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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52346	An embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham, Emperor of China deliver'd by their excellencies, Peter de Goyer and Jacob de Keyzer, at his imperial city of Peking : wherein the cities, towns, villages, ports, rivers, &c. in their passages from Canton to Peking are ingeniously describ'd / by Mr. John Nieuhoff ... ; also an epistle of Father John Adams their antagonist, concerning the whole negotiation ; with an appendix of several remarks taken out of Father Athanasius Kircher ; English'd, and set forth with their several sculptures, by John Ogilby Esq. ...; Gezantschap der Neerlandtsche Oost-Indische Compagnie aan den grooten Tartarischen Cham, den tegenwoordigen keizer van China. English	Nieuhof, Johannes, 1618-1672.; Goyer, Pieter de.; Keizer, Jacob de.; Kircher, Athanasius, 1602-1680. China monumentis. Selections. English.; Ogilby, John, 1600-1676.; Schall von Bell, Johann Adam, 1592?-1666.; Nederlandsche Oost-Indische Compagnie.	1673 (1673)	Wing N1153; ESTC R3880	438,428	416

that is India or Syria in Xensi a Northern Kingdom of the Chineses the Royal Family of Tam then Reigning Anno 639. as the Monument that was found avoucheth where relating the Preachers of the Faith of Christ at that time amongst the Chineses it mentioneth not St. Thomas or any other Apostle which yet if Insculp'd would have been of considerable moment unto their purpose who erected the Stone viz. That the Preachers of the Faith then again Preach'd the same Law that St. Thomas or some other Apostle had before Preach'd amongst the Chineses Moreover it is evident That those Preachers of Tacyu had no knowledge of St. Thomas or any other Apostles Preaching the Law of Christ unto the Chineses and a Conjecture may be made that peradventure neither St. Thomas nor any other Apostle introduc'd the Gospel amongst them And that I may speak most moderately nothing can be certainly deduc'd or drawn concerning this Matter from the Footsteps here found and the Passages before alledg'd are only able to prove That those Priests were sent from the Church of St. Thomas or Babylon which then Govern'd the Malabran Chuch De Serra belonging unto the Christians of St. Thomas as the Portuguese afterwards found to erect an Episcopal Seat and to introduce the Faith amongst the People of China seeing this is testifi'd by the ancient Syrian Language call'd Estrangelo which is now retain'd in that Church and was in former Times in use in Babylon and Syria And as for the Orations compos'd in praise of St. Thomas the Apostle from them we may only conjecture that by the Merits of St. Thomas and his Church the Priests perchance introduc'd first of all the Faith which they had receiv'd from St. Thomas amongst the Chineses and therefore deservedly their Conversion ought to be attributed unto St. Thomas Wherefore seeing there is no mention of St. Thomas to be found in the Paths of the Faith Preached hitherto discover'd we cannot positively assert That St. Thomas or any other Apostle Preach'd the Gospel unto the Chineses but I rather think that many Ages after the Christians of Prester-Iohn's Country whose Emperor Paulus Venetus calleth Usan Can who are term'd The Worshippers of the Cross were those that entred into China either with the Tartars or a little before for those from India or rather from the Syrian Chaldea or those of Malabar as they are far more ancient than the Tartar-Christians so would they have call'd their Disciples that were Followers of a more clear Doctrine Kin Kiao but I believe those Preachers came not out of India for the Syrian Language and Names testifie them to be Syrians and they term'd themselves Iews or of India by reason they Preach'd that Law or Doctrine which had its Original from India But from what Place those Syrian Priests came as also their Syrian Subscriptions these I say we leave to the industrious Disquisitions of the Reverend Father Athanasius Kircher a Person highly meriting of all Antiquity which that he may accomplish with the greater fidelity and solidity we have presented him the same Writing transcrib'd in the Chinese out of the Book by the sole pains and industry of Don Chin Andreas a Noble Chinesian Youth the inseparable Companion of my Voyage to Rome to the Apostolick See which Book was Imprinted and divulg'd throughout the whole Empire by the Chinese Doctors Men of great Fidelity and Authority with my Latin Translation rendred word for word and I have laid up the Book that is altogether consonant to the original Monument in the Study of the same Father together with an Attestation of the Fact by the Subscription of my own Hand and the Hands of those that were Natives of China Eye-witnesses of the Monument as also the Transcribers of this Table from the Original Rome Novemb. 4. Anno 1653. Father Michael Boim Andreas Don Chin a Chinese Matthew a Chinese A Paraphrastical Declaration of a Chinese Inscription Translated word for word out of the Chinese Language into the Portuguese out of that into Italian and from the Italian into the Latin Tongue The Declaration of Xiu Piu or as the Commentator hath it made by a Priest of the Kingdom of Iudea who was call'd Kim Lim. 1. THis therefore I say That he who was always True and Undisturb'd being without any Beginning of a most profound Intellect and eternal Essence by his most excellent Power out of Nothing created All things and by his Divine Wisdom made the Saints This is that Divine Essence Three in Person but One in Substance our Lord who being certainly Infallible without Beginning Olo o yu which in the Chaldee signifies the same with Eloba made the four Parts of the World in form of a Cross gathering together the Chaos He form'd two Kis that is two Virtues or Qualities call'd Inyam the Commentator names them Two Principles chang'd the Abyss that is he took away the Darkness and the Heaven and the Earth appear'd He form'd the Sun and Moon that by their continual Motions they should distinguish the Night and Day He set together and built all things But when he created the first Man besides his Being he endow'd him with Original Righteousness appointing him Lord of the whole Universe which at first of his own Nature was empty and vile fill'd with himself of a plain and equal Understanding and having no mixture of any inordinate Appetite 2. But afterwards by cunning Deceits the Devil brought it to pass that Adam infected whatever was before naturally and in its self Pure and Perfect that is he was the cause of sowing the Seeds of Malice that general Disturber of the Peace in his Heart whereby the equal Temper of his Uprightness was alter'd and Discord fraudulently introduc'd From whence in process of time three hundred and sixty five Sects sprung up one after another each of which drew to themselves as many as they could delude some worshipping the Creature in stead of the Creator others made an empty Principle of all things and a real Ens to this alludes the Sect of the Pagodi and Learned Chineses because they assert That the Principle which produc'd all things was void That the same is to them subtile and undiscernable to the Senses although in it self it be a real and positive Principle But others say That the Principle of things is not only real and positive but that it was of such a Figure and Corpulency as might easily be comprehended by Sense Some did seek Happiness by Sacrifices others took a pride to deceive Men under the specious shew of Goodness using all their Skill and Industry therein making all their Diligence and Intentions subservient to their Affections But in vain and without any profit did they labor still making their progress from bad to worse as it happens to those that would strike Fire out of an Earthen Vessel they add Darkness to Darkness and so indeed once leaving the true Path they can never return to the

