Trade upon equal Terms with those three Nations they would in acknowledgment thereof every third Year come and Salute his Majesty bringing Presents but with this Proviso That the Ship or Ships which brought the Ambassadors might have Licence to depart in due time without staying for the return of them because the Vessels which were us'd to salt Water could not be continu'd in fresh without very great damage But the Ambassadors after all their Endeavors were not able to effect any thing being not well furnish'd with Money the Key of the Work and that which gives a quick dispatch to all Affairs in China for they had already disposed both of their Presents and Silver and to take up Money at Eight or Ten per Cent. for a Months time they did not think it convenient and therefore they resolv'd to apply themselves to the Emperor himself who was pleas'd to send to know how far the Council had proceeded in the Business and understanding that the Ambassadors offer'd every five years to come and Salute the Emperor he himself was pleas'd to put out with his own hand the number of Five and to insert that of Eight out of a particular Inclination to the Hollanders alledging That they had need have five whole years to go and come if so be they would only Travel by Day for said the Emperor How is it possible for them to continue such tedious Voyages if you allow them no longer time Beside why should we straiten them in such a Point who do not stand in need of me nor fear me but out of a singular Respect and Affection come to Salute me with their Goods and Presents Certainly we ought to use these People more kindly that so after they have perform'd such Undertakings they may tarry at home and rest themselves for two or three years This favorable Answer of the Emperor gave great encouragement to the Ambassadors to hope well of their Business but the Chancellors chief Secretary did all that possibly he could to disswade them from making over much haste with what they had to desire further of his Imperial Majesty saying Is it not enough that such who never till then address'd themselves in Embassy to Salute his Majesty and were so much prejudic'd by former Aspersions as made them almost unacceptable to many great Persons in China be receiv'd and admitted as Friends and Allies at the first Overture and have leave to progress through the Country wherefore he endeavor'd to perswade the Ambassadors not to insist too much upon a free Trade that being the way to unhinge their well-begun Business for they were not to imagine that the Emperor and his Council were oblig'd to grant at first sight all what'ere they should desire and therefore advis'd them to forbear mentioning a free Trade till their next Return when they would have a better opportunity But the Ambassadors did not think fit to follow his Advice because the time drew near that the Emperor was to make his Entrance into his new Palace when he had appointed and promised the Ambassadors to give them Audience But before they could have a Hearing they were first to perform Obedience in the old Palace where the Emperor's Treasure and Seal are kept in regard according to a Proverb amongst the Chineses this Place is older than the Emperor and therefore chosen and bless'd by Heaven and the first Honor doth also belong unto it so that all Foreign Ambassadors who refuse to pay such Respects must not appear before the Emperor but depart without a Hearing as it hapned to the Ambassador of Muscovy who to preserve the Dignity and Esteem of his Lord and Master would not perform here the usual Complement and Ceremony Likewise all the Grandees of the Kingdome must do their Duty here ere they appear before his Majesty nay more the Emperor himself before he is Install'd is oblig'd to come and bow here This Custom is usually perform'd by Ambassadors three Days before their Audience Upon the 22. of August came the Agents of the Canton Vice-Roys with the Mandorin Pinxenton and others of Canton early in the Morning to our Lodgings and not long after also appear'd three Chinese Doctors and some of the Court in very rich Habits These Persons conducted the Ambassadors and their Followers in great State into a Room of the old Palace much like a Library for we saw none but Scholars and Gown-men with Books in their Hands from whence after some short stay we were conducted into an open Court within a high Wall where we were commanded at the voice of the Herald to kneel three times and to bow our Heads to the Ground after a short pause the Herald proclaim'd aloud in the Chinese Language Caschan which in English is God hath sent the Emperor afterwards he cried aloud Quee that is Fall upon your Knees then he pronounced the word Canto signifying Bow your Head after that Coe bidding them Stand up and this did he three times in order one after another wherein we also conform'd at last he signified to us that we should stand aside which we did All these Ceremonies were perform'd in presence of at least a hundred Chinese Doctors or Rabbies after which we return'd to our Lodgings And now the Ambassadors according to the Custom were to appear upon the 25. of August before the Emperor but were prevented by the sudden Death of the Emperor's youngest Brother who being about six years of Age hapned to die upon the 23. of the same Month not without suspicion of Poyson by some of the Council who it seems as we were told did not think him worthy to live because he had provoked the Emperor in some ill Language before our arrival at Peking But others ascrib'd his Death to a violent Cold he took by drinking a Glass of Ice-Water being very hot which put him into such a violent Distemper that he died in few hours after The Emperor seem'd very much to lament his Death for he would not be seen by any Person in three Days This young Prince was kept a whole Month before his Interment so that the Ambassadors were held from having Audience of the Emperor until the second of September Upon the 14. of August they understood that the Ambassador of Muscovy went from thence without Audience becaus'd he refus'd to bow to the Seal of the Emperor so to preserve the Honor and Dignity of his Lord and Master One of his Gentlemen came about Noon whilst the Ambassadors were at Dinner and took leave in the Name of the all the rest and he desir'd likewise the favour of a Letter to shew in Russia that he had found us here which was presently granted Afterwards we were inform'd That this Ambassador was not suffer'd to depart till such time as the Emperor had given him a Pass Upon the Day appointed for this long expected Audience came the Mandorin Pinxenton with the Agents and Mandorins of the Canton Vice-Roys and some
first recruited themselves for they found all the Frontier Towns and Places of Strength well fortifi'd and guarded Amongst all other Chinese Commanders who signaliz'd themselves in shewing their Courage in their Countries behalf against the Enemy was one Maovenlung who did very great execution upon them in several Encounters He was a Native of the Province of Quantung where he had learn'd and understood in his Conversation amongst the Portuguese at Macao several things concerning their Military Discipline From thence he had likewise brought with him several great Guns which he purchased out of a Netherland Ship that was cast away there and those he Planted upon the Walls of the Chief City of Ningyven The Eastern part of Leaotung and the Chief City of Leaoyang being thus lost in this new made Chief City there hapned to be at the same time the Tutang or Vice-Roy of Leaotung with the whole Chinese Army The Tartars having many times had trial to their sorrow and cost of the Courage of this Maovenlung having often been routed by him durst not adventure any further to Cope with him in an honorable way but bethought themselves of some Stratagem or politick Device whereby to wound the Integrity and Vertue of this brave Person and they suppos'd the best means to assail him with would be fair words and high Promises Wherefore to put in execution this their Design they offer'd him by a private Letter which they caus'd cunningly to be deliver'd to him half the Empire of China if he would desert his natural Prince with the Flower of his Army and help them to conquer the Empire But Maovenlung who would neither forfeit his Honor nor Oath courageously refus'd these high Offers and return'd for Answer That he had rather lose his Life than betray his Prince and Country The Tartars finding that this Plot of theirs would take no effect and that the Chineses had well provided against their coming resolv'd to desist and to make no further progress in the present War which wholly ceased till the Year 1625. when suddenly it breaking forth again they came and besieg'd the Chief City of Ningyven This greatly startled the Chineses who thought they had overcome the greatest difficulty and danger But Maovenlung came time enough to the rescue and relief of this Place and fell so furiously upon the Besiegers that they were forc'd to raise their Siege with the loss of at least ten thousand Men that were slain upon the Spot amongst whom fell the King 's own Son whose Death was so highly resented by the surviving Tartars that they in a great rage and madness made over the Ice for it was in Winter and getting into the Island of Theyoven whereof they quickly made themselves Masters they put every living Creature they found to the Sword which were a very great number in revenge of the young Prince which having done they immediately left the Province of Leaotung and retreated into their own Country not with an intention to be quiet but only to recruit themselves with more Forces and then to return again at a convenient time And hereupon follow'd a Cessation of Arms till the Year 1627. when the Chinese Emperor Thienkius hapned to die being but a young Man whose Death prov'd to be the loss of all China although the Tartar King of Ninche call'd Thienning who had destroy'd so many thousands of People by Fire and Sword did not long survive but as an Attendant on his Corps died the same Year Thienkius was succeeded by his Brother who was very unfortunate in all his Undertakings and at length through the treachery of his Subjects had both an unfortunate Reign and Death as by the remaining part of the History will appear The Tartar King Thienning had for his Successor in the Throne his Son Thientung who quickly chang'd the salvage and barbarous Manners and Customs us'd by his tyrannizing Father insomuch that he did not pursue the Chineses so fiercely but began to treat them with more Civility which produc'd a very great Change and caus'd all his Affairs to become more acceptable And certainly this prudent and politick Prince had effected great things had he not been cut off by an untimely Death his mildness having gotten so great renown withal that the Council who had made choice of him thought themselves happy in the Change and withal learn'd from him by Example that the Chineses would sooner be reduc'd and brought under their Government by Clemency and Civility than by force of Arms. In this Year 1627. the Commanders and Officers of General Maovenlung who by reason of the quietness of the Tartars had no Enemy to Encounter began much to molest and be injurious to their Friends and Allies of Coreâ— by making Inroads and Incursions upon them nay by degrees they grew so very insolent and troublesom to all Parts adjoining to their Quarters especially the Inhabitants of the Province of Hienkien who were so intolerably oppress'd by their Rapines that out of revenge and hatred they put themselves under the Protection of the Tartar advising him to re-invade and fall into China with a mighty Army which he not willing to let slip so fair an opportunity immediately did so that a very great Army was in the Field ready to assail the Chinese Forces before they had any thoughts of an Enemy and when they least dream'd of their coming who by this means lying carelesly dispers'd up and down in the Provinces were soon destroy'd Maovenlung however rallied and by the addition of some new Leavies and Recruits being grown into a strong Body he fought several doubtful Battels with the Tartars but they at last growing superior to him in Strength and number Maovenlung the Chinese General was constrain'd to quit the Field with the gross of his Army Yet neither the loss of the Army nor greatness of the Victory obtain'd by the Tartars did make any great impression upon the Chineses nor indeed were they troubled at it when they understood that their General had sav'd himself out of the Island of Corea But the Ninchean Commanders imagining that those of that Place had been instrumental in helping to convey the General Maovenlung away with their Army fell into it plundering the Inhabitants and ruining the Country by Fire and Sword This Act was highly disapprov'd of by the Tartar King himself because it stirr'd up the King of Corea to Arm against him and joyn his Forces with those of the Chineses which Maovenlung had been gathering together and with them was marching towards Corea to revenge himself upon the Tartars The Tartars having thus inhumanely and without reason turn'd their Arms upon the Countries of Corea were setting forward with their Army against the Royal City thereof and were arriv'd at the beginning of the Mountains through which the Way runs to the City being about seven Miles from the same Here the King of Corea in the narrow Way had pitch'd to receive them and the Tartars being eager to
