Musicians and Players on Instruments banquet their Hearing with the Sweetness of their agreeable Concerts some others represâ—nt to their Eyes the Rancounters and Inventions of some pleasant History Their Feaâ—ts are never without a Comedy which is excellently well performed the Persons are very dextrous thereat and the Habits which they use wholly sit for the Representation The last Course is of all sorts of Fruits and Comsits in great abundance the use whâ—reof is very common in China The Courtiers and other men of China often pass thus their time in the Entertainment of these delicious Feasts But particularly on the Day of the great Feast of their Religion which they celebrate the first Day of the Moon of the Moneth of March they giveâ— to their Senses all the Pleasures that they demand They cloath themselves superbly and adorn themselves with the richest Jewels that they have They plant at their Gates great Trees like to the May-poles in our Counâ—râ—ys and hang the Fronts of thâ—ir Houses with many Pieces of â—ilk and Cloth of Gold They crown the Streets with many triumphal Archâ—s they illustrate the Night with an inâ—inite number of Lights which they hang at these Trees They banquet and feast without câ—asing These Excâ—sses are yet greater when the Courtiers or othâ—r Grandees of the Realm treat their Equals or feast any Ambassadors of a Soveraign Prince then their Magnificence appears in its greatest Splendor The Invited hâ—s many Tables for himself alone the Number whereof amounts to twenty He eats at the first and all the others are laden with all sorts of raw meat as Tame anâ— Wild Fowl Venison Gammons of Bacon and many others After the Feast is ended the Servants of him who treated take them off and carry them before the Invited unto his House where they leave them with great Ceremonies The Friends or Kindred of the Family perform the Civilities of the House For the Master of â—hâ— Feast absents himself and through Decency according to the Cusâ—om of the Countrey is not to be found Those that are entrusted by him who are nevertheless Persons of Quality conduct the Invited unto their Places where they are seated in rich Chairs under a Canopy of Velvet And before they begin to eat they take every one a Cup fill it with Wine and having made many great Reverences go to the Windows where in a place from whence they may see the Heaven they ofâ—er them to the Sun make a great discourse in manner of a Prayer and request of this fair Planet that can give them nothing but the Light whereby they see to drink constant Prosperities for the Invited and that the Amity which they intend to contract may be beneficial and favourable to them both Dissolute Feasts are tempestuous Seâ—s where amidst the Delights of the Body the Vertues of the Mind are oftentimes shipwrackt Wherefore he that has left unto men the Rules of good Conduct advises them rather to go unto the House of Mourning and the Accompanying of Funerals than to the Pleasures of sumptuous Banquets Because that in those they have before their Eyes the Porâ—rait of mans End which ofteâ— caâ—seâ— in them an◠〈◊〉 of their Vaniâ—ies but these bâ—â—iâ—ching their Minds rob â—hem of tâ—â—mselves and make them forget their Condition It is true that the Chineses have besides many others this laudable Quality that they are no less skild in politickly managing their State than in ordering as they excâ—llently do the Pomp and Magnificence of a superb Feast although their licentious Religion forbids them not the entertainment of the Delights and Pleasures that are Enemies to solid Vertue These men who say that they have two Eyes and who as we have already told you look upon the greatest part of other men as blind are themselves so dim-sighted as to hold for Gods Pieces of Wood and Stone fashioned into Idols by their own hands For in the Court as well as in other places of the Realm they adore the Works of Painters and Gravers They keep in their Houses Idols wâ—ich they venerate with a particular Worship and have Recourse to their vain Assistaâ—ce in all â—heir Affairs Their Temples swarm therewith there are some that contain above two hundred upon divers Altars amoâ—gst which that of the Dâ—vil has alwaiâ—s its Place and receives equal Venerations and Sacrifices not but that the Chineses know that he is the obstinate Enemy of Mankind and the Author of the Crimes that are committed in the World but they honor him so that he may not hurt them and not through any expectation of his Assistance Besides these dumb Divinities they revere and pray unto a great number of men already dead who have in their Realm surpassed others in thâ— Valor of Arms in the Light of Learning or in the Sanctity of an austere and recluse Life in the Solitudes of their Religious Monasteries They call them Pausâ—os that is Blessed in the number of which thâ—y put also many Women and of the one and the other they venerate three with a singular Devotion The first is called Sichie who came as they say from the Realm of Tranthâ—jico which lies towards the West brought into China the Rules of Religious life and was the â—irst Invenâ—or of â—loisters and of Religious Orders that live in Community without being married He had his Beard and Head shaven his Followers are also