A TREATISE OF CHINA a.d. 



i59°- 

 methode observed in the ascending unto these dignities, 

 that all men may easily conjecture, what office any one 

 is to undertake. And there is so great diligence and 

 celerity used for the substitution of one into the roome 

 of another, that, for the same purpose, messengers are 

 dispatched by land, upon swift post-horses, unto divers Ridingpost. 

 provinces, almost twenty dayes journey from the Kings 

 Court. And, to be short, there is such district severity 

 in degrading those that unjustly or negligently demeane 

 themselves, from an honourable unto an inferiour and 

 base office, or altogether in depriving them of the kings 

 authority : that all Magistrates doe stand in feare of 

 nothing in the world more then of that. The same 

 order, almost, is observed among the Captaines and 

 Lieu-tenants generall for the warres : except onely in 

 them, that their birth and offspring is respected : for 

 many there be, who descending by parentage from such Martiall 

 men as have in times past atchieved brave exploits in dignities. 

 warfare, so soone as they come to sufficient yeeres, are 

 created Centurions, Colonels, and Governours, untill at 

 last they attaine to be Lieu-tenants generall and Pro- 

 tectours of some whole province : who notwithstanding 

 (as I have sayd) are in all things subject unto the Vice- 

 roy. All the foresayd Magistrates both of warre and 

 of peace have a set number of attendants allotted unto 

 them, enjoying a stipend, and carying certaine ensignes 

 and peculiar badges of their office : and (besides the 

 ordinary watch, which souldiers appointed for the same 

 purpose doe in the night season, after the City gates 

 be shut, keepe in their forts) wheresoever any Magistrate 

 is, either at his house or in his barge, the sayd attendants 

 striking upon a cymball of brasse, at certaine appointed 

 times, do keepe most circumspect and continual! watch 

 and ward about his person. 



Linus. You have (Michael) sufficiently discoursed of 

 the Magistrates : informe us now of the king himselfe, 

 whose name is so renowmed and spread abroad. 



Michael. Concerning this matter I will say so much 



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