respect Sina in their Language signifies A most brave and famous Countrey Others opposing will have this Kingdom to derive its Name from the Inhabitants of the City Chincheu because these People drive onely a constant Trade by Sea to most Places of Asia so that the Portugueses and Indians by leaving out the same Letters of the word Chincheu might easily give it the Name of China But those are in a very great Error that will have the word China to be derived from a certain word Cinch which by the Chineses is very much us'd The falseness of this Assertion will clearly appear from hence in that the Chineses who Trade with the Indians or Portugueses to those Places and go with their Ships to India us'd on the score of Civility and kind Respect to Greet each other in their Mothers Tongue not with the Name of Cinch but Sia Now that which appears to me to be a most probable Truth amongst the various Opinions of Writers is that which the Iesuit Martinus Martinii a Man of great Learning and Skill in the Antiquities of China has asserted in the sixth Book of his History of China the words whereof are as follow I shall not says he let this pass unmention'd which seems to me most likely That not onely by the Indians but also by Strangers the Name China took rise and original from the Generation Family or Branch of Cina who Govern'd in China in the 246. Year before the Birth of Christ So that we ought not to call it China but rather The Kingdom of Sinen or Cinen for in the time of those Kings which proceeded from this Branch the Name of Siners was first made known by Strangers and especially by the Indians By the Indians the Name of China afterwards came into use and was followed by the Portugueses after the Conquest of India for this Family of Cina Govern'd over the greatest part of the Siners who lived toward the West and continually had Wars with Foreiners When afterwards the Court or Seat of the Kingdom was Planted there received the Name of The Kingdom of China This Family of Cina being risen to the highest pitch of all Prosperity prov'd after a great Invader of others Territories insomuch that it seems no wonder that Strangers and remote Nations had the Name of Cina so frequent among them And though the Sineses call this farther part of Asia or Cina by several Names according to the Governing Families that happen to change yet however Foreiners do reserve the first Name which they heard And this is my Opinion concerning the Original of the Name Sina and according to this Assertion the first Letter of the word ought to be writ not with an S but with a C. All China was formerly divided by the Chinese Emperor Xunus into 12 Provinces afterwards the Emperor Yva who took upon him the Government after the Death of Xinus about 260 years before the Incarnation of our Saviour reduced all China into nine Provinces which onely at that time comprehended the Northern Parts of China and had for their Confines the River Kiang But after that they had Conquer'd the Southern Parts by degrees and somewhat Civiliz'd the Inhabitants the whole Kingdom of China was divided into 15 Provinces Amongst these also they reckon the Province of Leaotung which is situated on the West of Peking where the great Wall begins and the Hanging-Island of Corea both which pay Tribute to the Emperor There are several other Islands beside which pay also Tribute amongst which the Island Haman is the chiefest lying in the Sea over against the Province of Quangsi Among the Islands which are Tributary to this Kingdom is also accounted the Island Formosa which the Chineses call Lieukieu and situated over against the Province of Foken and also the Island Cheuxan over against the Province of Chekiang a very famous Place for Trading But of this more at large hereafter Six of the 15 Provinces verge upon the Sea as Peking Xantung Kiangnan or Nanking Cheaiang Foking and Quantung From hence toward the North lie the Midland Countries as Quangsi Kiangsi Huquang Honan and Xansi and toward the West the other four Xensi Sucheu Queicheu and Iunnan Lastly this Empire which comprehends 15 Kingdoms is also divided into the South and North-China South-China the Tartars call The Kingdom of Mangin and North-China The Kingdom of Catay In the first are nine Kingdoms and in the last six or eight if you will reckon amongst them the Kingdom of Leaotung and the Hanging-Island of Corea By what has been already said it doth clearly appear how far those are mistaken who write of another Empire beyond China which they call Catay as likewise of several Towns as Quinsey Cambalu and many other Fictions whereas in truth beyond the great Wall no other People live but Tartars who have no fixed Abodes but wander up and down the Countries in Wagons and so travel from Place to Place as may be found at large in the Writings of those who have sufficiently confuted this great Error and Mistake as Virgantius and Martinus Martinii in his Atlas of China Amongst the rest the Iesuits have likewise found by experience that beyond the Empire of China no Monarchy of Catay is to be found insomuch that the same People whom we call Chineses are by the Persians call'd Cataians This same Mistake has been likewise sufficiently and Learnedly confuted with undeniable Arguments by the most Learned Iacob Gool a Person of extraordinary Knowledge in all Arts of Literature and especially in the Oriental Languages and at present Arabick Professor in the University of Leyden in his Appendix to the Atlas of China The Kingdom of China is so inclos'd with several Islands and on the East and South with Seas that it seems almost to be four-square onely two great Mountains thrust themselves out toward the Sea which in the Chinese Language are called Tung The one lies by the Town of Ningpo from whence you may Sail in 40 hours to the Island of Iapan the other great Hill is in the Province of Xantung near to the Town of Tengoheu China situated in the farthest part of Asia borders toward the East South and West upon the great Indian Sea and is call'd Tung by the Chineses which signifies Easterly And on the North it is separated from the Kingdoms of Ninche and Nicolhan by that Famous Wall which was made by those of China against the Invasion of the Tartars Higher up toward the North it has for Frontiers the Kingdom of Taniju and a Wilderness call'd Samo which separates the North side of this China from the Kingdoms of Samahan and Cascar Upon the other Provinces situated toward the South joyn the Kingdoms of Prester-Iohn Geo which by the Chineses are call'd by one common Name Sifan as also Tibet Laos and Mien Likewise China reaches as far as Brangale and to some part of Tartary and the Mountains of Damascus which
Account of this Earthen Ware and to receive his Duty which is of each sort the fifth piece according to the Laws of the Kingdom the rest they afterwards sell to the Inhabitants of this Village Ucienjen where as they say is the Staple of this Porcelane Trade which is sent from this Village not only through all China but also through the whole World We departed the same Day from this Place and upon the 26. came to the Chief City of Nankang which lies upon the West-side of this Lake which is very broad and long This City is built upon a mountainous Soil about fifty Miles from Nankang the Walls are both high and strong and fortifi'd with Bulwarks Within the City stands a well-built Tower the Streets are very full of Windings and Turnings which makes them very troublesom to such as use them The first Street which lies on the left-hand as you come in has several Triumphal Arches standing in it very artificially built according to the Chinese fashion Beside these Ornaments there is nothing rare in this City for the Houses are but mean and slightly built In prospect of this City lie several stately Temples whereof the biggest and chiefest are built upon the Mountains Quangliu and Iuenxiu The Inhabitants round about worship these Mountains upon which dwell a great company of Priests and Friers each of which has a little Hutch where he daily cruciates and afflicts himself by scourging and disciplining his Body the enduring of which Castigation makes him a Miracle to those People of implicit Faith who fancy these their Sufferings to merit after Death the highest Felicities in another World for they believe that their Souls are transmigrated into other Bodies The Inhabitants told us that upon the Mountain Quanglu there are as many Cloysters as Days in the Year They said likewise that this Mountain was always cover'd with Clouds and Fogs though round about the Weather were clear and serene The Country produces store of Hemp whereof the Inhabitants make themselves Clothes for the Summer which very much keep off the scorching Heat of the Sun On the West-side of this City lies a Hill which the Chineses call Kien The Water that falls from the Brow of this Hill is held by the Chineses very soveraign for several Diseases The Pool Poyang divides the Territories belonging to this City into two parts both which are very fruitful in Rice and Corn of all sorts Upon the 29. we made for the City of Hukeu being the fourth small City of the fifth Chief City Kieukiang to furnish our selves with Provisions This City lies forty Miles from the foregoing Chief City of Nankang upon the narrow of the Lake Poyang and upon the right-side of the River Kiang which mingles with it and receives no small share of its Water On the North-side of the City doth appear a very pleasant and antique Rock which hangs somewhat over the River and appears a most delightful Prospect being overgrown with Trees At the bottom of this Mountain stands a large and beautiful Idol-Temple The Walls of this City are very thick and high and for the greater safety of the City are Guarded in several places with Foot-Soldiers This City drives a handsom Trade is full of People and well built all manner of Provisions are sold very cheap especially Fish which yields but a small Price About this City lies a Hill call'd Xechung which signifies A Stone Bell for the Waves and Billows which rise out of the Pool Poyang in foul and stormy Weather beat against this Hill and occasion thereby such a strange and ringing noise that it very much resembles the sound of a Bell. We were no sooner come to an Anchor but the news of our Arrival fill'd the whole City with joy so that both old and young came running to the Shore to view us and our Vessels who beheld us with great admiration and fain would have been talking to us if the difference of Language had not hindred We caus'd our Trumpets to sound that old Tune of William of Nassaw supposing to have delighted them but on the contrary they were so much affrighted with their brazen Voice that they ran roring with full speed for shelter to the City Having provided our selves with Necessaries we departed from this Place and came to Pengce the fifth small City under this Capital one of Kieukiang Thus far had we proceeded in our Voyage upon the River Can from Kancheu to Nanking from whence we passed over the Pool Poyang and so came into the River Kiang which to prosecute the remainder of our Voyage to Peking we were to Sail up Eastward This River Kiang which signifies The Son of the Sea divides all China into Northern and Southern gliding from West to East and receives several Names from the Provinces through which it runs The foremention'd City Pengce lies thirty Miles from Hukeu behind an Island on the East-side of the River Kiang and has behind it high and famous Hills it is a well-built Place but far less than Hukeu Not far from this Pengce lies a Mountain call'd Siaocu which is so steep high and inaccessible that none could ever scale the top It is surrounded with Water and has on the South-side a small but very safe Road for Ships in foul Weather Upon the South-side of the River Kiang lies also a Hill call'd Makang talk'd on with terror through all China for the abundance of Shipwracks which happen near this Place for if the Pilot miss never so little his Steerage they seldom escape bilging on the neighboring Rocks The Ambassadors with some of their Followers went Ashore upon the said Island but were forc'd immediately to return having observ'd the footing of a Tyger which sort of Beast is very numerous in this Country When the Chinese Pilots saw our Cook going to make a Fire to dress Dinner they came into the Cabbin to the Ambassadors fell down upon their Knees and earnestly entreated that they would forbid any such thing to be done for that as they said there was a certain Spirit who kept himself under Water about this Pool and appear'd in the shape of a Dragon or great Fish and had the Command over this Countrey whose Nature and Constitution was such that he could not endure the scent in his Nose of roasted Poultry boil'd Bacon or other savory Smells for so soon as he was sensible of any such thing he immediately rais'd a Storm which did infallibly cast away the Vessel The Ambassadors at their earnest Entreaty sent word to the Cook that they should be content with a cold Dinner for that Day During the Discourse there appear'd playing above the Water two or three Tunny Fishes which put the Chineses into no little fear in regard they imagin'd the Water-Spirit had already given order for the casting away of their Vessel Thus far we had travell'd through the Province of Kiangsi when about Noon we came in sight of two Columns which stood