shaven and all the Chinesâ— Monks 〈◊〉 forth the Glory of his Name and elevaâ—â—â— the Merit of his Vertues above aâ—â—â—he oâ—her Saints The second Subject in this Rank of singular Sanctity is a Woman called Canine She is also worthy of her Name for the Devotion which is born to her in China does with an importune Bigottery gnaw the Spirits of the simpler Ladies They say that she was Daughter to King Tzonton who desiring to marry her to a Prince as well as her Sisters who were all Children of this Monarch she would never consent thereunto alledging for her Reason that she had vowed unto Heaven a perpetuall Chastity The Father offended at hâ—r Refusall revenges it on her that made it deprives her of her Liberty encloses her in a great House in the form of a Monastery and through contempt makes her employ her Time in vile and abject matters causes her to carry Water and Wood and to cleanse a great Garden which depended on that place She does it and labors therein with a singular Patience But Heaven to which she had made a vow and for the Love of which she was thus contemnâ—d solages say the Chinâ—ses her Pains dismisses from its fair Vaâ—lts its â—â—ppy Inhabitants for to comfâ—rt her and sends many Animals to succor her the Saints of Heaven came to draw water for her the Apes served for her Servants the Birds â—leansâ—d the Alleys of this Garden with their Bils and swept them with thâ—ir Wings the Savage Beasts descended from a neighboring Mountain to carry hâ—r Wood. The King her Father seeing
Vertuous That the Children of great Personages cannot be admitted to the Employes of their Fathers nor partake the Glory of their Reputation if they do not equal or surpass them fixing thus Nobility to the Person and not to the Blood Foâ—rthly that the Children of Merchants and Artificers how rich soever they be cannot rise any higher than to the exercise of their Fathers Trade except some rich Endowment of Mind so far advantages some one of them above other men that he is able usefully to serve the State and Publick Then by the express permission of the King after long Study and many painful Exercises he is made a Loytias that is a Gentleman with the lustre of a pompous Solemnity whereof we shall speak in its place Fifâ—hly that Idleness is punished as a capital Crime and for to banish it out of the Realm they forbid under great Penalties the giving of Alms to those that shall demand it For poor maimed or sâ—ck persons are sent to their Relations whom the Law constrains by force to tax themselves and make a Purse for the furnishing of those poor afflicted ones with Food and other Necessaries But if their Relations are poor the Kings Purse and publick Charity nourishes them in Hospitals and other Houses founded for this purpose but the Blinâ— and Lame who can work eat not thâ— Bread of the Poor they are forced to geâ— their Living by turning at Mils and doing other Works the Wages whereoâ— supplies their Necessiâ—iâ—s Now this great Realm under the conduct of so good Laws is governeâ— by one Soveraign King who resides ordinarily in the Province of Paguie or Pagule in the City of Taybin or otherwise Suntien which signifies in their Language the City of Heaven Marcuâ— Paulus Venetus calls it also Quinsay so great that it fills with admiration the mind of those that read the Extent thereof and being but a small Pattern of the Kingdom shews manifestly what the Piece is Its Diameter oâ— Length is as much as a man on horseback can well travell in one day for it requires so much time to go from onâ— Gate to the other Its Breadth is halâ— its Length and its Circuit very vast The Suburbs which are many contain all together as much as the Town The Chineses have heretofore raised in this City upon the pressing Necessity of an important War an hundrâ—â— thousand Foot and as many Horâ—â— I was present in the yeer 1616. when a Flemâ—sh Iesuit newly arrived from China related to the King in the Louvre the marvels of this Royal City he aâ—â—irmed the Length thereof to be twice as much as from Paris to Pontoise the Rarities which he recounted thereof are conformable to History Himself appeared in the Kings Closet clothed in the Chinese Garb the Fashion whereof was pleasant and agreeable Three Royal Palaces are built in this great Town one in the entrance towards the East another in the midst thereof and the third at the farther end towards the VVest The King of China has chosen the first for his abode of so vast a Greatnesse that to view the Particularities thereof will take up no less than four whole Dayes It is encompassed with seven Walls so great and spatious that in the Distances between them are easily kept ten thousand Souldiers which make the ordinary Guard of the Palace The number of fair Chambers rich Wardrobes and costly ' Closets amounts to above five hundred There are seventy nine Halls all richly built and of admirable Artifice four whereof make what is most remarkable in this Palace The first is made of cast Metal curiously wrought with a great number of Statues The second has the Floor and the Cieling made of Silver of a rich value The third is of massy Gold excellently enamelled But the Lustre Glory and Value of the fourth far excels the three others it is filled with many Jewels of price therein