them which have obtained the first places then the King with his owne hand bestoweth a reward on each of them He to whom he giveth the first gift being the chief of all the rest hath a particular name belonging to him ever after as also to the second and the third The first they câ—ll Chuam Yuen the next Pham Yuen the third Thoan Hoa and this name is of so great esteeme and reputation that in a few daies after the examination there is scarce any person through out the whole Kingdom that doth not know them by these names and not by the names of their fathers and Countrie which is a wonderfull thing in so vast a Kingdom as that is The honour is as great as that of our Dukes and Marquesses As well for the respect which is paid them throughout the whole realme as for the places of authority and trust where they are put to govern being the very same which were anciently conferred upon those great Lords whose authority was in another way correspondent to that which now these Doctours have These ceremonies being accomplisht there is yet another examination which although it be voluntarie there are few that absent themselves from it A new point is given they make their compositions and according to them there is an Election made of those who are to be admitted to the royall colledge They select only 30 of the most deserving and of them they admit five every year who only for being entred in so smal a number are alway providing with profitable places of government The other twenty five have particular Palaces assigned them where they assemble and become as Scholars under the discipline of a Colao who almost every day causeth them to compose somewhat and exercise themselves in all that belongeth to their learning and speculative government This continueth til the next examinations at which new persons enter and the other go forth and according to their degrees and antiquity are provided with the places of greatest importance at the court from whence unlesse it be to be Presidents of the examinations or some other particular imployment that lasteth but a short time and by the Kings order they never go out no not to be vice-royes which imployment is accounted below them because only those of the royal colledge are capable of the dignity of a Colao All the new Doctors are that year put into some employment unlesse there be any that is not of competent years That which helpeth this multitude to imployments is that the same year there is held a generall visitation throughout the whole Kingdome by which there are so many of the old Mandarines turned out that there are many places made void for the new ones and as this degree is of high account the visits congratulatious Feasts and Presents which are made upon this occasion are almost incredible The reward for bringing the first newes is many times worth 200 Crownes to the Messenger but commonly 50 assoon as the friends and kindred of those who are named among the three first above-mentioned hear of their promotion presently they erect unto them triumphall arches in their Cities or Villages not of wood coverd with Canvasse or past-bord but of pure Marble sumptuously wrought in the front whereof is engraved the name of the Person for whom they were erected the place he hath obtained and the year of his Doctour-ship in a word the world is the same throughout It is a vain thing to beleeve that he which hath not power should be admired heard or received with applause whether it be done out of zeale to the truth or out of flattery and interest CHAP. 10. Of the Books and Sciences of the Chinesses OF the Sciences of the Chinesses we cannot speak so very distinctly and clearly because really their Authours have not been so fortunate as Aristotle Plato and other Philosophers and wise men who have methodically handled them under their several Classes divisions and titles whereas the Chinesses have written little or no thing of many of the sciences and liberal arts and of the rest but superficially except those which concern good government and policie From the very beginning it hath been their chiefest aim to find out the best way of government the first that began this were the Kings Fohi Xinon and Hoamsi These three at the beginning gave themselves to their morall and speculative Sciences by way of mysticall even and odd numbers and other ciphers and notes by which they gave law to their subjects and from hand to hand these were alway communicated to the Kings who were the wisemen of that time and by this means did govern the Kingdome untill the Monarchie of Cheù which began 1123. years before the coming of our Saviour at which time Venuam and Checuam his youngest Sonne published these numbers and ancient notes and made a booke of them intitled Yechim giving likewise many morall precepts documents and orders to the whole Kingdome and following the steps of other Philosophers which lived according to the Stoick rule they had alway great care of the Government and publique good untill the time of Confusio who composed five bookes in order called by them Vehim which are at this day held as sacred He made also other bookes and of his sentences and sayings there have been since also many more bookes composed This Philosopher flourished about 150. yeares before the coming of Christ he was a man of a good nature well inclined to vertue prudent sentencious and a lover of the publique good He had many disciples which followed him he had a great desire to reform the world which even at that time began to lose its sinceritie and veracity changing the ancient manner of living and introducing moderne customes And so he governed in severall Kingdomes for when he saw that they did not live conformable to his precepts and counsells in one Kingdom he went to another yet not uncensured by many other Philosophers of that time who seeing the