Tartaria

The Great Tartaria is a vast empire in the northeastern part of Asia (according to contemporaries). It comprises five territories (Cathay, Zagathay (Usbeck), Tartaria Antiqua, Tartaria Deserta, Tartaria Precopensis), each consisting of several kingdoms under the unified rule of the Great Khan. Despite the presence of cities, the primary mode of livelihood is livestock farming. The population and the army are immense, posing a threat to neighboring realms.

Since the late 17th to early 18th centuries, cartographers began printing new coastlines and cities with Russian names, replacing the ancient ones. In Russian history, there were no ancient cities; all new settlements were founded on empty lands.

Etymology

Modern	Tartary
	The Great Tartaria
	Tartary
	Tartaria
	Tartarie
Russian	Тартария

Maps

There were no maps featuring Tartaria available to the public in Russia until the 21st century.

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  1701 A system of geography by Herman Moll - Great Tartary.jpg

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  1684 - La Grande Tartarie vers l'Orient ou sont le Turquestan, la Tartarie septemtrionale, et la Tartarie du Kin - . Par P. Du Val geographe du Roy.jpg 1684 - La Grande Tartarie

Sources from old books:

1550. Cosmographia by Sebastian Münster.

Die Tartarey, so fürhin Mongal heisset, hat von anfang genommen gegen mitnacht, und hin sich auß sich erstrecket biß zum mitttertag und abent, also genempt von einem wasser, das Tartari heisset, und ihres lands laufft.

Das land ist fast bergig, und wo es eben ist, hat es vol sand vnd ist vnfruchtbar, ausgenommen wo man mit flüssen mag wässern. Sebissen hat es vol wildes vich, auch süeßen met und obbäumen.

Die äußer Tartarey hat kein stett auch kein bürger, ausgenommen die statt Tractirum, hat auch weyden, doch das man an manchen ort mit dürren wind zubringen muß.

Dis land hat ein ungestümen lufft vnd har vnütze winde, in so grausam kalte blitz vnd donner. Auch die menschen von solcher kalte steif seyn. Zu zeiten haben sie onträgliche hertz, darnach strenge kelte, und fallt bey ihnen überwechseln des wetters.

Die winde gehen auch zimlichmal so hart dar, das sie die reuter vmb das feld streiben, die menschen ziehn boden felsen, vnd die baum auß dem grund reissen, vnd andere grossen schaden thuin.

In winter zeiten regnet es nimmer bey ihnen, aber zu summer zeiten offt, doch so wenig, das es erdreich kaum davon nass werden mag.

Das land streckt von der Tartar, also die Tier zieret sich mit Camelthern, vnd an allen meisten menschen ärtzte so vil haben, das man meint fast, die hälfte der welt hab mit so vil volck.

Ansehnlich seind das volck von vil völckern bewohnt gewesen, und hat geheissen Scithia magua, das ist grossen Mongolen.

Das land Summogal, das ist die nördliche Mongoley, das hat orter, und da ward Chani gesitzet.

Die jetzigen Mongalen seind mit weyßem und achsel, haben fast keine fleisch an sich, seind lang, schwärz und finsterlich, starck und kühn, mügen wol leiden hunger und kälte, von iugend auff haben sie kurtzwail mit jagen und reiten, also daß sie sich für niemlich seind.

Sie ziehen in felde gegen andern, und haben vil wiber vnnd kind. Die seind von gestalt wolgebildet, habend ein süß stäunlich schön hartrötlich gesicht, weder die hend, noch die beyne, noch die kleider. Sie seind kein schamhaft.

1615. The estates, empires, & principallities of the world by Pierre d'Avity.

A DISCOVRSE OF THE EMPIRE OF THE GREAT CHAM OF TARTARIA.

The Contents.

1. The contents and extention of the great Cham of Tartaria, the bounds, and climat. [ C]

2. The scituation and circuit of Cambalu, the chiefe citie.

3. The constilation of the ayre of those countries, their aboundance in Rice, Wheat, Silke, Rhubarbe, & Muske; in Camels and Horses; in stones which burne like wood; in Pheasants and other birds.

4. Of the terrible lightning, thunder, and winds, wherewith these countries are infested.

5. Description of the Lake of Caniclu, full of Pearles, and of the other riuers of this Empire,

6. Valour and manner of liuing of the Scythians, auncestors to the Tartarians: Their barbarous custome to drinke in skulls, and to weare the skins of their enemies.

7. Their chiefe gods, their sacrifices, and their bloudie ceremonies in contracting alliances, and at the funeralls of their Kings, where they did sacrifice the seruants and officers of the Crowne.

8. Another ceremonie obserued at the interment of priuat persons.

9. Of the pa••ting which [ D] the Scythian women vsed; of the Scythians oath, and of their lawes.

10. Of the beginning of the Empire of the Tartarians, and how they were freed from the dominion of their neighbours, by a Marshall called Canguist.

11. A description of the nature, manners, custome, lawes, meat and drinke, apparell, exercises, and kind of liuing of the Tartarians; their armes, and manner of fighting in warre: their ceremonies at the funeralls of their Kings.

12. Their riches in the traffique of Rice, Wooll, Silke, Hempe, Rhubarbe, Muske, Chaml•t•, Ginger, Synamon, Cloues, Gold, Sand taken out of riuers, Corrall, with mynes of Gold and Azure.

13. Their money made of the barkes of Trees, and Cockell-shells.

14. Their forces consisting in the strong scituation, and greatnesse of Prouinces, in townes, and in men of warre, camping out of Townes.

15. The names of the Emperours of Tartaria grauen in letters [ E] of gold, and set vpon the Temples of their chiefe Townes: their absolute power of life and death ouer their subiects.

16. Lawes and militarie orders established by Canguist their first Emperour.

17. Ceremonies obserued at the crowning of a new Prince.

18. Of the seale which the great Cham doth vse in his Patents, and of his rigorous iustice.

19. Of two Councells, of Warre, and State, and their iurisdiction, and of the power and authoritie of Astrologians in those countries.

20. Of the punishment of theeues and malefactors.

21. Explanation of the word Hordes.

22. Of the Tartarians religion composed of Mahometisme, Paganisme, and Christianisme: their gods, the forme of their prayers, and their beliefe touching the immortalitie of the soule.

23. The beginning and descent of the Tartarian Iewes.

24. Of the error of the Tartarians that be Christians, following the heresie of Nestorius.

25. A Genealogie [ F] of the Emperours of Tartaria.

[ A] THey that haue carefully obserued and calculated like good Geographers the contents of the Empire of this great prince, which yeelds not to any other in greatnesse of countries, but to the king of Spain, whom he doth also exceed, for that his lands are vnited, and haue all some bond which ties them together, whereas those of the Spaniard lie scattered and wonderfully diuided; such I say as haue carefully obserued the contents of the countries which this Monarch holds, haue found that it was neere two millions, and two hundred thousand Italian miles [ B] square.

This great Empire called by the inhabitants Mongul, which draws the name of Tartaria [ I] from the riuer of Tartar, which doth water a great part of it, hath for bounds on the East, the great realm of China, the sea of Cin, & the strait of Anian; on the West, the mountains of Imaus which shuts it vp on that side, except certain hordes of Tartarians which are on this side that mountaine, and acknowledge the great Cham; towards the South lies Indostan, the riuer of Ganges, and that of Oxe, now called Abiam, and also on the highest part is the realme of China; and vpon the North, the frosen sea, whose shoare is so cold (by reason of the neerenesse of the Pole) as all that countrie is vnknowne, and held by vs to be desart and vnhabited. Finally, this prince comaunds all the countrie which by [ C] the auncients was called Scithia, beyond mount Imaus, the which now they call Altay, and the region of Seres, which at this day hath the name of Catay. Or according vnto some who seeme more iudicious, his Empire extends from the desart of Lop of the one side, and the lake of Kytay of the other, vnto a wall drawne betwixt the three and fortieth and fiue and fortieth degree, from the towne of Ochioy scituated betwixt two mountaines, vnto another mountaine which ends with the sea, and diuides the Tartarians from them of China, and from the Scithian Ocean, vnto the frontires of Tipure, and the neighbour countries. This tract comprehends many great realmes and prouinces of a long extention, beautified with a great number of good townes.

The chiefe citie of this Empire is called Cambula, which some will haue to be in former [ II] [ D] times called Issedon Serica, built of a square forme, scituated vpon the riuer of Polisangi, and hauing in circuit about foure and twentie Italian miles, with twelue ports, euery one of which hath his suburbes, whereas strangers and merchants remaine. This citie is in the middest of the prouince of Catay, and as it were the center of all the countries round about.

Besides the great and rich kingdome of Catay, there are many other goodly realmes, as those of Tangut, Camul, Tenduc, Tainfur, Thebet, and the towne and prouince of Caindo, of all which countries, I cannot make any curious description, for that there is not any man found that hath had full knowledge thereof, or hath imparted it to others.

The Qualitie.

THey hold that the countrie of Catay abounds in rice, wheat, and such like things, [ III] notwithstanding that the aire be cold. There is also great store of gold, silk, rhubarbe, muske, and great numbers of beasts; and to conclude in a word, they haue all things necessarie not onely to liue, but also to entertaine life with delight. They haue great numbers of camells, and such aboundance of horses, as some haue written that the great Cham did feed ten thousand white mares, whose milke he did drinke. They do not write that they gather much wine there, for it is certaine that the prouince of Catay yeelds not any. They find also stones which burne, whereof they make their fire, as they do of turfes [ F] in the Low countries, and we of Newcastle coale. The aire is not very temperat, and the thunder and lightning is so terrible and strange there in Sommer as men die in a manner for feare when they heare it. It is sometimes extreamely hote and presently after very cold, and much snow doth fall. The winds are sometimes so strong and violent, as they staie horsemen or ouerthrow them, they ouerturne trees and pull them vp by the roots; and in a word they doe much harme. It raines neuer in Winter, and seldome doth there [ A] any water fall in Sommer, the which is so small, as it doth scarce wet the ground. There is great store of foule in this countrie, especially of phesants, and such like.

[ V] There are many lakes, to number which would be tedious, yet I will set downe the names of some for the readers content. In the prouince of Caniclu, there is a lake in which they find such aboundance of pearle, as they will presently be of no value if it were lawfull for euery man to carry away what he lift. But they are forbidden to fish for pearle without the permission of the great Cham. They find also in the same lake great store of fish. There is another which abounds as much with fish in the prouince of Caraim, being one hundred miles in circuit. These countries are watered by many riuers, among which [ B] that of Polisange is very famous: it dischargeth it selfe into the sea, and by it many vessells do mount laden with merchandise. There is also the riuer of Coromoran which falls into the sea, and is so deepe and broad, as there is not any bridge to passe ouer it. The riuer of Quianfu halfe a mile broad is as deepe and aboundant of fish. There is also that of Quiam, which Paulus Venetus holds to be the greatest in the world: for he writes that in some places it is ten miles broad, in some eight, and in some six. It is a hundred daies iourney long. But to specifie something, we must set downe what could be learned of the particularities of some prouinces.

There growes much rhubarbe in the realme of Tangut, the which is transported throughout the world. In the realme of Tenduc they find very rich mines of gold and [ C] azure. The realme of Tainfur is better manured, and abounds in vines. The countrie of Thebet is moorish, full of forrests, and wild beasts, and abounds in corall. They find also there great store of muske, synamon, and other spices.

This is all that can be said of the qualitie of these countries, both in the generall and particular: let vs now obserue the manner of liuing of the auncient inhabitants, to come afterwards to those which are practised among them, and to the qualities and humors which they haue in our time.

The Manners of the Ancients.

[ VI] THose which we call at this day Tartarians, were all comprehended vnder the name [ D] of Scythians, whereof some liued on this side, and others beyond mount Imaus. The Scythians in the beginning had no great continent of countrie, but in succession of time, and by their valour, they grew so great, as hauing subiected many prouinces, and vanquished diuers nations, they made a very great Empire, and became famous and renouned throughout the whole world. They were neuer subdued, and seldome had beene assaulted to be made subiect to the Empire of any other. They forced Darius to flie with a great part of his armie, and defeated Cyrus with all his forces being led by a woman. Alexander the Great lost both souldiers and commaunders, whom he had se•t thither, and had no better successe than the rest. The Scythians had heard speake of the Romans [ E] name, but they neuer tried their forces, nor were made subiect to the yoke of their commaund. These people liued according vnto nature, and vsed no law. They hated theft, as those which did not shut vp their troupes within inclosures, or walled places, but kept them in the open field. They had no vse of gold nor siluer. Milke and honie was their food. They armed themselues against the cold with the skins of wild beasts, knowing not how to make garments of wool. When as the ancient Scythians had taken a man in war, they were bound to carry vnto their king the heads of all such as they had slaine, if they would haue any part of the spoile: otherwise they might not demaund any thing. They vsed this manner in cutting their enemies heads, they made a round incision about the eares, & drawing forth the skull, they did shake out that which was in it, & in like maner [ F] flea off the skin, as they did that of the whole bodie, the which they tanned like an oxes hide, where with they attired themselues, and made raines for their horses, or else vsed them as napkins at their meat, and the more of these seruices they had, the more they were esteemed among them. Some also did cut off the right hands of their enemies, and [ A] hauing flead them with their nailes, they couered the tops of their quiuers therewith: and others hauing flead a whole man, they streched out the skin vpon a boord, and carried it in for a shew vpon their horses. As for the heads whereof I haue made mention, after they had flead them, and couered them without with a peece of an oxes skin, they did gild them within if they were rich, making cups to drinke in, and giuing them to strangers of note that came to see them, descoursing of their valour vnto them.

Euerie one of their princes did giue wine once a yeare to such souldiers as had slaine any of their enemies, and they that had not killed any, nor done some memorable exploit, were put apart without any honour, which was an insupportable infamie amongst [ B] them: whereas he that had slaine many, was presented with two cups of wine; for they carried so many goblets for a shew.

Their chiefe deities were the goddesse Vesta, who commaunded ouer all, and then [ VII] Iupiter, or Tellus, or the Earth, who they held to be Iupiters spouse, and these were the gods whom they honoured and sought to make fauourable vnto them. Besides these, they did worship Apollo, Venus, Mars, & Hercules, yet they did not erect any Temples or Altars vnto them, except to Mars, to whom they did sacrifice the hundred prisoner that, were taken in warre. To the rest they▪did sacrifice beasts, and especially horses. As for swine, they did so little esteeme them, as they would not suffer one to be kept among their troupes.

[ C] Whenas their king did condemne any one to death, the punishment was not restrained to him alone, but it was extended to all his issue male.

Whenas the Scythians contracted alliance with any one, they tooke a great goblet in which was earth, whereon they did poure wine mingled with the bloud of both parties, with the which they did besprinkle the points of their swords, their axes, arrowes, and darts: then hauing made a great oath with long and terrible imprecations against them that should breake this league, they did all drinke of the wine of this goblet, and not only the principall parties, but also all the chiefest men that assisted as companions to them that made the league.

When their King died, they made a verie deepe hole of a square forme, then taking [ D] the bodie they bowelled it, and put in the place thereof sweet odoriferous poulders, with the seeds of Smalage and Anis, which done, they sowed vp the bodie, and layed it vpon a chariot, sending it from nation to nation, euerie one doing it honour and seruice, and in the meane time the courtiers and seruants of the kings house did slit their eares, and cut their haire in signe of heauinesse, and they did launce their armes, and pinch their noses, euen to the effusion of bloud, and they did pierce their left hands with an arrow: the bodie hauing past throughout all the countries of the jurisdiction of the deceased, they left it in the most remote prouince of his empire. There the sepulchre being made, and the bodie being put into a coffin, and layed into the graue, they did set lances and long staues about it, with rodds vpon the top of them, and also certaine garments. [ E] Moreouer, they did put into the void place of the coffin, one of the Kings Concubines, whom he loued best in his life time. He must also of necessitie haue some officers to accompanie him, and to serue him in the other world: and therefore they did strangle neere vnto the tombe a Chamberlaine, a Cooke, a Butler, a Sergeant, and a Mulet-keeper; all which had for the carrying of their baggage but one horse which was slaine with them, and at the same time they were buried with their prince, and with him his plate, and richest moueables.

They had this custome, that at the end of the yeare they did the like seruice, with the losse of the liues of his best seruants and officers, who are all naturall Scythians, free, and of noble race, and such as it pleased the King to chuse, for that no slaue was admitted to [ F] his seruice. They did also chuse fiftie of the later sort, with the like number of horses which they strangled, taking out their bowels, and then sowed vp their bellies; after which, they couered them with their cloakes, and tied them about the tombe couered with a vault, they being on horsebacke, and set in such sort, as a farre off they did seeme a troupe of horsemen, appointed for the guard of the deceased King: such were the ceremonies and funeralls of Kings, whenas they were interred. [ A]

[ VIII] They had a particular kind of burying for priuat persons, for that any one being dead, his people layed him vpon a chariot, and carried him to his kinsfolkes and friends, uerie one of them making a feast in the place of his aboad to the kinsmen of the deceased, and to the rest that accompanied the bodie. They carried it vp and downe for the space of fortie daies, at the end whereof they did set vp three peeces of timber equally declining, and vpon it they layed a tent of wooll very artificially, then they did cast into a vessell made like vnto a barke, and set vpon the tombe next vnto the rent, the most glistering stones they could find: this is all that can be spoken of their manner of burying the dead; let vs now come vnto the rest. [ B]

[ IX] The men neuer washt themselues, but the women rubbed their naked bodies against some sharpe and rough stone, hauing then poured water vpon them, and their flesh being swolen by this meanes, they rubbed their bodies with the wood of Cypres, Cedar, and Incense, and they did also vse certaine oyntments for the face made of the like drugs, by meanes whereof they smelt sweet, then hauing the day following taken away these pla•ters, they seemed more beautifull and pleasing. These people did not sweare but by the royall Throne, and if any one did forsweare himselfe, or take a false oath, if he were conuicted by the Inchanters, who made proofe thereof by rods of willow, he presently lost his head, and his goods were forfeited to them that had proued his periurie. [ C]

They of Catay, whom they called the Seres, liued louingly and quietly together, and yet notwithstanding this mildnesse, they fled the companie and conuersation of other men; so as they would not traffique by word with any stranger: but if they would make any bargaine, and sell their commodities, or buy others, the stranger was forced to passe the riuer, vpon the bankes whereof either of them layed his merchandise; and then the Seres set the price of all things in looking on them, and the stranger did of necessitie pay what they demaunded.

An adulterous man or woman and a theefe were neuer called in question, and they say that in old time there was neuer any murther committed among them, for that they did more feare to be found disobedient to their laws, than of the threats and constellations, [ D] or of the predictions of those which cast their natiuities, and told them their fortunes.

No man amongst them touched his wife when she was with child, or had her monethly flux. There was not any one among them that did eat any polluted beast. They made no sacrifices, and euerie man was Iudge of himselfe, following naturally that which was reasonable.

[ X] The Tartarians, which acknowledge the great Cham at this day, were in old time subiect to their neighbours, and payed them tribute, they were so base and deiected; and yet they were gouerned by Lords and Captaines, who had the soueraigne gouernement of affaires: but in the end, they shaked off this yoke by the meanes of an old man, Marshall of his Estate, who said, he had seene a vision of a Knight armed in white, & mounted [ E] vpon a horse of the same colour, who hauing called him by his name, said these words vnto him, Canguiste, (for so was the name of this Marshall) it is the will of the immortall God, that thou freest this people from the subiection of their neighbours, and that th•• be•st •ouernour and King of the Tartarians, who shall make others subiect, as they are now tributarie to their neighbours: This was the cause that the Tartarians (being desirous to see themselues free, and to commaund others) made choyce of this Canguiste for their King, who was the first prince of this people: this happened in the yere of our Lord 1187. This Canguiste, called Chinghie by some others, was a wise man, and of a good life, and was the first which sought to root out idolatrie from among the Tartarians, forbidding by an edict when he was made King, the adoration of Idols, enioyning them to worship one God onely, by [ F] whose meanes he thought to haue gotten so great a dignitie. In the end, Canguiste seeing himselfe strong, failed not sodainly to inuade the Scythians his neighbours, on either side of Mount Imaus, and made them his subiects and tributaries, and the Tartarians more hardie and feared, whereas before they were onely shepheards.

[ A] The Manners of the Tartarians at this day.

THe Tartarians are of a meane stature, and haue very broad brests and shouldiers; [ XI] they haue great gogle eyes, and thicke eyebrowes: they are broad faced, and haue thinne beards with great mustachos: they commonly shaue the backe part of their heads and let the other grow long, which they tie behind their eares: not onely the Tartarians are shauen after this manner, but also such as go to remaine in their countrie. They are good horsemen, very light and actiue, but bad footmen. No man goes on foot, but all are [ B] mounted either on horses, or else on oxen when they trauell, how meane soeuer they be. They hold it for an honourable thing when their horses weare little bells about their neckes which haue cleere sounds. There are great criers euen when they talke familiarly together, and whenas they sing a man would say they were wolues that howled, and all of them when they sing shake their hands. Whenas they drinke, they neuer leaue till they be drunke, and glorie in this beastlinesse. There are many among them which haue neither townes nor villages for their ordinarie aboad, but remaine in the fields vnder tents. In Winter they liue in plains, but in Sommer they dwell on mountaines seeking the best pastures. For the most part they haue no bread, nor kned any, neither haue they any tablecloathes or napkins. These people contemne all the rest of the world, and thinke that [ C] there is not any one so worthie of honour as their prince, neither will they suffer one to call vpon any other man. They call all Christians dogs and idolaters: they vse Magicke 〈◊〉, and are giuen to the interpretation of dreames, and haue Magitians which be interpr••ers of their idle fancies, and which go vnto idols to heare their oracles and explicatio••. They are so couetous of wealth, as when any one hath seene a thing that he desire••, he takes it away by force, if he may not haue it with the owners consent, so as he be 〈◊〉 Tartarian; and euery man thinkes that it is lawfull by their kings lawes. Whenas the Tartarians find any one vpon the way which carries not the kings letters or pasport, they 〈◊〉 vpon him, and keepe him as their slaue. They lend money to such as haue need, but vpon great vsurie. They neuer giue any almes to beggers: but they haue one thing commendable, [ D] that if any one arriue whenas they dine or sup, he may eate and drinke with them; for in steed of giuing him leaue to depart, they inuite him courteously, and giue him willingly what they haue. They are very slouenly in their eating and drinking, for as they neither haue cloth nor napkins, so they neuer wash their hands. They vse no hearbes, pease, nor beanes, but their onely food is the flesh of all sorts of beasts, yea of dogs, and cats, and great rats. Some among them haue a custome, whenas they haue taken any one of their enemies to roast him, to shew the desire they haue of reuenge; when this is done, they assemble commonly in great numbers, and deuoure the bodie like •amished wolues: but before they roast him, they receiue the bloud and put it into cups, and so drinke it. For their ordinare drink, they vse mares milke. They hold it a great [ E] •••e to suffer any of their meat, or their drinke to be lost; and therefore they cast not any bones to dogs or cats before they haue taken out the marrow. Mor•ouer they are so mi•erable and base, as they neuer eate any beast that is found, but stay vntill it be lame or sicke, or so old as it doth but languish. They content themselues with little: they drinke two or three cups in the morning, and after that they sometimes passe a whole day without meat or drinke. There is s•arce any of them either men or women that hath aboue one garment. The men in steed of caps or hats weare miters which are not very deepe, 〈◊〉 before, and hauing a long taile behind: and to keepe them fast that the wind beat them not off, they tie them with ribons vnder their chins. Married women vse an attire of their heads made in forme of a pannier made of oziers, a foot and a halfe long, inricht [ F] with silke and peacockes feathers, and with it they weare pearles, stones, and ornaments of gold, and as for the rest of the bodie, they are attired according to their meanes, and the richer sort weare silke or scarlet. Their roabes are made after this manner: the slit is on the left side, by the which they attire and disroabe themselues, and they haue foure or fiue buttons which shut it vp: the garments they weare in Sommer are commonly black, and those in Winter, or in a rainie, season are white, and they go not beneath the knee. [ A] The Tartarians weare garments of furres, the which they vse commonly contrarie to other people: for to make shew of the bountie of the haire, they weare the furre outward, and the skin next to their bodies. They are veery good archers, good horsemen, and well practised in war: they carrie their wiues and children with them, and sometimes set images of men vpon horses, to the end their armie may seeme greater to their enemies, by which meanes they amase them the more. They are not ashamed to flie when as necessitie doth presse them, and that it is likely they shall be beaten in resisting. They fight by troupes, and flie also by troupes; and when as the enemie pursues them, they haue their arrowes alwaies readie to shoot: but if they see themselues pursued by smal troups [ B] they put themselues in order, renew the fight, and make their way with the multitude of their arrowes, wounding their enemies, and their horses of all sides, and in the end they obtaine the victorie when they were held vanquished. Whenas they meane to inuade any countrie, they diuide their armie, and assayle it of all sides, to the end they shall not come to encounter them, nor any of the inhabitants escape, and by this meanes they are most commonly conquerors. They vse the victorie with insolencie; for they spare not any they haue taken, neither women, nor children, old, nor young, but kill all indifferently, except workemen whom they keepe to do their workes. When they meane to kill them, they distribute them to captaines, who assigne ten or more to euery seruant to kill them, according to the number of prisoners, and all are sodenly slaine like beasts with an [ C] axe, or hatchet, to the end that others may be terrified by this example. They take one of a thousand, and hang him on a poale with his head downeward, in the middest of the rest that haue beene slaine; so as he seemes to admonish his companions and to heare them speake. There are many among the Tartarians which come vnto the dead bodies lying vpon the ground, and sucke vp the bloud which comes out of their wounds being yet fresh. They neuer keepe any faith or word they haue promised, by which meanes they practise great crueltie against such as haue yeelded vnto them. They are the most giuen to lasciuiousnesse and whoredome of any men in the world, for notwithstanding they may haue as many wiues as they are able to keepe, and that no degree of consanguinitie and bloud doth hinder them from marrying together, vnlesse it be with the mother, [ D] daughter, or sister, yet they are execrably giuen to that horrible sinne of Sodomie. They hold not any one for a wife vntill she hath borne children, neither doth he receiue any dowrie for her vntill that time; so as he may repudiat her that is found barren, and take another in her place. If any one be surprised in adulterie he is punished by the law, be it man or woman. Euery woman hath her lodging, her houshold & familie a part, and all liue very chastly. When the men returne from the war, they driue their cattell to the field, and keepe them, and spend their time in hunting, and they also practise wrestling. The women haue charge of all the rest, and care of those things which concerne meat, drinke, and apparell. This people is much giuen to superstitions: it is not lawfull for any one to pisse in publicke places, and if it happen that he shall do it wilfully, he shall be slaine [ E] without remission: but if necessitie forceth him, there is a pauillion, wherein if any pisse, they purge it, and all that is within it after this manner: They make two fires, in the which they fix two pikes, and tie a cord which runs from the top of the one vnto the other, and then they cause all things which they meane to purifie to passe betwixt these pikes as through a gate. There are also two women, one of the one side, and the other of another who cast water vpon them, mumbling certaine charmes and sorceries.

No stranger is admitted into the kings presence, of what dignitie soeuer he be, or any affaires of importance that he hath, vnlesse he be first purged. He that enters the pauillion whereas the king, or any prince, or great nobleman makes his ordinarie aboad, is instantly put to death. There are many other things which they hold for irremissible faults: but [ F] if there be question to kill or wound a man, to inuade another mans lands, to take away another mans goods contrarie to all right, and to contemne the commaundement of God, they hold it nothing, and doe it without any scruple. Whenas any one is sicke or neere death, they fix a pike or halberd with a blacke pennon or flag, neere vnto the place [ A] where he lies sicke, to the end that such as passe by may not enter. Being dead all his familie assembles, and they carrie his bodie out of the pauillion into a place which he had formerly chosen; then hauing made a deepe and large hole, they set vp a little tent in it, and a table furnished with meat, and they cast the bodie of the deceased into it, attired in his richest garments, and then all together couer it with earth. They doe also burie with him a mare and a horse, with a caparison. The richer sort in their life time chuse one of their slaues, whom they marke with a hot yron, and cause to be buried with them, to the end he may serue him in the other world. After this, the friends of the deceased take another horse, which they kill, and then eat. The wiues of the deceased burne his [ B] bones for a purgation of his soule. For a conclusion of their manner of liuing, I will say that their best drinkes are of Rice and spices, which make them more drunke than wine. They do also loue sower milke like vnto the Arabians, and milke distilled & past through 〈◊〉 Alymbeck, the which hath great force to make them drunke; and also they do accommodate their mares milke in such sort, as it is like to white wine, and pleasing in tast. They •bstaine wholly from swines flesh. And for that they are vagabonds, and stay little in any place, they guide themselues in their voyages by the North starre, and as men which liue commonly in the fields, they haue great knowledge of the planets and stars. There are few •••izans among them, neither is there any vse of money, but with merchants, for that the rest exchange one thing for another. Their horses are commonly gelt, and little, but [ C] strong: they call them Bachmat, & they furnish them of saddles, with stirrops of wood, and verie light bridles: and they vse whips in stead of spurs. If it happen they be ouerthrowne, disarmed, and grieuously wounded, their custome is to defend themselues with their feet and hands, yea and with their teeth, vntill the last gaspe. They doe easily indure labour, and want of victualls, and they are little giuen to delights.

Their Kings are buried on Mount Altay, called by Hayton the Armenian, the mountaine of Belgian; and whenas they carrie the bodie to be interred, they that accompanie it, kill all them they meet vpon the way, saying, Go and serue our King in the other life; and for proofe hereof, Marcus Polus reports, That whenas Mongu Cha• was carried to be interred, which was at such time as Polus was in Tartaria, his souldiers which did accompanie [ D] the bodie, slew for this cause aboue ten thousand men which past by the way. The inhabitants of the prouince of Camul, are giuen to playes and dauncings, and receiue strangers courteously, yea they will prostitute their owne wiues vnto them.

The Riches.

I Should want judgement to thinke that the Tartarians, who haue made so many incursions [ XII] into Europe and Asia, and haue carried away such great spoyles out of Muscouie and other parts, especially from China, which they haue long enioyed; I say it were a great folly to thinke that they are not rich at this day, seeing it is sufficiently knowne that [ E] these people, hauing at the taking of so many prouinces carried away the most pretious things they could find, haue since maintained themselues so well in their countrie, as no man hath wrested from them that whereof they were once seised; so as they haue kept all still: This may easily persuade any man that the Tartarians are verie rich. And that which doth moreouer preserue this Estate, is the scituation of their countrie, verie commodious for the commerce and traffique of one towne with another. The reason is partly for that the countrie is plaine, and hath great lakes (among which there is that of Cazaie, whose water is salt, and those of Gujam, Dangu, Xandu, and Catacora) and partly also for the greatnesse of riuers which run through these countrie. That which doth also make them rich, is the diuersitie of merchandise which grow there; for this [ F] countrie abounds generally in Rice, Wooll, Silke, Hempe, Rhubarbe, Muske, and excellent Chamlets made of Camels haire. But Polus writes, that the countrie of Caindu doth also yeeld Ginger, Synamon, and Cloues; the which notwithstanding is somewhat doubtfull. There are also some riuers which haue gold mixed with their sand.

The money which they vse is not all of one sort, for that in Cataya they imploy a certaine [ XIII] kind of blacke money which is made of a thin skin which they find betwixt the [ A] barke and the bodie of trees, and which being beaten and mixt with a certain• g•ue, is marked with the seale of the great Cham; and in the realme of Cajacan and Corazan, they vse certaine Cockle shells. The prince drawes vnto himselfe all the gold and siluer of his countrie▪ and causing it to be moulten, he keepes it in certaine strong forts, and neue• vseth it; so as it is thought this Emperour hath inestimable treasures: with the like art Prester Ian, who causeth graines of salt and pepper to go for currant money, hath verie great riches. And for that the citie of Cambalu is in the middest of the great prouince of Cataya, they bring thither from the East Indies, from China, and other countries, much rich merchandise, and among others, pretious stones, pearles, silke, spices, and [ B] such like. As for Rhubarbe which is spent in the countrie, they draw it out of the realme of Tangut, which is vnder the dominion of the great Cham. In the prouince of Tenduc, there are verie rich mines of gold and azure, which yeeld great profit to the inhabitants: and they of the countrie of Thebet inrich themselues by Corall, wherewith it abounds, as also by Muske, Synamon, and other spices, which yeeld no small profit. To conclude, there are few Principalities, where they haue better meanes to enrich themselues, and all the discommdities that are in this empire, falls vpon them which liue towards the North, who haue want of many things necessarie for the life of man, whereof their neighbours, subiect to the same prince, haue aboundance.

The Forces. [ C]

THey that will carefully consider of the forces of this great Emperor, may easily judge that they consist, first in the scituation of his countries, which we haue formerly shewed to be exceeding strong, in his large territories, and in the greatnesse of townes, as of Sucuir, and of Campion, built and fortified after our manner, of Ergimul, Corazam, Thebet, and Caindu, all chiefe townes of so many realmes; and also in the aboundance of victualls which they yeeld, and in the greatnesse of his reuenues: for that among other things, he exacts the tenth of wooll, silke, hempe, corne, and cattell, and he is absolute lord of all that the Tartarians enioy: but his chiefest forces consist in his men of [ D] warre, whom he entertaines continually in armes. These liue in field some foure miles from euerie towne, and besides the pay which they receiue from the Prince, they doe also make much profit of a great number of cattel which belong vnto them, and of their milke and wooll. If by chance the great Cham hath need to leuie a great armie, he takes what number shall be necessarie out of these men which lie dispersed in the prouinces, after the manner of the Roman Legions. The Tartarians doe not commonly fight on foot, except the Vachens, who are not vnder the empire of the great Cham. Their chiefe armes are bowes and arrowes, the which they vse (as we haue said) as well when they flie, as when they charge. They carrie little with them when they go to the warre, but their chiefest baggage consists of tents of felt, vnder which they retire themselues when it [ E] raines. They liue for the most part of milke, which they drie in the Sunne, hauing first drawne forth the butter; and whenas necessitie doth presse them, they liue of the bloud which they draw from their horses. They do seldome joyne battaile with their enemies, but charge them sometimes in front, sometimes in flanke, shooting their arrows continually after the manner of the Parthians. They that carrie themselues valiantly, haue goodly recompences, and are aduanced to the greatest dignities; they are honoured with exquisit presents, and haue goodly priuiledges.

