Zukeng 7 1258 XXII Zukia 2 1225 XXIII Linsin 63 1219 XXIV Kenting 21 1198 XXV Uvye 4 1194 XXVI Taiting 3 1191 XXVII Tiye 37 1154 XXVIII Che 33 After the subduing of the House of Xang rose the Family Cheu Anno 1122. and flourish'd till Anno 247. before our Saviors Nativity under thirty seven Emperors The first of them was a Prince call'd Fa who when he enjoy'd the Crown chang'd his Name to V which signifies Valiant and they say that from him all the Emperors since at their entring on the Throne change their Names He possess'd in the Province Xensi a Countrey nam'd Cheu from whence the Family receiv'd their Denomination Before Christs Birth Raign'd Years 1078 I. Fa or U 7 1115 II. Ching 38 1122 III. Kang 26 1056 IV. Cha 51 1001 V. Mo 55 946 VI. Cung 12 934 VII Is 25 894 VIII Hia 15 896 IX Is 16 878 X. Li 38 827 XI Siveni 46 781 XII Ie 11 770 XIII Ping 51 719 XIV Vou 23 696 XV. Chuang 15 631 XVI Li 5 676 XVII Hoei 25 651 XVIII Siang 33 618 XIX Hiang 6 612 XX. Quang 6 606 XXI Fing 21 585 XXII Kien 14 571 XXIII Ling 27 544 XXIV King 25 519 XXV King 44 Between which was the Emperor Menguen who Raign'd scarce a Moneth  Raign'd  Years 475 XXVI Yuen 7 468 XXVII Chinting 27 440 XXX Ka 15 Ka is accounted the thirtieth for after Chintung's Death his other Sons being Kiucie and Xocie attempted for the Empire and in that regard were accounted as being two viz. the twenty eighth and twenty ninth because they acted for some time but at last Ka mastering them became absolute and so was reckon'd the thirtieth  Raign'd Years 542 XXXI Gueilie 24 401 XXXII Gan 26 375 XXXIII Lie 7 368 XXXIV Hien 48 322 XXXV Xicini 6 314 XXXVI Fo 59 254 XXXVII Cheukuni 9 After the House of Cheu came the Family Cin under their Advancer Ching who was afterwards call'd Xi in the Year 246. and continu'd but to Anno 206.  Raign'd Years 246 I. Ching or Xi 37 209 II. Ulxi 3 206 III. Ing 46 After the Family Cin the House of Han follow'd which flourish'd till Anno 264. after Christ. The first Raiser of this House was Before the Nativity Raign'd Years 206 I. Lieupang or Kaozu 17 194 II. Hoei 7 187 III. Liuheva a Woman 8 179 IV. Veni 23 156 V. Hiaoking 16 140 VI. Hiaou 54 86 VII Hiaoche 12 74 VIII Ho 7 73 IX Siveni 25 48 X. Iuen 16 32 XI Ching 26 6 XII Ngay 6 These are the Names of the Emperors every one in their Families before the Birth of our Saviour according as they are written in the Chinese Chronicles Translated into Latin by Father Martyn but those that have Raign'd since the Incarnation I have receiv'd no account of being not yet render'd to us in any other Language After the Family of Han arose that of Cyn and flourish'd after the Birth of Christ till Anno 1419. At the same time were also five Kings call'd Utai which maintain'd War against one another till by their Ruine the Family Tang took upon them the sole Government of China which they kept till Anno 618. In the Year 923. the Family Sung succeeded that of Tang and Raign'd over all China till Anno 1278. when this House was utterly subdu'd by the Tartars who set up the Family of Iuen which Govern'd China till 1368. in which Year rose the House of Taiming from a Priest call'd Chu who drove the Tartars out of China but this Family was Anno 1644. destroy'd and by a huge Rebellion the East Tartars of Munchu were invited to Ayd the Prince but the way once open'd they swallow'd all and from their Prince nam'd the whole Empire of China Taising The Magistrates or Governors in China taken in general are of two Degrees or Orders the first are such as not only in the Metropolis officiate the places of Privy Councellors but from thence have influence over the whole Empire the other are such as Govern peculiar Provinces or Cities The general Government or that of the first Degree are by Alvarez Semedo describ'd in the following words The Prime Government of China consists in six Benches Chambers or Courts which by a general Name are call'd Pu that is The Kings Benches These manage not only the Affairs of the Realm in the Courts where they reside but like the Head on which all the other depend Rule and give Orders to them according to their several places Every Councel hath his President which they call Chamxu with two Assistants the one nam'd Koxilam who is the Chief and sits on the left Hand by them counted most honorable and the other Yeuxilam These are the first and most profitable Offices of the Empire except that of Kolao's so that a Tutang or Vice-Roy of what Province so e're it be after he hath given Testimony of his Capacity if he would be Promoted thinks himself well provided for though not a Prime Councellor to be only one of the Assistants that sit on the left or right Hand Besides these there is a Councel of Ten which are of equal Dignity only distinguish'd by several Titles and deciding of different Causes To these are to be added the vast numbers of greater and lesser Officers as Notaries Secretaries Clerks Servants Officers and such as we call Bayliffs besides many others not known in Europe The first Councel or Court which have the greatest Command and receive the highest Presents and greatest Fees are the Councel of State call'd Lipu that is properly Councel of Magistrates for Pu signifies a Councel and Li Magistrates To these belong all the Offices in the Empire to change or promote them for he who is once in an Employment rises continually by degrees to higher Dignities They have also Power to restore those to their Employments that are displac'd as if a Mandarin is for some Misdemeanor put out of his place he may easily obtain it again if he be in favor with this Councel The second Bench is call'd Pimpu that is Councel of War which have as great a Command as those of State viz. over all the Militia with the Schools and Academies and for instruction of Youth in Martial Discipline and the Exercise of Arms. The third is of the Customs call'd Limpu which though not of great Commands yet they are of no less Quality for the Mandarins in which it consists are chosen out of the Emperor's Councel Hanlin which are next to the Kolao's the Prime place of Honor in China This Council hath knowledge of all Letters and likewise of Ecclesiastical Affairs Bonzies Strangers and the like The fourth Councel is that of the Emperor's Revenues call'd Hupu which take care to get in the Emperor's Treasure Customs Farms and in general all things that bring in Money The fifth call'd Cumpu look after all business of Building and Architecture and especially what belongs
Spectators for his bold attempt excusing his unworthiness of that Office then he writes over the first Mark on the upper end of the Board with black Ink another in this manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for then that which signifi'd Emperor is chang'd and is as much as Lord so that in this manner with the first under written Name of the Deceas'd a full Sentence is made viz. The Lord N. N. This Board the Deceased's Friends carry with his Image to his House that it may be yearly Worship'd and remember'd by his Predecessors So soon as this Inscription is finish'd the Writer goes by them all having Bow'd and Kneel'd four times But before the Friends depart they are either entertain'd in a House rais'd of Mats or in the next Chappel at a Noble Treat at which the first Cup is given to the Children as they say to wipe off their Tears At their return home some Tausus or Conjurers come to the Mourning House that by the sprinkling of certain Water they may drive away as they say evil Spirits and bring Peace and Quiet to the House The Chineses and Tartars use one Colour but not one Fashion for their Mourning All the Tartars both Friends and Relations wear a long Coat of Sack-Cloth reaching down to their Feet and gird it about their Middle with a Hempen Cord they put on their oldest Buskins and worst Hats without the red Silk-Fringe which at other times they wear for an Ornament The Hair of their Head or Beard is not shaven in all that time After the expiration of a Moneth every one throws in a fire of Paper and other such like Materials their Mourning Girdle with which they judge their Mourning to be ended and Habit themselves again in their usual Apparel Neighbors and acquaintance shew that they Mourn by pulling their Silk Fringe from their Hats The Tartar Women in the time of Mourning change their Apparel being usually Black into White their Coifs which else are cover'd with their Hair resemble a White Cap with Tassels that hang over their Shoulders The Chineses Mourning alters yearly their first year both Men and Women wear all over their Bodies a Sute of Sack-Cloth full of holes with Shooes of White Cloth and a Rope about their Wastes seeming thus by the carelesness of their Garb to express their sorrow for the Death of their Parents The second year their Habit is made of sleight Cloth their Hat of the usual Fashion but of another Colour their Shooes handsomer and their Girdles of Hemp left off The third year they may wear Silk Clothes and their Hats of the same Stuff but White or else of the usual Colour which is generally Black In this time they follow no imployment though of the greatest concern nor may sit opposite to or by the Visitants as others but on a low Bench. In