much addicted to the worship of Idols he had been stirred up by severall occasions to beare a particular hatred towards us First by reason of a booke written against our religion by a Bonzo an intimate friend of his which was so well confuted by Dr. Paul that the Bonzo broke his heart with the very griefe and shame he conceived at it Moreover the Bonzi of Nankim had given him a handsome bribe reported to be 10000 crownes to drive us away hoping thereby that fire might be extinguished which had been kindled against their Gods To these may be added the spleen he had against Dr. Paul and Dr. Michael who discoursing with him the one in Pekim and the other in Cechian did by such powerfull arguments viâ—fy those Idols he did worship that having nothing left to answer for himselfe he converted his silence into rage and his shame into venome But his spite and malice was much more encreased when he understood that two Memorialls had been presented to the King by two Mandarines of great qualitie wherein they did earnestly move the King that the Fathers might be perswaded to translate the books of Europe into the Chinesse language and that they should be employed in the reformation of their calendar Xin not being able to digest that strangers should be held in such esteeme who were enemies to his sect to the manifest danger and ruine of his Idols and last of all that which did strongly animate him to that enterprise was the ambition he had to be Colao hoping that this his zeale for the ancient Rites and for the religion of his Fathers would aduance him to that dignitie especially since it belonged to his office to have a vigilent eye over such matters Therefore besides other things which belonged to his charge and office he caused a damnable Information to be drawne up against the Fathers proving therein by feigned and colourable reasons that they ought to be banished the Kingdom He said they had intruded themselves into China without leave making use for proofe thereof of a certain Memoriall which we have formerly mentioned to have been made by the students of Nankim wherein they besought the Mandarines to banish the Fathers out of the Kingdom as persons who were very pernicious to the Common-wealth and had secret Machinations against the King and Kingdom for said they if it be not for this reason for what other end and purpose are they come with so much eagernesse and zeale into another world and had abandoned their owne habitations and estates The other Testimonies which he brought were other such like impostures wherewith a neighbour of ours in Nankim had furnished him that many nights in the year under pretense of some solemnitie concerning the divine worship there were many great assemblies held in our house consisting of thousands of men and women a most grosse lie and that before the break of day they all dispersed themselves to their owne houses that every new Christian had given him five false duckats made by Alchimy after he had been enrolled in a list which they kept of them and that they had strange and barbarous names imposed upon them at their admittance and were taught to make the signe of the crosse upon their forehead to serve them as a marke of distinction in the time of their rebellion and insurrection That they had their houses fuâ—l of Armes and other such like lies very well coloured over Of all these arguments put together he framed a Memoriall which he presented to the King in the Month of May 1616. The substance whereof was Our entrance by stealth into the Kingdome The propagation of a Law contrary to that of the Idols which had been the religion of their Ancestours The concurrance which there was in high Titles between our God and their King betwixt our West and their East Our subtletie and craft in gaining of friends The destruction of the Astrologie of China as false and erroneous occasioned by the reading of that of Europe and such like things The conclusion of it was That it was necessary for the publike good that he should cause a generall Massacre both of the Fathers and the rest of the Christians before their force and number could prove dangerous to the Kingdom To this Memoriall which was presented to the King very secretly there was no answer returned within the usuall time Neverthelesse Dr. Michael had notice of it by means of a Mandarine who was a friend both to him and to the said Xin he presently gave advise thereof to the Fathers with directions what they should do He worte many letters to severall Mandarines in our favour and one directed to Xin wherein without discovering that he knew his intention he confuted all his arguments against the Fathers and their religion Last of all he invited the Fathers to retire themselves to his house in the City of Hamcheu untill the storme were over In the mean time we laboured to obtain the help and succour of Almighty God by re-doubling our prayers and mortifications and withall we went to Dr. Leo who lived two dayes journey off and shewed him the Apologie written by Dr. Michael for our assistance and counsell to which he added a discourse in commendations of the Fathers and of their eligion and by their hands he dispersed many advertisements necessary for that time and occasion throughout the whole City neither were the Fathers wanting with fervent exhortations to do the office of faithfull Pastours animating and encouraging all to suffer for the defence of Gods honour and his Holy Religion And the Christians striving who should prepare himselfe best against the storme frequented our house and the Holy Sacraments and tooke counsell how to carry themselves in case of Persecution There was among the rest a prudent and learned person named Iohn Vao who had prepared foure small banners wherein he wrote his name Sir-name and Country and the Christianitie both of himselfe and of his familie which might serve him for ensignes of his profession in time of Persecution neither did he cease to declare himselfe to be such and to exhort others to a constant confession of their faith Three Months after the first Memoriall Xin having received no answer from the King presented another to the same purpose by the hand of Xamxù who was Lipù of the third Tribunall in Pekim having preswaded him also to frame another of the same Tenour and to present it along with his The Mathematician who had perswaded the Fathers to correct and amend the Chinesse Calendar discovered their plot and privately taking a copy of their petitions he gave it to the Fathers and to Dr. Paul who in one night wrote an Apologie for the Fathers to present to the King when there was occasion and dispatched a Mandarine his disciple a man very well versed in the manage of affaires at Court to the President of Lipu that having sufficiently informed him of the truth he might
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
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
plague came In the royall palaces of five parts the fire burnt downe two and the wind overthrew five Towers of this City we saw two Sunnes together and the one did Ecclipse the other These are all things of evill Prognostication but above all we saw a man enter into the royall Palaces with resolution to kill the Prince which he had done had he not been hindred This fell out when the King would have constituted his second sonne heire of the Kingdome who was growne very powerfull by the favour and art of the Eunuches and at that time there came in a man to have killed the eldest sonne but he was hindred by his feare and the women who helped the Prince And the worst is that a Mandarine having spoken something high shewing therein his fidelitie to you our Lord but for his Loyaltie you made him a Traitour and commanded he should be put in prison and although we made great means to free him by declaring his innocency yet you never gave eare unto us This imprisonment was when the King shewed his eldest sonne to the Mandarines in the royall hall whom they would have had declared heire of the Kingdome the King would not and one of them tooke the boldnesse to speake and to plead for the true Prince and was therefore committed prisoner by the King Many times the Mandarines presented Memorialls wherein they did relate the miserable condition of the people desiring that their Taxes might be lessoned a thing worthy of much consideration but neither did you make any account thereof We the Mandarines of this court have severall times petitioned that you would come out and give Audience in publick as your Predecessours hetherto have done that the government might be conformable to that of heaven as it is most fitting you answered us sometimes that you were not well other times that the weather was cold and rough and that we should meet another day we expected till Spring time then till the beginning of Summer that you would performe what you had promised but you not only gave no answer to the second Memoriall but you commanded it to be burnt and in this manner you live retired in the Palace without making any account of what importeth you most For this reason are the calamities so great and we persecuted with warres Peace is wanting and as it seemeth it will be wanting for we are come to see rivers of blood running downe and above all in the third moone last past there came some from the Province of Xensi to tell us that there had appeared there a man cloathed in yellow with a green cap on his head and in his hand a fan of feathers who spake thus Vanli that is the name of the King doth not governe though he hath raigned long he sleepeth alwaies the Kingdome is ready to be lost the people will die of hunger the Captaines will be slaine and pierced through with lances and when he had said this he vanished The Mandarines were amazed The Vice-roy used great diligence to know who this man was but could not possibly finde him out seeing therefore the calamites famine warre and other evills which the Kingdome now suffereth we plainly perceive that it was a prognostication of these things Wherefore we are againe returned to require you speedily to open your treasures of mony that fresh leavies of men may be made and some remedy put to so great evills This is the Memoriall which was presented in the year 1618 since when the Tartars have continued every summer for in the winter by reason of the great cold nothing can be done to make considerable inroads wherein they are commonly gainers to the great losse of the Chinesses So that the year 1622 two principall Madarines of the fort of Quamsi where as being the chiefe fortresse of that Province the Vice-roy maketh his residence whether it were that they were discontented or had hopes to better their condition by it made a secret agreement with the Tartars to deliver the fortresse into their hands which accordingly they did for the Tartars falling on upon that side which was assigned them assoone as ever they began the assault they easily tooke it by the Treason which the others had plotted and put to flight all them who knew nothing of the treacherie who together with the Vice-roy escaped to Xamhai the last fortresse as it were of that Province and the first of the Province of Pekim the key and strength of the whole Kingdome Assoone as the newes of this last route came to Court both the King and his Grandees were in great disorder and deliberated to change his abode and to remove to the Court of Nankim as farthest off from danger and it had accordingly been put in execution if a principall Mandarine for there is alwayes found some one or other who taketh care of the publick good had not presented a Memoriall to the King wherein he demonstrated to him that this alteration would be the best and readiest way to destroy the whole Kingdome or the greater part at least by dispoyling of all strength the Court and Province of Pekim that was so neere the other Province which was now ready to be lost This Memoriall took effect and by it the the designe of flying and seeking a new habitation was broken off it being formerly resolved that Nankim should be fortified There was therefore a proclamation sent out which under great penalties did prohibite any to go out of the Court not only Mandarines and people of qualitie but even the common people also Vpon this the people began to bee quieted especially seeing that the Citie was strengthened with new Garrisons Guards Watches and a rigorous strictnesse at the gate The chiefest care was to fortifie the passe at Xam Hai Quà n which as I said above is on the very frontire of the Province of Leaotum which was already lost and on the entrance of the Province of Pekim and by reason the place streightened on both sides with very high mountaines is impregnable they sent thither great store of Ammunition and fresh Souldiers in so great number that it was reported that at that post only they had 80000 men of Warre The King also sent new Captaines with ample power which would have been of greater effect if he could have given it them over the Tartars to conduct them that way who seeing it was not possible to make their entrance at that place both because it was so easie to defend as also that it was well fortified with men began to wheele off to the East side thereof through part of Corea giving off their designe of going toward Pekim which if they had done with so powerfull and victorous an Army they had put that Court into a greater feare and danger than ever yet they had experience of The Chinesses met them not far from the Court where there began so furious a Battaile that many men lost their lives both of
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
all ancient Titles They have Offices in the Militia and a competent revenue and all of them succeed their Fathers in their power authority and command They give place to many Officers of the Litterati but at an assembly in the Royall Hall they precede all of them The Third Order containeth all them who either have or doe admininister in the Government of the Kingdome whether they be officers of of warre as Generalls or Captaines or of the Politick and Civill Government whether they be supream such as are the Colai or inferiour Ministers as well the Mandarines of other Cities as those of the Court even to those of the smallest Burghs and Villages neither are they excluded from this order who neither Govern nor have governed but are in Election to be received into the Government such are all Graduates as Doctours Licentiates and Batchelours In a word this order consisteth of Litterati The Fourth is of Students who although they have never taken any degree yet only for being Students and that they are in a way to obtain them are put into the rank of the Nobilitie and treated as such although they have no priviledge or authoritie The Fifth is of those Persons whom they call Netti or cleanly men who live either of their Rents or Merchandize and when their wealth is much their honour is not little and although without learning their power and credit is not so great as among us yet they are much respected by the people CHAP. 25. Of the Government of China and of the Officers THe principall Government of China which embraceth the state of the whole Monarchie is divided into six Councels called by them Pú. These do not only governe in the two Courts where they do reside but from these as from the first movers the rest of the government dependeth and to these persons causes and matters according as appertaineth unto each all is subordinate with an incredible dependance and obedience Every one of these Councels hath its President whom they call C ham Xu with two Assistants one of the left hand who is the first called Co Xi Lam the other of the Right named Geu Xi Lam. These are the chiefest and most profitable offices of the whole Kingdom except the Colai of whom we will speak hereaster so that when a Vice-roy of any Province even of the most principall after he hath given good Testimonie of his abilitie is to be preferred he holdeth himself well provided for not only if he be made President of one of these Councels but also if he come to be one of the Assessours or Assistants either of the left hand or the right Besides these who are the chiefest of the Councell there are ten others of the same Tribunall almost all equall in dignitie who are distributed into severall offices and employments To these are added other great and lesser officers as Notaries Scribes Secretaries Ministers Captaines of Iustice and many others who are not usuall among us in Europe The First and chiefest Councell which is of the greatest authoritie and profit is the Councell of State called Si Pu. To them it belongeth to propose the Mandates of the whole Kingdome concerning Officers to change and promote them for after any one hath been once provided of an Office he alwaies riseth by degrees to greater employments nor are they ever excluded from the Governmen tunlesse it be for some notable fault committed either by themselves or by such as appertaine to them as their Sons neere kindred and the like To this Tribunall also belongeth the power to restore againe any that is turned out of his office as if a Mandarine by some accident lose his office they can easily put him in again and upon this account they have very many and very great bribes given them The Second is the Councell of Warre called Pim Pú. This also as well as the Councell of State hath authoritie over all the Magistrates of the Litterati as also over the officers of warre and taketh cognizance of all affaires belonging to the Militia and is of great profit The Third is the Councell of Rites named Lim Pú. This