This Emperour doth commonly entertaine twelue thousand horsemen for the guard of his person, and it is thought that he may draw more horse together than any Prince whatsoeuer; so as his forces haue two remarkable qualities: the one is, that he hath many [ F] men, as we may conceiue by the greatnesse of his countries, the which must needs be well inhabited, for that in the most part there is aboundance of all things necessarie: the other is, that all his men of warre are in armes, and readie to march vpon the first command, for that they are continually well payed, the which is a matter of great importanc•: 〈◊〉

[ A] as they doe more esteeme the disposition and agilitie of a souldier than his force, so they account much more of armies which are readie to march where they are commanded, and haue not much baggage to hinder them, than those which consist of great numbers: but Princes which haue them both great and readie to put to field, must of •ecessitie be held for powerfull and verie strong: for these are like vnto Eagles, Tygers, or Lions, which are held as princes of other beasts, for that they haue disposition and agilitie joyned to the force of the bodie; so as with these two parts they get the victorie ouer others. They say that the Tartarians cannot serue with a targuet, and that there are few of them that vse lances or long swords: those they weare are made like vnto the Turkish [ B] Cimetaries, pointed, and very sharpe, and of the length of a mans arme, to the end they may strike them that come too neere them. He among them is held most valiant, that knwes best to obey his Captaine.

¶ The Gouernment.

THis Emperor whom the Turkes call Vlucam, that is say, great prince, and the Muscouits [ XV] Czar Cata•ski, which is Caesar of Cataya, whose name they set in a red table in letters of gold vpon the temples of their chiefe townes, calling him the sonne of God, the shaddow of God, and the soule of God. He is so obayed in all the prouinces which [ C] are subiect vnto him, as they receiue his words for rigorous and inuiolable lawes. This absolute power came from Canguiste, who being chosen Emperor of the Tartarians, and desiring to trie if they would be readie to obey his will, he commaunded seuen princes, who before had gouerned all these people, to kill their children with their owne hands: and notwithstanding that the fathers found this commaundement very rough and hard, yet whether they feared the furie of the people who held this king as a diuine thing, or that religion moued them, for that they beleeued that God had giuen a beginning to this Empire, and that they should contemne God in disobeying the kings commaundement, they set hand to worke, and cut the throats of their owne children: so as since, that time the life and death of the Tartarians depends of the princes will, whom [ D] they so respect, as they doe not any thing that may contradict his intentions. This Canguiste [ XVI] or Chingis ordained that they which were of age to beare armes, should come at a certaine day to the place where he should appoint, and there he did set downe an order for his troupes after this manner, That Disseigners or Commaunders of ten should obey Captaines of hundreds, and these should be subiect to Commaunders of thousands, and the last should also yeeld obedience to the Colonells of euery regiment. He also ordained that if any of the Tartarians, or their slaues, should find a man, a woman, a horse, or any other thing without the princes pasport, he might sease thereon, and hold it as his owne, and iustly gotten. The exactions, imposts, and customes are so great, as we do not read that any other nation was euer so charged.

[ E] As for the coronation of their kings, whether they raigne by hereditarie succession, as [ XVII] the eldest sonnes of Emperor dos, or that they attaine vnto this dignitie for want of heirs capable to gou•rne this Empire; some haue said that the princes of their seuen tribes or generations being attired in white, which is the colour they do also vse when they mourn (as they of Iapon doe) cause the new pri•ce to sit vpon a blacke felt spread vpon the ground, willing him to looke vpon the Sunne, and to acknowlege the immortall God, the which if he doe, he shall receiue from him in heauen a far greater recompence than vpon earth, else he shall haue nothing left him, but that blacke felt to lie on in the fields, and that with much difficultie; and that he shal passe his life with a thousand discommodities and miseries. They also report that after this they crowne him, and that the greatest [ F] Peeres come and kisse his feet, and sweare fealtie vnto him, giuing him infinit rich presents; and that when this is done, they write his name in letters of gold, and set it vpon the temples of the chiefe cities of the Empire: others say that when they are to crowne a new Emperor, the princes and noblemen Tartarians being followed by the people which come from all parts of the Empire, meet vpon a plaine appointed to that end, and whereas that ceremonie is commonly performed. There, he to whom the Empire doth [ A] fall is set vpon a throne of gold, before whom, all in generall do prostrat themselues, and with a loud voice say vnto him these words: We pray thee, will, and commaund thee, to haue power ouer vs: whereunto the new prince aunswers; If you will that I obey you in this, I must of necessitie do it: in the meane time prepare your selues to do all that I shall commaund you, to come when I shall call you, to go where it shall please me to send you, and to leaue the whole Estate of the Empire in my hands to dispose thereof as I shall thinke good. The Tartarians hauing consented thereunto, the Emperor faith more: Wherefore the words of my mouth shall he vnto you hereafter, a sword, and shall take reuenge of rebells. The people clap their hands at these words, signifying thereby that they doe accept the condition. Which done the princes draw him out of his royall throne, and set him on the ground vpon a Felt, and [ B] say vnto him as we haue formerly mentioned: Looke vp and acknowled God, and withall, behold the place whereon thou art now set: if thou doest gouerne thy Estate well, all things shall succeed to thy hearts desire: but if thou doest not gouerne they people as it is fit, assure thy selfe thou shalt be so spoiled of all greatnesse and riches, that this Felt which is now thy seat, will not be left thee to do thee seruice. Hauing spoken this, they giue him the best beloued of his wiues, and raising them both vp with the Felt, they proclaime them Emperor and Emperesse of Tartaria, and instantly the great men of the Empire, and the deputies of prouinces which are vnder his obedience, bring him presents, in signe of acknowledgment. They do also bring vnto the same place the rich moueables of the deceased king, whereof [ C] the king distributes part vnto the greatest noblemen of the countrie, and keepes the rest for his owne seruice; then all the ceremonies being ended, euery man retires into his owne prouince.

This Emperor hath all in his owne power, and not one of his subiects dare say that he hath any thing in proprietie. It is not lawful for any man to dwell in any place but where he is assigned by the Emperor, who doth also appoint Gouernors, Generalls of armies, and Colonels, & they chuse Captains, & they the members of their companies, and these [ XVIII] of the rest to make their troupes compleat. The seale which the great Cham vseth in his pattents beares these words: God in heauen, Chuichuch Cham vpon earth: the Emperor is the force of God and men. This prince doth neuer speake vnto forraine Embassadors, and will [ D] not suffer them to be presented vnto him, if they, and their presents (for it is a forfait to come before this great prince emptie handed) be not purified by women appointed to that end. Then he aunswers by an interpretor, and whilest that this third person speakes, the strangers of what condition soeuer they be must kneele, & be attentiue that this interpretor omit not one word which the prince hath spoken: for it is not lawfull for any man to alter one word of the Emperours, or to faile in the execution of his will. This prince maintains justice with extreamerigour, for that offendors hauing been whipt for the first crime they haue committed, they are sawne a sunder in the middest for the second, whatsoeuer the offence be: wherein they seeme to follow the opinion which the Stoicks had of the equalitie of offences.

[ XIX] He hath two Councells, the one of war, being twelue men wife and of great experience; [ E] the other of state, of as many men, of great judgement, and full of knowledge of state affaires. These mannage all the gouernment, and haue the charge to punish offendors and wicked persons, and to recompence men of merit: and these men vse no lesse diligence to reward good seruices done vnto the Emperor as wel in time of peace as war, as to punish such as do il, or that haue carried themselues basely in any action. And without doubt the good gouernment of an Estate doth so consist in these things, that is to say, in punishment and reward, as we may rightly say that by their meanes onely the greatest part of barbarous princes maintaine their states and greatnesse. And for example, the Turke, the Xerif, the Mogor, and the Sophy, gouerne themselues after this manner. [ F] They do not obserue this in war, for that they ground their rule and commaund vpon force, and do not care for peace nor rest, but onely for victorie and grea•nesse: so as hauing this end onely, they vse no moderation, neither in the punishment of cowards, nor in rewarding the valiant and couragious. There was neuer commonweale whereas [ A] they propounded such goodly rewards for valiant men, as among these Barbarians. But they propound much more among the Turkes, than in any other place: for that the Tartarians, Arabians, and Persians, make some esteeme of nobilitie; but the Turkes ruine all noble families, and esteeme nothing but valour and hardinesse, committing their whole Empire into the hands of such as are issued from base houses; so as they haue made it knowne that they are capable of some great fortune: the which was also practised among the Mamelus. But to returne to the Tartarians gouernment, it seemes that among them they make great account of Astrologers, and that they do in a manner gouerne all things in this countrie. Paul writes that there were in his time in the citie of [ B] Cambula about fiue thousand: and that Cublai Cham hauing learned of them that this citie should one day reuolt, he caused another to be built called Taidu, the which is very neere. Finally, if any one hath stolne any thing of small value, for the which he deserues [ XX] not death, he is beaten seuen times with a cudgell, and receiues seuenteene, or seuen and twentie, or else seuen and fortie blowes, according to the qualitie of the offence: and in this kind of punishment they may giue one hundred blowes, adding alwaies ten. There are some which die, being beaten after this manner. If any one hath stolne a horse or some matter of price, for the which it seemes he deserues death, they kill him with the sword, and if he will redeeme his life, he may, paying nine times the value of the thing that was stolne. But before we passe ouer this discourse of the gouernement, for I meane [ XXI] [ C] to speake of certaine Hordes which obey the great Cham, I thinke it fit to expound this word which may happely trouble some readers, and being vnderstood, may content them that are most curious: Horde is an assemblie of many men gathered together after the manner of a Commonweale, but distributed in such sort, as in matter of warre there are Dezeniers, which obey Captaines of hundreds, and these superior Commaunders, as hath beene formely spoken. Among these Hordes, there are some which obey particular Dukes, others which obey the Muscouite, and are his tributaries, and some which are subiect to the Emperour, of whom wee make mention in this place.

[ D] ¶ The Religion.

THe Tartarians which obey the great Cham, are not all of one religion, but differ in [ XXII] beliefe, for that some follow the false doctrine of Mahomet, which was receiued into those countries, about the yeare of our Redemption 1246. They obey the Pentateuque of Moyses, and obserue the things commaunded by the auncient Law, and they crie daily, Iahi Illo Illoloth, there is but one God. Among them of Catay there are some Mahometans, but many more Idolaters, whose beliefe is thus. They hold there are two gods, one of heauen, and another of earth: of the first (to whom they cast Incense euery day) they demaund nothing but health, and vnderstanding: and of the other, aboundance [ E] of fruit, store of cattell, and such like. They say also, that the last hath a wife and children, and hath a care of their cattell, corne, and other affaires: and whensoeuer they eat, they rubbe the mouth of the Idoll with the fattest of the flesh, and of the wife and children, (for they haue many little images in their houses) and afterwards cast the broth of the flesh to the spirits without the house. They keepe their god of heauen in a high place, and that of the earth, beneath. They beleeue that our soules are immortall, but they passe from one bodie to another, and are lodged better or worse, according to their precedent actions; wherein they follow the Metempsychoses of Pythagoras. They honour also the Sunne, Moone, and the foure Elements, and doe sacrifice vnto them. They call the Pope and all Christians Dzinthis, which signifies Pagans; and Chaur, that is to [ F] say, Infidels, Dogges, and Idolaters: the which hath happened since that they were inuited by Pope Innocent the fourth to receiue the Christian faith. They were persuaded by the Mahometans to follow the religion of the Alcaron, as the most pure, saying, that it taught the adoration of one god onely, whereas that of the Christians was full of Idolls: and moreouer, that theirs was actiue, and did allow any thing to a free man, putting armes into his hand, whereas that of Christ was onely fit for effeminat persons, [ A] and for such has desired rest. They make their Idols of felt, or of some kind of silke, and they doe them great reuerence. They doe not solemnize one day more than another, and doe not fast nor abstaine in one season more than in another, as the Mahometans [ XXIII] doe, but the daies and seasons passe with them after one manner. As for the Tartarian Iewes, they are descended from the ten Tribes of Israell, transported by the commaundement of Salmanazar King of Assiria, into the countrie of Arsareth, in the time of king Oseas. Writers differ concerning the countrie of Arsareth, and speake diuersly: Some will haue it to be the countrie of Colchos, called at this day Mingrelie, for that Herodotus writes, that they of Colchos vsed circumcision. But the greatest part hold that Arsareth [ B] is the prouince of Belgian, from whence the Iewes went vnder the name of Tartarians, in the yeare of our Saluation 1200, vnder the great Ching is, Founder of the empire of Catay, and therefore they had retained circumcision, and some other things of the law of Moyses, so as they easily became Mahometans. But notwithstanding they are in a maner all Idolaters in Catay. Besides the Mahometans, whereof we haue spoken, there are some Iewes and Christians but few in number.

[ XXIIII] As for the Christians, their religion is much changed and corrupted, as the effect doth shew, for that seeing their Parents old, to the end they may dispatch them out of the world, they feed them with fat more than is fit, so as after it they doe but languish: and being dead they burne their bodies, and gather vp the ashes carefully, the which they [ C] keepe as a pretious thing, putting it vpon their meat whenas they take their repast. Moreouer they haue followed the heresie of Nestorius, which hath extended it selfe vnto the towne of Campion, and is yet held by some which remaine at Tangut, Sucuir, at Cambalu, and in other townes of this empire. These Nestorians notwithstanding that they speake many languages, according to the countries where they are, yet they celebrat their office in the Chaldean tongue. Their errours that they hold are, That the nature of man in Iesus Christ is without a person, and therefore defectiue: and for this cause they put Christ in two persons. They doe not call the Virgin Marie the mother of God, for that they say the name of God comprehends the Father, the Sonne, and the Holie Ghost, and then she should be mother of all three diuine persons: yet now they [ D] confesse that she is mother of God the Sonne. They hold for Saints, Nestorius, Theodore of Mapsuestie, Diodore of Tarse, and Paule of Samosates, and they condemne S. Cyrillus Alexandrinus. They say that it is one thing to be God the Word, and another to be Christ. They haue not the first Councell of Ephesus, nor the following. Their Patriarchs are not chosen, but come to it by succession from father to sonne. They first create him great Archbishop, then without any other ceremonie he succeeds the Patriarch which dies. In the yeare of our Redemption 1119, Prester-Iean, who commanded in the prouince of Hatay, or (as some say) in that of Tenduc (the in•abitants of the countrie call him Ioane) receiued this Nestorian heresie, but he was ruined by the great Chingis or Canguist king of the Tartarians, in the yeare of our Lord God 1162, fortie [ E] yeares after he had receiued this errour: yet he continued Lord of a small estate, which was recommended vnto the great Cham by certaine religious men of the order of S. Dominicke, by the commaundement of Innocent the fourth. And they find at this day, in the countries which are subiect to this Emperour, many Christians, which notwithstanding follow this condemned sect. And some English men which haue beene in those countries, report, that the Archbishop of Cambalu crownes the great Cham when he comes to succeed in the empire.

A GENEALOGIE OF THE EMPERORS OF TARTARIA.

It were needfull to haue other relations than those which haue come to light, [ XXV] or be neerer the countries whereof we treat, to set downe all the Emperours one after another that haue raigned there vnto this day. But for that we could not attain to any perfect knowledge therof, we must content our selues [ B] with that which we could learne from them that haue discoursed most of the succession of these princes.

Paulus Venetus holdes this order naming the Emperors that haue raigned in Cataya: First of all he sets Canguist, or Chingis, or Cinchis: secondly, Chuy: thirdly, Barchim, then Allau, and after him Mongu, and last of all Cublay, in whose court Paul remained some time.

But Hayton the Armenian giues them the names which follow. He names first Changy Cham, then Hoccora Cham, after him Gino Cham, and after these Mange Cham, and then Cobila Cham, who built the towne of Ions in Cataya, which they hold to be the same that Cambalu. We must follow in this list of Emperors Tamor Cham, who raigned in Cataya in the time of Hayton in the yeare 1308. Among the rest Hoccara Cham had many children, the eldest whereof was called Gino Cham, who succeeded his father in the [ C] Empire of Cataya; and Iochy his brother came into the Westerne parts, and seased vpon the countries of Persia, Turquestan, and some other prouinces; and another brother called Baydo conquered the Northerne countries, and taking the way of Europe, came into Hongarie, and begat Tamerlan he that spoiled the Westerne prouinces of Asia, and some of Europe. Gino Cham died young in the East, and the neerest vnto him called Mango was made Emperour, who assailed a certaine island in the East, whose inhabitants had rebelled: but they diued secretly into the water, and made holes in the keele of the ship wherein Mango was, so as he and all that were in it perished. Then his brother Cobila, called Cublay by Paul, was created Emperour, and made profession of the Christian religion, but his successors haue not maintained it. He that hath made the abridgement [ D] of the Atlas of Gerard Mercator describes this genealogie after another manner: He agrees with the rest touching the first, and calls him Changy Chan, or Cham, saying that it is the same that Paulus Venetus calls Cinchis, who liued about the yeare of Grace 1202. The Tartarians before his raigne liued brutishly without lawes or ciuilitie, neither had they any reputation among the Scythians or other nations, but paied tribute to their neighbours of the cattell which they had. This Changi extended his Empire in a short time from China vnto the Caspian sea. He had for sonne Iochu Cham, who begat Zain Cham the third Emperour, called by some others Bathi: This was he that spoiled Russia, Polonia, Silesia, Morauia, and Hongarie. The fourth Emperor, sonne to Bathi, was Temir Cutlu, whom our histories call Tamerlan, who ouerran all Asia, entred into AEgypt, tooke [ E] Baiazet Emperor of the Turkes, and led him bound in chaines of gold ouer all Asia. The fift Emperor, sonne to Temir Cutlu was Temir Gzar, who they say was slaine fighting valiantly against the knights of Prussia. The sixt issued from Temir Gzar, was Macmetczar, who had for successor Armetczar, and he begat Sziachmet the eight Emperor of the Tartarians.

1630. Relations of the most famous kingdomes. London. by Giovanni Botero.

The Empire of Tartaria laid prostrate under the Throne of the Great Cham. called Dominus dominantium, and Rex regum, spreadeth if selfe with to large imbracement, that it extendeth from the Northerne Olba, or if you will Tamais, even to the Easterne Sea, sometime surnamed the Atlanticke, whose vast Lap is almost filled with a fry of Ilands, and begirteth all the Countries called Scythia, Ievomongal, Sumongal, Mercat, Metrit, the vast Desart of Lop, Tangut, Kataia, and Mungia: so that shouldering all the Northerne shore of the Caspian, it runneth along without controll by the high looking walls of China, and is over-shadowed by those formidable Mountaines Riphei, Hyperborei, Iman, and Caucasus.

And although the Chrim Tartar would faine challenge affinity with the Turke, expecting that if the Ottoman line should faile, the greatest share of the worlds magnificence would devolve to him: yet dare he not but acknowledge the Emperour Cham for his Lord paramount, and is affrighted when hee heareth of any complaints to his prejudice.

From Scythia to the Province of Tangus, they live in troops or hoords, and remove from place to place according to the temperature of the season, and plenty of feeding: Nor before the yeare of Redemption 1•12. did we in Europe heare of the name of a Tartar, but of Scythians, Sarmatians, Albanians, and such, who were all Idolaters.

They are men of square Stature, broad Faces, hollow Eies, thin Beards, and ugly Countenances, swartish of Complexion, not for that the Sunne kisseth them with extraordinary kindnesse, but for that the aire, and their sluttish customes corrupteth their bloud and bodies: To which inconveniences Nature notwithstanding hath prevailed in the distribution of valour, swift foot-manship, vigilancy, and patience to endure the many incumbrances of travell, hunger, and want of sleepe.

They love horses,and from that love accustome themselves to a savage drinking of their bloud, practicing a cunning theft therem; which being inpunishable, occasioneth many pretty changes, both in keeping their owne, and purloyning from others; as if some civill Artist had instructed them in the Lacedemonian Lawes, which tolerated theft for the better animating one another in the spoyling of their enemies.

In their travels and removement they are governed by their Stars, and observing the North pole, they settle according to its motion. They live free from covetousnesse, and are thus farre happy, that the strange corruption of wealth breedeth no disorders amongst them; yet have they a kinde of trafficke, and by way of exchange continue mutuall commerces, loving presents, and can be contented to bee flattered even in their Barbarisme, as all the Easterne people of the world (I thinke) are affected either by nature or tradition.

If you will heare of their riches, then must you raise your eyes East-ward, and take notice of Tangut, a wealthy Province, affording many things befitting Europe, especially Rhubarb; a simple of that prerogative, as if the whole world of necessity should be beholding unto them for this distribution.

In Kataia (amongst many others) the great City of Cambalu will excite admiration, if you may be induced to measure a quadrant of thirty miles compasse, and over-looke at every corner a square Tower very neere forty furlongs in circuit; in which the Emperours Munition, Armour, and provision for warre are secured.

In Mangia, as Queene of the rest, is the City of Quinzay, having a circumference of an hundred miles, by reason that a great Lake divideth the streets into Chanels; over which are numbred twelve hundred and threescore bridges, some opening the Arches so high and wide, that a good Ship under saile hath a passage of ease. For beleefe, I will neither force the travels of Sir Iohn Mandevil, nor the writings of Munster, nor the constant asseveration of moderne Travellers; but for mine owne part I would modesty perswade you, That the world is a stage of variety, and that within our owne Kingdome we are acquainted with such novelties of wonder, that if they were but delivered by report, wee would soone prove as incredulous of the one, as we are of the other. But to proceed.

As I told you, the ancient Provinces were divided into three particulars; and in those dayes knowne by the names of Sarmatia Asiatica, both Scythiaes, and the Regions of Serica, now Kataia. Most fierce and barbarous Nations did alwaies inhabit this Country, as first the Amazons, a warlike kinde of women, which in their daies casting away the properties of their sex, vexed the whole world, usurped Asia, and built Ephesus. Upon their small extirpation arose the Scythians, no lesse dreadfull than the former. Then succeeded the Gothes or Getes, termed by their neighbours Polouci, that is, ravenous or theevish. These the Tartars tamed, and then erected their Monarchie about the yeare of our Lord, 1187. or as others say, 1162. electing for their King one Cingis, a man of base birth and calling. This mans followers at that time lived without Manners, Law, or Religion in the plaines of Caracoram, tended their Cattell, and paied their duties to K. Vn-cham, otherwise Presbyter Iohn, who without doubt in those daies kept his Court in Tenduch, in the Kingdome of Argon. But this King Cingis first subdued the Kingdome of Vn-cham, and afterwards imposed the yoke of subjection on the bordering Provinces. And certainly that famous Comet seene in the moneth of May, 1211. lasting eighteene daies, and glimmering on the Gothes, Tanais, and Russia, with its taile extended towards the West, did foreshew the succeeding inundation of these Tartars. For in the yeare following, this Nation, whose name (as I said) was not so much as dreamed of before in Europe, wholly subdued Sarmatia Asiatica, or Scythia, invaded Russia, Hungaria, and Polonia. And lastly, erected other famous Monarchies in China, Mein, and Bengala.

So that at this day it is divided into five great Provinces: Tartaria minor, lying in Europe betweene Tanais and Boristhenes: Tartaria deserta, (of old Sarmatia Asiatica) containing most of the Hords, but not all: Zagatai: Kataia: And lastly, that great Promontory which lieth out-stretched in the furthest part thereof towards the North and East, and may be called Tartaria antiqua, as the motherplace of the true Tartar Nation, utterly unknowne to Ptolomie.

Those that live in the open field, about the Euxine Sea, the Lake of Meoris, and the Tauricke Chersonesse, which adjoyneth upon Boristhenes and Tanais in Europe are the Precopenses. In this straight or Peninsula standeth Theodosia, now Caffa, once a Colonie of the Genois, now a Sangiacie of the Turkes. Their whole Territories are very fruitfull for Corne and Cattell, and tho people more civill and courteous than many of the residue, yet retaining a smatch of their ancient Barbarisme. For they are sworne enemies to the Christians, yearely invading Russia, Lituania, Valachia, Polonia, and many times Moscovie, yeelding to the Turke in the name of Tribute yearely three hundred Christian soules. To one of these Princes Selimus gave his daughter in marriage.

This in old time was called Sarmatia Asiatica, and better inhabited before the comming of the Tartars. It lyeth betweene Tanais, the Caspian Sea, and the Lake of Kitay. It is a plaine Country, by nature fertile, if it were manured by these Tartars, nothing given to husbandry, but addicted to lead a roguish and wandring life, after the manner of the Arabians. Their chiefe delight is in hunting and warfare; Mill and Panicke they cast carelesly into the ground, which notwithstanding yeelds sufficient increase. Their store of Horse and Cattell is so plentifull, that they have to spare for their Neighbours. For the most part they dwell upon Cartrages covered with skins and woollen cloth. Some defensible Townes they have, whereunto they flie in times of necessity.

Astrachan is situated upon the Caspian Sea; it is rich, affordeth excellent good Salt, and very well frequented by Moscovish, Turkish, Armenian, and Persian Merchants. In the yeare 1494. it was taken by Iohn Basilides, great Duke of Moscovie, and by him with the Title thereof annexed to the Moscovian Empire.

The Zagatayan Tartars, were so named of their Prince, the Brother of the great Cham, or Can, which once reigned amongst them. They are now called Ieselbas, that is to say, Greene-heads, of the colour of their Turbants. They inhabit the ancient Countries of Bactria, Sogdiana, and Margiana, in times past the habitation of the Massagetes, so famous in Armes. These are the most honourable people of the Tartars, indifferent civill, given to Arts, and Lords of many faire Cities built with stone; as Shamercand, once a Towne of great fame, and renowned for the birth of the great Tamerlan, or Temar-lang, but now decayed.

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

TARTARIE is a very large Kingdome: for besides a great part of Europe, it containeth all Sarmatia in Asia, with Scythie and Serica, which they now call Cathajo. It was so called from the River Tartoro, which watereth that part which wee call Magog, and the Inhabitants Mogull. It is situate in the North, on the East it hath the most potent Kingdome of China; on the South India, the Rivers Ganges and Oxus, on the West the Caspian Sea and Poland, from thence it confineth on Moscovie, and on the North the freezing Sea, which part is thought to be undiscoverd and unhabited.

The Ayre and Climate is very intemperate, & there is such horrid Thunder and Lightning in Summer, that many have beene slaine by it: now it is very hot, and by and by cold, so that thick Snowes doe fall downe. And there are oftentimes such violent stormes of winde, that they will blow men off from their Horses, and stay them as they ride, and overturne Trees by the rootes, and doe much other harme beside. It never raineth there in Winter, but often in Summer, but so sparingly, that it doth scarcely moisten the Earth. But yeeldeth good store of Wheate, Rice, and other Fruits: & it hath abundance of Silke, Ginger, Cinamon, Pepper, Cloves, Rhucbarb, and Sugar: also Muske. Pitch, and in some places Gold and Silver. In some places Wine is made, but all the Province of Cathaja hath no Wine. There is also a black kinde of stone which is digged out of the Mountaines, and serveth for Fuell; and they are wont to lay them on their fire, for want of wood. Moreover here are great store of Oxen, Goates, and Swine, and especially an incredible sort of Horses, and Cattell.

We read in the Tartarian Epistles that the Tartarian Emperour doth keep 10000. white Mares, whose Milke serveth him for drinke. And moreover that he keepeth 20000. Huntsmen, and 10000. Falkoners. And that this Country is full of Fowle, as Pheasants, Craues, and the like. In that part of Tartary which the Zavolhensian Tartarians doe possesse, they report that there is a kinde of seed like to the seed of a Mellon or Pompion, but not so long, which if it bee sow'd, a Plant will spring and grow up, which they call Boranetz, that is, the Lambe. For it groweth almost three foote high in the figure and shape of a Lambe, which it resembleth both for the feete, the hoofes, the eares, and the whole body except the hornes. And in stead of horne it hath strange haire like horne. It is covered with a thin skin, which the Inhabitants doe pluck from it, and cover their heads with it. They report that the inward pith of it is like the meate of a Crabfish: and that if it be wounded or cut, blood will runne from it. It is very sweet, and the root having put forth of the ground, will grow up as high as ones middle. Beside this is more wonderfull: as long as it hath other hearbes growing round about it, so long it doth live like a Lambe in a pleasant Pasture, but when they are gone it doth wither and dye, which hath beene often tryd. And which is most strange, Wolves and other ravenous beasts doe most desire it. In the Citty Quelinfu there are Hens, which in stead of Feathers have black haire like Cats, but yet they lay excellent Egges.

They doe call the first Emperour of Tartary, who got the Kingdome and established Lawes therein Changius Canes, or Cham. Paulus Venetus calleth him Cinchis. Hee lived in the yeere of Christ 1202. Before him this Nation lived barbarously, without manners, lawes, or civill government, being of no notes in Scythia, and living by keeping of Cattell. The other Princes descended from this Changius. Hee quickly enlarged the Empire, from the Country of Syn• and the Ocean even to the Caspian Sea. His Sonne was Iocucham, who begot Zaincha the third Emperour, whence some did call Bathi. Hee wasted Russia, Poland, Silesia, Moravia, and Hungary. Bathi begot the fourth Emperour Temi• Cutlu, who was that Tamberlaine, who is well knowne in Histories for his extreme Tyranny, who wasted all Asia, and entred even into Aegypt. Hee overcame the Turkish Emperour Bajazet, and having tooke him prisoner, put golden fetters on him, and carryed him in a Cage thorow Asia. The fift Emperour begotten by Temir Cutlu was Temir Gzar, who fighting against the Christians in Prussia, was slaine there. The sixt Emperour begotten by Temir Gzar was Macmectzar. His Sonne Amectzar was the seventh Emperour. He begot Sziachmet the eighth Emperour.

Tartary is devided into many parts, the lesser which lyeth toward Europe betweene Boristhenes and Tanais, and containeth the Taurican Chersonesus, of which we have spoke in the description of Europe. Also Tartaris deserta, in which there are many Kine: Zagatar which is Scythia within Imaus: Cathaja, with the Kingdome of Tangut, which is the ancient Scythia beyond Imaus: and lastly ancient Tartaria which was unknown to Ptolemy.

The Metropolis of this Kingdome is Cambalu, by the bank of the River Polisangus, which is 24. miles in compasse. There are 12. Gates, and as many Suburbs. It is a Mart Towne, and very rich in Pearles, Gold, Silver, and Silke. They report that every day a thousand Carts loaden with Silkes, and brought hither out of China, besides other commodities. Moreover there are many famous Citties, as Samarcauda built by Tamberlaine: Caindo, is a Citty famous for Merchandizing, in the farthest part of Tartary, and many others, which for brevity sake I omit.

There are many Lakes in Tartary, so that it would be tedious to reckon them, but yet we will name some of the chiefest. In the Province Caniclu, there is a Lake in which there is such store of Pearles, that they would be of no esteeme, nor nothing worth, if every one might carry away as many as he listed. Where it is forbidden on paine of death, that no man shall presume to fish in this Lake for Pearles, without leave and licence from the great Cham. This Lake also is full of fish. There is another Lake in the Province Caraim which is very full of Fish, being an hundred miles in compasse and others. It is watered with many Rivers, among which is the great River Pulisachnis. This River runneth into the Ocean, and many Boates loaden with commodities doe come up it. There is also the River Caromora, which is so broad, and deepe, that it hath no Bridge over it: but yet it rowleth into the Sea: There is also Quiantu, which is halfe a mile broad, and very deepe and full of fish: also Quian which as Paulus Venetus writeth, is thought to be one of the greatest Rivers in the world. For the breadth of it in some places is 10. miles, in others 8. miles, and in some 6. miles. The length of it is 100. dayes journey: I omit other matters, and so passe to the publike Workes and Buildings. The first is a faire great Marble Palace, beautified with Gold, which was built by the great Cham in the Citty Ciandu. And there is another in the same Citty, and another in the Citty Cambalu, built very curiously, and it is about 4. miles in compasse, every Quadrangle containing a mile. It hath a very thick wall, which is 10. paces high. The outward superficies of it is white and red. In the foure corners of the wall there is a faire great Palace, which is in stead of a Castle. And so likewise in the middle of the fore walls there is a faire Palace built, so that there are 8. Palaces in all. In these they keepe their Armour, their warlike Furniture, their Ordnance, their Bowes, Arrowes, Quivers, Spurres, Bridles, Launces, Bowstrings, and other things necessary in warre, and every severall kinde of Armour is laid up and kept in severall Palaces. But in the middle of them, or the innermost Court is the Kings Palace, in which the King dwelleth. This Palace hath no Chambers, but the lower Pavement thereof is raised 10. hand breadths from the ground: The roofe is very high, and adorned with Pictures, the walls of the Court yards and dining-roomes, doe glister with Gold and Silver. At the first entrance there are faire Pictures to entertaine the eye, and warlike Histories drawne foorth with gold and lively colours. The great Cham hath twelve Barons in his Court, who are Governours of his 34. Provinces: and it is their Office to appoint two Rectors or Governours in every Province, and they are to provide things necessary for the Kings Army wheresoever it be, and they acquaint the King with their purposes, who by his authority confirmeth their determinations. Malefactors are punisht in Tartary after this manner. If any one hath stolne some small matter, which doth not deserve death, he is beaten 7. times with a Staffe or Cudgell: and hath 17. blowes or strokes given him at a time, or 27. blowes, or 47. according to the quality of his offence: untill at last they come to an hundred and 10. stripes or strokes. And some doe die upon this beating. But if any one have stolne a Horse or any other thing that deserveth death, hee hath a Sword thrust thorow him. But hee that will buy out his life, hee must restore nine times as much as that which he stole was worth. If any man or woman be taken in adultery they are put to death by the Law. The Tartarians are devided into Hordes, which words signifies amongst them a Tribe or Company. And as they live in severall Provinces farre distant one from another, so they are as farre distant and different one from another in their manners and kinde of life. The men are of a strong square set stature, having broad fat faces, darke hollow eyes, having great rough Beards, but the rest of their haire is shaven: they are strong of body, and bold in courage, and can endure want and labour: when they are on Horseback, if they chance to bee hungry or thirsty, they cut their Horses veines, and so drinke his blood. It is a prophane ard barbarous Nation, who make warre their right, and strength and power their law. Many of them have no houses, but doe live in Carts. And because they wander from place to place, they doe usually direct their course by the Starres, and especially by the North Pole. They doe not tarry long in one place, for they thinke it a great unhappinesse to continue long in the same place. They have on use of money, and therefore they exchange one thing for another. They say that they are Ismaelites, and received the law of Mahomet in the yeere 1246. The Tartars doe feed on grosse meat, and especially on flesh, and that raw, or halfe sod, and on Milke, and Cheese, but they abstaine from Hogs-flesh. They drinke Mares Milke, which they doe so temper, that it is like white wine, and is a savory well-tasted drinke. They feed very sluttishly, for they neither use Tableclothes or Napkins, neither doe they wash their hands, bodies, or Garments. They drinke also Water and Milke, and a kinde of Beere made of Millet.

1638. The merchants map of commerce by Roberts, Lewes

Of Tartarie and the Provinces thereof. TARTARIE is bounded on the East with the eastern Ocean, on the West with the Moscovia and Moldavia; on the North with the frozen Ocean, on the South with the Caspian Sea, the hill Taurus, and the Wall of China: it is divided into these Provinces, Procopensis Asiatica, Antiqua Zagathai and Cathaia.

1652. Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn.

