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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52346	An embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham, Emperor of China deliver'd by their excellencies, Peter de Goyer and Jacob de Keyzer, at his imperial city of Peking : wherein the cities, towns, villages, ports, rivers, &c. in their passages from Canton to Peking are ingeniously describ'd / by Mr. John Nieuhoff ... ; also an epistle of Father John Adams their antagonist, concerning the whole negotiation ; with an appendix of several remarks taken out of Father Athanasius Kircher ; English'd, and set forth with their several sculptures, by John Ogilby Esq. ...; Gezantschap der Neerlandtsche Oost-Indische Compagnie aan den grooten Tartarischen Cham, den tegenwoordigen keizer van China. English	Nieuhof, Johannes, 1618-1672.; Goyer, Pieter de.; Keizer, Jacob de.; Kircher, Athanasius, 1602-1680. China monumentis. Selections. English.; Ogilby, John, 1600-1676.; Schall von Bell, Johann Adam, 1592?-1666.; Nederlandsche Oost-Indische Compagnie.	1673 (1673)	Wing N1153; ESTC R3880	438,428	416

learn'd from an Astrologer that in time it would become rebellious unto his Empire This City being built four-square comprehendeth in circuit twenty four Miles the side of every Square or Quadrate containing six Miles It hath Walls whited over which are twenty Paces high ten in breadth but in thickness become narrower as they ascend Every Quadrature of these Walls hath three principal Gates there being twelve in all which have each a magnificent Palace built near unto them In the corners also of the Wall there are noble Towers where the Arms and Ammunition of the City are stor'd and kept There are Streets and Passages straight through the City so that there is a free Prospect from one Gate unto another most beautiful Houses being Erected on either side A little farther he saith That without the City of Cambalu there are twelve great Suburbs adjoyning unto each of the twelve Gates in which Merchants and Strangers are continually found All which are so agreeable unto the Princely City of Pequin that there is hardly any difference as Martinius relateth in Page 29. of his Atlas also the Names of the City Tadinfu Cacanfu Quelinfu Cingianfu Sianfu which also is now call'd Siganfu situate not far from the Saffron River which was taken by the Great Cham after three years Siege by the help of battering Engines as yet unknown in China which he caus'd Christian Arrizans to make This hapned Anno 1268. as Marcus Paulus Venetus who with his Father Nicolas and his Uncle that then were resident with the Emperor relateth See Marcus Paulus Venetus in his second Book Chap. 58. For Fu in the Chinesian Language signifieth nothing else but A great City and also Ceu added unto other words or Names denoteth A small or indifferent City which words are proper and known unto no other Region but only that of China Yet nothing so clearly demonstrateth China to be taken for Cathay as the Astronomical Botanical Monuments of the Persians which the Learned Iacobus Golius in his Appendix adjoin'd unto the Atlas Sinicus hath made apparent unto us from the Astronomical Tables of Nasirodim a Persian Mathematician famous throughout the whole East where you may plainly see the Cathaian Names of the twelve Hours into which the natural Day is divided amongst the Chineses or Cathaians so correspondent unto the Chinesian that they differ in nothing which is also testifi'd by as many of the Fathers of our Society as have return'd from China to Rome But that it may be more evident I shall here set down the Names The Names of the Hours into which the Natural Day is divided amongst the Chineses or Cathaians 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Cu Cheu Yin Mao Xin Su V Vi Xin Yien Sio Hai. If any one compare the Cycle of sixty Years which as Nasirodim saith the Cathaians use in the Calculation or Account of their Days Weeks and Solary Years with the Chinesian Account he shall find the mode or form of the Computation and the Names by which they call it to be wholly the same and the like we affirm concerning the Cathaian Year which they divide as also the Zodiack into twenty four Parts beginning their Year from the 15 th Degree of Aquarius But concerning this see the above-mention'd Golius in the place cited before who alledgeth Uleg Beg a Persian Astronomer for a Witness from whose Astronomical Tables he sheweth evidently whatsoever hath hitherto been deliver'd from the Harmony or Agreement of the Cathaian Calculations or which is the same that of the Chineses And I also find in the Arabian Physicians the Musk that is found in China often call'd The Musk of Cathay and also that Drink which is made of a certain Herb proper to Cathay is for the most part term'd Cha of Cathay And the Mogors which are originally Tartars and had their Descent from the Line or Stock of Cingis-Can and the other succeding potent Emperors them I say I find to be so call'd from their over-running of the Empire of China by their Historians the Chinesian-Mogulos But what he writeth concerning Quinsai a City of a wonderful and almost incredible magnitude is all found to be true at this day concerning the Metropolitan City Hancheu of which Father Martinius the Author of the excellent Atlas Sinicus thus discourseth Folio 109. That the European Cosmographers may no longer erre in making enquiry after and ridiculously delineating of Quinsai mention'd by Marcus Paulus I shall here give the very exact Portaicture of the same the Shadow of which did not appear unto the Author of the Archontologia Cosmica and if the Divine Majesty be propitious unto my Design I shall peradventure in time send over the Theatre of the Cities of China Printed by the Chineses themseves not known or seen as I suppose hitherto in Europe But to return to the Matter in hand I prove first by most invincible Arguments that this is the same City of Quinsai mention'd by Paulus Venetus for this is that City which is