with three piece of Cannon And because the Mountain of our Ladie della Guida commandeth both the Bulwark of St. Paul and the Citie it was fortified in the year 1637 in the same manner as the Rock of Charil is it hath ten great brasse Cannon The Citie is not great there are in it about 900 or 1000 Portughesses who are all rich and live very splendidly there are many Chiness Christians who are cloathed and live after the Portughesse fashion there are also Chineses who are Gentiles and are cloathed and live after the fashion of their own Countrie all the Artiâ—ans of the Citie consist of this last sort as also the Shop-keepers and Retailers c. and are in all about 5 or 6000. There resideth also in the same Citie an Auditor who is sent thither by the King of Portugal and is superintendent of the traffique and commerce of that Isle The trade with Giappon not to speak of that of Manila which is worth very much yeeldeth the King every year for his rights and customes at ten per cent many thousands of Crownes per annum In the year 1635 it was worth to him 14000 Taus which are better than Crowns The Citie spendeth every year one year with another in their Artillerie Gunpowder and the charges of their walls and other things belonging to their Militia as appeareth by the books of publique accounts above 40000 Crownes The rights and customes of the Faire of Cantone at 6 and 7 per cent importeth about 40 or 50000 Crowns The Navigation to Giappon with the Present which is sent to the King and other Presents to the Toni of that Island costeth between twenty and five and twenty thousand Crownes Their house of Mercy standeth them every year in 8 or 9 thousand Crownes They mantain two Hospitals three parish Churches five Monasteries foure of Men and one of Women besides the continuall Almes which they distribute to the poor Christians of those Countries and particularly to them of China and although the ordinarie Almes which the King of Portugall alloweth them from Goa hath not been paid these 19 years yet are they wel relieved by the liberalitie of the Citizens of Macao I doubt not but the Lord doth favour this Citie for their many Almesdeeds and for the great care they take about the Service and Worship of God Finally this Citie of Macao is a continuall Seminarie wherein are educated and brought up many of those Labourers who cultivate not only China and Giappon but also all other Christianities of the Neighbouring Kingdomes It is also a Sanctuarie and place of Refuge where in times of troubles and persecutions they may all shelter themselves as it were in another Moab being upon all occasions Refugium à Facie Vastatoris One of the Convents of this Citie is a Colledge belonging to our Societie There are commonly between threescore and fourescore persons in it more or lesse according to the number of the persons they receive or send away For all Missions being furnished out of them their number must needs be very uncertain There are in that Colledge two Lectures in Divinitie one of Cases of Conscience one course of superiour studies two classes of Latin one schoole for children so numerous that the lower forme thereof containeth above 90 children of the Portugheses and people of that Countrie Out of this House which at the beginning was very small and the labourers there very few first came the Souldiers of this enterprise Father Alexander Valignan of happy memorie who was then Visitour resolved to send some of the Fathers into China to endevour to convert that vast Kingdome to the faith of Christ when presently the first difficulties began at the Colledge it selfe a manifest prognostication of the many that should happen in the progâ—esse of the work and execution of the undertaking For to some of the Fathers by reason of the knowledge and experience they had of the Kingdome of China this enterprise seemed not only difficult but also rash and unadvised wherefore they advised the Visitour not to set his mind upon it But our Lord who bringeth wonderfull things to passe from weak and troublesome beginnings would have this design put in execution Father Michael Roggiero was the first who was named to take paines in this conquest he was followed by the Fathers Franciscus Passius Antonius de Almeida Duarte Matthaeus Riccius and others who came after and helped on the work and like the foundation-stones of that building sustained the first weight thereof and greater difficulties labours and troubles than any Missions of our societie had ever felt For the difficulties in new Missions into Kingdomes so remote and different from our Europe in language custome conversation diet c. are not ordinarie neither can they be few But those in the Mission of China do far exceed all others The language seemeth more difficult than any in the world being all of Monosyllables curt and aequivocall and in this difficulty the Fathers were without any Master to teach them without any interpreter to explain what was said to them so that they neither understood others nor others them but by force of diligence and unwearied paines they went on conquering and gaining ground and although they never arrived at any perfection in the language or good accent in pronouncing it yet they discovered the mysteries of that tongue and set them down in so plain a forme that they made it much more easie for those who came after them To this may be added the painfull study of their letters which of it selfe alone is a businesse of incredible labour they being so many and so various and in this Mission contrarie to what is done in others the Fathers do study them all with so much diligence that they have not only learned to write and to read their books very perfectly but do also compose others themselves and have of late published many to the great advancement of Christianity and in truth the Fathers in China do justly deserve this praise that that language being so hard and they having the letters too to be studied which are not very easie yet they do speak that language much better than any others do those of their Missions for of themselves they are able to catechise preach treate and converse with the greatest Mandarines of the Kingdome and to speak to the King himself if there were occasion without making use of any ones tongue but their own their endeavours in this particular being extraordinarie and such as are not used in other parts and our Lord by his singular providence doth sweeten this labour and season those difficulties they undergo for his sake with much joy and consolation Moreover there is to be a generall change throughout their whole bodies in their beard and their haire which they must suffer to grow very longe in the fashion of their cloathes in their manner of conversation in their customes and behaviour and all other
of China who from the horrid wildernesse of Infidelity had been brought to the pleasant Pastures of Christianity gave illustrious examples of their Faith and Constancy but the longer Narration of this glorious persecution is reserved for another place I only touch it here to admire the Divine Providence of God who raised so sharp War against China when they neglected Christian Peace and permitted at the same time these Tartars to take so deep a root in this Empire of China as afterward grew to that height as to extirpate the Royal Family of the Taminges together with the Kingdom at the very same time they went about utterly to destroy all Christianity But as ordinarily it doth by this very persecution Christian Religion grew to that height and greatnesse that the Church glories to behold it whilst unlesse God vouchsafe to lend a potent helping hand the vast Kingdom of China is utterly overthrown In the mean time the Chineses were very solicitous to expell this Enemy from the bowells of their Country and first they selected very chief and eminent men for Commanders and Governours then they gathered an Army of six hundred thousand choise Souldiers The King of Corea also sent to the Emperour of China twelve thousand with this potent Army therefore they went out in the beginning of March MDCXIX to give Battail to the Enemy The Tartars resolved to meet them with an undaunted courage and for a good while the event and victory was very doubtfull but in the end the Army of China was wholly routed their chief Commanders with fifty thousand men were all slain The Tartars according to their custome prosecute the victory with all quicknesse and diligence for the same day they took and sacked two Cities which they burned After this they over-run that whole Country and came to the very Walls of Pekin the Emperours Court but durst not venture to besiege it because they knew besides the infinite number of Canons it contained there was lodged fourscore thousand Souldiers in it But the Chineses confess that there was such a fear and consternation in the City that the King thought to have left that City and gone into the Southern parts of the Kingdom which he had effectually performed had not some Commanders suggested that his flight would give courage to the Victorious and breed trouble and confusion in the whole Empire being that to fly is nothing else but to yeeld up the land to the Enemy Nay more they say the disorders were such in the City that if the Tartar had come on he infallibly had made himself Master of it But the Enemy was more greedy of Prey and therefore they dispersed themselves abroad spoiling and burning all Towns and Cities and killing and destroying an immense company of Chineses in a most cruell manner and so leaving all these places dismantled and without Garisons laden with infinite Riches they returned victorious to Leaotung where they had their first footing After these things had passed that renouned Emperour of China call'd Vanley died and left his Son Taichangus to succeed him who begun to gather a new Army against the Tartars but after four moneths reign he also died To him succeeded Theinkins who as soon as he assumed the Crown sent an Embassadour with many magnificent Presents and worthy of the China Monarchy to the King