the first Months they not only abstain as is usual in Fastings from Flesh Fish Milk Wine and the like but eat very unsavory things neither season'd with Salt nor Herbs And as the time of Mourning for a Wife Brother more distant Relations or Friends is much shorter so is also their Apparel and Meat better The Childrens Mourning for their Parents is three year which time the Wife must observe for the death of her Husband the eldest Son or his Wife is by his Parents Mourn'd for a year and as long a time the Man Mourns for his Wife and one Brother for another This long time of Mourning observ'd by the Children for the Death of their Parents hath as Martinius tell us been observ'd by the Chineses ever since the Emperor Xun's time who Mourn'd for his Predecessor Ya being his Father three whole years at his Grave without stirring thence and intrusting the care of his Realm during that time to his Vice-Roys and as the same Martinius adds from thence it is that they Mourn in that manner for their Parents always staying in their Houses laying down all Offices changing their Meat and Furniture to meaner and always sitting on a low Bench upon this account also they drink no Wine but live only on Pot-Herbs Their Clothes are very Fantastick made of Sack-Cloth their Lodging Rooms meaner nay they frame their manner of speaking to a much more sorrowful Tone and whereas before they us'd to write with Red on Paper streak'd with Vermilion now they use only Yellow or Blue Colours as a token of their Sorrow It is very strange to observe the Duty and Reverence which the Children shew to their Dead Parents wherein no other People may be compar'd to them for many though Magistrates when observing that their Parents being grown very old have need of their help they desire the Emperor to excuse them from their Office without urging any thing but that according to their Duty they may go to assist their aged Father which the Emperor seldom refuses As to what concerns their Mourning three years the Chinese Philosophers give this reason That it is most fit those which in their first three years have receiv'd their Parents Love should spend so much time after their Death in Mourning and bewailing their loss therefore it is no marvel that the Chineses count it the greatest misfortune in the world to have no Children because they know that no body will look after them in their Age nor at their Death Mourn for them The reasons why they make White to be Mourning and not Black is as themselves say because White is Natural when as all other things are Dy'd or Artificial by which as they say is signifi'd that in Sorrow neither Art nor Pride must be shewn for where a true Sorrow is Nature sufficiently expresses it Thus far Martinius With great preparation and Pomp the Emperor Zungte Father to this present Emperor was Interr'd The next day being the eighth of their first Moon after the Emperor's Death his Corps was put into the Coffin about Noon There was not one Tartar in all Peking that serv'd in publick Affairs but he went thither with his Wife and Daughters which so throng'd the Courts that none were able to get thorow The eldest were receiv'd into the first Court next the Emperor's Lodging where they all together bewail'd his Death with many loud Shreeks and Cries in which to admiration they obseâ—…e an exact time with stops and pauses as in Musick After all the Tartars divided into eight Companies let into the Emperor's Hall by two and two there bewail'd his Death they went away and made room for others so that the Cry continu'd without any cessation the Multitudes still going out and coming in Mean while there were not a few that fasted three days not daring to go out of the Gates nor their Servants suffer'd to bring them any Refreshment Father Iohn Adam Schall at that time present there taking compassion of the People which were ready to perish for Hunger and Thirst Petition'd the Governors either to furnish them with Provisions
chang'd to true and lawful Succession by Birth Sometimes it hath happen'd though very seldom that the youngest Son contrary both to the Laws of Nature and the Realm was declar'd Emperor either for his extraordinary Valor or Prudence as Anno 209. before the Birth of Christ it happen'd to the Emperor Ulxi who after his Father Cin's Death was chosen Emperor in stead of his eldest Brother Fâ—…sa When the eldest Son hath taken Possession of the Throne the rest only boast of their Princely Allyance for they have not in the least any Authority yet the Emperor gives them each a City to reside in with a Magnificent Palace Attendants and Revenues where they keep Court in great State and are serv'd accordingly yet have no Command of the Citizens and that they might not have so much together as to enable them to raise a Commotion the Emperor's Allowance is paid them every three Moneths and on forfeiture of their Lives they may not stir out of the Limits of the City so design'd for their subsistance The Empire hath sometimes also been Govern'd by a Woman for Anno 490. before the Nativity of Christ the Emperor Lieupang's Consort after the Death of Hoci her Son Govern'd the Countrey eight years At the Election of a new Emperor thirteen Contingencies are to be observ'd The first is the alteration of annual Accounts for they begin to reckon from the Inauguration of their new Emperor which they use not only in common Discourses but in their Letters and all manner of Writings The Emperor also gives his Name to that Year in which he begins to Reign for we must observe that all the Years of any Emperor's Raign when soe're they die are reckon'd for whole Years and so make his Coronation the New-Years-Day that is the beginning of the Year and yet though the Chineses immediately and in the same Year have another yet they still shew Honor and Obedience to the late Emperor though Dead till the Years end doing all things in his Name and likewise all Edicts and Proclamations are Seal'd and Mark'd with the same Signets as if he were still living but the Successor gives his Name to the following Year The second they instantly Coyn new Money with the Letters of his Name which doth not abate any thing of the value of the old Coyn. The third his Lawful Wife is Crown'd Empress The fourth they give the Name of Queen to six of his Concubines The fifth they make Offerings to the Heavens Earth and Spirits The sixth they bestow great Alms on the Poor The seventh all Prisoners are set at liberty The eighth all the Magistrates are nobly Treated The ninth all the Women that were Concubines before are put out of the Palace The tenth the Seraglioes which are four in number are fill'd with fresh Beauties fetch'd from all parts of the Empire during which time there are many Marriages because every one seeks to free his Daughter from such a retired Life The eleventh Persons of Quality if not all at least those of Cities either come themselves or send Agents to shew Obedience and acknowledge the new Emperor The twelfth all Officers from the Vice-Roys to the inferior Governors of Cities go in Person to the Court to shew the same Obedience and take the Oath of Allegiance in behalf of their Towns and Provinces The thirteenth is that the Emperor changes his own Name as is before-mention'd The Reverence which the Chineses anciently shew'd to their Kings they perform'd in this manner They Prostrate themselves to him bowing down their Bodies and looking with their Faces to the North for they say that their Kings look always to the South for which reason all the Gates of their Palaces Doors of Chambers and all Draw-Bridges face the South from whence proceeds a Proverb That the Chineses though at great distance always honor their King when with usual Ceremonies they receive their Guests They say that the Tartar Prince who at this day possesseth the Countrey of China and resides in the Metropolis Peking is not the great Cham or Lord of all Tartary as hath hitherto been believ'd but a mean Prince of the Tartars whose Grand-father was the first King of his Family promoted to that Dignity by the Inhabitants of his Countrey which was only a small Province in Tartary call'd Muncheu The Father of this present Emperor call'd Zunchi was the fifth of his Family his Fortune seem'd to be so strange in the Eyes of other Princes of his Countrey that they compar'd him to Lightning when e're they spake of him for they usually said that the Gods and Heavens could only prevent him in any thing The present Emperor Zunchi's Son is call'd Konchi a Youth of about sixteen years The first Ruler of whom the Chineses make mention in their Histories was nam'd Puoncu and after him Tienhoang Ginhoang and Yonjui but in those times the Provinces were govern'd by the Heads of their Princical Families The first Emperors that before the Birth of our Saviour Govern'd China and were Elected and set on the Throne by most Voices were eight in number viz. from the Year before the Nativity of Christ 2952. to the Year 2207. before which the Chineses allow of none in their Histories which in that time are stuff'd with many strange and fabulous Relations as well concerning the Age of Men as Years of the Governors for if we will credit their Writers the World stood many Thousands of Years before the Deluge The first Emperor was Before Christs Birth Raign'd Years 2952 I. Fohi 115 2837 II. Xinnung 140 2697 III. Hoangti 100 2597 IV. Xaohau 84 2513 V. Chuenhio 78 2435 VI. Ko 70 2357 VII Ya 90 2258 VIII Xan 33 After Xun the Empire was Govern'd by Hereditary Succession and the first House or Family Hia was rais'd under the Emperor Yu which continu'd four hundred Years under seventeen Emperors viz. Before Christs Nativity Raign'd Years 2207 I. Yu 10 2197 II. Khi 9 2188 III. Taikang 29 2159 IV. Chumkang 13 2146 V. Siang 27 2058 VI. Xaokang 22 2057 VII Chu 17 2040 VIII Hoai 26 2014 IX Mang 18 1996 X Is 16 1980 XI Pukiang 59 1821 XII Kung 21 1800 XIII Kin 21 1769 XIV Cungkia 31 1848 XV. Ka 11 1838 XVI Fau 19 1818 XVII Kie 52 After the Family Hia the House of Xang succeeded being first rais'd by the Emperor Tang from whom sprung twenty eight Emperors viz. Before the Birth of Christ. Raign'd Years 1766 I. Tang 13  II. Taikia 33 1720 III. Voting 92 1691 IV. Taikeng 25 1666 V. Siaokia 17 1659 VI. Iungie 12 1641 VII Taiu 75 1562 VIII Chungting 13 1549 IX Vaigni 15 1534 X. Hotankia 9 1525 XI Zuie 19 1506 XII Zusini 16 1490 XIII Vokia 25 1464 XIV Zuting 32 1433 XV. Nankeng 25 1408 XVI Yangkia 7 1401 XVII Puonkeng 28 1373 XVIII Siaosini 21 3352 XIX Siaoye 18 1324 XX. Vuting 59 1265 XXI
