REPORTS OF CHINA a.d. 



c.1565. 



be put to death all that yeere following, and so remaineth 



at the kings charges in the greater prison. In that prison 



where we lay were alwayes one hundred and mo of these 



condemned persons, besides them that lay in other 



prisons. 



These prisons wherein the condemned caytifes do re- 

 maine are so strong, that it hath not bene heard, that 

 any prisoner in all China hath escaped out of prison, for 

 in deed it is a thing impossible. The prisons are thus 

 builded. First all the place is mightily walled about, 

 the walks be very strong and high, the gate of no lesse 

 force : within it three other gates, before you come 

 where the prisoners do lye, there many great lodgings 

 are to be seene of the Louteas, Notaries, Parthions, that 

 is, such as do there keepe watch and ward day and night, 

 the court large and paved, on the one side whereof 

 standeth a prison, with two mighty gates, wherein are 

 kept such prisoners as have committed enormious offences. 

 This prison is so great, that in it are streetes and Market 

 places wherein all things necessary are sold. Yea some 

 prisoners live by that kinde of trade, buying and selling, 

 and letting out beds to hire : some are dayly sent to 

 prison, some dayly delivered, wherefore this place is never 

 void of 7. or eight hundred men that go at libertie. 



Into one other prison of condemned persons shall 

 you go at three yron gates, the court paved and 

 vauted round about, and open above as it were a 

 cloister. In this cloister be eight roomes with yron 

 doores, and in ech of them a large gallerie, wherein every 

 night the prisoners do lie at length, their feet in the 

 stocks, their bodies hampered in huge wooden grates 

 that keep them from sitting, so that they lye as it were 

 in a cage, sleepe if they can: in the morning they are 

 losed againe, that they may go into the court. Not- 

 withstanding the strength of this prison, it is kept with 

 a garrison of men, part whereof watch within the house, 

 part of them in the court, some keepe about the prison 

 with lanterns and watch-bels answering one another 



311 