of Corea The end of this Embassage was to thank him for the Auxiliary forces sent to his Grandfather as also to comfort him for the losse he had received in the late service of China finally to sollicite and presse for further succours For it seems those of Corea as they are nearer to Iapony so they participate more of that warlike Spirit and Fortitude than those of China do Besides that he might more effectually divert the imminent danger of his Kingdoms ruin he leavied new Forces throughout all the Kingdom which he sent into the Province of Leaotung to hinder the irruption of the Tartars any further into the Countery And for their better supply with necessary Provision he maintained a great Navie in the Haven of Thiencin to carry Corn and other necessaries for their maintenance This Port of Thiencin is a Station to which an incredible number of ships resort both by Sea and Rivers from all parts of China So as by this means by a very short and compendious way they were easily provided with all necessaries For all the whole Country of Leaotung is almost invironed with the Sea and the furthest part is but two daies distant by water from this Port of Thiencin but by land far more time is necessary Amongst other Commanders which came with succours to their Prince there was one Heroick Lady whom we may well call the Amazon or Penthesilean of China She brought along with her three thousand from the remote Province of Suchuen carrying all not only Masculine minds but mens habits also and assuming Titles more becoming men than women This noble and generous Lady gave many rare proofs of her courage and valour not only against these Tartars but also against the Rebells which afterwards riss against their Lord and Emperour But now she came in this War to supply her Sons place whom she left at home in his own Kingdom as being yet a Child and not able to perform that Homage and Duty to which he was obliged For in the mountains of the Country of Suchuen there is a King not subject to him of China but an absolute Prince yet so as he receives the Honour and Title of a King from the Emperour of China after which Investiture his Subjects only obey him and pay Tribute But because they surpasse all others in Valour and Courage therfore they are used by the Kings of China in warlick Affairs By occasion of this war the two noble Christian Doctours Paul and Michael found means to perswade the Emperour to demand of the Portugeses of Macas some greater Pieces and also some Gunnes and Gunners hoping by this means also to restore the banished Fathers of Christianity as also the Religion it self And their Proposition took effect for both the one and the other were sent for and the Fathers who hitherto secretly negotiated the businesse of Religion were publickly admitted again and many new Souldiers of Portugal came to help the Army And God did most abundantly recompence to the Emperour this favour done to Christianity For before the Portugese arrived his Army had cast the Tartars out of Leaotung by means of the Inhabitants of that Country who being much exasperated by the Tartarians cruelty opened their City Gates as soon as the King of China's Army appeared and rising against their Garison gave entrance to the Army Insomuch as they recovered the Metropolitan Town of Leaotung For the King of Tartary being diverted by other Wars at home could not come soon enough to relieve it So as by this means the affairs of China
with large rivers and some of those having so great plenty of water that in many places the opposite banks are out of sight one of the other and elsewhere that which appeareth is hardly to be distinguished what it is They are all navigable and are frequented with so a great concourse of divers sorts of vessels that what might be said upon this occasion will hardly seem credible I shall onely say that in this they do exceed all other rivers of the world In an Arme of the river of Nanchim which with a moderate breadth runneth down to Hamchen I stayed eight dayes for a passage through that vvonderful concourse of vessels and whilest an houre-glasse of sand was running out I counted three hundred small ships reckoning only those which came up the river It is a marvellous thing there being so many that all are so vvell accommodated for Merchandize and so convenient for passengers They are all covered and kept very neat and some of them so beautified and adorned with pictures that they seem rather made for the recreation than the traffick of Merchants The manner after which they are governd is very notable for the Marriners keep all without the place where the passengers make their abode there being space enough without for them to run up and down that trim the Sayles and guide the Bark without any disturbance of the others who enjoy a pleasant ease and rest In which the Barks of the province of Hanceo exceed the rest The six Northern provinces as they come nearest to our latitude do most resemble our climate and are more dry and healthfull than the rest But in all of them more or lesse there are not wanting many of a long and happy life there being to be found many and very vigorous and lusty old men Of the same more particularly This Kingdom is so populous that not only the Villages but even the Cities are in sight one of another and in some places where the rivers are most frequented the habitations are almost continued Of these there are foure sorts great Cities which they call Fu the lesser which they call Cen concerning these Writers have somewhat differed in their Relations Townes which they call Hien and Castles which they call Cid Besides these there are Villages and Hamlets almost innumerable Of all these the Walls are kept night and day with a four-fold Guard at the sound of a Bell even to the innermost City of the Kingdom as if they were alwayes in a condition of Warre shewing that to prevent the least imaginable danger which may fal out in an houre it is good to stand during life upon our guard for ordinarily all sudden ruines proceed from a long confidence The streets are kept by Courts of Guard and Senâ—inels with so much rigour that if they find them asleep or stragled from their Post or that they do not speedily answer they are presently condemned to the Bastinado which is immediately executed in the same place The publick gates are shut every night with great care and if there fall out any accident they are not opened til they are satisfied how the Fact was done In the year one thousand six hundred thirty four I was in the City of Kiamsi where thirty theeves broke prison and having routed the guards wounding some and killing others set themselvs at liberty The Fact was known and the opening of the gates being suspended according to their inviolable custome before next night the Malefactors were all taken nor could the greatnesse of the City hide any one of them This Kingdom is so exceeding populous that I having lived there two and twenty years was in no lesse amazement at my coming away than I was in the beginning at the multitude of the people certainly the truth exceedeth all Hyperboles not onely in the Cities Townes and publick places in some of which one cannot walk without great violence of thrusting and crowding but also in the High-wayes there is as great a concourse as is usually in Europe at some great feastivall or publick meeting And if we will referre our selves to the generall register book wherein only the common men are enrolled and matriculated leaving out women children eunuchs professours of armes and letters almost an infinite number there are reckoned of them to be fifty eight millions and fifty five thousand one hundred and fourescore The houses where they inhabite are not so sumptuous and lasting as ours yet are they more convenient for the good contrivance and more pleasant for their exquisite neatnesse They use much in their houses Charam an excellent vernish and painting of an accurate diligence They build them not very high esteeming them more convenient for being low as well for habitation as for good accommodation The richer sort of people doe plant the courts and approaches to their houses with flowres and small trees and towards the North they use fruit trees In like manner where they have roome enough they set greater trees and raise artificiall mountaines to which end they bring from farre great pieces of rocks They keep there severall sorts of fowl as Cranes and Swannes and other beautifull birds and also wild beasts as Stagges and fallow Deare They make many fish-ponds where are to be seen gliding up and downe painted fish with gilded finns and other things likewise of curiositie and delight Their way of building is in this manner They frame first exactly the roofe of the house which they set upon pillars of wood the which by how much the bigger they are are so much the more esteemed after they fit up the walls with brick or some such like matter There is a Tradition that anciently they made their buildings according to exact rules of measure and proportion of which Art there are yet some bookes remaining but those rules are now only observed in the Kings palaces and in publick workes as towres of Cities and Townes which they make of severall formes as round square octangular very beautifull with staires some winding some plaine and Balansters on the out-side In the vessels and utensiles of their house they are both very curious and expensive using much the abovesaid Charam a sort of vernish which is taken from certaine trees proper only to that and the neighbouring Countries and in truth it is an excellent thing as well for the perfection of the matter as may be seen in the workes which come from thence as for the easinesse in working it as well in making new things as in retrimming the old and reducing them to their former beauty As for plenty whereas this kingdome by reason of its large extent doth participate of diverse latitudes and climates it produceth and enjoyeth so great varietie of fruits that nature seems there to have laid upon heapes what shee but scatters through the rest of the world It hath within its owne doores all that is necessary for mans life together with all superfluity of delicacies whence it hath
