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
briefe account thereof sufficient at least for the instruction of those who desire to be informed concerning those parts forbearing to make a more large discourse at the present but reserving it for another time which may be when wee shall returne to that vast Country with new Labourers in so great a number that some of the greatest Authority and Experience among us may find leisure and convenience to undertake a perfect Relation In the mean time abbreviating as much as 't is possible this Information without rendring that knowledge confused which wee pretend to gratify the world with we shall divide the work into two parts The first containeth the materiall part of the Kingdome that is the Provinces Land and Fruits and in a manner the formal part too that is the people their learning and customes The second the Beginning of Christianity there the progresse thereof the persecutions suffered therein and finally the condition wherein I left it at my departure thence I hope this worke shall gain some esteem and credit if not for the greatnesse of the Appearance at least for the certainty of the reality of it having taken what I write from the infallible Testimony of mine eyes which though they may not be of the quickest sighted yet have had the advantage to reiterate very often their speculations And if he which vieweth for a long time although his sight be not of the best doth commonly see more then he who looketh in haste be his eyes never so good I who for the space of two and twenty years have had the opportunity to observe all Passages of China have certainly seen so much what I write and what others have written who have not seen them sowell that I must necessarily speak of them with more Certainty then they although with lesse Eloquence The Table of all the Chapters contained in the first part of the History of China Chap. 1. OF the Kingdome in Generall Fol. 1. Chap. 2. Of the Provinces in particular and first of those of the South fol. 8. Chap. 3. Of the Northern Provinces fol. 15. Chap. 4. Of the persons of the Chinesses of their nature wit and inclination fol. 22. Chap. 5. Of the manner of their habit fol. 29. Chap. 6. Of their Language and Letters fol 31. Chap. 7. Of their manner of study and admittance to examination fol. 35. Chap. 8 Of the manner of their Examinations and how their degrees are conferred fol. 40. Chap. 9. Of the degree of Doctour fol. 45. Chap. 10. Of the Bookes and Sciences of the Chinesses fol. 47. Chap. 11. Of their Sciences and liberall Arts in particular fol. 51. Chap. 12. Of the Courtesies and Civilities of the Chinesses fol. 58. Chap. 13. Of their Banquets fol. 65. Chap. 14. Of the Games which the Chinesses use fol. 68. Chap. 15 Of their Marriage fol. 69. Chap. 16. Of the Funerals and Sepultures of the Chinesses fol. 73. Chap. 17. Of the Funerall of the Queen Mother fol. 78. Chap. 18. Of the severall sects of Religion in China fol. 86. Chap. 19. Of their superstitions and sacrifices in China fol. 93. Chap. 20. Of the Militia and Arms of the Chinesses fol. 96. Chap. 21. Of the war which the Tartars made upon China fol. 100. Chap. 22. Of the Kings and Queens of China and of the Eunuchs fol. 106. Chap. 23. How the Kings of China are married fol. 119. Chap. 24. Of the Nobility of China fol. 121. Chap. 25. Of the Government of China and of the Officers fol. 124. Chap. 26. Of the Government of the thirteen Provinces fol 128. Chap. 27 Of the Badge of honour or Ensigns of the Mandarines fol. 132. Chap. 28. Of the Prisons Sentences and Punishments of the Chinesses fol. 135. Chap. 29. Of some particular things which doe facilitate and rectify the Govenment in China fol. 144. Chap. 30. Of the Moors Iews and other Nations which are in China fol. 151. Chap. 31. Of the Christian Religion planted many ages since in China and of a very ancient stone lately discovered there which is an admirable testimony thereof fol. 154. A Table of the contents of the Chapters in the second Part of the History of China Chap. 1. OF the first beginninge of the preaching of the Gospel in China fol. 166. Chap 2. Of the proceedings and Persecutions of the Fathers before they arrived at Nankim fol. 172. Cap. 3. Of what happened after till the Fathers entred into Pekim fol. 177. Chap. 4. The Fathers enter into Pekim and settle there fol. 183. Chap. 5. Of the proceedings and ruin of their House at Xaocheu fol. 187. Chap. 6. Of the progresse of the Christian Religion at the two Residencies at Nancham and Nankim and of the death of Father Matthaeus Riccius fol. 192. 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 fol. 197. Chap. 8. A fierce persecution is raised against the Christians in Nankim fol. 205. Chap. 9. The continuation of the Persecution and the Banishment of the Fathers out of China Fol. 214. Chap. 10. How things began to be calmed again after the persecution and of the foundation of severall Residencies fol. 220. Chap. 11. Of the second persecution at Namkim and of the martyrdome of a Christian named Andrew fol. 226. Chap. 12. How things began to be quiet and setled and how the Fathers were sent for to Court by order of the Mandarines fol. 232. Chap. 13. The life and death of Dr. Leo and the conclusion of this History fol. 239. After which follows the supplement to these present times wherein is contained the Chinesses most cruell warre with the Tartars by whom they are now conquered fol. 249. An Exact MAPP of CHINA being faithfully Copied from one brought from Peking by a Father Lately resideent in that Citty 1655 IC A King of China A China Man A China Woman THE FIRST PART Of the Temporall State of CHINA CHAP. 1. Of the Kingdom in Generall CHina in its extent is one great continued Continent without having any thing which devides it and taking it from the latitude of Haynam which is not farre distant from the Continent and lyeth in nineteen degrees it extends it self twenty foure degrees inclining towards the East and ending in fourty three degrees it comes to make a circuite so much the more spacious by how much the coasts thereof run along in various and unequall windings and so comes to be the chiefest kingdome of the world in greatnesse and almost equall to all Europe On the west side thereof are many small Islands but so neere together that they seem all to Compose but as it were one body All this Monarchy is divided into fifteen Provinces each of which is a spacious Kingdome and so they were all anciently each having a King of its own Of those nine which they call the Southern Provinces the greatest part of them are watered
the third Gate the which as I sayd above is a seate of much Merchandise for it hath two Cities in the borders thereof Gaucheu and Sucheu toward the West as Machao is in the Province of Contone toward the South from whence come numerous Caravans of above a thousand in company of severall Nations and Provinces but for the most part Moores Thus far came Brother Benedict-Goes to seek for the Kingdom of Cathaya which is no other than China it selfe whose voyage we will here breefly relate He departed in lent the year 1603 for to find out the truth of what was reported of the Kingdome of Cathaca by order of the superiors of India from the Kingdome of Mogor and the royal City of Laor in the Habit of an Armenian carrying Merchandise as well to live as to passe with the more facility The whole Caravan consisted of 500 Persons for the most part Sarasens and used to go every year from this royall City to another in another Kingdom named Cascar After a months voyage he arrived at a City named Athu of the same province with Laor thence in two months and a half to Passaur and after another month and a half sometimes travelling and sometimes resting he came to the City of Ghideli where he wanted little to have been slain by theeves And finally after 20 dayes more he came to the City of Cabu the most noble Merchant-towne of all the countries subjected to the Mogor from hence after some stay he passed to Parvám the last City of the Kingdom of Mogor then travelling for 20 daies over very high Mountains he came to Calcia a countrie of faire-hayred people and in other 25 dayes to Chema where he was forced to stay a month by reason of Civill broils and after many troubles and dangers of theeves and Banditti and having passed many countries of the Kings of Samarhan they came into the country of Tengo and at length he entred into the Metropolitan City of the Kingdom of Cascár called Tanghesár in the month of November in the same year At this City which is a noble seate of Merchandise for those Kingdomes the Caravan of Merchants which come from Cabull ended their voyage and a new Caravan setteth forth from thence to go to China But our Brother remained here first many months expecting the time of their departure and having in the meane time made himselfe known to the King of the country he obtained letters of favour and recommendations to all places whither he should go The time therefore being come he departed with ten horses for to carry himself his companion and his goods in company of the whole Caravan toward Chathyaya thaâ— is China in the moneth of November the year following and having travelled 25 dayes with a great deale of difficultie over stones and sand he came to the City of Aesu part of the Kingdom of Cascár after having passed a desart called Caracathai that is Black-earth and gone through many Cities at length he came to a City called Cialis in the same Kingdom of Cascár Here whilest he fitted himself for his journey there arrived Merchants which came from China of whom Brother Benedict learned some tydings of the City of Pekim and of our Fathers which had been there seen by these Sarasen Merchants So that he was satisfied that Cathaya was nothing else but China and the royall City named by the Sarasens Gambalú was Pekim From this City of Cialis Benedict departing with a few in company came in twenty dayes to Pucian and afterwards to Turphan Arâ—muth and Camul the last City of the Kingdome of Cialis From Camul after nine dayes journey they came to the wall of China at a placc called Chiacuon and so had entrance into China which he sought under the name of Cathaya Excepting therefore eleven dayes journey which was through a country peopled by Tartars all the rest of his voyage was through countries inhabited by Moors or Mahumetans Now to return to our story with these Caravans come Embassadours which the Princes of the Moors send to the King of China making every three yeares a small Embassie in respect both of the Persons and the presents and every five years a great one The most part of the Caravan remaine in the two above-named Cities which are upon the Frontiers trafficking there with their Merchandise The others go to comply with their charge and to offer the present in the name of five Kings which are the Kings of Rume Arabia Camul Eamarcan Tursan The first four know nothing of this Embassy the fifth although he know of it doth not make the present nor send the Embassy but hath only this advantage that he nameth the Embassadors The present is made by the Merchants among themselvs these coming to the Vice-roy of those parts the King hath advice given him of their arrival by a paper called a memoriall or petition as soone as they have leave from the Court and that their names are inrolled there depart 40. or 50. of them besides many more added to them who to have leave to enter into the kingdome to trade to eate at the Kings expenses give the captaine a Bribe of about a hundred or six-score crownes a man There goeth a long with them a Mandarine who entertaineth them of freecost while they travell But if they make any stay as they did in the Metropolis of the province for more than three monthes space the Kings expense ceaseth but not the benefit of their traffique for all that while they follow their Merchandise The Merchandise which they bring are Salt Armoniak fine Azure fine linnen carpets called Raisins knives and other small things The best and greatest Commoditie is a certain stone called Yaca which they bring from the Kingdom of Yauken the worst is of a whitish colour the finest is green it hath been of great price formerly in China and is still of good value They make thereof diverse sorts of Jewels for the ornament of the head and it is much used in the palaces the girdle which the King giveth to the Colai is embrodered with the finest sort therof which no other is allowed to use in this ornament That which they carry back in exchange of their commodities is Porcellane Rubies Musk raw-silk silk-stuffes diverse other rarities and medicinall drugges as Rubarb And this I do imagine is the same which is transported from Persia to these parts The Embassadours being arrived they offer their present which consisteth of a thousand Arrabas of this precious stone whereof we have spoken which maketh 1333. Italian pounds whereof 300. pounds are of the finest sort 340. horses which are to be left upon the frontier 300. small poynted Diamonds twelve Cattes of fine Azure which is about 100. Italian pounds 600. knives as many files The last present seeming to me improper to be presented to a King Ienquird what use the King made of them but I could not meet any one was
their publique women called Vampa Likewise those are not admitted against whom lyeth any tax or accusation of ill manners untill there be satisfaction given of their amendment They have three sorts of degrees Sieueai Kiugin Cinfu and that we might the better understand them I might say that after their manner they are answerable to our Batchelour Licentiate and Doctour each degree having their severall ensignes and badges of honour Those that are only students and have taken no degree have not any particular priviledge belonging to them but only are respected as Gentlemen and the people honour them as the lights of their Country so much is knowledge esteemed among them who know how to honour that which doth truly deserve esteeme CHAP. 8. Of the manner of their Examinations and how their degrees are conferred THe order and manner that the Chinesses observe in their examinations of persons that take their degrees is very curious It is to be supposed that in these examinations from the first of the simple student to the last of the Doctour consisteth the businesse of the greatest importance of this Kingdome for on these depend the degrees and offices both of honour and profit the only marke at which mortalls aime with their chiefest attention In a word if there be an employment wherein these two are coupled a conjunction which the old proverb hath sentenced to be very difficult certainly it is this We will begin at the beginning that is what is performed by the meer and simple students Before the examination there is first spread abroad a report that there will be one till at length it be published by Authoritie Because the degrees which are conferred and those which pretend are many it is not convenient that so great a multitude should be admitted to the examination of the Chancellour and to the end that both the fit and unfit should not enter at that examination there is an order in the Province that those which are to enter should be proved first by two Antecedent examinations in their City or Towne after this manner Every Judge in his Territorie doth publish an examination and appointeth a day for the meeting of all the students of his Precinct And because sometimes the place of the publick universitie is not sufficient for the reception of so great a multitude they fill a large field with seats and Tables and there the examination is held The Judge giveth the poynt upon which they are to compose They begin in the morning and are allowed time till night They give in but one composition and when they have finished it they consigne it to the proper officer who putting them together examineth them all along with great diligence and chusing out the best causeth the name of their composers to be written this roll of their names is stuck up upon the wall of his Palace by which it cometh to be known who they are that are allowed to passe to the supream examination and this allowance they call Having a name in their Village The compositions thus allowed are carried by the Officer in person to the Governour of the City and the same do all the judges of Townes each within his own jurisdiction and each City in its Villages each City being divided into two Villages with their particular judges besides the Governour of the City And all the students of the Country that have been already allowed of being assembled together enter into the generall place of the City where the Governour of the City examines them again and giveth them a new point after the same manner as was given them in the Village with this difference that they use more care rigour and diligence and admit lesse of the Intercession of friends who are ready in all places to pervert the truth Of these the governour chuseth 200 and giveth their names to the Chancellour who putteth them the third time upon the same examination almost in the same manner and chuseth out amongst them about 20 or 25 upon whom he conferreth their degree so that being sifted three times most exactly they come at length to be but few in number Then are given them their ensignes and priviledges with an advertency of their subordination not only to the Chancellour but also to the Prefects who are two in each City and are called Hioquon that is Mandarines of the sciences Their office is to observe and spy out the deportment of each and to chastise those that behave themselves amisse and which is more they may examine them a new if they please and as often as they think good The Chancellour is bound by his office to send through the Province and to assemble within the Cities all the Ancient Batchelours and to examine them to find whether they study or else addict themselves to other imployments different from their profession He rewardeth the diligent and castiseth those that are idle in this manner when they are all gathered together in the generall Palace he giveth them a point for their compositions the which being ended their papers are divided into five Decuries or Classes to those of the first he giveth praise and rewards the same or little lesse is done to those of the second Those of the third Classe are passed by in silence those of the fourth he chastiseth those of the last Classe he depriveth of their degrees priviledges and ensignes of honour and turneth them back to be rank'd among the common people yet neverthelesse with liberty to return again for their degrees to their examinations Of the first sorâ— are chosen the ablest to the number of 40. For each City and 20 for each town and although they have not above eight Crowns pension a man they stand the King through the whole Kingdom in 300000. Crowns This employment is very great for the Cities are 444 the Villages 1250. This is that which a Batchelour is obliged to do to obtain his degree let us now see what is required of a Licentiate The examination of these is held every three years in the chief City of each Province upon the same day through out the whole Kingdom which useth to be in the eighth moone and commonly falleth out to bee about the end of our September or beginning of October The examination lasteth about 25 or 30 daies although they that are to be examined are not held to it above three daies only and those are the ninth the twelfth and the fifteenth of the aforesaid month The chief examiners are the greatest Officers of the whole Province besides others of that precinct who are assistant to them But above all the President who commeth even from court purposely to his Province These are the first that do assemble in the general Palace and with them their Secretaries notaries and other people appointed both for their Guard and service and likewise Physitians for fear they might have need of them because whilest this action lasteth no person is permitted to come
Compliments and Reverences Presently the Eunuchs for no others enter there put themselves in order to draw the Chariot the King accompanying it with all his Familie to the last that is the eighth Gate of the Palace where with new laments Ceremonies and complements he took his leave Then within the first gate stood ready they that were to receive the Corps and in the Kings name and stead were to accompany it and to make the Sacrifices and Ceremonies that were to be performed at certaine places Then presently began the Procession with such solemnitie order and silence that it caused admiration in all that beheld it It went no further that day than to a Town without the walls neer to which there was a Tent set up very richly adorned where the Chariot was put and the Tables likewise being set they did Sacrifice and burned Incense and Perfumes and performed other Ceremonies and Reverences and last of all they renewed their Lamentations From this place was dispatched an Eunuch to give the King full account whither and how the Body was arrived and of all that passed there The day following was begun with the Ceremonies and other Funerall solemnities with which the day before was concluded and their journey continued with such a Multitude of people as well of those of the Guard neere hand as of other people afar off that were curious to see that they were not to be numbred By reason of the Sacrifices Ceremonies and stops which they made in the way they were three daies ere they arrived at the Mountaine where the Kings Sepulchres were Assoon as they were come thither the Hearse was removed with many Ceremonies from the Chariot where it was to another triumphant Chariot which they had in readinesse for that purpose of no lesse cost than the former After that they Sacrificed to the earth a Bull with Spiced wines rich perfumes and garments Suplicating to the tutelary Spirit thereof that he would receive that Body with pitie keep defend it c. At the same time nine Mandarines appointed by the King himself performed the same Ceremonies and Sacrifices to all the Kings predecessours which were buried there when the day was come on which the Body should be buried which was the fifteenth of the sixt Moone they made many Sacrifices and so put an end to the Funerall when presently the Mandarines posted away to give the King account of all that had passed which account was alwayes given him in part from time to time by the way And he shewed his liberalitie to all those that had taken paines in that worke and to shew his care and piety in all that which he ought to his Mothers memorie presently after her death he commanded that all prisoners should be released that were not committed for any enormous crimes He gave order also that in the Provinces where there was a Scarcitie of victualls the ordinary Tribute should be taken off and that alms should be given to those that were most necessitous among them He ordered also that the Rights and Gabels to be paied at the Gates and Custome-houses which upon some occasions were lately imposed should cease and he himself with his own hands made many thousand small pieces of Silver which he lapped up in paper according to the custome of China to give them in Almes for the Soule of his dead Mother Truly there is nothing in China so worthy to be imitated by Christians as their piety towards their Parents and God having given to this Nation such knowledge and inclination to vertue it is great pittie that they should only want the foundation of faith Hence we may see with how great fruit and profit the Gospel might be preached in this Kingdome or rather by the goodnesse of the Lord it is already preached as we shall declare in its proper place It will not be besides the purpose of this discourse to adde briefly something concerning the death of King Vanli Sonne to this Queen abovesaid the which fell out towards the end of August in the year 1620. in their seaventh moone forbearing to mention the Ceremonies which were like to those we even now related He fell sick about the end of Iune in the same year of a looseness and paine in his stomack swelling of his feet and other Maladies This infirmity lasted two months with many various changes alterations after which finding himselfe come to the end of his life he called his Sonne the heire of the Kingdome with his three other brothers to whom he made a discourse full of good advise and wholesome precepts accusing himselfe of too much negligence and want of care and then gave them the last salute Then he made his last Will and Testament the manner whereof is this When the Physitians do despaire of the Kings recovery the Colai if they be many as they use to be together with the chiefe of the Eunuchs and the first President of the Palace whom they call Suli Kien go to the King and endeavour to draw from his owne mouth what his last Will is and the summe of his Testament After that they go secretly to the Prince the heire of the Kingdome and give him an account of all to the end nothing might be done contrary to the will of him who is presently to take possession of the Kingdome When they have understood what both their pleasures are they put it into the form of a Will and carry it to the King to have his approbation of it Then they present it to a Senatour of the royall Colledge called Hanli Yven to whom it belongeth to put such writings as concerne the King into good form and stile That done it is closed up and sealed with the Kings seale and is kept in the Archives of the royall Colledge whilest the King is living Assoone as he is dead it is carryed to the Tribunal of Rites and Ceremonies to whom it belongeth to publish it through the whole Kingdome and to put it punctually in execution The form of this Will is here faithfully copied and translated out of the Chinesses language into ours The last Will and Testament of our Emperour Vanli who in obedience to Heaven hath resigned his Empire into the hands of Posteritie I From a child received the government of this Monarchie from the hands of my Progenitours and have held it fourty eight years a very long time wherefore I have no reason to lament that I am now to leave it Assoone as I was created Emperour I had strong inclinations to governe well and to imitate my Predecessours as in truth I endeavoured to do with all exactnesse But afterward being hindred by severall infirmities for many years I left off the care of having the wonted sacrifices celebrated to Heaven and earth neither did I cause the offices and ceremonies to be performed which are due to the memory of my Ancestours I seldome times sate upon the throne to consult of the affaires of
