officiate in his stead The great Lords and those who are Titelados sacrifice to the Mountaines Lakes c. The Gentlemen and Officers to the four seasons of the year and particular parts of the earth Hills and the like For the rest as to their Idols their houshold-gods Genij or Tutelar Angells any one sacrificeth that will there being set times and places appointed for it except at sometimes they do accomodate themselves both to the occasions and places as when any one is to take a voyage by water he offereth sacrifice on the day whereon he departeth and that either in the Barke or on the next shore CHAP. 20. Of the Militia and Armes of the Chinesses THe knowledge and skill of Warre and Military affairs is very ancient among the Chinesses as appeareth by their bookes and Histories and it is very certaine that they have conquered many famous Kingdomes it is also commonly beleeved that they did formerly conquer Ceilan and neere to that place in the City of Nagapatam there is to be seen at this day an edifice or building which they call The Pagod of the Chinesses and it is a Tradition among the people of that Countrie that it was built by them Neither truly is it a worke unfit to be compared to any of that Kingdome Neverthelesse their bookes make no mention at all of it but that is not a sufficient reason altogether to refute this Tradition for no more have they any memory left in their bookes of the ancient Christianitie which notwithstanding it is most certaine was there and was also very much dilated and spread abroad However it is manifest that they had 114. Kingdomes Tributary to them but at this day they have only the neighbouring Countries which are nothing neere so many and even of these some of them do deny them their tribute and others have been abandoned by the Chinesses themselves holding it better to retire themselves to their own in peace and quietnesse than to go on stil with warre and troubles to conquer or maintaine other Kingdomes Beside the Conquests and warres made with stranger Kingdomes they have had warre also for many yeares in their own Countrie so that beside many particular books that treate thereof they have one body of historie consisting of ten Tomes which only treateth of the warrs of those times of their Captaines their manner of warfare battailes victories and other things wherein are many notable things to be read which do clearly demonstrate that they have formerly been a valiant and warlike nation although there are but few such at this time The occasions how they came thus to grow lesse were very great as I shall shew hereafter At this day that which they have of warlike in the Kingdome is only the multitude which is very great for besides the Souldiery which they have in the frontiers of Tartarie and in the Armados and fleets which are at the mouths of the great rivers which runne into the Sea every Province and in that every City and Village of the Kingdome hath a proper militia of their own which is paid by them and commanded by their own Captaines and in case that any Province hath need of men they make use of the Souldierie of their own Cities and Townes which by order of the vice-roy is easily brought to one Rendevous And if there be occasion for them on the frontiers or any other place of the Kingdome presently by order from the King or his councell of warre they rayse the Souldiers of one or more Provinces according to the Present necessitie and the possibilitie of the Province all of them not being able to maintaine the same number of Souldiers These Souldiers are alwayes in readinesse and if one of them be wanting or die there are presently enow in the same Town though it be never so little who make suite for the employment and so the place is presently supplied In the City of Nankim they say there are 40000 Souldiers and in that of Pekim 80000. and throughout the whole Kingdome as Father Matthoeus Riccius affirmeth who lived in China many yeares and had very good Knowledge thereof above a million and Father Iohn Rodriguez who went very much up and down China and had opportunitie to see the principall places thereof and was very curious saith that he found by diligent search in their books that in the body of the Kingdome with all the Cities and Villages thereof there are 594000 Souldiers and on the great wals which confine on Tartarie 682888. and yet he did not put into this number the Souldiers of the Armado that guardeth the coast Nor wil this number seem so excessive if we consider that China alone beside that it is much more populous is as big as Spain France Italie Germanie the Low-Countries great Brittain and all the Islands belonging to it In all this multitude if we speak of them who guard the Frontiers there is no doubt but there is found some valour and courage and they have sometimes gallantly repulsed the Tartars and in the yeare 1596 when the Giapponesses after they had passed through all the Kingdome of Corea without finding any resistance would have entred China which they came on purpose to conquer the Chinesses repulsed them in such manner that after the losse of many men they were faine to put up their pipes and returne home without doing any thing so likewise the Souldiers of the Armado have made some assaults wherein they have been victorious But if we speake of