distant the space of five days travel from Singui that is Su Chou which holdeth good if we speak of the Progress or March of the Army in which it is manifest that MarcuS Paulus Venetus was otherwise it is scarce four days Iourney This is that City in which in his time was the Court or Imperial City of China which the Chineses in the elegant Tongue of their Learned Men term Kingsu but in the common Speech of the vulgar sort of Men who tie not up themselves unto that exactness of Phrase Kingsai whence the term of Quinsai in Venetus had its original You must here note moreover that Kingsu is a Name of Dignity common unto Regal Cities and not proper and singular unto one alone for its genuine and true signification is Regal although oftentimes the same City hath otherwise a proper Name as this City is call'd Hancheu which under the Empire of the Family of Sunga was call'd Lingan because the tenth Emperor of this Family nam'd Coacungus Kin flying from the Tartars there fix'd his Court and therefore in the time of Venetus it was call'd Kingsu whatever others think to the contrary This hapned Anno 1135. And also in the same City the Family of Sunga held the Empire until the Western Tartars under the Government of the Great Han erected the Kin Tartars or those of the East out of Cathay that is out of the Northern Provinces and so then they became vanquish'd and a little after they advanc'd their victorious Armies into the Kingdom of Mangin having begun a seizure of those Southern Provinces But to come more near to the Business This is that City which hath such a vast number of high Bridges both within its Walls and without in its Suburbs for there are almost ten thousand as Venetus reckoneth them if you account the Triumphal Arches amongst the Bridges which by reason of their similitude he might esteem for such by the

appearance unto all The Tartars formerly call'd it The Desart Belgian others sometime Samo the Chineses Kalmack others Caracathay that is Black Cathay where you shall find no other Animals but wild Bulls of a mighty bigness Yet the Tartars accustom'd to Desarts wandring to and fro pass over it at all times and there also pitch or fix their Hords where they find a Place or River commodious for the Pasturage of their Cattel their Hords are Pens or Tents fit for the receiving both of Men and Cattel From Lassa or Barantola plac'd under the Elevation of the Pole 29 Degrees and 6 Minutes they came in four Days space to the foot of the Mountain Langur now this Langur is the highest of Mountains so that on the top of it Travellers can hardly breathe by reason of the subtilty and thinness of the Air neither can they pass over it in Summer without manifest hazarding of their Lives by reason of the virulent and poisonous Exhalations of some Herbs No Wagon or Beast can pass over it by reason of the horrible great steepnesses and rocky Paths but you must travel all the Way on foot almost for a Months space even unto the City Cuthi which is the first or Chief City of the Kingdom of Necbal Now although this mountainous Tract be difficult to pass over yet Nature hath plentifully furnish'd it with variety of Waters which break forth of the hollow places of the Mountain in every part thereof These Waters are replenish'd with abundance of Fish for the Sustenance of Man and their Banks afford plenty of Pasturage for Beasts I take this to be the same Tract which Ptolemy calleth Parapanisus which being link'd in the series of the Caucasian Mountains is extended far and wide towards the East and with its Skirts toucheth the South and North. Marcus Paulus Venetus calleth it Belor others give it other Names according to the diversity of Nations through which it passeth From Cuthi in five Days passage they came to the City Nesti in the Kingdom of Necbal in which all the Natives being involv'd in the Shades of Idolatry live without any sign of the Christian Faith yet it aboundeth with all things necessary for the sustaining of Life so that thirty or forty Hens are sold for one Scutum From Nesti they came in five days Iourney to the Metropolitan City of the Kingdom of Necbal which is call'd Cadmendu and plac'd under the Elevation of the Pole 27 Degrees and 5 Minutes where there is a potent King that Ruleth and although an Heathen yet not very much averse unto the Christian Religion From Cadmendu in half a Days time they came unto a City that the Natives call Badda the Regal City of the Kingdom of Necbal From Necbal in a Iourney of five Days you meet with the City Hedonda a Colony of the Kingdom of Maranga being plac'd under the Altitude of the Pole 26 Degrees and 36 Minutes From Hedonda in eight Days space they came even to Mutgari which is the first City of the Kingdom of Mogor From Mutgari is a Voyage of ten Days space even unto Battana which is a City of Bengala towards Ganges plac'd under the Elevation of the Pole 25 Degrees and 44 Minutes From Battana in eight Days space they came to Benares a populous City on Ganges and plac'd under the Elevation of the Pole 24 Degrees and 50 Minutes It is famous for an Academy of the Brachmans which flourisheth there in which all the Sciences proper unto their Religion or rather more truly unheard-of Superstitions are taught From Benares in eleven Days space they came to Catampor and from thence in seven Days to Agran Therefore from Pekin even unto Agran was a continu'd Voyage of two hundred and fourteen Days but if you have respect to the stay of the Caravans it is a Voyage of one whole Year and about two Months And these Relations ● receiv'd by word of Mouth from the above-mention'd Fathers who perform'd the Voyage in the same manner as I have describ'd it CHAP. III. Of the various Habits Manners and Customs of the Men of those Kingdoms which were observ'd and drawn by the aforesaid Fathers Albert Dorville and Gruberus as they pass'd through them AS the Kingdoms which the afore-mention'd Fathers pass'd through by a Voyage never hitherto attempted by any European were unknown to Geographers so also did they