Stone it self to the Eye of the whole World in the Chinesian Idiome as it was Sculp'd in the Year of Christ 782. that from this most ancient Testimony every one may conjecture how true the Doctrine of the Catholicks is seeing the same was Preach'd in an opposite Quarter of the World amongst the Chineses Anno 636. of our Saviour that is about a thousand years since The Chinesian Original of the Stone is now conserv'd in the Library of the Roman Colledge that belongeth to the Fathers of the Society of Iesus and another Copy is to be seen in the Repository of the House of the Profession I my self also obtain'd from the most Grave Chinese Doctors and Masters at the very time that the Monument was found a Book Printed in the Chinese Language in which the Writing of the Stone was most truly and exactly express'd according to the true Original They advise the Chineses in the larger Preface adjoin'd to the Book that at length they would have recourse to the Masters of the great Occident for so they term the Fathers of the Society of Iesus and discover whether they Preach the same Law amongst the Chineses which their Ancestors with so many Emperors embrac'd a thousand Centuries ago and which the Fathers of the Society of Iesus exhibited in the Books Printed in the Chinese Language before the Stone was found Now it only remaineth that I should declare how this Marble Table was detected When after the Death of St. Francis Xavier the venerable Father Matthew Riccius and other Fathers of the Society of Iesus had introduc'd the Gospel of Christ into the more Inland Parts of China and had erected Residences and Churches in some Provinces and therefore the Propagation of the Holy Faith had made no small progress in that of Xensi Anno 1625. one of the Fathers of the same Society invited by Doctor Philip having Baptiz'd twenty Persons in his native Country of Sanyven he went with the same Doctor to see a Stone which they had found some Months before in the Village Chenche near the Metropolis Siganfu whilst they were casting up the Rubbish for the building of a Wall This Father writes which other Fathers who had fix'd their Abode and erected a Church in Siganfu with the Christians and Heathens also affirm'd That a Stone was found five Hands broad one thick and nine long the top whereof made like an oblong Pyramid of two Hands and one broad on the Vertex the Cross was Engraven above the Clouds that with its Branches seem'd to imitate the Flower-Deluce besides the Chinesian Inscription on the left side and beneath there appear'd the Names of the Syrian Priests and also other Chinesian Names of the same Priests under-written It is the Custom of the Chineses to have many Names whence also the Christians at this Day retain both the Name of the Saints they receiv'd in Baptism and another Chinese Name The Governor of the Place being certifi'd of the finding of this Monument commanded an elegant Composition to be made in praise of it and to be Engraven on such another like Marble Stone causing both of them to be plac'd in the Fane or Temple of the Bonzi that are call'd Tan Su a Mile distant from the Walls of the Metropolis Siganfu as a perpetual remembrance of the same Many other Footsteps of the Catholick Faith Preach'd to the Chineses were discover'd in the following Years which God seemeth not willing to have manifested but only at that very time in which the Preaching of the same Faith arriv'd amongst the Chineses by the Labor of the Fathers of our Society that so both the old and new Testimonies might affect the identity of the Catholick Faith and the truth of the Gospel might be rendred perspicuous and manifest unto all The like Images of the Holy Cross were seen in the Province of Fokien in the Year 1630. In the Province of Kiangsi also a miraculous Light shone forth Anno 1635. which was beheld by the Gentiles and also in the Mountains of Fokien and in the City Cyvencheu 1643. Crosses were found yea the venerable Father Martin Riccius when first he came into China found Xe tsu Kiao to be a Name signifying The Doctrine of the Crosses by which the Christians anciently that were Disciples of that Doctrine of the Cross were nam'd and I doubt not but all that were Christians in the Kingdoms of China when the Tartars about three hundred years past first invaded China and that they liv'd there mix'd with Sarazens Iews Nestorians and Gentiles that is to say in the Time of Marcus Paulus Venetus who travell'd unto Catay which is the very same with that we now call China And now whether St. Thomas or any other Apostle first Preach'd the Gospel to the Chineses is not yet certainly known Father Nicholas Trigautius collecteth from some ancient Testimonies of the Christians of the Church of Malabar in the Arch-bishoprick of Cranganor or De Serra which are termed The Christians of St. Thomas That in that Place as also in Meliapor which formerly was call'd Calamina and now by the Portuguese San Thome the holy Apostle Preach'd by reason that out of their Gaza or Treasury in the Office of St. Thomas is recited or rehearsed That by St. Thomas the Chineses and Ethiopians were Converted to the Truth by St. Thomas the Kingdom of Heaven took its flight and ascended to the Chineses And in the Antiphono the Ethiopians Indians Chineses and Persians in commemoration of St. Thomas Offer up Adoration unto his holy Name Also in an ancient Synodical Canon the Bishops of the great Province viz. those other Metropolitans of China India and Pases do send their Letters of Consent Add withal That he that Govern'd the Church De Serra at the coming of the Portuguese subscrib'd himself Metropolitan of all India and China But in truth things being more narrowly consider'd from those Circumstances and Footsteps which began to be manifest after the time of Father Trigautius we cannot certainly conclude that St. Thomas the Apostle Preach'd the Gospel himself amongst the Chineses for although these Footsteps of the Faith of Christ here found do evidently shew That the Christian Belief hath been in China yet notwithstanding those very Paths or Tracts do demonstrate that the Faith had its entrance into China when the Family of Heuhan Rul'd over three Kingdoms which are now united in Nanking the third Province of the Empire viz. in the Province of Kiangsi at the Shore of the River for Antron-Cross seems by its Inscription to have been fix'd according to the Chinesian Computation about the Year of Christ 239. which Cross weigh'd about three thousand weight whence the Faith and the Preachers of the same are certainly evinc'd to have come amongst the Southern Chineses about a thousand four hundred and fifteen years ago But in some years following the Knowledge of the Gospel being extinguish'd it was again renew'd by Priests out of Tacyu

certain mode of a Trinity in which they feign three Gods at length to co-unite into one Deity Of this also the Spanish Epistles make mention in these words They had notice of the Gospel because in the Province of Peking amongst other Idols there is the Figure of a Man which hath three Heads and they look one towards the other and the Chineses say That it signifies that all three of them have but one Will and Desire And a little after he saith There is another Image of the Figure of a Woman with a Child in her Arms. Father Martin Martinius reporteth That he hath seen in many Images the Prints or Footsteps of the Christian Faith in the Province of Fokien And he also asserteth That he beheld ancient Crosses and the Image of the Blessed Virgin embracing her Son which are now to be seen in our Church Now we may piously suppose these to be the Relicks of St. Thomas the Apostle or of some later Propagators of the Gospel and it is more probable that Idols had their original from the Persians Medes and the Indian Philosophers Heirs of the Egyptians amongst whom it was a peculiar Property to make many Statues to signifie the Effects of one thing They continually shave their Heads that give themselves up unto Contemplation on Mountains and in Caves Their Temples are so full of Idols made of Brass Marble Wood and Clay that you would take them of Egyptian Chappels The third Opinion of the Prophane Religion call'd Lanzu answereth to the Plebeians and Egyptian Magicians and had its original from a certain Philosopher who flourish'd at the same time with Confutius they feign that his Mother bare him eighty years in her Womb wherefore he was call'd Lanzu that is The Old Philosopher This Opinion promiseth Paradise unto those that are made up of Soul and Body and they hang up in their Temple the Effigies of certain Persons whom they fable to have soar'd up unto the Heavens they prescribe Methods of Exercises to attain the same which consist in v●rious Rites and certain Prayers also in Potions by which and with the favor of the Gods they promise a long Life It is the peculiar Office of the Priests of this Sect by impious Prayers to Exorcise Devils out of Houses which they attempt by affixing on the Walls the horrid shapes of Daemons delineated with Black on yellow Paper then they fill the Houses with such strange Cries that themselves seem to be Furies They also promise to fetch down Showers