any thing which giveth suspicion although it be only the going out of the light which is to bee kept burning all night long presently they give notice thereof to the Gaolers who immediately come in hast to take care of it They are visited every moneth by one of those Mandarines who have the care of the Prisons commited to them Assoon as he hath taken his seate in the outward Court he causeth to be brought before him all those who have been condemned to die Those wretches present themselves before him with their haire hanging down and uncombed a sickly countenance their head hanging on one side almost falling off but assoon as they are remanded to the prison and have lost the sight of the Mandarine they begin to skip and are as sound as a fish The reason of this dissimulation is because if the Mandarine find them fat and in good liking he causeth them to be bastinadoed which they call Tá Foiti that is to fall upon the fat ones saying that they keep them there to do penance to grow leane and die and not to make good cheere The other Prisoners also are brought before him one by one and the Mandarine enquireth of the Gaolers how they behave themselves and accordingly he dispenseth his Bastinadoes to those that are troublesome unquiet and Gamesters After that he visiteth the chambers of the Prisoners where he sufferreth them to have no manner of conveniencie if he find either Seats Tables Beds or such like things he causeth them presently to be taken away for they will not have their Prisons to be as ours are for the securing only of their Persons but also to punish their bodies They who are committed to prison are not only subject to the imprisonment but also to many contributions and paiments The Mandarines have a tablet done over with a white varnish whereon is written the name and crime of the person apprehended this is given to the officer who having received it carrieth him away presently to Prison and maketh him pay for his journey which fee they call Tablet-money When he entreth the second gate commeth the Notarie Generall of the Prisoners who is commonly one of them himself he hath his Seate and Table which is only that whereon the Prisoners eat he asketh him his name and the cause of his imprisonment which he presently enrolleth in the book of Prisoners making him pay for the honour which he receiveth in having his name entred Next after that he is delivered to the Gaolers and overseers of the severall chambers or to some one of them and if the Prisoners are many they begin to distribute them to one another if it be one man only they bid him go to the chambers of the North or of the South c. and presently the overseer of that is to be paid his fee. Assoon as he is come to his quarter there cometh to him another little scribe whose office is only to take his name and to write it in the particular Table of that warde which alwaies hangeth up there and here he is to pay another fee for this writing After that cometh another who is the sweeper of the Prison and telleth him Sir Cleanlinesse is very necessary here this place is to be swept and kept cleane your fire to be made c. all which cannot be done without opening the purse In the mean while cometh one of the Prisoners with a pair of Iron Manacles the streightest he can find which he putteth on upon him about halfe an houre after he cometh again with another wider paire and telleth him Brother I know those Manacles are very streight and painfull I wil therefore change them for these wider if you wil pay me for the courtesie if he hath no money to give him he taketh his Cap or else some part of his cloaths These are the small charges with which the poor Prisoners purse is drained Then follow the Gaolers who being to receive a greater fee allow him longer time for two daies after his imprisonment they let him alone to see what he will give of his own accord and if in that time he present them not with something for every night after till they are satisfied they give him trouble and torment enough This payment is not limited but is at the discretion of the Gaolers who endeavour to draw from every one as much as they can that is a great summe from those who are rich lesse from the poor and from those that have nothing they take nothing This duty is no sooner satisfied but the last Rights must be paid that is for the sacrifices of the Idol or Pagod of the Prison for in every one of them there is a Chappel or two where every month the Gaolers offer Sacrifice on the first and fifteenth day of the Moon which consisteth commonly of a Cock a piece of Pork two Fishes Bread Fruit and other things These they seeth a little in water and the Cock is to be boyled no more than that he may be made to stand upright upon a Table which is placed before the Pagod where the other things are set in handsome order about him and after it hath stood there an houre they come and take it away and dresse the Fish and Flesh anew seasoning it very well and then they make a Banquet The new Prisoners must contribute to furnish this expence they who are admitted after this Sacrifice till the next which is fifteen daies after furnisheth the expences of the next Sacrifice and they that come after that of the next and then they are freed from paying These Chappels dedicated to the Idols do not only serve the Prisoners to make their Sacrifices there but also for other more common uses that is for the Prisoners to make their vows to draw lots although many times with an unfortunate event for having libertie and a happie deliverance promised them by the lot they receive afterward at the Tribunals Bastinadoes and torments I was one day present when a poor heathen drew his lot kneeling on his knees with much devotion and because he could not read he called another to instruct him out of the little book which is kept for that purpose in the Chappels having drawn his lot saith this poor man well what have I got Shall I be tormented at the Tribunall The other reading over the leafe cryed out Be of good courage all is well you have a good lot Shall I not have the Rack given me replyed the poor wretch Which was a kind of torment which he was much afraid of Fear not answered the Interpreter you shall have no harme That very morning this poor Gentile was brought to his Tryall who in truth was innocent the fact for which he was committed being done by his brother who had received stollen goods into his house and knowing that he was discovered fled away and so this poor wretch was apprehended in his stead When he was examined