evill course which men tooke retired themselves to their villages and becoming husbandmen in their owne persons tilled their grounds Now it happened that one day Confusio passing along and being to go through a river whose ford he was not acquainted withall sent one to enquire of a man that was labouring thereabouts who was a Philosopher He asked the messenger who he was and being answered that he was a disciple of Confusio's who sate in his Coach expecting his answer The Philosopher replied let him go in a good houre he knoweth the way and hath no need of a guide signifying thereby that he went from Kingdome to Kingdome endeavouring to Governe in a time that was not proper for Philosophers to reigne in Neverthelesse in after times this man was in so great favour with the Chinesses and the bookes which he composed were held in so much credit as also the sayings and sentences which he left behind him that they do not only
Assistants who are always advanced in the same Colledge according to their examinations and trialls These always accompany the Kings person and when he goeth abroad have the place next his body These may enter without being called and the manner of the Kings governing being by way of petitions and rescripts every thing passeth through their hands Next followeth the Colledge which they call Thum Cham Su which is as it were a Soveraigne Tribunall of justice over all the Eunuchs This causeth their persons to be arrested this condemneth and causeth them to be punished and not only the Eunuchs but also other persons of great Authority in matters of high concernment are remitted to them and it is the most rigorous Tribunal of justice of all those in China The President is also Captaine of the Kings guard which consisteth of 9000. men 6000. foot and 3000. horse In time of warre he entreth into the Councell of warre where he is allowed the highest place There are also other Colledges and Tribunals as those of severall Treasuries the Treasurie of Iewells of rich Moveables of Habits of Magazines c. There is also a Colledge of Iudiciall Astrologers who observe the stars and the motion of the Heavens who together with the chiefe Mathematician who is always a Mandarine abroad do make the Almanacke for the year following There is a Colledge of particular Priests called Laon Su for the Bonzi are not admitted neither may they enter into the Kings Palaces these have the charge of the Divine service the Chappell 's Offices and Sepultures of the dead c. There are also Colledges of Musitians Comedians or Players Painters Gold-smiths every one performing his office requisite to a well ordered Common-wealth Without the Palace many are prefects of the publick works of the guards which keep watch every night without the Palaces of the Kings sepultures of the Gabells and Impositions and other such employments by which they grow very rich and by reason they have no children though they are most of them married they make great expenses they have sumptuous Country-houses without the City and within Palaces full of all delights richly furnished a stately traine of Servants Their sepulchres are the most costly they have the strongest perswasion of the Transmigration of Soules and that they might be well provided when they take their next new forme are the most devoutest worshippers of the Idols The Eunuchs are exempted from all those Courtesies complements which others are obliged to pay the Mandarines as lighting off their horses or coming out of their chaires when they meet them In the Court they are not permitted to have many servants after them nor to weare very rich apparell and but few are allowed to be carried in a sedan yet almost all of them are suffered to ride on horse-back When in the Palace there is not an Eunuch that is the Kings favourite the Eunuchs which live without the Palace are wont to make great Court to the Mandarines lend them their faire and commodious houses and endeavour by all observance to gaine their good will But if it happen that the King have an Eunuch to his favourite as sometimes it falleth out presently they grow insolent the governments are conferred upon them and then they get the upper hand The last King had an Eunuch who arrived to all that grace and favour with him that can be imagined this fellow governed with so great insolence and Tyranny that he apprehended chastised and put to death even Persons of the greatest Qualitie To touch him though but in imagination was an excesse of Treason And though the Chinesses are very free and bold inspeaking the truth even to the King himselfe yet none durst speak against him The Prince who is now King undertooke the businesse who only told the King his father that his subjects Persons of worth and quality were ill used This was sufficient to banish the Eunuch out of the Palace who at length miserably ended his dayes For as soone as the King was dead he poysoned himselfe and at the same time put a period to his favour and his life but not to the peoples hatred who as soone as he was dead dragged him about the streets and tore him to pieces All his goods were confiscate to the King they amounted to a great value for there was scarce any body who had not formerly presented him and many had given him very rich presents Among other things there were found two chests full of Pearle only it was said he had robbed the Kings Treasury of them The sumptuous works which were either begun or ended through the whole Kingdom in honour of him as Temples to place his statue in which they call Temples of the living and use to erect them to eminent persons who have deserved well of the King and Kingdome Palaces Triumphall Arches and such like fabriques were all cast down to the ground leaving no other memory of them than a comedy which was presently made of him and is yet acted to this day concerning