shines a Royal Throne set all over with Diamonds and so great a number of Carbuncles that with the other preâ—ious Stones they dart forth such Brightness that the Hall is as light in the darkest Night as if it had many Torches lighted therein This fourth is called the Hall of the Kings Treasure which is there also kept In these four Halls â—he King gives Audience to the Ambassadors of forreign Princes and measures the Honor he will do them by their Reception in these Halls For those of the lesser Princes his Tributaries are received but in the first Hall the more eminent in the second those of great Kings who acknowledge him not in the third and fourth He keeps also his Court in these Halls and gives Audience therein to the Principal Officers of his Crown The Queen Mother Maria de Mâ—dicis a Princâ—ss who was the Honor and Admiration of her Age the Lustre of whose rare and incomparable Vertues spread the Glory of her Name in the most remote Regions of the Earth sent him in the year 1616. a stately Present of rich Tapestry and her excellent Piety had for her Aim in this Present the Glory and Honor of him who had caused her to be born the greatest Princess in the World for she did it to the end this Prince might give freâ—er Access to those who wenâ— into his Kingdom to withdraw by the light of the Gospel deceived Souls from the false worship of Idols and put them in the way of their Salvation He that had the charge to present it which was the Flâ—ming of whom we have spoken assured me that the King of China would cause a rich Hall to be built expressely according to the dimensions of the Tapestry where he would cause it to be extended and would esteem it the richest Moveable of his Palace for China which has found before us the fairest Inventions of Arts has not yet that of rich Tapestry But this superb Palace affords the King the Delights of walking There are therein very curious Gardens enamelled with all sorts of Flowers watered with Fountains of clear water where the sweet Murmurings of their little Bubbles allure an assembly of pretty Birds who by a naturall Concert of agreeable Musick in the fair Allies thereof charm the Troubles and Cares that â—ollow Royalty and spring â—p under Crowns The number of Women which he entertains make his most ordinary Company He pleases himself by beholding in their beautiful Faces more Roses and Flowers than the Parterres of his Gardens do produce On the sides of his Gardens are many goodly Orchards which bring forth all sorts of delicious Fruits and farther on are extended great Woods some trimmed and others growing up to a great height where he sometimes takes the pleasure of huntiâ—g They are in severall places compassed with many large Ponds covered all over with River-Fowl amongst which the Swans who under their white Fâ—athers have a Skin hideously black appearing fairest in the Eyes of the Prince taciâ—ly teach him this wise Lesson that the fair Appearances of
Lot if it continues not to fall well they take their Idol beat him souse him in the Water and often scorch him at the Fire and conâ—inue their Lot till such time as 't is favorable to them Then they take again their Idol embrace him and put him with all sort of Honor upon the Altar sing Hymns to him and offer him Wine and the most exquisite Viands they can find Certainly in the madness of these Chinese Courtiers we do in a manner see the Portraiture of the Impiety of some others that live in a better Religion who in the Disorder of their Affairs accuse the innocent Heaven as a Party to their Misfortunes These Chinese Courtiers have also another manner os Lot They put in a Vessel many little Sticks in every one of which is written a Letter of their Alphabet and after they have well shaken the Vessel they cause one to be drawn out by the hand of a little Child they look with what Letter it is marked and search afterwards in a Book the Leaf beginning with that Letter read it and interpret what they find written therein to the good or bad Success of their Designs Thus every where Men are men and in all places the Court is a Sea where Ambition steers her Course and plies both Oars and Sails for the Accomplishment of her Designs and for to arrive thereunto spares no sort of Invention how sinister soever Their Devotion which has no Object but Wood and Stone carved and fashioned into Idols is Court-like that is Cold done in a customary manner and in the Languors of a soft Negligence and their Sacrifices are in some sort the Image of the Love proper to Courtiers They retain the best part of what they immolate and give their Gods what they would refuse themselves If they cut the Throat of an Heifer or kill a Boar they give the Altar only the Tips of the Ears If they sacrifice Fowls they offer there the Claws and the Bill and eat all the rest Great Vessels of Wine are there presented but they drink it themselves after they have consâ—crated and poured forth only some few Drops thereof For at Court all is for themselves and scarce any thing for Heaven History accuses them of Unfaithfulness in their Promises It sayes they measure the continuance of their Faith only by their proper Interest and keep it no longer than it contributes thereunto And indeed what Good can be expected of Men and