observe many things very worthy of consideration in reference to the Habits Manners and Customs of those Nations which on purpose being deliver'd to me what by Pictures and what by Writing they left to be inserted into their Voyage perform'd which I thought fit having now an opportune and convenient time to accomplish Therefore setting forwards from Pekin the Metropolis and Imperial Seat of the Chineses they came in the space of two Months to those most famous Walls at which that vast City Siningfu is situate as it were a certain and most safe Bulwark unto the Walls against the Incursions of the Tartars where in the end of our Book we exhibit the Structure of as much of these Walls as the convenience of the Place would admit of as they were most diligently observ'd and drawn by them and they added that the Walls were of so great a breadth that six Horse-men set orderly abreast might conveniently run a Race without being an hindrance to one another whence they report that they are so frequently visited by the Citizens of Siningfu both for the enjoying of the Air which is most wholsom and which breatheth from the adjacent sandy Desarts and also because they are very opportune for the performing of many other Exercises for easing and recreating of the Mind for they are of that heighth that they easily invite the Inhabitants unto them by their Prospect which is on every side most clear and open and withal exceeding pleasant and also by reason of the great conveniency of the Stairs which give an Ascent unto them now the Longitude unto the broadest part of the Wall even unto the other Port or Gate through which they pass from the Desart unto the City Sucien is so great that it can hardly be pass'd in the space of eighteen Days which many do undertake having first obtain'd leave of the Governor of Siningfu not so much out of any necessity of Trafficking or Merchandise as led by a certain Curiosity and withal being sufficiently furnish'd with Provision for they say that the innumerable Habitations which are within the Wall appear from thence as from an high Mountain but without in the adjacent Desart as the Inhabitants related unto them by word of Mouth they may recreate themselves with the wonderful and unwonted sight as it were from an high Tower of all kinds of wild Beasts such as are Tygers Lions Elephants Rhinoceroses wild Bulls Monoceroses that is a certain kind of Horn'd Asses and all the while being free and out of all danger more especially from that part of the Wall which

Structures in Art and Costliness It is said to have been erected upon this account There was a certain Daughter who was worthy remark for her Obedience to her Mother-in-law she having one day a Pullet for Dinner invited her Step-Dame to the eating part of it who accepting the Invitation and coming to participate thereof had no sooner tasted of it but she fell down dead The Daughter was immediately apprehended brought before a Iudg and accus'd of poysoning her Mother-in-law and the matter of Fact being so clear was condemn'd to die As she was going to the Place of Execution she hapned to pass by a Pomegranate-Tree then in Blossom which holding fast in her Hand she Pray'd as is said after this manner If I have poyson'd my Step-Mother may the Flowers of this Branch now in my Hand wither but if I be innocent let the Branch live and bring forth Fruit immediately Which words were hardly pass'd her Lips before that Branch which she held in her Hand hung full of Pomegranates In remembrance of which so famous Miracle the Inhabitants built this Tower and call'd it Xelenhoa which signifies A Pomegranate-Tree In the Province of Chekiang in the Chief City Hangcheu are four of these Towers each of them nine Stories high and in the great City Niencheu is another of the like heighth Near to the City Vencheu lies a Hill call'd Paocai upon whose top stands a Tower nine Stories high which serves for a Land-Mark to the Ships and Mariners Sailing at Sea Lastly in the Province of Chekiang near to the City of Hangcheu lies a Mountain call'd Funghoang upon the top whereof stands a like Tower of nine Stories high Triumphal Arches MOst of the Cities in China both small and great are adorn'd and beautifi'd with Triumphal Arches stately Towers and Pyramids made of Stone or Marble with great Art Cost and Ingenuity and adorn'd with Images being generally erected in honor of some famous Act Thing or Person Those who have done their Country any signal Service have some of these set up to eternize their Memory almost after the same manner as was formerly practis'd by the ancient Romans So also if any have been more excellent in Learning or if any Magistrate hath signaliz'd himself by his good behavior in his Employment in honor of such Arches Towers Pillars or Pyramids are built and commonly plac'd as Ornaments in the chiefest Streets and most populous places Their fashion is this they have three Roofs the biggest in the middle and on each side a small one underneath which Men pass as it were through a very broad Gate the sides are adorn'd with Lions and other Images curiously cut out of Marble and fix'd thereto or otherwise very artificially bor'd through and sometimes adorn'd with small Images cut out of Stone so that it is indeed a thing deservedly to be admir'd which way they can bore through such great Stones and cut Images out of them as they lie fix'd in the Building The whole Arch for the most part consists of three Stories and is on the Front and Back alike for fashion so that when you look upon the one side you have in effect seen both sides Upon the top of all lies a blue Stone upon which the Emperor's Name in whose Government the same was erected is curiously Engraven in Letters of Gold In the middle also lies a very large flat Stone upon which is writ in gilt or blue Letters the Name Country and Dignity of him in whose behalf this Edifice was erected CHAP. XI Of Rivers Channels High-Ways Bridges Ships c. THrough the Province of Suchue runs the River To as far as Sinfan