found guilty of Robbery he was branded upon the Arm with a hot Iron with two Characters If the third time he is branded in the Forehead but if he committed the like Fault the fourth time he was then Whipp'd and Banish'd This neglect of punishing Rogues for Stealing was the cause why China did swarm so very much with Thieves and Vagrants But since the Tartars have been Conquerors of this Empire they have with great prudence and strictness redrest those Abuses and put the Laws in force against all Offenders insomuch that when I was in China Petty Offences were made Criminal for he that was found guilty of the least Fault was punish'd with death In the execution of which Sentence as soon as any one is condemn'd to die his Hands are bound behind him with a Board upon his Back whereon is writ his Offence and so bound he is led by the Sheriff into an open place according to custom either within or without the City and there he is beheaded without any further Ceremony If it happen that any are Pardon'd and have their Lives spar'd them they are punish'd with that extream severity that oftentimes they chuse rather to die than to undergo the Torture which they must suffer to preserve their Lives which is after this manner Two lusty Fellows are commanded to beat the Criminal upon the Calf of his Leg till all the Sinews and Nerves are miserably torn and bruis'd if not broken And this is their ordinary method of Punishment which is inflicted without any distinction of Persons Now as the Punishment is severe to prevent all Disorders and Robberies which stir up this severity there are strict Watches kept every Night in the Streets which go the Rounds through the City at certain Hours as the Guards 〈◊〉 us'd to do in the best Govern'd Cities of Europe CHAP. V. Of their Ceremonies and manner of Burials and of their Tombs or Monuments BY what hath been said in the former Chapters it may appear That the Chineses may be compar'd in many things which concern their manner of Living with the Philosophers and Virtuosi of Europe but they differ very much in things relating to Funerals among which this may be reckon'd the first That those of Europe seldom think of their Mortality and so consequently take little or no care of their Burials while they are living but the Chineses are in nothing more serious and sollicitous than to provide for their Interments whilst they live and are in perfect health and that ignorance may be no excuse they put down in Writing how they will have the same perform'd strictly charging their Children upon their Death-beds and and even at their last gasp to observe their Orders Now there is one Custom through the whole Country inviolably observ'd which is never to bury any one without a Coffin though it be a Child but of two days old for every Person according to his Quality is laid into a Coffin made of the best sort of Wood their ability will reach to But Persons of more Eminency are at far greater Charge for a rich Repository for their poor Carcasses The first Ceremony they observe when they perceive the Patient to lie a dying is this they take him and lay him upon a Mat carry him into the outward Hall of the House there to breathe his last And this Custom though it carries somewhat of Barbarism in it is observ'd through the whole Empire by the Commonalty but for what reason I could never learn notwithstanding all the diligence of my curious and prying Enquiries But among the better sort a Person of equal Quality with themselvs is suffer'd to die in Bed Another phantastick Humor here is whilst the sick Party is breathing forth his last the eldest of his Sons puts on his Bonnet or Cap and coming to the Bed in a distracted manner tears the Curtain and covereth therewith the dead Body which after it hath lain a convenient time is wash'd according to the Custom of the Country and wrapt either in very fine Linnen or Silk Some are yet more extravagant and will dress out the Corps with new Clothes and after they are Embalm'd set them at a Table well furnish'd with Provisions of all sorts and this a great but not much commendable Fashion amongst the Grandees The nearest Relations of the Deceased are invited to this solemn though mournful Entertainment who entreat him to eat and be merry with them as if he were living In the mean time the Priests are busied in Singing and performing the other usual Ceremonies As to the Mourning Habit it differs from all Countries that I have seen not onely for its Colour which generally is white but for the form and shape of it for Sons when they Mourn for their Fathers they Clothe themselves for the first Month in a course stiff Habit hanging down to their Heels and tied about the Middle with a Cord after the manner of the Monks of the Franciscan Order But although they lay aside that Habit then yet it is a constant Custom for Children to Mourn three years for their Parents the reason whereof they alledge in their Books to be this because that Parents carry their Children for the three first years of their Infancy in their Arms with great care and trouble and therefore the Children ought to requite their Affection and Kindness by shewing their Duty in Mourning after this manner But the time of Mourning for other Friends is much abbreviated sometimes it lasts a Year otherwhiles but three Months according as they stand related or affected to one another The legal time of Mourning for the Death of the Emperor or Empress was formerly three years and this outward shew of Sorrow extended even to the furthermost Confines of the Empire But now with the Emperor's consent which is openly proclaim'd the Months are turn'd into Days so that at the present they Mourn but only one Month for his Death but still the extent reaches over all his Dominions All the Funeral Ceremonies are written in a large Book which those concern'd peruse when a Person of Quality dies whereby they know how to order his Burial As soon as any Nobleman is dead the Son or who is next related to him in Blood signifies the same by a Book to all his Kindred and Friends upon the third or fourth day wherein the Mourning is set forth in the usual terms At the same time the Corps is incoffin'd and plac'd in the Hall or Chamber which is hung with white Linnen in the middle whereof is erected an Altar whereon is plac'd the Corps and Portraicture of the Deceased Into this Room come all the Kindred and Friends upon the third or fourth day clad in Mourning and bringing Incense and Wax-Lights to the Altar which being once lighted and burning they tender their Respects to the Dead in bowing and falling upon their Knees four times a while before burning a little Incense over against the Coffin and
being Images cut out of one hard Stone and made by the Command of a King who liv'd all his Life here in solitariness Near to Vucheu upon the Hill Vangkiu stands a strange Image in shape and proportion resembling a Man but attended with this peculiarity that according to the several tempers of the Air it receives several colours by the change whereof the Inhabitants know whether they shall have fair or foul Weather The Emperor Xius employ'd five thousand Men to dig a Passage quite through the Mountain Fang for he had heard of the before-mention'd deceitful Mountain-gazers who promise to foretel every Persons Destiny by the shape of the Hills some of whom had given out That they foresaw by this Hills shape that another Emperor should reign wherefore Xius to frustrate his approaching Fate caus'd this Hill to be cut through to alter its shape Near to the City Cing upon the Mountain Loyo stands the Statue of a great Lion out of whose Mouth gushes Water continually Near to the City Xeu in the Province of Nanking upon the Hill Cuking was found a great lump of Gold which they say had the Vertue of curing several Diseases The Hill Kieuquan is call'd The Hill of seven Palaces because the Sons of King Cyugan caus'd seven Palaces to be built upon it in which they resided and studied several Sciences The Hill Lin near to the City Tauleu is very famous for the expert Archery of one Hevyus who in this place shot seven Birds flying one after another Near to the City Ceu is the Mountain Changping very much noted for the Birth of the great and admir'd Philosopher Confutius Here also may be seen the Ruins of some City or Town that formerly stood upon it Near to the City Kioheu lies the Hill Fang not a little frequented by reason of the Tomb of the Ancestors of Confutius The Hill Kieuchin near to Hanyang has its Name from nine Virgins that were Sisters and liv'd thereon studying Chymistry Near to the City Cu lies the Mountain Cu where Report says King Ci buried much Gold and afterwards because he would not have it discover'd put to death all those that were employ'd in hiding it but by chance a young Son of one of the Workmen taking notice of what his Father was doing and bearing the same in mind when he came to years of discretion went and took it away with the cause of his Father's Death felicitating his own Life Upon certain high Hills of the Province of Suchue where it borders upon the Province Honan lies a Kingdom call'd Kiug absolute of it self and no ways subject to the Emperor 's of China only upon the account of Honor and the maintaining of a good Correspondence the King thereof receives from the Chinese Monarch his Crown and Scepter These High-land People will in no wise suffer the Chineses to come amongst them and very hardly to speak to them The People of this Kingdom are the Issue of them who fled out of the Province of Huquang to avoid the Outrages of the Enemy of the Race of Cheva and betook themselves to these high Mountains for safety where ever since their Posterity hath continu'd possessing innumerable brave Vales and incomparable good Lands which are secur'd against the Invasion or Inroads of any Enemy Upon some of the Mountains in China are great store of wild People who by reason of the narrow and difficult Passages to them are not to be brought under Subjection to the Emperor notwithstanding great Endeavors have been us'd to effect the same CHAP. XIV Of Mines of all sorts as Metals Stones c. VVIthin the spacious Continent of this Empire and chiefly upon the Mountains are found many rich Mines as well of Silver and Gold as other Metals in great abundance yet to dig for Gold or Silver out of any of them is forbid although it remains free for any Person to seek for Gold upon the sides and Banks of Rivers where the same is also found in great quantities with which all the Country drive their Trade by Bartering and Exchanging it away for other Commodities Upon the Mountain Yocheu is digg'd up a green Stone which being beaten to Powder affords the Painter a most delicate Vert. There are also several excellent Stone Quarries among which some of Marble whereof they make Tables and other curious Ornaments for their Houses it having such strange yet natural Veins that by their concentring the shapes of Hills Waters Trees Flowers are so admirably figur'd upon the same as if the most exquisite Artist of the World had depicted them with his Pencil In the Province of Peking is found very clear white and red Marble as also Touchstones and several other sorts of Stones which for colour and hardness are much valued And upon the Mountain Xaitung in the Province of Xansi the Iasper of several colours is found as also in Xensi upon the Hill Io are very clear Stones which for their lustre and sparkling resemble Diamonds Out of Mount Kiun is digg'd red Marble In Suchue on Mount Tiexe grows a Stone which being burnt in the Fire yields Iron very fit to make Swords The Hill Cucay near Chingtien brings forth Trees and Stones red of colour and in the Province of Huquang all the Products of the Hill Hoan which signifies The Yellow Hill even to the Earth and Stones are of a Gold colour There are several other Hills which produce strange and Precious Stones as the Hill Xeyen so nam'd because after Rain there are found Stones upon the same resembling Swallows Many other produce variety of Stones held in great Esteem by reason of Experiments which have been made of them in the cure of several Diseases as all sorts of Agues Fevers Calentures c. And as in some places are such variety of rare and Physical Stones so in others are Earth and Medicinal Drugs namely In the Province of Quangsi near to the City Cincheu is digg'd up a certain yellow Earth which is a powerful Antidote against all manner of Poison In the Iurisdiction of Huquang there are several Places where they gather great store of Manna which the Natives take for frozen Dew In the Province of Xansi upon the Mountain Tape they dig up a certain Earth so red that they use it for Vermilion to Print their red Seals whereas upon the Mountain Nieuxu the Earth is so white that it is us'd by the Women in stead of Paint for being dissolv'd in Water it strangely embellisheth the Face which is wash'd therewith Here also they have Mines of Coals which are like those in Europe There is also in divers Places throughout the whole Empire a certain sort of Lime which they press from the Bark of a Tree being tough and sticking like Pitch of this which I suppose I may call a Gum they make a certain sort of Paint wherewith they colour all their Ships Houses and Houshold-stuff which makes them to shine like Glass and