Courtiers who are alwayes in Delights Thâ— Fertility of the Land the Sweetness and Temperateness of the Air the Tranquillity of the State the Affluence of Riches and above all the Falsity of their Idolatrous Religion plunges â—nd bemires them in all sorts of Pleasures the capitall Enemies of Vertue The least voluptuous amongst them are these learned Loyâ—ias whom their Condition and their ordinary Employ in the most important Affairs of State keeps alwayes in Business which being incompatible with Vices the Ofspring of Idleness stifles them in their Birth When these Courtiers go into the Countrey they make use of Coaches which sail upon the Land as well and almost â—s swifâ— as Ships upon the Sâ—a To shew that the Wind guides and governs all at Court And if in China the Coaches of the Nobility go with Sails the Spirits of Courtiers are elsewhere driven by the Wind For if the World be nothing but Vanity the Court which is the Quintessence thereof sells gives follows and adores the Wind. The King of China is served and followed by such Courtiers but his Councell makes the soundest and best part of his Court For Kings cannot be without it which is when good the Conservation yea the Augmentation of their States and without Counsell the most puissant Monarchies are ruined and destroyed by the weight of their own Grandeur The King of China chooses his Counsellors from amongst the learnedst most experienced and wisest of his Realm 〈◊〉 the Choice and election of them Favor has no Vote Merit and Vertue only speak for them For this Prince practices as fully as any other Monarch of the Earth the Advice of the wisest of Kings whose Counsell to his Equals is Not to admit into their Councels ill-qualified ignorant and stubborn Spirits who are â—urrâ—ed whithersoever their Passions drivâ— them The Councellors of State in Chinâ— ought besides the Probity of their Life and the Integrity of their Manners to be learned in the Laws of the Kingdom to have taken the Degree of Loytias to be skilfull in Morall and Naturall Philosophy and well versed in Judiciary Astrology Their Religion expressely requires this last part because saith it those who are at the Helm of the State ought by this Science to have an Eye to the Future to foresee Tempests and Storms to avoid Rocks to preserve themselves from Shipwrack and happily to steer the Ship of the Common-wealth They are thirteen in number twelve Councellors whom they call Auditors and a President who is with them what the Chancellor is with us The Councell is held in the Royal Palace the Hall where they assemble is suitable to the Pomp and Magniâ—icence of the Chinese Monarch there are erected therein for the performance of their Functions twelve stately Sâ—ats six of Massie Silver and six of pure Gold In the midst of which under a Canopy of Cloth of Gold adorned with two wreathen Serpents woven of Gold which are the Royal Arms shines one of fine and Massy Gold enriched with Jewels wherein sits the President of the Councell or Lord High Chancellor of the Realm Certainly this august Furniture of these Councellors of State is worthy the Matter wherewith they are concerned for if Counsell be somewhat divine and sacred as inspired by GOD we must not think it strange that in China it is accordingly reverenced These men thus magnificently seated give the best and soundest Advices for the Glory of their Prince the Good of hiâ— Stato and the ease of his People Their unblameable Life and the Wisdom of their Minds furnish them with Lights worthily to serve their King It is also from such men that one learns the wise Maxims of good Government and not from Councellors that are disquieted by Avarice diverted and corrupted by Delights puft up and swoln with Ambition For who is he that would search for a living Spring in a silthy Bog or that would draw foul Water to drink sayes a wise Councellor and Chancellor of Antiquity When any one of these Statesmen dies he that is next in Order of Reception takes possession of his Place according to the Law so strictly observed in China That the Services of every one have the Recompence that their Condition can pretend to They ascend then from one Degreâ— to another it not being necessary to demand therefore the Permission of their Prince But for to supply the last Place the Councell chooses the most experienced and wisest man of the Kingdom If he be absent they send for him
Tae being of the Value of an Italian Crown The Silver-Mines yield him in sine Silver three Millions an hundred fifty three thousand two hundred and nineteen Taes Those of Stones fourteen hundred and seventy thousand Taes The Fishery of Pearls brings into his Coffers two Millions six hundred and thirty thousand Taes The Tax upon Odors as Musk and Amber is worth a Million and â—ive and thirty thousand Taes That which is upon Porcelane brings ninety thousand Taes This second Tribute making in all eleven Millions five hundred eighty four thousand French Crowns so that the Revenue hitherto reckoned amounts to about six and twenty Millions of Crowns But the third Tribute upon Corn Salt Wool Cottons and Silks is yet more worth than all this This puissant and opulent Monarch gives to his Subjects a great Quantity of Land depending upon his Dâ—mean on Condition that they render