although it hath not so great command nor bringeth so much profit is notwithstanding more considerable because the Mandarines thereof are of the Royall Colledge and are from hence preferred to be Colai which is the chiefest dignitie in China To this Colledge doth appertaine all affaires concerning Letters Temples Ceremonies Sacrifices the Bonzi Strangers Embassadours and such like things The fourth is the Councell of the Kings Patrimony called Hu Pù it taketh care of the Kings Revenues Taxes Impositions Gabells Excise Tribute and generally whatsoever concerneth the Kings Domaine The fift is called Cum Pù it is super-intendent over all publick works particularly the Kings buildings as those of the Palaces that are made for the Kings children for the Officers over Walls Gates Bridges Cawsewaies cleansing of Rivers and whatsoever belongeth to the Ships and Barkes as well for the service of the King and the publique as for the Armaâ—oes The sixt hath the care of all Criminall matters and to inflict punishments it is called Him Pù and is Judge of the highest Criminall matters and other things appertaining thereto Besides these six Councells which are the most principall of the Court there are other nine Tribunalls called Kicù Kim with severall offices which do particularly belong to the Kings houshold The first is called Thai Lisù as one would say The great reason it is as it were the great Chancery of the Kingdom They examine as being the last appeale the judgements and sentences of the Tribunalls of the Court and thither are brought all facts of great moment It consistenth of thirteen Mandarines that is one President two Collaterals and ten Counsellours The second is called Quan Lo Su and is as it were High Steward of the Kings houshold to whose charge it belongeth to provide the diet for the King the Queen the Ladies the Eunuchs and to have the laying out of the whole expence of the Palace to pay the Salaries to the Officers of the Court and to all those that come thither upon publick businesse to Embassadours which come from other Countries and other such like Persons It hath a President two Assessors and seaven Counsellours The third is Thai Po Cu Sù and is as it were Chiefe Master of the horse to the King and they have not only the charge of all Horses for the Kings service but of all that belong to the Posts and generally of all others which belong to the publick service of the Kingdom It hath a President and seaven Counsellours The fourth is as it were Master of the Ceremonies and complements of the Court It belongeth to them to assist at all the Ceremonies of the publick Actions of the King at feastivalls and other times and occasions which present themselves and also at the daily Ceremonies which are performed in the Palace by
divided into little squares it is fastened before if the Girdle be rich with large Buckles of Gold or Silver some weare them nine inches broad There are nine sorts of Buckels that is of Bufalo of Rhinoceros horne of Ivory of Tortoise-shell of Lignum Aquilae of Calambu of Silver Gold and precious stones Every one may not wear them indifferently according to their Fancies but suitable to the qualitie of the Office which he beareth The last Girdle which is of a precious stone called Yu Xe is given by the King himselfe to the Colai when they enter into their Office nor is any other suffered to weare it The Boots which they call Hive are not ordinarie but of a certaine particular make They are all black and turned down The Vest or Gowne is worne over their ordinary habit and is in all of the same fashion It is large loose and very becoming The colour is at their own choise but for the most part it is modest but on Feastivall daies it is Crimson These are the Ensignes of the Magistrates when ever they appear in publick for at home they leave them off and wear only the ordinarie habit of the Litterati and in the same manner they go among their friends to Banquets and places of recreation especially in hot weather Their externall Ensignes when they go abroad are the Sedan or Litter inlaid with Ivory and richly gilded all open without any cover at top to the end they may be the better seen There are some of them carried by two men others by foure others by six and some by eight according to the qualitie of the Mandarine When there are six or eight men only foure do carry the Sedan the others go by on each side and take their turnes The traine which followeth after them is more or lesse according to the dignitie of the Magistrate those of the greatest Qualitie cause two men to march before them at a great distance with a round staffe in the hands of each of something more than a mans length only for terrour for the king only may strike with a round staffe and all the way they go they make a cry Then follow two men bearing two Tablets silvered over whereon is written in great letters the Title of his dignitie then come foure or six more trayling after them cudgells made of a great tree called Bambu wherewith they are wont in those Countries to give the Bastinado to Delinquents then follow others with chaines in their hands and other instruments of Torture A little before the Sedan there marcheth one with an Umbrella or Sun-skreen and sometimes two they are made of silke and are as bigge as three of ours Close by the Sedan on one side is carried a great gilded fanne so bigge that a man is hardly able to beare it with which the Sun is kept off from him for the Umbrellas serve only for shew and Parade Immediatly before the Sedan is carried the Kings seale in a gilded Coffer placed upon a Machine like to that which we use in our Countries to carry the Images and Reliques of Saints upon in procession under a cloath of state borne up with foure small pillars This is carried by two men Behind the Sedan follow the Pages and other people both on horse and foot When he goeth through the street if there be any thing unseemly at the windowes as cloathes hanged out a drying or such like things presently they are taken in if they meet with any Beers or Hearses such as the dead are carried to buriall withall they overturne them to the ground people of Qualitie turne downe some other street to avoyd meeting of them they that are on horse-back alight they that are carried in chaires are set downe the people set themselves in ranke on both sides the way If it be a great Mandarine the multitude that stand looking upon him keep a profound silence In the meane while he sitteth in his chaire with so much gravity and composure of body that he doth not so much as move his eyes for to but looke on one side or other would in them be esteemed a notable fault When they make their first entrie into any City or Towne besides the traine which is appoynted to accompany them all the way they go and the Souldiers which guard them through the Townes and Cities where they passe and the Officers of their owne Tribunal who go many daies journyes off to receive them and the Souldiers of his owne Government who go out many miles to meet them and all the inferiour Mandarines who go out of the City to congratulate them at the gates of the Towne or City stand all the old men of that place in great number with their reverend white beards who on their knees bid him welcome in the name of the people The Mothers and wives of the Officers as their Sonnes or Husbands are preferred and advanced to higher offices and dignities are appointed by the King certaine honourable distinctions in their habit as also Titles whereby they are called such as are among us your Honour and your Excellency not that they are the same but that they have some resemblance more or lesse When any one of the most Eminent Officers die the King sendeth away post a Mandarine of the Court to solemnize his funeralls and this not only to the confines of the Kingdom but even out of it as to the Island of Hainam as it happened in the year 1617 at what time I spake with him who was sent hether by the King only for that purpose The King also after his death bestoweth the office of a Mandarine upon his Sonne or Nephew and if the deceased person be a Colao he bestoweth the like honour upon all his Sonnes or Nephewes who if they give a good Testimony of their abilitie in their Government are advanced yet higher and come to be Governours of Cityes The Palaces where they inhabit are large convenient and stately their Tribunals where they do Justice are magnificently adorned and attended by great store of Officers In the City of Nankim beside many others there are five Tribunals foure of the foure windes for so they call them and they are accordingly placed in the City toward the North toward the South c. The fift is in the middle of the City yet are they inferiour Tribunals for every one hath a President and two Collaterals and the President is no more than a Doctour and the two Collaterals are either simple Batchelers or else raised from the office of Notarie It is true that in small and ordinary causes these are the hands and feet of the Mandarines being faithfull and diligent executers of whatsoever they command them There are in every one of these Tribunals more than 300 men who serve them as Notaries Clerks and Serjeants some to apprehend men others to whip them others to carry letters and writings and such other Commissions but they do not
they mean sitting in judgement upon him is a precious stone The Magistrates every yeare make them a publick banquet at the Kings charges with Royall magnificence and ceremonies of great Honour and respect shewing thereby what is due to grey haires which are venerable not only for their years but also for their vertues To conclude the Chinesses have their books full of Sentences and good councells did they but as well observe them in the practise as they keep them carefully in their papers I will only repeat some few of them which come first to my memory In doing service to our Masters and old men the principall point is reverence and courtesie We must hide other mens faults and not publish our owne perfections In the generall Government there must be no particular affection We must not do evill though it be never so little nor leave a good deed undone because it is not great The vertuous although young men are to be Honoured and the vicious although old men are to be avoided CHAP. 30. Of the Moores Iewes and other Nations that are in China I Have spoken briefly of the Kingdome of China the people their customs and manners as well as I have been able in regard I am at this present out of the Country and deprived of the use of their books out of which I might have taken many things of worth and curiositie But seeing that at this time I cannot say all that is to be said of any thing it will not be amisse to say something of all and therefore I will now speak of the other nations who live among them In describing the Province of Cantone I said that the Island of Haynam which is very great and wholly appertaineth unto China is divided into two parts the first which is neerest to the continent is on the North part thereof inhabited by Chinesses and governed by them the other which lieth toward the South upon the confines of Chochin China is inhabited by a barbarous people who have their particular language and their laws and customes different without medling at all with the Chinesses unlesse it be in some things of commerce I said also that between the Provinces of Chincheo Cantone and Kiamsi there are certain Mountaines which unite them as in Catalogna the Mountaines of Monferrat do unite that Province to the Kingdome of Arragon and how within those Mountaines there was a small Kingdome which was likewise Governed by it selfe not admitting any thing from the Chinesses except Physicians Medicines and some little traffique Beside these in the Province of Yunnan which is very large lying towards the South in the latitude of 24 degrees there is a great Countrie inhabited by a particular people who use another language and other customes They have a little King called by the Chinesses Thu Quon a Mandarine of earth they pay tribute to the King of China they use traffique and live in peace The same things hath been said of the Province of Que Ciheu where in the confines thereof there is a people who have their particular heads and Governours without any other dependance on the Chinesses than the Investiture of the Title by which they are called There are moreover in China Moors in great abundance not in all the Provinces nor in every City but yet in the more principall They speak the language of the Countrie and know nothing of their own tongue a few words only excepted They are acquainted also with many things of the holy Scripture In Nankim I found one who was born and bred in that Citie that pronounced to me David Abraham and Isaac as distinctly as I could do my self In their Physiognomie nose eyes beard and face they are altotogether like the Chinesses They are Merchants Physicians c. They have Offices in the Tribunals they study and are admitted to the examinations and come many times to be Mandarines but not of the great ones for the most part they stop at the degree of Licentiate Commonly where they live there are Beef-Shambles because they eat no Pork therefore wheresoever they are they kill and sell Beef and it seemeth to me to be the greatest advantage the Country haâ—h by them for where they are not there is Seldome any of that flesh to be sould They have their publick Mosches allowed them by the King They follow their own religion but not very exactly They who arrive at the degree of Litterato or to the dignity of some Office do not much care to be advanced higher They preserve their Nation entire by marrying with one another although sometimes they take Chinesse Women for their Wives but they never give their Daughters in marriage to the Sonnes of Chinesses The reason is because in China the wife followeth the husband she is brought to her husbands-Fathers house there she liveth and followeth his religion therefore when a Gentile is brought to the house of a Moor she becometh a Moor and a Moorish Woman being brought to the house of a Gentile must infallibly become a Gentile The Chinesses despise them as being strangers and call them Hociteu Hoci Hoci The letters with which they write their name hath no other signification but only proper to expresse that people neverthelesse they are very angry and grieved when they are called by it The name by which they call themselves is Kia Muen that is the gate of Instructions If they be despised of the Chinesses they no lesse despise them because they worship Idols and are Gentiles and thus the one is not behind hand with the other In the City of Nankim they have as it were a mount of Pietie or Lombard with which they help only those of their Nation but not those who are Prisoners for their misdeeds and wickednesse They came into China about 700 years since being called from Turquestan by the King of that time to aid him against a rebellion that was then in the Kingdome wherein they had so good successe that they who were willing to remain there were allowed to enjoy the same priviledge with the natives of the Country since which time they have so multiplyed that at this time there are many thousands of them Afterwards in the warre which King Hum had with the Tartars about 300 yeares since they took his part and came in to his assistance at which time the King gaining the victorie they grew into greater esteem and were admitted to take part in the government of the Kingdome We have already spoken of the entrie which is made into China every three and every five years with an Embassie and presents to the King and though they are all Moores yet they are of severall Countries and Kingdomes and very rarely any of them remain in China There are likewise Iews in China although at this time no great number of them but when or how they came thither I am not able to say Anciently there was greater store of them but they have been
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