his disgrace and driving out of the Palace Now because some of these Eunuchs are many times dismissed and turned away others grow old and many die from time to time there are young ones chosen in to be put in their places upon this account there comes almost infinite of these Eunuchs to the Court who are made such by their parents either for the profit which they make by it because they are always bought of them for a price or else for the advantage they may receive by them when they come to preferment in the Palace or for those other conveniences which are certaine and assured to persons of this condition At every election there are chosen about 3000 of them at what time they principally consider in their choise their age good shape and behaviour their speech and gracefull pronunciation but above all that they wholly want that which they pretend to have lost and that they be compleatly castrated and moreover every fourth year they are visited least any thing should grow out againe which hath not been well taken away When the election is done the rest are sent away from the Court and those that are chosen are destributed to those lodgings occupations and offices to which they are to apply themselves This is done almost as it were by destiny for without observing of them any more than a few days some are put to study and go to the Colledges of the greatest credit honour and profit others are chosen for Priests others for Singers Comedians c. And others for the kitchin and such like meane and laborious occupations This is that which passeth in the Palace within the gates in what appertaineth to the Kings person and service That which passeth without doores is also very particular and with so much exactnesse that it exceedeth all Hyperbole and although the kingdome be so vast and large yet it is not sufficient to hide
Supervising Censure or Licence of any one and with so small charges that for every hundred letters perfectly engraved in the manner abovesaid they pay no more than foure pence half-penny and yet every letter consisteth of many strokes CHAP. 7. Of their manner of study and admittance to examination THey are put to learn from their tender age They have for beginners certain little bookes containing good rules and precepts of vertue good manners obedience to their parents and superiors or some such like matter A few months after they give them Classicall books which they get all by heart both the Text and the Glosse as perfect as we do our Pater Noster After this commeth the Masters explanation They say their lesson likewise by heart the Scholars back being turned towards the master with the book lying open upon the table and they use no other phrase for saying their Lesson but only Poixú which signifieth to turn their back upon the book and this is done that they might not cast their eies upon it to help themselves They are kept to their studies with so much rigour even the youngest of them that they are allowed no manner of recreation or divertisement Every day they write something and their masters copy is laid under the paper like the black line among us and the paper being thinne and transparent the letters easily appear through which the boy that learneth doth easily imitate forming other letters like those which hee seeth under his paper and by using this for some short time he becometh accustomed to the fashion of his Masters hand which he imitateth after this manner Therefore after some time spent in this exercise they write one line upon the Masters copy and another upon the blank paper by the side of it for as I have said the lines are made from the top of the paper to the bottome till at length when they can well imitate the copy they give over writing upon it In fine they take very much paines to gain a good hand in writing for in their examinations where their compositions are copied it is sufficient to have their Grace denied if there be but found one ill-shapen letter before their exercise be read they presuming that no man can be learned if he read or write ill although among us there be many examples to the contrary For it is wel known that the excellent Doctour Navarra wrought a very ill hand our Bartolomeo Philippo a singular Scholar writ so perfect an ill hand that to the universall grief of all learned men his most learned works were lost although they were many and no doubt full of most admirable knowledge because there was not found any one that was able to read them as may be perceived by those workes of his that have escaped out of that pernicious Chaos Next when the Chinesses have learned a good quantity of their letters and have had some acquaintance with their books they are instructed in the rules of composition First they give them some disordered compositions which they are to reduce into order then some abbreviations for them to enlarge upon and afterwards in due time they give them only the point or Theme in like manner they do at their examinations And because every three years the most approved compositions of those who have taken degrees are put in print others take great paines in them and get as many of them by heart as they are able They have no Universities where they study together but all that are able take a Master into the house for their sonnes and sometimes two if there be much difference between their childrens ages This Master is alwaies with them without any interruption and teacheth them not only letters and sciences but whatsoever concerneth Civill government good manners moralitie and the way how to carry themselves in every thing If they are persons of Quality the Scholar never goeth abroad without his Master who serveth to instruct him in all Civilities and good behaviour particularly in visits where as there are many Ceremonies used there is something of difficultie and they might