unto him a part of the Proâ—its thereof which serves for the necessary Provisions of his Royall Palace and for those of â—he Officers of his Realm Those who are appointed to collect this Tribute gather every yeer sixty Millions an hundred seventy one thouâ—and eight hundred and thirty Measures of White Rice which is the most ordinary Food of the Men of China and their Neighbors Twenty nine Millions three hundred ninety one thousand nine hundred eighty two Measures of Barley Thirty three Millions one hundred anâ— twenty thousand and two hundred Measures of Wheat Twenty Millions two hundred and fifty thousand Measures of Rie Twenty five Millions three hundred and fourty thousand four hundred Measures of Salt Twenty four Millions of Measures of Millet In other Grains and Pulse fifty four Millions of Measures Silk wrought into Cloth furnishes him with two hundred and six thousand Pieces of the most curious work every piece being 14 Ells long That which is unwrought brings him 540 thousand pound weight He has in Cotton 300 thousand pounds weight the work of Coverings for Beds yields him 8 hundred thousand 4 hundred Pieces of the most exquisite Raw Silk also gives him the weight of four thousand pounds the Manufacture of Cotton brings him six hundred seventy eight thousand Pieces of this Stuff each fourteen Ells long Raw Cotton yields him three hundred and four thousand six hundred forty eight pounds weight The Value of which Incomes augmenting the Sum of the Tribute in Money causes the annual Revenue of this great Empire to amount to an hundred and twenty Millions of Crowns This great and superb Treasure of the King of China collected from his Subjects and the excellent Prudence wherewith he governs his State and manages so rich a Revenuâ— have made him take for his Arms two golden Serpents entwined one within the other and the immense Extent of so vast and fertil a Kingdom abounding with all sorts of Felicities has caused him to put among his Titles the Style of Lord of the World and Son of Heaven And truly since the Countrey is a World in Greatnâ—ss and Goodness he has Reason to call himself the Lord thereof Kings are in effâ—ct doubly the Sons of Heaven not only by the benefit of their Creation as are other men but also by the excellent Priviledge of their Soveraignty whiâ—h is the living Image of the celestial Power But the Monarch of China in the Vanity of his deceitful Religion and the false Worship of his Idols lives as a Son of the Earth Nevertheless the Greatness of his Treasures the Puissance of his Forces the Fertility of his Countrey and the Extent of his State have carried the Pride of his Spirit to that degree of Insolence as to contemn all the rest of Men and to esteem only those of China He sayes often and the same Vaunting is in the mouth of his Sujbects That the Chineses have two Eyes the Europaeans one and that all the other men of the Earth are blind Notwithstanding this Fault which is common to many Princes the Amity and Alliance of so opulent and puissant a Monarch merits well to be sought for by other Soveraigns His Neighbors esteem and desire it The Tartar his capital Enemy requests it and the King of Spain has judged it profitable for the Good of his States and the Glory of his Majesty So when these Princes send Ambassadors to him for this purpose or for to treat of some important Affair he râ—câ—ives them honors them and causes all sort of good Reception to be shewn them When they enter into the Realm the Governor of the â—lace through which they pass assiâ—ted by all the Loytias and Captains of â—he Countrey goes to meet them for to testify unto them by â—loquent Harangue the welcomness of their Arrival Iâ— they come by Sea although there 〈◊〉 but a very little Distancâ— from the Harbor where they land to the Town yeâ— are they not at their Landing permitteâ— to set foot to ground They are receiveâ— in Chairs very richly embroidered witâ— Pearls covered with Curtains of Clotâ— of Gold which eight men carry on theiâ— Arms whereof there are some kept iâ— the principal Towns set apart for thâ— only use For the Law of China sayâ—s Let a forreign Ambassador be recâ—ived anâ— honorâ—d in the same manner as the Prinâ—â— should by whom he is sent if he came inâ—â— the Realm When they are aâ—rived theâ— are lodged in an House mâ—de for theâ— built like a Palace royally furnished and provided with all things necessary where they are served and treated at 〈◊〉 Expences of the King as likewise all â—long their Journey where they are aâ—so at the Kings Expences guarded 〈◊〉 attended by a thousand Souldiers Tâ—morrow after their Arrival the Goveâ—nor who was to receive them goes viâ—it them and after many suitable Coâ—plements asks â—hem the Subject of thâ— Ambassy and having learnt it dâ—â—patches a Curier to the principal Town of the Province to advertize the Vice-roy thereof The Vice-roy dispatches the same Currier to the Court and writes thereof to the King and his Councel who send the Ambassadors a Safe-conduct for their Journey Having received it they set forwards towards the Court attended by the number of Souldiers whâ—reof we have lately spoken they are maintained and have their Expences defrayed by the Kings Treasurers and whereever they pass all sort of Honor is rendred them Wheâ— they arrive at the Royall City of Taybin the ordinary Reâ—idence of thâ— Court the Kings Coâ—â—câ—ll attended by the principal Knightâ— go to meet them The Presidâ—nt of this Royall Councell makes a Baâ—d aparâ— with the Train and Pomp of a King If thâ— Amâ—assadors come from great Monarchs this great President goâ—s on their Left hand if they come from lesser Priâ—ces hâ— takes the Rigâ—t and in this raâ—k accompanies them â—o the House prepared for them the Furâ—iture wherâ—of and the Preparaâ—ion for the Entâ—â—taiâ—ment of the Aâ—bassadors are truly bâ—sâ—eming the Grandeur and Magnificieâ—ce of the King of China By the way he discourses them of