one guilty person that would make his escape The very trees seem to be afraid to cover him with their shade If a person of qualitie be to be apprehended they send the Ministers of justice to him who have no more to do but to throw the cord or chaine at his feet the which he himselfe taketh up and putteth about his neck as if it were a chaine of Gold and the very name of these is sufficient to strike a terrour in any In the City of Sucheu in the Province of Nankim there lived a Mandarine a grave Person who had passed through most of the greatest Offices in the Kingdome with great satisfaction and good liking of the peopie it was in the time of that powerfull Euneuch of whom we spake even now this man had intelligence that these Ministers of justice would be sent to him he stayed not their coming but made a banquet to his kindred and friends toward the end thereof going out as if it had been upon some other occasion he cast himselfe out of a Balcone into a fish Pond where he drowned himselfe His Guests seeing him stay so long went out to looke him and found upon a Table a paper having these words written with his own hand Turning towards the Palace I performe the reverence due to my King whom I have alwayes endeavoured to serve with resolutions becoming a faithfull subject and it is not reasonable that I should suffer from the hand of an Eunuch affronts worthy a base and criminall Person There needs no more than two letters sent from the King and put in any place to make it remaine as it were inchanted so that if they want any thing in the Palace as Chà Fruit. c. it is sufficient to send to the Countrie where those things are they desire to give them notice only and to set up those two letters Xim Chi that is the will of the King and presently every thing is made ready and none dare stir so much as a leafe of it The same thing hapneth when there is any extraordinarie businesse to be done which carrieth some difficultie with it for it is sufficient to set up the two letters above-said and all opposition is levelled as it fell out when the King gave the houses of an Eunuch who was a prisoner to the Fathers of our company for a burying place by clapping the said letters upon them In all the Cities of the Kingdome every moneth on the first day of the moone the Magistrates assemble themselves at the tribunall of the Governour before a Throne where are placed the Royall Ensignes and there they do reverence to them in the same manner as they would do to the King himselfe if he were present They doe the like also on his birth day At the beginning of every yeare each Province sendeth an Embassadour to visit the King and as often as they write letters to him they do not send them by way of the post but a principall Mandarine goeth to carry them But their memorialls or petitions they send by the Post. Every three yeeres all the great Mandarines of the Kingdome go to do homage to the King None may enter into the Royall Palaces no not into the first gate if he be clothed in Mourning neither do they go to make their reverence in an ordinarie habit but in that extraordinarie one appointed for Courtesies and the Magistrates are to put on a red garment None of what condition soever may passe before the gates of the Palace on horse-back nor in a Sedan nor in any other manner except on foot no not if they be women and by how much the Qualitie of the Person is the greater so much the further off is he to light and go a-foot All the Officers and Persons of Qualitie who come to the Court are presently obliged either in the morning early if they come or late at night if they go out to go to Kun Chao that is the Court of Ceremonies as is above-said and before the Royall Throne which is placed in a Hall although the King be not there who at that houre is for the most part in bed and when all that came in that morning are assembled there being no morning that there is not a good number of them the Master of the Ceremonies commeth and with a loud voice declareth the Ceremonies which every one ought to performe and they all in the same manner put them in execution and if by misfortune any one committeth an errour or doth any gesture not reverently enough it belongeth to the Master of the Ceremonies to give the King notice thereof by a memoriall as in like manner doth the Person that is culpable accusing himselfe and requiring some penance for it but this is done purely out of Ceremony the king never taking any heed to it All Embassadours are obliged likewise to the same Ceremonies when they enter into the Court or go out thereof they use to be lodged in one of the Palaces which are within a spacious circuit of wal neere to the Royall Palace and are alwayes kept in a readinesse for that purpose where they are royally treated and at great expence but they may not go out of that circuit and if they would have any thing out of the City it is brought to them into that place they neither see nor speak to the King but only the Councell of Rites by the Kings order treateth with them and dispatched them The Portughesses those two severall times they were sent thither from the City of Macao were not only treated with extraordinary magnificence and liberalitie but had also that particular priviledge to lodge out of that place and the first of them that were sent saw King Thienkhie the brother of him who now reigneth he was very young and out of curiositie to see men of a strange Nation he caused them to come to the Palace and although it was at a good distance yet he saw them and was plainly seen by them Every one in the Kings presence speaketh to him on his knees if he be in the Royall Hall with the Magistrates he goeth away before they rise up if he be sick and they come to visit him they speak to him in the same manner and before they rise off their knees a Curtaine is drawn before him or else he turneth himselfe on the other side When they speak to him they hold in their hands before their mouth a Tablet of Ivory a palm and a half long and three or foure inches broad it is an ancient Ceremony for in old time when they spake in a more familiar manner to the King out of reverence they held something between to keep their breath from coming to the Kings face and also when they discoursed with him of many businesses they carried the heads of them written thereon that they might not forget them But now that they speake to the King at such a distance and not so
that the husbandmen could not attend their Ploughing and Sowing so that by this meanes they came to suffer great want It happened that a Mandarine passed through that Province as he came from another who had more zeale and compassion for them than they who governed there Assoon as he was come to Court he presented a Memoriall to the King wherein he did so lively set forth the small importance of that chase and the great trouble and disturbance which it caused to the people that the King not only bounded his curiosity and commanded they should desist from taking any more Birds but also gave libertie to those which were already taken commanding the doors of the Aviaries and Cages to be set open that they might fly away In the City of Pekim in the Palace of one of the Kings daughters whom they call Cum Chu there was one of her Servants who was very insolent having committed many high crimes and one among the rest which deserved death the Mandarines much desired to apprehend him but in the Palace they could not and he never went abroad but when he wayted on his Princesse At length there was a Mandarine who resolved to take him by any meanes he could and to this effect when the Princesse went next abroad he with his men set himself before the coaches and made them stop and then presently laid hands on that man and carried him away The Princesse resenting the afront that was done her returned presently to the Palace full of indignation and was so transported with colar that she would not stay till the King came back from the audience where he then was but went thither her self in person to complain The Mandarine was presently sent for who had put himself in a readiness well imagining he should be called he presenteth himself before the King who sharply reproved him He answered him Sir I have done nothing but that which your Majestie commandeth the law ordaineth But you ought replyed the King to have sought some other time and opportunity I have sought it long enough answered the Mandarine but I should never have found it At least replyed the King ask my daughter pardon and bow your head Where there is no fault answered the other there is no need of pardon neither will I ask pardon for having discharged my Office Then the King commanded two Mandarines that by force they should bow his head down to the ground but he by strength kept himself up so stiff that it was not possible for them to do it so that the King was constrained to send him away A few daies after the King gave order that he should have a better Office bestowed upon him being much satisfied with his integrity I forbear to relate many like cases which I might bring in confirmation of this The Tenth is the strickt watch and ward which is kept in the Ciâ—ies Townes and Villages in every street there is placed a man and if it be long two or more who are appointed to take care of any disorders that may arise there In every street likewise there is a kinde of prison called Lemphù that is the cold shop where upon a sudden occasion they may imprison a delinquent untill notice be given thereof to some Magistrate The Eleventh is that every night infallibly all the gates of the City are shut up as we have already said The streets also are shut up with grates made for that purpose But the streets are not alwaies shut up nor in all parts of the City but only in some and that upon some certain occasions and occurrences The Twelfth is that persons of honour and authority do beare great respect one to another and it would be accounted a great disgrace for any of them to quarrell with another openly Hence it happeneth that although many times they have occasion of disgust and hatred yet outwardly they alwaies observe their Decorum neither do they upon this account avoyd any meetings that they might not come together The Thirteenth is that none do beare armes except the Souldiers and they only at their musters or when they do accompany the Mandarines The common people who contrariwise do easily quarrell one with another do make use only of their fists and he that catcheth the other first by the haire gaineth the battell nay if they have any thing in their hands that might draw bloud as a staffe a piece of wood or iron or such like thing presently they lay it downe and go to it with their fists The Fourteenth is that the whores and curtezans who are many times the causes of great disorders do lodge without the walls neither is any of them suffered to dwell within They have no particular houses but many of them live together with a man who hath the care and government of them and is obliged to give an account of any disorder that falleth out in their lodgings The Fifteenth is that they forbid all commerce with strangers within the Kingdom least they might infect them with new customes and manners and disturbe their ancient way of government which is a law that was in part observed also by the Lacedemonians upon the very same motive Yet they have never prohibited Embassadours from other Kingdoms and accordingly many are received who are sent from the neighbouring Kings only they lay this obligation upon them that when they are arrived at the first City of the Kingdom they are to stay there where the Magistrates do treate them with all honour and respect and presently give the King advice of their arrivall who sendeth them leave to come to the Court without which licence they are not permitted to go forward When they are come to Court they are lodged in a particular Palace whence they may not go out but in the manner we have above related Above all they have their certain laws statutes and ordinances by which both they and their Kingdom are governed These are of two sorts The first consisteth in ancient rites customes and ceremonies common to the whole Kingdom and are contained in five Bookes and are esteemed to be as it were Sacred Of the second sort are the laws of the Kingdom according to which Justice is administred in particular cases both civill and criminall concerning all that is to be observed in the execution of them These are likewise very ancient and are all founded upon those five Cardinall vertues so much esteemed by their Ancestours and which are at this day held in great veneration among them that is Gin Y Li Chi Sin Pietie Iustice Policie Prudence and Fidelitie Gin say they signifieth Pietie Humanitie Charitie Reverence Love and Compassion Which they expliane after this manner To esteeme ones selfe lesse than others To be affable To succour those that are afflicted To help those that are in necessitie To have a tender and compassionate heart To beare good will to all men and To use all this more particularly toward
that which followeth The true law hath no determinate name The Ministers thereof go about in every part to teach it unto the world having no other aim but to be profitable to those that live in it In the Kingdome of Tachin this Olopuen being a man of great vertue hath brought from so remote a Countrie Doctrines and Images and is come to place them in our Kingdome Having well examined that which he proposeth we find it to be very excellent and without any outward noise and that it hath its principall Foundation even from the Creation of the World his doctrine is brief neither doth he found his truth in superficiall appearances it bringeth with it the salvation and benefit of men wherefore I have thought it convenient that it should be published through our Empire He commanded the Mandarines of this Court of Nimfam that they should build there a great Church with 21 Ministers weakening by that meanes the Monarchie of Cheu Olao Fu head of the sect of Tauzu which was carried in a black Chariot toward the West so the great Tam being enlightened together with Tao the Holy Gospel came into China and a little while after the King commanded that Olopuen his Picture should be painted on the wals of the Temple where it shineth and his memorie will alwayes shine in the World VII According to the records of the Empires of Ham and Guei the Kingdome of Tachin bordereth Southward upon the red Sea and Northward on the Mountaines of Pearls Westward on the Forest Delle Fule Per Li Santi Eastward on the Countrie of Cham Fum and the dead water The Countrie produceth a Lake Asphaltitis of fire Balsome Pearles and Carbuncles it hath no robbers but all live in joyfull peace The Gospel only is allowed in that Kingdome and honours are conferred only on those that are vertuous Their houses are great and all is illustrious by their order and good customes VIII The great Emperour Caozum the Sonne of Taizum continued with good decorum the intention of his Grand Father enlarging and adorning the works of his Father For he commanded that in all his Provinces Churches should be built and honours conferred on Olopuen bestowing upon him the Title of Bishop of the great law by which law he governed the Kingdome of China in great peace and the Churches filled the whole countrie with the prosperitie of preaching IX In the year Xim Lie the Bonzi of the Sect of the Pagods using their wonted violence did blaspheme this new and holy law in this place of Tum Cheu and in the year Sien Tien some particular Persons in Sigan with laughter and disparagement did mock at it X Then one of the chief of the Priests called John and another of great vertue named Kie Lie with some others of their Countrie Priests of great same being disingaged from the things of the world began to take up again that excellent net and to continue the thred which was now broken King Hi venzum Chi Tao commanded five little Kings to come in person to the happie house and to set up Altars Then in the year Tien Pao the pillar of the law which had been cast down for a while began to grow great King Taciam Kium gave command to Caâ—lie Sic that the Pictures of five Kings his ancestours should be placed in the Churches with a hundred Presents to honour the solemnitie Although the great beards of the Dragon were afarre off yet could they lay hands on their Bowes and their Swords The brightnesse which floweth from these Pictures maketh seem as if the Kings themselves were present In the third year of Tien Pao the Priest Kiehâ— was in India who guided by the starres came to China beholding the Sunne came to the Emperour who commanded that Iohn and Paul and other Priests should be joyned unto him to exercise Holy works in Kim Kim a place within the palace Then were hung up in Tables in the Churches the Kings letters richly adorned by publique order with red and blew colours and the Kings pen filled the emptines it mounted on high and transcended the Sun his favours and donatives may be compared to the tops of the Mountaines of the South and the abundance of his benefits is equall to the bottom of the eastern Sea Reason is not to be rejected there is nothing which the Saints cannot do and their deeds are worthy of memorie For this cause king Sozun Ven Mim commanded that Churches should be built in this Limvu and in five Cities He was of an excellent nature and opened the Gate to the common prosperitie of the Kingdome by which meanes the affaires of the Empire began to flourish again XI King Taizum Venvu caused happie times to return again doing things without labour and trouble alwayes at the feast of the nativitie of Christ he sent Heavenly perfumes to the Royall Churches to honour the Ministers of this holy law Truly heaven giveth beautie and profit to the world and liberally produceth all things This King imitated heaven and therefore he knew how to sustaine and nourish his subjects XII King Kien Chum Xim Xin Venvu used eight wayes of government for to reward the good and chastise the wicked and nine wayes to renew the estate of the Gospel Let us pray to God for him without being ashamed of it He was a man of much vertue humble and desirous of peace and ready to forgive his neighbour and to assist all men with charitie These are the steps of our holy law to cause the winds and the raines to retire at their seasons that the world should live in peace men be well governed and affaires well established that the living should prosper and the dead be in happinesse all this proceeds from our Faith XIII The King gave many honourable Titles in his Court to the Priest Y Su a great Preacher of the Law and also a garment of a red colour because he was peaceable and took delight in doing good to all He came from afarre off into China from the Country of Vam Xe Chi Chim His vertue surpassed our three famous Families he enlarged the other sciences perfectly He served the King in the Palace and afterward had his name in the Royall book The little King of Fuen Yam who had the Title of Chum Xulim and called himself Cozuy served at first in the warres of these parts of Sofam King Sozum commanded Y Su that he should assist Cozuy very much above all the rest neither did he for this change his ordinarie custome being the Nailes and Teeth of the Common-Wealth the Eyes and Eares of the Army He knew well how to distribute his revenue he was not sparing in any thing he offered a precious Gift called Poli to the Church of this place of Lintiguen he gave Golden Carpets to that of Cie Ki. He repaired the old Churches and established the house of the law adorning the chambers and galleries thereof making them
year 757. XI Tai Zun Vemvu began to raigne in the year 764. XII Kien Chum Xim was King in the year 781. XII Vam Xe Chi Chim is a place in the Country of the Pagods and signifieth a remote Countrie Poli saith the interpreter is some vessel of glasse XIV Taso was a Bonzo of the sect of the Pagods who made a great assembly of the Bonzi to treate of the publike affaires of that religion and tooke care to lodge them and provide all necessaries for them XIX The Sunne and Moone c. Signifieth that all obeyed that King XXII Kien Chum was the year 782. In the other Paragraphs whereon we have made no Annotations there is nothing of obscuritie to require it It appeareth then evidently by the testimony of this venerable Antiquity that the Christian Religion was planted in China by the means abovesaid in the year of Christ 636 neverthelesse it is not to be imagined that it was not formerly brought thither by the preaching of the Apostles who as the holy Scripture saith did disperse themselves through the whole earth but as it happened in severall other Countries that after it had once been propagated there by them it came in time to be extinguished and was againe renued by the industry of others so it fell out in India where S. Thomas the Apostle had once preached the Gospel but all memory thereof being lost about the year 800. a rich Armenian Christian called Thomas the Canaanite restored the ancient Religion in the Citie of Mogo Doven or Patana repairing the Churches which had been formerly built by that holy Apostle and erecting others And upon this occasion of the likenesse of their names many have mistaken them to be all built by the first Thomas The same thing may probably have happened in China where the Gospel being received presently after it began to be published to the world and being afterward extinguished it was introduced again a second time whereof this inscription maketh mention and lastly a third time whereof we purpose to treat in the second part It seemeth necessarie thus to state the matter that we may not derogate from the Testimonie of those grave Authours whom I have formerly cited how St. Thomas the Apostle did preach in China and converted it to the true Religion The time wherein the memorie of the Holy Apostles preaching was lost was not much different both in India and China for by severall conjectures it appeareth that Thomas the Cananite renewed it in India in the eighth Century after Christ and by this stone it is manifest that it was in the seventh Centurie after Christ when it was preached in China and therefore without much difficultie it may be Concluded that this was not the first establishment of the Christian Religion there but rather a re-establishment of it The end of the first part THE SECOND PART VVherein is contained The Christianitie of the Kingdome OF CHINA CHAP. 1. Of the first beginnings of the Preaching of the Gospel in China ACcording to the opinion of Socrates he was to be esteemed no lesse injurious who spake against the Sunne than he who should denie the beautie of the light thereof with which it maketh the day and of that which is the fruit therof as Tertul. allegorizeth it that is the flower It would be no lesse a fault but rather more unpardonable in him who treating of the conversion of China should deny Franciscus Xaverius to have bin the flower of that day of Grace which having bin set there for so many ages is now risen again upon the Gentiles of that Monarchie He was the first who came to the gates therof with that Treasure of the holy Gospel after he had coÌ„municated it to so many severall Kingdomes and Provinces The glorious Saint Leo speaking of the Apostle St. Peter saith Iam Populos qui in circumcisione crediderunt erudierat jam Antiochenam Ecclesiam fundaverat jam Pontum Galatiam Cappadociam Asiam atque Bithyniam legibus Evangelicae Praedicationis impleverat nec aut dubius de provectu operis aut de spatio suae ignarus aetatis Trophaeum Crucis Christi Romanis arcibus inferebat All India doth confesse no lesse of their Apostle to whom the bounds of the East though very large seemed but narrow having already instructed in the faith the principall Cities thereof Goa and Cochin having planted the Gospel on the coasts of Pescaria having converted the Country of Travancor instructed Cambaâ—a and propagated the faith at Malacca preached the true religion at Macazar the Molucche Islands and finally converted the King of Bungo in â—iappon and filled all that Kingdom with the knowledge of the law of Christ yet still the desire of a greater harvest and to profit other Nations suffered him not to rest Studium proficiendi aliis otii illum impatientem reddidit as Robertus Abbas saith of another Labourer in the Gospel unde nec aut dubius de provectâ— operis aut despatiâ— suae ignarus aetatis Trophaeum Crucis Christi Sinicis arcibus inferebat This was his ayme these were his hopes and desires with which he undertooke the voyage of China when being arrived at Sanciana where the Divine Providence had appointed he should end his daies that being true which Tertullian saith Deus omnium conditor nil non ratione providit disposuit ordinavit And the Lord being well appayed with the intention of his servant and the ardent desires which he had to sacrifice his life in this enterprise as Abraham had to sacrifice the life of his sonne Isaac causing him to ascend up into Mount Sancian as he did Moses into Mount Nebo after he had shewed him the land he so much desired to conquer Mortuus est jubente deo the good man died by the ordination and appointment of Heaven after he had seen and shewed unto his Sons that land which he had gained like another Iacob for Ioseph with the bow of his will and the arrowes of his desires leaving them for an inheritance the conquest thereof together with his hereditary spirit which his sonnes and followers having received in part made their assault and at length entred this place and it is now about fifty years that they have kept it with many labours travels persecutions imprisonments Bastinadoes and in a word Egentes Angustiati Afflicti These being the armes with which the standard of the Christian faith is set up in the Kingdomes of the Gentiles and by means whereof together with the grace of God so many men have been converted unto Christianitie as you shall finde in this following relation After my returne into Europe and that my intention of seeking Labourers for this vine-yard was once divulged presently there were so many pretenders who made suit to me to be received that there is scarce a Province of our society from whence I have not received many letters from severall of the fathers wherein they did not only offer themselves but
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
Heaven and Earth to hinder his coming to the Crown but seeing he could not effect that at least he maintained a seditious faction against the great ones which finally proved the destruction of the Estate For these men banding in two factions studied more how to destroy one another than to advance the publique good yet both parties pretended the general benefit but both neglected it Every party endeavouring to extoll and exalt his own Creatures into places of trust and power All which when Zunchinius the emperour went about to redresse he exasperated the minds of many of the Commanders against him for as soon as he came to the Crown he cruelly persecuted all that favoured the Eunuch and in fine killed this very Eunuch which had been his Predecessors Favourite together with many more of his partie of which Tragedy I will only relate the Catastrophe The Emperour Zungchinius resolving to destroy both the Eunuch all his power sent him an order to go visit the Tombs of his Ancestors to consider if any of those ancient Monuments wanted reparation the Eunuch could not refuse so honourable an imployment which seemed rather an addition to his former hounours but he had not gone far upon his journey but there was presented to him from the Emperour a Box of Silver gilt with a Halter of Silk folded up in it by which he understood he was to hang himself by the Emperors order which he could not refuse being that kind of death amongst the Chineses is counted honourable when it is accompanied with such formalities But by this occasion the Emperour raised against himself new Factions and more Traitours which held secret correspondence with the Theeves Army Hence it came to passe that no Army was sent to oppose them or if any went they did no manner of action being alwayes hindered by the emulation of others nay it happened often that when they might have taken great advantages yet the occasion was neglected lest the Commanders should increase other mens Power and Credit by their Victories with the Emperour These Dissentions and Emulations happend so seasonably to the Roving Army of Theeves as that to come to see and conquer was to them one and the self same thing as I shall declare unto you Whilest these transactions passed in the Court Licungzus Conductor of the Theeves having setled all things in the Country of Xensi passed to the East and coming to the famous great River of Croceus finding no body to defend it he passed over with as much facility as it might have been maintained with ease if there had been placed but a handfull of Souldiers For this River runnes with a violent rapid course and a vast Sea of waters from West to East but being there was no man to defend it they passing it easily presently seized upon the chief and richest City in all those quarters called Kaiangchâ—u which is situated neer the South â—ankside of that River and being carried on with a strong gale of Fortune he seized upon many other Cities every one desiring either to free themselves from further vexation or blindly and fondly submitting themselves to any new change of Government For we commonly delight in varieties and novelties and hoping for better we find worse Only the City of Thaiyven made some resistance but being presently subdued was fined with great sumes of money for their temerity The Emperour Zungchinius hearing the Theeves had passed the River Croceus and were advanced to the very Confine of Xensi which borders upon the Province where he had placed his Throne and Royall Seat he sent an Army under the Lord Marshal of China to hold them at least in play if he could not overthrow them But this Army did just nothing nay most of the Souldiers ran to the Thieving party in so much as the Lord Marshal himself called Colaus Lius seeing Affairs grew so desperate Hang'd himself for fear of further shame and dishonour The Emperour hearing of the ill successe of his Affairs began to think of leaving the Northern parts where his Royal City of Peking is situated and to passe to Nankuing which is far more Southward but he was disswaded from this intended course as well by his loyal as disloyal subjects by these that they might give him up more speedily into the enemies hands before their treachery was discovered and by the others lest his flight might trouble the Kingdome more and discourage all his Subjects from giving their best assistance for they thought the City impregnable being fortified with so strong a Garrison nor did they doubt that the Kings presence would draw the forces of the whole Kingdom to him And their Counsel had been good if the Court had been purged of Traytors In the mean time the Theeves Conductor who was no lesse quick and nimble in execution than witty in invention sowing a Fox his tail to the Lions skin caused many of his Souldiers in a disguised habit to creep into that Princely City and gave them money to trade in trifling ware till he assaulted the walls with the body of his Army for then they had order to raise sedition and tumult in the City and considering they were a Company of desperate Fellows and of a very low and base fortune it is stupendious to think how they could keep so profound secrecy in a matter of so high concernment But to this mine which was prepared in the bowels of the City he held a secret train of Intelligence with the Lieutenant of the City who seeing the Emperours Affairs desperate is said to have dealt with the Conductor of these Brigants about giving up the City unto their power But however it was these Pilferers came in a short time to besiege the Royal City of Peking There was in that City a vast Garrison and as great a quantity of Artillery but on the Quarters upon which the enemy made their assault there was none charged with Bullets but only with Powder Wherfore being secure from any annoy from that side in the year MDCXLIV before the rising of the Sun they entred the Metropolitan City of all China by one of the Gates which was opened to them nor was there any long resistance made even by those that were faithfull to their Prince for the Souldiers of the Theef which lay lurking in the City made such a tumult and confusion as none knew whom to oppose in which respect they made a great slaughter so as Licâ—ngzus in this Babylonian confusion marched victorious through the City till he came to the very Emperours Palace where though he found some resistance from the faithfullest Eunuchs yet notwithstanding he presently entred that famous and renowned Palace And that which exceeds all admiration the enemy had passed the first Wall and Precinct and yet the Empâ—rour knew nothing of so strange a passage for the Traiterous Eunuchs which were of most Authority fearing he might escape by flight deferd to admonish him
