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law_n	write_v	year_n	youth_n	22	3	7.3477	4	false

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

Way of Life 3. Then one of the Divine Persons of the most Holy Trinity call'd the Messias by contracting and hiding his Majesty and accommodating himself to Humane Nature was made Man Wherefore for the declaring these joyful Tidings he selected an Angel and was born of a Virgin in Iudea A great Star also proclaim'd this Felicity so that Kings seeing its brightness came and offer'd Presents that the Law and Prophesies of the twenty four Prophets might be fulfill'd He Govern'd the World by one great Law founded the Divine and Spiritual Law without any thundring Words and confirm'd it with the Seal of a true Faith He pronounc'd the eight Beatitudes turn'd Mundane things into Eternal open'd the Gate of the three Theological Virtues and gave Life by destroying Death He descended into Hell in Person and brought Confusion to the Devil and his Angels He wafted Good Men to Heaven in the Ship of his Piety and gave Salvation to the Souls of the Iust. These things finish'd about Noon by his wonderful Power he ascended into Heaven leaving twenty seven Tomes or Volumes of his Doctrine to open a Way for the Conversion of the World He Instituted Baptism by Water and the Spirit for the washing away of Sins and cleansing the World He made use of the Cross that he might take in all without exception stirring up all by the voice of Charity commanding to worship towards the East that they might proceed in the Way of a Glorious Life 4. His Ministers or Priests for outward Ornament sake nourish their Beards but shave the Crowns of their Heads that they may shew they are inwardly inclin'd to no Evil They use no Servants In Prosperity and Adversity they shew wonderful Humility making themselves equal to the meanest They heap not up Riches but make them all common They observe Fasts as well for mortification of their Passions as observation of the Divine Precepts They bear all awful Reverence to their Superiors who are equally as themselves retir'd from the World Seven times a day they Pray as well for the Living as the Dead and one Day in seven they keep Holy to purge their Souls from Sin and restore them to Purity And because this infallible and well-grounded Law is so excellent it is a very difficult thing to appropriate to it a congruous Name for the Effects of it are to illuminate and find out all things with the clearest perspicacity whereupon as necessary it was intitled Kim kiao that is The Great and Perspicuous Law 5. The Law where there are no Royal Persons is neither extended nor dilated yet Persons Royal without the Law are not worthy of Esteem The Law therefore and Princes concording and as it were meeting in one forthwith the World is illuminated In this famous Time a King nam'd Tai cum veu huamti with singular Prudence and Sanctity Governing China there came out of Iudea a Man of very great Virtue stil'd Olo puen who brought as it were from the Clouds this true Doctrine And driven by the Winds by the help of Hydrographical Maps having sustain'd many Dangers and much Labor at length in the Year Chin quon jeu sie that is 636. he arriv'd at the King's Palace When the King heard thereof he commanded the famous Colao call'd Fam Kien Lym that he should ride to meet this new Guest towards the West that is towards the Suburbs of the City and should bring him to the Palace with all Kindness and Respect then he directed him to declare his Doctrine there when at once he search'd out the Truth of the Law whereof being satisfi'd he seriously commanded the same to be Preach'd and Publish'd with Efficacy and Reverence through his whole Kingdom And in the Year 12 Cin quon 7 which is 636. he wrote back in this manner The tenour of the Promulgation is as follows The true Law hath no determinate Name nor have the Saints any limited Place where they remain they run to all Parts that they may instruct the World being intent with might and main to do good and succour the afflicted People Out of the far distant and remote Kingdom of Tancin or Iudea Olo puen a Man of most eminent Virtue brought and presented his Doctrine and certain Images to our Princely Palace Whose Intentions to instruct us we having examin'd to the bottom do find his Doctrine most excellent without any exterior clamour and taking its original from the Creation of the World This Doctrine consists not in multitude of Words nor doth it lie only in a superficial Foundation for Truth but brings Profit and Salvation to Mankind Wherefore it is meet that it be divulg'd through our whole Empire He commanded also the Mandorin call'd Nim Fam to build a large Church and to officiate therein The Author Kim Lim praises this King for enervating the Strength of the Monarchy of Cheu Olad iu that is the Head of the Sect Stai iu or Tansu He departed in a black Chariot towards the West that is out of China But where the Great Tam is made famous with Tao the Holy Gospel is brought into China A little after the King caus'd the Effigies of the same Olo puen who as we said first