TARTARIA is bounded on the East, with China, the Orient all Ocean, and the streights of Anian, by which parted from America; on the West, with Russia, and Podotra, a Province of the Realm of Poland; on the North, with the main Scythick or frozen Ocean; and on the South, with part of China, from which separated by a mighty wall; the the River Oxus, parting it from Bactria, and Margiana, two Persian Provinces; the Caspian Sea, which separates it from Media and Hyrcania; the Caucasian Mountains interposing betwixt it and Turcomania; and the Euxine, which divideth it from Anatolia and Thrace. So called from the Tartars, a puisant and mighty people now possessed hereof; the reason of whose name we shall shew hereafter.

It containeth all those great and spacious Provinces which the antients called Seres, Scythia extra Imaum, Scythia intra Imaum, Sacae, Sogdiana, the greatest part of Sarmatia Asiatica, and part of Sarmatia Europaea: extending it self the whole length of Asia from the River Tanais to the Eastern Ocean, taking in Taurica Chersonesus, and some other parts of Europe also. So that if we measure it by miles, it is said to contain 5400 from East to West, and 3600 from North to South: a greater quantity of ground than the Turkish Empire, but of less fertility and accompt.

In measuring by the way of degrees, it reacheth from the 50. degree of Longitude, to the 195. which is 145. degrees from West to East: and from the 40th. degree of Northern Latitude, unto the 80th. which is within ten degrees of the Pole it self. By which accompt it lieth from the beginning of the sixt Clime, where the longest day in summer is 15 hours; till they cease measuring by Climates, the longest day in the most Northern parts hereof being full six moneths; and in the winter-half of the year, the night as long.

The Countrey lying under such different Meridians, and such distant Climes, must needs be such as no generall Character can be given of it, and therefore we shall deferre that, with the names of the Rivers, and chief Mountains, to the description of the several and particular Provinces. But for the people, being much of the same nature in every part, we may take the measure of them here. Affirmed to be of square Stature, broad faces, hollow eyes, thin beards, thick lips, flat noses, ugly Countenances; swart of complexion, not so much by the heat of the Sunne, (which keeps farre enough off) as their naturall sluttishness. Barbarous every where in behaviour, especially in those parts which they call Asiatica, and Antiqua: but withall very strong of body, swift of footmanship, vigilant in time of service, and patient of all extremities both of cold and hunger. The women suitable to the men, scorning or wanting ornaments to set themselves out, or when they do, they seldome go beyond copper, feathers, or such precious gew-gawes.

In behaviour they are rude and barbarous, as before was said; eacing their Enemies when they take them, as in way of revenge, first letting out their blood which they receive into Cupe, and use it as wine unto their feast. Though swift of foot, yet generally they love to ride though it be but on Oxen: about whose necks, as about their horses, when they travell, they use little bells, with which musick they are much delighted. Their spearh, even in their common talk, is a kind of whining; and their singing little better than the howlin• of wolves. They eat commonly with unwashed hands, the durt and grease about their fingers serving as a sawce for their meat, which they devour greedily, and with little chewing; and for their ordinary drink use mares milk. Homely of habit, made of the coursest stuff, and reaching no lower than the knee: and if they go to the charge of furrs, contrary to the custome of other people, they wear the hairy side outwards, and the skinne next their own bodies; onely to shew the richness of their Apparell. And yet so proud in this beggery, that they account the Christians but as dogs, contemn all the rest of the world, and think their Cham the onely considerable Prince, by whose name they swear, as by their Gods.

In matter of Religion it is hard to say whether Mahometanism or Paganism be of most extent: some parts hereof being wholly Pagan, some wholly Mathometan, and some mix of both. But of the two the Pagan is the better Gentleman, as being of the elder house, and of more Antiquity: the Sect of Mahomet not being entertained amongst them till the year 1246.

And yet these have not so prevailed, as to extinguish the remainders of Christianity, of which there are amongst them many severall Churches. The Christian faith first planted amongst the Scythians by the preaching of Saint Andrew, and Saint Philip, two of the Apostles. Overgrown in these later Ages by the Sect of Nestorians, either by the diligence of their Preachers, or for want of others to instruct them in more Orthodox Tenets. Before the prevailing of the Tartars, besides the Circassian Christians of whom more anon, there are in the most remote parts of Tartary, whole Kingdomes of that Religion; as namely that of Tenduc, then the chief of all; besides some numbers of them in Tangath, Cauchinteles, Cassar, Samarchan, Karthim, Suchair, Ergimul, and Caraiam, where in the time of Paulus Venetus, who surveyed these parts about the year they lived intermingled with the Pagans. Not so diminished since the conquest of those Countries by the Tartars, but that they are of a considerable number, especially in Cathay it self: where they are said to have a Metropolitan in the City of Cambalu (the principall City of that Empire) and he so honoured by the Great Cham, that they receive their Crowns successively from no hands but his.

As for the Tartars, they are by the Chronologer Genebrard, said to be the off-spring of the Ten Tribes, whom Salmanassar led away captive, and that especially for three reasons. The first is, that the word Tatari, by which name (saith he) they ought rather to be called, than by that of Tartari, signifieth in the Syriack and Hebrew tongues, a Remnant. But unto this it is answered, that the name of this people is derived from the River Tartar, as some; or from the Region called Tartar, where they first dwelt, as most think: and again, that though the Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifie a remnant, yet can it not properly be applyed to the Tartars; who so infinitely exceed the Jews, that they cannot be thought to be a remainder of them. Secondly, he allegeth for proof thereof, that this people use circumcision, the character of the Jewish Nation. And here unto it is replyed, that circumcision was common to many people, besides the Jews, as to the Aegyptians, Aethiopians, &c. and that rather as a national custome, than a religious ordinance; and again, that the Tartars cannot be proved to have received circumcision, before they received Mahometanism. Thirdly, there is brought to confirm this opinion a place of Esdras, cap 13. lib. 2. where it is said, that the Ten Tribes (that they might the better keep Gods Statutes) passed over the River Euphrates, and after a journey of an year and a half, came into a Countrey called Arf•reth. To refell which, those of the contrary opinion find no better course, than by shewing the impossibilities of it. For the Tartars (when their name was first known) were meer Idolaters, had no remembrance of the Law, observed not the Sabbath, nor any other point of Jewish religion: and so the Ten Tribes retired not hither to keep Gods Statutes. Secondly, Euphrates lyeth quite West from Assyria, and those places to which Salmanassar transplanted the Israelites; and so it could not be passed over in a journey towards the North. And Thirdly, it is very improbable, that the ten Tribes should eitheir be so simple, as to leave Assyria, where they were peaceably setled; or so valiant, as to force a passage thorough those Countries of Scythia; which neither Persians, Greeks, or Romans were able to withstand in the best of their fortunes.

To let pass therefore all imaginations of a forein Pedegree, the truth is, that they were no other than a Ruder and more Northern brood of Scythians, who pressed by want, or otherwise oppressed by the King of Tenduch unto whom they were subject, armed themselves against him, obtained a memorable victory, and setled Cingis their chief Captain in the Royall Throne. Anno 1162. After which growing of more power, and inlarging their dominions further; they united in the name of Tartars all the Scythian Nations: as Mahomet did those of the three Arabias in the name of Saracens; or as in former times, the many severall Tribes of the German Nations, were united in the names of Franks or Alemans. Not known in Europe by this name till their many great and signall victories had made them formidable, which was about the year 1212. within very little of which time they had made themselves Masters of a larger Empire, than that of Macedon or Rome, in their greatest glories. But being of a hasty growth it decaied as suddenly; the greatest part of their Europaean purchases being conquered from them by the Dukes of Moscovy, and the Kings of Poland; as their acquests in Asia, and Asrick, by the Turks and Persians. Yet still they are possessed of so large a territory, that were they not distracted into severall States; or did those severall states depend upon one Supreme; that one Supreme might very easily give law unto all his Neighbours; and make the Turks and Persians tributaries, as in former times. But laying aside these speculations of what they might do if united under one command: let us now look upon them as they are divided into these five parts, that is to say, 1. Tartaria Precopensis, 2. Tartaria Asiatica, 3 Tartaria Antiqua, 4. Zagathay, and 5. Cathay.

The great Chams of Tartars.

• A. C.
• 1162. 1. Cingis, Cinchius, Zingis, or Changius, was made King or Cham of the Tartars; he subdued Tenduch, and Cathaia, changing the name of Scythians, and Scythia, to Tartartans, and Tartari•. 6.
• 1168. 2. Jocuchan Cham, or Hoccata, succeeded. In his time the name of Tartar was first known in Europe, Anno 1212. in which year they drove the Polesockie from the banks of the Euxine Sea. By his Captain Bathu, or Ro•do, he subdued Moscovia; planted his Tartars in Taurica Chersonesus; wasted Hungary, Bosnia, Servia, Bulgaria; and by his other Captains, took P•rsia from the Turks.
• 3. Zaincham, Bathu, or Barcham, ruined the Turks Kingdom of Damascus, and Asia the lesse.
• 4. Gino Cham, whose daughter conveyed the Empire unto her husband Tamerlane or Tamberl•ne.
• 1370. 5. Tamir-Cutlu, Tamir-Cham, or Tamerlane, a great tyrant, but withall an excellent Souldier. It is thought, that he subdued more Provinces in his life-time, than the Romans had done in 800 years. Of whose acts we have spoke at large. Dying, he divided his great Empire amongst his Children, as Persia to Miza Charok his fourth sonne, Zagathay to another, (perhaps unto Sautochus his eldest sonne) and so to others.
• 1405. 6. Lutrochin, the second sonne of Tamerlane, succeeded in Cathay, though the eldest was before proclamed, which his Father had before prognosticated: who when his sons came to him before his death, laid his hand on the head of Sautochus who was the eldest, but lifting up the chin of Lutrochin, who was the second. He lived not long, succeeded to by
• 7. Atlan, who added little to his estate.
• 8. Mango Cham, to whom Haiton an Armenian Prince (and the chief Compiler of the Tartarian History) went for ayd against the Caliph of Bagdt. By whose perswasion the said Mango Cham is said to have been christned, with all his houshold▪ and many nobles of both sexes.
• 9. Cublay Cham, the sonne of Mango.
• 10. Tamor Cham, the Nephew of Cablay by his sonne Cingis.
• 11. Dem•r Cham, the great Cham of Cathay in the year 1540 or thereabouts. What the names of the Chams are, who have since reigned, we cannot learn; nor what memorable acts have been done among them. The great distance of Countries, and difficulty of the journey have hindred further discoveries. For the great Cham, and his next neighbour the King of China, will neither suffer any of their subjects to travell abroad; nor permit any foreiners to view their dominions, or enter into them; unless either Embassadours or Merchants, and those but sparingly, and under very great restraints, to avoid all giving of intelligence touching their affairs.

The government is tyrannicall; the great Cham being Lord of all; and in his tongue, (besides which they have almost no laws) consisteth the power of life or death. He is called by the simple vulgar, the shadow of spirits, and sonne of the immortall God: and by himself is reputed to be the Monarch of the whole world. For this cause every day assoon as he hath dined, he causeth his trumpets to be sounded; by that sign giving leave to the other Kings and Princes of the earth, to go to dinner. A fine dream of universal Monarchy. At the death of the Cham, the seven chief Princes assemble to crown his sonne; whom they place on a black coarse cloth; telling him, if he reign well, heaven shall be his reward; if ill, he shall not have so much as a corner of that black cloth to rest his body on: then they put the crown on his head, and kissing his feet, swear unto him fealty and homage. And at the funerall of these great Monarchs, they use to kill some of his guard-Soudiers, whereof he hath 12000 in continuall pay; saying unto them, It• & domino nostro se•v••e in ••ia vita. Paulus Venetus reporteth, that at the obsequies of Man•o Cham, no fewer than 10000 were slain on this occasion.

There Chams are for the most part severe justicers, and punish almost every small fact with sudden death; but theft especially: Insomuch that a man in Cambalu taking a pa•l of milk from a womans head, and beginning to drink thereof, upon the womans out-cry was apprehended; and cut a sunder with a sword, so that the blood and the milk came out together. Nor are Adultery or lying punished with less than death, and so ordained to be by the lawes of Cingis, their first Emperour, a wiser man, than possibly could be expected from so rude a Countrey, and of so little breeding in the knowledge of books or business: the Tartars being utterly without the use of letters, till the conquest of the Huyri, a Cathaian nation, but of Christian faith.

What forces the Great Chams, in the height of their power, were able to draw into the field, may be conjectured at by the Army of Tamerla•e, consisting of 1200000 horse and foot, as was said before. And looking on them as confined within Cathar, we shall find them not inferiour to the greatest Princes. For Cubla• Cham, long after the division of this great estate, which was made by Tamerlane, had in the field against Naian his Unkle, and one Caidu, who had then rebelled, an Army of 100000 foot, and 360000 horse; there being 500000 horse on the other side. Which made almost a million of men in both Armies. And this is probable enough, if report be true touching the Chams of Zagathay and those of •urchestan, (before reduced under the obedience of the other) of which the first is said to have been able to raise 300000 horse, and the last an hundred thousand more. For standing forces, he maintai•s 12000 horse, distributed amongst four Captains, for the guard of his person: besides which he hath great forces in every Province, and within four miles of every City, ready to come upon a call, if occasion be: so that he need not fear any outward invasion, and much less any homebred rebellions.

Of the Revenues of the Cham, I can make no estimate, but may conclude them to be what he list himself: he being the absolute Lord of all, the Subject without any thing he can call his own. But that which ordinarily doth accrew unto him, is the tenth of wooll, Silk, hemp, co•, and Cattel. Then doth he draw into his own hands all the gold and silver which is brought into the Countrey, which he causeth to be melted, and preserved in his treasurie imposing on his people instead of money, in some places Cockle-shels, in others a black coin made of the bark of trees, with his stamp upon it. And besides this, hath to himself the whole trade of Pearl-fishing, which no body upon pain of death dare fish for, but by leave from him. So that his Treasury is conceived to be very rich, though his Annual in-come be uncertain, or not certainly known.

And so much for Tartary.

1654. Bellum Tartaricum by Martino Martini.

BELLUM TARTARICUM, OR THE HISTORY OF THE WARRS OF THE TARTARS IN CHINA &C.

THE most antient Nation of Tartars in Asia, which was the Parent of many Nations, had been an Enemy of the Empire of China above Four Thousand years: during which time, as they had many sharp Warrs with those of China, in which they were somtimes conquered, so also more often they remained Conquerers of the Provinces of that Nation.

I call that Nation Tartars, which inhabiting the Northern parts, behind that famous Wall which stretching out above 300. German Leagues from East to West, hath ever served for a Rampart to hinder their irruptions into the said Empire.

This Country the Chineses having a defect of the letter R. antiently called Tata: comprehending under this name as well the Oriental Tartars, hitherto unknown to us in Europe, as the Occidental, containing the Provinces, Sumahania, Tanyu, Niuche, Niulhan, and the like, from the lesser Tartary, and Kingdom of Cascor, to the Oriental Sea above Japony, where they are separated by the Streight of Anian, from Oviora in America; if yet it be a Streight and not a Continent.

But it is not my intention to write all the Warrs which have passed betwixt them; but only of such as have happned in our memory, and in my presence; All the rest shall appear at large in my Abridgement of the History of China. And that we may proceed with more Order, it will be necessary to reflect, how and from whence those Troubles had their begining.

It is therefore first to be known, that the antient Western Tartars (of whom Paulus Venetus, and Ayton make mention under the names of Cataye and Maningin) waged war against China after they had subdued almost all Asia to their Power; and this before the times of great Tamberlain, who never reigned in China as some have falsly writ; for he florished about the year MCCCCVI; in which time Taichangus, Emperour of China, and the second of the Taimingian Family (the Tartars being before beaten out of his Kingdome) governed peaceably all the Provinces included within the compass of that Vaste Wall which before I mentioned.

But the War which Paulus Venetus toucheth, betwixt the Chineses and Tartars began in the year MCCVI. as their History and Chronology testify, which lasting 77. years, at last in the year MCCLXXVIII. having totally conquered all that potent Empire, they extinguished the Imperial Family of the Sungas, and erected a new Regal Family, which they called Juena; of which Tartarian Race nine Emperors by descent, governed in the Kingdom of China for the space of LXX• years in Peace and Quietness; and about the end of that War, came Paulus Venetus into China with the Tartars, as appeareth by his Writings.

In this tract of time, the Tartars forgetting their antient Vigour of Mind and warlike Spirits, which the pleasures and delices of that Country had quailed and tamed, being also weakned by so long a Peace, became of a sweeter temper, and received a deep Tincture of the Nature and Disposition of the Natives of China.

Whereupon a contemptible person (who was servant to one of those deputed to offer Sacrifice to their Idolls) called Hugh, presumed to rebell against them.

This man commiserating the condition of his enslaved Country, and also touched with the ambition of Reigning, first acted the part of a Thief, or High-way man; and being of a Generous Nature, bold, and as quick at hand as in wit; wanted neither Courage, nor Art, nor Companions, nor Fortune, to gather such a multitude as in short time made up the vast body of an Army; whereupon deposing the person of a Thief, he became a General, and with a bold attempt presumed to set upon the Tartars, and having waged many Warrs against them, obtained many singular Victories; so as in the year 1368. he finally drove them out of the Kingdom of China, receiving for so memorable an action, the whole Empire of China as a worthy reward of his Heroical Actions.

It was he first erected the Imperial Family of the Taiminges, and being he was the first Emperour of that Race, stiled himself by the name of Hunguus; which signifies as much as, The famous Warriour.

After such an illustrious Action, it was no wonder if all the Provinces submitted to him, both as to one that was a Native of their Country, and also because they looked on him as a man who had redeemed them from Thraldome: for it is the Nature of the people of China to love and esteem their own, as much as they hate and vilify Strangers.

Wherefore he first placed his Court at Nanking neer to the bank of that great River of Kiang, which the Chineses, in respect of the huge Mountains of water which it discharges into the Ocean, call the Son of the Sea: And having speedily ordered; and established that Empire, fearing no Insurrections from these new redeemed Creatures, he was not contented to have chased the Tartars out of China, but he made an irruption into Tartary it self, and so followed the point of his Victory, as that he routed them several times, wasted all their Territories, and finally brought the Oriental Tartars to such streights, as he forced them to lay down their Arms, to pay Tribute, and even begge an Ignominious Peace. This Storm of War fell chiefly on the Tartars of the Province of Niuche, whither the Tartars of China being expelled were retired.

And those Tartars every year, either as Subjects or Friends, came into China by the Province of Leaotung to traffick with the Inhabitants; For, being brought to poverty and misery, they thought no more of making war against China. The Merchandise they brought were several, as the root cal'd Ginsem, so much esteemed amongst the Chineses, and all sorts of pretious skins, as those of Castor, Martais & Zibellens; and also Horse-hair, of which the Chineses make their Nets, and the men, though madly, use it in tying up their hair, as the handsomest dress they can appear in. But those Tartars multiplyed so fast, as they grew quickly into seven Governments which they called Hordes, as much as to say into seven Lordships, and these fighting one against another, at length about the year of Christ MDL. came to erect a Kingdom, which they called the Kingdome of Niuche.

Thus stood China in relation to the Eastern Tartars; but to the Western Tartars they payed Tribute masked under the Title of Presents, that they might desist from War;

For the Chineses esteem it very unhansom to make war against any, if by any other means their Country can be conserved in Peace and quietness, being taught this by their Philosophers.

But in the mean time, being over jealous of the Enemies to their antient riches, they never left that great Wall, which extends from East to West, without a Million of Sorelgers to guard it.

Therefore this Kingdom of China being thus established in the Taimingian Family, enjoyed a constant Peace and quietness for CCL. years, and whilst the seven Lords or Governors made Civil wars, that renowned Emperour of China, known by the name of Vanley being the thirteenth Emperour of Taiminges Family, governed happily the Kingdom of China from the year 1573. to the year 1620. with as much Prudence as Justice and Equity.

But in this time the Tartars of Niuche had so multiplied and spred themselves, as that being incorporated into a Kingdome, they became daily more formidable to China: And therefore the Governors of the bordering Countries, consulted privatly amongst themselves how they might curb and restrain these people within their limits: For their Governors have so much Power and Authority, that although they live as Slaves to their Prince, yet when there is question of a Common and publick good, they govern absolutely and uncontroulably; unless by some higher Powers their Orders be restrained.

First therefore the Prefects or Governors, did abuse the Merchant's Tartars of Niuche when they came into Leaotung, which is a Province confines next to them.

Then again when the King of Niuche would have married his Daughter to another King of the Tartars, they hindred this marriage by representing some pretended reasons of State.

And finally when the King of Niuche suspected nothing from them he conceived his friends, they took him by deceit, and killed him perfidiously.

Wherefore to revenge these injuries, the Kings Son gathered a strong Army, & taking his time, found means to get over the great Wall I mentioned; and the great River being frozen, he presently set upon the great City Kaiyven, (or as others call it Taxun) which lies upon the Confines of Tartary, which he took in the year MDCXVI.

From this City he writ a Letter in Tartarian Characters to the Emperour of China, which though writ in Barbarian Characters, yet contained nothing barbarous. By this Letter which he sent by one of their Indian Priests (whom they call Lama) in a very humble and submissive manner he declared to him, that he had invaded his Country to revenge the injuries he had received from the Governors of the neighbouring Provinces. But yet that he was ready to restore the City he had taken, and depose his Arms, if his Complaints might be heard, and satisfaction given him. The Emperour of China, called Vanley, having received this Letter, though otherwaies of an eminent wisdom, and of as great experience, yet being now broken with Age, in this business seems to have proceeded with less Prudence than that which accompanied the former Actions of his life; For, thinking it not to be a business of that moment as it deserved to be treated before him in his own Court, he remitted the business to the chief Governors and Commanders. And these men puffed up with their usual pride, thought it not sit so much as to give an answer to the Barbarian King, but resented it very highly that any durst be so bold as to complain to the Emperor of any injury receiv'd.

The Tartarian King, seeing they vouchsafed no answer to his just Demands, turning his anger into rage, vowed to celebrate his Fathers Funerals with the lives of two hundred Thousand of the Inhabitants of China. For it is the custom of the Tartars when any man of quality dyeth, to cast into that fire which consumes the dead Corps, as many Servants, Women, and Horses with Bows and Arrows, as may fit to atend and serve them in the next life: Though now since they conquered China, they have left off this barbarous custome, being reprehended and corrected for it by the Chineses themselves. After this superstitious Vow, advancing his revenging Arms, he besieged Leaotung (which was the chief City of the Province of Leaoyang) with 50000 men. But the City was defended by exceeding many men, who generally were all armed with musquets: The Tartars had nothing but their Scymetars, with Bows and Arrows, which they discharge with strange dexterity & Art. But because they chiefly feared the musquet bullets, they resolved by a Stratagem to make that unknown Instrument less hurtfull to them than their Enemies did imagin. For the Tartarian King commanded such as made the first onset, to carry a thick hard board for their Shield, which was as good to them as a wooden Wall; these men were seconded by other Companies who carried Ladders to climb up the Walls; and the Horse came up in the Rear. In this manner he set upon the City in four quarters, and received the discharge of their Musquets against his Wooden wall; Then in a moment the scaling ladders being applied, before they could charge again, they were upon the Walls and enterd the City; for such is the quickness and nimbleness of the Tartars (in which they excel all Nations, and in which also they place their chief art) that in a trice, they either prevail in their Designs, or retire: and the little skill the Chineses had in the use of Musquets, was no small hinderance to the War. For the Tartars quickness and nimblenes not giving them time to charge again, being astonished with the suddain inundation of armed men, they presently fled which way soever they could; but being pursued by the swift Tartarian Horse, most of them perished in the taking of this great City. This City being taken, the Tartar like a Torrent over-run many others of less note, but amongst others, he took that noble City Evamgning, and over-runing most speedily the whole Country of Leaotung, he entred the Province of Pekin, and coming within seven Leagues of the very Imperial City, He durst not advance, fearing the Enemy might compas or surround him, because he heard that a world of men came in to help their distressed Prince. But the Tartar struck such a terrour into the hearts of all the Countries he had passed, as both Souldier and Citizen leaving their Houses left the empty walls to the Tartarians possession, knowing the Tartar to have that custom and practice to destroy and put all to fire and sword that did resist, and only pillage the Cities that submitted, leaving the Citizens alive, and under a milder Government. By which means having collected a world of Riches he returned to Leaotung victorious. And because his Southsayers had perswaded him that the standing of the old Walls were unfortunate, he beat them down, and compassed them about with new, fortifying them with new Munitions, and there proclamed himself Emperour of China: For although as yet he had taken nothing of China, but only the skirts of the Eastern Country of the Province of Leaotung, yet in his hopes and aspiring thoughts he had devoured the whole Kingdom: wherefore he was called in the China language Theienmingus in the third year of his Reign, which was in that of one thousand six hundred and eighteen.

In this year some in authority about the Emperour Vanley, demanded the banishment of the Priests, who did then preach the Christian Religion to that Nation; But the Emperour (who in his heart loved Christianity, and those particularly that first planted that Religion amongst them) gave no ear for a long while to their Demands; But at length overcome by the importunity of a chief Commander, who had ever been a sore Enemy to Christian Religion, and was called Xinchio, it was ordeined and proclamed that all those Fathers that did propagate Christian Religion should be banished the Kingdom. Upon which some of them were secretly concealed in several Provinces by some Christian Governours, others being taken were carried in great Cages to Macao, where being shut up day and night, suffered extremely, whilst others also be-being whipt out of the Country, rejoyced to suffer somthing for his sake whose name they bore; and that which added more affliction to all these miseries, was the Emperour Vanley's Prohibition to all his to profess Christian Religion. But upon this occasion the Christians of China (who from the horrid wilderness of Infidelity, had been brought to the pleasant Pastures of Christianity) gave illustrious examples of their Faith & Constancy; but the longer Narration of this glorious persecution is reserved for another place. I only touch it here, to admire the Divine Providence of God, who raised so sharp War against China, when they neglected Christian Peace; and permited at the same time, these Tartars to take so deep a root in this Empire of China, as afterward grew to that height, as both to extirpate the Royal Family of the Taiminges, together with the Kingdom, at the very same time they went about utterly to destroy all Christianity. But it happened in this, as ordinarily it doth; for by this very persecution, Christian Religion grew to that height and greatness, that the Church glories to behold, and unless God vouchsafe to lend a potent helping hand, the vast Kingdome of China is utterly overthrown.

In the mean time the Chineses were very solicitous to expell this Enemy from the bowells of their Country, and first they selected very chief and eminent men for Commanders and Governours; then they gathered an Army of six hundred thousand choise Soldiers. The King of Corea also sent to the Emperour of China, twelve thousand; with this potent Army therefore they went out in the begining of March MDCXIX. to give Battail to the Enemy. The Tartars resolved to meet them with an undanted courage; and for a good while the event and victory was very doubtfull; but in the end the Army of China was wholly routed, and their chief Commanders, with fifty thousand men were all slain: The Tartars according to their custome, prosecute the victory with all quickness and diligence; for the same day they took and sacked two Cities which they burned. After this, they over-run that whole Country, and came to the very Walls of Pekin, the Emperours Court; but durst not venture to besiege it, because they knew (besides the infinite number of Canons it contained) there was lodged fourscore thousand Souldiers in it.

But the Chineses confess that there was such a fear and consternation in the City, that the King thought to have left that City and gone into the Southern parts of the Kingdom, which he had effectually performed, had not some Commanders suggested that his flight would give courage to the Victorious, and breed trouble and confusion in the whole Empire, being that to fly is nothing elfs but to yield up the Land to the Enemy. Nay more, they say the disorders were such in the City, that if the Tartar had come on, he infallibly had made himself Master of it. But the Enemy was more greedy of Prey, and therefore like a Lightening they over-run all, spoiling and burning all Towns and Cities, and killing and destroying an immense company of Chineses in a most cruell manner, and leaving all these places dismantled and without Garisons, laden with infinite Riches, they returned victorious to Leaotung, where they had their first footing.

After these things had passed, that renouned emperour of China call'd Vanley died, and left his Son Taichangus to succeed him; who begun to gather a new Army against the Tartars; but after four moneths reign he also died.

To him succeeded Theinkius, who as soon as he assumed the Crown sent an Embassadour, with many magnificent Presents, and worthy of the China Monarchy, to the King of Corea; The end of this Embassage was to thank him for the Auxiliary forces sent to his Grandfather, as also to comfort him for the loss he had received in the late service of China, and finally to solicite and presse for further succours; For it seems those of Corea, as they are nearer to Japony, so they participate more of that warlike Spirit and Fortitude, than those of China doe.

Besides, that he might more effectually divert the imminent danger of his Kingdoms ruin, he leavied new Forces throughout all the Kingdom, which he sent into the Country of Leaotung, to hinder the irruption of the Tartars any further into the Country; And for their better supply with necessary Provision, he maintained a great Navy in the Haven of Thiencin to carry Corn and other necessaries for their maintenance. This Port of Thiencin is a Station to which an incredible number of ships resort, both by Sea and River, from all parts of China. So as by this means, by a very short and compendious way, they were easily provided with all necessaries. For all the whole Country of Leaotung is almost invironed with the Sea, and the furthest part is but two daies distant by water from this Port of Thiencin; but by land far more time is necessary.

Amongst other Commanders which came with succours to their Prince, there was one Heroick Lady, whom we may well call the Amazon or Penthesilean of China. She brought along with her three thousand, from the remote Province of Suchuen carrying all not only Masculine minds, but mens habits also, and assumed Titles more becoming men than women. This noble and generous Lady, gave many rare proofs of her courage and valour, not only against these Tartars, but also against the Rebells which afterwards riss against their Lord and Emperour. But now she came in this War to supply her Sons place, whom she left at home in his own Kingdome, as being yet a Child, and not able to perform that Homage and Duty to which he was obliged. For in the mountains of the Country of Suchuen there is a King, not subject to him of China, but an absolute Prince; yet so as he receives the Honor and Title of a King from the Emperour of China; after which Investiture, his Subjects only obey him and pay Tribute; But because they surpass all others in Valour and Courage, therefore they are used by the Kings of China in warlick Affairs.

By occasion of this war the two noble Christian Doctors, Paul and Michael, found means to perswade the Emperour to demand of the Portugeses of Macao, some greater Pieces, and also some Gunnes and Gunners; hoping by this means also to restore the banished Fathers of Christianity, as also the Religion it self. And their Proposition took effect, for both the one and the other were sent for, and the Fathers publickly admitted aagain, and many new Souldiers of Portugal came to help the Army.

But God did most abundantly recompence this favour done to Christianity; For before the Portugese arrived, his Army had cast the Tartars out of the Country of Leaotung, by means of the Inhabitants of that Country, who being much exasperated by the Tartarians cruelty, opened their City Gates as soon as the King of China's Army appeared, and rising against their Garison, gave entrance to the Army. Insomuch as they recovered the Metropolitan Town of Leaotung;

For the King of Tartary being diverted by other Wars at home could not come soon enough to relieve it: So as by this means the affairs of China began to recover Life, and Strength, and the Tartars seemed wholly restrained.

But though Fortune seemed to shew a smiling face for China, yet, as her custome is, she stood not long constant and stable: For the Tartarian King having dispatched his affairs in Tartary, sent presently sixty thousand Horse to besiege Leaoyang again; promising that himself in person would follow with greater Forces. And this Army took that strong City in the space of forty hours; both parties fighting with such vigour and fierceness, that thirty thousand of the Garison were killed, and the Tartars lost about twenty thousand of theirs. Nay the Chineses affirm, that they had never woon the City, had not the Governor been corrupted by great promises of reward, to open them one of the Gates of the Town. But be it as it will, the Tartars woon the Town; The Vice-Roy hanged himself for grief. But the Kings Visitor, judging it unworthy to bestow the Title of a King upon the Barbarian, In admiration and reward of his Constancy and Fidelity, obtained life and freedom, but he knowing that according to the custom of China, he was guilty of death, because he had fought unluckily, more cruel to himself than the barbarous Enemy, hanged himself in his own Garters.

The Tartars having taken the City, proclamed by Edict, that they should kill none, if they would cut their hair, and use the Tartarians Habit. For the Tartars (that I may say something of their Manners, as my subject gives me occasion) doe shave both the Head and Beard, reserving only the Mustachoes, which they extend to a great length, and in the hinder part of their heads they leave a Tuff, which being curiously woven and plated, they let hang down carelesly below their shoulders; they have a round and low Cap, which is alwaies garnished round with some pretious skin three fingers broad, of Castor, or Zibellin, and serveth to defend their Temples, Ears, and Foreheads from colds and other Tempests. That which appears above the skin being covered over either with curious red silke, or else with black and purple horse-hair, which they die and dress most curiously; so as their appurtenances being handsomely joyned together, makes the capp both commodious and handsom. Their Garments are long Robes falling down to the very foot, but their sleeves are not so wide and large as the Chineses use; but rather such as are used in Polony, & Hungary, only with this difference, that they fashion the extremity of the Sleeve, ever like a Horse his Hoof. At their Girdle there hangs on either side two Handkerchiefes to wipe their face and hands; besides, there hangs a Knife for all necessary uses, with two Purses, in which they carry Tobacco, or such like Commodities. On their Left side they hang their Scymiters, but so as the point goes before, and the handle behind, and therefore when they fight they draw it out with the right hand behind them without holding the Scabbard with the other. They seldome were Shoes, and use no Spurrs to their Boots, which they make either of Silk, or of Horse-skin very neatly drest; but they often use fair Pattins, which they make three Fingers high. In riding they use Stirrups, but their Saddles are both lower and broader than ours; Their faces are comely, and commonly broad as those of China also have; their colour is white, but their Nose is not so flat, nor their eyes so little, as the Chineses are; They speak little, and ride pensively. In the rest of their manners they resemble our Tartars of Europe, though they be nothing so barbarous.

They rejoice to see Strangers; They no way like the grimness and soureness of the Chines gravity, and therefore in their first aboads they appear more human.

Having thus briefly described their Manners, we resume our former discourse, and return to the victorious Tartars in the City they had takens; In which, finding many rich and wealthy Merchants of other Provinces, they published a Licence that they might depart with their Goods, and withall commanded them speedily to voyd the City; Who presently obeying the Order, carried away all their Goods and Riches, little suspecting the perfideous treachery of the Tartars; For they had not gone three miles from the Town, but being set upon by the Tartars, they were plundred of their Goods, and lost all their lives; which being done, they returned into the fearfull City, laden with Riches, the Citizens trembling, lest they might happily experience the like perfidiousnes.

But the Tartar considering at how dear a rate he had bought the mastering of that City, and fearing also to find the like provision and preparation in other Cities, they durst not make any further attempt; for they knew well that the Emperour had not only fortified all the antient places, but erected also new munititions, in the straights of many hard and rude passages.

