hold him for a Saint and a Master and Doctour of the whole Kingdome and whatsoever is cited of him is esteemed as an Oracle or sacred thing but also in all the Cities of the Kingdome he hath publique Temples built to his memorie where at set times he is worshipped with very great ceremony and in the year of the examinations one of the principall ceremonies is that all the graduates go together to do him reverence and acknowledge him for their Master Of those that are descended from him he that is the neerest of kin hath a competent revenue and enjoyeth the title of Chuheu which is as much as Marquis or Duke The Governour of the City where he was borne out of respect and favour to him is alwaies one of his family and finally all those of his linage assoone as they are borne have a particular priviledge from the Emperour and are respected by all in regard of their predecessour Confusio This custome continueth to this day although it be 1800. yeares since he died But returning to the Bookes which he published they are these following The first is called Yekim and treateth of his naturall Philosophie and of the generation and corruption of things of Fate or Judiciary Prognostication from these and other things and from naturall principles Philosophizing by way of numbers figures and symboles applying all to moralitie and good government The second is called Xukim containing a Chronicle of the ancient Kings and their good government The third Xikim and is of ancient poesie all under metaphors and poeticall figures concerning the naturall inclinations of mankind and also of diverse customes The fourth named Likim treateth of rites and civill ceremonies of the Ancients and also of those that belong to Religion and divine worship The fifth is called Chuncieu the which treateth also of the History of their Countrie and containeth a collection of examples of severall ancient Kings good and bad to be imitated or avoided There are also foure other bookes which were made by Confusio and another Philosopher called Mensiù In these nine bookes is contained all the naturall and morall Philosophie which the whole Kingdome studieth and out of these is taken the point which is proposed to read or compose on in their examinations for degrees Upon these bookes they have severall commentaries and glosses But there is one of them which by the law of the Kingdome they are commanded to follow nor are they allowed to contradict it in their publique Acts and hath almost the same authority with the text These nine bookes are held as it were sacred and in them and their Glosses and commentaries consisteth the great endeavour of their studies getting them by heart and endeavouring to understand the difficult places of them forming diverse senses upon them whereby to govern themselves in the practise of vertue to prescribe rules for the government of the Kingdome according to those wise dictates and Maximes they finde there And because their examinations are very strickt and rigorous they not being suffered to bring along with them to those examinations not only any booke but also not so much as a fingers breadth of paper it being no easie thing to be very ready in all these bookes the order is That the first examination of Batchelours be upon the last foure and that of Licentiates to be upon the same foure as also upon one of the other five for this reason none is obliged to be very perfect in more than one of those sciences which he doth professe and upon that the point is to be given him But to speak more distinctly to their learning although in their books it is not delivered so clearely and orderly I say they consider in the universe three things that is the heavens earth and man and so accordingly they divide their learning into three members that is into the science of the heavens the science of the earth and the science of man including in the two first all naturall knowledge and in the third all morall In the science of the heavens they treate of the beginning of all naturall things of the Creation of the Universe and of the Formation of man himselfe of universall causes of generation and corruption of elements and elementary qualities answerable to the planets of celestiall motions and relvolutions of the foure seasons of the year of the stars and planets of Iudiciall Astrologie of spirits good and bad what they are and other like matters In the science of the earth they treate of the varietie that is seen in her by reason of the 4. seasons of the yeare of the productions of things and their differences of fields and possessions and their divisions in order to Husbandrie and Agriculture of the situation of the 4 parts of the world of their position and other particulars concerning them of the choise and building of Coemeteries and burying places for their dead in which they are very superstitious In the science which treateth of man they teach all their moralitie and that which belongeth to man in a sociable and politick capacitie who imitating the order manner and proprietie of heaven and earth as the universall Parents liveth in communitie with the observing their five morall vertues which are Pietie Iustice Prudence Policie and Fidelitie They treate also of morall matters and of the respect which they have to the five orders of persons into which their Common-wealth is divided that is Father and Sonne Husband and Wife King and Subjects Elder Brother and Younger Brother and Friends among themselves All their moralitie is divided into two members The first they call Divine Moralitie which treateth only of ceremonies rites and sacrifices which they make to heaven earth the planets parts of the world good and bad spirits of the heaven and earth mountaines rivers tutelary spirits soules of the dead Heroes and famous men c. The second is their Politick and civill Moralitie This is divided into Ethiques which ordereth the manners and actions of mankinde as they are considered in relation to their owne persons and into Oeconomie in order to the government of their families and into Politiques in relation to the Government of the Commonwealth the publick good and conservation of the Kingdome The Government of a single person doth put him in a way to the good Government of his familie and the good Government of a familie to that of the Kingdome as for example A father which doth not well Governe his house how should he governe a City or Province and he that knoweth not how to governe and correct himselfe according to the duty of his single person how should he be able to regulate his familie So that they lay the first foundation of mortalitie in the good manners and behaviour of each particular person from whence proceede well govern'd families and publick Governments well administred Under the same member of the science of man they comprehend the Liberall and all other
are served they might learne how to serve them while living In a word they order every thing as it may conduce most to good government to concord peace and quietnesse in Familes and to the exercise of vertue The Second Sect is that of the Tausi proper also to China The Authour thereof was a Philosopher named Tausu of whom they feign that he was eight years in his Mothers belly He lived about the time of Confusio He hath many followers to this day who live together in communitie they do not marry they suffer the haire of their head and their beard to grwo very long in their habit they do not differ from others except in some things at the time when they officiate In stead of a Cap they weare a little Crown into which the knot only of their haiâ—e entreth They place their ultimate Happinesse in the Body in order to obtaine a quiet and easie life without labour and trouble This Sect acknowledgeth one Great God and other lesser one all corporeall They acknowledge Glorie and Hell the Glorie to be conjoyned to the body not only in the other life but also in this feighning that by meanes of certaine exercises and meditations one may come to make himselfe a child and young and others to become Xin Sien that is the fortunate ones of the earth obtaining by this meanes whatsoever they desire and to be able to transferre themselves from one place to another although never so distant speedily and easily and other such like fooleries They are skilfull in Musick and have good Instruments They are alwaies called to the Sacrifices and Funeralls and at those of the King and