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
antiquitatibus ejus disquisitione Authore Iacobo Waraeo Eq. Aurato Octavo By whom also all sorts of Books brought from beyond the Seas are to be sold. FINIS The true Effigies of F. Aluarez Semedo Procurator of y e Prouinces of Iapan China Tho Cross fecit See a larger discourse of the ordering of this leafe and of the many vertues of the drink in the voyage and missions of Alexanderd Rhodes printed at Paris 1653. 1 part 13 cap. it s called also Tay. See the Syriack inscription explained by Kirkes in his Prodrom Copt cap. 3. pag. 73. See another Translation somewhat differing from this in Kirchers Prodrom Copt cap. 3 pag. 53. The Tartars were ancient Enemies to China Who are the Tartars The Tartars conquered China heretofore Tamberlain never tooke China The Tartars Emperours of China A great Gaâ—ison upon the Wall against the Tartars A long Peace in China The Tartars think of invading China The first cause of the Tartarian war The second cause The third cause The first irruption of the Tartars into China The Tartars Protestation against China The Barbâ—rous and superstitious Vow of the Tartarian King The chiefe City of Leaoyang besieged and taken A Stratagem against musquets Many other Cities taken How the Tartars used their conquered Towns The Tartar calls himself Emperour of China An. 1618. God punished China for their persecution of Christians The Tartars return with great Riches The Emperour Vanley dyes Taichangus succeeds and dyes Theinkins is chosen Those of Corea more valiant than the Chineses New preparations against the Tartars The Port of Thiencin very commodious The valiant Amazon of China The first invention of the Christians to advance Christianity The Tartars are cast ouâ— The Tartars make war again They besiege Leaoyang and take it Constancy rewarded by the Enemy The Tartars Habits and Manners The Tartars perfidiousness The valiantest Commander of China The faithfulnesse of the Commanders in China The overthrow of the Tartars Their cruelty The Kings of China and Tartary both died Zungchinius chosen Emperour of China Thienzungus more milde than his Predecessors The Souldiers Insolencies exasperate the Country of Corea The Tartars are bâ—ought into Corea Corea wasted The Fight and slaughter of 3. Armies The Eastern part of Leaotung is under the Tartar The Portugese send succour A crafty Commander of the China Army Mâ—ovenlungâ—â— poisoned The Kings Court besieged The perfidious General killed The Tartars â—orrage all the Country of Peking depart The King of Tartary dies another succeeds Zungteus the new King of Tartary prudent milde Mildenesse and Gentleness to be used in Conquering Nations A barbarous Principle of the Chineses Ignatius the chief Commander of the Christians unjustly killed Ignatius his fidelity Ignatius his Piety He chuses rather to die than either to reign or to serve the Tartars The Theeves in China a chief occasion of its overthrow Severall Theeves They are defeated but not vanquished Famin augments the Theeves And the Emperour his avarice The Commanders aspire to the Empire The names of the chief felons They vex several Provinces They besiege the noble City Caifung An unheard of Famin. The City of Caifung is drowned The General of the Theeves takes the Title of a King He takes the Country of Xensi Calls himself Emperour The Theeves good Government The Prefects Discord was another cause of the ruine of China The Theevs take the Province of Xensi The Emperour of China is troubled The Stratagem of the Theef The Royall City of Peking is taken The Emperour having kild his Daughter hanged himself The Theefs Tyranny and cruelty The Tartars called into China against the Theeves The Theeves fly from the Tartars They carry away the Treasures of the Palace Zungteus King of the Tartars dyes The Tartars refuse to depart China â—â—eir Craft 〈◊〉 Deceiâ— A great company of Tartars enter China The Tartars seise upon the Empire of China Xunchiis crowned the first Emperour of the Tartars 〈◊〉 China The fidelity of the Kings Tutor called Amavangus Vsangueius forced to serve the Tartars It is not known what became of Licungzus The Tartars subdue several Provinces They changed no Laws of the Nation Hungquangus Crowned Emperour in Hanquin The Tartars admit no Peace Zunchinius his Son appears at Nankuing He causes troubles in China The flight of the Chineses The City Yangcheu resisting the Tartar is taken and burnt The Tartars take several places The Emperour Hunquangus is taken and killed The Tartars run to the City Hangcheu King Lovingus love to his Subjects Many of the Kings Souldiers drowned Hangcheu is taken The Chineses defend their Hair The Tartars passe the River and recover the City Xaâ—king The Island of Cheuxan becomes a Kingdom The City of Kinhao is taken and destroyed The Tartars take in Fokien very easily King Lunguus slain The Provinces of Quamgtung is taken A famous Pyrate in China The Tartars deceive the Pyrat and take him prisoner by meer Art The Tartars overthrow Quangsi Iungley made Emperour of China The Heir to the Empire becomes Christian. Theeves infest the Province of Fokien Changus the Commander of the Tartars besieges Kienning in vain It is at length taken and razed How the Tartars dispose their Garrisons Kinus Governour of a Province rebelleth The hatred betwixt the two Prefects disturbs the Country of Kiansi Many places revolt from the Tartar The deceipt of the Governour of Cancheu Kinus besieged by the Tartars Kinus breaks out of the City The City of Nanchang is destroyed Three Kings created with as many Armies against Iungley the Emperour of China Hous riseth against the Tartars The barbarous resolution of a Tartarian Governour The chief City called Sigan is besieged The Tartars insolencies produced great danger Kiangus riseth against the Tartars Kiangus gathers great Forces Kiangus overthrows the Tartars by a stratagem He bears the Tartars again Amavangus himself goes against Kiangus The Tartars Banners The Tartars delight in hunâ—ing Amavangus durst not fight with Kiangus Kiangus is killed Xanchius the Emperour Marries Kengus hangs himself The City of Quangâ—hen is taken and pillaged The Emperour Iungly flyes The Author of the Relation of China The Tartars offer a Church to Christians Corea revolted from the Tartars Amavangus dyeth Changhienchungus a cruel Tyrant He kils divers Princes For one offending he puts all to death His hatred to the people of Suchuen He cuts off a Legion for one mans fault He kils many City Officers And he killed also the Eunuchs For one mans fault he kils twenty thousand He endeavours to take Hanchung He kilâ— 140000 men most cruelly He kils all the Students He kils the Children and exposes the Matrons He kils 600000 in the City Chingtu Many Children Baptized He kils all the Souldiers Wives He burned his Palace in the City of Chingtu The Tyrant is slain The Province of Suchuen is made subject to the Tartars One of the Emperours Uncles is ill received He hangs himself
THE HISTORY OF That Great and Renowned MONARCHY OF CHINA Wherein all the particular Provinces are accurately described as also the Dispositions Manners Learning Lawes Militia Government and Religion of the People Together with the Traffick and Commodities of that Countrey Lately written in Italian by F. ALVAREZ SEMEDO a Portughess after he had resided twenty two yeares at the Court and other Famous Cities of that Kingdom Now put into English by a Person of quality and illustrated with several MAPPS and FIGURES to satisfie the curious and advance the Trade of Great BRITTAIN To which is added the History of the late Invasion and Conquest of that flourishing Kingdom by the TARTARS With an exact Account of the other affairs of CHINA till these present Times LONDON Printed by E. Tyler for Iohn Crook and are to be sold at his Shop at the Sign of the Ship in S. Pauls Church-yard 1655. The Epistle to the Reader Courteous Reader I Present thee with that long exspected most exact History of the Lawes Government Manners and present state and condition of that great Monarchy of China in its circuit little less then all Europe Heretofore as zealous of its rare treasures shut and locked up from the curious eyes of strangers so that this booke first yeilds to thee a full discovery thereof I dare say the most valuable that this our world hath been acquainted with since that of America whereby now the furthest East as well as West is disclosed and laid open to the present age For as for some former relations thou mayst have seen thereof thou wilt by this discerne them to be as fabulous as they are compendious and imperfect It was written by one who after first a strict education in all sorts of learning for two and twenty yeares space lived in that Kingdome was resident at the Court and in the greatest Cities thereof and in all that time as designing such a worke was a diligent Observator and Collector of all their manners and customs as likewise after much paines taken in the Language a great student of their Histories and Writings Whose laborious worke after it had already bin clothed in many other Languages besides the Authors and welcomly entertained in most states of Europe it was thought fit no longer to be concealed to a Nation either for curiosity of knowledge or industry of forraigne commerce no way yeilding to her neighbours The variety of the subjects handled therein is so great as comprehending the whole fabricke of that nation their Politicks Oeconomicks Sciences Mechanicks Riches Merchandise c. that those of whatsoever profession may reap no small benefit in reading the designes managements and practices therein of so ingenious a People Whose manners also as their site are so remote and different in most things from ours that I may say in this piece is happily united with the truth of History the delight of a Romance where it will be no small pleasure to thee to see their braines as well as their bodies as it were of a severall mould from the Europeans and their inventions in many things to walke antipodes to us and yet in these no way below us but in many superiour or what in them appears less compleat yet will the knowledge thereof not be ungratefull unto thee because t is new and singular As for many morall vertues thou wilt find them so far to transcend us therein that they may be proposed as an excellent patterne as also they are a shame to Christian states Lastly to correct and reforme any their defects and make the nation perfectly happy the light of Christianity hath of late visited this people who sate in darknes so that now after America also enlightned there is no end of the world left wherinto the sound of the Gospel is not gone forth The foundation of which being there already laid there is great hopes that it may sooner come to a ful purity reformation perfection the indefatigable pains undaunted courage of those laborers who cultivate it in the East provoke a greater diligence andemulation therein in our planters in the West where the Gospel as following a conquest may be advanced both with much more safety and authority To the end of this Treatise I have added the History of the Tartarian invasian of China much enlarged freed from divers Erratas of the former Edition which gives thee an account of the Chinesse affaires till the yeare 1653. Reader thus much I thought good to advertise thee in the front of this Booke that thou mayst not be so great an hinderance to thy selfe as not to be acquainted with so curious and beneficiall a discourse Farewell The Preface WHo writeth of things farre remote doth almost alwayes incurre the inconvenience of many and those no small defects hence it is that we see many Books whose Authours for their personal Qualities might deserve more credit than may justly be given to their writings As for those who have written of China I have perused some of them who leaving in oblivion almost all Truths take the liberty to wander in discourses altogether fabulous for this Kingdome being so remote and having alwayes with much Care avoided all Communication with Strangers reserving onely to themselvs the knowledge of their own Affairs with a most particular Caution hence it followes that nothing is knowne without the Confines thereof but what doth as it were overflow into the skirts of the Country of Cantone a part of this Empire whither the Portugheses have been suffered to come so that the most internall and secret knowledge thereof hath been reserved either for the Natives of the Country who know well enough how to conceale it or for those who upon a better Motive have to discover it little lesse then forgotten their own nature their language their customes and manner of living and transformed themselves into the naturall humour of that Country Now this last hath by divine dispensation fallen to the lott of the Religious of the Company of Iesus who although they came late to the Culture of the Church are notwithstanding arrived to that honour to be reckoned among the first that after Saint Thomas the Apostle did cultivate those remote Confines of the world It is now fifty eight years that they have laboured under this so distant Climate where directing all their force and endeavours to the conversion of Souls they account it a manifest Theft to employ any otherwise that time which they owe to the Service of God and is of so much importance for the Eternall Salvation of men Hence it is that never any yet did or would it have been permitted him if he had desired it to employ himselfe in writing the Relation of this Kingdome except it were Father Nicolaus Trigalzius after he had by permission with-drawn himself from the culture of Christianity among the Chineses and passed from thence into Europe Vpon the same occasion I have undertaken to give a
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
there to this day the rate is very moderate CHAP. 2. Of the Provinces in particular and first of those of the South THis kingdome is divided into two parts South and North and both these subdivided into fifteen provinces as is above-said To this Southern part belong nine which are Cantone Quamsi Yunnam Fukien Kiamsi Suchuem Utquam Chekiam Nankim we will treate of these in this chapter and of the rest in the next That we may proceede distinctly speaking of them in the same order that we have named them Cantone is the first and lyeth in that part of the South that is properly named Quantum It is in the latitude of twenty three degrees it is large rich and abounding in wheat and rice of these it produceth each yeare two harvests though for the most part they are of a severall graine There is store of suger copper and tin materials which they worke with great variety into innumerable sorts of vessels as also workes made with Charam an excellent vernish and with guilding some whereof are transported into Europe The Jesuits in this province had two residencies with their Churches and houses vvhich perished by reason of Severall persecutions as you shall find hereafter The people are able Mechanicks and though of small invention yet they imitate excellently whatsoever they find invented To the City called also Cantone though the proper name thereof bee Guamcheufu the Portugesses go twice every year with their marchandice It is distant from Macao an hundred and five miles and Macao is distant from the first Islands and from the greater Cities of that Empire fifty four The circumference thereof is 15 good miles The concourse of merchants thither is very great and therefore it is more peopled than many of the other Cities The most and best commodities of that Kingdome are brought thither because it is the most open and free seat of trade in that nation And to say nothing of the six neighbouring kingdomes from whence all sorts of merchandise is brought thither as well by natives as strangers only that which the Portugesses take in for India Giappone and Manila cometh one year with another to five thousand three hundred chests of severall silke stuffes each chest including 100 pieces of the most substantial silks as velvet damask and sattin of the slighter stuffes as halfe-damasks painted and single taffities 250 peices of gold 2200 Ingots of 12 ounces weight a peece of musk seaven Pichi which is more then 35 Arrova's every Arrova weighing 25 pound of 6 ounces to the pound besides small pearle sugar Porcellane dishes China wood Rheâ—barbe and severall curious guilded workes and many other things of lesse importance it being hard to name them all even in a longer relation To this Province belongeth the Island of Aynan where pearls are fished in great plenty It is sufficiently populous by one city it hath Several villages on the North part thereof toowards the South there lyeth a barbarous people which admit the Chinesses only to trafficke and commerce without submitting to their dominion It produceth that precious wood of Aquila and that sweet wood which the Portugeses call rose-wood and the natives Hoalim and other things of lesse importance On the North side of Cantone the Province of Quamsi extendeth it selfe to the latitude of 25 degrees it enjoyes the same climate without any considerable difference so that it hath nothing particular which is notable and is counted the second Province Yunnam is the third and lyeth in the latitude of 24 degrees and is the furthest distant of any from the Centre of China it is a great countrie but hath little merchandise I know not any thing is brought from thence unlesse it bee that matter whereof they make the beads for chapplets which in Portugall they call Alambras and in Castile Ambares and are like Amber they are counted good against the catarre it is digged out of mines and sometimes in great peices it is redder than our Amber but not so cleane In this province is violated that custome of the Kingdome that women do not go to the market to buy or sell as in other countries of the world On the other side of Cantone is the fourth Province called Fâ—kieâ— or by another name Chincheo in the latitude of 26 degrees it is for the greatest part Mountanous and therefore not so well inhabited Contrary to the lawes of the Kingdom the Natives of this Province do go into the countries of the neighbouring strangers which are upon the sea-coasts It yeeldeth gold good sugar in great quantitie good Canvas-cloath for other linnen there is none in China There is made excellent paper of diverse kindes which for plenty goodnesse and cheapnesse is very remarkable They make use of printing no lesse conveniently and as it appeareth more anciently than in Europe although not in the very same manner for here after the printing of each sheet the letters are taken asunder there they carve what they would print upon boards or plate so that the bookes are still preserved entire in their work-houses and therefore as often as there is occasion they can reprint any book without the expence of new setting the letters This country is scituated upon the Sea-side and is another eminent port from whence are issued out of that Kingdom infinite Merchandise which are carried by the people of this country that are industrious and brought up to it to Manila Giappone and particularly to the Island Formosa which is even in the sight of the land for with a a good wind it is not above 24 houres voyage thither where they trade with the Hollanders There are two houses and Churches there belonging to our company under whose Government and direction are a great number of very good Christians who have about ten Churches belonging to them the which are visited by us very diligently at set times Two of their chiefe Churches are in the City of Fucheu which is their Metropolis another in the City of Cieumchu the rest in other Cities There are besides many particular Oratories The Island Formosa lyeth in the Latitude of 22 degrees it is situated between the Kingdomes of China and Giappone before you come thither you must passe by a great number of Islands named Liqueu the length of this Island is 150 miles the breadth 75. The Hollanders have there a fort placed in a sandy vale under which lyeth the Port which is encompassed with bankes of sand and if it were not distinguished and secured by certaine posts set up in the water the entrance would be very difficult even to those of the Countrie On the other side of the Island toward the East the Spanyards have a fort distant from that of the Hollanders 90 miles by sea and by land 45 as is reported The soyle of the Island is so fruitfull that it produceth grasse nine or ten palmes high a palme is nine inches English measure where the Hollanders feed their cattell There
rich and maketh so much Cotton-wool that those of the Country affirme that there is only in the towne of Xanuchi and the precinct thereof which is large 200000 Loomes for this stuffe so that from that place only the King draweth 150000 crownes yearly In one house there useth to be many of them for they are narrow as the stuffe is Almost all the women are employed in this work The Court did reside in this Province for a long time and even to this day all the Courts of justice and priviledges thereof are conserved in the City of Nankim whose right name is Umthienfu and it seemeth to me to be the best and greatest City of the whole Kingdome both for the form of the building the largenesse of the streets the manners and dealing of the people and for the plentie and excellency of all things It hath admirable places of recreation and is so populous through its confines that the villages succeed one another in a manner from three miles to three miles although at this day by reason it wants the presence of the King it is in its selfe lesse populous neverthelesse in diverse parts thereof it is yet troublesome to walke the streets for the crowde of people that one meeteth Besides the many Palaces Temples Towers and Bridges doe render it very considerable In the wall thereof there are twelve gates barr'd with Iron and guarded with Artillery a good way without runneth another wall with no small ruines The circuit thereof for I was desirous to know the measure of it is two daies journey on horse-back That of the inner wall is eighteen miles both the one and the other have within them many populations gardens and fields which are tilled the bread whereof useth to be applied to the use of the souldiery within the City to the number of fourty thousand In one part thereof there is cast up an artificiall Mount on the top whereof there is seen a wooden spheare not armed although the circles thereof are placed at the latitude of the same City which is 32 degrees a small latitude in respect of the great colds but a very large one for the great heate which it suffereth The spheare is in circumference of a notable bignesse and is a very compleat piece of work It hath moreover a Tower divided into seaven stories of singular beauty for the workemanship thereof it being full of figures and wrought like Percellane an edifice which might be ranked among the most famous of ancient Rome The river cometh to kisse the feet of this City and sendeth up some armes of it selfe into it The name of the river is Yanchukiam that is to say the Sonne of the sea nor vainly is it so called it being the most aboundant in water of any that is knowne in the world There is also great plenty of fish We have foure Churches in this Province the first in Nankim with a house of Iesuites and is of a very ancient and exercised Christianity having suffered foure persecutions and come of from each of them with more vigour The second in the Towne of Xamhai with a great number of beleevers The third in the City of Xamkiam The fourth in the Towne of Kiatini beside these Churches there are many Oratories And so much shall suffice concerning the nine Southern Provinces CHAP. 3. Of the Northern Provinces SIx are the Provinces which are called Northern and their names are Honam Xemsi Kiansi Xantum Pekim and Leaotum The first lyeth in the latitude of 35 degrees as centre of the Kingdome and produceth most gallant fruits as well those that are proper to the Countrie as ours in Europe nor is the cheapnesse of them lesse I bought for a farthing and a halfe 88 Apricocks it hath nothing else notable except a Son of the Kings called Fovam the last of those which came out of the Palace He liveth with so great splendour and authoritie of a King that to be such he only wanteth the name and jurisdiction In Caifum the Metropolis thereof we have had onely for these few yeares a Church and house but a good plenty of Christians The second is Xemsi it lyeth in 36 degrees and more to the West it is very large but dry for want of water as also are the three neighbouring Provinces notwithstanding it doth abound in Wheate Barly and Maize of Rice they have but little All winter long they give wheat to their Beasts which are many particularly their sheep which they sheare three times a year once in the Spring another time in the Summer a third in the Autume but the first time of shearing yeeldeth the best wool From hence cometh all the wooll of which are made the felts and other things used either in this Province or elswhere They make there of no sort of cloath not using to spin wool but only Goats-hair of which they weave certain Stuffes for the hanging of their roomes in so great perfection that the most ordinary are better than ours and the Best are esteemed more precious than silk They make likewise of Goats-haire a very fine Felt which they call Tum and is made use of for garments But this is not made of every sort of Goats-hair but of a very fine haire which lyeth under the first They pull it out with great care and make it up in certain bals of the bignesse of an ordinary loafe and then put it out to be wrought with singular skill Musk is proper to this Province and because it is in question after what manner this excellent perfume is made I will give you account of it according to the most diligent enquiry I have made concerning it It is the Navel of an Animal about the bignesse of a small Stagge whose flesh is very good meate and only that part is taken containing that precious matter but all those Cods which are brought hither to us are not true and perfect Navells for the Chinesses have learnt to falsifie them by stuffing some peices of the skin of that Animall with musk that is vitiated and mingled with some other things Here is also Gold found but not in Mines for though there be Mines both of Gold and Silver the King doth not suffer them to be opened but out of Rivers and Eddies and although it be found only in smal peices and graines yet being put together it amounts to a great quantity there being Infinite people both young and old which go in search of it There is Rubarbe and Profumo which are not found in any other part for that which cometh from Persia doth not seem to be naturall to that place for of as many as have travelled through that countrie there is not any that gives an account to have seen there that healthfull plant It is something tall with leaves bigger than Cole-worts it doth not grow wilde as some have imagined but is Cultivated in gardens with a great deale of care In this Province is opened