in a Drought to stop great Rains and to avert Private or Publick Misfortunes And these are the three chief Heads of the Opinions of these Idolaters but the subtlety of these Masters have wrought them into so many Meanders that they seem scarcely to be numbred and the incredible number of Images sufficiently shew the same which they do not only expose often to be ador'd in their Temples but also in each private Dwelling a Place is deputed for them and in the Market the Streets their Ships and Palaces they are first obvious to the sight wherein they imitate the Egyptians who were infamous for all sorts of Idols But to clear this First as the Egyptians and Grecians believ'd certain Deities to preside over the Universe so unto these do the Chineses build mystical Temples these they after the manner of the Egyptians pacifie and attract with various Rites and Ceremonies The second Argument that the Religion of the Chineses was borrow'd or deriv'd from the Egyptians is so manifest that no Person can in the least doubt or question the same and it is this That unto this very Day there are found Temples Dedicated unto Mars Venus Fortune Peace the Oreades or Nymphs of the Mountains and other Gods common both to the Grecians and Egyptians as the Ichnography of the Metropolitan City of Nanking in China no less elegantly than exactly Imprinted on Chinesian Silk by our Fathers and sent from China to Rome some years since will sufficiently prove which I have here adjoin'd as I Copied it with great fidelity to demonstrate the great Affinity that there was between the Chinesian Grecian and Egyptian Religions The Temples of the Chinesian Gods THE Temple of the Dragon of the Sea or Typhon The Temple of the Queen of Heaven Dedicated to the Moon The Temple Dedicated to Heaven The Temple Dedicated to Daemons and Spirits The Temple Dedicated to Mountains and Rivers that is to the Oreades and Nereiades The Temple of a Grateful Mind The Temple Dedicated to the Planet Mars The Temple Dedicated to the President of the Walls The Temple Dedicated to Good Peace The Temple Dedicated to the Spirit of Medicine Aesculapius or Apollo The Temple Dedicated to the President of the Woods or Diana The Altar of Heaven The Altar of the Earth Ceres The Altar of the God of Rain The Altar of the King of Birds These are so agreeable to the Grecian and Egyptian Deities that all their Idolatry seemeth to have made a Voyage thence into China The third Argument is That besides their Letters in which they come very near the Hieroglyphicks of the Egyptians as I have shew'd in the second Part of my Oedipus they have the same Ceremonies 'T is receiv'd for Truth on all hands That the Egyptians always ador'd the Figures of the Pyramids with a certain Divine Honor the Tracts of which sort of Worship continue in China for they have also Pyramids which they call Chinees and hold them in so great Veneration that no Person dares undertake any thing till such time as he hath perform'd his Devotion there I shall alledge Petrus Iarricus as a Witness of this Matter who in the fifth Book of his Indian History publish'd in French Chap. 51. speaking of them hath these words following Besides these Wooden Idols there are others which they call Chinees made for Workmanship in the fashion of Pyramids within which there is a certain kind of white Ants or Emmets which discover not themselves without but have their little Cabbins or Lodges within so that none know from whence they receive their nourishment The Idolaters stand much in fear of these Chinees insomuch that when they buy a Slave they first bring him before some one of these Pyramids with a Wine-Offering or other things which they Present unto it supplicating the Idol that if he should run away he would cause the Serpents Lizards and Tygers to kill and devour him whereupon the poor Slaves are so fearful that although they are ill us'd by their Masters yet do they never presume to forsake them From which it is apparent that the Chineses borrow'd all these Fopperies from the Egyptians Persians and others who as I have shewn in my Oedipus worshipp'd a Stone or Rock terminated in a Cone or a Pyramid in stead of a Deity but for the Novizonian Pyramids hear Father Martinius who in his Atlas fol. 57. thus describeth them In the Province of Foquien saith he are

Way of Life 3. Then one of the Divine Persons of the most Holy Trinity call'd the Messias by contracting and hiding his Majesty and accommodating himself to Humane Nature was made Man Wherefore for the declaring these joyful Tidings he selected an Angel and was born of a Virgin in Iudea A great Star also proclaim'd this Felicity so that Kings seeing its brightness came and offer'd Presents that the Law and Prophesies of the twenty four Prophets might be fulfill'd He Govern'd the World by one great Law founded the Divine and Spiritual Law without any thundring Words and confirm'd it with the Seal of a true Faith He pronounc'd the eight Beatitudes turn'd Mundane things into Eternal open'd the Gate of the three Theological Virtues and gave Life by destroying Death He descended into Hell in Person and brought Confusion to the Devil and his Angels He wafted Good Men to Heaven in the Ship of his Piety and gave Salvation to the Souls of the Iust. These things finish'd about Noon by his wonderful Power he ascended into Heaven leaving twenty seven Tomes or Volumes of his Doctrine to open a Way for the Conversion of the World He Instituted Baptism by Water and the Spirit for the washing away of Sins and cleansing the World He made use of the Cross that he might take in all without exception stirring up all by the voice of Charity commanding to worship towards the East that they might proceed in the Way of a Glorious Life 4. His Ministers or Priests for outward Ornament sake nourish their Beards but shave the Crowns of their Heads that they may shew they are inwardly inclin'd to no Evil They use no Servants In Prosperity and Adversity they shew wonderful Humility making themselves equal to the meanest They heap not up Riches but make them all common They observe Fasts as well for mortification of their Passions as observation of the Divine Precepts They bear all awful Reverence to their Superiors who are equally as themselves retir'd from the World Seven times a day they Pray as well for the Living as the Dead and one Day in seven they keep Holy to purge their Souls from Sin and restore them to Purity And because this infallible and well-grounded Law is so excellent it is a very difficult thing to appropriate to it a congruous Name for the Effects of it are to illuminate and find out all things with the clearest perspicacity whereupon as necessary it was intitled Kim kiao that is The Great and Perspicuous Law 5. The Law where there are no Royal Persons is neither extended nor dilated yet Persons Royal without the Law are not worthy of Esteem The Law therefore and Princes concording and as it were meeting in one forthwith the World is illuminated In this famous Time a King nam'd Tai cum veu huamti with singular Prudence and Sanctity Governing China there came out of Iudea a Man of very great Virtue stil'd Olo puen who brought as it were from the Clouds this true Doctrine And driven by the Winds by the help of Hydrographical Maps having sustain'd many Dangers and much Labor at length in the Year Chin quon jeu sie that is 636. he arriv'd at the King's Palace When the King heard thereof he commanded the famous Colao call'd Fam Kien Lym that he should ride to meet this new Guest towards the West that is towards the Suburbs of the City and should bring him to the Palace with all Kindness and Respect then he directed him to declare his Doctrine there when at once he search'd out the Truth of the Law whereof being satisfi'd he seriously commanded the same to be Preach'd and Publish'd with Efficacy and Reverence through his whole Kingdom And in the Year 12 Cin quon 7 which is 636. he wrote back in this manner The tenour of the Promulgation is as follows The true Law hath no determinate Name nor have the Saints any limited Place where they remain they run to all Parts that they may instruct the World being intent with might and main to do good and succour the afflicted People Out of the far distant and remote Kingdom of Tancin or Iudea Olo puen a Man of most eminent Virtue brought and presented his Doctrine and certain Images to our Princely Palace Whose Intentions to instruct us we having examin'd to the bottom do find his Doctrine most excellent without any exterior clamour and taking its original