And amongst all other strong holds, that of Xanghai, situated in the Island of Cu, was most eminent, containing a vast number of men in the Garrison, to resist the further progresse of the Tartarian Forces. But that which most of all repressed the Tartars, was the great valour of the incomparable Commander Maovenlungus, who having with his great Fleet taken an Island neer Corea in the mouth of the River Yalo, vexed much their Army in the Rear, and was victorious in several Skirmishes against them; so that the Tartars bent all their care and thoughts against this their Enemy. This renowned person was born in the Province of Evangtung, where being near the Portugese of Macao, he had much perfected himself in the art of war, and he brought with him many great peices of Artillerie, which he had recovered from the Shipwrack of a Holland Ship, upon the Coasts of that Territorie. And because the Emperour of China had declared the City of Ninguyven to be the chief in place of Leaoyang (where also he had placed a new Vice-Roy, and his Royal Visitor) therefore Maovenlungus placed the best part of his Artillarie upon the Walls of this City.

The Tartars therefore acted nothing till the year 16•5▪ and because they resolved to besiege the new Metropolitan City of Ninguyven, they first resolved to trie Maovenlungus his fidelitie; offering him half of the Empire of China if he would help them to gain it; But that noble Soul of his, proved as faithfull as valiant, by rejecting those Demands with indignation; and came presently with his Forces to succour the City Ninguyven which they besieged; by which means, the Tartars having lost ten thousand men, were put to the flight; and among the rest, the King of Tartary's own Sonn was killed. Wherefore being furious with anger, they passed the frozen Sea, and invaded the Island Thaoyven, where they killed ten thousand that kept Garrisons there, together with all the Inhabitants; and by this one Act, having revenged their former discomfiture, they returned into Tartary, not with a resolution to sit still, but with an intention to return with greater Forces; By which restraint, all things remained quiet till the year 1627. in which the Emperour Thienkius dyed in the flow'r of his age, and with him the whole Empire of China seemed to fall to ruin and destruction; and in the same year, the King of the Tartars, who had cruelly murdered many men, himself augmented the number of the dead.

After Thinkius, in the Empire of China, succeeded that unhappy Emperour Zungchinius, brother to the former, of whom more hereafter. And after Thienmingus King of Tartary, succeeded Thienzungus his Son, who changed the manner of his Fathers Government, and by good Counsel began to govern the Chineses in a curteous and sweet manner; but though he lived not long, yet he served for a good example for his Sonn to Conquer China more by Civilitie and Humanitie, than by force of Arms.

In this year, great Maovenlungus Soldiers being insolent by want of action, grew very troublesom and offensive by their Rapines and Disorders to the Coreans, who were friends & Allies; and particularly they much exasperated the Province of Hienkin, insomuch that some of the Inhabitants of that place, moved with indignation of several passages, secretly treated with the Tartarian King to invade the Chineses Army, in the habit and attire of the Inhabitants of Corea, from whom they could expect no Treason, being leaguerd with them in friendship and amitie: promising moreover their best assistance to effect this mischief, to him that was a Traitour both to Country, King, and the Emperour of China. But this Counsel pleased the Tartar, and therefore he sent a Vice-Roy with a potent Army, to which the Coreans shewed the waies, and guided them through all the passages; who falling upon the Chineses Armie (which suspecting nothing, was divided, and many stragling up and down the Countrie) made a huge Carnage amongst them. But when Maovenlungus percieved they were Tartars, he presently made head, and gathered a Body of an Armie together, and vigorously opposed all those sharp assaults. But yet at length he was forced to yield the Field; and therefore leaving a Regiment or two to hold the Enemie in action whilst his Army retreated, he fled to his Ships, and to the Island which he had Fortified. The Tartars were vexed and grieved, both to see their victory so bloody, and also that Maovenlungus, whom they chiefly aimed at, had escaped with most of his Army; and therefore enraged with Anger, they fell upon the Corean Traitors, and killed every man; which action the King of Tartary much condemned; and then turning their wrath to the four Northern Provinces, which border upon Tartary, they wasted and destroyed them all in a moment.

In the mean time the King of Corea gathered an Army to resist the Tartars; and Maovenlungus also, having recruited his Forces, came into Corea to revenge the received loss. The victorious Tartars were come within seven Leagues of the principallest City of all Corea. But finding the King to have taken the Straights and Passages of the Mountains which lead unto it, they desperatly resolved to force their passage. The Battel was hardly begun, but Maovenlungus, after a long march, falls in upon their rear: and the Tartars finding themselves encompassed before and behind, nor any means to escape but by dint of Sword, fought most desperatelie, sustaining the shock of two Armies; And such a Battel was fought, as China never saw; for, (it is strange to write, yet very true) of the three Armies, none was victorious, but all in a manner destroyed. Of the Tartarian Armie fifty thousand were found wanting; The Corean Armie lost seventy thousand; and few or none escaped of the Chineses Armie; For their Quarter being most commodious for the Tartars flight, they there made their most vigorous Charges, and so forced their way towards their own Countrie. So as none of them all gained the field, or could prosecute the course of a Victorie. Yet the King of Corea made a shift to rallie so many together again, as to take possession of those his Countries which the Tartarians by their flight had left desolate. But the Tartars after all the losses, ceased not to make frequent inrodes into the Country of Leaotung, and took all the Oriental part of it. From thence they made incursions into the other part, and carried away great Preys and Booties; But they were alwaies so beaten, and so defeated, as they could never fix a constant habitation. For by this time were arrived seven excellent Gunners from the Portugese quarters, which both by themselves, and by teaching the Chineses, advanced infinitly the King of China his Affairs; especially where that Christian Vice-Roy, called Sun Ignatius, Commander in chief, of whose affairs we shall say somthing hereafter

In this conjuncture of affairs, the Emperour Zungchinius sent a new Commander called Yvenus into Leaotung, with a new Armie and full power to conclude a Peace with the Tartars, if they would admit it: For the disorders of the times had caused so many needy persons, Theevs, and Cut-throats, that the Emperour grew more anxious how to suppress this great domestick Enemie, which seemed to aim at the Kingdoms ruin, than he was of the Tartarian Forces. This Yvenus was a crafty and subtill wit, most eloquent both in speaking and writing; who by politick discourses, drawn from the nature of this war, had wrought so much, not only upon the Emperours mind, but also upon all the Councill, that they esteemed what he concluded as a Law to be observed: Wherefore the Chineses put all their confidence in him; nor had they been frustrated of their hopes, had not this wicked man been more wedded to his own interest, and love of Riches, than to the publick good, & fidelitie to his Prince: For first he received of the Tartars a vast Summe of gold; which wrought so much upon him, as that having invited to a Banquet that most Valorous and Faithfull Champion Maovenlungus, whom the Tartars only feared, he there poisoned that great Commander.

After this he made a most ignominious and shamefull Peace with the Tartars, condescending to all that those that fed him with Riches, could desire; But when the Emperour had perused the Treatie, he presently found his Plenipotentiarian had sold him, and therefore refused to ratifie or confirm the Articles. What should Yvenus act in this exigent? That he might force the Emperour to admit them, he peswaded the Tartars, in the year 1630. to enter China by another Country than that which was committed to his charge, promising them for his part, he would no way hinder their progresse by his Army. The Tartars knew that his avarice had so potent an Ascendent over him, as that they need to fear no hurt from him; and upon that Confidence admitted of his Counsell. Wherefore being secure from all assaults from any Enemie behind them, they entered the Province of Peking, and besieged the Kings Court: Insomuch that his Councel perswaded him to leave the Imperial City, and retire to the Southern Provinces; but he protested he would rather die, than quit the Northern quarters; and not only so, but he forbid any to depart the Court, or Town besieged. In the mean time the Tartars make many fierce affaults, and as often were valiantly beaten back with great loss and Carnage. Yvenus was called to resist the Tartars, for as yet his Traiterous Complots were not discovered. And lest he should discover his Treason, he comes with his Armie neer the very Walls, which were of so vast an extent, as both the Chinese and Tartars Armie might perfectly be discerned, though betwixt them there was a great Intervall. But though Yvenus was under the Emperours eye, yet he acted little; for his only aim was to return home laden with Riches, he never desisted to perswade the Emperour to admit his conditions of Peace. So that the Emperour finding him evidently to be a Traitor, disclosing his intention to none of his Councell nor Governors, sends to invite him to a privat Councel of war, giving also order that he should be admitted into the Citie by the Walls, lest if any Gate should be open, the Tartar being so neer might press in upon them; but indeed he ordered the business in this manner, lest he should bring his Armie into the City with him. Yvenus therfore knowing he had many chief men about the Emperours person, who were both his favourites and friends, and that none of them gave him the least sign of any distast the Emperor might conceive against him, he boldly and securely presented himself at Court; and as soon as he appeared, he was presently arrested, and after some few questions, the Emperour commanded him to be kil'd. The Tartars hearing of his death (before the China Armie had a new General assigned) ransack all the Country round about, and after they had made excursions to the next bordering Province of Xantung, richly laden with all manner of Spoiles, they returned to their first residence in Leaotung.

And from these times till the year 1636. the event of their Warrs was very various; but in general we observe, that the Tartars could never fix a foot in China, but they were presently beaten out again. In this same year Thienzungus, King of the Tartars died, after whom, succeeded his Son Zungteus, father to him that now governs China, of whom we now must begin to Treat.

This Prince before his Reign expressed much judgement in severall Occurrences, surpassing all the Kings of Tartary in Humanity, and obliging curtesie: For when he was young, he was sent by his Father into China; where he lived secretly, and learned the China's Manners, Doctrine and Language; and when he came to be Emperour of China, he changed, and far surpassed all the Examples of his Predecessors: For having observed, that their too hard and cruel usage of the Chineses, had been the principal obstacle of their advancement, to the end he might conquer that Empire he so much thirsted after, as well by love as

by Arms, he curteously entertained and cherished all those of China which came unto him, using all Prisoners with great sweetnes, and invited them either to submit freely to his Government, or take their course with full freedom. The fame of his humanity was spred far and neer; which induced many Commanders and chief Officers to fly unto him; by whose means and help, he became Emperour of that spacious and florishing Country. For experience shews us, that Love and Humanity doe work more upon mens hearts, in conquering and conserving Kingdomes, than Arms; and cruelty of the Conquerors hath lost that, which strength of Arms had happily subdued. Wherefore when the Chineses came to understand that the King of Tartary did not only afford them a Sanctuary, but a favourable Haven, many great persons flying the Indignation of the King of China, sheltered themselves under the Tartars protection. For in respect of the China's Avarice and perfidiousness, it's a necessary but a most inhumane Maxim, that those Officers perish, who have managed the Kingdomes Affairs with less success. For they easily are brought to believe, that such unhappy events, do not proceed so much from the frown of a scornfull Goddess called Fortune, as it doth from the perfidy and negligence of the Commanders. So as if any fought unhappily, or if he lost the Country committed to his charge, if any Sedition or Rebellion happened, the Governors hardly ever escaped alive. Seeing therefore they found so much Humanity in the Tartar, and so much Inhumanity in the Emperor, they rather chose to fly to the former.

By this occasion give me leave to relate what happened to that incomparable Commander (renouned both for Fidelity and Fortitude) called Ignatius. This Heroick mind preferd his fidelitie to his Prince, before his life, before the Tartarian's protection, yea even before the strength of his formidable Army; and chose rather, with his unparallel'd Fidelity, to submit his head to a Block by an unjust sentence, than to abandon his Country, or once accuse the least default in his Sovereign's judgment, though prevented, by very unjust impressions: He might perchance have swayed the Sovereign Scepter of China, if he would have hearkened to his Souldiers, but he rather chose to die gloriously, than to be branded with the name of a Traitor in posterity.

This man therefore after he had gained several Victories against the Tartars, and recovered many Cities from their possession, so as he hoped shortly wholy to extirpate them out of China, His Souldiers being long without pay, seditiously plundred and pillaged a Town which had ever been faithfull to the K. Ignatius by several petitions and Remonstrances to the Emperour, had declared his wants of mony, and their want of Pay; but because he fed not those venal souls that managed the business with mony and presents, they alwaies suppressed his humble addresses for relief. Besides, this man being a very pious Christian, he did nothing in his government, but what was conform to Reason and Justice; which was the cause he incurred the hatred of all the antient Prefects; who usually receiving Bribes from the contesting parties, demanded favour of Ignatius for their Clients. But it was in vain to intercede for any, unless the justness of the cause did also ballance their Petitions. And these men attributing this proceeding, not to vertue, but to his Pride, thinking themselves undervalued by him, dealt under-hand with the Prefects in the Court, to stop the Armies pay, that so they might destroy this innocent man. Moreover, he was envied the Commāders in the very Court, because he came to this eminent dignitie by his own valour and industrie; which they imagined was only to be given to Doctors, and Ignatius was but a Batchelor; as if the most learned must needs be also the most valorous. In this conjuncture of affairs, the Souldiers not contented with the seditious pillage, seeing the most imminent danger hanging over their most esteemed and beloved Governour, by reason of their folly, they go about to perswade him to make himself King of that Country, nay more, to take the whole Empire to himself, as a thing due to his Prowess and Merits; promising their whole strength to effect the business; and also to extirpate those men about the Emperour, that aimed more to compass their malicious ends, than to promote the general affairs of the Empire: But Ignatius, by pious admonitions, staved them off from further violence, made them obedient and quiet, commanded all to stand faithfull to the Emperour of China, and punished the chief of that fedition.

This Supreme act of fidelity deserved a better esteem and acceptance, than that which was framed by the Emperour and his Court: who slighting this his allegeance, sent another ViceRoy in his place, and commanded him to appear in Court: He then perceived they aimed at his life; and the Souldiers suspected the business; and therefore, mad with anger, they all jointly rose in Arms for hm, swearing they would live and die with him, and that he should not present himselfe at Court. It is our duty (say they) to conserve thy life, which hast been so carefull of ours; and we have strength and courage enough to resist all the force of thy perfidious Enemies.

But Ignatius was deaf to al these allurements, and studied by all means to sweeten their exulcerated minds; alwaies inculcating to them to the true and loyall to their Sovereigns service: chusing rather to water that ungratefull Soil of his native Country with the streams of his Blood, than either to spill his Enemies blood by the force and pow'r of his Souldiers, or retire to the Tartarian king, which offered him so fair preferments. But many of his Captains fell off to the Tartars; following, in this, not his example, but that of many others, whom they saw eminently promoted amongst the Tartars. Some of those that then fled from the Emperour, are now chief Commanders under the Tartarian King, in their China Empire; some also have obtained the dignity of Princes, or Riolets in several Countries, for the reward of their Valour and faithfull service against China. So efficacious is that wedge which is made of the same wood.

But although hitherto these Tartarian Warrs had caused great troubles and tempests in the China Empire, yet all things now seemed calmed and pacified, so as they seemed secure from any further danger; for the Western part of Leaotung was strongly fortified, and there was a great Army in the Island of Cu, and the bordering quarters, which hindered the Tartars of the Eastern part of the Countrie, which they posessed, from further passage. But now the chiefest danger was from the Traitors and Theeves which were in the very Bowells of the Country, who finally destroyed it; and gave it up in Prey to the Tartars.

I touched somthing of their Commotions before, now we must treat a little more largely of their proceedings, that the Reader may see how the Tartars came to subdue and conquer China.

The first Combination of these Rovers appeared in the remote Country of Suchuen, who having pillaged divers Cities, and emboldened by prosperous success, ventured to besiege the chief City of that Country call'd Cingtu, which they had infallibly taken, if that valiant Amazon, whom I mentioned before, had not come to relieve it with her Army; but by her valour they were beaten off with great loss, and not being wholly extinguished, they retired into the moūtains to recruit their Forces. These were seconded by a like Race of people in the Province of Queicheu, who took occasion of rising by reason of an unjust Sentence passed in a Sute betwixt two Grandees of that Country; and one of these great persons being offended with the Governors. These roving companions, first kill'd all the Magistrates which had pronounced that unjust Sentence; & then they defeated the ViceRoy his Army; yet afterwards he routed them again with a new Army, but could not extinguish them. Besides these, the Famin increasing in the Northern quarters in the Countries of Xensi & Xantung, by reason of a great inundation of Locusts which devoured all, there rise up by this occasion, many loose fel•owes which lived by Rapin. These men at first were few in number, and small in strength, and only preying in little places, they presently fled to the Mountains; but finding they got both Meat and Riches, with little labour and less cost, they quickly got Companions to reinforce them; This Sedition being much augmented by the Emperour Zungchinius his notable avarice, who so exhausted the people by Imposts and Taxes, as if it had been a year of the golden Age. The Prefects of the Provinces, not being able presently to repress the insolency of those people, they daily increased in courage and strength; Insomuch as in several Countries they had eight very considerable Armies. They chose the strongest and valiantest

men amongst them for their Commanders; and these persons being grown rich and potent by preying, deposed now the person of the Ringleader of Theeves, and aspired to no less than to the Empire of China. And at first they fought one against another, every one laying hold one what he could: But at length things were brought to that pass, that two of the Commanders being only left alive, these two prevailed with the souldiers of those that were killed, to follow their Ensignes and Fortune; and they knowing well that if they were taken by the Emperors Officers, they could not escape a most certain death, easily resolved to shelter themselves under the Arms of these two victorious persons. The name of one of these chief Brigands was Licungzus, the

second was called Changhienchungus, two notorious bold roguish fellows, who lest they should destroy one anothers fortunes by their ambitious emulation, they separated themselves far from one another, resolving both to persue their prosperous fortunes. Licungzus therefore possessed himself of the Northern parts of Xensi and Honan; and the other tyrannised the Countries of Suchuen and Huquang. But that we may not interrupt our discourse, by delivering the Acts of both these together, we will first treat of Licungzus his feats, being it was he was the cause of the Tartars coming to the Empire (which he himself might have possessed, if his proceedings had been moderate and human) and of the other we shall speak hereafter. Therefore in the year

1641. these pilferers having got immense riches in the Province Xensi, made an irruption, in a vast body, into that delicious sweet Provincs of Honan, and went strait to the chief City called Caifung, which they besieged. There was in that place a very great and strong Garison, who by the benefit of artillerie mouned upon hand-wheeling Chars, forced them to quit the siege; then they fell upon all the neighbouring Cities, Plundring, spoiling, and burning all they could master. Having horded up store of provision of Corn, and augmented their Army by a company of Rascally Vagabonds and loytering fellows, they returned again to besiege the Metropolitan City; but despairing to take it by Force or assaults, they resolved to ruin it by a long Siege, that

they might enjoy the immense Riches of that noble City; and though this Town be three great Leagues in circumference, yet they rounded it so by their lines, as nothing could enter the City; this drave them to some straits, for although the Purveyer for victualls had brought in good store of provision in the two moneths space in which they were absent, yet because that Province which used to be most plentifull, was lean in Corn, they could not make sufficient provision for six moneths siege, for such an infinite multitude of people as were retired within the Walls; Yet it held out most obstinately for the space of six moneths, in which time though they were brought to hard shifts, yet hoping alwaies for succour from their Emperor,

they would never submit to any conditions. I dare not relate to what an excesse this Famin came too, but it seems it surpassed the Famin of Hierusalem; a pound of Rice was worth a pound of Silver, & a pound of any old rotten skin was sold at ten Crowns; dead mens flesh was sold publikely in the Shambles as Hogs flesh, and it was held an act of Piety to expose the dead in the Streets for others to feed on, who shortly were to be food for others; but I will pass over, & conceal yet more horrible things than I have related. This City lies towards the South side of that vast & precipitate River which the Chineses call Hoang, because the Streams alwaies appear of a yellowish saffron colour; & because the River is higher than the plain levell downs, of a Leagues distance from

the Town, they built upon the River side, a long & strong Bulwark of great square stones, to prevent all inundations. The Emperours Army, after long expectation, came to relieve the Town, and advanced as far as these Bulwarks, and having considered the situation of the Country and Enemies Camp, it was thought the fittest and easiest way to raise the siege without giving battail, to let in the water upon the Enemies Army, by some breaches made in that long Wall or Bulwark. It was in Autumn when they took this resolution, and the River, by reason of extraordinary rains, was swoln bigger than ever before; and they making the Sluces, or Inlets, too great, and the Breackes too wide, gave way to such an Ocean of water as it overrun the

Walls of the Town (which were very stately and high) involving not only many of the Enemies in its ruin and destruction, but also 300000.. men, and the City it self perished in those floods of water. So the antient City, which heretofore had been honored by the Emperor's Residence, appeared no more a place of pleasure, but a vast Pool or Lake for Monsters of the waters to inhabit; for the houses of the Town were not over-run with water, but also beaten down; and also the Church of the Christians, together with their Priest, who was one of the Society of Jesus; it was well known he might have saved himself, but being there were many Christians perished, he willingly chose to die with those he had gained. The destruction of this City

happened the ninth of Oct. 1642. about which time this famous Conductor of Theeves took the name of King, with an addition of Xunvang, which sounds as much as Prosperous, and so was stiled Licungzus the prosperous; and having in a manner taken all the Country of Honan into his Dominion, he returned into the Province of Xensi, and wonn it wholy to his subjection. When he came to Sigan, which is the Metropolitan of Xensi, he found some resistance from the Garrison, but he took it in three daies, and for a reward and encouragement to his Souldiers, he gave it to them to pillage also for three daies space; and then he gathered up all the Corn of the whole Province, as well to keep all the Country in their duty to him, as also to leave no Forrage for the

Emperours Army. And now thinking himself secure of the whole Empire, he took the name of Emperour upon him, and stiled the Family wherein he thought to establish this Dignity, Thienxunam, as much as to say, Obedient to Heaven; By which Title he perswaded the Souldiers and the People, that it was by the disposall of the Heavens that he should reign, that he might deliver the people from the Emperours Avarice, and extirpate those wicked Governours that so much vexed the people, and deliver them from all their perfidious Plots. For he knew well, that this Glorious Title would be very acceptable to them of China, who believe that Kingdoms and Empires come only from Heaven, and are not gained by any Art or

Industry of Man; and that his actions might carry a face correspondent to his illustrious Title, he began to use the People with all humility and sweetness, not permitting any Souldier to wrong or iujure them; only he persecuted all the Officers call'd Presidents, which he could find, and all those he put to death; and as for those that had been Presidents, because he found them rich, he made them pay great Fines, and let them live; remitting all Taxes in the places he subdued; severely commanding that the Subjects should be treated with all Civility and Curtesie. So as all men applauding and loving so sweet and milde a Government, easily submitted to his Power and Dominion; but where the Governours use Tyranny, there the Subject hath little

care of Fidelity. There were in the City two Priests which served the Christians, that were Jesuits, and suffered much in the saccage of the City; but being afterwards known for Strangers, they were used with all humanity.

In the mean time a third cause of this Empires ruin grew up in the Court; which was hatched in the Emperour Thienkius his time: For that Emperour exalted an Eunuch called Gueio, to such a height and power, as he gave the absolute Power and soveraign Command into his hands, and passed so far as allway to stile him by the name of Father. This extravagant power caused much Envy, Dissention, and the banding one against another amongst the Governours, Presidents, Commanders, and

Counsellours: and the Eunuch also added much to incense the flame, by his indiscreet usage of the favour he possessed; for if any man had touched him, either in word or writing, or expressed less respect unto him in conversation, or behaviour, or did not flatter the base fellow, he would presently give order to put him to death, though he were a very eminent person; or at least degrade him from all Office or Dignity. By which means he exasperated many, and amongst the rest he offended the Prince Zunchinius, who now, by the death of his Brother without issue, was come to be Emperour of China. This Emperour knew that the Eunuch had moved Heaven and Earth to hinder his coming to the Crown; but seeing he could not effect that, at least

he maintained a seditious faction against the great ones; which finally proved the destruction of the Estate; For these men banding in two factions, studied more how to destroy one another, than to advance the publique good; yet both parties pretended the general good, but both neglected it; Every party endeavouring to extoll and exalt his own Creatures into places of trust and power: All which when Zunchinius the Emperour went about to redresse, he exasperated the minds of many of the Commanders against him; for as soon as he came to the Crown he cruelly persecuted all that favoured the Eunuch, and in fine killed this very Eunuch which had been his Predecessors Favourite, together with many more of his kind; of which Tragedy I will only relate the Catastrophe. The

Emperour Zungchinius resolving to destroy both the Eunuch and all his power, sent him an order to go visit the Tombs of his Ancestors, to consider if any of those antient Monuments wanted reparation: the Eunuch could not refuse so honorable an imployment, which seemed rather an addition to all his honours; but he had not gone far upon his journey, but there was presented to him (from the Emperour) a Box of silver gilt, with a Halter of Silk folded up in it; by which he understood he was to hang himself by the Emperors order: which he could not refuse, being that kind of death (amongst the Chineses) is counted honourable, when it is accompanied with such formalities. But by this occasion the Emperour raised new Factions and more Traitors, which held

secret correspondence with the Theeves Army. Hence it came to pass, that no Army was sent to oppose them, or if any went they did no manner of action, being alwaies hindered by the emulation of others; nay it happened often, that when they might have taken great advantages, yet the occasion was neglected, lest the Commanders should increase their Power and Credit, by their Victories, with the Emperour. These Dissentions and Emulations happened so seasonably to the Roving Army of Theeves, as that to come, to see, and conquer, was to them one and the self-same thing, as I shall declare unto you.

Whilest these transactions passed in the Court, Licungzus Conductor of the Theeves, having setled all things in the Country

of Xensi, passed to the East; and coming to the famous great River of Croceus, finding on body to defend it, he passed over with as much facility, as it might have been maintained with ease, if there had been placed but a handfull of Souldiers. For this River runns with a violent rapid course, and with as vast a Sea of waters from West to East; but being there was no man to defend it, they passing it easily, presently seizd upon the chief and richest Citie in all those quarters, called Kaiangcheu, which is situated neer the South bankside of that River, and being carried on with a strong gale of Fortune, he seized upon all other Cities, every one desiring either to free themselves from further vexation, or blindly and fondly submitting themselves

to any new change of Government. For we commonly delight in varieties and novelties, and hoping for better, we find worse. Only the City of Thaiyven made some resistance, but being presently subdued, was fined with great vast summes of mony for their temerity. The Emperour Zungchinius hearing the Theeves had passed the River Croceus, and were advanced to the very Confines of Xensi (which borders upon the Province where he had placed his Throne & Royall Seat) he sent an Army under the Lord Marshal of China, to hold them at least in play, if he could not overthrow them; But this Army did just nothing, nay most of the Souldiers ran to the Thieving party, in so much as the Lord Marshal himself, called Colaus Lius, seeing Affairs

grew so desperate, Hang'd himself for fear of further shame and dishonour. The Emperour hearing of the ill success of his Affairs, began to think of leaving the Northern parts, where his Royal City of Peking is situated, and to pass to Nankuing which is far more Southward; but he was disswaded from this intended course as well by his loyal, as disloyal Subjects: by these, that they might give him up more speedily into the enemies hands, before their treachery was discovered; and by the others, lest his flight might trouble the Kingdom more, and discourage all his Subjects from giving their best assistance; for they thought the City impregnable, being fortified with so strong a Garrison; nor did they doubt that the Kings presence

would draw the forces of the whole Kingdom to him. And their Counsel had been good, if the Court had been purged of Traytors.

In the mean time the Theeves Conductor, who was no less quick and nimble in execution, than witty in invention, sowing a Fox his tayl to the Lions skin, caused many of his Souldiers in a disguised habit to creep into that Princely City, and gave them mony to trade in trifling ware, till he assaulted the Wals with the body of his Army, for then they had order to raise sedition, and tumult in the City; and considering they were a Company of desperate Fellons, & of a very low & base fortune, it is stupendious to think how they could keep so profound secrecy in a matter of so high concernment:

But to this mine, which was prepared in the bowels of the City, he held a secret train of Intelligence, with the Lieutenant of the City, who seeing the Emperours Affairs desperate, is said to have dealt with the Conductor of these Brigants about giving up the City unto their power; But, however it was, these Pilferers came in a short time to besiege the Royal City of Peking. There was in that City a vast Garrison, and as great a quantity of Artillery; but on the Quarters upon which the enemy made there assault, there was none charged with Bullets, but only with Powder.

Wherefore being secure from any annoy from that side, in the year MDCXLIV. before the rising of the Sun, they entred the Metropolitan City of all

China by one of the Gates which was opened to them; nor was there any long resistance made, even by those that were faithful to their Prince; for the Souldiers of the Theef, which lay lurking in the City, made such a tumult and confusion, as none knew whom to oppose, in which respect they made a great slaughter, so as Licungzus in this Babylonian confusion, marched victorious through the City, till he came to the very Emperours Pallace, where though he found some resistance from the faithfullest Eunuchs, yet notwithstanding he presently entred that famous and renowned Palace; And that which exceeds all admiration, the enemy had passed the first Wall, and Precinct, and yet the Emperour being alive, knew nothing of so

strange a passage; for the Traiterous Eunuchs, which were of most Authority, fearing he might escape by flight, deferd to admonish him of his own danger, or of the taking of the City, till they saw he could not possibly evade: Who hearing this doleful news, he first demanded if he could get away by any means; but when he heard that all passages were be set, he is said to have left a Letter writ with his own Blood, in which he bitterly expressed to all posterity, the infidelity and perfidiousness of his Commanders, and the innocency of his poor Subjects; conjuring Licungzus, that seeing the Heavens had cast the Scepter into his hands, he would, for his sake, take revenge of such perfidious Creatures. After this reflecting he had a Daughter

Marriageable, who falling into the villains hands might receive some affronts, he called for a Sword, and beheaded her with his own hands in the place; then going down into an Orchard, making a Rope of his Garter, he hung himself upon a Prune tree. Thus that unfortunate Emperour put a period, as well to that Empire, which had flourished so long with much splendor, riches, and pleasure, as to his Illustrious Family of Taimingus, by finishing his life upon so contemptible a Tree, and in such an infamous manner: To all which circumstances, I adde one more, that as the Empire was erected by a Theef, so it was extinguished by another; for although, others were chosen to succeed him, as we shall relate hereafter, yet because they held a small

parcel of the Empire, they are not numbred amongst the Emperours. His example was followed by the Queen, and by the Lord Marshall, who is call'd in their language Colaus, together with other faithfull Eunuchs; So as those pleasant Trees which served heretofore for their Sports and pleasures, now became the horrid and surest Instruments of their death. And this cruell butchering of themselves passed not only in the Court, but also in the City, where many made themselves away either by hanging, or drowning by leaping into Lakes; For it is held by this Nation to be the highest point of fidelity to die with their Prince, rather than to live and be subject to another.

Whilest these things were

acting, Licungzus enters the Pallace victorious, and ascending up to the Chair of State, sate himself down in that Imperial Throne; but it is recorded, that in executing this first Act of Royalty, he sat so restlesly and unquietly, yea so totteringly, as if even then that Royal Chair would foretel the short durance of his felicity. The next day after, he commanded the body of the dead Emperour to be cut into small pieces, accusing him of oppression and cruelty against his Subjects; As if he, being a villanous Traitour, and a Theef, after the saccaging and burning so many Provinces, and shedding such an Ocean of blood, had been of a better disposition. So we often condemn others, when we do worse our selves, and remark, yea, augment, the

least faults of others, when we either take no notice, or diminish our own. This Emperour Zungchinius was Father of three Sons, of which the eldest could never be found, though all imaginable means was used for his discovery; some think he found means to fly away; others think he perished by leaping with others into the Lake; the two others being yet little Children, were by the Tyrants command beheaded three days after; his barbarous humour not sparing even innocent blood: Which disposition he made shortly appear, when casting of that veil of Piety and Humanity, with which he had for some time charmed the people, he commanded all the Principal Magistrates to be apprehended, of which he murdered many with cruel torments,

others he fined deeply, and reserved the Imperial Palace for his own aboad. He filled that most noble and rich City with ransacking Souldiers, and gave it up to their prey and plunder; where they committed such execrable things, as are both too long, and not fit to be related. But by this his horrid cruelty, and Tyranny, he lost that Empire which he might have preserved by curtesie and humanity.

Amongst the other imprisoned Magistrates, there was one a venerable person called Us, whose Son Usangueius governed the whole Army of China, in the Confines of Leaotung, against the Tartars. The Tyrant Licungzus threatned this old man with a most cruell death, if by his paternal power over his Son, he did not reduce him with his

whole Army, to subjection and obedience to his power, promising also great Rewards and Honours to them both, if by his fatherly power (which they hold sacred) he did prevail for his submission. Wherefore the poor old man writ to his Son this ensuing Letter.

It is well known that the Heavens, Earth, and Fate can cause these strange vicissitudes of Fortune which we behold; know my Son, that the Emperour Zunchinius and the whole family of Taimingus are perished. The Heavens have cast it upon Licungzus; we must observe the times, and by making a vertue of necessity, avoid his Tyranny, and experience his liberality; he promiseth to thee a Royal dignity if with thy Army thou submit to his Dominion, and acknowledge him as Emperour:

my life depends upon thy answer; consider what thou owest to him that gave thy life.

To this Letter his Son Usangueius returned this short answer.

He that is not faithfull to his Sovereign, will never be faithfull to me: and if you forget your duty and fidelity to our Emperour, no man will blame me if I forget my duty and obedience to such a father. I will rather dye than serve a Theef.

And presently after the dispatch of this Letter, he sent an Embassador to the King of Tartary, desiring his help and force to subdue this Usurper of the Empire; and knowing that the Tartars abound in men, but want women, he promised to send him some store; and presented him with several curious Silks, and sent him great store of Silver

and Gold. The Tartarian King neglected not this good occasion, but presently marched with fourescore thousand men, which were in Garrison in Leaotung, to meet General Usangueius, to whom he expressed himself in these words. To the end to make our Victory undoubted, I counsell you to cause all your Army to be clad like Tartars, for so the Theef will think us all Tartars, seeing I cannot call greater Forces out of my Kingdom so soon as is required.

Usangueius, thirsting nothing but revenge, admitted all conditions, little thinking (as the Chineses say) that he brought in Tygers to drive out Dogs. Licungzus hearing the march of the Tartars together with Usangueius, knowing himself not able to resist, quitted the Court and Palace as easily as he had taken

it: but he carried with him all the rich spoyls of the Court, and marched away into the Province of Xensi, where he established his Court in the noble City of Singan, which heretofore had been the seat of the Emperours. It is accounted that for eight days space by the four Palace Gates, there was nothing seen but a continual succession of Coaches, Horses, Camels, and Porters carrying away the pretiousest treasures, though they left also much, because the enemy approached. Thus the immense Riches of Gold and Silver, which the Emperours of the Tamingean Family had at leasure hoorded up, in the space of two hundred and fourscore years, were in a moment dispersed. But although they fled very speedily, yet they could not avoid the swift Tartarian

Horses, for overtaking their Luggage, and the Rear of the Army, they Pillaged and vexed them for eight days; but yet they either could not, or would not pass the River Croceus, that so they might speedily return to amuse the trembling hearts of the Territory of Peking. The Tartars return therefore victorious and rich into the City Peking, and there being admited by the Chineses, they gave them the Empire. VVhere it is to be observed, that although Zungteus, the Tartarian King, dying at the first entrance into China, did not obtain that noble Empire he so much thirsted after; yet he gave those Instructions, of the manner of conquering it, to his Councel, that they never desisted till they obtained it. This Prince dying, declared his Son

of six years old, his Successor; commanding all his own Brethren to manage the Childs Affairs with all fidelity and circumspection, making his eldest brother his Tutor; and all those brethren, being Uncles to the Child, by a stupendious Union, and never to be parallel'd in any ambitious Nation, exalted this Infant to the possession of the Empire.

