with large rivers and some of those having so great plenty of water that in many places the opposite banks are out of sight one of the other and elsewhere that which appeareth is hardly to be distinguished what it is They are all navigable and are frequented with so a great concourse of divers sorts of vessels that what might be said upon this occasion will hardly seem credible I shall onely say that in this they do exceed all other rivers of the world In an Arme of the river of Nanchim which with a moderate breadth runneth down to Hamchen I stayed eight dayes for a passage through that vvonderful concourse of vessels and whilest an houre-glasse of sand was running out I counted three hundred small ships reckoning only those which came up the river It is a marvellous thing there being so many that all are so vvell accommodated for Merchandize and so convenient for passengers They are all covered and kept very neat and some of them so beautified and adorned with pictures that they seem rather made for the recreation than the traffick of Merchants The manner after which they are governd is very notable for the Marriners keep all without the place where the passengers make their abode there being space enough without for them to run up and down that trim the Sayles and guide the Bark without any disturbance of the others who enjoy a pleasant ease and rest In which the Barks of the province of Hanceo exceed the rest The six Northern provinces as they come nearest to our latitude do most resemble our climate and are more dry and healthfull than the rest But in all of them more or lesse there are not wanting many of a long and happy life there being to be found many and very vigorous and lusty old men Of the same more particularly This Kingdom is so populous that not only the Villages but even the Cities are in sight one of another and in some places where the rivers are most frequented the habitations are almost continued Of these there are foure sorts great Cities which they call Fu the lesser which they call Cen concerning these Writers have somewhat differed in their Relations Townes which they call Hien and Castles which they call Cid Besides these there are Villages and Hamlets almost innumerable Of all these the Walls are kept night and day with a four-fold Guard at the sound of a Bell even to the innermost City of the Kingdom as if they were alwayes in a condition of Warre shewing that to prevent the least imaginable danger which may fal out in an houre it is good to stand during life upon our guard for ordinarily all sudden ruines proceed from a long confidence The streets are kept by Courts of Guard and Senâ—inels with so much rigour that if they find them asleep or stragled from their Post or that they do not speedily answer they are presently condemned to the Bastinado which is immediately executed in the same place The publick gates are shut every night with great care and if there fall out any accident they are not opened til they are satisfied how the Fact was done In the year one thousand six hundred thirty four I was in the City of Kiamsi where thirty theeves broke prison and having routed the guards wounding some and killing others set themselvs at liberty The Fact was known and the opening of the gates being suspended according to their inviolable custome before next night the Malefactors were all taken nor could the greatnesse of the City hide any one of them This Kingdom is so exceeding populous that I having lived there two and twenty years was in no lesse amazement at my coming away than I was in the beginning at the multitude of the people certainly the truth exceedeth all Hyperboles not onely in the Cities Townes and publick places in some of which one cannot walk without great violence of thrusting and crowding but also in the High-wayes there is as great a concourse as is usually in Europe at some great feastivall or publick meeting And if we will referre our selves to the generall register book wherein only the common men are enrolled and matriculated leaving out women children eunuchs professours of armes and letters almost an infinite number there are reckoned of them to be fifty eight millions and fifty five thousand one hundred and fourescore The houses where they inhabite are not so sumptuous and lasting as ours yet are they more convenient for the good contrivance and more pleasant for their exquisite neatnesse They use much in their houses Charam an excellent vernish and painting of an accurate diligence They build them not very high esteeming them more convenient for being low as well for habitation as for good accommodation The richer sort of people doe plant the courts and approaches to their houses with flowres and small trees and towards the North they use fruit trees In like manner where they have roome enough they set greater trees and raise artificiall mountaines to which end they bring from farre great pieces of rocks They keep there severall sorts of fowl as Cranes and Swannes and other beautifull birds and also wild beasts as Stagges and fallow Deare They make many fish-ponds where are to be seen gliding up and downe painted fish with gilded finns and other things likewise of curiositie and delight Their way of building is in this manner They frame first exactly the roofe of the house which they set upon pillars of wood the which by how much the bigger they are are so much the more esteemed after they fit up the walls with brick or some such like matter There is a Tradition that anciently they made their buildings according to exact rules of measure and proportion of which Art there are yet some bookes remaining but those rules are now only observed in the Kings palaces and in publick workes as towres of Cities and Townes which they make of severall formes as round square octangular very beautifull with staires some winding some plaine and Balansters on the out-side In the vessels and utensiles of their house they are both very curious and expensive using much the abovesaid Charam a sort of vernish which is taken from certaine trees proper only to that and the neighbouring Countries and in truth it is an excellent thing as well for the perfection of the matter as may be seen in the workes which come from thence as for the easinesse in working it as well in making new things as in retrimming the old and reducing them to their former beauty As for plenty whereas this kingdome by reason of its large extent doth participate of diverse latitudes and climates it produceth and enjoyeth so great varietie of fruits that nature seems there to have laid upon heapes what shee but scatters through the rest of the world It hath within its owne doores all that is necessary for mans life together with all superfluity of delicacies whence it hath