the South And in Nankim there is sowen a certaine Rice for the King in particular of such a quality that being sodde in water without any other addition it maketh a very savoury dish The City is not so big as Nankim but in that presse of people much exceedeth it in a word it is like the Court of so powerfull a Prince The walls are broad enough for twelve horses to go a breast They are guarded night and day as well in time of peace as if there were warre At every gate they keep a continuall watch which is the profit of the Eunuchs which the Queen alloweth them for their wages and they make good store of crownes of this exercise For all those which enter and bring any thing with them pay toll and those of Cantone are used with most rigour just like Spanyards in a french Inne I know not the reason of this but only a certaine indignation which they have against them The Magistrates of this Court are quite contrary to those of other crownes and Commonwealths of the world and are therefore a patterne of that uprightnesse which ought to be found in all I meane concerning the pompe and equipage of their persons which is very moderate They are not allowed to be carried in a Sedan or Chaire unlesse it be some few of more particular dignity The greatest part ride on horse-back and because they are ill horsemen their horses are guided by two servants that go by them one on each side the horse least their master should fall Each Judge of a Village without the precincts of the Court use more state than the most eminent Ministers in the Court They walke in the streets with their faces cover'd as well by reason of the dust which is very much as also for convenience and to avoid both expence and ceremony with the Mandarinesse for not being knowne they dissemble as if they saw them not and make no stay to verify that Axiome that where one is least knowne there is more pleasure and convenience to be enjoyed The cold which this Countrie suffereth is much greater than could be expected from the Latitude of 40. degrees The rivers and lakes are so hard frozen over that they drive Carts over them without any danger they make use of stoves that are more convenient than ours and wast not so much fewell conveighing the heate by pipes laid under ground and so within doores enjoy a pleasant spring in the heart of winter The same heate supplieth also the absence of the sun and by meanes thereof the trees are clothed with leaves and flowers before their time In the Court we have a faire Church built after the fashion of Europe and a house wherein reside 4 fathers by licence from the King and are in much esteeme with all the Magistrates Besides the Churches in all the places we have already spoken of the greater part whereof are large Cities there are also many other habitations of Christians which have their Oratories which are visited by us at set times Catechizing and Baptizing the new Christians conferring and administring the Holy Sacraments to the others The sixt and last Province is Leaotùm the Northern bound of that Kingdome it is famous for a roote which it produceth of so high esteeme that at my departure from thence it was sold for twice the weight in silver It is so excellent a medicine that if those which are in health doe take it it augments their strength and vigour and if it be given to a sick person it doth marvellously comfort and warme him it is called Ginsem This Province being the frontire next Tartarium is much wasted and is in part possessed by the Tartors here is seen that famous wall so much talked off which runneth nine hundred miles in length with more reputation than effect for besides that its owne greatnesse and extant is enough to make it ruinous the enemy hath now reduced it to a miserable condition CHAP. 4. Of the persons of the Chinesses of their nature wit and inclination THe people of China are white like us in Europe although in the Province of Cantone lying something within the Tropick they are of something a browner colour and particularly in the Islands that lie neere the maine land And because those which come hither are only such as are borderers upon Macao the Centre of those Islands some have been perswaded that there were not in all that Kingdome any people very white but it is certaine that excepting the confines of Cantone where they are something brown the rest are all white not unlike to the whitenesse of the people of Europe and by how much the more Northward one goeth by so much the more as is usually seen is the whitenesse the greater They suffer the haire of their heads to grow as long as it will both men and women They are generally all black-haired hence cometh that name by which this Kingdome is called among other Nations the Kingdome of the black-hair'd people they have also black eyes which are very little little noses and neither large nor high ones as among us which forme they like not accounting it a deformity They have but little beard for the most part nor doe they care to have much although some of them have so They delight to have it black which is the most ordinary colour although some few have red beards which although it be not abhorred by all as among the Thebanes yet it is not esteemed or liked among them by any They clippe not their beard letting it grow according to nature They will be more troubled to loose one haire of their head then all the haire of their face They doe also in neatnesse and curiousnesse about their haire exceed all other Nations They have for this purpose many Barbers of whom it may properly be said that they usurp that name it being derived from the beard which they never touch employing all their diligence and art in kembing and cleansing the head The young children are better proportioned and have a more pleasing Simmetry of beauty than the rest and this more particularly in the Southern Provinces But some places have the advantage in this above others as in the Province of Nankim the City of Nancheu where the women are esteemed to have the preheminence of all others in beauty as formerly in Portugall those of the Towne of Guimaranes from hence the rich men and the Magistrates provide themselves with Concubines and so this gift of nature cometh to be of greater esteeme for their sakes who are the great men of the world As their age beginneth to decline from 25 to 30 yeares old they loose not only much of the livelinesse of their colour but also of the Simmetry and proportion of their shape so that ordinarily they become ill-favoured The disposition of their body is good their strength vigorous and they are great pains-takers hence it cometh that their land which is
they can avoyd their owne houses knowing well that the multitude of people and the respect which is payd to their quality at home are capitall enemies to study hence it cometh to passe in other Kingdomes that the sonnes of Lords and great men do for the most part prove great Ignorants As if the greatest Nobility did not consist in the greatest knowledge There are ordinary Masters without number for there being so many that pretend to the degree of a Literato and so few that attaine to it the greatest part are constrained to take upon them the imployment of a schoolmaster so that to set up a schoole the year following they go about to get scholars for that time from the beginning of the present year but in great houses they commonly receive none for Masters but such as have taken the degree of Batchelour who continue the course of their studies with a designe to take their other degree When they have taken any degree although it be but only of Batchelâ—ur they are then no longer under a Master but forme a kind of Academie as it were among themselves where they meet at certaine times every month one of them openeth a book and giveth a point or Theme upon which all of them make their Compositions which they afterward compare among themselves Although they have no universities and particular schooles neverthelesse they have generall schooles which are very capacious and magnificent and most richly adorned for the examiners and those that are to be examined of which there is a wonderfull great number These schooles are in the Cities and Townes but the most stately ones are in the Metropolies of the Provinces where the examination of Licentiats is held These fabriques are of a bignesse proportionable to the multitude of people which flock to them The form is almost the same in all Those of Cantone are not bigge because they admit not of above foure-score to take their degree whereas in others there are admitted from an hundred to a hundred and fifteen which is a great difference The whole structure is compassed about with a wall having a faire and sumptuous gate towards the South opening into a large streete where a numerous multitude are gathered together This streete or Piatza is 150. Geometricall paces broade each pace consisting of five foote There are no houses in it but only porches and walks with seats for the captaines and souldiers who are there assisting all the time of the examination and keep a strong guard At the first entrance there is a great Court where do stand the Mandarines of the first post with a Court of guard within the gate then presently appeareth another wal with a gate made like those of our Churches and openeth shuts in two leaves or pieces when it is not convenient that all should be opened when you are past that gate there appeareth a large place in which there is a pond of water extending from one tide to another over which standeth a stone bridge of perfect Architecture which endeth at another entrance or gate guarded by Captaines which suffer none to go in or out without expresse order from the officers After this gate followeth another very spacious Court having on each side rowes of little houses or chambers for the persons that are to be examined placed on the East and West side thereof Every chamber is foure palmes and an halfe long every palme is nine inches English and three and a halfe broade and is in height about the stature of a man they are covered with Tarrasse or Playster in stead of Tyle within each of them are two boards the one fastened to sit downe on the other moveable for a Table which after it hath served them to write upon they make use of when time is to eate on There is a narrow entrie which leadeth to them that admitteth but of one man a breast and that hardly too the doores of one row open toward the backside of the other At the time of the examination there is a souldier to assist in every one of these little chambers to guard and serve the person to be examined sitting under his little Table They say he hath a gagge of wood in his mouth that he should not speak and trouble the student But if it be in his power to remedie it it is not likely that he doth entirely complie with his obligation At the end of this narrow entrie I spake of is raised a Tower upon foure Arches with Balusters without on all sides within which there is a Salone or great Hall where do assist some officers and persons of respect who stay there to give account of what passeth in all the little chambers which they have placed in their sight At the foure corners of this Court are foure great Towers with their Bell or Drum which is sounded as soone as there happeneth any noveltie or disorder to give notice thereof to whom it doth concerne Nigh to these Towers are other Buildings with a large Hall furnished with seats and Tables and other necessaries for the businesse that is to be performed there which is the first examination of the compositions at which the more ordinary officers do assist sitting in those seates Going through the Hall by the gate which looketh Northward there is to be seen another Court and presently another Hall of the same form but the furniture thereof is more rich and costly it serving for the President and more honourable officers Then follow likewise other appartaments and lodgings for the said persons and for all the other officers and examiners every appartament hath a Hall seats and Tableâ— to negotiate and eat at a chamber with a bed and Canopie of silke and other houshold-stuff proper to that end they are designed for There is also a walke with little gardens and low Trees There are also joyned to these other lesser chambers for Notaries Secretaries Pages and other officers of their families besides these there are other chambers for the Mandarines and inferiour officers and for their ordinary servants with Butteries Larders Kitchins and whatsoever is necessary for the accommodation of so great a multitude every thing being disposed and ordered even to admiration Anciently the nobilitie and kindred of the King were not admitted to any sort of office or publique charge no nor those of them that studied were allowed to come to the examinations to take their degrees About 20 yeares since after many earnest solicitations made by them and oppositions by the contrary part they had the priviledge granted them to be admitted to all examinations and the examiners are obliged to confer degrees on some of them but not to many The common people of all sorts and all vocations are admitted except those that are infamous as the servants of the Mandarines not their houshold Servants but those which serve them in their Tribunalls and Courts of justice Sergeants Bayliffs Catchpoles Rogues Executioners and guardians of
hold him for a Saint and a Master and Doctour of the whole Kingdome and whatsoever is cited of him is esteemed as an Oracle or sacred thing but also in all the Cities of the Kingdome he hath publique Temples built to his memorie where at set times he is worshipped with very great ceremony and in the year of the examinations one of the principall ceremonies is that all the graduates go together to do him reverence and acknowledge him for their Master Of those that are descended from him he that is the neerest of kin hath a competent revenue and enjoyeth the title of Chuheu which is as much as Marquis or Duke The Governour of the City where he was borne out of respect and favour to him is alwaies one of his family and finally all those of his linage assoone as they are borne have a particular priviledge from the Emperour and are respected by all in regard of their predecessour Confusio This custome continueth to this day although it be 1800. yeares since he died But returning to the Bookes which he published they are these following The first is called Yekim and treateth of his naturall Philosophie and of the generation and corruption of things of Fate or Judiciary Prognostication from these and other things and from naturall principles Philosophizing by way of numbers figures and symboles applying all to moralitie and good government The second is called Xukim containing a Chronicle of the ancient Kings and their good government The third Xikim and is of ancient poesie all under metaphors and poeticall figures concerning the naturall inclinations of mankind and also of diverse customes The fourth named Likim treateth of rites and civill ceremonies of the Ancients and also of those that belong to Religion and divine worship The fifth is called Chuncieu the which treateth also of the History of their Countrie and containeth a collection of examples of severall ancient Kings good and bad to be imitated or avoided There are also foure other bookes which were made by Confusio and another Philosopher called Mensiù In these nine bookes is contained all the naturall and morall Philosophie which the whole Kingdome studieth and out of these is taken the point which is proposed to read or compose on in their examinations for degrees Upon these bookes they have severall commentaries and glosses But there is one of them which by the law of the Kingdome they are commanded to follow nor are they allowed to contradict it in their publique Acts and hath almost the same authority with the text These nine bookes are held as it were sacred and in them and their Glosses and commentaries consisteth the great endeavour of their studies getting them by heart and endeavouring to understand the difficult places of them forming diverse senses upon them whereby to govern themselves in the practise of vertue to prescribe rules for the government of the Kingdome according to those wise dictates and Maximes they finde there And because their examinations are very strickt and rigorous they not being suffered to bring along with them to those examinations not only any booke but also not so much as a fingers breadth of paper it being no easie thing to be very ready in all these bookes the order is That the first examination of Batchelours be upon the last foure and that of Licentiates to be upon the same foure as also upon one of the other five for this reason none is obliged to be very perfect in more than one of those sciences which he doth professe and upon that the point is to be given him But to speak more distinctly to their learning although in their books it is not delivered so clearely and orderly I say they consider in the universe three things that is the heavens earth and man and so accordingly they divide their learning into three members that is into the science of the heavens the science of the earth and the science of man including in the two first all naturall knowledge and in the third all morall In the science of the heavens they treate of the beginning of all naturall things of the Creation of the Universe and of the Formation of man himselfe of universall causes of generation and corruption of elements and elementary qualities answerable to the planets of celestiall motions and relvolutions of the foure seasons of the year of the stars and planets of Iudiciall Astrologie of spirits good and bad what they are and other like matters In the science of the earth they treate of the varietie that is seen in her by reason of the 4. seasons of the yeare of the productions of things and their differences of fields and possessions and their divisions in order to Husbandrie and Agriculture of the situation of the 4 parts of the world of their position and other particulars concerning them of the choise and building of Coemeteries and burying places for their dead in which they are very superstitious In the science which treateth of man they teach all their moralitie and that which belongeth to man in a sociable and politick capacitie who imitating the order manner and proprietie of heaven and earth as the universall Parents liveth in communitie with the observing their five morall vertues which are Pietie Iustice Prudence Policie and Fidelitie They treate also of morall matters and of the respect which they have to the five orders of persons into which their Common-wealth is divided that is Father and Sonne Husband and Wife King and Subjects Elder Brother and Younger Brother and Friends among themselves All their moralitie is divided into two members The first they call Divine Moralitie which treateth only of ceremonies rites and sacrifices which they make to heaven earth the planets parts of the world good and bad spirits of the heaven and earth mountaines rivers tutelary spirits soules of the dead Heroes and famous men c. The second is their Politick and civill Moralitie This is divided into Ethiques which ordereth the manners and actions of mankinde as they are considered in relation to their owne persons and into Oeconomie in order to the government of their families and into Politiques in relation to the Government of the Commonwealth the publick good and conservation of the Kingdome The Government of a single person doth put him in a way to the good Government of his familie and the good Government of a familie to that of the Kingdome as for example A father which doth not well Governe his house how should he governe a City or Province and he that knoweth not how to governe and correct himselfe according to the duty of his single person how should he be able to regulate his familie So that they lay the first foundation of mortalitie in the good manners and behaviour of each particular person from whence proceede well govern'd families and publick Governments well administred Under the same member of the science of man they comprehend the Liberall and all other
they burn the bodie and put the ashes in earthern Iarres close stopped and then cast them into the rivers After the Chest followeth the place of Sepulture which every one provideth for himself and his posterity without the wals for within it is not permitted Of these places they make great account Some have in them very convenient houses they are kept lockt on the out-side and within are full of Cypresses which they usually plant there and other trees proper for that place They are many times little worth in respect of the quantitie of ground they contain but do cost them a great deal of mony if their Astrologer do judge them lucky places and fortunate for the Familie for none do make choice of them without his opinion In Burying they observe this order to lay the chief of the Family in the uppermost place and the rest by his side according to their degrees On the topp of the Sepulchre they place many ornaments wrought in stone and before them they set Stone-statues of severall Animals and above all Epitaphs and stones graved with elegant compositions in praise of the deceased The great men especially the Eunuches use another way of more vast expence For they build in such places Sumptuous Palaces with Halls underneath them like Coemeteries where there are Niches fitted to receive the Coffins of the deceased These Palaces serve them when they go thither and on The day of the dead at which time the whole Family is assembled to make their Sacrifices and Ceremonies For the poorer sort of people that cannot have a peculiar place of Sepulture there is ordinarily in every City a common place of Buriall They never faile to bury every one in the place of his Sepulture although it be never so remote from that where he dieth which happeneth often to the officers who by reason they are sent to govern in severall parts of the kingdome do many times come to die out of their own Country and upon that occasion cause them to be brought home and buried there neither doth it seem a custome voide of reason Iacob and Ioseph having used the same diligence upon that account At their death the first Ceremony is that before the dying Person breathe his last they bring him on a mattresse or quilt into the outward Hall where he is to expire I do not know what is the reason of this custome neither is it generally used of all for if he be a person of qualitie they let him alone in his bed and assoon as he is dead his eldest Son plucketh off the Coife and Cap from his head and pulling down the bed without any order overturneth the Beds-Tester and curtaines and partly by tearing and partly by breaking pulleth every thing down and with it covereth the Corps If it be a woman the women stay and if it be a man the men presently washing the dead Body according to their custome When they have washed it they wind it in a fine linnen cloth if he have any or else in a piece of silk After that they cloathe him in the best garment that he hath and upon him they lay the ensignes of his office and degree and when he is thus adorned they lay him into the Coffin which is made of very thick boards and strongly joynted On the inside of the Coffin they bestow two weights which they call Manos of Bitumen and after that one of Charan and then there is no danger that any ill smell can come through it The Coffin is then brought out and placed in the outward hall which is all hung with mourning On the top of the Coffin they lay his statue made by the life with his ensignes of honour just as he lieth in the Coffin Before it they set a Table and a Carpet behinde the Coffin they hang up certaine curtaines behind which the women stand On each side of the Coffin are his sonnes and grand-sonnes sitting on straw in very deep mourning In the first open Gallerie set about with Balansters which is before the hall there stand Trumpeters on each side thereof and at the great gate of the Palace on the inside in the Court are two drummers without the gate next the street there is hung out a great flagge made of pieces of paper reaching almost to the ground and it is a signall that their mourning is provided and that now they admit of visitants After that they advise all their friends and kindred thereof sending them a Thie of Mourning wherein with words of much affliction and humilitie they give them notice of their sorrow Then presently begin their Visits of Condoling which are done in this manner When the Visitant is come into the first Court presently he putteth on his Mourning-garment which he bringeth with him for that purpose The drummer beateth his drumme to give notice of his arrivall and while he passeth through the Court the Trumpets sound assoone as he cometh into the Hall the women behind the Curtains begin to weep and lament When he cometh up to the Table he layeth thereon a purse of paper with money in it to the value of twelve pence or eighteen pence which serveth for an Aide of the cost and some little perfumes Then upon the Carpet he maketh foure reverences part kneeling and part standing on his feet When they are ended presently the Sonnes rise up from the place where they are and go and place themselves on the left hand of the Visitant and make him as many reverences partly kneeling and partly on their feet at which time they are to weep or at least to make as if they wept When this is done without speaking a word they return to their places againe In the meane time the Visitant goeth forward and presently one of the remotest of the kindred in slighter mourning cometh to receive him and leadeth him into another roome where assoone as they are sate presently there is brought in some of their drink called Chia and dried fruits or else dried sweet meats of which for the most part they do not eat but taking a little put it into their sleeve and so take their leave This courtesie is esteemed so due that those friends who are at hand may by no means omit it and they who are farther off if they dwell in neighbouring Cities come in their own person But if they live very farre off they send one from home to do it in their name This ceremonie commonly lasteth eight or ten daies But they who live farre off may come or send to do it at what time they please When the Visits are over the eldest Sonne is obliged to go to all those of the same City that came to condole with him at his house but he hath no more to do but to come to the gate where without a Carpet is spread wheron he maketh his reverence leaveth a Thie and goeth his way After this they begin to think of the buriall which