from the Creation of the World This Doctrine consists not in multitude of Words nor doth it lie only in a superficial Foundation for Truth but brings Profit and Salvation to Mankind Wherefore it is meet that it be divulg'd through our whole Empire He commanded also the Mandorin call'd Nim Fam to build a large Church and to officiate therein The Author Kim Lim praises this King for enervating the Strength of the Monarchy of Cheu Olad iu that is the Head of the Sect Stai iu or Tansu He departed in a black Chariot towards the West that is out of China But where the Great Tam is made famous with Tao the Holy Gospel is brought into China A little after the King caus'd the Effigies of the same Olo puen who as we said first Preached here the Gospel carefully and exactly to be Painted and so to be fastned to the Wall This most excellent Figure shines at the Gates of the Church and his Memory will always be refulgent in the World 6. According to Geographers who mention those Western Parts and by the Historians of the Kingdoms of Han and Guei the Kingdom of Tancin that is Iudea on the South is bounded by the Red-sea on the North it hath the Mountains of Pearls on the West Boco das fullas which what it is is hard to conjecture but I guess it to be Carmel bounds it lastly on the East it borders on this Place Ciam fam and The Dead Water This Land casts forth Ashes yet hot with Fire perhaps he means the Asphaltick Lake produces Balsamum little Gems and Carbuncles by which he seems to mean Egypt with the Coast of the Red-sea where the things aforesaid are found There are neither Thieves nor Murderers but the People live in Peace and Quietness They admit of no Religion into the Kingdom but the Gospel nor do they confer any Dignities but on Persons meriting the same by Virtue Their Buildings are very large In a word the Kingdom is famous for Poetry Order and good Manners 7. Docao or Caozum Cum the Son of Tai cum came to the Government in the Year of our Lord 651. Our Author Kim Lim speaks thus of him Cao vim otherwise Caozum a very great Prince not at all degenerating from the Virtues of his Grandfather was pleas'd with Honor to continue his good Intent and also to improve whatever his Father had begun He commanded Churches to be built in all Provinces at the same time also enobling Olo puen with the Title of Bishop of the Great

Law which Governs the Kingdom of China Hereupon the Law of God was promulgated through all the ten Provinces of China the Kingdom enjoy'd a flourishing Peace all the Cities were fill'd with Churches and the People prosper'd under the Evangelical Felicity 8. In this Year call'd Ximlie which is all one with The Year of our Lord 699. the Bonzii Followers of the Pagods making use of their Strength with a huge clamour aloud blasphem'd our holy Law in the Place which is call'd Tum Cieu in the Province of Honan and in the end of another Year call'd Sien tien which answers to the Year of our Lord 713. certain private Men in Sieno the ancient Place of Venvam the Commentator will have it to be Siganfu in the Province of Xensi were so audacious as to rail against our holy Law with Mocks Flouts and opprobrious Language 9. At this time there was one of the Chief Priests a Bishop as it should seem by Name Iohn and another Man of great Virtue and Eminency by Name Kie Lie with other Nobles and Persons belonging to them no less honor'd for their Fame than respected for their contempt of worldly Affairs who began again to revive and Preach their most excellent Gospel and to tie together those Threds which by the malice of the Devil had been broken And the King Hiuen cum chi tao who began his Reign in the Year 719. commanded five of his Principal Officers that they should go in Person into that Happy House meaning the Church and erect Altars Then the Pillar of the Law which for a short time had been laid groveling began anew to rise and flourish In the beginning of the Year Tien pao being the Year of our Lord 743. King Ota Ciam Kuen gave strict Command to Cuolie fie an Eunuch in extraordinary Favor and Power with him that he should carry the true Effigies of the five Kings his Predecessors and Grandfathers and place them in the Church whither also he should send an hundred Measures of Precious things for celebrating the Solemnity the Author Kim Lim saith in honor of the said Kings 10. In the third Year Tien pao being the Year of our Lord 745. there was in Iudea others say India one Kieho a Priest who was conducted into China by the help of the Stars and looking upon the Sun this was a Ceremony of those who are admitted to speak with our Emperor he was forthwith brought into his Presence But the Emperor Commanded that the Priests Iohn and Paul with others of that Profession and the so eminently virtuous Person Kieho should betake themselves to the Palace Him Kim to worship and perform other holy Acts of Devotion At this time his Royal Grants were kept in Tables in the Church according to order richly adorn'd and glittering with red and blue and the empty space was fill'd with the Royal Plume ascending and reaching even to the Sun His Favors and Donations are compar'd to the heighth of the Mountains of the South and the abundance of his Benefits equal to the depth of the East Sea Reason cannot but well like a thing so approv'd and worthy to be remembred Therefore the King Sa Cum nen men or Ven min who began to Reign in the Year 757. commanded Churches to be built in Lim suu seu and five other Cities by a new Proclamation This King was of a most acute Ingenuity under whom a Gate of Happiness was open'd to the whole Kingdom and hereby all the Royal Affairs of State were Administred and prosper'd with applause rejoycing and felicity 11. The King Tai cum nen vu coming to the Throne in 764. and enjoying the benefit of good Times manag'd all the Affairs of the Kingdom without any difficulty At the Feast of Christ's Birth every Year he sent certain excel-cellent Perfumes in a thankful remembrance and assign'd Princely Provision of all kinds in honor of the Ministers of that holy Law Surely the Heaven gives beauty and perfection to the World which therefore produceth all things with so liberal a Hand This King imitated Heaven and therefore knew it was fit to nourish and preserve his own 12. The King Kien cium xim ven vu in the Year 781. us'd eight ways of rewarding the Good and chastising the Bad. He set forth new Orders for restoring and promoting the Gospel His Government was full of Excellency We Pray to God for him not blushing thereat He was eminent for Virtue Peaceable and Learned He lov'd his Neighbor abounded with Charity to help all and was a great Benefactor to all then living This is the true Way and the Scale of our holy Law to cause that the Winds and the Rain return at their wonted Seasons that the World be quiet Men well Govern'd Affairs orderly dispos'd such as yet are on Earth live well and those that are deceased enjoy Rest and Peace To have these things in readiness and be able to give an Account thereof proceeds really from our holy Faith and are Effects of the Strength and Power of our most sacred Gospel 13. The King gave to the Priest call'd Usa and one of the Chief Preachers of the Law these Titles Kin ju quam lo tai fu being an Office in the Court and Sou fum cie tu fu lei being an Office without the Court and Xi tien thum Kien another Office also but the Explication thereof we have not found in the Exemplar He gave also to the said Priest and Preacher of the Great Law a Vestment of blue Colour which the Italians call di color pavonazo This Priest was inclin'd to Peace rejoyc'd to do good to others with all his Endeavors striving to do Acts of Charity He came into China from a remote Country and Place call'd Vam xi ciu chim being Heathenish which is the same as the far distant India He perfectly taught several Sciences and his Acts were famous through China for above three Generations At the beginning he waited upon the King in his Court and afterwards his Name was Entred in the King's Record or Chronicle 14. The Governor Fuen Yam call'd also Co cu y and enobled with the Title of Chum Xulim at first only minded his Military Affairs in the Parts of Sofam but the King So cum commanded Ay su or Y su that he should promote Co cuy with more favor than the rest it seems the King commanded Ay su to make him a Councellor for although his Captain lov'd him extraordinarily yet he did not like his ordinary method of proceeding for as the Chineses speak An Army is the Teeth and Nails the Eyes and Ears of the Commonwealth He knew how to distribute his Revenues and not hoard them up at home He offer'd to the Church a Precious thing call'd Poli made of Glass as it seems the People of this Place name it Cim reguen others Lintiguen Besides he bestow'd Tapestries of these Parts interwoven with Gold call'd Cie Ki repair'd the Churches in such manner

