ad. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



J 590- . c 



watered like a garden ; divers of which rivers doe natur- 

 ally flowe, and others by arte and industry are derived 

 into sundry places. But now I will intreat of the 

 tranquillity and peace of China, after I have spoken a 

 word or two concerning the maners of the inhabitants. 

 This nation is indued with excellent wit and dexterity for 

 the attaining of all artes, and, being very constant in their 

 owne customes, they lightly regard the customes or 

 The disposi- fashions of other people. They use one and the same 

 tions y kinde of vesture, yet so, that there is some distinction 



c7in/anf ' * betweene the apparell of the magistrate & of the common 

 subject. They all of them do weare long haire upon 

 their heads, and, after the maner of women, do curiously 

 keame their dainty locks hanging downe to the ground, 

 and, having twined and bound them up, they cover them 

 with calles, wearing sundry caps thereupon, according 

 to their age and condition. It seemeth that in olde 

 Their time one language was common to all the provinces : 



language. notwithstanding, by reason of variety of pronunciation, it 

 is very much altered, and is divided into sundry idiomes 

 or proprieties of speech, according to the divers pro- 

 vinces : howbeit, among the magistrates, and in publike 

 assemblies of judgement, there is one and the very same 

 kinde of language used thorowout the whole realme, 

 from the which (as I have sayd) the speech of ech pro- 

 Their loyaltie vince differeth not a little. Moreover this people is 

 unto their most loyall and obedient unto the king and his magis- 

 S \flY x U7 l 2 -i trates, which is the principall cause of their tranquillity 

 & peace. For whereas the common sort doe apply 

 themselves unto the discretion and becke of inferiour 

 magistrates, and the inferiour magistrates of the superiour, 

 and the superiour magistrates of the king himselfe, fram- 

 ing and composing all their actions and affaires unto 

 that levell : a world it is to see, in what equability and 

 indifferency of justice all of them do leade their lives, 

 and how orderly the publike lawes are administred. 

 Which thing notwithstanding shall be handled more at 

 large, when we come to intreat of the government. 



358 