being a Branch brought from the River Kiang by the Command of the Emperor Ivos to hinder the overflowing of that River In the Province of Chekiang are most of the Rivers which come from the North made by Art so useful as if they had been naturally so It is highly to be admir'd and meriting the highest Commendation to consider with what labor and pains they have effected such vast Undertakings for in some places there are very large Channels running far up into the Country which have been digg'd and are pav'd on both sides with Stone Over which Channels lie many great and heavy Sluces with several Bridges convenient for Travellers either by Land or Water In Ningpo the ninth City of the Province of Chekiang both sides of the artificial Rivers for several Miles together are made up with Stone At the end of every River lies a Sluce through which all Vessels must pass before they come into it In the Country of the City Xaohing is an artificial River toward the East three days Iourney in length both sides whereof are made up with Brick to prevent the Earth from falling in to choke or clog up the same Common Ways THE common Passages or High-ways in China are contriv'd as much for the convenience and ease of Travellers as in any Place or the World We begin in the Southern Provinces where most of their Ways 〈◊〉 even and smooth the very Hills being made passable and a Way hewn 〈◊〉 through the Rocks by the labor of Mens Hands Upon these so commodious Ways stand several Marks of Stone which declare the Distances of Places from one another and every ten Miles there is a Post appointed to c●●ry the Emperors and Magistrates Letters and Commands which being 〈◊〉 receiv'd are deliver'd with extraordinary speed so that there happens nothing in any part of the Country but it is presently known through all the Empire At every eighth Stone which is a days Iourney you have one of his Majesties ordinary Houses built on purpose to receive and treat at the Emperors Charge all Governor 's and Magistrates that travel that way upon the Emperor's Service but before their Arrival they send a Messenger to certifie what day they intend to be there so that the Governor or Magistrate arriving finds all things in a readiness for him to wit Provisions Horses Chairs Track-men and Vessels of all sorts if he need any for whatsoever he desires is given notice of by him in a Letter The Banks of the Rivers are no less well contriv'd for the ease of Passengers than the common Ways for they suffer no Trees to grow within eight Foot of the Rivers side lest they should be a hindrance to the Boats that are Tow'd along by Ropes In the Province of Fokien near to the City Hinghoa the Ways are well and strongly pav'd with Stone for above four Dutch Mile in length Near to the City Hoanting lies a deep small and darkish Valley through which runs a pav'd Way two Miles in length Upon the Mountain Mechi which is in truth a Wilderness lies a firm but very narrow Way made by Art for Travellers to pass over and upon Co is a very steep Way at least ten Dutch Miles Near to the City of Kiangxan there is a great Mountain call'd Civen at least three hundred

loss of it The Tartars by this means being put to a stand having enrich'd themselves with Booty destroy'd some thousands of poor Creatures with the Sword and burnt down their Dwellings to the Ground retreated back to their old Quarters in the Province of Leaotung During these Troubles the Emperor Vanlieus died in the Year 1620. After whose Death his Son Taichangus a valiant and prudent Prince succeeded who by the Conduct of his Affairs in a short time gave sufficiently to understand what good Services his Country was to expect from him had he not been unfortunately cut off by an untimely Death in the fourth Month of his Reign To whom was Successor his Son Thienkius a gallant Person and no ways inferior to his Father for Vertue and Courage This Monarch finding the unsetledness and danger of his Affairs made it his chiefest Concern to contract Friendship and support his Government with the Favor and Affection of his Neighbors for he had taken notice by experience how much the Empire of China had suffer'd by living always at great variance with the Tartar Kings of Ninche which border'd upon him In the first place therefore he endeavor'd to win the Favor of the King of Corea who had formerly sent to his Grandfather a Supply of twelve thousand Men to aid and assist him in this War but they being most of them kill'd and wounded he doubted lest this might make him take part against him and joyn with the Tartar for prevention whereof and to satisfie the King in every scruple he immediately sent an Ambassador to him to return him thanks for those great Succors he had sent and withal signifying his extraordinary Grief and Sorrow for the great loss which had fall'n upon the afore-men●ion'd Aids in that War but that he hoped in a short time to retaliate upon the Enemy the Wrongs they had done to him and his Kingdom And that his Embassy might be the more grateful he likewise sent several rich Presents and promis'd him his Assistance where and whensoever he should have occasion to make use of it But this friendly Message look'd not only for verbal Returns for it was design'd as a Motive to procure more Succors from him which without doubt he had reason to endeavor in regard the People of this Island of Corea which lies very near to Iapan have out of the Neighborhood far greater Strength than the Chineses And now craving leave for a little digression which may not be impertinent in regard there has been often mention made of this Island of Corea and the Inhabitants thereof I shall describe the same in short and all that is worth observation in the same It is unto this day doubted by those of Europe whether Corea be an Island or firm Land but according to the opinion of the best Writers it is a hanging Island surrounded with Water on all parts except the uttermost part which is joyn'd to the firm Land for though Trials have been made to Sail round about