These things being thus passed, Usangueius, seeing the Thief expelled, began to think of creating a new Emperour, one of the Taiminga's Family, who was a Prince not far distant: But being mindful of his promises made to the Tartars he offers them their rewards; he highly extols their Fortitude and Fidelity in the Kingdomes quarrel; and finally, desires them now to depart the Countrey quietly, and to entertain a strict alliance

and friendship with them, seing they had abundantly revenged all former injuries. To this demand the Tartars returned a long premeditated answer, but far contrary to what Usangueius expected, which they delivered in these tearms.

We do not think it yet a fit time to leave you & this Empire, unless having heard our Reasons, you should still persist in your demand; for we consider, that many of the Theeves are still extant, and seem rather dispersed than extinguished; and we hear that their great Conductor Licungzus, hath fixed his Imperial Seat in Sigan, the Metropolitan of the Province of Xensi; by which means he still possesseth the richest and most populous Provinces, which are stil under his Dominion. If we depart, worse is to be feared will follow; He feared

us Tartars, when he hears we are gone, having now time to recruit his Forces, he will doubtless make new Invasions, and perchance we shall not be able to send new Succors: We therefore resolve to prosecute the Victory, and quite extinguish those Vagabonds, that so you may deliver the Empire to your designed King, in full peace and tranquillity. Be not solicitous of paying our promised Rewards, for they are as safe in yours as in our own hands. That which we now desire to execute, is, that which presseth most, and seems to us to require no delay, that you, with part of your Army and part of ours, march speedily against Licungzus, and we with the rest, take our march towards the Province of Xantung, to extirpate those Theeves that have setled there; By this means the peace of

the Kingdome will be firmly established.

Usanguieus either did not understand the Stratagem, or if he did, he condescended not to irritate an Army in the Bowells of the Kingdome.

Before the Tartars (which were called) entred China, they sent into their own and other Kingdomes to raise as many men as possibly they could, to the end they might conquer the Empire after they had acquitted themselves of their promised assistance against the Theeves. But these Succours, not being arrived to reinforce them, therefore they thought it best to use no force, but gain time by fair words and new projects. But whilst this business was contriving, there came an immense company of Tartars into the Empire; not only from the Kingdomes of Niuche,

and Niulham, but also from the old Occidental Tartary, and from a Countrey called

Yupi , which is more Oriental, and lyes above the elevation of Japony. This people is called Yupi by reason they make their Coats of defence, or Breast plates, of fishes skin, which grow in a manner impregnable. Nay which is more, I saw very many who were come as far as the River Volga; which people these Tartars call Alga-Tartars, and I find they have a Notion of Muscovy, and Polony, but they are far more barbarous than the Oriental Tartars be; with these auxiliary Forces, came in the infant King of six years old, Son to the late deceased King of Tartary, and when these were joyned with the body of the Army, then they publikely proclamed their right to the Empire, and openly declared their concealed intentions; and proclamed this child of six years old, Emperour of China, by the name of Xunchi, and the new erected Imperial Family they stiled by the name of Taicing. The Child of six years old took possession of the antient Throne of his Forefathers, with a great gravity and Majesty, from whence he delivered this judicious Speech to the Commanders and to his Army.

It is your strength and pow'r more than my felicity (my dear and generous Uncles, & you the rest of my noble Commanders) which supports my weakness, and makes me so undantedly ascend and possess this Imperial Throne. This my Constancy, and this Chairs stability, I hope, is as happy a sign of my future prosperity, as its tottering proved unfortunate to the Thief Licungzus his Tyrannie. You see my first step to the Empire; but I know your valour to be such, that I look not only upon the Kingdome of China as my own, but conceive the Empire of the World not only by me possessed, but also established. The rewards due to such incomparable Vetues, shall be no other than the riches of the Empire, and Royal dignities; proceed therefore valiantly and stoutly. The whole Court was astonished to hear a Child of six years old speak so much sense, and hence they concluded that fate or Heaven had elected him for King; But yet, the young Prince did assume his eldest Uncle, as his Tutor and Father, the same day he was admitted to the Empire: and therefore the Tartars in their language, called him Amahan, as much as to say, the Father King; which very thing,

the China's express by the word Amavang. To this man therefore he remitted all the Conduct of his Wars, and to him it is, the Tartars owe all their greatness and Dominion: for as he excelled in Counsel and prudence, so also he was as eminent in fortitude and fidelity; and withall by the strength and force of his reasons and Counsels did ravish the wisest men amongst the Chineses, and his Justice and humanity did wholy enthrall and enchant the popularity. To all which I adde those fugitive Magistrates, who, as I related heretofore, had fled too the Tartars to avoid the Emperours indignation, did not a little promote their cause; for these men, sometimes by word and example, did seduce the hearts of the Subjects, and sometimes suggested dangerous, but political Counsels to the Tartars, against their own Country; but by both these means advanced themselves to high and eminent dignities amongst the Tartars.

The same day some Bands of Souldiers were dispatched, with order to proclame Usangueius a Tributary King to this new enstalled Emperour, which they performed with great magnificence, adding to his name (as usually they do) the Sirname of Pingsi, which sounds as much as Pacifier of the Western world: in which quarters they established his Kingdom in the Capital City in the Province of Xensi. This Prince considering that he could expect no more honourable Dignity from the lawful Successour to the Empire of China, and that the Tartars were come into the Empire, in so vast a number, that he could never hope to Conquer them, found means to dispence with his hitherto uncorrupted fidelity, admitting the dignity, and submitting to the Emperour; and so he that had hither to waged VVar for China against the Theeves, now was forced to march against China to subdue its Provinces to the Tartarian Empire. And as he was a Great Commander, so also by the help of the Tartars he quickly drove out the Theeves from his little Kingdom of Xensi, where to this day he reigneth in the Metropolitan City of Sigan. But by these honours the Tartars removed him from the practice of Arms, who remaining Armed, might have proved a dangerous enemy.

It was hitherto never known what became of Licunzus, some think he was killed by Usangueius in the fight, though he never appeared more, neither dead; nor alive, after this fight, in which all his forces were dissipated, or cut off. And with the same facility the Tartars subdued the Provinces of Peking and Xantung, where they immensly augmented their Armies, by the access of the China's Souldiers and Commanders which submitted to them; for the Tartarians admitted all, even the Conquered, to their Army if they did cut their Hair, and wear their habits, after the Tartarian fashion: for in this Puntillio of Habit and Hair they were so rigorous, as they proclamed it high Treason in all that did forbear it. VVhich Law, did many times endanger

them, and disturb the whole frame of their Affairs: For the Chineses both grieved, and fought more valiantly for their Hair and Habit, than for their Kingdom and Emperour; So as many times they chose rather to dye, or lose there heads, than obey the Tartars in these Ceremonies; of which I could relate many examples, unless in this relation I had resolved to be brief. But all these little rubs, did not hinder, but that in less than the space of a year, (not counting Leaotung) they had conquered Peking, Xansi, Xensi, and Xantung, which are the four vast Northern Provinces of China. In all which they changed nothing in their Political manner of Government; nay, they permitted the usual custom of the Philosophers of China

to govern the Towns and Provinces; they left also the same Examens as were used for the approving of learned men; for by this prudent Counsel they wrought this effect, that having given the places of honour and trust to men of their own Creation, they found they surpassed the very Tartars in fidelity to them; yet they kept the Militia in their own hands, and the ordering therof, & yet they stick'd not to admit even to these Offices, such of the Country as were faithful to them; so as in the Royal City they retained still the same Orders and degrees of Prefects, together with the six high Tribunals, as they were established in the former Emperours time: but so, as they were now compounded of Chineses and Tartars.

In the mean time the news of the Emperours danger came to the Southern parts of China, and the Prefects of every City gathering together very great forces marched towards the City of Peking; but in their march they received the sad news of the Emperours death, and the taking of Peking, they therefore speedily called back their Forces, and also all their Ships, which yearly used to carry Provisions to the Emperours Courts; a little after this, they received the news how the Tartar was invested in the Kingdom and proclamed Emperour. I was then my self in the great City Nanquin, where I beheld a strange consternation in the confusion in all things; till at length having recollected themselves, the Prefects resolved to choose

an Emperour of the Family of the Taiminges whom they called Hungquangus. This man came flying from the Theeves of the Province of Honan, and being he was Nephew to that famous Emperour Vanley, and Cosen Germain to Zungchinius the last deceased Emperour, they Crowned him with great pomp and ostentation, hoping for better fortune under his Government. As soon as this Prince was chosen he sent an Embassage to the Tartars, begging Peace, rather than demanding it; for he offered them all the Northern Provinces which they had taken, if they would joyn in amity with him. But the Tartars well understood the Policy of these Prefects and Counsellours; which was only to amuse them with a Peace, whilst

they could resume their strength and force; And therefore the returned answer, that they would not receive as a gift, that which they had conquered by force of Arms; but seeing they had chosen a new Emperour, they migh do well to defend him; but as for them, they were resolved to have all or nothing. This Legacy comming to nothing, whilst both parties prepare to take the Field, appears at Nankuing a young man, who gave himself out to be the eldest Son to the late deceased Emperour Zunchinius; and he gave no small evidences of this truth and Clame; nay, he was acknowledged by many of the Eunuchs. But the new elected Emperour Hunquangus, being strongly touched by the ambition of reigning, would never acknowledge him, nor

admit him; but commanded him to be imprisoned, and killed as an Impostor, though many of the Prefects enraged to hear of this order, hindered the execution of the sentence. But by this accident, things grew into a sedition, and the dispute was so high, that it gave occasion to the Tartars to take to the Province and City of Nankuing; some of the Prefects winking at it, if not enticing them underhand to this exploit. The Tartars, vigilant to lay hold of all advantages, hearing of these emulations and divisions, presently march out into the Territory of the City of Hoaigan, and comming to the East side of the River Croceus, they pass over speedily by the help of their Boats; on the other side of this River stood the Army of China,

which was so numerous, as if they had but cast off their very shoos; they had erected such a Rampart against the Tartars, as all the Horse would hardly have surmounted it. But it is the resolution and valour in War, carries the Trophies, not the number of men: for hardly had the Tartars set foot in their Boats, but the Chineses ran all away, as Sheep use to do when they see the Wolf, leaving the whole shore unfenced to their landing. The Tartars having passed the River, finding no enemy to resist, enter the most noble City of Nankuing, and in a trice make themselves Master of all the North part of the Country, which lyes upon the great River of Kiang, which is so vast, as it is worthily called the Son of the Sea; where it deserves particularly

to be noted as a rare thing in the Warfare of the Tartars, that before they enter into any Country, they chuse and name both the Governours, and Companies, with all the Officers necessary for all the Cities and places which they aym to take; so as in a moment they run like a lightning, and no sooner they possess it but it is fortified, armed, and defended. There was one City in these Quarters which made a generous resistance to all their re-iterated assaults, called Yangcheu, where the Tartars lost the Son of a little Royalet. This City was defended by that faithful Imperial Champion called Zuuis Colaus, but though he had a mighty Garrison, yet he was at length forced to yield, and the whole City was sacked, and both Citizen and Souldier put

to the Sword; and least the multitude of the dead Carcases, should corrupt the Air, and ingender the Plague, they laid them all upon the tops of the Horses, and setting fire both to the City and Suburbs brought all to ashes, and to a total desolation.

By this progress the Forces of the Tartars much entreased, for the Governours of many places, and several Regiments came to submit to his Dominion. To all which he commonly continued the same Commands and Offices they were established in before, and advanced many of them to higher dignity; and so by this humanity with which he treated all that came flying to him, and by the cruelty he used to those that resolved to make resistance to the Force of his

Arms, he gained this, that most men resolved to partake of his sweet treaty, rather than of his cruelty; so he easily conquered all that which lyes on the North side of that River, which I named before the Son of the Sea. This River being a German Leage in breadth, and rising from the West of China, holds its course to the East, and divides the Kingdom into Northern and Southern Quarters; it also divides the Country of Nankuing in the very middle; though Nankuing the Metropolitan and Royal City be placed in the Southern part. To Master this great City, they were to pass this River. They gathered therefore together many Ships, to Conquer this new Emperial seat, and also the new setled Emperour. The Fleet of

China commanded by the most generous and faithful Admiral called Hoangchoangus, lay towards the other side of this River. Here the Admiral fought so gallantly and resolutely that he skowred all China, and made it appear to the world that the Tartars were not invincible; Till at length one of his own Commanders called Thienus born in the City of Leaotung, being corrupted by the Tartars, shot him with an Arrow to death: which Arrow fixed the unconstant wheel of Chinas fortune, and lost the whole Empire. But the Traytor, not contented with this perfidious Act, began himself to run away, and by his example draw all the rest to imitate this Ignominious Action. His impudence passed yet to a higher strain, for comming to

the Imperial City, and finding the Emperour preparing to retire, he joyned himself with him, as a faithful friend participating of his adversity; till he heard the Tartars (who passing the River followed the Kings flight with all imaginable diligence) were come near him, and then he took the Emperour Prisoner, and delivered him to the Tartarian army in the year MDCXLIV. This unfortunate Prince being thus betrayed before he had reigned full one year, was sent to Peuking, and there upon the Town Walls was hanged publickly in a Bow string, which kind of death the Tartars esteem most noble. The pretended Son to the Emperour Zunchinius, whether he were true or false, run the same course of fortune, when they had discovered him still alive

Prison: for they did not onely put to death all those which belonged to the Imperial Family of the Taiminges by Consanguinity, but after a diligent search extirpated all they could find, which belonged to them even by Affinity; for it is a custom in Asia, if any one Conquer a Kingdom, to root out all belong to the Royal Family.

After this they divided their Army into two parts; the one they sent to Conquer the Mediterranean Provinces of Kiansi, Huquang, and Quangtung, which are all of a marvellous extent; the other like a swift Torrent over-run all, till they came to the very VVals of the renowned and vast City of Hangcheu, which is the head City of the Province of Chekiang. Into this City the principal fugitives of the Army

of China were retired; and those not only of the common Souldier but many great Commanders, and Prefects, where they resolved to choose a new Emperour called Lovangus, of the antient Family of Taimingus. But this Prince would never assume the Title of Emperour, but contented himself with the Title of King; thinking his fall would be less, and his death not so bitter, as if he fell from the Throne of an Emperour: but yet to the end to animate them to fight with more vigour than they had done heretofore, he promised them to take that title when they had regained one Emperial City. He had not reigned three days (a shorter space than their personated Kings use many times to reign in their Tragedies) but the Tartars arrive;

Which the fugitive Souldiers seeing, and thinking by this pinch of necessity to force their pay from the King and City, refused to fight before they had received their salary: It was on this occasion that King Lovangus his heart, not able to bear such a desolation of the Citie, of his people and Subjects, as he foresaw, gave such an example of his Humanity and Piety, as Europ never saw; for he mounted upon the City Walls, and calling upon his Knees to the Tartarian Captains, he begged the life of his Subjects. Spare not me (quoth he) I will willingly be my Subjects victime, and having denounced this unto them, he presently went out to the Tartars Army, where he was taken. This Illustrious testimony of his love to his Subjects

had not wanted a reward to Crown so Heroick an Action, if it met with a generous Soul like that of Alexander or of Caesar. VVhen they had the King Prisoner they commanded the Citizens to shut the Gates, and keep the VVals least either their own, or the Kings Souldiers should enter the City, and presently they fell upon the Kings men, whom they butchered in a most cruel manne, but yet the water destroyed more then there Swords or Arrows; for many cast themselves headlong into the great River of Cianthang, which is a Liege brood and runs neer the City, others leaping and overcharging the Boats in the River were presently sunck, oothers flying away, full of fear and confusion, thrust one another at the River side into that

unmerciful Element, and by all these many thousands perished. The Tartars wanting boats to pass this River, having thus expelled or killed the Souldiery, they returned Triumphant to the City, where they used neither force, nor violence; by which means this noble City was conserved, whose beauty, greatness, and riches, I hope to describe elsewhere, not by hear-say, but by what I saw the three years space I lived in it, and what I found when lately I came from it, into Europ. This City of Hangcheu hath an Artificial Channel or Dick to pass by water to the Northern parts of China; This Chanel is onely separated by the high part of the way like a Cause way from the River, which as I said, runs on the South part of the City. The

Tartars therefore drew many Boats out of this Chanel over the Causeway into the River Cienthang, and with the help of these Boats they pass the River without resistance, and found the fairest City in all China called Xaoking prone enough to submit to their victorious Arms. This City in bigness yields to many others, but in cleaness and comeliness it surpasses all: it is so invironed with sweet waters as a man may contemplate its beauty by rounding it in a Boat; it hath large and fair Streets paved on both sides with white square stones, and in the middle of them all runs a Navigable Chanel, whose sides are garnished with the like ornament, and of the same stone there are also built many fair Bridges and Triumphant Arches, the Houses also,

which I observe no where else in China) are built of the same square stone; so as in a word I saw nothing neater in all China. They took this Town without any resistance, and so they might have done all the rest of the Southern Towns of this Province of Chekiang. But when they commanded all by Proclamation to cut off their Hair, then both Souldier and Citizen took up Arms, and fought more desperately for their Hair of their Heads, than they did for King or Kingdom, and beat the Tartars not only out of their City, but repulst them to the River Cienthang: nay forced them to pass the River, killing very many of them. In truth, had they past the River, they might have recovered the Metropolis with the other Towns:

But they pursued their victory no further, being sufficiently contented that they had preserved their Hair, resisting them only on the South side of the shore, and there fortifying themselves. By this means the conquering Arms of the Tartars were repressed for a whole year. But the Chinois that they might have a Head, chose Lu Regulus of the Taimingian Family for their Emperour, who would not accept thereof, but would be only stiled the restorer of the Empire. In the mean time the Tartars had sent for new forces out of Peking: with which they left nere a Stone unturned, that they might get over the River Cienthang: but all was in vain. The drooping Affairs, therefore of the Chinois had a breathing: nay having gathered together

more Forces, they promised hemselves greater victories. But a desire and emulation of ruling frustrated all their hopes. For the Commanders, and Presidents which fled the Province of Chekian into the Country of Fokien, carried with them one of Taimingas Family called Thangus, and this man they chose King in the Country of Fokien, which confines with Chekiang. This Prince pretended that the K. called Lu. should yield up his right to him, both because he had but a few Cities under him, and also, because he was further removed from the Imperial race, then he was. But King Lu pretended he was Proclamed by the Army, before him, and wanted not to set forth his victories over the Tartars. By which two contentions, the Tartars came

to the Crown; for these two Royalets, would never yield to one another, nor so unite their Armies as joyntly to repress the Tartars. Since therefore this petty King Lu had onely eight Cities under his cōmand, whose Contributions were not able to maintain the necessary pay of his Army, he never durst venture to pass over the River, but endeavoured only to defend himself. But the Tartars sought all means possibly to get over this River, yet they durst not venture to pass in Boats, because King Lu had many Ships and good store of Artillery which he had caused to come from Sea. But the Tartars felicity, and prosperous fortune, overcame this difficulty: for as it happened that year being dryer then ordinary, this River towards the

South, where it runs betwixt high Mountains, which break the ebbing and flowing of the Sea, had lost much water and of depth, and here the Tartars Horse found it passable; and because the rudeness of those Mountains, seemed a sufficient Guard to the Country, they found no Souldiers to resist; but as soon as the Clowns espied twenty of their Horse to have passed the River, they presently advertised the Army, and they all betook themselves to flight. King Lu himself left the City Xaoking, and not daring to trust himself to the Continent, he took Ship and sayled to the Island called Cheuxan, which lyes opposit to the City of Nimpus; where he remains to this day safe, and keeps still his Regal dignity; which Island being

heretofore only a retreit for Fishermen, and some Clowns, now is become a potent Kingdom; by reason that many fly from China to this King Lu, as to there sanctuary to conserve the liberty of their Hair. In this Island they are now found threescore and ten Cities, with a strong and formidable Army, which hitherto hath contemned all the Tartarian Power and Forces, and watch for some happy occasion to advance again their Kingdom in China. But by this means, the Tartars took all the Cities and Towns of the County of Chekiang into their Dominion. One only City of Kinhoa, whose President was aswel a Native of the place, as also the Commander in Chief, and my very singular friend, sustained the Tartars assaults

for some months. But to the end the resistance of this City should not be a hinderance to the course of their victories, the Tartars divided their Army into three parts. The first part marched towards Kiucheu by the Mountains, the second went by the City Vencheu, and the Sea shore, into the Province of Fokien; and the third obstinately besieged the City of Kinhoa. In this Siege the Tartars by reason of great Guns which continually played upon them, and by the wise Conduct and courage of their noble Commander, suffered many and great losses; insomuch as he forced them to pitch their Camp further from the City; But at length they also brought Artillery from the chief City, by which they made so many breaches in the Walls

as being in a manner dismantled, they found entrance; and burned and sacked it with, all imaginable Hostility. The Governour blew up himself and all his Family with a Barrel of Gunpowder in his own Pallace, least he, or his, should fall into the Enemies hands.

The Province of Fokien is invironed with the bordering Countries of Quamgtung, Kiansi, and Chekiang; from all which it is separated by a continual Chain of Mountains which are even in breadth of three days journey to pass over; and withall, so full of ragged and ruggy Clifts, and obscure Vallys, as they make the very Paths horrid, dark and obscure at Noon day. Insomuch, as without any exaggeration they may well be paralelled either to the

Grecian Straits of Thermopolis, or to the Asian ruggy and strait passage of Taurus. These places might have been easily defended if they had but placed a few Clowns, to repel the Enemy or overthawrted the ways by any incumbrances; but the very imagination of a Tartar was grown so terrible to them, as they fled at the very sight of their Horses; leaving therefore these Mountains wholy ungarnished the Tartars found a passage, but so very painful, and full of difficulties, as they were forced to leave much of their Bagage behind them; and lost many of their Horses, in those fearful precipices; but by this means they took the Province of Fokien with as much ease, as it might have been defended, for they hardly spent as much time

in taking it as a man would do to walk the extent of it. The King himself whom I named Lunguus (as signifying a Warlike Dragon) shewed himself a fearful Sheep, flying away, with a good Army of men, if that word of good, can be applyed to a numerous multitude that had no hearts; but his flight served him for nothing; for the Tartars following him with their swift and nimb•e Horses, shot all this heard of silly Sheep to death with Arrows. It is thought the King himself was involved in this Massacre, for he never appeared, nor was heard of afterwards.

Now because the whole Province submitted it self voluntarily unto him without any resistance, it did not only suffer little from the Tartars, but he

may choose and select Souldiers out of it; and having thus again recruited his Army, he made another irruption into the Country of Quamgtung; and its worth remarking, that the other Tartarian Commander who when the Army was divided as I related before, had order to subdue the Mediterranean Countries; this man with some felicity and expedition passing victorious through the Provinces of Huquang and Kiangsi, entred also on one side of this Country of Quamgtung, whilst the other came in by Fokien, and because the Town of Nankiung resolved to fight it out, they consumed it all, by fire and sword. So the poor Country of Quamtung oppressed by a double victorious Army, was quickly over-run and subdued.

After the Glorious Trophies, one of these victorious Armies enriched with all the rarites of China, was called back to Peking, but yet they left a Garrison in every City, assigning in the name of the King of Tartars both Civil and Martial Officers, for the Countries Government.

The happy success in taking the impregnable Province of Fokien, is attributed by wise men, (to whose judgement I also submit) to a more remote and hidden cause which I will briefly relate. There was at this time a famous and renowned Pyrat called Chinchilungus; this man was born in the Province of Fokien, of which we are treating; he first served the Porteguise in Macao; then he served the Hollander in the Island called Formosa, where he was known

to all strangers by the name of Iquon. After this he became a Pyrat, but being of quick and nimble wit, he grew from this small and slender fortune, to such a height and power, as he was held either Superiour or equal to the Emperour of China; for he had the Trade of India in his hand; and he dealt with the Portugise in Macao; with the Spaniards in the Phillippins, with the Hollanders in the Island Formosa, and new Holland; with the Japonians, and with all the Kings and Princes of the Eastern parts in all manner of rich commodities. He permitted none to transport the Wares of China but himself or his, to whom he brought back the riches and the Silver of Europ and Indies; for after he once rather extorted then obtained pardon of the King

of China for his Pyracies, he became so formidable, as that he had no less than three thousand Ships of which he was Lord and Master. Nor was he contented with this fortune, but aspired privatly to no less than to the Empire; But because he knew he never should be accepted of the prefects & people, as long as there was any of the Emperial Family of the Taiminges alive, he hoped by the Tartars means to extinguish them wholy, and after this was done, then he resolved to display his Banners and Ensigns in so pious a cause, as the driving out the common Enemy from the bowels of the Kingdom, and no doubt but under this pretext, they would all have followed, helped and even adored him, as their Saviour.

It was therefore evident that he had secret correspondence with the Tartars; and that he favoured them for his own profit; And that which made the business more suspicious was, that at that time when the Tartars made their irruption into Fokien, he was then declared Lord Marshal of the Kingdom, and all the Generals, Commanders and Souldiers, were either of his affinity, or wholy at his Command and Obedience. And therefore it is no wonder if he found an easy admittance into the Country of Fokien; of which they presently made him King Pingnan, (as much as to say; Pacifier of the South) and they added many other Dignities, and Offices of trust, that they might more speciously illude him; for either they knew his aspiring

mind, or else his great power and authority was suspicious and formidable to them; but yet all the while the General of the Tartars remained in Fokien, they never expressed the least diffidence in him, but both with favours, courtesies, presents and honours, they studied how further to ingage him, and promised the Government of many more Provinces. He made himself therefore secure of the Government of all the Southern Provinces; but all happened quite contrary to his expectation; for when this General of the Tartars, who was observed as a little King, was to depart to Peking, the custom was for all the Officers of the Kingdom to conduct him, for some part of his journey to give him an honourable farewell; which last

duty of Civillity, Iquon could not handsomely avoid, nor indeed, had he any reason to be diffident of any distrust in him; so as he left his Navy in the Port of Focheu, and accompanied the Royolet with great splendor and magnificence. But when he came to take leave, and demand Licence to return; the General of the Tartars, invited him a long to Peking, where he promised him yet greater honours from the Kings own person, to reward his Merits. He endeavoured by all imaginable occasions, to excuse this journey, but nothing was accepted, he was forced by their kindness to accompany them to Peking; and so he was taken by Art, who by Arms seemed Insuperable. He yet lives in Prison in Peking, because his Brothers

and Kindred hearing of his Captivity, presently ceased on the Fleet; with which they have much infested China, as we shall touch hereafter.

In the mean time the other Army which had passed the Mediterranean Provinces of Huquang, Kiansi, and Quamgtung, invaded the Country of Quangsi. But here it was that the Arms of the Tartars which hitherto were held invincible, were shewed to be weak, and where they least expected opposition, there they found the greatest destruction. It happened that in this Province of Quangsi the Vice-Roy, called Khiu Thomas, was a Christian, and the chief Commander also of all the Militia of that Country was commanded by Ching Lucas, whose family for five Genetations has served the

Emperours of China, with as much constancy and fidelity, as they did Christ. These two having gathered many together, which fled from all parts into Quangsi, after the Tartars had taken many places in the Country, overthrew the Tartarians in a set Battail; and passing into the confining Province of Quamgtung, they recovered all the Western part of it. After this that they might have a head to fight for, and who might command and govern them in all Occurrences, and withall to draw the minds and hands of the Chineses to the common defence of the Country, knowing that in the City of Queilin, which is the head City of Quangsi, there was one of the Taiminges Family living, who was Nephew to the Great Vanleius, they

elected him Emperour, and called by the name of Jungley. This Prince fixed his Imperial seat in the noble City of Chatking in the Province of Quamgtung, and hitherto has fought several times with the Tartars, with good success. And in this Princes Court, the chief Eunuch called Pang Achilleus, is the greatest favourite, and a great Servant of Christ, whom he hath long professed to serve both by word and deed; for to propagate Christianity he has ever mantained a mission of Jesuites about him, by whose painful endeavours many have embraced the Faith of Christ; And amongst others the very Mother of this Emperour, his Wife, and his eldest Son, Heir of the Empire, called Constantin, did all imbrace Christianity. May this Man by the prayers

of all Christians prove another Constantine to the Empire of China. The Emperour himself is not averse from Christiany, but hitherto he hath deferr'd his Baptism, but yet he permitted his Wife to send a Father of the Society to do homage to the Sea Apostolick, as all Europe has heard. God of his goodness grant him that felicity, which may redound to the universal good of China, and Gods greater Glory.

But it was not only in Quangsi that the Chineses began to resume their courage, but in the Province of Fokien also; for no sooner was the Tartarian Army called back to Peking, but a petty Heathen Priest broke out of the Mountains of Fokien, with a band of seditious fellows, and subduing the Tartarian Garrisons

he took the fair City of Kienning, and many others from their subjection; and others which lay lurking in the Mountains following his example, recovered also many other Cities; about which time also the friends and Kindred of the Captive Iquon did extremely infest the Sea, and making descents upon the Land vexed the Province extremely about the Quarters of Siuencheu, and Changcheu. At this time the Governour of the Province of Chekiang was Vice-Roy of two Provinces, who hearing of these commotions came presently by night in great hast with all the force he could make, towards the Mountains of Fokien; for he with reason feared lest they should take possession of the passages of those places, which if they had done, the

whole Province had been regained. But when this Vice-Roy called Changus, found the Mountains and passages clear, and no opposition made in such difficult places, he then proclamed himself victorious, and his enemies perfidious Rebels: wherefore comming without resistance into the Country, he besieged the City Kienning, which was defended by Vangus. This Siege held some weeks, but he never could take the place by force, and therefore having lost many of his men by assaults, he judged it best rather to block up the place a far of, than to besiege it so close and neer. But yet by this, he hindred other forces from joyning with Vangus, so that he was not strong enough to sally out upon them.

When the noyse of these commotions

came to Peking, the Emperour presently sent a new supply to appease these tumults; and this fresh Army comming to joyn with the other, brought the City to great streights; but yet they could not win it, till at length they found means by a rare invention to transport their Canons over the Mountains upon Porters Shoulders, by which means they dismantled the Town, and put all whatsoever to the Sword, to the number of thirty thousand persons, as my own friends writ unto me; and not content with this, they set fire on the Town, and brought it all to ashes, by which means, the stately Church erected by the Christians for the service of God, was also consumed by that devouring flame; yet the Priests that served in

that Church got out miraculously as Lot did out of Sodom, which name was appropriated to this City, by reason of that infamous vice. This City being taken, it was no hard matter to recover the Country; for some fled to save themselves in the Mountains, others ran to the Sea, and so when this new Army had pacified all, they were called back to Peking; where it is not amiss to observe the policy which the Tartars use in the Government and ordering of their Army; they are ever calling back some, and sending out others; in which proceeding they aim at two things; first to keep the Countries in awe and subjection, by seeing variety of Troops continually passing up and down; and secondly to provide for the poorer sort of Souldiers;

for the wealthy Souldier is call'd back to recreate, and ease labours, and the poor Souldier seeing his Companion grown rich, takes heart and courage to run the course upon hopes of the like good fortune.

Yet for all these preventions and cautions, their Empire was not so established, but by frequent rebellions it was often indangered, and particularly by one Rebellion which now I will relate, which shaked shrewdly the foundations of the new Empire. The Kingdom of China is of so vast an extent, as it is a business of main importance, to distribute judiciously the Armies, and Garrisons. Now because the Tartars alone cannot suffice to furnish both, they are forced to use the help of the Chineses themselves, although they have

a special care never to leave or place either Commander or Souldier who is a Native of the same Country, where they sojourn; yet this care could not exempt them from several Treasons, and Rebellions; yet they distribute and order their Militia, with great circumspection; for the chief Commander or Governour resides in the Metropolitan City, whom all inferiour Officers obey. This man, maintains alwaies a compleat Army, which he commands to march, when he hears of any risings. Every City has also their own proper Governour, with a competent number of Souldiers, but those for the most part are Tartars, and these are Chines. But all this Political, and well-established Government could not defend them

from Traitors amongst themselves. The first man that did revolt from them was one Kinus Governour of the Province of Kiangsi. This man was born in Leaotung, and because it is a Country that borders upon Tartary, the King commonly most confides in the Natives of that Province. It happened, I know not how, that this Governour, by reason of some corruptions, and Avarice of the Visitor of the Country, had some difficulties with him, which grew by little and little to open hatred; and although they both dissembled their private malice, as usually they do in China, yet at length the flame broke out to the ruin of the Country; for being the one was Governour of the Arms, and the other of justice, there was a necessity of oft

meetings, & feastings also. It happened once that whilst they were feasted with a sumptuous Banquet, they were also intertained by a pleasant Comedy; in which the Actors were attired with the habits of China, which were more comely and fairer than those which the Tartars use; upon which occasion Kinus turning himself to the Visitor said, Is not this habit better, & graver, than ours? This innocent speech was interpreted by his corrival Judge, as if he had contemned the Edict about changing of Habits, and expressed too much love to the Chines Garments, before those of the Tartars; and of this he sent and Express to advertise the Emperour.

But the Governour Kinus, had a corrupted Secretary, which served the Lord Chief Justice,

who gave him intelligence of all that passed in word or deed in his Masters House. And as soon as he had notice that this Letter was sent to the Court, he presently dispatched those who intercepted the Packet, which the Governour having read, went presently armed to the Judges Palace, whom he suddainly killed. Then presently he with the whole Province revolted from the Tartars, and with the great applause of all the Chineses, he submitted himself to Jugley the new elected Emperour. One onely City called Cancheu, which was governed by an incorrupted Tartar, refused to submit, which was the whole, and onely cause, that the Tartars did recover the two Provinces Kiansi and Quamtung; both which Provinces revolted at the same

time with their Commanders, and both submitted also to the new elected Emperour. Lihusus was Governour of Quamtung at that time, who resolved to joyn his Forces with Kinus, and so to cast the Tartars out of the Empire; which it is believed they might have affected, if the Governour of Cancheu, which is the Key and entrance into four Provinces, had not cunningly undermined all their designs and intentions. But this man hearing that Lihuzus had revolted, and marched to joyn his Army with Kinus, dispatched to him this deceitful Letter. I have not hitherto submitted to Kinus, because I knew his forces were not equal, nor able, to resist the Tartars: But seeing thou my most renowned and valiant Captain, begins also to march against

them, my hopes are at an end. I am thine, and imbrace thy cause; whensoever thou shalt come, or send, I will render my City to thee or thine. But in the mean time he sent to all the Governours in Fokien, to send him secretly all the possible succour they could raise altogether. Lihuzus having received the Letter marched towards him, as cheerfully, and as confidently; But though hee found the Gates of the City open, yet he was furiously repelled by the Tartarians opposition; which unexpected accident so astonished his Souldiers, as many of them perished, and amongst the rest it is thought himself was killed, for he was never heard of after.

