REPORTS OF CHINA ad. 



c. 1565. 

 so much their King, and he where he maketh his abode 

 keepeth them so lowe, that they dare not once stirre. 

 Againe, these Louteas as great as they be, notwithstanding 

 the multitude of Notaries they have, not trusting any 

 others, do write all great processes and matters of im- 

 portance themselves. Moreover one vertue they have 

 worthy of great praise, and that is, being men so wel 

 regarded and accompted as though they were princes, yet 

 they be patient above measure in giving audience. We 

 poore strangers brought before them might say what we 

 would, as all to be lyes and fallaces that they did write, 

 ne did we stand before them with the usuall ceremonies 

 of that Countrey, yet did they beare with us so patiently, 

 that they caused us to wonder, knowing specially how 

 litle any advocate or Judge is wont in our Countrey to 

 beare with us. For wheresoever in any Towne of 

 Christendome should be accused unknowen men as we 

 were, I know not what end the very innocents cause 

 would have : but we in a heathen Countrey, having our 

 great enemies two of the chiefest men in a whole Towne, 

 wanting an interpreter, ignorant of that Countrey lan- 

 guage, did in the end see our great adversaries cast into 

 prison for our sake, and deprived of their Offices and 

 honour for not doing justice, yea not to escape death : 

 for, as the rumour goeth, they shalbe beheaded. Some- 

 what is now to be said of the lawes that I have bene able 

 to know in this Countrey, and first, no theft or murther 

 is at any time pardoned : adulterers are put in prison, 

 and the fact once proved, are condemned to die, the 

 womans husband must accuse them : this order is kept 

 with men & women found in that fault, but theeves and 

 murderers are imprisoned as I have said, where they 

 shortly die for hunger and cold. If any one happely 

 escape by bribing the Gailer to give him meate, his 

 processe goeth further, and commeth to the Court where 

 he is condemned to die. Sentence being given, the 

 prisoner is brought in publique with a terrible band of j pj// on 

 men that lay him in Irons hand and foot, with a boord boord. 



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