MONKS IX CHINA AND MEXICO. OdO 



Boncos, and also their superstitions, cu^fomes, and lies. 

 Some fathers that have been in those countries report of 

 these Bongos and religious men of China, saying, that there 

 are many Orders, and of diverse sortcs, some came vnto 

 them clad in white, bearing hoodes, and others all in blacke, 

 without haire or hoode, and these are commonly little 

 esteemed, for the Mandarins or ministers of Justice whippe 

 them, as they do the rest of the people. They make pro 

 fession not to cate any flesh, fish, nor any thing that hath 

 life, but oncly liice and hearbcs ; but in secret they do eate 

 any thing, and are worse than the common people. They 

 say the religious men which are at the Court, which is at 

 Paquin, 1 are very much esteemed. The Mandarins go com 

 monly to recreate themselves at the Varelas 2 or monasteries 

 of these Monkes, and returne in a manner alwayes drunke. 

 These monasteries commonly are without the towncs, and 

 have temples within their close : yet, in China they are not, 

 greatly curious of idolles, or of temples, for the Mandarins 

 little csteeme idulls, and do hold it for a vaine thing, and 

 worthy to be laughed at ; yea, they beleeve there is no 

 other life, nor Paradice, but to be in the otticc of the Man 

 darins, nor any other hel than the prisons they have for 

 offendours. As for the common sorte, they say it is neces 

 sary to cntertaino thorn with idolatry, as the Philosopher ^^J&quot; 

 himself tcachcth his Governors : and in the Scripture it was 

 an excuse which Aaron gave for the idol of the Calfe, that 1: 

 he caused to be made; yet the Chinois vsed to carry in the 

 poupe of their shippcs, in little chapels, a virgin imbosst, 

 set in a chaire with two Chinois before her kneeling in manor 

 of Angels, having a light burning there both day and night. 

 And when they are to sette saile they do many sacrifices 

 and ceremonies, with a great noyse of drurnmcs and bells, 

 casting papers burnt at the poupe. 



Comming to our religious men, I doe not knowo that in 

 1 IVkinir. - I , Inn-it* 