Heaven and Earth to hinder his coming to the Crown but seeing he could not effect that at least he maintained a seditious faction against the great ones which finally proved the destruction of the Estate For these men banding in two factions studied more how to destroy one another than to advance the publique good yet both parties pretended the general benefit but both neglected it Every party endeavouring to extoll and exalt his own Creatures into places of trust and power All which when Zunchinius the emperour went about to redresse he exasperated the minds of many of the Commanders against him for as soon as he came to the Crown he cruelly persecuted all that favoured the Eunuch and in fine killed this very Eunuch which had been his Predecessors Favourite together with many more of his partie of which Tragedy I will only relate the Catastrophe The Emperour Zungchinius resolving to destroy both the Eunuch all his power sent him an order to go visit the Tombs of his Ancestors to consider if any of those ancient Monuments wanted reparation the Eunuch could not refuse so honourable an imployment which seemed rather an addition to his former hounours but he had not gone far upon his journey but there was presented to him from the Emperour a Box of Silver gilt with a Halter of Silk folded up in it by which he understood he was to hang himself by the Emperors order which he could not refuse being that kind of death amongst the Chineses is counted honourable when it is accompanied with such formalities But by this occasion the Emperour raised against himself new Factions and more Traitours which held secret correspondence with the Theeves Army Hence it came to passe that no Army was sent to oppose them or if any went they did no manner of action being alwayes hindered by the emulation of others nay it happened often that when they might have taken great advantages yet the occasion was neglected lest the Commanders should increase other mens Power and Credit by their Victories with the Emperour These Dissentions and Emulations happend so seasonably to the Roving Army of Theeves as that to come to see and conquer was to them one and the self same thing as I shall declare unto you Whilest these transactions passed in the Court Licungzus Conductor of the Theeves having setled all things in the Country of Xensi passed to the East and coming to the famous great River of Croceus finding no body to defend it he passed over with as much facility as it might have been maintained with ease if there had been placed but a handfull of Souldiers For this River runnes with a violent rapid course and a vast Sea of waters from West to East but being there was no man to defend it they passing it easily presently seized upon the chief and richest City in all those quarters called Kaiangchâ—u which is situated neer the South â—ankside of that River and being carried on with a strong gale of Fortune he seized upon many other Cities every one desiring either to free themselves from further vexation or blindly and fondly submitting themselves to any new change of Government For we commonly delight in varieties and novelties and hoping for better we find worse Only the City of Thaiyven made some resistance but being presently subdued was fined with great sumes of money for their temerity The Emperour Zungchinius hearing the Theeves had passed the River Croceus and were advanced to the very Confine of Xensi which borders upon the Province where he had placed his Throne and Royall Seat he sent an Army under the Lord Marshal of China to hold them at least in play if he could not overthrow them But this Army did just nothing nay most of the Souldiers ran to the Thieving party in so much as the Lord Marshal himself called Colaus Lius seeing Affairs grew so desperate Hang'd himself for fear of further shame and dishonour The Emperour hearing of the ill successe of his Affairs began to think of leaving the Northern parts where his Royal City of Peking is situated and to passe to Nankuing which is far more Southward but he was disswaded from this intended course as well by his loyal as disloyal subjects by these that they might give him up more speedily into the enemies hands before their treachery was discovered and by the others lest his flight might trouble the Kingdome more and discourage all his Subjects from giving their best assistance for they thought the City impregnable being fortified with so strong a Garrison nor did they doubt that the Kings presence would draw the forces of the whole Kingdom to him And their Counsel had been good if the Court had been purged of Traytors In the mean time the Theeves Conductor who was no lesse quick and nimble in execution than witty in invention sowing a Fox his tail to the Lions skin caused many of his Souldiers in a disguised habit to creep into that Princely City and gave them money to trade in trifling ware till he assaulted the walls with the body of his Army for then they had order to raise sedition and tumult in the City and considering they were a Company of desperate Fellows and of a very low and base fortune it is stupendious to think how they could keep so profound secrecy in a matter of so high concernment But to this mine which was prepared in the bowels of the City he held a secret train of Intelligence with the Lieutenant of the City who seeing the Emperours Affairs desperate is said to have dealt with the Conductor of these Brigants about giving up the City unto their power But however it was these Pilferers came in a short time to besiege the Royal City of Peking There was in that City a vast Garrison and as great a quantity of Artillery but on the Quarters upon which the enemy made their assault there was none charged with Bullets but only with Powder Wherfore being secure from any annoy from that side in the year MDCXLIV before the rising of the Sun they entred the Metropolitan City of all China by one of the Gates which was opened to them nor was there any long resistance made even by those that were faithfull to their Prince for the Souldiers of the Theef which lay lurking in the City made such a tumult and confusion as none knew whom to oppose in which respect they made a great slaughter so as Licâ—ngzus in this Babylonian confusion marched victorious through the City till he came to the very Emperours Palace where though he found some resistance from the faithfullest Eunuchs yet notwithstanding he presently entred that famous and renowned Palace And that which exceeds all admiration the enemy had passed the first Wall and Precinct and yet the Empâ—rour knew nothing of so strange a passage for the Traiterous Eunuchs which were of most Authority fearing he might escape by flight deferd to admonish him
presently they fell upon the Kings men whom they butchered in a most cruel manner but yet the water destroyed more than their Swords or Arrows for many cast themselves headlong into the great River of Cianthang which is a League broad and runs neer the City others leaping and overcharging the Boats in the River were presently sunck others flying away full of fear and confusion thrust one another at the River side into that unmerciful Element and by all these many thousands perished The Tartars wanting boats to passe this River having thus expelled or killed the Souldiery they returned Triumphant to the City where they used neither force nor violence by which means this noble City was conserved whose beauty greatnesse and riches I hope to describe elsewhere not by hear-say but by what I saw in the three years space I lived in it from which I lately came into Europe This City of Hangcheu hath an Artificial Channel or Dike to pass by water to the Northern parts of China This Chanel is onely separated by the high part of the way like a Causeway from the River which as I said runs on the South part of the City The Tartars therefore drew many Boats out of this Chanel over the Causeway into the River Cienthang and with the help of these Boats they passed the River without resistance and found the fairest City in all China called Xaoking prone enough to submit to their victorious Armes This City in bignesse yields to many others but in cleannesse and comlinesse it surpasses all it is so invironed