her one day thus served by these new Domesticks believed her to be a Witch and resolved to purge by Flames the Crime of her Enâ—hantments whereupon he caused this House to be set on Fire She seeing that this â—ine place burnt for her sake would have killed her self with a long silver Bodkin that held up her Hair which she set to her Throat but on a sudden there fell a Shower of Rain that quenched the Fire then she quitted her Design retired unto the Mountains and hid her self in the Caves thereof where she continued her Penance Heaven which protected her thus would not leave unpunished the Cruelty of her wickâ—d Father It struck him with a Leprosy and abandoned his living Body to the Worms that gnawed him and made him suffer many Torments Canine had a Revelation thereof Charity makes her quit her Solitude for to go and succor her Leprous Father As soon as the King saw her he cast himself at her Feet craved her Pardon and adored her She judging her sâ—lf unworthy of Adoration would have resisted it but not being able to do it by reason of â—he feebleness of her Body a Saint of Heaven came and set himself before her to repair the Fault and to let her understand that the Adoration was performed to him alone At the same time she returned to her Cave and there finished her Life with equal Sanctity The Chineses hold her for a great Saint and pray uâ—to her ordinarily to obtain the pardon of their Faults The third is a Womâ—n named Neome who they saâ— â—ssâ—ed from a very illustrious Family of the Town of Cuchi in the Province of Oquiam And as her Father would have violated the Vow of Chastity which she had made and have constrained her to marry she fled away and retired into the Dâ—sart of a little Isle which is over against Ingoa where she lived very holily and wrought a great number of Miracles of which they relate this as the most remarkable of them all They say that a great Captain named Campo Admirall of the Navy of the King of China went one day to wage War for his Master in a neighboring Kingdom He came with his Fleet to surge at Boym When they would depart from thence the Mariners could by no means weigh up their Anchors astonished whereat thâ—y all look into the Sea and see Neome sitting thereupon who detained them The Generall calls to her and prays her as divinely inspired to counsell him what he had to do She answers him that if he would triumph over his Enemies and conquer their Realm he should take her along with him because those with whom he was to â—ight were great Magicians He takes her into his Ship weighs Anchor sets Sail and a few dayes after arrives on the Coast of his Enemies Countrey As soon as they perceive the Fleet of China these Magiâ—ians have recourse to their Charms cast Oyl into the Sea and by their Illusions so dazle the Eyes of the Chinâ—ses that their Ships seem to them all on Fire Nâ—ome who was without doubt an excellent Enchantresse by her powerfull Countercharms undoes all that they had done Thus seeing that their Magick was weak and their Arms unequall to those of China they yiâ—lded themselves and underwent the Quality of Vassals and Tributaries to the King of China Campo whom the History marks for a judicious man and a very wisâ— Politician enters into some doubt of the Sâ—â—ctity of Neomâ— and believes her to bâ— a Sorceressâ— To clear this he asks of her some Mâ—rk of her holy Vertue to carry as a Present to the King his Master and prayes her to make a dry Stick which he had in his hâ—nd to become greâ—â— She took the Sâ—ick pronounced over it câ—rtain secret words rendred it green and budding and moreover of a very odoriferous smell and thus delivâ—red iâ—â—o this Captain who bliâ—ded with the same Superstitions as the other Chineses attributed the Prosperiâ—ies of his Voyage and the Success of his Arms to the Sanctity of Neome whose Name has ever since been singularly honored in China and particularly by those that go upon the Sea who bear her Image on the Stern of their Ships and pray unto her as tâ—e Divinity which presides over the Waves commands the Sea it self and appeases Tempests and Storms The Sun and the Moon are also Subjects of their Adoration they revere them as the Sources of Light and Causes of Generation here below but they believe a greater Diviâ—ity that rules over them for when thâ—y sâ—e that the one or other of these Planets suffers an Eclipse they say that the Prince of Hâ—aven has condemned them to death and that the Fear of Punishment thus tarâ—ishes their Light Then they pray this Soveraign Prince to shew them Mercy and not to extinguish these celestial