too and especially the Kings officers and Ministers who laying aside the ensignes of their dignitie which are both of Authoritie and Ornament to them do change them for others of Mourning and Sorrow as their Girdle which commonly they weare very rich into a rope of course Hempe and their Cap which is of black Silk into one made of the course cloath for Mourning In this manner they went foure months till the time of the obsequies The common people wore only a Mourning Cap for foure and twenty daies with so much exactnesse that he that neglected it was punished The second day the King leaving the Palaces where he dwelt passed over to those of his deceased Mother which although they are within the same wall yet stand at some distance They cloathed the dead body in white very richly and every day till it was put into the Coffin the King went in Person with all the people of his palace to visit her and to performe those ordinary Reverences and Compliments used by children to their parents putting rich odours and spices into a perfuming pan which stood before her all his women Sons and Nephews as also some of the Principall Eunuches of the Palace did the like with all Solemnitie Then presently by the Kings command the garments bed and other things which the Queen used were burned judging it an unworthie thing that ever they should be made use of by any Person inferiour to her in dignitie and authority On the third day the body was put into the Coffin The excellency of the matter thereof may be easily imagined by what hath been already said that even for private persons the price of one amounteth many times to a thousand crownes The boards are very thick and the Coffin very capacious There the King himselfe plac't her upon a Quilt and a Pillow which were there laid strewing upon her pearle and precious stones to the value of 70000. crownes and placing by her side fifty pieces of cloath of gold and fiftie of cloath of silver which truly would have been enough to have maintained a gallant man all his life time The Coffin was shut and the King with the rest made their accustomed reverences and departed On the fourth day the ceremonies were continued cloathing themselves in a more austere and horrid Mourning for to celebrate the Sacrifices which in realitie are not sacrifices but offerings and pure ceremonies The Coffin was placed in a spacious Court as it were upon a high Throne and about it stood fifteen Tables The first that was in the front was for the King the rest for his women Sonnes and principall Eunuches who after the King according to their order made their offerings with perfumes and reverences On the fift day which was appointed for those who dwell without the Palace there was assembled all the Nobilitie and Titulados which they call Que Cùm Chu Cheu Heupè who do all succeed by inheritance After these followed all those that were of Affinitie and Alliance with the King that is such as were married to his Daughters or Nieces After these the Magistrates of the six Tribunals And after these came the wives of the great Officers who have jurisdiction over the whole Kingdome such as are those of the six Tribunals each in that which appertaineth to him whether it be concerning the Revenue or the Militia or any other thing All these in their order performed the ceremonies abovesaid and so there was a period put to the first part of the ceremonies which are used in the Palace before the Funerall for abroad there were many things commanded and severall edicts published in which were intimated First that all Mandarines both of the Gowne and Sword should make their appearance at the Palace the day following to bewaile the deceased Queen which done without returning to their houses they should go directly to their Tribunalls there to remain and keep a fast for three daies without eating flesh fish or eggs or drinking any wine That done for the space of other three daies they should come all to the gates of the Palace and there in their order one by one should make foure accustomed reverences with some other externall signes of griefe and then returne home to their houses The second that all the wives of the Mandarines from the first to the fourth degree cloathed from head to foot in close mourning should assemble at the same place and for the space of three days lament in the like manner and that afterwards at their owne houses for the space of twenty seaven days they should not put on their Jewells ornaments c. The third that those of the Royall Councell called Han Lin should all make Poems verses and compositions in praise of the deceased Queen The fourth that they of the Quan Lo Su that is the Officers of the Kings exchequer and revenue should with all diligence and liberalitie provide what ever was necessary for the sacrifices and other expences of the funerall The fifth that all the Bonzi and ministers of the Idols should ring their bells for a long time as a signe of sorrow and griefe The sixth that for thirteen daies there should be no flesh killed or sold in the shambles but that all should fast as the King did who for the first three days did eat only a little rice boyled in faire water and the rest of the time puâ—se only The seaventh there was order given to the President of the Councell of rites and ceremonies and to those of the chamber that they should present mourning garments to all the Embassadours who did then actually reside in the Court and that they should be brought to the Palace and performe one day the ceremonies and compliments in like manner as the people of the Country did The eighth that all Mandarines that had finished their government and all new pretenders should come for three days to the Palace to do the same reverences and ceremonies The ninth that the common people for a week together should do the same morning and evening at the Palace of the Governour of the City Besides this all the Mandarines dispersed through the Provinces and Cities of the Kingdome were written to that at the arrivall of the newes of the Queen-Mothers decease they should give notice thereof to all the blood royall of the Male line and to their wives and children and order that they should make the three accustomed reverences and other ceremonies on their knees and immediately to cloath themselves in Mourning for seaven and twenty days This order was given to all the Mandarines of the Kingdome as well to those that had governd as to those that did actually governe as also to all Litterati of what degree soever as likewise to those that had not received any degree To the common people there was order given that they should weare Mourning caps for thirteen dayes Moreover it was ordered that as well in the Palaces of the
the Kingdome I detained the petitions which were presented me without dispatching them I tooke no care of nominating Magistrates as the Kingdomes need required and I know that at this present there are some wanting I have opened nine mines of gold and silver I have encreased and multiplied the Gabells and Excise I have disturbed the publick peace with tumults of warre whence hath followed discord with the neighbouring princes and great oppression and injury to their people wherefore thinking continually both night and day upon these things I am hardly able to suffer the grief which my soule endureth and which doth now detest her former faults finally I began to take up better resolutions but I am fallen into this infirmity the which doth still so encrease that it maketh me beleeve I shall very shortly lose my life In the mean time I have this only hope left me that my Sonnes and Nephews will amend my faults by leading a better life You therefore the Heire of my Kingdome seeing that you neither want ingenuity nor good disposition and because you have hitherto never forborne the exercise of piety obedience and other vertues be of good courage The inheritance of the Empire of China is yours Let your principall care be well to compose your life and manners Apply your selfe with all study and industry to the well governing of the Kingdome Love those that are good refuse not counsell take not advise in evill part that you might be able to beare the great weight of this Empire do your endeavour that your Sonne my Grand-child follow his studies with all diligence Be kind and loving to your three Brothers assigne them convenient habitations and provide for each of them a good revenue and honourable Titles Use your utmost diligence that all your subjects as well noble as ignoble may live in peace and love concord Take care speedily to make the Colai and other the supreame Magistrates for I do remember to have left two places voyd and above all forget not to elect the Kings Administratours These things I recommend to you that you should endeavour speedily to put them in execution By all means take off the new Gabells at Bridges the Excise of silke stuffs eartherne ware and other things which I have lately introduced Take care that all causes which are depending in the Tribunals be dispatched with diligence by some select Judges and free the innocent The souldiers on the confines of Tartary do want their pay and provisions let them be speedily supplied out of the royall exchequer this last clause is said to have been added by the Prince to his fathers Testament I do recommend to you the souldiers and Captaines which were slaine in the last warre Honour their Mortuaries and their soules with new Titles assist their families by paying their arreares All this I briefly ordaine that you should put it in execution assoone as possibly you may As for my Funerall cause the ceremonies of the Kingdome to be observed Though I had rather for my particular satisfaction that in stead of twenty seaven months as is the usuall custome they should only last for so many dayes All the Magistrates Vice-roys Visitours and Captaines of warre have more need to assist at their governments and charges Suffer not that they be called hither upon the occasion of my funerall It will be sufficient that when each hath newes of my death he cause to be done for three dayes in the place where he is that which useth to be performed at the Funerall of the Kings body The Pastilios and other perfumes wont to be presented on the like occasions may be brought by the inferiour officers in the name of the great ones But for the Magistrates appointed for the government of the forts and the Presidents of Cities and Townes my Will is that in no case they should be suffered to come as also that the strangers who are Tributary to this Kingdome should be excused I do ordaine that this my last Will should be published through the whole Kingdome that it may come to the eares of every one of my subjects This was his will and Testament which accordingly was every where published The other ceremonies I forbeare to write because they are the same with those we have already related CHAP. 18. Of the severall Sects of religion in China THe Chinesses are generally little inclined to Sects neither are there any thing neere so many among them as among the people of Giappon Neverthelesse they have three which although they be different yet that they might not erre in any or to speake more correctly that they might erre the more they joyne them altogether Two of them are proper to China and first sprung up there The third which is of the Idols is adventitious and came from India The first is that of the Litterati and is more ancient among them than some do think who make Confusio to be the author of it They worship no Pagod or Idol but acknowledge a Superioritie or Deitie who is able to chastise and to reward Notwithstanding they have no Churches wherein they worship him nor any divine Offices which they celebrate nor any prayers that they rehearse nor any Priests or Ministers which officiate at his service Yet they speak and write in their books of this Lord very Honourably as of a divine person neither do they apply or attribute any undecent thing to him as our Ancestours did to their Gods But as they did not perfectly and distinctly know the true God they fell to worship three things which are the most renowned powerfull and profitable in the world the which they call San Cai that is heaven earth and man There are in the courts of Nankim and Pekim only very sumptuous Temples for heaven and earth but which do properly belong to the King alone wherein he only in his owne person doth sacrifice he being the Minister also of the sacrifice and in his absence or by his order the chiefe Magistrate of the Tribunal of Rites In the Cities there are Temples for the Tutelar spirits to which the Mandarines do sacrifice as also to the spirits of the rivers mountaines and of the foure parts of the world c. There are also Temples to the honour of some men who have been famous Benefactours to the publick and therein are palced their Images They do the same honour to their Ancestours untill the fourth degree upwards For their soule in the next life they neither expect nor pray for any thing Neverthelesse they ask for temporall assistance in this life good fortune and to be able to imitate their good works and atchivements They pretend by this to stirre up devotion in the people that they seeing how heaven and earth are honoured as universall Parents they might also honour their particular Parents and seeing how famous men of former ages are honoured they might thereby endeavour to imitate them and seeing how their deceased Progreitours
any of these things the Mandarines take themselves large shares of them and if the better sort of people sacrifice such as are the heads of families it is divided among the kindred The ordinary sort of people after they have made their offering which is comonly boyled before hand take up every thing againe then having dressed it anew according to their fancy they make a feast with it where it is all eaten They sacrifice many other things as Banners and Umbrellas all of silk severall figures moulded in gold or silver or else made of Orpine or base gold great summes of mony made of cut paper All these things are to be sold ready made in the market places at the shops of severall Artificers and after they are sacrificed they burn them all Every man offereth sacrifice without any difference they having no determinate ministers appointed for this act neither indeed have they for other things as for offices or Divine service Burialls to sing and officiate at them with any exactnesse It belongeth only to the king to sacrifice to Heaven the Earth Sunne Moone Planets and Starres and if any others should do it in publick he were guilty of a great crime For this end they have two most famous Temples at the two Courts where the King sacrificeth at the foure seasons of the year Spring Summer Antumne and Winter going thither himselfe in person and if he cannot go he sendeth some other to officiate in his stead The great Lords and those who are Titelados sacrifice to the Mountaines Lakes c. The Gentlemen and Officers to the four seasons of the year and particular parts of the earth Hills and the like For the rest as to their Idols their houshold-gods Genij or Tutelar Angells any one sacrificeth that will there being set times and places appointed for it except at sometimes they do accomodate themselves both to the occasions and places as when any one is to take a voyage by water he offereth sacrifice on the day whereon he departeth and that either in the Barke or on the next shore CHAP. 20. Of the Militia and Armes of the Chinesses THe knowledge and skill of Warre and Military affairs is very ancient among the Chinesses as appeareth by their bookes and Histories and it is very certaine that they have conquered many famous Kingdomes it is also commonly beleeved that they did formerly conquer Ceilan and neere to that place in the City of Nagapatam there is to be seen at this day an edifice or building which they call The Pagod of the Chinesses and it is a Tradition among the people of that Countrie that it was built by them Neither truly is it a worke unfit to be compared to any of that Kingdome Neverthelesse their bookes make no mention at all of it but that is not a sufficient reason altogether to refute this Tradition for no more have they any memory left in their bookes of the ancient Christianitie which notwithstanding it is most certaine was there and was also very much dilated and spread abroad However it is manifest that they had 114. Kingdomes Tributary to them but at this day they have only the neighbouring Countries which are nothing neere so many and even of these some of them do deny them their tribute and others have been abandoned by the Chinesses themselves holding it better to retire themselves to their own in peace and quietnesse than to go on stil with warre and troubles to conquer or maintaine other Kingdomes Beside the Conquests and warres made with stranger Kingdomes they have had warre also for many yeares in their own Countrie so that beside many particular books that treate thereof they have one body of historie consisting of ten Tomes which only treateth of the warrs of those times of their Captaines their manner of warfare battailes victories and other things wherein are many notable things to be read which do clearly demonstrate that they have formerly been a valiant and warlike nation although there are but few such at this time The occasions how they came thus to grow lesse were very great as I shall shew hereafter At this day that which they have of warlike in the Kingdome is only the multitude which is very great for besides the Souldiery which they have in the frontiers of Tartarie and in the Armados and fleets which are at the mouths of the great rivers which runne into the Sea every Province and in that every City and Village of the Kingdome hath a proper militia of their own which is paid by them and commanded by their own Captaines and in case that any Province hath need of men they make use of the Souldierie of their own Cities and Townes which by order of the vice-roy is easily brought to one Rendevous And if there be occasion for them on the frontiers or any other place of the Kingdome presently by order from the King or his councell of warre they rayse the Souldiers of one or more Provinces according to the Present necessitie and the possibilitie of the Province all of them not being able to maintaine the same number of Souldiers These Souldiers are alwayes in readinesse and if one of them be wanting or die there are presently enow in the same Town though it be never so little who make suite for the employment and so the place is presently supplied In the City of Nankim they say there are 40000 Souldiers and in that of Pekim 80000. and throughout the whole Kingdome as Father Matthoeus Riccius affirmeth who lived in China many yeares and had very good Knowledge thereof above a million and Father Iohn Rodriguez who went very much up and down China and had opportunitie to see the principall places thereof and was very curious saith that he found by diligent search in their books that in the body of the Kingdome with all the Cities and Villages thereof there are 594000 Souldiers and on the great wals which confine on Tartarie 682888. and yet he did not put into this number the Souldiers of the Armado that guardeth the coast Nor wil this number seem so excessive if we consider that China alone beside that it is much more populous is as big as Spain France Italie Germanie the Low-Countries great Brittain and all the Islands belonging to it In all this multitude if we speak of them who guard the Frontiers there is no doubt but there is found some valour and courage and they have sometimes gallantly repulsed the Tartars and in the yeare 1596 when the Giapponesses after they had passed through all the Kingdome of Corea without finding any resistance would have entred China which they came on purpose to conquer the Chinesses repulsed them in such manner that after the losse of many men they were faine to put up their pipes and returne home without doing any thing so likewise the Souldiers of the Armado have made some assaults wherein they have been victorious But if we speake of
them who live in the Cities and Villages throughout the Kingdome they are but of small courage and valour but you must not conceive that they are only Souldiers and have no other profession for they are Inhabitants and natives of the same places and are Taylors Shoemakers c. They are alwaies ready to march at the Kings command and leaving their houses go to the warre whensoever there is occasion They are moreover obliged to appear at the musters and traynings for three months in the Spring and three in the Autumne the which are held in the great Cities every day infallibly where only a Tertia or third part of them do muster but in Villages they do all make their appearance every day The manner which they hold in this Militia is thus All the Souldiery whether of Foot or Horse are drawn up into a Body and if any be found missing there is an other put in his place and in that place and degree into which they are once admitted they almost ever remaine or are but little advanced I said almost alwayes because on the Frontires if any Souldier perform any notable exploit they sometimes make him a Captain and he is advanced to his degrees without being examined but this is a thing which falleth out very rarely For to make Captaines Lieutenants and Corporals c. there are examinations and in them two degrees are conferred which to make them be the better understood we will call Licentiats in arms and Doctours in arms The first examination is held in the chief Cities of the Provinces whither all pretenders do resort and in the same vniversity or generall Palace where the students are examined and there they are to be examined giving them for a point or Theme certaine doubts in matters of war to which they answer with their pen making thereon discourses and compositions The speculative triall being ended they come to the practick They must shoote nine arrowes standing still upon their feet and other nine on horse-back against a great Target whilest the horse is in his speed and of those who behave themselves best both in the triall of shooting and in that of composing some are chosen on whom the first degree is conferred which hath also its ensignes and ornaments The second degree is conferred at Court in the same year where all those who have obtained the first degree do assemble themselves and the examination is held in the same manner as before only there are more doubts concerning matters of warre proposed than before Their ensignes are the same with those of the Doctours in learning which is to be understood in the Cities while the Kingdom is in peace for in warre or publique actions where they assist as Souldiers they have their particular ensignes and ornaments of Captaines The graduates are employed the same yeare in the office of Captaines and so are advanced by degrees til they come it may be to be Captaines General although there be no war They who remaine only with the first degree are employed in the lesser and more ordinary charges of the warr but they are alwayes to be in somthing of command As for their Armes I say first that the use of Powder is very ancient in China and in fire-works wherein they are excellently skilfull they spend more powder in a year than in their Armies at this time in five Anciently it seemeth they used it more in the warr For even to this day there are to be seen on the gates of the City of Nankim on both sides of the town great Brasse Bombards or Cannon which though they be but short yet are very well made from whence it may be concluded that they have formerly been in use But now they know not how to make use of them and keep them only for ostentation Neverthelesse they make some use of Morter pieces or Spingards but they have but few and those ill-made They have also Dagges two palms long of Musket-bore they do stock three and sometimes fower of these together and shoot them off all at once In their ships of warr they carry Guns but they are very small ones neither do they know how to levell them at a mark But now since the Officers of China have made many fire-armes in Machao by meanes of the Portughesses Muskets began to come into China but the Armes which they commonly serve with are Bowes and Arrowes Lances Scimitars In the yeare 1621 the City of Macao sent for a present to the King three great pieces of Cannon with their Cannoniers belonging to them to acquaint him with the use of them which accordingly they did in Pekim to the great affrightment of many Mandarines who would needs be present to see them discharged At which time there fell out an unhappie accident which was that one of the Guns violently recoyling killed one Portughese and three or fower Chinesses besides many more that were Scared These Guns were highlie esteemed and carried to the Frontiers against the Tartars who not knowing of this new invention and coming on many together in a close Body received such a slaughter from an Iron piece that they were not only put to flight at that time but went on ever after with more caution For defensive Armes they use round Bucklers Caskes or Head-pieces and certaine plates of Iron three fingers broad laid one upon another of which they make Back and Brest-pieces they are but of little proof and are made only against arrowes In a word both their Armes and Souldiers are but little worth at this time The occasions thereof are many the First is the great ease and idlenesse in which they have lived these many yeares since the Kingdome hath been free from warr The Second is the great account they make of learning and the little esteem they have of Armes so that the least magistrate will dare to baffle a Captaine of Armes let him be never so great The Third is their manner of electing Captaines by way of examination as we have said being all raw Souldiers that understand nothing in matters of warr The Fourth is because all Souldiers are either couragious by nature or Spurred on to Gallantrie by the example of those Noble Persons who lead them or else they are animated by the discipline their Captaines do bring them up in But the Souldiers of China want all these occasions For commonly their courage is but little their Nobilitie lesse their Education least of all for they will bastinado a Souldier for any fault as if he were a child that went to schoole The fifth because in their Armies over all the Captaines and also the Generall himselfe there goeth a Generalissimo who is alwaies a man of the long robe This man marcheth alwaies in the middle of the maine Battalia and from the place of Battaile is many times a daies journy off so that he is too remote to give orders and to runne away in any case of danger he is