without a Father for as she was walking by the side of the Pool which runs through the City Lanthien in the Province of Xensi she trod accidentally as Fame suggests it in the Foot-steps of a Man which was in the Sand upon which being immediately with Iris or the Rain-bow she prov'd to be with Child and at her full time brought forth this Fohius in that Province who took upon him the Government two thousand nine hundred and fifty two years before Christ's Birth and Reigned a hundred and fifteen years This Emperor was a Man of a most upright and vertuous Disposition very well skill'd in Astrology seeking thereby as well to know and understand the Motions of the Heavens and Stars as to be fam'd for the well managing of Earthly Affairs and indeed he made discovery of several things relating to Astrology and introduc'd very good Laws whereby he kept his Subjects in awe reducing the same into Writing having for that purpose invented the first and most ancient Chinese Characters Till this Princes Time there was in China among the Men and Women no difference either of Habit or Manner neither did they know the civiliz'd Limits of lawful Wedlock but liv'd as Beasts in common one among another Both these things he reform'd ordaining the sacred Rites of Marriage and ordering the Men to wear their Clothes distinct in fashion from those of the Women Xinnungus was elected Emperor after the death of Fohius by reason of his eminent Vertues and Reigned a hundred and forty years He first invented the use of the Plough for tillage of the Ground and taught the Inhabitants the use thereof who finding the Benefit thereof began to manure the Land of their own accord which required their Industry with a plentiful Crop of Fruit for the better sustenance of Life and for this reason they call'd him Xinnungi which signifies The Ingenious Husbandman He was also a diligent Searcher into the Vertues of all Herbs and Plants making Experiments thereof upon his own Body After he had Reigned a hundred years one Hoangtius a petty King his Neighbor made War upon him and after having defeated and kill'd him won also the Kingdom The Defeat was receiv'd upon the Mountain Fano in the Place where now the City Peking is situate in the Province of Peking the Inhabitants of which Place still retain some memory of that War it being as they say the first that ever was wag'd in the World And thus by force of Arms Hoangtius came to the Empire who nevertheless for Vertue goodness of Mind and comely shape of Face and Body was hardly ever to be paralell'd He made several good Laws and particularly order'd just Weights and Measures But all these Vertues were in some measure sullied by his seeming Tyranny for he always kept an Army on foot wherewith he kept the Rebellious in awe And indeed there was nothing blame-worthy in him but this and his treacherous falling upon the foregoing Emperor and taking his Kingdom from him However he Govern'd very prudently and had a particular care of the Welfare of his Subjects one testimony whereof appear'd in his advancing Commerce which hitherto had been hindred by unpassable Ways for effecting whereof to the best advantage and accommodation of Trade and Travellers he caus'd Ways to be digg'd through Hills and Mountains by the same means likewise enlarging the Territories of his Empire He was the first in this Country that introduc'd the Imperial Crown and other Ceremonies and Marks of Majesty using blue and yellow Clothes in imitation of the two Colours of Heaven and Earth He invented the Art of Dying several Colours and then commanded the more Wealthy People to distinguish themselves from the Poor by wearing Apparel different in colour Where Rivers were great and broad for the better and more easie transfretation he caus'd the Trunks of Trees to be hollow'd out in the form of Boats but over the smaller and such as were narrow he order'd Bridges to be made And finding that difference in Commodities hindred Dealing for promotion of Trade he order'd Brass-Money to be Coyn'd and to defend both it and themselves against an Enemy he not only found out the Invention of Arms but taught his Subjects how to handle them There is a Report which is certainly strange but how true I will not decide That in the Hall of his Palace there grew an Herb of that Nature and Vertue that if an unjust Person came into the same it would turn and bow towards him as the Sun-Flower doth to the Sun He had by his Wives twenty five Children amongst which were fourteen lawfully begotten and liv'd to see them at Man's Estate nay which is more they report he never died but was receiv'd amongst the Xinsien that is The Immortal and doubtless this may with great Reason be said of him for his Name was immortaliz'd for his Vertue all the Chinese Emperors since his Time taking to themselves the by-Name of Hoangtius as the Roman Emperors after the first Caesar assum'd the Name of Caesars After his death his Son Xaohavus succeeded him in his Throne being nothing inferior to his Father for Vertue and Goodness in the Year 2597. before the Incarnation He Reigned eighty four years and was the first of all the Emperors that caus'd a distinction in the Degrees and Dignities of the Mandorins or Magistrates by their several bearings of Birds and Colours for it is a Custom to this day for every Magistrate to wear a particular colour'd Habit whereby his Place and Employment may be known to which end they bear a Bird or some other Mark embroiderâ—d with Gold and Silver both behind upon the Back and before upon the Breast that so every one that meets them may know what Place and Dignity he enjoys which Notes or Badges of distinctions are easily known for such as have any Employment in the Civil Magistracy have always tame Birds for their Cognisance but the Commanders over the Armies have Dragons Lions Tygers and the like wild Creatures which declare the destructive nature of War The Emperor Xaohavus made choice of Birds for this use before any other Creatures because at the beginning of his Reign the Bird of the Sun appear'd which was a sign of much prosperity of the Empire for if these Birds are long before they come the Chineses firmly believe that the Imperial Race will not be of long continuance but that there will be Wars made upon them What sort of Bird this is I could never understand but according to its shape as they describe it it is not unlike an Eagle only the Feathers are very curious as well for singularity of Colours as other beauty But in regard it so very rarely appears it may be suppos'd to be the Phenix by them call'd Fughoang This Emperor having Reign'd many years to the great satisfaction of the Inhabitants and by reason of his Age not being able any longer to take care of the Affairs
Successor in your Empire though there are many others better able to advise in a Point of so high a Nature yet I shall acquaint you with that which I suppose and hope may tend to your own and the Empires Good There is said he proceeding a Husbandman your Subject and a Batchelor look'd upon by all People for a very honest Man who for his Piety Vertue and good Disposition is so belov'd and respected among his Neighbors that they will give or lend him their Monies Lands and Houses without asking And so great is their Opinion of his Prudence that upon all Occasions they ask his Advice and follow it His Name is Xunus who by his Vertuous and Exemplary Life hath reclaim'd many vicious and debauch'd Persons and brought them to be Imitators of his Goodness and Sobriety although his Misfortune is great in this that his Father call'd Cassus is a Fool his Mother a pertinacious Woman and full of Tongue and his Brothers proud haughty and wilful The Emperor Yaus having heard this Relation told him that he would send to inquire concerning the Abilities of this so unfortunatelyâ—extracted Wise Man which not long after he accordingly did causing him to be brought to the Court At his first arrival he was entrusted with the Government of the West Country only that thereby the Emperor might be satisfied of his Ability and Honesty And according to the Character given of him herein Xunus so well behav'd himself that every Body but especially Yaus did with admiration reverence him and finding him every way extraordinarily qualified the Emperor soon after took him to his Assistance and cast the Care of the whole Government upon his Shoulders In which high Estimation and Grandeur he continu'd for the space of twenty eight Years that the Noble Prince Yaus liv'd But at last Yaus being over-laden with Years and ready to die in the Year before Christ's Birth 2257. admonish'd Xunus upon his Death-bed to accept of the Government in these or the like words Draw near to me and hear these my last words I have tokens enough of your Vertue and Honesty and that your Words and Deeds are correspondent each to other Therefore you must accept of the Scepter which is due to your Vertues and Services Take care of the Welfare and Good of your Subjects as a Father and remember that you must serve not enslave the People and so they will love and not fear you for this reason a King exceeds all his Subjects because he alone is to take care and to watch over all the rest Having thus said he yielded up the Ghost for whom Xunus Mourned not as one Friend for another but as a Son for his Father for according to the Custom of the Country where Sons lament their Parents Death he left the Government wholly to his Council and continu'd three whole years at the Grave of his Prince without removing from it This Solemnity of Grief being past and Xunus return'd to the Exercise of his Government he quickly gave Proofs of his Prudence and Clemency which caus'd him to be very much belov'd by his Subjects It is reported that in each Eye he had two Balls or Apples which was and still is held by the Chineses for a sign of extraordinary Fortune Being now setled he divided the Inhabitants into several Companies and gratifi'd each according to his Worth and Parts with his Offices he either made new Laws and Customs or reform'd the old The six Benches of Iudicature erected by his Predecessor Yaus were reduc'd by him into a better Form Afterwards he divided the whole Empire into twelve Provinces which he visited yearly in Person and whatever Learn'd or wise Men he found them he cherish'd and preferr'd above all others He gave in charge to the Governors and Mandorins of Provinces to promote Agriculture and Tillage above all other things that they should accommodate and shew themselves kind to all Strangers and Travellers to put into Offices only such as were able and of known and approv'd Integrity and give credit to honest and good People He devis'd likewise five sorts of Punishments according to which Malefactors were to suffer as the greatness of the Crime did deserve which were 1. Loss of Life 2. Cutting off the Nose 3. A Foot 4. A Hand and 5. Pulling out the Teeth He introduc'd likewise the Custom of banishing Malefactors the chiefest whereof were to be exil'd out of the Limits of that Empire and to be forc'd to live and reside amongst Forein People Another thing yet very observable of him is this That during his Reign he forbad that any should obey him meerly for fear of his Authority because he was Emperor but rather for love of his Goodness because he order'd that which was Iust and Right During his Government the Tartars of whom never any mention was made before in the Chinese Histories broke into China plundering and making Inroads into most of the Provinces But the good Prince who only car'd for the Welfare of his Subjects having rais'd a great Army march'd against them with it and by main force subduing the Enemy setled his Empire again in Peace and Quietness But since that time which is many Ages since the Tartars never left molesting and disturbing the said Countries till now at last in our Days they have made themselves Masters of the whole as I shall mention hereafter At the time of this Invasion as Fluctus fluctum sequitur one Evil seldom goes alone the Emperor was full of trouble by what means to repel the high Waters which threatned to overflow the lower parts of the Country After many Experiments he gave order at last to one Quenius to cast up a Bank against the same but he not being able to perform it and leaving the same imperfect the Charge of the Work was committed to his Son Yvus who in the space of thirteen years effected it to the great accommodation of the Inhabitants following his Design all that while with such earnestness that he would hardly eat or sleep Some part of this great and stupendious Work may be seen to this day as the Royal Channels in which great Vessels pass and Sail from one Place to another For the making whereof the Workmen were compell'd to dig through Rocks in some places and to divide or cut great Rivers into two or three and make Inlets for them into the Sea by which Industry great store of Ground was drain'd and recover'd from the Water under which it had lain immerged ultra memoriam This great Labor Diligence and Dexterity of Yvus us'd in the accomplishing this stupendious Work so far prevail'd upon the Affection of the Emperor that he made him his Fellow and Companion in the Government passing by his own Son so that they two without any ambitious Emulation or Envy to each other which is a very strange thing Govern'd seventeen years with equal Power and Authority At the end of which time Xunus hapning to
