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 elfs but to yield 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 like a Lightening they over-run all spoiling and burning all Towns and Cities and killing and destroying an immense company of Chineses in a most cruell manner The Tartars return with great Riches and 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 The Emperour Vanleâ— dies Taichangus succeeds and dyes 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 Theinkius Theinkius is chosen 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 loss he had received in the late service of China and finally to solicite and presse for further succours For it seems those of Corea Those of Corea more valiant than the Chineses as they are nearer to Japony so they participate more of that warlike Spirit and Fortitude than those of China doe Besides that he might more effectually divert the imminent danger of his Kingdoms ruin New preparations against the Tartars he leavied new Forces throughout all the Kingdom which he sent into the Country of Leaotung to hinder the irruption of the Tartars any further into the Country And for their better supply with necessary Provision he maintained a great Navy in the Haven of Thiencin to carry Corn and other necessaries for their maintenance This Port of Thiencin The Port of Thiencin very commodious is a Station to which an incredible number of ships resort both by Sea and River 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 The valiant Amazon of China 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 assumed 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 Kingdome 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 Honor and Title of a King from the Emperour of China after which Investiture his Subjects only obey him and pay Tribute But because they surpass all others in Valour and Courage therefore they are used by the Kings of China in warlick Affairs By occasion of this war the two noble Christian Doctors The first invention of the Christians to advance Christianity Paul and Michael found means to perswade the Emperour to demand of the Portugeses of Macao 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 publickly admitted a-again and many new Souldiers of Portugal came to help the Army But God did most abundantly recompence this favour done to Christianity For before the Portugese arrived his Army had cast the Tartars out of the Country of Leaotung by means of the Inhabitants of that Country who being much exasperated by the Tartarians cruelty The Tartars are cast out 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 began to recover Life and Strength and the Tartars seemed wholly restrained But though Fortune seemed to shew a smiling face for China The Tartars make war again yet as her custome is she stood not long constant and stable For the Tartarian King having dispatched his affairs in Tartary sent presently sixty thousand Horse to besiege Leaoyang again promising that himself in person would follow with greater Forces They beseige Leaoyang and take it And this Army took that strong City in the space of forty hours both parties fighting with such vigour and fierceness that thirty thousand of the Garison were killed and the Tartars lost about twenty thousand of theirs Nay the Chineses affirm that they had never woon the City had not the Governor been corrupted by great promises of reward to open them one of the Gates of the Town But be it as it will the Tartars woon the Town The Vice-Roy hanged himself for grief But the Kings Visitor judging it unworthy to bestow the Title of a King upon the Barbarian Constancy rewarded by the Enemy In admiration and reward of his Constancy and Fidelity obtained life and freedom but he knowing that according to the custom of China he was guilty of death because he had fought unluckily more cruel to himself than the barbarous Enemy hanged himself in his own Garters The Tartars having taken the City proclamed by Edict that they should kill none if they would cut their hair and use the Tartarians Habit. The Tartars Habits and Manners For the Tartars that I may say something of their Manners as my subject gives me occasion doe shave both the Head and Beard reserving only the Mustachoes which they extend to a great length and in the hinder part of their heads they leave a Tuff which being curiously woven and plated they let hang down carelesly below their shoulders they have a round and
both to Country King and the Emperour of China But this Counsel pleased the Tartar and therefore he sent a Vice-Roy with a potent Army The Tartars are brought into Corea to which the Coreans shewed the waies and guided them through all the passages who falling upon the Chineses Armie which suspecting nothing was divided and many stragling up and down the Countrie made a huge Carnage amongst them But when Maovenlungus percieved they were Tartars he presently made head and gathered a Body of an Armie together and vigorously opposed all those sharp assaults But yet at length he was forced to yield the Field and therefore leaving a Regiment or two to hold the Enemie in action whilst his Army retreated he fled to his Ships and to the Island which he had Fortified The Tartars were vexed and grieved both to see their victory so bloody and also that Maovenlungus whom they chiefly aimed at had escaped with most of his Army and therefore enraged with Anger they fell upon the Corean Traitors and killed every man which action the King of Tartary much condemned and then turning their wrath to the four Northern Provinces which border upon Tartary Corea wasted they wasted and destroyed them all in a moment In the mean time the King of Corea gathered an Army to resist the Tartars and Maovenlungus also having recruited his Forces came into Corea to revenge the received loss The victorious Tartars were come within seven Leagues of the principallest City of all Corea But finding the King to have taken the Straights and Passages of the Mountains which lead unto it they desperatly resolved to force their passage The Battel was hardly begun but Maovenlungus after a long march falls in upon their rear and the Tartars finding themselves encompassed before and behind nor any means to escape but by dint of Sword fought most desperatelie sustaining the shock of two Armies And such a Battel was fought as China never saw for it is strange to write yet very true of the three Armies none was victorious but all in a manner destroyed The Fight and slaughter of 3 Armies Of the Tartarian Armie fifty thousand were found wanting The Corean Armie lost seventy thousand and few or none escaped of the Chineses Armie For their Quarter being most commodious for the Tartars flight they there made their most vigorous Charges and so forced their way towards their own Countrie So as none of them all gained the field or could prosecute the course of a Victorie Yet the King of Corea made a shift to rallie so many together again as to take possession of those his Countries which the Tartarians by their flight had left desolate But the Tartars after all the losses ceased not to make frequent inrodes into the Country of Leaotung The Eastern part of Leoatung is under the Tartar and took all the Oriental part of it From thence they made incursions into the other part and carried away great Preys and Booties But they were alwaies so beaten and so defeated as they could never fix a constant habitation For by this time were arrived seven excellent Gunners from the Portugese quarters The Portugese send succour which both by themselves and by teaching the Chineses advanced infinitly the King of China his Affairs especially where that Christian Vice-Roy called Sun Ignatius Commander in chief of whose affairs we shall say somthing hereafter In this conjuncture of affairs the Emperour Zungchinius sent a new Commander called Yvenus into Leaotung A crafty Commander of the China Army with a new Armie and full power to conclude a Peace with the Tartars if they would admit it For the disorders of the times had caused so many needy persons Theevs and Cut-throats that the Emperour grew more anxious how to suppress this great domestick Enemie which seemed to aim at the Kingdoms ruin than he was of the Tartarian Forces This Yvenus was a crafty and subtill wit most eloquent both in speaking and writing who by politick discourses drawn from the nature of this war had wrought so much not only upon the Emperours mind but also upon all the Councill that they esteemed what he concluded as a Law to be observed Wherefore the Chineses put all their confidence in him nor had they been frustrated of their hopes had not this wicked man been more wedded to his own interest and love of Riches than to the publick good fidelitie to his Prince For first he received of the Tartars a vast Summe of gold which wrought so much upon him as that having invited to a Banquet that most Valorous and Faithfull Champion Maovenlungus