being put in minde of it by any body calling to his remembrance the Eunuchs Memoriall asked where that Bell was which range of it selfe and which as they tell me is brought me by a stranger To which the Eunuch who always waiteth upon him answered That it was not yet come to Court because his Majesty had not given order for it to come Whereupon the King presently gave order for it and Mathan was forced against his will to send the Fathers with their Present and the rest of their goods They began then to take heart againe and forgetting all their former troubles they immediatly set out upon their journy and because they could not do it by water by reason the river was frozen up they tooke their way by land receiving from the Mandarines at the Kings expence whatsoever they had need of both for their owne persons as also for the carriage of their goods CHAP. 4. The Fathers enter into Pekim and settle there THe Fathers entred into Pekim on the fourth day of January 1601. where they were well received and entertained in a Palace which an Eunuch had lent them for that purpose They made ready their Present and the day following with a great traine and Parade the Eunuchs carried it into the Palace and presented it to the King who made great account of every thing He did highly prize the pictures of our Saviour and of the Blessed Virgin he much admired the Harpsicon and presently gave order that some of the Eunuchs should learne to play upon it When he came to the Clock which was a piece of much skill and workmanship and an invention altogether unknowne to the Chinesses because he knew it struck the houres of its owne accord and that at present it was not in order not so much as to be shewed he commanded that the Fathers should presently come into the Palace and set it a going So they were called in haste and admitted within the second wall for within the third and fourth none may enter unlesse it be the Eunuchs and the Souldiers of the night-guard where by the Kings order given to one of the chiefe Eunuchs the Fathers were received and entertained with all magnificence and courtesie They stayed there three daies partly fitting the Clock to serve for the present for afterwards for the greater state there was a Tower of wood made for it of much cost and workmanship partly in teaching foure Eunuchs how to set and order it and partly in satisfying such demands as were made them concerning Europe what kinde of Countrie it was what Kingdoms what people what customes it had and a thousand other particularities which were all afterwards by the Eunuchs related to the King who was much delighted therewith seeming to be very much satisfied with every thing he much desired to see the Fathers but because he would not change the ancient stile and custome of the Kingdom according to which the King is never to be seen by any stranger he caused their pictures to be drawne at length contenting himselfe to see only the figures of those men of whom he himselfe might not be seen All things succeeded prosperously by reason of the great satisfaction which all they of the Palace received from the Fathers and especially by reason of the contentment the King tooke in every thing and the delight with which he received the Presents so that now all seemed to be secure and that there was nothing more to feare But there being no security or calme that is long lasting in this world the Fathers quickly found themselves in new troubles the occasion whereof was a Mandarine of the Tribunal Lipu to whom it belonged by vertue of his office to have had the Present brought to him and by his means to have had it presented to the King he being to assist at all Embassies and Presents that are offered to his Majestie He therefore taking it ill that the Fathers who knew nothing of this had made use of the Eunuchs to carry their Present to the King contrary to the ordinary stile of the Court and without making any mention of those Officers presently fell upon the weakest part and commanded the Fathers to be apprehended and put into the House of strangers in a more discourteous manner than was usuall The Officers and Sergeants having used more insolence in the apprehending them than perhaps they were commanded to doe Upon this occasion they were brought before the Tribunal and examined in publick although by their answers their cause was sufficiently justified and the passion of the Judge something moderated They had not been above three daies when they were sent for thence to the palace to perform the ordinary Ceremonies in the Court of courtesies whereof we have spoken in the first part The very same day they were againe examined by the publick Notaries by order of the same President concerning many other things The poynt they most insisted on was to what end they were come into China what their intentions were and what they did pretend by the Present which they had given the King The Fathers judged it necessary to answer cleerly and in forme and therefore told them That they came to preach the law of the true God who was sole Lord and Governour of heaven and earth And that they had brought that Present to the King not that they did pretend any thing by it either office dignitie or recompence but as a Testimony of the obedience they ought him having been inhabitants for so many years of that Kingdom and that all they did desire was to have leave to live and die in that Court or in any other part of the Kingdom which the King should thinke fit as they had already lived there many years The Notaries having drawne up this answer carried it to the President who having seen and considered it drew up his Memoriall thereupon to the King partly in favour of the Fathers and partly against them But the King being well affected towards them because there was something in it against the Fathers gave no answer to it which is there the same thing as to reject it But the Fathers understood by the Eunuchs that the King was much troubled when he knew they were kept as prisoners in the House of Strangers The Mandarine seeing there was no answer given to his petition presently judged the King was inclined to favour the strangers wherefore he thought it fit to change his stile towards them using them with all courtesie and kindenes and commanded they should be better provided for in every thing than the rest of the strangers who were kept there And contrary to the law and custome of that restraint he gave them libertie to go into the City about their affaires and to visit their friends But withall he presented a second Memoriall to the King concerning the Fathers wherein he did not only say nothing against them but positively commended their persons and their
and closing his eyes as if he were entring into a sweet sleep he gave up his soule into the hands of his Maker with the generall greife and resentment not only of those of the house and of the Christians but also of the Gentiles they all calling him a perfect Man a Saint an Apostle I will forbeare to speak any more of him for brevities sake by reason his life is already written in the History of Father Trigaltius CHAP. 7. Of the Burying place which was bestowed upon us by the King and of the progresse of the Christian religion untill the time of the persecution at Nankim IT is a custom among the Chinesses as we have already related to have a particular place appoynted for the buriall of their dead The Fathers who had very hardly a place allowed them for to live in were altogether destitute of a place of Sepulture wherefore they were in great doubt where they should bury the Father But the Lord who is a guide unto his and who had a particular intention to honour his servant put them upon a very difficult undertaking and as farre as I am able to judge by the custome of China without his speciall assistance altogether impossible This was to Petition the King desiring his favour to have a place assigned us for the buriall of our dead And because it was the Lord who had first set this businesse on foot without any consideration of the great difficultie which they were like to find they presently framed a Memoriall to be presented to the King wherein they laid downe the reasons which moved them to make this humble request The very passing of this Memoriall according to the Stile which is requisite upon that occasion seemed so impossible a thing that the Colao himselfe who desired to assist them as a friend accounted it a very difficult enterprise Neverthelesse after they had recommended their businesse to Almighty God the Memoriall was presented to the Mandarine to whose office it belonged first to over look it and the Lord was pleased to favour us so farre that it passed the Chancery without any difficultie which at first seemed to be the greatest When it was presented to the King without doubt he that holdeth the hearts of Kings in his hand did dispose and incline him to favour us and he remembring the former Present and the Clock which he had alwaies by him did referre it to the Colao together with many other petitions according to the Stile of that Court and he to the Councell of Rites because it was a businesse of strangers which did properly belong to them But after they of that Councell had considered it they judged it to be a speciall favour of the Kings and that it did therefore belong to the Councell of the Kings Patrimonie Wherefore they did remit our Memoriall to them Assoone as the Fathers understood this and knowing they had no friends in that Councell and that there was nothing to be expected from them without favour they made such means by way of other friends that the Memoriall was not only remanded againe to the Councell of Rites wherein the Fathers had severall friends but that they also did receive it and passe sentence in favour of them as accordingly they did in this form Your Majestie hath given command that the Councell to whom this businesse did belong should give