them which have obtained the first places then the King with his owne hand bestoweth a reward on each of them He to whom he giveth the first gift being the chief of all the rest hath a particular name belonging to him ever after as also to the second and the third The first they câ—ll Chuam Yuen the next Pham Yuen the third Thoan Hoa and this name is of so great esteeme and reputation that in a few daies after the examination there is scarce any person through out the whole Kingdom that doth not know them by these names and not by the names of their fathers and Countrie which is a wonderfull thing in so vast a Kingdom as that is The honour is as great as that of our Dukes and Marquesses As well for the respect which is paid them throughout the whole realme as for the places of authority and trust where they are put to govern being the very same which were anciently conferred upon those great Lords whose authority was in another way correspondent to that which now these Doctours have These ceremonies being accomplisht there is yet another examination which although it be voluntarie there are few that absent themselves from it A new point is given they make their compositions and according to them there is an Election made of those who are to be admitted to the royall colledge They select only 30 of the most deserving and of them they admit five every year who only for being entred in so smal a number are alway providing with profitable places of government The other twenty five have particular Palaces assigned them where they assemble and become as Scholars under the discipline of a Colao who almost every day causeth them to compose somewhat and exercise themselves in all that belongeth to their learning and speculative government This continueth til the next examinations at which new persons enter and the other go forth and according to their degrees and antiquity are provided with the places of greatest importance at the court from whence unlesse it be to be Presidents of the examinations or some other particular imployment that lasteth but a short time and by the Kings order they never go out no not to be vice-royes which imployment is accounted below them because only those of the royal colledge are capable of the dignity of a Colao All the new Doctors are that year put into some employment unlesse there be any that is not of competent years That which helpeth this multitude to imployments is that the same year there is held a generall visitation throughout the whole Kingdome by which there are so many of the old Mandarines turned out that there are many places made void for the new ones and as this degree is of high account the visits congratulatious Feasts and Presents which are made upon this occasion are almost incredible The reward for bringing the first newes is many times worth 200 Crownes to the Messenger but commonly 50 assoon as the friends and kindred of those who are named among the three first above-mentioned hear of their promotion presently they erect unto them triumphall arches in their Cities or Villages not of wood coverd with Canvasse or past-bord but of pure Marble sumptuously wrought in the front whereof is engraved the name of the Person for whom they were erected the place he hath obtained and the year of his Doctour-ship in a word the world is the same throughout It is a vain thing to beleeve that he which hath not power should be admired heard or received with applause whether it be done out of zeale to the truth or out of flattery and interest CHAP. 10. Of the Books and Sciences of the Chinesses OF the Sciences of the Chinesses we cannot speak so very distinctly and clearly because really their Authours have not been so fortunate as Aristotle Plato and other Philosophers and wise men who have methodically handled them under their several Classes divisions and titles whereas the Chinesses have written little or no thing of many of the sciences and liberal arts and of the rest but superficially except those which concern good government and policie From the very beginning it hath been their chiefest aim to find out the best way of government the first that began this were the Kings Fohi Xinon and Hoamsi These three at the beginning gave themselves to their morall and speculative Sciences by way of mysticall even and odd numbers and other ciphers and notes by which they gave law to their subjects and from hand to hand these were alway communicated to the Kings who were the wisemen of that time and by this means did govern the Kingdome untill the Monarchie of Cheù which began 1123. years before the coming of our Saviour at which time Venuam and Checuam his youngest Sonne published these numbers and ancient notes and made a booke of them intitled Yechim giving likewise many morall precepts documents and orders to the whole Kingdome and following the steps of other Philosophers which lived according to the Stoick rule they had alway great care of the Government and publique good untill the time of Confusio who composed five bookes in order called by them Vehim which are at this day held as sacred He made also other bookes