Maovenlungus poisoned whom the Tartars only feared he there poisoned that great Commander After this he made a most ignominious and shamefull Peace with the Tartars condescending to all that those that fed him with Riches could desire But when the Emperour had perused the Treatie he presently found his Plenipotentiarian had sold him and therefore refused to ratifie or confirm the Articles What should Yvenus act in this exigent That he might force the Emperour to admit them he peswaded the Tartars in the year 1630. to enter China by another Country than that which was committed to his charge promising them for his part he would no way hinder their progresse by his Army The Tartars knew that his avarice had so potent an Ascendent over him as that they need to fear no hurt from him and upon that Confidence admitted of his Counsell Wherefore being secure from all assaults from any Enemie behind them they entered the Province of Peking and besieged the Kings Court The Kings Court besieged Insomuch that his Councel perswaded him to leave the Imperial City and retire to the Southern Provinces but he protested he would rather die than quit the Northern quarters and not only so but he forbid any to depart the Court or Town besieged In the mean time the Tartars make many fierce affaults and as often were valiantly beaten back with great loss and Carnage Yvenus was called to resist the Tartars for as yet his Traiterous Complots were not discovered And lest he should discover his Treason he comes with his Armie neer the very Walls which were of so vast an extent as both the Chinese and Tartars Armie might perfectly be discerned though betwixt them there was a great Intervall But though Yvenus was under the Emperours eye yet he acted little for his only aim was to return home laden with Riches he never desisted to perswade the Emperour to admit his conditions of Peace So that the Emperour finding him evidently to be a Traitor disclosing his intention to none of his Councell nor Governors sends to invite him to a privat Councel of war giving also order that he should be admitted into the Citie by the Walls lest if any Gate should be open the Tartar being so neer might press in upon them but indeed he ordered the business in this manner
lest he should bring his Armie into the City with him Yvenus therfore knowing he had many chief men about the Emperours person who were both his favourites and friends and that none of them gave him the least sign of any distast the Emperor might conceive against him he boldly and securely presented himself at Court and as soon as he appeared he was presently arrested and after some few questions the Emperour commanded him to be kil'd The perfidious General killed The Tartars hearing of his death before the China Armie had a new General assigned ransack all the Country round about and after they had made excursions to the next bordering Province of Xantung The Tartars forrage all the Country of Peking and depart richly laden with all manner of Spoiles they returned to their first residence in Leaotung And from these times till the year 1636. the event of their Warrs was very various but in general we observe that the Tartars could never fix a foot in China The King of Tartary dies another succeeds but they were presently beaten out again In this same year Thienzungus King of the Tartars died after whom succeeded his Son Zungteus father to him that now governs China of whom we now must begin to Treat This Prince before his Reign expressed much judgement in severall Occurrences Zungteus the new King of Tartary prudent milde surpassing all the Kings of Tartary in Humanity and obliging curtesie For when he was young he was sent by his Father into China where he lived secretly and learned the China's Manners Doctrine and Language and when he came to be Emperour of China he changed and far surpassed all the Examples of his Predecessors For having observed that their too hard and cruel usage of the Chineses had been the principal obstacle of their advancement to the end he might conquer that Empire he so much thirsted after as well by love as by Arms he curteously entertained and cherished all those of China which came unto him Mildeness and Gentleness to be used in Conquering Nations using all Prisoners with great sweetnes and invited them either to submit freely to his Government or take their course with full freedom The fame of his humanity was spred far and neer which induced many Commanders and chief Officers to fly unto him by whose means and help he became Emperour of that spacious and florishing Country For experience shews us that Love and Humanity doe work more upon mens hearts in conquering and conserving Kingdomes than Arms and cruelty of the Conquerors hath lost that which strength of Arms had happily subdued Wherefore when the Chineses came to understand that the King of Tartary did not only afford them a Sanctuary but a favourable Haven many great persons flying the Indignation of the King of China sheltered themselves under the Tartars protection For in respect of the China's Avarice and perfidiousness it 's a necessary but a most inhumane Maxim A barbarous Principle of the Chineses that those Officers perish who have managed the Kingdomes Affairs with less success For they easily are brought to believe that such unhappy events do not proceed so much from the frown of a scornfull Goddess called Fortune as it doth from the perfidy and negligence of the Commanders So as if any fought unhappily or if he lost the Country committed to his charge if any Sedition or Rebellion happened the Governors hardly ever escaped alive Seeing therefore they found so much Humanity in the Tartar and so much Inhumanity in the Emperor they rather chose to fly to the former By this occasion give me leave to relate what happened to that incomparable Commander renouned both for Fidelity and Fortitude called Ignatius Ignatius the chief Commander of the Christians unjustly killed This Heroick mind preferd his fidelitie to his Prince before his life before the Tartarian's protection yea even before the strength of his formidable Army and chose rather with his unparallel'd Fidelity to submit his head to a Block by an unjust sentence than to abandon his Country or once accuse the least default in his Sovereign's judgment Ignatius his fidelity though prevented by very unjust impressions He might perchance have swayed the Sovereign Scepter of China if he would have hearkened to his Souldiers but he rather chose to die gloriously than to be branded with the name of a Traitor in posterity This man therefore after he had gained several Victories against the Tartars and recovered many Cities from their possession so as he hoped shortly wholy to extirpate them out of China His Souldiers being long without pay seditiously plundred and pillaged a Town which had ever been faithfull to the K. Ignatius by several petitions and Remonstrances to the Emperour had declared his wants of mony and their want of Pay but because he fed not those venal souls that managed the business with mony and presents they alwaies suppressed his humble addresses for relief Besides this man being a very pious Christian he did nothing in his government Ignatius his Piety but what was conform to Reason and Justice which was the cause he incurred the hatred of all the antient Prefects who usually receiving Bribes from the contesting parties demanded favour of Ignatius for their Clients But it was in vain to intercede for any unless the justness of the cause did also ballance their Petitions And these men attributing this proceeding not to vertue but to his Pride thinking themselves undervalued by him dealt under-hand with the Prefects in the Court to stop the Armies pay that so they might destroy this innocent man Moreover he was envied the Commāders in the very Court because he came to this eminent dignitie by his own valour and industrie which they imagined was only to be given to Doctors and Ignatius was but a Batchelor as if the most learned must needs be also the most valorous In this conjuncture of affairs the Souldiers not contented with the seditious pillage seeing the most imminent danger hanging over their most esteemed and beloved Governour by reason of their folly they go about to perswade him to make himself King of that Country nay more to take the whole Empire to himself as a thing due to his Prowess and Merits promising their whole strength to effect the business and also to extirpate those men about the Emperour that aimed more to compass their malicious ends than to promote the general affairs of the Empire But Ignatius by pious admonitions staved them off from further violence made them obedient and quiet commanded all to stand faithfull to the Emperour of China and punished the chief of that fedition This Supreme act of fidelity deserved a better esteem and acceptance than that which was framed by the Emperour and his Court who slighting this his allegeance sent another Vice-Roy in his place and commanded him to appear in Court He then perceived they aimed at his life and the
