have exasperated him against them The Corsairs having notice that he was coming towards them sack'd and abandon'd the place This was all the diversion they designed at this time to give the Conquerour who presently poured out all his fury upon this unfortunate place which he reduced to Ashes that it might never serve again for a retreating place to the Pyrates CHAP. XIX The Corsairs take a little Fort near Canton having engaged part of the Garrison to side with them The Viceroy in Military Affairs discovers a new Plot in another Fort. The manner how he punished the Traitors THE Corsairs after they had been driven from the Neighbourhood of Canton left this City in quiet for some time but not the General Ly whom they kept in continual exercise on one side or other One day when he was absent being in pursuit of some of their Squadrons others of them returned presently to Canton The fourth of August 1647. in the Evening seventy of their Barks came and cast Anchor at the foot of the Wall of one of the Bulwarks of the City They had already secured to their party some of the Guard which kept the Fort. And therefore they were not discovered till Sun-rise at which time several of the Great Guns were discharged against them from the Fort. The Traitors within had perswaded the other Souldiers that they were the Kings Ships which came from pursuing the Corsairs and therefore no body took the Alarm sooner But the Pirates who stormed the Fort at several placâ—â—s at the same time quickly made themselves Masters of it The greatest part of those who kept it presently sided with the Victors and quit the Tartarian Habit and put on a Coat edged with yellow and a high crown'd Bonnet edged so likewise which is the usual Head-covering of the Chinese Souldiers The rest who would not do so were all put to the Sword There was in this Fort great store of Artillery and other Arms with Powder and all sort of Ammunition The Pirates took some part of the smallest peeces to furnish their Ships with and flung the rest into the River As for the greater Peeces which they could not so easily remove they disabled them from ever doing them any hurt This Fort could not be very near the Town for the noise of the Cannon was not heard thither and it was not known that it had been assaulted till eight of the Clock the next morning when a Boy who had made his escape brought the first News thereof The Viceroy in Civil Affairs who then commanded in Canton could not credit the surprizal of that place till he was better informed by those he sent thither to that intent They presently brought him back word that the Corsairs had made themselves Masters of the place and that they were endeavouring with the loss of no time to make it very tenable The Viceroy instantly marched out against it with a very numerous Army of both Horse and Foot fully resolving to regain that Post. He stormed it several times and in all the assaults which were made by both sides fought very resolutely Great Numbers were slain upon the place but still most on the Tartars side who came on without taking any care to shelter themselves At last the Tartars are obliged to retreat without obtaining the least advantage And it is manifest though the Reâ—â—ation is silent herein that after the Pyrates abandoned the Fort as they had already done in several other places that they might betake themselves again to the Sea they shewed they had no mind to keep it when they took out part of the Artillery and disabled the rest Had they not retreated already the General who was now returned to Canton with his Army would not have failed to have employ'd all this Forces to dislodge them from that Post. But though he returned very triumphantly it doth not appear he did any eminent exploit in those parts The Viceroy in Civil Affairs stood very diligently upon his Guard whilst he saw the Enemy so near him and mistrusting that the Pyrates might hold intelligence in the City as they really did he was so fortunate as to apprehend a Spy who was a Servant to the General oâ—â— the Corsairs he put him to the Torture where he confessed that there was really a Conspiracy against the Tartars and the chief Manager thereof was the great Calao This was one of the highest dignities in Chiâ—â—a and superiour to a Viceroy This Calao was called Chim and was aboard one of those Vessels which had surprized the Fort where he staid expecting a numerous Supply of Souldiers who had all by an Oath obliged themselves either to perish in the Attempt or restore China to its pristine Liberty From henceforwards the Viceroy in Civil Affairs and all the other Magistrates were very cautiously watchful lest they should be surprized for this effect he appointed such Captains to command the Guard at all the Gates of whose fidelity he was most secure And he himself undertook the guard of the pâ—â—incipal Gate of the City and went night and day thorough the City to visit all the other Guards exhorting them both by his words and example to watch over their Enemies who slept not He commanded out several other Captains with their choicest Souldiers in their Companies to guard those Posts and Places from whence he foresaw the enemy might likeliest attempt the Town The indefatigable diligence of the Governour and the deposition of the Spy occasioned other Chineses to be apprehended who were suspected to be Complices in the Conspiracy Assoon as these were put to the Torture they presently avowed that all that the Spy had averred was true that really they had conspired to deliver up the City to the Corsairs that the Fort which they had lately seized upon was delivered up to them by the treachery of those who kept it that the like would happen at a Fort near that where two hundred Souldiers of the Garison were contriving to let in the Chineses All these commotions did not at all disturb the Viceroy but by his prudence he mastered all It is certain that the ability of this man prevented more Mischief and preserved the Tartars more Towns than the General with all his Valour could conquer And there is not less ability requisite to retain and preserve what we are possessed of than there was at first to acquire it The Governour of Canton being informed that there was a Plot laid in that other Fort went thither with all diligence but without shewing that he knew any thing He entred with a Countenance seeming to be fully satisfied and then he declared to the Souldiers that because the present urgency of Affairs obliged them to keep such strict Guard because the Enemy was so near he would to encourage them gratifie them with an Augmentation of their Assignment and encrease their Pay and that therefore they should come one after another to be entered in the Register and
now either gain all or lose all we cannot hereafâ—â—er be greater Rebels than we are already therefore let us dispatch with all expedition the Conquest of the other ten Provinces of China now that we have made five Provinces â—â—eel the power of our Swords but most assuredly when we shall have subdued the rest none will be so audacious and rash as to dare to call us Rebels or Vsurpers Rebels if victorious cease to be Rebels and become the right and lawful Lords and Masters What therefore now remains but that I either make my self the Soveraign Monarch of all China or lose my Life in these Fields and there become a prey to the Birds of the Air and Beasts of the Field Yhere is nothing in all this spatious Empire can gratifie me but either a Throne or a Grave and I will advance my self to such a pitch of Grandeur that if I fall it shall be with such a Crack as shall shiver the whole Frame of Government and bury the whole Empire under my Ruines Thus Ly spake to his Followers who were entirely devoted to him and resolving to run the same Fortune wiâ—â—h him they desired nothing so much as to follow him in whatsoever great attempts he should please to embrace finding his Souldiers thus resolute he speedily entred upon a most bold and hazardous Desâ—â—gn but of high importance for the speedy accomplishment of his Pretensions This was to go directly against the very person of the Emperour and with all his Forces to assault the Imperial Court and Capital City of the Empire fully determining to strike off the Emperours Head and to place the Crown upon his own By this eminent Exploit he knew he should possess himself of the Kings Treasure which would highly strengthen his Party and besides cut off all poweâ—â— from any of the Royal Family to raise any Forces or to head any who should yet have any sparks of Loyalty in their Breasts To execute this grand Attempt he must make himself Master of the great City of Pequin where all the Court resided But he could not hope to do this by open force and therefore resolved to do it by Stratagem and so to surprize the Town that the Thunder-clap should be felt before the Noise was heard By this sudden Surprize he would not leave the Emperour time to prepare either for his Defence or Flight Otherwise it would have been very difficult for Ly with all the Force he could have raised so suddenly to have reduced this great City For besides the vast extent of Pequin it was very well fortified and in time of peace was guarded with 80000 of the Emperours best Souldiers The Imperial Palace alone is above two Miles in circumference and defended with two or three Walls with their Ditches and Bulwarks which are all distinct the one from another and which cannot be taken but separately one after the other the Guard hereof was intrusted to the choicest Militia of the whole Empire Ly foresaw all these difficulties which he judged so great that he despaired of surmounting them but by open violence and therefore resolved rather to make use of secret Intelligence and Correspondency for without fraud and treachery he could never have vanquished all the Obstacles to this grand Design To this intent he had already by Presents and fair promises bribed several of the Grandees of the Court and Council and by these means found it not difficult to engage them in his Interests A strange thing that when there was not any one person of the common people either in City or Court who could