Mandarines they are ever assistant They Pretend to be South-Sayers and promise to procure raine and to drive away devils from places that are haunted But are able to do nothing and sometimes at such undertakings they are fouly routed by the devils in great droughts they promise raine and often prolong so much time in praying for it that at length the time of raine commeth In Pekim in the yeare 1622 there fell out a pleasant Accident although troublesome There happened a great drought prayers were made pennances and fasts were kept but all to no end At length certaine Tausi offered themselves to procure raine without faile and appointed a set day and houre the offer was accepted with great applause joy and good hope of the event then they in a great Piazza or market-place made a theater composed of little Tables which as they have many there of an equall height and breadth they did set one upon another beginning at bottom with a great many and raising it up by degrees higher still with fewer Tables till at length the Machine came to end in one only observing an handsome propoition and reasonable height On this last and highest stood the chiefe of them praying and supplicating and the rest went round about him doing the same like Baals Priests although they did not wound themselves for in that they had great regard as those who sought not bloud but water The people stood all round about expecting the event and the Ministers observing so great an Auditory which was almost infinite redoubled their prayers their whistlings and ceremonies When the day and houre appointed was come presently the Sky began to be overcast with very dark cloudes to the great joy of all and credit of their Ministers who did already promise themselves the happy accomplishment of their undertaking expecting every moment when the raine should fall When behold of a sudden there fel a furious storm of Haile the Stones whereof were as big as Eggs and some bigger which did ruine not only their fields but their Gardens and killed diverse Persons that could not in time recover some Shelter The Fathers have writ me from thence that they thought the end of the world was come so great was the confusion and noise of the Haile that fell The Prophets for having procured stones in stead of water were all rewarded with store of Bastinadoes The third Sect is of the Pagods from India from the part of Indostan which Sect they call Xaca from the Authour of it concerning whom they fable that he was conceived by his Mother Maia only upon the sight of a white Elephant which she saw in her sleep and for the more puritie she brought him forth at one of her flancks and then presently died being but nineteen yeares of age And that iconsidering the death of his Mother the cause whereof he was by his Birth he resolved to leave the world and to do pennance the which he did in a Mountain called the Snowy Mountaine where he had fower Masters with whom he studied twelve yeares so that by that time he was thirty yeares of age he was accomplished in the Science of the first principle He took the name of Xekia or Xaca he taught his doctrine for the space of 49 yeares he had many Scholars who after his death collected his papers and spread his doctrine through the greater part of Asia This Sect entred into China in the year of our Redemption 63. The Emperour Hanmim being commanded in a dreame as their books report to send for it in The Bonzi who were the preachers of that Sect were well received of him and at the beginning were very powerfull much esteemed and in so great number that they say they were three millions But at this day they are very few in respect of that number whether it were that they trusting in their multitude or in the Kings favour committed some notable disorder or what is more likely by reason of the misfortune that befell many Kings since their coming in and by this meanes they are so declined that unlesse it be in the offices and Acts of their divine worship there is but little account made of them among the Chinesses Their Priests weare their head and beards shaved their Cap is different but the rest of their Habit is the same with that of others They worship idols They hold a Reward and Punishment in the next Life They marry not They live in Convents foure or five hundred together or more They have a moderate Maintenance allowed them by the King notwithstanding every one is allowed to get what he can They begge mutter Prayers They sing They have severall offices and prayers against fire tempests misfortunes and especially for the dead in which Functions they use sacerdotall or priestly garments Their Caps are like ours and their sprinkling brushes without any difference at all They eat neyther flesh fish nor egges neyther doe they drink wine They live inclosed but within a very great circuite of wall with long streets in it in manner of a Towne where in every house there dwelletâ— three or foure that is one Master and the rest Scholars In it they have all manner of convenience That which the King giveth them is divided equally to every house They have also a
diminished by little and little many of them turning Moors There live more of them in the Province of Honan in the capitall City thereof called Cai Fum Fu than in any other place They have there a Synagogue well built and adorned in the fashion of a great Chappel and set out with curtaines They say they have there a very ancient Hebrew Bible Father Iulius Alenes one of our company was among them for some time they shewed him their Synagogues but would not draw their curtaines and let him see the Bible Father Matthaens Riccius affirmeth that according to the relation which the Iews themselves made to him thereof in Pekim it was not at all differing from ours They have no knowledge at all of Christ so that it seemeth they were entred into China before he came into the World or at least if they have ever heard of him the memorie of it is quite lost and therefore it would be of great consequence to see their Bible for perhaps they have not corrupted it as our Jews have done to obscure the glorie of our Redeemer These as they are in no great number so it is not probable they should long preserve themselves They who at the Court had some discourse with our Fathers did much lament that they had lost themselves for want of the Hebrew Tongue and by the little knowledge they had of their law and said that after some time they should all become either Moores or Gentiles that the ruler of their Synagogue at that time was a decrepit old man and his sonne who was to succeed him in his Office young and ignorant of the things of their law and that indeed there were very few among them who were zealous observers of it Moreover these Iews did seem to be much troubled and weary of the reproaches which the Gentiles laid upon some ceremonies of their law which is a sign they have no great affection for it as their not eating of Swines flesh their not touching a beast which hath been killed by the hand of a Gentile but especially the circumcising their Infants on the eighth day which their wives and Chinesse kindred tell them is a cruell and barbarous thing At this time we have in that City of Cai Funifú a house and Church and when I left that Kingdome a good number of Christians which daily encreased not without hope also that some good may be done upon those Jews who being so ready to change their religion will more easily embrace the true one which hath more conformitie to theirs than any other CHAP. 31. Of the Christian Religion planted many ages since in China and of a very Ancient stone lately discovered there which is an admirable Testimonie thereof IT hath alwayes been a well grounded opinion that the Christian Religion hath been very anciently planted in China Paulus Venetus making a relation of that Countrie from whence it is certain that he went many daies journey into the Countrie of the Tartars assureth us that in that time there were a great number of Christians in China who had very sumptuous Churches and named the Cities where they lived He wrot this with very much truth for of all that which he mentioneth there are yet remaining many houses and in other places the ruines of them as a Testimonie of it To this may be added the Testimonie of other grave Authours wherein we read that the preaching of the Gospell penetrated as farre as China by the Ministrie of the Apostle St. Thomas and his