Souldiers suspected the business and therefore mad with anger they all jointly rose in Arms for hm swearing they would live and die with him and that he should not present himselfe at Court. It is our duty say they to conserve thy life which hast been so carefull of ours and we have strength and courage enough to resist all the force of thy perfidious Enemies But Ignatius was deaf to al these allurements He chuses rather to die thatn either to reign or to serve the Tartars and studied by all means to sweeten their exulcerated minds alwaies inculcating to them to the true and loyall to their Sovereigns service chusing rather to water that ungratefull Soil of his native Country with the streams of his Blood than either to spill his Enemies blood by the force and pow'r of his Souldiers or retire to the Tartarian king which offered him so fair preferments But many of his Captains fell off to the Tartars following in this not his example but that of many others whom they saw eminently promoted amongst the Tartars Some of those that then fled from the Emperour are now chief Commanders under the Tartarian King in their China Empire some also have obtained the dignity of Princes or Riolets in several Countries for the reward of their Valour and faithfull service against China So efficacious is that wedge which is made of the same wood But although hitherto these Tartarian Warrs had caused great troubles and tempests in the China Empire yet all things now seemed calmed and pacified so as they seemed secure from any further danger for the Western part of Leaotung was strongly fortified and there was a great Army in the Island of Cu and the bordering quarters which hindered the Tartars of the Eastern part of the Countrie which they posessed from further passage But now the chiefest danger was from the Traitors and Theeves which were in the very Bowells of the Country The Theeves in China a chief occasion of its overthrow who finally destroyed it and gave it up in Prey to the Tartars I touched somthing of their Commotions before now we must treat a little more largely of their proceedings that the Reader may see how the Tartars came to subdue and conquer China The first Combination of these Rovers appeared in the remote Country of Suchuen Severall Theeves who having pillaged divers Cities and emboldened by prosperous success ventured to besiege the chief City of that Country call'd Cingtu which they had infallibly taken if that valiant Amazon whom I mentioned before had not come to relieve it with her Army but by her valour they were beaten off with great loss They are defeated but not vâ—â—quished and not being wholly extinguished they retired into the mouÌ„tains to recruit their Forces These were seconded by a like Race of people in the Province of Queicheu who took occasion of rising by reason of an unjust Sentence passed in a Sute betwixt two Grandees of that Country and one of these great persons being offended with the Governors These roving companions first kill'd all the Magistrates which had pronounced that unjust Sentence then they defeated the ViceRoy his Army yet afterwards he routed them again with a new Army but could not extinguish them Besides these Famin augments the Theevs the Famin increasing in the Northern quarters in the Countries of Xensi Xantung by reason of a great inundation of Locusts which devoured all there rise up by this occasion many loose felâ—owes which lived by Rapin. These men at first were few in number and small in strength and only preying in little places they presently fled to the Mountains but finding they got both Meat and Riches with little labour and less cost they quickly got Companions to reinforce them This Sedition being much augmented by the Emperour Zungchinius his notable avarice And the Emperour his avarice who so exhausted the people by Imposts and Taxes as if it had been a year of the golden Age. The Prefects of the Provinces not being able presently to repress the insolency of those people they daily increased in courage and strength Insomuch as in several Countries they had eight very considerable Armies They chose the strongest and valiantest men amongst them for their Commanders and these persons being grown rich and potent by preying deposed now the person of the Ringleader of Theeves The Commanders aspire to the Empire and aspired to no less than to the Empire of China And at first they fought one against another every one laying hold one what he could But at length things were brought to that pass that two of the Commanders being only left alive these two prevailed with the souldiers of those that were killed to follow their Ensignes and Fortune and they knowing well that if they were taken by the Emperors Officers they could not escape a most certain death easily resolved to shelter themselves under the Arms of these two victorious persons The names of the chief Felons The name of one of these chief Brigands was Licungzus the second was called Changhienchungus two notorious bold roguish fellows who lest they should destroy one anothers fortunes by their ambitious emulation they separated themselves far from one another resolving both to persue their prosperous fortunes Licungzus therefore possessed himself of the Northern parts of Xensi and Honan and the other tyrannised the Countries of Suchuen and Huquang But that we may not interrupt our discourse by delivering the Acts of both these together we will first treat of Licungzus his feats being it was he was the cause of the Tartars coming to the Empire which he himself might have possessed if his proceedings had been moderate and human and of the other we shall speak hereafter Therefore in the year 1641. these pilferers having got immense riches in the Province Xensi made an irruption in a vast body into that delicious sweet Provincs of Honan They vex several Provinces and went strait to the chief City called Caifung which they besieged There was in that place a very great and strong Garison who by the benefit of artillerie mouned upon hand-wheeling Chars forced them to quit the siege then they fell upon all the neighbouring Cities Plundring spoiling and burning all they could master Having horded up store of provision of Corn and augmented their Army by a company of Rascally Vagabonds and loytering fellows They besiege the noble City Caifung they returned again to besiege the Metropolitan City but despairing 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 lean 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 obstinately 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 too but it seems it surpassed the Famin of Hierusalem An unheard of Famin. a pound of Rice was worth a pound of Silver a pound of any old rotten skin was sold at ten Crowns dead mens flesh was sold publikely 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 pass over conceal yet more horrible things than I have related This City lies towards the South side of that vast precipitate River which the Chineses call Hoang because the Streams alwaies appear of a yellowish saffron colour 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 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 and easiest way to raise the siege without giving battail 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 Breackes too wide gave way to such an Ocean of water as it overrun the Walls of the Town which were very stately and high involving not only many of the Enemies in its ruin and destruction The City of Caifung is drowned but also 300000. men and the City it self perished in those floods of water So the antient City which heretofore had been honored 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 it was well known he might have saved himself but being there were many Christians perished he willingly chose to die with those he had gained The destruction of this City happened the ninth of Oct. 1642. about which time this famous Conductor of Theeves took the name of King The General of the Theeves takes the Title of a 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 He takes the Country of Xensi and wonn it wholy to his subjection When he came to Sigan which is the Metropolitan of Xensi he found some resistance from the Garrison but 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 Forrage for the Emperours Army And now thinking himself secure of the whole Empire he took the name of Emperour upon him Calls himself Emperour 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 reign that he might deliver the people from the Emperours Avarice and extirpate those wicked Governours that so much vexed the people and deliver them from all their perfidious Plots For he knew well that this Glorious Title would be very acceptable to them of China who believe 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 sweetness The Theeves good Government not permitting any Souldier to wrong or iujure 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 Curtesie 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 the City 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 The Prefects Discord was another cause of the ruin of China which was hatched in the Emperour Thienkius his time For that Emperour exalted an Eunuch called Gueio to such a height and power as he gave the absolute Power and soveraign Command into his hands and passed so far as allway to stile him by the name of Father This extravagant power caused much Envy Dissention and the banding one against another amongst the Governours Presidents Commanders and Counsellours 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 less 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 the Prince Zunchinius who now by the death of his Brother without issue was come to be Emperour of China This Emperour knew that the Eunuch had moved 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