their judgement concerning this petition And it being come into our hands we have well considered the laws and constitutions of this Kingdom and we find one which saith That if any of those Strangers which are wont to come into this Kingdom should chance to die by the way if he were a subject or Vassall for sometimes there come Kings and Princes thither and were not yet arrived at the Court the Treasurer of the Province where he dyeth shall assigne him a place of buriall where there shall be set up an inscription graven in stone wherein shall be expressed the occasion of his coming hither There is also another law which saith If a Stranger come into this Kingdom and die after he is arrived at the Court if he have not received the Kings gratuity and reward according to the usuall custome the Governour of the City shall defray the costs of his funerall But if he hath received his gratuity it shall be done at his owne expence In order to these two laws from which I cannot well see how an argument should be drawne to favour our cause because the Fathers had already received their gratuity the Mandarine knew so well how to make up the businesse and to find out so many reasons and conveniences to obtain that favour which Father Iames Pantoia required of his Majestie for the buriall of his deceased companion that assoone as the Memoriall came againe into the Kings hands he presently referred it to the Colao that he should give what answer to it he thought fit The Colao drew it up in this forme That it seemed very reasonable unto him the strangers should have that favour granted them which they did desire And so it was againe brought to the King who signed it with his owne hand and put to it his Fiat This expedition put an end to our troubles and the Fathers ceased not to render thanks to Almighty God for that favour which they were so cleerly to owne from his goodnesse and which was of so great importance for the Fathers residence in that Court and in the rest of the Kingdom that concession of the King serving not only for a Sepulture for their dead but also for a license for us to remain there during our lives For he having granted us a place in that Kingdom to lie in after our death it was manifest that he granted us also a place of abode there during life and the words of the Grant runne thus To bury their Father Riccius and his companions And accordingly they who die in that Court at this day are buried in the same place Having overcome the first part of the businesse which was the most difficult without any trouble but rather with a great deale of ease and facilitie there remained still the second which was the execution of it which could not want very much opposition but by having many Mandarines to their friends and by procuring the good will of others with some Sun-dialls of Ivory which the Chinesses do highly esteeme and Father Pantoia had the skill of making them very exactly our poverty not being able to extend it selfe to any great matter at length they overcame the smaller difficulties and the execution of their desires became more easie for them especially the Fathers having the Colao who is able to do any thing for their friend who indeed was so well affected to the businesse that Father Pantoia going a second time to visit him to refresh his memory fearing lest the multitude of businesse which lay upon him might cause him to forget them before the
Baptise such as had not yet been converted and partly to endeavour to found a house in that his native City of Hamcheu The first happy encounter there was that of Doctour Yam named afterwards at his Baptism Michael who is much celebrated in our yearly letters He was a Mandarine of great account and a Kinsman of Doctour Leo and had been for seaven years together Chancellour of the whole Province of Nankim which is an Office of very great importance and was very rich of a great House and allyed to the principall Families of that Citie and above all he was very devout towards the Pagods in so much that he had built a Temple for them within his own Palace with a certain number of Bonzi to serve them whom he maintained at his own charges But he did this more out of ignorance than malice and therefore the Lord shewed mercy unto him He was one of the first that visited the Fathers and being very much addicted to the defence of his Religion he began a very hot dispute with a more than ordinarie zeal for the upholding of his Sect the which he continued likewise the day following and the next day and so for nine dayes together alwayes producing new arguments and proposing new difficulties not that he had a design to impugnâ— but only to discover the truth The ninth day he yeelded himselfe crying out A true God A true Law A true Doctrine And after he had been very diligently Catechised and instructed he was Baptized to the great consolation of the Fathers and also of Dr. Leo who did much rejoice at it and to the singular griefe and shame of the Bonzi who were presently discarded and their Temple converted into a Church dedicated to the Saviour of the world Now did these two Heroes seem two firme and stable pillars very proper to sustaine that infant Church with a certain hope that their example would draw many others to the law of Christ and that there would be a flourishing Christianitie founded in that so populous a Metropolis which in my opinion is the richest the most delicious and magnificent in Temples and other structures of any in that Kingdom But for the generalitie the least disposed to receive our Holy faith whether it were then for this cause or because their hour was not yet come which required a greater disposition there was so little fruit of the Gospel at that time that the Fathers judged it better to give place to time and for the present to leave that abode and to finde out some other place better disposed to receive the seed of faith They proceeded so farre as to propose their intention to Father Nicolaus Longobardus superiour of that Mission who would neither approve nor reject their opinion but remitted the businesse to the judgement of the House at Nankim where I was then at that time and by the grace of God we were there in all nine of the Societie The matter was debated and it was resolved by all of us that according as experience had taught us they should proceed with patience and longanimitie greater difficulties having been overcome by those weapons So without any more thoughts of change the Fathers remained labouring in that City not knowing the great good which the Lord had there prepared for them and which time afterwards discovered not only by founding there one of the most numerous and best instructed Churches that is in China but because that house was ever a safe Port to us in all Tempests and a secure refuge in all persecutions as shall be seen hereafter Christianitie also was much encreased in Xaâ—hoi the Country of Dr. Paul for his Father and all his houshold had been Baptized and many other people of that place and although we had there no setled house there was neverthelesse a Church and every year the Christians were visited both to confirme the old ones and convert new ones In the foure ancient houses the Fathers said Masse preached and exercised the Mysteries and Ceremonies of our Holy Faith very quietly and without any disturbance at all The Christians exercised their devotion and many Gentiles endeavoured to finde the way of their Salvation the Christian Religion flourished every day more and more with an abundant number of new Converts and also of new Labourers which were sent to us from Macao where they were first instructed in the language and custome of the Country In the mean time we were sent unto from many places and from severall persons to desire us to come into their Country and to preach the Gospel to them This City of Vamcheu which is neere unto Nankim had so great a desire to be made partakers of our doctrine that the Litterati there wrot a letter to Father Alphonsus Vagnone in Nankim where he was at that time superiour which was subscribed by forty of them wherein they did invite the Father to come to them with many prayers and entreaties and very earnestly desired him that he would not deferre his comming that good which they so much longed for They did also the like in many other places whether the fame of our Holy Faith was arrived either by the books we had printed there or by the relation of the Gentiles for these do sometimes serve as a guide to the rest and I had once one of them who did help me to Catechise or else by their conversation with Christians themselves And this was done with so much fervour that really it seemed to us the time was come wherein after all storms and tribulations were blown over the winter was passed away and the spring time began to appeare bringing forth flowers worthy the sight of that celestiall Gardiner or rather that the crop was now ripe and expected a happy harvest The Fathers being animated with these successes and well pleased with the many occasions which continually presented themselves were not sparing to make good use of them hoping that they would have been dayly encreased But who is able to comprehend the judgements of the Lord Or who hath been his Councellour Whilest things stood in this prosperous condition whether it were for the sinnes of that Kingdom or for ours in particular or because the Lord was pleased to prove and exercise his servants there was raised in Nankim where that house was founded with much quiet and had continued in greater tranquility than the rest the following persecution CHAP. 8. A fierce persecution is raised against the Christians in Nankim THis Persecution which was the most terrible of all we have yet suffered began in the year 1615 upon this occasion which I shall relate There was this year sent from Pekim to Nankim a Mandarine called Qui Xin to be an assistant of the third Tribunall named Lipu which taketh cognizance of all Rites Sects Strangers and such like This man besides that he was extreamly averse both to our Holy Faith and to the Fathers and on the contrary very