easily commit an errour if their Master did not help them And without doubt this way is most decent for their reputation and more profitable for their studies and lesse exposed to those venemous practises and company which are apt to teach them such customs as infect their minds and spoile the Decorum of a Gentleman and much more in China where if any one have this evill fame he cannot be admitted to examinations There are neverthelesse many Schools for children of a meaner condition where the Masters have this good quality that they receive no more than they are well able to teach that they might not go from them as if they had never come thither as it falleth out too often in Europe where each Master endeavoureth to have many Scholars rather for his own gain than their advancement For indeed a man let him be never so able is but still one man whence it commeth to passe that some of their Schollars know the School but are not known of it This inconvenience is avoided in China each taketh no greater charge upon him than he is well able to give an account of and each Master admitteth no more Scholars than he can well teach He is with them all the day long behaving himself with much gravitie neither do they ever go out of the School unlesse it be at meales and if any one of them doth live far off his dinner is brought to the School Their play-daies and time of vacation are only fifteen daies at the beginning of the new year and some few daies in the fift and seventh moon and as there are there no Holy-daies they make all the rest of the year an un-interrupted application to their studies So sensible are they of this truth That it is necessary to take very great paines to bee learned and that seldome any one passeth with the reputation of a knowing man without much labour and industrie When they are grown up and past these rudiments and their parents are not able to provide a master for each in particular some of the kindred and neighbours joyne together and take a master in common who dyets with them day by day in course and receiveth his Salary from them all which is not much but more or lesse according to the custome of the Countries and many amount each year to 40 or 50 Crowns the common Salary being from ten to twenty crownes besides the presents which they make them at certaine feasts consisting of stockings shoes and such like things At meals although it be in the houses of persons of the greatest quality they are to sit with the father of the scholar or at least with the scholar himselfe Many times they stuâ—y not in their fathers house having others more proper for that occasion either within or without the City but never farr off and as much as
one another freely and without Ceremony and if they be equals they both together do the same reverence once only he is esteemed to have the advantage that stands on the right hand as among us that takes off the hat last though both do uncover Among grave people the ordinary Ceremony used in their visits invitations and meetings is that standing on their feet they make on obeisance even to the ground once without any more adoe children to their Fathers on certain daies as New years day the Fathers birth-day and other feastivals use the second courtesie of four bowings standing on their feet and four kneelings on their knees and they to whom it is done receive it sitting The same Ceremony do the Scholars pay their Masters who receive it standing The same do the inferiour Mandarines use to the Magistrate and Idolaters to the Idols and the Mandarines to the King excepting that these last hold an Ivory Tablet a palm and a half long and four fingers broad before their faces finally the King himself doth the same in the temples and to his mother and when he doth it he holdeth the said Tablet of Ivory before his face The first time they see one another and are Persons of an equall condition and he that visiteth or is visited will shew an extraordinary affection and respect he causeth a Carpet to be brought and spread before them and after the first ordinary courtesie they performe the second kneeling down four times and this they do both together They avoid as I have said all meeting abroad as much as possibly they can but if they cannot decline it they salute one another by turnes out of their Sedans lifting up their arms to their head bowed in form of a bow beginning at least 20 paces off before they meet still doing the same very leisurely whilst the encounter lasteth If the one be inferiour to the other and be carried in a Sedan he causeth it to be set down on the ground if he be on horseback he alighteth and standeth on his feet and as the other passeth by he maketh him a profound reverence even unto the ground if they be not Mandarines they perform the ordinary Courtesie to one another if they be common people they hold up their hands and passe along The servants in great houses are not to do any reverence unlesse it be at certain times and occasions as when himself or his Lord or Master cometh home from abroad or at the beginning of the new year c. They fall down on their knees bowing their head to the ground once or thrice The ordinary reverence which they make before their Lords and Masters is to stand upright with their armes hanging down Those that belong to the Tribunals and also the servants and serjeants of the Mandarines in publick alwaies speak to their Masters upon their knees as also the Plaintiff and Defendant with their caps off To give or receive a thing with one hand only is accounted little manners among persons of the same condition and if an inferiour doth it to his superiour it is an incivilitie In a word they are excessive in their civilities and good manners which seems rather more proper for divine worship than civill respect To be courteous and outwardly well composed to do things