King Lovangus his heart not able to bear such a desolation of the Citie of his people and Subjects as he foresaw King Loving as love to his Subjects gave such an example of his Humanity and Piety as Europ never saw for he mounted upon the City Walls and calling upon his Knees to the Tartarian Captains he begged the life of his Subjects Spare not me quoth he I will willingly be my Subjects victime and having denounced this unto them he presently went out to the Tartars Army where he was taken This Illustrious testimony of his love to his Subjects had not wanted a reward to Crown so Heroick an Action if it met with a generous Soul like that of Alexander or of Caesar VVhen they had the King Prisoner they commanded the Citizens to shut the Gates and keep the VVals least either their own or the Kings Souldiers should enter the City and presently they fell upon the Kings men whom they butchered in a most cruel manne but yet the water destroyed more then there Swords or Arrows for many cast themselves headlong into the great River of Cianthang which is a Liege brood and runs neer the City others leaping and overcharging the Boats in the River were presently sunck Many of the Kings Souldiers drowned oothers 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 pass this River having thus expelled or killed the Souldiery they returned Triumphant to the City Hangcheu is taken where they used neither force nor violence by which means this noble City was conserved whose beauty greatness and riches I hope to describe elsewhere not by hear-say but by what I saw the three years space I lived in it and what I found when lately I came from it into Europ This City of Hangcheu hath an Artificial Channel or Dick to pass by water to the Northern parts of China This Chanel is onely separated by the high part of the way like a Cause way 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 pass the River without resistance and found the fairest City in all China called Xaoking prone enough to submit to their victorious Arms. This City in bigness yields to many others but in cleaness and comeliness 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 fair 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 Province of Chekiang But when they commanded all by Proclamation to cut off their Hair then both Souldier and Citizen took up Arms and fought more desperately for their Hair of their Heads The Chineses defend their Hair than they did for King or Kingdom and beat the Tartars not only out of their City but repulst them to the River Cienthang nay forced them to pass 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 Arms 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 thereof 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 therefore of the Chinois had a breathing nay having gathered together more Forces they promised hemselves greater victories But a desire and emulation of ruling frustrated all their hopes For the Commanders and Presidents which fled the Province of Chekian into the Country of Fokien carried with them one of Taimingas Family called Thangus and this man they chose King in the Country of Fokien which confines with Chekiang This Prince pretended that the K. called Lu. should yield 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 then he was But King Lu pretended he was Proclamed by the Army before him and wanted not to set forth his victories over the Tartars By which two contentions the Tartars came to the Crown for these two Royalets would never yield to one another nor so unite their Armies as joyntly to repress the Tartars Since therefore this petty King Lu had onely eight Cities under his cōmand whose Contributions were not able to maintain the necessary pay of his Army he never durst venture to pass 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 pass in Boats because King Lu had many Ships and good store of Artillery which he had caused to come from Sea But the Tartars felicity and prosperous fortune overcame this difficulty for as it happened that year being dryer then ordinary this River towards the South where it runs betwixt high Mountains which break the ebbing and flowing of the Sea had lost much water and of depth and here the Tartars Horse found it passable and because the rudeness of those Mountains The Tartars pass the River and recover the City Xaoking 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 sayled to the Island called Cheuxan which lyes opposit to the City of Nimpus where he remains to this day safe and keeps still his Regal dignity which Island being heretofore only a retreit for Fishermen and some Clowns now is become a potent Kingdom by reason that many fly from China to this King Lu as to there sanctuary to conserve the liberty of their Hair The Island
of Cheuxan becomes a Kingdom In this Island they are now found threescore 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 hinderance to the course of their victories the Tartars divided their Army into three parts The first part marched towards Kiucheu by the Mountains the second went by the City Vencheu and the Sea shore The City of Kinhoa is taken and destroyed into the Province of Fokien and the third obstinately besieged the City of Kinhoa In this Siege the Tartars by reason of great Guns which continually played upon them and by the wise Conduct and courage of their noble Commander suffered many and great losses insomuch as he forced them to pitch their Camp further from the City But at length they also brought Artillery from the chief City by which they made so many breaches in the Walls as being in a manner dismantled they found entrance and burned and sacked it with all imaginable Hostility The Governour blew up himself and all his Family with a Barrel of Gunpowder in his own Pallace least he or his should fall into the Enemies hands The Province of Fokien is invironed with the bordering Countries of Quamgtung Kiansi and Chekiang from all which it is separated by a continual Chain of Mountains which are even in breadth of three days journey to pass over and withall so full of ragged and ruggy Clifts and obscure Vallys as they make the very Paths horrid dark and obscure at Noon day The Tartars take in Fok en very easily Insomuch as without any exaggeration they may well be paralelled either to the Grecian Straits of Thermopolis or to the Asian ruggy and strait passage of Taurus These places might have been easily defended if they had but placed a few Clowns to repel the Enemy or overthawrted the ways by any incumbrances but the very imagination of a Tartar was grown so terrible to them as they fled at the very sight of their Horses leaving therefore these Mountains wholy ungarnished the Tartars found a passage but so very painful and full of difficulties as they were forced to leave much of their Bagage behind them and lost many of their Horses in those fearful precipices but by this means they took the Province of Fokien with as much ease as it might have been defended for they hardly spent as much time in taking it as a man would do to walk the extent of it The King himself whom I named Lunguus as signifying a Warlike Dragon shewed himself a fearful Sheep flying away with a good Army of men if that word of good can be applyed to a numerous multitude that had no hearts King Lunguus slain but his flight served him for nothing for the Tartars following him with their swift and nimbâ—e Horses shot all this heard of silly Sheep to death with Arrows It is thought the King himself was involved in this Massacre for he never appeared nor was heard of afterwards Now because the whole Province submitted it self voluntarily unto him without any resistance it did not only suffer little from the Tartars but he may choose and select Souldiers out of it and having thus again recruited his Army he made another irruption into the Country of Quamgtung and its worth remarking that the other Tartarian Commander who when the Army was divided as I