with sweet waters as a man may contemplate its beauty by rounding it in a Boat it hath large and fair Streets paved on both sides with white square stones and in the middle of them all runs a Navigable Chanel whose sides are garnished with the like ornament and of the same stone there are also built many fairs Bridges and Triumphant Arches the Houses also which I observe no where else in China are built of the same square stone so as in a word I saw nothing neater in all China They took this Town without any resistance and so they might have done all the rest of the Southern Towns of this Povince of Chekiang But when they commanded all by Proclamation to cut off their Hair then both Souldier and Citizen took up Armes and fought more desperately for their Hair of their Heads than they did for King or Kingdome and beat the Tartars not only out of their City but repulst them to the River Cienthang nay forced them to passe the River killing very many of them In truth had they past the River they might have recovered the Metropolis with the other Towns But they pursued their victory no further being sufficiently contented that they had preserved their Hair resisting them only on the South side of the shore and there fortifying themselves By this means the conquering Armes of the Tartars were repressed for a whole year But the Chinois that they might have a Head chose Lu Regulus of the Taimingian Family for their Emperour who would not accept therof but would be only stiled The Restorer of the Empire In the mean time the Tartars had sent for new forces out of Peking with which they left nere a Stone unturned that they might get over the River Cienthang but all was in vain The drooping affairs therfore of the Chinois now breathed again nay having gathered together more Forces they promised themselves greater victories But the ambition and emulation of rulling frustrated all their hopes For the Commanders and Presidents which fled out of the Province of Chekian into the Country of Fokien carried with them one of Taiminga's Family called Thangus and this man they chose King in the Country of Fokien which confines with Chekiang This Prince pretended that the King called Lu should yeeld up his right to him both because he had but a few Cities under him and also because he was further removed from the Imperial Race than he was But King Lu pretended he was Proclaimed by the Army before him and failed not to set forth his victories over the Tartars By which two contentions the Tartars kept the Crown for these two Royalets would never yeeld to one another nor so unite their Armies as joyntly to represse the Tartars Since therefore this petty King Lu had onely eight Cities under his command whose Contributions were not able to maintain the necessary pay of his Army he never durst venture to passe over the River but endeavoured only to defend himself But the Tartars sought all means possibly to get over this River yet they durst not venture to passe in Boats because King Lu had many ships and good store of Artillery which he had caused to be brought from Sea But the Tartars felicity and prosperous fortune overcame this difficulty for as it happened that year being dryer than ordinary this River towards the South where it runs betwixt high Mountains and is deprived of the flowing of the Sea had lost much of its depth and here the Tartars Horse found it passable and because the rudenesse of those Mountains seemed a sufficient Guard to the Country they found no Souldiers to resist but as soon as the Clowns espied twenty of their Horse to have passed the River they presently advertised the Army and they all betook themselves to flight King Lu himself left the City Xaoking and not daring to trust himself to the Continent he took Ship and failed to the Island called Cheuxan which lies opposit to the Citie of Nimpus where he remains to this day safe and keeps still his Regal dignitie which Island being heretofore only a retreit for Fishemen and some Clowns now is become a potent Kingdom by reason that many fly from China to this King Lu as to their sanctuary to conserve the libertie of their Hair In this Island there are now found three score and ten Cities with a strong and formidable Army which hitherto hath contemned all the Tartarian Power and Forces and watch for some happy occasion to advance again their Kingdom in China But by this means the Tartars took all the Cities and Towns of the County of Chekiang into their Dominion One only City of Kinhoa whose President was aswel a Native of the place as also the Commander in chief and my very singular friend sustained the Tartars assaults for some months But to the end the resistance of this City should not be a hindrance to the course of their Victories the Tartars divided their Army into three parts The first part marched by the City Kiucheu and the Mountains the second by the City Vencheu and the Sea shore into the Province of Fâ—kien and the third obstinately besieged the City of Kinhoa At which time I by leave from the Emperour Longuvus resided in Henxus a City subject to that of Venchen which presently after was besieged and taken by the
name although learned men doe derive it from Rates an ancient part of that Country Now this people running over the whole kingdom like swarmes of Bees do fill it with severall Trades whereunto they apply themselves and for the greatest part they lead a miserable life and are therefore so penurious niggardly and drie in their presents that they passe in ridiculous proverbs through the rest of the Provinces It is famous for Sturgeon which it hath of very great bignesse and more for the Porcellane dishes indeed the only work in the world of this kinde which are made only in one of its Townes So that all that is used in the Kingdom and dispersed through the whole world are brought from this place although the earth whereof they are made commeth from another place but there only is the water wherewith precisely they are to be wrought to come to their perfection for if they be wrought with other water the worke will not have so much glosse and lustre In this worke there are not those mysteries that are reported of it here neither in the matter the form nor the manner of working they are made absolutely of earth but of a neate and excellent quality They are made in the same time and the same manner as our earthen vessels only they make them with more diligence and accuratenesse The Blew wherewith they paint the Porcellane is Anill whereof they have abundance some do paint them with Vermilion and for the King with yellow This Province and that of Chincheo and Cantone which border one upon another do unite as it were in an angle with many Mountaines between them In the middle of which Mountaines there is a small Kingdome which hath a particular King of its own without any subjection to the Chinesses from whom he doth defend himselfe if they pretend to assault him nor is the defence difficult there being but one entrance into that kingdome They admit of the Chinesse-Physitians in their infirmities but not of their learned men into the administration of their government If they have an ill Harvest and that there is like to be a scarsity they go out and rob in a millitary order to the sound of the drum So in the year 1632 they gave no small trouble to this province of Kiamsi The last account shall be concerning the Christianity there which hath prospered very well being also beneficed with two Churches and houses which we have in that