remain'd unexplain'd hitherto by reason of the want of Men in China that are vers'd in those Characters and for that very cause was sent into Europe by the Portuguese Fathers of our Society to be explicated by Persons skill'd in the Syrian Language I first of all undertook the Interpretation thereof and that with good success discharging the same with equal fidelity and diligence Now it is Engrav'd on the Margins of the Stone in the ancient Syriack Characters that are term'd Estrangelo and it containeth the Year the Names and Offices of those Apostolical Men and Promoters of the Divine Law that were then in China when the Stone was erected Father Emanuel Dias in a certain Letter written in the Portuguese Tongue Dated from Maccao August 23. 1625. taketh notice of this Stone and of the Inscriptions mention'd His words translated are these In the Province of Xensi in China where now Trigautius resideth a certain Stone of about twenty four Hands breath was digg'd up in which is manifestly apparent that above a thousand two hundred and forty three years since there were Christians with shaven Crowns that Preach'd the Mystery of the Trinity and Incarnation and that the Kings of China conferr'd many Favors on them Doctor Leo desir'd to have the whole Matter Printed first transcrib'd by the Mandorins that were Christians to shew all the Mysteries contain'd on the Stone that the same might more plainly appear At present we only endeavor that the Matter may come to the knowledge of the Emperor God prosper all to his own Glory Father Francis Hurtado from the Province of Nancheu also confirmeth this and addeth That in the same Year a Passage was open'd into the new Provinces of the Empire of China viz. Xensi Xansi Fohum which last is conterminate with Couchinchina and easily admitteth of Strangers And thus proceeding says Unto these were annexed ten or twelve Lines in Syriack which I could not Interpret also the Priviledges granted by the Kings of China to the Priests of that Law were adjoin'd The Version was made word for word out of the Chinese Language There were also other Translations but they all agree in the Essential Matters It is Recorded in the Books of the Kings of China that the Christian Faith arriv'd amongst the Chineses above 994 years since and that this Inscription was made 140 years after its entrance Thus Father Emanuel Dias But in other Letters of a more later Date from Maccao 21 Novemb. 1627. we find it thus written concerning this City Some years since there was found a very long and ancient Writing Engraven on a Stone in the Chines●● and Chaldean or Syrian Language from whence it is evident That the Law of our Lord and Saviour arriv'd amongst the Chineses about a thousand years since Anno Dom. 636. Now the Stone was erected and inscrib'd Anno 782. that is a hundred and forty six years after the Preaching of the Gospel there by which a great Conversion unto the Faith was wrought Churches were built and Bishops constituted The Kings that Govern'd at that time are reckon'd about eight whose Names are express'd in that Stone and who ●ll of them favor'd the Christians Now the Preachers of this Law came out of Palestine and other adjoining Places It containeth the chief Misteries of our Faith which are manifest from the Inscription All which are largely evident from the foremention'd Testimonies of Father Boim Martinius and Daniel Bartolus which were collected from the Study of the Colledge of our Society But I think it will be worth our time to produce this Syrian Inscription in the same Strangelick Characters in which it was express'd in China together with the Interpretation especially seeing the Fathers of our Society in China therefore sent it hither into Europe in a particular Folio Printed in China by the Masters of that Language for a better Explanation of it For this being Explain'd I hope it will so come to pass that both the Day the Names the Country and the Offices of the Preachers of the Divine Law and finally our Design will the more evidently be discover'd The Inscription of the Syriack Names is two-fold one of them Sculp'd on the Margin the other on the Foot of the Monument And because this latter containeth the Year of its Erection we shall begin the Thred of our Exposition from it The Syrian Inscription is as followeth Adam Kasiso Ucurapiscupo Upapasi di Zinstàn Bejume Abo dabohotho Mor Ha●an Iesua Kataliko Patriarchis Besanath alf utisaain utarten dia vanoie Mor libuzad Kasiso Ucurapiscupo de Cumdan medinah malcutho bar nihh napso Milis Kasiso dm● Balehh Medintho Tahhurstan Akim Lucho hono Papa dicta bou beh medaharna●ho dpharukan Ucaruzuthon dabhain daluat malche dizinio Adam Meschamschono Bar Iidbuzad Curaphiscopo Mar Sargis Kasiso Ucurapiscupo Sarnischua Kasiso Gabriel Kasiso Varcodia cun Urisch ahito de Cumbdan u Dasrag This the Explication of it Adam Priest or Presbyter and Archbishop and Pope of Zindostan or the Region of China where note that Stan in the Indian Language signifieth A Region whence are deriv'd Indostan Turkistan or Turchestan and the like Names that signifie the same even as the following German Names Friesland and Franckeland signifie the Regions of Frisia and Francovia and other innumerable words of the like kind all which are compounded of the German word Land which as the Indian word Stan is the proper Name of a Region or Place Which I though fit here to alledge that the Reader might not be ignorant why China is call'd Zindostan in the Days of the Father of Fathers the Lord Hanan Iesua or Iohn Iosue Catholick Patriarch you must understand either the Patriarch of Alexandria or of Antioch or of Babylon who are properly call'd Universal or Catholick Patriarchs in the Year 1092. according to the Grecian Compute The Lord Iidbuzad Priest and Vicar-Bishop of Cumdan City of the Kingdom so they phrase the Metropolis Son of Milis Peace be to his Soul Priest of Belehh a City of Tahurstan you must read Turchestan Pope so they term the Chief in any Ecclesiastical Order erected this Table and the Administration or Government of our Savionr is Inscrib'd in it and also the Preaching of our Fathers who resided with the Kings of China Adam the Deacon Son of Iidbuzad Episcopal Vicar Mar Sargis Presbyter and Episcopal Vicar Sarnischua Presbyter Gabriel Presbyter and Archdeacon Head of the Churches of Cumdan and Dasrag And these are found in the Folio Printed in China which are also seen Insc●lp'd on the Stone But before I proceed any farther I must clear one Difficulty which occurreth about the Year of the Erection of this Stone for the Year of this Stone in the Chinesian Inscription is found so different from that of the Syriack that not a few Persons being perplex'd with the diversity alledg'd their Doubts unto me concerning the true and faithful Interpretation of the Monument for the Portuguese Version out of

Strangers as understood not the year of Christ might here find that of Alexander which extended farth●r and with which perhaps they might be better acquainted From hence it is also manifest that the Syrian or Chaldean Tongue in those Times was common to the Churches of Syria Palestine Egypt and Babylon yea peculiar to them in Christ's time so that it is no wonder that the Gospel of Christ immediately after the Travels of the Apostles throughout the whole World was carried not only into the most remote Regions of the East but also into the adjacent Regions of Babylon Egypt and Ethiopia where as if in the native Birth-places of the Church the Syrian or Chaldean Tongue took such root that it was thereby spread throughout all the Coasts of India as I have said before and the utmost Regions of China But of this more in the following Discourses OF THE VARIOUS Voyages and Travels UNDERTAKEN INTO CHINA PART II. CHAP. I. By whom and by what means the Holy Gospel of Christ was at divers times introduc'd into the uttermost Regions of the East into India Tartaria China and other Countries of Asia SEeing that at this very Day in India China and other Regions of Asia there are yet remaining frequent footsteps of the Christian Religion as I have shew'n even now I think it will be worth while if having Explain'd the Syro-Chaldean Monument found in China I now give