and of his sentences and sayings there have been since also many more bookes composed This Philosopher flourished about 150. yeares before the coming of Christ he was a man of a good nature well inclined to vertue prudent sentencious and a lover of the publique good He had many disciples which followed him he had a great desire to reform the world which even at that time began to lose its sinceritie and veracity changing the ancient manner of living and introducing moderne customes And so he governed in severall Kingdomes for when he saw that they did not live conformable to his precepts and counsells in one Kingdom he went to another yet not uncensured by many other Philosophers of that time who seeing the evill course which men tooke retired themselves to their villages and becoming husbandmen in their owne persons tilled their grounds Now it happened that one day Confusio passing along and being to go through a river whose ford he was not acquainted withall sent one to enquire of a man that was labouring thereabouts who was a Philosopher He asked the messenger who he was and being answered that he was a disciple of Confusio's who sate in his Coach expecting his answer The Philosopher replied let him go in a good houre he knoweth the way and hath no need of a guide signifying thereby that he went from Kingdome to Kingdome endeavouring to Governe in a time that was not proper for Philosophers to reigne in Neverthelesse in after times this man was in so great favour with the Chinesses and the bookes which he composed were held in so much credit as also the sayings and sentences which he left behind him that they do not only
hold him for a Saint and a Master and Doctour of the whole Kingdome and whatsoever is cited of him is esteemed as an Oracle or sacred thing but also in all the Cities of the Kingdome he hath publique Temples built to his memorie where at set times he is worshipped with very great ceremony and in the year of the examinations one of the principall ceremonies is that all the graduates go together to do him reverence and acknowledge him for their Master Of those that are descended from him he that is the neerest of kin hath a competent revenue and enjoyeth the title of Chuheu which is as much as Marquis or Duke The Governour of the City where he was borne out of respect and favour to him is alwaies one of his family and finally all those of his linage assoone as they are borne have a particular priviledge from the Emperour and are respected by all in regard of their predecessour Confusio This custome continueth to this day although it be 1800. yeares since he died But returning to the Bookes which he published they are these following The first is called Yekim and treateth of his naturall Philosophie and of the generation and corruption of things of Fate or Judiciary Prognostication from these and other things and from naturall principles Philosophizing by way of numbers figures and symboles applying all to moralitie and good government The second is called Xukim containing a Chronicle of the ancient Kings and their good government The third Xikim and is of ancient poesie all under metaphors and poeticall figures concerning the naturall inclinations of mankind and also of diverse customes The fourth named Likim treateth of rites and civill ceremonies of the Ancients and also of those that belong to Religion and divine worship The fifth is called Chuncieu the which treateth also of the History of their Countrie and containeth a collection of examples of severall ancient Kings good and bad to be imitated or avoided There are also foure other bookes which were made by Confusio and another Philosopher called Mensiù In these nine bookes is contained all the naturall and morall Philosophie which the whole Kingdome studieth and out of these is taken the point which is proposed to read or compose on in their examinations for degrees Upon these bookes they have severall commentaries and glosses But there is one of them which by the law of the Kingdome they are commanded to follow nor are they allowed to contradict it in their publique Acts and hath almost the same authority with the text These nine bookes are held as it were sacred and in them and their Glosses and commentaries consisteth the great endeavour of their studies getting them by heart and endeavouring to understand the difficult places of them forming diverse senses upon them whereby to govern themselves in the practise of vertue to prescribe rules for the government of the Kingdome according to those wise dictates and Maximes they finde there And because their examinations are very strickt and rigorous they not being suffered to bring along with them to those examinations not only any booke but also not so much as a fingers breadth of paper it being no easie thing to be very ready in all these bookes the order is That the first examination of Batchelours be upon the last foure and that of Licentiates to be upon the same foure as also upon one of the other five for this reason none is obliged to be very perfect in more than one of those sciences which he doth professe and upon that the point is to be given him But to speak more distinctly to their learning although in their books it is not delivered so clearely and orderly I say they consider in the universe three things that is the heavens earth and man and so accordingly they divide their learning into three members that is into the science of the heavens the science of the earth and the science of man including in the two first all naturall knowledge and in the third all morall In the science of the heavens they treate of the beginning of