This reverse and cross fortune did much disturb the progress of the Emperour Jungley's

affairs, though Kinus in the mean time had many singular victories over the Tartars; for when the chief Governour of all the Western parts of China, who had placed his chief Seat in Nankuing, had gathered great Forces to repress this aspiring mind, yet he was several times routed and overthrown by him, and if Kinus had pursued the course of his victories, he might have come to the very Walls of Nankuing; but he was sollicitous of the City of Cancheu, which obliged him to a retreit; for neither was it safe for him to leave an enemy behind him, nor could he receive victuals from the Emperour Jungley, but by Cancheu, which is the natural descent of the River, and therefore when he heard of Lihuzu's defeat, he presently besieged

that City with his whole Army; But whilst he was besieging this City, their came, unfortunately, a new Army of Tartars from the Emperial City of Peking, which had order to recover this Province of Kiangsi; and therefore Kinus was forced to raise his Siege to oppose their entrance by the Northern parts of the Country; And at first having a vast Army, and used to the Tartarian warfare, he fought both valiantly and happily; but not being able to sustain any longer their redoubled violent assaults, he was forced to retire for his security to the Nanchang, the chief City of that Country; which City the Tartars durst not venture to take by force, but resolved to reduce it by a long Siege; for which end they gathered together a

Company of Country Clowns to make a large and spacious Trench round about the City to the River, and there they placed Ships, so as no Provision could possibly enter. This City of Nanchang is great and extremely full of inhabitants, besides the multitude of Souldiers which defended it at that time; so as although Kinus had made great Provision for a Siege, yet after some months he came to great want and penury; and yet he held it out though many dyed, expecting still some succours from the Emperour Jungley, which could not be sent; because the Souldiers of Quamgtung could never subdue the City of Chancheu, by which his succour was to pass; wherefore Kinus being brought to great extremity, expressed his mind to his

Souldiers in these words, There is no further hope, (my faithful Companions) but in our own valour and strength, we must force our way through the Tartarian Army by dint of Sword; be couragious, and follow my example. And having ordered all affairs, he suddainly made a Sally out of the Town upon their Trenches, where, though he found a vigorous opposition, yet with great difficulty he passed and forced their Trenches, by which means he saved himself and his Army, having killed many Tartars; for it is constantly reported that Kinus with his Army lives in the Mountains, expecting there some good occasion to renew the War.

He being thus escaped, the Tartars Pillaged the City, and put all the Citizens to the sword;

for it is the Tartars custom to spare all Cities which submit to them, and to those which have made resistance before they were taken they are more troublesome, but they never spare or pardon those Cities which revolt after they have once been taken. In this Slaughter they killed the two Priests which assisted the Christians, and their antient and fair Church was burned in the City. After this the Tartars easily recovered the whole Country, and having appeased all, and left new Garrisons in all places, the Army returned victorious to the Royal City of Peking. In the mean time this Court prepared new Armies to reduce Quamgtung with the other. Provinces which acknowledged Jungley for the Emperour of China; for the Tutor to the

young King of Tartary finding the defections and rebellions in the Southern parts to be very frequent; resolved to give those Quarters over to some Tributary Royolets, the better to contain those Countries in their duties; wherefore in the year MDCXLIX. he sent three Armies, consisting partly of Tartars, and partly of Chineses, under three Tributary Princes, to govern these Provinces with absolute power and Dominion; one of these was King of Fokien, another of Quamgtung, and the third of the Province of Quangsi; but with this condition, that first of all they should joyn their Forces to recover the Country of Quamgtung and drive away the Emperour Jungley. But we shall say more of this hereafter; now having seen the Rebellions

of the South, let us look a little back on the Rebellions in the North against the Tartars also.

In these Northern parts the Chineses shewed their desire of Liberty as much as they had done in the South; where the Commanders though overthrown, yet not taken, retired into the abrupt and precipitious Mountains, where they held Counsel, how they might shake off the Tartars Dominion; three of these heads inhabited the thickest and highest places of that mountanous Country; the chiefest of which was called Hous; this man being strong in men, invited the rest to joyn with him, to deliver his Country from this miserable thraldome; one of them consented, the other could not come, but

sent him two thousand men to assist him; so as Hous marched out with five and twenty thousand men, which was no contemptible Army if they had been as couragious, as numerous: He put out a Proclamation, in which he challenged the Tartars, and threatned them all extremities, and to the Chineses, he promised all liberty and freedom; and upon these hopes, many Towns and Cities admitted him very willingly. Sigan, the Metropolitan of the Country, was the only place able to resist him, having in its Walls three thousand Tartars, and two thousand selected men of China, who served the Tartar. The Governour of this Town hearing of Hous his motion, gathered all things necessary for a long Siege, till a new supply of Tartarian

Forces could be sent him. But when he heard that all the Towns and Cities in the Country did voluntarily submit themselves to Hous, to prevent the like effect in his own City, he resolved to murder all the Citizens most barbarously; nor would he ever be removed from this unhumane sentence, till the Vice-Roy commanding and perswading, and the Citizens promising all faithful service, at length he changed this Tyrannical Counsel. But he commanded under pain of death, that whereas hitherto the Chineses, who loved so much their Hair, that they only cut a little of it away, about their Temples, should hereafter shave it off wholy and totally, that so he might distinguish the Citizens from any others if perchance they entred:

he ordained besides, that if any spoke more than two together, they should all be presently killed; he forbad all men to walk upon the Walls, or to walk in the Streets by night, or to keep a Fire or Candle in his House by night, and finally disarmed all; declaring it death to infringe any of these orders.

These things being thus ordered, he sent out some Scouts to discover the enemies strength, who were partly killed, and partly came flying back to the City; but this Tartarian Governour, as well to make an oftentation of his strength, as of his security, commanded the City Gates to be lest open, nor would he permit the Draw Bridge to be raised or pulled up, to shew he feared nothing. But for all

this the Commander Hous besieges this City a far off, which was three Leagues compass, and out of the reach of their Artillery; and to the end he might make a shew of greater forces than indeed he had, he joyned to his Army a Company of dull headed Clowns, by which means he made up a Body of thirty thousand men. The Governour of the City seeing such an Army as appeared, believed them all to be Souldiers, and lest his Citizens should joyn with them, he thought again of cutting all their throats; but his friends ever diverted him from this outragious cruelty; and therefore to divert himself from such horrid projects, he used to walk upon the Walls, and recreate himself in seeing the Chineses under his colours fight so

valiantly against Hous; for when he saw this, he used to cry out in their Language, Hoo Manzu, (as much as to say) O good Barbarians; for so the Tartars call the Chinaes, as conquering Nations use to expose the conquered to scorn and derision; and he crowned this scoff with these words Mauzuxa Manzu, as much as to say, let the barbarous kill the barbarous; yet notwithstanding when they returned victorious, he did not onely praise them, but gave them Mony, and other pretious rewards, which were exposed to publick view upon the Walls to animate them to high and generous exploits; so as Hous finding no Body stir in the City, as he expected, could do nothing; besides their came new succours to the Tartarian Army, which when Hous understood

by his spys, he presently retired. But yet this flight did not serve his turn, nor could he wholy escape the Tartars hands, for the Horsemen pursuing them fell upon the rear, and killed many, carrying away great store of Riches, which the Commander distributed in such proportion, as he gave most to such as were wounded; what became of Hous after this action, is unknown, and therefore I conclude that these Northern revolts produced no other effect, but the spoyl, Rapin and Plunder of all those Quarters, as it had produced the like in the Southern parts. The Tartars having happily overcome all difficulties hitherto, fell into another by their own insolency; from the yeare MDCXLIX. the Emperour of the Tartars, being now grown

up to mans Estate, desired to Marry the Daughter of the King of Tayngu, who is Prince of the Western Tartars, hoping by this match, to conserve the friendship of him, whose Forces he feared; for this end he sent his Uncle to him, who was King of Pauang. This Prince passed by the impregnable City of Taitung; which as it is the last City towards the North, so also it is the Key and Bulwork of the Province of Xansi against the irruption of the Western Tartars; for it commands all the Souldiers which keep the many Fortifications of those Quarters, where a fair Level down extending it self beyond that famous Wall, I mentioned heretofore, gives a fit occasion for the incursion of the Tartars. The Women of this City are

held the most beautiful of all China; and therefore it happened, that some of the Embassadours followers did ravish some of them, and also carried away by a Rape, a Person of quality, as she was carried home to her Spouse, which was a thing never heard of heretofore amongst the Chinese. The people had recourse for these injuries to Kiangus, who governed those Quarters for the Tartars; who hearing of this gross abuse, sent to that petty Prince Pauang, to demand the new Married Lady to be restored, and to desire him to prevent future disorders in that nature; but he gave a very slight Ear to such complants, and therefore Kiangus himself went unto him, who was not only slighted, but even cast out of the Palace. His anger was quickly

turned into rage; which made him resolve to revenge that injury by the Tartars bloud; he therefore Musters his Souldiers, and presently falls on the Tartars, kils all he could encounter; the Embassadour himself being let down by the Walls of the Town, hardly escaped by swift Horses. Then Kiangus displayed a Banner, wherein he declared himself a Subject to the Empire of China, but named no Emperour in particular, because perchance he had heard nothing of the Emperour Jungley, by reason of so vast a distance. But, however, he invited all the Chineses to the defence of their Country, and to expell the Tartars; and many Captains as well as Souldiers, came in to him; yea even the very Western Tartars against

whom he had ever Born Arms, being promised great rewards, sent him the Forces which he demanded. This accident extremely troubled the Court; for they knew well that the Western Tartars did both aspire to the Empire of China, and also were envious at their prosperous course of fortune; they also knew that they were more abundant Men and Horses than they were; for from hence it is they bought all their best Horses, and they feared that now they should have no more; and therefore they resolved to send presently a good strong Army against him, before he should gather a greater strength. But Kiangus who was as valiant as crafty, and one who by long experience knew how to deal with the Tartars, first

feigned to fly with his Army; But in the rear he placed very many Carts and Wagons, which were all covered very carefully as if they had carried the richest Treasures they possessed, but in real truth they carried nothing but many great, and lesser pieces of Artillery, with their mouths turned upon the Enemy: all which the Tartars perceiving presently pursue, they fight without any order, and fall upon the prey with great Avidity; but those that accompanied the Wagons, firing the Artillery, took off the greatest part of the Army, and withall Kiangus wheeling about came up upon them, and made a strange carnage amongst them; and after this he shewed himself no less admirable in Stratagems than in fortitude and courage, when he fought a set pitched

field with a new recruited Army of the Tartars, in which he obtained so noble, and renowned a victory, that he filled all the Court at Peking with fear and trembling; for by this means victorious Kiangus had gathered so vast an Army, as he counted no less then a hundred and forty thousand Horse, and four hundred thousand foot, all men having recourse to him, to defend their Country against the Tartarian Army; And therefore Amavangus, Tutor to the Emperour, thinking it not fit to commit this business to any but to himself, resolved himself to go against Kiangus, and try the last turn of fortune for the Tartars; he therefore drew out all the eight Colours, that is, the whole Forces that were then in Peking; for under these eight

colours are comprehended all the Forces of the Kingdom of China, whether they be Natives or Tartars; the first of which is White, called the Imperial Banner; the second is Red, the third is Black, the fourth is Yellow; and these three last are governed and Commanded by the Uncle of the Emperour, but the first is immediatly subject to the Emperour; of these four colours by several mixtures, they frame four more, so as every Souldier knows his own colours, and to what part of the City to repair, where they have ever their Arms and Horses ready for any expedition; so as in one half hour they all are ready; for they blow a Horn just in the fashion of that, which we appropriate usually to our Tritons, and by the manner of winding

it, they presently know, what Companies and Captains must march, so as they are ready in a moment to follow their Ensign, which a Horse-man carries tyed behind him, though commonly none but the Commander and Ensign knows whether they go: this profound secrecy in their exercise of War, has often astonished the Chineses; for many times, when they thought to oppose them in one part, they presently heard they were in another Quarter; and it is no wonder they are so quick, for they never carry with them any Baggage, nor do they take care for Provision; for they fill themselves with what they find, yet commonly they eat Flesh, though half rosted, or half boyled; if they find none then they devour their Horses, or Camels;

but ever when they have leasure, they go a hunting all manner of wild Beasts, either by some excellent Dogs and Vultures, which they bring up for that end, or else by incompassing a whole Mountain, or large Field, they beat up all the wild Beasts into a Circle, and drive them into so narrow a Compass, as that they can take as many as they please, and dismiss the rest. The earth covered with their Horse-cloath is their Bed; for they care not for Houses, and Chambers; but if they be forced to dwell in Houses, their Horses must lodge with them, and they must have many holes beaten in the Walls; but yet their Tents are most beautiful, which they fix and remove with such Art and dexterity, as they never retard the speedy march of an Army. Thus

the Tartars train their Souldiers to hardness for War.

Out of all these Ensigns Amavangus chose the choicest men to accompany his person. And besides, he took part of those which he had deputed to follow the three Royalets which he dispatched to the South, ordering them to take as many out of the several Garrisons through which they passed, as might supply this defect. But yet although Amavangus had so gallant, and such a flourishing Army, yet he never durst give Battail to Kiangus, lest he might seem to expose the whole Empire of the Tartars to the fortune of one Battail; So that although Kiangus did frequently offer him Battail; yet he ever refused to fight, expecting still to hear what reply the Western

Tartars would make to his Proposition of his Nephews Marriage; for he had sent a Legate to that Tartarian King with pretious gifts, as well to demand his Daughter for the Emperour of China, as to desire him to afford no succour to the Rebel Kiangus. The pretious gifts of Gold, of Silk, of Silver, and of Women, obtained whatsoever he demanded; and therefore Kiangus seeing himself deserted of the Tartars, that he might provide as well as he could for his own affairs, he returned to the City Taitung, of which he soon repented himself, when it was too late; for Amavangus calling in an innnumerable number of Pezants, in the space of three days, with an incredible diligence, cast up a Trench of ten Leagues cōpass, which he so fortified

with Bulworks and Ramparts, that in a trice he blocked up that City. Then did Kiangus see his errour in granting them leasure to draw their Trench, which he knew would debar him from all manner of Provision. And therefore being inraged with anger, as he was a man full of metal, and a great Souldier, turning himself to his Souldiers, he said, If I must dye, I had rather dye by the Sword, than by Famin; and upon this marched out presently to the Enemies Trench with his whole Army. Here it was that both the parties fought most obstinately, the one to seek his passage, the other to hinder his advance; so as the fortune was various, and the victory doubtful, untill an unlucky Arrow transpeirc'd Kiangus, and in him all

the hope of China perished. His Souldiers seeing him dead, partly run away, and partly submitted to the Tartars, who received them with all courtesy and humanity; for they had cause enough of joy, to see they had escaped the danger of losing the Empire, and that they had conquered so formidable a Commander. But yet they Plundered the City •aitung, and burned the City of Pucheu, where the Church of the Christians also perished. From hence the Tartars returned to Peking, where I saw them enter overloaden with Riches and triumphant Laurels; But Amavangus pursued his journey to the Western Tartars, where he ratified his Nephew Xunchius his Marriage, and brought back with him an infinit Company of

Horse from the Tartars of the Kingdom of Tanyu. In the mean time, the three Royalets which went to the Southern Kingdoms, to pacify those unquiet Provinces, passed their journey by the descent of the River Guei, and when they passed through that Province, which the Emperour had given the Tartars to inhabit, and cultivate, after he had expelled the Chineses for their Rebellion; most of these Pezants, being wholy ignorant of tilling and manuring the ground, as having never been used to mannage a Spade or a Plough, but their Swords, these men I say, desired earnestly these Princes, that they might accompany them in these Wars, and in their expeditions; Two of these Princes rejected their Petitions, but the third called

Kengus without any consent or order from the Emperour, listed them amongst his own Troups; upon which they joyfully changed their rustical instruments into weapons for War; when the Emperour heard of this proceeding, he sent word to Kengus to dismiss them, but he pretended various excuses, and did neglect the Emperours orders. He therefore commanded the supreme Governour of all the Southern Quarters, who resides ever at Nanking, to take Kengus either alive or produce him dead. He presently cast about how to compass the Emperours command with all secrecy, and received the three Royolets with all sorts of divertisements, of Comedies, Banquets, and the like pleasures, as if he had received no distastfull order from the

Emperour. And when the day was come that they resolved to prosecute their journey by the great River of Kiang, the said Governour contrived his business so, as he met them again in the River, and under pretence of taking his last farewell, he intertained them nobly with a Royal feast, and in as Royal a Junck, which in China are so magnificent, as they resemble rather some gilded Palaces than floating Vessels. In this Princely Ship he entertained these Princes in all jollity and mirth, untill their Army had advanced a good way before, and then he declared to Kengus the Emperours order; who presently promised all submission, and to return to Nanking with him, if he would onely permit him to go to his Ship, which expected

him in the River, to order some little affairs of his own; which being granted, he no sooner got into his Ship, but knowing he could not avoid death by another mans hand, he chose rather to be his own executioner, and hanged himself. Yet for all this, the supreme Governour in the Emperours name, granted to this Mans Son the same Dignity and Province which had been conferred upon the Father; and thus the three Royalets joyning again, having passed Nanking and Kiangsi, came at length into the Province of Quamgtung, to carry on the War against the Emperour Jungley; and at their first entrance, they took many Cities, which were loath to oppose the strength of their Armies; onely, the City of Quangcheu resolved to try its fortune and strength.

This City of Quangcheu is a most rich and beautiful place, environed with large waters, and is the onely Southern Port within the Land, to which Boats may have access; In this Town was the Son of the Captive Iquon whom I mentioned before; besides, there was a strong Garrison to defend it, and amongst others many fugitives from Macao, who were content to serve the Emperour Jungly for great stipends; and by reason the Tartars had neither Ships, nor skill to govern them, and that the Town had both the one and the other, it is no wonder if they endured almost a whole years Siege, having the Sea open for their relief, But they made many assaults, in which they lost many men, and were ever beaten

back, and vigorously repelled. This courage of theirs, made the Tartars fall upon a resolution of beating down the Town Walls, by their great Canon, which took such effect, as in fine they took it the 24. of November MDCL. and because it was remarked that they gave to one of the Prefects of the Town, the same Office he had before, it was suspected it was delivered by Treason. The next day after, they began to Plunder the City, and the sackage endured from the 24. of November till the 5. of December, in which they never spared Man, Woman or Child, but all whosoever were cruelly put to the Sword; nor was their heard any other Speech, But, Kill, Kill these barbarous Rebels; yet they spared some artificers to

conserve the necessary Arts, as also some strong and lusty men, such as they saw able to carry away the Pillage of the City; but finally the 6. day of December came out an Edict, which forbad all further vexation, after they had killed a hundred thousand men, besides all those that perished severall ways during the Siege. After this bloody Tragedy, all the Neighbouring Provinces sent voluntarily their Legats to submit, demanding onely mercy, which they obtained by the many rich presents which were offered. After this the Royalet marched with his Army, against the City Chaoking, where the Emperour Jungley held his Court; but he knowing himself far inferiour in Forces, and unable to resist, fled away with his whole Army

and Family, leaving the City to the Tartars mercy. But whither this Emperour fled, is yet wholy unknown to me, for at this time I took Shipping in Fokien to the Philippines, and from thence I was commanded to go for Europe, by those to whom I consecrate my self, and all my labours. But I make no doubt, but the Emperour retired into the adjoyning Province called Quangsi.

Now to give the Reader a little touch how the Tartars stand affected to Christianity, it deserves to be reflected on, that in the Metropolitan City of Quangcheu, which as I now related was utterly destroyed, there was a venerable person, who had the care and superintendency of all the Christians, whose name was Alvarus Semedo

a Jesuit; this Man they took and tyed hand and foot, for many days, and threatned to kill him every hower, unless he would deliver the Christians Treasures; but the poor Man had no Treasure to produce; so as he suffered much, till at length the King hearing of his case, took pitty of his venerable gray Heirs and comely person, and gave him not onely his life and liberty, but a Bible, and Breviary, which is their Prayer Book, together with a good sum of Mony for an Alms, and finally a House to build a Church for Christians; and this is less to be wondred at from him, who heretofore was a Souldier under that famous Sun Ignatius, whom I mentioned before, where he knew what belonged to Christianity, and also had seen the Jesuits

in the Camp, from whence he fled to the Tartars. Nor is it onely this Tartar that loves us Christians, but in a manner all the rest do love, honour, and esteem those Fathers, and many have imbraced our Religion, nor do we doubt but many more would follow their example, if we could enter Tartary, as now it is projecting, where doubtless many great things might be performed, for the reducing of that Nation to the Faith of Christ; and perchance God has opened away to the Tartars to enter China, to give Christianity a passage into Tartary, which hitherto to us have been unknown and inaccessible.

About this time also they made War against the Kingdom of Corea; for of late years they became also Tributary to the

Tartars, upon condition that they should still conserve their Hair and habits: but now the Tartars would needs constrain them to conform themselves to the Tartarian fashion; and therefore all that Kingdom revolted from the Tartars; but my departure hindred me from knowing since what has passed.

But all these glorious victories were much Eclipsed, by the sorrowful death of Amavangus, which happened in the beginning of the year MDCLI. He was a Man to whom the Tartars owe their Empire in China, and such an one as whom both Tartars and Chineses loved and feared, for his prudence, Justice, humanity, and skill in Martial affairs. The death of this Potentate did much trouble the Court; for the Brother to this

Man called Quingtus, would needs pretend to the Government of the Empire, and of the young Emperour Xunchius, but both the Tartars and the Chineses resisted his clame, alleging, that, being of sixteen year old, he was able to govern the Kingdom himself, and in conformity to this opinion, all the Presidents deposed the Ensigns of their Offices, refusing ever to receive them from any, but from the young installd Emperour Xunchius. To which Constancy the King Kuintus, Uncle to the Emperour, prudently yielded, lest he should exasperate the minds of many, and raise greater troubles in the Empire than would advance his Family.

But I cannot doubt, but the death of Amavangus, must needs trouble the Tartarian Empire,

and bring all their affairs into great disturbance; for they will hardly find a Man so beloved, feared, and expert in all Military Discipline and Government as he in effect shewed himself to be; but time will teach us, what will become of all, for since his death we have no certainty of any relation; now let us turn the threed of our discourse as I promised here above, and consider the fortune and success of the other Great Brigand called Changhienchungus, to let the Reader understand how the Tartars did invade not onely the Mediterranean and Oriental parts, but also the Occidental Quarters of that vast Kingdom.

But before I begin to speak of this monster of nature, I must ingenuously confess, I am both ashamed, and also touched with

a kind of horrour, to declare his villanies, both in respect they seem to exceed all belief, and therefore I may perchance be held to write Fables, as also it is not handsome to make reflections on such Subjects; yet I may sincerely protest, that I have in my hands a long relation of all his Acts, written by two Religious persons, who were then in the Province of Suchuen to exercise their Functions, which Country was the Theater of all his Brutalities which I shall relate; and because I judge these two persons to be of an incorrupted a Faith, I judge therefore that a mortal Man might arrive to this pitch of wickedness and inhuman Cruelty. I therefore gathered out of that relation, what I here relate, which is nothing else but a vast Mass of

such abhominable Cruelty, as I doubt not even the most mildest Reader will take the Authour to be no Man but some horrid wild Beast, or rather if no more execrable name occurs, some Devill transvested in our humane Nature.

This monster like a wild Bear entred into divers Provinces, filling all with Rapin, Death, Fire and Sword, with all other imaginable miseries; for he had a mind to destroy all, that so he might have no enemies, or leave any alive that might revolt from him, but onely content himself with his own Souldiers, and often times he spared not these. But the Province of Suchuen, where he usurped the Title of a King was the chief Theater of his barbarous Cruelty; for after he had afflicted and vexed

the Provinces of Huquang and Honan, and part of that of Nanking and Kiangsi, he entred the Province of Suchuen in the year MDCXLIV, and having taken the principal City called Chingtu, in the heat of his fury he killed a King of the Tamingian race, which here had established his Court; as he hath done also to seve• other Grandees of the same Family. These were the Preludes of the Tragical Acts, whose Scenses I go about briefly to describe, that so Europe may see, what a horrid and execrable thing an unbridled and armed cruelty appears to be, when it furiously rageth in the darkness of Infidelity.

This Brigand had certain violent and suddain buttads of furious cruelty, and maxims drawn from the very bowels of vengeance

it self; for if he were never so little offended by another, or suspected another to be offended with him, he presently commanded such to be massacred; and having nothing in his mouth but murder and death, he often for one single Mans fault destroy'd all the Family, respecting neither Children, nor Women with Child; nay many times he cut off the whole Street where the offender dwelled, involving in the Slaughter, as well the innocents as nocents. It happened once he sent a Man Post into the Country of Xensi, who being glad he was got out of the Tyrants hands, would not return; to revenge this imaginary injury, he destroyed all the Quarter of the City in which he dwelt, and thought he much bridled his fierceness, that he did

not wholy extinguish all the City. To this I adde another unhumane Act about his Hangman, whom it seems he loved above the rest, because he was Crueller than the rest; when this Man was dead of his Disease, he caused the Physician who had given him Physick to be killed; and not content with this, he Sacrifised one hundred more of that Profession to the Ghost of his deceased Officer.

He was affable and sweet towards his Souldiers; he played, banquetted, and feasted with them, conversing familiarly with them; and when they had performed any Military Action, with honour and valour, he gave them precious gifts of Silks and moneys; but yet many times he commanded some of them to be cruelly put to death before him;

especially such as were of the Province of Suchuen where he reigned, whom he intirely hated them, because he thought they did not rejoyce in his Royal dignity. Insomuch as he hardly ever did any publick Action, which though it begun like a Comedy, yet had not in fine, the sad Catastrophie of a Tragedy; for if walking out he did but espie a Souldier ill clad, or whose manner of Gate or walking was not so vigorous or Masculine as he desired, he presently commanded him to be killed. He once gave a Souldier a piece of Silk, who complained to his fellows of the pooreness of the piece, and being overheard by a spye, (of which he had a great number) who presently acquainted him with what was said, he presently commanded

him, and this whole Legion which were of two thousand Men, to be all Massacred.

He had in his Royal City some six hundred Prefects, or Judges, and men belonging to the Law, and such as managed the principal Offices; and in three years space there was hardly twenty left, having put all the rest to several deaths for very slight causes; He caused a Sergeant Major which the Chineses call Pingpu, to be flead alive, for having granted leave to a China Philosopher, without special order, to retire a little to his Country House. And whereas he had five hundred Eunuchs taken from the Princes of the Tamingean Family, after he had put their Lords to death; he commanded all these to be cruelly put to death; onely because

one of them had presumed to stile him, not by the Title of a King, but by the bare name of the Theef Changhienchungus, as if he then were no Theef.

Nor did he spare the Heathenish Priests, who sacrifised to their Idols. These sort of men, before he came into this Country, having feigned many crimes against the Priests, which Preached the Faith of Christ, had raised a bitter persecution against them; which God of his goodness did turn so much to their good, as they had permission to teach and Preach publickly the Law of Christ. But after this Tyrant came into the Country, the chief of these Heathenish Priests was apprehended for some words let fall against him, and in the presence of the Fathers, who by accident were

then at audience with the Tyrant, he was beheaded; And although they had learned of Christ to do good for evill, yet knowing the phrenetical anger and fury of this monster, who used to punish those that interceded, with the punishment of the offender, they durst not make any motion for the least favour. It is true, this cruel Beast loved these Fathers, and would often converse with them, whom he experienced wise and learned, and he would often call them to the Palace to entertain him in discourse; but they knowing well his precipitous anger, went ever prepared, and expecting death, and indeed they were thrice deputed to death, and the fourth time escaped by Gods particular providence, as we shall relate in time and place.

But he was not contented with the death of one of these same Heathenish Priests, but having got together about twenty thousand of the same profession, he sent them all to Hell, to visit their Masters whom they had served. And then he would applaud himself as if he had done a very Heroical Action, saying to them, These Men would have taken away your lives; but Thiencheu, so they call God, which signifies the Lord of Heaven, has sent me to revenge your cause, and inflict due punishment upon these wretches. He would often confer also with the Fathers of Christian Religion, and that so properly as a man would take him for a Christian. He praised, and highly extolled the Religion of Christians, which he well understood, partly by the

conferences which he frequently had with the Fathers, and partly by reading their Books, which for the Instruction of Christians they had writ in the China Language; and hath often promised to build a Church to the God of Christians, worthy of his magnificence, when he once came to be Emperour of China; and indeed all the works he erected were very splendid and magnificent; but he polluted them all with the blood of the Workmen; for if he found they had but committed the least errour, or the least imperfection, he presently put them to death upon the place.

On the North part of the Coūtry of Suchuen, where it confines with the Province of Xensi, lyes the strong City called Nanchung, which though it be seated in the

County of Xensi, yet in respect, it is both so strong and of so great an extent, it is held to be the Key of both the two Provinces. The Tyrant endeavoured by all industry to make himself Master of this important place, as being a convenient passage to the rest; wherefore in the year MDCXLV. he levied a vast Army, consisting of one hundred and fourscore thousand men, all Natives of the County of Suchuen, besides those of his own, which had alwaies followed him. This numerous Army besieged the Town a long time, but found so rigorous resistance, that they began to be weary, and about fourty thousand of those Souldiers of Suchuen revolted to the Prefects which governed the beleagured City; by which means the Army

was constrained to return to the Tyrant, without any memorable Action: and he being enraged with anger to see them return, commanded all the rest of the Souldiers of the Province of Suchuen, which were in number one hundred and forty thousand, to be all massacred by the rest of the Army. This horrible Butchery lasted four days; in which slaughter he commanded many of them to have their skins pulled of, which he filling with straw, and sowing on the head, commanded to be carried publickly and visibly into the Towns where they were Born, so to strike more terrour into the hearts of the inhabitants; and after all this, yet he had such a malitious hatred against this Country, that they did not rejoyce that he was King, as he

never ceased to vex and torment it, even when it was in a manner left desolate. Many unexpert persons, without head or guide, did take Arms against him, but he quickly dispersed them, being wholy unexperienced in Military Discipline; others that were wiser, leaving the City, retired into the Mountains, which were in a manner the onely Men who escaped his fury.

After this he called all the Students of the Country to be examined for their degrees, promising to give those honours, to whomsoever should deserve them best; and the Chineses are so bewitched with the desire of these dignities, that they did not conceive the perfidious Stratagem of the Tyrant. Their appeared therefore in the publick

Hall deputed for that Ceremony about eighteen thousand persons; all which he commanded his Souldiers to massacre most barbarously, saying, These were the people who by their cavilling sophisms, sollicited the people to rebellions.

I have a horrour to relate so many unhumane slaughters, and yet I see my self over-whelmed with new ones; for what an addition is it to all his related barbarities, to tell you, that he never spared Children, Boys, nor Girls, no nor Matrons with Child and ready to lye down? what an excess of all inhumanity to take the Prefects Wives, when their Husbands were condemned, but yet alive, and to expose these Women to all kind of villanies, and then to kill them? This was so sensible to

many, as they rather chose to kill themselves, than to undergoe so infamous and publick an opprobry by their honesty. I forbear to relate more of such detestable and execrable examples, lest I offend the ears and minds of the Reader by such abhominations.

Let us therefore suppress these impurities, and pass to what happened in the year MDCXLVI. when the Tartars entred into the Province of Xensi to give him Battail, so as he was forced to go out to meet them. And, to the end he might leave the Country behind him with more security, he resolved to cut off all the inhabitants, except those which inhabited the North-East Quarters by which he was to pass, and therefore must needs reserve these Creatures to assist

and furnish his Army with all necessaries; and therefore he deferred their death to another time. He therefore commanded all the Citizens of what quality or condition soever they were, that did inhabit his Metropolitan City of Chingtu to be bound hand and foot, which was done by a part of the Army, which he had called in; and then riding about them, which vast multitude is related to have been above six hundred thousand Souls, he viewed them all with less compassion than the cruelst Tyger would have done; whilst in the mean time, these poor victims with lamentable crys, which penetrated the very vault of Heaven, and might have moved a heart composed of stone or Rock, holding up their hands, begged of this outragious Tyrant

to spare the lives of his innocent people. He stood a while Pensive, like an astonished and amazed Creature, so as it seemed to be an imperfect Crisis, wherin humane nature struggled a little with those bowels, and that heart which was composed of all cruelty; but presently returning to his beastly nature, Kill, Kill, saith he, and cut off all these Rebels, upon which words, they were all massacred in one day out of the City Wals, in the presence of this bloody monster. Those Religious persons which are there, the Fathers of Christianity, resolved to make their addresses for the Tyrant to save their innocent servants lives; and though all men judged it a desperate attempt, yet they obtained the lives of those they claimed. So as they distributed

themselves at the City Gates, and as their Clients passed bound to the Shambles, they mercifully unbound their Shakles, and rescued them from death. By which occasion also they performed another acceptable Sacrifice to God, in Baptizing an infinit number of Children, which the Souldiers willingly permitted, so as the horrid and execrable cruelty of this Tyrant proved as advantagious to these little Angels, as Herods slaughter did to the Blessed Innocents.

They write, that in this massacre their was so much blood spilt, as made the great River of Kiang, which runs by the City, to increase and swell visibly; and the dead Corps being cast into the River, and carried downwards to the other Cities, did denounce unto them, that

they were to expect no better Treaty from this Tyrants hands. And it quickly proved true, for he dispatched his Army to the rest of the Cities, and killed all that he could lay hands on; and thus this Tyrant did bring that populous Province of Suchuen into a vast wilderness. After this, he mustered all his Souldiers into a Field, which in China is ever deputed for that end, and is called by the Natives Kioochang, in this place, he delivered himself thus unto them, I hope by your valour to obtain the Empire of the world, when I have expelled the Tartars; but I desire to see you yet quicker and nimbler than hitherto you have been; you all know, to free you from all burdens and heavy luggage, how I sunck threescore Ships full of Silver in the River of Kiang;

which I can easily recover, to reward your pains and merits, when I shall once have obtained the Empire; he had indeed sunk the Ships, and killed the Ship-men, to conceal the place; but there remains yet a greater encumbrance, which retards much our journy, and all our enterprises, which is your Wives, which are a heavy burden to you all; Therefore put on a generous resolution, There will not be wanting other exquisit Women, when we are come to possess the Empire; and although as Emperour I ought to have some Prerogative, and make a difference betwixt you and my Royal person, yet I am content in this, to give you all a leading example, which may serve as a President. After this Speach, of three hundred handsome and beautiful Maids, which he kept

for his voluptuous pleasures, he onely reserved twenty to serve his three Queens, and commanded all the rest to be killed upon the place. The Souldiers presently followed the example and command of their cruell Tyrant, and cut off the heads of innumerable innocent Women, as if they had been their mortal enemies.