yet it could never be done as some People seem to affirm to us from their own experience though some there are that affirm the contrary But this Error proceeds from a mistake of a certain great Island call'd Fungina situa●e to the Southward of it to be Corea However it be this truth is most certain that all the Chinese Writers affirm Corea to be firm Land and joyning to the Kingdom of Ninche in Tartary Another mistake may arise from the varie●y of the Name given to it for the Chineses call it Chaosien therein following the Iapanners though by us of Europe it is call'd Corea Toward the North it borders upon the Kingdom of Ninche on the North-West it has for Confine the River Yalo the rest is surrounded and wash'd with the Sea The whole Island is divided into eight Provinces or Counties The middlemost and accounted the first bears the Name of Kinki wherein is situa●● the Chief City of Pingiang the Court of the Kings The second toward the East is call'd Kiangyven but heretofore Gueipe The third situate toward th● West is now known by the Name of Hoangchui but was formerly call'd Ch●●sien the Name at this day proper to the whole Island The fourth situate ●●●ward the South now call'd Civenlo was formerly nam'd Pienhari The fi●th also Southerly but inclining to the East is call'd Kingxan The sixth toward the South-West is Changing The seventh toward the North-East has the Name of Pingan In these Counties are several populous and rich Cities which for fashion and strength differ very little from those in China and built for the most part four-square The Country is very well Peopled throughout the whole having but one Form of Government not at all differing in Habit and using one and the same Form both of Speech and Writing Their Religion is the same with those of China holding the transmigration of the Soul out of one Body into another They all adore one Idol call'd Fe whereof I have already made mention The Bodies of their dead Friends they bury not till three years be fully elapsed and then they put them into very fine Coffins after the manner of the Chineses glu'd up so very close that no scent can strike through They give a greater liberty to their Women than the Chineses for they admit of them into any Company whereas the other will hardly suffer them to stir abroad Here also the Son or Daughter may Marry whom they think fit without asking the consent of Father or Mother which is quite contrary to the use of the Chineses and indeed all other civiliz'd People This Island is very fruitful in the product of all manner of Fruits necessary for the sustenance of Life especially of Wheat and Rice whereof there are twice a year plentiful Harvests Here also are made several sorts of Paper and curious Pencils of Wolves Hair which the Chineses and other neighboring People as well as themselves use in Writing Here grows likewise the Root Guiseng and as is reported are several Gold-Mines But notwithstanding all these Advantages of natural Commodities wherewith this Place abounds yet the Inhabitants thereof drive no Trade with any other forein People but only those of China and Iapan And thus much shall suffice to be spoken of Corea we will now return to give an Account of the sequel of the Wars The Chinese Emperor after his Embassy to the King of Corea to prevent the further Invasion of the Tartars and the better to oppose them muster'd several Troops rais'd for his assistance out of the fifteen Provinces or Kingdoms of the Empire and sent very great Armies towards Leaotung And the better to furnish such vast Armies with Provisions he caus'd an extraordinary great Fleet of Ships to be Equipp'd in the famous Port of Thiencin which were wholly employ'd to carry Provisions by Sea from all parts of China for their supply by the exact performance and observing whereof they had no want of any

that doth imposes some glorious Title on the Empire according to his own will and pleasure So in Times past we read that it was call'd Tan which is to say An Empire without Bounds other times Yu that denoteth Rest or Repose then Hiu from the Name of a great Duke I find it also call'd Sciam as if you should say A most Adorn'd Kingdom Cheu signifieth A Kingdom that exceedeth all other Kingdoms in Perfection also Han by which word they denominate the Milky-Path whence it cometh to pass that almost each several Nation doth describe it by the imposition of proper and different Terms Now at this Day it is call'd Ciumquo and by some Ciunhoa whereof the former signifieth A Garden by reason of its pleasantness and abundance of delightful things and the latter implieth The Middle because the Chineses suppose their Kingdom is situate in the midst of the Earth which also they will have to be four-square This whole Empire is divided into fifteen Kingdoms or Provinces bounded or terminated in some places by vast Rivers and in others by inaccessible Rocks and Mountains Of which Provinces nine are reckon'd in the South part and six in the North. Nature in a manner hath contriv'd all this complex of Kingdoms unaccessible unto all others on the East and South the Ocean is scarcely Navigable by reason of the violence of the Tydes and on the West the craggy Ridges of the Mountains admit of no passage and on the North it is at this Day fortifi'd partly by a Desart of an immense vastness and partly by a Wall of nine hundred Italian Miles erected by King Xio about two hundred Years before the Incarnation of our Saviour by the work of 1000000 Men in the space of five Years to restrain the Incursion of the Tartars so that being defended by so many Fortifications it relieth on its own weight If you do but only observe the Wall it is a Work that will cause an amazement which without doubt if the Ancients had arriv'd unto the knowledge of they would have reckon'd it amongst the seven Wonders of the World But let us now subjoin the Names of the Kingdoms or Provinces The Northern Kingdoms of the Empire of China are Honan Xensi Xansi Xantum Peking and Leautum The Southern Kingdoms are