with maturity circumspection gravity and eavennesse they account among their chiefest vertues all which are expressed in this word Li in which they comprehend also the circumstances of time and habit and the Thie with which they are performed The Thie is a bill or book with folds within and without being about the breadth of ones hand and a palm long and it is of three severall fashions The largest hath six leaves the midling three and the least one and all use them according to the custome of the Province and the quality of the Person that doth visite or is visited The Colai seldome use other than the small ones That which is used in the ordinary visits is white with a red streak on the outside If the visit be for to present their respects or an invitation to a feast it is all of red paper if it be to condole or for the death of any one it is accommodated to the colour of mourning if it come from one that is in mourning the letters are Azure as also the streak on the outside the paper is white but much differing from the ordinary paper being only used upon this occasion This Thie containeth no more than one line of writing which is that in the Margin if it be a friend or one that would shew himself such he writeth the line quite out if he be not such he leaveth out the two first letters and beginneth at the third place if he would seem grave or stately beside the two first he leaveth out also the fourth and beginneth with the the third going on with the rest which are never left out The writing importeth thus much in English Your Lordships most intimate friend and the perpetuall schollar of your learning N. commeth to kisse your hands and to do reverence to your Lordship This Thie is given to the porter who presenteth it to his Master and giveth him notice of the stranger and who he is Sometimes the visit is received but not the Thie and then he that receiveth the visit is not obliged to returne it But it is otherwise when the Thie is left for although it be only given to the porter because the lord is not at home or because he will not admit of a visit yet he is obliged to return a visit to the other Inferiours as Souldiers to their Captaines the lesser Mandarines to the greater cannot make use of a Thie but they make another kind of thing of the same forme but much different in paper and style neither may it have a stroke on the outside or say that they come to visit but only who they are what office they beare and what their businesse is and it is almost like a petition which they call Pimthie that is a bill of advice Those of the greater Quality such as are the Colai Vice-royes and the like many times visit not nor render a visit in their own persons but only send a Thie from their house or leave it at the gate as they passe by They are as free of their visits even to strangers as we are to our familiar friends but with the same facility and libertie that they go to visit they will often excuse themselves if they be visited and it is enough to say they are not at home unlesse it be to a person of some great qualitie and respect or that he hath often come to visit him then they will hardly deny him admittance By how much the person is of a greater and graver quality with so much the more difficulty doth he admit of visits and some to free themselves to avoyd the trouble of these Ceremonies write upon a
all ancient Titles They have Offices in the Militia and a competent revenue and all of them succeed their Fathers in their power authority and command They give place to many Officers of the Litterati but at an assembly in the Royall Hall they precede all of them The Third Order containeth all them who either have or doe admininister in the Government of the Kingdome whether they be officers of of warre as Generalls or Captaines or of the Politick and Civill Government whether they be supream such as are the Colai or inferiour Ministers as well the Mandarines of other Cities as those of the Court even to those of the smallest Burghs and Villages neither are they excluded from this order who neither Govern nor have governed but are in Election to be received into the Government such are all Graduates as Doctours Licentiates and Batchelours In a word this order consisteth of Litterati The Fourth is of Students who although they have never taken any degree yet only for being Students and that they are in a way to obtain them are put into the rank of the Nobilitie and treated as such although they have no priviledge or authoritie The Fifth is of those Persons whom they call Netti or cleanly men who live either of their Rents or Merchandize and when their wealth is much their honour is not little and although without learning their power and credit is not so great as among us yet they are much respected by the people CHAP. 25. Of the Government of China and of the Officers THe principall Government of China which embraceth the state of the whole Monarchie is divided into six Councels called by them Pú. These do not only governe in the two Courts where they do reside but from these as from the first movers the rest of the government dependeth and to these persons causes and matters according as appertaineth unto each all is subordinate with an incredible dependance and obedience Every one of these Councels hath its President whom they call C ham Xu with two Assistants one of the left hand who is the first called Co Xi Lam the other of the Right named Geu Xi Lam. These are the chiefest and most profitable offices of the whole Kingdom except the Colai of whom we will speak hereaster so that when a Vice-roy of any Province even of the most principall after he hath given good Testimonie of his abilitie is to be preferred he holdeth himself well provided for not only if he be made President of one of these Councels but also if he come to be one of the