'•eligion of the 



A TREATISE OF CHINA ad. 



1590. 



and diligently exerciseth himselfe in learning so much 

 as concernes his estate, sheweth himselfe dayly unto his 

 chiefe Magistrates, and communeth of matters apper- 

 taining to the publique commodity of the Realme. His 

 palace is of woonderfull largenesse and capacity, out of 

 the which he very seldome takes his progresse ; and 

 whensoever he doeth so, there are twelve chariots Twelve 

 brought foorth, all of them most like one to another chariots - 

 both in workemanship and in value, that no man may 

 discerne in which the king himselfe is placed. He 

 followeth in religion especially the opinions of the The idolatrous 

 Magistrates, attributing divine power unto heaven and *?.*& 

 earth as unto the parents of all, and with great solemnity 

 sacrificing unto them. He hath divers most sumptuous 

 Temples dedicated unto his ancestours, whereunto like- 

 wise he ascribeth divine honour, and yet ceaseth hee 

 not to favour Priests of other sects, yea hee erecteth 

 Temples unto their Patrons, endowing them with most 

 rich revenues ; and so often as any urgent necessity 

 requireth, he enjoynes continuall fastings and prayers [II. ii. 96.] 

 unto them : and after this sort he doeth in a maner 

 patronize all the idolatrous sects of his Realme, and 

 shewing himselfe ready to embrace any false religion 

 whatsoever, he liveth in sundry and manifolde kindes 

 of superstition. Out of all the former particulars by me The cwill 

 alledged, you may easily conjecture that the administra- g Qi- inmen ost 

 tion of the kingdome of China doeth, for the most part, agreeable to 

 agree with the instinct of nature, authority being com- the instinct of 

 mitted, not unto rude and unskilfull persons, but unto nature. 

 such as have beene conversant in the use and exercise 

 or learning, yea, and in promoting learned men unto 

 magistracies, great consideration is had of their wisedome, 

 justice, and of other vertues esteemed by the Chinians : 

 wherefore the way being open for all men, without any 

 respect of degree or parentage, to obtaine any of the 

 foresayd dignities, it can not be but that this most 

 mighty and famous kingdome must needes enjoy ex- 

 ceeding peace and tranquillity. 



vi 369 2 A 