converting his rage into a contrary passion he would have worshipped her but she refusing such honour bad him return thanks to Heaven and the Gods which he ceased not to do after that becoming a zealous Penitent Not long after Biou Tsongong dy'd and Quanien betook her self to Lamhay a Place in China where she spent the remainder of her Life in great Piety After her Death they built a stately Temple in honor of her and Interr'd her Corps in the middle which remains at this day as the Chineses believe as fresh and sound as if it had been buried but a day Every year the Priests go thither to celebrate the Anniversary of her Death in the sixth Moon on the eighteenth day with Sports and Feasting which hath won so much esteem that the Chineses implore her help and assistance in all Tribulations The thirty ninth Goddess is call'd Nioma or as others will have it Matzou she was born in the City Kotzo in the Territory of Houkong where her Father was Vice-Roy This Nioma resolving also to live and die a Virgin to that end went to dwell in the Island Piscadores or Fishers-Isle otherwise by the Inhabitants call'd Pehoe lying to the Northward twelve Leagues distant from Formosa where she spent her Life in a Pious and most Religious manner Her Image not long after was set up in the Temple with two Servants one on the right and another on the left-side each of them holding a Fan in their Hands which cover'd the Goddesses Head She hath also as they say Spirits under her command and is highly honor'd amongst the Chineses for so great and powerful a Deity that all the Emperors at their Inaugurations must not omit to pay their Devotions in the Temple of this Nioma Her greatest Festival is on the three and twentieth day of the third Moon when the Priests repair from all Places of the Empire to her Tomb because she knows as they believe when any Strangers shall address themselves to that Countrey and whether their intentions be good or evil nay more will give certain Responses to any that consult her in what affair soever so that they are so perswaded and superstitious concerning her admonishments that they think all is lost if she advise not thereunto The original of her Adoration sprung hence as the Chinese Records have it One Campo a Chinese Admiral going out with an Armado to Engage with a foreign Enemy being driven by contrary Winds was necessitated to anchor under the Lee of this Isle but afterwards the Storm ceasing and the Wind and Weather growing fair the Fleet weighed and hoising Sail set forward but all the Sea-men with their conjoined strength could not get up his Anchor which while they wondred at this Goddess appear'd to the Admiral whom imploring she advis'd to take her aboard for the People against whom he had Commission to Fight were great Magitians practising the Black Art and could raise or lay Spirits at their pleasure but she was able to frustrate their diabolical practises Thus perswaded the Admiral with great reverence took her into his Ship and coming to the Shore where they intended to Land these Masters of occult Sciences us'd their skill as Nioma had foretold but she baffled them in their own Arts and so made their powerfullest Charms of no effect wherefore the King that trusted to his Necromancers being necessitated to Engage with the Chineses was by her direction and assistance contrary to his confidence utterly defeated and brought under subjection The Admiral though sensible of the wonderful Service which she had done by her power desir'd that she would do something in his presence that he might relate having so many eye-witnesses to the Emperor And having accidentally a wither'd Cane in his Hand Nioma took it and upon his Request immediately made it grow and blossom and to yield a sweet smell Which signal Prodigy the Admiral fix'd on his Stern and coming to the Emperor related to him all his Adventures whereupon he in honor and commemoration of her favors commanded that they should worship her as a Goddess through the whole Empire Since which every Ship bears her Image in the Stern and the Sea-men are strangely devoted to her The fortieth God call'd Sikjaa born in the Kingdom Tantaico opposite to the West of China they held for the first inventer of that Religion which the Chineses observe to this day He always went bare headed neither eating Flesh Fish or other Creature that had life and lived single This Sikjaa Drawn or Carv'd to the life stands upon the Altars in their Temples and on the right-side at the entrance of the Door Over against him and in some Temples round about him stand long Tables at which the Priests sit reading and muttering to themselves Prayers to Sikjaa to receive them into Heaven Two Priests watch day and night before his Altar often bowing to the Ground and lifting up their Heads equally together whilst their Tabors and Pipes consorted with other Wind-Instruments makes no unpleasing harmony In their Diet the Priests follow the strict Life of Sikjaa eating nothing but Rice Grapes and Herbs they live some in the Wildernesses like Hermits others frequent the Temples abroad and spend their time for a small gratuity in making Offerings in peoples Houses having no allowance either from the Emperor or Charity of the People They never pare their Nails some of them growing six eight ten and twelve Inches long which the Chineses count a great Ornament The Doctrine of this Sikjaa is at large declared in the following Description of China The one and fortieth God is call'd Ang-jaa and is carried from House to House on the eleventh day of the third Moon on an Altar by six Priests whereof three go before and three behind before him stands a Perfuming-pot with burning Incense and other Aromaticks The Mendicant Priests stop at every House and never leave Singing and Praying tinckling two small Basons one against another till the Master of the House comes and brings them some Money in a piece of Paper as an Offering to this God This Ang-jaa is not Clothed like the other Gods but quite naked having onely a Cloth about his Middle which reaches down to his Heels and over his Shoulders a Scarf his Hair Beard Mustacho's and Face differ much from the other Chinese Numens the Hair of his Face more resembling an European than an Asiatick concerning which dissimilitude the Chineses themselves are altogether silent The two and fortieth Deity call'd Tontekong is represented in the shape of an antient Man with a white Beard and said to be a great abhorrer of Gaming and Adultery which by all means possible he sought to extinguish wherefore the Chineses have placed him in Heaven and also invoke him daily to defend them from Thieves The three and fortieth God nam'd Teiton a valiant Heroe represented with a drawn Sword in his left-hand whose Services in redeeming the Empire like to be lost by