though they left also much because the enemy approached Thus the immense Riches of Gold and Silver which the Emperours of the Taimingean Family had at leasure hoorded up in the space of two hundred and fourscore years were in a moment dispersed But although they fled very speedily yet they could not avoid the swift Tartarian Horses for overtaking their Luggage and the Rear of the Army they pillaged and vexed them for eight daies but yet they either could not or would not passe the River Croceus that so they might speedily returne to amuse the trembling hearts of the Territory of Peking The Tartars returne therefore victorious and rich into the City Peking and there being admitted by the Chineses they gave them the Empire Where it is to be observed that although Zungteus the Tartarian King dying at the first entrance into China did not obtain that noble Empire he so much thirsted after yet he gave those Instructions of the manner of conquering it to his Councel that they never desisted till they obtained it This Prince dying declared his Son of six years old his Successor commanding all his own Brethren to manage the Childs Affairs with all fidelity and circumspection making his eldest brother his Tutor and all those brethren being uncles to the Child by a stupendious union and never to be parallel'd in any ambitious Nation exalted this Infant to the possession of the Empire These things being thus passed Usangueius seeing the Thief expelled began to think of creating a new Emperour one of the Taiminga's Family who was a Prince not far distant But first being mindfull of his promises made to the Tartars he offers them their rewards he highly extols their Fortitude and Fidelity in the Kingdomes quarreâ— and finally desires them now to depart the Country quietly and to entertain a strict alliance and friendship with it seeing they had abundantly revenged all former injuries To this demand the Tartars returned a long premeditated answer but far contrary to what Usangueiâ—s expected which they delivered in these tearms We do not think it yet a fit time to leave you and this Empire unless having heard our Reasons you shall still presse it for we consider that many of the Theeves are still extant and seem rather dispersed than extinguished and we hear that their great Conductor Licungzus hath fixed his Imperial Seat in Sigan the Metropolis of the Province of Xensi by which means he still possesseth the richest and most populous Provinces which are still under his Dominion If we depart worse is to be feared will follow He feared us Tartars when he hears we are gone having now time to recruit his Forces he will doubtlesse make new Invasions and perchance we shall not be able to send new Succours We therfore resolve to prosecute the Victory and quite extinguish those Vagabonds that so you may deliver the Empire to your designed King in full peace and tranquility Be not solicitous of paying our promised rewards for they are as safe in yours as in our own hands That which we now desire to execute is that which presseth most and seems to us to require no delay that you with part of your Army and part of ours â—arch speedily against Licungzus and we with the rest take our march towards the Province of Xantung to extirpate those Theeves that have setled there By this means the peace of the Kingdome will be firmly established Usanguieus either did not understand the Stratagem or if he did he condescended not to irritate an Army which was in the Bowells of the Kingdom Before the Tartars which were called entred China they sent into their own and other Kingdoms to raise as many men as possibly they could to the end they might conquer the Empire after they had acquitted themselves of their promised assistance against the Theeves But these Succours not being arrived to re-inforce them therefore they thought it best as yet to use no force but gain time by fair words and new projects But whilst this businesse was contriving there came an immense company of Tartars into the Empire not only from the Kingdoms of Niâ—che and Niâ—lham but also from the old Occidental Tartary and from a Country called Yupi which is more Oriental and lyes above the elevation of Iapon This people is called Yupi by reason they make their Coats of defence or Breast plates of fishes skin which are in a maner impregnable Nay which is more I saw very many who were come as far as the River Volga which people these Tartars call Alga-Tartars and I find they have a Notion of Muscovy and Polâ—â— but they are far more barbarous than the Oriental Tartars be with these auxiliary Forces came in the infant King of six years old Son to the late deceased King of Tartary and when these were joyned with the body of the Army then they publickly proclaimed their right to the Empire and openly declared their concealed intentions and proclaimed this child of six years old Emperour of China by the name of Xunchi and the new erected Imperial Family they stiled by the name of Taicing The Child of six years old took possession of the ancient Throne of his 〈◊〉 with a great Gravity and Majesty from whence he delivered this judicious Speech to the Commanders and to his Army It is your strength and power more than my felicity my dear and generous Uncles you the rest of my noble Commanders which supports my weaknesse and makes me so undantedly ascend and possess this Imperial Throne My present assurance and this Chairs stability I hope is as happy a sign of my future prosperity as its tottering proved unfortunate to the Thief Licungzus his Tyrannie You see my first step to the Empire But I know your valour to be such that I look not only upon the Kingdom of China as my own but conceive the Empire of the World not only by me possessed but also established The rewards due to such incomparable Vertues shall be no other than the riches of the Empire and Royall dignities proceed therefore valiantly and stoutly The whole Court was astonished to hear a Child of six years old speak such things and hence concluded that fate or Heaven had elected him for King the young Prince did assume his eldest Uncle as his Tutor and Father the same day he was admitted to the Empire and therefore the Tartars in their language called him Amahan as much as to say the Father King which very thing the China's express by the word Amavang To this man therefore he remitted all the Conduct of his Wars and to him it is the Tartars owe all their greatnesse and Dominion for as he excelled in Counsel and Prudence so also he was as eminent in fortitude and fidelity and withall by the strength and force of his Reasons and Counsels did ravish the wisest men amongst the Chineses and his Justice and Humanity did wholly
enthrall and enchant the popularity To all which I adde those fugitive Magistrates who as I related heretofore had fled to the Tartars to avoid the Emperours indignation and did not a little promote their cause for these men sometimes by word and example did seduce the hearts of the Subjects and sometimes suggested excellent Counsels to the Tartars against their own Country and by both these means advanced themselves to high and eminent dignities amongst the Tartars The same day some Bands of Souldiers were dispatched with order to proclame Usangueius a Tributary King to this new enstalled Emperour which they performed with great magnificence adding to his name as usually they do the Sirname of Pingsi which sounds as much as Pacifier of the Western world establishing his Kingdom in the Capital City in the Province of Xensi This Prince considering that he could expect no more honourable Dignity from the lawfull Successour to the Empire of China and that the Tartars were come into the Empire in so vast a number that he could never hope to Conquer them found means to dispence with his hitherto uncorrupted fidelity admitting the dignity and submitting to the Emperour and so he that had hitherto waged War for China against the theeves now was forced to march against China to subdue its Provinces to the Tartarian Empire And as he was a Great Commander so also by the help of the Tartars he quickly drove out the Theeves from his little Kingdom of Xensi where to this day he reigneth in the Metropolitan City of Sigan But by these honours the Tartars removed him from the practice of Arms who remaining Armed might have proved a dangerous Enemy It was hitherto never known what became of Licungzus some think he was killed by Usangueius in the fight though he never appeared more neither dead nor alive after this fight in which all his forces were dissipated or cut off And with the same facility the Tartars subdued the Provinces of Peking and Xantung where they immensly augmented their Armies by the accesse of the China's Souldiers and Commanders which submitted to them for the Tartarians admitted all even the Conquered to their Army if they did cut their hair and wear their habits after the Tartarian fashion for in this Puntillio of habit and hair they were so rigorous as they proclamed it high Treason in all that did forbear it Which Law did many times endanger them and disturb the whole frame of their Affairs For the Chinesses both grieved and fought more valiantly for their hair and habit than for their Kingdom and Emperour So as many times they chose rather to die or lose their heads than obey the Tartars in these Ceremonies of which I could relate many examples unlesse in this relation I had resolved to be brief But all these little rubs did not hinder but that in lesse than the space of a year not counting Leaotung they had conquered Peking Xansi Xensi and Xantung which are the four vast Northern Provinces of China In all which they changed nothing in their Political manner of Government nay they permitted the usual custom of the Philosophers of China to govern the Towns and Provinces they left also the same Examens as were used for the approving of learned men for by this prudent Counsel they wrought this effect that having given the places of honour and trust to men of their own Creation they found they supassed the very Tartars in fidelity to them yet they kept the Militia in their own hands and the ordering thereof and yet they stick'd not to admit even to these Offices such of the Country as were faithfull to them so as in the Royal City they retained still the same Orders and degrees of Prefects together with the six high Tribunals as they were established in the former Emperours time but so as they were now compounded of Chinesses and Tartars In the mean time the news of the Emperours danger came to the Southern parts of China and the Prefects of every City gathering together very great forces marched towards the City of Peking but in their march they received the sad news of the Emperours death and the taking of Peking they therefore speedily called back their Forces and also all their Ships which yearly used to carry Provisions to the Emperours Court a little after this they received the news how the Tartar was invested in the Kingdom and proclaimed Emperour I was then my selfe in the great City Nanquin where I beheld a strange consternation and confusion in all things till at length having recollected themselves the Prefects resolved to choose an Emperour of the Family of the Taiminges whom they called Hungquangus This man had come hither flying from the Theeves out of the Province of Honan and being he was Nephew to that famous Emperour Vanley cosin Germain to Zungchinius the last deceased Emperour they Crowned him with great pomp and ostentation hoping for better fortune under his Government As soon as this Prince was chosen he sent â—n Embassage to the Tartars begging Peace rather than demanding it for 〈◊〉 offered them all the Northern Provinces which they had taken if they â—ould joyn in amity with him But the Tartars well understood the Policy of these Prefects and Counsellours which was only to amuse them with a Peace whilst they could recover their strength and force And therefore they returned answer that they would not receive as a gift that which they had conquered by force of Arms but seeing they had chosen a new Emperour they might do well to defend him but as for them they were resolved to have all or nothing This Legacy comming to nothing whilst both parties prepare to take the Field appears at Nankuing a young man who gave himselfe out to be the eldest Son to the late deceased Emperour Zunchinius and he gave no small evidences of this truth and Claime nay he was acknowledged by many of the Eunuchs But the new elected Emperour Hunquangus being strongly possessed with an ambition of raigning would never acknowledge nor admit him but commanded him to be imprisoned and killed as an Impostor though many of the Prefects enraged to hear of this order hindered the execution of the sentence But by this accident things grew into a sedition and the dispute was so high that it gave occasion to the Tartars of assailing the Province and City of Nankuing some of the Prefects winking at it if not enticing them underhand to this exploit The Tartars vigilant to lay hold of all advantages hearing of these emulations divisions presently march out into the Territory of the City of Hoaigan and comming to the East side of the River Croceus they passe over speedily by the help of their Boats on the other side of this River stood the Army of China which was so numerous as if they had but cast off their very shoos they had erected such a Rampart
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
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
them which have obtained the first places then the King with his owne hand bestoweth a reward on each of them He to whom he giveth the first gift being the chief of all the rest hath a particular name belonging to him ever after as also to the second and the third The first they câ—ll Chuam Yuen the next Pham Yuen the third Thoan Hoa and this name is of so great esteeme and reputation that in a few daies after the examination there is scarce any person through out the whole Kingdom that doth not know them by these names and not by the names of their fathers and Countrie which is a wonderfull thing in so vast a Kingdom as that is The honour is as great as that of our Dukes and Marquesses As well for the respect which is paid them throughout the whole realme as for the places of authority and trust where they are put to govern being the very same which were anciently conferred upon those great Lords whose authority was in another way correspondent to that which now these Doctours have These ceremonies being accomplisht there is yet another examination which although it be voluntarie there are few that absent themselves from it A new point is given they make their compositions and according to them there is an Election made of those who are to be admitted to the royall colledge They select only 30 of the most deserving and of them they admit five every year who only for being entred in so smal a number are alway providing with profitable places of government The other twenty five have particular Palaces assigned them where they assemble and become as Scholars under the discipline of a Colao who almost every day causeth them to compose somewhat and exercise themselves in all that belongeth to their learning and speculative government This continueth til the next examinations at which new persons enter and the other go forth and according to their degrees and antiquity are provided with the places of greatest importance at the court from whence unlesse it be to be Presidents of the examinations or some other particular imployment that lasteth but a short time and by the Kings order they never go out no not to be vice-royes which imployment is accounted below them because only those of the royal colledge are capable of the dignity of a Colao All the new Doctors are that year put into some employment unlesse there be any that is not of competent years That which helpeth this multitude to imployments is that the same year there is held a generall visitation throughout the whole Kingdome by which there are so many of the old Mandarines turned out that there are many places made void for the new ones and as this degree is of high account the visits congratulatious Feasts and Presents which are made upon this occasion are almost incredible The reward for bringing the first newes is many times worth 200 Crownes to the Messenger but commonly 50 assoon as the friends and kindred of those who are named among the three first above-mentioned hear of their promotion presently they erect unto them triumphall arches in their Cities or Villages not of wood coverd with Canvasse or past-bord but of pure Marble sumptuously wrought in the front whereof is engraved the name of the Person for whom they were erected the place he hath obtained and the year of his Doctour-ship in a word the world is the same throughout It is a vain thing to beleeve that he which hath not power should be admired heard or received with applause whether it be done out of zeale to the truth or out of flattery and interest CHAP. 10. Of the Books and Sciences of the Chinesses OF the Sciences of the Chinesses we cannot speak so very distinctly and clearly because really their Authours have not been so fortunate as Aristotle Plato and other Philosophers and wise men who have methodically handled them under their several Classes divisions and titles whereas the Chinesses have written little or no thing of many of the sciences and liberal arts and of the rest but superficially except those which concern good government and policie From the very beginning it hath been their chiefest aim to find out the best way of government the first that began this were the Kings Fohi Xinon and Hoamsi These three at the beginning gave themselves to their morall and speculative Sciences by way of mysticall even and odd numbers and other ciphers and notes by which they gave law to their subjects and from hand to hand these were alway communicated to the Kings who were the wisemen of that time and by this means did govern the Kingdome untill the Monarchie of Cheù which began 1123. years before the coming of our Saviour at which time Venuam and Checuam his youngest Sonne published these numbers and ancient notes and made a booke of them intitled Yechim giving likewise many morall precepts documents and orders to the whole Kingdome and following the steps of other Philosophers which lived according to the Stoick rule they had alway great care of the Government and publique good untill the time of Confusio who composed five bookes in order called by them Vehim which are at this day held as sacred He made also other bookes and of his sentences and sayings there have been since also many more bookes composed This Philosopher flourished about 150. yeares before the coming of Christ he was a man of a good nature well inclined to vertue prudent sentencious and a lover of the publique good He had many disciples which followed him he had a great desire to reform the world which even at that time began to lose its sinceritie and veracity changing the ancient manner of living and introducing moderne customes And so he governed in severall Kingdomes for when he saw that they did not live conformable to his precepts and counsells in one Kingdom he went to another yet not uncensured by many other Philosophers of that time who seeing the evill course which men tooke retired themselves to their villages and becoming husbandmen in their owne persons tilled their grounds Now it happened that one day Confusio passing along and being to go through a river whose ford he was not acquainted withall sent one to enquire of a man that was labouring thereabouts who was a Philosopher He asked the messenger who he was and being answered that he was a disciple of Confusio's who sate in his Coach expecting his answer The Philosopher replied let him go in a good houre he knoweth the way and hath no need of a guide signifying thereby that he went from Kingdome to Kingdome endeavouring to Governe in a time that was not proper for Philosophers to reigne in Neverthelesse in after times this man was in so great favour with the Chinesses and the bookes which he composed were held in so much credit as also the sayings and sentences which he left behind him that they do not only