First therefore the Prefects or Governours did abuse the Merchant Tartars of Niuche when they came into Leaotung which is a Province confines next to them Then again when the King of Niuche would have married his Daughter to another King of the Tartars they hindred this marriage by representing some pretended reasons of State And finally when the King of Niuche suspected nothing from them he conceived his friends they took him by deceit and killed him perfidiously Wherefore to revenge these injuries the Kings Son gathered a strong Army and taking his time found meanes to get over the great Wall I mentioned and the great River being frozen he presently set upon the great City Kaiyven or as others call it Taxum which lies upon the Confines of Tartary which he took in the year MDCXVI From this City he writ a Letter in Tartarian Characters to the Emperour of China which though writ in Barbarian Characters yet contained nothing Barbarous By this Letter which he sent by one of their Indian Priests whom they call Lama in a very humble and submissive manner he declared to him that he had invaded his Country to revenge the injuries he had received from the Governours of the neighbouring Provinces But yet that he was ready to restore the City he had taken and depose his Armes if his complaints might be heard and satisfaction given him The Emperour of China called Vanley having received this Letter though otherwise of an eminent wisdome and of as great experience yet being now broken with Age in this businesse seems to have proceeded with lesse Prudence than that which accompanied the former Actions of his life For thinking it not to be a business of that moment as that it deserved to be treated before him in his own Court he remitted it to the chief Governours and Commanders And these men puffed up with their usuall pride thought it not fit so much as to give an answer to the Barbarian King but resented it very highly that he durst be so bold as to complain to the Emperor of any injury received The Tartarian King seeing they vouchsafed no answer to his just demands turning his anger into rage vowed to celebrate his Fathers Funerals with the lives of two hundred Thousand of the Inhabitants of China For it is the custome of the Tartars when any man of quality dyeth to cast into that fire which consumes the dead Corps as many Servants Women and Horses with bows and Arrows as may be fit to atend and serve them in the next life Though now since they conquered China they have left off this Barbarous custome being reprehended and corrected for it by the Chinesses themselves After this superstitious Vow advancing his revenging Armes he besieged Leaotung which was the chief City of the Province of Leaoyang with 50000. men But the City was defended by exceeding many men who generally were all armed with Musquets The Tartars had nothing but their Scymetars with Bows and Arrows which they discharge with strange Dexterity and Art But because they chiefly feared the musquet bullets they resolved by a Stratagem to make that unknown Instrument lesse hurtfull to them than their enemies did imagin For the Tartarian King commanded such as made the first on-set to carry a thick hard board for their Shield which was as good to them as a wooden Wall these men were seconded by other Companies who carried Ladders to climb up the Walls and the Horse came up in the Rear In this manner he set upon the City in foure quarters and received the discharge of their Musquets against his wooden wall Then in a moment the scaling-ladders being applied before they could charge again they were upon the Walls and entred the City for such is the quicknesse and nimblenesse of the Tartars in which they excell all Nations and in which also they place their chief art that in a trice they either prevail in their designs or retire and the little skill the Chinesses had in the use of Musquets was no small hinderance to the warre For the Tartars quicknesse and nimblenesse not giving them time to charge again being astonished with the sudden inundation of armed men they presently fled which way soever they could but being pursued by the swift Tartarian Horse most of them perished in the taking of this great City This City being taken the Tartar like a Torrent over-run many others of lesse note but amongst others he took that Noble City Evamgning and overrunning most speedily the whole Country of Leaotung he entred the Province of Pekin and comming within seven Leagues of the very Imperiall City He durst not advance fearing the Enemy might compasse or surround him because he heard that a world of men came in to help their distressed Prince But the Tartar struck such a terrour into the hearts of all the Countries he had passed as both Souldier and Citizen quitting their Houses left the empty walls to the Tartarians possession knowing the Tartar to have that custom and practise to destroy and put all to fire and sword that did resist and only pillage the Cities that submitted leaving the Citizens alive and treating them courteously By which meanes having collected a world of riches he returned to Leaotung victorious And because his South-sayers had perswaded him that the standing of the old Walls were unfortunate he beat them down and compassed it about with new fortifying them with new Munitions and there proclamed himself Emperour of China For although as yet he had taken nothing of China but only the skirts of the Eastern Country of the Province of Leaotung yet in his hopes aspiring thoughts he had devoured the whole Kingdom wherefore he was called in the China language Theienmingus in the third year of his Reign which was in that of one thousand six hundred and eighteen In this year some in authority about the Emperour Vanley demanded the banishment of the Priests who did then preach the Christian Religion to that Nation But the Emperour who in his heart loved Christanity and those particularly that first planted that Religion amongst them gave no eare for a long while to their demands But at length overcome by the importunity of a chief Commander who had ever been a sore Enemy to Christian Religion and was called Xinchio it was ordained and proclamed that all those Fathers that did propagate Christan Religion should be banished the Kingdome Upon which some of them were secretly concealed in severall Provinces by some Christian Governours others being taken were carried in great Cages to Macao wherein being shut up day and night they suffered extreamly whilst others also being whipt out of the Country rejoyced to undergoe something for his sake whose name they bore but that which added more affliction to all these miseries was the Emperour Vanley's Prohibition to all his to professe Christian Religion But upon this occasion the Christians
began to recover Life and Strength and the Tartars seemed wholly restrained But though Fortune seemed now to shew a smiling face for China yet as her custome is she stood not long constant and stable For the Tartarian King having dispatched his affairs in Tartary sent presently sixty thousand Horse to besiege Leaoyang again promising that himself in person would follow with greater Forces And this Army took that strong City in the space of forty hours both parties fighting with such vigour and fierceness that thirty thousand of the Garison were killed and the Tartars lost about twenty thousand of theirs Nay the Chinesses affirm that they had never woon the City had not the Governor been corrupted by great promises of reward to open them one of the Gates of the Town But be it as it will the Tartars woon the Town The Vice Roy hanged himself for grief The Kings Visitor was taken by the enemy but could never be brought to submit himself or to bestow the Title of a King upon the Barbarian for which in admiration and reward of his Constancy and Fidelity he obtained life and freedom but knowing that according to the custom of China he was guilty of death only because he had fought unfortunately more cruel to himself than the barbarous Enemy he hanged himself The Tartars having taken the City proclamed by Edict that they should kill none if they would cut their hair and use the Tartarians Habit. For the Tartars that I may say something of their Manners as my subject gives me occasion do shave both the Head and Beard reserving only the Mustachâ—es which they extend to a great length and in the hinder part of their heads they leave a Tuff which being curiously woven and plated they let hang down carelesly below their shoulders they have a round and low Cap which is alwaies garnished round with some pretious skin three fingers broad of Castâ—r or Zibellin serveth to defend their Temples Ears and Foreheads from colds other Tempests That which appears above the skin being covered over either with curious red silke or else with black and purple horse-hair which they die and dresse most curiously so as their appurtenances being decently joyned together makes the cap both commodious and handsom Their Garments are long Robes falling down to the very foot but their sleeves are not so wide and large as the Chineses use but rather such as are used in Polony Hungary only with this difference that they fashion the extremity of the Sleeve ever like a Horse his Hoof. At their Girdle there hangs on either side two Handkerchiefes to wipe their face and hands besides there hangs a Knife for all necessary uses with two Purses in which they carry Tobacco or such like Commodities On their left side they hang their Scymiters but so as the point goes before and the handle behind and therefore when they fight they draw it out with the right hand behind them without holding the Scabbard with the other They seldome weare Shoes and use no spurrs to their Boots which they make either of Silk or of Horse-skin very neatly drest but they often use fair Pattins which they make three Fingers high In riding they use Stirrups their Trappings are both lower and broader than ours their faces are comely and commonly broad as those of