The glory of England, or A true description of many excellent prerogatiues and remarkeable blessings, whereby she triumpheth ouer all the nations of the world vvith a iustifiable comparison betweene the eminent kingdomes of the earth, and herselfe: plainely manifesting the defects of them all in regard of her sufficiencie and fulnesse of happinesse. By T.G.

CHAP. III. CHINA compared, and her deficiency manifested.

BEfore I proceede any further in the * 1.1 description of these remote coun∣tries, I must by way of Apologie excuse my pouertie in knowledge and breuity in bringing either par-'∣ticular, or substantiall matter be∣fore the barre of examination. For first I dare not meddle with anci∣ent Authors, because times haue altred all things, and there is a kinde of vicissitude of gouernment and king∣domes

attending the highest prouidence: nor will I once read ouer moderne writers, lest I be tempted to a cunning theft, and can but shew you indeed the countenances of other men, so that if the first were now to view their owne handy-works, and either saw, how warres, or antiquitie had ouer-mantled those delicate, strong, and magnificent Cities and countries, with deuastation, misery, and wret∣ched affliction, which they had so much commended, and laboured by great arte and industry to delineate, or decipher: Or could consider how peace and ingenious endeuours had manured, and made exuberant euen barren soiles, & vnfashionable grounds, had clothed naked men with royall ornaments; had inlarged poore Townes and Cities to stately, and princely structures; had taught de∣spised people to march arme in arme with honorable re∣nowne, and glorious victories, with infinite such like, they would questionles stand amased to see now such a change and alteration, or confounded to suppose themselues vn∣happy for not liuing in this happines, and these times of peace and plenty, yea such peace and plenty, as if they had learned an arte of gracefulnes, and cunning of adorna∣tion: like a curious and expert Ieweller, who though a diamond be a diamond, and stone of inestimable valew, yet can by his skill adde a brauery and extraordinary lu∣stre to the same. As for the newer sort of Historiogra∣phers, first for my selfe, they shall haue no such aduantage ouer mee, as to challenge mee for felony in stealing any wealth or riches from them, or exprobrate me of ingrati∣tude for being beholding vnto them, and not acknow∣ledging the same: Next concerning themselues, I won∣der they are not ashamed to fill vp their leaues with the lines of falshood, and maruell they are so litle acquainted

with honest trauellers, that may tell them the truth, or at least instruct them in an arte of seeming probabilitie; as for example: in plaine honestie I wonder, how Munster that learned man, and famous Chronologer, could be so deceiued or abused to talke of Pigmeies, of men with long eares, and one foote, and such like? I could name many others, as Sir Iohn Mandeuill, the description of India, diuers pamphlets of voyages, and peraduenture histories of acceptation, in which not onely absurdities passe for current, but vntruths and impossibilities carry the sway of licence, and approbation. Therefore (as I said) for my owne part, I disclaime them all, and either tye my selfe to my poore endeuours, or aduenture on such passages of ciuill authoritie, as come neere probabilitie and religion: onely in this I will play the truant with others, that as in vnknowne countries they fill vp the Map with gyants, beasts, monsters, and some strange battailes: and in wri∣ting of Chronicles they passe ouer the liues of their first Princes with only names, and peraduenture suppositions, because they would say some thing: so in these, or of these remote Nations, I will onely tell you what I haue seen my self in some cursory trauels, or learned of others, with whom by an Interpreter I haue of purpose entertai∣ned communication: As when I was in Turky I saw the Armie of the Tartars mustred by the fields of Scideret, and had the priuiledge of a Ianizarie to protect me from wrong, and be my interpreter for such things, as my wit and memory incited me to make vse of. At my L: Em∣bassadors againe I presumed on a conference with the Per∣sian Embassador, and as farre as my memory and vnder∣standing was capable of instruction, made benefit of some relations: and going to sea to Alexandria there were

both Indians, Iewes, Arabians, and Armenians aboord, from whom I catched what I could, supplying my desire of no∣uelties with their discourses: of whom concerning the purpose in hand, I learnt, that China was a great and oppu∣lent countrey in continuall warres with the Tartars, ielous one of another, and an enemy in the highest degree to all strangers, yea so farre from hospitalitie, and pious inclina∣tion to entertainment and commiseration, that they studie to circumuent their passengers, and come aboord with hypocriticall desire of satisfaction in nouelties, and then at aduantage either surprize the ships, or endanger the weaker company by ouer-mastring them, as many of our English both at the Philippines, and landing in Iapan haue had cause of testification: nor amongst themselues is there any such appearance of happines, or plenty. For though they boast of mines and many pretious stones, yet doe they vent no commodities or merchandice, but for ready money, and we are faine to carry siluer into India, from whence we receiue such things, as curious stuffe, and trifling toyes, as they are disposed to vtter. But if you come neerer them, and to our purpose indeed, as by the Indians discourses may be collected; they are ielous, mali∣tious, want prouision, take little rest, are in tumultuous vp∣rores, terrified with theeues, for all there is nothing so se∣uerely punished, dare not displease their Emperor, who is in a manner adored amongst them, liue on rootes, and kernels of nuts, and troubled with serpents, and many venemous wormes, distempred with strange tempests, and windes, terrified with apparitions and illuding visions, kill their old men, if they liue too long, make no consci∣ence of selling their virgins for money, and filthy pr•…•…sti∣tutions, are carelesse of any orders, and glory in nothing

but going to warres with the Tartars, and keeping all Na∣tions out of their countrey. Besides, they are diuers times subiect to famine of bread, and liue vpon herbes and fruit, nor doe they conuerse one with another with cheerefull meetings, but are enuious, if any grow richer than themselues: as for the country-man, his only main∣tenance consists in keeping a few Bees, silke wormes, fil∣ling his gardens with gowrdes and rootes, and making a kinde of drinke of berries, and the fruit of certaine trees preserued for the same purpose: but in all things so short of our example of happinesse, as he would be of reaching heauen with a stretched-out arme, that goeth of purpose to the top of the Alpes with supposition of attaining his purpose, because the mountaine seemeth so exalted aboue the inferior ground.

Notes

• * 1.1

  China farre short of Sa∣lomons hap∣pinesse.