Province the one in the City of Nauchan which is the Metropolis The other in the City of Nauhium The sixt Province is called Suchuen in the same paralel with that of Kiamsi and in the same latitude of 29 degrees nor hath it any thing in particular differing from the former worthy the relation The Province of Huquam is the seventh in Scituation it lyeth more to the North in the heighth of 31 degrees it exceeds the whole Kingdom for the abundance of Rice The Chinesses say that that whole Kingdom is able to give but a breakfast in respect of Huquam which provideth for the whole yeare It hath store of oyle and no lesse Fish by reason of the rivers which it enjoyeth and the lakes which seem rather Seas In the Metropolis of this Province there was a Residencie begun at the time of my arrival The province of Cakiam which is the eighth lyeth in the Latitude of 30 degrees it is for the most part scituated by the Sea-side fertile plain and almost all divided by severall rivers some whereof run through their Cities and Townes In riches it exceeds many of the Provinces as being the Fountain from whence the best Commodities of that Monarchie doe flow it is singular in silke which it distributeth through every part whether it be raw or wrought in Balls or in Stuffe All that goeth out of the Kingdome any way cometh from this Province though all China hath the benefit of the Silk-worme yet all the rest would not serve them to make them Scarfes the name of the Metropolis is Hamcheu Here we have two houses which upon certain good considerations are reduced to one where there is cultivated a copious and good Christianity and also much honoured by reason of the number of people of quality that are in it Finally this Province is famous for many things but particularly for three The first is a lake called Sihu which is one of the rarest in the world It is in circuite Thirty Lis which are six miles it is set about with excellent Palaces and these environed by pleasant Mountaines cloathed with grasse plants and trees the water is alwayes running for there comming in a current at one and side issueing out at the other it is so cleere that it inviteth one to behold it with great delight the smallest sand that lyeth at the bottome being to be discovered There are certaine wayes paved with stone that do crosse over it offering passage to those that travell over it either upon their occasions or curiositie there stand ready small Barkes of a considerable burden which are made for recreation and banquets the kitchin is in the steerage or the forecastle and the middle space serveth for a hall Above higher there is a place for the women covered with lattices that they might not be seen These Barkes are painted and guilded after a curious and various manner and are provided in great abundance with all things necessary for the navigation which is short and free from wracks of water but not so well from those of wine there happening many as also shipwrackes of estates very often there being scarce any in the whole kingdome that hath any thing that doth not come to spend in these delights either part or the whole and sometimes more than his whole stock is worth The second is the excellency of the silke as well for the plenty abovesaid as for the curiositie of the Art with which a good part of it is wrought engrayling it with precious and beautifull workes of gold This is only after their manner and gusto and is not sent out of the kingdome but as a singular worke is reserved for the Kings Palaces who every yeare buyeth up all that is made of this sort The third is the worshipping of their Idols in which is particularly to be perceived whence the fabrick of their Temples proceeds which are without doubt very famous The last of these nine Southerly Provinces is Nankim scituated in 32 degrees of latitude and is one of the best Provinces of the kingdome and the perfection of the whole realm It sendeth abroade its commodities or workes of importance to no part as if they were unworthy to participate of its perfection which is most rare in all sort of varietie and so much exceeding all the rest that every one to sell his commodities the better pretendeth that they are of Nankim and so passeth them off at a greater price That part which is towards the West is the most
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
rascally Vagabonds and loytering Fellows they returned again to besiege the Metropolitan City but dispairing to take it by Force or Assaults they resolved to ruin it by a long siege that they might enjoy the immense Riches of that noble City and though this Town be three great Leagues in circumference yet they rounded it so by their lines as nothing could enter the City this drave them to some straits for although the Purveyer for victualls had brought in good store of provision in the two moneths space in which they were absent yet because that Province which used to be most plentifull was now deficient in Corn they could not make sufficient provision for six moneths siege for such an infinite multitude of people as were retired within the Walls Yet it held out most resolutely for the space of six moneths in which time though they were brought to hard shifts yet hoping alwaies for succour from their Emperor they would never submit to any conditions I dare not relate to what an excesse this Famin came to but it seems it surpassed the Famin of Hierusalem a pound of Rice was worth a pound of Silver and a pound of any old rotten skin was sold at ten Crowns dead mens flesh was sold publickly in the Shambles as Hogs flesh and it was held an act of Piety to expose the dead in the streets for others to feed on who shortly were to be food for others but I will passe over and conceal yet more horrible things than I have related This City lies towards the South side of that vast and precipitate River which the Chineses call Hoang because the streams alwaies appear of a yellowish saffron colour and because the River is higher than the plain levell downs of a Leagues distance from the Town they built upon the River side a long and strong Bulwark of great square stones to prevent all inundations The Emperours Army after long expectation came to relieve the Town and advanced as far as these Bulwarks and having considered the situation of the Country and Enemies Camp it was thought the fittest easiest way to raise the siege without giving battail and to let in the water upon the enemies Army by some breaches made in that long Wall or Bulwark It was in Autumn when they took this resolution and the River by reason of extraordinary rains was swoln bigger than ever before and they making the Sluces or inlets too great and the Breaches too wide gave way to such an Ocean of water as it overran the walls of the Town which were very stately and high involving not only many of the enemies in its ruin and destruction but also 300000. men and the City it self perished in those floods of water So the ancient City which heretofore had been honoured by the Emperor's Residence appeared no more a place of pleasure but a vast Pool or Lake for Monsters of the waters to inhabit for the houses of the Town were not over-run with water but also beaten down and also the Church of the Christians together with their Priest who was one of the Society of Jesus who when he could timely enough have saved himselfe chose rather to laydown his life for the sheepe For that City had many Christians The destruction of this City happened the ninth of Oct. 1642. about