A TREATISE OF CHINA a.d. 



1590. 



But now, instruct you us as touching their maner of The politike 



government, wherein the Chinians are sayd greatly to ^j™****^ 



excell. 



Michael. That, that, in very deed, is their chiefe 



arte, and unto that all their learning and exercise of 



letters is directed. Whereas therefore, in the kingdome 



of China, one onely king beares rule over so many 



provinces, it is strange what a number of Magistrates are 



by him created to administer publique affaires. For (to 



omit them which in ech Towne and City have jurisdiction 



over the townesmen and citizens) there are three principall Thw 



Magistrates in every province. The first is he that hath P™%?* t • 

 f 1 • • • 11 j • „ , r L <i magistrates in 



to deale in cases criminall, and is called Lrancnasu : the C ch province. 



second is the Kings Fosterer, and is called Puchinsu : 



the third is the Lieutenant-generall for the warres, named, 



as we sayd before, Chumpin. These three therefore have 



their place of residence in the chiefe City of the province : 



and the two former have certaine associates of their owne 



order, but of inferiour authority, appointed in divers 



Cities and Townes, unto whom, according to the variety 



of causes, the Governours of Townes, and the Maiors 



of Cities doe appeale. Howbeit the three forenamed 



Magistrates are in subjection unto the Tutan, that is, 



the Vice-roy, ordained in ech province. And all these 



Magistrates beare office for the space of three yeeres 



together : yet so, that for the governing of ech province, 



not any of the same province, but strangers, that is, men 



of another province, are selected : whereof it commeth to 



passe, that the Judges may give sentence with a farre 



more entire and incorrupt minde, then if they were among 



their owne kinsefolke and allies. Over and besides all 



these, there is an annuall or yeerely Magistrate, which is 



called Chaien, whose duety it is to make inquisition of 



all crimes, and especially the crimes of Magistrates, and 



also to punish common offences : but concerning the 



faults of the great magistrates to admonish the king 



himselfe. Of this order, every yere, are sent out of the 



Kings Court, for ech province, one ; and going over all 



363 