Canton or Quantung Quangsi Yunnan Fukien Kiangsi Suchuem Utquang Chekiam and Nankim That I may comprehend all in brief first I shall annex a Geographical Scheme or Map of the whole Empire divided into fifteen Provinces that you may more clearly discover the Situation of each and that we may not appear to have let slip any thing memorable in reference to the Cities Mountains Rivers Lakes and other Occurrences worthy of observation I have here prefix'd this Geographical Table which containeth a Description of all the Kingdoms from which as from an alone Compendium you may find whatsoever presenteth it self worthy of Consideration CHAP. II. IN the Year 1625. when in Siganfu the Metropolis of the Kingdom of Xensi in a certain Village a Trench was digg'd for the fit Foundation of an Edifice or Building it so hapned That in the casting up of the Earth the Laborers found a Stone Table worthy of note for its Chinesian Writing which when they had digg'd out of the Ground they measur'd it's quantity and found it in length nine handfuls and a half in breadth five and in thickness about one whereupon was curiously Engraven a Cross. Those who studiously view'd it report That the Cross was bent inwards like to the Lilies in the manner of that which is to be seen at Meliapore in India on the Sepulchre of St. Thomas the Apostle and not much unlike that which the Knights of the Order of St. Iohn of Ierusalem bore partly hanging on their Necks and partly sew'd to their Garments and Cloaks Under this Cross followeth the Title of the Inscription express'd throughout the whole superficies of the Stone in the Chinesian Language and Character as is manifest from the Figure adjoin'd And as the Chineses are carried as it were by a certain natural propensity unto things curious so also the first Report of the finding of this Stone attracted a great multitude of their Learned Men who resorted thither from all Parts The Governor of the Place being mov'd with the strangeness of this Monument having seriously contemplated the venerable Antiquity of it that he might allure and draw the People from all Parts by the Fame thereof for the Benefit and Reputation of the City plac'd it on a Table or Pedestal curiously wrought within the Court of the Temple of the Bonzii and erected a Roof over it partly that it might receive no damage by the injury of Time and also that as many as were Spectators of this unusual Monument might read examine and describe it at their own leisure And because that on the Margents there were discover'd Characters unknown to the Chineses intermix'd with those of their own they were much concern'd to know what they related unto and at last were satisfi'd by the diligence of our Society as it will appear more at large in the following Discouse Leo the Mandorin being now instructed in the Christian Faith first of all others divulg'd it exactly describ'd unto the whole Kingdom for the great advantage of the Christian Religion which he hop'd might accrue from thence which coming to the Hands of the Fathers of our Society when they had read it they could not sufficiently admire the Providence of the Divine Majesty that should condescend so far to disclose a Monument of so great Concern for the Conversion of the Heathen in this novel Vintage of Christ wherefore not to conceal their Ioy they betook themselves to Siganfu the great Metropolitan City of Xensi that they might be ocular Spectators of it of which the first was Father Alvares Samedus a Portuguese whose words I shall the rather alledge by how much he was the more engag'd unto me by the strict tye of Friendship whilst he remain'd at Rome Procurator or Provincial where he related to me in a familiar Conference all the Observations he had made concerning this Monument Now he thus relateth the whole Circumstance in his History of the Affairs of China Publish'd in Italian pag. 158. Three Years after in the Year 1628. there went some Fathers to that Province upon occasion of a Mandorin being a Christian whose Name was Philip who was going thither those Fathers by the help of the Mandorin erected both a Church and a House in the Metropolis of Siganfu that since our Blessed God who would that so fair a Memorial of a hold taken of his Divine Law in that Country should be discover'd he might also be serv'd and the Restoration of the same Faith Instituted in the same Place 'T was granted to me to be of the first and I fancied that Mansion happy because of seeing the Monument and when I got thither I car'd not for

Strangers as understood not the year of Christ might here find that of Alexander which extended farth●r and with which perhaps they might be better acquainted From hence it is also manifest that the Syrian or Chaldean Tongue in those Times was common to the Churches of Syria Palestine Egypt and Babylon yea peculiar to them in Christ's time so that it is no wonder that the Gospel of Christ immediately after the Travels of the Apostles throughout the whole World was carried not only into the most remote Regions of the East but also into the adjacent Regions of Babylon Egypt and Ethiopia where as if in the native Birth-places of the Church the Syrian or Chaldean Tongue took such root that it was thereby spread throughout all the Coasts of India as I have said before and the utmost Regions of China But of this more in the following Discourses OF THE VARIOUS Voyages and Travels UNDERTAKEN INTO CHINA PART II. CHAP. I. By whom and by what means the Holy Gospel of Christ was at divers times introduc'd into the uttermost Regions of the East into India Tartaria China and other Countries of Asia SEeing that at this very Day in India China and other Regions of Asia there are yet remaining frequent footsteps of the Christian Religion as I have shew'n even now I think it will be worth while if having Explain'd the Syro-Chaldean Monument found in China I now give a brief Account by what way and occasion these Apostolical Persons penetrated into those most remote Quarters of the World for having