be drawn into this Treason several of the Magistrates and Officers of the Court made themselves a detestable example by entering into a Conspiracy against the State the person of their Prince The chief of the Conspirators were the Eunuches of the Imperial Palace who were then very potent considerable in the Court The Emperour of China presumed much upon the trust and fidelity of these persons thus to entrust with them the Guard of his person and the Government of his State By this we may perceive in what condition those States are who have no Nobility amongst them I mean no persons who inheriting the Dignities and Grandeur of their Ancestors do receive Principles of Loyalty to their Soveraign at the same moment they receive the first Principle of their Life There are some things which men can never acquire by study though they apply themselves to it assiduously but they must descend to uâ—â— from the Bloud and Virtue of our Progenitors else these studied Duties which come not to us by Nature arâ—â— but of a short continuance nor much to be relied on The Tyrant after he had by the assistance of the Officers and Eunuchs oâ—â— the Court thus laid his treasonable design he sent into the Imperial City oâ—â— Pequin several of his most trusty valiant Commanders disguised like Merchants with Instructions to keep opeâ—â—shop and to expose to Sale several ricâ—â— Merchandises These counterfeit Merchants were never suspected to be greaâ—â— Commanders and their Apprenticeâ—â— and Servants choice Souldierâ—â— It concerned them though to mind theiâ—â— Trade for upon that depended the purchase of the greatest Empire in the world and they which put it to Sale were those which were most of all obliged to preserve and defend it When the Bargain was thus made and Earnest mutually given those in the City and Court who kept intelligence with the Tyrant failed not by several pretexts to lessen the Guards and to weaken the Strength of the place as much as lay in their power Thus in a little time the Treason broke out all of a sudden to the great Disorder and Astonishment as may easily be imagined of all the Inhabitants who were not privy to the Conspiracy For whilst they were uncertain what Resolution to take they were under the power and at the mercy of their Enemies Ly presently appeared and found the Gates of the Town open and his men victorious in the Conquest of this great City before he could attaque it See the Success of this Rebel who in so short a time made himself master of several Provinces This of Pequin the principal of the whole Empire was the Sixth now under his Subjection CHAP. II. The Dâ—â—ath of the Emperour Zunchin and of all the Royal Family The Tartar resolves to oppose the Vsurper and to advance his ancient Pretension to the Empire of China THE Emperour Zunchin did not perceive the deplorable condiâ—â—ion of his State till it was not in his power to remedy it He knew full well that the rage of his Enemies would not only take from â—â—im by violence his â—â—mpire and Crown but his Life also He perceived that the Plot was laid from that very time that his Counsellors advised him not to raise Forces nor send Money nor Recruits to those Commanders who guarded the Frontiers He might then have put a stop to the progress of the
relation makes no mention how many years Zunchin reigned And whoever reads these Tragical Events hath reason to desire that his just Curiosity might be satisfied herein But all that can be gathered of a certainty both from the Printed Relations in China and those in Manuscript is that in the last 22 years which preceded the Revolution of this Empire there were four or five Kings and absolute Monarchs who successively ruled this great State Vanliè Grandfather to Zunchin the last King had in 1618. ruled 46 years and continued his Reign some years more After the Death of Vanliè his Son Thaicam succeeded him but he only reigned some Moneths Thaicam had for his Successor his eldest Son Thienchi this Thienchi was succeeded by his Brother Zunchin the last Emperour of this Race whom the Spanish Relation calls the Don Rodrigue of China By this it is manifest that this unfortunate Prince cannot be said to have reigned many years though it be uncertain when he began his Reign for the Relations only take notice that he reigned in the year 1634. After him it cannot be said that there was ever any other Soveraign Monarch in China but the Cham of Tartary for as for Ly neither the detestable crime of his Treason and Rebellion nor the short space of his Usurpation could give him any right to take upon him the Title of King of China Thus this great Monarchy in a few years hath had many Kings but this doth not add to the felicity of a State nor are the people the more happy who have experimented the Rule of so many Masters but the contrary For it is Experience and the Art of Governing which makes Kings deservedly to be esteemed of as excellent Princes and their Government happy Therefore those Nations ought to bless the King of Heaven whom he blesses in blâ—â—ssing their Kings with long Reigns Although it may be said that the Emperour and the Empire did both at the same time expire in the person of Zunchin yet it is certain that the overthrow and revolution of this great Monarchy did not happen on such a sudden as it appeared For several years before the Symptomes of a mortal Distemper manifested themselves in the Body Politick of this State and the dangerous Illness thereof was sufficiciently known to cause a general dread of the Consequences but no care for the Remedy so remiss and imprudent a negligence was there which served only palpably to discover the weakness of the Government The State of China resembled a sick person who feels an Illness fears the Effects but neglects his Cure And it may be said to have been seiz'd upon by Death when it was too late to act or do any thinâ—â— but to behold the inevitable ruine and destruction thereof The least Aches if neglected often prove mortal But here the fatal Effects were manifest and therefore it was the more important to have remedied the causes The Empire of China cannot therefore be said to have been lost by an incurable Illness but by an Illness to which due and timely Remedies were not applied and it will always be to be feared that that State which is governed with such a supine remissness will often be in danger to fall under the like calamities The Report of the Emperours death was quickly spread over all the Town And then those Loyal Subjects who yet disputed the Tyrants Entrance into the Palace hearing of the death of their Prince for whom they fought abandoned their Resolution And now the Usurpers who were the more animated meeting with no opposition pursued their Victory which they secuâ—â—ed in all parts Thus Ly presently making himself Master of both the City and Court took up his Quarters 〈◊〉 the Imperial Palace where he saw himself possessed of all the prodigious Treasures of this vast State and in general of all things which contributed either to the Magnificence or Pleasure of Zunchin The Relations made no mention what became of the three Royal Corps They only say that the Tyrant losing no time caused himself to be Crowned in the Court at Pequin and to be proclaimed the Soveraign Emperour of China After his Coronation he issued out a Proclamation enjoyning all the Mandorins to give in their Names and Qualities that in his new Goverâ—â—ment he might bestow amongst them such Employments as he judged requisite Whereunto several of the Mandorins gave Obedience but divers others of the most considerable in the whole State that they might though it was too late manifest the Allegiance which they owed to their Lawful Prince entred into a very barbarous and unprofitable resolution by death to follow him By which they thought they should appear very Loyal to him whom they had most treacherously served in his Life-time and Reign All these persons who were the most eminent of the whole Empire acting like so many Barbarians and desperate men who saw themselves surrounded with so many inevitable Calamities which would render their Lives both disgraceful and burdensom to them did without any hesitation destroy themselves by divers sorts of violent Deaths Some cut their own Throats others strangled themselves and others praecipitated and drowned themselves in Wells and Holes As for those Lords and other Officers of the Court who attended on the Emperour and the Empress into the Garden though there be no certain information of their death yet probably they either all or the greatest part of them died with their Master and by the same kind of Death that those persons had made choice of for whom they had so great a veneration for divers others who had never declared so great Constancy and Courage did not forbear to give this testimony of their Loyalty when the Tyrant required their Names The rest of the Mandorins who were not minded to shew themselves so zealous for the memory of their Prince according to the Tyrants Orders delivered in their Names perswading themselves that by this ready Obedience they should make themselves very considerable in this new upstart Court But they found themselves much frustrated in their expectations for so far were they from being thereby the more considered by the Usurper that on the contrary assoon as he had received their Names and Qualities resolving to take an advantage of their base unworthiness he condemned them in the payment of several great Sums of Money in proportion to the Estates and Offices every one of them were posâ—essed of pretending that they ought to make restitution to him of all which they had defrauded their Lawful Soveraign of And upon this pretension whoever either would not or could not pay his Fine within the prefixed time was instantly condemned to Death and no day passed in which some or other of these wretched persons did not by cruel Torments lose their Lives Nor did the Tyrant stay here but published new Declarations that those pretended Debts Fines and Taxes which the Fathers had refused to pay were payable by the