die and his eldest Son taking it ill thas Yvus should be preferr'd before him in regard he took it for granted that the Scepter did by hereditary Right belong unto him he endeavor'd to seat himself in the Imperial Throne by force of Arms But what Stratagems Policy or Force soever he us'd all prov'd vain â—or he could not prevail the generality of the People adhering cordially to Yvus in regard they judg'd him most deserving of the Crown which accordingly was setled upon him though not without some trouble This Yvus was the Founder of the first Chinese Imperial Race which he caus'd to be styl'd Hiaa and the last of the elected Emperors for when the Royal Chair after his Death became void his Son was unanimously admitted to succeed him and from that time the manner and custom of Election was chang'd into an hereditary Succession from Father to Son This Royal Race or Family which had its beginning in the before-mentioned Yvus in the Year 2207 before Christ's Birth sway'd the Imperial Scepter four hundred forty one years in a continu'd Line of seventeen Emperors who succeeded each other in the Government of China This Race being extinct for want of Issue arose the Family of Xanga whereof the Emperor Tangus in the Year 1766 before Christ's Birth was the first who call'd it Xanga from a Lordship of the same Name he possessed This Family produc'd twenty eight Emperors who sat upon the Throne successively for six hundred years and upwards to the Year 1122 before the Birth of Christ. This Line being extinct in the before-mention'd Year there arose a third call'd Cheva whose Founder was one Faus who at the beginning of his Reign changing his Name call'd himself Uvus that is A Warriour Thirty seven Emperors proceeded out of this Family and all successively sway'd the Scepter which ending the Year 246 before Christ's Birth the fourth Race call'd Ciua stood up whose Founder was nam'd Chingus but altering his Name was call'd Xius This Race which gave its Name to the whole Empire as I have already related was yet but of short continuance there having sprung but three Emperors from thence who Reigned forty years and extinguishing about the Year 206 before the Birth of Christ the fifth Race call'd Hana got into the Throne the Founder whereof was one Leupangus whose Successor in a direct Line held the Sovereignty of the Empire of China till the Year 264 after Christ's Birth This Family being brought under the sixth Race call'd Cyna stept into the Throne and Govern'd till the Year of our Lord 419. within which compass of Time there were no less than five Kings at once who were all call'd Utai and wag'd very cruel Wars one against another for above four hundred years At last having miserably worried and weakned each other they were all subdu'd by the seventh Race call'd Tanga which seized upon the whole Empire and Reigned with his Posterity till the Year of Christ 618. No sooner was this Race of Tanga at an end but the eighth call'd Sunga succeeded in which the Government continu'd till the Year of our Lord 1278. when the Tartars after a long and tedious destructive War with this Family â—unga for seventy three years conquer'd the whole Empire extirpating the whole Family and set up a new one call'd Ivena which Reigned over the Chineses till the Year 1368. But in the same Year appear'd a Priest call'd Chu who with the assistance of his Country-men expell'd the Tartars and setled himself in the Throne assuming the Name and Style of Hunguvus which signifies The Warlike Soldier from whom sprung the Race of Taicinga which held the Crown two hundred and eighty years but at last was brought under and wholly rooted out in the Year 1644 by the Tartars who once more conquer'd and over-ran the whole Empire and erected a new Generation of Royal Blood call'd Taicinga under its first Founder Xunchius who was born Great Cham of Tartary And thus having led you as it were by the Hand to the Tartar Government it will not be amiss to shew you as briefly as the Subject will bear as well the cause as the manner of that terrible Devastation which not only extirpated the same Family but brought the whole Country to the slavish Subjection of their unciviliz'd Barbarism The Tartars who for Antiquity go beyond all other People in Asia and from whom many and several Nations are sprung did in the Year 2158 before Christ's Birth make very bloody Wars against the Chineses wherein they were sometimes Conquerors possessing the Land and at other times conquer'd and driven out again Now it is to be observ'd That under the Name of Tartars I understand here those People that have their Habitations on the North side of that most renowned and famous Wall in former times built against the Invasions of those Barbarians and reaching from East to West three hundred Dutch Miles in length For what cause or reason these People have born for so many Ages so much Malice and Hatred to one another as appears by the bloody Wars they have made the Chinese Histories make no mention But others who would seem to be curious and understanding Inspectors therein ascribe it to the difference of Customs and Manners of these two Nations for as parity of Manners is a conceal'd beginning and introduction of Friendship so on the other Hand a difference therein is the original and true occasion of Enmity Now how much the Tartars and Chineses differ in their Customs and Manners will easily be made appear by the daily Employments and Actions each of them affects from the Cradle The Chinese is of an affable and peaceable Disposition addicted to Husbandry and loving all good Arts and Sciences But the Tartar on the other Hand delights in nothing so much as Hunting being very cunning and deceitful lusting after War and of a very loose and uncivil Comportment It is true both endeavor to shun Idleness but with Intentions very incoherent the one to live temperately and honestly but the other only to range abroad in a wild and beastial Barbarism It cannot be denied but that the Tartars and Chineses have wag'd War one against another for many Ages yet I dare be bold to say we read of none so terrible as those in this our Age for thereby the Tartars have not only made themselves Masters of all the said Empire but extirpated the last Royal Line that there is not any Vestigium or Trace left of them in being In short that the occasion of this last War may be the more fully and clearly understood I shall relate unto you the two first Conquests of China by way of Proemium You must first then take notice That the People of West-Tartary after they had brought under their Power almost all Asia which is the fruitfullest part of the inhabited World fell upon the Empire of China about the Year 1206 before Christ's Birth which was continu'd as is
done so closely as they suppos'd they presently imagin'd they had Weather'd the Point and overcome all Difficulties but they were not a little disappointed in their expectations for his Son who like his Father was of a Princely and Warlike Spirit being substituted in his Place as soon as setled in the Throne and at Peace with his Neighbors rais'd a great Army with an intention to Invade China in revenge of his Father's Death The chiefest Grandees and Councellors of his Kingdom encourag'd him in this Design whereupon in the Year 1616 he came with a very great Army to the Great Wall of Partition between Tartary and China with hopes to pass there which succeeded according to his desire for after a sharp Skirmish the Chineses betook themselves to flight leaving to the young King a free Passage into China with his victorious Army with which he first fell into the Province of Leaotunga and made himself Master of the City Tuxung or Cayven which lies near Tartary and the River Yalous the place where the Great Wall begins and here he Planted himself to carry on the War And this he undoubtedly did to this end that he might be able to save himself by flight by Sea in case the Chineses should have fall'n upon him and blockt him up and so have endeavor'd to have cut off his Passage from getting back again but if he were able to make good and stand his Ground then he foresaw it lay coveniently for him to receive Succors out of his own Country and from others his Allies whereby with continual Reinforcings he should be the better enabled to over-run that Empire which he had already conquer'd in his Eye Thus we see the King of Ninche safely got with his Army into his Enemie's Country where having pitch'd and fortifi'd himself as afore-mention'd he began to consult with himself of his Undertaking when considering what a small Force he had to conquer so powerful an Empire and that on the other hand he might be easily set upon by the Forces which lay in the Cities of the Provinces of Leaotung and Peking and destroy'd before he could be well secur'd he thought it best to add the Foxes Tail to the Lions Skin and so resov'd to send a civil Letter to the Emperor of China to complain of the wretched and inhumane Murther committed upon his Father to lay open the deceitful Carriages of his Governors in many Particulars but chiefly in the misusage of his Subjects in their Trade and Commerce and the like He likewise desir'd that the Emperor would not harbor a hard Opinion but pass a just Censure upon his Actions and Undertaking and cause condign punishment to be inflicted upon his Governors Last of all he desir'd That the Emperor would quit him the yearly Taxes which he paid to defray the Charges of this War And upon performance of these things he promis'd to quit the City he had taken and to retreat with his Army beyond the Wall and that the Inhabitants of China should be receiv'd and treated in Ninche as Friends and Allies For the Bearer of this Letter the King of Ninche to make it the more acceptable and effectual chose a certain Priest whom the Tartars call Lama with Command to deliver the same in a most submissive manner and seriously to lay before the Emperor and his Council the great quantity of Blood that was like to be spilt if not timely prevented by a friendly Accommodation between them The Emperor Vanlieus to whom the King of Ninche sent this civil Letter though in other things he was a wise and prudent Prince yet in this Business whether through his great Age he began to dote or that the greatness of hiâ— Power and State had stupifi'd his Brain shew'd not his wonted Prudence and Conduct for as he could not but very well understand by the Contents of the Letter that the Complaints of the King of Ninche were grounded upon weighty Reasons and not without great Cause yet he took the Business so little to heart and judg'd it of so small consequence as not worthy to be Debated in his Presence and so referr'd it to the Consideration of some of the Council or rather truly to some of his Governors and Commanders who had labor'd all they could at Court that it might be transmitted to them that so they might shew their Pride in not answering the Letter of a Tartar King for to that heighth was their insufferable arrogance grown that they thought it an undervaluing to their Honor and Grandeur to return any Answer unto it but in stead thereof signifi'd their high Displeasure that People subject unto them and who paid Taxes yearly to the Emperor shoâ—ld take upon them to come and complain of Injuries unto him Nor ceased they here but mocked and revil'd the King of Ninche with bitter words never considering that great Army wherewith he had invaded their Empire or so much as gathering any Forces together to oppose him The Tartar King finding himself thus slighted and scorn'd changing his anger into madness burst out into cursing and swearing that he would revenge the Murder of his Father with the death of two hundred thousand Chineses for as we said before it is a Custom amongst the Tartars that when any Persons of Quality die in honor of the Dead they fling into the Funeral Fire where the Deceased was burnt some Men-Servants Women Horses Bows and Arrows as if the Dead stood in need of these things hereafter and here the Vow of the King signifi'd that so many thousands should attend his Father's Funeral But they have very much left this barbarous cruelty since their Conquest of China insomuch that they now there bury their Dead after the Chinese fashion without burning though in their own Country perhaps they observe still the same Ceremony The King of Ninche being thus incensed marches forward with his Forces immediately and suddenly laid Siege to the Chief City Laoyang in the Province of Leaotung The Place was strongly fortifi'd and there was a Garrison of Soldiers within it all well Arm'd with Muskets whereas the Tartars use nothing but Zables Bows and Arrows for prevention therefore of the slaughter by Bullets which the Tartars were very fearful of for this sort of Arms was then altogether unknown to them they invented a Stratagem which might render the shooting of Bullets ineffectual unto the Chineses which was this Their King caus'd a great number of thick Planks to be made ready and caus'd each Foot-Soldier that march'd in the Van to carry one wherewith he secur'd both himself and the Horse that follow'd behind Being thus provided having lain a while before the City whose Inhabitants were unwilling to yield it was concluded to Storm the Place To this end the King divided his Forces into four Divisions to Storm the City in four places at once He commanded the Foot to march with their before-mention'd Planks in the Front next to them the worst