related before had order to subdue the Mediterranean Countries The Provinces of Quantung is taken this man with some felicity and expedition passing victorious through the Provinces of Huquang and Kiangsi entred also on one side of this Country of Quamgtung whilst the other came in by Fokien and because the Town of Nankiung resolved to fight it out they consumed it all by fire and sword So the poor Country of Quamtung oppressed by a double victorious Army was quickly over-run and subdued After the Glorious Trophies one of these victorious Armies enriched with all the rarites of China was called back to Peking but yet they left a Garrison in every City assigning in the name of the King of Tartars both Civil and Martial Officers for the Countries Government The happy success in taking the impregnable Province of Fokien is attributed by wise men to whose judgement I also submit to a more remote and hidden cause which I will briefly relate There was at this time a famous and renowned Pyrat called Chinchilungus this man was born in the Province of Fokien of which we are treating he first served the Porteguise in Macao then he served the Hollander in the Island called Formosa A famous Pyrate in China where he was known to all strangers by the name of Iquon After this he became a Pyrat but being of quick and nimble wit he grew from this small and slender fortune to such a height and power as he was held either Superiour or equal to the Emperour of China for he had the Trade of India in his hand and he dealt with the Portugise in Macao with the Spaniards in the Phillippins with the Hollanders in the Island Formosa and new Holland with the Japonians and with all the Kings and Princes of the Eastern parts in all manner of rich commodities He permitted none to transport the Wares of China but himself or his to whom he brought back the riches and the Silver of Europ and Indies for after he once rather extorted then obtained pardon of the King of China for his Pyracies he became so formidable as that he had no less than three thousand Ships of which he was Lord and Master Nor was he contented with this fortune but aspired privatly to no less than to the Empire But because he knew he never should be accepted of the prefects people as long as there was any of the Emperial Family of the Taiminges alive he hoped by the Tartars means to extinguish them wholy and after this was done then he resolved to display his Banners and Ensigns in so pious a cause as the driving out the common Enemy from the bowels of the Kingdom and no doubt but under this pretext they would all have followed helped and even adored him as their Saviour It was therefore evident that he had secret correspondence with the Tartars and that he favoured them for his own profit And that which made the business more suspicious was that at that time when the Tartars made their irruption into Fokien he was then declared Lord Marshal of the Kingdom and all the Generals Commanders and
of thirty thousand persons as my own friends writ unto me and not content with this they set fire on the Town and brought it all to ashes by which means the stately Church erected by the Christians for the service of God was also consumed by that devouring flame yet the Priests that served in that Church got out miraculously as Lot did out of Sodom which name was appropriated to this City by reason of that infamous vice This City being taken it was no hard matter to recover the Country for some fled to save themselves in the Mountains others ran to the Sea and so when this new Army had pacified all they were called back to Peking where it is not amiss to observe the policy which the Tartars use in the Government and ordering of their Army they are ever calling back some and sending out others in which proceeding they aim at two things first to keep the Countries in awe and subjection by seeing variety of Troops continually passing up and down and secondly to provide for the poorer sort of Souldiers for the wealthy Souldier is call'd back to recreate and ease labours and the poor Souldier seeing his Companion grown rich takes heart and courage to run the course upon hopes of the like good fortune Yet for all these preventions and cautions their Empire was not so established but by frequent rebellions it was often indangered and particularly by one Rebellion which now I will relate which shaked shrewdly the foundations of the new Empire The Kingdom of China is of so vast an extent How the Tartars dispose their Garrisons as it is a business of main importance to distribute judiciously the Armies and Garrisons Now because the Tartars alone cannot suffice to furnish both they are forced to use the help of the Chineses themselves although they have a special care never to leave or place either Commander or Souldier who is a Native of the same Country where they sojourn yet this care could not exempt them from several Treasons and Rebellions yet they distribute and order their Militia with great circumspection for the chief Commander or Governour resides in the Metropolitan City whom all inferiour Officers obey This man maintains alwaies a compleat Army which he commands to march when he hears of any risings Every City has also their own proper Governour with a competent number of Souldiers but those for the most part are Tartars and these are Chines But all this Political and well-established Government could not defend them from Traitors amongst themselves The first man that did revolt from them was one Kinus Governour of the Province of Kiangsi Kinus Gonour of a Province rebelleth This man was born in Leaotung and because it is a Country that borders upon Tartary the King commonly most confides in the Natives of that Province It happened I know not how that this Governour by reason of some corruptions and Avarice of the Visitor of the Country The hatred betwixt the two Prefects disturbs the Country of Kiansi had some difficulties with him which grew by little and little to open hatred and although they both dissembled their private malice as usually they do in China yet at length the flame broke out to the ruin of the Country for being the one was Governour of the Arms and the other of justice there was a necessity of oft meetings feastings also It happened once that whilst they were feasted with a sumptuous Banquet they were also intertained by a pleasant Comedy in which the Actors were attired with the habits of China which were more comely and fairer than those which the Tartars use upon which occasion Kinus turning himself to the Visitor said Is not this habit better graver than ours This innocent speech was interpreted by his corrival Judge as if he had contemned the Edict about changing of Habits and expressed too much love to the Chines Garments before those of the Tartars and of this he sent and Express to advertise the Emperour But the Governour Kinus had a corrupted Secretary which served the Lord Chief Justice who gave him intelligence of all that passed in word or deed in his Masters House And as soon as he had notice that this Letter was sent to the Court he presently dispatched those who intercepted the Packet which the Governour having read went presently armed to the Judges Palace whom he suddainly killed Then presently he with the whole Province revolted from the Tartars and with the great applause of all the Chineses he submitted himself to Jugley the new elected Emperour One onely City called Cancheu which was governed by an incorrupted Tartar refused to submit which was the whole and onely cause that the Tartars did recover the two Provinces Kiansi and Quamtung both which Provinces revolted at the same time with their Commanders and both submitted also to the new elected Emperour Many places revolt from the Tartar Lihusus was Governour of Quamtung at that time who resolved to joyn his Forces with Kinus and so to cast the Tartars out of the Empire which it is believed they might have affected if the Governour of Cancheu which is the Key and entrance into four Provinces had not cunningly undermined all their designs and intentions But this man hearing that Lihuzus had revolted and marched to joyn his Army with Kinus dispatched to him this deceitful Letter The deceipt of the Governour of Cancheu I have not hitherto submitted to Kinus because I knew his forces were not equal nor able to resist the Tartars But seeing thou my most renowned and valiant Captain begins also to march against them my hopes are at an end I am thine and imbrace thy cause whensoever thou shalt come or send I will render my City to thee or thine But in the mean time he sent to all the Governours in Fokien to send him secretly all the possible succour they could raise altogether Lihuzus having received the Letter marched towards him as cheerfully and as confidently But though hee found the Gates of the City open yet he was furiously repelled by the Tartarians opposition which unexpected accident so astonished his Souldiers as many of them perished and amongst the rest it is thought himself was killed for he was never heard of after This reverse and cross fortune did much disturb the progress of the Emperour Jungley's affairs though Kinus in the mean time had many singular victories over the Tartars for when the chief Governour of all the Western parts of China who had placed his chief Seat in Nankuing had gathered great Forces to repress this aspiring mind yet he was several times routed and overthrown by him and if Kinus had pursued the course of his victories he might have come to the very Walls of Nankuing but he was sollicitous of the City of Cancheu which obliged him to a retreit for neither was it safe for him to leave an enemy behind him nor could he