Assessours or Assistants either of the left hand or the right Besides these who are the chiefest of the Councell there are ten others of the same Tribunall almost all equall in dignitie who are distributed into severall offices and employments To these are added other great and lesser officers as Notaries Scribes Secretaries Ministers Captaines of Iustice and many others who are not usuall among us in Europe The First and chiefest Councell which is of the greatest authoritie and profit is the Councell of State called Si Pu. To them it belongeth to propose the Mandates of the whole Kingdome concerning Officers to change and promote them for after any one hath been once provided of an Office he alwaies riseth by degrees to greater employments nor are they ever excluded from the Governmen tunlesse it be for some notable fault committed either by themselves or by such as appertaine to them as their Sons neere kindred and the like To this Tribunall also belongeth the power to restore againe any that is turned out of his office as if a Mandarine by some accident lose his office they can easily put him in again and upon this account they have very many and very great bribes given them The Second is the Councell of Warre called Pim Pú. This also as well as the Councell of State hath authoritie over all the Magistrates of the Litterati as also over the officers of warre and taketh cognizance of all affaires belonging to the Militia and is of great profit The Third is the Councell of Rites named Lim Pú. This although it hath not so great command nor bringeth so much profit is notwithstanding more considerable because the Mandarines thereof are of the Royall Colledge and are from hence preferred to be Colai which is the chiefest dignitie in China To this Colledge doth appertaine all affaires concerning Letters Temples Ceremonies Sacrifices the Bonzi Strangers Embassadours and such like things The fourth is the Councell of the Kings Patrimony called Hu Pù it taketh care of the Kings Revenues Taxes Impositions Gabells Excise Tribute and generally whatsoever concerneth the Kings Domaine The fift is called Cum Pù it is super-intendent over all publick works particularly the Kings buildings as those of the Palaces that are made for the Kings children for the Officers over Walls Gates Bridges Cawsewaies cleansing of Rivers and whatsoever belongeth to the Ships and Barkes as well for the service of the King and the publique as for the Armaâ—oes The sixt hath the care of all Criminall matters and to inflict punishments it is called Him Pù and is Judge of the highest Criminall matters and other things appertaining thereto Besides these six Councells which are the most principall of the Court there are other nine Tribunalls called Kicù Kim with severall offices which do particularly belong to the Kings houshold The first is called Thai Lisù as one would say The great reason it is as it were the great Chancery of the Kingdom They examine as being the last appeale the judgements and sentences of the Tribunalls of the Court and thither are brought all facts of great moment It consistenth of thirteen Mandarines that is one President two Collaterals and ten Counsellours The second is called Quan Lo Su and is as it were High Steward of the Kings houshold to whose charge it belongeth to provide the diet for the King the Queen the Ladies the Eunuchs and to have the laying out of the whole expence of the Palace to pay the Salaries to the Officers of the Court and to all those that come thither upon publick businesse to Embassadours which come from other Countries and other such like Persons It hath a President two Assessors and seaven Counsellours The third is Thai Po Cu Sù and is as it were Chiefe Master of the horse to the King and they have not only the charge of all Horses for the Kings service but of all that belong to the Posts and generally of all others which belong to the publick service of the Kingdom It hath a President and seaven Counsellours The fourth is as it were Master of the Ceremonies and complements of the Court It belongeth to them to assist at all the Ceremonies of the publick Actions of the King at feastivalls and other times and occasions which present themselves and also at the daily Ceremonies which are performed in the Palace by
serve all at one time but take their turnes in order Now that I have treated of the small Tribunals I will speak of a great one which is that of the Vice-roy of Cantone which for some causes I had occasion to observe very distinctly as also many others The Tribunal wherein the Vice-roy doth Justice is joyned to the Palace where he hath his residence There is first a great square Court which looketh toward the South without having any gate in the wall right before it but only two at the two sides thereof At the foure Corners of this Court there are foure very high Masts on the top of each is displayed a white banner whereon are written two letters so bigge that they almost take up the whole flagge The letters are Kiun Muen that is Vice-roy Within round about the Court are Chambers for the Notaries for great and lesser Officers and many small Mandarines who are to be alwayes ready at the Vice-roys beck In the middle of the Court is a Theater of stone with steps to ascend to it There stand drums flutes fifes and Corners of Brasse and before the Vice-King giveth audience all these instruments are sounded with certain pauses or Intervalls They are sounded three times for some space and at the end of each there are three Bombards or old fashion'd Cannon discharged at the third and last time the gates are opened all they who have any businesse with him are permitted to enter into the first Court. On the North side whereof which answereth to the front where there is no Gate there is a great Portal which leadeth into another quadrangular