Disciples Among other writings out of which this may be drawn the Chalde books concerning the Indian Christianitie cultivated by the meanes of the said Apostle are of no small moment the which it is certain are to this day preserved and kept in the Arch-Bishoprick of Granganour or Della Serra that is of the Mountaines as it is vulgarly called translated out of that language by order of the Arch-bishop thereof Franciscus Ros by the pains and industry of one of our fathers who was very skilfull in that tongue The translation is in Latin but that it may be more generally understood we will turne what is cited out of it into the vulgar One of these books is a Breviary which in one of the lessons belonging to the second nocturnall hath these words By the means of S. Thomas the errours of the Idolatry of the Indians were dissipated By the meanes of St. Thomas the Chinesses and Aethiopians were converted to the truth By the meanes of St. Thomas they obtained the vertue of Baptism and the Adoption of Sonnes By the meanes of St Thomas they believed in the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost By the meanes of St. Thomas they kept that faith which they had promised to God By the meanes of St. Thomas the beames of the knowledge of life enlightned all India By the meanes of St. Thomas the Kingdome of Heaven flew and entred into China And presently there followeth an Antiphona which saith The Indians the Chinesses the Persians and the other Islanders they of Siria Armenia Graecia and Romania in commemoration of St. Thomas do offer their Adoration unto thy most Holy Name O great God In the Summarie of the Constitutions synodall part 2. cap 19 concerning Bishops and Metropolitans there is a Canon of the Patriark Theodotius which hath these words In like manner also the Bishops of the great Province such as are for the most part the Metropolitans of China After the arrivall of the Portugheses into Cocchine the governour of the Mountaines of Malaber who was called Don. Diego entitled himself Metropolitan of India and China as did also Don Giuseppe who died at Rome These were the Ancient Titles of that Church and being taken al together are strong arguments that the Christian Religion did formerly flourish in China These were the powerfull motives that did engage us after our arrivall thither with much care and fervour to trace the ruines and footsteps of that Ancient Christianitie In the Histories of that Kingdome which we have very diligently perused we found no mention thereof to our great admiration knowing well how curious and diligent Inquisitours the Chinesses are in the affaires of their owne Countrie that they might eternize the memory of them It is true we had information that there were some in those parts who did reverence the Crosse and made the signe of it over their meat without knowing the reason why they did it When I was in the capitall City of Kiamsi I was informed by a Christian that in the little Towne of Tamo Xan which was not farre off there were some who when they went out of doores did make the signe of the Crosse upon their forehead and being asked the reason of that custome they answered only that they had learnt it of their Ancestours In the Court of Pekim some of our fathers being one day to visit a Jew he discoursed more particularly to them concerning this matter and named to them the
and being arrived I took no thought for any thing else I saw it and read it and went often to read behold and consider it at leisure and above all I did much admire that being so ancient it should be so entire and have the letters so plainly and neatly graven On the thicknes of the sides thereof it hath many Chinesse letters which containe many names of the Priests and Bishops of that time There are also many other letters which were not then knowne for they are neither Hebrew nor Greek and for as much as I now understand they containe the same names that if peradventure some strangers might not understand the letters of the Countrie they might perhaps be better acquainted with those of a forraigne extraction Passing by Cocchine I came to Cranganor where is the Residence of the Archbishop of Costa to consult about these letters with father Antoni Fernandes one of our societie who is very skilfull in the books and writings of those ancient Christians converted by S. Thomas He told me the letters were Syriack and the very same which are used there at this day But let us come now to the inscription of our Marble which noâ—doubt ere this hath raised an appetite in the reader to know it Those three lines which are at the foot of the Crosse each consisting of three letters as we have said being faithfully translated as also all the rest as neere as possibly I could say thus A Relation in the Praise and eternall memorie of the law of the light of truth brought from Iudea and preached in China THe writing is graved on the plaine side of this stone in its proper letters placed in lines running from top to bottom after the Chinesse fashion The first line which is the shortest saith thus I A Prologue Made by the Priest of the Kingdom of Iudea named Kim Lim. The rest of the inscription in a magnificent Orientall stile containeth that which followeth II Oh how true and profound is the eternall and the incomprehensible most spirituall speaking of time past he is without beginning and of time to come he is without end and alwaies in the same perfection He tooke nothing and with it he made all He is a principall consisting of Trinitie and Unitie yet without any reall principle The Lord Olooyu He made the foure parts of the world in figure of a Crosse. He moved the Chaos and made the two principles There was an alteration made in the Abysse and heaven and earth appeared Nature at the beginning was pure and exempt from disordinate passions and the heart was cleane without the unrulinesse of the appetites III Man came afterward to fall into the deceits of Satan who covering with words the mischiefe he had plotted perverted the innocence of the first man From this principle sprang 365 Sects which by reason they were so many did one drive away the other and of all of them was made a net wherein the world was caught Some chose the creatures and appropriated Divinity to them others were plunged in that errour of thinking that all is nothing and ends in nothing Others make sacrifices to invite good fortunâ— with Others 〈…〉 deceive the world The understanding corrupted with eâ—rours and the will with passions are altogether obscured Men walked forwards without 〈…〉 at the end they aimed at The world was all in a miserable 〈◊〉 Man still multiplied the darknesse and loosing his way wandred long time in it without finding the truth IV. Then the Messias one of the three persons covered his true â— Maâ—esty and making himself a man appeared unto the world An Angell came to manifest the Mystery and a Virgin brought forth the Holy one A Starre appeared which gave notice of his birth to those of the Kingdome of 〈◊〉 They 〈◊〉 to offer him Tribute and all was done according to what had been foretolâ— by the foure and twenty Saints He published to the world the most pure law He purified their customes and rectified the faith He cleansed the world He perfected vertue and therein founded the three vertues He opened the way to life and shut up that of death He manifested the bright day and banished obscure darkenesse He conquered the obscure seate at what time the devill remained wholly subdued and succoured with his mercy the sinking world that mâ—n might ascend to the habitations of light After he had perfected his works â—e ascended into the heavens at Midday There remained 27 books of holy Scripture There was opened the gate to Coâ—version by means of that water which cleâ—â—seth and purifieth His Ministers made use of the Holy Crosse they made their abode no more in one place than in another that they might illuminate the whole world The world being thus reduced unto Union men did walke after their example and thus did they open the way of life and glory V. They suffered their beard to grow and did shew by this means that they were like other men in their externall part They out their haire even to the roots upon the top of their head and by this they shewed that they had no internall wordly affections They kept no servants the Noble and the common men were with them the same thing They tooke no riches from men They gave to