a.d. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1590. 



cessours, for a long season, usurped the government 

 thereof. Howbeit the kings of the Tartarian race being 

 worne out, and their stocke and family being utterly 

 abolished, the Chinians began to lift up their heads, and 

 to advance themselves, injoying for these 200 yeeres 

 last past exceeding peace and tranquillity, and at this 

 day the posterity of the same king that expelled the 

 Tartars, with great dignity weareth the crowne, and 

 wieldeth the royall scepter. Albeit therefore the people 

 of China (especially they that inhabit Southerly from the 

 province of Paquin) are, for the most part, by reason 

 of continuall ease and quiet, growen effeminate, and 

 their courage is abated, notwithstanding they would 

 proove notable and brave souldiers, if they joyned use 

 and exercise unto their naturall fortitude. As a man 

 may easily observe in them, that maintaine continuall 

 warres against the most barbarous and cruel Tartars. 

 Howbeit in this kingdome of China there is so great 

 Military regard of military discipline, that no city nor towne 



discipline. there is destitute of a garison, the captaines and gover- 

 nours keeping ech man his order ; which all of them, in 

 every province, are subject unto the kings lieutenant 

 generall for the warres, whom they call Chumpin, and 

 yet he himselfe is subject unto the Tutan or viceroy. 

 Let us now come unto that arte, v/hich the Chinians 

 do most of all professe, and which we may, not unfitly, 

 The literature call literature or learning. For although it be commonly 

 of China. reported, that many liberall sciences, and especially 

 naturall and morall phylosophy are studied in China, 

 and that they have Universities there, wherein such in- 

 genuous artes are delivered and taught, yet, for the most 

 part, this opinion is to be esteemed more popular then 

 true : but I will declare, upon what occasion this conceit 

 first grew. The people of China doe, above all things, 

 professe the arte of literature ; and learning it most dili- 

 gently, they imploy themselves a long time and the 

 better part of their age therein. For this cause, in all 

 cities and townes, yea, and in pety villages also, there are 



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