all naturall things of the Creation of the Universe and of the Formation of man himselfe of universall causes of generation and corruption of elements and elementary qualities answerable to the planets of celestiall motions and relvolutions of the foure seasons of the year of the stars and planets of Iudiciall Astrologie of spirits good and bad what they are and other like matters In the science of the earth they treate of the varietie that is seen in her by reason of the 4. seasons of the yeare of the productions of things and their differences of fields and possessions and their divisions in order to Husbandrie and Agriculture of the situation of the 4 parts of the world of their position and other particulars concerning them of the choise and building of Coemeteries and burying places for their dead in which they are very superstitious In the science which treateth of man they teach all their moralitie and that which belongeth to man in a sociable and politick capacitie who imitating the order manner and proprietie of heaven and earth as the universall Parents liveth in communitie with the observing their five morall vertues which are Pietie Iustice Prudence Policie and Fidelitie They treate also of morall matters and of the respect which they have to the five orders of persons into which their Common-wealth is divided that is Father and Sonne Husband and Wife King and Subjects Elder Brother and Younger Brother and Friends among themselves All their moralitie is divided into two members The first they call Divine Moralitie which treateth only of ceremonies rites and sacrifices which they make to heaven earth the planets parts of the world good and bad spirits of the heaven and earth mountaines rivers tutelary spirits soules of the dead Heroes and famous men c. The second is their Politick and civill Moralitie This is divided into Ethiques which ordereth the manners and actions of mankinde as they are considered in relation to their owne persons and into Oeconomie in order to the government of their families and into Politiques in relation to the Government of the Commonwealth the publick good and conservation of the Kingdome The Government of a single person doth put him in a way to the good Government of his familie and the good Government of a familie to that of the Kingdome as for example A father which doth not well Governe his house how should he governe a City or Province and he that knoweth not how to governe and correct himselfe according to the duty of his single person how should he be able to regulate his familie So that they lay the first foundation of mortalitie in the good manners and behaviour of each particular person from whence proceede well govern'd families and publick Governments well administred Under the same member of the science of man they comprehend the Liberall and all other
and money is consumed by the Chinesses in their Banquets by reason they are almost continually at them There is no meeting departure or arrivall or any prosperous successe of a friend or kinsman which is not celebrated with a Banquet nor any accident of disgustor grief for which they do not likewise make a Banquet of consolation nor any businesse of importance but it is to be treated of at a Banquet neither without one do they begin any work or finish any building They make many others upon no other motive but this Comedamus bibamus cras enim moriemur let us eate and drink for to morrow we shall die It is very ordinary among the common people and particularly among officers of the same office to have Co-fraternities which they call a Brotherhood of the month The Brotherhood consisteth of thirty according to the number of daies therein and in a circle they go every day to eat at one anothers houses by turnes making a Banquet like that of the sonnes of Iob. If they have not convenience to receive them in their own house they provide it at another mans there being at this day many publick houses very wel furnisht for this purpose If he wil have it at home but without any trouble to his Family he appointeth how many messes he will have how many dishes and what meat and they are brought home to him very well drest Those of the North are very much different from them of the South for they of the South are very exact even to the least matters in these courtesies of Banquets and they do esteem themselves more friendly and courteous than the others as in truth they are In their Banquets they are more carefull to have varietie and to have it well drest than for the quantitie of the meat and feast more for conversation and to treate with one another than to eat and drink although they do both the one and the other pretty well They drink at the beginning of the feast and so continue it with wine and meat without bread or rice till the guests say they have had wine enough Then presently the rice is brought and the glasses are set by and there is no more drinking In the Northern Countries their custome is contrary to this The ceremonies are but few the Messes well furnisht the dishes large and full and when the ordinary ceremonies are performed which are usuall through the whole Kingdome they begin with the meat and every one taketh that which pleaseth him best and as much as he can eat mean-while without quenching thirst either with wine or water for then they drink neither They conclude with rice When the dishes are taken away they discourse about an houre and then they serve in others only of salt meats as Gammons of Bacon tongues and such like things which they call Guides that is of wine and then they begin to drink To speak in generall of the whole Kingdome they do not usually