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
glutton of play soundeth as ill as any other vice which we abhorr here CHAP. 15. Of their Marriage IN the Kingdome of China as doth plainly appear by their books and Chronicles formal Marriages and indissoluble after contract have been in use above 2400 yeares and in ancient time they used certain particular Ceremonies at the celebration thereof one of which was giving the hand But these have been changed by time some being taken away and many others added Alwaies from that time to this there hath been among them two kinds of Marriage one a true one with a matrimoniall contract for their whole life between the two parties and then the woman is called a wife and treated as such and received with extraordinary Ceremonies The second is rather a Concubinage permitted by their lawes in case they have no children by their wife especially sonnes but now it is grown so common that although some do forbear having them upon the account of vertâ—e yet it is very ordinary among rich men to take Concubines although they have children The manner is very different from the true and legitimate Marriage for although they contract after some sort with the Father of the maiden and that they treat one another as kindred yet in truth she is bought and sold and many times by a Person that hath no relation to her but only that he bâ—ed her up for that purpose for there are many in China which breed up young maidens and teach them Musick and dancing and other perquisites of womens breeding only to sell them afterwards for Concubines at a great price Yet however it is not accounted a Matrimony nor hath it the solemnitie of Marriage belonging to it nor any obligation of perpetuity but the man may put her away and she may marrie with another there being no law which prohibits it in case she be wholly withdrawn from the company of the first The manner of treating them is very different They eat apart by themselves in their own chambers and are in subjection to the true wife and serve her in some things as her Servants The children which they beare do not do them reverence as to a mother but they pay it to the true wife whom also they call mother Hence it is that if the Concubine die that bore them they are not obliged to three years mourning nor to deprive themselves of entrance into the examinations nor if they govern to quit their charge which as you shall hear hereafter is to be done at the death of their parents Therefore although he be an only sonne he is not obliged to these duties but only when his Fathers lawfull wife dieth although she be not his true mother When the Husband dieth the government of the estate and family falleth to the lawfull wife and to the children whether they be by her or by the Concubine But when the lawfull wife dieth it falleth to the Concubine and her children if she have any Sometimes it falleth out that they take a Concubine and keep her only till she bring them a sonne for if the lawfull wife will not suffer her to stay assoone as the child is born they send her away or marry her to another the child which staieth behind never knoweth her who bore him acknowledging only for his Mother his Fathers lawfull wife It happeneth also many times that a man taketh an excessive affection to his Concubine and then all goeth amisse but only in what belongeth to the outward observance which must not be changed Widows may marry if they will but they that are women of qualitie seldome or never do it no although they be young and have no children They are to live in their Father in laws house and are for this reason much esteemed In the legitimate Marriage for the most part they observe an equalitie of estate and condition but in their Concubines they have regard only to their naturall endowments They may not marry with any of their kindred on their Fathers side in no degree whatsoever nor with any of the same Sir-name but they may marry with their kindred on the Mothers side if they be in a remote degree but that is not so exactly observed A young maid will hardly marry with a widdower which they call patching up the house and the bed They never marry although they be never so great friends without a Mediator or one that goeth between both parties wherefore they chuse whom they please there being as well men as women who perform this office The Bride-groom never seeth the Bride before he entreth the doore to take her for his wife there Fathers marry their sonnes ordinarilie very young promise them in Mariage even from little children sometimes before they are borne which promise these punctually performe although their Fathers die before the time or one of the parties fall from his honour or estate c. excepting both parties voluntarily agree to break off the contract if by chance the sonne for some respects will not stand to the contract made by his father they compel him by law to perform it In China before the Father die there is no formall portion given either to sonne or daughter among the meaner sort of people the ordinarie custome is not absolutely to buy their wives as some say but the husband giveth a certain quantitie of mony to the Father of the maid with which to buy her clothes and ornaments for her head suitable to her qualitie This summe is alwaies of the largest for that purpose but the Fathers save as much out of it as they can what remaineth being to accrue to them Hence it is that some have said that the Chinesses buy their wives there being not wanting some ground for this beleefe for to this day they agree with the Father of the maid for so much money which if it be not given them they wil not part with their daughter Among the Nobility there is no talk of giving any money but the Father of the Bride is obliged to comply with what the stile and custome of that Kingdome requireth each according to their abilitie and commonly that which he giveth is all necessary Furniture for her apartment excepting the bed which although all things are very cheap in that Country will sometimes cost fifty Crowns He giveth her four or two maid servants to wait upon her and some money and of all this more or lesse according to his ability But land or possession they almost never give unlesse the Brides Father be very rich or that he would match her to some principall Person and that only in case he have no sonnes After the contract is performed between their Fathers then there follow many curtesies and compliments as first the Bride-groom sendeth the Bride a present of things to eate as flesh wine and fruit Secondly a day is chosen for their Marriage which when it is resolved on by advice of Astrologers is
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
odde and with black and white figures making 64 mutations or changes of them which they explaine and interprete as they please Others consider the time of the Nativitie which the Chinesses are very diligent in keeping account of that they may know the houre the minure and conjunction in which their children were born Others whom they call Tili pretend to Divine by meanes of the Scituation of the earth and from the correspondence it hath with heaven and with the parts thereof pronouncing what places are prosperous and what unfortunate and where if they build their houses all will succeed prosperously and with good fortune to the Family or contrariwise with sicknesse misfortunes disgraces and other evils and in this facultie they have many skilfull professours on whom they spend a great deale of mony without any profit at all Others Divine by the Physiognomie of the face others by considering the lines and strokes of the hand others interpret dreames Whilest I dwelt in Nankim there was a man who went to consult one of these about a dreame he had which was concerning an Umbrella or skreen to keep off the Sunne the professour asked him if there were any plea or enditement against him in any Court of Justice he answered There was Well said the professour then San signifieth an Umbrella and San also signifieth to vanish and the interpretation of your dreame is that all that is against you will vanish and come to nothing The poore man was very well pleased but being afterwards araigned he received thirty Bastinad'os well set on The wretch being angrie at his punishment whereof he thought himselfe secure went to quarrel with the professour who answered him Alas I had forgot to aske thee Whether the Umbrella which thou sawest were a new one or an old one it was a new one answered the foole Then said the professour Make account that thy sorrowes do but now begin Others divine only by the Touch and these are blind men In the yeare 1630. there came to the Metropolis of Kiamsi a blind man well in years he opened shop and was frequented by many of the Nobility he foretold many things with much confidence and a certain Gentleman of the same City that was of one of the foure principall families of that place came to me to tell me what had passed he knew me and understood well enough what my opinion was in that matter He told me many particular cases of things already happened by which he was confirmed of the event of what the other said should yet come to passe and prayed me that I would go in person and make triall of him I went only to undeceive him and coming to him he touched my hand and bid me speak when I had spoke he began to tell that I was married and that I had two sonnes that one of them was towardly the other wilde and disobedient that my wife was froward and discontented in fine that my whole family was in disorder but that when I had taken my degree all would be well He is already a Graduate answered my friend Where replied the blind man In another Province answered the other At which the blind man withdrew seeing although without eyes that he had erred in that particular of my degree Besides these whom they consult they have in their Temples severall kindes of lots and a booke that explaineth them They do very frequently draw these lots and they as frequently deceive them The observe likewise and make Auguryes from the singing of Birds from the Howling of Beasts if at their going out in the morning they presently meet with a man cloathed in Mourning a Bonzi or such like thing they take it for an ill Augurie They say also that they have familiar spirits which they frequently consult But of this I have not had any knowledge Anciently in time of the Tartars there were many very skilfull in this Art and if we may beleeve what Marcus Venetus relateth they did many wonders But at this day there is nothing certainly known of this matter Yet there is still a family that have a particular pension from the King which is continued by succession to their posteritie and the name of Magitian or Wizard Major and is the chiefe of that Sect and is sometimes sent for to the King I for my part believe the devill hath more power over them than they have over the devill As for sacrifices they are very frequent in China as well great as small ones and every one provideth for them what he will or rather what he can according to his estate and abilitie They sacrifice foure times a year to Heaven the Sunne Moone and greater part of the Planets and Starres to the Earth Mountaines and the foure parts of the World to the Sea Rivers Lakes and other things But it seemeth that in realitie they sacrifice to the Spirits of those things when in common speech they say they sacrifice to the Earth Mountaines c. Which may be seen in many sacrifices they make as in the sacrifice of the house kitchin ships standards and ensignes when they go to war and such like things in which sacrifices they speak only to the Tutelar Spirits of those things They sacrifice much more to the Idols and to famous men deceased to whom when they know them to be such they cause Temples to be built and place in them their Images for services they have done or other benefits the Kingdome hath received by them If seemeth that at the beginning it was and still is meant only for a kinde of gratefull commemoration of them and that properly they do not sacrifice to them but only bring offerings to them and perform other Ceremonies But the ignorant people in time are come to worship them as Saints and make praiers to them and other such like honours They make likewise these kinde of offerings to their Ancestours whose pictures and Images or at least their names written they have alwaies present at these offerings and Ceremonies They only make mention of six that is the first founder of their familie their third and fourth Grand-father their great Grand-father Grand-father and Father And when he that is the chiefe of the familie dyeth they take him in and leave out the fourth Grand-father So that there alwaies remaine six and no more These offerings and ceremonies are not properly sacrifices made to their Fathers for they do not believe that their Fathers and Ancestours are all either Gods or Saints but only it is a demonstration of Gratitude and Reverence which they thinke is due to them from whom they have received their being The which they sacrifice is some kindes of Beasts as Goats Hogges and Oxen These are the most usuall Of Foules the most ordinary are Cocks and Hens Of Fishes what they please They also sacrifice pieces of flesh and most commonly the Head They sacrifice also Rice Pulse and Wine And if the King sacrifice
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
wherein the other women lived are furnished againe with new women pickt chosen throughout the whole realme in time of which search there are many marriages made every one endeavouring to deliver his daughter from that subjection The eleventh The Nobilitie of the bloud royall do send deputies not every one but all those of one City to render obedience to the King and to acknowledge him for such In like manner also do the Tituladoes which cannot do it in their owne persons The twelfth is That all Officers from Vice-royes to the meanest Judges of Townes go in person to Court to render the same obedience on the behalfe of their Provinces Cities and Townes Lastly the Kings name is changed as is used among us at the election of the Pope and this is that name which is written in all publick acts on moneyes c. It is a name of a particular but royall person as that of this Kings Grandfather was Vam Lie of his father Thai Cham of his Brother who raigned first Thien Khi and of this King Teum Chim They have moreover three names which signifie a King The first is Kiun and by this they use to call forreigne Kings The second is Vam and by this name they call the Infantoes or Kings children joyning them together Kiun Vam they make a name by which their King may be called But the principall name is Ho Am Ti that is Emperour In the Palace the Women Eunuchs and other domesticks thereof call him Chu that is Lord. They call him also Thien Zu which is to say Sonne of Heaven not because they believe him to be such but because they hold that Empire is a gift of heaven as also to render the respect which is due to the royall person more sacred and in realitie the reverence which they use towards him seemeth more befitting a Divine than humane person and the manner how they behave themselves at this day in his presence is more proper for a Church than a prophane Palace I said at this day because in former times it was not so For then the Kings of China lived according to the fashion of the greatest part of the other Princes of the world They went abroad conversed hunted and there was one of them so greedy of this recreation that whereby he might have the opportunity of spending whole months together in hunting without returning to Court and attending upon the affaires of government did substitute one of his Sonnes in his place The Emperours did visit in person the whole Kingdome at what time there happened that story which is so famous in China and which deserveth likewise to be known in Europe The Emperour going this progresse in a certaine way met with a company of men who were leading certaine prisoners He caused the coach to stop and enquired what the matter was which as soone as he had understood he fell a weeping They who accompanied him began to comfort him and one of them said unto him Sir It is not possible but that in a Common-wealth there must be chastisements it cannot be avoyded so have the former Kings your predecessours commanded it to be so have the laws ordained it so doth the government of the