the poore that which they had They fasted and watched to bring the flesh into subjection to the spirit Seaven times a day they offered sacrifices of praise by which they helped the living and the dead Every seaventh day they did offer They purified their hearts to receive the holy innocence The true law hath no name that doth well suite with it and that is able to explaine the excellency thereof therefore because it wanteth another name we will call it The law of Brightnesse The law if it be not holy cannot be called great and if holinesse be not answerable to that which the law teacheth it may not have that name But in this law the holinesse correspondeth to the law and the law to the holinesse VI. If there be not Kingly Persons to favour it the law cannot well be propagated if they receive not the law they cannot grow truly great When they and the law do agree presently the world is enlightened By this means at the time when a King named Tai Zum Veâ— Hoam did governe with famous prudence and sanctitie there came from Iudea a man of high vertue by name Olopuen who being guided by the clouds brought the true doctrine And in the year Chin Quom Kieufu he arrived at the Court The King commanded the Colao Fam Kizulin that he should go and meet him as farre as the West and that he should treate him as his guest with all manner of kindnesse He caused this doctrine to be translated in his palace and seeing the law to be true he powerfully commanded it should be divulged through the Kingdome and presently after he sent forth a royall patent which contained
things which are as different as they are remote from ours Besides all these ordinarie difficulties which are found more or lesse in all Missions it is not to be beleeved how sharp a warre the devil hath raised up against this endeavouring by the strength of difficulties and persecutions to make us desist from the enterprise and it went so farre that Father Valignan the Visitour considering the great obstructions we found every where the extraordinarie difficultie there was to enter and the great trouble there was to stay there how little good we could do there and yet how much we suffered resolved to call back the Fathers to Macaâ— to employ them in some other Missions of lesse danger and trouble and where a greater profit of Soules might be made But the Lord who had otherwise ordained it for the good of his elect would not suffer the Labourers to come away and leave the work begun in that Kingdome where it was to have so advantageous a progresse CHAP. 2. Of the proceedings and persecutions of the Fathers before they arrived at Nankim THe Fathers did still persevere in the Resolution they had taken to enter and settle themselves in China and accordingly three times the same year they attempted with all diligence to make their entire but were as often repulsed and sent back out of the Kingdome with that resentment and grief which is easily imaginable they had to find almost every spark of hope extinguished by such extraordinarie difficulties as they found and by that great aversion the Chinesses had to admit of strangers I have been told that about that time Father Valignan looking one day out of a window of the Colledge of Macao toward the Continent the good old man cried out with a loud voice and the most intimate affection of his heart speaking to China Ah Rock Rock when wilt thou open Rock But as there is no councell against God who seeth and knoweth the times and moments of his divine Resolutions when the entrance seemed more shut up than ever and more encompassed with difficulties after so many attempts and endeavours had been frustrated nay after they had been sharply reproved by the Vice-roy of Cantone and by publick order been sent back to Macao then did the Lord our God open the gate by such meanes as were not to be imagined The Fathers had not been full seven daies returned to Macao wholly despairing of the businesse when there arrived a messenger from the governour of Cantone named Chi Fu bringing letters from the Vice-roy wherein he invited the Fathers to Xaokim the Capitall Citie of Cantone where the same Vice-roy of the Provinces of Cantone and Quansi had his residence offering them there a place for their Church and House The Fathers entred into Xaokim in September 1583. with no little joy to see themselves established in a moment where before with all their endeavours they could never so much as set their foot They built a house and Church and gave a beginning to their intention by translating the ten Commandements as well as they could into the Chinesse language and setting forth how necessary the observance of them was The worth of these new guests was more admired in the City for their good works and holinesse of life than for their words not being able yet to speak that language sufficiently but almost continuall troubles and persecutions were never wanting to them The covering of their house was so loaden with stones by the insolence of the people from a neighbouring Tower that they were in great danger of their lives and because a servant of the house laid hold of a little boy and threatned to complaine of him presently an accusation was set on foot against the Fathers that they had misused the Sonne of a Citizen but in the end they were cleared by evidence of the fact soone after other calumnies were raised against them particularly against Father Raggiero whom they accused of Adultery but his innocence was soone cleared it being proved that he was at that time morâ— than two months journy from the place where that crime was said to be committed Then did the people of Xaokim begin to throwing of stones againe with which they did so ruine and batter the house that the Fathers missed very little of being killed all this while did their condition seeme like unto a tempestuous sea But amongst so great tribulations and dangers the Lord was pleased to send them some daies of peace and tranquilitie and among so many thorns they gathered some roses and some fruit of their labours which was the reason that their sufferings did not seeme so grievous to them neither did they undergo them without joy and delight hoping to make a greater progresse when the desired calme should happen Neither were the Fathers wanting particularly Father Mattheus Riccius by their knowledge in Mathematiques and principally by a description of the world in a new Mappe to give reputation to the affaires of Europe and to make acquaintance and friendship with persons of qualitie when behold by the coming of a new Vice-roy there was so terrible a storme raised that notwithstanding all the diligence and addresses which were made not only by the Fathers but also by their friends it was impossible to finde any remedy or to put a stop to the sentence which that Vice-roy fulminated against the Fathers which was That they should all immediatly returne to Macao without giving them any time of stay there or suffering them to go into any other Country but that they should presently depart and should be brought precisely to Macao They were forced to yeeld obedience and so leaving some things belonging to the house in the hands of their friends and carrying other things along with them after they had made a short prayer unto God recommending unto him that little flock which they were forced to leave among Wolves without a shepherd and after they had exhorted the Christians to continue stedfast in the faith wherein they had been seven years instructed they departed downe the current of the river both the Christians which remained there as also the Fathers who tooke their leave weeping very much recommending each other to the divine Province and Protection When they were arrived at the Metropolis of Canton the Admirall of the Chinesse Navie or Haitao who was to conduct them to Macao was not to be found where while they stayed to expect him they wrote to the Visitour in Macao that after two or three daies they were to be banished by order of the Vice-roy but they had hardly passed a day there when they espied a boate coming toward them with all speed sent from the Vice-roy to invite them back againe to Xaokim It seemed to them that they were returned from death to life by the unexpected invitation although they understood well enough that they were called backe to undergo new troubles no lesse than the former When they were