which time this famous Conductour of Theeves took the name of King with an addition of Xunvang which sounds as much as Prosperous and so was stiled Licungzus the prosperous and having in a manner taken all the Country of Honan into his Dominion he returned into the Province of Xensi and won it wholly to his subjection When he came to Sigan which is the Metropolis of Xensi he found some resistance from the Garrison but yet he took it in three daies and for a reward and encouragement to his Souldiers he gave it to them to pillage also for three daies space and then he gathered up all the Corn of the whole Province as well to keep all the Country in their duty to him as also to leave no Provision for the Emperours Army And now thinking himself secure of the whole Empire he took the name of Emperour upon him and stiled the Family wherein he thought to establish this Dignity Thienxunam as much as to say Obedient to Heaven By which Title he perswaded the Souldiers and the People that it was by the disposall of the Heavens that he should raign that he might deliver the people from the Emperours Avarice and extirpate those wicked Governours that so much vexed the Nation deliver them from all their perfidious plots For he knew well that this Glorious Title would be very acceptable to them of China who beleeve that Kingdoms and Empires come only from Heaven and are not gained by any Art or Industry of Man and that his actions might carry a face correspondent to his illustrious Title he began to use the People with all humility and sweetnesse not permitting any Souldier to wrong or injure them only he persecuted all the Officers call'd Presidents which he could find and all those he put to death and as for those that had been Presidents because he found them rich he made them pay great Fines and let them live remitting all Taxes in the places he subdued severely commanding that the subjects should be treated with all civility and courtesie So as all men applauding and loving so sweet and milde a Government easily submitted to his Power and Dominion but where the Governours use Tyranny there the subject hath little care of Fidelity There were in this City Sigan two Priests which served the Christians that were Jesuits and suffered much in the saccage of the City but being afterwards known for Strangers they were used with all humanity In the mean time a third cause of this Empires ruin grew up in the Court which was hatched in the Emperour Thienkins his time For that Emperour exalted an Eunuch called â—ueio to such a height and power as he gave the absolute and soveraign Command into his hands and passed so far as alwayes to stile him by the name of Father This extravagant power caused much Envy Dissention and banding one against another amongst the Governours Presidents Commanders and Counsellors and the Eunuch also added much to incense the flame by his indiscreet usage of the favour he possessed for if any man had touched him either in word or writing or expressed lesse respect unto him in conversation or behaviour or did not flatter the base fellow he would presently give order to put him to death though he were a very eminent person or at least degrade him from all Office or Dignity By which means he exasperated many and amongst the rest he offended Zunchinius when Prince who now by the death of his Brother without issue was come to to be Emperour of China This Emperour knew that the Eunuch had moved
fruit very different from figges in colour figure and taste the colour on the outside is red on the inside like gold the figure is of the bignesse of an Orange bigger or lesser for there is as much diversitie of them as there is among us of figges The rinde is very thinne and is of so extraordinary good taste that in my opinion it may be reckoned among the chiefest in the world They have one or two seeds which are like unto blanched Almonds the best are in the cold Countries The provinces Honan Xiansi Xensi and Xantum enjoy the best in quality and in great quantity and dry enough of them to serve the whole kingdome When they are dry they are better than our dried figges to which they have some kind of resemblance The province of Hamcheu produceth a particular fruit which they call Iammoi as bigge as a plumbe round and in colour and taste like unto the best Mulberries but the tree is very different Peaches there are none unlesse it be in the Province of Xensi where there are some of a notable bignesse some are red both within and without others of a yellow colour of the same figure and taste with ours There are Melons every where in great abundance but the best are not to be compared to our good ones there are water melons in great plenty and very good Grapes are very rare and scarce and grow only in Arbours and close walkes except it be in the Province of Xensi where they are in abundance and where they also dry them in great plenty They make not their wine of Grapes but of Barly and in the Northern parts of Rice where they also make it of Apples but in the Southern parts of Rice only yet this is not ordinary Rice but a certaine kind of it proper to them which serveth only to make this liquor being used in diverse manners Vineger they make of the same ingredients as their wine and in the Westerne Provinces of Millet which notwithstanding is sharp and well tasted The wine used by the common people although it will make them drunke is not very strong nor lasting 't is made at all times of they eare but the best only in the winter It hath a colour very pleasing to the sight nor is the smell lesse pleasing to the sent or the Savour thereof to the taste take altogether it is a veâ—â—ment occasion that there never want drunkards but without any mulct of shame for they have not yet placed it in that consideration Winter and Summer they drink it warm Flowers are in singular esteeme with these people and they have some exceeding beautifull and different from ours which yet they doe not want They have Clove-gilleflowres which have no smell at all They endeavour to have the yeare throughout flowers for every season in their gardens in which they are very curious They have some flowres which in their duration exceed the ordinary stile of nature in which they seeme to be exempt from their common tribute of a short life For when these plants have no moysture left for the nourishment of their leaves and exposed to the cold these do fall off then do new flowres sprout againe those the most odoriferous during the greatest inclemency of the frost and snow These are called Lamui more pleasing to the sent than the eye their colour being not unlike that of Bees-wax They have other flowers like Lillies called Tiaohoa which they keep in the house because that being carefully taken up with their roots entire and well cleansed from earth they live and flourish in the ayre Their Garments as also the furniture of their chambers and houses they make of wooll Linnen Silke and Cotton which they make great use of an weave thereof many faire and curious stuffs The riches of that kingdom is admirable for besides that the earth is so fruitfull in all kinde of sustenance and what ever is necessary for mans life as may be perceived by what hath been already said they do vend unto strangers the best and richest merchandise of all the East such as are Gold-threed Gold in the leafe and Ingot Rubies Saphires small Pearle Muske raw silke and wrought silk quick-silver Copper Tin Tomnaga which is a kind of mettall more fine and as hard as Tin