Torches which are so necessary for their Life thâ—y say that the Sun is a man and the Moon a woman Their Bâ—lief holds Heaven for the Creator of all that appears to our Eyes and of things invisible they express it thus by the â—irst Letter of their Alphabet such as we have markâ—d before and affirm that above tâ—esâ— celestial Vaults there inhabits an immortal Governor whom they name Lâ—oâ—on Tzantâ—y that is Goveâ—â—or of the â—reat GOD they qualify him uncâ—eaâ—â—d incorporeal eternal aâ—d a purâ— Spiâ—it they adore him with an exâ—â—â—ordinary veneration and attribute to him thâ— care oâ— Supreme matters with whom they placâ— aâ—other of thâ— same nature called by them Caâ—sâ—y whâ— has râ—ceived from the â—irst the Government of that part oâ— Heaven which regards the Earth and holds in his powerful hand the Life and Death of men This second hath under him three Deputies all three Spirits as the two first They call them Tanquam Teiquam Tzuiquam These are aiders and assistants of his great Ministery for the things of this lower World For the first which is Tanquam is an aquatick Divinity or rather the Fountainier of the World He has the charge of Rains and his greatest exercise is to furnish the Earth with Water Teiquam descends lower towards our inferior Region He presides over the Birth of Men commands in Wars orders Husbandry and causes the Earth to produce the Fruits which nourish the Men and Beasts that inhabit it Tzuiquam is their great Neptune He employs his Time in intending over the Seas retains or drives forward as it pleases him the fury of the Waves commands the Tempests and has a particular care of those that pass the Seas Thus all the people of the Marine adore him the Fishers offer sacrifice the Seamen make Vows unto him and the Sailors at their return from their Voyages make Playes and repâ—esent Comedies to the honor of his Name Now amidst the abominations of this false Worship of the Chinâ—ses are discerned some Traces and ancient Marks though half effaced of a better Religion For in the diversity of their Images they have one
which they hold in singular reverence Its Form is human and Majestick Out of its Shoulders grow up three Heads equal and alike which incessantly behold one another for to let us understand that they have but one and the same Will This may be taken for some Remains of the Mystery of the most holy Trinity which the blessed Apostle St. Thomas heretofore preached unto them when going to the Oriental Indies where the Martyrdom which he suffered crowned his Life with an immortal Diadem he passed through China as is reported in the ancient Writings of the Armenians but finding the Chineses wholly taken up with Wars he passed on farther after he had briefly explicated to them the Verities of the Gospel In the same Temple where this Image with three Hâ—ads is adored they venerate Pictures which are not unlike to those of the twelve Apostles The Christians who observed these Representations asked the naturaÌ„ll Chineses what men these twelve Apostles had been and had no other answer but that these twelve Personages had been great Philosophers who had so ardently embraced Vertue in this World that after their Death it had elevated them up to Heaven and made them Angels thereof For a third Testimony that they have heretofore had some Ray of Christian Verity they venerate also in the same number of sacred Pictures the Image of a Woman perfâ—ctly fair that bears a Child in her Arms which they say she brought forth without violating hâ—r Virginity and whose Conception and Birth were not soiled with any Sin they know no more thereof The double Cloud of Ignorance of the holy Books and of the Siâ— of Idâ—latry has hid the rest from thâ—m Neverâ—heless all these Marks explicaâ—â—d by the eloquent Mouth of some pious and fâ—rvent Christian might reproach them with being no more what they have been and would be no uâ—proâ—itable Means to render succesâ—ul the Cares which should be employed â—or their Salvation Besides that the excellâ—ncy of their Wits capable of Reason would give a freer Access thereunto and even their Oracles would lend an helping hand to such Workmen for the effectuating their good Designs for they have a Prophecy that saith That from thâ— West must come the true Faith which shall lift them up â—o Heaven for to be thâ—râ— made Angels Certainly the Court of China woulâ— be unto us an agreeable Abode in thâ— Conversation of its Courtiers learned and endued with a very excellent Wit and amidst the honest Recompences which are there given to Vertue but the false Worship of Idols and the abominable Superstitions wâ—ich are there committed force us to quit it It is then time to depart thence to turn our Thoughts another way and to bestoâ— our Labors upon a more holy Employmâ—nt We shall do it with the Divine assistance of him that has conducted our Works after we shall have acquainted you with the Ceremonies which are used at the Dâ—cease and Funerals of the Soveraign Priâ—ces of this grâ—at Monarchy When their King is dead thâ—y wash his Câ—â—ps with Aromatick waters perfume his Royall Habits and cloath him in the most sumptuous manner that ever he was in his Life they sâ—at him in his Throne to the end all his Court may come to pay him their last