but so near the Shore of that Province that in a clear day it is easily discernable from one end to another The earth is so fertile that it very plentifully produces all things necessary to the use of man They fish likewise for Pearls which are found there in great numbers and besides there comes from thence several other choice and rare Curiosities as all the Relations of China remark All the Island is not inhabited neither are all the Inhabitants of the same Nation for the Southern people are more rude and do not acknowledge the Soveraignty of the Chineses over them nor will they have any Commerce with them But in the Northern parts there are several Chineses three Cities and eight Towns besides sevâ—â—ral other Houses and Habitations scattered up and down and this part of the Isle is the most populous and rich The Tartar resolves to make himself so much Master of this Island that there should be no Town or Habitation of the Chineses but should acknowledge him for their Sovereign and for this effect he commissionated a General and issued out Orders to him to pass over with a very considerable Fleet of Ships Notwithstanding the little knowledg the Tartars had in Sea-affairs yet they did with the same facility subdue this Island as they had done the rest of China The General after this setled a Tartar Governour there with a strong Garrison of Souldiers and returned into the Province of Canton loaden with Wealth and Honour for he had much enriched himself in this Island and though he was well paid for his pains with the plunder he got yet in recompense of his services there he had conferred upon him the Office of High Admiral which the Chineses call Haitao and in execution of his Command he presently put out to Sea with a Navy of sixscore Ships After he had conquered the Isle of Hainam his design was to clear all the Seas of the Pyrates who did most horribly ravage all the Coasts but more especially the Province of Canton that being the richest and best Province of all China the Corsairs were thereby invited to make such havock there The Tartars fully determined to extirpate them all but though they did their utmost endeavours yet it was not so easie to accomplish this Enterprize At the first when they were not very able Seamen this Naval War seemed terribly laborious to them for the Tartars principally those of the North had never seen the Sea till they had conquered China and traversed over that great Empire And having so little experience of the Sea the very imagination of fighting upon that Element struck a strange dread and apprehension into them but valiant men will fight any where The Romans were no better acquainted with Sea-affairs in the first Punick War when they were necessitated to get an old Ship of Carthage that they might build according to that Model yet after they became so able Seamen and so powerful at Sea that Augustus and Anthony at the Battel of Actium had a greater number of Ships than ever the Carthaginians had had in several years The Tartars likewise presently accustomed themselves to all the Toils of the Sea and were no longer sick nor to seek how either to manage a Sea-fight or to go in chase of their Enemies nay they became very skilful Pilots The Chinese Corsairs did not only rove about the Seas but they went up the Rivers which in those parts are very deep and large The first Ring-leaders who began to infest the Coasts were four eminent Pyrates who divided their Ships into four Squadrons in each of which it is thought there was above ten thousand men The greatest part of these kept upon the Rivers where they plundred and seized upon all they could find on either side the Rivers and did as much mischief to their own Countrey-men as ever the Tartars had done who now began to believe that it would be more advantageous to them to gain upon the Corsairs by Treaty and Proposals To this effect they propounded to them an Act of Oblivion if they would come to any reasonable agreement The Pyrates did not reject this Offer for there being little now left for them to plunder or pillage either from their Enemies or Friends they were content enough to make peace But the Tartarian General was not of so peaceable a disposition and therefore the Favour and Friendship he promised the Corsairs was of no long continuance During the time of this Treaty of Agreement two of the principal Pyrates came ashore that they might conclude upon such Articles which might equally redound to the satisfaction of both parties But there yet remained something upon which they could not agree and thereupon the Tartarian General began to use violence and seized upon the two Captains of the Corsairs and enjoyned them upon pain of death to oblige all the other Pyrates to surrender themselves to his Mercy This unreasonable procedure was not according to the approbation of Xunchi who never intended his Captains should deal so perfidiously but the Viceroy as hath been already remarked was a person from whom greater Justice was not to be expected His rash and violent nature would not permit him to hear reason It is also reported that by biâ—â—th he was not a Tartar but a Chinese of the Province of Loaâ—â—tum which borders upon Tartary and the greatest parâ—â— of his Souldiers were also as himself Chineses but yet they endeavoured to pass for Tartars It would be scarce credible that the Tartars shouâ—â—d grant to a Chinese the Command of so potent an Army in which the greaâ—â—est part of the Souldiers were likewise Chineses for few wise men approve the policy of putting so many enemies into Military Employments and giving them so great Command in such remote Provinces but this may be thus salved the Chineses of Loaotum were distant from Canton more than twelve hundred miles and were near Neighbours to Tartary and consequently better acquainted with the Tartars with whom they often conversed than with the Cantoners with whom they had no Commerce therefore they looked upon them rather as Country-men than those whom they only knew at so remote a distance and that only by hear-say This consideration may make it less to be wondred at that the General should be a Chinese and so likewise the greatest part of the Souldiers he commanded for the Inhabitants of this Province looked upon those of another as so many strangers and forreigners and therefore the Tartars the leâ—â—s apprehended that these should revolt in a Province so far distant from their own Native Countrey in which they had left their Wives Children Parents and all the rest of their Relations as so many Hostages under the power of the Tartarian Garrisons which they had there established to secure their new Conquest It was likewise rumoured that the Viceroy of Civil affairs was also a Chinese of the same Province of Loaotum but this is not so
And having provided all things necessary he imbarqued himself with those Souldiers on whose valour he most confided The Tartars went now to a War of which they had little experience but hâ—â—ving the example of their Viceroy they went aboard very resolutely that by their valour they might supply the little intelligence they had in this way of fighting which was so new to them They imbarqued so speedily and secretly that the Corsairs had no information of it The Viceroy favoured by the good Fortune which did usually attend him in all his Enterprizes surprized the Pyrates in the Channel of a River where the multitude of their Vessels did more inconvenience than advantage them against the small number of those who came against them they were so surprized that they could not possibly make out to Sea as they desired that they might have surrounded their Enemy The Tartars though they were but fresh-water Souldiers yet they came in very good order and assaulted the first they met with so vigorously that they quickly disabled them for fight The rest had neither the leisure to recover or put themselves into any order or had they any place either to retreat or fly to for the Viceroy had blocked up the mouth of the River and thereby stopped their passage And that he might expedite his Victory he presently set fire to their vessels and the Pyrates being in this disorder and seeing no way left for their escape they quickly routed themselves for now they did in great confusion cast themselves into the water that they might if possible save themselves by swimming to the sides of the River And of all this great multitude none but those who thus saved themselves escaped either being drowned or burnt The Viceroy when he had assured the Victory endeavoured to preserve a hundred of the best Ships and burâ—â—t the rest From thence he returned to Canton where he had imbarqued and to illustrate his Triumph he caused the hundred Ships he had taken from the Pyrates to be haled after him At his Arrival the Town was filled with Acclamations of Joy with which all the Inhabitants did congratulate and salute him as their Liberator and as one who had for ever secured them from all fear and apprehension of the Corsairs It is strange that the Chineses of Canton should thus applaud the Tartars for the Victory they had obtained over the Chineses who combated for the Liberty of their Countrey And these Acclamations may seem to have been only feigned and base compliances of the servile people but it is certain their Joy was not counterfeit but sincere and they did without any dissimulation felicitate the Tartars for their Victory The reason proceeded from the horrible mischiefs they suffered from the Corsairs who not only roved about the Sea and the Rivers but desolated the Fields and Towns leaving no respite to the Inhabitants of this Province who were then all submitted to the Tartars But for these Corsairs after the Chineses had suffered all the Calamities to which Towns sacked and pillaged by Barbarians are reduced yet every one began to look upon his Misfortune as a Tempest which was now ceased As for those who were dead they were no more thought upon than dead people usually are and all the Troubles they had undergone were only now considered as a thing without remedy There was nothing now to be seen all over the Countrey but bald Pates and all the Inhabitants were cloathed after the Tartarian mode willingly or