which saith That the City of Sucheu Hancheu is that upon earth which the habitation of the blessed is in heaven It is scituated in a pleasant River of fresh Water just as Venice is in the Sea it hath the greatest traffique of all the Kingdome the Merchandize from Macao being first brought thither from whence they are afterwards dispersed to all other parts Here the Father found Quitaizo his ancient friend in the Province of Canton by whom he was received with all manner of kindnesse and friendship and was also by him introduced and brought into credit with the whole City And being the Sonne of a principall Mandarine he was a great help to him in gaining the friendship of severall Mandarines of great authoritie for which and other good turnes he did us in Canton and other places and especially in Nankim he deserveth no small commendations and acknowledgment The Father gave him a triangular glasse which by his friend was taken for so precious a Jewel that he tipt both the ends of it with Gold and made a Case of Silver to put it in and after sold it for above 500. Crownes This honest man much desired that the Father would settle himself in that Citie and found a House there where he might assist and promote him with more convenience proposing many difficulties which would hinder the residence of the Fathers at Nankim Neverthelesse having weighed things better and taking that resolution which was most suitable to their occasions they went both of them to Nankim in the year 1599. where they found the state of affaires much altered from what it was the time before The Citie did now enjoy a profound peace and tranquillity the Giapponeses being beaten back into their own Countrie The Mandarine their friend was very glad of their coming and did them many singular favours as did also many others both Magistrates and other grave men and persons of account in that City particularly a Coli which is a kind of Censor or Syndic-royall named Choxelim wherefore the Father not only by their consent but also by their perswasion resolved to settle a residence and found a House in that Noble City which is the second of the whole Kingdome While the Father made his abode there he gave great proofe of himself and of the Sciences of Europe particularly of the Mathematiques He made a new Mappe of the World with the explanation thereof in the Chinesse language and characters which gained great reputation not only to the authour but also to Europe seeing there such a multitude of Noble Kingdomes and Cities so that the same Quitaizo and others with very Solemn Ceremonies made themselves Disciples to Father Riccius Neither was the authoritie lesse which the Father gained by the publick Disputes which he held concerning matters of Religion wherein to the admiration of all the Councels he ever had the Victorie so that the Fathers came to such a height of reputation that they were celebrated by many Letterati in Epigrams and Elogies In the meane time the companions of Father Riccius arrived after they had wintered by the way and endured many labours and hardships But when they found the Father in that City where a little before he was not only not received but also driven out with ignominie and shame now to have such credit and applause and so many friends who favoured him they forgot all their former sufferings and gave most hearty thanks to the Lord our God for that present prosperitie Not long after they began to think of buying an House for that wherein they lived was only hired Many were offered to them but such for the most part as were inconvenient for them among which there was one that was very large and capacious but haunted with Divells and Phantasmes so that none durst dwell in it This inconvenience useth commonly to be advantageous to us for wee not fearing these spirits which vanish at the first on-sett doe commonly purchase such houses at a very low rate and so it happened to Father Riccius wherefore after the bargain and sale was concluded the Fathers came over a while to dwell in that house where they lived very quietly without receiving any disturbance or inconvenience from those spirits Assoon as the Fathers had their House and Church there were not wanting those who did frequent it The first who was baptized in this City was an old man of seventy years of age he was a Noble man and had the office of Chinoci whereof we spake when we treated of that Nobility which descendeth by way of blood Presently his sonne followed him who was already a Letterato and was afterward made a great Mandarine and also his whole Familie his Grand-Sonnes and Daughters c. I knew them many yeares afterwards when they had made great progress in Vertue and Christian Pietie and are therefore worthy of Eternall memorie with many particular cases whereof we shall make mention hereafter This Familie was followed by others the number of Christians still encreasing as also their zeale to good works especially after the persecution whereof we will speak anon So that it may be said to be the best Christianitie of China although the most persecuted and molested The affaires of Nankim succeeding thus prosperously and these good beginnings shewing that that House would not only continue but also be enlarged and advanced Father Riccius sent one of his companions F. Lazarus Cataneus to Macao partly to give an account to the superiours of what had passed partly to get some curioâ—ities of Europe to make Presents of and partly to seek out some new companions to labour in that plentifull harvest The Father arrived at Macao with these glad tidings which were received with that joy which was fitting and shortly after having procured some Presents for the King and a fresh recruit of other Fathers he returned to Nankim where Father Riccius stayd for him who having his whole desires set upon Pekim after he had received the Presents and a fresh supply of companions deferred no longer to begin his second voyage for Pekim having not only the opinions but also the propitious assistance of some principall Mandarines in his favour It was the sixteenth day of May in the year 1600. when the Fathers Matthaeus Riccius and Didacus Pantoia and brother Sebastian Fernandes departed the second time for the Court in the same manner as before by water having accommodation given them in a barque belonging to an Eunuch who the more he conversed with the Fathers had still the more affection for them Having passed the Province of Nankim and being come into that of Xantum in the City where the Vice-roy of that Province doth reside Father Riccius was received with extraordinary respect by that Vice-roy He was visited in the barque presented and very much made off The memoriall or petition which he intended to present to the King was mended for him and put into a better form and
being put in minde of it by any body calling to his remembrance the Eunuchs Memoriall asked where that Bell was which range of it selfe and which as they tell me is brought me by a stranger To which the Eunuch who always waiteth upon him answered That it was not yet come to Court because his Majesty had not given order for it to come Whereupon the King presently gave order for it and Mathan was forced against his will to send the Fathers with their Present and the rest of their goods They began then to take heart againe and forgetting all their former troubles they immediatly set out upon their journy and because they could not do it by water by reason the river was frozen up they tooke their way by land receiving from the Mandarines at the Kings expence whatsoever they had need of both for their owne persons as also for the carriage of their goods CHAP. 4. The Fathers enter into Pekim and settle there THe Fathers entred into Pekim on the fourth day of January 1601. where they were well received and entertained in a Palace which an Eunuch had lent them for that purpose They made ready their Present and the day following with a great traine and Parade the Eunuchs carried it into the Palace and presented it to the King who made great account of every thing He did highly prize the pictures of our Saviour and of the Blessed Virgin he much admired the Harpsicon and presently gave order that some of the Eunuchs should learne to play upon it When he came to the Clock which was a piece of much skill and workmanship and an invention altogether unknowne to the Chinesses because he knew it struck the houres of its owne accord and that at present it was not in order not so