Preached here the Gospel carefully and exactly to be Painted and so to be fastned to the Wall This most excellent Figure shines at the Gates of the Church and his Memory will always be refulgent in the World 6. According to Geographers who mention those Western Parts and by the Historians of the Kingdoms of Han and Guei the Kingdom of Tancin that is Iudea on the South is bounded by the Red-sea on the North it hath the Mountains of Pearls on the West Boco das fullas which what it is is hard to conjecture but I guess it to be Carmel bounds it lastly on the East it borders on this Place Ciam fam and The Dead Water This Land casts forth Ashes yet hot with Fire perhaps he means the Asphaltick Lake produces Balsamum little Gems and Carbuncles by which he seems to mean Egypt with the Coast of the Red-sea where the things aforesaid are found There are neither Thieves nor Murderers but the People live in Peace and Quietness They admit of no Religion into the Kingdom but the Gospel nor do they confer any Dignities but on Persons meriting the same by Virtue Their Buildings are very large In a word the Kingdom is famous for Poetry Order and good Manners 7. Docao or Caozum Cum the Son of Tai cum came to the Government in the Year of our Lord 651. Our Author Kim Lim speaks thus of him Cao vim otherwise Caozum a very great Prince not at all degenerating from the Virtues of his Grandfather was pleas'd with Honor to continue his good Intent and also to improve whatever his Father had begun He commanded Churches to be built in all Provinces at the same time also enobling Olo puen with the Title of Bishop of the Great

remain'd unexplain'd hitherto by reason of the want of Men in China that are vers'd in those Characters and for that very cause was sent into Europe by the Portuguese Fathers of our Society to be explicated by Persons skill'd in the Syrian Language I first of all undertook the Interpretation thereof and that with good success discharging the same with equal fidelity and diligence Now it is Engrav'd on the Margins of the Stone in the ancient Syriack Characters that are term'd Estrangelo and it containeth the Year the Names and Offices of those Apostolical Men and Promoters of the Divine Law that were then in China when the Stone was erected Father Emanuel Dias in a certain Letter written in the Portuguese Tongue Dated from Maccao August 23. 1625. taketh notice of this Stone and of the Inscriptions mention'd His words translated are these In the Province of Xensi in China where now Trigautius resideth a certain Stone of about twenty four Hands breath was digg'd up in which is manifestly apparent that above a thousand two hundred and forty three years since there were Christians with shaven Crowns that Preach'd the Mystery of the Trinity and Incarnation and that the Kings of China conferr'd many Favors on them Doctor Leo desir'd to have the whole Matter Printed first transcrib'd by the Mandorins that were Christians to shew all the Mysteries contain'd on the Stone that the same might more plainly appear At present we only endeavor that the Matter may come to the knowledge of the Emperor God prosper all to his own Glory Father Francis Hurtado from the Province of Nancheu also confirmeth this and addeth That in the same Year a Passage was open'd into the new Provinces of the Empire of China viz. Xensi Xansi Fohum which last is conterminate with Couchinchina and easily admitteth of Strangers And thus proceeding says Unto these were annexed ten or twelve Lines in Syriack which I could not Interpret also the Priviledges granted by the Kings of China to the Priests of that Law were adjoin'd The Version was made word for word out of the Chinese Language There were also other Translations but they all agree in the Essential Matters It is Recorded in the Books of the Kings of China that the Christian Faith arriv'd amongst the Chineses above 994 years since and that this Inscription was made 140 years after its entrance Thus Father Emanuel Dias But in other Letters of a more later Date from Maccao 21 Novemb. 1627. we find it thus written concerning this City Some years since there was found a very long and ancient Writing Engraven on a Stone in the Chines●● and Chaldean or Syrian Language from whence it is evident That the Law of our Lord and Saviour arriv'd amongst the Chineses about a thousand years since Anno Dom. 636. Now the Stone was erected and inscrib'd Anno 782. that is a hundred and forty six years after the Preaching of the Gospel there by which a great Conversion unto the Faith was wrought Churches were built and Bishops constituted The Kings that Govern'd at that time are reckon'd about eight whose Names are express'd in that Stone and who ●ll of them favor'd the Christians Now the Preachers of this Law came out of Palestine and other adjoining Places It containeth the chief Misteries of our Faith which are manifest from the Inscription All which are largely evident from the foremention'd Testimonies of Father Boim Martinius and Daniel Bartolus which were collected from the Study of the Colledge of our Society But I think it will be worth our