Devoirs and to bewail his Loss The first who present themselves are the Prince's Children if he had any after them the Queen his Wife and the neerest of his Relations they all put themselves on their Knees before his Body abide there some time and then retire with Tears in their Eyes and Sighs in their Moâ—ths The Chancellor or President of his Councell accompanied with all the Councellors of State pays there the same Funerall honors all the Courtiers and Domesticks of the Royal House being also on their Knees before the Deceased bewail the Loss of their Lord. This sorrowfull Ceremony being performed they take the Body from the Throne and strip it of its precious Habits they put it in a Coffin It is the ordinary passage of the Pomps of the World from their Grandeur to Death madâ— of rich and odoriferous Wood closed in such a manner that no Air can enter thereinto they put it upon a Table in the middle of the Royal Chamber adorned and hung the most sumptuously that is possible they spread upon it a white Linen Cloth hanging down to the Ground upon which the Portrait of the deceased King is drawn to the Life the Autichamber is also superbly adorned and therein are set many Tables with a great number of Funeral Lights amongst which is served up a great quantity of Viands for the Priests and Religious of China who come to sing after their mode to pray and offâ—r Sacrifices for the Repose of him who is dead in eternall Inquietudes To these vain Devotions they add many Sorceries they put upon thâ— Coffin a great number of little painted Papers a part whereof they burn the rest they tye to the Bier with little Cords they shake and move them incessantly with such dreadfull Cries and Howlings that it is difficult to hear them without Terror They say that by this frantick fashion of succoring the Dead they send the Soul of the decâ—ased Monarch into Heaven to the number of those that are happy This Tintamarre or Spirituall Charivary of the Priests of China endures the space of fifteen Dayes after which they conduct the Body of the King to the Grave The Procession is in this manner Before the Body go all the Chinese Priests and Religious that are found in the Court they carry in their hands lighted Tapers The Kindred of the Prince follow the Corps severely clad in Mourning they have great Cassocks of wool next theirâ—lâ—sh and are giâ—t about their Reins with Cords their Head is simply covered with great broad-brim'd Bonneâ—s of wool like to our Hats a-la-Mode such as are worn in our Countreys about the end of this present yeer 1625 which is strictly observed For in China Mourning consists not only in the Meen â—t pasâ—es beyond Tears and Sighs which proceed only from Decency The greater Persons to observe well the Mourning for the Death of a Father or Mother deprive themselves of their Offices and â—he Vice-Royes in the like sorrow remit into the Kings hands the Governments that they had received from him To do otherwise there would be no less shamefull and impious than it would be in our Countries for a Son to laugh dance and rejoyce publickly at the Death of his Father The Councell with the honorable Marks of their Dignity go immediately after these and all the Officers of the Royal House and of the Court assist thereat in order and according to the rank of their Employs In this Pomp the Body of the deceased King is conducted to the Grave but not interred without Train they burn at the putting him thâ—rein the Pictures of many Slaves of a great number of Horses of an heap of Gold and Silver and of some Pieces of Silk which they believe follow the Departed into the other World In truth if these Burnings in eâ—â—igie are Marks of the foolish Superstitions of the Chinesâ—s they are also Signs of the sweetness of their Dispositions more humane than those of some Barbâ—rians their Neighbors and of some people which have been ours who at the intermâ—nt of their Princâ—s really burnt their Wives and the Men who had served them and prodigally cast into the fire the Gold Silver and Jewels which they found in their Coffers This light Burning being â—inished and the Pictures reduced into Ashes they descend and close in a little Earth him who commandâ—d a World of Men and Land who might have crowned his Head with fifteen Diadems For the Provinces of China which make this number are in greatness and goodness so many Realms and in doing this they bring unto Dust the greatest and most glittering Pomp of the World And certainly since that all things of the Court and of the Earth are nothing but Dust and that of Dust have the fairâ—â—t and noblest parts of the Universe been formed when Men who are the Kings of the World go down to their Grave we put Dust to Dust. For a Lesson unâ—o Soveraign Monarchs that in their superb Thrones the Royal Crown and Mantle cover only a piece of animated Earth and an heap of living Dust except they have a great Courage a generous Soul and a pious Disposition Then by these Royal and excellent Qualities they will draw their Names out of the Dust of oblivion and if by the common Law of Nature the Body which is but Dust descends into the Dust the Spirit which was never Dust will go to receive in Heaven the immortal Crowns which are the Rewards of magnanimous and pious Kings FINIS