in the middle of walls and after many yeares and a diligent search they set on foot againe the more principall matters yet there were many things wanting and especially concerning the first Kings and Princes of this Kingdome However it is certainly known that their first Government was by way of Families every one governing his own as anciently the Patriarks did The second was Monarchicall but it is not certaine how it began neither have they any thing certaine concerning the originall of it They do commit a notable errour in the time of their Chronologies for the Emperour Yao from whose time they do begin to give credit to their Histories even according to the most favourable computation from the creation of the world to Noah they make to be twelve yeares before the floud neverthelesse although there be an errour of the time in the Historie of this Emperour and those that follow it is certaine that the matters related are very coherent with their successions Now this Emperour Yao without having any regard to the naturall and lawful succession of his sonne left the Empire to Xun his Sonne-in-law only because he discovered in him parts and quâ—lities worthie of the Government Xun likewise for the same respect gave the Empire to Yù who was no kin to him These three Emperours are much esteemed by the Chinesses for holy men concerning whom they relate many things And truly there is no doubt but that they were Philosophers well inclined to morall vertues They do attribute much merit to the last of these three for the Adjusting of the waters as they call it which was done by him through the Kingdom which in that time did abound in lakes and moarish places and therefore in many parts could not be tilled This King going in person and commanding large trenches to be made wherein many years were spent he gave vent to that multitude of waters and by that meanes recovered a great deale of ground which was of great profit for tillage There are some in Europe who believe that these waters were the reliques of the floud The Chinesses although they make a large mention of these waters in their books of the draining of them and of the benefit which accrued thereby to the Kingdom do not say any thing of any occasion or originall of them After these three Emperours abovenamed the Empire was ever continued by succession but not in the same family for there were many Princes and Lords who although they were subject to the Emperour yet sometimes for particular respects and otherwhile under pretence of evill Government and Tyranny made warres confederacies and disorders with which they either disturbed and troubled the Monarchy or divided it or else usurped it all to themselves So that although it lasted in some families many years as in that of Tham for 400. years and in some other families little lesse yet the Monarchy from the beginning to this present day hath been changed into two and twenty severall Families The Lords of particular states continued in China 2000 years till in the year of our redemption 1206 the Tartars who then possessed another Country began to make themselves Masters of China and advanced so farre by degrees till at length they brought it all under their subjection reigning there as absolute till the year 1368. At what time Hum Vu the founder of the family which reigneth at presenâ— seeing the strength of the Tartars to be diminished and their Tyranny encreased and the people so wearied therewith that they were well disposed to shake off the yoake and set themselves at libertie gathered together an army with such good successe that he not only discomfited the Tartars and drove them out of the Kingdom but entred also into their Country and conquered a good part thereof The Kingdome being thus re-establisht in its naturall estate Hum Vu seeing himselfe become absolute Lord thereof set on foot an admirable kinde of Government differing in part from that of all other Monarchies yet it is such a one as hath now been conserved almost 300 years with so much subjection communication and dependance from its head that so great an Empire seemeth to be but as it were one well governed convent This King in the first place conferred many favours and graces upon all his subjects Liberalitie being that which doth most demonstrate a royall minde he created new officers yet retained he some of the former ones as we shall relate in its proper place To the chiefe and principall Captaines he assigned large revenues to the second a very competent maintenance and to those of the third sort sufficient He tooke away all the Princes and Lords of vassals and subjects without leaving one he prohibited by a rigorous law that none of the Royall family neither in peace nor warre nor in any case might beare office in the Common-wealth either civil criminall or military neither might they be suffered to enter into the examinations to receive their degree the which last prohibition as I have formerly said hath been lately taken away in part He placed the whole Government in the Litterati who are created such by way of concurrence as hath been declared when I spake of the examinations without any dependance at all on the Magistrates or the King himselfe but only by the merit of their learning good parts and vertues He did not annull those ancient lawes which concerned good Government and hindred not his intent which was only to perpetuate the Monarchy in his Posteritie But he made many new ones and modelled the Common-wealth and the Government into that form wherein it standeth at present although in so many years and in so vast a Monarchie it hath not been possible but that it should receive some alteration though not in any essentiall part thereof The King is called by diverse names For the better understanding whereof you must know that there are thirteen things remarkable at his Coronation The first is the changing of the account of years beginning their supputation a new from the entrance of the new Kings reigne and this not only in their ordinary discourse but in all letters dispatches provisoes writings c. The second that there is coyned new mony with the letters of his name although the former continueth current also The third is That he Crowneth his true wife making her as it were Empresse The fourth is That he giveth the name of Queen to six Concubines The fifth is That there are great sacrifices made to Heaven to the Earth to the Spirits c. The sixt That there are great store of Almes given to the poore The seaventh That all prisoners are set at libertie whose freedom is not prejudiciall to a third party The eighth That there are sumptuous banquets made for the Magistrates The ninth That all the women are to depart out of the Palace that have been Concubines to the former King The tenth The Palaces which are foure in number
not use to be present there himselfe they alwayes assist in the Palace to receive and answer all businesse and the Memorialls which are every day given in These report them to the King who pronounceth the last sentence upon them These Colai are very much respected by all the Magistrates and at set times they do them reverence as to their superiours in a publick Hall The Colai stand up and all the Officers of the Court passe before them in their order and when they come right over against them they turne towards them and make them a profound Reverence to the very ground They call this Ceremony Quo Tham that is To passe the Hall Their ensignes or badges of honour are different from those of the rest and their girdle which they call Yù Xe is richly set with precious stones They only are allowed to weare it and it is given them by the King as in Europe Kings doe use to give Collars of their orders to their knights And when they are sick it is only to these that the King sendeth to visit them with Regaloes and dainties from the Palace and they do sufficiently gratifie the Eunuch that brings them for the least they give him is fifty crownes which is more in that Country than 200 here Beside these supreame and generall Governours at the Court who do not only govern that but the whole Kingdom also there are likewise particular and ordinary Governours and Judges of every City and these observe the same manner of Government as well in the Cities and Townes of the other Provinces as also in those of Pekim and Nankim where the two Courts are as shall be related hereafter CHAP. 26. Of the Government of the thirteen Provinces WE have formerly spoken of the universall Government of the whole Kingdome which resideth in the two Courts it followth now that we should speak of the particular Government of the Provinces every one whereof is a large Kingdom This Government resideth ordinarily in the Metropolis or chiefe City of each Province In each of these there are five Tribunalls that have a generall command over the whole Province and distinct offices among themselves Of these five two are supreame to which all others both of the Cities and Townes are subordinate But they among themselves are not subjected one to the other but are immediatly subbordinate to the King and the Royall Tribunalls These consist of one President or Iudge without any Assistant or Councellour although they have many other Officers The first of these two is the Vice-roy of the Province whom they call Tut Ham or Kiun Muen He hath power over all the Magistrates and people of the Province He Governeth for three years and hath constant Posts that come go from the Court at set times being to give account of whatsoever passeth in the Province He is received into the City in great pompe and state When he is ready to depart the Court many of the Officers of his Tribunal go thither to receive him others meet him a good part of the way where from City to City he is honourably accompanied both by horse and foot And three miles before he cometh to the City where he is to reside there go out certaine Captaines with 3000 Souldiers to receive him after these follow the Magistrates and after them an innumerable company of people The Second Office which is also absolute is called Cha Iven we have no Office in Europe that is answerable to it he is as it were Visitour of the Province It lasteth only a yeare it is of great rigour and much feared He hath authority to take Cognizans of all causes both Criminall and civill of the Militia of the Kings Patrimonie in a word of all He visiteth enquireth and informeth himself of all even to the Vice-roy himself the inferiour Mandarines and Judges he may punish or turne them out of their places Concerning the greater Mandarines if there be cause he is to give in Memorialls and they are from thence forward suspended from the function of their Offices till the Kings answer come from Court To him it belongeth to cause the sentences of Death given through the whole Province to be put in execution in order to which he assigneth the day and the City whither all those that are condemned shall be brought to him and there he is presented with a List of their names then taking his pensill he marketh six or seaven of them for if he prick more they count him cruell these are presently carried to execution and the rest returned to the prisons whence they came It belongeth also to him to visit the Wals Castles and publick places c. He setteth forth with a great traine and pomp having banners carried before him and other Ensignes of Rigour and Majestie This is usually every year There is another extraordinarie Officer of the same name He is created from time to time at the Queens request he hath great power and authoritie but it is only in favour of Piety and Mercy he visiteth all the Prisons of the Province and freeth all such as are imprisoned for light faults and that have no prosecutours and all those miserable wretches that have no meanes to free themselves he taketh into protection such causes as have been rejected and parties that could obtaine no favour he revoketh such sentences as have been unjustly given he maketh himselfe Protectour of the poore and in a word his whole authoritie is employed about works of mercy The Third Office is the Treasurer who is superintendent of the Kings Patrimonie through the whole Province He is subordinate to the Councell of the Patrimonie at Court He hath two Assistants one of the right hand and the other of the left each of these have their house and Tribunall within the circuit of the Treasurers Place He hath under him 26 lesser Mandarines that have severall charges and employments besides other Officers great and small of which sort there are very many belonging to this Tribunall To him it belongeth to overlooke the customes excise and other duties appertaining to the King of what kind soever to regulate all weights and measures all suites controversies punishments and sentences appertaining to the Kings Patrimonie or at least to remit them to what Tribunall he pleaseth to pay the ordinarie salaries to all Magistrates to the Kings kindred to the Captaines and Souldiers to provide all expences for the examinations to furnish and give the badges of honour to all Graduates to lay out money for the publick workes as Bridges High-wayes Palaces of the Mandarines Ships for the Navy c. In a word he is superintendent of whatsoever is spent or received of the Kings Revenue immediatly from the Governours Iudges and Tauli each for his own precinct and though the summe be never so small they must alwayes be paid in fine Silver which is afterwards melted by the Treasurer into Ingots weighing fifty Crownes a piece with the
diminished by little and little many of them turning Moors There live more of them in the Province of Honan in the capitall City thereof called Cai Fum Fu than in any other place They have there a Synagogue well built and adorned in the fashion of a great Chappel and set out with curtaines They say they have there a very ancient Hebrew Bible Father Iulius Alenes one of our company was among them for some time they shewed him their Synagogues but would not draw their curtaines and let him see the Bible Father Matthaens Riccius affirmeth that according to the relation which the Iews themselves made to him thereof in Pekim it was not at all differing from ours They have no knowledge at all of Christ so that it seemeth they were entred into China before he came into the World or at least if they have ever heard of him the memorie of it is quite lost and therefore it would be of great consequence to see their Bible for perhaps they have not corrupted it as our Jews have done to obscure the glorie of our Redeemer These as they are in no great number so it is not probable they should long preserve themselves They who at the Court had some discourse with our Fathers did much lament that they had lost themselves for want of the Hebrew Tongue and by the little knowledge they had of their law and said that after some time they should all become either Moores or Gentiles that the ruler of their Synagogue at that time was a decrepit old man and his sonne who was to succeed him in his Office young and ignorant of the things of their law and that indeed there were very few among them who were zealous observers of it Moreover these Iews did seem to be much troubled and weary of the reproaches which the Gentiles laid upon some ceremonies of their law which is a sign they have no great affection for it as their not eating of Swines flesh their not touching a beast which hath been killed by the hand of a Gentile but especially the circumcising their Infants on the eighth day which their wives and Chinesse kindred tell them is a cruell and barbarous thing At this time we have in that City of Cai Funifú a house and Church and when I left that Kingdome a good number of Christians which daily encreased not without hope also that some good may be done upon those Jews who being so ready to change their religion will more easily embrace the true one which hath more conformitie to theirs than any other CHAP. 31. Of the Christian Religion planted many ages since in China and of a very Ancient stone lately discovered there which is an admirable Testimonie thereof IT hath alwayes been a well grounded opinion that the Christian Religion hath been very anciently planted in China Paulus Venetus making a relation of that Countrie from whence it is certain that he went many daies journey into the Countrie of the Tartars assureth us that in that time there were a great number of Christians in China who had very sumptuous Churches and named the Cities where they lived He wrot this with very much truth for of all that which he mentioneth there are yet remaining many houses and in other places the ruines of them as a Testimonie of it To this may be added the Testimonie of other grave Authours wherein we read that the preaching of the Gospell penetrated as farre as China by the Ministrie of the Apostle St. Thomas and his Disciples Among other writings out of which this may be drawn the Chalde books concerning the Indian Christianitie cultivated by the meanes of the said Apostle are of no small moment the which it is certain are to this day preserved and kept in the Arch-Bishoprick of Granganour or Della Serra that is of the Mountaines as it is vulgarly called translated out of that language by order of the Arch-bishop thereof Franciscus Ros by the pains and industry of one of our fathers who was very skilfull in that tongue The translation is in Latin but that it may be more generally understood we will turne what is cited out of it into the vulgar One of these books is a Breviary which in one of the lessons belonging to the second nocturnall hath these words By the means of S. Thomas the errours of the Idolatry of the Indians were dissipated By the meanes of St. Thomas the Chinesses and Aethiopians were converted to the truth By the meanes of St. Thomas they obtained the vertue of Baptism and the Adoption of Sonnes By the meanes of St Thomas they believed in the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost By the meanes of St. Thomas they kept that faith which they had promised to God By the meanes of St. Thomas the beames of the knowledge of life enlightned all India By the meanes of St. Thomas the Kingdome of Heaven flew and entred into China And presently there followeth an Antiphona which saith The Indians the Chinesses the Persians and the other Islanders they of Siria Armenia Graecia and Romania in commemoration of St. Thomas do offer their Adoration unto thy most Holy Name O great God In the Summarie of the Constitutions synodall part 2. cap 19 concerning Bishops and Metropolitans there is a Canon of the Patriark Theodotius which hath these words In like manner also the Bishops of the great Province such as are for the most part the Metropolitans of China After the arrivall of the Portugheses into Cocchine the governour of the Mountaines of Malaber who was called Don. Diego entitled himself Metropolitan of India and China as did also Don Giuseppe who died at Rome These were the Ancient Titles of that Church and being taken al together are strong arguments that the Christian Religion did formerly flourish in China These were the powerfull motives that did engage us after our arrivall thither with much care and fervour to trace the ruines and footsteps of that Ancient Christianitie In the Histories of that Kingdome which we have very diligently perused we found no mention thereof to our great admiration knowing well how curious and diligent Inquisitours the Chinesses are in the affaires of their owne Countrie that they might eternize the memory of them It is true we had information that there were some in those parts who did reverence the Crosse and made the signe of it over their meat without knowing the reason why they did it When I was in the capitall City of Kiamsi I was informed by a Christian that in the little Towne of Tamo Xan which was not farre off there were some who when they went out of doores did make the signe of the Crosse upon their forehead and being asked the reason of that custome they answered only that they had learnt it of their Ancestours In the Court of Pekim some of our fathers being one day to visit a Jew he discoursed more particularly to them concerning this matter and named to them the
returned to the Vice-roy at Xaokim he would have paid the charges the Fathers had been at in building their Church and house which by no means they would suffer him to do and after severall contrasts they obtained leave of him to dwell in another City belonging to his Government called Xaocheu With this permission the Fathers departed from Xaokim on the 15th day of August 1589. and being after a few daies arrived at Xaocheu they had enough to do to avoyd the lodgings which were offered them in a Monasterie of Bonzi At length by Gods assistance they were admitted into the City and were well lookt upon by the Magistrates they built a house and Church and began to preach the Gospel with their whole endeavours Notwithstanding that they were ever accompanied with persecutions contrasts and calumnies and in truth it is hardly to be beleeved how many of these they did undergo I did once reckon them up to satisfie my curiositie counting those which are related in the History of Father Trigaultius and others which are not set downe there till the persecution of Nankim I found them in all to be fifty foure the greatest part were at the beginning and in the Province of Canton which as it is a passage to the rest may be called the Promontory of Torments so that as oft as we shall have occasion to mention it there will alwaies recurre some new troubles and tempests Our servants were many times taken and Bastinadoed for no other occasion but that they had defended themselves against assaults of the insolent people and one time also brother Sebastan Fernandes who went out to defend those innocents with reasons and prayers was put to publique shame But the persecution was worse which brother Francis Martines suffered through a vaine suspicion they had that he had attempted to raise a rebellion in China and that he was a Magician upon which occasion after he had been many times beaten and tormented and after a tedious and noysome imprisonment and in the end after his last punishment by an unmercifull beating being brought back into the prison he died a death so much the more glorious by how much it was supported by an unspeakable patience and for so holy an occasion as the procuring the salvation of that people was After that brother Francis Mendez going to the Metropolis of Canton upon occasion of businesse and to help a servant of ours who was kept there in prison suffered very much for being come into the prison the Gaoler presently clapt Manacles upon him and suspecting him to be a Priest pulled off his cap and searched whether his crowne was shaven or no and finding no signe of any thing he could lay hold on only because he was a Chrisâ—ian and belonged to the Fathers he suffered him not to go out of the prison till there were bestowed many uruell Bastinadoes on him Likewise two Fathers going from Canton further up into China that is Father Iulius Alexis and another Father were apprehended and after very great sufferings set at libertie The Christian Religion began to make some progresse at our Residence of Xaocheu and in another place neere unto it named Namhim whither Father Matthaeus Riccius was gone and had reduced some Gentiles to the sheepfold of Christ. But the businesse was so full of difficulties and dangers that brother Sebastian Fernandes although a Chinesse by nation but brought up in Macao by his Parents who were Christians and who entred into our societie after he was growne a man and a rich Merchant and served therein many years even to his death with great paines to himselfe and a great example to all that Christianitie told the Father we should do well to go to Giappon seeing the Lord did favour that Kingdom with so great a conversion and so many Baptismes and spend our lives there where we might receive abundant fruit of our labours But the Father who had a more lively faith and a hope better grounded seemed to have answered him by the spirit of prophesie that which afterwards came to passe giving him hopes of more copious fruit such as we find at this day And even at that time also within foure years wherein he had cultivated that vine-yard in spight of those great Tribulations he made a good harvest of many Christians who many times do prove the best in times of trouble and persecution and there were some of them very eminent with some of which I have since spoken and conversed who seemed to me to be like Christians of the Primitive Time and by degrees there were many more also converted In the mean while about the year 1594 two persons of this House departed to a better life for if the people of this Province are not good the temper of the aire is much worse Till this time the Fathers had gone in the same garbe they entred in with their beards and the crowne of their heads shaven and their haire cut short as we weare it here in Europe and there also the Bonzi or Priests of their Idols who in that kingdome contrarie to the custome of others are in very mean esteem But now they were better acquainted with the state of things there it seemed to them to be more advantageous for the credit of our religion as also for the preachers thereof that they should take a habit different from the Bonzi and that seeing they were inwardly unlike them that they should no longer outwardly resemble them especially seeing that first outward form was a great impediment to hinder them from treating with Decorum and familiarity with Officers and men of qualitie who without the vesture of courtesie and habit of a Letterato do by no means admit any one to familiar conversation with them So that leaving their former garbe and habit they took the other of Letterati with a great applause of the Christians and their friends as also of the Magistrates and because they had taken no degree in their learning they were accounted and esteemed as they are also at this day for Letterati of Europe besides many other good advantages and effects which it produced In May the year following Father Matthaeus Riccius went to Nankim in the companie of a Mandarine who was a grave Person and his friend who went thither with commission to be General in the warre against the Giapponeses in the Kingdome of Corea he wanted not troubles by the way especially in a dangerous shipwrack which he suffered the barque being overturned and the Father falling into the water over head and eares not having any skill in swimming nor any hope of life But the Lord assisted him with his paternal providence for without knowing how it came there he found a rope of the Barque in his hand by which he was pulled up neverthelesse he lost his companion who being carried away by the force and violence of the water was never more seen At length he arrived at Nankim but the houre
of that famous Citie was not yet come Wherefore although some friends there did desire to favour him yet one with whom he had contracted in Cantone and whose favour he did now endeavour to gain was not only wanting to him in what he requested but was so far changed from what he was that he put the Father in great danger and was the occasion that he was disgracefully sent out of the Citie and all this upon no other account but lest it should be said that he was the occasion of the Fathers coming thither contrarie to the lawes of China The Father departed from Nankim and went into the Province of Kiamsi which lieth between that of Namkim and that of Cantone he was received into the Capitall Citie thereof named Nanchum and treated very kindly by the most considerable people there and especially by a great Lord named Kien Gam Vam who was the Kings neer kinsman He was also very courteously used by the Vice-roy with no ordinarie demonstrations of kindnesse which was none of the least occasions that a residence was founded in this City then Father Riccius using all diligence to obtain leave to set up a House there the Lord provided him of a companion named Iacobus Socirus sent from Macao very opportunely to reside there and then presently they purchased some few small houses in this City but not without the usuall resistance and contradiction of the neighbourhood as also from other parts which in processe of time did so encrease that this House may well compare with that of Xaocheu for persecutions for if the people of that City are bad truly they of this City are not very good The Fathers were sometimes molested by the Letterati otherwhiles by the Nobilitie of which sort there are many still residing in this City they were troubled also by the people and sometimes by the Christians themselves For there is never wanting a Judas to raise persecution among the good disciples Neverthelesse it pleased God to make that House and Christianity there to flourish and to bring into them many persons of qualitie and particularly that neer Kinsman of the King with his whole House and Familie who by his holy life and other vertues did much edifie that Church And though he had no children while he was a Gentile yet it pleased the Lord to send him many after he was become a Christian. There were also many other Families converted which although they were inferiour to his in bloud yet did they not come much behind him in Christian Pietie After that Father Riccius had a companion to whose care he might leave that House recommended he began to undertake afresh the enterprise of Nankim and he had a good opportunitie offered him by a Mandarine of qualitie and his friend who took him along in his company By this meanes he returned again to that City in the year 1598. and although at the beginning by reason of the warre which the Giapponesses made against the Kingdome of Corea threatning also that of China he found great difficultie to be admitted for these two alwayes go together yet at length it was facilitated by the good success of Corea and the friendship of some persons of Qualitie and of the Vice-roy himself the Divine providence alwayes opening that way which he knew was most secure CHAP. 3. Of what happened after till the Fathers entred into Pekim FAther Matthaeus Riccius never ceased to endeavour a finall establishment of the Church in that Kingdome which did wholly depend upon the entrance of the Fathers into the Royall City of Pekim where the King and chief Court do reside and so after he had assayed diverse meanes at length he resolved to go thither in the company of the same Mandarine his friend who had brought him to Nankim and so he took no house at that time in Nankim He departed then along with Father Lazarus Cataneus his companion and two Chinesses who were Brethren taking their way by water which was above a moneths voyage although the Mandarine got thither in a shorter time by land But at length being arrived at Pekim without any hinderance or disturbance the first thing they did was to go waite upon their friend who had caused them to come thither and was arrived there before them He received them with all kindnesse and civilitie and endeavoured to favour and assist them in every thing especially in recommending them to the acquaintance of an Eunuch his friend The Fathers had brought with them some curiosities of Europe to make a Present of them to the King to wit Two excellent Pictures Painted on Linnen cloath the one of our Saviour the other of the B. Virgin an Harpsicon an instrument which had never been heard a striking Clock a thing which had never been seen there before and some triangular glasses with all which the Eunuch was well pleased but not finding that gain from the Fathers which he expected and which was the only thing he lookt after he excused himself that he could not present them to the King by reason of the troubles of the war which the Giapponeses made upon Corea and which were every day expected in China saying that it was not a fitting time to speak to the King about strangers affaires Of the same opinion also was that Mandarine their friend who being to returne to Nankim where he had a Government bestowed upon him would willingly have carried the Fathers back again with him But it seemed better to them that the Hopes which they had conceived should not be so soon lost nor so much labour and expence be cast away in vain wherefore they remained in Pekim above a moneth after the departure of the Mandarine using all endeavours and seeking out all wayes possible to see if they could compasse their intention But all their diligence was in vain for the Mandarine being once gone all the rest withdraw themselves so that there was not one of the Mandarines of the Court that would admit them so much as to a Visite The difficulties then being so great and they finding no way to overcome them the Fathers were forced to returne into that Country where they were more known and had been better received and so they came back to Nankim but not with so much ease as they thought they should have done For the Winter overtaking them in their voyage and the River being frozen up they were forced to winter by the way But Father Matthaeus Riccius being loath to lose any opportunitie left his companions in the Barque and took his way by land avoyding by this meanes the trouble and hinderance of the Wintering but not the cold of the journey which was so excessive that many times it hindred him from going forward But at length having overcome all difficulties he arrived at the Citie of Sucheu which without all contradiction is the most pleasant and delightfull City of all China so that they have a proverbe