a brief Account by what way and occasion these Apostolical Persons penetrated into those most remote Quarters of the World for having accomplish'd this it will clearly appear that at all times Syria Egypt and Grecia have been a Seminary not only of promoting the Christian Religion in the far distant Regions but also before the coming of Christ they were the Propagators of all Superstition throughout the World And that I may proceed with the more clearness in a Matter so abstruse I shall first here set down the Opinions of some concerning them so that those things being discussed it may more evidently appear what ought to be resolv'd concerning the Matter propos'd First therefore there are some Persons who assert That these Colonies of the Christians first of all entred China and the other Regions of Asia by the assistance of that great Asiatick Emperor usually term'd Presbyter Iohn But then again seeing that this is a great Controversie amongst Authors concerning this Emperor and the Situation Quality and Condition of his Kingdom or Empire I shall in the first place alledge something concerning this Prince and his Dominions for the more clear Explication of the Matter or Subject albeit I have already treated of the same in my Prodromus Coptus Who was that famous Presbyter Iohn and whether there ever were such an Emmperor NOw therefore as the Kings of Egypt were at first call'd Pharaohs and afterwards Ptolemyes those of Mauritania Seriphii those of the Persians formerly Xerxes Artaxerxes and now Sophi so the Name of Presbyter Iohn hath now for a long time denoted the Dignity of some Christian Prince whose Dominions are plac'd by consent of the most knowing Persons not amongst the Ethiopians or in any part of Africa as some falsly suppose but in the Continent of Asia yet in what Place he Rul'd is not exactly known Now some Writers affirming that they were the Kings of Cathay have thereby rendred the Matter more doubtful seeing it hath been discover'd in these latter Years that all Cathay belongeth unto China and that there is no City or Territory call'd by this Name that is now found without the Bounds of China And in this all the Fathers of our Society who have continu'd in China for many years do agree who are Persons very well skill'd in Geographical Knowledge as Matthew Riccius Nicholas Trigautius Alvarus Samedus Michael Boi● Martin Martinius Iohn Gruberus and Iohn Adams that great Mandorin of the Kingdom of China and lastly Benedict Goes of the same Society who by order from his Superiors travell'd from the Kingdom of Magor purposely to find out Cathay by a Land-Voyage I believe that it is not far wide of the Truth that besides that portion of Land which by the Name of Cathay was found by the Fathers of our Society within the Limits of China there is another Quarter of the World much larger conterminate on the North and West unto the Empire of China But seeing that all that Region without the Walls of China is a Desart almost of two Months travel incultivated and destitute of Inhabitants it is probable that the Region of China in latter Times as being very much manur'd and abounding in all things might properly be call'd Cathay And that the Desart at this day call'd Kalmuk and the Regions confining on it without the Walls in former Ages had the Name of Cathay the Desart in the adjoining Kingdoms of which that same Presbyter Iohn of whom even now we treated Rul'd in the days of our Ancestors Marcus Paulus Venetus termeth it The Empire of the Great Cham the Holy Scriptures as Arias Montanus will have it Gog and Magog concerning which thus writeth Sybilla Heu tibi Gogque Magogque aliisque ex ordine cunctis Marson atque Angon tibi quot mala fata propinquant Now that this is the Scythian Cathay is shew'd by the Arabick Geographer throughout the four entire last Climates where he describeth it to abound in Men Animals and Minerals flourishing with Christians meer'd and inclos'd with the vast extended Skirts of Caucasus call'd Iagog and Magog Thus the Arabian Geographer in his ninth Part Climate 5. Line 21. his words are to this effect as I have translated them out of the Arabick From the Mansion Gerrada to the City Tahamet on the South Quarter are four Leucae whereof one maketh twenty five Miles from the City Geerada even unto the Mountain which is call'd Caucasus is seven days travel And this Mountain encompasseth the Regions of Iagog and Magog It hath such craggy and difficult sides that none can ascend it and if any one doth attempt it he can never arrive at the top being obstructed by continual Snows congeal'd into Ice which because they are never dissolv'd represent the similude of a Mist or thick Cloud perpetually fix'd on the top of the mountainous Caucasian Rocks On the other side the Mountain are many Cities of Iagog and Magog And it often hapneth that the Inhabitants of this Region out of a certain curiosity ascend some part of it to discover what is on the top of the Mountain and what is beyond but many never return either ●ecause they are devour'd by wild Beasts or taken by the Transmountainers but some that have return'd safe relate That in the Region on the other side of the Mountain in the Night are many Fires but in the Day nothing else but a thick Cloud mix'd with Darkness is discover'd Also in the seventh Part of the same Climate Line 34. he adds In these Regions many Christians or Nazaraeans do

South there are innumerable Islands of the Sea In which words he so describeth Cathay or China that he differeth in nothing from the modern Situation the Customs of the Nations and other things proper unto China CHAP. VI. Of the Introduction of the Christian Faith into the foremention'd Kingdoms of Tartary and Cathay by the now alledg'd Voyages SEeing that in all the foremention'd Voyages we at all times meet with the mention of the Christians the Reader ought not to doubt but that the Evangelical Doctrine of the Christian Law hath been introduc'd into the utmost Kingdoms of the East from the very first Times of the Primitive Church either by the Apostles themselves or by their Disciples or their Successors in the Apostolical Function which that it may appear more plainly I am resolv'd to treat of the Apostolical Expeditions of all Ages into these Kingdoms and although I have in the former Part of this Book treated of the Expedition of St. Thomas into India and the neighboring Kingdoms yet I shall here demonstrate how by the Assistance and Labors of St. Thomas as also of St. Philip Bartholomew Thadeus and other Apostles the Holy Gospel was propagated in the Kingdom of the Mediterranean India to the utmost Bounds of Tartary Which whilst I perform I must acknowldge that I receiv'd no small Light from the excellent Father Henry Rho who hath travell'd almost throughout all India for being sent from Goa into the Kingdom of the Mogu● to Dalcan which is now call'd The Kingdom of Visiapour having pass'd over the Mountain Gati he came to Golconda and thence into Montipur and thence by a direct Voyage to Bengala and the Kingdom of Decanum and from hence in a straight Path to the Court of the Mogor in the City of Agra What Rarities and Curiosities he observ'd in so great a Voyage he will publish to the World in due time in his itinerary Discoursing concerning the Kingdom of Narsinga and those so celebrated Relicks of St. Thomas at Meliapor he saith That amongst other things which the Christians reserve in their Library unto this Day there is the Voyage of St. Thomas which that holy Apostle undertook from Iudea into India preserv'd and that he hath it Translated out of the Syriack into the Latin Tongue which when I earnestly requested he freely assented to my Desire and it is as followeth In the general distribution of the Globe of the Earth made by the Apostles at Hierusalem for the propagation of the Divine Gospel it is manifest from Ecclesiastical History that India fell unto the lot of St. Thomas unto which that he might arrive he thus began his Voyage From Iudea having pass'd through Syria Armenia and Mesopotamia he came unto a certain City of Persia which is call'd Soldania where having sow'd the Seed of the Gospel he reap'd a large Harvest of Christian Converts Hence he pass'd through the Kingdom of Candahar and Cabul which is 40 Lucae distant from Candahar now Cabul is also call'd Galabor by which the Holy Apostle pass'd over high Mountains unto the Region call'd at this Day by the Moors Gavorstan that is The Region of Infidels for so they term the Christians which continue there unto this very Day The Christians