Court which is longer than it is broad This Portall hath three gates in it after the fashion of our churches that in the middle is the biggest the other two are lesser each of these gates openeth upon an entry which is raised three or foure palmes from the ground and is seaven or eight palmes broad but that in the middle is larger At each entry stand two ranks of Souldiers with their armes in their hands through the middle of whom those that have businesse are to passe entring at the left gate and coming out at the right for at the middle gate none either go in or come out but the Vice-roy and they that visit or accompany him At the end of this Court is the place of the Vice-roy which hath neither Hall nor Gallery but is a kind of building that participateth of both It is like a Hall for its forme and like a Gallery in that it hath no doore but lyes all open In it standeth a small Table covered with a Carpet of silke whereupon lyeth the Kings seale with red and black inke by it and stones for to grind it small and pensills for to write withall but above all there is the Case of the Cheu Cu that is Little Tallies of wood each of which importeth five lashes so that when the Vice-roy throweth downe two of them in the languages of Justice it signifieth Ten lashes if he throweth downe six Thirty and so of the rest Neere unto the seat of the Vice-roy on each hand stand twelve Captaines richly cloathed with their Morions on their heads and their Scimitars by their sides Behinde stand two Pages with fannes in their hands to make winde in case the weather be hot but in winter they do not use them All Tribunals are not of this forme although there are many things common to them all and the rest is proportionable to the dignity of the Mandarines who hold them CHAP. 28. Of the prisons sentences and punishments of the Chinesses THeir prisons for Malefactours are more commodious and spacious than ours They are all throughout the Kingdom of the same forme with very little difference so that by treating of one we shall give a description of them all They are for the most part either joyned or not farre distant from the Palaces and Tribunals of the Mandarines to which they belong They have no grates towards the street but within the outward gate there is a narrow entry which leadeth to a second gate within which is a Court which is alwaies bigger or lesser according to the receipt and concourse of the prison Then followeth a third gate where the lodgings of the keepers and warders are who are commonly three beyond that is another gate which openeth into a great square Court a long the foure sides whereof are the chambers of the prisoners which have no walls towards the Court but in stead thereof Columnes of wood placed so neere together that they rather seeme to be grates The doores are not made of board but of grates of the same wood so that all is open to the ayre these Lodges or Chambers are the Prisons of the ordinary Prisoners At the end of one of these rowes of chambers standeth the secret or close Prison for such as are committed for crimes of a higher nature This they call Chum Kien that is the heavy Prison so that having passed through the common Prison there are other grates made in the like manner as the first within which are the close Prisons where the most criminall Persons are who are alwayes kept locked up the other Prisons are opened every day and the Prisoners have liberty to go from one chamber to another and to converse together in the Base-Courts Every evening there is a view taken of the Prisoners causing them all for this purpose to come into the outward Court and one of the warders with a rol in his hand calleth them over one by one each man as he is called goeth into his prison where he is locked up for that night Those of the close Prison although they go not out of it which happeneth only to those who have no money for if they have wherewithall to fee the Gaolers they go out when they wil and are lodged where they please Yet are they all day at libertie in their Prison but at night they are secured in this manner They sleep at night upon planks at the lower end whereof where their feet lie there is a great piece of Timber laid athwart which hath store of holes in it wherein their feet are put and so locked up on their hands they put manacles on the side of each are two Iron rings fastened into the Boards through which is passed an Iron-Chaine of a good bignesse and is carried over their brests from the right side to the left so that if this Chaine be streightned a little which is at the courtesie of the Keepers the poor Prisoner is not able to turne himself having not only his hands and feet but his whole body bound This is the caution which they use for the night In the middle of the Court where the aforesaid chambers are there is as it were a little corps d' e gard where there are foure who keep watch by turnes If there happen any noise or stir in the Prisons or
were Chinesses after severall out-rages and Bastinadoes were condemned one of them to serve at the Tartars wall the other to tow the Kings barques as Oxen do in our Country Neverthelesse there was seen in all the Christians a wonderfull constancie and joy to suffer for Christ who shewed so much cheerfulnesse outwardly that the Gentiles did much admire at it There was a Woman who having heard that our Brother Sebastian Farnandes had been Tortured at an examination by the squeezing and pinching of his hands and fingers desired that savour of the Lord that she her self might likewise undergo it and her prayer was granted her in part for being one day in prayer she saw in a Vision Xin sitting on his Tribunall who commanded her to renounce the Faith of Christ which she not consenting to he caused the same Torture to be given to her When the Vision was ended the Marks were to be seen