unwillingly they must submit to the Law of the Victor and if they governed themselveâ—â— peaceably for the future they need not fear to suffer from the Victor so great Afflictions as they had already undergone Though their troubles from the Tartars seemed to them to be at an end the outrages they suffer'd from the Pyrates did but now begin These were new Tyrants and a new sort of Barbarians which did incessantly renew the afflictions of these miserable people At the first they only reviled and reproached them calling them cowardly Traytors for having abandoned their King and their Countrey to these Tyrants as if they had voluntarily made choice of these new Masters From injurious Words they came to Blows and treated them with all the ill usage imaginable In their fury and rage they perpetrated acts of that violence as transcended all the inhumane actions of the Tartars They compelled the Chinese to retake their ancient Habit and to shew their authority the more they obliged them to wear their Liveries After they had pâ—â—llaged and sacked all parts they then fortified themselves in such Posts as they judged most advantageous pretending they would there defend the Chineses against all Assaults of the Tartars but this only served to give occasion to the Tartars to return and plunder and spoil the unfortunate Inhabitants a second or third time for the Viceroy was no sooner informed of what passed in those parts but he instantly returned and did more Mischief than ever he had before And if the Corsâ—â—irs made any resistance then he was the more outragious and obstinately resolving to go through with every thing he undertook he was sooner or later still victorious As for the Pyrates when they saw they could not defend those whom they ought to have better protected they presently retook themselves to the Sea and so abandoned these poor Wretches to the fury of an Enemy who was the more outragious because he thought he had so debilitated them that they had not strength enough left them so much as to crawl about And when the Tartar missed of the Corsairs on whom he might avenge himself he punished the Innocent instead of the Nocent It was in vain to alledge any Reasons to pacifie him or justifie themselves It was sufficient to make these miserable people criminal because he had in his fury and rage declared them so The Corsairs returned twice or thrice and made the Inhabitants of the Province of Canton change their Habit and the Tartar as often pursued after them and renewed all the Cruelties and Inhumanities which can be imagined they should exercise against Rebels This gave occasion to the Inhabitants of all the Towns and Villages which bordered upon the Rivers to manifest such an aversion to the Corsairs and after their defeat to give such demonstrations of their Joy believing that from thenceforth they should be freed from them For as for the Tartars after the Calamities they had undergone from them they expected to suffer no more from them Therefore they evidenced all they could possibly that they did participate in the advantage which did accrue from this Victory and for this reason they received the Viceroy with such applause at his entry into Câ—â—nton when he returned in Triumph for the Victory he had obtained over the Enemy they most dreaded The great Defeat of the Corsairs happened presently after the reduction of the City of Canton But it is not related in the Memorials which came
slow resolutions haâ—â—e only served to expose them to the derision of those other Nations whom they know to be the most jealous of their Glory and Grandeur The Supplies were no sooner arriv'd but the General caused several strong Batteries to be raised with which he incessantly battered the Walls and made a terrible breach The great Guns from the Town plaid as briskly After this the Tartars gave a new Assault and now the besieged did not only drive them from their Walls but resolutely sallying out against them they routed and pursued them to their Ships into which that they might get they were forced to go up to their very Necks in water Now the Chineses had the satisfaction to deride the Tartars These invincible Victors say they are now dâ—â—feated and forced to run away to their Ships The Conquerors of China have the Courage to turn their Backs to the Chineses Thus they scoffed at the Viceroy and for all his eagerness to avenge himself quickly he was forced to take it patiently now but he lost no time for assoon as he had reproved his Souldiers for running away so cowardly he encouraged and animated them that they would with all possible expedition wipe off this dishonour to their Nation He Landed again and at the the very instant gave order to his Gunners to take such care in traversing their Guns that they might answer his expectation His Orders were executed with the success he desired for the Cannons were pointed with that exactness that in a short time they dismounted several pieces of the besieged's Artillery and they fired incessantly till they disenabled all the rest Now the Corsairs began to sink in their Courage and this made the General take heart and hope well But yâ—â—t he wished they would come to some composition for having experienced the besieged to be both valiant and skilful Souldiers he did not desire to drive them into a desperate condition The Pyrates who had now almost spent their Powder did as earnestly desire to capitulate and to gain fair Terms and they themselves sent to the Viceroy to offer to deliver the place up to him to put what Garrison and Governour he pleas'd into it only upon this condition that neither he nor the rest of his Souldiers would come into the Town The General having engaged his whole Reputation upon the success of this Enterprize was ambitious of nothing more than to come off with honour and therefore received the Proposals very joyfully He appointed presently what Garrison Tartar-Governour should remain in that place and took order for their entrance the next day but the Pyrates were not satisfied that they might rely upon the General 's word and fearing lest he should take some pretext or other to revenge himself on them for their resistance they resolved to make their escape that night All in the Town who were able to carry Arms followed them and there only remained in Tunquam Women Old men and Children and such persons who were unfit for War The Tartar expected the next Morning the Keys of the Town should have been brought him that the Garrison he designed to place there might march in but the Gates were already open and the Town abandoned to his Discretion He entred into the Town and shewed no violence or ill usage to any person he found there It was not his nature to be so mild especially after he had been so incensed as he had been before this place and therefore lest he should forget his own natural disposition he failed not to discharge some part of Choler upon the Neighbouring Towns and Villages which he sacked and pillaged He committed such horrible Cruelties that thereby he more than ever exasperated the whole Province against him One of these Villages stood upon its defence but at last upon the engagement that they should receive no prejudice they surrendred themselves but the Souldiers which marched into it did most treacherously violate the parole which had been given them They began to injure and abuse the poor Countreymen at which they were so enraged to see that the promise which had been made them was not observed that they took up their Arms and fell on upon the Tartars and in their fury they killed divers and routed the rest who made their retreat with what plunder they could carry away to a Hill not far distant The General sent his men a recruit that they might entirely subdue the poor Countreymen but they had made their escape to a place where they could receive but little dammage The Souldiers dispersed themselves all over the adjacent Towns and pillaged and massacred the miserable people who had already submitted themselves as if they had been declared Enemies or rebellious Subjects The Viceroy saw all this Disorder and contented himself to say he had no Money to pay his Army and therefore was necessitated for their subsistance to let them do so Therefore it was to no purpose for those who suffered to make their Complaint Rome burnt and Nero in the mean time diverted himself with the Cries of the miserable Inhabitants CHAP. XVIII A Discourse of the Viceroy in Civil Affairs upon the Cruelty of his Colleague The Corsairs still perplex the Tartars The Chineses improve themselves in the Art of War Thâ—â— Northern Chineses are of a different Genius from the Southern THE Viceroy in Civil Affairs who knew what horrible Mischief thâ—â— Souldiers did was as much concern'd at it as the Chineses but it was not in his power to remedy it He saw plainly that these violent actions did not do so much hurt to the Chinesâ—â—s as they prejudiced the Affairs of the Tartars Once he opened his heart to Father Sambiase Superiour to the Iesuits at Canton to whom he spoke in these Terms The Rebel Cham this was the chief of the Corsairs who had the same Name with one of the firsâ—â— Tyrants but was not the same person The Chineses took great notice of the conformity of the Names of those persons who began and of those who continued the desolation of that Empire for the Tartarian General was called Ly and the chief of the Corsairs Cham The Rebel Cham therefore said the Viceroy commands the Army of the Robbers by Sea and the General Ly the â—â—obbers by Land The one doth as much mischief as the other the Province is ruined and all places therein are utterly desolated and I cannot imagine what will become of either it or us All places revolt and conspire against us and they have reason to do so For my own part I shall endeavour to justly acquit mâ—â— self in that Office in which the Emperour my Master is pleas'd I should serve him I will serve him faithfully â—â—o the loss of my life rather than fail in discharging my Duty I know I shall perish in the end but if so that my death cannot be available to reduce Affairs into better order you shall see that after my Life is