This Confederacy against Licungzus was not so privately carried but he had intelligence thereof But when the news was brought him that they were not only joyn'd but upon their March against him it struck such a terror into the Robber that he presently quitted the Imperial City of Peking not daring to stay or abide their coming and fled into the Province of Xensi for safety taking with him all that was of value and Seated himself in the Chief City of Sigan formerly the Court of the ancient Emperors As a testimony of the greatness of the Treasure that was carried out of Peking by this flying Tyrant and his Followers it is most certain that seven or eight days were spent wholly about loading of Wagons and Horses with the same and yet they left great store of Riches behind them being surpris'd with fear at the sudden coming of the Tartars And thus were the infinite Riches of Gold Silver Iewels and costly Furniture which sixteen Emperors of the Race of Taiminga had been scraping together for the space of two hundred and eighty years destroy'd and carried away But he had not yet gotten into Harbor with his Booty for in his flight he was set upon by the Tartar who recover'd from him all that mass of Wealth which he had so traiterously stoln and then marches directly to the Imperial City of Peking where the Inhabitants without making any resistance set open the Gates and gave them free entrance And thus at length and after this manner the Tartars became Masters of the whole Empire of China for which they had wag'd War and fought so many bloody Battels for many Ages And although at this time which was at the very first entrance the Tartar King Zungteus hapned to die yet which is very observable they were not thereby deterr'd from pursuing their design'd Conquest but endeavor'd both by Cunning and Policy to win the Hearts of the Chineses to affect them for though the Death of Zungteus gave a little check to their Affairs yet through his good Conduct while he liv'd he had open'd such a Way for them that they easily saw in what Method to proceed for the gaining of the whole Empire He left behind him a Son who was but six years old whom he declar'd his Successor upon his Death-bed enjoyning and conjuring his own Brothers prudently to Supervise and Govern the great Transactions of his Dominions during his Minority The eldest of these Brothers had the greatest hand in the management of Affairs which he most faithfully perform'd effecting very great things The Robber Licungzus being thus expell'd from his Usurpation Usanguejus endeavor'd to settle again in the Throne the next Heir of the Family and Race of Taiminga and with the more applause to effect it he return'd his hearty thanks to the Tartars for their faithful Assistance and Service highly commending their Courage shewn in driving out the Robber After this Complement perform'd he proffer'd them the promis'd Presents with request that upon receiving the same they would depart out of China and for the future forget the old Injuries which they had now sufficiently reveng'd But Usanguejus receiv'd from them an Answer quite contrary to his expectation which they had long since in their thoughts fram'd in these words It seems to us although perhaps you shall judge it otherwise as yet too soon for you to part with us China is not yet free from Armed Thieves but still too much over-run with them You may easily imagine how great a Danger is still imminent over your Head in regard the grand Robber Licungzus has setled himself in Sigan the Chief City of the Province of Xensi We have newly struck a fear and terror into him but if he be once inform'd of our Departure he will soon re-invade the Throne with fresh Forces and re-conquer the whole and then in regard of the great distance that will be between us it will be impossible for us to come timely enough to your assistance Wherefore we judge it better for us now we are here and before our Departure wholly to destroy these Plunderers and then all being in Peace and Quietness your new chosen Prince for the future will be freed from any new Troubles As to your Promises never think of them for they are as well perform'd by you as by us But if your Intentions aim at the Publick Good march with a potent Army against Licungzus and force him to leave that City while we in the mean time will endeavor to drive the other Robbers out of the Province of Xantung And in the doing of this the whole Empire will be setled in Peace Usanguejus who either did not perceive the craftiness of the Tartar of else dissembled his knowledge on purpose at present not to provoke him agreed at last to his Proposal and permitted him with his Forces to continue in China But the Tartars in pursuance of their long intended Design before they began their March at the request of Usanguejus with their Army into China to drive out Licungzus had sent into their own Country to raise a mighty Army with all speed for the Conquest thereof yet the better to palliate their Practice they us'd no Force against the Chineses but kept them in hand with kind and crafty Language till they had got their Forces out of Tartary who brought with them their young King of six years old call'd Xunteus whereby they first gave to understand that they aim'd at the Soveraignty for no sooner was their new-rais'd potent Army arriv'd but they Proclaim'd this young Child Emperor of China gave him the Name of Xunchi and Entitled his Race Taicung This Child who yet lives and Reigns in China and is now about twenty nine years of Age was plac'd with great Majesty in the ancient Imperial Throne through the good Conduct of his Uncles and near Relations who prov'd very faithful to him being entrusted with the sole management of all Affairs and of so great Courage and Valour civil loving and just Deportment that they won the Hearts of the Chineses Upon the very Day of this new Emperor's Instalment there was sent in his Name by the advice of his Uncle a Regiment or two of Tartars to Usanguejus who was upon his March towards the Province of Xensi to Fight with Licungzus with seal'd Letters whereby he was Constituted King Pingsi which signifies A Pacifier of the West the Chief City Sigan order'd to be his Court and that he should pay some yearly Tribute in token of his Obedience This Policy did the Guardians of the young Emperor use to satisfie and gain Usanguejus to their Party for they knew very well that the Interest which he had in China was sufficient to embroil the Affairs of the Tartars and involve them in new Troubles Usanguejus who could never expect the like Preferment from the Chinese Emperor considering that all the last Emperor's Children were dead and seeing the Tartars upon their March
whatsoever they found upon the North side of the River Kiang no Place being able to withstand them only the rich and famous City of Iangcheu made some considerable Resistance and kill'd many of the Tartars in their Sallies amongst whom was a Son of one of their Petty Kings This City was Commanded by one Zuus Colaus plac'd there by the new Emperor to whom he prov'd very faithful for he defended the Place wherein was a strong Garrison to the very last yet having endur'd a long and cruel Siege and seeing no likelihood of Relief the Provisions also being all spent he was forc'd to deliver it up to the Tartars who put all as well the Soldiers as Inhabitants to the Sword plunder'd the City and afterwards set it on fire The Tartars hereupon increas'd very much in Power and Authority so that many of the Chinese Commanders went over to them and were either continu'd in their present Employment or else preferr'd to better Which friendly and favorable treating such Officers and Cities as came voluntarily and without force over to them and on the other hand inflicting such great severity and cruelty on such as made opposition was the cause that most of the Places situate on the North side of the River Kiang submitted themselves to avoid the punishment and misusage which they should otherwise undergo by making opposition Having subdu'd these Places the next thing they undertook was against the City of Nanking formerly the Court of the ancient Emperors a stately City lying upon the South side of the River Kiang which separates the whole Empire of China into the Southern and Northern Divisions and runs quite through the middle of this Province And the better to accomplish their Design and to get the new Emperor into their Hands whom they knew was in this Place the Tartars provided beforehand great numbers of Boats to transport them over the River But the Chinese having likewise a considerable Fleet under the Command of the valiant Prince Hoangchoang endeavor'd to hinder their Passage The Tartars in their Boats fell upon the Chinese Fleet with great fury which was as manfully receiv'd and maintain'd the Fight so that both sides fought valiantly but at last the Tartars were vanquish'd and totally routed with a very great slaughter of their Men. But Fortune never constant but in her inconstancy did not long favor this brave General for a while after he was most treacherously kill'd by one of his Commanders a Traytor who had long before been hir'd by the Enemy to perpetrate this Villany one Thienus a Native of the Province of Leaotung who from his very Childhood had serv'd amongst the Chineses And as this Act in it self was direful so the Events that follow'd had a like miserable issue for through the unfortunate Death of this excellent Commander the Chinese Affairs began infinitely to decline and the whole Empire became a Prey to the Tartars in a short time after The Traytor Thienus not satisfi'd in having committed this foul Action but resolving to add Villany to Villany flies with his Men into Nanking under colour of performing his Duty as a faithful Officer but in truth with hopes to effect some other Treason as he afterwards did for the Emperor hearing of the Death of the late General was perswaded by this Thienus to leave the City As soon as the Tartars who were got over the River with their Army understood that the Emperor was fled they sent great Parties in pursuit of him whom the Traytor being present seeing approach commanded his Men to seize him and then deliver'd him up to the Tartars in Iuly 1645. who now having obtain'd what they aim'd at did not presently put him to death but carried him about in Triumph and at length brought him under the Walls of the Chief City of Peking there Strangled him with a Bow-string which manner of Death is held in great esteem amongst the Tartars And thus the Emperor Hungquang came to his End before he had Reigned a compleat Year Then they caus'd the Youth who pretended himself to be the Son of Zungchinius and whom they found in Prison to be also Strangled and not only these but all others they could meet with of the Royal Race for it is a Custom through all Asia that when a Kingdom is taken from another all the Kindred of that King are put to death by the Conqueror These things thus brought to pass the Tartar Army fell upon the Chief City of Nanking and took the same without any resistance or so much as â— Blow given and out of an innate hatred turn'd the Imperial Palace the ancient Seat of the Emperor's Courts and also their Tombs and Sepulchres into a heap of Stones yet never offer'd any hurt to the Inhabitants Houses Marching thence they reduc'd all the other Cities of this Province without any opposition they freely submitting to avoid their Cruelty This Province thus setled part of their Army was sent for Hangcheu the first Chief City of the Dominion of Chekiang and the other part march'd over the River Kiang to subdue the Southern Countries as Kiangsi Huquang and Quantung About this City was got together the remainder of the Chinese Army that had sav'd themselves by flight where they were about to chuse a new Emperor call'd Louangus of the Race of Taiminga But he earnestly refus'd to take upon him that Dignity being contented with the Kingly Title saying That when the Tartars were beaten and driven out of China then he would accept of it His Reign had not continu'd three days but he saw the Tartars coming to Fight with him and to drive him out of the Kingdom but he not frighted therewith being a valiant Prince encourag'd his Men to make a manly Resistance which they not only promis'd but faithfully perform'd behaving themselves with great Valour and Fidelity till they were not able to hold out any longer being overpower'd by Hunger Whereupon Louangus who had not his Fellow amongst the Chineses for Civility and a passionate Affection to his Subjects went to the Walls and entreated the Tartar General upon his Knees that if he would forgive the City and Inhabitants he should do with him what he would for he would willingly offer up himself a Sacrifice for his Subjects safety Which said he forthwith deliver'd himself freely over to the Tartars who by that means became Masters of the City yet being inrag'd by their resistance they neither had compassion on the Soldiers nor Inhabitants but put all to the Sword who could not save themselves by flight After this the Enemy took the City of Hangcheu without doing any prejudice to the Inhabitants thereof And from thence by the help of Boats passing the River Cienthang they came before Xaoking the most compleat and uniform City of all China which presently submitted to their Arms without making the least resistance And without doubt they had taken all the other Southern Cities without any opposition had they