which saith That the City of Sucheu Hancheu is that upon earth which the habitation of the blessed is in heaven It is scituated in a pleasant River of fresh Water just as Venice is in the Sea it hath the greatest traffique of all the Kingdome the Merchandize from Macao being first brought thither from whence they are afterwards dispersed to all other parts Here the Father found Quitaizo his ancient friend in the Province of Canton by whom he was received with all manner of kindnesse and friendship and was also by him introduced and brought into credit with the whole City And being the Sonne of a principall Mandarine he was a great help to him in gaining the friendship of severall Mandarines of great authoritie for which and other good turnes he did us in Canton and other places and especially in Nankim he deserveth no small commendations and acknowledgment The Father gave him a triangular glasse which by his friend was taken for so precious a Jewel that he tipt both the ends of it with Gold and made a Case of Silver to put it in and after sold it for above 500. Crownes This honest man much desired that the Father would settle himself in that Citie and found a House there where he might assist and promote him with more convenience proposing many difficulties which would hinder the residence of the Fathers at Nankim Neverthelesse having weighed things better and taking that resolution which was most suitable to their occasions they went both of them to Nankim in the year 1599. where they found the state of affaires much altered from what it was the time before The Citie did now enjoy a profound peace and tranquillity the Giapponeses being beaten back into their own Countrie The Mandarine their friend was very glad of their coming and did them many singular favours as did also many others both Magistrates and other grave men and persons of account in that City particularly a Coli which is a kind of Censor or Syndic-royall named Choxelim wherefore the Father not only by their consent but also by their perswasion resolved to settle a residence and found a House in that Noble City which is the second of the whole Kingdome While the Father made his abode there he gave great proofe of himself and of the Sciences of Europe particularly of the Mathematiques He made a new Mappe of the World with the explanation thereof in the Chinesse language and characters which gained great reputation not only to the authour but also to Europe seeing there such a multitude of Noble Kingdomes and Cities so that the same Quitaizo and others with very Solemn Ceremonies made themselves Disciples to Father Riccius Neither was the authoritie lesse which the Father gained by the publick Disputes which he held concerning matters of Religion wherein to the admiration of all the Councels he ever had the Victorie so that the Fathers came to such a height of reputation that they were celebrated by many Letterati in Epigrams and Elogies In the meane time the companions of Father Riccius arrived after they had wintered by the way and endured many labours and hardships But when they found the Father in that City where a little before he was not only not received but also driven out with ignominie and shame now to have such credit and applause and so many friends who favoured him they forgot all their former sufferings and gave most hearty thanks to the Lord our God for that present prosperitie Not long after they began to think of buying an House for that wherein they lived was only hired Many were offered to them but such for the most part as were inconvenient for them among which there was one that was very large and capacious but haunted with Divells and Phantasmes so that none durst dwell in it This inconvenience useth commonly to be advantageous to us for wee not fearing these spirits which vanish at the first on-sett doe commonly purchase such houses at a very low rate and so it happened to Father Riccius wherefore after the bargain and sale was concluded the Fathers came over a while to dwell in that house where they lived very quietly without receiving any disturbance or inconvenience from those spirits Assoon as the Fathers had their House and Church there were not wanting those who did frequent it The first who was baptized in this City was an old man of seventy years of age he was a Noble man and had the office of Chinoci whereof we spake when we treated of that Nobility which descendeth by way of blood Presently his sonne followed him who was already a Letterato and was afterward made a great Mandarine and also his whole Familie his Grand-Sonnes and Daughters c. I knew them many yeares afterwards when they had made great progress in Vertue and Christian Pietie and are therefore worthy of Eternall memorie with many particular cases whereof we shall make mention hereafter This Familie was followed by others the number of Christians still encreasing as also their zeale to good works especially after the persecution whereof we will speak anon So that it may be said to be the best Christianitie of China although the most persecuted and molested The affaires of Nankim succeeding thus prosperously and these good beginnings shewing that that House would not only continue but also be enlarged and advanced Father Riccius sent one of his companions F. Lazarus Cataneus to Macao partly to give an account to the superiours of what had passed partly to get some curioâ—ities of Europe to make Presents of and partly to seek out some new companions to labour in that plentifull harvest The Father arrived at Macao with these glad tidings which were received with that joy which was fitting and shortly after having procured some Presents for the King and a fresh recruit of other Fathers he returned to Nankim where Father Riccius stayd for him who having his whole desires set upon Pekim after he had received the Presents and a fresh supply of companions deferred no longer to begin his second voyage for Pekim having not only the opinions but also the propitious assistance of some principall Mandarines in his favour It was the sixteenth day of May in the year 1600. when the Fathers Matthaeus Riccius and Didacus Pantoia and brother Sebastian Fernandes departed the second time for the Court in the same manner as before by water having accommodation given them in a barque belonging to an Eunuch who the more he conversed with the Fathers had still the more affection for them Having passed the Province of Nankim and being come into that of Xantum in the City where the Vice-roy of that Province doth reside Father Riccius was received with extraordinary respect by that Vice-roy He was visited in the barque presented and very much made off The memoriall or petition which he intended to present to the King was mended for him and put into a better form and
good behaviour and manner of life only there was this evill in it that he besought him to send them away from Pekim because it was against his lawes that strangers should inhabit in the Court But because the Eunuchs who had care of the Clock were afraid of the absence of the Fathers because the ordering of it depended on their directions and the King also had a desire they should stay this second Memoriall likewise received no answer In the meane while the Fathers having libertie to go abroad when they pleased frequently Visited the Mandarines made new friends and treated with those of the Councel of Rites called Lipu before whom their businesse was that they would be pleased in their Memorialls to signifie that they thought it fit that the Fathers should be permitted to reside in Pekim telling them that they might plainly perceive that the king refused to give an answer to them because he was willing they should stay there But they still obstinately opposed that point and accordingly in their third and many other Memorials which they presented concerning the Fathers although in the whole or at least the greater part they seemed to favour them yet in that which concerned their stay at Court they were alwayes excluded but in the like manner the kings answer was alwayes suspended there never comming any decree from him eyther for or against them The Fathers perceiving this long delay and whence it came desired in the meane time to be freed from that restraint which is imposed upon all strangers wherefore they obtained by meanes of certain Mandarines who were their friends the favour to be discharged from that place untill the King should returne his answer unto the fore-said Memorials and to have leave to hire a House for themselves This was a new thing and wholy different from the Stile of China and therefore so difficult that it was accounted impossible to be done without a particular order from the King But when God would have it so all things are easily brought about and so this licence was obtained rather as a thing granted from Heaven than acquired by humane industrie on earth The Fathers then had ful leave to go out of that walled place they hired a House and began to live in it as if they had been natives of that Countrie The Fathers then seeing themselves in that condition which was much better than what they could hitherto obtain presently endeavoured with all their might to get their settlement at the Court secured that none might be able to trouble them any more upon that account understanding very well how much the securitie of their other houses depended upon their personall residence at that Court. Neverthelesse with all the diligence that they themselves and severall Mandarines their friends could use they were never able to obtain a decree for it it is true they were assured by the Eunuches that the King had said that they might dwel securely at the Court and that they should by no meanes think of returning to the Southern Provinces for if they did he should be displeased at it This answer was very sufficient and being authorized with the Kings name served instead of a decree absolutely to secure their habitation there another favour also being added to this by which it was more confirmed and that was the appointing by the Kings own order to have a competent pension allowed the Fathers out of his exchequer for the maintenance of themselves and four Servants which allowance they were to receive quarterly By these favours and the friendship of the Eunuches of the Palace and of some principall Mandarines their habitation was not only secured but brought into such credit that their friends encreased dailie and the people flocked continually to our House some to see strangers some to heare something concerning our Sciences and some to understand the truth of our holy Law and this was that which was most pleasing to the Fathers and most profitable to the Chinesses Among the Principall Mandarines who at this beginning contracted friendship with the Fathers there was one who was named Ligo Zun He was a Native of the City of Hamcheu a man of great Talents and ingenuitie and was known to be such through the whole Kingdome at the examinations for the degree of Doctour where in that degree is given to about 300 he obtained the fifth place which is a very great reputation among them He was extreamly curious and being assisted by his own naturall ingenuitie and the friendship of Father Matthaeus Riccius he learned many curiosities in the Mathematiques He translated severall of the Fathers Books into the Chinesses language and whilest he was yet a Gentile he put our Catechisme into an excellent Stile It is reported of him that when he was Composing of it seeing the powerful reasons which were brought in that Book to prove the Sanctitie of our Religion that although he did not believe them to be true he cryed out what an excellent piece is this and how accurately Composed But in time he began to penitrate better into them and at length acknowledging them to be true he resolved to become a Christian but his desire not being capable to be put in effect at that time in his own person by reason of that inconvenience of his having many Wives which in China is the ordinarie hindrance and obstruction in men of that Qualitie neverthelesse he would have his whole Familie Baptized and he himself after he had setled and jousted his affaires as was requisite for that purpose was Christened also and named Leo and is the same who is so frequently mentioned in the yearly Letters for his Pietie and zeal and for being one of the Supporters and Pillars of that Christianitie carrying himself in such manner that by his example and perswasion he gained many persons of Qualitie to our holy faith among which number a grave person named Michael was one who is also often mentioned in the letters and of whom we shall speak when it commeth to his turne When he was now become a Christian he governed in severall places of the Kingdome but alwayes with that observance which was due to the Religion he professed Among other honourable employments he had the Office of Tauli which is a place of great honour and profit in the Citie of Caoyeâ— in the Province of Nankim he found in the Palace there a Chappel full of Idols which the curiosity or devotion of his predecessours had preserved and adorned with extraordinarie care and and cost The devout Leo judging it not convenient to have such ill company in the House where he dwelt commanded his Servants to throw down those Idols from the Alters where they stood and to hew them to pieces with Hatchets and after that they were given to the Cook to consume them in the fire with all their Gold about them The officers of his Tribunall as Secretaries Sergeants and others were astonished at it
greatest straits kept a strong winde in readines to dissipate these clowds This was a grave Mandarine who exercised the office of Tauli in that City who undertooke our defence and with a speech which he made to the Mandarines and the people concerning the probiâ—y and honesty of the Fathers of their good manner of life and conversation and of the security which was in them quieted and appeased this tempest Of so great power upon all occasions is the authority of one who governeth and in this particularly wherein according to their manner of Government one would have thought that this Tauli should have been our greatest adversary it pleased the Lord by his means so farre to quiet all disturbances that they made no small advantage even of these temptations Their affaires continued thus between tempests and calmes which latter commonly were of the shorter continuance and to conclude the History of this House I will only relate two notable passages concerning it About this time the Hollanders did infest India and were come as farre as China with a designe to gaine a Port in that Kingdom and particularly to take if they could the City of Macao as they did afterwards attempt to do according as I have already related Upon this occasion that City resolved to fortifie it selfe as afterward it did and although the designe did not take effect at that time yet those beginnings and preparations of warre were sufficient to make the Chinesses who are timorous and suspicious even by nature to beleeve that the Portughesses had some designe on foot against them This suspicion was encreased by the coming of Father Lazarus Catanaeus out of China to Macao at the same time He was a man somewhat corpulent by nature and of a tall stature and of a bold and lively mind or aspect and was now become more venerable by reason of his long beard so that to any one who was not acquainted with him he seemed fitter to carry a Pike than a Breviary The Chinesses were perswaded that this Father had a designe to make himselfe Master of their Kingdom and that the Portughesses had chosen him for their Captain in that enterprise partly in consideration of his person and partly for the knowledge he had of the waies in that Country by reason he had been in both the Courts adding with all that there would arrive very shortly two Armies to their assistance one from India of Portughesses the other from Giappon of Giapponesses who are their deadly enemies and that the Fathers who were the companions of Father Lazarus were gone before into the Kingdom partly as spies and partly to stirre up the people to take part with their designes A malicious but ridiculous invention of the Devil as if 4 or 5 poore religious men with a handfull of Christians had been able to conquer so powerfull a Kingdom This rumour began by little and little till at length as is usuall in such cases it grew so strong in the beliefe of the Chinesses that as many of them as dwelt in Macao either Merchants or Inhabitants fled all away to Canton Whereupon they of the Province of Canton gave themselves for half lost and being filled with frights and terrours they made no question but the businesse was very certain The newes had already arrived to the Vice-roys eares who in hast made great levies both for sea and land In the principall City of the Province all the Houses were caused to be pulled downe which were built along the wall on the outside which were very many and the poore people received an excessive losse by it The gates which opened towards Macao were walled up with lime and stone and upon the walls were placed Sentinells to keep watch both night and day A proclamation was published which under very great penalties did prohibite all manner of commerce with Macao and that no stranger whatsoever should be admitted and in particular not Father Catanaeus who was he that was to make himselfe King In this manner was the Metropolis inflamed with a military heat while the neighbouring Cities were ready to die for feare Who would ever have doubted that a fire so unfortunately begun should not have reached as farre as our Residence of Xaocheu a City of the same Province and not very farre from the Metropolis and should not there have burnt up whatsoever it found in it together with all our other Houses in that Kingdom They rushed suddenly into the House with such a fury as you may easily believe them to be in upon such occasion they made a very strickt search and turned every thing upside downe to see if they could finde any armes and having not found what they sought for having imagined to finde a Magazine or Armory there the tumult began to cease and the people went out of the House neverthelesse they set guards upon us for their greater securitie and from this time that fire began to be extinguished The Vice-roy had already given order to the Captain Generall of that Province whom they call Tum Pim that with all the strength of the Country he should fall upon Macao and that he should sack and destroy it But he like a prudent man would not put himselfe upon an enterprise of so much hazzard and danger for the Portughesses would not have suffered themselves to have been so easily destroyed as they shewed afterwards against the Hollanders a people of another manner of valour than the Chinesses before he had received better and more certain information Therefore he sent spies to Macao who went up and downe the City very freely for by reason they had no suspicion of any thing all passages were free and open When the spies had remained in all libertie in Macao as long as they though fit they returned with certain intelligence that there was not any preparation for warre in Macao no levies of Souldiers nor any signe of that newes which had been spread abroad but all was in peace quietnesse save only that the City was divided into two factions by reason of some particular quarrels Upon this intelligence he did forbeare to put the Vice-roys orders in execution and in the mean time things began to be better cleared and the truth to appeare The Citizens of Canton did open their gates and their feares began to blow over and every thing to settle in a great deale of quietnes which was much promoted by the coming of that Mandarine of whom we have formerly made mention that he did appease another tumult against the Fathers in the City of Xaocheu He had been at the Court and was returned from thence upon the occasion of his being promoted to an Office He upon the acquaintance he had formerly had with the Fathers and especially by reason of the new friendship he had contracted with the Fathers at Pekim with whom he had had a very great familiarity absolutely setled all those distempers there for that time for this
Commandments In fine the businesse went so well and so contrary to what their adversaries did hope and expect and so much in favour of the Fathers that the Law of God was publickly commended and approved by the very Gentiles themselves and the abode of the Fathers in that City confirmed by a publique sentence and drawn up in writing which till that time could never be obtained and the Crosse of Christ triumphed in spite of all the Devils in Hell and from thence forward they that were Christians already enjoyed all the liberty they could desire and they that had a mind to turne Christians could do it without any caution or secrecie and truly there were many of them that proved examples of great edification and though I do purposely forbear to mention them for brevities sake yet I will relate one belonging to the same residence because it was told me by the same Christian himself a little before my departure for Europe I was standing one day in the Church which we have in this City when I saw a man come in thither to say his prayers and not knowing him I stayed till he came out and then I asked him who he was He answered Father I am a Christian and was born in this City but am by profession a Merchant in Nankim and at certain times I come hither to see my Parents then I come to Church according to my dutie I asked him who did Baptize him He answered me Father Iohn della Rocca And it was said he in this manner I had been sickly many yeares and had spent all my poor fortune upon the Physitians without receiving any help from them my friends used to visit me and among them two Christians who one day being moved with compassion towards me told me that I should do well to turn Christian and it might be that the Lord would grant me my health I answered them If your God would restore me my health I am content to turn Christian. They went presently to the Father to ask him for a little Holy water to give me to drink hoping that it would have a good effect But the Father answered them If he have a desire to turn Christian let him do it and our Lord will send him health if it be his pleasure and if he do not yet at least let him take care of the health of his Soule which is more necessary than that of the body As for miracles the Lord doth them only when he pleaseth and if upon this occasion he should not do a Miracle then would that Gentile despise and undervalue our religion They returned to me sufficiently disconsolate but I was much more dejected when I heard that answer About two days after the same two Christians being with me there came in another called Peter with whom I was also acquainted and he was a very zealous and fervent Christian. They told him what had happened to them with the Father but he replyed What need have we of the Father for this matter I have holy water my self at home let us give him some of it and I hope our Lord will grant him his health He went presently home and fetched a little of it they gave it me and I drank it and not long after I perfectly recovered and that which many medicines were not able to do in so many years the Holy water did in a very short time I went presently to Church to render thanks to the Lord for that great mercy he had shewed me and after I had been well Catechised and instructed in the principall matters of our Holy Faith I was Baptized I have made choise of this example in particular because it was related to me by the person himself to whom it happened although there never wanted many others of the like kind wherewith the Lord doth favour that Church strengthen the Christians and comfort the Preachers thereof The Residence of Nankim did this while enjoy a perfect peace and tranquilitie and the Fathers gained a great deale of credit and reputation and were much esteemed by severall of the Magistrates who did greatly favour them The number and devotion of the Faithfull encreased every day and for the greater help thereof there was founded a congregation of the B. Virgin with those effects and fruits which are usually obtained by her Diverse persons of very considerable qualitie did present themselves to receive Holy Baptism among whom Kui Tai Zo was one who indeed was worthy of all praise for the great paines he took in this Citie to assist the Fathers and for the many advantages he gained them by his authoritie This man notwithstanding that he was our intimate friend did still persist in his Heathenisme and although he commended our Holy Law and approved the Truth and Certainty thereof yet he thought it very troublesome to observe a conceit which doth usually with-hold very many from the undertaking of it But at length having overcome himself and all other difficulties he was Baptized and called Ignatius making his confession and publick profession so resolute and devoutly that he did much comfort the Fathers and encourage the rest of the Faithfull neither was he content only to recite it but gave it in writing as a pledg of his determinate resolution the which for the publick edification I have thought fit to insert in this place and it saith thus Kui Ignatius born in the second Moon of the year called Ciea which was about the month of March in the year 1549 in the Citie of Ciancieu of the Countrie of Sucieu in the Province of Nankim in the Kingdom of Yamin for so they call the Kingdome of China I being drawn by a profound consideration and moved by a most sencible sorrow for my sinnes do desire to ask pardon of almightie God that he might give me the saving water of Baptism for to cancell them and that he would grant me sufficient grace to enter into his most Holy Law I consider with my self that being now 57 years of age I have had eyes all this while and yet have never looked into his Holy Law I have had eares and yet have never heard of his Sacred Name but on the contrary have followed the Sect of Scechia which is the name of a very famous Idoll and although I understood that it was repugnant both to truth and reason I did very much enlarge and spread abroad that superstition the which I acknowledge to be my very great fault and almost Infinite sinne which without doubt did deserve no lesse than the lowest depth of Hell Of late years it was my good fortune to meet with the Masters of the truth who came from the great West Mattheus Riccius and Lazarus Catanaeus together with their Companion Sebastian Fernandes These were the first that did open unto me the Mysteries of Divine truth and now again of late I mett with John Della Rocca and his Companion Frances Martinez These did confirm me