and had his chiefest Residence on the Islands Ay Quemuy and others lying under the Continent of China The Chineses themselves on the Main Coast who had submitted and in token thereof shav'd off their Hair conform'd to the Tartars brought them all sorts of Provisions and drove also a private Trade with them The Tartars at last to stop all Provisions from going to the Enemy commanded all the Villages Towns and Hamlets that stood along the Sea-shore or the Main Continent to be burnt to the Ground and the Countrey laid waste and no People suffer'd on pain of death to live within three Leagues of the Sea By this means and likewise by the great Losses which Coxinga sustained from the Tartars assisted by the Netherlanders who set upon them both at Sea and Land he found himself so straightned that Anno 1660. he Sail'd with all his Forces to Tayowan and Formosa both which Islands and also the Castle Zelandia he took in March Anno 1661. after a Siege of ten Moneths Very cruelly were several of the Netherlanders dealt withall especially the Ministers Anthony Hantbroel Aren Vincenius Leonard Campen Peter Muts and others and at last put to death others against Agreement kept in Prison without hopes of attaining their Liberty notwithstanding the great trouble the Hollanders took upon them to procure their enlargement Therefore in revenge of Coxinga's Cruelties and also to regain the conquer'd Places a Fleet was sent out the next year after under the Command of the afore-mention'd Admiral Balthazar Bort and Vice-Admiral Iohn van Campen with the Ambassador Constantine Nobel with Letters from his Excellency Iohn Maetzuiker to Singlamong Vice-Roy of the Territory Fokien and the General Taisang Lipoui for the same purpose and also to request liberty for a free Trade Since the Letter to the Vice-Roy Singlamong in brief contains the Reasons and Intentions for sending out the Fleet to the Coast of China and the dispatching of an Ambassador thither and may also serve for a small declaration of our following Discourse I judge it no way amiss to set it down before-hand being to this effect This Letter comes from John Maetzuiker chief Governor and the Councel for the Netherland State in the Countreys of India to Singlamong Vice-Roy or Governor for the Mighty Emperor of Tartary and China of the Territory Fokien whom the God of Heaven grant long Life and Prosperity on Earth Great and Powerful Sir THe Letter sent some time since from Your Highness to our Governor of Tayowan he hath receiv'd in due time and also not been negligent to Answer according to Request and with all speed sent five Men of War with some Soldiers to the Bay of Engeling that according to Your Highness's noble Proposal and Request they might bidding defiance to Coxinga fall upon him But We were so unhappy that as soon as the Ships set Sail from Tayowan they were surpris'd by a mighty Storm which separated them one from another so that some of them came back to Batavia and others were forc'd to return again to Tayowan which is the onely Reason that We could not perform Our good Intentions according to Your Highness's Pleasure Since which time Coxinga hath joyn'd all his Forces together to Master our Castle in Tayowan having Besieged it ten Moneths rais'd great Batteries against it on all sides and so straitned the Besieged with his Army that the Governor and his Councel concluded to deliver him the Fort which We have resented very ill of our People because as We suppose they have not as they ought to have done manfully resisted the Enemy which as an Example to terrifie others We will not pass by unpunished Yet since We have suffer'd so great a Loss and Damage and chiefly for that against his Promise he hath most cruelly Murder'd several Unarmed Christians on the Island Formosa God who is a hater of such Villanies and a righteous Judge commands Us to take Revenge for our sustained Wrongs so that we are resolv'd with all our Forces to prosecute this Tyrant and not leave till by force of Arms We have brought him to nought And since we are inform'd that Your Highness also intends and endeavors the like Ruine towards him so at once to free the Empire of China from the Oppression which it hath suffer'd so many years by his Means Therefore We think it now the most proper time to obtain as well Your Highness's as our own Desires to which end according to Your Highness's own Proposal We are inclin'd to joyn all Our Land and Sea-Forces with Your Highness's Militia against which We suppose Coxinga will not be able to subsist long And to shew that We really intend it We have sent from hence under the Command of Our Admiral Balthazar Bort to the Bay of Hossien the number of twelve well prepar'd Men of War which considering their strength and fit posture for defence may justly be term'd Floating Castles and will be able to make Coxinga quit the Sea which will not a little trouble and disable him of which We hope Your Highness shall in a short time see the Event We therefore fortifie Our selves hoping that Your Highness will do the like that We may enter into a firm League with the Empire of China with Promises faithfully to assist one another against Coxinga and to hold him for our mortal Enemy and with all Endeavors if it be possible bring him and all his Party to utter Ruine so to make him taste the sharpness of Our Revenge for his committed Villanies But since at present having lost Tayowan We have no convenient Harbors to preserve Our Ships in stormy Weather Our humble Request is That your Highness would please to do us that favor as far as your Commands reach along the Sea-Coasts to Permit and Order us a place wherein our Ships if they should chance to be necessitated may come to an Anchor and that they may be kindly receiv'd and our People entertain'd as Friends and buy Provisions and other Necessaries for Money China and Batavia as your Highness very well knows lie a great distance one from another therefore it is very necessary and requisite that we had a convenient place of Rendezvouz near Coxinga's Channel there to keep our Ships together and watch for his Jonks so that we desire of your Highness that you would be pleas'd to direct us to such a place and to give us leave likewise to Fortifie the same against Coxinga's Assaults for we do assure your Highness if this cannot be granted us it is altogether impossible for us to do the Enemy that damage which may be expected Therefore if we intend to manage this War with Prudence we must be there to wait on our business continually or else we shall not be able to clear the Sea of Coxinga's Ships And as the driving of Trade makes all Nations and People flourish and we are us'd from Antiquity to promote the same for the benefit of the
but intended to return very shortly with fresh Recruits and then with joynt Forces to set upon Tayowan Whereto the Agents reply'd That his Majesty and the Council of State knew not but that the Admiral and the whole Fleet had been still upon the Coast for which reason they had with all speed written to their Excellencies to go with them to Tayowan that the Hollanders might be repossess'd of it which his Majesty earnestly desir'd They would willingly deliver him his Majesties Letter now but their Highnesses the Vice-Roy Singlamong and General Lipovi who were also concern'd in it being absent it could not be done therefore they desir'd he would be pleas'd to have patience till their coming which would be very shortly Hogenhoek having drank a Cup or two of Tee took his leave and was conducted out at the Gates by the Agents who profess'd great love to the Hollanders In his return home Hogenhoek met with the Conbon or Governor of Hoksieu accompany'd with divers Noblemen and Mandarins who were all going to welcome and Complement the Agents On Monday Morning being the fifth one Mandarin came in the Agents name to salute Hogenhoek and after having been entertain'd with Wine and Fruit took his leave Soon after Hogenhoek went to the Governor to ask If the opening of his Majesties Letter must be defer'd till the Vice-Roys and Generals coming home Who answer'd That it was very requisite and because the Letter must be broke open in the presence of the foremention'd Persons and him he had already sent an Express about it to their Excellencies But that it would be eighteen or twenty days before the Vice-Roy could return till which time he must have Patience Then Hogenhoek ask'd the Governor if it was requisite to invite the Agents to a Treat and some other Recreation Whereupon he was answer'd That before they had done all their Commands and Businesses they durst not come but when that was done he might do his pleasure Asking moreover If Hogenhoek did yet doubt whether he was a true friend to the Hollanders And told him That they were too hasty in the going with their Ships and had they staid but five or six days longer they might without doubt have carry'd this News to the King of Iacatra meaning Maetzuiker But the Admiral for two years together was gone so hastily that he did not so much as take his leave of any person which was not well taken by them and they had written their discontent concerning it to the General and Governor of India Which Hogenhoek answering said That necessity had forc'd them After being handsomly entertain'd the Netherlanders taking their leave return'd to their Quarters The sixth being Tuesday some Chinese Merchants came to the Dutch Store-house to look upon the Commodities that were left and afterwards ask'd if the Hollanders would dispose of them by Parcels or all together To which Hogenhoek reply'd That if they lik'd the whole quantity that he would dispose of them all and be paid for them as in Constantine Nobel's time at which the Merchants laughing said That then the Goods were sold the dearer because it was the first time that the Hollanders drove a Trade there and also because the Chineses were formerly forbidden on pain of Death not to buy such Commodities of Foraigners But if they would abate something of their Price considering the whole Parcel then they would Treat with them which if they would not do they told Hogenhoek that he might keep them a year or two longer Whereupon Hogenhoek desir'd them to make a proffer which was an hundred and forty Tail