Men die in misery His Design was really to have depopulated the whole Country of China that so being alone there might be none left to oppose him or be his Competitor And although the barbarousness of his Nature appear'd every where and upon all occasions yet did he give a proof of his Cruelty in no Place more than in the Province of Suchuen where he took upon him the Royal Title and put most of the Inhabitants to death He would frequently cause a whole Family to be utterly destroy'd if any one of them had not obey'd his Orders according to his will and mind He abounded so very much in Feral Barbarism that oftentimes if by chance any one had offended him he would cause all the Inhabitants residing within the same Street to undergo the Fury of his inhumane and bestial rage He was civil and kind to none but his Soldiers with whom he would Converse and Drink as if he had been but their Companion and many times would bestow great Presents upon them if they had perform'd any thing well and according to his mind yet on the other hand for the least Offence or Neglect he made nothing to put multitudes of them to death And which is yet more this bloudy Caitiff's Butchery extended to very Magistrates but in special manner to those of the Chief City of Chingtu of the Province of Suchuen so that of six hundred in the space of three years were hardly twenty left that escap'd with their Lives and it was a Recreation to see and cause People to be flay'd alive When this Blood-thirsty Tyrant endeavor'd to take the Chief City of the Province of Xensi which in regard of its Strength is call'd The Key of Suchuen and Xensi he came in the Year 1645. before it with a very great Army of at least a hundred and eighty thousand Natives of the Province only beside a vast number of others out of several other Provinces When the Siege had continu'd a long time for the Inhabitants defended themselves with wonderful Courage there ran over to the Besieged at least forty thousand Men out of his Camp which troubled and provoked the Tyrant so much that he caus'd the remainder of a hundred and eighty thousand Men of Suchuen to be cruelly massacred and murther'd by their other Fellow Soldiers before his Face When he heard that the Tartars in the Year 1646. were fall'n with their Forces into the Province of Xensi he found himself necessitated to prevent such an unquiet and troublesom Neighborhood to march against them but lest the Inhabitants of Suchuen to many of whom he had been so cruel should conspire against him in his absence he caus'd them all to be put to death except such as live toward the North-East Then he march'd first to Chingtu the principal Chief City of the Province of Suchen and caus'd all its Inhabitants both Rich and Poor being above six hundred thousand in number to be bound by his Soldiers and afterwards miserably slain by the effusion of whose Blood the Chineses write that the Water of the great River Kiang which runs before the City was extraordinarily swell'd and rais'd The dead Bodies that they might not taint or infect the Air were flung into the River which being carried down with the Stream soon brought this mournful news to the neighboring Cities and Places viewing what they were like to expect if they resisted not the fierceness of that merciless Beast which though they did with all their Might yet it was not long before the same cruel usage reach'd many of them And after this manner was this Province which formerly abounded with People laid waste and made desolate both of People and Habitations These Villanies perpetrated and being now to march against the Tartars he encourages his Soldiers to behave themselves valiantly for that he had Silver enough to reward such as did well but in regard the Women as he suppos'd would be a trouble to them not only upon their March but in the Battel he caus'd them to be put to death therein shewing them the way for of three hundred beautiful Women which he us'd for his own lustful Pleasure he reserv'd only twenty to wait upon his three Queens all the other being massacred in view of the whole Army whereupon the Soldiers following his barbarous and bloody Example did the like either by Shot or Sword killing their Wives in a most wretched manner Having destroy'd all the Inhabitants of the Province and no more left to exercise his Cruelty upon he fell upon the Cities and Houses laying them waste and not leaving any one Place standing wheresoever his ruining Feet trod nay more to shew his hatred to Posterity he caus'd all the Trees to be fell'd and cut down that so no body for the future should have any benefit by them after him such as were sick and not able to follow the Camp he caus'd likewise to be hang'd up to prevent them as he scoffingly said from living or dying in pain and misery After all this barbarous Havock and Desolation made this Enemy of Mankind pass'd with his Army into the Province of Xensi whither the General of the Tartars follow'd him at the Heels with an Army of fifty thousand Men unâ—â—l the residue of the whole Army could get up to him When the news was brought him that the Tartars were in sight of him with a great Army he laugh'd at those that reported such a Fable as he thought it not believing it possible that such a thing could be till going out of his Tent himself to make the discovery the first Object that he met with was the sight of five Tartars who according to the Custom of those People were sent out before to discover and demand whether he would have Peace or War but in stead thereof they presently fell upon him and the first Arrow that was shot pierc'd him quite through the Heart wherewith falling down dead upon the Place it struck so great a fear into all his Followers that they were soon overthrown The news of this Victory was quickly spread abroad upon the report of which such Tartars as were left alive and had escap'd the bloody Hands of the Traytor in the Province of Suchuen came out of their Holes and cry'd up the Victors as their Deliverers And thus at length the Province of Suchuen fell under the Subjection of the Tartars who putting Garrisons into the chiefest Places march'd back with their Army to the Imperial City of Peking where upon their Arrival the General of the Army though he return'd victorious yet so slippery are the Stations of Great Men was very unworthily receiv'd by his Brother who accus'd him of Neglect in that he had not well perform'd his Charge The faithful General with this disgraceful Affront was put into so violent a Passion as being conscious of his own Merit and knowing that he had deserv'd the greatest Thanks imaginable for what he had done he
the Chinese Tongue and the Italian Translated from the Portuguese place the Year of the Erection of this Stone in the Year 782. after the Birth of Christ but the Syriack Inscription fixeth the time according to the Compute of the Grecians at the Year 1092. which how different it is from the other Accompt is easie to be discover'd by any one Now that all these Particulars may be the better reconcil'd and this Knot also unloos'd I thought it requisite first to set down word for word the Translations of the aforesaid Inscription Thus the Portuguese hath it No nosso Potentado do Grande Tam segundo Anno deste Kien Cium que eram do Senhor 782. no mes de Autuno no settimo dia dia de Domingo foy allevantada esta pedra sendo Bispo Nim Ciu que governa a Igreia China Thus the Italian Nel nostro Potentato del Gran Tam secondo Adno di questo Kien Cium che erano del Signore 782. nel mese di Autunno nel settimo giorno giorno di Dominica fu inalzata questa pietra essendo Vescouo Nim Ciu che governa la Chiesa della China The Italian Version is thus In our Dominion of the Grand Tam the second Year of this Kien Cium which was of our Lord 782. in the Month of Autumn on the seventh day upon the Sunday this Monument was erected Nim Ciu being Bishop who is over the Church of China The Interpretation of both of them is this In our Potency of the Great Tam viz. the King in the second Year of this Kien Cium which was the Year of our Lord 782. in the Month of Autumn on the seventh day being the Lord's Day this Stone was erected Nim Ciu the Bishop Governing the Church of China The Syriack Inscription BISNAT ALF VE TISSAIN VE TARTEN DIUNOIO That is In the Year 1092. according to the Grecian Accompt Now seeing the Eastern or the Greek Church doth agree for the most part with the Latin in the Compute of their Years it is demanded after what manner these Years may be reconcil'd I answer therefore That this Monument was Mark'd or Sculp'd with a two-fold kind of Computation of the Years us'd by the aforesaid Promulgers of the Christian Law viz. One being the Ecclesiastical Accompt of the Years of Christ which the faithful Christians 〈◊〉 where use in China the other was a Politick or Civil Year which was common to the Syrians Chaldeans Arabians Egyptians and almost to the whole East which that you may the better understand you must observe that the Years of the Grecians of which the Books of the Maccabees make mention are the same with those that are otherwise call'd by the Chaldeans The Years of the Seleâ—cians Syro-Grecians or Syro-Macedonians but by the Hebrews The Years of Contracts and by the Egytians The Alexandrian Years or The Accompt from the 〈◊〉 of Alexander by the Arabians they are term'd Dhul Karnain which is as much as to say Of Alexander holding of two Horns and they therefore call him so either as Christmannus will have it because that he subdu'd both the Oriental and Occidental Parts of the World or as I suppose more probably from Iupiter Ammon who was figur'd with the Head of a Ram whose Son Alexander would be esteem'd or in relation unto the he-Goat unto which Daniel compareth him or lastly they are call'd The Years of Philip which I have shew'd above to be call'd by Albategnius Tarich Alkupti and the Epocha of those Years beginneth 12 Years compleat after the Decease of Alexander the Great as St. Hierome observeth out of Eusebius on Daniel cap. 9. who is follow'd herein by Ribera Torniellus and others Now although before Iulius Caesar these Years seem to have had another form and another beginning of their Month yet notwithstanding by the common Supputation they take their Entrance from the Calends of October The Names of the Months are either Greek or Syro-Chaldean in other respects they agree with the quantity and form of the Iulian Year only that the Intercalary Day is added in this Epocha or Accompt unto the Month Sabâ—th which is answerable unto our Month of February These things being noted beforehand we place the beginning of the Grecian Empire by the consent of Eusebius Scaliger and others in the Year current before the Year of the Christian Epocha or Accompt 310. in the 117 th Olympiad according unto the Chronicle of Alexandria for it is agreed upon by all that Alexander the Great died in that very year in which the 114 th Olympiad began in the latter end of the Month Hecatombaeon as Plutarch writeth viz. before the Christian Accompt 322. for Christ was born in the third year of the 194 th Olympiad consider'd exclusively therefore the years of the Kingdoms of the Grecians beginning or taking place from the year of Christ 310. going on do differ so that the year 310 of the Kingdom of the Grecians beginneth from the first year of Christ whence it cometh to pass that if you add 310 unto the year of Christ propos'd the beginning year of Alexander will arise in the very year of Christ that is current or going on and if you substract 310 from the year of Alexander the year of Christ remaineth in which that year of Alexander is discover'd and finally if the year of Alexander be substracted from 310. the number remaining will shew the year before the Christian Epocha or Accompt in which the year of the Grecians began or in which the Aera or Compute of Alexander had its beginning which Compute the Arabians and Egyptians call Tarich Dhul Karnain This being thus demonstrated if you substract 310 which is the difference between the year of Christ and the year of Alexander from the Grecian or Alexandrian year 1092. that is Engraven in Syriack Characters on the Stone there will remain 782. which is the year of Christ Insculp'd on the Stone in Chinesian Characters exactly answering to the Syro-Grecian or Alexandrian year A Paradigma of the Compute or Accompt Alexander the Great died according to Plutarch Olymp. 114 A. After whose Death as St. Hierome witnesseth twelve years being compleated the Alexandrian Epocha began viz. Olymp. 117 B. Nâ—w Christ was born the third year exclusively viz. Olymp. 194 C. The Stone was erected in the Alexandrian year 1092 D. And in the year of Christ 782. E. This being thus laid down substract the number B. from the number C. and you have the difference of the aforesaid Olympiads viz. 77 Olympiads which being reduc'd into years each Olympiad consisting of four years the Product will be 308. and unto those add the two years compleated of the Olympiad in which Christ was born and they will make 310. which being substracted from 1092. there remaineth E. the number of the years of Christ in which the Stone was erected Wherefore with good advisement they Engrav'd this two-fold Computation of Time upon this Stone that so such