are call'd The Christians of St. Thomas they are naturally defended or fortifi'd by most high Mountains so that there is no easie Passage to them although sometimes some Saracens pass unto them who are presently stain out of an hatred ●f their perfidious Sect but the Gentiles or Heathens are receiv'd And although these Christians observe various Rites of the Christian Religion as that they imprint a ●hree-fold Cross on their Foreheads and Temples which is done or depicted by an Indian herb ●r Weed call'd Santalis of a red Colour and that in Baptism they dip their Children in Water yet notwithstanding it hath so hapned in process of time that the Church growing full of Brambles for want of Apostolical Men Christianity is much wasted and decay'd some small sparks of the Christian Faith only remaining for the whole Nation is defil'd with the various Superstitions and Blemishes of Error Father Nicholas Trigautius in the Voyage undertaken by Benedict Goes into Cathay farther confirmeth it in these words Afterwards they came into another Town nam'd Passaur where they met a certain Anchorite by whom they understood that thirty Days Iourney thence was a City of the Christians nam'd Caphurstan into which there was no Passage admitted unto the Saracens and those that approach thereunto suffer Death yet the Heathen Merchants are not prohibited the entrance of their Cities but are only excluded or debarr'd admission to their Temples He farther related That all the Inhabitants of that Region go to Church Apparell'd in Black that the Land is fruitful and that there are plenty of Vines found there Which Narration caus'd a suspicion in him that without question there was yet the Habitation of Christians although much degenerated which he had also confirm'd by report elsewhere This was also so manifest unto others of our Fathers the Propagators of the Christian Faith in the Kingdom of the Mogul that no Person from henceforwards ought to doubt of the same whence unto this very Day they are call'd The Christians of St. Thomas and questionless they had long since been gather'd into the Church of Christ if there had not wanted Laborers Moreover St. Thomas is said to have departed from Caphurstan unto to the lesser Guzarata not far from the Kingdom of Casmir of which we have treated above which is situate distant from Labor three Days Voyage towards the North and thence he is said to have the Mountains of Thebet in a long compass of the Land towards Bengala through the Kingdom of Decan to have arriv'd at Meliapor It is certainly related that Letters written in the Syriack Tongue on a most ancient Parchment are yet preserv'd in the Library or Repository of the Church of Meliapor in which St. Thomas is said to have convocated the Bishops Consecrated by him in the aforesaid Kingdom that is from Candahar Cabul Caphurstan the lesser Guzarata and the other adjoining Provinces unto the Council of Meliapor which if it be so it is very much to be lamented that there have no Persons been found who might have translated a Treasury of so great Ecclesiastical Antiquity into Latin But however this be Origen and Eusebius write That St. Thomas first went and Preach'd to the Parthians and Gregory Nazianzen delivereth in his Homily against the Arrians that he Preach'd to the Indians Theodoret consenteth unto these that the Preaching and receiving of the Gospel amongst the Parthians Persians Medes Brachmans Indians and the bordering Nations ought to be ascrib'd unto St. Thomas And Nicephorus also relateth that he came unto Tapraban now call'd Sumatra which seeing it is not remote from the Empire of China it cannot but appear very probable to any one that he visited China also in his own Person any

in the same quoted place of Antonius unto St. Lewis King of France who was also at the same time intent on the War undertaken against the Mahumetans in the Island of Cyprus in which Epistle he ardently exhorteth him to accomplish the same Enterprize together with him and because it is worthy of consideration I thought it requisite here to insert it This is the Exemplar or Transcript of the Letter which Ercaltay Prince of the Tartars sent unto King Lewis and by his Command Translated into Latin word for word THe Words of Ercaltay sent by the Power of the High God from the King of the Land of Cham unto the Great King the Strenuous or Victorious Conqueror of many Provinces the Sword of the World the Victory of Christianity the Defender of the Apostolical Religion Son of the Evangelical Law King of France let God increase his Dominion and preserve it for many years and fulfill his Desires in the Law and in the World now and in the World to come by the Verity of his Divine Power that leadeth all Men and all the Prophets and Apostles Amen A hundred thousand Salutes and Benedictions and this I request That he will accept these Benedictions and that they may appear great in his sight God grant that I may behold this magnificent King who hath approached so near unto us Now the most High Creator grant this our Meeting may be in Charity and cause us to assemble together in Unity After this our Salutation That in this our Epistle we intend nothing but the advantage of Christianity and to strengthen the Hands of the Christians and I beseech God to render the Christian Armies successful and that they may become triumphant over their Adversaries that contemn the Cross. Now on the part or behalf of the Great King let God advance him let God increase his Magnificence in the Presence of Cyochaym We come with Power and Command that all Christians be free from Servitude and Tribute from Force Compulsion and the like that they be Honor'd and had in Reverence and that none take away or deprive them of their Possessions and that their demolish'd Churches be re-edifi'd their Tables founded and that no Person may restrain them to Pray with a quiet Conscience and free Mind for our King We have sent hither by our faithful Servant the venerable Person Sabaldi David and Mark and they declare those good Reports and relate by word of Mouth how Matters are carried with us now the Son may receive their words and may concredit them and in our Letters the King of the Earth may be exalted His Magnificence commandeth that in the Law of God there be no difference between the Grecian and the Roman the Armenian Nestorian and Iacobite and all those that adore the Cross for they are all one with us and so we desire that the Magnificent King would not be divided or be contrary amongst us but that his Piety may be shewn upon all the Christians and that his Goodness and Clemency may continue Thus far the Example of the Epistle which was sent to the King of France in Cyprus from Ercaltay Prince of the Tartars unto which other Letters are sufficiently consonant which a little before were Presented unto the same King from the King of Cyprus and the Count of Ioppa a Transcript of which also together with the Transcript of the aforesaid Letter of Ercaltay were sent by the venerable Legate unto Pope Innocent the Fourth This I have transcrib'd our of Antonius Also St. Lewis sent unto the foremention'd Ercaltay and to the Great Cham Ambassadors of the Order of St. Dominick with rich Gifts or Presents one whereof was that which they call A Baldachin a most magnificent Present in which the whole Life of Christ was beheld interwoven in Tapestry-work by a wonderful Art together with a piece of the Cross But concerning this see more at large St. Antonius in the fore-cited place as also Vincentius Bishop of Bellay in his Speculum Historicum or Historical Looking-Glass all which hapned about the Year 1256. and are consonant to what we a little before alledg'd out of Paulus Venetus and Haython St. Antonius asserteth in the place quoted That some Tartars came unto the Council held under Innocent the Fourth At length Anno 1300. as Vadingus relateth in the Life of Odiricus many Religious Persons of the Order of St. Francis were sent unto the Great Cham into the greater Cathay and Tartary and remain'd in the Cities of Cambalu and Nanchin which they call The City of Heaven as also the Kingdom of Tebeth Converting many of the Infidels and Pagans unto the Faith of Christ. This St. Odiricus above-mention'd was a Person of the same Order who being inflam'd with a zeal of gaining all the People of those Kingdoms unto Christ is reported to have travell'd thither as is shewn at large by the Reverend Fathers Bollandus and Hoenschenius in the splendid Work of The Lives of the Saints unto which I refer the Reader where in the first