drink wine neither at dinner which is in the morning five hours before noone nor at supper which is about foure a cloak in the afternoone but at night before they go to bed then using salt meats as is abovesaid and for this reason their Banquets are most commonly at night making use of the day-light for their studyes and businesse supplying this light at night with candles of which they have great quantitie made of a certaine oyle which they harden up with a little waxe which serveth them in the winter reserving for the summer those which are made of waxe of which they have three sorts The one is Bees waxe the other is taken out of the holes of a certain sort of Snakes much better than the other and much whiter without any art used to it The third is taken from a tree whose fruit is like our filberts and the meat very white And though this last be not so good as our waxe yet it is better than suet it melteth very well and maketh very good candles The people of the better qualitie make Banquets of more state for they have houses of recreation either in the City or very neere it for this purpose adorned with many costly pictures and other curiosities And if the person invited be an Officer or man of great qualitie although the use of Tapestrie-hanging in China is very rare yet for the entertainment of these they hang their houses with them very curiously even the â—eeling and all The number of their Tables sheweth the greatnesse of the Banquet One Table for four or one for two is ordinary But for persons of greater account they set one Table for each and sometimes two one to eat at and the other to set the dishes on The Tables at these Banquets have all Frontalls or a peice of linnen hanging downe from the edges but neither Table-cloath nor Napkins using only their Charan a neate and polished varnish with which their Tables are covered They lay no knives the meat being all carved out before it come from the kitchin nor forke using two little sticks with which they eat very dexterously They set neither salt pepper nor vineger but yet musterd and other sauces of which they have many and very good They serve in at the same Banquet flesh and fish boyld and roast fry'd meat and meat in pottage and white-broth and severall other viands drest after their manner and very good They use broths much but they never serve up any without flesh or fish in it or a kinde of Paste like that which the Italians call Vermicelli Anciently they used neither Tables nor seats but according to the custome of the greatest part of Asia and Africa they sate and eat upon the pavement covered with mats and to this day their writings and books speaking of Tables use for the significative letter of Table that which signifieth a mat The Giapponesses with most of the neighbouring Kingdomes even to this day keep their ancient custome of sitting and eating upon the ground but the Chinesses from the raign of Han have used seats and Tables of which they have many beautifull ones and of severall fashions In the disposition of their invitations courtesies and entertainments they have much superfluitie as well before the coming of the guests as at the beginning prosecution and conclusion of their Banquets Before they begin to eate the master of the house inviteth them to fall to About the middle of the feast they change their little cups for greater they force none to drink but modestly invite them The times when they most commonly and infallibly make their banquets are the feastivall days both of the year and of each man in particular as marriages c. Besides other infinitie occasions above mentioned The better sort of people when one takes a journey or returns from another Countrie do make a Feast and it falleth out many times that on the same day they are faine to go to seaven or eight
gate opened to the danger of their honour This which may be counted a harsh Strictnesse is turned into a pleasaunt Sweetnesse by custome which maketh all things easie as well for their repose as for the peace and concord of the family Notwithstanding in so large a Country as China this custome cannot equally be observed every where so that in some parts as I have above mentioned the ordinary women go abroad as among us but the women of quality alwayes observe that stile of retirednesse CHAP. 6. Of their Language and Letters THe language which is used in China is of so great Antiquity that many beleeve it to be one of the 72. which were at the Tower of Babel At least it is manifest by their books that it is more than 3700. years in use among them Is is various and different because there are diverse Kingdoms whereof this Empire is composed at this day and anciently they did not belong unto this Crown but were possessed by Barbarous Nations as all the Southern Provinces and some of the Northern But at this day the Language of China is but one only which they call Quonhoa or the language of the Mandarines for they at the same time and with the same care and industrie that they introduced their government into other Kingdomes brought in likewise their language and so at this day it runneth through the whole Country as Latin doth through all Europe but more universally each Province still retaining their naturall speech It is a Language much limited and as in the multitude of letters it exceedeth all others so in scarcenesse of the nounes which it useth it is the least copious of any for it hath not in all aboue 326. and of words which in reality are the same but only differing in accent and aspiration 1228. Almost all end in vowels and those few which do not terminate in vowels end either in M. or N. They are all Monosyllables