for some time on her hands and the black and blue strips on her body which was a very great comfort and contentment to her CHAP. 10. How things began to be calmed again after the Persecution and of the Foundation of severall Residencies ALl the other persecutions which happened before this of Nankim were particular and commonly the fire went not farre For the cause belonging to the Magistrates of that Province the sentence was alwayes given there without extending it self to the Residencies of other remote Provinces But in this Persecution the Tyrant accounted it too meane an enterprise to discharge his choler on the Christians of Nankim only And therefore he would strike at the Christianitie of the whole Kingdom to root it out at one blow He presented the cause to the King that his sentence might include all with the greater rigour and authoritie But this Tragedie being ended the Fathers being banished from their Residencies their Houses confiscated and sold the Churches ruined and that of Nankim thrown to the ground by the fury of Xin their goods lost and finally the Fathers of Nankim sent away from that Court with so much hubbub and noise that it seemed to be the day of Judgment it is hardly to be believed how much mischiefe followed upon it how much good was hindred by it and how every thing was changed The Fathers lay hid the Christians were in continuall feare the Gentiles encouraged the Tyrant Victorious and his followers so free and insolent that every one was ready to trouble the Christans and to accuse them especially in the City of Nankim Neverthelesse Quia dominus judicavit melius de malis bene facère quà m mala nulla esse permittere according to his Dâ—vine dispensation he drew much good even from these evils For although the liberty and facilitie of making new Christians was impeded at that time yet it manifested the constancie and valour of those that were already such all of them shewing how highly they did esteem the being followers of the Law of God and how much they did desire to keep the Fathers in their Kingdom that they might be still instructed in the Doctrine which they had already received and so many of them which live in other Cities either sent or came in person to receive the Fathers and carry them to their Houses Which was the reason that except in the two Courts we found good shelter in other places whereby the Christians were comforted in their sufferings and confirmed in their Faith and the Churches I speak not of materiall ones maintained and upheld as also many new ones set up as we shall shew hereafter At the Court of Pekim there remained two of our Brothers in the place of Sepulture given us by the King for being Chinesses they were not comprehended in the Sentence of banishmnt wherefore under pretence of Piety and Devotion whereof the Chinesses make great esteem they remained there to keep it although with much trouble and many contrasts which they had with the Eunuchs for they assoon as they saw the Fathers out of the Court thought the House had been without a head and that the brothers alone would never have had strength enough to resist their batteries and therefore it is almost incredible what attempts they made every way to arrive at their design and how many times they brought the brothers into the Tribunalls accusing and troubling them but alwayes to no effect For the Lord who had granted that place to the Fathers that they might be buried there after their death would keep it for them to serve them as a retreate and hiding place even in their life time disposing it so by his providence that Doctour Paul should reside in the Court at that time and that by his authoritie he should overthrow all the plots of our enemies Once especially the Eunuchs had put their businesse in such a forme that it it seemed impossible for them not to carry their design partly because they had as they said corrupted some of the Magistrates with bribes and partly which was more considerable because they had the Chi Fu or Governour of the City on their side to whom they had spoken very effectually concerning the businesse and he had promised them his favour in it The worst was they gave the Brothers such short warning to appeare that they had hardly time to give Doctour Paul notice of it and he to write a letter to the Governour of the City giving Order to the Servant which carried it that he should give it him in what place soever he met him although it were in the street and so he did finding him almost entring into the Tribunal for in Pekim they are without the Houses where they dwell where there was gathered together a great company of Eunuchs who did already assure themselves of good successe by reason of the care and diligence they had used in the businesse The Governour after he had read the letter called the cause and the Eunuchs with greater store of words than reasons began to plead for themselves The Brother being called did no more but shew his Patent wherein was contained how the Officer and former Governour by Order from the King had granted that House and the Gardens thereunto adjoyning for the Sepulture of Father Matthaseus Riccius and his companions The Governour took it and read it and in stead of the favour he was to do the Eunuchs did strengthen it with one Seale more putting to it the Seale of his Office and telling the Eunuchs That which is once well done ought not to be undone So the suit was ended for the Fathers advantage not only this but also many other times whilest the neer Kindred of the imprisoned Eunuch lived they never gave over their endeavours to re-gain it whereby they got often some small summes of money which were given them on purpose to avoyd suits and contrasts The Brothers who kept the House making use of this opportunity went sometimes one sometimes another to visit the Christians of