accomplish'd this it will clearly appear that at all times Syria Egypt and Grecia have been a Seminary not only of promoting the Christian Religion in the far distant Regions but also before the coming of Christ they were the Propagators of all Superstition throughout the World And that I may proceed with the more clearness in a Matter so abstruse I shall first here set down the Opinions of some concerning them so that those things being discussed it may more evidently appear what ought to be resolv'd concerning the Matter propos'd First therefore there are some Persons who assert That these Colonies of the Christians first of all entred China and the other Regions of Asia by the assistance of that great Asiatick Emperor usually term'd Presbyter Iohn But then again seeing that this is a great Controversie amongst Authors concerning this Emperor and the Situation Quality and Condition of his Kingdom or Empire I shall in the first place alledge something concerning this Prince and his Dominions for the more clear Explication of the Matter or Subject albeit I have already treated of the same in my Prodromus Coptus Who was that famous Presbyter Iohn and whether there ever were such an Emmperor NOw therefore as the Kings of Egypt were at first call'd Pharaohs and afterwards Ptolemyes those of Mauritania Seriphii those of the Persians formerly Xerxes Artaxerxes and now Sophi so the Name of Presbyter Iohn hath now for a long time denoted the Dignity of some Christian Prince whose Dominions are plac'd by consent of the most knowing Persons not amongst the Ethiopians or in any part of Africa as some falsly suppose but in the Continent of Asia yet in what Place he Rul'd is not exactly known Now some Writers affirming that they were the Kings of Cathay have thereby rendred the Matter more doubtful seeing it hath been discover'd in these latter Years that all Cathay belongeth unto China and that there is no City or Territory call'd by this Name that is now found without the Bounds of China And in this all the Fathers of our Society who have continu'd in China for many years do agree who are Persons very well skill'd in Geographical Knowledge as Matthew Riccius Nicholas Trigautius Alvarus Samedus Michael Boi● Martin Martinius Iohn Gruberus and Iohn Adams that great Mandorin of the Kingdom of China and lastly Benedict Goes of the same Society who by order from his Superiors travell'd from the Kingdom of Magor purposely to find out Cathay by a Land-Voyage I believe that it is not far wide of the Truth that besides that portion of Land which by the Name of Cathay was found by the Fathers of our Society within the Limits of China there is another Quarter of the World much larger conterminate on the North and West unto the Empire of China But seeing that all that Region without the Walls of China is a Desart almost of two Months travel incultivated and destitute of Inhabitants it is probable that the Region of China in latter Times as being very much manur'd and abounding in all things might properly be call'd Cathay And that the Desart at this day call'd Kalmuk and the Regions confining on it without the Walls in former Ages had the Name of Cathay the Desart in the adjoining Kingdoms of which that same Presbyter Iohn of whom even now we treated Rul'd in the days of our Ancestors Marcus Paulus Venetus termeth it The Empire of the Great Cham the Holy Scriptures as Arias Montanus will have it Gog and Magog concerning which thus writeth Sybilla Heu tibi Gogque Magogque aliisque ex ordine cunctis Marson atque Angon tibi quot mala fata propinquant Now that this is the Scythian Cathay is shew'd by the Arabick Geographer throughout the four entire last Climates where he describeth it to abound in Men Animals and Minerals flourishing with Christians meer'd and inclos'd with the vast extended Skirts of Caucasus call'd Iagog and Magog Thus the Arabian Geographer in his ninth Part Climate 5. Line 21. his words are to this effect as I have translated them out of the Arabick From the Mansion Gerrada to the City Tahamet on the South Quarter are four Leucae whereof one maketh twenty five Miles from the City Geerada even unto the Mountain which is call'd Caucasus is seven days travel And this Mountain encompasseth the Regions of Iagog and Magog It hath such craggy and difficult sides that none can ascend it and if any one doth attempt it he can never arrive at the top being obstructed by continual Snows congeal'd into Ice which because they are never dissolv'd represent the similude of a Mist or thick Cloud perpetually fix'd on the top of the mountainous Caucasian Rocks On the other side the Mountain are many Cities of Iagog and Magog And it often hapneth that the Inhabitants of this Region out of a certain curiosity ascend some part of it to discover what is on the top of the Mountain and what is beyond but many never return either ●ecause they are devour'd by wild Beasts or taken by the Transmountainers but some that have return'd safe relate That in the Region on the other side of the Mountain in the Night are many Fires but in the Day nothing else but a thick Cloud mix'd with Darkness is discover'd Also in the seventh Part of the same Climate Line 34. he adds In these Regions many Christians or Nazaraeans do