Having now no more men in the Province of Suchuen to put to death, he turned his fury and hatred against Cities, Houses and Palaces: for whereas he had built himself a very stately and magnificent Palace in the City of Chingtu, he consumed that, and with it, a great part of that noble City with fire; besides he cut down all Trees and Woods, that they might profit no man. And thus (as he said)

having purged his Army, he marched on into the Province of Xensi to meet the Tartars; but as he marched, if he found any man remaining alive, he commanded him to be killed. And not content with all this, if he espied any Souldier which marched either too far before, or too far behind, though the fault were never so little, he killed him presently. He killed all his sick or weak Souldiers, that they might be delivered (as he said) out of so miserable and ruined a Country. I suppress many more passages of his cruelty, because I will hasten to the Catastrophe of this Tragedy.

He was no sooner entred into the Province of Xensi, but one of the Emperours Uncles meets him with five thousand Tartars, and the Body of the Army marched

after him; five Horsemen run before the Army as usually they do amongst the Tartars; who if they be well received of the enemy, they retire, and take it as a sign of Peace and submission; but if they receive any Act of hostility, then they march up to fight. These Horsemen were espied by the Tyrants Scouts, who presently brought him tydings of their approach. But he laughed at the news, and jestingly asked them, If the Tartars had learned to fly. He had at that time many persons tyed before him, which he intended to massacre, and amongst the rest two of the Jesuits, for asking leave to return into Suchuen, which was the Country they had undertaken to convert to Christianity. But the suddain death of this Archbrigand delivered them

all, from the imminent danger; for at the same time came in his chief Commanders, assuring him the Tartar was upon him; upon which news, he being of a bold and couragious humour, burst out of his Tent, and without either head-piece or brest-Plate, snatched up a Lance, went out with a few, to view the enemy. The Tartars presently assaulted the Tyrant; and the first discharged Arrow, which was as happy to the Tartars, as it was to many others, peirced the heart of that monster of Cruelty, killing that Man, who had an intention to make an end of all Men; and who from the base condition of a raskally Theef, presumed to take the Sacred Title of King and Emperour. The head being down, the Tartars easily seized on the body of his

Army; but many of the Souldiers submitted to them, others were killed, others run away; and the poor inhabitants of the Province of Suchuen received the Tartars as their Saviours. By which means this Province, which is the most Western in China, and borders upon the Kingdom of Tibet, became subject to the Tartarian Empire.

When they had established Garrisons, and all their other affairs in that Country, they prepared to return to the Royal City of Peking; leading with them the two Captive Priests, which they had found in Chains, as a present most acceptable to the Tartarian Emperour, there I saw then, and left them in great veneration and honour in the year MDCL.

But this victorious Conquerour

returning crowned with Laurels, was ill received and worse recompensed, by his Brother the great Amavangus, who was the Emperours Tutor; and instead of a deserved tryumph, he received an unworthy death; for being to make a march of many Months, to undergo much labour, and many troubles, it happened so, as he lost more Men in marching than in fighting; he was accused of great negligence in governing his Army; and being of a generous nature, he thought he deserved high praise, but no blame, and therefore he took his Tartarian Cap, and scornfully trampled it upon the ground, which is the greatest sign of indignation, which they can express; upon which fact he was committed to a Prison proper to those of the

blood Royal which he accused of any Crime; But he scorned to be the first of the Tartarian Family, which should suffer this first opprobry in China; and therefore before he was carried to this Prison called by the Chinese Coaciang, he hung himself miserably in his own Palace. A Gallant Prince, and worthy of a better fortune. Many think this disgrace to have grown from Amavangus his eldests Brothers emulation; but I think that Amavangus was affraid that this Man wanting neither courage, nor wit, would quickly ruin the Tartarian affairs, by his rash proceedings. And here I will put a period, rather then an end, to this brief Narration of the Tartars War to the year MDCLI. in which year I was sent to Europe, by those that

may command me. In which relation if there be nothing else worthy of admiration, yet it seems admirable to consider, that in seven years space, they conquered more ground in Longitude and Latitude, then an Army could have walked in that space of time; for they over-run twelve vast Provinces of China; besides the immense extents of Leaotung, and the Kingdom of Corea.

VVhat since has past in such vicissitude of fortune, I know not; but as soon as God shall bless me with a prosperous return into my beloved China; or that my friends acquaint me with any new Occurrances by Letters; I will procure all Europe shall understand the Issue of these prodigious revolutions.

FINIS.

1676. A most exact and accurate map of the whole world by Donald Lupton.

E. China, and the Streights of Anian, W. Russia and Podolia, N. Scithicke or Frozen Sea, S. China, and the great wall that parts them, containing five thousand four hundred miles from E. to W. and three thousand six hundred from N. to S. from the sixth climate, till they cease measuring by climates; the dayes being in some places six months, and the nights as long, reaching from fifty degrees of Longitude, to one hundred ninety five, and from forty of Latitude to eighty, i. e. within ten degrees of the Pole it self: The people swarthy, squat, swift, vigilant, hardy, whining when they talk, and howling when they sing; men eaters, drinking Mares milk, riding Oxen. That Christianity that is there planted by St. Andrew, and St. Philip, and over-run with Nestorianism; thought by Genebrard to be the Off-spring of the ten Tribes...

1681. A new geography: with maps to each country, and tables of longitude & latitude by Jonas Moore.

CHAP. VII. TARTARY. THE greater Tartary is one of the vastest Regions of the whole Earth. It hath to the West the States of Muscovy, the Ocean to the North, to the East the Streights of Anian, or Jesso, according to some Maps, and to the South Persia, India, and China. Several Princes have Dominions in that great space of Land, and among others the Prince of Niuche on the East-side, who Invaded and Conquered China: But the most considerable of all is the Great Cham. One of his chief Provinces in Cathay, which some take for China, and its City of Cambalu for that of Pequin, so uncertain Men are in the knowledge of those distant Countries. It is nevertheless sure that there are Vagabond Tartars, divided into Societies called Hordes: They Inhabit that place which is called Tartary Desert, near which is the Kingdom of Astracan, with a Town on the same Name on the Volga. In these Countreys, as 'tis reported, grows the Boranetz, which is a Plant Animal, that is, half a Plant and half an Animal: It is in Shape like a Lamb, and fastned to a stalk, about which it Nibbles and Eats the Grass, which once failing, it withers and dies. The other parts of Tartary are, Turquestan and Zagathy, the chief City whereof is Samarkand, the Imperial Seat of the Victorious Tamerlan. Most part of the Tartars are Mahumetans, there are many Idolaters, some Jews, and very few Christians among them.

1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome.

TARTARIA may be considered, as it is divided into the Parts of

• TARTARIA DESERTA,
  • Cumbalich,
  • Glustins,
  • Jerom,
  • Risan,
  • Frutach,
  • Centaz,
  • Risan,
  • Divasi,
  • Caracus.
• USBECK, or ZAGATHAY, with its Provinces or Parts of
  • Usbeck, particularly so called,
    • Jarchan,
    • Samarcand,
    • Nesaph,
    • Mogalachfu,
    • Horne,
    • Xibuar,
    • Reven,
    • Targama,
    • Teras,
    • Sachi,
    • Tanchit,
    • Tersis,
    • Sachania.
  • Sacae,
    • Sachi,
    • Istigias,
    • Busdascha•,
    • Rigul,
    • Coman,
    • Termend,
    • Escalcand,
    • Sermegan,
    • Asareft,
    • Kax,
    • Etaican,
    • Nesaph.
  • Sogdlans,
    • Bachars,
    • Pogansa,
    • Madrand•n,
    • Carassat,
    • Zahaipa,
    • Corui,
    • Chiargan,
    • Corfim,
    • Bechet,
    • Siminan,
    • Cant,
    • Chesolitis,
    • Caracol.
• TURQUESTAN, with its Kingdoms or Proviaces of
  • Chialis,
    • Chialis,
    • Turfan,
    • Cuchia,
    • Uga.
  • Chinchintalas,
    • Camul,
    • Aramul.
  • Cascar,
    • Emil,
    • Sark,
    • Cassia,
    • Taskent.
  • Thibet,
    • Andegen,
    • Raofa,
    • Tamafi.
  • Cotam,
    • Cotam,
    • Pinegle,
    • Cogricamri,
    • Peim.
  • Ciartiam,
    • Ciartiam,
    • Lop,
    • Sazechiam,
    • Carazan,
    • Vociam.
• CATHAY, with its Kingdoms or Provinces of
  • Tainfu,
    • Cambalu,
    • Achbaluch,
    • Tinzu,
    • Xandu,
    • Caidu,
    • Gouza.
  • Tenduc,
    • Tenduc,
    • Zambir.
    • Ciandu.
  • Egrigaja,
    • Ciangli,
    • Tudinfu,
    • Serra,
    • Suidio,
    • Mulon.
  • Tanguth,
    • Sachion,
    • Quiqui.
    • Hoyam,
    • Gauta.
  • Ergimul,
    • Campion,
    • Ergimul.
  • Serguth,— Erzina.
  • Belgian, — Belgian.
• True TARTARIA, with its Provinces or Hords of
  • Mongul,— Mongul.
  • Molair, — Caracoran.
  • Tartar, — Tartar.
  • Bargu, — Catacoran.
  • Carli,— Taingin.
  • Naiman,— Naiman.
  • Cavona,— Cavona.
  • Colmack, — Colmack.

TARTARY, or TARTARIA, is seated in the most Northern part of all Asia, and extends it self from East to West, from the River Volga and Oby, which separates it from Europe, unto the Streight of Jesso; which separates it from America; and from South to North, from the Caspian Sea, the River Gehon, and the Mountains of Courasus; and Ʋssonte, &c. which divides it from the more Southernly part of Asia, unto the Northern Frozen or Scythian Ocean.

It reaches in length from the 19th unto the 180th degree of Longitude, which is the half of our Hemisphere; and in breadth, from the 35th or 40th unto the 70th or 72th degree of Latitude, which is half the breadth of all Asia; So that it may contain 1500 Leagues from West to East, and 7 or 800 from North to South.

Its position is almost entirely in the Temperate Zone;

nevertheless its more Southern parts being in the midst of this Temperate Zone, and the rest advancing to the Cold or Frozen; and its Southern parts being almost all bounded with very high Mountains, which keeps off the heat of the mid-day Sun, and renders it more cold towards the North; We may say, that Tartary in general hath its temperature much more cold than temperate.

Its Neighbours are the Moscovites, on the West; the Persians, the Indians or the Mogolls and the Chinois, on the South; the rest is washed by that Sea of which we have little knowledge; some place towards the East, the Streight of Anian, which should separate it from America; others, the Streight of Jesso, which divides it from the Land or Isle of Jesso, which is between Asia and America, as we shall declare after Japan. Some esteeming the Northern Ocean in one manner, and some in another.

The name of Tartaria is apparently taken from the River, Quarter, or Hord of Tartar; from whence these People being issued, have over-run and made themselves known in all parts of Asia. Others take it from the word Tatar or Totar, which in the Syriack signifies Remnant or Forsaken, because they esteem them the Remnant of the Jews, of which Ten Tribes were transported into Media by Salmanzer. They must then add, that these Ten Tribes passed from Media into Scythia, which is not observed by the Ancients. However it be, the Persians yet call this Country Tartar, and its People Tatarons; the Chinois, Tagun.

The People which possess this Country differ something from one another, as well in Personage as in Religion and Manners; but of the most part they are of an indifferent Stature, ugly countenances, thick Lips, hollow Eyed, flat Noses, broad Fated very strong, stout, valiant and good Warriers; very active, vigilant, and exceeding quick of Foot; patient in all Afflictions; they are very rude, barbarous and revengeful, not sparing their Enemies, whom in revenge they eat, first letting out their Blood, which they keep, using it as Win• at their Feasts.

Their Habit is very mean, which is for the most part made of course stuff, which reaches but to their Knees; yet are they very proud, despising all other Nations, and thinking their Cham to be the greatest Prince in the World; whom they greatly fear and reverence, being no better, than his Slaves. They are very nasty and sluttish, much given to drink of a treacherous and thievish nature.

In matters of Religion, they are generally Pagans and Mahumetans, which about the year 1246. crept in amongst them, which since hath spread it self over their Country, and intermixing with Paganism; yet hath it not so much prevailed as to extinguish Christianity, which was first planted amongst the Scythians (which were the Ancient people of Tartary) by the preaching of two of the Apostles, St. Philip and St. Andrew, which of latter years hath much lost it self, and not only by the prevailing of the Nestorian Sect, but chiefly for want of instructing the People in the true Orthodoxal points of Christian Religion.

Their Food is mean and very sluttishly drest; yet use they entertainments, and refuse nothing but Swines flesh, and eat all without Salt. They are much given to Hawking, and other Sports; but not much to Arts or Literature: The Women are much of the nature with the Men.

The Government (as Heylin observeth) is Tyrannical, their great Cham or King being Lord of all, in whose breast lieth their Laws, taking the Estates and Lives away of whom he pleaseth; whom they so much reverence, that they call him the shadow of Spirits, and Son of the Immortal God, and esteem him the Monarch of the whole World. In their execution of Justice they are very severe, punishing every small offence with sudden death. His Revenue without doubt must be very great; for besides the sole trade of Pearl-fishing, which upon pain of death none dares to fish for, besides those employed by him; also all the Gold and Silver that is either found in, or brought into the Kingdom, he doth assume to himself, as also the Tenth of all things that the Country doth produce; and also what else he thinketh fit; as being (as I said before) Lord over them all.

Here the Men have the liberty of 2 or 3 Wives, which they never choose but out of their own Tribe: and every Tribe hath a Chief, who is one of the Nobility of the Country, and carries for his Banner a Horses-Tail fastned to a Half-Pike, and died of the colour belonging to his Tribe.

As concerning the Forces that the Great Cham is able to raise, they may be supposed to be very great, by that which may appear by Tamerlanes Army, which consisted of a 1200000 Horse and Foot; besides, if we consider what a disturber he hath been, and how he hath enlarged his Territories of his Neighbours, as the Chinois, the Moscovites, &c. we may judge him powerful; but as his power is great on Land, it is as weak by Sea, scarce being Master of any Ships, and as little doth he regard them, though other Princes esteem them as a great security to their Kingdom.

I shall divide Tartary into five principal Parts; which are, Tartaria the Desart, Ʋsbeck or Zagathay, Turquestan, Cathay, and the True Tartaria; the first and last are the most Northern, barbarous, and unknown. The others more Southerly, are better civilized and known, having abundance of fair Cities, and driving a good Trade.

TARTARIA the Desart answers to the ancient Scythia intra Imaum; Ʋsbeck or Zagathay to the ancient Bactriana and Sogdiana; both the one and the other new Name retaining, in my opinion, something of the ancient; Sogdiana of Zagathay, and Bactriana of Ʋsbeck: Turquestan to the ancient Scythia extra Imdum. Cathay is the Serico Regia. As for the True Tartary it is unknown unto the Ancients, or at least it holds the most Northern part of the one and the other Scythia.

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

THis is the vastest Region of our Continent; Equals in bigness all Europe, and possesses all the Northern part of Asia. The Name of Tartary, which has succeeded that of Scythia, is come from the River Tatar, which the Chineses name Tata, because they do not make use of the Letter R. The Tartars are a warlike People, the best Archers of the World, but cruel and barbarous: they make War almost ever to the disadvantage of those they visit, and to the confusion of those who attack them. Cyrus at the passage of the Araxes; Darius Histaspes in his march against the Scythians of Europe; Alexander the great, when he was beyond the Oxus, have been constrain'd to yield to the Tartars: In our time, the great Kingdom of China has been forc'd to own them its Masters. Their Cavalry does most execution in their Battels, on the contrary to what is practiced in Europe, it is it which first attacks places. The most peaceable of the Tartars inhabit Tents of Pelts, and do nothing else than look to their Cattel. Their Countrey has in all times been a Nursery of Men, who under divers Names have made Conquests, and established Colonies in several places: That great Wall which the Chineses had rais'd for the putting a stop to their incursions, has not been capable of effecting that purpose. They acknowledge several Princes, whom they call Cans. They have sundry Hurdes, that may be called Cantons, Camps, Tribes, or Assemblies of Families. The little knowledge we have of them, is the reason we call them all under the general Name of Tartars. They have the Owl in great veneration, since that Cingis, one of their Sovereigns, was saved by the means of that Bird. They will not suffer they should be buried; some amongst 'em make choice of a Tree, and give order for their being hang'd up upon it after their death. There be still among 'em Idolaters, but they are for the most part Mahometans: It has been observ'd, that those who have conquered China, have hardly any particular Religion, tho' they practice several Moral Vertues. Five great parts are commonly reckon'd in Asian Tartary; Tartaria Deserta, Giagathi, Turquestan, Northern Tartary, and the Tartary of Kin.

Desert Tartary is so called, because that most of the Lands there are uncultivated: It is for the most part subject to the Czars of Muscovy; who draw fine and rich Furrs from thence, and who, with ease, subdued the Inhabitants of it, they being only Shepherds. Its Gities of Casan and Astracan, are near the Wolga, which empties it self into the Caspian-Sea by seventy Mouths; the Obi, which in the same Countrey empties it self into the Ocean, has six. Astracan drives a great trade in Salt, which the Inhabitants find in a neighbouring Mountain. The Calmack People are Idolaters, much like to the ancient Scythians, by reason of their incursions, their cruelty, and their other ways of living.

Giagathai, and Mawaralnahr, have peculiar Chams. The City of Samarchand, is that where Tamerlane the great, a Native of la Casta, a day's journey from thence, establish'd a famous University: There is also one at Bockora, which passes for the Countrey of Avicenna, a famous Philosopher and Physician; another at Orcange, near the Caspian-Sea. Alexandria, of Sogdiana, was formerly famous for the death of the Philosopher Calisthenes. The Tribe of the Mogul, is known by the rise of the Prince of the same Name, whose Successours command a good part of India. The Inhabitants of these Parts hunt wild Horses with Faulcons; in some of these Countries, they have such a disposition for Musick, that their little Children sing, instead of crying. Those of Giagathai and Yousbeg do not call themselves Tartars, being of the Mahometan Religion.

Turquestan is the Country, from whence some make the Turks to come. Thibet which is part of it, has Musk, Cinnamon, Coral which serve for Money to it's Inhabitants.

The Tartars of Kin, which some call Cathai, is the most Potent State of all Tartary, very Populous, Rich, and full of Great Cities, Cambalu, or rather Muoncheu is the Capital thereof: Several Authors have told Wonders of this City, making it known under the Names of Quinzai, Xantum, Suntien, and Peguim. Amongst other things, they say that in the Palace Royal there are twenty four Pillars of fine Gold, and another much greater of the same Metal, with a Pine Apple beset with Jewels, that are worth four Great Cities. The Voyage of Cathai has been undertaken by several ways, in hopes of finding Gold, Musk, Rhubarb, and other Rich Commodities there; several have gone thither by the Terra-firma, others by the Northern Sea, some by going up the Ganges. The Tartars of this Country invaded China in our Time; the King of Niuche called Xunchi, is the same, who made the Conquest of it, at the Age of twelve years, assisted with the good and faithful Councels of two of his Uncles. Besides a continual success and happyness, a great Moderation has been observ'd in this young Conquerour, who has treated a Nation newly subdued with all the Lenity imaginable.

The old or true Tartary, which the Arabians call after a different manner, is towards the North, and but very little known: Salmanasar, King of Assyria, is said to have transported thither the Tribes, which he carryed away Captive from the Holy Land, and there are also said to be still at this day Hords of them, who keep up their Names, and follow their Manners. It has Imaus, one of greatest Mountains in the World.

1688. Geography rectified by Robert Morden.

Of Asiatic Tartaria. This is the Vastest Region of our Continent; in Bigness it equals all Europe, and contains all those great and spacious Provinces, which the Ancients called Seres, Scythia extra Imaum, Scythia intra Imaum, Sacae, Sogdiana, and the greatest part of Sarmatia Asiatica, extending itself the whole length of Asia.

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1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Tartary, Tartaria, Scythae, is divided commonly into the Great and Asiatick, the Lesser and European Tartary. For this latter, see Krim Tartary, Chersonesus Taurica, and Precop. The Asiatick Tartary is the far greatest Country in all Asia: called by the Poles, Tartarcka. Bounded on the North by the Frozen Ocean, on the East by the same Sea, and China; on the South by China, India, Persia, and the Caspian Sea; on the West by Russia. The North Eastern Bounds upon Japan and China are utterly unknown. It is not certain, but that Asia and America may there meet; or at most may be divided by a narrow Channel, which could never yet be discovered. This Country extends from the Mouth of the Nieper, to the Cape of Tabin North-East, one thousand German Miles: and from the Mouth of the River Obb to the Wall of China South-East, fifteen hundred of the same Miles: perhaps it is much greater towards the North and East. It is divided into Tartary properly so called, Tartaria Deserta, Zagathai, Cathay, and Turquestan: these, containing many Kingdoms: some of which, as to the names of them, are as yet unknown to us. The people are the most Barbarous of Mankind; Bloody, Fierce, and Brutish. The Country appears Barren, Desolate, Uncultivated; without Cities, settled Inhabitants, Agriculture, and fixed Limits. The Princes are absolute Masters of their respective People; which live in Hoards, wandring with their Wives and Children in covered Waggons, from place to place; with their Cattle, (their only Wealth,) as necessity and the season of the year require. This course of life has in a great degree fitted them for War. Accordingly, when ever they have broken in upon the Civilized World, they have proved in every Age the Scourges of God. In this last Age, one of these Princes broke in upon China; and in a few years conquered it.

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Tartarie, a great Country of Asia, that comprehends almost a third of that part of the World. It's generally called Great Tartary, to distinguish it from that of Europe. Some divide this spacious Country into four or five Parts, which are Tartary Proper, Tartary the Desert, Zagatai, Catai, and Turquestan. All this Country lies between the Frozen Sea, that of China, and the Streights of Anian, the Caspian Sea, the Dominions of Persia and China, and the Rivers Obi and Tanais. Some Modern Authors despise this, and follow the Arabian Division, who count in Tartary, the Kingdom of Thibet or Tobbat, which was formerly the Northern part of Scythia; the Maurenaher or Mawaralnahara, Olgarie or the Kalmuki, the Chazalgites, the Caulachites or Kara Cathai; Mongal, Moal or Magog, the Kaimachites or Naimans; the Kingdom of Tangut or Taniu, and Bagarghar; the Kingdoms of Niuche or Tenduc, and Jupi. This King of Niuche was he that made himself Master of China some Years ago. The Ancient or Proper Tartary is towards the North, and most part of it unknown. Some say there is a Place in it called Tartar, which gave its Name to the Country, though there is more likelyhood that it was called so from a River of that Name. Tartaria Deserta reaches from the Rivers Jaxarte and Tanais to Mount Imaus, and it's thought to be a part of the Sarmatia Asiatica of the Ancients, is possessed by several Companies of People or Clans, which the Tartars call Hordes, and do much resemble the Tribes of the Jews. Tartarie of Zagatai has more polish'd and civiliz'd Inhabitants than the first, as are also those of Catai. This is the Empire of the Great Cham, who is said to have about a hundred Tributary Kings: His Subjects have that Respect and Veneration for him, that they generally call him the Son, the Shadow and Soul of God; and when he dies kill all they meet, that they may go serve their Prince in the other World; which sometimes costs above 10000 People their Lives. The ordinary Residence of the Great Cham, in Winter, is Cambala, the Capital of his Territories, situated in the furthermost part of Catai. Modern Relations speak of it as one of the greatest and richest Towns of the World. As for Quensai, that signifies the City of Heaven, placed in this Country by Marc Polo, 'tis not known where it is, nor are the 12000 Stone Bridges which he says it has, to be found. Besides this Kingdom of Catai, the Great Cham has several others that are very considerable; as that of Tangut, where it's said Printing has been in use above a thousand Years; and it's hence we have our best Rhubarb: The other Places are the Kingdom of Tenduc, where live some Nestorians; that of Thebat, which abounds in Coral, whereof they make use as Current Coin. It's believed that all this Land was inhabited in former Times by the Scythians, a cruel and barbarous Nation.

* Other Authors give this Account of the Religion of the ancient Tartars, That they Worship'd the Sun, Stars, Fire, Earth, and Water; to whom they offered the first Fruits of their Meat and Drink each Morning: That they believ'd there was one God, Creator of all Things, but did not Worship him: That they placed Idols at their Tent-doors to preserve their Cattel and Milk: That they offer'd Horses to the Emperor's Idol, which no Man must ride upon afterwards. They burnt the Bones of their Sacrifices: They believed the other World to be such as this, and set Meat and Mares Milk before their Dead, while they themselves did eat a Horse, and burnt the Bones for their Souls. They buried with the Deceased a Mare, Colt, and Horse, bridled and sadled, together with his Gold and Silver; and that he may have a Tent in the other World, set the Skin of the Horse which they eat upon Poles. At Prayer they used to lift up their Hands and smite their Teeth thrice, and poured Mares Milk on the Ground, or threw it in the Air, to feed the Ghosts. They had Monasteries, and a particular Order called Senscin, who did eat nothing but Bread steep'd in Water. They forced no Man to be of their Religion. Their Priests used to Preach to them from high Trees, and afterwards besprinkle them with a mixture of Blood, Milk, Earth, and Cows Dung. Ortelius. Paul. Venet. Vincentius, Matth. Paris. The Modern Tartars have diversity of Religions among them, some being Christians, others Mahumetans, and a third sort Pagans. In Sachien they have divers Monasteries for their Idols, to whom they dedicate their Children, and sacrifice Rams on Festival-days, eating the Flesh, but reserving the Bones as holy Relicks. The Priest is allowed the Head, Skin, Feet, Inwards, and some part of the Flesh. When Great Men are buried they set a well-covered Table before the Corps, thinking that the Soul is refreshed with the Odour of the Meats, and throw the Pictures of his Men, Women, and Horses, &c. into the Fire with the Body, to serve him in the other World. In Tangoth they Worship Idols with many Heads. In Camdu they prostitute their Wives, Sisters, and Daughters to Strangers, in honour of their Idols. In Cathai and Mangi they offer Blood to the Idols for recovering the Sick, as also Rams with black Heads, and spiced Drinks; and fling the Broth in the Air; and the Monks wear Strings of Nutshels, on which they say their Prayers, Will de Rubruquis.

1694. The present state of the universe by John Beaumont.

Grand Tartary and China (Book China)

I. THE Chronicles of China tell us of three hundred and forty Kings, which for the space of 4000 years there Reign'd, and that the Country being without Rule or settled Government before, was first reduc'd into Or∣der by one Vitey, by whom the people were instructed in Physick, Astrology, Divination, the Arts of Tillage, Shipping, &c. Of this Kings Race there are said to have been two hundred and seventeen Kings, who held the State 2257 years. The last of them was Tzaintzon, who being ill Neighbour'd by the Scy∣thians (not yet call'd Tartars) is said to have built that vast Wall, extended four hundred Leagues in length, parting Tartary from China, having at the end of every League a strong Rampart, or Bulwark, continually Garrizon'd, and well furnish'd with all war∣like Necessaries. This Wall in reality is only a continuation made good of a Chain of Mountains, dividing the two Countries; there being a Work of the like Nature, tho not for the same use, in the Kingdom of Peru in America; of which I have given an account before. Now this King Tzaintzon being slain by some of his Subjects, who found themselves burthen'd and wasted with this Work, the Race of these Kings ended; and then several Princes of Chinese Families held the Government one after ano∣ther, and afterwards several Tartar Princes; China being Con∣quer'd by the Tartars, and made a Province by them, till about the year 1269; when a Chinese, nam'd Hugh, a mean Person, but of great Courage, rais'd to himself a strong Party, and drove the Tartars out of all, and was Crown'd Emperour of China; taking to himself the name of Hungus (by some Writers com∣monly call'd Hombu) that is a famous Warrior, and gave to his Children and their Posterity the name of the Taingian Family, from whom the last King of China, call'd Zunchius was descended, and under whom China was again Conquer'd by the Tartars, and continues under their subjection.

To give an account of the rise of the Tartars, it was as fol∣lows. East Tartary contains many Regions, Govern'd formerly by distinct Governours; and among those Regions, there were six of chiefest Note; whereof one was nam'd Tartar, giving name to the Tartars, which was divided among five Tribes, each Govern'd by its Chief, as its commonly among barbarous Na∣tions, tho all of them were subordinate to an higher Power, be∣ing opprest by a King of Tenduc, another of the six chief Regions, so call'd. But at length one Cingi, a Chief of one of the said five Tribes, first with the force of his own Tribe, subdued the other four Tribes, and afterward the King of Tenduc him∣self: and then took on him the Title of Cham, or Emperour, about the year 1162. And this was the first step by which this base and beggarly Nation, began their Empire and Sovereignty; whereas before they liv'd like Beasts, having neither Letters, Faith, nor dwelling but in Tents, nor any thing befitting Men. Some write that Cingis before he joyn'd Battle with the King of Tenduc consulted with his Diviners and Astrologers of the Success, who taking a green Reed, cleft it asunder, and on one piece writ the name of Cingis, and on the other the name of the King of Tenduc, and plac'd them not far asunder, and then fell to read∣ing their Charms and Conjurations; whereupon the Reeds fell a fighting, in the sight of the whole Army, the Reed of Cingis overcoming the other, whereby they foretold the joyful News of Victory to the Tartars; which accordinly hapned. But whe∣ther this seems not a Story contriv'd in imitation of the Rod of Moses, and those of Pharao's Magicians, I leave it to Considera∣tion. From the foresaid Cingis, the present Cham, or Emperour of Grand Tartary and China is descended. The most famous of all the Chams of Tartary was the Great Tamerlane, who Reign'd about the year 1370. he being thought to have subdued more Provinces in his life time than the Romans had done in eight hundred years. Dying he divided his Empire among his Chil∣dren, viz. Persia to Mizra Charock, his fourth Son, Zagathy to another, &c.

The account of the present Emperour of the Asiatick Tartars and of China stands thus. An. 1644. a Chinese call'd Lycungus re∣volted against the Emperour of China call'd Zunchius, defeated many of his Generals and surpriz'd the Town of Peking. The Emperour for fear of falling into the Hands of the Rebels, ran into the Garden of his Palace, and seeing himself pursued, hung himself to a Tree. Some time before, he had sent a consider∣able Army against the Tartars, who had made some Incursions into China: Usungus, who commanded it, hearing all what had past, sent to desire the Tartars to joyn with him, and to march together against the Rebels. Zungteus the King of the Tartars accepted the proposition, and came to him with eighty thousand Horse, which were followed by above two hundred thousand Foot. As soon as the Tartars saw themselves the stronger, they made Usangus and his Troops to shave themselves like the Tar∣tars, and went straight to Peking, which Lycungus had forsaken, af∣ter having pillag'd it of all the Treasures of the Emperours of China. Zungteus the King of the Tartars died on the way, and left but one Son, six years of Age. The Tartars own'd him for their Emperour, and after having Crown'd him second Em∣perour of China by the name of Zunchius, they pursued their Enterprize under the Conduct of Amavangus, his Uncle and Tutor; and in seven years they perfected the Conquest of almost the whole Empire, and defeated many Princes of the Royal House; who had been Crown'd in different Provinces. This Em∣perour Zunchius died Feb. 6. 1661. and had for Successor his Son, only eight years of Age. He ordered dying that his Mother and Grandmother should have the care of his Education till he were Major; and that the State should be Govern'd by four Manda∣rins, or great Lords of the Tartars. He was call'd then Haei, but since he has ascended the Throne, he has caus'd himself to be call'd Yunchi. He Reigned peaceably till the beginning of the year 1674, that the foremention'd Usangus, seeing the Desola∣tion of his Country, and being in some power, as being Viceroy of Quansi, now let his Hair grow like the Chineses, and endea∣vour'd to shake off the Tartar Yoke, making himself Master in a little time of four great Provinces, on the western part of China, and drawing to his side the Viceroys of Foquien and Can∣ton, who commanded on the East and South. But these three could not long agree, so that the two last submitted themselves again to the Tartars; and Usangus now stands only on a defen∣sive War, being Master of the Provinces of Quansi and Hu∣quan, where the Chineses keep still some remainder of their first Grandeur.

II Pontier says that this Emperour bears, Or, an Owl Sable, for Tartary; and that, as King of China he bears, Argent, three Blackamoors Heads, plac'd in front, their bust vested Gules. Another says the Kings of China have for Blazon, two Dragons, and that the Ancient Kings of China had a kind of Crown. That now the Tartar Kings that command there, have for their Royal mark, a sort of Cap, compast about with a Circle of Ivory, and terminating in a point, with a kind of Tower, Or; on the top of which there are many Pearls, and among them one as big as a Pidgeons Egg: these Pearls being the sole mark of the Royalty, none of the Kings of China, how absolute soever they may be, daring to wear them on their Caps. The Ancient Motto of the Emperours of Tartary, engrav'd in their Seals was this. Deus in Caelo & Chiukuth Cham in Terra, Dei fortitudo, & omnium homi∣num Imperator. This Emperous Livery is of a _____ colour. He professes the Mahometan Religion, and uses the Chinese and Tartarian Languages.

III. Manesson Mallet, in his late description of the Universe, says that the little knowledge Men have had of the Eastern part of Tartary, which is on the North of China, has occasion'd the Errour of many persons, who have taken Chambalu and Peking for two different Towns: the greatest part of Geographers having made Chambalu the Capital City of Cathai, which they believ'd to be one of the chief Countries of Tartary; but since we have seen the relation of the Voyage of the Dutch to China, and that of Father Kircher, it has no longer been doubted, but that Cathai was the northern part of China, and that the Town of Peking was that which the Saracens, and Moscovites call Cham∣balu, that is, the Court or City of the King, the name of Peking signifying the same in the Chinese Language. This City is said to be of a vast extent, but we have not any account thereof to rely on, but its generally agreed that the Houses, for the most part, are but of one Story; and the Sreets being not pav'd, so troublesom a dust is rais'd by the Wind in the Summer, that it forces those who have not Portative Chairs, to cover their Faces with a Linnen Cloth, reaching to their Girdles, thro which they may see without being seen; and the Dirt makes the Streets al∣together as offensive in the Winter. In this City, as they say, the King has a Pallace of great Magnificence and Curiosity.

Nanking is the next chief City of China, and not inferiour to the former, only in the number of Inhabitants, which, by rea∣son of the Kings Residence at Peking, is there greater. The Houses of the chief Merchants are very well built, and of ma∣ny Stories. They compute in it a Million of Inhabitants, with∣out comprising a Garrison of forty thousand Men, kept there by the Tartars, under the Command of the Lieutenant General, of the Southern Provinces, who resides there. There are several accounts of the vast numbers of Cities, Towns, Villages, Houses and Inhabitants of China, as also of their incredible numbers of Shipping, concerning all which we want more perfect ac∣counts to rely on.