China also have their colour is white but their Nose is not so flat nor their eyes so little as the Chineses are They speak little and ride pensively In the rest of their manners they resemble our Tartars of Europe though they be nothing so barbarous They rejoyce to see Strangers They no way like the grimness and soureness of the Chinesse gravity and therefore in their first abords they appear more humane Having thus briefly described their manners we resume our former discourse and return to the victorious Tartars in the City they had taken In which finding many rich and wealthy Merchants of other Provinces they published a Licence that they might depart with their Goods and withall commanded them speedily to void the City who presently obeying the order carried away all their goods and riches little suspecting the perfideous treachery of the Tartars For they had not gone three miles from the Town but being set upon by the Tartars they were plundred of their goods and lost all their lives which being done they returned into the fearfull City laden with Riches the Citizens trembling lest they might happely experience the like perfidiousnesse But the Tartar considering at how dear a rate he had bought the mastering of that City and fearing also to find the like provision and preparation in other Cities they durst not make any further attempt for they knew well that the Emperour had not only fortified all the ancient places but erected also new munitions in the straights of many hard and rude passages And amongst all other strong Holds that of Xanghai scituated in the Island of Cu was most eminent containing a vast number of men in the Garrison to resist the further progresse of the Tartarian Forces But that which most of all repressed the Tartars was the great valour of the incomparable Commander Maovenlungus who having with his great Fleet taken an Island neer Corea in the mouth of the River Yalo vexed much their Army in the Rear and was victorious in severall Skirmishes against them so that the Tartars bent all their care and thoughts against this their Enemy This renowned person was born in the Province of Evangtung where being neer the Portugese of Macao he had much perfected himself in the Art of war and he brought with him many great pieces of Artillerie which he had recovered from the Shipwrack of a Holland Ship upon the coasts of that Territorie And because the Emperour of China had declared the City of Ninguyven to be the chief in place of Leaoyang where also he had placed a new Vice-roy and his Royall Visitor therefore Maovenlungus placed the best part of his Artillarie upon the Walls of this City The Tartars therefore acted nothing till the year 1625. and because they resolved to besiege the new Metropolitan City of ninguyvne they first purposed to trie Maovenlungus his fidelity offering him halfe of the Empire of China if he would help them to gain it But that noble Soul of his proved as faithfull as valiant by rejecting those demands with indignation and came presently with his Forces to succour the City Ninguyven which they besieged by which means the Tartars having lost ten thousand men were put to fight and amongst the rest the King of tartary's own Sonne was killed Wherefore being furious with anger they passed the frozen Sea and invaded the Island Thaoyven where they killed ten thousand that kept Garrisons there together with all the Inhabitants and by this one Aâ—t having revenged their former discomfiture they returned into Tartary not with a resolution to sit
against the Tartars as all the Horse would hardly have surmounted it But it is the resolution and valour in War that carries the Trophies not the number of men for hardly had the Tartars set foot in their Boats but the Chineses ran all away as Sheep use to do when they see the Wolf leaving the whole shore unfenced to their landing The Tartars having passed the River finding no enemy to resist enter the most noble Province of Nanking and in a trice make themselves Masters of all the North part of the Country which lies upon the great River of Kiang which is so vast as it is worthily called the Son of the Sea where it deserves particularly to be noted as a rare thing in the Warfare of the Tartars that before they enter into any Country they chuse and name both the Governours and Companies with all the Officers necessary for all the Cities and places which they aym to take so as in a moment they run like a lightning and no sooner they possesse it but it is fortified armed and defended There was one City in these Quarters which made a generous resistance to all their re-iterated assaults called Yangcheu where the Tartars lost the Son of a little Royalet This City was defended by that faithful Imperial Champioâ— called Zuuis Colaus but though he had a mightie Garrison yet he was aâ— length forced to yield and the whole City was sacked and both Citizeâ— and Souldier put to the Sword and least the multitude of the dead Carcases should corrupt the Air and ingender the Plague they laid them all upon the tops of the Houses and setting fire both to the City and Suburbs brought all to ashes and to a total desolation By this progresse the Forces of the Tartar much encreased for the Governours of many places several Regiments came to submit to his Dominion To all whom he commonly continued the same Commands and Offices they were established in before and advanced many of them to higher dignity and so by this Humanitie with which he treated all that came flying to him and by the crueltie he used to those that resolved to make resistance to the Force of his Arms he gained this that most men resolved to partake of his sweet treatie rather than of his cruelty so he easily conquered all that which lies on the North side of that River which I named before the Son of the Sea This River being a German League in breadth and rising from the West of China holds its course to the East and divides the Kingdom into Northern and Southern Quarters it also divides the Country of Nanking in the very middle though Nanking the Metropolitan and Royal City be placed in the Southern part To Master this great Citie they were to passe this River They gathered therefore together many Ships to Conquer this new Emperial seat and also the new settled Emperour The Fleet of China commanded by the most generous and faithfull Admiral called Hoangchoangus lay towards the other side of this River Here the Admiral fought so gallantly and resolutely that he made it appear to the world that the Tartars were not invincible Till at length one of his own Commanders called Thienus born in the Citie of Leaotung being corrupted by the Tartars shot him with an Arrow to death which Arrow fixed the unconstant wheel of Chinas fortune and lost the whole Empire But the Traitor not contented with this perfidious Act began himself to run away and by his example drew all the rest to imitate this Ignominious Action His impudence passed yet to a higher strain for comming to the Imperial Citie and finding the Emperour preparing to retire he joyned himselfe with him as a faithfull friend participating of his adversity till he saw the Tartars who passing the River followed the Kings flight with all imaginable diligence were come near him then he took the Emperour Prisoner and delivered him to the Tartarian Army in the year MDCXLIV This unfortunate Prince being thus betrayed before he had raigned full one year was sent to Peking and there upon the Town Walls was hanged publickly in a Bow string which kind of death the Tartars esteem most noble The pretended Son to the Emperour Zunchinius whether he were true or false run the same course of fortune when they had discovered him being kept still in Prison for they did not onely put to death all those which belonged to the Imperial Family of the Taiminges by Consanguinitie but after a diligent search extirpated all they could find which belonged to them even by Affinitie for it is a custom in Asia if any one conquer a Kingdom to root out all that belong to the Royal Family After this they divided their Army into two parts the one they sent to conquer the Mediterranean Provinces of Kiansi Huquang Quangtung which are all of a marvellous extent the other like a swift Torrent over-run all till they came to the very Walls of the renowned and vast City of Hangcheu which is the head City of the Province of Chekiang Into this City the principal fugitives of the Army of China were retired and those not only of the common Souldiers but many great Commanders and Prefects where they resolved to chuse a new Emperour called Lovangus of the ancient Family of Taimingus But this Prince would never assume the Title of Emperour but contented himself with the Title of King thinking his fall would be lesse and his death not so bitter as if he fell from the Throne of an Emperour but yet to the end to animate them to fight with more vigour than they had done heretofore he promised them to take that Title when they had re-gained one Imperial City He had not reigned three dayes a shorter space than their personated Kings use many times to reign in their Tragedies but the Tartars arrive Which the fugitive Souldiers seeing thinking by this pinch of necessity to force their pay from the King and City refused to fight before they had received their salary It was on this occasion that King Lovangus his heart being not able to bear such a desolation of the City of his people and subjects as he foresaw gave such an example of his Humanity and Piety as Europe never saw for he mounted upon the City Walls and calling upon his Knees to the Tartarian Captains begged the life of his Subjects Spare not me quoth he I wil willingly be my Subjects victime having said this he presently went out to the Tartars Army and was taken This Illustrious testimony of his love to his Subjects had not wanted a reward to Crown so Heroick an Action if it had met with a generous Soul like that of Alexander or of Caesar. When they had the King Prisoner they commanded the Citizens to shut the Gates and keep the Walls least either their own or the Kings Souldiers should enter the City and