much as to be shewed he commanded that the Fathers should presently come into the Palace and set it a going So they were called in haste and admitted within the second wall for within the third and fourth none may enter unlesse it be the Eunuchs and the Souldiers of the night-guard where by the Kings order given to one of the chiefe Eunuchs the Fathers were received and entertained with all magnificence and courtesie They stayed there three daies partly fitting the Clock to serve for the present for afterwards for the greater state there was a Tower of wood made for it of much cost and workmanship partly in teaching foure Eunuchs how to set and order it and partly in satisfying such demands as were made them concerning Europe what kinde of Countrie it was what Kingdoms what people what customes it had and a thousand other particularities which were all afterwards by the Eunuchs related to the King who was much delighted therewith seeming to be very much satisfied with every thing he much desired to see the Fathers but because he would not change the ancient stile and custome of the Kingdom according to which the King is never to be seen by any stranger he caused their pictures to be drawne at length contenting himselfe to see only the figures of those men of whom he himselfe might not be seen All things succeeded prosperously by reason of the great satisfaction which all they of the Palace received from the Fathers and especially by reason of the contentment the King tooke in every thing and the delight with which he received the Presents so that now all seemed to be secure and that there was nothing more to feare But there being no security or calme that is long lasting in this world the Fathers quickly found themselves in new troubles the occasion whereof was a Mandarine of the Tribunal Lipu to whom it belonged by vertue of his office to have had the Present brought to him and by his means to have had it presented to the King he being to assist at all Embassies and Presents that are offered to his Majestie He therefore taking it ill that the Fathers who knew nothing of this had made use of the Eunuchs to carry their Present to the King contrary to the ordinary stile of the Court and without making any mention of those Officers presently fell upon the weakest part and commanded the Fathers to be apprehended and put into the House of strangers in a more discourteous manner than was usuall The Officers and Sergeants having used more insolence in the apprehending them than perhaps they were commanded to doe Upon this occasion they were brought before the Tribunal and examined in publick although by their answers their cause was sufficiently justified and the passion of the Judge something moderated They had not been above three daies when they were sent for thence to the palace to perform the ordinary Ceremonies in the Court of courtesies whereof we have spoken in the first part The very same day they were againe examined by the publick Notaries by order of the same President concerning many other things The poynt they most insisted on was to what end they were come into China what their intentions were and what they did pretend by the Present which they had given the King The Fathers judged it necessary to answer cleerly and in forme and therefore told them That they came to preach the law of the true God who was sole Lord and Governour of heaven and earth And that they had brought that Present to the King not that they did pretend any thing by it either office dignitie or recompence but as a Testimony of the obedience they ought him having been inhabitants for so many years of that Kingdom and that all they did desire was to have leave to live and die in that Court or in any other part of the Kingdom which the King should thinke fit as they had already lived there many years The Notaries having drawne up this answer carried it to the President who having seen and considered it drew up his Memoriall thereupon to the King partly in favour of the Fathers and partly against them But the King being well affected towards them because there was something in it against the Fathers gave no answer to it which is there the same thing as to reject it But the Fathers understood by the Eunuchs that the King was much troubled when he knew they were kept as prisoners in the House of Strangers The Mandarine seeing there was no answer given to his petition presently judged the King was inclined to favour the strangers wherefore he thought it fit to change his stile towards them using them with all courtesie and kindenes and commanded they should be better provided for in every thing than the rest of the strangers who were kept there And contrary to the law and custome of that restraint he gave them libertie to go into the City about their affaires and to visit their friends But withall he presented a second Memoriall to the King concerning the Fathers wherein he did not only say nothing against them but positively commended their persons and their
Baptise such as had not yet been converted and partly to endeavour to found a house in that his native City of Hamcheu The first happy encounter there was that of Doctour Yam named afterwards at his Baptism Michael who is much celebrated in our yearly letters He was a Mandarine of great account and a Kinsman of Doctour Leo and had been for seaven years together Chancellour of the whole Province of Nankim which is an Office of very great importance and was very rich of a great House and allyed to the principall Families of that Citie and above all he was very devout towards the Pagods in so much that he had built a Temple for them within his own Palace with a certain number of Bonzi to serve them whom he maintained at his own charges But he did this more out of ignorance than malice and therefore the Lord shewed mercy unto him He was one of the first that visited the Fathers and being very much addicted to the defence of his Religion he began a very hot dispute with a more than ordinarie zeal for the upholding of his Sect the which he continued likewise the day following and the next day and so for nine dayes together alwayes producing new arguments and proposing new difficulties not that he had a design to impugnâ— but only to discover the truth The ninth day he yeelded himselfe crying out A true God A true Law A true Doctrine And after he had been very diligently Catechised and instructed he was Baptized to the great consolation of the Fathers and also of Dr. Leo who did much rejoice at it and to the singular griefe and shame of the Bonzi who were presently discarded and their Temple converted into a Church dedicated to the Saviour of the world Now did these two Heroes seem two firme and stable pillars very proper to sustaine that infant Church with a certain hope that their example would draw many others to the law of Christ and that there would be a flourishing Christianitie founded in that so populous a Metropolis which in my opinion is the richest the most delicious and magnificent in Temples and other structures of any in that Kingdom But for the generalitie the least disposed to receive our Holy faith whether it were then for this cause or because their hour was not yet come which required a greater disposition there was so little fruit of the Gospel at that time that the Fathers judged it better to give place to time and for the present to leave that abode and to finde out some other place better disposed to receive the seed of faith They proceeded so farre as to propose their intention to Father Nicolaus Longobardus superiour of that Mission who would neither approve nor reject their opinion but remitted the businesse to the judgement of the House at Nankim where I was then at that time and by the grace of God we were there in all nine of the Societie The matter was debated and it was resolved by all of us that according as experience had taught us they should proceed with patience and longanimitie greater difficulties having been overcome by those weapons So without any more thoughts of change the Fathers remained labouring in that City not knowing the great good which the Lord had there prepared for them and which time afterwards discovered not only by founding there one of the most numerous and best instructed Churches that is in China but because that house was ever a safe Port to us in all Tempests and a secure refuge in all persecutions as shall be seen