Vermilion Salt-nitre Brimstone Sugar and other things of lesse importance Their guilded workes for houshold-stuffe ornaments and jewells for women both for necessity and curiositie are sufficiently known to the world nor doth all this issue out at one port but by many in a great and perpetuall commerce In all this abundant riches of the Country industry of the inhabitants Arts and means of gaining their living to an excessive plenty they doe not let passe any other thing that can bring them any profit and notwithstanding the sight of so great afluence of noble commodities they make a profit of their Beefe-bones Hogges-haires and of the smallest ragge that is throne into the streetes There raigneth among them that only pledge suretie of the duration of Empires that is that the publike is rich and no particulars They are not so rich there as in Europe nor so many which can properly deserve that name nor are the poor here so many nor so poor as those there The people is infinite nor can they have a capitall or stock sufficient for so many or mony to fill so many purses Hence it comes to passe that the partition among them is such that much comes to few a mediocrity to not many and a little to almost infinite Their mony is much at one stay which may be perceived by the same low price of things salary of servants pay of workmanship and stipend of publick Ministers So that even to this day at least in diverse of these countries they live as they did formerly in Portugall when a Maraved is which is worth a farthing and a half divided into six blanes would buy six severall things So was it also in Castile not only in ancient times but even to the raign of Don Iohn the first the records of which are still preserved but such temperance and plenty long since are gone out of the world From hence it is manifest how much that admirable duration of the Empire of China dependeth on observing its lawes and ancient customes without ever opening a gate that the great ones might seeme greater and the small ones great to luxurie in apparel and excesse in diet which are the irreparable ruine of Common wealths A pound of mutton is worth a penny a pigeon a farthing and a halfe the hire of a man-servant for a year two hundred farthings and his dyet and lodging But there is a great difference betwixt some places and others those of the South as they have the advantage in commerce so they exceed the rest in money and the price of things which continually riseth as we find every day by experience but even
of small value silver of base alloy will serve the turn and so base that in some Provinces of one six-pence they make eight or ten and reape much benefit by it Other things cannot be bought but with fine silver and so the poore silver goeth often to the fire to be otherwise qualified They are great lovers of the Mathematiques but to speak generally they know very little of them none being allowed to study them professedly except those who apply themselves to this study by the Kings speciall order and these are only two throughout the whole Kingdome The one in the Court of Pekim and the other in that of Nankim with a traine and attendance of Mandarines and the Title of the Kings Mathematicians These teach their art but only to their sonnes who always succeed them and are but moderately knowing in their profession Neverthelesse they have many ancient books of this science not only of the course and motion of the stars planets and several other things but also of Iudiciall Astrologie and Horoscopes to which they are much addicted By these books they find out when the Ecclipses of the sun and moone are to be and have maps of the stars though not in great perfection yet tolerably good They reckon a greater number of stars than we They make the elements to be five that is water mettall fire wood and earth Over these they assigne five predominant planets as Mercury over the water Venus over mettall Mars over fire Iupiter over wood and Saturn over the earth They are great observers of the motions of the heavens They distinguish the seasons of the yeare by the Aquinoxes and Solstices They divide the Zodiack into 24. signes doubling our number They make the yeare to consist of twelve moones and 354. dayes having six months of thirty days and six of 29. and when it is leap-yeare which falleth out every three years it consisteth of 13 moones and 383. dayes Their yeare beginneth with the new moone which is neerest to our month of February From the observation of the heavens and their motion they proceed to the Judiciall part referring severall events to the conjunctions of the planets and celestiall appearances of Phenomena which they diligently observe and if there fall out any new or strange appearance they presently give the King notice of it by a petition and to this end in both Courts there is a very high place or Tower furnished with severall mathematicall instruments which they call Quon Siam Thai that is a place to observe the stars in Of that in Nankim I have already said something when I spake of that City In Pekim the chiefest instruments are a spheare like that at Nankim with all his Circles Aquator Zodiack Tropicks c. of cast mettall and excellent workmanship Another instrument of the same bignesse that is of 24. foote in circumference divided into severall circles some fixt others moveable a stile or Gnomon in the middle and little holes at each end to take the hight of the stars the degrees and elevation of the Pole c. There is moreover a celestiall Globe of brasse of the same bignesse divided into its degrees with its constellations whereof they make only 28. They have also a Stile of brasse very large divided proportionably with which they measure the shadowes of the foure seasons of the yeare that is of the Aquinoxes and Solstices There are besides many other moveable instruments of brasse for severall uses which do sufficiently demonstrate the curiositie of their Ancestours and how much more diligent and intelligent they were than the Modernes Musick was anciently much esteemed in China in so much that their Philosopher Confusio in the Countrie where he governed one of the chiefe things he tooke paines in was to cause them to be taught Musick Now adaies the Chinesses lament and say that the true rule thereof is lost and almost all the ancient books that treated of Musick So that that Musick which they have at present is not esteemed off by the Nobilitie The greatest use they make of it is in their comedies There are also particular Musicians who are sent for to their feasts mariages and the birth of their children and of these there are some that may be endured There are not wanting also blind men who go singing about the streets and at the doores of their houses and as all the Chinesses do make a feast on their birth-dayes these blind men do keep in their memorie the punctuall time of all the birth dayes of persons of qualitie and know their houses well and at those times do never faile to go thither to sing The Bonzi do use Musick in their offices and mortuaries the Tone whereof is not much unlike our Cantus firmus or plainsong though they have not formally either plain-song or Organ-note for they do not raise nor fal their voice immediately from a note to the next note or half-note but mediately raise and fal it to a third a fift or an eight in which the Chinesses do much delight They have twelve Tones six to rise which they call Live and six to fall which they call Liu. They have also their notes in singing like