presently they fell upon the Kings men whom they butchered in a most cruel manner but yet the water destroyed more than their Swords or Arrows for many cast themselves headlong into the great River of Cianthang which is a League broad and runs neer the City others leaping and overcharging the Boats in the River were presently sunck others flying away full of fear and confusion thrust one another at the River side into that unmerciful Element and by all these many thousands perished The Tartars wanting boats to passe this River having thus expelled or killed the Souldiery they returned Triumphant to the City where they used neither force nor violence by which means this noble City was conserved whose beauty greatnesse and riches I hope to describe elsewhere not by hear-say but by what I saw in the three years space I lived in it from which I lately came into Europe This City of Hangcheu hath an Artificial Channel or Dike to pass by water to the Northern parts of China This Chanel is onely separated by the high part of the way like a Causeway from the River which as I said runs on the South part of the City The Tartars therefore drew many Boats out of this Chanel over the Causeway into the River Cienthang and with the help of these Boats they passed the River without resistance and found the fairest City in all China called Xaoking prone enough to submit to their victorious Armes This City in bignesse yields to many others but in cleannesse and comlinesse it surpasses all it is so invironed with sweet waters as a man may contemplate its beauty by rounding it in a Boat it hath large and fair Streets paved on both sides with white square stones and in the middle of them all runs a Navigable Chanel whose sides are garnished with the like ornament and of the same stone there are also built many fairs Bridges and Triumphant Arches the Houses also which I observe no where else in China are built of the same square stone so as in a word I saw nothing neater in all China They took this Town without any resistance and so they might have done all the rest of the Southern Towns of this Povince of Chekiang But when they commanded all by Proclamation to cut off their Hair then both Souldier and Citizen took up Armes and fought more desperately for their Hair of their Heads than they did for King or Kingdome and beat the Tartars not only out of their City but repulst them to the River Cienthang nay forced them to passe the River killing very many of them In truth had they past the River they might have recovered the Metropolis with the other Towns But they pursued their victory no further being sufficiently contented that they had preserved their Hair resisting them only on the South side of the shore and there fortifying themselves By this means the conquering Armes of the Tartars were repressed for a whole year But the Chinois that they might have a Head chose Lu Regulus of the Taimingian Family for their Emperour who would not accept therof but would be only stiled The Restorer of the Empire In the mean time the Tartars had sent for new forces out of Peking with which they left nere a Stone unturned that they might get over the River Cienthang but all was in vain The drooping affairs therfore of the Chinois now breathed again nay having gathered together more Forces they promised themselves greater victories But the ambition and emulation of rulling frustrated all their hopes For the Commanders and Presidents which fled out of the Province of Chekian into the Country of Fokien carried with them one of Taiminga's Family called Thangus and this man they chose King in the Country of Fokien which confines with Chekiang This Prince pretended that the King called Lu should yeeld up his right to him both because he had but a few Cities under him and also because he was further removed from the Imperial Race than he was But King Lu pretended he was Proclaimed by the Army before him and failed not to set forth his victories over the Tartars By which two contentions the Tartars kept the Crown for these two Royalets would never yeeld to one another nor so unite their Armies as joyntly to represse the Tartars Since therefore this petty King Lu had onely eight Cities under his command whose Contributions were not able to maintain the necessary pay of his Army he never durst venture to passe over the River but endeavoured only to defend himself But the Tartars sought all means possibly to get over this River yet they durst not venture to passe in Boats because King Lu had many ships and good store of Artillery which he had caused to be brought from Sea But the Tartars felicity and prosperous fortune overcame this difficulty for as it happened that year being dryer than ordinary this River towards the South where it runs betwixt high Mountains and is deprived of the flowing of the Sea had lost much of its depth and here the Tartars Horse found it passable and because the rudenesse of those Mountains seemed a sufficient Guard to the Country they found no Souldiers to resist but as soon as the Clowns espied twenty of their Horse to have passed the River they presently advertised the Army and they all betook themselves to flight King Lu himself left the City Xaoking and not daring to trust himself to the Continent he took Ship and failed to the Island called Cheuxan which lies opposit to the Citie of Nimpus where he remains to this day safe and keeps still his Regal dignitie which Island being heretofore only a retreit for Fishemen and some Clowns now is become a potent Kingdom by reason that many fly from China to this King Lu as to their sanctuary to conserve the libertie of their Hair In this Island there are now found three score and ten Cities with a strong and formidable Army which hitherto hath contemned all the Tartarian Power and Forces and watch for some happy occasion to advance again their Kingdom in China But by this means the Tartars took all the Cities and Towns of the County of Chekiang into their Dominion One only City of Kinhoa whose President was aswel a Native of the place as also the Commander in chief and my very singular friend sustained the Tartars assaults for some months But to the end the resistance of this City should not be a hindrance to the course of their Victories the Tartars divided their Army into three parts The first part marched by the City Kiucheu and the Mountains the second by the City Vencheu and the Sea shore into the Province of Fâ—kien and the third obstinately besieged the City of Kinhoa At which time I by leave from the Emperour Longuvus resided in Henxus a City subject to that of Venchen which presently after was besieged and taken by the
neither was it safe for him to leave an enemy behind him nor could be receive victuals from the Emperour Iungley but by Cancheu which is the natural descent of the River and therefore when he heard of Lihuzu's defeat he presently besieged that City with his whole Army But whilst he was besieging this City there came unfortunately a new Army of Tartars from the Imperiall City of Peking which had order to recover this Province of Kiangsi and therefore Kinus was forced to raise his Siege to oppose their entrance by the Northern parts of the Country And at first having a vast Army and used to the Tartarian warfare he fought both valiantly and happily but not being able to sustain any longer their redoubled violent assaults he was forced to retire for his security to Nanchang the chief City of that Country which City the Tartars durst not venture to take by force but resolved to reduce it by a long Siege for which end they gathered together a Company of Country Clowns to make a large and spacious Trench round about the City to the River and there they placed Ships so as no Provision could possibly enter This City of Nanchang is great and extremely full of inhabitants besides the multitude of Souldiers which defended it at that time so as although Kinus had made great Provision for a Siege yet after some moneths he came to great want and pennury and yet he held it out though many dyed expecting stil some succours from the Emperour Iungley which could not be sent because the Souldiers of Quamgtung could never subdue the City of Chancheu by which his succour was to passe wherefore Kinus being brought to great extremity expressed his mind to his Souldiers in these words There is no further hope my faithful Companions but in our own valour and strength we must force our way through the Tartarian Army by dint of Sword be couragious and follow my example And having ordered all affairs he suddainly made a Sally out of the Town upon their Trenches where though he found a vigorous opposition yet with great difficulty he passed and forced their Trenches by which means he saved himself and his Army having killed many Tartars for it is constantly reported that Kinus with a good part of his Army lives in the Mountains expecting there some good occasion to renew the War He being thus escaped the Tartars pillaged the City and put all the Citizens to the sword for it is the Tartars custom to spare all Cities which submit to them and to those which have made resistance before they be taken they are more cruell but they never spare or pardon those Cities which revolt after they have once been taken In this Slaughter they killed the two Priests which there assisted the Christians and their ancient and fair Church was burned in the City After this the Tartars easily recovered the whole Country and having appeased all and left new Garisons in all places the Army returned victorious to the Royal City of Peking In the mean time this Court prepared new Armies to reduce Quamgtung with the other Provinces which acknowledged Iungley for the Emperour of China for the Tutor to the young King of Tartary finding the defections and rebellions in the Southern parts to be very frequent resolved to give those Quarters over to some Tributary Royolets the better to contain those Countries in their duties wherefore in the year MDCXLIX