in the same quoted place of Antonius unto St. Lewis King of France who was also at the same time intent on the War undertaken against the Mahumetans in the Island of Cyprus in which Epistle he ardently exhorteth him to accomplish the same Enterprize together with him and because it is worthy of consideration I thought it requisite here to insert it This is the Exemplar or Transcript of the Letter which Ercaltay Prince of the Tartars sent unto King Lewis and by his Command Translated into Latin word for word THe Words of Ercaltay sent by the Power of the High God from the King of the Land of Cham unto the Great King the Strenuous or Victorious Conqueror of many Provinces the Sword of the World the Victory of Christianity the Defender of the Apostolical Religion Son of the Evangelical Law King of France let God increase his Dominion and preserve it for many years and fulfill his Desires in the Law and in the World now and in the World to come by the Verity of his Divine Power that leadeth all Men and all the Prophets and Apostles Amen A hundred thousand Salutes and Benedictions and this I request That he will accept these Benedictions and that they may appear great in his sight God grant that I may behold this magnificent King who hath approached so near unto us Now the most High Creator grant this our Meeting may be in Charity and cause us to assemble together in Unity After this our Salutation That in this our Epistle we intend nothing but the advantage of Christianity and to strengthen the Hands of the Christians and I beseech God to render the Christian Armies successful and that they may become triumphant over their Adversaries that contemn the Cross. Now on the part or behalf of the Great King let God advance him let God increase his Magnificence in the Presence of Cyochaym We come with Power and Command that all Christians be free from Servitude and Tribute from Force Compulsion and the like that they be Honor'd and had in Reverence and that none take away or deprive them of their Possessions and that their demolish'd Churches be re-edifi'd their Tables founded and that no Person may restrain them to Pray with a quiet Conscience and free Mind for our King We have sent hither by our faithful Servant the venerable Person Sabaldi David and Mark and they declare those good Reports and relate by word of Mouth how Matters are carried with us now the Son may receive their words and may concredit them and in our Letters the King of the Earth may be exalted His Magnificence commandeth that in the Law of God there be no difference between the Grecian and the Roman the Armenian Nestorian and Iacobite and all those that adore the Cross for they are all one with us and so we desire that the Magnificent King would not be divided or be contrary amongst us but that his Piety may be shewn upon all the Christians and that his Goodness and Clemency may continue Thus far the Example of the Epistle which was sent to the King of France in Cyprus from Ercaltay Prince of the Tartars unto which other Letters are sufficiently consonant which a little before were Presented unto the same King from the King of Cyprus and the Count of Ioppa a Transcript of which also together with the Transcript of the aforesaid Letter of Ercaltay were sent by the venerable Legate unto Pope Innocent the Fourth This I have transcrib'd our of Antonius Also St. Lewis sent unto the foremention'd Ercaltay and to the Great Cham Ambassadors of the Order of St. Dominick with rich Gifts or Presents one whereof was that which they call A Baldachin a most magnificent Present in which the whole Life of Christ was beheld interwoven in Tapestry-work by a wonderful Art together with a piece of the Cross But concerning this see more at large St. Antonius in the fore-cited place as also Vincentius Bishop of Bellay in his Speculum Historicum or Historical Looking-Glass all which hapned about the Year 1256. and are consonant to what we a little before alledg'd out of Paulus Venetus and Haython St. Antonius asserteth in the place quoted That some Tartars came unto the Council held under Innocent the Fourth At length Anno 1300. as Vadingus relateth in the Life of Odiricus many Religious Persons of the Order of St. Francis were sent unto the Great Cham into the greater Cathay and Tartary and remain'd in the Cities of Cambalu and Nanchin which they call The City of Heaven as also the Kingdom of Tebeth Converting many of the Infidels and Pagans unto the Faith of Christ. This St. Odiricus above-mention'd was a Person of the same Order who being inflam'd with a zeal of gaining all the People of those Kingdoms unto Christ is reported to have travell'd thither as is shewn at large by the Reverend Fathers Bollandus and Hoenschenius in the splendid Work of The Lives of the Saints unto which I refer the Reader where in the first Tome on the fifteenth day of Ianuary they at large demonstrate the same in their Learned Commentaries And therefore by this occasion the Gospel of Christ being spread throughout all Tartary and the Kingdom of Cathay which is China was in every Place much augmented But as we have often said before what through the defect of the Cultivators of the Vineyard of Christ or by the various Successors of the Empire very little addicted unto the Christian Faith or from some other causes the Tartarian Church reduc'd unto its Chaos partly adher'd unto the Superstition of the Gentiles partâ—ly unto the Law of Mahomet or else to the Heresie of the Nestorians who in the Year 1300. undertaking an Expedition or Voyage from Chaldea into Tartary to â—sow their Tares infected the Minds of the Christians there yet remainining with the Venome of their impious Opinions and also taught them who were ignorant of Writing before the use of the Chaldean Characters which the Tartars use unto this Day But how the Tartars became Mahumetans read in Matthias Micheu in his first Book of the Asiatick Tartary And this is that which in brief I esteem'd requisite to acquaint the Reader with concerning the Change of the Christian Religion in China Tartaria and the other Regions of India CHAP. VII Of the last Introduction of Christianity into China THe Church of Christ continuing thus from Anno 636. in which the Syro-Chinesian Monument was erected in China and making great Progress behold the Enemy of Mankind by the Assistance of wicked Men threw down at one shock or storm whatsoever the Church of God had perfected in many years the Preachers of the Christian Faith out of the hatred and envy of the Bonzii being some put to death and the rest banish'd whence the Faithful at that time persever'd in the constancy of the Faith receiv'd even unto the Death but their Posterity in process of time
being brought up in the Rites of the Law of the Gentiles even unto the Year 1256. in which the Great Cham Emperor of the Tartars making an Incursion into China or Cathay with an irresistible Army in a short space as I have related before subjected the whole Country unto his Dominion who as he was instructed in the Christian Religion so also a great multitude of Christians as Paulus Venetus and Haython relate entring with him Propagated themselves in a great number who at length when again the Natives recover'd the whole Empire and expell'd the Tartars the Christians also whether out of fear of Persecution or out of hope of living better among the Tartars left China and follow'd them and those that remain'd behind retain'd only some external Ceremonies And these are those Christians whom the Chineses by the Name of The Adorers of the Cross relate to have liv'd in China concerning which see what I have said before Therefore China being again accustom'd unto its Country Worship of Idols so continu'd unto the Year 1542. in which a new Light of Truth shone forth unto it for after that St. Francis Xavier an Apostle elected by God for the Salvation of the Indians had sown the Seed of the Word of God through all the unknown Parts of the World with a great and incredible gain of Souls and had gain'd Iapan an Island hardly noted to the World unto the Faith of Christ at length he apply'd his Mind inflam'd with a thirst of obtaining Souls unto Christ to the Conversion of the Chineses using his utmost endeavor that he might become Master of his Desires But it seem'd otherwise fit to the Divine disposal of the Heavenly Majesty for expecting an opportunity of entring China in Santian an Isle adjoining to the Coasts of China he was seiz'd with a Fever where being replenish'd with Merits and now ready to receive the Reward of Eternal Blessedness for those his signal Labors perform'd he rendred his Spirit unto his Creator and took his flight unto Heaven and what he could not perform of himself that he obtain'd with God by his Intercessions that his Successor in so great a Charge might accomplish after the following manner Alexander Valignanus of our Society who Anno 1582. conducted the three Vice-Roys of Iapan who were Converted to the Christian Faith to render Obedience to Pope Gregory the Thirteenth he I say had come out of Europe as appointed Visitor by the Vicar-General of all the Indies and now having pass'd over that part of India that is on this side of Ganges he set Sail to view that which is situate on the other side of Ganges and at length arriving in the Port of Amaca he determin'd with himself to pass over into Iaponia but being hinder'd by the Laws of Navigation he continu'd full ten Months in our Station of Amaca where being wholly inform'd of the Chinesian Affairs he resolv'd with great ardency to prosecute the Voyage or Expedition begun by his Predecessors that hitherto lay hid in the Embers for from the magnitude of the Empire the nobleness of the Nation their great Peace now enjoy'd for so many years the Prudence of the Magistrates as also the Political Mode of Government unto which none were admitted but only such Persons as were accomplish'd in all kinds of Literature from these Considerations I say he most rationally concluded That the Chineses being a Nation subtle and addicted unto the Studies of good Arts might so far at length be wrought upon as to admit of or tolerate certain Persons excelling in Virtue and Learning to abide or inhabit in their Empire and especially such as were not unskilful in their Country Language and Learning and he seem'd to be of opinion that in time it might so come to pass that the Rules and Statutes of the most holy Christian Law might have a propitious Influence on this Nation seeing they were so far from the disturbance of the Political or Civil Administration of the Republick or Empire that they would rather highly promote the same whence China abominating their Heathenish Vanities might conceive an hope or desire of the Heavenly good things and have an Eye unto Eternity therefore on that very account he commanded without any delay some Persons sent for out of India to employ their utmost Endeavors for the attaining of the Chinesian Language and Learning they were two Italians one Father Michael Rogerius and the other Father Matthew Riccius which when they had in some measure attain'd with very great Industry they entred the City of Canton with hope to get some Habitation in it but being often frustrated in their Intentions they return'd to Amaca It can hardly be express'd how many and various Adventures or Casualties interpos'd which rendred the Business of the undertaken Voyage if not desperate yet at least very much eclips'd and fading all which in the end being overcome the Matter was brought to the wish'd Conclusion by Father Matthew Riccius unto whom by the prosperous Lot of our Fathers the first Way was open'd into the Empire of China and to him also the blessed Success of the Christian Law ought deservedly to be ascrib'd This Person had been formerly the Scholar of Father Christopher Clavius one very well skill'd in the Mathematical Sciences he being associated unto Father Rogerius and being stor'd with abundance of curious things together with a formal Embassy from the Portuguese to the Vice-Roy of Canton made his Entrance into China and so bewitch'd the Fancy of the Governor with the Novelty of the Presents that he brought with him that he avouch'd that neiâ—â— he himself nor all China ever beheld the like and he also not only retain'd these Fathers with him as Persons dropt from Heaven but likewise shew'd them all the Respect and Civility that possibly he could The Fame of such great Matters being nois'd abroad possess'd the Minds not only of many Learned Persons in the Kingdom of Canton but throughout the whole Empire whom when they could not possibly behold in Presence or carry those admirable things with them that were so reported of they call'd them unto them every where by Letters dated out of all the Kingdoms to come and behold them for those things which were now grown common in Europe were esteem'd as Miracles in China being there as yet both unseen and unheard of Now there were amongst the rest a Clock both exact and curiously fram'd shewing besides the Hour of the Day the Rising and Setting of the Sun the Day of the Month and Age of the Moon There was also a Trigonal Glass which some thought to be an inestimable Iewel and others suppos'd it to be a part or portion of the Celestial Orb moreover Geographical Maps which express'd the Globe of the Earth unto the grat amazement and admiration of all For as the Chineses were of opinion that there was nothing else without the vast Empire of China so they could not apprehend that