for the Cloves an hundred and twenty for Quicksilver for Amber of twelve Guilders eight Tail for that of eleven seven Tail and an half for that of six four Tail for that of five three Tail for that of twenty four Stivers nine Maes for the best sort of Camphier of twenty three Ryals eighteen Tail for the second sort of twenty Ryals sixteen Tail and a half for Scarlet six Tail the Dutch Ell for Crimson four Tail for other Colours three Tail and if he thought fit to dispose of them at these Rates they would deliver him White-Raw-Silk in the sixth Moneth at the Market Price which should be then to which Hogenhoek desiring some time of consideration they return'd On Thursday being the eighth the General Lipovi return'd with all his Train to Hoksieu where he was nobly receiv'd by the Conbon or Governor Friday the ninth Hogenhoek sent the Factor Pedel to the General Lipovi to Complement and welcome him in his Name because the Chollick wherewith he was sore afflicted prevented him from doing it in Person Being come home he related That the General had accepted of the excuse and ask'd if he had sold all his Goods to which Pedel had made answer No and that they remain'd without any enquiry for them which the Governor said was not strange to him because they held them at so high a rate and if they intended to dispose of them before more came they must set a more moderate Price as they had done before or else they would hereafter so stick on their Hands that they would get nothing near so much for them as they might do now The tenth being Saturday the General sent for a piece of Crown Serge to Hogenhoek which being carry'd him he ask'd What he must pay for it Hogenhoek answering said Forty Tail to which the Factor reply'd If the Merchants pay forty my Master ought to pay but thirty eight because he wants it for his own use to make a Tent of it whereupon Hogenhoek according to his desire let him have it On Sunday towards the Evening the Governor sent his Servant to invite Hogenhoek to come to Dine with him the next day to which returning Thanks he sent word that he would come notwithstanding he was not well On Monday Morning the twelfth Hogenhoek went to the General Lipovi's House to Complement and welcome him because at his coming he could not in Person do it being prevented by Sickness and now going to a Treat at the Governors it might have been ill resented if he had not first visited the General When coming he had immediately Audience by the General who before he sate down ask'd him concerning his Health and why he walk'd abroad so soon and that he could see by his looks that he was not perfectly cur'd To which he answer'd That he did it for the Reasons aforesaid fearing if he had deny'd that the Governor might perhaps have resented it ill The General after he had drank and Presented Hogenhoek with a Cup of Milk mixt with Bean Flower and Peking Butter he began to speak concerning the Letter that came from the Emperor whereby he said It appear'd how the Emperor lov'd the Hollanders observing he had Commanded his Forces to go to assist them out of his own Dominions which was never done before neither in the Chinese nor Tartar Government Nay that
they are great lovers are never made without either Flesh or Fish The Emperor Che who began his Reign before the Birth of our Saviour Anno 1150. first us'd Sticks of Ivory to Eat with and Ivory Dishes but these Sticks are not always made of Ivory but sometimes of Ebony or some other such like Materials and tipt only at the ends with which they touch the Meat with Silver or Gold yet the Inhabitants of the Counties Iunningfu in the Province of Iunnan a Rustick and Salvage People use not the foremention'd Sticks but put the Meat into their Mouths sooping it down by whole handfuls The Chineses sit at their Tables on high and artificial wrought Stools and not cross-Legg'd like the Tartars Anciently they us'd neither Stools nor Tables but sat on the Ground cross-Legg'd after the same manner as most of the Asiatick and African People yet do insomuch that they have but one Character for a Table and a Carpet Tables were first brought in use among the Chineses near the Raign of the Emperor Han which ever since they have observ'd and have them and their Stools very curious They use many Ceremonies as well in the middle as in the beginning oâ—… ending of their Feasts The Master of the House as their Taster first sitting down when he hath taken a Morsel and tasted the Liquor then recommending invites his Friends to sit down and do the like In the middle of their Feast they change their small Dishes into great and all present Masters and whatsoever have the freedom of drinking what they please but none inforc'd to more Persons of Quality make Feasts when they return from a Journey and it often happens that one Man will go to seven or eight Feasts in a day only to oblige his Friends by his Presence When they have time they send some days before Letters to peculiar Friends desiring them to come to their Feasts which if they cannot being otherwise ingag'd then they excuse themselves again by a Letter and they put off their Feasts till they can come with which they acquaint them by another Letter call'd A Letter of Request At the day appointed those that are there first stay without in a Hall till all the rest are come then they go into the Dining-Room where the Master of the House using some Ceremonies puts all things in a readiness which done every one seats himself according to his Quality and the Invitor sits down in State to animate his Guests to Eat and Drink They sit a loâ—…g while at Table for besides their Discourses they have Musick and Comedians who strait Personate whatever they call for or desire Their Feasts end in many Complements which the Guests make to the Master to whom they send a Letter the next Morning extolling the noble Entertainment and all things thereto belonging and hearty thanks for the honor which they receiv'd by it The Chineses as Trigaut witnesseth eat all manner of Dainties which we have in Europe and very well know how to dress and prepare them but they bring but very little of a sort to their Tables for they account the glory of their Feast to consist in the variety of Petits and Hotch-potches neither do they eat Flesh and Fish apart as we but mix them together Moreover no manner of Meat being once put on the Table is taken away till Dinner is ended wherefore they not onely fill the Tables setting one Dish by another but heap them up like their own Turrets No Bread nor Rice is set on the Table before the Guests except at some small Feasts or towards the latter end if there be then they drink no Wine for the Chineses drink not any before Rice They have also several Games at their Feasts like ours where every one that loseth is forc'd to take up his Cup at which all the rest rejoyce and clap their Hands The Chineses are very mannerly at Meals and keep their Dinners early Mushroms they account a great Dainty sending for them from the Mountain Tienno lying in the County of Hancheufu belonging to the Province of Chekiang near the small City Lingan They are carry'd through all China and being Salted and dry'd last good a whole year They steep them first in Water before they boyl them by which means they become as fresh again as when first gather'd In no place in all China is more Butter and Milk us'd than in the City of Sucheu in the Province of Nanking for Martinius relates that he saw none in any place else The Inhabitants of this City exceed the other Chineses in preparing their Meats with Sugar Salt Vinegar Wine and Herbs The Inhabitants of the twelfth County Xunningfu in the Province of Iunnan a salvage People stick not to eat according to the foremention'd Martinius all manner of Creatures that are not venomous The People of the fourth Territory Chingvenfu in the Province of Queicheu have no Salt but use the Ashes of an Herb call'd Kine in stead thereof Amongst those of the Province Kiangsi are some which all the year long gather up the Bones of dead Cattel and lay them in Porcelane Dishes at their Feasts to fill up their empty Platters that their Dishes may be heap'd one upon another according to the Custom of the Countrey Marriages and Matrimonial Ceremonies THree thousand years since to this day according to an inviolable Law Marriages have been observ'd in China Antiently they us'd many Ceremonies in Betrothing each other and amongst others to give their Hands as we do but most of them are chang'd some quite extinguish'd and others new At this day they observe two kinds of Marriages one firm as with us not to be dissolv'd but by the Death of one or both In this the Woman is conducted with many Ceremonies to her Husbands House The second is a kind of Concubinate yet suffer'd by that Countrey amongst such as have no Children but that limitation is a meer pretence for the Rich take Concubines or Mistresses without any scruple though they have several Children In this the Betrothing differs much from that of a true and lawful Marriage for here they Treat with the reputed Father or Fosters of a Maiden which in truth having no Relation but have onely brought them up with intent to sell them to the first amorous Chapman But to speak properly this is no Marriage because neither any Promises nor Matrimonial Ceremonies pass between them for the Law of the Countrey permit all Women to take any other Man if the first hath put her off Besides these Concubines eat apart by themselves in peculiar Rooms and are under obedience of the lawful Wives being at their Command as Servants on all occasions Neither do their Children shew that obedience to them as those of the lawful Wives do neither call them by the Name of Mother At their Death those Children which are born of them are not oblig'd to Mourn three years nor desist from their Study