taken away and my Colleague Ly shall have the sole disposal of the Province what care he will then take for the subsistance of the Souldiers and preservation of the People This Declaration the Viceroy in Civil Affairs made of his displeasure to see how things were governed but he had done better had he opened his mind to the King his Master who was neither locked up so close nor so difficult of access as the Chinese Kings used to be And it may be he did write but those Letters which the General sent to the Court were more prevalent and byassed all Affairs contrary to the Viceroy in Civil Affairs The General pretended he was necessitated to use Rigour but he did it only towards the Rebellious Corsairs and not to the People which had submitted themselves And the Court being tired out with this obstinate War of the Corsairs they did not believe this Rigour was prejudicial but on the contrary that nothing could have been of greater advantage than the employing so inflexible and fiery a man as the General was To put this gloss on things was the ready way to encrease the Mischief and make the Cure hopeless Those who oppress others never want persons to applaud them and those who are oppressed never find any to protect them We are wrongfully inform'd of the truth of things either because we will not give ear to it or else because it is wrongfully represented to us Deceit and Falshood marches in triumph in all places that being generally managed more dexterously and subtilly and listened to by most persons with more pleasure Thus States and Nations are often disturbed nay ruined and it cannot be discerned that it was or was not occasioned by the fault of the Prince who governed The General could not yet bring the War with the Corsairs to a period They continually so alarm'd him that he knew not which way to turn himself but tormented him so that it was able to have distracted him sometimes they came in search of him up to the very Gates of Canton and after they had pillaged and plundered all the night the next morning they were all vanished Their Vessels being lighter they had the boldness to surround his Ships and assault them sometimes on one side sometimes on the other They allarm'd him one place whilst they were executing their Project in another And sometimes he was scarce return'd from the Chase of them but they returned to the same place from whence he had expelled them for that they might the better take their advantages they had placed very trusty Spies in all places Thus they always succeeded in some part of their Enterprize whilst the General was gulled and abus'd in being perswaded to go in search of them where they never were This was a very pleasing divertisement to this fierce Fellow who thought to carry all things by his turbulent and capricious humour There were in this province some people who were ever so unfortunate as to be on the wrong side these bore the brunt of the fury of both sides Thus all those great gallant Cities all along the Coast have been ruined their Buildings reduced into a heap of Rubbish and are become the deplorable remains of desolation and destruction They were deserted and abandon'd by their Inhabitants the greatest part of which were either killed or murdered and the rest chose to forsake all and retire themselves for their security up higher into the Countrey The Tartars themselves suffered in part by that mischief which they themselves had occasioned for besides the Affront and Vexation to see the Corsairs for their pleasure thus abuse and torment them they stood oftentimes in need of Necessaries They thought there would never be an end of imbarquing continually which was to them a new exercise to which they were not very well accustomed The General in one of these Incursions happened to seize upon a very eminent Pyrate who was of great repute for his Valour He took him by surprize and the cowardliness of his Followers who then deserted him and brought him to Canton and in the open place there shot him to death with Arrows This was no great loss to the Corsairs who had persons enough as valiant as he whom the General had now put to death and the Tartars no more advanced their interest thereby than he did who thought to diminish the Sea by taking a drop of Water out of it The General did not stay in Canton above four and twenty hours after he had taken this Corsair before he put to Sea again He was no sooner aboard but he commanded to set Sail without any other Declaration what Course he would steer He did thus several times that the Pyrates Spies might not discover his Designes and sometimes not believing he could be precautious enough he took the Helm himself and ordered his Navy to follow him whatever Course he should steer He was most certainly a person highly endowed with all the qualities befitting a Souldier was indefatigable and took no rest But his violent and bloody Actions often lost him more than he gained by his laborious Toil. And it is manifest that in the late Combates the Tartars were often worsted and the General himself beaten and defeated which did both embolden the Pyrates and encrease both their number and Forces It is likewise reported that in this Province they had possessed themselves of several Villages Towns and Cities which before had submitted to the Tartars and that the General could not gain any considerable advantage against them either by Sea or Land though he assaulted them with a very strong Army of both Horse and Foot By this it is credible that had the Chineses been trained up in Martial Discipline they might have made as good Souldiers as other Nations They are generally very strong and vigorous active and Industrious will undergo Labour and Toil love to be employ'd and are generally mortal enemies to Idleness which is particularly remarked in the Provinces which are adjacent to Tartary where they are most commonly engaged in War This is related by several persons of Europe who say they could never have believed them capable of doing such extraordinary actions as they have seen them do had they not been Spectators And it is believed the Tartars would not with so much facility have made themselves Masters of those Provinces had they not found the people in disorder and division occasioned by the Troubles of a Civil War where instead of a Lawful Soveraign to rule over them several Tyrants had brought a horrible confusion and disorder over the whole State in which all persons were divided into several Factions by their different Tenents of Loyalty and Rebellion The Tartars finding these people so little able to make any resistance and they having strengthened their own Forces with divers Chinese Troops who sided with them under their General Vsanguè from hence it happened that they conquered those Provinces with greatest
down the Streets The Gates Bulwarks and Walls were all covered with Souldiers who did incessantly discharge their Muskets and Fire-Arms that they might make the greater shew of Resolution in the face of their Enemies But of a sudden they were surprized at the arrival of the General He returned conducted by his good Fortune with his Army whole and entire and entred the City with the Sound of Trumpet He met not with the Enemy the greatest part being incamped on the other side of the City and he did not perceive them till he was passed by them for they were retreated into a place where they were covered by some Hills which hindred the sight of them The Corsairs were not less surprized to see the General return with all his Army at that time when they believed him so far distant And being in great disorder and so not in a condition to give Battel they durst neither go up to him nor stay for him though they were the stronger The first Resolution they took which usually is not the most generous was to run away Some of their Vessels began to retreat in disorder and the others which thought they must do so too followed them with that haste that they fired not one of their great Guns against the Viceroy's men who pursued them to the incredible satisfaction of all the Inhabitants of Canton and now the Cantoners prepared for triumphal Recreations and to see the sport of the Bulls in as great security as before they were in fear and dread The Run-awayes fled with such haste that they left behind them their greatest and best Vessels out of which they withdrew the Souldiers and Seamen and what else they could because these were too heavy and slow to follow the rest The Viceroy pursued them with all the Sail he could make but could not possibly reach them for their Vessels were much lighter and their Rowers more expert and in better breath and did beyond comparion exceed those of the Tartars who were poor miserable Countrey-Fellows compelled to it against their will The General after he had for some time been in chase after them returned back again and then seized upon those Vessels they had left and entred in great glory and triumph into the City where he was received as their Liberator and as if he had been sent from Heaven to succour them in this their urgent necessity The Viceroy in Civil Affairs who had likewise delivered them out of a very intricate danger went before him and accompanied him through all the streets of the City which they passed through in the midst of a great Crowd of People who could never weary themselves with praising and applauding him And though it was broad Day-light yet there were Torches lighted in all the streets and places through which he passed and Odors and Perfumes were burnt in all places as if some of their Pagods or Idols had been marching through the Streets But to what a person do they burn Incense And what doth not Necessity and Flattery induce miserable people to do After all these publick Rejoycings and Feastings were over the Viceroys busie themselves in searching out the Accomplices in the Conspiracy which was not like that of Cataline For they did not design to oppress but deliver their Countrey and yet there was very exact and diligent Inquisition made The Chineses are very dexterous in concealing and dissembling the Affairs of their Nation and speak very sparingly and advisedly