he sent three Armies consisting partly of Tartars and partly of Chineses under three Tributary Princes to govern these Provinces with absolute power and Dominion one of these was King of Fokien another of Quamgtung and the third of the Province of Quangsi but with this condition that first of all they should joyn their Forces to recover the Country of Quamgtung and drive away the Emperour Iungley But we shall say more of this hereafter now having seen the Rebellions of the South let us look a little back on the Rebellions in the North against the Tartars also In these Northern parts the Chineses shewed their desire of Liberty as much as they had done in the South where the Commanders though overthrown yet not taken retired into the abrupt and precipitious Mountains where they held Counsel how they might shake off the Tartars Dominion three of these heads inhabited the thickest and highest places of that mountanous Country the chiefest of whom was called Hous this man being strong in men invited the rest to joyn with him to deliver his Country from this miserable thraldome one of them consented the other could not come but sent him two thousand men to assist him so as Hous marched out with five and twenty thousand men which was no contemptible Army if they had been as couragious as numerous He put out a Proclamation in which he challenged the Tartars and threatened them all extremities and to the Chineses he promised all liberty and freedom and upon these hopes many Towns and Cities admitted him very willingly Sigan the Metropolitan of the Country was the only place able to resist him having within its Walls three thousand Tartars and two thousand selected men of China who served the Tartar The Governour of this Town hearing of Hous his motion gathered all things necessary for a long Siege till a new supply of Tartarian Forces could be sent him But when be heard that all the Towns and Cities in the Country did voluntarily submit themselves to Hous to prevent the like effect in this City he resolved to murder all the Citizens most barbarously nor would he ever be removed from this unhumane sentence till the Vice-Roy commanding and perswading and the Citizens promising all faithfull service at length he changed this Tyrannical Counsel But he commanded under pain of death that the Chineses who loved so much their Hair that they only cut a little of it away about their Temples should hereafter shave it off wholly and totally that so he might distinguish the Citizens from any others if perchance they entred he ordained besides that if any spoke more than two together they should all be presently killed he forbad all men to walk upon the Walls or to walk in the streets by night or to keep a fire or candle in his house by night and finally disarmed all declaring it death to inâ—â—inge any of these orders These things being thus ordered he sent out some Scoots to discover the enemies strength who were partly killed and partly came flying back to the City but this Tartarian Governour as well to make an oftentation of his strength as of his security commanded the City Gates to be left open nor would he permit the Draw Bridge to be raised or pulled up to shew he feared nothing But for all this the Commander Hous besieges this City afar off which was three leagues compasse out of the reach of their Artillery and to the end he might make a shew of
What though the Temple be of that value you speak of What is that in comparison of the Kings Magnificence the very mentioning of such a businesse now the King hath done them that favour if the strangers should but make their complaint would be sufficient to take away the life of that Eunuch who is in Prison and already condemned To conclude in spite of all the powerfull endeavours in spite of all the craft and machinations which were used against them the determination of the businesse was in favour of the poor strangers who were protected by a Divine power and so having overcome all difficulties and obstructions the Fathers went to the Palace according to the usuall manner to render Thanks to the King This place which was granted them is distant from the gate of the Citie about a third part of a Mile the building is very neat and all of Brick and had not then been built above thirty years it is reported to have cost 14000. Crownes which is an excessive summe in China Toward Morning the Body of Father Riccius was brought thither having been already laid in a Coffin which was very well closed and varnished over after the Chinesse Fashion A great number of new Christians did accompany it with lighted Candles in their hands following the Crosse which was carried before very richly adorned and for the present the Coffin was put in a room on one side of the Chappel that there might be a convenience to performe those ceremonies which were requisite after the manner of China after that it was transferred to the Dormitorie already prepared for it At the further end of the Garden there is a Chappell consisting of six sides it is made of brick and vaulted From the sides come out two walls built compassing in figure of a Semi-circle This place was chosen by the Fathers for a Coemeterie round about it there are four Cypresses which are also among the Chinesses accounted mournfull and funerall Trees they seemed as if they had been planted there on purpose to shade the Tomb of Father Riccius which was also built there of Brick and the chief Idol being beaten to pieces served in stead of Lime that the Father might even after death triumph in the destruction of Idols They caused the Chappel of Idols to be cleansed and consecrated it to Christ our Saviour There was in the Hal a very stately Altar whereon was placed the principall Idol all gilt from head to foot of a vast bignesse called by the Chinesses Ticam and their conceit is that he doth preside over the earth and all treasures and is the very same with Pluto having a Scepter in his hand and a Crowne on his head just as we paint our Kings On each side of him stood foure Ministers or Servants all made of the same matter on each side of the Hall were placed Two great Tables upon each of which stood five inferiour Kings of Hell the same Kings were also to be seen painted on the walls of each side sitting on a Tribunall and condemning Sinners to the punishments and paines of Hell there were also to be seen Painted horrible Devils carrying Instruments of torment in their hands and likewise severall sorts of punishments which are inflicted on the damned wretches and their caverns full of flames Serpents and terrible fiends There was also Painted a great Ballance and in one of the Scales was to be seen a man laden with sinnes and wickednesse and in the other the book of prayers belonging to that Sect which did out-weigh all the Sinnes and deliver him who doth frequently rehearse them There was also a River of fire which swallowed up very many men over it there were two Bridges one of Gold and the other of Silver and over these did the Ministers of the Idols conduct men to places of pleasure and delight There were also to be seen some of the Bonzi who plucked their Fathers out of the flames and torments in despite of the Devils and other such things by which those Ministers did gain a great repute to themselves and over every sort of torment there was this inscription Whosoever shall call a thousand times upon the name of such an Idoll shall be delivered from this sort of punishment All was thrown down and destroyed by our Servants who strove who should do it fastest by reason that the Chinesses do put into the bellies of their Idols money Medals and also Jewels The walls were playstered over a new and over a new Altar was erected the Image of our B. Saviour On the day of all Saints the first Masse was celebrated there with all possible Solemnitie and with sound of Organs and other instruments All the Christians were there present and after a brief exhortation the body of Father Mattheus Riccius was carried to the place of Sepulture by the chiefest of them and followed by all the rest particularly by Doctour Paul who loved him as a Father and there with the ceremones of the Church he was enterred there having been first placed in that Chapple another Image of our Saviour The Fathers also built there another little Chapple to the B. Virgin in a place convenient for that purpose to which they had obliged themselves by a vow which they made when they first undertook this businesse Finally over the first Gate they placed in two Chinesses Characters this Inscription By the Kings liberalitie which among them is counted a greater honour than will here easily be beleeved Curiosity brought many thither to see the accommodation they had made which was commended and admired by all neither truly ought it to seem a small matter that in the face of the King and the Court Alters should be overturned and Idols beaten to pieces by a few poor strangers and that too even with approbation of the greatest officers This extraordinarie Grace conferred by the King upon us was shortly after divulged in Pekim which gave no small strength and vigour to our affaires there Their houses were more frequented the Fathers better looked upon and the fruits of the Gospel daily encreased They had only foure Residencies at that time which was in the year 1610 but they were so disposed that they did as it were comprehend the whole Kingdome from South to North upon the great road from Canton to Pekim but the Fathers desiring after they had runne in a manner from pole to pole to follow also the course of the Sunne and to exalt the light of the Gospel through the East and Western parts where there are many famous Cities the occasion was offered them by Doctor Leo for his Father being dead he was forced to leave his government and to return into his Country to bury him and to observe that Mourning which is required by the custome of the Country wherefore he took along with him some of the Fathers partly for his own particular consolation and to instruct the Christians in his Familie and to