state require it The King answered I weepe not to see these men prisoners nor to see them chastised I know very well that without rewards the good are not encouraged and without chastisement the wicked are not restrained and that chastisement is as necessary to the government of a Kingdome as bread is for the nourishment and sustenance thereof But I weepe because my time is not so happy as that of old was when the vertues of the Princes were such that they served as a bridle to the people and their example was sufficient to restraine the whole Kingdome without any other chastisement This was a Heathen who spake thus and who seeth not how much reason we have to envy these Heathens who although they are exceeded by us in the knowledge of things belonging to faith do yet oftentimes surpasse us in the practise of morall vertues According as I have said the ancient Kings did personally attend the Government giving audience very easily and very frequently to all their subjects In the time of King Tham there was a Colao who having been his Master was very powerfull with him who to preserve himselfe in his grace and favour studied more to speak what should please the King than to tell him the truth for the good of his state a most abominable thing But the Chinesses seeing his honour was great and the Kings favour towards him very extraordinary did dissemble it all notwithstanding they forbore not to speak of it among themselves and to taxe the flattery of the Colao One day certaine Captaines of the guard discoursing among themselves in the Palace concerning this point one of them being a little warmed with the discourse secretly withdrawing himselfe out of the company went into the hall where the King then was kneeled downe upon his knees before him the King asking what he would have He answered Leave to cut off the head of a flattering subject And who is that replied the King Such a one that stands there answered the other The King being angry said Against my Master dare you propose this and in my presene Let them take him away and cut off his head When they began to lay hands upon him he caught hold of a wooden balanster and as there were many pulling of him and he holding with a great deale of strength the balanster broke By that time the Kings anger was over and he commanded they should let him go and gave order that the balanster should be mended and that they should not make a new one that it might remaine a witnesse of the fact and the Memoriall of a subject that was not afraid to advise his King what he ought to do Such was the facility with which not only the Officers but any one whosoever of the people might have admission to the King so that within the first gate of the Palace there was always a Bell a Drumme and a Table overlaid with a white varnish as it were playstered over upon this he that would not speak to the King in person wrote what his request was which was presently carried to the King But whosoever would speak with him rang the Bell or beat the Drumme and presently they were brought in and had audience The Drumme remaines even to this day but as it seemeth to me rather in memory of the times past than for any use of the present for during twenty two years time I do not remember that it was ever beaten above once and he that did it was presently paid his pension in ready Bastinadoes for having disquieted the King who was about halfe a league off After this hard penance he was heard and allowed not to see or speak to the King but according to the custome now in
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
long this Ceremonie might be excused if it were not that they will keep up an old custome The Kings Garments differ not in fashion from those of the rest but in the stuffe which is very rich and in certaine Dragons which are woven and embroydered in them and no other Persons may weare them but only the King and those that are of kin to him as the Princes of the Bloud and particularly the women and the Eunuchs of the Kings family but with some distinction The colour is yellow not but that other colours may be worne in the Palace for they weare light colours of all sorts but yellow is so proper to the King and to all that he wears that none else may use it CHAP. 23. How the Kings of China are Married AT that time when there were several Kings and Lords in China they tooke one anothers daughters for Wives as they do in Europe But they being at an end and the Monarchy reduced under one only Lord and he being never to take a wife out of the Kingdom it is necessary that he marry a daughter of one of his subjects Persons of Quality will not give him their daughters for he being to see them whether he likes them or no and they being to be turned off if they please him not no person of any Quality will shew his daughter because she may be refused after she is seen especially by reason that the sight and triall of them is to passe further then to what is seen in the outward frontispiece They do not nor may not marry with their kindred though in never so remote a degree and therefore there is sought through the whole Kingdom a Damsell of twelve or fourteen years of age of a perfect beauty of good naturall parts and well inclined to those vertues which are required in a Queen in the same manner as in ancient times the Shunamite was sought out for David and Esther for Ahassuerus and this is done without exception of persons whence for the most part the Queen is the daughter of some Artizan When they have found out such a one as they looked for they consigne her to two ancient Matrons who see that which all may not see and if they finde no displeasing marke or deformity about her body they make her runne to put her in a sweat that they may examine whether there be any unpleasing smell from it when these Matrons are satisfied with the diligence they have used she is brought to Court with a great traine of women and men servants and with an equipage becoming a person who from hence forward doth appertaine to the King to whom she is presented in his Palace who after he hath ended his complements he giveth her to the Prince for a wife and this is afterwards the true Queen Within the Palace they appoynt to waite on her vertuous women of prudence and understanding that they may instruct her as well in vertue as in complements and the stile of the Palace endeavouring to breed her in such manner that she may deserve the name of a Queen whom they commonly call Que Mu that is Mother of the Kingdom And as their Histories relate there have been many of these of great worth and merit They are very commonly devoute and charitable and many of them have been prudent and vertuous Such was one of them who being the daughter of a Mason after she came to be Queen she kept always by her an Iron Trewell and when the Prince her Sonne upon any occasion behaved himselfe more haughtily than became him she sent to shew him that Instrument with which his Grandfather used to lay stones for his living by which means she reduced him to his Devoir In old times when Kings took it in good part to be reproved for their errours King Yù had a Colao who at the Royall Audience would tel him his faults without any indulgence One day whether the King had given more cause or that the excesse was on the Colaos part the Audience being ended the King returned into the Palace very much offended saying He would cut off the head of that impertinent fellow The Queen asked him the cause of his displeasure the King answered There is an unmannerly Clown that never ceaseth to tel me of my faults and that publickly I am resolved to send one to take off his head The Queen tooke no notice of it but retired to her Appartment and put on a particular garment proper only for feastivalls and visits and in this habit she came to the King who wondring at it asked her the cause of this Novelty The Queen answered Sir I come to wish your Majesty much joy Of what replied the King That you have a subject said she that feareth not to tell you your faults to your face seeing that a subjects confidence in speaking fo boldly must needs be founded upon the opinion he hath of the vertue and greatnesse of his Princes minde that can endure to hear him There have been many other like to this Queen The kindred of the Maiden are presently exalted to honours and employments The family is already accounted rich and honourable and by how much more the Queen gaineth favour within they without are so much the more advanced The rest of the Kings Sonnes are maâ—ried after the same manner only they do not use so much diligence and caution in finding out the bride but for the most part she is sought for and found in the Court it selfe But the manner of marrying the daughters is very different There are twelve young men sought out of the age of 17 or 18 years the lustiest and the handsomest they can finde these are brought into the Palace to a place where the Princesse may see them and not be seen and when she hath well considered them she selecteth two of them These are presented to the King who chuseth which of them he liketh best to be his Sonne-in-low Vamlie the Grandfather of the present King upon the like occasion seeing one of the two young men presented to him very well cloathed and the other though neat yet poorly habited asked him what was the reason he was not so well cloathed as the other The youth answered Sir my father is poore and cannot afford it me Then replied the King I will have you that are the poorest for my Sonne-in-law and being thus chosen he did afterward carry himselfe worthy of commendations And truly a youth ought not to be ashamed of his povertie nor a King for having chosen a poore man The rest are sent home againe but are accounted Noble ever after for having had the honour to be admitted to that election Presently two Mandarines of the most considerable in the Court are appoynted for Tutours unto these Fum Ma so they call the Kings Sonne-in-laws to instruct them in learning manners and Courtly behaviour c. He is obliged every day to make the foure ordinary reverences upon
those that come in or out as is abovesaid It hath a President two Assessors and seaven Counsellours The fift is of Rites in more particular matters and in that it is different from the first but it hath the same forme with its Assessors It taketh care of the sacrifices of the Royall sepulchres of Mountaines Groves and all that belong to them as Singers Instruments living creatures for sacrifice c. Moreover China hath another Tribunall which hath only charge of the Memorialls which are presented to the King and is as it were a Chancery of Requests so that such petitions as are not approved of by them are never given the King This Tribunall was the occasion in the time of the persecution of the Christians 1616 that when we would have given an account of the law which we preached and of the things which were imputed to us our Memoriall could never passe it being still rejected by them There are other three in the same form with severall charges offices Beside the abovesaid Tribunalls there are two more one called Quoli the other Tauli these although they have their eye upon severall Provinces each upon those matters which appertaine to them neverthelesse their proper occupation and principall office is to take notice of the errours and disorders of the Kingdom and to advertise the King of his own failings if he hath any as also of the faults of the Mandarines and their Government and as it was never hard for any to tell the faults of others yet these have a particular Talent in it and doe it with great liberty though many times with little Justice Their manner is to frame a Memoriall and present it to the King for those of these two Tribunalls do not passe through the Chancery of Memorialls and then presently as they call it FÃ ' C Heo that is to transscribe it and so to send a copy of it to the Notaries whereof there are many destined for this worke These write many copies of it which are sent by the next posts from the Court to be dispersed through the whole Kingdom and by this means it is presently known every where by whom and against whom this Memoriall is presented the misdeeds contained therein of what qualitie soever they be Assoone as this Memorial which they call Puen is published presently the Magistrate or other person against whom it is framed is obliged to do two things whether it be with or against his will which is more ordinary The first is that he give in a Memorial not in his own defence for to excuse himself were to shew little humility but he must say therein that the Tauli hath great reason that he hath committed a great errour and is in fault and doth deserve to have a penance laid upon him and that with all subjection he will submit to any punishment that shall be imposed The second is that he presently retire himselfe and leave the Tribunal and so all Acts of Justice are suspended so that he neither giveth audience nor endeth any suite untill the King have answered his petition and declared his pleasure thereon the which is sometimes in his favour and then he continueth his office and sometimes against him more or lesse according to the quality of his fault There is no doubt if this way were executed with reason and good conscience but that it would be much in favour of Justice and the good Government of the Common-wealth as on the contrary side it is an open gate to many causelesse troubles and disgraces It falleth out many times that a Mandarine in performing his office and acquitting himselfe of the duty of his place doth make himselfe many enemies Some one of these if he be a person that hath interest with any that is an Officer of those two Tribunals as kinsman friend c. he giveth account of iâ— to the Court the Memoriall flyeth abroad and God help the poore Mandarine When they are lesser Mandarines as Iudges Assistants to Governours or Mandarines in Armes at one blow they lay him flat on the ground If they be great Mandarines there is more difficulty but if they know how to finde a hole in their coates and the Tauli and Quoli get him in their clawes they never give them over till they have un-horsed them so that the King himselfe is hardly able to save them The like accident happened to that Tyrant Xin who in the year 1626 being Xi cam in Nankim raised a persecution against the Christians and caused the fathers to be benished as shall be related in its proper place He arrived afterwards to the dignity of a Colao and caused foure ensignes to be hanged out at the 4 corners of his Palace I was then present in the same City that is in Hamcheu and made other demonstrations of extraordinary joy But whether it were that the Lord would chastise him for the persecutions he raised against his elect or whether he deserved punishment for any other particular crimes according to humane laws or for both together assoone as his orders were come and before he was departed to go to Court there was so terâ—ible a Memoriall put in against him that a Christian Mandarine told me it would not be possible for him to hold up his head and so he was presently glad to take in his Standard and depart with ordinary Ceremonies He was notwithstanding a politike crafty man and had purchased with his mony in the Palace the good will both of the Ladies and the Eunuchs who are not wont to sell their favours at a low rate These did not only cause a Memoriall to be dispatched in his favour but used means for him to be sent for to Court At length he went but after a few months there was another Memoriall given in against him and after that severall others to the number of twenty seven and the crimes laid to his charge were such that the King could not help him so that he was forced to quit his Government and retire to his house Beside these two Tribunals there is another which is superiour to all the rest and is the supreame dignity of the Kingdom to which none do arrive but those of the Royall Colledge called Han Lin after they have Governed a long time and given such testimony of their abilitie and integritie that never any Memoriall was given in against them They are called by the name of Colao they are commonly but foure and may never exceed the number of six The old King Grandfather to him that reigneth at present never made but one of them at a time saying That more were superfluous These have no particular office but have an eye over the Government of the whole Kingdome We may not unfitly call them the supreame Presidents of all the Counsells and of the whole Government although they are never present at them but assist the King at all dispatches of affaires and now that the King doth