of things of the least importance And whoever discloses a Secret is accounted a publick enemy and a persecutor of his Countrey But assoon as they are put to the Torture the first pain makes them proclaim all they know They love themselves too well to love their Friends to that degree as to suffer any pain upon their account They do not intend to pay so dear for their Friendship Therefore assoon as the first who were apprehended were put to the Torture instantly â—â—ll the Conspirators were discovered some were only privy and consenting to the Conspiracy others were Sticklers and Principalâ—â— but the Tartars presently cut off the Heads of both the one and the other This is their ordinary way of punishing all criminal persons without making any distinction of either Crimes or persons it was sufficient they had all deserved to die After this first Execution the Tartars looked more narrowly to keep â—â— strict Guard at the Gates of the City And â—â—o this effect they appointed new Captains with Souldiers of approved Fidelity They used all imaginable circumspection in shutting and opening the Gates they altered and changed often both the time and manner of doing it that they might the better be asâ—â—ured they were kept close shut that thereby they might manifest to all who should yet entertain any thought of a new Conspiracy that they were not remiss in keeping strict Guard They carefully examined all who went in or out and made them discover what either they brought in or carried out All these Precautions and the sudden Execution of the Conspirators kept all the people in amazement and made them that they knew neither what to think or say Each of the Inhabitants was in a continual apprehension that some or other who designed to do them mischief should publish their Names amongst the Conspirators for there needed no other manner of proceeding to make any man lose his Life And there is great reason to believe that several very innocent persons fared no better than those who were most Criminal It is a very usual way of taking revenge in that Countrey for those in distress to go and hang themselves at the Gate of their Enemies to declare thereby that they deserved the like punishment if Justice was done upon them At this rate some base spirits have purchased the satisfaction of revenge All this troublesome time the Inhabitants of Canton remained prisoners in their own houses They saw and heard what hâ—â—d passed but durst say nothing They durâ—â—t scarce open their Mouths in the most retired and secret places of their Houses They explained themselves by lifting up their shoulders and such like Gestures and in so dismal a time this was the best Expedient to avoid greater mischief Although the Chineses assoon as they are put to the Torture confess all they know yet in all parts of the world there are some extraordinary persons who may pass for prodigies in regard of other men And it may well be counted a very great one when one single man dares approve himself resolute and generous amidst a multitude of timorous Cowards This hâ—â—ppened amongst the great numbers of those who were declared to be either Principals or Accomplices in the Conspiracy A Chinese Captain not one of the Pyrates or a Sea-Commander but a Land-Commander whom they call a Mandorin of Martial Affairs was put to the Torture and interrogated whether he knew any thing of the Conâ—â—piracy or Conspirators He thus replied That whether he knew
the Chinese Emperours would command and head them But this Negotiation had not a more fortunate success though the â—â—aptain by his rare and unparallell'd Loyalty made it evident that Guequan who was certainly one of the best Princes that was ever Crowned during the late Tarâ—â—arian war could not possibly have employed a person of higher Merit and Capacity to serve him against his Enemies His Courage and Valour gained great Renown amongst all his Countrey-men and his last Adventures gave occasion to discourse of them and enlarge upon them in this present History CHAP. XXI The Corsairs possess themselves of several places and return to assault Canton The General routs them at Sea The Chineses manage their Affairs ill and thereby only exasperate the Tartars and consume the rest of their Forces I Must now draw to a Conclusion the Information I have received concerning the Atchievments of thâ—â—se Pyrates who did daily afresh toil and torment their Enemies The General was almost at his Wits end This man who seemed so indefatigable in War found out those now who gave him sufficient employment both by Land and Sea They had now made themselves Masters of three or four the best places in all the Province of Canton and there they defended themselves in spight of all the Tyrants Fury and all that the Tartars could do to drive them out They laid siege to several other Places and blocked them up very close But they were much more powerful at Sea and highly dissatisfied that they had so precipitately and inconsiderately made their last retreat at that time when they did both in men and strength over-power the Vice-Roy Therefore with all possible expedition they rendezvouz'd again and at the same time gave a new Allarm to the City of Canton they cast Anchor at the foot of that Fort which they had taken a little time before and there in the presence and sight of the Vice-Roy after their usual custom they menaced the Inhabitants The approach of these Pirates who were ever apprehended as such dreadful énemies put the whole City into a great perplexity and commotion The Tartars were no less disturbed to see the Corsairs come thundring upon them from all parts with such numerous and potent Forces All the Citizenâ—â— as at other times armed themselves and continued all night under their Arms making a most terrible noise and horrible uproar The Corsairs made no less a clamour without than the Tartars within the City for whilst they were drawing up their Horse they made a continual shouting The Souldiers within the City had each of them taken up their Posts upon the Walls at the Gates and the Captains went the Round incessantly Amongst these Barbarians they go not the Rounds with so great a silence as they do in the Disciplin'd Armies in Europe but they continually shoot shout and make a clamour with their warlike Instruments Nay their very Guards and Sentinels do incessantly fire their Guns at night whereas in Europe they would not fail to take the Alarm at the first Gun which discharged But these are Barbarians and most barbarous in making war where they imagine that a noise doth encourage them and make them the more valiant perhaps it is because with shouting and making a noise they usually supply the defect of Company and being accustom'd thereto when they are in company they make the greater clamour to engage their companions to stick the firmeâ—â—â—â—o them Assoon as day began to â—â—ppear â—â—eneral Ly resolves to go and fight them at Sea And being fully perswaded that they now designed to engage him and that for this intent they waited for him he therefore prepares a very potent Fleet to assault them and presently hoises Sail and makes up to them He found them ranged in order of Battel and ready to fight him and assoon as he had divided his Fleet into the several Squadrons and issued out the Orders which were to be observed in the management of the Fight he gives the Signal to fall on Each Party engaged with great animosity The Fight was very bloody and the Victory a long time disputed inclining some time to one side and sometimeâ—â— to the other The Tartars fought with more Valour and in better Order and defended themselves better but the Corsairs had the advantage by their number and their Ships were lighter and tacked quicker about and came up and charged oftner and being more numerous they extend thâ—â—mselves out further surrounded their Enemy and charged them at the same time both afore and abast It is most certain that if there had been as good a union and accord amongst them as there was amongst the Tartars they had not only won that day but several others but these were only persons who were assembled together and divided into different Squadrons under distinct Commanders in chief amongst whom there was not that good correspondence as was necessary for though they had a General they gave him only the Title but no Obedience and Observance but what they pleased not what was due to a Soveâ—â—aign and absolute authoâ—â—ity so that if in the midst of the Engagement any Commander in chief of one of the Squadrons who wanted Courage and had a mind to run away all the rest of the Ships in that Squadron followed him as Cleopatra heretofore deserted Anthony This was the consequence hereupon that although some of the Squadrons fought it out stoutly yet at last for all their Valour they must submit for the Tartars assoon as they perceived any of the Pyrates Ships to run away incessantly cried out Victory and thereby animated their men to fall on with greater violence upon those who yet stood it out There being so little union and so great a misintelligence amongst the Corsairs one of their Squadrons had no sooner run away but presently there followed a general confusion and disorder amongst all the rest And the Tartars to secure their Victory failed not to press the closer upon them It was the Misfortune of the Chineses that though they were as nimble in running away as the Parthians yet they were not so dexterous in fighting whilst they run away and thereby gaining the Victory This was the Event of this great Battel the Corsairs were all routed and the Tartars as they usually did gained the Victory with all the advantage imaginable The Corsairs had several such like Engagements with the Tartars as this was but there will be no end to relate them all and besides being it would almost be the rehearsal of the same thing again and again the relation thereof would prove tedious But to say something in the general of the War which these Pyrates made it is certain they toiled and tormented themselves to little purpose They did not consider that it was not now either a time or season to let their Enemies see they were to be feared for thereby they only obliged them to stand the stricter upon their Guard and to be