receive victuals from the Emperour Jungley but by Cancheu which is the natural descent of the River and therefore when he heard of Lihuzu's defeat he presently besieged that City with his whole Army But whilst he was besieging this City their came unfortunately a new Army of Tartars from the Emperial City of Peking which had order to recover this Province of Kiangsi and therefore Kinus was forced to raise his Siege to oppose their entrance by the Northern parts of the Country And at first having a vast Army and used to the Tartarian warfare he fought both valiantly and happily but not being able to sustain any longer their redoubled violent assaults he was forced to retire for his security to the Nanchang Kinus besieged by the Tartars the chief City of that Country which City the Tartars durst not venture to take by force but resolved to reduce it by a long Siege for which end they gathered together a Company of Country Clowns to make a large and spacious Trench round about the City to the River and there they placed Ships so as no Provision could possibly enter This City of Nanchang is great and extremely full of inhabitants besides the multitude of Souldiers which defended it at that time so as although Kinus had made great Provision for a Siege yet after some months he came to great want and penury and yet he held it out though many dyed expecting still some succours from the Emperour Jungley which could not be sent because the Souldiers of Quamgtung could never subdue the City of Chancheu by which his succour was to pass wherefore Kinus being brought to great extremity expressed his mind to his Souldiers in these words There is no further hope my faithful Companions but in our own valour and strength we must force our way through the Tartarian Army by dint of Sword be couragious and follow my example And having ordered all affairs Kinus breaks out of the City he suddainly made a Sally out of the Town upon their Trenches where though he found a vigorous opposition yet with great difficulty he passed and forced their Trenches by which means he saved himself and his Army having killed many Tartars for it is constantly reported that Kinus with his Army lives in the Mountains expecting there some good occasion to renew the War The City of Nanchang is destroyed He being thus escaped the Tartars Pillaged the City and put all the Citizens to the sword for it is the Tartars custom to spare all Cities which submit to them and to those which have made resistance before they were taken they are more troublesome but they never spare or pardon those Cities which revolt after they have once been taken In this Slaughter they killed the two Priests which assisted the Christians and their antient and fair Church was burned in the City After this the Tartars easily recovered the whole Country and having appeased all and left new Garrisons in all places the Army returned victorious to the Royal City of Peking In the mean time this Court prepared new Armies to reduce Quamgtung with the other Provinces which acknowledged Jungley for the Emperour of China for the Tutor to the young King of Tartary finding the defections and rebellions in the Southern parts to be very frequent resolved to give those Quarters over to some Tributary Royolets Three Kings created with as many Armies against Jungley the Emperour of China the better to contain those Countries in their duties wherefore in the year MDCXLIX he sent three Armies consisting partly of Tartars and partly of Chineses under three Tributary Princes to govern these Provinces with absolute power and Dominion one of these was King of Fokien another of Quamgtung and the third of the Province of Quangsi but with this condition that first of all they should joyn their Forces to recover the Country of Quamgtung and drive away the Emperour Jungley But we shall say more of this hereafter now having seen the Rebellions of the South let us look a little back on the Rebellions in the North against the Tartars also In these Northern parts the Chineses shewed their desire of Liberty as much as they had done in the South where the Commanders though overthrown yet not taken retired into the abrupt and precipitious Mountains where they held Counsel how they might shake off the Tartars Dominion three of these heads inhabited the thickest and highest places of that mountanous Country the chiefest of which was called Hous this man being strong in men invited the rest to joyn with him to deliver his Country from this miserable thraldome one of them consented the other could not come but sent him two thousand men to assist him Hous riseth against the Tartars so as Hous marched out with five and twenty thousand men which was no contemptible Army if they had been as couragious as numerous He put out a Proclamation in which he challenged the Tartars and threatned them all extremities and to the Chineses he promised all liberty and freedom and upon these hopes many Towns and Cities admitted him very willingly Sigan the Metropolitan of the Country was the only place able to resist him having in its Walls three thousand Tartars and two thousand selected men of China who served the Tartar The Governour of this Town hearing of Hous his motion gathered all things necessary for a long Siege till a new supply of Tartarian Forces could be sent him But when he heard that all the Towns and Cities in the Country did voluntarily submit themselves to Hous The barbarous resolution of a Tartarian Governour to prevent the like effect in his own City he resolved to murder all the Citizens most barbarously nor would he ever be removed from this unhumane sentence till the Vice-Roy commanding and perswading and the Citizens promising all faithful service at length he changed this Tyrannical Counsel But he commanded under pain of death that whereas hitherto the Chineses who loved so much their Hair that they only cut a little of it away about their Temples should hereafter shave it off wholy and totally that so he might distinguish the Citizens from any others if perchance they entred he ordained besides that if any spoke more than two together they should all be presently killed he forbad all men to walk upon the Walls or to walk in the Streets by night or to keep a Fire or Candle in his House by night and finally disarmed all declaring it death to infringe any of these orders These things being thus ordered The chief City called Sigan is besieged he sent out some Scouts to discover the enemies strength who were partly killed and partly came flying back to the City but this Tartarian Governour as well to make an oftentation of his strength as of his security commanded the City Gates to be lest open nor would he permit the Draw Bridge to be raised or pulled up to
from any but from the young installd Emperour Xunchius To which Constancy the King Kuintus Uncle to the Emperour prudently yielded lest he should exasperate the minds of many and raise greater troubles in the Empire than would advance his Family But I cannot doubt but the death of Amavangus must needs trouble the Tartarian Empire and bring all their affairs into great disturbance for they will hardly find a Man so beloved feared and expert in all Military Discipline and Government as he in effect shewed himself to be but time will teach us what will become of all for since his death we have no certainty of any relation now let us turn the threed of our discourse as I promised here above and consider the fortune and success of the other Great Brigand called Changhienchungus to let the Reader understand how the Tartars did invade not onely the Mediterranean and Oriental parts but also the Occidental Quarters of that vast Kingdom But before I begin to speak of this monster of nature Changhienchungus a cruel Tyrant I must ingenuously confess I am both ashamed and also touched with a kind of horrour to declare his villanies both in respect they seem to exceed all belief and therefore I may perchance be held to write Fables as also it is not handsome to make reflections on such Subjects yet I may sincerely protest that I have in my hands a long relation of all his Acts written by two Religious persons who were then in the Province of Suchuen to exercise their Functions which