time to produce this Syrian Inscription in the same Strangelick Characters in which it was express'd in China together with the Interpretation especially seeing the Fathers of our Society in China therefore sent it hither into Europe in a particular Folio Printed in China by the Masters of that Language for a better Explanation of it For this being Explain'd I hope it will so come to pass that both the Day the Names the Country and the Offices of the Preachers of the Divine Law and finally our Design will the more evidently be discover'd The Inscription of the Syriack Names is two-fold one of them Sculp'd on the Margin the other on the Foot of the Monument And because this latter containeth the Year of its Erection we shall begin the Thred of our Exposition from it The Syrian Inscription is as followeth Adam Kasiso Ucurapiscupo Upapasi di Zinstàn Bejume Abo dabohotho Mor Ha●an Iesua Kataliko Patriarchis Besanath alf utisaain utarten dia vanoie Mor libuzad Kasiso Ucurapiscupo de Cumdan medinah malcutho bar nihh napso Milis Kasiso dm● Balehh Medintho Tahhurstan Akim Lucho hono Papa dicta bou beh medaharna●ho dpharukan Ucaruzuthon dabhain daluat malche dizinio Adam Meschamschono Bar Iidbuzad Curaphiscopo Mar Sargis Kasiso Ucurapiscupo Sarnischua Kasiso Gabriel Kasiso Varcodia cun Urisch ahito de Cumbdan u Dasrag This the Explication of it Adam Priest or Presbyter and Archbishop and Pope of Zindostan or the Region of China where note that Stan in the Indian Language signifieth A Region whence are deriv'd Indostan Turkistan or Turchestan and the like Names that signifie the same even as the following German Names Friesland and Franckeland signifie the Regions of Frisia and Francovia and other innumerable words of the like kind all which are compounded of the German word Land which as the Indian word Stan is the proper Name of a Region or Place Which I though fit here to alledge that the Reader might not be ignorant why China is call'd Zindostan in the Days of the Father of Fathers the Lord Hanan Iesua or Iohn Iosue Catholick Patriarch you must understand either the Patriarch of Alexandria or of Antioch or of Babylon who are properly call'd Universal or Catholick Patriarchs in the Year 1092. according to the Grecian Compute The Lord Iidbuzad Priest and Vicar-Bishop of Cumdan City of the Kingdom so they phrase the Metropolis Son of Milis Peace be to his Soul Priest of Belehh a City of Tahurstan you must read Turchestan Pope so they term the Chief in any Ecclesiastical Order erected this Table and the Administration or Government of our Savionr is Inscrib'd in it and also the Preaching of our Fathers who resided with the Kings of China Adam the Deacon Son of Iidbuzad Episcopal Vicar Mar Sargis Presbyter and Episcopal Vicar Sarnischua Presbyter Gabriel Presbyter and Archdeacon Head of the Churches of Cumdan and Dasrag And these are found in the Folio Printed in China which are also seen Insc●lp'd on the Stone But before I proceed any farther I must clear one Difficulty which occurreth about the Year of the Erection of this Stone for the Year of this Stone in the Chinesian Inscription is found so different from that of the Syriack that not a few Persons being perplex'd with the diversity alledg'd their Doubts unto me concerning the true and faithful Interpretation of the Monument for the Portuguese Version out of

AN EMBASSY Sent by the EAST-INDIA Company of the UNITED PROVINCES to the GRAND TARTAR CHAM or EMPEROVR of CHINA Delivered at Pekin by Peter de Goyer and Iacob de Keyzer A o 1655. W. Heller fecit 1655. AN EMBASSY FROM THE East-India Company OF THE UNITED PROVINCES TO THE Grand Tartar Cham EMPEROR OF CHINA Deliver'd by Their Excellencies PETER de GOYER and IACOB de KEYZER At His Imperial City of PEKING WHEREIN The Cities Towns Villages Ports Rivers c. In their Passages from CANTON to PEKING Are Ingeniously Describ'd By M r IOHN NIEVHOFF Steward to the AMBASSADORS ALSO An Epistle of Father IOHN ADAMS their Antagonist Concerning the Whole Negotiation With an APPENDIX of several REMARKS taken out of Father ATHANASIUS KIRCHER English'd and set forth with their several Sculptures By IOHN OGILBY Esq His MAIESTIES Cosmographer Geographick Printer and Master of the Revels in the KINGDOM of IRELAND The Second Edition LONDON Printed by the Author at his House in White-Friers M.DC.LXXIII A Description of CHINA Taken by the Author M. Iohn Neuhoff in his Iourneys with the Batavian Ambassadours from Canton to the Emperours Court at Peking AN Exact Relation OF THE EMBASSY SENT BY THE East-India Company OF THE UNITED PROVINCES TO THE GRAND TARTAR CHAM OR Emperor of China Delivered at PEKING the Imperial City c. THE Lacedaemonians were a People who by their Laws and Customs were strictly prohibited from Travelling out of their own Countrey lest so degenerating in Manners as they supposed they might fall into a more loose and irregular course of Life and by the acquaintance of the various Modes of several forein Nations slight the strictness of their own severer Establishments Neither would they permit that any Strangers should reside amongst them lest they by