gain it which may be made evident by this that there being only the Populacie in China who could frame any Conspiracy the common people were so far from entertaining any such Projects or Thoughts that on the contrary they were so well satisfied with the Government of their new Masters that they could not but with horrour now think on the hard servitude they groaned under the fierce arrogancy of their former Mandorins It is doubtful whether the Chineses were sufferers by the change of Government and to clear this Point it is necessary to shew how the former Chinese Mandorins treated all criminal persons who had the Misfortune to be brought before them though the Crime of which they were accused was never so slight The Pride of a Chinese Mandorin seated in his Tribunal Seat was insupportable saith a Relation out of China for after he had for a long time turned and rowled about his Eyes that he might prepare himself to look sternly and austerely upon the poor wretched Criminal he afterwards looked very fixedly upon him and in such a manner as if he had already been going to pronounce upon him some horrid Sentence of Death He wrinkled up his Eye-brows so that under his square-Cap they looked as hideously as those do through the Vizor of the Helmet of an armed man who is just going to charge his Enemy He seats himself in a setled posture and is very watchful and careful over himself not to stir or move in the least but keeps his hands and all his body without any action or motion he speakâ—â— some few words but they fall from him with that weight and gravity as if they were made of Lead and as leisurely as a proud Animal when he walkes lifts up his feet and stately sets them down again upon the ground He is likewise attended with two Pages on each side one with great Fans in their hands to cool and refresh the Air and drive away the Flies For it would be inconsistent with the Gravity of the Mandorin to move his hand upon this occasion Such grave Majestick Mandorins would in ancient times have done well at Rome to teach even the Cato's Rigour and Gravity But that which is the most pleasant this Fellow who hath the good Fortune to be a Mandorin and is so rigid and severe is the greatest Villain in the whole Countrey or rather a most subtil Thief who practises more cheating Tricks in one day than a Troop of Mountebanks can do in a whole Year But the lamentable condition and posture of the unfortunate Criminal who is brought before the Mandorin is more extrâ—â—ordinary than the pride and gravity of the Mandorin himself The poor wretch is brought into a great Hall and there he must not fail to deport himself most demurely and to look most dejectedly he creeps bare-foot and bare-legg'd upon his knees and at every moment prostrates himself and bows down his head till he touches the very ground with hiâ—â— Face In this posture he presents himself and puts himself into that form and shape which he thinks may move the greatest compassion His Eyes are fixed on the Ground as if they were fastened to it his Head appears as if it was â—â—hrust into his Shoulders his Voice is low and whining and he dares neither blow nor breath his hands are so close joined that they might be thought to cleave or grow together but that he is forced sometimes to separate them that he may so employ them in paying the greater Obeiâ—â—ance and Adoration All the rest of his Body remains so constraint that if it was possible his very Bones for fear lest they should appear might have been suspected to have crept one into â—â—he other If he should dare to spit or cough this would be so high a Crime that he must instantly be severely puniâ—â—hed for it In this state and condition the sad wretch expects to receive his Sentence from his Judge who for this purpose hath a table placed before his Tribunal and upon it lie several Tallies which he takes up and flings upon the ground more or fewer proportionable to the correction to which he condemnes the Crimiâ—â—al for the Crimes he stands accused which very often are but slight ones Each of these Tallies is a Sentence or Condemnation for a hundred slashes with a Whip which doth so tear and flay off the Skin that the miserable wretch often dies under the hands of his Executioners And yet to make the least reply or intercession after Sentence given is but to encrease the punishment by the addition of a new Crime The Criminal person therefore durst not open his mouth or move in the least for fear he should exasperate his Judge The Executioners who constantly attended immediately after Judgment seized upon him and quickly dispatched him but first they stripped him stark naked and then in presence of the Mandorin without any fear of offending thereby his Gravity gave the condemned person the number of Stripes to which he was sentenced by the Tallies He who would not drive away a Fly lest he should violate his Formality thought it no disrepect to him to see a naked man whipped in his presence This was the ridiculous and Ceremonious affectation of those haughty Mandorins by which they pretended to maintain and keep up their Gravity but as several other men do they strained at a Gnat and did not observe that they swallowed a Camel And that is most certain that the Chinese Mandorins did so tyrannize over the miserable people that there is no Hyperbole in this Relation of their fierce and cruel Arrogancy The people therefore when they saw their new Magistrates and the Grandees of Tartary nay the very Unkles to the Emperour to manage affairs without all this Ceremonious affectation and with a deportment so opposite to the ridiculous pride under which they had so long suffered When they saw the Viceroys receive Petitions and Informations in the Streets and publick places and to answer them and do Justice as they passed by on Horseback and that at all hours of the day the Tartarian Magistrates gave audience and at the very instant dispatched the Parties concern'd without obliging them to any Ceremony or permitting them to prostrate themselves on the ground or creep on their Knees to them When the Chineses saw a face of Government which seemed to have a smiling and more favourable aspect towards them they could not desist from admiring and highly esteeming their happy Change They were so far from being grieved that they were reduced under the Dominion of the Tartars that they perswaded themselves that they now began to enjoy their Liberty after they had so long groaned under so cruel a thraldom Thus Xunchi employed all his Mildness and Goodness hereby the better to secure to him his new Subjects And in all parts the Art of gaining the Affections of the people doth no less compleat and secure Conquests than that of gaining Victories
therefore thought fit solely to honour and gratifie the Souldiery This was sufficient to enduce the Chineses to quit their Studies and turn Souldiers Let every one according to their reason and inclination pass their censure upon these two Professions yet this must be granted that all that can be said by those who by their manner of Life have declared themselves partial to Learning is only this that esteem and merit should equally be divided to persons of each of these Professions proportionable to their skill and industry in either of them But then this must be granted that Gown-men and Pen men who are freest from danger are in the readier way to Preferment Whereas a Souldier after he hath hazarded his Life in several Fights and Seiges usually hath no other recompense than to lose his Life at last in some other engagement Very many persons even those who for their eminent services have deserved to be highly recompensed have had no better fortune The Tartarian Emperour was of opinion that Military Employments were most meritorious because they were exposed to so great perils Therefore though he still encouraged Learning in China and sent into each Province thereof two Vice-roys as there was before the one a Gown-man to whom was entrusted the administration of Justice in Civil affairs the other a Souldier who had the direction of all Military concerns yet he manifested a greater esteem for those who embraced the Military Profession even so far as to make several Scholars whom he judged were fit to make Souldiers quit their Gowns and take up Arms. He was likewise very careful to reward his Souldiers if he knew they had merited it though they were in places very remote from his person yet when they least expected it he sent them Presents and Gratuities Upon this account in the year 1647. in the Month of August he commanded a very considerable Mandorin who was assistant to the royal Council at Peking to go from thence to Canton to carry Presents to the two Vice-roys thereof Though it was a thousaâ—â—d Miles from one of these Cities to the other yet the Mandorin having no other business in obedience to his Order went so great a journey The Presents were two Gold Cups set with Precious stones and two very rich Suits of Clothes Xunchi knowing that the two Vice-roys had equally in the Reduction of that Province upon all occasions and in all engagements with the Enemy given great proofs of their Valour designed to give equal Honour to their persons and merits It is not therefore to be wondred at that that Prince had so many gallant and brave Souldiers since he was so careful and sollicitous to reâ—â—ompense the services of his own Commanders that he sent such magnificent Presents to those who were at such a distance from his Court and for this intent alone he employed the principal persons in his State to go and acquaint them how satisfied His Majesty was with their Fidelity and Courage Princes can never want brave Souldiers if they carefully reward them but it will be difficult for them to retain such in their Services unless by their actions they shew that they know both how to value and reward them Several Gown-men even those who were in very considerable employments when they saw that it was not likely they should advance themselves if they applyed themselves solely to the study of their Laws