and being arrived I took no thought for any thing else I saw it and read it and went often to read behold and consider it at leisure and above all I did much admire that being so ancient it should be so entire and have the letters so plainly and neatly graven On the thicknes of the sides thereof it hath many Chinesse letters which containe many names of the Priests and Bishops of that time There are also many other letters which were not then knowne for they are neither Hebrew nor Greek and for as much as I now understand they containe the same names that if peradventure some strangers might not understand the letters of the Countrie they might perhaps be better acquainted with those of a forraigne extraction Passing by Cocchine I came to Cranganor where is the Residence of the Archbishop of Costa to consult about these letters with father Antoni Fernandes one of our societie who is very skilfull in the books and writings of those ancient Christians converted by S. Thomas He told me the letters were Syriack and the very same which are used there at this day But let us come now to the inscription of our Marble which noâ—doubt ere this hath raised an appetite in the reader to know it Those three lines which are at the foot of the Crosse each consisting of three letters as we have said being faithfully translated as also all the rest as neere as possibly I could say thus A Relation in the Praise and eternall memorie of the law of the light of truth brought from Iudea and preached in China THe writing is graved on the plaine side of this stone in its proper letters placed in lines running from top to bottom after the Chinesse fashion The first line which is the shortest saith thus I A Prologue Made by the Priest of the Kingdom of Iudea named Kim Lim. The rest of the inscription in a magnificent Orientall stile containeth that which followeth II Oh how true and profound is the eternall and the incomprehensible most spirituall speaking of time past he is without beginning and of time to come he is without end and alwaies in the same perfection He tooke nothing and with it he made all He is a principall consisting of Trinitie and Unitie yet without any reall principle The Lord Olooyu He made the foure parts of the world in figure of a Crosse. He moved the Chaos and made the two principles There was an alteration made in the Abysse and heaven and earth appeared Nature at the beginning was pure and exempt from disordinate passions and the heart was cleane without the unrulinesse of the appetites III Man came afterward to fall into the deceits of Satan who covering with words the mischiefe he had plotted perverted the innocence of the first man From this principle sprang 365 Sects which by reason they were so many did one drive away the other and of all of them was made a net wherein the world was caught Some chose the creatures and appropriated Divinity to them others were plunged in that errour of thinking that all is nothing and ends in nothing Others make sacrifices to invite good fortunâ— with Others 〈…〉 deceive the world The understanding corrupted with eâ—rours and the will with passions are altogether obscured Men walked forwards without 〈…〉 at the end they aimed at The world was all in a miserable 〈◊〉 Man still multiplied the darknesse and loosing his way wandred long time in it without finding the truth IV. Then the Messias one of the three persons covered his true â— Maâ—esty and making himself a man appeared unto the world An Angell came to manifest the Mystery and a Virgin brought forth the Holy one A Starre appeared which gave notice of his birth to those of the Kingdome of 〈◊〉 They 〈◊〉 to offer him Tribute and all was done according to what had been foretolâ— by the foure and twenty Saints He published to the world the most pure law He purified their customes and rectified the faith He cleansed the world He perfected vertue and therein founded the three vertues He opened the way to life and shut up that of death He manifested the bright day and banished obscure darkenesse He conquered the obscure seate at what time the devill remained wholly subdued and succoured with his mercy the sinking world that mâ—n might ascend to the habitations of light After he had perfected his works â—e ascended into the heavens at Midday There remained 27 books of holy Scripture There was opened the gate to Coâ—version by means of that water which cleâ—â—seth and purifieth His Ministers made use of the Holy Crosse they made their abode no more in one place than in another that they might illuminate the whole world The world being thus reduced unto Union men did walke after their example and thus did they open the way of life and glory V. They suffered their beard to grow and did shew by this means that they were like other men in their externall part They out their haire even to the roots upon the top of their head and by this they shewed that they had no internall wordly affections They kept no servants the Noble and the common men were with them the same thing They tooke no riches from men They gave to the poore that which they had They fasted and watched to bring the flesh into subjection to the spirit Seaven times a day they offered sacrifices of praise by which they helped the living and the dead Every seaventh day they did offer They purified their hearts to receive the holy innocence The true law hath no name that doth well suite with it and that is able to explaine the excellency thereof therefore because it wanteth another name we will call it The law of Brightnesse The law if it be not holy cannot be called great and if holinesse be not answerable to that which the law teacheth it may not have that name But in this law the holinesse correspondeth to the law and the law to the holinesse VI. If there be not Kingly Persons to favour it the law cannot well be propagated if they receive not the law they cannot grow truly great When they and the law do agree presently the world is enlightened By this means at the time when a King named Tai Zum Veâ— Hoam did governe with famous prudence and sanctitie there came from Iudea a man of high vertue by name Olopuen who being guided by the clouds brought the true doctrine And in the year Chin Quom Kieufu he arrived at the Court The King commanded the Colao Fam Kizulin that he should go and meet him as farre as the West and that he should treate him as his guest with all manner of kindnesse He caused this doctrine to be translated in his palace and seeing the law to be true he powerfully commanded it should be divulged through the Kingdome and presently after he sent forth a royall patent which contained
made it their most earnest request that I would accept of them to serve as Souldiers in this enterprise as if the trouble and paines they were to suffer in these long and dangerous voyages and the persecutions they are so certaine to undergo in this exercise were to this undertaking as the prickles are to Roses whereof S. Ambrose saith That they are Amatoria quaedam illectamenta And in the Province of Portugall as being most conveniently scituated for this voyage only out of the two Colledges of Conimbra and Ebora I had a list of 90 persons all so ready and desirous to labour in this Mission that many of them not being content to declare their desires by ordinary words written with pen and inke have sent me very long letters concerning their holy pretention all written and signed with thier owne blood witnessing in this manner that they had a holy courage that could despise the threats of Martyrdom offering cheerfully to the Lord that little blood as a Testimony of the great desire they had to shed it all for his sake Who now can doubt whether these be not the marvellous effects of that spirit and zeale which Franciscus Xaverius communicated to them occasioning inwardly in the breast of each of them that which a little while since he did outwardly in that great Champion Marcellus Spinellus by sending him to Giappon where he crowned that glorious enterprise with his blood Sancian is one of those many Islands which on that side give a beginning to the Kingdom of China it is a high mountain covered with trees and though very pleasant yet un-inhabited When the Portughesses first began their trade with China this Island served them for a Port and there they built houses with straw like huts which served them only for the time of their Negotiation whilest they expected their merchandise but as soone as that came they abandoned that habitation and presently setting saile returned into India Foure and fiftie miles from thence more within the Kingdom there is another Island named Gau Xan and by the Portughesses Macao it is but small and so full of rocks that it is very easie to be defended and very opportune for the rendevous of Pyrats and robbers as indeed it was at that time when many of them having got together in that place did much infest all the Islands thereabouts The Chinesses were in consultation how they might remedy that mischiefe but whether it was that they wanted courage to undertake it or that they chose rather to have it done without running any danger themselves and at other mens cost knowing well the valour of the Portughesses they set them upon the enterprise promising them that if they could drive out the Pyrats it should be granted to them for an habitation The Portughesses accepted of the condition with much pleasure and contentment and though they were but few and much inferiour in number to the Pyrats neverthelesse being more skilfull in military affaires they put themselves in order and set upon them with so much courage that without the losse of one man on their owne party though with great slaughter of the enemie they presently became Masters both of the field and Island They began presently upon this to build every one taking that place and ground which seemed good to him But that which cost nothing at first came after to be sold very deare and at so high a rate at this present that it would hardly be beleeved how much the least piece of ground to build on in that City would cost For trade beginning to faile every where in India doth here encrease still every day and the Inhabitants are growne so rich that the covetousnesse of the Hollanders have made them have a great longing to it and did once attempt to take it In the moneth of Iune 1622. Fourteen saile of Hollanders came into that Port with so much resolution and assurance to take that City that they had already divided in their thoughts the principall parts thereof among themselves and many Captaines and old Souldiers came along in this Fleet only out of hopes to have their former services paid them here and to settle themselves in a condition of ease and plenty after all the hardships they had endured They landed 700 men on Midsomer Eve 300 of them staid upon the shore to guard the Cannon the other 400 having drawn up themselves into a squadron went to the Hill of our Lady della Guida marching towards the Citie with so great order and cheerfulnesse as if they had the victorie already in their hands They were no sooner discovered from the Mountain of S. Paul but they were received with two or three salutes from the cannon on that side so well levelled that beginning to abate of their fury they left the direct way toward the Citie and turned on the left hand toward the Mountain of our Ladie del buon porto and because there was a Garrison there they kept off about twice Musket-shot and fortified themselves on the sides of the Hill where St. Maries Church stands But the Portughesses discharged upon them so seasonably and with so much valour and courage that they put them to flight and made them run down the hill toward the Sea where the other Souldiers stood by the ships They fled in so much disorder and confusion that although there were above 300. there to guard their Artillerie who did succour them with fresh Men and encourage them to face about yet all was in vain and so both the one and the other forced to runne into the water up to the chin to get into their boates and these scaped well for many went over head and eares and a barque by reason of the confusion and disorder of those that got into her sunk down right and above 400 men were drowned The number of the wounded is not known but it is conjectured they could not be few for whilest they embarqued our Muskettiers who stood upon a hill just over them played continually upon them Of the Portugheses there were slain only three or four and some Servants The Hollanders being ill satisfied with this entertainment presently set saile and durst never since hazard themselves upon the like enterprise This was the cause of fortifying the Town of Macao with a wall round about it having six Bulwarks that of St. Paul which serveth as a cittaddell standing higher than the Town having fifteen pieces of Cannon a Court of Guard and a Castellan belonging to it That of the Port having fourteen piece of cannon among which are six great ones that carry each of them a ball of 50 pound weight and another Court of Guard The third Bulwark is that of our Ladie del buon porto with eight piece of cannon The fourth that of St. Francis toward the Mountain with other eight piece of Cannon The fift is that of St. Peter with five piece of Cannon The sixt is that of St. Iohn
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
things which are as different as they are remote from ours Besides all these ordinarie difficulties which are found more or lesse in all Missions it is not to be beleeved how sharp a warre the devil hath raised up against this endeavouring by the strength of difficulties and persecutions to make us desist from the enterprise and it went so farre that Father Valignan the Visitour considering the great obstructions we found every where the extraordinarie difficultie there was to enter and the great trouble there was to stay there how little good we could do there and yet how much we suffered resolved to call back the Fathers to Macaâ— to employ them in some other Missions of lesse danger and trouble and where a greater profit of Soules might be made But the Lord who had otherwise ordained it for the good of his elect would not suffer the Labourers to come away and leave the work begun in that Kingdome where it was to have so advantageous a progresse CHAP. 2. Of the proceedings and persecutions of the Fathers before they arrived at Nankim THe Fathers did still persevere in the Resolution they had taken to enter and settle themselves in China and accordingly three times the same year they attempted with all diligence to make their entire but were as often repulsed and sent back out of the Kingdome with that resentment and grief which is easily imaginable they had to find almost every spark of hope extinguished by such extraordinarie difficulties as they found and by that great aversion the Chinesses had to admit of strangers I have been told that about that time Father Valignan looking one day out of a window of the Colledge of Macao toward the Continent the good old man cried out with a loud voice and the most intimate affection of his heart speaking to China Ah Rock Rock when wilt thou open Rock But as there is no councell against God who seeth and knoweth the times and moments of his divine Resolutions when the entrance seemed more shut up than ever and more encompassed with difficulties after so many attempts and endeavours had been frustrated nay after they had been sharply reproved by the Vice-roy of Cantone and by publick order been sent back to Macao then did the Lord our God open the gate by such meanes as were not to be imagined The Fathers had not been full seven daies returned to Macao wholly despairing of the businesse when there arrived a messenger from the governour of Cantone named Chi Fu bringing letters from the Vice-roy wherein he invited the Fathers to Xaokim the Capitall Citie of Cantone where the same Vice-roy of the Provinces of Cantone and Quansi had his residence offering them there a place for their Church and House The Fathers entred into Xaokim in September 1583. with no little joy to see themselves established in a moment where before with all their endeavours they could never so much as set their foot They built a house and Church and gave a beginning to their intention by translating the ten Commandements as well as they could into the Chinesse language and setting forth how necessary the observance of them was The worth of these new guests was more admired in the City for their good works and holinesse of life than for their words not being able yet to speak that language sufficiently but almost continuall troubles and persecutions were never wanting to them The covering of their house was so loaden with stones by the insolence of the people from a neighbouring Tower that they were in great danger of their lives and because a servant of the house laid hold of a little boy and threatned to complaine of him presently an accusation was set on foot against the Fathers that they had misused the Sonne of a Citizen but in the end they were cleared by evidence of the fact soone after other calumnies were raised against them particularly against Father Raggiero whom they accused of Adultery but his innocence was soone cleared it being proved that he was at that time morâ— than two months journy from the place where that crime was said to be committed Then did the people of Xaokim begin to throwing of stones againe with which they did so ruine and batter the house that the Fathers missed very little of being killed all this while did their condition seeme like unto a tempestuous sea But amongst so great tribulations and dangers the Lord was pleased to send them some daies of peace and tranquilitie and among so many thorns they gathered some roses and some fruit of their labours which was the reason that their sufferings did not seeme so grievous to them neither did they undergo them without joy and delight hoping to make a greater progresse when the desired calme should happen Neither were the Fathers wanting particularly Father Mattheus Riccius by their knowledge in Mathematiques and principally by a description of the world in a new Mappe to give reputation to the affaires of Europe and to make acquaintance and friendship with persons of qualitie when behold by the coming of a new Vice-roy there was so terrible a storme raised that notwithstanding all the diligence and addresses which were made not only by the Fathers but also by their friends it was impossible to finde any remedy or to put a stop to the sentence which that Vice-roy fulminated against the Fathers which was That they should all immediatly returne to Macao without giving them any time of stay there or suffering them to go into any other Country but that they should presently depart and should be brought precisely to Macao They were forced to yeeld obedience and so leaving some things belonging to the house in the hands of their friends and carrying other things along with them after they had made a short prayer unto God recommending unto him that little flock which they were forced to leave among Wolves without a shepherd and after they had exhorted the Christians to continue stedfast in the faith wherein they had been seven years instructed they departed downe the current of the river both the Christians which remained there as also the Fathers who tooke their leave weeping very much recommending each other to the divine Province and Protection When they were arrived at the Metropolis of Canton the Admirall of the Chinesse Navie or Haitao who was to conduct them to Macao was not to be found where while they stayed to expect him they wrote to the Visitour in Macao that after two or three daies they were to be banished by order of the Vice-roy but they had hardly passed a day there when they espied a boate coming toward them with all speed sent from the Vice-roy to invite them back againe to Xaokim It seemed to them that they were returned from death to life by the unexpected invitation although they understood well enough that they were called backe to undergo new troubles no lesse than the former When they were