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
them away to their owne Countries Alphonsus Vagnone and Jacobus Pantoia with their companions who under pretence of preaching a certain law do much disturbe the people and also secretly endeavour to make an insurrection in the Kingdom We do therefore ordaine that notice be given to the Lypu of Nankim to give order to the Mandarines of the respective Provinces wherein any of these men shall be found that they send them with a guard of Souldiers to the Province and City of Canton to the end they may returne from thence to their owne Countries leaving China in peace and quietnesse And because the last year we were given to under stand by severall persons that Jacobus Pantoia and his companions who came into this Kingdome to enjoy the delights and pleasures thereof were very fit to be employed in the emendation of our Calender whereupon they were aggregated to the number of the Mandarines yet notwithstanding the said aggregation we will and command that they be forthwith dismissed and sent away to their owne Countries Let this sentence be given to the Lypu and to the Ciayan the twenty eighth of the twelfth Moone Assoone as this Order was drawne up at the foot of the Memoriall the Colao sent it back into the Palace to be signed by the King according to the custome Presently the Eunuchs being all gained by the Presents of Xin fraudulently contrived a way to get it subscribed or as some say they put it among a great heape of petitions so that the King signed it without taking notice what it was or as others say they perswaded the Queen to subscribe it to whom the King doth often remit the signing of Memorialls And truly it is not very probable that the King who had lent but a deafe eare to so many former Memorialls should be so soone perswaded to it besides that it is more conformable to the stile of that Court to have sent them rather to some Province lying in the middle of the Kingdom than to send them away after they had gained so perfect a knowledge and full information of the affaires of China However it was the sentence was published the fourteenth of February which is the solemne beginning of their new year The news was blowne of a sudden through the whole Kingdome The Mandarines of Nanchium in the Province of Canton where Father Gâ—spar Ferrera was did in a very quiet and civill manner give him notice of the order allowing him with all liberty to stay till his companions came Notwithstanding the Father thought it more fit to sell the House and to retire himselfe to another Mission according to the instructions he had received from Father Longobardus In Hamlu there were two Fathers who were brought thither by Doctour Michaels meanes but they had no notice given them of the Order the Mandarines forbearing as it seemeth to do it out of respect to their Protectour who writ to the Father superiour to send him two more which accordingly he did with very good successe Father Iohn Rocca with two others of Nanchiam where he left Brother Pasquel Mendez for the consolation of those Christians came to Chien Chiam in the Province of Chiamsi where he kept himselfe private in the Houses of the Christians untill the Lord sent better times In Pekim the Colao made excuses to the Fathers in that he was obliged by his place to give them notice of the Kings Order promising them also his Assistance to hinder their going in case they should think good to present a Memoriall to the King to that effect But all passages were so shut up that it was impossible for them ever to present one wherefore giving place to time and necessity having encouraged the Christians after the distribution of Palmes that very Sunday they departed for Canton the Mandarines having strictly forbid the people to offer them any injuries by the way and left the House which the King had granted them in the custody of a good Christian having obtained a licence of the Mandarines to that effect The greatest stirre was in Nankim where assoon as the Courier was arrived he would needs give notice himselfe to the Fathers of their banishment thinking it a high favour that they were not cut in pieces Assoon as it was known abroad the Mandarines came to visit them with much honour and congratulations On the sixt day of March the Fathers were brought first before a Tribunall of six Mandarines and after that before Xin to be examined with a halter about their necks and Father Semedo was brought upon a board not being able through weaknesse to stand upon his leggs Xin after another examination declared That although they had deserved death for preaching a new law in China yet their life was granted them by the Kings clemencie notwithstanding he condemned them to receive ten Bastinadoes apiece and so to be sent away to their own Country Father Semedo was excused by reason of his sicknesse But Fa Vagnone received them in so cruel a manner that he lay very ill upon it and it was above a moneth before his wounds were closed In conclusion their house and goods were confiscated and many books were published against them which declared them to be unworthy the name of Letterati They themselves were put into very narrow Cages of wood such as are used in that Country to transport persons condemned to death from one place to another with Iron Chaines about their necks and Manacles on their Wrists with their haire hanging down long and their Gownes accoutred in an odde fashion as signe of a strange and Barbarous people The thirtieth of Aprill they were brought out of Prison to a Tribunall where they were shut up in those straight Frames and sealed with the Kings Seale and order was given to the Mandarines of the Guard to tale them out at such times as were allowed them to eate and sleep in In this manner were the Fathers carried with an inexpressible noise which the Ministers made with their ratling of Fetters and Chaines Before them were carried three Tablets written on with great letters declaring the Kings Sentence and forbidding all men to have any commerce or conversation with them In this equipage they went out of Nankim and were carried in these Cages for thirty dayes together untill they came to the first City of the Province of Canton where they were presented to the Tutan who having sharply reproved them for preaching a new law in China caused them to be consigned to the Mandarines whence they were carried in that manner throughout all the Tribunals with all the people running after them In conclusion they were taken out and after a few dayes were sent away to Macao along with the Fathers which came from Pekim The Christians which remained in Prison after many sufferings and misusages were in conclusion by the power and sollicitation of their adversarie Xin condemned to receive 70 Bastinadoes apiece The two Lay-Brothers because they
the Fathers divided themselves and Father Francis Sanbiasi went to the City of Kiatim to Dr. Ignatius who by that time the Father arrived there had got ready the lodgings neere his house which served him for a place of study and stood within the walls of his Palace being very convenient for his occasions having severall Chambers and a Chappel to say Masse in and being provided with all necessary furniture and although that Chappel was bigge enough for the reception of the Christians of his owne houshold yet neverthelesse he did afterwards build in the same place a faire Church which though it was not very great yet was of perfect good Architecture The Fathers did afterwards draw many people to them by their preaching and discourses so that when I was there about foure years after I found a well formed Christianity very devout and both men women and children very diligent in hearing of Masse and sermons as also in confessing themselves with such an affection to the Holy Sacrament of the Altar that they seemed even Christians brought up in Europe I forbeare to mention many examples of much edification referring my Reader to the the yearly letters This House also served for an Academie to our people that came newly over for the City being very private and having but little trade and the Houses being spacious and convenient they who were to study the Chinesse language and letters did constantly come thither so that the number of Fathers and Students who were Chinesses of Macao whom we bred up and instructed in vertue and the learning of China that they might afterward be helpfull to us in propagating the Gospel was about eleven or twelve which considering the time was a great number Father Catanaeus went to Xanbai where he laboured in the same manner confirming the old Christians and adding new ones continually to the Church In the meane time Dr. Paul came from Court to his owne house and by his presence gave a greater libertie with lesse danger to preach and reduce that people So that the Baptismes grew to such a number that the Father was forced to write for assistance and to call a companion to him and sometimes they were three and Dr. Paul to enlarge that Church did in a manner pull it all downe and build it a new and so it continueth to this day with a very numerous Christianity belonging to it At the same time began the Residence of Xamsi which hath at this day belonging to it one of the most flourishing Christianities of all China It had its beginning by occasion of a Christian named Peter who went to be Mandarine in that Province and carried with him Father Iulius Alexis that he might be there in safetie under his protection and that he might also prove the disposition of that people whether they would be apt to entertaine the preaching of the Gospel in a place where the Fathers had never yet come and although the House was not perfected at that time yet things were put in such order that it was brought afterwards to perfection with much facilitie as we shall shew anon In Macao they were more particularly sensible of the successe of the Persecution and troubles by which foure Fathers of the two Courts were brought prisoners to that Colledge Neverthelesse by the resentment of those troubles their desires were more inflamed to enter afresh upon the work and to assist their brethren who remained behinde exposed to all dangers and sufferings labouring under the heavie burthen of the Propagation of the Gospel All the difficultie was how to get the foure Fathers backe again by reason they were so well knowne there and were particularly named in the proclamation for their Banishment it was judged therefore more fit for them to delay their returne for a while during which time the Lord was pleased to take to himselfe the Fathers of Pekim namely Father Iacobus Pantoia and Father Sabatinus de Ursis who having been the ancientest labourers in that vine-yard were called first of all to receive their reward It was more dangerous for the other two Fathers of Nankim to returne backe againe by reason their banishment was more publique they having been carried before many Tribunalls and through several Provinces during that Persecution Neverthelesse Father Alvarus Semedo who had lived there a lesser time and consequently was lesse knowne returned back about three years after having changed the name and Sir-name which he used in that Country and about two years after that Father Vagnone did the like who is there living at this day in the Court of Xansi where although he be growne very old yet is he as painfull and diligent as any young man whatsoever In this condition stood the state of Christian affaires which still prospered and encreased in every place by the great industrie and caution which was used as also by the protection of some Christians of quality as likewise of some Gentiles that were our friends and by this means the ancient Churches were confirmed and some new ones set up when the second tempest began in Nankim which although it were not so great as the first because it came not to the Kings ears ye was it fuller of trouble and vexation to us CHAP. 11. Of the second persecution of Nankim and of the Martyrdome of a Christian named Andrew THe affaires of Christianitie in China seemed to be in a calme and prosperous condition and we had almost as much libertie and as much fruit of our endeavours as we could reasonably have expected Only in the City of Nankim which was much distempered by reason of the former Persecution there were alwaies some troubles more or lesse according as the occasion happened but the best was that they were never so great that many persons were engaged in them In the year 1622. in the Province of Xantum there happened a rebellion by a certain people of a sect which they call Palien Kiao whereof we have formerly spoken in its proper place These assaulted and tooke the barques laden with victuals which passed through that Province to Pekim and after that certain Townes and last of all they tooke a City where they put very many to the sword This news presently alarmed the neighbouring Provinces and especially the Court whence the Mandarines immediately dispatched orders through the whole Kingdome for the apprehending and chastising all people of this Sect. In the more remote Provinces there was no great heed taken to this Proclamation but in the Province of Nankim which bordereth upon that of Xantum there were great rewards proposed to him that should discover any of that Sect. It happened aâ—out that time that certain Sergeants did molest and trouble a neighbour of a certain Christian who going out to help him because he saw him much injured without any pretence of reason for it drew them all upon himselfe who following of him into his house with much rage and passion finding there a
pleased seasonably to supply our Kingdome of China with store of Fathers by reason the letters and language are so difficult to be learnt for ere long your Reverences will be so old and worne out that you will not be able to teach those who are new comers Thus he spake and this was his opinion concerning it And a good Testimony thereof will appeare in a letter which he wrote in answer to one which Father Mugnez Mascaregnas the Assistant of Portugall had sent him wherein he offered to send him whatsoever curiositie or raritie he desired out of Europe to which point his answer was that he neither wished nor desired any thing but only that he would earnestly endeavour to send more of the Societie into China In proportioâ— to the love he had for the Fathers his zeale and care for their studies and health did encrease as also that they should be well accommodated and that they should know how to converse with those of the Country in such Termes Ceremonies and Compliments as were most esteemed among them admonishing and instructing us with great confidence upon all occasions when ever he saw us mistaken in the Stile of that Country He had so tender a kindenesse for us that many times with his owne hands he would open our gowns before to see whether we were sufficiently provided with cloaths to defend us from the cold When any of us was sick he caused the medicines to be boyled and prepared at his owne House saying That either through the ignorance or unskilfulnesse of our servants they might lose their force and so the sick person would receive no help by them At the first sight after a little discourse he could very well judge of the talents and parts of every one of us and had a great facilitie in gaining our affections He had a great esteeme and affection for us all in generall but much more for those who were newly come and could not yet speak the language of whom he had alwaies a very great care much compassionating the labour and paines they were to take in the study of that language and the letters belonging to it and to encourage them would much rejoyce at every word which he heard them bring out when they began to speak it He gave them very particular instructions concerning the manner and method they were to study it by He gave them the names of the books to which they were most to apply themselves and many times he sent them to them written in his owne hand concerning the poynts and strokes of which in China there is a particular Science It was an incredible consolation and truely did cause no lesse then our admiration to heare the two Doctours Leo and Michael together when they came both at once as they did often to our House for they scarce spoke of any thing else but of the way how to propagate the Gospel and how to protect defend and authorize the preachers thereof throughout the whole Kingdom consulting with themselves to which of their friends they should recommend them what books they would advise them to write to which Province it were best to go first and which Father were fittest to be required of the Superiour for such a part In the end all their consulations concluded in sighs saying We are old men to morrow we shall die whom shall wee leave in our stead to carry on that which we have seen begun in our daies Sometimes transported by their affections they did imagine themselves to be then at the Court informing the King himselfe by their Memoriall of the sanctity and purity of our Christian Faith and having obtained leave and authority of him to set up publick Churches they did already in their imagination make choice of the ground and scituation and design the form of the buildings otherwhile they fancied themselves to be accused for this cause to be laid in prison and after that to be beheaded and all with so much courage and cheerfulnesse as did well shew the esteem they made of the honour of Martyrdom and the ardent desires they had to lose their lives for the interest of Gods cause Neither did he stop at discourses and desires for I can justly affirme That of all the Houses and Churches our Societie hath in China there is not one of them which Dr. Leo hath not helped both to build and to preserve giving towards some of them although he was not rich a considerable summe of money But that zealous love of Leo was most remarkable in that occasion of recalling the Fathers to the Court and City of Pekim where they formerly resided He contrived all possible means to effect it and made use of all opportunities and by reason that China was then infested by the Tartars and the Court of Pekim in danger he tooke advantage by that occasion to remonstrate to the King that besides our learning and skill which might be of great use to him in this conjuncture of time we had also great power and interest with the inhabitants of Macao from whom we could easily obtaine a considerable succour of men and armes to his assistance and the better to perswade the King and his counsell to it he used so much Rhetorick and produced so many and such apt and proper examples out of their books and ancient Chronicles wherein he was excellently well versed that I doubt not but the Reader would receive much delight if I should give him a little tast of that excellent memoriall of his did not that Brevitie which I have tied my self to in this relation forbid it In conclusion he did and said so much that he obtained his desire wherein he received no lesse satisfaction than we have and ever shal have obligation to him for it Neverthelesse he lost the great office he had only upon this account through the malice of his enemies who accused him to the King though they had nothing to lay to his charge but the neare friendship he had had with Father Matthaeus Riccius and that he did beleeve and professe a certain Law which that Father taught and which was different from the Law of that Kingdome But it pleased the Lord to recompense him abundantly for what he then lost restoring him 4 or 5 years after to the same place with much more honour and Fame throughout the whole Kingdom by means of Dr. Puul who being also a Christian and of so much courage understanding as to be able to assist and favour our affairs brought it about upon occasion of the reformation of the Kalender He accepted of the employment the better to enable him together with Doctour Paul to promote the interest of the Gospel and so he began his journey toward the Court but beside the infirmities of his old age the length of the voyage and the excessive cold of the winter did so weaken him that not many moneths after his arrivall he ended his life on the day
name not only the occidentall but the Oriental Tâ—rtars hitherto much unknown to us in Europe containing the Provinces Sâ—mahania Tanyu Niuche Niulhaâ— and the like from the lesser Tartary and Kingdom of Cascor to the Oriental Sea above Iaâ—ony where they are separated by the Streight of Anian from Quevira in America if yet it be a Streight and not a Continent But it is not my intention to write all the Warrs which have passed betwixt them but only of such as have happened in our memory and in my presence All the rest shall appear at large in my Abridgement of the History of China And that we may proceed with more Order it will be necessary to reflect how and from whence those Troubles had their beginning It is therefore first to be known that the ancient Western Tartars after they had subdued almost all Asia to their power waged war against China of which Paulus Venetus and Ayton make mention under the names of Cataye and Maningin and this before the times of great Tamberlain who never subdued China as some have falsly writ for he flourished about the year MCCCCVI in which time Taichangus Emperour of China and the second of the Taimingian Family the Tartars being before beaten out of his Kingdom governed peaceably all the Provinces included within the compass of that Vast Wall which before I mentioned But the War which Paulus Venetus toucheth betwixt the Chinesses and Tartars began in the year MCCVI. as their History and Chronology testify which lasting 77. years at last the Tartars in the year MCCLXXVIII having totally conquered all that potent Empire extinguished the Imperiall Family of the Sungas and erected a new Regal Family which they called Iuena of which Tartarian Race nine Emperors by descent governed in the Kingdom of China for the space of LXX years in Peace and Quietness and about the end of that War came Paulus Venetus into China with the Tartars as appeareth by his Writings In this tract of time the Tartars forgetting their ancient Vigour of Mind and warlike Spirits which the pleasures and delices of that Country had quailed and tamed and being also weakned by so long a Peace became of a softer temper and received a deep Tincture of the Nature and Disposition of the Natives of China Whereupon a contemptible person who was servant to one of those deputed to offer Sacrifice to their Idols called Chu presumed to rebell against them This man commiserating the condition of his enslaved Country and alsotouched with the ambition of Reigning first acted the part of a Thief or High-way man and being of a Generous Nature bold and as quick of hand as in wit wanted neither Courage nor Art nor Companions nor Fortune to gather such a multitude as in short time made up the vast body of an Army whereupon deposing the person of a Thief he became a General and with a bold attempt presumed to set upon the Tartars and having fought many battailes with them obtained many singular Victories so as in the year 1368 he finally drove them out of the Kingdom of China receiving for so memorable an action the whole Empire of China as a worthy reward of his Heroical Actions It was he first erected the Imperial Family of the Taâ—inges and being he was the first Emperour of that Race stiled himself by the name of Hunguus which signifies as much as The famous Warriour After such an illustrious Action it was no wonder if all the Provinces submitted to him both as to one that was a Native of their Country and also because they looked on him as a man who had redeemed them from Thraldome for it is the Nature of the people of China to love and esteem their own as much as they hate and vilifie Strangers Wherefore he first placed his Court at Nanking neer to the bank of that great River of Kiang which the Chinesses in respect of the huge Mountains of water which it discharges into the Ocean call the Son of the Sea And having speedily ordered and established that Empire fearing no Insurrections from these new redeemed Creatures he was not contented to have chased the Tartars out of China but he made an irruption into Tartary it selfe and so followed the point of his Victory as that he routed them several times wasted all their Territories and finally brought the Oriental Tartars to such streights as he forced them to lay down their Arms to pay Tribute and even begge an Ignominious Peace This Storm of War fell chiefly on the Tartars of the Province of Niuche whither the Tartars of China being expelled were retired Afterward those Tartars every yeare either as Subjects or Friends came into China by the Province of 〈◊〉 to traffick with the Inhabitants For being brought to poverty and misery they thought no more of making warre against China The Merchandise they brought were severall as the root cal'd Ginsâ—m so much esteemed amongst the Chineses and all sorts of precious skins as those of Castor Martais and Zibellâ—ns and also Horse-hair of which the Chineses make their Nets and the men use it in tying up their hair as the handsomest dresse they can appear in But those Tartars multiplyed so fast as they grew quickly into seven Governments which they call Hordes and these fighting one against another at length about the year of Christ MDL were united into one Kingdome called the Kingdome of Niuche Thus stood China in relation to the Eastern Tartars but to the Western Tartars they payed Tribute masked under the Title of Presents that they might desist from War For the Chineses esteem it very unhandsome to make war against any if by any other means their Country can be conserved in peace and quietness being taught this by their Philosophers But in the meane time being over jealous of the Enemies to their antient riches they never left that great Wall which extends from East to West without a million of Souldiers to guard it Therefore this Kingdome of China being thus established in the Taimingian Family enjoyed a constant peace and quietnesse for CCL years and whilst the seven Tartarian Lords or Governours made civil wars that renowned Emperour of China known by the name of Vanley being the thirteenth Emperour of Taiminges Family governed happily the Kingdome of China from the year 1573. to the year 1620. with as much Prudence as Justice and Equity But in this time the Tartars of Niuche had so multiplied and spread themselves after incorporated into a Kingdome that they became daily more formidable to China And therefore the Governours of the bordering Provinces consulted privatelâ— amongst themselvs how they might curb and restraine these people within their limits For their Governours have so much Power and Authority that although they live as Slaves to their Prince yet when there is question of a Common and publick good they govern absolutely and uncontroulably unless by some higher powers their orders be restrained
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