At length I return'd to Sfahanum and here remain ready to fulfil the Commands of your Reverend Fatherhood But doth your Reverend Fatherhood in the mean while publish nothing to the World Such a Tree ought to bear some Fruit. Besides two Books that you were pleas'd to send me some Years since nothing else hath arriv'd at my Hands I have here Compos'd some Treatises about the Controversies of the Law in particular An Answer to the Polisher of the Looking-glass I know no Person that can better manage this Business at Rome than your Reverend self whom I beseech to render me more certain whether such Books can be Printed there but I much question whether any one can be found that will be at the Charge yet in this matter I shall determine nothing but what my Superiors shall ordain To conclude The least of your Reverend Fatherships Servants onely more especially requesteth this That you would retain this my Epistle by you for a Memorial and that you would not be unmindful of me in your Holy Sacrifices Dated near Xaxan about the time of the Festival of Saint Francis Xavier CHAP. V. The Voyage perform'd by Marcus Paulus Venetus and Haython the Armenian into Cathay or China SEeing none of the Ancients have describ'd the Kingdoms of the utmost Confines of the East more fully than Marcus Paulus Venetus therefore I esteem'd it my Duty to say somewhat of his Voyage into Cathay at this time having so fit an opportunity although there do many things occur which are neither apprehended nor understood at this very Day by any Geographer by reason of the variety of Names by which he calleth Kingdoms Provinces Cities Mountains Rivers and Lakes and that differently from all others and also by reason of the Description of some Cities which consent not with the modern Geography Moreover Marcus Paulus being ignorant of the use of the Globe hence it came to pass that he setteth not down the Longitude and Latitude of any City from which knowledge alone the true Situation of Places is found But now let us come to relate his Voyage Anno 1269. being Emperor of Constantinople two famous Persons of the Illustrious Family of the Paulini Nicolas and Matthew Citizens of Venice set forwards unto Constantinople in a Ship fraighted with divers Commodities where having a little refresh'd themselves and committing themselves to the Euxine Sea they arriv'd with prosperous Winds at a Port of Armenia call'd Soldadia Now what this Port of Soldadia is we have not hitherto found out I interpret it to be Trapezonmet seeing that there is no Port of the Armenians nearer the Euxine Sea neither can we discover what the Kingdom of Bartza is From the Kingdom of Bartza they came by great windings and turnings of the Land unto the City of Bochara situate on the River Oxus in the Kingdom of Usbeck where great Wars arising between the King of Bartza and the Tartars they were much perplex'd and ignorant which way to take to return into their own Country but at last upon serious Consideration and Advice they remain'd there full three years and that they might not spend their time idly in that space they apply'd themselves with all their endeavor to the attaining of the Tartarian Tongue While Affairs were in this Condition an Ambassador came to Bochara to Treat with the Great Emperor of Tartary where when he had found these fore-mention'd Persons he us'd his utmost Endeavors both in reference unto their great and noted Behaviour and the Tartarian Tongue in which they were excellently accomplish'd to have them with him in his Return to the Great Cham to whom he knew they would be very acceptable therefore they relying on the Advice of the Ambassador after the Travel of several Months made their appearance before the Great Cham. He first of all admiring the Countenance and Behavior of these Europeans and also being led with a curiosity of understanding the Affairs of Europe was wholly intent upon the discovery of the Mode and Form of the Government of the Occidental Regions enquiring of them concerning the Pope the Emperor and the Rites of the whole Empire as well those that are observ'd in Peace as War Unto which when they had prudently reply'd they so far wrought upon the Emperor that entring into Counsel with his Nobles he concluded upon sending an Ambassador to the Pope of Rome which he thought fit in his Name to impose on these Paulini whose Faith and Sincerity he had now sufficiently try'd and together with them he sent a Golden Table and Letters in which he requested his Holiness would send him an hundred Persons conspicuous both for Learning and Wisdom to instruct his Subjects in the Christian Faith which he said was the best and most pure of all others Wherefore these Persons having receiv'd their Embassy immediately set forward on their Voyage having this Golden Table which was Seal'd with the Seal of the Great Cham and also having his Letters in which he commanded all his Subjects to receive them with all Honor and Affection and discharge them of all Customs and Tribute Thus they follow'd on their Iourney by the great assistance of the Golden Table and after the space of some Months came at length to Balzra a Port of the Armenians now what this Port was whether on the Caspian or Euxine Sea I have not as yet found it is most probable to be the Port of Trapezonment plac'd in a Corner of the Euxine Sea for from this Port within a few Months Anno 1272. they came to Ancona which could not be perform'd from the Caspian Sea by reason of the great space of Land and Regions interjoin'd Moreover having return'd unto Ancona whence they departed the report of the death of Clement the Fourth being nois'd abroad and no other as yet plac'd in the Apostolical Seat being destitute of Advice they were not a little disturb'd and setting forward unto Venice to visit their native Soil they heard of the Election of a new Pope Here Nicolas found his Wife whom he had left great with Child at his departure to be dead having left behind her Marcus a Son of fifteen years of Age who afterwards became the Companion of his Father into those remote Regions of Asia which his Father had before travell'd unto and also was the Author and Writer of this Geographical History Wherefore a new Pope being chosen and nam'd Gregory the Tenth Rudulphus being Emperor by the unanimous Approbation of the Cardinals they return to Ancona having deliver'd the Letters of the Great Cham together with the Presents to the Pope with which he being mov'd and greatly rejoycing that he had a fit opportunity offer'd him for the Propagation of the Gospel ●e return'd a Literal Missive unto the Great Cham in which all things were contain'd that might seem necessary to instruct them better in the Christian Religion and render the mind of the Great Cham more flexible and yielding unto