Lastly the Bier on which the Corps lieth is brought in great State under an Arch'd Canopy made very artificially of Wood and hung with Flannel which is carry'd by forty and sometimes by fifty Men. Behind the Bier follow the Sons on Foot every one leaning on a Crutch as if fainting with sorrow Next follow the Women Kindred in Sedans hung with white Curtains so that none can see them The other Women which are not so nearly Ally'd to the Deceased are also carry'd in Mourning Sedans All their Curch-Yards and Tombs are near the City If it happen that the Sons at their Parents Deaths are from home then the Funeral is deferr'd till their Return Also when a Son is inform'd of his Father's Death he prepares if he be a Man of an Estate a great Feast to which he invites and makes mournful Complaints to all his Friends then returning home with the first opportunity he renews the same Ceremonies again in order as before nay a Son is oblig'd by the Law though he enjoy the greatest Office in the Empire or be one of the prime Council in Peking or of the Colaos who is the next Person of the Emperor yet he must come home and spend three years in Mourning before he is permitted to go again to his former Employment But this is onely to be understood for their Parents and not for any other Relations Onely Generals and Magistrates are free from this Law at the Death of their Parents If any one die out of his native Countrey then he who is left to take care of the Corps uses all endeavors without sparing either Cost or Charges to carry it home that there he may be Interr'd in the Grave of his Ancestors for every Family hath a peculiar Burying place on some Hill in the Suburb of the City The Sepulchres are large built of Marble and adorn'd with several Shapes of Men and Beasts They also erect great and stately Tomb-stones on which are Engraven in a noble Style the famous Acts of their Predecessors In this manner hath Trigaut describ'd their Mourning but we will also annex what Alvares Semedo Adrianus de las Cortes and Adam Scall have written concerning the same In many things concerning the Life of Man the Chineses agree with the European Philosophers but differ much about the Concerns of the Dead The Europeans make little ado about their Funerals whereas the Chineses esteem nothing more and are very careful in their Life-time to give Order to their Children for them who shew all obedience and dutifulness in performing the same after their Deaths It is a general Custom in China not to bury the Dead naked though a Child of two years old but put it into a Coffin according to every ones Capacity in which the richer sort notwithstanding the Chineses are of a covetous disposition strive to exceed one another endeavoring to get the best and sweetest Wood that grows Those that have no Children spare not to give a thousand Crowns for the Wood of a Coffin though it be nothing near so much worth which being made and beautifi'd with Ornamentals of Gold Silver Painting Imagery and the like is brought home and oftentimes set in their Chambers to delight them by looking upon it On the contrary those which being stricken in years have no Coffins are always sad and melancholy This Custom they generally observe through the whole Empire and as they receiv'd their Religion from the Indians they have likewise borrow'd many other things of them imitating them especially in three sorts of Burials viz. in the Earth in the Water and in the Fire for the Iapanners will some throw themselves headlong from the tops of Mountains others tying Stones about their Necks leap into Rivers and do many other things to shorten their Lives But the Chineses have not such stout Hearts to bury themselves alive but poor People who have not wherewith to purchase a Coffin burn the Corps and bury the Ashes In the Province of Suchuen the Dead are burn'd and the Ashes gather'd and put into Vessels and so thrown into the Rivers or Brooks Their Coffins are made of hard black Planks the Seams cover'd with Iews-Glue or Gum by the Portuguese call'd Charan or Giaro and by the Chineses Cie and Cia Every one hath his peculiar Place or Tomb without the Wall of the City for they are not permitted within Some build handsom Houses there walling them round and planting Cypress and other Trees according to the nature of the Soyl. These Places are valu'd according to the opinion which they have of the Ground for if a Conjurer hath judg'd it to be lucky to Build on they exceedingly enhanse the value thereof nor do they ever buy any Land without the advice of those People At their Burials they observe one Order to put the chief Corps of the Family at the upper end and set the other side by side according to their Degrees Their Graves are neatly hewn out of Stone and on the top adorn'd with Shapes of Beasts as Harts Elephants and Lyons with Encomiastick Inscriptions Persons of Quality especially those that are single bestow more Cost building stately Palaces and Rooms under Ground like Cells which are made very convenient to lay the Corps in Here all the Relations meet at the time of their Deaths to do their Offerings and other Ceremonies For the Poor which have not Money to buy a peculiar Burying-place there is a common Church-Yard in every City wherein they lie buried all together They chiefly desire to be buried in their Predecessors Graves though never so far from the Place where they die as it often happens to Governors of remote Provinces of the Empire and thither their Friends to do them the last honor convey them The first Ceremony observ'd at any ones Departure is that the Sick when dying is carry'd on a Mat to give up the Ghost in a Hall Yet Persons of Quality are not remov'd but die on their Beds When a Father dies then the eldest Son plucks off his Cap from his Head and comes with his Hair dishevel'd to the Bed and tearing the Curtains and Sheets in Pieces lays them on the Corps then the Body if a Male by Men if a Female by Women is according to their Custom wash'd which done they lay it in a Cotton Cloth or else in Silk and put on his best Apparel next to the Corps they lay the Badges of his Office and Degrees of his Learning which he attain'd in his Life-time The Body thus Garnish'd is laid in a Coffin which stands in a Hall hung round about with black The Effigies of the Deceased drawn to the Life with his Arms and Livery are all plac'd at the Head of the Coffin and at the Feet stands a Table cover'd with a Carpet before which is a Curtain drawn for the Women to stand behind unseen The Children and Nephews sit mournfully on Straw In the first Gallery leading to the Entrance into
of their Offices before him declaring publickly that they would no longer Serve in their Places and the more boldly they throw them down if the Emperor designs any thing which they fear may prove prejudicial to the Realm and that he will not hearken to them It hapned some years since that the Emperor Vanlie who clouded all his Atchievements by his insatiably lustful desires for notwithstanding he had a lawful Son yet he would declare a Bastard to be Heir of the Empire but the Peers and Governors being against it said they would not suffer so base an Election yet the Emperor not regarding their Saying all the Magistrates that were in the City being to the number of two thousand went to the Palace and forc'd him against his will by laying off their Liveries to declare the lawful Heir to be Successor The like occasion hapned Anno 1651. for when after the Death of the Guardian and Unkle to the young Emperor another Tartar would Govern alledging that the Emperor's Age was not fit for such a Management all the Governors laid down their Badges whereby he was forc'd to desist and in this manner a Youth of sixteen years old call'd Xunghi being the true Heir took upon him the Government Besides these Magistrates or Privy-Councellors at the Court there are several other Offices or Council-Chambers for divers Businesses but the chiefest and most honorable is that which is call'd Hanlinyuen into which none but Learned Doctors are admitted Those which are in this Imperial Office do nothing but Read several Books and may not trouble themselves with publick Concerns when as nevertheless they exceed those that sit at the Helm wherefore many endeavor greatly to get into their Society Their Business is onely to write the Emperor's Letters Annual Chronicles and to make Laws and Ordinances Out of these are also chose the Tutors for the Emperor's and Princes In this Society are several degrees of Honor which every one attains to by their