Conversation should be imbu'd with their Novelties and Opinions Which more to strengthen What Citizen soever that did not Educate his Children according to their own setled Laws was immediately pronounced incapable of the Priviledges belonging to his Countrey So great a love had this Nation to their native Soil and such the aversion engraffed in them from their very Cradles to forein Parts that a Youth onely once asking the Way to Pilea by order of the Magistracy suffer'd condign Punishment presently upon the Spot But these severer ways and starch'd Formalities were both by the other Greeks and the Romans utterly exploded who knowing better things readily indulged Licence to Travel where they might best improve their Wealth Literature or Observation And also we find by their most ancient and accurate Writers that they neither spared Cost Study nor Pains to be replenished with remote and transmarine Imbellishments both of Arts Science and Industry When the Emperor Trajan after the Parthian War busied himself in a Philosophical Inquisition concerning the Wonders of the Deep and occult Nature of the Ocean a sudden Storm happening hurried him from Coasting far into the Offin where he beheld a Fleet standing in for India whereof being inform'd he fetching a deep Sigh said Ah that I were young again and could resume my former vigour then would I visit those distant Regions and penetrate the Avenues of the Oriental World King Mithridates who after a long Contest with the Romans having resetled himself in his Throne resolved not onely upon the well managing of the Affairs at home but the enlarging his Dominions abroad whereupon he made himself Master of which not any Prince had done before of the neighboring Scythians who had never till then been absolutely subdu'd This great Work finish'd and so mighty a Nation brought under he diverted himself to Travel not onely to make a superficial view of Cities and Situations Vulgarities and various Humors adherent to several Nations but also of their Scolastick Knowledge and Politick Governments on which account he pass'd through all Pontus Cappadocia and most Parts of Asia Tacitus the famous Roman Historian enumerating the many Vertues of Germanicus says That he greedy of Knowledge especially of forein Transactions made his Tour through Greece Thrace Asia and Armenia but thus much not satisfying the Curiosity of this Prince he Voyaged into Aegypt under pretence of setling the Government of that Kingdom but rather of having a visual Speculation of the Antiquities reported to be there Democritus no less sollicitous of making search beyond his own Home after the Death of his Father Damasippus parted with a no unplentiful Patrimony for a scarce considerable Sum to furnish out the Expences of his outward-bound Travels in quest of Science he first address'd himself to the Aegyptian Priests next the Chaldaeans after to the Gymnosophists in India from whose Magazines and the then Fountains of Learning he returned rich being Freighted with a full Cargo both of Divine and Moral Principles Let Plato Prince of Philosophers stand for all who in like manner penetrated the Bowels of Aegypt and other more distant Countreys returning as plentifully furnished with their several Observations an Acquirements Inclinations no less vigorous have of late been observed in Europe but with more success who not being bounded by Herculean Bars pass'd so far through the till then unmeasured Atlantick that they lighted upon a new World a flourishing Hesperides Regions whose Sands were Gold Earth Plate and Rivers Silver a Paradice extended to the Arctick and Antarctick Circles with several other Countreys and Islands that reach almost the utmost latitude of either Poles out-shining all the Fables of Antiquity and boldest Tales of their Poetick Dreams so that the Ancients are not to stand in competition with our modern Discoverers who found out in less than one Century more than they in their many thousand years Whilst I contemplated the laudable Actions and great Enterprises of famous Navigators I conceiv'd my self oblig'd to put in my Mite and not to conceal some special Remarks being taken by me with no small Care and Pains in a Countrey as little known to Europe as any After my Return from the West-Indies where I had sometime remained my Occasions invited me from Home a contrary Course to the East-Indies where not long after my arrival at Batavia it was order'd by the General Maatzuyker and the Honorable Council then residing there to send Peter de Goyer and Iacob Keysar as Ambassadors with Credentials and a considerable Train of Attendants to Peking in China to the Grand Cham of Tartary the now Emperor of China impowering to Negotiate concerning a free and mutual Commerce with them in his Kingdoms and Territories Whereupon receiving also Commands to attend this Embassy I had thrown into my hands as I conceived fit opportunity to make a more exact Discovery of the Genius and Manners of the People and Customs of the Place and Countreys supposed by all Geographers to be the richest in the World and where any Stranger formerly durst never attempt And herein without breach of Modesty I dare boldly affirm that nothing considerable slipt my observation relating to my