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
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
fetcht back into prison from whence he flew into eternall libertie And this was the first lay-man who died there in prison for his religion his corps was granted to his Father to bury it but without any Ceremony at all The second who dyed in prison was called Hierome Vem he was taken in our house coming thither to assist us he also died of pure sufferance His wife presented many Memorialls to the Mandarines that he might be brought home to recover his health but all was in vaine At length she had recourse to Xin who understanding that her husband was a Christian gave her no other answer but this You see what good you get by the religion they professe and with this answer left her disconsolate and quite out of hope not long after her husband died with so much the more glory by how much the lesse he had of humane help in that sicknesse he so patiently endured for the love of Iesus Christ and the maintenance of his religion The death of these men did stirre up in the rest of the Christian prisoners a holy envie and a new fervour to suffer for Christ neither were the Christians without wanting to shew themselves true followers of that persecuted religion They divided the prisons among them so that every day the Christian prisoners were visited and succoured as much as might be and had also notice given them of the designes and proceedings of Xin and the other Mandarines neither were they content with this but relieved also the wives and children of the prisoners pawning sometimes their houshold-stuffe that they might not want wherewithall to do it Captain Ignatius Cin although he was but newly converted to the faith yet was as forward and eminent in this work of Charitie as could possibly be desired as also three other families with the hazzard of being made infamous for ever namely that of Lucius Ciam Captain of armes that of Andrew Hiam a smith and that of Francis a guilder where I cannot but admire the great charity of the said Andrew who having received some crownes from Father Vagnone for the reliefe of the prisoners made no use of them but by the daily pains and labour of himselfe and his sonne made provision every day for two prisons restoring afterwards to the Father the mony he had put in his hands There were also certaine devout Christian women who making a purse out of the fruit of their labors bestow'd it in the prisons according to the necessities of the prisoners there was also one who being himselfe a prisoner spared still something out of the penny which was given him every day for his maintenance and when he had made up a small summe he divided it among the most necessitous of the prisoners with so much the greater liberalitie by how much the industry of that Charitie was more subtle At the beginning when the Fathers were first apprehended there were not wanting certain wicked persons who feigning themselves to be ministers of justice went from house to house to disturbe the Christians on purpose to draw mony from them and if in searching every corner of the house they happened to finde any Images they threatned to accuse them to Xin This lasted till a Mandarine who had notice of this roguery apprehended many of them and caused them to be well Bastinadoed and one of them for no other cause but that he had inform'd against a man to the Tauli that he was a Christian. Neverthelesse there were some accused before Xin only for being Christians he accepted the accusation and remitted it to the Court Criminall whither the highest offenders are sent They were rigorously examined and after that declared innocent with a foule staine upon Xin both of injustice and ignorance Neither was the infamy lesse which he received by the words of two great Mandarines The one of them called Hò in a great assembly of Letterati asked him For what reason he had imprisoned the Fathers and he answering Because they preached a law contrary to theirs the other replied Why do you not then imprison so many others who follow laws much more contrary to ours than that of the Fathers is They have not said Xin any accusers And these Fathers replyed Hò Who accuseth them to your Lordship He knew not what answer to make him but seeing himselfe thus confuted lest there should be a laughter raised at him he withdrew himselfe out of the Assemblie The other who was President of the Tribunall of warre sharply reproved him that without reason he had so mis-used the Fathers who had committed no fault nor had ever offended him And although Xin did endeavour to justifie himselfe yet the President threatned to accuse him to the King for a disturber of the peace of the Kingdome and in effect he dispatched a Courrier to Pekim with a stoute Memoriall against him which neverthelesse he did afterwards re-call by reason that many Mandarines did interpose themselves in the businesse but he would never after maintain any friendship with so unjust a person Very admirable at the same time was the Charitie of a new Christian of Pekim who had taken the degree of Batchelor who having understood of the Fathers imprisonment ranne to Nankim and although he had never seen them he went to visit them and much assisted them in their necessities and not only invited but also perswaded severall of his friends to do the like who extended also their Charitie to the other Christian prisoners And for this cause only he remained there many months he accompanied the Christians to the Tribunalls healed their stripes encouraged and comforted them all to which the quality and reputation of so grave and learned a person did very much conduce He undertooke also to dispute with a Mandarine who had written a declaration against the Fathers in favour of Xin and used such powerfull perswasions to him that he changed his resolution and brought him to favour the Fathers so farre that he did publiquely praise and extoll them In the mean while our adversary seeing that the Kings answer was delayed used his utmost endeavour to gaine the Colao to his party who was otherwise not much averse to us and at length perswaded him to present a Memoriall to the King by the hands of an Eunuch whom he had already prepared for the businesse with a very great bribe to procure the Kings order upon it The Eunuchs passed this pitition so secretly among themselves that without showing it to the King they brought it againe to the Colao requiring him in the Kings name to draw up an order for our banishment the which he did in this manner For as much as we are informed by the Collaterall Lypu of the third Tribunall of Pekim that there remain in this our Court certain strangers who do expect our good leave and dispatch and the said Tribunall hath besought us that we would send our orders to the Provinces that they should send
the greatest fury of that persecution wherein the Fathers were banished the Kingdom eight of them concealed themselves in that City not only maintaining what they had already gained but also encreasing it so much that whereas about 8 or 10 years before there were but three Churches in all China we have at this day many in eight Provinces as also twelve Houses the number of the faithfull being very much encreased every where Dr. Leo made continuall progresse in the Christian religion and shewed in act upon all occasions what he had before embraced and resolved in his minde When he went to take possession of the first office which was given him after he was a Christian he was advertised by the Ministers and Officers that according to the custome he should go and worship and take his oath before the Idols which in great number were placed in a certain Hall of that Palace where he was to lodge The Doctour went and being come to the roome where the Idols were the Ceremonie he performed was to cause them to be all overturned and throwne to the ground and then to be broken in pieces so that the Sergeants themselves who were constrained to execute this Commandement which seemed to them a very great impiety said among themselves Sure this new Lord of ours is not very well in his wits So great was the horrour and hatred which he had conceived against the devill He was in this particular very severe and terrible all the time of his life neither did he account them men that were deceived in that point had so little sense as to believe Idols to be gods and those who had any occasion to heare the Law of God or to read the books which treated of it and did not judge it to be true to want braines and to be voyd of understanding He perswaded himselfe that all they who could read and took a delight in the reading of books that it was not possible but that they should have a great passion for the Learning and Sciences of Europe and that by means of them they must needs arrive at the knowledge of the true God and receive his Holy law Therefore his greatest care always was to perswade the Fathers to apply themselves to the translating the books of Europe and he himselfe did help them in it all he could which was not a little Hence it was that ever since he knew the Fathers which was about the space of thirty years he almost alwaies busied himselfe in this exercise which he followed with so much study and application that even in the Country at recreations visits and banquets he never went without a book in his sleeve or in the chaire wherein he was carried on mens shoulders and when he was alone he did either read or write although it was more troublesome to him than it would have been to another of lesse ingenuity and capacity by reason of his want of sight in one eye which he had almost lost and the little sight he had in the other which was left so that in writing or reading he was faine almost to touch the paper with his eye And truly he made such progresse in our Sciences that he could have discoursed upon any subject better than many in Europe that esteeme themselves learned men He perfectly understood the first six books of Euclid which are now translated into the Chinesse tongue he had learned all the kinds of our Arithmetick with many particular rules and subtleties which are taught in that Art of which subject he composed seaven Tomes he was very well acquainted with all that belongeth to the Spheare and such like curiosities But what is most of all he understood very well and helped to translate the books of Aristotle de Caelo together with the questions which are handled upon them by the Schoole of Conimbra so that he had perfectly penetrated into that matter and finally he learnt a great part of our Logick concerning which he left 20 Tomes in the Chinesse language to be printed besides he discoursed so pertinently of all these and other matters with so much ease and delight that it was not so facile for others who were well versed in them to follow him He never made account of those curious commodities which came from Europe and which were so much esteâ—med by others all his delight and content was to see some new and curious book that was brought out of Europe Then would he sigh to see himselfe old and alone not finding in other Christians the zeale which he had of a thing so important to the conversion of that Kingdom as was the helping us in the translation of such books With the Fathers he never discoursed of any thing but either of God or of our Sciences It was a knowâ— thing among us that when he saw us which he did many times a week the first thing he would ask was What book it was we were about translating and if he knew the subject how much we had already translated And I can speak it with truth that of fifty works which the Fathers have translated into the Chinesse tongue both of Divinitie other Sciences among which there are some which do consist of many Tomes there is hardly one which hath not passed through his hands he either correcting it himselfe or helping us to do it or revising and fitting it for a new impression or else reâ—ding it of more Authority with the addition of prologues and other compositions of his owne He had an unspeakable pleasure in those works neither could â—e have a greater Present sent him than one of our books newly printed in the Chinesse language From hence there grew in him a great 〈◊〉 iâ—satible desire wherein he seemed to consume himselfe which was to have many Fathers come into China and it was so vehement in him that it made him fall into complaints against our Superiours saying They did not understand because they could not see with their eyes the importance of that businesse that therefore they did not supply that want so much as was necessary One day falling into a great heat upon this subject the Father with whom he discoursed mildely replied Sir we thank you for your zeale and do acknowledge the favour you shew us in complaining on this manner but our Superiours have many places to succour and supply and it is not possible for them to do it to the satisfaction of all To which he replied very gracefully Your Reverence doth reprove me for daring to murmure against our Fathers and Superiours but it is not so but only I say That I should be very glad to have the opportunity to speak in person with our Reverend Father Generall in these very tearmes he spake it in the Chinesse tongue and when ever he mentioned the Superiours of the Company he alwaies called them Our Fathers and Superiours because I would very earnestly desire of him that he would be
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