writing a good Style after which they are rais'd to the highest Preferment within the Court None are chose to be of that most eminent Office of Colao but out of them Those that are in this Society make great advantages by writing Epistles and Encomiums of their Friends nay every one accounts himself happy if he can but get them bestowing great Charge and trouble to that end for if they have but the Name that they are made by them they are accounted excellent though never so bad Lastly those that are of this Society are chief Councellors and Judges in the Examinations of Causes both Divine and Moral and are by the Professors of Sciences accounted Masters of Literature Besides all these Courts there is one supream Court which is the chief in the whole Empire None can be receiv'd into this unless they have been of the Imperial Society call'd Hanlin or Hanlinyuen before mention'd and after they have a considerable time been in Places of Government and made sufficient proofs of their Mildness Policy and Prudence and that no Letters of Complaint have been set out against them This Court consists of four or at most of six Persons which are call'd Colaos and Coglogs The Emperor Vanlie Grandfather to the Emperor Zunchin would never suffer more than one Colao alledging that the rest were needless The Quality of Colao to speak properly is no peculiar Office because they take care of the general Government of the State and are just like Supream Judges of all Courts and Dominions in the whole Empire though they are never all together but when they dispatch grand Business for the Emperor who being not always present upon the concluding they are many times forc'd to be in the Palace to answer those Petitions which are hourly brought to the Emperor This done they are necessitated to find out the Emperor and inform him of their several Results which having heard he doth Justice to the Parties and pronounces the ultimate Sentence by either confirming or altering their Conclusions These Colaos are in the highest esteem and above all the Councels or Magistrates who at a certain time come and shew Reverence to them as their Superiors in an open Hall The Colaos during this Ceremony stand up and all the Officers according to their Degrees walk cross the Hall coming before them they turn about and bow their Heads down to the Ground which Ceremony is call'd Quo Tham that is Passing through the Hall There is also a great difference betwixt the Colaos Robes and those of the other Magistrates for their Girdles are beset with Precious Stones which they call Yuxe which none but Colaos may wear in the whole Empire nay they receive their Orders by the Emperor 's own Hand as the Knights amongst us their Honor from the King himself Father Nicholas Trigaut describes the Colaos Authority and Office in the following words Besides these six Courts there is another the most eminent in the whole Realm and the Emperor's Palace those which belong to it are call'd Colaos and are generally three or four in number and sometimes six They have charge of no particular Business but mind the general Concerns of the Empire and sit in private Consultation with the Emperor daily in his Palace And in regard the Emperor at present doth not appear in Person at Treaties of publick Affairs of the Realm which he formerly us'd to dispatch they stay the whole day in the Palace and answer Petitions which in great numbers are brought according as they think fit with which Answers they go to the Emperor who Regio Nutu by his Beck either confirms or alters them Thus far Trigaut The like Quality and Office Father Martin ascribes to them in the following words The six Courts viz. Lypu Hupu Pingpu Cungpu Hingpu are not concern'd in publick Matters of the whole Realm but onely with private Consultations for the Governors make their Requests to the Emperor by way of Petition who having consider'd of the Business sends them to every Court to which they belong the Assistants whereof after serious Consideration acquaint the Emperor with their Opinons in Writing which he then according to his pleasure either vacates or affirms which that he may the better be able to do he chuses some of the prime Philosophers in the whole Empire for his Assistants who are call'd Colaos or Caising that is Assistants in Government These are in the next Degree to the Emperor and aid him in dispatching of Business Consulting with him in Person as being his Privy-Council for he is seldom seen by any other Magistrates Judges Justices or Councellors Thus far Martin Those which the Chineses call Colao we if we observe the original of the Name should term Assistants to the Emperor partly for their honorable Employment and partly as being next the Emperor the prime Governors of the whole Realm Thus far of the general Government and Councils or Offices of the Realm which so
a Dragon was like a costly nay that which is more a holy Relick and lock'd up in a golden Coffer and preserv'd till the Reign of the Emperor Siveni when afterward at his Command without knowing wherefore the Chest was open'd and this Slime leap'd forth as if it had been living and ran to and again through the Palace none being able to hold it and at last got into the Seraglio and there divirginated one of great Beauty kept for the Emperor from hence after the full time as the Chineses relate she was deliver'd of a fair Female The Mother fearing to gain an ill Name and the Emperor's displeasure laid down the Infant which two Marry'd People that accidentally walk'd by there hearing it cry took up and carrying it home brought it up as their own Child In the third Year of the Emperor Ie's Reign the fore-mention'd Infant being grown Marriagable her Foster-father was on some occasion accus'd of a certain Crime and put in Prison whereupon he proffering the Virgin who was endu'd with incomparable Beauty for his Ransom to the Emperor was not onely released but return'd home with great Riches But the Emperor was so strangely surpris'd with the exceeding Beauty of his new Mistris that he was in a manner distracted and forsook the lawful Empress and his Son born by her and took Paosua for so the Virgin was call'd for his Spouse and elected Pefo the Son of Paosua in stead of Ikie the lawful Son of the Empress to succeed him in the Throne against the consent of all his Substitute Governors Ikie the true Heir being enrag'd by the great wrong which he had suffer'd fled from his Father to his Uncle King Xin in the South part of the Province of Xensi at the place where the City Nanyang stands at this day Paosua during this time dwelt with the Emperor in all prosperity but one thing he observ'd that he never saw her Laugh which was very unpleasing to him therefore he try'd several ways to win a Smile from her At the same time a Difference arising and overtures and threatnings of War being betwixt him and the Tartars he put his Militia in a posture of Defence which done and to teach them Alarms he fir'd his Beacons when there was no need whereupon the Palaces and all places every where were throng'd with the gather'd Soldiers which too often repeating and no appearance of any Enemy gave her occasion to laugh heartily to the great joy of the fond Emperor Which false Alarms being so commonly when they came to be real and not being believ'd brought on that negligent carelesness in not obeying that it lost him his Life and Empire Amongst other things also Paosua took great delight in the noise which Silk makes when torn by force wherefore the Emperor to recreate her always spent his time in her Presence with tearing and rending of Silk Mean while the Emperor sent a Party to King Xin to fetch his fled Son again but Xin refus'd to deliver the Prince unless he should be declar'd Heir to the Empire The Emperor enrag'd thereat march'd with an Army against Xin who unequal to the Emperor yet of greater Policy joyn'd with the Tartars and in the Night falls suddenly on the Emperor's Quarters whereupon the Beacons being fir'd as before the Soldiers seeing the Flame suppos'd that the Emperor as formerly was onely caressing of his Empress neglected their Duties and therefore making no resistance most of them were taken sleeping by the Enemy and the Emperor himself slain by his Brother and Son But to return As Trigaut tells us several eminent Persons Study this My. stery of Dragon-Knowledge and are sent for from remote Places to advise withal when publick Buildings are to be erected that they may so lay their Platform suting with the benevolent Signatures from the posture of the Dragon that the Edifice may for ever after be more free from Casualties for these Astronomers as our Astrologers observe the good and evil Aspects of the Planets with the several Configurations of the fixed Stars so they take their Marks from the situation of Mountains and Rivers and whatever else makes a variety that signifies good success on which they say not onely the preservation of the House but the welfare and Honor of the Family depends Semedo calls these Surveyors Tili Others saith he which they call Tili endeavor to to observe not onely the Situation of the Earth but the Positions of the Planetary Aspects in the celestial Houses