ours of ut re mi they are five and among them is our ut in learning of Musick they make no use of signes nor of the joints of the fingers nor in composing do they use lines as we do it is therefore to be supposed that in their consorts they have not a Musick formed of diverse parts for although many do sing together all is but unison as is in use almost throughout all Asia Therefore their Musick is pleasing only to those of their owne Country but their best way of singing is one voice only with an Instrument Neither are they delighted with our full Musick but very much with a single voice They use keeping of time but cannot tell how many diversities it hath and so in singing ancient songs and moderne ones upon the same ayre with the old they hence know the time when they are to sing and when they are to stop Concerning their instruments they say they have seven severall kinds of tones besides a mans voice and according to these they have made their Musicall Instruments The first is of mettall and containeth bells of all sorts Cimballs Sistra c. The second of stone They make an Instrument of Jasper like unto the Italian squadra excepting that the lowermost end is very large and they strike or play upon it as it hangeth up The third is of skins here come in our ordinary drums and those of the Moresco fashion or kettle drums which they make of severall fashions and some so big that they cannot be plaid upon unlesse they be hung up in frames of wood The fourth is of silke of which they make strings for instruments as here we make lute-strings of gutts For stringed instruments they have the vyoll almost like ours but it hath
are served they might learne how to serve them while living In a word they order every thing as it may conduce most to good government to concord peace and quietnesse in Familes and to the exercise of vertue The Second Sect is that of the Tausi proper also to China The Authour thereof was a Philosopher named Tausu of whom they feign that he was eight years in his Mothers belly He lived about the time of Confusio He hath many followers to this day who live together in communitie they do not marry they suffer the haire of their head and their beard to grwo very long in their habit they do not differ from others except in some things at the time when they officiate In stead of a Cap they weare a little Crown into which the knot only of their haiâ—e entreth They place their ultimate Happinesse in the Body in order to obtaine a quiet and easie life without labour and trouble This Sect acknowledgeth one Great God and other lesser one all corporeall They acknowledge Glorie and Hell the Glorie to be conjoyned to the body not only in the other life but also in this feighning that by meanes of certaine exercises and meditations one may come to make himselfe a child and young and others to become Xin Sien that is the fortunate ones of the earth obtaining by this meanes whatsoever they desire and to be able to transferre themselves from one place to another although never so distant speedily and easily and other such like fooleries They are skilfull in Musick and have good Instruments They are alwaies called to the Sacrifices and Funeralls and at those of the King and Mandarines they are ever assistant They Pretend to be South-Sayers and promise to procure raine and to drive away devils from places that are haunted But are able to do nothing and sometimes at such undertakings they are fouly routed by the devils in great droughts they promise raine and often prolong so much time in praying for it that at length the time of raine commeth In Pekim in the yeare 1622 there fell out a pleasant Accident although troublesome There happened a great drought prayers were made pennances and fasts were kept but all to no end At length certaine Tausi offered themselves to procure raine without faile and appointed a set day and houre the offer was accepted with great applause joy and good hope of the event then they in a great Piazza or market-place made a theater composed of little Tables which as they have many there of an equall height and breadth they did set one upon another beginning at bottom with a great many and raising it up by degrees higher still with fewer Tables till at length the Machine came to end in one only observing an handsome propoition and reasonable height On this last and highest stood the chiefe of them praying and supplicating and the rest went round about him doing the same like Baals Priests although they did not wound themselves for in that they had great regard as those who sought not bloud but water The people stood all round about expecting the event and the Ministers observing so great an Auditory which was almost infinite redoubled their prayers their whistlings and ceremonies When the day and houre appointed was come presently the Sky began to be overcast with very dark cloudes to the great joy of all and credit of their Ministers who did already promise themselves the happy accomplishment of their undertaking expecting every moment when the raine should fall When behold of a sudden there fel a furious storm of Haile the Stones whereof were as big as Eggs and some bigger which did ruine not only their fields but their Gardens and killed diverse Persons that could not in time recover some Shelter The Fathers have writ me from thence that they thought the end of the world was come so great was the confusion and noise of the Haile that fell The Prophets for having procured stones in stead of water were all rewarded with store of Bastinadoes The third Sect is of the Pagods from India from the part of Indostan which Sect they call Xaca from the Authour of it concerning whom they fable that he was conceived by his Mother Maia only upon the sight of a white Elephant which she saw in her sleep and for the more puritie she brought him forth at one of her flancks and then presently died being but nineteen yeares of age And that iconsidering the death of his Mother the cause whereof he was by his Birth he resolved to leave the world and to do pennance the which he did in a Mountain called the Snowy Mountaine where he had fower Masters with whom he studied twelve yeares so that by that time he was thirty yeares of age he was accomplished in the Science of the first principle He took the name of Xekia or Xaca he taught his doctrine for the space of 49 yeares he had many Scholars who after his death collected his papers and spread his doctrine through the greater part of Asia This Sect entred into China in the year of our Redemption 63. The Emperour Hanmim being commanded in a dreame as their books report to send for it in The Bonzi who were the preachers of that Sect were well received of him and at the beginning were very powerfull much esteemed and in so great number that they say they were three millions But at this day they are very few in respect of that number whether it were that they trusting in their multitude or in the Kings favour committed some notable disorder or what is more likely by reason of the misfortune that befell many Kings since their coming in and by this meanes they are so declined that unlesse it be in the offices and Acts of their divine worship there is but little account made of them among the Chinesses Their Priests weare their head and beards shaved their Cap is different but the rest of their Habit is the same with that of others They worship idols They hold a Reward and Punishment in the next Life They marry not They live in Convents foure or five hundred together or more They have a moderate Maintenance allowed them by the King notwithstanding every one is allowed to get what he can They begge mutter Prayers They sing They have severall offices and prayers against fire tempests misfortunes and especially for the dead in which Functions they use sacerdotall or priestly garments Their Caps are like ours and their sprinkling brushes without any difference at all They eat neyther flesh fish nor egges neyther doe they drink wine They live inclosed but within a very great circuite of wall with long streets in it in manner of a Towne where in every house there dwelletâ— three or foure that is one Master and the rest Scholars In it they have all manner of convenience That which the King giveth them is divided equally to every house They have also a