Country was the Theater of all his Brutalities which I shall relate and because I judge these two persons to be of an incorrupted a Faith I judge therefore that a mortal Man might arrive to this pitch of wickedness and inhuman Cruelty I therefore gathered out of that relation what I here relate which is nothing else but a vast Mass of such abhominable Cruelty as I doubt not even the most mildest Reader will take the Authour to be no Man but some horrid wild Beast or rather if no more execrable name occurs some Devill transvested in our humane Nature This monster like a wild Bear entred into divers Provinces filling all with Rapin Death Fire and Sword with all other imaginable miseries for he had a mind to destroy all that so he might have no enemies or leave any alive that might revolt from him but onely content himself with his own Souldiers and often times he spared not these But the Province of Suchuen where he usurped the Title of a King was the chief Theater of his barbarous Cruelty for after he had afflicted and vexed the Provinces of Huquang and Honan and part of that of Nanking and Kiangsi he entred the Province of Suchuen in the year MDCXLIV and having taken the principal City called Chingtu in the heat of his fury he killed a King of the Tamingian race which here had established his Court as he hath done also to seveâ— other Grandees of the same Family He kils divers Princes These were the Preludes of the Tragical Acts whose Scenses I go about briefly to describe that so Europe may see what a horrid and execrable thing an unbridled and armed cruelty appears to be when it furiously rageth in the darkness of Infidelity This Brigand had certain violent and suddain buttads of furious cruelty and maxims drawn from the very bowels of vengeance it self for if he were never so little offended by another or suspected another to be offended with him he presently commanded such to be massacred and having nothing in his mouth but murder and death he often for one single Mans fault destroy'd all the Family respecting neither Children For one offending he puts to death nor Women with Child nay many times he cut off the whole Street where the offender dwelled involving in the Slaughter as well the innocents as nocents It happened once he sent a Man Post into the Country of Xensi who being glad he was got out of the Tyrants hands would not return to revenge this imaginary injury he destroyed all the Quarter of the City in which he dwelt and thought he much bridled his fierceness that he did not wholy extinguish all the City To this I adde another unhumane Act about his Hangman whom it seems he loved above the rest because he was Crueller than the rest when this Man was dead of his Disease he caused the Physician who had given him Physick to be killed and not content with this he Sacrifised one hundred more of that Profession to the Ghost of his deceased Officer He was affable and sweet towards his Souldiers he played banquetted and feasted with them conversing familiarly with them and when they had performed any Military Action with honour and valour he gave them precious gifts of Silks and moneys but yet many times he commanded some of them to be cruelly put to death before him especially such as were of the Province of Suchuen where he reigned whom he intirely hated them because he thought they did not rejoyce in his Royal dignity Insomuch as he hardly ever did any publick Action His hatred to the people of Suchuen which though it begun like a Comedy yet had not in fine the sad Catastrophie of a Tragedy for if walking out he did but espie a Souldier ill clad or whose manner of Gate or walking was not so vigorous or Masculine as he desired he presently commanded him to be killed He once gave a Souldier a piece of Silk who complained to his fellows of the pooreness of the piece and being over-heard by a spye of which he had a great number who presently acquainted him with what was said he presently commanded him He cuts off a Legion for one Mans fault and this whole Legion which were of two thousand Men to be all Massacred He had in his Royal City some six hundred Prefects or Judges He kils many City Officers and men belonging to the Law and such as managed the principal Offices and in three years space there was hardly twenty left having put all the rest to several deaths for very slight causes He caused a Sergeant Major which the Chineses call Pingpu to be flead alive for having granted leave to a China Philosopher without special order to retire a little to his Country House And whereas he had five hundred Eunuchs taken from the Princes of the Tamingean Family And he killed also the Eunuchs after he had put their Lords to death he commanded all these to be cruelly put to death onely because one of them had presumed to stile him not by the Title of a King but by the bare name of the Theef Changhienchungus as if he then were no Theef Nor did he spare the Heathenish Priests who sacrifised to their Idols These sort of men before he came into this Country having feigned many crimes against the Priests which Preached the Faith of Christ had raised a bitter
one time sent as a present from the Occidental Tartars to the King of China Which boundless power of the Tartars The Tartars subdue the rest of China as it cannot be contained within any limits so also it broke out into the Province of Quamtung which they wholy subdued and out of that like an impetuous Torrent they ran into the Province of Quangsi which they likewise conquered to their Empire So as the King of China called Jungley with his chief favourit the Eunuch called Pang Achileus who professeth Christianity were feign to fly to the confines of Tunking being in a manner excluded the whole Empire In so much as a friend of mine writes out of the Province of Fokien that the King Jungley fearing to fall into the Tartars hands was feign to leave the Land and fly to Sea But upon what Coast that unmerciful Element may have cast him we know not for we hear no news of our Father Andrew Xauerius Koffler who ever followed the Court of King Jungley having had the happiness to have Baptized his Queen his Son and his Mother with many others of that distracted Court. In the mean time whilst one Cang a Royolet amongst the Tartars subdued the Province of Quangsi the Governour of the Country whom they call Colaus fell into the Enemies hands and the Tartars hoping by rewards and promises of dignities to soften the mind of this so gallant a Man The great fidelity of the Governour to his King and so eminent a Philsopher abstained three days from any cruelty or ill usage But he scorned to prefer his life before his alleageance and fidelity to his King and therefore lost his head But yet this generous Action was admired and honoured by those brutish Souls who presently erected a magnificent Tomb in memory of so honourable an Act for although the Tartars sollicit the Chineses to revolt from their Prince yet they honour and praise such as shew themselves constant to him And this memorial I owe unto his memory well for his singular friendship he was pleased to contract with me as also to his eminent vertues of which I my self and the whole Church of Christians in China were both Spectators and Admirers for the space of twenty years And that his name may not perish nor his Country he was Born in the Province of Nanquin in the City Changcho being called Kiu Thomas a name worthy of eternal memory in the Temple of vertue During the saccage of these Provinces news arrives from the Country of Suchuen that the notorious Brigand called Changhienchungus famous for his infamous cruelty and abhominable villanies See fol. 197. was broke out again and wasted all that Province with severall tempests of War for though he seemed to be quite vanquished in the last Battails yet he appeared again to trouble and vex the Empire with new Garboyls and further Designs of War The Province of Fokien also began to grone under the same miserable condition of VVar for the Reverend Father Peter Canevari Native of Genua writes out of the City Changcheu which was besieged the 30. of March 1652. that Quesingus having made a descent from his Ships into that Province had overrun the whole Country taken some Cities and Towns and carried on the War with great terrour to the Inhabitants Insomuch as the Tartarian Commanders kept themselves and their Army in their Forts and other places of strength not daring to appear in the field to oppose them but yet he sayd they expected new Forces and Succours from Peking by which they doubt not but quickly to subdue him This Quesingus who now vexeth this Province of Fokien Quesingus the Pyrat is Son to the famous Pyrate Iquon or Chinchilungo whom the Tartars imprisoned by a slight as I recounted to you in my former History And to let you know what I heard from some passengers of China who in the month of January 1653. were cast in a Ship of China upon the Coasts of an Island called new Holland whither I had been