Tome on the fifteenth day of Ianuary they at large demonstrate the same in their Learned Commentaries And therefore by this occasion the Gospel of Christ being spread throughout all Tartary and the Kingdom of Cathay which is China was in every Place much augmented But as we have often said before what through the defect of the Cultivators of the Vineyard of Christ or by the various Successors of the Empire very little addicted unto the Christian Faith or from some other causes the Tartarian Church reduc'd unto its Chaos partly adher'd unto the Superstition of the Gentiles part●ly unto the Law of Mahomet or else to the Heresie of the Nestorians who in the Year 1300. undertaking an Expedition or Voyage from Chaldea into Tartary to ●sow their Tares infected the Minds of the Christians there yet remainining with the Venome of their impious Opinions and also taught them who were ignorant of Writing before the use of the Chaldean Characters which the Tartars use unto this Day But how the Tartars became Mahumetans read in Matthias Micheu in his first Book of the Asiatick Tartary And this is that which in brief I esteem'd requisite to acquaint the Reader with concerning the Change of the Christian Religion in China Tartaria and the other Regions of India CHAP. VII Of the last Introduction of Christianity into China THe Church of Christ continuing thus from Anno 636. in which the Syro-Chinesian Monument was erected in China and making great Progress behold the Enemy of Mankind by the Assistance of wicked Men threw down at one shock or storm whatsoever the Church of God had perfected in many years the Preachers of the Christian Faith out of the hatred and envy of the Bonzii being some put to death and the rest banish'd whence the Faithful at that time persever'd in the constancy of the Faith receiv'd even unto the Death but their Posterity in process of time

will not undertake any Business contrary to the Rules of the Religious Order I thought it necessary to bind him with an absolute Command to undertake this Function and to add the Dignity of the second Order unto the Title of the Master of the Celestial Secrets in which Office he having been employ'd for some Years hath daily increas'd his Diligence and Study And because he hath a Temple or Church near the Gate of the City nam'd Xun Che Muen in which according to the Rites of his Law or Religion he Offereth Sacrifices unto God I therefore contributed some Assistance unto him for the building and adorning of it and when I entred that Temple I discern'd the Images and Utensils of it to have the shapes of strange things and when I had ask'd him what the Books of his Religion which I found on the Table contain'd he answer'd That they contain'd the Explication of the Divine Law Indeed although I had first apply'd my Study to the Doctrine or Religion Yao Xun Cheu and learn'd some things out of their Books Cum Cu and albeit I have read somewhat in the Books Foe and Tau yet notwithstanding I can remember nothing contain'd in them and seeing I could not by reason of the Affairs of my Kingdom hitherto peruse the Books of this Divine Law but onely cursorily therefore I cannot pass an exact Iudgment out of them concerning the Law but if you reflect upon or consider Father Iohn Adam who for many years having been conversant with the Chineses and with us followeth this Law and Preacheth the same then I judge and esteem it the best for Iohn Adam doth so reverence his God that he hath dedicated this Temple unto him with so great Modesty and Integrity for so many years always conforming himself in the same method of this Law and not in the least point varying from it this indeed is an evident sign that the Law is most perfect in which Iohn Adam sheweth himself of most approved Vertue and fulfilleth that exactly by his Fidelity which that Law teacheth or commandeth viz. To serve God to obey Kings and Magistrates to do no wrong to any Person and to have respect to the Good and Welfare of the Commonwealth and our Neighbors And would to God that all my Magistrates Officers and Subjects would imitate this his Method in serving of God and keeping of this his Divine Law and at a long distance would but shadow this in the Homage they owe unto their Emperor without doubt it would fall out better and far more happily with me and my whole Empire As for my own part I praise and greatly approve of this his Belief and Law which he followeth and therefore in a perpetual Commemoration I affix this Title to his Church Tum hiuen hia Kim that is The excellent Place for ascending to Heaven Given at Peking the seventh Year of our Empire This Patent written in the Chinesian and Tartar Languages and Characters on a black Table by a polite and elegant Hand is to be seen in our Study or Gallery and the Tartar Characters do indeed resemble the form of the Syriack wholly different from those of the Chineses Now on what occasion the Tartar granted this Priviledge is related before From whence it is manifestly apparent what affection so great a Monarch had for the Christian Faith and how much he endeavor'd the promotion and promulgation thereof even to the embracing of it himself confessing the only obstacle of his Conversion was Polygamie which Doctrine being so dissonant to the Customs and Nature of the Heathen Princes made them boggle at first and then flie from that True Faith they were ready to receive to the perdition of their Souls But to return to our purpose From this most ardent propensity of the Emperor unto our Religion immediately there succeeded a great Conversion of the Ladies of Honor the Eunuchs and Mandorins the Christian Law being spread abroad in the City of Peking there were gather'd into the Bosom of the Church almost eighty thousand Converts But all this flourishing and Blooming Spring was blasted in the Bud by the sudden Death of the Emperor he not obtaining that Eternal Salvation which he so much desir'd on the behalf of others and although oftentimes he requested the Ghostly Assistance of Father Adam yet by the craft and subtlety of the Lamas and Bonzii who stood before the Emperor in the last Conflict of Life and Death it so fell out that all Address to him was obstructed till it was too late for being frustrate of his hope whom he thought alive he to his incredible sorrow found dead Now when his Funeral Rites were perform'd a Pile being made of precious Wood the Treasures of so wealthy a Prince were cast into the Flames with the dead Corps which put an end to his Imperial Magnificence and Grandeur The Son of this deceased Emperor being a Youth of fourteen Years of Age succeeded him in the Government who as he was under the Discipline and Tuition of Father Adam being wholly committed unto his Care by the Emperor so he devested not himself of that innate Affection which he had to the Christian Faith and our Religious Fathers Now how much the Christian Concerns were augmented under these Emperors in respect of former Times is evidently shewn by the Inscription of the new erected and Consecrated Church at Peking which as being worthy of Consideration I shall here subjoyn in stead of a Conclusion The Inscription of the Church of Peking belonging to the Society of Iesus AFter the Faith introduc'd by St. Thomas the Apostle and after the same was again and that more largely Propagated by the Syrians in the time of the Reign of the Emperor Tam the same being again the third time divulg'd in the time of the Regency of the Emperor Mim by the Conduct of St. Francis Xavier and Father Matthew Riccius of the Society of Iesus both by Preaching and Books publish'd in the Chinesian Tongue perform'd with great Study and Labor but by reason of the inconstancy of the Nation not altogether with equal success The Empire being now devolv'd unto the Tartars the same Society for a conclusion of their Labors in restoring the Calendar call'd The XI of Hien Lie hath publickly plac'd and Dedicated this Temple to the most High God at Peking the Royal City and Palace of the Emperors of China Anno 1650. and the seventh Year of Xun Chi. Father Iohn Adam Schall of Zell a German Professor of the Society of Iesus and Author of the foremention'd Calendar out of the Labor of his Hands bequeatheth this Temple and his Patience unto Posterity P. MATTHAEVS RICCIVS MACERAT of the Society of Iesus the first propagator of the Christian Religion in the Kingdo of Cluna LY PAVLVS GREAT COLAVS OF the Chineses propagator of y christian L●w. P. ADAM SCHALIGER A GERMAN MANDARIN OF Y FIRST ORDER CHAP. VIII Of the Correction of the Chinese