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
briefe account thereof sufficient at least for the instruction of those who desire to be informed concerning those parts forbearing to make a more large discourse at the present but reserving it for another time which may be when wee shall returne to that vast Country with new Labourers in so great a number that some of the greatest Authority and Experience among us may find leisure and convenience to undertake a perfect Relation In the mean time abbreviating as much as 't is possible this Information without rendring that knowledge confused which wee pretend to gratify the world with we shall divide the work into two parts The first containeth the materiall part of the Kingdome that is the Provinces Land and Fruits and in a manner the formal part too that is the people their learning and customes The second the Beginning of Christianity there the progresse thereof the persecutions suffered therein and finally the condition wherein I left it at my departure thence I hope this worke shall gain some esteem and credit if not for the greatnesse of the Appearance at least for the certainty of the reality of it having taken what I write from the infallible Testimony of mine eyes which though they may not be of the quickest sighted yet have had the advantage to reiterate very often their speculations And if he which vieweth for a long time although his sight be not of the best doth commonly see more then he who looketh in haste be his eyes never so good I who for the space of two and twenty years have had the opportunity to observe all Passages of China have certainly seen so much what I write and what others have written who have not seen them sowell that I must necessarily speak of them with more Certainty then they although with lesse Eloquence The Table of all the Chapters contained in the first part of the History of China Chap. 1. OF the Kingdome in Generall Fol. 1. Chap. 2. Of the Provinces in particular and first of those of the South fol. 8. Chap. 3. Of the Northern Provinces fol. 15. Chap. 4. Of the persons of the Chinesses of their nature wit and inclination fol. 22. Chap. 5. Of the manner of their habit fol. 29. Chap. 6. Of their Language and Letters fol 31. Chap. 7. Of their manner of study and admittance to examination fol. 35. Chap. 8 Of the manner of their Examinations and how their degrees are conferred fol. 40. Chap. 9. Of the degree of Doctour fol. 45. Chap. 10. Of the Bookes and Sciences of the Chinesses fol. 47. Chap. 11. Of their Sciences and liberall Arts in particular fol. 51. Chap. 12. Of the Courtesies and Civilities of the Chinesses fol. 58. Chap. 13. Of their Banquets fol. 65. Chap. 14. Of the Games which the Chinesses use fol. 68. Chap. 15 Of their Marriage fol. 69. Chap. 16. Of the Funerals and Sepultures of the Chinesses fol. 73. Chap. 17. Of the Funerall of the Queen Mother fol. 78. Chap. 18. Of the severall sects of Religion in China fol. 86. Chap. 19. Of their superstitions and sacrifices in China fol. 93. Chap. 20. Of the Militia and Arms of the Chinesses fol. 96. Chap. 21. Of the war which the Tartars made upon China fol. 100. Chap. 22. Of the Kings and Queens of China and of the Eunuchs fol. 106. Chap. 23. How the Kings of China are married fol. 119. Chap. 24. Of the Nobility of China fol. 121. Chap. 25. Of the Government of China and of the Officers fol. 124. Chap. 26. Of the Government of the thirteen Provinces fol 128. Chap. 27 Of the Badge of honour or Ensigns of the Mandarines fol. 132. Chap. 28. Of the Prisons Sentences and Punishments of the Chinesses fol. 135. Chap. 29. Of some particular things which doe facilitate and rectify the Govenment in China fol. 144. Chap. 30. Of the Moors Iews and other Nations which are in China fol. 151. Chap. 31. Of the Christian Religion planted many ages since in China and of a very ancient stone lately discovered there which is an admirable testimony thereof fol. 154. A Table of the contents of the Chapters in the second Part of the History of China Chap. 1. OF the first beginninge of the preaching of the Gospel in China fol. 166. Chap 2. Of the proceedings and Persecutions of the Fathers before they arrived at Nankim fol. 172. Cap. 3. Of what happened after till the Fathers entred into Pekim fol. 177. Chap. 4. The Fathers enter into Pekim and settle there fol. 183. Chap. 5. Of the proceedings and ruin of their House at Xaocheu fol. 187. Chap. 6. Of the progresse of the Christian Religion at the two Residencies at Nancham and Nankim and of the death of Father Matthaeus Riccius fol. 192. Chap. 7. Of the burying place which was bestowed upon us by the King and of the progresse of the Christian Religion untill the time of the persecution at Nankim fol. 197. Chap. 8. A fierce persecution is raised against the Christians in Nankim fol. 205. Chap. 9. The continuation of the Persecution and the Banishment of the Fathers out of China Fol. 214. Chap. 10. How things began to be calmed again after the persecution and of the foundation of severall Residencies fol. 220. Chap. 11. Of the second persecution at Namkim and of the martyrdome of a Christian named Andrew fol. 226. Chap. 12. How things began to be quiet and setled and how the Fathers were sent for to Court by order of the Mandarines fol. 232. Chap. 13. The life and death of Dr. Leo and the conclusion of this History fol. 239. After which follows the supplement to these present times wherein is contained the Chinesses most cruell warre with the Tartars by whom they are now conquered fol. 249. An Exact MAPP of CHINA being faithfully Copied from one brought from Peking by a Father Lately resideent in that Citty 1655 IC A King of China A China Man A China Woman THE FIRST PART Of the Temporall State of CHINA CHAP. 1. Of the Kingdom in Generall CHina in its extent is one great continued Continent without having any thing which devides it and taking it from the latitude of Haynam which is not farre distant from the Continent and lyeth in nineteen degrees it extends it self twenty foure degrees inclining towards the East and ending in fourty three degrees it comes to make a circuite so much the more spacious by how much the coasts thereof run along in various and unequall windings and so comes to be the chiefest kingdome of the world in greatnesse and almost equall to all Europe On the west side thereof are many small Islands but so neere together that they seem all to Compose but as it were one body All this Monarchy is divided into fifteen Provinces each of which is a spacious Kingdome and so they were all anciently each having a King of its own Of those nine which they call the Southern Provinces the greatest part of them are watered