# Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes/Volume 12/Book 2/Chapter 8

Chap. VIII.
THus having with Pantogias eyes taken some view of the Kings Palace, and with Ricii Expedition. l. c. 13.Ricius of their whole Government, I hold it fit not to leave this China Apostle (so Ricius is called) till wee have seene some fruits of his labours untill and after his death. He tels us that three dayes after they had beene shut up in the Palace of Strangers as yee have read, they were brought forth into the Kings Palace to performe the wonted Rites to the Kings Throne. This is done in Atrium. a large and glorious Court or Porch, where 30000. men might be contayned; at the end whereof is a high Chamber, under which by five great doores is a passage to the Kings Lodgings; in that Chamber is the Kings Throne reverenced and guarded. Kings Throne, where anciently he sate to heare and dispatch businesses and Embassages, and to receive the Rites of Magistrates, rendring thankes for their Preferments. But in the present solitarinesse of the King, those Rites are done to the Empty Throne, many there gratulating the King every day. In this Court, environed ​Elephants.
sup. 23. Rites to the Throne Kings politike pietie. Their libertie and allowance.
with stately Workes, 3000. Souldiers watch every night, besides others watching in Towres without, a stones cast from one another. In each of the five Gates is an Elephant, which with the Souldiers goe forth when it is day: and those are admitted which come to gratulate the King. These come in a peculiar Habit of Red, with an Ivory Table in their hand to cover* their mouth, and exhibit their kneelings and bowings to the Throne, as they are taught by Officers of Rites or Masters of Ceremonies: one crying out to that purpose at the performance of each gesture. The Governour of Strangers having shut them up, first petitioned the King sharply against Mathan the Eunuch and them, but seeing no answere, he petitioned more gently but would have them sent from Pequin; which the King liked not, yet without Petition from the Magistrates would not detayne them. The Eunuches also laboured their stay for feare the Clockes should miscarry beyond their skill. The Kings Mother hearing of a selfe-striking bell sent for it, and the King sent it, but to prevent her asking it, caused the Wheeles to be loosed, so that not seeing the use, she sent it againe.
When the Rituall Magistrates could get no answere to their Petitions, for not touching their stay at Pequin; the Præfect sent to Ricius that he would make a Petition to give him leave to stay there in pretence of Sicknesse and Physicke, which hee did, and the other presently answered, giving him libertie to hyre a House; continuing also his former allowance, with foure servants to bring it every fifth day, (Flesh, Salt, Rice, Wine, Hearbs, Wood,) and another servant in continuall attendance: so that now they recovered libertie and credit. The Eunuches also told them of the Kings approbation of their stay; and they had out of the Treasurie eight Crownes a moneth, which
PURCHAS HIS MAP OF CHINA
One of Hanlin Colledge turneth Idol- Priest.
President of the Court of Magistrates, and other of the Grands, besides the Eunuches of the Palace, and some of the Queenes and Royall family. Amongst others was Fumochan a great man, who for withstanding the Fumochao. Eunuches capacitie in Uquam Province, was deprived, whipped, and three yeeres Imprisoned; but by others honored with Temples, Odours, Images, and Bookes in prayse of him, as a Saint, and the King wearyed by multitude of Petitions for him, granted him againe his libertie. Also Lingoson a great Magistrate and Mathematician as they accounted, became Ricius his Scholler, and was baptised Leo, borne at Hanceu, the chiefe Citie of Cechian, of which afterward.
Yet had Ricius a great enemy of a great Learned man of Hanlin Colledge, who in zeale of the Idol-sect had put away his Wife, and professed himselfe one of their Votaries or Shavelings, drew many Disciples after him, and writ many Bookes against the Literate Sect; and writ also against Ricius his bookes. One of the Kings Admonishers accused him to the King by Petition, and the King rescribing severely, hee slue himselfe: yea, the King ordayned, that if the Magistrates would become Apostata shavelings, they should leave their Robes and get them to the Deserts ; many accordingly chusing rather to leave their Offices, then their Idols. One Thacon
Thacon a famous infamous Priest.
was so famous, that the chiefe Queene daily worshipped his habit, (having no other meane of entercourse) and so proud that hee sent to Ricius to come and visite him, with the rites of kneeling. But on occasion of search for a Libell against the King, hee was found guiltie of writing ill of the King, for not professing Idols, and of ill usage to the Kings Mother, for which he was Whipped so, that before they could adde bonds, hee dyed. One which by torments confessed himselfe author of the Libell, had 1600. gobbets plucked from his flesh and then beheaded, a Death most (for the division of the body) abominable to the Chinois.
In the Xaucean Residence some stirre happened, whiles
Xauceum residence. [III.ii.406.] ​c. 1604. Hoaquan a three eyed Monster.
Portugall customes odious to Chinois.
Fasts and processions.
Locus unluckinesse.
they brought to the Jesuits house their Idoll Hoaquan, made with three Eyes, one in his forehead (for though the Chinois have no Idols representing any formes but humane, yet they admit Monsters) as their God of Eye-sight, for whom they intended to build him a Temple, and carryed him from house to house a begging to that purpose; the Jesuites refusing to give them. Rumours also of Mathans detayning the Presents were soone apprehended; as likewise certayne Stage-players which comming from Amacao, set forth in Pictures those things which the Chinois hated in the Portugals, as their short Garments (seeming to them ridiculous) praying on Beads by men in Temples, with Swords girded to them, kneeling on one knee; their quarrels one with another and combats. Women going with Men in company, and the like; a Magistrate also accused the Jesuites to the Tauli, who spake for them and visited them. It happened also that by occasion of a great Drought, Processions and Fasts were commanded, and the Shambles shut up, the Governour and people in divers places appointed thereto, begging rayne with their bowings; and when this prevayled not, they brought an Idoll out of the Suburbes, called Locu, which was carryed about, adored, offered too, with no better successe. Hereupon they consulted a Witch, which sayd the Quoayn or Goddesse was angry, that her backe was daily scorched (spoken of the Converts burning their Idols) which caused some conspiracie, quenched with the Taulis favour and the rayne following. At Nanquin one borne at Scianhai, and first pronounced Licentiat in the examination of 1597. was Baptised hy the name of Paulus, who converted his whole Family. Anno 1604. hee was made Doctor, amongst three hundred and eight, of which number foure and twentie were chosen of Hanlin Colledge, after the China course of best Writing, of which hee was the fourth: this Choise of foure and twentie is but for probationers, for at the most after long tryals by the Colai, but twelve or fifteene are set in possession, in which examinations hee was still a principall. ​Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/517 ​Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/518 ​Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/519 ​Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/520 ​Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/521 ​Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/522 ​Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/523 ​Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/524 ​Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/525 ​Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/526 ​Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/527 ​Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/528 ​Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/529 ​Page:Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes Volume 12.djvu/530 ​See Polo, Perera, &c. of this Fishing.
are ready to bee spunne, which is done as they gather Apricocks: for indeed a farre off they appeare to bee so, and is a very fine sight to behold : they use a strange kinde of Fishing with Cormorants. They tie their neckes a little above their stomackes, lest they should devour the Fish they take: then comming to their Master, hee pulleth it alive, out of their throates: Likewise for water Fowle, they make use of great Bottles with two holes, which they leave floating up and downe the water a good while, to acquaint the Fowles therewith: then some fellowes will wade up to the necke in the water, thrusting their heads into those Bottles, and having a bagge underneath, come as neere the Fowle as they will, taking them with their hands, without the rest being afraid of it.