all undeclined as wel verbes as nounes and so accommodated to their use that many times the verbe serveth for a noun and a noun for a verb and an adverb too if need be For which reason it is more easie to be learn'd than the Latine the Grammar only whereof taketh up a childs whole time The brevity of it maketh it full of aequivocal words and for the same reason compendious This which would be troublesome to some is very pleasing to the Chinesses who are most particular lovers of brevity in speech being either imitatours or imitated by the Lacedemonians It is rather sweet than harsh and if it be spoken perfectly as it is for the most part in Nankim is very delightfull to the ear To say a thing with respect with humility and in applause of anothers merits they use many excellent termes and phrases which are the proprieties also of our Portugesses language And although it be a very narrow language it is so sweet that it exceedeth almost all others that I know To say among us Take a thing either with the whole hand or with some particular fingers thereof we are forced still to repeat the verb take but among them it is not so each word signifieth the verb and the manner too As for example Nien to take with two fingers Tzo to take with all the fingers Chuá with the whole hand turned downwards Toie with the hand having the fingers turned upwards so likewise with the verb is as he is in the house he is eating or is sleeping they have a word wherewith at once they expresse both that he is and how he is We to say the foot of a man the foot of a bird or the foot of any beast are forced alwaies to specifie with the same word foot but the Chinesses do it with one word as Kio the foot of a man Chua the foot of a bird Thì the foot of any beast Their style in their writing is very different from their discourse although the words are the same so that when one taketh the pen in hand for to write he had need to raise up his witts and it would be counted a ridiculous thing to write as they speak ordinarily This is the reason that all their pointed or accented reading orating disputing and perswading as wel◠in publick as in private is alwayes first practised and exercised with the pen. The letters which they use seem to be as Ancient as the people themselves for according to their histories it is since the Invension of them 3700. years to this present year 1640 in which I wrote this relation I wil be bold to say that this is one of the most admirable things in that Kingdome for the number of their letters being excessive almost all have some skill in them at least as much as is sufficient for the exercise of their trades and though they are proper only to China yet they are used in all the neighbouring Kingdomes every one reading them in their owne language as among us it is in the figures of numbers of the starres which are the same over all Europe and yet every nation calleth them by different names They are very proper for Embassies Bills and Bookes These although each Province have a different language are common and understood of all as if they had been written in their owne language The Author of these is said to be Fohi one of their first Kings At the beginning they were fewer and more simple resembling in some respect the thing that was expressed by them for that which is pronounced Gè and signifieth the Sun was written with a circle and a Diametrall line through it Afterwards the form was something varied changing the circle almost into a square having the same line through it and doth still signify the Sun This variety in making of their letters hath caused foure kinds of them First the Ancient which remaineth still in their Libraries and is understood of all the Litterati although it be no longer in use except in some titles and seales which they put in stead of Armes The second is called Chincù and is the most current as well in manuscript as printed bookes The third they call Taipie and answereth to the running hand used among our publick Notaries not much in use unlesse it be in bills contracts pleadings policies and such like things The fourth is so different from the rest as well for the Abbreviations which are many as also for the different stroakes and shape of the letters that it requireth a particular study to understand them This word Sie which signifieth to give thanks is written after three most different manners Their letters are in all sixty thousand enrolled in their vocabulary which they call Haipien and may be rendred a great sea They have others more briefe For to read write compose and understand very well about eight or ten thousand letters will serve the turne and when they meet with any letters which they call a cold letter they
the greatest fury of that persecution wherein the Fathers were banished the Kingdom eight of them concealed themselves in that City not only maintaining what they had already gained but also encreasing it so much that whereas about 8 or 10 years before there were but three Churches in all China we have at this day many in eight Provinces as also twelve Houses the number of the faithfull being very much encreased every where Dr. Leo made continuall progresse in the Christian religion and shewed in act upon all occasions what he had before embraced and resolved in his minde When he went to take possession of the first office which was given him after he was a Christian he was advertised by the Ministers and Officers that according to the custome he should go and worship and take his oath before the Idols which in great number were placed in a certain Hall of that Palace where he was to lodge The Doctour went and being come to