IV. Its said that the Kings of China have ordinarily had an yearly Revenue of above one hundred and fifty Millions of Crowns. His Revenues, as Cham of Tartary may be what he lists himself, he being the absolute Lord of all the Subject has, without any thing he can call his own. But that which ordi∣narily accrues to him is the Tenth of the Wooll, Silk, Hemp, Corn and Cattle: and he draws into his own Hands all the Gold and Silver which is brought into the Country; and which he causes to be melted, and preserv'd in his Treasury; imposing on his people instead of mony, in some places, Cockleshells, others a black Coin, made of the Bark of Trees, with his stamp on it: and he keeps to himself the whole Trade of Pearl fishing, which no Man, upon pain of death, dares fish for, but by leave from him.

1695. A New Body of Geography by A. Sewall & T. Child.

TARTARY, TARTARIA.

THIS vast Country is not sufficiently known, to give an exact Relation of it; except it be of those parts which border upon Muscovy, Persia, the Empire of the Mogul, and the Northern parts of China. And the Cause why it hath not been as fully discover'd as other Nations, is the great Difficulty of getting into it, because of the great number of High Mountains, horrible Deserts which encompass it, Rocks and Banks which run all along the Eastern Coasts, and the continual Ice which is upon the Shores in the North.

Tartary, which is more than a third part of Asia, takes its Name from Tartar, or Tatar, a River in the Northern Parts. It is called the Great, to distinguish it from the Less, which is in Europe, and joins to Turkie. The Ancients called a great part of it Scythia Asiatica.

This large Country is bounded on the North with the Frozen Sea, on the West with the Caspian Sea and the Country of the Great Duke of Muscovia, on the South with Persia, the Indies and China on the East, with the Sea of the Kaimachites, and Streights of Jesso or Ʋriez. The Extent of it from South to North is about 640 Leagues, from the Confines of Sablestan and Chorosan near Mount Taurus, to the Cape's End, towards Nova Zembla in the Country of the Samoiedes, between the 34th Degree and 71st Degree of Latitude, and from East to West about 2000 Leagues, from the Streights of Casa to that of Jesso, between the 68th and 197th Degrees of Longitude, comprehending that part which is under the Muscovite, and in its largest Extent.

The Air of this Country is different, according to the several parts of it, which are vastly distant one from another. It is so very rough in the Northern parts, that the violent Winds which sometimes blow there beat down Men, overturn Walls and Trees, and the Seas are all over Ice. The Land also is very barren there, and full of Marshes and Rocky Mountains. The South parts are of a clear different Nature, producing Rice, Hemp, and Rhubarb in abundance; as also, Wool, Silk, Cotton and Musk. It feeds also many Horses and Camels; and towards the North there are White Bears, Black Foxes, Ermins, and Sables, which are the principal Merchandize of the Country. They have great Numbers of Pheasants, and several other kinds of Birds. The great number of Mountains, Forests, Marshes, and Desarts full of Sand, make a great part of the Country not habitable, and unfit for Tillage.

The most remarkable Rivers of Tartary, are, 1. The Oby, which riseth in Ostiaski, and passeth cross Grustinski, the Country of the Samoiedes, and empties it self into the Northern Ocean, having received into it the River Irtiske, a little below the City Toboul, which comes out of Taista Kalmuck on the South-East of the City Bulagan, where it crosses the little Lake Kisubas, and then goes through the Prince-dome of Ablay, and through Sibary. It's whole Course is about 1000 Leagues from East to West, and then from North to South. It receives on the right side the Rivers Bescha on the Confines of the Princedoms of Kol and Ablay, Henkutia below the City Loukaragay. On the left it receives the River Toboul, a little below the City of the same Name; and several other smaller Rivers on each side. 2. Tongusi hath its Original in the Southern Tartaria Moscovitica; it's Course from South-East to North-East is more than 800 Leagues. Near the City Ilimsk• it receives the River Ilima, which divides it self into two parts in the Country of Jacuti, of which the Northern part keeps its Name to the Sea; but the other is called Len. Tongusi receives the River Jenica on the Left side, and then empties it self into the Frozen-Sea. 3. Amor rises in the Country of Daouri; the Course of it from North-East to South-East is about 500 Leagues. It receives the River Skilka on the right side, a little below Albasin, and then falls into the Sea of Japon. 4. Two Rivers, that lose themselves in the Lake Baikala: One, which comes from the Confines of Brast-ka and Jacuti, runs from North-East to South-East above 300 Leagues; and the other, which riseth within 9 or 10 Leagues of the City Jaranava, runs from South to the North-East about 250 Lagues. 5. Joxartes rises in Ʋspech Giagatay in the East, and runs from East to West into the Sea of Kulsum, or Caspian-Sea; but in the way receives Alsogd, Ardock, and Oxus on the left side: It's Course is 500 Leagues. 6. Rudha joyns it self with the River Yem, and having passed the two Countries of Kolmak, run both into the Caspian Sea at the Gulph of Mingus or Jav•. 7. Ʋppa riseth out of Pascatir, and crossing Casan, empties it self into the Volga. There are several other Rivers of less note in this Country.

The principal Lakes are, 1. The Lake of Marsan in the Country of Kolmak toward the West. 2. Kisulbas in the South in the Princedom of Kol. 3. Thama. 4. Parvan in Tongugi. 5. Baikala in Daouri. 6. Chiamai in the Kingdom of Lassa, out of which rise four or five great Rivers, which run into the Indian-Sea. 7. Taus, in the Country of the Samoiedae.

There are also long Ridges of Mountains, viz. of Hithay, Cocaya, Bengiar, Farvan, Saina, Magoa, Caucasus, Thibet, and Centava.

The Tartars are naturally savage, treacherous and cruel, especially in War, in which they often devour their Enemies, drinking their Blood, and eating their Flesh, to make their Hatred irreconcilable. Their ordinary Food is Rice and Milk. When their Cham dies, they kill and interr with him many of his Chief Officers, that they may attend upon him in the other World, and give him enough to maintain him according to his Greatness and Quality.

Two third parts of this vast Region are Idolaters, especially towards the North; there are many Mahometans in the South. Some Countries there are in the Northern parts, where the People have no manner of Religion. Near the Caspian-Sea there are some ancient Jews and some Nestorians. There are very few or no Catholicks among them.

The Language of the Tartars is understood in most parts of the North, and in some of the East. It is something like the Turkish Language. Soldiers are there innumerable, and the Lords of the Tartars send their Emperours in times of War an 100000 Horse. Their Forces consist in the multitude of Soldiers, who are always ready for any Service, to pass Rivers in obedience to their Commanders, to endure any Labour in marching towards their Enemy, or retreating from them, as occasion requires. They will shoot their Arrows very exactly at their Enemies, while they seem to fly from them; and all on a suddain will face about upon them to give a Charge, without Disorder. They will compass their Enemies in on all sides, and not mingle with them.

Their Women only buy and sell for the most part, the Men being employed in Hunting and Fighting. They have the best Hawks and Hounds in the World. They live for the most part in the open Field, as the Arabians do, in Tents, in which also they keep thei• Cattel with them. They are almost all Horsemen. When the Summer begins to approach, they go into the Northern parts, where there is more Cold; and when the Cold becomes great, they retire into the South into some hotter Country. They conduct their Familiss by small Journies, and carry their Houses in Carts covered with Skins, wherein they put their Wives and Children, and their Houshold-Stuff. They provide themselves in several places Ox and Horse-dung, and a sort of Stones for firing. Their Thunder is very dreadful, and Winds very violent, which take their Soldiers off from their Horses, and pluck Trees up by the Roots, be they never so deep in the Ground.

The Great Cham hath the Tenth part of the Wool, Silk, Hemp, and all other Commodities of his Empire. Every one of his Subjects is also obliged to work one Day in the Week for him, or do him some other Service, according to his Quality. He hath two Councils, made up of 12 of the wisest and experienced Men, of which one always attends upon the Affairs of State, and the other of War. Their Riches consist chiefly in Cattel, Horses, Furrs, Honey, and Wax, of which they have prodigious Quantities. This vast Country is governed by several Princes, Kings and People, besides the Emperor, who is called their Great Cham, to whom several Kings are Tributary. The Lives and Estates of all his Subjects are in his power to dispose of them as he pleaseth. No man may speak to him but upon his Knees, giving him a kind of Adoration, which is likewise observed by all Embassadors, who speak to him only by an Interpreter. This Emperour at this day rules over almost one half of Asia, espeially since he hath made himself Master of China, and several other States.

Some divide the Great Tartary into five parts, which are, 1. Tartaria Propria. 2. Tartaria Deserta. 3. Zegathay. 4. Cathay, and 5. Turquestan. But this Division gives us a very confused and imperfect Idea, or apprehension of it. The best Division, and most conformable to the Relations of our late Travellerss thither, is into 25 Parts, as in the Table.

These Countries some call the Muscovian Tartary, or Tartaria Muscovitica.

• 1. Part of the Kingdom of Casan, in which are
  • ...Casan,
  • ...Kibena.
• 2. Part of the Kingdom of Bolgar, which hath
  • Bolgar, and
  • ...Samara.
• 3. Part of the Kingdom of Astracan,
  • ...Astracan.
  • ...Batrach.
• 4. Pascatir, or Besegeret.
• 5. Siberie, in which is Toboul.
• 6. Samoiedae, a People who have
  • ...Kakinscoya.
  • ...Pohem.
• 7. Grussirisri, which contains
  • ...Clarem.
  • ...Jurgue:
• 8. Ostiaki, a People who have
  • ...Makouski.
  • ...Choroda.
• 9. Tongusi, or Tingoeses, a People, among which are
  • ...Jenisca.
  • ...Ilimsko.
• 10. Bratskra, a People which have Bratskra.
• 11. Jakuti, a People which have Jukustanke.
• 12. Daouri, a People which have
  • ...Albasin.
  • ...Naroniskie, Talembi.
• 13. The Principality of Ablay, in which are
  • ...Ablay.
  • ...Belouvioday.
  • ...Loukaragay.
• 14. Calmona, or Kolmak, or Kalmonque, Buchares, hath
  • ...Marsan.
  • Rudha, &c.
• 15. Turquestan, of old Sogdiana, contains
  • ...Belek.
  • ...Selixur.
• 16. Ʋsbech-Giagathia, or Mawaralnara, hath these three parts,
  • Samarkant Tartars, in which is
    • Samarchand, &c.
  • Bochar, a Kingdom, which hath
    • Bochard, &c.
  • Belch, a Kingdom, in which is
    • Belch, &c.
• 17. The little Thibet a Kingdom, or the Country of Ancheran,
  • Thibet, or Tahamet.
  • ...Garada.
• 18. Raia Nupal, which hath Nupal,
• 19. The Great Thibet, which are,
  • The Kingdom of Necball
    • ...Necball.
    • ...Cadmeudu.
  • The Kingdom of Assen,
    • ...Cammerouf.
  • The Kingdom of Lassa, or Baravantola,
    • ...Lassa.
    • ...Cuthi.
  • The Kingdom of Belor,
    • ...Selink.
  • The Country of Lotoch,
    • ...Centaba.
  • The Kingdom of Tanchut,
    • ...Tanchut.
    • ...Xamori.
  • Mongulsk, or Prestrejan,
    • ...Athamuth.
• 20. The Desert of Xamo, Calmax, or Karacathay, and Lop,
  • Gucio, &c.
• 21. The Chinese-Tartars,
  • ...Kokotam.
  • ...Camal.
• 22. The Chinese-Tartars, among whom are,
  • The Tartars of Kin, or Lor.
    • ...Kirum,
  • The Kingdom Mache,
    • ...Ʋla.
  • Targakrinsk, a People.
  • Bodoiski, a People.
  • Jupi, a People. who have
    • ...Port-Loud.
• 23. The Kingdom of Chalza, or Cesar, in which are
  • ...Hiarcham.
  • ...Ciarcinor.
• 24. The Principality of Kol, where is
  • ...Kol.
  • ...Kol.
• 25. Tartaria Propria, which are
  • The Country of Egregia.
  • The Province of Jagoy.
  • The Country of Magog.
  • The Country of Fritsa of the Mogol.
  • The Country of Traitza Irdekulu.
  • ...Traitsa Kalmuch,
    • ...Bulugan.
  • ...Traitsa Sudbiligenia Mogol.
  • ...Traitsa Sem Mogol.
  • ...Traitsa Dobro Mogol.

Tartaria Muscovitica, or the Muscovian Tartary.

THIS new Division will appear strange to those who have seen the ordinary Geographical Maps only, who content themselves with some bare Relations without searching farther into that vast Region, wherein are made new Discoveries almost every day.

It is evident that the Great Duke or Emperour of Muscovy possesses a great Breadth of Land in the Western and Northern parts of Tartary, as is to be seen in the foregoing Table. The most remarkable Cities, besides those which I have spoken of in the Chapter of Muscovy, in Europe are these:

Toboul, Tobolium is the chief City of Siberia, upon the River of the same Name, in the place where it joyns to the River Iris, towards the 64 Degree of Latitude, and 67 Degree of Longitude.

The City or Borough of Kakinscoia, is upon the right Bank of the River Oby in the Country of the Samoiedae in the 67 Degree of Latitude.

The Cities of Surgut, and Klarem are upon the Right side of the Oby in the 01 Degree of Latitude, and distant the one from the other about 20 Leagues in the Province of Grustinski.

Maskouskichoroda is the chief City of Ostiaski upon the right side of the River Kieta, about the 59 Degree of Latitude, and the 119 Degree of Longitude.

The City Bratska is the Metropolis of the People called Bratska, upon the left hand of the River Angara in the 58 Degree of Latitude, and 143 Degree of Longitude.

The City Jukustanke is upon the right side of a little River, which runs into the River Len in the 60 Degree of Latitude, and the 143 Degree of Longitude 15 Min.

The City Albasin is the Metropolis of the People called Daouri, upon the left hand of the River Amor, in the 51 Degree 30 Minutes Latitude, and the 168 in Longitude.

The Principal Cities of the Rest of Tartary.

THE Rest of Great Tartary is Possessed by several Princes, Kings and People, of which the Great Cham hath the most part, and hath made almost all the other Princes, who enjoy any Soveraignty, either his Tributaries, or Vassals.

Cambalu, Cambalum, which some call Issedon, or Muoncheu, is the Head-City of the Empire of the Great Cham of the Tartars. Marcus Paulus the Venetian says, 'tis Eight Leagues in Circuit.

The City Thibet is the chief City of the Country of the same Name; it is called also Tanhamet, situated in the 39 Degree of Latitude, and 110 of Longitude. In the lesser Thibet at the foot of the Mountain so called. Thibet contains several other States. It is extream Cold for six or seven Months, because it lyes by the side of a Ridg of Mountains that run from East to West. And for this reason 'tis that they provide Salt Meats for all that time.

The Kingdom of Tanchut, or Tangut is in the Eastern part of Great Thibet. It is also called Tanin, and Campion by some Geographers. It takes its name from the Head-City of it, which is situate in the 43 Deg. of Latitude, and 135 of Longitude, on the Borders of Mogol.

The City of Samarchamb in Ʋsbech Giagathay, or Mawaralnara, is in the 43 Deg. of Latitude, and 105 of Longitude: 'Tis nothing so considerable as it hath been. It was the Native place of the Famous Emperor of the Tartars, Tamerlane.

1699. Geography anatomiz'd. London. for Robert Morden and Thomas Cockerill.

Concerning Tartary.

	d.	m.
Situated	between	77	10	of Long.	its greatest	Length from E to W. is about 3000 Miles.
163	00
between	37	00	of Latit.	Breadth from N. to S. is about 2250 Miles.
75	04

Tartary comprehends five great Parts.

	Chief Town
3 South	From E. to W.
Kathay—	Chambalu—
Turkhestan—	Ihibet—
Zagathay—	Samarchand-
2 North	From E. to W.
Tartaria propria	Mongul, or Tenduc
Tartary the Desert	Cumbalich—

THIS Country (the greatest Part thereof being reckon'd the Scythia Asiatica of the Ancients) is term'd by the Italians and Spaniards, Tartaria; by the French, la Tartarie; by the Germans, Tartarijen; and by the English, Tartary; so call'd from Tartar or Tatar, a River of that Country, which is said to empty it self into the vast Northern Ocean. But others chuse rather to derive the Name from Tatar or Totar, which in the Syriack Language signifieth a Remnant, imagining that the Tartars are the remainders of those Israelites, who where carried by Salmanasser into Media. It's term'd Tartary the Great, to distinguish it from the Lesser in Europe.

The Air of this Country is very different, by reason of its vast Extent from South to North; the Southmost * 1.2 Parts thereof having the same Latitude with the middle Provinces of Spain, and the Northmost reaching beyond the Arctick Polar Circle. What its real Extent from East to West may be, is not certainly known as yet; only this we will affirm in general, that 'tis much less than commonly suppos'd, if the Relations of some late Travellers in these Parts of the World be found afterwards to hold true. The opposite Place of the Globe to Tartary, is part of the vast Pacifick Ocean, as also the Countries of Chili, Paraguay, and Terra Magellanica.

This vast Country towards the North (it lying in the 6th, 7th, 8th 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, &c. North Climate) is extremely Barren, being every where encumber'd with unwholesome Marishes, and uninhabited Mountains; but in the Southern Parts, the Soil is indifferently good for Tillage and Grazing, especially the latter; and towards the East 'tis reported to be abundantly fertil in Corn, (where duly manur'd) and several sorts of Herbs, especially Rhubarb. The longest Day in the Northmost Parts, is about two Months (the Sun not Setting for that time when near the Summer Solstice) the shortest in the Southmost, is about 9 Hours ¼, and the Nights proportionably.

The chief Commodities of this Country, are Sable, Martins, Silks, Comlets, Flax, Musk, Cinnamon, and vast Quantities of Rhubarb, &c.

In lieu of the Rarities of this barbarous and little frequented Country, we may mention that prodigious Wall dividing Tartary from China, erected by the Chineses, to hinder the frequent Incursions of their unwelcome Neighbours, the Tartars; 'twas commonly reckon'd Three hundred German Leagues in length, Thirty Cubits high in most places, and Twelve in breadth. The time of its building is computed to be about Two hundred Years before the Incarnation of our Blessed Saviour. By our latest Relations of the State and Nature of this Country, we find that some remarkable Vulcano's are to be seen in the North and Eastern Parts thereof.

Archbishopricks, Bishopricks, Universities, in this Country; none.

The Tartars are a People of a swarthy Complexion, strong Bodies, and middle Stature. The generality of 'em are Persons of broad Faces, hollow Eyes, thin Beards, thick Lips, slat Noses, and ugly Countenances. In Behaviour they're very Rude and Barbarous, commonly devouring the Flesh of their Enemies, and drinking their Blood, so soon as they are in their Power. Their ordinary Food is Horse-flesh, which they greedily tear and eat up like so many Ravenous Vultures. Their manner of Living, is commonly in Tents in the open Fields, which they remove from place to place, according to the time of the Year, and conveniency of Grazing. Many of 'em make excellent Soldiers, being not only willing and able to endure great Fatigues, but also very dexterous and daring in time of Engagement. When they seem many times to fly before their Enemies, they'll unexpectedly send back a dreadful Shower of Arrows in the Faces of their Pursuers, and frequently turning about, do give them a violent Charge, and all without the least disorder. When their great Cham dies, 'tis reportd, That many of his chief Officers are immediately kill'd, and interred with him, that they may also attend him (as they imagine) in the other World, according to their respective Posts here.

The Language us'd by the Asiatick Tartars, is not much different from the Tartaresque, spoken by those of Crim Tartary, (a Specimen of which is already given in Europe) and both have a great Affinity with the Turkish.

The vast Body of Tartary is said to be subject to several Princes, who are wholly accountable (in their Government) to one Sovereign, who is commonly term'd the Great Cham, whose Government is most Tyrannical, and Crown hereditary. The Lives and Goods of his People are altogether in his Power. His Subjects stile him the Sun and Shadow of the Immortal God, and render him a kind of Adoration, never speaking unto him Face to Face, but falling down upon their Knees with their Faces towards the Ground. He looks upon himself as the Monarch of the whole World; and from that vain Opinion, is reported to cause his Trumpets to sound every Day after Dinner, pretending thereby to give leave to all other Kings and Princes of the Earth to Dine. For the better management of Publick Affairs, he's said to appoint two Councils, each consisting of twelve Persons, (the wisest and best experienced of any that he can pitch upon) of which one doth constantly attend the Affairs of State, and the other those which relate to the War. Yet after all, this mighty Cham is lookt upon by some Judicious Persons, as a meer Chimera; and those strange Relations concerning him (though hitherto current) are thought to have a near Affinity unto the Legenda Aurea of the Roman Church.

The most receiv'd Opinion about the Arms of the Great Cham, is, that (as Emperor of Tartary) he bears, Or, an Owl Sable. But what as King of China, see the following Section.

The Inhabitants of this Country are partly Pagan, partly Mahometan, and partly Christian. Paganism doth chiefly prevail in the Northmost Parts, the People being generally gross Idolaters in those places. In the Southern Provinces they're (for the most part) followers of Mahomet's Doctrine, especially since the Year 1246. And towards the Caspian Sea are found a considerable number of Jews, thought by some to be the Offspring of the ten Tribes, led away Captive by Salmanasser. Those of the Christian Religion (overgrown of late by Nestorianism) are scatter'd up and down in several Parts of this vast Country, but most numerous in Cathay, and the City of Cambalu. The Christian Faith was first planted in this Country, (as is generally believ'd) by the Labours of St. Andrew and St. Philip, two of the Apostles.

1701. A system of geography by Herman Moll.

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1732. Atlas Historique by Zacharie Chatelain.

Cette vaste Region que l’on nomme la Grande Tartarie, pour la distinguer de la Tartarie d’Europe, est trop inconnue pour en pouvoir donner une relation fidèle. Elle est éloignée de nous tant par mer que par terre, à la réserve de ce qui se rencontre vers la Moscovie, vers la Perse, vers l’Empire du Mogol, & du côté de la Chine Septentrionale; elle est inaccessible par rapport au grand nombre des hautes montagnes & des déserts affreux qui l’environnent: des écueils & des bancs que l’on trouve le long de ces côtes Orientales, & des glaces presque continues qui les bordent du côté du Nord; que toutes les Relations que nous en avons font pour le moins fort douteuses, pour ne pas dire tout-à-fait incertaines. Cependant, dans l’obligation où je suis d’en parler, pour ne pas laisser cet ouvrage imparfait; je me contenterai de rapporter ce qui s’en trouve de plus assuré dans les Auteurs qui en ont écrit.

Ce grand Pays est situé entre la Mer glaciaire, celle de la Chine avec le détroit d’Anian, la Mer Caspienne, les Etats du Roi de Perse & de la Chine, & les Fleuves Obi & Tanais. Mais à la vérité, cette division est bien incertaine, & il serait difficile d’y faire quelque fondement, quoiqu’elle ait été la plus reçue par les Européens. Plusieurs Modernes aiment mieux s’attacher à la division que font les Arabes, qui comptent dans la Tartarie le Royaume de Thibet ou Tobbat, qui était autrefois le Pays Septentrional de la Scythie: le Maulremher ou le Mawalranhara: l’Olgarie ou le Kalmuki: les Chazaiques: les Cauchalites ou Ka-Cathai: Mongal, Moal ou Magog: les Kaimahites ou Naimahas: le Royaume de Tangut ou Tanjin & Baggarbar: le Royaume de Niuche ou Teuduc: & Jupi. Le Roi de Niuche est celui qui depuis quelques années s’est rendu Maître de la Chine.

La Tartarie propre ou ancienne est vers le Septentrion, la plûpart inconnuë. On y met une Place appelée Tartar ou Tatar, qui, selon quelques-uns, donne ce nom au Pays; mais il y a plus d’apparence qu’il s’applique à celui d’une Rivière, ainsi nommée, que les Cartes ordinaires font couler dans le Pays de Mongol, placé le long de l’Océan Septentrional et qu’elles font décharger le Tartar. Elles mettent aussi une Ville de Tartar sur cette Rivière. Mr. Witen, qui met les Mongols aux Confins de la Chine, y met aussi la Rivière de Tartar; & il en fait une des sources de la Rivière qui appelle Schilgat & Quantung, qui coule au Midi de celle d’Amour, & va se décharger dans l’Océan Oriental. Au reste, ce savant Homme n’y met point de ville de Tartar; il y a seulement une cité de l’imaginaire, comme plusieurs autres.

Quoiqu’il en soit, on peut du moins ajouter à cette remarque, que le nom de Tartarie n’est pas un nom de Religion, comme quelques-uns le font imaginer. La Tartarie dernière s’étend depuis les Rivières de l’Azarte & de Tanaïs, jusqu’au Mont Imaus. On estime que c’est une partie de la Sarmatie Asiatique des Anciens. Elle est peuplée par diverses assemblées de Peuple que les Tartares nomment Hordes, qui en leur signification ont beaucoup de rapport aux Tributs des Juifs. La Tartarie de Zagatai est peuplée beaucoup plus civilement que les premiers; ainsi on dit qu’elle est Catholique. C’est l’Empire du Grand-Cam à qui on donne jusqu’ici le nom de Roi Tributaire; & on assure que les sujets sont pour lui en état de respect & de vénération, qu’ils le nomment ordinairement Fils de Dieu, Ombre de Dieu, & Image de Dieu. Quand il meurt, les Tartares tiennent tous ceux qu’ils rencontrent, pour adorer, tandis…jeffuer leur principe en l'autre monde: ce qui souvent coûte la vie à plus de dix mille personnes. Le fejour ordinaire du Grand Cam en hiver et Cambalu, ville Capitale de son Etat, située aux extrémités du Caïai. Les Relations modernes nous en parlent comme d'une des plus grandes et des plus riches villes du monde. Car pour celle de Quenfai, qui veut dire Ville du Ciel, et que Marco Polo met dans ce pays, on ne sait où elle est, et on ne saurait trouver les douze mille soixante Ponts de pierre qu'il lui donne. Outre ce Royaume de Catai, le Grand Cam en a plusieurs autres considérables; comme celui de Tangut, où l'on dit que l'Imprimerie fut trouvée il y a plus de mille ans. C'est de Tangut d'où vient la bonne Rhubarbe. Les autres Etats de ce Roi sont le Royaume de Tenduc, où l'on trouve des Chrétiens Nestoriens; celui de Thibet, qui abonde en Corail, dont on se sert pour monnaie courante.

Les Tartares en général aiment la guerre, & on les considère comme les meilleurs Archers du monde. Leurs guerres se terminent toujours par le pillage & la dévastation du pays, où ils entrent en armes. Pour l'ordinaire ils n'ont point de demeure fixe, & ils courent sur les terres de leurs voisins. Les plus paisibles habitent sous des tentes de feutre, & n'ont point d'autre emploi que celui de garder leurs troupeaux. La principale force du Grand Cam consiste en cavalerie, qui est d'autant plus considérable, que souvent les Rois qui lui font tributaires lui amènent jusqu'à cent mille chevaux. Nous ne pouvons rien dire de sûr sur les diverses hordes, ou bandes des peuples de la Tartarie déserte, leur nom étant souvent aussi douteux que leur demeure est peu arrêtée; les peuples de ces assemblées prennent quelquefois le nom du lieu où ils s'arrêtent, & souvent celui de la couleur de leurs habits. Presque tous les Tartares sont Mahométans: quoique dans ces vastes Provinces on trouve aussi des Juifs, & quelques Chrétiens du côté de Moscovie. Ils ont la taille haute, & leur manière d'agir est assez ouverte & sincère. Ils ont fort peu de lois, mais d'eux-mêmes ils déférent aux personnes les plus considérables qui ont droit d'exercer la justice. Leurs habits ordinaires ne sont que des peaux de mouton ou de renard; mais les hommes qui tiennent quelque rang, portent de longues vestes de soie ou de coton, qui viennent la plupart de la Chine. Ils ont de larges ceintures, où ils laissent pendre un mouchoir de chaque côté. Ceux qui se plaisent à la guerre ont quelquefois des bottes qui sont faites de soie; mais ordinairement elles sont de peau de cheval. L'usage des éperons leur est inconnu. La viande à demi bouillie ou à demi rôtie est leur mets ordinaire; celle de cheval & de chameau est pour eux la plus délicieuse; les bœufs & les vaches y sont très rares. Les Tartares des parties septentrionales ne s'attachent ni à l'agriculture ni au trafic, ce qui en bannit les richesses, à moins qu'elles ne viennent du pillage qu'ils font continuellement sur leurs voisins. Ils ont quelques mines d'or. Mais leur grande application est à la conduite de leurs troupeaux de chèvres & de brebis, dont le lait est leur breuvage ordinaire. Ils portent un casque à la guerre, ou du moins une coiffe de peau qui est ronde, & qui leur descend sur le front & sur les oreilles. Les armes à feu leur sont inconnues; mais ils se servent de l'arc. La housse de leurs chevaux étendue parterre est le lit ordinaire de leurs Cavaliers. Ils portent leurs sabres la pointe tournée devant leurs jambes. Ils vont à la charge avec impétuosité; mais pour attirer l'ennemi, ils font semblant de plier, et lorsqu'ils l'ont engagé à les poursuivre en désordre, ils se rallient tout-à-coup et ne manquent guère de le mettre en déroute.

Les Tartares et les Mogols, dont nous parlerons dans la suite, ont la même origine; et quoique l'Empire des Mogols d'aujourd'hui soit nouveau, par rapport à celui des Tartares, puisqu'il y a plus de cinq cents ans que Genghizcan fut proclamé Empereur de cette Nation, nous appellerons quelquefois les Tartares, Mogols de Tartarie, ou anciens Mogols, pour les distinguer des Mogols des Indes qui sont plus connus.

Cette grande Tartarie d'Asie, de même que la petite Tartarie d'Europe, ne sont rien autre chose, comme je l'ai déjà dit, que ce qu'on appelait autrefois la Scythie. Elle contient divers Royaumes; mais ils sont partagés en tant de Souverainetés, qu'il est presque impossible d'en faire le dénombrement.

Les Auteurs Orientaux se font contenter de la diviser en quatre parties. La première est le Capchac, composé de plusieurs grandes Provinces, parmi lesquelles est celle des Getes, située à l'Occident du Pays des Mogols, et au Septentrion de la Transoxiane et des Pays que le Sihon arrose. La seconde partie est le Zagatai, qui est appelé par les Anciens Transoxiane ; et par les Arabes Maouarannahar. La troisième est le Caracatai, qui contient le Turkestan, le Pays des Naïmans, le Pays des Gelayrs, dont celui des Keraïtes ne fait qu'une partie ; le Pays des Yuguros, le Tangut, le Khothan, ou Khyta, ou Koutan ; le Pays des Calmacs, et le Royaume de Courgé qui confine à la Chine et à la Mer. Enfin la quatrième partie est composée de l'ancien Mogolistan, qui est le Gog et Magog, dont la situation est marquée diversement par les Historiens, quoique ce soit le véritable pays de Genghizcan.

Les uns l'ont mis dans l'Asie Mineure ; d'autres seulement en Lydie ; d'autres dans la Colchide et dans l'Hyberie ; et enfin quelques Voyageurs l'ont placée aux Pays des premiers Scythes au-dessus de la Chine, vers le Nord-Est de l'Asie, disant, pour appuyer leur conjecture, que les Enfants de Magog, second fils de Japhet, passèrent du Nord d'Europe, à celui d'Asie, où ils donnèrent leur nom aux Pays qu'ils habitèrent. En un mot, ce Pays est situé dans le dernier Orient de l'Asie au Septentrion de la Chine, et a toujours été fort peuplé. Les Auteurs Orientaux ont appelé ses Habitants Mogols, et les Européens leur ont donné d'autres noms. Dans le temps du Bifayeul de Genghizcan, ils firent des progrès; ils s'avancèrent jusqu'au Caracatai, où ils obligèrent quelques Cams à leur payer Tribut ; mais dans le onzième siècle, auquel Genghizcan prit naissance, ils étaient tributaires du Roi des Keraïtes. Dès le septième siècle, il y avait deux sortes de Mogols : les uns, appelés Mogols Dirlighin ; et les autres, Mogols Niron. Les Mogols Dirlighin étaient les Nations de Congorat, Berlas, Mercout, Courlas, et plusieurs autres ; et les Peuples de Merkit, Tanjout, Mercat, Soumogol, Nironcajat, Yeca Mogol, et quelques autres encore, étaient les Mogols Niron. Sur quoi il faut remarquer, qu'Yeca-Mogol et Nironcajat appartenaient en propre à la Maison de Genghizcan.

Comme presque tous les Empires et les Maisons illustres ont leurs fables et leurs faux miracles, les Mogols n'en ont pas manqué; ils ont mieux aimé corrompre la pureté de leur Histoire, que de n'y pas mêler du merveilleux. Ils ont attribué des révélations à Genghizcan : et pour porter la vénération des Peuples aussi loin qu'elle pouvait aller, ils lui ont donné de la Divinité. Ceux qui s'intéressaient à son élévation, eurent même l'insolence de le faire passer pour Fils de Dieu. Sa Mère, plus modeste, dit seulement qu'il était Fils du Soleil ; mais n'étant pas assez vaine pour se flatter de l'amour de ce bel Astre, elle appliqua la fable à son neuvième Prédécesseur ; et on publia que Buzengir était Fils du Soleil. Nous parlerons dans la suite de ce Buzengir, dont les Turcs et les Tartares croient que la Mère est la tige de tous les Empereurs Mogols.

Pour parler maintenant de quelques coutumes de ces Peuples, et du premier établissement de leurs Lois : je rapporterai en peu de mots ce qui se passa dans une Diète générale que leur Grand-Cam convoqua pour en faire la publication. Lorsque les Princes du sang, les Nevians, les Cans, les Emirs et autres Seigneurs qui devaient composer la Diète générale furent arrivés au lieu que l'Empereur Mogol avait marqué, et que le premier jour du Printemps fut venu, ils s'habillèrent tous de blanc. Le Grand-Cam, vêtu comme les autres, se rendit à l'assemblée. Il s'assit sur son Trône au milieu des Princes de son sang, la Couronne sur la tête. Tous les Cans et les autres Seigneurs firent des vœux pour la continuation de sa santé et de sa postérité. Ce qui fut suivi des cris et des applaudissements du Peuple, qui était à l'assemblée. Après cela on ne se contenta pas de confirmer pour lui et pour ses Successeurs l'Empire des Mogols ; on y ajouta celui de toutes les Nations qu'il avait subjuguées. On déclara même les Descendants des Princes vaincus, déchus de tous leurs droits. Quand il eut remercié tout le monde des marques de zèle et de respect qu'il en recevait, n'ignorant pas que l'établissement des Lois est le principal devoir d'un Souverain ; il ne manqua pas de déclarer, qu'aux anciennes Lois du Pays il jugeait à propos d'en ajouter de nouvelles, qu'il voulait qu'on observât.