presently put them selves into Military commands We have already seen the Conduct of the Lord Chief Justice of Canton or the Vice-roy in Civil affairs But that it may be known what opinion this Gown-man had at that time of his own Profession I shall relate how he expressed himself upon this Subject to a Friend of his This person though he was not very Learned was made Justice or Mandorin in Civil affairs in the City of Canton Every person in China who had but the least smattering in Learning yet he thought himself a great Doctor if he was advanced to the dignity of a Mandorin But this person shew'd he had more worth in him than the rest since he did so ingeniously acknowledg and allow his disability In all parts there are very few that pretend to be Scholars who will acknowledg a deficiency in Learning but there are fewer who will make a sincere Confession of their Ignorance Yet this man did very ingeniously tell the Vice-Roy that he had not Learning enough to qualify him to be a Mandorin and and therefore if his Excellency would please to give him an employment more proportionable to his capacity he should acknowledg himself the more obliged The Vice-Roy demanded of him wherein he thought himself insufficient he replyed that he could not write or form the Chineses Caracters fair enough Go saith the Vice-Roy you have but too much Learning for these times when all persons who hope to make themselves any ways considerable but leave their Books and turn Souldiers Do not believe or fancy that hereafter in all Suits or Trials at Law it will be thought necessary to write so much or examine so many Writings and Deeds You must only attentively hear both parties and give them a verbal dispatch be exact in this and resolve to do justice Truth and Iustice are not so concealed and hid from our knowledg and sight that we shouldsearch for them in places where they are scarce â—â—ver to be â—â—ound in the Whirle-pooles and bottomlâ—â—ss pits of Law-suits The Mandorin understood full well the Vice Roys meaning and thanked his Excellency for the Charge he was pleased to bestow on him and the good Advice he gave him and taking leave of him he told him My Lord I am sufficiently qualified if diligence and good intentions do sufficiently capacitate me for the execution of my Charge Thus Xunchi very calmly and without any violence refoâ—â—med the abuses and frauds of the Chinese Pen-men and Gown-men and was well enough pleased that the Souldiers and Officers did publickly deride and speak against that lazy and unnecessary Occupation Nothing did more advance than this did the alteration which that Prince designed to introduce And this occasioned several very pleasant passages Once a Chinese Mandorin was obliged to quarter in his house a Tartarian Captain a person highly considered amongst those of his own Nation and he had a very good lodging in the Mandorins house and all the accommodation he could wish for The Mandorin who was very ambitious of the fame and repute of a very learned man had a very fine Library which doubtless was furnished with more Learning than his head was The best and most Lightsome Rooms of his were filled with Books and he called those Lodgings Xufan which signifies a very airy place and it was in truth cooled with a very refreshing air which prevented dust and worms which spoyl Books When the Tartar saw this place he judged it a more convenient Lodging than those he had and that they made very ill use of it
of Arms and War they affect and desire nothing so much as to be always in the field and have Enemies to fight with which is the joy and pleasure of their Life They never think themselves so graceful and handsome as when they appear with their faces full of seams and scars whereas other Nations are so careful to keep their Faces smooth and beautiful their Complexions clear and fair their Hair or rather their Periwigs curled poudred and perfumed to the shame not only of their Nation but nature too who made them Men and not Women whom they do so much imitate and like whom they so strive to appear The Tartars are far from this effeminacy and are so transported with a violent passion for Arms and Souldiery that all the beautiful Provinces of China have been turned into forges in which the Tartars employ an infinite number of Work-men in making incessantly all sorts of Arms. All the Black-smiths and all sorts of Work-men who work in either Iron or Metal throughout that vast Empire have been solely taken up with making Arms. If any one should be so curious as to be inquisitive wherefore the Tartars make so many Arms I know not how to answer them but that to believe they design to make Arms enough for the whole world All the fine Libraries in China were turned into Armories and Magazines for Warlike provisions Heretofore it would have been difficult to have found a Sword though old and rusty unless amongst the Souldiers If the Chineses were engaged in any quarrel they contented themselves with plucking one another by the hair of the Head or the Beard or else scratching and those who were not armed with Nailes long enough decided it at fisticuffs The Chineses did so naturally make use of their Nails instead of Aâ—â—ms that those who would be reputed hectoring Gallants thought it an ornament to have their Nails as long as the Talents of a Hawk or Eagle It is so true that they never maâ—â—e use of Arms in China that though they had very many able and expert Physitians they had not one Chirurgion in the whole Country for they had no Wounds for them to practise upon As for all accidental Hurts outward Swellings Imposthumes and such like Distempers Physitians undertook the Cure thereof But after the Tartars had subdued Chinâ—â— all sorts of persons wore Arms Nay little Children of eight years old â—â—specially if their Parents were of quality had a Hanger or Scymitar begirt about their waste which gave occasion to the Chineses both to laugh at and pity the little Children that in so tender an age they should be troubled to carry so unnecessary and useless a burden The Tartars exercised their Souldiers every day before the Palaces of their Vice-Roys There they drew up the Troops in Battalia and fired at one another with their Muskets and Guns as eagerly as if two Armies had been contending for Victory They had likewise Prises and persons appointed to take notice of and recompense the address and expertness of those who shot with Bows and Guns every day at a mark Whosoever hit the mark with three Bullets or three Arrows had given him as a reward a little piece of Siver Plate fashioned like a shell worth about four Iulio's a Iulio is in value about six pence sterling He who hit the mark twice had one worth about two Iulio's and he who hit it but once had one only of the value of one Iulio But they who missed the mark thrice were instantly bastinado'd And to disgrace them the more were publickly hooted and hissed at or else had some other affront put upon them The Tartars were not obliged to these exercises but the Chineses of those Provinces who had submitted themâ—â—elves that by custome they might learn not to be afraid of Guns or Arms. They designed by this continual exercise to disaccustome them from that Effeminacy and Lazinesâ—â— in which they had lain so long buried These idle Fellows would very willingly have been excused from this trouble But they deserved to be learnt by their Enemies the exercise of Arms thâ—â—t they might carry them in their Service since they so little concerned themselves to make use of them in the defence of their own Country and for the preservation of themselves As for the several sorts of Arms the Tartars make use of The Defensive are Breast-plates and Back-pieces Head-pieces Shoulder-pieces and Vambraces which are in a manner like the defensive Arms in Europe but their Armour is not so bright nor so well wrought which makes them who wear them look the more terrible and dreadful The Viser of ther Helmet is not fastned and rivited to the Cask as in Europe but is only a loose plaâ—â—e of Iron very strong which covers the face throat and shoulders and is seperated from the Helmet when they please They likewise have several other pieces and plates of Iron with which they cover the head throat neck and shoulders These are to defend them in Fights from showers of Arrows which fall thick and might pierce an Artery or wound them so deep in those parts as might cause so great an effusion of Blood as might be very dangerous And therefore they defend those parts with all the caution imaginable for the defence of the rest of their body they make use of certain Buff Coats mâ—â—de very wide and large and quilted in the inside with Cotton When they are at their own houses and in peace they wear these Coats but then they are not so well lined Their Offensive Arms are Bows and Arrows short Swords and Lances Their short Swords are pointed in the fashion of the Turkish Scymitars They are usually very short but heavy they have very sharp edges and are excellently well tempered They make use likewise of another sort of Swords which are very broad and are by the Chineses and Iapanners called Catanes there are some of these very great and are two handed like the Swissers Swords The fashion of the Handles both of their short and broad Swords is not extraordinary but they are made of Gold Silver or Brass according to the Riches or Curiosity of the owners they have no Pikes judging them not convenient for their manner of fighting Their Lances are very short and they use them as we do Haltbards or Partisans But their Bows and Arrows are their most honourable Weapons of which they are very proud and take pleasure in shewing how skilfully they can shoot with them which they do so dexterously that several persons with one draught of the Bow will let fly three or four Arrows at a time with that force and violence that should they at a due distance hit any man the lightest would pierce him quite thorough Their Bows are rather little than great They are light but very strong and solid Their Arrows are some long some short but all so strong that they will pierce through a stiffboard The Iron heads are made four