of his own danger or of the taking of the City till they saw he could not possibly evade Who hearing this dolefull news first demanded if he could get away by any means but when he heard that all passages were beset he is said to have left a Letter writ with his own Blood in which he bitâ—erly expressed to all posterity the infidelity and perfidiousnesse of his Commanders and the innocency of his poor Subjects conjuring Licungzus that seeing the Heavens had cast the Scepter into his hands he would for his sake take revenge of such perfidious Creatures After this reflecting that he had a Daughter Marriageable who falling into the villains hands might receive some affrontâ— he called for a Sword and beheaded her with his own hands in the place then going down into an Orchard making a Rope of his Gaâ—â—er he hung himself upon a Prune tree Thus that unfortunate Emperour put a period as well to that Empire which had flourished so long with much splendor riches and pleasure as to his Illustrious Family of Taimingus by finishing his life upon so contemptible a Tree and in such an infamous manner To all which circumstances I adde one more that as the Empire was erected by a Theef so it was â—xtinguished by another for although others were chosen to succeed him as we shall relate hereafter yet because they held a smal parcel of the Empire they are not numbred amongst the Emperours His example was followed by the Queen and by the Lord Marshall who is call'd in their language Colaus together with other faithfull Eunuchs So as those pleasant Trees which served heretofore for their Sports and pleasures now became the horrid and surest Instruments of their death And this cruell butchering of themselves passed not only in the Court but also in the City where many made themselves away either by hanging or drowning by leaping into Lakes For it is held by this Nation to be the highest point of fidelity to die with their Prince and not to live and be subject to another Whilest these things were acting Licungzâ—s enters the Palace Victorious and ascending up to the Chair of State sate himself down in that Impariall Throne but it is recorded that in executing this first Act of Royalty he sat so restlesly and unquietly yea so totteringly as if even then that Royal Chaire would foretel the short durance of his felicity The next day after he commanded the body of the dead Emperour to be cut into smal pieces accusing him of oppression and cruelty against his subjects As if he being a villanous Traitor and a Theef after the saccaging burning so many Provinces and shedding such an Ocean of blood had been of a better disposition So we often condemn others when we do worse our selves and remark yea augment the least faults of others when we either take no notice of or diminish our own This Emperour Zungchinius was Father of three Sons of which the eldest could never be found though all imaginable means was used for his discovery some think he found means to fly away others think he perished by leaping with others into the Lake the two others being yet little Children were by the Tyrants command beheaded three days after his barbarous humour not sparing even innocent blood Which disposition he made further to appear when casting off that vail of Piety and Humanity with which he had for sometime charmed the people he commanded all the Principal Magistrates to be apprehended of which he murdered many with cruel torments others he fined deeply and reserved the Imperiall Palace for his own aboad He filled that most noble and rich City with ransacking Souldiers and gave it up to their prey and plunder where they committed such execrable things as are both too long and not fit to be related But by this his horrid cruelty and Tyranny he lost that Empire which he might have preserved by courtesie and humanity Amongst the other imprisoned Magistrates there was one a venerable person called Us whose Son Usangueius governed the Army of China in the Confines of Leaotung against the Tartars The Tyrant Licungzus thereatned this old man with a most cruel death if by his paternall power over his Son he did not reduce him with his whole Army to subjection and obedience to his power promising also great Rewards and Honours to them both if by his fatherly power which they hold facred he did prevail for his submission Wherefore the poor old man writ to his Son this ensuing Letter It is well known that the Heavens Earth and Fate can cause these strange vicissitudes of Fortune which we behold know my Son that the Emperour Zunchinius and the whole family of Taimingus are perished The Heavens have cast it upon Licungzus we must observe the times and by making a vertue of necessity avoyd his Tyranny and experience his liberality he promiseth to thee a Royal dignity if with thy Army thou submit to his Dominion and acknowledge him as Emperour my life depends upon thy answer consider what thou owest to him that gave thy life To this Letter his Son Usanguâ—ius returned this short answer He that is not faithfull to his Soveraign will never be faithful to me and if you forget your duty and fidelity to our Emperour no man will blame me if I forget my duty and obedience to such a father I will rather die than serve a Theef And presently after the dispatch of this Letter he sent an Embassador to the King of Tartary desiring his help and force to subdue this Usurper of the Empire and knowing that the Tartars abound in men but want women he promised to send him some store of them and presented him with severall curious Silks and sent him great store of Silver and Gold The Tartarian King neglected not this good occasion but presently marched with fourescore thousand men which were in Garrison in Leaotung to meet General Usangueius to whom he expressed himself in these words To the end to make our Victory undoubted I counsell you to cause all your Army to be clad like Tartars for so the Theef will think us all Tartars seeing I cannot call greater Forces out of my Kingdome so soon as is required Usangueius thirsting nothing but revenge admitted all conditions little thinking as the Chinesses say that he brought in Tigres to drive out Dogs Licungzus hearing the march of the Tartars together with Usangueius knowing himself not able to resist quitted the Court and Palace as easily as he had taken it but he carried with him all the rich spoyls of the Court and marched away into the Province of Xensi where he established his Court in the noble City of Sigan which heretofore had been the seat of the Emperours It is accounted that for eight daies space by the four Palace gates there was nothing seen but a continuall succession of Coaches Horses Camels and Porters carrying away the preciousest treasures
greater forces than indeed he had he joyned to his Army a company of dull headed Clowns by which means he made up a body of thirty thousand men The Governour of the City seeing such an Army as appeared believed them all to be Souldiers and lest his Citizens should joyn with them he thought again of cutting all their throats but his friends ever diverâ—ed him from this outragious cruelty and it diverted him from such horrid projects when he walking upon the Walls saw the Chineses under his colours fight so valiantly against Hous for when he saw this he used to cry out in their Language Hoo Manzu as much as to say O good Barbarians for so the Tartars call the Chinaes as conquering Nations use to expose the conquered to scorn and derision and he crowned this scoff with these words Mauzaxa Manzâ— as much as to say Let the barbarous kill the barbarous and when they returned victorious he did not onely praise them but gave them Mony and other precious rewards which were exposed to publick view upon the Walls to animate them to high and generous exploits so as Hous finding no Body stir in the City as he expected could do nothing besides there came new succours to the Tartarian Army which when Hoâ—â— understood by his spies he presently retired But yet this flight did not serve his turn nor could he wholly escape the Tartars hands for the Horsemen pursuing them fell upon the Rear and 〈◊〉 many câ—â—rying away great store of Riches which the Commander distributed in such proportion as he gave most to such as were wounded what became of Hous after this action is unknown and therefore I conclude that these Northern revolts produced no other effect but the spoyl Rapin and Plunder of all those Quarters as it had produced the like in the Southern parts The Tartars having happily overcome all difficulties hitherto fell into another by their own insolency from the year MDCXLIX the Emperour of the Tartars being now grown up to mans Estate desired to Marry the Daughter of the King of Tayngu who is Prince of the Western Tartars hoping by this match to conserve the friendship of him whose Forces he feared for this end he sent his uncle to him who was King of Punang This Prince passed by the impregnable City of Tartung which as it is the last City towards the North so also it is the Key and Bulwark of the Province of Xansi against the irruption of the Western Tartars for it commands all the Souldiers which keep the many Fortifications of those Quarters where a fair Level down extending it self beyond that famous Wall I mentioned heretofore gives a fit occasion for the incursion of the Tartars The Women of this City are held the most beautifull of all China and therefore it happened that some of the Embassadours followers did ravish some of them and also carried away by a Rape a Person of quality as she was carried home to her Spouse which was a thing never heard of heretofore amongst the Chinesâ—s The people had recourse for these injuries to Kiangus who governed those Quarters for the Tartars who hearing of this grosse abuse sent to that petty Prince Pauang to demand the new Married Lady to be restored and to desire him to prevent future disorders in that nature but he gave a very slight Ear to such complaints and therefore Kiangus himself went unto him who was not only slighted but even cast out of the Palace His anger was quickly turned into rage which made him resolve to revenge that injury by the Tartars bloud he therefore Musters up his Souldiers and presently falls on the Tartars kils all he could encounter the Embassadour himself being let down by the Walls of the Town hardly escaped by swift 〈◊〉 Then Kiangus displayed a Banner wherein he declared himself a Subject to the Empire of China but named no Emperour in particular because perchance he had heard nothing of the Emperour Iungâ—â—y by reason of so vast a distance But however he invited all the Chineses to the defence of their Country and to expell the Tartars and many Captains as well as Souldiers came into him◠〈◊〉 even the very Western Tartars against whom he had ever both Arms being promised great rewards sent him the Forces which he demanded This accident extremely troubled the Court for they knew well that the Western Tartars did both aspire to the Empire of China and also were envious at their prosperous course of fortune they also knew that they were more abundant in Men and Horses than they were for from hence it is they bought all their best Horses and they feared that now they should have no more and therefore they resolved to send presently a good strong Ar my against him before he should gather a greater strength But 〈◊〉 who was as crafty as valiant and one who by long experience knew how to deal with the Tartars first feigned to fly with his Army But in the 〈◊〉 he placed very many Carts and Wagons which were all covered very carefully as if they had carried the richest Treasures they possessed but in real truth they carried nothing but many great and lesser pieces of Artillery with their mouths turned upon the Enemie all which the Tartars perceiving presently pursue they fight without any order and fall upon the prey with great Aviditie but those that accompanied the Wagons firing the Artillery took off the greatest part of the Army and withall Kiangus wheeling about came up upon them and made a strange carnage amongst them and after this he shewed himself no lesse admirable in Stratagems than in fortitude and courage when he fought a set pitched Field with a new recruited Army of the Tartars in which he obtained so noble and renowned a victory that he filled all the Court at Peking with fear and trembling for by this means victorious Kiangus had gathered so vast an army as he counted no lesse than a hundred and fortie thousand Horse and foure hundred thousand foot all men having recourse to him to defend their Country against the Tartarian army and therefore Amavangus Tutor to the Emperour thinking it not fit to commit this businesse to any other resolved himself to go against Kiangus and trie the last turne of fortune for the Tartars he therefore drew out all the eight Colours that is the whole Forces that were then in Peking for under these eight colours are comprehended all the Forces of the Kingdom of China whether they be Natives or Tartars the first of which is White called the Imperial Banner the second is Red the third is Black the fourth is Yellow and these three last are governed and commanded by the Uncle of the Emperour but the first is immediatly subject to the Emperour of these four colours by several mixtures they frame four more so as every Souldier knows his own colours and to what part of the City to repair
where they have ever their Arms and Horses ready for any expedition so as in one half hour they all are ready for they blow a Horn just in the fashion of that which we appropriate usually to our Tritons and by the manner of winding it they presently know what Companies and Captains must march so as they are ready in a moment to follow their Ensign which a Horse-man carries tied behind him though commonly none but the Commander and Ensign knows whither they go this profound secrecy in their exercise of War has often astonished the Chineses for many times when they thought to oppose them in one part they presently heard they were in another Quarter and it is no wonder they are so quick for they never carrie with them any Baggage nor do they take care for Provision for they feed themselves with what they finde yet commonly they eat Flesh though half rosted or half boyled if they find none then they devour their Horses or Camels but ever when they have leasure they go a hunting all manner of wild Beasts either by some excellent Dogs and Vultures which they bring up for that end or else by incompassing a whole Mountain or large Field they beat up all the wild Beasts into a circle and drive them into so narrow a compasse as that they can take as many as they please and dismisse the rest The earth covered with their Horse-cloath is their Bed for they care not for Houses and Chambers but if they be forced to dwell in Houses their Horses must lodge with them and they must have many holes beaten in the Walls but yet their Tents are most beautiful which they fix and remove with such Art and dexterity as they never retard the speedy march of an Army Thus the Tartars train their Souldiers to hardnesse for War Out of all these Ensignes Amavangus chose the choicest men to accompany his person And besides he took part of those which he had deputed to follow the three Royalets which he dispatched to the South ordering them to take as many out of the severall Garrisons through which they passed as might supply this defect But although Amavangus had so gallant and such a flourishing Army yet he never durst give Battail to Kiangus lest he might seem to expose the whole Empire of the Tartars to the fortune of one Battail So that although Kiangus did frequently offer him Battail yet he ever refused to fight expecting still to hear what reply the Western Tartars would make to his Proposition of his Nephews Marriage for he had sent a Legate to that Tartarian King with pretious gifts as well to demand his Daughter for the Emperour of China as to desire him to afford no succour to the Rebel Kiangus The precious gifts of Gold of Silk of Silver and of Women obtained whatsoever he demanded and therefore Kiangus seeing himself deserted of the Tartars that he might provide as well as he could for his own affairs returned to the City Taitung of which he soon repented himself when it was too late for Amavangus calling in an innumerable number of Pezants in the space of three dayes with an incredible diligence cast up a Trench of ten Leagues compasse which he so fortified with Bulwarks and Ramparts that in a trice he blocked up that City Then did Kiangus see his errour in granting them leasure to draw their Trench which he knew would debar him from all manner of Provision And therefore being enraged with anger as he was a man full of mettal and a great Souldier turning himself to his Souldiers he said If I must dye I had rather dye by the Sword than by Famine and upon this marched out presently to the Enemies Trench with his whole Army Here it was that both the parties fought most obstinately the one to seek his Passage the other to hinder his Advance so as the fortune was various and the victory doubtfull untill an unlucky Arrow transpierâ—'d Kiangus and in him all the hope of China perished His Souldiers seeing him dead partly ran away and partly submitted to the Tartars who received them with all courtesie and humanity for they had cause enough of joy to see they had escaped the danger of losing the Empire and that they had conquered so formidable a Commander But yet they Plundered the City Taitung and burned the City of Pucheu where the Church of the Christians also perished From hence the Tartars returned to Peking where I saw them enter overladen with Riches and triumphant Laurels But Amavangus pursued his journey to the Western Tartars where he ratified his Nephew Xunchius his Marriage and brought back with him an infinite Company of Horse from the Tartars of the Kingdome of Tanya In the mean time the three Royalets which went to the Southern Kingdomes to pacifie those unquiet Provinces tooke their journey by the descent of the River Guel and when they passed through that Province which the Emperour had given the Tartars to inhabit and cultivate after he had expelled the Chineses for their Rebellion most of these Pezants being wholly ignorant of tilling and manuring the ground as having never been used to mannage a Spade or a Plough but their Swords these men I say desired earnestly these Princes that they might accompany them in these Wars and in their expeditions Two of these Princes rejected their Petitions but the third called Kengus without any consent or order from the Emperour listed them amongst his own Troups upon which they joyfully changed their rustical instruments into weapons for war when the Emperour heard of this proceeding he sent word to Kengus to dismiss them but he pretended various excuses and did neglect the Emperours orders He therfore commanded the supreme Governour of all the Southern Quarters who resides ever at Nanking either to take Kengus alive or cause him to be slaine He presently cast about how to compasse the Emperours command with all secrecy received the three Royolets with all sorts of divertisements of Comedies Banquets the like pleasures as if he had received no distastful order from the Emperour And when the day was come that they resolved to prosecute their journey by the great River of Kiang the said Governour contrived his businesse so as he met them again in the River and under pretence of taking his last farewell he entertained them nobly with a Royal feast and in as Royall a Junck which in China are so magnificent as they resemble rather some gilded Palaces than floating Vessels In this Princely Ship he entertained these Princes in all jollity and mirth untill their Army had advanced a good way before and then he declared to Kengus the Emperours order who presently promised all submission and to returne to Nanking with him if he would onely permit him to go to his Ship which expected him in the River to order some little affairs of his own which being granted he no sooner got