so to make more happy their terrestrial Habitations It is a very ancient Custom and us'd to this day to take their Observations of good or ill success from the Colour Spots Motions Legs and Shell of a Tortoise And likewise as the Augurs of old from the Notes of Birds and noise of Beasts and also whate're they meet with in the Morning the reflecting shadows of the Sun on peculiar Houses for if at their going out in the Morning they meet any one in Mourning Apparel at their Door Bonzies or the like they look upon it as an ill Omen In short whatsoever inconvenience happens to peculiar Houses Cities Provinces or the whole Empire they ascribe it to their miserable Fortune or something or other that is wrongly plac'd in the Houses Towns or the Emperors Palace They say that some of these Fortune-tellers reside on desolate and solitary Mountains between the Clefts of Rocks and barren Hills like Hermits whither also great numbers of People resort to know the Events of future things Some onely write strange Characters and Chinese Letters on Boards containing the future Condition of the Enquirers yet their promising oftentimes hath a double meaning These Wizards have many times horrible Toads that sit near them with a thick gray speckled Skin and opening their Jaws as they say with their poisonous Breath blast and wither the Grass round about them These generally sit bare-headed being close shaven and with their Feet naked picking their Ears whilst they mutter several words to themselves In the time of the Emperor Hiaou who Reigned Anno 142. before the Nativity of Christ many Women especially at the Emperor's Court Studied Magick and Charms by which making themselves to appear much fairer than they were they subjected the Male Sex according to their pleasures Of these some got into the Prince Guei's Court the Emperor's Son begotten by a lawful Wife but without his knowledge because he according to the Chinese Writings was of a good and pious Nature but attaining to years he betook himself being ensnar'd by the fore-mention'd Charms wholly to lasciviousness Amongst other things they say there are certain Drugs by the Chineses call'd Kuan which if the Powder thereof be given any Man to drink by a Woman it makes them mad after them like our Love-Powders But they had worse Ingredients with which they occasion'd Distempers nay Death on whomsoe're they pleas'd by which means Li the Emperor's Son begotten by one of
his Concubines was kill'd in the nineteenth Year of his Age together with his Wife Children and most of his Family except one Nephew But the whole Empire is strangely besotted with the study of Alchymie thereby to get the Philosophers-Stone by which they not only Inrich themselves by turning all things to Gold and Silver but also that Elixar makes them Immortal which many Emperors before and since the Nativity have endeavor'd to attain to The Chineses affirm That there are Rules and Commandments of both these Arts found out first by very Ancient Learned which the Chineses reckon amongst their Saints and afterwards from one to another deliver'd to their Successors They say also that these first Inventors after having perform'd many excellent and soveraign Works ascend both with Soul and 〈◊〉 together to Heaven when they began to grow weary living on Earth They also tell us That anciently a Person liv'd without the Walls of the City Nanchang which assisted many needy People and â—…ast pâ—…ntiful Alms amongst the Poor because he by the Art of Chymistry could make pure Silver He also say they had by the help of Divine Arts a Dragon who threaten'd the Ruine of the City after which having Chain'd him to an Iron Column of an exceeding bigness he his whole House and Family ascended up to Heaven For this reason the Citizens out of a Superstition erected a great Chappel for him and the foremention'd Iron Column the better to keep up the reputation of the Fable is there to be seen at this day But however they decline the converting of Metals into Gold or Silver by the Stone yet the Emperor himself and most Eminent Persons of the Empire make it a great part of their business to study Immortality from the promis'd Restauration of Youth by the wonderful Operations of this Elixar To which purpose as there are many Students so there is no want of Masters and the whole City of Peking every where pester'd with their Laboratories and though never so much deluded yet fresh hopes carry them on with a fervent desire to bring their Work to Perfection being perswaded by these Mountebanks that their failings happen'd from some mistakes but now if they would begin again they make no question being since better inform'd to finish the so long expected and happy Work But before we leave our Alchymists take this from Martinius which he tells of the Emperor Hiaou who had not his equal amongst the Chineses He was as their Histories say much transported with a belief that by this Art he might not onely be the Wealthiest the Happiest and the Greatest of all Princes but also be Crown'd with Immortality From hence he receiv'd the Title of Van Sin that is Ten thousand Years which hath descended to all the Emperors to this Day To this great purpose he built a new Palace accordingly all of Cedar Cypress Camphire and the like sweet smelling Woods the scent of which as they say might be perceiv'd a twenty one Chinese Furlongs from thence Amidst this wonderful Structure he rais'd a Tower all of Copper of twenty Rods high a marvellous piece of Work with a winding Pair of Stairs in the middle from the bottom to the top There was also a Copper Bason Cast in the form of a Hand which every Morning was fill'd with early Deâ—…v wherein the Emperor steep'd the Oriental Pearls to soften them being part of the Preparations of the Medicines of Immortality But at last they wrought upon his Belief so far that the Elexar was ready which Drinking would so perpetuate Youth that he should live according to his Title Ten thousand Years that is He should be Immortal The Longevity-Potion being brought was set on the Table which should begin the Work of Youths Renovation when one of his Councellors a Minister of State first disswading him from the taking of it suddenly threw the Liquor down upon the Floor at which the Emperor much incens'd that he should lose his expectation of Immortality which had cost so much time and treasure in Preparing consulted with what Death he should punish so bold an Offender when he that stood thus liable to his fury spake thus mildly and undiscompos'd to him Sir You cannot put me to Death for I have drunk the same Medicine of Immortality already and am Immortal so if I die I am guiltless because the Medicine wants the promised Efficacy and therefore use your pleasure yet I suspect that if your Indignation fall upon me what I have drunk will be of no Defence and I feel I shall certainly suffer Death being conscious of the Deceit of these that are Trapanners for Bread Which mollifying Speech so pacify'd the Emperor that he gave him his Life yet howsoever the Emperor prosecuted the same business to make himself Rich Hapyy and Immortal There are also a third kind of Philosophers by Semedo call'd Taokiao and by Trigaut from the first Promoter Lonzu as likewise by Semedo Tunsi or Tusi being the first broacher of this Doctrine which agrees with the Epicureans who affirm That there is no pleasure after death and therefore they indulge what e're in their life seems to be easie and happy so to prolong their lives to continue their present welfare they use all means possible and not onely study Longevity but also how to be Immortal by ingenious discoveries for self-preservation But though Laotan accounts the Summum Bonum to consist in Pleasures yet Martinius finds him to be no way Atheistical but declares it every where probable that Laotan hath acknowledg'd one Supream Deity saying Tao or Great Understanding hath no Name he hath Created Heaven and Earth he is without shape moves the Stars though he himself is immoveable and because I know not his Name I will call him Tao or Supream Understanding without form The same Philosopher makes mention in another place of The Creation of the Heavens It is not to be credited what the Fathers report out of their Stories concerning this Philosopher Laotan that he lay conceal'd being lock'd up in his Mothers Womb eighty one or according to Trigaut eighty years and afterwards forc'd his passage into the World through her right side wherefore according to Trigaut he is call'd Lauzu and by Martinius Laosu and and last of all Laotan that is Old Philosopher The time of his Maturation or rather Imprisonment in the Womb was as they say nine times nine Years which the Chineses account the fulness of Perfection and all things that are perfect And because Laotan was one of their greatest and most learned Stages they invented the foremention'd number as if Nature had spent so many Years in perfecting of him This Laotan was born in the Kingdom of Zu for China contain'd anciently many and several Kingdoms at this day the County Fungyangfu of the Province of Nanking in the City Mao Anno 603 about twenty four Years before Confut the Prime Philosopher amongst the Chineses The