Quarter so that they are all continually busie about weighty Affairs but the number and good order of the Officers very much facilitates their Work for in each Council is a President whom they call Ciu who has two Assistants one on his right side call'd Coxilam and another on his left term'd Yeuxilam These three both at Court and through the whole Empire have the highest Dignity except those who sit in the supremest Council call'd Colao Beside these three Principal Councellors there are belonging to each Council ten others who differ but little in Dignity from the rest being always employ'd together with a great number of inferior Officers as Notaries Scribes Secretaries and Clerks The Iesuit Semedo in his Relation of China mentions several other Councils whereof some have a like Authority with the before-mention'd six all which are call'd in the Chinese Tongue Cien Cim and consist of several Offices belonging particularly to the King's Houshold The first of these is call'd Thai Lisu that is The Council of the great Audite This Office seems like the great Chancery of the Kingdom and therein all weighty Affairs receive a determination it consists of thirteen Mandorins one Councellor two Assistants and ten under-Officers The second is call'd Quon Losu and provides for their Imperial Majesties Tables and for all the Expences of the Emperor's Court. This Council has one Councellor two Assistants and six Officers The third call'd Thaipocusu has the Power of the Emperor's Stables and makes provision of all Post-Horses for publick Use and Service It consists of one Councellor and six Officers Beside all these there is yet another Council higher than all the rest and of the greatest Dignity having Place next the Emperor in all publick Solemnities Those that sit in this Council are call'd Colaos being seldom above four or six in number and the most select Persons of all the other Councils and of the whole Empire and are honor'd and reverenc'd accordingly No private Affairs are brought to them for they only mind the Publick Good and Government sitting with the Emperor in private Council for the above-mention'd six Councils intermeddle not with the Affoirs of the State as to make any Conclusion upon them they being only to Debate and Consult and afterwards by way of Petition to offer their Advice to the Emperor who either altereth or confirmeth what they have done according as he sees cause But in regard he will not seem wholly to relie upon his own Iudgment some of the chiefest Philosophers always attend upon this Colaos or Council and come daily to the Palace to answer Petitions which are brought continually to the Emperor in great numbers This last Conclusion the Emperor Signeth with his own Hand that so afterwards his Command may be Executed There are yet two Councils more whereof the one is call'd Choli and the other Tauli each consisting of above sixty Persons all choice Philosophers and wise Men whose Fidelity and Prudence both the Emperor and People sufficiently have approv'd and therefore they hold them in great honor and esteem With these his Majesty adviseth upon all extraordinary and weighty Affairs but more especially when any thing has been committed against the Laws Beside these there are several other Councils whereof the chiefest is call'd Han Lin Yven where are employ'd none but Learned Men who busie themselves with no Affairs of the Government yet exceed all in Dignity except such as sit at the Helm Their Charge is to take care of the Emperor's Writings to compile Year-Books and write Laws and Orders From among these are chosen Governors and Tutors for the Princes they only are concern'd in Matters of Learning wherein as they grow more and more excellent they mount by several Steps to the highest degree of Honor coming afterwards to be employ'd in Places of the greatest Dignity in the Court neither is any chosen into the great Colao who hath not first been of this Council They delight in Poetry and get a great deal of Money by their Writings as in making of Epitaphs Poems and the like to pleasure their Friends and very happy he esteems himself that can obtain such a favour of them The Government of the City Nanking where the Chinese Emperors formerly kept their Courts is the same with that of Peking save that at Nanking the great Council of the Colao is not in being but the Esteem and Authority of the rest of the Councils here is as much eclipsed for want of as at Peking 't is advanc'd by the Emperor's Presence Thus far we have spoken of the Government in general In the next place we will treat of particular and Provincial Iurisdictions The whole Empire is divided into fifteen Provinces in the principal Cities whereof the chiefest and supreme Courts of Iudicature reside differing little in Method and Rule from those of Peking and Nanking and so not consequently one from another The Regiment of each Province is committed to the care and fidelity of two Persons whom they call Pucinsu and Manganzasu the first whereof