hereafter Christianitie also was much encreased in Xaâ—hoi the Country of Dr. Paul for his Father and all his houshold had been Baptized and many other people of that place and although we had there no setled house there was neverthelesse a Church and every year the Christians were visited both to confirme the old ones and convert new ones In the foure ancient houses the Fathers said Masse preached and exercised the Mysteries and Ceremonies of our Holy Faith very quietly and without any disturbance at all The Christians exercised their devotion and many Gentiles endeavoured to finde the way of their Salvation the Christian Religion flourished every day more and more with an abundant number of new Converts and also of new Labourers which were sent to us from Macao where they were first instructed in the language and custome of the Country In the mean time we were sent unto from many places and from severall persons to desire us to come into their Country and to preach the Gospel to them This City of Vamcheu which is neere unto Nankim had so great a desire to be made partakers of our doctrine that the Litterati there wrot a letter to Father Alphonsus Vagnone in Nankim where he was at that time superiour which was subscribed by forty of them wherein they did invite the Father to come to them with many prayers and entreaties and very earnestly desired him that he would not deferre his comming that good which they so much longed for They did also the like in many other places whether the fame of our Holy Faith was arrived either by the books we had printed there or by the relation of the Gentiles for these do sometimes serve as a guide to the rest and I had once one of them who did help me to Catechise or else by their conversation with Christians themselves And this was done with so much fervour that really it seemed to us the time was come wherein after all storms and tribulations were blown over the winter was passed away and the spring time began to appeare bringing forth flowers worthy the sight of that celestiall Gardiner or rather that the crop was now ripe and expected a happy harvest The Fathers being animated with these successes and well pleased with the many occasions which continually presented themselves were not sparing to make good use of them hoping that they would have been dayly encreased But who is able to comprehend the judgements of the Lord Or who hath been his Councellour Whilest things stood in this prosperous condition whether it were for the sinnes of that Kingdom or for ours in particular or because the Lord was pleased to prove and exercise his servants there was raised in Nankim where that house was founded with much quiet and had continued in greater tranquility than the rest the following persecution CHAP. 8. A fierce persecution is raised against the Christians in Nankim THis Persecution which was the most terrible of all we have yet suffered began in the year 1615 upon this occasion which I shall relate There was this year sent from Pekim to Nankim a Mandarine called Qui Xin to be an assistant of the third Tribunall named Lipu which taketh cognizance of all Rites Sects Strangers and such like This man besides that he was extreamly averse both to our Holy Faith and to the Fathers and on the contrary very
much addicted to the worship of Idols he had been stirred up by severall occasions to beare a particular hatred towards us First by reason of a booke written against our religion by a Bonzo an intimate friend of his which was so well confuted by Dr. Paul that the Bonzo broke his heart with the very griefe and shame he conceived at it Moreover the Bonzi of Nankim had given him a handsome bribe reported to be 10000 crownes to drive us away hoping thereby that fire might be extinguished which had been kindled against their Gods To these may be added the spleen he had against Dr. Paul and Dr. Michael who discoursing with him the one in Pekim and the other in Cechian did by such powerfull arguments viâ—fy those Idols he did worship that having nothing left to answer for himselfe he converted his silence into rage and his shame into venome But his spite and malice was much more encreased when he understood that two Memorialls had been presented to the King by two Mandarines of great qualitie wherein they did earnestly move the King that the Fathers might be perswaded to translate the books of Europe into the Chinesse language and that they should be employed in the reformation of their calendar Xin not being able to digest that strangers should be held in such esteeme who were enemies to his sect to the manifest danger and ruine of his Idols and last of all that which did strongly animate him to that enterprise was the ambition he had to be Colao hoping that this his zeale for the ancient Rites and for the religion of his Fathers would aduance him to that dignitie especially since it belonged to his office to have a vigilent eye over such matters Therefore besides other things which belonged to his charge and office he caused a damnable Information to be drawne up against the Fathers proving therein by feigned and colourable reasons that they ought to be banished the Kingdom He said they had intruded themselves into China without leave making use for proofe thereof of a certain Memoriall which we have formerly mentioned to have been made by the students of Nankim wherein they besought the Mandarines to banish the Fathers out of the Kingdom as persons who were very pernicious to the Common-wealth and had secret Machinations against the King and Kingdom for said they if it be not for this reason for what other end and purpose are they come with so much eagernesse and zeale into another world and had abandoned their owne habitations and estates The other Testimonies which he brought were other such like impostures wherewith a neighbour of ours in Nankim had furnished him that many nights in the year under pretense of some solemnitie concerning the divine worship there were many great assemblies held in our house consisting of thousands of men and women a most grosse lie and that before the break of day they all dispersed themselves to their owne houses that every new Christian had given him five false duckats made by Alchimy after he had been enrolled in a list which they kept of them and that they had strange and barbarous names imposed upon them at their admittance and were taught to make the signe of the crosse upon their forehead to serve them as a marke of distinction in the time of their rebellion and insurrection That they had their houses fuâ—l of Armes and other such like lies very well coloured over Of all these arguments put together he framed a Memoriall which he presented to the King in the Month of May 1616. The substance whereof was Our entrance by stealth into the Kingdome The propagation of a Law contrary to that of the Idols which had been the religion of their Ancestours The concurrance which there was in high Titles between our God and their King betwixt our West and their East Our subtletie and craft in gaining of friends The destruction of the Astrologie of China as false and erroneous occasioned by the reading of that of Europe and such like things The conclusion of it was That it was necessary for the publike good that he should cause a generall Massacre both of the Fathers and the rest of the Christians before their force and number could prove dangerous to the Kingdom To this Memoriall which was presented to the King very secretly there was no answer returned within the usuall time Neverthelesse Dr. Michael had notice of it by means of a Mandarine who was a friend both to him and to the said Xin he presently gave advise thereof to the Fathers with directions what they should do He worte many letters to severall Mandarines in our favour and one directed to Xin wherein without discovering that he knew his intention he confuted all his arguments against the Fathers and their religion Last of all he invited the Fathers to retire themselves to his house in the City of Hamcheu untill the storme were over In the mean time we laboured to obtain the help and succour of Almighty God by re-doubling our prayers and mortifications and withall we went to Dr. Leo who lived two dayes journey off and shewed him the Apologie written by Dr. Michael for our assistance and counsell to which he added a discourse in commendations of the Fathers and of their eligion and by their