the roome where the Idols were the Ceremonie he performed was to cause them to be all overturned and throwne to the ground and then to be broken in pieces so that the Sergeants themselves who were constrained to execute this Commandement which seemed to them a very great impiety said among themselves Sure this new Lord of ours is not very well in his wits So great was the horrour and hatred which he had conceived against the devill He was in this particular very severe and terrible all the time of his life neither did he account them men that were deceived in that point had so little sense as to believe Idols to be gods and those who had any occasion to heare the Law of God or to read the books which treated of it and did not judge it to be true to want braines and to be voyd of understanding He perswaded himselfe that all they who could read and took a delight in the reading of books that it was not possible but that they should have a great passion for the Learning and Sciences of Europe and that by means of them they must needs arrive at the knowledge of the true God and receive his Holy law Therefore his greatest care always was to perswade the Fathers to apply themselves to the translating the books of Europe and he himselfe did help them in it all he could which was not a little Hence it was that ever since he knew the Fathers which was about the space of thirty years he almost alwaies busied himselfe in this exercise which he followed with so much study and application that even in the Country at recreations visits and banquets he never went without a book in his sleeve or in the chaire wherein he was carried on mens shoulders and when he was alone he did either read or write although it was more troublesome to him than it would have been to another of lesse ingenuity and capacity by reason of his want of sight in one eye which he had almost lost and the little sight he had in the other which was left so that in writing or reading he was faine almost to touch the paper with his eye And truly he made such progresse in our Sciences that he could have discoursed upon any subject better than many in Europe that esteeme themselves learned men He perfectly understood the first six books of Euclid which are now translated into the Chinesse tongue he had learned all the kinds of our Arithmetick with many particular rules and subtleties which are taught in that Art of which subject he composed seaven Tomes he was very well acquainted with all that belongeth to the Spheare and such like curiosities But what is most of all he understood very well and helped to translate the books of Aristotle de Caelo together with the questions which are handled upon them by the Schoole of Conimbra so that he had perfectly penetrated into that matter and finally he learnt a great part of our Logick concerning which he left 20 Tomes in the Chinesse language to be printed besides he discoursed so pertinently of all these and other matters with so much ease and delight that it was not so facile for others who were well versed in them to follow him He never made account of those curious commodities which came from Europe and which were so much esteâ—med by others all his delight and content was to see some new and curious book that was brought out of Europe Then would he sigh to see himselfe old and alone not finding in other Christians the zeale which he had of a thing so important to the conversion of that Kingdom as was the helping us in the translation of such books With the Fathers he never discoursed of any thing but either of God or of our Sciences It was a knowâ— thing among us that when he saw us which he did many times a week the first thing he would ask was What book it was we were about translating and if he knew the subject how much we had already translated And I can speak it with truth that of fifty works which the Fathers have translated into the Chinesse tongue both of Divinitie other Sciences among which there are some which do consist of many Tomes there is hardly one which hath not passed through his hands he either correcting it himselfe or helping us to do it or revising and fitting it for a new impression or else reâ—ding it of more Authority with the addition of prologues and other compositions of his owne He had an unspeakable pleasure in those works neither could â—e have a greater Present sent him than one of our books newly printed in the Chinesse language From hence there grew in him a great 〈◊〉 iâ—satible desire wherein he seemed to consume himselfe which was to have many Fathers come into China and it was so vehement in him that it made him fall into complaints against our Superiours saying They did not understand because they could not see with their eyes the importance of that businesse that therefore they did not supply that want so much as was necessary One day falling into a great heat upon this subject the Father with whom he discoursed mildely replied Sir we thank you for your zeale and do acknowledge the favour you shew us in complaining on this manner but our Superiours have many places to succour and supply and it is not possible for them to do it to the satisfaction of all To which he replied very gracefully Your Reverence doth reprove me for daring to murmure against our Fathers and Superiours but it is not so but only I say That I should be very glad to have the opportunity to speak in person with our Reverend Father Generall in these very tearmes he spake it in the Chinesse tongue and when ever he mentioned the Superiours of the Company he alwaies called them Our Fathers and Superiours because I would very earnestly desire of him that he would be