intermeddles only with Civil Affairs and the other is altogether concern'd in Criminal Matters They have both their Seats of Iudicature in the Chief Cities of their Province and live in great Magnificence having beside several Officers assistant unto them as also the chiefest Magistrates call'd Tauli who in regard they Command over some other inferior Cities it often happens that they are absent from the Metropolis of the Province to take care of their Employments All the fifteen Provinces as has been already said are subdivided into several other less Portions which the Chineses call Fu over each of which is appointed a Governor call'd Gifu These Divisions are again proportion'd into great and small Cities the first whereof they call Ceu and the last Hien each hath a particular Magistrate which in the great Cities are call'd Ciceu and in the less are nam'd Cihien for Ci signifies To Govern Every Principal Governor of these Cities is aided by three Councellors who assist them with Advice in all their Affairs and Undertakings The first is call'd Hun Chim the second Chu Phu and the third Tun Su and have their particular Courts and Iudicature but the Governor over the whole Division has no more Authority in the Place of his Residence than in the other Cities under his Command True it is he may condemn a Malefactor to die but he cannot put the Sentence in Execution without the consent of the rest that are join'd in Commission with him But in regard an Account must be given of the whole management of Affairs and the Transactions of all the Provinces at the Court at Peking therefore in each Province there are appointed two other great Officers by the Court who in eminency of Honor and Grandeur of Commission exceed the rest The one of these always resides in some of the Provinces and is call'd Tutang the other is sent yearly from the Court at Peking and

how to express the highness or lowness of the Sounds which are as follow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By the help of these Marks must the same word which is written in our Letters and mark'd with these Marks be severally pronounced and then they intend several things As for Example Y'a with this Mark ouer it signifies God and with this Mark over it Yá A Wall and Yà with this Mark signifies Dumbness Yet notwithstanding all these Helps the Chinese Language is very difficult to be learn'd and understood as well in regard of the double signification of the words as also because that in this Language there is no certain number of Letters but every Business and Intention of the Mind must be express'd by a particular Character which gives not only an infinite trouble to those that will learn it but causes a vast expence of time taking up ten or twenty years before a man can attain to the Art of speaking and writing this mysterious Language wherein the Natives themselves know far better how to express their Minds in writing than by speaking But in regard I have now spoken of the Character and Writing of the Chineses I will add in a few Words in what manner they place them And herein they quite differ from the Custom of Europe and almost all other Nations Hereof Peter Iarcius thus in his Treasury of Indian Things The Chineses says he do not write from the left hand to the right as the Europeans nor from the right to the left as the Hebreans but they begin from the right side above and write down to the bottom so that they put the one Character under the other and not one after another as we in Europe And when the Line is full from top to bottom then they begin again at the top of another Line and by degrees go down again to the bottom And indeed which is worth observation in this Particular the Chinese differ from all others who absolutely write after another manner for at this day there are in all the known World but four several ways of Writing upon the Account of placing the Letters The first is from the right to the left side and in this manner are written the Books of the Hebreans Chaldeans Syrians Arabians and Aegyptians The second is from the left to the right side and after this manner the Greek and Latin Books are writ and so write at present all the People of Europe The third sort of Writing is in the Greek call'd Bustrophedon which signifies to Plough with Oxen and this manner of Writing is done just as the Oxen make Furrows with the Plow namely to begin the second Line where the first ended This way of Writing as Pausanius relates was us'd by the ancient Grecians and so as is reported were writ the Laws of Solon The fourth and last way of Writing is from the top to the bottom and this manner of Writing as has been said the Chineses use and some of the Salvage Indians But although this manner of Writing whereby each thing is express'd by a particular Character is very burdensom to the Memory yet it is of very great use and advantage to the People who differ very much in Language from each other for hereby they are able to read the Books and Letters of each other if they use common Characters in Writing though the one doth in no wise understand the other in speaking And in this