hands he dispersed many advertisements necessary for that time and occasion throughout the whole City neither were the Fathers wanting with fervent exhortations to do the office of faithfull Pastours animating and encouraging all to suffer for the defence of Gods honour and his Holy Religion And the Christians striving who should prepare himselfe best against the storme frequented our house and the Holy Sacraments and tooke counsell how to carry themselves in case of Persecution There was among the rest a prudent and learned person named Iohn Vao who had prepared foure small banners wherein he wrote his name Sir-name and Country and the Christianitie both of himselfe and of his familie which might serve him for ensignes of his profession in time of Persecution neither did he cease to declare himselfe to be such and to exhort others to a constant confession of their faith Three Months after the first Memoriall Xin having received no answer from the King presented another to the same purpose by the hand of Xamxù who was Lipù of the third Tribunall in Pekim having preswaded him also to frame another of the same Tenour and to present it along with his The Mathematician who had perswaded the Fathers to correct and amend the Chinesse Calendar discovered their plot and privately taking a copy of their petitions he gave it to the Fathers and to Dr. Paul who in one night wrote an Apologie for the Fathers to present to the King when there was occasion and dispatched a Mandarine his disciple a man very well versed in the manage of affaires at Court to the President of Lipu that having sufficiently informed him of the truth he might
that City and after the persecution began to be over and the fury of the tempest was allayed one of the Fathers was sent thither in diguise who although he was glad to lie hid there yet did he much assist the Christians and under the protection of the old ones converted many new ones also The House which we had in Canton the most Southerly Province of China was totally ruined for although at the beginning there was another small House taken where some of the Lay-Brothers should have resided for the reception of the Fathers in their passage to the City of Nanhium yet upon better consideration it seemed good to them to take it wholly away because the place was very subject to tempests and troubles The Father who had his Residence there as I have already said went up farther into the Country as did also the Lay-Brother with a promise neverthelesse and obligation upon him to come and visit the Christians of that Country every year Father Rocca with other two Fathers who as we have said departed from Nankiam a City in the Province of Kiamsi retired to the City of Kiencham in the same Province where they were visited by a Christian Stephen of a Noble Family and one of the chiefest of that place being also the Sonne of a Mandarine who was afterwards himself converted to the Christian Religion The Fathers at their arrivall there were received with all manner of Christian love and charitie and were lodged in a house neerto the walls of the City such a one as they cal a House of Studies where they had an appartiment provided for them consisting of foure chambers with the Offices belonging to them and a faire Hall which served them for a Chappel At the beginning there came thither only those of the houshold of their Host who were all Christians Afterward their Kindred who were Gentiles and their most Familiar acquaintance and by occasion of these Visits there was alwayes some one or other gained to the Faith and these likewise brought in others and so by little and little this Christianity encreased so that when I came thither about two years after they said Masse on Holy dayes with Musicall Instruments and with the concourse of a good number of Christians They who played on the Instruments were the Sonnes of Christians and among them the Letterati and those of the best quality served at the Masse in their coates foure at a time as I saw at my being there At this day there is a good Residence with a copious and well instructed Christianity which hath annexed to it two Churches in the Province of Chincheo which bordereth upon it and are visited every year by the Father of this House The Residence of Hamcheu doth flourish most of all under the Protection of Dr. Michael For though the Fathers went out from thence publickly at noone day that the world might take notice of their obedience to the Kings proclamation accompanied by the said Dr. and the Christians of the best quality yet Dr. Michael having prepared a faire appartiment in his Palace provided with Chambers Offices Chappel Hall c. did build also a new range of Chambers furnishing them all after our fashion that there might be roome enough for all of us if there should be occasion and when he had fitted every thing he sent for the Fathers who came thither very secretly although he was not very sollicitous to conceale them But three years after told Xin who being a native of that City was now come to live at his owne Palace That he had the Fathers with him in his house and perswaded him to come and visit them and discourse with them Telling him he should finde them other manner of men than he took them for This house was in those troublesome times the most secure commodious and easie refuge which the Fathers had Here lived the Superiour hither came all businesse and upon any straite the greatest part of the Fathers who sometimes made a considerable number and although there was care taken that no Gentile should come in amongst them unlesse he were very well knowne neverthelesse there was Masse said and a sermon every Holy day with a great concourse of Christians and a good number of new ones converted to the faith The greatest tempest fell upon the Church at Nankim for as the Fathers were prisoners a long time there and after they had received their sentence were sent out in cages being carried through the whole City with a great noise and shouting of the guard and an infinite concourse of people their case was more notorious and ignominious and the Gentiles were more alienated from the Christians accusing them upon every occasion to the Magistrate Wherefore for diverse years after there was almost every year some particular vexation and the Christians were brought before the Tribunalls and troubled and many times were Bastinadoed all which they suffered with great constancy and cheerfulnesse gaudentes à conspectu Concilij quoniam digni habiti sunt pro nomine Iesu contumelium pati Neither truly is there any doubt but as the Lord did exercise this Church of Nankim with particular tribulations so he did also endowe it more particularly with the vertue of Patience as was seen upon all occasions In this manner were our ancient houses demolished although the Christians belonging to them were preserved who divided themselves into companies making by that means severall Co-fraternities the most ancient and pious among them did visit and comfort the rest the Fathers also at certaine times came to confesse and communicate them and staied amongst them as long as they could But as they durst not stay long at least in some places they were forced to find out other places of abode which was an occasion of laying the foundation of new Residencies which were afterwards brought to perfection and became well ordered Houses and Churches as they are to be seen at this present time The first Residence which was begun in the time of our troubles and Banishment was in the Province of Kiamsi in the City of Kiencham whereof I have formerly spoken The second was the Province of Nankim in the City of Kiatim where Dr. Ignatius dwelt a Christian of great power and authority who was afterwards Vice-roy of the Province of Xantum he assoone as he had notice of the sentence pronounced against the Fathers immediately dispatched one of his Sonnes to Father Lazarus Catanaeus who lived in Hamcheu with a letter wherein after the usuall complements he wrote him only these words There is a businesse of importance which I must necessarily treate of with your Reverence before you leave this Kingdome When this letter was brought to the Fathers they were putting themselves in are dinesse to depart out of that City as accordingly they did with a designe to go to Xanhai which was Dr. Pauls Country but having received this invitation that they might give satisfaction to both parties