brought before by their Barks and Souldiers as their Prisoner These Men related that a great Army of Tartars was arrived to subdue Quesingus whose Commander thought it fit to joyn art to his great Force and therefore he commanded a handfull of Men to charge the Tartarian Army and presently by feigning flights to retire to more advantagious and surer places But in the mean time he had placed a number of Horse in a deep valley behind a Mountain towards which Quarters the fugitive Troops retired This flight gave courage to the Tartars and the desire of victory made them venture so far from the River Chang where their Ships lay at Anchor as they found themselves environed by the Tartars Army This desperate condition which excluded the Chineses from returning to their Ships caused a very sad and bloody Battail in which there perished above 8000 of the Chineses Army Quesingus defeated whilst Quesingus a spectator of this sad accident from the Mast of his Ships and as they relate was heard to say that he would once more try his fortune against the Tartars but if she proved again adverse unto him he then would submit and shave his Hair like a Tartar Having briefly related the State of the Temporality in this Kingdom it remains I should touch a little of the State of Christianity since these great revolutions In which subject I can onely say that being at Brusels this last June in the year 1654. I received Letters from China in which they gave me notice that the Father Jesuits were very favourably treated by the Tartars yea better than before for they permitted free exercise of the Christian Catholick Religion through an their Kingdoms granting them leave not onely to enjoy their antient Churches but did also liberally contribute to build new ones So by the goodness of God that which endamaged others proved gain to them But I reserve all particulars to a larger relation in a greater volumn which shall continue Trigautius his History of the missions dispatched into China and considering he concludes that History in the year 1610. it shall be my endeavour to produce the rest of those memorable Actions to these our present times FINIS
low Cap which is alwaies garnished round with some pretious skin three fingers broad of Castor or Zibellin and serveth to defend their Temples Ears and Foreheads from colds and other Tempests That which appears above the skin being covered over either with curious red silke or else with black and purple horse-hair which they die and dress most curiously so as their appurtenances being handsomely joyned together makes the capp both commodious and handsom Their Garments are long Robes falling down to the very foot but their sleeves are not so wide and large as the Chineses use but rather such as are used in Polony Hungary only with this difference that they fashion the extremity of the Sleeve ever like a Horse his Hoof. At their Girdle there hangs on either side two Handkerchiefes to wipe their face and hands besides there hangs a Knife for all necessary uses with two Purses in which they carry Tobacco or such like Commodities On their Left side they hang their Scymiters but so as the point goes before and the handle behind and therefore when they fight they draw it out with the right hand behind them without holding the Scabbard with the other They seldome were Shoes and use no Spurrs to their Boots which they make either of Silk or of Horse-skin very neatly drest but they often use fair Pattins which they make three Fingers high In riding they use Stirrups but their Saddles are both lower and broader than ours Their faces are comely and commonly broad as those of China also have their colour is white but their Nose is not so flat nor their eyes so little as the Chineses are They speak little and ride pensively In the rest of their manners they resemble our Tartars of Europe though they be nothing so barbarous They rejoice to see Strangers They no way like the grimness and soureness of the Chines gravity and therefore in their first aboads they appear more human Having thus briefly described their Manners we resume our former discourse and return to the victorious Tartars in the City they had takens In which finding many rich and wealthy Merchants of other Provinces they published a Licence that they might depart with their Goods and withall commanded them speedily to voyd the City Who presently obeying the Order carried away all their Goods and Riches The Tartars perfidiousnes little suspecting the perfideous treachery of the Tartars For they had not gone three miles from the Town but being set upon by the Tartars they were plundred of their Goods and lost all their lives which being done they returned into the fearfull City laden with Riches the Citizens trembling lest they might happily experience the like perfidiousnes But the Tartar considering at how dear a rate he had bought the mastering of that City and fearing also to find the like provision and preparation in other Cities they durst not make any further attempt for they knew well that the Emperour had not only fortified all the antient places but erected also new munititions in the straights of many hard and rude passages And amongst all other strong holds that of Xanghai situated in the Island of Cu was most eminent containing a vast number of men in the Garrison to resist the further progresse of the Tartarian Forces But that which most of all repressed the Tartars was the great valour of the incomparable Commander Maovenlungus who having with his great Fleet taken an Island neer Corea in the mouth of the River Yalo The valiantest Commander of China vexed much their Army in the Rear and was victorious in several Skirmishes against them so that the Tartars bent all their care and thoughts against this their Enemy This renowned person was born in the Province of Evangtung where being near the Portugese of Macao he had much perfected himself in the art of war and he brought with him many great peices of Artillerie which he had recovered from the Shipwrack of a Holland Ship upon the Coasts of that Territorie And because the Emperour of China had declared the City of Ninguyven to be the chief in place of Leaoyang where also he had placed a new Vice-Roy and his Royal Visitor therefore Maovenlungus placed the best part of his Artillarie upon the Walls of this City The Tartars therefore acted nothing till the year 16â—5 and because they resolved to besiege the new Metropolitan City of Ninguyven they first resolved to trie Maovenlungus his fidelitie The faithfulnes of the Commanders in China offering him half of the Empire of China if he would help them to gain it But that noble Soul of his proved as faithfull as valiant by rejecting those Demands with indignation and came presently with his Forces to succour the City Ninguyven which they besieged by which means The overthrow of the Tartars the Tartars having lost ten thousand men were put to the flight and among the rest the King of Tartary's own Sonn was killed Wherefore being furious with anger they passed the frozen Sea and invaded the Island Thaoyven where they killed ten thousand that kept Garrisons there together with all the Inhabitants and by this one Act Their Cruelty having revenged their former discomfiture they returned into Tartary not with a resolution to sit still but with an intention to return with greater Forces By which restraint all things remained quiet till the year 1627. in which the Emperour Thienkius dyed in the flow'r of his age and with him the whole Empire of China seemed to fall to ruin and destruction The Kings of China and Tartary both died and in the same year the King of the Tartars who had cruelly murdered many men himself augmented the number of the dead After Thinkius in the Empire of China succeeded that unhappy Emperour Zungchinius Zungchininius chosen Emperour of China brother to the former of whom more hereafter And after Thienmingus King of Tartary succeeded Thienzungus his Son Thienzungus more milde than his Predecessors who changed the manner of his Fathers Government and by good Counsel began to govern the Chineses in a curteous and sweet manner but though he lived not long yet he served for a good example for his Sonn to Conquer China more by Civilitie and Humanitie than by force of Arms. In this year great Maovenlungus Soldiers being insolent by want of action The Soldiers Insolencies exasperat the Country of Corea grew very troublesom and offensive by their Rapines and Disorders to the Coreans who were friends Allies and particularly they much exasperated the Province of Hienkin insomuch that some of the Inhabitants of that place moved with indignation of several passages secretly treated with the Tartarian King to invade the Chineses Army in the habit and attire of the Inhabitants of Corea from whom they could expect no Treason being leaguerd with them in friendship and amitie promising moreover their best assistance to effect this mischief to him that was a Traitour