manner it is that those of Iapan Corea Couchen-China use one and the same Books though they differ so very much in the Pronunciation that one cannot understand a Word the other says yet they bear the same sence to the understanding of the most indifferent Reader no otherwise skill'd than in the vulgar Idiom of his Mother-Tongue And which is yet more of wonder that although the several Natives in the Empire of China differ infinitely each from other in their several Dialects so that their varying of Languages makes them seem as Strangers among themselves their Tongues being useless Members to their Intelect yet in their Books one General Character is us'd so that the same are equally intelligible throughout the whole Empire Notwithstanding the great Confusion of Languages in the several Provinces as is before declar'd there is yet through the whole Empire another Common Tongue by the Chineses call'd Quinhoa which signifies The Court or Mandorin Chinese and this at first took its rise from the Magistrates or Mandorins residing in the respective Provinces whereto they were sent with a Superintendent Authority for coming thither as Strangers and esteeming it below their Greatness to be necessitated to learn any other Tongue this C●urtly Mandorin Language was introduc'd through the whole Empire wherein not onely all Affairs relating to the Laws are dispatch'd but likewise all Persons of Rank or Quality use the same so that it is as common and as much in use with them as Latin in Europe or Lingua Franca among the Turks and this is the Language that Strangers Merchants and others learn when they come into those Parts This Court-speech though it exceeds all the others for number of Letters yet it consists of no more than 362 Words so that the shortness or conciseness of this Courtly or more Modish manner of speaking makes it flow so pleasantly from the Tongue that it passes for sweet Elocution almost all other Languages yet known As for Example When we will express the manner of taking a thing either with the whole Hand or with one or two Fingers we are enforc'd to add the word Take but the Chineses do express the same quite otherwise for each Substantive as a Cup or Pot signifies the thing to be done as likewise the manner of doing it Thus Nien signifies to take with two Fingers Tzo with one and Chua with the whole Hand The same is likewise observ'd in the word Stand we say To stand in the House to stand Eating to stand Sleeping but they have a Word which denotes the Infinitive Verb To Stand and the manner of standing So likewise when we will express the Leg of a Man or of a Bird we always add the same word Leg but the Chineses express it all in one for Kio is a Man's Leg Chua a Birds and Thi the Foot of any Creature Amongst all the several noble Arts and Sciences wherewith the Europeans are enobled the Chineses have only some insight into that of Philosophy for the knowledge of natural things is much more obscur'd among them by several interpos'd Errors than any ways enlightned The greatest Philosopher of all that Nation was one Confutius born four hundred and fifty one years before Christ's Incarnation and liv'd in such a manner for above seventy years that not only by Example but also by his Writings and Conversation he stirr'd up all others to imitate him in a vertuous and orderly Course of Life whereby he gain'd so great an Esteem amongst the People that they believ'd

withdrawing Recess of his Bed-Chamber and that he might exactly understand each he would be instructed therein by the Fathers And from that time they obtain'd not only what concern'd Learning but also the Propagation of the Gospel of Christ accompanied with Revenues necessary for their own Private Support Moreover the Emperor deputed an hundred of the Chinesian Astronomers who should acquiesce in the Iudgment of Father Adam Schall in the Decision of all things as the Supreme Head and Arbiter of the Tribunal of Rites or Astronomical Council Which Edict was confirm'd with so great force that to this very Day no Person whatsoever durst so much as motion any thing contrary unto it And his Authority was such that no Ephimerides which was wont every year to be divulg'd through the Empire might now be Publish'd without it were Compos'd or Authoriz'd by him a great Penalty being inflicted on those that should act to the contrary They that desire to know more concerning the Matters above-mention'd may have recourse to the Relation if ever it chance to be Publish'd which Father Adam Schall hath compil'd concerning the reformation of the Chinesian Astronomy which I have read in the Manusctipt where the curious Reader will see with admiration how much the Labors of these our Fathers have contributed to the Propagation of the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ throughout the vast and extensive Dominions of the Emperor of China and how much Glory Honor and Reputation hath thence redounded unto all Europe And from the extraordinary Favor and Kindness that Father Adam Schall receiv'd on all occasions from the Emperor we may conceive great hopes of the Conversion of these Infidels ●or certainly this Great Prince is himself so inclinable to the Faith of Christ in which he acknowledgeth his Predecessors to have been formerly instructed that being convinc'd by the undeniable Truth of our most Holy Faith he hath for a long while since determin'd to receive Baptism but that the affection he beareth unto Polygamie which consists not with the Purity of our Religion and the Precepts of the Divine Law which Christ has commanded us hath proved an Obstacle to his Conversion and this is it also which equally hindereth the Consents of all the Indian Princes to this Holy Resolution Otherwise he willingly admitteth of Christians especially the Doctors of the Divine Law of the Great Western World for so he termeth the Europeans by whose means he saith he hath learn'd from the Ancient Monuments of his Predecessors that the Christian Faith was formerly Preach'd and Receiv'd throughout all Tartary to confirm which his Opinion he acknowledgeth that in many Places of his Empire of Tartary Crosses and other Emblems of Christianity have been found And he glorieth that the Characters which they use in Writing the Tartars receiv'd from the Masters of the Divine Law of the West So that in this respect he hath very little favor or regard for the frantick and detestable Worship of the abominable Deities of the Bonzii and if at any time he be inforc'd by his own Imperial Law to go to their Temple according to the Custom of his Predecessors it is not out of Religious but Politick respects for he hath a natural antipathy to the Manners of the Chineses which is evident from his rejecting the Habit which the Chinesian Emperors used to wear and commanding the Great Officers of his Court to follow his Example And that the difference may be the better discern'd the following Figure gives the Representation of the Emperor in his Royal Habit and also the Portraiture of Father Adam Schall in the Habit Generally worn there by the Fathers of our Order The Emperor's Robe is adorn'd with Embroider'd Dragons and Feathers of Birds as also with Iewels and Pearls of inestimable Value by which he strikes an awful and reverential Fear into the Minds of his Subjects Now the Cause why all that have Admission into the Emperor's Court stand near the Throne with their Arms hanging down is this The Tartars esteem it a grand Misdemeanor in the Presence to Gesticulate acting with the Hands or moving with the Feet from whence fearing his high Displeasure they stand like Statues without any Motion with their Eyes fix'd on the Earth the Emperor by the same Posture on his part seemeth to demonstrate what others ought to do neither may any one dare to appear in his Presence in any other Habit but that which the Dignity of his Office or the Mode of the Royal Employment prescribeth for by that Habit his Office is known both by the Emperor and all others Hence by the Figure of a Crane on the Breast of Father Adam Schall is declar'd the Dignity of his Place And because it is esteem'd dishonorable to come into the Presence on foot therefore both the Colai and the Mandorins of the highest Rank are carried in magnificent Chairs plac'd on Mens Shoulders Now how much this Habit is different from the Habit of the Emperors of China the Reader may easily collect from that Figure which is exhibited in the first place of the Geographical Chart of the Empire of China where I have also set down the proper Habits of the private Persons in each Province Moreover in the time of Matthew Riccius in which the Chinesian Emperors Reigned the chief Colai and Mandorins of the Tribunals were also Vested in a different Habit such as is this that followeth where you see the Habit of Father Paul Riccius which is proper and peculiar to the Doctors of the great Western World which the Fathers of our Society us'd constantly before the Invasion of the Tartars The other is the Pourtraicture of Doctor Paul long since Converted unto the Christian Faith by the aforesaid Paul Riccius a Man of a most quick and clear Iudgment who as he was a great Colaus of the Empire and of great Authority among the Chineses so both by his Preaching and Writing he very much Illustrated the Christian Religion But seeing the Historians of China have sufficiently describ'd their Lives and the Grandeur of their Actions I thought it not requisite to repeat them wherefore it shall suffice here to set down both their Pictures in the Chinesian Habit. Now the Emperor of the Chineses before the Irruption of of the Tartars when he went unto the Tribunal was accustom'd to present himself unto view like a petty Deity from a lofty Place at a Window he bore in his Hand a Skreen of Ivory to cover his Face and another half a Cubit long over his Royal Diadem from which Precious Stones of inestimable Price were so inserted on Threds that they hung down and by their lustre mask'd his Presence from the Eyes of the Beholders As for the Women the Chineses have this Custom The Plebeians and poorer sort buy their Wives and as often as they please sell them again The Emperor and the Royal Lineage in their Matrimonial Contracts have regard only to the Beauty of the